tnconnections.com

connectionstnWinter 2011-12

Dried & True Bean barrister makes the case for a love of legumes

Bird’s-Eye View Bald eagle watchers find a great hideaway at Reelfoot Lake B&B

Pretty Enough to Eat Some of the best holiday gifts are homemade edible treats

An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System

Travel, tips and tidbits at a glancetn almanac

Kid-Friendly HistoryDo you have a budding history buff among your children or grandchildren?

Help them nurture their love of the past with the Tennessee History for Kids website.

The site, www.tnhistoryforkids.org, is packed with interesting nuggets of information about geography, notable Tennesseans, civics and state history. Kids can also learn about five of the state’s larger cities, including Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Oak Ridge.

There are even virtual tours of famous places in the Volunteer State, such as Cumberland Gap, The Hermitage and the National Civil Rights Museum. After exploring the site, kids can put their knowledge to the test with fun, interactive quizzes. The site has material for kids at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Barbara Mandrell Lived HereCountry music lovers have a new attraction to visit

in Nashville. The Fontanel Mansion & Farm opened in June 2010 as a tourist attraction, showcasing the 27,000-square-foot log home formerly owned by Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell. The three-story home includes 13 bathrooms, five fireplaces and an indoor pool and shooting range.

After touring the mansion, feast on Southern comfort food made from local ingredients at The Fontanel’s Farm House Restaurant. The Farm House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

The Fontanel’s 136 acres also include an outdoor music venue. Learn more at www.fontanelmansion.com.

Gone to the DogsMore than 40 dogs and some 3,500

people will arrive at Ames Plantation in Grand Junction in February 2012 for the National Bird Dog Field Trial Championship, a tradition since 1915.

Dog owners from all over the United States and as far away as Japan bring their English Pointers and Setters to the West Tennessee competition. Each dog’s goal is to find and point bobwhite quail along a designated 11-mile course. The dogs use their noses to smell game and stop 10 to 15 feet from a group of birds, pointing to them with their nose as they stand as motionless as a statue.

Judges and spectators follow the dogs on horseback, and the owner of the winning dog receives $16,000 in prize money. The 2012 competition begins Feb. 13 at 8 a.m., and the drawing for the order of running takes place Feb. 11. The annual event is open to the public, but observers need to bring a horse or rent one from a local horse owner. For more information, call the Ames Plantation at (901) 878-1067.

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 1

Winter 2011-12 EditionManaging Editor Jessy YanceyContributing Writers Jessica Mozo, Roben Mounger Marketing Creative Director Keith HarrisPhotography Director Jeffrey S. OttoMedia Technology Director Christina CardenSenior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCordStaff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony BoshierSenior Graphic Designers Janine Maryland, Vikki WilliamsProofreading Manager Raven PettyContent Coordinators Blair Thomas, Jessica WalkerAd Production Manager Katie MiddendorfAd Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan

Chairman Greg ThurmanPresident/Publisher Bob SchwartzmanExecutive Vice President Ray LangenSr. V.P./Sales Todd PotterSr. V.P./Operations Casey HesterSr. V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim HolmbergV.P./External Communications Teree CaruthersV.P./Visual Content Mark ForesterV.P./Content Operations Natasha LorensController Chris DudleySenior Integrated Media Manager Robin RobertsonDistribution Director Gary SmithReceptionist Linda Bishop

Tennessee Connections is published quarterly by Journal Communications Inc. for participating members of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. TMEPA represents 61 municipal power distributors in Tennessee, which serve more than 2 million customers. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067. Phone: 615-771-0080.E-mail: info@jnlcom.com.

For information about TMEPA, contact: Tennessee Municipal Electric Power AssociationPaddock 1, Suite C-13, 229 Ward Circle Brentwood, TN 37027Phone 615-373-5738, Fax 615-373-1901 tmepa.org

Executive Director Mike Vinson

©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc. and Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

ON THE COVER: Photo by Jeffrey S. OttoA homemade granola mix makes a great gift.

tnconnectionscontents

10Features 4 Pretty Enough to Eat For the holidays, it’s hard to beat homemade

9 Deck – and Declutter – the Halls Ten tips to stay organized this holiday season

10 A Birder’s Hideaway Reelfoot Lake Bed and Breakfast gives a bird’s-eye view of bald eagles

12 Dried & True Self-proclaimed bean barrister makes the case for a love of legumes

Departments 2 Municipal Power Perspective

3 Tennessee in Focus

14 Winter Activities in Tennessee

17 Connect to Tennessee Products

tnconnections.comDigital MagazineFlip through the pages of the magazine without leaving your laptop. Print and email articles and instantly link to advertisers.

tnconnections.com

connectionstnWinter 2011-12

Dried & True Bean barrister makes the case for a love of legumes

Bird’s-Eye View Bald eagle watchers find a great hideaway at Reelfoot Lake B&B

Pretty Enough to Eat Some of the best holiday gifts are homemade edible treats

An Offi cial Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System

2 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

Once again, fall is here and Thanksgiving is right on top of us. In fact, some of you may receive this magazine after the date. To those who get it before, we wish you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family. To you folks who get it a little later, we pray you had a great time and remembered all that we have to be thankful for even in the economic downturn we’ve experienced. And let’s not forget that Christmas is next month. We certainly wish each of you a blessed and Merry Christmas. I personally ask that you remember the reason for the season as you meet with family and friends.

The electric utility industry, like most industries, is evolving. Part of that evolution is focusing attention on the electric “grid,” which includes both transmission (from the power plants) and the distribution (to your homes and businesses). It’s called Smart Grid, and it’s a vision of a better electricity delivery infrastructure. The basic concept is to add monitoring, analysis, control and communication capabilities to the national, regional and local systems while reducing energy use. It will allow utilities to move electricity around the system as efficiently and economically as possible. It will also allow the homeowner and business to use electricity in a more economical manner. Its implementation dramatically increases the quantity, quality and use of data available from advanced sensing, computing, and communications hardware and software. As a result, it will help utilities address both environmental concerns and power delivery issues.

MembershipAlcoa Electric Department

Athens Utilities Board

Benton County Electric System

Bolivar Energy Authority

Bristol Tennessee Essential Services

Brownsville Utility Department

Carroll County Electrical Department

Electric Power Board of Chattanooga

CDE Lightband – Clarksville

Cleveland Utilities

Clinton Utilities Board

Columbia Power & Water System

Cookeville Department of Electricity

Covington Electric System

Dayton Electric Department

Dickson Electric System

Dyersburg Electric System

Elizabethton Electric Department

Erwin Utilities

Etowah Utilities Department

Gallatin Department of Electricity

Greeneville Light & Power System

Harriman Utility Board

Humboldt Utilities

Jackson Energy Authority

Jellico Electric & Water Systems

Johnson City Power Board

Knoxville Utilities Board

LaFollette Utilities

Lawrenceburg Utility Systems

Lenoir City Utilities Board

Lewisburg Electric System

Lexington Electric System

Loudon Utilities

City of Maryville Electric Department

McMinnville Electric System

Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division

Milan Department of Public Utilities

Morristown Utility Systems

Mount Pleasant Power System

Murfreesboro Electric Department

Nashville Electric Service

Newbern Electric Department

Newport Utilities

City of Oak Ridge Electric Department

Paris Board of Public Utilities

Pulaski Electric System

Ripley Power and Light Company

Rockwood Electric Utility

Sevier County Electric System

Shelbyville Power System

Smithville Electric System

Sparta Electric System

Springfield Electric Department

Sweetwater Utilities Board

Trenton Light & Water Department

Tullahoma Utilities Board

Union City Electric System

Weakley County Municipal Electric System

Winchester Utilities

MIKE VINSONExecutive Director Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association

municipal power perspective

Get SmartUtilities are more efficient with smart grid

One of the grid’s features is a much improved and more advanced metering system. Many are referring to these as “smart meters,” and they have an important role to play by giving utilities a better picture of near real-time energy demand, as well as the means to manage demand during periods of peak consumption. That’s important for a variety of reasons, but today I’d like to focus on an issue involving smart meter installation.

Like all innovations that have come in the past, new products often gain criticism out of lack of knowledge or understanding. One claim is that a smart meter can reveal much of what happens inside your home and destroy your right to privacy (the “Big Brother is Watching” theory). Though it’s true that some technology may have this ability (check out what information is going to your cable TV or cellphone provider), the primary purpose of an advanced metering system is to provide energy and demand data to the utility for economic utilization of the grid and maximum savings of wholesale energy costs. Another claim is that smart meters emit dangerous radiation, but these meters communicate either on direct wire connections or radio waves. Your Wi-Fi router, cellphone and computer terminal all emit greater amounts of supposed harmful radiation. The California Council on Science and Technology that found RF emissions from smart meters are a fraction of emissions coming from common household electronics like cellphones and microwaves. Think about that the next time you hold the phone to your ear while driving.

Your Tennessee Municipal Electric System is continually exploring ways to serve you better and more economically. The Smart Grid and use of advanced meters is just one of those ways.

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 3

tn in focus

Photo by Jeff Adkins

Snow covers the leaves of a magnolia tree at Concord Park in Brentwood

4 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections4 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

cover story

Pretty

Hungry for More?Visit our sister site, farmflavor.com, for more food gift ideas. Go to the “Meal Types” section and click “Food Gifts” for a variety of recipes worth giving this holiday season.

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 5

story by Jessica Mozophotography by Jeffrey S. Otto

Edible holiday gifts are a treat to receive, but even more fun to give. Unlike generic gifts that might get stuffed in a closet or even re-gifted (ouch!), a gift of food is something the recipient

is sure to appreciate and enjoy.Sure, you could order holiday goodies from a catalog

or buy them at a specialty store, but we recommend making them yourself. Homemade gifts are extra special, and you can make something fresher and tastier than you’ll find on a store shelf. Chances are, you’ll even save money by making gifts in your own kitchen.

Try one of these recipes, wrapping up the finished product with cellophane and a pretty bow. If you want to get really creative with the packaging, visit a craft store to find decorative gift boxes, jars and holiday ribbon.

At holiday time, it’s hard to beat homemade

Enough

EatTo

Sunburst Coffeecake²/³ cup shortening1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup mashed potatoes (or instant potatoes) 1 cup milk, scalded 1 package active dry yeast (or rapid rise yeast) 1 cup lukewarm water (110 degrees) 2 eggs 2 cups whole-wheat or stone-ground flour 4 to 5 cups bread flour 1 stick butter 1 cup cinnamon and sugar mixture (3 tablespoons cinnamon and 1 cup sugar)

For dough, mix shortening, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add potatoes and milk. Let stand until lukewarm. Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in lukewarm water in a small bowl. Add yeast mixture and eggs to the milk mixture. Add the whole-wheat flour and 1 cup of bread flour and beat until smooth. Stir in remaining bread flour to make a thick, slightly sticky dough. Place in large, greased bowl, cover tightly and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

In the morning, the dough will have risen and be ready for shaping. Divide dough into thirds. Melt butter. Roll one-third of dough in circle to fit a 14-inch pizza pan. Put first layer of dough in pan. Spoon melted butter to cover; sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Roll next third into same size circle. Place over first layer and repeat layers with butter and cinnamon sugar. Repeat third time.

Invert a glass in center of circle. Cut dough around glass into 16 wedges, and twist each wedge four times. Remove glass, leaving dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 20 minutes.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Place coffee cake on cardboard pizza round, wrap with heavy plastic wrap and tie top with ribbon.

6 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

Almond Biscotti3 eggs ½ cup vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons almond extract 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional) 1 cup toasted raw almonds, chopped (optional) 3¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, sugar and almond extract. If desired, add chocolate chips and almonds. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into two pieces. Form each piece into a roll the length of the baking sheet. Place roll onto prepared baking sheet, and press down to 1/2-inch thickness.

Bake 27 minutes until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to cool on wire rack. When the biscotti are cool enough to handle, slice each log crosswise into 3/4-inch slices. Place the slices, cut side up, back on the baking sheet. Bake an additional 7 minutes on each side. Yields 32 to 36 pieces.

Tip: For a fancier look, melt some chocolate chips, dip each baked biscotti in melted chocolate and roll it in almonds. Let the coated biscotti cool on parchment paper.

Homemade Granola2 cups oats 1 cup coconut 1 cup sliced almonds ¼ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup honey 1 cup dried apricots, diced 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together the oats, coconut and almonds. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and honey. Pour the liquids over the oat mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon until the oats and nuts are coated. Spread out on a large baking sheet.

Bake, stirring every 10 minutes (to prevent burning), for 40 to 45 minutes. Add fruit. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Sure, you could order holiday goodies from a catalog or buy them at a specialty store, but we recommend making them yourself.”

“

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 7

www.energyright.com

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 9

THE HALLSTen tips to stay organized this holiday season

story by Jessica Mozo

For many, the holiday season is the most stressful time of the year. If the scene at your house looks more like a three-ring circus than a well-planned gathering of family and friends, take heart.

Now’s the time to get organized so when the holidays arrive, you can spend more time enjoying and less time scrambling.

Here are some tips to get started:1. Write down things you wish you had done last year they may include getting the tree up earlier, having a holiday open house, baking goodies for friends or spending less money on gifts.

2. Make a to-do list and check it twice. In fact, you may want to make several lists gift ideas, meal planning, holiday cards, events you plan to attend and keep them all in a three-ring binder. You can also use the binder to keep track of recipes and receipts.

3. Come up with a budget. Decide how much you want to spend on gifts, food and holiday entertainment, and stick to it. If you tend to overspend, put cash in envelopes labeled for each purpose. When the cash runs out, you’ll know you’ve reached your limit.

4. Take inventory of your holiday supplies. Dig into closets and reach into the backs of your highest kitchen cabinets. Don’t buy new holiday dishes, tablecloths and decorations until you know what you already have.

5. Save space and money by making items do double duty. A red tablecloth, for example, can be used for Christmas and again at Valentine’s Day. Similarly, you don’t need to buy a turkey-themed tablecloth for Thanksgiving when you already have an orange one from Halloween.

6. Get the kitchen under control. Since that’s the place people tend to gather, make it clutter-free and easy for everyone to navigate.

7. Avoid the shopping rush. Buy gifts early and consider shopping online to save time. Create a gift area in your home in a closet or on a shelf. Put sticky notes on presents so you will remember who they’re for.

8. Keep wrapping paper, bows, gift bags, ribbons, gift boxes, scissors and tape in a gift-wrapping caddy or plastic bin. Wrap as you shop so you don’t have to do it all at the same time.

9. Set timetables for things you want to get done. Set a date for mailing out holiday cards.

10. After the holidays, place decorations, gift wrap and other items in clearly marked boxes or containers so you can find them easily next year. Give away holiday decorations you didn’t use to save space and to avoid having to sort through all the clutter next year.

feature

Deck – and Declutter –

10 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

feature

Reelfoot Lake B&B gives bird’s-eye view of bald eagles

Birder’sHideaway

A

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 11

story by Jessica Mozo

After taking a weekend eagle-watching trip to Reelfoot Lake in February 1993, Nancy Moore realized

a life change was in order.“I was in my 40s, and it

seemed like all of a sudden, my eyes opened, and I started seeing birds,” she recalls. “I fell in love with Reelfoot. It’s the pristine area for birding in Tennessee, and it intrigued me.”

Two years later, Moore convinced her husband, Tom, to move to Tiptonville from their home in Lewisburg.

“My husband didn’t know what to think,” Moore says. “We came and spent a weekend here, and he looked around. Then he said, ‘If you really want to do this, I’ll support you.’ ”

The Moores partnered with another couple to purchase a 1930s lakefront building that was formerly a fishing clubhouse. Together, they turned it into Blue Basin Cove Bed and Breakfast.

“It’s a neat old building that’s built on stilts, and there’s a glassed-in porch that’s the breakfast room,” Moore explains. “This isn’t a typical Victorian bed-and-breakfast. It’s more for the outdoor person.”

This place is for the birdsIt’s certainly for the person who

loves birds. Reelfoot Lake’s position

along the Mississippi Flyway brings in birds of all kinds of feathers.

“I see birds that shouldn’t even be here,” Moore says. “And storms always bring in odd birds.”

Once she spotted a Eurasian wigeon, a duck with a dark reddish head that comes from Siberia and Iceland and is sporadically seen along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts. She says she commonly sees ospreys and Prothonotary warblers, which both nest in the area around the lake.

“Mississippi kites are fairly common here, too, and they’re a neat bird,” Moore adds.

Her favorite of all the birds is the least bittern, a heron with a long neck and bill that’s often difficult to spot because of its camouflage color.

“They’re hard to find because they’re a really secretive bird,” she says.

Visitors flock to Reelfoot Lake in January and February to catch glimpses of bald eagles.

“We have 14 nesting pair here all the time, and we’ve had as many as 125 eagles here during winter months,” Moore says. “They’re very easy to find – it’s amazing. The state even does bus tours.”

Bald eagle boat toursMoore often takes her guests

out on pontoon boat tours to get a closer look at the birds.

“I recently took some photographers out who wanted to photograph an osprey nest,” she says. “I photograph birds, too, and I take birding trips.”

Eventually, she plans to decorate her five bed-and-breakfast units with her bird photography.

March through June is the busiest time of the year at Blue Basin Cove. Fishermen are regular visitors in addition to bird watchers, thanks to the abundance of crappie and bluegill Reelfoot Lake offers. The bed-and-breakfast even has its own bait shop and has boats and kayaks for rent.

“We get a lot of vacationers, photographers and even honeymooners,” Moore says. “One couple that likes to fish came all the way from England. After they went fishing, we had a fish fry for them.”

Moore is now the sole proprietor of Blue Basin Cove – she bought out the couple they opened it with, and her husband has since passed away. She says these days her favorite thing about running the business is the location, of course, and cooking breakfast for the guests who gather around her table.

“It’s nothing fancy – just home cookin’,” she says. “It’s not a Danish and coffee – it’s a full breakfast. I do bacon, eggs, toast, sausage gravy and biscuits, pancakes, French toast and omelets.”

Birding 101Interested in becoming a bird-watching hobbyist? Start with a pair of binoculars and a good field guide.

“That’s the beginning,” Moore says.“Then you just have to get out and bird.”

You can find resources about birding in Tennessee and meet others who share your interest through The Tennessee Ornithological Society (www.tnbirds.org), which has more than a dozen chapters across the state that hold regular meetings and field trips.

Start by documenting birds in your own back yard, writing down their physical attributes and the sounds they make. You may even want to sketch or photograph them. Documenting birds that nest near your home will give you good practice for future bird-watching trips.

Moore says the best places to bird are near water sources, such as lakes and rivers.

“Radnor Lake in Nashville is great, and the Smoky Mountains are great,” she says. “Also Pickwick Dam, the Big Sandy area, Paris Landing and anywhere along the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.”

and True

Self-proclaimed bean barrister makes the case for a love of legumes

story by Roben Moungerphotography by Antony Boshier

Everything I learned about the bean I did not learn at my mother’s side, but she shoved me in the right direction with personal demonstrations of

repetition. As a regular fare consumed during childhood, I learned that beans were thrifty and nutritious. Beans could carry a meal or stand as a satisfying companion, and they also had the good nature to complement other flavors.

My culinary education began with baked beans, a standard side dish from my mother’s kitchen. They appeared as an accompaniment to the house favorite – a picnic-style spread of baked ham, fried chicken, stuffed eggs and potato salad.

Enlisting my help in the assembly of the baked bean dish, my mother sealed the deal for me in the realm of bean appreciation. I would arm myself with a glazed brown and turquoise ceramic pot, a behemoth can of pork ‘n’ beans, large glugs of ketchup, a big chug of Worcestershire sauce and a dab of mustard. The secret ingredient, a whole onion decorated with cloves, was plunged into the center of the whole shebang. Instructions for this yesteryear prep required cooking an already depleted legume “for as long as possible.”

I was never one for status quo. The kitchen of my adulthood promoted an incessant drive for quality ingredients, and I forged a relationship with the intriguing grocery

store aisle stocked with dried beans – kidney, great northern, lima, lentil and garbanzo. Since that time, I expanded my repertoire as offerings of heirloom produce opened to rare dried beans from around the world. The variety is endlessly beautiful – appaloosa, cellini, borlotti, Christmas lima, black Valentine, vaquero and yellow woman.

Beans are easy to grow and have few natural enemies.

“Farmers often grow beans in empty fields to keep the nitrogen in the soil from leaching away,” says Steve Sando, marketer of heirloom beans and owner of Rancho Gordo in Napa, Calif. At the end of the season, farmers will turn the entire crop into the soil and use it as fertilizer.

Beans are loaded with protein and are a superlative source of calcium and fiber.

Over time, I have developed a life-enhancing habit that employs the same brown and turquoise ceramic pot. In a rebirth, it now serves as a soaking tool and with ceremony each week; I immerse my choice of dried beans within its ancient depths for an overnight douse.

After completing the following recipe, the resulting beans are a superb addition for salads and soups. Even the old baked bean recipe from childhood is new again proving that even though a mother’s recipe is appealing, leaving well enough alone should not be counted as kitchen law.

taste of tn

DriedAbout

the Author Roben Mounger, known

as Ms. Cook, has a penchant for searching

out locally produced ingredients for her family’s meals. For some 15 years, she

has eaten year round by way of CSAs and

farmers markets. In 2009, she began an

organic farm internship with Arugula’s Star of

Neal Family Farms. Roben writes a weekly column about food and

people for The Columbia Daily Herald and blogs about eating locally at

www.mscookstable.com.

12 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

Cooking Dried BeansCheck beans for small debris and rinse in cool water. Cover beans with 2 inches of water and soak for 4 to 6 hours.

In a large pot, sauté finely chopped onion, celery, carrot and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add beans and water, and make sure beans are covered by at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a hard boil for 5 minutes, and then reduce to a gentle simmer. Continue cooking slowly over a low fire. Once soft, add salt.

Beans can take from 1 to 3 hours to cook, depending on the variety. Do not add any acids (tomatoes or vinegar) or sugars while cooking, as they can toughen the beans. You can replace the cooking water with beer or stock. Bay leaves and ham bones can add a desirable dimension.

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 13

14 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

Winter in TennesseeFestivals, celebrations, activities and more

events

Scrooge, Tiny Tim and Santa entertain passersby during Franklin’s Dickens of a Christmas.

This listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled in November, December and January as provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Events are subject to date change or cancellation; please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

Due to space limitations, additional information and events can be found online through the department’s Web site, www.tnvacation.com.

Ruby Falls. Enjoy a special holiday light show at the waterfalls, holiday music in the cave and beautifully decorated lobby and grounds that includes old St Nick. CONTACT: Ruby Falls, 800-755-7105, rubyfalls.com

DECEMBERFayette County Tree Lighting – Dec. 1, Somerville Fayette County Courthouse official lighting of the tree at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy Christmas music, poinsettia memorials, and free refreshments. CONTACT: 901-465-7301, somervilleplann@bellsouth.net

Christmas In Old Appalachia – Dec. 1-24, Museum of Appalachia, NorrisA winter wonderland awaits within split-rail fences. Christmas in turn-of-century structures including a dirt-floored pioneer cabin, the gaily decorated Homestead House, and an old log school house. CONTACT: 865-494-7680, museumofappalachia.org

Athenaeum Christmas Tour – Dec. 2-3, ColumbiaLocal historic homes decorated for the season with tours. Other seasonal activities included in the area. CONTACT: 931-381-4822, maurychristmas.com

A Classic Christmas – Dec. 2-3, Cleveland Lighting of the community Christmas tree on the Courthouse Square with Santa Claus. CONTACT: Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, 423-472-6587, mainstreetcleveland.com

Christmas Bazaar – Dec. 3, Somerville10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Vendors with crafts, food and gifts open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy shopping at its best. CONTACT: 901-465-7301, somervilleplann@bellsouth.net

Merry Tuba Christmas Concert – Dec. 3, HarrimanTuba and euphonium players of all ages gather to pay grateful tribute to composers who have embraced these noble instruments with solo and ensemble compositions. CONTACT: roanetourism.com

Old Fashioned Christmas – Dec. 3, Bell BuckleEnjoy lights, old fashioned decorations, carolers, music and Santa and his sleigh. CONTACT: 931-389-9663

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NOVEMBERTrinity Christmas City USA – Nov. 1- Jan. 31, HendersonvilleFeaturing over 1 million lights, tours of Conway Twitty’s former home and the TBN Studios. CONTACT: 615-826-9194, tbn.org

Smoky Mountain Winterfest – Nov. 7- Feb. 28, GatlinburgThe gateway towns to the Smokies turn into a winter wonderland with over two

million light displays and special events. CONTACT: 800-568-4748, gatlinburg.com

Speedway In Lights – Nov. 18- Jan. 8, BristolMillions of holiday lights and hundreds of displays line the route, and you even get to drive on the legendary “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”CONTACT: 423-989-6900, bristolmotorspeedway.com

Deck The Falls – Nov. 18- Dec. 31, ChattanoogaThe holiday season is a special time at

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Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 15

Free Pictures with Santa – Dec. 3, SomervilleHave you children’s picture taken with a real-bearded, licensed Santa Clause at the FAIR Theatre at 2 p.m. Make sure to bring you Christmas list. CONTACT: 901-465-7301, somervilleplann@bellsouth.net

Holiday Home Tour and Wagon Ride – Dec. 3, SomervilleTour beautifully decorated historic homes and churches by horse drawn wagon ride. Enjoy fine dining at Main Street Eatery, 4 to 9 p.m. CONTACT: 901-465-7301, somervilleplann@bellsouth.net

Christmas Parade – Dec. 3, SomervilleBands, Floats, Cars and more starting at 1 p.m. CONTACT: 901-465-7301, somervilleplann@bellsouth.net

Adopt a Tree at Warrors’ Path State Park – Dec. 3, KingsportCome help plant our future woodlands. For every tree you plant in the park, you get to take one home to plant on your own. CONTACT: Warriors’ Path State Park, 423-239-6786, state.tn.us/environment/parks/WarriorsPath

Oaklands Home School Holiday Tour – Dec. 8, Oaklands Historic House Museum, MurfreesboroThis Victorian holiday Christmas tour includes a tour of the mansion decorated for the holidays and customs from the 1800’s. Due to limited spacing, reservations are required. CONTACT: Oaklands Historic House Museum, 615-893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org

Christmas In The Park – Dec. 9-10, Pickwick Landing State Park, Pickwick DamFeatures a vendors market, light displays, carriage rides and Santa. CONTACT: Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, 731-925-2363

Victorian Holiday Home Tour – Dec. 10, RugbyTour 10 private Victorian homes decorated for the holidays. CONTACT: 888-214-3400, historicrugby.org

18th Annual Christmas Toy Train Show – Dec. 10, NashvilleTrains available for children to play with and experience! View operating layouts of all gauges in action, find train parts, train related objects, train sets to operate,

train manuals, and train clothing for adults and kids. CONTACT: 615-758-6003

Dickens Of A Christmas – Dec. 10-11, FranklinA Victorian-themed Christmas with more than 200 costumed characters reenacting the work of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. CONTACT: 615-591-8500, historicfranklin.com

31st Annual “Earth Treasures” Gem, Jewelry, Mineral, Fossil Show & Sale – Dec. 10-11, FranklinMid-Tennessee Gem & Mineral Society sponsors a two-day indoor show with over 30 dealers featuring handmade silver and stone jewelry, crystals and geodes, fossils and mineral specimens, supplies, tools, silver smithing and lapidary demonstrations, exhibits, with a silent auction and door prizes every hour. CONTACT: John Stanley, 615-579-1386, mtgms.org

DECEMBER 11 Christmas Tour of Homes – Dec. 11, SpringfieldPurchase tickets at the museum on Sixth Avenue in Springfield to tour various homes in the community. CONTACT: 615-382-7173

Annual Sewanee Christmas Bazzar – Dec. 12-16, SewaneeHand-crafted items, baked goods, canned goods and a new cookbook will be available

for purchase. Lunch is served at noon for those who would like to stay. The Bazaar hours are 9:30 to 2:00 Monday through Friday. CONTACT: 931-598-0771, sewaneeseniorcenter@yahoo.com

Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show – Dec. 31, GatlinburgFor the 24th straight year, the Space Needle area at traffic light no. 8 comes alive at the stroke of midnight with a fabulous fireworks show. Features free party favors and live entertainment. CONTACT: 800-568-4748, eventsgatlinburg.com

New Year’s Eve on Beale – Dec. 31, MemphisJoin the celebration as we welcome in the New Year on Beale Street. CONTACT: 901-543-5310

JANUARYBald Eagle Tours – Jan.-March, Reelfoot Lake State Park, TiptonvilleJoin us for a two-hour naturalist guided bus tour to view Bald Eagles in their natural environment. CONTACT: Reelfoot Lake State Park, 800-250-8617, tnstateparks.com/reelfoot

Reelfoot Lake

16 | tnconnections.com Tennessee Connections

Elvis Presley’s Birthday Celebration – Jan. 5-8, MemphisImagine a birthday party fit for a King and that is exactly what you will find at Graceland. Join thousands of fans for live entertainment at Graceland Plaza, a gospel celebration, a symphonic performance by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Elvis Presley’s famous tunes. CONTACT: Graceland Reservations, 800-238-2000, elvis.com

World Of Wheels – Jan. 6-8, Chattanooga Convention Center, ChattanoogaCustom auto show. CONTACT: MotorSports Productions, 205-655-4950, worldofwheels.info

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration – Jan. 17, National Civil Rights Museum, MemphisSpecial programs to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. CONTACT: National Civil Rights Museum, 901-521-9699, civilrightsmuseum.org

International Blues Challenge – Jan. 31- Feb. 4, MemphisThe world’s premier blues music competition will host blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes and industry recognition. CONTACT: Blues Foundation, 901-527-2583, blues.org

FEBRUARYWinter Heritage Festival In The Smokies – Feb. 3-6, TownsendA celebration of the human history, natural beauty, and cultural traditions. Activities include illustrated talks, tours, demonstrations, history hikes, music and dance, museum exhibits, walks in the national park and a Cades Cove reunion. CONTACT: 800-525-6834, smokymountainfestivals.org

Antiques And Garden Show Of Nashville – Feb. 10-12, NashvilleCelebrating its 22nd year, the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville has become the annual event that draws attendees from all over the country and abroad to view spectacular gardens, hear extraordinary lectures, and see and purchase rare and beautiful antiques. Show offers over 150 antique and horticultural booths and landscaped gardens. CONTACT: 800-891-8075, antiquesandgardenshow.com

Million Dollar Quartet – Feb. 14-19, MemphisMillion Dollar Quartet captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of popular music’s most extraordinary talents. CONTACT: Orpheum Theater, 901-525-3000, www.orpheum-theater.com

Dogwood Arts Festival House & Garden Show – Feb. 17-19, KnoxvilleThe show is the largest house and garden show in Tennessee for the gardening enthusiast. It’s a unique marketplace to shop, compare and save on a total selection of home and garden related products and services. CONTACT: 865-637-4561, dogwoodarts.com

Antique Appraisal Fair & Show – Feb. 18, GreenevilleThe Antique Appraisal Fair offers local and regional antique dealers showcasing and selling treasures and six certified appraisers assessing the value of antiques brought in by the public. CONTACT: 423-638-4111, visitgreenevilletn.com

Civil War 150th Event – Feb. 19, Clarksville The CW150 Commission, Fort Defiance Interpretive Center and Clarksville/Montgomery County Arts and Heritage Development Council will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Clarksville’s surrender to the US Navy. The event will feature a special appearance by well-known Ulysses S. Grant re-enactor Dr. E.C. Fields. CONTACT: clarksvillecivilwar.com

Antiques On The Mountain – Feb. 24-26, CrossvilleA distinctive array of fine painted and primitive antique furniture, exquisite furnishings, unique accessories and outstanding collectibles. Features a large selection of rare antiques dating from before 1930. CONTACT: 931-456-5035, antiquesonthemountain.com

1 Carpool whenever possible to reduce your carbon footprint –

and you’ll also spend less money on gas.

2 Staying overnight? Unplug major appliances to save energy and

lower your electric bill.

3 Support Tennessee’s sustainable tourism. Find green lodging, dining

and attractions at tnvacation.com/green.

Green Travel Tips

A Twist on FruitcakeInstead of sending friends or

relatives a traditional Christmas fruitcake this year, surprise them with a fresh-baked batch of Fruittie Nuttie cookies made by Amey B’s Cookie Delights in Nashville. Company founder Amey B. Walker based the rich, chewy, fruity and nutty cookies on her Granny Williams’ fruitcake cookie recipe. She started selling the unusual treat after friends encouraged her to start her own cookie business.

The Florida native set up shop in Nashville in 2007, and today her cookie inventory includes several creative flavors such as Chocolate Cherry Pecan, Pumpkin Pineapple Pecan, Sweet Potato Pecan, and Cranberry Walnut. The cookies come in tins of 16 for $24.95.

Order online at www.ameybcookies.com.

Winter 2011-12 tnconnections.com | 17

connect to tn products

Statewide roundup of favorite finds

Nuts About PecansWhen the holidays roll around, Pennington Seed and Supply Co. in Dyersburg

starts shipping its gourmet pecans to eager customers all over North America. The family-owned hardware, feed and seed company began making and selling gourmet pecans in 1991, and the sweet treats have become a holiday must-have for families throughout Tennessee and beyond.

Available from November 1 through Christmas, Pennington Gourmet Pecans come in more than 20 flavors, including Chocolate Amaretto, Cinnamon Sprinkle and Pennster’s Garlic. The pecans have been featured in Southern Living magazine and can be ordered in gift tins or gift baskets accompanied by country ham, real sorghum molasses, and Pennington jams and jellies. For ordering information, visit www.penningtonseedandpecans.com, or call (800) 479-6355.

Reinventing the BagWhen Nashville mom and artist

Veronica James wanted a compact, packable bag that didn’t compromise on fashion, she began toying with the idea of creating her own line of shrink-and-go bags. As a result, James created Urbandillo, a stylish line of collapsible bags, jackets and blankets.

James named her brand Urbandillo after the armadillo, an animal that can compact its body into a small ball shape. The Urbandillo bags come in five styles, including classic round and hobo. Urbandillo’s patented shrinkable blanket, the Fuzzy Tortilla, is popular for taking to movie theaters or sporting events. Find more products at www.urbandillo.com.

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PAIDLebanon Junction,KY 40150

Permit No. 222

JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS725 COOL SPRINGS BLvD., SUITE 400FRANKLIN, TN 37067

Winter Energy-Saving TipsFocus on these five areas to stay warm and save moneyTennessee residents can keep heating costs low this winter while remaining warm and cozy and enjoying the season – just by making a few simple changes around the home.

Hot Water

• Use less by installing low-flow showerheads and fixing leaky spouts.

• Try using warm or cold water when washing clothes. Washing one large load instead of several small ones can cut costs too.

Fireplaces

• To make sure your heat isn’t flowing out the chimney, firmly close the damper – an open damper is equivalent to keeping a full-size window open during the winter.

• Plug and seal your chimney flue if you never use your fireplace.

Heating Equipment

• Once a month, check your furnace air filter and clean it or replace it – dirty or clogged filters can force furnaces to work harder, costing you more.

• Clean your warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators. Make sure carpeting, furniture and drapes aren’t obstructing the heat.

Insulation

• Leaky doors and windows can be a costly problem.

Save money by caulking and weather-stripping those drafty areas.

• Check the insulation in various areas around your home to ensure they meet the levels suggested for your region.

Thermostat

• Set your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature possible when you’re home.

• If there is a time during the day when no one is home, set your thermostat at 65 degrees instead of the usual 72. Maintaining 65 degrees for eight hours a day may cut your heating bill by as much as 10 percent.