The 3rd Annual 2022 Tennessee Tiny Home Music Festival took place Saturday and Sunday Aug. 20 and 21st 10 AM to 5 PM at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, 625 Smith Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
Image provided by https://unitedtinyhouse.com/2021-tennessee-tiny-house-festival/. A professional built tiny house. All rights reserved.
The festival provides a place for getting familiar with tiny house examples while enjoying some tunes. In addition to raising money for charity, the festival offers information on legal considerations and tips for building a tiny house.
Image provided by https://unitedtinyhouse.com/2021-tennessee-tiny-house-festival/. Weekends complete schedule. All rights reserved.
This is the United Tiny House Association’s 26th For-Charity Tiny House Festival.
“It will be a weekend full of all things “tiny“ & fun!” says https://unitedtinyhouse.ticketspice.com/tennessee-tiny-home-music-festival-3rd-annual “You will be able to tour and view all sorts of tiny structures from professional builders and private homeowners, learn and connect with people who live the tiny lifestyle, and interact with vendors from both the tiny living and local communities.”
Image provided by https://unitedtinyhouse.com/2021-tennessee-tiny-house-festival/. Tinies from HGTV and A&E. All rights reserved.
“Enjoy Talks and plenty of Workshops on subjects ranging from Building, Zoning, Downsizing, Off-Grid Applications, and other great topics presented by the celebrities and experts from the World tiny lifestyle community!”
Image provided by https://unitedtinyhouse.com/2021-tennessee-tiny-house-festival/. Vardo or Wagon by Scott Luce. All rights reserved.
Monday, July 11th, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. the Clarksville Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission (CMCRPC) hosted the first of three Comprehensive Plan Workshops.
Held at William O Beach Civic Hall, the event was intended to intentionally plan development in the Clarksville region. City and county members were invited on Facebook and by website to help decide what matters to the community in planning for future development.
This topic is an important one as Clarksville grows rapidly.
“Data shows Montgomery County is the 4th fastest growing county in Tennessee” says Erica Francis of WKRN News at https://tinyurl.com/mr9x4rpk
Other news articles frequently discuss population growth in Clarksville, TN.
A series of events were held at different times at Kenwood High School and Old Glory Distillery, that same week. Community members were encouraged to sit together at tables and the events were fairly well attended. At the end of the meeting, each table presented a map and ideas for how the community should be planned. They were later hung on the wall and added to the CMCRPC website.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Maps made by small groups for ideas of how to plan Montgomery County, Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.
The Facebook invitations and CMCRPC website seem to be aimed at giving the community a voice in planning growth.
“Help shape a Vision for HOW and WHERE we grow in the City and County,” the Facebook event said.
“Join us for one of three Comprehensive Plan Community-wide Visioning Workshops. If you care about Housing, Transportation, Open Spaces and Recreation; bring your opinions and ideas to share in small groups and draw on maps!!”
See the event on Facebook here: https://tinyurl.com/3fnz6n9f
Image by Sarah Hughes. Notes of ideas made by small groups for ideas of how to plan Montgomery County, Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.
The plan is partially organized by the Houseal-Lavigne Consultant Team. Presenters listed the next steps as more workshops, and allowing the community to use the CMCRPC website online questionnaire to aid scenario planning.
The consultant team is working on a comprehensive plan with the CMCRPC. They consider that comprehensive plan “a roadmap or blueprint for the next two decades”.
It is a recommendation for physical development of the area,roads and infrastructure. Planning those areas will affect applications for grants and funding. It is most likely an 18th month process. The CMCRPC plans to present a draft soon.
The meeting opened by asking people to sum up one word that was their vision for Clarksville and add it to a word collage here https://pollev.com/hlplanning976
An introductory overview of the comprehensive plan was debuted Dec. 15th, 2021. Presentation materials are available at the website and feature different visions of how a city can look.
The next CMCRPC meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 2:00 p.m. Consider attending to share your opinion. Or visit the CMCRPC website to voice your opinion and get familiar with the plan.
If you’re a fan of honey flavors, Krispy Kreme is offering an “Oh Honey!” collection of donuts.
Get these seasonal specialties before they’re gone on May 22, 2022!
Image by Sarah Hughes. Honey Bee Doughnuts. All rights reserved.
The flavors of the moment include a cute cartoon bee decoration and honey themed palettes. These tasty treats can be purchased at participating Krispy Kreme locations until they sell out.
Krispykreme.com describes the honey bee donuts as “an Original Glazed® doughnut dipped in yellow icing and decorated like a honey bee with buttercreme and mini cookies.”
The honey pull apart is “glazed, light and airy honey doughnut clusters drizzled with salted honey icing.”
Image by Sarah Hughes. Krispy Kreme doughnuts with honey themed collection. All rights reserved.
The third donut of the trio is the honey cake, expressed as, “a glazed Sour Cream Cake doughnut topped with salted honey icing drizzles and an oat crisp crumble.”
The website notes that “daily selection varies by shop.”
Image by Sarah Hughes. Krispy Kreme doughnuts. All rights reserved.
Available for a limited time. Check out a store near you! 🍯
You love honey and so do we. The Tennessee Honey Festival brings awareness to pollinators’ roles and the variety of ways their honey can be used.
Taking place last Oct. 3, 2021 10 AM to 5 PM (CDT) at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, Tenn. 37243, the festival has been celebrated annually since 2018.
“The Tennessee Honey Festival is a family-friendly event that is put on for the sole purpose of raising awareness and bringing attention to the current honey-bee, pollinator crisis.” says https://tennesseehoneyfestival.com/
If that sounds like the bee’s knees, check out the festival next year. Tickets can be purchased at https://tennesseehoneyfestival.com/
Image by Sarah Hughes. Confetti Spring book on Kindle. All rights reserved.
If you’ve enjoyed reading the Honey it’s Thursday blog, check out Confetti Spring by Sarah Hughes. It’s a poetry book written a poem a day as a part of the May Musings writing challenge by BookLeaf Publishing.
Copies became available on Kindle through Amazon as of Sept. 14, 2021. Kindle copies can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/34sc4vea. Copies became available on Nook through Barnes and Noble as of Aug. 13, 2021. Nook copies can be obtained at https://tinyurl.com/6wbkbm9d. Paper copies are still to come. Check back next month for an article on the writing process for Confetti Spring.
Image provided by BookLeaf Publishing and Sarah Hughes. Confetti Spring cover art. All rights reserved.
Activities: “The temperate climate here allows for a lengthy recreation season, including boating, canoeing, and fishing. There is a large playground for the children and horseshoe pits for the adults. A large pavilion will be great for big family get-togethers.”
Amenities: Water Hookup, Accessibility, Picnic Table, BBQ, Fire Pit, Lantern Pole, Full Hookup, Electricity Hookup, Grills/Fire Ring, etc.
Reservation only
Distance from Clarksville: 38 min
Notes: 30 min drive to Nashville, if arriving late it’s highly recommended to call the campground to notify the Park Attendant.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees and table at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.
“Nestled in the woods of Pembroke Kentucky, we are a family owned and operated farm, campsite and RV Park. Come and enjoy the outdoors and get away from your fast paced life.”
Amenities: Laundry
Reservation only with application process
Distance from Clarksville: 39 min
Notes: “We are a family owned and operated campsite and farm nestled in the woods of Pembroke Kentucky.” “Dogs must be pre-approved”
Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees and lake at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.
Activities: “swimming beach area, archery range, ball field, bike trails, a campfire theater, hiking trails, two boat ramps, and a fishing pier”
Amenities: “The newly renovated Piney Outpost provides campers a place to purchase food and drinks, ice, firewood, tick repellent, limited camping supplies, and other perishable goods. Soft drink machines are located behind the gatehouse and some shower buildings. Washers and dryers are available at Areas B, C, and D shower buildings.”
Walk in and Reservations accepted
Distance from Clarksville: 54 min
Notes: “Piney Campground is now open year-round and offers 384 well-defined lakefront and wooded sites with 283 electrical hookups, 44 sites with electric, water, and sewer, and 57 primitive sites. Most sites are capable of handling large motorhomes and campers. Campers have access to modern facilities, including a swimming beach area, archery range, ball field, bike trails, a campfire theater, hiking trails, two boat ramps, and a fishing pier. Piney also has 19 primitive cabins available for nightly rental. In addition, the summer season offers weekend recreation programs for all ages. Since 1973, in mid-September Piney holds its popular Camper’s Fair with a variety of activities including a campers’ flea market and dealer showcase of new RVs, fifth wheels, and motorhomes. It is open to the public during the weekend.”
Image by Sarah Hughes. Bug friend at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.
Activities: Pool and pool lift, Cable tv, mini golf, bike rentals, WiFi, playground gym, climate-controlled bathhouse, giant connect four game, Lego wall,Disc golf, kids arts and crafts table, ping pong
Amenities: Snack bar, firewood, laundry, wheelchair accessible, store
Reservations accepted
Distance from Clarksville: 56 min
Notes: KOA, Open March 1 to November 30
Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees and lake at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.
The pastime of camping is a good way to get to know the landscape and reconnect to nature. Camping is something to do and provides its own entertainment such as hiking, swimming and barbecuing. It’s a great activity for friends and family. Philosophically, it can be used to reconnect to the simple life and find inner peace. It can help revive circadian rhythms by putting you out under the stars and sunrises, according to intuition and a study done in Feb. 2017 and published in Current Biology.
“These studies suggest that our internal clock responds strongly and quite rapidly to the natural light-dark cycle,” said lead author and CU Boulder integrative physiology professor Kenneth Wright. “Living in our modern environments can significantly delay our circadian timing, and late circadian timing is associated with many health consequences. But as little as a weekend camping trip can reset it.”
“Weekend exposure to natural light was sufficient to achieve 69 percent of the shift in circadian timing we previously reported after a week’s exposure to natural light,” Wright said.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.
Most people go camping when the weather is nice. It’s important to pack gear to shelter and protect from weather, as bad weather can be fatal. Many campgrounds are only open seasonally, with open months listed online or by phone. In general, camping season tends to be Apr. or May to Sept. or Oct. Many campers wait for weather patterns to solidify.
“If you’re planning a camping trip, a good rule is to wait until May for the weather to work itself out” says Bottles and Banter’s section on Family RVing and Travel (see more at https://www.bottlesandbanter.com/2021/02/13/when-does-camping-season-start-best-month-camping/).
Image by Sarah Hughes. Rained out tent at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.
Since quarantine has limited travel and entertainment options this year, understandably camping in the USA has increased as an activity. A study by Kampgrounds of America predicts camping interest will remain high in 2021.
According to PR Newswire’s article on the study, Fresh Data Indicates Camping Interest To Remain High In 2021, “More than 60% of these first-time campers plan to camp the same or more in the coming year; across all campers, families are the group most likely to spend more nights camping in 2021.”
“Camping had been steadily growing in popularity prior to the pandemic, but experienced aggressive growth across the U.S. last year,” said PR Newswire, “The 2021 North American Camping Report, which surveyed U.S. and Canadian campers’ sentiments and behaviors on the outdoor recreation in January 2021, shows that more than 86 million U.S. households consider themselves campers and 48 million of those households took at least one camping trip in 2020 – up more than 6 million over 2019.” (see more at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fresh-data-indicates-camping-interest-to-remain-high-in-2021-301273611.html).
Be aware of fees and facilities offered at your campsite of choice. Some locations are illegal to camp in or have specific regulations. Most require reservations, and some permits for specific activities. Some have websites or a phone number for reservations. Be sure to get the proper equipment. Leave no trace.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Outside The Looking Glass Café. All rights reserved.
Clarksville’s The Looking Glass is a collection of restaurant, bakery and event space with an Alice in Wonderland charm. Locals and travelers alike should check out this cafe’s unique and whimsical heart.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Café table next to a fountain. All rights reserved.
In addition to candy bar flavored coffees and large beautiful slices of cake, the Looking Glass offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options throughout the day. They are an excellent spot to meet someone for brunch or to sit with a coffee.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Lily pads in a koi pond. All rights reserved.
“I suppose I ought to eat or drink something or other; but the great question is ‘What?’”
—Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland, Chapter 4, The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill
Image by Sarah Hughes. Giant lily pads in a garden pond. All rights reserved.
The decor is sweet and colorful, with homages to Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carrol. Along with meeting a variety of meal or caffeine related needs, the multipurpose layout offers a wide open feeling, providing intimacy for each table’s conversations. Whether you are there for coffee, a meal or just cake, there’s plenty of space to stretch out. Once full, there is a sweet garden out back to admire.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Crab Cake Eggs Benedict with Home fries. All rights reserved.
I found the spot while trying to find a unique eggs benedict that reminded me of granola-cafes back home in San Diego, CA. I enjoyed my crab cake benedict, and my fiance enjoyed a breakfast burrito. We got chunky monkey and oreo mochas in giant teacups. Looking around on my visit, there were many ladies luncheoning. It reminded me of the now sold Claire De Lune Coffee Lounge in Northpark, and an old Hemingway story. Spots like these are a passion of mine and worth our patronage. You can feel the love and history poured into them.
“It is the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Clean Well Lighted Place
Please consider checking this great spot out and supporting a great local small business. I’d rate them four out of five stars.
Image by Sarah Hughes. Whimsical table in a garden. All rights reserved.
Their hours are as follows:
Mon 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tue 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wed 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thu 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fri 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sun Closed
Image by Sarah Hughes. Koi pond in a garden. All rights reserved.
The restaurant is located at 329 Warfield Blvd Ste H Clarksville, TN 37043.
Americans are gardening more in a post-pandemic world than in the year 2019.
Garden sales jumped from 13.8 billion in 2019 to 104 billion in 2020, according to nurserymag.com and statista.com.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of radishes in a container garden. All rights reserved.
The trend is expected to grow in 2021 based on projections, according to prnewswire.com.
It’s possible the change is due to people being home and wanting to look at something cheery, while adding curb appeal. According to Ferry-Morse, a popular seed company, ten times more people planted flower seeds than fruit or vegetable seeds, which is a reverse of last year.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of strawberry pot. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of raised bed container. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of mailbox garden bed. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a raised garden bed. All rights reserved.
Important Dates for Gardeners
Feb. 6 through June 4 – Last Frost date depending on hardiness planting zone
Apr. 14 – National Gardening Day
May 9 – Mother’s Day – A day that some people wait to plant till to avoid frosts, per folklore
Aug. 25 through Dec. 13 – First Frost date depending on hardiness planting zone
While retailers seem to be bustling, there is a growing trend to sell inventive one-stop bundled kits and better quality items. New plants are being released with novel features and enhancements aimed at making them easier to grow.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of bricks for a raised garden. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a raised garden bed in progress. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of young plants. All rights reserved.
New “plantlings” are one of many new options from Ferry-Morse. The product consists of partially grown young plants shipped directly to consumer’s doors.
Whether investing in time-honored gardening methods or newer products, the gardening trend is a great inspiration for expanding your garden.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
As temperatures rise and blossoms cycle through their hues, it would appear Tenn. has entered the Spring season. One way to enjoy it is to visit the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of an iris flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a columbine flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a large tulip flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a daffodil flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tulip flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of tulip flower around a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive in Nashville, Tenn. Cheekwood draws residents, members and travelers alike. With 55-acres of botanical gardens there is plenty of space for social distancing in accordance with safety protocols listed in their entirety on Cheekwood’s website.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a fern at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a leaf at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a fern at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
“Cheekwood, in accordance with CDC guidance, recommends individuals stay 6′ apart and travel in groups no larger than 10. All visitors are required to wear cloth face coverings when entering buildings including the Historic Mansion & Museum, Botanic Hall, and the Frist Learning Center. Cloth face coverings are strongly recommended in outdoor areas except when maintaining a physical distance of at least 6’ from other visitors,” says https://cheekwood.org/knowbeforeyougo_covid19/
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree label at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a landscape at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree in a maze at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Cheekwood features year round activities. Arbor Day, on Apr. 30, 2021 can be celebrated with a walk and an arboretum map available online and from Visitor services.
“The Arboretum at Cheekwood includes well over 2,100 trees, curated to serve Cheekwood’s mission as a collecting institution and offer the community enjoyment and education. Cheekwood has documented 1,267 deciduous trees; 576 evergreens; 16 deciduous conifers; and 238 dogwoods,” says https://cheekwood.org/calendar/arbor-day/
“Our arboretum map, available online and from Visitor Services, presents at least 120 distinct species and cultivated varieties of trees to guide an exploration of the campus canopy.”
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering dogwood tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering dogwood tree label at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Their website blog even has tips for caring for Dogwood Trees, available at https://cheekwood.org/dogwood-tips/
Although Bloom Season for Cheekwood is officially Mar. 6 – Apr. 11, 2021 and National Gardening Day Apr. 14, 2021 there is still a great deal to see at Cheekwood in the lushness of warm months. The grounds are an excellent inspiration for the hobby gardener featuring different gardens every month. Summertime also promises seasonal festivities and beautiful scenes.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a card table at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a dining room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of ceramic dishware at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a painting at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of patio room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a card table at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of study at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of study at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a dining room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a painting at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of patio room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of entry at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of entry at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
Tickets have the option to be purchased for just the grounds or to include the art museum located in the mansion of the historic Cheek estate. The building houses historically furnished rooms, paintings and permanent collection pieces.
“Originally built as the home of Leslie and Mabel Cheek in 1929, Cheekwood is one of the finest examples of an American Country Place Era estate,” says the Cheekwood website.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of wooden play structure at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of ornamental structure at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of landscape at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of turtle fountain at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of swan pool at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of pond with sculptures at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
If planning a visit, it is best to reserve a time. Ticket and membership options are available through the museums website at https://cheekwood.org/buy-tickets/
Looking for a way to support Clarksville culture and have a great Valentine’s day? Reserve your own themed date night in a box from the Custom House Museum and Cultural Center.
Photo provided by https://customshousemuseum.org/. All rights reserved.
As of 6:30 PM, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, The Custom House Museum and Cultural Center is taking orders for special Valentine’s treat boxes. The boxes will be available for pick up and delivery in February.
This offering is presented by the Museum Guild as a part of an event called Valentines Delivered: Date Night in a Box. The event replaces an annual winter fundraiser, Champagne & Chocolate.
Funds raised go towards artifact conservation, collections, exhibits and educational programming. It’s a gift that helps the community, and allows for easy social distancing.
Exterior shot of the Custom House Museum and Cultural Center. Photo by Sarah Hughes. All rights reserved.
The boxes contain assorted goodies, including a few locally manufactured items. They are perfect for sharing with a date or group of four. However, sharing is not required.
Delivery and Pickup will be Feb. 8 through 12. Orders can be placed through the museum’s website. Limited quantities are available. https://customshousemuseum.org/valentines-delivered/
The original spire from the top of the museum on display. It was removed from the landmark building in a tornado Jan. 22, 1999. Photo by Sarah Hughes. All rights reserved.
Honey it’s Thursday
…because honey’s sweet and we put out on Thursdays…
