CATEGORY: New Furniture, Consignment
Owners: Marsha Devaughn & Rhonda Everett Tracey
Chicinteriors@charter.net

I have told you of many of the jewels hidden around the Spring Hill area in past articles, and here is another to add to the crown. Southern Chic’ Interiors, located on Duplex Road just off Main Street behind the Old Schoolhouse, was established almost three years ago by cousins Marsha DeVaughn and Rhonda Smith, who are owner-partners of the business. Marsha worked in furniture sales for many years and Rhonda left the travel industry to move here to Tennessee to help open the business. Everett Tracey is a friend who does delivery, pickup and occasionally assists in the store.

What is unique about Southern Chic’ Interiors is the selection. They carry many well-known names in furniture including Coricana bedding and Signature Design, a division of Ashley furniture. If you prefer to design your own custom upholstered pieces, you’ll like the Livingston and Samuel Deane line which includes sofas, loveseats, chairs and ottomans, upholstered headboards and matching benches made to your order specifications. There are wide choices of fabrics and all furniture is American Made, some right here in Tennessee. Custom orders take about two weeks. Prices are lower than major custom design companies and pieces can be made deeper, longer, or to detailed customer specification. There are many home decor items such as candles, pictures, nick-knacks and rugs.

Souther Chic’ Interiors also carries Tennessee Enterprises, Inc., a line of hardwood case goods such as dining rooms, bookcases, etc. and Perdue, a great line of promotional furniture at excellent promotional prices. So you see, you have the option of great furniture choices and shopping right here in Spring Hill! Why go anywhere else? Come see Marsha, Rhonda or Everett for more information and selections for your furniture needs.

Consignment service is offered on nice select consignment items of furniture and home decor. Also available on the premises are mini-storage warehouses and parking for boats and trailers.

Store hours vary- Monday and Tuesday-10-6;Wednesday and Thursday-10-5 and Friday-Saturday-10-6. Closed on Sundays.
Comments to: jhatfield5@charter.net

Phone: 615-593-0435
3535 Kedron Road
Spring Hill, TN 37174

(Located off Saturn Pkwy at the Kedron Road Exit. (Across from Anytime Fitness & Big Al’s Bar & Grill)

CATEGORY:
Fine Dining & Group Events * RATING: Exquisite!*
I would definitely recommend this business to our readers!

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for the newer and richer experiences.” Eleanor Roosevelt

When you really “experience” something, it catches you up in the moment, and takes you away-even if just for a short time-to a place that can bring real joy and new pleasures. I am always looking for these moments, and as my husband and I sat down to dinner at The Post and Beam to celebrate our 28th anniversary, we found a wonderful new experience awaited us. All of you who need a brief get-away to that “happy place” MUST go dine at The Post and Beam in Spring Hill, TN.

This treasure of fine dining and group events is another of our area’s best kept secrets-but one that MUST be told. The Post and Beam is an authentic 1800′s farmhouse that stands triumphant after 150 years in a changing world. The home has only four owners on record since the Civil War and its’ fourth owner, author Barbara Jo Jenkins has placed the home in a Trust to ensure that future generations can enjoy this piece of Tennessee’s rural history. Jim Ganus, the site manager is happy to give you a tour of the home, but the history and beauty of this 1800′s Victorian farm house is only part of the attraction. Dining is offered on Friday and Saturday evenings or special group events by reservation. Chef Jay Rummage prepares a wonderful menu of entrees and desserts using local area produce that is sheer pleasure to experience. Our server, Miles, was friendly and informative. As you are dining you can reflect on the unique features of the house. Each room has it’s own personality and is exquisitely decorated in period colors. Much of the old house is original and was restored in 1983 by Robert George of Columbia, TN, at which time the post and beam wing was added (thus the name!) Each room has details unique to history and must be seen and experienced to be appreciated. The stained glass window was crafted by Sydney McClain also of Columbia, TN and designed from an 1848 quilt pattern from New England with state flowers around the border. The spiral staircase is a work of art built by John Frano from New England as his last masterpiece after working for the Rockefellers.

The Post and Beam is available for group events such as rehearsal dinners, weddings, group luncheons, birthdays or business events. Visit the website at www.thepostandbeam.com for complete information, reservations, and event details or to see photos of the property. For us, The Post and Beam offered the complete dining experience -the atmosphere, the food, the service and just the place itself gave us a unique respite into the past. You really should “Come home to The Post and Beam.”

The fine staff of Jim Ganus, Site Manager; Jay Rummage, Chef du Cuisine & Operations; Sarah Waitkus, Floor Manager & Accounting; and Becky Daniel, Chef du Cuisine per Event & Catering will take care of all your dining needs.

By JHatfield

5075 Main Street, Building D, Suite 2
Spring Hill, TN 37174
Phone: 615-302-2524
(Located in THE COMMONS shopping plaza)

CATEGORY: Gifts, Accessories, Art, Tea Parties

I would recommend this business to readers.

“If you must be in a hurry, then let it be according to the old adage, and hasten slowly.” ~Saint Vincent de Paul

Every morning as I hasten to work through Spring Hill I pass The Commons, a picturesque array of shops that always catches my attention as I wonder, “what are those colorful shops back there?” On a mission to get to work, I never seem to have the time to stop and explore the possibilities.

So I made a point last week of visiting one, Perry’s Home Decor, that had always caught my eye. I had no idea of the variety of delights waiting inside.

Perry’s is located in the former home of the Early’s, founder of Early’s Honey Stand of Spring Hill. (Early’s continues as a wonderful Southern Foods/ Gift Shop and catalog service located next to Perry’s Home Decor in The Commons.)

Carolyn Perry & her daughter-in-law, Rhonda, along with several creative friends, have created a unique shopping experience you must visit. Rhonda’s decorating talent highlights a unique array of gifts and items including, jewelry, handbags, candles and household decor. Even decorative plastic cowboy boots and creative culinary gifts. But that’s not all.

Local artist Sherry Yates hosts a room called “The Open Door Gallery” that displays her colorful artwork and also creations from some of her artist friends. She is offering an art class, “Bubbly Brushes” where one can bring wine, cocktails or any other beverage to enjoy as Sherry demonstrates each step as students paint along with her. Students leave with a completed painting ready to hang and enjoy. New paintings are offered in class each week. No painting experience is required. Classes are Friday & Saturday evenings at 6:30p.m. and supplies are included in the $35 class fee. Call Perry’s at 615-502-2524 to reserve a place.

The best kept secret at Perry’s is the WONDERFUL Tea Room hidden in the back. Decorated in lovely pastels, this is the perfect room to host a shower, girls birthday party, business event or special luncheon. Little girls can learn etiquette, while dressing up in “mothers things” and sharing their first cup of tea in fine china. There is a small kitchen to use for your shower or special event. Call Carolyn or Rhonda for details or to reserve the Tea Room at 615-302-2524.

You really must visit Perry’s Home Decor and enjoy ALL the treasures it has to offer. Oh, and visit when you have plenty of time and can “hasten slowly!”

* RATING: THUMBS UP!*

I would recommend this business to readers.

“Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and the effort which life implies.”
Erich Fromm

Thus has the power of the sense of smell.

When I asked my teenage son to tell me the first word picture a candle brings to his mind, he said, “a pleasant aroma that fills up an entire room .” We like to keep a candle burning at our house, and I am always looking for lead free wicks and petroleum free candles to burn. In a room at the shop of A Petal for Your Thoughts florist, there is a lovely place filled with wonderful scents., called Candlecopia .

Bekkey Bierman, the owner was born & raised on a corn and soy bean farm in Iowa. A Disabled Navy Veteran, she has a Horticultural Science degree, and started making candles at home with a small kit she received one Christmas. She enjoyed it so much that her hobby became her passion, and her friends suggested she sell them. Pat & Mary from A Petal for Your Thoughts had an extra room available, and on March l, 2010 Candlecopia opened for business. All the candles sold at Candlecopia are made in-house by Bekkey of 100% American soy. When properly cared for, the candles will burn approximately 8-9 hours per ounce. Satisfaction is guaranteed and you can also buy securely online at etsy.com (click on “shop search” and put in the search field keyword “Candlecopia”)

These all-natural scented soy candles come in many aromas including lilac (my favorite), vanilla spice, Hawaiian paradise, sage and citrus and many others with new scents coming in August. Prices range from $5.95-$14.95 and empties can be refilled at .70 cents per ounce. The shop is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone can join the email newsletter by stopping in the shop to register for the weekly give-away, or by sending a request to candlecopia@gmail.com.

Old School Cafe’
1220 School Street
Spring Hill, TN37174
(931) 486-2745

CATEGORY: Good Home Cookin’
* RATING: THUMBS UP!*

I would recommend this business to readers.

When I went to school, we had an hour for lunch. Each class lined up with a tray and as we moved through the food line, food servers in white uniforms filled our trays with baked potatoes and gravy, turkey slices and applesauce. Or maybe on a light day, macaroni and cheese, green beans and a brownie. Always with a small carton of white milk. Then it was out for recess…

There’s a nostalgic eating venue unique to Spring Hill where you can relive your school memories and have a deliciously nutritious lunch. It’s the OLD SCHOOL CAFÉ located on school street just off Main street in the old Spring Hill High School.

At this meat and two, all of the food is homemade – pork chops, catfish or famous burgers, even sandwiches, and salads. The menu is on the chalkboard and the desserts are delicious–homemade cobbler, or pies – my favorite is the Derby pie…pecans, chocolate chips warmed and topped with ice cream. The service here is fast and friendly, but don’t bring a credit card, they only take cash!

The Old School Café is open 5 days a week for breakfast from 7:00-10:00 and lunch from 10:00-2:00. Kids and groups are welcome and it is wheelchair accessible. The schoolhouse is also home to an art gallery, barber shop/hairdresser and guitar school. So next time you want some good ole home cookin’, visit the Old School Café in Spring Hill.You’ll be glad you did!

“Sometimes the greatest of treasures are found in the most unexpected places..

”THE SHABBY SHACK”
Motto: “High Fashion Without High Prices”
Owner: Sue Whitehead
2983 Carters Creek Sta. Road
Columbia, TN 38401
931-698-8458
Shabbyshackshop@aol.com

CATEGORY: Unique purses, jewelry, candles and accessories
* RATING: THUMBS UP!*

I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BUSINESS TO READERS.

If you are an antique lover, you know where the Granary at Carter’s Creek Station is located. It’s an unassuming black building on the corner, that you might drive by if you weren’t looking for it. But all treasure hunters need to STOP and visit it, and the new SHABBY SHACK that shares this spot.

This lovely shop is the inspiration of Sue Whitehead, of Columbia, whose creativity needed an outlet. The shop is beautifully decorated in her antiques that display unique ladies fashion accessories including jewelry, purses, billfolds, market baskets, Camo bags for men and “Camo Chick” bags for women. Sue also carries a line of “Cute as a Button” hair bows with matching flip flops. My favorite item is the wonderful array of dried flowers, everything from roses to wild flowers are beautifully displayed and Sue can help you create your own unique, personal arrangement.

Ever wanted to have a DIVA PARTY? Bring your friends to THE SHABBY SHACK for appetizers and coffee and earn shopping credit from your total sales. Just call 931-698-8458 to book your after hours party soon!

One room of the shop is occupied by artist Roddy Love formerly of California. Mr. Love uses an easel designed by his grandfather, also an artist, that dates back to the early 1900′s. He is also a wood finisher.

Take time to visit this small corner of treasures. THE SHABBY SHACK is open Thursday thru Saturday 10:00-5:00 and Sundays 1:00-5:00.

There will be a special Grand Opening on May 15th that includes a community yard sale, giveaways, food and music.

Since Mule Day was coming to Columbia, I decided it was a great weekend to have my annual yard sale. And I did—for twenty minutes– before the police came and shut it down. You can have a sale in Maury County, as long as you purchase a permit, have one only twice yearly, and do not place your signs within 15 feet of the road in city limits. This came about because apparently some people abuse the privilege and have a sale every weekend, which is then considered a business. Just one more example of how sometimes everyone must pay for the misdeeds of a few. Politics are getting much closer to home.

If you need a reality check on this, there’s an interesting book by Glen Beck called Common Sense. We as a people can no longer afford to be uninformed about the issues, the policies and the individuals who are running our country. Business as usual is no longer acceptable.

Times have greatly changed from what our original forefathers believed and the values our government was formed upon; even from when being of a particular party meant you stood for a particular agenda.

We as Americans need to be aware of and involved in the issues of the country we are leaving to our children and grandchildren. This book reminds us that the actions of ONE individual do make a difference.
“ Two hundred and fifty years ago Thomas Paine, a hard working American who, with fellow colonists grew tired of British oppression, used his publishing industry contacts and released a pamphlet that made a case for change. It used not violence, but extraordinarily logical, straightforward, indisputable arguments as a case for change. This ultimately raised collective voices for change that put the colonists on an irreversible path toward revolution and ultimately, freedom. They were not willing to sit idly by and watch hard won freedoms dissolve into apathy, political correctness and corruption.” (COMMON SENSE)

This book is not about the left or right. It reveals the truth of what is occurring in our countries’ government that affect ALL of us. Common Sense covers government spending practices, government programs, taxes, privileges of political classes, corruption and laws. The second half of the book is Thomas Paines, “Common Sense”.

We can no longer afford to sit back and watch our individual and collective freedoms disappear. As Americans we have a responsibility to our children and their children. “If you believe that it’s time to put principles before parties, character above campaign promises and common sense above all…..,” READ THIS BOOK. Become informed and we can make a difference.

While out & about at area businesses, I am undercover to critique the service, cleanliness, employee interaction and quality of products offered. I will review one business each month to let you know what I think…..

UTOPIA COFFEE HOUSE
5302 Main Street
Spring Hill, TN 37174
Phone: 931-486-2242
utopiacoffeehouse.com
I would recommend this business to readers
* RATING: THUMBS UP!*

To use their own words, “ at Utopia Coffee, our philosophy is that all people should embrace the community they live in, and love the people in it. We promote a sense of community by providing a place for everyone to gather. Whether it be a family looking for a place to relax, a local business looking for a spot to meet a client or a book club searching for that perfect place to meet and discuss the latest novel; you’ll feel right at home. And for the board game fans, come by and ask one of us about our game nights.”

Yesterday I had the pleasure of experiencing Utopia Coffee for lunch. The food was good, the company most enjoyable and the setting provided a relaxing atmosphere away from the stresses of work for awhile. Utopia is more than just coffee. They specialize in espresso, cappuccino, lattes, tea, sodas, and craft beer. They bake their own delicious pastries from scratch right on the premises. Breakfast foods include two signature breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal and fruit & granola parfaits. I had a choice of lunch menu items, including paninis, soup, salads and wraps made fresh daily and available all day. Utopia is a place to hang out, somewhere where you can sit and enjoy your time, without the fast-paced atmosphere of many restaurants. There’s even entertainment! Samples include movie nights, featured poets and songwriters, game nights and happy hours. The local radio station also broadcasts from Utopia!

What I liked best is the uniqueness and detail of the beautiful aging home with its fireplaces in each room and mile-high ceilings. The various rooms are casual and relaxed and invite you to stay awhile and enjoy a cup or two! Utopia is a bit hard to find if you aren’t looking, set just off Main Street, but if you need a morning cup to get your day going, a spot of lunch or an evening to mingle with friends, Utopia invites you in to “stop in and smell the coffee.”

Comments: Lunch was simple, but good and the pastries are delicious! Service was a bit slow, perhaps a few more staff with smiling faces and time to chat would add to the ambiance of the atmosphere and great coffee!

Comments to hatz5@charter.net

LIFT
BY KELLY CORRIGAN

Kelly Corrigan, New York Times best-selling author of THE MIDDLE PLACE, has written her second book, LIFT, which started as a letter to her children.“For everyone who has been caught off guard by the pace and vulnerability of raising children…” This book is the book any mother could and may have written. Any mother who at the end of the day, when the kids are tucked into bed, looks back and says, “was I too harsh,” did I do the right thing,” “have I ruined them forever?” The responsibility a mother feels in raising her children is a unique and unknown journey. It begins the first moment they are held in your arms, and it never ends. These little beings have the ability to bring us the greatest of joy and the deepest of heartache. But that is something we would never trade for having them.

In LIFT, Kelly Corrigan speaks to her daughters, Georgia and Claire, about being their mom. Her hopes for them, her joys in them, and the lessons she hopes they will learn from life. She shares stories from her childhood and theirs and lessons learned from experiences, like having cancer and losing a nephew.

As you read this book, you will imagine the journal that you kept for your children, the things you would have done or said, the things you hoped they have learned and will take with them always.

This book reminds us that the pace of life while our children are young keeps us on a constant treadmill that one day slowly stops as we look around and see that our work was important, it was limited and now it’s done.

You or I could have written this book, but I encourage you to read LIFT, to help you appreciate the importance of being a Mom. I encourage you to watch her YouTube “Transcending” video. Website-www.kellycorrigan.com.

By jhatfield

HOMESTEAD MANOR PLANTATION
4683 Columbia Pike
Thompson’s Station, TN 37179
Phone: 615-790-2309
info@homesteadmanor.com

* RATING: THUMBS UP!*
I would recommend this business to readers.
Since I am a fan of English tea time, classic literature and antebellum homes, my visit to Homestead Manor Plantation was pure pleasure. Recently opened in Thompson’s Station, Homestead Manor was originally built by Mr. & Mrs. Francis Giddens, who obtained the property through a Revolutionary War Grant. After moving to Tennessee from Virginia, the Giddens, using bricks and wood made on site, built the home. It was completed in 1819.

Today, Homestead Manor, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by Jay and Marcia Franks. The 50-acre property has a conservation easement through The Land Trust of Tennessee and will be the centerpiece of a planned Thompson’s Station Battlefield Park.

You can enjoy a lunch with seasonal selections of soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and desserts. You’re given the option of more than 100 varieties of Loose Leaf Teas, served with tea sandwiches, scones and desserts presented by servers in Civil War costume in a historic setting and atmosphere of friendliness and courtesy. The food that I was served was very tasty with a homemade touch. The server was friendly and informative and I enjoyed browsing in the gift shop.

In our busy lives, it’s nice to be able to take a step back in time to appreciate how things used to be and reflect upon how far we’ve come, all the while enjoying a delicious cup of tea.

Go to their website for lunch times and reservation information.

Comment: If you need to escape to somewhere special, meet with friends in a unique atmosphere or hold that special event or occasion in a memorable setting, Homestead Plantation is the perfect place!