Janie's Blog Clarksville,TN Real Estate Marketing Expert

This blessing is for all the mothers who have sat up all night
with sick toddlers saying, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here."

This blessing is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they may
never see. And the mothers who took those babies-- forever to be
their own children.

This blessing is for all the mothers who attended ball games,
recitals, rehearsals, etc. etc. and who said, "I wouldn't have
missed it for the world," and meant it.

This blessing is for all the mothers of Kosovo who fled in the
night and can't find their children or can't feed their children.

Creator God, what makes a good mother anyway? Is it patience?
Firmness? A soft lap?

Or is mothering what is in her heart?

Is it the ache she feels when she watches her child disappear down
the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2
a.m. to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she
hears news of a school shooting, a fire, a car accident, a baby dying?

Yes it is so.

So this blessing is for all the mothers who sat down with their
children and explained all about making babies. And for all the
mothers who wanted to but just couldn't.

This blessing is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in
the grocery store with frustration and despair.

This blessing is for the mothers who show up at work with milk
stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

This blessing is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook
and their daughters to speak up with pride.

This blessing is for mothers who put pinwheels, teddy bears, or
flowers on their children's graves.

This blessing is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who
haven't the words to reach them, and yet have never put them from
their heart.

This blessing is for new mothers stumbling through diaper
changes and sleep deprivation. And mature mothers learning to let
go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers
and married mothers.

And this blessing is for all of us who will move beyond
sentiment into actions which support mothers and mothering persons
in all of their life-giving and life-nurturing roles. Amen [Back to Top]

Think one Mother's Day a year simply isn't enough? Well, I agree in the interests of exploring other cultures and customs.  My grandmother came from France with her family when she was 8 years old.  I am always interested in what that culture has in store. 

All of us Moms can get a second dose of attention by celebrating France's Fête des Mères on May 25. A French tradition that was inaugurated by Napoleon and made official in 1950, this day honoring mothers dates back to Ancient Greece and is found in several countries.

In France, the tradition calls for a variety of honors for mother. She might receive a gift from her children, or the children might let mom (or mère) relax, and, as all things in France, it usually culminates in a large dinner in mom's honor. These dinners are usually a major family affair.

The main thrust is that this is a day when, much like in America, mothers do not work and their families cater to their whims. Mothers here also usually get cards and flowers. Sometimes children write short poems for mom.  I would love it if my son, Grant or my daughters wrote me a POEM!  Wow, what a treat that would be.

Why not offer your mom ~ or suggest to your family a chance for two Mother's Days in a year. She doesn't need to get another full-blown Mother's Day, but perhaps moms can get a nice meal or even a poem. Just in the interests of exploring other cultures and customs, of course.

I just wanted to share with all of my fellow Mothers out there my favoite receipe for

Fried Green Tomatoes Print Options

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Ingredients

3 medium, firm green tomatoes (grown in Clarksville TN of course
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs or cornmeal
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

How To (Only a couple more steps)

1 Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper. Let tomato slices stand for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.

2 Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 4-6 minutes on each side or until brown. As you cook the rest of the tomatoes, add olive oil as needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

One thing I really miss about Florida is the roadside produce stands. But the other day I was riding along Madison St just down from my office and I noticed the sight of a roadside vegetable stand. Basically, a small table laden with okra, beans, strawberries and succulent tomatoes. But the southern hospitality here is in full bloom along with all of the beautiful flowers.

The vendor, Eddie, will ask you to sample the fresh strawberries, which is such a delight.  He has a truck load of melons and other goodies. He has fresh corn and okra too.  Stop by and see Eddie and tell him Janie Masterson sent you over for a taste test of those strawberries.

Eddie (a.k.a. E & D Produce) will have this little stand at the corner where Gateway Towing and Recovery sits (518 Madison). On weekends, Eddie shifts his stock to the Flea market at Fort Campbell Boulevard and Dover Road, across from Krogers. shop at Eddie's stand. For more information on E & D Produce call 931.627.2650.

If you know of any other stands please let me know. I love them.

After a long hard day of shopping for that perfect home it's always nice to sit down at Blondie's and have a bite to eat!  It's a great place and I take my clients there often.  Whether you want a bit of handmade honey and nut cream cheese on your breakfast bagel or a slice of delectable carrot cake for a midday dessert, a little downtown eatery called Blondie's is the place to go. Sandwiches and coffees are their specialties.

When thinking deli sandwiches, one often thinks of "Dagwood's," those heaping stacks of fillings scrunched between slices of bread. Blondie's, while serving ample sandwiches, does it with a lighter hand, a delicate touch that is nonetheless filling and satisfying.

Apart from its wonderful food, Blondie's has a little something extra to offer its patrons: a chance to sit outdoors in a small atrium, a terraced garden spot with cafe tables, plants and a bit of shade, shelter from the summer sun. It's not big, but it's enough. It almost classifies itself as one of Clarksville's best kept secrets.

Inside this year-old dining spot, you'll find brick walls, high ceilings with dark overhead beams, soft lighting and a ceiling fan pushing comfortable cool air down, and comfortable seating with some tables overlooking Franklin Street and others neatly spaced along the narrow hall that leads to the outdoor patio.

Posters and pictures abound: vintage movie stars, a bit of Norman Rockwell, and a print of that famous World War II era "kiss" photograph celebrating the end of war. There's a wonderful painting of the bistro itself (pictured above right), done in brick red tones that captures the essence of Blondie's interior.

As for the menu, we'll start with breakfast. And bagels. Served plain with butter, with sweet strawberry jelly, plain cream cheese of a flavored cream cheese: honey and nut (which melts in your mouth in a subtle sweetness), summery cucumber dill, and a strawberry cream cheese that almost qualifies as dessert.

Then there are the cinnamon rolls. Fragrant. And blueberry muffins. Or Danish with raspberry or cream cheese.

Breakfast sandwiches are popular fare, and come with fillings of sausage, ham or bacon - each with cheese, served on a bagel or fresh, flaky, buttery croissant.

Lunch is a selection of sandwiches served on your choice of San Francisco style sourdough, a delicate wheatberry, a hearty rye or a tomato-basil wrap. As for fillings, one might opt for ham and cheddar, turkey and swiss, sliced chicken with mozzarella, roast beef and swiss, of a veggie special with cucumbers, swiss cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion.

Blondie's Club Sandwich melds ham, turkey, bacon, mozzarella, honey mustard, lettuce and tomato into a mouthwatering sandwich that requires nothing but a hearty appetite.

A Grilled Blondie is sliced ham and turkey with swiss, with a dab of pesto butter sauce served on a delectable Panini bread. Okay, I'm hungry again.

Lighter fare includes a salad with turkey, tomatoes, onions, grated mozzarella, craisins and pecans on a bed of lettuce (raspberry vinaigrette or Italian vinaigrette are the dressings of choice). A side salad can be ordered to accompany any sandwich.

Blondie's also serves a homemade soup of the day at $2.95 a bowl.

If you need a respite from downtown shopping, come in, take a seat and head to the desert section of the menu, but be prepared for some tough decisions: the carrot cake is mouthwatering, the chocolate cake and homemade (still warm from the oven) cookies melt on your tongue, and the scones are crisp and tasty. Milk shakes are thick enough to be considered dessert.

Coffee, a specialty item here, takes up an entire page on the menu, beginning with the coffee of the day. Then, Expresso. Cafe au Lait. Lattes (flavored or not). Breve. Mocha. And a range of flavoring syrups that include Amaretto, Hazelnut, Kahlua, Caramel or Vanilla Creme (sugar free, believe it or not) , French Vanilla, Marshmallow, English Toffee, White Chocolate ... so many coffees, so little time. A selection of juices and bottled water is also available.
All items are available as carry-out orders and can be ordered ahead by calling 931-645-9725 or by faxing your order to 931-645-4472. While that may be convenient, it's much more fun to drift over there, take a seat, savor the menu and the aromas, and dine inside, or on the patio.

Blondie's, located at 135 Franklin Street, is open Monday through Friday from 7-5 and Saturday from 8-5.

Article compliments of Clarksville, TN

Jazz on the Lawn 

 Jazz on the Lawn 2008 Concert Dates

 May 10 - Delicious Blues Stew 

 May 24 - Jim Gibson

June 7 - The Heard

June 21 - Mark Sallings & the Famous Unknowns

July 5 - Richard Waters & the Blues Boyz

July 19 - Clarksville Jazz Quintet

August 2 - The King Bees

August 16 - Hypertension

August 30 - Tim Gonzalez & Friends

September 20 - The Dean Martinis

October 4 - Joel Brown

October 25 - Tina Brown