Jen's Adventures and Creative Projects

So I had the first-time task for me of taking out the chimney in my house.  I think I might have mentioned in an earlier post that I thought I could get a head start on this project while I waited for a carpenter with roofing skills and I would take down the chimney myself, and let him patch the roof. Funny how roofs don't seem that high or steep until you get to the top of the ladder and literally crawl on the roof with claws like a cat. Anyway, I was determined and I made it to the chimney with sledgehammer, hammer and chisel in hand and ongoing prayers for coordination. When I got ready to take the first swing, I noticed a wasp flying out of the chimney, and then another, and then another. I quickly got back in cat-claw, must-crawl position and was now praying out loud to Jesus to please get me down that ladder safely and I will never be this stupid again. He answered.  I made it down safe.  I went inside and tore up the couch. The carpenter had a busy schedu...

So, I had to leave town for a week of computer training, had friends staying with me for a weekend in Nashville, and then had my niece's wedding...so, house progress has not been as fast as I would like (never is). But few things have happened since my last post.  I came home one day after to work to find this Tonka toy in my driveway. My kind brother told me one day that he would pull out the bushes in my front yard as well as cut down the tree, and the next day by golly it was done. Now, you can see the front my house.  I plan to close in the front porch, take the windows out and replace with a couple new windows, and center the door underneath the dormer. Eventually, I would like to add on a front porch, but we'll see what I get done with the rest of the house prior to spring/summer. I have some great friends in my hometown, a few of the guys are sort of like adopted brothers.  So one day, my real brother takes bushes out and cuts a tree down for me.  ...

In the middle of the living room floor, on top of the multi-level green shag carpet that needed to be taken up, was this lovely couch.  It's heavy, it is a recliner on both ends, and because I purchased the home from an estate, no one knew how the previous owner got this couch into the room.  Every way the sellers tried to get the couch out, it just didn't seem to fit through the door. Well, I was going to wait a few days to line up some guys to try to figure this out, but it didn't take long to get tired of walking around it.  It stared at me like it had won, and screamed that it was something that I couldn't do on my own. I accepted the challenge.  After my wasp/chimney episode, it was the perfect task to release some stress on something I could do.  I flipped it over, and with a saw, sledge hammer, crowbar, hammer, wrench and screwdrivers, began taking it apart with the back side and underneath so I could see the "guts" of this beast. This is the...

It's been a long, long time since I've posted on this blog.  Needless to say, "Jen's Adventures" was foreshadowing for the way life would turn from January 2011 to now.  It's been a learning experience and the summary is:   I finally have a published book with name as a (co-) author. It brought me back home to be with family and old friends. It allowed me to lead a development and renovation of a heritage museum in my hometown. It allowed me to establish a couple downtown events. I was able to purchase and renovate (ongoing) a building next to the museum that I hope to turn into a bakery. I have a vacation home rental property in Nashville now; again, long story, but it's a house I renovated. And in addition to some career shifts, I just recently bought a 1921 house in my hometown of Carterville, Illinois.  So recent that I just closed on the house a week ago - Oct. 12th. So, from here, I'll be blogging mostly on "the dig" as ...

One of my best friends is a friend I met...who knows, 15+ years ago? Chancie Goodwin went to Murray State University, like I did, but we never crossed paths. I met her later though her sister-in-law, who was a friend of mine and also went to Murray State University, and ironically enough, another fellow student that I didn't know until I moved to Nashville. Chancie happens to have a beautiful voice, and while I've heard it in many car rides and sometimes at weddings and other local occassions, I've seldom heard that voice as part of a special performance. One of her friends reminded her that we should share the gifts God has provided, and I'm glad she was asked by that friend to perform a few songs at a Nashville-area church. I hope she continues sharing that gift. I'm also glad that she happened to sing this song, from Wicked, "For Good." She'll talk about it in the beginning, but to repeat briefly, it is amazing how God brings people into our li...

So, I had some friends over last night for dinner, and made an easy meal and the recipes were requested. I've posted a painting of Bulls Gap, Tennessee where yes, my Jeep crossed right where that truck is traveling, and the hotel is still there. The hotel, originally The Smith Hotel built in late 1800s and then later bought and renamed to Gilleys Hotel, looked abandoned and in need of repair, however I understand it was recently donated to the Bulls Gap Railroad Museum and they're raising money to renovate it. So if you're in there area, stop by and pay an upfront admission to City Hall, donating to a good cause in tourism and preservation. Anyway, what does that have to do with dinner recipes? Well, I stopped at Yoder's Country Market in Bulls Gap, one of several Amish stores throughout Tennessee, known for their country ham, cheeses, breads, jams and jellies and so much more. They had every type of spice and flour imaginable, as well as homemade pasta. I bought the to...

Wow, sorry it has been so long since I posted something. I have been on the road a lot with our exciting new tourism project, the Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways. The small town girl in me is loving this project, and let me explain why. We're producing trails state-wide that start in key areas like Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains area, producing self-guided driving tour loops, and pointing out all of the hidden gems. It may be pointing out the things in the heart of Gatlinburg, the history behind it all, that you never noticed. It's showcasing local favorites like Tipton's in Greeneville or Arnold's in Nashville, where you'll love southern cooking. Antique stores, historic attractions, stories behind the communities...it's connecting the dots and making it an adventure. I am really loving digging up stories like the history of Mountain Dew, which started in Knoxville or realizing that the French Broad River is the th...