40TH ANNUAL REELFOOT LAKE ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

40TH ANNUAL REELFOOT LAKE ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

Sept. 30 to Oct. 2

I will be signing the cookbook “Country Goodness Recipes of Tennessee Celebrities" at the Bi-Centennial Committee’s booth (NO 61) as a fundraiser for them.

Working with the state parks and local authorities, the festival has grown since 1971 to an estimated crowd of over 45,000 people & 300 different vendors in 2010 The festival is always held on the first weekend with an October date in it. There is free entertainment with artists from the area. People come and sit in the shade to enjoy old time string music and singing.

Come enjoy the festival and soak up on the local flavor as well. Great restaurants, great fishing, beautiful scenery with nature walks along the lake; we look forward to sharing it with you.

Celebrating 200 Years of Reelfoot Lake

1811/1812 -- 2011/2012

..."On the 16th of December, 1811, about two o'clock, a.m., we were visited by a violent shock of an earthquake," writes Eliza Bryan, a resident of the area at the time. The quakes continued, almost daily, until February 7, 1812, when the most violent of all occurred. In Eliza's words, "At first the Mississippi seemed to recede from its banks, and its waters gathering up like a mountain...then rising fifteen to twenty feet...and expanding, as it were, at the same moment, the banks were overflowed with the retrograde current, rapid as a torrent...the river falling immediately, as rapid as it had risen...and lately it has been discovered that a lake was formed on the opposite side of the Mississippi, in the Indian country."1

This is how Reelfoot Lake was formed, a natural phenomenon, a cypress forest covered with water from the mighty Mississippi River when it flowed backwards for a time.
The complete eyewitness account by Eliza Bryan can be found on the New Madrid Earthquake website.

1 From "Lorenzo Dow's Journal," Published by Joshua Martin, Printed by John B. Wolff, 1849

12TH BBQ ON THE RIVER PADUCAH

I will sign my TN and KY cookbooks at the Yeiser Art Center, 200 Broadway just across the Gazebo as part of Paducah's 12th Annual BBQ on the River this weekend.

BBQ on the River, A Community Charitable Event! Can you think of a better way to spend an early fall weekend than enjoying great BBQ, lively entertainment, exquisite crafts, a charming downtown and a great time with friends. Come join us in Paducah, KY for three great days of BBQ Bliss as 50 plus BBQ teams from Western Kentucky and beyond cook up over 60 tons of meat in hopes of taking home the coveted Grand Champions trophy. Along with delicious mouthwatering food and fabulous fun you will be helping out many local charitable organization.

Make your plans now to be in Paducah, September 23 thru 25, 2010 for our 16th Ever BBQ on the River.

The cookbooks are also available in the Paducah area at:

Market 315 proceeds going to Paducah Cooperative Ministry

BBQ & More proceeds going to BBQ on the River Fundraiser

Lourdes Hospital Gift Shop proceeds going to Auxiliary

Purple Toad Winery proceeds going to St. Mary's High School

Western Baptist Hospital proceeds going to Auxiliary

And in Western Kentucky:

Ice House Gallery, Mayfield Proceeds going to Graves Co. Art Guild

Miss Scarletts, Grand Rivers proceeds going to Grand River Tourism

Moors Marina, Benton proceeds going to local tourism orgnization

The Market Place, Draffenville proceeds going to Marshall Co, Scholarship Fund

The Kentucky cookbooks are also available at Kentucky State Parks including Columbus Belmont, Kenlake State Park, Kentucky Dam Village, Lake Barkley State Park

ICE HOUSE GALLERY GOURD PATCH FESTIVAL

2010 FESTIVAL WINNER

SEPTEMBER 17, 9 TO 4

On Saturday, September 17, Mayfield will once again pay homage to the humble gourd. The seventh annual Gourd Patch Festival, sponsored in cooperation with the City of Mayfield, the Mayfield Tourism Commission, and the Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild, will celebrate the modest cucurbit with an international gourd art exhibition, gourd vendors and crafters, music and dancing, children’s activities, a gourd racecar derby, concessions, a farmer’s market, and other activities. Simultaneously, the Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild’s Ice House Gallery will be hosting its annual All About Gourds exhibition, which is the focal point of the festival. Quality craftsmanship and creative abandon abound in this year’s exhibit. Now in its nineth year, the show features over 75 pieces by 28 artists from 11 different states as well as an artist from India. Festival activities will be centered between the Ice House Gallery at the corner of North and North 8th Streets and Regions Bank on North 7th Street in Mayfield from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

I participated in this last year signing the Kentucky cookbook. I have been invited back to do a signing of the Tennessee Cookbook, "Country Goodness Recipes of Tennessee Celebrities."

MELLWOOD ART FAIR BOOK SINGING

MELLWOOD ART FAIR

BOOK SINGING

Scooter Davidson, Executive Director of Mellwood Art Center has invited me to do a book signing at this years Art Fair. As a fundraiser for St. Joseph Children’s Home. Stop by BOOTH 160 and pick up a copy of “Favorite Recipes of Kentucky Celebrities” cookbook with proceeds going to St. Joseph. The cookbook will make a perfect Christmas Present and at the same time help a wonderful organization. "Country Goodness Recipes of Tennessee Celebrities" will also be available.

BOOTH 160 is directly across from the parking area on the end near the children’s arts and crafts. Beside St. Joseph’s booth!

LOOK FOR THE

CELEBRITY COOKBOOK TENT!