Springtime In The Southland: We Do Love A Wedding

It's that time of year down here when folks like to get hitched in the out-of-doors and especially in historic locales. Saturday we were happy to make the trip just outside of Franklin to Carnton Plantaton to attend the wedding of our thoughtful and creative friends Tim and Sarah.

Classic Antebellum architecture

The backdrop for the ceremony was an ancient Osage-Orange tree.

A door on one of several outbuildings on the property.

 The battle of Franklin (fought within view of the mansion) was a devastating loss for the Confederacy and set the stage for the Battle of Nashville which would put the Army of Tennessee out of commission for the rest of the war. Wounded Confederate soldiers were carried to Carnton, which had been converted into a field hospital. Nearly 1500 Southern soldiers who died in the battle are buried here.

 Slave quarters.

This was what I would call a "navy blazer affair" (though I did see a few fellows in seersucker, pushing the season in my opinion, even on the eve before Easter.) I went with a basic white OCBD, some lightweight glen plaid trousers, a madras bowtie, and suede Aldens.  All proved perfect for enjoying a sweet ceremony followed by Memphis-style brisket under a tent. Moments like these, holy unions confirmed and celebrated in the shadows of our rich (albeit painful) history are some of the reasons I love living in the South. All in all, a lovely evening was had.

Sewanee, TN 1940

Members of Phi Delta Theta at the University of The South

photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt

Mast General Store

I find myself in Knoxville, TN about twice a year, usually to play music. For the past few years, one of my favorite spots to hit when visiting that fine old town has been Mast General Store. Mast is one of those places where you could spend hours just looking at all the stuff. I'm normally there right before Christmas so it makes sense to stock up on old-fashioned candy and toys, games, puzzles, etc. for stockings. (Licorice Scotty dogs or Huckleberry drops anyone?) It seems like a few years ago there was a lot more American-made stuff in there but isn't that the way it goes? It's mostly imported Woolrich stuff now. The house brand socks are still made in North Carolina and there's a whole case featuring products by Colonel Littleton from Lynnville, TN. (Check the link to the right if you're a stranger to the Colonel.) They also have a whole section of Lodge cast iron cookware. Downstairs is the camping gear and all the footwear. It's almost like an REI inventory truck crashed into the gift shop of a Cracker Barrel only all the really crappy items in the Cracker Barrel (like the John Deer T-shirts and Montgomery Gentry CDs) were destroyed in the process. Yeah, it's kinda like that. Anyway, you could order from their website but if you're ever near enough to one of their locations to make the trip, I recommend it.

Men's on the left, women's on the right. Candy, toys, and cooking in the back.

 You can't tell but these were Paul Bunyan size.

 Mostly USA bandanas. Stock up.

 I stocked up on socks of all kind.

 Lodge.

 Came home with a mixed six. Some hot, some mild.

 No Pointer Brand. Not sure why. Seems like a logical fit.

 Made in China. Wanted but did not buy.

 Col. Littleton knives. Already have one of these.

 Woolrich caps. They should carry Stormy Kromer.

Knoxville/Smoky Mountains

Had a fantastic weekend east of Nashville with my wife. Began with Sufjan Stevens at the Bijou and ended with Sunday brunch at one of my favorite spots, The Tomato Head. On Saturday we drove into the mountains to see some friends get married. It was snowing on the way up. (Ceremony was outside. Bride was freezing.) Smokies were beautifully dusted in snow. Mast General Store Post forthcoming.