Trip to Nashville

Hubby and I had a nice trip down to Nashville, TN to spend some time with our granddaughter, Sweetie Pie, and our son.  She is a natural born teaser (or maybe we trained her to be), and she finds great delight in teasing her "Pappy". She especially likes to tease him by not giving him kisses. She will kiss everyone in the room but him. But, you can be sure that as she's kissing me or her dad, she's also looking around to make sure Pappy is watching!


Aunt Jennee was able to take a few days off work and spend a long weekend with us. She was going to arrive late on Wednesday night. Sweetie Pie was very excited for her arrival, and planned to have a party for her. We told her it would be very late, but she was not deterred in the least. She set the table completely by herself. The menu included strawberries, chocolate chip cookies, and mandarian oranges. After all this, she said, "Now, we need a centerpiece". I was floored! She's five! So, we went outside, I snipped off some spikey leaves, and she put them in a short glass, with water. It looked fine. "Now, we need some rocks".  So, she went outside, scooped up a handful of rocks from the driveway, and plopped them in the jar. And, it made a very nice centerpiece. I didn't get a picture of it, but trust me, I was impressed!

We took her shopping for school shoes. She found this lovely pair of shoes with her favorite princesses on them. The day after we bought this pair of shoes, (with velcro) she learned how to tie her shoes. Then, she wanted a pair of shoes that tied! (Bad timing on our part!)

Nashville, Tennesse is the home of the world's only actual size recreation of the Parthenon. It is an amazing sight to see.

Just to give you an idea of the size of those pillars

Aunt Jennee and Sweetie Pie were hiding from us,
but someone peeked around the pillar just as I
was snapping the picture!

This shows the ceiling

Sweetie Pie snapped this picture

We had visited the Parthenon back in 2000 (I think!) At that time, everything was white. The gold was added in 2002. Very impressive.

This is not a small statue!

Lots of gold all around

The back of the statue. She is holding Nike,
the "god" of victory, in her hand.

The shield

 

Pappy and his Sweetheart

We had lunch with Dad at his high-rise building. She liked being up that high!

The "Batman Building" of Nashville

 We went bowling one night, just for fun. None of us are bowlers. My score was  60, or something equally ridiculous. But, for the record, I did manage to get one strike! When we got to the bowling alley, I told Sweetie Pie she would get to tie her own shoes! I no sooner got those words out of my mouth, and the guy handed her a pair with velcro ties. (My timing is impecable!) Oh my. She was very disappointed, and began to cry immediately! We were able to exchange them for a pair with shoestrings, and she went to work, happy again!

 We have started a new tradition. On our last day in Nashville, we go out for pancakes at the Pancake Pantry. If you don't want to wait in a long line, get there early. Seriously.

All I can say is, "YUM-O". Yes, I did go off my diet for this one meal. (Wouldn't you?) Technically, this is not a pancake. It's a crepe filled with chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Sin

 Everyone else got this delectable pancake.

Sweet Potato Pancakes with
Cinnamon and Cream Syrup

Bears and Berries
(chocolate chips)
for Sweetie Pie

After our tummies were full of pancakes, we went to a Greek Festival. The aromas of the food made our mouths water, but, since we were full, we didn't partake, tempting as it was. There was a petting zoo, pony rides,and lots of booths.  But what she  really wanted to do was climb the wall! We told her maybe next year!

And, that concludes our week in Nashville.

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P is for Pancake Pantry

Hubby and I spent the first ten days of April in Nashville, TN, with our son and granddaughter, Sweetie Pie.  


For our last day together, we decided to go out for breakfast. Sweetie Pie made sure we knew that she loves pancakes.  So, we made plans that we would get up bright and early, and go out for pancakes. At first, I was a little disappointed about the "bright and early" part, but, then I remembered that Sweetie Pie had been up and raring to go every morning at 6:00. Also, this particular restaurant, has quite the reputation, and if you're not an early bird, you are going to be standing in line for a very long time.

I'm not sure where exactly this is located.I don't pay attention to small details like that. But, it's in some part of Nashville.

 We were there by about 7:30, and the dining area was already getting full. A line was starting, but we didn't have to wait long. I mentioned that I would have to blog about this. A few minutes later, I noticed the lady at the table beside us, pulling out her camera and taking a picture of her breakfast. I smiled at her and said, "Are you taking pictures for your blog?" She laughed, and said, "No. This is to make our children jealous!"

 I had red raspberry pancakes.

 Hubby had peach pancakes. He said his were better than mine.

 And, we had bacon omelets. Mighty tasty. Our son had sweet potato pancakes, but he was not going to wait around for me to get a picture. Our Sweetie Pie had regular pancakes, and she wasted no time getting them into her tummy.

 By the time we finished our breakfast, a line was already forming out the door.  Apparently, it's not unusual to see the line go down the street and around the corner. So, if you're in the Nashville area, and are craving some mighty good pancakes. Make a stop at the Pancake Pantry. We have declared that this is our new tradition!

Did I make you hungry????

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The Betty Files: Pancakes

Yes, I am going to add my own edition to Jennee's "Betty Files".  I have to agree with Jennee that Betty does give lots of blogging material!

First of all, I must say that Betty is a dear friend, and I love her.  However, when I first met Betty, I would actually get a headache during every visit.  She talks non-stop for one thing, and would, apparently, just start rambling on about something that made no sense--as if she just pulled it out of the air.  I was always in a state of confusion (more so than usual), and could never follow what the heck she was talking about.  Then, one day, I realized that I knew exactly what she was talking about. That day caused me great concern!

I discovered that Betty's topics of conversation are 90% about the past, and if you are around her long enough, you will eventually hear each story approximately 999,000 times!  (This is part of what causes Jennee's frustrations--she has not heard, nor does she want to hear, each story 999,000 times!)

So, here is my story:
Betty thinks that I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. Martha Stewart could not come close to carrying my briefcase. I disagree with Betty's opinion, but there it is.

I have recently started making sour-dough pancakes. And, here I must pause to admit that they are without a doubt, the best pancakes I have ever made. I have never made a bad batch, and that surprises me every time.  Betty loves pancakes and considers herself an expert in everything about pancakes.  I made her some pancakes on her last visit, and she absolutely LOVED them! When Betty LOVES something, she raves continually about it, and that is what she did. 

"Oh my gosh, those are the best pancakes I've ever tasted! You made those? You really made those? Oh, they are just perfect. I need that recipe. *Could I write down that recipe?"  Blah, blah, blah, more adoration about my pancakes.

Of course, the obvious next step is to open a little restaurant.  "Just make pancakes, and serve it with a little fruit, fresh fruit! People would come, I know it! Jennee could waitress and make good tips.  I'm not just whistling Dixie.  You should do this. Really.  It would go."

I reply with, "Betty, that takes money, we don't have any--"

"Get investors! I could find some for you.  I know people! Just start someplace small, two or three tables.  You wouldn't even have to be there all day.  Get someone else to mix them up for you.  People would be lined up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are so good, people would even eat them for dinner. I could be the hostess--I'd bring 'em in off the street!  You could make a sign (she sweeps her arm as a banner) The Best Pancakes in Town", she laughs as she reconsiders, "in the whole damn town!" (she has a bit of a dirty mouth), "Come and taste the goodness!" "I'm not just whistling Dixie, you could do this.  Just find a little place downtown, there's enough empty places down there, just let me do the talking, I could get you a good price. And, don't give that recipe to *ANYBODY!"

She picks up the current issue of "Better Homes and Gardens", looks at the cover of the cookies. "Those cookies don't even look that good. They look dry and tasteless. (I disagree and thought about making them.) She throws the magazine on the table. "You could make something that looks better than that. They should put your pancakes on the cover."


The conversation goes on and on, and is repeated several times. (We have a ways to go to reach 999,000 times on this subject.)


So here is what makes the story really funny.  I told her last night that I would make pancakes for her for breakfast.  It's a two-step process, and I did step one last night, while having a repeat of the conversation you just read about. 


This morning, when she wandered into the kitchen, I was sitting at the computer.  She said, "I'm going to have my cereal for breakfast."


I reminded her, "Betty, I'm making pancakes for breakfast."  "Oh, you are?  Well, how about if we have them for lunch or supper?  I was really just wanting my cereal."


"That's OK", I said, "this makes a big batch, so I fry some up whenever you want them."
So, Jennee and I ate a plate of pancakes, while Betty ate a bowl of cereal.

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