It’s Fall, Y’all!

Okay, it’s mid-August here in northwest Alabama/southern Middle Tennessee (and really I guess everywhere else, too) but there already are signs of fall. I saw these giant pumpkins in Tullahoma, Tenn., this past weekend at Dotson’s Farm Fresh Produce, on Highway 55 going east out of town. The woman at Dotson’s said she didn’t know anything about them, only that “some man” had brought them by. Is this normal to have humongous gigantic pumpkins like these in the middle of August? I have no idea, but I predict the unknown pumpkin-growing man will win some ribbons at the Coffee County Fair. Plus, I’ve seen other signs of fall: winter squash (acorn, butternut and spaghetti) at Food Lion in Manchester; and back in Alabama, autumn decor at Wal-Mart in Muscle Shoals (but no Halloween candy yet) and jackets and sweaters squeezing out swimsuits at T.J. Maxx in Florence. Can Christmas-tree ornaments be far behind?

Demos’ Comes to the Shoals

The Shoals is in for a treat: Demos’ Restaurant (pronounced “dee-muss”) is coming! This Middle Tennessee family tradition will be a great addition to northwest Alabama dining. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., location — the original of now four restaurants and soon-to-be-five — is our go-to spot whenever my husband and I are in the ‘Boro, and that’s true for several Shoals folks when they head up that way. Demos’ is know for two things: Exemplary and prompt service and plenty of good family food with a Greek twist. It’s famous for its steak-and-spaghetti combos, too. Let’s hope all that transfers to Alabama. My favorite thing about Demos’ is that it’s one of those one-size-fits-all place– it’s good for quick workday lunches, Sunday dinners, family suppers and special nights out all at the same time. Plus, it’s one of the most popular restaurants in Murfreesboro. In fact, hanging out in the waiting area is a great way to catch up with ’Boro news because sooner or later almost everybody in town is there. My family especially likes the stuffed potatoes (blackened chicken, seafood or chili), the lasagna and the chili spaghetti (my husband calls this Mexican spaghetti) The Florence restaurant is going up behind Books-A-Million and should be open early next year. Coming to Alabama is like returning home, the Demos’ family says in a press release, since the great-grandfather of company president Peter Demos first operated restaurants in Birmingham in the 1920s. Read more at http://www.demosrestaurants.com/ – and prepare to eat well!!!

Bravin’ It

I was at my parents’ house in Manchester, Tenn., recently for a couple days while my mom recovered from knee surgery. The thing about being at my parents’ during Major League Baseball season is, well … baseball. My folks are enthusiastic Braves fans. ‘Nuff said? When the Braves are on TV, it’s all eyes on the screen. My sweet, antique-collector, school-board-president mom knows all the vital statistics and can reel off names and numbers that sound like a foreign language to me. Because, to tell the truth, I don’t really understand baseball. It’s not like not-understanding football — which I enjoy watching but don’t always know what I’m watching. This is more like I don’t understand why people can sit and watch sometimes almost three hours of grown men just sort of standing around with a few bursts of running and yelling at each other thrown in. And I say this with all due love and respect for those who are fans of the game. I just don’t get it. However, I am a big fan of the teddy bears my parents have, which sport Braves uniforms during the season. Now, dressing cute cuddly teddy bears in cute costumes definitely is something I can understand!