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Susan

middle Tennessee

You are an extraordinary woman, how can you expect to live an ordinary life? ~Louisa May Alcott

Interests: When asked if the glass is half full or half empty, I always respond "my glass overflows!" Blending all my passions into a balanced and harmonious life of family-friends-furbabies-travel-photography-good food-painting-history-and wordsmithing. Oh yeah, and I love Doris Day. The first words I ever strung together were, "By the light" as in "By the light of the Silvery Moon." Mom sang it to me when I was a baby.

Recent Activity

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” ~ Dr. Seuss When I started blogging in May of 2009, Facebook wasn't really a thing. I wasn't self-employed, so I didn't have a website or YouTube Channel or Patreon Channel or any other way to communicate publicly. Charm of the Carolines was my vehicle for sharing publicly southern recipes, etiquette, adventures, quotes, and general commentary on life in middle Tennessee. And it was so much fun! However, now that I have been self-employed for more than a decade and only getting more involved in my career, community, and family, I no longer have the bandwidth to give the blog the attention it deserves. It's time to gently give it a sweet peck on the forehead, turn off the lights, and say goodnight. Thank you for your readership, comments, and best wishes. If you would like to stay in touch, please... Continue reading

Posted Jul 30, 2021 at Charm of the Carolines

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Homemade Fig Preserves

The Fig tree at Windy Acre Cottage has been exceptionally prolific this year. I think I'll call her Pomona, after the ancient Roman goddess of fruitful abundance. Continue reading

Posted Sep 13, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Dance the Orange

I love color. Bright, beautiful color. Even soft, muted color. And of all the colors, it's hard to pick a favorite, yet one resonates with me more right now than all the others. Orange. Continue reading

Posted Sep 13, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Bullet Point Blessings August 21, 2020

Artists are different. Artists are in a perpetual search for inspiration... for beauty, joy, light, magic. Artists are inventive, expressive, adventurous, and intuitive with an overwhelming desire to share their world. I am such an artist. Continue reading

Posted Aug 19, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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100th Anniversary of the Deciding Vote

After years of arguments for and against suffrage, the 19th Amendment was passed by Congress in July 1919. However, 36 states were needed for ratification, and my beloved home state of Tennessee was the last and deciding vote. Continue reading

Posted Aug 18, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Southern Tomato Pudding

My dad always talked about this tomato dish that was always served at Milan Plaza Court Meat & Three, the restaurant with the town's new motel on the corner of Highway 70 and Liberty in Milan, Tennessee, next to the Big Star market and Dairy Dip ice cream drive-in. As a young boy in the 1940s, Dad loved dining here and would order the meat of the day, plus 3 sides of the "stewed" tomatoes. Continue reading

Posted Aug 15, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Good question. I need to watch the movie to figure it out. Regretfully, I've never seen it.

Commented Jul 31, 2020 on Hannah Montana, the movie at Charm of the Carolines

1 reply

Primary Colors in Art

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. The primary colors, plus black and white, are the essential ingredients for mixing all the other colors. You cannot do anything to mix pure blue, yellow, or red. They just exist. However, artists will argue among themselves which red, and which yellow and which blue is the best. Continue reading

Posted Jul 28, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Impressionism in America

In 1896 Charles Hawthorne became assistant instructor to William Merritt Chase at his Shinnecock, Long Island, outdoor “plein air” painting school where the lessons of the French Impressionists were first brought to American shores. In 1899 Hawthorne opened his own outdoor school in Provincetown, Massachusetts, called the Cape Cod School of Art, and was the first school to teach outdoor figure painting. Upon Hawthorne’s death, Henry Hensche picked up the mantle and opened The Cape School of Art. Continue reading

Posted Jun 18, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Summer Morning at Cheekwood

My friend Kim and I explored Cheekwood Gardens on Friday and collected reference photos to use in painting our submissions to the upcoming exhibit at the Mansion of selected works by Chestnut Group members. Ideally we would have painted on site, but neither of us had time to pack gear and spend the day painting en plein air. Hiking the grounds and trails and snapping photos was the next best thing, and what a lovely day! Although the temps were near 90*, the humidity was practically non-existent. After months of self-isolating, social-distancing, and every fun and worthy event cancelled, a morning among the gardens at Cheekwood were just what this creative soul needed for inspiration and rejuvenation. Here is the highlight reel from our morning's adventure... Continue reading

Posted Jun 14, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Summer Morning at Cheekwood

My friend Kim and I explored Cheekwood Gardens on Friday and collected reference photos to use in painting our submissions to the upcoming exhibit at the Mansion of selected works by Chestnut Group members. Ideally we would have painted on site, but neither of us had time to pack gear and spend the day painting en plein air. Hiking the grounds and trails and snapping photos was the next best thing, and what a lovely day! Although the temps were near 90*, the humidity was practically non-existent. After months of self-isolating, social-distancing, and every fun and worthy event cancelled, a morning among the gardens at Cheekwood were just what this creative soul needed for inspiration and rejuvenation. Continue reading

Posted Jun 14, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Thank you for reaching out and for the clarification. Gosh! Doesn't it feel a bit like the 1940s rationing today? What with bare shelves at at the market. I can't imagine what it was like to live through WWII, and I don't want to. If there is a silver lining to the Covid-19 pandemic, it's that I am much more grateful in general and especially to our healthcare workers and line of people who get toilet paper on the shelves at Kroger.

Commented Jun 7, 2020 on Wheatless Wednesdays at Charm of the Carolines

1 reply

Annie, I want to meet your mother. She is a REMARKABLE woman. She and Colleen Farrell have struck up a friendship recently while Colleen was doing research for an issue of Historic Maury, the publication of the Maury County Historical Society. Colleen and I are both board members, and I assist with clerical work to Colleen's publications. We meet for lunch regularly and as she has shared with me the news of Mrs. Seaton's work on her recent Opera debuting in January at the Kennedy Center. This blog post was written in 2011, many years before I even knew about Mrs. Seaton. Please, when she comes to town next, let's grab Colleen and meet for coffee or lunch at Square Market. And please feel free to share any information on her and her research with us at the MCHS. We aim to document all the history, people, and events we can that took place in or are an integral part of Maury County, Tennessee. Thank you for reaching out!!

Commented Jun 5, 2020 on Mount Lebanon, the oldest National Baptist Church in Tennessee at Charm of the Carolines

1 reply

Bullet Point Blessings for May 8, 2020

Artists are different. Artists are in a perpetual search for inspiration... for beauty, joy, light, magic. Artists are inventive, expressive, adventurous, and intuitive with an overwhelming desire to share their world. I am such an artist. Continue reading

Posted May 7, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Painting at St. John's Episcopal Church en plein air

Sunday morning after FB Live church services, I was anxious to get out of the house. Quarantine will do that to you. Even alone, I didn't feel lonely painting en plein air at St. John's Episcopal church in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee (formerly Ashwood). Continue reading

Posted May 5, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Colorful & Charming Mini Art ~ Note Cards

Did you know? Most of my paintings are available on 4.25 x 5.5 notecards for only $10 per package of 4 cards & envelopes, including free shipping. That's four small prints on card stock perfect for sending an encouraging note to your four best buddies, or sisters, or mother or grandmother. Who doesn't love getting a personal note in the mail? I like to pair mine with beautiful stamps which can be ordered online as well. Continue reading

Posted Apr 15, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Colorful and Charming Mini Art ~ Note Cards

Did you know? Most of my paintings are available on 4.25 x 5.5 notecards for only $10 per package of 4 cards & envelopes, including free shipping. That's four small prints on card stock perfect for sending an encouraging note to your four best buddies, or sisters, or mother or grandmother. Who doesn't love getting a personal note in the mail? I like to pair mine with beautiful stamps which can be ordered online as well. Continue reading

Posted Apr 15, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Chicken Gnocchi Soup

I've found in these uncertain times of Covid-19 and the challenges of self-distancing and self-quarantining, enjoying the simple pleasures of cooking from scratch, hanging the wash out on the line, digging in the dirt and creating a memorial shade garden for my little dog Max who passed away in the midst of America closed for business, has helped assuage the fear and anxiety that accompanies shortages, reports of virus death, and mandated wearing of masks and staying home as much as possible. Today I made Chicken Gnocchi soup, also known as Italian Chicken and Dumplings. Continue reading

Posted Apr 12, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Which Square is darker, A or B?

Which Square is darker, A or B? And yes, it's a trick question. Color and Value are simply an impression made on the optic nerve attached to the brain. That impression or perception is altered depending on the relationship of the color and value to other colors and values around it. Continue reading

Posted Apr 12, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Bullet Point Blessings for April 3, 2020

Artists are different. Artists are in a perpetual search for inspiration... for beauty, joy, light, magic. Artists are inventive, expressive, adventurous, and intuitive with an overwhelming desire to share their world. I am such an artist. Continue reading

Posted Apr 2, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Wild Violet Blossom Jelly Recipe

Wild Violet Blossom Jelly recipe Continue reading

Posted Mar 28, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Wild Violets Syrup

My dear friend Scott Smith spent the afternoon at Cross Bridges collecting a basket full of wild violet blooms to make Wild Violet Blossom Syrup. Here is the recipe and suggestions for how to use it. Continue reading

Posted Mar 27, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Study of Monet's Sunflowers

Creative Spirits and Painting with Susan painting classes were interrupted this spring as we complied with the CDC recommendations for social distancing. But that doesn't mean we can't continue to paint! Please enjoy these videos of the study of Monet's Sunflowers. Continue reading

Posted Mar 25, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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Maury County Historic Site Tour by Automobile - Downtown Columbia

Yesterday a request came across my desk for a historic home tour by car for those of us self-isolating due to the Coronavirus. What a fun project! I'll create several!!! According to my dear friend Kathie Fuston, former resident of Maury County, our home county, Maury County, Tennessee, is the home to more than 1500 antebellum structures, more than any other county in the south except Natchez, Mississippi. Continue reading

Posted Mar 24, 2020 at Charm of the Carolines

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Bullet Point Blessings for March 13, 2020

Artists are different. Artists are in a perpetual search for inspiration... for beauty, joy, light, magic. Artists are inventive, expressive, adventurous, and intuitive with an overwhelming desire to share their world. I am such an artist. _________________________________ "My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece." ~Claude Monet Continue reading

Posted Mar 12, 2020 at Creative Spirits Soar!

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