Lord have mercy! Momma’s got a hankerin’ for some of Granny’s White Dirt! I reckon she’s gonna whitewash the fireplace but I have heard tell of her takin’ a snack or two! Double Ding Dang! We’ll I reckon we’ll have to pop on over to Madison Hardware & Supply, located at 174 West Washington St., to see owner Bruce Gilbert ‘bout this dang white dirt! Oh right, I forgot to tell y’all that just ‘cause the Madison Hardware Store’s building’s been sold, it sure don’t mean the business ain’t open! Fact is Madison Hardware’s OPEN FOR BUSINESS Y’ALL! Hey and it’s a good dang thing too ‘cause you can get all kinds of cool stuff over at Bruce’s hardware store! Like a dang outdoor propane cooker like my handsome husband just bought 'cause he thinks he’s the male version of Paula Deen and says he’s gonna fry us up a turkey on Saturday! Well I know one thing: If that cooker thing don’t blow sky high on Saturday, I’ll be cookin’ chili in it at the 2012 Chili Cook off to reclaim the title! Yes! So if any of y’all want to come by and throw a turkey in the pot on Saturday, just come on over! Momma’s got the White Lightnin’ and we’ll just have us a throw-down porch party! Or just pop over to Madison Hardware and buy you one and then some! Just don’t be a fool and make sure that turkey’s thawed out before you fry it up or there’s gonna be trouble! I’m talkin’ firetruck trouble!

Lord Have Mercy! Momma says her ding dang dryer is flat BROKE! I reckon we’d best drive on over and get this thing fixed! Ding Dang, Momma! This dryer ain't broke! What do you mean the dryers shrinkin’ all your clothes? Good Lord Have Mercy! Momma! That dryer ain’t shrinkin’ no clothes! You’ve been a porkin’ porker since Thanksgiving! I’m talkin’ fried turkey and fried chicken, mac ‘n cheese and grits ‘n greens, pecan pie and sweet potato casserole! Honey I sure know it was all good and those second and third helpings just flat couldn’t be helped! But it sure did add up to a big, fat belly! Shoot Fire! First stop is Madison Fitness Center, located at 1290 Eatonton Road in Madison! And don’t forget Madison Fitness Center’s Blood Drive on Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in honor of Jessica Moon! Give them a call at 706-342-9200!
Hey and UpTown Athletic is right smack in the middle of downtown Madison located behind the Madison ChopHouse Grille so give ‘em a call at 706-752-1680!
Now get movin’ y’all! This just in. Honey and since we’re talkin’ all ‘bout the gym scene, I’ve flat gotta tell all y’all that Greg Stewart has sold The Madison Fitness Center to Rob and Kim Watts of Madison! Greg wanted me to tell all y’all how grateful he is for all the support y’all have shown throughout the years! Rob and Kim plan to expand some classes and the staff will all remain the same! Now we can all get really skinny at the gym and then pop right on over to Kim’s Amelia’s shop and get some fab fashions! I love, love, love it!

Main Street Vet collected a heap of canned goods during their Thanksgiving promotion, which will be donated to The Caring Place. Pictured here are (front) Debbie Howard with daughter, Presley, and Veterinary Assistant Michele Hoopengardner and (back) Dr. James Williams holding Tess, Jamie Williams, and Wyatt Howard holding Dharma. photo by d. yost

Christmas Past. Do try this at home. Sleep soundly giving all worries and concerns to heaven . . . drift back with dreams of home long ago, drifting across your spirit like a silent midnight snow . . . when Santa was as real and true as the miraculous stars sparkling in a cold December night sky. . . when your parents were young and vibrant . . . when gatherings with siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends were celebrated in new winter clothes, shiny boots and a prized, much-asked-for doll and game. Christmas! Twinkling lights on a tree! Music! Holiday stories! Carols! Laughter! Parties! Anticipation! A Christmas feast! Midnight Mass! Hot chocolate! And Christmas Morning! Pancakes and Presents! Glorious, glorious presents!
It’s true. Christmas does not live in a box, wrapped in the shimmering finery of snowflakes and bows. Christmas lives in the Spirit . . . in a joyful shout of “Merry Christmas!” . . . in an act of generosity to help a family in need . . . in an invitation to join a Holiday party . . . in the gift of Children who truly Believe . . . in community traditions of Parades and visits with Santa . . . in an unexpected gift! No it doesn’t live in a box – it lives in the Spirit behind the Gift – a symbol of love that keeps alive the memory of Christmas!
Christmas memories are brought back to me with a pair of earrings from Thompson Jewelry or with an ornament from my mother purchased at Utterly Yours – both from shops that are no longer here like Macs Department Store and Armour's Five & Ten and the old Baldwin Drug Store. Shops and restaurants we loved to visit and share.
That’s why "Shopping Local" is much, much more than a slogan.