Here's the Dirt...Top 5 Post to Date

Top 5

"Dirt from The Clay Pot"

post to date.

1. Here's the Dirt...from The Clay Pot...Pumpkin Arrangements

2. Here's the Dirt...Apple Cake

3. Here's the Dirt...from The Clay Pot...Rose Mounds

4. Here's the Dirt...Crunchy Fried Chicken

5. Here's the Dirt...1311 Hanover Street

With over 3000 viewers so far,

I want to thank all of you who have

been checking out

"Dirt from The Clay Pot".

To all my friends, fans and viewers!

I'll keep giving you all the "latest dirt"!

Here's the Dirt...Holiday Open House Activities

Check out all the fun festivities happening next week at

The Clay Pot!

We hope you will be able to stop by.

Print this "post", bring it in, and receive

20% off any one item.

Happy Holidays!

Here's the Dirt...The Clay Pot Holiday Open House

The Clay Pot

Holiday Open House

November 5th, 6th, 7th

Preview Party, Thursday evening, November 5th from 6:00 to 9:00

423.265.2007

Here's the Dirt...from The Clay Pot...Mini Fall Arrangements

Mini Fall Arrangements

from The Clay Pot

Sometimes simple is better. I love grouping these mini fall arrangements together to make an impact for a centerpiece. These mini arrangements were created using a glass votive cup, wrapping it with salal leaves and tying the leaves with a piece of raffia. A small piece of wet oasis was placed in the cup. Using one bronze spider mum and a touch of greenery is all you need to finish off these cute mini arrangements. Group the arrangements in a circle or run them down your table. They are also great for place card holders. Place an arrangement at each place setting and add your guest's name fastened to a twig or stick.

Here's the Dirt...Joe's Christmas Gift

Many years ago, I was trying to figure out what to do for a Christmas gift to give to everyone in my family. It had been about a year since my Grandmother passed away, so I decided to write down my memories with her and give it to my family for Christmas.
I have never given something that truly turned out so special for them...and me.


This year, as you make your Christmas shopping list...sometimes it's the simple things that mean so much to someone. Maybe you could share your stories with someone special this year.
Here's my gift...


I Remember

I remember long, long ago as a child visiting Grandmother at her home in Ringgold, Georgia.
The perfect toys at Christmas, matching leopard pajamas for all the grand kids,
The snow one Christmas, the huge fireplace.
The tape recording of "Cousin Bessie and black eyed peas",
The Christmas dinners sitting at our own "kid's table".
Green beans cooking on the stove, the bumpy driveway, the spooky basement, the hemlock we loved to climb...

Grandmother always did everything right.


I remember long ago...Billy's accident...Grandmother moving to Winterville, Georgia to be near her brother.
I remember Winterville...visiting cousins and kin, Bigmama's house with the huge tree in the back yard with it's enormous branches.
The chicken coop, getting stuck in the mud in the daffodil field, riding bikes,
"The Marigold Festival",
Even though they missed the parade, the calico dresses Grandmother bought Mary Jane and Laura to wear.


Grandmother always did everything right.


Grandmother finding places for everyone to sleep...bed, couch, or cot. Everyone crammed in her tiny apartment, her making her little "house" a home. Frescas and Fritos. Cal's coconut birthday cake. Georgia vs. Tennessee football games, forever faithful Georgia fans. (Even though we are from Tennessee)
Billy's hard times. The two Georgia football season tickets placed in his pocket as he was laid to rest.
Mary Jane's shrinking dress at the funeral.


Grandmother always did everything right.


I remember going away to school...loosing touch for awhile...changes...
I remember calls from Grandmother of being lost. Mother finding her and bringing her home to Chattanooga.
I remember Grandmother moving out of her apartment in Winterville, selling her car with the "boots and umbrella in the trunk".
I remember Grandmother selling her house in Ringgold, cleaning the dark "fuzzy basement,
the dump, "well it use to be a dump", the re-dump.

I remember Grandmother moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Fridays to "Clip n' Curl" to get the "do" done. Littlebit hanging out the car window,
lunch at Central Park, "bacon cheeseburger plain", week after week, year after year.
"Bide Lou", "behoove me", the lobes, tea time, tongue twisters, "jumping off ski lifts",
"Why Joe, you're telling a tale".


Grandmother always pointing out holes in the Christmas tree with her cane.
The Christmas list, "Oh, I've got a mess", even though we always did the shopping for her.
Grandmother never admitting she lived in Tennessee, even though she had been here over ten years.
The laughter...the fun...

Grandmother always did everything right.


I remember the fall...the move to the nursing home...visiting...
Someone going to have dinner with Grandmother every night for two years, bringing the family together,
Mother and Bebe's endless support, never once complaining about the long hours.
Mother and Bebe now becoming the "Mother" to Grandmother.


I remember the nursing home...the childlike atmosphere. Realizing they were the children now, helping out...serving trays..rolling them to their rooms, telling them how tall I was each time someone asked.
Having conversations. Shopping for Christmas presents so everyone would have something under their tree.
How they could make my day seem special, no matter how hectic it had been.


I remember Grandmother always having a smile on her face when I walked in the room.
Me still being able to get a laugh, even though her mind was somewhere else.
Finishing her sentences for her when she was trying so hard to tell me something.
The wonderful feeling I got every time she remembered my name.


Grandmother always did everything right.


I remember her strong heart,
I remember the laughing, the crying,
I remember ten minutes til five...


I remember knowing I would be doing the flowers for the blanket. Wanting to make them special...
Flowers from the "Dawgs", Littlebit, Riggins and Max.
Hydrangeas grown from cuttings from Bigmama's house, brought seven hours in Cal and Cindy's lap from their home in South Carolina, magnolias from a special friend's home, ivy from our yard,
A little bit from everyone,

And a final touch...
A hidden "Red Ribbon" for her love of Georgia,
And one "Orange Rose" for the memories of her with us in Tennessee.

Here's the Dirt...Bigmama's Chicken Mull

This is my Great Grandmother's recipe I remember eating when I was a child visiting her in Winterville, Georgia. She was know to everyone as "Bigmama". This recipe is about as southern as you can get. It takes a while to prepare, but the results are delish!

Bigmama's Chicken Mull

12 chicken breasts (remove skin and fat)
Cover with water in large pot, add 2 Tbsp. salt.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook til tender.
Strain broth, return to pot.
Grind chicken, add to broth.
Cook (low heat) uncovered til thickened.
STIR CONSTANTLY, about 10 minutes.
Add 1 1/2 tsp pepper, 7 shakes red pepper, 1 stick butter, 4 cups milk and 1 1/2 package ground saltines.
Return to boil, reduce heat and cook til thickened.

STIR CONSTANTLY, about 30 minutes. (About 45 minutes total cooking time after returning chicken to broth.

Serve with saltines and add Tabasco to serving.
Enjoy!

Here's the Dirt...from The Clay Pot...More Fall Arrangements

Happy Fall to All!

Here are some fall arrangements created by The Clay Pot. I love all the wonderful flowers available this time of year. Earth tones of red, rust, orange and green are some of my favorite combinations to use.

Call The Clay Pot at 423.265.2007 for more information.

Here's the Dirt...What's your favorite "Fall Recipe"?

What is your favorite "Fall Recipe"?

Email me your favorite recipe

you enjoy making this time of year

and I will share it with everyone.

Send it to me, Joe Jumper, at theclaypotriverview@comcast.net.

Here's the Dirt..."Every Little Step"

"Every Little Step"

A Journey of "A Chorus Line"

I highly, highly recommend this wonderful documentary

on the casting of the revival of "A Chorus Line".

The movie begins with over 3000 hopefuls trying out for a chance to be "on the line". I loved following the journey these talented performers go through trying to fulfill their dreams of being on Broadway. Their struggles and triumphs will melt your heart.

Two years ago, when in New York, I decided seeing the revival of "A Chorus Line" would be a very "New Yorky" kind of thing to do. I had my seats on the 5th row. The show started...and I was mesmerized. I had chills! The talent was amazing.

I was watching the final cast selected from "Every Little Step"

live on Broadway.

Here's the Dirt...from The Clay Pot...Fall Wedding

Fabulous Fall Wedding at

The Bright School

The Bright School in Chattanooga, Tennessee provided the beautiful backdrop for the wedding of Katherine Roberts and Rig Burger on Saturday, September 4th. The weather was perfect for this small outdoor wedding. What a great location to celebrate the wedding of this fun couple!

Thank you Katherine and Rig from everyone at The Clay Pot!

Here's the Dirt...Snowflakes by HutchMe

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

Yes, it's that time of year. The Clay Pot's Holiday Open House will be November 5th, 6th, and 7th. This year is going to be bigger than ever! Join us for our Preview Party, Thursday, November 5th from 6:00 to 9:00.

Come check out our snowflakes by HutchMe.

Oh what fun...

You can also check them out on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31378364