Spice Cake & Warm Hearts

I was feeling a little warm and fuzzy so I decided to make a spice cake! It reminds me of my childhood days growing up with 8 siblings and sharing baked goodies...

My sweet sister Benita gave me a great recipe for cream cheese frosting and it so warmed my heart and my stomach...note that I ate 3 pieces today...and felt good about it! Not a crumb was left over.

Benita's Cream Cheese Recipe
4 oz cream cheese (soft)
1/2 cup soft butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powder sugar
Mix ingredients together well and frost away!

Whites Creek Revitalization Club

The WCRC is open to community business organizations and residents who are interested in the historical and postive improvement of Whites Creek. We are so excited of all the new possibilities and since July many people have expressed interest in supporting a strong and active business and community core. Bring your ideas and open mind to our next meeting at and have coffee on us! We are looking forward to getting started with our Beautification Program and designing a " Welcome to Historic Whites Creek " sign for all who pass through our special town. If you have stories to share or people we should meet that have lived in the are please connect us with them. The " Historic Committee " will host a meeting next quarter with information on the fantastic residents past and present.

How To Cure Neighborhood Shyness

Do you know your neighbors? It's a funny thing isn't it?

Sitting back and wondering who they are...if you get a little closer...

and be open...you will see their Beauty, kindness and compassion.

If you get even closer...and closer...you will see your neighbor as you!

We have awesome neighbors in Cherry Grove Lane Estates...so my vote

is...Best Neighbors in the Universe!

Sweet Music

Music Creates Magical Effects!

Autumn is a time to sneak a little time for yourself and listen

to a CD or your favorite tunes on your ipod...or perhaps if your

really in the mood for sweet music, soft lights and a warm evening...

you could enjoy the divine presence of my girlfriend Michelle singing

Vissi d'Arte from the Opera Tosca! Live Beautiful this weekend.

October Is Crime Prevention Month!

Across the country communities are celebrating national Crime Prevention Month with a host of activities and events. Get together with your neighbors and stay safe by participating in Celebrate Safe Communities this month. Have a party with loads of goodies and music with the topic focusing on safe neighborhoods. Find useful tools to keep your family and community safe from crime. Remember the sign post...Crime Prevention Begins at Home.

There are many things you can do to keep your home safe from burglars such as installing automatic outdoor lights, keep your hedges well trimmed, make sure you doors and window are locked at all times and talk to your neighbors!

A few tips;

BE PROACTIVE.....report criminal activity and have a home security system

BE INFORMED......protect our children, pets and youth

SAFETY YARDSTICK......our senior safety committee is forming soon

REDUCE RISK.....be aware and willing to "get involved"

CREATE AWARENESS....crime prevention through social engagements with others

ZERO TOLERANCE...live violence free and practice simple acts of kindness

Happy Crime Prevention Month from the WC Crime Prevention Team!

Neighborhood Finds

Richard's Cafe'

Fontanel Mansion

Bates Nursery

Cedarwood & Karen Wright Designs

Earthmans General Store....where you can get the best pizza, hamburgers, tuna melt and so much more...especially when you're extra kind to Bonnie & Victoria!

Fontanel Mansion

Fontanel Mansion located at 4225 Whites Creek Pike is a beautiful treasure with a wonderful history! Barbara Mandrell and family created this oasis and many country music superstars throughout the year have enjoyed the space. On September 29th the Edge Planning Group held an important evening meeting for residents and property owners. Metro Planning Commission sent out information for an upcoming meeting to be held October 8th at 4:00 to consider the proposed request; to rezone the R15 and Rs20 to Sp-MU zoning for properties located at 4105,4125 and 4225 Whites Creek Pike (136.04 acres).

"Plowboy Mansion" is seeking to become a tourist attraction with event, restaurant, tours of the residence, distillery,retail and seasonal perfomances.

Let's join in all possibilities of reigniting Whites Creek and rekindling the historic past from the Civil War to Jesse James! Share the vision of this peaceful rural retreat and join the fun of creating something wonderful!

Whites Creek Days

Whites Creek Merchant's Association presented the Annual James Gang Festival with lots of activities like rope throwing, saddle mounting, gun safety and Lady Victoria's brownies!

Hats, bags, quilts, jewelry, leather goods and birdhouses and benches galore...I purchased a bird feeder and a birdhouse before things got started...oops! Also purchased two benches for my husband and I to sit in when we're in our garden...

Randy and Zan are such a good looking couple...watch out New York city

There was fresh honey and I don't mean this good looking cowboy...kiddie rides, great food and a host of friends and neighbors. Our very own "Doc" placed third in the horseshoe pitch and came away with two cd's and a big smile! Make sure to put it on your calendar for next year!

Skateboard Fever

We have our very own Skateboard team...yes it's official

They skate and entertain the residents with new tricks before heading over to Rocketown skatepark on 6 Avenue .....

Where they will find their lone pep club member cheering them on!

Crime Prevention Begins With You

Safety experts agree that the best way to deal with crime in the home is to take every step possible to prevent it from happening to you. It is important to be aware of the basic crime prevention tiops that will keeep you and your family more safe and secure. Law enforcement and security experts know from experience that criminals always look for the easiest possible targets. The easiest target is the neighbor that says " I don't want to get involved".

When I took a position as Community Organizer for South Seattle Crime Prevention Council in 1989 it amazed and saddened me how many people would say those words. President Bush had declared our council the 13th Point of Light and it was time for people to come together and organize their communities instead of waiting for the police or elected official to do it. Drugs, car thefts, home invansion, litter, abandon cars and many of illegal activities were taking place while residents talked about it in church or at home...however no one was taking action to prevent these crimes except the people who lived in gated communities.



I sought out their suggestions and what worked for their area and simply followed their lead by encouraging neighborhood and business watch programs. We worked in partnership with schools, churches, law enforcement, business owners and residents. And it worked!

So if you notice suspicious characters hanging around our neighborhood or a car that keeps driving up and down or strangers asking questions about who lives in such and such house...it's time to be aware and document license plates and descriptions.

We MUST be willing to care enough to GET INVOLVED....remember crime prevention and a peaceful sustainable way of live begins with YOU.

A Beautiful Life

What does a beautiful life look like? What does it smell like...taste like...feel like?

Perhaps you are living a beautiful life yet fail to realize it...

Is life calling to you to take time for yourself? To savor the moment of stillness is a treat within itself. A simple pot of tea, scones slathered in strawberry preserves and a favorite book can be beautiful if you embrace and allow it to be.

This is your moment to create a daily ritual into something special and personal...just for you!

"To be happy at home is the ulimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends..." -Samuel Johnson

Lovely Day

One of the perks of living in an area as lush and beautiful as Whites Creek is the opportunity to see the wonders of creation and the joy of sharing such a lovely day!

Hail to Our Chief!

We are so happy to share our community with our very own "Chief" who is constantly doing his part to beautify not only the community but the world! Chief served our county for over 43 years and is an awesome husband, father, grandpa, friend and gardner. He will always have a smile and a wave for visiting friends. His love of gardening produces such delights as squash, tomatoes, watermelon, cantelope and zucchini plus more. You can catch him walking, talking and grooming the grand estates of other residents. I personally have called on Chief and he always comes through. Kind of like Superman and a mix of Greatness he lives what he believes. His parents taught him many life lessons and he practiced what they lived and taught. The biggest lesson he learned from his parents was to treat others with respect. " First my father taught us love and respect" said Chief. "Live a happy life and save at least half your money" was his father advice. We can all learn and benefit from such positive and loving lessons. A bouquet of Roses for our very own Chief. We love you!

Our Family Pets

We absolutely adore our pets on Cherry Grove Lane! On any given day you might see a few residents playing and laughing with their pets. Some funny moments are when our Estate chihuahuas run after our prized standard poodles and of course when Diva gets away from the leash and someone has to chase her! Our families are constantly adding new additions to enhance love and joy in their homes. We have a "walk your dog" evening and it's fun to listen to the stories and exercise at the same time. It is encouraged to please drive slowly and of course pet owners try to respect the "poop and scoop" unwritten law.

Welcome to Cherry Grove Lane

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Whites Creek Historic District is the best representation of a historically and architecturally significant rural community in Davidson County. Whites Creek was one of the first areas to settle in 1780 and many of the surviving buildings remain as well as new devolopments.