For the Locals: Muster on the Trace

Here is a cool free event to take the kids on Saturday or Sunday! It is a reenactment of a call to arms just before the War of 1812 and is sponsored by the National Park Services. The event takes place 12 miles west of Columbia, TN at the Gordon House Historical Site. Here is a short clip on the event and the information:

Muster on the Trace: Prelude to the War of 1812

Saturday, May 26, 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Sunday, May 27, 9:00 am-1:30 pm

Gordon House Historic Site (milepost 407.7)

This event, the first in a multi-year series of programs to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, will be a reenactment of a muster day--a day when both regular and militia troops came together to train. It will be held at the Gordon House Historic Site (milepost 407.7 on the Natchez Trace Parkway), approximately 12 miles west of Columbia, Tennessee.

Over 150 reenactors will be on hand to recreate the atmosphere, with military drills, historical weapons demonstrations, historical political debates, military and civilian living history camps, and sutlers. While there, you may "enlist" in either the militia or regular army, visit a Chickasaw camp, and enjoy the music of the time. Then visit a representation of tavern of the era, where men would typically gather to get news and discuss politics, or purchase period goods from a sutler. Watch an 1800s sawyer, blacksmith, and engineer as they plan to improve the Natchez Trace, and hear how Gordon's ferry was operated. Children may be surprised to see people their age with the army--there will be two units of fife & drum corps, who could be children as young as ten.

In addition to the ongoing activities, there will be special events each day.

Saturday, May 26 program schedule:

9:00 Site and parking open
10:00 Opening Ceremony
11:30 Special Lecture: Jim Parker. "Borderland Background: An Overview of Emotions and Conditions Along the Gulf Borderlands."
12:00 1812 Music Concert, Lewis and Clark Fife & Drum Corps, 7th USI Field Music
12:30 Special Lecture: Clay Williams and Mike Bunn. "The Smoldering Tinderbox: Prelude to the Creek War and the War of 1812"
1:00 Period Comical Play: "The Blue Devils"
1:30 Special Lecture: Dr. Tom Kanon. "Indian/Settler Tensions on the Tennessee Frontier: The Martha Crawley Incident of 1812"
3:00 Historical Political Debates
4:00 Mustering of the Troops

Sunday, May 27 program schedule:

9:00 Site and parking open
10:30 Camp Meeting (period church service)
11:15 Lunch on the Lawn
1:00 Closing Ceremony

To print an event schedule, click here.

The event is free to the public, and is sponsored by the National Park Service, the 7th US Infantry Living History Association, the Natchez Trace Parkway Association, and the Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee. For more information, please contact the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center at 1-800-305-7417, or visit a partner website:

7th US Living History Association (see a commercial for the event here)

Natchez Trace Parkway Association

Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee

Link Love: Free movies for students at Franklin Theatre this week

Check out the post by Ms. Cheap for information concerning free movies at the Franklin Theatre for students this week! It's a great way to start summer!

For the Locals: Rare Astronomical Event Viewing Party on June 5th

Here is a great summer activity for you and your kids:

"Rare astronomical event won't happen again until 2117!

On June 5, starting at 5:04 pm in Nashville, the planet Venus will pass across the face of the Sun as seen from Earth. Known as the Transit of Venus, this rare phenomenon will not happen again until 2117.

Join Adventure Science Center and local amateur astronomers to view this spectacular event at a free viewing party from 4 to 8 p.m. in the ASC upper parking lot. Members of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society will have telescopes set up, and members of the ASC staff will instruct visitors on how to view the sun safely with special solar shades that may be taken home.

Plus, enjoy a variety of fun activities for the whole family! Turn yourself into a human sundial or experiment with solar beads. If the weather turns cloudy, a live feed of the Transit from Hawaii will be available. Our on-site Subway will be available for dining throughout the event.

All Transit of Venus activities are free and open to the public. For more information on the Transit or on activities at ASC to celebrate, click here."

Monkey Bread Recipe: A Sleepover Favorite!

Whenever my kids have friends over I make this in the morning. It is super easy and the boys claim I am the best cook ever! It is a big time kid pleaser - sweet and messy.

Monkey Bread

Ingredients:

3 (12 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube/Bundt pan.

Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag. Cut biscuits into quarters. Shake 6 to 8 biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan. Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in pan.

In a small saucepan, melt the margarine with the brown sugar and water over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the biscuits. This can be done in the microwave as well.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 - 45 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. You do not have to cut! The bread just pulls apart

Regal Theaters $1 Movies Summer Schedule

Moviegoers of all ages can climb aboard to enjoy a great selection of films. During this 9-week festival, select Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am. Check here to find your local Regal Theater.

Here are my local Nashville theaters and a list of dates and movies which are the same for both:

GREEN HILLS STADIUM 16

3815 Greenhills Village Drive
Nashville TN 615-269-5910

OPRY MILLS STADIUM 20 & IMAX

570 Opry Mills Drive
Nashville TN 615-232-5014

Dates and Movies:

6/5-6/6 (10am)

JOURNEY 2

KIT KITTREDGE: AMER GIRL

6/12-6/13 (10am)

DOLPHIN TALE

HAPPY FEET TWO

6/19-6/20 (10am)

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS

YOGI BEAR

6/26-6/27 (10am)

CATS & DOGS: REVENGE

HUGO

7/3-7/4 (10am)

ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN

PUSS IN BOOTS

7/10-7/11 (10am)

KUNG FU PANDA 2

RANGO

7/17-7/18 (10am)

RIO

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME

7/24-7/25 (10am)

CHIMPANZEE

HOODWINKED TOO

7/31-8/1 (10am)

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

SMURFS

Harris Teeter Triples Trips

Here are two trips this week to Harris Teeter for their triple coupons. Check out the previous post for links to sites for coupon match-ups. Also, if you have odd coupons like blinkies and coupons sent to you from Kroger or Publix, you may be able to get a few great deals that are not typically described on the sites. Sales are good through Tuesday.

Trip 1:

OOP: $16.16

Trip 2:

OOP: $8.72

Harris Teeter Triple Coupons Begins Tomorrow!

Harris Teeter will have triple coupons starting 5/16 and running through next Tuesday! That means, all coupons 99¢ or less will be tripled in value, up to 20 coupons per day per card. Here are some sites to visit to help you make your list!

Southern Savers List 1
Southern Savers List 2
Southern Savers List 3
Madame Deals
Hot Coupon World
My Coupon Teacher
Moola Saving Mom