Recurring Events

How the West Was Won and Lost

What: A series of exhibitions and lectures on the major conflicts of 1862 and using the actual personal effects of the soldiers during that time.

Where: Carnton Plantation, Franklin

When: Daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays) until February 1, 2013

Franklin Art Scene First Friday Art Crawl

What: Receptions, art openings, etc. throughout the downtown area’s myriad galleries. Plenty of live music and refreshment.

Where: Downtown Franklin

When: 1st Friday of every month until December 7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

May

Tennessee Renaissance Festival

What: Has everything you’d expect from a Renaissance fair, including jousting, a colorful marketplace, and plenty of food and ale.

Where: Castle Gwynn in Triune

When: Every weekend throughout the month, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Franklin Rodeo

What: Features a wide range of events, including bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and steer wrestling.

Where: Williamson County Ag Expo Park, Franklin

When: May 17 to May 19

June

Town and Country Tour of Homes

What: A tour of the area’s fine, historically and architecturally distinctive homes and buildings hosted by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County.

Where: Franklin

When: June 2 to June 3

July

Franklin on the Fourth

What: A not to be missed 4th of July celebration, with live entertainment, a colorful parade, family-friendly activities, plenty of food and drink options and, of course, fireworks.

Where: Main Street & Public Square, Downtown Franklin

When: July 4

Bluegrass Along the Harpeth

What: A music festival featuring a bluegrass band competition. Also your chance to learn clogging and buck-dancing.

Where: Public Square, Downtown Franklin

When: July 27 to July 28

August

Williamson County Fair: Life on the Farm

What: A celebration of the agricultural heritage of Williamson County, will feature exhibits, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and more.

Where: Williamson County Ag Expo Park, Franklin

When: August 3 to August 11

September

Franklin Jazz Festival

What: Enjoy jazz in a historic setting, listen to some of the region’s and the country’s top jazz performers. Check out the Jazz Café and bring the kids.

Where: Main Street and Public Square, Downtown Franklin

When: September 1 to September 2

October

Old Tennessee Trail Yard Sale, a Picker’s Paradise

What: The 84-mile Old Tennessee Trail holds a yard sale. Go down the trail for excellent roadside finds, explore Civil War battlefields, stop at historic landmarks, and more.

Where: Leiper’s Fork

When: October 12

Pumpkinfest

What: A family-friendly pumpkin-themed street festival featuring various children’s activities, live entertainment, arts and crafts booths, a barbeque and costume contest, cemetery tours, and more.

Where: Main Street and Public Square, Downtown Franklin

When: October 27

November

Wine Down Main Street

What: Sample wines and food from Franklin’s foremost restaurants, listen to live music, and more.

Where: Downtown Franklin

When: November 2, 2012

Carter House Candlelight Tour

What: Nighttime tour of historic Franklin homes, including Carter House, Carnton Plantation and Lotz House.

Where: Carter House

When: November 30 to December 1

December

Middle Tennessee Civil War Show

What: The biggest Civil War show in the country. Find authentic artifacts, memorabilia and relics from the Civil War.

Where: Williamson County Ag Expo Park, Franklin

When: December 1 to December 2

Dickens of a Christmas

What: Christmas with a Dickensian twist, with plenty of vendors and street performers. Join the fun and show up in costume.

Where: Main Street and Public Square, Downtown Franklin

When: December 8 to December 9

For more information on Franklin area events and your housing options here, get in touch with the Franklin, Tennessee property management experts at Westgate Property Management anytime.

• Expect humidity. Don’t pack the pantyhose, do pack natural fiber clothing. The Franklin area has a relatively high level of humidity all throughout the year, even in winter. If you will be coming here in the colder months, however, it’s also best to pack for warmth, but don’t overdo it. The Nashville metro area as a whole enjoys short winters with hardly any snowfall.

• Definitely bring rain gear; expect cloudbursts. Don’t leave the umbrella behind when you leave your hotel or rental as it can rain pretty hard at practically any time of the year, not that this is monsoon country or anything like that.

• Be prepared to walk. The best way to explore Franklin—especially the historic downtown area—is on foot. So you should definitely bring your walking shoes. Don’t forget a hat and plenty of sun-block as well; you’ll be spending a lot of time outside when you’re here.

• Pack light. Leave room in your luggage because you will definitely find it hard to resist the one-of-a-kind shops here.

Need more travel tips? Looking for a long-term rental in Franklin and other nearby areas? Get in touch with a Franklin, TN property manager from Westgate Property Management, LLC today.

Landlords will need assurance that you’ll be able to pay the rent on time and that you’ll be taking care of the property. Expect them to take a look at:

• Your credit report. Franklin residential property management companies like Westgate Property Management, who represent high-end properties, usually look for a credit score of over 600.

• Your monthly income. If your monthly income is at least three times the monthly rental amount then you don’t have much to worry about.

• Your rental history. The cleaner your rental history, the better the chances of your application getting approved. Get a hold of your own rental history report to check what your prospective landlord will probably be seeing.

Bear in mind that good property management firms always deal with prospective tenants on a case by case basis—so even if your credit score isn’t the best that it’s ever been, you may have other things working for you. In short, don’t be afraid to submit that application.

Once your application has been approved, expect to pay the security deposit upfront as well as the first month’s rent. Be sure to find out in advance how much these will all amount to so that you’ll have it ready on the day you sign your lease. Have more questions about leasing a home? Check out the Tenant FAQs section and get in touch with Westgate Property Management today.

Africa…

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in ! tropical climates). “And it is our last hot water bottle!” she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

“All right,” I said, “put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.”

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth,! prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. “Please, God” she prayed, “send us a water bottle. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.”

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, “And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?”

As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say,”Amen”. I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teach! ing in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.

By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.

Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting.  Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out! . Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas – that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the…..could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out – yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, “If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!” Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked: “Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?”

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child – five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it “that afternoon.”

“Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24)   This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that’s all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want – but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Let’s continue praying for one another Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend’s life.  Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus’ name.

P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.

“Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet.”

I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his dds diploma, which bore his full name.  suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 40-odd years ago.  Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then??

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. hmmm,…or could he???

After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended morgan park high school.

“Yes. Yes, I did. I’m a mustang,” he gleamed with pride.

“When did you graduate?” I asked.

He answered, “In 1959. why do you ask?”

“You were in my class!” I exclaimed.

He looked at me closely. then, that ugly, old, wrinkled son-of-a-bitch asked, “what did you teach?”

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Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman: “And what do you think is the best thing about being
104?” the reporter asked. She simply replied, “No peer pressure.”
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The nice thing about being senile is you can hide your own Easter eggs.
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Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly widow and asked, “How old was your husband?” “98,” she replied. “Two years older than me.” “So you’re 96,” the undertaker commented. She responded, “Hardly worth going home, is it?”
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I’ve sure gotten old. I’ve had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees. Fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I’m half blind, can’t hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation, hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can’t remember if I’m 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But, thank God, I still have my driver’s license!
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A 97-year-old man goes into his doctor’s office and says, “Doc, I want my sex drive lowered.” “Sir,” replied the doctor, “you’re 97. Don’t you think your sex drive is all in your head?” “You’re damned right it is!” replied the old man. That’s why I want it
lowered!”

(Only 55 plepoe out of 100 can.)

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.

The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Azanmig waht? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

The 1st passenger said, “I am Kobe Bryant, the best NBA basketball
player. The Lakers need me, and I can’t afford to die.” So he took the
1st pack and left the plane.

The 2nd passenger, Hillary Clinton said, “I am the wife of a former
U.S. President, a NY State Senator and a potential future president.  And I
am the smartest woman in American history, so America’s people don’t want
me to die.” She took the 2nd pack and jumped out of the plane.
The 3rd passenger, Ted Kennedy said, “I am a US Senator, the democratic
party needs me and my liver still has some good years left.” So he
grabbed the pack next to him and jumped.

The 4th passenger, Billy Graham, said to the 5th passenger, a 10 year
old schoolgirl, “I am old and frail and don’t have many years left, and as
a Christian I will sacrifice my life and let you have the last
parachute.”
The girl said, “That’s okay. There’s a parachute left for you.
America’s smartest woman took my school bag.”

1 – First Important Lesson – Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

“What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”  Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. – Second Important Lesson – Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960′s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.  It read: “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.  Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away… God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole

3 – Third Important Lesson – Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

“How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked.

“Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.  “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired.

By now w more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

“Thirty-five cents,” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 – Fourth Important Lesson. – The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest me rcha nts and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
5 – Fifth Important Lesson – Giving When it Counts.

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away”.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.

May you “Work like you don’t need the money”, Love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like you do when no one is watching.”

God Bless!

Psalm 115:14,15