This is our house. Okay, not really. But it’s a house my husband 
found and wanted me to look at it and think about, which is a big deal for us because we don’t have an “our” house. The house we live in now is the one my ex- husband and I bought when we first moved to Alabama almost 15 years ago. He and I got divorced shortly after, so for most of those 15 years my two daughters and I have lived there in single-parent female-centric bliss. Now my husband and I have been married for 4 1/2 years, the girls are pretty much out on their own (one married with her own home and the other a college senior) and it’s time for our own place. I mean, he’s a great sport and hasn’t minded that the house is full of girly stuff and remnants of my ex-husband and doesn’t really reflect his style at all. So when he said, “Hey, I found a house I like. Let me show you,” I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I love this house! I love all the little nooks and crannies. I love that it looks different and comfortable all at the same time. Of course, I’d change several a few of the details, and we haven’t gone inside or even seen a house plan, so who knows? And we’re not talking about this specific house, either. It’s off the Natchez Trace Parkway near Saltillo, Mississippi, in a new development. It’s a pretty spot but not the place for us. But from what I can tell from the outside of it, if I could take this house (with the several few changes) and plop it down somewhere close to family and friends and art galleries and theaters and good grocery stores, coffee shops and bookstores, I’d be happy. Of course, I’m happy right now in our house that still has decorating leftovers from high-school prom 2004 and the spot where our beloved Lab chewed the windowsill, but I can see where my husband might be ready to move on. And I think I’m (getting) ready, too.
Houses
12
Demos’ Restaurant opens in Florence, Alabama, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28. If you want downhome comfort food at a great price served with a smile, this is the place to be. The family-owned and -operated business started in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and has three other locations around the Nashville area. When my mother-in-law still was able to get out and about, Demos’ in Murfreesboro was her favorite place to eat. In fact, even though she hasn’t been there for several years, the Demos’ folks still remember her and ask about her — that’s the sort of people they are and that’s the sort of attitude they’ve brought to Alabama. Go see for yourself, order a seafood-stuffed baked potato and tell ’em Tennessee Pitts sent you. The Florence restaurant is behind Books-a-Million at 339 Seville Street (the street off Cox Creek Parkway that goes between the entrances to Kohl’s and Wal-mart). If you miss it Sunday, be there at 11 a.m. on Monday when it opens for lunch. And visit 
I’ll admit that I usually spend December evenings curled up on the
couch watching Bing Crosby movies in my pajamas and eating the best part of Chex Mix — the burned crunchy bits at the bottom of the pan, but the invitation to a Christmas party in Huntsville, Alabama, for this past Saturday night said dress to impress. Marlene, the hostess, wanted a glam cocktail party, so my husband and I tried our best. How do you think we did? My husband always looks so spiffy in a suit. For the party, he went with classic all black and since he couldn’t find his Christmas tie, he substituted his Beatles one for a festive touch. My dress was a two-year-old (three? four?)
black halter from the sadly now-defunct Parisian’s, with the added feature of not being tight or binding in any way — my only prerequisite for party clothes. All I can say is, 
“Damn. We look good!” Marlene kept the festivities to proper cocktail hours so we could go out to eat or whatever afterwards, but before we did that, John and I stopped by my daughter and son-in-law’s apartment for a quick snuggle with almost 9-months-old grandson. Good company, good food and good baby time to top it off. Could it get any better?
Demos’ alert! The Florence, Alabama, location will open at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 29. This middle Tennessee family-owned and -operated restaurant is a favorite of almost everybody who eats there — the other four Demos’ are in Mufreesboro, Nashville, Hendersonville and Lebanon. The Florence one is behind Books-a-Million, and I ducked in there the other day to check it out. It was bustling, with training going on in the kitchen and folks busy in the front putting away napkins, organizing menus and generally getting ready. If what I saw and heard is any indication — an attentive bunch in the kitchen listened gravely as they were instructed to “Hold the plates this way. Not this way. Not this way. But this way” and a sign above the pass-through read “There is only one boss here: The customer.” — the legendary Demos’ commitment to service and value is alive and well.
Training began this week at the newly finished Demos’ restaurant in Florence, 
Alabama. “Today (Monday) is our official first day of training. We won’t open until the end of the month,” said Felicia Demos, chief financial officer for the family business, in an e-mail. Demos’ is a middle Tennessee icon, with restaurants in Murfreesboro, Nashville, Lebanon and Hendersonville famous for offering delicious homestyle food at great value and with excellent service. My husband and I are both from middle Tennessee and we eat at Demos’ whenever we’re nearby. I cannot believe our luck in getting one practically in our own backyard. We must have been living right. Who knew? Visit 
Coffee with Cathy 