Can’t never could do nothin’ so stop cryin’ in your coffee before Momma comes over here and slaps you to China in a tin can suit! Talk ‘bout a rattlin’ racket! Whoa! Here she comes! Don’t look now but Lord have mercy! Now I didn’t say this but she don’t look right this mornin’. In fact she looks right ugly! I’m talkin’ that face might not stop a clock, but it’ll sure raise Cain with wrist watches! Now don’t all y’all start to worry none ‘cause honey I know just exactly how to calm Momma down when she’s havin’ one of them ugly conniption fits! That’s right! She loves good food and Morgan County is flat ding dang lucky, lucky, lucky to have so many family owned restaurants and  . . . STOP THE PRESSES . . . Our newest restaurant just flat opened up in Madison on the Madison Markets campus where Dog Ear Books used to be!
    Momma! Put on your Southern Smile ‘cause we’re going to Claudia’s European Coffee Shop at 142 Academy Street! Y’all are gonna flip cartwheels when you try this one out! First off, the coffee ROCKS! It’ll spoil you silly and put your get-up-and-go-that-got-up-and-went back into the game! I could drink two pots! Hummmmm . . .maybe I can increase Citizen ad sales exponentially with each pot and get rich, rich, rich! But, I digress! Claudia’s is sooo yummy! Ok so I was lucky to run into a local restaurant enthusiast there last week who treated me to a fabulicious fruit tart with homemade to-die-for whip cream! Of course, I headed right smack back over there the very next day for lunch and had the Venice Panini and honey it was out-of-this-world good! Oh and did I tell y’all ‘bout the German potato salad? Well, it’s delicious!
    Ok so here’s the deal y’all: Claudia’s is owned by Claudia and Juergen Metzler, native Germans who now live right here in Morgan County! Oh and their restaurant is part of the Slow Food movement, meanin’ they trade with local organic farmers and distributors to serve up a fresh, locally grown menu that delivers the tastes of the world . . . well at least Europe! They have European themed breakfast menu items and pastries, fabulous breads and a yummy lunch menu features items like the Antipasti Plate, Carpaccio (I’m orderin’ that next), Grilled Vegetables, Paninis, Sandwiches like the Paris (a croissant with ham and cheese) or the Madison (chicken salad on a croissant that I’ve been told is super delicious), Bratwurst and Schnitzel, Salads, Quiches and wonderful Desserts. Check it out immediately! Oh! Hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Well what do you know? My wrist watch is runnin’ like a top!
    And, speakin’ of jewelry honey, Ben Whidby of Whidby Jewelry located at 177 West Jefferson St., in Madison just proved that what happens in Vegas don’t always stay in Vegas! Oh hush now! I’m talkin’ ‘bout all that fabulous bling he bought at that big jewelry show a while back! Honey! It’s started comin’ in! Playin’ in jewels has never been so much fun! Ok so one of my favorite lines is Lorenzo and Whidby now has their newest black onyx collection! It’s beautiful! But, honey their Green Amethyst is flat now on my official Whidby Jewelry Wish List! That big ring is fab and Ben says Big Bold looks are flat in style! Ok but ladies . . . hold your horses ‘cause the most fun fab bling in that store are the new Inside Out Diamond Hoop Earrings! Oh my GOSH! There are dozens to choose from and they come in all sizes and I mean I just gotta have that hoop in the big, big size! And, just wait til you check out the new Boulder Opals! Ok y’all! They’re my new favorite! Right so they’re opals that are cut to retain the natural brown ironstone. The effect is BEAUTIFUL! Y’all head over there and check it all out!
    Hey and before I go Jon Tonge, owner of our very own Local bookstore Dog Ear Books located at 270 South Main St., in Madison has a few announcements! First up is a double book signin’ this Saturday from 1 p.m. til 3 p.m. with local artist Karen Strelecki and Alan Oberdeck of Eatonton. Alan will be in to sign copies of The Vancouver Rendezvous, second in his Deer/Dear Hunt series. Karen will be in to sign copies of Claudia Bishop's Toast Mortem. She did the cover art for Claudia’s book! Cool! Oh and you can now have children’s birthday parties at Dog Ear with themes and activities featured around great books like The Magic Treehouse, Fancy Nancy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants and Pinkalicious.  And, finally, Dog Ear Books has gone back to regular hours now that school’s back in session! Hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. til 5 p.m. on Sundays.
    Dang! Outta space and time already! Y’all be real sweet! Don’t lose your cool fool! Oh and dine and shop local, local, local! And, honey if you want your business to gain exposure in Morgan County, your LOCAL Morgan County Citizen will deliver the loudest marketing voice! That’s right y’all!
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