© Sharon Brown Christopher

The f/4 Studio women recently took an early-morning drive south of Nashville to Bedford County to see what we could see. The towns of Wartrace and Bell Buckle were our destinations.

© Sharon Brown Christopher

Wartrace, population 651 in the 2010 census and a winter encampment site during the Tullahoma campaign of the U.S. Civil War, is the hub of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. .

© Sharon Brown Christopher

Bell Buckle, population 500 according to the 2010 census, was incorporated in 1856. Before it was settled, it was part of the Cherokee territory. For years it was a vibrant railroad town. For many years it has been the home of Webb School, a prestigious private boarding and day school with an international student body.

© Sharon Brown Christopher

Today both communities draw tourists with their antiques, quilts, home cooking, and Southern hospitality.

© Sharon Brown Christopher

Our only aim this recent day was to wander, to look, and to see. For the most part, I found myself drawn to the little details.

© Sharon Brown Christopher

© Sharon Brown Christopher

However, our stop in the local coffee shop in Bell Buckle introduced us to the bigheartedness of these communities. The delicious meal and the stimulating lunch conversation provided by the proprietors left us with satisfied stomachs and warm hearts.

Contributed by Sharon Brown Christopher