Off the Couch: Expect a fruitful day with The Peach Truck

Sweet peach fruits growing on a peach tree branch in orchard. / Getty Images
Sweet peach fruits growing on a peach tree branch in orchard. / Getty Images
photo Lisa Denton and Barry Courter

LISA DENTON: Hey, Barry, what do you call a fruit that makes shoes?

A peach cobbler.

Sorry. That was pit-iful.

BARRY COURTER: Trying to keep you not only focused but away from puns that turn my heart to stone is proving fruitless.

LISA: Well, I'm a little distracted today because The Peach Truck is in town, and I'm trying to figure out how long it would take me to eat all of a 25-pound box.

BARRY COURTER: Whatever it is, I'll take the under. Have you had peaches sliced and cooked on a grill? As Andy Griffith used to say, "They are exxxxtree good." By the way, The Peach Truck will be at The Barn Nursery from 9 to 11 a.m., East Ridge Hardware from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Ooltewah Tractor Supply Co from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

LISA: One other sign, besides peaches, that it's getting to be late summer is that county fairs are starting up. The Meigs County Fair opens Tuesday at the fairgrounds in Decatur, Tennessee. They're having all the regular things you might expect - tractor show, poultry show, sheep show (where it's all about ewe). And Saturday night, Nashville recording artist Chris Hennessee

BARRY: What, no punny poem rhyming "Hennessee" with "Tennessee" or "bumblebee"

LISA: No, but now I'm thinking something about "you" and "wannabe."

BARRY: Fair enough. I poked the bear.

LISA: Anyway, he's a Decatur native, and he will be performing as the highlight of the fair.

Hennessee has been a member of Jamey Johnson's band since 2012 and opens Johnson's shows. But he also has pursued some solo projects over the years. His upcoming fourth album, "Ramble," even includes Johnson trading lead vocals on the first single, "Wrong End of the Rainbow."

Rolling Stone included the single as one of its 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week when it was released in May. Reviewer Brittney McKenna wrote: "Johnson's low country croon sounds as fine as it ever has, serving as the perfect complement to Hennessee's twangy grit."

BARRY: I want to say kudos to Strung Like a Horse. They signed a record deal recently and are doing a big show to thank Chattanooga and their fans for always standing by them on Friday at The Signal. Not only will they be playing, but so will Hive Theory and Lon Eldridge. That's a great lineup, and frontman Clay Maselle told me it promises to be a memorable night.

LISA: And the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will present the Our Wild Film Festival at 8 Wednesday night at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center. They'll screen a handful of short films that focus on "wild people and wild places," give away several prizes and have SAHC president Jay Leutze talk about the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Did I ever tell you about the T-shirt my friend Donnie made for me in high school that said "Wild Woman of Sale Creek"? I'm not sure it fit me then - the title, not the shirt - because I was very shy back then (no, really), but it's possible I've grown into it.

BARRY: The shirt or the title? I've known a few girls from Soddy, and that's a pretty bold claim for anybody.

Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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