Ray Hamblin, Franklin, is good at making things.
He expended hundreds of hours working to help create the Franklin Community Park. But Hamblin is quick to point out that many volunteers worked on the park and other projects after a tornado devastated the area on May 4, 2003.
“We really went through a deal rebuilding all this stuff in Franklin,” he said.
Modest though he is, Hamblin doesn’t deny that he makes a pretty fair sweet potato pie.
His pies will be among the baked goods offered during the Holiday Festival scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Franklin Community Center and Heritage Museum.
“I got up at 5 a.m. to bake 12 pies for the festival, and took the last one out around 11 a.m.,” Hamblin said. “I got the recipe from Melvin Patrick’s daughter, just made one of them and everybody liked it. I made some pies for the festival last year and burned them up, so I’ve worked all year on perfecting these pies.”
He said there’s a secret why the pies are especially good.
“What makes them special is that I grew the sweet potatoes myself, so the pies are really fresh,” Hamblin said. “Next year I’m going to cut out the peppers and zucchini that I’ve grown in my garden and just plant tomatoes and sweet potatoes.”
He said that he was a truck driver for 32 years, but started doing household chores like cleaning and cooking when his wife developed heart problems.
“I make a chocolate cake that won a purple ribbon at the county fair,” Hamblin said. “I gave my granddaughter the recipe and she baked one and took it to the fair. Then she lost the recipe, but I still have it.”
He’s gotten an even higher honor than a purple ribbon.
“My best friend Robert Luth thinks I’m the best cook that ever was, except for his first wife,” Hamblin said. “He comes to my house every day at 1:30 p.m. and I give him leftovers — but I always make extra food so I’ll have some for him.”
In addition to Hamblin’s pies and other baked goods, the Holiday Festival will feature arts, crafts, collectibles, antiques, purses, scarves, jewelry, knit and crochet items, Christmas decorations, candles, quilts, leather goods and gift items. Soup will be available to eat-in or carry-out.
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Ray Hamblin, Franklin, is good at making things.
He expended hundreds of hours working to help create the Franklin Community Park. But Hamblin is quick to point out that many volunteers worked on the park and other projects after a tornado devastated the area on May 4, 2003.
“We really went through a deal rebuilding all this stuff in Franklin,” he said.
Modest though he is, Hamblin doesn’t deny that he makes a pretty fair sweet potato pie.
His pies will be among the baked goods offered during the Holiday Festival scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Franklin Community Center and Heritage Museum.
“I got up at 5 a.m. to bake 12 pies for the festival, and took the last one out around 11 a.m.,” Hamblin said. “I got the recipe from Melvin Patrick’s daughter, just made one of them and everybody liked it. I made some pies for the festival last year and burned them up, so I’ve worked all year on perfecting these pies.”
He said there’s a secret why the pies are especially good.
“What makes them special is that I grew the sweet potatoes myself, so the pies are really fresh,” Hamblin said. “Next year I’m going to cut out the peppers and zucchini that I’ve grown in my garden and just plant tomatoes and sweet potatoes.”
He said that he was a truck driver for 32 years, but started doing household chores like cleaning and cooking when his wife developed heart problems.
“I make a chocolate cake that won a purple ribbon at the county fair,” Hamblin said. “I gave my granddaughter the recipe and she baked one and took it to the fair. Then she lost the recipe, but I still have it.”
He’s gotten an even higher honor than a purple ribbon.
“My best friend Robert Luth thinks I’m the best cook that ever was, except for his first wife,” Hamblin said. “He comes to my house every day at 1:30 p.m. and I give him leftovers — but I always make extra food so I’ll have some for him.”
In addition to Hamblin’s pies and other baked goods, the Holiday Festival will feature arts, crafts, collectibles, antiques, purses, scarves, jewelry, knit and crochet items, Christmas decorations, candles, quilts, leather goods and gift items. Soup will be available to eat-in or carry-out.
