Friday, February 27, 2015

Chicken Linguine

This Recipe serves 4 
1# pkg linguine, cooked
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Cremini mushrooms, quartered or sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves minced garlic
Salt and pepper to season...

Chives
Toasted slivered almonds (optional)
4 oz white wine
2 cups whipping cream
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 cup frozen Peas, optional
Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottomed frying pan over medium low heat. Add chicken breasts, garlic, season with salt and pepper and continue to fry the chicken until completely cooked.  Remove chicken from pan and hold in a warm oven.  Add to the pan - 4 oz white wine,  Simmer  until volume is reduced by half. 

Then add: 2 cups whipping cream, 3 tbsp Dijon mustard & Salt and pepper to season.

Simmer until sauce thickens enough to coat a metal spoon. Return Chicken to the sauce, along with the frozen peas and mushrooms and simmer for an additional 2 minutes. Serve over cooked linguine. 

Sprinkle with chives & toasted slivered almonds.  Serve with crusty bread and a Salad.

***To toast almonds, put in a pan over medium high heat and saute until slightly browned.  Remove from pan to stop the browning. 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Wonton Poppers

Absolutely delicious Appetizers - or even a light meal.  They are crunchy on the outside, with melted cheese with a kick on the middle.
Ingredients
1-8oz cream cheese, softened
1c Monterey jack cheese
Jalapeno pepper seeded and finely diced...

1t fresh minced garlic
3 green onions, diced
Black pepper
16oz package wonton wrappers
1qt Crisco Oil, for frying

Combine cream cheese, jack, jalapeno, garlic and green onions, mix well and season with black pepper, as desired. Fill the wonton wrappers with 1T cream cheese mixture. Fold wrappers into triangles then press with moistened fingers to seal. In a large skillet, heat oil. Carefully place 3-4 wontons at a time into the oil and quickly fry, turning once until golden brown. Remove to paper towels. Salt while still hot. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Yield 12-16 Poppers

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Style, Living, Passion

Our individual Passion is like the fuel we use to heat our homes on cold winter days, it creates a fire within us to live life to the fullest! Reignite your passion daily and if you don't feel you have Passion or aren't living life with Passion, sit down and figure out what passion is and how you have even the smallest glimmer of it in...
your life and IGNITE it - it's never too late"...by Jan Tanis
...          ...          ...

My friend Jemma, over at At Home with Jemma has been sharing posts and stories and information about Aging with Style - Living Life with Passion.  Prior to my husband's diagnosis of cancer {which is another story - but good thing is what they believed to be cancer...it is NOT!}, I was going to write a post to share with all of Jemma's readers...but that got de-railed.  Now, that the "scare" is over, I'm getting {or trying to} back to normal.  So, please thank Jemma for this opportunity to see what she's been up to.  And Jemma, I included my Quote that you liked so much!  Thanks for all of your support, prayers, hugs, love and friendship!

...          ...          ...

Here's my story of Living Life with Passion...

We {hubby & I} share our home with our PuppyKids - 3 small furry, four-legged Pups.  We live a normal life, nothing special or out of the ordinary here.  I love it!  

I thought I'd tell you that I'm Passionate about my God-given Talents.  Caring for and understanding and loving our PuppyKids and training them takes time and some effort.  I've known for a long time that I had a special connection to animals.  I've been called the "dog whisperer".  The pups make me smile and laugh everyday...and they also comfort me when I need it.  Each one has their duty in the pack and each of them has their own and very different personality.

When hubby and I go on vacation, our 3 Pups travel with us and stay with us in Vacation Rental Homes...and they truly enjoy themselves.  They are 2 girls and a boy, between the ages of 2 and 6. They weigh between 8 and 14 pounds.

They mean the World to Us
Angel is a Coton de Tulear and 2 years old - she is so sweet and cuddly {at 14#} and the Leader of the 3-Pack.  She alerts us to people around or near our yard.  She's on guard all the time.

Jasper is a Maltese and he is nearly 7 years old - and we've nicknamed him the Grumpy old Man, because if either of us or the other 2 pups get too close while he's laying around or napping on the floor or on a chair, he growls.  They all sleep together in a crate and he doesn't do it there.  Funny!

Rosie is a 5 year old Toy Poodle.  She weighs in at 11# and she is a Spit-Fire {although a little quieter since Angel came into our lives}.  

Up until a few months ago, I was their groomer, taking care of their every need.  But then I took them to a professional groomer for the first time and she couldn't get over how good they were for her, knowing they'd only had me work on them.  She groomed them and did a terrific job on them and I took them there several times.  In November, I groomed them myself and in 2015, they haven't been back to the groomer, because I've been trimming them.  I trained them from the time they first came here to our home...anywhere from 11 weeks to 9 months of age...and I continue to.  It's a daily adventure!  I'm proud they're my Pups...because they are well behaved, nice and funny!

Now, you may be wondering why there are photos of 4 Pups in the photo above, when I mentioned we had 3...here's the story.

Our youngest Pup, Angel, arrived just 3 weeks after we suffered a terrible loss of one of our Furry Kids.  Benny, {the 4th Pup in the photo), a Havanese, who was the Leader of the 3 Pack, our Guard Dog and a comfort, who weighed 18#, was only a little over 4 1/2 years old, woke up one morning, lame on one of his hind legs.  After seeing the Vet, we came home with some meds for him and an appointment to return after the weekend for X-rays.  By that evening, it was apparent to the ER Vet we went to that he was much worse than anyone could have ever known.  He was suffering from an acute onset of neurological problems.  He was seizing so frequently, couldn't hear or see, didn't know where he was or even whether he was upside down or right side up.  No ones knows how, why or anything as to how this came about, but in less than 12 hours - from the time we saw our Vet in the morning and when we saw the ER Vet in the evening, we knew he wasn't going to make it through the night.  We decided we had to put him to sleep.  We couldn't allow him to continue suffering.  It was terrible.  I'd never experienced anything like it before.  But it was the right choice and the only choice we could make for such a special dog.  I'm certain he was Heaven-sent, just special, to help me through a nearly 2 year (and continuing) recovery from Bell's Palsy.  He knew when I was in pain and would come by me to give me comfort.  He knew right where the pain was, too.  He would nuzzle me with his nose and lick the spot and then place himself in such a way as to use his body heat to warm up the sore and stiff, paralyzed muscles in my face, neck and head.  He knew.  It was hard to let him go.  The days following his death on December 7, 2013, were harder.  They are better now, but I still miss him. 

The new 3-Pack has been a great pack...getting along so well, playing and running around and generally being Pups!  You can read more about all of the 3 Pups Here.

God gave me Gifts and Talents, about which I am Passionate.  I knew, when I was a kid, that I had these talents - loving, caring for and understanding animals, interior design, cooking and baking and creating things with my hands...but it wasn't until I was saved that I understood how I got them and where they came from and why I always felt a need to use them.  I've always been a very detailed person...and that started in childhood, too.  And my 3 Talents all include DETAIL.  So did I become a detailed person using my talents?  Or did God already instill in me the ability to be DETAILED?  I don't know...but whatever HE did, HE did right!!  I've used my Talents throughout my life. 

 Here are Three more of them...

Interior Design

As a child, I often moved my bedroom furniture around, creating new window treatments and sitting areas in my small bedroom.  I'd prompt my mom to rearrange the living room furniture too.  I liked helping my parents select paint colors and work on the house.  As I got older, I would decorate my own apartment and then began helping others decorate their own homes.  In 1981, I began my career as an Interior Designer at Ethan Allen in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I was able to support myself and use a Talent from God and for that I'm very thankful.  Through the years, of course, my taste and style has evolved.  One thing that has never changed is my love of the color BLACK.  It anchors a room and just balances other colors.  It's been my one constant in design.

The next 2 photos are of my initial Interior Design of our new home.  It stayed this way for 7 years and has undergone a big change...which I hope to begin sharing very soon on my Blog...

I've been in the midst of a whole house re-design for quite a while.  While I was recuperating from the worst of Bell's Palsy, I did nothing.  I can't remember the summer - the entire summer and fall of 2012, the year I got it.  I was in so much pain, I would sleep and sleep and sleep.  I wasn't taking medications to make me sleep, my body just needed it.  Then in August of 2014, I got hit with BO again - on both sides of my face and I'm still improving.  I do everything I can to help myself heal.
Hospitality
As you can see the table in my Dining Room is Set for Lunch...with a Friend...complete with Tea.  I love decorating and setting a pretty table and serving delicious food.  On my Blog, you'll find lots of Recipes that are either mine or tried and true Recipes from other friends.

To me, there is nothing more loving and comforting than preparing a meal or Tea and serving it to others.  I know sometimes I rush around and probably even appear frazzled but it's only because I want everything to be just right for my guests.

Here's a Great Summer Salad Recipe that I love.

Creamy Cucumber Salad 
(BETTER FOR YOU - in parenthesis)

1 medium red onion, roughly diced
2 medium cucumbers, halved, peeled &sliced 1/2" thick
1/2 green pepper, thinly sliced 
2 large cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1/2 cup Hellmann's Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
4 tablespoons granulated sugar (or 2T honey)
1 teaspoon seasoning salt (or Garlic, Thyme, or any other seasoning)
1 tablespoon fresh dill (or as much as desired)

Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe Preparation Instructions:

Place the diced onion, sliced cucumbers (*see note below), sliced green pepper, halved cherry tomatoes into  a large mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix the vinegar, mayonnaise, parsley flakes, sugar (or honey), salt/seasoning and dill.  Pour over the "veggies" and toss.  Refrigerate at least 2 hrs (stirring at least once to redistribute ingredients).  The dressing gets a bit thinner as all the flavors blend and the juices of the "veggies" come out.


*Note: The cucumber cut is especially important. If thinly sliced, most cucumbers wilt & do not retain their crunch.

I love using my pretty things - Dishes, Silver Flatware, Crystal, Serving Pieces, so here are a few that I like to use - whether serving lunch or dinner or Tea - and even use every day.  These are pretties that I've collected throughout my life.

And I even use my PINK PYREX Dishes!!
Most people I know...who take a vacation...no matter who they are, no matter how much they love cooking and baking, choose to NOT DO ANY while on vacation.  NOT ME!!  I even take items from home that I know I will need in order to cook my meals and bake some goodies.  I take 2 full bins that fit in the trunk, filled with needed bowls, mixer, pans, mixing bowls, panini press, griddle...pot and pans, knives...you name it, I take it...after carefully planning a menu for the week we'll be away.  Sometimes, if the owner of the Vacation Homes we stay in are on the Property or near...I've been known to take them a meal, too!  It does my ♥ good to serve others.

Working With My Hands
I like keeping busy, even when I'm relaxing and God has given me a Talent that allows me to do that.  I crochet and design and create Rosaries and Jewelry.  For a number of years I had an Etsy Shop, where I sold my hand-made items...then I finally decided it was time to retire from the shop.  I continue to make items by request and gifts, too.  I feel the best when I'm using all of my talents and I bet you do too.  Here are a few items that I've created.








I'm so fortunate to have these Talents...and that I've been able to support myself using them.  God has been so good to me by giving me these talents, that I feel the need to use them daily.  And, using them daily, makes me the happiest.  While I'm happy with what I create, I know that the ideas in my head come from God and He guides me as to what I should be doing with my talents.

What are your Talents that you've been blessed with?  How do you use them?  Do you use them often?  How long have you known about your talents?

Monday, February 23, 2015

Daily Devotion

SpiritFire: Test the Spirits 
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets...
in the world.

Key Thought
Occasionally, we hear someone say something, preach something, or teach something that doesn't sit well in our hearts. We have a nagging feeling that something just isn't quite right with what they are saying. The Holy Spirit within us gives us what I call "the greasies" — that sick feeling in the pit of our stomachs that something isn't quite right. The things said could be very pleasing to us, they could be difficult for us to hear, or they could be the culturally acceptable point of view. No matter on what trajectory the comments reach us, we need to pray and seek the Spirit's leading and then open the Scriptures to check and see if what we heard is really from God. Spiritual discernment is an important work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Today's Prayer 
O Father, I confess that I get busy and distracted. In such times, I know that I don't always practice good spiritual discernment. In the rush of my life, I sometimes neglect opening your word as often as I should and I don't come into your presence seeking to have my heart tuned by your Holy Spirit. Father, please forgive me and also guide me through the leading of your Spirit so I may better know and obey your will. I ask this, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

2½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken
1 cup honey
½ cup soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp minced onion
¼ cup barbecue sauce...

¼ tsp crushed red peppers
6 tbsp cold water
2 tbsp cornstarch
Sesame seeds
Green onions, sliced

Cut chicken into 1 to 1½ inch cubes and put into Crock Pot.

Mix together honey, low­sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, garlic, onion, barbecue sauce and crushed red peppers in a small bowl.  Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.

Cook on low for 3½ to 4 hours.

Remove the chicken from the Crock Pot while reserving the sauce.  

Pour the sauce into a saucepan over medium heat.  Mix together the cold water and cornstarch and stir into the sauce.  Cook sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. This only takes a couple of minutes.  Turn the heat down to low, add chicken to sauce and break any large pieces into smaller chunks. I used the end of my wooden spatula. Stir to coat while simmering.  Remove from heat and sauce will thicken more as it cools.

Serve over rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Crock Pot Sesame Chicken

 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
 Salt and pepper
 1 cup honey        
 1/2 cup soy sauce
 1/2 cup diced onion
 1/4 cup ketchup
 2 tablespoons olive oil
 2 cloves garlic, minced...
 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 3 Tablespoons water
Sesame seeds

Start by seasoning chicken lightly with salt and pepper and place into crock pot.  In a bowl combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken.  Cook on LOW for 4 hours or on HIGH 2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through.  Remove chicken from crock pot with a slotted spoon, leaving sauce behind.  Dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in 3 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot.  Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on HIGH for ten more minutes until the sauce has thickened.  Shred chicken with two forks and then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice, quinoa or noodles

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Slow Cooker Chicken, Black Bean & Corn Soft Tacos

Tasty chicken soft tacos — stuffed with tender shredded chicken, black beans, corn, and your favorite toppings — make for an effortless taco night since the slow cooker does all of the work!
Ingredients
3 chicken breasts 
1 package taco seasoning 
2 tablespoons mined fresh garlic (or the jarred, refrigerated kind)
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed & drained
10 ounces frozen corn, drained
16 ounces salsa
Optional garnishes: sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, fresh chopped cilantro, salsa, sour cream, pico de gallo, etc.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Cancer Update...

Tom doesn't have cancer...anywhere!  Not in his Brain, Liver, Bones or Lung. He does have an infection in his lung that has been difficult to eliminate. It causes him to cough repeatedly throughout the day and night. {If you missed the previous posts about this...read them HERE.} Everything that the doctors in the ER saw in the x-Ray, MRI and Cat Scan is STILL there
but it isn't CANCER! But based on the preliminary results, they diagnosed Lung Cancer with Mets to the Liver. And the oncologist suspected...
it was in his Bones and Brain, too. But after a multitude of additional scans, MRI's, x-rays and biopsies...it turned out that the spots on the liver are hemangiomas {nothing serious} and just Infection in the lung {being treated with antibiotics and a follow up MRI later this week}. Nothing in the brain and nothing in the bones.
Can you believe this?
The Doctor who did the biopsy called here last night and gave the results of the biopsy to both of us on the phone.
Now, we just have to wait until he's finished his 14 days of anti-biotics and another Cat Scan to see what's going on with that infection...then I will update again. Keep praying! ♥

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Puppy Kisses...

We're Wishing Everyone a Beautiful Day!  It's snowing, very windy and dropping to below zero later today...so I'll be snuggling up with my own Pups...and enjoying some time together.  Snuggle up and keep warm, too!

Monday, February 9, 2015

Make Life Bearable

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 

Bearing the burdens of each other is a big part of our Christian lives. It should be something that we do not just because the Bible tells us, although that is important, but we should see the need to do it.   We all have burdens to bear at one time or another and we all know how being in that place calls for relief.   We might not...
all face the same type of burdens or even the same weight of burdens, but we all have them in one shape or form. As humans we should be sensitive to others that have heavy burdens to bear. As Christians, it is even more important. 


Bear the Brunt
B - runt
E - mpathy
A - fflictions
R - esponsibilities

Have you ever been faced with a burden to bear and you felt like you were weak in the knees because it was so heavy? I think anyone feels that way when they go through a trial. Especially when it first hits them. When you feel the brunt of a trial, you feel all that force and impact. You just want a little of that weight off of your shoulders.  The doorbell or the phone ringing can sometimes strike fear in a person when they have a heavy burden because when you are that low, you just don't want to deal with anyone or anything. I think that is where we can step in. We can help someone out by just answering the door or the phone for them, taking messages, or fielding questions. 

Just doing any little thing to help can take the brunt of the impact off of the person going through the hard time. Stepping in and helping to alleviate unnecessary weight on someone that is already feeling beaten down can ease some of that forceful impact that has stuck at them. We can act as a shield to those people. We can help soften the blow. 

Bear with Empathy  

Empathy is basically just an understanding how someone else is feeling and when you have a friend or loved one going through a rough time, they want to know that you understand.  

You may just need to stop and listen to them. You might not even have to talk at all. Maybe just be there to give them a hug or hold their hand. From time to time we all need someone who just says, "Everything is going to be okay""Things will get better"

Hurting people just want to know someone else is there for them and that someone else is in their corner. Sometimes we have to feel a little bit of their pain too. 

Bear up Afflictions  

I don't like afflictions but I've had my share. It can be any burden you have to carry or any situation that hurts you to go through. Hurting people are vulnerable people because their defenses are down. They need some lifting up. One way to do that is to pray for them. Sounds basic, but praying for others is such an important part of our Christian living. 

Encouraging them in other ways can really help too. Maybe it is just a simple card you send that says you are thinking of them. Maybe it is a phone call or even a text message to say they are in your prayers. There are all kinds of ways to say you care and want to help in any given situation.  

Bear the Responsibilities  

When you are the person hurting, you aren't in a vacuum. Life goes on without you. Maybe you have kids or a husband who still has to get up, and go to school or work every day. Everything keeps moving along at a fast pace and you are in slow pace mode. 

Some things just naturally have to slide in your everday routine. You may not be up to doing normal everyday tasks, whether it is a physical burden or whether you just are so low that you don't have the strength to carry on. 

Helping out with responsibilities is another place we all can step in and help someone in this situation. Can we pick up the kids from school? Do their laundry? Make them a meal? Pick up the dry cleaning? Go to the grocery store? Maybe even walk the dog? 

We all have responsibilities. Life is full of little details and everyday jobs that still need to get done even when we aren't feeling up to it. As Christians we should want to dive right in to help ease the burdens of everyday life for someone else. 

Conclusion:  

I've had times in my life, like after surgery, or when I was just going a rough time, where I've had some wonderful Christian people and friends at my side. I'm not sure what I would have done without them. They lifted me up when I was down. People that help bear the burdens of others are such an encouragement. Just being there and acting as a friend can make all the difference in the world. 

I found a quote from one of my favorite bears and his little friend. I like what Piglet says to Winnie-the-Pooh. It says a lot.  

“I don’t feel very much like Pooh today," said Pooh.  "There there," said Piglet. "I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.”

A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Copyright ©2012 Julia Bettencourt
Scripture References are from the King James Version.
www.juliabettencourt.com

Elder Mountain Tennessee

I was hooked when I saw this house - by the whimsy, the views and the feel of this home.  It's located on Elder Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Years ago, I lived for a while in Chattanooga and loved being there.  When I had to move back to Wisconsin, I was sad to leave...it had really become "home" to me...in a relatively short time.  This home has 6 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms and over 7,000 square feet of living space.  It rests high atop the...
mountain on 6 acres.  It was built in 1923. It's located at 960 Cumberland Road in Chattanooga Tennessee.

There are alot of photos in this post...and they are all beautiful.  As you're taking in the rooms, look outside, through the windows, at the magnificent views...and especially take in the majestic sunsets in the photos near the end of the post.

I hope you enjoy this home as much as I did.  It certainly isn't something one would see every day.   It indeed is a Character Home...a one-of-a-kind home.



Notice the beautiful Pink Dogwood Tree beginning to bud.




A secret Entryway in the home.



A Look-out Tower






I love the arched doorway and the beautiful staircase...as well as the massive stone walls.





So warm and cozy!




See the View?


Lots of Cupboards and open storage.


Lots of open storage for all those beautiful dishes!








More beautiful views outside the windows.








Artwork - Natural surroundings, just outside the window!
















Thanks for visiting and coming along with me on this Home Tour!


These are maps of the area...and the home.


A once in a lifetime opportunity, for you to own a piece of history. From the timeless architecture to the unparalleled views, this home will not disappoint. A majestic castle prominently placed on six acres at the crown of Elder Mountain, one of Chattanoogas best kept secrets. 

A small, closed, and very private community that is held in high regard by locals who say the views of the valley, the Tennessee River Gorge and Chattanooga are without a doubt "the best in town." Conveniently located less than 12 minutes from the downtown district of Chattanooga, the prestigious Elder Mountain gated community offers 24 hour attendant service. 

The home sits on the highest point of Elder Mountain with an elevation of 1860 feet. It can be seen from the city of Chattanooga appearing as an ancient rock castle set on the bluff of the high mountain. A truly exclusive feature is the completely restored 60 foot stone observation tower which offers a wide panorama that encompasses views from four states - Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. All of the building materials for the home were sourced from the mountain. Native rock and boulders form the face of the mountain wall. Timber from local White Oak forests was used for construction. The Elder Estate was strategically built to follow the natural ridge line of the mountain. Privacy is guaranteed by design. The 82 year old property has only three previous owners. 

In 1921 the Elders purchased thousands of acres of virgin forest atop Raccoon Mountain and legally renamed it "Elder Mountain". The Elder House, as it was formally known, was completed in 1923. After a residence of 37 years, the property was sold to the MacDonald family. 

Being in the construction business, the MacDonalds expanded the main house adding garages and another private residence. The Krishock family purchased the home in 2004 and conducted a ground-up restoration, bringing all rooms back to their original beauty. They allowed the grounds to return to their organic and natural state, preserving a bit of nature with natural boulders and rock gardens inviting an abundance of wildlife. The oldest documented gingko tree in the state of Tennessee serves as an amazing centerpiece for the landscape. 

The historic all-stone exterior is crowned with a Spanish Barrel tile roof. The home is surrounded with open air patios to provide optimum outdoor entertaining. There are multiple tiered outdoor seating areas to maximize the views from every angle. A stone path leads to the front door of this private retreat with old world charm. The home immediately gives you a gratifying welcome with exposed stone walls, arches, solid oak vaulted ceilings, slate floors, lovely stained glass windows, wrought iron chandeliers and hardware, and a wide gentle curved staircase. 

Call for a complete and extensive list of features and amenities. A home of this grandeur would be truly impossible to replicate today. Buyer to verify square footage. CHATTANOOGA, also called the Scenic City, sits on the banks of the Tennessee River and it is located between the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. Chattanooga, home of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is 120 miles from Atlanta, GA and from Knoxville, TN. Chattanooga is a centrally located region for commerce. Tennessee has no income tax. Climate is temperate and has four distinct seasons