ASHLAND — While visiting Carter City last week, I asked Robin Webb where a hungry guy could find a good cheeseburger and the state senator didn’t blink before advising the nearby Buffalo Market (“Gas, Grill, Deli”) was the place to go for lunch.

Owners Pam and Bill Chavers were tending to their regular customers when I arrived and put in a to-go order for a cheeseburger with bacon, which I paired up with a chilly bottle of orange Fanta. I got to chat with Mr. Chavers while his wife was grilling the hand-patted ground chuck burger, and had an instant appreciation for his outlook on local life and efforts to keep foul language or behavior out of their family business.

Mrs. Chavers was also a lot of fun to talk to, especially when she shared her opinion about pre-made food. “That’s nasty,” she concluded. She also pointed out anyone who visits the Buffalo Market can always expect two things at no cost. “You get two things for free at Buffalo Market — coffee and a hard time,” she said with a chuckle that told me she meant every word.

The country store and restaurant has become a popular stoping point for people who enjoy riding horses along the nearby Jenny Wiley Trail, the Chaverses said, and they are now offering Friday and Saturday specials featuring different entrees such as pork roast, catfish, or soup beans with fried taters a choice of hot Mexican or traditional corn bread. And, I tried to type “fried potatoes” in that last line, but it just didn’t sound right.

My bacon cheeseburger was excellent, by the way. It was also a good size, big enough to satisfy the appetite but not so big that it couldn’t be enjoyed while driving in the country.

Buffalo Market in “downtown Carter City” offers customers freshly made meals from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, according to the sign out front. For more information or to place an order, call (606) 475-6402.

Interesting advice

Robert Prichard, owner of Prichard Lawn Care and Prichard Power Equipment, recently expanded his business into the retail sector by offering Snapper and Red Max power equipment at the business at 1306 Boy Scout Rd. just off of U.S. 60 near the Ashland city limit.

“I’ve mowed grass for 25, actually 30, years of my life and I decided to see what the rest of the world is like,” Prichard said, just before making it clear he plans to stay on his mower and avoid anything that resembles a desk or computer.

“I’ll never be off the mower,” he said.

Mowing aside, I think Prichard said something I’ve never heard before when I asked his secret to succeeding in business during tough economic times.

“It’s a tough economy, but our area is sheltered ... insulated. A lot of people say we’re 10 or 20 years behind the rest of the world, but we’re also 10 to 20 years insulated from the rest of the world. For me, I just act like an ostrich and keep my head stuck in the sand. If everybody would do that and just keep going and trucking and don’t pay attention to the TV and just accept gas prices, I think we would all be a lot better off.”

Prichard also didn’t waste time giving credit to his “go-to guys” at the shop including office manager Cassie Murphy, who he called “the backbone that lets me get around.” For information about landscaping services, new mowers and power equipment or parts and repairs, call Prichard and his crew at (606) 324-9316.

Mining show

Something tells me a lot of people around here will be interested in attending the Eastern Mining Collectors Association spring meeting at Carter Caves State Resort Park on Saturday. The meeting features vendors from across the country buying, selling and trading tools and artifacts used to mine coal, copper, silver and gold, such as lamps, mine signs, photos and posters.

The free show will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the park at (606) 286-4411.

Good in Grayson

Dan Click passed along a note inviting me to see some good art and hear a great band at his Grayson Gallery and Art Center at the corner of Carol Malone Boulevard and Third Street during the city’s upcoming Pot of Gold Antique Show & Sale, as well as the monthly F!nal Fr!day Art & Antique Walk.

The annual event, set for Saturday and March 25, will include an opening reception for assemblage artist Cheryl Kuhn.

The gallery will also have an evening of music and art on March 30 during Grayson’s F!nal Fr!day Art & Antique Walk, featuring musicians Larry Whitt, Brent Jack and Tom Berry. For more information, email graysongallery@gmail.com or call (606) 922-0927.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.