Proof in the Passion
Understanding that retiring from a career is not retiring from life, Kellye and Ron Brock needed something to occupy their time. They found their new callings on their 17½-acre Nolensville property.
It all started in 2018 when Kellye baked some dessert bread after finishing a 41-year career with Kroger in 2017.
“I started baking bread from zucchini from our garden,” Kellye said. “I just put it out there to people in Nolensville to see if they would buy some bread. They jumped on it, to my surprise and to Ronnie’s surprise, as he said, ‘Nobody’s going to buy your bread.’
“I wasn’t even a baker. It was I’ve got to try something. A lot of doors had been closing on me that weren’t working out. I prayed about it and came home from a fishing trip and the garden was overflowing with zucchini. I had a recipe and started baking it.”
Called Kellye’s Kitchen, she’s expanded to breads made with squash, jalapenos, strawberries, and blueberries from their garden and pumpkin bread, apple fritters, triple chocolate banana, cranberry-orange, and additional delectables using other ingredients.
Ronnie suggested Kellye include Bible verses on each loaf’s bread bag and on her business card, which have proven quite inspirational. Sales have gone from an initial nine loaves to more than 200 varieties.
Ron, a full-time high school science teacher until 2012, combined his long-time love of art, a pottery wheel in his garage, online self-teaching, and an advanced in-person class to start OGP (Old Guy Pottery) in 2020.
“I turned the one-car part of our three-car garage into my studio,” said the 65-year-old. “I sell my stuff at some stores and go to shows with Kellye where we split booths.”
They appear at about four annual events, including the Buttercup Festival in April. At the recent Centennial High School Christmas Craft Show in Franklin, they combined to sell $3,500.
When not making or selling their wares, Ron coaches basketball, and they spend time with their three sons and two grandchildren – another is scheduled to arrive in May – all living in the area.
“Our days are pretty full,” Kellye said. “We have a lot of fun. We make an effective team.”
