Day care for horses to open

In becoming acquainted with the businesses of the area, some distinctive new ones stand out. At least they're distinct to someone who just moved here from the East Coast.

About six miles west of Jackson, 88 acres of farmland have been transformed into a place for high-quality equine care. Christopher McLeod is now accepting applications for full-board stabling and pasturing for 35 horses on his fenced property at 6222 Highway 34 in Burfordville. The Highland Stables & Indoor Riding Arena will open April 1. Amenities include use of shower stall, a 120-by-80 arena and more than two miles of scenic wooded trails to ride.

"It's like day care for horses," said McLeod, adding that horses can be boarded overnight, for weeks and months.

McLeod has spoken with people in the area who want to own horses but just don't have the land. He has a note pad next to his phone and believes he'll be writing down some numbers soon enough.

His family has always owned horses, but he will be the first generation to put their land to this kind of use. If all goes according to plan, he'll be adding more features to his horse wonderland in due time, such as a 20-stall horse barn and bulk cabins for weekend riding camps.

• Edible Arrangements: A day care for horses? What's next, fresh fruit handcrafted into stars, hearts and flowers, delivered to your doorstep?

Of course. I don't make this stuff up.

Edible Arrangements, slated to open March 5 at the new Helwege Plaza-North Pointe, 1750 N. Kingshighway, will specialize in guaranteed fresh fruit bouquets spilling over with pineapple, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew and chocolate-dipped strawberries. (Looking at the brochure, I think they really are nice).

It is actually a well-established franchise catching on throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico. Tom and Jackie Brandtner trained in Florida and are soon to bring the concept to Cape Girardeau.

Jackie Brandtner discovered the edible centerpiece concept when visiting a friend at a hospital in St. Louis. She noticed an elaborate fruit basket, snatched the tag and looked it up on the Internet when she got home.

Her husband, Tom, their daughter, Sara Miles, and their daughter-in-law, Jessica, will help manage the store.

"It's an alternative choice for flowers," Tom Brandtner said. "You get the benefit of it looking good, and you can eat it."

• All About You: While checking the progress at the site I stumbled into a new hair and nail salon next door in Suite A. It's called All About You. The Y is shaped by two hands with polished fingernails.

Denise Salmon started the business a couple of weeks ago and says it has a relaxing atmosphere where staff members cater to their clients.

"We live by our name," said hair designer Jessica Vangilder.

"We're not just teasing," Salmon chimed in.

They're not. The owner bakes fresh cookies for the customers every morning. They have one of those interactive Nintendo Wii game systems for children to play "while they wait for mom to get her haircut," Salmon said. They also offer a complimentary glass of wine to customers and soon will offer beer. Maybe dad would like to get his ears lowered, too.

Tim Krakowiak is the business editor of the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, tkrakowiak@semissourian.com or (573) 335-6611, extension 137