B&B_NovDec_2025 by Bluffs & Bayous Magazine

Elvie’s | Jackson, Mississippi

Styled by John Grady Burns and captured by photographer Lisa Whittington

our team

from the PUBLISHER

As we enter the holiday season, we are reminded of how fast 2025 has flown by. It seems as though we just kicked off last January’s New Year and yet already are headed into 2026 at warp speed! Throughout our 25th Anniversary Year, we have reminisced by featuring articles written by many of our contributors over these past 25 years; and these years, too, have gone so quickly—and yet, at times, not so quickly. I think of the beginning of Bluffs & Bayous and all the people who have contributed to its success. We appreciate our readers, our advertisers, the graphic artists who have fashioned each issue’s presentation, the companies who have printed our magazine, those who have distributed it throughout the reading area, and those who have coordinated our online presence. Many thanks to my dear friend and faithful copy editor Jean Biglane.

This month celebrates the holiday season with recipes touting seasonal and local standouts—pecans and yams or sweet potatoes. For more holiday interest and with the help of locals John Grady Burns and Lisa Whittington, I carved out some clever ideas for

225 John R. Junkin Drive Natchez, MS 39120 601.442.6847

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Bluffs & Bayous is published monthly to promote the greater Southern area of Louisiana and Mississippi in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Bluffs & Bayous are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Bluffs & Bayous strives to ensure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

dressing up your holiday table using meaningful items that whisper stories or wistful reminders of special people and events in my life. Widening the lens on holiday happenings, Christmas in Natchez and surrounding communities has become a month-long schedule of delightful events, tours, sights, and sounds. Be sure to see our ads with events and our Up & Coming section of activities to schedule your holiday experiences.

As Bluffs & Bayous’ year ends with this issue, I want to wish everyone a wonderful season of love, happiness, good health, and wealth. I want to express my appreciation to those who join me in the enriching experience of orchestrating the many facets of this publication—Bonnie Dickerson, John Genin, Jean Biglane, Melanie Sojourner, Mike Jones, Gary Blackwell, Lisa Whittington, Bill Perkins, Cecilia Stevens, Sam Gwin, and Sim and Cole Mosby. Cheers to life along and beyond the Mississippi

JEAN NOSSER BIGLANE Copy Editor

BONNIE DICKERSON Design Director

CHERYL FOGGO RINEHART Publisher/Editor/Sales

LISA WHITTINGTON Photographer

MELANIE SOJOURNER Sales

SAM GWIN Contributor

BILL PERKINS Photographer

CECILIA HOPKINS STEVENS Contributor

COLE MOSBY Contributor

Full-Service Therapy Center Without Leaving Brookhaven

KDMC Therapy Center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, pelvic floor therapy,dry needling, aquatic therapy, lymphatic therapy and sports therapy services to meet the special needs of adults, athletes, and children We are staffed by an expert team of physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, certified athletic trainers, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists Our expert team is dedicated to taking care of our community and helping patients regain strength and mobility with quality therapy services in a supportive, Christian environment.

Kari Blaney’s Surprise 60th Birthday Party

On September 27, 2025, Kari Blaney was honored with a surprise 60th Birthday Party held at Luckenbach, the home of Kippy and Kari Blaney on Lake St. John in Ferriday, Louisiana. Family and friends gathered to celebrate the honoree and enjoy the music, food, drinks, and birthday cake that rounded out the evening event.

Holly Aldridge, Selah Marchbanks, and Brittny Laukhuff with Jojo Laukhuff in front

Jojo Laukhuff and Chase Laukhuff

Kari Blaney and Patricia Cothren

Kari Blaney

Kari Blaney with grandchildren Selah Blaney, Sydney Blaney, Lanie Claire Farmer, Sunny Blaney, Caleb Farmer, dogs Willie and Cooper, Jojo Laukhuff, John Graham Laukhuff, Tinley Blaney, Tucker Blaney, and Silas Blaney

Sarah Lindsey Laukhuff with birthday figurine of Kari Laukhuff

Kari Blaney with Laney Claire and Caleb Farmer

Sarah Lindsey Laukhuff, Bailey Laukhuff, and Jojo Laukhuff

John Graham Laukhuff and Sarah Lindsey Laukhuff

Tucker Blaney and John Graham Laukhuff

Sarah Lindsey Laukhuff, Kari Blaney, Chase Laukhuff, and Bailey and Jojo Blaney

Mandy Wisner and Connor Burns

Brittny Laukhuff and Selah Marchbanks

John Graham Laukhuff and Jojo Laukhuff

Charlie Hugg and Selah Marchbanks

Jojo Blaney, John Graham Laukhuff, and Tucker Blaney

Heather Christian 2025 MacArthur Fellow

Heather Christian of Beacon, New York, who was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, is one of 22 MacArthur Fellows for 2025. A graduate of Cathedral School, Christian went on to receive a BFA from New York University in 2004. The MacArthur Fellows Program, sometimes referred to as the “Genius Award,” consists of $800,000 given directly to individuals as an investment in these winners’ originality, insight, and potential. The Fellows Program proactively works to foster and enable innovative, imaginative, and ground-breaking ideas, thinking, and strategies. Recipients may be writers, scientists, artists, social scientists, humanists, teachers, entrepreneurs, or individuals in other fields, with or without institutional affiliations.

Not a stranger to notable awards, Christian is a 2024 recipient of the Jonathan Larson Grant, a recipient of a Drama Desk Award honoring excellence in New York Theater, and a two-time winner of an Obie Award for excellence in OffBroadway and Off-Off-Broadway theater in New York City. Also, she was named one of the TimeOut NY’s Downtown Innovators To Watch, was given a special citation by the New York Drama Critics Circle for musical innovation in 2024, and was awarded both the Richard Rogers Award for Musical Theater and Stephen Schwartz Award. She has released 11 records; taught at New York University and Princeton; operates her own recording studio; and performs with her band, Heather Christian & the Arbornauts.

The MacArthur Fellows Program described this multifaceted and multitalented artist and her works with the following accolades:

“Heather Christian is a composer, lyricist, playwright, and vocalist creating music theater performances that explore the possibility for the sacred and spiritual in our modern world. Christian’s musical sound reflects a panoply of influences— the jazz and blues of her Southern upbringing, Catholic and Baptist liturgical music, and European choral traditions— and her exceptional artistry with vocal arrangements and orchestration. Her immersive concert pieces range from the rousing to the ethereal, as she imbues choral singing with emotional urgency and interpersonal drama.

“Animal Wisdom (2017) is an intimate and moving meditation on mortality, grief, faith, and ritual. Through story and song, Christian conjures ghosts and spirits that haunt her, such as a former occupant of her childhood home, her grandparents, and her godfather before illness and dementia. The piece concludes with a take on the Catholic requiem mass as a means of catharsis. The last 20 minutes are in complete darkness, and attendees are invited to contemplate and let go of the spirits, ghosts, and mysteries that haunt them.

“Oratorio for Living Things (2022) showcases Christian’s ability to weave personal and metaphysical concepts into something wholly new. With intricate and witty lyricism, she ruminates on the mystery of human existence and our place in the universe. She grounds these monumental concepts in the personal and every day through juxtaposition with childhood memories and banal metrics of human life, such as how much time an average person spends doing things like sneezing in their lifetime. The piece is staged in the round, and performers move around and among the audience while maintaining complex vocal harmonies, resulting in a communal and aweinspiring experience.

Long-time friend Caroline Shull Devereaux with Heather during a recent New York trip

“Christian’s recent work, Terce: A Practical Breviary (2024), is part of a planned eight-part project inspired by the canonical hours, which are masses cloistered nuns and monks sing throughout the day. Christian draws on the writings and words of medieval mystics Hildegard von Bingen and Julian of Norwich, as well as modern sources such as Potawatomi ecologist and educator Robin Wall Kimmerer, to celebrate the divine feminine as manifest in care for others and nature. Christian demonstrates the potential for music theater to be structurally and thematically complex as well as a space for inquiry, contemplation, and beauty.”

We are all proud of Heather Christian’s accomplishments toward “making it” in the theatre in New York. We remember her as one who shared her talents with church, local high school theatre performances, and a local dance company, and as a young woman with the gift and curiosity of creative exploration in so many venues as she grew up in Natchez. I had the pleasure of working with her in the early years of her emerging and passionate artistry. In the Natchez Junior Cotillion Program, she was a participant and later a highschool assistant until she graduated. She and my daughter Caroline Shull Devereaux have remained friends; and in October this year, Caroline and her husband, Matthew, attended Christian’s Oratorio for Living Things and visited with her later during their trip.

ARTICLE | Cheryl Rinehart PHOTO | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Virtually everyone reading this article has either been told, “You’re fired” or has known a friend or family member who has been fired from his or her job. Once a month in my law practice, I get questions from people as to whether their employers had the “right” to fire them.

With some exceptions, Mississippi and Louisiana both adhere to the doctrine of “employment at will.” Simply put, “employment at will” means that an employer may fire you for almost any reason or no reason at all. This is not true in all states; but in many of the southern states, this is the law of the land.

I have seen example after example of employees having poured their hearts and souls into a job, been loyal employees, and been productive and conscientious, only to be told after a period of time on the job to “hit the road”—their services are no longer needed. In Mississippi and Louisiana, the overall majority of firings are legal, leaving the employee little recourse other than perhaps unemployment compensation.

Considering the above, the question becomes this: What are the rare exceptions to being fired that make it an unlawful termination? The first exception that comes to mind is employer discrimination. Almost everyone has read the familiar admonition that federal law prohibits employment practices based on age, race, color, sex, national origin, religion, and disability. Covering these subjects alone could take years. In my personal practice, I see very few discrimination cases in state or federal court systems. Most employers today don’t care if you are black or white, old or young, male or female, or Jew or Gentile. Rather, employers just want an employee to get the job done.

The next exception to “employment at will” is an employment contract. Do you work for an employer who requires you to sign an employment contract? Does that contract outline the parameters or boundaries under which your employment may be terminated? In today’s work environment, most employers DO NOT utilize written employment contracts. Some employers who employ more than twenty-to-fifty employees do utilize such contracts, and often the contracts contain a “non-compete clause” (more on THAT to come). An employer who requires a written contract of employment must abide by the letter of the contract regarding termination of employees. A failure to do so may result in a breach of contract lawsuit.

ARTICLE | Lucien C. Gwin III

To add to this “employment by contract” angle, an employee handbook that outlines circumstances for hiring and firing of employees becomes an employment contract between employer and employee, assuming the handbook addresses hiring and firing matters.

If you have a written employment contract, often times you may also find a non-compete clause provision. Non-compete clauses in employment contracts are valid in nearly all fifty states if they meet a certain criterion of “reasonableness.” While courts usually view them unfavorably if they are not long in duration or too far in miles, you may find you are not allowed to take another job in the same field as your past job for a year or two and within a hundred or so miles from your old job. You would be amazed what a hardship this can be for an employee, a situation I have witnessed personally.

Another exception to “employment at will” is union bargaining. There are few unions left in the South although some still exist. If you are a part of a union, almost all union contracts cover when an employee may or may not be fired. A union bargaining agreement with a company is a contract, and this is mostly subject to what is known as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. Again, this discussion about union bargaining could go on for days.

Finally, there are “whistleblower” laws which prohibit the firing or termination of employment under circumstances in which an employee discloses criminal behavior or other wrongdoings by an employer.

Other isolated instances in which an employer would be prohibited from firing an employee include the service of jury duty. An employer may not discharge an employee who is called to serve on a jury if the employee provides the employer reasonable notice.

Also, Mississippi law precludes the termination of an employee for service in the armed forces. Any employee who is called to serve in the military must be reinstated to the same or similar employment upon the completion of that military service.

In my four decades of law practice, I can say that the majority of employment cases I have reviewed, cases in which a person has been “fired,” were legal. Now, I didn’t say they were fair, right, or justified, but just that they were legal.

Lucien C. “Sam” Gwin III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981 and has been practicing many aspects of the law at the firm of Gwin, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.

96th Birthday Lunch Celebration

A lovely birthday luncheon was held in Natchez, Mississippi, on October 3, 2025, at Glenfield, the historic ancestral home of Marjorie Field Meng, in celebration of her 96th birthday. Guests were welcomed with mimosas before enjoying a southern menu of homemade chicken salad, croissants, asparagus, pineapple salad, deviled eggs, and raspberry iced tea. The table was beautifully set with Waterford crystal, fine bone china, and sterling silver, accented by fragrant, flower-filled arrangements that added a charming touch to the celebration. It was an afternoon of laughter and warm conversation among family and friends.

Marjorie Meng, Daye Dearing, and Mary Lessley

Tammy Pack, Margaret Guido, Rose Godfrey, and Marjorie Meng

Tammy Pack (center), Mary Lessley, Rose Godfrey, Valerie Meng, Majorie Meng, Leanne Meng Sage, Margaret Guido, and Daye Dearing

Marjorie with her daughters Leanne Meng Sage and Valerie Meng on the front gallery of the family home, Glenfield

Cheryl Whitaker and Marjorie Meng

Welcome Dr. Gregory Pippin! Dr. Pippin is now accepting patients. Call to set up your appointment.

Timely Poinsettia Intel

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is the traditional flower associated with Christmas and the top-selling flowering potted plant in the United States. The brightly colored parts of the plant (called bracts) are actually modified leaves. The true flowers are the yellow bead-like structures in the center of the poinsettia (called cyathia). Poinsettias range from the traditional red to pink, white, peach, and bicolor. Hybridizers continue to develop more colorful, stronger cultivars that have longer-lasting bracts. If properly cared for, poinsettias may last several months indoors. These plants may display signs of stress at temperatures below 50 degrees; thus, they are not the best candidates for outdoor displays.

CHOOSING A POINSETTIA

When purchasing poinsettias, select plants with these characteristics:

• Brightly colored bracts and unopened or partially opened yellow flowers (cyathia) in the center

• Dark green foliage covering the stem to the soil line of the plant

• Leaves and bracts showing no drooping or wilting

• Leaves or bracts that are not faded, discolored, or torn

• No evidence of whiteflies, aphids, or other pests on the undersides of the leaves

• Plants that have not been kept in plastic sleeves for several days or longer

CARE OF POINSETTIAS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

• Place the poinsettia in a bright location in the home where it can receive indirect light. Although it can withstand direct sunlight, watering requirements will increase; and the flowers will not last as long.

• Keep poinsettias away from drafts, HVAC vents, and home heaters.

• Avoid letting the bracts touch cold windowpanes because the transfer of outdoor temperatures can cause damage.

• Keep the plant moist but not soggy. Overwatering is a major cause of early leaf and bract drop in poinsettias.

• Punch drainage holes in the bottom of the plastic decorator wrap or remove it for proper drainage. Place the plant on a drainage saucer. Water the plants thoroughly when needed until the water drains out into the saucer. Then pour off excess water so the potting soil will not become soggy. Maintain temperatures of 68 to 72 degrees during the

AFTER-CHRISTMAS CARE FOR REBLOOMING

With yearlong care, it is possible—although very challenging—for some varieties of poinsettias to reflower the following Christmas. For most of us, it is easier simply to discard the poinsettia after the holidays and purchase new plants that are professionally grown in greenhouses each year. However, if you are up to the challenge, the following information will help guide you.

Single-stemmed poinsettias, which are nonbranching, do not reflower well. It is best to discard them after blooming. Many of the new varieties of poinsettias have foliage and bracts that remain throughout the entire winter and into spring. Continue to water and provide indirect light for these poinsettias with the same care as during the Christmas season. When the bracts begin to fade, let the soil in the pot dry, but do not let the stems shrivel. Keep the plant in a warm area as it becomes semidormant.

When all danger of frost has passed and night temperatures average 55 degrees or above, cut the poinsettia back to 6 to 8 inches in height. Remove the plant from the pot, repot in a larger container using a packaged potting mix, and place the container outdoors. Or you can plant it directly into a flowerbed. Either way, make sure you choose a wind-protected, sunny location with some protection from midday and afternoon sun. Continue to provide water and begin fertilizing every 3 to 4 weeks with a well-balanced, complete fertilizer such as a 10-5-10. Always follow package directions when using any fertilizer.

New growth should appear within 2 weeks of repotting or planting into the ground. Keep the plants moist during the hot, dry months of June, July, and August. Pinching back or pruning of new growth will be required during the summer months to keep the plant compact and bushy. Depending on the rate of growth, you may need to cut back once a month, leaving four

leaves on each shoot. Do not pinch or prune after September 1 because this can impact or delay flowering.

As danger of frost approaches, move the plant indoors or to a protective structure where it will get maximum sunlight and a minimum temperature of 60 degrees at night.

Poinsettias are photoperiodic plants and respond to night length. You must artificially manage the environment to stimulate flowering, which naturally occurs around Christmas in their native Central America. To do this, protect them from the cold by moving indoors and providing the long, uninterrupted nights they require to bloom.

From October 1 until blooming, poinsettias should be placed in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours at night. Even the slightest amount of light from a garage light or door opening will keep the plant from flowering by Christmas. If it is necessary to grow the plant in a room where artificial light is common in the evening, make a cover for the plant by using a dark material or move it to a darkened room or closet each night. During this 7- to 10-week period, the poinsettias also require 6 to 8 hours of bright sunlight.

Depending on the cultivar, the bracts should begin to color by late November. The poinsettia should be in full flower by Christmas if it has received the required photoperiod after October 1.

Continue to water regularly and fertilize every 14 days. When colored bracts begin appearing, the poinsettia can be removed from continuous darkness and treated as you would a new poinsettia plant.

During the growth and photoperiodic treatment of your poinsettia, monitor it for insect and disease problems. Contact your local extension office for control recommendations if you notice insects or suspect a disease problem.

MYRTLE BANK / NATCHEZ,MS

TRINITY MEDICAL CTR / FERRIDAY, LA

JEFFERSON ST. METHODIST NATCHEZ, MS

in the garden

POINSETTIA TRIVIA

The plant we know as “poinsettia” is native to Mexico in the southern region known as Taxco del Alarcon.

The poinsettia was introduced into the United States 1828 by the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett.

The poinsettia has a milky, latex-like sap that may irritate the skin or eyes in some individuals.

The poinsettia is NOT poisonous. Although research has shown it is not toxic, it is not recommended for human or animal consumption.

National Poinsettia Day is December 12.

Ancient Aztecs extracted a purplish dye from the bracts to be used in cosmetics and textiles. The sap was used by the Aztecs to treat fever.

Other names for the poinsettia are lobster flower and flame leaf flower.

LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA

A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve services. As Pepita walked to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

“I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes,” said Pedro, consolingly.

Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro’s kind words: “Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.” She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night; for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Today, the common name for this plant is “poinsettia.”

Body of text from Extension Publication 2573, “Selecting and Maintaining Poinsettias,” reprinted with permission from the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California

THE socialSCENE NATCHEZ,

MS

Natchez/Adams County 1985 Class Reunions

The Classes of 1985 celebrated four decades of friendship and shared memories at their 40th reunion on October 3–5, 2025, in Natchez, Mississippi. The weekend featured a welcome reception at Wardo's, a class photo at the Bandstand on the Bluff, and a Saturday evening party at Louie Louie's on Main Street. There were school tours as well as brunches on Saturday. It was a perfect weekend to celebrate how far they've come together. Students from South Natchez, North Natchez, Trinity, ACCS, and Cathedral were in attendance. Photography by Lisa Whittington

A Southern Culinary Staple PECANS

Today was one of the first crisp fall mornings in the Louisiana Delta; and it reminded me of one of my favorite literary works, the short story “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote. In this story, the young main character and his aunt reap pecans from a neighbor’s orchard to sell and purchase supplies for their annual fruitcake baking.

Fast forward almost 100 years from the setting of that story, and we still live in a region where the annual pecan harvest brings out children and adults to “pick up” pecans for culinary and financial reasons. Although I must be honest, I will gladly pay a local pecan grower for the ease of having pecans shelled and packaged for use throughout the year.

Louisiana and Mississippi both boast significant pecan production. Residents often have a favorite local grower providing access to quality nuts.

One local producer is Bergeron’s Pecans in New Roads, Louisiana, which has been operating since 1909 as a pecan

Harvest Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

buyer. The family modernized the operation in the 1940s with the addition of pecan-shelling machinery and then expanded the company’s reach with marketing. Today the company processes over six million pounds of pecans yearly as part of a company recognized nationally for quality pecan products.

When selecting a pecan source, consider the variety of pecans being sold and the storage methods used. Pecans are high in oil giving a richness to the nut’s flavor but also requiring special storage methods so that the oil and the pecans’ flavor stay fresh. Different varieties of the pecan nut also provide different sizes, shapes, textures, and flavor profiles. For more detailed information concerning varieties, please contact either the Mississippi State University Extension Service or the LSU AgCenter.

Our recipes this month also come from the Louisiana and Mississippi cooperative extension service recipe files. Enjoy!

¾ cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1½ cups grated zucchini

½ cup grated sweet potato

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until blended in a large separate bowl. Mix in the zucchini, sweet potato, and pecans. Gently fold in the dry ingredients until well incorporated; be

sure not to over mix. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Cool the bread in pan on rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife along the edges to loosen the loaf. Turn out onto rack and let it cool completely.

Can be stored at room temperature for 1 week and 2 weeks in the fridge.

Yield: Serves 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

LSU AgCenter Farm to School Program

Easy Homemade Granola

Vegetable oil or vegetable oil cooking spray

3 cups uncooked, old-fashioned rolled oats

¼ cup pecan pieces

¼ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup honey

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat baking pan with vegetable oil cooking spray or vegetable oil. Add oats, pecans (optional), oil, honey, and cinnamon to a medium mixing bowl and mix well.

Spread mixture evenly on a baking pan and bake for 20 minutes. Use spatula to stir granola to keep from sticking while cooling. Store in an airtight container after cooling. Keeps for up to two weeks.

Yield: Serves 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service

something scrumptious

Pecan Wild Rice

2 packages dry mix long grain & wild rice

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup onions, diced

½ cup red bell pepper, diced

Salt (to taste)

Black pepper (to taste)

¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes

½ cup pecans, chopped

2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Cook rice according to the instructions on the package. Pour the rice into a large bowl. Set aside. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, bell pepper, salt, and pepper. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir often. Then, add red pepper flakes. Stir to mix well. Cook for about 5 minutes. Stir often. Pour the cooked vegetables into the bowl with the rice. Set aside. In the same skillet, add the pecans. Toast until browned, about 1–2 minutes. Add the rice and vegetables back to the skillet with the pecans. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to mix well. Cook until evenly heated, about 1 minute. Garnish with parsley. Serve hot as a side or main dish. Cover and refrigerate unused portions. Keeps three days refrigerated.

Yield: Serves 4–6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

LSU AgCenter

ARTICLE | Cecilia Stevens Cecilia Stevens (B.A. LSU and M.ED. Louisiana Tech) resides in Concordia Parish, works for the LSU AgCenter, and is the parent of two adult children.

something scrumptious

Glazed Butternut Squash

1–2 butternut squash (about 3 pounds)

½ cup apple juice

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted

1 teaspoon dried sage, optional

Lay the squash flat on a cutting board and slice off the ends (rounded bottom and top) so you have a flat surface. Be careful when you cut the squash. Lay the squash pieces flat side down on the counter or table. Cut the squash into bite-size pieces (or you can buy the squash precut).

Turn the eye of the stove to medium high. Pre-heat a large skillet. Add the squash, apple juice, and water to the skillet. Then add the butter, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently to mix all the ingredients. Keep cooking until the squash mixture starts to boil. Then reduce the heat to medium low. Let the squash mixture start to simmer, bubbling gently. Cover the skillet. Keep cooking for 25 minutes. Stir gently every few minutes. Take the cover off the skillet. Cook 5 more minutes until liquid is thick and the squash is tender. Add the pecans. Add the sage. Stir gently to mix with other ingredients.

Serve the squash while it is hot. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Keeps for three days in refrigeration.

Yield: Serves 6–8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Heavenly Pineapple Cake

1 (8 ounces) can crushed pineapple in its own juice

6 eggs, separated, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

¾ teaspoon almond extract

2 cups flour, plain ½ cup chopped pecans

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

Almond Glaze (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift together dry ingredients, except sugar and cream of tartar. Drain pineapple and add water to juice to make ¾ cup.

In large bowl at high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Beating at high speed, sprinkle in ½ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating well until sugar dissolves and whites stand in stiff peaks.In large mixer bowl using same beaters and at high speed, beat egg yolks, flour, baking powder, salt, almond extract, and pineapple juice with water mix, and ½ cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

With spatula, gently fold in beaten egg whites, pecans, and crushed and drained pineapple. Pour batter into ungreased 10" tube pan, and bake 40 minutes until top of cake springs back when lightly touched with finger. Invert cake in pan on funnel; cool completely.

Glaze with favorite recipe or serve with whipped cream and seasonal berries. Cover and refrigerate unused portions. Keeps for 3 days in refrigerator.

Yield: Serves 16

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

LSU AgCenter

Almond Glaze

1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons milk (or pineapple juice)

¾ teaspoon almond extract

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves completely. Continue stirring until mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and allow to cool and thicken. After cake is completely cooled, pour glaze over cake.

THE socialSCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Scenes from Live @ Five

Live @ Five is a free, family-friendly concert series in Natchez, Mississippi, typically held at the Bandstand on the Natchez Bluff on autumn Fridays at 5 p.m. Folks and their favorited canines gather along the bluff park with their chairs, blankets, and picnic suppers to visit, enjoy the fall weather, and listen to the music. The Fall 2025 lineup runs October 3, 10, 16, 24, 31, and November 6. This event was captured by photographer Ben Joiner during the October 10, 2025, afternoon series featuring PHOUSH. Sarah Lindsey Laukhuff spearheads this event. There is also a spring series of free concerts. For more information visitnatchez.org.

— Something Scrumptious —

Holly Clegg's Holiday Yams

In celebration of Bluffs & Bayous’ 25th Anniversary year of life along and beyond the Mississippi, we revisit this article, a memorial tribute to Holly Clegg that appeared in our October 2019 issue.

A culinary expert, Holly Clegg was featured on many national shows and magazines and consulted for national brands and hospitals throughout the country. Clegg was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August 2018. After a brave fight, she transitioned to hospice in June 2019 and established the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund with her family. Surrounded by her family, she passed away peacefully on November 1, 2019.

It was Holly’s wish that her brand with her quick, healthy, and delicious recipes continue to be a resource for the busy home cook. Before she passed away, she created Team Holly to continue her work. Team Holly consists of Lee Jackson, a Registered Dietitian who has been with Holly for over 14 years, along with family and friends who oversee

Cranberry Yam Bread

2 large eggs, slightly beaten

1⅓ cups sugar

⅓ cup canola oil

1 cup canned sweet potatoes (yams), mashed or

1 cup fresh sweet potatoes (yams) cooked and mashed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup chopped cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. In large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil, sweet potatoes (yams), and vanilla. In separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and baking soda. Make a well in the center. Put yam mixture into well. Mix just until moistened. Stir in cranberries. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Yield: 18 slices

the brand’s social media and publishing operations. In late 2019, Team Holly partnered with Favorite Recipes Press, an imprint of Southwestern Publishing House, to commit to continuing Holly’s legacy. Visit the website at hollyclegg.com. Among the many publications of renowned cookbook author Holly Clegg is her series of Trim & Terrific cookbooks which focus on quick and healthy recipes. A number of her recipes showcase sweet potatoes (or yams), which, according to the Center of Science in the Public Interest, rank number one as the most nutritional vegetable. Enjoy these recipes during the height of the sweet potato and holiday season. Surely Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas are perfect times to serve healthy and delicious breads or desserts!

Heavenly Yam Delight

This is the perfect treat to make when you are in a hurry and need a refreshing dessert.

1 cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup plus ⅔ cup confectioners’ sugar

⅓ cup chopped pecans

7 tablespoons margarine

1 8-ounce package fat-free cream cheese

1 8-ounce container fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided

1 29-ounce can sweet potatoes (yams), drained or

2 cups fresh sweet potato chunks, cooked

¼ cup sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar, pecans, and margarine. Press into bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake 20 minutes. Set aside to cool. In mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and ⅔ cup confectioners’ sugar until creamy. Fold in ¾ cup whipped topping. Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust. In mixing bowl, beat sweet potatoes, sugar, and cinnamon until smooth. Spread over cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate.

Yield: Serves 16

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Yams add nutrition to America’s favorite dessert. For a shortcut, purchase two commercially prepared, reduced fat, 9-inch graham cracker crusts and fill with cheesecake batter. Freeze one for another date.

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon allspice

2 tablespoons margarine, melted

2 8-ounce packages light cream cheese

1 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 15-ounce can sweet potatoes (yams), drained and mashed or

1 cup fresh sweet potatoes (yams), cooked and mashed

1⅓ cups dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg white

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and margarine until combined. Pat into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch spring-form pan. In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese and yogurt until creamy. Add yams and brown sugar, beating until smooth. Add egg and egg white, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla. Spoon mixture into crust. Bake 50–60 minutes or until set. Remove from oven to cool. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.

Yield: Serves 10-12

Sweet Potato, Apple, and Walnut Muffins

The tartness of apples and raisins combined with the sweetness of yams and flavorful walnuts creates a moist muffin that will quickly become one of your favorites.

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons Canola oil

¾ cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 egg white

1 15-ounce can sweet potatoes (yams), drained and mashed or

1 cup fresh sweet potatoes (yams), cooked and mashed

½ cup skim milk

1¾ cups chopped, peeled baking apples

⅓ cup chopped walnuts

⅓ cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and cinnamon; set aside. In another bowl, mix oil, sugar, sweet potatoes or yams, and milk until well mixed. Add egg and egg white, one at a time, beating after each addition. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add yam mixture, stirring until moistened. Do not overmix. Fold in apples, walnuts, and raisins. Spoon batter into paper-lined or coated muffin tins, filling about three-fourths full. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until done.

Yield: Makes 1 ½ dozen muffins

Sweet Potato Pound Cake

This spicy moist cake, covered with an orange glaze, makes a sensational choice for dessert.

½ cup margarine

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

3 large egg whites

2 15-ounce cans sweet potatoes (yams), drained and mashed (about 2 cups) or

2 cups fresh sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon grated orange rind

⅓ cup flaked coconut

½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts, optional

2 or 3 tablespoons orange juice

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, beat together margarine and sugar until blended. Add egg; then add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in sweet potatoes and vanilla. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange rind. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in coconut and walnuts. Pour batter into a 10-inch Bundt pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 45–50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake and comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; invert onto a serving plate. In small bowl, mix together orange juice and confectioners’ sugar. Spoon glaze over cake.

Yield: Serves 16

Year-End Tax Planning: A Personal Strategy for Income and Wealth Optimization

Year-end tax planning is an essential component of effective personal and corporate financial management. Some key strategies for this planning involve individual income and deduction management as well as procedures for investors and retirees.

Individual Income and Deduction Management

Most individual taxpayers who anticipate being in a lower tax bracket next year than this year should aim to accelerate deductible expenses into the current year and postpone optional income until January. If you anticipate being in a higher tax bracket next year, accelerate income into the current year and defer deductions.

Accelerating Deductions

Maximizing itemized deductions is a key goal for many, especially if their total expenses are close to the standard deduction amount. Many taxpayers no longer itemize annually because the standard deduction has increased over the years. Bunching, an alternative, involves consolidating two years’ worth of deductible expenses into a single tax year. The goal is to exceed that higher threshold and claim a larger deduction in that year. Specifically, taxpayers can do the following:

Prepay State and Local Taxes (SALT): Even with the $10,000 SALT-deduction cap, prepaying the fourth-quarter estimated state income tax (otherwise due in January) allows you to accelerate that deduction into the current year. If a taxpayer has met this cap for the current year, deferring payment to the following year could be more beneficial.

Time Medical Expenses: Individuals expecting high medical costs should try to schedule elective procedures and dental work or purchase necessary medical equipment before December 31, provided their unreimbursed medical expenses exceed the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) threshold.

Deferring Income

Deferring income is often easier for the self-employed or those receiving discretionary compensation, such as yearend bonuses or consulting fees. A self-employed individual can simply delay invoicing clients until January, pushing the taxable income into the next tax year. Similarly, an employee might negotiate a year-end bonus to be paid in the first week of the new year. Such delays in the receipt of cash can offer a significant tax benefit by lowering the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) in the current year, potentially qualifying the taxpayer for other tax credits or deductions otherwise subject to income phase-outs

Strategic Use of Retirement and Health Savings Accounts

A fundamental year-end, tax-planning strategy is maximizing contributions to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. These donations provide an immediate deduction (for traditional accounts) and allow assets to grow tax deferred or tax free, simultaneously building long-term wealth.

Retirement Savings

For 2025, the employee elective deferral limit for 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b) plans is set at $23,500, with

an additional $7,500 in catch-up contributions for individuals aged 50 or older. Taxpayers must meet this limit by December 31 to secure the full tax deduction.

Contributions to Traditional IRAs (up to $7,000 for 2025, plus a $1,000 catch-up for age 50 and over) can be made until the tax-filing deadline, but funding them by December 31 simplifies planning and ensures the deduction is accounted for.

High-earners can pursue a Backdoor Roth IRA.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

With a Health Savings Account (HSA), often called the "triple-tax-advantaged" account, contributions are tax deductible, and growth and qualified withdrawals are tax free. Like IRAs, HSA contributions for the current tax year can be made until the April filing deadline, but planning the maximum contribution by year’s end is crucial

Tax-loss Harvesting

Tax-loss harvesting is selling investments trading at a loss to offset capital gains realized during the year. Capital losses first offset capital gains dollar for dollar. If net losses exceed gains, the taxpayer can deduct up to $3,000 (or $1,500 if married filing separately) from the excess loss against ordinary income. Any remainder of capital losses can be carried forward indefinitely.

Capital Gains Timing

The tax rates on long-term capital gains (assets held for more than one year) are tiered based on taxable income. For 2025, certain taxpayers falling within the lowest income thresholds may qualify for a 0% long-term capital gains rate. Taxpayers in this income bracket must realize enough capital gains to “fill their 0% bracket” before the year closes, allowing them to take profits tax free (tax-gain harvesting).

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and Bunching

For those using the deduction-bunching strategy, the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is the perfect path. By contributing multiple years’ worth of charitable dollars to a DAF in a single, high-income year, the taxpayer can secure a large, itemized deduction that year. The funds are immediately deductible, though they remain invested within the DAF and are granted to charities over the following years, allowing the donor to benefit from the deduction now while maintaining their consistent giving pattern later.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

For taxpayers aged 70 or older, the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows individuals to direct up to $108,000 per year straight from a Traditional IRA to an eligible charity. While a QCD generates no itemized deduction, it is excluded from the taxpayer’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and counts toward meeting the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if the taxpayer is over age 73. This strategy is particularly beneficial for retirees who take the standard deduction as it reduces their taxable income dollar for dollar, avoiding the income increase from the RMD and potentially lowering the taxation of Social Security benefits or reducing Medicare premium surcharges.

ARTICLE | Cole Mosby

Designer Tablescapes from your Personal Collections

Over the years my husband, Mike, and I, enjoyed building a collection of china, crystal, silver, and flatware that we both admired and which reflected our interests and tastes. During our married life together, we enjoyed entertaining friends and family by using and staging many objects that were wedding, birthday, and Christmas gifts as well as personally acquired pieces, many of which have become collections in themselves. Though Mike is no longer with us, I cherish setting tables for the holiday season and reflecting on how he and I acquired these various treasures. Inspired by many tablescape pages on social media. I solicited my long-time friends John Grady Burns, owner of The Nest in Natchez, Mississippi, and photographer Lisa

Whittington, also of Natchez, to join me in creating fall and Christmas tablescapes from my various personal collections and capturing the precious memories therein.

For the autumn-into-Thanksgiving tablescape, I used the popular, modern Spode Woodland collection that has a masculine feel to it. The design is rooted in traditions of hunting for game, and its warm elaborate presentation on any table is stunning to me. The striking studies of different animals—hunting dogs, birds, turkeys, horses, rabbits, deer, moose, elk, pheasant, and fish—framed by a border of British flowers date back to 1831. The pattern allows one to collect specific animal motifs in various sized dishes, and that is exactly how Mike and I had chosen the pieces for our

collection. Mike was a hunter, camper, and fisherman; and his love for the outdoors made our selection of this pattern an easy choice. He was as much involved in the collection as I was; and I always welcomed this pattern in setting our dining table throughout the seasons, not just fall and Thanksgiving, by blending this collection with others throughout the year.

For this year’s autumn tablescape, John Grady and I complemented the Spode Woodland dinnerware with various pottery pieces that Mike and I had collected from local potter Connor Burns as well as from Amanda Jeansonne, a longtime Natchezian who now resides in Perdido Key, Florida. We chose our Waterford stainless flatware to bookend our Annie glass chargers, trimmed with a simple gold band, to add to the warmth of the table. Under the chargers, rested Spode-Woodland-patterned placemats, and we added simple white cotton napkins to pull the white from the china. Brass candlesticks with Maple Stick candles, along with soft, plush pumpkins of various sizes and colors, all amidst burnt red mums, sweet pea, and wild Amarillo vine, combined for this striking centerpiece.

Our Christmas dinnerware collection, 1990 Gail Pittman-designed pottery china, was started by my mother, Mary Ann Foggo-Eidt. I have since added more pieces to the collection that we use during the Christmas Holiday season. To complement the Gail Pittman pieces, John and I selected the Waterford crystal pattern chosen by Mike in 2009. To this pairing, we added my mother-in-law’s scalloped cream placemats, edged in silver and pink.

With its matching colors, a Christmas-tree-patterned cookie jar became the base container for the floral centerpiece in which John Grady opted for a simple, natural arrangement

of regional greenery using a tree-branch twig, cedar sprays, and magnolia leaves. Resting on the branches, enhancing the natural arrangement, appear several bird ornaments from the various ornaments that Mike and I collected and that have graced our Christmas trees over the years. To carry this motif throughout the table, John Grady positioned at each place setting a magnolia leaf nestled beside the dinner plate. Also, near each plate, I positioned one of Mike’s vintage glass-ball cardinal ornaments.

While wrapping up our photo shoot, John Grady spied some Lennox Christmas mugs tucked in the china cabinet with various birds and holly. He said, "Let's pull a dessert set-up." With these, we used the dessert plates from my Annie Glass collection, engraved family heirloom dessert spoons, and some linen Christmas cocktail napkins that Mike gave to me one Christmas. This presentation enhanced the ambience of our Christmas tablescape with the birds in the center arrangement and Christmas-ornament favors at each place setting.

It is our desire that incorporating some of my favorite collections with seasonal holiday decor will inspire you to mix and match your own cherished pieces to be enjoyed with family and friends during this holiday season and for holidays and special days to come.

ARTICLE | Cheryl Rinehart

DESIGNS | John Grady Burns

PHOTOS | Lisa Whittington

Christmas Pilgrimage Events & Tour of Historic Homes

Christmas in Natchez

Natchez, Mississippi, is a spectacular town sitting high on the bluff above the Mississippi River. Renowned for its beautiful architecture, historic homes, and Southern hospitality, Natchez is particularly delightful and inspirational during Christmas. A little over a month long, Christmas in Natchez features a 34-foot Christmas tree in the middle of uptown on Main street; lighted storefronts, parks, homes, and bluff displays; events in Memorial Park; choral music; food trucks; rides for the children; appearances by Santa Claus; and a hometown Christmas Parade and tour of historic homes. For more information, visit christmasinnatchez.org

Natchez’s Christmas Pilgrimage of Historic Homes will be Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree starting on November 22, 2025, and running through January 3, 2026! In this most enchanting time of the year, Natchez plays host to high-end, holiday-decorated sites; intriguing tales; and beautiful homes that have decked their halls and their surroundings in holiday attire. For information about tickets, visit littleeasytours.com/christmas-pilgrimage-2025

Natchez GardenClub

Christmas Pilgrimage Daytime Tours

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22

The Towers 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Choctaw Hall / 11 AM

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27

All houses closed

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM, 4 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Choctaw Hall / 11 AM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM, 4 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6

The Towers / 11 AM, 2 & 5:30 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Time

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Choctaw Hall / 11 AM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM, 4 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 & 5:30 PM

TICKETS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM, 4 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 & 5:30 PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20

The Towers / 11 AM, 2 & 5:30 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

The Towers / 11 AM, 2 & 5:30 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Choctaw Hall / 11 AM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Choctaw Hall / 11 AM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25

All houses closed

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM, 4 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Linden / 9:30 & 11 AM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

The Towers / 11 AM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

Choctaw Hall / 11 AM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

The Towers / 2 PM

Sunnyside / 1:30 & 5 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Frogmore / Call for Tour Times

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1

All houses closed

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

The Towers / 11 AM & 2 PM

Magnolia Hall / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Ellicott’s Hill / 11 AM & 12, 1, 2 PM

Choctaw Hall / 2 PM

Holmes Stationers & Gifts

Rachel McKenzie and her daughter, Kate, are the new owners of Holmes Stationers & Gifts in Summit, Mississippi. Rachel, a former teacher, says the decision to enter the retail world came from her love of shopping for beautiful things and from the fact that she has always enjoyed home decorating. Co-owner Kate McKenzie, a student majoring in fashion merchandising at Mississippi State, will bring her bent for the fashion industry home to Holmes once she graduates.

While Rachel is just starting her retail life, the business is not. Having purchased it from Susan Gibbes, Rachel and Kate are taking the reins of a well-established and successful enterprise. “I’m excited to be doing this with my daughter,” Rachel says. “It’s also neat that Susan ran this business with her mother, and now my daughter and I get to share the same experience, replacing one mother-daughter duo with another. Kate and I both bring something to the table and make a good combination.”

The store still offers all the same brands and services, including bridal and graduation registries, that customers have come to treasure; but its new owners bring new merchandise and a new media platform as well.

In particular, they are adding women’s clothing items such as jeans and tops and are enhancing jewelry lines. McKenzie explains, “We are expanding our online shopping and social media presences. We want people to know that we will still be

call and place orders; you’ll still get the same beautiful gift wrapping. But we want to bring right here to Pike County all the new and wonderful things that you can get at market.”

The first big event for the new owners of Holmes Stationery & Gifts takes place on November 7, 2025, when they participate in Mistletoe & Magic, sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce to spotlight and support the area’s retail businesses. Rachel and Kate will have snacks and drinks throughout the day as they welcome their guests for this holiday gathering.

Holmes Stationers & Gifts is open Monday through Friday from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturdays from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at 1136 US Highway 51/98.

TIME TO THRIVE

At Merit Health Medical Group Primary Care, we can help you live well. Our providers take the time to identify your health risks and can help you prioritize good health. Regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings are important to be healthy now – and to stay well in the future.

And because it is about your time – we offer online scheduling and same-day appointments to make it easier than ever to get an appointment. Make a choice to thrive. It’s time now. Find an appointment at NatchezPrimaryCare.com or call 601-779-8857.

Kenzie Sims, FNP-C Family Medicine Welcoming new patients

Kenzie Sims, FNP-C, is employed by Natchez Clinic

LOUISIANA

louisianatravel.com A great site for everything Louisiana

ALEXANDRIA / PINEVILLE alexandriapinevillela.com rapidessymphony.org riveroaksartscenter.com lagniappetheatre.com themuseum.org

Every Tuesday Alexandria Farmers Market 2727 Jackson St. 3 pm

Throughout December Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights holidaytrailoflights.com

BATON ROUGE visitbatonrouge.com lsumoa.org rivercenterarena: baton-rouge. tickets-center.com batonrougeballet.org Red Stick Farmers Market Breada.com brso.org lasm.org

Every Saturday Red Stick Farmers Market & Arts Market Corner 5th & Main Sts. 8 am–Noon

Throughout December Christmas in Baton Rouge visitbatonrouge.com

December 20–21

The Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre 2 & 6 pm eventticketscenter.com

FERRIDAY deltamusicmuseum.com

Throughout November & December Concordia Parish Library Various programs concordialibrary.org

MONROE / WEST MONROE monroe-westmonroe.org

Throughout November & December Christmas on the River monroe-westmonroe.org

NEW ORLEANS

neworleansonline.com neworleanscvb.com ogdenmuseum.org nola.org newcombartmuseum.tulane.edu nobt.org neworleansfilmsociety.org neworleanscitypark.com neworleanszombierun.com FB: nolajazzmuseum/live theatreneworleans.org

Throughout November & December Celebrate The Holidays New Orleans Style holiday.neworleans.com

ST. FRANCISVILLE

audubonstatehistoricsite. wordpress.com explorewestfeliciana.com/ events stfrancisvillefestivals.com

Every Thursday

St. Francisville Farmers Market 9961 Wilcox St. 9 am–1 pm

November 1

Music on the Mount Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church Full day of events with live music in the evening felicianacatholic.org

VIDALIA cityofvidaliala.com vidaliaconventioncenter.com

MISSISSIPPI

visitmississippi.org hikinginmississippi.com

BROOKHAVEN FB: VisitBrookhavenMS visitbrookhavenms.com brookhavenrecreation.com brookhavenlittletheatre.com llf.lib.ms.us

November 8

Fall Concert Series Soul Link Railroad Park Downtown

November 29

Christmas Tree Lighting Downtown

December 4

Christmas Parade Downtown ________________________

JACKSON dulinghall.com msmuseumart.org visitjackson.com jacksonfreepress.com/ calendarmsnla.org balletms.com msmetroballet.com operams.org downtown-jackson.com newstagetheatre.com

November 5–8

Mistletoe Marketplace MS Trade Mart mistletoemarketplace.com

December 4, 6, & 7

The Nutcracker Ballet Mississippi Jackson Preparatory School Fortenberry Theatre Tix.com/ticket-sales/balletms

December 6–7

The Nutcracker

Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center tix.com/ticket-sales/msmetroballet

December 12–13

The Christmas Gift

Opera Mississippi Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall Mississippi College 7 & 3 pm operams.org/the-christmas-gift

December 19–21

Light Has Come Ballet Magnificat Jackson Prep 601.977.1001 balletmagnificat.com/Christmas

December 20

Candlelight: Christmas Classics Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium 8:30–9:45 pm visitjackson.com/events/ candlelight-christmas-classics _______________________

McCOMB pikeinfo.com mccombarts.com mcrrmuseum.com FB: McComb Farmers Market

November 3

McComb Garden Club Paradise Found Design Flower Show

The Episcopal Church of the Mediator 2–6 pm Free

November 6–8 Mistletoe Magic pikeinfo.com

November 8

Veterans Day Parade Downtown business.pikeinfo.com/events

November 8

Indoor–Outdoor Pop-Up Market Palace Theatre 10 am

December 6

Not A Creature Was Stirring Pike County Little Theatre 7:30 & 2:30 pm pcltmccomb.org

NATCHEZ

Live Music Events Calendar visitnatchez.org/full-eventcalendar visitnatchez.org natchezpilgrimage.com natchezgardenclub.org natchezlittletheatre.com natchezfestivalofmusic.com FB Downtown Natchez Farmers Market

Saturdays

Natchez Farmers Market Downtown 300 N. Broadway 8:30 am–Noon visitnatchez.org

November 1

Ghouls Night Out Natchez Little Theatre 7–9 pm thenatchezlittletheatre.com

November 6–8

Angels on the Bluff Natchez City Cemetery tix.com/ticket-sales / natchezcitycemetery

November 7

Live @ 5 Red & The Revelers Natchez Bluff Park

November 8

Brunch with the Spirits Progressive 10, 10:30 & 11 am visitnatchez.org

November 8

Chili Cook-Off Natchez Rotary 111 N. Broadway Street 11am–2pm

November 9

Holiday Open House Downtown Noon–4 pm

November 9

“Honoring Veterans “

Zion Hill #1 Baptist Church 349 Lower Woodville Road 7:30 am Registration 8:00 am Processions of Veterans Gift bags, door prizes, special service, and brunch 601.443.1560

November 15

Art on the Bluff 9am–4pm

November 14

Movies on the Bluff The Princess & The Pea North end of Bluff 5:30–8:30 pm

November 22–January 3

Christmas Pilgrimage of Historic Homes littleeasytours.com/Christmas-pilgrimage-2025