DeSoto Magazine November 2019

DeSoto 5

6 DeSoto

DeSoto 7

8 DeSoto

November CONTENTS 2019 • VOLUME 16 • NO.11

features

46 52

60

Shopping Small Proves Big for Local Retailers

Barn Quilts: Trails of a Different Kind

50 Nights of Lights In Cleveland, Mississippi

departments 16 Living Well Special Children at Christmas

40 On the Road Again French Quarter, New Orleans

20 Notables Judi Holifield

42 Holiday Gift Guide 68 Homegrown Extra Ordinary Delights

22 Exploring Art Singing Christmas Tree

72 Southern Gentleman Turkey Carving

26 Exploring Books Delta Epiphany

74 Southern Harmony Charlie Daniels

28 Southern Roots Poinsettias

78 In Good Spirits Bourbon-Ball Cocktail

32 Table Talk Starkville’s Restaurant Tyler

36 Exploring Destinations Highland Fish Camp

36

80 Exploring Events 82 Reflections Gearing Up for Christmas

52

78

DeSoto 9

10 DeSoto

editor’s note | NOVEMBER

Holiday Kick-Off

When I was growing up, it was usually mid-December before my parents let us decorate our Christmas tree. Back then, we focused on Halloween costumes in October and Thanksgiving decorations in November. But, for whatever reasons, Christmas has come earlier and earlier since my childhood. My DeSoto Magazine colleagues will attest that I was the last hold-out about running holiday stories in November. As they correctly pointed out, though, it’s not just the Christmas decorations that are appearing in November; it’s also the scheduled events. If readers want to attend any of these holiday happenings, they need to know about them this month.

And amazing holiday events are indeed on tap for November. Writer Cheré Coen takes us to Cleveland, Mississippi, where “50 Nights of Lights” kicks off on Nov. 9-10. Cleveland has grown into one of the Delta’s coolest cities, and the 50-day celebration makes it a popular holiday destination.

Another new event that is sure to grow is Hernando’s “Dickens of a Christmas,” also set for Nov. 9. In fact, the downtown businesses participate in a holiday open house that entire weekend. Visitors can get their photos made with Santa at the DeSoto Country Courthouse, which will surely make some beautiful Christmas cards.

NOVEMBER 2019 • Vol. 16 No.11

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell MANAGING EDITOR Mary Ann DeSantis ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross

Speaking of small businesses, this is the month we celebrate Small Business Saturday. Writer Karon Warren takes a look at why this important “holiday” began and how several local retailers compete with chain stores and online retailers.

And with the holiday excitement and shopping, we all need some quiet time to explore nature. Writer Connie Pearson discovered several Mississippi and Alabama barn quilt trails where the rural beauty made for relaxing drives.

Finally, we congratulate Shellie Kent from New Albany, who won DeSoto Magazine’s getaway vacation to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Happy Pre-Holiday Season!

CONTRIBUTORS Robin Gallaher Branch Deborah Burst Cheré Coen Jackie Sheckler Finch Jason Frye Debi Lander Karen Ott Mayer Connie Pearson Heather Tate Karon Warren Pam Windsor PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media 2375 Memphis St. Ste 208 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com SUBSCRIBE: DeSotoMagazine.com/subscribe

DeSotoMagazine.com

on the cover

Retailers on small town squares throughout Mississippi are gearing up for Small Business Saturday later this month.

Cover photo of Cynthia’s Boutique on Hernando, Mississippi’s historic town square by Adam Mitchell.

©2019 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein t o b e re p ro d u c e d i n a n y m a n n e r.

Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly by DeSoto Media Co. Parties interested in advertising should email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.

DeSoto 11

12 DeSoto

DeSoto 13

14 DeSoto

DeSoto 15

16 DeSoto

DeSoto 17

living well | CHRISTMAS WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

Donna Sularin, P.T. with C.J.

18 DeSoto

Santa (Jim Gafford) with Luke.

Christmas with a Special Needs Child

By Robin Gallaher Branch Photography courtesy of Jessi Wallace (JWallace Photo/Creative) and Adrienne Griffin

Through the Roof helps families with special needs children get through the holidays.

The Christmas fashion show and silent auction for Through the Roof (TTR), a Southaven, Mississippi, non-profit, is always fun and somewhat unpredictable. The children, all with special needs and some in wheelchairs, come dressed in their best. The parents hope for a great Santa picture.

The annual event, loaded with noisy excitement, showcases tips for parents for managing the holidays with a special needs child. These include making all the children feel welcomed and included, handling with love and humor an individual child’s needs, and sticking to a schedule, says Donna Sularin, TTR’s director.

It takes somebody special to be a Santa, and somebody extra special to be one for special needs children.

“Sometimes it is work to get them to sit on my lap, but that’s the same for any child,” chuckles Jim Gafford, a retired FedEx telecommunications engineer and TTR’s Santa for three years.

Wearing the required red suit, red cone hat, black belt, and

black boots, he’s current on Disney characters and super heroes.

The children arrive list-ready. Many girls want an Ariel doll, the heroine of The Little Mermaid. Last year Spiderman, Batman, and cell phones led the boys’ requests.

This Santa acts silly. He loudly announces his favorite Mermaid character is Ursula, the villainous sea witch. Trying to convince him otherwise, the children energetically protest.

Of course, they succeed — but so does he. He makes them feel comfortable, ready, and relaxed for that treasured picture.

Another ploy is his beard. It’s real. “It’s salt-andpepper; mainly salt,” he quips. “They like to see it move.”

Likewise, his salt-and-pepper ponytail intrigues them.

Meanwhile, Sularin, a pediatric physical therapist, beams on the sidelines. Her tips for holiday survival also work for daily life. Sularin defines a special needs child as having developmental delays, possibly in cognitive, motor, or social skills. Additionally, the child may be diagnosed with cerebral DeSoto 19

Donna Sularin, P.T. with Landon and Laney

palsy or Down syndrome.

“The more you can do to keep your routine steady, do it,” Sularin begins. “Stay with your established sleeping-eating schedule.”

What about a trip to see the family? Yes, that’s a possibility. But can the child adapt well to crowds and to a new schedule, environment, and foods? “Ask yourself what’s best for the child,” she recommends.

Holidays require choices. “You have to balance. It may be that you don’t go to the big family dinner,” she says.

Avoid the holiday push to have everything perfect. “Each family is different. It’s OK not to do everything. Find what works for you and do it,” Sularin says.

Holidays have difficult moments. One may be with family members who are unfamiliar with the characteristics of a special needs child but want to do the right thing. Smiling, Sularin advises them that “the right thing is to do what you do normally with any child.” She, for instance, likes to hug and greet warmly. “But some find that difficult,” she acknowledges.

Sularin started the faith-based ministry in 2011 with a threeyear fund-raising drive. Since opening in 2014, the non-profit has seen more than 300 clients. Its name comes from Luke 5:17-26. In that story, Jesus, while teaching in a house, heals a paralytic after the man’s friends lowered him on a mat through the roof.

Sularin loves stories. She recalls a family overwhelmed with the responsibilities of a special needs baby. She worked with Mary’s developmental issues while the mother watched and learned. Mary, now a second grader and in a general education classroom, meets regularly with a TTR speech therapist. “Mary’s doing excellent!” Sularin exclaims.

20 DeSoto

Funding for special needs children starts with national developmental programs from birth to age three. The states carry on with educational development. Sularin, however, believes a child often needs both therapies. Insurance can pay for maybe 20 visits a year “but a child usually needs over 40,” she says. TTR does not charge. “The families don’t have to worry about how to pay for a need,” Sularin says.

Bette Bush knows lots about holidays and special needs children. She agrees with Sularin that routines help and each family is different. Her son Walker, now 41, was born with cerebral palsy. “He cannot speak, dress, or feed himself, and is not mobile,” Bush says. “My husband Dick and I decided we were going to enjoy him for who he is and not for who he isn’t.”

Over the years they discovered that Walker liked opening presents much more than the presents themselves. A family tradition became wrapped boxes and then bags with lots of tissue paper. “He loves taking out the tissue paper!” Bush laughs. “I put things away weeks in advance and fill bags with tissue paper. That’s his Christmas.”

Bush reflects on the years with joy. “I am blessed with Walker. He’s never had to doubt that he’s loved. That’s huge.”

Laughter covers many problems. Bush admits she doesn’t handle curious stares well but knows they don’t bother Walker. She laughs at his wisdom: “He just stares right back!” throughtheroofpt.com Robin Gallaher Branch, a Fulbright scholar, writes for many publications and teaches adjunct classes at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.

DeSoto 21

notables | JUDI HOLIFIELD

The Laurel delegation at the Mississippi Main Street Association’s awards banquet included (from left, back row) Mayor Johnny Magee, Jim Rasberry, Sonya Dykes, Ethan Dykes, Allen Holifield, Brad Kent, Corey Burks; and (from left, front row) Josh Nowell, Caroline Burks, Mallorie Rasberry, Judi Holifield, Mandy Hegwood, Heather Brown.

Hometown Hero

By Karon Warren Photography courtesy of Judi Holifield; Mississippi Main Street Awards photos by Jeannie Ziernan.

Mississippi’s Main Street Director of the Year is a driving force in getting Laurelites to support downtown merchants.

Long before the stars of HGTV’s “Home Town” began re-inventing the homes in and around downtown Laurel, Mississippi, resident Judi Holifield was on a mission to re-invent the city’s downtown business district.

As was the case for many other small towns across the state and country, Laurel’s downtown was desolate, having lost business to the local mall and surrounding shopping centers down the road. Like other residents, Holifield noticed, but didn’t dwell on it. However, after commuting to Jackson for work for nine years, family demands brought Holifield back to Laurel.

Though she wanted to move elsewhere, her husband wouldn’t even consider it. As a result, Holifield embarked on a new mission.

22 DeSoto

“I couldn’t sandblast my husband out of Jones County, so I wanted to make it somewhere I wanted to live,” she says.

Therefore, in 2011, Holifield took the position of executive director with Laurel Main Street, an organization whose purpose is “to establish a vibrant commercial district in and around Downtown Laurel, enhance our community and heritage, foster a center of activity, and ensure economic stability” in the heart of the city.

Holifield’s goal aligned with that purpose, and she set out to breathe new life into downtown Laurel, aiming to bring locals back to the business district to work, play, and live.

“It’s been an interesting process,” Holifield says. “We had 30-plus empty buildings when I started.”

Initially, the city set out to brighten up the streets

by planting flowers, installing painted planters, and hanging banners around town.

“The banner program was known in the inner circle as, ‘Cover up the 12 ugliest buildings downtown,’” Holifield says. “All of those banners are gone because those buildings are occupied now.”

When she first started her job, Holifield couldn’t get 10 business owners to come to a breakfast meeting with the mayor to discuss possible changes and improvements. Today, there’s usually about 50 business owners at a meeting.

As she talks about her job and the changes she’s helped bring to Laurel, Holifield’s passion for her work shines through in her voice, but it’s underlined by a hard edge of determination that won’t be denied.

“I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” she says. “It might be ‘no’ for today, but it won’t be ‘no’ for tomorrow. You have to stay positive. I just keep walking in those stores.”

Of course, Holifield is quick to point out she didn’t do it alone. She says it took a solid three years to build a team with the insight, skills, and determination to start to turn things around.

During those same three years, Holifield finally began seeing the locals start to come out and support downtown.

“We had to change perception,” Holifield says. “Many people thought it was dangerous to come downtown, especially at night. We did a $25,000 lighting project to bring people out.”

Holifield says her biggest challenge in the last eight years has been convincing people to believe in Laurel again and “figuring out how you get that done.”

Although much work has been completed in Laurel, Holifield is quick to say there’s still more to be done.

“Ideas we’ve got,” she says. “We’re never at a lack for things to do.”

For example, the city is in the midst of a massive repaving project, and streetscape improvements are still needed.

Even so, both Laurel and Holifield are garnering a lot of attention. In 2016, the Laurel Leader-Call, the local newspaper, named Holifield the “Person of the Year” for her work in downtown, something she credits as one of her proudest moments.

Like many other Laurel residents, Holifield and her home have been featured on “Home Town.” Her house was showcased in the Season 3 finale of the show, and Holifield was delighted with the results. However, she also was surprised when, at the same time, the mayor of Laurel presented Holifield with a key to the city.

Also, earlier this year, Holifield was named the Mississippi Main Street Director of the Year, an experience she calls “surreal.” In addition to the award, Holifield also received the Charles Beasley Scholarship Award, named in honor of one of the association’s founding members. This award, a $1,500 scholarship to attend the National Main Streets Conference, is given to a Main Street director who has shown outstanding service to the community and to the Main Street program.

In its recognition of Holifield, the Mississippi Main Street Association referred to her as resilient, fierce, strong and determined. But they also stated she is “kind and compassionate, an excellent listener and a dreamer, a true friend and a virtuous leader.” Exactly the kind of person anyone would want fighting for their community.

Although she lost her husband four years ago, Holifield is now the one ensconced in Laurel and Jones County, and she won’t be budged from her goals.

“We’re bringing pride back to Laurel,” she says. “We have become Mississippi’s downtown.”

A native of Perry, Mississippi and a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon Warren is a freelance writer now based in Ellijay, Georgia. She also writes for CruiseCritic.com and her blog, ThisGirlTravels.com.

DeSoto 23

exploring art | BELHAVEN SINGING TREE

24 DeSoto

World’s Oldest Singing Christmas Tree

By Connie Pearson | Photography courtesy of Belhaven University

An 86-year-old tradition continues as Belhaven University’s Singing Christmas strikes a new chord.

What began in 1933 as a holiday outreach from Belhaven College to the community of Jackson, Mississippi, is now said to be the world’s first and oldest outdoor Singing Christmas Tree annual production. Bettye Quinn remembers a family friend taking her to see the program in 1937, when she was only three years old. The sight of those 50 girls, dressed in white and holding bright lights, remains a magical memory. This year she will attend the event for the 82nd time – something she guesses “must be some sort of record.”

When Quinn joined the faculty at Belhaven as an associate professor of education, she asked the music director if she could join the choir for the Christmas program. When he said yes, she finally ascended the frame and became a performer rather than a spectator. She sang on the tree for 10

years and proudly says, “That’s probably more than anyone dead or alive.” Quinn considers those performances on the singing tree as her greatest thrill.

In spite of the vision children might have before they attend for the first time, no actual tree is used. The first wooden tree-shaped frame was built by C.V. McLain and only held female choral students. By 1962, Belhaven College had become co-educational. Men joined the chorus and a newer, taller frame was constructed. The current frame is 35-feet-tall and can accommodate 90-100 singers. The large present-day choir consists of music students, non-music majors, alumni and singers from area church choirs who pass the audition and are willing to commit to the rigorous rehearsal schedule.

The event is free of charge, including free parking, DeSoto 25

Singing Christmas Tree in 1941

with no donations requested or expected. Instead, it is considered to be a gift from what is now Belhaven University to all the people of Jackson, university supporters and lovers of Christmas music. Performances were originally held in front of the fountain on campus, but increasing attendance necessitated a move to the football stadium in 1964.

Joyce Lowe Franco, an enthusiastic supporter who estimates she’s attended performances for at least 25 years, says, “The Singing Christmas Tree at Belhaven is the first event of the Christmas season that gets me in the Christmas spirit! The field at Belhaven Bowl Stadium is now AstroTurf, which makes it nice. We bring a blanket and sit on the field as close as we can get to the tree, while others choose to sit in the permanent football stands. If it’s cold, we just wear warm clothes and gloves, and they give away free cups of hot chocolate as you enter. I have wonderful memories of attending this event and sharing it with family.”

The audience expects a combination of traditional secular and sacred holiday favorites with special touches, such as the fake snow falling during “White Christmas” and the soloist positioned closest to the star singing “O Holy Night.”

First-time director and the newly-named chair of Belhaven’s music department, Doran Bugg, says, “There will be repeated songs to honor the nostalgic tradition of hundreds – perhaps thousands – of people who annually attend the Singing Christmas Tree. However, there will be much new content this year, in keeping with a renewed commitment to music and the arts at Belhaven and a new inspiring vision for an even brighter future.”

In the past an electronic keyboard and accompaniment tracks have been 26 DeSoto

used to back up the singers. Those will continue in 2019, but the audience can anticipate synchronized lighting and a rhythm section. A cameo appearance from the marching band has also been rumored.

Performances are held the first Friday and Saturday nights in December. If it rains, the performances are generally postponed until the following weekend. Cold temperatures and an outdoor production can create special challenges.

“An outdoor event is the ultimate challenge. Everything that can normally be controlled in an indoor event becomes a variable, but this is also what makes Belhaven’s Singing Christmas Tree so distinctive and fun,” says Bugg, who holds a doctorate degree in Musical Art from Louisiana State University. “Whatever the conditions, we experience them together.”

The singers themselves resort to hidden measures to prepare. Since the audience only see the top of their torsos, everything out of sight is bundled and layered as the temperature dictates.

Bugg’s enthusiasm is palpable as he begins preparations for the Singing Christmas Tree, 2019 version.

He anticipates, “The best of the past, blended with all that is possible through the educational, spiritual and artistic vision integrated into Belhaven University’s passion to impact the world for Christ.”

The candles used for special lighting effects when Quinn was a child have since been replaced by LED lights, and more microphones and speakers enhance the sounds. For the estimated 2,000 attendees, Christmas doesn’t start until they hear the music of Belhaven.

A large chorus of heavenly voices, dazzling lights under a sky brimming with stars, a cup of hot cocoa held in gloved hands and a program filled with much-loved carols and merry surprises create a holiday event that is always one of the season’s best. belhaven.edu/music Connie Pearson is a freelance travel and food writer and blogger based in Hartselle, Alabama.

DeSoto 27

exploring books | DELTA EPIPHANY

Delta Epiphany Karen Ott Mayer | Photography courtesy of University Press of Mississippi

Author Ellen B. Meacham shares how history, economics, and politics shaped the lives of the children Robert F. Kennedy met during his eye-opening visit to Mississippi in 1967.

28 DeSoto

In a wooden shack in the Mississippi Delta, a meeting took place that led to one man’s epiphany and America’s first serious look at poverty, particularly in the Delta. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was that man, and in April 1967 he arrived in Mississippi as part of a fact-finding study of poverty programs in the U.S.

The contrast between the young senator born into wealth and the dirt-poor Mississippi families could not have been more different. Perhaps the only common ground was the fact Kennedy himself was a father of 10 children and personally knew what it meant when a child was hungry.

In her book, “Delta Epiphany: Robert F. Kennedy in Mississippi,” author, journalist and professor Ellen Meacham explores a short, yet powerful and complex time period during Kennedy’s tour.

The book idea grew over time for Meacham, whose primary passion for reporting and journalism led her to Mississippi and the desire to move into long-form journalism.

“I chose to work on my graduate degree in Southern Studies because it’s a multidisciplinary degree that focuses on the economics, culture, history and art of the South,” she says.

During her studies, she took a course offered by the writer Curtis Wilke and read his novel “Dixie.”

“He had one page about Robert Kennedy’s visit with one Mississippi child, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

I thought, I wondered how did it affect Kennedy? I decided to write a magazine piece about it.” As she thought about the story, Meacham became even more interested in another question: What happened to the children?

“I wanted to know what happened to the children he saw.” Meacham recalled Faulkner’s own adage that every story begins with a compelling image or memory and so it was with hers. In between work and family, Meacham set off on a sevenyear journey to find the families and children who visited with Robert Kennedy on that fateful day. After finding Annie White and her family, Meacham realized the story was bigger than an article. “I thought now I have a book.”

A compelling narrative, the book is also considered an academic read, according to Meacham. Her training and nature led her to do what any experienced journalist would do as she made phone calls, conducted interviews and followed threads to discern the location of the children and families.

During her research, she learned that within just those few days of his visit, many significant happenings occurred that made addressing hunger even more complicated.

“This book could be called a micro-history, which is when a writer takes an event and focuses on everything happening. In this case, it’s the time, race, segregation, poverty and more,” she explains.

For example, during the same time period, Stokely Carmichael, an African-American civil rights activist had been active in the Delta, espousing equality and coined the phrase ‘Black Power.’ Meacham cites other significant statistics

that reveal the exact state of the Delta. In the mid-1960s, approximately 54,000 Mississippians lost their livelihood due to agricultural changes, like pre-emergence herbicides and more federal money to set aside crop land. In the early 1960s, an estimated 200,000 Mississippians had a less than a fourth-grade education.

Meacham first interviewed Charlie Dillard, who was nine years old when Kennedy appeared at his house. He was the first of the children from Kennedy’s visit that Meacham found.

“He’s in his 60s now and has a good memory of that day. He mentioned the story to his family but never really told the complete story. His family today had no idea how often he was hungry,” Meacham says.

In the book, Meacham details Dillard’s life from the time he left the Delta, following his mother who sought better paying jobs throughout the southeast, including Florida and North Carolina.

Along with the children’s stories, Meacham shares the Marian Wright Edelman story. A nationally-known activist and children’s advocate, Edelman gave compelling testimony about the plight of Mississippi children. She was the first AfricanAmerican woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar and founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. During Kennedy’s Mississippi Delta tour, she met Peter Edelman, Kennedy’s assistant and her future husband.

Meacham believes Kennedy’s visit moved the national conversation about poverty and hunger from the abstract to tangible. “Kennedy was someone who appealed to both the left and the right, and he saw hunger as an American problem, not just a Mississippi problem,” she says.

Meacham also sees hunger as universal.

“Even if you’ve never been poor, you’ve been hungry.

We all know what it’s like to feel hungry. But hunger happens behind closed doors,” she says.

Meacham’s book not only explores the realities of hunger and starvation that Kennedy encountered, but also the reaction to his visit and subsequent efforts to push the issue.

“Hunger was normalized. What stunned me was the reaction of leaders in Mississippi and in D.C. who actively tried to block any efforts to help this population,” she says. “I didn’t know they would actively resist federal dollars that might help the children.”

Even now, Meacham points out that Mississippi leaves billions of dollars on the table because of principles. “It’s a complicated picture even today,” she says.

Despite the complexities of the story, Meacham hopes she’s accomplished one thing.

“I just hope to do justice to a compelling story.”

Karen Ott-Mayer is a freelance writer based in Como, Mississippi.

DeSoto 29

southern roots | POINSETTIAS

30 DeSoto

John Freeman shows how a poinsettia plant appears after being pinched.

Perfect Poinsettias Karen Ott Mayer | Photography courtesy of Karen Ott Mayer & Baddour Center

Poinsettias add a finishing touch to holiday decorations, and a few tricks will keep them picture perfect throughout the season.

With the arrival of the holiday season comes the ubiquitous poinsettia, the favored plant easily found on party tables, under trees, and in churches. So commonplace, the plant almost goes unnoticed because of its longstanding celebrated status. The fact remains, however, that there’s a lot to learn about poinsettias, some of it lore and some of it fact.

First discovered in Mexico by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the poinsettia hails from tropical landscapes and can grow far larger than the nursery-grown pots which are so familiar.

The plant’s color and character caught his eye, prompting Poinsett to carry cuttings back to his home in South Carolina.

The affluent and wealthy Poinsett was a member of the South Carolina legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. As such, he was the Minister to Mexico and the 15th Secretary of War. More importantly for poinsettia enthusiasts, he also considered himself a botanist.

Commercial growers start thinking about poinsettia crops months before they are available for sale. In fact, anyone placing large orders for poinsettias knows to get in line prior to November to secure bookings. For the retail customer, growers and greenhouses offer poinsettias (if not all sold!) up until Christmas itself.

In north Mississippi, two growers raise thousands of poinsettias each year. At the Baddour Center in Senatobia, Mississippi, Garden Center Manager John Freeman oversees about 5,000 plants. At Homestead Farms Greenhouse & Nursery, owner Robert Kubler and his crew grow more than 10,000 plants each season.

Walking into a greenhouse full of blooming poinsettia can be dizzying. Red is just the beginning. Varieties run the gamut from light pinks and peaches to deep burgundy. And for the indecisive, some poinsettias are variegated or combine two colors making them all irresistible.

So, what’s the trick to keeping a poinsettia looking as perfect as the growers? Being a tropical, obviously the plant needs to be indoors during the winter. The plant won’t survive a frost. However, the choice of indoor location is also crucial.

“Avoid putting them anywhere a heating vent blows on them,” says Kubler.

Even, consistent moisture is also key. “If you let it dry out too much, it will wilt and won’t recover. Likewise, too much water will cause the same effect,” says Freeman. With such a fine line, he suggests the pot test. “If the soil appears dry, lift the pot. If it’s really light, it’s time to water. If you pick it up and it feels weighty, it’s probably still too wet to water again.”

On the flip side, Kubler cautions against letting the plant become too dry. “The biggest mistake is letting them get too dry. People get busy with Christmas and other activities and forget to water them. Once they wilt, they’re usually gone.”

Kubler recommends watering thoroughly at least two times per week in a typical household environment.

As soon as the holidays end, most people may lose interest in keeping up with the plant. Keeping poinsettias through the winter and even to the next season isn’t difficult.

Once all threat of frost has passed, just park the plant in a semishady spot outdoors, cut it back to about eight inches and keep watered.

DeSoto 31

During the growing season, fertilize every two to three weeks. Prune occasionally to keep the plant more compact. Commercial growers pinch back plants in the fall to create a full shape. “Without pinching, the plant would continue to grow in more of a tall, tree form,” Freeman says.

A poinsettia is known as a “photoperiodic” plant. This means it sets buds and produces flowers as the nights lengthen. They naturally bloom during November or December, depending on the cultivar. For amateur growers, playing with a poinsettia to get it to rebloom can be tricky as the plant needs 14 hours of continuous darkness each night to kickstart the bloom period. Even a street light or lamp could interrupt the process. By early October, homeowners should start managing the light. Unfortunately, temperatures also affect the ability to bloom.

Pe r h a p s t h e b i g g e s t misconception plaguing the poinsettia involves one word: Toxicity. Is the plant dangerous or poisonous? According to studies by Ohio State University, a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 poinsettia bracts (leaves) even to surpass the study levels considered high. Even then, no toxicity was found.

The ASPCA says poinsettias are “mildly toxic” to dogs and cats, and can cause mouth and stomach irritations if the pet ingests the leaves or blooms.

Therefore, it’s probably a good idea to keep the plants out of the reach of children and pets.

By this time of year, a harder chore may be deciding what color poinsettia to bring home. Red? Pink?

White? Make it easy and try one of each this season.

Popular Poinsettia Varieties Christmas Beauty Pink Christmas Beauty North (White variety) Christmas Day Red Freedom Red Prestige Maroon Autumn Leaves (Peach) Christmas Season Marble (White with pink center) Viking Cinnamon (White with pink) Karen Ott-Mayer is a freelance writer based in Como, Mississippi.

32 DeSoto

DeSoto 33

table talk | RESTAURANT TYLER

34 DeSoto

From the Earth Up

By Heather Gausline Tate | Photography courtesy of Chef Ty Thames

Restaurant Tyler continues to be in Starkville’s spotlight with a national award and a commitment to community.

For the past 11 years Starkville has been home to Restaurant Tyler, a nationally-recognized sustainable restaurant with a focus on the community and its farm-to-table mission.

Partnering with local farmers to provide the freshest and bestquality produce and meat is one of the main goals of Chef Jonathan “Ty” Thames.

“Everything we do is community-based,” says Thames. The attention to the details is what makes Restaurant Tyler unique.

A Mississippi native, Thames graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and continued his culinary training in Vermont, where he became immersed in the farm-to-table philosophy years before it became a nationwide phenomenon. He rounded out his formal culinary experience with an apprenticeship in Parma, Italy, a region known for

Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar. After also cooking in Washington, D.C, he brought these rich experiences back to Mississippi’s Golden Triangle, where he is at the forefront of the ‘eat local’ movement in his home state.

A Southern Bistro

The 1880s building where Restaurant Tyler is located holds lots of character and soul. Local art and photographs grace the walls, and restaurant patrons are greeted by a frontfacing bar upon entering the Southern bistro. Thames describes the main dining floor as a ‘Southern bistro’ because he blends the traditionally Southern with Italian influences in his style and dishes. Restaurant Tyler is open for lunch on Sunday and Monday and for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

DeSoto 35

Located in the basement, The Guest Room (open Tuesday-Saturday) is the sought-after cocktail bar that is reminiscent of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, donned with a brass bar, copper ceiling, and antique mirrors. No password is needed to secure a handcrafted cocktail. An upstairs event space can seat 100 and is ideal for those upcoming holiday parties. It also can be used for anything from rehearsal dinners to corporate events to sorority and fraternity soirées.

Foraging for Ingredients

What makes Restaurant Tyler stand out in a college town with trendy restaurants is the care crafted into every dish. Everything possible is made in-house and features local ingredients.

“The favorite thing about the restaurant is our passion for all things natural from the earth up,” says Thames.

Aligning specials with the seasons, he has moved from featuring Chanterelle mushrooms to fall vegetables like pumpkins, butternut squash, and Vardaman sweet potatoes.

“I’m really proud of the products we serve, such as the three-year-aged country ham - cured to perfection - and the famous hot sauce and Mississippi pepper jelly made from peppers grown in Houston, Mississippi,” says Thames.

The hot sauce, which has been made in-house for the past seven years, has gained a reputation from chefs all over the country. It is being sold not only at the restaurant but also in other locations. These specialty items cannot be replicated and 36 DeSoto

are made from scratch with love and devotion.

What the creative chef cannot buy locally from farmers, he will often forage for himself throughout the area, including wild mushrooms in the forests. Even more unusual, he’ll also find ingredients for his handcrafted cocktails from the Sumac growing along the country roads throughout the state to the pine pollen, which is an unknown superfood.

A Taste of the Menu

Restaurant Tyler has an inventive menu that fuses Southern, Italian, and always farm-to-table. The signature appetizer is barbecue okra, dusted with in-house seasoning and accompanied with a rémoulade sauce. The duck burger served on a house-made brioche bun with house-smoked bacon and the specialty pepper jelly is one of his most sought-after dishes.

The other is gnocchi made with Vardaman sweet potatoes instead of traditional white potatoes. The gnocchi are tossed in a lamb ragu topped with Blackberry Farms brie cheese. In addition to these favorites, there are also dishes for vegetarians and vegans, such as a Southern noodle bowl.

Lunches at Restaurant Tyler have a more laid-back vibe, and 90 percent of lunch guests go for the Blue Plate special – the Southern-style meats and veggies. Classics include Southern fried chicken, pork chops, sweet potatoes, and a crowd-pleasing and unique chicken meatloaf. For lighter on the calories without being lighter on taste, six new salads were added to the lunch menu in September.

In addition to being recognized for his food, the restaurant is making its mark with wine lovers as well. Restaurant Tyler recently won a national 2019 Wine Spectator Award, becoming the first restaurant in northeast Mississippi to achieve this “Award of Excellence.� The award honors restaurants that highlight a well-chosen variety of quality makers.

On Dec. 5, a winemaker and sommelier from California will visit the restaurant for a special event. More than any achievement he has obtained, Thames graciously says he is most humbled by the respect from his peers and the professional comradery.

His standard for excellence and attachment for his community will continue to keep Restaurant Tyler in the spotlight.

Eatlocalstarkville.com

DeSoto 37

exploring destinations | HIGHLAND PARK FISH CAMP

Fish Camp from the water

38 DeSoto

The Hammock

Fish Tales for a New Generation

By Debi Lander Photography courtesy of Debi Lander, Ann Axon, Highland Park Fish Camp and Save the Manatee

Seventh generation Floridian Bryn Rawlins leads her grandfather’s fish camp into the 21st century.

If catching a trophy-sized largemouth bass excites you, then head to Highland Park Fish Camp, an authentic Old Florida style retreat in DeLand, Florida. Shhh… the big bass love to hang out along the banks of the Norris Dead River. The tannin-stained waterway might flow at a snail’s pace, but it’s alive with critters.

The thriving business began almost 60 years ago as a simple camp, the brainchild of Derris Rawlins. His fisherman’s luck took a big turn two years later, with the incorporation of 20,000 acres adjoining his property into the Woodruff Wildlife Refuge.

While strolling along the unspoiled grounds, I came across Bryn Rawlins sitting on the front porch of the bait and tackle store. Some may be surprised to learn this young woman runs the rural camp, but she was born to it. Bryn grew up on the property, helping clean boats and cabins by age 12. To say the wetlands run through her blood doesn’t begin to do justice to this seventh generation Floridian.

Rick and Ron Rawlins, Bryn’s dad and uncle, inherited the property when her grandfather died at age 51.

They gradually built on his dream, adding an impressive dry dock marina and seven cabins. However, the rustic style and DeSoto 39

Captain Bryn Rawlins

Catching a speckeled Perch

unspoiled waterway have remained unchanged all these years.

“It’s quiet and peaceful here. People come to relax,” said Bryn. Her involvement in the family business intensified after high school. She earned her U.S. Coast Guard fishing guide license at age 20, becoming the youngest and only female fishing guide on the St. Johns. Captain Bryn went on to get a business degree at Daytona State College and has since taken over operations.

Many patrons of the bass paradise return year after year, but, Bryn, a millennial, recognized the need to create an online presence with a company website and social media accounts. Internet exposure is luring new and younger clientele to the old grounds.

Half and full-day fishing trips continue as the primary activity. “We stay true to the style of Florida’s original theme parks – a basic fish and tackle shop,” says Bryn. Highland Fish Camp provides everything needed to snag an elusive bass including those all-important wild Silver Shiners as bait. The Rawlins sell fishing licenses, rent boats and accessories. To increase your chances of success, be sure to hire one of their seven licensed bass fishing guides.

The weather and time of year make a difference. “In the winter a good day could be up to 10 fish in the boat, versus springtime fishing of 20 or more,” says Bryn.

Go for Bass year-round, and Speckled Perch during the colder months. Speckled Perch, also known as Crappie, rank as the best tasting.

Picturesque oak trees laden with Spanish moss, cypress and palms envelope anglers as they head out on the tributary to the St. Johns River. Wildlife, including gators, manatees, black bear, deer, wild turkeys and thousands of birds lurk in the undergrowth. With such lush surroundings, Bryn convinced Clyde Butcher, considered Florida’s finest landscape photographer and often referred to the Ansel Adams of the South, to check out the scene. Bryn shared that Clyde was delighted to photograph the array of flora, fauna and birds.

Even guests who aren’t serious about photography or fishing, will still find fun adventures. Pontoon boat tours take about 30 minutes to cut through the lakes to reach DeLeon State Park. Once there, guests enjoy the traditional breakfast (any time of day) at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant where they cook their own pancakes and eggs on grills embedded in the tables.

40 DeSoto

Blue Spring aggregation

In the opposite direction Blue Springs State Park rocks with hundreds of manatees in the winter. Although a few sea cows frequent the park all year, they arrive in mass during the coldest spells, finding protection in the park’s secluded, warm springs. Boaters dock and join the other park visitors at a special viewing area.

“The Rawlins family have created is a slice of heaven that checks all the boxes of a peaceful, old-Florida experience,” says guest Pete Arney.

Highland Park Fish Camp offers reasonably priced nightly and weekly rentals on single- and double-bedroom cabins, some with full kitchens, screened-in porches and AC. Tent and RV camping are also available. Groups can rent The Hammock, an outdoor stage venue, for live music, weddings, fish fries and oyster roasts.

After A Day On The Water

Downtown DeLand, just 10 minutes away from the fish camp, bustles with boutiques, art galleries, locally owned restaurants, breweries, and the very popular Friday Artisan Alley Farmers Market from 6-9 p.m.

“DeLand has become a ‘must-see’ Florida destination in the last few years,” says Georgia Turner, Executive Director of West Volusia Tourism. “In 2018, we were named America’s Best Main Street in the Independent We Stand national contest.”

A must-see in DeLand is the magnificent Stetson Mansion, the winter home of one of Florida’s first snowbirds, John Stetson who made his fortune manufacturing and selling hats. The 1886 home, a blend of cottage, Gothic, Tudor, Moorish and Polynesian architecture, will host its annual Christmas Spectacular Holiday Home Tour from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15.

Almost as popular, the Blue Spring Manatee Festival brings hundreds to DeLand from Jan. 25-26, 2020.

Debi Lander is a freelance writer based in Sarasota, Florida.

DeSoto 41

on the road again | FRENCH QUARTER IN NEW ORLEANS

A L , s n a e l New FOrrench Quarter

Often called the Crown Jewel of New Orleans, the French Quarter is one of NOLA’s most historic neighborhoods.

9:00 Cafe Du Monde for coffee and their famous Beignets. Beignets are square French -style doughnuts covered with powdered sugar. The original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market and remains one the most popular spots for locals and visitors.

10:00 Get aquainted with the area on a City Sightseeing open-top double decker bus.

Hop-on! and in 2 hours experience a complete city tour. Hop-off! at any stop along the way and explore New Orleans most popular neighborhoods, attractions, and shopping districts. Guided walking tours in the French Quarter and Garden District also offered.

Noon - Lunch at Johnny’s Po-Boys. Of course the award winning po-boy is what to order.

Choose from a long list of options like oyster, meatball, shrimp or roast beef. Daily specials also available.

1:00 Shopping in the French Quarter offers everything from high end chain retail at The Shops at Canal Place to magical spell books at a tucked away voodoo shop or the local art at the French Market.

3:00 Take a break and sample one of the areas best candy confections…the Praline.

Southern CandyMakers on Decatur St. offers award-winning pralines as well as other sweet treats for an afternoon pick me up.

3:30 Time to take in the iconic Bourbon Street. The street was named for the French royal House of Bourbon. It runs 13 blocks through the heart of the French Quarter, from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue. Besides the clubs, party goers, and drinks in souvenir cups there is beautiful architecture and local music.

6:00 Galatoire’s Restaurant is the perfect spot for dinner. Founded in 1905, this legendary restaurant started with recipes and traditions brought from France by Jean Galatoire.

Choose menu items like poultry, shellfish, beef and fish prepared in a French-Creole style or let the waiter choose for you.

8:00 Enjoy an after dinner cocktail at the famous Carousel Bar located in Hotel Monteleone. The bar, which turned 70 this year, actually revolves like a carousel. Sip the Vieux Carre, their most famous cocktail, while listening to the piano play and slowly spinning!

42 DeSoto

To plan your visit: neworleans.com frenchquarter.com cafedumonde.com city-sightseeing.com johnnyspoboy.com galatoires.com hotelmonteleone.com

UPCOMING EVENTS: December 22 Caroling in Jackson Square A few days before Christmas, residents and visitors of New Orleans alike join together to sing carols by candle light, lifting their voices high into the night. Song sheets are provided (as well as the candles) and soon everyone is singing Christmas carols in unison.The gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the caroling beings promptly at 7:00 p.m.

December 31 Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest Beginning at 9:00 p.m. and lasting until 2020 makes its mark, join in the fleurde-lis-filled fun. This annual event takes place at the historic Jax Brewery and will feature live music performances, fireworks and the dropping of New Orleans’ beloved fleur de lis. Free and open to all, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is hosted by Lucy Hale with a number of special guest appearances throughout the night.

DeSoto 43

holiday gift guide | GIFTS FOR HER

gifts for her

1

2

3

6

9

4

7

10

5

8

11

12

1. Kelly Wynne purses and handbags, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 2. Jackets, boots and backpacks, Center Stage Fashions, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 3. Morse code necklaces, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 4. Sweaters, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 5. Leopard beanies, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 6. Booties, The Speckled Egg, 5100 Interstate 55, Marion, AR 7. Bundt Cakes, Nothing Bundt Cakes, 5338 Goodman Rd Suite 127, Olive Branch, MS 8. Necklaces, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 9. Purses, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS 10. Hats, gloves and ear warmers, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 11. Assorted Earrings, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS 12. Clothing and accessories, Against the Grain Mercantile, 880 US-64 Marion, AR

44 DeSoto

holiday gift guide | GIFTS FOR HIM

gifts for him

1 5

8

2

3

4

6

7

9

10

1. Big Green Egg and accessories, Complete Home Center, 32 E Commerce St, Hernando, MS 2 Fripp t-shirts, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 3. Sig Sauer P365 hand gun, Guns & Fine Jewelry, 570 Goodman Rd E, Southaven, MS 4. Men’s socks, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 5. Men’s grooming products, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 6. Crew socks, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 7. Art and bottle opener, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 8. Salsa and wine stopper, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 9. Fishing lure bottle openers, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 10. Cookbook and t-towel, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS

DeSoto 45

holiday gift guide | GIFTS FOR THE HOME

gifts for the home

1

6

10

2

3

4 8

7

11

1. Indoor lantern and Luxury Lite candles, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 2. Furniture and home decor, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 3. Block art, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 4. Welcome sign with attachments,, Against the Grain Mercantile, 880 US-64 Marion, AR 5. Unique table lamps, Lamp Shade House, 4870 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 6. Holiday pillows, Crossroads Vendor Market, 8804 Caroma Street Ste. 140, Olive Branch, MS 7. Outdoor furniture, pillows and accessories, Keep it Casual, 106 S Industrial Rd, Tupelo, MS 8. Chandeliers, lighting and home decor, Magnolia Lighting, 470 US-51 N, Hernando, MS 9. Blessing beads, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 10. T-towels, Crossroads Vendor Market, 8804 Caroma Street Ste. 140, Olive Branch, MS 11. La-Z-Boy recliner, Wilson Furniture & Accessories, 225 Washington St, Collierville, TN 12. Mississippi pottery and home decor, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS

46 DeSoto

5

9

12

holiday gift guide | GIFTS FOR KIDS

gifts for kids

1

2

5

6

8

9

3

4

7

10

11

1. Warmies stuffed animals, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 2 Kid’s clothes, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 3. Mud-Pie fur vest, Southern Traditions, 120 W Bankhead St #A, New Albany, MS 4. Small purses and squishys, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 5. Melissa and Doug toys, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 6. Assorted stuffed animals, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 7. Melissa and Doug cooking toys, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 8. American Jewel clear bag with goodies, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 9. Cosmetic bag and charging cord keychain for teens, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 10. Puppet books, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 11. Star From Afar gift set, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS

DeSoto 47

46 48 DeSoto

SHOPPING

SMALL Proves

Big

for Local Retailers

By Karon Warren Photography courtesy of: Shop Small images courtesy of American Express; Center Stage, Hernando, Turnrow Books, Greenwood and Cleveland; Rory Doyle

Small Business Saturday – the day after Black Friday – continues to draw attention and customers to local retailers.

DeSoto 49

Beverly Mitchell Ward and Beverly Massey of Upstairs Closet in Senatobia, MS

Shopping in Cleveland, MS

50 DeSoto

Turnrow Books in Greenwood, MS

Back in 2010, big-box stores and online retailers like Amazon wreaked havoc on local, independent retailers who sold everything from books and clothing to toys, appliances and electronics. To combat that consumer evolution, American Express launched a new initiative: Small Business Saturday.

Taking place on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday over Thanksgiving weekend, Small Business Saturday was created as a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the country. American Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, was joined by a number of advocacies, public and private organizations to promote the initiative.

These included Facebook, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center, and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Businesses.

Over the last decade, shoppers have shown strong support for their local retailers on Small Business Saturday. In fact, in 2018, shoppers spent a record high of $17.8 million at independent retailers and restaurants nationwide. Plus, according to the “2018 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey,” 96 percent of consumers who went shopping on Small Business Saturday said the day made them want to shop local all year long.

At Turnrow Books in Greenwood, general manager Elizabeth Hinckley says Small Business Saturday is a part of the store’s Thanksgiving weekend marketing, but not the major focus. Sometimes the store does something specific for the day, and other times it’s just part of the store’s holiday campaign.

To keep customers coming in all year long, Hinckley says Turnrow works to build customer loyalty. One way the store does that is through its “A Child’s First Book Club,” a subscription program wherein children receive a new picture book each month. This first edition is autographed by both the author and the illustrator.

Another service the store provides is signed first editions of John Grisham novels upon their release.

“We get repeat customers based on those services,” Hinckley says.

Because Small Business Saturday falls on a Saturday during the fall, it does encounter competition from outside the DeSoto 51

Center Stage Fashions on Hernando, Mississippi’s town square

retail environment: college football. And those football games don’t always play into the favor of local retailers. At Upstairs Closet in Senatobia, owner Beverly Massey says football weekends take away from her business.

“Our town is dead if football games are on that day,” she says.

As a result, she doesn’t participate in Small Business Saturday. Instead, she focuses on what she’s been doing since first opening her store in 1974: She works to make shopping at her store fun so her customers enjoy the experience.

“It’s not about price, but about quality,” Massey says.

“My customers like to see the goods, feel the goods and try them on.”

In lieu of Small Business Saturday, Massey says she holds about four major events throughout the year to attract customers.

“Our events do really well,” she says. “They are very important to my shop.”

For instance, she recently celebrated her store’s anniversary. Also, she says her Christmas open house is very popular. Part of that may be due to the food and champagne punch she serves, she says with a laugh.

Turnrow Books also hosts a number of events each year to draw in customers. Whether it’s an author signing, a poetry reading, live music, open mic night or something else altogether, these events provide an opportunity for Turnrow Books to attract and connect with customers.

Connecting with customers also is a top priority for Cindy Gaines of Center Stage Fashions in Hernando, who says her store focuses on personal service.

52 DeSoto

“We have unique things not found on the Internet,” she says. “We hand select items for our customers when we go to market.”

Gaines says her customers, who, on average, are age 40 and older, don’t like the process of shopping online. They don’t want the hassle of buying online without being able to feel the materials or try clothes on, she says. She also believes they don’t like the hassle of dealing with returns and waiting for a refund.

“Here, they can see it, feel it and try it on,” she says.

“If they like it, they get it. If they don’t, they won’t. They need retail therapy, and we give it to them.”

That personal connection appears to be the key element in helping local retailers stay in business in the face of stiff competition from big-box stores and online outlets.

“We not only provide books,” Hinckley says. “We also serve as a community center. We contribute to the community in a lot of ways.”

Massey agreed, pointing out that many local residents forget just how involved local businesses are within the community.

“People forget storeowners are the ones who support schools, the Scouts and their kids’ sports,” she says.

It only takes a moment to flip through a local school yearbook or sports program or to read the signs around the local parks and recreation fields. All those ads and signs promoting local businesses were paid for by those businesses in support of those local causes.

“When people have fundraisers or a raffle at school, they’re not calling Amazon for a donation,” Hinckley says.

Center Stage Fashions owner Judy Beard

“They call real people. We donate books and gift cards.”

In addition, the local sales taxes spent at area businesses help fund many community needs, such as educating kids, paving local roads, and paying salaries for the local police and firefighters.

Those monies don’t come from online sales. Any sales taxes paid to online vendors–provided that vendor even charges sales tax–goes to the state as a whole, not the individual community where the buyer lives.

It’s evident that supporting local businesses goes much further than keeping the doors open at a mom-and-pop restaurant or the neighborhood hardware store. Therefore, embracing Small Business Saturday could be one marketing tactic to help bring customers through those doors.

For independent businesses who want to participate in Small Business Saturday, American Express provides many materials and ideas for promoting the initiative.

Karon Warren is a freelance writer based in Ellijay.

Georgia. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon also writes for FamilyVacationCritic.com.

DeSoto 53

50

NIGHTS

OF LIGHTS

By Cheré Coen Photography Credits: Rory Doyle for Nights and VRX Studios for Cotton House Hotel

52 54 DeSoto

Named one of America’s top small towns to visit, Cleveland, Mississippi, will be an even brighter destination for the holidays.

DeSoto 55

56 DeSoto

Christmas comes early to the Delta town of Cleveland, arriving before Thanksgiving and lasting into the New Year. And every year the festivities grow.

Titled “50 Nights of Lights,” the celebration involves more than 100,000 lights through downtown, a community tree lighting, displays sponsored by local business and special events that range from live music to Santa arriving in a fire truck.

Only three years ago a group of women approached Cleveland businesses to encourage them to add lights to landscaping and downtown buildings. A massive Christmas tree was added last year along with lighted and animated displays.

When a committee was formed to take the celebration further, more lights and events were added.

“The response was overwhelming,” said Kelli Carr, director of Cleveland Mississippi Tourism. “It’s truly grown into a massive Christmas event. We have movies, downtown concerts.”

The fun begins the weekend of Nov. 9-10 with the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, and the Holiday Open House both days. On Sunday, Nov. 10, train rides are offered in the afternoon at Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum.

But the fun continues every weekend through November and December.

Live camels visit Cleveland on Nov. 23 and Santa arrives via fire truck on Saturday, Nov. 30. The parade rolls on Dec. 5 and there’s a pub crawl-style event Dec. 14 where participants are encouraged to where ugly Christmas sweaters.

“Every Saturday in December, there’s something going on,” Carr said.

The small town of Cleveland has evolved into a hot destination in the last few years, attracting the 28,000-square-foot GRAMMY Museum in 2016, the first of its kind dedicated to America’s music located outside of Los Angeles. The museum will host an evening of festive and inspirational holiday music titled “Have Yourself A Delta Little Christmas,” beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 2. Delta artists scheduled to appear are Steve Azar, Tricia Walker, Variety, and the B.B. King All Stars. Dove-award winning artist Buddy Greene, co-writer of the Christmas classic “Mary, Did You Know?” will perform as a special guest along with multi-instrumentalist Jeff Taylor.

The event includes a pre-reception with hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.

DeSoto 57

In addition to the GRAMMY Museum, Cleveland lured Chef Cole Ellis back home to open the acclaimed Delta Meat Market. The Delta native is a James Beard Award semifinalist and this summer Ellis moved his restaurant into the new Cotton House Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel that also includes his rooftop Bar Fontaine.

Cleveland also boasts of Delta State University, the railroad heritage museum that honors the town’s long railroad history, Civil Rights and Blues Heritage markers and annual festivals. Nearby, visitors may enjoy McCarty Pottery in Marigold, Dockery Farms that’s known for its blues origins, and Mound Bayou – the oldest town in America founded by former slaves.

It’s no wonder Smithsonian Magazine named Cleveland a top small town to visit. And its new holiday lights expansion only adds to the excitement.

Where to stay

The new Cotton House Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, is a great base of operations for enjoying the 50 Nights of Lights celebrations. Not only does the hotel offer 95 guest rooms and Ellis’ dining options, but all of the town’s holiday activities are mere steps from its front doors. One of the best places to view the light displays is from the hotel’s Bar Fontaine, a rooftop bar that serves European-inspired small plates and cocktails.

58 DeSoto

And don’t forget Delta Meat Market, Ellis’ awardwinning restaurant where Southern dishes are prepared using locally-sourced products. Chef Ellis hails from Cleveland, but moved back to the Delta to open a butcher shop in 2013, which later morphed into a restaurant and grocery combination.

Visitors can still enjoy the Market’s innovative meals and takehome house-made charcuterie or artisan cheeses.

Boutique shops and Cleveland restaurants line the downtown’s “Cotton Row,” so shopping for holiday gifts is close at hand as well. This stretch of road was once lined with farmers bringing crops to market, hence the name. Today, it’s the Historic Crosstie Shopping District, containing numerous specialty stores, antique shops and cafes.

Delta Meat Market

50 Nights of Lights Full Schedule • Joyous Jingles choir performances will begin at 6 p.m., Nov. 14, at the Downtown Gingerbread House, also known as the Gazebo • Presents and Prayers for Pets will be from 1-4 p.m., Nov., 16 at the Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum ​• Camels & Critters will be on hand for the participants to pet and ride from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 23, on Cotton Row • Shop Small Friday is Nov. 29 ​• Santa arrives downtown by a fire truck at 12:30 p.m., Nov. 30, followed by Selfies with Santa and Characters from 1-4 p.m. at the gazebo and train rides a​ t the Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum; • “Have Yourself a Delta Little Christmas” at 7 p.m., Dec. 2, at the GRAMMY Museum.

A host of Delta performers, including Buddy Greene, co-writer of the holiday classic, “Mary, Did You Know?” are scheduled.

• “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live,” 7 p.m., Dec. 3, Bologna Performing Arts Center on the Delta State University campus ​• Cleveland Christmas Parade rolls at 6 p.m., Dec. 5 ​• Selfies with Santa in the Caboose and train rides, 1-4 p.m., Dec. 7, 14 and 21, Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum • Holiday Hustle 5K begins at 5 p.m., Dec. 7, at the Bayou Academy 5K Downtown Trail, followed by the Blackwater Trio Christmas Concert, 7-10 p.m., downtown • Selfies with Santa and Characters, 1-3 p.m.

Dec. 8, 15 and 22, Downtown Gingerbread House (Gazebo) • Screen on the Green holiday movie, 6 p.m., Nov. 21, Dec. 12 and 17, Chamber Green Space • Pickers on the Porch, 5-7 p.m., Dec. 13, Chamber Porch • Ugly Sweater Fun Run at 5:30 p.m. and Rotary Sing-A-Long at 6 p.m., Dec. 19, Downtown Gingerbread House (Gazebo). ​

www.50nightsoflights.com www.visitclevelandms.com

Cheré Coen has deep Mississippi and New Orleans roots, but the food and travel writer now lives in Cajun Country. She is the author of “Exploring Cajun Country” and Southern-based novels under the pen name of Cherie Claire.

DeSoto 59

eat, stay, play!

t i s i Vveland!

Cle

60 DeSoto

DeSoto 61

Depew Nash Barn in Rogersville, AL

Appreciating Rural Beauty

By Connie Pearson Photography courtesy of Connie Pearson, Dale Robinson, Regina Breland

60 62 DeSoto

American Barn Quilt Trails combine art, architecture, agriculture, and history, and they provide a perfect reason to explore rural roads.

DeSoto 63

Louallen Farms in Moulton, AL

Bill Steen Barn with Anthony Hackney installing a quilt in Killen, AL

64 DeSoto

Alabama and Mississippi have surged into the fastest growing public art movement in the U.S., and agritourism is reaping the benefits. The number of barn quilt squares dotting the countryside is growing exponentially with no signs of slowing down.

By getting off the interstates and roaming the rural backroads, you will likely be rewarded when a sudden burst of color and pattern attached to a barn catches your eye. It will feel as if you’ve found the golden egg in a giant, adult-sized Easter egg hunt. When you pull over to snap a photo, the quiet, peaceful setting will remind you of simpler times. Maybe the faces of your grandparents will come to mind. The barns are in friendly places, the kind where passersby will stop to inquire if you need help or directions. The trails provide motivation for exploring nature, appreciating rural beauty and searching for hidden treasures.

From its emergence in 2001, the American Barn Quilt Trail Movement has grown rapidly since the first painted quilt square was attached to a barn in Ohio.

Today, all but a handful of U.S. states have barn quilt trails, and the movement has spread to at least three provinces in Canada.

In addition to promoting agritourism, barn quilt trails encourage preservation of historic barns, honors the hard work of farmers and draws attention to quilts as a significant contribution to American art history.

Donna Sue Groves, the acknowledged founder of the movement, painted an “Ohio Star� quilt square in 1989, and displayed it on the family farm in Adams County, Ohio. She and her mother shared both the farm and a love for quilting, so this barn quilt was intended as a tribute to her mother. While Groves pursued her career of promoting community development through the arts, it occurred to her that painting squares on several barns and creating a driving tour could attract visitors and bring in some tourism dollars.

The Ohio project was launched in 2001.

The idea caught on immediately. Seven thousand trails currently crisscross the country.

JOINING THE MOVEMENT

Alabama and Mississippi have strong participation in the movement, led by passionate supporters and organizers.

DeSoto 65

Regina Painter in Alabama and Regina Breland in Mississippi emerged as the leaders in those states. Breland heads up the Chickasa-Leaf Barn Quilt Trail Association, one of seven trails scattered throughout Mississippi. The Chickasa-Leaf trail started in March 2014, when its first quilt square was hung in Greene County, Mississippi.

In Alabama, all 54 participating barns are listed under one main trail – the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail – which began in December 2015 in Lauderdale County.

A new one, however, is emerging on the Gulf Coast.

Barn owners give varying reasons for putting up squares. “My quilt block was put up to start the trail,” explains Mississippi’s Breland. “Most people put them up to join the trail or to add decorative folk art to their barns or outbuildings.”

Dale Robinson, an active member of the Alabama trail says, “Being part of the community was what motivated me to get involved with the trail. Although I don’t have a barn myself, painting the squares is a good way to give something back to the community that has been so good to me and my family. It’s something my wife and I can enjoy doing together.

“Some barn owners do it to honor an ancestor who maybe created a quilt or was a farmer or was significant to them in some way. Some just want to add some color to dress up their barn,” adds Robinson.

The requirements for submitting a barn, outbuilding, or business for inclusion on a trail and the guidelines for creating painted squares seem to be consistent from state-to-state. Squares must be at least 4-feet-by-4-feet but also can be 8-feet-by-8-feet. Barns must be neatly maintained, be in locations with unobstructed viewing for the public, and have a safe place for vehicles to pull over. Quilt blocks should be based on a traditional pattern or a family heirloom quilt with no political advertisements or family initials. Trail committees approve the patterns, but the barn owners are free to choose the colors. Trail organizers work to ensure that each square is unique without a repetition of patterns.

In the beginning, three-quarter-inch plywood was used as the painting canvas, but owners found that those frames were cumbersome, difficult to attach,

Wade Nixon Barn in Hamilton, AL

66 DeSoto

Churck and Diane Craig Barn in Rogersville, AL

and faded quickly. Now, Medium Density Overlay (MDO) plywood, the same material used for street signs, is the popular choice. It is weather-resistant, durable, more lightweight and has a smooth painting surface.

A primer coat covers the entire surface first, then the intricate designs are carefully drawn using an overhead projector, software programs or grid paper. Layers of high-quality exterior paint are meticulously applied to provide the eye-popping colors.

Both barn owners and quilt block painters are encouraged to develop designs with personal meaning and significance. A pattern could be similar to a quilt made by a beloved relative. Some trail websites feature photos of barn owners holding an original family quilt from which their quilt square was fashioned.

Some use patterns or symbols that represent a livelihood or special hobby.

Beekeepers often choose a honeybee pattern, for example. Peach growers may create an abstract peach tree. Eagles often convey patriotism, along with red, white and blue colors, which are very popular. Some choose to incorporate their state’s bird or DeSoto 67

Charles Rose barn in Moulton, AL

flower, while others feature a cow, a horse or a flag. Most, though, are merely abstract shapes interwoven into an attractive square painted with striking color palettes.

FUNDING AND FUTURE

The first grant for the trail in Alabama came from the Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council. Since then, contributions have come from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, ALFA Insurance and Alabama Fa r m e r s Fe d e r a t i o n . M i s s i s s i p p i ’s Chickasa-Leaf Barn Quilt Trail received a Bicentennial Grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, plus they have individual donors and sponsors. Both states conduct classes teaching individuals to paint their own barn quilt blocks. The money from those classes is allocated for promotion and funding for more quilt blocks.

Robinson estimates that the materials for a large finished barn quilt block cost $125 to $150, with the smaller blocks being slightly less.

Alabama’s Barn Quilt Trail is listed in Alabama’s Bicentennial Events for 2019. In addition to the 54 blocks already listed, Robinson says, “We have three more 68 DeSoto

blocks that are finished and just need to be installed, and one more that is almost done. We have at least 20 more waiting to be painted, and they are from all over the state.�

Both Painter and Breland expect the movement to expand, and they hope all the counties in their states will soon have participants. chickasaleafbqt.com alabamabarnquilttrail.org

Connie Pearson is a freelance travel and food writer and blogger based in Hartselle, Alabama. Her blog is ThereGoesConnie.com.

DeSoto 69

homegrown | EXTRA ORDINARY DELIGHTS

E.O.D. sweets are handcrafted E.O.D. is a tribute to Aaron Hale’s service with Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

70 DeSoto

Aaron Hale served in the Navy as a ship chef.

Sweet Success

By Jackie Sheckler Finch | Photography courtesy of Romona Robbins

Wounded veteran Aaron Hale overcomes the odds to launch a successful confectionary company and an extraordinary life.

The last time Aaron Hale was able to see the faces of his family and friends was eight years ago. A 14-year military veteran, Staff Sergeant Hale had been home on leave celebrating Thanksgiving with his family.

Returning to Afghanistan, Hale was picked up by his military bomb squad and headed back to work. With his luggage in the back of the truck, Hale and the convoy heard from their commander that an improvised explosive device had been detected.

Team leader for his Explosive Ordnance Disposal (E.O.D.) unit, Hale had already served a tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. He and his men first sent out a robot to defuse the explosive device.

“Then I hopped out,” Hale recalls. “A secondary device detonated right beside me… The lights went out immediately.”

Reaching up to adjust his helmet, Hale discovered that his helmet was gone. “And my life had been changed forever.”

The blast and flying shrapnel from that Dec. 8, 2011, explosion broke all of Hale’s facial bones, severely burned his face and upper thighs, cracked his skull with spinal fluid leaking, nearly severed a carotid artery, and took his eyesight, leaving him with only memories of what his loved ones looked like.

Today, Hale is married, the father of three sons and owner of Extra Ordinary Delights (E.O.D.) confectionary company where he makes and sells fudge and other sweets.

How did Hale not only survive but thrive after a horrific accident and 27 reconstructive surgeries that could have left others in depression and despair?

“I made up my mind that I was not going to sit on the couch and feel sorry for myself,” he says.

DeSoto 71

Instead, Hale began challenging his body to climb mountains, run marathons, and do solo whitewater kayaking. He also taught at the E.O.D. School at Eglin Air Force Base and gave inspirational speeches.

It was sharing those adventures over social media that reconnected Hale with McKayla Tracy, the daughter of one of his mother’s best friends. Ironically, Aaron’s mother is also McKayla’s godmother, and McKayla admits she had a crush on Aaron growing up.

Although McKayla lived 4,000 miles away in California, the two would spend hours talking on the phone. In July 2015, they decided to meet. McKayla came for a weeklong vacation to Hale’s home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Just a month after McKayla left, Hale was rushed to the emergency room with horrendous headaches. Doctors discovered that Hale had bacterial meningitis as an aftermath infection from the blast, plunging him into a coma. When he regained consciousness, Hale’s hearing was gone.

By his side throughout the ordeal, McKayla devised a method of communicating with Hale. Although he couldn’t see or hear, McKayla would draw the letters of words in his hand. Although “it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” she also quit her job to stay with Hale.

Doctors suggested that Hale get cochlear implants to restore part of his hearing. But getting the implants would require several months of waiting and multiple surgeries. Left in silent darkness for six months, Hale did what he always did – found something positive to fill his mind and time.

That’s where the fudge business was born.

A Business Of Thanksgiving

Hale says the idea grew out of a Thanksgiving dinner he and McKayla planned for family and friends. “We were going to make a feast,” he says. “I got so excited. I started weeks in advance on my desserts.”

Cooking seemed to be therapeutic as McKayla noticed that Hale began smiling more and had a new zest for life

The dinner, of course, turned out fantastic. In fact, folks began asking if they 72 DeSoto

could buy Hale’s yummy fudge.

So started Extra Ordinary Delights – named to honor the years Aaron spent as an E.O.D. tech in the military and to emphasize his commitment to make the best fudge possible. Founded in 2015, the company has grown from a home-crafted fudge-making business into a commercial enterprise with corporate clients, online sales, and more plans in the works.

“While I was cooking in the kitchen, McKayla was setting up a business,” he says.

“That woman is so amazing. I love her so much.”

Married in October 2017, the couple had twin boys in 2018. Aaron also has a nine-year-old son from a previous marriage.

Cooking had been a culinary passion for Hale as far back as he can remember. “I began cooking as soon as I could reach the kitchen counter,” he says.

So, when Hale joined the Navy in 1999, it wasn’t surprising that he became ship chef for the 6th Fleet in Italy. He cooked for admirals, dignitaries, and royalty wherever the ship was docked.

After a decade, however, Hale decided to switch to another military branch and joined the Army’s E.O.D. team where his unit, the 760th E.O.D. had completed 1,100 counter-IED missions. He was eight months into a year’s tour in Afghanistan when the incendiary device exploded in his face and changed his future.

“I went back to cooking as therapy,” Hale says. “It, along with my loving family, kept me from going to that dark place.” eodfudge.com

An award-winning journalist, Jackie Sheckler Finch loves to take to the road to see what lies beyond the next bend.

DeSoto 73

southern gentleman | CARVING THE TURKEY

Carving is for Turkeys

By Jason Frye | Photography courtesy of thetruthaboutknives.com and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Carving the family’s Thanksgiving turkey is not for the faint of heart.

Just 13 months after marrying my wife, my fatherin-law handed over the Thanksgiving knife and fork in an unceremonious moment that changed our holiday forever.

“Here,” he said, handing me a dull carving knife and a meat fork I’d used back in the spring to dig up tulip bulbs with my mother-in-law. “I hate this and I’m not doing it anymore, it’s a pain. Good luck.”

That’s not exactly what he said – at times he’s saltier, and this was one of those times – but it’s close enough. Except for the “good luck” part, I put that in to make myself feel better about the whole thing.

My father-in-law had enough of carving the turkey and he found the perfect replacement: someone he’d seen use a table saw, charge up a 12-foot ladder with a Sawzall and some vague instructions, pick up a snake with his bare hands, and other feats of bravery and masculinity. Now was the ultimate: a place at the head of the table, doing the honors of slicing into 74 DeSoto

the turkey we’d all dreamt of for a month or more.

The honors. Ha. It’s no honor. It’s nerve-racking. It’s an inconvenience. And no one likes turkey anyway.

First problem is the knife. Unless you’re a chef or you’re like me and obsessively keep your pocketknives shaving sharp and your kitchen knives at lightsaber level, the carving knife is dull and unfamiliar. Then there’s the bird. We all can slice a tenderloin or cut a flank steak across the grain, and many of us can field dress any game you throw our way. But to carve a turkey is strange. There’s no easy or elegant way to carve around the bones, remove the wings or drumsticks, or leave anything other than what looks like a dog-gnawed carcass on the presentation platter. Finally, there’s the cut itself. Thick or thin? Someone at the table dislikes it either way. Do you include the skin? Maybe, but usually no (I sneak feed it to the dog I like, but not to the other dog).

I have to admit, I’m only speaking from the experience

Scene from Christmas Vacation

of carving a traditional oven-roasted turkey. Neither I nor the in-laws have ventured into the world of a smoked or barbecued turkey, and the incessant videos of people not smart enough to follow directions on a deep fryer have turned my mother-in-law off the idea of a deep-fried turkey for good. But she tells good stories about it: a Facebook video of a turkey that wasn’t all the way thawed exploding and turning that pot of boiling oil into Kuwait, circa Thanksgiving 1990; someone who didn’t read the directions and decided to add an extra gallon of peanut oil to the pot before dropping the turkey in and causing a fireball the size of a Mississippi gnat swarm (and likely a few singed eyebrows); and the horror stories of perfectly crisp skin and a still beating heart on the bloody inside.

Maybe a smoked turkey would be falling off the bone and begging to be pulled apart by hand, but what sauce do I serve with that, because you know cranberry sauce won’t cut it? Do I try a Big Bob Gibson-inspired white sauce that’s heavy on the sage? After all, Big Bob has won a lot of awards for his Alabama white sauce.

None of us want the takeaway turkey from the grocery store or from a church fundraiser. Half the fun of the turkey is the smell wafting through the house, so until there’s a suitable scented-candle substitute – 30 Minutes to Thanksgiving Dinner

by Yankee Candle – we’ll cook our own. Besides, no one wants to relinquish control of the turkey to someone unproven. My family all remembers – but we don’t speak of – the one year we ate elsewhere. I, having carved a somewhat-cooked turkey as a

guest, told my in-laws which side of the serving platter to avoid.

I’m suggesting that this year we focus on the other half of the fun of the turkey: leftovers. We can all agree that leftovers – turkey sammiches, turkey salad, turkey casseroles and tetrazzini and gumbo – are the best part of Thanksgiving. So, I’m proposing that we cook some turkey breasts for leftovers and we focus the meal on something we all like. Maybe that means steaks for Thanksgiving, or linguini with clams, maybe a mess of steamed oysters and some barbecue, anything as long as I don’t have to carve it.

Or just maybe a deep-fried turkey would be the thing to make us all excited about Thanksgiving again. It could certainly be an adventure.

Jason Frye keeps his knives sharp in case he needs to carve a turkey at a moment’s notice. When he’s not dishing up a holiday feast, you’ll find him on the road or at the keyboard working on the next edition of his travel guide series to North Carolina or the Smoky Mountains.

Follow his adventures on Instagram where he’s @beardedwriter.

DeSoto 75

southern harmony | CHARLIE DANIELS

Charlie Daniels at FOB Cobra Charlie Daniels at FOB Caldwell 3

76 DeSoto

A Journey Home

By Pam Windsor Photography courtesy of Erick Anderson, Andy Heidt and Randy Harris

The legendary Charlie Daniels loves to entertain, but he also enjoys giving back – especially to veterans.

Charlie Daniels has been a part of the American music scene longer than most people realize. Even before the Wilmington, North Carolina-native moved to Nashville and started charting with hits like “Long Haired Country Boy” and “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” he was busy as a singer, songwriter, and musician.

His first hint of commercial success came in 1964 when Elvis Presley recorded a song Daniels co-wrote called “It Hurts Me.” Later, in the early 70s, he formed the Charlie Daniels Band and soon begin releasing his fast-charging, genredefining Southern-rock anthems and country songs that have entertained audiences ever since.

True fans can name a long list of Charlie Daniels favorites, but he’s best-known for his signature song “The Devil

Went Down to Georgia.” The fiddle-centric tune came out in 1979 and this year marked its 40th anniversary.

“It’s kind of hard to grasp it’s been out that long,” Daniels says. “It transcends generations. I’ll have kids come up to me and say, Mr. Daniels, do you know what my favorite song is?”

He always knows the answer, but lets them tell him anyway. “They like it, and the older people like it, too.”

It’s a story song that has the devil competing against Johnny in a fiddle contest in a battle for Johnny’s soul. When Daniels went into the studio all those years ago, he wanted the devil’s part to sound dark and ominous, so he used multiple fiddles.

“We did it organically then, nowadays they’d probably DeSoto 77

do it electronically. I did seven fiddles for the devil’s part.” (One of those fiddles was a specially rigged eight-string fiddle.)

For Johnny’s part, he used three fiddles.

“Some people like devil’s part better,” he says. “But the devil’s part is nothing but noise, you can’t hum it. Johnny’s part is different, you can hum it. So, the difference is between something real and something that’s like smoke and mirrors.”

While fiddler players all over the world play that song today, no one can play it quite like Daniels. Even at 83-years old, few can match his energy, enthusiasm, or the rapid-fire way he plays, not only the fiddle, but the acoustic and electric guitar. And every time he’s on stage, he’s constantly moving and interacting with the crowd.

“I found out very early on that what I wanted to be was an entertainer, as opposed to just being a musician,” he says. “So, I’m doing what I love to do.”

As much as he loves to entertain, Daniels also enjoys giving back. In 1974, he started his Volunteer Jam shows where he’d invite other artists to perform to raise money for different causes. He supports a number of charities and is deeply committed to helping America’s veterans. He’s traveled overseas numerous times to perform for the troops.

“I’ve played for them on bases in this country, overseas, on ships at sea, in Greenland, and Cuba, all over the place. And the main reason is to let them know somebody cares. I always start the shows out by saying ‘I bring you greetings from the United States of America.’”

He’s seen the impact it can have to show up in some of those remote places, even beyond the bigger bases where they’d perform.

“When we were in Iraq, we’d fly out on a helicopter, take a couple of acoustical instruments and do a show. You talk about isolation; it might just be a few people and they’re surrounded by hostility.”

They were always so grateful. “They’d say, ‘I can’t believe y’all came out here,’” he recalls.

Daniels is dedicating to showing that same support when they come home.

Performing at MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University)

78 DeSoto

Charlie Daniels at Veteran Impact Celebration at MTSU Presenting Check

In 2014, he and his manager, David Corlew, created the non-profit Journey Home Project. It funds a number of veteran initiatives, including the Daniels Center on campus of Middle Tennessee State University near Nashville. The center helps veterans (and their families) finish their education, find work, and adjust to civilian life. MTSU currently has an average of 1,100 student veterans, and Daniels says he’d like to see these types of centers, where vets can help each other as they transition, at other schools.

“People who’ve served in the military have some things in common the rest of us do not,” Daniels explains. “As a musician, people always ask me to tell road stories and I can’t remember any until I get around Marshall Tucker or Lynyrd Skynyrd or some of the guys I’ve toured with over the years. Although their situation (referring to veterans) is much more serious, I kind of liken it to that, because you tend to open up when you’re around your own kind. This is a place for them to do that.”

Daniels’ desire to help vets and others in need comes from his strong Christian faith.

“The Bible says ‘to him who much is given, much is required.’ And I have been given so much.”

His music career has gone far beyond anything he ever dreamed.

“I never imagined I’d go all over the world, play every state in the Union, and become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame,” he says. “I had no idea. I can never give back a fraction of what I’ve been given.”

Pam Windsor is a freelance writer from Nashville, Tennessee.

DeSoto 79

in good spirits | BOURBON BALL COCKTAIL

80 DeSoto

Bourbon Ball Cocktail

By Cheré Coen | Photography courtesy of Four Roses

Cheers to Christmases past with a perfectly balanced cocktail.

When I was a child, my family and I moved from the Gulf Coast to the rolling bluegrass hills of Louisville, Kentucky, where for the first time I witnessed the glorious changing of leaf colors and snow falling from the sky and the unique crunch it made when your boots hit the first accumulation. They didn’t celebrate Mardi Gras in Louisville — wasn’t sure they knew what it was — but here were fascinating hard objects protruding from the ground called rocks and horses that raced in the spring.

In high school, I toured my first bourbon distillery, learning the process of fermenting mash from grain, yeast and water that ultimately turns into a delicious alcohol. We took home a used oak barrel for a planter, its distinct smell permeating the back patio as the barrel sweated in the sun.

We later moved to South Florida, then the East Coast, and later I returned home to attend college and found myself near the Gulf of Mexico once more. But, the traditions we experienced in Louisville stayed with us. We watch the Kentucky Derby every May, singing “My Ole Kentucky Home” before the running. Bourbon reigns supreme in our household. And we serve bourbon balls every holiday season.

When we lived in Kentucky, we would purchase bourbon balls beginning with Thanksgiving and extending them into the New Year. The crusty chocolate outer layer with the liquid alcohol pouring out when the perimeter was punctured is a treasured memory. That biting taste of bourbon would mingle on our tongue with the rich chocolate and linger long after the candy was swallowed.

I learned to make my own bourbon balls at the holidays, using a recipe from the Joy of Cooking. Vanilla wafers are crushed and combined with bourbon and other ingredients, then rolled through melted chocolate and refrigerated for a tasty treat. No outer layer to bite into, but still oh so delicious.

Imagine my delight finding a bourbon ball cocktail, something creamy and chocolaty with a splash of Kentucky’s Four Roses bourbon.

“The bourbon ball cocktail is a perfectly balanced cocktail to handcraft for the holidays and can be easily batched for a holiday gathering,” said Lauren Burdette, senior manager of public relations for Bandy Carroll Hellige, who represents Four Roses.

The distillery dating back to 1888 remains the only one that combines five proprietary yeast strains with two separate mash bills, Burdette explained, producing 10 different bourbon recipes. The bourbons are then combined to create the distillery’s small-batch bourbons, aged a minimum of six years and selected by Master Distiller Brent Elliott, a native of Owensboro, Kentucky.

The following is Elliott’s recipe, utilizing Four Roses Small Batch bourbon.

Four Roses Bourbon Ball

1 1/2-ounces Four Roses Small Batch 3/4-ounce Frangelico 1/2-ounce Crème de Cacao 1/2-ounce cream Chocolate, shaved Strawberry slice Directions: Place the first four ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake then strain into a Rocks glass, then garnish with shaved chocolate and the strawberry slice.

Cheré Coen has deep Mississippi and New Orleans roots, but the food and travel writer now lives in Cajun Country. She is the author of “Exploring Cajun Country” and Southern-based novels under the pen name of Cherie Claire.

DeSoto 81

exploring events | NOVEMBER

Holiday Open Houses November 1 - 3 Columbus, MS November 3 Aberdeen, MS November 7 - 9 Corinth, MS Greenwood, MS November 9 Senatobia, MS Water Valley, MS

Book of Mormon November 5 - 10 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN Winner! 9 Tony Awards including best musical. For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000.

Night Life for Methodist Hospice presents Caroline Jones November 7 Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN 7:30pm For more information call 901-516-0500 or visit methodisthealth.org/nightlife.

November 9 - 10 Hernando, MS November 10 Cleveland, MS New Albany, MS November 14 Tunica, MS November 17 Batesville, MS Vicksburg, MS November 19 Holly Springs, MS November 24 Tupelo, MS Pontotoc, MS

Mississippi Museum of Art presents Nick Cave: FEAT. Through February 16 Mississippi Museum of Art Jackson, MS Exhibition of 17 works examining the artist’s socially engaged practice. The survey of Nick Cave’s (b. 1959) work includes sculpture, video, and installations providing visitors with a range of immersive interactions with color and sound that bring to light issues of our times.

For more information visit msmuseumart.org or call 601-960-1515.

Walk and Run for Wishes November 2 Snowden Grove Park Southaven, MS Walk For Wishes® is a nationwide Make-A-Wish® fundraiser that celebrates the more than 315,000 wishes that have already been granted, while raising funds for future wishes. It’s a family-friendly event powered by wish families, volunteers, companies, donors and friends.

Registration 9:00am; event start time 10:00am.

For more information call 901-692-9513 or email thartman@midsouth.wish.org.

82 DeSoto

Dickens of a Christmas November 9 Hernando Square Hernando, MS Come enjoy vendors and crafters with Christmas wares, carriage rides, mailbox swag decorating and much more! For more information call 662-429-9092 or visit cityofhernando.org.

42nd Annual Hernando Christmas Open House November 9-10 Shops around Hernando Courthouse Square Hernando, MS Shop participating businesses in and around Hernando.

Sunday is official Open House, however, Saturday is preview day for some businesses. Pictures with Santa will available for purchase on Sunday. For more information, visit hernandoms.org or call 662-429-9055.

Helen Brett Jewelry & Accessories Fair November 9 - 10 Agricenter Interantional Memphis, TN Helen Brett trade shows attract more than 15,000 buyers and vendors to the Memphis market from across the South each year. Helen Brett Enterprises officials expect the attendance to increase with the new location and the amazing deals taking place inside. For more information visit helenbrettexhibits.com/1907-memphis/.

15th Annual Harbor Town Dog Show November 10 Harbor Town Nursery Park Downtown Memphis, TN Noon ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ Harbor Town Dog Day benefiting the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County is the pet event of the season featuring a half time show, vendors, games, VIP tent, and DJ. For more information call 901-578-3566, email pammackey@icloud.com or visit harbortowndogshow.com.

3nd Annual Hernando Veterans Parade November 11 Hernando Courthouse Square Hernando, MS 10:00am Lest we forget what our veterans have done for us, help us publicly offer our thanks, respect and admiration by attending the parade, The parade will kick off at 10:00am in downtown Hernando, from the tracks and around the square. There will be a luncheon for the Veterans and their families at the National Guard Armory on McCracken Street following the Parade.

For more information call 901-634-1548.

18th Annual Veteran’s Appreciation Luncheon November 11 The Indoor Volleyball Arena Southaven, MS 11:00am In observance of Veteran’s Day, the Mayor’s office and the City of Southaven will host an annual Appreciation Luncheon in honor of military veterans from all branches.

There will be a memorabilia table set up for exhibiting pictures and awards, so bring mementos if you wish.

Make reservations early by calling the Mayor’s Office at Southaven City Hall. Cost is free for veterans and $10 for guests. For more information, call 662-280-2489 or visit southaven.org.

Tedeschi Trucks Band November 11 Bologna Performing Arts Center Cleveland, MS 7:30pm For more information visit bolognapac.com or call 662-846-4625.

Olive Branch Arts Council Presents Arts Palette & Pizzazz November 21 Painted Pigeon Art Gallery Olive Branch, MS 6:00pm - 8:00pm Silent auction, raffle, art exhibit featuring local artists plus wine and cheese reception. For more information call 901-619-0261.

Methodist Healthcare Luncheon featuring Andie MacDowell November 22 Peabody Hotel Memphis, TN 11:45am All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the faithbased, healing mission of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. For more information and tickets visit methodisthealth.org/luncheon or call 901-516-0500.

Merry Christmas Tree Farm & Gift Shop November 25 - December 24 Nesbit, MS Merry Christmas Tree Farm is the number one tree farm in the Mid-South, with a huge selection of Christmas trees in a variety of sizes. Take a free hayride into the tree farm during the holidays and choose and cut your favorite tree or it can be cut for you. Pre-cut trees and wreaths are also available. Open through December 24 or until inventory is depleted. For more information call 662-429-9462 or visit merrychristmastreefarm.com.

Cedar Hill Farm Christmas Tree Farm November 29 - December 23 Cedar Hill Farm Hernando, MS During the Christmas season, Cedar Hill Farm will be open for families to choose and cut their Christmas tree right from the farm. Take a hayride out to the back forty and pick out the perfect tree. Also, pre-cut Fraser Firs.

There is no admission to the farm during Christmas! You just pay for your tree. Tree prices are $9.00/ft for Cypress and $10.00/ft for Blue Ice. Prices vary based on height for pre-cut shipped in Fraser Firs. For more information, visit gocedarhillfarm.com call 662-429-2540.

19th Annual Southern Lights November 29 - December 31 Central Park Southaven, MS Drive through the 116-acre park with 500,000 twinkling lights. Cars can tune to five FM radio stations playing Christmas music as they ride through the park. Don’t miss the Christmas Tree Farm synchronized to music by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Proceeds benefit local charities.

Admission: cars $10, vans & hay rides $15, buses $25 and motorcycles $5. Weekdays dark- 9:00pm & weekends dark10:00pm; closed Christmas Day. For more information, visit southaven.org or call 662-280-2489.

DeSoto Arts Council presents Red Door Market November 30 - December 1 National Guard Armory Hernando, MS Handcrafted holiday gifts! Free admission, Saturday, 10:00-5:00pm; Sunday, Noon - 4:00pm.

For more information visit desotoarts.com or call 662-404-3361.

DeSoto 83

reflections | GEARING UP FOR CHRISTMAS

Gearing Up for Christmas

By Deborah Burst

Yep, those holiday decorations come out earlier every year. Just as we get through the last stream of hurricanes, Santa and his jolly elves start their merrymaking. This year, I walked into a dollar store to replenish my hurricane supplies and found three aisles of Christmas decorations. Halloween doesn’t even have a chance!

I’m one of those holiday fanatics. I start listening to Christmas music in mid-November as a birthday present to myself. And like most folks, I have some interesting holiday memories.

There’s the time when I was a child Santa landed on my roof and his sleigh bells woke me up. Then, another year I know he got my Christmas list because he read it over the radio although he did seem a bit perturbed. I was thorough, a twopage list with pages from the Sears Roebuck catalog attached, toys circled. He muttered something about a 30-minute show.

The secret to believing is patience – and making sure all your friends and relatives get a copy of your Christmas list.

For 20 years, my top holiday requests were snow on Christmas (2004), and the Saints winning the Super Bowl (2009). Santa and his elves must have worked overtime on those two miracles.

Of course, there’s always the annual Christmas cursing, with all the decorating, shopping, and hunting down the perfect tree. The entire family sets out in a festive mood, dad armed with his pocketknife, work gloves and earplugs (just kidding, although it may explain some blank stares). Dad and 84 DeSoto

junior just stand there while mom and sissy beg for a look at 10-foot trees, all neatly coiled with enough twine to reach the North Pole and back.

Finally, the tree is secured on top of the car. Then, the screams begin that the tree is falling off. After a stop or two to redo the twine, we’re finally home. Now this is the part the men love the most: the sweet sound of the chainsaw humming.

Then the branches go flying as he yells, “Better seek cover, babe!”

And our nine-foot tree is now a six-footer.

I firmly believe in Christmas gnomes. Why is it the lights work fine while weaving and tossing them around the tree, and then the next day, after all the ornaments are up, half of the tree is dark?

I’ve talked with others and we all agree the Christmas cursing is just another tradition. And some have it worse than others, like Chevy Chase’s fictional character Clark Griswold.

So, sit back, sip a little libation and watch the movie “Christmas Vacation.” And remember, everyone has a cousin Eddie in his or her family. That’s another story: family get-togethers. We’ll tackle that one next year.

Deborah Burst lives in Mandeville, Louisiana, where she is an author, freelance writer and photographer. Her Christmas lists are much shorter now, but Santa may have to work overtime for this year’s single request: a month-long excursion across Europe

The holidays go by even faster in a Supra.

2020 Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium in Phantom Matte Gray

CHUCK HUT TON TOYOTA

Our goal is to provide all customers from Memphis and north Mississippi the best in new Toyota models, quality used vehicles, exceptional auto repair and car service, and high-end OEM car parts.

Because we are the only locally owned car dealership in Memphis, our mission is to always treat our customers and community with the care and respect that they deserve. When you are ready to purchase a new vehicle or have your own serviced, look no further than Chuck Hutton Toyota, a family-owned dealership committed to our community.

901-345-3200

I-55 AND SHELBY DRIVE C H U C K H U TTO NTO Y O TA.C O M