Green Country Living — Fall Edition 2020

Fall Edition 2020

In s i de sto ries

Gallery features community pics of dogs, cats, other pets Local, area residents showcase beautiful dream homes

Bacone College new art director shares native artwork, past work Club Lunch owner expresses culinary vision, passion

MUSKOGEE muskogeephoenix.com

2

Fall Edition 2020

Green Country Living

3

6

26 facebook.com/greencountryliving

34

16 42 50 68

Featured Homes

Inside

6 Moore

50 Art of the Matter

Moore’s dream of living in a red barn realized with metal home.

16

Buchanan Family builds home on site of previous home lost to fire.

26 Simmons Couple’s second Eufaula Lake home tailored towards play.

34 Smith Smith decorates home in blend of old and new styles.

42 Maravich Homeowner designed home around living comfortably.

4

Fall Edition 2020

Publisher Ed Choate Editor Elizabeth Ridenour

Contributing editor Angela Jackson Layout & Design Josh Cagle WRITERS Cathy Spaulding, Melony Carey, Heather Ezell PHOTOGRAPHERS Mandy Corbell, Cathy Spaulding, Ronn Rowland ADVERTISING Director Marci Diaz Apple ADVERTISING SALES Angela Jackson, Therese Lewis, Krysta Aich, Kris Hight Green Country Living is published by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Green Country Living, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee OK 74402. email eridenour@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2929 Advertising and distribution: (918) 684-2804

On the Cover

Fall Edition 2020

Director of Bacone Art program shares work, experience.

Chloe, top, and Lilee, bottom, peek out of their playhouse while their grandmother, Gayle Moore, stands by.

56 Cook’s Pantry Davis takes helm of iconic Club Lunch downtown.

62 Wonderful Wine Discover pairing possibilities with COVID-19 pandemic.

68 Pet Gallery Readers show off pets in Community Pet Showcase.

73 Scene & Be Seen Chat, hang out, relax and smile because you’re on camera.

Fall Edition 2020 Issue 57

Photo by Mandy Corbell In s Ide sto rIes

Gallery features community pics of dogs, cats, other pets Local, area residents showcase beautiful dream homes

Bacone College new art director shares native artwork, past work Club Lunch owner expresses culinary vision, passion

MUSKOGEE muskogeephoenix.com

Green Country Living

5

Fe at u r e d Hom e Moore

6

Fall Edition 2020

A little red barn house fulfills Gayle Moore’s dream. She said she saw a red barn on Taft Road and dreamed of living in one.

Red & white

dream Moore hires builder to realize metal barn home

G

ayle Moore sketching house plans while once living on a five-acre place dreamed of west of Muskogee. living in a “And over the years, as red barn. the kids grew, the house got “If you notice coming smaller,” she said. down Taft Road, there’s a Moore made that dream barn on the way,” Moore come true about a year said. “All these years, I ago. She said a friend recthought that would make a ommended builder Randy great house.”

Garroute, who specializes in She kept on dreaming metal homes. He built her for 25 years. She recalled that red barn house.

By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell

Green Country Living

7

Fe at u r e d Hom e Moore

Foundations from an old mobile home form a sidewalk leading right toward Chloe’s and Lilee’s playhouse.

8

Fall Edition 2020

ABOVE: A mansard roof makes Gayle Moore’s house look especially like a red barn.

LEFT: Chloe, top, and Lilee, bottom, peek out of their playhouse while their grandmother, Gayle Moore, stands by.

“It took two-and-a-half to three months to build it,” she said. “Randy built the house and framed out the rooms, and I was the general contractor in charge. I hired all the subcontractors, great guys.”

Moore retired from owning a custodial service that served homes and businesses.

She unloaded lots of excess furniture and things as she downsized from a 2,400-square-foot house to a 1,200-square-foot house. It has one bedroom, one bathroom, a laundry room,

an upstairs loft and a cubby space for an office.

An open kitchen and living room share the main area, where the ceiling reaches 21 feet.

“And I love all these windows, because we can see the squirrels and the rabbits,” she said.

With windows surrounding the kitchen and living area, Moore doesn’t use much artificial light.

“I sit here at night with the candlelights

on,” she said.

She said she’s cut energy bills.

“This house is all electric, My electric bill this summer was only a quarter of what I would pay in my previous house,” she said.

A cushiony couch, a recliner and big screen TV make the spacious living room seem cozy. A wood-burning stove in a corner is set on tile.

“One of the fire captains, he owns Chimney Sweeps of Muskogee,” Moore

Green Country Living

9

Fe at u r e d Hom e Moore Gayle Moore packs plenty of living into her 1,200-square-foot house.

A cozy corner offers a place to hang and store items.

ABOVE: Gayle Moore has a few toy-sized versions of the red truck of her dreams.

LEFT: An indoor dollhouse features its own little red truck.

10

Fall Edition 2020

An island counter surrounded by stools is all the dining area Gayle Moore needs.

said. “He installed the floor and installed my stove, and he does it by the book. Don’t want any fires.”

Vintage red truck pictures and models can be found throughout the house.

She said the one thing she needs now is a red truck for her driveway.

“I remember when I was growing up, he had a red Ford pickup that he used to call his peanut truck, because I was his peanut,” she said of her father. “I watch the Hallmark Channel all the time, and in their Christmas movies, they always have that red truck with the Christmas tree in the back. I can just see myself with the girls driving into town.”

She ordered industrial-style bare bulb light fixtures online.

Moore does not have a designated dining room. Three stools cozy up to the kitchen island.

“I have such a small family, just the five of us, so I just have the island,” she said.

Moore’s son and her two granddaughters, Chloe and Lilee, live within walking distance.

Green Country Living

11

Fe at u r e d Hom e Moore

The kitchen offers ample counter space.

A standalone tub adds luxury to the Moore home.

12

Fall Edition 2020

The bathroom features lots of storage.

Wood stairs go up to the loft.

Gayle Moore’s house has a spacious office.

A quilt adds a homey touch to Gayle Moore’s bedroom.

A small house features room to wash, dry and hang clothes.

“I like to do a lot of crafts,” Moore said.

“I like to bake and I like to cook. My little granddaughters — I’m teaching them how to cook.

The kitchen appears small, but packs plenty of cooking space. It has a lazy Susan cabinet in one corner.

“Around the corner in the hallway is my pantry,” she said.

A kitchen island has a quartz countertop, and the rest of her kitchen has laminate counters. The whole first story has a laminate floor resembling wood.

“I was just trying to cut costs so I could splurge on the things that I really wanted,” she said.

One splurge item was sliding barn door — what barn is complete without one — off her living area.

The bathroom has another one of her splurge items, a standalone ceramic bathtub.

“I just wanted a spa-like bathroom,” she said, adding that she savors her tub time every day.

The bathroom has a separate shower

and a tile floor. The sink has a marble countertop.

The first year I moved in, I thought it would be so neat if it snowed,” she said.

Sure enough, it did snow, and Moore got a photo of her red house in the snow.

Her bedroom has space for a luxurious sleigh bed.

Moore keeps a tiny office just off the living room. A nook for a filing cabinet and printer is behind her compact desk.

“They put electricity in there so I can have my printers,” she said.

Green Country Living

13

Fe at u r e d Hom e Moore

Chloe, left, and Lilee have a special loft all to themselves.

Wood stairs lead to the loft. Moore said she stained each step.

“It took me one Friday night” to do it, she said.

A Peanuts doll sits on each step.

The loft offers lots of play space for Moore’s two granddaughters. Chloe and Lilee keep a dollhouse, daybed and a play table there. But the girls have room to grow

14

Fall Edition 2020

up there over the years.

“It can be a bedroom one day,” Moore said. “Or an office. We can turn the office into a bedroom.”

A storage attic surrounds the loft. It stores her hot water tank and seasonal decorations.

Outside, Moore keeps a container garden. The concrete footprint from her old mobile home form sidewalks leading to the

girls she shed, which is the same red color as Moore’s house.

“All these green plants are from my old house, and I saved them,” she said. Her flowers include day lilies, vinca and lavender.

Moore said she loves working outside.

“I have a zero-turn lawnmower, and I do the edging,” she said. “I have a Gator out there and a four-wheeler.”

FORT GIBSON

Oklahoma’s O l d e s t To w n

Green Country Living

15

Fe at u r e d Hom e Buch a n a n

The Glenn and Joyce Buchanan home offers plenty of outdoor space west of Muskogee.

16

Fall Edition 2020

Built

for the

Buchanan rebuilds home following fire

J

oyce Buchanan values space in life.

She has plenty of it outside. She and her husband Glenn Buchanan live on two-anda-half acres, in far west Muskogee.

“I love it out here,” she said. “I know mostly all my neighbors.”

Buchanan said she loves sitting on her front porch,

where she sometimes watches a family of deer come by.

“I have a pear tree outside, and they eat up all of my pears,” she said. “A whole family of them. You walk up to them, they don’t even run.”

The Buchanans restored and moved into a 100-yearold house west of Muskogee eight years ago.

By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell

Green Country Living

17

Fe at u r e d Hom e Buch a n a n

Joyce Buchanan savors the comfort and space she has in her new home. It was built after a previous home burned down.

“One night, early in the morning we had just buried my mom, and the next morning, my house burned down,” Buchanan said. “Because they couldn’t get water at the end of the corner, at the top of the cemetery, it just burned to the ground.”

The Buchanan’s chose Muskogee builder Louis Slape to build a new 2,400-square-foot house on the same property. Buchanan said her family stayed in a hotel for 10 months while the house was being built.

18

Fall Edition 2020

“

It’s handicapped accessible, in and out, even outside.

”

— Joyce Buchanan

She said Slape built a home to suit their needs and wants.

“I really liked him,” Buchanan said.

“In the living rooms, he did the ceilings higher.”

She also values the space inside her

home.

“It’s handicapped accessible, in and out, even outside,” Buchanan said. “And I like it because it’s beautiful, and it’s quiet.”

Buchanan had a debilitating stroke in December 2017 which paralyzed her left her left side and closed her left hand up.

She said she works with a physical therapist to regain her mobility. Before her stroke she worked 25 years for Independent Opportunities, helping people with physical and developmental disabilities.

Her husband works there.

The Buchanan living room must seem like the Great Plains for a Chihuahua.

Arched hallways are wide.

High ceilings in the dining area allow space to show fine art.

Green Country Living

19

Fe at u r e d Hom e Buch a n a n

ABOVE: The kitchen features stainless steel appliances and white cabinetry.

LEFT: A step-in pantry offers lots of storage space for food.

20

Fall Edition 2020

A walk-in closet has space for a wheelchair.

The extrawide shower features a grab bar and a bench.

She now uses a wheelchair or electric scooter to get around. The home features many amenities to accommodate them.

Front and back doors, as well as doors to the master bedroom, are at least 36 inches wide.

“The doorways are wide, and we don’t put a whole bunch of bulky furniture around,” she said.

Bedroom ceilings are 10 feet high, while the living room ceiling is 12 to 14 feet higher, she said.

The house has three bedrooms and two full baths.

Light gray walls throughout the house make the rooms seem even more spacious. Buchanan said the color is called “Uncertain Gray.”

Porcelain floor tile, which resembles

comforts “I ofhavehomeall inthehere. ” — Joyce Buchanan

BELOW: The master bathroom and closet were built to accommodate people in wheelchairs.

wood planks, can be found throughout the house. Buchanan said the floor is like strong glass.

“With dogs and children, it will last forever,” she said.

The Buchanans have all new furniture, mostly with items from Bob Loftis Furniture and Furniture Factory Outlet.

The master bedroom features a bed with a padded gray headboard.

A padded bench at the foot of the bed features a shelf for all of Buchanan’s shoes.

“I love the bench, where you can put your shoes on,” she said.

Buchanan spends a lot of time in a lush recliner. The bedroom also features a 60-inch TV. “I have all the comforts of home in here,” she said. “I have another chair like this in the living room, when we have company, and I sit down there.”

The bathroom features a walk-in shower with white walls and a bench. A walk-in closet has an extra wide door and space to turn in a wheelchair. Another

Green Country Living

21

Fe at u r e d Hom e Buch a n a n

The master bedroom has handy storage space for shoes, a lift chair and wide, open floor space.

22

Fall Edition 2020

A wide laundry room offers space to move around.

BELOW: A second bathroom features a bathtub, plus hisand-her sinks.

feature is his-and-her sinks.

The open kitchen, dining and living room area offers even more space.

Buchanan’s kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and backsplash.

The white cabinets are easily accessible. A kitchen island has a raised counter for serving food.

A step-in pantry across the breakfast area features deep shelves.

Brooms and a water heater are in another closet.

A four-chair wood dining set and matching wine hutch came from Furniture Factory Outlet.

A plush nubuck-like sofa and love seat came from Bob Loftis Furniture. A bass guitar Glenn Buchanan sometimes plays at St. Paul Baptist Church is in a corner.

Two other bedrooms and another bathroom are on the other side of the house. The bathroom has hisand-her sinks and a bathtub.

The bedrooms also feature the

Green Country Living

23

Fe at u r e d Hom e Buch a n a n

The Buchanan front porch offers a place for inspiring mornings and quiet evenings.

The master bathroom and adjacent walk-in closet have plenty of space for a wheelchair.

24

Fall Edition 2020

porcelain floors and Uncertain Gray walls.

A laundry room with cabinets leads into the garage.

Buchanan’s stepdaughter, Nicole, and Nicole’s children are staying with them.

“They had a fire at their house,” Buchanan said. “While their house is being restored, they’re staying here with us.”

A backyard features an aboveground pool.

The Buchanans also have two Chihuahuas, Bella and Zoe, as well as a chow, Orry.

She said her faith, her children and her grandchildren help carry her through adversity.

BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD When the storm clears, we will gather again. To hugs, to play, to laughter.

Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Resort Collection hotels and spas will be here to welcome you. Stay safe. rtjgolf.com

Green Country Living

25

Fe at u r e d Hom e Simmons

A place to play Couple builds homes overlooking Lake Eufaula

D

ave and Angela Simmons have two homes overlooking the northern waters of Lake Eufaula — one where they live and one where they play.

Dave Simmons said he and his wife were living in Oklahoma City and seeking a place to retire. They studied a lot of lakes before settling on Eufaula.

They spent two years looking for just the right Lake Eufaula property until they found a sloping wilderness south of Texanna Road.

They bought 120 acres, then added 60 acres.

“It was complete forest when we started,” he said.

“There were no roads, nothing. All the roads you came in on were something we built ourselves.

By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell

26

Fall Edition 2020

A lofty porch at Dave Simmons’ Lake Eufaula home offers a spectacular view of its vaulted ceiling, as well as views of the lake.

Read more about it

Read about Dave and Angie Simmons’ other Lake Eufaula home in the Winter 2020 Green Country Living.

Winter Edition 2020

In s Ide storIes

Builders’ skills, creativity , attention to detail put on display

Owners team up with area builders to build dream homes

Home for sale ideal for entertaining guests

Local journaler uses art as method of therapy

Ezell offers methods to keep fitness motivation going

MUSKOGEE muskogeephoenix.com

Green Country Living

27

Fe at u r e d Hom e Simmons

Dave Simmons’ place on Lake Eufaula features a broad bar for meals and drinks.

One thing the property did offer was a place on the water, he said.

Simmons, who is in the oil business, built the play house first, about two years ago.

“I like to entertain and I wanted a place for people to come to,” he said. “It just started out something simple and as we built through it.”

He said he worked with Muskogee builder Mike Williams.

“It was built with no real floor plan, no real strategy, just day by day, we tried to

28

Fall Edition 2020

to entertain and “II like wanted a place for people to come to. ” — Dave Simmons

figure it out,” Simmons said. “I had an idea on how I wanted it to look — what goes here and what goes there — it was all piece by piece.”

The finished building is 100 feet by 60 feet. Half is an entertainment area and half is a shop area.

The entertainment area goes up two stories.

A bar stretches across his first floor entertainment area. A 1961 Glasspar boat, surrounded by stools, sticks out the middle. The bow is wide and flat enough to be its own bar. Simmons said he wanted something unique.

“I drove around town looking for a boat. I found this one back in the weeds,”

Visitors can relax by a breezy Lake Eufaula Cove.

A dock leads out into the cove.

Green Country Living

29

Fe at u r e d Hom e Simmons A 1961 Glasspar boat finds new life as a serving area.

Dave Simmons’ bar features a stainless steel commercial stove and a vent hood made from a whiskey barrel.

Windows offer a panorama of Lake Eufaula.

Simmons said. “I drug it out, pulled it up here and paid 100 bucks for it. “ Casino chairs converted into barstools line the bar’s wood counter.

Visitors can plant their feet on railroad rails, supported by old ties. Simmons said one of his friends on the railroad found them. One of the ties says 1905, another says 1910, another says 1890.

Simmons does a lot of cooking and

30

Fall Edition 2020

food prep behind the bar.

When you had guests over, we used to cook outside and brought the food in,” Simmons said. “I want to be cooking while you’re sitting there enjoying it with me.”

He cooks with a stainless steel commercial stove with a double oven, flat iron burner and griddle.

“I can cook up a mean mess of food

on that thing, I guarantee,” he said.

“Breakfast more than anything. Definitely breakfast. I can do a stir-fry rice deal, I can do fish. I like catfish.”

Simmons said Williams built the vent hood out of an old Jack Daniels whiskey barrel.

The building has a walk-in pantry.

The Simmons stayed in a first floor master bedroom with a walk-in closet

ABOVE: A stage invites karaoke singers and musicians to out do the cowpoke frog.

RIGHT: The front space features a cozy sitting area.

while their current home was being built.

Large windows look out onto the lake, and a patio stretches across the lake side of the building. Lake Eufaula Dam, about seven miles east, can be seen from the patio and east windows.

“The lake has been awesome this year,” he said. “The water’s clear as it’s been in a lot of years.”

One corner of the entertainment

area features a cozy conversation area, couches and chairs surrounding a rug.

The opposite corner has a karaoke stage.

A concrete floor big enough for dancing takes up the rest of the entertainment area. Simmons plans to put a pool table and a shuffleboard table in the space.

Steel electric conduit rods support the thick wood square bannister leading up to the second floor, where the Simmons

like to keep their guests.

A balcony overlooks all the first-floor fun. The second floor also has space for Simmons’ office, as well as two bedrooms.

One second-floor bedroom has nooks for children’s sleeping spaces.

“For parents who have little kids, this is usually where we put them,” he said.

The fun house also has separate men’s and women’s restrooms. One has a deep

Green Country Living

31

Fe at u r e d Hom e Simmons A downstairs bathroom features a long shower with blue tile.

ABOVE: A master bedroom features a master bath and a view of nature.

RIGHT: Visitors can stay in one of two bedrooms.

32

Fall Edition 2020

A bathroom features a shower with a bench.

A garage wall displays signs, posters, flags, car hoods, even an eerie ghost.

walk-in shower.

Simmons calls the two-story shop his “playground.” It also goes up two stories.

“I work on stuff, build stuff,” he said. “I do carpentry work, I work on my ATVs, tractors, lawn tractors.”

Simmons keeps his playground tidy. Labeled storage boxes, folding chairs and other equipment are piled high on wooden shelves. He has two slide-out storage racks for fishing rods.

Each tool has its place hanging on a wall. Several American flags, plus large posters for alcoholic beverages and the Sturgis ABOVE: The garage features plenty of space for fourwheelers, cycles, boats or other craft.

LEFT: Dave Simmons keeps things tidily in their places inside his garage and workroom. One features is slideout fishing rod holders.

I do carpentry “work, I work on

my ATVs, tractors, lawn tractors.

”

— Dave Simmons

Motorcycle Rally hang high on one wall.

Such tidiness leaves plenty of floorspace for four-wheelers, ATVs, tractors and boats. They also play pingpong and cornhole back there.

A big-screen TV rolls down so he can watch sports.

Outside, a short walk leads to the Simmons’ boat dock. A quiet cove leads to the larger lake area. He said the cove has some stumps, but nothing he can’t navigate around.

“It’s been an awesome place,” he said. “It’s fun that I get to share my entertainment area.”

Green Country Living

33

Fe at u r e d Hom e Smit h

34

Fall Edition 2020

A blend of

old and new Smith decorates Country Club home in amalgam of styles

W

illiam and Alyssa Smith found the right house at the right time while driving through the Country Club area.

“It just fell into our hands,” William Smith said. “We were renting over there on Jefferson

and we were in the neighborhood one day and saw it. We called the real estate agent. She met us here that day, and that evening, the house was ours.”

The Smiths have lived in the house for about a year with their two children, Kaylynn and Aiden, and their two German shepherds, Betsy and Bella.

By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell

Green Country Living

35

Fe at u r e d Hom e Smit h

William and Alyssa Smith join their children, Kaylynn and Aiden, by their front living room fireplace. They have lived in the home for about a year.

36

Fall Edition 2020

Warm autumn colors welcome visitors to the Smith’s house.

Decorative items including a clock, cross, lamp and plants accent the Smith’s entry hall.

A cushy sectional, paneling, and seasonal plants add a touch of comfort to the front living room.

The house was built in 1989 and still has such late-century touches as tray ceilings and built-in bookshelves and a white tile floor throughout the house. Most of the family furniture complemented the house’s style.

Alyssa Smith said she did most of the decorating. She said she dreams of having an interior decorating business. Her style blends old and new.

“I’m more of a modern style,” she said. “But, of course, I like vintage as

well.”

Alyssa said she loves how open the house is, especially with double living areas.

Deep brown paneling accents the Smiths’ front living area, which features a gas fireplace. Alyssa said she and her husband like to watch TV in the front area.

They keep a roll-top desk, which belonged to Alyssa’s great-grandmother, in the front living room. It is one of several heirlooms scattered through the

house.

The back living area features deep red curtains, part of Alyssa’s decorating scheme.

“The kids have kind of taken over this room,” Alyssa said. “This has kind of transitioned into kind of like a cozy little room.”

The kitchen features a wide passthrough area to an informal dining area.

The kitchen’s tile backsplash and white cabinets came with the house.

Green Country Living

37

Fe at u r e d Hom e Smit h

A new counter adds a wave of color to the white kitchen cabinets and tile floor.

BELOW: The Smiths use the formal dining room for holidays and other special occasions.

An iron and glass dining set adds a patiolike informality to one of two dining areas.

The Smiths updated the kitchen by installing new lighting above the sink.

They also laid new stained butcher block countertops themselves.

William put a glass on the kitchen counter to show why he wanted stained tops. No wet residue could be seen.

“On natural butcher block, you’d leave a circle if you left it untreated,” he said.

The kitchen sink and appliances are all new. William said the sink is like one found in a bar.

38

Fall Edition 2020

“It has a disposal that gives it more power to chop up anything you want,” he said.

The Smith’s have most of their meals in an informal dining area, which features a wrought iron patio-style dining set.

William said a wood hutch in the corner was built by his great-great-grandfather in the 1800s. He said it was built in Kentucky.

“He built it for my

great-great-grandmother,” he said. “That was his wedding present for her.”

A more formal dining area is on the other side of the kitchen. Alyssa said she loves that room most of all.

“I inherited the dining table and the china hutch from my grandmother,” she said.

A built-in hutch in the formal dining area displays the Smiths’ brass and silver sets.

“They all came from my grandmother

The formal master bedroom includes bedding for the Smith’s German shepherds.

The master bath features a glass vessel sink and a whirlpool bath.

and great-grandparents,” she said.

The Smiths use the formal dining area for special occasions, such as family gatherings and holidays. Alyssa said about 10 to 15 people visit. “ E ve r yo n e c o m e s h e re because we have a more open area,” he said.

William and Alyssa have their master bedroom on one side of the house. Betsy and Bella have beds at the foot of the Smith’s dark wood sleigh bed. A ceiling fan hangs from the deep tray ceiling.

Everyone comes “ here because we have a more open area. ” — William Smith

A hardwood floor and built-in bookcase accent the master bedroom, which also features some vintage furnishings.

“I really do a lot of secondhand shopping, thrift stores, trading posts,” Alyssa said. “I just find pieces.”

The Smiths updated their master bath to give it a more elegant, vintage look.

In the master bath, the whirlpool tub features broad shelves for candles. Copper trim surrounding the top of the tub is one of the new touches.

“There used to be blue tile from the ‘80s,” Alyssa said. “We

Green Country Living

39

Fe at u r e d Hom e Smit h

The front porch features an intimate settee.

ABOVE: The Smith’s back living area features a comfy place to watch TV.

RIGHT: The Smith’s backyard features places to run, eat, sit or simply smell the flowers.

Alyssa Smith calls this corner pond and swing her happy place.

40

Fall Edition 2020

took it out and put the backsplash in there.”

The brown glass vessel sink on the laminate countertop looks almost like aged bronze.

The children’s rooms and bathroom are on the other side.

Aiden’s room has an arcade basketball goal. His bed has drawers under the mattress. He has all sorts of superhero posters on his wall.

Kaylynn’s room has a wall of built-in shelves. A padded headboard was spotted on Facebook Marketplace.

The Smiths are continuing to work on their backyard and front yard.

kind of my “That’s happy place. ” — Alyssa Smith

The brick front porch features hanging ferns and a brass chiminea.

The Smiths enjoy eating on their back patio. Alyssa said her husband likes to smoke meat.

Hanging chimes add gentle music. The yard also has ample running space for Bella and Betsy.

A variety of shrubs and flowers line the back fence. A koi pond is in one corner.

Alyssa said she likes sitting on a swing and watching the fish.

“That’s kind of my happy place,” she said. “It’s just peaceful, and we have a waterfall.

We have some beautiful fish in there.”

Green Country Living

41

Fe at u r e d Hom e M a r av ich

personal Homeowner’s artwork gives

touch

Couple works to make house comfortable, homey

V

iews are key parts of Linda and Milan Maravich’s home northeast of Fort Gibson.

The stone house’s front porch overlooks a woodsy front yard that slopes toward the street.

One side of the front porch has a black glider.

Linda says she sometimes likes to sit there, have a cup of coffee and watch the hummingbirds.

She said mother-in-law plants by the front door came from ones that had been in her husband’s family for many years. She said his grandmother brought them from Arkansas in a wagon.

By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell

42

Fall Edition 2020

A woodsy hill slopes toward Milan and Linda Maravich’s home, on two acres northeast of Fort Gibson.

Green Country Living

43

Fe at u r e d Hom e M a r av ich

Milan and Linda Maravich enjoy coffee in their sunroom.

Placemats match one of Milan Maravich’s paintings.

“We kept them and passed them on,” she said.

A transom is above the glass French doors, which lead into the entry.

Milan Maravich’s detailed pencil and ink artwork and acrylic paintings can be found throughout the house.

Linda said one of her favorite paintings features a fish swimming around wood.

“The artwork’s so fun,” Linda said. “We kind of designed our house around the things we liked. We designed the house for

44

Fall Edition 2020

comfort, to be comfortable and homey.”

Matthew Condley built the Maravich home and did the landscaping. After Milan retired from the insurance business, the Maraviches lived on Lake Texoma, but moved to the Fort Gibson in 2018 area to be close to family. Linda retired from hospital administration.

“We hope this is our last house,” Linda said. “We wanted it, if we were in a wheelchair or needed a walker, there’s extra big halls.”

She said they designed the house for comfort.

The kitchen features a nook where the Maraviches brew and serve coffee.

An island features a raised granite counter for bar stools. The kitchen sink and a chopping block are on a lower level.

Milan said the sink has a low divider in the middle.

“You can fill up both sides or you can fill up the whole thing for a pot,” he said.

“Works really great. I’d recommend it for

A vaulted entry welcomes visitors to the front porch.

A stone fireplace reaches the living room’s cathedral ceiling.

Windows in the sunroom help bring the outdoors in.

ABOVE & BELOW: Milan Maravich’s artwork can be found throughout the house, including these two drawings.

Green Country Living

45

Fe at u r e d Hom e M a r av ich All sorts of plants, statuary and feeders pop up in the Maraviches’ sloping backyard rock garden.

anyone wanting a sink.”

The stainless steel dishwasher is a few inches higher than usual. Linda said it’s more convenient than having to bend over to put dishes in the lower rack.

A wood-like laminate floor and a cathedral ceiling join the kitchen with the living room. A flat stone fireplace reaches to the ceiling. It is bordered by tall, narrow bookcases.

Milan said two sconces on the fireplace have been in his family since he was 4, growing up in Oklahoma City.

A breezy sunroom features a game table and sitting area. One of Milan’s paintings, a still life with books on a Hoosier cabinet, hangs over the table. Placemats on the table reproduce the painting.

The Maraviches keep the Hoosier cabinet in the sunroom.

Windows surrounding the sunroom offer a multi-angled view of the back.

“We try to bring the outdoors in,” Linda said. “I like the openness and feeling like you’re outdoors when you’re indoors.”

“

I like the openness and feeling like you’re outdoors when you’re indoors.

— Linda Maravich

”

She said the home interior is easy to maintain.

A dining room off the kitchen looks onto the front lawn.

The master bedroom features a tray ceiling.

In the master bath, the tile shower, as big as a room, has dual shower heads, a corner bench and two handrails.

Linda said they got the shower tile, plus granite countertops throughout the house from Davis Interior Surfaces in Tahlequah.

The laundry room features a broad folding shelf.

Two bedrooms are on the other side of the living area.

One guest bedroom looks onto the front yard and the other looks onto the back. They share a bath.

Even the tiny cubby-hole office offers a yard view.

In back, people can view the koi and goldfish pond and a sloping rock garden.

The pond, which stretches across much of the area behind the house, features water lilies, pads and pink lotus.

More plants grow between large rocks rising behind the pond.

“We have views from just about every room in the house,” Linda said.

Milan built the pond and garden with large rocks found on the property, plus help from a Tahlequah friend.

46

Fall Edition 2020

The kitchen features a raised counter where people can dine.

A deep master bath shower features dual shower heads and grab bars.

The laundry features lots of storage, plus space to sort and fold clothes.

The Maraviches can see nature through their master bedroom window.

A formal dining room looks onto the front yard.

Green Country Living

47

Fe at u r e d Hom e M a r av ich Goldfish and koi have room to swim in an aquarium and a backyard pond.

The Maraviches have an aquarium on their back porch.

Hummingbirds and other birds find treats in the yard.

A fish pond stretches almost all the way along the back of the Maraviches’ home.

A backyard plant can attract birds.

“Two and a half years ago, this slope was a red dirt pile and it looked like the back side of Mars,” he said.

A gravel path leads to the Maraviches’ daughter’s house.

A covered patio features an aquarium with even more fish. Ferns hang from the shade. Hummingbirds by the dozen come to hanging feeders, Milan said.

He said the house’s design was based on how he visualized the backyard.

A back lawn and woods extend far beyond the garden.

“We wanted to keep it mostly wood,” Linda said. “We see deer, fox, we have seen a roadrunner. We have a frequent hawk and owl come and visit.”

Milan said the woods go 17 miles beyond their property.

“If you got lost in there, chances are, you’d never get out,” he said.

The Maraviches turned a red dirt pile into a backyard haven with rocks, fish, birds and plants.

48

Fall Edition 2020

GREENER DAYS AHEAD Great golf happens on great courses. And courses don’t get better than the ones on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. With 11 locations, 26 courses and more than 400 championship holes, the toughest challenge may be deciding which one to play first.

Our golf courses and staff are ready to welcome you back to the legendary RTJ Golf Trail.

Summer and fall golf packages available. We are open and will be here waiting for you.

Visit rtjgolf.com.

Green Country Living

49

A r t o f T h e M a tt e r

Artist takes lead of art department Cournoyer uses experience, cultural background to teach Bacone students

W

oven sweetgrass creates a waft of smoke as Gerald Cournoyer waves it over the art and artifacts inside Ataloa Lodge.

It is a form of prayer, Cournoyer says, a thanksgiving to the Great Spirit and those who created the art.

“Each one of these objects

that was created was given a life,” Cournoyer said. “All of the things you find here.

The turquoise and these different stones. You’re shaping, you’re carving and you’re making something.

You give it a life.”

Cournoyer, an Oglala Lakota, keeps such traditions as chairman of Bacone College’s art department.

Story and Photos By Cathy Spaulding

50

Fall Edition 2020

Squares and shapes of different colors and patterns make up the “pixels” of one of Gerald Cournoyer’s paintings. He uses color to see faces in a different way.

Green Country Living

51

A r t Of t he M at t e r He said he seeks to revitalize the art program, famed for the Bacone Style of the mid20th century. At Bacone, Acee Blue Eagle, Dick West, Ruthe Blalock Jones and others gained fame for their flat-style art.

“Just about everyone who does Native American art is influenced by the Bacone Style,” Cournoyer said, adding that the Bacone Style gave him an artistic “jumpingoff point.”

He later was influenced by the Lakota artist Oscar Howe, known for his brighter, more contemporary style.

“You have to go through phases in order to reach the next level of creativity,” Cournoyer said. “If you stop at some basic level because you had some success in selling your work, you don’t know the possibilities beyond that.

You don’t know the artistic growth that’s willing to happen beyond that. If you made one small coffee cup for 40 years, you wouldn’t know what it is like to make a bowl, a big vessel. You know what it is like to experiment. You wouldn’t play around with firings or glazes.”

The creative process involves finding out how artists make art, he said.

52

Fall Edition 2020

As the chairman of Bacone College’s art department, Gerald Cournoyer seeks to re-establish and re-equip its famed art program.

ABOVE ROW: Seen from a distance, pixelated paintings form images of Native warriors, including the Lakota battle leader Gall.

FAR LEFT: Smoking sage and sweetgrass are used in a prayer to establish a creative frame of mind.

LEFT: A raven appears in what appears to be a woven work.

BOTTOM LEFT: Sunglasses in this pencil portrait reflect the plight of the homeless.

BOTTOM: A raven appears in a window. What message does the raven have?

“Then, you want to take it to the next level. You progress.”

Cournoyer uses painting, pencil and charcoal, prints and other methods in his art-making.

He painted portraits of Native chiefs, using tiny colored squares like photograph pixels to form the greater image.

The faces of Lakota battle leader Gall, l and a Cheyenne warrior come into view as one steps away.

“I use different color to create a face,” he said. “You see it in a different way.”

These “Closer Look” paintings share space with a pencil portrait he made of a man wearing sunglasses. The shades reflect a person lying on a curb and a car parked in the distance.

“When I lived in D.C., you would always see the homeless lying in the street,” he said. “I took different photographs and different views and spliced them together.”

A blackbird reappears in several paintings.

“In my culture, we talk about the

raven as a messenger,” he said. “They’re bringing messages from the next world, of our deceased relatives. If we are in tune, they will tell us a story.”

In one, the raven appears in a woven field of reds and teals.

In another, the raven appears perched on a yellow windowsill against a sky.

“Yellow, for me, represents the children, and this repetitive pattern of leaves talk about growth and rebirth,” he said.

“The children, for us, are that, growth.”

That work is a monoprint, he said.

Green Country Living

53

A r t Of t he M at t e r

Gerald Cournoyer’s works have been profiled and featured in numerous publications and exhibitions. He says he was influenced by several artists.

“You start with a piece of plexiglass and you ink up,” he said. “Here I inked up the lemon yellow and I used this color in the background, and I just keep adding layers and layers and layers.”

Cournoyer said he wanted to be an artist since second grade, growing up on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

“I did some drawings with my brothers, and they would show me things here and there,” he said. “In just those few moments, they helped me become an artist at that time.”

His teacher kept the art building open before school, at lunch and after school.

“I spent my time drawing,” he said.

“She taught us a little bit about painting and just let us go.”

He went on to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma.

On The Menu

Guide To Area Restaurants

54

Fall Edition 2020

Green Country Living

55

Guide To Area Restaurants

On The Menu

Food & Drink Cook’s Pantry

∏

The Culinary Vision of Ashley Davis • Teaching and learning are most important. Once you have the knowledge, you should pass it on to others, so they can grow.

• Cooking is art, math and science.

Cook what you like, be creative, use your taste profile. Don’t be afraid to take chances!

56

Fall Edition 2020

• Use all your senses in cooking. Good recipes include love, and soul, and every little thing in them.

• Pay homage to the past, but look to the present and future.

• Be grateful for those who help along the way.

Ashley Davis, left, stands with Deena Spencer, Club Lunch’s former baker recently hired back. Her baking skill ensures customers have a happy ending to their meal. (Submitted)

T

o Ashley Davis, new owner/manager of the iconic Club Lunch in downtown Muskogee, teaching and learning are the biggest things in running a restaurant. From observing his mom and dad or working with his grandmother during summers spent in Alabama where he would shuck corn, snap beans, and learn to can, Davis absorbed everything he could about the art of cooking.

He watched the The Cook’s Pantry Food Network while other kids Melony Carey were listening to their CD players. At 15, he traded his first radio for an original Oklahoma Joe’s smoker and began learning the ins and outs of smoking and grilling meats.

Soon, he was playing with the basics of spinning sugar and making candy.

Unable to be

duplicated: The culinary vision of Ashley Davis Photos by Cathy Spaulding Green Country Living

57

Food & Drink Cook’s Pantry Davis kept many of the traditional Club Lunch favorites, such as Mary’s Meatloaf.

He has also added many new items for the sandwich board and entrees.

From his father Davis learned that duplicating another person’s technique is almost impossible. He would often watch his dad make fried potatoes and try to copy it step for step, but never with as much success.

“A person’s recipe can’t be exactly duplicated, because it’s about love and soul and every little thing that’s in it,” Davis says.

To his way of thinking cooking is more about personal passion and the creative drive than about money or corporate numbers.

Not too many people quote a high school math teacher when talking about their passion for cooking, but that’s just how Davis explains his philosophy.

“My math teacher at MHS, Norman Puckett, brought home the point about why math is important,” Davis remembers. “He said everything in your life in the kitchen will be based on science and math. His advice was to roll that into my passion for cooking and I would understand why we need to know algebra and chemistry.”

That deep understanding has also helped Davis create a business plan for Club Lunch and a financial analysis of costs. Although he also owns Biggun’s BBQ and More food truck and catering business, nothing had prepared him for a pandemic. He had just embarked on a partnership with former owner Alex

58

Fall Edition 2020

Desserts, such as the above selection of fall cupcakes or the pies below, are always a favorite at Club Lunch.

Baby Yoda overlooks a tin of complimentary candies and mints.

Reynolds when the mandatory shutdown ground everything to a halt. He was convinced that reopening Club Lunch when restrictions were lifted was the right thing to do, even though business in the downtown area had dwindled.

“There’s nothing to bring people to the downtown area right now, and many people are working from home. We are on a skeleton crew, but we are hopeful for the future.”

Davis pays homage to the past in all his endeavors while looking to the present and future. He has kept many traditional items at Club Lunch that were inherited from Gary and Mary Armstrong and their daughter Cindy, the restaurant’s previous owners. He recently hired back the Armstrong’s baker, Deena Spencer. His vision also is to teach his employees as much as possible, so they can move on to their next step in the industry. He hopes to leave his signature on the restaurant and is installing his many trophies won at culinary and barbecue competitions there, as well as creating new menu options.

“I’m very appreciative of everyone who has been with me every step of the way,” says Davis. “Most importantly, my wife Kathy, who is a rock.”

Here, Davis shares a recipe from his catering business and one from Club Lunch.

Green Country Living

59

Food & Drink Cook’s Pantry

ABOVE: Davis experiments with new flavor profiles, such as his Mahi Mahi egg roll tacos topped with a fruity salsa.

RIGHT: Davis pays homage to the past in all his endeavors while looking to the present and future.

60

Fall Edition 2020

Mary’s Meatloaf, inspired by former owner Mary Armstrong, can be baked for a crowd or pared down to a smaller serving size.

Mary’s Meatloaf is served with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and a roll.

Mahi Mahi Tacos

Egg roll wraps 6 - 8 oz. Mahi Mahi Blackened Seasoning

Fry eggroll wraps in the shape of a taco shell in a 350° hot oil for 20-25 seconds or golden brown.

Season your Mahi Mahi with Blackened Seasoning. Grill the Mahi Mahi to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Dice your Mahi Mahi (or chop whatever fish you used), fill your egg roll taco shell and top with medley of salsa. Makes 4-6 large tacos.

Salsa

1/2 cup of fresh diced peach 1/2 cup of fresh diced mango 1/2 cup of fresh diced pineapple

1/2 cup of fresh diced avocado 1/2 cup of fresh diced bell pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley Salt and pepper

Put all in a skillet and start to caramelize the fruits and vegetables. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in the parsley.

Serve immediately.

Mary’s Meatloaf

5 pounds ground beef 3 cups bread crumbs 3 eggs 1/2 tablespoon salt 1/2 tablespoon garlic salt 1 tablespoon pepper 1 tablespoon dry mustard 1 small can of cream of celery 1/2 cup tomato sauce 3/4 cup diced onion

3/4 cup diced bell pepper

Topping

1/2 cup ketchup 1/2 cup tomato sauce 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Put all ingredients in a bowl, wet ingredients, then ground Beef, seasonings, veggies, then finish with bread crumbs. Bake meatloaf in a 350 degree oven, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Put topping on meatloaf and cook for 10-12 minutes more. The internal temperature should be at 165 degrees; let rest 8-10 minutes and serve with your sides. Adjust ingredients down for smaller portions.

Green Country Living

61

Food & Drink Wonderful Wine

Pairings in a

pandemic I

f you had to stay at to say that 2020 has been anyhome, not go out to thing but typical. This year has restaurants, see been filled with so many friends, attend bizarre occurrences, church/work, go to pubs each one seemingly or socialize as you have more freakish than the always done, could you last. As if a worldwide do it? A year ago, if that pandemic wasn’t enough question had been to deal with, throw posed, what would in some murder Wonderful Wine your reaction have hornets, fire torbeen? Add to that, nadoes and square Heather Ezell if you DID comply, dancing hurricanes what would you stock up and sip to liven things up a bit. Is there on while staying put? any doubt as to why alcohol Well, here we are and this IS sales are up exponentially this reality. Up to this point, it is fair year?

Photos by Heather Ezell

62

Fall Edition 2020

pexels.com

Green Country Living

63

Food & Drink Wonderful Wine

Curbside service is available at your local liquor stores.

Hordes of us have found ourselves at home, as recommended. Working, sheltering in place, perhaps dealing with online school; coping with uncertainty, anxiety, boredom and maybe even fear. In times of turmoil, we tend to sooth our souls with food and drink. As noted, people have dealt with COVID-19 along with these other crazy events this year most notably by drinking. A. LOT. Well, if not a lot, at least more than usual.

So what have you been drinking? And the real question is, what should you be drinking? If at all possible, drink local. Supporting your neighborhood winery, brewery or distillery will help keep them in business. Even if they aren’t open, per se, it is likely you can call ahead to schedule a pick up of bottles to take home. Along those same lines, remember to shop your community liquor/ wine store. Changes have been made in our laws, and they are able to offer not only curbside pickup but in some cases, home delivery. How wonderful is that?!?

Now let’s exam some other possibilities that pair well with a pandemic.... : First off, more than ever, drink whatever it is that you like, but be open to trying something new. Sameness may be comforting, but newness could lead to excitement and an alternate favorite.

Do not fear the boxed wine. Surprise! It’s perfectly

Spending virtual happy hour with friends is a good way to socialize safely during the pandemic.

64

Fall Edition 2020

ABOVE: Support your local winery, brewery or distillery

Elevate your homemade meals with the right wine.

acceptable to be fond of wine in a box.

In fact, it makes sense if you tend to consume just a glass a day or only on occasion as oxygen is unable to penetrate the wine so it can last months once it is opened. Quality has improved, and the value is good.

Moderation is key and can be challenging, especially at this time, but we must take care of ourselves. Navigating appropriate, healthy amounts of alcohol might easily be managed but if you feel the need for some help, it is readily available, so please seek it out.

Break open the “good stuff.” If not now, then truly, when?

With a little research, a well-matched wine can elevate an entire meal to a completely other dimension, so look into that for those new recipes you have been cooking.

Let’s face it, drinking in solitude has been, up until now, widely frowned upon.

Conceivably, solo imbibing at home

Green Country Living

65

Food & Drink Wonderful Wine

Drink the “good stuff.”

could forthwith be considered a noble endeavor! Science and technology has helped bridge the gap from desolate, companionless, isolated consumption to acceptable assimilation. The creativity to drink at home, although not necessarily alone, has really been something to observe. For example: • Virtual happy hours using Zoom, not just for boring meetings anymore.

• Social distancing patio time.

• Drive by drinks (only on bicycles, of course).

66

Fall Edition 2020

•Another, often forgotten, way to enjoy a beverage with a friend...an actual phone call with glass in hand.

These are just some of the ways to imbibe, maintain your sanity, keep your distance and stay safe. Even when we are home by ourselves it doesn’t have to mean we are abandoned. These are weird, trying and unprecedented times. Raise a glass, sip and savor. Take care of yourself. Be well. Be safe.

Cheers!

Home Improvement Specialist

Green Country Living

67

PET Gallery

Green Country Living

68

Fall Edition 2020

Green Country Living

69

PET Gallery

70

Fall Edition 2020

Green Country Living

71

Best Friends of the

PET Gallery

Muskogee Phoenix D. C.

E.

B. A.

G. H.

F.

I. J. A. Kit B. Tinkerbell C. Maynyrd and Buddy D. Bella E. Saddie and Allen

72

Fall Edition 2020

F. Molly G. Daphne and Chloe H. Ellie Mae I. Penny and Patch J. Tyrion

Scene & Be Seen

Group honors Master Gardeners Friends of Honor Heights celebrates Master Gardeners at an event held at the Papilion.

Photos by Ronn Rowland

Green Country Living

73

Scene & Be Seen

74

Fall Edition 2020

READY FOR YOUR ARRIVAL Gathering with loved ones means more than ever. Laugh, hug, play and relax. The eight hotels and resorts along Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offer legendary locations to safely reconnect. From the shores of the Tennessee River to Mobile Bay, come experience world-class hospitality in picturesque settings. Plunge into resort pools. Relax in luxury spas.

Play RTJ golf. Enjoy farm-to-table cuisine. We are open and will be here waiting for you.

Visit rtjresorts.com.

Green Country Living

75