Sheffield Avenue property checks every box for convienience, luxury, charm. 46
Art of the Matter
PUBLISHER/EDITOR Ed Choate
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Angela Jackson
LAYOUT & DESIGN Joshua Cagle
WRITERS Cathy Spaulding, Ronn Rowland
PHOTOGRAPHERS Mandy Corbell, Shane Keeter, Cathy Spaulding, Ronn Rowland
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Joe Mack
ADVERTISING SALES Angela Jackson, Therese Lewis
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 publisher@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2929
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Owners
What started as search for
House crowned with castle-like turrets, brimming with family-focused fun.
Martindale’s woodturning journey began during pandemic, supports a cause.
Cook’s Pantry
Grill masters bring flavor to the fire across Founders’ Place Historic District and beyond. 56 Scene & Be Seen Chat, have fun and relax because you’re on camera.
The entry features a curved staircase and a view straight through the living room of
castlelike home.
Snider’s
Photo by Mandy Corbell
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FEATURED HOME JENKINS
The Jenkins’ 90-acre spread offers plenty of opportunities for recreation and wildlife watching.
heart Retreat owns handcrafted
Family finds slice of rural paradise from custom builds to RC cars, bass fishing
Nick and Lauren Jenkins found their 90-acre spread west of Muskogee at the perfect time.
“We were in market to buy another house across Old Taft road,” Lauren Jenkins said. “We were in the final stages and it got sold out from under
us, and we had just sold our house and we were just kind of ‘what do we do.’”
She said her husband heard about the available property, “and without even looking at it he called the realtor and got it all started, because I knew if we didn’t jump on it we weren’t going to get it.”
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Shane Keeter
They bought the property in 2020.
“There was nothing out here, no road, no power,” Nick Jenkins said. “All there was was 1,500 feet of gravel road, to get back here.”
Working with metal home builder Randy Garoutte, the Jenkins built a 3,400 square-foot building with three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The Jenkins and their son, Sawyer, moved into the house before Christmas 2021.
The white metal house is in a clearing behind some woods, beyond a Bigfoot silhouette.
A front porch stretches across the whole front. Solar-activated footlights are on the patio.
Brown labs Jess and Rip sometimes show up to greet visitors.
Immediately inside the entry is a long room lined with a built-in desk, three computer monitors and all sorts of
remote control cars, dinosaur figurines and other nicknacks.
Lauren said “its kind of an office for all three of us.”
Sawyer, 10, said “it isn’t all game room because we have RC cars over here.”
Nick said he and Sawyer have 10 remote control cars.
“Ten? There’s 20 at least,” Sawyer corrected.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:
The Jenkins’ kitchen has open shelves and ample space to store and prepare food.
Nick and Lauren Jenkins love wide open living with their 10-year-old son Sawyer and their dogs Jess and Rip.
Butcher block countertops made by a friend add a rustic appeal to the kitchen.
Ben Sporlenski started his Brown’sShoe Fit journey in Warrensburg, Missouri while competing as a student athlete in Trackand Field/Cross Country at the University of Central Missouri. After working part time at the WarrensburgStore, he decided to commit to the Manager Training Program. Twoyears later,hemoved to Grand Island, NE completing his apprenticeship,where he earned the promotion to manage the Shenandoah, Iowa store. From there, Ben waspromoted to Management hereinMuskogee! He and his wife,Amanda, and their family aresuper excited to be apart of our community!
FEATURED HOME JENKINS
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Gandalf, the Lord of the Rings wizard, watches over a pool table.
An upstairs movie room features cushy theater seats and a fridge full of lemonade and fruit drinks.
The living room features big windows to view the world outside and a telescope to view worlds beyond.
“Ten that we use,” Nick said.
Two remote control model airplanes hang on the wall. Lauren’s corner has her Cricut crafting supplies.
Beyond the entry, the kitchen, dining and living areas take up an open space.
“We both have big families on either side, so we like to be able to get together and fit everybody,” Lauren said. “And we wanted the windows on one side so we can see the view.”
Windows surround nearly all the living area, offering a panoramic view of the pond, driving range and trees.
A telescope offers a panoramic view of the stars. Nick said their house is far enough from Muskogee city lights to make the night sky nice and dark.
The fireplace has a wood burning stove. Naturally, the property has all those trees for firewood.
The kitchen has white and blue
cabinets made by a friend’s family. Lauren said Nick and a friend built the butcher block countertops.
Open shelves on metal pipes display dishes above the white subway tile.
The kitchen features a walk-in pantry and a deep farmhouse sink. Stainless steel appliances come from Lowe’s.
A mudroom/laundry room leads into a walk-in closet that leads into the master bathroom.
FEATURED HOME JENKINS
The master bath has an elegant standalone tub with a movable cellphone holder. There also is a tower warming rack.
Master bedroom has Love you More over the bed and just a hint of Lauren’s Harry Potter collection.
Sawyer’s bed is high enough for a slide and his bathroom has a dinosaur shower curtain. He shares his bedroom with Dumbeldore, a bearded dragon. Dumbledore’s digs include a hammock and a hollow log.
“He usually sleeps on the log,” Sawyer said.
A half bath has other Harry Potter items, including a quidditch broom and a roost for Hedwig, the owl.
Through the garage and upstairs is a theater room with a billiard table and movie screen. The room features a mini popcorn machine and a dorm refrigerator stocked with Capri-Sun and lemonade.
“We spend some time up here watching sporting games and movies,” Nick said, adding that the room is popular with Sawyer’s friends.
Lauren said “this is their spend-thenight room.”
The backyard extends far beyond a
trampoline, a swing set, a driving range and a stocked manmade pond.
“Sawyer’s thing lately is bass fishing in the pond,” Nick said, adding that Jess and Rip like to splash in it.
The property has a 2,000 foot storage shed.
Nick said the property backs onto Pecan Creek, which offers opportunities to fish and squirrel hunt.
Family members say they see lots of deer, turkeys, wild hogs, quail, beavers, even otters.
“We plant this field with wheat in the winter and watch the deer,” Nick said.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
A half bath looks like it belongs at Hogwarts.
The master bath features a towel warming rack and a place to keep the smart phone wile taking a bath.
A romantic message hovers over the headboard in the master bedroom.
A pond offers Sawyer Jenkins lots of opportunities for fishing, and dogs Jess and Rip opportunities for splashing.
Hedwig, the Harry Potter owl, peers around the entrance of a half bath.
Backyard bliss in the city
By
ronn rowland • Photos by Shane Keeter
With self-built pool house, creekside views, family transforms home into hangout
Rachel and Willy Neighbors moved into their home on East Woodland Circle in Muskogee in 2017 after living in Warner.
Rachel is originally from Muskogee and met Willy when she was living in Webbers Falls and he was in Gore.
“We actually built our house in Warner,” Rachel said. “We lived there for 15 years. We’ve been back in Muskogee for 10 years.”
The house is approximately 3,000 square feet with two bedrooms upstairs and two bedrooms downstairs. There are two bathrooms downstairs.
FEATURED HOME NEIGHBORS
The Neighbors’ dining room sits adjacent to the kitchen and looks out onto the front yard.
The living room features a wrap-around sofa, a fireplace and bookcases on either side of the fireplace, which Rachel says pictures of the grandchildren will replace the pictures of the children.
“ We get the view of the little park area and the creek. And we have great neighbors. We’re definitely the entertainment house.”
— Rachel Neighbors
“We’ve done a lot of remodeling, almost everything,” Rachel said. “It’s had a new roof, new stucco, new guttering, new flooring. All the walls have been repainted.
And the entire backyard is new. Originally there was just a porch.”
To the left of the front entry is an office and to the right is the dining room. The kitchen is just past the dining room and the living room is to the
left of the kitchen.
An island separates the living room from the kitchen. There are granite counter tops on both the island and kitchen counter with a travertine tile backsplash.
The flooring on the back porch is pine and the flooring in the living room is ceramic tile. The lighting in the living room is provided by can lights.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Willy and Rachel Neighbors soak their feet in the pool while letting their granddaughter play with a beach ball.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
An office space is just to the left of the entry way.
A three-drawer chest faces the desk in the office area with comfortable chairs on either side.
A two-seat bench sits underneath a willow tree, facing the pool, in the backyard of the property.
A pool house, built by Willy Neighbors, offers plenty of entertaining space including an outdoor sofa, a large screen television and a grill and dishwasher.
A long galley-style kitchen features marble countertops, ample storage and a six-burner range top.
A display case is just below a giant clock in the dining room.
Rachel said she likes everything about the house but really loves one part.
“I love the backyard,” she said. “The pond, I like all of it. We get the view of the little park area and the creek. And we have great neighbors. We’re definitely the entertainment house.”
And Willy brought up the fact no one can build behind them.
“The attic space is about 1,000 square feet of storage.”
— Rachel Neighbors
The pool was one thing that became a necessity and once the pool was ready to be used, a pool house was
needed, which Willy built.
Rachel said once the grandchildren start becoming more mobile, restrictions will be place on them for safety precautions.
“”They won’t be allowed outside without us,” she said. “The slide’s coming next and then swim school.”
The 680 square-foot pool house has storage, a bathroom and a kitchenette Neighbors said.
She said her husband is self employed doing construction, roofing and windows.
“He built the whole pool house,” Neighbors said. “He built this porch and did an add-on.”
Neighbors said the move to Muskogee was a downsize.
“We had 30 acres previously in Warner, but where we lived it was very
rocky,” she said. “We weren’t going to be able to have an in-ground pool. Both of our kids graduated from Hilldale and when we moved them, we were in a rent house for a couple of years till we found something that we wanted.”
The garage is a three-car garage with a storm cellar. The attic, Neighbors said, has plenty of room for storage.
“The attic space is about 1,000 square feet of storage,” she said.
In the living room, a fireplace is the centerpiece of the room. On either side of the fireplace is shelving currently occupied with photos of the children, but that might change.
“I told my kids their going to come down and I’ll just have grandkids up there,” Neighbors said.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
A view from the back corner of the back yard shows off the area the Neighbors have to offer guests taking a dip in the pool.
A small floral garden is one of several that surround the swimming pool.
Looking into the outdoor seating area of the Neighbors’ pool house.
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LAKE LIFE, FAMILY STYLE
Breezy lake retreat blends comfort, Arkansas roots, space to entertain
Niki Lee and her husband were looking for a lakefront property to build a getaway home.
Lee, a stay-at-home mother, and her husband, an emergency room physician at Oklahoma ER and Hospital in Edmond, reside in Edmond and chose a property that overlooks Lake Eufaula.
“We just wanted to be by
the lake,” Lee said. “And we may retire out here. That’s the reason we built it bigger than I wanted.”
The family has been in the house for a little over a year. The floors in the kitchen and living room are tile and they like it that way.
“We didn’t know if there would be a lot of moisture, so we didn’t want to take the risk,” Lee said. “We put those in and they’ve been great. People can’t tell.”
By ronn rowland • Photos by Shane Keeter
The 4,500-square-foot home is what Lee calls perfect for relaxing.
“We select the neighborhood a lot,” she said. “We had already purchased a lot in this neighborhood, but we realized the house we wanted wouldn’t fit on it. So we bought two lots up here and called Mike
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Niki Lee says she always likes to decorate her Lake Eufaula home in a patriotic theme, with American flags adorning the mantel above the fireplace in the living room.
The stairwell leading to the upper level looks out upon the front lawn through the lane windows.
The pantry is just behind the kitchen and has quartz countertops, a farmer-style sink and a farm door from a family ranch in Arkansas.
A spacious kitchen features quartz countertops, two farmer-style sinks, a six-burner range top and ample storage.
(Williams — homebuilder).”
The four bedroom home has four full baths and three half baths. There is a patio looking out onto the lake on the lower lever and a balcony patio leading out from the master bathroom on the upper level.
The Lee’s have two children — a son who just completed his sophomore year at Oklahoma State University and a daughter attending Bishop McGuinness High School. Lee said the daughter is leaning toward the University of Arkansas to further her education.
FEATURED HOME LEE
“That’s where we’re from,” she said. “I have family there — in Bentonville.”
The kitchen has two deep sinks — one in the island and another in a side counter. The countertops are quartz and there are two ovens facing the island.
“My friend’s family owns Anthony’s TV
and Appliance in Midwest City,” she said. “So she hooked me up with all the appliances. She said somebody did that — costs a lot less but looks really expensive.”
The kitchen and pantry have plenty of storage, too much storage as Lee puts it.
“We knew this was going to be an
entertainment house, so we did two dishwashers, two sinks.” said. “If I can’t use it, it’s not getting in the house. And I have my ice maker I can’t live without.”
They do most of their entertaining in the summer. They also have two refrigerators — one in the kitchen and one in the pantry.
The upper balcony from the master bedroom offers a view of Lake Eufaula.
The patio leading out from the living room features plenty of seating for guests, a television for watching events, a fire pit and a view of Lake Eufaula.
FEATURED HOME LEE
CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP LEFT:
There’s a porch leading out from the game room that also offers a view of Lake Eufaula.
A spacious game room on the upper level of the home has a poker table on one end and a pool table (next photo).
A spacious garage has plenty of room to keep the Lee’s collection of jet skis.
If guests would like a non-alcoholic additive to a glass of water, the Lees have plenty of flavors to match any taste bud.
“We didn’t feel like we needed a gigantic refrigerator in the kitchen since we put one in the pantry,” she said.
The living room has a gas fireplace with a floor to ceiling bookshelf on either side.
“They’re just two pieces of furniture with console tables,” Lee said. “I just need to get something on one side, I just haven’t found anything yet.”
The patios face the lake to the east. Lee said the breeze is consistent.
“It feels so good out there,” she said. “And it’s always shaded. So that’s a nice thing and it’s one of the plus things about the lot.”
“And it's always shaded. So that's a nice thing and it's one of the plus things about the lot.”
— Niki Lee
The Lees are still adding to the house one year into residing. A driveway is being added to the back from the multi-car garage.
“We just did a little bit of it,” she said. “We were going to put it in and then one thing after another. So now we’ve had all the rain and we’re finally getting it in.”
Lee also has reminders of her family throughout the house.
“The canisters were my mom’s,” she said. “My pantry door … my family had a farm and the door was was at one of the farm houses of my greataunt’s and uncle’s.”
She said she and her husband both like to fish so being near the lake was another selling point.
“Our neighborhood has their own boat docks down there,” Lee said. “We have a couple of slips.”
CASTLE OFJoy
From turrets to hidden rooms, Sniders built dream home with whimsy, warmth in mind.
Brandon and Allison Snider built a castle of fun east of Fort Gibson.
Two round turrets topped with cupolas stand on each side of the two-story house, located on three acres.
The Sniders, two sons and two dogs lived in the house for four years.
“We lived in Fort Gibson for 15 years, and Brandon
always wanted to build a house,” Allison Snider said. “We kind of fell in love with this neighborhood, it has a country feel, but the boys can still ride their bikes and go for a run.”
She said she was sold on the circular turrets when she saw the exterior plans for the house. The house was designed by Brady Renfro and built by Steve Crawford.
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell
Brandon and Allison Snider’s home stands like a chateau on three acres east of Fort Gibson.
The entry hall rises two stories, with a curved staircase sweeping upstairs. Stair steps have tiny floor lights that come on with each step.
Art at the top of the stairs reflect the Sniders’ faith. Paintings contain words from the “Waymaker” song: “Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness, My God, That is Who You are.”
“When we built this, I wanted to
A pool table and video game console is in one hidden room at the Snider house.
People can have a seat at the kitchen’s island counter.
The entry features a curved staircase and a view straight through the living room.
walk in the front door, and be able to look all the way through, with a bunch of glass on that back wall and the archway,” Brandon Snider said.
Beyond the archway is an openspace kitchen, dining and living room area. The space is unified with a luxury vinyl floor with a wood look.
“With the dogs and kids we were afraid to go with real wood that would get scratched up,” Brandon said.
Most of the lighting came from Lifestyles Lighting and Furniture, he said.
The living room features a stone fireplace with a wood mantle. Crawford Cabinets of Tahlequah designed the bookshelves as well as kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
The kitchen features stainless steel appliances from Hamby’s, a walk-in pantry and quartz countertops.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Brandon and Allison Snider join their sons, Logan, second from left, and Dawson, seated, as well as their dogs, Gibbs the puggle and Ellie the miniature Aussiedoodle.
Bedrooms reflect family members’ diverse tastes.
The master bedroom has an elegant look, featuring a padded white headboard. The walk-in closet has built in cabinets. The laundry room is inside the closet.
The master bathroom has a blackand-white standalone tub with a shelf where they can put books, food or beverages.
Each son has a round reading nook, surrounded with windows, in a turret. Each has a bathroom.
Dawson, 9, has one wall painted green. Decorations, including a shower curtain and bedspread, reflect his love of soccer, baseball and basketball.
Logan, 12, has one blue wall and a Harry Potter theme, complete with a “Platform 9 3/4” shower curtain.
Brandon Snider said they wanted
ample attic space in the house.
There is a separate storage area for 13 Christmas trees, including two 10-foot trees for the living room.
“I love Christmas,” Allison said.
The Sniders built their house with fun in mind. It features a game room, pool room, movie room, putting green and swimming pool.
The playroom is downstairs. When Brandon Snider calls it a playroom, he
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:
The living area features a view of the backyard as well as a big screen TV over the fireplace.
The swimming pool offers multiple ways to have fun and relax.
A small putting green is one of the things people can enjoy in the backyard.
FEATURED HOME SNIDER
means it. The room is nearly empty except for a baseball net on one end and a soccer net on the other. A Fort Gibson Tigers red stripe goes along the gray wall.
“I grew up in Missouri where there was a bunch of unfinished basements, and my grandparents had a unfinished basement where we used to play a lot of whiffle ball and hockey and all sorts of fun stuff,” Brandon said. “We wanted to have a room to recreate those types of memories for our boys.”
Upstairs, a movie room has theater seat recliners with drink containers. The family can watch videos or play video games.
A hallway bookcase opens into a hidden room with a pool table and childsized video game console.
There’s even more fun outside. There is a putting green. The dogs have a gated play area.
A whirlpool hot tub cascades into the swimming pool, which has built-in
lounges. A fountain keeps pool water fresh. A half bath by the living room also opens onto the back porch, so swimmers don’t have to traipse across the living room.
Allison Snider said the boys like to play ballgames outside.
Beyond the fence is a pond and plenty of wildlife.
“We had several deer and black squirrels,” Allison Snider said. “Turtles like to come up.”
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The master bedroom displays romantic elegance in black and white.
The master bedroom’s walk-in closet features a variety of shelving and drawer options. Reclining theater seats with cup holders are in the movie room.
The master bath features a walk-in shower and a bathtub where the bather can watch TV, read or view the outside.
IWANT TO BE YOUR GO-TO AGENT!
Helping people find their dream homes is my passion. If you areready to find yours or know someone who is, give me acall. Ican’twait to hear from you!
2408 Old Shawnee Rd 918-683-1221
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» OTHER FEATURES: Attic, High Ceilings, High Speed Internet, Pullman Bath, Quartz Counters, Stone Counters, Vaulted Ceiling(s), Wired for Data, Ceiling Fan(s), Gas Range Connection, Gas
Oven Connection, Programmable Thermostat, Flooring: Carpet, Tile, Vinyl, Doors: Insulated Doors, Windows: Vinyl, Insulated Windows, Number of fireplaces: 1.
» INFORMATION: Liz Capps, Chinowth and Cohen, (918) 8698878.
HAVEN IN HILLDALE
Sheffield Avenue home blends smart tech, custom features, stylish function
Adaily trip from Cobblestone Creek Back Nine subdivision to Fort Gibson and back became a chore. So the family living at 3721 Sheffield Avenue put the home on the market. Liz Capps with
Chenowth & Cohen said while the family enjoys the home, the daily grind became a little too much.
“There’s a lot of extras in the home,” Capps said. “There’s a custom staircase that my brotherin-law built. It has iron railings.
By ronn rowland • Photos provided by liz CappS
COCKWISE FROM RIGHT:
The home has a backyard with plenty of space for expansion.
The dining area is just behind the living room.
The living area has vinyl flooring and a fireplace with a wide-screen television above it.
“Throughout the house are these touch tone blinds — you can control them with a remote control and through an app on your phone.”
The five bedroom, three and one-half bathroom, two-level contemporary home in the Hilldale School District is walking distance from all the schools.
“It’s a gorgeous home,” Capps said. “It’s move-in ready. It’s in a great neighborhood being so close to Hilldale School system.”
“It’s move-in ready. It’s in a great neighborhood being so close to Hilldale School system.”
— Lizz Capps
The lower level contains the living room, dining room, office, kitchen, pantry and the master bedroom with an on-suite bathroom.
“There is a gas fireplace in the living room and it’s one of those really cool ones,” Capps said. “You have a remote control for with the light-changing crystals.”
RIGHT: A galley kitchen features a large island with a marble counter top.
BELOW: A big soaker tub and a walk-in shower (bottom) make up the elegance of the master bathroom.
The upper level has three more bedrooms — two that have a joining bathroom.
There’s furnished attic space for a playroom and an unfurnished area for a second office.
“It can be a playroom, it can be a movie room, it can also be craft room for someone who doesn’t have kids,” Capps said. “All the space up there is floored — one is furnished and one is not. There’s so much potential there if you don’t have children.”
The flooring is set up with a variety of styles.
“There’s carpet in the bedrooms and tile in the bathrooms,” Capps said. “In the rest of the house is luxury vinyl floors. There are quartz and stone countertops.”
The house, built in 2023, sits on a lot of a little more than three-quarters of an acre.
The appliances include built-in range, built-in oven, dishwasher, disposal, microwave oven and a tankless water heater. There are hookups for an electric washer and dryer.
The exterior is combination brick veneer and board and batten. There is a three-car attached garage with one of the spaces set up as a work area/ game area.
“You can take your lawn mower out through that area,” Capps said. “You can say the seller had an eye for detail.”
One detail Capps pointed out was a small window facing the patio.
“It’s like a drive-thru window,” she said. “If you’re grilling, you can open the window from the kitchen and say ‘Here’s the hamburgers.’”
ABOVE: In the three-car garage, the left side has been converted to a work area and a gaming room.
BELOW: The entrance to the garage has glass doors.
Tom Martindale shows a bowl he’s starting and a bowl he has finished in his garage workshop.
TURNING ROOTS Artinto
City councilor finds peace — and purpose — in crafting from stumps, resin
Turning a burly tree stump into an elegant bowl is like solving a mystery for Tom Martindale.
“To me, the most interesting thing in this whole process is you never know what the wood is going to give you,” Martindale said. “You can have an idea of what you want the shape to look like, but until you begin to turn
it, sometimes the wood doesn’t cooperate and you end up having to change the design you were going for.”
Martindale, a Muskogee County community sentencing coordinator, makes bowls from tree roots and stumps. Trees have included walnut, hickory and Bois d’Arc, commonly called Osage orange or hedge apple.
By Cathy Spaulding• Photos by Mandy Corbell
Many colors go into the resin for Tom Martindale’s bowls.
There are various stages turning stumps and roots into shiny bowls. Resin seeps into holes, burls, knots and crevices, creating a artistic pattern.
“I work with anything I can get my hands on,” he said.
He began making bowls using a tiny lathe during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He said he mainly learned on his own, but got good tips from fellow bowl-crafters Jim Eby and Derek Gibson.
Then a friend suggested selling them at Hattie’s House, a vintage market in downtown Muskogee. Martindale sells the bowls with proceeds going to Bridges Out
of Poverty, a program for people on low income.
“Last year, we were able to donate $5,000 to Bridges, just in the sale of these bowls” Martindale said.
Martindale starts his work by finding a good chunk of wood, often from a stump or root.
“I work with anything I can get my hands on,” he said. “And there are all sorts of places to find it.”
Different types of wood have differing qualities and challenges, he said.
“The harder the wood, the more toll it’s going to take on your tools,” Martindale said. “Bois d’Arc is one of the hardest woods. I would rank it right there with oak and hickory, which doesn’t make it easy to turn “
Soft woods are not much easier.
“I have never turned any redbud before, it’s a softer wood but it just cracks so badly,” he said.
Martindale describes how he hollows out the inside of his bowls.
Martindale shows the width of a stump crack.
Tom Martindale checks how a hole could fit into a tree part he plans to shape into a bowl.
Tom Martindale talks about how he got his wood from a variety of sources.
Martindale, a Muskogee city councilor, finds the process relaxing.
“This is where I release all the city issues, court issues, probationer issues,” he said. “All those things kind of go away when I go home in the afternoon and change out of my court clothes.”
Sometimes Martindale makes a bowl with only the wood. The wood bowls can be done from start to finish within three hours, he said.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Tom Martindale studies a piece of wood to see what he can do with it.
Wood and resin shavings swirl and shoot from a bowl as Martindale uses a cutting device on a lathe.
Martindale plans to make a bowl from a tree surrounded by smaller parts.
Other times Martindale adds resin to mold a smoother, more elegant vessel. Freshcut wood must be cured at least six months to a year before going into a mold, he said.
Using the wood’s shape as a guide, Martindale makes a mold for the wood and resin.
“You have to make each mold individually for each piece,” he said. “What’s fascinating is you think ‘how in the world is this going to look like anything.’”
Filling the wood and mold with resin can be a challenge he said.
“Resin will go where even water wouldn’t go, it’s that fluid,” he said. “It will seek a path worse than water.”
Sealing the bowl with resin is vital.
“You don’t want to create a bowl that looks wonderful and then, after a month of sitting on somebody’s shelf, it begins to crack,” he said. “You put a sealer over both ends and let it cure.”
The mold goes into a pressure pot for 24 to 48 hours to eliminate resin bubbles, Martindale said.
“After it comes out of the pressure pot, there’s probably another eight to 10 hours of work on it,” he said.
Martindale puts the unfinished bowl on a lathe to smooth out rough spots.
Resin flakes and strands fly like yellow confetti as Martindale eases the cutting devices along the mold, moving
his hand ever so slightly as the mold spins.
“You stop and say ‘okay, what’s the wood telling me it wants to look like,” Martindale said. “You just can’t make it look like you want. The grain of the wood doesn’t cooperate.”
Once he’s satisfied with the outside, Martindale starts on the interior.
Resin flakes hang from his clothes, from walls, from the ceiling when he
finishes. Then Martindale has to sweep up the flakes and sawdust.
“That’s kind of the not so fun part of wood turning,” he said. “The majority of what winds up happening, is you take away more than you leave.”
Martindale ends up with something he’s proud to sell.
“Hopefully, I look at and realize it’s better than the last one,” he said. “I’m always trying to improve the craft.”
Tom Martindale’s finished bowls are on display and for sale at Hatties House. Proceeds benefit Bridges Out of Poverty.
On The Menu Guide to Area Dining
GREEN COUNTRY GRILL ON THE
Historic
porches,
food trucks heat up with smoky meats, backyard creativity
On any given weekend across Green Country neighborhoods grills of all kinds, from the classic Weber to smokers, are fired up in anticipation of creating the most delectable char or the tenderest brisket.
From the backyard barbecue to food truck fare, creativity is a key ingredient that all grill masters own. We found three grills going in Founders’ Place Historic District, one of Muskogee’s National Register of Historic Places neighborhoods. Barbecue doesn’t just
mean red sauce, hamburgers and hot dogs, or the proverbial pulled pork. At Jennifer Gammill’s house in Founders’ Place it means a New Mexican take on chicken carbon inspired by her sister, Gigi Webb. Gammill, who often appears with her sisters Gigi Webb and Lynn Russell on Gigi’s YouTube channel, Gigi’s Kitchen, enjoys cooking on her Monument Denali Series grill. The sisters were influenced by their father’s business as a wine purveyor in New Mexico, which placed him in fine dining circles with famous chefs, such as Julia Child.
Photos by Mandy Corbell
for 24 hours and
ABOVE THEN CLOCKWISE: Taff’s sister, Shannon Johnson, helps serve tacos at the food truck.
The chicken is grilled quickly on Gammill’s Denali grill.
Barbequed chuck roast marinated
grilled over hot coals during pickle ball get together at the historic Founders’ Place home of Kevin and Melony Carey.
The tacos are put together with garnishes such as coleslaw, pico de gallo and guacamole.
A squeeze of lime adds to the refreshing taste of the spicy tacos.
Grilled chicken seasoned with spices hits spot on hot day with Southwest flavors.
Gammill preps tortilla for chicken carbon.
Served in the cabana at her historic home, the W.C. Patton House circa 1904, chicken carbon hits the spot on a hot day with its Southwest flavors. A combination of grilled chicken seasoned with spices and served with a tangy coleslaw and guacamole, this is easy and quick to prepare on the grill. “Well known conjectures about spicy food and hot climates theorize that the spices encourage sweating, which cools a person off,” says Gammill. “Not sure
that holds true in Oklahoma where the humidity can be higher, but the chili spices also have antimicrobial properties that help protect food in hot weather.”
Another example of backyard fare is barbecued chuck roast marinated for 24 hours and grilled over hot coals, a sophisticated dish that makes good use of a less expensive cut of meat. On our barbecue trail we found a backyard barbecue for pickle ball mixed doubles
partners at the historic Founders’ Place home of Kevin and Melony Carey. “We played mixed doubles tennis for decades and we will always love tennis,” the couple says, “but we decided to give pickle ball a try with our grandchildren and found it delightful.” A pickle ball theme for the table setting was easy to accomplish using colorful placemats and napkins indicative of the younger vibe. A centerpiece can be quickly pulled together using a clear
TOP THE CLOCKWISE:
vase with pickle balls as filler.
“Our menu was kept simple to beat the heat using Kevin’s mother’s recipe for barbecue chuck roast, a family favorite of the Careys,” says Melony. “The recipe calls for blade steak, but mom (Beverly Carey) often used chuck steak because there were six of us and spouses to feed,” Kevin adds. The steak is marinated in meat tenderizer for 12 hours first, then immersed in a wine and oil-based marinade with herbs for
COCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Korean tacos are prepared using purple cabbage, while the slaw adds savoy cabbage to the flavor palate.
Taff serves up an order of Korean street tacos to a ready customer.
Brother and sister duo Taff Morphis and Shannon Morphis Johnson man the Mojo’s BBQ and More food truck for special events.
another 12 to 24 hours and grilled over hot coals on the couple’s Weber. The result is a beautiful, crusty exterior and a tender, medium rare interior. The steak can be cooked to any desired doneness. A simple, but refreshing wedge salad topped with onion rings is easy to make as a side dish.
Food trucks are notorious for their delicious and creative barbecue fare. One last stop was at Mojo’s BBQ and More owned by master griller, Taff
Morphis. A barbecued taco of a different kind is served at this food truck, which can be rented for special occasions. The Korean taco, a fusion dish combining Korean and Mexican flavors that originated in Los Angeles, is a menu favorite. This barbecue is all about the sauce, elevated with the addition of a spicy jalapeno slaw, sending up the heat. Here all our neighborhood grill masters share their favorite recipes.
COOK’S PANTRY
Tacos Carbon
◊ Boneless and skinless chicken
thighs, pounded thinly
◊ Taco Seasoning
◊ Tortillas
◊ Prepared coleslaw
◊ Pico de gallo
◊ Limes
◊ Guacamole and chips
Heavily coat chicken with taco seasoning on both side sides. Cover and let stand for about an hour.
Grill quick on a hot grill for about 2-3 minutes on one side and 2-3 on the other. Remove from grill and slice into strips. Heat tacos on warmed skillet.
To plate two tacos:
Place sliced chicken on tortilla. Add some pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime.
On the second tortilla add a little bit of coleslaw with the chicken.
Alternately, put the coleslaw on the side with a little guacamole and a couple of corn chips.
Beverly’s Barbecued Roast
◊ 2 1/2’ thick blade roast Tenderize meat for 12 or more hours in meat tenderizer. Marinate 12 or more hours in marinade, turning occasionally.
◊ 1/4 cup salad oil
◊ 1/4 teaspoon mustard
◊ 1 teaspoon soy sauce
◊ 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
◊ 2 tablespoons wine vinegar
◊ 1/3 cup white wine
◊ 1 1/2 teaspoons A-1
◊ 2 tablespoons catsup
◊ 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
◊ 2 cloves minced garlic
Cook over hot coals 45 – 50 minutes.
Mojo’s BBQ Korean Tacos
FOR THE SPICY
ASIAN SLAW:
◊ Purple cabbage, thinly sliced
◊ Savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
◊ Shredded carrots
◊ Minced fresh ginger
◊ Jalapeño peppers, julienned (remove seeds and veins)
◊ Green onions, thinly sliced on the angle
FOR THE SLAW
DRESSING:
◊ Rice vinegar
◊ Chili Garlic Sauce
◊ Light brown sugar
◊ Dijon mustard
◊ Extra virgin olive oil
◊ Salt and pepper
◊ Sesame oil
◊ Soy sauce
An easy wedge salad topped with onion rings and a spicy buttermilk blue cheese dressing is a classic summertime accompaniment to steak.
FOR THE TACOS:
◊ Cloves garlic, minced
◊ Grated fresh ginger
◊ Ground beef, sautéed
◊ Onion, chopped
◊ Canola oil
◊ Tamari
◊ Light brown sugar
◊ Chili Garlic Sauce
◊ Salt and pepper
◊ Crushed red pepper flakes
◊ Serve in warm tortillas
◊ Garnish: sliced green onions, lime wedges, toasted Sesame seeds
Photos by Ronn Rowland
TIMOTHY BAPTIST FIREWORKS SHOW
Hundreds packed church grounds for free food, fun and fireworks at the Timothy Baptist Church’s City-Wide Independence Day Celebration.
Photos by Cathy Spaulding
AZALEA FESTIVAL BANNER AUCTION
The Azalea Festival Banner raises funds for Muskogee Art Guild and Muskogee Parks and Recreation by selling banners that were on display downtown for the Azalea Festival.
Photos by Ronn Rowland
REAL OKIE CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
The
Real Okie Craft Beer Festival included a number of Oklahoma breweries, two Oklahoma wineries and a Henryetta distillery. Proceeds helped benefit Friends of Honor Heights Park.
