Mud & Magnolias March 2017

October.2017 November 2013 March

&Magnolias

Mud

Home & Garden Canning Recipes Waco, Texas Farmhouse Style Composting 101 Birds & Birdhouses

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LEARN A NEW TECHNIQUE chalk paint®, milk paint, and more!

BRING YOUR OWN PIECE to PAINT Tuesday, March 7 6:30pm Wednesday, April 5 11:00am Wednesday, April 12 11:00am

$75/2.5 hours

Bring your own piece of small furniture for the workshop for a total transformation - learning the basic of Chalk Paint decorative paint

by Annie Sloan. In this workshop we will cover basic painting, distressing and waxing your treasure.

All supplies are included; This is a great beginner class for Chalk Paint®.

6 Min - 8 Max participants.

FARMHOUSE CLOCK WORKSHOP Tuesday, May 9 10:00am

$125/4 hours

CABINET PAINTING 101 Tuesday, March 28 10:00am

MILK PAINT BASICS Wednesday, April 17 10:00am

$75/3 hours

Learn the basics of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint. We will cover ways to mix, apply, layer and finish with different topcoats. All supplies are included. This is a perfect for milk paint beginners.

6 Min - 8 Max participants.

PAINT & FOIL a Frame & FOIL & PATINA a small canvas (5X7) Thursday, March 9 10:00am

Paint and foil a 5x7 frame. Foil and patina a small canvas. Learn the very basics of Chalk Paint®, Foiling and Patinas. Easy and fun class. 6 Min - 10 Max Participants.

Tuesday, April 4 10:00am

Tuesday, April 25 6:30pm

$100/3.5 hours

Do you have tired, dated cabinets? So many of us do! The layout is great, the wood is fine, but the finish is worn or not on trend?

YOU are the PERFECT candidate to refinish your cabinetry with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. No sanding, stripping, or priming! You will add value to your cabinets by giving them a specialty hand painted finish that will last rather than spending more money and effort applying a latex bandage or replace real wood with laminate pressboard.

All supplies included.

4 Min - 6 Max Participants

PEARL PLASTER & CHALK PAINT® Wednesday, March 22 11:00am

$45/2 hours

This class is to perfect how Pearl Plaster is applied with Chalk Paint®; several different techniques will be practiced that will give you beautiful results. All supplies included (you will practice on take home boards).

4 Min - 10 Max Participants.

METAL EFFECTS PATINA, FOILS & CHALK PAINT®

$75/3 hours

UGLY CHANDELIER, LAMP, OR CANDLESTICK Workshop Wednesday, April 26 11:00am

$45/2 hours

Using Chalk Paint®, Stencils & More you will create your very own oversized 24" clock frame.

Mechanisms and hands are included.

4 Min - 8 Max participants.

Perfect Mother's Day gift.

Bring a chandelier (small), lamp or candlesticks and we will update using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® and Artisan Enhancement products (will depend on the look you are trying to achieve). A fun, easy way to do a quick update for your home.

4 Min - 10 Max Participants.

Tuesday, April 11 5:30pm

$145/4 hours

This class is perfect after you have been painting with Chalk Paint®.

You will earn a few chalk paint finishes, techniques for patinas (bronze and copper), rust, and foil techniques. A fun and informative class. You will be practicing on boards that you will take home with you. You will learn 6 different paint techniques that can be used on furniture and signage: 1: Two Color Distress 2. Dry Brushing 3. Copper Patina 4. Bronze Patina 5. Rust 6. Foil with patina/paints.

All supplies included.

4 Min - 6 Max Participants.

“everything your home desires”

126 West Main Street / Downtown Tupelo / 662-269-2934 / Mon. - Fri. 10-5 • Sat. 11-4 mudandmag.com farmhousetupelo@gmail.com

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Betty Wiseman

Susan Griffen

Amanda Miller

Chris Hill

Hunter Richardson Chanda Tina Cossitt O'Quinn

Jenny Decker

Elliot Long

Judy Simpson

Frances Dempsey

April Haynes

Dennis Cox Nicole Cain Wright

Kim Wood

Jennifer Harrelson

Sheli McClellan

Wendy Whitney Parker George

Jennifer Brown

Weesie Jaz Biedenham Buchanan Kayla Tabler

Melissa Knotts

Anita Nunnelee

Wade Magill

Jessica Harris

Kaye Ladd

Todd Jordan

Cathy Ward

Kevin Knight

M M

Sue Golman

Paula Crum

Martin Mesecke

Sean Hettinger

Debbie Russell

James Hunter

Will Troxler

Ron Smith

Megan Robinson

Annette Newborn

Linda Swinney

Blake Trehern

Casee Becker

Leslie Card

Keith Henley

Eileen Saunders

Monte Smith

Brandon Allred

Caroline Felker

Merisa Baker

Deborah Tierce

Janet Suggs

Polina Wheeler

Tommy Morgan

Dede Lewis

Danny Flowers

Carol Horne

Vic Sullivan

Gail Wilemon

Meredith Martin

Lisa Grant

Tiffany Franks

Brandon Speck

Michelle Mary Ann McAuley Elmore

Sadie Smith

Why Add Outdoor Lighting?

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

IMPROVES VISIBILITY INCREASED SECURITY ENHANCES APPEAL INCREASES YOUR BUSINESSES PROFITS REDUCES VANDALISM

Home & Business outdoor lighting is very affordable, and studies show that it is effective in reducing crime, vandalism, and accidents due to tripping. For your business, your customers will feel safer and more secure in a well-lit parking lot. And whether it’s for your home or business, outdoor lighting adds visibility and an inviting atmosphere.

Lamp Size Monthly Charge 400 Watt Spot/ Flood (Luminaire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20.99 400 Watt (Luminaire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17.66 100 Watt (Luminaire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7.20 Additional $2.75 fee if 30-foot wood pole is needed.

120 REBATE

$

When You Install an Electric Water Heater Give us a call after the installation of your new electric water heater. Upon verification of installation and proof of purchase the rebate will be paid.

mudandmag.com 10 DON’T BE IN THE DARK! CALL US AT 841-6460 AND LEARN HOW YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS l LEFT CAN BENEFIT FROM OUTDOOR LIGHTING OR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS.

Contents

&Magnolias

Mud

pg. 15

pg. 26

pg. 35

pg. 59

Features Editor’s Letter pg.12 Canning Recipes pg. 15 It can be a lengthy process, but the results pay off and we have some tasty recipes to prove it.

Home How-to pg. 35 The female’s version of a man cave, this she-shed is the perfect escape for gardeners.

Hit the Road pg. 41 Waco isn’t a new travel destination, but with Magnolia Market’s and “Fixer Upper’s” rise to fame, it’s making a roadtrip comeback.

Home Sweet Farmhouse • pg. 26

With warm and rustic accents, this farmhouse welcomes you in to experience the beauty in the details.

2017 Home Trends • pg. 48

From paint to home accessories, we’ve picked our musthaves in the home.

The Earth Lady • pg. 55

Margaret Gratz can tell you what type of bird just landed on the porch and from where it originates. And that is just the start of her nature knowledge.

Mill Village Revival: Part 1 • pg. 68

Mill Village has two new residents and the Stropes have taken on a labor of love to make a house their home.

Greenery pg. 47 Working the Pantone color of the year into your home decor is easy with Stephen Thompson’s guidance.

The Perfect Birdhouse pg. 59 Birdhouses come in all different shapes and sizes, which is necessary since certain birds have certain preferences.

Composting pg. 74 Master Gardener Dale Smith has experience with a variety of composting techniques and he shares his tips on how to get started.

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Editor’s Letter

Eight months ago I became a first-time home owner. Buying a house was one of the hardest and scariest things I’ve ever experienced. I’m sure being a single woman in her 20s only added to the daunting task, but I made it through alive (so far). Early on, I spent a full week crying myself to sleep as I realized the house was far from perfect and was going to need more love and money than I wanted to give. I’ve begged family and friends to help me do anything from remove wallpaper, to paint the entire house and cabinets to install a backsplash in the kitchen. I’ve learned more than I bargained for and I have a feeling those hard lessons are going to keep on coming as long as I have a mortgage payment. But it hasn’t been all bad. I’ve scored a retro couch and Duncan Phyfe table I couldn’t have fit in my apartment. I’m beginning to work on my back patio and yard, which I’ve never had before. And I’m excited to plant things in the ground versus containers, which was necessary for apartment living. This issue highlights the fun parts of having a home. Whether you rent or own, take inspiration from the beautiful mix of old and new in the Harp home (pg. 26) or use the 2017 home trends on page 48 to enhance your space. If you have (or like me, deeply desire to have) a green thumb, admire the “she-shed” (the female version of a man cave) where Joan Ball escapes with her plants (pg. 35) or use Dale Smith’s composting tips on page 74 to reduce waste and fertilize your garden. Before this issue, I never knew birds prefer certain birdhouses based on tiny details like the size of the hole on the house. I’m excited to use William’s story on page 59 to attract specific birds to my backyard. If you’re like me and get caught up in all the day-to-day tasks for the home like cleaning, fixing and restoring, I hope this issue offers a break to remind you of the beauty in having a space to call your own.

If you have any thoughts about this issue, please email me at editor@mudandmag.com.

Over at mudandmag.com: Be on the lookout for: Our new online store features T-shirts, coffee mugs, digital prints and dish towels with art and designs by local Mississippi artists. See pg. 39 for details.

Watch our simple how-to video and make a macrame plant hanger (pg.51) for your home. + narratives, videos and extended photo galleries facebook.com/mudandmagnolias

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@mudandmagnolias

Mud & Magnolias

@mudandmagnolias

Mud

Mud&Magnolias Home & Garden Show

&Magnolias

1242 S Green St. Tupelo, MS 38804 662.842.2611

Editor-in-Chief Ellie Turner

Associate Editors Shannon Johnson Missha Rogers Leslie Criss Lauren Wood Carmen Cristo

Featured Sales Consultants

Join us for a day of fun and learning!

Saturday, April 1, 2017 ICC-Belden Conference Center 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Demo Classes • Local Vendor Booths • Food Trucks FREE ADMISSION

Must preregister to attend FREE classes.

Go to mudandmag.com/event-registration to select your preferred schedule!

Want to be a booth vendor? go to mudandmag.com/event-registration to register or email editor@mudandmag.com for details.

Available classes:

Leigh Knox Bill Spencer June Phillips Darla Webb Rexy Hollingsworth Shelley Ozbirn Teresa McDonald Candice Gullick Krystal Black

Contributing Editors Ginna Parsons William Moore

Contributing Photographers Adam Robison

subscriptions@mudandmag.com advertising@mudandmag.com info@mudandmag.com mudandmag.com This magazine is a bimonthly publication of Journal, Inc.

How To Make Terrariums • Cooking With Garden Veggies Canning How-To • DIY Natural Cleaning Supplies • Cake Decorating Composting 101 • Chalk Paint 101 • Flower Arranging 101 sponsored by

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SPRING STYLES ARRIVING DAILY! including Little English, The Beaufort Bonnet Co., Kickee Pants, Paty Inc., Kissy Kissy

Historic Downtown Tupelo 842-6453 | reedsms.com

One One Stop Stop Shop Shop for for All All Your Your Lawn, Lawn, Garden Garden & & Landscaping Landscaping needs needs

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2309 Hwy 145 | Saltillo | 662.869.3656

Canning Recipes Canning has long been a way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy year-round.

Many would say it’s a lost art and we want to do our part in bringing it back.

The process isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.

mudandmag.com

Photos by Lauren Wood

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New Styles for Spring!

Ray Bans & Costas

Plus many more brands available!

662-862-EYES (3937) 402 Access Rd, Fulton, MS 38843 Botox | Juvederm | Voluma | Kybella | Vobella Microdermabrasion | Skin Care | Chemical Peels | Latisse Breast Augmentation | Breast Reduction | Abdominoplasty Liposuction | Facelift Financing Available With Care Credit www.tupelocosmeticsurgery.com 499 S. Gloster St. • Midtown Pointe • Suite D-4 Tupelo, MS 38801 • (662) 377-6630

365 South Gloster Street | Tupelo,MS

Photos by Lauren Wood

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837 Kings Crossing, Suite 12 662.840.1740 mudandmag.com (Located in Kohl’s Shopping Center)

HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

Open two Fridays a month: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Dr. Laurie Cagle O.D.

Peach and Jalapeno Preserves, recipe on page 22 mudandmag.com

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Trane TruComfortTM System Available in 20I Series & 18I Series!

Trane TruComfortTM Variable Speed systems maintain a consistent temperature with maximum efficiency by automatically making minor, continuous adjustments in

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R E S I D E N T I A L • C O M M E R C I A L • S A L E S • S E R V I C E • I N S TA L L AT I O N

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Pickled Okra With Dill, recipe on page 22 mudandmag.com

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Pickled Red Onions, recipe on page 22 20

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RO R E OFI EL NG E H W “A FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1946”

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Canning Recipes HOT PEACHES Ingredients: 2 lbs. ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped 3 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped and partially seeded (optional) 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 3 cups sugar 2 tablespoons powdered pectin Directions: Begin with hot, sterilized jars. Add peach pieces to a Dutch oven. Add the sugar, lemon juice, vinegar and pectin. Stir to combine and let sit for 15 minutes. Add peppers and turn to high heat. As the mixture heats up, take a spoon and gently mash peaches. Bring to boil and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Skim off any foam you see. Remove from heat and add to jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Remove bubbles and can as usual.

PICKLED OKRA WITH DILL Ingredients: 2 lbs. okra 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or dry dill 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 cup kosher salt 2 cups warm water 2 cups apple cider vinegar Directions: Begin with hot, sterilized jars. Add okra, dill, garlic and salt to jar. Fill with warm water and apple cider vinegar mixture, leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top. Remove bubbles and can as usual.

PICKLED RED ONIONS Ingredients: 2 large red onions 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon sugar 2 cups apple cider vinegar 1 cup warm water Directions: Begin with hot, sterilized jars. Peel onions and slice into 1/4 inch thick pieces, then cut in half to create half-moons. Separate pieces.

Bring vinegar, salt, sugar and warm water to boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add onions and garlic and simmer for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pack jars with mixture, completely covering onions in liquid mixture. Leave 1/4 inch space at the top of the jar. Remove air bubbles and can as usual. M

Simple Canning How-To: What You Need: • large pot • canning rack • jars, rings, lids • funnel

• heavy duty tongs or jar lifters • ladle • spoon • clean, damp washcloth

1. Start with clean jars. Place them in the canning rack and place the canning rack in the pot. Fill the pot with water and place on stove to boil.

2. Place lids in a separate pot of water, bring almost to boil and then turn down to low.

Keep on heat until time for use.

3. Once the water has boiled, remove jars with tongs, pouring out the water inside into a heat-resistant bowl.

4. With the jar on a flat surface, use your funnel and ladle to fill the jars with your hot food. Leave the recommended amount of headspace.

5. Remove any food on the rim with the washcloth.

6. Using the tongs again, remove a lid from its pot of water. Set the lid down on the jar and screw it on with the ring, just until it feels like it is tight.

7. With tongs, pick up the completed jar and place it back in the canning rack.

8. Repeat until all the jars are full, sealed and back in rack.

9. Lower the rack back into the water, ensuring there is 1-2 inches of water over them. You can use the excess water that was poured in a bowl in step 3.

10. Bring water back to a boil.

11. Once the water has reached a boil, set your timer for 15 minutes.

12. When 15 minutes is up, lift the rack and remove the jars, and place them on a cooling rack or towel.

13. Let the jars sit, undisturbed, for 12-24 hours. You should hear a pop or a ping as the jars seal.

14. Label lids with date.

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Seeing Is Believing Tuscany, the French Riviera, Caribbean beaches...

The wedding planning is over and your honeymoon beckons. Make sure you see all the sights in a pair of glasses from our extensive Oliver Peoples line of designer frames.

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www.phifabrics.com Thousands Thousands of of Decorator Decorator Fabrics Fabrics with with Personal Personal One-on-One One-on-One Service!

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Custom Made Patio Cushions Price depending on seat size, see sales associate for more information, allow 2 weeks for delivery

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Home Sweet Farmhouse

By Ginna Parsons

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662.614.5123

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S

usan Harp says everyone who comes through the door of her home in Itawamba County has the same reaction.

“They say, ‘Oh, this is so comfortable,’ or ‘I feel like I’ve gone to Grandma’s house.’”

And that’s just the vibe Harp was going for when she and her husband, Buck, started building their farmhouse near Smithville in 2015.

Harp, 57, came up with the design, then turned her sketches over to Roy Thompson of Hatley, who turned her ideas into blueprints. Glyn Hester of Nettleton was the general contractor and Steve Sanderson of Amory helped with the interior design.

“I wanted a farmhouse,” Harp said. “I didn’t want anything too country and nothing too faddish. I’m just a traditionalist at heart. I like my pottery and my wood, so this was a perfect house for us to build.”

The 2,700-square-foot home, with its cypress and brick exterior and tin roof, is one-story. It has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, an open living/dining/kitchen area, an entry

hall with a seating area, a laundry room that doubles as an office and craft room, and a screened porch with a fireplace.

“We have a big back porch we use for entertaining and we built a pool for the grandkids,” she said.

She chose a soft, earthy, green-gray palette for the walls in the home and off-white for the trim for a light, airy feel.

The ceilings in the home are all 12 feet high, except for the living area, which has a 20-foot cathedral ceiling made of shiplap and exposed beams.

“The heart pine floors and the beams are all from an old cabin in Red Bay, Alabama, that was built during the Civil War era,” she said. “The floors and beams are our pride and joy. The house was built around this wood.”

In the kitchen, Harp opted for a quartz island and countertops, stainless steel appliances and white subway tile for the backsplashes.

“The kids eat lunch here every Sunday. That’s a tradition,” she said. “I can seat close to 20 in the kitchen if I have to and still have room to walk around.”

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Susan Harp

Eclectic furnishings As stunning as the cathedral ceiling and open floor plan are, it’s really the home’s furnishings that make it unique.

“What makes this home to us is the stuff that’s in it,” Harp said. “From the beginning, I knew I wanted the front hallway to be a mess of family pictures and stuff I love. That’s what makes it comfortable.”

The coffee table in the living room is an old quilt box that was Buck’s mother’s. A ginner’s desk in the corner of the room came out of the Delta. The dining room table is made from walnut that Harp’s father, Charlie McCarthy, had cut from his yard.

“The table’s base is from an old rubbish site my dad has,” she said. “When people throw stuff away, Dad goes and gets it. The stone on the chimney on the screened-in porch is from an old house in Fulton that Dad owned.”

The Harps call a long narrow table in the foyer the “pill” table.

Buck’s mother’s quilt box as a coffee table

“Buck’s great-great-uncle, Doc Stone of Tremont, would practice medicine behind that table,” she said. “He’d dispense medicine from one side of it.”

A pew in the foyer came out of the Tilden Church of Christ.

A McCall’s pattern cabinet in the laundry room is from Grady Gaither’s store in Fulton. And an ice chest that serves as a side table in the entry hall/sitting area was handmade by Buck’s great-uncle, Hugh Stone, when he was a student at Mississippi State.

“It still has the original liner in it,” she said. “It’s very wellpreserved.”

Buck’s Grandmother Harp’s old china cabinet, newly painted, sits in the master bedroom and is filled with Harp’s mother’s old quilts.

“Overall, the feeling of this house is home,” Harp said “My husband jokingly says this is our fourth forever home because I’ve built four new houses. But this one is connected to 250 acres so, for now, this is the last one. This will be the house for making memories.” M Photos by Lauren Wood

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• Shop Pontotoc •

282 Coffee St. • Pontotoc, MS • 488-9999 www.redeleflowers.com

"Your destination for Peter's Pottery"

346-A W. Oxford Street • Pontotoc, MS 38863 • 662-489-1074 32

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• Shop Pontotoc • Pontotoc C O U N T Y

Progressive Productive Proud

THE LAND OF HANGING GRAPES

PONTOTOC

109 North Main Street Pontotoc, MS 38863-2103

662-489-5042

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Antiques Downtown: 662-489-4458 • 108 N. Main Antiques on Main: 662-419-9291 • 106 N. Main Antiques off the Square: 662-200-2009 • 18 W. Marion Antique Station: 662-586-5005 • 347 W. Oxford

6 South Main Street • Pontotoc

662-489-2251

E c r u ' s b e s t ke p t s e c r e t

Furniture Warehouse Wholesale & Retail

297 Industrial Rd. • Ecru, MS 38841 • 662-509-9998 www.furniturewarehouseecru.net mudandmag.com

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AGAPE

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To provide affordable, quality housing and services which reflect and support independence, dignity, choice, privacy, and individuality in meeting the needs and preferences of our residents in a home-like setting.

Countrywood Manor Assisted Living & Lakeview Place Alzheimer's Facility

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60139 Cotton Gin Port Rd | Amory, MS (662) 256-8406

Creekside Manor Assisted Living

Medicaid Waiver accepted 34

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200 Knight Drive | Saltillo, MS (662) 869-7009

Most Wanted:

She-Shed

By Carmen Cristo

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she-shed is the man-cave’s female counterpart — an escape from reality, to-do lists and those with whom a woman shares her home. Instead of poster-clad walls and oversized televisions, she-sheds are tranquil environments, full of creature comforts and space to decompress.

For Joan Ball, this means space to re-pot plants, gaze out the window at her raised bed garden and “just be.”

In 1991, Ball purchased her home in Belden’s Cedarbrook subdivision, a community of zero-lot-line homes. One day, she decided she was bored and decided to make good use of her limited space. Her yard has become her biggest project yet.

Ball has dabbled in everything — teaching, art, insurance, real estate, florals, antiques — but her true talent becomes obvious when you pull into her driveway. Her green thumb has touched every corner of the home she shares with her partner, Andy Daugherty, and their spaniels, Elvis and Alexander.

What began with a few herb beds is now a full-blown courtyard garden with trellises, a dining area, fountains,

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benches, vines and dozens of plants, labeled with teal placards that Ball admits are more for her than for visitors. Rosemary, the seasonally dressed scarecrow, keeps watch over the grounds. Ball even had a koi pond until she spotted a water moccasin. Her backyard paradise was created over several years with help from Andy.

“He can do anything,” Ball said. “People even call him ‘Handy Andy.’”

Daugherty’s most elaborate project was a souped-up addition to the back of the home that Ball requested to store her gardening supplies. What she got was a garden escape, with luxuries most cannot claim.

Ball’s she-shed features a cedar shake exterior and a custom stained-glass window that reads, “Potting Thyme.” Inside, you will find all the comforts of home — plenty of storage cabinets, heat and air, a television, refrigerator and microwave.

Books and pottery pieces line the shelves and brightly colored paintings cover the wood-paneled and brick walls. The large, antique porcelain sink has become the focal point of the room.

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It had belonged to Daugherty’s grandmother, whom Ball calls the “Martha Stewart of Renfroe, Mississippi.” On the opposite wall, a picture window overlooks the flowering beds and wooded expanse behind Ball’s small lot.

The space is made for relaxation, but little happens there.

“I never just sit,” said Ball. “There’s always something to do.”

Daugherty cannot take all the credit for the garden retreat.

Ball, with help from her friend Phillis Smedley, refinished her cabinets a perfectly distressed shade of green.

Even Ball’s storage room has a storage room. A door on the far wall leads to a closet lined with shelves that houses all the pieces of her many projects.

While Ball had a lot of help from Daugherty in the construction of her she-shed, it’s a space she enjoys alone.

“No boys allowed,” she said, half-jokingly.

With spring just around the corner, it is likely you will find Ball in her special place, preparing pots, planning this year’s garden or pondering her next Tupelo Garden Club presentation.

“It’s somewhere I just like to be,” she said. “It’s just sweet.”

It’s a garden shed fit for the “Martha Stewart” of Tupelo. M Photos by Lauren Wood 38

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Waco, Texas

Waco, Texas, has long been known for strange events – like David Koresh’s Branch Davidian cult and their standoff with the FBI, or the 2015 biker bar shootout. The city is even an answer to the absurd associations card game Apples to Apples, played to invoke unusual circumstances.

By April Clark

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The Alico is the tallest building in Waco.

Baylor University

Suspension Bridge

Balcones Distillery

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The gut pack at Viteks

Lovers’ Leap at Cameron Park

Cameron Park Zoo

B

ut lately, Waco is known for something more lighthearted – HGTV’s home renovation hit “Fixer Upper.” The show features Chip and Joanna Gaines, longtime Waco residents, as they turn the “worst house in the best neighborhood” into a dream home.

According to Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau, the annual visits jumped from an average of 700,000 to 1.9 million in 2016. Chip and Joanna can be credited with much of the city’s increase in popularity. The couple has created a home improvement culture in this Central Texas town that showcases its residents’ unique character and genuine hospitality – making it appealing to visitors of all kinds.

For the true “Fixer Upper” fan experience, visitors can stay at various homes featured on the show. Many of the Gaineses’ renovations are listed on sites like airbnb.com or vrbo.com, and can be rented for a single night or entire weekend. Avid viewers will recognize the “German Schmear”, “Mailander”, or “Waco Mid-Mod” houses from which to choose.

Any Waco trip revolves around a visit to Magnolia Silos Market, the home base of the Gaineses “Fixer Upper” operation. Pendergraft recommends allowing two hours to take in the full Magnolia experience, starting with a free trolley ride from downtown. Visitors can grab a Shiplap Cupcake (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream icing) or The Silo Cookie (a classic chocolate chip cookie with peanut butter chips and walnuts added) from Magnolia Bakery, browse the shop and warehouse and take a photo under the “Miles to Magnolia” sign. Kids can play under the pavilion, grab a bite for lunch from the food trucks parked nearby and try their hand at some of the yard games posted throughout the property. Before leaving the area, stop by the Findery, located a block away. The store shows off antiqued furniture and farmhouse chic items that have the same “Magnolia” feel.

Laden with packages of shiplap and JoJo-inspired decor, hop back on the trolley and get a loud-speaker tour of the town.

Scope out one of the many other antique shops, restaurants, and historic homes or head to the Dr Pepper Museum to see how Texas’s favorite beverage is made. If something catches the eye, simply ring the buzzer and the trolley driver will make a stop.

Waco Tours, operated by former “Fixer Upper” guests, including David Ridley (the show’s token “single guy”), will answer any question visitors might have about this Central

Magnolia Market at the Silos Texas gem. Book online and the guide will show up in a Mercedes van, stopping by all the major destinations including Cameron Park, the Suspension Bridge, Harp Design Co., and Baylor’s newly built McLane Stadium. Ridley and his colleagues started the company to fill the gap needed for the boost in tourism. “Waco has a lot more to offer than people realize,” Ridley said. “Eighteen museums, shopping, dining, a large water park. Some of our customers wish they would have stayed another week to see everything Waco has to offer.”

Another Waco staple is Baylor University. A beautiful, grassy campus that begs to be explored, Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas. The university boasts two live bear mascots named Lady and Joy who can be visited in their habitat or potentially be seen roaming campus alongside their skillful and trained handlers. After a tour of campus, grab an iced Cowboy Coffee at Common Grounds, the resident student hangout directly across 8th Street, where acts including Johnnyswim, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors and Dave Barnes can be seen playing in the evenings.

If traveling as a family, a trip to the outskirts of town would take you to Homestead Heritage, a community of families that lead simple lives and work in farming, trade and crafts.

Homestead Craft Village is open Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Their annual Thanksgiving fair, a local staple, boasts demonstrations, speakers, and food that offers a peek into their unique way of living. Guests can learn broommaking, watch an agricultural demonstration on beekeeping or goat milking, learn to cross stitch or simply drop by for some unique gifts.

Round out the trip with Balcones Distillery, home to such award-winning Scotch-style whiskies as “Texas Blue Corn Bourbon” or “Rumble Cask Reserve.” Their newly-renovated distillery will be open for tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays beginning in April. The fee of ten dollars includes a guided tour of the copper pot stills and a complimentary tasting.

End your day with dinner at any of Waco’s iconic restaurants.

Pendergraft recommends George’s, Health Camp, and Vitek’s as college-kid favorites, with menu items like chicken fried steak, burgers, and “gutpacks” — a souped-up version of a Frito Pie that includes beans, chopped beef, hot sausage, cheese, and onion piled high on top of a bed of Frito chips.

Though the nine-hour drive seems daunting from Tupelo, traveling to Waco for a girls’ trip, weekend getaway, or home improvement pilgrimage won’t disappoint. M

Photos from City of Waco Municipal Information mudandmag.com

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Greenery

By Stephen Thompson

P

antone’s 2017 Color of the Year is a zip-zipzippy, leaf-green color – the same color we see in early spring when tender green shoots first break ground. It’s a hopeful, crisp, happily upbeat, refreshing hue.

Some of you may be thinking, “Greenery is a bit too bright for my tastes. Do I really want it in my home?” As a designer I’m not sure why this color gets treated like an ugly stepchild (though redheads everywhere appreciate its flattering shade). This is a hue I’ve recommended for the past decade; it’s not a passing fad.

Use it correctly and your eyes will never tire of this green just as you’ll never tire of seeing trees.

When Greenery is used as an accent wall, or on a kitchen backsplash, or on small electrical appliances, it will refresh and energize your cooking area. The kitchen walls of a rental house was the first place I recall recomending this bright green – I paired it with stark white cabinets for a clean fresh feeling. If that’s too extreme for your tastes, refresh and energize your countertops with a small vignette of plants and herbs potted in a decorative green planter.

If you truly love this bright, yellowy shade of green, then use it in a big way for more impact. It will definitely grab people’s attention. Pair Greenery with warm whites and neutrals for a cleaner, tranquil vibe, or use it with bright white for a fun, contemporary feel. It’s an especially optimistic and bold choice for foyers and halls when used as a transition color between rooms. Use it as a focal point and it will give your space a springtime feeling. Greenery is incredibly dramatic as a wall color; use it correctly in mass and it will lift your spirits and keep them high. Fair warning: Though Greenery draws its very life from nature, be careful not to go overboard with it. Don’t drown a bedroom in this color. It will lose all of its freshness and get very heavy. Buoy your bedroom by buying green and preppy white stripe bedding, instead of drowning all four walls in green.

Count on Greenery to enhance your décor. Adding smaller touches of Pantone’s color of the year will add

a pop of brightness and a bit of freshness to most any room. Pair Greenery in small drops with other fun colors, like melon, lavender and sunny yellow – happy, curious colors that are neither too sweet nor too saturated. Check Pantone’s website. It shows no less than 10 distinctly different color palettes, all of which pair quite beautifully with Greenery.

Placing Greenery alongside soft tints of grays, blues and rose will counterbalance and mellow it. Black, white and vibrant neons electrify it. Greenery gives neutral colors an extra neutral pop. Pairing it with warm neutrals gives it an earthy, rooted feel. With navy it looks classic. With pink it inspires island fantasies. Grays grant it a mid-century feeling.

To copy Mother Nature, pair Greenery with deeper shades of green and neutrals; use succulent green plants as accents. Using Greenery on accessories will accent throw pillows, lamp bases, paintings, table settings, area rugs, and other small decor pieces. Even recovering an old, shabby chair in a solid-green or green-printed fabric will lift the energy of a room and elevate its mood without becoming too intense. Want a more eclectic look? It’s the perfect time to go shopping for bold Greenery accessory pieces; you’ll find them sold everywhere – from IKEA to Crate&Barrel to JCPenney to Walmart.

Try Pantone’s Greenery whenever you wish to rejuvenate, revitalize, and reconnect. Whether you’re going bold — and making a statement by painting several walls, or whether you are shy — and trying to be courageous and test Greenery by buying a couple of new throw pillows, there’s a beautiful decorating solution using Greenery that’s just perfect for you this year.

Live well – live in beauty! M Stephen Thompson – creating beautiful, tasteful interiors in north Mississippi since 1975. For consultations, comments, or questions contact Designer Connection, P.O. Box 361, Tupelo, MS 38802 or stephen2816@mac.com.

2017 Home Trends If you are looking for a change of scenery, look to our picks to guide your decisions. These trends are sure to be a hit this year.

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Paint trends: Grays are here to stay as the neutral, but the new color on the block is a deep purple hue. If you are looking to paint an accent piece or door, green and turquoise will make the perfect statement. These paint colors are available at Classic Finishes in Tupelo. mudandmag.com

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Accessories trend: Kilim rugs add character to a house like nothing else. Maybe it’s the history of which they’ve been part or maybe it’s the mix of colors and patterns, but one thing is for sure: They are worth the investment.

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Margaret Gratz at her home in Tupelo.

The Earth Lady Margaret Gratz is the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal’s “Earth Lady” columnist, Mississippi Magazine’s Garden Editor, a four-time author, a watercolor illustrator, nature photographer and Master Gardener. Above all, she is a nature-lover and a wellspring of knowledge on North Mississippi’s birds, butterflies and wildflowers.

By Carmen Cristo mudandmag.com

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Gratz has written 4 books.

“

Sometimes I have to put the camera away and just enjoy my garden.�

-Margaret Gratz

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Gratz paints watercolors of nature, most notably birds.

G

ratz grew up in Nettleton, but has resided in Tupelo’s Old Towne neighborhood for most of her adult life with her husband Michael B. Gratz. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

“I moved from one end of Town Creek to the other,” she said.

With all that she has accomplished, it is difficult to believe Gratz did not start writing until she was in her 40s. Her love of wildlife, however, can be traced all the way back to her childhood.

“My parents were birdwatchers, but I took it to a whole new level,” she said.

Gratz has identified more than 65 bird species in the area.

What she loves, she studies. She is a self-taught ornithologist, horticulturist, journalist and artist. Her first gig, “Wildflower Watch,” was unpaid. It was a newspaper column that identified different wildflowers indigenous to the region, complete with photographs. In 2006, she compiled her columns — four years’ worth — and published her first book.

In 2007, Gratz published “At Home in the Earth Lady’s Garden,” an illustrated log of all the creatures that had visited her garden, including reptiles, birds, butterflies and insects.

The book was a true labor of love, especially because the “Earth Lady” still commits her writings to pen and paper before typing them into the computer. Technology is not welcome in the Gratz garden. That is, except for her camera, which she must take out from time to time.

“Sometimes, I have to put the camera away and just enjoy my garden,” she admits. “Sometimes you just need to enjoy it.”

And her garden is built for just that. Tall walls surround the Charleston-style garden. There are fountains and spaces for observing the many visitors. Gratz’s approach to flowering plants does not discriminate. She has non-indigenous plants, but you won’t find her doing much weeding or spraying for pests. Not only is she especially fond of wildflowers, she also knows they’re necessary for attracting butterflies, bugs and birds. One of the trees in Gratz’s garden feeds famished hummingbirds that have just made the non-stop trip North.

“All in nature’s time,” she says. “Nature has perfect timing.”

Gratz’s third book, “Charlie on Safari,” published in 2010. A children’s story written for her grandson, it was a detour from her typical writing style, but not from her favorite topic. In the book, the main character Charlie, finds he does not have to travel to a far-away place to go on safari, because there are plenty of creatures to see in his own backyard.

“Butterflies, At Home in the Earth Lady’s Garden,” Gratz’s latest book, published in 2014. It identifies the more than 30 species of butterflies that frequent the Gratz garden. Like “Wildflower Watch,” it is equal parts field guide and true Southern storytelling, complete with photographs taken by Gratz in her own garden.

Gratz also finds time to volunteer for multiple causes and encourage preservation. She prefers to be “persuasive instead of preachy.” She believes, however, the natural beauty of our region speaks for itself.

“All you need is a field guide and a pair of binoculars,” she said. M Photos by Lauren Wood mudandmag.com

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©2016-JPC

I

n order to attract the right birds, you need to have the right birdhouse.

“Not all birds like the same house,” said Sandy Witt of Centerville. “The size of the entry hole varies by species as does the location of the opening and where the house is placed.

“But when the basic features are met, they will build. It doesn’t have to be fancy.”

While birds will set up residence for the season in a plain, no-frills house, some folks prefer to offer a more upscale abode for their feathered friends.

“Some of the fancier ones I build are intended to be inside decorations,” said Dale Smith of Tupelo. “But if the hole is the right size, they will get used.”

Smith goes all out for some of his fancier houses that feature doghouse dormers, trim, railings, gingerbread and spires. For some, he will even create miniature window boxes, complete with nail “flowers.”

“My wife designs the fancy ones and I figure out how to build them,” Smith said. “There is a lot of trial and error. Some of them, I will work on for a couple of weeks, spending a couple of hours a day.”

Carl Oglesby of Brewer likes to incorporate a bit of fun into his birdhouses. He has made them to resemble tractors as well as a train locomotive pulling several cars. He even made a log cabin with “shingles” made from pine cone seed scales.

“Whenever I run out of something to do, I go piddle in the shop and make birdhouses,” Oglesby said. “Every one I have put up (outside), they have used.”

Tailoring house to bird In Northeast Mississippi, birdhouses are most often used by wrens, Eastern bluebirds, sparrows and purple martins.

Wrens will build a nest almost anywhere there is a small opening and a small, cozy space. Bluebirds like a little larger house that faces out into an open field. Purple martins like to live in colonies at least 15 feet off the ground.

“Robins are pretty but like to nest on an open shelf,” Witt said. “Thrashes build their nests in bushes and trees. So do hummingbirds. And orioles are not big on houses.”

Blue birds prefer a house with a floor at least 4 inches square and around 8 inches tall. The 1.5-inch opening hole should be placed 6 inches above the floor. The house should be placed 5 to 6 feet off the ground facing an open area.

“Bluebirds are territorial and don’t like to be too close to other nesting pairs,” Witt said. “They can raise more than one hatching in the house in one year. I find they will come back if you clean out the house or not.”

A bluebird house will also be used by both wrens and sparrows.

Purple martins prefer six or more pairs in a colony, whether it is one large apartment-style house or several gourds placed close together. They like a 2.5-inch opening just a couple of inches above the floor. The houses need to be 15-20 feet off the ground.

“Martins leave in the winter and return in the spring,” Witt said. “The scouts will come back mid-February through early March. If they see a potential spot, they will tell the flock.”

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Witt said now is the time to set out birdhouses. As it continues to warm up and food plants become plenty, the urge to mate will compel birds to start building nests, whether in houses or in other locations.

Now is also the time to start leaving out nesting material. Knitting yard should be cut into small pieces so small birds can carry it away. Lint from the dryer (without perfumes) is another option and can be placed in a suet cage to keep it from blowing away.

Attracting birds While store-bought birdseed will do a good job of attracting birds and keep them coming back, there are plenty of native plants that will bring on birds by the scores.

According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service publication 2402 “Mississippi Recreational Gardens: Establishing a Backyard Wildlife Habitat,” there are plenty of native large and small trees that provide food for birds.

Blueberry, elderberry, American Beauty Berry and holly bushes are good food sources, as are most vines - including blackberry, honeysuckle, cypress vine and trumpet vine. Among the flowers birds love are bee balm, black-eyed Susan, Ironweed, coneflower, salvia and sunflowers.

“And remember to leave the flowers on the plant after they bloom so it will go to seed and give the birds something to eat,” Witt said. M Photos by Lauren Wood 62

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• Buyer’s Guide •

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• Buyer’s Guide • COMFORT ENGINEERING RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL HEATING • AIR CONDITIONING • VENTILATION

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(south of Sherman city limits)

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662-842-2467 fax Craig Murphy, Manager

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n ree th G Sou

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Assistant Manager Rent-A-Car Division

115 N Thomas Tupelo

Daybrite Drive

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Mark Young,

Mon-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-2 GIRLS: NEWBORN - SIZE 16 • BOYS: NEWBORN - SIZE 12

• Buyer’s Guide • Specializing in Employee Benefits for 27 Years

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Insurance

Brad Camp - Agent

Please call 662-234-3224 or email brad.camp@morganwhite.com

Senegence/Lipsense Distributor #177735

2139 McCullough Blvd. | Tupelo, MS

662.397.5995

www.prissypistols.com

online shop

Tshirts • Coffee Mugs • Digital Prints • Flour Sack Dish Towels

mudandmag.com/shopping

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Mill Village Revival

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After

Before

Part 1: The Strope Home

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We first heard about the Stropes and their plans for a Mill Village house they bought in April 2016 by reading an article in the Daily Journal written by home and garden editor Ginna Parsons. The couple’s journey started as a desire to downsize and turned into their tackling a major renovation project in one of Tupelo’s oldest neighborhoods. // Intrigued by the progress, we followed up with the Stropes and found they are near completion and hoping to be in the house by early spring. This is the first of a series we will do on the newly renovated Strope home and Mill Village.

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Meet the Owners: Lori and John Strope Why did you decide to buy a house that needed to be renovated?

John: We wanted to downsize, and we wanted an older house.

We looked for two years in other neighborhoods before we found something that suited us.

Lori: Meredith Martin, our Realtor, asked what it was I didn’t like about the other houses. When I told her I wanted more character, she suggested we look in Mill Village. John actually noticed this house first.

What made this house “home?”

Lori: I walked in the front door, and the feeling came over me that this was my house.

John: I had been in this house in 1972 or 1973 at a party. We found out who the owner was, and because Lori used to work at justice court, she knew him. We met with him the next day. Lori just smiled and tried not to act too anxious. I’m an engineer, so I thought, “What will I have to do to live in this place?” I bounced on the floors and checked out the walls. I didn’t see anything that would stop us.

What has been your favorite part of the process?

John: Seeing results. Like the floors, for instance. We had to rebuild them, replace boards. When you grind them, sand them, and then put finish on, you stand back and think, “Wow, this is fantastic.”

What has been the most challenging aspect?

Lori: The roof was bad, and the ceilings were bowed. John got on a scaffold and pounded the ceiling. I shoveled it into a wheelbarrow, and then we buried it in the backyard. We work all day, every day, even on weekends.

How did you begin?

Lori: The side was enclosed. It was so dark. The first day, I told John those walls had to come down. That was week one.

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Is this your final home project?

John: Yes! Lori: I love the neighborhood, and the house, of course.

Why do you think Mill Village is becoming such a popular spot for renovating homes?

John: The old houses have such character. What the city has done to protect them helps, too.

Lori: If people knew what we know, they’d be flocking to live here. We already know our neighbors better here than we did in our home of more than 20 years. Since we are all in the same boat, living in old houses, we have a lot to talk about.

We are also big walkers and are excited about being able to walk downtown and pop in Crave for a cup of coffee or Simply Sweet for bread.

How do you plan to preserve the history of the home?

John: We’re keeping as much of the house as we can — the plaster, mouldings, sink, a couple lighting fixtures. With the city’s historic restrictions, there’s a lot we can’t do, and I’m OK with that.

Lori: In the summer, we would keep the doors open. People would stop and ask if they could come inside. We got a lot of comments from people that were glad we were keeping much of the home the same.

What would you say to someone who wants to renovate an old home?

John: Two things I told Lori when we got into this — it’s going to cost more than we planned and take longer than we planned.

Lori: We had planned to be in the first of the year, but here we are. Anyone who wants to do it on their own will need help from someone with a basic knowledge of renovation. I couldn’t have done it without John. M

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M&M

Dining Guide RUSH HOUR

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for more recipes visit mudandmag.com.

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Voted for

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M&M

Dining Guide

Family Restaurant • 20 Wings (bone-in or bone-out) • Large Cheese Stick • 2 Liter Coke

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Hometown Pizza

1159 N Frontage, Baldwyn

(662) 365-2822

exp. 2/28/17

• Large Specialty Pizza • 8” Cheese Stick • 2 Liter Coke

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Hometown Pizza

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920 HWY 72 E. • CORINTH • 662-284-4646 3061 TUPELO COMMONS • TUPELO • 662-840-1700 MON. - THU. 11 - 9 • FRI. & SAT. 11 - 9:30 • SUN. 11 - 9

Food Section Every Wednesday!

Don’t miss the tips, features and recipes! mudandmag.com l

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From the Compost Pile of Dale Smith Many of us could look at our garbage can at any given time and find egg shells, fruit and veggie scraps or coffee grounds. And many of us have it picked up every week. And then some of us go buy fertilizer for our plants. Composting provides a way to turn trash into treasure and Master Gardener Dale Smith has much experience with the matter (pun intended).

Here are his tips to begin: • Keep the compost pile moist, not dripping wet.

• Turn the pile often.

• Chop all ingredients into small pieces for faster decomposition.

• Keep a container in the kitchen for veggie waste, egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. These are all considered “green” (nitrogen) ingredients.

• Avoid dairy products, meat, bones, fat, grease, and pet litter.

• Collect, store, and use lots of shredded fall leaves. These are considered “brown” (carbon) ingredients.

• Always keep added ingredients covered with a thin layer of shredded leaves.

• Aerate the pile by punching holes into the pile with a heavy bar.

• Insert a 5+-inch-diameter roll of hardware cloth into the top center of the pile to enhance air circulation.

• Use grass clippings sparingly, “green” nitrogen ingredients, only if they are free of any herbicides or pesticides.

• You are not making compost. The microbes, insects, arachnids (spiders, etc.), and earthworms are making it.

Your duty is to keep them happy by providing them with air circulation, food, and water.

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Smith in his composting area

DOSSETT BIG 4

628 S GLOSTER ST | TUPELO | 662-842-4162 | DOSSETTBIG4.COM

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