Mud & Magnolias October 2018

Mud&Magnolias October.

OctoberNovember 2018 2013

The Men's Issue

A Man's Best Friend â—? Fossil Park Corinth Farmhouse â—? Prairie Wildlife mudandmag.com

l

1

499 Gloster Creek Village, Ste G1 | Tupelo, MS 38801 | www.oinms.com 2

l

mudandmag.com

mudandmag.com

l

3

TUPELO

Anna Beth Browning

Jaz Buchanan

Jennifer Brown

Morgan Brewer

Kelly Anderson

Merisa Baker

Chanda Cossitt

Dennis Cox

Jenny Decker Team

Frances Dempsey

Jessica Dozier

Brad Franks

Sue Golmon

Casee Goodman

Susan Griffin

Jennifer Harrelson

April Haynes

Henley Properties Team

Carol Horne

James Hunter

Todd Jordan

Katie Kalinowski

Kevin Knight

Melissa Knotts

Tina Lusk

Meredith Martin

Amanda May

Michelle McAuley

Whitney McNutt

Amanda Miller

Anita Nunnelee

Jan Phillips

Chris Rakestraw

Tina O’Quinn

TUPELO | OXFORD 210 East Main St., Tupelo, 662.842.3844 • 2092 Old Taylor Rd., Oxford, 662.234.5344

Carrie Satterfield

Sadie Smith

Deborah Tierce

Sarah Williams

Wade Magill

Monte Smith

Brandon Speck

Ron Smith

Brenda Spencer

Janet Suggs

Linda Swinney

Kayla Tabler

Will Troxler

Mitzie Ward

Greg Warren

Laurie Webb

Forest Williams

Camie Winstead

Kim Wood

Mary Ann Elmore

Lisa Grant

Jessica Harris

Wendy Parker

Debbie Russell

Gail Wilemon

Tommy Morgan

Annette Newborn

OXFORD Stan Abel

Caroline Felker

Vic Sullivan

Benjamin Bowen

Don Gleason

Blake Thompson

Paula Crum

Chris Dicus

Sean Hettinger

Max Hill

Plicca Watt

Polina Wheeler

Weesie McGuire

Betty Wiseman

Eileen Saunders

Nicole Wright

tmhomes.com

TUPELO | OXFORD 210 East Main St., Tupelo, 662.842.3844 • 2092 Old Taylor Rd., Oxford, 662.234.5344

Don’t create clutter buying tools you’ll only use once.

Simplify your life by renting from Busylad.

6

l

mudandmag.com

M

Contents

Mud&Magnolias

pg. 27

pg. 41

pg. 61

pg. 70

Features Editor’s Letter pg. 8 Grilling Recipes pg. 11 Who says summer is grilling season?

With cooler temperatures on the way, fall is a great time to try these grilling recipes.

A Man's Best Friend pg. 18 These three men know the old adage to be true: Dogs really are man's best friend.

Collecting With The King pg. 41 Kenny King has been collecting bugs for nearly 20 years.

Knotted Pine Trading Co. • pg. 27

A Fulton-based husband-and-wife duo are designing gear you'll want to take on your next outdoor adventure.

Prairie Wildlife • pg. 32

Preservation is the name of the game at Prairie Wildlife in West Point. The hunting preserve specializes in quail but offers visitors all kinds of outdoors activities.

Woodwork & Wicks • pg. 47

Entrepreneurship runs in the family for the Blackfords. From woodworking to handmade candles, they're putting their crafts on the map.

The Farmhouse • pg. 61

The Stricklens love creating one-of-a-kind getaways. Their latest project is an old silo turned cozy weekend home.

W.M. Browning Fossil Park pg. 52 Fossil-hunting in Northeast Mississippi. Who would have thought? Our guide to finding prehistoric treasures at W.M. Browning Fossil Park.

Men's Fashion pg. 70 Get inspiration for your outdoor #ootd with these fall looks.

Favorite Trails pg. 74 A round-up of some of the best trails and campgrounds in our area.

You don't have to travel far to find some amazing spots for outdoor fun. mudandmag.com

l

7

M

Editor’s Letter

When people ask who the typical Mud & Magnolias reader is I often say our target audience is women in the North Mississippi area. And while that may be true for the majority, I often have men tell me about a story they read or how much they enjoyed a recipe. So a couple of years ago as we were planning our editorial calendar, the staff decided to dedicate one issue to our male readers.

Of course this doesn't mean that women won't enjoy this issue or that men won't enjoy other issues. There are many cool stories in this issue no matter who you are. One of my favorites is "A Man's Best Friend" on page 18. I couldn't let this issue go to press without showing off one of my own fur babies (see photo taken by Mud & Mag's own Lauren Wood).

That cutie's name is Rhett and I honestly don't remember life before him. I obviously can relate to Neil, John and Bud and hopefully you can, too! Rhett loves being outside and I'm excited for cooler temps so we can visit the fossil park on page 52 and the trails readers suggested on page 74. And maybe after a long day of exploring the great outdoors, I will find myself by a grill, surrounded by friends, enjoying one of the recipes on page 11. I'm looking forward to the calm before the holiday frenzy. Happy fall, y'all!

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

Over at mudandmag.com: Shop our style: Our online store features T-shirts, coffee mugs, digital prints and dish towels with art and designs by local Mississippi artists.

Check out our video on Kenny King and his love of bugs on page 41. + narratives, videos and extended photo galleries

facebook.com/mudandmagnolias

8

l

mudandmag.com

@mudandmagnolias

Mud & Magnolias

@mudandmagnolias

Mud

& 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 Emma Kent

Featured Sales Consultants

Have you signed up for our newsletter?

• Delivered to your inbox every Monday.

• Be the first to see new content.

• Get in the know with events, special promotions and more!

• Sign up at mudandmag.com.

Do you have a story to tell?

We are looking for personal narratives from our community of readers. Maybe you meal-prepped for a week and have tips to share. Maybe you have dealt with infertility and believe someone could benefit from your story. Maybe your story fits our mission.

Submit at mudandmag.com/personal-narrative.

Leigh Knox Bill Spencer June Phillips Darla Webb Shelley Ozbirn Amber Lancaster Teresa McDonald Krystal Anderson

Contributing Editors Leslie Criss Dillon Mullan

Contributing Photographers Adam Robison Thomas Wells

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

Mud & Magnolias reserves the right to deny any submission we deem inappropriate or simpy not in line with our overall editorial vision.

mudandmag.com

l

9

Murphree’s

SMILE DESIGNERS

e e Fr -rays X X

With Every Adult Exam & Cleaning During the Month of October For Existing & New Patients!

Some people's taste is only in their mouth.

All others pick Magnolia Brick.

602 Pegram Drive • Tupelo • (662) 842-7154 • (662) 346-6433

Get your new FALL LOOK at 169 HWY 6 E. Suite 108 Oxford, MS 38655 662.371.1977 2027 McCullough Blvd.

Tupelo, MS 38801 662.840.8221 3265 McCullough Blvd • Tupelo • 840-5555 mudandmag.com 10 www.BelleAmeSalonAndSpa.com l

www.magnoliabrick.com

On the Grill RECIPES

Step aside, summer. With cooler temperatures and fresh produce, fall is the new season for grilling.

Stuffed mini peppers, recipe on page 16

mudandmag.com

l

11

Available at:

SALES & SERVICES 5005 Cliff Gookin Blvd Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 844-0308 2500 University Drive Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 380-5073

Magnolia Lighting

Hernando · Oxford · Tupelo · Ridgeland

12

l

Residential Lighting | Ceiling Fans Door Hardware | Accessories mudandmag.com

Your Premier Lighting Store & So Much More... www.magnolialighting.com

Grilled cabbage wedges, recipe on page 16

mudandmag.com

l

13

Grilled lemon chicken drumsticks, recipe on page 16

14

l

mudandmag.com

Catering...Weddings, Tailgating, &

Company Christmas Dinners

l 662-231-0380 | www.kingďŹ sherlodgetupelo.com mudandmag.com

15

Recipes STUFFED MINI PEPPERS Ingredients: 1 pound mini bell peppers, halved and seeds removed 6-8 ounce goat cheese log 1 large jalapeño, finely chopped Directions: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, or about 400 degrees. Cut peppers in half and remove the seeds. Chop jalapeño and remove seeds to make less spicy. Place the peppers on the grill cut side up. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, until they have softened and have grill marks. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly. In a bowl, mix together goat cheese and jalapeño. Stuff each pepper half with the goat cheese mixture. Serve immediately.

GRILLED CABBAGE WEDGES Ingredients: 1 head of green cabbage 1/4 cup lime juice (from about 2 limes) 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon fish sauce 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1/4 cup cilantro leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon sugar Lime wedges, for garnish Grapeseed or canola oil Directions: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Blend the lime juice, olive oil, fish sauce, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, cayenne and sugar in a food processor or small blender. Set aside. Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage, and cut into 8 wedges. Leave the stalk and core. Lightly brush the wedges with grapeseed or canola oil.

Place the wedges on the grill and cover.

Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the edges begin to blacken and the cabbage begins to soften. Flip, cover and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Cook for more time if you would like it be softer/more well-done. Remove from the grill, and arrange the wedges on a plate. Pour

16

l

mudandmag.com

the dressing over the top and serve immediately, with lime wedges for garnish.

GRILLED LEMON CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS Ingredients: 3 pounds chicken drumsticks 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons dried oregano 4 cloves of garlic, minced 2 teaspoons sea salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 lemons, for zest and juice Directions: Whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Pat the drumstricks dry with paper towel, and add to a large bowl or baking dish.

Pour the marinade over the chicken, and toss to coat. Cover the dish and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill on mediumhigh heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the grill.

Cook until golden brown and cooked throughly, about 20-30 minutes. Rest for five minutes before serving. Garnish with additional lemon or oregano, if desired. M

Superior Selfies with invisalign ®

We Customize Our Carts For You

Tailgating | Hunting Cruising | Golf

502 Air Park Rd. | Tupelo | 662-620-7242 bogeyboysgolfcarts.com

And, we’ll keep you smiling with ...

$500 Invisalign Discount & FREE Zoom Whitening* ®

*Offer available to qualified patients participating in Invisalign aligners treatment. Free Zoom Whitening available at the completion of treatment. Offer limited to Invisalign® treatment only. Offer expires10/31/18.

Hurry, limited time offer!

Make your appointment today!

Dr. Brett Hildenbrand, D.M.D.

Tupelo Small Animal Hospital

662-840-4722

“We treat them like our own.”

2018 DAILY JOURNAL READERS CHOICE AWARD WINNER

mainstreetfamilydentistry.com

Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.

2096 S. Thomas St. • Tupelo • 662-840-0210 Stephen K. King, D.V.M.; Glenn S. Thomas, D.V.M. Deanna M. Van Camp, D.V.M.

CAMP TUPELO BOARDINGl mudandmag.com

17

18

l

mudandmag.com

A MAN'S BEST FRIEND

By Leslie Criss

“The dog has been esteemed and loved by all the people on earth and he has deserved this affection for he renders services that have made him man's best friend.” – Alfred Barbou

T

he extreme love affair humans have had with their furry, four-legged canine companions has been lauded by poets, philosophers and kings alike.

Homer may have been one of the earliest when he penned “The Odyssey” near the end of the 8th century B.C. Odysseus had loved his Argos as a pup, but had long been away from him as he fought Troy for 10 years and spent another 10 trying to get home.

And when he finally made it home, an old and dying Argos alone remembered his master.

In 1764, Voltaire wrote of the dog, “… it is the best friend man can have."

King Fredrick of Prussia referred to his beloved Italian greyhound as his best friend in the late-1700s.

Much later in 1941, Ogden Nash began his “An Introduction to Dogs,” with this: “The dog is man’s best friend. He has a tail on one end. Up in front he has teeth. And four legs underneath.”

It’s clear, from literature to life, the loyalty and love of dogs are great gifts to humanity. They truly are man’s best friend. mudandmag.com

l

19

the Perfect Gift

We’re With YOU Featuring Pediatrics Physician, Dr. Renee Jones

353 Highway 15 North | Pontotoc, MS 38863 662.490.1985 20

l

mudandmag.com

www.mississippicare.net

Neil & Levon A weekend visit to the Tupelo Flea Market one weekend about four years ago led to an unexpected purchase for Neil and Rachel Alford of Tupelo.

Their shopping list did not include a puppy. Still, they stopped and looked. The 6-week-old Australian shepherd fit in Neil Alford’s hand.

“My wife and I had a discussion, and she won,” he said, laughing softly. “She brought him home.”

The tri-colored pup, now 4, was named Levon for musical reasons.

“When I was younger – and even now – I was a big fan of The Band,” said the 32-year-old Alford.

Levon Helm, who died in 2012, was a vocalist and the drummer of The Band.

For a while now, Levon has spent his afternoons at Chickasaw Equipment Company in Tupelo, surrounded by all sizes of tractors, mowers, utility vehicles and more.

“He chases every 4-wheeler or forklift or whatever he can out here,” Alford said.

After the chase, Levon can often be found soundly sleeping under Alford’s desk.

He also enjoys greeting customers.

“Our customers look for him when they come in,” Alford said.

“Some folks come by just to see the dog. He’s usually down here about 40 hours a week. If he wasn’t coming here with me, he would have destroyed our house.”

Australian shepherds are high-energy.

“I take him with me on bike rides on trails off the Trace,” Alford said. “The first mile and a half, I can barely keep up with him – he has one speed and that is wide open. But the last part of the ride, he can’t keep up with me.”

The bond between man and his dog likely grew stronger after a frightening experience in June 2017.

“If I go anywhere, he comes with me,” Alford said. “I was going to look at a tractor trade and I was kind of lost, not sure where I was going. My truck topped a hill on a two-lane road and a car was coming right at me in my lane.”

Alford tried to avoid a collision, hit one ditch, then another and then his truck began flipping.

“I blacked out and when I came to an ambulance was there,” he said. “I called my wife and she asked, ‘Where’s the dog?’ I didn’t know.”

Folks at the site said they’d seen an injured dog run away from the truck.

Neil Alford was taken to the hospital, knowing he was lucky to be alive. His wife posted on Facebook about Levon and it was shared many times.

Several days later, the Alfords received a call – Levon had shown up on a lady’s front porch not too far from the accident site. He had a broken front leg.

“He was in a cast and a cone for six weeks,” Alford said of Levon. “He was not too happy about either.”

These days, the two are doing fine and enjoying time spent together at work. “But when we get home, he follows my wife everywhere.” mudandmag.com

l

21

John & Pee Wee

John Willis Jr.’s constant companion is a 7-year-old miniature chihuahua formerly known as Trina.

She belonged to the folks next door in Willis’ Tupelo neighborhood when he began noticing the puppy.

“One day I came home to find her tied to a tree in the middle of a rain storm,” Willis said.

He mentioned it to the puppy’s owners who told him they had no time to take care of her.

“I made up my mind that day of the rain storm that I was going to get up my nerve and take that dog,” said the 82-yearold Willis. “My wife told me I couldn’t do that, but I didn’t listen.”

One Sunday in 2012, when Trina was about a year old, Willis was ready. His wife Willie Mae Day left for church and Willis began fixing his breakfast.

“I went out to my shed for something,” he said, “And I heard this little voice. She was tied to the tree again. I went over and saw the food in her food bowl was moving because it was filled with red ants. She was sitting right next to a nest of ants. I took the chain off her and she ran straight over to my house.”

The rest? History.

Trina became Pee Wee – “I didn’t like Trina, and Pee Wee just fit.”

A trip to the veterinarian brought a diagnosis of heart worms and intestinal parasites. Pee Wee also had a cracked bone in her foot.

Willis and Pee Wee made a trip to the Animal Health Center at Mississippi State University, where Willis told vets to fix his 22

l

mudandmag.com

sweet pup, “regardless of the cost.”

After he had Pee Wee for three or four weeks, Willis’ neighbor saw him with Pee Wee out in the yard.

“He stopped and told me he knew the dog was in a good place,” Willis said.

A music teacher, minister, musician, former baseball player and insurance salesman, tall, lanky Willis enjoys spending time at the piano each day.

When his hands are moving up and down the keyboard, little Pee Wee listens intently from her perch on a gold throw pillow in her master’s lap. Sometimes Willis lifts his voice in song as he plays, and Pee Wee often drifts off to sleep with her ears remaining at attention.

After lunch every day, Willis and Pee Wee nap together, and at night, the 6 1/2-pound pup sometimes falls asleep on the couch, but “80 percent of the time, she ends up sleeping with me.”

Pee Wee usually goes in the car when Willis runs errands, unless he’s going to be inside a store for a longer period of time.

It’s those times when Pee Wee sits just inside the front door of the family’s home, waiting on Willis to return.

He doesn’t even like to think of life without his four-legged friend.

“She has completely changed my life,” Willis said. “I am more settled, more loving, more calm. I’m a different person since Pee Wee came along.”

Digestive Health Specialists, P.A.

Digestive Health Specialists specializes in the treatment of

Heartburn | Acid Reflux | Diarrhea | Constipation | Loss of Appetite | Weight Loss | Nausea | Stomach Pain | Difficulty Swallowing and other digestive diseases as well as Colon Cancer screening Roger L. Huey, M.D. Noel K. Hunt, M.D. C. Allen Justice, M.D.

Stephen T. Amann, M.D. John B. Averette, M.D. Christopher H. Decker, M.D.

Barney J. Guyton, M.D. Emeritus

589 Garfield Street Suite 201 • Tupelo

(662) 680-5565

W. Garrett Ogg, M.D. John O. Phillips, M.D. Robert B. Smith, M.D.

W. Ross Stone, M.D. Ashley L. Vaughn, CFNP Mary Ellen Mitchell, CFNP

Samuel C. Pace, M.D. Emeritus

W. Carl Kellum, Jr 1952-2006

For Appointment Information call 118 Fairfield Drive New Albany

(662) 680-5565

Vicki A. Fitzgerald, CFNP Leslie E. Peterson, CFNP Stephanie B. Atkinson, CFNP

1-877-942-7876 • dhsgi.net

300 Hospital Rd. Starkville

(662) 324-7484

Design Services - Indoor/Outdoor Decor - Gifts Northeast Mississippi’s exclusive casual & outdoor furniture store.

106 S. Industrial Rd. Tupelo, MS 38801 • 662-840-6145 • keepitcasual.coml mudandmag.com

23

Residential • Commercial • Computer Design • Free Estimates

All Types of Countertops & Cabinets • Kitchen • Bath • Mantles • Desk • Built-ins • Islands 24

l

Dan Moore • P.O. Box 266 3031 Hwy 371 - Mantachie, MS 38855 Phone: 662-282-7683 • Cell: 662-213-3415

mudandmag.com

Bud, Obie & Lucy

Bud Nelson grew up with dogs.

“We had German shepherds, beagles, an Irish setter once, several feists,” said the 62-year-old finance manager of Ashley Bedding.

That was when he was a young boy in Alabama and Tennessee, and later when his family moved to Tupelo when Nelson was a high school freshman.

When Nelson graduated from college and married his wife Lynn, “there was a succession of cats,” until the couple headed one afternoon to Toys ‘R’ Us for a birthday present for the child of friends.

“There was a red pickup truck by the mall, selling boxer puppies,” Nelson said.

The two stopped, Lynn Nelson held a puppy and “I ended up at the ATM getting money for a dog.”

He’s had a bias for boxers ever since.

These days, Obie is the boxer at the Nelson house. The handsome boy is 6 and a lover of attention.

And then there’s 2-year-old Lucy.

“We were looking for a small black-and-white dog,” Nelson said. “We thought it would be good to have one big dog and a small terrier-type.”

Lucy showed up injured at the Nelsons’ veterinary clinic.

They went to meet her and fell in love.

The two pups, who bonded almost immediately, love to hang out with Nelson. Anytime they hear him say the word ‘go,”

they are going crazy to get to the car.

“They know we’re either going to doggie day care or to Starbucks,” Nelson said. “They’ve got to have their puppuccinos.”

A guitar player, Nelson enjoys playing whenever he can. The dogs love it, his wife said.

“I’ll walk by the room when he’s playing, and the dogs will just be sitting at attention, looking up at him,” Lynn Nelson said.

Neither Lucy nor Obie are allowed to run loose, so Nelson said he spends a good bit of time with his dogs in the backyard where there’s a swimming pool both dogs purposefully avoid.

Regarding dogs as “man’s best friend,” Nelson whole-heartily agrees.

“They are the only creatures in the world that will love you unconditionally,” he said. “And that is what that is all about.

That’s how they are. It doesn’t matter what you do or what you’re going to do. They love you, and that’s a nice thing.”

Nelson said their lives are fuller – and busier – with Obie and Lucy in them.

“We get to take care of them, bond with them, do fun stuff with them – even if it’s just to go to the park or Starbucks, and we get to post about them on Facebook and talk about them,” he said. “I have friends who don’t understand why I have dogs.

They simply don’t know what they are missing. M

mudandmag.com

l

25

HOLLAND’S COUNTRY BUFFET 662-690-1188 3952 N. Gloster Suite A Tupelo, MS

10%off eXCLUDES SATURDAY

Lunch $8.99 MON-FRI 11:00A - 4:00P $9.99 SAT 11:00A - 4:00P $10.99 sun 11:00a - 4:00p

Dinner $12.99 MON-FRI 4:00p - 9:00P

Looking for relief from an enlarged prostate without medication or major surgery?

Seafood Buffet

• Brief outpatient procedure • Minimally invasive; sedation only • Less than 24 hours downtime • No sexual side effects • No heating or removal of tissue • Often replaces BPH medications

Includes All You Can Eat Steak As Cook To Order

$22.99 sat 4:00P - 9:00P

Performed by: Paul B. Farabaugh, M.D., FACS W. Hughes Milam, M.D., FACS C. Stephen Farmer II, M.D., FACS J. Timothy Posey, M.D., FACS Jonathan R. Kalish, M.D., FACS William Sherrer, M.D., FACS Kristopher W. Whitehead, M.D.

OPENING DAY: SEPTEMBER 29 Open Monday- Friday for groups and field trips Saturday 10am - 6pm • Sunday 1pm - 6pm 229 County Road 295, Shannon, MS (Just outside Tupelo) General Admission: $10 INCLUDES a pumpkin Kids 2 and under FREE Hayride to Pumpkin Patch • Train Rides • Tire Playground Concession Stand • Jumbo Slides • Petting Zoo Country Store • Corn Maze • Corn Pit • Jumping Pad Call Wanda Mask at (662) 790-4670 or (662) 610-8074 for field trip pricing and to schedule your fall field trip today!

CAN’T TO SEE Y’ALL ON THE FARM! mudandmag.com 26 WAIT l

Knotted Pine Trading Co.

By Dillon Mullan

mudandmag.com

l

27

662.365.8087

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

20

$

00

Mon - Fri 10 am - 6:30 pm Sat 10 am - 4 pm

Cute Tees

Hometown Pizza

1159 N Frontage, Baldwyn

(662) 365-2822

exp.10/30/18 7/31/17 exp.

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

24

$

00

290 W. Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS

Hometown Pizza

1159 N Frontage, Baldwyn

662.365.9876

(662) 365-2822

exp.

7/31/17 exp.

10/30/18

1159 North Frontage Road Baldwyn, MS | 662.365.2822

Baby Items New Shipment of T-Shirts

107 EAST MAIN Historic Downtown Baldwyn Now Booking!

662.401.2051 662.790.4914 28

l

mudandmag.com

MON - FRI 8:30 AM - 6 PM SAT 10 AM - 4 PM

Shop Local

294 Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS

A

t first glance, Knotted Pine Trading company is nothing new. The Fulton-based business that sells shirts, hats and stickers has plenty of market competition from well-established national stores and other outdoor apparel companies. But a closer look at the rugged Jeeps, wild bears and scenic sunsets on its merchandise reveals why Knotted Pine is special.

Johnathon Burns draws each design by hand. His creations often start on a Post-It note before moving to paper. Then they’re digitized on his tablet before finally being printed on a shirt. With attention to detail and hand-drawn originality, Burns and his wife Hannah are growing their trading company from a doodler's day dream into a recognizable brand with a consistent presence in stores, on the back of cars and with outdoor lovers across the region.

"The thing that sets us apart is that he hand draws everything before it goes on the shirt. That says a lot. There's a lot of companies that don't go that far into it or spend that much time on it," Hannah Burns said. "He does a lot that I think are great, but he'll be like 'oh, no no, we can't use that one.' Sometimes it takes a while, but the final products are always worth it."

The couple met in high school in Farmerville, Louisiana, where classmates used to request Johnathon to sketch them pictures. While in art school, he took a job at clothing company Couture Tee before moving to Mississippi to design for Master Grafix in Tupelo. Burns gained confidence in his ability to start his own company after years of success as both an in-house designer and a freelancer for large companies like Patagonia and Drake Waterfowl. With Knotted Pine, he is able mudandmag.com

l

29

to control the entire creative process.

"When I would be out shopping at the mall and see four or five of my designs from different companies, I would be like 'somebody likes something. I'm definitely doing something right'," Johnathon Burns said. "Since my designs had sold so well throughout the country for others, I really knew that doing the things I loved and wanted to do as opposed to what somebody else wanted me to do would be successful."

Johnathon spent a year preparing Knotted Pine's first designs before the company officially launched in September 2017. One year later, 15 different retailers in six states are selling their shirts, stickers, sunglasses straps and shorts. Currently, the couple has a sun room full of products, but are in the process of opening their own warehouse. Reed's was the first local business to sell Knotted Pine merchandise, and they've since been picked up by Square Gift Shop, Tin Roof, The Red Door and Rock & Co., among others.

The inspiration for Knotted Pine is as authentic as the original designs. Johnathon would rather be kayaking or mountain biking, and the couple drives a raised Jeep Cherokee XJ with a roof rack that belongs next to a campsite. Their motto is 'Always Wander.'

"The idea started just from growing up in Louisiana and just spending a bunch of time hiking, camping and being outdoors.

In Louisiana there are a ton of pine trees. That's pretty much the only tree there," Johnathon Burns said. "That's where Knotted Pine comes from. It's my love for illustration and design and the outdoors all mixed together."

While Johnathon quit his in-house design job to start Knotted Pine, Hannah has been working full time during the company's first year. Now that they've established themselves, she's planning on taking on a larger role to manage shipping and social media. Johnathon produces a fall and spring line each year and hopes to continue expanding in the Southeast while also turning attention north and west toward California.

As the company grows in success, the Burnses are still always happy to see their work in the wild.

"We always take a picture and send it to one another if we see somebody wearing one of our shirts or one of our decals on the back of somebody's car," Johnathon said. "Like wow. people like what we're putting out enough to put it on a car or buy a shirt. That's always cool to see." M

THE

Bride & Groom TRUNK SHOW! November 15 - 17, 2018 15% Discount on all Special Orders!

CURRENTLY BOOKING APPOINTMENTS

Awarded “Best Mother of the Bride/Groom Selection in Mississippi!”

120 5th St. South Historic Downtown Columbus (662) 3-BRIDES thebrideandgroomms.com

32

l

mudandmag.com

Prairie Wildlife

By Emma Kent

mudandmag.com

l

33

Give Those Extra Pounds the Boot Adipex PÂŽ | Phentermine Lipotropic Injection Now Available Habla Espanol

Initial Visit

Only $25 5715 E. Shelby Drive | Memphis, TN

(between Hickory Hill and Mendenhall)

(901) 362-7546 | www.mediplandiet.com

34

l

mudandmag.com

O

n many a crisp fall morning in West Point, you’ll likely find the folks at Prairie Wildlife preparing to begin an all-day hunt. Breakfast is at 8 a.m., and hunters emerge from their rooms at the lodge, ambling toward coffee and breakfast made by one of Prairie’s two chefs. They gather in the lodge’s common room, fueling up for the day beneath the mammoth vaulted ceiling and surrounded by walls adorned with taxidermied trophies.

October marks the beginning of quail season, and those who wish to hunt the wild birds travel to Prairie Wildlife to do so in the preserve’s restored Black Prairie habitat.

The habitat is in Clay County’s Blackland Prairie region, which is part of a larger, crescent-shaped area of the dark soil known as the Black Belt that stretches from Mississippi into Alabama. It’s one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.

Guides will soon arrive to pick up the group, and they’ll load up in muddy Land Rovers, headed toward the wildlife preserve’s many open fields to hunt. With the exception of a break for lunch back at the lodge, the day is spent hunting quail (known as “wingshooting”) and exploring the preserve’s sprawling 6,000 acres.

“It’s the best-kept secret in the world,” said Prairie’s general manager Bennie Atkinson.

Prairie Wildlife began nine years ago when owner Jimmy Bryan decided to turn the former cattle ranch into a hunting preserve.

When he was younger, Bryan hunted quail in the West Point area in the 1950s and 1960s. The quail population

mudandmag.com

l

35

Tucci’s pastel work

Let Us Help You With Your Next Chapter:

Buying a Home NATURAL & ARCHITECTURAL STONE 2695 MCCULLOUGH BLVD. • TUPELO CALL (662) 407-0490

online shop

Home Loans Made Simple.

Tshirts • Coffee Mugs • Digital Prints Flour Sack Dish Towels 36

mudandmag.com l mudandmag.com/shopping

All loans subject to credit approval. Rates and fees subject to change. Mortgage financing provided by Primelending,a PlainsCapital Company. Equal Housing Lender.© 2018 Primelending, a PlainsCapital Company. Primelending, a PlainsCapital Company (NMLS: 13649) is a wholly owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in MS. V021216.

"It's the best-kept secret in the world." -Bennie Atkinson

mudandmag.com

l

37

& Tiny Sister’s Children’s Clothing

We have relocated to 705 West Main St. | Tupelo Between Stone's Jewelry & Family Dollar Store

Tins Available For Any Occasion!

Now accepting orders for Holiday gifts!

Tuesday 10:30a-4:00p Wed-Sat 10:30a-9:00p

Happy Hour 2-4 Every Day $1 Ice Cream Cones $1 Hot Dogs 1/2 Price Teas & Sodas

Voted Best Burgers, Best French Fries, & Best Ice Cream in Chickasaw County

662-844-1660

caramelcornshop.com

Mon.-Fri. 10a-5:30p | Saturday 10a-4p

601 W Madison St. | Houston 456-2419

PEARSON’S

DISCOUNT DRUGS DRUGS • • • • • •

Pharmacy Soda Fountain Earth Grace Sassy Pants Pottery Melissa & Doug Stephen Joseph

mudandmag.com 38Eastl Washington 101 • Houston, MS • 662-456-2551

We are excited to be in our new location!

Come visit us at 119 Malcomb Street, Houston, MS (662) 542-6010

TUPELO STONE CO. Natural and architectural stone highest quality stone and installation

3050 McCullough Blvd | 662-840-6800 | www.tupelostone.com

was robust then, but as the land became more developed and the habitat changed, the quail population dwindled, much to Bryan’s distress.

It’s been 20 years since he began looking for ways to restore the bobwhite’s habitat and population in the area, and with the help of Mississippi State University, he’s had some success.

Through their partnership, the Bryan Endowed Bobwhite Research Program was created to advance restoration of bobwhite quail populations and their habitat through research, conservation and education. Much of that research happens at Prairie Wildlife.

With the help of researchers from MSU, the habitat at Prairie Wildlife is constantly being evaluated, with changes made to the native grasses and weeds according to what the birds like.

“If it’s too thin, they’ll leave, and if it’s too thick, they’ll leave,” Atkinson said of the fields.

What started as a retreat among the habitat restoration used mostly by friends and family quickly expanded, becoming what Prairie Wildlife is today.

“One thing grew into the next, and it’s been growing pretty rapidly,” Bennie said.

The result: Visitors can hunt quail like it’s 1959. Well, sort of — the quail population is monitored, but Prairie Wildlife aims to give visitors the experience of hunting the birds the way it used to be done.

“It’s as close to hunting wild birds as you can get,” Atkinson said.

Guided hunts at Prairie draw visitors from all over the country, some from as far away as Alaska, and they come in groups, often on corporate retreats or as families. They can stay

at the preserve’s lodge or rent the Magnolia House or rustic log cabin, built in the 1800s.

In March, Prairie Wildlife earned an endorsement from hunting and outdoors company Orvis. It’s now the only Orvisendorsed wingshooting lodge in Mississippi and one of only 29 lodges with the endorsement in the United States.

According to Atkinson, the endorsement is a high honor, placing Prairie Wildlife among the best of the best in wingshooting lodge operations.

“We’re proud of that,” he said. “A lot of Orvis customers only go to Orvis-endorsed lodges.”

To earn the endorsement, the staff at Prairie Wildlife gave Orvis representatives the full experience. Everything was taken into account, down to the thickness of the bags used to carry quail in from the fields.

In addition to wingshooting, visitors can also hunt rabbit, pheasant, deer and dove. The groups are often accompanied by one or more of Prairie’s 60 pointers and dogs. The group of shorthairs, English pointers and English cockers live on the preserve and are bred from champion bloodlines and trained.

There are also clay shoots, horseback riding, mule-drawn wagon rides, fishing, nature walks and custom gun fittings by appointment.

From the highway, you would never know the preserve is there. It’s far enough from town that cell phone service is spotty, and you can’t hear traffic, save for the sound of Land Rovers driving along the gravel roads. That’s the appeal of a place like Prairie Wildlife: Once you put your phone away and take in the sweeping views of the fields, you feel like maybe you really have been transported back to before the land needed restoring, back when a young Jimmy Bryan hunted wild quail. M mudandmag.com

l

39

3242 NORTH GLOSTER STREET | 662.840.8450 TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

Countrywood Manor Assisted Living & Lakeview Place Licensed Alzheimer’s Facility 145 Watson Drive, Mantachie, MS

(662) 282-7808

Church Street Manor Assisted Living 36 Elm Lane, Ecru, MS

(662) 489-6462

Oaktree Manor Assisted Living

60139 Cotton Gin Port Rd, Amory, MS

Our mission is to provide affordable, quality housing and services which reect and support independence, dignity, choice, privacy and individuality in meeting the needs and preferences of our Residents in a home-like setting.

40

Please visit our website at www.AgapeSL.com mudandmag.com l

(662) 256-8406

Creekside Manor Assisted Living

200 Knight Drive Saltillo, MS

(662) 869-7009

collecting with the king OUTDOORS

Kenny King may not be a professional entymologist, but one thing is for sure: He knows his bugs.

By Emma Kent

mudandmag.com

l

41

Historic Downtown Tupelo 842-6453 | Mall at Barnes Crossing 842-5287 | Historic Downtown Starkville 323-2684 | www.reedsms.com

42

l

mudandmag.com

K

enny King started collecting bugs nearly 20 years ago when he helped a co-worker’s son with a school project, but he never stopped.

For King, the collection is more of a timeline.

It’s a history of moments, memories and people.

That’s evident in the insects displayed in cases on the walls at Philip’s Garden Center in Tupelo, where King has worked for 34 years. Each insect has a story. He can tell you where each one was caught, how it was found and who caught it, all in great detail.

He may have gotten started catching and collecting them inadvertently, but King ended up finding a hobby he loves.

He’s constantly reading about insects, marveling at their unique abilities and designs, and learning how to find the most interesting ones.

“It’s the thrill of the hunt,” King said.

Some of the more striking insects in his collection include a long-horned beetle, Luna moth, Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, Hercules beetle and a Chinese mantis. King is also particularly proud of two rare finds he’s recently added: the Dobsonfly and the water scorpion.

“I call them my hard-to-find bugs,” King said. “It’s really exciting to find one of those.”

If he already has the insect, King typically won’t collect it and rather lets it go. Because he’s been collecting for so long, it’s getting harder and harder to find insects that aren’t already part of his collection.

“That’s what I’m on the hunt for now are new bugs,” King said.

His strategy: Always be on the lookout.

King keeps a plastic container with him at all times, ready to add to his collection. mudandmag.com

l

43

OFF-Roading has Grown Up!!!!

Meet the ROXOR Military, BattleďŹ eld, & Expedition proven over 70 years

ble a l i a v A t now a wer Po o l e p Tu Sports

44

l

mudandmag.com

Turbo Diesel Powered 4x4

See a video about King and his love of bugs at mudandmag.com.

“You never know what you’re going to come across,” he said.

When he makes deliveries for Philips’ landscaping service, King is scouting for his next catch.

He has a toolbox that he carries in his car with him, always ready should a new insect present itself. He takes it on vacation, to the gas station, on camping trips — everywhere.

He also has a little help. Friends, coworkers and even customers bring him insects they find.

“When anybody finds a bug, they’re always chasing after it,” King said of his coworkers.

If someone brings him one he doesn’t have yet, it goes on the wall in one of his display cases. Among employees at the garden center, the hallway lined with King’s collection is known as the “Hall of Fame.”

To preserve the insects, King puts a Q-Tip or cotton ball soaked in ethyl acetate in a plastic container with them. They usually die quickly, and once they do, King carefully pins each one to a Styrofoam board and then places them in the freezer.

After about a month in the freezer, the insects are free from any parasites that may have been on them. King then allows them to dry before repinning and labeling them.

King writes each insect’s information on a small piece of paper and pins it next to the insect to catalog it in his collection. He writes the name of the insect, where it was caught, the date it was caught and the name of the person who caught it. Then, the preserved insect is either put into

one of King’s display cases or into storage with the rest of his collection.

In the cases, they’re organized according to scientific order.

While many of the insects are stored in cases, King gets creative with others. Using recycled glass jars, he creates terrarium-like displays using the insects and dried moss, wood and other materials.

With so many years of collecting under his belt, King is a wealth of insect-related knowledge.

For example: Butterflies, dragonflies, bees and wasps are commonly found during the day while moths and beetles are more active at night. According to King, it’s best to look for moths and beetles early in the morning, when they’re still lingering from the night before.

He knows how to hold a butterfly net so that you don’t damage the insect’s wings when you catch it. He also knows where to pinch and hold each insect without damaging its legs, antennae or wings and how to tell the difference between males and females of all kinds of insects.

The one thing he doesn’t know, though, is how many insects are in his collection.

“I don’t have a clue,” King said. “I don’t even want to think about counting them.” M

mudandmag.com

l

45

• Explore Corinth •

Update your space piece by piece.

New arrivals often with unbelievable pricing.

Designer services available.

1009 Taylor Street Corinth, MS 38834

622.287.3770 Tues-Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-3

Fashion for those who love something different. Celebrating our 38th year with women who love superb quality, fit and style.

OF CORINTH

1808 E. Shiloh Rd., | Corinth, MS | 662-287-3606 Tuesday - Saturday - 10:00 - 5:30

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Always FREE. Edward S. Knight DDS Mark R. Mazurkiewicz DMD C. William Bailey DMD Tiffany T. Hollingsworth DMD Jackie S. McClain DDS

Dental Arts of Corinth 662-287-3156 Open Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm mudandmag.com 46 Foote l 1025 Street, Corinth, MS

www.corinthtoday.com

Local News, Sports and Information 24 Hours a Day! Submit YOUR News:

news@corinthtoday.com

Follow us on

Woodwork & Wicks

By Emma Kent

mudandmag.com

l

47

Vanessa Blackford

Riley Blackford

A

s the old adage says, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Riley Blackford hopes that will ring true for him.

The 18-year-old from West Point has started his own woodworking business, Southern Wood Chips, making and selling handmade wooden utensils, bowls, vases and other items.

It turns out he’s not the only entrepreneur in the family. His sister-in-law, Vanessa Blackford, has been making all-natural candles under the moniker Blackford River Company for about two years.

“I wanted a hobby that could make money, and I wanted something fun to do,” Vanessa said.

With her business off the ground, Vanessa began helping Riley turn his hobby into a profitable activity, too. She’s been selling things all her life, starting with Girl Scout cookies, and she’s figured out she has a knack for it.

Vanessa spent about a year just experimenting with scents.

She gave her prototype candles to family members to test, trying to find the perfect formula for a high-quality, natural candle.

“Finally, about a year ago, we got one that we actually really liked so we started selling, and it has really taken off,” she said.

Blackford River Company candles don’t contain any synthetics. They’re made of 100 percent natural soy wax made from Mississippi soybeans. The candles’ scents come from high-quality fragrance oil, and rather than using wicks that release potentially harmful chemicals into the air, Vanessa chose clean-burning cotton wicks.

“They’re all very natural, very simple ingredients that we’re comfortable burning around our own family,” she said. “I wanted something that naturally came from the earth.”

48

l

mudandmag.com

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

Locally Owned & Operated - Est. 1953 Installation/Repairs - Satisfaction Guaranteed

FREE ESTIMATES - BY APPOINTMENT

10% OFF YOUR RENTAL

INDUSTRIAL

Show this coupon. Expires 3/31/18 10/31/18

2 locations to serve you.

890 BARNES CROSSING RD SUITE 1 • TUPELO

662-840-9314

VINYL FENCING

ORNAMENTAL IRON

Mark CalvinYoung French,Manager Manager

896 Hwy 2 • Kossuth, MS

551 DAYBRITE DRIVE TUPELO

662.331.2503

662-842-2237

www.hazelandeast.com

Craig Murphy Doneshia Hobson,Manager Manager

Find us on Facebook!

enterprise.com

ALL TYPES OF CHAIN LINK & WOOD FENCING

662-842-3431 ivyfencecompany.com

DON’T LET SEASONAL ALLERGIES RUIN YOUR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES! Whether You Have a Minor Condition, or Your Symptoms are More Severe, We are Here 5 Days a Week to Help You. Our Goal is to Make a Difference in the Lives of Our Patients and Their Families Every Day! Dr James McAuley Dr. Montgomery Berry

Dr. Matthew Stephens Dr. Ryan Simmons Philip Howell, NP

• The most up to date allergy testing and treatment for your fall allergy symptoms.

• In office balloon sinuplasty for your chronic sinus conditions Dr. Robert Yarber • Fall prevention therapy for balance issues due to aging, stroke, illness, etc.

Dr. Kurt Nelson • Fyzical therapy for dizziness, disequilibrium, balance disorders, TMJ disorders

618 Pegram Drive Tupelo

www.entnorthmississippi.com

323 N. Gloster Tupelo

2907 Hwy 72 W. Corinth

Toll FREE Number For All Locations: (877) 944-6513

108 SOUTH SPRING STREET | 842-4165 | MLMCLOTHIERS.COM

Make it Special, Make it Sydney’s Watch Me Designs by Tracey Savery Davis Trunk Show • October 18 from 10-4

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to see unique pieces from all four of Tracey's jewelry lines in one place.

Bring in your heirlooms and speak with Tracey in person to have them customized

50

l

1114 W MAIN TUPELO, MS | 662-841-2839 | 9AM - 5PM

mudandmag.com

Not only are the candles all natural, but Vanessa said candles made with soy wax burn 50 percent longer than traditional candles made with paraffin wax.

For a little while, Riley and Vanessa worked together under the Blackford River name, but with Riley’s woodworking becoming more popular, he’s now creating his own identity as a craftsman under a new name: Southern Wood Chips.

Riley has always been interested in woodworking, but he says he got serious about it about two years ago. He and his brothers began making wooden spoons after being inspired by a craftsman they met at an arts festival.

“I just took it from there and have gone from spoons to doing bird houses, and now I’m doing bowls and vases and things like that,” Riley said.

His process varies depending on what he’s making.

Spoons and kitchen utensils are pretty quick projects, but other items require more time.

“For a spoon, it probably takes 15 minutes to half an hour,” Riley said. “Bowls can be an hour to two-hour project — bowls can take a long time.”

Between filling orders, his school work and playing football, Riley, who is a high school senior, stays busy.

The 18-year-old doesn’t mind, though, because for him, woodworking is a passion.

He loves to spend time working in his shop, which is in his grandmother’s backyard.

“I’ve always wanted to do woodworking. I would love to do it for a living,” he said. “We’ve always done it as a family, and I just love it.”

Riley is one of eight siblings, and his parents, grandmother and Vanessa and her husband all live within a few minutes of each other. With so many people around, there’s always an extra set of hands to help with candlemaking or collecting wood.

Riley’s younger brother has even begun making pottery, and Vanessa is playing around with the idea of using some pieces to hold her candles.

Both businesses are a family affair, which is how they like it.

“Everybody can come together and work on a craft and everyone can bond as a family through that,” Vanessa said.

Blackford River candles and Southern Wood Chips handmade pieces can be found at local shops like The Bus Stop in Houston, Sentiments and Sundries in Ackerman and Farmhouse Market in West Point.

“I’ve been selling a lot,” said Riley. He also gets custom order requests through the Southern Wood Chips Facebook page.

Vanessa and Riley each have hopes to expand their businesses online in the near future.

Right now, they take orders on their Facebook pages.

Riley is working on creating an Etsy page for his business, and Vanessa eventually hopes to purchase her own website domain to build an online shop. M

mudandmag.com

l

51

•Explore New Albany• ecor • T-Shirts • Wind Chimes • Angels • Stephen Joseph • Swan Creek Candles •

Between

Sisters G Gifts

114 Chrystal Plaza, New Albany, MS

662.534.0505

Monday - Friday: 10 - 5:30 P.M • Saturday: 10 - 5 P.M

Tween Gifts • Baby Registry • Mud Pie • Crossroads Pottery • Kristy’s Pottery •

M onogramming • Hand Bags • Jewelry •

Issues with AC? Call us.

HEATING AND AIR INC.

Get in.

Get out.

Get better.

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

120 Snyder Street • New Albany, MS

662-534-9611 www.riddleair.com

210 Hwy 30 W, New Albany, MS 38652

662-539-7014

Normal Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Extended Hours: Monday - Friday 7 A.M. - 8 A.M. Saturday 8 A.M. - 3 P.M. Sunday 1 P.M. - 4 P.M.

Clay Creek Pottery • Collegiate • Home D

Re-Designing Women News • Business • Sports

Subscribe today!

Total Access including home delivery & newalbanygazette.com

510 B West Bankhead Street New Albany, MS 38652 662-534-3586 www.endlesssummerboutique.net

52

l

mudandmag.com

$41 per year

120 W. Main Street • New Albany, MS.

662-509-2570

New & Re-Newed Furniture & Accessories Fabulous Finds in quality furniture and accessories at affordable prices. Create your own style and let us help you bring it together with antiques, unique artwork, wall decor, floral arrangements and much more that you must see to appreciate!

Thank you for your continued support. we appreciate your business!

God’s blessings from my house to yours!

Brenda Smith Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 - 5; Saturday 12 - 4; Closed Wednesday and Sunday

W.M. Browning Fossil Park EXPLORE

Go digging for old treasures in this park not far off the beaten path in Prentiss County.

By Emma Kent

mudandmag.com

l

53

BARKLEY TRAVEL TOUR PACKAGES Ozark Mountain Christmas Branson, MO November 26-29, 2018 4 Days Trip Includes: * Daniel O’Donnell - “Christmas with Daniel” * ”Samson” at the Sight & Sound Theatre * Andy Williams Christmas Starring the Osmond Brothers & Lennon Sisters * Shoji Tabuchi Christmas Show * Silver Dollar City Christmas * Branson Landing Shopping * 2 Dinners Price per person: Single $920, Double $730, Triple $670, Quad $640

A Colonial Christmas in Williamsburg, VA

November 29 – December 4, 2018 6 Days Trip Includes: * 3 Nights - The Woodlands in Colonial Williamsburg * 1 Night – Inn on the River in Pigeon Forge TN * 1 Night - Asheville NC * The Grand Illumination – Colonial Williamsburg * Ticket to Colonial Williamsburg * Ticket to Busch Gardens Christmas Town * Ticket to Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Show * Admission to The Biltmore Estate Candlelight Tour * Dinner at Christina Campbell’s Tavern- Colonial Williamsburg, VA Price per person: Single $1600, Double $1130, Triple $975, Quad $895

Call and Book Today! 662-534-5203

141 WEST BANKHEAD ST • NEW ALBANY • WWW.BARKLEYTRAVEL.COM

I

f you’ve ever wanted to search for fossils (or if you have a budding paleontologist on your hands), look no further than W.M. Browning Crestaceous Fossil Park in Prentiss County.

The park is located just north of Baldwyn on Highway 45 along a stretch of 20-Mile Creek. A stone sign marks the entrance to the park’s gravel parking lot, which overlooks the creek.

Excavations at the sight in 1990 uncovered shark teeth, dinosaur teeth and other fossils from the Cretaceous period. This is because back when dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures roamed the Earth and oceans, much of Northeast Mississippi was under water. The fossils found at the park serve as proof that the area was covered by the sea about 75 million years ago.

A short but steep trek down into the creek is all it takes to get started, and there are several paths that lead to the creek bed. You may want to wear long pants, though, as some of the trails are surrounded by tall grass and other prickly plants.

The creek is mostly shallow but does get deeper in some spots, so wear rain boots to get the most out of the experience. With water resistant shoes, you’ll be able to do more climbing and access more of the banks along the creek.

Once you’re in the creek, it’s pretty easy to start finding fossils, but you’ll have to get your hands dirty. Start by using your hands to sift through the sand, where you’ll find seashells and fossilized oyster shells.

If you have them, a shovel and sifter would come in handy in your search.

The large rounded rock-like formations scattered throughout the creek are known as concretions, and they’re the best place to look for shark teeth, which are the most commonly found fossils at the park.

To find shark teeth, climb onto the concretions and carefully sift through the sand, rocks and shells that lie in little piles on top of them. Sometimes you’ll find shark teeth just lying there but sometimes you’ll need to do a little more searching by digging into the sandy top layers of the concretions. Many of the concretions have moss growing in patches on them, and you can even peel the moss off and dig in the sand under the moss. If you don’t find any shark teeth right away, be patient and keep moving along the creek — you’ll come across them eventually.

Through the years, fossils have continually been found in the concretions. As weather erodes the concretions, more fossils are revealed that were previously encased in the rock, so visiting the park after a heavy rain ups your chances of finding more fossils.

The best thing about W.M. Browning is that it’s a public park, so you can take your treasures home and show them off. And even after 23 years of visits from fossil-hunters, there are still plenty to be discovered. M

THINGS TO BRING:

- rain boots or other waterproof shoes - bug spray - long pants - shovel and sifter - plastic bag or container for collecting findings

404 NORTH GLOSTER • TUPELO, MS

Top 40 Under 40 Live event: October 25, 2018 Time: 11:30 - 1:30 Location: First United Methodist Church, Tupelo Event details: Leading young professionals will be recognized at this community networking event.

Buy tickets: djournal.com/top40 ticket includes lunch

Buy a table: Amanda Gholson 662-322-8921

events

• Buyer’s Guide • The Name That Stands for Quality

WAGES ROOFING

Family Owned & Operated Since 1972

wEE o N l l a C ULE YOUR FR

ED TIMATE TO SCH S E & N TATIO CONSUL

Residential • Commercial • New Build or Remodel Complete Interior Design Services From Home Layout to Paint Selection to Finishing Touches

HARDWOOD • TILE LAMINATE • NATURAL STONE DECORATIVE TILES • CARPET • & MORE

63 Carnathan Drive •Tupelo, MS 38801

662-840-5101

Monday thru Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm www.wagesroofing.com

We will clean and service your Rolex for $300

702 East President • Tupelo

TWEEN is in

for FALL

Riccar • SEBO • Sirena • Maytag • Electrolux Rainbow • Kirby • Hoover • Lampe Berger • e-cloth

Reasons To Own a SEBO • Superior Pet Hair Removal • Sealed Hepa filtration system • Commercial grade components • Incredible warranty coverage

907 Varsity Drive | Tupelo | 842.3342 www.varsityvacuums.com

Tri County Auto Repair Family Owned & Operated Japanese & Domestic

(Parts extra)

Shop our jewelry counter

•Complete Automotive Repair •Air Conditioning •Brake Service •Tire Repair Service •Computer Diagnostics •New/Used Tires

Nick Hazel & John B. Hazel

157 Hwy 178 • Tupelo 662-841-2204 (south of Sherman city limits)

425 North Gloster Street Tupelo • 842-8298 Thomas Scott, Owner scott.watch@yahoo.com

Come Shop Our Selection of Diamond Jewelry!

58

l

mudandmag.com

GIRLS: NEWBORN - SIZE 16 • BOYS: NEWBORN - SIZE 12

115 N Thomas Tupelo • Mon-Fri 10-5 & Sat 10-2

• Buyer’s Guide • Specializing in On-Site Hair and Makeup for Your Entire Wedding Party Customized Wedding Packages Available Call for Your Free Consultation

ALLEN’S

Heating & Cooling 3498 Veterans Hwy • Pontotoc

489-7273 Sales, Service and Installation Gas Lines

LavaStone Fireplace Shop

4115 WEST MAIN • TUPELO

662-844-5178

Lit’l Sprouts Children’s Consignment Sizes 0-16 (Girls and Boys)

Shabby Chic

Consignment Boutique

Kimberly Spencer

662-419-8122

662-422-8711

Little Annie’s Boutique Ladies Boutique Clothing & More Embroidery & Vinyl Services

Janna Grace Carnathan

Sizes 2-26

Candice Tutor

We also have

plumbing supplies

If You Need New Fall Clothing At Prices That Won’t Blow Your Budget, Check Us Out! Fall Merchandise Arriving Daily!

Locally Owned & Operated • Janice & Ken Storey, owners

808 HARRISON STREET • TUPELO (662) 840-9909 Open Wed.-Fri. 11:00-5:30/Sat. 11:00-2:30

255 W. Main St | okolona 662.542.4150 M-f 10am-5:30pm Sat 10am-2pm mudandmag.com l 59

DB’s

“Specializing in Meeting Your Needs”

Floral Designs N’ More Save the Date: CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE NOV.3

COMPLETE COMFORT

0%

FINANCING FOR UP TO 60 MONTHS

Apply Online at www.MMHeatCool.net

FREE ESTIMATES

1255 NELLE STREET | TUPELO

662-844-0270

390 Mobile St. • Saltillo, MS • 869-3620

60

l

mudandmag.com

www.mmheatcool.net • Scott Mattox, Owner * All financing requires an approved credit application.

The Farmhouse

By Emma Kent

mudandmag.com

l

61

62

l

mudandmag.com

J

Jill & Jimmy Stricklen

immy Stricklen always has a project. First, it was a log cabin, then, an old grain silo.

Stricklen, a longtime contractor, just can’t get enough of unique structures.

“I’ve been a contractor for 30-something years,” he said. “It’s always interesting to do something different from the norm.”

The grain silo, he and wife Jill’s latest project they’ve dubbed “The Farmhouse,” is definitely different. The couple completely transformed the silo into a cozy weekend getaway home, and they’re renting it out on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. “I thought, ‘well, Joanna Gaines has the Silos, so why not us?’” Jill said.

You might be thinking that sleeping in an old metal silo might be a little too rustic, but the Stricklens have made sure The Farmhouse is perfectly modern.

There are touches of history, though, that keep the silo feeling warm. Bricks from a house that once stood on the land where the silo now sits line the living room fireplace, and the silo’s original grain dispenser is still intact. They also kept the grain bin’s metal interior ceiling.

The rental has a queen bed and two twin beds in the upstairs loft. There is a small dressing room, designed for use by wedding parties. And a downstairs living room with a couch, chairs and a television. The kitchen is open to the living room - in

by Carmen Cristo mudandmag.com

l

63

64

l

mudandmag.com

Shop Local

• Shop Pontotoc •

mudandmag.com

l

65

The Oakley House fact, everything is pretty much open, all the way up to the silo’s tin roof.

The Stricklens listed The Farmhouse officially at the end of August, but they’ve been getting inquiries for quite some time — since about the time the silo arrived in Corinth, at the beginning of the whole process.

“As soon as we put the pictures up, people started asking about it and booking it,” Jill said.

The process began, of course, with finding a silo. Jill said she and Jimmy searched for a year before finding one to purchase.

That was the easy part. Next, the silo had to be moved from its location in Tennessee to the Stricklens' land in Corinth and transformed into a livable space.

They started the process of moving the silo to their land in March, and by the end of April, the walls were up and Jill and Jimmy were in the thick of the construction process.

According to Jimmy, the process was similar to that of other homes he’s worked on. The interior walls of the silo are the same as in any other building — framed and filled with insulation. Then, Jimmy covered the walls in thick, horizontal shiplap from floor to ceiling.

That doesn’t mean renovating the silo wasn’t without its own unique challenges. With it being a round building, Jimmy had to do some pretty specific cutting to frame the walls. Building The Farmhouse’s curved staircase also proved to be a challenge, but Jimmy was determined to have it curve around the wall and up to the loft.

“I’m proud of the staircase because I had to bend the metal rails by hand,” Jimmy said.

While Jimmy loves the construction elements of The Farmhouse, Jill prefers to focus on the finishing touches.

“While he builds I start shopping, and that’s the fun part,” Jill said. “He builds and I decorate.”

True to the rental’s name, Jill fully embraced the farmhouse

66

l

mudandmag.com

style when decorating the interior of the silo. She kept the color scheme light and airy, using whites, grays and soft blues and greens. The result is a calming palette that lets rustic touches like wood accents, antiques and galvanized metal shine.

In the kitchen, a small corrugated metal accent wall plays off its more modern counterparts.

“I really like the way the granite and the cabinets and all of the tin came together,” Jill said.

Simple linens, iron light fixtures and classic tile in the bathrooms complete the home’s design.

This isn’t the Stricklens’ first rodeo. In 2015, they opened The Oakley House, another rental on their property just outside Corinth. The Oakley House was another one of Jimmy’s “different” projects. It’s a classic log cabin built from logs that are nearly 200 years old.

The couple owns 40 acres of land just outside Corinth, where the two rental homes, as well as their own home, are located.

Visitors from all over the United States have stayed at The Oakley House, and a few from overseas, too. Many people travel to Corinth to explore the town’s Civil War history, especially Shiloh.

They’ve even had locals spend a night or two at the cabin looking to cozy up and enjoy a peaceful weekend in the woods.

“We have lots of people who stay as a weekend getaway,” Jill said.

From the beginning, Jill and Jimmy have been surprised at the response from people wanting to stay at The Farmhouse.

Now officially completed, the rental has been getting a lot of attention on Facebook. One video Jill posted about the home garnered nearly 80,000 views.

“It’s amazing,” Jimmy said. “Something that’s unique just will draw people to it.” M

B R I D E

1 2 6 We s t M a i n S t r e e t | Tu p e l o | 6 6 2 . 3 2 1 . 0 1 9 7 | W I L L O W B R I D E . C O M

SAME AMAZING FOLKS GREAT NEW LOCATION • 810 ROBERT E. LEE DR. | TUPELO, MSBy38801 JB Clark Across from Midtown Pointe (Formerly Gloster Creek Village)

mudandmag.com

l

67

ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR LAWN, GARDEN & LANDSCAPING NEEDS 2309 Hwy 145 • Saltillo • (662) 869-3656 • www.smithsnurserysaltillo.com STORE HOURS: MONDAY-SATURDAY 8am-6pm • NOW OPEN SUNDAY 1pm-5pm

r o f y d a e R

l l ' a Y l Fal

68

l

mudandmag.com

HAY SOFA PURPLE FALL

BEAUTIFUL GARDEN MUMS

N E P O NOW ,& , LUNCH T S A F K A BRE

DINNER

O 8PM T M A 6 .

HURS T .

S E U O 10PM T T M A 6 .

T T’S BEST FRI. & SA

FOR

IN’ AT I K O O C E YL HOMEST EE S EAT FR D I K E R WHE NIGHT Y A D S R U TH

SALTILLO'S DATE NIGHT DESTINATION LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT

NOW ACCEPTING HOLIDAY PARTY RESERVATIONS

KINFOLKS 389 MOBILE STREET SALTILLO, MS 38866

SENTER TRANSIT MIX DIVISION OF CONCRETE INDUSTRIES, INC.

401 Elizabeth St., Tupelo

662-842-7305 l mudandmag.com

69

70

l

mudandmag.com

men's fashion

Red Door in Pontotoc: Vineyard Vines shirt $98.50, Vineyard Vines pants $98.50 mudandmag.com

l

71

Core Cycle and Outdoor in Tupelo: prAna pants $75, Howler Brothers shirt $89, Bertucci watch $69, Howler Brothers hat mudandmag.com $30 72 l

Southern Crossing Outfitters in Amory: Southern Marsh shirt and The Radikl by Kuhl pants, prices available upon request.

Explore More We asked our readers to submit their favorite areas to hike, camp and explore in Northeast Mississippi.

TISHOMINGO STATE PARK,

J.P. COLEMAN STATE PARK,

AMANDA M. OF IUKA

LYNNICE C. OF PONTOTOC

It's great for both camping and hiking, and its rocky terrain and bluffs make it unlike any other area in the state.

There are campsites as well as cabins and trails for all skill levels. Try the 3-mile Flat Rock Trail and the Outcroppings Trail (2 miles), which begins at the park’s famous swinging bridge.

Located where the banks of the Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake meet, this state park features a range of amenities.

While this park is known for its watersports, you can also find a few trails to hike. Be sure to spend some time walking along the river and taking in the views from its bluffs.

CHICKASAW VILLAGE SITE AT THE NATCHEZ TRACE,

STINKIN’ JIM’S HORSE PARK AND CAMPGROUND,

POLLY G. OF SALTILLO

LORI S. OF BOONEVILLE

The site located near Tupelo is one of the Trace’s main attractions in our area. It’s also a great spot to hike. From the site, you can hop onto the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail or hike a half-mile nature trail.

You’ll find rustic log cabins and horse trails here, located off the Natchez Trace Parkway in Houston. The familyrun camp is perfect for horse lovers who can spend a weekend relaxing on the park’s grounds and riding along its many trails. They even have a Dance Hall.

STAFF TOP PICKS: Tombigbee State Park (pictured below), the Tanglefoot Trail, Noxubee Wildlife Refuge, Big Hill Pond State Park (Tennessee), Dismals Canyons (Alabama)

74

l

mudandmag.com

mudandmag.com

l

75

76

l

mudandmag.com