Family Magazine Fall Edition 2021

A LIVING LEGACY

WITH RONALD HARDEN

ASHLEY, EDDIE, JERI-LYN & ZACH

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Fall 2021 | 1

F RO M T H E P U B L I S H E R

“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves.”

—Humbert Wolfe

PUBLISHER

Noah Walker DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE DESIGN

Sarah Nichols

MARKETING

Justin Young

The mornings have begun to have a slight bite and chill touch, the sunset has started moving its daily appointment up, the leaves are beginning to turn and tumble to the ground, and there is the smell of pumpkin spice in the air...Break out your favorite flannel, unpack your cocoa mugs and prop your feet up to root for your favorite ball team...Fall is upon us!

As you prepare to enjoy all of your favorite autumnal activities from heated kickoff classics through “spooky szn” pumpkin contests and even to your favorite holiday traditions, we’ve prepared a Family Magazine that is geared toward helping you maximize it all! From tailgating recipes to the latest Christmas Tree trends, we hope that you’ll enjoy a fall Family Magazine full of legacy, recipes, history, business, passion, and incredible people!

Fortunately, we have some incredible families in this community, and in this magazine alone are several features rated as “cover-worthy” to the maximum. Our spooky feature of Todd and Tammy Denmark, along with the supporting cast and crew of the Restless Slumber Cemetery, will inspire you to take a haunted tour of their new and creative Halloween endeavour. Our “Road- Warrior” features will show you the power and freedom to be felt and channeled through motorcycle adventure and empowerment. Our legacy feature will shine a light on the long relationship and hard work dedicated by a remarkable man and his family to his career. Last but certainly not least to mention here, our cover story with the Hand family will warm your heart as it details a family’s fire-forged bond and a father’s living legacy as his son follows in his footsteps.

We hope you enjoy all of this in the following pages of our 28th issue, Family Magazine Fall 2021.

I am incredibly grateful to you, our reader. If you have any thoughts, please share them with us at FamilyMagazine@allthingsvisual.com.

Noah

Noah Walker, Publisher Noah@allthingsvisual.com

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CONTRIBU TORS Jeweliana Curtis Holly Frazier Tammy Johns Susan K. Lamb Emily Pazel Kayla Perla Hayli Zuccola

Member of the Florida Magazine Association

North Central Florida Advertiser, Inc 358 NW Main Blvd, Lake City, FL 32055 (386) 752-8280 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photography, or illustration only with written consent of the publisher. Family Magazine, its officers, staff members or contributors do not warrant the accuracy of or assume a responsibility for any of the material contained herein. All submissions, text, and photography received by Family Magazine has been considered authorized for publication.

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Scan the code below to get even more great Family Magazine content.

We will share exclusive recipes, event info, promotions and even more local and engaging stories.

Katie Croft Recipes......................6 Creekside Country Corn Maze.....................10 Uniqu3 Riderz...............14 The Thrill of the Ride.........19 Restless Slumber Cemetery..............23 The Hand Family.......31 Into The Woods..................................36

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Custom Plant Creations................40 Laura Fowler Goss Recipes.....................42 Fall Fashion...............46

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Celebratory Charcuterie....................52 On Course to Success.................56 Peculiar Pies...............58 A Living Legacy......................62 Chani Walker Recipes.........................66 What Your Christmas Tree Says About You...............68 Holiday Calendar Challenge.................70

Interested in having the Family Magazine delivered to your home? Give us a call or send us an email.

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Holiday Movies........................72 On the Cover: The Hand family shares their heartwarming story as a family in service to Suwannee County.

Read all about it on page 31 Tammy Johns Photography

Movie Night Popcorn Recipes...............73 Holiday Traditions................74 The Power of Giving......................76 Festive Holiday Sips..............78

Fall 2021 | 5

TACO CUPS

Tailgating Recipes by Katie Croft

FRENCH DIP

SLIDERS Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Boars Head Horseradish Sauce 2 tablespoons salted butter (softened) 1 pack Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (12) 1 pound good quality deli roast beef (Boars Head) 12 slices provolone cheese 1 small onion 8 tablespoons salted butter 1 packet au jus seasoning 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 3/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt (optional)

HOT PEPPER JELLY DIP

Ingredients • • • • • • •

Phyllo cups (1 box of 15) 1 pound ground beef 1 packet of taco seasoning 1 jar of salsa of your choice 1 pack of shredded mixed cheese 1 8 ounce container sour cream 1 jar sliced black olives (optional)

Instructions Brown meat and add taco seasoning packet using directions on back of packet. Remove phyllo cups from package and fill with taco meat.

Top with spoonful of salsa, a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese.

Garnish each cup with sliced black olives.

All toppings can be changed to your preference.

Ingredients • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 8 ounce cream cheese • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese • 3/4 cup Captain Rodney’s Boucan Glaze (divided) (or pepper jelly of your choice)

• 4-5 slices of bacon (cooked, chopped, divided)

• 2 green onions

(more for garnish if desired)

• 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs

Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter bottom of 9x13 pan with softened butter. Slice package of rolls in half without separating them.

Place bottom half of rolls in pan and spread horseradish sauce on them and start layering Layers: 1. Provolone cheese 2. Sliced beef 3. Caramelized onions 4. Provolone cheese 5. Top half of roll In small bowl, melt the butter and mix in 1 tablespoon au jus seasoning and remaining ingredients. Whisk until combined.

Top rolls with the butter mixture. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes then serve.

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Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl combine mayonnaise and cream cheese with a hard mixer until smooth.

Add cheddar cheese and mix to combine. Add 1/2 cup of glaze, green onions and half of the bacon to mixture and mix to combine. Spoon into a 9 inch backing dish or similar size and top with crack crumbs.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Remove from oven and drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup Captain Rodney’s glaze and top with remaining bacon. Add sliced green onions for garnish if desired. Serve with crackers of your choice.

ABOUT THE CHEF Katie Croft is a lifelong resident of Suwannee County. She graduated from Suwannee High School and North Florida College before opening the 11th Street Kitchen and Catering.

In September 2014, 11th Street began as a simple “bake and take” idea and has grown into a full-service kitchen and catering business. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she saw a need for her customers to have meals without having to go out. They began their Wednesday night special and offered a full homecooked meal once a week. She and the team then expanded to their weekly deli options and Friday seafood and barbecue specials. They recently had a kitchen expansion and now also offer several gifts and gourmet food items.

SCAN THIS CODE TO CONTACT KATIE AT…

They say, if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. Katie says she truly feels this every day. Her passion has always been cooking and creating dishes that simply taste good.

Next time you’re in Live Oak, we hope you will stop by and see all she has to offer at 11th Street!

EARLY FALL Mornings have started to cool, football season has kicked off, bonfires are lit, and friends have started to gather! This feature of Family Kitchen was a lot of fun to plan and execute as Katie pieced together a dynamic tailgating menu, which I can personally vouch for in its delicious nature. The sliders are hard to describe other than “perfect”!

Photos courtesy of www.hgtv.com

Early fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the last bastions of greenery and summer warmth before the days shorten and leaves change! Enjoy the electric air and excitement of your favorite sporting events and first moments of reprieve from the sweltering summer heat!

Fall 2021 | 7

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Fall 2021 | 9

By Hayli Zuccola

Across the states, people celebrate the autumn season with traditions of apple picking, visiting pumpkin patches, enjoying the cool weather, sipping apple cider and watching the leaves slowly change from muted greens to shades of red, purple, orange and yellow—well, unless they live in Florida. The sunshine certainly has its perks—especially on beach days by the palm trees—but for the most part, a changing of the seasons is practically nonexistent.

Nevertheless, for those living in northern Florida, some family farms are still trying to provide a touch of the fall spirit to those who seek it.

For Donald Graham, farming is not only a family tradition, it’s his livelihood.

Donald has been in the agriculture business for the past 45 years with a specialization in row crops like corn, peanuts, sun hemp and tobacco. Five years ago, the Graham family, which includes Donald; his wife, Janie; their four daughters Kaci, Rachel, Makayla and Makenzie; as well as their grandson Grayson, decided to expand the

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business and open the farm to the community with a seasonal family-friendly corn maze, a breathtaking sunflower field and so much more for what would become known as Creekside Country Corn Maze.

Still growing over 200 acres of corn and other grain crops as part of his daily routine, Donald dedicated a portion of his land, which is located near Worthington Springs just over the Columbia County line, for a few beloved fall festivities including an eight-acre corn maze.

Prep-work for the maze begins on the farm in July after the seeds are sowed.

If the weather cooperates, the corn continues to grow at a steady pace until it’s ready to turn into an organic work of art. After deciding on the design, which in the past has delivered an aerial view of a smiling pumpkin and even a scarecrow, a professional maze

cutter comes to Creekside to map, cut and create the pattern so it’s ready for opening day, which usually happens toward the end of September.

family a t s u j s “It’ We . e r e h p s atmo ilies.” m a f o t r cate m d Graha

If navigating through several acres of corn isn’t for you, Creekside also l —Dona features a five-acre sunflower field, which blooms twice a year: once in May and again around October. While the sunflower field is a sight to behold on its own, the Grahams often have photo props for guests to use as they wish. Past set-ups have included scarecrows and hay bales; apple-picking booths; pumpkin patches and other fall décor displays. Prices to take photos among the sunflowers are $5 per person and $20 for a family, but if photo ops aren’t of interest, the flowers are still ideal for bouquet picking, which guests can do for $1 a stem.

Fields of sunflowers and acres of corn may be the biggest focal points of the farm, but Creekside, which is open

History of the Corn Maze A corn maze is a maze cut out of a corn field. The first corn maze, or maize maze, was in Annville, Pennsylvania. This corn maze was titled “The Amazing Maize Maze” and was shaped in the form of “Cornelius, the Cobasaurus”.

FUN FACTS • Mazes and labyrinths date back over 4000 years ago to the time of ancient Greece and Rome.

• During Roman times, mazes and labyrinths were seen in artwork, home flooring, pavement on streets, and into the earth.

• Ancient Romans designed a lot of their floors and streets with maze-like patterns.

• Garden mazes began to pop up throughout Europe in the wealthiest castles and palaces as a way to amuse their inhabitants.

• Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles included an elaborate labyrinth in the garden.

• One of the finest examples of garden mazes can be found in the gardens at Hampton Court Palace in England, which was planted by William III in 1690.

• By the 18th century, hedge mazes became increasingly popular in England and Europe, but it took some time before the concept came to America, at which point it took the form of a corn maze.

• In 1993, the first modern corn maze was created by Don Frantz and Adrian Fisher, which inspired a worldwide fad of corn mazes.

• The Annville, Pennsylvania corn maze was constructed on only 3 acres of land and had 1.92 miles of pathway.

Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the season, also supplies visitors with plenty of other activities that are included with the $10 corn maze entrance fee like bounce houses, slides, a petting zoo, duck races, hayrides, a cow train, volleyball, ping pong, badminton, Frisbee games, concessions and corn cannons, which, like the name suggests, are cannons that can shoot ears of corn at their respective targets.

For those brave enough, Creekside also offers zombie paintball. On Friday and Saturday nights, for a $10 fee, prospective zombiehunters can grab a paintball gun and some colorful ammo before hopping aboard the zombie wagon to track down any of the undead that may be lingering around the farm.

“It’s just a family atmosphere. We cater to families,” Donald says.

That welcoming environment also extends to furry family members as Creekside, with the exception of the corn maze, is also pet-friendly.

Left to right: Makenzie Graham, Kaci Graham McCormick, Donald Graham, Janie Graham, Makayla Graham, Grayson Graham and Rachel Summers.

To learn more about what Creekside Country Corn Maze has to offer and to stay up-to-date on this year’s opening dates, visit their Facebook page at Facebook.com/creeksidecornmaze.

Fall 2021 | 11

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Spirit For The Open Road Passion. Purpose. Freedom.

Passion. Purpose. Freedom. Fear. Thrill. Danger. Adrenaline.

Excitement. These are all words that people describe feeling when riding a motorcycle. The thrill of being in an open air vehicle twisting and turning down the highway is unlike any other. From the rush of the road to the wind in your hair and the adrenaline pumping through your veins, it’s clear to see why so many enjoy this exciting hobby. Motorcycling is an activity that is enjoyed by all walks of life, as it has a special way of instantly bringing strangers together like family.

It’s been said that motorcycle enthusiasts all have one thing in common: They are passionate about the freedom they enjoy and the exhilaration they feel when riding their bikes. It’s a feeling like no other and it keeps them coming back for more. Most enthusiasts will agree: Biking can change you forever.

In this special section, Family Magazine invites you to take a journey with motorcycle enthusiast Steven Ashe as he shares his favorite spot to ride. Read on to learn about a local women’s motorcycle group, The Uniqu3 Ryderz, and the impact they have on our community. Buckle up, it’s going to be an exciting ride!

Fall 2021 | 13

Women M-Powered

L to R: Lakasia Portee-Jones (Brown Shuga), Melond Waters (Water Baby), Yolanda McKire (Yo’Majesty), Carol Tunsil (LightSkin), Shalea Jernigan (Bad Mama Jama), Jacqueline Williams (J’Nique), Tara Williams (Pinkie)

GIVING BACK, ONE RIDE AT A TIME

By Jeweliana Curtis

Founded in 2019, Uniqu3 Ryderz was created as an organization that celebrates female motorcyclists with a focus on giving back to the community.

The team strives to enhance the lives of others by reminding them that they are never forgotten, no matter what life may throw their way.

Carol Tunsil, founder and president of the Uniqu3 Ryderz, has had an interest in motorcycles since 1997, but did not purchase her own bike until 2017.

Soon after, Carol formed a group with two other female riders called the Unbothered Divas on 3s.

They had the main goal of spreading awareness and offering help with issues of negative impact happening within the community, with gun violence being one of the biggest from the start.

This cause became more personal to Carol’s heart after losing her cousin, Cory Fluellen, to gun violence on Christmas Day in 2016.

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Determined to remember her cousin and do her part to support the fight against gun violence, Carol Tunsil began hosting the “Bikes Up, Guns Down” event to raise awareness within the community.

This annual event happens in June to commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Month. During the ride, the Uniqu3 Ryderz and participating bikers ride around town, stopping at the sites where gun violence has taken place in our community, placing a flower in remembrance of the victims.

“Most of the time their family members are there waiting for us to stop by on the ride, and just to see that they know that their family member isn’t forgotten,” Carol shares. “That alone makes all the hard work worth it.”

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The Uniqu3 Ryderz participated in a funeral processional at the service for the late Bryce Johnson.

L to R: Tara Williams (Pinkie), O’Neaka Jenkins (Foxy Brown), Melond Waters (Water Baby), Yolanda McKire (Yo’Majesty), Lakasia Portee-Jones (Brown Shuga), Bonnie Graves (Divine), Carol Tunsil (LightSkin), Shalea Jernigan (Bad Mama Jama), Jacqueline Williams (J’Nique)

The organization’s second largest annual event takes place in October. The “I’m a Survivor” Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness Ride combines the two worthy causes to offer support and raise awareness for both. The event is held at Carol’s home on 5 acres, and always features two speakers with firsthand experience on the topics. Complete with concessions, a DJ, bounce houses and activities for the kids, this event is open to the public and meant to focus attention on these issues that negatively affect our community. Once the speaking concludes, all of the bikers participating line up to complete the awareness ride. Typically, there are at least 50 riders that join, but Carol is expecting a much larger crowd this year.

L to R: Tara Williams, O’Neaka Jenkins, Melond Waters, Yolanda McKire, Lakasia Portee-Jones, Bonnie Graves, Carol Tunsil, Shalea Jernigan, Jacqueline William

ABOUT THE UNIQU3 RYDERZ Uniqu3 Ryderz is an all-female organization full of motorcycle enthusiasts with a passion for giving back to their community, one ride at a time. Founded by Carol Tunsil, this organization seeks to bring awareness to topics affecting their community including but not limited to gun violence, domestic violence and breast cancer. The ladies involved are held to a high standard, and are always on the lookout for new ways to help others. The Uniqu3 Ryderz gather together often to enjoy the thrill that comes with riding motorcycles, all while making an impact in their community.

In addition to the two main annual events, the Uniqu3 Ryderz strive to complete many service projects , volunteering to meet the diverse needs for different community groups.

They have made donations to families who have lost loved ones unexpectedly or lost their homes to tragic circumstances like a fire, and they often offer to ride in funeral processionals to honor the life of a loved one, especially if they lost their life to gun violence. The ladies are always searching for new ways to step in and offer support to anyone going through a tough time.

“I give everyone an opportunity to bring ideas before the group. If my riders see a need, we’re happy to get behind them and help give back,” Carol shares. “One of my bikers is based in Ocala, and her charitable event was for their homeless shelter. We put together 50 care packages, all packed full with soap, deodorant, masks, hand sanitizer, shampoo,

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conditioner... Really everything you can think of. We gave away 50 bags and it was just amazing to see how grateful they were. We all drove down on our motorcycles and it was just incredible. Anything my ladies come up with, we get behind them.”

Giving back to the children in our community is also important to the Uniqu3 Ryderz, and the organization is always interested in new ways to meet their needs. From coat drives for students in the winter to packing Easter baskets for children in the spring, the ladies’ main goal is that no child goes without. They participate in Adopt a Child(ren) and utilize an “Angel Tree” to purchase Christmas gifts for students who are less fortunate, and host a school supply drive in the fall. One of their favorite events is their annual bike giveaway during the holidays. In 2020, the Uniqu3 Ryderz gave away 115 bikes, and have already begun collecting for the giveaway in 2021, which they hope to make even bigger.

Additionally, Carol is working towards creating a Uniqu3 Ryderz scholarship, so stay tuned for more information on this in the coming months.

“Giving back to the children is very important to us,” Carol expresses. “For the first few years, it all came out of our own pockets. It’s just something we do on our own. We have dues that we all pay, so that helps make some of these things happen. The feeling once you get everything together and get it done is amazing. It’s a lot of work, but it’s amazing!”

The Uniqu3 Ryderz Values

• Honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

• Family, friendships, and enjoying life.

• Hard work, dedication, and achievement.

“We love to ride our bikes and we love to dress nice, but there is more to it than that,” Carol says. “We have a focus on giving back and raising awareness for important causes.”

Interested in keeping up with the Uniqu3 Ryderz and all of their upcoming events and rides? Follow along on Facebook at @Uniqu3Ryderz, or visit their website at Uniqu3Ryderz.com. If you would like to support this 501(c)(3) organization and the work they are doing in the community, visit their site to make a donation.

Uniqu3 Ryderz Facebook: @Uniqu3Ryderz Website: Uniqu3Ryderz.com Phone: 386-697-0040

Additionally, the Uniqu3 Ryderz are known for recognizing those who serve our community in gre at ways with the “Unsung Hero” award, which is presented to two recipients quarterly. The ladies ride up on their motorcycles and present the recipient with a plaque to recognize their good deeds.

In an effort to bring the community together, Carol and her crew are also working on a community field day with fun activities that will help get people active and engaged with one another.

Along with their charitable efforts, Carol and her fellow Uniqu3 Ryderz enjoy spending time together and riding their motorcycles around the area. Some weekends they may end up riding their motorcycles to Gainesville or Valdosta to grab lunch, or perhaps they will meet up with other motorcycle enthusiasts and check out a new road.

“We recently participated in an all-female ride in Jacksonville, and that is an awesome experience,” Carol says. “I took my group and we were among 500 bikers that were women.

The city shut all the roads down for us to ride, and all these women are on motorcycles and it was just amazing!”

The Uniqu3 Ryderz honor the legacy of gun violence victims in our community at their 2021 Bikes Up Guns Down event in Lake City.

Becoming a member of the Uniqu3 Ryderz requires an interview with three of the members, designed to help the ladies get to know you and your interest in joining. There are bylaws and rules that each member must abide by, but above all, you have to have a heart for helping others and a love for riding motorcycles. There are weekly member calls where the ladies discuss motorcycle safety, and the members always end their meetings in prayer.

Fall 2021 | 17

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Thrill Ride The

of the

By Jeweliana Curtis

Winding The Gap with Steve Ashe There’s nothing quite like the feeling of cruising on an open road on a motorcycle, experiencing the twists, turns, and beautiful scenic views along the way. This feeling of total freedom is what keeps motorcycle enthusiast Steve Ashe, affectionately known by his friends as Sumo Steve, coming back to the Tail of the Dragon year after year.

Steve has been an avid motorcycle junkie for as long as he can remember. He even met his wife and fellow motorcycle lover, Cristie Ashe, at a motorcycle racetrack in Jennings, Florida. He was first captivated by a motorcycle when he was just four years old.

“I’d say I have been interested in motorcycles for a little over 40 years now,” Steve shares. “Other kids liked cars, boats, or four-wheelers, but I didn’t care about any of that at all. It was all motorcycles all the time for me!”

As Steve grew up, his love for motorcycles did too. When he was finally old enough to have a vehicle of his own, it

was inevitable that a bike was his first choice. He knew just the place to explore on his bike: Deals Gap, Known as Deal’s Gap by

Fall 2021 | 19

the locals, is a stretch of highway located on US 129, a road that takes travelers from Chiefland, Florida, to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Spanning over 11 miles, this stretch of the highway famously has 318 turns and is a very intense ride. Nevertheless, this breathtaking scenic drive attracts travelers both domestically and internationally, some of which come to enjoy the view and others who want to test their luck in the Gap. “The love affair with the Gap started in the late 80s, and it’s grown so much over the years,” Steve explains. “When I first traveled through the area as a kid, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this would rock on a motorcycle!’”

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The day had officially come for Steve to try his luck in the Gap for the first time, and while it was an exciting trip, Steve admits that he was stressed out during that first ride. Steve shares that traveling one way is just as challenging as traveling the other, so once he completed his run from the north side, he needed to rest and calm down before completing his journey back. Nevertheless, Steve made the drive back and soon after fell in love with the trip. Now, Steve has experienced the scenic ride numerous times, making an effort to complete the trek at least once a year from then on. While the scenic views and breathtaking landscapes may attract visitors, it is the camaraderie and community surrounding Deal’s Gap that keeps Steve and many others coming back.

“I don’t want to take one away from the other, but the adrenaline of riding and the people that come to share that are my favorite parts of the trip,” Steve says. “It’s every single walk of life you can imagine.

There are doctors, lawyers, government employees, unemployed people, retirees, mothers, grandfathers…

It’s everybody! The Gap instills a lot of community, and it feels like we are all made from the same fabric.

Everyone sticks together, and it’s great to see.”

Located deep in the Smoky Mountains on the North Carolina and Tennessee state line is Steve’s favorite place to visit during the trip: Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort. This popular spot is known for being home to the more than challenging stretch of road and is a great spot to stop for a rest, whether that be for the night or just a few hours. Owned and operated by Steve’s friend Brad Talbott, the Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort offers everything from souvenir t-shirts to fuel, lodging, and of course, the beloved Dragons Den Grill. If you want to stay in the area, Steve suggests checking out this resort, stating that you cannot get any closer to the Gap than this great spot. There are also a plethora of cabins along the stretch of highway that make for a great stay.

Another draw of Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort is the infamous Tree of Shame located on the property. Started sometime in the 1980s by a group of Harley riders, the Tree of Shame is a shrine to those who have failed in shooting the Gap. Here you’ll find pieces of motorcycles that have been signed and dated by their owners and then turned in to the resort counter for placement on the tree. After riders have successfully completed their rides, they often stop by the tree to check out the parts left behind by riders who were not so fortunate.

Should you try your luck and not succeed, Steve does suggest a great local motorcycle maintenance and repair shop: Wheeler’s Performance in Robbinsville, owned and operated by Ken Wheeler. Ken is known for helping bikers get their rides back on the road and safely on their way to the next destination.

While Steve admits to having a few instances where he has added a piece to the Tree of Shame, the thrill of the ride and freedom on the open road still has him hooked on Riding the Gap. It’s a unique place to explore, from the stunning natural views to the neighborly towns along the way. If you want to ride Deals Gap, Steve has two huge tips to help you succeed with minimal stress.

“This is huge: If someone is behind you, pull over.

It’s so easy to let them ride behind you and make you nervous, but I recommend pulling off and letting them go by instead,” Steve suggests.”Second, stay between the mustard and the mayonnaise. The mustard is the yellow line in the middle of the road, and the mayonnaise is the white line on the side of the road.

AB OU T D EALS G AP AN D SU RROU N D IN G CH ALLEN G IN G ROAD S: Designated on US 129, the Deals Gap is known as America’s #1 motorcycle and sports car road. This spot is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest, creating breathtaking panoramic views for all to enjoy.

Another stretch, The Tail of the Dragon is known for being an extremely exhilarating yet dangerous ride, boasting of 318 twists and turns on its 11-mile stretch of road. It attracts many thrill-seekers domestically and internationally each year, all of which try to “slay The Dragon” and avoid adding a piece of their motorcycle or hot rod to the infamous Tree of Shame located along the ride. If you can brave it, many say that you are guaranteed to have the ride of your life! For guaranteed to have the ride of your life! For more information more information on Deals Gap including helpful tips for planning your trip, visit dealsgap.com or tailofthedragon.com.

Always keep your vehicle between the yellow line and the white line on your side of the road.”

Whether you love the thrilling challenge that the Tail of the Dragon brings or are just looking for a new place to explore, Deal’s Gap is a great place to do both. Satisfy your need for speed and your desire to slow down simultaneously by embarking on this special drive in one of the most beautiful parts of the USA. “It’s like stepping back in time, everyone is slower-paced and neighborly, and it’s just great.” Steve notes, adding, “The freedom and rush you get from being on two wheels is a feeling like no other.”

STEVE’S RECOMMENDATIONS: Planning your itinerary? Here’s a few spots that Steve Ashe suggests checking out on the ride!

• Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort • Cherohala Skyway US 143 • Tellico Plains • Bald River Falls • Fontana Village and Fontana Dam on Hwy 28 Outland Gas & • Groceries on US 129 • Tapoco Lodge on US 129 • Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge • Nantahala Outdoor Center Fall 2021 | 21

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Restless Slumber Cemetery features over 150 hand-carved gravestones. Sculpted out of special weather-resistant Styrofoam sheets, each tombstone was cut by hand and aged to Fit the setting of an archaic cemetery.

Left to Right: Jackson Denmark, Zoey Nettles, Tammy Denmark, Todd Denmark and Wayne Nettles

As darkness fills the autumn sky, the grounds outside the Denmark family’s cozy cottage become laced with cobwebs and weathered gravestones. Decaying mausoleums invite guests into a dark, haunted cemetery full of creatures, monsters, and spooky surprises for a one-of-a-kind Halloween drive-thru experience with a history that dates back over 30 years ago.

It all began in 1990 just 15 acres from Todd and Tammy Denmark’s home on SW Wester Drive beside a giant oak tree in Todd’s parents front yard. Featuring handmade props and costumed characters like the menacing wolfman, the audience-interactive Mr. Bonehead and the mischievous pumpkin heads, Todd combined his passion for art and all-around love for the spooky season to develop an autumnal spectacle people could look forward to.

“The reason why I got into it, I’ve always been creative and I’ve always liked Halloween and I really like to entertain people and see people have a good time,” he says.

Inciting fond memories of attending holiday parties at his aunt Judy’s

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house, trick-or-treating with family and watching specials like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, it’s no surprise Todd was influenced by All Hallows’ Eve as a whole, but his overall style for the display was more reminiscent of the classics.

“I think I was really inspired mostly by a book by George Washington Irving: Sleepy Hollow, as well, I would definitely say as well as Walt Disney and his approach to Halloween by way of the Haunted Mansion.”

The concept was well-received by both locals and out-of-towners, but raising two kids and having year-round jobs meant hosting the event annually was an impossibility—that is, until now.

After a lengthy hiatus, 2021 will mark the long-awaited return of the Denmark family’s Restless Slumber Cemetery.

“We had just been talking about it a lot and our kids are grown now, so we’re just in a really good place where we could have more time to put things together and just to try to start something like this and make it on a bigger scale versus just out in the front yard,” Tammy says.

hair-raising and memorable for their time, bringing the attraction back meant starting from scratch and upping the scare-factor with chillingly lifelike creatures; animatronic elements and more detailed scenery.

“When I started doing it, I called it the Restless Slumber Cemetery so the backdrop for the entire thing is you are in a giant cemetery, but it’s a cemetery from the 1800s – this would not be a current cemetery – so it’s supposed to be dilapidated, kind of abandoned, things like that. That’s the backdrop for the entire thing,” Todd says.

“The cemetery itself, that’s the centerpiece. Although you’ll have smatterings of gravestones throughout the drive, that’s going to be the centerpiece or the groom and bride on top of the cake if you will,” he says.

Under the guise of an eerie graveyard, seven distinct scenes will be illustrated throughout the drive, which will wrap around the Denmarks’ property. Those scenes will consist of a pet cemetery, which will sit where the Denmark family’s pets are actually buried, and the Pumkin stalker set, both of which will seamlessly meld into their gloomy surroundings.

“Everything has a storyboard behind it as far as what’s the creature, what’s the concept of the creature, the props surrounding the creature, the atmosphere. So each scene is kind of creating its own atmosphere, but it’s still in the cemetery,” Todd says “When we had it before, in the ’90s when it was just for fun, we literally had people, like, church buses come out it was crazy,” she says. “You could tell they longed for something to do and this is why we just, we’re so passionate about bringing it back because there’s just nothing like that here, we just don’t have that.”

In addition to the original motif making a comeback, the Denmarks chose to revive a few characters from that inaugural fright night.

While the props and costumes the Denmarks used in the early ’90s were

“It’s assembling a large jigsaw puzzle, but it’s fun,” Todd says.

“We took what we definitely wanted to bring back and then we added too so once we found things that we liked, we built around that,” Tammy says.

Fall 2021 | 25

To mark the Restless Slumber Cemetery’s resurrection, the Denmarks decided to reintroduce the wolfman and pumpkin head figures by giving them some necessary updates.

The first wolfman costume was simplistic in that it combined both store-bought items like a werewolf mask Todd further enhanced with handmade finishing touches like clawpiercing shoes, but to create a more realistic creature that would satisfy both public demand and meet the Denmarks’ supernatural standards, they would need to commission some professional monster makers.

“We’re investing in quite a bit of custom-made creatures and animatronics that way, you know, we can make it where people want to come back,” Tammy says.

The creature company they chose undeniably delivered on the details— especially regarding the wolfman costume, which stands at 7 feet tall and took one technician over three months to build by hand. From the sinister snarl to the sharp fingernails, the finished disguise is terrifying enough during the day, which Todd recognized during a trial scare with friends, but will only intensify under the moonlight.

“I love to scare people,” Todd says.

“When you scare somebody, it’s such a pure reaction in a world full of maybe just deception and maybe disingenuous behavior; a pure scare is pure, I mean there’s no lying about it.”

Though the Denmarks were handsoff on the main creature features guests will encounter in the pop-up cemetery, they’ve overseen and taken part in producing the finer details and furnishings for everything else on display—including over 150 handcarved gravestones. Sculpted out of special weather-resistant Styrofoam sheets, each tombstone was cut by hand and aged to fit the setting of an archaic cemetery. Of course, to fill the open space and create a convincingly spectral atmosphere in their backyard, Todd and Tammy enlisted the help

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of friends and family who aided in manufacturing numerous components scattered throughout the 30-minute drive-thru experience.

Todd’s dad, Chuck, who was an integral part of the event’s original run, is an expert electrician and carpenter who lent his skills to build and light the entryway columns welcoming those who dare into the world of the undead.

Todd and Tammy’s daughter, Zoey, who’s a professional cosmetologist, will turn her knack for beauty into the dark and grisly—using colors and techniques

to bring the background ghost and ghoul actors to life, or rather, death.

Their son, Jackson, who assisted in prop-building during the development stage, will also take part in the haunting aspect along with his girlfriend, Zoey Nettles, who helped with set creation and ghoulish character development.

Tammy’s brother Chris Chubb and the Denmarks’ friend Chris Williams were also essential in designing and constructing various props and structures from the towering columns and mausoleums to smaller-scale tombstones.

Fall 2021 | 27

“It’s been neat because we’ve been able to reach out to family and friends who are good at certain things and we have just included them in it,” Tammy says. “The fact that we have people supporting us and helping us has just been—I don’t think we could do it without them.”

To accompany the ethereal backdrop, visitors waiting to enter the spine-chilling pathway can enjoy live entertainment with gravedigger personalities or tune their radio to a pre-selected station to listen to themed music in the comfort of their car. With the safety of both the actors and visitors a top priority, volunteers for Restless Slumber will direct batches of vehicles to each scene to park before the stop’s haunt begins.

All seven scenes will exemplify months of hard work blending handmade props with lifelike monsters that make it difficult for spectators to know whether they’re seeing an animatronic figure or a man in a costume.

“The nice thing is, is you’re not gonna know it sometimes,” Tammy says. “You might be enjoying the scene and you never know what’s gonna come out.”

Though their initial inspiration was drawn from family-friendly rides like the Haunted Mansion, the Denmarks warn that while their production is absent of gore and void of creepy clowns, patrons should prepare to be scared.

“You’re going to be scared with the quality and the equipment that we have,” Tammy says. “That’s what it’s for.

Some people want to be scared.”

825 SW Wester Dr. Lake City, FL 32024

The road to reintroducing the Restless Slumber Cemetery was a long one as the Denmarks toyed with the idea for years before finalizing a concrete plan a year and a half ago. Still, the time and effort were worth it to turn a simple vision into a transcendent reality.

“It’s just really nice to be able to put the time into it and make it exactly how I imagined it and it coming to fruition. I get excited about that, but my biggest thing is I like to see people, their reaction to it,” Todd says. “If they’re kind enough to come out and visit our haunt, I want to give them a great experience. I want to give them something a little different.” ■

Every Friday and Saturday September 24 through October 30 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Final performance on Halloween night!

Admission: $20 plus tax per vehicle Tickets Available at the Cemetery Gate To learn more about the Lake City-based attraction, visit the event’s website at RestlessSlumber.com

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Fall 2021 | 29

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The Hand Family Bonds Forged in Service and Fire Rescue

By Susan K. Lamb

Tammy Johns Photography

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Imagine this: Caring for the health and wellbeing of 45,000 people, 24/7, 365 days a year.

This is a reality for Chief of Suwannee County Fire Rescue, Eddie Hand. With the help of a dedicated son and the support of a loving wife and daughter, Eddie Hand has accepted the Eddie Hand, Fire Chief responsibility of looking after his county and community for the last 25 years. With two interstates, a major east/ west highway, and one of the most well-known rivers in the world, protecting the ever-growing population of Suwannee County is no small task.

“Honestly, it’s an honor as much as it is also a burden. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be sitting in this position, but I feel very honored and blessed to do it,” Chief Hand says. The chief plays a vital role in responding to emergencies such as burning buildings, traffic accidents, and a pandemic that began just as he was sworn in. He is also responsible for a staff of sixty-five people across four, soon to be five, stations throughout Suwannee County. “I look at our department as a family with everyone on my team as if they were my kids. I care about each of them immensely. It’s a big responsibility to know that many lives are on the line each shift.

But, as big as the responsibility is, I love it – the department

and the county. I care about being able to protect the citizens,” says Chief Hand. The chief feels he’s where he’s meant to be and wouldn’t change jobs for anything. “I am so honored to have this opportunity and can’t wait to see where the next ten to twelve years take us.”

With 45,000 residents living in Suwannee County and a 0.53 percent growth rate according to the most recent US census data, Suwannee County is the 45th largest county in Florida.

From burning chicken houses to rescuing drowning boaters, Chief Hand has seen it all. “When citizens die on our shifts, and we’re there, we have to work hard to keep ourselves together,” Chief Hand says. “I tell my young guys my belief in God is the only reason I’ve been able to continue this job, and I truly believe God is always there when a death occurs.”

“It’s a very different lifestyle. It’s sometimes overwhelming, especially in the unprecedented time of today with Covid-19,” he says. “I had just become chief when this all came about.

It’s difficult to deal with, especially with the hospitals overcrowded.” For the second time in two years, all area hospitals are full, juggling Covid-19/Delta variant cases in addition to the usual intake of patients. Many of these patients were taken to the hospital by the Suwannee County Fire Rescue.

FF/EMT Dawson Dando, Captain Edwin Leathlean, FF/EMT Zach Hand, Fire Chief Eddie Hand, Battalion Chief Matt Hubbard, FF/Paramedic Dustin Alford, FF/EMT Logan Burnett

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Eddie with his son, Zach. The first father-son duo to work for Suwannee County Fire-Rescue.

Ashley, Eddie, Jeri-lyn and Zach Hand

“I don’t ever really have a day off. If I’m in Suwannee County, I am on the job,” Chief Hand says. But this Christian dad of two, husband to Jeri-lyn, and leader of 65 people who save lives every day wouldn’t have it any other way. “I grew up in Suwannee County, and this is the only place I ever wanted to work!”

in dealing with two totally different children. He had to make a man out of Zach, and he did it the right way! He had to be strong with our son but was very nurturing with Ashley. Now, when either of our grown children calls while away from home, they make sure to say, “I love you!” before they hang up,” she says proudly. Jeri-lyn says that they always felt that if they were not active parents in their children’s lives, they would regret it in the future. Those potential regrets faded as the children grew, and their relationships only strengthened.

Chief Hand wasn’t always a firefighter/EMT. After receiving a landscaping degree, he worked in the industry until his wife Jeri-lyn had their daughter, Ashley. They decided to return home and purchase their family chicken farm. “My wife was an RN, and we collectively decided I should volunteer with the local firefighting group alongside being a farmer,” says Chief Hand. Jeri-lyn left the medical field after Ashley, now 25 was born with autism. Jeri-lyn operated the chicken houses until last year when they closed part of their farming enterprise. She still takes care of everything at home while she and Ashley run Diva Daisies, a unique boutique in downtown Branford on US 129. Meanwhile, Eddie looks after the residents of Suwannee County who may need the help of the fire rescue team.

As Eddie and Jeri-lyn celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary in August, he remarked, “We definitely have the perfect marriage because we’ve stayed together all these years. I like to think we are a good example for our kids to wait for the right one to come along.”

“In the beginning, it was a little difficult to be a firefighter’s wife,” Jeri-lyn says. She was home alone with two small children in the early days. She also took on the responsibility of raising the chickens to help support the family farm. She and Eddie raised their children as a team, despite Eddie being in high demand at work. Jeri-lyn is happy to think that her children have been shown to care for their parents and each other. She noted that Zach and Ashley get along very well, as Zach knows his responsibility is caring for his sister as a brother.

Eddie pointed out that his career takes a very understanding spouse. “I’ve been fortunate to have a firefighter wife, and she’s now a firefighter mom who has been very supportive,” Chief Hand says.

Now, Eddie and Jeri-lyn’s son Zach, twenty-three, is following in his father’s footsteps. Zach was hired by the Suwanee County Fire Rescue in July of 2021 in Live Oak after attending Florida Gateway College to receive his EMT accreditation and fire training with Captain Billy Brideson. He plans to learn on the job for a year before beginning paramedic training to strengthen his skills.

Jeri-lyn is proud of Eddie’s career but is also proud of him as a father. “Eddie loves his job and works hard,” Jeri-lyn says, adding that Eddie always knew he would work with Suwannee County Fire Rescue. “As a father, Eddie’s been a huge influence

Fall 2021 | 33

Chief Hand and son Zach are the first father-son duo to work for Suwannee County Fire Rescue. “The only other one close was Johnny Howard and his daughter, but she later moved to another career,” Chief Hand says. “Johnny is the only original employee still here who came in 1994 when I started.”

Chief Hand says Zach decided toward his career when he saw the brotherhood among firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics and how they enjoy working together. “Zach grew up in sports where everyone was always together,” Chief Hand says. “That’s probably what sealed the deal for him here.” Chief Hand noted that Zach experienced the brotherhood first-hand at the funeral of James Sommers, the late chief who passed in a tragic motorcycle accident. Those in the field came from all over to support their brothers and sisters in fire rescue during this pressing time. Zach witnessed this unconditional support and knew he wanted to join. Zach says of becoming a fire rescue employee, “My plan was to go into Florida Wildlife (FWC), but I changed my mind when I experienced the brotherhood and knew I could truly help others in my community.”

When asked: How does it feel to be working with your dad as a fellow fire rescue employee? Zach responded, “It’s an honor and a privilege to work under my dad. I have a lot of trust in him, but I never really thought I could do it. Growing up with him, I know what he expects. He always taught me to do it right the first time, so you don’t have to go back and redo anything. I know I’ve got some big shoes to fill there!”

Chief Hand admits he’s been tough on Zach as he grew up, but he knew the results would be worth it. “He’s got it a little harder since he’s my son, and every one of the guys who’s been here a long time has known him since he was a kid, so they give him a hard time,” the chief laughed. “My job was to make him a man, and he didn’t like me for it as a teenager, but as he gets older and has children, he’ll understand,” Chief Hand says as Zach agreed.

Zach expects that by the time his dad retires in the future, he will have gained incredible professional and life experience in his own career. “I am hoping to have finished college by then while trying to improve and be the best firefighter paramedic I can be,” he says proudly.

As a husband, father, and fire chief, Eddie Hand can be proud of not only himself for protecting his community for the last twenty-five years but also of the family legacy being forged in the Suwannee County Fire Rescue. ■

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Into the Woods LUMBER BY LANCE

By Hayli Zuccola Holly Frazier Photography

Against a backdrop of pallets of lumber, a sign made of natural-edged aromatic red cedar reads: “Made by God; Saved by Lance.” It’s a phrase that exemplifies the business of Fort White’s own Jim Lance, whose career transformation would garner the approval of the golden-mustached Lorax and his love for Truffula trees.

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Lance learned the trade of carpentry at a young age and though he never completed his degree in it, he studied architecture and design in college before going into the concrete business in Chicago. After moving to Florida, he started his own concrete company pouring the cement mix for big-name companies like Disney before moving to the private sector to lay out roads and foundations for subdivisions. During this time, Lance was continuously troubled by the sheer destruction and wastefulness of acres of trees, which, instead of being burned, could have been used to form the footings for the concrete slabs or build the frames of the structures built on the foundation he’d ultimately pour.

“I would destroy all the trees and pour the concrete and then plant new little trees, and I thought that was pretty bizarre; so, one day back in the early ’90s, we were destroying a town in Oviedo down by Orlando, and I was with the bulldozer guy and I said, ‘you know, there’s a lot of pine trees here, I betcha we could sell these.’”

Unfortunately, not everyone in the business recognized the absurdity of setting ablaze free timber—a fact Lance became aware of after multiple calls to nearby loggers and sawmills confirmed that no one was interested in the 20 acres of dropped pine. Eventually, Lance found a company willing to take the logs off his hands and turn them into 2-by-12s; nevertheless, though he provided the wood, he wouldn’t get the cut and finished boards returned for free. It was this encounter that inspired him to start his own sawmill business. In possession of the machine for no more than a few hours, Lance instantly began getting milling requests from eager neighbors, and with that, Lumber by Lance came to fruition.

“So that was the beginning of—that was in ’94, it’s ’21—I’ve owned that same sawmill for 27-plus years,” he says.

Making lumber is a four-step process, but it all starts with the same primary element: trees.

“My catchphrase is wood doesn’t come from Lowes or Home Depot, it comes from trees,” Lance says.

For the most part, trees fall into two main categories: softwoods like conifers, cypress, pine and cedar and hardwoods like magnolia and sweet gum—all of which are like a painter’s palette for woodworkers and lumber-makers like Lance.

“The cherry we have here in Florida is a little bit different than the typical cherry that you normally find in Tennessee, in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The cherry up there is just perfect. There’re no imperfections, there’re no knots, it’s just red, red, red. The cherry down here takes up the minerals, picks up the staining, picks up the tannins in the sand, and so there are little veins of purple and black and green running through the cherry in Florida, and it’s just to die for,” he says. “It is gorgeous. It is just beautiful. I love Southern black cherry.”

Another favorite style of wood Lance enjoys cutting into is spalted wood, which is an outcome that occurs in the time between splitting a fresh-cut tree and a rotted one.

THE WORK

“If you let a log lay on the ground just long enough about six or eight months, it starts growing mushrooms and it starts growing a fungus, and if you cut that open at just the right time, it’s still very hard, but it’s got these unnatural, unrealistic, just tie-dye colors all through it.”

After the trees drop, the second step is to mill the timber, which Lance does with a portable sawmill he brings directly to a customer’s site. When applicable, while on the job, he encourages his clients to also remove trunks of woods like magnolia, cherry and hickory—ideal for hardwood flooring, cabinets and other furniture—from the burn pile. One by one, each log is loaded onto the bed of the sawmill, cut to the desired size and stacked aside to air dry. While leaving the cut pieces outdoors removes free moisture, to use the wood indoors, the overall moisture content has to be reduced to around 5 to 7 percent, which can be achieved with a kiln.

“You’ve got to force the bound moisture out of the cellular structure, and that only takes two things: it only takes heat above 112 degrees and a wicking effect—you have to have blowing air across the face of it. So a kiln— a high-heat electric dry kiln for wood—is kind of like a kiln for pottery, you know, it sets the pottery so it can be utilized,” he says.

Like the perfect southern barbeque, Lance kilns the lumber low and slow—gradually increasing the temperature a few degrees at a time, which reduces the amount of heatdamaged boards while still removing Florida pests like the wood-boring powderpost beetle.

“I’m not driven by profit or time, I’m driven by reputation,” he says. “My clientele appreciates that, yes, I could dry that load in 17 days and have it to you, but I’ll dry it in 23 days and the loss will be substantially less because I took it slower. I didn’t force the water out of the wood as fast as you can.”

The final step in the process, which Lance no longer does but still occasionally oversees, is loading the planks onto a planer mill, which turns the rough-edged wood into finished flooring, crown molding, flat boards and more. These finished boards range in quality from near-perfect slabs to more unique cuts depending on the client’s preference.

“Some people only want the best of the best. Some people want it all,” he says. “Most of my clients don’t like perfect wood.”

“A bamboo floor, it’s a perfect floor. There are no imperfections, there are no knots, there are no cracks, there’s no staining and people really don’t like that. They want to know that it’s real wood. They want to have some bug holes and some defects and some blue staining and some cracks.

They want to say: ‘Look at that wood. That came from my house. That’s where this house stood.’”

“I look at it like recycling; I take the trees out of the burn pile and turn them into heirloom-quality furniture, and the hard part is making people understand that it doesn’t cost that much money.”

The cost to turn cut logs—whether a common variety like pine or more colorful choices like oak, hickory and walnut— into lumber is around $3 a square foot, which when broken down by each step is about $1.00 a square foot to sawmill it, 50 cents a square foot to kiln dry and $1.50 a square foot to plane.

Throughout his 27-year career in the lumber industry, Lance has worked with a wide range of clientele including Diamond Teague Waterfront Park in Washington, D.C. where he helped turn 2,000-year-old river-recovered old-growth cypress into benches; the Marriott in Virginia beach, where he provided the slabs and cookies, which are circular slices of wood, for a custom L-shaped bar, and Ginnie Springs’ two-story dive shop in High Springs, which was built almost entirely from his sawmill and the surrounding trees. Nevertheless, some of his favorite projects are the local ones.

“It’s just a job to us, but we really love it when people call up and say ‘I’ve got a cedar tree that my grandfather planted back in 1898, and now it just got knocked down by Hurricane Irma and we’d like for you to cut it up into slabs so that we can make an heirloom-quality table’ or whatever it may be and I say ‘yeah, sure we can do that,’ and that’s really what’s the most fun is when people didn’t even think that it was possible to have a sawmill come to their own yard, and that’s what we do and we love to do it, we really do.” ■

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custom

with the plant plugs

By Jeweliana Curtis

bar provides a fun activity that all ages can enjoy! Vanessa Nguyen-Phu, owner of The Plant Plugs, walked us through the process, providing helpful tips and tricks along the way. Follow along to learn how to make your own succulent statement piece!

Jaya Brew of Unique Notions and Vanessa NguyenPhu of The Plant Plugs Are you searching for something fun to do on the weekends with your family? Maybe you are in serious need of a girls’ day out or a unique activity for date night. No matter the occasion, a stop at Unique Notions and The Plant Plugs in High Springs is sure to result in an afternoon of fun for all! This unique spot is located in the heart of downtown and is brimming with activities and goodies. From the DIY succulent bar to the gorgeous varieties of houseplants and handmade gifts, this local shop is sure to put a smile on your face! Come along with us as we visit with The Plant Plugs to create fun succulent arrangements at the DIY succulent potting bar.

Setting You Up for Succulent Success: When you visit High Springs, a stop at The Plant Plugs’ DIY Succulent Bar is an absolute must! Set up with an array of containers, filler rocks and thriving succulents to choose from, the succulent

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Step 1: Choose your container. The Plant Plugs offers a variety of containers to create your perfect succulent arrangement, but you can also purchase the decorative pot of your choosing from the shop to use if you would prefer.

There are so many beautiful options to choose from, but our models decided to go with clear glass options to show off the cool details to be added later on.

Step 2: Pick your succulents. There are many different varieties of succulents available, so take some time to pick out your favorites. Jacob opted for three succulents in a variety of vibrant hues, while Caroline chose to stick with a lush, green color palette. The Plant Plugs owner, Vanessa, receives succulents from all over the world, but many of her plants and succulents are grown from a cutting off of her own collection! How amazing is that?!

Step 3: Add your rocks and soil. The next step is to choose your filler rock color and fill your succulent pot up about half of the way full. This provides

drainage for the plant, offering a bit of a barrier to prevent overwatering. Once your rocks are in, you will fill up your pot with potting soil. Finish off this step by creating a hole in the soil for your succulent to sit in. If you are not afraid to get your hands dirty, you can create this with your thumb, or you may opt to use the small digging tools provided.

Step 4: Pot your plants. During this step, you will be potting your succulents and arranging them to create your desired look. Carefully remove the succulents from their nursery pots, shaking loose any dirt but being careful not to destroy any roots. Then, place your succulent in the hole that you created in the soil.

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and adjust the plants to your liking.

You may want to try out a few different placements before committing to planting, so take your time to find the right look!

Step 5: Add the finishing touches. Your succulents are in and your arrangement is looking good! Finish off your creation by adding colorful rocks to the top to give it a pop. This is also the time where you may add a fun decorative element to your arrangement, like the glittery fall pumpkin that Caroline opted for.

Don’t forget to snap a photo of your adorable creation once it is decorated to perfection!

Located in downtown High Springs, this locally owned shop is a great place to explore. With a focus on sustainability and natural living, Unique Notions carries everything from handmade jewelry to essential oil candles and artwork. This beautiful shop is also home to The Plant Plugs, a locally owned business specializing in all things plants and plant care. Along with the inventory of plants and plant accessories, The Plant Plugs also offers planting and rehab services, living installs, hands-on workshops, custom arrangements and event catering! If you are in search of a unique birthday party or bridal shower idea, look no further than a custom workshop with The Plant Plugs.

“The Plant Plugs was started with the knowledge I gained from my parents! They taught me everything I needed to get going in the plant world,” Vanessa shares. “They owned their own landscape/water garden install company years ago. During Covid, I had my son and it left me with no options but to start up my own business. With the support of my husband, Vinny, everything has been rolling and happening all so quickly!”

Friends Jacob English and Caroline Hartley, pictured above, enjoyed making their very own plant creations with the Plant Plugs!

From the luscious plants to the adorable plant pots and fun decor items, it’s clear to see that Jaya Brew of Unique Notions and Vanessa Nguyen-Phu of The Plant Plugs love what they do. If you are in need of a gift for a friend, or perhaps just a little pick-me-up for yourself, stop by their shop in High Springs and discover all that they have to offer in this planty paradise!

The Plant Plugs at Unique Notions 23641 W U.S. Hwy 27 High Springs, FL 32643 Instagram: @theplantplugs Shop online by joining their Facebook group!

Vanessa’s #1 Plant Care Tip: My biggest tip for beginners is to try out different plants! We all have our own love languages, and there is a plant that will communicate well with you. Don’t give up if the one you have isn’t working well with your care style. So choose another plant and try, try again.

FYI: Growing and caring for plants can alleviate everyday stress. A nationwide study from UK magazine Gardeners’ World found 80 percent of gardeners declared themselves satisfied with life compared to 67 percent among non-gardeners.

Greenery can help people feel more at home and improve mental health. A rehab center in Norway found patients reported a greater increase in well-being four weeks after having greenery added to their surroundings.

Plants and gardening can also help with allergies. According to WebMD, rooms with houseplants tend to have less dust and mold in them than those without any foliage. Leaves and other parts of the plants serve as natural filters, catching airborne particles and allergens.

Plants with textured leaves might be especially effective at trapping particles.

Fall 2021 | 41

Brag Worthy Recipes by Laura Fowler Goss

PORK TENDERLOIN

WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES, PEANUTS & POMEGRANATE

Pork Ingredients

Instructions

• 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 ½ pounds)

Prepare the Pork

• Salt & pepper • 2 tablespoon peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 tablespoon peanut oil • 1/2 cup peach preserves

Vegetable Ingredients • 1 small onion, diced • 1 pound brussels sprouts, halved • 3 carrots and/or parsnips, peeled, diced • 2 potatoes (if desired), peeled, diced • 4 garlic cloves, whole • 2 tablespoon peanut oil • 5 rosemary sprigs, fresh • Salt & pepper • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds • 3/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped

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Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Trim fat from pork tenderloin, sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment. Combine peanut butter, garlic, peanut oil; spread mixture over pork loin.

Prepare the Vegetables Prep, as in ingredient list, put vegetables, garlic cloves, and rosemary on baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, salt and pepper, toss to coat all. Nestle the pork in the middle of the sheet with vegetables all around. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until pork reaches an internal temperature of about 125-130 degrees. Remove pan from oven. Slightly stir vegetables to mix. Spread peach preserves over pork tenderloin. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and peanuts atop vegetables. Return to oven, increase temperature to 415 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for about another 10-15 minutes, until internal temperature of pork is about 145-150 degrees. Remove from oven, let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

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Fall 2021 | 43

MID-FALL Pumpkin patches have started to spring up, golden leaves have replaced the green, “Spooky Season” activities are in full swing and it is a prime time for a weekend road trip to the southern hills of Appalachia! This feature of Family Kitchen highlights the ever-talented Chef Laura who is no stranger to our Family!

Creatively approaching this set of recipes, Chef Laura creatively weaves her knowledge and expertise from the Florida Peanut Federation to craft center table masterpieces!

FALL STUFFED PUMPKINS A beautiful holiday side dish, complete nutrition, delicious to all.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • •

8 mini pumpkins 1 tablespoon peanut oil, plus more 1 small onion, diced 2 cups wild rice About 4-5 cups vegetable broth 3/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup chives (or green onions), chopped Zest from 1 lemon Juice from 1 lemon 1/2 cup dried cranberries Salt and pepper

Instructions Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut tops off of pumpkins, scoop out seeds. Drizzle pumpkins inside and out with peanut oil.

Recipes Courtesy of Florida Peanut Federation Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for about 20 minutes, until pumpkin flesh is soft.

In the meantime, sauté 1 tablespoon peanut oil and diced onion in a medium sauce pan, over medium-high heat. When onion is tender, add wild rice, stir well to combine. Add about 4-5 cups of vegetable broth (look for liquid specifications on your package of wild rice). Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, slightly covered, for about 20 minutes (refer to directions on package of wild rice).

When rice is completely cooked, remove from heat. Stir in peanuts, herbs, zest, juice, cranberries, and about 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.

Fill pumpkins with about ½ cup of rice mixture, serve and enjoy.

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Mid-Fall is a great time to hit the scene of fall festivals, taste a candied apple at the fair and break your favorite flannel back in from last year! Enjoy the laughs and joy of carving a pumpkin and the cool nights, fall is in full swing!

ABOUT THE CHEF The Executive Director of the Florida Peanut Federation, Laura Fowler Goss, represents the interests of over 300 peanut farmers and allied partners. The Florida Peanut Federation strives to improve and develop a thriving and sustainable peanut industry through marketing, education, and promotion of Florida peanuts. Laura is the happy wife of Matt, proud mother of AnnMarie, Baptist Sunday School teacher, and enjoys helping with community events. She’s a French-trained chef, graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, and runs a catering business with clients nationwide, but promises her favorite customers are in Lake City, Florida. Laura loves to prepare food as tasty as it is beautiful—that has become her calling card.

Well….that and her pleasantly infectious laugh.

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Fall 2021 | 45

fall fashion

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS FASHION MUST-HAVES

SOUTHERN SISTERS BOUTIQUE

abigail kelley

DENIM-ON-DENIM

As the seasons change here in North Florida, it’s time to bust out your favorite fall finds and begin to transition your style for the new season. Is your wardrobe in need of a refresh? Look no further than these three amazing local boutiques. Not only will you be finding stylish and unique pieces, but you will also be supporting incredible women-owned small businesses with each purchase. Check out these great local finds to gain some fall outfit inspo to rock all season long!

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By Jeweliana Curtis

21

FAMILYMAGAZINE

FALL

Southern Sisters Boutique This sweet boutique is a staple in downtown Lake City! Southern Sisters Boutique was founded by two sisters with a love for fashion, home decor and accessorizing, and it has become a one-stop-shop for all things gifts and personal styling. With a wide variety of clothing and accessories, there is always something new to discover at this local spot. Stop in and give your closet a refresh with some new fall pieces, or pop by and grab a gift and have it personalized. We know you’ll always leave with some great goodies!

This bodysuit can be dressed up for a night out or dressed down for a casual daytime look, making it a versatile piece that you can style many different ways.

Abigail paired the bodysuit with a great pair of denim jeans, a fringe clutch and peep-toe wedges. Her necklaces feature a trendy layered piece complete with a bit of sparkle and a gold hoop.

Denim-on-Denim

Do you love the denim on denim trend but are not sure how to style it properly?

Try mixing tones to create a cohesive look! This light-wash denim jacket has adorable frayed detailing. Abigail styled it with a fall graphic tee and a pair of dark-wash denim jeans to contrast the brightness of the jacket. She completed the look with a stack of fall-toned bangles, a stylish pair of hoops and a gold initial necklace.

124 N Marion Ave Lake City, FL 32055 386-487-5611 I@southernsistersboutique32055 southernsistersboutique.com

VICTORIA’S FASHION HOUSE

Animal Prints

As far as we’re concerned, animal print is timeless! We love the cut of this pleated animal printed skirt, and it is a great transition piece for fall. It is paired here with a bodysuit and printed sandals, but could easily be worn on a cooler day with the addition of a denim jacket, a pair of tights and your favorite booties.

Southern Sisters model, Abigail Kelley, accessorized this look with a pair of beaded earrings, a long necklace and a classic black purse.

victoria cook

Metallic Accents

We are obsessed with this textured, metallic bodysuit! Not only is the color stunning, but the long sleeves are perfect for cooler fall and winter days.

FUN GRAPHIC TEE

Fall 2021 | 47

Victoria’s Fashion House

Fashion FYI

Victoria’s Fashion House was created to provide locals with a great place to buy on-trend items without breaking the bank! Owned and operated by Victoria Jackson Cook, this Live Oakbased boutique carries everything from elevated basics to on-trend clothing and accessories. Victoria founded the boutique five years ago and built an online fan base for the store, eventually opening up shop in Mayo in 2019. When the opportunity presented itself to move into the new Live Oak Commons area in 2020, Victoria opened up shop and has loved being surrounded by so many other small businesses locally! Pop in and check out all of the latest and greatest finds, all while supporting a local small business and a dream.

Keeping up on the latest fashion trends often means having a foot firmly planted in the past. Experts say fashion is cyclical, which means there’s a good chance that if you hold on to items long enough, they’ll become popular once again.

New York-based celebrity stylist Samantha Brown says it’s common for trends to follow a 20-year cycle for reappearance. So those looks that were popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s are now poised for a comeback.

In addition to Y2K-esque influences, current fashion trends are focused on easy-to-wear items that will continue to help people be comfortable during Zoom meetings, but also ensure they look put together when they venture outside into a post-pandemic world. Here’s a look at some of what’s trending.

Layers, Layers, Layers!

Want to spice up your wardrobe for the new season? Invest in some great layering pieces. We love the versatility of this animal print cardigan, which can easily be worn with a multitude of outfits in our closets to elevate them for fall. This pretty fringe-duster also adds a beautiful pop of color and texture to Victoria’s monochromatic outfit. Whether you layer a cute cardigan over one of your favorite, staple; little black dresses or throw on a chunky knit sweater over your go-to basics, you can easily elevate your style by layering this season.

Fun Graphic Tees

All About Maxis

We all know that fall in Florida can often feel similar to summer in Florida, so fall fashion needs to be very transitional.

These two gorgeous maxi dresses are great examples of transitional pieces that can be worn throughout the season.

Rock a maxi with a trendy hat on a warm day, or pop on a denim jacket to complete the look on a cool day. The on-trend fall tones and fun pattern blocking elevate these closet staples for the season!

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Need a laid-back outfit idea that still gives off all the great fall vibes? This fun graphic tee is for you! Paired here with a cozy cardigan, a trendy hat and a great pair of lived-in denim, this look is perfect for a day out on the town or an afternoon at the pumpkin patch. Be sure to check out Victoria’s favorite graphic tees for fall in store and online!

Victoria’s Fashion House 1409 Ohio Avenue North Live Oak, FL 32064 I@victoriasfashion.house Shop online on Facebook-

RIPPED JEANS: Distressed jeans have now paved the way for big 1990s rips in lighter-washed denims, which have made a return in a big way. Browse your local Forever 21 or Hollister and all the cool kids are now donning what their parents wore while attending college decades ago. And while you’re updating your jeans, be sure to pick high-waisted, wider-legged “Mom” jeans, as they’re more popular than skinny options.

PATCHWORK PRINTS: Patchwork offers a more delicate take on the flannel of early 1990s grunge attire. Style experts say it provides a romantic touch, but is still casual and edgy.

SPORTY AND HIP-HOP TRENDS: Sporty Spice and Gwen Stefani could often be seen in sports bras and athletic pants and that look is returning.

Athletic-inspired hoodies, brands, track pants, and footwear are casual and comfortable. Overalls are another effortless and laid-back style to make a resurgence. They’re equally at home paired with heels or Vans, Adidas or Converse sneakers.

CROPPED CARDIGANS AND TOPS: Showing midriff is back in a big way. Stores are stocked in cropped tops that are just as cute with lounge-worthy sweatpants as high-waisted jeans.

SWEATPANTS: Perhaps fueled by a year of spending time indoors learning virtually and working from home, sweatpants and leggings emerged as go-to staples for daily dressing and were dubbed “couch clothing.”When heading out now, trade in muted gray or black for candycolored joggers.

BULKY FOOTWEAR: If you are a guy or gal who never left home without your trusty Doc Martens in the past, dust off those boots and other clunky shoes for the ultimate comeback. Top Trends Guide says 1990s shoes, such as square-toe heels, combat boots, platforms and thick-soled sneakers, are trendy once again.

Stuffing? Dressing?

It’s all gravy to us. Try these two recipes tucked into one pot for convenience’s sake!

One Pot

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

INGREDIENTS: • 1 Loaf day-old bread, torn into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups) • 1 lb Ground mild italian sausage • 6 skin on, bone in chicken thighs • 1 large yellow onion, diced • 1 1/2 cups celery, 1/4-inch slices • 2 tbsp fresh sage, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped • 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus more for topping • 3 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper • 1 3/4 cups chicken stock

LAKE CITY 2016 East Duval St. Open 7 Days A Week 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350°. Bake bread pieces on a baking sheet, stirring occasionally (every 15 minutes), until dried out, about 1 hour. Set aside. Meanwhile, brown the sausage over medium-high heat in an oven-proof braiser or Dutch oven, once browned remove sausage from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside. Season the chicken thighs with 2 teaspoons of salt. Add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook without moving until the chicken skin is brown and crispy, about 5 minutes.

Remove the chicken thighs from the pan and set them aside. Keep the heat at mediumhigh, and add the chopped onions and celery to your Dutch oven. Sauté them in the residual chicken and sausage fat until just beginning to brown, while gently scraping the brown bits from the pan, about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the braiser from the heat and add the bread pieces, along with the fresh sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper and sausage. Drizzle the chicken stock evenly over the bread and toss gently to combine. Nestle the chicken thighs into the stuffing mixture. Bake for 40 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the chicken thigh registers 170°. Transfer the cooked chicken thighs onto a plate and stir the stuffing with any excess liquid in the bottom of the pan. Serve with extra parsley for garnish. * For the fresh herbs in this recipe, you can purchase a “poultry blend” at your local grocery store similar to this. This helps to keep the cost of the dish low.

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All Things Sage Green

Trend alert: Sage green is the color of the season! Forecasted to be a hot color for fall 2021, this sage green is unique and eye-catching. We love this sweet sage green top from Kraves that can easily be dressed up or down depending on your event. Paired here with a stunning pair of statement earrings and a dark-wash pair of denim, this look is perfect for fall outings. The best part? This sage green compliments a variety of skin tones!

KRAVES BOUTIQUE

jody hill

TRADITIONAL DRESSES Kraves Boutique Locally loved and raved about, Kraves Boutique is located in historic downtown Live Oak and is a great place to grab gameday gear, trendy pieces and stylish accessories. Along with their array of clothing and accessories, Kraves Boutique is also an exclusive seller of Tyler Candle Company in the area, so when you stop by be sure to stock up on the famous wax melts, candles and Glamorous Wash!

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Chic Cutouts Transitional Dresses

Both comfortable and stylish, every girl needs a go-to dress for the fall season!

This gorgeous dress has a muted color palette with a fun print, making it a great option as you transition your wardrobe from summer to fall. Easily transition this dress as the weather gets cooler by popping on a pair of tights and your favorite fall booties, or dress it up with a pair of heels and some statement earrings. We love how Jody Hill elevated this look with a pair of platform wedges and gold jewelry.

Searching for the perfect date night look? From the chic, trendy cutout to the sweet tie detailing on the shoulders, this adorable jumpsuit is our favorite! We love the simple silhouette and classy color.

Jody styled this with a pendant necklace for a simple date night look, but you can easily add a pair of statement earrings to bring a pop of playfulness.

Kraves Boutique 118 E Howard St Live Oak, FL 32064 386-647-7571 I@kravesboutique Shop online on Facebook!

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Fall 2021 | 51

Celebratory Charcuterie for Every Occasion

By Jeweliana Curtis

The holidays are upon us, and with that comes many reasons to celebrate with the people you love the most. From Halloween hangouts to Christmas celebrations, each shindig may come with its own unique crowd and activity, but one thing is for certain: Great food is a must! If you are searching for a simple way to wow your guests and create a gorgeous focal point for your gathering, look no further than a beautiful charcuterie board or grazing table. With a little something for everyone,

HALLOWEEN: THE ROCKIN BRIE BY BREE FAULKNER

A Spook-tacular Snack Board with The Rockin Brie On the hunt for the perfect Halloween party snack? Look no further than this incredible creation by Bree Faulkner of The Rockin Brie!

We love all of the spooky details, like the witch’s fingers made from carrots, and the mozzarella and olive eyeballs. Bree created this board with crowd-favorite cheeses like Muenster and Gorgonzola, then gave the board a Halloween twist by using her ingredients in creative ways. We just can’t get enough of the adorable white chocolate pretzel mummies and the clever ghost cut out cheese! Bree completed the board by popping on some fresh greenery and finishing with the spooky additions of spiders, skulls, skeletons and even a smokey cauldron!

your board can incorporate items that your guests will love— no matter their age or dietary restrictions.

Not sure where to begin when creating your board? These amazing charcuterie experts have you covered! Family Magazine is thrilled to bring you the most elevated charcuterie inspiration for all of your holiday gatherings from these talented local charcuterie gals! foundation Tip: Always build your Bree’s #1 Charcuterie d Colby Jack like Brie, Cheddar an with crowd pleasers ses. They work around the chee cheeses first, and then e new at ! Always try least on ow sh e th of r sta e th should be to experiment d and don’t be afraid cheese on every boar with funky flavors!

Ingredients used: • Mozzarella eyeballs • Carrot “witch” fingers • White chocolate pretzel mummies • Oreo mint cheese eyeball • Butterbeer fluff • Dry aged salami

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Holly Frazier Photography

• Peppered salami • Fig and olive crackers • Gooseberries • Beet crackers • Moondrop grapes • Muenster cheese • Rambutan

• Wasabi peas • Goat cheese with

raspberry “blood” • Dried persimmons • Pomegranate • Gorgonzola • Gaskins Honey

About Bree Faulkner and The Rockin Brie A Lake City native, Bree Faulkner has always had a love for all things creativity, from beauty and fashion to home decor and hosting! She works as a Radiologic Technologist in an Interventional Injection Clinic, but she also runs Beauty By Bree and The Rockin Brie in her spare time. Some of her favorite hobbies include traveling, spending time with her husband, visiting farmers markets and vintage shops, and of course trying out new recipes in the kitchen. Combining her creativity with her love for charcuterie, Bree created The Rockin Brie to bring her beautiful creations to local gatherings all year ‘round!

“I love being able to make a vision I have come to fruition, especially when I have a theme. I spend the most time meticulously planning color themes and little surprises packed in every board,” Bree shares.

“Seeing the look on my client’s face when presented with their board is something I’ll never get tired of.”

One of Bree’s biggest passions is supporting local businesses and other creators, so you can always find the freshest produce from KC’s Produce on her boards, accompanied by the delicious honey from Gaskins Apiaries. Her favorite item to include on her boards is a black label cambozola, which is a soft ripened blue cheese that boasts of a creamy and smooth texture. Bree suggests pairing it with a sea salt rosemary cracker and raspberry jam for an amazing sweet and salty snack. If you are interested in booking Bree for your next party, check out her Instagram at @therockinbrie and follow along to see more creative boards!

THANKSGIVING: AMAZING GRAZE GAL & CO. WITH JACKIE ROBERTS (mother) AND JAYLIN ROBERTS (daughter)

A Stunning Thanksgiving Grazing Table with The Amazing Graze Gal & Co. If you are searching for a way to impress your guests this Thanksgiving, take inspiration from this stunning Thanksgivingthemed grazing board by The Amazing Graze Gal & Co. Everyone knows that the meal is the focal point of most Thanksgiving gatherings, but waiting on the meal to be served on Thanksgiving Day can be a challenge!

Prevent your guests from getting “hangry” by creating a beautiful charcuterie board that they can graze on throughout the day. From popular cheeses like Colby Jack and mozzarella to the stuffed olives and various meats and candied fruit on display, this board truly has something for every palate. Gain ideas from the Amazing Graze Gals and challenge yourself to find creative ways to incorporate your theme into the board, like this incredible bread cornucopia made from crescent dough. It’s almost too pretty to eat!

Ingredients used: All produce was found at KC’s Produce and other items can be found at Aldi.

• Dehydrated pineapple • Genoa salami • Garlic-stuffed olives (They dehydrate their • Pepperoni • Pimento-stuffed olives own!)

• Peppered salami • Various nuts • Bread cornucopia Manchego cheese slices • • Candied fruit (Made out of crescent roll Colby Jack cheese • • Assorted chocolates dough) • Mozzarella

Jaylin’s #1 Charcuterie Tip: Fill every space of your board! This will help create a full look and enable you to incorporate more delicious options into your charcuterie spread. We love to fill in gaps on our boards with small chocolate items, nuts, or herbs like rosemary or sage.

Fall 2021 | 53

About the Amazing Graze Gals The Amazing Graze Gal & Co. was created by mother-daughter duo Jackie and Jaylin Roberts, and there are currently two locations serving both Lake City and Live Oak. The Amazing Graze shop is known for having delicious lunch options like their beloved Signature Chicken Salad Sandwich and Pimento Cheese BLT Sandwich, along with to-go charcuterie boxes and so much more.

The Amazing Graze Gals also offer custom orders for parties and events and even host gatherings in their two locations for special occasions. Jackie and Jaylin both enjoy serving others and hosting, and their business has been the perfect way to do just that! From the moment you step into their stores, you will feel right at home because of their Southern hospitality and beautifully crafted spaces.

grace and start small! “Beginners shouldn’t worry about getting fancy products or ingredients. Start by getting items you know that you love and incorporate them into your first board,” Jaylin suggests.

“Then, you can add in new items for your friends and family to try out as you master your design. That also gives everyone at your table a chance to try something new!”

When asked for their best advice to those looking to try their hand at charcuterie, the Amazing Graze Gals suggested to give yourself

While the Amazing Graze Gals have so many amazing menu items to try, they do have one stand-out favorite: their signature Peach Jalapeño Cheese Ball covered in shredded cheese, bacon, and dried cranberries. Interested in trying one of The Amazing Graze boards? Visit their Lake City or Live Oak location and follow along on Instagram at @amazinggrazegal_lakecity! For event inquiries or custom board booking, please contact the Amazing Graze Gal & Co. at amazinggrazegal@outlook.com or call 386-249-1921.

CHRISTMAS:

About Born + Grazed

BORN + GRAZED WITH VICTORIA GARDNER AND ROBYN SOUCINEK

Created by Robyn Soucinek and Victoria Gardner, Born + Grazed is a family-oriented business that believes in cultivating community, quality, and hospitality with beautifully crafted charcuterie boards and spreads. By day, Robyn is a teacher at

A Festive Christmas Dream with Born + Grazed This beautiful board gives us all of the Christmas feels! From the rustic cheeses to the fresh produce and delectable assortment of meats, this charcuterie board is perfect for all of your festive holiday gatherings. The Born + Grazed girls choose to incorporate an artisan french baguette and an assortment of crackers and nuts that pair well with the creamy cheeses, and they also include some fresh items and unique sweets to round out the spread.

The cream cheese and pepper jelly combo makes a wonderful addition to any holiday charcuterie menu! The board was finished off with a beautiful garnish of fresh balsam and eucalyptus, accompanied by fresh cranberries for color and tealight candles for warmth and ambiance. We love the warm and cozy feelings that this board brings, and know it would be an absolute hit at any holiday gettogether!

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Ingredients used: • Artisan French baguette • Sesame crackers • Water crackers • Smoked almonds • Cherry tomatoes • Cucumbers • Parmesan puffs

• Mini quiche cups • Wedding cookies • Pepper jack cheese • Olive tapenade Garnishes: • Aged cheddar • Cream cheese and pepper • Fresh balsam/garland jelly • Fresh cranberries Dried • apricots • Fresh eucalyptus • Genoa salami • Tealight candles • Summer sausage

Covenant Community School, where Victoria also works as a School Administrator. These two love to create beautiful boards together in their spare time, and you can usually find Robyn playing sports with her friends and students when she’s not teaching. Victoria always loves to spend time with her family and friends, and you can usually find her baking and testing out new recipes in her spare time! When creating boards, Robyn’s favorite cheese to include is a creamy garlic and herb Boursin cheese, Robyn and Victoria’s and Victoria loves to incorporate #1 Charcuterie Tip: pepper jack cheese for a subtle kick.

Just have fun with The inspiration behind Born + Grazed it! There’s no right or is to create space for gathering and wrong way to make a community, and it should come as no boa rd. Just combine surprise that food is a great way to do your favorites! We just that.

“We love how charcuterie spreads can suggest tasting bring everyone together,” Robyn says. EVERYTHING before “Cultivating community is what it is all putting it on your about for us!” board, and don’t be afra id to use Pinterest It’s no secret that these two are for inspiration! experts at all things charcuterie, and it’s clear to see their passion for all they do. If you are interested in having your own Born + Grazed board created for your next event, please contact Robyn and Victoria at bornandgrazedco@gmail.com or send them a message on Instagram at @bornandgrazed_. ■

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ADVERTORIAL

GOLF & LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS

By Hayli Zuccola

Similar to other sports, golf requires patience, practice and determination among players, but it differs in that it acts as a stress-reliever due in part to its beautiful outdoor surroundings.

Encouraging exercise and navigating the challenge of the fairway are notable elements of the sport, but it’s the fresh air, vibrant greenery and all-around breathtaking landscapes that make golf so appealing, and at Florida Gateway College, students can learn the secrets to its success with an education in Golf and Landscape Operations.

FGC has been offering Turf Equipment, Golf Course Operations and Landscape Technology to prospective students since the mid-1960s, but with technological advancements, the college decided to adapt with the 56 |

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times. Today, FGC’s Golf and Landscapes Operations program is 100-percent online, which enables the school to educate students both locally and throughout the country. Applicants can choose whether they want to earn a certificate in Horticulture, which covers the cultivation of plants and non-food crops such as turf and ornamental plants and trees; or an Advanced Horticulture certificate, which is an additional 12 credits and may help graduates get a head start in horticultural management positions.

Students also have the option of working toward an Associate in Science degree in Agribusiness Management, which can lead to careers in golf course operations, landscaping, nursery management and sports turf.

On multiple occasions, the program as a whole has been ranked in the top three for golf and landscape education programs, and the reason for that is its coverage of plants and turf grasses beyond the Florida landscape.

“We’re not just talking about Southern turf grass where most of my students are, we’re also going over the northern ones to give them a wellrounded education in turf,” said Erik Smith, who is the main professor and program coordinator for FGC’s Golf and Landscape Operations.

After getting his Bachelor’s in Forest Resources, Smith started working in the turf management industry in Tampa before earning a bachelor’s in Turfgrass

“The classes are updated all the time only because certain things in the industries change, so I’m always updating courses to include newer ideas and new ways of doing things,” Smith says.

Science and later advancing to getting his master’s in Turfgrass Management.

From his first position as a horticulturist at a country club in central Florida to an internship in New Jersey and eventual superintendent position in South Florida, Smith has experienced the different landscape environments along the coast—an important facet he wanted to instill in his students, who reside everywhere from the humid temperatures of Florida to the deserts of California; the high elevations of Colorado to the rain-soaked state of Washington and everywhere in between.

“We want this to be a global program.

We want our students to be able to learn about all parts of the country and other countries,” he says.

From xeriscaping techniques that use cacti and rocks ideal for dryer climates to various pest-management practices, students enrolled in FGC’s program are taught a wide range of skills to prepare them for a career on the golf course, in the turf industry, farming or even the commercial nursing industry anywhere in the country.

In addition to updating the course into a digital platform, the material within the program is also constantly evolving.

Whether students opt to enroll in the workforce program, pursue one of two certificate options or seek out their Associate in Science degree, they’ll get a thorough education through FGC that will prepare them for their future endeavors whatever they may be.

The program’s latest improvements weren’t in the form of content or “I want my students to learn; I don’t want this to be just curriculum changes but in “These courses are just as a slide through, the addition of an entirely tough as our college-level new program, which learn nothing and courses and it’s all put into get a piece of paper. debuted in May. an eight-week session for one My students actually course. People who may be pull pertinent The Horticulture and in the business and they may information from Turfgrass Non-Credit not have finished high school- the classes and Workforce Program is a that’s not a problem; they can they’re able to non-degree/non-credit still take these courses and use that in their introductory program get a certificate.” everyday jobs and comprised of four eightcareers,” he says. week courses covering —Erik Smith the concepts of botany, More so, Smith views FGC’s Golf and landscape plants, intro to turf and intro Landscape Operations as more than an to irrigations. Also 100-percent online, academic program, he sees it as a family. the workforce program is available in both English and Spanish, and despite “I want everyone to understand that not counting toward college credit, is this is a program that I consider family,” just as comprehensive as its for-credit he says. “I want them to feel comfortable counterpart. coming to a school understanding that they’re going to get a first-rate “These courses are just as tough education, and second of all, they can as our college-level courses and it’s reach out to me at any time with any all put into an eight-week session for problems. I just think this program has one course,” Smith says. “Those people so much tradition and I want to keep who may be in the business maybe in that going…it is like a family, it’s like horticulture, turf, whatever it may be, a fraternity of men, women, Spanishand they may not have finished high speakers…we are family.” ■ school—that’s not a problem; they can still take these courses and get a certificate.”

go further together.

To learn more about FGC’s Golf and Landscape Operations program and their new workforce program, visit their website at fgc.edu/fgc-golfprograms.

www.fgc.edu (386) 752-1822 149 SE College Pl Lake City, FL 32025 Fall 2021 | 57

SAFFRON CUSTARD PEAR PIE Scan this code for recipe.

PECULIAR

By Hayli Zuccola

When it comes to pairing fall weather with dessert, pies are the staple of the season. Traditional autumn recipes usually highlight one of three flavors: apple, pumpkin and pecan, and while there’s a slim chance anyone would turn down a slice of warm Granny Smith’s on a bed of flaky crust and smothered with vanilla ice cream, your taste buds will devour the following recipes that feature some underrated harvest ingredients. So, goodbye pumpkin spice, sticky pecan and old-fashioned apple, and say hello to pear crumble, honey walnut and cinnamon.

Spiced Pear Crumble Pie Recipe from Harry & David

Ingredients: Spiced Crumble Topping: • 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt • 5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

SPICED PEAR CRUMBLE PIE

Pear Filling: • Riviera Pears peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar • 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt Egg Wash (Optional): • 1 egg plus 1 teaspoon milk (beaten) • 1 package prepared store-bought (or homemade) pie crust Directions: Transfer prepared pie dough to a 9-inch pie pan, fold edges under and crimp as desired. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.

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For the crumble: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack in the center position. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt. Add the cubed butter and toss to coat until the butter is dispersed and there’s a mixture of smaller and larger crumbs. Chill until ready to use.

For the pear filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the peeled and chopped pears, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt.

Remove crust from the refrigerator, transfer the pear filling into the pie shell and sprinkle the crumble topping over the pear mixture. Brush the edges of the pie dough with the egg wash. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes; reduce the oven to 350 degrees and continue baking for an additional 30 to 40 minutes or until deeply golden. Allow pie to cool and set for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Fall 2021 | 59

Honey Walnut Pie Recipe from Everyday Pie

Ingredients: • 1 9-inch single pie crust, store-bought or homemade • 3 cups walnuts, chopped • 4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature • ½ teaspoon salt • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar • 3 large eggs, room temperature • ½ cup honey • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • Egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon of water)

CINNAMON PIE Cinnamon Pie Recipe from Faustcakes

Ingredients: • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened • 1 cup sugar, sifted • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten • 1 cup half-and-half • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Take the sheet of pre-made or homemade pie dough and press into a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp the edges together along the top ridge of the pan. Put the pie shell in the freezer to firm for about an hour.

After an hour, remove the crust from the freezer and use a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper to cover the inside of the crust completely. Fill with pie weights and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and the pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust begins to dry and take color.

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• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon • 2 tablespoons flour, sifted • 1 package store-bought (or homemade) pie crust • Whipped cream for topping In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sifted sugar on high until light and smooth. Add salt and continue mixing. Add eggs, half-and-half, vanilla and melted butter; beat until combined.

Once fully incorporated, add the cinnamon and flour a little bit at a time, making sure it’s well combined before adding the next portion.

Pour the filling, which will be slightly runny, into the warm pie crust and bake for 45-50 minutes. Let the pie cool to room temperature before slicing. Serve slightly warmed or cold.

Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place the rack on the lowest part of the oven. Roll out dough and place in a 9-inch pie tin. Crimp the edges and let rest in the freezer (or refrigerator) while preparing the filling. Place walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes or until fragrant.

With an electric mixer, cream butter, salt and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until fully incorporated. Slowly pour in honey and vanilla and beat until mixture has slightly increased in volume, about 3 minutes. Fold in walnuts and pour into the prepared pastry-lined dish and smooth over the top. Brush an egg wash over the crust. Bake on the lowest rack for 20 minutes. Lower heat to 350 degrees and continue to cook until the pie has puffed up and set, about 25-30 minutes. If the crust is browning too quickly, cover with foil. ■

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A Living Legacy

By Jeweliana Curtis

Ronald and Gail Harden have been married for 57 years, and together they have two sons, Greg and Jeffrey, four granddaughters and seven greatgrandchildren. Their love story began one Saturday night at the skating rink in Lake Butler. Ronald’s mother brought her Sunday school class to the rink that evening, where 15-year-old Gail caught the attention of Ronald. He asked her to skate together, she said yes, and they have been together ever since.

Most people have the goal of leaving a legacy in this life, but what does it take to construct one that lasts? Legacies are typically molded through hard work, honesty, morals and values. They take time and determination to build. The Harden’s legacy is one of faithfulness, assembled on the foundation of commitment, determination and family values.

Ronald shares that he always strives to put God first, his wife second, then his family; and finally his work family.

The Hardens have been members of Hopeful Baptist Church for 57 years, and the two served faithfully teaching Sunday school there for many years. An employee of G.W. Hunter for over 57 years, Ronald is the epitome of a faithful worker, which he attributes to the sense of family that is evident within the business. His commitment to working and learning is an inspiration to many, and his story is truly incredible.

Ronald and Gail at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

“He’s been a wonderful husband, a great provider, and a kind soul. I know a lot of people tease me that he spoils me, but I can’t help that he did that!” Gail laughs. “We have loved one another since I was 15 years old.”

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Ronald’s work family. From left to right: Jimmy Byrd, Jonathan Jarrell, Mark Chinel, Michelle Walker, Terry Hunter, George Hunter, John Hunter, Ronald Harden & Elga Hunter.

“The connection to feeling a part of the company is what made me stay. The feeling of being a part of something that needed me, and I needed it,” Ronald explains.

“The closeness of being a part of a small company was the best part. I truly believe that our world would be better off if we had more respect for the employees and for the employer. If you are going to work for someone, or someone is going to work for you, always respect one another.”

Ronald on his final day at GW Hunter, Inc.

Ronald and faithful friend Foots. They were best friends for over 15 years.

The kindred feel at G.W. Hunter Oil is what kept Ronald and so many others at the company.

Ronald described how special it is to work at a place where you knew that the bosses had your back and how he always knew there was someone to call if he needed them, no matter the hour.

Raised on a farm in Columbia County, Ronald has called this area home for his entire life. After completing high school and junior college, he decided to settle down and get a job in the oil George & John Hunter presenting Ronald an industry, landing a job with Standard Oil in 1964. The Standard award for serving the compnay for 57 years.

Oil company was based out of Kentucky, and Ronald enjoyed his time learning on the job. The company started out as a farm and heating fuel business, at that the time a lot of homes were “I love every one of the Hunter boys, and I always knew that if heated with kerosene and diesel, so Ronald found his main I ever needed someone, even if I had to call them at midnight, job was to deliver the vatts. The first Standard Oil interstate they would be there for me like family. It was hard on me station opened up in 1964 also, and then it became his job to when Mr. G.W. Hunter passed, and then being here I also got supply gasoline back and forth all day long. It was a very large attached to Mrs. Hunter, then when she passed away, it was volume station, so Ronald like a part of me was gone,” recalls making as many as five Ronald shares. “Something I’ll trips a day from the Lake City “T h e c l o s e n e s s o f be i n g a par t of a s m al l always remember is the feeling c o m p a n y w a s t h e be s t par t . I t r u l y be l i e v e headquarters to White Springs. that I have towards the whole th a t o u r w o rld w ou l d be be t t e r o f f i f w e h ad Standard Oil had accessories Hunter family. They are just m o re re s p e c t f or t h e e m pl o y e e s an d f o r t h e for automobiles as well, so good people.” e m p l o y e r. I f y o u ar e goi n g t o w or k f o r s om e o n e , Ronald began to work in the o r s o m e o n e i s g oi n g t o w or k f o r y o u , al w ay s clerical department, where he Gail also felt the sense of family re s pe c t o n e an ot h e r . ” stayed long term. at G.W. Hunter Oil, stating, “We love the Hunter boys. We By the late 1960s Chevron had watched them grow up and we bought out Standard Oil. In are so proud of them.

We’ve also watched their children grow the 1970s, the company was purchased by Mr. G.W. Hunter and up, and now their children are having children, too.”

Ronald began to work for the Hunter family,who had created a new feeling of fellowship and family in the workplace.

“When Mr. Hunter bought the dealership, it was so different. He was so family-oriented and he and his wife would open their house and we would have cookouts, and it was always such a pleasure,” Gail shares. “They always made us feel so welcome.

Mr. Hunter was a great man, and Ronald really respected him.

I think the feeling was mutual, because I don’t know of anyone else who’s had the same job for 57 years.”

It is a rarity for an employee to work at the same business for their entire career, so what made Ronald decide to stay and not search for a new challenge elsewhere?

Over the years, Ronald experienced many changes in the workplace, from handing over operations to the next generation to new innovations in the industry. One of the most notable changes was the introduction of computer automation, which he was determined to master, even if it was a struggle at first.

“That transition from handwritten everything to using computers was bad,” Ronald laughs. “I always say that my brain was made way before computers. It was quite a change for a lot of people, myself included. But we got through it!”

Fall 2021 | 63

In February of 2021, Ronald made the decision to officially retire from his job of 57 years at the age of 77. He joins his wife Gail who has been retired since 2008 from the Clerk of Court’s office, and the two of them have been enjoying the freedom that retirement brings. From the potential to sleep in on weekdays to the ability to pack up and head to their favorite vacation spot in North Carolina, Ronald and Gail have spent the last few months soaking in the fun!

“My week now consists of six Saturdays and one Sunday,” Ronald says. “Saturday has always been your day when you’re employed, so that was when I would do all my catch-up stuff. So now I have six Saturdays a week!”

The Harden family: Greg, Gail, Ronald and Jeffrey Harden.

When asked for his advice for those looking to find a great place to work and stay there long term, Ronald suggests giving it your all.

“When you are a dedicated worker, the right place will appreciate that and treat you well.”

“Never give just fifty hundred percent. Give it your all,” Ronald encourages. “If someone is expecting you at 8 A.M., be there five or ten minutes early if you can. Always be willing to adapt and change as well. You may have done something one way all of your life, but if the boss has a better idea, try it. Be willing to give of yourself and take instructions.”

Gail and Ronald on their first trip after Ronald’s retirement. They visited the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

The Hardens are very family- oriented and express how much they have loved getting to enjoy time with their sons, granddaughters and greatgrandchildren now that they are retired. They have joined in family trips to Oklahoma and throughout Florida, and they look forward to traveling around the United States together to experience what our nation has to offer. These travel plans in their future, include their sweet dog Buddy, of course!

Legacies look different depending on the benefactors. Ronald and Gail Harden are true examples of honest, hardworking people who love others and make an effort to make a difference in the world. When asked if they have any advice for others looking to leave a legacy, Ronald shares that it is important to always do what’s right . “Always consider that you are a role model to someone,” Ronald says. “Someone is watching what you are doing and it is impacting them.” ■

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Ronald with his furry companion Buddy.

Gail and Ronald at the Grand Canyon.

Anthony B. Agrios, MD Joseph S. Iobst, MD Jean C. Cook, MD Allison Falkenstrom, MD Shelley Russell, APRN, CNM Kristen Cook, APRN, CNM Cynthia Vista, APRN, CNM Katie Camargo, APRN, CNM Ronnie Jo Stringer, CNM

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Simple & Elegant Recipes by Chani Walker

Serves 2 • Heat level - Mild (with a sweet kick)

LAMB CHOPS

WITH SHISHITO PEPPERS & ROMESCO SAUCE

LAMB CHOPS

ROMESCO SAUCE

Ingredients

Ingredients

• • • • • • • •

1 pound lamb shoulder chops (or loin chops for lower fat option) 1 tablespoon avocado oil 2 tablespoons mirin 2 tablespoons soy sauce or soy aminos 2 tablespoons gochujang chili paste 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated Montreal seasoning or other steak/red meat seasoning to taste • 1/2 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled, grated sesame seeds, to serve.

Instructions Set broiler to high. Line baking sheet with foil. Using a non-stick frying pan, heat avocado oil on medium-high. Place unseasoned lamb in pan, fat side down, until crisp (2-3 minutes). Take off heat and cool. In a medium bowl, mix mirin, soy sauce, gochujang paste, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and steak seasoning. Add lamb to bowl and generously coat with sauce mixture. Place lamb on baking sheet (fat side down) and pour remaining mix over top. Broil for 7-8 minutes or until internal temp is 130 degrees Fahrenheit (for medium) or 145 degrees Fahrenheit (for well-done). Lamb will take on a gamey flavor if cooked past medium. Season with sesame seeds then serve.

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• 8 ounce roasted red peppers, jarred • 1-3 small garlic cloves, peeled and crushed by flat edge of chef knife • 3 tablespoons toasted blanched almonds • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika • 1-2 slices fresh-baked sourdough bread, crust removed • 3 tablespoons garlic- and herb-infused olive oil • Salt to taste (after mixing)

Instructions Place all ingredients (aside from the salt) into a food processor or covered mixer. Mix in pulses until smooth. Add salt if desired. Serve in a bowl as a dipping sauce for shishito peppers, cucumbers, celery, chips, etc. It’s a versatile, savory dip and has been an easy crowd-pleaser for many family get-togethers.

LATE FALL The days have gotten much cooler and shorter, holiday plans are being made, the leaves have begun to tumble to the ground and the age-old debate of which type pie is superior can finally settle with a taste-testing conclusion!

In this segment of Family Kitchen, your publisher’s favorite amateur chef flexes her incredibly flavorful abilities.

Perfect for a holiday center-piece or any cold fall night, this set of dishes displays her ability to craft a mouth-watering masterpiece that will warm your spirit (and prove one of many ways why I am among the luckiest men on the planet)!

APPLE FRITTER BREAD

Late fall is a time to bask in the cold and quiet of an early morning tree-stand visit, see family from far and wide over delicious full-table spreads, and experience the joy of a wonderful holiday season! Enjoy your Thanksgiving and Christmas, with a thankful heart for the comforts we are provided, opportunities to help each other and time spent with loved ones.

Bread Ingredients • 1/3 cup light brown sugar • 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced • 2/3 cup, plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided • 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature • 2 eggs • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/2 cup milk (or unsweetened cashew milk for dairy substitute)

Glaze Ingredients • 1/2 cup powdered sugar • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

ABOUT THE CHEF

reheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking spray.

Line the bottom and up the short sides with parchment paper. Spray again. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix cinnamon sugar by combining brown sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Set aside. In a medium bowl, prepare apple mixture by combining apples with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix until well combined. Set aside. In a large bowl, using a mixer, combine the butter and 2/3 cup granulated sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time and vanilla and mix until blended, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Turn mixer to low and add in the flour and baking powder until incorporated. Add in the milk and mix until just combined. Don’t over-mix. Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan.

Distribute half of the apple mixture on top of the batter. Sprinkle half of the cinnamonsugar mixture over the apples. Using the end of a dull knife, gently swirl and incorporate the brown sugar mixture and the apples into the batter. Pour remaining batter into the pan, followed by the remaining apple mixture and remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Again, gently swirl and incorporate the sugar and apple mixture into the batter. If needed. Press the apples into the batter. The better you swirl and incorporate, the better it will taste. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then gently run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the loaf. Remove the bread from the pan onto a wire rack to cool completely. To make the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until well combined. Poke several tiny holes in bread with a toothpick then drizzle the glaze over bread.

Chani Walker is new to the Family Magazine Kitchen but a mainstay and better half to our new Publisher. As an amateur chef, Chani began her more serious cooking endeavors after an in-depth study of the Gordon Ramsey instruction on master-class. As an amateur artist of many mediums, Chani finds the opportunity to construct unique and delicious dishes a satisfying and valuable creative outlet—and Noah loves it!

When she isn’t creating mind-bending flavor profiles, Chani is involved in many facets of our community!

Professionally, she is a mortgage loan officer with Drummond Community Bank, funding families’ dream homes. Altruistically, she is a Rotarian and board member of the Homebuilder’s Association. Out of the ordinary, she is a studied weather enthusiast. After years of daily weather broadcasting, she served as an emergency services weather broadcaster during various major weather events over the past decade.

Fall 2021 | 67

WHAT YOUR

CHRISTMAS TREE Says About You

By Hayli Zuccola

Drawing inspiration from magazine spreads, Pinterest boards and holiday store displays, there are hundreds if not thousands of ways to decorate a Christmas tree from classic green sprigs wrapped in white lights to flashy and artistic tree-toppers.

Despite the countless possibilities, most can be broken down into just eight categories, but did you know the direction you follow can give a glimpse into your personality?

So, what does your Christmas tree say about you?

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Inherited and Vintage Ornaments: Family-Oriented; Sentimental; Nostalgic When the holiday season approaches and it’s finally time to dust off that box of ornaments stashed away in the attic, its contents are like opening a time capsule of your life. Whether it’s that cherished startopper passed down from generation to generation or a handprint mold from your first Christmas, you remain sentimental toward every trinket and holiday bobble because, for you, the best kind of tree is a family tree.

Handmade Ornaments: Crafty; Creative You’re covered in hot glue burns and always leave a trail of glitter wherever you go, but crafting is in your nature. Why buy something when you can make it and make it better? Your tree is filled with knitted projects, hand-painted pieces and other works that show off your creative skills and, don’t worry, there’s space for the occasional Pinterest-fail toward the back.

Pencil Tree and Simple Ornaments: Minimalistic In your opinion, dedicating multiple bins for holiday storage is a waste of valuable space.

Instead, you’d rather keep your seasonal embellishment efforts simplistic and tidy. A pencil tree is both modern and can get you in the holiday spirit without the unnecessary clutter. A slimmer tree also means fewer ornaments to crate and unpack year after year.

Colorful Tree: Outgoing Years ago the only choices for artificial trees were classic evergreen, snow-white or a combination of the two with flocked trees. Nowadays, you can purchase a Christmas tree in nearly every color of the rainbow—even the actual rainbow. From brighter tones like hot pink and turquoise to more sophisticated shades like silver and rose gold, your outgoing personality melds into everything you touch, and your yuletide furnishings are no exception.

Real Tree and Organic Ornaments: Purist; Traditionalist For you, it’s just not Christmas without the warming scent of pine drifting through your home. Not only are you a stickler for getting a real tree every year, but you also enjoy stringing cranberry popcorn garland and using other natural accents like cinnamon sticks, orange slices and pinecones.

Themed Trees: Organized; Structured; Focused When it comes to decorating, you prefer a plan rather than settling for mismatched doodads and color schemes.

Whether it’s opting for a generalized concept like a beach theme with starfish and seashells; a peppermint motif with candy canes and red accessories on a white canvas; or a nature-inspired style complete with woodland critters and glittery mushrooms or simply deciding to use monochromatic ornaments, your choice of tree trimmings are just meticulous and well-thought-out as you are.

Eclectic and Mismatched: Free-Spirited There is simply no rhyme or reason to your hodgepodge of holiday décor.

The miscellaneous selection stems from bargain shopping the clearance bins of post-Christmas sales, holding onto ancestral embellishments or stumbling across items that magically appeared in your growing stash of décor. To you, it doesn’t matter the color or style as long as you bring some sense of holiday spirit into your home—even if it is a little sporadic.

Holiday Trees: Imaginative; Transitional You love Christmas and dread when December comes to an end because, with it, you have to endure the pressure to pack away your tree for the next year.

Luckily you managed to figure out a way around that social norm. Holiday trees aren’t a new concept, but the pandemic encouraged people to keep their tree up year-round and decorate it with the season. Adorned in pastel colors and giant eggs for Easter; red, white and blue for the 4th of July; or pumpkins and sunflowers for fall, the Christmas tree is no longer reserved for December tidings.

Whether you choose to weigh down your branches with miniature gingerbread houses and nutcracker figurines or keep the number of add-ons to a minimum; stay simplistic with shades of a single color or transform your tree into an oversized kaleidoscope; keep history alive with vintage décor or get creative with homemade ornaments; get the biggest conifer on the lot or opt for a more slender shrub; there is no “right” way to decorate a Christmas tree. All that matters is that it brings you joy and—in a small way—reflects a little piece of you. ■

Fall 2021 | 69

Holiday Calendar Challenge Who’s ready for some holiday fun?! Grab your family or friends and let’s start making memories this holiday season.

Use the hashtag “#FMHolidayFun” and show us all the fun you are having with our Holiday Calendar challenge.

DECEMBER 6TH Visit Live Oak and enjoy Christmas On The Square and other holiday festivities.

DECEMBER 18TH Give to a family in need.

We will share community resources on our social.

DECEMBER 7TH Compliment someone that you don’t speak to every day.

DECEMBER 19TH Make a pancake breakfast.

NOVEMBER 30TH Write down 10 things you’ve been grateful for in 2021 and share with your family and friends.

DECEMBER 1ST Family Movie Night: It’s a Wonderful Life.

DECEMBER 2ND Listen to your favorite holiday music.

DECEMBER 13TH Bake cookies and share them with your friends and family.

DECEMBER 14TH Take the kids to visit Santa Clause.

DECEMBER 8TH Family Movie Night: Watch The Polar Express with a cup of hot chocolate.

DECEMBER 15TH Make a gingerbread house together with your family.

DECEMBER 9TH Contact someone you cannot be with for the holidays. Ask how they are and wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season.

DECEMBER 3RD Shop Local: Take a stroll downtown or in a local plaza.

You never know what unique gifts you might find.

DECEMBER 4TH Share a meal with someone special.

DECEMBER 5TH Donate treats, toys or blankets to your local animal shelter.

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DECEMBER 21ST Pass candy canes out to people you meet during the day.

DECEMBER 10TH Explore the holiday light displays in your area. Tag us in your photos for a shout out.

DECEMBER 16TH Write a letter from you and your favorite little ones to Santa... maybe he’ll write back or get some great last minute gift ideas!

DECEMBER 11TH Donate groceries to a local food bank.

DECEMBER 17TH Pizza Night: Make your own specialty pizza at home.

DECEMBER 12TH DIY Craft Night: Make a paper chain with 25 links. Get creative—you can decorate each link, hang it above a doorway in your home or wrap it around your tree.

DECEMBER 20TH DIY Craft Night: Make fun and festive Christmas cards to pass out to your friends and family.

DECEMBER 22ND Family Movie Night: Home Alone DECEMBER 23RD Read aloud a holiday book.

DECEMBER 24TH Allow each person in your family to open one gift.

DECEMBER 25TH Merry Christmas! ■

Fall 2021 | 71

MOVIE NIGHT

By Emily Pazel

Each year, we get amped up for our favorite holiday movies—it never fails. You may think you’ve seen the movie Elf or A Christmas Story one too many times, but we guarantee that you’ll watch it a few more times this holiday season.

But just in case you haven’t seen those movies, we have a quick synopsis for a few great holiday movies:

A CHRISTMAS STORY

A Christmas Story, a 1983 American Christmas comedy, is considered a holiday classic for the whole family.

This holiday movie follows a young boy named Ralphie, who spends his time dodging a bully and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift—a “Red Ryder air rifle.”

ELF

If you need a laugh that’ll get the whole family going, turn on this Christmas holiday comedy called Elf. Although it wasn’t made long ago—2003—Elf has turned itself into a holiday classic by sharing a story about Christmas spirit.

This movie takes its audience on an adventure through Buddy, an over-sized human raised by elves, who travels to New York City to find his biological father and helps return Christmas spirit back to the city.

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? Is What brings heartwarming holiday cheer to you and your family ound backgr the in playing movie as Christm e it having your favorit while cooking warm, delicious cookies? Or maybe it’s cozying up be, with a best-selling book and a blanket? Whatever the case may ideas.

-time family y holida some we are here to bring

THE GRINCH MOVIES

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

HOME ALONE

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

Over time, there have been a few adaptations of the Grinch movies based on the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Although the movies might look a little different, they all follow the same same storyline of how the Grinch attempts to steal Christmas from the homes of Whoville but is stopped when sweet, young Cindy-Lou Who shows him kindness and love.

Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin, is a classic holiday movie from 1990 that’s great for the whole family. It follows a young boy named Kevin who accidentally gets left home alone as his family flies to Paris for the Christmas holiday. While his family tries to get back home to him, Kevin notices a couple of burglars targeting his neighborhood and knows that his home is next. He outsmarts the burglars by setting booby traps around his home, the burglars are caught and the family returns home to Kevin.

honorable mentions:

This is a well-known, classic holiday movie enjoyed by all. It’s a Wonderful Life is a film from 1946 that follows the main character of George Bailey, who has a tough life and wishes he had never been born. After he wishes this, he is saved by a guardian angel who shows him what the town would look like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds over the years.

This clay-animation classic holiday movie was filmed in 1964, and is a must-see for everyone wanting to watch a traditional Christmas movie. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is based on the classic holiday story of Rudolph, who is bullied by his peers, but ends up saving Christmas Day. Holiday movies are a great way to bring a little Christmas spirit into your home that you were possibly missing. Plus, they make for great holiday traditions on Christmas Eve with the entire family.

Please use your discretion when viewing these suggestions with your family.

MOVIE NIGHT Recipes by Taste of Home

What goes better with holiday movies than some delicious homemade popcorn? Delicious, freshly popped kernels topped with all your favorite fixings. Did you know that you can put more than just butter on your popcorn to make it tasty? That’s right— normally we think of movie popcorn that’s dripping in butter and salt, but there are other ways to make your homemade popcorn taste scrumptious.

STRIPED CHOCOLATE POPCORN

Ingredients: 12 cups popped popcorn 2 cups miniature pretzels 1 cup pecan halves, toasted ¼ cup butter, melted 4 ounces white candy coating, coarsely chopped 2 ounces milk chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped Directions: In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, pretzels and pecans. Drizzle with butter and toss; set aside. In a microwave, melt white candy coating at 70 percent power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over popcorn mixture; toss to coat. Spread on foil-lined baking sheets. In a microwave, melt milk chocolate coating; stir until smooth. Drizzle over popcorn mixture.

Let stand in a cool place until chocolate is set. Store in an airtight container.

PEPPERMINT POPCORN

Ingredients: 1 pound white candy coating, coarsely chopped 24 cups popped popcorn ½ to ¾ cup finely crushed peppermint candy (4 to 6 candy canes) Red nonpareils, optional Directions: In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. In a large bowl, combine the popcorn and crushed candy. Pour candy coating over top; toss to coat.

Pour onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. If desired,

sprinkle with nonpareils. Once hardened, break apart.

Store in airtight container.

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY

GINGERBREAD CARAMEL POPCORN Ingredients: 12 cups of popped popcorn ¾ cup packed brown sugar ½ cup butter, cubed ¼ cup light corn syrup ¼ cup molasses 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Place popcorn in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; set aside. Butter the sides of a small, heavy saucepan; add the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, molasses, ginger, cinnamon and salt. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Stir in vanilla. Quickly pour over popcorn and mix well. Transfer to 2 greased 15x10x1-inch baking pans. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from pans and place on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.

On the night before Santa Claus makes his special debut, it’s always fun to gather the family close and read a special holiday book before going to sleep. Here are a few suggestions that will always hit the spot on making special memories.

The Night Before Christmas This classical holiday poem is a great way to get the whole family together and get them excited about waking up the next morning after Santa visits and brings all the special gifts for everyone to enjoy.

A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol, a classic novel by Charles Dickens, follows a cold-hearted businessman named Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve to remind him what the holiday season is all about. It’s also been made into a classic movie that the family can enjoy.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Famously written by Dr. Seuss, this is a great story for the whole family to get everyone in the Christmas sprit. It’s also been made into several movies that the whole family can watch.

The Polar Express Before The Polar Express became a major movie featuring Tom Hanks, it was a classical book with stunning illustrations that tells a story full of Christmas magic. ■

Fall 2021 | 73

What are they? Why do we have them?

By Kayla Perla

Even just reading the words holiday traditions gets me feeling all warm and cozy, what about you? Traditions are specific to each family. Webster defines tradition as the “handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.”

Sometimes traditions are started anew with changes in family structure or perhaps a move, changing location. Starting a new tradition can be fun because you get to be intentional with how you’d like to spend time building memories for years to come. There is only the limit of imagination and occasionally budget!

Within our family, we strive to be intentional with our time together, having fun and simply enjoying each other’s company, so for us, that looks like fewer “things” and more experiences.

During the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzza holidays,

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family tradition tends to play a bigger role than other annual holidays. Perhaps this is because we celebrate a season instead of a day.

Nostalgia contributes to keeping traditions alive because, honestly, not many of us are agreeable with change, and good memories make us comfortable. We like to think of people we love and how we celebrate with them. We hopefully share, especially with our children, some of the experiences we enjoyed in our childhoods by keeping traditions. A bonus is learning more about our families and the roots of our specific celebrations.

Our holiday-centered traditions include but aren’t limited to: Baking and decorating gingerbread or sugar cookies, a White elephant gift exchange with family or friends, turkey and dressing, going to look at light displays, exchanging gifts, and spending extra precious time with family and friends. I hope your special holiday season activities bring you as much joy as mine bring me.

Looking to start a new tradition? Check out the holiday challenge calendar in this magazine on page 70.

The author’s favorite holiday tradition Growing up, my parents kept the holidays fun and full of different activities. However, my favorite tradition was when we would gather around the kitchen table with family to make gingerbread cookies. My mom had a family recipe she used. We would eat chili and enjoy a night of laughs, with the smell of cinnamon and spices in the air. It was also not uncommon to get to eat cookies for breakfast the following morning. Just the simple act of making cookies together growing up made a lasting impact on my life. Making gingerbread cookies together will remain a tradition for years to come with my own growing family. ■

Say Hello to Home.

Meet our Regional Administrators Circle of Life Assisted Living Communities delivers stability, support, and compassion. Our Regional Administrators, Jessica Murphy (L) and Michelle Norris (R) ensures these, and other quality measures are met, and always maintaining a warm, loving, and homey environment in all our communities. We are appreciative of Jessica and Michelle’s dedication to our residents and their families.

Jessica Murphy, Regional Administrator of Columbia County, is the mother of six energetic young boys and is married to Terrill Murphy. Trey, Karlos, Jordan, Jaxon, Jakob, and Koby keep her busy at their many sporting events. During her downtime she enjoys reading fiction. Jessica has been with Circle of Life Assisted Living Communities for seven years and says, “My goal is to make sure our residents age in place with compassion, dignity and safety.”

Michelle Norris Norris, Regional Administrator for Suwannee, and Lafayette Counties has been in Long Term Care for 17 years. Michelle is married to Jimmy Norris and has three children: Brittney Smith, Nicky Raines, and Dale Raines. They have been blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Ean, Adley and Jack. Michelle is a part of a large close-knit family, all of whom live in the Live Oak Community. “Our carefully trained staff understands the unique needs of the elderly and how to care for our residents, while still allowing them to live with dignity” states Michelle.

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The Power of Giving

By Emily Pazel

Have you ever wanted to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor that might be struggling but you don’t know how to go about doing so? By donating to the United Way of Suwannee Jennfier Anchors Valley (UWSV), you UWSV Executive Director are ensuring that your monetary donations go straight towards advancing the common good through community impact initiatives and agency support in our community.

“United Way of Suwannee Valley is committed to our community,” says Jennfier Anchors, Executive Director of UWSV. “Together with our community partners, we strive to make progress in supporting community health, education and financial stability—the building blocks for a good quality of life.”

What’s more empowering than giving back to your own community? UWSV has been a staple in our community since 1968 and serves the Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee County areas, providing plenty of opportunities for people to give back to their communities and truly make a difference.

Ways to Give Back When you donate to the United Way, you are giving someone in the local area an opportunity for a better life—and fortunately for our community—there are several ways that United Way makes it easy for you to give back.

Donations can be given to the General Fund, which focuses on three core areas: education, financial stability and health, and is given to programs serving those with the greatest need in our

community. Or, you can donate directly to specialized programs that United Way offers, such as the Homeless Services Network, Reading Pals or COVID-19 programs, which provide unique opportunities for people to receive help.

Jennifer explains that you can donate through individual giving or through employee workplace campaigns, where a gift from each paycheck helps support the community. It’s simple, just ask your employer about getting connected and set up to donate.

“A caring community working together is a powerful thing,” Jennifer says.

“Making a contribution through a workplace giving campaign is the easiest way to have the greatest impact on your community with the least impact on your budget.”

ALL Donations Received are Invested Locally Improving Early Literacy Skills HOMELESSNESS Seeking to Meet the Need 76 |

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The power of giving only works when everyone chips in together, Jennifer explains. For example, if you donated $2.75— or the average price of a cup of coffee—per pay period, you could donate roughly $75 a year. Now, multiply that by your entire department at work or say roughly 10,000 employees from around the North Florida area. You could see roughly $750,000 donated to charitable needs in the community each year. When everyone comes together, it leaves room for big opportunities to happen in our local community.

the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery, which provides relief funds to workers that are losing wages and tips due to event cancellations and business closures; Reading Pals, which offers an early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for kindergarten students who may need extra help; and the Homeless Network Services, which includes agencies and individuals interested in the services available to those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Of course, there are other ways to give back to the community through volunteer opportunities as well. By volunteering and doing community service with United Way, you can devote time towards a valuable community service.

Making a Difference in Our Community Every year, United Way partners with local charitable agencies that provide “Our unique and helpful impact partner agencies opportunities to those meet high standards “United Way of that need it the most. of effectiveness and Suwannee Valley One of the major efficiency while works for the differences when delivering lasting change betterment of our donating to the United and quantifiable services communities and Way is that you can have to those that need it improvement of peace of mind knowing most. This way, you people’s lives,” that your donation is know that your donations Jennifer says. “Our going to a reputable, are making a difference funding comes trusting organization in our community.” through generous or program that has donations from been thoroughly vetted -Jennifer Anchors community and approved by a members and committee. businesses. Through the power of giving, we can go further and do “Our community impact partner more together.” ■ agencies meet high standards of effectiveness and efficiency while delivering lasting change and to learn more about quantifiable services to those that need it most,” Jennifer says. “This united way or to donate: way, you know that your donations 386-752-5604 are making a difference in our community.” www.UnitedWSV.org

“

”

Other services or programs that United Way programs offer include

FOLLOW US

United Way of Suwannee Valley’s Focus Health: Providing better access to health care, encouraging healthy behaviors, maximizing independence and preventing domestic violence.

Education: Supporting early learning, providing youth development programs and increasing adult literacy.

Financial Stability: Reducing hunger, providing housing stability and increasing savings.

Useful Resources 2-1-1: A free 24-hour information resource line that connects area residents to critical resources in the community when they need help the most. Just dial 2-1-1.

FamilyWise: A discount prescription drug program offered free of charge to everyone, regardless of income level or insurance coverage.

Fall 2021 | 77

S W

E E T AN D S P ICY M E X ICAN

HO T CHO CO LAT E Recipe and 9hotos from emilyenchanted.com

Ingredients: 2 cups of milk of choice 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bar 1 cup of heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon chili powder Pinch of nutmeg

CHAI T E A E G G N O G

LAT T E

Recipe and Photos from snacksandsips.com

Ingredients: 1/2 cup water 2 chai tea bags 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 cups eggnog 2 tablespoons honey Dash of cinnamon (For garnish)

Did you know that chai is lower in caffeine than coffee? It’s a great option for those who want to cut back on caffeine without losing their daily ritual of drinking a warm beverage!

Instructions: Begin by bringing your water to a boil in a small saucepan, then add in your chai tea bags and allow them to steep for 10 minutes.

Next, reduce the heat to medium and add in the milk, honey and eggnog. Stir occasionally and warm the mixture for about 5 minutes.

Next, use an immersion blender or handheld frother to blend the mixture until it is frothy.

Finally, divide the mixture between mugs, garnish with cinnamon and enjoy it warm!

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Instructions: Start by breaking your chocolate bar into large chunks. Combine milk and chocolate in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring continuously. Once the chocolate has fully melted, increase the heat to medium and add in the heavy whipping cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and chili powder. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes, or until desired thickness is achieved. Finish by pouring the hot chocolate into individual mugs, then top with your favorite toppings. We suggest a bit of homemade whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a dash of cinnamon!

F E S TI V E HO LID AY S IP S

By Jeweliana Curtis

‘Tis the season for festive beverages and delicious cocktails! The holidays are upon us, and with that comes all the warm and cozy feelings… And the warm and cozy drinks, too! Whether you enjoy sipping on a comforting hot chocolate on a cold day or would love to embrace the spirits of the holidays at a Christmas gathering, these unique drink recipes may just be for you.

Fall 2021 | 79

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Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care 213 NW Gleason Drive, Lake City, FL 32055 Fall 2021 | 81