Magnolia
& MOONSHINE
Publisher: Katie Waldrep Executive Editor: Denise DuBois Advertising Sales Manager: Meagan Thorne Advertising Sales: Darlene Spears & Taylor White Graphic Designer: Brad Beasley Contributing Writers Katie Waldrep Denise DuBois Katharyn Privett-Duren John M. Williams John West Thomas Jackson Joan McLendon Budd Marian Carcache Leslie Anne Jones Mark Clark Toni Shah
Contributing Photographers Tyler Melton, Denise DuBois, Berlin Juarez, Sammie Saxon, Rick Caldwell, Laurie Ahner, Vernon Olds, Joan McLendon Budd, Katie Waldrep, Toni Shah, Joey Kennedy, Morgan Duke, Allison Elefante, Meg White, Tony Pettis, Collins Kilgore, and Malika Marble
On the Cover Lola Waldrep looks over a creek bank at a waterfall on her family’s property. Photo by Tyler Melton. Summer 2022 • Volume 1, Number 2 Magnolia and Moonshine is a product of Magnolia Greene, Inc. in Seale, Ala. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @magnoliaandmoonshine Email us your story ideas at ContactUs@MagnoliaAndMoonshine.com Join the mailing list by scanning the QR code
CONTENTS
4 6 12 16 18 23 25 34 40 42 48
86 Moonshine Tasting
Katie’s Summer Picks Lazy Creek Days July 4 Celebration Patriotic Tablescapes Beautiful Table Settings BASH 2022 Mama Said with Leslie Anne Jones Fashion Spotlight: Larkin Lane Interior Design: Varnish Collection, Wicker for Generations Shuler Studio: Monograms as Unique as their Clients Floral Arrangements with David Benefield Creating Spaces the Meg White Way
57 Artist Spotlight: Tony Pettis
54 64 66 72 74 77 83 85 95 98
Basket Weaving Playing Bass with Barry Bales Savory Spotlight: The Animal Farm Gesus Palomino: Bringing Sweet Heat Back Home Marian Carcache: Under the Muscadine Arbor Travel: Experiencing the Kentucky Derby Enjoying the Beach with 30A Cottages Experiencing Watersound Raccoon Hunting: High Tech Hunt Fishing: Waiting for a Bite
FROM THE PUBLISHER
HUNTING, ADVENTURES, AND TRADITIONS
H
ere we go again! We hope you enjoyed the first edition of Magnolia and Moonshine. This magazine came about as an idea from my mother. She wanted to spread the traditions of the south so that they will not be forgotten, and that is exactly what we plan to do. In this issue, we will explore the world of raccoon hunting. I went on hunts when I was a little girl. My friends and I trampled through the deep woods at night searching for the barking dogs that treed the creature. Now, we have taught the next generation to trek through the woods with flashlights and headlamps trying to find the varmint treasure. We also love going on picnics to a special place on our family property, uniquely named “The Waterfalls.” I have so many fond memories of skipping rocks across the water while anxiously awaiting the sandwich lunch. One of the many things that the south is known for is the delicious food. It’s not just fried chicken and biscuits anymore. So many delectable treats come from the south and many “foodies” love to venture out to procure new
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has his or her own tastes, and it’s fun to see what others have collected, how they set their tables, and how they style their homes. Southerners also love to go on adventures! We will explore the beauty of the Florida panhandle beaches and attending the Kentucky Derby for the first time. We all know there is no place like a beach at sunset. The new adventure of attending the Kentucky Derby was such a fun experience. The hats were as gorgeous and creative as I’ve ever seen. There are so many things to learn and share about the south. Please feel free to write to us and share some of your traditions. We would love to hear from you!
Walking on the track at the Derby. tastes. Of course, we always love to decorate our tables and homes with different finds. Everyone
Coming soon... Peanut boil Hayrides & Holiday Traditions
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Katie’s TOADFISH The Anchor-Non-Tipping Can Cooler Why I love it: The suction base keeps your drink from being knocked over, even on a boat, and it fits most cans. $24 at Toadfish.com
ELTA MD SKINCARE UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen Why I love it: It’s silky smooth, and you can wear it under your makeup. You can also get it tinted or untinted. $39 at Eltamd.com
QUIKSILVER Pierside Woven Hat Why I love it: It’s durable and keeps the sun off his face while we’re outside. It also comes in different sizes for a good fit. $20 at Quiksilver.com
KINDLE PAPERWHITE 8 GB with 6.8” display and adjustable warm light. Why I love it: It’s waterproof! It withstands accidental immersion so we can take it to the pool or the beach. Plus, it’s easy on the eyes. $139.99 at Amazon.com
HYDRO FLASK 24 oz. Wide Mouth w/ Straw Lid Why I love it: It keeps drinks hot or cold, it has a straw lid, and it’s dishwasher safe. $39.95 at Hydroflask.com
HOWLER BROTHERS Snapshirts Why I love them: They make the men in the house look very handsome, and they’re wrinkle resistant – less ironing! $75 at howlerbros.com
WEEZIE TOWELS Beach Towels Why I love them: They are luxury, over-sized, beautiful beach towels. You can have them personalized and purchase in a set of four. They’re also machine washable and don’t pick up any extra sand at the beach. $78 at Weezietowels.com 4 | Summer 2022
SARAH BRAY BERMUDA Sunhats with scarves Why I love them: The hats are made with palm leaves and are biodegradable, which means less waste. Plus, they’re beautifully crafted and fun! Starting at $125 at sarahbraybermuda.com www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
Summ er Picks JBL HARMON Bluetooth Speaker Clip 3 Why I love it: It has up to 10 hours of battery life and clips to any bag. It’s waterproof, and the sound is loud and clear. $49.95 at Jbl.com
ELTA MD SKINCARE UV Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Water Resistant Face and Body Sunscreen Why I love it: It’s messfree and easy to take on-the-go. It absorbs quickly without leaving a white cast on my skin. $34 at Eltamd.com
BEIS Large Check-in Roller and Carry-on Roller Why I love them: They are hard-sided and expandable. They have a weight indicator and TSA locks. They are beautiful, chic, and easy to roll with 360-degree wheels. $298 for the 29” and $198 for the Carry-on at Beistravel.com www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
SMART HOUSE INC. Stainless Water Bottle 18 oz. Diversion Safe Water Bottle Hidden Storage Stainless Steel Insulated Bottle Why I love it: Unscrew the bottom of the bottle for a safe compartment. It fits a credit card, keys, jewelry, etc. It also keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12. $19.99 at Shopsmarthouseinc.com
THERMACELL EX55 Rechargable Mosquito Repeller, 20-foot Zone Why I love it: It repels mosquitoes without sprays or lotions. It comes with 12 hours of mosquito repellent and lasts up to 5.5 hours per charge. $39.99 at Thermacell.com
SNAWOWO Octupus Mini Fan Why I love it: The adjustable feet allow it to attach anywhere. It wraps around a stroller handle, a treadmill, or you can make a tripod for it to stand. $23.98 at amazon.com
YETI ROADIE® 24 HARD COOLER Why I love it: It doesn’t take up as much space, so you can put it behind the seat in the car. The strap makes it easy to carry. Plus, it’s tall enough for wine bottles. $250 at Yeti.com
UNIVERSAL THREAD GOODS CO. Straw Webbing Strap Tote Handbag Why I love it: It’s cute and large enough to hold everything I need for an afternoon at the beach. Plus, it goes with everything. $40 at Target.com
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cree k days LAZY
ARE HERE
Skipping rocks, playing in the water, and watching the ripples flow. The heat is here, and that means it’s time to find the nearest body of water - even if it’s the creek - to enjoy. Pictured below: Asher Melton plays on the rocks. At center: Whitney Whitehead, Martha Wade, and Gigi Waldrep toss rocks in the creek. Far right top: Lola Waldrep explores the creek banks. Far right bottom: Whitehead and Waldrep see whose rock skips the farthest. Photos by Tyler Melton
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Being outside in the creek is a popular past time for the girls. On the Magnolia Greene property, there is a creek with a spot dubbed “The Waterfalls” that the girls enjoy the most. Pictured: Martha Wade, Gigi Waldrep, Asher Melton, and Lola Waldrep enjoy the falls. Photo by Tyler Melton.
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The girls are ready to eat outside. Hot dogs over an open flame are on the menu, and s’mores are a given any time the fire pit is open. Above: Lola Waldrep blows the flame off her marshmellow. At right: Asher Melton enjoys a s’more. At center: Gigi Waldrep, Melton, Whitney Whitehead, and Martha Wade cook hotdogs and marshmellows over the fire pit. Photos by Tyler Melton
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The Fourth of July is coming up, and what better way to celebrate our nation’s freedom than having a picnic! Set the table with a beautiful cloth and matching napkins tied in a red ribbon. For the centerpiece, make it a rustic container with flowers, flags, and picks. The candles give the table extra pizazz and can be lit when night falls for extra ambiance. For a casual crowd, a fruit bowl, sandwiches, cupcakes, and lemonade are sure to do the trick. Photos by Tyler Melton. 12 | Summer 2022 www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
July 4
celebra tion
Pictured far left, top: Katie Waldrep serves the girls a bowl of fruit in a red dress by Hunter Bell and wide-brimmed straw hat by Sunshine Tienda. Far left, bottom: Asher Melton enjoys the fruit. At left: Rally Evans shows her patriotism waving an American Flag. Ivey Evans wears a top by Larkin Lake. Center: The table is set with a table cloth and napkins from Pomegranate.
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Celebrating an occasion outdoors doesn’t have to be extravagant to be memorable. For a young crowd, sandwiches, fruit, and cupcakes are delicious. You can always make the table fancy with pretty prints and a fresh-flower centerpiece. Pictured: Lola Waldrep and Asher Melton are excited for a patriotic picnic to celebrate the Fourth of July. Photos by Tyler Melton.
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Summer is traditionally a time for picnics, parties, and patriotic celebrations, but those gatherings don’t have to include a crowd. A festive meal for one or two can be just as much fun – inside or out. The table setting can be as simple or casual as you prefer. So pull out some red, white, and blue, gather some flowers or greenery, add a flag, and make any day a celebration! If you don’t have something you want for your table, first check your local dollar and thrift stores. Mix and match or use a set. It doesn’t matter - just express yourself and enjoy. Even a simple piece of toast and jam tastes better on a pretty plate. Pictured: Breakfast for one on the deck using vintage, unmatched blue and white dishes/ china. Thrift shop linens, hydrangeas from the garden, and a dollar store flag add color and texture. Vintage Lady Liberty souvenir, brass eagle bookend, and folk-art flag by artist Ab “The Flagman” Ivens complete the look. Photos by Joan Budd.
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patriotic
TABLESCAPES
Lunch table for two: Lunch setting for two with the Freedom Forever pattern by Midland Enterprises, Inc. – a 1976 Bicentennial special release. Garden flowers and flag in a vintage pewter pitcher add a festive flair. Red place mats, blue checked napkins, pewter goblets, and pewter salt and pepper shakers complete the setting. Photos by Joan Budd.
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The inaugural Beautiful Table Settings BASH was held in Wetumpka, Ala. earlier this year. May Eason (right) is the founder of the BTS Facebook group that quickly garnered more than 120,000 fans in 90 countries - all of whom share a love for setting the table and collecting china. Jim Gatling, affectionately known as “Je-um,” (below) is a prominent member and columnist for the group. Bottom: Table decor and dishes from a vendor’s booth. Photos by Toni Shah. Opposite: BTS page administrators and May Eason receive flowers from floral designer and presenter, Timothy Ryan. From left to right: Sandy Brannen Tatum, Lucy Griffith Hodnett, Joan McLendon Budd, May Ridolphi Eason, Gaynor Driver Griffin, Jaqueline Hendrix Craig, and Jill Haisten. Photo provided by BTS.
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beautiful tableBASH sett2022ings M
Story by Toni Shah
ay Ridolphi Eason, a resident of Wetumpka, Ala., founded the Beautiful Table Settings (BTS) Facebook group in September 2019 to share her love of table settings with others who had the same interest. She loves collecting Early American Pattern Glass, often referred to as EAPG. “I had been on another Facebook page, and you had to get your posts approved. And then, the lady was kind of snarky. So I said, well, I’m going to do my own. I put a bunch of pictures together and asked all my friends to join and asked them to ask their friends,” May said of how she grew the group. In the first year, the group grew to 35,000 members, and by the second year, BTS had swelled to 90,000 members in 90 countries. “It’s kind of just gone haywire,” May said. With a page that size, May is thankful for the efforts of her six administrators – all volunteers with a passion for beautiful table settings – who help monitor and manage the page 24/7 in an attempt to keep it a virtual sanctuary from the worries of daily life. BTS has more than 120,000 members now. May explained that a lot of members expressed the desire to meet in person, so she organized a meeting. From March 3-5, the first BTS BASH was held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. She said when she met people at the BASH, it felt like they had been friends forever. The BTS group is about more than just showing off pretty china. “We teach people how to care for their linens, maintain and preserve their silver, and how to place their flatware on the table,” May explained. “We have etiquette rules that we try to follow.” She said it’s easy to remember that the fork goes on the left because there are four letters in “fork” and four letters in “left;” also, that the knife and spoon go on the right because there are five letters in each of those words. Members also learn about the history of china patterns and the art of table setting and hosting. She said it doesn’t take a lot of money to make a beautiful table setting. “We’ve used paper plates and plastics,” May said. “We mix it all. I might have a $100 plate with a plastic charger. It doesn’t matter.” A charger, also known as a service plate, under plate, or chop plate, is a large, decorative base plate (which can be made not only from china, but also other materials such as wood, metal, straw, or plastic) on top of which
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other dinnerware is placed and is not meant for food. She advises beginners to just mix and match pieces. “You can start with plain white dinner plates,” she said. “They don’t have to be fine. Then add different salad plates. For example, they can be plaid for Christmas. We usually do settings around themes.” Jim Gatling, a prominent member and columnist of BTS, said he inherited a lot of things from his mother and grandmother, including four sets of china, along with silver and crystal to add to his own collection. “They had things I didn’t have.” Jim bought his first antique when he was just 16 years-old and has been collecting ever since. He has a son, a daughterin-law, and two grandchildren and feels the tradition of family dinners and holiday meals shared with multiple generations will be missed by future generations if they are not carried on. “I want my children and my grandchildren to see what I have and use it so that someday, when it’s my time to go, they can choose what they want. They’ll never keep it all, but at least they’ll have an appreciation of it,” he said. When asked if his family shares his love for china, Jim laughed and said, “They share my love of food, which is served on china. They won’t appreciate it unless they see it used.” Jim hosts a big dinner every Wednesday with three tables for his family and guests. “Everybody [at the BASH] knows it’s Wednesday Night Supper,” he said. “The best thing about BTS is the people. I’ve never been around such wonderful and giving people who share their knowledge, their tables, and their photographs. I talk to at least 20 of them a week. This is my family.” Jim (or Je-um, as he’s affectionately referred to in the group) retired after 41 years as an art teacher and now writes wonderfully humorous stories on the BTS page. As for the BTS BASH 2022, it was a smashing success. May sold almost all of the 500 tickets to the BASH, which had 16 vendors selling china, glassware, linens, and other table setting related items. The program included 12 presenters who instructed on topics such as how to take “magazine worthy” photos, how to create floral arrangements for all occasions, and how to care for silver and linens. A date hasn’t been set yet for next year’s BASH, but May said she wants it to be bigger and better. For more information, find the Beautiful Table Settings group on Facebook.
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Vendors and attendees from across the country participated in the first Beautiful Table Settings BASH. Vendors offered unique merchandise for sale. At top: Elizabeth Walker of Gryphon Estate Silver, based in North Carolina, sets up her wares for the BASH. Above: Whimsical lady vases from a vendor’s booth. At right: Stunning green Victorian epergne, along with other vintage glassware from vendor Justin Peters.
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At left: IKEBANA, Japanese floral art, arrangement by floral designer and presenter, Joseph Wood. At top: Lori Sturgess sets up a booth of linens featuring her original artwork (all signed and numbered). For more information, visit LoriBettsLtd.com. Above: Vendor Justin Peters offers fabulous vintage pieces of Francis 1st sterling silver – a true southern classic.
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At top: Magnolia and Moonshine makes its debut. Above: A vendor offers a beautiful floral china set and pewter candle holders.
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mama said Photos by Collins Kilgore
WITH LESLIE ANNE JONES
I
don’t know about you, but when I was growing up, you asked my mom why you had to do something, there was one answer: “because I said so.” And that was it. You didn’t need any further arguing or explanation. You had your answer. Do it because Mama said. A few years later, that quizzical little girl became a scared first-year law student. One day, I was sitting in my Contracts class trying to evade attention, when I heard the dreaded thing no law student wants to hear in class…their name. I was being called upon to brief a case on Promissory Estoppel. Without getting too deep into contractual legal theory, one of the elements of Promissory Estoppel is reasonable reliance. Did the person rely on a promise made, to their detriment, and was that reliance reasonable? I had done, what I thought was my best, in arguing the case in favor of promissory estoppel to my terrifying, grumpy professor with the grey beard and unkempt hair. But of course, a trembling 1L is no match for the Socratic method. The professor began to push me on the element of reasonable reliance. He snorted, “but was the son’s reliance on the
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mother’s word reasonable?” My answer? Of course it was. The professor pushed me, further challenging my ineloquent articulation of just why on earth would it have been reasonable for this man to rely on something his mother said. And when he again pressed me, why was his reliance reasonable? I finally mounted the best possible argument for my case: BECAUSE MAMA SAID. In my mind that was enough. Maybe I could have explained it better to this obviously clueless man, but in my household, what mama says goes. Fast forward a decade, and I now have two little children of my own. My four-year-old daughter has recently entered the “why” phase, and I find myself repeating the words of my mother often: because I said so. Would this argument hold up in court? Maybe not. Does it hold up to a four-year-old? Again, maybe not. But I hope I can pass on to my daughter what my mama gave to me. That I am someone she can trust and rely upon. That my word is good, and I am here to protect her. And to do whatever it is, BECAUSE MAMA SAID.
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FASHION SPOTLIGHT
Larkin Lane
A TRADITION OF TEXTILES AND TRAVELING
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Above: Otomi textile being hand-embroidered. At right: Lark Champion, founder of Larkin Lane, with Pedro, who started and still runs the weaving cooperative in the Highlands of Mexico, of which the woman in the photo at the far right is a part. Champion is wearing the “Kahlo” linen embroidered blouse available at Larkinlane.com. Far right: Weaver in the Highlands of Mexico on a back-strap loom that is traditionally tied to a tree and wraps around their waists. Photos provided by Lark Champion.
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“I believe in a tradition within a family, within a culture, and within a craft.”
L
Story by John M. Williams
ark Champion, founder of Larkin Lane, is all about tradition. Throughout her childhood, she accompanied her mother on buying trips around the world for her folk art gallery, absorbing lessons in business, as well as working with international artists. On those trips, she met other mothers passing along their expertise to their children, just as Lark would later herself. “I believe in tradition within a family, within a culture, and within a craft,” she said. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Lark lost her father when she was three. In her grief, her mother took a trip to Haiti where she fell in love with the colorful artwork and resilient spirit of the people. “The trip brought my mom back her joy after loss,” Lark explained. When her mother remarried, the family moved to Connecticut and continued traveling to Haiti and beyond as her mother expanded her gallery. On these trips, young Lark played with the artists’ children and learned to respect people different from herself, entranced by their beautiful textiles and clothing, Lark met her husband Hunter, from Thomasville, Ga. while at Emory. They made a succession of moves for his medical career and started a family. For about 15 years, when she was home with her children, Lark pursued her passion for design as an interior decorator, mostly for friends. She incorporated the international textiles that she and her mother brought back from their trips into pillows, tablecloths, and home decor. In 2014, wanting to be closer to family, the Champions moved to Columbus, Ga. “We fell in love with it,” she said. Being in a new town, and with her children older, Lark felt the time was right to branch out from interior design and to create Larkin Lane. “I found everything I needed to start my business right here - a talented graphic designer, help creating the website, and a supportive community.” She attended the Southern Coterie Summit in Charleston, SC that year - a pivotal experience as she learned about social media, branding, and advertising. She also got to network with like-minded, entrepreneurial women. It’s been a thrilling adventure from there. What began as mostly home decor has expanded to include apparel and accessories for women and men. In 2016, while at the Steeplechase in Nashville, Tenn., known as the Iroquois Steeplechase, admiring all the colorful bow ties, Lark hatched the idea of silk ikat bow ties, and they have become one of her best sellers. Over time, Lark’s relationships with artisans in countries such as Uzbekistan, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, and Haiti have deepened and grown more collaborative. Together they work to adapt centuries-old textile traditions to fit modern life. Lark still travels with her mother today - and brings her own children along. Larkin Lane is firmly based in fair-trade practices. “If you support a woman in a job she has already created for herself, paying her fairly, then that is going to go straight to her children and community. These are my partners, and they have become like family. We like to say we are on a happy mission to preserve textile traditions and the dignified employment of artisans around the world.”
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Far left: Lark Champion is wearing the Felted Wool and silk shrug from Kyrgyzstan. At left: A model wears the Felted Wool and silk shrug from Kyrgyzstan and carries “Ayizan” Haitian beaded clutch. All items are available at larkinlane.com. Follow Larkin Lane on Instagram @larkinlanedesigns. Photos by Sammie Saxon.
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Lark Champion and her mother, Laurie Ahner, in Guatemala. Ahner is wearing Santa Lucia Guatemalan caftan available at larkinlane.com. Champion is wearing Guatemalan huipil, a one-of-a-kind original. Similar products are available on her website. Shop the handbags as part of the “Roseangela collection” at larkinlane.com. Photo by Berlin Juarez.
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Above left to right: Angie Dorchak, Clare Koppang, Champion, and their daughters. Dorchak is wearing: “Ventura” Guatemalan caftan and a Ponte Vedra silk ikat headband. Her daughter is wearing a Darien silk ikat headband. Koppang is wearing the “Clara” Guatemalan tunic and the “Bacchus” silk ikat headband. Her daughter is wearing the Liberty of London headband. Callaway Champion is wearing the “Evelyn” Guatemalan top and a Darien silk ikat headband. Champion is wearing the “Darien” silk ikat caftan. All items are available at larkinlane.com. Photo by Rick Caldwell. At left: Lark Champion and Laurie Ahner in Guatemala. Champion is wearing the “Evelyn” Guatemalan top and Ahner is wearing the “Marta” Guatemalan top. Both are available at larkinlane.com. Photo by Berlin Juarez. www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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Below: Custom ikat groomsmen boutonnieres available at larkinlane.com. Florist: Fox and the Fleur. Photo by Joey Kennedy, both of Oakmont, Penn. At right: “Athens” silk ikat duster jacket, “Ayizan” Haitian beaded clutch, and painted Mexican hat. Photo by Rick Caldwell. At bottom: Champion with weavers at a cooperative in Guatemala. She wears a “Lucia” silk ikat scarf. All items are available at larkinlane.com. Photo by Laurie Ahner.
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C
50 50 YEARS YEARS
OMPAN
Y
BUILDING BUILDING MEMORIES MEMORIES FOR FOR
DEN
PLME
OYEE OW
OUR RAINBOW OF PERSONALIZATION
POSSIBILITIES
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INTERIOR DESIGN
Mary Lovett Beck and Anna Garcia are sisters who began their wicker furniture business a year ago. Their products are available at varnishcollection.com. They are on Instagram @varnish.collection. Pictured are Lovett Chairs and William Coffee Table. Photos by Morgan Duke. 34 | Summer 2022 www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
varnish coll ection
WICKER FOR GENERATIONS
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Story by Katharyn Privett-Duren
ary Lovett Beck and her sister, Anna Garcia, lifted off their furniture business only a year ago. Their beloved father, David Varner, passed away just a few months later and had been a paragon of strength for the family. While a difficult time to be growing a business, these sisters had rallied together before. After a horseback riding accident, their father - a surgeon with real passion for his work - had been paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for life. All five of his daughters found their way back home to support him, as is the Varner way. Even back then, Mary Lovett and Anna knew one day, they would honor their maiden name by creating a family business. That business, it turns out, would focus on a significantly southeastern design staple: wicker. Mary Lovett, an interior designer, and Anna, who works in marketing, fell in love with this extraordinary weave early on in life. Wicker had been passed down from generation to generation in the Varner line, gracing covered porches and warm interior spaces as heritage pieces. For these sisters, the fascination with the artistry never faded. Today, the Varnish Collection is made possible through a local importer working directly with suppliers from India. The process of creating the furniture is fascinating: no machines ever touch it. Each piece is handcrafted of eco-friendly, sustainable rattan, culminating in a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Unlike the polyester/resin woven wicker found around most swimming pools, the Varnish Collection has no finish or coating. It’s part of the allure of it all, as Mary Lovett points out, and
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lends itself to an organic, textured feel. As wicker is having quite the moment on the design landscape, the Varnish Collection is finding its feet through local pop-ups and shows in collaboration with other southern brands. These Columbus, Ga. business owners think the fashion trend makes sense, as designers can balance out textiles and antiques with the earthy, raw character of wicker. More durable and enduring than wood, rattan is an investment in legacy and tradition, a fact not lost upon these sisters. A personal favorite is “The Ruth” collection, showcasing a classic English rolled arm and braid—although “The Hamilton” and “The Julianna” tend to be the most popular among new customers, as they represent distinctive forms of wicker that are uncommon on the market. Each collection is named after family, including beloved pets. Such is the marker of a business built by strong southern women who nod to the significance of history and home. As proud Columbus, Ga. natives, Mary Lovett and Anna are excited to be a part of the growth of the city, noting that “towns our size are currently experiencing a kind of Renaissance period. The charm is not gone, but the potential for growth for artists, entrepreneurs, restaurants, and other small business owners is vast.” These self-described “stubbornly independent” women are on the forefront of that creative movement. Of course, the sisters recognize the irony of the name “Varnish” in conjunction with an unpainted or otherwise lacquered collection. When treated with care, they are certain that these enchanting pieces will “varnish” a home as family heirlooms for generations to come.
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Above and at right: Garden Lamps from the Varnish Collection. At center: Hamilton Sofa and Hamilton Table. All are available at varnishcollection.com. Photos by Morgan Duke.
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Pictured: Robinson Coffee Table and Round Woven Basket. Available at varnishcollection.com. Photo by Morgan Duke. 38 | Summer 2022 www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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monograms SHULER STUDIO:
AS UNIQUE AS
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Story by Denise DuBois
here is something beautiful – decadent – about a monogram. Especially in the south, we monogram everything we own. If you don’t get monogrammed towels at your wedding shower, you’re doing something wrong. We grow up with three names for a reason, and oftentimes, mothers will put those initials together to make sure their daughter’s monogram will be aesthetically pleasing. Pam Shuler is one of the creative minds behind making the monogram look its best. Pam grew up watching her mother embroider everything from sweaters and laundry bags to telephone book covers and socks. She recounted her mother’s embroidery business back in the 1970s and seeing her machine take up as much space as a kitchen island. Pam went a different route though. She was a high school math teacher for 20 years. But her mother got sick, and she left the classroom to care for her. “I would look through old antique books with monograms,” Pam said. She would sit with her mother and talk about her embroidery days. Her mother had forgotten after a while, but that didn’t stop Pam from sitting by her bed and creating monograms on the computer. Shuler Studio, based in Columbus, Ga., was born. “That’s how it started. The year she passed was the year I started the business. I think she would have loved all the designs,” Pam said. “I’ve been doing it ever since.”
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THEIR CLIENTS
Today, Pam and her daughter Carolyn work together to give clients sleek, modern, unique designs. Those clean and polished designs come from the mathematical side of Pam’s brain. “I make sure every line is clean, every curve is very nice, and every ball is perfectly circular,” she said. She and her team create fonts, crests that encircle monograms, and of course, the letters of choice. She creates a digital file and gives the file to clients who can then use it to send to a vendor to apply to towels, invitations, cake toppers, dance floors, and even an ice luge at a wedding, Pam said. One of the most unique uses of one of her monograms was a homeowner using it to create a concrete mold and placing it in the structure of the house. “Every time we think we’ve seen it all, we haven’t,” she laughed. Shuler Studio has clients all over the world, and Pam takes her role very seriously knowing that her designs are the theme of a wedding, a gift for a nursery, or a brand for a company. Choosing that theme can be taxing, though. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, Shuler Studio has many pre-made monograms online to spark inspiration. She also has a product directory on her site that leads customers to vendors who can take the digital file and create any product you may be looking for. “It’s just a really different, modern take on monograms,” Pam said. “It’s not the left, right, center that you usually see. It’s very unique - very special. We really love it. I didn’t mean to do this. It was a wonderful accident. I’m very happy that it happened,” she said.
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Shuler Studio creates monograms that can be added to anything - all you need is imagination and maybe a vendor list. At left: A chair from J. Wilkinson Chair Company. The back is embroidered with a Shuler Monogram. Photo by Katherine Johnson Photography. At top: A ring box from The Mrs. Box engraved with the couple’s 3-letter Shuler Monogram. Photo by Ashlyn Cathey Photography. Above: Shuler Studio also creates beautiful business logos. These cards feature a 3-letter logo for an interior designer. Visit the store online at shulerstudio.com and on Instagram @shulerstudio. Opposite: Pam Shuler, Carolyn Bettin, and Katy Wildes make up the Shuler Studio team.
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floral arr angements
WITH DAVID BENEFIELD
Story by Denise DuBois
David Benefield, owner of David Benefield at Highland Hall in Columbus, Ga., began working in a flower shop in Eufaula, Ala. when he was 16 years old. He was desperate. He didn’t have money or a car, but he worked as a driver for the shop. One day, stuck at the store alone, he was baptized by fire into flower designing. “I had to make a bow, and it was awful,” he recounted. He began working at Ann's Porch in Columbus in 1985. Now, he loves it and cannot imagine doing anything else. In fact, he thought he would slow down as he got older, but he just hasn’t. He simply loves the job too much. “I’m a people person. I love the people. I love to make them happy,” he said. “If a bride has a few dollars or a lot of dollars, we treat them the same.” His mission as a florist is always to curate the most beautiful, fresh flower arrangements that make people smile and enhance their event. In his arrangements, you’ll find premium flowers: big, full roses from Ecuador, unique tulips, and bold sunflowers. And his best-selling flower happens to be his favorite: orchids. Orchids line the entryway of his shop. He orders 50 orchids every week or two for his clients. Ask him what he likes to select for a formal setting, and David talks about where the event might be - making sure you have beautiful silver or crystal containers to complete the look. But for a casual event, he is quick to recommend sunflowers. For an event that is eclectic, fun, and lively, David said an arrangement of sunflowers, Gerber daisies, and hydrangeas will do. There’s a lot of color and boldness in that style. He also credits his crew for the work they are able to accomplish. They curate flowers for weddings, proms, holidays like Mother’s Day, and big events, but he also never forgets the kids who come in wanting something special for mom. In fact, one of his best memories is giving kids free flowers for Mother’s Day. “It was fun to sit on the front porch and give them out,” he said. David has been a florist now for more than 40 years. He bought the shop from Ann Johnston in 2000. He even kept the name for a while, but when he bought the historic home for his shop - and to live in - he changed the name to David Benefield at Highland Hall. The home was named Highland Hall in 1857 when it was built. It has been the centerpiece of many tall tales including a short story by Elton Camp entitled “The Unseen Horror of Highland Hall” that details a fantastical night of being haunted by the former owner of the plantation. David shares the story with enthusiasm and recommends his guests read it. Throughout the home-turned-shop, David has vintage decor, grandiose tables and chandeliers, unique gifts for purchase, and more flowers than you can count. He’s been known to host events where he’s had dozens of people to visit, enjoy meals, and sing around the piano. But at the heart of the home are the flowers David loves so much. “I can’t imagine stopping,” he said. “I kept thinking I’ll get here and get older, sell a few things – a lamp – and just do retirement. Then we got busier and busier. So, we’re going to keep going.”
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David Benefield creates flower arrangements for occasions including weddings, formal events, and holidays. He purchased the historic Highland Hall in Midtown Columbus, Ga. to house his flower shop. At night, he shuts some interior doors and lives in the shop as well. His favorite flower - and his best selling - is the beautiful, delicate orchid. Photos by Denise DuBois.
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Above: David Benefield spruces up a centerpiece of flowers. At right: Benefield purchases his roses from Ecuador. Those, he said, are more robust and beautiful. Far right: Highland Hall was built in 1857 and is on the historic registry. It has been the subject of tall tales, including a short story titled “The Unseen Horror of Highland Hall” by Elton Camp. Highland Hall is located at 1504 Seventeenth St. Columbus, Ga. 31901. Photos by Denise DuBois.
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Hundreds of flowers grace the space of Highland Hall in Columbus, Ga. Benefield surrounds himself with premium buds and can make arrangements for any occasion. Photos by Denise DuBois.
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Summer 2022 | 3
creating spaces
THE MEG WHITE WAY
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Story by Denise DuBois
ashville, Tenn. based interior designer Meg White started her journey of designing spaces when she was just a little girl. She would accompany her aunts and mother antiquing. “They would drag me around to local spots,” Meg said. “It became a fun thing because I got to purchase an item each time. I got to pick out a hand-carved doll bed. I got to pick out pieces for my cottage in the back yard. At 8, I got a doll house. I made furniture, and we went to the doll house store. It was a creative thing that started me in design at a young age.” Many years later, with a degree in hand and a love for the history of things, Meg is creating spaces that are family, pet, and even adult friendly in her own business Meg White Interiors. In her designs, Meg uses a lot of color, textures, metals, and fabrics that are easily washable. She loves older homes because there’s a history of the space that she can emphasize. One of her favorite things about finding new pieces of furniture, especially antiques, is asking where it has been and where it was used. “It’s something that piques my interest every day,” she said. Another part is mixing textiles and bringing seemingly different spaces into cohesion. While she loves bold color, she doesn’t push that on her clients. She will, however, push the boundaries of what a client may think he or she is comfortable with because the end result is always so beautiful. If bold color isn’t on the table, bold textures can be, and she will use that to bring warmth, elegance, or serenity to a space. Occasionally, Meg has to compete with what happens on interior design shows on TV. She explained that the timeline and budget for some of these shows is unrealistic, especially in the post-pandemic world where supply chain issues are causing delays in products. “The turnover time is 30 to 40 weeks,” she said. Some projects take a year or more to complete. To help manage those expectations, Meg has a new client questionnaire that details the base cost of certain items like sofas and coffee tables. It also asks a lot of questions about things, spaces, and ideas that make a client happy. Because the more she knows about her clients, the better she can understand the design they are hoping for. “When I meet with a client, I love to have pictures of what they like and what gives them great emotion – a kitchen, a family room that you love. From there, I can usually tell. They don’t see anything cohesive, but I can find the pattern,” Meg said. One thing she has seen the last year is that people want to use every space in their home. Traditionally, there have been spaces in the southern home that are only used once a year or for a special occasion. “A lot of people in the south grew up in rooms that you couldn’t go into unless it was a holiday. Now we use them all year. It’s important to me that people use their whole house,” she said. Curating a beautiful space with furniture and accent pieces isn’t all Meg can do. Her interior design knowledge extends to working with contractors, architects, landscape artists, electricians, and more. In fact, she said it’s important to get everyone on the same page at the beginning of a new project because it matters where electrical outlets are, the way doors open into a space, and how you enter and use your home. These are all things a designer considers as they work with clients. While she doesn’t gravitate to a certain style, Meg would describe herself as modernly traditional – pushing the boundaries of those traditions while building relationships with the people who seek her services. After all, being around her clients and getting to be creative are the reasons she does what she does.
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Far left: Interior Designer Meg White is based in Nashville, Tenn. She loves adding color and textures to spaces. Photo by Allison Elefante. In her own home, she shows off her personal style for her family. At left, top: Antique Zuber wallpaper was part of her home’s past, and she wanted to keep that while adding touches that made it feel more current. She added a modern abstract painting commissioned by artist Erin Lato. A light and airy natural fiber rug gives great contrast to the dark moodiness of the space. White painted the trim in this space a blue tone so that the eye would find calmness in the space. The antique brass and crystal chandelier was also part of the home’s history that she and her family wanted to keep, so she paired it in contrast with a new Italian-made, custom lacquer dining room table. At left, bottom: Vintage brass candle sconces surround a Modern abstract painting by Vesela. Black traditional style lamps, modern lacquer, and brass console paired with an antique oushak rug. Photos by Meg White.
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Above: A traditional client wanted to incorporate swivel reading chairs in her living room so that she and her family would have a cozy spot to curl up in a room that was previously rarely used. At right and center: This is one of Meg White’s all-time favorite projects. Family room: she wanted to wrap the room in color and texture creating warmth and dimension to the space. High gloss blue/grey walls, apple green velvet Hickory Chair sofas, wool animal print rug, linen drapery, and a wood ceiling are just a few of the elements that make this space so good. Photos by Allison Elefante.
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Bottom: This is a room the family created for entertaining family and friends. Meg White used a Hickory Chair sectional covered in an outdoor navy fabric, a glass top table by Made Goods so no one would have to worry about leaving a condensation ring on the table. Deep high-gloss walls in Inkwell by Sherwin Williams add ambiance. A Hickory Chair swivels in a bright teal for a pop of color and to tie back into the pillows. Below: The client wanted a “non white” kitchen. She wanted the kitchen to blend seamlessly with the adjoining family room. White used quarter sawn oak as the main cabinets and grounded the kitchen with a deep navy island. At Center: The large family/living room is at the center of the home. The clients were not big TV people, so White created a space for lounging, reading, and relaxing with family and friends. Photos by Allison Elefante.
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Top: Bright and airy living room. Neutral slipcovered Lee Industry sofa piled with pillows in different patterns and textures add depth and warmth to the space. The show-stopper is the Oly Studio penshell light fixture. Above: The inspiration for this room was the large vintage Hermès scarf framed as the focal point and color story for the space. Custom velvet daybed by Hickory Chair offers seating from either side when the client is having large gatherings and entertains in the adjoining room. Photos by Allison Elefante. www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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basket weaving
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Story by Denise DuBois
ernon Olds has lived in Barbour County and Russell County Alabama for all of his 73 years. He grew up in a rural setting for most of his life. He hunted, fished, and did the normal things a boy who grew up on a farm would do. As a boy, he watched his parents weave baskets. At the time, he didn’t have much interest in it. But when a weaving revival came about in the 1980s, he was a little older – at least old enough to appreciate the practice and show a little more interest. Vernon worked in construction and eventually retired. He tried to find something to do with his time, and he knew weaving a basket was just timeconsuming enough to keep him occupied. It all starts with a little trip into the woods searching for the perfect white oak tree. It has to be suitable – at least five feet long and six to 10 inches in diameter. “I’ve cut 10 in a row and got one that would be good,” Vernon said. “That’s my biggest problem right now – finding the little trees that we use.” But once he finds it, the work – and the magic – begins. He starts by splitting the tree in half, then again, and again until it’s down to the eighths. Then he takes it apart. It eventually has to be flexible enough to wrap around your finger without breaking, he said. Then you only have a month to use it before the wood goes bad on you. Once he preps the wood, he uses the strips to weave baskets and make
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chair bottoms. There are different kind of chairs he can make: one is a straight chair, or a ladder-back chair as it was once called, and the other is a shaker tape chair. Chairs are relatively new for him. He only started those two years ago. He uses a pattern called herring bone. It’s over three, under three, repeating. The shaker chairs, he said, are what the Amish came up with. It consists of heavy duty canvas material in two colors. There are many designs, but he prefers to keep it simple. It’s what he knows best. He’s made all his family chairs and baskets. He doesn’t often sell them. While you can find him at local markets, he mostly gives the creations away to friends and family members. When you ask him why he spends so much time – over a week – finding and preparing wood and then actually weaving it, he asked a simple question: have you ever looked at a basket closely? “It’s a simple weave, over, under, over, under. I start with what some people would think is trash. It’s not, but people think it is. My skill brings it to order. The weaves are tight, and the symmetry is good. The order of it is the thing I look for,” Vernon said. In addition to creating little baskets and chairs, Vernon also keeps an acre-sized garden. He tends to it himself, until of course, the bounty is ready for the kitchen. Then, he said, his wife takes over. Even that, he said, is getting harder and harder to do with age. But he still finds himself in his shop. “The shop, that’s my safe haven. I go out there to be quiet,” he said.
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Vernon Olds lives in Russell County, Ala. and uses basket weaving as a hobby to occupy his time. While he mostly gives away his creations, to include baskets and chairs, he does sell a few at local market days. Photos provided by Vernon Olds.
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
ART, ILLUSTRATIONS, and changing perceptions
Tony Pettis is a Columbus, Ga. artist. He enjoys all mediums. Photo byTrey Walker www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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Above: “KIM” by Tony Pettis. At right: Pettis stands in front of his piece titled “Moon Moaners.” Far Right: “Kai’s Warrior Studies” by Pettis. Contact him for commissioned pieces at Tonyartistpettis@gmail. com or on Instagram: @tonyartist. Photos by Pettis.
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“...there’s obviously a playful nature that is hidden and seen in plain sight...”
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Story by John West
olumbus, Ga. artist Tony Pettis is a fan of mixing. Whether it’s with people or with different art mediums, he always finds new ways to move forward. At 24 yearsold, this young painter and portrait artist has already seen multiple highlights in his career. In high school, he won the 2015/2016 All-State Art Symposium for Columbus State University. At 20, Tony was illustrating his first book, titled Growing Pains, for professional life coach Onkar Dhinsa. Not long after, an exhibition of Growing Pains’ illustrations was held in New York City. Now Tony acts as an apprentice under notable artist, Dr. Garry Pound. A much younger Tony might not have seen any of this coming. “When I got to middle school and high school, teachers began to take an interest and noticing that I had something that I didn’t really notice myself,” Tony said. “I think it was probably once I actually got to high school where I could start to formalize some sort of thought of what my future would look like, and I started submitting myself to different shows and exhibitions.” Tony’s interest in art, however, started much younger. His mother also had artistic leanings and helped nurture her son’s creativity. Paper and pencils were always in the house, as well as encouragement to experiment with different art forms. “I started off intrigued with art because my mother was a seamstress,” Tony said. “I was in a lot of fashion shows as a kid growing up—smaller level fashion shows—and slowly that turned into a love and appreciation for multiple styles of art.” Now as a professional artist, Tony continues to work in multiple mediums. He is a fan of using colored pencil often applied to watercolor paper to provide texture, as well as acrylic paints, and mixed media. His portraits are a fusion of realism and caricature. His paintings take on neo-expressionist qualities as well. “It’s loosely realism because there is almost a feeling there of the familiar that’s almost on the realistic side, but then there’s obviously a playful nature that is hidden and seen in plain sight with my portraits,” he said. “When I do a lot of my paintings and things, they do take on the form of classic neoexpressionist work, so it’s a mixture of them both. It depends on what’s being painted and portrayed. I think the majority of my work now is more so expressive in general.” Tony also remains an advocate for the local arts. In addition to working for Dr. Pound, he is a part of the Columbus Collective, a group of area artists of varying disciplines. “I’m grateful to be right under so many important and pioneer-like artists,” Tony said. “There are different pockets that are being supported in multiple ways, and that is always really exciting because the more opportunities we have, the better we can be as artists, and the longer we can be artists, and get rid of the stigma of the starving artist.”
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Far left: Tony Pettis is a Columbus, Ga. artist. He is a fan of using colored pencils applied to watercolor paper and works with many different mediums. Photo by Sammie Saxon. At left: “Ate Crow 1” and “Ate Crow 2” by Pettis. Photo by Malika Marble.
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Above: At 20, Tony Pettis illustrated his first book, titled Growing Pains, for professional life coach Onkar Dhinsa. Not long after, an exhibition of Growing Pains’ illustrations was held in New York City. At right: “Screamer” by Pettis.
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Barry Bales is an award-winning musician who has spent his time playing with artists like Alison Krauss and Chris Stapleton. He has won multiple Grammy awards in his time as an upright bassist. Photo provided by Barry Bales.
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Playing Bass WITH BARRY BALES
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By John West
arry Bales has been playing the upright bass professionally for 33 years. He is an award-winning bluegrass musician who not only plays alongside Alison Krauss and Union Station but is also a highly sought-after session musician. He’s recorded with a host of well-known names from across the bluegrass and country world. He has won an American Country Music Song of the Year Award for co-writing Chris Stapleton’s “Nobody to Blame.” He has also won multiple Grammy Awards. “We’ve been very fortunate. I think now all total I’m up to 15 Grammys,” Barry said. “Lots of them with Allison Krauss and Union Station, but other things like the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.” It’s safe to say Barry knows his way around crafting a song. He grew up in a family of musicians, and his hometown of Kingsport, Tenn. sits right in the cradle of bluegrass culture. On Saturdays, he and his father would join in bluegrass jam sessions at the local music shop in Kingsport. “Where I grew up in the northeast corner of Tennessee has always been a hot bed for bluegrass and great bluegrass musicians,” Barry said. “I was just always surrounded by it.” Barry went on to perform in bluegrass bands both locally and regionally. While touring, he and his bandmates continued to grow and build contacts, including Alison Krauss. It turned out both they and Krauss were fans of
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each other’s work. In 1990, she invited Barry and his bandmates to join her in Union Station. Bales has performed with Krauss ever since. “We would play a lot of the same festivals as Alison and her band, and we were mutual admirers,” he said. “We loved what she did, and she liked what we were doing. We knew each other before that, and she hired us all three at the same time.” Performing with Krauss eventually led to more studio work for Barry as well. He has performed on albums by Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Willie Nelson among many others. As a Nashville session man, Bales has also become an in-demand song writer. “Nobody to Blame” came together during a song writing session between Barry, Ronnie Bowman, and Chris Stapleton. At the time, the three musicians had hoped to pitch the song to some big names. Instead, it went on Stapleton’s debut album, Traveler, and then won the 2016 ACM Song of the Year Award. “It was a huge deal,” he said of their win. “It doesn’t surprise me that Chris has had the insane popularity that he’s enjoying now. I’m thrilled for him, and of course was thrilled to get to write with him and to write something that he deemed worthy to put on his album.” Despite all the accolades, however, Barry remains humble in his approach to music. He said he’s never tried to be a hot shot instrumentalist. Instead, he said, “I’ve always tried to fit into a band sound, an ensemble sound.”
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the animal farm SAVORY SPOTLIGHT
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Opposite: Landon Thompson is the chef at The Animal Farm in Columbus, Ga. He focuses on seasonal food pairings and flavors that stand out on the local culinary landscape. Above: Heirloom tomato and burrata salad with pesto and balsamic “caviar.” At right: Pigs in the blanket. Photos provided by The Animal Farm.
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At right: Hudson Terrell is the sous chef at The Animal Farm. Opposite: Summer drinks are on the menu. “C’mon Now” has tequila, local watermelon, serrano chili, and orange syrup. Brunch is also available. Try the grit bowl and a peach Bellini. Photos provided by the Animal Farm.
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NATURE, CREATIVITY, AND A PINCH OF SCIENCE
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Story by Katharyn Privett-Duren
ithin one minute of chatting with James Beard Award Semi-Finalist Landon Thompson of Animal Farm Restaurant in Columbus, Ga., it’s clear that his was a career born of passion. As a young child, his parents were key to his willingness to explore the textures and flavors of the world, marking his third birthday with a dinner of kangaroo tail and escargot. As a teen, Landon suffered an accident that led to a wheelchair and the inability to walk for years—and so, he turned to homegrown hospitality, hosting up to 250 friends after football games for rustic soups and roasted chickens. It was just the beginning. In college, Landon focused on Criminal Pathology—but soon realized that “getting shot at for 20k per year” didn’t sound appetizing. One Christmas, while whipping up a dinner for his family, Landon’s father and uncle interrupted the young chef ’s work and suggested that he abandon college and look instead to the culinary world. As a financial advisor, his father’s words held weight: “Do something you love, and you’ll be good at it.” And so, Landon moved to Atlanta, Ga. to become a humble dishwasher—and 18 years later, he hasn’t sat down since. The Animal Farm opened its doors in September 2021. As one of the only “from scratch” restaurants within the city, Landon focuses on seasonal food pairings and flavors that stand out on the local culinary landscape. From sumac to black garlic, there is an adventurous feel to the food. As Landon points out, “1,000 ingredients make one flavor,”
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and that flavor is the hallmark of The Animal Farm. Inspired by science, Landon spends an inordinate amount of energy reading journals and research papers for creative fodder. “The science of the cell of the animal, the interactions of heat and denaturing protein and acids, and what salt does . . . well, if I do anything, I do it all the way,” he said. With help from his Sous Chef, Hudson Terrell, Landon ferments, pickles, butchers, and crafts cheeses all in-house. As a born risk-taker, Landon knows no other way. “Water tastes like water: charr, roast, build your flavor through cooking techniques. I like to start with raw, natural ingredients and just suck the flavor out of it,” he said. It turns out, Landon is a bit of a mad scientist in the kitchen with a southern drawl. Classically French-trained, Landon’s Georgia roots are represented in the produce from surrounding farms and land on a plate in an unfamiliar, yet enchanting, manner. From Vietnamese Catfish to Pigs in a Blanket (Conecuh sausage, French puffed pastry, maple-mustard aioli, and blackberry conserva), Landon and Hudson source local meats and vegetables and “turn them on their ear a bit.” Indeed, these Columbus natives have shaken things up. Yet, Landon still sees his customers as family. The long-ago teen who found solace in feeding his friends is still around, creating the kind of magic that only happens when the chef loves the sweat, work, and inexhaustible wonder of real food. For the rest of us, this is a very good thing.
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Try one of the burgers from Animal Farm in Columbus, Ga., or a chicken sandwich. At right: Pork shanks with grits. Photos by Hudson Terrell.
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Gesus Palomino Bringing sweet heat back home Story by Katharyn Privett-Duren Some stories start in the most innocuous of places. Clark Stallings’s story starts around a copper moonshine still, listening to old timers trying not to cuss in the presence of tender ears. The name of his company seeded itself there in the deep woods of Georgia when someone hollered out: “Gesus Palomino!” If you listen closely, you can still hear that yawp upon opening a jar of Clark’s pepper relish. As he had grown up enjoying his mother’s candied jalapeños, Clark found himself longing for that flavor as the pandemic hit. Local companies were especially impacted by the advent of Covid-19, forcing folks to find new ways to manage businesses and make connections. Such was the case in Albany, Ga., compelling Clark to work from home as a construction equipment salesman with a dream of something better. And so, when friends began to nudge him for this familyfavorite condiment, Clark gathered the original recipe from his mother and cooked up a run of his own peppers. Those familiar sliced rings, however, just didn’t suit: they slid out of every sandwich, landing on the plate where they did not belong. Always willing to work a little harder for the perfect bite, Clark dug in and whipped up a batch of candied jalapeño relish that would sink into a sandwich’s layers. Like any good neighbor, he popped those jars up on Facebook, and within an hour, they all sold. It was an auspicious, albeit unplanned, moment for Georgia jalapeños. And so, with help from the University of Georgia and a robust entrepreneurial spirit, Gesus Palomino was born. All production and packaging occurs in Ocilla, Ga., just a Sunday afternoon’s drive down the road from the country kitchen where it all began. While his mother’s recipe was foundational, Clark has added his own spin to his relish. Those unique flavors have inspired a new product. Gesus Palomino now offers candied jalapeño marinade/cocktail mix for the more adventurous connoisseur. Andrew Holzemer, a mixologist at the Atlanta Four Seasons hotel bar, has even created some signature cocktails featuring this spicy mix. Without a doubt, Clark’s peppers continue to inspire the cry of “Gesus Palomino!” in even the most elegant of establishments. When asked why he has dedicated himself full-time to selling this green gold, his answer is simple: he’s proud of this work. It lends itself to storytelling, community building, and one fine plate of food. Gesus Palomino customers are quite fond of sending in pictures and recipes that showcase scrumptious tales of barbeques and long dinners under the stars. With 93 stores across the country, Clark has assuredly heated things up. His relish graces its sweet spice on everything from breakfast biscuits with melted butter to grilled salmon at a family reunion. But, perhaps more than anything, Gesus Palomino Candied Jalapeños represents the tenacity of southern spirit—with a bite.
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Clark Stallings began making candied jalapeños and perfecting his recipes. He used his mother’s recipe as a foundation then made it his own. All production and packaging occurs in Ocilla, Ga. His delectable mix is best paired with butter on a biscuit or on top of barbecue. He also sells a marinade and cocktail mix. At right: Clark Stallings and his daughters Cate, 15, Margo, 10, and Charlie, 7. Follow him on Instagram @GesusPalomino and view his products online at gesuspalomino.com. Photos provided by Clark Stallings.
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muscadine arbor UNDER THE
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Story by Marian Carcache
e they from up on Sand Mountain, from down around the “Down Home” area of Alabama, or from my own back yard, tomatoes are my favorite food. I’m as suspicious of folks who don’t love a good tomato as I am of those who don’t love dogs. My need for tomatoes apparently started before birth. Mama was in New Jersey where Daddy was stationed in the Air Force. She craved tomato sandwiches from home so much that she learned to make a rather soggy one using canned tomatoes. The craving has not subsided for either of us. When we came back home to Jernigan, a rural area in Russell County, Ala., summer meant tomatoes, cornbread, and skinny little hot cayenne peppers every day at lunch to complement a cooked vegetable dinner that might include any combination of the following: butterbeans and squash, peas and eggplant, or white corn, either scraped or on the cob. Supper was a tomato sandwich and a glass of iced tea. Supposedly, the United States colonists grew tomatoes, but for decoration only. Early Americans refused to eat tomatoes, believing they would turn their blood to acid and poison them. While it is true that tomatoes do belong to the nightshade family, so do peppers, eggplants, white potatoes, okra, and a host of other delicious and perfectly edible vegetables. But the tomato was much maligned before it was adored. At one point, the Catholic Church deemed it to be “the devil’s fruit” and suspected it of being used in magic potions. I fully believe there’s magic in a tomato, but not the bad kind. Of course, citizens of the “new country” came around in the end – long after people in South and Central America had been enjoying the delicious red fruit. Some even believed the tomato to be an aphrodisiac, as the French name, pomme d’amour (apple of love), suggests. Whether they are on white bread or Roman Meal, and whether the mayonnaise of choice is Duke’s, Blue Plate, or Hellman’s, nothing brings back childhood summers like a tomato sandwich and a glass of iced tea. I can still hear the katydids, crickets, and frogs – maybe an occasional owl or coyote – making their music from down on the river behind our house. I can still smell the scent of mimosa puffs and honeysuckle on the night breeze. And I can taste that first bite of a fresh juicy homegrown tomato, even on the coldest winter day. My friend Kat says her grandmother used to press the leaves of her tomato plants in her hands, bring her hands to her nose, sigh, and say, “If only they could make a perfume of that.” I’m with Kat’s granny.
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Photo by Katie Waldrep www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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TRAVEL
kentucky derby EXPERIENCING
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THE
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hats and horses
Story by Thomas Jackson
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fficially just (using the word advisedly) a horse race, the Kentucky Derby is, in fact, not so much a sporting event as it is a state of mind, wrapped in tradition, displayed on an endless buffet, accompanied by an open bar, and topped by a rather extraordinary
hat. The Derby, then, is itself and only itself. Often copied and routinely envied, the Derby is extraordinary and unique. The Derby is Churchill Downs and its iconic twin spires. It’s leaning on the rail on the backside just past dawn, watching the shadows shrink with the rising sun while listening for the telltale rhythm of million-dollar hooves thundering by. The Derby is wandering among the barns of a morning and eavesdropping on trainers, exercise riders, and grooms. The Derby is a massive infield party attended by some 80,000 revelers with bands on stage, dancing, outlandish outfits, drinking, a fair amount of rowdy debauchery … and almost zero chance of seeing the race. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. The Derby is singing, and shedding tears (while dismissing the controversy), to “My Old Kentucky Home.” It’s the trumpet’s call to the starting gate, and the triumphant declaration, “And they’re off!”
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The Derby is Millionaire Row rising above the grand stand, with epic views over the track, the Derby Party, the barns, and the neighborhoods beyond. The Derby is mint juleps in frosty sterling silver cups. The Derby is tables groaning under hot browns, pimento cheese, deviled eggs, bourbon balls, and country ham on beaten biscuits. The Derby is fanciful, bigger-than-life hats on ladies faire, their broadbrims useful for protecting all those plunging necklines from harmful UV rays. The Derby is men in suits of garish colors not found in nature. The Derby is “And down the stretch they come!” The Derby is paddlewheel races on the Ohio River, fireworks, and a week of festivities. The Derby, according to Louisville Tourism, also is a $400 million boon to the regional economy. The event itself is distinguished for its reliability. Few moments in the march of time are as relentless as the Kentucky Derby. For 148 years now — making it more venerable than General Motors and almost three times as persistent as the Super Bowl, that spotlight-hogging upstart — the first Saturday in May* has belonged to Churchill Downs and the Run for the Roses. How many roses? Glad you asked. The blanket draped over the neck of the winner contains roughly 462 red Freedom Alliance roses gleaned from about 6,000 stems imported from Colombia to the Middletown Kroger near
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Louisville. In the days before the Derby, the grocery giant’s master florists stitch together a garland 122 inches long and 22 inches wide, weighing 40 pounds. Fun fact: Each rose stem gets a vial of water to keep it fresh. Funner fact: Once complete, the garland gets a police escort to Churchill Downs, where it is displayed — guarded by the U.S. Navy and Marines — until its presentation to the winning horse and jockey. Derby winners owe this fragrant tradition to Churchill Downs founder and president Meriwether Lewis Clark (grandson of the continent-crossing adventurer). Clark was inspired to adopt the rose as the race’s official flower when, in 1883, he observed New York socialite Evander Berry Wall, a racehorse owner and prominent member of the American cafe society, presenting roses to women attending a party. The rose blanket became a fixture of the Derby in 1896. Speaking of red, the Derby wouldn’t be The Derby without its parade of celebrities along the Churchill Downs red carpet. Although, compared to years past, when Derby Day shimmered with stars such as NFL legend Tom Brady, Backstreet Boys, Dennis Quaid, reality stars Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, and their majesties Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, many in this year’s cast would have benefitted from name tags: • “Family Ties” actor Michael Gross. • “Schitt’s Creek” actress Jennifer Robertson. • WWE stars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford. • “Get Him to the Greek” actor Mario Lopez • NFL Hall-of-Famers Franco Harris and Warren Moon. • Recent Atlanta Falcons draft pick Desmond Ridder. • Future top NFL pick and current University of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. • Country music artists Brittany Warthan, Randall King, Brittany Spencer, Chase “The Guy at the Concert” Rice, and Jason Aldean. • Fashion designer Gunnar Deatheridge, a Louisville native who competed on “Project Runway.” • NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. • Pictionary creator Rob Angel. • Chef Jean Robert de Cavel. • Louisville native Jack Harlow, a rapper and Billboard Music Awards winner. But that’s okay. By finishing ahead of the mile-and-a-quarter stampede in a brisk 2:02.61, previously anonymous absurd long shot Rich Strike made all of 2022 safe for B-listers. The chestnut colt with the white blaze and two white stockings might have come out of storied Calumet Farm, but nobody voted him most likely to succeed. Indeed, for Rich Strike to prevail after getting in on a technicality is like a street hoofer winning Dancing With the Stars after sneaking past studio security. Hollywood would want to cast Lin-Manuel Miranda, but the role calls for an unknown. But improbable, heartwarming stories are also the Kentucky Derby. Billed as the greatest (or, alternately, most exciting) two minutes in sports, each Derby actually begins nearly four years earlier, along about Valentine’s Day, when thoroughbred breeders, using carefully calibrated 11-month gestation calendars, introduce stallions and broodmares for the purpose of creating future four-legged champions, some few of which go on to become legends. In this, timing is very nearly everything. The Derby and its Triple Crown cousins, the Preakness and Belmont stakes, are contested among Thoroughbreds born on or after New Year’s Day three years earlier. On the (lately shaky) theory that slightly older horses have advantages, farms strive for deliveries in mid-to-late winter. Woe be to the foal born on New Year’s Eve, however; in the eyes and on the books of Thoroughbred racing, (s)he’s officially a 1-year-old at the moment
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Hats, hats, and more hats! The Kentucky Derby is known for the beautiful headpieces adorning women who attend the events. Designers work on their creations for months leading up to the Kentucky Derby and all are unique. Photos by Katie Waldrep. of arrival. And even though recent Derbies have seen champions born as late as May, the advantage remains with horses foaled early in the year: 60 percent of Derby winners were born in February or March. Late arrivals face substantial developmental headwinds (parents with offspring born near the cutoff dates for youth sports — and destined almost never to make all-star teams — know precisely how this feels). Why this is not written in stone: Rich Strike, the rags-to-roses sensation, was born April 25, 2019. All of which is to say, your Kentucky Derby contenders for 2025 are already in the field, romping and learning about their instinctual need for speed. The bourbon for the mint juleps with which we shall toast the winner is already aging in an oaken barrel. And, even now, in countless greenhouses on the savannah surrounding Bogota, Colombia, gardeners tend the bushes that, on that storied first Saturday in May, will provide the red, red roses for the latest Kentucky Derby champion. *With these exceptions: 2020 (COVID-19), 1945 (World War II), and 1901.
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Katie Waldrep and Christine Moore at the Kentucky Derby. Moore is the owner of Christine A. Moore Millinery in New York, NY. She has been designing hats for the Kentucky Derby for years and has four displayed in the Kentucky Derby Museum. Find her creations at www.camhats.com.
Katie Waldrep shares how she prepared for the Derby and the first-time experience Q: How did you prepare for the Derby? A: I started to find a dress many months before the event. I tried on too many to count. I then contacted Christine Moore and sent her pictures of my dress. She sent me some styles to choose from. We talked about color. I wanted to be able to wear the hat again since it will be timeless. That is why I chose a simple color. I did end up changing my dress choice at the last minute, but it was still the same color. Next time, it will be much easier to choose what to wear. You really see every type of outfit and shoe at the Derby. You just need to go with your style. The entire weekend was packed with wardrobe changes, a lot of drinks, great food, good friends, and I would love to do it all over again one day. Q: What was it like to experience the Derby for the first time? A: We left for Louisville not exactly knowing what to expect. I had been to many Steeplechase races around the south, but this was my first experience at a Churchill Downs race. Friends suggested that we go to the Kentucky Oaks on Friday. I happened to throw a pink dress in my bag just in case we were able to attend. We bought tickets to the Oaks on Thursday night not knowing what the best seats were. We sat in the Millionaires Club seats. These were on a club level and seemed very corporate. They had tables set up inside with a food buffet and beverages included. Then, when it was time
for a race, we would walk outside to watch the horses run on the track. We ended up meeting with a sorority sister, Catherine Ladd Keneally, whose husband is a horse trainer. They were so kind to us and took us “backstage” at the track. We walked on the muddy track around to the barn. Getting to see the horses up close was such a treat. After the races, we rushed back to the hotel to get ready for the Barnstable and Brown party. Again, I didn’t really know what this was all about. I had searched a little before and knew that this was a fundraiser and that many celebrities would be there. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun, and it was a packed red-carpet event. My friends and I had a blast dancing the night away. The first Saturday in May is always the Kentucky Derby. There are races all day. We took our time getting to the race and had a good brunch before we walked in to the event. This time we were on the third level. This is an area filled with boxes. In our box, it felt like we were more involved with the races. Every woman had on a hat. There were many different types of hats that matched each dress perfectly. Some had huge hats with ornate butterflies. Some had simple fascinators. People plan their outfits and hats for months, and I was very lucky to have my hat made by Moore. She is the official milliner for the Derby and helped me choose the hat. Derby Day is a long day for sure. There was so much to take in: the loud cheering, the many colors of the clothing, the never-ending mint juleps, and the beautiful flowers and horses.
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Attendees get to partake in many events throughout the Kentucky Derby. They show off their beautiful dresses and hats. Above right: A horse gets a quick bath. Photos by Katie Waldrep.
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enjoying the beach
WITH 30A COTTAGES
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Story by Denise DuBois
here’s something about the power of the ocean as waves crash over the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Southerners have dreams of retiring at the beach. Snowbirds flock there as the weather turns colder. It’s safe to say there’s a gravitational pull that stops just at the shoreline. Millie and Carson Patrick understand that attractive force. Carson worked in Columbus, Ga. at the family business, Schomburg’s Jewelers. “He wanted a change of pace and to find something different,” Millie said. The difference he was wanting included pink and orange sunsets and salty air. A friend owned a vacation rental business in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. They partnered together for a while thinking they would only be there a few years, but those white foam waves keep you. Eventually the Patricks bought the business and turned it into 30A Cottages. “We fell in love with living down there,” Millie said. 30A Cottages has luxury properties in Rosemary Beach, Inlet Beach, Seacrest Beach, Watercolor, Seagrove, Watersound, and Seaside that are available for rent.
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Just in case you’ve never been there, 30A is a collection of Florida beach towns located between Panama City and Destin along County Road 30A. The communities are unique, calm, and appeal to families. You won’t find large hotels or condos, tourist shops, or chain stores. Instead, there’s local shops, delicious local foods, and activities like biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, concerts, and child-friendly community events. “The greatest thing we love about raising our children here is the family atmosphere. It’s so safe, It’s kind of like a fairy tale. We call it ‘the bubble,’” Millie laughed. Because everyone loves the beach so much, the Patricks know having luxury rentals is the key to a visitor’s dream vacation. Their goal is for visitors to forget where they’re from. That’s easy to do when you’re surrounded by the most beautiful beaches, sand dunes, and clubs like Watersound. Wherever you plan to stay along 30A, 30A Cottages can plan your ideal vacation so you don’t have to worry about anything except what umbrella drink you plan to enjoy. For more information, visit www.30acottagesandconcierge.com.
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Top: Watersound’s white sandy beaches and beautiful sunsets. Above: Watersound is family-friendly. It’s a safe place for children to ride bikes. Right: Sidewalks line the streets of the gated community of Watersound. Opposite: A sound is, traditionally, a small body of water connected to a larger sea or ocean. The sounds at Watersound are natural. It’s easy to hear the seagulls, the wind, children playing, and the ocean we love so much. Photos by Katie Waldrep.
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EXPERIENCING WATERSOUND
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Story by Katie Waldrep
was planning a family trip to a beach for Spring Break 2022. It had to be somewhere that we could drive to in a few hours. My husband and I decided on the beach community of Watersound, Florida. It is a lovely area owned by St. Joe properties. The 1,400 acre community is located between Seacrest and Seaside. As I pulled my car through the secure gates of the property off of 30A, I felt safe. Beautiful houses lined the streets. There were kids riding bikes. People were walking the sidewalks. Everything was so clean and pristine. We rented a house that was a block from the beach but could easily be reached by a golf cart or on foot. There was even a
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community pool and snack bar between our house and the beach. Watersound is known for the brackish color water that combines the lake and the ocean. This is known as a Watersound. The developers made sure to keep the large area around the dunes undeveloped so that everything would be as natural as possible. There were green spaces, nature trails, a mini golf course, a playground and a workout facility. St. Joe Club also has the Watersound Beach Club. It is a private membership that is resort quality. With the membership, you can have access to two private pools and a boardwalk with easy access to the beautiful beach.
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moo nshine tasting WITH DENISE
Story by Denise DuBois When I take a vacation, I always research the best places to eat and drink along the way or at my destination. Food and drinks are one of the main reasons I like to travel. You won’t find me in a chain restaurant. I want something unique to the area. When you visit Gatlinburg, Tenn., drinking your way through the strip is a must. There are wine and moonshine tastings every few shops. There is also a delightful little shop called All Sauced Up that
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allows visitors to sample all sorts of sauces and dips. It’s a wonderful treat after you’ve savored some of the spirits, but I digress. A Moonshine tasting is one of the best reasons to visit the quaint town. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine and Sugarlands Distilling Co. allow visitors to sample all the flavors for a small cost. I never knew so many flavors existed and that you can do more with the spirit than just sip it in a glass over ice.- It’s a legendary experience.
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With a name like Magnolia and Moonshine, you know we’re going to tout some of our favorite samples. If you’ve never tried moonshine, now might be the time. For this tasting, we opted for four moonshine flavors from the aforementioned distilleries in Tennessee. We chose a variety of cream, fruity, and bold flavors. I started by savoring the moonshine by itself, but I also wanted to try each one in a signature cocktail featured on the distilleries’ websites. I chose the cocktails that I felt would be most
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appealing but also offer an adventure for my taste buds outside of what I might normally drink. I crafted each cocktail as instructed. If I modified it at all, I shared that in “My take.” I tasted them in the order they appear over the next few pages. You’ll also read about the distilleries from which they came. I think they offer great history of moonshine production and its legalization. Visit your local wine and spirits store and take a tasting with me. I hope you enjoy making the drinks as much as I did.
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le Smoky Tennessee Moonshine is the most visited Distillery in Tennessee. It brought a record number of four million people through its doors in 2019. Ole Smoky’s The Holler in Gatlinburg welcomed 2.1 million visitors, The Barrelhouse in Gatlinburg welcomed nearly 1.1 million, Pigeon Forge’s distillery, The Barn, welcomed 1.1 million, and the company’s newest distillery in Nashville, 6th & Peabody, which opened in the fall of 2019, welcomed 241,000 visitors. In 2020, the distillery released its newest line of products – refreshing, delicious and convenient canned cocktails you can enjoy at home, on the beach or lake, or hanging out with friends. The ready-to-drink cocktails are “made with a kick,” featuring Ole Smoky’s famous moonshine. Four tasty flavors are Apple Pie Ginger, Blackberry Lemonade, Mountain ‘Rita, and Mountain Mule. Ole Smoky Moonshine Canned Cocktails flavors contain 9% alcohol by volume. In 2021, the distillery announced it had five of its innovative whiskey offerings available in mini 50ML bottles. The flavors include Salty Caramel Whiskey, Mango Habanero Whiskey, Peanut Butter Whiskey, Peach Whiskey, and Salty Watermelon Whiskey. Handcrafted in small batches,
Ole Smoky’s Whiskey Line launched nationally in the fall of 2017 and has expanded to 17 inventive flavors. Ole Smoky is the leading distiller of premium moonshine in the world and the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee. Founded in 2010, Ole Smoky’s roots can be traced to the Smoky Mountains’ earliest settlers - families who produced moonshine with enduring pride and Appalachian spirit. In 2009, Tennessee laws changed, and suddenly, it was legal to make, distill, and sell the infamous and illicit moonshine the region had become known for — and Ole Smoky was born, with products crafted from a century-old recipe. Ole Smoky can be found at the company’s distilleries, online, in grocery and liquor stores nationwide, as well as in on-premise establishments, including some of the biggest music and sporting venues in the country. The Ole Smoky product line also includes a wide array of branded apparel, gifts, accessories, plus whiskey- and moonshine-flavored food items, including barbecue sauces, hot sauces, and dips. For more information visit www.olesmoky.com.
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ounded in 2014, Sugarlands Distilling Company produces a full line of craft moonshines and sippin’ creams with flavors like Dynamite Cinnamon, American Peach, Dark Chocolate Coffee, and Butter Pecan. Sugarlands also produces Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, which won Best Whiskey in the 2019 American Craft Spirits Association Awards. Sugarlands Distilling Company is a craft distillery located in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Producers of award-winning moonshine, rum, cream liqueurs, and rye whiskey, Sugarland spirits are distributed in 40 states and made available for home delivery via Reserve Bar. Sugarlands hand-crafted
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cocktails can be sipped on in restaurants, bars, and festivals across the country, as well as on the Back Porch located at the downtown Gatlinburg, Tenn. distillery. The Sugarlands Distilling Co. welcomes more than one million guests each year and is rated as TripAdvisor’s number 1 thing to do in Gatlinburg, as well as is the world’s top-rated distillery experience. A proud supporter of the community, Sugarlands Distilling Company has donated over $675,000 to nonprofits across the country through its giveback program, MoonShare. For more information, visit www.sugarlands.com and follow Sugarlands on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SugarlandsShine.
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his 100-proof uses maraschino cherries soaked in the original moonshine. “This delicious marriage culminated in an explosion of sweet heat in every perfectly infused cherry. And, once the cherries are gone, the remaining moonshine offers a lingering sweet nectar that blends into cherry cola or ginger ale like long lost lovers,” its website says.
moo nshine cherr ies
Try it like this: Vanilla Cherry Cola Ingredients 2 oz. Ole Smoky Vanilla Bean Whiskey 2 oz. Cherry Cola Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries Directions Mix together and enjoy. My take: I initially thought there would be a shock factor since this one uses the 100-proof original moonshine as its base, but you quickly feel the burn subside and the sweetness of the cherries take over. It’s smooth and delicious on its on, but I’ll be honest, I wasn’t quite ready to eat one of the cherries. After all, alcohol-infused fruits can be dangerous as the buzz can hit you unexpectedly. Since this was the first of the four tastings, I opted to forego the cherry until next time. I made the Vanilla Cherry Cola because it has all the things I love the most. Cherry Coke is a treat for me, and throwing some real cherries in it just feels right. I wasn’t too sure about the Whiskey because it’s not my drink of choice, but I wanted to be adventurous. I opted for a cherry cola from a specialty store and the called-for ingredients. The soda burn wasn’t overwhelming, but I think that had something to do with everything else in the drink. Overall, it was a very tasty sipper drink for the hot nights we experience every summer in the south. Seeing the cherries float around with the ice added a little whimsey to the drink.
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Ole Smoky Mountain Tennessee Cherries Moonshine and Vanilla Cherry Cola. Find more recipes at olesmoky.com. Photo by Denise DuBois www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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his 65-proof moonshine uses juicy peaches and soaks them in Ole Smoky’s White Lightin’ Moonshine. “Dip in and grab one of those succulent, moonshine-infused peaches and experience a sweet little slice of heaven. After they’re gone, it leaves just enough moonshine to make a summer sangria that pairs perfectly with sunshine,” the distillery boasts.
moo nshine peaches
Try it like this: Peach Bellini 1 oz. Ole Smoky Moonshine Peaches Juice 5 oz. Champagne Directions Pour Ole Smoky Moonshine Peaches Juice in Champagne. Garnish with 2 Ole Smoky Moonshine Peaches. My take: Now, I love a good peach cobbler, so when we decided to add Ole Smoky Peaches to the taster list, I was giddy. After tasting the Moonshine Cherries, my expectations were in check. I no longer feared the burn that so often comes to mind when sipping moonshine. The Peaches Moonshine tasted just like peach juice dripping from the sweet, Georgia fruit. Don’t let it fool you, it’s still 65-proof, but it was smooth and delicious. I did eat a piece of a peach from the jar. I think that’s where all the alcohol is hiding. If you’re not careful, it would be easy to forget just how much you’ve had. For the cocktail, I made the Peach Bellini because what woman doesn’t love an excuse to enjoy Champagne? For this one, I’d recommend a sweet Champagne. It calls for an ounce of the Peach Moonshine, but I added a little more because it was just so good, and I wanted to taste a little more of the juicy fruit. I think this is the perfect pairing for a girls night dinner or a weekend brunch.
Ole Smoky Mountain Tennessee Peaches Moonshine and Peach Bellini. Find more recipes at olesmoky.com. Photo by Denise DuBois www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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his 40-proof combines milk, medium roast coffee, and dark chocolate. It has been a best seller since 2016. “Dark Chocolate Coffee is wonderful as a stand-alone liqueur for sipping on after dinner or for mixing in a cocktail,” its website says. Try it like this: Dark Chocolate Root Beer Float Ingredients 1.5 oz Dark Chocolate Coffee Sippin’ Cream 3.5 oz Root Beer Whipped Cream Instructions Pour Dark Chocolate Coffee Sippin’ Cream over ice and add Root Beer. Garnish with whipped cream. My take: I’m not a coffee drinker, so getting my attention with this moonshine was going to take some work – or so I thought. I know now why it’s called a sipping cream. It’s smooth, and the coffee taste isn’t pronounced enough for me to dislike it. Actually, to my surprise, the chocolate flavor is the dominate one, and I found it very delightful. The 40-proof alcohol content is nicely hidden by the flavors. I could easily imagine it in a hot chocolate or other festive drink during a colder month. However, that’s not how we’re trying it today. Instead, we’re having some fun and bringing back nostalgia with a root beer float. After making the float, I had to get past all the whipped cream in order to taste the actual drink. When I finally got there, I tasted the old-timey root beer the most. The moonshine gave a nice after taste of chocolate and coffee. I’ll admit, the coffee was the more pronounced flavor once you make the float. I think this makes a fantastic after-dinner drink that doubles as a sweet treat – especially if you’re feeling nostalgic.
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dark chocolate coff ee
Sugarlands Distilling Co. Dark Chocolate Coffee Sippin’ Cream and Dark Chocolate Root Beer Float. Find more recipes at Sugarlands.com. Photo by Denise DuBois www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
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his 70-proof is sweet and heat. “Instead of a cinnamon infused, aged whiskey flavor you’re going to taste a sweet, less spicy cinnamon candy profile,” the distillery boasts. Try it like this: Sugarsauce Ingredients 1.5 oz Tickle’s Dynamite Cinnamon Moonshine 1 oz Pineapple Juice 1 oz Apple Juice Instructions Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake well. Strain over a shot glass or martini glass. My take: I should know what to expect when someone calls an alcohol cinnamon flavored, but this was still a surprise. The spicy cinnamon immediately filled my mouth. I had to take a second sip just to get the true taste. Once I did, it was very good with its candy flavor. My taste buds held on to the sweetness while the rest of my body felt the burn. While this is not a moonshine I would sip on by itself, it is 70-proof after all, I would definitely add it to a cocktail. This one is called Sugarsauce, and I’ve saved it for last because I like the fruit juices that go along with it. This cocktail was everything I wanted it to be. It was cold, sweet, and refreshing. The fruit juices completely shielded me from the cinnamon that shocked my taste buds before. You can smell it as you bring the drink to your lips, but the spice is definitely gone. The instructions say to strain it, but I left the ice. I wanted to sit outside in the summer air and feel the condensation drip down the glass and cover my hand. That’s exactly how I intend to drink this moonshine going forward.
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tickle’s dynamite cinn amon moo nshine
Sugarlands Distilling Co. Tickle’s Dynamite Cinnamon Moonshine and Sugarsauce. Find more recipes at Sugarlands.com. Photo by Denise DuBois Summer 2022 | 93
2 | Summer 2022 www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
HIGH TECH
THE HUNT
HUNT
Tom Jackson has been hunting raccoons for 37 years. The way he hunts has changed over the years, adding GPS to his hunting dogs. He is pictured with his dogs Bill Collector and Psycho. Photo by Denise DuBois. www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
Summer 2022 | 95
“I’ll still be hunting raccoons until I can’t do it no more.” Story by Mark Clark Once there was a time when Tom Jackson followed his father into the woods during the evening hours with nothing more than a .22 rifle, a flashlight or lantern, and a couple of dogs. The reason? To hunt the evasive raccoon. But that was a long time ago. Times sure have changed. Now when Jackson prepares for his hunting trips into the woods to hunt raccoons, he still takes a .22 rifle and flashlights. But he also takes GPS systems on his dogs and himself, headlamps, snake boots, and a backpack. “We used to go out there and had to remember how to get back to the truck. Now, we just follow the GPS. We can watch the dogs as they hunt and tree a coon with the GPS. There’s a lot more technology today than when I started hunting with my father. Back then we hunted for food. It is now a hobby mostly, but I still eat coon meat. I love it. When I cook it, it is like roast beef,” Jackson said of the sport of raccoon hunting. Jackson has hunted raccoons in Russell, Lee, Macon, and Barbour counties in Alabama and a few in Georgia as well for the past 37 years. “I like to hunt raccoons. I picked it up from my father. I was the only one of his 14 children that did. None of my children like it. I’m the only one in my family that goes hunting for raccoons. I have a couple of friends that like to ‘coon hunt. And there are some families that enjoy going out with me once or twice a year. They like to hear the dogs,” Jackson said. Jackson has Walker Hounds. He had trained them, but said even if they are not trained, they have raccoon hunting in their bloodlines. They know how to run and tree raccoons. Jackson admits part of his enjoyment when it comes to a hunt is the howling of his dogs. He loves to hear the long howls as they set out to find the scent of the prey, and short barks when they catch the scent and start trailing the prey and the longer howls when the raccoon is treed. On a good night, Jackson said he and his dogs can kill two to three raccoons. He never tries to kill more than he can eat, unless he is hunting for extra meat to give friends who do not hunt but like to eat raccoon. The most he has shot on one night is seven. The biggest was around 25 pounds. “When I shot the big one, we did not use backpacks back then. We carried that rascal by hand. We took turns until we got him out of the woods and to the truck. Raccoons are smart animals. They can trick a dog sometimes. So it is not always easy to kill one,” Jackson said. Raccoons can also be mean animals when wounded. “You best shoot them between the eyes,” he said. If one is not killed, he can come out of the tree and attack you or your dogs. Jackson knows this is the truth. “I had one come straight at me. I had to get out of his way so that the dogs could get him. It was scary for a minute. They have those sharp razor like teeth and claws. They can do some damage to you and can cut a dog up,” Jackson said. Jackson said he had a friend that used to like to go hunting with him so that he could kick a ‘coon out of the tree just to watch the dogs fight him. I would rather shoot it and protect my dogs,” Jackson said. In Alabama – and in most other states – raccoon hunting is allowed year round and in both daylight and night hours on public and private lands. Jackson said he prefers to hunt at night. Raccoons after all are night creatures. Jackson prefers to hunt in the cooler months when snakes are not out. That is one less worry he had for his dogs, his hunting mates, and himself. “I really love the sport, but it is dying. Most people want to hunt deer. In 10 years or so, people will probably be hunting bear as they populate. I’ll still be hunting raccoons until I can’t do it no more,” Jackson said.
96 | Summer 2022 www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
Tom Jackson, a Russell County, Ala. native hunts raccoons with his dogs Psycho, Bill Collector, and Jody. He’s been hunting the animals for 37 years. Things have changed since he started. When Jackson prepares for his hunting trips into the woods, he still takes a .22 rifle and flashlights. But he also takes GPS systems on his dogs and himself, headlamps, snake boots, and a backpack. Pictured, he gets ready to let his dogs run. Jody is pictured far left. Photos by Denise DuBois. Bottom left: Psycho trees a raccoon. Photo by Katie Waldrep.
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Summer 2022 | 97
WAITING
FOR A BITE
Story by Toni Shah
Fishing has always been a favorite American pastime, but in the south, we take it to a whole ‘nother level. Heck, I’m sure we probably invented jug fishing. And while we didn’t invent the cricket and the worm, we sure as heck were probably first to use liver for catfish and even pieces of hot dog. When the fishing fever hits, a fisher will get creative. I’ve even used a piece of biscuit dough or cheese. One time, I resorted to chasing down grasshoppers. When I was a kid, I spent every waking moment I could on the water, cane pole in hand. I didn’t own a reel back then. I’d have a cricket cage full of crickets or a tub of worms. Sometimes I’d even have both, just in case the fish weren’t in the mood for one of them. I always felt guilty for hooking crickets, and maybe a little guilty about the worms, but I wanted to catch fish, and that’s what the fish wanted. One time, I came home with a string of more than 20 bream. After my parents made me gut, descale, and filet every fish by myself, I found the wisdom of catch and release. I wasn’t catching fish because I wanted to eat them. I just loved the thrill of the hunt. There’s nothing like seeing that bobber jerk up and down in the water and the feel of the fish fighting for all its worth. When you get the fish on the bank, you feel a sense of accomplishment. Now that I’m older, I own a few rods and reels and a tackle box. My dream has always been to own a bass boat, but for now, I’m stuck on the bank, and that’s a right fine place to be if you know where to go and the fish are biting. For me, nothing beats sitting on a bank under a shady tree in late spring with my bobber in the water, waiting for a bite. Fishing fever has even caused me some trouble. One summer when I was a teenager, I got invited to go to a lake in a neighboring state. I told my uncle I couldn’t do a job for him because I had to work at the grocery store where I was a cashier. Once at the lake, I cast a purple plastic worm underneath a hanging branch, not really expecting anything to happen. That large-mouth bass must have been starving. The next thing I know, I’m in a huge fight with the biggest fish I’d ever hooked. It finally managed to yank that fish out of the water. It landed on the bank, flopping around, and I had to step on it to keep it from escaping. I triumphantly hoisted up the eight-pound fish into the air, and that would have been all well and good except for what happened next. A bunch of guys at the park, who I didn’t even know, saw the fish and got excited. They gathered around me and suddenly I was being lifted up into the back of a white pickup truck. Next thing I know, I was standing in the back of this truck, holding my fish up to show everyone as we drove around the lake, grinning like an idiot. Lies always catch up, eventually. Well, mine caught up to me quick when I saw my uncle sitting at one of the picnic tables, staring up at me. He had no idea that I would be there. It still boggles my mind that he was there at that lake, which was in another state about 60 miles away by coincidence. I guess God thought it was time for me to learn my lesson. My uncle let me have my moment, but I was grounded when I got home. But hey, that fish was worth it!
98 | Summer 2022 www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
“Some go to church and think about fishing; others go fishing and think about God.” - Tony Blake www.MagnoliaandMoonshine.com
Summer 2022 | 99
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Enjoying the evening calm on the lake. Photo by Katie Waldrep
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