SEAN OF THE SOUTH

AAt a weathered lakeside picnic table opposite Sean Dietrich at Lake Martin, I wondered what I could possibly learn about him that he hasn’t already told you. His Sean of the South blog is followed daily by many thousands of online readers, and he is published in newspapers across the Southeast. On any given week, he crisscrosses the country, weaving Southern Rockwellian stories of a modern day Mark Twain childhood gone terribly awry, and his books belie a wisdom far beyond the years of those who read him.

And yet, we cannot stop reading because Sean Dietrich makes us chuckle. He makes us wipe tears from our eyes and press hands to our hearts. He makes us nod in agreement, shake our heads in shared shame and laugh with abandon. And he does it on purpose. He told me so that second day of spring as we sat in the sunshine below Wind Creek State Park’s iconic silo. Sean has been visiting Lake Martin with his wife, Jamie, since they married 19 years ago, or shortly after the Spanish-American War, if you read the blog he posted about the true nature of marriage the day after I interviewed him. Jamie grew up in Brewton, Alabama, and they came here often from their former home in Florida. “We used to come to avoid spring break,” Sean said, and since Jamie and he moved to Birmingham in March, he expects they’ll come more often now. “I’ll have to learn freshwater fishing. It’s a different world than what I’m used to.” z

The lake has changed a lot since his younger days, he said. “There’s been an explosion of campers here,” said Sean, who has renovated three AirStreams, including a 1961 Shasta and a 1953 Yellowstone. “When I played in a band, I just spent time camping after playing. That has been a big part of my life. My writing career started out of that margin of camping days.” It’s a writing career that includes fiction and non-fiction books, as well as newspaper syndication – his childhood writing dream come true. He’s written some 4,000 blog posts about the extraordinariness of life, like his March 1 post about finding his book on display at a store where he once applied for a job and was soundly rejected. He cried then, and readers cried with him. He writes passionately about veterans and young soldiers, like the recruit he saw at a busy airport March 2, stoically bidding his mother goodbye on the sidewalk. Later at the gate, he saw that mother’s baby boy, the stoicism replaced by tears. Sean thanked the soldier for his service. And we cried when we read it. “Are you trying to make us cry on purpose?” I asked this writer whose childhood hero was the legendary humorist Lewis Grizzard. “I’m trying to make people feel good, whether that’s crying or laughter. The misnomer is that crying is painful. It’s really good. It’s a release.” SEAN of the SOUTHz zz

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

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Storyteller and popular syndicated newspaper columnist Sean Dietrich has been escaping to Lake Martin since childhood LAKE 57

Sean’s works make no secret of his tears. He tells his own heart wrenching story through his column, beginning with discovering his passion for writing stories. “When I was in fourth grade, my teacher read Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows to the class. It’s a story about hounds, and I realized I wanted to write like that. I had a Lettera 32 typewriter that my mother gave me. I still have it. You can’t backspace and erase with it. You can’t copy and paste. You have to think linearly,” he explained. “I started writing fiction stories on that typewriter.”

Despite his love affair with the written word, Sean failed the fifth grade.

“My teacher did not think I was very sharp. They put me in remedial classes with only three other kids, and we were regarded as stupid. I thought I was stupid in fifth grade. My mom fought to get me in the sixth grade at another school, and they accepted me, based on the stories I’d written. I passed with all ‘A’s and ‘B’s.”

And then, his world imploded. When Sean was in the seventh grade, his father killed himself. Sean dropped out of school, and as if it were a person, suicide walked with him through the subsequent years.

“That most defining character of my life has to be addressed. My father was a suicide label, which made me a suicide label, and I lived under that shadow for many years like a sore that festers,” he confessed, as he often does in his daily blogs. “I think it’s important to probe the wounds, not in a malicious way or a self-harming way, but with a medicinal method. Talking helps me. It changes how it affects me.

“In my writing career, I’ve met hundreds – probably thousands – of suicide survivors. Whether it’s self-engineered or thrust upon me from on High, maybe that’s what I was put here to do.”

Sean, his mother and sister moved to the Florida panhandle after his father’s death. There, he visited the library three or four times a week. The librarians knew him by name, and he read

whatever they brought him in an effort to supplement the education he was missing. “I read books to force myself to stretch. I read newspapers. I love newspapers,” he chuckled. “A newspaperman is like a jazz musician. He plays on the fly. The newspaperman doesn’t have time to painstakingly edit. I like that news writers don’t have the luxury of writers’ block. I’m a blue collar guy; I appreciate the work ethic.” One of the librarians he wrote about in his March 23 blog post slipped E.B. White’s Practical Elements of Style into Sean’s weekly library stack of books. After reading it, he started writing stories again, putting into practice White’s principles. “In my late 20s, my wife – who has three degrees and probably could have worked for the z CIA – convinced me to go to community college – which I loved. I got to read whatever I wanted, and I got to write all the time. When I graduated from Northwest Florida State, I started writing. For the first time, it was well received,” he said. “I don’t want to waste my time writing something that doesn’t have heart. “What I admired about newspapermen of old was their Spartan use of words. It’s an art form. After doing this column now for 10 years, mostly every day, I’ve learned what isn’t necessary for the story. The flipside of that is I also write long-form books, but my brain is trained to stop at 800 words. I have to force myself to keep writing. That’s not natural for me, but I know my role. It’s to try to make people feel good, lighter, better. If I’ve done that, I could die in peace.” If he could have dinner with any three people dead or alive, Sean Dietrich would pass up the famous and acclaimed to invite the man on the street corner forecasting the end of the world. “I’ll bet he’s got stories to tell, and the musician in a beer joint that has the talent but the magic just didn’t strike. The old lady who opens up the bedroom in back for the down-on-his-luck passerby, and she’s housed hundreds of them.” Growing up fearful of everything from spiders and snakes to drinking water, he would tell his younger self to lighten up, relax. “Just be who you always are.” His best writing is for and about people who are riddled with self-doubt, struggling to find life’s answers. “We’re finding out together, and I love it,” he said. “I’ve been all over the nation, speaking and writing about it. I see the world better in narrative form. I’m learning to choose happiness.” That just might be the most important thing there is to know about Sean Dietrich, or anyone else. Read Sean of the South at seandietrich.com, and find his books at your local neighborhood bookstore.

Sean started writing in the fourth grade

58 LAKE MAY 2022 z

White Clover

If you have a lawn, chances are good you have White Clover growing among your grass blades … even though that plant is not supposed to be on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. One of the most common lawn weeds in North America, White Clover is native to Central Asia and Europe, including Great Britain. But because it is such a good forage crop for livestock, this clover has been introduced across most of the world and is now common in temperate I climates in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan, as well as North America. European colonists brought it to North America, where it became known by Native Americans as “white man’s foot-grass” because it seemed to appear wherever colonists settled. White Clover is known by the scientific name Trifolium repens, and it is well named. In Latin, Trifolium means “three leaf” and repens means “creeping.” If you’ve ever tried to pull this threeleaf clover from your lawn, you already know that where you find one batch of clover, you’ll find another – and another – attached by stems or stolons running along the soil’s surface. Every so often, the stolons have joints or nodes where this plant can produce roots to draw nutrients from the soil or stems with leaflets, which produce energy through photosynthesis. Often, White Clover will form dense mats, crowding out most other plants. White Clover is a short, green plant with three smooth, oval leaflets on the end of a central stem. Each three-leaf stem is also called a shamrock. Very rarely, White Clover will produce four leaflets rather than three. Irish tradition says a four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck, with the four leaflets representing faith, hope, love and luck. Tradition holds that there are more four-leaf clovers found in Ireland than anywhere else, which may be where the phrase “the luck of the Irish” originated. Most White Clover leaflets have a white, rounded band crossing near the leaflet’s mid point. White Clover flower heads are made up of 40-80 individual white or sometimes light pink flowers or florets. The flower heads measure 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches

Clover blossoms are made up of 40 to 80 individual flowers

NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

A four-leaf clover is said to represent faith, hope, love and luck

across.

This is a plant that grows best in a temperature range of 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are a number of subspecies and cultivars of White Clover. Generally, the name Dutch Clover is used for smaller and medium sized clovers while Ladino Clover is used for larger varieties.

White Clover is a member of the legume family, like most beans and peas, and like other members of this plant family, it fixes nitrogen in the soil. This allows the clover to make its own fertilizer and survive in places where many other plants cannot. It also serves to make soils more fertile, which makes it a good cover crop for gardeners and farmers who want to add “green manure” to their soils. Bees are also very attracted to White Clover flowers and use the nectar to make highly prized clover honey.

The stems, leaves, flowers and seeds of White Clover are edible and have a mild, slightly sweet taste. Clover is more

Interesting Facts digestible for humans after it is cooked,

About White Clover though you can eat this plant raw. n There are roughly 5,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover. n If you do spot a four-leaf clover, look nearby. Any clover plant that produces four leaves is more likely to do so again on other stems. n Sometimes, a fourth leaflet will be a different shade of green or smaller than the other three leaflets. n It is said that if you find a four-leaf clover and give it away, you will double your good luck. n Irish Druids believed that they could see evil spirits if they carried a shamrock (three-leafed clover). n Children in Britain in the Middle Ages believed that if they carried a four-leaf clover, they would be able to see fairies. n The record for collecting four-leaf clovers is held by American Katie Bora, who found 166 in an hour on June 23, 2018. n SpaceX includes an embroidered patch of a four-leaf clover on each space mission for luck. n St. Patrick used the three leaflets of a shamrock to explain the concept of the three-in-one Holy Trinity to the Irish. White Clover contains a number of healthy vitamins including A, B2, B3, C and E, as well as magnesium, calcium, chromium and potassium. There are many ways to consume White Clover. Its leaves and flowers are brewed into a tisane or the leaves can be added to a salad or used as a garnish. This clover can be cooked with other vegetables. Flowers and seeds can be dried and ground to make a gluten-free flour. Dried White Clover flowers have even been smoked as an alternate to tobacco. Through the years, White Clover has also been used as an herbal remedy for fever, coughs, nausea and dizziness. Although modern herbalists say White Clover can have a blood-thinning effect, it is considered safe to consume in moderation. It can also be used to treat wounds, sores and burns

White clover flowers contain a variety of healthful vitamins and minerals

when applied to the skin. Some of the cultures that used White Clover as a medicine include the Turks, Indians and Native Americans.

Cattle farmers consider White Clover mixed with grass one of the best feeds available for their herds. Where cattle consume White Clover, ranchers see improved milk production, improved conception rates and generally healthier animals. To add White Clover to a pasture, it’s best to mow the existing grass, then lightly disk the field and sow clover seed at a rate of 3 to 4 pounds per acre.

White Clover is also extensively planted in food plots to attract whitetail deer.

Some information for this article came from Clemson University, The University of Florida, Better Homes and Gardens and eattheplanet.org.

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Lots of lights

Bold and brassy

New design trends coming

Summer is not the only warming up activity to prepare for this spring. A new wave of color is blossoming. From red red to azure blue, color is back and is intensifying.

That is the newest information about lifestyle changes related to design that I experienced in person at some of the biggest professional trade shows in the U.S and Europe over the last sixplus months, shows like the ADAC in Atlanta, Georgia; the High Point Market in North Carolina; the International Builder’s Show in conjunction with the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando; and the international experience of Maison & Objet in Paris, France.

After all the disruptions to livelihoods and lifestyles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the shifts in design could add refreshing hues and much needed warmth from cars to cups. Realizations of how blah and overwhelming a house full of grey, white and other neutrals can feel after not leaving home daily during waking hours already has design savvy consumers running for color.

Although, many of these changes will not be seen in the United States for a few years yet, one can live vicariously through magazines for now. It will be exciting to see how the circular effects of design trends will pair with new and emerging design styles, as these items are implemented by forward thinking interior designers.

In the meantime, past forecasts that are now trending in professional trade shows and designcentric communities include the usual revamping of colors and materials with new methods of manufacturing technology. But there are a few fresh takes that give pause and consider the longevity of appeal.

Drapes and window coverings are back in a big way with new textures and patterns. Apparently, those bare windows were not as appealing when everyone was home. The fabulous new fabrics and trims are just as important as the protective advantages and spatial complements: n Single layers of well-made sheers and shades (simple or with added shimmer, embroidery and detail). n Lightweight drapes and sheers combinations allow for the same lofty feeling of bare windows while providing privacy. n Blackout drapes and shades are not as popular yet, but there is always a need for one or both as a part of any sleeping area window covering installation.

Customization is huge right now, and manufacturers are as ready for change as are consumers. From appliances to wallcoverings, this shift shows great promise for a near future where preferences for custom over generic installations of everyday equipment and materials will overtake safe copycat behavior. n Every moderate to high-end appliance manufacturer is offering custom combinations. Color/finish options, highly unique panel kits and pro-cooking brands are taking it up a notch by promoting modules to combine gas and induction cooktop options. n Bathrooms with custom tile work or new concepts in panel systems will make those cheap fiberglass options obsolete. Those terribly ugly dams for shower pans are losing ground, as people opt for seamless and easy to maintain zeroclearance entries in so many design/color options it makes the head spin. n Wallcoverings and wallpapers are

LAKE PROPERTY not going away. They are getting

BY STEPHANIE COLEY more unique, customized and easy to maintain – indoors, on ceilings, and outdoors. n Furniture is following the same path with options galore, yet still mimicking eras gone by. Watch for ’70s vibes being added to the mix of design rebirths.

Integrated technology will continue to grow in popularity, which makes all the sense in the world as society moves nearer to the center point of a high-tech century.

Tech is becoming increasingly hidden in plain sight – materials and tech are overlapping. Larger numbers of kitchens and automated appliances are linked to electronic devices; TV screens are set in picture frames; speakers can hide behind drywall and fit into accessories; HVAC vents can be hidden in bookshelves, etc.

Indoor/outdoor blurred lines will continue in large homes, entertainment/food venues and will show a marked increase and include smaller homes, schools, workplaces and frequented places as doors and windows change shape and expand in function. Even garages are performing quadruple duty.

Laundry and specialty rooms – the same goes for these spaces. The laundry is larger with wildly advanced technology and more than one job – add built-in steamers, specialty equipment and delivery access. As for the wine room, humidors, olive oils, cheeses, cured meats, and beer have moved in. Finish materials are taking on more than one purpose as tile continues its shift into more of a feature on larger vertical surfaces, as cladding and decoration and wallcoverings are moving into wet areas. Even typical baseboards, crown and other moldings are taking on new jobs as lighting, clean air and security elements.

Finally, the emerging trends. It will be interesting to see how far they go and how long they last. n Lighting installations – Every single market and show home had a version of lighting installation as a point of interest in the ceilings. Instead of having one chandelier with recessed or trough lighting, the ceilings were set aglow by multiple pendants or chandelier groupings. Some were very cool; some overwhelming and others, distracting. n Secondary kitchens and pantries on steroids – The homes and manufacturer vignettes were full of doubled kitchens, appliances with new names and suggested purposes. And outdoor kitchens were massive. n Exterior cladding, entry doors and outdoor areas are changing in style, texture and technology. n External rooms and buildings are increasing in number and purposes – not just for guests or in-laws but also for work, exercise, delivery and more.

There is so much on the horizon that a single article cannot do it justice. We are not emerging from a pandemic; we are on the verge of massive changes in lifestyle. The sea of life is moving away from the sameness of the copycat world and creating unique yet staid waves at every income level.

Think about it. Will you float or ride the wave?

Stephanie Coley is a certified design and construction professional with more than 22 years of multi-discipline experience. Follow her on Instagram @scenariodesigninc or email her at ssimon@sceanarchdesign.com.

Buoy volunteers essential

Through Lake Martin Resource Association, Lake Martin is blessed with one of the Southeast’s premier hazard buoy programs, and other lake communities consider the LMRA program one to emulate. The placement and management of hazard buoys is a primary initiative program of the LMRA Boating Safety Program. The authority to place and manage hazard buoys was granted by the Alabama Marine Patrol. ‘Slow No Wake’ and ‘Keep Out’ buoys, which are classified as private buoys, must be authorized by the Marine Patrol and are installed and maintained by LMRA.

The hazard buoy program had its humble beginnings in the mid 1990s. Originally, the program utilized Russell Lands employees and was facilitated by Mr. Ben Russell. As more homeowners and visitors were attracted to Lake Martin, boating safety became an essential focus. Underwater hazards were dangerous and needed to be marked.

As the number of hazards identified increased, it was clear a program needed to be created to address the issue. LMRA was the organization that could handle the responsibility of identifying and marking the hazards. The LMRA Board of Directors accepted the challenge, and a board member volunteered to gather some friends to assist in the effort. This group used their personal boats to locate hazards and install buoys.

Around 2007, LMRA received the donation of its first workboat. It was an old pontoon boat that probably burned as much oil as gas, but it was better than using private boats.

LMRA purchased a used pontoon boat in 2012. This workboat was larger and provided greater weight capacity for buoys, anchors and supplies. We needed this capacity because each buoy weighs approximately 70 pounds, and each anchor is 110 pounds. We normally carry six to 10 anchors and 10 buoys on each trip. The boat was modified to include a bow work deck, electric winch, buoy storage and a GPS/navigation system.

From these humble beginnings, LMRA now manages more than 320 hazard buoys and more than 125 Slow No Wake/Boaters Keep Out buoys. We have a warehouse for buoys and supplies, an inventory replenishment and reorder process, buoy activity/target forms, trip logging system and hazard buoy GPS location exports from the navigation system to a map app located at LMRA.info.

But the need existed for more, so in 2016, LMRA initiated a new project called Light up Lake Martin to increase the number of lighted hazard buoys in high traffic areas on

Lake Martin. We’re now up to 90 lighted hazard buoys and add more each year. The LMRA buoy maintenance team is a hard-working group of volunteers. They contributed more than 420 hours in 2021. Teams make buoy trips multiple times per month, except during winter pool. Additional volunteer activities include sourcing anchor buckets, pouring concrete anchors, warehousing, purchasing, inventory control and moving supplies from the warehouse to the workboat. The GPS coordinates for all hazard buoys are recorded on the GPS/NAV device, which makes it easier to locate and replace missing or damaged buoys to within a few feet of the original location. If you notice a missing or adrift buoy, please contact us at LMRA.info or call 256-212-1422. The website also includes a Buoy Guidelines document, which provides great detail on the types of buoys, placement and proximity considerations. LMRA BY RANDY KIRKLAND Finally, LMRA is an active, member-supported nonprofit organization. All funding is derived from membership dues and donations. Our buoy program consumes 65 percent of the LMRA annual budget, so we’re always looking for new members and/or donations. We’re very proud of our buoy program and believe it is essential in promoting boating safety on beautiful Lake Martin.

Randy Kirkland chairs the LMRA Boating Safety program and serves on the organization's board of directors. Learn more at LMRA.info.

Mroe than 25 buoy team volunteers help to keep the lake safe for boaters

Strawberry Salad

1 head romaine lettuce, cut or torn into bite size pieces 10-ounce package shredded cabbage 1-1/2 cups golden raisins 1 cup red grapes, halved 1 pint strawberries, sliced 1/2 red onion, sliced 1 12-ounce bottle creamy poppy seed dressing 1 2.25-ounce bag pine nuts 1 2.25-ounce bag sliced almonds

Mix the lettuce, cabbage, raisins, grapes, strawberries and onion together in a large bowl. Add dressing slowly, tossing to coat. Top with pine nuts and almonds to serve.

Cashew-Chicken Rotini Salad

1 16-ounce package spiral or rotini pasta 4 cups cubed chicken 1 20-ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained 1-1/2 cups sliced celery 3/4 cup thinly sliced green onion 1 cup seedless red grapes 1 cup seedless green grapes 1 5-ounce package dried cranberries 1 cup ranch dressing 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 cups salted cashews

Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large bowl, combine chicken, pineapple, celery, onions, grapes and cranberries. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; stir into chicken mixture. In a small bowl, whisk the ranch salad dressing with the mayonnaise. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. Just before serving, stir in cashews.

Good for You

Grapes

Grapes are the third most popular fruit in America behind strawberries and bananas. Grapes are easy. Grapes taste sweet, travel well, are convenient for portable snacks, are fun to eat, pair well with other fruits and cheeses and add color and taste to salads. They require no utensils, look great and hold up nicely on charcuterie boards. Grapes come in several colors, from green to red, black, yellow and pink. Nutritionally, grapes rank high due to their nutrient and antioxidant content.

Like any fruit, grapes are healthy when eaten in moderation. Their high natural sugar content adds up when eaten by the handful, which is why I recommend sticking to one serving of grapes, about 16 or roughly 1/2 cup. It is helpful to portion out a serving into a plastic snacksize bag to better keep track of intake.

Grapes are packed with nutrients and are low in calories, averaging around 50 calories per serving. They are high in copper, potassium and Vitamin K and provide a good source of B vitamins, like thiamine and riboflavin, which are needed for growth and development, as well as Vitamin B6, which is important for metabolism.

Good for the brain, grapes improve memory and cognitive function. The antioxidants in grapes help to decrease oxidative stress in the brain and protect the brain from memory loss due to ageing. Grapes increase blood flow to the brain, which improves daily focus. Studies have shown that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes, decreases the risk of Alzheimer’s by reducing inflammation in the brain, as well as improving learning, memory and mood.

Grapes reduce inflammation in the body, too. Inflammation is a precursor to many conditions, particularly cancer, heart disease, asthma, Type 2 Diabetes and Rheumatoid arthritis. Antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin K, polyphenols, catechins and anthocyanins all help reduce inflammation, and they are found abundantly in grapes. Red grapes are known to be rich in the antioxidant resveratrol, which protects against oxidative stress and inflammation.

Grapes also help to improve blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk of the two leading causes of death in America: heart disease and stroke. The good news is that high blood pressure can be treated.

Incorporating grapes as a snack can help improve blood pressure because this fruit is high in potassium and low in sodium. Grapes can be a safe snack for people with diabetes when eaten in moderation.

Managing blood sugar levels over time is important for decreasing the risk for diabetes and preventing diabetic complications. While grapes are high in sugar, they have a low to moderate glycemic index (a measure of how fast a food will raise your blood sugar), which makes them safe to eat in moderation for diabetics. Resveratrol in grapes may protect against high blood sugar.

Grapes could even help you get better sleep. They contain a natural source of melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin is found mainly in grape skin, explaining why it is also present in products like grape juice and wine. Try snacking on one serving of grapes a few hours before bedtime.

The immune system also gets a boost from grapes. A strong immune system will help fight off illness.

A drawback to overeating grapes is that is can sometimes cause stomach ache. Fructose is a natural sugar found in fruit, and when eaten in large amounts, it can cause gas. Tannins, which are naturally occurring polyphenols found in the skins and seeds of grapes, can also contribute to diarrhea and nausea when eaten in large amounts. To reap the health benefits of grapes, use the rule of eating in modera-

tion or one serving (16 grapes or 1/2 cup). Keeping in mind all these amazing health benefits that grapes offer, anyone could benefit from incorporating grapes into a heathy diet. As the summer season kicks off, look for ways to incorporate them into snacks while hiking, biking, picnicking, spending days at the lake and pool and going to outdoor concerts. Grapes can be eaten alone anytime of the HEALTHY LIVING day or blend them with spinach, cucumber,

BY JULIE HUDSON banana, kale and mint for a nutrient rich smoothie. Grapes are delicious on top of yogurt, along with crushed nuts and a drizzle of honey. Frozen grapes are a refreshing and delicious summer treat. Toss grapes into green salads or chicken salads. Pair grapes with other fruits for dessert or a side dish. A simple hors d’oeuvre could be made by skewering a grape with a chunk of cheese and sprig of mint. Grapes are a nice addition to all-time favorite broccoli salad recipes, too. Julie Hudson is a certified dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.

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Orange-Plum Torte Pie Dough Ingredients 3-3/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 2-1/8 cups butter 1 cup ice water

Pie Dough Directions

Mix and sift flour, sugar and salt together. Cut in butter until pea-sized. Then, add the ice water close to the inside edges and blend together by hand. Form dough into a rectangle and cut into four relatively equal pieces. Form each dough section into a disk and refrigerate overnight.

Orange-Plum Filling Ingredients

4 plums cut into slices 3 oranges, peeled and cut into segments 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon orange juice 2 teaspoons orange zest 2 teaspoons flour for thickening

Orange-Plum Filling Directions

Add filling ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir to coat fruit slices and sections.

CHEF'S TABLE

BY PETE MCKENNY

Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes four-star resorts in Ohio, Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returning to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club 12 years ago.

Plum Coulis Ingredients

5 plums, peeled and pit removed 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup water

Coulis Directions

Boil ingredients together for five minutes or until sauce is thick.

To Assemble

Roll each dough section into a 6- to 8-inch circle. Place the plum and orange filling in a circular pattern inside each circle with a 1/2-inch border. Roll up the border, crossing each folded edge over the previous fold. Pinch each fold to seal. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Top each torte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle ice cream and shell edges with coulis.

Go Soft

Before choosing a bait or location, it’s important to understand just exactly what the fish are up to this time of year. The month of May is a period of transition for the bass, so it’s not uncommon to encounter different groups of fish that are in all phases related to the spawn. In this region of the country, the bulk of the fish have already finished laying eggs. There are always a few that will be late, but finding a pair of bass in the act of spawning will be an exception this far into the spring. It’s especially rare as we move later into the month.

Although most of the fish have completed the spawning ritual, many don’t immediately take off to deeper water. The surface temperatures will be in the upper 60s to 70s. That’s still plenty comfortable for a bass, especially a largemouth bass. Male bass will stay close to the nests and guard their fry from minnows, bream etc. The females generally hang around in the area for a while as they recoup from the rigors of the spawn.

There are a couple of factors at play to provide food for the bass in these shallow areas. First, the shad often spawn at night and in early morning hours. This presents an easy opportunity for the bass to feed up and rebuild some body mass lost during the spawn. Second, the bream begin spawning just as the bass finish up. The bream have pestered bass nests for a few weeks, and now is the time that the bass get to turn the tide.

To take advantage of the shallow, early post-spawn bite, weightless plastics are a great option to consider. ‘Weightless’ simply means not using a lead or tungsten weight to sink the soft plastic bait to the bottom. Weightless soft plastics can be fished super shallow and capitalize on the fish’s preference to look up this time of year. Shad have spawned on or near the surface, and the bass fry typically suspend in a tight group throughout the day. Even the bream come to the top often because small insects hatch and land on the water surface.

For the purpose of this article, assume that most of the action takes place in the upper part of the water column. That’s where you want your bait – on or near the top.

A Lake Martin staple is the floating worm. It was one of my favorite baits growing up and still tricks plenty of nice bass this time of year. The worm most commonly used is a trick worm, but I use a Netbait T-Mac that’s essentially the same style. They don’t actually float, but simply suspend just below the surface and can be twitched to get side-to-side action that triggers the bite. Natural colors, like watermelon red, green pumpkin and black are great, but the extra bright colors work well, too. White, yellow and bright orange can all be very good, and they are fun to fish because you can watch the bait visibly as it’s worked. Sometimes, you’ll even see the bass come up behind the bait as they engulf it.

Rig the floating worm weedless with a 4/0 to 5/0 hook, as with rigging a Texas rigged worm but without the bullet weight. A 10- to 12-pound line is a good choice to get a good cast, good action and still have enough strength to deal with a fish around sparse cover.

I prefer a 6- to 10-foot Seaguar Tatsu leader attached to a 20-pound Seaguar Smackdown (braid) mainline. I still like to fish it on a spinning rod for casting distance and to be able to skip under bushes, docks, etc. One final tip: To get the bait to run a little deeper or to be able to fish it faster, rig a barrel swivel about 8 inches in front of the hook. This also helps with line twist from casting BIG CATCHES and working the bait. BY GREG VINSON Soft plastic jerkbaits are another great choice. The principal is very much the same as with the floating worm, but flukes and other soft jerkbaits have deeper bodies and more aggressive action. This can be good as the water warms and the activity levels of the bass heat up. Flukes or the Netbait Twitch bait are great shad and/or bream imitators. Try natural shad-like colors or just plain white when mimicking shad that get around bushes, docks, laydowns and seawalls in the morning. As the sun gets higher, look for areas of shade to keep the bite going. The soft jerkbaits resemble bream as well. Just change up the color choices to something green pumpkin, watermelon red or similar. Rig these baits on a wide gap hook to compensate for the extra bulk of the bait body. Since the bait has a little more weight due to the thicker body, it can be fished more easily on a baitcasting setup and heavier line. I prefer 15-pound Seaguar Tatsu line. A third weightless rig that can be very effective is the wacky rig. The most common bait used for this technique is a Senko, named after the first one designed by Yamamoto baits. It’s a heavier plastic formula, and the bait has a wiggle on the initial fall. I use a Netbait Salt Lick that’s similar. With the wacky rig, the hook is run through the middle of the bait and is exposed. Using a rubber O-ring could help the bait last longer and keep an angler from slinging it off midcast, especially when skipping it. The weight of the plastic is enough to keep it just below the surface, and each end of the worm will pulse with the slightest amount of rod tip action. It’s hard to say just exactly what the fish think it is. But one thing’s for sure, a wacky rig is an incredible way to catch bass when they are shallow. Possibly, that’s because you get a lot of action from the bait without having to move it very far forward. This allows it to stay in the strike zone or the face of the fish for a maximum amount of time while remaining suspended in the water column. Like floating worms, I prefer spinning gear for the wacky worms. Similar line setup too, but a 1/0 round bend worm hook since the hook is exposed. Try using these weightless techniques the next time out on the lake. They are very easy, very effective and very fun to fish, even for kids. Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

Jaybird Landing

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

Jacksons Gap

49

Bethel Church

57

Pleasant Ridge Church

16

Lake Martin Baptist Church

Red Ridge United Methodist Church

28

49

Church of the Living Waters Stillwaters

8 9 6

17

Walnut Hill

27

Lake Pointe Baptist Church

26

49 Horseshoe Bend National Park

Lake Martin Alabama

21

Dadeville

280

25

Camp Hill

50

Marinas

1. Kowaliga Marina1 256-397-1210 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. The Ridge Marina2 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

3. River North Marina3 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors4 256-397-1700 19 Russell Marine Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. Real Island Marina5 256-397-1200 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

3. Blue Creek Marina6 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

2. Parker Creek Marina 7 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026

3. Harbor Pointe Marina8 256-825-0600 397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net

2. Lakeside Marina 9 256-825-9286 7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines10 256-825-0999 3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861

2. Alex City Marine11 256-215-FISH(3474) 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Smith Marina - Shipwreck Sam's Froyo12 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com

Restaurants & Venues

6. SpringHouse 13 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 6. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

14

Kowaliga Restaurant15 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Lake Martin Pizza16 256-373-3337 5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853

The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill17 256-307-1887 8605 AL HWY 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

Business & Shopping

Lake Martin Storm Shelters18 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City)19 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

20

21

22

23

. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort24 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 . Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 Hwy. 280, Dadeville, AL 36853 . Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717 8421 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

25

26

Churches

Lake Pointe Baptist Church27 256-373-3293 8352 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820 8091 County Rd. 34, Dadeville, AL 36853

28

Dock Builders

29

Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

ALEXANDER CITY

Robinson Iron A & M Plumbing Carlos The Body Shop Walgreens Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Jake's Moore Wealth Management Carlisle's Emporium Wine Cloud Nine Downtown Girl Shay Aesthetics JR'S Hillabee Towers Senior Nutrition Center Noel Boone George Hardy First Realty Dark Insurance Warren Appliance MainStreet Family Care Grace's Flowers Koon's Korner Larry's General Merchandise Daylight Donuts Alfa Valley Bank - 280 Pricare Temple Medical AllState BB&T Bank Hometown Pharmacy Lake Martin Home Health Allen's Food Mart (Exxon) Karen Channell - State Farm Insurance North Lake Condo River Bend Store River North Marina Lake Martin Building Supply Petro Sho'Nuff BBQ Hair Design Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Longleaf Antique Mall Playhouse Cinemas Chamber of Commerce Winn Dixie Re/Max Around the Lake City Hall A&E Metal Regions Bank Marathon - 280 Renfroe's Market Russell Medical Center Russell Marine Boating and Outdoors Koon's II Tallapoosa Ford Dylan Johnson - Country Financial Holley's Home Furniture Jackson's Drugs Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark The Sure Shot Shell - 280 Big B Bar-B-Que Russell Do It Center Russell Home Decor Holman Floor Satterfield Inc. Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars Tippy Canoe Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office Wind Creek Gate Wind Creek Store Willow Point Office Willow Point Country Club Smith Marina on Lake Martin Nails Kowaliga Marina Kowaliga Restaurant Children's Harbor Catherine's Market Russell Lands Corporate Office Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center Springhouse Restaurant Ridge Club Ridge Marina

HACKNEYVILLE

Hackneyville Water Authority

NEW SITE

Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland

DADEVILLE

Chamber of Commerce Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery Root 49 Salon Ellaby Boutique, LLC Alabama Power Siggers Siggers Barbershop Fusion Cafe Dadeville Library At the Beauty Shop Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's Tallapoosa Nutrition Sweet Pickins Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Farmers & Merchants Bank Jim's Pharmacy Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Association Russell Lands Realty Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Aronov Realty Lake Martin Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffers Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Chuck's Marina Deep Water Docks Lake Martin Pizza

CAMP HILL

Link Gas Station

EQUALITY

Five Star Plantation Equality Food Mart Southern Star Parker Creek Marina Charles Borden

ECLECTIC

Lake Breeze Realty Offshore Marina Lake Martin Mini Mall Corner Stone Coffee Co. Lake Martin Dock Company Cotton's Alabama Barbecue Russell Do It Center Johnson Furniture WOW Catering LLC Eclectic Library Real Island Marina Anchor Bay Marina Wetumpka Wetumpka Herald Office Tallassee Marathon Tallassee Eagle Tallassee Chamber Parris Mullins Jr. O.D.

Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

Alex City Guide Service............................................. 8

Alex City Marine.......................................................... 6

Angela VanHouten......................................................33

Artic Air .......................................................................12

As Close As Family....................................................70

AVSP..............................................................................34

Blue Creek Iron Works ............................................79

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation .........................................8

Buy the Yard ................................................................70

Childersburg Primary Care .....................................65

Chuck's Marina...........................................................66

Coach Kraft Upholstery...........................................79

Custom Docks............................................................16

Davco............................................................................79

Diamond Golf Cars...................................................54

Docks Unlimited .......................................................... 5

Electronic Technology Group..................................79

George Hardy D.M.D.................................................. 8

Go Pro Wildlife...........................................................69

Harbor Pointe Marina...............................................66 Henderson Glass........................................................79

Heritage South Credit Union .................................81

Hinson Galleries.........................................................39

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage ..............79

Hughes Pools ..............................................................12

Karen Channell State Farm .....................................79

Kowaliga Whole Health............................................79

Lake Martin Dock......................................................15

Lake Martin Mortgage...............................................71

Lake Martin Pressure Washing................................65

Lake Martin Realty.....................................................51

Lake Martin Signature Construction.....................59

Lake Martin Storm Shelters ....................................39

Lamberth & Lamberth ..............................................66

Main Street Alexander City.....................................11

Mark King's Furniture ...............................................17

Moore Wealth Management ....................................83

National Village ...........................................................55

Odd Jobs ......................................................................78

Off the Beaton Path .................................................... 8 Prime Management...................................................... 6

Reinhardt Lexus .........................................................13

Renaissance Electronics.............................................. 5

Russell Lands..................................................42, 43, 84

Russell Marine............................................................... 3

Russell Medical ............................................................. 2

Saint James Episcopal Church.................................15

Satterfield....................................................................... 5

Security Pest Control ................................................. 8

Singleton Marine.........................................................80

Sparkle Cleaning Services ........................................16

Sunrise Dock...............................................................11

Temple Medical Center .............................................. 8

Tim James for Governor..........................................81

Tippy Canoe.................................................................. 6

TowBoat US ................................................................54

UAB Heart & Vascular ..............................................63

Vacation Rental Management..................................79

Wind Creek Zipline ..................................................70

Shot Parting

Photo by Kenneth Boone "Friends are the sunshine of life." ~ John Hay

Lake traditions begin at The Heritage. Build yours.

Russell Lands extraordinary lakefront community and Coore & Crenshaw golf

One of the South’s most distinguished companies, Russell Lands, has unveiled plans for Lake Martin’s newest luxury residential development, The Heritage. With stunning lakeside living, families will build memories, season after season. The centerpiece of the neighborhood will be Wicker Point Golf Club, a signature Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw private golf course, with 18-holes in an extraordinary natural setting of pine plantations, meandering creeks and lakefront holes. A flagship lake club for residents will offer fun, family recreation.

Don’t miss the life that will rewrite your heritage for generations. Opportunities coming summer 2022.

RussellLands.com/The-Heritage | 256.215.7011 | RealEstate@RussellLands.com