MELLOW - December 2020

®

MELLOW

DECEMBER 2020 DoSouthMagazine.com

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02

december

Contents 04 12

Letter from Catherine

{COMMUNITY}

Pet Adoption:

06

Nonprofit Spotlight:

Almost Home Shelter & Rescue

The Salvation Army

Shop Local

10

Teacher Spotlight: Melissa Wilson

13 19 40

DIY: Jolly Saint Nick

Special Feature:

14

A Lifeline to the World:

Holiday Gift Guide

Project Compassion

{ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

05 08

What's New Get Bookish: December

Recommendations

{PEOPLE}

20 24

O Tannenbaum!

Take and Eat:

Antioch Youth and Family

28

Sail Away with Southern Charm

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{FICTION}

36

Songs We Remember: Part I

{TASTE}

34 35

O Christmas Tree Yuletide Mule

OUR COVER Image Credit: Elena Shashkina/ Shutterstock

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18 04

community Letter from Catherine

W

S PA R K L E

Who put their Christmas decorations up the day after Halloween this year? I would have if hubby would have cooperated. I had to wait until the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Bah, humbug! Typically, I don’t pull out the décor until the last of the green bean casserole is gone, but not this year. This year, my soul needed some sparkle.

I’m sure many of you feel that down deep. I can’t remember a time that our country has ever been so divided on so many issues. Social media, which used to be a place to share glimpses of our beautiful families, has turned into something altogether ugly. It makes me want to escape! That’s why I love Do South ®, we don’t do ugly here. We tell stories of those who lift others up and this month, we do that in spades.

You’ll meet Marian Conrad of Project Compassion and discover how they continue to foster connection with the elderly even during social distancing. We’ll catch up with Charolette Tidwell and her team of volunteers at Antioch Youth and Family who are feeding more families in our area than ever before. We’ll travel down the road and meet up with the Eckerts, who grow a whole lot of family fun on their Christmas tree farm in Charleston. And finally, all-hands-on-deck as we sail away with Kevin and Elizabeth King

DECEMBER 2020 OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jade Graves, Dwain Hebda, Elizabeth King CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Elizabeth King, Sara Putman, Liesel Schmidt ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

aboard the Southern Charm for a ten-day adventure to the Virgin Islands!

FOLLOW US We love telling the stories of the helpers. The doers. The adventurers. Their stories, their missions, lift up my soul. I smile a little brighter. I laugh a little longer. My faith and hope grow even stronger. We need more of that. If you haven’t already, get that tree up!

Find out how you can be of service to those in our community – you can be a helper too.

It’s time to sparkle! See you in January.

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor

catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

©2020 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Opinions contained in Do South ® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South ® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893

Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request.

Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.

To reserve this free space for your charitable nonprofit organization, email: catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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what's new

FAN MAIL Send comments and suggestions to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

Congratulations Congratulations on your 10 years. Look forward to the next decade of Do South®. Although we have only met once (I claimed a prize for my daughter years ago at your Fort Smith office), I have always remembered you and enjoy reading your Editor's Letter each month. Thanks! ~ Daren D.

Thank you Thank you for all you have done for us at Ronald McDonald House Charities! ~ Erin F.

CONTEST (Deadline is December 15) Go to dosouthmagazine.com, click on “Contest” at the top of the page. All who enter will be subscribed to our mailing list. Please see rules and policies on our Contest page!

DO SOUTH® DELIVERED

Love Do South®? Here is your chance to have it delivered right to your door!

Two lucky readers will win a full, one-year subscription to Do South®! Visit our website at DoSouthMagazine.com to enter! CODE: DOSOUTH CONGRATULATIONS Congrats to our contest winners from November!

One-year subscription to Do South®: Karla Mosher Hicks and Jane Bieker

EVENTS December 1-26: Greenwood Trail of Holiday Lights 1050 Bell Park Road, Greenwood / greenwoodarkansas.com December 5: Fort Smith Symphony: ‘Tis the Season ArcBest Performing Arts Center, Fort Smith / fortsmithsymphony.org December 6: Junior League Fort Smith Holiday Home Virtual Tour Facebook or jlfs.org December 11-13: Western Arkansas Ballet’s The Nutcracker ArcBest Performing Arts Center, Fort Smith / waballet.org December 13: Fort Smith Public Library Holiday Open House Drive-Thru Fort Smith / fortsmithlibrary.org DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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18 06

community community

Nonprofit Spotlight words Catherine Frederick with Captain Staci Gainey, Captain, Salvation Army Fort Smith

DS: In what ways does The Salvation Army Fort Smith support our communities?

The Salvation Army of Fort Smith serves the community by offering utility assistance, rental assistance, and a food pantry for groceries three times a week. Our Red Shield Diner serves a hot meal every night of the year to anyone who is hungry. Our shelter offers a safe place to sleep for those who are in need. At Christmastime, the Angel Tree gives families hope by providing toys and food to those who are struggling to make ends meet.

DS: How is The Salvation Army Fort Smith assisting our community during the COVID-19 pandemic?

We continue to serve our community, just differently. Our food pantry has moved out of the building to the outside pantry door where individuals walk up, pick up their food bags, and choose from a variety of donated foods. They take what they need, and what they will use in their households. The Red Shield Diner serves outside in to-go containers, by masked employees and volunteers.

The Salvation Army Fort Smith’s

We have reduced the risk of exposure with our Angel Tree Program by providing families with online applications. The Salvation Army of Fort Smith received

mission is to preach the gospel of

a generous grant in March that gave us the ability to provide meals, snacks,

Jesus Christ and to meet human needs

and drinks to the medical team at the Mercy test site and call center. We are

in His name without discrimination.

also providing snacks and drinks for the medical team at the Baptist test site.

They fulfill this mission through a

We received grants specifically for families who were impacted by Covid-19 to

variety of programs including housing

provide them with rent and utility assistance, which was very helpful as many

& homeless services as well as hunger

families and individuals have been unable to pay their rent and utilities.

relief. Do South reached out to Staci ®

Gainey, Captain, to learn more.

DS: What is the greatest hurdle The Salvation Army Fort Smith faces rising from COVID-19?

We have seen a drop in volunteers, as some are hesitant to gather to cook and/

301 N 6th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.6145 salvationarmyfs.org

or serve in the diner, in the Angel Tree warehouse, or in the pantry. We need volunteers to provide the needed services to the community. We provide masks, gloves, aprons, hand washing stations, and sanitizer as needed. One struggle we are experiencing is that we now have added expenses due to Covid; to-go containers, masks, gloves, sanitizer, cleaning supplies for daily cleaning, and food for individuals and families who are out of work.

Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area free of charge. If you have a nonprofit you’d like to see recognized, email us at catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

DS: How can members of our community who would like to volunteer or make a financial donation do so? Also, are there any upcoming events our readers should know about?

You can go to our website www.salvationarmyfs.org and find out how you can help. There are opportunities to give financially, sign up to volunteer, and special events that are happening. Currently, our Red Kettle Campaign is still going strong and we need bell ringers! You can grab your family, your book club, your Sunday school class, or your rotary club and go to www.RegisterToRing.com, and sign up for a time you can ring a bell and feed a family. Thank you for helping #RescueChristmas for the people in the River Valley this year.

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18 08

community entertainment

Get BOOKISH December Recommendations courtesy Sara Putman, Bookish

It Happened at Christmas

by Christen Krumm If your favorite par t of the holidays is cozying up on the couch and reading a sweet book full of hear t, humor, and rooting for the underdog, pick up a copy of Krumm’s YA book. Krumm is a local author who knows how to tug at hear t strings and create fun and loveable characters.

Sometimes, it just takes a handsome brother to enter the scene to make you discover your truth.

Monogamy

Enjoy these five must-read books from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently-owned bookstore. Shop hours: Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday - Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Need curbside delivery?

Call 479.434.2917 or email orders@bookishfs.com.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

by Sue Miller

by V.E. Schwab

Annie and Graham live a comfor table life in Cambridge, MA. They have wonderful friends, creative professions (Graham owns a bookstore), and successful children.

When Graham dies suddenly, Annie has to learn how to grieve and how to go on.

This is so much more than just a book about grief. Miller exquisitely captures the nuance of familial relationships and the complexity of how individuals understand grief.

In 1714, Adeline LaRue made a deal with the god of darkness in a moment of desperation.

This renders her invisible, but her stubbornness keeps her from giving her soul away for centuries.

Schwab’s Faustian tale is mostly told in the present day, but through a series of flashbacks readers are privy to the motivations of Addie and the devil himself. Schwab evokes romance, fantasy, and a rock star female protagonist that make Addie’s struggle relevant and escapist.

All About Us

The Adults

by Tom Ellen

by Caroline Hulse

The perfect book for December. It’s about heartbreak and loss and how the choices we make often make us who we are.

There’s also a bit of time travel, or at least, a Groundhog Day scenario. Ben’s relationship with Daphne is not what he had hoped it would be, and he often finds himself thinking about the one who got away...

Alice. When Ben wakes up on December 5, 2005, he gets to relive that mistake all over again. But will he finally get it right?

There is nothing more fun than family dysfunction over the holidays, right? Claire and Matt are divorced, but they strive to make sure their daughter has a “normal” family Christmas. They agree to spend the holidays together, but through a series of hilarious miscommunications, their new partners tag along. Pair that with their daughter Scarlet’s imaginary friend Posey.

It’s one thing to act like an adult, but with the holidays and past hurts, there are almost no adults here.

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community

TEACHER

SPOTLIGHT MELISSA WILSON

Do SouthŽ has joined forces with Bookish, our area’s only independent bookstore, in an effort to shine the spotlight on deserving teachers in our community! Local teachers complete the form and wish list online and then books from their wish list can be purchased from Bookish at a twenty percent discount by anyone wanting to show their support! Each month, we will feature a local teacher doing great things for area children.

This month, we are proud to introduce you to Melissa Wilson, a teacher at Ballman Elementary, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. To all teachers, we love you and thank you for all you do!

Tell us about your teaching journey. How long have you been a teacher? Where have you taught? What grades and subjects do you teach?

This is my thirteenth year to teach at Ballman Elementary in Fort Smith. I taught kindergarten for six years and then switched to teaching first grade. This is my seventh year to teach first grade.

What do you like about being a teacher?

I enjoy seeing the light bulb turn on and the excitement students feel when learning information. One of my favorite moments is when I receive a loving note that a student wrote

BALLMAN ELEMENTARY FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS

all by themselves, especially when that student entered my classroom unable to even write their own name.

What is your biggest concern about the 2020 school year?

WISH LIST

All of the unknowns due to the pandemic. I want to be in class with my learners, but I also want all of us to stay safe and healthy. Trying to utilize more technology while still using written assignments is a challenge. Effectively teaching young learners while staying socially distanced from them is impossible.

The Crayon Man by Natascha Biebow I Promise by LeBron James All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander Any picture or I Can Read Level 1 or 2 books.

Teachers, we encourage you to complete the short form and add your wish list! You can find the form at Bookishfs.com, on their Facebook page, and at DoSouthMagazine.com.

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pets

F

M

Blush M

M

Doug F

F

Tanner

King

Tootsie

Valisa

Almost Home Shelter & Rescue 3390 Pointer Trail East - Van Buren, AR | Tom Hill 479.414.3781 | Almost Home Shelter and Rescue is a 501C-3 nonprofit all volunteer staffed facility. They work in partnership with Van Buren Animal Control to find loving, forever homes for the dogs in their care. All dogs will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccines when adopted. Please consider adopting or fostering one of their sweet pets.

Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional nonprofit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

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shop

Yule Love Shopping Local! words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Put some jingle in your jangle and support small businesses by shopping local this holiday season!

Baileys Holiday Gift Set, Jubelale Festive Winter Ale, Knob Creek Bourbon Gift Set

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

Plush Dragon by Ebba, Silicone Bath Scrub and Twistable Storage Containers by InnoBaby Lux Fragrance Christmas Gift Box Candle

THE BLACK BISON COMPANY

JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP BAPTIST HEALTH FORT SMITH 479.441.4221

479.551.2880

Sunglasses by Tiffany & Co.

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

Hearts on Fire Three Prong Stud Earrings, Available from .25cts and up, in 18kt. Yellow, White and Rose Gold

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

Holiday Bottle Stopper, Smirnoff Peppermint Twist Vodka, Holiday Glassware, RumChata Peppermint Bark Cream Rum

IN GOOD SPIRITS 479.434.6604

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SoundGear Phantom Hearing Protection, Powered by Starkey Hearing Technology, the Perfect Gift for the Outdoor Enthusiast

CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277

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community

A Lifeline to the World words and IMAGEs Dwain Hebda

The elderly woman shifts in her chair and looks out the window. The room in which she finds herself at the long-term care community where she lives Executive director, Marian Conrad

is quiet and small, some days suffocatingly so. She never used to notice the walls; this time last year, she could sit in the dining room over a game of bridge or

ago, but its emphasis has never been more timely: Provide

look forward to the Sunday visits of her family that included

seniors in nursing homes with a one-on-one lifeline to the

church and breakfast afterward.

outside world, someone to call them, visit them or otherwise connect, a specific buddy in place of absent or distant family

But now, services are all online and truth be told, they feel

members. It’s a mission that grew from the belief that no

more like a talk show. Her family can’t visit as frequently,

senior should be warehoused and alone, cut off from society;

partially out of her community’s safety precautions, partially

a mission made more complicated by pandemic conditions.

out of fear for their own family’s health. Winter is coming and she feels the cold more intently now. She rests her hand

“Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of

on the book she’s read three times and thinks, this can’t be

dementia,” Marian says. “Even those without dementia

how the Author wrote my life’s final chapter.

feel emotional distress, missing hugs and talking to family members and just feeling connected. Mandatory

Marian Conrad is a crusader for the health of the elderly.

face coverings, no visitors, increased hygiene and PPE

She’s not a politician seeking to improve Medicare benefits

and disinfecting everything, is just a recipe for increased

and she’s not a nurse working the ward at the local nursing

loneliness.

home. But the executive director for Fort Smith-based Project Compassion is in a fight every bit as fierce and pervasive,

“The main thing we do is actively listen and empathize and

preserving mental health and dignity in elders’ final years

talk about things on the outside and share.”

through the simple act of connection. **** “There’s an emotional impact of isolation on physical health, mental health, everything,” she says. “Everything plays into

The old man picks at his tray of food, finally letting the fork

that, especially during this time. The staff comes in and the

drop into his mashed potatoes. He’s not hungry; wouldn’t

people they serve see them every day with a mask on. That

eat it if he was. These days, there’s only room in his guts for

can be scary and kind of impersonal. The staffing at all these

the yawning emptiness he feels. His mind goes to her; it’s

facilities do amazing jobs, but there’s real stress at this time for

always on her.

residents; stress of being restricted, of having daily activities changed and being restricted to their room, no visitors.”

She was the best cook in three counties, everybody said so. For their sixty years together, no matter what she put her mind to

Project Compassion may have been born nearly fifty years

in the kitchen, it always came out perfect, even if she’d never

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community

done it before. Sometimes he’d try to stump her, ask for a dish they hadn’t shared in years and doggone if an hour later the telltale aroma told him she’d won again. He can taste her pecan pie as if it were yesterday as he gazes at the picture in his hand; it’s from their golden wedding anniversary, but all he sees is the sassy nineteen-year-old who said yes.

Patricia Fellner moved back to Fort Smith to care for her aging parents in 2002 and, needing a job, wound up the office manager for Project Compassion. Her circumstances blurred the lines between her personal responsibilities and Jan Winford, Patricia Fellner

the people the nonprofit served; in her eyes, they were all someone’s mom or dad.

“I wish I could give you statistics of how many people are in facilities that do not have any family or friends or if they do, they don’t come and visit them or call them or buy special foods that they love or get clothing for them that they need,” she says. “But I do know there are a lot of people who don’t have anyone.”

Patricia got involved in Silver Line, a Project Compassion program that creates a sort of telephone pen pal, matching a volunteer with a resident in a long-term care facility to stay in touch and help the resident maintain contact with the outside world. The service came online three years ago but is tailormade for the COVID-19 era. Patricia experienced firsthand how literal of a lifeline this calling program is to elders.

“The woman I called, I first met her about a year ago playing dominos,” she says. “Her domino companion passed away and she was really forlorn that she didn’t have another player, so I decided that I would learn how to play dominos.

I went every week on Wednesday.

she said, ‘Where have you been?!’ I was touched and then, I felt guilty, because I realized how much these phone calls mean to her.”

Patricia says it doesn’t take a lot to participate in Silver Line, just the ability to hold a conversation and the commitment to call regularly.

“When COVID hit, she could no longer go out to meals, nor could she play dominos. Her eyesight is failing, as well as her hearing. It’s very difficult for her to watch television because she can’t really see it very well and the newscasters talk so fast, she can’t follow it. So, she feels extremely isolated and very lonely and afraid. Afraid that she’s going to catch the virus. Afraid of how she might die.

“I have to say, in some ways, it’s easier when you’re not related to the individual,” she says. “I always felt so responsible for my parents; if they were unhappy, I felt that in some way reflected on me, like I wasn’t doing enough for them. Whereas someone who is my friend, I’m able to let them tell me how sad they are and not take it personally. Or, even having them cry, I can cry with them. It wasn’t so easy with my own mom.”

“I was calling her maybe twice a week and one time, I went a whole week and I hadn’t called her and when I did call her,

****

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community

Throughout the long-term care community, the signs of the

In just three years, Carolyn and her crew of six Fidgeteers have

season are everywhere. Even in Wing C, the memory unit,

produced six hundred of the quilts distributed to the roughly

the staff has decorated doors and the nurses’ station with

two dozen care communities Project Compassion serves. The

garland and tinsel. Holiday music floats through the overhead

Fidgeteers round up their own material for the quilts, be it

speakers creating a festive air.

old clothes or odds-and-ends fabric, and meet regularly to compile their creations. Lately, the group has been on hiatus

But despite these best efforts, there are still plenty of

due to COVID-19, but Carolyn is determined to get things

reminders that this is home to people in the grips of a

back up and running just as soon as can be managed safely.

shadow that clouds the spark of memory. Caught by the cruelest of diseases, people slowly lose touch with what was

“With our fidget quilts, there’s things on there that they can

once most dear to them, replaced with terrors they cannot

soothe themselves. For whatever’s going on, we hope it will

understand. There are days compassionate caregivers enjoy

provide some comfort to them,” she says. “We get requests all

residents’ rays of lucidity; other times, the drape of dementia

the time and we can’t keep up, especially since the pandemic.

tightens about a person like cooling rubber, making it hard to

I think quilts are special for a lot of families. They can become

breathe, hard to think. Good moments here are fragmented,

heritage in families. I think that’s a real big part of this.”

hour by hour, with the bad.

During her career as a social worker for child welfare with the State of Oklahoma, Carolyn Abbott demonstrated daily

Project Compassion’s biggest event each year,

her passion for serving the most vulnerable and a steely

Hearts of Gold, collects gifts for area nursing

resolve to look tragedy in the face and see hope. Little did

home residents. This year, due to COVID-19,

she know that in retirement those skills would be required at

items can be dropped off at one of several drive-

the sewing table.

thru locations. Items being collected include

“Marian called me one day and said, ‘Have you ever heard of

new sweatshirts and sweatpants, nightgowns

a fidget quilt?’” she says. “I said no, and I immediately went

and pajama sets, throws, blankets and non-slip

to Pinterest. There were hundreds of examples of fidget quilts on there.”

socks in sizes medium to 5X. Monetary donations are also accepted. For a list of drop-off spots,

Fidget quilts are small, lap-sized patchwork quilts that, within

see Project Compassion’s website and plan to

each square, give dementia patients something to work with

donate by Dec. 16.

their hands, be it a strand of ribbon, a hidden pocket or tactile fabric. No one really knows why but holding and even merely looking at the quilts have shown to be amazingly soothing to dementia patients.

“We heard from one nursing home about a resident in their Alzheimer’s unit who screamed all day long, every day,” Carolyn says. “That would really bother staff and other

Project Compassion The Center at Trinity Catholic Junior High 1205 S. Albert Pike Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.2273 | projectcompassioninc.com

residents. The activity director there placed one of our quilts in her lap and demonstrated with her fingers and her hands how to manipulate some of the things on her quilt. She quit screaming. We love that story.”

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diy

Jolly Saint Nick

1

Place the Santa hat on the wreath form. Using your pen, place a mark where the hat

ends on each side of the wreath form. You will only need to tie tulle up to these marks on the form.

TIP: If you use a green wreath form, wrap it with white tulle before tying on the tulle strips so the green does not show through.

2

To cut tulle into equal strips quickly

and

easily,

wrap

entire spool around a form

that is approximately 15” wide. You could use a box, a baking sheet or even a picture frame.

words and IMAGEs Catherine Frederick

3 4

Using scissors, cut the tulle down both the right and left

Ho Ho Ho! Craft yourself a magical holiday with this simple, yet adorable, Santa wreath.

sides of the form, instantly

creating 15" strips.

Starting below the pen mark on one side of the wreath

{ Materials }

form, begin tying 15” strips

of tulle to the form, securing with

Ñ 12” white Styrofoam wreath form (rounded edges)

a simple knot. Continue until you

Ñ 50 yards white tulle on a spool, cut into 15” strips

side of the wreath form.

reach the pen mark on the other

Ñ Glue gun and glue sticks

5

Ñ Scissors

Santa hat to the wreath form on

Ñ Pen

each side with hot glue. Stuff the

TIP: Be sure your Santa hat fits your wreath form.

tulle or newspaper to give it

If you already own a Santa hat, be sure to take it

fullness. Finally, hot glue the front

with you when shopping, as wreath forms come in

and the back of the Santa hat to

a variety of sizes.

the wreath form.

Form a loop with the ribbon.

Ñ Santa hat – adult size

Using your hot glue gun,

Ñ 3” piece of ribbon for hanger

secure the loop on the back

of the Santa hat. Then, glue the

inside of the Santa hat with extra

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20

people

O Tannenbaum! words and IMAGEs Dwain Hebda

Finding your way to Pine Grove Christmas Tree Farm isn’t particularly difficult, especially accompanied by the surrounding mountain scenery, beautiful at any time of year. But turning onto Yocum Street off Arkansas Highway 22 right outside of Charleston, the entrance to the place, you suddenly face a steep dilly of a hill, the kind that juts your windshield to the sky and makes you feel like you’re going up and over the lip of the world.

As your vehicle levels, it’s as if a curtain is raised on a spot frozen in time and season. Down a lane and around a bend, you take in the picturesque tree farm, its strident rows of pine and cedar spinachgreen against a straw-colored fade of winter grass. Each tree, nurtured and manicured to perfection, seems more radiant than the last.

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people

Santa himself couldn’t have seeded a prettier spot than this

is ever in a bad mood out here. They’re all having fun,

patch of Franklin County.

laughing, chasing one another, finding people they may know. They can’t believe it when they run into somebody

“This is our second Christmas tree farm,” says Greg Eckert

they know out here.”

who founded the business with his wife Betty in 1978. “The first one was where we had some land in Paris. When we

Long before planting their own forest, Greg and Betty

got interested in Christmas trees, we planted trees there.

grew up in the same general neck of the woods, Greg in Subiaco and Betty in Scranton. Both shared a Catholic

“We found some land in Charleston in about ‘86, ‘87 so we

heritage with an education to match, she for two years at

started planting here also. Over the years, we phased out the

St. Scholastica Academy then on to Scranton High School;

Paris farm, but we had both of them for ten or fifteen years.

he at St. Benedict grade school and Subiaco Academy.

We got to where at Christmas we had two Christmas tree lots in Fort Smith and we had the tree farm here in Charleston and

“We kind of always knew each other when we were in

the tree farm in Paris. That spread us pretty thin.”

high school, but we didn’t really talk until we got together in college (at Arkansas Tech in Russellville),” Betty says.

Actually, Greg tells you on second thought, the operations

“We met outside of the library; there was a hurt puppy

ran three farms for a spell, the third being in Oklahoma.

there, so we stopped to help the puppy and that’s how

But as the former pharmacist and his schoolteacher bride

we started talking and it progressed. It’s now forty-six

tell you, that workload took a lot of the merry out of

years of marriage.”

Christmas. These days, the retired couple has all they want working their twenty-acre Charleston ground, twelve of

The marriage also produced four children, two boys and

which are planted to their holiday-season cash crop.

two girls, all of whom came along for the ride when Greg started toying with the idea of a Christmas tree farm.

“Someone told me one time, I guess it was a farmer, he said, ‘You’ve got to have a pretty good job to afford to

“A co-worker friend of mine showed me a copy of an article

farm,’ I think that’s the case,” Greg says. “It’s hard to

on people doing research out in South Carolina about growing

make a living farming, especially something as seasonal

Virginia pine for Christmas trees,” he says. “Up until that time

as Christmas trees. I worked in the pharmacy at Sparks

most all the Christmas trees came from up north where they

Regional Medical Center for forty-two years and I worked a

could grow the fir trees and the Scotch pines. But these guys

schedule where I worked twelve-hour days seven days in a row and then I was off for seven days. That’s how I had time to do the Christmas trees, on my weeks off. And, of course, Betty worked pretty much all the time she was teaching.”

“I was always on board with the idea,” Betty interjects. “I can’t remember when we first started talking about it, but I always trusted Greg to make good decisions. He was a hard worker, kind of a workaholic.

It’s been a good thing for us.

“We try to provide a family with a fun, Greg and Betty Eckert

memorable Christmas experience. Nobody DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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“They’re sensitive to the heat,” Betty adds.

As it happens, so are customers. Warm weather is a moodkiller for tree shoppers, Greg says, while also noting too much Christmas atmospheric conditions is bad as well. That’s why over the five weeks in November and December that they’ve worked all year for, the family isn’t above taking out their rosaries and asking for a little light seasonal weather.

“A hot sunny day, we don’t really like those when we’re selling trees,” Greg says. “If there’s a little chill in the air, if it’s a little cloudy or looks like it might snow, that gets people in the mood and they come out. were experimenting with Virginia pine to see if they could be

“We average about four hundred trees. We sell ninety

raised in the South for Christmas trees.

percent of our trees probably on three weekends. If the weather happens to be bad those weekends it can really,

“I thought that was rather interesting, so I called one of

really hurt you.”

the researchers on the phone and asked him where he got his seedlings. He told me and I went ahead and ordered

Between the uncertainty of the weather and the ready

seedlings. Got them and started planting.”

availability of pre-cut trees available seemingly everywhere, the Eckerts lean on creating an experience that goes

The researchers were on to something and Virginia pine

beyond the trees themselves. The farm offers a variety of

has been a best seller for the Pine Grove operation ever

barnyard animals including pygmy goats, sheep and baby

since. Fifteen years ago, the couple added Leyland cypress.

pig races featuring Porky, Petunia and Wilbur. That, plus

Tucked in between these emerald beauties are a smattering

hayrides through the sparklingly decorated tree farm lends

of other varieties: Murray cypress and the frosty Carolina

an ambiance that can’t be replicated on a parking lot. It

Sapphire and Blue Ice pines.

brings people out by the generation-load.

“Last year, we had just for fun about three or four pink

“That’s fun,” Betty says. “We get to visit with people every

trees,” Betty says. “You can’t resist it when your little girl

year and see how their families are doing and meet their

wants that pink tree, you know? So, they went fast. This

grandchildren and see their grandchildren grow up.”

year I think we’re going to have a few white trees for fun.”

Trees take five years to mature to sellable dimensions, so

“Most people who come out to get a tree, it’s not usually

species selection and rotation of planting plats is of utmost

just one person. It’s usually the whole family,” Greg

importance in the Eckerts’ business.

says. “They’ll come back year after year. They’re making memories, making family traditions.”

“We tried Scotch pine and we tried white pine and a couple different kinds of firs, but nothing really grew very good for us here,” Greg says. “Now, the white pine makes a beautiful tree, but they just grew so, so slowly. It would take ten years to get a tree big enough to sell and they would do weird things. They’d do fine one day and the next

Pine Grove Christmas Tree Farm 2919 Yocum Street, Charleston, Arkansas 479.965.4428 | Find them on Facebook

day they were dead.”

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Take and Eat

ANTIOCH YOUTH AND FAMILY Charolette and volunteers Words and images Dwain Hebda

On a brilliant clear day, two trailers arrived at Fort Smith’s Gorman Towers, swollen with food.

Volunteers moved swiftly to unload the plunder – apportioned bags of meat, cheese, gallons of milk.

In twenty minutes, the bounty has been moved onto handcarts and trucked inside while bags of non-perishables have been set up on tables out front for retrieval by the one hundred fifty low-income elderly who live here.

“I’m from Fort Smith, Arkansas, born and raised,” says Ray Thomas, a thirty-something volunteer whose life story is inked into his skin. “Fort Smith, Arkansas, is my community so I want to be part of doing something for my community. As a kid growing up here, I was a gang banger, got into a lot of trouble. Now I’m giving back to my community and trying to make a difference.”

Fellow volunteer Bobby Whiteaker is old enough to be Ray’s grandfather. He regularly makes the trip in from Oklahoma to drive the delivery truck and unload food for people who need it. “I’ve been traveling over here the last two and a half months and working three days a week just to help,” he says. “I feel like I’m giving back.”

Off to one side of the activity sits a slight senior woman. Her age blends her in with the people who live here, but Charolette Tidwell’s tone tells you immediately who’s calling the shots. It’s been that way ever since she founded Antioch Youth & DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

Family, the nonprofit that’s brought this haul today. Her tone

education, plus a master’s to boot, en route to a career in

isn’t harsh, but when she talks, Fort Smith listens.

nursing by which she blazed new trails for women of color in nursing and nursing administration.

“My upbringing was in poverty, but I never knew hunger,” she says. “There were eleven kids in the house, and we grew up

“I always wanted to be a nurse,” she says. “My mother was

very poor but never hungry and really never knowing that we

very nursing-driven, except she didn’t have the education

were poor. We never had that concept planted in our heads.

in nursing. So, when I was small, if she was going to a neighbor’s house with a pot of soup because they were sick

“There was an acre garden beside the house. My mother

or they were hungry, I’d cry to go with her. I always knew

was very frugal in that she knew how to can food, preserve

that nursing was going to be my profession.”

food. My dad was a chef, so we always had someone in the house that was just phenomenal with cooking. My mother

It’s a long way from the poor side of town to arguably the

and father were never on food stamps, either. That was an

most-recognized woman in the city, sixty years covering

interesting part.

multiple careers, in fact. The first, forty years in nursing, was supplanted in 1999 by the formation of Antioch,

“But the number one thing was, we had a community then

which she launched to help ease hunger and empower the

that took care of each other. If someone’s got two blocks of

disenfranchised in her hometown.

cheese, they would share it. Sharing was the biggest part of the community that I grew up in.”

“The situation on the ground is horrible in terms of my community, which is poor,” she says. “I know poverty

Charolette Tidwell is a living example of what happens when

firsthand, but I also know a sharing community that saw

you dictate your circumstances instead of letting them define

each other responding to the need. So that is a goal that we

you. Inspired by the hard-working example of her parents,

have: I want to knit that family unit together at a meal table,

Leodell Jones and Nathaniel Jack Jones, she rose from dead

an environment that I was raised in, an environment that I

center of those eleven kids to earn degrees in nursing and

know works. And I want that food to be healthy.

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“When I talked to the CEO that came to Fort Smith from

lies another of her secret weapons, the power of prayer and

Feeding America, my statement to her was, ‘We can fix this

the grace of the Almighty that has found its way into every

problem community by community. We can look at what

chapter of her life, transcending the obstacles of age and

we’re presently doing, and we need to look at how we are

race and socioeconomic status.

presently allocating the resources.’” “[Charolette] has always helped my mom and I thought it And as for why she chose to kick-start a second career

was my responsibility to help her as much as I can because

instead of enjoying a normal retirement—on her own dime,

of that,” said David Bell who’s volunteered with Antioch on

no less—she just shrugs.

and off for a decade. “She is such a nice person and she’s always helped me, too. I’ve been knowing her for fifty years,

“It’s my upbringing again,” she says. “I have never been

she’s lived across the street from me, around the corner from

able to sit down at the house. I was always antsy going on

my mom for years and years and years. We’ve always been

vacations for a week with the children and my husband. So,

friends; I think we’re kinfolk. God bless her. She’s such a

it’s just my level of energy. I’m not a sitter. I’m healthier

lovely lady.”

mentally if I’m up and busy.”

With her work has come recognition. Charolette holds the Any way you slice it, Charolette’s dream has been a roaring

key to the city, multiple community service awards, been

success. Not only has Antioch grown to reach eighteen

featured on NBC network news and her smile even appears

thousand hungry people per month, she’s also recently

on bags of Lay’s potato chips. But nice as all that is, none of it

landed new, larger digs to house the nonprofit, complete

is as powerful as the one-on-one connections she witnessed

with a nutrition center, food pantry and garden. She sees the

as a child, fueled her ambitions and are, she believes, the key

10,000-square-foot building as more than just a stop-gap

to lasting change.

measure, however.

“This is what I know,” Charolette says. “A community can

“As the saying goes, I want to teach people to fish not just give them a fish,” she says. “[The building] has a nutrition center in it and we’ll be able to have our public-school kids be in that building with dietitians, with education.

“We also have a three-acre community garden that we have added to our repertoire of what we do. Children, prior to the pandemic, were escorted to the garden. They learned to plant the food, they learned to help harvest the food and

be knitted together again. That’s the first thing. We have run this organization twenty-one years with an all-volunteer team. When we are at thirty-thousand individuals a month needing food, I see a revolution that can be supported in that area. Our major goal is to knit the community, the community that grew me, the community that impacted me and the community that I know will work.”

The very thought of reaching such a Promised Land casts over her face a brilliant smile and a loud, well-worn laugh.

“It’s my faith! While I’m here I might as well do something,” she says. “If I’ve got to stay here and look at something that makes me sad, then I need to help do something about it. I’m a believer that all things are possible, all things.”

then they learned to take it home and cook it.”

As she speaks, a woman approaches her, asks if she can pray over her. Charolette gladly and immediately accepts. Therein

Antioch for Youth & Family 1122 N 11th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.459.0669 | antiochyouthfamily.org

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Sail AWay with

Southern Charm words Elizabeth King image courtesy Southern Charm

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On October 27, 2020, Kevin and Elizabeth King set sail with friends to move their sailing vessel Southern Charm from South Carolina to the Virgin Islands. What follows is a day-by-day log of their adventures.

DAY Z E R O : M O N DAY Departure day. Good to get off the dock, but Charleston, SC has been really good to us – couldn’t have picked a better place to wait out hurricane season. Boats aren’t made to be tied to a dock forever and it’s time to move on. We took advantage of the best possible departure conditions – slack tide right before noon – and planned our cast off.

Last minute checks: weather, routing, fuel, water, mechanical systems. Last load of laundry, quick grocery run for fresh veggies and fruit, emptying trash.

Crew meeting: skipper reviewed emergency procedures, gave assignments, and covered offshore rules, watch schedules and expectations.

Time to go. We say our goodbyes, unplug shore power and begin slipping lines. Kevin and I take a selfie with the Ravenel Bridge in the background and watch as Charleston Harbor Marina fades in the distance.

Kevin and Elizabeth King

DAY O N E : T U E S DAY Weather

conditions

worsen

in

the

afternoon

and evening. Thankful our crew has blue water experience. A few are feeling seasick, but no one is worried about conditions.

Virtually no wind so we run engines. We have 243 gallons of fuel, plus 20 for emergency. This passage is approximately 1,400 miles and we burn a gallon or so an hour, depending on RPMs when motoring. We raise the head sail and cut the engine back to save fuel. Not much wind expected until Thursday. Nothing better than the sound when you turn off the engines and all you hear is wind filling the sails and water slapping the hull.

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Seas were pretty flat last night, most everybody got rest, even Kevin (our captain), who stayed on deck with the watch groups to ensure they were comfortable and understood how to operate all instruments.

Entered the Gulf Stream around 10:45am. Nothing much at first but before long we were getting thrown around pretty good. Huge rolling waves tossed us all over the galley.

4:45pm: We’re out of the Gulf Stream which has a bad reputation for being rough. Thankful for this tank of a boat.

I would not want to cross in anything smaller.

We have four watch groups, three cover daily watches and the last prepares lunch, dinner and cleans up. Shifts rotate, so you never have the same schedule from day to day. Helpful when you know doing midnight to 0400 is just one night and not every night.

DAY T H R E E : T H U R S DAY Kevin and I have midnight to 0400 watch, the least popular

We had a visitor today. Funny how the small things break monotony. It’s not unusual to see large sea-going birds this far out but seeing one this tiny is. We keep all doors and hatches open when conditions allow. This little bird was tired. He flew into the galley and perched on the windowsill to rest. Eventually, we caught him and placed him on dingy floor. Next time we checked on him, he was gone.

among the crew. Uneventful night. Saw a blinking light we couldn’t find on our charts – assume it was some type of weather station. Wind is still not cooperating. Downloaded the weather, looks like it will fill in later this morning, which can’t happen fast enough. Kevin sat up around 7am, said it felt like we had wind. Before I could get on deck, he was raising the mainsail and unfurling the Genoa (a larger sail that overlaps the main). Engines off, we are finally a sailboat!

A few hours later, 18 knots turned into 20, then 25 knots.

DAY T WO : W E D N E S DAY 5am: Steven has the 0400 to 0800 watch. Night watch can get lonely, but the 0400 watch is my favorite. The boat is quiet, nobody else awake. I sit at the helm (where you steer), drink coffee and watch the sun slowly peek around and paint the sky.

It happened fast and wasn’t forecast. Seas were building.

Lunch quickly turned into nothing more than a charcuterie board, all we could safely put together. Rest of the day was just rest and covered watches.

FISH UPDATE: Still nothing. Changing out lures hoping

We’ve yet to catch a fish and are cruising with two lines

that helps.

and teasers running. Last night both lines went off. We had turned on the underwater blue lights. Clay and Kevin each took a line. Whatever was on Kevin’s finally took the lure and the entire spool of line. Maybe those blue lights stirred up some school of large fish from the deep. Back at it again today, determined to catch something.

DAY F O U R : F R I DAY Rough beginning. Took a beating, had to close the hatches.

No breeze makes an uncomfortable stateroom and galley.

Kevin and I have 0400 to 0800 watch. Normally we get plenty of sleep prior, but the sea is rough (8-10 foot seas, wind blowing 25 knots steady, gusting to 30), Captain needs

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to be quickly available to watch crew, so, he’s not sleeping

man overboard pole, pillows from the cockpit…anything we

much. Conditions are set to improve later today. Nice to have

could get our hands on!

a real meal again – we’ve been doing bare minimums for Port engine wouldn’t start. Kevin maneuvered the boat with

food. Glad we’re stocked up on peanut butter!

the main sail still up and only one engine. All crew kept eyes Late afternoon. Seas take mercy on us and the wind followed.

on Kirk and prepared to grab him. Susan got the life sling

Clay and Susan at the helm, Kevin and I lying down, as was

and handed it to Clay. It was tricky for Kevin to get close

Steven, when we heard the fishing line scream. Fish on!

enough to Kirk to toss the sling, but far enough to not slam

Everyone watched Kirk reel in a beautiful Mahi Mahi and we

the boat on him. As we got close enough, Clay threw the

started planning what we were going to make for dinner.

sling and Kirk grabbed it. We eventually got him attached to the boat. Kirk was able to pull himself up on the ladder. He

Still under full sail with no motor – life was good! Kirk

was worn out, but fine.

stepped down the sugar scoop (back of the boat, provides easy access to the water) to hose off the fish debris. As he

We still had to recover the life ring and the man overboard

did, we took a swell on the stern and Kevin and I watched

pole. Pillows were gone. We were fortunate. If that would

Kirk fall backwards off the boat. We both screamed, “MAN

have happened an hour later, it would have been dark. It was

OVERBOARD!” Clay and Susan immediately pushed the MOB

very difficult to find him in the light, I can’t imagine being

button, marking our position on the electronic charts. Kevin

successful at night. In hindsight we did some things right

raced to furl the head sail and turn around. I told Kirk’s

and some wrong. Very thankful for the departure briefing on

wife to put her eyes on him and not look away. We threw

emergency procedures. Everyone was calm and knew what to

all kinds of things overboard to identify the spot. Life ring,

do. I was thankful for my safety at sea class. What a day! After putting together Mahi taco’s for dinner, we crashed early.

DAY F I V E : S AT U R DAY Halloween! A cloudy, sunless day. Not enough charge from our solar panels so had to fire up the generator. We carry 8 panels generating over 2,000 watts of electricity.

Most days it’s more than enough, but when running the auto helm and radar, we deplete batteries quickly. Today the generator started right up, but immediately died.

Worked on it for hours and finally called our stateside tech and good friend, Mike Hart (an engine genius). We tried everything – still nothing. Kevin thought it was the fuel lift pump – literally the only thing we don’t have a spare of. Cloudy days mean being exceptionally conservative with the systems we run. Thankfully, we’re sailing. Fuel situation is concerning. Forty-five percent in the port engine and forty-two percent in the starboard engine.

Turning on engines is not an option right now.

Fish on! Clay reeled in another gorgeous Mahi. It’s cleaned and stowed in the freezer. We may need it if this passage goes long.

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We’ve been easting pretty much the entire time. We need to

DAY S E V E N : M O N DAY

change our heading and begin southing, but the wind is not

We were to have arrived today, but that’s not happening

cooperating. Need to get a little more east before trade winds

– looking like late Wednesday/early Thursday – not good

take over and make easting very hard on the crew and boat.

for the Pruitt’s morning flight out on Thursday. We’re still about 350 miles from St. Thomas. Lack of wind, wind coming

Approaching evening. Running the main sail with one reef

directly from where we need to sail and an entangled Code

(like a panel) in and the Code Zero up (meant for light

Zero all contributed to the delay.

upwind sailing). Sunset brought squalls which generally bring unpredictable wind. We decided to furl the Code Zero and

Running very low on fuel. Must decide whether to motor

replace it with the Genoa sail, which can handle much higher

or just tack (a sailing maneuver) and use the little wind we

winds. Code Zero is the only sail we have to go forward for.

have, which will cost us extra travel miles.

Steven turned the boat into the wind to take pressure off the canvas to furl. Kevin and I donned life vests and clipped

Caught another Mahi this morning – biggest one yet. Freezer is

into the jack lines. Everything was smooth until the last 20%

full of fish! When we hit ten knots today, we gave untangling

of the Code Zero was wrapped. The wind created a bubble

the Code Zero another go. It took six of us, but we got it. This

in the top and no matter how much Kevin pulled on the line

will help get an extra knot or two. More tomorrow.

it wouldn’t furl properly. He insisted he didn’t need help. I got tired of watching the sail have its way with him. Wind was picking up. It was dark. I woke up Clay. He grabbed his

DAY E I G H T : T U E S DAY

vest and clipped into the boat. They both were on the bow

Unkind. Pruitts are on midnight watch. Susan heard

wrestling wind and sail. We decided to drop sail to the deck

something off the mainsheet or the traveller (it allows for

and sort it out when we had rest and fair winds.

changing position). But, it was dark, so at sunrise Kevin inspected. The traveller is a car-like device that allows the

I began thinking about the power of the wind and the water.

boom (the horizontal support for the bottom of the mainsail)

It is hard to appreciate its strength until you are out here. We

to travel along a track to help make adjustment more precise.

are safe. The boat is a tank, and I am grateful.

Knowing it was a possible failure, we reinforced the traveller with two soft shackles our youngest child, Caroline, had made. We felt good about it.

DAY S I X : S U N DAY Beautiful sunrise! The entire crew is working on unwrapping the canvas. The wind had grown and while we were successful getting it up, wind speed was too high to get it furled. We had to drop it back down.

Crew morale is pretty good. We’ve had good meals. We pass our time listening to music, fishing, napping, reading, and visiting – but no drinking allowed. We are a dry boat at sea. However, the captain made a small exception and we cheered as we made it half-way through our journey!

There goes the reel again. Another Mahi for the freezer! I’m thinking I’ll make Mahi ceviche. Good news – Kirk stayed on board this time!

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Morning was uneventful, Kevin and I had lunch and dinner

DAY T E N : T H U R S DAY

duty – no watch. Heard a bunch of commotion on deck, ran

Finally, some sleep as the seas calm. Kevin said he had to

up and the rest of the traveller had failed. The boom was

make eight sail changes through the night. This was the

only attached to the boat by the soft shackles. We had full

hardest night on all of us.

sail out. Another all-hands-on-deck situation.

1100: LAND HO! We’re approximately 25 miles out from Kevin and Clay quickly donned life vests and ran to the fly

St. Thomas.

bridge, securing the boom. Susan and I took over the boom and did our best to keep it from swinging. Then, another problem.

1800: We pull into Honeymoon Beach off St. Thomas and

Genoa sheets released, then got tangled in each other and the

pick up a mooring ball. We secure the boat, lower the dingy

line on deck. Steven took the helm. Kevin and Clay wrestled

and head to shore. Dinner on the Captain!

lines. We were able to get the sails down. Later we discovered a massive bruise covering Kevin’s entire bicep and I found part of

Final trip miles – 1,375!

the toenail I lost in the shuffle. Lunch was late. All we managed was a baked potato bar. We were worn out.

Waiting on wind now. Trades are forecasted to fill in soon. We are down to 14% fuel in the port engine and 15% in starboard.

DAY N I N E : W E D N E S DAY Fuel critically low. The last ten gallons of fuel are placed in the starboard engine. Routine weather check. Our subscription to a weather routing expert, reports smooth sailing the last 170 miles. Kevin and I are on 2000 to midnight watch. Today has been really uncomfortable – all we can do is sit, lie down and crab walk. Knowing this should be our last night watch helps me mentally prepare for a late night.

Steven is on watch. We see squalls on the radar, so Kevin goes to help. Winds build and they decide to reef the Genoa sail (reduce the area). More wind – 34 knots. Squalls are troublesome. They can take reliable wind speeds and direction and change both. Storms suck all the wind out for a time, not optimal for us considering our fuel. We must watch wind speed. Flying only the Genoa, we reduce sail when we see 25 knots and again at 30 knots, etc. Sails were reduced several times.

We prepare for a long night with squalls popping all around us. Winds build, we reduce sail, wind dies out and we shake out the reefs we’ve put in. We sit for several hours, seeing as high as 39 knots. Nobody got much sleep – it’s a rough ride. The only thing getting us through, is knowing how

Read the full log and see even more beautiful photos at DoSouthMagazine.com. Follow the Kings’ next adventure and discover charter details at WhatTheKingsDidNext.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Southern Charm is a 50-foot-long sailboat catamaran, spending summer and winter in the Virgin Islands. It features three cabins and accommodates six guests as well as four different social gathering areas. Guests enjoy the ability to sit with friends and family. All cabins feature oversized queen beds, have their own private bathroom with walk-in shower and include a closet and drawers for storage.

close we are.

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taste

O Christmas Tree! recipe Catherine Frederick image Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock

Ingredients

Method

• 1 box store-bought brownie mix

Bake brownies as directed. Once cooled, remove from pan and cut into triangles (three rows, alternating diagonals).

• 1 tub store-bought vanilla icing • green food coloring • sprinkles • candy canes

Break candy canes into short pieces. Press the broken end of the candy cane into the base of the brownie (bottom of the triangle) to create a tree.

Add green food coloring to the vanilla icing until you reach the desired shade. Spoon into a Ziploc bag, seal. Snip off a very small corner of the bag with scissors. Drizzle icing over the brownies in the desired design. Top with sprinkles of choice.

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taste

Recipe adapted tablespoon.com image Victoria43/Shutterstock

ingredients ° 1 ounce simple syrup ° ½ ounce lime juice ° 2 ounces vodka ° 2 ounces cranberry juice ° 4 ounces ginger beer ° 3-4 rosemary needles ° fresh thyme ° lime wedge (optional garnish) ° cranberries (optional garnish) ° fresh herbs (optional garnish)

method Muddle herbs and simple syrup in a cocktail tin. Add ice, lime juice, vodka and cranberry juice then shake to combine. Strain into an ice-filled mug and top with ginger beer. Garnish with cranberries, herb sprig and lime wedge.

Please drink responsibly.

Never drink and drive.

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fiction

r e b m e m e R e W Songs PART I

words Liesel Schmidt image ssuaphotos/Shutterstock

I ’ VE ALWAYS TH OU GH T it amazing how music

Ram 1500 while Maroon 5 sang “She Will Be Loved.”

can conjure a memory from the recesses of your brain,

It was a short-lived romance that burned hot and fast,

reminding you of one very specific moment in time,

eventually coming to an end when I realized that we were

whether that moment brings you joy or pain as you recall

too different to sustain anything lasting. And listening

it. I have many of those songs, many of those moments,

to Colin Hay croon the lamenting words of “Waiting for

creating a soundtrack for my life that I don’t seem to be

My Real Life to Begin,” I remember sitting on the floor

able to escape.

of a darkened apartment in my bridesmaid’s dress while the song played on the stereo, wishing that the young

So many of my memories are set to song, like making

pilot sitting next to me would realize that he loved me.

out with a boyfriend in the cab of his shiny black Dodge

Coldplay’s “Yellow” brings a flashback of sitting in a truck

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a year later with a man I barely knew but knew I was falling

“I’m sorry, Annie,” he said, his warm brown eyes filled

in love with, driving on an ill-fated trip to watch the space

with something that looked to me like pity.

shuttle launch that didn’t happen at Cape Canaveral, just one song on a CD that played softly in the background

“Don’t,” I said, reaching up to swipe at the tears that were

over the course of an hours-long trip to nowhere and

creeping down my face.

back. Another year later, “You’re Beautiful” became a song that reminded me that that same man would never

“Don’t do that. Just go back inside and forget that I was

love me back, James Blunt’s voice like a knife through my

ever here.” I turned on my heel and took the last steps to

heart as the words sang out whenever his black Motorola

my car, feeling his eyes on me the whole way. I drove away

Razr received calls from a girlfriend that wasn’t me.

in silence, desperate to escape whatever music would become the soundtrack of my pain.

But when he finally kissed me—there was no music for that. There were only heartbeats. Maybe that’s a good thing: no song to bring that moment back. Because that

*******

one night was just that—one night, stolen and only mine for an instant. In the next instant it was gone, replaced by harsh reality when I knocked on his door expecting to see

“You’re going to stare a hole through that menu if you

him and came face-to-face with a woman instead.

look at it any harder, honey.” There was a slight accent to the raspy voice, a Southern drawl that placed its origin

There wasn’t music for that moment, either. If it had

somewhere in Georgia with a two-pack-a-day habit.

been a movie, there would have been some sad song growing steadily louder as I turned away, heartbroken and

I looked up to see a middle-aged woman in a white blouse

confused, to walk back to my car.

and black skirt, the nametag pinned to her chest declaring that her name was Wanda. Her grey-streaked brown hair

“Annie!” I heard my name being called, but it sounded far

was swept into a messy bun, and she was holding an order

away. “Annie, wait!”

pad in her left hand, her pen poised and ready while she stood beside me. The arched eyebrow and slight smirk she

I stopped and turned to face the man I’d come to see, man

wore suggested that she’d been standing there for more

who had held my heart in his hands for two years and had

than a minute.

toyed so carelessly with it, saying with his words that we could only be friends and all the while acting as though we

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said, feeling my face flush with

could be more. And now it was truly broken, shattered like

embarrassment. “I was just thinking.”

glass into a thousand shards.

“Clearly. But let me tell you, there’s nothing on that “Wait?” I asked incredulously, feeling the hot sting of

menu worth that much thought. Just go with the turkey

tears in my throat. “Wait for what, Jack? Clearly, you’re

sandwich unless you’re an adventurous eater,” she said

busy. I shouldn’t have come—or maybe you just want

with a wink, giving me a quick flash of the green eye

to say that I should have called first,” I said, humiliation

shadow on her eyelid.

crashing over me like a wave that could pull me into oblivion at any moment. “I should have known better. I

“Noted. I’m really not hungry, though.” I cocked my head

should have known.” I shook my head and laughed at my

and gave her an apologetic look. “Just coffee for me,” I

own stupidity. “You warned me. Didn’t you? You told me,

said, handing her the menu.

but I went ahead and hoped that you would love me the way that I love you.”

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37

38

fiction

Wanda took my menu with an understanding smile and

“Please tell me you didn’t.” The incredulity on my sister’s

walked away, heading toward the beverage station to

face was as clear as a billboard as she sat across from

pour my coffee. I had little hope that it would be even

me in her living room, her legs tucked under her. She

marginally drinkable, but I wasn’t really here for the

leaned forward and squinted as though she was trying

coffee, either.

to read me.

More than a decade later, I was here to remember.

I grimaced and shifted uncomfortably in my seat, sinking back further into the mountain of pillows that surrounded

The year had been a stressful one, one that left me

me on the couch. “I did.”

taking out old memories and examining them from every angle. It had also opened old wounds that hadn’t ever

“Oh, God, Annie! Why?” Her voice went up several octaves.

healed properly.

“Shhhhh!” I widened my eyes at her. “You’ll wake up the I stared at the empty seat across from me in the booth,

kids, and I know how hard you worked to get them down

its vinyl worn and faded with some of its stuffing

for their nap, Mags.”

escaping from rips near the seams. If I tried hard enough, I could almost reach out and touch the young

She raised an eyebrow at me and pursed her lips. “Way

pilot who had once sat there telling me about his family

to deflect. Now tell me what in the actual he—” she

and where he’d grown up. I could watch his hands move

stopped short and took a breath, eyeing the Swear Jar

as he spoke, hear the strange way that he said “water”

that seemed to be quickly accumulating money. “What

and the sound of his laugh. Just like now, it had been

were you thinking?”

creeping toward Thanksgiving, and the dark night air outside the restaurant had been chilled. I remembered

“I was thinking that it’s been sixteen years,” I said with

looking out the window at the lit street and wondering

a shrug, trying to look more casual than I felt. “I was

if this was him.

thinking that I’ve always wondered where he is and what he’s doing, and if he’s married or…or…” I trailed off, not

He had been everything I’d imagined; and over the

sure that I trusted myself to finish the sentence.

next year, he’d had me at his beck and call. Until that night as Colin Hay’s words washed over his darkened

“Or waiting for you?” Maggie said softly, her blue eyes

apartment and I knew he would never give me the love

cast down at the empty coffee cup she’d been toying with.

that I needed.

A hank of her blonde hair had slipped out of the messy topknot on her head, and it fluttered as she breathed.

I shook my head to clear the tears that were starting to cloud my vision. He’d been the one who had broken me

As I stared at her, I realized I was doing it again, after almost

first, the one I’d hung so many hopes on. And here I was,

two decades. I was here again. I hadn’t realized I’d begun

so many years later, still stinging from the pain I had felt—

to cry until the first tears hit the pillow in my lap.

still the woman who had given her heart over and over only to find that she was in love alone.

Read the finale of Songs We Remember , in our January issue.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Holiday gift 2020 guide

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Finding the perfect gift just got a lot easier! Our community is filled with small businesses ready to help you select just the right gift for everyone on your list.

Whether you’re shopping for stocking stuffers, home furnishings and décor, sparkly jewelry, delicious spirits, adorable apparel, products for the outdoor enthusiast, or even an amazing hot tub for the family, they’ve got you covered!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

alabasterapparel.com 479.629.0585

Let 4 Corks Wine and Spirits help you stock up for the Holiday

Nothing beats a perfectly soft, cozy sweatshirt when the

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to try something new! Our cigar room is full, and we have

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fun Christmas festivities or your favorite leggings for an

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evening of watching holiday classics. Whether treating

So, come see us at 4 Corks, the River Valley’s best holiday

yourself or gifting, Alabaster has you covered!

shop for all things spirits, vino and brew!

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8000 S Zero St, Fort Smith, Arkansas Find them on Facebook 479.310.8444

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE DO SOUTH® MAGAZINE

6121 South Zero Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 725 South 48th Street, Springdale, Arkansas burtonpools.com 479.648.3483 / 479.756.5511

4000 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas Find them on Facebook 479.782.9463

What other product can bring a family together, turn

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at

special moments into lasting memories, offer good, clean

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your source for backyard fun and relaxation!

purchases to your car. See you soon!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

6320 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas roadrunnerstores.com 479.478.6585

The temperature has dropped, and the leaves have fallen. It’s

A Reason for Holiday Cheer! The twinkle lights are strung,

officially the holiday season once again! We believe this year,

and the decorations are perfectly placed. After weeks of to-do

more than ever, we are all in need of a little holiday cheer!

lists, you’re finally ready to enjoy the holidays with family

We understand times are different for us all and we are proud

and friends. But then you remember. You forgot to pick

to announce we have new ways to shop safely and maintain

up those last-minute gifts for your loved ones. Fortunately,

our distance. This month we roll out our new web and

Road Runner is here to help. Proudly Arkansas owned and

e-commerce site! You will be able to shop via our website,

operated, it’s celebrating its deep roots in the state with a

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curated “Made in Arkansas” gift collection. Right now, select

your home. We look forward to serving you for many years

stores are stocked with your favorite local brands—from

to come. Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday season,

Arkansocks to Kyya Chocolate. Ready to sleigh that shopping

from the family at John Mays Jewelers!

list? Stop by Road Runner at 6320 Rogers Avenue in Fort

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

5622 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas johnmaysjewelers.com 479.452.2140

Smith. For more information, visit roadrunnerstores.com.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

6123 Hwy 271 S, Fort Smith, Arkansas tglascodesigns.com 479.646.3949

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5401 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas mysodies.com 479.783.8013 Sodie’s Wine & Spirits wants to make this the easiest holiday season ever! Our new mobile app allows you to search our inventory, drop your favorite products in your virtual cart and pick them up at our drive thru. We also have custom gift baskets available. Call or come by and tell us what items you would like in your gift basket and we can make it special for you. From corporate gifts to stocking stuffers, Sodie’s has you covered!

Christmas will feel different for many of us. Shopping may be on-line, out of state trips may be cancelled, and church services may be live streamed. It’s now more important to make our environments user friendly and more conducive for long term stays as many of our activities have been altered. Designers’ roles could not be more vital, and we strive to make these adaptations and fulfill client needs even as materials and supplies have become limited. Making the home inviting and festive for the holidays has never been more important! Looking ahead with optimism, we wish you and yours, peace and good health this holiday season! ~Chris & Terri Glasco

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

5609 Rogers Ave, Ste. D, Fort Smith, Arkansas thewoodsmancompany.com 479.452.3559 The perfect gifts for outdoor lovers on your shopping list are here! Benchmade Knives, built to perform without compromise in the line of duty, outdoors and everyday carry. The Biolite CampStove 2, perfect for cooking and charging devices (even without a fire), turns fire into electricity using internal fans for a smokeless flame (no gas canisters needed) using just small sticks and twigs! Garmin’s GPS-enabled devices, products made for the backcountry, can track a route and send text messages without a cell signal. Secrid’s slim wallets provide quick access to your cards and protect from electronic snooping. Compact, indestructible, perfectly organized, VSSL’s durable, waterproof aluminum kits are packed with quality,

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functional gear, a must-have in the outdoors.

Fort Smith, Greenwood, Van Buren yeagershardware.com At Yeagers, we have something for everyone on your Christmas list. Looking for ideas? Check out our 10 favorite gifts of 2020! (1) Cozy Chiminea or Fire Pit. (2) Smokeless Indoor Electric Grill. (3) Cup Call Phone Holder. (4) Traeger Wood Pellet Grill. (5) Battery Daddy Battery Storage. (6) Wireless Earbuds. (7) HZ Connect Smart Motion Video Doorbell. (8) Puzzles and Games. (9) Portable Tailgate Speaker. (10) Blackstone Griddle. Remember, Yeagers makes easy to shop! Shop in store, buy online and pick up in store, or buy online and get curbside pickup. As always, Yeagers will meet or beat any advertised price!

Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903