Nibble - April 2017

®

NIBBLE

April 2017 DoSouthMagazine.com

CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / OWNER Catherine Frederick CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Scott Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS John Blase Marla Cantrell Catherine Frederick Jade Graves Dwain Hebda Rachael McGrew Jessica Sowards Emily Paige Skeen Stoney Stamper James Stefiuk GRAPHIC DESIGNER Artifex 323 - Jessica Mays

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PROOFREADER Charity Chambers PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC

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INSIDE 12 28

38 50

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QUEENIE EILEENIE Meet Queenie Eileenie, a local woman who never met a craft she didn’t conquer! Find out how you can learn from her by taking a class for yourself or your kids.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick - 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell - 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com

PEEP, PEEP! Easter’s coming, and you want to be ready! These yummy birds’ nests are just the ticket, and they’re easy to make.

MELON AND PROSCIUTTO SALAD WITH PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO This scrumptious Melon and Prosciutto Salad is the perfect dish for spring! It’s the ideal combination of salty prosciutto and sweet melons.

HOW TOAD SUCK GOT ITS NAME Only in Arkansas can you attend Toad Suck Daze, the upcoming festival that delights thousands of visitors each year. Just how did Toad Suck get its name? We’ve got the answer.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

©2017 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The 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 Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., 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 Cover Image: And-One

FOLLOW US Annual subscriptions are $30 (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 for $7. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.

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letter from the editor

It’s that time of year again in my family – basketball has bounced

You won’t want to miss our All About Kids special feature! It’s

into full swing – in a big way. Have you seen that shirt making

full of information from local businesses that cater to our kiddos.

its way across the Internet? The words emblazoned

We have the latest on everything from education,

on the front are, “I CAN’T. MY KID HAS PRAC-

health, entertainment, sports, and more!

TICE.” That has never been truer than it is for me right now. Between practices and games,

Stoney Stamper has a funny story on page 30

we’re always in a gym or on the road. And

about the insane questioning ability of his

I wouldn’t change a single thing. The life

kiddos, with a sentimental takeaway. And

lessons my son's learning, the dedication

you won’t want to miss our very own

and passion he exhibits for the game,

Marla Cantrell’s feature on the local

and the millions of memories we’re

Queen of Craftiness, Queenie Eileenie!

making are priceless to me.

Her crafty skills will amaze you.

On our rare weekends off, we’re making

We’re also featuring new healthy ways to

time to enjoy the beauty of the Natural State.

cook old Southern favorites, as well as a deli-

Check out our feature from Dwain Hebda about

cious recipe for a fresh melon and prosciutto

how Toad Suck Daze got its name – it’s coming in May to Conway! And there’s always a State Park to explore. This

salad, which pairs perfectly with a refreshing glass of our citrus sangria – those yummy recipes begin on page 38.

month we’re highlighting Logoly State Park, located in Southwest Arkansas.

And we’ve not forgotten that Easter is on its way! If you’re looking for a sweet and simple dish to take to your family gath-

As busy as we are with basketball and discovering the great

ering, check out our Coconut Macaroon Nests. Chocolate and

outdoors, I don’t know why I ever thought I had time for a large

coconut – YUM! They’re sure to wow young and old alike.

garden or farm animals. I’ve been begging for chickens… and baby goats because, what’s more adorable than a baby goat?

So, find a cozy spot and settle in for a spell. I hope this issue

But hubby has put his foot down. I’ll just have to live vicariously

leaves you inspired, ready to embark on new adventures and

through one of our gifted writers, Jessica Sowards. Her essay,

make memories that will last you and yours a lifetime. Enjoy!

“As She Sleeps,” will have you yearning for a hobby farm of your own. I guess if I can’t have farm animals, perhaps I’ll take up beekeeping! You’ll discover the plants you can add to your yard and garden to attract them this season on page 46, and why we all need to do our part to keep them alive and thriving.

~Catherine

Follow Do South® Magazine

To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: Editors@DoSouthMagazine.com.

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Want Results? Choose Do South® Magazine! images Jade Graves Photography

We started advertising in Do South® in the very beginning, more than seven years ago. Catherine, the owner, approached me with a magazine format I was familiar with from larger cities, there was, however, one catch; she hadn’t printed a single issue yet. She sold me with her passion to make the magazine a success by featuring local people, businesses, and events in a format that was relatable to everyone and not just a platform to advertise.

Over the years the magazine has grown into what it is today, and it has not disappointed. Do South® features so many wonderful things, and of those, the most important are its readers. There isn’t a day that goes by that a customer doesn’t say they saw one of our ads in the magazine or someone stops in and picks up a copy and tells us how much they enjoy reading it. It has truly been a benefit to our business.

~John Mays Jewelers John Mays IV, John Mays III, Kathy Mays, Kevin Mays

479.782.1500 | dosouthmagazine.com catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

John Mays Jewelers is one of the local businesses that makes our community a wonderful place to live and work. At Do South® Magazine, our goal is to promote businesses like these, making sure you know what they can offer you. As a local business, we understand how important it is to support the “shop local” initiative. Call Do South® today to see how we can help grow your business through effective, targeted advertising.

DDOOSSOOUUTTHHMMAAGGAAZZI N I NEE. C . COOMM

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advertiserSPOTLIGHT

THE MAYS FAMILY John Mays Jewelers

479.452.2140 | johnmaysjewelers.com 5622 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?

CAN YOU DESIGN A CUSTOM PIECE OF JEWELRY?

This September will mark our eighteenth year in business.

We design pieces and help alter designs to fit our customers’ needs regularly.

HOW HAVE YOU KEPT THE BUSINESS SUCCESSFUL OVER THE YEARS?

WHAT’S HOT THIS YEAR?

You must stay abreast of changes in the industry and have a passion for what you do.

We truly enjoy the jewelry industry and travel to many markets, conferences, and seminars to stay in tune with changing times and advancements in the jewelry world. Our collaboration with American and international designers helps keep us up on what’s trending.

OTHER THAN YOUR BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES, WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?

We are a full-service jewelry store offering watch repair, jewelry repair, appraisals and custom design work.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE JEWELRY TYPE?

Platinum and white gold diamond jewelry are still at the top of the list, while yellow gold is making a comeback. Pearl strands, and fashion pieces with pearls and diamonds have been very big in the last few months. Yellow diamonds are also making a resurgence.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE?

Due to the limited supply of minerals in higher gem qualities and the pollution factors for some of the organic gems, I see the value and rarity continuing to rise in the years to come. Supply and demand will always help dictate price on these items, and with supplies dwindling on some gems, this will cause prices to increase.

Art Deco.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR LINE OF WORK?

HOW HAS JEWELRY DESIGN CHANGED OVER TIME?

There is nothing like seeing the joy on someone’s face when they find the perfect piece of jewelry for themselves or someone they love. We live in a small town and see our customers everywhere. Often at dinner, we will see a customer out, and they see us and just smile. This is what our business is all about.

Fashion changes over the years have helped influence trends in the jewelry industry, while technology advancements in recent years have been a catalyst in the design world.

HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR PURCHASES?

Knowledge of the products we are selling helps us to guide the customers to find the perfect piece of jewelry. We offer in-house financing as well as a beautiful gift wrap.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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poetry

This is What We Do LINEs John Blase from The Jubilee

His sole brother will be another year older this week.

So my father will drive headlong into the north Texas wind to sit across from him and honor his face.

No doubt they will speak of pickups and children until those topics grow quiet. Then their talk will seep into the porous ground of memory both recent and past.

Two older men talking fondly of older things, the essence of why they want to be together.

Before my father leaves that booming town he’ll wind beyond its frantic highway to the still cemetery where his parents sleep. He will go there as all mourners do, repeating Easter’s mistake, seeking the living among the dead.

My father knows this, but still he’ll go. To kneel and to place fresh flowers, an assertion in favor of the rising, and against the fallenness of time.

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YOUR DAD

IS RAD!

Do South® knows you love your dad. But we don’t know what makes him so special. There’s a solution, though. We’re looking for essays, 500 words or fewer, that celebrate your sweet dad. Tell us funny stories, heartwarming stories, stories only you can tell.

We’ll pick one for our June issue of Do South®, and we’ll share even more of these tributes on our social media accounts.

Here’s what we’ll need: 1. Your essay, either attached to an email as a Word document or pasted in the body of your email. No email? Mail your essay to Do South Magazine, 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903.

2. The subject line on your email, or on the envelope if you’re using regular mail, should read: Essay Submission.

3. If you’re using email, attach a photo of your dad. If you’re using regular mail, we’ll contact you and ask for a photo if your essay is selected. A photo is mandatory.

4. Make sure all your contact information is included: Name, address, phone.

5. Remember, the top word count is 500.

6. We must have your essay by May 1, to be considered.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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calendar

APRIL 5

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some images ourtesy Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

April 8 Coyote Challenge Trail Run Lake Fort Smith, Mountainburg 479.369.2469 Channel your inner coyote with a 5, 10, or 16K run through the Boston Mountains, beginning at 9am. Registration is $5. Call for more details.

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Submit your events to editors@dosouthmagazine.com April 14-16 Signs of Spring Devil’s Den State Park, West Fork 479.761.3325

TH Welcome spring with family-friendly hikes, crafts, and discover “wild edibles” with Dr. Tamara Walkingstick.

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April 5 Annie Alma Performing Arts Center almapac.org Annie, one of the world’s best-loved musicals, is being performed at the Alma Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm, and features unforgettable songs such as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” and “Tomorrow.”

See website for pricing.

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April 14-16 Great Escape Weekend and Easter Egg Hunt Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton petitjeanstatepark.com Enjoy free nature programs and family activities. The celebration ends with an “Easter Egg Scramble” for 2,000 Easter eggs. See website for details.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

April 15 Van Buren First Assembly of God Easter Egg Hunt vbfaonline.com The fun starts at 9am and runs until noon at the Field of Dreams in Van Buren.

Meet the Easter Bunny, see a helicopter drop thousands of Easter eggs, and play in the bounce house. Face painting, prize eggs, and more.

calendar

THETOPTENTHETOPTEN Head to the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center to hear the UAFS Jazz band perform, beginning at 7:30pm. Great music and a wonderful way to support local talent. See website for tickets.

April 15 Todd Oliver and His Talking Dog Van Buren centerforfinearts.org Van Buren Project Graduation is bringing nationally recognized comedian/ventriloquist/musician Todd Oliver and his real talking dog "Irving" to the Van Buren School District Fine Arts Center at 7pm.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

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April 20 Battle with the Blades Fort Smith neversayneverfoundation.org At 3:30pm, at Southside High School, eight US Paralympic athletes will be racing alongside student athletes in the McDonalds Relay, in a not-to-bemissed event. The money raised will benefit two charities.

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April 18-23 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Fayetteville waltonartscenter.org This incredible show is based on the runaway hit book with the same name.

Several showings of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will be performed at the Walton Arts Center.

April 22 Founders Day Lake Fort Smith State Park, Mountainburg 479.369.2469 From 6 to 8pm, Lake Fort Smith State Park invites you to a historical re-creation of an 1800s-era wedding, barn dance, and shivaree. Live music, homemade cobbler and ice cream.

Call for details.

April 20 UAFS Jazz Concert Fort Smith uafs.edu DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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people

Eileen Teagle sits inside her Fort Smith, Arkansas home, and the morning sun rushes in through tall windows and glass doors. From where she sits, there’s a view of the woods that abut her property, the trees coming to life early after a meek winter. On a nearby table are books about Monet, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Downton Abbey.

And on the walls are pictures of her family, displayed beside original artwork, some of which are her own.

A

Eileen Teagle

self-proclaimed

“crafty

girl,”

Eileen sees life as a state of wonder, and daily she discovers something new that inspires her. That inspiration ends up in her pieces, like hand-painted wooden door hangers and personalized banners she sells at her online Etsy shop, which is called Queenie Eileenie. Others she turns into projects for the craft classes she teaches with such joy.

As a child growing up in Atlanta, Eileen’s

QUEENIE EILEENIE Words Marla Cantrell images courtesy Eileen Teagle

mother

encouraged

her

creative bent. She’d ask Eileen to make certain Christmas and birthday gifts, for example, and praise Eileen for the outcome. She was an anomaly in her family; her four younger siblings were athletic instead of artistic, stars on playing fields and in gymnasiums.

Eileen would cheer them on, watching them carefully, but always in the back of her mind, her next craft project would be brewing.

When she considered college, she chose to study communications and public relations at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. When she graduated, she headed to New Orleans because the 1984 World’s Fair was coming, and she knew she’d find work. She landed a job as a management trainee at Hilton Hotel and fell in love with The Big Easy.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

She also fell in love with John Teagle, the man she later married.

Eileen laughs, and her laugh is big and happy. “My oven decided

The two settled in Texas, where she taught speech and religion

to die that day. When we realized that, I called my neighbor, and

at a Catholic school. She also headed the yearbook staff, and

we finished the class at her house.”

as deadlines approached so would the pressure. The kids would stick their heads in the door and ask, “Are you the Dragon Lady,

One of the best parts for Eileen is when the parents arrive to take

today, or Queenie Eileenie?”

their kids home. The kids beam as they show what they’ve done, away from technology, immersed in their imaginations. “I want

Eileen laughs at the thought of it. She liked the name, and she loved

kids to see that art is everywhere, it’s all around them. You can

those students. Today, some of her oldest friends call her Queenie.

see it in nature, in architecture. I want them to open their eyes and see the beauty of the world, and not the beauty of an iPad

When she and her family moved to Fort Smith sixteen years

or cell phone.”

ago, for her husband’s career, they made the decision that Eileen would stay home. By then, they had two sons, Patrick and

She teaches year-round, offering “Artie Parties” for kids and

Michael, and after they had settled in, she began making things

adults alike, which are held at the host’s house, typically, and last

like holiday and birthday banners that she sold locally, and she

two to three hours. But in the summer, Eileen holds morning and

began volunteering at her sons’ school and at church.

afternoon classes three days a week for five weeks. She takes students from six years of age to fifteen and limits her classes

Her creativity made her invaluable. She could decorate like

to ten students each. Sometimes she creates a theme around a

nobody’s business, and she could come up with crafts that kept

class, such as the cooking class.

the kids engaged. Vacation Bible School at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was a dream for her—all those happy kids with time to spend in the craft room. Which led her to consider, four years ago, if she should expand what she was doing.

“My kids went to I.C. and Trinity, and I’d always donate a craft party as part of their fundraisers,” Eileen says. “Several years ago, I offered a craft camp, and one mom bought it, and then another mom told me she really wanted it. I figured it was time to get an itinerary started. I knew I wouldn’t make a fortune, but that wasn’t my goal. I was a house mom, adding to the household budget while getting to stay home with my boys. And I believed in what I was doing.”

Eileen started out slowly, but soon more and more moms were signing up their kids. She holds the classes in her dining room and kitchen, keeping a stash of aprons and hospital scrubs at the ready so no one has to worry about spills.

She spends a lot of time coming up with projects that will delight the kids, making everything from soda-can monsters to door hangers for their rooms.

Some classes even include a cooking lesson. The kids will paint an apron or chef’s hat. They’ll also prepare dishes, such as the class where they made guacamole, enchiladas, and flan for dessert.

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people

Her students are typically eighty percent girls and twenty percent

Engelbert Humperdinck, for those who don’t already know, is

boys, although she’d love to have more boys. Often, she’ll take

a swoon-worthy, heavily side-burned, sometimes mustached

her students onto her deck, letting them enjoy the morning sun,

English pop singer, who’s sold 150 million records worldwide,

working on projects that build confidence.

including “After the Lovin’,” a song that still garners a reaction from women of a certain age.

“We do a lot of things with wood. I’ll cut pieces out and have them sand it. We use drills, and sometimes pliers. When they’ve finished, I want them to feel proud of what

“I made it all the sex symbol Engelbert. The old, the young.

When I called my mom, she said, ‘Engelbert!’”

they’ve accomplished.”

Eileen laughs again, the sound like music on this But her reach is far greater than Fort Smith.

bright spring morning. When she started out,

Through her Etsy shop, she connects with

this crafty girl from Georgia, she hoped she’d

art lovers everywhere. One of her best-

end up in advertising, promoting Coca-Cola,

selling items is the birthday banner she

which is headquartered in Atlanta. When she

personalizes for each customer. She asks

passed by the twenty-nine-story building at

for photos of the birthday boy or girl (or

the corner of North Avenue and Luckie Street,

man or woman) from over the course of

she thought her future resided there.

their life. Eileen then has the photos professionally printed to the size she needs, adding

But looking back, she sees how life works out.

birthday hats and embellishments, and then strings the photos through a cord that can be hung across a mantle or doorway.

She found an even better future, not on Luckie Street, but on an even luckier street in Fort Smith. Here, she lives out her dreams, creating art, and helping others discover it. Eileen looks again to the woods behind her house, to the light falling

“The banners started because my mom turned eighty, and she

on the trees. She touches the pearls at her neck, and smiles, so

didn’t want us to make a big deal. But that’s a big number, and

happy it feels contagious.

we wanted to celebrate. So I got pictures of my mom at all ages, and I added birthday hats and decorated it.

“Last year, a woman wanted one for her brother-in-law who was turning eighty. I asked things about him, like his favorite sports teams, where he went to college, so I could personalize it. And she said, ‘Well, he’s kind of famous.’ And I said, ‘Who is he?’ And she said,

Find Queenie Eileenie on Facebook; her Etsy shop, QueenieEileenie; or on her blog, queenieeileenie.blogspot.com.

‘Engelbert Humperdinck.’ I said, ‘I cannot wait to tell my mother!’”

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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pets

WELCOME HOME...

The Humane Society of the Ouachitas has more than 50 adoptable cats and dogs. Your best friend is waiting!

Call to learn about monthly adoption events in Fort Smith and Hot Springs.

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Sam

M

Lambchop

F

Chasity

M

Cinderella

Garfield

Sully

Humane Society of the Ouachitas Donations are always needed and greatly appreciated.

368 Polk County Road 50 | Mena, AR | 479.394.5682 | Tue. - Sat. 10am-2pm | www.hsomena.org | Each month, Do South® donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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entertainment

I Let You Go

By Clare Mackintosh | Berkley, 369 pages | $26 review Marla Cantrell

Late on a cold and rainy afternoon in Bristol, England, a mother walks her

Jenna makes friends with a nearby

five-year-old son, Jacob, home from

shopkeeper who brings her warm

his after-school program. Darkness is

clothing and homecooked food. She

falling, and the mother holds her son’s

finds an abandoned dog and takes it

small hand. But when home is in sight,

in, which leads her to a local veteri-

he slips free, darting across the street

narian who begins to stop by, wanting

and into the path of an oncoming car.

to get close to her.

The car doesn’t slow, and when it hits

But Jenna seems unable to move past

and kills the boy, the driver backs up

her sorrow, and she seems always

and speeds away.

to be expecting another tragedy to happen. As her story unfolds, the

This is the opening scene of I Let You

reader finds out there is reason for her

Go, a thriller that twists like switch-

fear. The other shoe is about to fall,

backs on a mountain road.

and in a devastating way.

After

the

accident,

Jenna

Gray,

Just when you think you have this

despondent over losing her child,

story figured out, it turns on itself,

leaves Bristol for the coast of Wales, and takes up in an old

revealing an even darker tale. Jenna is not who she seems to be.

cottage with problems of its own. The heat barely works. The

And someone from her past is out to get her, stalking her on this

lock on the front door works only intermittently. Under her bed,

remote beach where she’s come to hide.

she hides a box with keepsakes from her life as a mom, but she If you liked Girl on a Train, the runaway hit by Paula Hawkins,

never shares her story with anyone.

you will love I Let You Go. It will keep you wondering what’s Meanwhile, the Bristol police are looking for Jacob’s killer. Two

lurking around the next corner, and it will make you a tad bit

detectives work tirelessly, but to little avail. While the case engulfs

afraid to turn off the lights at night.

them, Jenna works to rebuild what’s left of her life. At home, she was a sculptor, but she’d suffered trauma to her hand. Now,

I loved this book. There was only one story line, which I won’t

with no way to make a living, she finds a new artistic outlet,

give away, that was a little hard to believe. But that is a small

writing messages on the sandy beach, photographing them, and

concession for a book that keeps you reading feverishly, hoping

selling her prints to a growing number of customers.

to figure out a mystery that is so cunningly crafted, so brilliantly well done.

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people

The Evangelist of Hope words Marla Cantrell images courtesy John Blase

“My only duty was to describe reality as it had come to me, to give the mundane its beautiful due.” ~ John Updike

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

At four o’clock in the morning, the world has not quite opened

“I’m not a big fan of death,” John says. “I get it. I understand

her eyes. On the street, a lone driver traces her way back

that life here ends. But I love this world, as messed up and as

home after a long night at work. On the mountaintops, the

weird and oftentimes as painful as it is.”

trees of spring are the color of coal, their leaves as ruffled as petticoats. On the dark water of the mountain lake, nothing

At least in part, he owes that outlook to his parents, who

stirs, at least not on the surface. All that is alive and waking is

handed him an idyllic childhood in the South. “My dad has

down below, far beyond what we can see.

been a Southern Baptist minister for over fifty years, with my mom working right beside him. Even though she wasn’t on the

But at a kitchen table in Monument, Colorado, hours before he

payroll, she did as much as he did, kind of in that ‘President and

has to be at his day job, poet John Blase sits in a halo of artificial

First Lady’ scenario. I have a brother, three years younger, who

light. Nearby is his thesaurus, a treasure he keeps as close as his

lives about an hour away from them in Southwest Arkansas.”

dearest friend. He reads his latest work aloud, and when a line doesn’t pull its weight, he opens the reference book, searching

When he looks at the facts of his life—he’s a first-born preach-

for its replacement. For John, the words are always auditioning,

er’s kid from the South, he says this. “That might be some

hoping to hit the pitch-perfect note that will allow them to stay.

therapist’s dream.”

Such is the life of this poet.

John laughs, and then he tells the real story. “When I think back on my childhood, it was nostalgic in the best sense of the

In March, in celebration of his fiftieth birthday, John released

word. There were never any scandals in the churches my dad

The Jubilee, his first book of poetry. The book’s cover shows

pastored, just a great life. I attended school for the most part

a section of a white clapboard church, its gothic window the

in Texarkana, Texas, where I participated in sports and church.

only adornment. The cover and the title say a lot about the

I was and am close to my brother.”

author. Jubilee is a specially celebrated anniversary, typically the fiftieth. And the church encompasses most of who John is and

After high school, John attended Ouachita Baptist University in

the faith where his hope rests.

Arkadelphia. (His son is now a student there.) He’d planned on becoming a doctor, but after graduating, he decided to attend

John started writing poetry six years ago as a counterbalance to

seminary, and eventually pastored churches in Arkansas and Texas.

his day job. As an acquisitions editor for WaterBrook & Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House, he spends his

He changed paths after fourteen years and now works with

days with books, typically 40,000 words or so in length, and

writers of faith, recently adding Eugene H. Peterson, the author

at night all those words kept rushing in. So he’d take all those

of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language.

big manuscripts with big thoughts about faith and Christian living and winnow them down to a few lines of poetry, just for

He credits his family and faith for his tender heart, and for his

himself, an exercise in craft and utility.

steadfastness. In June, he and his wife Meredith will celebrate their twenty-seventh anniversary. They have two daughters and

Those poems needed a place to live, so John started his blog, A

one son, three children who fill him with pride and wonder.

Beautiful Due. Soon, he had a substantial following. People who loved poetry were stopping by. But readers who hadn’t known

In Colorado, his love of nature swells. The Rocky Mountains,

they liked poetry at all were also intrigued. John’s poems about

Pikes Peak, The Garden of the Gods Park, all these places show

everyday life and everyday people had universal appeal.

the majesty of John’s western world.

Each line he writes is weighted with the divine, with his love

Somehow, he is able to translate his feelings for the natural

for this temporal world, and for the world beyond that waits

into his poetry. Last fall, when he thought about his upcoming

for us when our time here is over. Not that he’s in any hurry to

fiftieth birthday, he decided to do something to commemorate

get there.

it. He could run a marathon, he thought, but that would end DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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people

Updike says, “to give the mundane its beautiful due.” And we are thankful that he has.

Below is excerpt from the Jubilee I Don’t Believe I Ever Told You John Blase Are you ever afraid of dying?

I’m not talking about the dying that will deposit you directly into the Lord’s presence (as some hold).

But the dying that will tear John Blase

you from the fabric of here, the day the race was over. He wanted something permanent.

here where you’ve seen wonders.

He gathered eighty poems, then sent them to his mother who

I don’t believe I’ve ever told you I fear

offered to be part of the project, and they narrowed the field to fifty, one for each year of his life. He enlisted his brother, a

that second kind of dying. But I do.

graphic artist, who designed the book’s cover.

I’m telling you now because I’ve recently John does not expect to make so much money from his writing that his life changes much. When asked if someone can make

seen how life changes in an ordinary instant,

a living from writing poetry, he smiles, considering. “I haven’t been able to,” he says. “But if you want to talk about making

reminds us we live in a game of gossip,

a life with poetry, that’s another story. whispering our stories to the next in line.

“Our words form us. Our words change us. As someone who believes in language the way I do, I’m always aware of that.

We die. Then we’re passed along in

And in this time of great division in our country, I, like so many other people, are paying attention to that.”

another’s tongue, and I’m afraid they’ll

John pauses, and then he says, “Maybe in some way, I’m an

edit a crucial detail.

evangelist of hope.”

The definition fits. John, who wakes in the morning so early not one bird has risen from its nest, sits at his kitchen table coaxing words into masterpieces. In his hands, the ordinary becomes immaculate and new. He has learned, as writer John

For more on John, visit johndblase.com.

His new book of poetry, The Jubilee, is available at Amazon.com.

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community health

DO SOUTH CARES

®

April is World Autism Month, and as part of our Do South® Cares Initiative, we’re offering some insight from Autism Speaks®, a research and advocacy organization.

WHAT IS AUTISM DISORDER?

SPECTRUM

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.

The term “spectrum” reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.

WHO IS AT RISK? Recent research confirms that appropriate screening can determine whether a child as young as one year is at risk for autism. While every child develops differently, we also know that early treatment improves outcomes, often dramatically. Studies show, for example, that early intensive behavioral intervention improves learning, communication and social skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

One of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and become familiar with the typical developmental milestones that your child should be reaching.

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WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

• No words by 16 months

The following may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, please don’t delay in asking your pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation:

• No meaningful, two-word phrases (not

• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expres-

WHAT TO DO.

sions by six months or thereafter

• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles

or other facial expressions by nine months

• No babbling by 12 months

including imitating or repeating) by 24 months

• Any loss of speech, babbling or social

skills at any age

Autism Speaks ® has many resources for families and individuals affected by autism, including free tool kits for every stage of life.

To learn more, visit autismspeaks.org.

• No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing,

showing, reaching or waving by 12 months

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shop

Spring In!

words Catherine Frederick imageS Rachael McGrew & vendors

Home and seasonal décor

Seasonal cookie cakes

JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP AT SPARKS HEALTH

GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES 479.452.9999

479.441.4221

Orin Swift wines

Bentley unbreakable drinkware

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS

LUTHER STEM POOLS & SPAS

479.783.8013

479.646.7772

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shop

We’re celebrating spring with new home décor, delicious sips and sweets, and some gorgeous accessories that no one should live without. Spring on in to these shops today and support local businesses!

Hearts On Fire Illa Pendant, 18kt. rose, yellow or white gold

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

Spring décor and gifts

SUNSHINE SHOP AT MERCY FORT SMITH 479.314.6079

Tom Ford sunglasses and frames

Seasonal spirits in a variety of flavors

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY

IN GOOD SPIRITS

479.452.2020

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diy

e e P p , ! p e e P imag

ick eder e Fr n i r the e Ca

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T

This macaroon recipe is, simply put, the best recipe I’ve ever tasted. We originally published it in September, 2012, and I’ve made it countless times since. They are the perfect backdrop for my bird nests, just in time for Easter! Try it once, and I know you’ll make it again and again.

Ingredients • 14 oz. sweetened shredded coconut • 1 can sweetened condensed milk • ½ teaspoon vanilla • 2 egg whites • pinch of salt • 8 oz. milk chocolate (or dark if you prefer) • Peeps marshmallow chicks (decoration) • Mini Robin Eggs, malted milk candy (decoration)

1.

Method

Preheat oven to 325°. Combine coconut, condensed milk and vanilla. In separate bowl, beat egg whites and salt on high until medium peaks form. Fold egg whites into coconut mixture.

2.

Using an ice cream scoop, place mixture on parchment lined

3.

Once cooled, dip bottoms of macaroons into melted chocolate.

baking sheet 2 inches apart. Press in the center to create a nest.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Place on parchment paper to dry. Add mini eggs to each nest and top with a Peep if desired!

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people

THE GUY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS words Stoney Stamper Images courtesy April Stamper

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people

"Stoney, when was the pocket watch invented?" I shake my head,

The first few times I saw the girls, Emma continued asking

being brought back into the present with this random question,

one question after another. "Stoney, do you like jalapeños?"

one of hundreds that I'll undoubtedly be asked this day. I had

"Stoney, why is your house always so clean?" "Stoney, can I

been daydreaming before I heard the question. This daydreaming

play with your guitar?" The stream of questions felt as if they

happens fairly often. This time, I was on a hammock, on some

were being shot out of an AK-47, the next one was right on the

remote beach, but there was something peculiar about the scene.

tail of the one that had just hit you.

First of all, I was alone. That never happens. Second, it was quiet.

And you're more likely to hit the Power Ball than you are to have

One of the more memorable questions was after April and

any silence in my loud group of five.

I had been dating a while. We were on the couch watching TV, when Emma dropped this bomb. "Stoney, are you dating

When I was a bachelor, before I said “I do” to April and her

anyone other than Mom? Are you gonna be our dad?" Just

two daughters, Abby and Emma, my home was meticulously

as calm as she could be, she had just rocked my world. I

cared for, with a place for everything, and everything in its

began to stammer. The correct answer was "No, I'm not

place. Nothing was ever lost, because everything was where

dating anyone other than your mother, and oh my GOSH, I

it was supposed to be. But my favorite part of living alone

want to be your dad." But my nerves had gotten to me, and

was the silence. The absence of noise. The silent moments

I stumbled trying to answer the question while April laugh-

undisturbed by the sounds of the Bubble Guppies or Doc

ingly watched along. When I was finished, I answered, and

McStuffins. Now, there’s always talking, screaming, crying,

while it may not have been the most eloquent answer I've

tattling, gossiping, laughing, griping. No matter what, there

ever given, it was definitely one of the more memorable.

is always something coming out my girls’ mouths. And to be

And it was the truth. I wanted to be their dad. Oh, and also

honest, I think I handle it pretty well.

I wasn't two-timing their mom.

Now don't get me wrong, I can completely go off the tracks

Time has moved on. We've added another daughter to the

of the crazy train from time to time. But for the most part, I

mix, Gracee June, and she turned four in March. Our oldest

handle their constant buzzing in the background as nothing

daughter Abby has finally decided that she likes me too,

more than an occasional nuisance. When the girls talk

which only adds more questions to the mix. We've sure come

directly to me, they may have to repeat it, because I likely

a long way, but one thing hasn't changed. The questions are

wasn't listening the first time.

just as prevalent today as they ever were. Questions about

When April and I married five years ago, Emma was a tiny seven-year-old blonde with sparkling blue eyes, and a curious nature. When we first met, she wanted to know everything about me. "Stoney, where are you from?" "Stoney, what kind of truck do you drive?” "Stoney, do you have a nice house? Is it twostories?" "Stoney, do you have a dog?"

The questions from this little girl were endless. I immediately loved her for liking me so much, but I truly was not, and could not have been, prepared for the number of questions that she asked.

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horses and tennis shoes and go-karts and show pigs, and

Google search on my phone, I say nonchalantly, "It was

don't even get me started on the homework questions that

invented in 1524." Emma says "See? He knows everything."

Emma has about math. Those math questions could maybe

Well, maybe with a little help from the Internet.

break up happy families.

As I've sat here writing this, my daughters have each come At this point, I'm certain that they'll never ever end, but I

by and asked me a question. I answered each of them thor-

think I'm okay with that. April once asked Emma, "Why do

oughly, and with a smile on my face. Because I know that

you always ask him questions like that?" Emma replied with

someday, their mama and I are going to be alone in this

full confidence, "Because, Mom, Stoney knows everything."

house. We'll finally have that silence that I used to crave.

After hearing that, there's never a question I won't answer

And what I expect that we'll find is, we had exactly what we

for her. Once again, I'm brought back to reality by her ques-

wanted all along. And it certainly wasn’t silence.

tion. "When was the pocket watch invented?" With a quick

Stoney Stamper is the author of the popular parenting blog, The Daddy Diaries. He and his wife April have three daughters: Abby, Emma and Gracee. Originally from northeast Oklahoma, the Stampers now live in Tyler, Texas. For your daily dose of The Daddy Diaries, visit Stoney on Facebook or on his website, thedaddydiaries.net.

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taste

WORDS Emily Paige Skeen

The South is known for its lavish celebrations and decadent dishes.

Growing up here means being a part of endless gatherings—like tailgating parties, holiday shindigs, formals, family reunions, and so much more. The main attraction at these events: food. After all, what’s a traditional Easter feast without a delicious side of buttery mashed potatoes or a heaping helping of creamy banana pudding?

Sadly, these festivities often lead to unhealthy eating habits. Bad nutrition is instilled in many southern children from a young age and can be difficult to overcome. Any parent rearing children in the South can tell horror stories of attempting to feed kids vegetables. Unless, of course, those veggies are scattered, covered, and smothered.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways around this dilemma of nutrition versus tradition. All you need is a little creativity and a lot of patience. Substituting a few ingredients in your favorite dishes allows you to expose your kids to the southern traditions you hold dear, while maintaining an optimal level of health.

Dish up these three southern recipes—minus the guilt—for a meal you can feel good about feeding your family.

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Melon and Prosciutto Salad

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with Parmigiano-Reggiano Recipe and image James Stefiuk

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Melon and Prosciutto Salad (Serves 6-8)

40

Ingredients

Method

— 3 cups (½ inch) cubed honeydew melon

Combine honeydew, cantaloupe, mint, lemon juice and black pepper in large bowl.

(about ½ medium melon) — 3 cups (½ inch) cubed cantaloupe

Toss gently.

(about 1 medium melon)

— 3 Tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint — 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Pour melon mixture out onto a serving platter.

Distribute prosciutto evenly over melon mixture.

— ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper — 2 - 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto,

cut into thin strips

Garnish with cracked black pepper and fresh mint sprigs, if desired.

— ½ cup (2 ounces) shaved fresh

Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano over the dish.

Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

— Cracked black pepper (optional) — Mint sprigs (optional)

This colorful appetizer would be a fine addition to an antipasto spread. Parmigiano-Reggiano provides nutty contrast to sweet melons and mirrors the taste of salty prosciutto.

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Cit rus Sangria

image James Stefiuk recipe adapted from foodiemisadventures.com

INGREDIENTS (8-10 servings)

• 1 orange • 1 pink grapefruit • 2 lemons • 1 lime • 1 bottle white wine, cold (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling - dry) • 1 cup Limoncello • 3 cups Prosecco or club soda

METHOD Cut citrus fruits into ¼" thick rounds. Add wine, fruit and Limoncello to a large pitcher.

Refrigerate overnight, or at least 4-6 hours. Just before serving, add Prosecco or club soda.

Pour into ice-filled glasses, garnish with citrus slices from the pitcher.

Always drink responsibly.

Never drink and drive.

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people

As She

SLEEPS Words and Images Jessica Sowards

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Tonight, the light of my Macbook is spilling onto a hay-strewn barn floor.

The rhythmic sound of tapping keys is mixing with a hum of crickets and the soft moans of the doe laboring at my feet. Tonight, I am a goat midwife. I would usually be in bed by this hour, snuggled between crisp, white sheets, feet entwined with the farmer. We would be asleep, resting for the coming morning, if it were a regular night. But it isn’t. So I am perched upon an old, wooden rocking chair with peeling red paint, laptop on my lap, waiting for life to burst forth.

Have you ever been so familiar with something

that

when

you

got

a

different view of it, it took you by surprise? Do you know what I mean?

The moonlight is cold and slightly suggestive.

It plays tricks on the eyes; it transforms trees into shadowy towers and forests into bottomless expanses. But from the barn, it is a mercy light.

Like when you see a photo of yourself from the back and think, “Oh, how strange.” Or when you run into a person you know from work while

When I think of my life before this farm, it feels like looking

on vacation in another city, and you

into someone else’s story. The neighborhood I called home for

hardly recognize them out of their

decades now feels like a different world. Back then, when

usual setting? It’s like a revelation of

nights were lit by electric streetlamps, and the stars were

something you thought you knew well,

drowned from view, I would have called night dark and quiet.

the realizing there is still more to learn.

Neighbors slept when I slept, so their cars and TVs slept too.

And so it was quiet, and beyond the streetlamps, it was dark.

My farm during daytime is as familiar to me as my own body. The way the

In the barn, I’m surrounded by the sound of chewing cud.

morning light shines upon her through

Even as my goat herd lies resting, they chew. It’s a rhythmic

the trees, she glows and glistens before

sound, strangely comforting and so very alive. The sweet scent

the dew dries. The smells of animals and

of hay is somewhat muted by the damp of the night. The hay

manure mingle with the sweet scent of

feeder stands nearly empty, depleted from constant visits by

hay and grass. It assaults the senses in all

twelve hungry girls today, waiting to be replenished by the

the best ways and in some of the worst

farm boys in the morning. From the back of our property, a

ones. The day is fruitful. The chickens are

soft lull of birds floats through the night air. They make noise

laying, and the goats are being milked. I

even in their sleep, the guineas, turkeys, and chickens. Low,

tend to the garden in the mornings and

hushed squawks and the occasional crow, it is a gentle sound

spend the afternoons in the kitchen,

compared to the roar and ruckus of daybreak.

mixing and kneading dough. The day is busy and long, tiring but so lovely. The

In the far distance, a siren sounds. Perhaps the volunteer fire

night, however, is a foreign thing.

department or maybe an ambulance seven miles off in the

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people

closest town? I can hardly hear it. It reaches my ears more

Tonight is different, though. It is not a regular night. It

like a question than a declaration, but then Dakota, our giant

is not a night where we arrive home too late and unload

white livestock guardian dog booms in response. The doe

sleeping children beneath the waving sky without so much

jumps in surprise, and I do, too. Then we settle back into our

as a glance upward. Tonight, the stars have my eyes. They

reverent waiting. The night, in all her soft and tender sounds,

look almost layered as if laid down above me in sheets and I

she is anything but quiet, and she fills the air again as the

am certain they tell a story beyond my ability to comprehend.

booming subsides.

Surely they are a part of something so much bigger than me.

Beneath these stars, on a little farm in the Arkansas woods,

The clock has rolled past midnight now. I heard the TV switch

I am very, very small.

off a while ago, the farmer abandoning his wait for me to return. If I were to go in, I’d find five boys sleeping in five

The doe is shifting, her long face lays upon the hay. She begins

beds, mouths slightly open, with deep, soft snores emitting

to doze, and I wonder if perhaps we will have a morning baby

from their sweet bodies. And I’d find the farmer sleeping just

instead of a night one. The new mother in the kidding stall

the same as his sons, curled on the left side of the bed with

next door whispers sweet nothings to her day-old kid. It has

blankets on the right side pulled back, inviting. I won’t go in

been a fruitful weekend. My mind wanders to the contents

just yet, though. I’ll stay on my post, surveying the farm and

of the pantry, planning breakfast for a full house. Farmhouse

observing the swollen and stirring goat.

quiches are my fallback breakfasts for sleepy mornings, and tomorrow will certainly be one. As captivating as night is, the

In the country, even in the very depths of night, it is not

morning pushes her way in whether I welcome her or not.

dark. Even now, the moon is waxing, nearly full. He joins with his bedfellows, the stars, to sing over my farm and those

As one a.m. flirts with the clock on my screen, I imagine

surrounding. The light that falls in the night is very different

curling up on the hay as well. Or maybe wandering into my

than the soft glow of morning or the golden blaze of dusk.

comfortable bed. Perhaps if I open the window to the damp,

The moonlight is cold and slightly suggestive. It plays tricks on

cool night, the sounds of strong labor will carry in and alert

the eyes; it transforms trees into shadowy towers and forests

me. Will I risk it? Maybe. In a little while, if she continues

into bottomless expanses. But from the barn, it is a mercy

to rest, I’ll do the same. But for now, for just a little while

light. It means I am not alone, with my glowing computer

longer, I’ll sit up with her and the living, shining night. I’ll

screen, in lighting the place.

close my eyes to the gentle sounds of a farm as she sleeps, as she chews and crows and prepares for another fruitful day.

Oh, and the stars, the silver, singing stars. I couldn’t see them

I’ll close my eyes to the bright, story-telling sky. I’ll feel the

from the neighborhood. I remember late-night car trips on

warm, full body press against my boots and the calm, sweet

country roads, when I, the city girl, would demand the car be

breeze kiss me goodnight. Goodnight. Goodnight, night. You

pulled over. From the shoulder, I would awe, neck craned, at

are lovely to discover.

the galaxy I lived my life oblivious to. If I may confess to you tonight, from my rocking chair post, in becoming a regular farm girl, I have come to take the stars for granted.

Follow Jessica on her blog @thehodgepodgedarling.blogspot.com.

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garden

BEE FRIENDLY It’s more important than ever that we do our part to help bees thrive. We encourage everyone to include flowers and herbs in your yard or garden areas this spring. The bees will return the favor, pollinating the flowers so you can enjoy a rich harvest of vegetables, fruits, and beautiful flowers all year long.

Tips Choose single flower tops like marigolds. Double flower plants, like impatients, look impressive but produce far less nectar and make it hard for bees to get to the pollen. Skip the hybrid plants, they have been bred not to seed and have little pollen for the bees.

Plant three different types of flowers in your beds so that bees have food throughout the season! Example: hyacinth in spring, hosta in summer, zinnias in the fall. Use natural pesticides and fertilizers only if you must. Consider inviting beneficial bugs, like ladybugs, spiders, and praying mantises, to keep pests away naturally.

Place a shallow container of water with rocks and sticks for bees to land on while drinking to ensure a fresh supply of clean water. Leave the container in the same spot and fill it often.

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What to plant: (only a partial list)

Lavender Sage Hollyhock Buttercup Geranium Thyme Fennel Crocus Snowdrop Aster Calendula Poppy Zinnia Sunflower Heliotrope For more information, visit thehoneybeeconservancy.org.

community

Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore.

There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.

Albert Schweitzer

Earth Day, April 22 Arbor Day, April 28 DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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Logoly State Park

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National Environmental Education Week will be celebrated from April 23-29 and attracts hundreds of thousands of participants across the country. At Logoly, the first Arkansas State Park specifically dedicated to environmental education, every week is National Environmental Education Week. Located in southwest Arkansas, Logoly State Park is home to beautiful trails and a new state of the art visitor center where kids of all ages can learn about the natural world around them through interactive exhibits.

For more information, visit ArkansasStateParks.com/logoly.

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words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Conway Area Chamber of Commerce

“He ketched a frog one day, and took him home, and said he cal’lated to educate him; and so he never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn that frog to jump.”

– Mark Twain, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”

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With all due respect to a certain mouse, Conway, Arkansas may just be the happiest place on earth.

The self-proclaimed City of Colleges (there are three here) is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arkansas and has been for years.

Recent commercial growth, including major retail developments, a second hospital and the lynchpin arrival of Hewlett-Packard a few years ago, has spawned sprawling housing and a bustling local economy.

Some of that development money has landed in the city’s historic downtown where restaurants and local retailers crowd into the city’s core. It’s the kind of place you go when you want a living postcard of Americana. And this May, for the thirty-sixth time, downtown is also ground zero for all things amphibian with the annual Toad Suck Daze festival.

“When they first started Toad Suck Daze, the reason they did it was to get people out of that winter doldrums,” says Mary Margaret Satterfield, director of the festival and special events for the Conway Chamber of Commerce. “It was spring, they wanted to get people out into the community and enjoy the weather.

“It's a fun time to get out of your house, have some fair food, go shopping, listen to music. It's just a great weekend.”

As community festivals go, there’s nothing quite like Toad Suck Daze, the largest free festival in Arkansas. There are many events that are older, such as Stuttgart’s Wings Over the Prairie Festival and World Championship Duck Calling Contest, and the Johnson County Peach Festival in Clarksville, which will observe the eightysecond and seventy-sixth showings this year, respectively.

And there are certainly those built around unusual themes from the whimsical (World Champion Cardboard Boat Races in Heber Springs), to the gastronomical (Watermelon Festival in Hope) and, shall we say, colorful (PurpleHull Pea Festival and World Championship Rotary Tiller Race in Emerson).

But nowhere do all the elements of classic American small-

“We are very lucky to be in the community that we are,” she

town pride come together better than Toad Suck Daze. Mary

says. “We are lucky that our downtown businesses support us and

Margaret, who has been the point person of the event for fifteen

allow us to be downtown. We also work with our city very well.

years and attended several more during her growing up here, said the spirit of the event is the same as it ever was, a reflection

“We also have a committee of sixty volunteers that work year

of community pride.

around on the festival; ten different subcommittees that work on

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everything from the Kids' Zone to the merchandise to entertain-

Several alternative stories and theories have been advanced,

ment and logistics. We also have another probably 250 to 300

such as the name wasn’t really Toad Suck but the locals’

that come on the weekend of the festival to help out.”

mispronunciation of French names for the area or that when the water was low sailors referred to it as a suck. Some claim

For as impressive as the festival’s statistics have become –

the nickname was applied to just one person, a bulbous ferry

100,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event,

boat operator with a penchant for drink. Either way, the phrase

nearly double Conway’s population – the most intriguing facts

stuck, perhaps in part thanks to the tavern in the prevailing

about the festival lie in the name itself.

story, which may or may not have been renamed Toad Suck Saloon as a standing tell-off to the city’s do-gooders. The truth

Like many slices of local lore, the origin of the name Toad Suck

is lost to history.

is shrouded by time and distorted over more than a century of retelling. Several versions exist, but all seem to coalesce around

What is not in dispute is the uniqueness of the name or of

traffic on the nearby Arkansas River.

the locals’ pride and marketing savvy using the moniker as the basis for the festival. Started in 1981 by community

In days gone by, steamboats, barges and ferry crossings were

volunteers, Toad Suck Daze attractions revolve around the

common at various points, and a port existed where Toad

weekend’s signature event.

Suck Lock and Dam is now. At times, the river was not deep enough for steamboat and other traffic so captains would tie

“You've got to point out the toad races,” Mary Margaret says.

up at the port and wait for the waters to rise. In the mean-

“For anybody who has been here or wants to come, that is

time, crews from these vessels would make their way to a

what makes Toad Suck unique.”

tavern that perched nearby for just such a clientele. Locals looked upon the ensuing drunkenness with disgust, saying of

Preparation for the races begins well in advance of the event,

the human morass, “they suck on the bottle until they swell

when the organizing committee distributes “toad toters” to

up like toads.”

schoolkids throughout Faulkner County to go into the wild and catch and transport their amphibious contenders. To service out-

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of-towners, a toad roundup is held by volunteers the Tuesday

doubt smiling over the money the event generates for educa-

before the festival and the resulting stable of racers is kept on

tional and community initiatives.

hand for visitors to select and enter in competition, which unfolds under the watchful eye of a designated Toadmaster.

“Since 2010 we have given $70,000 to downtown Conway to help with beautification and economic development there,”

“Our Toadmaster calls the races and does the Toady Woady

Mary Margaret says. “Since the beginning of the festival, we’ve

[a dance similar to the Hokie Pokey] for everybody,” Mary

given $1.6 million in education initiatives and since 2012, Toad

Margaret says. “That's the most unique aspect of the festival.”

Suck Daze has awarded more than $100,000 to local early childhood education initiatives.”

Other attractions include concerts, crafts, 5K and 10K road races and an early-season taste of fair food through the festi-

About the only damper surrounding Toad Suck Daze is one

val’s many vendors. Grinning toad mascots are everywhere, no

of sheer physics, meaning, there’s only so many toad-racing,

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travel

corndog-eating, toe-tapping, frog-hat-wearing festival goers you can jam into the city’s charming brick-cobbled core. Mary Margaret says the issue of moving the event is hotly debated between those wanting to give the festival room to grow and those who fear it will lose its soul at a new address.

“Being downtown is integral to Toad Suck Daze. The atmosphere downtown is something that we want to try to keep as long as possible,” she says. “The people who came before me did an amazing job growing the festival and really making it what it is today. We want to make sure to stay with that spirit.”

Toad Suck Daze | May 5-7, 2017 Downtown Conway | Free Admission toadsuck.org

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southern fiction

FICTION Marla Cantrell

This was years ago when we lived in the apartment that was

with the big black hair and too much eyeliner. We know what

so small I gave you the only bedroom, when I slept on the

a disaster that was.

divan in the living room.

The night I’m thinking about, you had on your pajamas with Your daddy and I had been divorced three years by then, and

the robots on them. And I had on gray sweatpants and one

you were only six. I figured you didn’t remember me and your

of your dad’s T-shirts I’d kept for some reason. We were

daddy together in any real way, but sometimes when you’d

watching on our VCR The Great Outdoors with John Candy,

come home from his house, your little boy hand in his, you’d

a Canadian we both loved, and we were laughing when he

pull him through the doorway and you’d say, “Stay!” and I’d

came through the door of the cabin with the grizzly chasing

wonder what you were thinking.

him, and he was sputtering the words ‘big bear’ over and over, his eyes as big as two pizza pies.

I still loved your daddy. But we were fire and gasoline together, or fire and a nuclear reactor, and he later married that woman

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southern fiction

You still had dimples where your knuckles should have shown,

had been talking to you about how I walked out on him, how he

a baby’s hands. You were eating crunchy lemon cookies that

didn’t see it coming, although, let me tell you, he should have.

had the circle cut out in the middle. You’d put one on your index finger, twirl it around, take a bite, laugh. It never got old.

Maybe in your dream, we’d both gotten eaten by that grizzly from the movie. I did stop playing that tape except in the

When I put you to bed, you smelled like bubble gum flavored

daylight hours. Before it started, I’d tell you the bear was not

toothpaste. You slept with a ratty old bunny, and a He-Man doll

a real one, which I believed took a little bit away from John

from that cartoon you loved.

Candy’s performance, a thing I hated for you.

Sometime in the night, you woke from a bad dream. And then

I’ve been thinking about our apartment. It had green shag

I woke to find you standing over me, your eyes rimmed in red,

carpet, a gold sink in the kitchen, a patio door that led to the

your soft brown hair standing on end—you pulled your hair

sorriest little patio I’d ever seen. It cost me three-fourths of my

when things got out of hand—so I knew you’d been despairing

paycheck to rent it, and still, there was no bedroom for me. I’d

for a while.

wake with my back hurting, my neck sore. It was a small thing, and I don’t regret it.

“Mama,” you said and held your arms straight out, and I sat up and lifted you onto the divan, and I placed my hand on the crown

Your daddy called me today, something he hasn’t done in years.

of your head. “It’s all right, Bobby Boy,” I said. “Mama’s here.”

It was a shock to hear his voice. I always thought he sounded like a radio preacher when he was younger. Now he sounds like

You were trembling, your little round belly shaking. “I saw all

a gunslinger in those old Westerns he loves so much.

the way to the end,” you said.

Still, it stirred something in me. The heart doesn’t make a lick It was such an odd thing to say. “The end of what?” I asked, and

of sense. He said, ‘Remember when Bobby was just a itty bitty

you jabbed your chest and then mine, and you said, “Of us.”

thing? How he wouldn’t go to sleep without you singing “Take It Easy” to him.’ He laughed, and I could just about see his eyes

I kissed the top of your head. “There’s no end to us, baby. You

closing as he did it, the color blooming across his cheeks. ‘Why

and me, we go on and on. You can’t get rid of your mama.”

in the name of Job’s turkey did you sing him a song about a man so overrun by womenfolk that he had to hit the road?’

You exhaled, the power of that effort shaking your thin chest.

“But I saw it.”

I said, “I liked the part about Winslow, Arizona,” I said. “I’d been there as a girl. I’d been all over the state of Arizona before

“A dream, baby doll. Nothing more.”

we moved to Arkansas.”

“You promise?”

Your daddy said, ‘I can’t believe Bobby turned out as good as he did.’

“I double-dog promise,” I said, and you looked at me for a long time, puzzling something out. “Okay,” you finally said, and you

Honey, that’s what your daddy really thinks about you. He

leaned into me the way you used to do, letting go, letting me

thinks you’re good. I know he doesn’t say it to you much, or

hold you up.

maybe ever. I know you think he’s a sorry so-and-so about half the time, but he’s not all bad.

A better mama might have asked you more about the dream, but I didn’t want to know. I had an imagination myself, and I

There was this one time, long before you were born when your

could see a hundred ways we could end, most of them involving

daddy and me were out on the dance floor. I was wearing jeans

car crashes or house fires. I did wonder, though, if your daddy

and high-heeled sandals and a wreath in my hair that I’d woven

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southern fiction

from honeysuckle I’d found on the fencerow at my house. My hair

bedroom, I’d hung our old Christmas lights, and the colors

was the softest brown, just like yours, and I wore it to my waist.

danced across the white walls.

Your daddy led me around that dance floor like the Pied Piper.

My intention was to spruce it up the best I could, to move At the end of the night, he said, ‘You really should stay away

our lives as far from the end of the road as I could. You put

from the likes of me.’ He had his fingers hooked through the

your hands to your mouth when you saw your room, and you

belt loops on my jeans. I couldn’t have stayed away from him if

jumped up and down. I could have stood in the light from

he’d called a Greyhound bus to carry me off. ‘I got demons that

your joy all night long.

haunt,’ he said, and he looked away, frowning.

Lately, son, I’ve been seeing all the way to the end, just like Turns out, honey, he didn’t have any more demons than I did.

you did when you were six, and this time I can’t do anything

You get to be a certain age, after having done certain things,

to stop it. I wanted to tell you that, how some days my

and those demons show up on your doorstep with a suitcase

heart flip-flops in a way that seems dangerous. I get winded

in their hands.

working in the yard, tending the flowers, say, or running the push mower. At night, when I should sleep, I figure out how

They’re not really demons, though. They’re just regrets we

many days I’ve lived. How many I might have left.

dress up and let move in. I’ve been working through mine, an old woman finally taking inventory of her life.

I feel like John Candy in that movie, with a big ole bear behind me. The grizzly’s gaining ground, no doubt he is, and I’m

That night you woke me up with your dream, I’d been feeling

looking for a safe place to hide. John Candy ran straight for

awful sorry for myself. I was a young woman, younger than

his cabin, but my refuge is a shabby apartment I can still see

you are now. Some of my girlfriends were still going out on

in my mind, with shaggy carpet and a son who ate lemon

Saturday nights, still getting the attention of men who had the

cookies that spun like tops on his little finger.

power to make their lives easier if they wanted to.

When your daddy called a little bit ago, he said, ‘Ellie, I believe And there I was. Broken and broke. I turned off the TV after you

we could have made it if we hadn’t been so gall darn stub-

went to bed. Upstairs, the McCarrons were fighting again, and I

born.’ He’s wrong of course, but it’s nice to hear.

heard glass shattering as one or the other threw something that hit the wall or floor. I covered my head with my pillow.

Now, Bobby, he’s headed your way right now and should be there by Thursday. He wanted to surprise you, but some

I’d gotten everything wrong, I could see that, from marrying

things are more shock than surprise, so I wanted you to know.

your daddy on. And you were going to pay for it right along

I hope when he knocks at your door, you’ll open your arms

with me, scraping by week after week. Before you stood over

to him. Our stubbornness runs deep in you, son, but you’re

me, your hair a spiky crown on your perfect head, I’d felt you

smarter than both of us put together.

before I saw you. And then you spoke. “Mama,” you said. “I saw all the way to the end.”

That’s it. That’s all your old mama wanted to say. That, and thank you. I don’t know what would have happened to me if

The next weekend, when you were at your daddy’s, I turned that

you hadn’t come along when you did. You were the piece of

sentence over and over, taking it with me to the market and the

heaven I didn’t deserve but got anyway. You are the love that

second-hand store, to the day-old bread shop where I stocked up

took me past the end of everything.

on stale snack cakes and yeast rolls just about to go bad.

When you came home on Sunday, I showed you the tidied kitchen, the patio I’d washed down until it sparkled. In your

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ALL ABOUT KIDS

Do South All About ®

KIDS

Our kids are our whole world.

They make us laugh, and sometimes cry, but through it all we do everything we can to keep them healthy and happy, no matter how busy we get.

But being busy can keep us from knowing everything we’d like about the businesses and services that cater to our kiddos. Never fear, though!

That’s where Do South® comes in, bringing you the latest on everything from education, health, entertainment,

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sports, and more!

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2407 Massard Road, Fort Smith 479.452.5330 1stlutheran.com

Beauty through Health 8500 S. 36th Terrace, Fort Smith 479.648.1800 Find them on Facebook

We provide a Christ-centered, excellent academic education for students in preschool through sixth grade. All of

What is beauty? Is it truly "in the eye of the beholder"? For

our students have unique opportunities to supplement their

most of us, the most critical beholder is ourselves. With the

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the Center of All We Do" by providing biblically-based religion

Take time for you! Call Beauty Through Health today for a

classes and chapel services, emphasizing a Christian worldview

beautiful tomorrow.

for our families and students.

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ALL ABOUT KIDS

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6121 S. Zero, Fort Smith 725 S. 48th Street, Springdale 479.646.3484 / 765.5511 burtonpools.com

Dr. Marcella Jones / Dr. Deborah Hays 6801 Rogers Avenue, 2nd Floor, Fort Smith 479.274.6800 cooperclinic.com Want to do something important for the ones you love? Ensure they’re cared for by a well-trained family physician. Family

What other product can bring a family together, turn special

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They are accepting new patients of all ages – children and

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you’ll find you never need to go anywhere else. Call Burton Pools

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& Spas today – we are your source for backyard fun!

cooperclinic.com.

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ALL ABOUT KIDS

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5912 S. 28th Street, Fort Smith 479.646.1616 flamefs.com

602 Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith 479.782.2041 fnbfs.com

Flame

offers

recreational

gymnastics,

USA

Gymnastics

Junior Olympic competitive teams (Levels 3 - 10), and Tiny First National Bank of Fort Smith is excited to see what’s next

Tot and Preschool gymnastics classes. There’s also Mom 'N

for today’s kids. As proud supporters of the communities we

Tot gymnastics classes—loved by moms and kiddos alike—

serve, we are investing in the next generation across all walks of

tumbling classes, and even Urban Gymnastic classes! During

life and professions. We hope to make a positive impact on our

the summer, kids nine months old to twelve years old can learn

kids through our financial literacy program for area elementary

to swim (beginners, advanced beginners, intermediate and

schools, and through the Step Up Speak Out child abuse preven-

advanced swimmers)! We also offer amazing birthday party

tion initiative. Online or in person, we’re here to help.

packages. If your child is ages four through twelve, plan their next birthday party with us, for a party they’ll never forget!

FLAME GYMNASTICS ACADEMY 5912 South 28th Street, Fort Smith 479.646.1616 | flamefs.com | Celebrating 31 Years!

Love competition? Flame has produced 35 State Champion Teams, and more than 600 Individual and All Around State Champions! Call us today, and start your child on the road to fun and fitness!

Gym Hours Monday - Thursday: 10a - 7:30p Friday: 10a-6:30p Saturday: 10a – 12p

Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9a-8p Wednesday: 9a-7:30p Friday: 9a - 6:30p

We Offer: Urban Gymnastics Classes Girl's & Boy’s Recreational Gymnastics USAG Level 3-10 Competitive Girls Teams USAG Level 4-10 Competitive Boys Teams

Mom N’ Tot, Preschool & Tiny Tot Gymnastics Swim Lessons with Jayne Jacobson and Daniel Beam Birthday & Splash Bash Swim Parties Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Tumbling Classes

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Developing Mind, Body & Spirit since 1985!

Flame Gymnastics is the leader in Gymnastics and Tumbling instruction in the River Valley. We offer over 20,000 sq. ft. of gymnastics fun and fitness. The finest equipment and the most experienced instructors ensure your child will learn and enjoy their gymnastics experience!

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3304 South M Street, Fort Smith 479.785.4677 kistlercenter.org The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center is a place of help and hope. What was born out of one family’s need, over 38 years

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ago, has grown to become a respected outpatient treatment center known throughout the region. Here, children receive the therapy they need and parents see that they are not alone.

In 2011, the Kistler Center was certified by the Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services as an Alternative Community Services (ACS) Waiver provider.

This program serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. Now, the Kistler Center can bring help and hope to children and adults.

3300 Briar Cliff Avenue, Fort Smith 479.646.6003 htacademy.net Harvest Time Academy is now enrolling for Kindergarten - 6th grade! Our small class size, proven curriculum, and specialized electives offer River Valley families an excellent private Christian education. Teaching character with academics we are raising a generation of Christian leaders. Electives include Music and Movement, Creative Art, S.T.E.M., Flame Gymnastics, Computer Keyboarding, and Spanish. $6,295 tuition ($5,995 kindergarten) includes lunch. No added fees!

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children

- C.S. LEW IS

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AR E NOT D I STR A C TI ON S FROM MORE I MP OR TA N T WOR K, THEY A R E THE MOST IMPOR TA N T WOR K.

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314 S. 17th Street, Fort Smith 1530 W. Center Street., Suite 3, Greenwood 479.782.1444 lpgkids.com Learn, Play, Grow Children's Therapy Services is an outpatient

7300 Zero Street, Fort Smith 479.788.6550 parrotislandwaterpark.com

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pediatric therapy provider with locations in both Fort Smith and Greenwood! We offer physical, occupational, and speech

Get ready for a Summer of Fun! The Season begins May 27.

therapy services to children of all ages, diagnoses, and abili-

Get special savings on both the Blue Pass and Gold Pass until

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by therapists who have a passion for working with children.

on down the Lazy River, shoot some hoops in the Activity Pool

We accept most forms of insurance and payment, including

or take a ride on the wild side with exciting, heart racing water

Arkansas Medicaid, Oklahoma SoonerCare, TRICARE, BCBS,

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about safe sleep and to warn them about the dangers of infants sleeping in adult beds, on couches, or in cribs filled with blankets and pillows.”

Tina Snider, RN, IBCLC, RLC, CPSTsc, is the hospital’s Lactation Consultant and Safe Sleep Education Program

ALL ABOUT KIDS

and local groups are working hard to educate parents

coordinator. She encourages parents to follow the infant Safe Sleep and safety recommendations set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

SAFE SLEEP AND SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) Always place your baby on his or her back

SPARKS HEALTH SYSTEM 479-709-DOCS SparksHealth.com

for every sleep time.

2) Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats

and other sitting devices are not recommended

for routine sleep.

3) The baby should sleep in the same room Sparks Regional Medical Center was recently recognized

by the

4) Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the

National Safe

Sleep

Hospital Certification

Program and the Arkansas Department of Health for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.

Each year in the United States, there are 3,500 Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths. In Arkansas, about 60 infants die

as the parents, but not in the same bed.

crib, including pillows, blankets, and bumper pads.

5) Do not use wedges or positioners.

6) Do offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.

7) Avoid covering the infant’s head or overheating.

each year, according to the ADH. Some of these deaths are a result of unsafe sleep practices.

Sparks Health System includes Sparks Regional Medical Center, Sparks Medical Center – Van Buren, Sparks Clinic,

By becoming a Cribs for Kids® National Bronze Certified Safe

Sparks PremierCare and the fully hospital-integrated Marvin

Sleep Hospital, Sparks has demonstrated its commitment

Altman Fitness Center. For more information about Sparks

to being a community leader and proactively eliminating as

Health System, visit www.SparksHealth.com.

“More babies die in Arkansas before their first birthday than in the nation as a whole,” said Mary Aitken, MD, MPH, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Center for Applied Research and Evaluation. “Too many of these deaths occur in unsafe sleep environments, and we know how to prevent many of those deaths. National, state

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many sleep-related deaths as possible.

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Manar Ibrahim, MD, and Samina Nadvi, MD 5428 Ellsworth Road, Fort Smith, AR 479.709.7337 sparksphysicians.com

2101 Dallas Street, Fort Smith, 808 S. Broadway St., Poteau, OK 479.782.3021 udoujorthodontics.com

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Pediatricians Manar Ibrahim, MD, and Samina Nadvi, MD, are now seeing patients at 5428 Ellsworth Road across from

Welcome to Udouj Orthodontics, the office of Dr. Henry J.

Central Mall. The pediatricians share a clinic with the primary

Udouj, Jr. and Dr. Henry J. Udouj, III, a respected provider in

care physicians of Sparks Medical Clinic to offer convenient

our orthodontic care community since 1972! We have offices

care for the whole family in one location. When your child is

to serve you in Fort Smith, Arkansas and Poteau, Oklahoma.

not feeling well or needs a check-up, Sparks Pediatrics provides

Our practice's top priority is to provide you the highest quality

the following services: Well-baby care and well-child exams,

orthodontic care in a fun, friendly, comfortable environment.

Care of general pediatric illnesses, School, camp and sports

We utilize the latest technological advances in the field of

physicals, Laboratory testing, X-rays, DHS Physicals. Both pedi-

orthodontics to ensure that you receive the most effective care

atricians are accepting new patients. To make an appointment,

possible. Schedule your appointment with us at Udouj Ortho-

call 479.709.7337.

dontics today!

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Boys Basketball Camps 479.788.7592 / 479.788.7593 uafsbasketballcamps.com

Asst. Superintendent Dr. Brian Summerhill 2221 Pointer Trail East, Van Buren 479.474.7942 vbsd.us

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Don’t miss your chance to sign up for summer basketball camps at University of Arkansas - Fort Smith! We offer skills camps,

VBSD is proud to participate in school choice for 2017-2018!

shooting camps and elite camps for boys in Kindergarten

Area students can be part of one of the region’s most progres-

through 12th grades. Camp will focus on the fundamentals of

sive districts. Van Buren provides unique opportunities for all,

shooting, ball-handling, passing, defense, and rebounding as

including online learning options, Advanced Placement curric-

well as shooting fundamentals, action drills and the mechanics

ulum, STEM education, and access to the latest technology.

of shooting. Utilizing the UAFS basketball facilities, campers

Van Buren also partners with multiple universities to offer

will have a full week or skill development, exercise, and fun.

concurrent course credits, vocational training, and the chance

Costs and ages vary by camp, see our website for details and

to earn an associate degree before graduating high school.

to register today!

VBSD is also known for its award-winning fine arts programs and wide-range of extracurricular activities. Show your Pointer Pride and enroll today!

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