Cozy January 2015

COZY

January 2015 DoSouthMagazine.com

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CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Catherine Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Lauren Allen Marla Cantrell Patti Polk Casey Marcus Coker Catherine Frederick Nancy Hartney Anita Paddock Yvonne Pratt Jessica Sowards Stoney Stamper Janna Wilson Jessica Wooden Graphic Design Artifex 323

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PROOFREADER Charity Chambers PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC

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INSIDE 10

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BRAVE, THE AIDEN ALDER STORY He's only eight years old and already he's seen more doctors and hospital rooms than most of us ever will. Find out how Aiden Alder manages to keep such a sweet spirit, and why he's celebrating 2015.

SWEATER WEATHER Upcycle! That's the theme of this month's DIY by Janna Wilson. See what she's done with a few old sweaters, a lot of ingenuity, and a creative streak that will amaze you.

MAZAHERI'S MAGIC Local photographer Tyler Mazaheri is being asked to take senior photos and engagement pictures, even though he's not yet old enough to drive himself to the shoots. See his stunning work and eye for detail.

SQUASH IT! It's January, and that means we're all determined to eat healthy. But do we have to sacrifice flavor to do so? No, we do not! Lauren Allen's Tex-Mex stuffed spaghetti squash will tip the scales in your favor.

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ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com Š2015 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.

FOLLOW US Subscribe to Do South! 12 issues per year for only $30, within the contiguous United States. Subscribe online at DoSouthMagazine.com, or mail check to 7030 Taylor Avenue, Suite 5, Fort Smith, AR 72916.

letter from Catherine

Y

05

"You’re going to make an old woman out of yourself before

and send us cards and letters telling us so, and we thank you

your time," says my dad. He’s been telling me this for some

so much for that. In this issue there is plenty to adore. We're

time. He tells me to slow down. Cut back. Do a little less. Rest

showing you what to do with your sad, worn out sweaters, to

a little more. It all sounds wonderful in theory. But you see,

turn them into a DIY that's fabulous. We're making a squash

I have issues. I am a doer. An overachiever

dish that's delicious and healthy, and we're

by nature. And a control freak. And a world

giving you a great book and new album that

class worrier. And a people pleaser.

are sure to brighten these long days of winter.

I don’t know how to slow down, or say no. Or

But that's only the beginning. We have the

let anyone share a burden. I’d just as soon do

story of a local teen photographer whose

something myself than take the time to teach

ability to capture the moment will leave you

someone else how to do it – I mean, at least I

speechless, and we're introducing you to an

know it’s done right… right? Ok, so perhaps

eight-year-old whose bravery and sweet spirit

my dad is on to something.

will capture your heart.

What better time to kick my bad habits than

Looking for something out of the ordinary

the start of a new year? We all have a bad

to do this month? It's the 111th year for

habit – or two, or twelve – that we need to

Photo by Kat Hardin

kick to the curb. As I find ways to get rid

horse racing at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

We have everything you need to know for a

of what's not working, I’m committing to picking up some

fun day trip to the track. Want a cocktail that warms you up?

good. Like starting and sticking to a fitness schedule and

We’ve got that too. Need to revamp your beauty routine?

serving my family healthier meals.

Find out what you should start, and stop doing, in 2015.

As you read our Health and Wellness Guide (page 66), I think

Finally, you probably need to do a bit of organizing around your

you will discover just the right avenue for you to get on the

house. But where to start? How about your bookcase? We'll

track to better health and fitness in 2015. From healthy and

show you how to corral the books (and Do South Magazines)

nutritious foods, to fitness, to weight loss, we’re bringing

you love, while making your home even lovelier.

you a wealth of information from those in our community ready to help you reach your goals!

So, there you have it. All these stories and articles and tips to make your life even brighter. It's the least we can do, since you

This year, Do South is bringing you a special guide each month

make our lives so extraordinarily happy. I'm going to follow the

(don’t miss next month’s Wedding Guide). We’re also bringing

advice of my dear daddy and slow down long enough to enjoy

you the stories you love. Many of you take the time to email us

it. Happy New Year!

~Catherine

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

06 poetry

Somewhere the Rainbow LINES Patti Polk Casey

The newness of this season Is refreshing – delicious.

Its change is invigorating Prodding us to escape From the crystal latticework Of wintry confinement; Past a time of white-edged trees, From a place that kept Our spirits encumbered.

It is different now – Winged and jubilant...

We're ready to search blue skies Bask in the warmth of sunshine, Held upon the shimmering wind, Soaring toward a bright horizon, Far beyond melting snow Where creation glimmers...jewel-like, Somewhere beyond the rainbow.

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DO SOUTH: JANUARY 2015 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

01 Happy New Year!

Eat black eyed peas for good luck and prosperity.

02 Winter Break Wonders Family Tours, 1-2 PM, crystalbridges.org.

Bentonville.

SATURDAY 03 It’s your year to get fit. See our special wellness section – page 64.

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Arkansas Shorts: A Night of Short Films, 5 PM and 8 PM, Arlington Resort and Spa, lowkeyarts.org.

Hot Springs.

Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket? Shop local – page 46.

Beauty tips and trends for every skin type – page 20.

Often, these kids show up with all their belongings in one trash bag. Find out how you can help – page 48.

Healthy eating just got a whole lot yummier.

See our Squash It! recipe – page 54.

111th Annual Live Racing begins at Oaklawn Park. oaklawn.com.

Hot Springs.

Western Arkansas Ballet 5K Tutu Run, 8-11 AM, tuturun. eventbrite.com, Ben Geren Park, Fort Smith.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Elks Annual Hoop Shoot Contest, 1:30-5:30 PM, elks. org. Northside High School Gym, Fort Smith.

National "Clean Off Your Desk Day." Happy Monday!

Aiden Alder shares his heartwarming story of how he got through his second bout with cancer, at only eight years old – page 10.

Start planning your spring garden.

Upcycle your old sweaters this month and amaze your family and friends – page 16.

(16th-18th) OKC Home & Garden Show, State Fair Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Organize your books and magazines while making your home even prettier – page 28.

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Arkansas DemocratMartin Luther Gazette Bridal Show, King Day Statehouse Convention Center, 1-5 PM. Little Rock.

Jane Smiley’s newest book, Some Luck, is a contender for the National Book Award – page 41.

Jessica Sowards looks back on the heartache and joy of 2014, and reflects on the goodness of God – page 32.

(22nd – 25th) Ozark Mountain Music Festival begins at 6 PM and wraps up with a noon show on Sunday, reserveeureka.com.

Eureka Springs.

Meet one of the finest fiddlers in the state – page 42.

9th Annual German Dinner, 1st Lutheran Church, 5-7 PM. Advance tickets at 479.785.2886.

Fort Smith.

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Lee Ann Womack’s first album in almost a decade is worth the wait – page 40.

Spend a day at the horse races and see the brand new Vegas-style game room – page 56.

Life and death and the dangers of driving on ice. It’s all in the short story, "Afternoon of Ice and Stone" – page 60.

LIGHTEN UP! • Replace pasta in dishes like lasagna and spaghetti with zucchini ribbons or spaghetti squash.

• Use plain yogurt instead of sour cream.

• Replace tortillas with leaf lettuce.

• Bake cubed potatoes in oven instead of frying.

• Bake vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and onions.

Dancing Pros: LIVE! at ArcBest Performing Arts Center, 7 PM. Tickets: UAFS Box Office 479.788.7300.

Fort Smith.

RAM opening reception for Apron Strings: Ties to the Past. 5-7 PM. Free for Fort Smith RAM members. $5 for non-members.

Stoney Stamper relives growing up in a small town.

– page 24.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Don’t miss anything on our website or Facebook!

Read Do South's digital edition at DoSouthMagazine.com Get one year of Do South for just $30.

Subscribe online at DoSouthMagazine.com, or send a check to: Read Chair Publishing, LLC

7030 Taylor Ave, Ste 5

Fort Smith, AR 72916

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Oh WATA Night in Margaritaville, 6:3011 PM, watatennis. net, Fianna Hills Country Club, Fort Smith.

Dr. Benny L. Gooden Superintendent of Schools Fort Smith Public Schools fortsmithschools.org 479.785.2501

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UPCLOSE&PERSONAL

About Fort Smith Public Schools The Fort Smith Public Schools are in the "futures" business. We serve a diverse student population of more than 14,000 students in an urban environment. Students from all backgrounds have access to a rich array of programs taught by outstanding teachers to prepare them for their futures. From the most advanced AP classes to

What do you miss most about being a kid? I miss a simpler period in history with more stable families and more respectful discourse in the public arena.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? There are several: - Skipping college classes to go see President John Kennedy; - Going to Plains, Georgia to attend President Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school class; and - Deciding to become a candidate for president of the American Association of School Administrators.

programs for students with disabilities, meeting the

What’s the longest you've gone without sleep, and why? The twenty-four hour drive from California to Fort Smith — in the snow of winter.

specific needs of each student is a top priority. Digital

If you had a year off, what would you want to do? I don’t need a year off. Work is what I do.

learning, visual and performing arts, athletics, ROTC and opportunities to explore interests and develop individual talents all help each student to plan and prepare for bright futures. The FSPS mission says it best: "…to ensure academic and personal success for each student — today and in the future."

What three things do you think about every day?

- What will the world be like in 25 years — for my great-grandchildren?

- How can public schools help students overcome the vestiges of poverty in which so many live?

- How can we attract the brightest and best of young people into teaching who understand that the work is hard, but it is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of future citizens?

What was your first job? Other than farm labor in Van Buren County, I was a laborer for Forsgren Construction. In this job, the most advanced machine entrusted to me was a shovel. It was a great experience for a young person right out of high school.

Words to Live By:

What did you buy with your first paycheck? I saved it for college.

explain the wrong one." A favorite quote

What makes you nostalgic? Thinking of my mother, who began teaching during the Great Depression when jobs were scarce, pay was low, and the schools were so poor that the monthly paycheck might not clear. We have truly come a long way.

comes from Oklahoma philosopher and

What was the first car you owned? A 1953 Mercury convertible.

humorist, Will Rogers. While his grammar

If you had to pick one place in Fort Smith to show a tourist, where would it be? The National Historic Site and Courthouse.

"It is easier to do the right thing than to

may be flawed, Rogers’ statement , "It don’t bother me what people don’t know.

Favorite food from your childhood? Mother’s banana pudding.

What bothers me is what they 'know'

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you? In my earlier life I was a musician. I directed the AASA Singing Superintendents for more than twenty years.

that just ain’t so" appears to describe

Where was your last road trip? Columbia, Missouri for the Arkansas-Missouri game.

communication in our world today.

Favorite song from your teen years? "Unchained Melody."

What’s the last movie you saw? True Grit – again.

What book are you currently reading? Decisive by Chip and Dan Heath.

3 things Dr. Gooden can’t live without:

What’s the best part of your job? Seeing the success of Fort Smith students of all races, economic status and backgrounds as they excel in academics, musical performance, athletics and in developing into responsible graduates with a plan for their future.

Where’s your favorite spot in Arkansas? Home in Fort Smith.

Name one thing you want to accomplish in 2015. Refine and focus plans for facilities and programs to meet the needs of Fort Smith students for the next twenty-five years.

Dark Coffee

Popcorn

Apples DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

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BRAVE

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people

The Aiden Alder Story

words Marla Cantrell Images courtesy Amber Alder

The sun is out, a big yellow ball in the sky, and Aiden Alder, eight

White signifies chemotherapy treatments. Red, blood transfusions.

years old, is standing in the doorway of his Fort Smith, Arkansas

Yellow, nights in the hospital. The ones with stars on them signify

home, his hand shielding the light from it. He is wearing a yellow

surgeries. The ones with cartoon faces, hair loss.

shirt, equally as bright, and blue jeans, and white socks that help him slide along the kitchen floor, something he loves to do.

Each of these was given to Aiden by nurses at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock or nurses at Dallas Children’s Hospital. He

In his free hand he is holding a clutch of beads, white and yellow

earned every one fighting leukemia, not once but twice.

and red and green. He has strung them together, and they would easily be three times as tall as he is if you laid them on the floor

Aiden’s mom, Amber Alder, describes what it was like to get the

and had him lie down beside them.

first diagnosis. He was two years old and four months. He’d been anemic, and bruised easily. He also had what looked like a rash,

"Look at my Beads of Courage," he says, and pulls them taut

but was actually blood vessels that had burst just beneath his skin.

between his two hands, holding them out the way a seamstress might hold a length of ribbon, the way a hunter might hold the

What she remembers about that day is how gentle the medical

carcass of a conquered snake.

staff was. They told her the blood tests should not take long, maybe ten minutes tops, but she watched as patient after patient

At eight, Aiden knows a lot about courage. He holds up the long

came and went. It wasn’t until the waiting room emptied that they

part of the string where white beads click against each other.

took the family back and gave them the news, and by then they

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people had everything worked out, including the helicopter that would fly

how much of a rarity it is. And also, after five years, leukemia

Aiden to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

usually doesn’t come back."

She remembers the long drive to Little Rock with Aiden’s dad,

Once Aiden was in remission, Amber was overcome with

knowing Aiden was already at the hospital, in the ICU. They

gratitude. She watched him carefully, as did his doctors, seeing

raced to his bedside when they arrived at two in the morning,

him regularly, routinely testing him. It was a tough chapter in

and Amber slid her hand through the metal bars that kept him

their lives, but she believed it was over. When the five-year mark

safe inside the crib.

hit, they all celebrated.

She held on until daybreak. Amber was a young mom, just twenty-

And then, the day before Halloween in 2013, five and a half

two at the time, and she remembers feeling as if the whole world

years after his first diagnosis, she was waiting with Aiden at an

had broken, as if it might never be put back together again.

optometrist’s office. To make the time go faster, he was trying on glasses. As she helped him, she brushed aside his hair. There

As she tells the story, she’s careful as she describes his

on his face was the same rash she’d seen when he was two years

treatment. Aiden has gone to his room to retrieve a poster

old. She felt her legs go weak, her heart race. When Aiden asked

that reads Welcome Home Aiden, which was in their yard

what was wrong, she assured him everything was fine, although

when he returned home from one of his hospital stays.

it was not fine, and would not be again for a very long time.

When he comes back into the living room for a few minutes, he is grinning. He says he remembers his mom at his side, he remembers watching Saving Nemo. What she remembers is hearing his treatment would take six months, and how long that felt, how insurmountable.

His diagnosis was Acute Myeloid Leukemia. "Their (the specialists’) words were, ‘If you’re going to get leukemia, this is the one you

Thank you, God, for this day, for my children, because anything can happen, anytime. Anytime.

want because it has a very low rate of returning,’" Amber says.

"Also, the sub-type he had has no statistics on it returning, that’s

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people

BRAVE The doctors started tests immediately. For a time, they hoped it

to have some chemo and medicine and you’re going to get better!’

was a powerful virus, causing his blood counts to fluctuate, but

I made it seem like he was being ridiculous."

it was not. The cancer that was not supposed to return had made a comeback. Amber knew that when Aiden was only two years

Treatment started on November 8, 2013. They were home for

old, he had a limited view of how things worked, but now he

Thanksgiving, then back again for more chemo that lasted until

understood what illness was, and what the outcome might be.

Christmas. In February, 2014, they headed to Dallas, where

Aiden underwent eight days of intense chemo "to pretty much

Still, there was such comfort in returning to Arkansas Children’s

kill all his bone marrow," Amber says, just prior to the bone

Hospital. They knew many of the nurses, and Aiden had the

marrow transplant. The intense treatment caused ulcers to form

doctors that had cared for him for so long. They made a plan:

in his mouth and throat, and he was throwing up a good deal,

three rounds of chemo to get Aiden back into remission, and

so sick and so ready for it to be over.

then a trip to Dallas for a bone marrow transplant.

On February 24, he had his transplant, thanks to the kindness "When we got to the wing of the hospital, there was a nurse I

of a police officer who’d signed up for the bone marrow donor

knew named Paige. I have a picture of her giving Aiden his cake

registry. He was a nine-out-of-ten match for Aiden, which is

after his last chemo treatment when he was two. She saw me

incredibly good, and he wrote Aiden a letter and told him about

and she said, ‘Can I hug you or no?’ And I said, ‘Please.’ She held

his life. The officer had a ten-month-old baby. He said he was

me tight and I kind of melted. I didn’t cry, but I needed that right

happy he could help. He sent Aiden a badge and a police belt.

then and she knew it.

"I wrote the thank you letter to him sixteen times, trying to get "Dr. Stine is Aiden’s oncologist, and he went in his room with me to

it just right," Amber says, and for the first time since she started

tell him. Aiden wasn’t crying; I think he seemed disappointed. And

telling this story, her voice catches. "I just couldn’t express the

he wanted to know why this had happened. I told him God has a

thank you for the selfless thing this police officer did."

reason for everything, even if we don’t know what it is. Everything that happens affects everything else in your life. I told him maybe

The marrow was taken from the officer’s hip bones, and was

it was so that he could get through this and show other kids that

then administered through the line that was already surgically

they can make it.

installed in Aiden’s body, much as a blood transfusion would work. He stayed in the hospital twenty-eight more days, and

"He’s taught me what bravery is. There was only one time, right in

then he was well enough to move off campus, into the nearby

the beginning, when he would just lay there in bed facing the door

transplant wing of the Ronald McDonald House.

and wouldn’t talk. He finally said, ‘I don’t want to tell you.’ And I said, ‘You can tell me anything.’ He finally said, ‘I don’t want to

It might have helped Amber to talk to other parents going

die.’ I choked up, and then I pulled it together and smiled and said,

through the same thing. But she didn’t want to leave Aiden’s

‘Aiden, are you kidding me? You’re not going to die! You’re going

side, and so she nestled inside their apartment, keeping him

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people

away from visitors, making sure he wasn’t exposed to outside germs. For two months they stayed. "By then, he wasn’t so sick.

We’d always been close and had this strong bond, but we got even closer. He can talk to me about anything now. He can talk about the gross things – chemo makes gross things happen."

One of the hardest parts of this time was that Amber had to leave Aiden’s younger sister at home in Fort Smith in the care of her grandmother who was doing everything in her power to keep life as upbeat and normal as possible.

Still, Amber’s heart ached for her daughter, and she felt the tears well up every day when she’d get pictures from home.

On February 24, he had his transplant, thanks to the kindness of a police officer who’d signed up for the bone marrow donor registry. He was a nine-out-of-ten match for Aiden, which is incredibly good, and he wrote Aiden a letter and told him about his life.

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people

Even when they got back, Amber remained diligent, vacuuming

those tough times.

her house twice a day, making everyone wash their hands often, sterilizing everything that could be sterilized. "I wouldn’t let

Aiden flops in a chair, his legs thrown across the arm. He picks

anyone come over. It was scary." When she worried, she felt as if

up card after card, and the ones who wrote the longest passages

she shouldn’t, as if worrying was a form of negativity. Aiden had

seem to be the girls from his class. He lifts the final one, covered in

made it through treatment. He was in remission. She should stay

hearts and glitter, unfolds it carefully and reads aloud: Hey, Aiden,

positive. She concentrated on the joy of everyday life, of eating a

we miss you. You are a great friend. Hope you feel a lot better.

meal together, of having Aiden grab his favorite fuzzy blanket –

You’re really great. We love you. I love you. You are great, you are

the one he’d missed so much while in the hospital – and snuggle

cool, you are awesome.

beside her on the couch to watch a movie.

He blushes, covers his eyes with his hands, and sighs. At eight, a "Today in the car, Aiden and his sister were cracking up at each

girl’s attention is a wonderful and confusing thing. Aiden changes

other. I watched them, and I was so thankful. Each day I wake up

the subject quickly, talks about Day 100 after his bone marrow

and I say, ‘Thank you, God, for this day, for my children, because

transplant, when he was finally able to eat food that hadn’t been

anything can happen, anytime. Anytime."

washed and cooked by his own mother. He asked for a Cookie Company giant cookie and Geno’s pizza. He ate the pizza so fast

Amber has had that "anytime" happen twice in her life. The

things got ugly. "I got sick and a quarter-size of pizza flew out of

trials have been hard, but she’s grown from them. "I’ve learned

my nose!" Aiden says, and he laughs the laugh of a little boy who

people have bigger hearts than you think they do," she says. "Like

embraces the grossness of that statement.

everybody else, I could judge people before this happened. Now I look at them like they’re the most wonderful people in the world."

Aiden talks more about getting sick, and the talk turns serious.

Amber laughs then, and turns the conversation on its head. "I also

What has cancer taught him? "That nobody wants to throw up,"

know a lot about blood," she says, "a crazy amount about it."

he says. And then he adds. "Nobody."

Aiden has ambled into the kitchen where his socked feet slide

He rises from the chair, and starts to go back to his room to play.

across the waxy floor. He stops, grabs the banana he’s been eating,

But he stops long enough to answer the question of what he will

and walks into the living room. He brings with him a photograph

do when he’s grown and can do what he pleases. "I want to be a

from a trip two years ago to Hawaii. In it, his hair is so blond it is

scientist; I want to be a chemist," he says. "I like science experiments

nearly blinding. Since going bald and re-growing hair, he’s now a

where you mix chemicals. I have a science kit my dad bought me with

dark blond. His teeth have soft spots in the enamel, another effect

alive goo, magnetic goo, and glow in the dark goo."

of treatment. He lifts his shirt and reveals an inch-long scar where the port that delivered chemo used to be. He palms the port in his

It seems logical that Aiden would become a scientist. Science

small hand: it is purple, triangular, and finally, thankfully, useless.

played a role in saving his young life on two occasions. He stops in the hallway, the bundle of construction-paper cards still in his

He finishes the banana, goes to his room again to retrieve a stack

hand. He turns back once, grinning, and his smile lights every dim

of handmade cards from his classmates at Immaculate Conception

corner, it slips through the doorways and windows, it seems to

School in Fort Smith. While he was away all those months – he left

illuminate the soft edges of this winter day, brighter than the sun,

in October 2013 and returned in August 2014 for the first day of

even though the sun is brilliant in its shining.

third grade – the school did all it could to help.

Those at Immaculate Conception held a fundraiser, selling T-shirts that read Team Aiden: Heal me Lord that I may be healed. Save

For more on Aiden’s story, check out the Facebook page,

me that I may be saved. For it is You whom I praise. In morning

Aiden Alder, Day in the Life of a Courageous Little Boy. To

assembly, the staff recorded the students singing songs and

find out more about how you can join the National Marrow

prayers and sent them to Aiden as a way to lift him up through

Donor Program, visit BeTheMatch.org.

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diy

Sweater Weather one sweater • five easy projects words and images Janna Wilson

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diy

C

ozy wool sweaters have value beyond their season of fashion and style. Rather than tossing sweaters that have a hole,

pilling, or just aren’t on trend – think of the possibilities to refashion and repurpose a quality wool piece. Perhaps you’ve accidentally laundered your favorite sweater and it’s shunk up to toddler size – perfect! You’ve already completed step one of the refashion process! You can also purchase sweaters secondhand for a fraction of the cost. One sweater can be upcycled into many different practical and fashionable accessories. I’ve used a lady’s and a gentleman’s sweater to create our five projects.

Tools you’ll need: • Sharp fabric scissors • Sewing machine/matching thread • Basic sewing notions • Marking pen • Measuring tape/ruler • Hot glue gun • Pattern pieces (download and print at DoSouthMagazine.com)

The Felting Process = Heat + Moisture + Friction If you’ve ever laundered a wool sweater and it shrunk to half its size, you’ve "felted" wool. Wool felt is relatively expensive and felting sweaters is a great way to create your own. The cool thing is that you can cut felt without raveling. Different blends will produce different results. For the best felted wool, choose a garment that is at least eighty percent wool. The tighter the weave the less stretch after felting. Felting sweaters is basically washing in hot, a cold rinse, and drying on hot. Check after each step to see how much the knit has shrunk/felted. You can repeat this process until you get the desired results.

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diy

Boot cuffs

Coffee Cozy

Make boot cuffs in ONE easy step…okay, two. (no felting required) • Cut the sleeves off the sweater.

• Optional but not necessary: Hem the raw edge with sewing machine.

I love plastic reusable coffee cups to take on the go, but unfortunately they don’t come with sleeves.

• To make your own, just wrap a felt rectangle around the cup snugly­­; overlap an inch (3.5" x 12").

• Mark where buttons should be and tack in place with a dab of hot glue.

• Stitch to secure (optional) and sew or glue on buttons.

Mittens • Lay sweater flat and trace pattern onto lower edge (see sweater diagram).

• Cut through the two layers of fabric TWICE to produce four pieces of the traced pattern.

• If your felt has a RIGHT side, place two of the pattern pieces RIGHT SIDE TOGETHER. Pin. • Sew around the shape taking a 1/4 inch seam— BACKSTITCH at the beginning/end.

• Turn the mittens RIGHT SIDE OUT; press seams flat with iron.

Bow • Trace the pattern and cut out the two pieces.

• Pinch the center of the large piece and stitch the middle to create the pleat/ pucker of the bow.

• Hot glue the band around the center.

• Embellish mittens or hats or make hair accessories with these adorable bows.

Hat • Lay sweater flat and trace pattern onto upper/chest.

• Cut two pattern pieces and pin RIGHT SIDES together.

• Stitch around hat taking a 1/4 inch seam.

• Hem raw edge (optional).

• Turn RIGHT SIDE OUT; press seams.

TIP: Like our boot cuffs, TIP: Adust the sizes of our patterns to create a custom size.

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some projects don’t have to use felted garments or even wool knit garments at all.

Experiment away!

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beauty

New Year’s

BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS [ 30 TO START & STOP IN 2015 ] Clean your makeup brushes Start defining your brows Set your concealer Never sleep in your makeup Toss out old makeup Use waterproof mascara on bottom lashes Start exfoliating Use a retinol or retinoid product and an eye cream Incorporate SPF in your primer or moisturizer Experiment with color and trends Stop putting bronzer on your whole face Stop matching foundation to the back of your hand Stop applying concealer wrong Stop applying lip liner just to the edges Don’t wear waterproof mascara every day Don’t use one eye shadow brush for everything Stop using the wrong blush formula Stop wearing too much foundation Stop curling your lashes with mascara Don’t apply your blush incorrectly Stop using a nude lip color Don’t apply makeup in the wrong lighting Don’t keep applying the wrong shade of concealer Stop pumping the brush in an almost empty mascara tube Don’t use the wrong primer for your foundation formula Don’t thickly line your bottom lash line Don’t wear your blush too low Don’t overline your lips to make them appear larger Stop using old-school wedge sponges to apply foundation Don’t smoke Find makeup video tutorials and beauty basics on YouTube and Pinterest!

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beauty

MUST HAVE BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR images Catherine Frederick

DEEP CLEAN START RIGHT

COLOR POP

FIGHT TIME

From top clockwise: Coastal Scents Brush Set. Philosophy Acne Treatment Cleanser. Philosophy Acne Treatment and Moisturizer. Makeup Lounge Moisturizing Cream. Philosophy Deep Clean Mask. Bare Minerals Mineralixirs Facial Cleaning Oil. Coastal Scents Revealed Eyeshadow Palette. Coastal Scents Revealed2 Eyeshadow Palette. Coastal Scents Blush Palette. Philosophy Age-Defying Serum.

Makeup courtesy Makeup Lounge, Fort Smith.

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pets

Your Exercise Buddy is Waiting The shelter is open every Saturday from 9 to noon.

Call for an adoption appointment.

M

F

F

Oscar

Lucy

M

F

Katie

M

Turk

Sable

Sonny

Booneville Animal Shelter

Donations are always needed and greatly appreciated.

Booneville Animal Shelter | Hwy 10 East | Booneville, AR | 479.849.7378 | Find us on Petfinder.com

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

pets

Baby, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE WORDS Catherine Frederick

Winter is here! As the temperature drops, it’s more important than ever to make sure our furry friends are safe and warm. If exposed to cold temperatures, too much dry air, or wet weather like snow and sleet, our pets can quickly suffer. A good rule of thumb is if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for them too. Protect them from the cold and keep them safe and warm with these tips from ASPCA®.

1 2

Keep cats indoors. Cats can quickly loose body heat, get hypothermia, or become lost or stolen.

During cold temperatures, cats sometimes sleep under car hoods to keep warm. Bang loudly on the car hood before starting your engine.

6

Ice melting agents and antifreeze are dangerous for dogs if licked off paws and fur. Be sure to wipe your dog’s leash, paws and stomach when they first come inside. Be sure to clean up any spills from your vehicle.

3

7 8

4

9

5

10

Bathe your pet as little as possible during cold weather.

Bathing removes oil from the skin and can cause skin irritation. If you must bathe them, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

Make sure your pet has a sweater or coat when they go outside. This will retain body heat and prevent the skin from getting dry or inflamed.

Pets burn extra energy during the winter trying to keep warm. Feed them a little bit of extra food and make sure they always have fresh water available.

Never shave your dog in the winter. Their longer coat helps to provide warmth.

Give them a warm bed. They should have a warm place to sleep, off the floor, and away from drafts. A fluffy dog or cat bed with a blanket or pillow is best.

If your dog goes out in the snow and ice, be sure to dry him off thoroughly when he comes back in. Pay special attention to his toes and paws, making sure the skin is not becoming cracked.

If you have pets that cannot come indoors during the winter, you need to create a windproof, waterproof enclosure for them with plenty of dry, warm, clean bedding, along with a constant supply of fresh water (make sure it doesn't freeze) and food. Check on these pets often.

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people

Life in a Small Town words Stoney Stamper images Courtesy Stoney Stamper and Sarah Coday Photography

I grew up in the small town of Locust Grove in

painfully cold that you couldn’t breathe for nearly ten minutes

Northeast Oklahoma. Last time I checked, the population was

after jumping in. And then Low Water Dam where we’d steal

around 1,500 people and I doubt that has increased much

away as teenagers to sneak a few beers. And farther on to

over the years. When you picture in your mind a small rural

Phillip’s Lounge, where we’d go on occasion to pick up one of

community, you’ll likely envision a narrow main street lined

our friend’s dad, who’d had a few too many drinks. Even though

with some barber shops and beauty salons, a burger joint that

I haven’t lived there in more than ten years, when someone asks

serves some of the world’s best ice cream, a bank, an insurance

me where I’m from, I inevitably tell them I'm from Locust Grove,

agent and probably an auto mechanic’s shop or two. If so,

Oklahoma. No matter if I'm currently living in Florida, Virginia,

you’ve pretty much just described Locust Grove to a tee. Quaint,

or Texas, Locust Grove is my home. Home of the mighty Pirates!

friendly, nosy, helpful, caring, supportive. You like how I snuck nosy in there?

Looking back on my childhood, there are so many great things about growing up in a small community. But as a kid, especially

I love my hometown. Most of my favorite memories in life go

as a teenager, it didn’t always feel like a good thing. Especially

back to that little town. From the annual Founder’s Day Parade

if you were a kid who tended to get into mischief, which I

where the whole town showed up to celebrate with live music,

just happened to be. Secrets in small towns tend to spread like

old cars, and Indian tacos. To Charlie’s In-N-Out store, where I

wildfire. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone is usually kin to

would walk to buy candy, or a Dr Pepper in a real glass bottle.

everyone, either by blood or by marriage. If you want to do

Charlie knew the name of every person in town, and watching

something that you don’t want your mama to know about,

him expertly flip the coins into the air from the cash register

you’d best go out of town to do it. Even better, completely out

to give you your change made him epically cool. On to Twin

of the county – and even then there are no guarantees that

Bridges that crossed Spring Creek, where the water was so

your secret is safe. I once got a little out of control in Oolagah,

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people

Oklahoma, over an hour away from home, and my mama knew

In 2004 I got my chance. A friend of mine had just bought a new

about it before I got back to the house.

manufacturing company in Milton, Florida. He called and asked to meet up to discuss my working for him. I had discussed it with my

My second grade teacher was my dad’s high school girlfriend.

dad, who wasn’t very excited at the prospect of my moving that far

My FFA instructor was my dad’s best friend since childhood. This

away from him, so we decided to price myself high. If he wanted

was way back when a teacher could paddle you without giving

me bad enough to pay some big bucks, then I’d gladly take them.

it a second thought. And I certainly got my fair share of them.

So I sat down with my friend, told him what it would take to get

There was an unwritten understanding between my parents and

me to move everything I owned, and my dog, to Navarre Beach,

the school. If a Stamper kid needs some licks, spank his butt. My

Florida. After I had given him my price, he quickly asked when I

FFA Instructor took this very literally. And he enjoyed it. He would

could start. He wanted me there the next week.

call my Dad in the evenings at home, and they would laugh about it. It’s hard to imagine this happening these days, even at a small

Hot dang, I thought. It’s really going to happen. I’m leaving Locust

school like Locust Grove.

Grove. I’m packing everything I own into a stock trailer. This is it.

My parents, brother, sister and her family were there to wish me

When I graduated high school, I headed to Miami, Oklahoma to

well. Remember in the opening scene of Perfect Strangers when

attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. After two years

Balki Bartokomus gets on the wagon headed for New York? It was

there, I moved on to Stillwater, Oklahoma so I could fulfill my

kind of like that. Except I was in a truck and not a horse-drawn

dream of becoming an Oklahoma State Cowboy. After college, I

wagon. And I’m not from Mepos. But like Balki, I was setting out

begrudgingly came back to the ranch for a couple of years, but I

on my journey. I was going out to find whatever it was that had

wanted something different. Something bigger. Something more

been calling to me for all those years. So I pointed that Dodge

exciting than what little old Locust Grove could provide. I wanted

truck east and headed towards Florida.

to get out of the town that only had Ranch House Pizza, Cook’s Restaurant, Country Cottage, or Jerry’s Dari-Ette as eating options.

It was a very surreal feeling, leaving everything that I have ever

I didn’t want to have to drive an hour to go to a real city where I

known, every comfort, headed towards a town in the Panhandle of

could shop in real stores, eat at nice restaurants, or watch a movie.

Florida where I quite literally did not know a single solitary person. I

I wanted MORE. I knew something more important, more fulfilling

felt excited by the prospect of living somewhere new, seeing new

was waiting for me out there somewhere.

things, meeting new people. But I also felt something else.

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Something I didn’t expect. I had a definite cloud of melancholy

other small towns just like it, that pepper the South and Midwest.

hanging over me. Even though I was so excited about the

I want my girls to be a part of a close-knit family that small town

adventure that lay ahead of me, I also felt an unexpected hint of

life provides. I want them to grow up in a place where they know

sadness, although I wasn’t exactly sure why. I was where I wanted

most everyone’s name, and everyone knows theirs. Where we can

to be. I was doing what I wanted to do. My life was in my hands.

all go to church together on Sunday morning and once service

It was up to me to make it work. And I did it.

is over, the whole congregation can head over to the Country Cottage for lunch. And

Fast forward about ten

when you look around

years and I still haven’t

the room at all the

made it back home to

familiar faces, you’ll see

Locust Grove, although

most of them bow their

I’m

closer

heads to pray before

now than I was when

certainly

they eat. See them stop

I lived in Florida. I’ve

to shake hands with

got a wife and three

people at each table,

daughters now, and I’m

and ask about their

responsible for the girls'

family, or talk about

upbringing. They go to

the high school football

a good school in Texas,

game from Friday night.

but it’s big. Instead of

And it’s not out of

forty to sixty kids in their

obligation, but sincerity.

grade, they have four

They truly care about

hundred. It’s minutes

how you and your family

away from the nicest

are doing. Because they

restaurants, the best shopping, and a half dozen movie theaters.

are good people with good hearts. In a way, they are like family.

There are a lot of people in town that I don’t know. Heck, I don’t know most of them. And even though the convenience of living in

Life has taken me many places. Some good, and some bad. We

a bigger city is definitely a plus, I find myself wanting for my girls

have found a good place to raise our family in Texas. We like it

the small town life that my wife April and I had the privilege of

here. It’s a good town with good people, and it's where I currently

growing up with. That’s right, I said privilege.

make my living, so it’s necessary. But it’s no Locust Grove. I spent so many years of my youth just wanting to get out of there to find

It’s taken me all these years to truly understand how wonderful it

the life that I thought I wanted, but as it turns out, a small town

was to grow up in a small community like Locust Grove, and so many

life is really what I wanted all along.

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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home

Organizing Books Magazines words and images Yvonne Pratt

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home

D

Do you love books or have an obsession with magazines?

They are inspiring, interesting, and they give us hours of enjoyment.

Most of us cannot let go of them because they are a wealth of information and beauty! However, if left unorganized, they can quickly become a huge source of clutter. It does not take many of them scattered around to make a whole room appear untidy.

This year, let’s commit to keeping our coveted reading materials organized and neat – while at the same time, using them as décor around our home. Try these five simple tips to control all of that paper and you’ll take your literary mountain to a neat and organized décor statement in no time.

Corral the books Not only can baskets contain your books, but they also look great and go with almost any décor. Baskets bring much needed warmth and organic texture to most rooms and there are so many options available. Woven style baskets come in a variety of colors and sizes with various decorative handles. Keep out only the books that work as décor and stack them neatly on a table or shelf.

Organize in baskets Stand books upright in a basket so they are easier to access and view titles. Put larger books in the back of the basket and smaller ones in the front. Don’t crowd too many books in a basket as it will be harder to put them away neatly and could damage jackets and corners. If the tops of the books stick out of the basket, that’s okay! Baskets are meant to organize, not hide books.

On the shelf Baskets of books on a shelf are an attractive way to showcase your books. Find baskets that fit your bookshelves and décor. There are many affordable basket options. Put books that you use less frequently on higher shelves and ones you like to pick up and read more often where they are easily accessible. Numbered items are in vogue right now, so consider making numbered tags for each basket.

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to

Corralled

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Birds of a feather Many of us hold on to magazines like books. Go through and organize them, putting together like titles and placing them in sturdy magazine holders. Just like baskets, there are magazine holders for almost any style! You can also customize a standard magazine holder with fabric or scrapbook paper to match your décor. Group magazine holders together on a shelf to make a great décor statement.

Cull away The hardest part of organizing your books and magazines is to go through each of them and decide what you can, and cannot, live without. Keep only the most current ones displayed in your

Design

living space. Put the rest away where they can be easily accessed,

Storage

organize past issues of magazines, by year or by type. A bookshelf

your own

but not out in plain view. File boxes are a great way to keep and in a spare bedroom is an excellent location for books that we love but do not use often. Think of your shelf like the library and check your books out to friends and family. Share the love of reading as often as you can!

Yvonne is the creator of StoneGable, a beautiful and widely popular blog about all things home.

Her love for American farmhouse living is evident throughout her posts on decorating, home décor, DIYs, gardening, cooking and much more.

Visit StoneGable at stonegableblog.com.

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people

View

THE

FROM HERE

words Jessica Sowards Images Jeremiah Sowards

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people

If life is a series of mountaintops and valleys,

are the moments that God takes us to the mountaintop. These

January has always been a valley month for me. It’s bleak, forlorn,

are the moments that we get to see the view from where He sits.

and bitter cold.

But we don’t get to stay there.

It is the evictor of December, of Christmas and festivities, of family

Oswald Chambers wrote, "We are not made for the mountains,

time and long breaks from school. January starts well enough. It

for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life — those

comes with glitter, champagne and kazoos. It makes big promises

are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made

with midnight kisses and sparkling plans for new resolutions. But

for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we

too often, all it has to follow up with is runny noses, colorless

have to prove our stamina and strength. Yet our spiritual selfish-

trees and a produce section full of gourds and out-of-season fruit

ness always wants repeated moments on the mountain. We feel

shipped from somewhere warmer than here.

that we could talk and live like perfect angels, if we could only stay on the mountaintop."

No, I have never cared much for January.

Which brings us to now. Normally, I would spend this bummer Last year was a hard year. It was a year of transitions. It was the

month nursing my post-holiday blues. But this year, I know better.

sort of year you couldn’t pay me to relive, but even despite the

I have learned, at last, to appreciate the lulls in life, the Januarys.

struggle of it, I am thankful for it. I was saved in the fourth grade,

It would be easy to live on top of the mountain where faith is a

baptized by water the day before I turned nine. I’m what you could

given and the view is clear. But if we stayed there, our faith would

call a lifetime Christian, a generational church-goer. But 2014 will

become weak like an unused muscle. If we never had to strain our

forever go down as the year God got my attention.

eyes through the fog of the valley, we would lose the ability to trust His path even when we can’t see the end destination. I don’t

It was during last spring, after two decades of walking with, danc-

know about you, but I don’t ever want to lose that.

ing around and even running from my Savior, I met Him face to face. A tornado came crashing through our lives, destroying homes in Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas, and a family we loved. I sat on the front row of the saddest funeral I’d ever been to, crying not just at the loss of my sons’ two best friends but at the sound that was coming from their mother, April, who survived them. We were plunged into a valley. A deep and dark one, flooded with sorrow and littered with debris.

God does love a good resurrection story though, doesn’t He? It was out of that valley that my life was repurposed. He showed me direction, told me to scrap the plans I had and follow His plan instead. And I obliged. It was from the depths of that valley that

God does love a good resurrection story though, doesn’t He? It was out of that valley that my life was repurposed. He showed me direction, told me to scrap the plans I had and follow His plan instead.

And I obliged.

God carried me to the highest mountaintop I’ve ever experienced.

He showed His grace and the promise of His hope.

It’s funny the things that God brings us to, the way He uses our I think, too often, we try to classify the seasons of our life as good

weaknesses to show His glory. This year, I will get the opportunity

or bad by using the wrong scale. Whether a person is living for

to speak to thousands of women. The first time someone told me

Christ or not, they will undeniably face trials and tribulations. Pain

I should preach, I laughed. When God first started to show this

is not an indicator of a hard time. It is a promise of living in this

purpose to me, I thought I was going crazy. "Surely not, God,"

broken world. The only difference in facing the unthinkable with

I thought. I am the girl who threw up before giving speeches in

Jesus is that we can have the hope to look past what is temporarily

high school Oral Communications class. I am the introvert that

shattered around us and focus on what is set up in eternity. These

takes five minute bathroom breaks during parties just to sit on the

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Pain is not an indicator of a hard time. It is a promise of living in this broken world. floor and feel like I can breathe again. But then another person said it, and another. And deep down I knew I would have to. Then the calls started coming in. Multiple conferences around the South asking to book my friend April and me to share our story from the tornado, our testimonies and our faith.

The thought of being in front of a crowd still makes my hands go clammy, but I can’t teach people that God always provides and then not believe it myself. If He is enough to get April through that storm, through that funeral where we said goodbye to her sons, He is enough to get me through the anxiety of speaking.

This is an instance of walking into the fog, knowing God will lead me through. The only part I have to do is be willing to reflect Him. On top of the exciting speaking engagements, this year our family will grow as we welcome our sixth child. His name will be Benjamin and I am counting down the weeks until we get to kiss his soft hair and smell his baby skin. Our little farm will also be growing.

Garden plans and beehives and goat fences will be underway this spring. Chickens will start to lay and I may just wake up in the mornings and cry on the porch as I look out at this little dream of mine coming to fruition. We will continue to homeschool, to worship, to build up what we have been given. I can’t be sure exactly what 2015 will hold, because the view isn’t clear from here, but I am positive of one thing. We will be running the race set out for us. Holding strong in the ordinary every day.

Sometimes it’s hard. And most of the time I’m tired. There are days I feel so dried up and so far away from God. But He’s always there, waiting to be sought by me. Occasionally, I get a peek from

Jessica Sowards blogs at TheHodgepodgeDarling.blogspot.com

the mountain. Occasionally, I am affirmed by people who have been blessed by words God gave me. Occasionally, I see His fingerprints or get glimpses at the intricacies of His plan. But a lot of the time, I’m standing in the fog. And that’s ok.

For the first time, I’m alright with January. Because even though the view from the valley is limited, I know there is so much to look forward to.

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NATURE’S SUPERFOOD

5 REASONS TO EAT MORE EGGS words & Image Jessica Wooden

Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet.

Eggs keep you full.

High quality protein.

are filling, which reduces

Eggs help keep your eyes and brain working like they're supposed to.

There are more than six

Eggs are simply great all around.

sugar spikes, reduces hun-

There are two powerfully protective

grams of protein in one large

Besides all of the jam-

egg. And the protein is the

packed nutriets loaded

It is amazing the amount

ger cravings and results in

of nutrients contained in

eating fewer calories. Eat-

antioxidants in egg yolks that are

best kind, with all nine of

in each egg, they are

absorbed by the retina part of the

the body’s essential amino

cheap

one egg, (specifically the

yolk). Almost every vitamin

ing eggs for breakfast can

eye. One egg has thirty percent of

acids included so that our

They can be scrambled,

get your diet on the right

the daily recommendation of Choline,

bodies can make full use

hard-boiled, poached,

and mineral required by

track for the day by limit-

a vitamin most people don’t know ex-

of them. The amino acids

deviled, and any other

our body is accounted

ing your cravings and re-

ists, yet our brain needs in order to

repair and build muscle as

way you can think of.

for in one single egg.

ducing your caloric intake.

be healthy, motivated and focused.

well as promote bone health.

So... eat more eggs!

12 3 45 Protein and fats from eggs

*If you like eggs but have concerns about cholesterol, use only the egg whites. Egg whites contain no cholesterol.

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versatile.

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people

ma z a h e r i ' s

magic words Marla Cantrell images Courtesy Tyler Mazaheri

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T

yler Mazaheri likes math, because of its predictable ways, because of its orderliness. It is not as if there are two right answers, or answers that are only partially right, and those absolutes provide a sort of comfort in a world where there are

a lot of in-between places. As Tyler admits his affinity for arithmetic, he does it in an almost apologetic way. As an artist, he wonders if those two things could possibly work in harmony.

Already, at fifteen, he’s spent a good deal of time imagining how his life will play out. If he had to choose a career right now, it would be in the medical field. If he had to choose an artistic discipline, it would be photography. He talks about this juxtaposition while sitting inside a Fort Smith, Arkansas coffee shop, shortly after school on a day so cold his cheeks stay red for several minutes after he’s come inside. He slips off his North Face jacket, he taps his fingers on the small table, he taps the screen on his smartphone and dozens of his photographs come up.

The images are captivating. There’s a girl wearing a crown of flowers, the light shining on her shoulder, her eyes mesmerizing.

Another girl, wearing her mother’s fur coat, is outlined in icicles, surrounded by snow. There’s something about the fur that makes the photo have the feel of the wilderness about it. Tyler remembers the day well. It was last winter, yet another day when the weather shut down school. Tyler and his friend trekked across her backyard.

He shot the photo through an icicle. The effect softens the photo, making it look other-worldly.

The models are friends of his, many fellow students at Southside High School where Tyler is a sophomore. He likes that his friends are so willing to be photographed. There was a time not so long ago when he used smoke bombs during the shoots, setting them off, jumping back behind his camera, watching the plumes rise as he snapped away. "I’m glad my smoke bomb phase is over," he says, and then laughs. "It was kind of trendy."

If you want to know what the current trends are, ask Tyler. He spends a great deal of time on Instagram, posting his photos, taking in all this information, by seeing what others do. A lot of what he studies is what he calls "bohemian fashion photography," and you can see that in the way his models pose, or the way they look: sometimes broody, often unsmiling, a little aloof. All of that is by design, directed by Tyler who says he doesn’t give direction very well. Instead, he’ll tilt the models’ heads for them, or turn their

self portrait

voraciously scanning photos of fellow photographers. He learns by

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" I t h i n k t h e r e ’ s s o m e t h i n g b e a u t i f u l a b o u t e v e r y b o d y. . . "

shoulders to get the right angle. "If I look for anything in a model,

During his fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Euper Lane Elementary,

it’s an edginess I can’t really describe," Tyler says. "I think there’s

he took art classes and drew cartoon characters. From there, he

something beautiful about everybody, but I really look for a unique,

began learning Photoshop, a computer program that allowed him

different look. I have a friend with this awesome red hair, and I love

to take old black-and-white images and add elements that turned

shooting with her. It’s things like that that catch my attention."

them into art pieces. His work was so good he was offered a spot in a gallery that was opening in New York. "I was in the eighth grade,

It might be important to note that Tyler has only had one

so it was just crazy to me. I think they figured out that it wasn’t

photography class, and at the time, so new to the complexities of

going to be that easy, since I was so young, so it didn’t happen, but

cameras, he found himself lost. "They’d talk about apertures and I

I’ll not forget it."

didn’t know what they meant," he says. Feeling he was in over his head, he decided to teach himself.

After that, his concentration turned to photography. Much of his genius comes from his talent behind the camera. But some of the

He found that if he followed renowned photographers he admired,

magic happens in the editing process, where he can add elements

like Tyson French and Jorden Keith, his own work improved. He

– like flowers – and do color adjustments and tweak the lighting.

found tutorials online, and he experimented. He was surprised when his own photographs gained so much attention. His Instagram

Tyler touches the collar of his plaid shirt, touches his dark hair,

following soared to 12,000 people across the globe who were

smiles. He wants to talk again about the photo he took of his friend

stunned by how much talent Tyler has.

on the snowy day last year. "That was just before I got my new camera (a Canon). I would give anything to go back and get to do

At school, word spread. He started getting offers to take senior

that day over. I would do it differently, and there were so many

photos. He said yes to a few. Right now, he’s working on locations

pictures I just had to scratch. But the day was perfect. The fur coat

and filing away ideas for when the weather warms a bit. Until now,

added so much detail, the contrast between that and the snow.

his work has been about photos that please him, and now he’s

We were in a yard that’s close to the river, so you could see all the

having to consider what his clients want, and what will stand the

water, and icicles were everywhere."

test of time. The thought of these milestone photos has caused him a few nights of unrest. Additionally, his sister, seven years his senior,

That perfect day is one of his favorite memories. As for where all this

is getting married and Tyler is doing her engagement photos. "I

will take him, Tyler’s not really sure. He smiles again. There’s always

want it to be perfect for her, so I’ve been stressing out a little bit

his excellent math skills as a back-up, his plans to enter the medical

about it."

field. His photography will evolve the way it’s supposed to, Tyler says. The one thing he’s sure of is that he wants his name to mean

Surely, the photos will be lovely. Tyler, who’s eternally critical, rarely

something. Long after he’s gone, he wants people to remember

loves his own work, or loves it initially and then finds fault later. He

him. That recognition could come from these images he’s gathering

does, however, understand that he has a gift, and he credits those

now, these ethereal photos of close friends who are young and

closest to him for supporting it. In kindergarten he’d already stopped

beautiful and look at the camera as if they could rule the world, as

playing with toys, and he had stopped napping, so during naptime

if Tyler understands that they could, and only he can capture all the

his teacher let him sit at a nearby table, coloring with fat Crayons.

fearless promise that’s within each of them.

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entertainment

The Way I'm Livin' Lee Ann Womack review Marla Cantrell

I

t’s been seven long years since Lee Ann Womack released an album. In a recent article, the reporter said it felt as if Womack was making up for lost time. Whatever she was

doing, it certainly worked. The Way I’m Livin’ is traditional, hard knocks country that makes you nostalgic for the time when you could scoot behind the steering wheel, turn on just about any radio station, and hear the kind of songs that Tammy Wynette sang, that George Jones sang. If that’s what you’re looking for, Womack surely delivers.

When she talks about this album, recorded mostly live, she says

friends, and the wrong way life twists itself into something you

she didn’t factor in its potential commercial success. Instead, she

in no way intended.

found songs she wanted to record, and she took them as far as she could. It helped that she had some of the best musicians

"Out on the Weekend" was a brave choice for Womack. Who

in the business (acoustic guitar player Mac McAnally, drummer

takes on a Neil Young song? But it was a good choice for her.

Matt Chamberlin, bass player Glenn Whorf, guitarist Duke

The folk hit that became an anthem in the seventies, turns into

Levine) playing with her, and they are as close to perfect as is

something absolutely different and wonderful when Womack

humanly possible.

puts her mark on it. There is so much loneliness and longing and regret. It’s one of the things Womack says she loves about

There are thirteen tracks on this album. "Don’t Listen to the

singing, seeing how songs and emotion work together.

Wind," is a moody song, the spaces between Womack’s voice filled with the steel guitar, the fiddle, the tambourine.

The Texas native is immensely pleased with this album. It seems

A heartbroken woman fresh off the heels of a breakup with

to hit you directly in the heart, making you remember the loves

a cheating man, misses her chance at true love because she

you lost, the hard times you made it through, the way life can be

can’t move on. In the title song, "The Way I’m Livin’," Womack

filled with rough places, but with glory too.

chronicles her run-in with the devil who introduces her to hard drink and makes her doubt where she’ll spend eternity.

Already, this album is creating a lot of buzz. It seems there’s a monumental audience looking for traditional country, sung

Where Womack shines the brightest is on "Send it on Down,"

without a room full of instruments, by an artist whose voice

and "Out on the Weekend," a Neil Young cover song from 1972.

strikes the perfect chord in every song.

"Send it on Down" continues the theme of sin and redemption, and she asks over and over, "Jesus, can you save me from going crazy? I need some help getting out of this town." You can feel

DO SOUTH RATING: 10 OUT OF 10

the ache in Womack’s voice, in the wrong choices, and the wrong DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

entertainment

Some Luck

by Jane Smiley Alfred Knopf, Publisher, 395 pages: $27 99 review Anita Paddock

J

anuary is a good month to read Some Luck by Jane Smiley.

Frank feels trapped rather than comforted. But when his mother’s

It’s a long book, which is just the right kind for winter days

soft blonde hair falls over her beautiful face, and she calls him her

when staying inside seems like the best thing to do. It is

darling boy, he is happy.

about a farm family in Denby, Iowa, the same area where

Smiley’s book, A Thousand Acres, a Pulitzer Prize winner, took

At Frank’s first birthday party, we meet other members of his

place, and it is the first installment in a planned trilogy.

family, and he listens to his maternal and paternal grandparents talk about their lives that revolve around

The title comes from farmers’ belief that

their farms and the luck they hope will

luck plays a big part in their lives. "If we

come their way.

have some luck, we’ll get rain tomorrow.

With some luck, the price of wheat won’t

Each chapter represents another year

drop. With some luck, the baby will grow up

in the Langdons' lives. More babies are

tall and strong."

born into the family, and their parents work hard to teach them the values

This book centers around Rosanna and

they hold dear. Historical events like

Walter Langdon who both grew up on farms

the Great Depression and the election

near each other. The novel opens in 1920

of Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal

after twenty-five-year-old Walter returns

shape them and test their strength.

from his European service in World War I.

The novel continues through the early

He owns his own land, and even though his

1950s, a time when the world is facing

two-story farmhouse’s walls are so thin you

great social and economic change. All

can practically see through them, it is his

through the book, Smiley addresses

and Rosanna’s home, and they don’t have

these changes while chronicling the daily

to live with his father, a prosperous farmer

rhythms of life, the uncertainty of it all,

who is free with his opinions.

and the accidents of fate.

Their firstborn son, Frank, is five months old when the story opens

The domestic aspects of life on a farm remind me of Laura

and, in a way I don’t recall seeing before in a novel, he, through

Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie books my children

his thoughts and his perspective, describes his father and mother.

and I enjoyed. Some Luck deals with the same descriptions of

(The author gives each of the children in this novel their own

farm life and those who live there. This is the perfect book to

scenes, in their own voices.) Frank tells us his father is tall and his

transport you to a different time, to see inside a family's life and

face is rough; his voice is loud and his teeth are big and he smells

hear their stories, and it's told perfectly by one of the greatest

like the animals in the barn. When his hands are around him,

writers alive today.

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entertainment

words Anita Paddock images Jeremy Scott and courtesy Brandon King

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

entertainment

W

hen Brandon King was a blond-haired boy of twelve,

"We play what could be called Progressive Jamgrass. It’s a

he spent a good deal of time at the Fort Smith

combination of Irish folk music, bluegrass, rock, and funk."

Library. At the time, he liked philosophy books, and

They have played at notable venues such as Bikes, Blues &

he liked to play the violin, a combination that seemed to say a

BBQ; Wakarusa on Mulberry Mountain; and Harvest Fest on

lot about this bright young boy who loved learning. As his talent

Mulberry Mountain. "Those are really big time shows with

grew, he began to perform at library functions, playing both

famous musicians playing around the clock. You wouldn’t

classical music and bluegrass.

believe the number of people who come. It’s really neat to play on a stage in front of all those people."

Today, at the age of thirty, he has grown into a stellar musician.

His blond hair has darkened to light brown, and curls fall over the

He is such a natural on stage that he loses himself in the music

forehead as he speaks. He smiles often, especially when he talks

and plays a lot of improvised tunes. In October of last year,

of performing. On stage, with his violin under his chin, and his

while at Harvest Fest, the fervor of the foot-stomping music

bow in his hand, blistering the strings with energy and melodic

took over and he jumped off the stage and onto the shoulders

bliss, he’ll mesmerize you with his talent.

of a gorilla-costumed fan. "That was so cool. I didn’t really think about what I was doing; I continued jamming all the

Brandon has loved music since he was old enough to pick out

time I was on his shoulders."

tunes on his family’s piano. In the fifth grade, he joined Fort Smith’s Children’s Orchestra, and fell in love with the violin, due

Brandon laughs when he tells the story, and he is beaming. It

partially to the orchestra’s conductor, Chris Pinkston. "He was

was the kind of performance he would have never imagined

the best teacher I ever had," Brandon says. "He was patient and

when he was a young boy just learning the basics of the violin.

kind, but yet, he pushed me at the same time."

Having fun while playing great music has helped Foley’s Van Later, Brandon was first chair violin in the Fort Smith Youth

grow in popularity. Certain fans come to every performance.

Symphony and played in a high school quartet that performed at

Brandon smiles and shakes his head, as if to say he can’t believe

functions throughout the city.

their good fortune. "One guy comes from Texas to each and every performance. I guess that’s why we keep doing what

When he was in college in Conway, he began playing in a

we’re doing. Our fans make us want to get up on the stage and

bluegrass band out of Fayetteville called Shady Groove. That’s

entertain them."

when he and his audience began calling his violin a fiddle. "I nearly killed myself, driving back and forth from Conway to

The band has gotten so popular, they’ve hired a production

Fayetteville and back, but I just loved it. We had a great time

firm, Blisterfoot Productions, to handle their bookings. This one

playing at a lot of places in Fort Smith."

decision has helped them stay on track, working on new songs and developing their sound, instead of spending time scheduling

Brandon’s played with several groups since his college days,

places to play and working out the logistics. This month they’re

and a year ago he joined a seven-member band called Foley’s

on the road, going from New Orleans through the Southeast and

Van, which formed in 2012 and is headquartered in Fayetteville.

ending up in Memphis.

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entertainment There’s a lot of work that goes into being on tour, and part of that is figuring out what makes an audience happy. He thinks he’s ahead of the game because not only is he in Foley’s Van, he also works backstage at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, as much as he can. There he studies how "Broadway show folks" do things. "Since this is probably what I’ll be doing for a long time, I want to keep learning and getting better. That’s why we all like to watch other performers."

And while he learns from big artists who travel through our area, a great deal of his support comes from his family. Brandon’s mom and dad live out in the country near Huntington, not far from Fort Smith, and they are so proud of their son. His grandmother, Louellen King, still lives in Fort Smith. "She’s my biggest fan. Her favorite song is 'Orange Blossom Special.' Always has been. If she’s in the audience, it will always be on my list of songs to play."

It may be surprising to learn that Brandon doesn’t come from a musical family. "I’m the only one," he says. What he does know is that when he was a little boy, he liked how each key on the piano sounded. He listened to the music on children’s television shows and duplicated the tunes on the piano. He loved taking violin lessons from a kind and patient teacher.

He loved performing with the Youth Symphony, and when he grew up he loved entertaining people who seemed to love how he played the fiddle.

It may be equally important to note how much he loved books and the buildings that housed them. "I always loved libraries.

Now that I live in Fayetteville, I go to the Fayetteville Public Library nearly every day. It’s an awesome place. All libraries are awesome."

He smiles again, thinking back on those good times. He bundles up, ready to go outside, eager to finish up plans for the tour that will take him to New Orleans and Memphis, where people he’s never met will hear him play, and the band he’s so proud to be a part of will perform in places they’ve not yet seen. It’s going to be a good year, he predicts, and it’s impossible to see it any other way, for this fiddle player who grew up in Fort Smith.

To hear Foley's Van's music and see their concert schedule, find them on Facebook or reverbnation.com/foleysvan.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

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community

CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY SHELTER

L ight in the Darkness In 2013, 854 children in Arkansas’ Sebastian County

problem has been remedied. But the ultimate goal is to get

entered the foster care system. In most cases, the children were

them to a stable home."

removed from their homes due to parental substance abuse or neglect. In some cases, they were removed because of abuse.

When a child between the ages of six and seventeen first arrives at CES, sometimes they have almost nothing, sometimes just

"It’s not like packing for grandma’s. Often, a Department

whatever they can fit into the one trash bag. "Everything has

of Human Services (DHS) caseworker is stuffing the kid’s

to go through a cleaning process, since there can be bed bugs,

things into a black trash bag," says Ashley Ahlert, who’s the

lice, or roach eggs," says Ashley.

advancement coordinator for Children’s Emergency Shelter (CES) in Fort Smith. "Our job is to provide shelter and care until

"Believe it or not, a lot of the kids won’t be crying," says Dolly

an alternate placement is figured out. That might mean a long-

Zabrdac, who’s part of the direct-care staff at CES. "A lot of the

term shelter, like a sheriff’s ranch for boys, or a foster home.

time, they’re actually relieved. They know their situation wasn’t

They could even go back to their previous environment if the

good, even if they are six years old."

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

community were no shelters in this area," says Ashley. "The kids were sent to new school districts, away from a familiar environment. So a bad experience became even more traumatic. The Junior League of Fort Smith identified the need for a local shelter, rallied support and raised money, and our doors opened in 1997."

CES can house up to twelve boys and twelve girls. Each child can stay up to forty-five days in a sixty-day period. The average stay is twentysix days. During that time, the shelter is responsible for the child’s meals, laundry, and living essentials. Additionally, they are responsible for all their transportation to and from school, medical and legal appointments, and extracurricular activities. "We go through four gallons of milk a day, feed 20,000 meals per year, do seventy-seven loads of laundry per week, and drive five hundred miles per week," says Ashley.

"It really is what it’d be like if you had a home with a bunch of kids.

They get on each other’s nerves and act like kids do," says Dolly.

"One difference is that they won’t always tell you when they need something because they are used to whatever they have. You end up with a nine-year-old boy wearing a size thirteen shoe with stuffing in the toe. Old-school Jordans his mom picked up at a yard sale. You have to really pay attention."

Even when the kids are away, it’s easy to get a picture of what life is like there and how they are provided for. There’s toothpaste still words Marcus Coker images courtesy Children’s Emergency Shelter

on the counter in the boys’ bathroom, a teddy bear lying atop a camouflage pillow in one of the rooms. The living area is awash with video games and movies. There are Harry Potter books in the library where the tutors come after school. The pantry is full.

"We publish our address and phone number because it’s important that these kids don’t feel like they are in an institution. They’ve done nothing wrong to be here," says Ashley.

Still, the children run the gamut of emotions: confusion, sadness, anger, and fear. It can be days or even weeks before some of them

The shelter works with the children on a points system, wherein the

open up, start smiling, and let their walls down.

children are rewarded for their good behavior with points. As the points add up each week, the kids are given more privileges around

"Some of the stories make you sick," says Ami Curry, the assistant

the house, as well as money they can spend at school or at the shelter

director at CES. "The mother is on meth, and the daughter has

store on items like games, snacks, chalk, and makeup.

been abused by the mother’s boyfriend. But I try to look at the positive side of things. Right when they walk through that door,

In the best of circumstances, the kids regulate their own behavior,

they’re in a place that’s ten times better."

as evidenced by "the Angry Birds bedding story." Ashley says, "We had a child come in at the same time as an Angry Birds bedspread.

Before the shelter opened, children being removed from their

The child was really exceptional, and everyone looked up to him and

homes by DHS were sent to distant parts of the state. "There

said, ‘When he leaves, can I get the Angry Birds bedding?’ So the

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community

kids have designated that the good bedding, based on behavior."

After the children leave CES, the staff rarely finds out what happens to them. Ashley says, "I can’t talk about these kids without crying.

Sixty-one percent of CES’s funding comes from the state.

You watch them get packed up, and just see the hope in their eyes.

The rest comes from private grants, awards, and donations.

They always want to be with their parents, and they know when their

Ashley says, "We’re lien free and debt free, but we rely a lot

next court date is. They just all want to be loved. And you just pray

on donations. We need canned food, hygiene and household

it’s going to be okay."

items, and even things for recreation. Ultimately, monetary donations work best because we are tax exempt and get

For Sebastian County, which has the highest percentage of foster

discounts, so the dollar goes further with us. Plus, we can take

children due to abuse and neglect, not every story has a happy ending.

the children shopping, and they not only get things that fit

But places like Children’s Emergency Shelter help to make things better.

them, but they get to pick things they like."

By providing children with safety, a new start, and hope during a difficult situation, they are truly a light in the darkness.

Children's Emergency Shelter Facts: CES serves nearly 20,000 meals per year.

The average daily occupancy is 19 children.

CES served 5800 nights of care last year.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

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51

Support a Daily Need The CES provides all of the food, clothing, hygiene items, shelter and care needed to each child that enters their home. They serve a maximum of 24 children per day - over 250 children per year. By supporting a CES Daily Need, you can help them continue to successfully fulfill the basic needs of the children they serve.

Canned Food & Condiment Needs

Serving Our Children In 2013-2014, 254 children lived at the Children’s Emergency Shelter. Serving as the only DCFS (Department of Children & Family Services) approved emergency shelter for Sebastian County, the CES provides a structured, safe, and home-like environment for homeless foster children. Upon entering the CES and during their stay, each child is provided with food, clothing, shelter, hygiene products, and other items essential tomeeting their daily needs. In addition, the CES transports the children to/from doctor appointments, school and school activities, visitations, and other activities related to the needs of each child. On-site tutoring is also offered to each child at the CES.

Taking Care of Our Kids — Mission Statement —

105/106 oz cans (aka #10 cans): Peas Green Beans Carrots Mixed Fruit Diced Peaches Diced Pears

needs are emergency short-term housing due to family dysfunction, abuse, neglect, runaway situations or other social problems which cannot be remedied in their present family environment or as a temporary placement for children in DHS

Mayonnaise Pickles Salt & Pepper Ranch Dressing Worcestershire Cooking Spray Syrup Seasoning Salt

Hygiene Needs Hygiene Needs Nix Lice Treatment Deodorant Toothbrushes Toothpaste Shampoo Conditioner Feminine Products

Female Razors Body Lotion Hair Accessories Hair Detangler Shaving Cream Hair Brushes Toilet Paper Hand Soap

Hand Sanitizer Washcloths Shower Towels New Socks New Underwear Face Wash Ethnic Hair Care Body Wash

Household Needs Trash bags (13 gal & 33 gal) Household Cleaners Scrubbing Bubbles Latex-free Gloves Laundry PODS Dish Soap DW Detergent Scrub Brushes

The Fort Smith Children’s Emergency Shelter serves area children ages 6-17 whose primary

Pineapple Applesauce Mandarin Oranges Corn Condiments: Ketchup Mustard Honey

Magic Erasers Mop Heads Brooms Windex Cleaning Rags Clorox Wipes Paper Napkins Paper Towels Paper Plates

Plastic Cups Silverware Plasticware Tote Bags Laundry Bags Ziploc Bags Foil Plastic Wrap Food Prep Gloves

Kids Store/Recreational Needs Matchbox Cars Fingernail Polish Coloring Books Crayons Stickers Puzzles Playing Cards Girls Diary Art Supplies

Perfume CD’s • Music iPODs Gift Cards Candy • Chips Soda Makeup Hand Lotions Model Cars

Sports Balls Sidewalk Chalk Frisbees Swimming goggles Play-doh Legos Small toys Xbox/DS Games DVD Movies

custody whose placement has been disrupted.

info@fsces.org | (479) 783-0018 DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

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taste diy

SQUASH IT! words & Images Lauren Allen, tastesbetterfromscratch.com Adapted from Oh She Glows

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

taste diy

I

doubt I'm alone in my New Year's ambition to cook healthy meals that use fresh, seasonal ingredients! Fresh ingredients are always less expensive when they're in season, and they're higher in quality too. This stuffed spaghetti squash fits the bill with fresh vegetables and a delicious Tex-Mex inspired flavor that will leave you

full and satisfied. It’s not only healthy, but also full of flavor - the perfect meal to mix things up a bit this year!

Ingredients The Squash

The Filling

• 1 medium spaghetti squash

• 2 avocados, pitted and chopped

• extra virgin olive oil, to taste

• 1/2 cup diced red onion

• ground cumin, to taste

• 1 tomato, diced

• ground chili powder, to taste

• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

• dried oregano, to taste

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

• salt & pepper, to taste

• 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste • salt and pepper, to taste • crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

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taste

Method

1

lengthwise, creating two long halves.

2

chopped avocado, onion, tomato,

3

Remove the seeds and guts. Brush

black beans, and cilantro. Season

pepper. Fill each half of squash with

some olive oil onto the squash and

to taste with lime juice, salt,

the vegetable filling. Enjoy!

sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place

pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Preheat oven to 375째. Slice stem

off

squash.

Starting

at the top, slice the squash

While

the

squash

is

roasting, prepare the filling.

In a mixing bowl add the

Remove squash from the oven and flip over. Sprinkle on, to taste, some chili

powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and

squash halves cut side down on the baking sheet and roast for 30-50 minutes, depending on how large your squash is. Check on it after 25 minutes of baking time - it's ready when it is tender and easy to scrape the strands with a fork.

Lauren Allen is the creator of TastesBetterFromScratch.com, an exciting and beautiful food blog dedicated to sharing her love of cooking and creating new recipes.

Lauren truly believes that everything tastes better from scratch!

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

taste

Image Catherine Frederick

Warm and Cozy INGREDIENTS

Âź cup cocoa powder 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon espresso powder (or 1/2 cup brewed espresso)

Pinch kosher salt

3oz. Amaretto

3 cups whole milk

4oz. Irish whiskey

4oz. milk chocolate chips

Whipped cream

4oz. bittersweet chocolate chips

Ground cinnamon (garnish)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD

In medium saucepan, stir together cocoa, sugar and salt. Add milk, milk chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate. Stir constantly until chocolate is melted and mixture is hot. Whisk to combine.

Add vanilla, espresso, Amaretto, and whiskey.

(Vary the amount of each liquor to taste). Stir to combine. Pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream and ground cinnamon. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings. Please drink responsibly.

DO DS OO SU OTUHTM HA MG AA GZ AIZNIE NE

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travel

SEEING THE

sights, PLAYING THE ponies words Nancy Hartney images courtesy Oaklawn/Coady Photography

On the first Saturday in May, racing fans turn an eye toward Kentucky and The Derby. But folks in Hot Springs, Arkansas are months ahead with their betting dreams.

This Ozark spa town, set in a national park, has shucked its bootlegging-gangster image (Al Capone was a frequent visitor beginning in the 1920s) to become the center of the finest horse racing and casino gambling in the state.

Live season at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming Park opens on January 9, and thunders to a mid-April finish with the $1 million Arkansas Derby, a stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby. Tourists on long weekends fill up the town with everything from bedecked-hat fashionistas to hardcore keep-it-plain fans and players.

"How you doing out there?" says a bald-headed bartender

Straight betting, laying $2 to win, place or show on a horse,

inside the pavilion. He slings pay-as-you-drink beer and cocktails

often for the novice gambler, has fallen out of favor for many

from mid-morning into the night. Smile and conversation free.

fans. Still, it has its place. Danza, named after actor Tony Danza of Who’s the Boss, laid his ears back and snatched the 2014

Food is always a big draw at Oaklawn, including its famous

Arkansas Derby by 4ž lengths. Listed as a 40-1 long shot even

corned beef sandwich, which sells for only $.50 if you show up

the straight ticket translated into nice cash.

on January 10.

Exotic betting attracts the die-hard player as well as the casual Race day becomes a series of glory and heartbreak moments

fan. Complex wagers commonly known as daily double, exacta,

framed through the betting windows. Cash your win-lose-or-

trifecta, pick four, or pick six, offer big rewards. These bets

draw ticket, grab another brew or cocktail, scan the program,

translate into a high-risk, adrenalin-rush afternoon measured

make a decision, and step back to the wagering window.

out in two-minute increments.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

travel

Jack Van Berg, 1985 inductee into the National Museum of

picnicking fans, offering a view from the inside out. There are

Racing, puts it best: "If I could just measure their heart, I’d have

also grandstand tickets or climate-controlled private boxes.

the gold key" to winning. Van Berg, best known for training Alyeshaba, the horse that won two legs of the Triple Crown in

Looking for something else to do while in town? Consider a

1987, rubs elbows with track owner Charles Cella, fellow trainers

leisurely brunch, shop the boutiques, visit the Gangster Museum

D. Wayne Lucas and Bob Baffert, and jockeys Calvin Borel and

along Central Avenue, or take in the nearby Ouachita Mountains.

Pat Day.

Fordyce Bathhouse and Buckstaff Bathhouse offer a pampering massage where you can celebrate wins or smooth away losses.

Oaklawn ponies run Thursday through Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:30. General admission folks flock to the tiered

For the visitor, Hot Springs serves up the sweet life with a

concrete bleachers. Hard core fans mill in and out on the track

long-weekend chase-the-blues-away winter travel option.

apron. On good weather days, the in-field sprawls open with

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travel

Oaklawn Racing & Gaming 2705 Central Avenue • Hot Springs, AR 800-625-5296 | 800.OAKLAWN www.oaklawn.com The 2015 live racing season runs Friday, Jan. 9 through Saturday, April 11, every Thursday - Sunday. Live racing card set on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Monday, February 16, Presidents Day as well as two Wednesdays in April:

Go Behind the Scenes - Backside Barn Tours offered free on

April 1 and April 8. No racing Easter Sunday, April 5.

Saturday mornings beginning February 14. Fans can get a behind the scenes tour of the barn area and watch horses train.

Bonus: General admission fees to Oaklawn have been dropped for 2015, meaning you can get in for free this season. Parking is $2.

Other Sites to See While in Hot Springs Hot Springs National Park and the town of Hot Springs lies

Who can attend?

All ages can attend the races; however, you must be at least

southwest of Little Rock (AR), west of Memphis (TN) and east of Oklahoma City. The Park encompasses the town, race track, bathhouses and mountainous hiking trails.

eighteen to wager, and you must be twenty-one or older to enter the Game Room.

Garven Woodland Gardens, a University of Arkansas

Renovations: The brand new $20 million dollar expansion of the Game Room includes more than 250 new Vegas-style games, which is open year round. There's a Poker Room, a High Limits area, and the Silks Bar & Grill, a casual sit down restaurant with more than thirty big screen TVs for watching sporting events. You'll also find Bistro 2705, where you can buy a quick snack or sandwich.

Must be twenty-one to enter this area.

Food: During the live race meet, restaurant options are:

managed botanical garden with five miles of trails, unique bridges, and waterfalls, tumbles across 210-acres.

Enjoy hiking, driving, and wild life viewing in the mountainous Ozark terrain of the Ouachita National Forest adjacent to the National Park.

Bathhouse Row, a historic site popular in the early 20th century, includes the old Fordyce Bathhouse and Buckstaff Bathhouse, the only working bath and massage parlor left on the Row.

Silk Lagniappes – Wednesday and Friday nights only

The Grand Promenade, accessed from downtown, is

Post Parade – Live meet only

an easy half-mile walking trail between Bathhouse Row

Carousel – Live meet only

and the nearby mountains.

Oaklawn Club – Live meet only

Central Avenue, Main Street for Hot Springs, offers

Reservations are strongly recommended for Post Parade,

the best in boutiques, dining, cafes, and quaint taverns.

Carousel and Oaklawn Club and can be made by calling 1.800.Oaklawn, Extension 340.

The Gangster Museum of America, with seven galleries and an antique casino, spotlights the legacy of notorious mobsters Al Capone, Frank Costello, Bugs Moran, Lucky Luciano and Owen "The Killer" Madden aka the English Godfather.

60

southern lit

Afternoon of Ice and Stone fiction Marla Cantrell

T-Buddy looked out the window above his narrow bed.

Rain had turned to ice during the night, and now the limbs of his pecan tree appeared to be covered in glass. He knew one thing; he wouldn’t be going in today. His own mama was killed on the highway, back when he was eleven, on her way to work on a day much like this one. He remembered it all: the cop showing up at his door, asking for T-Buddy's daddy, who hadn't been around in seven years. He remembered the way the sleet pelted the porch and how he believed that if he let the officer come in, a great hole might form there in the living room and take T-Buddy down into it.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

southern lit

T-Buddy's boss at Hauling Class was none too happy when he took

the street and saw a Hauling Class truck headed his way. The truck

the call. "You're a delivery man," he said, and then he spelled the

stopped at the traffic light, and T-Buddy turned his head away. It

word delivery. "They ain't even letting schools out. If you can't

was too late. His friend Basil had seen him, and he was honking

make it in today, don't bother coming back."

now and rolling down his window. "Because of you, I'll be working past midnight, man. What the hell?" Basil touched his temple.

He'd taken the job in the summer, when the only threats were heat-

"You sick in the head or something?"

stroke and bad drivers and road construction. None of that was enough to warn him away. He hadn't thought about winter. That

T-Buddy felt his stomach clench. A car behind Basil honked, and

was the flaw in his nature, not seeing far enough down the road.

he waved the driver past. "Get over here, T-Buddy. Climb in and talk to me. I'll stay put." He looked T-Buddy up and down

He looked around his house, so small he could pull it behind his

and waited.

pickup if he could force it from its foundation. It was perfect in its smallness: mini-fridge, a loveseat that filled an entire wall, a table

Stepping into that truck was hard like fighting a battle is hard, like

that folded out in case he had company. He never did.

walking a tightrope is hard. Touching the bottle with his nerve pills helped. Still, he shook as he landed one cleat on the running

There was nothing to do but go back up to his loft where his

board and hoisted himself up.

single bed waited. He switched on the TV to the cooking network, and watched skinny chefs make fat food so beautiful it

Before the door shut, Basil took off. T-Buddy gripped the dash,

looked like art. At noon, he opened a can of chili, he slid a fro-

and worked the seatbelt with his other hand. "You idiot," he said

zen blackberry pie into his tiny oven, and ate it all. There was no

to Basil, but that only made him drive faster. There was a slick spot

more food in the house.

on Meadow Lake Road, and the truck fishtailed and T-Buddy cried out, and then he popped another one of his pills, swallowed it dry,

T-Buddy had a pair of cleats from his football days. He put them

wiped his brow.

on. He wrapped a red bath towel around his neck like a scarf. He put on his grandpa's old army jacket. He took a nerve pill, and

"You got nerves like my aunt Edna," Basil said. And then he

pocketed the bottle. The market was twelve blocks away, and he

punched T-Buddy’s arm. "We got a near perfect safety record.

headed toward it.

You can look it up. Roads are just roads, weather's just weather.

Your time comes or it don't."

The cleats were a bad idea, more like skates on the slick walk. Before he reached the end of his street, he'd moved onto the grass.

"That's what the preacher said about my mama." T-Buddy

He thought about the last time he'd worn the shoes. He'd been

shook his head. "Didn’t believe it. Didn’t believe the rest of it

a tackle in high school. Out there, his body worked in his favor,

either. Heaven and what not and streets of gold. She was only

his surprisingly quick gait, his strong legs, his chest like something

twenty-nine," he said, then turned his head to look out the

you'd see in an ad for a gym. It helped him deal with the loss of his

passenger window.

mama back then, to hit another person and not get blamed for it.

He pounded one gloved fist into his open palm. "Bam," he said

The wind was howling. A tree branch popped and fell. "I had a

aloud, and the word echoed in the still, blue air.

sister die at seven," Basil said. "Seven. Made no sense at all, but there you go. I got a girl that's six now. Can't hardly look at her

A car crept by, the first one he'd seen, and the driver waved. T-Bud-

sometimes. I watch her sleep most nights. I take her to the doctor

dy waved back, and then stepped a little farther off the sidewalk.

and make him check her out four times a year, blood work, scans,

A car could skid, could swerve, before you had time to do much of

the whole nine yards. I do what I can, but it don't amount to

anything. The nerve pills rattled in his pocket.

much. That’s just the way this beat up old world works. Fighting it is like fighting your own shadow."

When he reached the intersection, he hit the "WALK" button, stepped back onto the brown grass, and waited. He looked down

T-Buddy couldn't take other peoples’ sad stories. That's why he

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61

62

southern lit

watched so many cooking shows. No sickness there. He looked

wind was blowing. He stood and took her in, her chicken wire

down the stretch of highway. The power lines bounced in the

skirt, her blue marble eyes, her hands two icy garden trowels.

wind. Two miles up ahead, around the bend, was where his mama's car caught air, where it sailed across the railroad tracks,

Behind him, Basil climbed atop the cow, slipped across its icy back,

where it upended in the ditch. He felt eleven again, motherless,

smiled, took out his phone, snapped a photo of himself. At the

and he wanted to feel ten or nine or even eight. At eight, the

same time, T-Buddy reached out his hand, he touched the frozen

world was still a good place.

chicken wire on the angel, the trowels. He started to reach up to touch her wings, but something stopped him. There was too

"I can't go up there," he said, and pointed in the direction of his

much beauty in them, maybe that was it, or it might have been

dead mama's wreck.

that they seemed so delicate they might turn to powder. So he stood there with his hand raised, and the sun broke from behind a

Basil looked at him, opened his mouth to say something, paused,

cloud, and a covey of bobwhites rose and blew over him.

and then reconsidered. "We can circle around. I got a delivery up on Old Vega Road anyway," he said, finally.

On the last night of his mama's life, she was wearing a black T-shirt that read "Keep on Truckin'" and pink sweatpants, and

The road they turned onto was gravel, the kind where there's

when she said goodnight, she stood at his bedroom door for a

always a lone dog scruffing around, where there's always a line

long time, framed in light, so that she seemed to glow when he

of fence posts half eaten away by rot. The truck slipped on the

turned in his bed and saw her still there. For a moment, he had this

turn, and then straightened out, and then stopped cold. T-Buddy

thought: she looks like an angel. And as he fell asleep he imagined

squeezed his eyes shut, tried to breathe.

her, her red hair let down from its ponytail, flighty wings suddenly appearing where her shoulder blades should have been.

"Well, looky there," Basil said, and T-Buddy opened his eyes. In a field were three sculptures made of cement and all kinds of junk:

Once, she told him her idea of heaven was twenty acres and a

wire, pieces of broken bottles, green and blue and brown, and

good barn, a cow named Miss Priss, and him. "Nothing else I'd

round mirrors that caught reflections of the clouds and threw

need," she'd said, and he'd not even looked up when she said

them back.

it, that's how unimportant it seemed at the time. She might have wondered if he'd heard her, if he'd remember how carefully she

"What the heck?" T-Buddy said, and then he pointed. "That one

had loved him, once he was grown. T-Buddy shaded his eyes and

up by the old barn, that's an angel, right? You see an angel?" He

looked at the angel's stone face, and he wondered who had made

got out of the truck and crunched along the gravel, then slipped

her, or if she'd fallen in this field from on high, just for him. The

through the fence, and headed toward it. Basil followed, stopping

thought made everything that hurt in him bust free from his heart.

at the concrete cow with a wine bottle for a tail, an old antenna

He breathed in deep, and it felt as if there was suddenly more

on its shoulders like wings.

room in his chest. He touched the open spot with his gloved fingers. It ached still, that tender place did, but not nearly as much

T-Buddy glanced at the statue that looked like a life-size

as it had before.

Volkswagen, a giant pink peace sign on the driver's door. A real steering wheel sat on the hood, making it look as if you could wind it up and drive it away.

Moles and armadillos and gophers had done their work on the pasture, the ground was tunneled and fell with T-Buddy's footfalls.

He stumbled, got back up, walked faster. The angel, whose wings were iridescent things, seemed to call his name. The angel’s hair, a red wig that had been dipped in shellac, fanned out as if a strong

Marla was awarded the Arkansas Arts Council 2014 Individual Fellowship for her work in short fiction, an honor given to Arkansas artists who are recognized for their artistic abilities.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

Welcome to our inaugural

Health, Wellness, Fitness, and Weight Loss Guide!

This guide is the first of what will become a new monthly feature in the pages of Do South Magazine. Each month we’re partnering with local businesses to feature a different topic, full of information to help YOU, our beloved reader. Don’t miss this special section each month!

—COMING NEXT MONTH—

WEDDINGS Plan the perfect wedding with help from our Wedding Guide!

Photographers, florists, venues, cakes, attire, rentals, event planners, invitations, gifts, travel planners, limo services, DJ’s, liquor stores, jewelers, makeup, salons, bands, and more!

If you’re interested in having your business appear in one of our upcoming guides, give us a call at 479.782.1500 – we’d love to send you our 2015 guide calendar.

See you in February!

Catherine

Owner/Editor-in-Chief • Do South Magazine • 479.782.1500

Do South's guide to

health & wellness

FITNESS. NUTRITION. WEIGHT LOSS.

Y

ou owe it to yourself, and your loved ones,

you’ll find information about a variety of options

to get healthy and fit in 2015. Carrying

to get you on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

around extra weight increases your risk of heart

From local fitness centers, to bariatric surgery,

disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure -

to healthy and organic foods, to natural oils and

just to name a few. Not to mention how it can

supplements, we’re certain you’ll find an option

affect your quality of life. In the next few pages

that’s just right for you.

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

Want a New You in the New Year?

Mercy Fitness Center will help get you there. Make 2015 the year you reach your health and fitness goals.

Mention this ad and Mercy Fitness Center will waive the joining fee on any new membership during the month of January.

This is a savings of: $50 for individuals $100 for families Your life is our life’s work. mercy.net

Mercy Fitness Center 7600 Dallas Street Fort Smith, AR Call 479-314-7400 for details.

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FORT SMITH ATHLETIC CLUB 5400 South Gary Street - Fort Smith 479.452.4031 | fsathleticclub.com

Located in the heart of Fort Smith, Fort Smith Athletic Club is the place for quality fitness. Whether you’re looking for a traditional workout, or prefer tennis, yoga, or Pilates, we’ve got you covered.

Fort Smith Athletic Club offers a wide variety of fitness classes, a multitude of indoor and outdoor tennis courts (along with USPTA Certified Teaching Pros, lessons, leagues, and tournaments), personal trainers, an 8,350 square foot fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Hours: Mondays through Thursday 5am – 9pm, Friday 5am – 7pm, Saturday 8:30am – 7pm, and Sunday 9:30am – 7pm.

Open house January 1st - 4th. Joining fees waived during open house ($100-$600 value).

SERVICES OFFERED: Free "Fit Track" Personal Trainers Pilates, Yoga, Total BARRE

Body Sculpting, Boot Camp Strength, Interval, and HIIT Training Ellipticals, Treadmills, Bikes, Steppers Weight Machines, Free Weights

Racquetball, Tennis, Pickle-ball Courts Tennis Lessons & Leagues 5 USPTA Certified Teaching Pros Childcare Available

OLDE FASHIONED FOODS 123 North 18th Street - Fort Smith 8434 Phoenix Avenue, Suite E - Fort Smith 479.782.6183 or 479.649.8200 facebook/oldefashioned Olde Fashioned foods are the best foods.

Founded in 1959 by Bill and Louise Bruce, Old Fashioned Foods has been serving the health and wellness needs of our community for over five decades. They have two locations to serve families of the River Valley, and their staff are some of the best you'll find anywhere. The staff at Olde Fashioned Foods are friendly and knowledgable, and their mission it to help their customers lead healthier and happier lives.

Olde Fashioned Foods carries herbs, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, essential oils and products for all types of health conditions.

They also offer gluten-free, organic and natural foods such as chia seeds, hemp hearts, non-GMO foods, coconut oils, and fresh produce. Garcinia Combogia, Lombucha drinks and raw Suja juices are just a few of their popular items.

PRODUCTS OFFERED: Organic and natural foods Probiotics

Vitamins and minerals Weight loss supplements Essential oils DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

Gluten-free foods Non-GMO foods Fresh produce and juices

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

Dedicated to Quality Fitness

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

DARRYL ECKES, M.D., F.A.C.S. COOPER CLINIC 7001 Rogers Avenue - Fort Smith | 479.274.3215 or 800.333.1305 cooperweightlosssurgery.com | weightlosssurgery@cooperclinic.com Lose Weight. Regain Your Health.

Are you one of the millions of Americans who struggles with obesity? Have you been unsuccessful in losing weight and keeping it off? Are your day-to-day activities and your health adversely affected? Extra pounds increase your risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other serious conditions, and obesity-related health conditions can significantly reduce your life expectancy.

Dr. Darryl Eckes is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery. He performs general surgery and three types of bariatric (weight loss) procedures.

Through personal consultation, he assesses each patient as to their overall health situation and personal

weight loss goals to determine which surgery is best.

He is the only physician in the River Valley accredited by the SRC as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence Surgeon.

Bariatric surgery is covered by Medicare and many insurers. Our Bariatric Coordinator can provide a free verification of your individual insurance benefits, and free monthly seminars are provided by Dr. Eckes.

For an effective, long-term solution to obesity, consider Weight Loss Surgery. It’s your life—live it better, longer, healthier.

PROCEDURES OFFERED: - Lap-Band®®® - Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y - Sleeve Gastrectomy DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

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HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

Young Living Grapefruit Oil Fat Digestion Cellulite Stress Anxiety Kidney Cleansing Migraines

ORGANIC. SAFE. PURE. NATURAL Add 1-2 drops to glass of water. Diffuse. Dietary Supplement.

Catherine Frederick YL ID # 2264098 | cfrederick1075@gmail.com

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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With over 90 local vendors in store, take comfort in knowing your food.

1554 N College Avenue 479.521.7558 www.onf.coop

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HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

Your community co-op for organic and all-natural shopping needs, including many options for special dietary requirements.

SPARKS HEALTH SYSTEM

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

MARVIN ALTMAN FITNESS CENTER NUTRITION COUNSELING ARKANSAS SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS 479.709.DOCS SparksHealth.com or ARSurgicalWeightLoss.com 3 Ways to Spark Your New Year’s Weight Loss From fitness to diet or surgery, Sparks Health System provides options for you and your family for getting healthy and in shape during the New Year. If working out is a personal goal for you in 2015, Marvin Altman Fitness Center, located on the Sparks’ campus, can help. Marvin Altman is a medically based fitness center with classes for all activity levels. For the more advanced, you can try one of the "Boot Camps" offered, or for the less active, yoga and water aerobics are available. "We strive to make the fitness center a place where everyone feels comfortable working out," said Don Ridgley. With the addition of new workout equipment within the last few months, Marvin Altman is even better equipped to help you reach your wellness goals. Personal trainers are also available to assist you with your fitness plan.

Another option available for those trying to get healthy in 2015 is the newly-opened Sparks Nutrition Counseling Center. It is the only center of its kind in the region. Registered dieticians offer individualized analysis and nutrition plans for not only patients who’ve been hospitalized or are under the care of a physician, but also those who need help managing their weight. Starting in 2015, the center will be offering an 8 week series of weight loss classes called "Mission SlimPossible." The classes will educate you about Basic Nutrition, Meal Planning, and Smart Shopping.

"We want to make this an interactive, fun experience

for anyone who is interested in losing weight. Through the class, participants will receive a free month membership to Marvin Altman Fitness Center and have access to an Executive Chef" said Sarah Evans, Nutrition Education Coordinator.

Sometimes exercise and diet is not a viable option for a person who is overweight. If your weight has started to cause you serious health problems including high blood pressure or diabetes, surgical weight loss might be an option. Through Arkansas Surgical Weight Loss, available at Sparks Regional Medical Center and Summit Medical Center, surgeons can help you get your health back on track. Several surgical options are available, including the Sleeve Gastrectomy, which is available at both hospitals.

Through five small incisions, each between one and two inches long, the surgeon removes approximately 70 percent of the stomach. This new stomach has a total capacity of just three to five ounces, which means patients feel full or satisfied after eating only two to four ounces of food. Patients must meet certain criteria including a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 or a BMI of 35 or greater with the existence of other comorbidities which could include diabetes and high blood pressure. Free monthly seminars are held in both Van Buren and Fort Smith to educate patients about surgical weight loss. Anyone interested in learning more about the procedures should attend a seminar.

LOSE THE WEIGHT: - Marvin Altman Fitness Center - Nutritional Counseling - Surgical Weight Loss Options DOSOUTHMAGAZINE

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HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

Read Chair Publishing, LLC 7030 Taylor Avenue, Suite 5 Fort Smith, AR 72916