Refresh - June 2019

®

REFRESH

June 2019 DoSouthMagazine.com

02

june

Contents 04 08

Pets Adoption:

Almost Home Shelter

and Rescue

09 12 14 48

Publisher’s Letter

24 30 32

The Domino Effect From Now Until Forever

The Bonneville House Shop Local

{TASTE}

36 38

Grilled Steak Salad The Grown-Up Cherry Limeade

Family Traditions

{ T R AV E L }

Pet Safety

{ FA I T H }

20

The Dream

40 42

Arkie Travels Discover Augusta

Southern Fiction:

Remembrances

{ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

06 18 26

{PEOPLE}

June Events Let’s Get Bookish this Summer Riverfront Blues Festival

{HEALTH}

20

The Memory of Music

{GARDEN}

10

June in the Garden

{SPECIAL FEATURE}

50

House & Home

OUR COVER

®

Rimma Bondarenko -Shutterstock REFRESH

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June 2019 DoSouthMagazine.com

04

publisher's letter

JUNE 2019

Never Stop Playing This past weekend I watched the movie, Tagged. It’s a hilarious movie based on a real-life group of guys who’ve been playing a month-long game of tag for more than thirty years. Let that sink in. They’ve kept their childhood game going for thirty years.

When was the last time you put everything aside and played? I am not talking about a game of Scrabble…I’m talking swinging sky-high on a swing set, sliding into first base, racing boats down a rain-swelled creek, kind of play.

That kind of play feels like a lifetime ago, because I allowed it to pass away. I replaced play with scrolling through my phone, peering into other people’s lives when I could have been out enjoying my own. Perhaps it’s true what George Bernard Shaw said, “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

I have decided to make a change.

OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Dyer, Jade Graves CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alicia Agent, Jessica Battles, Sharla Cameron, Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Judy Harrington, Sarah & Paul Heer, Megan Lankford, Sarah Phillips, Sara Putnam, Jessica Sowards ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

I’m determined to bring play back into my life and I am going to start with our top ten list of natural waterparks in Arkansas. I want to explore our beautiful state with a childlike wonder. To ride bikes, hike trails, explore caves, swim in natural waters, and discover breathtaking waterfalls – all right here in my home state of Arkansas. This summer, you’ll find me outdoors! Won’t you join me?

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor

catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

©2019 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in Do South® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893 Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request.

Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.

FOLLOW US To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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06

calendar

Fan Mail

The Calendar June 2019

Send comments and suggestions to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

Community Connections Amazing quality, great community connection tool and always great photos and articles. Look forward to the cover every month!

June 21-22 Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival Harry E. Kelley Riverpark Fort Smith, Arkansas

~ JoAnn C.

Highly Recommend Do South® is a creative and innovative regional magazine.

It's refreshing to see the beautiful photos and well written articles, when so many other regional publications just contain page after page of ads and very little content. I highly recommend Do South®. ~ Bridget H.

June 2-15 Hot Springs Music Festival Season 24 Downtown Hot Springs Hot Springs, Arkansas June 6-9, 12-15 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Fort Smith Little Theatre Fort Smith, Arkansas

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

Do South® Magazine

What’s better than enjoying Do South® Magazine every single month? How about having it delivered right to your door! Enter to win a twelve month subscription to your favorite magazine.

June 8 7th Annual Honor & Duty 5K Race & Fun Walk Fort Chaffee Fort Smith, Arkansas UAFS A Cappella Festival Gardner Building, UAFS Campus Fort Smith, Arkansas June 10-29 2019 Artosphere Festival Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, Arkansas June 18-23 Les Misérables Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, Arkansas

CODE: DOSOUTH

Congrats

June 20 3rd Thursday Downtown Fort Smith Fort Smith, Arkansas

Congrats to our contest winner from May! Jennifer’s Gift Shop, Baptist Health – Fort Smith: Jewel Dart

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June 7

Jazz in June The Bonneville House Fort Smith, Arkansas

June 22 True Grit Ride 105 Chaffee Crossing Historic District Fort Smith, Arkansas June 26-28 BITE NW Arkansas 8th Street Market Bentonville, Arkansas Thru July 31 8th Annual Hot Springs Fishing Competition Lake Hamilton & Lake Catherine Hot Springs, Arkansas

Submit your events to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

L ive !

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calendar

Don’t-Miss June Concerts

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2

Jimmy Buffet & the Coral Reefer Band Son of a Son of a Sailor ’19 Tour Calling all Parrot Heads! Don’t miss your chance to soak in the full Margaritaville experience for one night only with Jimmy Buffet & the Coral Reefer Band. Kick your summer off right and sing the night away to “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Margaritaville,” and “Come Monday.”

Verizon Arena North Little Rock, Arkansas

Florida Georgia Line Can't Say I Ain't Country Tour This year’s party promises to be even bigger than previous tours, FGL’s Kelley says to expect lots of pyro, energy, good vibes and surprises. FGL will perform songs from the nineteen-deep track list, including their current chart-rising single, “Talk You Out of It.” Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

JUNE 6

3 JUNE 16

Steve Miller Band & Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Miller has been an enlivening presence on the American music scene for more than half a century and was a mainstay of the San Francisco music scene that upended American culture in the late '60s. Call him the Gangster of Love or even Space Cowboy but grab your tickets before they’re gone.

Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

JUNE 13

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5

Train/Goo Goo Dolls Summer 2019 Tour with Allen Stone Grammy®-winning, multi-platinum selling Train announced the tour on the release day of their highly anticipated Greatest Hits album.

The album and epic nationwide tour will celebrate twenty years of beloved music and hits.

Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

Brad Paisley 2019 World Tour with Chris Lane and Riley Green Brad Paisley is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer whose talents have earned him numerous awards.

Paisley takes the stage this summer with special guests Chris Lane and Riley Green.

Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

JUNE 26

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JUNE 27

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08

pets

Rescued Is Our Favorite Breed F

M

F

Anelle

Genghis

M

F

Jasmine

M

Jed

Lola

Peter

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

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

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pets

4TH OF JULY

Safety for Pets words and image courtesy Family Features

With crowds of unfamiliar people and loud, scary noises, the Fourth of July can make even the most laid-back, four-legged family members apprehensive and unpredictable. “Research shows that more pets are lost on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year and animal shelters are most crowded after the holiday, filled with lost dogs and cats,” said Aimee Gilbreath, executive director, Michelson Found Animals Foundation. “Taking steps to protect your pet can help ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for the whole family.”

These tips can help keep your pet comfortable and secure: 1. GET IDENTIFICATION TAGS. A collar and external ID tags are quick and easy ways to identify your pet if lost, and they make him or her instantly recognizable as someone’s pet. What information you provide on the tags may vary depending on your personal security concerns, but at the very least, include a phone number. If you’re concerned about noisy dangling tags, or the tags snagging and pulling loose, choose a flat style that affixes to the fabric of the collar.

2. GET YOUR PET A MICROCHIP AND REGISTER IT. A registered microchip is one of the best ways to identify a lost pet who has slipped out of his or her collar.

However, pet owners may falsely assume that just because their pet has a microchip, they’ve taken the necessary steps.

It’s critical your pet’s microchip is registered with your current contact information, and Found Animals recommends updating your contact info anytime you move or change phone numbers.

If you’ve adopted your pet from a rescue or other organization, it’s important to transfer the chip registration. Register your pet’s microchip for free at found.org.

3. AVOID THE CROWDS. Avoid bringing your pooch to crowded events, parades and other gatherings with a lot of commotion or people. A combination of heat, loud noises, packed spaces and scorching blacktops can be stressful and harmful to your pet’s health. It’s especially wise to avoid bringing your pets to firework events, as they could panic and run.

4. GEAR UP WITH A LEASH AND HARNESS. Even leash-trained pets can get spooked by Fourth of July festivities. Secure pets with a well-fitting leash and collar or harness. Remember an anxious pet may slip out of a collar or repeatedly tug against a leash, so it may be necessary to take extra precautions.

5. FIT IN A WORKOUT. Be sure to give your pets lots of exercise during the day so they’ll be a little worn out before the scary noises start at night. A long run or play session during the day may help with your pet’s overall stress and anxiety levels.

6. CREATE A SAFE SPACE INSIDE AND AWAY FROM FIREWORKS. Confining movement in dogs and cats actually has a calming effect on them. Provide your pet with a safe space, such as a cozy bed, room or crate. Also, close windows and doors to minimize sound and escape routes.

Another option is an anti-anxiety wrap or coat. In a pinch, if you’re away from home, you can even create one from a scarf.

7. TRY A CALMING AID. If you’re worried about a pet that stresses easily, talk to your vet in advance about CBD and anti-anxiety treats, chews, drops or other remedies that can help your pet relax. There are plenty of prescription and homeopathic solutions out there that can help your pet get the extra dose of relaxation he or she needs.

Find more summertime tips for your pets at foundanimals.org.

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garden

words Megan Lankford, Horticulture Supervisor, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks image Erin Wilson, Unsplash

june in the Garden THE DIRT: When we garden for butterflies, we often do so only for the adults. We do a wonderful job of providing nectar and water, but we often forget one key part, host plants. Host plants are essential to the lifecycle of the butterfly, as the caterpillars of each species can only eat certain plants in order to grow. Amazingly, the female butterfly knows what plants to lay her eggs on by the leaf shape and color, as well as scent.

T IPS:

Host plants can be incorporated into your existing landscape, or if you have room you can create a butterfly garden. Many of us grow fennel, parsley, and dill, but they are also host plants for the Eastern Black and Anise Swallowtails. ‘Zebrina’ Malva sylvestris is a whimsical addition to the garden, providing nectar along with being a host plant for the Painted Lady.

However, be careful as it can reseed throughout the garden.

We all know the plight of the Monarchs, but which milkweed should you use? For most gardens I suggest Asclepias tuberosa. Not only is this a drought hardy native but it also grows only a few feet tall and displays gorgeous orange blooms in midsummer. Asclepias viridis is another small, native milkweed that fits well in any garden space. Its green flowers are subtly stunning.

It is important to remember that the caterpillars will be eating your plants, thus there will be times that they aren’t very pretty. Keeping this in mind, you may not want to put them front and center.

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HOST PLANTS FOR BUTTERFLIES: Milkweed Dill Fennel Parsley Rue Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Helichrysum Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) Passion Vine (Passiflora incarnata) ‘Zebrina’ (Malva sylvestris) Annuals Perennials

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community

Our Community Cares words Catherine Frederick with Amy Adams, Executive Director, The Bonneville House

In 1974, the City of Fort Smith established a local ordinance to protect and preserve the architectural integrity of the Belle Grove Historic District. The District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, reflects a variety of architectural styles and is the city’s oldest neighborhood. The Bonneville House is located in the Historic District, which covers a twenty-two-block area adjacent to the downtown area in Fort Smith. Do South® reached out to Amy Adams, Executive Director and Funds Development Coordinator, to learn more.

DS: Tell us about the mission of The Bonneville House.

Our mission is to preserve, protect and maintain the Bonneville House and its rich history. In doing so, we can share a beautiful piece of Fort Smith’s history with our local community and continue to provide our community outreach programs.

DS: In what ways is The Bonneville House involved in our community?

We offer many community outreach programs as a way of giving back to our community. Our volunteer program allows students and professional adults the opportunity to network and build on their professional development while serving a good cause. We also support local non-profit organizations by offering our venue for fundraisers at a discount rate. We are involved with our local shelters, foster families, and the Fort Smith Public School System to offer underprivileged children the resources they need with programs like our Back to School Supply Drive and Santa Night.

DS: What are the benefits of membership and how can our readers learn more?

Our members receive rental discounts to use our venue and they also get to attend members only social events. We rely heavily on the funds that we receive through membership each year and thanks to our members we are able to preserve a true icon in Fort Smith history. We have several options for membership from our associate level for college students and young professionals, to our vendor and corporate levels for local businesses. For more information, visit our website, bonnevillehouse.com, and click on “membership.”

318 N. 7th Street Fort Smith, Arkansas

DS: Are there volunteer opportunities at The Bonneville House?

479.782.7854

Absolutely! We are always in need of volunteers. We have many opportunities for

bonnevillehouse.com

our community to volunteer, both on the front end and behind the scenes. We host around nine community events each year.

DS: Are there any special events coming up we should know about?

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

Our 30th annual Jazz in June fundraiser will take place June 7 at 6:30pm. This is our largest fundraiser of the year that takes care of half of our operational expenses so we can continue on with our mission and our community outreach programs. Our event will feature live music, cuisine from 21 West End, a cigar & bourbon lounge, wine & spirits, a live auction, raffles and more! Tickets are all-inclusive and $75.00 per person (ages 21+). Member discounts and table options available! For more information, call 479.782.7854.

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shop

Swing into Summer! words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Hearts On Fire Hayley Paige Collection, Mrs. Ring in 18kt. Rose, Yellow or White Gold

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

Sodie’s Select Bourbons from Old Forester®, Woodford Reserve®, Barrell Bourbon®

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

FACE À FACE PARIS Sunglasses

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

Bluebonnet® Dietary Supplements

OLDE FASHIONED FOODS 479.782.6183 / 479.649.8200

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shop

Swing into our favorite local shops to find a gift for Dad, or just for you! No matter who you’re shopping for, you’re sure to find the perfect present for everyone on your list.

Two Left Feet Graphic Socks for Kids and Adults Stylish Ear Protection for Infants, Toddlers and Children

JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP BAPTIST HEALTH-FORT SMITH 479.441.4221

CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277

Young Living Essential Oils

Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rocky Patel Cigars, Santa Teresa 1796 Solera Rum

ARKANSAS VEIN CLINIC & SKIN CARE

IN GOOD SPIRITS

479.484.7100

479.434.6604

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health

Mandy Kuykendall

The Memory of Music has worked in therapeutic recreation for fourteen years, with WORds and images courtesy Alicia Agent, Director Marketing Communications Baptist Health – Fort Smith

much of that time focused on psychiatric mental health. At Baptist Health Senior Care Behavioral Health-Fort Smith, Kuykendall organizes daily therapeutic group activities such

Most can attest to the fact that a good song can take you back

as stretching, singing, games and crafts to provide cognitive

every time you hear it. Whether it’s for the good times or the

and sensory stimulation.

bad, it is there; stuck in your brain along with all the other songs that make up the “mixtape” of your life. From first loves

“As patients are admitted to Senior Care, I assess their

and fantastic concerts to church choirs and school musicals,

physical and mental needs, experience and interests, in order

it’s all about connecting with a melody that triggers a memory.

to provide the best recovery to their well-being,” she said.

Kuykendall recently added a Music Pharmacy to her group

Making that connection is especially important for Mandy

therapy sessions thanks to Musicians On Call, a national

Kuykendall, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist,

nonprofit that gives patients access to the healing power of

whose goal is to help her patients express themselves and

music. After hearing about the organization on a local radio

engage with others through therapeutic activities during

station, she applied for the free program and received three

their stay at Baptist Health Senior Care Behavioral Health-

Amazon Fire tablets with access to Pandora radio and three

Fort Smith, a twenty-three-bed inpatient unit dedicated to

pairs of Bose headphones to use during activities with the

patients over the age of fifty-five who often suffer from the

patients in the senior care unit.

early stages of dementia.

Studies have shown music can reduce agitation and Kuykendall joined Baptist Health-Fort Smith last December.

improve behavioral issues that are common in patients with

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and

Alzheimer’s disease. Even in late stages of the disease, a

Recreation Administration with an emphasis in Therapeutic

person may be able to tap a beat or sing lyrics from a song

Recreation from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. She

from their youth, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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health

You can often find Mandy playing her guitar and singing

Crystal Lougin, MS, LPC, Director of Behavioral Health at

with patients. When the music begins, a familiar hymn to

Baptist Health-Fort Smith. She recalls a patient who once

most, the energy of the room changes. A tired finger taps

had trouble speaking in sentences but could happily sing a

the arm rest of a wheel chair. Lips begin to recall familiar

couple lines of a song he remembered. It's through Lougin’s

lyrics. It doesn’t feel like a hospital anymore. It feels a little

firsthand experience of the therapeutic activity and its impact

more like home. Even the nursing staff sings along as they go

on patients and staff that she is a firm believer in music as a

about their daily tasks.

universal language.

“Music is a common bond for our patients,” Kuykendall said.

“The unique dynamic to see on Senior Care is how it bridges

“Some will begin to remember concerts they attended when

the generational gap between our treatment team and the

they were younger and start telling stories to each other. I

patients we serve,” Lougin said. “Most of our patients are

love it when they sing along and share that it has been many

of that Baby Boomer generation, so it is amazing to observe

years since they’ve heard the song.”

them having the same emotional experience and reaction to a song that our staff members from the Millennial generation

Each tablet in the Music Pharmacy has custom mixtapes with

have. Adding the Music Pharmacy to our curriculum truly

names like Prescription Strength, Chill Refill and Dose of Joy, that

does foster the therapeutic relationship necessary to see

feature music promoting positivity and healing for the hospital

progress in an aging patient population.”

environment, according to Musicians On Call. Kuykendall says some of her patients’ favorites include Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, The Mamas and the Papas, gospel and anything disco. “Giving them a choice of the genre really gives them a sense of active participation in our activities,” Kuykendall said.

Baptist Health Family and Pediatric Clinic-Ellsworth Road

The ability to experience pleasure is one of the last

5428 Ellsworth Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas

cognitive functions to go in dementia patients, according to

479.709.7440

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entertainment

Let’s Get BOOKISH

this Summer Recommendations courtesy Bookish

This summer, we asked our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith’s only independently owned book store, to recommend books perfect for summer reading. You’ll find these great reads and many more at Bookish, in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Young Kids | Older Kids | Adults

The Good Egg

No More Poems

Tomorrow Most Likely

by Jory John

by Rhett Miller

by Dave Eggers

This is the follow-up to The Bad Seed and it

This quirky book of poetry is like Shel

As you might expect from Dave Eggers, this

does not disappoint. This little guy always

Silverstein for modern kiddos. These fun, silly

picture book is perfect for children, but also

does the right thing but begins to crack –

poems capture the nuances of childhood:

graduates, bridal showers, or any adult,

quite literally – under the pressure of being

siblings, sickness, dogs, homework, and a

really. This beautifully profound story reminds

perfect. This is a great lesson for the little

disco bath party! Parents and children will

us that there is always tomorrow, possibilities

perfectionist in your life.

find something they adore between the

are endless, and the future is bright.

covers of this book of poems.

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entertainment

Lovely War

Hey, Kiddo

Song for a Whale

by Julie Berry

by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

by Lynne Kelly

Beginning immediately before WWI, an artist

This is a graphic memoir that illustrates the

Iris is deaf, but she’s also a tech genius. When

and soldier fall in love before he is sent to

complexities of being a teenager. If that isn’t

she learns about a whale, Blue 55, who is

war. In the middle of the war, a member of

enough, Jarrett’s mother is an addict and

lonely and unable to speak to other whales,

the 15th New York Infantry, an all African-

makes a series of bad decisions, so Jarrett

she knows she wants to do something to

American regiment, meets Collette Fournier

is raised by his grandparents. Sprinkled

help. Kelly is also a sign language interpreter

and immediately, there is more to war than

throughout

and her expertise shines through.

meets the eye. Ancient Greek gods are woven

Krosoczka tells an inspirational story of grit

throughout the novel asking the question, why

and faithfulness, even when the person

are love and war eternally drawn to each other?

you’re supposed to rely on is unreliable.

City of Girls

Southern Lady Code

I Miss You When I Blink

by Elizabeth Gilbert

by Helen Ellis

by Mary Laura Philpott

Eighty-nine-year old Vivian tells the story

When we cracked open Ellis’ book for the

In a Lit Hub article last year, Philpott argued

of how she got kicked out of Vassar in

first time, we spent the afternoon reading

“we need more memoirs of ordinary lives,”

1940. Gilbert’s return to fiction celebrates

chapters about marriage, manners, and

and her debut essay collection is just that.

the fact that you don’t have to always be a

thank-you notes. Our favorite section

Funny and witty, beautifully written, Mary

good girl to be a good person. With a cast

was “What I Learned by Watching the

Laura shares her observations on being a

of charismatic and vivacious characters,

Bachelor.” Through her wit and wisdom,

perfectionist, growing up with goals and

Vivian ultimately learns that loving on your

this Alabama native is able to tell the rest

then changing her plans, and the treasures

own terms is the only way to love yourself.

of the world what we really mean when

and trappings of motherhood.

with

pictures

and

letters,

we say, “Bless her heart!”

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20

faith

Heart

The Desires of Your Words and images Jessica Sowards

I wanted a farm for a long time. If I called it a childhood dream, I wouldn't be lying. I specifically remember telling people that I wanted to be a farmer as a young girl and feeling crushed by their laughter.

Surely, they were imagining commercial chicken houses and mile wide crops and the spindly, suburban girl before them hardly fit the bill of farmer. But I had an idea of something different. Something that involved a red barn and a big garden and animals bringing forth more life.

Like childhood dreams often do, my romantic idea of a farm got filed away as unrealistic. By the time I entered adulthood, I had set my focus on

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faith

more acceptable goals. I'd be a journalist. A photographer.

Then between Christmas of 2013 and New Year's Day of 2014,

I'd sell my gifts to do family portraits and maybe if I was

during a date night to the book store, over a cup of coffee and

successful I could afford a horse or two, maybe I could have

a book about backyard farms, I cried. To my husband’s great

some chickens in the yard and rows of tomatoes. I had kids

bewilderment, on a rare opportunity for alone time and in a

young, went through a divorce. Got remarried. And my sweet

very public place, I cried over chickens and goats that I did

Miah, my second chance, saw the long since extinguished

not have. My heart felt sick. It felt impossible. I hope I never

dream and said, "Let's take another look at that."

forget Miah's sweet face when he responded, "God knows the desires of your heart."

Just like that, it was alive again. A house in the country, a little land of our own, a small farm and real, homegrown food were again on my list of "Maybe, someday."

You know, when I look at my life, I am truly overwhelmed by the goodness and the grace of God. Not because of any single good thing He has done because He has done a lot of good things. But I see Him more in the areas where I got things right entirely by accident. When I fell in love with Jeremiah and when my desire for a little farm came alive again, I wasn't being a good Christian girl. I was struggling with sin. I was broken, angry and largely lost. I was overcome by anxiety and guilt. I couldn't list the books of the Bible to save my life and my church attendance was nothing to write home about. But His faithfulness isn't determined by my faithfulness. His love

I wrestled with that truth. Really wrestled.

And prayed, the deep kind of prayers that feel like they scrape the bottom of your heart. And just a few days later, while sitting on the bed of our suburban home, we thanked God for everything He had blessed us with and put the dream of the house in the country in His hands.

It might take years, we agreed. Our kids might be grown, we resolved. His timing is better than ours, we knew.

isn't determined by my ability to follow the rules.

I can't promise it always works out this way. It would be During that season, I started to read the Bible. To be honest,

unrealistic to think it could always be so neat, but within

when I started to read the Word again, I related more to the

three weeks of deciding to let God have His way with my

wicked ones who were mentioned than I related to the saints.

dream, I found myself standing in front of a vandalized

I related to the seductress, to the adulteress. But somewhere

foreclosure on four acres with a price tag we could actually

along the way, I found myself in the woman with the alabaster

afford. Three months later, we signed the papers that made us

box. I found myself in the testimony of Paul. Somewhere along

homeowners. And a few months after that, I brought home a

the way, I began to see myself as the redeemed.

box of peeping, fluffy chicks. Every single day of the process was an excruciating battle between flesh and spirit, hope and

Years went by. The desperation grew. I appeased the yearning

fear, patience and worry. And every single day, His grace was

at farmer's markets. I drove to local farms to buy raw milk. I

sufficient. Every single step, He was enough, and I was leaning

learned to make cheese. I grew what I could in containers, and

on Him to get through it.

I read every resource I could find. I subscribed to magazines about homesteading and followed blogs by homesteaders. I

Now that we so publicly share our life on YouTube, I often

could tell you how to butcher a chicken before I'd ever even

get asked by people dreaming of a farm, “What do I do

held one. I learned to cook from scratch, learned to make

with this dream? I can’t make it happen!” I know it's a lot

cleaners and be resourceful. I learned to preserve. I thought

easier to direct people to wait and pray when you have the

about a farm all the time. And all the while I talked to God.

fulfillment of your dream in hand. But it's taught me a lot

I sought Him. I dove head first into finding Him and learning

and it's changed the way I dream now.

what His kingdom was about. So much more than my farm dream came back to life in me during those years.

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faith

Now I remember that God's timeline is way, way different than mine. Hugely different. Massively different. In fact, if I placed God's timeline next to my own and did a comparison, I might even question that they are even in the same classification. Yes, impatience still rears its head in the waiting. Yes, I still face frustration. However, I know that the twenty some-odd years of dancing around my homestead dream feel like a sweet process now that I milk goats in my pajamas every morning. That perspective applies across the board. Now when I think of writing books, another lifelong dream, I am able to keep in mind how sweet the process will be between now and then.

Oh, and the process. The process is our friend. Do you know,

before the sun, when I get bucked off the horse and get a huge

I am certain the success we have experienced since we started

bruise on my jaw from milking a first freshener goat, when I'm

our farm is directly related to the time I spent hoarding

sunburned and tired and I want to give up, I close down the

knowledge and gaining skills in the waiting? Today I am going

pity party and shout over it, "This is my dream!" I've learned

to make jam, a skill I learned with foraged blackberries we

that while this whole life is a gift, the waiting was part of the

brought home to our suburban kitchen years ago. I didn't just

receiving. Had I gotten it all when I first asked, I don't know

sit on my hands and wait for God to deliver. I took hold of the

that I would have had the determination to keep going when it

vision He had put in my heart and made war with it, equipping

got hard. And it's hard. But it's worth it.

myself and partnering with it to the fullness of my ability.

So there's my advice. It probably doesn't make you feel as nice Let the yearning sharpen you. My goodness, if I knew what I had

as you'd hoped, but it's all I've got.

been asking for when I prayed for my life, I might not have asked for it. Five sons. A full-time ministry. A working farm. Dairy goats.

One last thing. One day, when you have your farm and your

Horses. A huge garden. A bunch of chickens. A big extended

dream is in hand, don't forget what it took to get you there.

family. The list goes on. Those things that I count as my biggest

Because there's always someone else three steps behind you.

blessings are, without contest, the hardest things I've ever done.

There's always someone else holding out for fulfillment. Give them a hand up. Loan them your testimony and remind them

But I wanted it all. Begged for it. Yearned for it. Persistently

that God is no respecter of persons.

prayed for it. When it's winter, and the chickens get a cold and stop laying, and the stench of the farm in mud season permeates

He did it for me, and He will do it for you.

every fiber of my skin, and I have to buy grocery store eggs and produce and supplement all the feed, I remember how I cried

And when heartsickness lurks, remember this.

in the book store. When my favorite goat dies even though I

He knows the desires of your heart. And He really does care.Â

fought my hardest to save her, when the alarm goes off hours

To watch Jessica’s garden tours, visit her YouTube channel, Roots and Refuge.

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The River Valley's #1 Christian Station

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Judy Harrington and Ray Easter

Ray Easter

THE

DOMINO EFFECT WORDs and images courtesy Judy Harrington

In May of 2018, Do South® published a tribute, written by Judy Harrington, for her mom, entitled A Scrap of Memory. Earlier this year, Judy submitted the following tribute for her dad. We are honored to publish it in his memory and in honor of Father’s Day.

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I don’t know why I can’t forget the sound of dominos being shuffled across a wooden table top by Dad’s work-worn hands.

Swishing, bumping clatters that indicated the challenge was on and I’d better step up my skills, if I hoped to compete. The nose-tingling fragrance of cinnamon and nutmeg from his Old Spice cologne beneath the whirl of the ceiling fan. Maybe it had been splashed on a bit heavy some days, yet it was always a welcomed familiar scent from those childhood hugs that I’d never wish to forget.

The sparkle of brilliant blue eyes while he studied his next dazzling move. Which bone should he lay down? Which one

Shawn Harrington and Ray Easter

should he hold to make more points later in the game? A tiny drumbeat echoed my dad’s mental counting process as he tapped the edge of a tile he considered to play. Sometimes it might take the rhythm of a few beats before he decided on his best move. “Give me a nickel or a dime,” his way of saying write down five or ten points on the score pad.

The sweet, lemony sip of satisfaction from a glass of iced tea while I waited and admired the man seated across from me. My hero who taught me that love and laughter were two of the most important things this world has to offer.

“Sis, I thought I taught you better than that,” he’d giggle while This is just one memory of a summer’s day I shared with Dad

I marked down his score.

at Crawford Healthcare and Rehabilitation, a nursing facility in Van Buren, Arkansas. I recall how our weekly domino matches

The Domino King, as he was affectionately nicknamed, loved the

never ceased to draw an audience of inquisitive residents. They

game of strategy. It was one of the few things his Alzheimer’s

crowded in close, all curious to see if today would be the day

disease could never destroy. He might not remember what he’d

I’d win, or would my dad retain his championship title. For me,

had for lunch fifteen minutes before, or even if he had eaten,

the winning aspect was never important, just being able to play

but he could always remember his past years of mastery at the

another game with Dad was all that really mattered.

domino table.

“Y’all pull up a chair,” he’d announce to the group. “You can

I would give almost anything to spend another afternoon

watch me put another whoopin’ on to this daughter of mine.”

trying to outsmart him. Those hours were immeasurable and irreplaceable. Now, I like to amuse myself with the idea that one

I’d smile, knowing the whole time that he’d win. But I would

glorious day in heaven, I’ll sit across the table and play a rematch

still jokingly reply, “Yeah, yeah… we’ll just have to wait and see

with him, maybe two or even three.

which one of us wins today’s match.”

In my wondrous daydream I like to imagine that the dominos Though it’s been over nine years since his passing, I can still

will be fashioned out of gold and set with precious jeweled

feel the smooth, cool texture of the tiny rectangles beneath

dots. However, even if they were, their treasure would still

my fingertips. I still hear his soft chuckles because I placed the

be worthless compared to the smile I’m sure I’d see radiating

wrong tile down and he made ten, fifteen, or heaven forbid,

from Dad’s face.

thirty points off my mistake.

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entertainment

Tell Your Mama, Tell Your Pa

Riverfront Blues Festival Keeps Rollin‘ WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy Bob Dyer and Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival

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entertainment

Mr. Sipp

John Németh

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The first time the blues came to Fort Smith, it arrived on the back of a flatbed trailer parked near what is now Harry E. Kelly Park.

It was the first music festival of its kind in the city and at twentynine, is today grizzled among the events that have followed. And that old bear will roar once more June 21 and 22, bringing to life one of the only true American art forms.

“The blues, I think, are more relevant now than at any time,” says Bob Marsh, part of the organizing committee who’s been involved with the event since 1996. “The blues are part of the foundation for all the other rock and roll. The blues and gospel, all that led into rock and roll with ‘Rocket 88’ in 1951 and going forward from that. Little Richard was a gospel singer before he

church and was pursuing a successful gospel career when the

was a rock and roll singer.”

blues got ahold of him in 2012. He found immediate acclaim as a guitarist, making it to the finals of the International Blues

A Muddy Waters and B.B. King fan, Bob started as a volunteer

Challenge in 2013 and 2014, winning the latter. That year he

and has served on the board of the event for the past fourteen

also topped the field at the Gibson Best Guitarist competition.

years. He sees the event as a way not only to showcase the music

This is his second appearance in Fort Smith.

he loves, but also as a way to keep the art form alive and vibrant.

That, and it’s a damn good time.

Saturday night’s headliner is harmonica virtuoso John Németh. A first-timer to the festival, he grew up a fan of hip hop and rock,

“I want to emphasize how enjoyable it is for all of us to see

but a Buddy Guy and Junior Wells track, “Hoodoo Man Blues,”

the people come, especially the ones that have never been to a

changed his course forever. After honing his chops with various

big music festival,” he said. “Come down and bring your lawn

bands in his native Idaho and later San Francisco, he released his

chairs. We have plenty to drink and eat, food trucks, vendors.

national debut album Magic Touch in 2007; work that moved

Have a good time and watch the show and get hooked on the

Living Blues magazine to proclaim, “Magic Touch gives hope that

blues like we are.”

the blues will survive.” He now makes his home in Memphis.

This year’s Friday night headliner is Mr. Sipp, aka “The Mississippi

One joy of the festival is to showcase the next generation of artists

Blues Child.” Born Castro Coleman, Mr. Sipp started singing in

to an often-inquisitive, always appreciative crowd, Bob says.

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entertainment

“A lot of people tell me they’ve never heard of these acts. I say, ‘Well, you can’t get Buddy Guy to come every year,’” he says.

“So, we try to do a nice mix of blues with different styles and highlight different instruments.”

Mississippi is widely regarded as the music’s cradle, but Arkansas has played no small role in the history of the art form, especially throughout the Delta. Blues luminaries who were born in Arkansas include Luther Allison, William Lee Conley, “Big Bill” Broonzy, Al Green, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Louis Jordan. But beyond its progeny, Arkansas was also host to some of the biggest blues artists of all time who came to play juke joints and bars in the state, especially Helena. The roster is star-studded: B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Amos “Junior” Wells, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson and Albert King just to name a few.

As t h e n a m e s ugges t s , t h e blues la m e n t th e h a rd rea li t i es o f li f e – wo rk, w h i s key, wo m e n a n d t h e peri lo us n at ure o f a ll t h ree – b u t i s a l s o a co n dui t t o t ri um ph . T h e bes t blues i nv i te s yo u t o s t o m p yo ur f eet m o re t h a n s h a ke you r fi s t; to da n ce w h en yo u s h o uld ro ll over a n d d i e . Ye a h , i t h ur t s , but i t w i ll h ur t t o m o rro w t o o , s o fo r t o n i gh t , let ’s s i n g a bo ut i t a n d get do w n .

Having been on the scene as long as it has, the Fort Smith festival has had experience to fill many a blues song, tales of rising rivers and shrinking attendance. The event will draw about 3,500 people over the two days which is slimmer pickings than in the past. But it’s still here, Bob says, which is more than a lot of events around the state can claim.

“What makes a good festival is the music of course,” he says.

“Weather is always a big factor. We do ours in June, the weekend after Father’s Day. It might be hot during the day but in the evening time it’s very pleasant down there. We get a nice breeze off the river.”

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entertainment

The event is more than just a good time for city leaders, those tasked with economic development, tourism and the overall health of the city’s downtown. On all of these measures, the Blues Festival and the events it inspired are integral players, said John McIntosh who handles production and development for 64.6 Downtown. “[The Blues Festival] was really a stimulus to the development of the riverfront back in the ‘90s,” he says. “That led to the development of the Fort Smith Riverfront task force, which I chaired, which led to the vote by the people for the penny sales tax which led to the development of the library system, the convention center and the development of the riverfront as we know it now. That’s real economic development driven by the arts. The blues festival cannot claim all the credit for that, but it was certainly helpful to show the citizens of Fort Smith what we could do on the riverfront.”

Asked why the event has held on when so many other events in Arkansas have dried up and blown away, John cited a frontier mentality doesn’t quit easily. “I think it’s just really the grit of the young leaders who have decided to make this something special and I really mean the young leaders,” he says. “It’s very gratifying to see the young professionals from this area who have said we can do this, no matter how long it takes, no matter how hard the work, no matter how difficult it is raising money.

“We take a lot of pride in our community and we’re going to do this and we’re going to make it work. It takes a level of skill, but it’s the determination that really makes it happen. We’re just a gritty town and that’s just how we are.”

Bob noted the event funds work in the community to keep the art form alive, providing scholarships and getting blues musicians into the schools to explain the music’s origins and perhaps inspire its future. But as to the allure of the festival, to which he and others have devoted so much time and effort, it’s as fundamental as 1-2-3.

“I really like the music and I want us to be successful and have something nice for the city, something for the city to be proud of,” he says. “We promote ourselves as the best little blues festival in America. If people will continue to come out and support us, we’ll continue to do this.”

For more information on this year’s Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival, visit riverfrontbluesfest.org.

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people

la Cate on and Shar Gary Camer

50 YEARS IN THE MAKING

I

A Love Story

WORDs Sharla Cameron images courtesy Gary and Sharla Cameron

I met Gary K. Cameron when I was a seventh grader at Ramsey

Gary and I didn't live far apart. I would walk to the Speedway

Junior High, in Fort Smith. He was an upperclass man and in the

Gourmet, as often as my parents would let me, for an ICEE, a

ninth grade. We were in band together, so I knew him, but I

Slim Jim, and a new comic book, but I would take the longer

usually hung with my other seventh grade buddies or the other

route which took me past Gary’s house. I never rang the

flute players. At some point during that year we both attended

doorbell, instead, I would linger out front to see if he would

a band party given by a mutual friend. There was a bonfire and

notice me. Likewise, he would make trips to my house and we

a scavenger hunt. Unbeknownst to me, the scavenger hunt was

would often talk through my bedroom window. We stayed

rigged so I would be on Gary's team. As we walked through the

together through most of the summer, but as it drew to a

neighborhood Gary and I talked and got to know each other,

close, and band practices started at Southside (where Gary

and at some point, Gary reached out and took my hand. I kid

was now a sophomore) he broke it off. After all, he was now

you not, there were sparks! I still remember the tingly feeling

in high school, and I was just an eighth grader! Not only that, I

and butterflies I got from holding his hand! Needless to say, for

was miserable because I was being sent to the new junior high

the rest of the year, we were "going together.�

across town, which at the time was located in a cow pasture!

That could have been the end of our love story.

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But, no so fast. Skip ahead two years. I had a wonderful experience at Chaffin Junior High. I gained much confidence as a journalist and flautist and was entering high school at Southside. I dated a couple of boys the first semester of my sophomore year, but mostly enjoyed doing things with groups of people. One night in February after a basketball game, I was in the band room locking up for my dad. As I waited in the office for everyone to put their instruments away Gary came in and started talking to me. He didn't want me to stay there by myself, so he stayed until I locked the doors and walked me home (I just lived across the street from school). On the walk home, he asked me out on a date – a real date! Gary was a senior now with his own car and I was turning sixteen in a few days. We started “going steady” shortly after our date and were inseparable for a year and a half. During my senior year, Gary moved away to attend Arkansas Tech in Russellville, and once again, Gary broke off our relationship, as it wouldn’t have been fair to me with him in Russellville for school and working.

He knew he wouldn't have time to come home often and he wanted me to enjoy my senior year. I was devastated, but life went on. Another year later, I was at Arkansas Tech, and Gary had moved on, yet we remained friends.

Speed ahead forty years! Gary and I had remained friends, seeing each other from time to time at Southside band functions. We were Facebook friends and Gary kept up with my dad, who was always a mentor and father figure to him.

We had both been through a couple of marriages, which hadn’t worked out for their own reasons. One day, we reconnected and started talking. It turned out he was moving back to Fort Smith after being gone for many years, to be closer to family.

Gary volunteered to do some handy work around my house, to help me out and soon nursed me back to health after a total hip replacement! Then, on February 26, 2018, Gary K. Cameron asked me to marry him! I said, “Yes,” and on June 10, 2018 I became Mrs. Cameron (you have no idea how many times I practiced writing that on notebooks in high school)!

I love this man. I have always loved this man. We have been friends forever. He makes me laugh, he takes care of me and my family, he is my best friend, my rock, and the other half of my heart and soul. I truly believe this was meant to be. Fairy tales are real, dreams do come true, and you must believe and have faith that God has a plan for you. We may not have spent all our years together, but we will spend the best years together. And, yes, I still get that tingly feeling and butterflies every time we kiss!

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Fam i ly T ra d i t i o n s Joseph Meadows & The Family Business words Dwain Hebda IMAGEs courtesy The Meadows Family

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The Meadows family has been building Fort Smith, as well as a thriving business, for three decades.

Do South® sat down with owner Joseph Meadows, the latest in a line of family leadership, to talk about the company's legacy and the opportunities and challenges of building for a new generation in Arkansas communities.

Officially, Joseph got into the family business, Southwest Resources Group, in 2005. But the fact is the company, which includes a construction component and a property management piece, has been part of his life for as long as he can remember.

"My father started Meadows Construction in 1978. I’m third generation in the company," Joseph says. "I grew up watching my dad do it when I was little and just grew into the business. It fit for me.

“Whenever we’d drive through Fianna Hills, Dad would point out houses he’d built, and he still does. It’s neat to see that.”

The company’s construction portfolio includes primarily multi-family developments, with some projects trending into the mixed-use space. Samples of the company’s work reside in Van Buren, Russellville, Arkadelphia, Beebe, Searcy and multiple locations in Fort Smith. It’s the work the company has done in his hometown that gives Joseph the most satisfaction.

“Seeing something that you’ve built, seeing things that I’ve done when I first started in the business and seeing those structures still standing means you knew what you were doing back then, and you feel good,” Joseph says. “Adding to Fort Smith is great, obviously, because I live here. And I like doing projects locally because it’s easier. I can go check on them when they’re right down the street.”

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There are other advantages to building in Fort Smith besides

Millennial tastes. Local colleges are among the driving forces

civic pride and proximity. Joseph said in an era when red tape

behind some of the development in Chaffee Crossing, Joseph

and regulations can slow development considerably, Fort Smith

said, not only for current students, but to keep them local

has worked to keep the process as smooth as possible.

after graduation.

“Certain cities just accept you more than others,” he says. “Fort

“What colleges want to do is focus on their grad students

Smith is easy to work with. We’ve been dealing with them for

and their upperclassmen, providing them a nicer place to live,

a long time, so we don’t have a whole lot of problems here.”

almost like an urban feel,” Joseph said. “It was a little scary building something and not having the traffic out there yet,

Another mark in the city’s favor is the forward thinking on

but these schools are determined to make this the place to be

display in areas such as Chaffee Crossing, where the company

in Fort Smith and provide students with what they need to live

has development projects.

and stay here and work.”

“Chaffee Crossing reminds me of what you’d find in a bigger

Other projects take the company out of their home base

city simply because it’s more progressive,” Joseph says. “It’s

with one project potentially taking them outside of the

a progressive spot in Fort Smith with all the biking and all the

state altogether.

new stuff coming in. Part of why I wanted to be out there with what we’re doing is that’s where Fort Smith is growing. It’s

“Right now, we’re currently working on 300 units in Conway,”

where everybody wants to be.”

he says. “We're also trying to start construction by the end of this year in Columbia, Missouri, on another 300 units there.”

The company’s mixed-use concept is a standout example of new development trends. Retail and restaurant space anchor

In real estate, the old adage of “Location, location, location,”

the ground level with residential living on the upper floors,

is particularly apt on the development side. A developer who

providing the walkable access to amenities that caters to

builds at the wrong time or in the wrong place won’t last very

Jimmie Dyer Meadows

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Jim and Joseph Meadows

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long in this business so Joseph’s longevity attests to a shrewd eye for the right opportunity.

“It’s a long process of stuff that I look at when we start looking at other markets,” he says. “Mostly the growth of the town.

That’s key; that’s probably the most important thing.”

“Then I start looking at what the competition is in that town. For me to take my product, such as what’s at Chaffee Crossing, to the Dallas market it’s tough to sell that there because the amenities in that market are great. In some of those smaller markets, when we take those amenities to them, the town usually hasn’t seen anything like it.” Joseph says being younger (he’s thirty-six) helps him keep astride of

Joseph, Lauren & their daughter Charlie

trends in the marketplace. you better keep them. Compare that to a down market, “We’ve given our older plans a facelift and new amenities and

your 2007 and 2008 market, where you could find some

kind of that younger feel to them,” he says. “We’re bringing

good help pretty easily.”

some better colors and newer feel while keeping the same bones all along.”

Another cost challenge that is making construction more expensive, often due to factors beyond the builder’s control,

Those adaptations - including open floor plans, high-end

is materials.

countertops and other appointments - are minor compared to some of the trends the market expects and that set one

“Tariffs have bitten me on the last two,” Joseph says. “If the

development apart from another.

tariffs hit my sub, they throw the cost onto me so I’m hoping that we don’t get hit and that we don’t get those passed on.

“The amenities have changed tremendously since I came into the business,” Joseph says. “Now we have free tanning, a

“But let me just say this. Every project we do is more expensive

movie theater, resort style pools, gyms.”

than the last one as far as cost.”

Like everyone in the construction field, Joseph says the most

To help level out the peaks and valleys of the development

pressing challenge is finding enough skilled labor. As the

and construction business, diversification is the name of

economy continues to pick up, the squeeze has only become

the game. The company has already branched into self-

tighter and as with anything where demand outpaces supply,

management of its properties and Joseph says there are

this makes things more expensive.

other directions to explore in the years to come. But he’s not in a hurry to reinvent the fifty-employee firm, either.

“What I’ve seen over the years, as far as subcontractors, is there’s hardly any younger subs. They’re all older generation

“As far as the future for our company, we are conservatively

subcontractors,” he says. “Very few that I deal with, maybe

growing each year,” he says. “I don’t want to grow too fast.

two of my subs, are sons who have taken over their fathers’

That scares me.

businesses or have started their own.

“We’ve branched out and done some different things, “As far as the labor, that goes through trends as well.

restaurants and stuff like that. I like staying in my comfort zone

Now we’re in a trend where good help is really hard to

of developing and managing our own multi-family projects.

find, and I mean really hard. Once you find that good help

That’s what we know and what we’re good at.”

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taste

KEEP IT LIGHT

GRILLED STEAK SALAD WITH CHIVE YOGURT DRESSING Recipe courtesy Kirsten Kubert of Comfortably Domestic words and image courtesy MilkMeansMore.org

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taste

Crisp, fresh greens and a perfect blend of spices and savory ingredients make this a perfect summer supper option! No need for a heavy, carb-filled meal, make this salad the star of your dinner table with a simply seasoned sirloin steak, plenty of veggies and a tart twist on a creamy dressing made with yogurt and milk. Find more refreshing meal solutions at milkmeansmore.org.

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 6

DRESSING 1 cup plain yogurt 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (3 small limes) 2 Tablespoons milk 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

STEAK

METHOD For the dressing: In blender, combine yogurt, lime juice, milk, chives, garlic, salt and pepper. Blend on low until smooth consistency forms and chives are completely incorporated. Transfer dressing to jar with tight-fitting lid and refrigerate until serving.

For the steak: Heat grill to medium. Combine kosher salt, black pepper and granulated garlic to create rub. Sprinkle half of seasoning mix over one side of steak, press into meat. Repeat with remaining seasoning on opposite side

1 teaspoon kosher salt

of steak. Grill steak over direct medium heat to desired

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

level of doneness, approximately 4-5 minutes per side for

1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic

medium pink center. Remove steak from grill and let rest

20 ounces boneless petite sirloin steak

7-10 minutes on cutting board.

SALAD

For the salad: Toss spinach and romaine on large platter.

3 cups baby spinach

Scatter red and yellow peppers, avocado and onion over

3 cups chopped romaine lettuce hearts

greens. Slice grilled sirloin thinly against grain. Arrange

1/2 cup sweet red pepper rings

meat slices along center of salad. Drizzle dressing over

1/2 cup sweet yellow pepper rings

salad just prior to serving.

1 cup avocado chunks 1/4 cup thinly shaved red onion

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taste

Recipe adapted from tipsybartender.com image Rimma Bondarenko/Shutterstock

ingredients 1 oz. citron vodka

•

1 oz. cherry vodka

•

3 oz. Simply Limeade

•

1 oz. grenadine

•

Lemon lime soda

•

½ teaspoon lime juice

•

Lime wedges & maraschino

•

cherries (garnish)

method In a mixing tin, combine ice, both vodkas, limeade, grenadine, and lime juice. Shake well. Strain into serving glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of lemon lime soda.

Garnish with lime wedges and cherries.

Please drink responsibly.

Never drink and drive.

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travel

Arkie Travels Top 10 Natural Waterparks words Paul and Sarah Heer, Arkie Travels images courtesy Paul and Sarah Heer, Arkie Travels and the venues

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Did you know over sixty percent of employees with paid time off won't use all their vacation time this year? What's holding them back? The cost! Lucky for us, we live in a natural wonderland with lakes, rivers and waterfalls around every corner. The hard part is settling on one for your staycation. Here's our top ten list of natural Arkansas waterparks to enjoy this summer without breaking the bank!

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FALLS CREEK FALLS

HAW CREEK FALLS Hagarville, Arkansas Combine this waterfall with an overnight stay in the Haw Creek Campground for some memorable family fun! The falls provide a beautiful backdrop and the sounds will lull you to sleep at night.

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Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas A beautiful, wide trail along the lake leads you straight to your own piece of paradise! It’s a short, easy trek to the falls with other trails available nearby.

BLANCHARD SPRINGS

WOOLY HOLLOW STATE PARK BEACH AND SPILLWAY Greenbrier, Arkansas A clean beach on Lake Bennett and a beautiful waterfall spillway make this a fun area for the whole family! And, since it's a state park, it's very well maintained.

Near Mountain View, Arkansas Several rock beaches hug the river and you'll love the waterfall spilling out of the cave – it feels like air conditioning hitting your face! Also, make sure you see the spillway on Mirror Lake. It's a stunner!

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FALLING WATER FALLS Smyrna Township, Arkansas This is our favorite waterfall in the state! Just off Hwy. 16 close to Sand Gap, this pool is easily accessible and perfect to cool off on a hot Arkansas day.

DEVIL'S DEN STATE PARK SPILLWAY Winslow, Arkansas Devil's Den has long been a favorite of ours! The spillway is spectacular and is a perfect area for play. The rock dam spans Lee Creek, forming Lake Devil, with canoes and pedal boats for rent.

LITTLE MISSOURI FALLS Langley, Arkansas If you feel like you're driving down an old Jeep trail, you're on the right track! This beautiful cascade is located in the Ouachita National Forest and is easily accessible for all ages.

BLUE HOLE Caddo Gap, Arkansas This hidden gem has been a local secret until recently; it now has its own pin on Google maps. The owner asks for a $5 donation if you decide to swim. You can scuba but no cliff jumping allowed!

9

CEDAR CREEK SWIMMING HOLE OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL Hagarville, Arkansas This one takes a bit of a hike, but it's well worth the destination!

It's located about five miles west of Haw Creek Campground on the Ozark Highlands Trail. With water so blue it doesn't even look real!

KINGS RIVER FALLS Witter, Arkansas A favorite amongst college students, Kings River Falls is a beautiful oasis at the end of an easy hike. Carry your cooler on the short trek and make a day out of it!

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travel

Discover Augusta

A Family-Friendly Itinerary words Pineapple Public Relations images courtesy Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau

Take the road less traveled with a visit suitable for the entire family to Georgia’s second oldest city.

Only a short drive from popular but crowded travel destinations such as Charleston and Atlanta, Augusta offers a myriad of unique attractions and restaurants to make this summer one you won’t forget. With so much to offer in an all-in-one vacation destination, consider Augusta as a place to drive to instead of through while planning your next getaway. Enjoy the below itinerary for an inside look to the family-friendly, adventure-filled river city that is, Augusta, Georgia.

Things to Do: Outdoor Escapades for Everyone The central location of this eclectic city provides visitors of all ages and adventure levels with a wide variety of activities to indulge in, both on water and land. The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s mecca, with several activities centralized on and along the Savannah River. Embrace the stories, sights and sounds of Augusta amongst a Petersburg music boat tour during which guests can sip on refreshments and unwind whilst listening to a variety of live music from blues to bluegrass. During the day, rent kayaks and paddleboards at the Savannah Rapids Park, embark on a tour to Betty’s Branch, a local favorite, with

Other activities include a visit to the Hippodrome Disc Golf

Cole Watkin Tours or bike along the canal via rad bikes from,

Complex, an outdoor disc golf arena with various levels of

The Bicycle Peddler.

difficulty, The Forks Area Trail System, a renowned biking trail with six different trails and the Phinizy Nature Swamp,

Insider’s Tip: For a true behind the scenes experience, ask for

an ecological gem sustained through preservation efforts.

the Stallings Island Tour, which takes kayakers through a string

Guests over twenty-one can choose to turn it up or down

of more than fifteen unspoiled islands rich in history. Over

a notch at one of two Augusta breweries – Savannah River

four thousand years ago these islands were home to a tribe

Brewing Company or Riverwatch Brewing Company, which

of Late Archaic Native Americans that produced some of the

is owned by the only mother daughter brew team in the

oldest known pottery in North America. Today, these same

nation. New beers and flavors are released at both breweries

islands are home to wild goats and donkeys who love visitors.

on a regular basis, making no visit the same as the last – a

To top it off, the tour leads visitors to a picturesque creek dam

great itinerary item for mom and dad.

where you can snap photos that capture the roaring waters.

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travel

What to Eat: Family-Friendly Augusta Fare

Things to See: Arts & Culture

With over 400 restaurants and bars, culinary feats are found

stroll along Augusta’s Riverwalk and enjoy the views of

throughout Augusta with an assortment of fresh, funky

ornamental gardens, historical monuments and architectural

cuisine that speaks to the spirit of this dynamic city. Choose

masterpieces that line the river. Spot the “Happy” and the

from iconic staples such as, The Bee’s Knees where all

“Love Augusta” murals, both whimsically painted on the

menu items are made using local, seasonal and sustainable

walls of businesses and public buildings by local artists. Every

ingredients or Farmhaus Burger and Humanitree House, both

Saturday from March until November, the Augusta Market

of which are known for doing the same. Venture deeper into

is held on Augusta’s Riverwalk, bringing the personalities

the city’s culinary fare at The Whistle Stop Café. Resembling

of the region to life. History runs deep in this bustling city

a diner out of the 50’s, this local eatery is a can’t-miss for

and guests can take a quick journey through time with a

breakfast. Head to Nacho Mama’s where select menu items

visit to the boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson, the Lucy

are named after the Godfather of Soul, James Brown or The

Craft Laney Museum, the James Brown statue or Meadow

New Moon Café known for their delicious, Green Monster

Garden—home of George Walton.

For an urban adventure filled with arts and culture,

Smoothie. The food journey doesn’t end without a scoop or two of ice cream to end the taste bud frenzy or a piece

Dive deeper into Augusta’s flourishing arts scene by stopping

of cake worth writing home about. For those with a sweet

at one of its many art museums and galleries including, Morris

tooth, Augusta’s got you covered with the famous, Boll

Museum of Art - the first museum dedicated to the art and artists

Weevil Café & Sweetery.

of the American South - Westobou Gallery, or the Gertrude

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travel

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travel

Herbert Institute of Art. Plug-in to the musical vibes that can be found and felt throughout Augusta and catch a show at one of the city’s many unique entertainment venues. Touted as a musical mecca, Augusta has fostered artists such as, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, Jessye Norman, Sharon Jones and Lady Antebellum. Broad Street gem, the Imperial Theatre hosts a plethora of events, shows and even airs movies.

The Jessye Norman Amphitheatre, a waterfront venue, hosts concerts and festivals throughout the year, combining picturesque views with melodic tunes. Take a piece of Augusta with you and stop into the newly opened one-of-a-kind interactive visitors center, Augusta & Co. for souvenirs, tastings from local food and beverage companies, community news and more.

Places to stay Accommodations are plentiful in this historic, lively city. For Southern charm and a sprinkle of antique flare, The Partridge Inn will create an unparalleled experience with gourmet food, an extensive cocktail and wine list and southern service that will impress any guest. The historic hotel has served as a gathering place for generations of Augustans as well as DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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travel

golf greats and celebrities like Curtis Strange, Paul Azinger,

redesigned guest rooms, visitors can rest assured relaxation

Gary Player, Reba McIntyre, James Brown and Bob Dylan.

and exploration will remain at the forefront of this getaway.

Enjoy the hotel’s Southern features including beautiful verandahs and classic columns. The Partridge Inn’s signature

Options continue with the brand-new Hyatt House. Located

restaurant, The P.I. Bar and Grill, offers fine dining, live music

on Broad Street and nestled in the heart of downtown

and the rooftop bar serves as a great spot to lounge with a

Augusta, Hyatt House offers residential-style rooms with

cocktail in hand while enjoying views of the city.

complimentary daily breakfast, rooftop patio and bar, and 4,050 square feet of meeting space.

Prefer modern features with a riverside view? The Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center is the ideal overnight

No matter where you choose to stay or what you choose to

accommodation for the traveler that enjoys a waterside stay.

do, a visit to Augusta will be one not soon forgotten.

Centrally located along the city’s Riverwalk, which is perfectly positioned along the beautiful Savannah River and other nearby and popular attractions, the hotel’s location makes it easy to leave the car behind and traverse downtown by

For more information, see visitaugusta.com.

foot. Equipped with sleek new accommodations and large

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48

fiction

Remembrances

T words Sarah Phillips

ONE

could say it was the friendly people, the wide

the kaleidoscope of colors and textures, darting from furniture

aisles, or even the soft lighting that kept her

to pictures, to knickknacks and once upon a time keepsakes.

coming back to Belle Star Vintage Market time and time again.

Or that it was the way that each and every booth in the large

She stopped to admire a wooden rocking horse sitting on top

building had every item in it displayed in such a way that one

of a turquoise table, out of reach of the little ones who might

could easily imagine those items, sitting on a shelf in their own

not be able to resist going for a ride. The grain in the wood

home, looking just as beautiful.

was worn away in places from the infinite number of giddy-ups it offered. The saddle was frayed and faded to the lightest of

Yes, those were all reasons for loving the trip downtown to

pinks, and the metal on which it rocked was dull.

browse. But what Sammy loved most was the sense of wonder that it stirred in her. She bubbled over with excitement each

Sammy wondered about the children that rode the little horse

time she pulled into the parking lot, not knowing what she

so long ago. She could almost see their faces, their heads

would find that day.

tipped back with delight, their little fists gripped around the dark leather rein. Would any of them remember this horse or

In this place where old is new again and the quality and

the delight that it brought them?

purpose of an item took on a different, less concrete meaning than something you might buy elsewhere, she always took her

The next thing to catch her eye was a red suitcase. It was in

time. Like a lamb in a field without concern, she stopped and

great shape despite its age. The leather felt smooth and supple,

fed her imagination at one space and then another, allowing

the trim was still intact with no obvious scuff marks, the gold

the calming musky smell that only comes from vintage to work

latches still shined. Inside, the untorn silk lining reflected the

its magic. As she made her way down the aisles her eyes took in

same cream color of the outside stitching. It was the kind

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fiction

of suitcase that was perfect for a weekend getaway. Sammy

sides. “I know you,” Sammy thought.

could even imagine someone boarding a train, their belongings Just like that, she was barefoot, running through her grandmother’s

tucked inside, ready for a new adventure.

home. Her ears had picked up the faint shuffle of the Velveeta box She noticed that stitched into the leather under the handle

being opened, the bottom sliding out and onto the counter. She

were the initials ‘CB.’ Who are you, CB? And where did you go

then heard the foil wrapper unfolding, confirming it to be true.

with this lovely red suitcase? Or did this case stay in the top of

Grandma was making her broccoli rice casserole.

a closet unused as its perfect condition suggests?

Sammy made her way to the kitchen counter and stood on her Down the next aisle, in an inconspicuous blue bowl, lay several

tip toes so that she could peek inside the flowered dish. It was

pictures. The first few were black and white portraits of women.

already filled with the broccoli and rice mixture, the steam filling

All wore stern looks, black clothing and long, dark hair piled

her nose. “Broccoli smells like green,” she thought. She looked

high on their heads. The last picture in the pile was of two

up at her grandma and then down at the block of cheese.

women in shorts and halter tops sitting in lawn chairs laughing; the kind of laugh that made your belly muscles ache and left

“I suppose you want a piece?” Grandma asked. Sammy

lines on your face.

grinned. Of course, she did. She watched as her grandma’s jeweled fingers sliced off a small corner with a butter knife and

Sammy couldn’t help but smile along with them. But what was

handed it to her. Sammy reached up with her tiny hand, took

so funny? Were they sisters or just friends? Do they still laugh

the cheese and plopped it right into her mouth. It was creamy

like that? She searched the faded color photograph for any

but slightly sticky and she licked it off her teeth and then her

clue, itching to know their story, but found none. She made

fingers before sighing in contentment.

note of the contrast between the women in this picture and those in the older portraits. Time is a blessing for women in

She watched, her hands gripped on the side of the Formica

some ways, a curse in others.

countertop, as her grandma cut thin squares and placed them atop the hot rice, filling in empty spaces with chunks torn off

How many stories, how many lives, how many memories could one building hold? Do these objects carry this knowledge around with them, forever bound to hold the secrets? At night, when the lights are dimmed and the store is quiet, do these beautiful belongings beguile each other with tales of this world to pass the time?

at different angles. When she was done, Sammy grinned again, her hand outstretched for more. “One more,” Grandma said as she sliced off another small piece.

“Excuse me,” said a voice that was not her grandma’s. Sammy blinked and she was back amongst the antiques and apparently, she was standing in the middle of the aisle.

“Oh, sorry,” she said as she stepped aside, not fully acknowledging the owner of the unknown voice. Her nose could still smell the warmth, her mouth could still taste the

Even though Sammy was drawn to the mystery of it all, knowing

richness and her heart was freshly filled with love once shared

she could never fully unravel it, it left her feeling somewhat

in a kitchen long ago.

adrift. She knew that in the future, her belongings could end up in a place like this, her own story and memories long forgotten,

She smiled as she placed the casserole dish on the counter.

never to be known again.

“This all for you today?” asked the dark-haired woman who returned Sammy’s smile behind her cheetah print glasses.

As she rounded the last corner on her familiar path around the store, her eyes landed on a green Pyrex dish, avocado green to

“Yes,” Sammy replied and then added, “This is everything.”

be exact, with an oval shape and white flowers sprinkled on the DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

49

HOUSE AND HOME

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Brent Lovell 3444 Old Greenwood Road Fort Smith, Arkansas shelterinsurance.com 479.646.1700 I have served local Shelter Insurance customers for many years and helped generations of families get the right coverage at the right price. My commitment to helping our customers does not stop when they sign their policies – they know they can contact me at any time. If you have an insurance question or are interested in learning more about Shelter, feel free to contact my office. Proudly serving Fort Smith, Arkansas and

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