Azalea Magazine Spring 2018

ACE BASIN: THE HERITAGE OF THE LAND WILL LIVE ON, FOREVER WILD PHIL SMITH IS CARVING A LEGACY / FOUR RECIPES PERFECT FOR SPRING MORNINGS GNOME CAFE & SYG DESIGNS / M&G COURTNEY BATES / PRO ANGLER BRADFORD BEAVERS JEWELRY DESIGNER REBECCA MCMENEMY / KNIGHTSVILLE GENERAL STORE

Spring 2018 ~ FREE

Modern Living in the Old South

GARDEN VA R I E T Y AS VARIED AS THOSE WHO ENJOY THEM, LOWCOUNTRY GARDENS PAINT OUR LANDSCAPES WITH COLOR, FILL OUR SENSES WITH FRAGRANCE AND BRING PEACE AND TRANQUILITY TO OUR LIVES Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

EDISTO ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA THE BEST VALUES IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

Edisto Island

is Charleston’s best kept secret - a relaxing 45 minute drive from Charleston and Summerville! Travel the National Scenic Highway winding among historic churches, plantations, marsh views, creek vistas, & ancient Live Oaks. Discover an unspoiled coastal community without traffic lights, hotels, or high rises, just 8 miles of pristine shell strewn beach. Over half of Edisto Island is under a conservation easement! Our laid back, family oriented beach has it all! Sail, golf, fish, dine, and unwind at this laid back, family oriented beach! You will see why we love to call Edisto home. Contact Edisto’s real estate expert, Marie C. Bost. Since 1982 Marie has assisted thousands of buyers & property owners ~ Call Marie today for the best values on the coast!

Marie C. Bost EDISTO’S REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST® EDISTO@MARIEBOST.COM|MARIEBOST.COM 843-830-8669 | 143 JUNGLE RD, EDISTO BEACH, SC

7 Lost Village Trail | $629,700 | Beachfront 2.6 Acres | Gated community | Endless Views | Private Beach

2 Lost Village Trail| $1,790,000 | Oceanfront | Gated Community Private Beach | Luxurious 6Br 6Ba | 3.7 Acres | 5,300 sq. ft. | Majestic Views

3922 Lybrand Street | $554,900 | Marsh View

Beachwalk | 3Br 3.5Ba | Premium Finishes | Custom Design

1001 Jung le R o ad | $537,900 | B e achwa l k | Marshv ie w Custom Designed | 3Br 3Ba | Marsh Side Screened Porch | Furnished

49 Lost Village Trail | $479,000 | Beachfront

4.3 Acres | Premier Gated Community | Private Beach

18 Planters Retreat | $944,900 | Beachfront | Private Island Architectural Beauty | Gated Community | 4Br 3.5Ba | Finest Finishes

511 Palmetto Boulevard | $564,900 | Second Row

Expansive Beach Views | 3Ba 2Ba | Fantastic Sundeck

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A Z A L E A

M A G A Z I N E

F E AT U R E S Spring 2018

Berry Well Smashed berry toast with goat cheese

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GARDEN VARIETY

Lowcountry gardens paint our landscapes with color, fragrance, and peace

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C A RV I N G A LEGACY A centuries-old art beautifies buildings across the South and beyond

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ACE OF H E A RT S

The land that helped shape the culture of the Lowcountry will live on, forever wild

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MORNING M E A LS Our new twists on old favorites serve up a new attitude

Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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CONT ENT S

/ Spring 2018

23 33

29 08 Editor’s Letter 12 Contributors FIELD GUIDE A Brief Look Into Our Local Culture 15 The Biscuit 16 Q&A Courtney Bates 18 Local Product 20 Etiquette Outdoor Events SOUTHERN LIFE 23 Southern Spotlight - Food 29 Southern Spotlight - Craft 33 Southern Spotlight - Shop 37 Southern Spotlight - Outdoors

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53 COLUMNS 41 Natural Woman

by Susan Frampton

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45 Kids These Days

by Tara Bailey 49 Life & Faith

by Lili Hiser

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53 THE GALLERY -Spring Flings From outdoor get-togethers to tending the garden, twelve classics for the great outdoors 96 THE VILLAGE POET - If Gardens Could Speak

EDITOR’S LETTER

I love plants, always have. I just can’t grow them.

Killing Plants When I was in the fifth grade, my family and I took our first trip (of many) to Disney World. Out of all of the exciting visual elements of that day, the thing that stood out to me the most, more than the flying elephants or the man who was able to manage a hundred helium balloons without anything getting tangled, were the topiaries: larger than life characters made only of plants. I told my mother that one day, I would have those in my yard. When I grew up, I was to be an archeologist/artist/professional baseball player with ten-foot-tall Disney characters made of flowers in the front yard of my castle.

In the past six months, I have managed to kill a fern, two potted evergreens, three succulents that were billed as unkillable, and two air plants. Needless to say, we are a long way away from having Mickey and Minnie topiaries made of creeping fig and hydrangeas welcoming folks to our home.

I love plants, always have. I just can’t grow them. My favorite area of home improvement stores is the nursery. I like to walk the aisles and read the little cards that they put in the pot with care instructions on them, and envisioning what I could do to the yard each Spring. But I know better. And so does my wife. We have agreed that the only thing in these aisles that we are allowed to spend any more money on are plants that can tolerate full sun and only need watering every other week or so. The bottom line is that gardening takes work: work that I have come to realize I am just not any good at maintaining.

Over the past few years, we have had the pleasure of visiting many beautiful gardens.

We have seen formal ones, wild ones, large ones, small ones, and even potted ones.

But the garden usually gets second billing to the home. This issue, we have decided to finally give the garden the credit it deserves. In Garden Variety, on page 62, we share some of the wonderful gardens we have had the pleasure of photographing during our tenure running Azalea Magazine. You will not see any giant Disney characters, but what you will find are living works of art, each with their own unique spirit and character evoked through the work of a patient and skilled gardener.

Will Rizzo Editor in Chief

“We love living here because of the community feel.

We know our neighbors. Everyone’s super friendly.

There’s definitely a southern charm to it.”

Sacha W., current resident

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Will Rizzo Co-Publisher and Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Rizzo Co-Publisher and Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Susan Frampton Senior Editor

March 22-31

Get your tickets today for these upcoming shows.

April 6-22

Jana Riley Senior Editor & Copy Editor Lewis Frampton Distribution Manager

FOR TIMES & TICKETS VISIT www.flowertownplayers.org

Contributors Tara Bailey Virgil Bunao Elizabeth Donehue Susan Frampton Barry Gooch Lili Hiser Ellen Hyatt Jana Riley Jason Wagener Photography Intern Patrick Baird Advertising Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com 843.568.7830 Subscribe *Available for $16.99 a year (4 Issues). Visit azaleamag.com for details.

Azalea Magazine is published by

114B E. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC 29483 info@azaleamag.com www.azaleamag.com 843.478.7717

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AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

Koger-Murray-Carroll House

Indian Fields Methodist Campground

Bryant Courtyard

Appleby Church

Experience

THE RUSH OF BEING IN NO RUSH AT ALL Just outside of the hustle & bustle of Charleston is the quaint village of Saint George, where our historic sites, farmers market, and natural landscapes allow you to enjoy authentic rural South Carolina Lowcountry on “Southern

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CONTRIBUTORS

JANA RILEY Writer

SUSAN FRAMPTON Writer

JASON WAGENER llustrator

BARRY GOOCH Photographer

TARA BAILEY Writer

Jana Riley alternates her working time between interviewing people about their passions, writing inspiring stories as quickly as her fingers can type, and editing some of the most interesting magazines she has ever read.

The rest of the time, you can find her immersed in love for her family while exploring places near and far.

An accidental writer, Susan Frampton lives in Summerville, SC. Along with a fluctuating number of wiener dogs, chickens, turtles, snakes, and the occasional pig, her husband and family provide endless material for her musings on life, love, and laughter. Her life is full of adventure and comedy, and some days she contemplates having wine with breakfast.

Jason started his illustrious art career when he won a coloring contest in third grade, subsequently entitling him the proud owner of a Mickey Mouse dry erase board.

He moved to the Lowcountry in 1990, before attending The Savannah College of Art and Design.

J. Barry Gooch was born and raised around Beaufort, South Carolina. He grew up surfing, fishing, lifeguarding and snapping photos of the unique wildlife, sea creatures, boats and landscapes the Lowcountry of South Carolina had to offer.

Barry’s photographs have been featured in South Carolina Wildlife magazine and several books.

Tara Bailey lives in Summerville with her husband and three daughters, assuming the one in college comes home to visit.

She has worked as a naturalist, a teacher, a writer, and an editor, balancing her love of the outdoors with her compulsion to alter sentences. She enjoys natural history, horror movies, and reads anything in print. She can usually be found on her bike or behind a coffee mug.

Leviner Law Firm provides thoughtful consideration and a personalized approach in matters of family law, small estate planning, and probate.

207 West Ric hardson Ave. / Sum m e rville (843) 5 01-0 602 / info@ levine rlawfirm .com

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AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

We believe Mother Nature is a pretty good teacher.

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A B R I E F L O O K AT L O C A L C U LT UR E

The Biscuit

One of the South's breakfast table staples has its roots in Europe, was perfected in California, and gained national popularity from a colonel via Utah The word "biscuit" was coined by the British, and referred to what Americans call a cookie.

In the pre-Civil War South, the biscuit, as we know it, was considered a delicacy and reserved for special occasions.

Alexander P. Ashbourne, an African-American grocery store owner in CA invented the biscuit cutter in 1875.

The biscuit remained a Southern food until 1952, when Colonel Sanders opened a KFC in Utah.

Featuring: The Biscuit pg. 15 / Q&A with Courtney Bates pg. 16 / SevernMade pg. 18 / Etiquette: Outdoor Events pg. 20

Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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I LOVE music! I could listen to 90's music all day, every day. Alanis Morrisette and I have a special relationship.

Is there a motto that you live by?

"Let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me" - Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare Who or what are you a fan of?

My mom, although she has passed away. I will always be her biggest fan. My girlfriends, because without them, I don't think life would be livable. My cat, Juno (don't know if she counts), although she gives me shifty eyes sometimes, she loves me unconditionally.

Coffee or tea?

Sweet Tea!!

Q& A

Courtney Bates Executive Director of the Flowertown Players

What is your favorite thing about living in the Lowcountry?

I love the warm weather, the beaches, and, being from the Lowcountry, I love being near friends and family.

What is your dream job?

I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in the arts, although at the time I thought I would be the next Britney Spears. My passion for the arts and business merged when I attended College of Charleston for Arts Management and fell in love with managing the arts.

Although I am among the small percentage of millennials that are in a field of study they went to school for, now, I see myself reaching farther and eventually working for larger scale performing arts or arts-related organizations in a bigger market. And if all else fails, I'll just be the next Christina Aguilera.

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AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

What's one thing you've bought in the last five years that you couldn’t live without?

Ok, so I think this was a little more than 5 years ago, but I was trying to think of something sentimental and not practical. I had gold added to my mom's wedding band and now I can wear it every day. I don't think I could live without this. It's like having a piece of my parents with me all the time.

What's one thing you've bought in the last five years that you could go the rest of your life without?

6'' heels, they look so beautiful until you wear them for an hour and want nothing more than a personal masseuse at your beck and call.

What is your favorite music?

This is the hardest question that I get on a regular basis. I LOVE music! I could listen to 90's music all day, every day. Alanis Morrisette and I have a special relationship. I love anything I can sing to and currently, I'm obsessed with artists like Halsey, Bishop Briggs, Childish Gambino, and local artists Little Stranger.

My musical tastes run the gamut though, ranging from classical, hip-hop, pop, new age, alternative, to rock.

What is your dream vacation?

My dream vacation would be traveling all across Europe. Exploring white sand beaches, bustling city nightlife, small cafe-centric towns, and arts festivals. Some dream locations to visit would be Amsterdam, Galway, Edinburgh, Capri, and Greece, to name a few. AM

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AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

Hosting an enjoyable outdoor party can be a breeze with these easy outdoor entertaining tips.

Prep The Yard Get your yard clean and in order. Make sure the grass is mowed, raked and free of debris, tools and toys.

Keep Your Cool To beat the heat, avoid midday events, especially those between noon and 3 p.m. If your party is during sunlight hours you will want to have plenty of shade to offer. Trees, tents and strategically placed umbrellas offer guests a place to hide from the sun. Running a fan near your dining area can also help keep your guests cool.

Let There Be Light Once the sun goes down, you want to make sure to keep the party going.

All you need is a little ambient lighting. Hang lanterns or strings of lights on the deck, the fence, even tree branches. Enjoy candlelight even on breezy evenings by using hurricane lanterns to shield the flames.

Beware Of Bugs Entertaining outside is lovely, but make sure you assess your bug situation prior. Provide insect repellent nearby for you and your party guests. Light citronella candles around your deck or patio, or stake torches in the yard.

In Case Of Rain We all know how unpredictable weather can be. Always have a backup plan just in case -- perhaps a change of venue or a rain date.

Use these tips and take your next party or gettogether outdoors for some alfresco fun. AM

ELIZABETH DONEHUE

Arbiter of social graces, with a heart for simple hospitality and a tendency for adventure. Elizabeth lives in Summerville with her husband, Wesley, baby boys, Harlowe and Tennyson, and yorkie, Gucci.

Up For Downtown You will find charming shops, a vibrant night life, live theater, and a wide array of unique dining. Explore the Historic Downtown Summerville.

Saturday in Summerville 2:30 - Family Photos at Azalea PArk 3:45 - Ice cream with the kids at Guerins Pharmacy 6:00 - Meet up at Accent on Wine 7:30 - Dinner at The Icehouse 10:00 - Live music at Montreux Bar and Grill

For info about Historic Downtown Summerville, visit summervilledream.org

^

Southern L I F E & C U L T U R E from O U R L I T T L E S L I C E of T H E S O U T H

Plant Life

With a passion for beautiful blooms and delicious food, two local women are bringing creativity and connection to their little corner of Charleston and beyond

by Jana Riley

Super Bowl

A fresh dish at Gnome Cafe

Featuring: Plant Life pg. 23 / Modern Classics pg. 29 / General Goods pg. 33 / Betting on the Bass pg. 37 / Columns Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Plant Life

I

n every community, there are the changemakers: the people who, often quietly, influence the world around themselves drastically, simply by following their hearts toward their version of personal success. Charleston is not without its fair share of these sorts of people, to be sure. But on one little street, in one little corner of the city, two women are using their passions to beautify and enhance the world around them in a multitude of ways.

Anyone who has meandered along the streets of Historic Charleston have likely shared a similar curiosity regarding the goings-on behind the gates and doors of the city; with structures sharing small plots of land, often so close to public walkways, it is only natural to wonder about life beyond the threshold. It is all the more exciting, then, when the invitation is extended to push open the door and enter into another world for a moment. At SYG Designs, that feeling is in full effect.

Stepping off of Cannon Street, in the bustling Medical University area, an urban oasis awaits beyond the door frame, with lush greenery filling up every wall, much of the floor, and everywhere in between.

The traffic and noise of moments before is forgotten in favor of the peaceful, fragrant, and visually stunning atmosphere within the shop: a pleasurable jarring of the senses. From behind a number of plants or floral arrangements, a greeting and offer of assistance is extended. And then, more often than not, it is the proprietor's face you see next: the warm and welcoming Sara York Grimshaw.

Grimshaw always knew she wanted to be involved with plants; she 26 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

began helping out at the floral shop of family friends when she was 14, and after moving to Charleston for college, took a job at a flower shop on King Street. At every opportunity, Grimshaw soaked in more knowledge, experimented with her techniques, and improved her abilities, dreaming of owning a floral studio one day. Finally, in 2008, Grimshaw opened SYG Designs, initially focused on providing floral design for weddings and events, but later expanding to include a retail shop on site as well. Now, Grimshaw and her team handle some of the most fabulous fetes in town, deliver weekly arrangements to high-profile customers and businesses, work with individuals to design bouquets for special occasions, consult with interior designers, and sell a variety of unique plants to customers in the shop. At every turn, Grimshaw seeks to elevate her work, sourcing different flowers and plants, growing her own blooms in her cutting garden at home, and always trying new things, never allowing herself to get stuck in a rut. For this, her customers return, often placing their trust in her completely, confident that she understands their vision and will consistently create something beautiful. Typically fully booked for wedding season months in advance, Grimshaw is busy--almost too busy--but then, somehow, she makes time for her other passion, which is just a short walk down the street.

• • •

At the corner of President and Cannon Streets downtown Charleston, among the myriad pastel colors featured everywhere around the area, sits a lone, black-painted building. A rare sight in such a colorful

Earth Fare

Opposite, left to right: Longtime friends Saramel Evans and Sara York Grimshaw are all smiles outside of their restaurant; potted cacti offer unique visuals at SYG Designs. This page: The kitchen at Gnome Cafe bustles with creativity; the restaurant is a popular spot for breakfast.

city, particularly one with more than a handful of architectural design building codes, what is inside may be even more uncommon around these parts: a restaurant serving up dishes without a single animalsourced ingredient to be found. No vegetables sauteed in butter here, no barbecued pork or fried chicken, no ham hocks mixed in with the greens, and no eggs on the biscuits; all utterly foreign in the land of soul food and the classic meat-and-three. Instead, Gnome Cafe features a thoughtful menu full of plant-based ingredients, and with dishes this delicious, you won’t know (or care) what they may be missing.

Gnome Cafe is the brainchild of Sara York Grimshaw and her longtime friend, Saramel Evans, who she met back in 2001 while they were both working at Cypress Restaurant. Eventually, the two parted ways toward different career paths, but they stayed in contact and finally reconnected while practicing Jivamukti yoga: a physical, ethical, and spiritual practice that includes a focus on non-violence and nonharming toward animals, among other things. As they studied and practiced together, both were drawn toward a cruelty-free lifestyle free of any animal products, particularly in relation to their diets.

“I was very into this foodie, fine dining scene,” explains Grimshaw.

“So I was in this cycle where I wasn’t seeing it; I wasn’t connecting the products I ate with their true origins. I believed them to be good, especially when they had certain buzzwords attached, but the more I researched standard food industry practices, and the more I looked inward, I realized that I didn’t feel good about consuming animal

products. It just didn’t align with my ethics.”

Grimshaw, a lifelong on-and-off vegetarian, committed to dropping the meat for good, and cut eggs and dairy out of her diet, something the former Ohioan, straight from the land of dairy farmers, never expected herself to do. At the same time, Evans was making the switch, and was soon perfecting meals made without animal-sourced ingredients.

Quickly, they both noticed dramatic changes in the way their bodies felt: healthy, clean, and strong, and began looking for ways they could share their lifestyle with others. At the time, Grimshaw was busy with her flower shop, and Evans was working in the food and beverage industry, “Sara told me if I quit my job that I loved for twelve years, we could work together,” says Evans. “It was a big change, but I knew we’d make a great team, so I went for it.”

Evans began working at the flower shop, and between customers, the pair would connect over their shared interests, often lamenting the fact that Charleston did not offer a fully plant-based restaurant. For a time, it looked like the two women were going to help friends of theirs open a restaurant, but things got complicated with the chef ’s visas, and it didn’t work out. Finally, Grimshaw decided to take matters into her own hands.

“One day, I just looked at Saramel and said, ‘what would you think about opening a restaurant with me in Charleston?’,” remembers Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Green House Plant Life

Grimshaw, “I had exactly one person in mind who I felt would be the partner I could be successful with, and it was her. If Saramel had said no, this would not have happened. Thankfully, she said yes.”

They set to work, deciding to use the space Grimshaw had been using for her floral design business (which they moved just down the street), and spent a year doing renovations on the place. It was a complete overhaul, and along the way, they continued to perfect recipes and shape the menu for the coming restaurant, which they called Gnome Cafe. Anticipation began to build in foodie circles around town, and when it came time for the final inspection, Grimshaw and Evans were thrilled to unveil all of their hard work. Their appointment with the Department of Health inspector was scheduled for the first week of October in 2015, and they made sure everything was in its place in preparation for the appointment, only satisfied when the restaurant looked immaculate. The day of the inspection, as they waited patiently for the front door to open, the phone rang. Charleston was under siege from an intense storm, rendering many roads impassable, so the meeting would have to be cancelled. The storm was eventually the cause of statewide flooding the likes of which hadn’t been seen in centuries, and the freshly painted, recently renovated restaurant was not immune from the damage. When the flood waters receded, Grimshaw and Evans surveyed the damage, and were heartbroken to see that much of their perfect, pristine restaurant was now a disaster area. To make matters worse, they quickly realized the insurance policy was just days shy of going through on the place, so they had no funding to pay for the damage. Graciously, friends and family members stepped in to assist the pair with the financial hit, and after a lot more work, they finally opened Gnome Cafe a month later. The airy space, filled with light, modern touches, hand-selected greenery from the flower shop, and minimalist design, was quickly embraced by locals and visitors alike.

A little over two years later, Gnome Cafe is a staple of the Charleston culinary scene, carving out a place somewhere between health-focused smoothie bars and the countless steakhouses and barbecue joints dotting the peninsula. Offering both breakfast and lunch, the menu at Gnome Cafe features morning classics like pancakes, bagels, breakfast burritos, and bowls of grits, as well as lunchtime favorites like caesar salad, reubens, macaroni and cheese, burgers, and sandwiches. The baked goods often fly off the counter more quickly than they can be stocked, and their cinnamon rolls - huge, sticky, sugary, and absolutely delicious - have what seems to be their own cult following. For the two restaurant owners, creating an accessible place for people of any dietary persuasion was important.

“We wanted our menu to feature items that anyone could enjoy, whether they be a diehard meat eater, a strictly gluten-free person, or a dedicated

Clockwise from top right: The exterior of Gnome Cafe is inviting; employees busy at work inside SYG Designs; the flower shop is a verdant retreat from downtown city life.

vegan,” explains Grimshaw. “All of the ingredients may be plantbased, but that’s just one aspect of the recipes; quite simply, we want to make incredible food that people will like.”

Evans agrees, and adds, “we didn’t want too much evolution after we opened. We established who we are, what we are, and where we are, and now we just offer a consistently enjoyable experience with consistently delicious food for every person who walks through our doors.”

With more extreme flooding in 2016, a closed intersection in front of their restaurant for six months, and countless construction projects around their business over the last couple of years, it hasn’t always been easy for customers to find or access Gnome Cafe, but the fact that the restaurant is still standing (and filled to capacity often) is a testament to how treasured it is in their community. Their customers run the gamut, from omnivores visiting nearby MUSC and looking for a quick bite, to long-time vegetarians and vegans who drive long distances to eat at a restaurant free of animal products, to people newly curious about eating less processed, more plant-based ingredients. For everyone, the staff at Gnome welcomes them with open arms.

“For a long time, in Charleston, there weren’t any places you could go to have conversations about plant-based eating. It could feel a bit isolating,” says Grimshaw. “We have tried to establish Gnome Cafe as a resource; you can find support in transitioning to a more plant-based diet, we can introduce you to others, and you can ask as many questions as you’d like. Whether you are interested in eating less animal products for the health benefits, for animal welfare, for environmental reasons, or something else, we’ve got you covered. And if you just want to eat a delicious meal and leave, we are happy to provide that as well.”

Above a window in Gnome Cafe, a sign reads: “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu,” which is a Sanskrit mantra meaning, “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.” With generous spirits, devoted ethical practices, and love for their community, both Sara York Grimshaw and Saramel Evans embody the very essence of their chosen mantra, bringing delicious food, stunning flowers, joy, and unrelenting kindness to everyone they encounter. AM For more information, visit www.gnomecafe.com

Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Modern Classics

After growing up in Columbia, McMenemy moved to Charleston to attend the College of Charleston, majoring in Art History.

Upon graduation, she took an internship at Redux, immersing herself in the world of handcrafted art of all mediums. Before long, a jewelry making course piqued her interest, so she added her name to the registration list. By the end of her first class, she was smitten. She began to take more classes, including metalsmithing, and eventually created a line of jewelry utilizing her newfound skills. She sold her creations during a gathering at the home of a family friend, and after receiving positive feedback and selling most of her items, she made a decision: she was going to start a jewelry company, which she named Surcee Jewelry.

A local jewelry designer paves her own way toward creative success

by Jana Riley

Near the end of a hallway full of creative energy at Redux Contemporary Art Center, Rebecca McMenemy toils in her studio.

Here, surrounded by the studios of dozens of makers and artists, McMenemy creates works of art in jewelry form; wearable visions of beauty. Inspired by her surroundings, the designer is an ever-evolving master of

At first, McMenemy followed what she considered to be the standard path for

jewelry designers: she set up an Etsy shop, stocked it, and began applying for artist’s shows. Then, her mother sent her a link to the Belk Southern Designer Showcase, a competition featuring designers whose work evokes modern Southern Style.

After an initial apprehension, McMenemy decided to go all in, and filled out the required application with high hopes. She was accepted into the final round, where she presented her story and her work to Belk executives, and was one of four winners to be selected to have her product line sold in Belk stores in 2016. The pieces nearly sold out, making the whole experience a huge success in numerous ways.

“The Belk experience was great for gaining business knowledge,” says McMenemy. “I learned about pricing, inventory, customer demographics, you name it; it was like a crash course in merchandising.”

Now two years after being covered in confetti among the department store elite Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Modern Classics

Set in Stone

1 1 4 E. R i c h a rdson Ave. S u m m e r v i l l e, S C 29485 8 4 3 . 2 2 5 .3661 f l y m o d e r n a p p are l .com

Surcee Jewelry is simultaneously fashion-forward and timeless; eyecatching adornments are a staple in McMenemy’s work.

and other talented designers, McMenemy works to curate her collections, ensuring that her work has a cohesive look that reflects both current trends and classic Southern charm. Favoring organic, natural materials, Surcee Jewelry pieces are feminine and delicate, featuring semiprecious stones, muted tones, and unique elements. In a nod to traditional Southern pearls, McMenemy often uses nonnucleated Keshi pearls in her jewelry: her take on a more bohemian, yet still polished look. Recently, she found hand-cast brass beads from Ethiopia and Ghana in a bead seller’s collection, and incorporated them in many of her pieces. She loves labradorite, pyrite, and moonstone, and is always in search of materials that will inspire her to try something new.

“Every so often, I’ll get to a point where I feel like I can do no more with the materials I have,” says McMenemy. “I just feel lacking in inspiration. Then I’ll go to a bead show, or I’ll head down to Beads and Brushstrokes in Mount Pleasant, and suddenly, I have unlimited ideas. That is when things get exciting, because my work undergoes this evolution, and I’m at once both controlling and observing the process.”

Working in her studio at Redux, McMenemy is surrounded by a creative hum of energy, and looks forward to the regular Open Studios event, where the organization opens its doors to the public to visit, shop, and chat with artists.

Through the event, her pieces are finding their way into the hands of more people, from teenagers receiving their first piece of thoughtful, handmade jewelry, to older women rounding out a well-curated collection. She also teaches private jewelry designing lessons, assisting entrepreneurs in navigating the world she forged through alone not too long ago. Surcee Jewelry is a favorite among Lowcountry brides, who often enjoy working with McMenemy

on custom gifts for their bridesmaids including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

And then there are the trade shows, which McMenemy is always working to attend and showcase her work, knowing that it will simply take her being in the right place at the right time to catapult her to the next level of her jewelry designing career.

“I’ve already hit some pretty major milestones of success in my own eyes, particularly with the Belk collection,” says McMenemy. “I am propelled by that momentum, and as for where my business goes from here? Well, the sky is the limit, I think.” AM For more info, visit surceejewelry.com

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Home Sweet Home Friendly employees greet customers; Knightsville General Store offers an inviting front porch to while away a day; ice cream is a favorite treat for many customers.

SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Knightsville General Store

General Goods

A Summerville shop evokes a sense of nostalgia while offering a place to enjoy the simpler things in life

by Jana Riley

As technology becomes more prevalent across the world, an emerging reality is that people are becoming both more and less connected.

Gone seem to be the days where neighbors lingered over cups of coffee, eager to hear firsthand the details of one another’s lives.

Click a profile online, swipe a few times, and a basic understanding of a loved one’s recent life moments is absorbed more quickly than a single sip of coffee can be consumed. As Randy and Lori Sparks watched the world around them evolve, with people often being more connected to their cell phone screens than they

are to one another, they had a hunch that others might pine for the simpler times as often as they did. With that in mind, the couple opened Knightsville General Store in May of last year, and suffice it to say, their hunch was correct.

Even if you have never been in a true general store (and we aren’t talking about Cracker Barrel here), there is something undeniably nostalgic about the experience of walking into one. At Knightsville General Store, the Sparks have pulled out all the stops to honor the establishments of old. A bell above the door rings pleasantly upon entrance, and the employee behind the counter just ahead is warm, engaging, and friendly. To the right, a pastry case features daily selections of baked goods, and a menu above promises delicious coffee, hot and fresh. Just below, cleverly positioned at the eye level of young visitors, sits a display of baskets filled with inexpensive candy, complete with a stack of small paper bags to be filled as desired. Locally produced products are featured throughout, while thoughtfully curated antiques decorate the space. The ice cream station is particularly popular in the warmer months, and customers are encouraged to spend time playing board and card games in the shop’s indoor seating area. Outside, rocking chairs dot the wraparound porch, and yard games such as cornhole and lawn jenga are available for all

to use. In short, it is the quintessential general store experience, and everything Lori and Randy Sparks hoped for when dreaming about a place like this years ago.

The Sparks are a fairly unlikely duo to run a shop like this; he is a regulatory manager supervising the recycling of industrial hazardous waste, while she most recently worked in the Nursing Department at Charleston Southern University.

Neither of them have much experience in running a store or restaurant management, and prior to opening, their most preferred method of making coffee was pressing the button on their Keurig maker. Still, the dream of opening up a general store was something Lori Sparks quietly fostered for years, knowing she could make up for any lack of experience with her drive and passion. Married in 2012, the couple moved from North Carolina to the Summerville area to follow job opportunities, and quickly fell in love with their newfound community. They sought out locally made products at every opportunity, supported small business, and attended local events, making new friends as they navigated their new city. Before long, Lori discovered a small shop in the Knightsville area of town which sold odds and ends, fabric, and a few locally produced items. She began visiting often to purchase local eggs and meat, and got to know the owner over time. One day, she was informed

Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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General Goods

that the proprietor was closing up shop, and she quickly contacted her husband about possibly taking over the place and turning it into the general store of her dreams. After talking it over, the couple agreed, and less than 48 hours later, they were shaking hands with the owner of the building, committing to an exciting new future. They spent months getting the place ready, finding local vendors whose products they wished to sell such as Coastal Coffee Roasters, Rina’s Kitchen, and Southern Naturals, and determining the food and drink offerings they wanted to serve their guests. The night before the grand opening, a friend came in from out of town, and she and Lori were up all night working on final preparations. When morning came, Lori began to have doubts that people would show up at all for the event, but then, the bell above the door rang. A customer had entered the building. Exhausted but happy, Lori broke out into a grin, and immediately assisted her first customer. Then, the bell rang again.

And again. Over and over, the bell chimed, a resounding confirmation that following her dream was the right choice to make.

Family Affair Lori and Randy Sparks; a carefully curated selection of local and unique products are available at the General Store.

At first, Lori and Randy were both still working their full time jobs while managing the general store, but an anniversary cruise changed their trajectory completely. After returning home, Lori was diagnosed with a rare syndrome called mal de dĂŠbarquement, or MdDS, a sometimes debilitating condition that causes a persistent sensation of motion, causing sufferers to struggle with balance, fatigue, and pain issues.

36 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

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Computer screens - a key component of her job at Charleston Southern University - are triggers for the condition, so Lori was forced to resign from her position at the school.

Having Knightsville General Store to focus on during such a difficult transition in her life was a welcome joy, and since, the shop has only benefited from her regular presence. She has planned fall festivals, book readings, outdoor movie nights, visits with Santa, and more. She has hosted craft nights for children, scheduled monthly vendor events, and expanded the menu to include unique offerings. Additionally, the shop features a tea party room that people can rent for special events or one-on-one occasions with parent and child. They provide articles of clothing for dress up, serve tea in china, and provide refreshments. The offering has been a hit among the younger set, though all are welcome to play queen for a day.

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So far, Lori and Randy have seen a steady increase in their customer base as more people discover them, and their hearts swell with happiness when they see people lingering over cups of coffee for hours, talking about their lives with one another, just as they had hoped.

Currently, Knightsville General Store is open for breakfast and lunch, and they stay open into the evening for those who want coffee or ice cream after dinnertime.

However, as they navigate their new venture, they are open to changing things to fit the desires of their community. Whatever they do, they want to continue to foster the sense of connection between friends and strangers that first inspired the opening of their store.

Investing their hearts into their business to provide something truly special for their community, the couple holds an enduring hope that locals and visitors alike find their way through the welcoming doors of Knightsville General Store, creating a local institution for years to come. AM Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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SUMMERVILLE Azalea Magazine 2017 7.4874x4.8898.indd 1

1/30/17 10:53 AM

Curb Appeal Peter Nickle and Jeana Masula; patrons lined up for lunch

Water Boy Bradford Beavers photographed at Buffalo Lake

SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT

Bradford Beavers

Betting on the Bass With a championship trophy on the shelf and money in the bank, the chance that Summerville’s Bradford Beavers took to spend last year casting for the big one has him spinning toward a career on the water

by Susan Frampton

Ask most fishermen, and they will tell you that a bad day on the water beats a good day in the office, hands down. Bradford Beavers might argue that. As a professional angler, when he’s out on the water, he is in his office, and he gives new meaning to the word “workaholic,” sometimes spending as much as 16 hours a day, seven days a week on the job. To those who watch from the bank, it may seem a dream come true. Flashing his signature smile, Beavers will tell you in a hurry, “It is not as glamorous as it might look.”

But the 1st Place trophy and $50,000 purse he brought home from the 3-day Fishing World League’s Costa Championship Cup, held this past November at Kentucky Lake, made the sport look as glamorous as any red carpet award show. Despite terrible weather, he was on a roll from the get-go, catching four bass weighing over three pounds, each within minutes of his first cast on day one.

His top competitor, however, the recently crowned FLW Angler of the Year, brought in 27 ½ pounds the very same day, and he could not imagine pulling ahead of one of the top anglers in the world.

Picking the right spot in a 250 square mile

reservoir takes some strategy. Though it looked like the 35 hours he put in practicing at the lake before the tournament might not win him 1st place, Beavers headed back to the 2’ shallows for day two, a gamble that paid off when his catch of the day made him the only angler to bring in the limit, with a total of 14 pounds, 15 ounces. Things were looking better. After a 2-hour fog delayed starting on the final day, requiring him to change location and bait, his time in the shallow grass paid off. By the end of day three, he was the only

angler to reach the weight limit every day of the competition. His total catch of 45 pounds, 12 ounces came in 8 pounds over the closest finisher and won him both the championship and a slot in the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup— the world championship of professional bass fishing.

This was his second shot at the Costa FWL Series Championship. On his first attempt, he finished eighth. It was a good enough finish to qualify him for his first Forrest Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Betting On The Bass

Hot Rod Beavers takes his gear seriously, and even makes his own custom lures

Wood Cup, and to give him the confidence to leave his job as a project manager for a Sumter coatings company to fish full time, with an eye toward the 2018 Cup. He had a decent year, but without a big payday, bass fishing feeds an expensive hole in the water, and the Costa Championship came at a pivotal juncture.

Winning tipped the scales. “I’ve probably fished about 14 or 15 AAA tournaments. I couldn’t believe I won. If I hadn’t, I don’t know for certain that I would have been able to keep on fishing tournaments.”

Beavers was introduced to the sport by his dad, Dr. Dwight Beavers, his favorite fishing partner and the only person Beavers says he would ever fish a tournament with. He caught bass fever in high school from the fishing trips he and his dad would take to Santee every weekend. “I fished my first tournament with him, in a small 17’ jon boat. It definitely wasn’t the kind of dream trip where somebody goes out for the first time and wins the tournament.

It wasn’t good—and we almost sank the boat.

He knows all my fishing secrets, and he’s the only one I trust to keep them,” he says with a laugh. “Fishermen don’t always tell the truth, you know.”

The pair slowly upgraded boats, and gradually, Beavers began to fish bigger tournaments, racking up top ten finishes in AAA events that eventually brought him to the big dance.

If fishing takes patience, tournament fishing takes determination and a competitive streak that motivates the angler to keep on casting.

While Beavers has both, he is realistic about the risks of committing to making a career of the sport. His biology degree from Francis Marion University gives him a career path to fall back on, but experience has taught him that a 9 to 5 day in the office makes him feel a bit like a fish out of water. If there was ever a time that was right to pursue the big leagues, this is it. "I still don't know if I have enough money in the bank to fish the FLW Tour yet —I don't have the cushion I'd need if I had a bad season.” But with championship money in his pocket, it may be within reach next year.

Though his wife, Melia, doesn’t share his passion for the sport, she is used to his dawn to dusk fishing routine. “She’ll go out with me about once a year, maybe to bream fish for a couple of hours, but all day on the water is a long day if you don’t love it.” She’s a good sport, however, about the lures that are scattered all over their Summerville home.

40 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

Beavers says that he is constantly tweaking his bait­—sharpening hooks, changing split rings, and designing and painting his own custom color schemes.

With entry fees in the thousands for big tournaments, and the traveling expenses of events that are scattered from Missouri to Florida, he knows that it will take more than passion to make it in the big leagues. A major sponsor would go a long way toward easing the narrow margin of success. Big sponsorship money isn’t as easy to come by as it once was.

“There are a few big names in the sport, and most of the sponsorship money goes to them.

I know for a fact that out of the 165 anglers on the FLW Tour last year, only 11 made a profit.”

You have to do something to set yourself apart, to do whatever it takes to get you the advantage, so I’ll be out there every day.

“You have to do something to set yourself apart, to do whatever it takes to get you the advantage, so I’ll be out there every day. You hear a lot of stories about people who made it big. You don’t hear nearly as much about the ones who don’t make it. I’m not a risk taker, so I’ll work hard. I had a good year last year. I hope I can do it again.”

With a full schedule ahead of him this year, when he’s not at his favorite spot in Santee, the only that time Beavers’ bass boat will spend on the trailer will be time spent traveling to the next event. You can bet your bass on that. AM

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Being Prepared No matter what the world throws at you, there’s not much that a pot of spaghetti, tweezers, or a space blanket won’t get you through

by Susan Frampton

T

here is a pot of spaghetti simmering on the stove. The vegetable soup is cooling on the countertop, and as I chop onions for chili, it strikes me that I should pull together a batch of stew. I’m not expecting a crowd, I’m preparing for some disaster that may or may not strike any time in the next few days. It’s an exercise that I’ve done several times in the last year or so, what with thousand-year floods, hurricanes, ice storms, and the like.

I like to be ready for anything—including, but not limited to: man-made/natural disasters, happy occasions, sad occasions, power outages, water outages, and, heaven forbid—cable outages. It’s important to me that none go hungry in the event of a zombie apocalypse, though it has been pointed out that you can’t

run very fast when you’re carrying a bowl of stew.

I took my pledge seriously when I joined the Girl Scouts. The blank, dark green sash of my uniform was a wide open field of potential proficiency patches when I raised my three fingers, accepted the trefoil pin, and solemnly promised to live up to the motto: "Be prepared."

Back in the day, we earned patches for things like tying knots and building fires; for Dutch oven cooking, camping, and folk dancing, and I assembled my share of colorful patches for mastering those and other skills during my time in uniform. Some of the lessons stuck, and some didn’t. I cannot tie a slip-knot to save my life, and wouldn’t want to put my magnifying-glass-firestarting ability to the test. But I can set up a tent and cook on a

ILLUSTRAT ION BY JASON WA G E N E R Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

campfire, and though I don’t use it much, my knowledge of international folk dancing once scored me major points at a Greek wedding—though admittedly, there was Ouzo involved.

Folk dancing aside, my patches were based on mastering practical survival skills. I worry that the skills taught today might lean a little less in that direction. An Ambassador of Public Policy patch can only get you so far when you hair is on fire, and I can’t imagine an emergency where Junior Savvy Shopper, Senior Novelist, or Brownie Robot Programming knowledge might save the day. I’m not throwing shade on Girl Scouts, so hang on to that piece of your mind that you were about to give me. It’s just that “Be Prepared” means something entirely different in today’s world.

Whether my penchant for being prepared originated with my stint in the Girl Scouts or results from a smidgen of compulsive personality depends on who you ask.

Whether my penchant for being prepared originated with my stint in the Girl Scouts or results from a smidgen of compulsive person-

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AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

ality depends on who you ask.

There are those who might think that the ability to whip up funeral food faster than you can read an obituary, make appetizers from bacon and a bag of pitted dates, or host a dinner party at a moment’s notice could simply indicate access to the pantry of a hoarder. I hope those people never need to borrow a package of pitted dates.

I don’t like being unprepared anywhere. When I’m away from home, I carry an overnight bag that weighs around fifteen pounds. Sore throat, blister, splinter in your foot? I’ve got lozenges, moleskin, and tweezers.

Sunglasses lost a screw? Make fun of me if you will, but don’t ask for my eyeglass repair kit.

When I go to the woods, from my backpack I can ward off hypothermia with a space-age silver blanket, file my nails to perfect ovals, whittle the letters S-O-S into a tree with my pocketknife, summon help with a piercing blow of my orange whistle, towel off after a dip in the creek, read a book while I wait to be helicoptered out, or choose from an array of headgear to blend in, stand out, or simply make a fashion statement.

All across the Lowcountry, when the meteorologists start doing the happy dance that indicates 24/7 coverage of the sleet, snow, hail, wind, or a total eclipse of the sun headed our way, I’m at the top of my game. For some, a raised eyebrow on the 6 o’clock news leads to a run for milk, bread, and peanut butter at BiLo, batteries at Home Depot, and assorted spirits at the liquor store. For these folks, nothing says, ‘I’m prepared,’ like a flashlight illuminated peanut butter sandwich and a shot of vodka.

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Not me. I was baptized into the religion of preparedness by Hurricane Hugo. We didn’t have as much warning as we get with today’s technology, and since it had been a while since the Lowcountry had a big blow, the bad parts had been largely forgotten. People threw hurricane parties, parked their cars under big limbs, and left the patio furniture outside. Many didn’t give it a lot of thought until the weatherman started actually shouting into the television.

The next morning, the party people were hung over, with no provisions except leftover Cheetos and room temperature onion dip, while oak trees sat smashed through their windshields and lawn chairs were lodged in their neighbor’s garage door. It was a powerful lesson then, but memories fade with time.

For me, the memory of seven pine trees on the house, three days without water, two weeks without power, and too many bizarre, grilled combinations of food from our defrosting freezer is still vivid enough to get me started bringing in the potted plants, checking the flashlight batteries, and cooking enough to feed a Girl Scout troop on a month-long field trip every time the broadcasting system does their monthly test.

I’ve decided to start practicing my knot tying—you never know when you’re going to need to tie up a zombie. If you hear that there is a meteor headed our way, alien spaceships have been spotted, or the cable goes out, feel free to pop in for spaghetti, soup or stew.

Lord knows, we have enough.

And though there is probably not enough Ouzo in the world to make me dance like a fool at a Greek wedding, if the need arises, I pledge to be prepared. AM

Magical Realism

K ID S THESE D AY S

by Tara Bailey

R

emember back to a time when kids spent all day playing outside, when neighbors greeted each other while strolling down the street, when we checked on each other’s welfare by knocking on the door, when we marveled at the live, natural beauty of our surroundings instead of mere photos of them? Those were the days - back in early January.

When a snowstorm announced its arrival to the Lowcountry like a harbinger of the New Year, it brought transformative powers along with it. Our otherwise bare-limbed winter landscape was coated in white as if the clouds had just fallen from the sky. Kids who had already grown bored of their new Christmas things abandoned indoor comfort in search of adventure out in the cold. Workaholics, forced to stay at home and accept their momentary powerlessness, were humbled by the scene before them:

“Would you look at that? It’s sticking! I think it’s already about three or four inches!”

Parents joined children outside where the boundaries of roads, property lines, and age were completely obliterated by fluffy white magic. Carless streets became playgrounds, beach toys became sleds and sculpting tools, and the town was soon populated with inanimate people bearing distinct bodies of three rounded tiers. The same old place was suddenly different and new.

No one was immune to the snow’s allure. My husband and I set out to wander around town the afternoon of that first snow day, walking the same route we take nearly every day when we walk our dog. But this time we felt like Lewis and Clark. We ventured down sidewalks that had no footprints, tasted fresh snow from camellia branches, and decided to forge ahead like pioneers as yet more snow was released

ILLUS TRAT ION BY JASON WA G E N E R Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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KIDS THESE D AY S from above. We navigated the wilds of Azalea Park and braved our way to the Sawmill Branch Trail. We trudged to the nearest convenience store to buy the last gallon of milk in stock. We weren’t exactly discovering the new world, but we were seeing what we rarely get to see and doing what we rarely get to do. It was exciting.

Bringing home milk was like presenting a freshly-killed elk to the tribe. We were proud of our hard-earned provisions.

Our kids, who normally walk around the house shrouded in blankets and complaining of temperatures below 74, ignored their numb extremities and spent every minute of daylight and the first few hours of dusk outside. Friends lent them proper snow attire so they could roam the neighborhood without catching the consumption. Our front steps became a repository of wet shoes and gloves that were routinely traded out for warmer, drier ones. At some point I had to remind them to come inside and eat. “We’re eating snow!” they shouted from somewhere.

Do you remember?

The winter storm was only mere weeks ago, relatively speaking. The intoxication of it soon gave way to reality, as the roads eventually became icy and dangerous, school and work were repeatedly delayed, and grocery shelves were rendered barren. While we haven’t forgotten those inconveniences, that’s not what we remember about the snow.

Next January people will be sharing photos of their white-capped homes and yards with comments such as, “Can you believe this was a year ago?” or “This year we’re wearing shorts!” We remember the beauty and the shared experience. We remember how that first snowfall made us feel.

Today you might be getting your yard prepared for spring planting and feeling the same anticipation of steady warmth also sensed by courting animals and greening limbs. Soon things will start looking different and new, kind of like 48 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

how they did on January 3rd. Rather than the monochrome of that day, however, we will look out our windows and see pinks and greens and yellows and purples. But will we be as excited as we were to see all that white?

Tonight we will make a hot dinner from groceries easily bought from wellstocked stores safely accessed by car.

There will likely be enough milk and bread for anyone in town who wants some. But come dinnertime, will we be searching for our kids, calling their names across the neighborhood and wondering when they’re going to get hungry enough to finally come inside and eat?

This evening our power and cable will turn on without fail. But will anyone cheer when we point the remote like a wizard’s wand and it responds immediately to our command?

We will see neighbors coming home from from work and might wave in passing. But will we know how their day was, and do we even know their names?

Will we ask them about their health and comfort and offer them our own belongings if theirs are inadequate? Will we even be outside long enough to speak?

If so, will the visible boundaries of our yards and roads be all it takes to keep us quietly in our own squares of grass?

I don’t want to think about snowstorms right now while planning beach trips and Spring Break. Still, I hope to remember that first snow day all year long. I want to walk my surroundings and appreciate how picturesque my town is. I want to notice how generous and kind my neighbors are. I want to see my kids and their friends outside, creating new worlds from whatever mundane objects they can find. I want to say, “Well, that was a fun day!” when our cable is out and our cabinets are sparse and we have to make do with what we have. And when I forget to do these things, I will open my freezer and be reminded by a little ball of magic. AM Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Buying Time

by Lili Hiser

M

y grandmother, and namesake, raised three children in the Lowcountry in the 1950’s.

Seventy years later, I am attempting to do the same. Though our lifestyles share some similarities, the contrast of how differently we spend our time prompts me to ask myself— and my generation—some questions.

My grandmother routinely walked through the back door into the yard, where she would wring a chicken’s neck and take the unappetizing steps to prepare it for dinner. Fresh vegetables were harvested directly from the garden. The family sitting on the porch snapping beans was a regular social event at which conversations comprised the evening’s entertainment. The family did not own a television. And many mornings were spent hanging freshly washed clothes on the line and then waiting for the southern sun to do its job.

In those days, handwritten letters to dear friends and longdistance family members were highly anticipated mailbox treasures. Made-from-scratch meals, rarely following a written recipe, nourished the household and were frequently shared among ill or grieving loved ones. Unannounced home visits were expected and appreciated. Sundays were a day of rest; businesses were generally closed, yard work and other tasks were placed on hold, and friends, family, and faith consumed the day.

My grandmother’s child-rearing years appear at first glance laborious, with slow and savory woven into the day. In contrast, the world I live in mirrors the science fiction books of her day.

Hours of work have been replaced by pushing buttons: warm a premade frozen meal with one microwave button, wash the dishes with the dishwasher button, and dry the clothes with more buttons. The “on” button to my computer, along with a few keystrokes, easily results in groceries being delivered to my car

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LIFE & FA I T H

or even my home. Hours of time saved, and I don’t have to defeather any chickens.

My generation has developed a multitude of buttons with which we buy time, but we seem to have less time than ever. The default reply, “I am sorry, I have just been too busy” has become a blanket excuse. There is a constant urgency and rush in the air. We seek efficiency to a fault. Days of rest rarely exist and conversations over coffee at the kitchen table are few.

Have text messages replaced faceto-face visits? Scrolling through a friend’s social media page substitute catching up over dinner?

Emails endangered the existence of cursive and handwritten notes?

Overscheduled agendas robbed quality family time? Isn’t the issue priority management versus time management?

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Regardless of the advances, our earthly hours remain as limited as our grandparents’, which should jolt us to recognize the value of the fleeting precious present. Time is something we are not promised.

James 4:14 states, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring.

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

The legacy of the 1950’s Lillie lives on and enriches the life of modernday Lili in this way: Her priorities were clear and not buried under the cumbersome tasks of the day.

Some things from the generations prior have become obsolete, but there are timeless lessons still to be found. Yes, I am grateful for the luxuries and technologies that make our lives easier. But more importantly, I am thankful for the reminder that genuine value is not created in the ways we buy time, but rather in how we spend it. AM Spring 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Spring Flings

From outdoor gettogethers to tending the garden, twelve classics for the great outdoors photos by Dottie Rizzo

First Class Service This wooden tray and Ginko leaf service set will add a touch of whimsy to your next outdoor gathering.

Available at Laura Jones & Co., Summerville Serving Set $65 Tray $39

GA L L ER Y

Set In Stone Classic and sophisticated, a decorative concrete accent will enhance any garden.

Available at Laura Jones & Co. $199

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Carried Away Who said that what you carry your flowers in can't be a beautiful as the flowers themselves? This basket is charming enough to be on display inbetween gathering your clippings. Everything Chic $32

Home Grown Urban Agriculture grow kits come with one pack of organic seeds (flowers, herbs, or vegetables) one portioned bag of organic soil, and a stylish urban grow container for your plant. Four Green Fields $15.95-$17.95

Hang Time Bring the beauty of the garden inside by adding your favorite floral clipping to these petite hanging jars. Everything Chic $5 each

In Good Light Whether suspended from an oak or placed on a path, this solar powered lantern lends romantic lighting to a party or wedding. Piazza $79.99

GA L L ER Y

Vertical Horizons Perfect for outdoor dining, these slowburning beeswax candles from Bee City are sure to provide the ambiance for a perfect spring evening.

Everything Chic $8 set

Opposite: Rainwater will playfully flow down these handcrafted rain chains, offering a delightful alternative to gutter downspouts.

Ace Hardware $124.99

GA L L ER Y

Happy Meal Beautiful and practical, this vintage-style wicker picnic basket will inspire al fresco dining for years to come. Piazza $71.95 each

Family Room Clockwise from top left: The formal living room; an elegant bouquet adorns the dining room table; the main hall; a Box bay Set window Form in the a and master functionbedroom; pair perfect spot perfectly with thisto watch the game; Tim and vintage-inspired garden caddy.

Everything Chic $49

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An Old Flame These garden stakes provide a fun and flexible source of light for anything from garden parties to nights by the pool. Laura Jones and Co. $15 each

Pot Luck This modern garden pot with sturdy leather handles is perfect for the potting table and rearranging a porch garden.

Ace Hardware $24.99

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A Z A L E A

M A G A Z I N E

F E AT U R E S GARDEN VARIETY p g. 6 2

Fabulous Foliage Hydrangeas in full bloom

C A RV I N G A LEGACY p g. 7 2

ACE OF H E A RT S p g. 7 8

MORNING M E A LS p g. 8 4

GA R D E N VA R I E T Y

AS VARIED AS THOSE WHO ENJOY THEM, LOWCOUNTRY GARDENS PAINT OUR LANDSCAPES WITH COLOR, FILL OUR SE NSES WITH FRAGRANCE, AND BRING PEACE AND TRANQUILITY TO OUR LIVES intro by

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SUSAN FRAMPTON

photos by

DOTTIE RIZZO

Curve Appeal This picket gate and brick path are just as charming as the foliage

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D

escribed by poets as the purest of human pleasures and defined solely by the limits of our imagination, the garden is the ultimate green tonic for the soul. For some, the garden may trail lazily from a single painted pot on a sun-kissed porch, while for others, it might burst with spontaneous abandon from a wild woodland path, or celebrate symmetry in boxwoods manicured to perfection.

Behind Lowcountry garden gates, Mother Nature makes herself at home beside the cool water of an urban oasis, dances down brick-lined paths to hidden pergolas, and runs in bare feet across lawns bordered by sprawling azaleas. Whether it is to feel the warm soil between your fingers, to take in the scent of fragrant blossoms, or to revel in the colors of spring, we invite you to join us. Come to the garden.

Private Oasis This manicured pond and architectural gazebo are the perfect setting for a garden party or to relax with a good book

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Going Green Clockwise from top left: A stone path leading to The Linwood; morning dew; wild azaleas and wisteria; a downtown home brings the garden to the street. Opposite: A large stone fountain statue is the centerpiece of this green garden.

" No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden."

Hugh Johnson

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“ My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

Claude Monet

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Delightful Details Clockwise from top left: Old bricks find new life in this garden path; a cozy pergola; a petite wall fountain and porch garden are perfect for small spaces; a small lawn fenced by evergreens. Opposite: A covered garden gate welcomes neighbors from the street.

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Natural Wonders Clockwise from top left: Camelia Sasanqua; a home adorned with creeping fig, a wild reflection pond at Mepkin Abbey; a formal garden at The Linwood.

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Growing Places Clockwise from top left: A fountain with manicured hedges; a bronze garden statue; a stone driveway lined with symmetrical greenery; a large potted bush.

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CARVING Carving a A NEW ARRIVAL TO THE CITY OF CHARLESTON PRACTICES A CENTURIESOLD ART, BEAUTIFYING BUILDINGS ACROSS THE SOUTH AND BEYOND

A

by J A N A R I L E Y photos by D O T T I E R I Z Z O

Legacy

LEGACY

AS IT HAS FOR OVER 100 YEARS, THE ANNUAL CAMP MEETING OUTSIDE ST. GEORGE PROVIDES NOURISHMENT FOR BODY AND SOUL, ENCOURAGING WORSHIPPERS TO PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE CHICKEN

Country Fried This page: Frying up a fresh batch of fried chicken.

Opposite: a tent at Indian Field Camp Meeting

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ith every trip our planet makes around the sun comes innovation in nearly every facet of industry. “Innovation is the only way to win,” Steve Jobs once said, and in most cases, the famous entrepreneur would be correct. For some industries, though, it is the relative lack of innovation, the eschewing of factory lines and routine automation and lightning-fast everything, that enables the creation of something extraordinary. The lamplight of these industries is often carried by only a noble few, down paths once well-trodden, laboring over ancient practices before passing lessons learned to the next generation. For Phil Smith, the task of creating an artistic legacy in this way was not quite a choice, but a calling of the spirit, an unignorable pull toward a lifetime of rewarding work.

Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, Smith was always drawn to artistic design. When it came time to choose a career path, he first opted to forgo his creative passions for more steady opportunities, studying Physical Geography at Indiana University before graduating in 1973. He took a job with the Department of Natural Resources, but after a number of years, it became clear that while he may have chosen the more logical occupational path, his heart was not in his work.

Smith and his wife, Beth, decided to take a year off from their jobs to tour Europe and seek inspiration for their future, and it was there that he fell truly and deeply in love with classical architecture and design.

Exploring buildings large and small, Smith forged an introductory crash course in architectural education, learning as much as he could about period-specific styles, techniques, and materials. He immersed himself in the pursuit of knowledge, and soon, his heart sung with the desire of his soul. Upon returning to the States, Smith would take the next step toward becoming a woodcarving artist; specifically, one who added his stylistic voice to the architectural realm of design. He just had to figure out where to begin.

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As it happened, a high-end furniture design company, Karges Furniture, held court in the very city where Smith and his wife lived: Evansville, Indiana. Producing timeless, classic designs featuring hand-carved architectural elements, Karges Furniture employed talented artists such as Greek Master Carver Socrates Paskalidis. Seeing his opportunity to gain the practical experience he needed to achieve his dream, Smith applied for a job at the company. It was not an immediate acceptance.

“I showed up on their doorstep for two months straight,” recalls Smith.

“I practically slept there. Finally, they realized I wasn’t going away, so they gave me an entry-level job.”

Smith proved himself a hard worker and worthy student, and before long, he was apprenticing under the Master Carver himself, Socrates Paskalidis.

A quick study, Smith moved briskly between learning about the various tools used in hand carving to actually working with the implements, soon carving up to a hundred pieces at a time. As a result, he became adept at managing the economies of time, eventually able to harness an extraordinary efficiency while still producing quality work. Day after day, he carved, improving with every tool stroke, until he finally felt ready to go into business for himself. In 1978, Smith left Karges Furniture, founded P.K. Smith Woodcarving, and simultaneously began one of his life’s most rewarding endeavors. As he completed each new project, he further established himself as a talented artisan within the architectural design community, and was soon fielding calls from all over the country.

As an architectural woodcarver, Smith is an artist specializing in the finishing touch. He carves chimney details, fireplace mantles, stairway elements, mirror frames, brackets, trim, and more, shaping each piece according to his client’s preferences. He partners with architects, interior designers, businesses, and individual customers. Often, he is

Taking Shape Clockwise from top left: A lifetime of designs sit, ready to inspire, in Smith’s workshop; intricate details on one of Smith’s works; sketches abound; Smith and his wife, Beth, countless carving tools hang in Smith’s shop; ornate mirror carvings are just one of Smith’s specialties; the addition of creative artistry makes a stairwell radiate opulence; the master hard at work.

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Custom Carvings A variety of carvings showcase the talent of Phil Smith.

JUST LAST YEAR, HE MOVED TO CHARLESTON WITH HIS WIFE, BETH, DRAWN BY THE CLIMATE AND ARCHITECTURE. TODAY, HE IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF WOODCARVERS OF HIS CALIBER WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES.

contracted by the homeowners of extravagant new houses, working long-term as the sole carver for all of the home’s unique architectural elements. Sometimes, clients will hire him to replicate old, damaged carvings, like broken trim on a vintage fireplace, unable to be sourced anywhere else in this decade. Occasionally, he will be asked to take on a specific project, like a door carving or a newel post detail, and the client will offer him the freedom to exercise his artistic talents with the task.

No matter what the job, Smith approaches it with thoughtfulness and dedicated attention, creating original works of art to be featured in the buildings for countless years to come.

Smith ran his company out of Evansville for thirteen years before moving his entire operation to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1991. Just last year, he moved to Charleston with his wife, Beth, drawn by the climate and architecture. Today, he is one of only a handful of woodcarvers of his caliber working in the United States.

“This is a 17th Century craft being done in the 21st century,” says Smith. “People often say that it’s a dying art, but I’m not dead yet! Still, though I’m not sure of exactly how many architectural woodcarvers are practicing their art in this country, I do know that there aren’t enough of us to have a very engaging party.”

Though Smith has continued to educate himself on the latest technologies that assist in presenting the best handcrafted product possible, his biggest challenge over the years has often been the simple fact that many people do not realize hand-carved architectural elements are still being produced in the 21st century. For this, he turns to his most ardent supporter: his loving wife, Beth, without whom he says he never would have been successful. After working as a nurse, and then in both workforce development and running a nonprofit organization, Beth retired in 2017. From the beginning, even while working a full-time job

and helping to raise the couple’s two children, Beth has always been one to get her husband’s name into the right circles, promoting his talents as much as she could. Now, with her previouscareer behind her and their children grown, Beth focuses her efforts on connecting her husband with prospective clients, even more passionate about his work than ever before.

"I am not an artistic person, but I have a deep appreciation for art,” says Beth. “So from the outside looking in, I am just amazed at his process.

He can take on a project and immediately have a vision of what he wants to do in his head, like a photograph. He creates these stunning sketches, gathers these big hunks of hardwood, and suddenly, he has made something breathtakingly beautiful. It is fascinating to observe.”

Now settled in Charleston, the couple is intent on becoming rooted in the city. After devoting over 40 years to his craft, Smith aims to take a cue from his southern surroundings and slow down a bit, taking on more artistic projects as much as possible while still creating architectural elements for some of the south’s most interesting homes. Most importantly, despite being one of the most talented artisans of his kind in the country, he wants to continue to improve.

“Whatever time I have left in my life to do this, I am going to devote it to being better,” says Smith.

A quick glance around Smith’s shop, with its hundreds of tools, countless works of stunning architectural art, and beautiful sketches galore makes it hard to imagine how the artist could do anything better; truly, perfection reigns supreme here. Regardless, no matter how his talent evolves, Phil Smith is an artist of a caliber seldom seen in this century, and Charleston is all the more richer with every stroke of his masterful hand. AM To learn more about Phil Smith, visit www.pksmithwoodcarving.com

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Wildest Dreams A creek on Edisto Island

ACE of HEARTS

At the convergence of three rivers, the legacy of the land that helped shape the culture of the Lowcountry will live on, forever wild, because of its place in the hearts of those who hold it dear. by

SUSAN FRAMPTON BARRY GOOCH, D O T T I E R I Z Z O , and VIRGIL BUNAO

photos by

In the golden glow of late afternoon, a great egret stands still as a statue in the shallow water of a flooded rice field. Except for the raucous calls of crows overhead and the occasional splash of a nearby gator, the surrounding world is peaceful and pure. Slowly, as though suspended in time, the bird moves one step deeper in the water before its snowy head shoots like a dart into the shallows, emerging with a tiny fish caught in its bill. This is a scene that has played out for centuries in this region just south of Charleston. The silence of its natural beauty is the sound of a love story—of a culture shaped by the contours of the land, and the people who have long loved it.

Encompassing the region at the confluence of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers, known today as the ACE Basin, human interaction here began with settlers who built plantations in the late 1600s; constructing dikes and canals to harness the waterways and provide shallow impoundments for rice, the cash crop exported around the world.

Following a time of great prosperity brought about by the cultivation of the distinctive “Carolina Gold” variety of rice along the coastal land, the ravages of the Civil War and hurricanes that roared ashore in the late 1800s

Natural Wonder Oyster mound at Coffin Point Beach

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left bare and empty the floodgates of rice fields, of forests that once supported thriving timber operations, and of land once rich with agriculture.

By the early 1900s, word spread among wealthy industrialists wintering in the mild climate of the availability of land along the South Carolina coast; of skies thick with thousands of birds, and of an abundance of white-tailed deer, quail, and other game animals. Soon, drawn by the lush beauty and seemingly endless natural resources, the sportsmen came to the Lowcountry, creating hunting lodges and preserves, and bringing new economic and environmental value to the land.

It quietly flourished under their stewardship until the Great Depression, when the waterfowl population began to decline nationally.

Overhunting, drought, and loss of habitat drew the attention of conservation groups such as the newly formed Ducks Unlimited, and efforts to protect migratory birds began on a federal level.

It was not until the 1970s that the area began to feel pressure from those who sought to replicate the resort concept of golf courses and hotels that had earlier reshaped Hilton Head Island. Development interest began to march north. The very elements that had long given life to the unique culture of the Lowcountry: the vast stretches of untouched coastline, marshes, and flowing rivers, and the wildlife that had restored its dignity at the turn of the century, placed the ACE Basin squarely in the crosshairs of developers with visions of new resort communities.

In the 1980s, Summerville’s Coy Johnston, manager of Ducks Unlimited’s Wetlands America Trust: Lowcountry Initiative, had a front row seat to the threat posed by commercial expansion to the pristine environment—a threat that became all too real when a permit application was filed to build 1,000 homes in the area. The permit was denied, but it was obvious to Johnston and local landowners that time had come to find a long-term solution to encroaching commercial expansion.

Preservation of the natural state of the land stretching from along U.S. Highway 17 nearly to the Georgia line would be critical to protecting the 350,000 acres that comprised one of the largest undeveloped watersheds on the east coast and the important flyway for migratory birds it served. In addition, 500 species, some highly endangered, found sanctuary amidst the varied landscape of saltwater marshes, cypress bottomlands, forests of longleaf pine, and freshwater swampland

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within its boundaries.

Though it is hard to put a finger on the precise beginning of the project that would ultimate gain protection for the region, the wheels began turning in 1988, when Johnston sat down with John Edward Frampton, Chief of Game for SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and representatives of The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private landowners to form the unique and unprecedented co-op of government agencies, landowners, and conservation groups that would be named the ACE Basin Task Force.

Charged with protecting and preserving the land, its natural resources, and its cultural legacy of traditional uses for hunting, fishing, agriculture, and timber, the group developed the ACE Basin Habitat Protection and Enhancement Plan with the ambitious hope of protecting 90,000 acres.

Their plan was hinged on public land acquisition, and at its core was the relatively new initiative of conservation easements. The easements, cooperative legal management agreements tailored to the needs of each landowner, offered both tax benefits and caveats that would allow them to continue traditional uses of their property while preserving and protecting it from commercial development. In addition, the purchase of key parcels of ecologically significant property would be procured by private and/or governmental agencies for long-term protection and public use.

The task of negotiating agreements and finding funding for land acquisition fell to Johnston and Frampton. Each speaks of the other with the respect and admiration of men who have gone together into battle. It was indeed a war of words and wits that ultimately won the small, grass-roots co-op of conservationists protection for some of South Carolina’s most incredible environmental and cultural resources.

Together, the two were a force to be reckoned with, seeking and receiving vital legislative support from Senators Strom Thurmond and Fritz Hollings. In search of funding for one of the first major land acquisitions, it was Frampton who uncovered mitigation funds that were available from the construction of the Russell dam at Lake Hartwell. With Senator Thurmond’s help, that funding became the final piece of the financial puzzle for the purchase of land that is now Donnelley Wildlife Management Area.

Both recall moments from meetings with the powerful legislators in Washington that underscored the strength of their backing of the project. “I guess we’re playing hardball now,” Johnston, recalling the meeting in which Thurmond handed a bag of South Carolina pecans to an official charged with helping facilitate the senator’s recommendations, saying, “Here – you’re going to need a lot of energy to get this done.”

The code of conservation and preservation ethics initiated by the group’s efforts remains a major force for maintaining the Lowcountry’s quality of life.

Out of close to 250,000 acres currently under protection, 79,000 acres are public land, and the Task Force’s methodology is being successfully replicated across the state and around the country.

On the occasion of the ACE Basin’s 25th anniversary, Dana Beach, Executive Director and Founder of South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, wrote of the historical love of land, and collaboration of government, non-profits, and landowners in his appropriately titled tribute, On Common Ground: Stories of the ACE Basin, noting: “There is no single narrative that objectively or comprehensively captures the effort that has permanently protected the natural resources of the land between Charleston and Beaufort.”

Johnston, whose job with Ducks Unlimited further Water Mark The Ashepoo River between the enhanced his life-long reputation of integrity and confluence with St. Helena Sound. Opposite page clockwise: A freshwater creek off of the Ashepoo devotion to conservation, realized the importance “It’s a part of you, and gives you a sense of River; a winding creek off of the Edisto River; of engaging private landowners. He knew that each place,” says Charles Lane, who served as Edisto Island conservation easement negotiation would be a bit Chairman of the Ace Basin Task Force from of a gamble for landowners new to the concept, its inception until 2004, and whose family and would require great trust. But he was confident that for most, their helped lead the way as one of the first to place a conservation attachment to the land and the preservation of the ACE Basin’s pristine easement on their land. “There is a love of the land that is bred in environment would prove to be the winning card. the bone.”

“When you go and talk to a family about their land, you’re talking about something that is dear to their hearts. These families owned this land for a reason," Johnston says. "They were already good stewards—we simply gave them the tools to protect and manage the land that they loved in a way that best served their interests, and the interests of conservation.”

For his part, Frampton was dogged in his quest for funding and partnerships that could funnel dollars for land acquisition to the project. The two Task Force members were bound together by more than their dedication to conservation. Both were avid hunters and outdoorsmen, and they had a history. Frampton had grown up in Summerville, where Johnston and his wife, JoAnne, were friends of his parents, and where Mrs. Johnston taught him in both school and Sunday school. Following his graduate education, Frampton says he is sure that Johnston’s letter of recommendation for his employment as a biologist at SCDNR was a definite point in his favor.

Frampton, who went on to become Director of SCDNR, gives the greatest credit to past and present landowners. “Since most of South Carolina is privately owned, the future of conservation is greatly dependent on private landowners, and the private sector has led the charge for the protection of our Lowcountry. They not only saw its historical, environmental, cultural, and economic value, but also loved the land itself enough to fight to preserve it. With their help, the character of the Lowcountry lives on in the ACE Basin.”

We are all winners in the Task Force’s gamble for the future of the ACE Basin, as are the generations to come that will enjoy its natural beauty, walk or bike miles of trails, hunt the fields and forests, and fish the waters of the three rivers that meet to define the land on their journey to the sea. As it has been for centuries, now and forever, the ACE of hearts is wild. AM

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MO R N IN G M E AL S

WITH THE DARK DAYS OF A COLD WINTER BEHIND US, AND WARM, SUNNY POSSIBILITIES AHEAD, THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO DIVE INTO A NEW DAY THAN WITH A BREAKFAST THAT GETS YOUR MOTOR RUNNING. OUR NEW TWISTS ON OLD FAVORITES SERVE UP A NEW ATTITUDE THAT IS BOUND TO START YOUR DAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK. photos by

DOTTIE RIZZO

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SMASHED BERRY TOAST WITH GOAT CHEESE Ingredients 1 cup blackberries 1 cup raspberries 1 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 tbsp sugar 3 tbsp water 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch, sifted sliced baguette 4 oz goat cheese, softened fresh mint to garnish Preparation

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the blackberries, raspberries, vanilla, sugar, and water. Cover and heat on medium low for 5 minutes or until fruit begins to soften. Gently mash fruit with a fork.

Whisk in the cornstarch until well incorporated. Cover once more and simmer on low 5 minutes or until liquid thickens.

Toast the bread until crispy and place on plate.

Top each slice of toast with a thick layer of goat cheese, then spoon the smashed berry mixture on top. Garnish with mint.

Remaining berry mixture can be kept up to two weeks in a glass jar.

QUICHE STUFFED BAGEL Ingredients 1 plain or everything bagel 2 to 3 large eggs 1 tsp chopped bell pepper 1 tsp chopped onion 1 tbsp ground sausage, cooked 2 tbsp grated cheese salt and pepper to taste Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a piece of foil with nonstick spray.

Slice off the bottom of the bagel and discard.

Carefully hollow out the bread inside of the cut bagel using your fingers to pull the bread away from the crust of the bagel and discard.

Place hollow bagel on foil.

Whisk 2 eggs and pour them into the bagel. Add bell pepper, onion and sausage.

If bagel is not completely filled, add another whisked egg on top.

Sprinkle cheese on top of egg mixture and add a dash of salt and pepper.

Bend foil up along the sides of the bagel, keeping the top exposed.

Bake 20-30 minutes or until egg is cooked through.

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CINNAMON ALMOND COFFEE CAKE Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup sour cream 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp almond extract 3/4 cup almonds, chopped 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tbsp brown sugar Preparation

Combine butter and sugar into a mixing bowl.

Beat with hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add one egg at a time, beating well after each addition.

Stir in sour cream.

Sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda together and add to mixture.

Stir in almond extract.

In separate dish, combine almonds, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Spoon half of the batter into a greased 8 inch pan.

Sprinkle 1/2 of cinnamon and almond mixture on top.

Cover with remaining batter and top with remaining cinnamon and almond mixture.

Bake at 300° for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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BACON CRUMBLE PANCAKES Ingredients 1 cup all purpose flour 2 tbsp granulated sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 pinch salt 1 large egg 2 tbsp melted butter 3/4 cup whole milk 6 slices of bacon, cooked Maple syrup Preparation

In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add egg, butter, and milk to dry mixture. Whisk until batter is thick but pourable.

Crumble cooked bacon into small pieces, and add 1/2 to pancake batter and stir.

Butter a skillet and turn on to medium heat.

When skillet is hot, pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter onto skillet.

Sprinkle a few extra pieces of bacon crumbles on top. When golden brown, flip.

When both sides are golden brown, remove from skillet and serve with maple syrup and butter.

Drayton Hall is America’s oldest preserved plantation house still open to the public and its earliest example of fully executed Palladian architecture. Join us in 2018 as we celebrate the opening of new visitor facilities and exhibit our internationally significant museum collection for the first time.

D R AY TO N H A L L .O R G | ( 8 4 3 ) 769 - 2 6 0 0 |

TH E SOCIAL

SOCIALS, CAUSES, AND COMMUNIT Y

Third Thursday Historic Downtown is one of the gems of Summerville any day of the year, but it shines especially bright on the Third Thursday of every month. Downtown businesses—shops, restaurants, art galleries and more extend their hours until 8:30 p.m. There's lots of music, food, and fun to be had by all. photos by P A T R I C K B A I R D

VILLAGE P OET

If Gardens Could Speak

by Ellen E. Hyatt Here’s what this garden would say: Select some place over there—off beaten paths, some spot when you and another need to find a pause to unpuzzle the mind, heart, or day.

Please try to keep me small, simple, unshowy.

You know how fussy air-layered orchids are.

Will you keep the promise then—no exotics?

When soil (or an attitude) needs adjusting, send off some samples to Clemson Extension to learn how to correct the pH balance.

Forget about raising beds for vegetables.

Support local family farms instead. Crops, fresh, on Saturdays just off Main at Town Hall.

Plant flowers, white mostly—like the shy tulips.

Transplanted here, they'll invite spring in, to bud without fanfare before summer's intrusion.

Allow azaleas' white trusses their quiet.

Let their petals silently fall where they may and scud away from their loud fuchsia cousins.

Create space for parsley, sweet basil, and thyme among daisies whose petals are destined for tallying up scores for "love-me, love-me-not."

Plant the butterfly bushes near crepe myrtle.

Together, their blossoms will float on air or disperse like wishes to whoever needs them.

Annabelle hydrangeas are a must. Mounded, they serve as transition to viny climbers— clematis, jasmine, and untrained moonflowers.

When day is ending, white blossoms come alive.

With twilight and being, they'll brighten your way— even when the moon's dark and the sky, starless.

98 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2018

styled by Margie Sutton, makeup by Krista Elam photographer Taylor Kennedy wardrobe by FLY Modern Apparel