AZALEA Magazine Fall 2023

FAIR OAKS: THE ARRINGTONS BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO A HISTORIC HOME

LUXURY ESCAPE TO GREENVILLE / GRUBER FARMS HEART FOR THE HARVEST / APPLE GALETTES

FOUR WAYS / PRESERVING THE BEGINNINGS OF FREEDOM IN LINCOLNVILLE / FALL FESTIVALS

New Beginnings

– F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. Having spent so many years of my life near the mountains, I believed that I loved the fall for its spectacular beauty but when my family and I moved to Florida I realized that fall, for me, was a feeling.

Even though the palm trees outside our windows retained their lush greenery, I felt that familar and welcome shift inside telling me that it was time for something new. Traditionally, beginnings and new life are associated with the spring season but for me, that feeling hits in the fall.

As the air gets a bit more crisp I find new energy for all the projects I'm keen to take on. While this year is no different in some regard, that feeling is hitting a bit differently. Perhaps it's the heat that we are still feeling here in the Lowcountry but my usual frenetic pace has slowed and while, as my husband will attest, I'm still quite keen on spinning up some new projects, I find myself going into that more gracefully, with less anticipation and more contentment, less grind and more gratitude, less hustle and more heart. I'm cozying up to fall this year and I think that's exactly the perspective we've brought to this issue.

As summer draws to a close and we bid adieu to farmers markets, we visit Gruber Farms to learn about how their CSA brings the fresh flavors of fall produce to your door (pg. 21). We gear up to go out of doors for Fall Festival season with our lineup of Autumn Outings (pg. 18). We feature fall's favorite fruit in a totally unfussy and utterly delicious take on the apple galette where imperfection is key to a perfect bake (pg. 56). We hit the road and visit The Grand Bohemian Lodge for an upstate escape that offers a curated luxury experience in the heart of Greenville, SC (pg. 64). We pay a visit much closer to home at Fair Oaks, where Rob and Katie Arrington are breathing new life into one of Summerville's historic treasures (pg. 31). And we take a trip to the past and explore the historical significance of the Bible Sojourn Cemetery (pg. 27).

So get cozy and usher in the fall. It may still be hot outside but like I said, fall is a feeling.

Jenna Lachenman Publisher /Editor in Chief

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."

Jenna Lachenman Publisher / Editor in Chief jenna@azaleamag.com

Dan Lachenman Editor at Large

Contributors

Tara Bailey

Eliza Chapman Bailey Susan Frampton

Ellen Hyatt

Diana & Will Thompson

Guest Contributors Caroline Davis, Intern

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Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com

843.568.7830

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SUSAN FRAMPTON Writer & Editor

Susan Frampton began her second act as a writer over a decade ago. The fascinating people and places she has gotten to know along the way make her appear far more interesting and a much better party guest. She is currently living the dream with husband Lewis, who is mortified by the (true) stories she tells of his adventures, but grateful that she takes first aid supplies everywhere.

Hyatt’s writing has garnered recognition from professional, literary, and mainstream sources. Her works have twice been the recipient of what the Poetry Society of SC refers to as “the big one” (the Dubose & Dorothy Heyward Society Prize). She is a Fellow of the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, professor, columnist, and appointee to the Board of Governors of the SC Academy of Authors.

ELIZA CHAPMAN BAILEY Writer

A Lowcountry Native, Eliza grew up in Summerville and Mt. Pleasant. She currently resides in Summerville with her husband, two children, three dogs and two cats. An Elementary School Media Specialist in N.Charleston, Eliza has a BS in Political Science from the College of Charleston, and a Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of SC.

Will and Diana Thompson met while in college at Clemson University and married in 2003. They are parents to three children (Wyatt, Ruthie, and Seth). They have years of experience serving and encouraging others. In their spare time, you can find them supporting their kids at the dance studio, the ball field, or going for a run in Summerville.

ELLEN HYATT Poet

WILL & DIANA THOMPSON Writers

Over 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.

APPLES to APPLES

Get to know one of Fall's Favorite Fruits

Apple pie originates in Europe. The very first recipe for apple pie came from England hundreds of years ago.

The science of apple growing is called pomology.

25% of an apple's volume is air. That's why they float and are the perfect fruit for bobbing.

A bushel of apples weighs 42 pounds.

A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds.

A real-life Granny Smith discovered the apple variety. Mary Ann Smith from Australia discovered the apple tree in her backyard and began cultivating it in the early 1800s.

What was your favorite thing about growing up in the Lowcountry?

Living within driving distance of many beaches, of course!

What's your dream job

Being a craft-cocktail bartender was a dream to me when I first started in the industry; so I'd say that what I do now is one of my many dream jobs.

Is there a motto you live by?

I don't have a motto.

What are you a fan of?

Food and anything to do with it!

Coffee or Tea?

Both!

What is one thing you've bought within the last three years that you couldn't live without?

My Nespresso Machine; it makes the best cup of coffee.

What is one thing you've bought within the last three years that you could go the rest of your life

Q&A

Head Bartender - Azalea Bar & Garden

without?

Any of the applications/ subscriptions I bought and opened/used once that I never use anymore.

What is your dream vacation? One vacation I am dead set on taking is a culinary tour of Europe with extended stays in wine country.

What is your fondest memory of growing up in the Lowcountry?

I had the opportunity to perform at the Spoleto Festival after my college graduation. Living on King St. was incredibly charming and lots of fun.

What is your favorite cocktail? Manhattan

What is your favorite cocktail to make?

Any cocktail that is beautiful to make bcause people watchingenjoythe process!

FUNERAL HOME

303 South Main St. Summerville, SC (843) 873-4040 / jamesadyal.com

11000 Dorchester Rd. Summerville, SC (843) 871-8080

dorchestermemorygardens.com

Offering a wide variety of marble, stone, and bronze memorials accepted in all area cemeteries. We can also provide many statuary options for private garden or cemetery display.

11000 Dorchester Rd. Summerville, SC (843) 871-2016

lowcountrymonuments.com

Photographed by Jenna Lachenman at Middleton Place

Middleton's

own sheep "Wednesday" staying close to mom.

Autumn Outings

As cooler temperatures draw us outdoors, it's time to mark your calendar for Fall Festival season in the lowcountry! Here's our lineup. Get #social with us to stay up to date on the outings of the season!

Photographed by Betsy Mullinax Styled by Margie Sutton of FLY Modern Apparel

Southern Songwriter Festival

Sep 21-23

Summerville, SC

Sweet Tea Festival

Sep 23

Summerville, SC

Goose Creek Fall Festival

Oct 7

Goose Creek, SC

Riverfront Revival

Oct 7-8

N. Charleston, SC

Oktoberfest

Oct 14

Charleston, SC

Oktoberfest

Archaeology Walking Tour

Oct 21

Drayton Hall

Charleston Literary Festival

Nov 3-12

Charleston, SC

Harvest Festival

Nov 4

Moss Grove Fall Festival Market

Sep 23

Moncks Corner, SC

Biergarten

Oktoberfest

Sep 30

Charleston, SC

Blufftember Fest

Sep 30

Bluffton, SC

Moss Grove Fall Festival Market

Sep 23

Moncks Corner, SC

Italian Feast & Meatball Run

Oct 7-8

Summerville, SC

Oct 14

Hilton Head, SC

Johns Island, SC

Archaeology Walking Tour

Oct 21

Drayton Hall (see pg. 40 for more

Drayton Hall Events)

Art in the Barn

Oct 27

Middleton Place

Edisto Blackwater

Boogie

Oct 27-29

Ridgeville, SC

Holy Smokes BBQ Festival

Nov 11

N. Charleston, SC

Shop Small Festival

Nov 25

Summerville, SC

Holiday Wreath, Garland Workshops

Nov 26

Drayton Hall

Oyster Roast

Dec 2

Drayton Hall

by Eliza Chapman Bailey

Photos by Jenna Lachenman

Berry Fresh Gruber's Farm

For those who grew up in an agrarian community, shucking corn, snapping string beans, hulling peas and storingproduce for leaner times were rites of passage. Once the freezer and cupboards were full, the remaining vegetables and fruits were delivered to neighbors, family, and friends. This small gesture of giving created a space to “catch up, to acknowledge one another as equal participants in a shared community.

The essence of this tradition can be felt in local farmers markets. Here small farmers can sell seasonal produce while co- mingling with neighbors and friends. It is this spirit of camaraderie that drives lifelong South Carolina produce farmer Stanley Gruber, owner of Gruber Farms (located in St. George, South Carolina) to continue cultivating the fields purchased by his father, Wilson Birnell Gruber in 1948.

With a keen aptitude, Gruber gauges what each plant needs to survive. His knowledge on propagation, cultivation and harvesting is immense, he acknowledges,

“My family has been selling produce for over 60 years... I enjoy selling at farmer’s markets as opposed to grocery stores because I can see the end result of my hard work and labor - knowing that my customers will be eating recently picked produce, when the crops are at their peak, full of flavor and nutritious, keeps me going”.

With the help of his sister, Susan Kirlin, and a handful of employees, Gruber can operate simultaneously at the Port Royal, Summerville (Summer’s Corner and Downtown), West Ashley, Columbia (Soda City) and once a month at the Edisto Beach farmers markets.

A member of SC Department of Agricultures Certified SC program, they also offer a community supported agriculture (CSA) subscription service which allows customers to buy locally grown seasonal food directly from Gruber Farmers.

The fundamentals of the CSA are simple: for a nominal cost, subscribers receive a box of vegetables and fruit at various drop off locations in their community. Each subscription period runs for 10 weeks throughout the planting and harvesting season. The mindset behind the program is multifaceted: it allows Gruber Farms to pre-sell produce, provides freshly harvested food rich with flavorful nutrients and gives the consumers a vested interest in the farm’s success.

Aside from the nutritional and taste value of buying local, the USDA’s National Agricultural Library gives points to ponder regarding direct to consumer (D2C) products, “edible products for human consumption”. They state,

“The benefits to the community include support for local farmers, job creation, economic diversification, attracting reinvestment and growth, keeping food dollars within the local economy, and reducing food insecurity.”

To Market

This page: Stanley Gruber Opposite page: Baskets of Watermellon, Fresh from the vine, Heirloom Tomatoes, Eggplant

Opposite Page: Local Color Market Produce Peppers, Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Tractor

As Fall ushers in, bidding adieu to farmer's markets, Gruber Farms CSA boxes ensure that all the benefits of quality produce is still available to the community in three portion sizes: small—one to two people; medium—three or four people and large—five to six people. AM

Retirement That Stands the Test of Time

For almost 65 years, The Village at Summerville has been enriching the lives of seniors of all faiths. As a Life Plan Community we provide a variety of lifestyle options – plus all levels of care, if needed – on one campus.

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Montessori Memory Support

Medicare Certified Short-term Rehab | Skilled Care | Respite Care

Benefits of Local Produce

Taste

Produce ripens in the field not on the shelf.

Nutrition

Less time between farm and table.

Community

Supports local families, builds communities, provides jobs and bolsters local economy.

Preservation Maintains open spaces and the scenic qualities of a rural road.

Protects the Environment

Sustainable, traditional farming has less impact on the earth and aids in water control and water filtration.

For more information on pricing, or order online at gruber-csa-farm.com or call Stanley Gruber, 843-563-1159 or Susan G. Kirlin, 843-693-7069. Gruber Farms is located at 265 Old Bell Road, St. George, South Carolina.

The Beginnings of Freedom

by Eliza Chapman Bailey

Settlement Community cemetery pays homage to the Town of Lincolnville’s early settlers.

Spearheaded by Lincolnville Preservation and Historical Society founder Dr. Pernessa Seele, Mayor Enoch Dickerson and dedicated community leaders, the Town of Lincolnville is telling its history, and people are listening. On the western edge of Charleston County, Lincolnville is less than two miles from Summerville’s Historic District. One of South Carolina’s oldest settlement communities, Lincolnville is part of the Gullah Geechee Corridor and is a United States National Parks Service Reconstruction Era Historical Network site.

Founded in 1867, on 620 acres north of Charleston, by the pastor of Emmanuel AME Church, Reverend Richard Harvey

Cain and seven other men: Daniel Adger, Marc Buffett, Hector Grant, Rev. Lewis Ruffin Nichols, Rev. M. B. Salters and Walter Steele. The tract purchased by the eight founders contained three swamps and bordered the South Carolina Canal and Railroad’s Charleston-Hamburg line. The early settlers were predominantly freedmen or formerly enslaved people of Gullah Geechee heritage from the Sea Islands. Exactly who the early settlers were and how they migrated inland is an unfolding story. Lincolnville’s Bible Sojourn cemetery is a starting place to learn more about their families, decedents, and legacy.

Located at the end of a dirt road Greenwood Street, the land for the cemetery was donated

in 1887 by Maria S. Eden. One of the early settlers, Eden gave over 2 acres of farmland to serve as a communal burying ground for the town. Many of the founding families, local leaders, WWI, WWII, and Korean veterans from Lincolnville are buried here. Originally maintained by Ebenezer AME Church, the cemetery is now owned by the Town of Lincolnville.

The Lincolnville Historic and Preservation Society is collaborating with Clemson University/College of Charleston’s Director of Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, Dr. Jon Marcoux, to reidentify the Bible Sojourn’s boundaries, uncover, plot and document both marked and unmarked graves using

Sacred Ground Bible Sojourn Cemetery

ground penetrating radar. Dr. Marcoux emphasizes the importance of settlement community cemeteries because “they are an often-overlooked part of our cultural fabric. A place where people can physically connect with history. In settlement communities that did not have many historically significant structures built or remaining, these cemeteries are a testimony to the community’s character, culture, commitment and perseverance for freedom, equality, and self-governance.”

In a cultural landscape where the population was segregated, cemeteries were not different. According to the SC Department of Archives, South Carolina’s Historic Cemetery Preservation Handbook, “In Charleston, an 1859 report noted that in the Upper Wards there were fourteen graveyards for whites and twelve for ‘the colored, not including the Potters Field’. In the antebellum period, slaves were often buried outside the walls of family burial grounds or church graveyards or in a separate slave graveyard. The small number of carved stones on slave graves today suggests they were rarely erected. After the Civil War, African Americans, excluded from white burial grounds, began to establish their own cemeteries.”

Members of Donnel Jacobs’s family are buried at Bible Sojourn. She is thankful to

have a community resting place close to her house so she can easily visit her loved ones. She remembers when her mother passed away in the 1970’s. At that time, she knew nothing about the cemetery. It was wooded with a lot of underbrush. She was “amazed at its existence. With a rake I would walk

to my mother’s grave and explore the area. I could not believe the age of the headstones. It’s a connection to our history.” For her, drawing attention to the cemetery presence and preservation is a cause worth championing.

Sacred stewards of history, cemeteries are places of remembrance, ritual, and emotional experience that house information and connect descendants with their forebearers.

The preservation of Bible Sojourn honors the voices of those that came before. It is a verifiable landmark providing a tangible identity to the early settlers of Lincolnville who forged a viable, sustainable community during the South Carolina’s Reconstruction Era that can be seen today. AM

Left to Right Donnel Jacobs, Grave Site Bible Sojourn Cemetery

Open House

The Soundtrack of Sumter

Listening from their Sumter Avenue porch, Rob and Katie Arrington celebrate the sounds of Summerville.

by Susan Frampton

From where a handful of tiny acorns landed on the forest floor some 400-odd years ago, six Live Oaks stand regally over the grounds of the home on Summerville's Sumter Avenue. Withstanding the whims of Mother Nature, the seedlings slowly put down roots to support the ever-growing spread of their leaves and limbs. The centuries passed, and they watched the land change around them. By 1890, they were strong and proud when the home that would come to be known as Fair Oaks began to take shape.

Today, a pair of acorns adorn the brick pillars marking the entrance to Rob and Katie Arrington's historic home – an homage to the oaks that are the property's namesakes. Sumter Avenue was not the Arrington's first stop when they moved to the Lowcountry. Something about the white house behind the acorn-topped columns drew them from the start. "It was Rob's favorite house in Summerville," says the former SC House Representative.

The couple learned that Fair Oaks had been purchased by an outof-town buyer in the last decade and then sold as an investment property. It had been virtually empty for several years. Though they had lived in several different homes since they came to the area, this house was always in their thoughts. Katie remembers the two of them driving by again and again. She recalls the day they got out and looked in the windows. She declared to Robert, "I have to have this house!" The pair decided on the spot that this was a leap of faith worth taking. "Let's go for it."

This Page Bird House in the front courtyard, The American flag flying high at Fair Oaks Opposite Page Left to Right Come and sit a while, Morning Devotions, This grand house is now a home, Children's Bedroom

and they had barely moved in when Katie entered the race for the US Congressional seat. When she learned that the Dorchester Children's Center was to begin lining up Sumter Avenue homes for their 15th annual Scrumptious Kitchen Tour, they signed up. "We truly felt that, in a way, the house belonged to Summerville. One of the local churches had used it as a retreat space, and we heard from so many people that they had been to the house or been swimming in the pool at some time or another. This was the perfect opportunity to share it with everyone."

Defeating former Gov. Mark Sanford in the Republican Primary, Arrington was mid-campaign against Joe Cunningham in the General Election when she and a friend were victims in a near-fatal auto accident. Bent, but not broken by the tragic accident, following multiple surgeries and a two-week stay in the hospital. Arrington resumed her campaign. She lost to Cunningham by a very narrow margin. Not one to sit idle for long, Arrington accepted the Department of Defense's position as Chief Information Officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition at the Pentagon. Still, public service beckoned Arrington, and though her bid was not successful, she ran in 2022 against Nancy Mace for the Congressional Seat.

" What they have created reflects their respect for the history and heritage Fair Oaks represents in Summerville while giving a nod to the reality of the changes that inevitably come with time. "

the Department of Defense's position as Chief Information Officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition at the Pentagon. Still, public service beckoned Arrington, and though her bid was not successful, she ran in 2022 against Nancy Mace for the Congressional Seat.

Returning to Summerville after the hectic years in Washington, the Arringtons finally began making the renovations that would make Fair Oaks their own. "The last two years have been a flurry of renovations. She's a beautiful house," Katie says of the home where she sits comfortably curled on the sofa, "but she needed a lot of work. We need to make sure we meld the old and the new. It never ends when you take on a centuryold home. One thing always seems to lead to another." Her favorite project so far has been converting the large former living room into a dining room. "I had a table made to seat 24 people because we have 28 people in our immediate family. That's a lot! We host all holidays, so I wanted a table big enough for everybody to have a seat at the table." The massive table sits beautifully set with a blend of her mother's and Rob's mother's china at each place. It doesn't seem coincident that the two go together so beautifully.

Despite the fire that once tried to destroy it, hurricane winds that have battered its walls, and the ravages of time, the house

remains as proud and strong as the heart pine timbers that support it. Though the historic home needed custom touches to fit their lifestyle and make it their own, it was even more important to the Arringtons to incorporate pieces to honor its character. "The china cabinet actually came from Charleston Place. It's so mammoth that it will have to be here forever – it's too hard to move." Two dozen dining room chairs were salvaged from East Bay Street's Cypress Restaurant, and a centuries-old door with a Prohibition-era peephole serves as a headboard in one of the bedrooms.

What they have created reflects their respect for the history and heritage Fair Oaks represents in Summerville while giving a nod to the reality of the changes that inevitably come with time.

"This house has so much life to it and so much to give the community. We've already had seven weddings here and countless bridal and baby showers. I get calls all the time asking if the neighborhood kids can come to swim in the pool, and we have a ringside seat in the backyard to Laurel Street Park's Miracle League events and Pickle Ball

"We've just re-poured the pool deck, and the next thing we're planning is a pool house over here," she says, pointing to the area this side of the yard's vegetable garden and chicken coop. The new pool

Opposite Page. Left to Right Family China, Dining Room, Kitchen, Tasteful modern touches

Above Everyone has a seat at Katie's table

"

When my grandchildren play in the park, or we sit back and listen to the church bells, the Friday night football games, and the greetings from neighbors as they pass by, I feel how much a part of Summerville this house is and always has been."

Field of Dreams Pool area surrounded by "Lazy K" Farm and Rob's "Field of Dreams"

house will mirror the house's architecture and no doubt echo its warm and welcoming elegance. "We hope to be able to host lots of Summerville's special events," she confides, sharing ideas she has in mind for a unique community fundraiser.

"I came in here just as Yankee as I could be," says Katie, referring to her childhood upbringing in New York. "Summerville never hesitated for a second to embrace us as one of its own.” From their porch on Sumter Avenue, the Arringtons hear a soundtrack that is uniquely Summerville. “When my grandchildren play in the park, or we sit back and listen to the church bells, the Friday night football games, and the greetings from neighbors as they pass by, I feel how much a part of Summerville this house is and always has been."

Katie Arrington knows what it's like to be bent and broken, but like Fair Oaks, she has emerged stronger. The gift that Robert and Katie have given to all who enter its gates is a salute to all the town has been and a celebration of all it will be. Her energy and enthusiasm shine in her dancing brown eyes. "I want Fair Oaks to be as welcoming to all of Summerville as Summerville has been to us. The door is always open, and sweet tea is always in the refrigerator. Come by anytime." And there is no doubt that she means it. AM

IT'S FALL, Y'ALL!

Photographed by Betsy Mullinax

Styled by Margie Sutton of FLY Modern Apparel

NATURAL WOMAN

The Age of Innocence

Few days hold the promise of your first day of school when you're on your own for the very first time, and the world is filled with endless opportunities.

by Susan Frampton

The shelves are packed with No. 2 pencils. No longer simply yellow, there are rainbows of colors and patterns available. Although the bottles of Elmer's Glue are sealed shut, the white glue's distinctive scent seems to hang in the air. Black and white composition books promise lessons to be learned, and color-coded dividers await separation by looseleaf paper. It's Back to School time, a season that has earned capitalization status along with Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Thanksgiving. Few days hold the promise of your first day of school when you're on your own for the very first time, and the world is filled with endless opportunities. Many decades have passed since I first caught the fever brought about by the anticipation of new school supplies, but standing in Walmart, I feel my temperature rising.

I was five years old, anxiously anticipating turning six the night before I was to start First Grade. My mother laid out my clothes and checked that I had washed behind my ears. I was to be resplendent in a brand new red and navy plaid dress with a white Peter Pan collar for

my elementary debut, and pristine white socks trimmed with lace were ready to slip into new black and white saddle oxfords. School supplies were lined up on the dining room table, ready to be packed into my bookbag. I saw the look of panic on my mother's face as it dawned on her. Bookbag! She had meticulously checked off every item on the list except the bag to put them in. It was 8 P.M. on Sunday night, and no stores were open.

Dad had an idea. Dad always had an idea. I boarded the school bus the following day and burst into First Grade with my supplies secured inside in a small black briefcase, looking much like a prim, underaged trial lawyer. If I was at all sad, it was because I didn't want to leave my mother behind. She would be home alone for the first time without my brother or me to keep her company. I felt terrible for her. Knowing what I know now, I imagine her running in the house, whooping for joy, running a bubble bath, painting her toenails, and indulging in the "good candy" she kept in the cabinet over the refrigerator.

First Grade was the beginning of an adventure indelibly etched in my

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND WITH A BULLFROG SPA

mind. Oddly, I can't remember the names of many of my high school and college classmates, but I can recall the names and exact seating order of my First Grade class. I vividly remember swallowing my lunch money one morning between reciting The Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer. I don't know what possessed me to put the two dimes and nickel in my mouth, but I can still feel them rolling around on my tongue. We were well into singing My Country Tis of Thee before I stopped gagging.

Unsurprisingly, I spent a fair amount of time in the cloakroom, the equivalent of today's "time out" chair. At one end was a small restroom with a window. Again, I don't know what possessed me to climb out of the window, but I know I circled the block several times before returning through the school's front door. I'd have gotten away with it if the window hadn't been too high to climb back in.

Unbeknownst to us, the world was complicated in 1963, and we had no inkling of the significance of our climbing aboard that yellow school bus. It was simply exciting to ride the bus to the big brick school across town instead of the school closer to home. I had no clue that my friends and I were among the first generation to be bussed out of

It may be the innocence of that first year of school that keeps its memories so vivid.

our neighborhood district as a part of the school system's desegregation. We had no way of knowing how the world would change in a matter of months. I was playing jacks and waiting on the bus on a November afternoon when a classmate with a transistor radio announced that President Kennedy had been assassinated. I still remember that girl's name and the look on her face. Most of us had no idea what the word meant, but we knew something terrible had happened.

It may be the innocence of that first year of school that keeps its memories so vivid. I found that small black briefcase when we cleared out my childhood home a few years ago. My name was printed inside in bold block letters – as if some other five-year-old might confuse their bookbag with mine. Interestingly, my parents chose to save it all those years. Perhaps for them, it was also the talisman of a simpler time.

I am aware that I look back on those halcyon days through the rosecolored glasses of time, but as the world around us becomes crazier and crazier, the memories become more precious. A well-sharpened No. 2 pencil remains my writing instrument of choice. Though I am among those prone to scribbling in cursive, my important lists are still made in careful block letters on lined paper. I've just restocked my supplies, so I'm good for another year. Loose leaf paper? Check. Pink pearl erasers? Check, check. Small black briefcase? Always. AM

KIDS THESE DAYS

Empty Nest

by Tara Bailey

Right now two of my makeup brushes are missing, along with the powders that go with them. So are a variety of socks, one of my favorite earrings, and the Diet Coke I was saving for later. The dryer is full of laundry that isn’t mine - laundry that’s been there for a couple of days - and the shoe garden that was planted in the den a week ago is ready for harvesting. In fact, at this point the fruit is rotting on the vine, or at least that’s what it smells like in here, thanks to all the shoes. Our streaming services have been commandeered and now play series after series featuring British teens who wear plaid ties to school and have a lot of relationship problems. These days my life, and house, are not my own.

The culprits of these many dastardly acts of theft, sloth, and

hoarding are reclining all over the furniture like the subjects of Renaissance art. It seems they are exhausted from changing positions on the couch. Thus, they request that I bring them fluids from the kitchen because they are depleted and dehydrated from so much sighing.

They are not usually like this, these kids of mine. They have spent the summer working, taking classes, volunteering, and visiting family. But now they are in the doldrums of late summer, the season in which time is suspended between plans made in the spring and the completion of said plans. The time when anticipation for the fall is a hybrid of eagerness and anxiety. They have entered the dread of waiting, the void of mid-August.

By the time you read this, that moment will blessedly have passed, and the girls will have moved on. The British teens on our tele-

KIDS THESE DAYS

vision will have been replaced by roaring crowds and referee whistles, the laundry room will be taking a much-deserved breather, and I anticipate that I will know where my personal items are, mostly. Kids all over will have been back in school for a few weeks now, including those in college, which this year will include my youngest.

That’s right - we’re empty nesters.

I don’t know what that means for us yet, but within a week I will. What I am imagining is having a gallon of milk that lasts over a week, a clean kitchen, a fresh coat of paint on the bedroom walls, and a little more free time. What my husband is imagining is silence, darkness, loneliness, a hole created where his biggest fans once laughed at his jokes and applauded his guitar on a regular basis. No more Fun Fridays, family movie nights, prom pictures, and Fall trips. No more waiting up for the kids on weekends. No more Dadding on the daily.

I remind him that I am still here, that I am his number one fan and can’t wait to start this phase with him. I want to travel, walk the dog, plant gardens, and ready the home for noisy school breaks and holidays. Until the kids return, I will be his comedic audience and hold a lighter when he plays his music. But he is sentimental. He has been crying about this moment long before our youngest got her first college acceptance letter. This is the man who cried each time one of our babies outgrew a size of diapers. He weeps at school performances and downright sobs any time one of our girls boards a plane. It’s not that he’s emotionally unbalanced; it’s that he really, really loves being a dad; it is all he has ever wanted to be. And though he will still be their dad, will always be their dad, doing it from afar is going to be a tough adjustment for the man

who lives for our family’s version of the group hug. He calls it The Bailey Sandwich, and he’s afraid of starving. Our baby daughter currently has her things organized into ungraceful piles about the house, all waiting to go into suitcases and bins and baskets, eventually up the interstate and into a 12x19 room. She has all the typical feelings of a soon-to-be college freshman: excitement, nervousness, curiosity, eagerness. She wonders how she will fit in, and if the school will be a good fit for her. She hopes her roommate will like her, or at least tolerate her, and that she will be able to manage the balance of challenging course work with making a new, more adult life for herself. While I share some of my husband’s feelings of mourning the end of our youngest daughter’s childhood, I am impatient to see what this cool person we raised will do with her talents and interests. I’m a veteran of parenting young adults and know the road is more bumpy than smooth. But I’m ready. More importantly, she’s ready. Is my husband ready? As much as he’ll ever be. Ready or not, here it comes.

I keep thinking of a line from the Greta Gerwig film, Little Women. Jo looks to her sisters just before Meg’s wedding and says, “I can’t believe childhood is over.” It is a bit gobsmacking to consider how fast it all goes. But young adults still need their parents, just in a different way. They need support on setting goals and comfort when they don’t work out. They must learn the importance of saving for retirement before they are old enough to rent a car. They need help navigating personal and professional relationships when the stakes are higher than when they were in high school. And sometimes they just need a Bailey Sandwich. Fortunately, I know just where they can get one. hug her. AM

LIFE & FAITH

Living Loved

by Diana Thompson

You are loved. You are worthy of love. I know that’s not the slow warm up I normally start with, but if you read nothing else I have to say, I want you to have read that. Because that is the foundation of everything.

I have three kids – one in elementary school, one in middle school, and one in high school. There is no shortage of “Mom, so-and-so said suchand-such and it really hurt my feelings.” Even I, as an adult experience this feeling on a regular basis. Every time this situation pops up, we have a saying in our house – hurting people hurt people. I say this often to my kids, so they remember the person doing the hurting and the one feeling hurt are acting and feeling that way because they have lost their

identity as children of God. They have forgotten that they are loved by the creator of the universe Himself; remembering (and forgetting!) this fact changes everything. They are looking to the world for love and that is not a dependable place to find it.

First John 3:1 says, “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it – we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.”

He calls us His children. The love God has for us isn’t conditional. He doesn’t love us because of something we do or someone we are. He doesn’t love us if we do or say certain things or act certain ways. He loves us despite our shortcomings and flaws. He loves us so much that He sent his Son to die for us when we did nothing to earn that – which takes us completely out of the equation. God’s love for us is part of the fabric of who we are - loved is part of our identity. We cannot change

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it any more than we can change the date of our birth.

When we live out of this knowledge that we are loved unconditionally, we won’t find ourselves begging others for scraps of love. We can live and love freely, knowing that we are loved freely. We can’t earn more, but we can’t lose it either. And when we live out of this knowledge it also becomes a lot easier to love others. No one is greater than God, so if He loves his children, we are called to love them too. Lashing out, name calling, cutting down, getting defensive, gossiping, arguing all come from a place of hurt within ourselves – we are feeling unloved and insignificant.

No matter what another person (including that voice in your head) may say about you or try to make you believe about yourself, you are loved. But that person is worthy of being loved as well.

Even if your family disagrees with your political views, you are loved. But your family is also worthy of being loved. Even if you feel unappreciated by all your coworkers, you are loved. But your coworkers are also worthy of being loved. Even if your kids “do their own thing” and defy all you’ve tried to teach them, you are loved. But your kids are also worthy of being loved.

Even if you have made a mistake that carries with it a lasting consequence, you are loved. But the people effected by those consequences are also worthy of being loved.

Even if you must suffer the consequences of someone else’s poor judgement, you

When we live out of this knowledge that we are loved unconditionally, we won’t find ourselves begging others for scraps of love. We can live and love freely, knowing that we are loved freely.

are loved. But the person with the poor judgement is also worthy of being loved.

Even if someone leads others to believe something untrue about you, you are loved. But the person tearing people down is also worthy of being loved.

I have no doubt that there are many people in your life that feel impossible to love. And even once you start treating them with love like you never have before, they may never act in kind. But if you look to Jesus to remind you that you are loved, you can tap into His love to share with others.

Side note: Being loved and loving others is NOT a call for inaction; boundaries, expectations, and discipline are all part of our relationships with God and others. But even those should be motivated by love and flow out of relationship. There is a big difference between me disciplining my own child and a stranger in line at the grocery store trying to do it! When in doubt, err on the side of love. Trust God to take care of the rest.

The more we look to Jesus and remember that we are loved unconditionally, the easier it is to remember to love His people. AM

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Meet pie's carefree French cousin in our sweet and savory take on the apple galette.

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APPLE GALETTES FOUR WAYS THE GRAND

Nestled atop the river in downtown Greenville, SC sits your perfect upstate escape.

FALL FLAVOR Apple & Chicken Galette

Caramel Apple Galette Apple galette with cardamom, drizzled caramel and chopped pistachios

Fall Fare:

APPLE GALETTES four ways

Meet pie’s carefree, cousin, the Galette. A term used in French cuisine, galette refers to a flat, round or free-form “crusty cake.” With a single crust casually folded over sweet or savory fillings, it delivers all the bold flavors of fall and the buttery, flakey goodness of pie - minus the fuss. Here imperfection is not just okay, it is key to a perfectly imperfect, rustic galette.

APPLE & FIG

Spiced apple and fig galette

' APPLE & CHICKEN GALETTE

Savory apple galette with chicken and cheddar cheese

APPLE & CHEESE Savory apple galette with carmelized onions, gouda and thyme

Savory Apple Galette with Chicken

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust

1 prepared and chilled Savory Pie Dough (let sit out for 15 min to soften) or 1 sheet (half of a 13.7 oz box) of frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

For the Filling

1 tablespoon extra virigin olive oil

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced baking apple

1 cup diced cooked chicken

1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese cut into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 small baking apple cored and thinly sliced

Garnish

sprinkle of cinnamon

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Flour your working surface and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a round disk (about 12") In a pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion, diced apple, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken, stir and turn off heat.Transfer your dough to you baking sheet. Pour the apple/chicken filling in the center of the dough leaving a 2-3 inch border all around. Top with cheddar cheese chunks and apple slices. Fold the galette edges over the filling, leaving the center open and filling exposed, overlapping as necessary. Press gently to seal the edges. Brush the galette crust with the beaten egg. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top of the galette.Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Before serving, sprinkle with cinnamon.

Savory Apple Galette with Onions, Gouda & Thyme

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust

1 prepared and chilled Savory Pie Dough (let sit out for 15 min to soften) or

1 sheet (half of a 13.7oz box) of frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

For the Filling

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 yellow onions, sliced into thin rings

1/4 cup crème fraîche

1 teaspon Dijon mustard

1 1/2 cups shredded Gouda cheese

1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped, plus more for garnish (optional)

3 or 4 baking apples, cored and thinly sliced salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Garnish fresh thyme leaves

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Flour your working surface and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a round disk (about 12"). In a large fry pan over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the onions and cook until lightly browned and starting to caramelize, about 8 minutes per side. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, stir together the crème fraîche and mustard. Transfer your dough to your baking sheet. Spread the crème fraîche and mustard mixture in the center of the dough leaving a 2-3 in border all around. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese and the thyme on top. Then arrange the apple slices and onions on top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Fold the galette edges over the filling, leaving the center open and filling exposed, overlapping as necessary. Press gently to seal the edges. Brush the galette crust with the beaten egg. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top of the galette. Bake on the top oven rack until the pastry is golden and the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme.

Caramel Apple Galette

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust

1 prepared and chilled Sweet Pie Dough (let sit out for 15 min to soften)

For the Filling

2-3 large baking apples, cored and sliced thin

1/4 cup coconut sugar (or dark brown sugar)

1 and 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

For Caramel Sauce

*Or use a ready-made caramel sauce of your choice

1 cup granulated sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature cut up into 6 pieces

1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

1 teaspoon salt

Garnish chopped pistachios

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare the caramel sauce. Heat granulated sugar in a medium heavy-duty saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick brown, amber-colored liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn it. Once sugar is completely melted, immediately stir in the butter until melted and combined. After the butter has melted and combined with the caramelized sugar, stir constantly as you very slowly pour in the heavy cream. After all the heavy cream has been added, stop stirring and allow to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool down before using. Flour your working surface and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a round disk (about 12"). Mix the apples, brown sugar, flour lemon juice, cinnamon and cardamom together in a large bowl. Transfer your dough to your baking sheet. Arrange the apples (not the juices) into the center of the dough, leaving a 2-3 inch border all around. Gently fold the edges of the dough over the apples, overlapping as necessary (remember - it's not perfect!). Press gently to seal the edges. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the caramel sauce over the apple filling (not the crust). Brush the crust with the beaten egg and sprinke the whole galette with sugar and chopped pistachios.

Bake until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 35-38 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 mins before serving. Garnish with more caramel sauce and pistachios as desired.

Apple & Fig Galette

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust

1 prepared and chilled Sweet Pie Dough (let sit out for 15 min to soften)

For the Filling

2-3 large baking apples, cored and sliced thin

1 cup fresh figs, stems removed and halved

3 tablespoons fig jam

1/4 cup coconut sugar (or dark brown sugar)

1 and 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Garnish granulated sugar and cinnamon

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Flour your working surface and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a round disk (about 12"). Transfer your dough to your baking sheet. In the center of the dough spread the fig jam forming a circular think layer, leaving a 2-3 inch border all around. Mix the apples, figs, sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Arrange the apples and figs (not juices) on top of your layer of fig jam. Gently fold the edges of the dough over the apple and fig mixture, overlapping as necessary. Press gently to seal the edges. Sprinkle the entire galette with cinnamon and sugar. Bake until filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 35-38 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh whipped topping or ice cream as desired.

Pie Dough Two Ways

INGREDIENTS

Savory Pie Dough

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

4 tablespoons ice water

1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Sweet Pie Dough

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

4 tablespoons ice water

PREPARATION

Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer. Using a small whisk, mix breifly until the mixture is aerated. Cut the butter into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the butter and flour are thoroughly combined. The resulting mixture should be crumbly, pea-sized pieces. Transfer your bowl to your standing mixer and drizzle in the ice water, mixing until the dough comes just together. Shape the dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before using.

The Library, The Grand Bohemian Lodge The library on the Lobby Level is a beautiful space perfect for taking in one of the hotels over 3,000 vintage books.

The GranD

Perched atop the banks of the Reedy River in Greenville's beautiful Falls Park, The Grand Bohemian Lodge is not just another luxury stay, it is a new natural wonder.

by Eliza Chapman Bailely

s the weather cools, Lowcountry residents seek destinations to enjoy the colors of the changing season. Greenville’s economically and culturally revitalized downtown hosts a plethora of fall arts, music, and food festivals.

The thriving city’s proximity to the Lowcountry and the Appalachian Mountains makes it the perfect location to enjoy the season without investing a substantial amount of time on the road.

Walking distance to the Peace Center (the epicenter of Greenville’s arts and entertainment) and nestled on Falls Park on the Reedy River is Kessler Collection’s Grand Bohemian Lodge. Opened in August 2021, the lodge is a blend of modern urban luxury with a 20th century rustic feel that fits perfectly into its surroundings.

The hotel’s elegantly refined ambiance and attention to detail steals the show. The 187-room lodge incorporates wood, stone, and metal elements that echo mother nature at her finest. Dazzling geodes stand sentry to welcome guests. The lobby captivates with an impressive floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace while the staff resonates Southern hospitality.

This page top to bottom Welcomed and Enchanted Jenna Lachenman

The front desk offers a warm welcome, Native American Art captivates around every corner

Opposite Page Left Top to Bottom Textures of the Lodge The Grand Bohemian Lodge, Jenna Lachenman Rich textures and detail bring the outdoors in

Opposite Page Right Stone Fireplace The Grand Bohemian Lodge

Nightwatch

The Grand Bohemian Lodge Guests can easily cross the bridge to access the beautiful trails around the water or take in downtown Greenville

Natural light filters through the windows to showcase a wide verandah overlooking Falls Park on the Reedy River. Falls Park boasts a network of pedestrian paths, outdoor amphitheaters, and connects to the 23-mile multi-use Swamp Rabbit Trail. Perfect for a leisurely stroll or intensive workout, the tree-lined path borders green spaces along the river. The Liberty Bridge offers scenic views of the waterfall, sculpture and access to nearby restaurants, shopping, and events. A 24hour indoor fitness center affords a view of the park and an enlivened exercise session.

Giving pause to the ordinary, an all-encompassing tile mosaic archways leads to the Poseidon Spa’s serenely fresh treatment rooms. Spa services include water-inspired massages, rejuvenating facials or body wraps that indulge the soul and relax the spirit.

In the restaurant, Between the Trees, recessed lighting, exposed trusses, cedar slab art and bold marble accents emphasize the lodge’s organic appeal. This full-service restaurant serves seasonally influenced modern lodge cuisine featuring local ingredients and desserts.

The Spirit & Bower offers a selection of 130  bourbons and whiskeys, which can be paired with shareable plates served either by the outdoor fire pit with Adirondack chairs overlooking the Liberty Bridge/Falls Park, or in an intimate and cozy setting next to the fireplace.

For lighter fare, The Lobby Bar offers curated champagne, sparkling and effervescent cocktails. Here, regionally sourced cheese and charcuterie can be sampled on wood tables; the minimalist floral arrangements appeal to the provincial setting without compromising style.

The ballroom, private dining room, meeting galleries and picture-perfect outdoor lawn offer ample accommodation for large gatherings, corporate meetings, weddings, and events. Each venue houses sophisticated technology that invites community and inspires originality.

Visitors can meander through the Lobby Bar, anchored by a Bosendorfer Grand Piano, to the Art Gallery which exhibits and sells carefully selected art and jewelry by local and emerging artisans. The adjacent library houses an extensive vintage book collection and makes for peaceful repose.

Before or after taking in the sights of Greenville, hours will drift while unearthing the myriad of treasures found on site; At the Grand Bohemian an enchanting narrative will be written and cherished for a lifetime. AM

This Page Top to Bottom Lookout

Jenna Lachenman

The Falls

The Grand Bohemian Lodge

Opposite page left to right: Lobby Table Jenna Lachenman Between the Trees, The Spa, Bourbon Cage The Grand Bohemian Lodge

Checking Out?

by Ellen E. Hyatt

Well, good riddance to you, Summer Days. Go! You’ve been too hot to handle. Such a dickens!

You needed to be in summer clearance, aisle six, or on sale on overstuffed rounders in sister shops— 25, 50, 75% off; buy 2 get 3rd one free.

Even when we tried to escape, you chased us through small Southern towns. Wild with rage, you bubbled up, boiled all over farmers’ roadside watermelon stands.

Returning home, we heard eerie silences: Songbirds made little effort to alight and lilt both day and night. Bees, heat-struck, ceased buzzing. No leisured to and fro of a porch swing or a cat’s purring nearby during its afternoon nap.

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly,” a prof, disappointed in our writing, would say. He meant “okay” work is sometimes good enough. But, Summer, this year your “badly” had no worth. Don’t expect to hear that “charming word,” the one by Louisa May and from hosts to their endeared guests.

Now to Autumn who arrives as a Southern Gentleman— never late nor rudely early—we say, “Stay . . . please stay.”