AZALEA Magazine Winter 2023-4 by AZALEA Magazine

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

COME and EXPLORE THE BIRTHPLACE of SWEET TEA.

Explore the shops, sites, sips and tastes that make Summerville so sweet with a free Sweet Tea Trail Guide. visitsummerville.com

Congratulations, Elizabeth Cureton at The Azalea Bar & Garden! 2023 SUMMERVILLE SWEET TEA COCKTAIL CONTEST WINNER OF THE CRITIC’S CHOICE AWARD

Porch Rocker

The 2024 Official Summerville Sweet Tea Cocktail Add mint and lemon juice to mixing tin and 4-5 Muddled Mint Leaves 1.5 oz Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka muddle. Add ice, vodka and grapefruit liqueur. Shake and strain into prepared collins glass. Top .75 oz Grapefruit Liqueur with hibiscus tea. Garnish with grapefruit peel and 1 oz Lemon Juice mint bouquet. Topped with Hibiscus Tea • Bartender, Elizabeth Cureton at The Azalea Bar & Garden

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Congratulations, Laura Walling at Sweetwater One Twenty Three! 2023 SUMMERVILLE SWEET TEA COCKTAIL CONTEST WINNER OF THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR: The Lavender TEAse

WINTER 2023

AZALEA MAGAZINE

54 CI RCLE OF DR E AMS Beaufort SC Native Bill Oyster of Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods Casts into the Future

62 ABOVE BOARD Elevating the Art of Snacking

Bill Oyster Casts Out

Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

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/ WINTER 2023

COLUMNS 41 Natural Woman by Susan Frampton

06 Editor’s Letter 09 Contributors FIELD GUIDE 11 Winterberry 12 Landscape 14 Q&A 16 Community 18 Azalea Tails

SOUTHERN LIFE 21 Southern Spotlight - History 29 Southern Spotlight - Food & Drink 33 Southern Spotlight - Travel

On the Cover: Lowcountry Charcuterie Board, AZALEA Test Kitchen 6

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45 Kids These Days by Tara Bailey 49 Life & Faith by Will Thompson

THE VILLAGE POET 64 Checking Out?

Julia Miller, RN Kayla Bouye Estelle Lowery, LE

CHARLESTON AESTHETICS MEDICAL SPA & FACIAL COSMETIC SURGERY

Ladson, SC 843.762.9014 @charleston_aesthetics 7

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Life Abundant I'll be honest, the last few months have been a mix of difficulties and blessings. Over the fall season I said goodbye to my best friend of 15 years, my dog, Suki (pictured above on the left). As Susan Frampton captures beautifully in this issue's column (pg. 41), there really is nothing else quite like the unconditional love of our "furbabies." Even though I knew it was time to say goodbye, that knowledge was cold comfort against my sense of loss. While I made it clear to my husband that it would take me a while before I was ready to adopt another dog, life and a little yorkie named Cash Jackson (pictured above right) had other plans. I'm happy to admit to being wrong (at least once). Cash came whirling into my life at just the right time and has been rolling through our house like a furry little tumbleweed ever since. No doubt, saying goodbye to Suki and welcoming Cash is what inspired the latest addition to our Field Guide, "Azalea Tails" (pg. 18) where we plan to feature a lovable furbaby from the Lowcountry each season. This issue's feature includes two (we really couldn't leave one out) that I met during a hunt at Gruber Farms. If you sound surprised to learn that I went bird hunting this season, please know that you could not possibly be more surprised than I was. The word "newbie" doesn't begin to describe how unmoored I was in the ways of the bird hunt. When Mr. Gruber invited me to my first duck hunt he let me know it would be very early in the morning. No problem, I'm an early riser - "what time?" "We'll have the brids in the water around 6am," he let me know and something was bothering me... "Are we going to shoot the birds while they are in the water?" I asked (picturing literal sitting ducks, I guess). To which he gently chuckled and replied, "No Sugar, they gonna fly." And fly they did, well enough to miss my aim but as Will Thompson talks about in his column (pg. 45) that's really not the point. Living in the Lowcountry, we live in an abundance of riches when it comes to many aspects of life but the outdoors might be at the top of that list. Simply enjoying them and taking aim at the peaceful beauty of nature might make me a bird hunter after all. There is nothing like the great outdoors to make our own troubles seem small. In sitting down with Summerville's mayor-elect, Russ Touchberry and his wife (pg. 14), I learned that one of his favorite things about growing up in the Lowcountry is being near the salt water. I could not agree more and perhaps the need to be near that great expanse in the wake of my grief is what took me to Daufuskie multiple times over the last few months. Daufuskie is one of those places that holds a special kind of magic that is hard to put into words, though Susan does a mighty fine job of that in our travel feature (pg. 33). The Lowcountry truly is the outdoor sportsman's (or woman's) paradise and it's not surprising that Bill Oyster, the zen-like craftsman at the helm of Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods (pg. 54) hails from it. While you would never guess it by his humble and quiet demeanor, Bill's fly rods are among the most coveted in the world and his clients include past U.S. presidents. "Tis the season of abundance and as I write this, reflecting on all my home, the Lowcountry, has to offer, I feel that sense of abundant joy and that is my wish for all of you this season. Jenna Lachenman Publisher /Editor in Chief

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Jenna Lachenman Publisher / Editor in Chief jenna@azaleamag.com D an Lachenman Editor at Large

Contributors Tara Bailey Eliza Chapman Bailey Susan Frampton Ellen Hyatt Diana & Will Thompson

Advertising Inquiries Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com 843.568.7830

Subscribe *Available for $20 a year (4 Issues). Visit theazalea.com

Azalea Magazine

P.O. Box 1811 Summerville, SC 29484 info@azaleamag.com www.theazalea.com

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SUSAN FRAMPTON Writer & Editor

ELLEN HYATT Poet

ELIZA CHAPMAN BAILEY Writer

WILL & DIANA THOMPSON Writers

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.

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.

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Your Local Injury Law Firm GET THE FIRM BEHIND YOU steinberglawfirm.com | (843) 720-2800

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Case results are not guaranteed. Responsible attorney Steven Goldberg located at 103 Grandview Dr. Summerville, SC 29483

A B R I E F L O O K at L O C A L C U L T U R E

The Sacred WiWinterberry Known as winter's prettiest holly

Winterberry ((Ilex verticillata) is a classic winter plant for Southern gardens Great for bird watchers, Winterberry's berries are a favorite of at least 12 bird species, including the American Robin

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

It takes two: Winterberry is dioecious, which means that they have specific genders, either male or female. The right male variety must be located near a female plant to ensure the female plant produces berries.

Winterberry is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly Native to wetlands in most of Eastern U.S.

Legend of the Winterberry is a children's song that tells the story of a bear long ago who found the first winterberry in the forest. Because he shared it with another bear, the berry bush bloomed in the morning

L AN DSCA PE 14

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Early Morning Gruber Farm St. George, SC Photographed by Jenna Lachenman

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What was your favorite thing about growing up in the Lowcountry? The outdoors. Especially being near the salt water evokes some of my fondest memories of shrimping with my Dad. What's your dream job I really feel like I have it. I get to help businesses and leaders solve problems through the work of my firm. The role I play in public service I don't consider a "job." It's my service to the community I love. Is there a motto you live by? Yes - As we live, we grow. I actually discovered that motto years ago on an old feed bag! What are you a fan of ?

My wife. I'm her biggest fan and she's mine. Photographed by Sarah Pascutti

Q& A

Russ Touchberry Mayor-Elect - Summerville, SC

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Coffee or Tea? Both. Coffee in the morning - Coastal Coffee Roaster's Nicaraguan is a favorite - and tea in the afternoon. What is one thing you've bought within the last three years that you couldn't live without? Our golf cart - truly the rolling front porch of the Lowcountry!

What is one thing you've bought within the last three years that you could go the rest of your life without? Our smart TV - we're not big TV people. What is your dream vacation? Probably a trip to the mediterranean. I'm drawn to the ancient culture, history and food. What is your favorite hobby? My family is my hobby. Family is everything. Watching them (my children) grow helps me recoginize how precious time wih your family really is. What is your fondest memory of growing up in the Lowcountry? Visiting my grandparents at Baptist College at Charleston (now Charleston Southern). They were on the founding staff. Grandaddy was a Baptist minister and a profound influence on my life.

Full funeral and cremation services. Serving the Lowcountry since 1963.

What has prepared you for your upcoming service as Mayor? I could talk about the things I've done, but what has really prepared me the most is my upbringing.

Mausoleum • Cremation Gardens • Urn Niches Beautifully landscaped and perpetual care.

I was raised by parents who really care about people; I was raised to be a contributor.

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F U N ERA L H O M E

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

"The Town of Summerville holds such a special place in my heart not only because it is my home but because the community has truly embraced my family and my work with Katie's Krops, as well as helped shape me as a person.

CO M M U N I TY

When I was in the third grade and received my tiny cabbage seedling, I never imagined that tiny seedling would lead me down a path of service and change my life forever. Community members cheered me on, supported me, shared their talents with me, and guided me. Local businesses hosted fundraisers and drop-off points for donations. I believed I could change the world because of their support.

Photography by Katie's Krops

Bountiful

Summerville local and Founder and Chief Executive Gardener of Katie's Krops, Katie Stagliano, has been named 'Southerner of the Year for 2023'. Summerville local and the Founder and Chief Executive Gardener of Katie's Krops, Katie Stagliano, has been named as a 'Southerner of the Year for 2023 by Southern Living Magazine. Stagliano is named one of the "trailblazers supporting and preserving our region's people, places, and traditions. Katie's Krops has been working to fight hunger in the Summerville community and communities across the country for the past 15 years by growing vegetable gardens where the whole harvest is shared. Katie started this effort when she was just nine years old. Her efforts have become a nationwide movement to empower children to grow a better tomorrow in their communities, one edible garden at a time. "It was a wonderful surprise to be named among four amazing individuals as a Southern of the Year!" Says Stagliano, "I'm incredibly honored and grateful for everyone who has supported and empowered our Katie's Krops Growers across the country to grow a healthy end to hunger, our wonderful volunteers and generous supporters! Working together, we can grow a better tomorrow, one vegetable garden at a time!" Love and care for community is the heartbeat of Katie's Krops' mission and it stems from Katie's love for her community.

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

"The people of Summerville have shaped Katie's Krops into the organization it is today and I am forever grateful. Working together in love, we have grown something so magical." From nine years old to twenty-five, the community has stood by me and my work with Katie's Krops, providing love, support, and encouragement. The partnerships and relationships I have created hold such a special place in my heart from our flagship garden and school gardens, our Katie's Krops Dinners, the Outdoor Classroom, and our work with Monarch Meadows. The people of Summerville have shaped Katie's Krops into the organization it is today and I am forever grateful. Working together in love, we have grown something so magical." AM About Katie's Krops: The mission of Katie's Krops is to empower youth to start and maintain vegetable gardens and donate the produce in need, as well as assist and inspire others to do the same. Katie's Krops has 100+ youth-run vegetable gardens growing across the United States. Katie's Krops also hosts free garden-to-table dinners for anyone needing a hot, healthy, and free meal. In addition, in 2021, Katie's Krops opened an outdoor classroom to provide educational opportunities in a beautiful outdoor setting. Since Katie's Krops began, they have grown and donated over 600,000 lbs of produce to those struggling with hunger and food insecurity, served over 100,000 hot, healthy, fresh, and free meals, and engaged over 15,000 volunteers of all ages across the United States. For more information, please visit KatiesKrops.com.

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

A Z A L EA TAI LS

(From Left to Right)

Mr. Bo Jangles Age: 5 Gracie Two-Boots Age: 2

Hometown Edisto, SC

Django & Gracie Clinton and Camille Lemon of Edisto, SC will tell you that their dogs BoJangles (aka Django) and Gracie Two-Boots (Gracie) may look like professionals but they also live for their daily round of "dock dogging," twice a day feedings, and treats from local police, neighbors, daily joggers, and every delivery person who has come to know and love them during their regular rounds. According to Clinton, they are also regulars of the local ice cream truck in the summertime. "The summertime ice cream truck has Doogie Ice cream cups and these two are at the gate every time they hear it approaching. They have even been granted a "good customer" discount and line of credit for the times when Camille and I aren't home to pay." While it's clear that these two know how to relax, they also know when it's time to go to work. Django is a Deutch Drathaar (generally known as German Wire Haired Pointer) and Gracie is a combination Wire Haired Pointing Griffon and Black Labrador jokingly known as a "Griff-a-dore."

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"Drathaars, including Django, are typically aloof to strangers and often other dogs but they really "turn on" with boundless energy and hyper focus at spoken command or sight of game" explains Clinton. "Gracie on the other hand, seeks friendship from all humans and canines she sees. Her bark is most often a greeting not a threat and she is actually quite timid." That said, there is evidence that Gracie still gets her bird too - that is unless the ice cream truck is nearby. AM

Whether it's eyeing game or the ice cream truck, these two lovable dogs are the epitome of "work hard, play hard" and living your best life.

Call for Reservations 843-563-1159

Opposite Page On the Move Photographed by Jenna Lachenman

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 Contact us to learn more or to schedule a tour of our beautiful campus:

(843) 873-2551 SummervilleMarketing@prescomm.org

201 W. 9th North St., Summerville, SC • PresCommunities.org 21

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Stargazing on the Ashley presented by

and

The Lowcountry Stargazers Saturday, January 27, 2024 5:30PM 22

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

A Contemporary History Local historian,author, and retired Executive Director, George McDaniel, offers a unique perspective on Drayton Hall, the place, the people and the stories that they all share. by Eliza Chapman Bailey Photography by Jenna Lachenman, Drayton Hall, Tony Sweet

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

A Contemporary History pg. 21 / Sweet Grass Vodka pg. 29 / Daufuskie Island pg. 33 / Natural Woman pg. 41 / Kids These Days pg. 45 / Life & Faith pg. 49

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A Contemporary History (cont.)

torytelling is a dance, an ebb and flow of ideas, concepts, and perspectives. They entertain, evoke emotions, teach lessons, and create cultural cohesiveness through shared dialogue. From a young age, we are taught the essential elements of a story: plot, setting, characters, point of view, and conflict. We learn that the plot revolves around the main characters, shedding light on their traits and motivations. Retired Executive Director of Drayton Hall plantation, George McDaniel, challenges this format to present a new perspective on historical interpretation in his nonfiction book, Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and Its People. His book weaves the everyday experience of Drayton Hall through the eyes of all the players: the Drayton family, descendants of formerly enslaved, preservationists, donors, and educators in a question-and-answer format. Using oral histories and memory maps, the stakeholders candidly divulge their points of view on the site’s architectural, historical, and cultural significance. His “both/and” approach to history versus a one-sided “either/or” philosophy incorporates a chronicle of perspectives. It creates a space for inclusive understanding and empathetic conversation to reconcile Drayton Hall's past in order to sustain its future.

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Above Oak at Drayton Hall Drayton Hall Tony Sweet Opposite Page Withdrawing Room Drayton Hall Tony Sweet

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

A Contemporary History (cont.)

This Page Drayton Hall View Across the Pond Drayton Hall (Tony Sweet) Opposite Page Upper Left Richmond Bowens was born at Drayton Hall in 1908. Upper Right Growth Chart Drayton Hall Lower Left Slave Quarters Jenna Lachenman Lower Right Charles (Charlie) H. Drayton III 7th-Generation Descendent and Last Family Owner of Estate

Built by John Drayton in the early eighteenth century, Drayton Hall overlooks the Ashley River. The spacious two-story, fourroom house is an archetype of English country manor design exported to the American Colonies. Vertically proportioned and constructed on a high English basement, it adheres to the principles of Palladian architecture. Designated as a National Landmark, Drayton Hall is recognized as the first fully executed classically styled Palladian building in America. It was the seat of a plantation dynasty with over 600 acres on both sides of the Ashley River. According to McDaniel’s book, “John Drayton owned hundreds, if not thousands, of enslaved workers, as well as some 76,000 acres along the Carolina coast and south of Savannah.” Drayton Hall remained in the Drayton family for over two hundred years. In 1974, the family sold the property to the National Historic Trust. Stories about the Drayton family's role in the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the 20th-century phosphate mine operation business abound. However, the parallel plight of the enslaved, whose work not only took care of the Drayton’s personal needs and property but planted the fields and tended the crops responsible for their wealth and status, is not. Little is known about the lives of the freed slave families who remained at Drayton Hall after the Civil War or their forefathers. During his 20-plus year tenure at Drayton Hall, McDaniel gathered information on the life experiences of “both the mainstream and marginalized.” His work shed light on the location of Drayton Hall’s post-Civil War freedmen community. Using transcribed videos and documents, recorded oral histories, and memory maps to uncover where the families worked, fished, hunted, farmed, and attended church. This knowledge allowed Drayton Hall to preserve the struggles and triumphs of all who called Drayton Hall home in their exhibits and planned archeological digs, to interpret its history as a whole

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Charles (Charlie) H. Drayton III and Richmond Bowen were lifelong friends. Both are interred at Drayton Hall.

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

A Contemporary History (cont.)

Above Archeological Dig Drayton Hall Jenna Lachenman Digs are Ongoing at Drayton Hall, Where History is Truly Alive Every Day Left Author and Historian George W. McDaniel Helping to bring history to life through the power of place, people and stories. Jenna Lachenman

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McDaniel is quick to point out that his methods are not site-specific. They can be replicated on various levels. All that is needed is a place, its people, shared experiences, and all-encompassing perspectives to preserve a community's historical narrative. His road map is designed to resolve marginalization conflicts and create historical preservation continuity within a community. McDaniel reminds us that actual history is a compilation of individual stories that give life to the landscape, buildings, documents, and artifacts left behind. He reiterates, “Like pieces of a mosaic, each perspective is different – intentionally so – but together, they give us a more complete picture of the whole.” Standing in isolation, they are gems. But when viewed collectively, a breathtaking masterpiece that enhances our human existence - illuminating who we are as members of a family, community, region, and nation. Thanks in part to McDaniel’s vision, Drayton Hall's inclusive approach to preservation aids in a collective understanding and healing. It is more than its impressive structure and grounds; it is a steward of stories. AM About George W. McDaniel George W. McDaniel, PhD, is the author of the book, Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and It's People and President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations build bridges to its broader constituents. For more than 25 years, he served as the Executive Director of Drayton Hall. A native of Atlanta, he earned a BA from Sewanee, a MAT from Brown University, and PhD from Duke. Interspersed through those years were travels to many places — Europe, Africa, Vietnam — where he saw peace and war and learned by experience about cultural differences and commonalities. Beginning with the Smithsonian Institution, he has built a career in education and history museums, earning awards at local, state, and national levels.

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Welcome to The Azalea. Craft cocktails by professional mixologists, specialty curated wines, a selection of local craft beers, and a menu of special Southern favorites, offer uptown sophistication just around the corner. The bar’s historic location and unique urban garden give The Azalea a flavor that is quintessentially Summerville. Cheers to a new year!

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Sweet Grass Vodka

Revitalizing traditional vodka-making with Lowcountry flare

Left to Right Jarrod and Alicia Swanger Sweet Grass Vodka A Perfect Cosmo at the Sweetgrass Lounge

by Eliza Chapman Bailey, Photographs by J.Lachenman, Sweet Grass Vodka (Mathew Peacock)

hether Russia or Poland invented vodka in the 15th century is heavily debated. However, one thing is without question: today, most vodka is produced in the Vodka Belt (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway). Less than four percent of vodka is made in the United States. Breaking into this competitive market takes vision, a superior product, and entrepreneurial acumen. Charleston-based Sweet Grass Vodka's (SGV) part-owner and CEO Jarrod Swanger is the epitome of this trifecta. His award-winning potato vodka is a contender for space on the shelf. In 2020, Swanger turned his attention to the spirits industry after selling his business. Distilling a reasonably priced, high-end vodka using only potatoes, yeast, and water 31

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resonated with his Tennessee roots, his wife Alicia's Polish ancestry, and their love of the Lowcountry. The Swangers immersed themselves in vodka-making by consulting farmers and moonshiners while embracing life in South Carolina. Through trial and error, they discovered that the mineral properties in water sources varied. These properties altered the vodka's taste when paired with potatoes and yeast. Certified water and farm-grown potatoes sourced in South Carolina achieve SGV's raw potato undertones. Continued refinement extracts the essence of the potatoes to produce pure, earthy elements void of strong alcoholic points. Swanger recalls, "I went through literally 20 or more

renditions of water and potato mineral combinations until I found a refined, additive, and gluten-free vodka recipe. Potato vodka is the most expensive to make, but at the end of the day, it is the cleanest, purest vodka out there. It has fewer calories, causes less allergens, and does not have the negative effects of corn and grain vodka." The thought of adding a blade of actual Sweetgrass to each bottle is multifaceted. Sweetgrass shares the properties of Poland's native vernal grass (also known as buffalo or vanilla grass) but lacks the coumarin found in its European cousin. According to Polish legend, bison grass can cure ailments and bring good luck to those who drink it. Locally, Sweetgrass symbolizes the industry and perseverance of the Gullah Geechee community. It pays homage to South Carolina's roots as a predominantly agricultural state.

Sweet Grass Vodka (cont.)

SGV's recipe for ultra-smooth vodka garnered three 2021 Master Awards in Global Master categories: micro-distillery, smoothest, and organic. Winning the 2022 Global Master's Award for Best Domestic Vodka created space for the family-owned enterprise to seek a partner. Swanger campaigned for a hands-on national presence to bring the brand to a broader audience. He focused on finding someone whose ethos aligned with his vision. This search led to a friendship between two-time Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner and Swanger. “Jeremy understands the purity and craftsmanship of our vodka intrinsically," said Jarrod Swanger. "We are so grateful to share ownership of our brand with someone who resonates with our passion and vision to create the best vodka on the planet." In 2023, Renner announced his decision to become one of SGV’s co-owners. He shares, "I'm so grateful for the progress I've made since the start of this year, which allowed me to move forward with my interest in Sweet Grass Vodka. Their mission is rooted in 32

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community and shared experience, which is why the second I tried it, I knew I wanted to become a part of it." SGV is distributed throughout the Southeast. It can also be purchased online and shipped nationwide. In Charleston, an operational bottling facility adjoins their flagship Lounge. Located in The Refinery building at 1640 Meeting Street, the Lounge, managed by Lindsey Drummond, is an elevated tasting room for spirits and small bites. Curated and prepared by Chef Danny Calcagni, the menu includes modern, upscale lite bites with a Southern flair, artful cocktails, craft beer, and wine by the glass or bottle. Mint green stucco hand-painted and plastered walls, artistically designed tile flooring that accompanies the free-standing pot still, exposed painted pipes, wood floors, copper, and woven light fixtures frame the flexible leather seating, tables, and bar areas. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 4 pm – 11 pm, the Lounge serves Brunch on Sunday and is available for special events. The location, ambiance, fresh food, and beverage selection complete SGV's mission to produce the best vodka and create a

shared customer experience. To highlight this vision, Renner and SGV have embarked on a bottle-signing tour to bring the Sweet Grass brand across the country and create a memorable occasion for fans and consumers alike. SGV's hallmark spirit begins with distilling South Carolina-sourced water and potatoes that extract the natural nutrients and minerals of the raw potatoes to dictate the clean, smooth, refined flavor. Garnished with a blade of Sweetgrass, it welcomes an unscripted, unique experience that embodies a sense of the Lowcountry's evolving cultural landscape without compromising traditional authenticity. The premium vodka delivers an uncompromising taste of South Carolinian soil in every bottle. AM

Above Jarrod Swanger (left) Jeremy Renner (Right) Sweet Grass Vodka Matthew Peacock

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TRAVEL

Daufuskie Island Remembering the Magic Whether you are a Come'yuh or a Bin'yuh, there is magic to be found on Daufuski Island by Susan Frampton Photography by J. Lachenman

Daufuskie Dreams Photographed by Jenna Lachenman

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ver 1,000 barrier islands are strewn along the southeastern coastline, stretching from North Carolina's Cape Fear to northern Florida. Some are small and uninhabited, while others have become integral parts of mainland communities. Among them, Daufuski Island is a unique jewel set in the heart of the Lowcountry. Home to indigenous tribes until the late 1600s, the island was plundered over the centuries by those from around the globe who would claim it as their own. Ironically, the legacy of those brought to the island against their will best defines it. Enslaved and transported to Daufuski from the ricegrowing West Coast of Africa, the Gullah people brought to it a culture that remains full of magic and mystery and a language that is the music of the Lowcountry. I am one of the fortunate to have known Daufuski since childhood. My last visit to the island was over forty years ago. I have long held onto the people and places that remained in my mind as Captain Sam Stevens' Waving Girl pulled away from the dock to head home to Savannah. I recall a game of touch football in a grassy field near the pier and a tall, slender man the locals called Fast John for the speed at which he walked the dirt roads. We shared tables of steaming oysters and shrimp with swarms of sand gnats, the pesky no-see-ums that inevitably burrowed in the parts of our hair and buzzed like weedeaters around our ears. I remember the happy patois of those whose smiles lit their dark faces and a cart pulled by oxen on a dusty dirt lane. It was a magical place, viewed through the rose-colored glasses of youth, and my young mind had no concept that time does not stand still, even in magical places. Today's Daufuski Island is a study in contrasts. Visitors who arrive by ferry to revel in the unspoiled beauty of the island are transported via golf carts to explore dusty roads once traveled by bare feet. They glide through history silently, discovering a world little known to those who have never ventured across the water. Time has not stood still on Daufuski, but make no mistake, the magic remains. Those like me, native to the Lowcountry, are familiar with the highlights. Still, even for those who think they know and understand the land and its culture, there is much to be learned and appreciated. A well-plotted map produced by The Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation leads to a treasure trove of historic sites. Seated on our golf cart, with map in hand, we set out to wander. Some areas are restored to offer a glimpse of the past, while others bear the marks of time. The map is a guide, but visitors may explore the island at their own pace, with sites in any order. Mount Carmel Baptist Church No. 2, now the Daufuski Island History Museum, allowed us to get our bearings and set the stage for a day that took us from shore to shore and from past to present. In keeping with the tradition of enslaved and Gullah residents, Maryfield Cemetery sits overlooking a marsh of golden Spartina, with the river just beyond and was perhaps the most emotionally charged for me. The setting beside moving water was chosen long ago to ensure the souls of those buried there had a means to travel home to Africa.

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Opposite Page: Daufuskie Driftwood This Page: I'll Fly Away

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Daufuskie Island (cont.)

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Daufuskie Island (cont.) On this sunny day, a melancholy hangs in the air above headstones tilted with time and the sunken and unkempt ground surrounding them. It is quiet now amidst the sprawling, moss-draped oaks, but there was a time when a drumbeat would sound across the island, signaling the passing of one of its own. When the time came for the burial of the departed, the funeral party would wind its way down the twisting dirt road to the gates of the Gullah Cemetery, pausing there to ask for permission from the ancestors to enter. Prayers, songs, and dancing would accompany the deceased to the hereafter, and dishes and crockery they broke at the site would break the chain, ensuring the rest of the family was safe from following. Though it is not the oldest on the island, its graves date back a century, and though it might be my imagination, it feels as though the departed are pleased to have the company. Mary Field School, the two-room schoolhouse built in the 1930s and immortalized in Pat Conroy's semi-autographical novel, The Water is Wide, was closed in 1997 when a new elementary school was built. Chef and culinary historian Sallie Ann Robinson, a sixth-generation Gullah born on Daufuski Island, credits the famous author for changing her life and many others when he taught them in the schoolhouse. She has dedicated her life to preserving the Gullah culture through her cookbooks, public appearances, and company, The Sallie Ann Historic Gullah Tour. The skeletal trees lying across the beach of Bloody Point, the southernmost inhabited point in South Carolina, are a stark reminder of the bloody battle between the British and the indigenous Yemassee Indians in 1715. In 1899, soldiers returning from Cuba after the Spanish-American War were quarantined there for 2 months before being allowed to return home. Despite its tragic history, it remains one of South Carolina's most scenic beaches. From its tabby ruins to the trenches built to house guns to combat shallow draft Confederate Navy vessels during the Civil War, the historic First Union African Baptist Church, still open for Sunday services, to the stately Council Tree, winding roads of Daufuski Island reveal turbulent history amidst unspoiled, natural beauty. Contrasting with that history, some have made the island their home in more recent history. Haig Point, a private residential community built on the former Haig Point Plantation, offers modern-day living to those who seek a weekend or a lifetime of island life. The Haig Point Lighthouse, built in 1873, is on the property and can be seen from Calibogue Sound at the island's northern tip. Take a day and ride the ferry to Daufuski Island. Pull your golf cart up under an oak tree, then grab a seat at the Freeport Marina for a cold, wet one and a view that can’t be beat. (Our 4-legged traveler even snagged a seat at the bar.) If you’re as lucky as we were, you’ll time it just right to enjoy live music and a Lowcountry Boil. Pop into the General Store for souvenirs and provisions, and make some new friends on the porch. In the musical language of the island, whether you are a Come'yuh (come here) or a Bin'yuh (been here), Daufuski Island remains a magical place. It is not a place frozen in time. It is not what it was yesterday, nor is it what it will be tomorrow. It is a place that remembers and honors its past, is determined to pass on its culture, and reaches forward to embrace whatever the future brings. AM

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It is quiet now amidst the sprawling, mossdraped oaks, but there was a time when a drumbeat would sound across the island, signaling the passing of one of its own.

Page 36 Daufuskie Moments (Top Left to Bottom Right) Boarding the Ferry Ryan and Sailor Rum Tasting at Daufuskie Island Distillery Sunrise at Melrose

Page 37 Daufuskie Moments (Top Left to Bottom Right) Indigo Blue Haig Point Community Peer Chicken House at Community Farm Cart Life

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

They Call It Puppy Love Who can resist them? There is a lot of love packed in between the bark and the wag.

by Susan Frampton

y friend, Gina, just got a new puppy. She and the rabbit hole they've fallen down. The bigger they are, the harder they Elias have had many dogs over the years, but fall, and I can't help chuckling. Elias is a big man. living on a farm, theirs have always been hearty, practical animals that understood farm life. Across town, my friend Jen just brought home an English Springer They knew their way around cows, rode in the Spaniel pup, and I've fallen in love with those floppy ears and that back of pick-up trucks, and recognized their freckled face. She and her family are dog people who recently lost a place in the agricultural pecking order. They good one. It's been a tough year, and this little fellow is just the right didn't eat fancy dog food, didn't sleep in fleece-lined doggy beds, and medicine. It's hard to explain the grip that our canine companions get were rarely invited to spend the night in the big house. I've not met on our hearts, and they come in a million shapes and sizes. Our famthis new addition to their family, but I've seen his photo. I have a ily always leaned toward the hundred-pound breed. Stocky, with coats sneaking suspicion that this little fellow is about to write a whole new designed to release as much hair as possible onto every surface, Labradors have made up the bulk of our pets over the years, with a Springer chapter in the farm dog handbook. Spaniel and Beagle thrown into the mix for added color. The story is that their granddaughter, Margaret, talked Gina into bringing home the puppy. If that's the case, Well done, Margaret! But Before I came along, Labradors were working dogs, made for breaking I know Gina. That puppy grabbed her by the heart, and she went the ice on cold, wintery duck hunts and retrieving with military precidown like a ton of bricks. Word is that he's part Shih Tzu and part sion. Lewis maintains that I ruined every good Lab we've ever had, Poodle. Though combining the two breed names is pretty hilarious, and I don't feel the slightest bit of shame at the accusation. Gradually, you can imagine the cuteness quotient. Yep, our friends have no idea they went from their pens to a place at the hearth, which led to a fleece

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L N A T U R AN WOMA bed in our bedroom and, finally, to a comfy spot atop our feet. He didn't fight it so much until we were sharing our bed with 250 lbs of snoring, slobbering shedders. When we lost the last one, a chocolate Lab named Morsel, a runt born into my hands in the early hours of a Christmas Eve, we swore there would be no more. Big words. As I write, Newton, the wiener dog, sits atop my left foot, balancing one of his 3,000 toys on my right. A surprise gift from our daughter, he's been sitting on my foot for over nine years. Her story was that he would be a playmate for her wiener dog, Nelson. They totally ignore each other. Little dogs get a bad rap for being yippy, prima donnas with bad attitudes. I'd have difficulty denying the yippy part, but I understand it's the wiener dog language of love. Loosely translated, yips say, "Mom, I saved your life by barking at three Fed Ex delivery drivers, two Jehova's Witnesses, and the husky that always pees on our mailbox. You're welcome." And also, "Look, there's a squirrel." Maybe it's true that there's a teensy bit of prima donna atop their short, squatty legs. Though our big dogs often attempted to sit in our laps, they had to settle for simply leaning hard against our legs. The little dogs don't really ask. They simply launch themselves, confidant that we'll toss aside coffee cups, laptops, or whatever we're holding to catch them. Since they're way too short to jump up on the bed, we carefully place the little dogs at the foot of the bed, knowing full well that within an hour, they will sit on our heads like bad toupees. If you've ever attempted to reclaim a pillow at 3 a.m. from a wiener dog, you understand that possession is 9/10ths of the law. They change us, these four-legged friends, and though we may fuss and complain about their benevolent dictatorship over our lives, we indulge them. I can't wait for the first time my friends explain, "We 44

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can't stay long; we have to get home and let the dog out/feed the dog/ give the dog its medicine/beg the dog's forgiveness for leaving him alone for two hours." I will not tease or taunt them because I get it. I find myself explaining my itinerary in great detail to Newton every time I leave the house. There is a lot of love packed in between the bark and the wag, and the fact that they don't laugh out loud at our silliness is a testament to their unconditional canine love. It makes us forgive the occasional puddle and, most times, the chewed-up shoe (they only go for the expensive ones.) If that is the price to be paid for the unfettered celebration that greets me whenever I come in the door, it's all worth it. At this very moment, Newton is at the front door barking so hard that his front legs come up off the ground, which means there is either a serial killer in the yard or he's spotted a squirrel. You can't put a price on that kind of devotion.

There is a lot of love packed in between the bark and the wag, and the fact that they don't laugh out loud at our silliness is a testament to their unconditional canine love. I'm so happy for my friends who are diving back into the puppy pool, and I must admit there is a fair amount of puppy envy going on. I'm reminded of the profound words soulfully sung by the eternally youthful Donny Osmond. "And they call it puppy love." Damn. Now I'll be humming that all day long. AM

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K ID S THESE D AY S

Charmed Life

by Tara Bailey

he perches on the dead wisteria vine, surveying her domain. Well, the domain she decided was hers - so I guess it’s hers. Anyone who approaches her is attacked without hesitation. She hovers. She squeaks. She fights. She guards. She doesn’t play well with others. She’s cute - some say even beautiful - but rules with an iron bill. She is a Mean Girl. She is Queen Ruby, aka The Mean Green Queen, aka, Queenie. She is our dominant ruby-throated hummingbird. And by now she is gone. All summer I observed her coming into her own. She figured that if something looked good to someone else, then it was worth having - and she alone would have it. She would leave her post to dive bomb the wrens and chickadees in competition for suet she would

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never eat. She allowed no one else a place to perch on the wisteria, though there was room for a whole - get this - charm. (A group of hummingbirds is indeed called a “charm,” which seems fitting to everyone except other hummingbirds.) If a male appeared nearby, she pulled out all the stops to ensure she was the only female in the yard, only to ignore him. Her attentions instead would turn to slurping nectar - which, of course, she wouldn’t allow the male to have. You could say she mobilized a charm offensive. But nature is nature, and that’s just how she is. I’m a lifelong bird nerd and fortunate to have an old-growth yard with a variety of species to watch year round. Little entertains me more than observing parent barred owls hunt the landscape to feed their hissing, screeching, head-bobbing young. I drag my husband outside to see the ruby-crowned kinglets when they arrive before Thanksgiving and keep an ear out for the distinct cheep of the great-

KIDS THESE D AY S crested flycatchers around Easter. I love crows, I love blue jays, I love vultures; I welcome them all along with their squawking and circling. If a wren wants to nest in a planter by the front door or sleep in the eave of our entrance porch, then we’ll all use the back door until they’ve moved on. What the birds need, they shall have.

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So it struck me when I became so intently focused on our little summer hummer. Why was this particular bird commanding so much of my attention? I would stand by my deck door, hold my binoculars, and watch her just sit there until someone made her mad. Something about her alert posture, her certainty of what belonged to her, the way she always appeared ready for a fight - even at rest - looked…familiar. And then it hit me: she reminded me of my girls. If you are the parent of siblings, particularly multiple daughters, you may have noticed that there are frequent moments of territorial skirmishes, battles, and wars. If one girl removes a t-shirt from a bag of clothes destined for Goodwill, then the original owner will leave her wisteria vine to strike it from her sister’s hands. If one daughter claims a spot on the sofa, another will usurp it the moment the first one excuses herself for a bathroom break. Even the dog gets confused over who to curl up next to: one minute she’s cozied up in a lap, only for a tennis ball to tempt her to a different lap the next minute, before finally a winner emerges victorious with a chicken meatball. What do you call a group of sisters? A coven? Definitely not a charm. One day I was watching our queen hummer during a steady afternoon rain. I know I’m anthropomorphizing here, but she looked miffed. Her feathers were fluffed, head pulled down into her body, eyes closed. Her attitude seemed to be that of one who thought herself too precious to endure such discomfort. If she could speak, I’m certain she would have told me this weather was somehow my

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fault. When I cleaned and refilled her feeder afterwards, she zoomed directly to it, ate until she got bored, and fled without so much as a thank you. And no, she didn’t bother telling me where she was going or when she’d be back. She left me to wonder where she was, who she was with, and if she would safely return before I went to bed. Maybe I was projecting, but her habits made me look forward to fall semester - I mean, migration. Right? One morning in mid October I got up, poured a cup of coffee, and glanced towards her usual spot. She wasn’t there, but sometimes she got an early start. I didn’t see her later in the day, nor at all the next. I spotted her not once the entire week and resigned that she had at last moved on to warmer climes. I knew this moment had been in the making and was satisfied that life at our home was progressing as expected, as was the natural order of things. But I missed her presence, the backyard chaos she brought, and the acts of service I would perform for her by making and growing her favorite foods, despite her ability to survive without me. I missed her beauty, which was defined by her mere existence. But I knew she would thrive, wherever she was. Not that her path would be easy, but she was prepared. I had spent so much time watching her defend herself, fight for what was hers, grow, mature, ready herself for her journey. I may not know where she’s going, but I do know she’ll figure it out. And I have faith that she will find her way back when it’s time. AM

49 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

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50 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

L IF E & F A IT H

A Child's Subtle Reminder

by Will Thompson ’ve always been an outdoorsman. Growing up in the Upstate of South Carolina, I spent many days backpacking in the mountains or kayaking down scenic rivers. After moving to the Lowcountry almost 20 years ago, I had to establish new hobbies.

A few years ago, I was introduced to hunting by a wonderful local family. They taught me how to read terrain maps to best position myself to harvest a deer, how to use the proper equipment, and all the other pertinent skills of the sport. I learned that it was more about the experience of being in the vast forest than always harvesting an animal, though harvesting is critical to keeping my family fed. I’ve since introduced my children to hunting and have enjoyed spending

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

quality time with them outdoors. We’ve had some great experiences together. Over the years I’ve had success, only taking what we require and offering a prayer of thanksgiving (something I learned from another local friend) each time I harvest. Being in the woods has become medicine to my soul. It’s less about sport and more about the serenity that I’m able to experience. It’s the sunrise or sunset over the marsh. It’s the morning dew rising off the forest floor. It’s quietly observing owls and hawks soar from tree to tree. The forest is majestic and calming. It’s the place I go to escape the hustle of my day to day and recharge my soul. I’m often reminded of Psalm 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God! Regardless of the outcome of each outing, I walk out refreshed.

LIFE FA I T This year has been a bit different. My time in the woods has been limited, and those times I’ve gone have been marred with unexpected issues and pressure to harvest as the season draws to a close. One of those trips was a time when a nasty cold front was pushing through. My youngest son and I got into the stand early and weathered the wind and cold while waiting for an opportunity. It felt like the “right night.” My wife had texted me a photo of some mail from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asking if it contained something I needed. From the photo I knew they were deer tags for one of my children, but I wasn’t concerned - I didn’t need those because I had mine. We sat for another 45 minutes while my son took his customary nap on my knee. My mind began to wonder if, in fact, I had transferred my deer tags from my small bag to the backpack I use when hunting with a child. FYI: deer tags are required if you harvest per DNR regulations. When my son stirred from his slumber, I checked the bag to discover that they were not there. The hunt was over!

In the busyness of each season, let’s all seek to look at things through the eyes of a child—the eyes that see the wonder and magic beyond the hustle and bustle. We had endured the weather for no reason. To say that I was frustrated would be an understatement. We climbed down, got in the car, and headed home. I was fuming that we had driven 45 minutes to sit in the cold for no reason at all. I tried to hold my frustration back, but it

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

was tough. As we drove out, we saw a doe walking down the path. My angst grew even more. It was in this moment that my son said, “Dad, at least we got to see how beautiful it is out here.” With those words, my frustration immediately went away. He was right! I had forgotten why we do this. No matter the circumstance, we were able to experience a beautiful evening together. We saw hawks flying across the field. We witnessed a magnificent sunset. We shared time together away from our normal busy life, distraction-free. I was humbled by his perspective. As adults, we often get wrapped up in the “to dos” and “must happens” and when things don’t go the way we were expecting it can create great stress. What I learned from my son that day was the simplest of truths — look for the substance of the moment regardless of the outcome. His expectation was to experience God’s creation and spend time with Dad. I’m grateful for his perspective, as it changed mine completely. In the busyness of each season, let’s all seek to look at things through the eyes of a child—the eyes that see the wonder and magic beyond the hustle and bustle. Let’s remember to be still and appreciate the moment – to simply be still and KNOW that He is God and He is good. That’s what matters most. AM

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

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azalea magazine WINTER

2023

CIRCLE OF DREAMS Beufort, SC Native, Bill Oyster Casts Into the Future with Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

58 ABOVE BOARD 'Tis the Season to Gather Round and Enjoy a Nibble...Or Two

BILL OYSTER - RAINBOW TROUT Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods/Corey Woosley

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With a handcrafted, heirloom-quality bamboo fly rod in hand, Bill Oyster casts into a circle of dreams. by Susan Frampton

Photography: Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

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he morning is crisp and cool as the fisherman steps into the stream, his flyrod at the ready. Once again, the siren song of clear water flowing over the ancient rocks in the mountain stream has drawn him from the warmth of the hearth. He draws back the rod with a graceful arch and, in one smooth motion, unspools a ribbon of line into the morning air. As lightly as a feather, the line settles on the water's shimmering surface, and he smiles. It is a scene that undoubtedly plays out on any given day across the globe. The first known reference to fly fishing, a 200 AD illustration in a publication by the Roman author Aelian, speaks to its rich history, traced to ancient Macedonians. Through the centuries, the tools have evolved, becoming refined and modernized. What has never changed is the love and loyalty of those who cast them. Any story involving fly fishing is a love story of sorts, for those drawn to the sport share a passion for its symmetry, for the perfect balance of skill and artistry it demands from those who venture waist-deep into the cold, clear water. At first glance, the successful angler's reward is the shimmer of scales in the basket at the end of the day. In reality, the reward is far less tangible and far more valuable. Few have more understanding and reverence for the endeavor than bamboo rod maker Bill Oyster. Oddly enough, Oyster's journey to the pinnacle of American rod makers began on two wheels at the University of Georgia in Athens. The son of a Marine, the art and engineering major enlisted in ROTC. His athletic prowess amidst the other midshipmen drew the attention of the school's cycling team. Two weeks after joining the team, he won second place in his first race. It was a photo finish. A natural to the sport, he led the university's cycling team to an SEC Championship. Oyster had the world by the handlebars. In the sleepy college town, he met Shannen, a journalism student who would become his wife and biggest fan. In his downtime, the cyclist turned to his longtime love of fly fishing, guiding, and teaching fly fishing lessons. By the time he established himself as a professional cyclist, he was on track for the Olympic trials. A cycling accident unexpectedly shattered the promising career path. He returned once more to fly fishing. The cold water was a balm to his injured body, and the quiet outdoors brought peace to his spirit. Oyster became fascinated by split bamboo fly rods. First built in America by Pennsylvania gunsmith and violin maker Samuel Phillipe in 1846, Phillipe's design using Calcutta bamboo elevated the flyrod from utilitarian tool to heirloom quality art. Considering the supple, elegant split bamboo fly rods as the gold standard, the young angler knew that a hand-built rod was far out of his price range. "I had always loved to make things, and with my art background, the idea of building one of my own really appealed to me. I went from wanting to own one to wanting to make one."

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Opposite Page Bill Oyster Casting Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

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Bill Oyster, Master at Work Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

To his frustration, he found the "old guard" of successful rod builders so protective of their process that they were unwilling to share any information with a newcomer. "This was before YouTube," he remembers. "And the internet itself was pretty new. I started looking for books to read. I found A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod and put all of my time and energy into learning all I could. The first sixty pages were nothing but engineering formulas and calculus. It was pretty dry stuff." He was still undeterred. "That first rod took six months to make and was the ugliest fly rod ever made." Fennel Hudson, the famous angler whose journals chronicled his love of the sport, wrote: "With a fly rod, anglers are not casting to a fish; rather to a circle of dreams, ripples that spread into every aspect of their lives." When he decided to try his hand at building a bamboo fly rod of his own, little did Oyster know that he had cast into a circle of dreams, and its ripples would carry his family into a future they could not imagine possible. "I didn't set out to make the best bamboo fly rod ever. I just wanted to make the best one I could make for myself." Fate, however, had different plans. One year later, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured an article about his work. A custom rod was ordered by a reader and then another. Word spread quickly. Soon, orders were backing up, and a full-time rod-making business was born. Determined to share the lessons he often learned through trial and error, offering classes was a priority. Rather than seeing students as future competitors, Oyster sees teaching the art of rod building as building the future of fly fishing's timeless legacy.

From behind picture windows in the warm and welcoming showroom on Blue Ridge, GA's Main Street, visitors have a front-row seat to watch students build their own rods in classes booked up for a year in advance. Students come from across the country and around the globe, and their attention to their work is rapt. Nestled like jewels into racks built against the showroom walls, the finished rods glow in the light of a brick fireplace. Shannen and the staff greet most of those who drop in by name. George Black, author of Casting a Spell - The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection, sums it up best: "At their best, bamboo fly rods should be things of beauty as well as efficient tools for catching fish. Oyster's sense of aesthetics is nothing short of perfection." Though they're at the top of their game, Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods is not a company that rests on its laurels. "This is not a hobby for us," says Shannen. "It's our livelihood and our life." That sentiment is reflected in every aspect of the Oyster Brand. "We're a twenty-five-year overnight success," laughs Oyster. "We're always evolving. What else can we offer? What can we do to make the rods better, the classes better, the experience better?" Wherever their next cast lands, we can't wait to see what they reel in. For more information on Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods, visit oysterbamboo.com.

Shannen Oyster, a woman with no quit in her, threw herself into managing the business. She laughs at the image of herself she remembers from the early years. "I'd have a child on either hip and a phone in my hand." She channeled her journalism skills into marketing Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods to an audience thirsty for quality fly fishing equipment and experiences. The blog she writes on oysterbamboo.com reflects her quick mind and wit. The blog chronicles the company's 25-year journey to where it is today and the family's own personal journey. Much like Shannen herself, it is unvarnished and frank, entertaining, enlightening, inspiring, and often laugh-out-loud funny. It's worth a read. Bill Oyster strikes one as the epitome of zen. His thoughtful, mild-mannered demeanor and physical appearance could be straight out of Hollywood's central casting for A River Runs Through It, the film version of Norman Maclean's classic novel. But much like Maclean himself, Oyster is the real deal. Behind the white beard and flannel shirt lies a deep thinker, an artist dedicated to paying homage to the pastime and the unique tackle that unexpectedly brought him to the dance. His dedication to the quality led him to learn hand engraving when the State Department came calling. They requested a split bamboo rod for President Jimmy Carter, engraved with the Presidential Seal. "No one just learns hand engraving," he was told by those proficient in the art. But they didn't know this man. He enrolled in engraving school, and when the President's rod was delivered, it carried a perfect, meticulously engraved seal produced by the hand of Bill Oyster.

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Opposite Top Left to Bottom Right Hand Engraving Bill Oyster at the Engraving Bench Oyster Fly Rod Bearing the Name Detailed Craftsmanship Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

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Smoked Oyster Cheeseball INGREDIENTS 1 can smoked oysters, drained 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon curry powder 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

PAIR LIKE A PRO PREPARATION Suate liver, onions and dried thyme for 20 minutes. Cool. Place liver mixutre and eggs in blender a little Pairing your board with the wine you are serving at a time, while blending, drizzle in lemon juice, add does not need to be complex. Here is a simple salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Remove and pairing guide to help you create the perfect pairings. garnish with parsley.

Pimento Cheese (with a kick)

PREPARATION Combine all ingredients except pecans and parsley and roll into a ball. Toss chopped pecans and parsley together and place on a shallow dish. INGREDIENTS 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated Roll ball in the pecan and parsley mixture. 8 ounces cream cheese, softened Note: Add more or less curry to taste but don't 4 ounces pimentos, drained 1/3 cup mayonnaise skip it! 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Garnish: Looks amazing on a bed of purple kale 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika leaves. 1-2 dashed hot sauce, to taste salt and pepper, to taste

Sweet & Spicy Pecans

INGREDIENTS 8 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2-3 tablespoons apricot jam (no sugar added) 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 tablespoon powdered ginger 1 dash cayenne pepper 1 pound pecan halves PREPARATION Preheat oven to 300 degrees. On stovetop, melt butter; add brown sugar, curry powder, powdered ginger, and cayenne. Remove from heat. Toss pecans in butter mixture. Add apricot jam in small drops and mix. Place pecan mixture on a large cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or paper towels. Place in oven and turn off the heat. Leave to dry in oven 10-12 minutes. Lightly salt and serve (store in air tight jar).

Chicken Liver Pate INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound chicken livers 1 medium onion, chopped 1/4 cup butter 2 eggs, hard-boiled 2 lemons, juiced 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 teaspoon dried thyme salt and pepper, to taste 65 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

Light whites Light white wines pair well with lighter, fresh flavors. Select light, soft cheeses such as burrata, Chevre, and feta, along with cured meats that are light in flavor and texture, such as prosciutto. Accessorize your board with fresh, sweet bursts of flavor such as melon, figs, and white chocolate. Bold, full-bodied whites These whites are fresh yet bold enough to stand up to bigger flavors. Select cheeses that pack a bigger punch such as mozerella, gruyere, and gouda. A salty, briney addition such as tinned fish pairs nicely here. Lastly accessorize your board cured olives, fermented vegetables, and nuts buttery in flavor such as hazelnuts.

PREPARATION Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. If a smoother consistency is desired, place ingredients in Fruit-forward Reds a food processor and pulse and blend until combined and somewhat whipped. Place in a bowl, cover and Contrast and compliment these reds with earthy, chill before serving. nutty and savory selections. Select cheeses with Garnish: Top with some additional grated cheddar, chives and a sprinkle of paprika.

ADDING INTEREST

drier, bold flavors such as parmigianno-regianno, taleggio, and sharp cheddar along with hearty cured meats like salami. Accessorize with dried fruit such as cherries, flavorful nuts like pistachio and milk chocolate. Hearty, dry Reds

These wines can handle a lot of rich flavors. Select rich buttery cheeses such as manchego and Traditional meat and cheese boards never go out of cured meats that pack a punch like mortadella. style but adding a bit of visual and flavor interest can Accessorize your board with veggies paired with be easy and fun. rich dips such as radishes and blue-cheese butter, berries, and dark chocolate. If you want to shop more and cook less, select storebought items that are a bit off the beaten path such Lastly, keep it simple. Simple yet elegant as preserved game meats, hard-boiled quail or multicombinations of even just two to three wellcolored eggs and unusually flavored jams, jellies, and chosen bites and sips can elevate any snacking chutneys. board. Try simple yet decadent combinations such as Pinot Noir, taleggio, pistachios and fresh For slightly more effort, select one to four recipes for cherries. spreads, dips, or small bites (hot or cold) and arrange in aesthetically pleasing small bowls, plates or simply on a bed a beautiful greens.

Wintering by Ellen E. Hyatt

She might be the one in the third row who is nodding off even at a Grieg concert. But know if you talk with her, you’ll learn more and more about Piano Concerto No. 1 in A Minor , Op 16, as a first—the first concerto ever to be recorded. She seems to have shape-shifted on some afternoons, when ferried to and from the rec room for chair yoga. Warmed by a white sherba jacket, the Clemson-orange paw over her heart. But know back in the day—in a cut off tee— she saw a first: the Tigers wore orange pants on the field. She can be seen as a scallywag, putting rolls and cookies from the lunch buffet in her purse for later. But know she’s donated time and funds for food banks in all towns she lived in as a lifer-airman’s wife, mother of four, and funeral director for goldfish—numbers too high to count. She prefers reading Agatha’s mysteries on Sundays or more about the four virtues of Stoicism or tuning in a Ted-talk about activism, Buddhism, bees, compassion, coral reefs, ethics, film, social media, wind-energy rather than bible study, church, or Sunday School. She’ll be quoting Sylvia Plath, “Read widely . . . stretch to others even though it hurts . . .” and so easy “to snuggle back in the comforting cotton-wool of blissful ignorance!” All in the same breath, she’ll promote wild dotage and Springsteen: “It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.” She’s more than old perfume, old stories, or wedding albums falling apart from age or something. Her vivid memories are like the tiniest leaves, red and gold floating in a puddle you notice, after visiting her. And in the distance, there is that one dark cloud. It makes the sky its brightest blue.

66 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

67 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023

68 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2023