E SSENTIALS
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Your Guide to the Good Life.
Advice from a celebrity stylist, mom BY ALICIA RANCILIO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Celebrity stylist and designer Rachel Zoe poses for a portrait in promotion of her second book, ‘Living in Style: Inspiration and Advice for Everyday Glamour.’ AP photo
f you happen to spot celebrity stylist and designer Rachel Zoe out and about, do not worry. She’s not judging you. The woman responsible for dressing the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Garner swears when she’s “off the clock” so to speak, she’s not a fashion cop. “It’s funny because I think what people don’t understand is that I actually am not judging them and I don’t usually notice what people are wearing,” said Zoe in a recent interview. She does, however, get polled by strangers “all the time” looking for a quick style assessment. “I do get asked sort of, ‘What do you think of this dress? Is this jacket OK? Wait, I’m so embarrassed I don’t want to meet you right now because of what I’m wearing.’ and I’m like, ‘Don’t be.’ Style is the best form of self-expression.” Zoe may not be critiquing, but she would like to help people live a more stylish life, in how they dress, entertain or decorate their home. She’s compiled a book of tips, information and photos called “Living in Style: Inspiration and Advice for Everyday Glamour” (Grand Central Publishing), which is now in stores. More than anything, 42-yearold Zoe says she wants to inspire
moms to put themselves higher on their to-do lists by taking “five, 10, 15 minutes, however much time you can allow” to “throw some lipstick on, put on a cute jacket, take off your sweatpants.” She is quick to clarify that she’s not saying the average woman needs to be dressed to the nines or red carpet-ready to face the world each day. “I’m not saying put on a cocktail dress to go pick up your kids – you know?” Zoe is a mom to two sons, 3year-old Skyler and Kaius, born in December. She understands moms often don’t feel they have the time or energy to primp or put thought into their clothing. “It’s a very easy trap to fall into. Trust me, I understand it. I remember when I first had Skyler and I looked at (husband) Rodger and said, ’I totally get it now. I’m so tired I can’t even imagine that I have to put on makeup and put clothes on right now.’ It is a lot to A model wears a cropped think about because you do put jacket and pants from the yourself last.” Rachel Zoe spring 2014 collection at Fashion Week By putting a little effort in, in New York. If you’re Zoe believes you’ll feel better. looking to update your “It’s not hard and it’s not wardrobe this season, you’ll need to know about what you think it is. Don’t be a few key trends: crop afraid of it and it doesn’t take tops, high waists and two hours. It takes five minutes. wider legs in pants. When you take that extra time you will feel better. You’ll want to smile. You’ll have more confidence ... When you look better you feel better.”
Solve weed issues by eating them Roasted squash a sweet idea BY J.M. HIRSCH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Your Garden Roger Mercer
DEAR ROGER: I can’t identify a weed. Weed killers don’t work. The plants may die out. But they come back the next winter. I was told it was rattlesnake weed because it has a rattle-like root. — Fred DEAR FRED: I should warn everyone about this weed because it is infesting increasingly large areas of southeastern North Carolina. In addition to rattlesnake weed, this is called Florida betony or, if you’re a botanist, Stachys floridana. It plagues me greatly. I got it from a load of turkey manure I spread on a daylily bed about 23 years ago. It can be killed with herbicides that kill by contact with leaves. But you have to apply the herbicide while this winter grower is still active, which means right now. The foliage naturally dies back in hot weather. So you may think you’ve killed it. But you have to get a lot of herbicide into those big white roots to kill them. And if they aren’t killed, they’ll send up lovely new foliage in the fall. Pre-emergent herbicides will keep the seeds from sprouting, but this sneaky usurper increases mostly by creeping underground. That means you need at least two applications of a contact herbicide that kills directly. One application kills all the roots that have sprouted. The next kills developing roots that sprout later. You need to get plenty of herbicide on the leaves to kill the roots.
Florida betony is edible, but the thick, crunchy white roots are best for salads.
Since anything that will kill your rattlesnake weed will kill everything around it. You need to be careful and precise about spraying. I do not use such herbicides for the most part. I just remove weeds by hand. But I have not found hand weeding successful against a large daylily bed infested with Florida betony. I did succeed in removing the weed without herbicides, however. First, I mulched the daylilies with a 3-inch layer of turkey oak leaves in September, before the betony came up. This prevented most of the roots from sprouting. Then, the half-acre bed was tilled after the daylilies were removed the next spring. This was done after the weather became warm in May. The white roots were left exposed to the sun until they died. Then, the field was tilled again, and a few more white roots were left exposed to the sun. A third tilling a week later turned up very few white roots. But they, too, were exposed to sunshine until they were dead. Another way to kill this plant is to eat it. All parts of Florida Betony are edible. But the roots are very good, and the rest of the plant is tasty but tough and stringy.
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DEAR ROGER: I have a tulip tree that is about three years old. It had three branches with the center one about 4 feet tall. I would like to prune off the two shorter ones, so it could grow into a tree, The tree already has buds on it, but no leaves yet. Is it too late in the season to prune it? — Sariilla DEAR SARILLA: Your tulip tree, I assume, is Magnolia soulangeana, which tends to make multiple trunks. If you mean it has multiple trunks, don’t cut any of them off. Three is a perfect number for Asian magnolia trunks. If you cut some off, you’ll get more sprouts. Just let the multiple trunks grow. Each time you cut one out, more shoots will form. You will then face a lifetime of battling Mother Nature. If, however, you mean removing lower branches to create a more tree-like effect. Help yourself. Cut away. Now is a good time. But, if you like, you can wait until you enjoy the blooms, which could still be open right now, before pruning. Send your questions and suggestions to roger@ mercergarden.com or write to Roger Mercer, Mercers Garden, 6215 Maude St., Fayetteville, NC Please include your telephone number.
ust one more squash dish. Before spring truly arrives, I wanted to squeeze in just one more recipe for roasted butternut squash. It’s because roasting does such wonderful things to squash. It caramelizes the natural sugars, making the vegetable deliciously sweet. But at the same time, it’s also deeply savory. And then you have that yin-yang of roasted, crunchy exterior against the creamy, tender interior. All of which is to say, I wanted it just one more time. But we can’t ignore that spring is here. So to give this staple of hearty winter meals a lighter touch, I topped it with a soft-cooked egg. The egg oozes its yolk over the roasted squash, creating a delicious sauce. Add a simple, Middle Eastern-inspired seasoning blend to tie it all together and you have the perfect meal for bridging winter and summer.
MIDDLE EASTERN ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH SOFT-BOILED EGGS Containers of tzatziki (a garlic-spiked yogurt sauce) can be found next to the hummus at the grocer.
Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4 3-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder 4 eggs 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon coriander seeds 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 1 teaspoon kosher salt Zest of ½ lemon Tzatziki (purchased) Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Mound the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, then drizzle it with the olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder. Use your hands to mix the squash until well coated. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until browned and tender. Meanwhile, prepare the eggs and seasoning blend. Place the eggs in a medium saucepan and add enough cold water to cover them by 1 inch. Set the pan over medium heat. Bring
the water to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. Cool until easily handled, but not cold, about 5 minutes. To make the seasoning blend, in a small, dry skillet over low heat, combine the peppercorns with the sesame, cumin, coriander and fennel seeds. Toast, stirring, just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a spice grinder or mortar
and pestle and let cool. Once cool, grind until fine. Mix in the salt and lemon zest. Set aside. Once the squash has roasted, divide it between 4 serving plates. Carefully peel the eggs and set one in the center of each serving. Sprinkle the squash and egg with the seasoning blend. Accompany with tzatziki on the side of the plate. Use a fork to break the white of each egg and allow the yolk to spill onto the squash just before serving.
FORD MUSTANG IN POPULAR CULTURE
AMERICAN CLASSIC
April 1964: The first Mustang hits dealership showrooms 1966: Wilson Pickett has a hit with “Mustang Sally” 1968: A Mustang is featured in a famous car chase scene in the Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt,” left. 1971: James Bond may be forever associated with the Aston Martin, but the Mustang has been featured in Bond movies including “Diamonds are Forever.” 1975: David Bowie references the car in the lyrics to his song, “Young Americans.”
STORY BY RODGER MULLEN PHOTOS BY JOHNNY HORNE
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aniel Seaman has never forgotten his first Mustang. It was a white, six-cylinder 1965 model he bought in ’68. Seaman can still remember piloting the car to the drive-in and hearing “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells on the radio. Seaman drove the car from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., when he got drafted in 1970. While serving overseas, he got word his beloved pony car was gone. “My sister used it while I was in Vietnam. Her and her boyfriend blew the clutch out. My father sold it to the tow truck driver,” said Seaman, who lives in Eastover. “I was devastated. I’d still be driving it today if I had it.” Decades later, the disappointment is still clear in Seaman’s voice. For Mustang owners such as Seaman, Mustangs occupy a special place, even as their design has been tweaked over the years and competitors have flooded the automotive market. A half-century after they were introduced, the cars are still being produced. And for aficionados, the Mustang continues to epitomize the American muscle car in all its super-charged glory. The first Mustangs rolled into
showrooms on April 17, 1964. Dubbed the “1964 1/2” model, those first cars were Ford’s answer to foreign high-performance cars like the Ferrari and Porsche. The affordable sports cars were an immediate hit, particularly with younger drivers. They quickly inspired a fleet of competitors, such as the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird and Dodge Challenger. Sales far exceeded Ford’s expectations. Within 18 months, more than a million of the cars were produced. Don Price was living in Goldsboro when the first Mustang was introduced. Within a year, he started work as a salesman at Lafayette Ford in Fayetteville; today he is the owner and president of the dealership. “I remember going to a car show and seeing the Mustang,” Price said. “I said, man, would I love to have something like that.” Price soon got his wish. As a new salesman at Lafayette, he was given a Mustang as a demonstration car, he said. The sporty car was an immediate hit at Lafayette, Price said. At one time, the dealership sold as many as 50 a month. Today, he said, the figure is closer to a dozen a month. In those early years, Price said, Mustang had the domestic sports car market pretty much to itself.
“It was the first ... sporty model that people could afford,” Price said. “There were sports cars, but they were usually a lot more expensive.” The first Mustangs sold for less than $2,500. With its immediate success, the Mustang quickly found its way into popular culture. In 1966, Wilson Pickett had a hit song with “Mustang Sally,” memorably singing, “I bought you a brand new Mustang/ A 1965.” Two years later, the car was featured prominently in the Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt.” The actor’s detective character was shown piloting the car through the San Francisco streets in a chase scene that is considered a classic. Even today, the Mustang shows up as a symbol of power and speed. The recent movie “Need for Speed” prominently featured a 2014 Mustang in a race from New York to California. Here in North Carolina, the car’s 50th anniversary was celebrated at Charlotte Motor Speedway last week with driving events, historic exhibits and other activities. “People still have a big love for that car,” Price said. “It’s got the engine and the power and the good looks.” James Boone is a proud Mustang man.
The Lumberton man owns a ’66 coupe he bought about 12 years ago and keeps in top condition. The car has won several trophies in area shows, Boone said. It’s not Boone’s first Mustang. He once owned a ’65 model, then later had a ’94. “When my kids were growing up, I had a ’66 convertible,” said Boone, 75. “I guess you’d say I’m just an old Ford person.” For Boone, the Mustang always has been a car to be seen in. You’d wash and wax the car, and drive it around, hoping to be noticed. Even today, Boone said, a well-kept ‘Stang is a magnet for car-watchers. Boone is accustomed to answering questions about his car when he drives it around town. “I was going up (Interstate) 95 one day,” he said. “A guy passed me on a truck and tooted his horn. Stuff like that makes you feel good.” Diehl Jones, who lives in Fayetteville, owns a 1966 GT Mustang convertible, silver with a red interior. The car is striking enough that it was featured in last
2001: “The Princess Diaries” certainly isn’t a car movie, but Anne Hathaway’s character in the movie owns a ’66 model. 2007: In the movie “The Bucket List,” Morgan Freeman’s character lists driving a Shelby Mustang as one of the things he wants to do before he dies. 2014: Mustang celebrates its 50th birthday. Events are held in Charlotte, Las Vegas and elsewhere. Above: The Mustang emblem is on the side of Boone’s car. Right: Seaman poses with the 1965, 6-cylinder Mustang he bought in 1968. Seaman drove the Mustang cross-country when he joined the military in 1970. Above: Daniel Seaman is shown outside his Eastover home with his 1965 Ford Mustang. Left: Seaman poses with the 1965, 6-cylinder Mustang he bought in 1968. Seaman drove the Mustang cross-country when he joined the military in
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Variations on the vase for spring BY KIM COOK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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e’ve been picking flowers and sticking them in containers for thousands of years. The early Egyptians did it, as did the Chinese: Feng shui guidelines for creating harmony in a home suggest placing vases of fresh-cut flowers throughout the dwelling to relieve stress, and increase productivity and creativity. Ikebana, the 600-yearold art of Japanese flower arranging, became a craft of high regard, with a spiritual element. Today, artisans, designers and even florists continue to dream up interesting new vessels. New York City-based floral designer Matthew Robbins has created a simple line of vases for Teroforma that takes some of the guesswork out of flower arranging. Each vase – Bud, Cutting, Bouquet, Branch – describes what works best in it, and each is crafted of the same neutral white bisque porcelain, with a subtle yet referential etched motif. (teroforma.com) “We wanted to create a line of vases that provided a perfect visual anchor for fresh flowers. Clean shapes and surfaces are wonderful; they keep the focus on the flowers,” says Robbins.
The Museum of Modern Art’s store offered several interesting vases at this spring’s design preview in New York. French design team Charlotte Arnal and Francis Fevre’s Zouzous vase is a polycarbonate receptacle enrobed in a shaggy coat of colorful polypropylene bristles. Also at the MoMA store, Charlie Guda perches a narrow vial in front of a small yet powerful lens to magnify a single flower. Guda created the Big Bloom vase as homage to 18th century French physician Augustin-Jean Fresnel, who invented a lens to enhance the brightness of lighthouse lanterns and contributed to naval navigation safety. And Ricardo Saint Clair’s playful chalkboard-faced vase gives you a surface to add an image or a message, and comes complete with chalk. (momastore.org) Bliss Home and Design
Waterford’s Evolution Agate Collection features zebra, ocelot and agate designs rendered in glass.
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Waterford’s Evolution Agate Collection
has an array of ceramic vases with textural elements that add drama: The Pompon vase is festooned with white balls; the Sea Sponge is made of layers of glazed clay resembling fronds of ocean sponge, and Monkey Paw is made of dozens of iridescent ceramic blooms. (blisshomeanddesign.com) Toronto-based design outfit Chive has decided to focus solely on selling vases. At the NY Now show
Chive’s Pooley 2 fully glazed ceramic bud vases come in eight or 12 vase configurations.
in February, their booth was abuzz with buyers placing orders for Pooley 2, a cluster of glazed ceramic bud vases affixed to a slab, as well as the Hudson 4 collection of clear glass vessels in configurations ranging from simple single shapes (such as a hanging egg) to conjoined vases that form caterpillar or bubbles. A porcelain bird vase in gray, white, blue or black seems to rest on the flowers or greenery placed in a receptacle at its feet. (chive. com) Waterford’s Evolution series has some striking examples of artisanal glasswork. The Menagerie Trinidad vase interprets the markings of a graceful ocelot, while the Nairobi invokes the bold stripes of a zebra. The Agate vase was inspired by the colors and concentric bands of quartz agate. (macys.com)
year’s Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance and will make a return appearance this year to the prestigious car show. The classic car show is scheduled May 2-4 and will feature a special Mustang class in commemoration of the 50th anniversary. At age 65, Jones is old enough to remember the “hoopla” when the cars were introduced. “It was just so stunning, so different than anything that had ever been before,” he said. One of the things Jones likes about the Mustang is that the older models are relatively easy to work on for the carport mechanic. Many of today’s cars feature computerized equipment that requires special training. Jones called the classic Mustangs “very basic, very reliable. “They’re just a fun car,”
Jones said. “They turn heads.” Seaman didn’t give up on Mustangs after his first one bit the dust while he was in Vietnam in the early ’70s. He owned a 2004 Mustang Cobra for a while, but said it “just wasn’t the same” as his ’65. For Seaman’s 50th birthday 13 years ago, his wife bought him a ’65 Mustang similar to the one he owned as a teenager. Seaman said the car – which is all original save for a cherry-red paint job – still grabs attention when he drives it to Carolina Beach or anywhere else. “Every time I stop somewhere, people want to talk about it, and about the ones they had when they were young,” Seaman said. “I can rev up the engine and everybody looks and gives you a thumbs up.” The Mustang emblem is displayed on the side of Eastover resident Daniel Seaman’s red 1965 Ford. The car was a gift from his wife when he turned 50.