Desoto June 2014

June CONTENTS 2014 • VOLUME 11 • NO. 6

features

departments

60 The Wedding Gown A different, vintage choice.

By Chelle Ellis

18 Living Well Make moving day happy for pets.

By Chere Coen

42 Exploring Books Patton's "Southern as a Second Language" delights.

By Andrea Brown Ross

84 Table Talk Styling food at Memphis' Beauty Shop

By Devin Greaney

20 Living Real Clear-cut advice on diamond buying.

By Corey Latta

47 Exploring Cuisine Edible flowers make tables bloom.

By Brooke King

54 A Day Away… in Oxford, Mississippi.

38 Exploring Art Porcelain painters keep art alive.

By Karen Ott Mayer

51 Exploring Destinations Monmouth Historic Inn, DeSoto's "2014 Romantic Getaway Giveaway"

By Karen Ott Mayer

67 Minding Manners Be a southern gentleman on wedding day.

By Bobby Hickman 71 After the Big Day Building strong foundations early.

By Corey Latta

74 Coming Full Circle The Standridges ironic honeymoon story.

By Lazelle Jones

56 Greater Goods Memorable gifts for bridal parties.

80 Homegrown The McCarty's enduring pottery legacy.

By Ashley Buescher 82 In Good Spirits French 75 86 Exploring Events 88 Quirks Our weird little worlds.

By Karen Ott Mayer

23 Introducing the

“I do” couples.

editor’s note} june

“Yes” With one word, it all begins. Two lives merge, and in between, the parties begin, plans are made and vows taken. Just as countless couples have begun their lives together, DeSoto this month celebrates the wedding season by marrying inspirational stories to you, our readers. Even the most cynical armchair critics can't deny the beauty and light found behind every bride's smile. It's contagious! From well-known loves like that of McCarty's Pottery (page 80) to the quieter stories like our 2013 vacation contest winners, the Standridges, it’s truly a refreshing time of year.

With Corey and Bobby, grooms can’t go wrong. Corey takes us into the interesting world of diamond buying on page 20 while Bobby helps all the guys learn how to be the perfect southern gentleman on page 67.

Meanwhile, Chelle explores the quintessential piece, the wedding gown. How about wearing a celebrity’s gown or one worn in a movie? Yes, it is possible.

And just in case the new in-laws don’t quite understand the South, let author Lisa Patton make life easier and funnier in her newly-released novel “Southern as a Second Language”. Not only entertaining, it’s truly a bridge to understanding southern culture.

So what if you’re not a bride or getting married? No worries, we still have you covered. This month marks the start of our annual Romantic Getaway Giveaway. This year, we’re proud to be working with Monmouth Historic Inn located in Natchez, Mississippi. The new owners, Warren and Nancy Reuther, are taking this well-known favorite to new heights. With lovely gardens, the in-house Restaurant 1818, and Natchez minutes away, Monmouth charms through

JUNE 2014 • VOL. 11 NO. 6

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mandy Armstrong EDITOR Karen Ott Mayer PHOTOGRAPHY Ashley Buescher Chelius Carter Devin Greaney EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Ashley Beuscher Cheré Coen

its authenticity of place. Throw your name in the hat! We’d love to see you sneak away It’s summer and the days are just right for reading in the hammock. Enjoy!

Chelle Ellis Devin Greaney Bobby Hickman Lazelle Jones Brooke King

Karen

Corey Latta Karen Ott Mayer

Published by DeSoto Media Co. 2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.461 7

on the cover Mr. and Mrs. Jason Shafizadeh make a fairy-tale like entrance into the world as a married couple, enjoying a carriage ride in historic Savannah where they took their vows on June 22, 2013.

Fax 662.449.581 3 www.DeSotoMagazine.com © 2014 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly by DeSoto Media Co. Parties interested in advertising should email paula@desotomag.com or call 662.429.4617. Visit us online at www.desotomagazine.com.

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dear desoto} Dear Readers: We love hearing from you. Drop us a line if you have comments, questions or suggestions related to our editorial features and/or departments. Email our editor, Karen, at karen@desotomag.com or write to: 2375 Memphis St., Ste 205, Hernando, MS 38632.

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living well} Tips for moving pets to new home

Moving Fido Tips for moving pets to new home.

By Cheré Coen • Photos courtesy of pettravelexperts.com

M

oving can be stressful on even the hardiest of souls but it’s equally or more upsetting to pets.

Instituting a plan of action will help make the move go smoothly for both pets and their owners.

Before you leave, become familiar with the laws of the city you are moving to, including pet ordinances, leash laws and pet licensing requirements.

Pet health certificates are sometimes needed to transport animals from one place to another, said Ken Gordon, veterinarian at Senatobia Animal Hospital.

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Check the state department of agriculture or the state veterinarian’s office of your new home for state law information while a city clerk’s office, local humane organization or animal control facility will help with local ordinances. Also, before you move into the new house or apartment, be sure to check the landlord’s requirements concerning pets.

Have your pet’s health information with you as you travel, which will also make it easier to pass on to a vet in your new home. It’s also a good idea to

choose a new vet before you make the move, suggests TripsWithPets.com. Ask your current vet for a referral or research new veterinarians online. And before you leave, make sure all pets have new ID tags with the pet’s name, your name, new address and telephone number.

As you pack for the trip and begin moving, it’s wise to leave the pets at a friend’s or family member’s house, a pet boarding facility or day care so they won’t get in the way or escape, plus not be stressed by the disruption of their home. If that option isn’t available, place your pets in a quiet, closed-off room with adequate food and water and a “Do Not Enter” sign on the door to alert the movers.

For the trip, discuss medication options with your veterinarian. About 50 percent of animals will experience motion sickness and throw up in the car, Gordon said, so sedatives or medicines for car sickness may be in order.

Gordon recommends Acepromazine as a mild sedative for animals that experience anxiety and sickness. The drug last about six to eight hours, Gordon said. A good medication for carsickness that’s not a sedative is Cerenia, he added, as well as Dramamine. The over-the-counter Benadryl works for both symptoms as well. Gordon recommends pet owners contact their veterinarians before giving their pets any medication, to determine proper dosages.

Use common sense when you travel, Gordon said, and do not leave animals in hot or cold situations or exposed to unsafe situations or weather conditions. Make sure pets are properly restrained in the vehicle, whether with pet seat belts, car seats or travel crates. Take your pets on car trips before the move to acclimate them to the car. Stop often to let animals stretch their legs and relieve themselves, always keeping pets on leashes.

If you are traveling by plane, TripsWithPets.com advises to check with your veterinarian and the airline for specific pet policies and procedures. Some animals will travel through the cargo hold but many airplanes now allow certain pets to ride within the cabin.

There are many hotels that allow pets and TripsWithPets.com has a handy list. Again, check with individual hotels for pet policies and added fees.

Once you get to your new home, keep animals in a safe, quiet place until everything is moved in. Pets will take time to familiarize and adjust to the new surroundings, cats more so than dogs, Gordon said.

“Cats don’t like to have their environment change,” he said. “It takes them a while to adjust. Dogs are more happy-go-lucky but they may need time as well.”

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living real} romancing the stone

Romancing the Stone

By Corey Latta • Photo courtesy of robbinsbrothers.com

A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, But Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Leo Robin

About marriage, poet and artist Kahlil Gibran once wrote, “Marriage is the golden ring in a chain whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is Eternity.”

Before this beautifully romantic sentiment actualizes into honeymoons, new memories, and deepening joys, a boy has to go shopping for a girl.

Before two lovers wear that golden ring of Eternity, a boy has first to buy the all-important engagement ring.

Few decisions carry more weight than choosing the 22 DeSoto

right ring and few the fellas who feel qualified to make the right choice. Deciding on a diamond is no small task, especially when trying to decipher the market.

Picking the perfect ring begins by finding the right jeweler. Adrianne Huntsman, sales associate at Doris McLendon Jewelers in Germantown, Tennessee, believes strongly in the importance of the customerjeweler connection.

“We become friends!” Huntsman boasts about

those satisfied couples. “Choosing the ring is such an important personal decision and we get into the couple’s personal life through the process. We always hear such great praise stories from happy costumers.” Jewelers and sales associates are eager to establish a personal connection with all those grooms-tobe looking for just the right ring.

“The guys usually have an idea of what their girlfriend wants. They’ve done their research online and come into the store with some kind of idea, so we start with their idea and from there, help lead them to that perfect ring,” Huntsman says.

Finding that right ring starts with being intentional in creating personable connections with the jewelry store. Chuck Cooper of Van Atkins in New Albany, Mississippi, also speaks to the importance of engaging (pun, much intended) potential ring buyers. “We just try to listen to these guys. They often have an idea of what cut they want or what mounting. They usually know. It’s our job to meet them where they are and help them with the details,” says Cooper.

Cooper notes the extremely important example of budget. “We help them to stay on budget. That’s one of the main things. If the budget is $2,500, we will show the best quality and biggest diamond we can find them for $2,500.”

Once the process is underway, then begins the hard task of actually evaluating different diamonds. Huntsman talks about the key things to consider when choosing the stone. “We talk them through the cut of the diamond.” The diamond’s cut, which is often confused with shape, refers to the diamond’s symmetry, polish, and proportion of the diamond. “Cut doesn't mean round versus cushion or pear. Sparkle and shine really come from cut. Cut is extremely important. It can affect everything, and a bad cut can ruin a diamond,” Huntsman warns.

Along with a diamond’s cut, Huntsman advises buyers about certified diamonds. “Having a diamond certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the ‘Bible of certifications,’ will tell you the exact specifications of a diamond. It’s like a blueprint of what your diamond looks like.”

From cut to certifications, would be Romeos must turn to sizing up the shape of diamond and the right mount for their Juliets.

“We spend a lot of time with the shape of the diamond, whether they want round or oval, for example, and then we move to mountings and style.” says Cooper. Guys need to consider their choices, which include Estate rings designed to look like copies of Estates, and then there are modern mountings.”

How the ring looks on the finger is obviously important, so ring buyers want to think about the aesthetic value of each diamond’s shape and mounting’s style.

Guys may know their gals want size with their bling, in which case they might want to consider a Halo mount, a currently popular favorite that accentuates the diamond, making it look bigger.

In the midst of sifting through the nuts and bolts, mounts, payments, cuts and shapes, it’s also good to remember what matters most is the point of the ringthe big question itself. Beyond bling, size, and price tag, what ultimately matters are those four words, “Will you marry me?” Cooper at Van Atkins offers a heartfelt reminder, “We tell the guy that how they propose is most important.

The ring doesn't have to be fancy, it needs to mean something to them as a couple.”

A last consideration, and one possibly forgotten in the throws of a big decision, is to just have fun. Cooper reminds that fun is part of the process.

“These guys are extremely excited! Whoever said that guys don't like to shop doesn't know what they are talking about. Being a jeweler is a fun job, giving people happiness. We get lots of text messages and hear great, happy stories.”

A symbol of eternity, the engagement ring means more than the diamond.

With basic knowledge, however, even the most inexperienced can make that decision--and have fun through it all.

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exploring art} Porcelain painters keep lost art alive

A Layer of Paint, a Layer of Patience

By Karen ott Mayer • Photos by Karen ott Mayer

It all starts with a clean, crisp piece of porcelain. From there, the future is open depending on the stroke of a brush.

Porcelain artists paint on vases, boxes, plates, cups and more. With increased skill and expertise, artists tend to find their own styles and preferences while keeping an old craft alive in the South.

Jane Little of Dyersburg, Tennessee began painting over 40 years ago in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

As part of the Northwest Tennessee Porcelain painter's guild, Little has shown at the Dyer County Fair in a division devoted to china painters. Little's work has earned five Best of Shows during the 1990s. While she has painted all types of subjects, she prefers portraiture.

When she and her husband moved to Atlanta, she continued to paint there as well. With a husband who was a pilot, Little says she looked for a hobby to pass the time. She doesn't sell her pieces. "The amount of time required to produce a piece, I'd have to charge a

fortune!" It's not unusual for a painter to own several kilns as they progress over time.

Like any artist, Little gravitated to a particular style.

"I love the Meissen porcelain painters. Meissen is a German town near Dresden," says Little. The Meissen technique tends to be very crisp, showing off the bright white nature of the porcelain.

Little dabbled in other venture like ceramics and glass bending, but when she discovered porcelain, she never looked back.

"Not everybody can do it. I like the look of it." She cites the Japanese as being very accomplished porcelain painters.

Intricate and slow, porcelain painting requires a quiet patience. "You got to do it right," says Little. It's a building process. "You start by laying out your pattern. You protect your highlights or light colors from day one, and to achieve that depth or accomplish a look, you layer on the paint.

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“Trust, Like fine china, once broken can be repaired, but it is never quite the same..�

- Unknown

that artists must first learn how to mix. Powdered paints are mixed with lavender or mineral oil. Unlike the pottery process, the porcelain firing process requires multiple firings in a kiln. With a technique akin to watercolor painting, artists begin with the lighter tones and build darker tones over time and firing. Fine flowers, birds, faces, vines and more emerge through careful application and firing,

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challenging the painters with the many stages required to a final product.

Little embarked on one particularly meaningful project that took more than a year.

"My twin sister who lived in Natchez had a table cloth that was brought back from Germany. On the tablecloth were embroidered scenes. I painted 12 plates that matched those scenes."

Today, the set of plates and the table cloth live at Routhland, an antebellum home located in Natchez.

Like Little, Beth Heck of Memphis, Tennessee picked up the craft with no background in painting or art. Her first encounter with porcelain painting was in Louisiana in the 1980s.

"My husband's aunt was a china painter," she says. She didn't pick up a brush until their next move to West Tennessee. There, her mother's bridge-playing friend also painted and her interest grew.

"I went to a seminar in Ripley, Tenn. on china painting that was given by Barbara Walker who now lives in North Carolina.�

Her first project was a plate. "I painted violets and only one color."

In her collection today, Heck's works are rich in number and talent. From small oval portraits to baby shoes to oriental plates, the fine colors and pen strokes combine to create refined masterpieces.

Heck reiterates one of Little's sentiments.

"It teaches patience."

She also notes another reality of the art.

"It's an expensive hobby! Once you start painting, you'll see pieces to buy and it's easy to become a hoarder of white china," she says with a laugh. Heck owns four kilns and explains the science of firing can be as intensive as the painting. "Different colors fire at different temperatures." For instance, red doesn't need as hot of a temperature. Heck has studied with many teachers from all over the world and has developed a particular finesse for oriental designs and portraits. She studied for two weeks with Jane Marcks, a portrait painter and another teacher who actually worked at the Miessen factory for years. Heck paints mostly for pleasure but occasionally does accept commissions for brides and bridal parties.

For those painters who continue to meet, study and create, their fascination leaves a fragile legacy to be enjoyed.

"It's a dying art," says Heck.

To learn more about porcelain painting, visit www.porcelainpainters.com

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exploring books} southern as a second language

Love and

Language Lisa Patton’s “Southern as a Second Language” takes readers on an unpredictable journey to happily ever after.

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“So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women - and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also won’t do in your essays.” ― N.H. Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society

By Andrea Brown Ross • Photography Courtesy of Headline images & St. Martin’s Press

The road to marital bliss is not always peachy, as Memphis native and best selling author, Lisa Patton depicts in “Southern as a Second Language”, the recently-released third novel in her Dixie trilogy.

Sometimes, that very bliss can become further confused by words.

Depending on the where you are in the world, perhaps your love interest is wooing you with romantic phrases like “te amo”, “je t’aime”, or “I love you a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck”. A bushel and peck and a hug around the neck? For many in the South, this is not an unfamiliar phrase; however, for those not from this neck of the woods, they may be

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wondering what is a bushel and a peck. Such is the case of Patton’s main character LeeLee Satterfield.

In “Southern as a Second Language” Satterfield has returned home to Memphis to begin a new chapter in her life. After moving to Vermont with her two young daughters and the husband who had been the love of her young life, Satterfield painfully tried to adjust to a new life as innkeeper and restaurant owner. When her husband unexpectedly abandoned her and the business, Satterfield ultimately decided to leave Vermont and return to the South.

Upon returning home, Satterfield had to once again learn to adjust. The happily-ever-after life she had once

had in Memphis was now a thing of the past. She is no longer sipping peach daiquiris on the porch of a comfortable home with a handsome hubby. Now, she is a single mother living on a significantly reduced income. Calling upon lessons learned in Vermont, Satterfield decides to open a restaurant and catering business in Memphis. And with the support from her three beloved childhood friends, how could she possibly fail?

In an attempt to help smooth the transition, her forever faithful childhood friends collaborate to get

Satterfield’s former chef and recent love interest, Peter, to move to Memphis. With Peter, “Yankee Doodle Dixie” as her friends refer to him, now helping Satterfield with her new business, their relationship begins to blossom. As they spend more time together, they begin to realize their communication is geographically challenged. Unfamiliar with southern colloquialisms and baffled with statements such as “bless your heart”, Peter attempts to decipher Southerners’ true intentions when they speak.

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learns about such things as Southerners’ affinity for Memphis barbecue and tailgating at The Grove.

Further complicating matters for Satterfield is the surprise return of her ex-husband, Baker. When Baker pleads his case for reconciliation, Satterfield questions the viability of her relationship with Peter. Can she find her happily ever after? Will it be with her Southern gentlemen of an ex-husband, or her “Yankee Doodle Dixie”?

Like some of her favorite Southern writers such as Fannie Flagg and Harper Lee, Patton chronicles the uniquely Southern, from the Delta sorority girls to the humble hired women who act as second mothers.

Living in Vermont for a few years herself provided new perspective.

“It brought on a new appreciation for the South, particularly the warmer temperatures,” says Patton.

Readers will notice a symbol on each of her Dixie books: The peach.

Undeniably, Patton treasures her memories of Memphis and the people here. Although she no longer lives in Memphis, Patton stays true to her Southern upbringing by being hospitable and accommodating to visitors of Franklin, Tenn.

“Memphis, unlike any other city in the South with perhaps the exception of New Orleans, has an abundance of heart and soul. It’s a rarity, and for this reason, I will always be proud to consider Memphis my home.” In fact, she is working on her fourth novel, which will also be set in Memphis.

And for the record, Patton’s favorite “Southernism” is “all y’all.” Patton explains.

“Y’all can mean just two, but all y’all means at least three.”

For more information on Lisa Patton, including inquiries from book clubs, visit www.lisapatton.com.

Dixie Trilogy • Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’Easter • Yankee Doodle Dixie • Southern as a Second Language

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exploring cuisine} edible flowers

Favoring Flowers

By Brooke King • Photography Courtesy of createdinagarden.com and thetasterevelation.com

Above: asparagus with edible flowers Left: edible flower salad

When the flower garden meets the dinner plate, new culinary ideas bloom. Finding ways to incorporate edible flowers into your cuisine can open a whole new world of nutrition and culinary curiosity.

Flowers have been part of cuisine since ancient times.

From simple salads and garnishes to exotic vinegars, syrups, and oils, flowers add a dimension to food that is at once magical and entirely natural. And flowers are more than just a pretty face, as many provide nutritional value and can also offer medicinal benefits. Roses, nasturtiums, portulacas, and chives are all rich in Vitamin C, while chamomile and lavender are recognized for their soothing effects.

Konrad Spitzbart, chief pastry chef at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee uses edible flowers in his creations. “About ten years ago we only had the choice of pansies and orchids, and you would see those on every plate,” he says. “Now we have every kind, color, size, and blooms of every herb you can think of. A plate with a few

blooms would give an instant “Wow” in color, no limits anymore.”

Introducing edible flowers to guests can liven any party.

A beautiful salad topped with brilliant orange marigold petals and a platter of rich stuffed squash blossoms could be just the start. Staples of Mid-South gardens such as marigolds, nasturtiums, begonias and pansies are easy to find and easy to incorporate into menus. Blossoms like begonias, pansies, and dandelion add beauty and texture to salads. Consider filling blooms such as squash blossoms or nasturtium with herbed cream cheese or tuna or egg salad.

Buds or petals can be frozen into ice cubes to provide visual interest and a hint of flavor to summer cocktails. Consider plants that are native to your area as a starting point, being sure to research their edibility before you put them into your dishes.

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well. Garden Coordinator Sheila Clyatt says members “have an herb circle filled with different herbs that our volunteers have planted.” Garden members also plant their favorites in their own beds, including mint, artichoke, borage, and sunflowers. Community garden events are a fabulous opportunity to learn from others and trade recipes.

Flowers are a traditional and important part of many weddings. From bridesmaids’ posies to the groom’s boutonniere and the bride’s own bouquet, we use the language of flowers to express love, fidelity, purity, and simple joy. Brides even choose to adorn their wedding cakes with flowers, some of which are as integral a part of a cake’s delicious flavor as the fondant or filling. Chef Spitzbart uses candied flowers baked into pastries, mixed with chocolate, or as elegant decorations.

Above all, choose flowers with care: not all flowers are edible, and some may be dangerous. Choose plants that have not been treated with pesticides or grow near a roadside, where they may have come into contact with vehicle exhaust.

Chef Spitzbart suggests growing flowers yourself, or making sure to obtain them from a source that does not use sprays.

If you’re uncertain about a flower you’d like to use, consult a reputable reference before taking a bite. A few to consider are Elias and Dykeman’s "Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants" and "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants Eastern and Central North America" by Lee Allen Peterson.

Local nurseries and horticulturists can also provide guidance on plants found in your area.

V i o le t H e r b Sa la d 1 head of endive 1 T. finely chopped celery 1 T. finely chopped fennel stocks 1 T. chopped parsley 1 T chopped chervil 2 olives, finely chopped Salad dressing to taste 30 sweet violet petals

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Separate the endive leaves and place in a salad bowl. Add the remaining salad ingredients, including the herbs, and gently mix well. Address the dressing and toss. Sprinkle on the sweet violet petals

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exploring destinations} natchez’ monmouth

Magnificent

Monmouth Natchez’ Historic Home, Better Than Ever

By Karen ott Mayer • Photography Provided by Monmouth

It is early morning at Monmouth Historic Inn. A night rain left acres of winding brick-lined gravel paths damp and the air crisp. It is hard to discern if it is the extensive, English-styled gardens or the candlelit dinner the night before that distinguishes this place, but something gracefully elusive draws guests to this early 19th Century Greek Revival mansion located in Natchez, Mississippi.

Standing proudly on a slight rise just minutes from the heart of Natchez, Monmouth holds a long legacy beginning with its construction in 1818 by a local postmaster named John Hankinson to its present-day owners, Nancy and Warren Reuther. It is not without the heavy history of many antebellum properties that have seen equal parts of wealth, ruin, occupation and freedom. In 1978, Ronald and Lani Riches purchased the property, beginning a restoration that continues today and guarding a significant piece of architectural history.

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Purchased in 2012 by Nancy and Warren Reuther, Monmouth Historic Inn enters a new phase in its legacy. With extensive hotel and tourism experience, the New Orleans, Louisiana natives are resolved to guard the strong tradition while introducing the next level of refinement and service.

“We are making appropriate changes and bringing it back to its glory,” says Nancy Reuther.

Rightfully, Reuther turned her first attentions to one of Monmouth’s greatest assets: The gardens. Immaculate, the gardens retain a formal design near the house, unfolding across the 26-acre property into more casual strolling paths that connect guest rooms, the house, the lake and nature trails. Filled with formal Holly and Boxwood hedges, roses, statuary and herbs, the garden naturally draws guests outdoors to celebrate weddings, proposals, romance-and fun.

“We’ve added a croquet court and it’s fun to watch people enjoy it. My husband also loves to fish, so we now have catch-and-release fishing in the pond,” says Reuther. While recreation may interest some, it’s really the romantic nature of the entire property that has earned it countless designations and awards. Most recently, Monmouth Historic Inn garnered a new distinction as part of the Southern Living Hotel Collection. In 2013, Monmouth joined other select independent hotels in the South such as the 4,200-acre Blackberry Farm and the Wentworth Mansion with historic pedigrees and high-end specialized service.

“We are really excited about this designation. When I first heard about it, I knew immediately we wanted to be recognized as one of these properties,” says Reuther.

Already a National Historic Landmark, Monmouth has received numerous accolades including a 4-Diamond rating from AAA and Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. The 30 rooms include 14 rooms in the main house or 16 luxury suites, located in garden cottages or the carriage house.

Each room is unique.

“Guests love the teester beds,” says Reuther.

It’s no wonder Monmouth is a favorite destination for proposals and weddings. Anyone searching for a romantic spot can choose from the bridge or lake (complete with the Monmouth ducks), a Wisteria-laden pergola, or a quiet place call the Sanctuary.

Restaurant 1818 serves gourmet, a la carte Southern cuisine in the newlyrefurbished Men’s and Ladie’s Parlors. Authentically furnished, the rooms still contain period crystal gasoliers and reproduction chandeliers made by Waterford Crystal in Ireland. Above in the upper foyer, guests can see the original parlor furnishings, including a courting bench. Breakfast is served in the garden room.

“We have added new items to breakfast and we offer both tableside service and buffet-style breakfast,” says Reuther.

Summer 2014 promises to offer guests many travel options, including special summer rates. “We are excited to introduce Monmouth to those who haven’t had the chance to experience the property,” says Carrie Lambert, Marketing Director at Monmouth.

Reuther adds another thought about the home that is nearly 200 years old now. “It’s still here...and better than ever.” www.monmouthhistoricinn.com

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gift guide} gifts for bridesmaids

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gift guide} gifts for groomsmen

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gift guide} newlyweds

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Yesterday’s Bride

By Chelle Ellis • Photography by Chelius Carter

T

he wedding gown is as much a piece of art as it is a garment, handed down from generation to generation, and often finding its way into a permanent collection as a cherished heirloom. Designs may change and costs may vary, but every gown holds a cherished story, if only for the bride herself. Whether housed in an attic, a box in the closet or a national museum, wedding gowns live interesting lives.

The Marshall County Historical Museum in Holly Springs, Mississippi has a dozen antique wedding gowns on display, spanning from the 1850s to the 1950s. One gown in particular, owned by a bride named Maria Brodie Mason, is the favorite of Museum Director, Chelius Carter. “Maria Brodie Mason’s gown was the classic shape of that period with a tight waist, full skirt and ballooned elbows. Holly Springs was a town of affluence and prosperity and their outer wear showed it. The majority of our garments came from families here in Marshall County, so we have fine examples of women's clothing on display,” Carter explains.

Brodie came from a wealthy family in Nashville, Tennessee and married Carrington Mason of Holly Springs in 1860 at age 19. Her father-in-law, William F. Mason, built Hamilton Place in 1840, the first large colonial home in Holly Springs and the Gothic Revival Magnolias in 1850.

The Masons began their marriage living in Memphis, but moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi to evade the dangers of The Civil War. As described in "Shadow of a Mighty Rock" by Robert Milton Winter, "When war became inevitable, William Mason advised his son to come to Holly Springs where things would be quieter. Little did he know that Holly Springs would be the site of Grant's occupation." The young couple purchased William DeSoto 63

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“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

- Dr. Seuss

F. Mason's original house Hamilton Place, remaining there until after the Civil War. Maria Brodie Mason recalls watching the Federal troops march past her house at the end of what is now Memphis Street and down then a "dog-leg" of the Oxford Road that turned at her father-in-law's house, Magnolias at the corner, just west of her house.

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Mason’s wedding dress can be viewed along with other pieces of historical clothing displayed on three floors at the Marshall County Historical Museum. Events, hours and location are listed on their website: marshallcountymuseum.com Any bride-to-be seeking a vintage gown or movie memorabilia gown should visit the online world of antiquedress.com. Here, Deborah Burke lists her new, old things on the website, but never knows what the next thing is going to be. “Everything listed is original antique or movie memorabilia. I get brides who ask, can you get me this in a different size?

Sadly, no. Everything is a one-of-akind piece,” says Burke. Burke lists the measurements and detailed condition of the gowns, to make sure the right dress will fit the bride so she is happy and comfortable.

“While the gowns aren't necessarily fragile, they are old. So the bride has to be comfortable in a vintage gown, knowing that she will have to be careful in the way she moves.”

Currently listed on the website is a near mint 1912 white embroidered lace net slight trained gown, in size 2/4 with buttons up the back for $1,245. Burke deduces from the gown’s pristine and white condition that it was never worn. She warns of two very slight breaks in the netting but dares anyone to find them.

For $1,175, Burke offers a 1910 Edwardian ecru silk satin trained wedding gown with silk fringe made by Foller Gowns, Baltimore, in size 0. The gown has a beautiful handmade lace yoke and neck, dramatic fringed lace panels at the bust-line, with silk fringe all over the edges of the gown, front and back.

She lists the gown in excellent condition on the exterior, with the only found flaw to be a small water stain on the hemline. She warns however, that like most Edwardian gowns, the lining of this gown is shredding and will need to be replaced if worn. Burke further advises that the gown just fits the DeSoto 65

mannequin modeling it, but reminds her shoppers that mannequins don’t breathe or move, so the perfect bride for this dress would need to be even smaller.

If a bride hopes for a little drama on her wedding day, Burke offers movie memorabilia clothing, with a few wedding gown options. Listed at $9,500 is the ivory silk brocade gown worn by French actress Judith Godreche in the 1998 version of “The Man in the Iron Mask” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Burke judges this movie 1670 French style gown and worn off-the-shoulder to be in excellent condition. The dress has huge balloon sleeves with lace cuffs, a long torso and extreme full skirt with the bodice embroidered with gold lace trim and pearls. Burke advises the buyer to purchase elsewhere, a Renaissance hip roll underpinning and a huge slip for the gown to look like it did in the movie.

For $4,850 you can walk down the aisle in one of the dresses worn in the 1954 movie, “Desiree”. The size 2/4 ivory satin and gold “Regency” or “Jane Austen” trained, appliquéd braid and sequined gown was worn by one of the sisters of Marlon Brando’s Napoleon character. Burke warns that these gowns are vintage Hollywood movie memorabilia gowns, and therefore, have "costume" detailing.

Mov ie memorabilia pieces are sometimes more costume in construction so although they look exquisite, the interior might be different than what you would expect or the zipper may be heavier than normal.

“The thing about antique or movie memorabilia clothing is...they are what they are. It's a special customer that wants a vintage or movie memorabilia gown. They are looking for something really, really special.”

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on being a

Southern

Gentlemen

By Bobby L. Hickman • Photography Courtesy of healthyfocustoday.com

Does being a Southern gentleman really matter anymore?

In the hustle and bustle of the modern age – cell phones, Facebook, more casual public attire and a breakdown in public civility – it is tempting to think that the thoughtful manners of a well-bred gentleman are, like Rhett Butler and Ashley Wilkes, gone with the wind.

But the need for Southern gentlemen remains strong.

“At the Emily Post Institute, we notice that certain people in the South are a little more focused on etiquette,” says Peter Post, a director of the institute and great-grandson of Emily Post. “There is a little more structure to the rules and the expectations for people in the South.” Post continues.

“There’s just a little more formality -- an expectation of knowing the etiquette involved in whatever type of situation you are going into – than in other parts of the country.”

And nowhere is the need for a cultured Southern gentleman stronger than at a wedding. Here are some tips for guests and members of the wedding party alike to help ensure a happy wedding day.

A Member of the Wedding The duties of the male members of the wedding party have changed little over the years (see sidebar), but questions abound.

“The first question I get from the groom is what his responsibilities are,” says wedding planner Crystal Strickland, owner of Southern Posies in Montgomery, Alabama.

“Sometimes it can be fuzzy about what the groom and his family handles versus the bride’s family.”

In a traditional wedding, the groom is expected to “be supportive and stay out of the way,” says John Bridges of Nashville, author of “How to Be a Gentleman.” A major task is “running interference whenever necessary between his own parents and the brides’ parents,” Bridges adds.

The main duties for the best man are “making sure the groom is there on time” and “keeping the ring handy,” Bridges notes. He also leads and coordinates the other men in the party.

Post, the author of “Essential Manners for Men” notes more best men are finding creative alternatives to the traditional bachelor party at a restaurant or bar. For example, his nephew arranged a two-day canoeing and camping trip on the Connecticut River for his groom-brother and his groomsmen. “ I tho ught that was a g reat idea to bui ld s ome camaraderie.”

The prime directive for groomsmen is “doing whatever the bride and groom tell you to do,” says Bridges. “Young guys in particular need to remember to behave themselves and watch how much they drink. You accept an honor when you agree to be part of somebody else’s wedding. They want you to be part of the fun: they don’t want you causing trouble.

Bridges notes the main negative issues he has seen at weddings come after “a bunch of guys go out and party after the rehearsal dinner. Then, they show up in really bad shape.

That’s thoughtless. It seems like fun at the time but it’s probably making a really bad memory to do that.”

Bride’s Side or Groom’s?

For anyone putting on a wedding, “the number one frustration is wedding guests who have been invited and don’t respond,” says Post. “It is inexcusable for a person who receives an RSVP invitation not to at least respond with a note to say you received the invitation and you will give them an answer by such-and-such a date.”

Bridges adds, that if you really don’t know the people being wed and feel you’re just being invited because of work relationship, for example, “there is no reason to feel you have to go -- but let them know.”

Also, Bridges says, if the invitation is addressed directly to you, don’t assume you can bring a date or a guest. “If it doesn’t say ‘Jimmy Smith and guest’, it probably just means Jimmy Smith.” Also, if you accept the invitation “unless something really awful happens, you show up.,” Bridges adds.

Gift giving is “foreign turf to men because they don’t go to a lot of weddings, and are not used to dealing with bridal registries,” Bridges said. Many men do not know to ask where DeSoto 69

the bride is registered (although Southern men might be more used to that question than others), Bridges continues. Today more couples are registering at department stores like Target. “It may be easier for a guy to think about giving a coffeemaker they’ve asked for rather than china and silver.”

If you are invited to the reception, Bridges and Post say, send a gift. Do not take it to the wedding – send it to the bride in advance.

Post says he has been surprised at weddings over the last few years by how many people (especially men) show up dressed informally – even in shorts and a T-shirt. “Show respect for the people who invited you,” he said. “It doesn’t take much to wear a coat and tie. If you dress yourself up too much, you can always dress yourself down later.”

Sometimes the couple may say in advance that more casual dress is acceptable (such as at an outdoor or beach wedding). “The bride and groom can set the tone for their wedding – it’s nothing other than what they want it to be, and people should reflect that,” Post adds. If you are not sure about the dress code, call someone in the wedding party and find out. “Wear socks,” adds Bridges, “which we don’t always do in the South in the summertime.”

Turn off your cell phone, don’t text and do not take photos during the ceremony – even if other people are doing so. Often the bride and groom specifically ask people not to take photos and post them on social media.

“Focus on people there and enjoying the party, not your ability to be the first to post a picture of the bride and groom.”

Reception behavior is important for guests, too, Bridges says. “If you are there as a single person and there is dancing, you ask women to dance. If you are there as an extra man, that may be one of the reasons you are there.” If there is a receiving line, pass through it.

“A gentleman has fun without causing problems,” Bridges adds. For example, “Wait until the cake is cut before you eat cake” He recalls attending a wedding several years ago at an exclusive Nashville country club. An older member of a prominent local family “went up to the cake with a spoon and 70 DeSoto

filled up a plate with icing before the cake was cut.”

For everyone – groomsmen and guests alike – Post says the biggest mistake people make occurs when the event “becomes about them instead of about the bride and groom. Remember this is their day, and the actions you take are probably going to be well received by the people at the wedding.”

Check List Groom :

• Understand the traditional expenses for you and your family, including the engagement and wedding rings; rehearsal dinner costs; and flowers for all members of the bridal party.

• Share your opinions during the planning process.

• Run “interference” between your parents and the bride’s family.

• Perform your assigned tasks promptly and correctly.

• Help the best man manage the groomsmen.

• Provide thank-you gifts to your best man and groomsmen.

• Prepare your toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception.

Best Man:

• Understand expectations and costs before you accept the role.

• Plan the bachelor party.

• Keep the ring handy for the ceremony.

• “Wrangle” the other groomsmen: bow ties straight, shirts tucked in, standing in the right position in line, etc.

• Make the wedding toast.

Groomsmen:

• “Do whatever the bride and groom tell you to do,” according to John Bridges.

• Understand your duties and your deadlines.

• Wear appropriate attire to the rehearsal dinner.

• Lend a helping hand. Offer to pick up someone at the airport; ask ladies to dance; help make everyone feel comfortable.

• Have fun, but take care of others first.

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“They say all marriages are made in heaven, but so are thunder and lightning.” ― Clint Eastwood

What To Do after the

I do?

By Corey Latta

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Planning a wedding, while joyous, is hard. It is stressful. It is time consuming. It can create conflict. It just isn’t easy. A lot of time, money, and thought go into planning a wedding. We quickly learn what to do to plan for “I do,” but how many newlyweds are aware of the work that follows those lifechanging nuptials? What do you do after, “I do?’

Establishing a new life together initially requires laying a cobblestone foundation, the stones of which might range widely from repairing broken relationships, making space for the other’s possessions, changing cell phone plans, or finding new mutual friends. Realistically, many newlyweds don’t know how to start piling stones. Here, experienced voices provide important insights into beginning life after the ceremony and ways to start building a strong foundation.

Ken Easley, pastor and christian educator at the Olford Center at Union University in Memphis, communicates a helpful list of foundational to-dos.

“First, tell each other ‘I love you’ often, especially when leaving for work.” He continues, advising couples to “commit to participate in a faith community together.” This deeply personal commitment establishes life rhythms that will go onto to enrich the entire marriage. In fact, life rhythms and daily habits almost always become defining markers of a new marriage. Considering how often you eat together or do chores together is essential for newlyweds.

“For at least one meal a day, sit down together at the table, and create daily times that are media free: no TV, cell phones, or laptops,” Easley emphasizes.

This level of intentionality in those crucial first few post-I-do months will communicate how important quality time is to your spouse. Feelings of security and value are born through healthy time habits. Easley encourages the newly hitched “to go on a date on the same day of the month as your wedding day for the entire first year.” If you marry on June 1st, then make the first of every month a mini-anniversary. Keep that habit up and watch your marriage flourish.

Other mundane, yet important considerations after exchanging vows includes the practical. “Experiment with

which side of the bed each partner gets the best night’s sleep,” says Easley. Without solid sleep, it makes for rough days ahead.

The mundane moments of a new marriage are as important as the early big emotional highs and joys. The simplest tasks like chore assignments or who fixes breakfast versus who covers dinner can help build or weaken a new foundation.

These seemingly smaller items become even more important if both spouses work or go to school.

Communication is the lifeblood of a relationship. Glenda Murray, therapist at La Paloma Treatment Center in Memphis, offers starting spouses invaluable advice from a counselor’s standpoint. To add to the Easley’s foundational, pastoral advice, Murray holds one strong dictum. “ Don't stop dating! Life has a way of robbing us of time, keeping us very busy, so take time to enjoy life together and live in the moment,” says Murray.

Centering much of her advice on the importance of communication, Murray explains, “Communication is key and healthy communication is not taught to us. Don't assume you know what your spouse is thinking just because you know one another so well. Sometimes we fall into this trap.” One inevitable aspect of communication that many newlyweds struggled with is conflict. Honing your communicative skills and trying to increase your capacity for conflict resolution is very important.

“There will be conflict at some point,” says Murray.

A constructive way to negotiate conflict is to appreciate your spouse’s differences. Murray encourages couples to not only appreciate but also “educate yourself about those differences.”

In educating yourself about what makes your spouse uniquely him or her, the art of listening will prove key. Murray carefully distinguishes between actually listening what often passes for listening with couples. “Actively listen. Don't just hear.” Why is your spouse saying that? What motivation might there be lying beneath his words? What defense mechanism or form of self-protection could be causing him to react that way? The class never ends and there is always something new to learn.

Murray affirms that, “sharing household chores is very

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important if both parties work, so issues like who will take care of finances matter a great deal.”

Perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice Murray gives to newlyweds is don't sweat the small stuff. Making a big deal out of small matters creates unnecessary cracks in a marriage’s foundation.

“Choose your battles,” she says.

Marriage is like building a great work of architecture, and no building worth marveling at was built hastily on a poor foundation. There are certainly important matters that must be attended to, conflicts worth engaging in, and battles worth fighting.

Knowing which hills to die on and which hills call for you to raise the right flag will go a long way in determining how strong a foundation lies beneath.

A wedding happens for one day. A marriage, begun right, lasts forever. In the planning, it’s natural to want the most memorable ceremony.

When the family leaves and it’s only two people looking forward, it’s time to move those relational and practical s tones in plac e for a s trong foundation.

Easley’s Communication Absolutes: • Never talk about finances with your parents or siblings. “You are to first speak with your spouse, and depending on the sensitivity of the issues, possibly only your spouse.”

• To the new husbands: Never ever say, “But my mother did it (or cooked it) another way. Trust me, your wife will not receive that well!”

• To the new wifes: “Gals, guys are gross and disgusting creatures. Deal with it.”

Above: Gene and Lillian Standridge.

Their wedding in 1966.

Oakland United Methodist Church

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Coming Full Circle

By Lazelle Jones • Photography Courtesy of Lillian Standridge

When Gene and Lillian Standridge of Tillatoba, Mississippi married 48 years ago, little did they know an ironic twist of fate would bring them right back to The Red Apple Inn & Country Club in Heber Springs, Arkansas where they originally honeymooned. In 2013, the Standridges won DeSoto Magazine’s annual vacation giveaway when their name was pulled randomly for a complimentary stay, of all places, at The Red Apple Inn. “I couldn’t believe it,” says Lillian.

Located on Greer Island at Greer’s Ferry Lake in the Arkansas Ozarks, it was here at the Red Apple Inn back in 1966 where the Standridges stole away for their honeymoon after being married at the Oakland United Methodist Church where they had grown up in Oakland, Mississippi.

Lillian lived in Oakland and Gene lived five miles away in Tillatoba and the two had been sweethearts through high school and the years immediately following.

“He was just too cute,” says Lillian.

In her lace suit with her sister as her maid of honor, Lillian married Gene in what she calls a real southern wedding. “We had magnolias and she carried a single magnolia.”

Today, they live in Tillatoba, the small country town where they raised their daughter and spent their married lives. Still working in their careers (Lillian has been with the Army Corp of Engineers for 47 years and Gene does contract work from

their home), they remain close to their roots, their family, and their heritage. Theirs has been a journey-through-life and it started out at the Red Apple Inn, a lodge that opened just three years before this couple married.

“It’s remarkable the Inn is still there,” says Lillian. The couple has only returned once since their honeymoon and she found it relatively unchanged.

Fifty-plus years old, the Red Apple Inn has been around almost as long as Hawaii and Alaska have been states. This long history of accommodating guests simply underscores that these folks continue to remain on top of their game by hosting folks and events, offering provincial lodging and amenities at their best, featuring five star dining, and an 18-hole golf course.

Each year the wedding planners at the Red Apple Inn help plan and arrange dozens of weddings and welcome honeymooners. Another 75 honeymooning couples just like the Standridges head to the romantic destination to start their marriage.

The Standridges heard about the Red Apple Inn from an aunt living in Memphis who suggested this would be an excellent place to honeymoon at. Today, honeymooners continue to flock to this halcyon setting, to enjoy the peace and quiet, rustic but elegant ambiance and to indulge in some of the finest dining in the south central part of the United States.

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“I still remember the trout almandine we enjoyed in the dining room back in 1966. As I’ve traveled through life and around the world, I’ve tried to replicate this entrée at other places of fine dining, but to no avail,” says Lillian.

The chef today is Russell Cody who continues on with the Red Apple Inn’s tradition in fine dining. His culinary genius routinely delivers succulent entrée that include creative gourmet masterpieces like top sirloin del Monaco, tequila lime shrimp, Cajun catfish, aged Angus filet with a cabernet reduction, and of course prime rib, just to mention a few.

Their chocolate dessert creations are a specialty that is known far and wide. Break fas ts can include everything that’s traditional plus their very own Red Apple grits (they are the only ones around who serve this).

Lillian and Gene Standridge have yet to take advantage of their recent good luck in winning a weekend at the Red Apple Inn but that will soon happen. However, life’s lessons have taught them that part of enjoyment of living comes in the anticipation; thinking about it, planning it, and savoring the good possibilities that lie in their future. When asked what their secret is for a lasting relationship like theirs, Lillian said, “He lets me do the things I like to do; I let him do the things he likes to do and then we do things together.”

Their favorite past time involves Gene’s alma mater, Mississippi State University. The couple loves all types of sports at State. “We go to all the football, basketball and baseball games.” When not working, the couple also enjoys spending time with friends over dinner.

When reminiscing on the years and their marriage, she also offers practical advice.

“Just be congenial and love each other. Things can always be worked out.”

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homegrown} McCarty pottery

The McCarty Legacy Text and Photography by Ashley Buescher

W

hen Lee and Pup McCarty married, little did they know their union would not only grow a family but one of this country’s most formative pottery legacies with the founding of McCarty’s Pottery in 1954.

Nearly 60 years ago, Pup invited Lee to join her in a pottery class at the University of Mississippi in Oxford so she would not be alone with the football players. Almost simultaneously, the couple acquired a mule barn from Pup’s Aunt Annie and Uncle Albert. The young couple made their home in the barn loft with only mattress boxes for insulation. In addition, they moved the only pottery wheel and kiln they owned into the ground level with the determination of setting up a pottery and jewelry shop.

The infamous writer William Faulkner allowed the McCarty’s to collect clay from a ravine on his property, Rowan Oak, for their first few pottery pieces. Those first few pieces would be the beginning of a familyowned pottery empire.

Each piece of McCarty pottery is handcrafted in the barn workshop. The trademark of McCarty pottery is the black “river” that runs through a piece and symbolizes the Mississippi River. While not all pieces will have the river mark, each piece is personally signed on the bottom. Not only are the pieces art for the home, but some pieces are also used for baking and serving.

In 1998, the McCarty’s godsons, Jamie and Stephen Smith, left their corporate worlds and moved back to Merigold to join the family business.

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The decision was an easy one. I got a call from Pup saying they needed help at the shop and I was there. Plus my children are fifth generation Merigolds,”says Jamie.

Pup, Lee and Jamie collaborated on the artistic side of the business while Stephen handled the financial component of the company. Sadly, Pup McCarty passed away in 2006 but her influences can be seen and felt throughout the barn and the property.

Lee McCarty, now 91, still resides in the barn loft and spends his days in the store mingling with visitors. In addition, seeing Jamie work the pottery wheel in the middle of the store is quite common. Even though Stephen may work behind closed doors mostly, he still takes time to engage with McCarty visitors. Smith explains the personal connection with the customers is motivation for the business.

“The artistic creations are wonderful in and of themselves, but to hear how customers incorporate our creations into their lives is indeed special.”

The McCarty’s have succeeded in creating an entire experience in Merigold that encompasses food and gardens as well. Pup spent countless hours creating the gardens on the barn property. Before entering the gardens, visitors cross a patio with a brick flooring laid by Pup herself along with a few workers. From the patio, paths lead through thousands of ground plants, potted plants, bamboo gardens and hanging plants. In addition, the McCarty’s installed a swimming pool. Instead of removing the base of Uncle Albert’s old gristmill which

remained on the property, Pup utilized the mill base as the base for a beautiful fountain.

Once the shopping and strolling is complete, the next stop should be The Gallery Restaurant also owned and operated by McCarty. The menu changes everyday. McCarty describes the menu as “New York cuisine with cornbread and tea.” They offer two decadent menu options and choosing may be harder than visitors may think. The staff makes the dessert choice between chocolate cobbler and caramel cobbler easier by combining the two upon request.

McCarty encourages all guests to visit a lighted cedar fence known as the wishing wall, also on the McCarty property. Make a wish then make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, both in Memphis, Tenn. or Blair E. Baston Hospital for Children in Jackson, Miss. Make a donation and the wish will come true. Lee prefers the donations are “more than a dollar”.

Leaving the rustic elegance of McCarty’s Pottery is difficult as the experience is far from the daily grind.

Those who live afar, however, can take heart that many retail locations sell McCarty’s Pottery.

Visit mccartyspottery.com

Did You Know?

• McCarty’s Pottery comes in baking dishes. Pieces must be placed first in a cold oven, then heated. Once removed from the oven, the piece and the food will stay warm for hours. Lee will set aside pieces that may have a slight flaw of some sort.

• During March of every year, McCarty’s Pottery holds a “Seconds Sale” during which visitors can buy pieces with slight flaws of some sort at a discount.

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in good spirits} french 75

French 75

By Cheré Coen

“There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.”

- Bette Davis

The Drink: French 75

THe History: There’s quite a kick when a French 75mm field gun is fired, which is why it was used on the Maginot Line in World War I. So when mixologist Harry MacElhone combined gin, Champagne, lemon juice and sugar for his new cocktail at the New York Bar in Paris, imbibers likened the resulting “kick” to the powerful gun. The 1915 drink was thus named the French 75 or the 75 Cocktail or, if you want to be suavely French, the “Soixante Quinze.”

Naturally, because of its French heritage, the cocktail became popular in New Orleans but was made with cognac, not gin, according to local food writer Kit Wohl. Others insist the cocktail originated with cognac, which might make for a great debate for a cocktail party. One of the best places to find this fascinating cocktail is Arnaud’s in the French Quarter, which recently renamed its bar that focuses on cocktails and fine cigars the French 75. The French 75 Bar was also recognized as one of GQ’s top 25 bars in the United States.

The Mixology: Harry MacElhone might have combined gin, Champagne, lemon juice and sugar for his French 75 cocktail but many people incorporate cognac instead of gin, such as master mixologist Chris Hannah at the French 75 Bar at Arnaud’s in New Orleans. Other variations of the French 75 have included using sparkling wines, but purists will demand French champagne. The cocktail is simple to create, adding a few ingredients into a shaker with ice, then serve.

The French 75 from “Arnaud’s Restaurant Cookbook”

by Kit Wohl 1 – 1 1 /2 ounces cognac 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 /4 teaspoon Simple Syrup Champagne as needed, about 4 ounces Twist of lemon Place the cognac, lemon juice and Simple Syrup in a shaker filled with ice and shake only long enough to chill. Pour into a frosted champagne class, top with champagne and add a lemon twist. Serve immediately.

Simple Syrup Granulated sugar Water In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar and water in a ratio of two to one (i.e., 2 cups sugar to one cup of water) and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir and simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using and store any unused syrup in the refrigerator.

It will keep almost indefinitely.

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table talk} beauty shop

Styling Food at The Beauty Shop Text and Photography by devin greaney

eople visiting the Cooper-Young neighborhood located in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee will stop by the Beauty Shop restaurant just for a look around. Some remember getting their hair done; some are just fascinated by the recreation.

Vintage hair care equipment and casserole plate-type, glass-tiled booths now serve customers’ stomachs rather hair. Restaurant entrepreneur Karen Carrier, who had already opened Automatic Slims, Roadside Catering and Cielo (now Molly Fontaine’s), can relate to the fascination with the vintage space.

“In 2001 I was looking for a place in Midtown. I saw a place on the corner where Mulan is now. I decided I didn’t like it,” says Carrier.

It was raining hard so she took refuge under the awnings in front of the Beauty Shop. “There was a ‘for rent’ sign. I called, asked if I could see it, flipped out and gave the owner some earnest money,” she remembers. She could immediately see the potential of the salon space.

The tradition of cutting and fixing hair at 964 S. Cooper started in the late 1920s when William H. Pearcy opened a salon. After a couple of other owners, Bemis Atkins took over in the mid-1930s later changing the name to Atkins Beauty and Barber Shop. In 1949, the current building was constructed changing the address to 966.

Men got their hair cut in the front while the woman’s salon was in the back. In the mid 1980s, it became Atkins

P

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Style Shop. Atkins died in 1989 but different kept the owners clippers humming.

“There was a lady like six foot one who cut hair here and she was in the back. The elderly ladies would walk in through the back door,” Carrier remembers. When it was time to build the kitchen, the stylist had to go. After over 70 years the last hair was cut at 966 South Cooper in May, 2002. The restaurant opened in July of the same year.

During the construction she raised the low ceilings. She added wormwood tables, changed the front barber shop to a bar, added goldleaf coloring up front the bankhead along the curtained wall and, of course, a kitchen. “We kept everything.” A brief venture was next door at the current location of Bar DKDC (another subsequent Karen Carrier venture) was the Beauty Shop General store. “It was way before its time. If I opened it today it would be great,” she says.

An artist by training she knew to stay true to the feel of the Beauty Shop’s decor of the last several decades would be keeping the whites. “I am a colorist.

As a painter I was really into color. When I opened I wanted the food to be the color and wanted the space to be the same” Carrier says.

And color is what they offered. When they opened waitresses wore 1950s white diner dresses and beehive wigs, crocheted nets on their heads and men wearing white pants. “They got hot in the summer. The girls started rebelling.”

Priscilla Presley came into visit with some of her Graceland friends and mentioned that as a teenager she would get her hair done at the first booth, the larger one. Looking at the booth it was not hard to imagine the scene of a young Priscilla about 1961 getting her beehive done and gossiping to one of her Immaculate Conception High School friends while guys getting flattops were up front listening to baseball over the AM radio and perusing through Life Magazine. Not much has changed, except for the food.

So what type of food? She calls it American. And by American she means a little bit of everything. “We started with milkshakes, cakes, watermelon and wings and we instilled foie gras in there somewhere so it was an interesting mix,” she says. The menu has changed over the years. “I have worked with chefs from Vietnam, Thailand and Mexico. I learned how to cook in Jamaica from squatters on the beach.”

The desserts have taken on a life of themselves. “We opened up with this woman from this little town in Mississippi and she makes these old fashioned cakes. Caramel, strawberry coconut red velvet. When I first tried them I flipped out. This is perfect here because this is what I wanted to do. We never have taken them off the menu,” She also has crème brulee, crepes and gelatos, as if those cakes were not enough.

She welcomes the variety of eating places now in Cooper-Young. “People go out and their whole social thing is eating out and spending three hours at a restaurant.” In the future she is considering opening the back area as a venue with a treehouse-type deck. And maybe even bringing back the beehive wigs, though she says they could use some cleaning.

“The Beauty Shop will stay the same. It works.”

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exploring events} june Vicksburg Military Park Living History Fridays-Tuesdays, June & July Vicksburg National Military Park 3201 Clay St. Vicksburg, MS 39183 www.nps.gov/vick 601.636.0583 Fridays through Tuesdays in June and July, the Vicksburg National Military Park presents “Li-ving History.”

Witness live demonstrations of what life was like as a Civil War soldier during the siege of Vicksburg.

"Sunset on the Square" Summer Concert Series June 5, 12, 19, 26 Hernando Court Square Hernando, Ms. 38632 A fun-filed evening for the whole family. A variety of musical acts will appear on the stage each Thursday night in June, and don't worry about supper as there will also be food vendors around the square. for more information visit www.hernandoms.org.

Thursdays Squared June 5, 7, 12, 26, July 3 6 - 11pm Thursdays Tower Courtyard at Overton Square Memphis, Tn 38104 www.overtonsquare.com A block party with all your friends!

Live music, giveaways, contests and special guest stars.

Rockin on the Roost Summer Concert Series June 6 - 27 Olive Branch Old Towne Pigeon Roost Road Olive Branch, MS 38654 7 - 9pm Fridays www.olivebrancholdtowne.org Each Friday night in June enjoy live music and family fun in Old Towne.

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Tupelo Elvis Festival June 5th-8th Fairpark District Tupelo, MS 38802 www.tupeloelvisfestival.com 662.841.6598 A celebration of Tupelo’s native son, the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, and his music and the music that influenced him. In addition to great music, the festival features a number of local food vendors, carnival, pet parade, beauty pageant, 5k run, disc golf and more!

Kix 106 Smokin Summer Showcase June 12, 19, 26 Snowden Grove Ampitheater Southaven, Ms. 38632 Kix 106 presents the 2014 Smokin Summer Showcase, which kicks off June 12th for a six concert series. All shows are free to the public. For more information visit www.kix106.com.

B.B. King June 6 Gold Strike Casino Tunica 1010 Casino Center Drive Tunica, MS 38664 800-745-3000 www.tunicatravel.com/tunica B.B. King returns to the Mississippi delta to play at Gold Strike Casino Moon River Festival June 07 1930 Poplar Avenue Memphis, Tn. 38103 Levitt Shell comes to life as the Moon River Festival takes center stage. The lineup will include Will Hoge, Southern Rock and alternative country singer/songwriter, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Holly Williams (granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr.) and many more. Tickets are $20 for early general admission or $55 for a VIP pass.

For more info visit moonriverfestival.com Food Truck Garden Party June 10 Memphis Botanic Garden Memphis, Tn. 38117 Enjoy dinner al fresco, live music, cash bar and food from The Memphis Food Truckers Alliance. Cover is $5 for Garden members and $10 for non-members. Purchase tickets or for more information call 636-4131.

Thunder on the Water Boat Festival June 11th-15th Grenada Lake Grenada, MS 38901 www.thunderonwater.net 662.226.6442 The Grenada Lake Association’s 22nd Annual Thunder on the Water Boating Festival features arts and crafts vendors, 8K run and 5K walk, car show, carnival, food vendors, fishing tournaments, tractor pull, fireworks, live music and much more!

Delta Jubilee June 13 - 14 Expo Center 1150 Hickory Clarksdale, MS 38614 www.clarksdale-ms.com Great fun for the entire family. BBQ competition, carnival with rides, bands, food vendors, arts and crafts and a lot more!

Norman Rockwell: Murder in MS June 14th - august 31st 380 South Lamar St. Jackson, MS 39201 www.msmuseumofart.org 601.960.1515 On June 21, 1964, three civil rights activists were brutally murdered in Neshoba County, Miss. Several

months later, Norman Rockwell was asked to provide illustrations for an inves-tigative series by LOOK Magazine. Over the course of five weeks, Rockwell intensively stu-died the circumstances of the murders and made many preliminary drawings, photographs, a preparatory oil sketch, and the finished painting, Murder in Mississippi. This exhibition presents the iconic masterpiece.

Boston Heaven on Earth Tour June 15 Snowden Grove Amphitheater 6285 Snowden Lane Southaven, MS 800-745-3000 www.ticketmaster.com Southaven welcomes rock band Boston with special guest Night Ranger.

Bentonia Blues Festival June 21st Blue Front Café Bentonia, MS 39040 www.facebook.com/bentoniabluesfestival 662.528.1900 The 42nd Annual Bentonia Blues Festival will feature music from artists like Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, creator of the Bentonia Blues Festival and the last known artist to perform the Ben-tonia-style blues.

Little Big Town June 21 Live at the Garden Memphis Botanic Gardens 750 Cherry Road Memphis, TN 38117

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reflections} quirks

QUiRKS

By Karen Ott Mayer

Oh, the beauty of humanity when two hearts intertwine…

Oh, wait. Rewind. New love definitely boasts an inexplicable mystery and energy..and blindness. As Jessica from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" uttered, "Love is blind and lovers cannot see what petty follies they themselves commit.”

Petty follies? Quirks. Weird things we all do. Those things that, as new love wears thin, can grate on even the most patient of nerves. Quirks are so specialized to the wackiness of human nature, regular annoyances like snoring or tardiness can’t be considered a quirk. Rather, a quirk is just a slight twist, a one-off from the logical, a something that drives another human being to say, “You’re kidding me, right?”

For example, some women love to rearrange furniture and change things up--often. My younger sister falls into this category. During their first year of marriage, my pilot brother-in-law turned to me one day with a wry smile. "I just wish the toaster stayed in the same place for more than two weeks." She also loved to paint. Rooms, not pictures.

When she showed my dad her guest room’s new color, he said, “I think the room has shrunk from all the paint layers.”

Another man, on the other hand, dislikes the telephone to a strange proportion. When he comes in from work, he doesn’t want his wife on the phone. So, it makes for strange conversations… “So, there I was shopping in the mall..oh, wait...gotta go!...here comes my husband.”

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As a child, I remember my grandfather always ate dinner with a white bar towel next to his plate where he rested his hand. If it wasn’t there, he’d boom to my grandma to bring one. Another guy I know must shower right before bed. It doesn’t matter if he showered an hour earlier, even if he just went out to eat or ran to town.

Another shower will happen before he hits the hay.

Opposites really do attract, yet sooner or later those differences become our litmus test for acceptance. In 2013, John and Ann Betar of Connecticut had been married 81 years and were named the longest married couple in the U.S. by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Ann, 98, noted during an interview that their relationship contained unconditional love and understanding, but more importantly, they learned to accept each other’s way of life.

Even with family and friends, our tolerance is tested on a daily basis. From the time my niece was a toddler, she developed a major dislike for socks. She didn’t like the way the seamline felt on her toes. They “didn’t feel right”. It was enough to drive her sane mother to drink.

If life isn’t perfect, then we humans certainly aren’t even close. Perhaps Robin Williams’ character Sean Maguire in “Good Will Hunting” says it best about his wife. “She’s been dead for two years... those are the things I miss the most, the little idiosyncrasies that only I know about. That's what made her my wife. Oh, she had the goods on me too, she knew all my little peccadilloes. People call these things imperfections, but they’re not. Ah, that's the good stuff.”