Southern Woman - September |October 2022

SEPTEMBER|OCTOBER 2022 • ISSUE 9 • COMPLIMENTARY

FAYETTE'S LEADING

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY PRACTICE NOW SERVING KAISER MEMBERS The Women's Specialists of Fayette comprise a healthcare team that understands that women have special healthcare needs throughout their lives.

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Matthew Ralsten, M.D.

Nicole E. Quinn, M.D.

wsfayette.com 1267 Hwy. 54 West, Suite 300, Fayetteville (Inside Piedmont Fayette Hospital) 770-632-9900

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SOUTHERN WOMAN

Hey Y’all!

It’s that time of the year for cooler weather, pumpkin-spiced lattes, holiday crafts, and of course… Football!! Go Dawgs!!

I remember when I was a kid and mama always made our home festive with fall decorations and then a trip to the bay station next to an antique store that had a sea of orange pumpkins and oh, what butterflies I would have to pick out a pumpkin to carve!

Back then we would plan our trick-or-treat route and wear those plastic face masks that we couldn’t breathe in! They had cutouts for eyes barely big enough to see out of and the nose holes were smaller than a hole punch! We were so excited for Halloween night to come! We would grab a brown paper sack or a pillowcase and off we went! Hours we would go door to door through the neighborhood and fill the bags to the top and then run home and dump them and go for a second round! There were a few neighbors that would recognize the repeat little ghouls trying to get more candy… one last hurrah! Well, they would just hand us a shiny copper penny for our thoughts! All in all, they were some of the best memories of my life…I try to keep the fun going for my boy to make those memories that I got to have growing up.

Autumn will be here on Wednesday, September 22 this year. In honor of the new season, I decided to make a list of things we might get into! Build a big bonfire and tell stories while listening to the crackling flames all bundled up with flannel blankets and have hot cocoa topped with marshmallows. Fall crafts are always fun to make and maybe put together a homemade costume for Halloween.

Go apple picking and bake a fresh apple pie or fill the house with the aroma of apple cider. There are so many fun things to do as a family to make the sweetest memories. The most important is to remember to help others. Take a meal to an elder that can’t get out and go places. Share some time with them and listen to their memories. Gather warm clothes, shoes, and blankets to donate to a non-profit close to your heart.

This is a beautiful time of year to get out and enjoy the crisp fresh air and spend time with family. From our family at Southern Woman and to yours…Thank y’all for all the love and support! Now go make those memories and be sure to send your fall photos to us so we can share!

Be Blessed,

Melanie Denney-Haas Publisher, Owner

love to see in u o y ld u o w t a h W n Magazine? a m o W rn e th u o S , places, the people Send us all : you love to and things ail.com anmag@gm m o w n er th sou st end up It might ju issue! in our next

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In This Issue 2 REFLECTIONS A Moment of Pause

4 PUBLISHER’S LETTER from Melanie Denney-Haas 8 CONVERSATION COVER Cover Shoot Discussion

32 GIVING LIFE TO JEWELRY Yana Pidorvan 42 CELEBRATE CREATIVITY The Magnolia Fine Arts Festival

46 A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE Hispanic Heritage Festival 48 CONVERVATION HERO Kathryn Litton

10 CALENDAR Upcoming Events

Health & Wellness

34 MOMBIE DIARIES It's Fine

58 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS Know the Signs, Save a Life

Features

60 TWEEN EMPOWERMENT The Studio at Cedar Hill

12 COURAGE THROUGH ADVERSITY Christie Knotts

36 ROSIE THE RIVETERS Keeping Aviation History Alive

52 HAPPI FARM 5 Steps to a More Holistic and Fulfilling Life

Arts, Culture & Travel 16 YOU ARE THE STORY Author Kimberly Brock

18 AUTUMN IN ALABAMA Waterfalls Day Trip 22 THE SPELL OF SAVANNAH America's Most Charming and Romantic City 28 A SOUTHERN EXPERIENCE Photography by Dale Niles

Food & Table 62 CLASSY SPOOKY Feminine Halloween Table Settings

64 COZY FOOD Fall Recipe Guide

Home & Garden 72 IT'S A PORCH THING Pumpkin Decorating for Fall

74 ANCIENT ART OF ORIGAMI Inspire Sculptures in the Garden 76 GARDEN TRENDS AND TIPS The Philadelphia Flower Show September/October 2022

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SOUTHERN Publisher Melanie Denney Haas melanie.southernwoman@gmail.com Creative Director Mandy Inman mandy.southernwoman@gmail.com Editorial Contributors Bonnie Helander, Holly Cellini, Annie SinghQuern, Kim Brock, Deena Attia Cover Photography Davel Photography

Southern Woman is a magazine for and about women living in the South.

We want to invite you in and make you our family, one glass of sweet tea at a time.

Make sure to join us on the web and on social media we have so much to share with you!

We’ll see you online!

Cover Styling Blue Fern Design Paige Conner, Hair and Makeup For inquiries, to be added to our distribution list, or to advertise, please email mandy.southernwoman@gmail.com

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Putting together a cover and hoping to top the previous one is always a challenge...but I think we've done it!

Lori Duncan of Blue Fern imagined and designed our beautiful "Wonderland" inspired session and brought it to life! With her beautiful daughter, Marli Isabelle as "Alice" and Doug Frost as our Mad Hatter the vibe is nothing less than perfect. Paige Conner Hair & Makeup and Davel Photography tied it all together with a fun and flawless photoshoot. We hope you love it as much as we do!

Happy Halloween!

"The idea of the cover was not for 'Alice in Wonderland' to be literal for Halloween but unexpected! Imagination is key!"

-Lori Duncan Many of the pieces were found at estate sales and goodwill. The Alice dress and mural background was purchased from Amazon.

The Mad Hatter suit was purchased from Broadway in Downtown Newnan and Lori designed and decorated the hats herself!

Italian Heritage Festival Sunday, October 9, 12 pm to 8 pm Drake Field, Peachtree City

COWETA Market Day October 1, 10 am to 2 pm Newnan Square Oktoberfest October 7, 5 pm to 9 pm Newnan Square

coweta & fayette

events

Orchestra Noir LIVE October 14, 7:30 pm Charles Wadsworth Auditorium The Georgia Trust Fall Ramble October 14 - October 16 Time varies Sugar & Spice Festival October 22, 2 pm to 7 pm Newnan Square Senoia Alive After Five October 21, 5 pm to 9 pm Downtown Senoia Dracula October 28 (7 pm), 29 (7 pm), 30 (3 pm) Charles Wadsworth Auditorium

FAYETTE Walk to End Alzheimer’s Peachtree City/Newnan Saturday, October 1 Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater Hispanic Heritage Festival of Peachtree City Saturday, October 1, 9 am to 3 pm Drake Field, Peachtree City

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Peachtree City Classic 5K/15K Saturday, October 15, 8 am 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City Magnolia Fine Arts Festival Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16 9 am to 3 pm Drake Field, Peachtree City Night Market Friday, October 21, 5 pm to 9 pm Drake Field, Peachtree City Promise Place Run to End Domestic Violence Saturday, October 22, 8 am 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City Monster Bash Halloween Costume Party Friday, October 28, 8 pm Line Creek Brewing Bus Barn, Fayetteville Reel Friday at Trilith Friday, October 28, 7 pm Central Plaza, Trilith Parkway Halloween Crawl Saturday, October 29, 4 pm Awkward Brewing, Fayetteville Boos in the Bubble Saturday, October 29, 8 pm Line Creek Brewing, Peachtree City

COURAGE christy knotts

through

ADVERSITY In our troubled world, it is always such a blessing to receive an unexpected kindness from a stranger.

Melanie Denney-Haas, publisher and owner of Southern Woman Magazine, experienced such a kindness when her truck broke down in Alabama as she, her mom, son and nephew were returning from a trip to Florida.

by Bonnie Helander

SPOTLIGHT ON

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 12 SOUTHERN WOMAN

An on-call towing company, Knotts Wrecker Service, towed Melanie’s vehicle to its Phenix City location.

Since it was the weekend and her truck could not be repaired immediately, Melanie needed to figure out a way for her family to get safely back home to Tyrone.

Concerned for their wellbeing, Christy Knotts, who owns Knotts Wrecker Service with her husband, Kevin, offered to drive the family home in her own car! And the following week, Christy arranged to drive Melanie’s truck to LaGrange to be repaired.

On the drive to Tyrone, Melanie and Christy had a delightful conversation and bonded over their mutual faith and trust in God. Christy shared her powerful story of receiving a frightening breast cancer diagnosis in 2013 at the age of 39. The cancer was considered triple negative, stage three - not hormone or estrogeninduced - one of the worst types of breast cancers, with few treatment options.

The same year Christy was diagnosed, her father-in-law also learned he had cancer. Christy helped as much as she could as his caregiver until his death.

Even though she was exhausted from her cancer treatments, Christy tried to hide the severity of her disease from her two children, Kyle and Blaire, and continued to maintain a normal schedule for them because Kyle, age six at the time, was especially afraid she was going to die, like his grandfather did.

For two years, Christy endured a double mastectomy, 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 35 rounds of radiation and a Latissimus Dorsi flap procedure that took muscle from Christy’s back to replace in her breast area.

Since her diagnosis in 2013, she has had a few “scares” with spots showing up on various scans. One such scan showed suspicious spots on her pancreas, but later tests didn’t find any troublesome areas, which Christy attributes to prayer and the grace of God. While she sometimes gets worried and fearful about her future, her husband and children keep her focused and “present.” No matter what the future outcome of her health challenges, Christy knows that God is ultimately in control.

Christy grew up in Phenix City and met her husband, Kevin, in 1998. They were married in 2000. Christy first worked in the healthcare field as a certified insurance coder. She even worked for a while at the Saint

September/October 2022 13

Francis Hospital Breast Cancer Center in Columbus, GA, which gave her some understanding and insight when she received her own cancer diagnosis. Christy is thankful that an AFLAC cancer policy and good health insurance, provided by the doctor she worked for in Columbus, supplied the financing her family needed to meet the exorbitant costs of her cancer care.

After her father-in-law’s death, Kevin and Christy took over his towing service and started another business, Knotts Collision Auto Body Shop. Kevin manages the day-to-day at Knotts Collision, and Christy oversees Knotts Wrecker Service. She is oncall 24-7 for those who need their services.

Christy takes one day at a time and is thankful for each day she can enjoy with her family. Son, Kyle, is now 16, and he and his dad, race dirt late model cars at the East Alabama Motor Speedway, where you will find Christy in attendance for each race.

Daughter, Blaire, is married and has three children, so Christy is appreciating the joys of being a grandmother as she welcomes her 50th birthday in September.

When asked for advice on how to stay focused and not give in to fear and worry, Christy says, “Have faith in God and stay strong. If it wasn’t for my faith, I don’t think I would be here.”

As the nation highlights Breast Awareness Month in October, Christy emphasizes that all women should schedule a mammogram screening each year because it truly can save lives. If you get the dreaded diagnosis of breast cancer, Christy encourages you to keep your faith strong and have a positive attitude to see you through. As she reflected on her own experience, Christy observed, “I don’t know why I got cancer, but God knows and maybe it is for me to help other people to put their faith in the Lord and trust Him, no matter what the obstacles.”

Happy Birthday Christy

Left to Right: Christy during treatment | Kevin and Christy Kevin, Christy, Blaire, & Kyle | The Knotts' Dirt Late Model Race Car

ways to observe BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Every October, people across the U.S. focus on ways to increase awareness of breast cancer and raise money for breast cancerrelated organizations. Here are some ways you can show your support for the cause.

Decorate pink pumpkins for an online contest and let people vote for their favorite.

Raise money for breast cancer research with a community car wash.

Recruit volunteers to wash cars, and ask for donations.

Have a pink party girls' night!

Provide fun ways for your guests to accessorize with pink. Boas, nail polish, wigs, anything you can think of!

Hold a pink raffle each day in October. Include information about breast cancer screenings with the giveaways.

Hold a pink raffle each day in October. Include information about breast cancer screenings with the giveaways.

Host a Lunch and Learn. Provide foods and beverages, and invite a breast cancer survivor to speak about why prevention and early detection are so important.

Sponsor a pink bake sale.

Recruit people to make pink treats. Donate the proceeds to a breast cancer treatment center in your area.

Organize a community yard sale.

Ask participants to donate part or all of the money they earn to support breast cancer research.

Organize a community yard sale. Ask participants to donate part or all of the money they earn to support breast cancer research.

"Sock it” to breast cancer! Ask family, friends, and co-workers to wear pink sock and even give them as gifts!

Organize a “Pinknic.”Offer a free lunch for employees and bring in a mobile mammography vehicle so women can get their yearly breast cancer screening. Give incentives to women who take advantage of the opportunity.

Hold a silent auction with donated goods from local businesses. Send each business owner a pink thankyou gift.

Have a “pink” elephant exchange. Ask friends, family, or co-workers to bring in pink items to swap with each other.

Brighten up your home and office with bouquets of pink flowers.

Throw a sign-decorating party where attendees can decorate breast cancer awareness signs to place in their front yards.

Provide pink pens, ribbons, poster board, and other materials.

There are hundreds of local and national foundations and events to support breast cancer. Don't forget to check your area for all the opportunities available!

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y r o t S

e h t e r the A u Yo World

Needs to Hear

by Kimberly Brock

Stories are the home we build for ourselves, my mother told me. Here are the rings in the oak, just like the years in your lives, telling a story, she’d say. Here is our garden that grows from a seed, to flower or fruit, then go back to the ground, with a beginning, middle, and end. A story. Here is a way to understand the world in the pages of a book, where there is order. Here is a way to remember who came before you and to imagine what might come next. You are the story, she said, this world needs to hear. When I wrote The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, I was thinking of what my mother had taught me and what I wanted to say to other women about how easily our stories can be lost and what that means in our lives.

The novel is about a young widow and her thirteen-year-old daughter returning to a forsaken family home and history at the end of World War II. Set near Savannah, Georgia, the story centers around a mysterious, engraved stone and its connection to sixteen generations of imagined descendants from a survivor of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the oldest unsolved mystery in American history. No one knows what happened to the colony, but this is not a book of answers. It’s a book of questions, about the difficult and beautiful ways we live and love and make peace with the unknown.

I first learned of the obscure story of the Dare Stone almost twenty years ago. As a mother raising my own children, over the years I reflected on the story of the stone believed to have been carved by Eleanor White Dare, a survivor of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. I thought a lot about what it might have felt like to have been Eleanor, a young mother and suddenly alone in a wilderness, desperate to leave a mark that would 16 SOUTHERN WOMAN

remember me to the world and more importantly, to my daughter and her descendants. Women’s history is so often lost, our stories left untold. I wondered what story Eleanor’s descendants might have passed down, mother to daughter, and how they might have treasured those stories. And I was very interested in how the history of our female forebears helps define us in our own times, giving courage and inspiration.

There’s an adage that says writers should write what they know.

Alice Hoffman says we should write what we can imagine. It took many years and much encouragement from my literary agent before I would allow myself to even consider writing Eleanor’s Tale, the portion of this novel that imagines a future for Eleanor. I had filled notepads with fictional genealogical charts of names, birthdates, death dates and possible touchpoints in the lives of the heirs I’d privately imagined for Eleanor Dare, but to write a story for Eleanor felt sacrosanct for the longest time. I couldn’t bring myself to touch it. Then, I woke one night around two in the morning with the first lines of a story whispering in my ears, a tale passed through generations of mothers and daughters, and I realized what a gift our stories are to one another. They recognize the lives that have been lived and even if they aren’t based in fact so much as they are based in memory, they are how we commemorate those who’ve come before us. They are how we dream and imagine our own way forward in an imperfect world. If I’ve learned anything from writing this novel - from Eleanor’s story and the very little we truly know of her it is that stories are not the same as facts.

Stories are matters of the heart. A story doesn’t matter because it’s true, but because it has been told.

YOUR STORY IS THE

YOUR BUSINESS Share it in

SOUTHERN sponsored FEATURE 1. tell us your story 2. send us your favorite photos 3. we will write a beautiful feature 4. it will appear in Southern Woman Magazine CONTACT MANDY FOR PRICING AND DETAILS: MANDY.SOUTHERNWOMAN@GMAIL.COM

678.340.5281

Waterfalls Day Trip Story and Photos by Bonnie Helander

To expand our horizons and visit some spectacular waterfalls, Dan and I took a day trip to the Alabama side of Lookout Mountain. We drove 2 ½ hours northwest to the tiny town of Mentone, Alabama (population 368) – the gateway to DeSoto State Park and the Little River Canyon National Preserve.

Mentone, Alabama: Though small, Mentone has much to offer! We arrived in time for lunch at the Wildflower Café, popular with both locals and tourists, and with a fun, hippy vibe. The 120 yearold building is open Thursdays and Sundays for lunch and Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner. Live music by local musicians is heard on the weekends. The restaurant posts a daily lunch menu of hearty, healthy organic options and the country store has an eclectic mix of handmade gifts by local artists.

After lunch we stopped at the Mentone Arts and Visitor Center next to the Wildflower Café to get information on hiking, waterfalls, shopping and local art. While we were there, the center was hosting an art show featuring local artists.

Welcome Center staff encouraged us to check out a local art installation recently completed in town. The Mentone Educational Resources Foundation (MERF) was given a $20,000 grant by the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama for winning a “Big Idea” competition. Their idea was a Picket Fence Project. Over 400 pickets were painted and placed in a fence surrounding a walking path. Residents of all ages have designed and painted a picket, putting together a huge art installation for the community. We walked the short walking path and enjoyed seeing the creative artwork.

In the early afternoon we left Mentone to visit DeSoto Falls.

We stopped briefly at Miracle Pottery in Valley Head. The store is renowned for its genuine Cherokee clay pottery, and the store owner, Valinda Miracle, is a direct descendent of Cherokee ancestors forced to leave their homes during the infamous “Trail of Tears.” You can find pottery, paintings and gifts for everyone at this amazing store.

DeSoto Falls and DeSoto State Park: The drive to DeSoto Falls, especially on County Road 89 (CR 89), was stunning - the scenery vibrant with autumn color. If you want to stay overnight, vacation rentals in all price ranges are available along CR 89. DeSoto Falls is about seven miles from the entrance to DeSoto State Park, and you have to watch carefully for the sign to turn off. Here you will find a picnic area, restrooms and a spectacular view of the falls.

Named for the Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, the 104foot-drop falls are located on the west fork of the Little River.

It’s a short walk to a viewing area to get a great glimpse of the upper falls. To see the lower portion of the falls, we walked down a steep set of stairs for a view well-worth the effort.

Looking back at the stairs, we discovered they are covered in a beautiful mosaic design.

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from a maze and allow visitors to walk a circular path to the center and back again while meditating, praying or just experiencing God’s presence and the beauty of nature. Many visitors left small stone tokens in the center.

Our last stop before heading home was Moonlake Trading Company in Mentone.

This eclectic shop and garden center has funky décor and unique home and gardening gifts. We made it back home by early evening, driving a total of 325 miles. For more information about waterfalls in the area, go to alapark.com/parks/desoto-state-park/waterfalls.

After viewing DeSoto Falls, we drove on to the main entrance of DeSoto State Park. Our first stop was the Country Store/Visitor Center for trail maps to the various waterfalls.

There are several waterfalls within a short walk or on a 2-3 mile moderate hike. We hiked a portion of the orange-blazed loop hike to Laurel and Lost Falls. For the adventurous, you can try ziplining through the trees with Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventures. For more information, go to desotozipline.com.

Little River Canyon National Reserve: Continuing through the park on CR 89, we visited the Little River Canyon National Preserve near Fort Payne, encompassing over 15,000 acres of pristine scenery. The Canyon Rim Drive (Alabama State Road 176) offers scenic views and turnouts for great photo opportunities. Little River Canyon Falls, with its 45-foot drop, is the crowning jewel of the preserve and a “must see!” There is a large, free parking area, restrooms and picnic tables. A scenic boardwalk trail leads to the viewing area for the falls. We noticed many intrepid visitors walking around atop the falls who got pretty close to the edge, even though signs warn visitors to stay at least 50 feet back from the slippery rocks. Another steep trail off the boardwalk leads to Little Falls (also called Martha’s Falls).

After a wonderful afternoon of hiking and viewing the waterfalls, Dan and I retraced our drive back to Mentone and stopped briefly on the way into town at the St. Joseph’s on the Mountain Church Sacred Garden. The church has created a lovely garden next to the sanctuary, filled with native oakleaf hydrangeas, benches for reflection and a labyrinth. Used since ancient times for walking meditation, labyrinths are different 20 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Azalea Estates Assisted Living has a special resident named Mildred Fitzgerald. Not solely is Mildred one hundred and five years young, you will find her taking walks on the grounds each and every morning and each and every evening, enjoying meals in the dining room, and expecting her weekly visit from a therapy remedy dog, Ruben.

Happy 105th

Birthday

Mildred

Mildred was born September 17, 1917, at the family home in Ben Hill, Georgia. She attended Ben Hill Elementary School and historic Fulton High School in Atlanta, where she was elected an honorary Battalion Major for the ROTC. After school, she worked for 6 years at a law office until the birth of her first daughter. For the next 20 years, she was a fulltime mother and housewife before beginning work at a CPA firm for 20 years. In 1939 she was thrilled to be a part of the crowd gazing at the world premiere of Gone With The Wind.

Mildred first took notice of her husband Neil when he was playing for the Ben Hill baseball team which her father coached. He likewise observed her however due to a 4-year age difference she was too young to date him. Eventually, they would marry at the parsonage in 1936 and celebrated sixtyseven years of marriage before his passing in 2003.

Although raising 4 children is her most remarkable achievement, she is additionally regarded for her cooking especially baking. Strengthening her belief has continually been most important to her as is going to church and reading her Bible daily. She was once an energetic member of Ben Hill Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and participated in Sunday School and Women’s Guild.

Unconditional love is how her family would describe her.

105 AUTUMN GLEN CIRCLE FAYETTEVILLE AZALEAESTATES.COM

Call to Schedule a Tour Today!

770-461-0039

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avannah

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THE SPELL OF

by Annie Singh-Quern

For almost three hundred years, Georgia’s oldest city Savannah has cast a spell upon its visitors and residents with its beautiful homes, tree-lined squares, and scenic riverwalk.

Savannah also earned a darker label as America’s most haunted city. Ironically, this dichotomy has brought even more allure to Savannah, as one of America’s most charming and romantic cities to visit and live.

In 1733, Savannah was discovered on a bluff overlooking the splendid Savannah River. General James Oglethorpe, a British colonist, climbed the shores of this new land - America’s 13th and final colony Georgia - to create a home that its residents would come to love. The Oglethorpe Town Plan was soon set into place. Twenty four squares and parks around the town were built over time so that people could gather comfortably with their families, host town meetings, bury their loved ones, and even terminate wrongdoers. Today, thousands of visitors every year are drawn to the fountains, monuments, sculptures, and gazebos in the beautiful shady parks of this historic city.

A few strong women have firmly planted their footprints in Savannah’s history.“The Magnificent Seven,” a group of friends, led by journalist, artist, and activist Anna Colquit Hunter, banded together to create a passionate movement, and subsequently, the 1955 development of the Savannah Historic Foundation, a nonprofit with the purpose to preserve and save buildings that would otherwise suffer demolition or decay. Girl Scouts of U.S.A. founder Juliette Gordon Low was born in 1860, just a few blocks shy of Wright Square. Ms. Low led the movement for 60 million young girls to “catch a bit of the fire and spirit and determination” to dream, realize their limitless potential for themselves, and blaze new trails in life as a Girl Scout.

One of Savannah’s biggest charms is its array of unique and elegant architecture in one of the nation’s largest historic districts. Following America’s Independence and the end of the second world war came the discovery of cotton and a boost in the economy. Individuals and groups alike, collaborated to rebuild and refurbish Savannah’s homes, businesses, and government properties by the thousands. The beautiful buildings of old Savannah sport five main architectural styles - Federal (e.g. The Davenport House), Georgian (e.g. The Olde Pink House), Italianate (e.g. The Andrew Low House), Greek Revival (e.g. First Baptist Church), and Gothic Revival (e.g. Green-Meldrim House). These types of exceptional construction added to the charm of the colonial city, and brought visitors, far and near, to tour them.

River Street boasts a splendid stretch of historic hotels, boutique shops, and restaurants along the Savannah River. It is believed that the riverwalk is haunted by the tortured souls who worked in the warehouses hundreds of years ago. Back then, the buildings were used to store cotton and other goods that were exported from the city. In exchange, slaves and other workers were shipped to land to work under terse conditions for businesses. Tourists and residents alike, visiting the riverwalk, have claimed to “see and hear” the suffering souls of the colonial days.

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Although wars, fires, storms, and diseases have plagued the lives of Savannah’s residents over the centuries, the city always found a way to remain standing tall. The Battle of Savannah, one of the bloodiest of the American Revolutionary War, consumed thousands of people. It’s believed that some of the wars’ casualties were buried in the city’s Madison Square. General Sherman’s March to the Sea during the Civil War ended in Savannah, and although the city itself was spared, the river came under siege. Word has it that those who perished at sea were put to rest at the very squares that present-day visitors now use to read, reminisce, and tour. The great fires of 1796 and 1820 engulfed neighborhoods and cost hundreds of lives while survivors were left homeless and unemployed. Yellow fever broke out in 1876, causing much physical anguish, and claiming thousands of lives. In 1893, the people of Savannah felt the fury of a hurricane that flattened thousands of homes. Despite these situations of trials and tribulations, Savannah’s people continued to rise up to preserve and protect their beloved city.

Savannah is a special brew of charm and mystique. Its antebellum homes, Spanish-moss-tree-lined parks, scenic riverwalk, and its murky past continue to make this historic city beautiful in its own right. Take a stroll through the passage of time: join a ghost tour at dusk, dine in an “old” restaurant, picnic under a 300-year-old live oak tree, browse a bookstore, hop on a trolley tour, and board one of the river cruises. Surrender to the spell of Savannah.

S

SCARY avannah Scout out the Scary Spots in Savannah this Halloween

THE HAMILTON-TURNER INN MARSHALL HOUSE SORREL-WEED HOUSE 17 HUNDRED 90 INN AND RESTAURANT THE PIRATES’ HOUSE OLDE HARBOUR INN KEHOE HOUSE MOON RIVER BREWING COMPANY SORRELL WEED HOUSE

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Dale Niles CAPTURING THE SOUTHERN EXPERIENCE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS Story by Bonnie Helander Photos by Dale Niles Photo entitled "Pardon"

Over an

eight year period, Dale photographed Andrea’s collections and created an enchanting, limited-edition, hard-cover book of 150 full-color photographs that capture Andrea’s objects in fresh and intriguing ways. There is something in Andrea's collections everyone can relate to - every object when viewed, has the power to touch us, and to recall simpler times and sweet memories.

Experts in the field have praised Dale’s new book. According to Aline Smithson, visual artist, educator and editor, “The work reveals a child-like wonder of photographic offerings, like a tray of Christmas cookies, each with its own delights and flavor… And the ones that end up in Andrea Noel’s collections and Dale Niles’ photographs are the lucky ones – celebrated, revered, touched, and loved.” Dale’s book has been selected by Elizabeth Avedon, curator and book designer, as one of best photography books of 2021.

above: "Little Pitchers in the Round What Lies Within"

below: "Descending With Grace"

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Dale and her family moved often because her dad was a civil engineer who worked on building bridges throughout the South. “We always got to live around water,” recalls Dale, “places like Virginia Beach, coastal North Carolina and Maryland, and that was great!”

Dale graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory North Carolina. A stint as an intern with the probation department quickly helped Dale realize this was not her calling.

While trying several other vocations, she continued her personal interest in painting, sculpting and photography, realizing photography was her art of choice. Dale gets her artistic background from her grandmother, who was a painter, and her mom, who had a flair for creating beautiful collages.

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Dale and her husband, Ken, have four children. During their children's upbringing, Dale started taking photos daily to document each child’s growth.

Instead of taking standard photographs, Dale would focus on one feature – tiny feet, or ears or hands. One time her mom said, “These pictures are great but can you at least send me one of the whole child!”

Dale and Ken moved to Fayetteville over 25 years ago when Ken’s job brought them farther south. While Dale continued her passion for photography in Fayetteville, for many years she lacked the confidence to display her work. She entered her first photography competition at the Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone in 2010 – a photograph taken at

Sams’ Lake in Fayetteville – and won first place on her first try! Gaining confidence, she entered a second competition held in Senoia and took the “best in show” award!

Her reputation as an award-winning fine art photographer continues to grow.

Exhibitions of her work have been featured across the country, as well as internationally in Canada, Paris and Venice. Her prints are held in many private collections as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. She was selected for Photolucida’s Critical Mass Top 200 Ones to Watch, and has been featured in Light and Shadow Magazine, SouthxSoutheast Magazine, Shots,

Lenscratch, The HAND Magazine, AllAboutPhoto, Oxford America and Edge of Humanity Magazine.

A favorite quote by Elliott Erwitt, defines Dale’s approach to photography, "Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." For Dale, photography is all about telling a story and making connections. “I am a story teller and the historian of my family. I try to take family images and give them a second life. I try to look at them in a different way.”

In many of her photos, you will find collages featuring her dad, mom, grandmother, children and other family

"Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys"

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During the pandemic, when her busy life came to a halt, Dale decided to go through some neglected boxes of old photos from her parents and found the inspiration for a new series called Fading Memories. Fascinated by these vintage photos of people who were gone – either through death or through not being able to visit them during the pandemic, Dale created a series of blurred images she placed on a background she created and then overlaid with texture. Recently, in October, 2022, a retreat with ten other photographers on Cumberland Island, GA got Dale recharged again. This may be the catalyst for a new series of her work.

"Red Yarn"

members, as well as people that she doesn't know whose photos were found in boxes she accumulated from her parent's home. The photos are then combined with other photographs taken by Dale. She then applies textures over the images to create a painterly effect.

You can meet Dale and see some of her prints at the annual Slow Exposures 2022: Celebrating Photography of the Rural South, to be held on September 15-18 in Concord, GA. For more information about Slow Exposures, go to

slowexposures.org.

For information about Dale Niles work, and to purchase her book, go to

dalenilesphotography.com.

Yana Pidorvan SEE YANA'S WORK - Peachtree City Library through September and October - Downtown Newnan Fall Art Walk - Friday, September 23, 5 - 9 pm a local Ukraine, Yana is Originally from an, wn Ne signer from art and craft de of the er mb me a is e sh Georgia where Art Association.

Newnan-Coweta

- Yana's Studio Tour - Saturday, October 1, 12 - 5 pm | 892 Country Club Road, Newnan - Christmas Art & Craft Market - November 4, 5, 6 Friday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm Coweta County Fairgrounds, 275 Pine Road, Newnan

Mombie THE

D I A R I E S

By Mandy Inman

MOM.BIE noun An exhausted mother who feeds off caffeine and survives on sticky kisses and side hugs.

Episode 1: It’s Fine

As a mother of four my life is pretty CRAZY...chaotic, dramatic, busy, frustrating, and just plain insane sometimes. I have three boys - 19, 16, and 5 - and one little diva, 8. Those age gaps alone are enough to put most chins on the floor. The initial shock is followed by a “bless your heart”, and finally a, “well you started over, huh.” I’m going to keep it really honest with you. My first thought is, “thank you, Queen of Obvious, for pointing that out but my heart is not at stake here, it’s my sanity you need to worry about because you’re on the southern border of that territory.” What comes out of my mouth is, “yes Ma'am, I manage.” Now let’s be really, really honest. They are not thinking what came out of their mouths either.

It’s more like, “what was

34 SOUTHERN WOMAN

she thinking and how old was she when that last one came along?”

It’s fine. I get it. As I turned 40 this past November I reflected on that very thing. What was I thinking?

Truthfully, I don’t know. I’m not sure that it is the kind of thing that anyone just knows. Only one of them was not an “accident”, a fact that, shocked 16. He is my overthinker, I would expect no different. He loved pointing out at the next family gathering, “hey, did y'all know that all of us except 8 were accidents?”

Everyone just laughed, and yes, they knew. And behold, most of them were accidents too!

In the end, it doesn’t matter. I love the planned and the accidents more than life itself. They are my curveballs and at the same

time they are my umpires - we keep each other in check.

Perfect moms don’t exist. We need help, advice, caffeine, friends, and our moms to help us navigate. I question every decision, I lose my temper, I cry in the bathroom, and sometimes I want to run away, but that is just part of the journey. Suddenly you are at their high school graduation and tears start flowing before they even step onto the field.

Or you find yourself cursing at a wrestling match because that kid has your kid in a headlock and you really didn’t mean to let that word fly in a school. Or they get out of your car on the first day of school and their bookbags are bigger than they are and you just want to hug them one more time.

I try to keep these moments in mind when chaos descends all at once - 8 is singing at the top of her lungs, 5 is needing help in the bathroom, 16 is messing up my clean kitchen, and 19 is cleaning his room which means 90% of the cups we own will magically appear in the sink and I still need to take a shower and reply to 100 emails before I stagger to bed.

It’s going to be fine, they are going to be fine, and I’m going to be fine. I have a village.

Life throws curveballs and sometimes I catch them, and sometimes I need MY mom to raise her glove for me.

Mandy is the Creative Director for Southern Woman Magazine by night, a lunch lady by day, and a mother of four 24/7. mandy.southernwoman@gmail.com

H A I R

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Taylor Marsh

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FANOLA COLOR ARTIST PALLURE PRO PRODUCT TESTER TIKTOK INFLUENCER OVER 70K

Photo of Taylor by: Alexandria Grace Photography Photo of Lindsey by: Danna Verhalen Photographer

HAIR BY LINDSEY

During the 4th of July Parade in Peachtree City, the assembled crowd enthusiastically applauded the patriotic float, sponsored by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), Airbase Georgia, which featured the fuselage of a Boeing N2S Stearman (PT-17 biplane), used in World War II to train new pilots, including the Tuskegee airmen. The float, which won the Mayor’s Trophy, was dedicated to the Rosie the Riveters of WWII – referring to the iconic poster campaign that exhorted women to join the war effort by taking jobs in factories and shipyards.

Volunteers continue to work at the CAF hangar at Falcon Field to restore this PT-17 biplane, including the intricate process of covering the wings and tail with new fabric. Many of the women volunteers have enthusiastically tackled this part of the project. It is detailed, challenging work that demands some sewing skills and doesn’t require a mechanical background. Once restored, the biplane will be certified by the FAA and available for the public to purchase a ride with a CAF pilot.

ters Rive the ie

Modern-D ay Ro s

These modern-day Rosie the Riveters all have something in common – a passion to conserve our military heritage and a desire to honor family members who served. Jane Simpson, a retired attorney from Carrollton, has been volunteering at the airbase for two years. She developed a love of aviation from her aunt, who trained Navy cadets during World War II. When she learned about volunteer opportunities at the airbase, Jane jumped right in and soon became Education Officer giving leadership to the airbase’s educational component. Jane is helping to re-imagine the current museum displays and is kick-starting a $1.2 million fund-raising campaign to build a new annex at the hangar to house some of the bigger artifacts.

Help Keep Aviation History Alive

36 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Photos by Charles Burcher and John Willhoff, Airbase Georgia, and Bonnie Helander

Since 2016, Robyn Rosenzweig has been driving from North Atlanta to the hangar three times a month to work on the PT-17 biplane. She wants to honor her grandfather who, as a WWII pilot, flew a B-17 Flying Fortress. Robin O’Reilly, who has been volunteering for over ten years, recalls stories from her grandparents who lived in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the largest of three Manhattan Project sites built to create the first atomic bomb. Her grandfather worked on the project. These talented women have developed a special camaraderie as they work together to help restore a piece of WWII history.

The Commemorative Air Force is a nationwide nonprofit aviation association that houses the largest flying museum in the world. Its mission is to educate, inspire and honor through flight and living history experiences those who served in military aviation. The CAF has more than 13,000 members, 89 units throughout the United States and 181 aircraft that are viewed by more than 10 million spectators each year. Known as the “Ghost Squadron,” these 181 warbirds, either flying or in restoration, are vivid reminders of some of the most defining moments in American military aviation history. They represent the bravery, sacrifices and innovation of America’s “Greatest Generation.”

September/October 2022 37

Peachtree City is proud to be the home of Airbase Georgia – the only CAF unit in the Atlanta metro area. The unit started in 1987 as the Dixie Wing and was promoted to airbase status for its 35 years of accomplishments. There are over 450 volunteer members who restore and maintain six vintage World War II aircraft and one post-Korean warbird, including a P 51D Mustang, a FG-1D Corsair, a P-63A Kingcobra, a T-6 Texan, a T-34B Mentor, a Fairchild PT-19A Cornell and the Boeing N2S Stearman that was featured in the July 4th parade.

All dues-paying volunteers receive the status of Colonel, so there is no one “outranking” anyone else. Steve Forsyth, one of Airbase Georgia’s volunteers, shares what motivates each volunteer. “These warbirds need to be flown so people can see them, hear them, and understand what the war was like and what our Greatest Generation sacrificed to win the war.”

Airbase Georgia volunteers are excited to host the 18th annual WWII Heritage Days on October 8 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at their Falcon Field hangar, with a swing dance to follow in the hangar until 7 p.m. Jane Simpson, Education Officer, is heading up the team preparing for the event and is enthusiastic about what people will discover on this day set aside to celebrate the 1940s and salute those who sacrificed so much to maintain our freedom. The theme this year is “Dawn of the Space Age,” and according to Jane, “We will be highlighting advances in aviation since WWII and how these accomplishments directly contributed to advances in the space age.”

You will find something interesting for the whole family at WWII Heritage Days, including vintage aircraft rides, military vehicles on display, living history displays and education activities. Those in attendance are invited to dress up in their favorite 1940s ensembles for the chance to win prizes for the best costumes. WWII re-enactors will be dressed in costume as well to share stories of the war and what was happening on the home front. Tickets are on sale now for $10 for adults and $5 for ages 11-17. Your ticket covers general admission and the 1940s Victory Dance, but donations are also greatly appreciated.

38 SOUTHERN WOMAN

If you are interested in helping to support the vital work of the Commemorative Air Force to “educate, inspire and honor through flight and living history experiences those who served in military aviation,” here are a few ways you can get involved.

Join Airbase Georgia and volunteer: Men and women of all ages and talents are welcome! You don’t need a background in aviation to volunteer, but young airplane mechanics are especially needed to help with the restoration of aircraft. Those interested in aviation history are being recruited to help revise the museum’s displays.

Schedule a Flight in a vintage warbird: The public is invited to experience the thrill of flight in one of these historic WWII aircraft by scheduling a ride with a certified pilot volunteer with CAF. For information on costs and aircraft availability, call the Rides hotline at 678-3641110 or by emailing rides@airbasegeorgia.org.

Book one or more vintage aircraft for your special event: The historic warbirds at Airbase Georgia are available to be featured at any community event or air show.

Rent the facility for your meeting or event: The hangar at Airbase Georgia Warbird Museum has over 10,000 square feet of space that can accommodate up to 400 people, and is available for rent for meetings or events. The backdrop of the seven vintage aircraft gives guests a memorable experience. The briefing room, which can accommodate 100 people, is also available for rent.

Donate your WWII artifacts to the museum: If you think you have a significant, historical artifact to include in the museum, go to airbasegeorgia.org/donate-an-artifact.

Donate to the CAF general operating budget or to the museum annex building fund to expand the museum’s collection of artifacts. Donations can be made at paypal.com: CAF Airbase Georgia.

Airbase Georgia is located at Atlanta Regional Airport at Falcon Field, 1200 Echo Court in Peachtree City and is open to the public for tours or rides on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information on WWII Heritage Days or how you can get involved, go to airbasegeorgia.org.

40 SOUTHERN WOMAN

15 Barnes St. Suite 1B Senoia, GA 30276 | 770-727-9017 | pinkchairboutique.com

Celebrate

CREATIVITY “You can’t use up creativity.

The more you use, the more you have.”

– Maya Angelou

by Annie Singh-Quern The Magnolia Arts Festival is the largest fine arts gathering in Fayette County.

Each October, the event (Magnolia) brings over 100 local and national performing and visual artists to Peachtree City. Fayette and Coweta County residents gather at Magnolia to browse, appreciate, purchase, and even learn to create art through selected artists’ workshops. The juried festival is an initiative of Fine Arts and Crafts Entrepreneurs (FAACE), a local nonprofit group of artists and art enthusiasts seeking to share the love of the arts with their local community.

Magnolia is a two-day weekend extravaganza that attracts artists and vendors from across the southeast. You will enjoy the artists’ market, live performances, children’s activities, delicious food, and milling around with fellow Fayette and Coweta County residents. Tour the artists’ tents to see beautiful paintings, jewelry, sculptures, metal pieces, and other art forms. Bring 42 SOUTHERN WOMAN

at the

7th Annual Magnolia Fine Arts Festival

your chair or a blanket and relax on the grounds of Drake Field while enjoying the cool fall breeze off Lake Peachtree, or pick up a brush and paint with one of our local artists. Local and regional fine art painters such as Teresa Ackerly, Heather Bergholt, Mary Daum, Art Perry, and Rene Dickerson will set up their art pieces early in the morning to be enjoyed by all throughout the day. Listen to performances by Moksha Rao (Bharatanatyam Dance), Dance Contempra (dance academy), Ugarte Studio (voice studio), Georgia Singers Company (theatrical arts), and Rare Epiphany (soloist).

The Fine Arts and Crafts Entrepreneurs group is also a proud and passionate supporter of the local school art programs in Fayette County. At Magnolia, you’ll have the chance to bid on your favorite live on-site creations of pop art. The silent auction will feature works from prominent artists: Alex Ferror, Chris Wright, Lawrence Nosewalker, Michael Mauldin, and Quake Solo. A portion of the silent auction sales will be donated to the school programs to educate and empower children to appreciate and pursue the love of art.

Charlene Sibaja, Director of the F.A.A.C.E. program shares, “Magnolia is truly a celebration of the arts. It gives artists a chance to share their passion and kindle the creative spirit in the local community.” The annual event provides a platform for artists to support the community so the community can in turn appreciate and support the arts. Magnolia ignites and cultivates the love of diverse art forms. It brings people together to experience a weekend dedicated to the arts, and a breath of fresh air from everyday life.

The 7th Annual Magnolia Arts Festival October 15 and 16, 2022. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Drake Field (by the Peachtree City Library).

For more information about Magnolia and FAACE, visit magnoliaartsfestival.org, FAACE.org, or send a note via info@magnoliaartsfestival.org

membership

Free to exhibit at Magnolia Monthly newsletter Membership meetings Artist spotlight Free/reduced workshop fees

BENEFITS OF

Online educational videos Social media promotion Camaraderie with other members Link to FAACE members’ gallery September/October 2022 43

44 SOUTHERN WOMAN

9TH ANNUAL CHARITY FASHION SHOW

What better way to spend a lovely Saturday afternoon than at an exhilarating fashion event that raises funds for foster children?

SATURDAY

10.15.22

The Newnan Centre Newnan, Georgia 300 guests will gather for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a unique “Take Home The Runway” auction during the 30-outfit fashion show emceed by the incredible Stephen Walker.

TICKET & SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION bloomouryouth.org/frocks-rocks/ Limited Early Bird tickets are available for $85 each.

General admission tickets are $100.

2022 Presenting Sponsor:

SOUTHERN

A Celebration of at The 2nd Annual

Hispanic Heritage Festival of Peachtree City

by Annie Singh-Quern

Hispanic Heritage Month is a 30-day-long recognition of the noteworthy contributions that Hispanics have made in making America great. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded the initiative to a full month. Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off on September 15, and concludes each year on the fifteenth day of October.

The Hispanic culture represents over 60 million people living in the U.S., making them the second largest ethnic group in the country (“Hispanic” refers to a person originating (or of heritage) from a Spanishspeaking country). Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, communities around the U.S. embrace the rich history, arts, music, literature, and food of various Hispanic countries. From big cities to small towns, parks and streets come alive in a rainbow of colors, displaying colorful costumes, beautiful dances, upbeat music, and flavorful foods.

Peachtree City has joined in the national celebration for its second annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, proudly representing the 8,000 Hispanic residents in Fayette County. The local initiative all began with a single

vision of two career moms - Maricela Laverde and Mariana Campos. A potluck picnic for families and friends at Lake McIntosh six years ago is now a gesture of pride and passion to gather local residents to embrace the true richness of the Hispanic culture through music, dance, food, and art.

The Hispanic Heritage Festival of Peachtree City is a free-admission community event in October that warmly welcomes all residents of Fayette County and beyond. At the open-air cabana on Drake Field, entertainers of all ages will enthusiastically perform in song and dance. The festival will commence with a mariachi band, followed by salsa and Mexican ballet dances, a flamenco performance, and a traditional horse dance-drill. At the end of the night, a Spanish rock band blasting favorite Hispanic tunes will bring the fiesta to a pulsating crescendo. Delicious grub of Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Cuba origins promises to tantalize the taste buds while adult beverages and a variety of nonalcoholic drinks will quench thirsty throats. The grounds will be lined with local artisans and artists proudly selling their colorful crafts. Young children will be entertained with art & craft sessions, face painting, and a bounce house. Peachtree City Realtor and the Hispanic Heritage Festival co-organizer Maricela Laverde said, “The Hispanic Heritage Festival in Peachtree City is a truly wonderful way for our local residents of all ages to come together to experience and embrace the beautiful and rich culture of the Hispanic people in the United States.”

The Hispanic Heritage Festival will be held at Drake Field on 155 Willowbend Road, Peachtree City, on Sunday, October 1, from 3 pm to 9 pm. Admission to the festival is free. Food and drinks can be purchased from food trucks. Extra parking will be found at the First Presbyterian Church on Willowbend Road. Shuttle buses will transport visitors from nearby hotels. For more information about the festival, sponsorship, and vendor spots, please contact Maricela Laverde at hispanicheritagefestivalptc@gmail.com

46 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Sonia Sotomayor - 1st U.S. Latina Supreme Court Justice Ellen Ochoa - 1st Latina astronaut to travel into space Maria Elena Salinas - Longest-running female news anchor in the U.S. IIeana Ros-Lehtinen - 1st Latina to serve in the House of Representatives Nancy Lopez - All-time greatest female golfer Gloria Estefan - Multiple Grammy-award singer, songwriter, author, and humanitarian

9/15 to 10/15 - Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15 - Independence Day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua 9/16 - Independence Day of Mexico 9/18 - Independence Day of Chile 10/12 - Columbus Day

Cha Cha Merengue Salsa Tango Rumba

conservation

Southern Woman Magazine congratulates Kathryn Litton on her outstanding achievement.

Photography by: Scott Anna

Kathryn Litton of Blairsville, Georgia, is a 2022 recipient of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) Conservation Medal.

Nominated by the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, Blairsville, Georgia, Kathryn joins the few recipients nationally each year.

Upon notification of her recognition, Kathryn, now 89, shared with enthusiasm, "...when I was in high school, I was nominated for the DAR Good Citizen Award and received a medal which I still have. Two times honored in my life. What a joy."

Annette Hopgood , Immediate Past Conservation Chair for Georgia Society of DAR shares, "As State Roadside Beautification Chairman in the Garden Club of Georgia, Litton works with the GA Department of Transportation on their Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Project promoting mass plantings of perennials such as black-eyed susan, cosmos, corn poppies, and coreopsis alongside Georgia highways. In 2016 the Georgia Board of Transportation honored her with a resolution."

Kathryn has received many honors through the years for her efforts including her research and study of cold hardy factors for plants that would survive the extreme temperatures of the north Georgia mountains. The Tennessee Valley Authority awarded her a competitive grant for this work. The Kellogg Foundation also chose her for a competitive grant for community service as a non-professional educator. As a wellknown presenter throughout her professional career, Kathryn has taught native plants to University of Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteers and the general public. She is especially known for her knowledge of native azaleas and rhododendrons.

48 SOUTHERN WOMAN

She has years of work with the GA Department of Natural Resources in their endangered wildflower program and worked with State Parks on their native plant landscaping projects.

In 1993, Kathryn won the National Council of State Garden Clubs Education Award and blue seal for her display of native plants at "Celebrate Autumn", a standard flower held at Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

She also received the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Award at the Southeastern Flower Show in 1994, depicting the best use of native plants in a garden setting. To exhibit in February, she had to force native azaleas and other spring flowering plants to come into full bloom for the show during the cold weather in the North Georgia Mountains.

Her booklet "Here Come the Natives" won first place in the National Garden Club competition and is in the library of Georgia authors in Georgia's Governor's mansion.

Kathryn is committed to conservation in her local community. She instigated and remained the primary sponsor of Blairsville as a Tree City USA for over 25 years. Her commitment to community was confirmed when she was inducted into the 2014 Union County Agriculture Hall of Fame at Union County Farmers Market, Blairsville, Georgia. This program is sponsored by Union County Historical Society. Her selection was based on her work in the horticulture field, and many accomplishments in horticulture through the Blairsville, Georgia, and National Garden Clubs.

Old Unicoi Trail, Chapter Regent Pam Greene and Annete Bomar Hopgood, immediate past Conservation Chair GSDAR, presented the National Society Daughters of American Revolution Conservation Medal to Kathryn Litton at their September meeting.

The NSDAR Conservation Medal recognizes individuals and organizations who exhibit distinguished conservation records, sustained efforts to improve the environment and public education on conservation issues.

A longtime advocate and practitioner in the conservation of native plants and the beautification of Georgia's homes, communities and highways, Litton has been deemed deserving of the medal by the Georgia and National Conservation Committees of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

According to Annette Hopgood, immediate past Conservation Chair for the Georgia Society of DAR:

"The accolades Litton has received for her work in the areas of horticulture, landscaping, and the preservation of natural resources are numerous. They clearly validate her having earned this recognition."

September/October 2022 49

NEVER MISS

AN ISSUE! SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE

I’m Caroline Kirsch,

the Publisher and Site Curator for The Peachtree City Moms, www.thepeachtreecitymoms.com and @peachtreecitymoms on Instagram and Facebook. As an Affiliate of The Local Moms Network, we’re a resource website for busy Moms providing instant access to local events, activities, resources, and more!

peachtreecitymoms.com @peachtreecitymoms

THE PEACHTREE CITY MOMS AND THE AVENUE PRESENT

FASHION'S

NIGHT

Out

BENEFITTING TWO SPARROWS VILLAGE, AN AMAZING LOCAL NON-PROFIT PROVIDING CARE FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!

Come join us for a fabulous night of Friends, Fashion, and Shopping all while supporting a great cause!

SEPTEMBER 29

6pm - 8 pm at The Avenue, Peachtree City

Register on @peachtreecitymoms, link is in the Bio.

5steps TO A

MORE

AND

Life

BY DEENA ATTIA

The world we live in is fast and can make our heads spin with the tremendous amount of information that is accessible to us every day, all day. We are fortunate to have resources that provide answers to any question that comes up throughout the day. We can learn new skills, laugh and be entertained, and even relax during downtime. When you have the combination of learning, relaxation, and entertainment that is the trifecta of what a well-curated and crafted Instagram page is and why Natalia Korop has over 19.3k followers. Natalia’s Instagram page is happi.farm.ga and the theme is wellness, kindness, and inspiration.

Natalia is originally from Ukraine. As a young girl, she grew up taking care of animals and farming. When she was 18 Natalia took a job in the financial industry that provided the means to be able to support her loved ones. Once she came to the United States she continued to excel in her career and remained focused on her success. She lived in New York City and when she came to Georgia she had a home in Buckhead. City life was comfortable and she enjoyed it, but often what you had in childhood is what you eventually go back to and that is what she and her husband and two boys did in 2020.

They made the big move to a farm and traded city life for acres of land, 300 chickens, a horse, 8 Black Angus cows, peacocks, and turkeys, ducks and geese, and any rescue cats that may find their way to Happi Farm.

Many chores need to be taken care of daily on the farm and Natalia has figured out clever ways to use her time wisely. Her father was an engineer and she uses what she learned from him. She built a feeder for the chickens that sustains the hundreds of hens and a handful of roosters. She and her husband and their sons do it all.

Collecting the eggs is a daily task and the reward of visiting the coop is more than fresh eggs. Watching the over 40 varieties of chickens navigate through the coop and the outside covered space is fun to see how they interact with each other and their duck and geese neighbors. They run and cluck at each other and it appears they could fight, but they just calm down and move along.

1

The farm environment is peaceful and brings anyone who visits close to nature. Natalia is sharing her story with her followers of farm life and she has three main sentiments; wellness, kindness, and inspiration. The five steps Natalia speaks about are achievable in any environment and are meant to be implemented with ease and thoughtfulness.

2

Surround yourself with

YOUR KIND of people.

Be mindful of the qualities of the people who surround you. Are they kind and understanding towards you? Can you be openhearted when you are talking to them? Do you feel like they will understand, support, and love you no matter what because they know that you always have the best intentions, even when you make mistakes? Learn to recognize people that put you at ease and (over time) may have your trust. Remove complainers, drama magnets, and disingenuous people from your circle.

Get grounded and get your body moving!

Two to three times a week and don’t forget to take deep breaths while doing it!

The best way to do this is to walk barefoot when possible, submerge into nature, and take deep, intentional slow breaths… even if it is a 10-minute walk in the park, it will have a positive influence on your energy level.

Our minds might have forgotten, but our bodies naturally recognize the energy of the earth because we evolved by touching the earth. Men used to walk barefoot all the time and slept right on the ground. Being connected to the earth's energy helps bring us back to our natural electrical state which is vital to our health.

September/October 2022 53

3 4

Supporting local farms, working together, and building skills that will help you become more self-sufficient regardless of your location. Even if it’s just baking a loaf of bread with storebought flour or growing some herbs in your kitchen window. So many basic skills became lost in our society today. But they are all within your reach of learning! All that’s needed is your desire to learn. The supply chain makes it quite convenient to grab what you need off the shelves of massive stores but having skills and knowledge of self-sufficiency will help you feel more confident that you can take care of yourself and your family.

Nourish your body.

Respect your body by supporting it with natural foods and drinks.

When you consume natural foods you are giving your body nutrients that are intended for it by nature. Your digestive system will be able to absorb all the right elements and distribute them to the right organs. Avoid taking in junk and processed foods.

Learn to be more self-sufficient.

It will help you feel the freedom and satisfaction you might have never experienced!

Am I asking you to produce everything you eat and consume? No, not at all. But selfsufficiency is more than just trying to produce everything yourself. It’s about community.

54 SOUTHERN WOMAN

5

Stay connected to yourself.

Stay mindful of your life choices vs how you dream your life should be.

We often get carried away by our daily routines. Too busy to breathe.. too busy to think of better food choices… no time to rest… sleep deprivation.. stress is too high. When you feel like your life doesn’t bring you enough joy and positive energy anymore - start at step 1. The top 4 actions will help you to align yourself with your mind, body, and spirit yet again.

INCORPORATE

INTO YOUR LIFE AND GROW YOUR HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE OVER TIME.

Natalia said, “If you want to make the lifestyle changes bad enough, you can find a way.

Nothing can stop you, as long as you put your mind to it. There are ways to work around just about anything that’s holding you back.”

HAPPI.FARM.GA

Natalia’s list is meant to be an inspirational tool. Anyone anywhere can use these steps to gain a more holistic and fulfilling life. After speaking with Natalia and having the pleasure of visiting her farm I am inspired to plan a fall garden. Natalia emphasizes that even a small area or a balcony can be used for a start-up garden. Have you ever planted tomatoes or peppers? Do you remember how gratifying it felt to pick one fresh off the vine and use it in a meal? The luxury of having access to fresh and organic produce from your own garden is more beneficial than the money savings. It just feels good knowing what you are feeding your family and that it was your patience and persistence that produced the food.

Natalia shares her farm life escapades with her online community daily. The latest task she’s working on is bread baking. No doubt that she will be an amazing baker of sourdough and any other bread that she takes on. Check her out and be inspired!

September/October 2022 55

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SOUTHERN CONTACT MANDY TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN HELP YOU REACH YOUR AUDIENCE! MANDY.SOUTHERNWOMAN@GMAIL.COM | 678.340.5281

u o y e k i l t Ever fel t r o h s a d neede a h t i w e p a esc a o t d n e i r good f ? h c a e b y n sun

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Beauty and the Beach (BATB) Weekend is our annual aParent Miracles Foundation flagship event created exclusively as an opportunity for professional, enterprising women who-due to their obligations at work and home - haven't carved out the quality 'me' time we all need.

What is our recipe for creating a weekend of fun, relaxation, and renewal...an opportunity for you and a good friend to relax, be pampered, unwind, and while awakening beauty inside and out? There are FOUR basic ingredients that help make BATB the best weekend EVERRR!

THE BATB RECIPE: Our LOCATION Our ACTIVITIES Our WORKSHOPS 'COVER MODEL' Photoshoot (optional)

Early Bird Registration Ends Sept 15th Space is limited!

ebrity ATB Cel phy by B ra es og ot ay h H P pher, Don Photogra

Treat yourself and bring your closest friend for 3 days of fun and rejuvenation with opportunities to explore various ways to tap into the strength, beauty and power inside you.

For more information and to register visit:

Know the Signs. Save a Life.

by Annie Singh-Quern

“Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Abuse affects a person emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is only through education and open conversations that we, as a community, can bring awareness to the growing numbers of reported domestic and dating violence cases and understand the needs of victims.”

- Ashley Williams, Survivor & Executive Director of Promise Place

October is domestic violence awareness month. During this time, local community members come together to communicate the danger signs of domestic violence and share the resources and tools victims can access to escape to safety. However, we all need to remain vigilant, each and every day. The more responsibility we hold as individuals - to be aware, and to take action - for our family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues - the closer we will come to eradicating domestic violence. The mission to end domestic violence begins with you.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence (DV) is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate

partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together, or who are dating. It can occur among families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence - even you.

Promise Place Promise Place is a local non-profit DV shelter program which provides comprehensive services to victims of DV and their children. The nonprofit serves over 3,000 victims of DV and their children each year. Over 7,000 9th-grade and middle school students are taught annually through the Promise Place Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program.

The organization relies predominantly on the community for donations and volunteers to continue to provide the much-needed services for victims of DV and their children.

Upcoming!

Gather family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors to participate in the annual 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk to End Domestic Violence to raise awareness and help put an end to DV. Saturday, October 22, 2022.

Please visit the Promise Place website for information for venue updates.

If you or anyone close to you need help, please call the Promise Place shelter’s crisis line at 770-4601604. To become a volunteer, or gather more information, please visit promiseplace.org, or call 770-461-3839.

This article is supported by On-Call Alerts, an emergency response system that provides 24/7 response and monitoring at the touch of a button. Connect with us for your continued safety, freedom, and peace of mind.

678-524-3934. Oncallalerts.com.

DV Statistics 1 in 5 of women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner.

1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have been stalked by an intimate partner, placing them in fear for their own life or the lives of those close to them.

The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide by 500%.

41% of sexual and gender minority high school students and 11% of heterosexual students, report experiencing physical and/or sexual dating violence.

Promise Place programs 24-hour crisis hotline Crisis intervention Counseling services Emergency shelter Legal advocacy Weekly support group Childcare for support groups Emergency needs assistance Food pantry Child advocacy Community and workplace education Teen Dating Violence Prevention Education P.O.S.T. training for law enforcement

I have noticed that there are so many young people really suffering these days and so I started taking Tween Empowerment photos a couple of years ago. I had the moms secretly send out questionnaires to people who knew and loved the kids with questions about their inner qualities which make them unique and special. The kids were shocked when they came back to see their images in a slideshow and these words of affirmation pop up from people they know. Many would cry and say, "I just didn't know anybody thought those things about me!" It made me realize just how much they were hurting. Many moms told me that many of the kids lost their identity during Covid when they stopped going to activities, had less social time with others, and relied on social media to interact. Comparing themselves to others only increased their lack of self-esteem and so I wanted to create a special day to remind them how incredible they are JUST the way they are.

That is how the "Who I Am" Tween Empowerment Event came about. We will have speakers and activities that are so inspirational. They will create empowering art on canvas in my uplifting, fun art studio. Then the girls will have an awesome photo shoot to feel beautiful, each receiving the canvas and a portrait to remind them of the truths they learned that day. Whenever they are having a bad day, they will have reminders of their incredible qualities. There will be snacks, a candy buffet (I know it's not healthy but oh so fun!), will get to feed the horses, and receive a swag bag of girlie goodies, and a tshirt with adorable girlie decorations outside and in. We will be donating a portion of the ticket funds to Bloom, for foster children.

It is going to be such an amazing day for the girls. The event will take place on our 10-acre farm, Cedar Hill Farm in Brooks. We will have the larger group outside under the huge oak tree with little white lights, lanterns, lots of balloons, and flowers. The limit is 40-45 girls and we would love to have full capacity to help more girls so if you could get the word out, that would be so helpful. We are hoping that businesses can share on their social media, newsletter, or with a flier in their office. The girls will divide into groups of ten for their activity stations so that they might be able to bond better. This will be a non-judgment zone where every girl is made to feel welcome and loved and they will be reminded of that in the beginning.

We can not create the kind of experience these girls should have without help from our community so we are asking for sponsorships. I have attached some sponsorship information and the flier. If you or anyone you can think of might be interested, please feel free to reach out with questions.

60 40 SOUTHERN WOMAN

classy

spooky

halloween tables

Keep it classy and spooky this Halloween with these feminine table setting ideas. Pull out the skulls, pumpkins and bats and add nice linens, crisp white plates, flowers, gold candelabras, fancy glassware and lots of pink!

happy halloween!

64 SOUTHERN WOMAN

She Crab Soup INGREDIENTS 4 tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 yellow onion diced 1 celery rib diced 1 garlic clove minced 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp old bay seasoning 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/2 cup dry sherry 1 cup clam juice

3 cups milk 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 cup chicken broth 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 bay leaf 1 tsp salt 1 lb lump crab meat 1/4 cup crab roe optional

INSTRUCTIONS Bring a large pot over medium high heat, then add 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 chopped yellow onion, 1 diced celery rib, and 1 minced garlic clove. Stir until the onion becomes translucent.

Add 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Stir for about 1 minute.

Bring the heat to high and pour in 1/2 cup dry sherry. Quickly stir and let the wine cook out for about 2 minutes.

Add 1 cup clam juice, 3 cups milk, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 Tbsps lemon juice, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 bay leaf, and 1 tsp salt (or to taste). Let the soup come to a simmer and keep simmering for about 15 minutes.

Remove the bay leaf and add 1 pound of lump crab meat. At this point, you can add in your roe if you chose to use it (optional). Return the soup to a simmer for an additional 4 minutes and serve.

French Onion Soup INGREDIENTS 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter 6 cups thinly sliced vidalia or spanish onions kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper 1 tbsp all-purpose flour 1/4 cup dry sherry 5 cups beef stock 6 sprigs fresh thyme 8 slices gruyere cheese (or swiss) plus 1 cup grated gruyere cheese 2 cups croutons

INSTRUCTIONS In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions all at once and a small splash of water.

Season the onions with salt and pepper. Bring the onions to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce the heat if the onions begin to cook too fast. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 15 minutes. (If you want a sweeter soup, continue to cook the onions until they caramelize to the richness of your preference.)

Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes. Add the sherry and cook for a few minutes longer. Add the beef stock and bring to a very low simmer; simmer for about 35 minutes.

Preheat the broiler to finish the soup.

Add the thyme to the soup and simmer for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Remove the herbs.

Ladle the soup into 4 soup crocks. Cover each crock with 2 slices of cheese and some croutons, then top with the shredded Gruyere. Transfer the crocks to a baking sheet and place under the broiler until the cheese bubbles and browns.

September/October 2022 65

Creamy Corn Chowder INGREDIENTS 4 strips bacon cut into small pieces 1/2 medium onion chopped small 3 sticks celery chopped small 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped small 1/4 cup flour 2 cloves garlic minced

4 cups chicken broth or stock 1 cup heavy/whipping cream 4 cups frozen or fresh corn 2 large Russet potatoes peeled and diced 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS Prep your bacon and add it to a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook until crispy (about 10 minutes).

Prep your onion, celery, and potatoes.

Once the bacon is crispy, take it out of the pot and move to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pot.

Add the onion, celery, and carrots to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Stir in the flour and cook for about a minute, stirring nearly constantly.

Add in the chicken broth and give it a good stir to ensure the flour has dissolved and the brown bits are scraped up from the bottom of the pot.

Add in the cream, corn, potatoes, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, and most of the bacon (save the rest for garnishing the bowls later on).

Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to a rapid simmer so it's gently boiling. Cover the pot so the lid is slightly ajar.

Cook until the potatoes are tender (about 15-20 minutes). Stir every so often. The soup will thicken up more the longer you cook it.

Season the soup with salt & pepper as needed. Garnish bowls with the rest of the bacon.

Zuppa Toscana Soup INGREDIENTS 1 pound italian sausage (recommend spicy) 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium white onion, peeled and diced 1.5 pounds yukon gold potatoes, washed and diced 4 cups chicken stock 2 cups water 2 cups chopped fresh kale 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or half and half) kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 pieces bacon, cooked and chopped

INSTRUCTIONS Cook sausage in a large stockpot over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, breaking the sausage into small pieces as it cooks. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage to a separate plate, reserving 1 tablespoon of grease in the stockpot for later, and discarding the excess grease. Set aside.

Add onions to the stockpot (with the grease), and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, and sauté for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add the potatoes, chicken stock, water, and cooked sausage, and continue cooking until the mixture reaches a simmer.

Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the kale and cream, and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve warm, garnished with the bacon bits.

66 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Crockpot Chicken and Dumpling Soup INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp olive oil 1 lb. chicken breasts 1 cup celery (1” pieces) 1 cup carrot (1” pieces) 1 cup onion finely chopped 1/2 tbsp garlic finely minced 2 cups yukon gold potatoes peeled (1” pieces) 1 cup yukon gold potatoes peeled (quartered)

1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp dried parsley 3 cups chicken broth or bone broth 1/4 tsp dried basil 3 tbsp parsley for garnish 1/2 cup milk of choice almond milk, whole milk, any milk will work

INSTRUCTIONS Crockpot Instructions Heat olive oil in a pan on the stove. Add in the celery, carrot, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Sauté for 2 minutes or until slightly translucent.

Layer raw chicken, cooked vegetables, and potatoes in the crockpot.

Add broth. Cover and set to low for 6 hours.

Once cooked, remove the large potato pieces and chicken breasts.

Place large potato quarters, almond milk and 1/2 cup of broth (from the pot) into a blender until smooth. Add back into the pot.

Shred chicken breasts and add back to pot.

Stir everything together until combined and smooth. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Creamy Taco Soup INGREDIENTS 1 pound lean ground beef 1/2 red bell pepper chopped 2 (10 fluid ounce) cans rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies with juices 4 cups chicken broth 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tbsp chili powder 1 (12 fluid ounce) can corn drained 1 (15 fluid ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed 1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese salt and pepper to taste toppings (optional): grated cheddar, avocado, cilantro, tortilla strips, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS Take the cream cheese out of the fridge an hour or more prior to starting the recipe to let it soften up, or microwave it for 20-30 seconds.

Add the ground beef to a large soup pot over mediumhigh heat. Brown the beef, and if there's excess fat, spoon most of it out.

Add all the ingredients to the pot except for the cream cheese and salt & pepper.

Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil.

Turn down the heat so it's simmering gently for 8 minutes. While the soup cooks, prep your toppings.

Cut the cream cheese into smaller pieces and add it to the soup. Let it melt in (you may have to stir it until it's fully dissolved).

Season the soup with salt & pepper and serve with toppings as desired.

September/October 2022 67

Dutch Oven Lasagna INGREDIENTS 9 oz. package no-boil lasagna noodles 1 egg lightly beaten 1 15 oz carton ricotta cheese or cottage cheese 1 tbsp fresh minced parsley 1 lb. ground chuck 1 lb. ground italian sausage 1 medium yellow onion diced 3 cloves garlic minced

½ cup dry or semi-dry red wine can replace with water or chicken broth 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes 32-48 oz. marinara sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese ½ cup grated parmesan fresh basil rough chopped

INSTRUCTIONS In a small bowl, beat together the egg, ricotta and parsley. Set aside.

In the Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, brown the beef and sausage. Drain the meat reserving 2 tablespoons fat (add 2 tablespoons olive oil, if there isn’t enough reserved fat). Transfer the drained meat to a large, heatproof bowl and set aside.

In the same pot, sauté the diced onion until it becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Add red wine, red pepper flakes and the marinara sauce and cook an additional 5 minutes. Transfer the marinara mixture to the bowl with the meat and mix to combine.

With the Dutch oven over low-medium heat, ladle 2 cups of the marinara meat mixture into the bottom of the pot and cover the sauce with a layer of lasagna noodles (breaking the noodles to fit). Then, ladle the noodles with a layer of the marinara meat mixture.

Place spoonfuls of the ricotta/egg mixture over the marinara mixture and then add some mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Repeat the layers three more times (except there will be only three layers with the ricotta mixture).

The lasagna should be layered like this from the bottom layer to the top layer: Marinara meat sauce, noodles, marinara meat sauce, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, Parmesan, noodles, marinara, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, noodles, marinara, ricotta, mozzarella, noodles, marinara, mozzarella and finish with Parmesan.

Switch heat to low and cook, covered, 30-40 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through, and the lasagna is hot & bubbly. When the lasagna is cooked through and noodles have softened, it can be placed under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the cheese.

After removing the lasagna from the heat, garnish it with fresh basil and let it rest 10-15 minutes before serving.

Dutch Oven Blueberry Cobbler INGREDIENTS 4 cups blueberries fresh or frozen 1/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 stick butter softened 1/8 tsp salt 1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder 1 cup milk 1/2 cup white sugar 1 tbsp corn starch 1/8 tsp salt 1/4 cup boiling water

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375. Spray Dutch Oven lightly with cooking spray.

Pour blueberries into bottom of Dutch Oven.

Cream 1/4 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar with one stick softened butter. To cream these ingredients, use a hand mixer to fully incorporate the sugars into the butter.

Add salt, flour, baking powder and milk and continue mixing until a batter is formed. If your batter isn't spreadable, add 1/8-1/4 cup more milk.

Spread the batter over the blueberries.

In a separate bowl, mix together white sugar, corn starch and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle sugar mixture over all of batter.

Heat 1/4 cup water in microwave for 40 seconds.

Pour water over all of the sugar - making sure that every grain of sugar is coated because THIS is where the magic happens!

Bake uncovered at 375 for 55-60 minutes or until the cobbler topping is done. Test with a cake tester or toothpick - if it comes out clean - it's done. Top should be golden brown.

Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

68 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Dutch Oven Chili INGREDIENTS 2 pounds beef chuck roast 1 cup beef broth cut into 1” cubes 30 ounces red kidney beans 1 tsp salt rinsed 1 tsp black pepper 15 ounces diced tomatoes 2 tbsp vegetable oil 7 ounces green chilies 1 small white onion diced 1/2 cup finely crushed tortilla 1 large red bell pepper diced chips for dipping 3 ribs celery sliced 2 tbsp tomato paste For Serving 1 tbsp chili powder 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 tsp ground cumin 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro 2 tsp paprika 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tsp garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS Place a 12-inch (6 quart) cast iron dutch oven over 15 briquettes to preheat, about 5 minutes. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Once dutch oven is preheated, add in the oil and sear the beef until browned. Add in the onion, red bell pepper, celery, and tomato paste and saute 5-7 minutes, until vegetables are soft.

Add in chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder and let cook 60-90 seconds.

Stir in beef broth, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and green chilies. Place the lid on and let cook for 60 minutes.

Let rest for 10 minutes, uncovered, to thicken. Serve plain or topped with shredded cheddar cheese and/or a dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped cilantro.

Dutch Oven Glazed Donuts INGREDIENTS DONUTS 3 cups oil, for frying 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp salt 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter melted 1/4 cup milk 1/4 tsp vanilla extract GLAZE 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar 1 to 2 tbsp milk 1/4 tsp vanilla extract chocolate sprinkles (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS DONUTS In a Dutch oven, heat 1-inch of oil.

While the oil is heating, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, sugar, melted butter, and milk.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and fold together until no streaks of flour remain, but try not to over mix.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface with a rolling pin to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut out six circles. Use a smaller cutter (a piping tip works) to cut out the middles.

Once the oil is hot, carefully slide three donuts into the oil. Fry for 15 to 20 seconds on the first side, then flip. Fry the other side for 15 seconds, or until golden brown, and then remove from the oil. Let rest on a paper towel lined cooling rack so the excess oil drips away. Repeat with the remaining donuts and donut holes.

GLAZE While cooling, whisk together the confectioner's sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a shallow dish. Dip the donuts in the glaze, then serve.

If desired, add chocolate sprinkles to the glazed donuts while the glaze is still wet.

September/October 2022 69

Dutch Oven Southern Shrimp Gumbo INGREDIENTS ¼ cup butter ½ cup canola oil + 2 tbsp ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 large sweet onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 2 celery ribs, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 bay leaves 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes 6 cups seafood stock, divided

1 teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon low salt creole seasoning 1 link andouille sausage 1 link smoked sausage 1 cup fresh okra, chopped 1 tsp liquid shrimp and crab boil 2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined 3 green onions chopped gumbo filé optional

INSTRUCTIONS Melt butter and canola oil (¼ cup) in a large Dutch Oven, add flour and whisk continuously, over low to medium heat, until this mixture (the roux) has turned to a light chocolate color. This will take time. Don't rush it and do not turn the heat to high.

Add the chopped onion, bell pepper and celery and continue to cook, stirring for about 10 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, stir for two more minutes.

Add the canned tomatoes, half of the seafood stock, the bay leaves and the seasoning. Stir well and cover. Allow to gently simmer.

In a large skillet (12”) add the 2 Tablespoons of canola oil and the chopped okra (add okra while oil is still cool).

Turn heat to medium, then add the sliced sausage. Sauté in the skillet, stirring often for about 15 minutes. Once the sausage looks like it’s caramelized somewhat and is sticking to the pan some – and the okra is nice and soft. Use the remaining stock to pour a little into the skillet and scrape up the stuck bits (this adds great flavor to the gumbo).

Add these contents to the Dutch oven with everything else and bring to a boil.

Cover and simmer for about 45-60 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, add the liquid shrimp and crab boil to the fresh shrimp and stir so that all the shrimp has been coated. Cover the bowl and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

Grandmas Dutch Oven Apple Crisp INGREDIENTS For The Apple Filling For The Oat Topping 6 cups apples peeled ½ cup all-purpose flour and chopped ½ cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons lemon ½ cup large flake rolled juice oats ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ cup all-purpose ⅛ teaspoon salt flour ½ cup butter room 1 teaspoon cinnamon temperature

INSTRUCTIONS

10 minutes before you’re ready to eat, add the shrimp to the gumbo and stir well.

Cover again and cook on low for 10 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and have a 4 to 6-quart cast iron Dutch oven ready.

Remove bay leaves. Add chopped green onions.

Place the chopped apples directly into the Dutch oven. Add the lemon juice and stir. Add the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Stir everything together until the apples are well coated. Set aside.

Serve over cooked rice. Offer Gumbo Filé if anyone likes it.

Next, make the oat topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Stir well to combine.

Add the butter to the oat mixture. Using your hands or a fork, mix the butter into the brown sugar and oats until it is evenly distributed. If your butter is fairly soft, the mixture will be quite smooth, like a soft dough.

Scatter the oat topping, evenly in chunks, over the top of the apples in the Dutch oven. Place the Dutch oven in the preheated oven, with the lid off, and bake until the top is golden and the apple filling is bubbling, about 55 to 60 minutes.

Cool the apple crisp on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

70 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Dutch Oven Pasta Figioli INGREDIENTS 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 1 slice pancetta or ham, finely chopped, or substitute 2 slices bacon 1 large yellow onion (8 oz.), finely chopped (about 1 cup) 1 cup finely diced carrot (about 2 medium carrots, 5 oz. total) 1 celery stalk, finely diced (½ cup) Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper

5 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped (3 Tbsp.)

1 sprig fresh thyme (optional) 1 (15-oz.) can crushed tomatoes 2 (15-oz.) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 4 cups chicken stock 1½ cups (about 8 oz.) ditalini or other short, tubular pasta ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, for serving Grated pecorino-romano cheese, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS Set a small paper-towel-lined plate next to the stove. In a heavy medium-large pot or dutch oven over medium heat, add the olive oil and the pancetta, ham, or bacon. Let cook, stirring frequently, until some of the fat has rendered out from the meat and it is just crisp, about 6 minutes. Quickly remove the meat using a slotted spoon and reserve on the prepared plate. In the pot with the fat, quickly stir in the onions and season with salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add the carrots and celery and another small pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until some of the vegetables are lightly browned, 6–8 minutes more. Add the garlic and let cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Let simmer until the ingredients are better combined and the vegetables have softened slightly, about 5 minutes.

Using the back of a fork, mash about ½ cup of the beans well, then add them to the pot. Add the remaining beans whole, then pour in the stock and 2 cups water. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the pasta and adjust the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, 8–10 minutes.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Drizzle each with olive oil, and sprinkle with the reserved crispy meat pieces, the fresh basil, plenty of pecorino-romano, and more black pepper if desired. Serve immediately.

Easy No Knead Bread (Dutch Oven Bread) INGREDIENTS 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp active dry yeast 1 ½ tsp sea salt 1 ½ cups warm water 105 degrees f

INSTRUCTIONS Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine.

Add the water and mix until the dough forms a ball.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (sprayed with cooking spray) and a damp tea towel.

Let dough sit covered at room temperature for 18-24 hours.

After 24 hours (or at least 1 hour before you want to serve) preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a 2 ¾ quart dutch oven (or a 2.4L baking dish) with a lid in the oven while it is preheating. (Note: Readers have used a 5 qt. dutch oven with success).

While oven is preheating, transfer the dough from the bowl onto a floured surface.

Form the dough into a ball, adding a few TBS more flour if needed.

The dough should still be slightly loose. Then cover it with a floured towel while the oven is preheating. (Important note: The dough ball will be loose and "floppy." That is how it should be as this is a very moist bread which is what makes it so irresistible. You will not have a firm ball, it will look a little flat).

Carefully remove the hot baking dish from the oven. Remove the lid and spray the dish with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.

Gently put the dough ball into the baking dish so it’s evenly distributed.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown.

Remove the loaf from the baking dish and let it cool on a rack before slicing. To keep it warm, cover with a tea towel. Slice it up and slab on some butter and enjoy!

September/October 2022 71

Last year we conducted a search for a beautiful and unique home to design for fall and to showcase for the magazine.

After all, what is more, southern than a beautifully decorated porch? We conducted our search on Facebook. Since this was our first year we weren’t sure how many entries we would get. The response was overwhelming! Over 250 homes were submitted. It was a daunting task. Our intention was to select one.

Well, we couldn’t make up our minds.

Congratulations to our first annual “Southern Woman Magazine Fall Featured Porch” winners, the Pearson and Medici families.

We fell in love with the Pearson’s home.

From the exquisite gas-lit porch light to the majestic dual staircase. It caught our eye instantly. We couldn’t resist placing a pastel-colored pumpkin on each beautiful step. We mirrored the design on each staircase. Pumpkin stacks as well as a prize winner pumpkin rounded out the design. You could not pass this home by without stopping and ogling.

The Medici home caught our eye for different reasons. Their home with its painted weeping mortar brickwork, wide steps, and unique iron work captured our attention from the first moment that we saw it. We had to see it in person. It did not disappoint. We decided again to go with a pastel color palette. A variety of white pumpkins anchored the design. We added light green and orange pumpkins along with unusual gourds to complete the look.

I hope that you can look at your porch and find inspiration. You can call me and I can help or pick up the supplies and do it yourself. Either way, I encourage you to be creative and embrace your space this fall. Enjoy all of the wonders this wonderful season brings.

By Holly Cellini Photography by Michele Mabie itsaporchthing.com

@itsaporchthing

ANCIENT ART OF

ORIGAMI

Inspires Sculptures in the Garden

RISING PEACE

Story by Bonnie Helander and Photos by Atlanta Botanical Garden

SCENTS OF GRATITUDE

There is still time to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden this fall to enjoy the aweinspiring traveling exhibit, Origami in the Garden, being presented through October 16. The garden is alive with 70 huge metal sculptures inspired by the ancient Japanese art of origami (paper folding), and created

by Santa Fe husband and wife artists, Kevin and Jennifer Box. The designs were made from paper and wax and then cast into metal pieces of birds, flowers, butterflies and other symbols of nature.

origami peace cranes – the worldwide symbol of peace.

According to artist, Kevin Box, “The beautiful metaphor of origami, for me, is that it all starts with a simple, uncut square.

That’s a great metaphor for life; what we do with that is really what defines us. Every fold has a consequence, just like every decision in your life.”

The 18 installations at the garden are the most ambitious the artists have done to date. The tallest piece in the exhibit is Scents of Gratitude, standing 31’ tall, and weighing 5,300 pounds, with 77 flower components! Master Peace is a 24-foot tall monument depicting 1,000 stainless steel

Each design the artists create starts simply by folding a single, uncut sheet of paper. The design then goes through many techniques and processes until the final piece is considered a museum-quality metal sculpture that will take your breath away!

Visitors interested in learning the step-by-step process can stop at the “Inside Out” exhibit in the Gardenhouse Gallery, which explains in detail how the artists created their masterpieces.

74 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Fun Facts about the Exhibit:

It took the artists and their team three years to create the sculptures for the Atlanta exhibit.

Six tractor trailers brought the exhibit 1,400 miles to Atlanta from New Mexico.

The smallest outdoor piece is the White Rabbit – only 2’ tall and weighing 50 pounds.

The heaviest piece is Hero’s Horse at 7,500 pounds.

Master Peace contains 1,000 cranes: 500 in the sculpture and 500 reflected in the water to symbolize the other 500 cranes spread throughout the world in private collections.

This is the largest origami exhibition in the world.

ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN WILL BE ON DISPLAY UNTIL OCTOBER 16 AT THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN 1345 PIEDMONT AVE. NE, ATLANTA FOR TICKET INFORMATION, GO TO ATLANTABG.ORG OR CALL 404-876-5859 September/October 2022 75

GARDENING IS BIG! The hobby of gardening continues to grow in popularity and promotes health and well-being. Gardening just 30 minutes a day can help you shed pounds, strengthen muscles and joints, increase flexibility, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol, slow the onset

GARDEN TRENDS AND TIPS

from the Philadelphia Flower Show

of osteoporosis, lower your risk for diabetes, increase your intake of vitamin D through sunshine and help you sleep better! Most gardeners view their gardens as places of sanctuary where they can relax, recharge and recover. When you are in the garden, your senses come alive; you focus on nature’s beauty and the simple tasks at hand and live in the moment. Soon the worries of the day are forgotten, at least for a little while.

GARDENING IN A SMALL SPACE CAN REAP BIG RESULTS. There are many benefits to a small garden space – it’s not so

Story and Photos by Bonnie Helander

overwhelming, costly or hard to maintain. Don’t have much space?

If you love flowers, nature and creative garden design, you will want to add a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show to your bucket list of “must-see” experiences.

Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the flower show is the world’s longest-running horticultural event, and the largest flower show in the U.S. And you don’t have to limit your time to just the flower show; Philadelphia is considered “America’s Garden Capital,” and features 38 public gardens, arboretums, and historic landscapes within a 30-mile range – more gardens in close proximity than anywhere else in North America!

select plants that will stay small and not over-power your area.

In 2021 and 2022, in response to the lingering pandemic, the flower show was held outdoors in June, at the beautiful FDR Park, near Edgewood Lake.

According to organizers, this year’s theme, In Full Bloom, “connoted good health, positive well-being, and a passion for life that culminates in a gorgeous and colorful spectacle.” What a perfect event theme for all of us trying to move on from the past couple of years!

There is something for everyone at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Attendees were able to view the work of over 40 major exhibitors, enjoy competitions in horticulture and floral arranging, listen to garden presentations and demonstrations from noted experts and wander through a huge marketplace of amazing plants, artwork, home décor, jewelry and every kind of product for your garden. Kids flitted around at the Butterflies Live exhibit and the Kids Cocoon play area.

Live entertainment was featured throughout the day, and visitors could sit and relax, enjoy a beverage, and find a wide array of meal options.

Flower Shows not only inspire, but give visitors ideas on how to make their gardens pop. Here are some of the big trends and tips I picked up from my visit to the Philadelphia Garden Show.

76 SOUTHERN WOMAN

Then grow up – let plants climb vertically on a wall or trellis. Only Use containers filled with colorful annuals or planters that secure on railings to add color and interest.

GO BIG WITH COLOR. Most of the displays at the flower show were filled with vibrant colors. There were no shrinking wall flowers here! Yellow, orange and red (hot colors) balanced with purple, blue and white (cool colors) are all the rage. Mass plantings of flowers give a big impact, and painting your front door with a contrasting color adds more interest.

A CUTTING GARDEN CAN GIVE YOU BIG RETURNS AND SAVE YOU MONEY. Flower bouquets are wonderful gifts that lift the spirit, but they can be expensive. Sowing flower seeds in a bed dedicated to a cutting garden is not only fun, but can give you blooms throughout the whole growing season, so you can fill your home with color and share with friends. Cutting flowers to consider are sunflower, peony, dahlia, Siberian iris, delphinium, penstemon, foxglove, bachelor button, poppy, and rose.

ADD BIG CHARM WITH GARDEN STRUCTURES. Don’t just go for function with your garden shed – add some interest and appeal! Window boxes, weather vanes, artwork, and trellises with vining blooms, all can add whimsy and beauty to the structures in your garden.

THE SOUNDS OF WATER provide a BIG enhancement to the garden, masking noise, creating a sense of serenity, attracting wildlife, and adding beauty and movement. Even a simple fountain with a pump that recycles water can make you feel at peace.

THE 2023 PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW Returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center on March 4 – 12.

For more information, go to phsonline.org.

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