Invitation Magazine - May 2021 by Invitation Magazines

M AY 2021

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Home & Garden FLOWERS FROM SE VEN ACRES FARM THE BUZZ ABOUT BEEKEEPING SPORTING LIFE KENNELS + ART, LOCAL EVENTS & MORE

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M AY 2021

DEPA RTMENT S

EVENTS

Letter From the Publisher

TEDxUniversityofMississippi

Digital Details

Tupelo Spring Open House

Calendar

Natchez Trace BBQ Contest

Shoutouts

Oxford Film Festival

Helpers & Heroes

Asya Branch Parade

Recipes: Honey-Glazed Halloumi Cheese

Corinth Theatre-Arts

Out & About

Ole Miss Big Event

Good Neighbor: Charlie Langford

Pontotoc Open House

Rebelthon 2021

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F E AT U R E S

FE ATURES 26 If Walls Could Talk

An early 1900s home near the Ole Miss campus, refurbished a century later, features authentic details plus stately additions.

32 Flower Power

A small farm provides fresh florals for weddings, florists and just pure enjoyment.

40 The Buzz 48

About Beekeeping

Whether as a hobby or a way to make money, beekeeping is emerging as a popular pastime.

44 Living on a Prayer

A Mantachie couple is now at home in an “almost” tiny home they built from the ground up.

48 The Moss Hunter

Visitors to artist Henry Clarke’s outdoor gallery are treated to a healing tour and a fresh take on “going green.”

52 Gone to the Dogs

Four-legged friends come first at Sporting Life Kennels, a family-run Oxford business that breeds British Labrador retrievers and trains all types of dogs for clients from around the world.

56 Stay Gold 26

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A custom painting for her freshman dorm room became a jumping-off place for this young artist’s career.

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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R One year ago, my hydrangeas didn’t bloom. I’m not a great gardener, but for years my hydrangeas had been a source of joy for others and myself. In the spring of 2019, the blooms were so abundant I took five-gallon buckets overflowing with flowers to my church two or three times to share them with friends there. Last May, our world was in turmoil, and, for the first time ever, we didn’t publish a magazine during the month. I remember walking around my neighborhood and thinking about how much I missed this Home and Garden magazine. The outdoor landscape was lush and full of life, but people were not. This issue is one of my favorites

each year. Seeing gardens and homes and outdoor spaces that people have put their own special touches on is a real treat. That’s exactly what the Jacksons have done at Seven Acres Farm in Mooreville, where, no matter the season, flowers are the order of the day. Be sure and check out their story on page 32. Flowers are a love language that the Jacksons have learned to speak and share with others very well. You’ll also find several other gems in the pages you hold, including a fascinating interview with artist Henry Clarke whose moss-covered outdoor gallery provides a whole new experience to visitors. Read about it on page 48.

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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I read up on how to prune my hydrangea bushes and talked to them a good bit last spring as they took a break from blooming. I’m thrilled to report they seem to have recovered nicely and appear to be ready to bloom once again. Kind of like our world is ready to get back to life and embrace the joy we’re surrounded with this time of year. We’re glad you chose to spend some time with us. See you back here next month.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lanie Anderson Susan Baldani Rachel Burchfield COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Abbey Edmonson

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Emi Hayes Luke Price Lisa Roberts J.R. Wilbanks

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Pepper ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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D I G I T A L details E XC LU S I V E LY O N L I N E AT I N V I TAT I O N M AG .C O M

social S N A P S We love being tagged in your photos!

Swe e t a s Tup e lo Ho ne y As spring turns to summer, expect to see more honeybees buzzing around your garden. Turn to page 40 for a story on a local bee lover who has made a career of beekeeping and another who has picked up beekeeping as a backyard hobby. Plus, flip to page 24 for a unique sweet recipe that stars local honey, and visit invitationmag.com for this refreshing HoneyInfused Summer Sangria (pictured at left) that will pair with it perfectly.

Mo re P up py L ove

T h a n k You , Adve r t i s e r s! Today we had the somber privilege of taking our very best friends out to scatter flowers and the ashes of their beloved Mackie on Sardis… #alldogsgotoheaven L O C A T I O N : Sardis Lake U S E R N A M E : @bartonoutfitters

For a daily dose of cuteness, follow @sportinglifekennels on Instagram. Sporting Life is an Oxford-based breeder of British Labrador retrievers and also trains dogs of all types. Read more about them in our story on page 52.

Visit our website, invitationmag.com, for a complete interactive list of our advertisers. We can’t thank them enough for their loyal support. To our readers: Please continue to support these community businesses.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Signs of #spring are popping up all over... L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @jamesdowd1

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. There’s a chance photos from your event will be featured in an upcoming magazine! FOLLOW US

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@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

I planted these with my friends last fall… it’s so amazing to see local, organic veggies grow up! L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @photoxlucile

…a fresh #bouquet of #FlowerCupcakes… L O C A T I O N : Bremma’s Sweet Treats U S E R N A M E : @bremmasbakery

Spring; Mayapples droop like tattered parasols below the woodland canopy. L O C A T I O N : Little “q” Ranch U S E R N A M E : @littleqranch

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C O M M U N I T Y M AY 13 , 2021 - J U N E 12 , 2021

Destination Oxford Cruise & Car Show

Street Cinema

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The Tupelo CVB presents an evening of downtown pop-up picture shows. Movies will be shown in multiple locations: Tupelo Farmers’ Depot will feature a kids’ movie at 8 p.m.; Troy Street Park Public Parking will show a classic movie at 8 p.m.; and a cult classic movie will be shown at 9:30 p.m. on the corner of South Broadway and Clark Street.

Belk Ford Inc. and Oxford Toyota present a car show to benefit Volunteer for Veterans and the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford. Registration is $30 for one car and $20 for each additional car. For more information, find them on Facebook or contact Jason Plunk at 662-832-9933 or jasontplunk@gmail.com. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., downtown Oxford.

Double-Decker Bus Tour M AY 1 4

Visit Oxford offers historian-guided tours on Oxford’s iconic double-decker bus every Friday before home Ole Miss SEC baseball weekends. Call 662-232-2477, email tourism@visitoxfordms.com or direct message Visit Oxford on social media (@VisitOxfordMS) to reserve a seat. Adults $10; children $5. visitoxfordms.com

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visitoxfordms.com

Healthy Kids Running Series

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tupelo.net

Early Bird Art Camp M AY 24-2 8

This five-week program promotes healthy lifestyles for kids through a positive introduction to running. Age groups include: 2-3 year olds; 4-5 year olds; grades K-1; grades 2-3; and grades 4-8. Register online. 4 p.m. Sundays, Ballard Park, Tupelo.

Yoknapatawpha Arts Council offers this day camp available to kids who are out of school for the summer. The art camp includes art projects, crafts and games. Full-day campers must pack their own lunches. See website for registration details and pricing. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or 8 a.m.-noon., the Powerhouse, Oxford.

runsignup.com/hkrstupelo

oxfordarts.com

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Memorial Day M AY 3 1

Observed on the last Monday of May, this national holiday honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It also unofficially marks the beginning of summer.

Free Beer Friday DIY Class JUNE 4

Board and Brush Oxford invites people 21 years old or older to create unique wood decor and enjoy two free beers at the studio. Participants choose their own stain and paint colors to match their style. Preregistration is required. Workshop $68. 6-9 p.m., 1927 University Ave., Oxford. boardandbrush.com

Tupelo Elvis Festival J U N E 9 -1 3

This award-winning annual festival honors the king of rock ’n’ roll with a weeklong schedule of events including concerts, workshops, after-parties and more. See website for a detailed schedule and package ticket pricing. tupeloelvisfestival.com

“To Kill a Mockingbird” J U N E 1 0 -1 1

Corinth Theatre-Arts performs Harper Lee’s timeless classic. Told through the eyes of the young and spunky Scout Finch, this story depicts life in a sleepy Alabama town and the trial of a young Black man who is accused of a terrible crime. Tickets $15. See website for showtimes. 303 Fulton Dr., Corinth. onthestage.com/corinth-theatre-arts M AY 202 1 | I N V ITAT I O N

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S H O U T O U T S OH S C e le b rat e s Ne w Fi ne A r t s C o m ple x A ribbon was cut, and a belated celebration commenced March 1 with the official unveiling of Oxford High School’s new Fine Arts Complex. Though the complex had been seen by some students last August, COVID-19 kept parents and community members at bay until early March. The complex, managed by Innovation Construction Management LLC, includes a 656-seat auditorium, complete with orchestra and rigging pit, theatrical lighting and rigging, a scene shop and several band, culinary and art classrooms. The Fine Arts Complex construction was part of a 2017 bond referendum that received great support. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, those in attendance were treated to studentled tours of the complex that included hors d’oeuvres prepared by culinary students and a live demonstration of the new auditorium’s Steinway player piano.

When Hugh Balthrop began making ice cream for his wife and three children in their Washington, D.C., home, little did he know that one day the cold, creamy confection would change his life.

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Balthrop and his family moved to his wife’s hometown of Clarksdale in 2000, and in 2011, Balthrop founded his business, Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. Sweet Magnolia products are manufactured in Oxford, where the family has lived for the past two years. And in more recent days, Balthrop has opened a Sweet Magnolia retail store — only his second — in Oxford, at 1002 Van Buren, a few doors down from The Lyric. “We saw an opportunity in Oxford,” Balthrop said. “For us, it was a no-brainer.” Those with a hankering for a scoop of frozen sweetness can go inside and find a socially distanced table, pick up a to-go container from a freezer or call in and get your ice cream delivered curbside.

Sweet Magnolia owner Hugh Balthrop

JUSTIN BURKS

Swe e t M a g nol i a Bra nc he s I nto O x fo rd

SHOUTOUTS

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O re n D u n n C it y Mu s e u m L aud e d

In late March, the city of Tupelo’s Oren Dunn City Museum was awarded the 2021 Mississippi Historical Society Award of Merit. The award is presented annually to individuals or organizations for outstanding archival, museum, records management or media interpretation work. The award was presented by Mississippi Historical Society President Marshall Bennett. The city of Tupelo received the award for creating its sesquicentennial website and plans, then pivoting due to the COVID-19 pandemic to renovate the museum. “We at the Oren Dunn City Museum are grateful to the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Tupelo for entrusting us with telling the Tupelo story in a beautiful way,” said Leesha Faulkner, curator of the museum. After having its doors closed to visitors for nearly a year, the renovated Oren Dunn City Museum is now reopened for tours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 under age 12, and veterans are free with proof of service. M AY 202 1 | I N V ITAT I O N

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H E L P E R S and H E R O E S A COMPIL ATION OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNIT Y HELPERS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI.

L OU M H A : Me nt a l H e a lt h Awa re ne s s Lafayette Oxford University Mental Health Alliance has a daily mission. It is: “to strengthen collaborative relationships among mental health providers and related professionals and to advocate for the mental health needs of the community.”

In May, Mental Health Awareness Month, alliance members try to do extra. A social media campaign by LOU MHA includes asking individuals and businesses to wear green, download badges or use their hashtags — #mentalhealthawarenessmonth, #LOUMHA, #LOUCares — to show support of mental health. LOU MHA social media accounts will interact with anyone who uses the hashtags or tags the organization in posts. LOU Cares signs will also be generated that may be downloaded and posted on social media. This will give those posting the opportunity to write about why mental health is important.

Learn more about LOU MHA and the May awareness initiative at linktr.ee/LOUMHA.

L ov i n g Fu nd s Oxford High School junior Avery Langley, along with her family, has volunteered with two local nonprofits that offer help to those facing food insecurity. So, it should come as no surprise that young Langley helped out when she noticed a need nearby, among her own classmates. Last fall, Langley led in the launch of Loving Funds to help take care of outstanding school meal balances that can keep students from being able to participate in end-of-the-year school activities. Through Loving Funds, Langley was able to crowdsource $8,180 to pay those balances for Oxford High School students. It all began when Langley was helping a single classmate with a different issue, but realized the lunch balance could keep the

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student from being a part of her graduation ceremony. “We don’t always know the truth about a student’s financial stability, but I wanted to find a way to help,” Langley said. “Loving Funds is not about just handing out money. I want to help our classmates apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program so they know it’s private and not publicized to cause embarrassment.” Oxford’s Love Packs, a 501(c)(3) that provides food to schoolchildren in need, supported Langley by making Loving Funds a designated fund, housing the money raised. Make a tax-deductible contribution to Loving Funds by mailing a check to Love Packs at P.O. Box 721, Oxford, MS 38655 or via Venmo (@Love-Packs).

HELPERS & HEROES

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D a n D av i s S c hol a r sh i p s

Dan Davis

Tupelo attorney Dan Davis has been known to take a break from the practice of law from time to time and take to the piano at Weezie’s Deli and Gifts. This is nothing new — he’s been offering a musical accompaniment to customers’ lunch for the past several years. Davis accepts no payment for the sharing of his musical abilities, but there have been tips. “When I started, Vivian Lee, the owner, said I needed a tip jar,” Davis said. “I didn’t like the idea, but she put one out. I realized giving people a way to express their appreciation has its place.” Davis has saved all his tips, which, over time, have added up to almost $3,000. So, he decided to use his tip money to provide scholarships to three high school senior instrumentalists. The scholarships will be paid directly to the college of each recipient’s choice. The first 18 seniors to apply for Davis’ scholarships were given audition times to perform a solo of their own choosing. To hear Davis on the piano and perhaps offer a tip, stop in for lunch at Weezie’s Deli and Gifts, 2230 Rabbit Drive, Tupelo.

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honey-glazed H A L L O U M I cheese IMPRESS GUESTS WITH THIS INDULGENT SWEET AND SALT Y SUMMERTIME APPETIZER.

RECIPES & STYLING BY SARAH McCULLEN

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

ith a notably high melting point, Mediterranean halloumi cheese makes for a tasty and unique appetizer when fried or grilled. Make it a summer dish by marinating it in local honey before cooking, and serve up the sweet and salty combination as part of a unique, seasonal cheese plate.

honey-glazed HALLOUMI

2 blocks halloumi cheese 1/3 cup honey, plus more for drizzling Zest and juice of 1 lemon 3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme, roughly chopped Dash of crushed red pepper (optional) Cut cheese into ½-inch to ¼-inch thick slices. Stir together honey and lemon zest and juice. Lay cheese slices in shallow dish, and pour honeylemon mixture on top. Sprinkle with thyme and, if desired, crushed red pepper. Cover and chill at least 4 hours, but overnight is best. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sear cheese slices in hot skillet until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. Drizzle with honey, and serve immediately on a platter alongside prosciutto, fresh fruit and hearty bread.

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blog at e food Visit th ionmag.com e invitat h for a recip ont this m oney-Infused r fo H r Sangria, e Summ ictured. also p

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If Wall s Coul d Talk A N E A R LY 1 9 0 0 s H O M E N E A R C A M P U S , REFURBISHED A CENTURY L ATER, FEATURES AUTHENTIC DETAILS P LU S S TAT E LY A D D I T I O N S . WRITTEN BY L ANIE ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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harley and Tricia Myers say without hesitation that their fondest memory of their home is the day their daughter was married by the house’s lap pool in December 2012. They still remember the various hues of brown, green, yellow and red from the stained-glass window set at the west end of the pool, reflected on the water’s surface as the sun set behind the bride and groom. People passing by the house on South 5th Street in Oxford might notice the window, originally from a Scottish church built in the late 1700s. “In the morning, the light radiates from the window and reflects back on the pool, and it is just unbelievable,” Charley said. The stained-glass window is just one of several personal touches the Myerses added after they purchased the home in 2003. Charley and Tricia lived in Flowood at the time but traveled to Oxford a lot because their son was a wide receiver on the Ole Miss football team. “Our son was in school up here at Ole Miss, and we would visit him and go to the football games,” Tricia said. “One day Charley said, ‘This is where I want to retire. When I get into Lafayette County, my blood pressure goes down.’” A friend told Charley about the house, built around 1908 and located mere steps away from University Avenue and campus. Within three days, they had purchased a home in Oxford. Franklin and Helen Moak and their children had lived in the home since 1974. Charley, a University of Mississippi alum, already knew Mr. Moak, who had served as dean of the Division of Student Personnel. The Moaks agreed to sell the house for slightly less than offered on one condition: The Myerses would honor the original home M AY 202 1 | I N V ITAT I O N

by restoring it rather than demolishing it to build a new home or condominiums. “It just couldn’t get much better than this location,” Charley said. “The old structure was cosmetically dilapidated, but, structurally, it was sound.” The couple soon got to work. The house needed new plumbing, wiring and insulation. Tricia was deeply invested in every step of the renovation process from 2003 until 2005 when they moved to Oxford. She drove from Flowood every week and stayed with her son from Tuesday to Thursday so she could oversee the changes. They wanted to maintain the original aesthetic of the home’s outside appearance as much as possible. All of the windows and sliding doors are original to the home. The heart pine flooring is from the late 1800s and was made by a manufacturer in South Carolina. Wood panels salvaged from the original floor are used in the bathroom near the pool and bar. The original porch wraps around the front and one side of the house, but they did add spindles for safety. “One thing we really enjoy about the house is the porch because so many people are walking by every morning, strolling their children, jogging or walking their dogs,” Tricia said. “We love to go out there, drink our coffee every morning, watch everybody go by and wave at them.” Exterior additions include the New Orleans inspired lap pool and hot tub, a driveway and a carriage house, which shelters a white 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud the couple rents to people for weddings. A fully furnished apartment above the carriage house offers extra space for guests. Inside the home, the Myerses added a master bedroom and large kitchen downstairs. Tricia admires the work of American architect A. Hays Town from Louisiana. Town utilized brick in his designs, and Tricia knew she wanted to do the same in her new kitchen to contrast with the cypress cabinets. “I loved the brickwork for the kitchen,” Tricia said. “It’s really become popular now, but at the time (in 2003) it really wasn’t something that was used a lot in Mississippi.” Continued on page 30

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Continued from page 28 The Myerses made minor changes to the upstairs, which originally had a bedroom in each of the four corners and one bathroom in the middle. It now has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One end of an attic space was converted into extra storage closets; beyond is a weight room, and a nook with an extra guest bed. Antiquing has always been a fun hobby for the couple, and antiques from their large collection are featured in each room. Visitors will quickly notice a number of German, English and American clocks throughout the home. Charley has been a devotee of clocks since his childhood. Over the years, he has collected an assortment from different time periods and places. “All of these clocks are at least 100 years old with a few exceptions, and they are all working,” Charley said. “Can you imagine if they could talk what they would say? A lot of these clocks have come from foyers in banks back in the 1800s. One sat in a garage in New Orleans for 70 years.” If the home’s walls could talk, they

would have lots of stories to tell, too. Supposedly, FBI agents set up headquarters in the basement to monitor the situation when James Meredith enrolled at UM. Helen Moak taught countless Oxford children how to play the piano in the front parlor where the Myerses’ 1929 piano sits today. Governors from around the country, including former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant have visited their home. Grammy nominee and blues artist Cedric Burnside of Holly Springs has performed poolside at parties hosted by the couple. In the 16 years the Myerses have lived in the home, they have had over 1,000 guests. Now, Charley and Tricia are considering moving into a smaller Oxford house. “We look back on the time we’ve lived here, and we have absolutely zero regrets,” Charley said. “This is the loveliest town. We realize what we did — took an old structure that had been built in the early 1900s and essentially dressed it up a little bit.” They will never forget the process of renovating the home and the people they met along the way.

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F lower Power A S M A L L , FA M I LY-R U N FA R M P R OV I D E S F R E S H F LO R A L S F O R W E D D I N G S , F LO R I S T S A N D J U S T P U R E E N J OYM E N T. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

hen Vanessa Jackson says she’s not a trained horticulturist, she speaks the truth: An English degree from the University of Mississippi offers proof. Still, spend a quarter of an hour with Jackson, who speaks fluent flora, and doubt will creep in. Words like peony, poppies, anemone, ranunculus, celosia, gomphrena flow off her tongue with the ease of calling her family to dinner. Ask her to spell a flower name and she can do that, too. Jackson and her husband of 22 years, Jimmy Jackson, own Seven Acres Farm in Mooreville, where, no matter the season, flowers are the order of the day. Within hollering distance of the highway, well hidden by a stand of tall trees, the Jacksons built the place they’ve called home for 11 years. Their 6.9-acre farm is mostly woods, but just beyond the back door are raised beds that, during the proper season, burst with blooms of assorted kinds and colors. Don’t know your flowers? No reason to panic: Vanessa has the knowledge you need. Like a seasoned botanical guide, Vanessa, with a bit of help from Jimmy, points out what’s growing in each bed now, as well as what’s been planted there in seasons past. The couple also peppers the conversation with future plans for plantings. “There are roses and peonies in the front beds,” Vanessa said, pointing to specific cinder block raised beds. “And we have dahlias and tulips — different flowers at different times of year.” Vanessa attributes much of her love of all things floral to her mother. “My mom was a very good gardener,” she said. “I helped her as a kid, but I didn’t enjoy it.” In the beginning, the Jacksons started with a couple of raised beds. “I just wanted to grow vegetables for our family,” Vanessa said. She and Jimmy are the parents of an adult daughter and two sons. “I scattered some zinnia seeds. But later I decided I wanted to do just flowers.” At that point, a lot of hard work began in earnest. Because of the hilly ground, much

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necessary dirt work was done by Vanessa’s brother, Perry Stegall. “If not for him, we’d still be working to get things as they are,” Jimmy said of his brother-in-law. A high tunnel was built to help some flowers to get a head start in growing and also to offer protection from inclement weather. A high tunnel is like a greenhouse but without temperature control. During the ice and snow in February, the weight of the snow began to stretch the plastic of the tower, which could have caused collapse. Twice, Jimmy had to use a broom to push up on the covering to allow the nearly four inches of snow to slide off. “We prepare for cold weather but we really weren’t prepared for something like what we had in February,” he said. Weather is not the only issue that can be a problem for the Jacksons. They struggle with bugs as well, but you won’t find any chemical-laden pesticides or fertilizers on the property — only natural farming methods are used at Seven Acres. “I make a spray that we use for the pests,” Vanessa said. “It’s a mixture of cayenne, garlic and peppermint. The bugs don’t like it. And we’ve ordered lady bugs before. They help.” Jimmy, a 1996 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, has a business degree. He’s a longtime independent insurance agent, but he still makes time to help Vanessa at Seven Acres Farm. “This was a small project started many years ago that turned into a really big project that keeps on going,” he said, laughing. Vanessa’s vast knowledge of planting and growing flowers has come from reading and studying on her own. Posing a question she can’t answer is close to impossible. She knows when to plant what; she can tell good soil from soil that needs help; she’s even forgiving of Mississippi clay and has found some things that will thrive in it. Once she’s grown and harvested her flowers, she dries some of them for inclusion in the floral arrangements she does for weddings and other special events. The wedding packages run the gamut, from simple bouquets to the works. She also sells

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her flowers to florists, mainly in the summer, and to independent designers. Since she began doing wedding flowers, Vanessa said she now grows flowers with brides in mind. “I ordered a thousand white tulip bulbs,” she said. “But they substituted yellow. They were beautiful, but they weren’t white.” The Jacksons also offer a communitysupported agriculture program. If you love fresh flowers but don’t sport your own green thumb, Seven Acres Farm has your back. CSA bouquet deliveries are March through November. CSA shares are sold by the month, with four weekly deliveries each month on the first four Tuesdays. No flowers delivered on any fifth Tuesdays. Vanessa and Jimmy will celebrate 23 years of marriage in August. Have they found it easy to work closely together planting and harvesting flowers? “It’s better now,” Jimmy said, smiling at his wife. “She’s the one with all the knowledge. She tells me what needs to be done, and I do it.” Vanessa may not possess a degree in horticulture, but she’s likely done enough research and reading to count. “A lot of years ago, even before I got my degree, I knew I wanted to work with flowers in some way,” she said. “But I felt, at the time, that was not the best option. I feel like what I’m doing now is even better than what I imagined in the past. “Now I not only design with flowers, I also have the space to grow them and enjoy the process of nurturing them as they grow and the anticipation of waiting for them to bloom. And there’s a lot of joy in being able to share what I’ve grown with others.”

Vanessa and Jimmy Jackson

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The The Buzz About Beekeeping Buzz About About Beekeeping Beekeeping The Buzz W H E T H E R A S A H O B B Y O R A WAY T O M A K E M O N E Y, B E E K E E P I N G I S E M E R G I N G A S A P O P U L A R PA S T I M E . WRITTEN BY RACHEL BURCHFIELD

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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ot everyone is fortunate enough to find a passion in life. But there is no doubt Andrew Finch has found his. Finch, founder of Finch Apiaries in Booneville, discovered beekeeping in 2011 and has been hooked ever since. So much so, he says, that his wife has joked he loves his bees more than he loves her. “I do love my bees, now,” Finch said, laughing through his Southern accent. “It’s crazy.” Finch has made his hobby of beekeeping full-time work, and he now runs his own company and manages two part-time employees. Finch, originally from Florida, worked four years for the Florida Department of Agriculture as a state apiary inspector (an apiary, for those unschooled in the business of beekeeping, is the location where bees and their beehives are kept) before meeting his wife, moving to Mississippi, and making Finch Apiaries his full-time gig. Finch’s company, in part, ships its bees cross-country to places like Gustine, California, a small town in the middle of California that, from the end of January until mid-March, sees Finch’s bees pollinate its almonds. (Interesting fact: According to Finch, 85 percent of the world’s almonds come from California.) From there, the bees head out to the Midwest, to places like Iowa, Indiana and

Missouri, and then in the summertime come back to the Mississippi Delta and central Mississippi to pollinate watermelons. In the fall, they pollinate more watermelons in south Mississippi. How do these bees travel around the country? Finch hires out the transportation of the bees to experienced truck drivers, but the bees are his from his apiaries. He places the bees in boxes with netting, loads them on a semitruck, and sends them on their way to whatever destination they’re headed. Eventually, they make their way back home to Booneville. “Nobody (else) in north Mississippi puts bees on a semi, straps them down and ships them to California,” Finch said. “People need these pollinators to ensure an adequate food supply, everything from almonds to blueberries and cranberries.” Finch also harvests honey from his bees and sells it. He finds himself busiest in the spring and the fall, where he can easily clock 70 to 80 hours of work per week. He’s not alone in his passion for beekeeping: This is becoming a burgeoning trend, as both a hobby and as a source of income. “I think a lot of people, at our roots, want to be farmers and want to grow our own food and have some type of connection to M AY 202 1 | I N V ITAT I O N

Andrew Finch of Finch Apiaries in Booneville

Gray Tollison of Oxford

the land,” Finch said. “Beekeeping is a pretty easy way to be able to do that, to grow your own honey and help provide pollination for the environment. A lot of people want to have backyard gardens and eat healthier, and plants like squash and cucumbers do a lot better if there is a beehive in the backyard. It’s something the whole family can enjoy.” Oxford’s Gray Tollison is not a full-time beekeeper. Tollison, a former member of the Mississippi State Senate for six terms representing District 9, was appointed this summer as a circuit court judge. He has been unwinding through this hobby for three years after taking a beginning beekeeper course. “It’s just for my own enjoyment,” Tollison said. “The bees do all the work; all I do is try to create an environment for them to do what God made them to do.” He doesn’t sell his great-tasting honey, but, instead, gives it to his wife, who uses it all the time in different recipes, including bread. He also frequently gives the honey as gifts. “It’s kind of an escape,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Working with bees is relaxing, even if I do get stung.”

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And Tollison has been stung many times — from on his hand to between his eyes — but, like with anything in life, the better he gets at beekeeping, the fewer errors he makes. “Early on, I got stung more often, but I learned lessons from experience, making mistakes and learning from my mistakes,” Tollison said. “I like the whole story about bees and how they work; it’s really fascinating to me. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but wasn’t able to make time for. I’m finally able to get around to doing it.” Tollison will tell you that anyone can be a beekeeper, young or old, man or woman. Finch, for his part, agrees. Both men understand the draw to the hobby and to the work, depending on how intense you want to take the craft of beekeeping, and why, following a year in which folks have had more time on their hands thanks to COVID-19, beekeeping is experiencing a spike in popularity. It is an equal opportunity craft, Finch said, all it really takes is the desire to get started. “‘If I can do it, anybody can do it,’ is what I always tell people,” Finch said. “You just gotta want to. There are some really good videos on YouTube. Get some books, get some bees, and go to work.”

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A M A N TA C H I E C O U P L E I S N O W AT H O M E I N A N “A L M O S T ” T I N Y H O M E T H E Y B U I LT F R O M T H E G R O U N D U P. WRITTEN BY ABBEY EDMONSON

ith meticulous planning, benevolent friends and lots of prayers, Rebecca and Bennett Verdon designed and built an “almost” tiny home in Mantachie. The idea for what they now call “RV Farmhouse 2020” began as a drawing on a napkin. Bennett worked as a truck driver about six and a half years ago. He lost his job after crashing and totaling a company truck, so he later began working at Cooper Tire in Tupelo. Following the sudden change in income, Rebecca and Bennett sold their home to one of their daughters and downsized into a fifth-wheel camper. “We were in our camper about two years, and I was like, ‘This doesn’t feel like home,’” Rebecca said. “I wanted my space. So, we started looking, and I drew out on a napkin one day what I wanted.” Rebecca is currently a volunteer at Connect Church in Tupelo, but her favorite job is being a grandmother to her seven grandchildren.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

She loves to host friends and family any chance she gets. “My way of loving people was through my home; and when I lost my home, I felt like I’d lost that part of me,” she said. “This project opened that up and gave that part of me back, that decorative side, creative side and hospitality side of me that I felt like was missing.” The couple received a loan to fund their new project. A quaint pond drew them to the location they chose in Mantachie. Rebecca also loved the availability of outdoor space for group activities. They bought the property in September 2019 and moved forward with their building plans. Rebecca designed the layout of the new home herself. She wanted a large communal space that was big enough to host gatherings, and she wanted a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower. The bedroom was optional, thus resulting in the studio-style layout. Continued on page 46

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Continued from page 44 Unfortunately, a long rainy season followed shortly after they closed on the land, preventing them from pouring concrete for several months. When the contractors eventually did get the concrete poured and the building up, COVID-19 had already begun spreading across the nation. While the initial shutdown of normal life was a hindrance for most people, it allowed the Verdons some much-needed time to work on the interior of their new home. Rebecca spent months researching decor details she liked. She said she wanted to go for a “farmhouse style with a camper twist.” Using inspiration from house flippers like Chip and Joanna Gaines, Rebecca saved and filed numerous examples of what she wanted. Inside the home, visitors can find wash-basin sinks, rustic wooden and antique features, a kitchen counter made from a thrifted church altar and many more farmhouse details. The entire process of building and finishing the almost tiny home took around six to seven months, and the overall price tag was $65,000. “I guess you could say I had champagne taste on a beer budget,” Rebecca said. Rebecca designed the garage with the future in mind. While it currently houses their old camper, it can be converted into a master bedroom and bathroom with a one-car garage if needed. Rebecca said they could also expand by building upwards; however, they are more than content with the space they have right now. This project is not a first for Rebecca. She previously flipped a house for one of her daughters after her daughter got married. The only part of the original house they kept during that project was the bare-boned infrastructure. Rebecca’s favorite elements in her new home are the items donated by her friends and fellow churchgoers. Lumber prices rose right as the Verdons started looking for materials for their walls. A friend of Rebecca’s at church decided to replace the cedar in his house with vinyl. He offered the cedar to Rebecca, and now it lines all of the walls in the home. Another friend wanted to replace the wooden fencing in their front yard. Rebecca repurposed the wood posts into a feature wall behind the fireplace and a custom vent hood cover in the kitchen. “I really love the fireplace,” Rebecca said. “I think it adds a lot of character with the turquoises and the grays in there. It accentuates the 10-foot ceilings I have in there.” Connect Church sold old pews and other items to fundraise for a new community teen room, so Rebecca bought the old altar and installed it as her kitchen island. The words “In remembrance of me” are still inscribed along the edges. The gray countertop that perfectly fit the rest of the kitchen was also a donation from a friend. Rebecca says she feels very proud of the home she’s created. However, she doesn’t take all of the credit. “Even when you’re at the bottom of the barrel, you can pray, and God will bring a way,” Rebecca said. “You don’t have to have everything new; you don’t have to have as much stuff. What matters is finding the place where God wants you to be, and to be able to share it with others.”

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The Moss Hunter VISITORS TO ARTIST HENRY CL ARKE’S OUTDOOR GALLERY ARE TREATED TO A HEALING TOUR AND A FRESH TAKE ON “GOING GREEN.” WRITTEN BY SUSAN BALDANI

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hen you think about moss, if you think about it at all, it’s probably that soft, squishy ground covering you see in shady yards or growing up the side of a tree. Most of the time, it’s not even noticed or appreciated. But moss actually has a lot of benefits — to the environment, to our health and even in art. Yes, art. Henry Clarke, a master ceramic tile glazer and artist from Oxford, felt that something was missing from his wooden carvings. He wanted to infuse more natural elements into his designs. “Being out in the woods brought out my creativity, and when I saw all the moss, I decided I wanted to put that in the forefront,” Clarke said. “So, I started putting it on top of my wood carvings, and after that it was off to the races.” Mosses are small flowerless plants that typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations. According to britannica.com, there are approximately 12,000 species throughout the world. They grow in damp places and don’t require a lot

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of sunlight, preferring the ground around trees and other taller plants. They clean our water, clear our air and prevent erosion. “What people don’t realize is that moss takes carbon out of the air,” Clarke said. “If you’re in an area with a bunch of moss, you’re getting nothing but clean fresh air which will make you feel euphoric.” Clarke, who calls himself “the Moss Hunter,” searches for moss all around Oxford and Lafayette County; he’s been at it now for over three years. He’s been known to stop on the side of the road, put on his bright orange jacket and get busy digging up the moss he spotted there. His backyard collection includes fern, tree and toothpick mosses, among others. The yard is an outdoor gallery; a fairyland filled with wooden creations covered in moss. Among them are a carved head with moss for the hair, mustache and beard; a wooden bench totally covered in a vibrant green moss; and a moss-covered carved man lying on the ground. He sometimes incorporates small ferns as well. “Children love to run around and touch everything,” Clarke said. “I have some moss that I glued onto little wood animals, and they love that. It looks a little like a zoo when you first walk in.” Clarke’s wife, Toni Coleman, whom he met while living in New York and followed to Mississippi, supports his hobby wholeheartedly. Coleman came up with the name, House on the Hill Enchanted Oasis, to describe their home and grounds.

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“She loves when I’m outside doing my thing,” Clarke said. Visitors who come to House on the Hill for the free moss garden tours are from all walks of life and of all different ages. Many of them have never been around moss before, and Clarke said they always find it fascinating. While touring, guests are encouraged to walk on the moss in bare feet. Clarke wants people to be close to the moss, touch it and be able to differentiate between the different types of moss. He also teaches people how to attach moss to wood using mud, and he will sometimes give them moss to take home, to start their own moss gardens. At the very end of the moss trail, Clarke created a little beach that he calls Betty Beach, after Coleman’s mother. It’s an allwhite sand beach with a 20- by 27-foot pool.

“It’s like a little lake,” Clarke said. “I want people to get immersed in all the elements of life here. They can feel the sand, get in the water, and then come back and feel the moss. It’s a place of total enjoyment. After the tour, I let them be free to wander around to see what they want. I let the moss take control of them so they can let their minds flow.” A cancer survivor, Clarke says he is grateful for every day, and that the best things in life are usually free. He strongly believes that the moss, along with spending time in nature and working in his garden, were as much a part of his recovery and survival as his medical team. He notes that Native Americans and the Japanese have been using moss for many years to treat all kinds of illness. “Since I’ve been playing with this moss, it has taken me now to a whole different level with dealing with nature and people,” Clarke said. “It’s calming, more like a meditation thing now, as opposed to art. One of my goals now is to have people come to the moss garden and meditate and be healed.” Clarke admits he sometimes gets lost in nature and in his garden. But then again, he said, there is nowhere else he’d rather be. To visit the House on the Hill Enchanted Oasis, email Henry Clarke at themosshunter@gmail.com, or call him at 662-715-9597.

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DOGS FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS COME FIRST AT S P O R T I N G L I F E K E N N E L S , A FA M I LY-R U N OXFORD BUSINESS THAT BREEDS BRITISH L ABRADOR RETRIEVERS AND TRAINS ALL TYPES OF DOGS FOR CLIENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

n his 16th Christmas, Marty Roberts received a gift from his parents that changed his life: a 5-week-old yellow lab he named Jimbob. The two immediately became inseparable. “He went everywhere with me,” said Roberts, a native of Memphis. “He went to the drive-in with me on dates, fishing; he was with me all the time. He’s the reason I fell in love with training. If not for him, none of this would be here.” The “this” Roberts referred to is Sporting Life Kennels. It’s situated nine miles east of Oxford off Highway 6 on an idyllic bit of acreage that also serves as the setting for the home where Roberts and his wife, Mollie, raised their three daughters. In his office, flanked by Oak, Henry and Cody — three impeccably behaved dogs — Roberts comments tongue-in-cheek about the kennels. “We have a nationwide following,” he said. “But hardly anyone locally knows we’re even out here.” The British Labrador retriever puppies bred at Sporting Life — past and future — are often spoken for long before they are born. The puppies have found homes across the United States and in faraway places like British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Peru. Breeding puppies and training dogs is a far cry from Roberts’ initial career: He was in home building for two decades. He liked it but found it to be up and down. In 2005 he was in Oxford building condos and decided to relocate to Oxford and make a career change. “So, at the age of 42, I sat down with my wife and said, ‘Hey, I got an idea,’” he said. Continued on page 54

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The breeding program developed by Roberts is called the Care Program, and it’s what sets Sporting Life Kennels apart from many other more traditional breeders. “We don’t keep dogs on site,” Roberts said. “Through the Care Program our dams go to a family living within two hours of our kennels — she gets a family and isn’t stuck in a kennel. And the family gets an exceptionally well-bred and trained British Labrador for free.” When a dam has her heat cycle, she returns to Sporting Life where she is bred and cared for until time to deliver her litter. “It’s a win-win,” Roberts said. “It’s all about balance. And it helps us provide very healthy, balanced puppies for our customers.” There’s a puppy nursery with playrooms where the puppies learn socialization skills and have fun on ramps, swings and tunnels. They’re introduced to new sounds and new textures. “By the time they leave, they are like little stuntmen,” Roberts said. “It’s cute and fun to watch. What happens is we have really bold puppies ready for their new homes and to take on the world.”

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TRAIN

up a dog

When talk turns to training, it’s quickly clear this is where Roberts’ love lies. Much of his process was learned through reading, and trial and error, and practiced first on Jimbob. Through the years, Roberts’ training techniques have become tried and true. His favorite part of training is when they are young. “Taking puppies through basic training is great,” he said. “Their minds are like a sponge. It’s exciting to see them learning so quickly.” In 2017, Roberts launched a two-season television show, “Sporting Life Retriever TV.” The show was based on Roberts’ belief that “behind every great water-fowler is a good dog, and behind every good dog is a story.” To watch, visit sportinglifekennels.com and click the link to the show. It’s on Waypoint TV. On Sporting Life Kennels’ 42 acres, signs abound that it’s all about the dogs. There are three training lakes, peppered with decoys; two large hay fields; and plenty of woods for training. On staff are dog-loving humans, including trainers who’ve learned from Roberts. A crew of eight or nine people, in addition to Roberts and his wife, Molly, keep things running smoothly. “And the university has been a very strong support for us,” Roberts said. “Most of our workers are college students, and when they graduate, they usually have a friend that’s ready to take their place. We’ve been blessed.” The gun dog training for retrievers is board and train, meaning dog owners leave their dogs with Roberts for four months of training or longer, depending on the level of training. There’s also obedience training, which Roberts and his staff trainers do for medium and large dogs of any breed. This is about a six-week process. “We often have as many as 40 dogs in training with five of us training,” Roberts said. “There’s also an online training course we developed that’s at retrieveruniversity.com.” Not only are the prized retrievers trained for the hunt, but also for after the hunt. “Our mantra is, ‘calm but ready,’” Roberts said, glancing at the three dogs still napping in his office. “They are trained to be intense in the field but then they can turn the intensity down when they’re not hunting.” Roberts, a lifelong hunter, definitely has a heart for the dogs he breeds, the resulting puppies and the dogs of others he trains. He won’t sell a dog or puppy to anyone who won’t keep it in the house — or allow it to sleep inside, at the very least. “The connection between dog and human is too relational for the dog to be stuck outside in a pen,” he said. “It’s almost like they have a soul. If I am going to bring them into this world, I am certainly going to find the best home for them.” Roberts said the only thing he knows for certain is he doesn’t know everything. He never wants to stop learning new things. In fact, he and a partner have recently come up with a formula for holistic supplements for dogs and co-founded Ultimate Dog.

While Roberts was content building houses, he’s particularly partial to what he does now. “I get to play with dogs all day,” he said. “Still, it’s work. You have to adore dogs; you have to be eaten up with dogs or you’ll burn out. My thing is, everything is hard — being a doctor, CPA, teacher. Choose your hard. I choose to do this, and the rewards are pretty awesome. “We’ve probably 1,500 to 2,000 clients — there’s a lot of happiness out there,” he said. “And to think it all started with one little yellow lab puppy.” Learn more about Sporting Life Kennels by visiting sportinglifekennels.com and following them on Instagram and Facebook. Find more information on Roberts’ holistic dog supplements at ultimatedog.com. M AY 202 1 | I N V ITAT I O N

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Stay Gold

A CUSTOM PAINTING FOR HER FRESHMAN DORM ROOM BECAME A JUMPING-OFF PLACE FOR THIS YOUNG ARTIST’S CAREER. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY M ARY K ATHRYN DECKER

hen Mary Kathryn Decker, with some help from her mom, created a painting for her freshman dorm room at the University of Mississippi, she had no idea she was about to strike gold. “There was not a lot of color in the piece, only neutral colors, with some gold leaf added,” Decker said. The painting created an immediate buzz among dorm residents who wanted to know where Decker had found the painting. “When I told them I made it, I immediately found myself with requests for 50 to 100 paintings like mine.” Decker’s summer was spent fulfilling those requests, and when it was time to return for her sophomore year at Ole Miss, her car was crammed full with the paintings she’d done for the dorms of others. “There was no room in my car for my clothes or any of my things,” Decker said. “My mom brought them to me in her car.” Her senior year, Decker began creating her colorful heart art pieces, which quickly became as in demand as her first gold leaf painting. Meanwhile, Decker also worked on a nutritionist degree, with which she graduated in May 2019. In June of that year, she married John Decker and moved to his hometown of Tupelo. Continued on page 58

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Continued from page 56 An eight-month internship through the University of Northern Colorado enabled Decker to work around northeast Mississippi to garner observation hours needed to become a registered dietitian. “I was a full-time intern and a part-time artist,” she said. She finished her internship in March 2020, and her professional path as a dietitian seemed perfectly paved. Then COVID-19 became a part of life and changed Decker’s course. “I began to transition full time into art,” she said. “The business has blown up; it has been a big blessing.” The Deckers, who are now parents to a baby boy, moved from Tupelo to her native Madison in February. Her mom, Angel Carraway Woods, and husband Woody Woods, have Canvas Prints & Framing, a sister company to MK Decker Designs. Though her art is a major part of MK Decker Designs, Decker is required to wear a plethora of hats. She has to be proficient in photography, online retail, communicating with vendors. And there’s even travel for the business. “I have to be disciplined,” Decker said. “I don’t have the accountability of clocking in and clocking out. There are days my hands don’t touch a paintbrush at all. Every day is really different; that’s why I like it.” Yes, she even likes the business aspect. Her favorite class at Ole Miss was entrepreneurship. Decker grew up around art, thanks to her mother, also an artist. Mostly self-taught, she has painted murals for restaurants, done portraits and abstracts. Woods and her young daughter have worked on murals together and also illustrated a children’s book. Woods was also a registered nurse. “She can do anything,” Decker said. “Her life story is perfect for her and beautiful.” Decker offered some words of advice to other artists: Be original. “I would say whether art is a hobby or a passion, stay original, don’t copy,” Decker said. She follows her own advice, putting her own twist on things she sees that inspire her, adjusting to make them her own. Decker used to do lots of commissioned work, but she no longer has the time. “We design what we love and what we would love in our houses,” she said. Most of Decker’s work boasts amounts large or small of gold leaf, which is her signature and adds “a pop of shimmer.” How the gold leaf is applied is a trade secret, and a successful one at that. As a new dorm season approaches, Decker is eagerly looking forward by working on fabrics and new designs for dorm rooms. After all, her own dorm room at Ole Miss had gone viral on Pinterest. She’s also opened a storefront on Main Street in Madison, where her art can be seen in person. She ships her work all over the country and makes deliveries to Oxford and Tupelo routinely. “Who would believe that gold leaf painting for my freshman dorm room at Ole Miss started it all for me?” Decker said. “I would not have dreamed this career path for myself. But it’s tailor-made for me, and I really do enjoy it.”

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TEDx PHOTO G R A PHE D BY E MI H AY ES

The annual TEDxUniversityofMississippi event took place March 9 in the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on the Ole Miss campus. With the theme of “Resilience,” nine speakers shared ideas on finding strength in challenging times. 1

1. Scott and Deanna Jones 2. Rosie and Steve Vassallo with Allen Kurr 3. Abigail Moeller, Ami-Kate Winter and Elsi Muñoz 4. Yujiro Yamada, Zachary Bell and Vickie Wong 5. Jun Song, Robert Spitz and Jeremy Loenneke 6. Zoe Barnes and Brandon Kriplean 7. Katie Kerrigan and Eathan Crane

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TUPELO SPRING OPEN HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Downtown Tupelo Spring Open House was hosted by BlairHaus March 19-20, complete with trunk shows, great food and opportunities to shop for Easter gifts.

1. Maggie Gunnells, Catherine Thoms and Marci Sliman 2. Sydni Lewis, Laurie Aultman and Samantha Williams 3. Angie Swain and Riley Kate Fair 4. Missy Dennis, Martha Gunner and Lori Wylie 5. Jene King, Shelly Daniel and Daniella Oropeza 6. Christian, Becky and John Parker Sheffield

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BBQ CONTEST PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The third annual Natchez Trace Golf Club BBQ Contest brought out the rib and wing lovers on March 19-20. Winners of both competitions were named afterwards at an awards ceremony. 1

1. Keith Lindsey, Ashley Minch and Chris Kemp 2. Casey Clemons, Michael Shurden and Josh Logan 3. Brent Lindsey with Kim and Robert McKissack 4. Kris Delgrande, Dee Coleman, Zach Hill, Mitch McCamey and Trey Trapp 5. Casey Franks and Alex Wilcox with Jennifer and Bradford Ridgway 6. Brian Brown and Tim Clouse 7. Michael, James, Kim, Gray and Thomas McCrory

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OXFORD FILM FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

The 2021 Oxford Film Festival took place March 24-28. Films were shown in various indoor and outdoor venues around town. The festival films were also available for viewing virtually during the month of April. Learn more about Oxford Film Festival’s year-round programming at ox-film.com. 1

1. Kelly Wickersham and Dev Shapiro 2. Creek Wilson, Bill Luckett and Ward Emling 3. Trevor Davis and Joey Brent 4. Patrick O’Conner and Anne Rapp 5. Jason and Holly Reynolds

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6. Eva Reynolds and Tozie Goulet 7. Cris Surbeck with Greg, Collin and Carlos Sanchez 8. Elisabetta and Matteo Zangaro 9. Kennedy Lawing and Kate Kimberlin 10. Nathan Folbrecht and Cassie Hay

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ASYA BRANCH PARADE PHOTOGRAPHED BY LUKE PRICE

The Booneville Main Street Association hosted a send-off parade April 23 for Miss USA 2020 Asya Branch, a Booneville native. A meet-and-greet with Branch took place after the parade. Branch will compete for the Miss Universe crown in Hollywood, Florida, on May 16.

1. Deetra Wiley, Asya Branch and Derell Wiley 2. Lucy Hayes and Rubye Kate Nichols 3. Kim Greenwood and Ray Sells 4. Dante Sanders and Alivia Roberts 5. Taylor Tucker and Takiya Holland 6. Ben Kent and Adam Zachary 7. Skye Bevars with Catina and Keyauna Carter

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CORINTH THEATRE-ARTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY WHITNEY WORSHAM

Corinth Theatre-Arts presented “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” on March 19. The musical is based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz.

1. Emily and Lucy Steen 2. Mazzie Castile and Henry White 3. Bridget Swindle and Buffy Gibson 4. Halle Faith Scarborough, Miley Roberts, Phillip Loncar, Brennan Baxter, Taylor Blythe, Laina McGee, Will Senf and Hallie-Kate Dierks 5. Roman and Scarlet Swindle 6. Pam Gladish, Clay Nails and Kayla Myers

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OLE MISS BIG EVENT PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

The Ole Miss Big Event took place in midMarch. Billed as the largest day of community service in the state, the Big Event’s goal was for university students to give thanks to the Lafayette-Oxford-University community by working on various service projects throughout the area. 1

1. Emmaline Schild and El Knotts 2. Brittany Bennett and Garland Carmichael 3. Cade Slaughter and Miller Carlton 4. Jenna Koonce and Edward Wiggins 5. Naomi Ryder and Hannah Brady

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O L E M I S S B I G E V E N T continued

6. Ted Paulmeno and Matt Eddy 7. Anne Elise Pillow, Hannah Grace Talbot and Anna Goggans 8. Caroline Dominick and Miranda Hake 9. Kaylee Sims, Ashlynn Stiff and Abhishek Shettar 10. Tanner McCraney and Emison Geiger

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PONTOTOC OPEN HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The annual Pontotoc Spring Open House was hosted by the Pontotoc Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Association on March 21. Numerous Pontotoc businesses and residents participated. 1

1. Jessa Lucas, Caroline McCauley and Sherry Elder 2. Karen Johnson, Paulette Reese and Rhonda Vance 3. Payton Bailey and Karley Warren 4. Brady Kyle, Maggie Crawford, Katy Beth Voyles and Blake Anderson 5. Mary Elizabeth Hatcher and Katherine Adams with Austin and Abigail Anderson 6. Emery and Aubrey Sullivan 7. Lily Hilliard and Felicia Pollard with Leslie and Kate Hilliard

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REBELTHON 2021 PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

RebelTHON 2021 continued its fundraising tradition March 6 in the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union. The annual studentdriven dance marathon raises money for Children’s of Mississippi, including Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson. This year’s theme was “We Are Still Dancing.”

1. Bryce Barrett, Daneel Konnar and Logan Thornton 2. Maddie Barton, Molly Slaughter and Azurrea Curry 3. Elizabeth and Kingston Muriel 4. Massie Eckard, Lauren Hord, Anna Kate Adkins, Gracey Massengill and Iris Ball 5. Caroline McIntosh and Lexi Graves 6. Averie Siegel, Hannah Barnett and Sophie DiForti 7. Kaylynn Buskirk and Maisie Hall 8. Bradley and Thomas Baker 9. Ansley Myers and Victoria Jackson

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OUT & ABOUT S out h s id e G a l le r y A r t i s t Re c e p t io n

O s c a r M aye r W ie ne r mo b i le V i s it s Tup e lo

Nat io n a l V ie t n a m Wa r Ve t e ra n s D ay

1. Jack Garner, Brooke Alexander and Wil Cook 2. Tucker and Dillon Harris 3. Hannah and Haley Young 4. Parker and Burks McCullough 5. Caroline Claire and Tillman Ewing 6. Bill Verrell and Rex Moody 7. Don Lewis, Jamie Alexander and Demetra Sherer

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O U T & A B O U T continued O x fo rd A r t i s t s’ G u i ld S p r i n g A r t S how

L e a p Fro g Tr uc k a pa lo o z a Fu nd ra i s e r

O le M i s s D i n i n g Fo o d Tr uc k Fe s t iva l

1. Tiffeny Owens 2. Daniel Sorce and Angee Montgomery 3. Jeff Long 4. James and Amelia Bankhead 5. Spears, Monroe and Otis Alexander with Ali Walker 6. Mo Baker and Reiss Farris 7. Rachel and Maggie Hurt

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CH A R LIE INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS

L A N G FO R D |

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

harlie Langford is a Tupelo resident who recently retired after 40 years in the newspaper business. He and his wife, Ginna Parsons, are the parents of three grown children who are out of the house. Still at home are two cats, Leonard and Jack, and Delta rescue dog, Julie. They enjoy traveling, cooking and working in the yard.

Q: Where did you get the idea to design and build trellises? A: This hobby started about 20 years ago when I came across the book “The Garden Trellis Designs to Build and Vines to Cultivate” by Ferris Cook. It’s a tiny book and beautifully illustrated. The trellis designs got me interested in building my own. Q:

How many have you built? How long does it take to complete one? A: After 20 years of tinkering, I can now build a trellis in about three hours, start to finish. I learned to build jigs that help with measurements that repeat in a design. This cuts a lot of measuring time. I’ve probably built 50-plus over the years. The carpentry on some of those earlier creations was a little shaky. However, the past two years have been the busiest, especially since we started sending them to other parts of the state. This year most orders, seven in the past month, have come from repeat customers.

Q: What sort of plants need a trellis? A: Any climbing-type plant, like honey-

suckle, roses, trumpet vines, clematis, morning glory and black-eyed Susan vines.

Q: What’s growing on trellises in your yard? A: We have Jackmanii clematis on several.

My mom has a rose growing on one of the first trellises I built that is attached to the side of her house. Some folks don’t use them

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to support plants, but as decorative yard art. One year, we propped one on the front porch and strung Christmas lights on it.

off when the weather heats up. We’re now looking for something to build for the fall. We have some ideas, but haven’t decided.

Q: For anyone interested in purchasing one of your trellises, how may they contact you? A: You can friend me on Facebook at Charlie Langford and send a private message, or email me at lang4dcharles@yahoo.com.

Do you have plans for additional woodworking/outdoor projects? A: We refer to spring around our house as trellis season. This is when most people place orders for me to build, but business trails

Invitation Magazine - May 2021

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Recipes: Honey-Glazed Halloumi Cheese

Out & About

Good Neighbor: Charlie Langford

Helpers & Heroes

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