APRIL 2019
OXFO R D
map inside!
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DEPA RTMENT S 14
Letter From the Publisher
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Calendar
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Shoutouts
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InstaLove: Alice Connolly
EVENTS 32
Engagement Announcement: Long & Davis
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Restaurant News: Balconies
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Restaurant Guide
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In Season: Container Gardens
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Out & About
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Recipes: Hot Cross Buns
OLE MISS BASEBALL & SOFTBALL SCHEDULES ON PAGE 20
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Ole Miss Pack-a-Thon
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Oxford Date Night
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“We Shall Overcome”
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Taste of Oxford
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“The Lion King Jr.”
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Hunting Heritage Banquet
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Dr. Seuss Storytime
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Tri Delta Dedication
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St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl
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F E AT U R E S
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FE ATURES 44 Double Decker 2019
64 Meet the Neighbors
52 Cotton Patch Gospel
68 Material Girl
56 The Longest Renovation
70 Motoring into History
More than 200 art and food vendors and a music lineup featuring Jason Isbell make for a weekend of Double Decker fun.
Music, philanthropy and family history play a part in Oxford High School Theatre’s season finale.
Despite doubt, an ugly duckling house is slowly but surely transformed into a beautiful home for one Oxford family.
60 Rediscovered: Kate Freeman Clark
A gallery in Holly Springs houses a collection of over 1,000 paintings kept secret for 40 years.
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Oxford’s deer population provides an ongoing nature show for residents on Sivley Street in the heart of town.
Water Valley artist Coulter Fussell is honored as a 2019 United States Artist Fellow in Craft for her handmade quilts.
The Tupelo Automobile Museum will open its doors one last time as hundreds of classic cars are auctioned off to benefit Frank Spain’s educational foundation.
76 Building on the Past
All around Oxford, businesses operate in buildings with long and colorful histories.
ON THE COVER This painting by Oxford artist Vicki Stevens is the official artwork of the 2019 Double Decker Arts Festival. Stevens has been making Double Decker-themed artwork for years. See more of her colorful creations and read about this year’s festival on page 44. I L L U S T R AT E D B Y V I C K I S T E V E N S
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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R Double Decker weekend is often my favorite weekend in Oxford. There’s something special about hundreds of artists coming together to share their crafts. Couple that with the support and appreciation others have for these artists and musicians, and you have a recipe for one of the greatest artists’ weekends in the Southeast. Invitation Oxford is proud to be the official guide to the 2019 Double Decker Arts Festival. Inside, you’ll find a map of vendors, the music lineup for the weekend and much more. We’re lucky that so many talented people call Oxford home. We are thrilled to celebrate with our readers the gifts of creativity shared by artists of all kinds, every day of the year but especially this month,
FOLLOW US
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and the weekend of April 26 and 27. It’s not just artists at Double Decker who we are celebrating, it’s folks like Coulter Fussell, who was recently honored as a United States Artist Fellow in Craft, which included a $50,000 award. Fussell’s craft is quilting; she works with a rainbow of fabrics and designs at her studio, YaloRUN Textiles in Water Valley. She’s been at it for more than 19 years, usually while working other jobs — including waiting tables at Ajax in Oxford — to help make ends meet. Fussell’s award is well-deserved, not only because of her incredible talent but also because it couldn’t have been given to a more hardworking person. Read more about her on page 68. This issue is chock-full of other
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interesting stories: there’s the home renovation of Dana and Andy Edwards on Longest Road; the deer family that lives on Sivley Street; and this month we took a little road trip so we could feature an ode to the Tupelo Automobile Museum, which will liquidate its entire antique car collection at the end of the month. We hope you’ll find something you enjoy in this issue. We’ll see you next month when we highlight some of the most beautiful homes and gardens in Oxford. Thanks for spending time with Invitation Oxford.
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
@INVOXFORD
PUBLISHERS Phil and Rachel West
EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE EDITORS Allison Estes Emily Welly EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caitlin Adams Andi Sherrill Bedsworth Shanna Flaschka Clint Kimberling Alexis Lee Ginny McCarley Sarah McCullen Michael Newsom SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Sarah McCullen COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur INTERN Alexis Lee
OFFICE
BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008
ART
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Gandy Sarah McCullen Jessica Richardson Megan Wolfe CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Sarah McCullen Vicki Stevens
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Timeka Davis Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Paul Gandy Becca Pepper Hallie Thomas ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com
To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Oxford 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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C A L E N DA R APRIL 2019
“Birds, Butterflies and Blooms”
“Cotton Patch Gospel”
A PRIL 4, 11, 18
OHS Theatre presents a bluegrass version of the Gospels set in rural Georgia, with music by Harry Chapin. Tickets are $11 online at squareup.com/store/ohs-theatre or at the door. 7:30 p.m., Oxford Middle School. Read more on page 52.
The Lafayette County Master Gardener Association presents its annual spring lecture series in conjunction with the University of Mississippi Museum. Free. Noon, the UM Museum. lcmga.org
A P R I L 1 8-2 0
OLE MISS BASEBALL APRIL 2 VS. NORTH AL ABAM A
11 a.m. A P R I L 5 -7 V S . F LO R I DA
Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 1:30 p.m. A P R I L 1 2-1 4 V S . K E N T U C K Y
Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 1:30 p.m. APRIL 16 VS. MEMPHIS
The Grove Bowl APRIL 6
The Ole Miss Rebels football team hosts its annual family-friendly spring scrimmage. Free. 3 p.m., Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. olemisssports.com
Easter Egg Decorating APRIL 14
Bring the family to an old-fashioned Easter egg dyeing party that includes crafts and cookies. Free. 2-4 p.m., Cedar Oaks. cedaroaks.org
Oxford Community Market Party APRIL 14
OCM’s spring kickoff party features live music, giveaways, cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities, and a chance to meet MPB’s gestalt gardener, Felder Rushing. Free. 3-6:30 p.m., the Old Armory Pavilion. oxfordcommunitymarket.com
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6:30 p.m. A P R I L 2 5 -2 7 V S . T E X A S A & M
Friday 6 p.m., Saturday 6:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
OLE MISS SOFTBALL A P R I L 1 0 V S . UA B
6 p.m. A P R I L 1 2-1 4 V S . M I Z ZO U
Rally for the Veterans A PRIL 20
Volunteer for Veterans Oxford hosts a rally that includes classic car and motorcycle rides to the State Veterans Home, a poker walk on the Oxford Square, a silent auction, door prizes and more. Begins at noon, Boure Restaurant. veterans38655.com
UM Green Week A P R I L 2 0 -2 6
The University of Mississippi Office of Sustainability celebrates Earth Day and Green Week with a range of outdoor events and keynote speaker J. Drew Lanham, award-winning author of “The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature.” greenweek.olemiss.edu
Friday 6 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. APRIL 16 VS. UT M ARTIN
6 p.m. APRIL 24 VS . SOUTHERN MISS
6 p.m. A P R I L 2 6 -2 8 V S . T E N N E S S E E
Friday 6 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
Easter Sunday APRIL 21
Art Crawl A PRIL 26
The double-decker bus stops in various locations for a pop-up art crawl the fourth Tuesday of every month from January to October. This month seven local artists will each have a 4-by-8-foot panel on which to display their work, like a mini gallery. Free. 6-8 p.m., the Powerhouse. oxfordarts.com
Double Decker Festival A P R I L 2 6 -2 7
The 24th annual Double Decker Arts Festival features more than 200 food and art vendors and musical performances by local and touring artists. Free. Read more on page 44. doubledeckerfestival.com.
Greenwood Gravel Grind APRIL 27
Join an off-road cycling tour of “the most Southern place on Earth.” Rides are 50K or 100K, followed by a celebration at Tallahatchie Flats. $5 from each entry fee goes to the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s. A local bike shop will supply a limited number of gravel bikes; e-bikes will be provided for cyclists with Parkinson’s. Entry fee $55. Greenwood. greenwoodgravelgrind.com APRIL 2019 | INVITATION OXFORD
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S H O U T O U T S
PHOTO PROVIDED BY OSD
O x fo rd S c ho ol D i s t r ic t Te a c he r s of t he Ye a r As part of Oxford School District’s annual Teacher of the Year Awards Program, seven teachers received recognition for their outstanding job performance, leadership and contributions to their students’ education. One teacher receives the honor from each school. This year’s honorees include Brittany Hendrix, LaJeremy Hughes, Kesha Howell-Atkinson, Brittany Franks, Mary Beth Sellers, Carolyn Murphy and Barbara Wortham (pictured left to right). From this pool, OSD’s faculty advisory council chose Brittany Franks to represent the district in the race for Mississippi Teacher of the Year. Yolanda Logan, Oxford Learning Center’s principal, received recognition as the 2019 District Administrator of the Year. Congratulations to all!
April is World Autism Month, and statewide, events and fundraisers are being held as part of #GoBlueMS, a concept developed three years ago by Brittany Cuevas, executive director of the Autism Center of North Mississippi. “Over the years, we’ve treated children in the surrounding 20 counties — Grenada, Southaven, West Point, Oxford,” Cuevas said. “We came up with #GoBlueMS to grow statewide awareness, and it just grows every year. We just want affected families to know they’re not alone.” In Oxford, the University of Mississippi HILL Language and Literacy Program helps children ages 3-7 who have been diagnosed with language disorders, autism and developmental delays. While buildings across the state “Light It Up Blue” in observance of World Autism Day April 2, HILL staff members “go blue” in a march led by Miss University Blair Wortsmith, with children from Willie Price Lab School and Bramlett Elementary School. The march starts at 9:30 a.m. at Kinard Hall. The L-O-U community is invited to participate, wear blue and learn about autism. After the march, at 9:45 a.m., Miss University will read a disability-acceptance-themed book to the children in attendance. In Holly Springs, the “Blue for Boo”
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John Herring, age 12, of Pontotoc County designed the Autism Center of North Mississippi’s #GoBlueMS T-shirt.
walk, run or motorcycle ride takes place April 13, and in Tupelo, the ACNM Annual 5K is run in Ballard Park on April 27. Autism awareness T-shirts are for sale on the ACNM website, with proceeds benefiting the Autism Center. This year’s winning T-shirt design is by 12-year-old John Herring of Pontotoc County.
To help support local efforts to raise awareness for autism, you can buy an ACNM T-shirt, attend a march or fundraising event, and post photos on social media using the hashtag #GoBlueMS. For more information about the Autism Center of North Mississippi and this month’s events, visit autismcenternms.com.
GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY MASTER GRAFIX, LLC
# G oBlue M S
SHOUTOUTS
continued
Committed to Excellence Dan Finan, Realtor Ole Miss’15 MBA
4 0 t h A n nu a l C a ndy C l a s s ic
This tournament for players ages 12 and up takes place the first two weekends in May at the Corinth High School Tennis Complex. Dubbed the Candy Classic in memory of two local children, Candy Hammond and Amber Peeks, it benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is the longest running charity tennis tournament in the state. Last year, the Candy Classic raised $16,000; this year, the goal is $20,000. Families of patients at St. Jude never receive a bill. And while children from all over the world receive treatment from St. Jude and its national and global affiliate programs, the hospital is helping those close to home as well. “We currently have a 5-year-old boy from Kossuth and a 3-year-old boy from Booneville being helped by St. Jude,” event co-director Becky Nelms said. “We are so thankful for [St. Jude] and are happy to be a part of their success.” Adults ages 18 and up play May 3-5, while juniors ages 12-18 play May 10-12. Lunch is provided on Saturday, and pictures of the winners will be featured on the Candy Classic Facebook page. Registration is $53 and includes a singles and a doubles event. Players can register for the tournament at tennislink.usta.com. For more information about the event or to make a donation, email candyclassictennis@gmail.com.
CELL: 601.917.5429 wdfinan@hotmail.com www.resideoxford.com OFFICE: 662.234.5621
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instaL O V E
PHOTOS BY ALEX GORDON
A l ic e C o n nol ly
When Alice Connolly’s great-great grandmother boarded a train in Oxford bound for the Cincinnati Art Academy, she didn’t know she was paving the way for several generations of her female descendants to become artists. Inspired by a long line of feminine creativity, Connolly, a Texas native, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2016 with a bachelor’s in fine arts in painting. “I’ve been drawing since I was a little
girl,” Connolly said. “My mother’s belief in me laid the foundation for [me] to paint for a living, which many see as risky. My Gran, my mother and my aunt are all talented artists, so the language of art — of creating — was the world I grew up in and loved.” Some of Connolly’s first commissioned works hang in Oxford homes, but she now resides in Austin, her hometown. Connolly showcases her wide range of creative talent on her Instagram, @aliceconnollyart, but FOLLOW ON INSTAGR A M @ a l i c e c o n n o l l ya r t
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massive, detailed oil paintings of peonies, roses and other flowers dominate her feed. “Georgia O’Keeffe said it best,” Connolly said. “‘When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else.’ In our rushed culture, painting flowers has taught me patience. It takes me to a calm place.” Follow @aliceconnollyart to soothe spring fever with a dose of bright blooms.
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ENGAGEMENT
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r. and Mrs. Lawrence Childress Long of Indianola announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Ross Long, to Jonathan William Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hollis Davis of Hernando. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Cooke Robertson of Indianola and Mrs. Lawrence Wilburn Long III of Jackson and the late Mr. Long. The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Barton Howard of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Armon Hollis Davis of Ripley. Margaret Ross is a graduate of Indianola Academy in Indianola. She received a bachelor’s degree in insurance
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and risk management from the University of Mississippi where she served as an officer of Chi Omega sorority. She received a Master of Business Administration degree from Belmont University in Nashville. Margaret Ross is the business development manager at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis. Jonathan is a graduate of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, Tennessee. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Mississippi where he was an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and currently practices law in Memphis. The couple will exchange vows at First United Methodist Church in Indianola on May 25, 2019.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA BUSER PHOTOGRAPHY
M a r g a re t Ro s s L o n g & Jo n at h a n W i l l i a m D av i s
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RESTAURANT NEWS:
Boure
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BALCONIES
City Grocery
The Summit Lodge Bar
Boure
Lost Pizza Co.
The Green Roof Lounge
110 CO URTHO USE SQUA RE
8 0 0 C O L L E G E H I L L R D . # 7 1 02
3 0 5 E . J A C K S O N AV E .
Before dinner downstairs, head to the second floor bar and balcony for tasty Cajun-inspired hors d’oeuvres and unique beverages like the dill pickle martini.
Founded in Indianola but now a 14-location franchise, this pizza joint offers outdoor seating on the rooftop of its next-door neighbor, Crave.
On top of Oxford’s Courtyard Marriott, this nature-inspired rooftop eatery offers seasonal Southern cuisine and drinks to complement its stunning sunset views.
662-234-1968
662-371-1576
662-638-6017
City Grocery
The Coop
The Summit Lodge Bar
1 52 C O U R T H O U S E S Q U A R E
4 0 0 N . L A M A R B LV D .
1 1 12 VA N B U R E N AV E .
Sip an “Oxfordian” or a “Jesus Maria” on one of the town’s most iconic balconies, and if you’re hungry, order “the Grocery” burger or another inspired snack from the bar menu to round out your experience.
Named one of the “Best Rooftop Bars in the U.S.” by Men’s Journal, the Graduate’s rooftop cocktail roost serves salads, sandwiches and shareable bites alongside signature libations like the slushy “Frose.”
This ski lodge-themed bar above Old Venice Pizza Co. also boasts a balcony overlooking the Square, where you can enjoy the fresh air, unwind after work and catch up with friends over drinks.
662-232-8080
662-234-3031
662-236-6872
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R E S T A U R A N T guide
STEAKHOUSE
NEW ORLEANS INSPIRED
WOOD FIRED PIZZA
114 COURTHOUSE SQUARE
1221 VAN BUREN AVE.
176 HI G HWAY 30 E
662-701-8285
$$$
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(O N T H E S Q UA R E-B EN E AT H N EI L S O N ’ S)
oxf o rd g r i l l e h o u s e . c om
6 6 2 -3 8 0 -5 1 2 2
6 6 2 -2 3 4 -3 9 1 2
fe rgn dan s pizza.co m
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CHEESECAKES + CUPCAKES 176 HI G HWAY 30 E (INSIDE FERGNDAN’S PIZZA CAFE)
6 6 2 -2 3 4 -3 9 1 2
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12 T YPES OF CHICKEN SAL AD
ARTISANAL COFFEE ROASTED IN-HOUSE
I TA L I A N D I N I N G | U R B A N S E T T I N G
MEXICAN GRILL
1305 MERCHANTS DRIVE
1 6 1 1 JACKSON AV E. WES T
703 N . L A M A R B LV D.
2 3 0 5 J A C K S O N AV E . W E S T, S U I T E 2 1 1
6 6 2 -3 8 0 -5 5 8 2
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c h i c ke n s a l a dc h i c k. com
REST
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E AT COOKIES
78 HI G HWAY 30 6 6 2 -6 07 -2 3 2 8
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AMERICAN CAFE 76 6 N . L A M A R B LV D.
$
6 6 2 -6 3 8 -3 3 9 3
ran d rc o o ki e s . bu s i n e ss.si t e
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heart breakcoffee ro as te r s .co m
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ox fordcant ee n.com
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tr acks ixtyo ne .co m
LUNCH
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BRUNCH |
thacke r 5 6 4.com
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elagav eox fo rd . c o m
3 0 0 0 O L D TAY L O R R O A D , S U I T E C 6 6 2 -6 3 8 -3 7 8 0
662-715-1740
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A LWAY S FR E S H , FA S T A N D FR I E N D LY
face b o o k . c o m/c as amexox fo rd / 1908 W. JACKSON AV E. 6 6 2 -2 3 6 -3 8 5 5
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G A R D E N S
WRIT TEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY SAR AH McCULLEN
Zinnias Fountain Grass
Coleus Potato Vine
Mexican Heather Petunias
G
reg Pinion, director of buildings and grounds for the City of Oxford for the past 17 years, shared some of his landscaping expertise in a University of Mississippi Communiversity class, where he instructed participants on how to make container gardens. Here are Pinion’s tips for creating a stunning spring planter.
1 Choose a container
Fiberglass, metal and wood containers work great, but make sure that the container has holes in the bottom to allow proper drainage. Size, shape and color are up to you.
2 Choose a location
Decide if you want an indoor or outdoor planter, and observe the location for a few days to see how much sunlight the area receives. This will determine which plants are best suited for the spot you have in mind.
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3 Prepare the soil
To keep the drainage holes from getting clogged, layer rocks on the bottom of the container, then add soil. Equal parts topsoil, compost and manure is the best mixture. For flowering plants, consider adding a high-phosphate, water-soluble fertilizer like MiracleGro Bloom Booster, or try a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote. Additionally, a moisture manager will help the soil retain water.
4 Choose the plants
Light, location and size of the container should be considered, but the rest is personal preference. Mix flowers and greenery of varying heights, sizes, textures and colors to create interest. Pinion suggests asparagus fern, potato vine, Mexican heather, vinca, coleus, zinnias, Gerbera daisies, snapdragons, petunias, and fountain or ribbon grass.
5 Organize the plants
The plants that grow the tallest should be placed in the center of the container with shorter plants radiating outward from there. Place running plants near the edge to create a cascading effect. Loosen the roots before planting, and don’t crowd; the container may look puny at first, but the extra space allows room for plants to spread and fill the container.
6 Maintain your masterpiece
Finish your planter with hardwood mulch or pine straw, and add more as needed to protect the plants’ roots. Water every one-two days, and mix in a fertilizer every two weeks or according to directions. Prune shriveled leaves and blooms and remove dead plants to create more room for growth. With proper care, your spring planter will flourish well into the summer.
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MORE THAN 200 ART AND FOOD VENDORS AND A MUSIC LINEUP FEATURING JASON ISBELL MAKE FOR A WEEKEND OF DOUBLE DECKER FUN. WRITTEN BY MICHAEL NEWSOM A R T W O R K B Y V I CK I S T E V EN S | P R OV I D ED B Y S O M E T H I N G S O U T H ER N
Since 1994, the Double Decker Arts Festival has grown from a stage set up in the bed of an old pickup truck to one of Oxford’s most anticipated events each year where families, friends and old college pals gather for food, music and art under April skies. This year, around 65,000 people will turn out for the April 26-27 event, which is centered around the historic Oxford Courthouse Square. Hundreds of volunteers help out, but the planning process for the next festival begins right after the current one ends. The work is hard, but the fruits of that labor can be seen in the growth of Double Decker. “I think it’s just the reputation of Double Decker that has grown,” Double Decker coordinator Lee Ann Stubbs said. “Artists are talking about it more, and I have more calls from people reaching out to apply. It has come by word of mouth from artists who are here telling other artists. But it also has been helped by the caliber of music we are getting.”
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Big name acts like St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Dr. John, JJ Grey, Cold War Kids and many others have graced the Double Decker stage in recent years. This year will be no exception. “We’re really excited about this year’s lineup,” Stubbs said. “There are some big-name acts coming to Oxford.” Americana artist Jason Isbell, a Green Hills, Alabama, native and 2018 Grammy winner for Best Americana Album, headlines the festival with his band, the 400 Unit. The group is expected to draw a large crowd to its Saturday night performance. The musical action starts at 6 p.m. Friday evening. Bluesrock guitarist Eric Gales takes the stage first, followed by a live recording of Thacker Mountain Radio Hour at 7 p.m. The
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evening culminates at 8 p.m. with a performance by Nashvillebased singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt. On Saturday, festivalgoers can sample the offerings of 200 food and art vendors, and enjoy live music to their heart’s content with a lineup of local musicians as well as major touring bands and performers onstage all day. The Saturday schedule kicks off with the band Muy Caliente at 10:15 a.m., followed by musician Kate Teague, of Oxford, at 11:30 a.m.; Teague is also director and producer of Thacker Mountain Radio Hour. North Mississippi’s own Cedric Burnside takes the stage at 1 p.m., followed by Emily King at 2:30 p.m. Durand Jones and the Indications play at 4 p.m. Legendary Memphis indie rockers Lucero go on at 5:30 p.m., setting the stage for Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, the married couple that make up the folk duo Shovels and Rope at 7 p.m. Isbell and his band hit the stage at 8:30 p.m.
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Local artist Vicki Stevens created the official artwork this year, which she said was a huge honor for her as a longtime attendee of the festival. For years, Stevens has painted Double Decker-themed commissioned artwork (some of which is featured on these pages) for home decor retailer Something Southern. She said she tried something different this time. “I typically paint it more realistically,” Stevens said. “I really wanted this piece to be different and unique to the Double Decker festival. I decided to use a limited color palette with a retro feel. I hope that this creates a harmonious, fun piece that sets off the personality of the double decker bus.” Stevens will have her own booth for the first time this year, where she will be selling her art. Vivian and Walter Neill, owners of Oxford Treehouse Gallery on Fudgetown Road, have had booths at Double Decker for the last three years. They sell works by the artists they display at their gallery, as well as some of Walter Neill’s blacksmith work. This year, the Neills plan to have art by Laurin Stennis, Paul Fayard, Stephen Threlkeld, Benny Melton, David Rawlinson and others. The works offered at their booth will be portable, Vivian Neill promised. “The first year we did it, we took so much, and we wanted everybody to be represented,” Neill said. “We are slowly but surely learning how to work the art festival and simplify it a little. We take smaller items, which are easier for people to carry with them.” Mailennial’s Oxford-themed greeting cards will be sold at a booth across from Cicada. They are the work of Allie Robbins, who will be coming all the way from New York City, where she lives now, to sell her goods. Robbins is no stranger to Oxford — she’s a 2016 graduate of Ole Miss, where she played collegiate tennis. Her parents
live here, her sister goes to Oxford High School and her brother is a University of Mississippi student. Robbins said some of her favorite memories from her own college days were made at Double Decker. “There is nothing like a sun-filled Saturday on the Square, and after attending Double Decker for so many years, it is surreal to think that I will be standing in my very own booth this year,” Robbins said. Each year, Rodney Claxton makes his impressive birdhouses, among the most popular items sold. Claxton, who participates as a vendor in several shows each month, said one of his chief concerns is whether an event is well-organized. He gives Double Decker the thumbs-up, and said he would recommend it to other artists. “The staff and volunteers are the very best that I encounter,” Claxton said. “They are eager to help us and are informative and extremely organized. I’ve been so blessed by Double Decker with the loyal customers that come and support us each year. This is the best show I do all year.”
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Local restaurants and bars will see an uptick in business as festivalgoers take a moment to get out of the sun and rest their feet. And food vendors offering both local cuisine and traditional festival fare will surround the courthouse. Taylor Grocery’s catfish and Sleddogs’ corndogs draw crowds. John Sherman’s SnoBiz snowballs have become a staple of Double Decker weekend. Given its close proximity to the stage, the Graduate Hotel is a popular spot for Double Decker revelers to pop in and find refreshment. Bartenders there make an icy drink just for grown-ups, known as a “Frose,” with rose wine, strawberry puree, sweet-and-sour mix and water. The drink is as versatile as it is refreshing, since you can add a shot of just about any liquor to it. “We wanted to make a drink with a pop of color that not only tasted good but intrigued our guests,” said Rachel Spiker, assistant general manager at the Graduate Hotel. “As we all know, it gets quite hot down here in the South — we love our ice-cold beverages, and nothing is better than something that makes you nostalgic for your childhood than a drink that resembles a Slushie.” There’ s something at Double Decker for everyone, which Stubbs said is a goal of the organizers. So, sip an icy adult beverage, eat some fried catfish, dance like nobody’s watching and buy pieces of one-ofa-kind art at one of the most anticipated events on Oxford’s calendar.
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The Rev. Clarence Jordan
M U S I C , P H I L A N T H R O P Y A N D FA M I LY H I S T O R Y P L AY A PA R T I N O H S T H E AT R E ’ S S E A S O N F I N A L E . WRITTEN BY SHANNA FL ASCHKA
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This Easter, the story of Christ takes the stage as Oxford High School’s Theatre Department presents “Cotton Patch Gospel,” a modern musical retelling of the Gospel of Matthew set in Gainesville, Georgia. Originally produced as an OffBroadway show in 1982, “Cotton Patch Gospel” follows the story of Jesus from his birth in an abandoned trailer behind the Dixie Delight Motor Lodge through his growth, ministry and death in Georgia. Unlike the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Cotton Patch” features a minimalist set, plenty of laughs, and toe-tapping bluegrass songs. This musical is based on “The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John,” a reimagining of the Gospels written by the Rev. Clarence Jordan and published shortly after his death in 1969. Jordan, who was also one of the founders of Habitat for Humanity, wrote a series of these volumes as alternative versions of the New Testament books. His goal was to make the stories accessible to country folk in the mid-20th century.
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ART PROVIDED BY JERRY JORDAN
To spread his ministry even farther, in 1942 Jordan founded Koinonia Farm with his wife, Florence, and Martin and Mabel England. A Christian community in Americus, Georgia, it was created as a place where people could live peacefully and in racial equality in accordance with the teachings of Jesus. It still stands today, and Jordan’s vision for it is what lit the spark for Habitat for Humanity. Here’s the thing that makes the OHS Theatre production of “Cotton Patch Gospel” even more meaningful: Clarence Jordan is the late uncle of Oxford’s own Jerry Jordan, a retired music professor at the University of Mississippi. Jerry Jordan had a firsthand look at the burgeoning charity his uncle inspired. “The last time I saw my uncle [in Koinonia], shortly before he died, was about the time I graduated from high school,” Jerry said. “He had set up the Fund for Humanity to help low-income people have affordable housing. He took my father and me to the back of the farm in his truck and showed
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Above: Oxford High School theater teacher John Davenport will direct “Cotton Patch Gospel,” based on books by Clarence Jordan. Other photos are from auditions held at OHS in March.
us the foundations for the houses that were to become essentially the first houses for what his protege and successor, Millard Fuller, renamed Habitat for Humanity. “[My uncle] achieved a certain measure of fame as a theologian and precursor activist in the civil rights movement. However, I don’t think he could ever have imagined that his work would ultimately achieve international notice and acclaim in two entirely different realms — Habitat and Broadway!” Jerry and his cousin Lenny, Clarence’s son, think Clarence Jordan would certainly have had some opinions about his work being translated into a musical. “I find the musical inventive, entertaining, funny and provocative,” Jerry said. “My uncle was very highly religious and quite critical of organized religion as commonly practiced. Despite being quite humorous himself on occasion, I think he may have had a tinge of concern that the musical was too much of a diversion into entertainment. However, in the end, I feel he would have liked the huge attention it brought to the Gospel message.” “He was a great storyteller,” Lenny said. “He may have seen this as a stage production of one of the greatest stories — perhaps bringing the story to a new audience.” Lenny pointed out one aspect of the musical he’s sure his father would approve.
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“Regardless of what he thought of the play, I think he would have been moved by the music of Harry Chapin,” Lenny said. “I think Chapin ‘got’ it.” Chapin, a folk rock singer-songwriter and humanitarian (perhaps best known for his No. 1 hit song “Cat’s in the Cradle”), wrote the music and lyrics for the musical shortly before he died unexpectedly at age 38 in 1981. OHS theater teacher John Davenport, director of the show, said the musical is meaningful to him as well. This marks the fifth time he’s been involved with the production in his career. “[‘Cotton Patch’] is one of my favorite pieces,” Davenport said. “I find it so very charming, uplifting and most importantly, relatable.” Thirty-five students were cast in the production, including Graham Golman as Matthew; David Torrent as Jesus; and LilaGrace Lara as Jud. Michael Scruggs, Noel Torma, Damarius Wilson and Sarah Jane Yerger comprise the main quartet; others will play disciples and be part of the ensemble. The timing couldn’t be better: The show will be presented just in time for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Jerry Jordan and his wife, Jean, have contributed additional funds to the production and will be honored in the playbill as “presenters.” “We are very grateful to the Jordan family for taking an interest in this particular
production, and we want to make it equally as special for them, as this play is based on a book that was written by a member of their family,” Davenport said. The sponsorship seems to be a touching way to honor both Jerry Jordan’s uncle as well as the alma mater of his and Jean’s sons, Josh, Jenner and Jacob. “We are most proud to have this opportunity to support the arts and these dedicated students and faculty at Oxford High,” Jerry said. For their part, the students in the production are equally proud to be a part of it. Torrent, a senior, does not take the role of playing Jesus lightly. “[Portraying] the man that is the basis of my faith is a real honor,” he said.“I just hope I can be a Jesus that not only Mr. Davenport can be proud of, but also that my parents and the rest of Oxford can appreciate.” Lara, a fellow senior, shares Torrent’s enthusiasm. “I think playing Jud is the perfect way to end my time with the [OHS theater] program,” she said. “‘Cotton Patch Gospel’ is a beautiful production, and I am more than excited to be involved in it.” The musical will be performed in the Kayla Mize Auditorium at Oxford Middle School at 7:30 p.m. April 18-20. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased at the door or online at squareup.com/store/ohs-theatre.
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D E S P I T E D O U B T, A N U G LY D U C K L I N G H O U S E I S S LOW LY B U T S U R E LY T R A N S F O R M E D I N TO A B E AU T I F U L H O M E F O R O N E OX F O R D FA M I LY. WRITTEN BY SARAH McCULLEN
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W
hen Dana and Andy Edwards walked through a 1970s duplex on Longest Street in Oxford while house hunting in 2016, they left certain that finishing a daunting renovation was not in their future. However, after contractor Jimmy Mogridge of Spring Construction Group LLC got the job started, they toured again, grasped the renovation vision and decided to make that house a home for their family of six. Mogridge, who lives right around the corner from the nearly 4,000-square-foot home, bought the house when it went on the market in 2014. Through the years, he had watched college kids move in and out of the neighborhood’s eyesore, and when the opportunity to buy arose, he couldn’t resist. “It really was the worst-looking house in the neighborhood,” Mogridge said. “It had an uneven roofline. It was so bad. So when the house came up for sale, I just wanted to buy it and re-do it in a way that would look really nice in the neighborhood.” Once the house was his, Mogridge worked with architect Edye Conkerton on a plan for the renovation. Over the next couple of years, they collaborated with several potential buyers and reworked their vision with each one, but they had one overall goal — they knew they wanted a modern house, but one that would blend in with the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. “We went through several iterations of plans just because we didn’t buy the house with an end vision in mind,” Mogridge said. “We bought the house and then tried to figure out what we were going to do with it [during the remodel].” Without a committed buyer to work alongside, Conkerton drew up a final plan for both the inside and outside, and several APRIL 2019 | INVITATION OXFORD
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years after Mogridge purchased the home, the flip began. Not long after, the Edwardses, who lived west of town in Cumberland Place, went to see the house for the first time. “Jimmy’s wife Molly was actually showing us houses at the time, and Jimmy, who’s a good friend of ours, called and said I know you guys are interested in a house in town. So we went to look at it, and we were like, ‘No way Jose,’” Dana Edwards said. “They had barely done anything, and we just couldn’t visualize it.” Over the next several months, Mogridge ripped out the ceiling and gutted the entire house. The walls were only studs when the Edwardses, who still hadn’t found a house to buy, decided to give the Longest house one more look.
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“When we came to see it the second time, we could see where the house was headed, and a lot of the tough work had already been done, so we agreed to move forward with the plans in November of 2016,” Andy Edwards said. It took about nine more months to finish the renovation, and with the exception of a few minor tweaks, such as reworking the bedrooms for their four boys, the couple followed the plan that Mogridge and Conkerton had developed. “By the time we got in here, the plans were already done, so we just got to finish it,” Dana said. “And Jimmy had the best ideas, like the spiral staircase and the halfwall — I almost told him no, but he was like no, you’re going to love it. He really just
guided us through it.” The half-wall is the focal point upon entry through the full-glass front door, and it divides the house, creating a private and unique kitchen and living space in the back. Hanging on the wall is a painting by a friend of Dana’s, Charleston artist Emily Brown. That painting inspired the color scheme that Dana chose to use throughout the house. “Emily told me years ago that all her paintings have a dark spot in them which represents the dark times in everyone’s lives,” Dana said. “I wanted it to be the first thing I saw when I came in the front door to remind me that, despite the dark spots, there is always beauty to be seen.” With the help of interior designer Julie Montgomery, Dana used navy and gold
accents throughout the house, in contrast with clean white walls adorned with family photographs and paintings by friends. “Almost every piece of art in here was done by a friend,” Dana said. “Emily Brown is one of my best elementary friends, there’s one over the fireplace that was done by Peyton Hutchinson for Andy for his birthday, and then we got Bradley Gordon to do four paintings for the boys for Christmas. Details
like that really play a part in making the house our home.” Some other key features include shelving in the master bathroom made of pine flooring from the couple’s last home, the lofty ceiling in the living room area and the custom-poured concrete sink in the powder room. “If I’m in the house, I’m going to say, ‘Hey, come here and let me show you this
sink we did,’” Mogridge said. “Dana wanted the concrete sink, and when you see it, it’s simple and you think ‘that’s cool,’ but then you really look at it, and you’re like ‘how did they do that?’” Mogridge also likes the glass sliding doors that lead into the den, and the wall that houses the wood-burning fireplace — an addition made at Andy’s request. The fireplace, the wood trim and the wall are all painted a classic white, but the variance in textures creates interest. “One of the dilemmas you face when finishing out a house is making sure you add enough detail for interest, but keep things simple,” Mogridge said. “Like the fireplace wall in the den — the more you look, the more you see, but it never looks busy.” Modern black trim around the large windows complements the white exterior of the home that sits on a half-acre lot near the Oxford Depot Trail, which the Edwards family uses to walk to events on campus. In the back, they poured a concrete slab for their boys to play basketball, and decided to forgo plans to build a pool in order to preserve a massive oak tree, one of their favorites parts of their yard. “We built the house and did all of the landscaping around the oak tree in the back,” Dana said. “We love our neighborhood and where we are. We love to hear the cheers from the baseball games on campus in the spring. And the back porch — the sunsets on the back porch are the best in Oxford.”
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A G A L L E R Y I N H O L LY S P R I N G S HOUSES A COLLECTION OF OVER 1,000 PAINTINGS KEPT SECRET FOR 40 YEARS.
WRITTEN BY CAITLIN ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
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T
In the tide of new movements in art, the style of painting at he Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery in Holly Springs will be the time had shifted away from Clark’s firmament, plein air, toward a bustling scene during the Art Gallery Gala and Auction the modern. That, coupled with the reality of being truly alone for on May 11. The soiree, the museum’s much-anticipated the first time, did not bode well for Clark. She packed her bags and fundraiser, brings together art enthusiasts for a night of dinner, brushes, and fled home to the South, leaving behind her life as an dancing and bidding. artist. Her portfolio — more than 1,200 oil paintings, sketches and But the venue was not always an epicenter of festivities and art drawings — were put in wooden boxes in a New York storage unit, consumption. The property’s former resident, Kate Freeman Clark, where they sat for more than rarely left the premises. 40 years. “She was essentially a After Clark’s death, adminspinster,” said Walter Webb, istrators of her estate were led director at the Kate Freeman on a scavenger hunt that Clark Art Gallery. ultimately revealed a tin box Clark, who was born in tucked away in a linen closet. Holly Springs in 1875, left the Clark may have kept her talents family home in the 1890s to hidden from her neighbors pursue an art education. She while she was alive, but she moved back to the property had firm plans for her artwork in 1924. For the next few once she was gone. decades she lived a quiet, Inside the box, a pile of unremarkable life at home in papers outlined the extensive north Mississippi, only gaining collection she left behind — a notoriety after her death at age gift she donated to the people 81. It was then that her secret of Holly Springs. Clark also was revealed: for 29 years, detailed lavish plans for a Clark lived a separate life as gallery — including gardens, a an accomplished artist in New costume display and a library York City. of her father’s books — but the Clark’s neighbors and funding she left behind did not acquaintances were shocked. match her grandiose vision. A few friends knew Clark had Now, 62 years after studied art in the Northeast, Clark’s death, her artwork is but they didn’t have even a cornerstone of Holly Springs’ the slightest inkling of the culture. The art gallery is magnitude of her career. After unassuming from the exterior, taking art classes in Memphis, but inside, red walls boast Tennessee, Clark moved up A series of self-portraits by Kate Freeman Clark hangs in the art gallery that’s named Clark’s plein-air landscapes, north and enrolled at the Arts for her and housed in her former residence in Holly Springs. portraits and still-life scenes Students League in New York. of fruit and flowers. Her Her work, overseen by her paintings, along with a few paintings by Chase, fill the museum’s teacher and mentor, William Merritt Chase, was heavily influenced three rooms. The space is a popular venue for weddings, meetings by the impressionist movement of the era, particularly the plein air and fundraisers, and will be the site of next month’s benefit. style of painting. Proceeds from the upcoming gala will go toward management “Instead of sitting in a chaise, the artists would go out to a field, and upkeep of the gallery. A live auction will give art connoisseurs a or sit on a beach and paint,” Webb said. “Whatever they saw in front rare chance to bid on a Kate Freeman Clark original, as well as more of them — that’s what they would paint.” than 100 items in a silent auction. For years, Clark’s vibrant paintings, ranging from towering “We’re trying to be more selective and find items that people canvases to sketches no larger than a cigar box, were shown in can’t just buy anywhere,” Webb said. galleries along the Eastern Seaboard. But after the deaths of her Items will include vacation packages, jewelry and artwork from mother, grandmother and Chase, Clark lost the inspiration to former visiting artists who have shown work at the gallery. continue her career. For more information about the Art Gallery Gala and Auction, “She was left on her own and trying to make her own way and to buy tickets for the event, visit katefreemanclark.org. without these strong supports,” Webb said.
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OXFORD’S DEER POPUL ATION PROVIDES AN ONGOING NATURE SHOW FOR RESIDENTS IN THE HEART OF TOWN. WRITTEN BY GINNY MCCARLEY
Most mornings, Louisa McConnell enjoys her first cup of coffee on her back porch — along with some fast company. McConnell’s home on Sivley Street is in the heart of Oxford, just blocks from the Square, and for as long as she’s lived there, so have the deer. “For whatever reason, it’s a natural pathway for the deer,” McConnell said. “My neighbors across the street call me Snow White.” Over the past two decades, McConnell
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has enjoyed observing the antics of the deer. Little spotted fawns frolic across her backyard and 12-point bucks bed down behind the bamboo growing there. One afternoon last summer, McConnell pulled into her driveway and spied a doe in her front yard, nursing two fawns. Watching the deer through the seasons has become special to the whole family. “It’s just really peaceful to sit there and watch them,” McConnell said. “And we find tons of knocked-off antlers in our backyard.”
The deer do have a downside for McConnell, who works at OIL Shed in Oxford and has an impressive green thumb. “They have eaten all my hydrangeas and licked my hostas and aucuba clean to the ground,” McConnell said. “My hydrangea was more than 20 years old; they finally killed it this year.” For McConnell, losing a few plants is a small price to pay for the joy of having a front row seat to the ongoing show of bucks, does and sweet little fawns. But some
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Oxonians feel differently about the growing deer population. In 2010, the mayor and board of aldermen adopted a deer management plan that seeks to ensure a “safe and effective system to manage the growth and control of the whitetail deer population that resides within the boundaries of the City of Oxford,” according the the city’s website. Jimmy Algood, director of emergency management and homeland security in Oxford and the city’s deer management coordinator, said one of the most common complaints from neighborhood residents is that the deer are eating their shrubs. “We want to have deer here in Oxford, we just don’t want to have deer to the extent that they are destructive,” Algood said. To control the deer population in the urban environment where they don’t face any natural predators, the city now conducts controlled bow hunts to thin the herd. The city only allows 36 hunters a year, all of whom must pass written and shooting tests. In an effort to keep Oxford’s deer population healthy, Algood also cautions residents against feeding the deer, which was banned in a 2010 ordinance. Feeding deer and other wild animals unnatural foods can upset their delicate metabolisms and affect their immune systems. In deer populations, unnatural feeding can cause a spike in chronic wasting disease, a deadly disease that has recently been detected in Mississippi and is spread
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through deer saliva. When they all feed in the same area, one deer can spread the disease to the entire herd. In addition, improper supplemental feeding can negatively affect animals who do not have the microorganisms in their body to digest the food, by causing dehydration and death. Deer can suffer other effects from living too close to humans, as McConnell’s closeup view of the deer herd in her neighborhood has shown. Recently, McConnell saw a buck with a large gash in his leg, the result of a dog attack. And four years ago, she watched sadly as a deer that had been hit by a car limped through her backyard. Some might think the deer decided to move into Oxford because life is better here, but in reality, it’s the other way around — human encroachment drives the animals to adapt to urban life. McConnell understands how important it is for the deer to have a place of refuge in the ever-growing city. “We take their environment away, and they have no choice but to come through ours,” McConnell said. “Animals will adapt, and these poor deer have had to adapt to the growth in Oxford.” Though it’s sometimes difficult watching nature take its course, most of the time McConnell enjoys her backyard view of the majesty of the herd. “It is just so peaceful to sit there and watch them play,” McConnell said. “I get to sit out in the morning and have coffee and watch the babies be frisky and curious.”
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M at erial Girl
WAT E R VA L L E Y A R T I S T C O U LT E R F U S S E L L E A R N S TO P H O N O R S F O R H E R Q U I LT S . WRITTEN BY ANDI SHERRILL BEDSWORTH
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oulter Fussell’s quilts are not the traditional heavy cotton bedclothes your grandmother had, or the pristine patterns seen in quilt shows. There is a painterly quality to her work that evokes mood and atmosphere similar to an abstract painting. Fussell, a resident of Water Valley, is also a painter — but currently it’s her quilt work that has garnered recognition. Earlier this year, she was named a 2019 United States Artist Fellow in Craft, which includes an award of $50,000. Fussell has worked as an artist since graduating from the University of Mississippi in 2000 with a bachelor’s in fine arts in painting. She owns YaloRUN Textiles, an experimental textile studio and supply store in Water Valley. In recent years, Fussell has offered workshops there in textile design, native-natural dying, and quilting with both traditional and experimental techniques.
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United States Artists, based in Chicago, was formed in 2006, in response to National Endowment for the Arts budget cuts and after a study showed that although Americans valued art, they did not value artists in the same way. The group, initiated by leaders of the Ford, Rockefeller, Rasmuson and Prudential foundations, gives unrestricted awards to chosen artists to enable them to concentrate on their work. Fellowships are awarded in many disciplines including arts, architecture and design, craft, theater and performance, writing, dance, film and music. Besides creating art quilts and running her studio, Fussell is raising two young sons and waiting tables at Ajax Diner in Oxford. The award will afford her the luxury of a few more precious hours of creative time. “They want you to do whatever you need to do to concentrate on your work,” Fussell said. “I can drop one waitress shift and have
days of uninterrupted time in the studio.” Fussell begins each of her quilts by confronting piles of fabric in her studio — moving, adjusting, editing and creating compositions. Her father was a museum curator; her mother is also a quilter, and the combination of a background steeped in art and traditional quilting is evident in Fussell’s quilts. She stitches, stencils, paints and dyes, often using nontraditional methods and mostly donated clothing and fabric. “People bring their mother and grandmother’s stashes that they don’t know what to do with,” Fussell said. Fussell fearlessly manipulates fabric to create compositions that are both simple and moving at the same time. Straddling tradition and modern aesthetics, the pieces can stand alone as artwork hung on the wall or be spread on a bed. Her designs are driven primarily by the fabric in front of her.
“Ideas develop in the studio,” Fussell said. “They are never there before I have fabric. I don’t sketch, I don’t plan. Fabric first, the rest follows.” When Fussell creates quilts for clients, she first considers how they want to use the piece. Those created for use on a bed are washable. For others, she utilizes techniques best suited for quilts to be displayed as art. “I approach quilt making the way a painter approaches a painting,” Fussell said. “I think about light, depth, distance and not pattern. I spend a whole lot of time in the studio moving big pieces of fabric around on the floor until I come up with a way to get from one side of the work to the other that makes some sort of aesthetic sense.” Depending on the complexity of the quilt, each of Fussell’s pieces takes anywhere from a week to several weeks to create. “I sew pretty fast at this point,” she said. “All my work is hand quilted, and most of the quilts have a good bit of hand piecing as well. I prefer to hand quilt, and I know I always will.” Fussell hasn’t given up on painting. She has canvases primed and ready, but right now she’s embracing the challenges of painting with fabric instead. “It’s really hard, and I spend as much time editing out fabric as [putting] fabric in,” Fussell said. “I really focus on taking out pieces of fabric that feel too obvious or border on unintentional gimmick, and that, in my case, takes a lot of brain work. That’s my favorite part. Where I’m making wordless decisions based on some deep, deep down practiced and developing sense of beauty and considering the future possible hazards of technical construction. All I’ve ever learned comes together in that stage.” Fussell’s quilts were also honored with a South Arts award in 2017. Learn more about her work and studio at yaloruntextiles.com. APRIL 2019 | INVITATION OXFORD
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THE TUPELO AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM WILL OPEN ITS DOORS ONE LAST TIME AS HUNDREDS OF CLASSIC CARS ARE AUCTIONED OFF TO BENEFIT FRANK SPAIN’S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. WRITTEN BY ALEXIS LEE
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When Frank Spain began his car collection in 1974, he started not just a hobby but a lifestyle. “Some people collect stamps, Frank collected cars,” Frank’s wife, Jane Spain, said. Frank spent the next several years hunting for collectible cars, with the help of his friend Max Berryhill. Jane remembers fondly how the couple’s travels to obtain cars were often full of adventure. “We were driving back from Alaska, and Frank was lying on the ground, working on the car, and a large dog kept coming over and taking Frank’s shoes right off his feet because he wanted to play,” Jane said. “There was never a dull moment.” Frank opened the Tupelo Automobile Museum in 2002 with 150 rare automobiles from all over Europe and North America. Frank, who grew up in Tupelo and graduated from Mississippi State University, set up an educational foundation funded by the museum. Frank died in 2006. Since then Jane has kept the Tupelo Automobile Museum running. But the number of visitors declined, and the museum was
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no longer earning enough money to remain in operation. In addition, Jane is considering relocating and wants to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. So, two years ago, Jane called upon Stephen Mancuso, an automotive consignment specialist, for guidance on what step to take next with the museum. She said she thought about the auction idea for about 20 seconds and said “OK, let’s do it.” “I have had great memories with many of these cars,” Jane said. “But now it is time for others to make memories with them.” The museum closed to the public at the end of March. The cars will be up for sale in a no-reserve auction April 25-27. The estimated value of the collection is $7 million to $25 million. Thursday will be a preview day; on Friday all the signs in the warehouse will be auctioned; the car auction is scheduled for Saturday. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Frank Spain’s educational foundation, which was always the goal of the museum. Mancuso said he expects bids from people all over the world, either in person or via internet and phone, including a few celebrities. For more information on the auction, visit bonhams.com.
1963 Pontiac Bonneville The Bonneville was one of Pontiac’s most luxurious models. The distinctive protruding grille, available for an additional charge, was a sign of wealth and status.
1948 Tucker Only 51 were ever made, and each one is unique. The Tucker was designed for passenger safety, with seat belts, a roll bar, a padded dashboard and a rear engine. Luggage was stowed under the front hood and every car came with a set of ladies’ luggage. APRIL 2019 | INVITATION OXFORD
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1905 Delauney Belleville The headlights on this car are gaslights, as were many other car lights during this time period. A unique feature of these lights was that people could unscrew them from their bases and use them as lanterns to light the way to their doors.
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1899 Knox Porcupine The Knox had an air-cooled engine covered with steel bolts, making it less likely to overheat. Later Knox models had four wheels, but all were known for reliability.
1954 Buick Roadmaster This was the first edition of a Buick to have “Dagmar bumpers,” a fancy title for the chrome conical-shaped bumper guards also known as “bullet bumpers.”
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1985 Triton aero car The Triton is classified as a three-wheel motorcycle and was built for pizza delivery, with an oven built into the back of the car. Pizzas would be half-baked at the store and finish cooking while being delivered. APRIL 2019 | INVITATION OXFORD
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ALL AROUND OXFORD, BUSINESSES OPERATE IN BUILDINGS WITH LONG AND COLORFUL HISTORIES. WRITTEN BY CLINT KIMBERLING
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
JON E S AT HOM E 1005 Jackson Avenue East circa 1848 This antebellum house was built in 1848 in the Roman Gothic style. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant supposedly made the house his headquarters during the Union occupation of Oxford. Owner Andy Phillips said the home has been in his family since the 1960s when it was purchased by his father, and it was once a boarding house. Since 2014, the house has been occupied by furniture and home decor retailer Jones at Home.
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A RGEN T T RUST 613 South Lamar Boulevard circa 1890 The pink Queen Anne-style house on South Lamar is still known to many Oxford residents as The Kangaroo’s Pouch, since it once housed a gift shop by that name. Built around 1890, the house was once owned by Eugenia McLaurin, who taught piano lessons there for many years. In October 2018, the Argent Trust Company, a financial planning business, opened its office in the National Historic Landmark Building.
S T. L E O 1101 Jackson Avenue East circa 1920 This award-winning restaurant on Jackson Avenue near the north side of the Square is remembered by many as Wiley’s Shoe Shop, and before that Bole’s. Owner Herbert Wiley not only cobbled shoes and repaired leather — he was also a blues musician and performed with the band Wiley and the Checkmates. According to Katherine Kenwright, historic preservationist for the City of Oxford, records indicate that the building housed a series of cafes: Morgan’s B&B Cafe, Pelican Cafe and Blue Moon Cafe. Going back even further, it housed “Rufus the barber,” and according to an 1890s map, a meat market.
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V ISI T OX FOR D 1013 Jackson Avenue East circa 1885 Also located on Jackson Avenue, this Queen Anne-style house was built in 1885 by U.S. Sen. W.V. Sullivan and L.Q.C. Lamar. The building served as law offices for more than 100 years. From 1905-1962 it was owned by the law firm of James Stone & Sons. One of the Stone sons, Phil, famously mentored William Faulkner. The building is written about in “The Sound and the Fury” and secretaries there typed some of Faulkner’s early novels. It’s been occupied by the staff of Visit Oxford since 2015, but law books from its earlier days still line the walls.
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THE THOMPSON HOUSE 103 North Lamar Boulevard circa 1870 The Thompson House hotel opened in 1870. It was built by Macon Thompson, son of Congressman and Confederate secret agent Jacob Thompson, on the site of Oxford’s very first hotel, the Oxford Inn, which was burned along with most of the Square during Gen. Grant’s raid in 1864. It operated as the Majestic Hotel, and later the Colonial Hotel, for many years. Condemned in the 1970s, the building was purchased and refurbished by Grady Tollison, who restored a balcony that had been on the front and side of the hotel, and combined the space with the adjacent Monroe Building into a single structure. Hotel room numbers can still be found on some of the third floor doors. Located at the corner of North Lamar and the Courthouse Square, the building is now occupied by the Tollison Law Firm and its downstairs tenants Yaya’s Frozen Yogurt and A Look Ahead Eyewear.
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NEILSON'S 119 Courthouse Square circa 1839 The J.E. Neilson Co. department store opened in its current location in 1897 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The business itself dates back to 1839, when William Neilson set up shop in a log cabin on the north side of the Square. That location was burned in Grant’s 1864 raid. The store reopened in 1866, and moved to its current location 31 years later. William Lewis started working at the store in 1912 and became a partner in 1915; William Lewis Jr. bought the business in 1964. This year Neilson’s is celebrating 180 years in operation.
OX FOR D GR I LLEHOUSE 114 Courthouse Square circa 1875 The building on the corner of Courthouse Square is now occupied by Oxford Grillehouse and its upstairs neighbor Rooster’s Blues House. Prior to that it housed Jennie’s Hallmark and before that, Shaw & Sneed Hardware. But this building was also Oxford’s first federal jail — and there are still jail cells located in the basement. And Dr. Felix Linder, who counted William Faulkner among his patients, had a medical office on the second floor. The stairs leading to the upstairs balcony were featured prominently in the 1949 film adaptation of Faulkner’s “Intruder in the Dust.”
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OLE MISS PACK-A-THON PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
Ole Miss hosted the ninth annual Feed the Hunger Pack-A-Thon Feb. 22-23 at the Powerhouse. More than 150,000 meals were packed to send to impoverished children in Kenya, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Jamaica and rural Kentucky. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. John Kellen and Xander Pendleton 2. Elliott Namba and John McMahon 3. Dejun Jackson and Ariana Holman 4. Carsen Daniel and Meredith Moore 5. Sydney Wingfield and Kim Phillips 6. Mackenzie Peters and Sarah Charles Smith 7. Melinda Staples and Emily Barnhouse 8. Melea Mansel and Ryan Oliver
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OXFORD DATE NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA RICHARDSON
Chick-fil-A held its second annual Oxford Date Night Feb. 28 at the Oxford Conference Center. The event included dinner and stand-up comedy by Ted Cunningham and Jason Earls. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Tim Popadic, Matt Turvey and Michael Jones 2. Katie Amidon and Carley Wilkinson 3. Jeff Kemp and Lance Reed 4. Jason and Kimberly Bumgardner 5. Chris Allen and Jeff Bojar 6. Krista and Will Nicholas 7. Tarver Reeder and Alex Buckner 8. Tim Schuster and Connie Ashmore 9. Pat and Jeff Edge 10. Deshone Thompson and Jeff Kemp
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“WE SHALL OVERCOME” PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA RICHARDSON
“We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.” was held Feb. 12 at the Ford Center. The production showcased multiple African-American music traditions interwoven with spoken word from King’s recorded speeches. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Virginia Dorris, Bruce Ware and Bryce Williams 2. Essie Hubbard, Diley Ivy and Bobbie Goolsby 3. Senora and Liana Logan 4. David and Barbara Kern 5. Susan and Jim Johnstone 6. Southaven Girl Scout Troop 10219 with Holly Springs students 7. Bernard and Louis Lewis
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TASTE OF OXFORD PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA RICHARDSON
The 12th annual St. Jude Taste of Oxford was held Feb. 21 at The Jefferson. The event featured food stations, silent and live auctions and live music by The Spazmatics. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Nicole Boyd, Lauren Renfroe and Tanya Fitts 2. Tim Peeples, Luke Heiskell and Kristi Peeples 3. Mary Morgan Grantham and Barrett Freeman 4. Lindsey and Jason Leach 5. Brooke Harris and Garret Gray 6. Greg and Tracy Gowen
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7. Beth Norris and Evans Wells 8. Drew Martin, Shannon Jackson, Martin Mitchell and Summer McPheron 9. Matthew and Angela Lenderman 10. Cadie Buchanan and Vonice Hembree 11. Vera Phillips and Frank Tindall 12. David Carroll, Chris Steiner and Carter Griffin
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“THE LION KING JR.” PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA RICHARDSON
Regents School of Oxford presented “The Lion King Jr.” Feb. 14-15 at the Powerhouse. The musical adaptation of the classic Disney show featured students from Regents School.
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1. Swayze, Rheagan, Mary Naden, Rater Reece and Naden Vaughn 2. Jackson, Brandon, Emily and Annie Lynn Ames 3. Meredith and Sandy Meurrier with Alicia Canterbury 4. Sue Castens and Corrie Reed 5. Harrison, Peyton and William Atchley 6. Mimi and Harper Leach 7. Ferdinand Jones and Carolyn Campbell 8. Ramsey and Michael Meurrier
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HUNTING HERITAGE BANQUET PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA RICHARDSON
The Oxford chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation held its annual Hunting Heritage Banquet Feb. 19 at the Oxford Conference Center. The event featured dinner, a silent auction and a raffle. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Johnny McKinion, Butch Scott and Johnny Chinault 2. Avery, Martha and David Vanderford 3. Bruce Massey and Taylor Jackson 4. Dustin Crum and Eddy Carwile 5. Opie Thomas and Dwight Jones 6. Derek Alkire and Linsey Lawrence 7. Gary Messer and Brad Holder 8. Dustin and Shelby Thomas 9. Mason Duffy and Mike Blalock
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DR. SEUSS STORYTIME PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
Square Books Jr. hosted a Dr. Seuss-themed storytime in celebration of the author’s birthday March 2. The event featured a reading of “The Cat in the Hat” and a special visit from the Cat himself. View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Claire and Will King 2. Lea Anne, Charlie and Kevin Griffin 3. Kaidee and Walt Davis 4. Daniel and Keziah Stout 5. Madeline and Adam Brewer 6. McLain and Mary Allyn Hedges
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STORYTIME
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7. Ann Elize and Clara Allen 8. Laura and Gloria Jones with Lynda D’Antoni 9. Lauren and Addison Ward 10. Cat in the Hat and Jill Moore 11. Julia, Walt, Jeff and Juliet Reed
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TRI DELTA DEDICATION PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
The University of Mississippi Tri Delta chapter held a house dedication ceremony on March 2. The event included brunch, a dedication ceremony and tours of the recently renovated sorority house. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Mary Elizabeth Upton, Whitney Andress and Jane Milam 2. Sandra Krieger, Jan Farrington and Gayle Henry 3. Ellen Harding, Lynn Grenfell and Vicki Kellum 4. Molly Pillow, Kim Jensen Rodgers, Paige Vaughan and Meg Lovett 5. Elizabeth Minor with Mary Grace and Julia Minor Gaines 6. Tay Morgan and Barrie Van Cleave 7. Scout Hodges and Jennifer Shipp 8. Madeleine and Kim Porter 9. Elizabeth Fisher and Sally Carson
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S T. PADDY ’ S DAY PUB CR AWL PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
The 10th annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl took place March 16 at eight locations around the Square. The Irish-themed event featured a costume contest and giveaways, and donations were collected for local nonprofit Volunteers for Veterans. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Cody Morgan, Kim Patterson and Heather Outlaw 2. Tyler Champion, Camrien Abernathy, Will Gatlin, Audrey Hartman and Cole Page 3. Mac Keck, Connor Dunnigan and Daniel Bonitt 4. Rob and Susan Robinson with Shelly and Michael Noggle and R.J. and Kristen Farrell 5. LaDarius Lee, Kristina Valenzuela, Jason McCray, Louis Audet and Parker Williamson 6. Max McDonaldson and Kevin Felker 7. Nicole Broussard, Kathryn Rowe, Keegan Cort and Rosa Salas 8. Chris Goolsby and Shelby Biggs 9. Hershel Glover and Katie McClain 10. Peter Andes and Henna Jahns
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OUT & ABOUT VIEW MORE PHOTOS AT INVITATIONOXFORD.COM
E nd of A l l Mu s ic S e ve nt h Bi r t hd ay
N W T F ’s T h i rd A n nu a l Ja ke Hu nt
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G re g I le s B o ok S i g n i n g
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1. Collin Davison and Trey Finton 2. Participants in the National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual Jake Hunt 3. John and Beulah Collins 4. Erin Owen and Susan Martin 5. Caroline and Elliot Iles 6. Dennis and Bonnie Siebert
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MISSISSIPPI’S BEST
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MISSISSIPPI’S BEST
CONTACT US
(662)234-5725 440 North Lamar • Oxford, MS 38655 www.dawkinsfamilydental.com
W. EDWIN DAWKINS, Jr., D.D.S.
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H O T cross B U N S BRING A CENTURIES-OLD BAKING TRADITION TO YOUR TABLE THIS EASTER. RECIPE BY CYNTHIA GERL ACH
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
ot Cross Buns are an Eastertime tradition. The symbolic spiced sweet rolls, historically eaten on Good Friday to mark the end of Lent, have gained popularity throughout the season. Cynthia Gerlach, owner and operator of Bottletree Bakery, plans to make several dozen of them a day during the two weeks leading up to Easter. “I love the flavor and the texture,” Gerlach said. “It’s like a spiced bread meeting a donut.”
BOTTLETREE'S
hot cross buns
12/3 cups dried currants ¾ cup warm apple juice 4½ tablespoons active dry yeast 1¼ cups warm whole milk ¼ cup sugar 51/3 cups plus 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground allspice 1/3 cup melted butter 2 large eggs FLOUR PASTE 1 cup all-purpose flour 6 tablespoons water EGG WASH 1 egg 1 tablespoon whole milk SIMPLE SYRUP 1 cup sugar 1 cup water
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Heat oven to 375°F. In a bowl, soak currants in warm apple juice. Set aside. Using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, stir together yeast, warm milk and sugar on low speed for 2 minutes. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine 51/3 cups flour and the salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Add half the flour mixture to the yeast mixture, mixing until just combined. Add melted butter and 2 eggs. Gradually add the remaining half of the flour mixture. Drain the currants, discarding the apple juice. Add currants to flour mixture, and beat on medium speed 4-5 minutes. Beat in the remaining 1/3 cup flour. The dough should not be sticky. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. Once the dough has doubled, lightly punch down and let rest 5 minutes.
Gently place dough on a floured surface and divide into 24 evenly sized balls. Place dough balls in a lightly greased 13x9-inch pan and cover. Allow the dough to proof (rise) in a warm place. The rolls should be touching each other. Meanwhile, stir together flour and water to create flour paste. (Mixture will be thick.) Whisk together the egg and milk to create the egg wash. Set aside. When the rolls are finished proofing, brush each with the egg wash and pipe the flour paste over the top of the rolls to form a cross on each roll. Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. While the rolls are baking, boil water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves to create the simple syrup. Remove baked rolls from oven, and brush with simple syrup while still warm.