Invitation Magazine - March 2020

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Home & Garden

FRESH VEGGIES FROM CORINTH

MODERN DESIGN IN HIGHLAND CIRCLE A F U LT O N FA M I LY H O M E LE T ' S VISIT: BALDW YN

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18 Coming Home

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Letter From the Editor

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Miranda Lambert Concert

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Digital Details

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Father-Daughter Ball

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Calendar

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Mardi Gras

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Shoutouts

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Winter Jam

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Let’s Visit: Baldwyn

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Debutante Cotillion

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Recipes: Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad

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First Friday Art Walk

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Out & About

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“Steel Magnolias”

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Northeast Neighbors: Stephen Thompson

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Steve Holland Retirement

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Golden Halo Fundraiser

Danny and Vicky Gaither renovate their family residence in Fulton and become part of the community.

22 Mai-ghty Fresh Veggies A Corinth woman parlays gardening into aesthetically pleasing vegetable boxes.

26 Balancing Act

A blend of modern and traditional touches brings new life to a Highland Circle home.

32 Flower Child

Dried flower petals become colorful artwork in the hands of an artist with a vintage flower press.

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ON THE COVER

Vegetables and flowers grown by Corinth gardener Mai Fair fill a basket, ready for sale. Fair’s business, Mai-ghty Fresh Vegetables, has grown out of her love for working in the garden and sharing her harvest with others. Read more on page 22.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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L E T T E R from the E D I T O R Just before I entered high school, my family was preparing to move into the new house we’d built in my hometown of Grenada. My parents bravely allowed my sister and me to be the decorators of our own rooms.

That meant we got to choose wallpaper, carpet, light fixtures, paint colors. And, oddly, once our choices were made and the work was completed, two rooms in our house looked just alike.

Three walls were painted white, one wall was papered with blue and green plaid, the carpet we chose was two-tone blue shag, and our light fixtures were plastic faux-Tiffanys.

We loved our rooms, but I feel certain when my parents sold that house decades ago, the family who moved in behind us stripped that wallpaper and ripped up that carpet as quickly as they could.

Though she never said it aloud, our mother probably rued the day she let her blue-loving girls play designer. She would likely have been better pleased with our rooms if my sister and I had sought the

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design wisdom of someone like Stephen Thompson. He’s the Northeast Neighbor featured in this Home and Garden issue.

Learn more about him on page 48.

Vicky and Danny Gaither left their house in Collierville, Tennessee, to reclaim the Gaither family home in Fulton. There’s room there now for lots of family gatherings, and there’s time in both Gaithers’ schedules for giving back to the community. Read their story on page 18.

Mai (pronounced My) Fair first grew vegetables outside her Alcorn County home to help feed her family. Even then, she shared with others. Later, she began putting together beautifully arranged boxes of her fresh vegetables and homegrown flowers.

You can find out more about Mai-ghty Fresh Veggies on page 22.

There’s a house in Tupelo’s Highland Circle that Kirk and Catherine Thoms fell in love with in 2012. The house is a welcome mix of traditional and modern. Turn to page 26 to find out more about renovations the Thomses did to make the house their own.

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Every weekday, you’ll find April Ford Beasley surrounded by kids from kindergarten all the way up to high school seniors who are learning from their teacher the ins and outs of art. In her free time, she creates her own colorful silhouettes with fresh flowers she has dried and pressed.

Read about Beasley’s artistic life on page 32.

Invitation adds a new department in this issue with Let’s Visit. On page 12, you’ll find yourself in downtown Baldwyn, where life is good and the town is thriving. Visit invitationmag.com to read much more about Baldwyn, and please let us know what other area towns you’d like to see featured in this space and online.

These pages are packed with plenty of good stuff. Depending on Mississippi’s fickle forecast on any given day, find a comfortable spot in your home or your garden and enjoy the March issue of Invitation.

LESLIE CRISS, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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PUBLISHERS

Phil and Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Allison Estes OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eileen Bailey Sarah Hooper David Pannell COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Abbey Edmonson INTERNS Emi Hayes Ashton Logan

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Gandy Lisa Roberts Whitney Worsham

ADVERTISING

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

DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

Serving Alcorn, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties.

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

Invitation 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.

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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

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C a l l i n g a l l Br id e s a nd G ro o m s!

Ba l a nc i n g Ac t

Invitation’s annual bridal magazine comes out June 15. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram in March and April for #weddingwednesday giveaways, including free and discounted wedding and engagement announcements to be published in the magazine. Want to be sure your wedding is in the pages of Invitation? Place an order for your custom announcement now at invitationmag.com.

L e t ’s V i s it

Catherine and Kirk Thoms’ Highland Circle home succesfully blends modern and traditional styles.

Turn to page 26 to read about their vision for the house and to see the end result of their renovation.

For even more photos, visit invitationmag.com.

Fr id ay Fo o d Blo g

Turn to page 14 to read Let’s Visit, a new department where we’ll highlight a different northeast Mississippi town each month. This month, we’re pleased to feature Baldwyn, a town that’s rich in history and is transforming into a local arts and entertainment destination. Visit invitationmag.com for a more detailed look at Baldwyn and to read all about the town’s hottest spots.

Chocolate Brownies by Glenn Hunt

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss our Friday food blog posts. From holiday feasts to weeknight suppers to after-school snacks, we’ve got ideas from regular contributors and local celebrity chefs that are sure to spice up your recipe rotation.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. Photos from your event might be featured in an upcoming magazine!

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C O M M U N I T Y M ARCH 15-APRIL 15, 2019

Kimberly Atwood Show BANCORPSOUTH ARENA

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This Nashville-based singer-songwriter performs her traditional country ballads at the Blue Canoe in Tupelo. 7:30 p.m. bluecanoebar.com

Healthy Kids Running Series Tupelo

WWE Live!

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“Road to Wrestlemania” comes to Tupelo. Tickets start at $15. 7:30 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena.

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Healthy Kids Running Series hosts this youth running experience to engage the Tupelo community and inspire children to lead healthy lives. See website for registration and event details.

Ballard Park, Tupelo.

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Cherry Blossom Festival M ARCH 28

runsignup.com

10 for Tupelo 2020 M ARCH 21

With Japanese food samplings, music, brush writing, origami and more, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese culture in northeast Mississippi.

Free. 2-5 p.m., Ballard Park, Tupelo.

Keep Tupelo Beautiful, Rotary Club of Tupelo and Volunteer Northeast Mississippi host this communitywide litter cleanup and beautification project. 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Fairpark.

St. Patrick’s Day M A RCH 17

Wear green today, and post photos on social media using #StPatricksDay.

First Day of Spring M ARCH 19

Get ready for longer days with more sunshine; when the sun crosses the celestial equator, day and night are both 12 hours long. From here, nights shorten as summer approaches.

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facebook.com/10fortupelo

“South Pacific” M ARCH 21

Tupelo Community Theatre and the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra present a concert version of “South Pacific.” Tickets $30 for adults and $10 for students.

2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the Lyric Theatre.

For more information, contact TCT at 1tct@bellsouth.net or 662-844-1935. nmsymphony.com tct.ms

Sugaree’s Cooking Class M ARCH 29

Learn to make Miss Robbie Ray’s Pound Cake. Attendees interact with the instructor, sample the cake, and enjoy wine and a cheese board. Tickets $50.

4-6 p.m., Sugaree’s Bakery, New Albany. sugarees.com

Fairpark Burger Frenzy APRIL 2

A lunch event to benefit the Autism Center of North Mississippi takes place in front of Tupelo City Hall. Preorder hamburger plates before 5 p.m. March 27 by dropping off orders at Tupelo Parks and Recreation with payment. Walk-ups also welcome. $8 preorder; $10 the day of the event.

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Fairpark, Tupelo. Call 662-841-6440 for more information.

Run for your Buns APRIL 4

The Run for your Buns 5K benefits the NMMC Cancer Care Patient Fund while spreading awareness of colon cancer and promoting colon cancer screening. This annual event includes the race, music, vendors distributing health information and door prizes. Registration fee is $30 for adults. 7:30-11 a.m., Fairpark, Tupelo. runsignup.com

Amory Railroad Festival A P R I L 2-5

This festival includes live music, the railroad race, a car show, a beauty pageant, art and food vendors and more. Free. Opens at 10 a.m. each day, downtown Amory. amoryrailroadfestival.com

Easter A P R I L 12

Break out those pastels, and enjoy a day full of Easter egg hunts.

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S H O U T O U T S

NICOLE WARDELL PHOTOGRAPHY

D a nc i n g & S i n g i n g w it h T he K i n g

The seventh annual Dancing & Singing with The King will offer a full weekend of fun activities fit for a king, April 3-5. The event not only celebrates the legacy and music of Elvis Presley but also helps to raise funds for dance and vocal education scholarships for

youth and adults. It is presented by Tupelo Elvis Fan Club and is also a special project of the CREATE Foundation.

April 3, Dancing & Singing with The King will kick off with a sock hop accompanied by 1950s music. There will also be a swing dance competition, costume contest and dinner. On April 4, there will be workshops for singers and dancers, a tour of Elvis’ Tupelo led by Roy Turner and, in the evening, dance competitions for professionals, amateurs and local celebrities.

The weekend will end April 5 with a ballroom dance competition.

Additionally, for the second year, there will be a singing competition for first-12th graders. This talent search takes place from 1-4:30 p.m. April 4 at Milam Elementary School. All other weekend events will be in Building V at the Tupelo Furniture Market on Coley Road in Tupelo.

Music-related workshops taking place during the event will be led by a talented

trio including Demi VanderWerff, an opera singer and vocal coach working on a masters of music in voice performance at the University of Mobile; Lauren Carlton, an actor and vocalist who is an assistant professor of theater and director of theater at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas; and Tricia Walker, singer-songwriter and former director of the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University in Cleveland.

Dance judges for the weekend will be Jenell Maranto, a professional dancer and teacher for more than 25 years; Jim Maranto, a professional dancer who has trained many pro/am champions over the past two decades; and Ron Montez, a seventime undefeated United States Professional Latin Champion who has choreographed for “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Find a complete schedule of the weekend’s events, ticket options and scholarship application information at dancingwiththeking.com.

49e r s Ba s e ba l l Gen. Sam “Skeeter” Fleming and Brandon Woodruff were inducted into the American Legion Post 49 Baseball Hall of Fame in December 2019.

The late Fleming was an American Legion Baseball coach and a one-time state American Legion Baseball commissioner.

“He was a true gentleman of the game,” said McKinley Holland, head senior American Legion Baseball coach. “He was an easy decision.”

Woodruff, of Wheeler, played for Mississippi State University and is a Major League Baseball all-star who now plays for the Milwaukee Brewers.

“For every teenager who dreams of playing professional sports, Woodruff is proof that if you work hard and are talented, good things will happen,” Holland said.

Kirk Presley, Chris Stratton and the late Tack Grant were inaugural inductees in December 2018. That fundraising banquet was such a success, Holland said they decided to continue it. Tupelo’s American Legion Baseball program has been going on since 1941.

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Mike Pettigrew, Brandon Woodruff and McKinley Holland at the 49ers Hall of Fame banquet.

SHOUTOUTS

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A mo r y R a i l roa d Fe s t iva l

All aboard for the 2020 Amory Railroad Festival, deemed by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the region’s top 29 events.

The 42nd annual festival takes place April 2-5 in Frisco Park and surrounding areas.

The multiday event celebrates Amory’s rich railroad history with fun, food and live entertainment.

More than 200 vendors from across the Southeast will populate the festival’s Frisco Market, offering shoppers a vast array of items. For kids of all ages, there will be carnival rides, games and face painting; and for older, more adventurous kids, there’s a 5K run, mechanical bull rides and a rock wall for climbing.

In addition, hungry festivalgoers will find food options including burgers, catfish, pizza, barbecue and more.

For vehicle aficionados, Cruisin’, the annual car and truck show, takes place April 4. And each evening will feature live entertainment.

For more information about the Amory Railroad Festival and a complete schedule of events, visit amoryrailroadfestival.com.

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V I S I T baldwyn

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY BALDWYN MAIN STREET

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Final Stands Interpretive Center 6 07 G R I S H A M S T. | 6 62-3 6 5 -3 9 6 9

Before heading to Main Street, take in some history at this 4,000-square-foot Civil War interpretive center 5 miles west of town.

Claude Gentry Theatre & Simon Spight Auditorium 1 1 0 W. M A I N S T.

Home to the Baldwyn Main Street Players, the theater and its auditorium are named for two men who contributed much to the community.

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Baldwyn, which is shared by Lee and Prentiss counties, was formed around the time the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was in the process of being built, from 1848 to 1861.

The railroad missed the village of Carrollville by less than two miles. So the citizens of Carrollville packed up and moved to Baldwyn, which, legend has it, was named for the civil engineer who surveyed the railroad through the town.

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Six Shooter Studios

Oakhill Candle Company

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Baldwyn native Clark Richey, who led the renovation of the Claude Gentry Theatre and Tom’s Soda Shop, also established this filmmaking and screenwriting organization.

This candle shop is open for business on Fridays and Saturdays, and owner April Bell makes and ships her soy candles all over the world.

Tom’s Soda Shop 1 0 4 W. M A I N S T.

First operating more than 100 years ago as Tom’s Drug Store, the vintage soda fountain now serves hot dogs, hamburgers and milkshakes.

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Crossroads Pottery

April Bell also runs this store, where she sells comics and collectibles.

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Stop in at Tammy Lee’s Fill My Cup cafe for a hot cup of coffee and delicious baked goods.

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Underground Comics 1 03 E . M A I N S T.

Crossroads Pottery Sisters Shelia Hall and Anita Sandlin have made downtown Baldwyn home to the studio where they make their popular handcrafted pottery.

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Oakhill Candle Company

County Line Music

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Tom’s Soda Shop

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The Alley Cat Gallery opened in 2019 and offers an outlet for more than 20 regional artists’ work.

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This music production studio also offers music lessons in guitar, drums, piano and voice.

Visit invitationmag.com to read more about Baldwyn and these top 10 hot spots.

JASON COLLUM OF THE BALDWYN NEWS

owntown Baldwyn, population 3,300, nestled securely between Tupelo and Booneville, is a hidden gem. A few invested residents are working hard to bring the town out of hiding. Spend an afternoon discovering Main Street, and don’t miss these 10 hot spots.

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S P R O U T S and kale salad

ADD SOME HEALTHY GREEN GOODNESS TO YOUR DINNER PL ATE WITH THIS CRUNCHY SAL AD. RECIPE CONTRIBUTED BY KIMME HARGROVE

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russels sprouts have long had a reputation of being either much maligned or magnificent.

The edible buds that resemble baby cabbages first appeared in northern Europe during the fifth century. They didn’t make their way to the United States until the 18th century when French settlers brought them to Louisiana.

These days, no longer considered an acquired taste, Brussels sprouts are trendy side dishes that have found their way onto restaurant menus and dinner plates, whether steamed, roasted, grilled or even raw.

Invitation Magazines food blogger Kimme Hargrove recommends this slawlike salad that features shredded sprouts.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

and kale salad

2 shallots, minced ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted and cooled 4 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed 5-8 ounces baby kale Juice from 2 lemons (about ¼ cup) ¾ cup dried cranberries Salt and pepper, to taste

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a Mason jar or similar container, and close the lid tightly. Shake vigorously until combined. Set aside until the salad is ready to be dressed.

processor, chop the Brussels sprouts and kale into very fine, small pieces.

In a food processor with a slicing blade, shred the Brussels sprouts and kale. If you do not have a food

Put shredded salad into a large bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and cranberries. Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss to coat the greens. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.

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Coming Home D A N N Y A N D V I C K Y G A I T H E R R E N O VA T E T H E I R F A M I LY R E S I D E N C E I N F U L T O N A N D B E C O M E P A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y .

WRITTEN BY SARAH HOOPER

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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or just about as long as Fulton has been a town, some member of the Gaither family has made a home on East Wiygul Street. And as long as Gaithers have been at home on Wiygul Street, they’ve also been contributing members of the community.

Danny Gaither didn’t grow up in the house on Wiygul Street, but he often visited the place built in 1921 by his grandparents, Will and Lillian Gaither. His father, Edwin, grew up there. So, Danny loved the town, the house and the memories.

The original clapboard structure had three bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. There was no electricity or running water right away, but the family had a nice barn, a well with a well shed protecting it, and covered porches on the front and back of the house.

Over the years, necessities and niceties were added. Indoor plumbing made its debut, not a moment too soon. In the 1940s, a fourth bedroom was added, and, in the 1950s, the fireplaces and kitchen stove were converted to gas. After that, little changed except the people. Gaithers, entering and leaving Fulton, moved in and out of the house.

In 1981, after living in Alabama for a number of years, Edwin returned to Fulton, to his family home where he lived until 2009 when he died at the age of 87.

After Edwin’s death, the house sat empty for about a year, while Danny and his siblings struggled with what to do with the old homeplace.

“I always wanted to come back,” Danny said. But at the time, he didn’t think he could talk his wife, Vicky, a native Memphian, into leaving their home in Collierville, Tennessee.

“I had never lived in a small town,” Vicky said. “But I knew he wanted to move here. My thing for 20 years was, they don’t even have a park.

“After his dad died, we started taking the Fulton paper up in Collierville. … One day, on the front was (a story about how) the Waldorfs had donated (a gift) to build the park.”

Vicky laughed and said she knew it was meant to be.

“We’ve never looked back,” Danny said.

In short order, they began renovating the home to update it for their current needs.

The Gaithers preserved as much of the original house as they could, hoping especially to save the original floors, which ultimately proved impossible. They added central heat and air, new gas lines, updated electrical and plumbing, and did extensive foundation work.

In 2010, when they began the first of the major renovations, the couple added one and a half bathrooms and the master bedroom.

The result was an interior transformation. Preserving the exterior aesthetic, the interior was essentially a new home with two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a study, living areas, a dining room and a mostly finished kitchen.

Danny and Vicky officially moved from Collierville to Fulton in October 2012.

Soon after, Danny mused, Vicky would realize she needed more space for the grandkids to visit. In 2013, they added the dormitory expansion that includes three additional bedrooms and one and a M ARCH 2020 | INVITATION

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half bathrooms for their children and grandkids.

In all, they more than doubled the square footage of the Wiygul Street home. While the change is significant, the bones and the character remain intact. In keeping with the context of the original house, Vicky insisted the masonry on the addition use a method of sand and mortar that would give the appearance of aged brick.

Their son-in-law, Chris McGreger, who owns a hardscape company in Collierville, did the work.

The original family fireplace still reaches up through the foundation. The sloping ceiling indicates where the back porch was first enclosed and a “lean-to” bathroom was added back in 1926.

Furniture and photographs from generations of Gaithers color every room. A collection of knee-high ceramic butter churns sits in Danny’s office.

“I have memories of my grandmother with these old butter churns,” he said. “I’d be sitting on her lap. She’d be churning butter and reading a book to me at the same time.”

The home is gracious at every turn. Living space is ample and

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easy, with places friends or neighbors might sit for tea or stop for a chat. Furnished with memories from both Vicky and Danny’s families, including a Colonial-style sofa from Vicky’s mother, there is an air of approachable elegance.

“It’s very livable,” Vicky said.

Now that the home is complete, Vicky and Danny are both busy building their places in the community. They are members of the United Methodist Church. Danny volunteers with the First United Methodist Food Pantry and with other civic-minded groups. He is a volunteer groundskeeper, mowing the lawn of the historic CatesGaither House on Main Street and a nearby cemetery in need of upkeep. And he has worked with the Chamber of Commerce and economic development organizations to encourage volunteerism.

Because, for the Gaithers, their new community is much more than just bricks and mortar, houses and street signs. They are proud of Fulton and the progress the town has made over the years. They see growth nearby and hope to see their hometown forge ahead.

“There are plenty of opportunities for volunteers,” Danny said.

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Mai-ghty Fresh Veggies A C O R I N T H W O M A N PA R L AY S G A R D E N I N G I N T O A E S T H E T I C A L LY P L E A S I N G V E G E TA B L E B OX E S .

WRITTEN BY EILEEN BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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etting fresh vegetables grown by Mai (pronounced My) Fair is like a gift to all the senses.

Each box of vegetables and flowers is a testament to Fair’s artistic eye and her love for making people smile. She personally puts together each box, making sure it’s not only filled with good, healthy vegetables grown in her own Corinth garden, but also that the vegetables are arranged with care to give the buyer or recipient a colorful palette in the hopes of making them happy.

From April and May in the spring well into the late fall, Fair offers a variety of produce and flowers she grows in a plot in her front yard and on the property she purchased to expand her growing business. Fair, 48, started her business, Mai-ghty Fresh Vegetables, six years ago as a way to provide affordable choices for fresh produce and as a way to de-stress.

Long before she began her business, Fair developed a love for working the land, thanks to her parents, Artley and Johnny Conner.

Fair said her dad loved to grow asparagus, strawberries, peaches, blueberries and a variety of vegetables. He even ordered a greenhouse but never got the chance to add a garden. Fair fondly remembers those times with her parents, who adopted her when she

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was young. In 1980, at the age of 7, Fair made her way from her war-torn country of Vietnam to America. Her biological father died when she was 1, and her mother died when she was 4.

Her grandmother took care of Fair until her uncle and his wife helped bring her to Corinth, where the members of Tate Baptist Church sponsored them. Later, the Conners adopted Fair. Fifteen years after she moved to America, Fair’s older sister moved to this country and lives in Louisiana.

After graduating from high school, Fair attended Northeast Mississippi Community College and the University of Mississippi, before returning home to live. Later, she married and eventually became a mom. After her marriage ended in divorce, Fair said she remembers some difficult days for her and her two children — a daughter, now 13, and a son, now 17. She realized she needed something to help make ends meet.

During those tough times, she would go into her garden and work until it was almost too dark to see. The vegetables she grew would help sustain her family, and she and her children would share the bounty by making up baskets of any extra produce to deliver to people in the community who were in need.

Fair, who works with the Mississippi Department of Health full time, said that in the past 20 years, working in the garden has been an important part of her life. The petite and bubbly gardener said that her business has become more than a way to make money — it has offered her a way to bring joy to the lives of the people who purchase her boxes, which range in price from $10 to $40.

“I have one customer, Ginger Stockton, who owns Ginger’s, a clothing and gift store in Corinth, who said, ‘Your presentation is tops,’” Fair said. “I make each box with love. I take time to coordinate and organize the vegetables and even add zinnias or sunflowers.”

Whatever is in season can be found in Fair’s custom-designed vegetable boxes. Cherry tomatoes and large slicing tomatoes in varying shades of red. Yellow, red and green peppers. Cucumbers, okra, ears of corn, peas, beans and squash. Pole beans are her favorite thing to grow.

In addition to selling her boxes to the community, Fair has been known to take them on vacation with her so she can experience the freshness of the veggies on the road.

She has also partnered with Linda Thrasher, who doesn’t grow vegetables, but helps Fair by canning any produce that needs to be put away for later use.

Fair loves to hunt and fish as a hobby. Laughing, she said the sale of her vegetables helps to pay for those hobbies, including the hunting trips she plans to take during the year.

But the produce grown in her garden is more than a moneymaker. Fair also likes to give back. Each fall she takes some of the pumpkins she grows in conjunction with Potts Pumpkin Farm and carves and paints them pink in honor of those who are fighting breast cancer. She delivers them free of charge to anyone interested.

For more information about Mai-ghty Fresh Vegetables and to see what’s growing in Fair’s garden, search “Mai-ghty Fresh Veggies” on Facebook.

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A BLEND OF MODERN AND TRADITIONAL TOUCHES BRINGS NEW LIFE TO A HIGHLAND CIRCLE HOME. WRIT TEN BY DAVID PANNELL PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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hen Catherine Thoms and her husband, Kirk, were house hunting in Tupelo back in 2012, they both knew there was really only one neighborhood where they wanted to live.

“We had our minds set on Highland Circle,” said the 36-year-old Catherine Thoms. “We just love that neighborhood, and my husband has family friends who live there.”

One of Tupelo’s most sought-after addresses, “The Circle” is a tasteful and well-coiffed sampling of older homes in mostly traditional architectural styles. But the house that caught Thoms’ eye was something of an outlier.

“It was a little funky,” Thoms said. “The front is traditional, and the back is super-modern.”

The “back” to which Thoms referred is the soaring, contemporary, two-story wing added in the 1990s to the rear of the original 1940s structure. Its sloping metal roof, severe angles and row of clerestory windows along the top of a wall are in decided juxtaposition to the ivy-clad vibe of Highland Circle.

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Continued from page 26 Thoms, who has a degree in interior design from Mississippi State University and now makes her own jewelry, said she saw the addition not as a design liability, but as an asset.

“I immediately had a vision for the house,” she said. “My husband really didn’t see it at first, and my family thought I was crazy.”

Thoms’ vision for the house prevailed, and the result is a coherent, visually satisfying blend of old and new: a traditional home with a modern kick.

Thoms chose light, neutral colors for most of the walls and large furnishings. She said her personal taste, as well as current trends, are toward an understated, spare aesthetic.

“My taste is a little more clean and modern,” she said. “The farmhouse style was really big for a while, but I feel like it’s going away, and things are a little more modern now, less distressed.”

Thoms, whose husband works in the furniture industry, said their furnishings are a combination of old family pieces and newer finds.

“We have a lot of furniture that was passed down from family members,” she said. “We wanted to tie those pieces in and make them work. And then we have some that we’ve collected along the way and some that we bought specifically for this house.”

Thoms said using lighter, more modern materials and furnishings throughout the house helped establish continuity between the old and the new.

“We used a lot of transitional elements, like seagrass rugs and modern lighting,” she said. “And I like to add a pop of color with a bold accent pillow or a piece of art. You don’t want it to be too stark; you just want people to come in and be comfortable.”

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Continued from page 28 Since moving to Tupelo, the Thoms family has expanded, and now includes their two boys, ages 6 and 4. Thoms said the renovated kitchen, open to the addition below and flanked by a screened-in porch, is a favorite family hangout.

“We completely gutted the kitchen,” she said. “We extended the breakfast area to make it feel more open and connected. We eat in here, and our little boys sit here and draw and color. We’re always in here.”

Thoms said she wanted to avoid any too-aggressive design choices that might scare away a future potential buyer, but she allowed herself one exception.

“Most of the house is pretty neutral,” she said. “I don’t think it would turn anyone away. But in the hallway bathroom, I just wanted something different. I picked a really funky wallpaper and painted the trim black, just because I like it. If it turns the next buyer away, that’s too bad.”

Reflecting on the finished project, Thoms offered a few design tips to others considering a home purchase or renovation.

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“Trying to rush and get it all done at once can be a mistake,” she said. “A lot of people spend a lot of money building or renovating, and they’ll have a beautiful blank canvas. But they wind up with furnishings they didn’t put a lot of thought into. It ends up not really reflecting your style.”

Thoms said when design dollars are tight, consider budgetfriendly options in some areas, and spend more on areas that have the most impact.

“There are always less-expensive options to get the look you want,” she said. “The two most important aspects of the house are bathrooms and the kitchen. I wouldn’t skimp there.”

When it comes to good design, Thoms said there’s no substitute for living in what you’ve created.

“Live in it and figure out what you want and what you love,” she said. “You’ll eventually make your house a home.”

Visit invitationmag.com to see more photos inside the Thomses’ renovated Highland Circle home.

catherine thoms JEWELRY

Artistic by nature, Catherine Thoms spends lots of time in her sunny nursery-turned-studio handcrafting pieces for her jewelry line: Catherine Thoms Jewelry.

“I just have a need to create,” she said.

Thoms said the designs usually come to her serendipitously, while she’s in her studio listening to music or podcasts and working with the raw materials.

“I use materials sourced from all over the world,” she said. “I just love playing with them and seeing what will emerge.”

Thoms first started making jewelry as a hobby when she and her husband were newly married and living in Louisville, Kentucky. Now a busy mother of two, she sells her wares through an online store and barely has time to fill the orders for her expanding business.

Her jewelry is available through her website, catherinethoms.com.

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Flower Child DRIED FLOWER PETALS BECOME COLORFUL ARTWORK IN THE HANDS OF AN ARTIST WITH A VINTAGE FLOWER PRESS. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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pril Ford Beasley has had a penchant for picking petals since she was a little girl in Itawamba County. Just ask her artist mom.

“From the time she could walk, she was always drawn to flowers,” Laura Summerford said. “She’d pick tiny wildflower bouquets.”

Beasley doesn’t mind her mom’s reminiscence of her childhood.

In fact, she nods in agreement.

“I do like to call myself a flower child,” Beasley said. “I love flowers, always have. My favorites? Sunflowers and daisies.”

The 27-year-old Beasley has, in the past year, parlayed her love of flowers into an artistic preservation project. After a serendipitous discovery of a vintage flower press in an antique shop, Beasley made a purchase, went home and began making silhouettes from dried, pressed flower petals.

Her first silhouette was of the state of Mississippi. Since her initial piece, Beasley has done silhouettes of animals, paw prints, children’s handprints, cardinals, koi fish and much more. Silhouettes of the Ole Miss Colonel Rebel have been very popular. Beasley has done commissioned pieces, and her work is on display in her hometown of Fulton at Farmhouse and also at Farmhouse in Tupelo.

Working with dried flower petals has been a learning experience that has involved lots of trial and error.

“Spring and summer are the best times to work,” Beasley said.

“It’s just hard to find flowers growing in the winter, though not impossible.”

Beasley grows some flowers herself and makes use of those growing in her mother’s yard, but others she finds on roadsides. She

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has decided pansies work the best for her projects.

“We’ll be riding down the road, and April will yell, ‘Stop, stop,’” Summerford said. “And she’ll jump out and pick flowers.”

After finding the flowers, they have to be dried, which takes one to two weeks, depending on the size of the flowers. Beasley said she can press about 10 layers of flowers at a time in her flower press.

Once the flowers are dried and pressed, creating the petal-filled silhouette can be completed in two to three hours. The silhouette is cut and placed on a background, and the dried flowers are affixed inside the silhouette with Mod Podge, a combination glue, sealer and finisher.

“Once it’s framed and signed, it’s really very pretty,” said Beasley’s proud mom.

As her work becomes more popular, Beasley has begun doing keepsake pieces made from special flowers. For example, she made a silhouette of a child’s handprint out of Mother’s Day roses. She hopes to do more custom work using flowers from bridal bouquets.

“I absolutely love getting to work with flowers and nature,” Beasley said. “I enjoy both commissioned pieces and freelance.

Mostly, I love making others happy with whatever pieces I do.”

Her pressed petal pieces are not Beasley’s first foray in art. She graduated from the University of Mississippi in the spring of 2019 with a degree in imaging art and photography. Her mom hoped her daughter would fall in love with watercolor as Summerford had, but it was not to be.

“She can do it, but it does not make her happy,” Summerford said. “For her it was the camera.”

Beasley was the only person in her film class who did not have to be taught composition.

“Composition always was easy to do,” she said. “It came easily to me.”

While taking a black and white film class at UM, Beasley began a film series documenting the South. It’s a project she’s continued, but in Polaroid format.

“I tend to photograph things that it’s not evident if they were taken in 1980 or 2020,” she said. “Such as buildings and vintage signage and typography.”

In addition to creating art for her own enjoyment, Beasley is the art teacher for students in grades 1 through 12 at Fairview Attendance Center and Tremont High School. She is the first art teacher in these schools in more than a decade, and she’s loving the job.

“I believe there’s some kind of creativity in everybody,” Beasley said. “And everyone can learn about art to some degree, if they have the desire. I’m getting some amazing work out of these kids, and it’s exciting to see.”

See more of April Ford Beasley’s pressed flower petal silhouettes on Instagram @applefork.

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MIRANDA LAMBERT CONCERT T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Country musician Miranda Lambert kicked off her Wildcard Tour at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo Jan. 16. The concert was the beginning of a 27-city tour in the United States and Canada in support of her album of the same name.

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1. Tammy Noonan, Christie Noel and Judy Weber 2. Melba Williams with Skylar and Kendyall Carr and Lindsey Chun 3. Vickie Rakestraw with Pam and Mandy Rose Blissard and Angie Stafford 4. Hope Mitchell, Missy Sander and Kristen Loden 5. Courtney Hutcheson, Reed Knight and Bonnie Hutcheson 6. Tracy and Greg Conwill with Rhonda Sinclair 7. Wesley Roberts and Kenzie Pennington

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FATHER-DAUGHTER BALL C O R I N T H

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WHITNEY WORSHAM

The ninth annual Kiwanis Father-Daughter Ball offered the opportunity for dads and daughters to dance the night away Feb. 8.

The theme was “Roaring Into the ’20s.”

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1. Kate, John, and Emily Frame 2. Isabella Hornacek, Tulley Epperson and Abby Summers 3. Annslee, Jeff and Pippa Lockler 4. Cecil, Amelia and Graham Sexton 5. Derek and Ella Swindle 6. Seth and Olivia Dodds 7. Marley Dixon and Treven Knight 8. Landon and Rayne Gurley 9. Isaiah and Kadence Warren 10. Sophie and John Little 11. Jayden Thrasher with Brad and Abigail Hancock 12. Katherine Carmichiel and Brylee Price 13. Bo and Chanlin Swindell

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MARDI GRAS T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Nautical Whimsey, DownUnder, Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen, Amsterdam Deli and Vanelli’s Bistro partnered to put on a downtown Tupelo Mardi Gras celebration Feb. 22 that included a parade, live music, Cajun food and drink specials.

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1. Heather Bowen, Karen Medlock, Missy Sullivan, Louise Gable and Stacia Hood 2. Taylor and Cory Mask with Kevin and Laura Reid 3. Rob and Anna Grace Hardin with Shane Meeks 4. Gina and David Robertson 5. Kim and Tamika Pannell 6. Deb McHann and Amanda McDivitt 7. Martha Long with Belinda, Holly and Jody Orrick 8. Jessica Budny and Raquel Hardin

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WINTER JAM T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Christian music’s largest annual tour kicked off its 2020 season Jan. 10 at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo. Performers included Crowder, Hillsong Young & Free, Passion and more.

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1. Carson Bryan, Alyssa Vandiver, Taylor Burkheart and Logan Beckmon 2. Tina and David Orman with Cory Collins and Aimee Herndon 3. Torrie Robertson, Taylor Hardin and Skylar Sansone 4. Aubrey Eaves, Morgan Gay and MacKenzie Eaves 5. Scott Stoutenburg with Sarah and Tom Cochran 6. Madison Pruitt and Maggie Hardin 7. Taylin Carlstedt, Susanna Bowman and Memory Sheffield 8. Ames Hughes and Hunter Jones 9. John Travis and Haley Wilson

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DEBUTANTE COTILLION T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Golden Circle Civic/Social Club hosted its annual Debutante Cotillion Ball Feb. 16 in Tupelo. The debutantes, local high school girls, were presented by their fathers and escorted by male high school students.

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9 1. Aundra Kohlheim, Tamicka Martin, Trevita Williams, Alva Gasaway, Yvette Crump, Tawana Dearing and Memory Carruthers 2. Ocean Wilson, Preston Walker, Will Chappell, Keelan Davis and Carson Rousseau 3. Marly Moore, Chenelle Holiday and Madison Shells 4. Dalphne Lofton with Cassandra and Bernice Staples 5. Kasey Lewis, Shaniah O’Neal and Aaleria Johnson 6. Johnny and Paulette Agnew 7. Destini Sykes and Maurico Smith 8. Daniel Johnson, Michael O’Neal, Jamison Shells and Eric Lewis 9. Khirei Standifer, Alandris Milo Westmoreland and Layth Holiday 10. Tobisha Coker, Palief Raspberry and Shunte Smith

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FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK BA L DW Y N

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Downtown Baldwyn launched its inaugural First Friday Art Walk Feb. 7, using as its hub The Alley Cat Gallery, one of the town’s newer additions. Retailers were open for browsing, and many hosted live, local music during the event.

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1. Jessami Rodgers, Tammy Lee and Marie Hughes 2. Justin Wiginton, Jonathan McDaniel and David Bell 3. Katelyn and Byron Coker 4. Bob and Vera Gilfoy with Phyllis Robinson 5. Rhonda Grammer and Mary Ann Caldwell 6. Abby Pennington and Kenzie Herring 7. Aprill Bell and Erin Reifers

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“STEEL MAGNOLIAS” C O R I N T H

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WHITNEY WORSHAM

The quintessential Southern story, “Steel Magnolias,” was staged by Corinth TheatreArts two weekends in February. Large audiences experienced laughter and tears, thanks to the antics of M’Lynn, Shelby, Annelle, Truvy, Ouiser and Clairee.

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1. Angela Avent, Sandy Childs Jones and Christy Burns 2. Tonya Maxedon and Maurryn Arizona 3. Harold and Kathryn Childs 4. Bridget and Scarlet Swindle 5. Jennifer Morgan and Rhonda Mullins

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STEVE HOLLAND RETIREMENT T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Former state Rep. Steve Holland was honored for his 34 years of public service at an End of Session retirement celebration Jan. 28 at the Tupelo Furniture Market.

Holland was lauded by several hundred friends, family members and constituents.

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1. Gloria Holland and Cindy Wood 2. Elise Hill, Steve Holland, Jim Johnson and Holly Temple 3. Michelle Robinson and Charlotte Bass 4. Dewonne Warren and Ricky Kimbrell 5. Elizabeth Gable with McKinna and Heather Palmer and Tiwana O’Rear 6. Erin and Will Bristow

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GOLDEN HALO FUNDRAISER T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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The Golden Halo fundraiser drew a crowd to the Tupelo Furniture Market Jan. 25.

The event had the help and support of Fulton native and World Series Champion Brian Dozier of the Washington Nationals in raising money for Itawamba County’s nonprofit Crossroads Ranch.

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1. Susan Sheffield, Brian Dozier and Renae Bennett 2. Micah Redmond and Brandy McCraw 3. Albine Bennett, Juanita Floyd and Tyler Camp 4. Robin, Alyssa and Allie Martin 5. Alina Morgan with Harlee and Ben Brewer 6. Whitney and Nathan Tucker 7. Blake and Chelsea Thomas

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OUT & ABOUT I g n it e C o n fe re nc e

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O ld Tow n S t e a k Hou s e a nd E at e r y G ra nd O p e n i n g

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“L ove o r S o me t h i n g L i ke It ,” A Mu s ic a l Re v ue

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8 1. Carlos Whittaker and Abi Johnston 2. Quincy Knowleton, Drew Tarvin and Terry Baber 3. Maggie Caldwell, T.Z. Waters, Joe Lowder and Karey McAnally 4. Robby and Sonya Witcher 5. Leslie Tidwell, Missy Sullivan and Abbi Hill 6. Phyllis Robinson, Toni Johnson and Marty Hury 7. Clark Richey, Amye Gousset, Leah Hopper and Jim Bishop 8. Beauty pageant contestants 9. Roger Hussey, Allie Stacy, Sharon McDonnell-Dickerson, Donna Hussey and Nell Barber

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northeast N E I G H B O R S S TE PH E N

TH OM P S O N ,

T U PE LO

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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n Air Force child, decorator Stephen Thompson was born in Savannah, Georgia, and lived in many places, including Japan, before moving to Mississippi when he was in junior high school. Thompson, 67, has owned Designer Connection in Tupelo for more than three decades.

Q: What initially interested you in designing

and decorating?

A: I was hired as a stock keeper for the Aberdeen Sherwin-Williams store in 1973.

While organizing the stockroom, I unearthed a box of 1960s color brochures. One page showed a room sporting a bright yellow and turquoise theme. The room’s beauty made all the hairs on my body stand on end, and a sense of pure joy washed through my body.

I vowed to master the use of color — in all its wonderful shades, tints, saturations and harmonies — so that I could help evoke that same wonderful feeling in others.

Q: Do you work primarily on interiors, or

do you design exteriors as well?

A: Primarily inside; however, from 1975 to 1984 while I was Tupelo’s Sherwin-Williams decorator, people would photograph their homes and drive from several counties away to have me select their exterior colors. Here are my two best color selection secrets: If you’re driving an expensive car, I’ll likely make your house’s body, trim and shutter colors harmonize with your car color. And, I’ll probably peek in your closets to see the clothes you’ve bought, and then I’ll likely harmonize the drape, flooring and interior paint selections with your clothing selections. Ingenious, right?

Q: What is Designer Connection?

A: Designer Connection is the

one-man company I formed in 1987. I love connecting

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people with beautiful patterns, products, and color schemes — ones they would choose, if they knew they existed — that are absolutely perfect for them.

beautiful, functional items make me feel whenever they are perfectly arranged. Space, line, light, color, texture and pattern are equally important elements.

Q: What do you think is the most important

Q: Why do you love your job?

A: My lifework helps people live well and in

element of design?

A: Form. Because I’m a kinesthetic, I love how the energies of well-proportioned,

beauty for decades. That’s a beautiful feeling and a great legacy.