Mud&Magnolias October. OctoberNovember 2018 2013
The Men's Issue
A Man's Best Friend â—? Fossil Park Corinth Farmhouse â—? Prairie Wildlife mudandmag.com
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499 Gloster Creek Village, Ste G1 | Tupelo, MS 38801 | www.oinms.com 2
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Contents
Mud&Magnolias
pg. 27
pg. 41
pg. 61
pg. 70
Features Editor’s Letter pg. 8 Grilling Recipes pg. 11 Who says summer is grilling season? With cooler temperatures on the way, fall is a great time to try these grilling recipes. A Man's Best Friend pg. 18 These three men know the old adage to be true: Dogs really are man's best friend. Collecting With The King pg. 41 Kenny King has been collecting bugs for nearly 20 years.
Knotted Pine Trading Co. • pg. 27
A Fulton-based husband-and-wife duo are designing gear you'll want to take on your next outdoor adventure.
Prairie Wildlife • pg. 32
Preservation is the name of the game at Prairie Wildlife in West Point. The hunting preserve specializes in quail but offers visitors all kinds of outdoors activities.
Woodwork & Wicks • pg. 47
Entrepreneurship runs in the family for the Blackfords. From woodworking to handmade candles, they're putting their crafts on the map.
The Farmhouse • pg. 61
The Stricklens love creating one-of-a-kind getaways. Their latest project is an old silo turned cozy weekend home.
W.M. Browning Fossil Park pg. 52 Fossil-hunting in Northeast Mississippi. Who would have thought? Our guide to finding prehistoric treasures at W.M. Browning Fossil Park. Men's Fashion pg. 70 Get inspiration for your outdoor #ootd with these fall looks. Favorite Trails pg. 74 A round-up of some of the best trails and campgrounds in our area. You don't have to travel far to find some amazing spots for outdoor fun. mudandmag.com
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Editor’s Letter
When people ask who the typical Mud & Magnolias reader is I often say our target audience is women in the North Mississippi area. And while that may be true for the majority, I often have men tell me about a story they read or how much they enjoyed a recipe. So a couple of years ago as we were planning our editorial calendar, the staff decided to dedicate one issue to our male readers. Of course this doesn't mean that women won't enjoy this issue or that men won't enjoy other issues. There are many cool stories in this issue no matter who you are. One of my favorites is "A Man's Best Friend" on page 18. I couldn't let this issue go to press without showing off one of my own fur babies (see photo taken by Mud & Mag's own Lauren Wood). That cutie's name is Rhett and I honestly don't remember life before him. I obviously can relate to Neil, John and Bud and hopefully you can, too! Rhett loves being outside and I'm excited for cooler temps so we can visit the fossil park on page 52 and the trails readers suggested on page 74. And maybe after a long day of exploring the great outdoors, I will find myself by a grill, surrounded by friends, enjoying one of the recipes on page 11. I'm looking forward to the calm before the holiday frenzy. Happy fall, y'all!
If you have any thoughts about this issue, please email me at editor@mudandmag.com.
Over at mudandmag.com: Shop our style: Our online store features T-shirts, coffee mugs, digital prints and dish towels with art and designs by local Mississippi artists. Check out our video on Kenny King and his love of bugs on page 41. + narratives, videos and extended photo galleries
facebook.com/mudandmagnolias
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@mudandmagnolias
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@mudandmagnolias
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& Magnolias
1242 S Green St. Tupelo, MS 38804 662.842.2611
Editor-in-Chief Ellie Turner
Associate Editors Shannon Johnson Missha Rogers Leslie Criss Lauren Wood Emma Kent
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Contributing Editors Leslie Criss Dillon Mullan
Contributing Photographers Adam Robison Thomas Wells
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On the Grill RECIPES
Step aside, summer. With cooler temperatures and fresh produce, fall is the new season for grilling.
Stuffed mini peppers, recipe on page 16
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Grilled lemon chicken drumsticks, recipe on page 16
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Recipes STUFFED MINI PEPPERS Ingredients: 1 pound mini bell peppers, halved and seeds removed 6-8 ounce goat cheese log 1 large jalapeño, finely chopped Directions: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, or about 400 degrees. Cut peppers in half and remove the seeds. Chop jalapeño and remove seeds to make less spicy. Place the peppers on the grill cut side up. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, until they have softened and have grill marks. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly. In a bowl, mix together goat cheese and jalapeño. Stuff each pepper half with the goat cheese mixture. Serve immediately. GRILLED CABBAGE WEDGES Ingredients: 1 head of green cabbage 1/4 cup lime juice (from about 2 limes) 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon fish sauce 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1/4 cup cilantro leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon sugar Lime wedges, for garnish Grapeseed or canola oil Directions: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Blend the lime juice, olive oil, fish sauce, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, cayenne and sugar in a food processor or small blender. Set aside. Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage, and cut into 8 wedges. Leave the stalk and core. Lightly brush the wedges with grapeseed or canola oil. Place the wedges on the grill and cover. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the edges begin to blacken and the cabbage begins to soften. Flip, cover and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Cook for more time if you would like it be softer/more well-done. Remove from the grill, and arrange the wedges on a plate. Pour
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the dressing over the top and serve immediately, with lime wedges for garnish. GRILLED LEMON CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS Ingredients: 3 pounds chicken drumsticks 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons dried oregano 4 cloves of garlic, minced 2 teaspoons sea salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 lemons, for zest and juice Directions: Whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Pat the drumstricks dry with paper towel, and add to a large bowl or baking dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, and toss to coat. Cover the dish and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill on mediumhigh heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the grill. Cook until golden brown and cooked throughly, about 20-30 minutes. Rest for five minutes before serving. Garnish with additional lemon or oregano, if desired. M
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A MAN'S BEST FRIEND By Leslie Criss
“The dog has been esteemed and loved by all the people on earth and he has deserved this affection for he renders services that have made him man's best friend.” – Alfred Barbou
T
he extreme love affair humans have had with their furry, four-legged canine companions has been lauded by poets, philosophers and kings alike. Homer may have been one of the earliest when he penned “The Odyssey” near the end of the 8th century B.C. Odysseus had loved his Argos as a pup, but had long been away from him as he fought Troy for 10 years and spent another 10 trying to get home. And when he finally made it home, an old and dying Argos alone remembered his master. In 1764, Voltaire wrote of the dog, “… it is the best friend man can have." King Fredrick of Prussia referred to his beloved Italian greyhound as his best friend in the late-1700s. Much later in 1941, Ogden Nash began his “An Introduction to Dogs,” with this: “The dog is man’s best friend. He has a tail on one end. Up in front he has teeth. And four legs underneath.” It’s clear, from literature to life, the loyalty and love of dogs are great gifts to humanity. They truly are man’s best friend. mudandmag.com
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the Perfect Gift
We’re With YOU Featuring Pediatrics Physician, Dr. Renee Jones
353 Highway 15 North | Pontotoc, MS 38863 662.490.1985 20
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www.mississippicare.net
Neil & Levon A weekend visit to the Tupelo Flea Market one weekend about four years ago led to an unexpected purchase for Neil and Rachel Alford of Tupelo. Their shopping list did not include a puppy. Still, they stopped and looked. The 6-week-old Australian shepherd fit in Neil Alford’s hand. “My wife and I had a discussion, and she won,” he said, laughing softly. “She brought him home.” The tri-colored pup, now 4, was named Levon for musical reasons. “When I was younger – and even now – I was a big fan of The Band,” said the 32-year-old Alford. Levon Helm, who died in 2012, was a vocalist and the drummer of The Band. For a while now, Levon has spent his afternoons at Chickasaw Equipment Company in Tupelo, surrounded by all sizes of tractors, mowers, utility vehicles and more. “He chases every 4-wheeler or forklift or whatever he can out here,” Alford said. After the chase, Levon can often be found soundly sleeping under Alford’s desk. He also enjoys greeting customers. “Our customers look for him when they come in,” Alford said. “Some folks come by just to see the dog. He’s usually down here about 40 hours a week. If he wasn’t coming here with me, he would have destroyed our house.” Australian shepherds are high-energy. “I take him with me on bike rides on trails off the Trace,” Alford said. “The first mile and a half, I can barely keep up with him – he has one speed and that is wide open. But the last part of the ride, he can’t keep up with me.” The bond between man and his dog likely grew stronger after a frightening experience in June 2017. “If I go anywhere, he comes with me,” Alford said. “I was going to look at a tractor trade and I was kind of lost, not sure where I was going. My truck topped a hill on a two-lane road and a car was coming right at me in my lane.” Alford tried to avoid a collision, hit one ditch, then another and then his truck began flipping. “I blacked out and when I came to an ambulance was there,” he said. “I called my wife and she asked, ‘Where’s the dog?’ I didn’t know.” Folks at the site said they’d seen an injured dog run away from the truck. Neil Alford was taken to the hospital, knowing he was lucky to be alive. His wife posted on Facebook about Levon and it was shared many times. Several days later, the Alfords received a call – Levon had shown up on a lady’s front porch not too far from the accident site. He had a broken front leg. “He was in a cast and a cone for six weeks,” Alford said of Levon. “He was not too happy about either.” These days, the two are doing fine and enjoying time spent together at work. “But when we get home, he follows my wife everywhere.” mudandmag.com
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John & Pee Wee
John Willis Jr.’s constant companion is a 7-year-old miniature chihuahua formerly known as Trina. She belonged to the folks next door in Willis’ Tupelo neighborhood when he began noticing the puppy. “One day I came home to find her tied to a tree in the middle of a rain storm,” Willis said. He mentioned it to the puppy’s owners who told him they had no time to take care of her. “I made up my mind that day of the rain storm that I was going to get up my nerve and take that dog,” said the 82-yearold Willis. “My wife told me I couldn’t do that, but I didn’t listen.” One Sunday in 2012, when Trina was about a year old, Willis was ready. His wife Willie Mae Day left for church and Willis began fixing his breakfast. “I went out to my shed for something,” he said, “And I heard this little voice. She was tied to the tree again. I went over and saw the food in her food bowl was moving because it was filled with red ants. She was sitting right next to a nest of ants. I took the chain off her and she ran straight over to my house.” The rest? History. Trina became Pee Wee – “I didn’t like Trina, and Pee Wee just fit.” A trip to the veterinarian brought a diagnosis of heart worms and intestinal parasites. Pee Wee also had a cracked bone in her foot. Willis and Pee Wee made a trip to the Animal Health Center at Mississippi State University, where Willis told vets to fix his 22
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sweet pup, “regardless of the cost.” After he had Pee Wee for three or four weeks, Willis’ neighbor saw him with Pee Wee out in the yard. “He stopped and told me he knew the dog was in a good place,” Willis said. A music teacher, minister, musician, former baseball player and insurance salesman, tall, lanky Willis enjoys spending time at the piano each day. When his hands are moving up and down the keyboard, little Pee Wee listens intently from her perch on a gold throw pillow in her master’s lap. Sometimes Willis lifts his voice in song as he plays, and Pee Wee often drifts off to sleep with her ears remaining at attention. After lunch every day, Willis and Pee Wee nap together, and at night, the 6 1/2-pound pup sometimes falls asleep on the couch, but “80 percent of the time, she ends up sleeping with me.” Pee Wee usually goes in the car when Willis runs errands, unless he’s going to be inside a store for a longer period of time. It’s those times when Pee Wee sits just inside the front door of the family’s home, waiting on Willis to return. He doesn’t even like to think of life without his four-legged friend. “She has completely changed my life,” Willis said. “I am more settled, more loving, more calm. I’m a different person since Pee Wee came along.”
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Bud, Obie & Lucy
Bud Nelson grew up with dogs. “We had German shepherds, beagles, an Irish setter once, several feists,” said the 62-year-old finance manager of Ashley Bedding. That was when he was a young boy in Alabama and Tennessee, and later when his family moved to Tupelo when Nelson was a high school freshman. When Nelson graduated from college and married his wife Lynn, “there was a succession of cats,” until the couple headed one afternoon to Toys ‘R’ Us for a birthday present for the child of friends. “There was a red pickup truck by the mall, selling boxer puppies,” Nelson said. The two stopped, Lynn Nelson held a puppy and “I ended up at the ATM getting money for a dog.” He’s had a bias for boxers ever since. These days, Obie is the boxer at the Nelson house. The handsome boy is 6 and a lover of attention. And then there’s 2-year-old Lucy. “We were looking for a small black-and-white dog,” Nelson said. “We thought it would be good to have one big dog and a small terrier-type.” Lucy showed up injured at the Nelsons’ veterinary clinic. They went to meet her and fell in love. The two pups, who bonded almost immediately, love to hang out with Nelson. Anytime they hear him say the word ‘go,”
they are going crazy to get to the car. “They know we’re either going to doggie day care or to Starbucks,” Nelson said. “They’ve got to have their puppuccinos.” A guitar player, Nelson enjoys playing whenever he can. The dogs love it, his wife said. “I’ll walk by the room when he’s playing, and the dogs will just be sitting at attention, looking up at him,” Lynn Nelson said. Neither Lucy nor Obie are allowed to run loose, so Nelson said he spends a good bit of time with his dogs in the backyard where there’s a swimming pool both dogs purposefully avoid. Regarding dogs as “man’s best friend,” Nelson whole-heartily agrees. “They are the only creatures in the world that will love you unconditionally,” he said. “And that is what that is all about. That’s how they are. It doesn’t matter what you do or what you’re going to do. They love you, and that’s a nice thing.” Nelson said their lives are fuller – and busier – with Obie and Lucy in them. “We get to take care of them, bond with them, do fun stuff with them – even if it’s just to go to the park or Starbucks, and we get to post about them on Facebook and talk about them,” he said. “I have friends who don’t understand why I have dogs. They simply don’t know what they are missing. M
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CAN’T TO SEE Y’ALL ON THE FARM! mudandmag.com 26 WAIT l
Knotted Pine Trading Co. By Dillon Mullan
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662.365.8087
• 20 Wings (bone-in or bone-out) • Large Cheese Stick • 2 Liter Coke
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Mon - Fri 10 am - 6:30 pm Sat 10 am - 4 pm
Cute Tees
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(662) 365-2822
exp.10/30/18 7/31/17 exp.
• Large Specialty Pizza • 8” Cheese Stick • 2 Liter Coke
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$
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290 W. Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS
Hometown Pizza
1159 N Frontage, Baldwyn
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(662) 365-2822
exp. 7/31/17 exp. 10/30/18
1159 North Frontage Road Baldwyn, MS | 662.365.2822
Baby Items New Shipment of T-Shirts
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MON - FRI 8:30 AM - 6 PM SAT 10 AM - 4 PM
Shop Local
294 Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS
A
t first glance, Knotted Pine Trading company is nothing new. The Fulton-based business that sells shirts, hats and stickers has plenty of market competition from well-established national stores and other outdoor apparel companies. But a closer look at the rugged Jeeps, wild bears and scenic sunsets on its merchandise reveals why Knotted Pine is special. Johnathon Burns draws each design by hand. His creations often start on a Post-It note before moving to paper. Then they’re digitized on his tablet before finally being printed on a shirt. With attention to detail and hand-drawn originality, Burns and his wife Hannah are growing their trading company from a doodler's day dream into a recognizable brand with a consistent presence in stores, on the back of cars and with outdoor lovers across the region. "The thing that sets us apart is that he hand draws everything before it goes on the shirt. That says a lot. There's a lot of companies that don't go that far into it or spend that much time on it," Hannah Burns said. "He does a lot that I think are great, but he'll be like 'oh, no no, we can't use that one.' Sometimes it takes a while, but the final products are always worth it." The couple met in high school in Farmerville, Louisiana, where classmates used to request Johnathon to sketch them pictures. While in art school, he took a job at clothing company Couture Tee before moving to Mississippi to design for Master Grafix in Tupelo. Burns gained confidence in his ability to start his own company after years of success as both an in-house designer and a freelancer for large companies like Patagonia and Drake Waterfowl. With Knotted Pine, he is able mudandmag.com
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to control the entire creative process. "When I would be out shopping at the mall and see four or five of my designs from different companies, I would be like 'somebody likes something. I'm definitely doing something right'," Johnathon Burns said. "Since my designs had sold so well throughout the country for others, I really knew that doing the things I loved and wanted to do as opposed to what somebody else wanted me to do would be successful." Johnathon spent a year preparing Knotted Pine's first designs before the company officially launched in September 2017. One year later, 15 different retailers in six states are selling their shirts, stickers, sunglasses straps and shorts. Currently, the couple has a sun room full of products, but are in the process of opening their own warehouse. Reed's was the first local business to sell Knotted Pine merchandise, and they've since been picked up by Square Gift Shop, Tin Roof, The Red Door and Rock & Co., among others. The inspiration for Knotted Pine is as authentic as the original designs. Johnathon would rather be kayaking or mountain biking, and the couple drives a raised Jeep Cherokee XJ with a roof rack that belongs next to a campsite. Their motto is 'Always Wander.'
"The idea started just from growing up in Louisiana and just spending a bunch of time hiking, camping and being outdoors. In Louisiana there are a ton of pine trees. That's pretty much the only tree there," Johnathon Burns said. "That's where Knotted Pine comes from. It's my love for illustration and design and the outdoors all mixed together." While Johnathon quit his in-house design job to start Knotted Pine, Hannah has been working full time during the company's first year. Now that they've established themselves, she's planning on taking on a larger role to manage shipping and social media. Johnathon produces a fall and spring line each year and hopes to continue expanding in the Southeast while also turning attention north and west toward California. As the company grows in success, the Burnses are still always happy to see their work in the wild. "We always take a picture and send it to one another if we see somebody wearing one of our shirts or one of our decals on the back of somebody's car," Johnathon said. "Like wow. people like what we're putting out enough to put it on a car or buy a shirt. That's always cool to see." M
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Prairie Wildlife By Emma Kent
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n many a crisp fall morning in West Point, you’ll likely find the folks at Prairie Wildlife preparing to begin an all-day hunt. Breakfast is at 8 a.m., and hunters emerge from their rooms at the lodge, ambling toward coffee and breakfast made by one of Prairie’s two chefs. They gather in the lodge’s common room, fueling up for the day beneath the mammoth vaulted ceiling and surrounded by walls adorned with taxidermied trophies. October marks the beginning of quail season, and those who wish to hunt the wild birds travel to Prairie Wildlife to do so in the preserve’s restored Black Prairie habitat. The habitat is in Clay County’s Blackland Prairie region, which is part of a larger, crescent-shaped area of the dark soil known as the Black Belt that stretches from Mississippi into Alabama. It’s one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Guides will soon arrive to pick up the group, and they’ll load up in muddy Land Rovers, headed toward the wildlife preserve’s many open fields to hunt. With the exception of a break for lunch back at the lodge, the day is spent hunting quail (known as “wingshooting”) and exploring the preserve’s sprawling 6,000 acres. “It’s the best-kept secret in the world,” said Prairie’s general manager Bennie Atkinson. Prairie Wildlife began nine years ago when owner Jimmy Bryan decided to turn the former cattle ranch into a hunting preserve. When he was younger, Bryan hunted quail in the West Point area in the 1950s and 1960s. The quail population
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was robust then, but as the land became more developed and the habitat changed, the quail population dwindled, much to Bryan’s distress. It’s been 20 years since he began looking for ways to restore the bobwhite’s habitat and population in the area, and with the help of Mississippi State University, he’s had some success. Through their partnership, the Bryan Endowed Bobwhite Research Program was created to advance restoration of bobwhite quail populations and their habitat through research, conservation and education. Much of that research happens at Prairie Wildlife. With the help of researchers from MSU, the habitat at Prairie Wildlife is constantly being evaluated, with changes made to the native grasses and weeds according to what the birds like. “If it’s too thin, they’ll leave, and if it’s too thick, they’ll leave,” Atkinson said of the fields. What started as a retreat among the habitat restoration used mostly by friends and family quickly expanded, becoming what Prairie Wildlife is today. “One thing grew into the next, and it’s been growing pretty rapidly,” Bennie said. The result: Visitors can hunt quail like it’s 1959. Well, sort of — the quail population is monitored, but Prairie Wildlife aims to give visitors the experience of hunting the birds the way it used to be done. “It’s as close to hunting wild birds as you can get,” Atkinson said. Guided hunts at Prairie draw visitors from all over the country, some from as far away as Alaska, and they come in groups, often on corporate retreats or as families. They can stay
at the preserve’s lodge or rent the Magnolia House or rustic log cabin, built in the 1800s. In March, Prairie Wildlife earned an endorsement from hunting and outdoors company Orvis. It’s now the only Orvisendorsed wingshooting lodge in Mississippi and one of only 29 lodges with the endorsement in the United States. According to Atkinson, the endorsement is a high honor, placing Prairie Wildlife among the best of the best in wingshooting lodge operations. “We’re proud of that,” he said. “A lot of Orvis customers only go to Orvis-endorsed lodges.” To earn the endorsement, the staff at Prairie Wildlife gave Orvis representatives the full experience. Everything was taken into account, down to the thickness of the bags used to carry quail in from the fields. In addition to wingshooting, visitors can also hunt rabbit, pheasant, deer and dove. The groups are often accompanied by one or more of Prairie’s 60 pointers and dogs. The group of shorthairs, English pointers and English cockers live on the preserve and are bred from champion bloodlines and trained. There are also clay shoots, horseback riding, mule-drawn wagon rides, fishing, nature walks and custom gun fittings by appointment. From the highway, you would never know the preserve is there. It’s far enough from town that cell phone service is spotty, and you can’t hear traffic, save for the sound of Land Rovers driving along the gravel roads. That’s the appeal of a place like Prairie Wildlife: Once you put your phone away and take in the sweeping views of the fields, you feel like maybe you really have been transported back to before the land needed restoring, back when a young Jimmy Bryan hunted wild quail. M mudandmag.com
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3242 NORTH GLOSTER STREET | 662.840.8450 TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI
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collecting with the king OUTDOORS
Kenny King may not be a professional entymologist, but one thing is for sure: He knows his bugs. By Emma Kent
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Historic Downtown Tupelo 842-6453 | Mall at Barnes Crossing 842-5287 | Historic Downtown Starkville 323-2684 | www.reedsms.com
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enny King started collecting bugs nearly 20 years ago when he helped a co-worker’s son with a school project, but he never stopped. For King, the collection is more of a timeline. It’s a history of moments, memories and people. That’s evident in the insects displayed in cases on the walls at Philip’s Garden Center in Tupelo, where King has worked for 34 years. Each insect has a story. He can tell you where each one was caught, how it was found and who caught it, all in great detail. He may have gotten started catching and collecting them inadvertently, but King ended up finding a hobby he loves. He’s constantly reading about insects, marveling at their unique abilities and designs, and learning how to find the most interesting ones. “It’s the thrill of the hunt,” King said. Some of the more striking insects in his collection include a long-horned beetle, Luna moth, Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, Hercules beetle and a Chinese mantis. King is also particularly proud of two rare finds he’s recently added: the Dobsonfly and the water scorpion. “I call them my hard-to-find bugs,” King said. “It’s really exciting to find one of those.” If he already has the insect, King typically won’t collect it and rather lets it go. Because he’s been collecting for so long, it’s getting harder and harder to find insects that aren’t already part of his collection. “That’s what I’m on the hunt for now are new bugs,” King said. His strategy: Always be on the lookout. King keeps a plastic container with him at all times, ready to add to his collection. mudandmag.com
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See a video about King and his love of bugs at mudandmag.com.
“You never know what you’re going to come across,” he said. When he makes deliveries for Philips’ landscaping service, King is scouting for his next catch. He has a toolbox that he carries in his car with him, always ready should a new insect present itself. He takes it on vacation, to the gas station, on camping trips — everywhere. He also has a little help. Friends, coworkers and even customers bring him insects they find. “When anybody finds a bug, they’re always chasing after it,” King said of his coworkers. If someone brings him one he doesn’t have yet, it goes on the wall in one of his display cases. Among employees at the garden center, the hallway lined with King’s collection is known as the “Hall of Fame.” To preserve the insects, King puts a Q-Tip or cotton ball soaked in ethyl acetate in a plastic container with them. They usually die quickly, and once they do, King carefully pins each one to a Styrofoam board and then places them in the freezer. After about a month in the freezer, the insects are free from any parasites that may have been on them. King then allows them to dry before repinning and labeling them. King writes each insect’s information on a small piece of paper and pins it next to the insect to catalog it in his collection. He writes the name of the insect, where it was caught, the date it was caught and the name of the person who caught it. Then, the preserved insect is either put into
one of King’s display cases or into storage with the rest of his collection. In the cases, they’re organized according to scientific order. While many of the insects are stored in cases, King gets creative with others. Using recycled glass jars, he creates terrarium-like displays using the insects and dried moss, wood and other materials. With so many years of collecting under his belt, King is a wealth of insect-related knowledge. For example: Butterflies, dragonflies, bees and wasps are commonly found during the day while moths and beetles are more active at night. According to King, it’s best to look for moths and beetles early in the morning, when they’re still lingering from the night before. He knows how to hold a butterfly net so that you don’t damage the insect’s wings when you catch it. He also knows where to pinch and hold each insect without damaging its legs, antennae or wings and how to tell the difference between males and females of all kinds of insects. The one thing he doesn’t know, though, is how many insects are in his collection. “I don’t have a clue,” King said. “I don’t even want to think about counting them.” M
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• Explore Corinth •
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Woodwork & Wicks By Emma Kent
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Vanessa Blackford
Riley Blackford
A
s the old adage says, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Riley Blackford hopes that will ring true for him. The 18-year-old from West Point has started his own woodworking business, Southern Wood Chips, making and selling handmade wooden utensils, bowls, vases and other items. It turns out he’s not the only entrepreneur in the family. His sister-in-law, Vanessa Blackford, has been making all-natural candles under the moniker Blackford River Company for about two years. “I wanted a hobby that could make money, and I wanted something fun to do,” Vanessa said. With her business off the ground, Vanessa began helping Riley turn his hobby into a profitable activity, too. She’s been selling things all her life, starting with Girl Scout cookies, and she’s figured out she has a knack for it. Vanessa spent about a year just experimenting with scents. She gave her prototype candles to family members to test, trying to find the perfect formula for a high-quality, natural candle. “Finally, about a year ago, we got one that we actually really liked so we started selling, and it has really taken off,” she said. Blackford River Company candles don’t contain any synthetics. They’re made of 100 percent natural soy wax made from Mississippi soybeans. The candles’ scents come from high-quality fragrance oil, and rather than using wicks that release potentially harmful chemicals into the air, Vanessa chose clean-burning cotton wicks. “They’re all very natural, very simple ingredients that we’re comfortable burning around our own family,” she said. “I wanted something that naturally came from the earth.” 48
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Not only are the candles all natural, but Vanessa said candles made with soy wax burn 50 percent longer than traditional candles made with paraffin wax. For a little while, Riley and Vanessa worked together under the Blackford River name, but with Riley’s woodworking becoming more popular, he’s now creating his own identity as a craftsman under a new name: Southern Wood Chips. Riley has always been interested in woodworking, but he says he got serious about it about two years ago. He and his brothers began making wooden spoons after being inspired by a craftsman they met at an arts festival. “I just took it from there and have gone from spoons to doing bird houses, and now I’m doing bowls and vases and things like that,” Riley said. His process varies depending on what he’s making. Spoons and kitchen utensils are pretty quick projects, but other items require more time. “For a spoon, it probably takes 15 minutes to half an hour,” Riley said. “Bowls can be an hour to two-hour project — bowls can take a long time.” Between filling orders, his school work and playing football, Riley, who is a high school senior, stays busy. The 18-year-old doesn’t mind, though, because for him, woodworking is a passion. He loves to spend time working in his shop, which is in his grandmother’s backyard. “I’ve always wanted to do woodworking. I would love to do it for a living,” he said. “We’ve always done it as a family, and I just love it.” Riley is one of eight siblings, and his parents, grandmother and Vanessa and her husband all live within a few minutes of each other. With so many people around, there’s always an extra set of hands to help with candlemaking or collecting wood. Riley’s younger brother has even begun making pottery, and Vanessa is playing around with the idea of using some pieces to hold her candles. Both businesses are a family affair, which is how they like it. “Everybody can come together and work on a craft and everyone can bond as a family through that,” Vanessa said. Blackford River candles and Southern Wood Chips handmade pieces can be found at local shops like The Bus Stop in Houston, Sentiments and Sundries in Ackerman and Farmhouse Market in West Point. “I’ve been selling a lot,” said Riley. He also gets custom order requests through the Southern Wood Chips Facebook page. Vanessa and Riley each have hopes to expand their businesses online in the near future. Right now, they take orders on their Facebook pages. Riley is working on creating an Etsy page for his business, and Vanessa eventually hopes to purchase her own website domain to build an online shop. M
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•Explore New Albany• ecor • T-Shirts • Wind Chimes • Angels • Stephen Joseph • Swan Creek Candles •
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New & Re-Newed Furniture & Accessories Fabulous Finds in quality furniture and accessories at affordable prices. Create your own style and let us help you bring it together with antiques, unique artwork, wall decor, floral arrangements and much more that you must see to appreciate!
Thank you for your continued support. we appreciate your business! God’s blessings from my house to yours!
Brenda Smith Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 - 5; Saturday 12 - 4; Closed Wednesday and Sunday
W.M. Browning Fossil Park EXPLORE
Go digging for old treasures in this park not far off the beaten path in Prentiss County. By Emma Kent
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BARKLEY TRAVEL TOUR PACKAGES Ozark Mountain Christmas Branson, MO November 26-29, 2018 4 Days Trip Includes: * Daniel O’Donnell - “Christmas with Daniel” * ”Samson” at the Sight & Sound Theatre * Andy Williams Christmas Starring the Osmond Brothers & Lennon Sisters * Shoji Tabuchi Christmas Show * Silver Dollar City Christmas * Branson Landing Shopping * 2 Dinners Price per person: Single $920, Double $730, Triple $670, Quad $640
A Colonial Christmas in Williamsburg, VA
November 29 – December 4, 2018 6 Days Trip Includes: * 3 Nights - The Woodlands in Colonial Williamsburg * 1 Night – Inn on the River in Pigeon Forge TN * 1 Night - Asheville NC * The Grand Illumination – Colonial Williamsburg * Ticket to Colonial Williamsburg * Ticket to Busch Gardens Christmas Town * Ticket to Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Show * Admission to The Biltmore Estate Candlelight Tour * Dinner at Christina Campbell’s Tavern- Colonial Williamsburg, VA Price per person: Single $1600, Double $1130, Triple $975, Quad $895
Call and Book Today! 662-534-5203
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I
f you’ve ever wanted to search for fossils (or if you have a budding paleontologist on your hands), look no further than W.M. Browning Crestaceous Fossil Park in Prentiss County. The park is located just north of Baldwyn on Highway 45 along a stretch of 20-Mile Creek. A stone sign marks the entrance to the park’s gravel parking lot, which overlooks the creek. Excavations at the sight in 1990 uncovered shark teeth, dinosaur teeth and other fossils from the Cretaceous period. This is because back when dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures roamed the Earth and oceans, much of Northeast Mississippi was under water. The fossils found at the park serve as proof that the area was covered by the sea about 75 million years ago. A short but steep trek down into the creek is all it takes to get started, and there are several paths that lead to the creek bed. You may want to wear long pants, though, as some of the trails are surrounded by tall grass and other prickly plants. The creek is mostly shallow but does get deeper in some spots, so wear rain boots to get the most out of the experience. With water resistant shoes, you’ll be able to do more climbing and access more of the banks along the creek. Once you’re in the creek, it’s pretty easy to start finding fossils, but you’ll have to get your hands dirty. Start by using your hands to sift through the sand, where you’ll find seashells and fossilized oyster shells. If you have them, a shovel and sifter would come in handy in your search.
The large rounded rock-like formations scattered throughout the creek are known as concretions, and they’re the best place to look for shark teeth, which are the most commonly found fossils at the park. To find shark teeth, climb onto the concretions and carefully sift through the sand, rocks and shells that lie in little piles on top of them. Sometimes you’ll find shark teeth just lying there but sometimes you’ll need to do a little more searching by digging into the sandy top layers of the concretions. Many of the concretions have moss growing in patches on them, and you can even peel the moss off and dig in the sand under the moss. If you don’t find any shark teeth right away, be patient and keep moving along the creek — you’ll come across them eventually. Through the years, fossils have continually been found in the concretions. As weather erodes the concretions, more fossils are revealed that were previously encased in the rock, so visiting the park after a heavy rain ups your chances of finding more fossils. The best thing about W.M. Browning is that it’s a public park, so you can take your treasures home and show them off. And even after 23 years of visits from fossil-hunters, there are still plenty to be discovered. M
THINGS TO BRING:
- rain boots or other waterproof shoes - bug spray - long pants - shovel and sifter - plastic bag or container for collecting findings
404 NORTH GLOSTER • TUPELO, MS
Top 40 Under 40 Live event: October 25, 2018 Time: 11:30 - 1:30 Location: First United Methodist Church, Tupelo Event details: Leading young professionals will be recognized at this community networking event. Buy tickets: djournal.com/top40 ticket includes lunch
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The Farmhouse By Emma Kent
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Jill & Jimmy Stricklen
immy Stricklen always has a project. First, it was a log cabin, then, an old grain silo. Stricklen, a longtime contractor, just can’t get enough of unique structures. “I’ve been a contractor for 30-something years,” he said. “It’s always interesting to do something different from the norm.” The grain silo, he and wife Jill’s latest project they’ve dubbed “The Farmhouse,” is definitely different. The couple completely transformed the silo into a cozy weekend getaway home, and they’re renting it out on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. “I thought, ‘well, Joanna Gaines has the Silos, so why not us?’” Jill said. You might be thinking that sleeping in an old metal silo might be a little too rustic, but the Stricklens have made sure The Farmhouse is perfectly modern. There are touches of history, though, that keep the silo feeling warm. Bricks from a house that once stood on the land where the silo now sits line the living room fireplace, and the silo’s original grain dispenser is still intact. They also kept the grain bin’s metal interior ceiling. The rental has a queen bed and two twin beds in the upstairs loft. There is a small dressing room, designed for use by wedding parties. And a downstairs living room with a couch, chairs and a television. The kitchen is open to the living room - in
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The Oakley House fact, everything is pretty much open, all the way up to the silo’s tin roof. The Stricklens listed The Farmhouse officially at the end of August, but they’ve been getting inquiries for quite some time — since about the time the silo arrived in Corinth, at the beginning of the whole process. “As soon as we put the pictures up, people started asking about it and booking it,” Jill said. The process began, of course, with finding a silo. Jill said she and Jimmy searched for a year before finding one to purchase. That was the easy part. Next, the silo had to be moved from its location in Tennessee to the Stricklens' land in Corinth and transformed into a livable space. They started the process of moving the silo to their land in March, and by the end of April, the walls were up and Jill and Jimmy were in the thick of the construction process. According to Jimmy, the process was similar to that of other homes he’s worked on. The interior walls of the silo are the same as in any other building — framed and filled with insulation. Then, Jimmy covered the walls in thick, horizontal shiplap from floor to ceiling. That doesn’t mean renovating the silo wasn’t without its own unique challenges. With it being a round building, Jimmy had to do some pretty specific cutting to frame the walls. Building The Farmhouse’s curved staircase also proved to be a challenge, but Jimmy was determined to have it curve around the wall and up to the loft. “I’m proud of the staircase because I had to bend the metal rails by hand,” Jimmy said. While Jimmy loves the construction elements of The Farmhouse, Jill prefers to focus on the finishing touches. “While he builds I start shopping, and that’s the fun part,” Jill said. “He builds and I decorate.” True to the rental’s name, Jill fully embraced the farmhouse
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style when decorating the interior of the silo. She kept the color scheme light and airy, using whites, grays and soft blues and greens. The result is a calming palette that lets rustic touches like wood accents, antiques and galvanized metal shine. In the kitchen, a small corrugated metal accent wall plays off its more modern counterparts. “I really like the way the granite and the cabinets and all of the tin came together,” Jill said. Simple linens, iron light fixtures and classic tile in the bathrooms complete the home’s design. This isn’t the Stricklens’ first rodeo. In 2015, they opened The Oakley House, another rental on their property just outside Corinth. The Oakley House was another one of Jimmy’s “different” projects. It’s a classic log cabin built from logs that are nearly 200 years old. The couple owns 40 acres of land just outside Corinth, where the two rental homes, as well as their own home, are located. Visitors from all over the United States have stayed at The Oakley House, and a few from overseas, too. Many people travel to Corinth to explore the town’s Civil War history, especially Shiloh. They’ve even had locals spend a night or two at the cabin looking to cozy up and enjoy a peaceful weekend in the woods. “We have lots of people who stay as a weekend getaway,” Jill said. From the beginning, Jill and Jimmy have been surprised at the response from people wanting to stay at The Farmhouse. Now officially completed, the rental has been getting a lot of attention on Facebook. One video Jill posted about the home garnered nearly 80,000 views. “It’s amazing,” Jimmy said. “Something that’s unique just will draw people to it.” M
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men's fashion
Red Door in Pontotoc: Vineyard Vines shirt $98.50, Vineyard Vines pants $98.50 mudandmag.com
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Core Cycle and Outdoor in Tupelo: prAna pants $75, Howler Brothers shirt $89, Bertucci watch $69, Howler Brothers hat mudandmag.com $30 72 l
Southern Crossing Outfitters in Amory: Southern Marsh shirt and The Radikl by Kuhl pants, prices available upon request.
Explore More We asked our readers to submit their favorite areas to hike, camp and explore in Northeast Mississippi.
TISHOMINGO STATE PARK,
J.P. COLEMAN STATE PARK,
AMANDA M. OF IUKA
LYNNICE C. OF PONTOTOC
It's great for both camping and hiking, and its rocky terrain and bluffs make it unlike any other area in the state. There are campsites as well as cabins and trails for all skill levels. Try the 3-mile Flat Rock Trail and the Outcroppings Trail (2 miles), which begins at the park’s famous swinging bridge.
Located where the banks of the Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake meet, this state park features a range of amenities. While this park is known for its watersports, you can also find a few trails to hike. Be sure to spend some time walking along the river and taking in the views from its bluffs.
CHICKASAW VILLAGE SITE AT THE NATCHEZ TRACE,
STINKIN’ JIM’S HORSE PARK AND CAMPGROUND,
POLLY G. OF SALTILLO
LORI S. OF BOONEVILLE
The site located near Tupelo is one of the Trace’s main attractions in our area. It’s also a great spot to hike. From the site, you can hop onto the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail or hike a half-mile nature trail.
You’ll find rustic log cabins and horse trails here, located off the Natchez Trace Parkway in Houston. The familyrun camp is perfect for horse lovers who can spend a weekend relaxing on the park’s grounds and riding along its many trails. They even have a Dance Hall.
STAFF TOP PICKS: Tombigbee State Park (pictured below), the Tanglefoot Trail, Noxubee Wildlife Refuge, Big Hill Pond State Park (Tennessee), Dismals Canyons (Alabama)
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