Mobile Bay Magazine - May 2020

Mobile Bay THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES

May 2020

LOVE YOUR

HOME FRESH IDEAS FROM STYLISH LOCALS & PROS FOR SPRUCING UP INSIDE AND OUT

+

3 8 GI F T S FOR YOU R MOMAL FROM LOC SHOPS

GARDEN GUIDE

INSIDER TIPS FROM LANDSCAPE EXPERTS

RANCE REEHL’S

MODERN FARMHOUSE IN LAKEWOOD

THE DELANEYS’ CHARMING SPRING HILL FAMILY HOME

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CONTENTS | VOLUME XXXVI / ISSUE 5

MAY 2020 48

58

Jessica and Scott Delaney renovated their Spring Hill home into a comfortable, yet durable, abode for their three boys

Dwaylah and Rance Reehl build a modern farmhouse with European inspirations in Point Clear

A Dream Realized

THE REEHLS’S POINT CLEAR HOME SEEMS TO SPARKLE AT NIGHT. PHOTO BY JUSTIN CORDOVA

Fine Finish

The brick cross designs featured on the exterior of Dwaylah and Rance Reehl’s home is a subtle nod to the friendship and shared faith between the homeowners and architectural designer Robert McCown. For more insight into the home’s design, turn to page 58.

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CONTENTS | VOLUME XXXVI / ISSUE 5

MAY 2020

30 ON OUR COVER A cozy, sunny corner in Jessica and Scott Delaney’s Spring Hill home.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

9

EDITOR’S NOTE

16

10 REACTION 13 ODDS & ENDS 15 THE DISH 16 MIXOLOGY Grapefruit and mezcal?

Cinco de Mayo has never tasted so good 18 GOOD STUFF Make it a Mother’s Day to remember with this selection of local gifts 22 DECORATING A scarf, framed and mounted on the wall, can liven up any space 25 INSPIRATION Ideas for the perfect playroom, courtesy of designer Caitlyn Waite

74

HOMEGROWN LEEK SOUP / PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU A TALL GLASS OF CINCO DE MAYO / PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU AN UNKNOWN COUPLE WALKS DOWNTOWN / PHOTO COURTESY BEN C. PRESTON

29 BITE-SIZED Spring garden inspiration is only three quick tips away

44 GARDENING Local plant nurseries answer your spring gardening questions

30 BAY TABLES The inspiring story of a Mobile woman whose botanical skill is only surpassed by her resiliency

68 MAY CALENDAR

39 BAY LIFE A casual Mobile cyclist takes on Baldwin County’s 37-mile “The Good Life Ride”

72 ARCHIVES John Sledge explores the mystery of an old Mobile maritime painting 74 RECOLLECTIONS Meet the man behind Mobile’s most nostalgic Facebook group

78 LITERATURE Author Audrey McDonald Atkins reflects on the daylily, a flower with a long memory 80 ASK MCGEHEE What pandemics have previously affected Mobile?

82 IN LIVING COLOR A digitally colorized image of two Mobile toddlers frolicking in their circa 1900 swimwear

More so than ever, it’s so important to shop local! Support our small businesses and put a smile on Mom’s face with a little help from MB’s Mother’s Day gift guide on page 18.

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Mobile Bay VOLUME XXXVI

No5

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT PUBLISHER EDITORIAL CONSULTANT EXECUTIVE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR/WEB EDITORIAL ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR

MAY 2020

T. J. Potts Stephen Potts Judy Culbreth Maggie Lacey Abby Parrott Amanda Hartin Virginia Mathers Laurie Kilpatrick

ADVERTISING SR. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Joseph A. Hyland Anna Pavao Jennifer Ray

ADMINISTRATION CIRCULATION

Anita Miller

ACCOUNTING

Keith Crabtree

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Audrey McDonald Atkins, Emily Blejwas, Mallory Boykin, Jeff Grill, L. Wayne Hicks, Tom McGehee, Breck Pappas, John Sledge, Caitlyn Waite CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Sarah Baumann, Bailey Chastang, Justin Cordova, Matthew Coughlin, Elizabeth Gelineau ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL OFFICES

3729 Cottage Hill Road, Suite H Mobile, AL 36609-6500 251-473-6269 Subscription inquiries and all remittances should be sent to: Mobile Bay P.O. Box 43 Congers, NY 10920-9922 1-833-454-5060 MOVING? Please note: U.S. Postal Service will not forward magazines mailed through their bulk mail unit.

Please send old label along with your new address four to six weeks prior to moving.

Mobile Bay is published 12 times per year for the Gulf Coast area. All contents © 2020 by PMT Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or the management of Mobile Bay. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions will be edited for length, clarity and style.

PUBLISHED BY PMT PUBLISHING INC .

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EXTRAS | EDITOR’S NOTE

Home is where … we are.

I

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

don’t know about you, but working from home has its ups and downs. I’m obviously trying to focus on the positives, like eating lunch outside on the patio every day with my kids. Taking my laptop into the yard to respond to emails while the girls hang upside down on the swing set, which gives me the vapors, is certainly a plus. And stealing away to snuggle with the baby before his naptime is priceless.

There are some things, however, that drive me crazy. All the tasks we never finished when we moved into our house are staring me in the face all day, every day — the art I have neither framed nor hung, the bedside tables with no lamps, the pillows without shams. And don’t get me complaining about the yard. If I don’t get a rake going soon, pine straw is going to take over and outnumber the grass 3:1. All the little projects that I wish I had time and money to finish are staring at me while I take conference calls and type emails.

On the other hand, I am so grateful to have this wonderful space right now to quarantine with my family. May is of course the traditional spring-cleaning season, and with the weather as nice as it has been for weeks now, and a little extra time on our hands all around, it truly is the perfect moment to tackle some yard work or a little room refresh. Purchase some art online from a local gallery, order new pillow covers on Etsy or pull out the power washer and get the deck looking brand-spanking new. Our Home and Garden issue is always a reader favorite — I mean, who doesn’t want to be inspired by some of the prettiest homes or most knowledgeable experts in town, right? And here it is, smack dab in the middle of a nationwide quarantine where your four walls may be the only you see for some time. This seems like the perfect time to get better acquainted with your handyman side, if you ask me.

This issue will hopefully inspire you to rearrange some furniture, tackle a few small projects and make your home the best it can be. In this new normal, with all its craziness, scary unknowns and unexpected blessings, the only thing I can say for sure is that home has never seemed so special or so safe. Here’s hoping yours is a place you love.

MING ZING I COULD NEVER TIRE OF BLUE AND WHITE. WE WERE SMITTEN WITH JESSICA DELANEY’S USE OF THE HUE ON FABRICS, TRIMS AND MORE THROUGHOUT HER SPRING HILL HOME.

LOVE THIS ISSUE MADE IN THE SHADE WHEN GATHERING IDEAS FOR OUR MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE, I COULDN’T RESIST THIS SUNHAT. PERFECT FOR BOAT RIDES, SITTING POOLSIDE OR TENDING THAT HERB GARDEN! TULA JOLIET HAT, CHAPEL FARM COLLECTION, $49

MINT CONDITION WE LOVED TOURING PAT SMITH’S HERB AND VEGETABLE GARDEN IN EARLY SPRING. IT MOTIVATED ME TO PLANT MORE MINT, PERFECT FOR SUMMER RECIPES AND COOL COCKTAILS.

HANG IT UP I AM SMITTEN WITH THE IDEA OF FRAMING SCARVES AS ARTWORK (PAGE 22). I’M GOING TO PULL OUT MY EMILIO PUCCI SCARVES THAT I LOVE SO MUCH (BUT NEVER WEAR) AND FOLLOW SUIT!

YARD WORK GIVE ME ALL THINGS TROPICAL! WITH TIME ON OUR HANDS, WE’VE BEEN SPRUCING UP OUR YARD WITH ELEPHANT EARS, PHILODENDRONS AND GINGER.

Maggie Lacey EXECUTIVE EDITOR

maggie@pmtpublishing.com

THE 2020 MB INSPIRATION HOME

We have broken ground on the new MB Inspiration Home and can’t wait to share it with you! Set to open for tours in late 2020, the fabulous home was designed

by Robert McCown and is under construction in the brand new North Hills subdivision in Fairhope. Rance Reehl, whose own fabulous home is featured on page 58, is heading up the project. Stay tuned for more sneak peaks in the coming months!

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EXTRAS | REACTION

Tell us how you really feel ...

SHARING THE LOVE (AND OUR APOLOGIES) On MB’s March issue I just finished reading another great issue of Mobile Bay cover to cover!

It was great, as always. I also like the new binding; it has a nice “feel” as I hold the magazine and read through. And your photographs are things of beauty — I don’t even drink, but I truly “savored” that Ruth’s Chris Martini!

The article, “Family Dinner” was very good, and I immediately recognized your photo location was Mac’s Fresh Produce on Old Shell Road (formerly Old Shell Market). I shop there weekly, even driving in from Dog River for excellent, quality produce and good prices. I was disappointed, however, to not see a credit line anywhere for them. I’m a champion for small businesses, as I know y’all are as well. Since these folks are new owners, I know they would appreciate some recognition.

As always, thanks for giving us such a classy, informative magazine featuring all the joys of being a Mobilian.

- Sue Cato Winter Editor’s Note: You’re right, Sue! We certainly love and support local businesses.

We unintentionally left Mac’s Fresh Produce off the print version of our story, but we’ve made sure to list them in the online version. Mac’s was the perfect place for our photo shoot, and their hospitality and fresh inventory will keep us coming back!

COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF On March’s Tastings of The Hummingbird Way, Jim Smith’s Oakleigh restaurant

PAINTING THE TOWN

BAY OF ‘NANAS

On February’s End Piece, a colorized photo of the 1951 Azalea Trail grand opening

On March’s history piece, “Banana Pudding,” about Mobile’s banana docks

I remember sitting on the curb in front of my house in Kingswood waiting for the truck that would come by to paint the pink line in our neighborhood, hoping it would come by our house. I imagined leaving my feet on the street and letting the paint go over my feet! I also remember the prestige that would come with having your neighborhood included in the trail. Thanks for the memory.

- Dan Lane

BUILDING MEMORIES On February’s Ask McGehee about the demolition of the old Providence Hospital on Springhill Avenue That’s where I got my first job as an X-ray technologist after I graduated. So many memories.

I remember an elderly customer talking about living along the Bay. Sometimes boats would get stuck, and they would throw bananas into the Bay to lighten their load just to make it to port. They were sent to get bananas out of the water. Neat things old people did.

- Theresa Pyle

FROM THE ARCHIVES On MB’s December 2016 history piece, “Operation Ivory Soap” Breck Pappas wrote an article on Operation Ivory Soap. My dad was part of that. Today in Dothan, a member of that team had a birthday party. He is 95 and still active.

I was at their 50th anniversary in Mobile when they all got together. It was a sight for sore eyes, as the old folks say. I do not know how many of them are still alive. I have placed some of my dad’s pictures in the museum at Ft. Rucker, per their request.

- Charles Zeigler

- Kathy Jones I was born here as well as two other sisters. I gave birth to my first child here.

It’s sad to see it being demolished.

- Betsy Liz Luther

SMALL SPACE, BIG STYLE On March’s Spotlight featuring Chelsea Lipford Wolf ’s master bathroom addition Wow! This is just great. Love that color!

- Vicki Cochran

TASTY HISTORY

Those tiles, though!

- Thomas Boni

On Emily Blejwas’ February piece, “Gumbo: Africans and Creoles on the Gulf Coast”

Just enjoyed the chicken pot pie on Sunday.

It was delish!

Fascinating article.

Emily does great work!

- Kelly Gardner

- Carol Milbrath

I remember the episode when Chelsea bought her first house and her dad helped fix it. So long ago, but it seems like yesterday!

PHOTO BY CHELSEA LIPFORD WOLF

Want to share your thoughts and reactions to this issue? Email maggie@pmtpublishing.com.

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- Deby Harrow

EXTRAS | REACTION

The Pulse of the Bay READERS TELL US HOW THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING THEIR DAILY LIVES FOR BETTER OR WORSE

Above Bryant Wood and her children joined hundreds of homes around the Mobile area creating chalk hearts to spread some love — from a safe social distance — to friends and neighbors. Inspiring words and colorful drawings adorned so many sidewalks that many retailers ran out of chalk!

“The social distancing has been really difficult because I miss seeing my friends. When we are able to go back to school and hang out again, I will not take those moments for granted.”

“Selfishly, the coronavirus robbed me of an Italian graduation trip with my grandson, our annual family gathering at Orange Beach, and my weekly bridge games and lunches with girlfriends.

Responsibly, I take this virus very seriously as my husband is in a high-risk category and a friend is hospitalized with the virus; I am staying home, saying prayers for all of us and washing my hands constantly!”

Lily Joyce, junior at St. Paul’s Episcopal School

Susan Lingo Warren, retired media specialist

“My husband and I are both physicians and small business owners. We’ve changed everything. Essentially, only my husband goes to the hospital and makes a grocery run. I stay at home with my children except for daily walks. Most of my staff have been furloughed until further notice. I have absorbed childcare and education in addition to my other jobs. My husband now stops in the garage at the sanitizing station I have set up before showering and THEN says “hello.” In general, I think we all feel lost, sad, scared and unsure. We want to feel prepared but hopeful. At the end of the day, I have resolved to tighten my belt, stand up and do the right things for our society and never give up. We cannot look back to what we had, and we cannot wish away the day dreaming of the future. We all must continue onward with courage and determination.”

Melanie Clark, owner Big City Toys

“The simplest things matter most.

These days it’s clear — the people in my life, healthy food and exercise are my only real essentials.”

Gin Mathers, production director, Mobile Bay Magazine

“COVID-19 has robbed Mobile of one its most impactful citizens, Rennie Brabner.

Many will remember Rennie from his years as a television and radio news reporter; however, his legacy may well lie in his lifelong work in historic preservation. Generations from now, people will able to experience our historic neighborhoods because Rennie fought so hard to preserve and protect them, especially his beloved DeTonti Square, where he and Mary Ann and their two children were some of our earliest urban pioneers.

The preservation community, and especially the Downtown community, will miss Rennie very much.”

Carol Hunter, Downtown Mobile Alliance

“Upon my return from spring break, I found out that I would no longer be eligible to live on campus and anticipated within due time, I would be out of work as well. So, I decided to relocate to Trussville to weather out COVID-19. I can’t stop thinking that this will be the defining moment of my generation. I truly believe that spring will come, and the sun will shine another day, but I do not believe that our country will ever be the same. My only hopes are that it’s for the better.”

Nikolas B. Hughey, USA student

The coronavirus pandemic is a moving target, and much will no doubt have changed between press time and when these pages reach mailboxes and newsstands. Let us know what is happening at your house NOW on our Facebook page or by emailing maggie@pmtpublishing.com. may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 11

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EXTRAS | ODDS & ENDS

Here Comes the Sun text by MB EDITORIAL STAFF

are born each minute worldwide

SIX BABIES are born per hour in Alabama

HATS ARE OFF TO ALL THE MAMAS OUT THERE THIS MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY, MAY 10 [MAY 5TH]

CINCO DE MAYO During the 1918 flu epidemic, tequila’s popularity boomed in Mexico as doctors advised ailing patients to drink tequila, lime and salt as a remedy.

Pour yourself a strong one — you deserve it this year!

AGAVE PLANT

Keep an eye out this month for blooming daylilies, which are some of the easiest perennials to grow.

They’re happiest in full sun and welldraining soil.

Turn to page 78 to read author Audrey McDonald Atkins’s take on these plants with a long memory.

Q: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Answer below...

78%

of Americans say they spring clean every year

While some of household dust is made up of dead skin, the bulk of it is animal dander, insect waste, insect carcasses, dirt, sand and various airborne pollutants. If you haven’t started your spring cleaning yet, you will now.

GREEN THUMB TIP After relocating a plant, feed it one aspirin per gallon of water to reduce its stress following the move.

Turn to page 30 to see if local gardening self-starter Pat Smith reveals any more of her botanical secrets.

MAY 25 MEMORIAL DAY

According to the U.S. Flag Code, when the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union (blue section) to the north in an east-and-west street or to the east in a north-and-south street.

Now that’s some pretty specific flag knowledge to show off this holiday!

A: Pilgrims.

250 BABIES

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FOOD | THE DISH

Bite of the Bay MB’s contributing food fanatics share their go-to local dishes.

VICKIE BAILEY, Owner, The Happy Olive

KAFTA KEBAB SUPREME AT SAGE “This meal includes one shish kebab with a chicken kebab, as well as tasty lamb chops seasoned in a way only the Lebanese know. The entrée takeout includes a salad with a Greek-style dressing as well as turmeric rice with grilled veggies (tomatoes and sweet red peppers) on the side.

SAGE LEBANESE CUISINE & CAFE 319 FAIRHOPE AVE., FAIRHOPE • 517-7536

JOE SIMS, The Shoe Guy, McCoy Outdoor Company

BISCUITS FROM THE HUMMINGBIRD WAY. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

SAGELEBANESECUISINE.COM

BISCUITS, SHRIMP AND DESSERT AT THE HUMMINGBIRD WAY “As we’ve done our best to support local restaurants by ordering curbside pickup over the last several weeks, we chose a dinner-for-four package from Chef Jim Smith’s The Hummingbird Way, and it was incredible! It included biscuit service with toppings, fried catfish, grilled shrimp, four sides and hummingbird cake for dessert. It was truly gourmet dining togo from a former Top Chef finalist.”

THE HUMMINGBIRD WAY • 351 GEORGE ST. 408-9562 • THEHUMMINGBIRDWAY.COM

BO NICHOLS, Real estate agent, BHHS Nichols Real Estate

LOCALLY SOURCED VEGETABLES FROM LOCAL APPETITE GROWERS “The closures due to COVID-19 opened our eyes to delivery. My friend Will Mastin with Local Appetite Growers delivered a beautiful assortment of locally sourced vegetables and eggs (on a weekly order), and we enjoyed a local staple at home. Baldwin County produce is plentiful and sure does fuel the body and soul.”

LOCAL APPETITE GROWERS • 411 AZALEA ST.,

SHERRI BUMPERS, Senior Advertising Account Executive, Alabama Media Group

CHICKEN KARAAGE AT NOJA “Although the menu at NoJa is full of exquisite options, I like to begin with one of their small plates — the chicken karaage. I was hesitant to try this dish because I don’t like dark meat, but this was a game changer. It consists of sweet and tangy, saucy, crispy cuts of Japanesefried chicken thighs. The bold flavor is met with the subtle flavor of a chewy, sesame sticky rice cake. Trust me, it’s heavenly!”

FAIRHOPE • 656-9265 • FACEBOOK.COM/

NOJA • 6 N JACKSON ST. • 433-0377

LOCALAPPETITEGROWERS

NOJAMOBILE.COM

What dishes made you drool and left you hungry for more? Share them on our Facebook page! may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 15

FOOD | MIXOLOGY

Cinco de Mayo Whether stuck in the house or (finally) seeing some friends, celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a refreshing cocktail. A little mezcal keeps it interesante.

Smoky Dove SERVES 4 They say you should never drink alone (wait, what?), and since we are hoping to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with more than just our quarantine buddy, we made this recipe by the batch. Optimistic? Absolutely. ยกSalud!

3/4 cup mezcal 3/4 cup fresh grapefruit juice 1/2 cup St-Germain elderflower liqueur 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice 3 tablespoons agave nectar 1 small lime, cut into 4 wedges grapefruit wheels, for garnish

Combine first five ingredients in a large pitcher and mix well. Refrigerate until chilled. Pour over ice in highball glasses. Top with a squeeze of lime and garnish with a grapefruit wheel.

recipe & text by MAGGIE LACEY photo by ELIZABETH GELINEAU 16 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

Mezcal 101 Mezcal is a spirit produced in the Oaxaca region of Mexico, still distilled from the heart of the agave plant in much the same way as it has been for more than 200 years. It can take up to 15 years for an agave plant to mature and grow the heart, or piña, from which mezcal is made. This piña, which resembles a small pineapple, is charred over a fire, producing mezcal’s signature flavor. While the nuances of each mezcal can vary wildly, the limited selection of bottles available in our area leans towards a sweet and smoky profile. Traditionally consumed straight-up in Mexico, mezcal is finding its way onto creative cocktail menus across the country and around our town. We think you should add it to your own bar.

Did you know?

Tequila is technically a mezcal, as it is produced from the agave plant just like all mezcals. The two liquors come from their own species of agave, however, and have unique methods and differing regions of production, as well as distinct flavors. They do both pack a similar punch.

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GOOD STUFF | MOTHER‘S DAY

A Gift for Mom MB’s favorite picks for the special woman in your life. text by AMANDA HARTIN

AN OPULENT STATMENT A radiant cut gemstone in iridescent chalcedony blue.

LIVING WELL • BARCELONA RING • $185

CLEAN BEAUTY Washing up has never looked prettier. CHAPEL FARM

LINKED IN LOVE Designed by local mother/daughter duo, Ann Gunter and Ashley Long. ANN ASHLEY

COLLECTION • HANDMADE PETAL SOAP FLOWER • $42

CZ LOCK & CHAIN BRACELETS • $38 EACH PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

INSPIRING ART Stories of hope, encouragement and joy. LIVING WELL ANGELS IN OUR MIDST COFFEE TABLE BOOK • $70

GARDEN FRESH FIVE GOLD MONKEYS LOLLIA ALWAYS IN ROSE BODY BUTTER • $37

SWEET TWEET ASHLAND GALLERY CLAY BIRD • $65 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

TOTE IN COMFORT Durable and flexible, this bag is perfect for life on the Bay. THE HOLIDAY & LIVING WELL • NEOPRENE EVERYTHING TOTE • $166

WASH LIKE A DIVA The lingering scent of this high-end detergent will have people wondering what she’s wearing. FIVE GOLD MONKEYS GLAMOUROUS WASH • $29.50

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GORGEOUS IN GOLD THE HOLIDAY • ARABESCO GOLD PLATED EARRINGS • $48

GOOD STUFF | MOTHER‘S DAY

WATER FEATURE ASHLAND GALLERY • “POND WATER”

BY ELISABETH HAYS • $65 EACH PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

VIBRANT JOURNEY The inspiring journey of Charleston-based artist Tiel Duncan. LIVING WELL THE COLOR TEIL COFFEE TABLE BOOK • $68

PICTURE PERFECT M.A. SIMONS • 5 X 7 WHITE QUARTZ AND GOLD FRAME • $123

ICE, ICE BABY She’ll arrive in style — and with cold beverages.

FIVE GOLD MONKEYS CORKCICLE EOLA BUCKET BAG • $130

PAJAMAS • $84 / SET PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

HER OWN BOUQUET She’ll be noticed with this around her wrist.

A LITTLE BUBBLY M.A. SIMONS MIXTURE BATH PRODUCTS • $24 - $33 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

LOUNGE IN LUXURY These Jayes Studio pj’s will have her feeling like a queen. M.A. SIMONS

A SCENT OF HOME She’ll think of her favorite places each time she lights these candles. URBAN EMPORIUM

THE HOLIDAY • MULTICOLORED BEADED FLOWER BRACELET • $319

COASTAL CANDLES • $14 EACH PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

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GOOD STUFF | MOTHER‘S DAY

DRAPED IN LOVE ANN ASHLEY MOONSTONE PAVE DIAMOND CLASP NECKLACE WITH PAVE DIAMOND CROSS • $250, NECKLACE; $100, CROSS PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

VIBRANT COMBO

TREASURED

MARCIE-N-ME • CAPRI BLUE CANDLES • $25 / 8 OZ, $33 / 19 OZ

THE PERFECT SPOT FOR HER TINIEST TREASURES. FIVE GOLD MONKEYS BLESSING BOWL • $42

METAL PETAL ANN ASHLEY • SILVER FLOWER EARRINGS • $28 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

BOWLED OVER This handmade glass bowl is dishwasher friendly. IVY COTTAGE POPPY MEDIUM BOWL • $137

ALWAYS IN BLOOM ASHLAND GALLERY • “THE ROSE”

BY KELLY OGBURN • $700 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

SPA TREATMENT

WRAPPED IN CHEER The perfect transition from spring to summer.

URBAN EMPORIUM • CAROL’S BOTANICALS FLIP FLOP FEET • $16

CHAPEL FARM COLLECTION PASTURES CLASSIC SCARF • $215

MODERN DECO MARCIE-N-ME • AUDRA STYLE EARRINGS • $37

SANDY DAZE YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE Handmade by Sylacaga, Ala., mother/daughter duo, Coco Lala.

M.A. SIMONS • PETITE ORB CANDLE • $45 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

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LIVING WELL • ZEBRA PALM THROW/BEACH TOWEL BY MATOUK FOR SCHUMACHER • $85

WHERE TO SHOP BAY-AREA STORES ARE TEEMING WITH UNIQUE AND HARD-TO-FIND GIFTS FOR EVERY WOMAN ON YOUR LIST, AND PHONE ORDERS CAN OFTEN BE PICKED UP CURBSIDE! MAKE MOM PROUD — SHOP LOCAL THIS YEAR! RESOURCES ANN ASHLEY 753-4838 OR 680-4481 ANNASHLEYJEWELRY.COM ASHLAND GALLERY 2321 OLD SHELL ROAD 479-3548 FACEBOOK.COM/ASHLANDGALLERY CHAPEL FARM COLLECTION 19130 SCENIC HWY 98, FAIRHOPE 929-1630 CHAPELFARM.COM FIVE GOLD MONKEYS 4350 OLD SHELL ROAD, #B 345-3380 FIVEGOLDMONKEYS.COM THE HOLIDAY 4513 OLD SHELL ROAD 342-4911 SHOPTHEHOLIDAY.COM IVY COTTAGE 9 DU RHU DRIVE, SUITE 360 345-1731 IVYCOTTAGEONLINE.COM LIVING WELL 25 SOUTH SECTION ST., SUITE A, FAIRHOPE 929-3255 LIVINGWELLFAIRHOPE.COM M.A. SIMONS 2151 OLD SHELL ROAD 479-4350 INSTAGRAM.COM/MA_SIMONS MARCIE-N-ME 8150 COTTAGE HILL ROAD 634-4844 SHOPMARCIENME.COM URBAN EMPORIUM 260 DAUPHIN ST. 441-8044 URBANEMPORIUMMOBILE.COM

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HOMES | DECORATING

Framing Scarves A treasured square of silk, perhaps passed down and now in the back of a drawer, finds new life as unexpected art. text by AMANDA HARTIN

“SCARVES ARE INTERESTING PIECES THAT CAN RANGE FROM FUN THRIFT FINDS TO HEIRLOOMS TO DESIGNER PURCHASES.” – Lindsey Lawrence, gallery manager at Lyons Share Custom Frame and Gallery in Fairhope

Southern ladies have long been known for perfectly completing their outfits with a colorful square of silk.

One woman who has always worn them well is Mobilian Jane Burton, age 95, pictured here, circa 1990.

A scarf featuring the sites of Mobile circa 1950 framed in the home of Julie Bagwell.

FROM THE Lyons Share’s Lindsey Lawrence says she has developed a special technique that involves stitching scarves onto a suede mat, gently maneuvering around the scarf’s EXPERTS existing cord so as not to mar the silk. “We use an archival process, meaning the scarves can be taken out and worn again if the owner chooses.”

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I

f you’re like most people, you’ve probably been stuck inside, staring at the same walls for a couple of months, dreaming of updating this or that. Rather than redesign your whole house, however, a unique — and more affordable — way to spruce your space might just be hiding in your closet, collecting dust. Scarves, once framed, are a great way to inject personality into a room without busting your budget.

The internet is teeming with do-it-yourself videos for those looking to tackle the framing project on their own.

Before beginning, consider the scarf’s fabric, the materials you might use to mount it and the permanence of the display.

If done correctly, framed scarves can be easily interchanged, making seasonal decorating a breeze. For instance, a brightly colored Vera scarf hung in spring could be replaced in the fall with a more subtly hued Hermes.

But why hang only one at a time? A triptych of assorted scarves would turn any wall into a gallery.

Showcasing your newly framed art can be as unique as the scarf itself. A few unexpected places include the laundry room, a walk-in closet or dressing area, or a nursery. Niches in walls or bookcases also make great architectural borders.

But no one said it has to be hung — leaning frames against the wall from atop a desk or buffet is a casual way to display your one-of-a-kind conversation piece. MB

may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 23

INSPIRATION | PLAYROOMS

Learn, play, grow These days, setting the stage for the academic success of our little ones starts at home. Designer Caitlyn Waite opens the doors to her playroom for inspiration. text by CAITLYN WAITE • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU • scouting by MAGGIE LACEY

N

ow, more than ever, it is essential to have a designated place in the house for your children to learn, grow and play. As our roles as parents have grown to include homeschool teaching, our home environment needs to transition with that in mind. Creating a room where kids can play freely but also concentrate can be kind of tricky! It is all about the overall visuals. What their little eyes see and don’t see has a true effect on their ability to learn while at play. I want to outline a few key tricks of the trade to create a space that inspires your kids to use their imagination and to work hard. I hope this happy concentration will grant you a few minutes of peace and quiet for yourself!

OPAQUE STORAGE

We all know that storage is key, especially in a playroom.

Kids have a really hard time focusing in a space that is cluttered and littered with a million things everywhere.

That is why I love hiding their toys away in an organized manner, with baskets they can’t see through. Labeling the baskets and bins helps me know what is located where, but my kids can’t see all their toys at once, which helps them focus on one activity at a time.

This is crucial, especially when trying to get them to concentrate on schoolwork.

COLOR COORDINATION

Books are essential to a great playroom. We want our kids to grow up with imaginations that run wild. I have learned a few tricks of the trade from my organizer friend, Clara, with The Home Organized. She taught me that organizing books by color creates a clean, fun look to your shelving. It also allows for another teachable moment for smaller children. You can say point to the yellow books or go pick out a green book. Kids love a good rainbow, and this method is a lot more soothing on the eye than seeing multiple books of all different colors crammed together.

SUBSTANTIAL WORKSPACE

A generous-sized table is a must for schoolwork and art projects. Having chairs that are just their size gives kids the feeling they are big and in charge of their environment. It also gives them more independence because it is easier for them to get in and out of on their own. If you have more than one child, I recommend making sure the surface of the workspace is large enough for each of them to really spread out. That extra space will save you on potential sibling scuffles.

may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 25

Smart Design: Playrooms

“CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE KIDS CAN PLAY FREELY BUT ALSO CONCENTRATE CAN BE KIND OF TRICKY!” – Caitlyn Waite, Designer

26 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

MB’s Picks to Stock the Shelves

YOU’RE ON A ROLL

Six feet of imaginative fun featuring coloring, mazes, spot the difference and more.

Open the box and pull out the amount of paper needed. When you’re done, simply roll the paper back inside for easy cleanup!

NOT YET!

This rollicking, rhyming inspirational picture book is perfect for every kid who is frustrated by what they can’t do . . . YET! Don’t worry, Yet is there to help you out.

UNDER FOOT

PINT-SIZED

Having furniture to size can make or break comfort, which in turn aids or impedes learning and fun. There are plenty of mini-me chairs on the market, but we love these x-back beauties!

Dash and Albert’s cotton and indoor/ outdoor rugs are perfect for a playroom — comfortable on bare feet, easy clean-up and an amazing array of colors.

clockwise from top left: HELLO HONEYBEES: READ AND PLAY IN THE HIVE $12, THE HOLIDAY • ACTIVITY ROLL $10, THE HOLIDAY • IGGY PECK ARCHITECT BOOK $18, THE HOLIDAY CANE RATTAN BASKETS $46 - $125, THE HOLIDAY • SCI-FI FUN 3-D COLOURING SET $14, BIG CITY TOYS • ANIMALS AT NIGHT TOUCH AND EXPLORE $15, PAGE & PALETTE • DASH & ALBERT COTTON AREA RUGS PRICES START AT $399, MALOUF FURNITURE • TENZI DICE GAME $18, BIG CITY TOYS • FARMHOUSE CHAIR BY LEGACY CLASSIC KIDS $169, MALOUF FURNITURE • THE MAGICAL YET $18, PAGE & PALETTE

RESOURCES: Big City Toys 4504 Old Shell Road, 308-8997, big-city-toys.shoplightspeed.com • Malouf Furniture 7745 State Highway 59, Foley, 955-5151, malouffurniture.com Page & Palette 32 S. Section St., Fairhope, 928-5295, pageandpalette.com • The Holiday 4513 Old Shell Road, 342-4911, shoptheholiday.com may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 27

28 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

BITE-SIZED | GARDENING

Three Things to Love text by BRECK PAPPAS • photo by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

DON’T FORGET!

Garden inspiration can come from anywhere, but this Spring Hill sanctuary is just begging for imitation.

THE SOUND OF WATER

DWARF GARDENIAS

GROWING CLIMBER, ADDS

THERE ARE MANY REASONS

THIS MINIATURE VERSION OF

A LIVING TAPESTRY TO

TO INCLUDE A WATER

THE SOUTHERN FAVORITE

ANY GARDEN WALL OR

FEATURE IN YOUR GARDEN:

IS THE PERFECT OPTION

STRUCTURE AND CAN BE

THE SOOTHING SOUND

FOR A GARDEN WITH

THE PERFECT SOLUTION

IT CREATES, THE DESIGN

LOW BORDERS OR LIMITED

FOR AN UNSIGHTLY

AND TEXTURE IT BRINGS

SPACE. WITH THE SAME

BACKDROP. CONSIDERING

TO A SPACE, THE WILDLIFE

INTOXICATING FRAGRANCE

ITS REMARKABLE GROWTH

IT ATTRACTS. THIS STATELY

OF A FULL-SIZED GARDENIA,

RATE, THE PLANT WILL LIKELY

FOUNTAIN CHECKS ALL

THE 2- TO 3-FOOT-HIGH

REQUIRE SOME PRUNING

THREE OF THOSE BOXES.

SHRUB IS SUITABLE FOR

AFTER A FEW YEARS. WALL-

LOW-MAINTENANCE,

BOTH GARDEN BEDS AND

MOUNTED ASPARAGUS

RELAXING AND

CONTAINERS AND THRIVES

FERNS ADD ANOTHER

REMINISCENT OF A GARDEN

IN WELL-DRAINING SOIL

LAYER OF DEPTH.

ALL’ITALIANA? SIGN US UP.

AND PARTIAL SHADE. MB

LIVING WALL CREEPING FIG, A FAST-

Adding a place to sit in your yard instantly creates an outdoor room that can become your relaxing refuge!

“I have remarked your fondness for flowers; cultivate it always; they are evangels of purity and faith, if we but unlock our hearts to their ministry.”

- Mobile author Augusta Evans (1835 - 1909), “Macaria” may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 29

How to Move a Meyer Lemon A Mobile woman with an incredibly green thumb grows — and shares — a seasonal bounty, no matter where she puts down roots. text by EMILY BLEJWAS • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

30 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

T

he first time I met Pat G. Smith, she rattled off the names of a dozen plants I’d never even heard of. She was teaching me about watermelons for a book I was writing, telling me to use comfrey tea and worm castings on the plants, and I just blinked at her. I was standing in the garden in sandals, trying to avoid fire ants or crushing the tender leaves at our feet, but Pat didn’t hold that against me. She’s a born teacher and walked me all around Shipshape Urban Farms, spouting facts I couldn’t write down fast enough, or spell, on my little yellow notepad.

Long after I stopped visiting the watermelons every week to gauge their growth and the depth of their green, Pat stuck

with me. Meeting her was like stumbling upon a rare, tropical orchid blooming in regular dirt in Irvington. So when the year turned, I texted Pat to ask if I could see her home garden sometime, and she responded immediately.

On an overcast day near mid-January, Pat welcomes me with homemade bread and herb butter and hibiscus tea, which tastes so clear and sweet and clean it reminds me of a ringing silver bell as it slides down my throat. We stand in her kitchen, and she explains how she got to this point: with an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and a garden so teeming it includes four varieties of bananas, in her small yard in Crichton.

Pat’s story begins with a love of animals, inherited from her father, whom she calls “a wild kingdom man” who would take in “stray dogs off the street.” By age 21, she had amassed many mouths to feed: iguanas, ferrets, cockatoos, parakeets, rabbits, guinea pigs and a 55-gallon tank holding fish of all kinds, “and all of ‘em were vegetarians,” she says. She got tired of asking grocery stores for scraps to feed them, “So I said, I’m gonna throw some seeds in the backyard, and that’s exactly what I did. And I’ve been in love with gardening ever since.”

Growing food became even more important later, when Pat had two children to feed and the food stamps began running out before the month did.

She started growing even more food and freezing it. One day, while buying fruit trees, Pat accidentally gave the cashier her food stamps card instead of her bank card and it took. It turned out the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits covered fruit trees, seeds and vegetable plants, so Pat expanded her repertoire. She started saving seeds and trading them. The garden flourished; her freezer filled.

She was now growing so much she could give it away. “Watchin’ that one little seed put out so much food, it’s amazing,” she says. “It can feed a lot of people.

And I like sharing. Then the next thing I know, I started baking and cooking from

the garden.” She would try out new recipes on family and friends and watch their expressions to determine which ones were keepers. Her mother, Geraldine, was particularly amazed and encouraged Pat to keep growing and creating.

And the more Pat ate from the garden, the better she felt. “I was 500 pounds,” she tells me, then looks over at Keith, her husband of 15 years, who is filming our interview on his phone. “He didn’t know that,” she says. “I didn’t want to tell nobody . . . now you know,” she tells him, and shrugs. It’s a quality I’m learning is typical of Pat. A straightforwardness, an honesty.

Providing her family and community with healthy, homegrown foods gave Pat a sense of pride. Her second child, Patrick, has cerebral palsy and requires a high-calorie diet, and Pat could now fill him up with good calories. She set a new goal of being “self-sustained.” She butchered rabbits to feed her children the best meat possible. She learned to make a cold remedy with lemongrass, medicine mint, ginger and turmeric; to treat flu symptoms with papaya leaves.

Much of her knowledge comes from watching gardening videos on YouTube.

“I didn’t go to school,” she says. “I went

RASPBERRY TEA SERVES 6 6 cups water 6 bags black tea, like Lipton 1/2 thumb-sized knob of ginger pinch of salt juice of one lemon 1/2 cup raspberry syrup* 1/2 cup sugar (add only when using store-bought syrup)

1. In a large pot, add water, tea bags and ginger. Bring to a boil and let boil 4 minutes. Remove tea bag and ginger, then add salt and lemon juice.

Add raspberry syrup and sugar and mix well. Serve over ice. * You can use store-bought raspberry syrup or make your own by simmering 2 pounds of fresh raspberries in 4 cups of water for 20 minutes. Remove the raspberries from the liquid, discard berries, add 2 cups of sugar and simmer another 5 minutes. Place in a jar and refrigerate until use.

Below Pat Smith shows off an olive tree covered in tiny fruits. A pitcher of tea waits for a break in the garden work. Smith’s online videos of tea recipes have boomed in popularity. To find her channel on YouTube, simply search “pat g smith.”

may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 31

to YouTube University.” Papayas are now her favorite thing to grow, along with banana flowers, which she uses in pineapple curry. She recently tried putting turmeric in bread, “Just to take it up another level, see if I can get away with it.”

She used liquid from chickpeas as an egg substitute to make a vegan lemon Bundt cake. “I took the challenge, and I did it,” she says. She loves the experimental aspect of growing, especially grafting.

“Puttin’ one species to another species and letting it clone each other. That’s what’s the most amazing thing. And then to have two fruits on one tree.”

Pat also loves when people tell her she can’t do something, which happens often. “Once a master gardener, an older lady, told me, ‘You cannot grow rhubarb in Mobile, Alabama.’ And I said, ‘Is that a challenge?’” She laughs. “Baby, that’s exactly what I said!” By then, Pat didn’t need to consult YouTube. She devised her own trick to coax rhubarb, a cold climate plant, to grow in warm soil. (She makes me turn off the recorder while she tells me her secret). She posted a video of the thriving rhubarb on her YouTube channel, and the master gardener was astounded.

Likewise, Pat was intrigued by a sugar apple that grows in Japan (it resembles an artichoke on the outside but is white and creamy on the inside), so she bought one on eBay and planted it. Like everything else in her garden, it prospered.

“What gave you the guts to do all this stuff?” I finally ask. “You just decided to do it, and you did it. Where did that come from?”

“Watchin’ people die,” she answers, quickly and quietly.

I’m surprised, though I shouldn’t be.

“From what?” I ask.

“From obesity. From what they put in our food. These manufacturers. Puttin’ rubber into the breads to preserve them longer. When I saw that, I thought, ‘Oh hell, I’m fittin’ to make my own bread.’”

Pat shares her seeds and knowledge and recipes with anyone who shows an

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interest, hoping to help her community be healthier and stay alive. “I grew up right here,” she says, so she’s surrounded by people she’s known all her life.

Some take to gardening, but others hesitate. “They think it’s hard,” Pat says.

“They don’t realize you don’t have to dig the earth up. You can do the no-till method. You can do a lasagna layer and just build it up. Or do some raised beds.”

Others don’t want to grow food because it harkens too closely to slavery. “I tell those, ‘But now what they put in our food is killing us,’” Pat says. “We’re dying from this pretty pink pork. They’re putting ink in it, and that ink is causing cancer.”

We walk out her front door, where a starfruit tree grows and bears fruit twice a year. It’s one of Pat’s favorites. We walk through the yard, and she points out a cherry, blackberry (thornless and American beauty), Victoria rhubarb, asparagus, artichoke, garlic chives, tree collards, pineapple, Mexican Cream guava, papaya, raspberry, two varieties of Asian pear, Granny Smith apple, satsuma, orange, Meyer lemon, hybrid lemon, peach, yellow plum, grape, blueberry, banana, shampoo ginger, wild native persimmon, passion fruit, grapes (wine and muscadine), mushrooms (chantrell and oyster), dragonfruit cactus, corn, spinach, broccoli, lemon thyme, ginger, turmeric, beans, carrots, peas, potatoes, radishes, cabbages.

She grows moringa (for powder), gooseberry (“You can tell it’s healthy ‘cause the thorns are sharp”), lemongrass (used in lemon mayonnaise), ground apple (“It looks like a sweet potato but tastes like a pear”), cinnamon (a natural substitute for chemical rooting powder), aloe (for her sister who likes to make soap), and Buddha’s hand citrus (boiled to perfume the house. She breaks some off so I can smell it, and it’s divine. That is the word that comes immediately to mind. Divine). A pecan tree arches over us, which Pat appreciates, because it keeps the squirrels busy.

Pat calls all of this her “food forest,” and it’s organized into different sections.

The fruit trees are on one side, with scrub plants at their feet. There is a place for vegetables, for herbs. A butterfly garden. Raised beds. One side with woodchips that stays colder and another with bricks, which retain heat. Everywhere, organic matter (egg shells, worm castings, compost, coffee grounds) lays over the dirt. “Don’t mix the coffee grounds with the soil,” she cautions. “It’s too acidic. Just lay it on top.”

There is a greenhouse where tiny shoots poke their heads above black dirt. There is a patio corner Pat envisions as a “meditation spot,” where people can light lavender candles and sit with a cup of tea (she makes four kinds: hibiscus, fennel, lemongrass and ginger) and just relax. In fact, that’s what Pat loves most about gardening. “It’s relaxation,” she says. “Oh my God, it’s so much relief. Just a peace of mind when you’re stressed. I make a little tea, and I sit in the garden and chill. I just sit there.” She points out a photograph of bright pink flowers that a local artist has promised to paint as a mural in the meditation spot. “That’s if she comes back in time,” she says.

“In time for what?” I ask.

She sighs. “My landlord’s been talking about selling all the houses on this block.”

We stop our tour and sit at a table in the center of the food forest, amid birdsong and wind chimes and a slow, laden breeze. I ask Pat if she feels gifted, to do all of this.

Opposite Smith cooks, dries, preser ves and stores everything that comes out of her small patch of earth. Leaves, flowers and other bits of plant that might seem inedible are savored in the Smith household. She shares this knowledge with friends, neighbors and her online community.

GARLIC CHIVES

CHINESE CABBAGE

ICEBURG LETTICE

LIME FLOWER

LEMON LEAF

CELERY

BEET GREENS

POPCORN SUNFLOWER

CILANTRO FENNEL FROND

APPLE MINT

CHINESE BROCCOLI FLOWER FAVA BEANS

OLIVE ROSEMARY SPEARMINT

COLLARDS

LEEK SOUP Recipe from “Punkin's Home-Grown Cooking” by Patricia Smith SERVES 6 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 leeks, rinsed and chopped 1 celery stalk, diced 32 ounces chicken broth 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped 1 - 2 carrots, chopped 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and celery and sauté for 15 minutes.

2. Lower heat and stir frequently, then add chicken broth and remaining ingredients. Return to a boil then lower heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender.

3. Serve as is or puree in blender for a smoother soup. Can be enjoyed warm or cold.

“When I’ll be able to teach people and really get them into growing their own food, then I’ll feel like I accomplished something because I shared what I know to somebody else and they’re actually growing their own food,” she says. “There’s nothing like growing your own food.”

Teaching is her true passion. “When I teach about gardenin’, I’m all pumped and I’m all hyped. I love the teaching.

I want to do workshops on all kinds of things. Cuttings, grafting, how to do organics, natural stuff.” In addition to her YouTube channel (pat g smith), Pat has two Facebook pages: Pat Smith Homestead Living and The Wonderful Life of Tea. But she’s most proud of her new cookbook, “Punkin’s Home-Grown DUCK STRUDEL Cooking,” available on Amazon. Punkin is her mother’s nickname for her,

34 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

“because I was fat and short,” she says, and smiles.

Pat is known for this smile. “When I go to work, I smile all the time. People say, ‘Miss Pat, we love you ‘cause you always smilin’.’” And she does love working at Shipshape, where she’s been for over two years, following four years at Feeding the Gulf Coast. She finds the hydroponic methods different, interesting and easy.

And “Shipshape is like a family,” she says.

“When I was in a car wreck, they all came to the hospital and to the house to check on me, to take care of me. I love ‘em all, and that’s hard to find.”

But beneath her smile runs an undercurrent of serious stress. There is the prospect of the impending move. There is keeping up with her son Patrick’s many doctor’s appointments and still making it

to work, lifting Patrick (now age 20) in and out of his wheelchair and the arm and back pain it causes her, and protecting herself and her two daughters, Victoria (age 12) and Destiny (age 10), when he lashes out. Patrick has started refusing to go outside, so Pat can’t take the girls to the park, which saddens her. “I feel like the girls have to suffer a little bit because they don’t go anywhere,” she says.

It is Patrick’s upcoming birthday, however, that worries Pat the most. In August he will turn 21, and Medicaid will no longer cover the cost of his aide, so Pat will have to give up her job and income at Shipshape if she can’t find someone to stay with him. “There’s so much stress,” she says, shaking her head. “Just so much stress.” She wants to teach more than anything. She wants to share her

cookbook, to pass on her love of growing, to improve the lives around her. But how can she make that happen?

I’m about to leave and we’re standing on either side of her chain link fence, the gate between us. Pat is telling me about her current challenge (making tea bags) and new things she wants to try: spawning mushrooms, growing sour sap for its curative properties and cooking with “miracle fruit” that makes everything taste sweet so you don’t have to use sugar. She recently cut heirloom squash into slices that resembled peaches, added them to a peach pie and didn’t tell the girls until after they ate it. We laugh, appreciating the mom trick. “I do that a lot,” she says. “Think of a recipe and then figure out how I can change it to be healthier. But I’ll be honest, sometimes I go to McDonald’s. I know it’s not good for them, but sometimes I’m just so tired.”

I hold onto the fence with one hand.

There are herbs tangled in my jacket pocket that Pat has shown me along the way and a loaf of bread tucked into my arm. The sky is leaden above us. “What will you do,” I ask, “if you have to leave all this?” But Pat has a secret for relocating plants too, one that she does let me record: “To keep your plants from stressin’ out, use one aspirin per gallon of water. See that Meyer lemon?” She points to the tree, and I nod. “I moved that sucker seven times. It’s 10 years old, and I pop it out the ground every time, put it in the ground every time, and I use that aspirin and water every time.”

So if the landlord sells her house and Pat is forced to move, her Meyer lemon will be fine. And Pat will be fine, too.

Earlier, I asked if she ever failed at anything, and she replied, “Oh, I fail all the time. But I’m determined to make it work, so I go at it again.” I should be heartened by this, I guess, but instead I carry her determination with me like a stone. There is an injustice to it, that Pat has to fight so hard to share her extraordinary gifts with the world. MB

Postscript: I caught up with Pat by phone on the last day of March. The artist had set a date to paint the pink mural in her garden, but the coronavirus had forced her to cancel, and Pat was laid off for the same reason.

She had filed for unemployment and called several times to check the status, but no luck. Yet Pat was upbeat as always, ticking off everything now blooming and ripening in her garden. Her mind brimmed with ideas about new things to grow, new recipes to try. A YouTube friend had just sent a box of seeds that included sunchokes.

“You grow them in a pot and they look like sunflowers,” she told me, “but you cook them down like potatoes.” As my mind struggled to picture this, Pat was already describing two kinds of veggie burgers she’ d created. “My imagination never stops going,” she said, laughing. Like a true artist, I thought. Albert Einstein claimed “ imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Pat G. Smith, however, wields both.

Above Nothing complements a pot of spring soup like homemade bread and herb butter. Smith fills her fresh bread loaves with sun-dried tomatoes from her garden, a sweet taste of summer any time of the year. She churns her own butter with a stand-up mixer and stirs in whatever herbs are fresh in season.

may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 35

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH HERB RUB SERVES 6

The herb rub, which seals in the tenderloin’s juiciness, is homegrown, making this meal all the more satisfying.

2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons dry oregano 1 1/4 teaspoons ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme 1 1/3 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 1-1/4-pound pork tenderloin 2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix all dry ingredients to make the rub.

Sprinkle the rub on all sides of the pork tenderloin.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat and add the pork tenderloin.

Lightly brown on all sides, two minutes total cooking. Remove skillet to the preheated oven and cook for 25 - 30 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

GARLIC ASPARAGUS SERVES 6 4 cups water, divided 1/2 cup ice 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided 2 pounds asparagus 3 teaspoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1. In a large bowl, combine two cups of water with the ice.

Set aside.

2. In a large skillet, add two remaining cups of water and one teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Add the asparagus and cook for one minute. Remove from skillet and place in the bowl of ice water for one minute to stop the cooking. Remove from ice water and lay on paper towels or a kitchen rag to dry.

3. Drain and dry the skillet, then place over medium-high heat again. Add the olive oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Add the asparagus and toss to cook, approximately 1 minute. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Serve warm or room temperature.

GARLIC PEPPER ROASTED POTATOES SERVES 4 13 small red potatoes, quartered 1/3 cup olive oil 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 5 cloves) 1/4 tablespoon red pepper flakes 1 1/2 tablespoons parsley

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lay potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and top with the next five ingredients. Toss until well coated, then spread evenly across pan.

2. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring twice during cooking. Remove from oven and garnish with parsley before serving.

Above Fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and flowers fill Smith’s garden to the brim. She shares her love and knowledge of plants with anyone who is interested, including her daughters.

may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 37

38 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

PEOPLE | BAY LIFE

The Ride of Your Life A local cycling novice learns there’s no such thing as a “free” beer. text by JEFF GRILL

R

ay wonders if we need “special clothes.”

“I don’t see why,” I respond. “We’re just riding our bikes.”

On a bright May morning in Fairhope, Ray and I, both Oakleigh Garden District neighbors, retired academics and Medicare enrollees, stand outside Page & Palette, a local bookstore, amazed at the throng of cyclists filling block-long De La Mare Avenue. I ask Ray, “Are you sure we should be here?” This is our first ride together, The Good Life Ride, a 37-mile, one-way trek from Fairhope to Gulf Shores ending at LuLu’s, a fun bar-restaurant that promises a free beer to each participant.

“We’ll be fine,” Ray answers.

But as we scan the mostly younger, mostly spandex-clad crowd of 200-plus cyclists and their fancy road bikes with

drop handlebars and lollipop pedals requiring special shoes that make clip-clop sounds when they walk, we realize we do not fit in. Seeing their slim torsos, their skinny saddles on bikes with even skinnier tires, I know I am out of my league with my shorts, T-shirt, tennis shoes and 40-pound cruiser with its comfy saddle, wide tires and grip shifters. At least I have a helmet and the heart rate monitor that I wear to the gym.

Ray’s mountain bike has more gears than my Townie’s seven. His shifters are paddles. Plus, Ray has strong legs from riding the hills of Montrose between Daphne and Fairhope.

My experience consists of leisurely Sunday afternoon group rides, “strolls-on-wheels” we call them, in downtown Mobile, offering no hills and demanding little effort, but providing lots of conversation. I can ride a bike, but I’m not a “cyclist.”

Nearing the start time, the organizer, Charlene, a petite,

may 2020 | mobilebaymag.com 39

energetic woman, makes announcements about rules of the road and safety, then signals the National Anthem to be played.

At 7 a.m., the cyclists roll out.

I am terrified. I have no experience with a mass start.

“Let’s move to the back,” Ray urges.

I nod. At least some riders there have bikes and clothes like ours.

“Ray, I’m nervous. We’re too close together.”

Ray doesn’t see the problem.

In a few moments, the lead riders are gone. As the street clears, our group begins to move but so slowly I have to keep one foot on the ground to propel myself until I can build enough speed to keep my balance, hop onto my saddle and start to pedal. Half a block in, and barely settled, I make a wobbly, 90-degree left turn onto Section Street. In another block comes the sharp right turn onto Fairhope Avenue. My heart pounds from the stress of the cramped crowd and the tight turns. I like straight roads, easy turns and plenty of room.

Ray pulls well ahead of me, but several riders trail me. Out of town, where Fairhope Avenue becomes County Road 48, I gain a little speed and pedal hard to catch up. My heavy bike isn’t helping, and the straight road that borders flat fields of crops breaking through damp soil offers no protection from the unexpected, gusting crosswinds that make controlling my bike difficult. I hear the click of a shift and the clunk of a chain dropping onto a different cog as younger, spandexed riders call out, “On the left,” and a line of four cyclists blows past me, bent over, their hands in the drops for an aerodynamic profile against the wind.

I spot Ray up ahead, waiting at the side of the road for me to catch up and catch my breath.

“Thanks … for waiting … Ray,” I gasp.

Ray smiles but never utters an annoyed comment about my lack of speed. This becomes the motif of the ride. Every few miles, Ray builds a lead and then waits patiently. I pedal hard, with my hands sweating so much I can barely shift. My legs tire as my heart rate rises to a steady, dangerous 175. Ray waits once more at

40 mobilebaymag.com | may 2020

the crest of a low, easy bridge. I struggle to move my monster up the slight grade.

“Thanks, Ray,” I cough. “I … don’t … think … I … can … make … it.”

“We’ll get to the rest stop in a couple of miles,” Ray responds.

We stay on the bridge several minutes for me to partially recover.

This time, Ray rides with me, and about 9:15 a.m., we arrive at Jesse’s Restaurant, the halfway point, in Magnolia Springs. After only 18 miles, I am exhausted, gasping for air, my legs now useless, as I lean heavily on my bike.

“Ray, I … can’t … ” I know Ray wants to finish the ride, but not alone. Ray knows I am done for the day.

My wife, Linda, is bringing Ray’s wife to meet us at LuLu’s for the after-party. I call her, barely able to speak.

“We’re … at … Jesse’s … I‘m … gonna … die … Come … get … us,” I wheeze.

In the 15 minutes we wait for Linda and Stella to arrive, several stragglers roll in, refresh themselves and pedal on to LuLu’s. My heart rate and breathing slow to near-normal. When Linda and Stella arrive, Ray and I hoist our bikes onto the rack at the back of Linda’s CRV, and we climb in beside our wives. We should return to Fairhope to Ray’s vehicle. Instead, we head to LuLu’s for the best free beer I ever had.

On Tuesday, I buy a new, lighter hybrid bike. In August, I buy a real road bike. MB

Jeff Grill is a retired professor of special education, an avid cyclist, bread baker and writer based in Mobile.

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HOME | GARDENING

Ask the Experts Get the answers to your spring planting questions from the owners of three local gardening centers. interviews by BRECK PAPPAS

Blair Kovar Blair’s Nursery & Gifts 9001 Dawes Lane North blairsnurseryandgifts.com

CORAL DRIFT ROSES

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any of us in the Bay area have recently found ourselves with the unexpected gift of a little more time on our hands.

Some might spend that time reading, others exercising, but many will look at their gardens and imagine what could be. With the help of three local plant experts, Blair Kovar, Wanda Wilsey Brown and Ewa Wiggins, slip on those gardening gloves and make the spring of 2020 one to remember.

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What’s your favorite lowmaintenance owering plant right now and how should it be cared for Blair: y favorite sun tolerant low maintenance flowering plants are Drift roses. hey come in a variety of colors and have an abundance of blooms. Drift roses are dwarf low growing roses that bloom in the spring summer and fall. ith plenty of sunlight and regular fertili ing these roses will thrive in the ground or in a container.

Wanda: Our favorite lowmaintenance plant for seasonal

knock your socks off color is Sun atiens. t blooms all season in sun or shade rain or shine great in containers or the landscape. ust be sure to plant in good dirt and ust water if they wilt.

Ewa: We have many favorites but as far as outdoor perennials we love gaura rhythm and blues salvia homestead verbena and exican heather. ive them plenty of sun and well draining soil. ertili e them with a slow-release to eliminate the headache of fre uent li uid feeding.

Wanda Wilsey Brown Wilsey Nursery 13477 State Highway 181, Fairhope

Ewa Wiggins Stokley Garden Express 1451 Government St. stokleygardenexpress.com

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PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

HOME | GARDENING

A COLORFUL GARDEN BED IN OAKLEIGH HELD BACK BY OLD MOBILE BRICK

hat is a plant that has fallen out of favor in Southern gardens that needs to make a comeback

BURPEE’S HONEY CUCUMBER

Blair: Bridalwreath spirea is one of my favorite low-maintenance shrubs that deserve more credit for its beautiful white spring blooms.

Wanda: he main plant that is making a comeback in Southern gardens with good reason is the Southern ndica a alea. his is the class of a aleas that made obile the A alea ity the large blooming early season a aleas. hese a aleas put our beloved city on the map!

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

Ewa: onfederate rose rose of Sharon and banana magnolia are a few plants that stick out in my mind.

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on keeping those weeds down controlling insects and staking or stabili ing vining veggies and tomatoes. hat kind of maintenance should we be doing to our yards in ay and une Blair: Be sure you are treating your lawn and plants for insects and fungi. Also it’s very important to keep your new shrubs trees and lawn from drying out.

s there a vegetable variety you’re really excited about this season that people can plant in ay Blair: am excited to be able to plant the new honey cucumber plant by Burpee. he honey cucumber produces a smooth skin and has a crispy honey taste.

Wanda: t’s too late for tomato seeds. ow buy tomato plants already up and ready to produce. hey have a short window to produce so it’s better to buy plants. reat time to buy starter plants of peppers s uash cucumbers watermelons and okra. e wish everyone a great harvest!

Ewa: By ay most vegetable gardens are planted so work

Wanda: n the months of ay and une if you haven’t already fed your plants and grass now is the time. se a slow release high nitrogen fertili er. rune back spring blooming plants such as a aleas. f you have other non blooming plants prune and feed them. hey will reward you next year.

Ewa: n ay and une weeds will be actively growing. ur lawns need an application of eed and eed along with regular irrigation during times of no rain.

watering their plants.

Wanda: he ugly truth hey will go inside turn on their air conditioners and forget about the investment they made in their yard. he truth is that beautiful yards take an investment in the heat. ontinue to care for your yard even in the unbearable months. our yard will pay you back.

Ewa: Scalping their lawns and not watering enough whether it’s their lawns their beds or containers.

Also new plantings made during this month will need regularly scheduled irrigation. hat advice would you have for someone that’s interested in starting a landscaping pro ect but is daunted by the options and by gardening in general

What’s the most common mistake gardeners will make this month

Blair: he best advice can give to someone interested in a landscaping pro ect is to consult with someone who knows plants and landscaping in our area. Be sure to ask plenty of uestions about what plants are best for our conditions and climate.

Blair: he most common mistake see gardeners make during the month of ay is over or under

Wanda: ur best advice is to do a landscape in stages. ick a section and plant it. Do a pro ect that will

make an impact but t your budget.

A beautiful yard takes time. ust make sure you plant everything in really good dirt. ood dirt makes the difference between live or die.

Ewa: hey can come to us with pictures of their beds with measurements details of the sun exposure and soil type. ith all of that information we can make recommendations for their landscape. Besides that we have a landscaper in house that can go onsite for consultations. hat garden tool or accessory could you not live without Blair: y favorite gardening accessory would have to be my Atlas gloves.

Wanda: e all agree great gloves and great pruning shears. e all use Bamboo gloves because they breathe. e use Dramm runing Shears because they are sharp and to the point.

CONEFLOWER

items are selling such as planters and statuary.

Ewa: ight now people are installing more water features bubblers fountains bird baths and sprucing up different outdoor areas with containers using colorful plants and decorative pottery. eople are also decorating their porches with really cool lighting as well as wind chimes and rain chains.

Blair: A few of my favorite low maintenance butter y and bee attracting plants are butter y bushes cone owers le and milkweed.

Wanda: ry lantana salvia verbena butter y weed and exican heather. et me ust say that we are so respec ul of our pollinators we choose to spray our plants a er the pollinators have gone to bed and before the re ies come out. e love our pollinators.

MILKWEED

f my goal is to attract butter ies or bees to my garden what would you suggest that can be planted in ay or une

Ewa: We carry an assortment of pollinator attractant plants whether they be for birds butter ies hummingbirds or bees.

A few of the plants we would recommend are milkweed passion ower vine butter y bush lantana duranta gaura and many more.

Are garden centers affected by the statewide shutdowns Ewa: Since we provide herbs veggies and home gardening supplies to the public garden centers are considered an essential business and will remain open until ordered to do otherwise.

Wanda: ilsey is open seasonally now so check with us before you come. lowers veggie plants and gardening in general have become a sort of bright spot and source of calm and happiness for a lot of people during this time and it’s been an absolute pleasure to behold. MB

Aside from plants what kinds of decorations xtures or garden trends are really popular right now Blair: e have seen a large increase in wind chimes this past year.

Wanda: Aside from plants we are selling lots of pottery both gla ed and terra cotta. Also concrete

THE PERFECT POTTING TABLE IN MCGREGOR OAKS

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

Ewa: e personally love my weed eater my edger and my blower. hey all get used very fre uently. ore important than any of those are my gloves. veryone needs to be wearing gloves in the garden and protecting their hands.

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text by MAGGIE LACEY photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

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s I step over the threshold of Jessica and Scott Delaney’s Spring Hill house, two little boys skirt past me into the yard, headed out for a walk in the neighborhood. It is the first day school has been cancelled because of the pandemic, and no one is quite sure what to do with themselves yet. Jessica is scrambling to do one last grocery run before the family hunkers down, hit that last orthodontics appointment before offices close and gather the children’s books from their teachers. Teetering on the brink of a life-changing experience, the Delaneys graciously welcome me and our photographer into their home. As I pass through the stunning gray door with a fabulous center knob, I can’t help but think this would be a wonderful place to be quarantined, should it come to that.

THE DELANEYS’ KITCHEN SITS RIGHT OFF THE LIVING AREA, WITH BEAUTIFUL LIGHT FROM TALL WINDOWS LOOKING OVER THE BACKYARD AND EASY-WEARING SPLIT BRICK FLOORS. THE BACKSPLASH IS ARABESQUE

BY ANN SACKS. THE PENDANT LIGHTS ARE BY VISUAL COMFORT. THE BLUE AND WHITE TOUCHES CONTINUE FROM THE DINING ROOM INTO THE KITCHEN AND BREAKFAST AREA. A TRADITIONAL TABLE AND CHAIRS ANCHOR A CLEAN AND SOPHISTICATED ROMAN SHADE MADE FROM SCHUMACHER FABRIC AND TRIMMED IN THEIR MANDEVILLE TAPE IN PACIFIC BLUE.

Making it Home

LEFT- DESIGNER ANN INGE

The couple started their marriage in a small home not far away in Ravine Woods, but after the first two of their three sons came along (Sutton and William), their starter home began to burst at the seams. During their search for a larger home, they stopped by this property on a whim, not expecting to be impressed. The rooms felt dated and the heavy curtains drab, but the bones were good and they saw possibility. With the help of architectural designer Robert McCown and interior designer Ann Inge of Design House, a new home for their busy family slowly came to life.

The ideally located, 1960s ranch needed a facelift and a new flow.

McCown shifted a fireplace, added French doors, a master suite and a porch that is the stuff of outdoor living dreams.

“With three boys, we live outside on our porch,” Jessica says. “We have a TV out there and spend afternoons watching golf or football.” Between the grill, the firepit and a secret gate leading to the neighbors, there is no shortage of entertainment for her sons and husband.

The brilliance of the house, however, is the perfect flow between the living

(SEATED) AND HOMEOWN-

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ER JESSICA DELANEY

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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER ROBERT MCCOWN SHIFTED A FIREPLACE IN THE LIVING ROOM AND ADDED A PAIR OF FRENCH DOORS LEADING TO THE HOMEY SCREEN PORCH. RUSTIC WOOD BEAMS, ALSO ADDED DURING THE RENOVATION, SERVE AS A CONTRAST TO THE HOME’S ORIGINAL CREAM-COLORED WOOD PANELING.

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WHAT WAS ONCE THE KEEPING ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN NOW HOLDS STAIRS LEADING TO A NEW GUEST SUITE AND PLAYROOM FOR THE KIDS. AN INVITING DOUBLE BENCH IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO TAKE IN A GOOD BOOK. THE ROOM ALSO DOUBLES AS OVERFLOW SPACE WHEN ENTERTAINING. ANN INGE ELEVATED AN ORDINARY DRESSER WITH CHIC NEW KNOBS BY ADDISON WEEKS, CREATING THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A SOPHISTICATED VIGNETTE. ORIGINAL LOCAL ART BY KELLEY OGBURN ANCHORS BLUE MING POTTERY AND A MODERN GLASS LAMP.

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spaces. Kitchen, dining, living and den drift seamlessly together, feeling connected yet distinct. It helps that the color palette and fabrics move from room to room as well. “We started with this blue Suzanne Tucker floral fabric on the pillows in the living room,” Ann remembers, “and designed from there. I always start a plan with great fabrics.”

The print made its way from the living room to the backs of the dining chairs, but the seats are indoor-outdoor. Let’s not forget the Delaneys have three boys.

“That’s one thing I love about working with Ann,” Jessica explains. “Her children are a little older than mine, so she has just lived through it! She knows what works and wears well.” Everything in the home is beautiful but livable.

More Than Just Design

A LARGE BAY WINDOW BRINGS SOFT LIGHT INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM EACH DAY. BENINGTON FABRIC BY NINA CAMPBELL INSPIRED THE DESIGN, MAKING ITS WAY ONTO SIDE CHAIRS, ROMAN SHADES AND A THROW PILLOW. THE PALE GREEN GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER BY THIBAULT ADDS LUXURIOUS TEXTURE. RECLAIMED DOUBLE DOORS LEAD YOU INTO THE MASTER BATH, WHERE ANN SACKS BASKETWEAVE TILE FLOORS AND A SOFT PALETTE OF FURNITURE AND RUGS KEEP A CALM AMBIANCE. SCONCES BY VISUAL COMFORT FLANK THE MARBLE AND WOOD-PANELED TUB.

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While the two women knew each other before working together, picking custom trims and designing for Jessica and Scott’s everyday life has certainly brought them closer as friends. So much so that when Jessica was pregnant with the couple’s third child, and not planning to find out the gender, Ann designed a surprise nursery for the family. Only the OB’s office and Ann knew the sex of the baby to come. When Warner was born, Ann had two days to get everything she had planned over to the house and installed before the Delaneys came home from the hospital. “I couldn’t wait to come home and see the space she had created. After years of having a genderneutral nursery, it was really fun to have a sweet little boy’s room for our last child.” When you work with a designer that you completely trust to know your taste, going with the flow feels natural.

As we take our time walking through each room of the house, talking with designer and homeowner together, I hear stories not just of fabrics and trims but also of the way a family lives, has fun together and takes care of one another.

Ann’s fabulous little design details all come together to make a comfortable — and beautiful — place for the Delaneys to call home. MB

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A SERENE GUEST SUITE AWAITS RELATIVES — JESSICA’S MOTHER OFTEN VISITS FROM BIRMINGHAM. A BEIGE CHECK BEDSKIRT FABRIC BY PINDLER COMPLEMENTS THE LUXURIOUS LINEN AND VELVET-TRIMMED BEDDING. THE FERN PATTERN WALLPAPER BY SANDERSON WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE GUEST BATHROOM. THE DELANEYS’ SON, WILLIAM, DREAMS OF FARAWAY PLACES EACH NIGHT UNDER HIS GALAPAGOS WALLPAPERED CEILING, PRINT BY ZOFFANY. MATOUK BEDDING AND A CUSTOM HEADBOARD IN A THIBAULT FABRIC FINISH A GROWN-UP BOY’S ROOM. A GROUPING OF FOUR CHAIRS MAKES THE PERFECT SPOT TO VISIT AFTER DINNER OR ENTERTAIN FRIENDS.

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DREAM REALIZED The Reehls’ modern farmhouse on Point Clear’s Lakewood golf course came about with a little help from their friends — and son.

text by BRECK PAPPAS

OPENING PHOTOS BY JUSTIN CORDOVA

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At the Point Clear home of Dwaylah and Rance Reehl, it’s sometimes hard to tell where “inside” ends and “outside” begins. Built on an elongated lot in the Lakewood subdivision, and overlooking three fairways of the Grand Hotel’s Lakewood Golf Club, the home was designed as a feast for the nature-seeker’s eye; its long and thin layout means that the home’s central areas are one room deep, allowing light from the front windows to dance through the home uninterrupted and right out the back windows.

“We don’t turn on a single light until dusk,” Dwaylah says, “and practically anywhere we stand, we can see an incredible view of the golf course because of the placement of the windows.

It’s a very transparent house.”

Retired from a career of early childhood education, Dwaylah says the home was built with a couple particular tykes in mind: “First and foremost, we wanted the home to be a place where family could visit for weeks at a time,” she says, noting the annual summertime visit from their two grandchildren from Raleigh, North Carolina. Rance, who’s worked as an area realtor for 36 years, says the couple wanted a home where they could entertain, especially since their own children are at an age when their friends are getting married and having kids — occasions primed for backyard fetes.

“We wanted a big back porch with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace,” Rance says. “Something with a nice, open flow.” And when it came time to put those ideas to paper, the Reehls knew exactly who to call.

Putting Together the Pieces At a local barbecue joint, architectural designer Robert McCown, of McCown Design, reached for a brown napkin and began to sketch. After having absorbed Rance’s vision for the home, and after a couple minutes of drawing, he snapped a photo on his phone and emailed the sketch to Rance.

“That first concept was pretty inspirational to us,” Rance says. “So we took that design and kept working from it.”

Enlisting McCown’s expertise was a no-brainer for the Reehls.

Rance and McCown are longtime friends and associates, having worked together on several projects, including the designing

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PHOTO BY JUSTIN CORDOVA

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and building of the Baldwin County Board of Realtors office in Robertsdale. McCown’s wife, Louise, had once worked as Rance’s righthand woman at Reehl Properties and (in a bizarre twist) was even taught second grade by Dwaylah.

“For Robert to be our architectural designer is amazing,” Dwaylah says. “We love his ability to look at a lot and envision what can sit there, how it can be used, how it will occupy the space.”

“We didn’t want any sheetrock in the house,” Rance adds, “so we did it all out of tongue and groove ceilings, shiplap and vertical boards on the walls, a lot of rustic wood, and old reclaimed brick for the fireplaces and hearth. Everything we looked for and wanted, Robert was able to put it together for us.” The result could be described as a playful modern farmhouse, “sort of a blend of English Tudor and French country — a clean European countryside design,” McCown says.

The Reehls also didn’t have to look very far to turn McCown’s design into brick and mortar, enlisting the services of their son Cameron of Reehlco Custom Homes in Fairhope. With Cameron’s affinity for textured features accentuated by clean, simple lines, the home is straightforward and masculine but marked by the occasional flourish. Hand-hewn timber beams soar across the ceiling in the kitchen and hallway. A black walnut mantle and shelves anchor Rance’s hunting “game” room. And everywhere

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“IT WAS OUR SON CAMERON’S IDEA TO GO WITH A DARK COLOR ON THE CABINETS. SINCE THE KITCHEN IS A THOROUGHFARE, IT MAKES THEM FEEL MORE LIKE FURNITURE THAN CABINETS.” – Dwaylah Reehl

in the window-heavy design is found appreciation; an appreciation for fox squirrels, for passing eagles, for large oak trees and for sunlight, which paints a different picture each hour of the day.

“We just feel so blessed to be in such a beautiful part of the world,” Dwaylah says. “Every afternoon when Rance comes home, the first thing that we do is go on a walk and just enjoy the natural beauty of this area.” Then, the couple returns to their home and flips on the first light of the day. MB

Opposite page Of the oversized galley kitchen, McCown says, “It’s a circulation point of the house, so we created a space that’s light and airy and open on both sides.” PHOTO BY BAILEY CHASTANG. This page, clockwise “Our long, rectangular dining room was designed to continue our tradition of hosting formal family dinners throughout the holidays,” Dwaylah says. PHOTO BY BAILEY CHASTANG. Rance and Dwaylah worked with Robert McCown to create a comfortable home with common spaces designed to accommodate visiting grandchildren and the occasional dinner guests. PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN. The couple’s favorite aspects of the kitchen are the Alabama marble countertops, hand-hewn timber beams and dark cabinets designed by their son, builder Cameron Reehl. PHOTO BY BAILEY CHASTANG

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Left Rance Reehl, an area realtor for 36 years, says that the back porch, complete with antique pine beams and brackets designed by Zach Deas of Deas Millwork, is where he and wife Dwaylah dine every night. PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN This page, clockwise Black walnut cabinetry steals the show in Rance’s “game” room. Mike Holler of Bon Secour’s Bricks Are US used reclaimed brick to construct the freestanding fireplace and outdoor cooking area. A “playful” roofline is a common feature in McCown designs: “I try to take simple, clean roof designs and peel them apart,” he says. PHOTOS BY BAILEY CHASTANG

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“WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT FELT TIMELESS AND YET UNIQUE TO THIS COMMUNITY. ROBERT ABSOLUTELY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH PULLING TOGETHER EVERYTHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO DWAYLAH AND ME.” – Rance Reehl

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Above The reclaimed antique oak hardwood floors throughout the whole house were milled in Millry, Alabama.

Opposite Furniture from Mobile’s Atchison’s Home and Pensacola’s Duh round out a cozy master bedroom, thanks to the interior design expertise of Lorna Huey at Lorna Huey Design. “The first thing I do in the morning is open up those curtains,” Dwaylah says. A freestanding Victoria & Albert volcanic limestone tub, purchased from Ferguson in Daphne, is the centerpiece of the elegant, naturally lit master bathroom. PHOTOS BY BAILEY CHASTANG

Keep an eye out this fall for the opening of Mobile Bay Magazine’s 2020 Inspiration Home in Fairhope — another collaboration between Robert McCown, Rance Reehl and Cameron Reehl.

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EXTRAS | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MOBILE COUNTY BLUEBERRIES. PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN

Marvelous May!

MAY 7

MAY 10

MAY 16

BEN RAINES: FINDING CLOTILDA 6 - 7 p.m. Award-winning journalist Ben Raines discusses the discovery of the Clotilda and its importance.

MOTHER’S DAY EVENING CONCERT 5:30 p.m. Treat mom to the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra’s annual performance. Bring a blanket and a picnic.

CHICAGO 7 p.m. One of the longest-running and best-selling groups of all time heads to the Gulf Coast.

FAIRHOPE PUBLIC LIBRARY FAIRHOPELIBRARY.ORG

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

THE WHARF ALWHARF.COM

MAY 9

MAY 12 - 17

MAY 22 - 25

MOBILE BEER & WINGS FESTIVAL 6 - 9 p.m. Enjoy wings, craft beer samples and a souvenir tastings glass.

ORANGE BEACH BILLFISH CLASSIC See boats bring in big fish for big bucks and trophies.

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION Honor those who have served or are currently serving with events all weekend.

USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK MOBILEWINGSANDBEER.COM

THE WHARF ORANGEBEACHBILLFISHCLASSIC.COM

OWA VISITOWA.COM

MAY 9 - 10

MAY 16

MAY 23

FOLEY ART IN THE PARK 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pick up original works from over 100 exhibitors.

THREE MILE CREEK FEST 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Enjoy a raptor show, a fishing tournament and more.

PEPSI BEACH BALL DROP Kick off summer at this event with fun for the whole family.

125 E. LAUREL AVE. FOLEYARTCENTER.COM

LANGAN PARK CREEKFEST.ORG

THE WHARF ALWHARF.COM

To have your event included in the online or print edition of Mobile Bay Magazine, email calendar@pmtpublishing.com.

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RESCHEDULED EVENTS “BIG FISH” AUGUST 14 - 30

CCTSHOWS.COM

HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL AUGUST 28 - 29

GULFCOASTBALLOONFESTIVAL.COM

BROOKS AND DUNN OCTOBER 24 ALWHARF.COM

“I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE” DECEMBER 3 - 20 THEATRE98.ORG

MAY 23 LIVING HISTORY MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Remember those who lost their lives in the War of 1812, WWI and WWII. FORT MORGAN FORT-MORGAN.ORG

MAY 23 LULUPALOOZA Noon - 9 p.m. Kick off summer with a day full of music.

LULU’S LULUBUFFETT.COM

MAY 24 CORNHOLE CLASSIC Enjoy food, drinks and a DJ while 16 teams compete for cash prizes.

OWA VISITOWA.COM

* Check event websites for most current status.

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[JUNE HIGHLIGHTS]

JUNE 5 LUKE BRYAN 7 p.m. The country superstar and American Idol judge comes back to the beach.

THE WHARF ALWHARF.COM

JUNE 4 - 14 “MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS” 7:30 p.m. Th - Sa. 2 p.m. Su. See the Mobile Theater Guild’s production of the musical based on the 1944 Judy Garland film. Tickets: $15 - $20.

MOBILE THEATRE GUILD MOBILETHEATREGUILD.ORG

DINOSAURS AROUND THE WORLD

MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART mobilemuseumofart.com

THE GULF COAST EXPLOREUM exploreum.com

THROUGH JULY 5

THROUGH MAY 10

SOUTHERN MASTERS II: MARION “PINKY” BASS, RUTH MILLER AND MIRIAM N. OMURA Explore how these three female Southern artists have mastered their mediums.

DINOSAURS AROUND THE WORLD Learn about the ways volcanic activity, plate techtonics and land bridges affected the ways the dinosaurs roamed the globe.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6 AN ART HISTORIAN COLLECTS: THE DAVID E. BRAUER COLLECTION View the collection of art historian David E. Brauer. His collection has been divided into four categories: European, Asian, American and UK artists.

THROUGH DECEMBER FOR CHILDREN 2020 This immersive exhibit has several hands-on features for children including a giant Lite Brite, miniature environments designed by local artists and more. * Check event websites for most current status.

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HISTORY MUSEUM OF MOBILE historymuseumofmobile.com

THROUGH OCTOBER 1 HISTORY OF MOBILE IN 22 OBJECTS Explore the history of the Port City that spans 300 years through this collection of 22 objects.

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

THROUGH JULY 4 RIGHT OFF THE ROYAL RUNWAY: CARNIVAL AND COUTURE View the chic and one-of-a-kind couture from Mardi Gras of the past.

JUNE 3 - JULY 29 WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS AT BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Sessions include discussions about home gardening and horticultural techniques. See the calendar at bellingrath.org for more details about the topics of each session.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

JUNE 5 CRAWFISH COOK-OFF 5 - 9 p.m. Celebrate the summer with crawfish, sides and beer from Fairhope Brewing Company. Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite.

Tickets: $5 - $25.

BLACKBURN PARK, BAY MINETTE NORTHBALDWINCHAMBER.COM

JUNE 6 CAMELLIA CLASSIC OPEN CAR SHOW 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Take in hundreds of classic and vintage automobiles.

Admission: $14 for adults; $8 for ages 5-12; free to Bellingrath members and to ages 4 and younger.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

FLORA-BAMA FISHING RODEO

[JUNE HIGHLIGHTS]

JUNE 6 KYSER MIREE FISHING TOURNAMENT Noon - 5 p.m. Compete for prizes in various categories at this event benefiting Wilmer Hall.

WEIGH STATION AT DAUPHIN ISLAND KYSERTOURNAMENT.COM

JUNE 8 WORLD OCEANS DAY 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Learn how to protect our environment. Tickets: $10 - $12.

DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB DISL.ORG/ESTUARIUM

JUNE 12 - 14 FLORA-BAMA FISHING RODEO Categories range from billfish to catfish.

There is also a spearfishing category.

FLORA-BAMA YACHT CLUB FLORABAMA.COM/FISHING-RODEO

JUNE 13 MOB CITY’S STRONGEST MAN III 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Watch contestants compete in various strongman events, including deadlift (state record eligible), keg press for reps, keg carry for distance, keg over bar for reps and front hold for time. Enjoy live music, beer, food trucks and more.

SERDA BREWING COMPANY MOBILE.ORG/EVENTS

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HISTORY | ARCHIVES

The St. Mary’s Enigma A 19th-century painting of a warship sailing into Mobile Bay offers a small dose of history — and a large serving of mystery. text by JOHN SLEDGE

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ike any respectable body of water, Mobile Bay boasts its share of historic marine art. Some of these paintings are well known, such as William Heysham Overend’s spectacular “An August Morning with Farragut” (1883), while others are not. Among the latter is a handsome mid-19th century canvas of the USS St. Mary’s coursing into the Bay, flags flying, crewmen on deck and dolphins cavorting off her bow. This picture was brought to my attention recently when local developer Mike Rogers

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acquired a reproduction. The original’s location is unknown.

As usual with maritime art, the ship’s flags provide much helpful information. To begin with, the large 30-star United States flag narrows the picture’s probable dates.

This banner was adopted on May 29, 1848, with Wisconsin’s admission to the Union and lasted until California joined three years later. The white pennant at the vessel’s mainmast displays her name, and the starcrowded blue Union Jack at her foremast confirms her to be a Navy ship.

The picture’s bottom border features elegant but cracked lettering that reads: “Alex Milliken Commd’r Entering the harbour of Mobile. Evans. M. Painter.” The name Milliken presents a conundrum, however. There is no Alex (or Alexander) Milliken listed in the era’s naval records. Nor is there a Milliken among the vessel’s many captains. Who was he? Until further information emerges, he must remain a mystery.

The painting’s signature also requires a little sleuthing. The painting is typical of

James Guy Evans, a self-taught Louisiana artist who was active between 1835 and 1860. Evans was born in New York City in 1809. During the early 1830s, he served in the Marine Corps and after his discharge visited Cuba, briefly lived in Mobile and finally settled in New Orleans.

The “M. Painter” after his name probably stands for “Marine Painter,” since that was how he preferred to be professionally known. During the autumn of 1850, for example, a Daily Orleanian reporter paid the artist a visit at his Poet Street address and admiringly wrote, “Our next door neighbor, J. G. Evans, is certainly a capital marine painter. He has in his studio some splendid objects of art, well entitled to approbation.” Evans enjoyed modest success and enhanced his income by painting houses and ornamental signs.

More than 100 of his canvases have been identified, a few held by institutions, such as the Peabody Museum and the Louisiana State Museum.

Happily, the St. Mary’s service history is more straightforward than her elusive Capt. Milliken or her thinly documented artist. She was built at the Washington Navy Yard during the early 1840s with an overall length of 149 feet and a beam of 37 feet. She carried 18 guns and was bark rigged, which Evans’s painting shows.

Bark rigged ships featured fore and aft sails at their mizzenmasts, which made them maneuverable in tight bays and rivers.

Immediately after commissioning, the St. Mary’s was dispatched to the Gulf where hostilities loomed with Mexico. She saw extensive action during the Mexican War and added her broadsides to the siege of Veracruz in 1847. In between fighting and blockading, the St. Mary’s made visits to friendly ports like Pensacola, New Orleans, Galveston and Mobile. She was transferred to the Pacific in 1848 and served there for 24 years. She then returned east and, after a stint as a school ship, was finally scrapped in 1908. MB John S. Sledge is the author of “The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History.”

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HISTORY | ARCHIVES

Bringing Us Together Mobile memories shared on Facebook provide a nostalgic look back in time. text by L. WAYNE HICKS

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embers of a fast-growing online group are grateful to reminisce, waxing nostalgic over photos of Mobile from long ago. Remember when the Bankhead Tunnel opened? How about when photographers used to prowl Downtown streets and snap pictures of people walking by? Were you around when the war effort swelled Mobile’s population?

The Facebook group, Mobile Alabama Nostalgia “Back In The Day,” marked its fifth anniversary in March. The community’s interest in the group is clear; during one eight-week period earlier this year, more than 800 new members joined.

“It was originally started as an idea for baby boomers in the Mobile area,” says Ben C. Preston, group administrator. While not a native of Mobile, Preston has lived here since 1951 — he was 8 years old. He grew up to become a Marine, sell real estate and operate various businesses. He took over running the group a couple of months after it started, when it had a scant 120 members.

Now, with 23,000 members, the group has expanded to include photos of events and places that predate the baby boomers, such as when Confederate soldiers paraded through Mobile in 1906.

“The site is addictive to anyone with an interest in Mobile’s history,” says Tom McGehee, museum director of the Bellingrath Home. McGehee moved to the Port City from Bronxville, New York, in 1978, but he grew up hearing about this history from his father, a native of Mobile.

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Left Four schoolgirls from Baker Graded School, pictured in 1910, pose during what appears to be an exciting field trip to the Mobile Yacht Club at Monroe Park.

PHOTO FROM ANNE RANDOLPH CRICHTON, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY

Below The Roxy Theatre, once located on St. Stephen’s Road, opened in 1939 and closed in the mid-’80s. ERIK OVERBEY COLLECTION, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

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A post about the Bankhead Tunnel’s opening in 1941 prompted this response from Campbell Rayford: “My father, Howard Rayford, was the first one to pay the toll through the tunnel at the opening. My sister has the quarter today, as a charm on her charm bracelet. He was asked to pay the last toll when they ended the toll charge. It’s our family’s claim to fame!”

Talk of the tunnel prompted Gayle Richards Alexander to add: “The dirt excavated while building the tunnel was given to Ashland Place United Methodist Church. It was used to build up the ground to make the foundation level. So, our church sits on Mobile River mud!”

The slideshow of photos Preston compiled of the Bankhead Tunnel found an audience far beyond the membership of the Facebook group and racked up about 80,000 views.

“I know we have teachers and professors

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using some of our stories in their classrooms,” Preston says, “and I’ve seen copies of my work shared on hundreds of other websites.”

He counts as members in the group people from across the United States and from 10 foreign countries. The photos Preston posts come from members or belong in the public domain. For one post, he shared a 10-minute government documentary about Mobile from 1943, called “War Town,” which showed the dramatic influx of people swarming into the area to join the war effort.

“I remember all of this so well!” 92-year-old Mobile resident Euna Newell commented.

Younger members have shared many memories about the days when they dressed up and rode a bus into Downtown.

There, they would spend the day shopping

at Kress or Woolworth’s or Hammel’s Department Store or simply feeding peanuts to the squirrels in Bienville Square.

Photographers hoping to sell pictures went through rolls of film snapping shots of busy sidewalks, mainly those along Dauphin and Royal streets.

“I remember going Downtown to shop, and my mother made me wear my best Sunday dress and Mary Janes,” Melanie Houseknecht wrote. “There were so many places to shop.”

Gary Taylor remembered, “Woolworth’s had the best popcorn,” and Faye Johnston noted, “I remember these streets and shops and all the times my parents and I shopped in them. We walked these streets and made memories of a lifetime.”

The passage of time carries sorrows about

the disappearance of so many fixtures of old Mobile. Johnny’s Drive-In restaurant has vanished from the Loop where it once stood. Movie theaters that once enjoyed a steady flow of customers are gone, including the Azalea, the Crescent and the Roxy. Brookley Air Force Base shut down a half-century ago. Mobile’s electric streetcars stopped running in 1940, their tracks pulled up for scrap metal needed during World War II. “Like many of you,” Preston wrote on Facebook, “my aging great-grandmom would sit on the front porch and tell me so many stories about traveling by horse, heating the old wooden house with only a fireplace, using outhouses and boards to sit on to use the bathroom … Discovering these

photos and hearing from other elderly folks brings history to life and validates their stories. Building this site has become a labor of love for me personally.”

As long as Preston continues to solicit memories from members of the group, what’s missing from old Mobile won’t ever really be forgotten. As one member, Betty B. Graham, put it: “Lawd, how I miss the old days but am grateful for the wonderful memories! Love me some Mobile.” MB

Clockwise from top left Mobile newsboy, 1914. PHOTO COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Dauphin Street at Bienville Square, 1901. PHOTO COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Hammel’s window display, 1953. WILSON C. BURTON COLLECTION, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA. Flyer for the Mobile Bears’ 1953 season. MOBILE PRESS-REGISTER. Byrd’s Rollerdrome on Halls Mill Road. PHOTO COURTESY BEN C. PRESTON. Woolworth’s in downtown Mobile, circa 1950. ERIK OVERBEY COLLECTION, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY,

A fourth-generation native of Mobile, L. Wayne Hicks now lives in Denver. He has worked for newspapers in Florida and Colorado and written numerous articles about historical events and people for various websites and magazines.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA. An early 20th-century dip at Fairhope Pier. ERIK OVERBEY COLLECTION, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

World War II efforts at Brookley Air Force Base. PHOTO COURTESY BEN C. PRESTON.

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THE ARTS | LITERATURE

Beauty for a Day Though sometimes short in bloom, the resilient daylily is long in memory. excerpt from the book THEY CALL ME OR ANGE JUICE by AUDREY MCDONALD ATKINS illustration by SAR AH BAUMANN

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here may come a time when you find yourself winding down a two-lane country road. And along that road you may see a field. And in that field you may see an odd grouping of bright flame-colored flowers.

Meet Hemerocallis fulva, otherwise known as the common orange daylily or roadside daylily. This tangerine titan of perennials is considered by some to be a weed, an invasive species. But weeds don’t grow in perfectly straight lines. And weeds don’t grow in the shape of corners.

You see, these daylilies mark the foundations where front porches once stood, where families lived, where generations were born and died. These rows are an attempt to bring beauty to a life that was probably not always beautiful and was more likely harder than the ground from which these blossoms erupt. The hardy nature of the daylily mirrors the hardy souls of country folk who would rather scratch out a living on their own ground than become beholden to another.

Granny loved the daylily and planted hundreds of different varieties around her home. Along with the common orange there were lilies with single, double, and spider petals, some with ruffles, some with “eyes.” Lilies in every color of the rainbow from the palest peach to purples so dark they were very nearly black. Lilies bearing names like “Daring

Deception,” “Chicago Blackout,” and “Emerald Dew.” There were daylilies that had been divided and traded for other varieties. Some were store-bought — ordered from catalogs and anxiously awaited. One was even a special hybrid cultivated by another local lily enthusiast as a gift to commemorate the birth of a granddaughter, me. We watched for buds to blossom, not wanting to miss a special showing that, twenty-four hours later, would become a soggy, wilted shadow of its former glory. We went out early to pick them for a special Sunday bouquet or to show off in the annual flower show.

Granny has been gone from us for many years now, but the lilies she cultivated so carefully continue to bloom with veracity, even in the face of South Alabama’s sun and heat, hurricane and drought. I’m sure their myriad colors still bring joy to those who gaze upon them. And I know that their blossoms will ever greet the morning sun long after we have joined Granny beyond the clouds.

And one day her carefully cultivated flower beds will be reduced to random patches of flowers by the road. Although its name means “beauty for a day,” there are countless years of history lost to books, lost to us, that are commemorated only by these lilies in fields. That is why this plain Jane perennial is no more a weed than the mighty oak. For even though its blooms may be fleeting, its rows will ever endure to mark a time in history that wood, stone, and mortar could not. MB

Born and raised in Citronelle, Atkins shares stories about growing up and living in the South in her book, “They Call Me Orange Juice,” and at her blog audreyatkinswriter.com.

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HISTORY | ASK MCGEHEE

What pandemics have previously affected Mobile? text by TOM MCGEHEE

Throughout the 19th century, Mobile and the South survived despite numerous outbursts of health threats, including typhoid, cholera and tuberculosis. The deadliest of that century, however, was yellow fever, which arrived seemingly without warning in the early summers and then disappeared with the first frosts of autumn. In 1878 alone, 20,000 died in the Mississippi Valley out of an estimated 120,000 sufferers.

During the hot and humid summer of 1819, one-third of Mobile’s population died, overloading the existing burial grounds and leading to the establishment of Church Street Graveyard. The 1839 epidemic took old and young, rich and poor. Millionaire Henry Hitchcock, whose generosity had helped construct both the Government Street Presbyterian Church and Barton Academy, fell victim and was one of the early inhabitants of New City Cemetery, which has long been known as Magnolia.

Dr. Josiah Nott, who would later help to establish the state’s first medical college in Mobile, suspected that swarms of mosquitoes were to blame, but no one was listening. The prevailing notion was that the fevers were caused by fogs or “miasmas” rising from the damp earth after nightfall.

Cures ranged from sucking on lemons all day to drinking large doses of coffee laced with whiskey. Others decided to lock the fever out by shutting themselves up behind locked doors and windows despite the summer heat. As miserable as this must have been, it may have at least kept the culprit — the mosquitoes — out.

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Shotgun Quarantines Physicians were hesitant to announce a case of yellow fever as it would lead to a quarantine. Even a rumor of the dreaded disease sent panicked residents rushing for the train station or boat docks to get out of town.

Symptoms were unmistakable: fever, chills and a gruesome black vomit. The patient would experience a “yellow effusion” about their eyes and jaundice, hence the name.

Communities around the South battled each other when a rumor of yellow fever surfaced. In 1886, citizens of Pass Christian established a “strict shotgun quarantine” against neighboring citizens of Biloxi, placing armed guards around the edge of town. Well into the end of the century, these shotgun quarantines were reported around the region with news accounts of travelers being forced from trains and made to walk to their destinations. Escambia County maintained a “pest house” during outbreaks where suspected carriers would be taken at gunpoint.

During the 1894 outbreak, Mobile’s hospitals were so overrun with patients that tents were erected behind City Hospital on St. Anthony Street.

In February of 1898, representatives from all Southern states convened in Mobile to discuss the future of quarantines. Delegates voted in favor of a national system for quarantine rather than local, but the matter never made it to Congress. The last yellow fever epidemic in the United States struck New Orleans in 1905 and killed some 900.

By that date, it was estimated that New Orleans had lost 41,000 over the course of a

Above Posters such as this were distributed nationally in late 1918 in an attempt to halt the spread of Spanish Influenza. PHOTO COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

century, due to the outbreaks.

Although yellow fever scares ended, a new deadly epidemic, later termed a pandemic, was on the horizon: the Spanish Flu. Spanish Influenza — Bacteria not Miasmas Although the jury is out as to where the deadly strain of flu originated in 1918, Spain experienced the first fatal blows from the disease and bore the blame for decades. The first cases in Alabama arrived in Huntsville but quickly spread southward, paralyzing communities in its wake.

Although Americans had suffered with bouts of the flu or “the grippe” for years, this new form was especially fatal. And what was

even more shocking, fatalities were especially high among adults aged 20 to 40, a group previously relatively unharmed by flu.

The Medical Association of the State of Alabama met in 1919 and reported “the disease spread like wildfire. In two or three days, entire families were prostrate. The epidemic begins with chilliness and pains in the arms, legs, back and head accompanied by coughing and sneezing. Pregnant women are particularly hit and often lose the baby.

Up to one-third of communities are stricken, and of this number, at least 10 percent developed pneumonia, the mortality of which is between 40 to 50 percent.” Those who survived had lungs one physician described as being “shot to pieces.”

The flu spread as World War I was coming to an end, and the close quarters suffered by soldiers and sailors made the disease rampant.

Cities finally recognized the problem and established rules eerily similar to those in place during the 2020 pandemic. Everything from churches to theatres were closed, masks were worn in public and Americans were bombarded with leaflets asking them to cover their coughs and sneeze toward the ground, not each other.

By the time the state’s medical association met in 1920, the pandemic was over. They were informed “more U.S. citizens have died from this disease than were killed in the recent conflict.” The cause was determined to be “due to an air-born bacteria as yet un-identified.” After administering a new vaccination to 5,000 people, the percent of the population affected dropped from 30 to 4.

As history shows, the 2020 pandemic is not the first serious health threat to strike Mobile and may not be the last. MB

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END PIECE | IN LIVING COLOR

Beach Babies, circa 1900 Photo courtesy S. Blake McNeely Collection, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama Colorization by Dynamichrome Limited

Splashing in the water is one perk of living along the Bay, and this photo proves it’s been a popular pastime for at least a century. Although the picture is undated, the children’s clothing is indicative of the late Victorian period, circa 1890s to 1900. Long, curly hair and ruffles might lead one to assume both tots are girls, but astute observers will know this style was common among both girls and boys.

Modern-day mamas might be hesitant to send their babes out to play in these delicate-looking threads, but the billowy top on the left and the high yoke dress on the right were actually designed for comfort and everyday wear. Special occasion outfits were much more complex in design.

Do you own any heirloom playclothes? Let us know!

Email ahartin@pmtpublishing.com.

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