Inspired Living Omaha September-October 2016 by Omaha World-Herald

A n O m a h a W o r l d - H e r a l d P u b l i c at i o n

S E P TEMBER / O CT O BER 2 0 1 6 i n sp i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m

Serving Nebraska & W e s t e r n I owa

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Professional Designers to help you express your style— We are passionate about creating a space that perfectly expresses your style. When you’re ready to revive your home’s aesthetic, our professional designers are ready to help with complimentary in-store design services. Schedule an appointment or visit our Design Gallery today to begin.

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September/october 2016

VOl. 14 No. 5 Editor-in-Chief Chris Christen 402-444-1094 chris.christen@owh.com Creative Director/Designer Heidi Thorson 402-444-1351 hthorson@owh.com

Rugs

Furniture

Accessories

Custom upholstery, Art, Lamps, Mirrors and Rugs for every lifestyle... Professional Rug Cleaning, Repairs and Appraisals

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Home Theater & Surround Sound Home Automation High Performance Stereo Systems Lighting & Shade Control

Assistant Editor Kim Carpenter 402-444-1416 kim.carpenter@owh.com Photo Imaging Specialist Patricia “Murphy” Benoit Content Contributors Grace Bydalek, Howard K. Marcus, Kurt A. Keeler, Chad Lebo, Jessica Luna Photography Contributors Jeffrey Bebee, Tim Guthrie, Heather & Jameson, Daniel Johnson, Tom Kessler, Jordan Green Produtions, Chad Lebo On the Cover Photo: Heather & Jameson See credits, page 31 Custom Publishing Manager Deb Cavalier 402-444-1448 debbie.cavalier@owh.com Account Representatives Sara Baker | 402-444-1442 | Sara.Baker@owh.com Gay Liddell | 402-444-1489 | Gay.Liddell@owh.com Emily Martin | 402-444-1411 | Emily.Martin@owh.com Cathleen Vanhauer | 402-444-1209 | Cathleen.Vanhauer@owh.com Events Manager Tam Webb 402-444-3125 Tam.Webb@owh.com

1314 Douglas St., Suite 700 Omaha, NE 68102 402-444-1094 Inspired Living Omaha (ISSN 23795948) is a publication of the Omaha World-Herald. ©2016, Omaha World-Herald, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for content, opinions or practices, or how the information herein is used. All materials submitted, including but not limited to images, logos and text that appear, are assumed to be the original work of the provider, and the publisher is not responsible for unintentional copyright infringement.

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on-trend meets timeless From the latest trendsetting pieces to a wide range of wardrobe �� – expect an experience.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

BEware the dripping pipe To hear assistant editor Kim Carpenter tell it: “Our house is trying to kill

Chris christen editor-in-chief

FUN FACT Chris is currently engrossed in Angela Duckworth's "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance"

us. It wants us to move out.” I thought she was exaggerating – until I saw with my own eyes what she and her family have endured since husband John crawled under the kitchen sink. A slow leak in a faulty garbage disposal

Stay connected between issues. Get sneak peeks of styled shoots, bonus photos from current issues, recipe links and more. facebook.com/InspiredLivingOmaha

caused black mold, which in turn required “destructive remediation.” That one small drip has turned the family’s daily life upside-down and inside-out, both figuratively and literally.

Be inspired by people, places and things that we  . Food, fashion & décor top the list. instagram.com/inspiredomaha

At this writing, every room is chaos. The contents of the kitchen, appliances included, stand in the dining room as workers replace the kitchen’s hardwood

Find thousands of projects to fit your lifestyle on our Pinterest boards. Our current obsession: grilled fare. pinterest.com/inspiredomaha

floor, cabinets and counters. Meanwhile, the living room holds the contents of the basement, which needed a new ceiling as a result of water damage. “If anybody broke in, they would take

Have a story idea, question or comment? Send us an email. inspired@owh.com

8 September/Oc tober 2016

one look and leave,” Kim quipped one morning from the solace of her office cube.

“A friend asked if I wanted sage to ward off evil spirits.” She did and is carrying it in her purse. "I am going to burn that sage once the kitchen is functional," she says. Meanwhile, the family (including an equally depressed dog), is taking refuge intermittently at a midtown hotel as the destructive remediation progresses. Property Brothers, where art thou? I’m not even going to tell you about my recent kitchen redo. The inconvenience felt like a holiday compared to Kim’s ordeal. All of this, coupled with other staffers’ summer home-improvement experiences, has the makings of a whopper future project issue. In this issue, meet an antique lover with a richly layered décor (page 38), and travel with a widowed college professor who bids a yearlong virtual goodbye to a love who left too soon (page 58). Until next time, never underestimate the power of a dripping pipe.

You two can talk about anything. Don’t let discussing retirement living put an end to that. We’ll provide information and advice to make the conversation a little bit easier. See where the conversation goes. You might just ﬁnd a place uniquely your own. Give us a call at 402-829-2900 or visit Immanuel.com.

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Afﬁliated with the Nebraska Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Your Fall Look Arriving Daily

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on the cover THREADS 28 | Wardrobe Builders DESIGN DONE RIGHT 14 | Give Me Sanctuary

THE DISH 50 | Betting on Farmer

Au Courant 24 | Sheer Pleasure

THE HIDDEN PANTRY 52 | Misunderstood Herb

Homespiration 38 | Past Perfect Design

PROFILE 54 | The Worker Bee

Host 46 | Sweet Welcome 48 | Pineapple UpsideDown Cake

DESTINATION 58 | Virtual Beth

Allegri trench, $69 ESTHER’S

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open. adore. I cconsider all my real es state clients my friends estate an nd feel truly blessed and to o be part of such a big de ecision in their lives. decision

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CONTRIBUTORS

KIM CARPENTER assistant editor

advertising account manager

FUN FACT Heidi recently added some houseplants to her apartment. Now to make sure the cats do not destroy them!

FUN FACT Kim is managing to maintain her sanity during a kitchen and basement remodel – just barely.

FUN FACT Deb is obsessed with creating the perfect gallery wall in the entryway. Must be nautical, rustic and modern.

creative director + designer

CATHY VANHAUER

Gay Liddell

DEB CAVALIER

Emily Martin

advertising account executive

FUN FACT Cathy neglected to water her 27 garden pots for a few days, but with an extra splash of love, they'll thrive a little longer.

FUN FACT Gay is expecting her second grandchild this September – and it's a girl!

FUN FACT Emily's favorite fall wardrobe items include a wonderful collection of scarves and boots.

Jeffrey Bebee

KURT A. KEELER

HOWARD K. MARCUS

FUN FACT Jeffrey discovered a new skill: event planning. He successfully executed a day-long event for learning and building community.

FUN FACT Kurt's floor refinisher told him: “There'll be dust, like you hadn’t dusted in two weeks." He must've meant two weeks in Oklahoma in 1930.

FUN FACT Howard says that just when he thought his Pekinese was trained, the dog comes up with a new, annoying trick. Bad dog!

photographer

12 September/Oc tober 2016

copy editor + photographer

copy editor

Photos: Heidi THorson, Kurt A. Keeler, Heather & Jameson, Jeffrey Bebee, Lane Hickenbottom, rebecca s. gratz

Heidi THORSON

Heather + Jameson

Jessica Luna

Kali Rahder

FUN FACT Heather and Jameson's favorite sport to watch is MMA.

FUN FACT Jessica is a pro at making pumpkin purée for breads and soups.

FUN FACT Kali's favorite thing about fall is Halloween and the activities that come with it – especially pumpkin carving.

CHad LEbo

Murphy Benoit

Grace Bydalek

FUN FACT Chad is looking forward to fall, so he can again start dressing like Grunge never died.

FUN FACT Murphy loves canning fruits and vegetables. She's always looking for new and unique recipes for pickling.

FUN FACT Grace grew up in the home where the movie “About Schmidt” was filmed.

Mark Eckstrom

Mikal Eckstrom

Daniel Johnson

FUN FACT Mark is growing out his hair for the fall season. It has meant lots of hats and even a barrette (or three) when typing.

FUN FACT Mikal has been inspired by “bone” by Yrsa Daley-Ward. He says he's not a poetry person, really, but has read this book three times.

FUN FACT Dan is inspired by David Burnett's photos from the Rio Olympics, peaches from roadside fruit stands and Le Quartier's roasted garlic boule.

fashion photographers

food columnist

merchandise stylist

fashion stylist

imaging specialist

merchandise stylist

hair & makeup stylist

writer

photographer

inspiredlivingomaha.com 13

DESIGN DONE RIGHT

14â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

Elkhorn home is true family haven Story kim carpenter

INTERIOR Photography jeffrey bebee

Exterior Photography tom kessler

hen building a home, most homeowners focus on creature comforts: a sunken bathtub, walk-in closets, maybe a hot tub. When these homeowners made plans for their new residence, they had one thing in mind. Make that four: their three sons and daughter. They wanted a house that would be more than a home. They wanted a place for their children to invite their friends, a space where kids from elementary through high school would want to hang out after school and congregate during summer breaks. They wanted a sanctuary. They got it, both literally and figuratively. Not only does their home provide more than enough activities for their kids, but it’s also located in an Elkhorn subdivision fittingly called Sanctuary, where 100-year-old bur oaks nestle gently among scenic rolling hills. “We wanted a home that would grow with us.” says the busy mom of four. She and her husband more than accounted for what that might entail. The spacious property includes a projection room, craft loft, pool and perhaps most notably, a space they fondly refer to as “The Sports Court,” an indoor gym with a ballet barre and two basketball hoops. “Our boys are really into it,” grins the homeowner. “They use it every single day.” They also wanted a new home that felt old. “My grandparents had an older home in Midtown, and my mom patterned our home after it. That’s definitely been an influence. I’ve always felt at home in more traditional spaces.” The homeowners worked with Lisa Cooper of Interiors Joan and Associates to create a traditional French Country-inspired interior, one that’s casual and cozy as well as elegant and luxurious. Pieces were carefully curated with an antique aesthetic in mind. “ ‘You want it to look acquired,’ our interior designer would say when picking out things,” laughs the homeowner. The family moved into the residence in September 2014, and today the doting mother is more than pleased with how her children have adapted to it. “I think the most important thing is that this is where our kids want to be,” she observes. “It’s a place for them and their friends to be together, and they’re not just idly spending their time here. I want my kids to be actively engaged in something. This house accomplishes that. We wanted a home we’d never want to move from, and we have it.”

“We wanted the ultimate entertainment area,” says the homeowner of the pool, which includes both pavers and stone in the landscape architecture. The outdoor area has a kitchen, grill room, bathroom, equipment room and fireplace, which the homeowners gather around frequently during cool spring and fall evenings.

Soaring wood timbers lend an Old World feel to the great room, the family’s main gathering area adjacent to the kitchen. “We can accommodate a lot of people, and it doesn’t feel crowded. The seating is also fun and casual. It just fits our family.” The cherry mantel is based on a fireplace the homeowner spied in a bedroom of an old home. The painting above the hearth is a home state shout out. “It reminds me of Nebraska,” says the homeowner.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 15

16â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

The most formal room of the home, the living room is where the couple entertain. It’s also where the children take piano lessons. “My dad bought the piano for me when I was 8,” says their mom. Interior designer Lisa Cooper of Interiors Joan and Associates carried the yellow and navy accents throughout the home.

The home’s exterior stone repeats in the dining room and creates a sense of history for the residence. ”We thought that really made it feel almost like an addition, like the wall already existed before the room,” says the homeowner. Beaded wood chandeliers pick up on the furniture and add a warm glow to the stone walls. The dark blue upholstery grounds the room, while the deer-patterned fabric on the head chairs adds a whimsical touch: “It reminded me of Sanctuary, because we have so many deer out here.”

inspiredlivingomaha.com 17

A craft loft for an artistic daughter includes a sewing area and plenty of counter space to spread out materials and get creative.

18â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

The teen daughter’s room is airy and sophisticated and has a more contemporary feel than the rest of the home. “She likes a more traditional style, but she also has a modern flair. She loves a monochromatic look with pops of color.” The glittering chandelier gives a glam vibe to the space, while the tufted footstools add rich, textural touches.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 19

In the screening room, custom cabinetry hides the projector and bulky equipment.

20â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

The homeowner’s two youngest sons share a room chock-full of sports memorabilia. “They’re inseparable and best buddies,” says the mom, a former physical education teacher. A large-scale photograph of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln anchors the oldest son’s bedroom (below) and demonstrates his considerable Cornhusker pride.

“Aside from the kitchen table, this is the most-used part of the house,” says the homeowner of the spacious sports court, which features concrete walls, NCAA-approved basketball court flooring and sound-absorbing ceiling tiles. “They love it so much, we’ve never even hooked up the video games. When kids come over, they want to play!” A room off the gym houses a Ping Pong table the kids can slide out for quick games. While the boys love roughhousing in the gym, their sister, an avid ballet dancer, also makes ample use of the space. “This is a great place for rehearsing for auditions.”

inspiredlivingomaha.com 21

Dark gray walls create a peaceful master bedroom. “It’s one of my favorite things about this room,” enthuses the homeowner of the calming color. “It really helps the furniture stand out.” For the master bath, herringbone tile paired with a sliver of antique mirror gives the bathtub a luxurious feel. Custom cherry cabinets feel “old” by design.

22 September/Oc tober 2016

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AU COURANT

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art direction Chris christen styling + TEXT Mark and mikal eckstrom photography daniel johnson location KANEKO

If you’re game for a light and airy decorating style and have small spaces, transparent furnishings are your new best friend. And, clearly, even if your style is traditional, you can see there’s still room for a little fun. THE INSPIRATION "Our idea of a dressing table is ethereal, a true place to be pampered and inspired. Sheer nude tones pair with pinks and grays. Mirrors, Lucite and even a magnifying glass reflect an Art Deco-influenced look that evokes the spirit of screen sirens like Claudette Colbert complete with classic elements reinterpreted in acrylic and seen through a cloud of atomized perfume." SHOP THE LOOK Vanity: PIER 1; Mirror, chair, shag rug: WAYFAIR; Lamp: HAYNEEDLE; Canisters, boxes, tray: ON A WHIM; Picture frame: TARGET; Sheer panels: BED BATH & BEYOND

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THE INSPIRATION "Our office epitomizes grandeur in a wireless world using juxtapositions of modern and classical elements. We started with a large-scale, Plexiglas-mounted photograph of the Marble Courtyard at the Palace of Versailles. With a nod to the work of Chuck Close, we digitized the château in “cubes.” This interpretation was repeated within the physical space in the weave of the Kilim rug, Empire-style gilded chair, marble urn and acrylic wingback chair. Translucent and reflective accessories shine, including a crystal ball, which would have been an asset to Louis XVI. We’re clearly losing our heads over this très chic space! SHOP THE LOOK Wingback chair: HAYNEEDLE; Hand-tufted rug: CYMAX; Task lamp: WEST ELM; Table: HUTCH MODERN; Crystal ball, triangular candy canister: ON A WHIM; Stapler, tape dispenser, letter organizer: TARGET; Waste can: CB2; Custom handcrafted pedestal: PEDESTAL SOURCE; Floral arrangement: DAN HAMMON; Art poster: SHUTTERSTOCK/FULLER DIGITAL; Other accessories: Stylists' own

26 September/Oc tober 2016

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THREADS

Separates that work for you – when the job calls for anything but basic photography Heather & Jameson Art Direction Heidi THorson Merchandise st yling Jessica luna Hair & Makeup Kali rahder, victor victoria salon & spa model haley, Develop Model Management Location Bench, the people's workshop

(Opposite page) Carlisle “Jaguar” scarf, $275 Carlisle “Bedford” coat, $645 Carlisle “May Char” cashmere sweater, $495 Carlisle “Cider” trouser, $325 MARY ANNE VACCARO maryannevaccaro.com

Ethel & Myrtle necklace, $32 NJ & CO.

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Satchel, $94 HUSH LA BOUTIQUE hushlaboutique.com

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Rag & Bone blazer, $498 360 Sweater tank, $150 QL2 pants, $430 Pedro Garcia “Nicole” platform, $588 CHRISTEL’S christelsclothing.com

Silver drop earrings, $28 HUSH LA BOUTIQUE hushlaboutique.com

Geometric necklace, $28 NJ & CO. njandcompany.com

Reversible tote, $70 GARMENT DISTRICT

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Rug Julia Russell Designs jrdesignsasid.com

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Dolce & Gabbana 3-piece suit, $4,127 TOV Essentials ring, $95 TOV Essentials necklaces, $211 and $132 STYLESAVE Stylesave.com

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Suncoo sheath, $168 Suncoo jacket, $248 CHRISTEL’S christelsclothing.com

Gold earrings, $38 Chain necklace, $70 HUSH LA BOUTIQUE hushlaboutique.com

Scarf, $32 GARMENT DISTRICT

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Ring, $120 GRAMERCY

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Marjorie Renner clutch, $100 STYLESAVE stylesave.com

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Alice + Olivia crop top, $228 Alice + Olivia skirt, $298 GRAMERCY gramercyomaha.com

Worth faux leather jacket and blouse, $40 Geometric cuff, $40 Kenneth J. Lane necklace, $75 ESTHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

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Dolce & Gabbana bolero jacket, $1,401 Rose gold cuff, $89 STYLESAVE stylesave.com

Nic + Zoe palazzo pants, $158 Gold bangle, $24 Two-strand necklace, $29 HUSH LA BOUTIQUE hushlaboutique.com

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Klub Nico “Tianna” cage sandal, $215 GRAMERCY

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HOMESPIRATION

The dining room just off the front entry doubles as an office. Vanessa begins the day here, drinking hot tea, reading the newspaper or working at her laptop.

38â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

For Vanessa Barrett, life is one glorious treasure hunt Story Chris christen Photography jeffrey bebee

“There’s nothing dainty about me,” Vanessa Barrett deadpans about her unabashed eclectic style. Originality defines all facets of her life – her wardrobe, interior décor and work as an artist and stylist. “Not in a wild way, though,” she hastens to clarify. “I’d call my style ‘refined eclectic.’ ” Midcentury. Neoclassical. Bohemian. DIY. Vanessa loves playing with the mix, whether wall-to-wall or head-to-toe. An authentic home, she says, “has to reflect you as a person and what’s meaningful to you.” For her, that means original art, books, antiques and three housemates: Stella, a Yorkie; Elton, a Maltipoo; and Lola, a Silky Terrier. Decorating inspiration, in part, comes from art and interior design books (lots of them, kept close at hand on tabletops and footstools in every room), museums, fashion magazines and social media feeds. It also derives from Vanessa’s lifetime of visual and retail pursuits: window dresser, boutique owner, interior decorator, jewelry designer, style consultant. Her passion for antiques, she surmises, may have gotten its start as a young girl drawn to an

antique Asian box at a fine art fair at Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum. “I remember a sophisticated-looking woman telling me, ‘That’s a very smart box you’ve chosen.’” In the coming decades, hundreds more would find their way into her modest but richly layered 1940s home along Ridgewood Avenue in central Omaha’s Loveland neighborhood. A jewel-tone palette dominates while blues and grays maintain a soothing presence from room to room. A decade ago, her home reflected a more restrained decorating style. No layers. No walls filled with art. “My former husband had good taste,” she offers as explanation. “Our styles just clashed. He was a minimalist; I’m a maximalist.” After their divorce, her passion for collecting took over. “I’m on my own now and can do anything I want,” she explains. “I don’t have to take anyone’s style and taste into consideration.” Her salon-style wall décor features pieces with very personal meaning – paintings by her mother, who passed away earlier this year; contemporary collages by her artist son, Dylan, and her own art photography.

(continued on page 45)

inspiredlivingomaha.com 39

Vanessa’s furnishings and accessories all have a history. She has acquired many at estate sales and the annual Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show. “I need to surround myself with creative things,” the style enthusiast says. “I don’t really shop with a purpose. I treasure-hunt. If I fall in love with it, I find a place for it.”

A green velvet sofa positioned at an angle on a leopard-print area rug commands the living room. A sofa upholstered in purple velvet sits in the adjoining sunroom and provides a place for Vanessa to cozy up and watch TV or read.

40 September/Oc tober 2016

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42â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

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44â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

(continued from page 39)

Architectural salvage commands her attention. Columns, ironwork and ornately carved wood have a place in nearly every room. Leopard print is a classic neutral. “It always shocks me when people say they don’t like animal prints,” she says. A dresser in the master bedroom provides a clue to another passion: vintage jewelry and handbags. “Oh, my gosh! I’m obsessed!’’ Vanessa admits. She also designs statement jewelry incorporating re-imagined vintage beads, stones and gems. “I love to treasure-hunt. I just hardly have room for more in my home,” she says. A new entrepreneurial venture may solve the dilemma. At press time, Vanessa was curating antique and vintage home furnishings and fabrics for a late September pop-up shopping event at The Loft at Remlo Studios, 51st and Leavenworth Streets. The Loft, according to business owner Autumn Foland, will feature “carefully curated Canadian and European ready-to-wear brands in a luxury showroom setting by appointment.’’ Vanessa will lease space for her design services and special shopping events throughout the year. The vibe: “Boho meets Barneys New York.”

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inspiredlivingomaha.com 45

HOST

Hospitality sets tone for Omaha antique show Story Chris Christen & Grace Bydalek Photography Daniel johnson & kurt a. keeler

The pineapple has long been associated with Southern hospitality. But did you know the sweet prickly fruit has its roots among seafarers? Jill Bydalek does. After vacations to Cape Cod for more than two decades now, she wellknows the lore of whalers returning from sea and crowning their gateposts with pineapples to welcome friends into their homes to visit, share food and drink and hear tales from the high seas. Bydalek, a lifelong Omahan, is intent on bringing that same “beautiful, welcoming spirit” to the Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show, Sept. 23-25, at Omaha’s botanical center. Bydalek’s theme for the weekend event is a “Life of Style – In Balance,” and the pineapple represents what she, as general chair, hopes will be a “fresh, fun, interesting and inviting experience” for perennial, as well as first-time, guests. The show, in its 13th year, will feature more than 30 international and national dealers of fine antiques, vintage and estate jewelry, and midcentury furniture and accessories in gallery-like settings against the backdrop of the garden. New this year is a Garden Market offering honey, lavender, heirloom peonies, succulents, mosaic garden art and other specialty items. Also on the weekend agenda are luncheons and lectures with four distinguished names in interior design and gracious living. Here’s a sneak preview.

Centerpiece design: Voila! Blooms & Decor in Dundee

46 September/Oc tober 2016

Interviews by Grace Bydalek

What does a "Life of Style – In Balance" and the pineapple mean to you?

What's an easy centerpiece involving a pineapple?

What advice do you have for decorating?

I’m from the South. There, the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and of gracious living. It’s also sweet and super-delicious. It’s everything I love!

My pineapple upsidedown cake (recipe, page 49). It’s a retro-chic dessert that I serve time and time again. People go crazy for it. There is nothing better under the sun.

If you can’t yet afford great things, wait to make your purchases. It is much better to have one good pot or pan than a kitchen full of things that you are unhappy with. Quality does not always mean the most expensive. Learn to tell the difference.

I say the same thing about my style as I do about Leontine Linens: the fun is in the mix. The same is true for balance. For me, balance is found in mixing patterns, using bold colors and playing with scale – all the same tenets that are the basis of my company.

The feeling of hospitality and warmth are exactly what I want anyone invited to my home for dinner or cocktails to experience. A custom embroidered monogram on dinner napkins inspired by the pineapple is one way to honor old traditions and symbols in new ways.

The most important thing is to trust your instincts and stay authentic to yourself. The design community has never had so much access to visual inspiration through online sites like Pinterest and apps like Instagram. It’s easy to lose your way and get distracted.

The pineapple, though certainly familiar, remains an exotically beautiful fruit. In addition, it happens to symbolize the theme of welcome, so it’s naturally a stylish and suitable theme for entertaining.

The easiest thing to do is prop a pineapple in the middle of your table, add some candles, and you’re done. Add a knife and you have dessert.

Look at everything you can to get a better idea of what appeals to you – magazines, other people’s houses, museums, restaurants and shops. Many people approach design without a clue, and so just the exercise of carefully looking at things can help you focus going forward.

My family house was always open to friends and loved ones, and my husband and I continued that tradition. I am not daunted by the prospect of having two, 24 or 80 people over for drinks and dinner. Have someone playing the piano and lots of wine, and you have a great party.

I like sitting pineapples atop silver wine coolers – very chic and oldfashioned at the same time.

Fewer things, but better things.

Alex Hitz

Celebrity chef and cookbook author; founder of The Beverly Hills Kitchen

Jane Scott Hodges

Author; founder and owner of Leontine Linens

Markham Roberts

Acclaimed interior designer and best-selling author

Suzanne Rheinstein

Interior designer, best-selling author and owner of Hollyhock home furnishings salon in Los Angeles.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 47

The Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show runs Sept. 23-25 at Omahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s botanical center. For special event reservations (including a luncheon with Alex Hitz), show schedule and exhibitors, visit omahaantiqueshow.org. #findwhatinspiresyou

Recipe preparation: Grace Bydalek

48â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

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ALEX HITZ’S PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE WITH HOT RUM SAUCE

Yield: One 9-inch cake

“This recipe requires virtually no skill of any kind. Take credit for it as if it did,” says celebrity chef Alex Hitz.

CAKE TOPPING

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core and remove the “eyes” from half a ripe medium pineapple. Cut into half-inch rounds and then further into ¾-inch pieces. 2. Combine 8 tablespoons salted butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup dark brown sugar (firmly packed) and 1 tablespoon dark rum in a heavy gauge 9-inch cake pan or a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and cook until mixture bubbles, about four to five minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for no more than two minutes. 3. Arrange the pineapple slices in the bottom of the cake pan or skillet evenly and in an attractive geometric pattern.

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CAKE

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup cake flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1½ cups sugar, 1¼ teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder and ¾ teaspoon salt. 2. Add 1 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 tablespoons dark rum and 8 tablespoons salted, melted butter. Whisk together until a batter forms. Tip: Be careful not to over-blend. Under-mixing creates a dense but tender texture. 3. Pour the batter over the pineapple and caramel mixture and bake for 40-45 minutes. Tip: Place the cake pan or the skillet on a baking sheet to catch any batter that spills over during baking. 4. Remove cake from oven and let cool for exactly four minutes. With the blunt edge of a knife, go around the sides of the pan to loosen the cake. 5. Invert the hot cake onto a serving platter and let cool for at least 20 minutes before serving it warm with Hot Rum Sauce.

HOT RUM SAUCE (Yield: 2 cups) In a medium-size heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring 2 cups heavy cream, 1½ cups sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons dark rum to a boil, whisking occasionally to combine. Once boiling, turn off the heat and strain through a fine sieve. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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the dish

Lot 2 chef makes name for herself among Metro's culinary elite STORY GRACE BYDALEK PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE

arah Farmer sits near the back of Lot 2 Restaurant and Wine Bar, the Benson eatery where she works as a sous chef. She leans onto her forearms and observes the staff managing the chaos of opening hour as she runs through her own mental checklist: Do we have enough items to get through service? Have I let servers know about any menu changes or specials? Do I know about everyone coming to the restaurant with allergies or dietary restrictions? Is all the equipment on? Do I have everything I need to begin? Each answer is invariably “yes.” The award-winning 27-year-old has learned much about grace under pressure. In 2015, she was a member of the team of young chefs that won the coveted American Culinary Federation Student Team National Championship – a first for a Nebraska entry. In February, she garnered a gold medal at the Omaha Culinary Open. In late September, Farmer will cook a special Lot 2 dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. (Details, jamesbeard.org.) Though she is thankful, each laurel brings greater pressure. “There was always a whisper in the back of my mind,” she says. “I kept thinking, ‘how do I top this?’”

50 September/Oc tober 2016

Sarah Farmer’s specialty: Employing fresh, simple ingredients. All the better if they’re from local producers. While pineapple isn’t native to Nebraska, it's readily available and stars in these recipes from the up-and-coming chef.

PINEAPPLE JALAPEÑO JAM

Serves 6

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 finely diced pineapple, 1 red bell pepper and 1 Serrano pepper with the juice of 1 lime and 1 minced garlic clove. 2. Add salt and chopped cilantro to taste. 3. Serve on tortilla chips or with homemade fish tacos.

1. Cook 1 diced pineapple, 1 jalapeño, sliced thinly, ½ cup sugar, zest of 1 lime and ½ cup water in a pan until soft. 2. Blend the mixture until it is smooth, and then simmer until it reaches desired thickness. 3. Add the juice of 1 lime, and season with salt to taste. 4. Serve with grilled baguette or as a dip on a party platter with Shadow Brook Farms chèvre, curried pistachios, candied pecans, Marcona almonds, cornichons, garlic confit and pickled carrots.

Tip: Adjust the amount of Serrano pepper for varied degrees of spice.

Tip: Remove the jalapeño seeds for less spice.

GRILLED PINEAPPLE SALSA

Serves 8

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THE HIDDEN PANTRY

The tarnished tomato leaf, redeemed Recipes + photography Chad lebo

et me just put this out there. I am not trying to kill you. In fact, if herbs could sue for slander, the sadly maligned tomato leaf would be out consulting late night cable ads for immediate, unscrupulous representation. True, the nightshade (Solanaceae) family of plants includes deadly belladonna, addictive tobacco and hallucinatory mandrake, a.k.a. “Satan’s Apple,” but whose family tree doesn’t have a few creepy uncles and criminal cousins? Don’t forget to thank nightshade for peppers, eggplants, tomatillos, trendy superfruit goji berries and those little things called potatoes and tomatoes. The potentially dubious tales about people believing tomatoes to be poisonous died long ago, as early as 1770 with a recipe for preserving the tender fruit. Even earlier, in 1710, an Englishman mentioned having seen tomatoes in Carolina and Florida. Thomas Jefferson remarked in 1782 that tomatoes were commonplace in Virginia gardens, and by 1786 you could buy seeds from the David Landreth Seed Co. in Philadelphia. But somehow despite almost 300 years of Founding Fathers, et al enjoying juicy sun-ripe tomatoes, the herbaceous and delicious leaves are forgotten at best and lambasted as poisonous at worst. Truth. Tomato leaves are not just safe to eat; they are a joy to eat. I think of them as tomato-flavored basil. Whatever can be done with basil (and that is a long list), can

52 September/Oc tober 2016

also be done with tomato leaves. The recipes here work over classics like pesto and BLTs, but also feature a sweet, savory and icy granita that will help pass the last warm days of summer. Any cook worth his or her sea salt will have no problem thinking of dozens of ways to enjoy this uncovered herb. I would not dream of making a marinara or bolognese sauce in the summer without a healthy handful of tomato leaves. A chiffonade of the leaves perched atop a deviled egg is quite nice. Punch up any tomato soup, gazpacho – even a Bloody Mary. The new and tender leaves are best, but any leaf will do. Don’t become a zealot and strip your plants bare. Use some from here, some from there (or some from your neighbor’s garden when he isn’t looking). As you grow to love this leafy spice, you may regret the cool fall nights that mean the end of tomato season. Fret not. Puree your garden’s last leaves with some water, freeze the mix as ice cubes, store wrapped in the freezer and pull out all winter long for a bit of summer in bean soups, pot roasts and more. The leaves can also be dried, crushed and stored in airtight containers. I keep a few plants growing in our sunroom in the winter just to harvest leaves. Please spread the word and the flavor. Tomato leaves will not kill you. I don’t exactly know if they will make you stronger as the saying goes, but I do know they will make your food a little bit better and your friends and loved ones a little bit happier.

Black Olive AND Tomato Leaf Tapenade

Makes about 6-8 servings

This takes just minutes to fix and makes a nice, bright and salty spread for toast, crackers, pizza, etc. It’s also wonderful baked as a crust on top of chicken breast, too. 1. Purée in a blender or finely mince with a knife: ½ cup pitted black olives, ¼ packed cup tomato leaves, 2 cloves fresh garlic, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. 2. Serve immediately or reserve for later.

BTLT Bruschetta

Makes about 8 appetizers

An easy twist on bruschetta and BLTs with the “L” being replaced by “TL,” tomato leaf. The dressing is also awfully nice on sandwiches, grilled vegetables, roasted chicken, etc., so no one will fault you for making extra. 1. Prep bacon: Bake or fry ½ pound of bacon slices until just crispy. Drain and blot extra grease from pan. 2. Prep bread: Cut one French baguette at an angle to make 8 half-inch thick slices. Brush with olive oil and toast in the oven or a frying pan until lightly browned. 3. Make dressing: mix 2 tablespoons light sour cream, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh garlic. 4. Assemble (from bottom to top): a piece of toasted baguette, a good smear of the dressing, a slice of bacon broken in half and stacked, a wedge of ripe tomato, a washed tomato leaf and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 5. Best served within 30 minutes to keep the toast from getting soggy.

Tomato Leaf Walnut Pesto With Fettuccine

Makes about 6-8 servings

This is an easy pesto sauce that simply swaps out half the basil for tomato leaves and uses delicious (and more affordable) walnuts instead of pine nuts. It can be done with all tomato leaves, too. Use with pasta, as a dip or spread or as a marinade and sauce for grilled meat. 1. Cook 1 pound fettuccine in lightly salted water. 2. Purée in a blender or mortar and pestle or finely chop with a knife: 1 packed cup tomato leaves, 1 packed cup basil leaves, 1 cup walnuts, 4-6 cloves fresh garlic and 1 cup shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese. 3. Slowly add ¾ cup olive oil to above mixture. 4. Add up to ¼ cup more olive oil until desired thickness is reached. 5. Drain pasta and return to pot. Dress with half of sauce, and let sit for 5 minutes. 6. Serve topped with remainder of sauce, a garnish of fresh tomato leaves and extra Parmesan cheese.

Raspberry and Tomato Leaf Granita

Makes about 6 servings

Granita is as refreshing as it is flexible. Use these ratios to start and then experiment with different fruits, herbs, sweeteners and liquids. 1. Purée in a blender: 2 cups fresh or frozen red raspberries, ¼ packed cup fresh tomato leaves, ¼ cup white sugar, ½ cup water or a 50/50 mix of water and white wine and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. 2. Pour mix into a shallow bowl or baking sheet and place in the freezer. 3. Using a fork, stir the frozen parts into the unfrozen parts every 15-20 minutes until mixture resembles a flaky slushie. This should take about two hours. 4. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and store up to a week. 5. To serve as photographed: Cut a clementine in half. Scoop out one of the halves and leave the other intact. Fill the empty half with finished granita. For a garnish of candied clementine zest and tomato leaves, mix equal parts of extra fine strips of clementine zest and tomato leaves. Squeeze juice from the half of clementine removed to make a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon white sugar to juice and stir until dissolved. Add zest and leaves to soak until granita is frozen.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 53

PROFILE

Omaha florist has a way with nature STORY GRACE BYDALEK PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE

54â&#x20AC;&#x192; September/Oc tober 2016

heila Fitzgerald pulls her white coveralls over her petite frame and zips a black mesh veil securely around her head. She smiles and asks, “Are you ready?” It’s time to collect the rent. About every two weeks in the summer, Sheila and her husband, Gary Nachman, hop onto their Polaris ATV and head to their beehives to collect frames full of honey, which they then process, bottle and sell. The frames are always “capped” by the bees with combs full of honey tightly sealed with beeswax. Gary pulls one from its place and checks its progress; the bees have molded an intricate framework drenched with honey. Sheila and Gary jokingly refer to these frames as “rent checks” – the small price the bees pay for “room and board” on their nearly 40-acre property near Glenn Cunningham Lake in north central Omaha. When the couple takes the panels, it’s imperative to supply new ones, for this is where the bees produce honey. “You’ve got to give them space, or they’ll find it somewhere else,” Sheila says. This phenomenon, known as “swarming,” happens when bees leave the hive together and find a home elsewhere. Sheila hands me a “smoker,” a long, cylindrical tool filled with burning grasses. Smoking colonies subdues the bees so they retreat back into their hives during extraction. There are 15,000-60,000 of them, so this tool is necessary to avoid angry stings. The constant buzzing, though, only seems to grow louder. Gary hoists the 40-pound top third of the hive off the stack and moves it to the ground. Though he does the heavy lifting, these are Sheila’s bees. She kneels in front of the hive’s bottom entrance and observes their flight patterns. “Hi, girls,” she says matter-of-factly. “What are we up to today?” The female worker bees fly into the hive and do a frenetic dance, communicating the location of the nectar to the other workers. (continued on page 56)

inspiredlivingomaha.com 55

(continued from page 55)

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“What’s incredible is that they work as one organism. They can’t survive on their own,” Sheila says. “If they can’t find their way back to the hive, they will die.” She talks about the insects with an unwavering fascination — one she’s had since childhood. “I had always wanted to do this, ever since I did a related project in fifth grade. Then years ago, the opportunity came up, and I had to try,” she says. That opportunity took shape at Blooms Floral Shop & Studio in Rockbrook Village, where Sheila sells her honey. Like her fascination with bees, she’s always had a passion for flowers. “I’ve had my hand in flowers since I was a little kid. It was a part of me, but I thought I’d do it when I was older,” she says. “You always think, this is not why I went to school. I didn’t go to grade school, high school and college in order to do this. You feel like you have to do what other people consider to be bigger things.” That was before Sheila suffered a personal loss. “When my cousin, who I was very close to, passed away unexpectedly in her sleep, I asked myself why I was waiting to do what I loved.” In September 2003, she turned in her resignation at Offutt Air Force Base, where she worked as a civilian in training and engineering. Three months later, she opened Blooms. “There are good florists,” says Gary when Sheila is out of earshot, “but she’s a floral artist. She makes with flowers what artists make with other mediums. I haven’t seen anything like it in Omaha.” With the skilled use of color and balance in her arrangements, perhaps it’s no surprise that Sheila studied art therapy in college. Since Sheila’s entry into the flower industry, the couple’s agricultural operation has grown tenfold. Though they could have parceled the land into subdivisions, they instead organized it so each acre has its own purpose. “It was just such a beautiful space, we wanted to keep it as one,” Sheila says. “I grow a lot of my own flowers. We have a vineyard. We grow raspberries and blackberries and used to have chickens.” Sheila’s honey-makers, though, know no property boundaries. “You can’t keep things separate from the bees,” she says, gesturing outward. “If you keep bees without paying attention to everything around you,

it doesn’t make sense. Without the flowers, the bees can’t make anything. And without the bees, the flowers stop reproducing. But bees aren’t only connected to flowers, they are connected to everything.” In recent years, that interconnectedness has become apparent in concerning ways. Since 2007, an average 30 percent of honeybee colonies reportedly have died each winter in the United States. Despite the insect’s ability to survive the winter by breeding a weather-resilient “winter bee” in late fall and forming a tight ball formation to conserve heat, these statistics are on the rise. “A lot of urban beekeepers will get a hive, take off too much honey, deprive the bees of their nutrients and then won’t be able to figure out why their hives are dying come winter,” Gary says. Experts also attribute the bee deaths to pesticides. “I compare it to an antibiotic,” Sheila says. “Even if you personally may not be taking them, they affect us all. If a farmer near you is using pesticides, it will have a negative effect on your hives.” Last year, Sheila lost four of her eight hives. “It’s difficult,” she says. “You do what you can to care for them.” Despite that, she and Gary plan to expand their beekeeping venture to about 10 hives by the end of 2017. “Some couples like to watch the game together, some like to drink together. This is what Gary and I do,” she says. Sheila the Worker Bee won’t stop working anytime soon. SPECIAL CROP

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inspiredlivingomaha.com 57

DESTINATION

Story kim carpenter Photography tim guthrie

Tributes memorialize wife in loving, lasting way

Tim Guthrie never intended for his emotional journey and his loving tributes to his late wife, Beth, to be public. Not, at least, in a significant way. His Facebook and blog posts were meant for family and friends. But journalists began contacting him for interviews, and repeatedly, he turned them down. “It’s been exhausting,” he said of the media requests. As the first anniversary of Beth’s passing approaches, he finally shares his journey here.

im Guthrie is standing on a sunny beach in Uruguay. As the surf pounds behind him, he holds up a small sphere, kisses it gently and says, his voice trembling with emotion: May you be free from suffering. May you dwell in safety. May you be at peace. May you feel my gratitude and love. He then drops it into a deep hole dug in the sand and quietly buries it. The sphere, only slightly larger than a marble, features an image of his wife, Beth Broderick, a hauntingly beautiful woman with masses of dark, curly hair and an enigmatic smile. It also contains a small amount of her ashes.

58 September/Oc tober 2016

Beth passed away unexpectedly Sept. 24, 2015, from complications of Parkinson’s disease and dystonia. She was 49. The grief hit Tim like a tsunami, engulfing and drowning him, threatening to rend him in two. Tim and Beth had been together for 25 years and were married for 21. They had no children. Beth’s diseases had been progressive, excruciating and debilitating, and in recent years, Tim had become her constant caretaker, giving up whatever he could to be by her side. He did it all gladly. Willingly. And when Beth died, Tim was so bereft and full of grief, it seemed as crippling as the diseases that had taken her from him. He turned for some modicum of comfort to a place that surprised him. Facebook. He had never really used it to share personal information – the social media platform was merely a tool for keeping abreast of what was happening in the community. Because Beth’s illnesses had taken so much of his time, Tim had also extricated himself from many of his social circles. Now, posting online provided a way to connect with both old friends and new. “After Beth died, Facebook became a cathartic experience, because I didn’t have anybody to turn to, really,” Tim said. “I just started turning to friends online, so it became this helpful, useful thing.” His posts laid bare his anguish and provided a means to express the unpredictable rollercoaster of his grief. In one post last fall he wrote: I feel bad posting something depressing … but I just have to be honest. It’s hard. It’s crippling. It’s impossible to describe the thoroughly disabling and crushing emotional devastation that keeps me from wanting to do anything productive, let alone get out of bed or put pants on and get out of the house. Sometimes, he even wrote to Beth. Remembering that they began dating in autumn, he posted: You loved to wear all the colors of fall ... and your hair, eyes and complexion contained the same colors. Especially your hair. Especially back then. And now it is October. The month I always enjoyed the most with you because we had such history tied to this time of the year. And now you’re not here to enjoy it with me. My heart breaks every single day, and it’s hard to see an end to this. If you knew how much I would miss you. Tim’s heart ached so much, at times he felt like he might

have a heart attack. He poignantly observed: I used to think “died of a broken heart” was just some corny romantic saying. Now I get that it’s real. The response was overwhelming. “Share, Share, Share!” exhorted one friend who had only met Beth a few times. “I cannot even begin to imagine your grief. Your community of friends all love you so much. I hope we can all be there for you now.” Another offered: “Tim, there are no words, only love. We are sending what we can your way and keeping you in our hearts.” They did, and for the next several months, Tim relied on them and shared more, bared more. When he discovered a birthday card Beth had given him, one that said, “I love you, Timmy Boy!” he posted: I keep stumbling on things that punch me in the gut and squeeze the life out of my heart. Those things included the quotidian moments we all take for granted. Tim shared one of Beth’s texts asking him to pick up some Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crunch Bars from the grocery store. He posted a selfie she took someplace he couldn’t identify. The latter particularly anguished him. I don’t know where she was. I don’t know where she took it. I can’t tell what she was wearing. I can’t clearly see her face. She is just out of reach. Everything is fading ... and I can’t call her back to me. Every day was a challenge, every night a long, lonely nightmare. Throughout the fall and into winter, Tim posted numerous photos of Beth smiling, her eyes creased into little crescent moons. There were images of Beth humoring Tim behind the camera or playing with their ridiculously goofy dog, Gozer. Beth with family. Beth with friends. Beth with him. A soft-focused, black-and-white photo of Beth on a beach elicited a heartfelt reflection on the photos as a whole: They feel tenuous and delicate and I feel I’m quickly struggling to picture her face as clearly as I desire. I want to SEE her, not remember what she looked like. I want to HOLD her, not grasp for a memory. But memories were all Tim could grasp, and he began doing so in 3-D, making miniature portrait busts and small spheres he lovingly called BBs for his wife’s initials. He filled them with her ashes – infinitesimal amounts, for the majority were, per her wishes, scattered in her mother’s hometown of North Bend, Nebraska.

(continued on page 61)

inspiredlivingomaha.com 59

Read more about Tim’s journey at virtualbeth.wordpress.com See more images and video clips from “Traveling With Virtual Beth,” at inspiredlivingomaha.com

60 September/Oc tober 2016

(continued from page 59)

Tim says he used to be a practicing artist. A professor of video and graphic design at Creighton University in Omaha, Tim is still widely known in the local arts community for his paintings, sculptures and videos. He gave it all up to take care of Beth. After she died, friends encouraged him to get back into the studio to heal. He tried, but the attempt only intensified the immediacy of his grief. “Every time I tried to do something, it was an absolutely miserable experience,” he explained. “I left the studio to take care of Beth. Art wasn’t necessary. Spending time with Beth was. I had already made that choice. It was a choice for Beth. Giving up art to do that was a no-brainer.” The BBs and portrait busts, though beautiful and artful, are for that reason not art for Tim. They are loving memorials commemorating his love for Beth and their life together. “I’m doing it to honor her,” he said. “It’s not about me. It’s about her.” In February, a friend in South America invited Tim, then on sabbatical, to visit and put distance behind his mourning. Tim jumped on a plane and headed to Uruguay for five weeks, taking his precious BBs and portrait busts with him. He planned on leaving them in places Beth had never been able to visit because of her illnesses. Like Iguazú Falls. I didn’t see it (BB) hit the water… I have no idea if it’ll be taken far downriver, trapped in a crevice, or broken apart, which would scatter the ashes inside. Either way, I know she loved waterfalls. At the same time, he started the blog “Traveling With Virtual Beth. She’s Gone, But She’s Always With Me.” It provided a way to keep in touch with friends and family who weren’t on Facebook. When he visited places like Machu Picchu, he was able to share those moments and say goodbye again. “It’s more ceremonial and symbolic,” explained Tim. “Obviously, I’m getting something out of this by going to the places and doing something. It’s a process I’m going through.” The act of distributing the busts and BBs resonated online. People who followed his journey were struck by their simplicity and their meaning. “Tiny Taj Mahals” is how one of Tim’s online friends described them – each sphere, a world unto itself, each one a delicate memorial of a husband’s deep and abiding love for his wife. The trip, while an escape, didn’t heal Tim’s pain. I have no words of wisdom to share from the experience. I didn’t grow. I didn’t transform. I wasn’t healed. I didn’t become a new person. I had no epiphanies. I simply moved forward, little by little, day by day, as distracted as I could allow myself to be.

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Tim moved forward a little bit more with another project. Prompted by Beth’s parents’ decision to sell their home, he began photographing old photos of her in the house, holding them up against backgrounds in various rooms. It was a way to hold onto the fleeting memories that were becoming fainter with each passing day. The process was exacting and involved fastidiously aligning the photos to their exact spots as if to place Beth in the present again. Seized with a desire to capture – or recapture – Beth in the moments they had shared, Tim began taking photos of other locations. He called the photos “Missing Pieces.” The process helped Tim grapple with his loss and honor Beth. Most photos were accompanied with poignant reflections. Of a blurry black-and-white wedding photo he wrote:

the last group of visitors. Tim returned the next day with a scant 59 minutes to get his photo and catch his train. A crowd was already waiting for the museum to open. He listened for American accents. He begged to cut in line. Once inside, he sprinted past famous artworks and up five flights of stairs – to a rooftop balcony that was locked and wouldn’t open for another 90 minutes. He begged and pleaded with museum staff to open the door. He showed them his photo. “It’s my wife. She recently passed away … Please, it will only take a second. I have to catch a train.”

I’m amazed how this image guts me as it simultaneously fills my heart with love. The stronger the memory, the more challenging the image is [to handle]… like fading memories I’m trying so hard to hold on to. The project became an emotional priority. He wrote in April: Anyone who might think I’m spending too much time still thinking about her (a comment I heard recently) has to remember I thought about her every day for decades. This past summer, Tim invited his younger brother Max to accompany him on a trip to Europe. He visited places he had never been before, like Iceland, where he left his small memorials to Beth. He also retraced their honeymoon from more than 20 years earlier. He took “Missing Pieces” photos in as many places as he could. Beth at Conwy Castle in Wales. Beth on a street in the Netherlands. Beth visiting Notre Dame in Paris. Beth with Tower Bridge behind her. When he struggled to identify a location, he asked friends online to help. Some places had changed substantially or were under construction. He didn’t always get the image he wanted, but when he did it was a triumph. A particular image in Paris stumped him. He thought it had been taken from a bridge. Instead it was captured on the roof of the Musée d’Orsay. By the time he realized his mistake, it was late in the afternoon, and he was scheduled to leave the city in the morning. Tim arrived at the museum near closing time only to be turned away by a guard who refused his pleas to join

62 September/Oc tober 2016

Today, Tim is back in the classroom at Creighton. He wouldn’t say he’s happy. He wouldn’t even say he has approached a new normal. He just tries to get through every day as best he can. For the time being, he’s continuing with the blog and creating his loving tributes. Of a recent Missing Piece, he noted: It used to be I missed this face so much when I traveled. It doesn’t take traveling to miss this face, anymore. I miss her every day. Every. Single. Day. Still, the ongoing projects bring Tim some comfort. “I wasn’t trying to get to a place where I was magically healed,” he said. “I was just trying to get to a place where I wasn’t so devastated. Distributing her ashes, and taking the photos, I can’t say they make me happy, but maybe a little less miserable.”

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