Oxford Magazine Dec. 2019/Jan.2020 Edition

LOCAVORE:

HANDMADE FINERY:

TYPEFACE:

Ravine serves it up just south of town

Nicole Harlow’s vision for Niett Metals

Bringing essays into the fold

No Ceilings: COACH YO AND HER EFFORTS TO GIVE BACK

Whimsical Wonderland: DISCOUNT BUILDING MATERIALS’ HIDEAWAY OF CHRISTMAS CHEER

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019 OxfordMag.com Volume Three | Issue Five $ 4•95

From Our Home to Yours: KAREN KURR & NO TIME 2 COOK MAKE DINNER LOOK EASY

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FEATURES

36 WHIMSICAL WONDERLAND DISCOUNT BUILDING MATERIALS’ HIDEAWAY OF CHRISTMAS CHEER

KAREN KURR & NO TIME 2 COOK MAKE DINNER LOOK EASY

2 December/January 2019

PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT AND CHRISTINA STEUBE

45 FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

SCHOOL & SPORTS

FOOD & DRINK

11 No Ceilings Coach Yo and her efforts to give back

31 Locavore Ravine serves it up just south of town

ARTS & CULTURE

34 Joel’s Winter Recipes Brussels Sprouts Gratin & Adult Pumpkin Spice Latté

16 Photographers of Record Langdon and Maude Schuyler Clay let the soul of Mississippi breathe 22 Fall Book Picks By Beckett Howorth of Rare Square Books

HOME & STYLE 23 Opening Doors of Hope Annual Holiday House Tour makes tangible change in LOU Community

STYLE FEATURE 50 Handmade Finery Nicole Harlow’s vision for Niett Metals

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Contributors 5 From the Editor 6 Editor’s Product Picks 58 TYPEFACE 62 Out & About 71 Said & Done 72 Marketplace OxfordMag.com 3

CONTRIBUTORS

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Delia Childers

CONTRIBUTORS Joey Brent Jim Dees Davis Coen Christina Steube

Joey Brent, photographer

Joey has contributed photographs to a variety of local newspapers and magazines. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and The Mind Matters Foundation.

EDITORIAL Nathanael Gabler Anna Guizerix Bruce Newman Jake Thompson

MARKETING

Amelia Hanks, writer

Amelia grew up in Dallas, Texas before heading off and graduating from the University of Mississippi. She currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida and loves the warm weather and the beach. She looks forward to the day she can travel back to Oxford for a day in the Grove. She enjoys reading, watching HGTV and good sweet tea.

Lauren Jones Rhes Low

Davis Coen, writer

Davis Coen is a freelance writer and newspaper reporter from Oxford by way of South Carolina. He’s had stories published in various local publications including Oxford Eagle, Oxford Citizen and Daily Journal. He also maintains a music career--with over a dozen tours of Europe and regular airplay on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Christina Steube, writer

Christina is a staff member and instructor at The University of Mississippi.

She has been writing news and feature stories for over 10 years and loves travel, food and photography.

Oxford Magazine is published bimonthly by Oxford Newsmedia LLC. All material is this publication is protected by copyright. We are located at 4 Private Road 2050 Oxford, MS 38655. Our annual subscription rate is $40 per year in the United States and $60 a year in Canada, Mexico and other foreign countries. Our website is oxfordmag.com. We can be reached by telephone at 662-234-4331. Letters, story ideas and postal changes should be addressed to Oxford Magazine, 4 Private Road 2050, Oxford, MS 38655.

4 December/January 2019

FROM THE EDITOR

I ON THE COVER

Yolett McPhee-McCuin Ole Miss women’s head basketball coach, “Coach Yo” is known on and off the court for her philanthropic efforts.

Photo by Josh McCoy

I won’t lie – the older I’ve gotten, the more disenchanted I’ve become with Christmas.

As loved ones and traditions passed on, the magic seemed to fade. It seemed like much of the pageantry shrouded the best parts of Christmas.

Of course, marking the birth of Christ is first and foremost. But in addition to that, my favorite part of the Holiday season has always been giving to others and spending quality time with those who matter most.

That’s what this issue is about: highlighting those who give to others, creating spaces where quality time can be spent and inspiring readers to incorporate both in their daily lives.

Our cover story on Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin is one of my favorites. When Hurricane Dorian hit her home country of the Bahamas last year, I was amazed to hear about the amount of time, energy and donations McPhee-McCuin devoted to the relief efforts. Flying back and forth, each time bringing supplies to the Bahamian people – all while coaching a Division I basketball team – she never gave up on her home.

In addition to giving to others individually, we should also strive to give of our talents to the world. That’s exactly what Langdon and Maude Schuyler Clay have done for decades with their photography. And now, for the first time ever, the couple has embarked on a joint exhibition highlighting their best work and unique individual approaches to capturing the beauty in everyday things. The exhibit can be seen at Southside Gallery on the Square, as well as at the University of Mississippi Museum.

It’s no secret that we all need a break from the Holiday season and the stresses it brings. Enter the getaway you’ve been looking for at Ravine.

Whether it’s an evening with friends or a weekend retreat, the fine dining establishment off the beaten path is the perfect way to unwind. If you want to bring a little bit of Ravine home with you this Christmas, check out their recipes for Brussels Sprouts Gratin and Adult Pumpkin Spice Lattés.

Our feature on Discount Building Materials is Oxford Mag’s way of letting you in on the worst-kept secret in town. While Discounts might look like a warehouse on the outside, inside is a literal treasure trove of all things Christmas. I’m talking everything from patchwork reindeer to Santa in a convertible. You name it, they probably stock it.

We also included in this issue the launch of Typeface, our home for narrative nonfiction and contributed essays. The two essays selected were part of the submissions for the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s Literary Bit of... Faulkner Weekend back in the Fall, and I could not be more excited to share them with you. Read to learn the impact of Mississippi’s terrain on the lives of our two guest writers – and even get a glimpse at the real-life people mentioned in the stories.

I am so proud of this new program, and I’m sure you’ll love it, too.

So, take some time this Christmas season to give to others and tell the ones you love how much they matter. I know I’ll do the same.

Happy Reading!

anna.guizerix@oxfordmag.com OxfordMag.com 5

Editor’s Product Picks Christmas and New Year’s is the perfect time to make small changes that will amp up your style and keep you healthy. It’s also peak entertaining season. For those hard-to-shop-for folks on your list (or even as a treat for yourself), these product picks are sure to delight and inspire this winter.

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1. VELVET PEARL HEADBANDS, $7 ON AMAZON

The headband is back, and with it, a vintage-inspired update. I love these velvet knotted headbands with pearl accents – they pair beautifully with a sweater and jeans, or with your favorite cocktail dress. I treat headbands like a crown, and as such, always hold my head a little higher every time I put one on. If Amazon isn’t your speed, a similar style is available at Neilson’s Department Store on the Square.

2. WINKY LUX CONFETTI LIP BALM, $16 AT ULTA

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Winky Lux’s confetti lip balm is the grown-up version of your childhood favorite, Lipsmackers. Each formula (and there are many) applies clear and transforms according to your body’s pH. The result can be anything from a bright fuchsia to a soft pink – whatever it is, it’s the perfect color for your lips. On days when I can’t be bothered with a full face of makeup, a swipe of this lip balm, with its sleek packaging and environmentally friendly glitter, and a BB cream are all I need to look put together. Not to mention, the formula is super hydrating, vegan and cruelty free.

2 3. YETI CUP HANDLE, $10

If last year was the “Year of the Yeti Rambler,” this year is the year of Yeti cup handles. For my fellow small-handed people, this handle is a lifesaver. You’ll never have to worry about spilling coffee during your commute or water during your spin class ever again – mark my words.

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4. B MAT STRONG, $96 AT BAPTISTE TE POWER YOGA OXFORD

The B Mat has been a lifesaver and a resting place during many a hot yoga session. The Strong mat is made of 100-percent rubber. This means you will have a mat that lasts longer and you won’t have to replace as often (less waste), while having the peace of mind that the mat itself is still biodegradable over a long period of time. It’s super grippy and a little thicker than other high-end mats, which I love. If you want to try before you buy, stop by Baptiste Power Yoga Oxford for a class.

5. ETTA B POTTERY, $60 AT OLIVE JUICE GIFTS

Made in Etta, Miss., Etta B Pottery’s matte and glossy glazes are wonderful compliments in today’s home decor. Each piece has unique textures and detailed patterns, and though similar no two pieces are just alike. I am my mother’s daughter, and I love an antique truck. This piece (if you can stand to cover up the design) would be perfect for leaving cookies for Santa by your farmhouse fireplace. Added bonus: The pieces are microwave, dishwasher and oven safe.

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6. CHAOS THEORY JEWELRY

Chaos Theory jewelry is the brainchild of Ole Miss alumnus Cayley RutherfordOlson, who took to jewelry making after college graduation. What started out as a hobby turned into a passion, and then a business. Each piece is handmade in the USA in small batches, and no two are alike. There are delicate and more artsy pieces, perfect for whatever strikes your mood! Follow Chaos Theory on Instagram @chaostheoryjewelry.

6 December/January 2019

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THE GUIDE

OXFORD CHRISTMAS PARADE DECEMBER 2 | 6:30 P.M. In Oxford, you know the holiday season is officially underway when the community’s annual Christmas parade arrives. Along the parade route, families and children from Oxford and beyond line the streets.

We hear the sounds of our marching bands. We see the signs of our caring hearts. It’s all enough to make Oxford jingle.

OxfordMag.com 7

THE GUIDE

WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD

DECEMBER 7

First Tuesdays in Bryant Hall: Nave

Bid for the Kids Charity Ball 7 to 11 p.m. | The Country Club of Oxford Bid for the Kids Charity Ball, hosted by the Junior Auxiliary of Oxford, is an annual charity event which raises funds to help children in the LOU Community. Your ticket includes dinner, beer, wine, and champagne. You can enjoy the Silent Auction, Wine Pull, Raffle and Dancing to music by the Players. Admission to the event is $60 and tickets can be purchased from any JA member or on the event’s Facebook page.

DECEMBER 3 Graham 11 a.m. to noon Bryant Hall DECEMBER 4 Heyrocco 9 p.m.

Proud Larry’s DECEMBER 5 Caroline Watkins 9 p.m.

Proud Larry’s DECEMBER 6 Third-Annual Bubbe’s Table: A Hannukah Supper 7 to 9 p.m.

The Farmstead at Woodson Ridge The Stolen Faces 9:30 p.m.

Proud Larry’s

DECEMBER 13

Holiday Ornament Auction 6 to 9 p.m. | The Powerhouse The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s annual Holiday Ornament Auction returns Friday, Dec. 13. The event is free for Arts Council members. For non-members, admission is $35 for individuals and $50 for couples. The Holiday Ornament Auction is the Art Council’s largest fundraiser and helps to provide more and more art to the community each year. This year’s event features live music, pictures with Santa and much more.

DECEMBER 7 Doors of Hope Holiday Home Tour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Multiple Locations The Midtown Men 7:30 p.m.

Ford Center for the Performing Arts Run for the Kids Ugly Holiday Sweater 5K 8 to 10 a.m.

The Grove DECEMBER 12 A.A. Bondy 9 p.m.

Proud Larry’s DECEMBER 13 Laine Hardy 8 p.m.

The Lyric Oxford

8 December/January 2019

WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD DECEMBER 14 Wreaths Across America 1 to 4 p.m.

Garden of Memories Oxford DECEMBER 19 Roxford University’s Winter Concert 7 to 9 p.m.

The Lyric Oxford DECEMBER 21 Santa at Visit Oxford 10 a.m. to noon Visit Oxford Office DECEMBER 31 CASAblanca New Year’s Eve Gala: Change a Child’s Story

THE GUIDE JANUARY 24

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram 9 p.m. | Proud Larry’s Once a generation, a blues artist comes along who not only reminds mainstream audiences how deeply satisfying and emotionally moving the best blues music can be, but shakes the genre to its core.

With both eyes on the future and the blues in his blood, 20-year-old guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is set to take the music world by storm with the long-awaited release of his debut album, Kingfish, on Alligator Records.

Sprung from the same earth as so many of the Delta blues masters, Kingfish comes bursting out of Clarksdale, just 10 miles from the legendary crossroads of Highways 61 and 49. A student of the Delta’s musical history, he is acutely aware of the musicians and the music that emerged from his corner of the world. “I do think I have an old soul, that I’ve been here before,” he said. “I’m moving forward with one foot in the past.”

7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Powerhouse JANUARY 15 Todd Snider 8 p.m.

The Lyric Oxford

JANUARY 25

Billy Strings The Lyric Oxford | 8 p.m.

JANUARY 18 Celebrating the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 6 to 9 p.m.

Square Books JANUARY 23 James McMurtry 9 p.m.

Proud Larry’s JANUARY 28

Poised to take bluegrass in bold new directions, singer/songwriter/guitarist Billy Strings is quickly gaining attention for his incendiary live performances and imbuing his take on Americana with distinctive bursts of psychedelic virtuosity. While deeply reverent of the roots of traditional bluegrass music, which his father shared with him as a boy, Strings learned his high-energy performing skills by playing fleet-fingered guitar solos in a heavy metal band in his native Michigan.

While he has matured as a player, singer and songwriter in his own right, and re-embraced the music his father introduced him to, Strings has applied the intensity of heavy metal to bluegrass. The end results, as demonstrated on his most recent release, Turmoil & Tinfoil, provide a fresh jolt to the genre.

Perpetual Groove 9 p.m.

Proud Larry’s OxfordMag.com 9

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&SPORTS

SCHOOLS

NO CEILINGS Coach Yo and her efforts to give back

BY NATHANAEL GABLER PHOTOS BY JOSH MCCOY O OxfordMag.com xfor xf orrdM dMag a .ccom ag m 11

F

For Ole Miss women’s basketball coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, it all starts back home in the Bahamas... really, it started 1,000 miles west of the Bahamas, where Coach Yo, as she is affectionately referred, could do nothing but watch as category five hurricane Dorian ravaged through her home country over the summer.

With wind gusts up to 185 miles per hour, more than 70,000 Bahamians were homeless within little more than a 24-hour period in early September.

Starting a GoFundMe to help raise money for relief efforts stateside, Coach McPhee-McCuin raised more than $80,000 for the relief effort. However, that’s just a peek inside what she does every day to help others.

“There are tons of people that have been helping the people of the Bahamas. I’m not the only one. It’s a blessing,” McPhee-McCuin said. “But it’ll just take time.

Some of my friends still don’t have a home. They’ve been

12 December/January 2019

totally been relocated and probably will be for a year.

My nephew, they had to relocate and a lot of people like them haven’t been back to their original homes.”

The hurricane relief sort of lit a fire inside the 37-year-old head coach. She was raised to give back, and has been doing philanthropic work from childhood and through her first head-coaching job in Jacksonville.

But Hurricane Dorian made her realize something: she needed her own foundation. She had one in the Bahamas, Back2Basics, but this time around she needed something stateside.

With Dorian opening her eyes, in stepped #NoCeilings with Coach Yo, the head coach’s new foundation that she launched in October. While the hurricane may have been the cause of the launch, she said she wants to use the foundation for much more good moving forward.

“I’ve been doing this sort of philanthropic work forever, but I’ve never had a foundation,” McPhee-McCuin said. “When the hurricane happened, there were so many people that wanted to help and I thought I wanted them to be able to get a tax benefit.”

She defines her ministry as one “to teach, develop and inspire” both young and old people alike. But where her heart really lies is in her ability to impact women both in her new home of Oxford, and the Bahamas, which she said she’ll never fully leave behind.

McPhee-McCuin said she wants to have a black-tie gala every year to raise money and start a women’s and children’s symposium on campus – but that’s in the future.

Right now, McPhee-McCuin is focused on the little things.

Each month, she sends out a tweet. It’s relatively basic, just a call to students at Ole Miss. Each month, she picks four students randomly via social media and sends them $25 via CashApp, a lunch or dinner on her. She jokes that she’s received nearly 1,000 new Twitter followers just from the interactions.

It’s just one of the many things she’s involved in around the city of Oxford. During Thanksgiving, her women’s basketball team adopts a local family in need, taking them in for a full Thanksgiving meal. Last year around Christmastime, she and the team distributed presents to those less fortunate in the LOU Community.

McPhee-McCuin said she never wants to force her players to give back; she just hopes that they see her efforts and want to contribute their own. And they have. The coach said a lot of her players gave money out of pocket to help the hurricane relief – this, from college students without much money in pocket.

Even snowmen know who to see for a broken branch.

Cooper Coo oper Terry, Ter MD | Daniel Boyd, MD | Kurre Luber, MD | Steven Blackwood, MD Anna Burns, PA-C, ATC | Beth Norris, FNP-BC

oxfordortho.org

662.513.2000 OxfordMag.com 13

McPhee-McCuin gave her parents the credit, saying they raised her to appreciate what she had and help those who weren’t as lucky. Now, she has a passion for humanitarian work, and a platform as an SEC basketball coach with over 14,000 Twitter followers to make that impact.

“That’s what basketball does.

That’s what sports do. It’s not just Oxford people – people from all over were donating money from that effort. That meant a lot to me,”McPhee-McCuin said. “Anyone that has a platform should use it for good. I think that’s what social media should be used for – to raise awareness and to do good. And of course, it’s fun and entertaining.

I’m not a party pooper by any means, but having the voice and the platform I do, I take it seriously and treat it as a true responsibility.

I don’t want to be just a basketball coach. I want to impact lives.”

Despite raising over $80,000 for the relief effort – and the coach makes a point to let people know specifically where the money they donated is going - Coach Yo still hasn’t gotten a chance to return home to the Bahamas since hurricane Dorian struck her home nation. She’s eying exam week in December.

In a way, rebuilding from the hurricane is a strikingly similar analogy to the Ole Miss women’s basketball program in general. In her home country, tens of thousands of people are yet to return to their homes, months removed from when the hurricane first came ashore. Rebuilding efforts take time money and a lot of love, she said.

McPhee-McCuin laughed when she heard the analogy for the first time, sitting in the Tuohy Basketball Facility on Ole Miss campus, minutes before the start of practice. She smiled and shook her head, repeating the same phrase multiple times.

“It’s just going to take time.”

14 December/January 2019

OxfordMag.com 15

&CULTURE

ARTS

PHOTOGRAPHERS OF RECORD Langdon and Maude Schuyler Clay let the soul of Mississippi breathe

BY AMELIA HANKS 16 December/January 2019

T

There’s an old house, built in 1911, in Sumner, Miss.

It’s spacious and has held three generations of Maude Schuyler Clay’s family. The windows aren’t insulated, and the cold creeps in during the winter. But Langdon and Maude Clay don’t mind — to them, the house is a treasure trove of family history.

Sumner, which resides on the banks of the Tallahatchie River, has been Maude Schuyler Clay’s home base since her birth in 1953. Maude and Langdon met in New York City in the 1970s while they were both working photographers.

Maude attended the University of Mississippi and Memphis Academy of Arts in Tennessee. She moved to New York City with her cousin, William Eggleston, to assist him in his own photography ventures. There, she met Langdon and they married in 1979. They have three children together. Her published works include “Delta Dogs,” “Delta Land” and “Mississippi History.”

Langdon Clay was born in New York City in 1949, but has lived in Sumner since he married Maude.

While he occasionally leaves to dally and photograph outside the state, he also has collections of work depicting Southern life. His most recent work, published in 2016, is a book called “Cars” taken in New York City and photographed from 1974 to 1976.

He’s lived with Maude in her family’s house since the late 1980s. Maude said she thinks of Mississippi as a giant magnet, with a pull on everyone that comes into contact with it, whether it’s a good reaction or a bad reaction.

OxfordMag.com 17

I think our pictures complement each other. I never would have thought that. I have to wonder if it’s being in the same place living together.

- Maude Schuyler Clay

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18 December/January 2019

There are always those who wonder how Maude and Langdon keep getting inspired after a lifetime’s worth of photography and art. Maude’s advice to new photographers is to always have a camera with you, because you never know when you’re going to need it.

She remembered a story about attending a party for Tennessee Williams’ birthday in New York City, during which she saw Williams and Truman Capote deep in conversation on the couch.

“I couldn’t work up the nerve to take the picture. There are always going to be regrets and ones that got away,” Maude said.

“But the digital cameras they have now are so much easier to bring with me than the old cameras.”

The Clays have their first-ever joint exhibition at Southside Gallery and the University of Mississippi Museum this winter.

While Maude’s collection of work includes mostly portraits and landscapes of the Mississippi Delta in black-and-white and sepia tones, Langdon’s work is a little more varied and in color.

At the very end of the exhibit, however, there is a photograph of the Tallahatchie River Bridge, made famous by the song “Ode to Billie Joe,” by Bobbie Gentry.

While Langdon credits Maude as one of his favorite photographers — and she agrees — Maude said she credits Langdon as the tech man behind both of their photography works.

OxfordMag.com 19

“I love taking pictures, but I’ve never been a darkroom slave,” said Maude. “I’m very fortunate [Langdon] cares about that aspect of [photography].”

The different styles of photography don’t clash, however. Maude said she thinks the styles are actually quite symbiotic.

“I think our pictures complement each other. I never would have thought that,” Maude said. “I have to wonder if it’s being in the same place living together. A lot of Langdon’s work is done in New York and other places. He’s not just a delta photographer.”

While many are under the impression that artists who are married shouldn’t work together, that couldn’t be further from the truth for the Clays.

“When you’re working together on an exhibit, you just have to try and figure out what works between the two of you. You just come up with a plan, start the plan and adjust as things come up,” Langdon said. “Surprisingly enough, there was no real tension, not between us and not between us and the museum. It went better than it could be expected, I think.”

Between the two of them, the Clays have been published several times in separate

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books displaying their photography. Maude’s work focuses on the Delta.

“I consider my real work to leave a record of the Delta,” she said.

“In one way, I see myself as an archivist and a preservationist.”

Giving the soul of Mississippi a chance to breathe through pictures is what the Clays do with their exhibits. The pictures in the joint exhibit will provide a record of what took place around Mississippi for countless observers.

Record keeping is how Maude said she has always looked at her photography, even the very first picture she remembers taking.

“The first picture I remember was when I was young, maybe 10 years old, and had some plastic horses. So, I put them out one time in the grass and got down from the point of view in the grass,” said Maude. “Back then, nothing was instant. After developing the photos and a couple of weeks later, when I got pictures back, I was really excited. I had created and recorded something.”

While neither Maude nor Langdon sees themselves giving up on photography anytime soon, it may be almost time to downsize out of the house and pass it on to one of their children, who still live nearby.

They are considering a condo in Oxford, which is around 60 miles from Sumner. She considers it the “Aspen of the South, without the mountains.”

In the meantime, if one wants to see the Clays’ work for themselves, feel free to visit the UM Museum. The exhibit will be on display through February 2020.

Their work awaits their move to Oxford, whether that be in the next 20 years or in the next two. Without the Clays to record what’s happening, who will?

OxfordMag.com 21

BOOK PICKS

BY BECKETT HOWORTH, MANAGER AT RARE SQUARE BOOKS Beckett grew up in Oxford and studied at Ole Miss. He spent time working at a bookstore in Los Angeles for several years before moving back to Oxford and working at Square Books. For the last decade, he has worked several positions at SB, most recently at Rare Square Books. Beckett lives in Oxford with his partner and coworker Katelyn O'Brien and their cat, Carla.

1. Vicksburg

by Donald L. Miller The year-long campaign to capture Vicksburg and control the Mississippi River was a monumental challenge for General Grant and the United States Army. In Vicksburg, Miller uses an outstanding number of primary sources to capture not just the brutal armed encounters, genius maneuvers and grisly siege, but the history and fate of the hundreds of thousands of slaves in the area who were emancipated by Grant's army. Signed copies available.

2. Tiny Love

by Larry Brown This collection spans the entirety of Larry Brown's career. Lafayette County's own, Brown was deeply in touch with the people and land around us. From farming to firefighting, Brown's stories are vivid and visceral. One of my favorite authors, it was a joy to read some of these stories again, as well as the new, uncollected ones.

3. William Faulkner's Modern Library editions

Rare Square Books (above Square Books Jr. is home to many moderately priced collectible items like Modern Library editions. Small, unique and loved by collectors, Modern Library editions have been on booklover's shelves for decades. We have many by Faulkner as well as numerous other authors.

An inexpensive vintage item for any booklover.

4. The Body: A Guide for Occupants

by Bill Bryson The author of A Short History of Nearly Everything is back with a short history of nearly everything in your body. Fascinating and fun, in the vein of Mary Roach. All your grossest questions answered here, and more.

22 December/January 2019

&STYLE

HOME

OPENING DOORS OF HOPE Annual Holiday House Tour makes tangible change in LOU Community

BY ANNA GUIZERIX PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT OxfordMag.com 23

D

Doors of Hope Transition Ministries is bringing on the holiday cheer during this year’s Holiday House Tour, which features six residences in the Faulkner Woods neighborhood.

The house tour is Doors of Hope’s only fundraiser, and will provide the organization with funds to help homeless families in the LOU Community learn sustainable financial practices and strive for an independent lifestyle. This year’s event will take place December 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The Self-Sufficiency Transitional Empowerment Program (STEP) takes participants through a rigorous four- to six- month program where they are required to work, pay debts, and save money, as well as learn and practice skills to become self-sufficient,” said Susan Bartlett, who works with Doors of Hope. “We have a new Housing in Place program that allows families to remain in their homes while working with our case worker to provide guidance and structure to help them gain financial independence.”

Melody Webb’s home will be featured on the tour for the third straight year this December. She and her husband, John, have lived in their Faulkner Woods home since 2002.

Webb said she views the property as a “second chance home,” since they purchased it after watching it slip off the market in 2000, while she was battling breast cancer.

24 December/January 2019

“I love this house. It’s where all my kids grew up, and now they’re all grown themselves,” she said.

“It’s a fabulous entertaining home. We have wonderful birthday parties, engagement parties, New Year’s Eve parties.”

Since Webb is no stranger to opening her home to others, she said the decision to include her home on the tour for a third year was a no-brainer.

However, she said, she did need a little convincing and input from her girlfriends.

“Dorothy, one of my best friends, called and asked if I’d be willing to do it. And I said, ‘Let me think about it.’ I called my neighbor, Dianne Scruggs, and I said, ‘Dianne, they’ve asked us to do this. I’ll do it if you will do it.’” Webb said. “And then Gail Henry is another one of my friends and she did it, so it’s really been a chain reaction.”

Holiday traditions are important in the Webb household. A tight-knit family all hailing from Philadelphia, Miss., Webb said their main Christmas celebrations take place outside of their home.

However, preparing for the Christmas season is something Webb said she looks forward to each year.

“My oldest son, his birthday is the 4th of December. So, I always try to have my tree up by his birthday,” she said. “He went to Millsaps, so we would

I love this house. It’s where all my kids grew up, and now they’re all grown themselves. It’s a fabulous entertaining home. We have wonderful birthday parties, engagement parties, New Year’s Eve parties.

- Melody Webb always, after Thanksgiving, would go pick out our tree and put it up the first weekend of December.”

Picking out the tree is important, Webb said – and don’t even think about an artificial tree. She prefers the real thing, and all the “magic” a live tree brings into the home.

However, Webb admits that, while she does many things well (friends say her gumbo is to die for), she would rather place holiday decorations in more skilled hands. Enter Oxford artist Nicole Lamar, who decorates the Webb home each year.

Guests at the Holiday House Tour should be on the lookout for the many personal touches seen throughout the Webb home, from hand-painted portraits to the four handmade Christmas trees Webb commissioned for her three children and herself.

OxfordMag.com 25

Made by Webb’s friend and artist Darri Mansel, the trees feature Ole Miss Football for her oldest son, Harry Potter for her youngest son and Barbie for her daughter. Webb’s personal tree features a little bit of everything to encompass her personality and celebrate her life.

Those who plan to attend the Doors of Hope Holiday House Tour can do so by purchasing tickets, which are $20 for pre-purchase and $25 at the event. Doors of Hope is asking attendees to park in the Kudzu Lot off of Old Taylor Road. Santa’s Sleigh Stop will be located there. Attendees will be able to purchase House Tour tickets and raffle tickets at this location. There will also be a “will call” window for pre-purchased and complementary tickets.

The raffle items will be on display at this location and can also be seen on the Doors of Hope website (doorsofhopeoxford.org). Attendees will be able to catch a shuttle to the homes from Santa’s Sleigh Stop.

A new addition to the House Tour is an entertainment aspect. Doors of Hope will have many different forms of entertainment performing Christmas carols to add to the atmosphere and put everyone in the Holiday Spirit.

“We feel that this Holiday House Tour is a fun way to help others while enjoying a day in Oxford. Oxford has an unlimited number of beautiful homes and homeowners who enjoy sharing the holiday spirit with their neighbors for a good cause,” Bartlett said. “We are grateful for the homeowners who have participated.

We would be delighted to welcome you to join us as we celebrate the holiday season and reflect upon the achievement of positively impacting the lives of many children and families in Lafayette County.”

26 December/January 2019

We are grateful for the homeowners who have participated. We would be delighted to welcome you to join us as we celebrate the holiday season and reflect upon the achievement of positively impacting the lives of many children and families in Lafayette County.

- Susan Bartlett OxfordMag.com 27

DOORS OF HOPE HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR

WHEN: December 7 WHAT TIME: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Pickup at Old Taylor Road parking lot (Kudzu Lot)

WHY: Benefits homeless families in Lafayette County

ADMISSION: $20 for

pre-purchase, $25 day of the event

28 December/January 2019

&DRINK

FOOD

LOCAVORE

Ravine serves it up just south of town

BY DAVIS COEN PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT OxfordMag.com 29

A

A major convenience of the Oxford dining experience as a whole is the ability to balance the sometimes hustling and bustling Courthouse Square setting with that of more quaint food destinations on the outskirts of town, as the situation may present itself.

One prominent option of the latter sort is Ravine; a restaurant name attributed to “a landscape that is constantly changing, depending on the seasons.”

“Sometimes it is lush and green, other times rocky and dry,” as characterized by owner Joel Miller. “Ravine also changes with the seasons.”

Ravine is located a few miles from Oxford’s historic Square, off South Lamar Boulevard, and is cozily situated a few dozen yards off of a rural county road.

Miller, and his wife Cori, came upon this location of a former bed and breakfast not long after returning to the South and settling in Oxford.

Along with its surrounding property, and the potential makings for outside dining, the couple found that the parcel of land embodied quite close to what they had long been envisioning.

“Moving from California, I was used to destination restaurants that had on-site gardens, outdoor social spaces, and overnight accommodations. I found those places very welcoming and attractive,” Miller said of the initial inspiration and motivation behind developing the property into something more personal to them.

30 December/January 2019

California had an impact on nurturing the Millers’ advocacy and emphasis for use of local food products for a restaurant business.

“Part of that was the locavore movement I experienced in California; another part was my being environmentally minded since a kid,” he said. “Local food tastes better, is healthier and is great for local economies.”

Vegetables and herbs from the gardens on the property are used on menu items, which also consist of locally raised beef and pork, as well as seafood and fowl obtained nearby — and the style of cuisine has been characterized as “contemporary Southern.”

Ravine’s list of local purveyors is extensive, right down to the milk. “There are farms all over: Clear Creek Farms, Yokna Bottoms, Native Son, Brown Family Dairy, Bottle Tree Farm, Bost Farm. The circle expands wider to include other farms in the state and surrounding region,” Miller said. “Building relationships with farmers is vital: when Ravine opened, many farmers were wary about selling to us, as they had been burned by restaurants in the past promising to buy and then failing to follow through. I had to convince them I was different.”

As the definition of Ravine implies the probability of change and contrast, the menu also does so throughout the duration of the year. Although dishes such as

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the duck breast (in addition to mini-burgers and house salad) maintain an ongoing presence and consistent popularity among patrons, Brussels Sprouts Gratin is among the various seasonal items which are often in rotation. Of course, all offerings are dependent upon which ingredients are in available during the time of year.

Miller attributes his interest in brussels sprouts to an experience he had as a child, when he was put off by the taste. Ever since then, he’s sought ways to flavor the cruciferous vegetable differently from his initial first impression. He agrees that exploring the leaf vegetable is possibly an ongoing reconciliation that he seeks with that formative childhood impression.

Another seasonal item available during colder months is the Adult Pumpkin Spice Latte on Ravine’s cocktail menu. The inclusion of this autumnal beverage to the menu — equipped with its alcohol-infused octane boost — is attributed to the irrefutable popularity of non-alcoholic beverage in recent years, mostly by way of such ubiquitous coffee vendors as Starbuck’s and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Miller maintains that seasonal varieties will continue to evolve following the New Year, although the restaurant has made a practice of closing to the public for the major holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“I am a pretty staunch advocate of ensuring my staff has time off during the holidays to spend with their families,” he said. “We usually close for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the first week of January to give people time. That will not change.”

Although Ravine is characterized as contemporary Southern, Miller’s cuisine embodies a much wider range of influences than may be indicated by that characterization.

“I learned a lot from the chef in Puerto Rico, who I did my externship with — he was a classically French trained chef from the Northeast,” he said. “I also learned a lot during my stint at the Ritz Carlton in New 32 December/January 2019

Orleans (under the world-renowned Michelin star chef, Frank Brunacci), where I focused strictly on baking and pastry. I also learned a lot about the ‘front of house’ and wine while working in California.”

Another alluring feature of the Millers’ hospitality operation is The Inn aspect of the establishment. The grounds contain a

delightful cottage adjacent to the restaurant, which is comfortably suited for two guests, in addition to an apartment above the restaurant, which is designed for four guests. The latter is more along the lines of what’s referred to these days as an Airbnb.

Ravine, which has been called “Oxford’s superlative restaurant and inn” is uniquely a North Mississippi venture — right down to the characteristically winding stretch of county road, and the colorfully welcoming and friendly, but ominous, bottle tree in the middle of the back yard.

The vantage point from the overlooking outdoor terrace is relaxing, along with its view of the encompassing pine and oak trees and other calming foliage. The entrance is prominent, and the parking feels easier for visitors to use compared to the ever-growing frustrations and typical weekend conundrum of the Square.

The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, with Wednesdays dedicated to Spanish tapas, and Sundays to brunch — followed by a fixed-price, family-oriented supper. The lodging facilities are commonly offered seven nights a week, and advance reservations are suggested, especially during special events and Ole Miss home game weekends.

Did you know you can now pick up issues of Oxford Magazine at dozens of locations around town?

Enjoy the great writers and stories about Oxford and the surrounding area.

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Ǡǒ‫ ژ‬ƌư‫ ژ‬ȵƷƌǵǑƌȽɋ‫ژ‬ °ɋƌȵƨɓƩǵȽ‫ژ‬ ɱǑȏȵư‫ژ‬Fǹȏȵƌǹ OǠǒǚ‫ ژ‬ȏɋɋȏȄ‫ژ‬ÞǠȄƷ‫ژۯژ‬°ȲǠȵǠɋȽ‫ژ‬ äƌäƌ‫ټ‬Ƚ‫ژ‬FȵȏɼƷȄ‫ژ‬äȏǒɓȵɋ‫ژ‬ °ȏɓǹȽǚǠȄƷ‫ژ‬¥Ǡɼɼƌ‫ژ‬ ƨȄƷȵ‫ټ‬Ƚ‫ژ‬٫‫ژ‬ÅȄǠɫƷȵȽǠɋɲ‫ژ‬ǹȏƩƌɋǠȏȄ‫ژ‬ ¾ǚƌƩǵƷȵ‫ژגהדژ‬ °ȏɓɋǚƷȵȄ‫ ژ‬ǚǠƩ ¾ǚƷ‫ ژ‬ǚƌȄƩƷǹǹȏȵ‫ټ‬Ƚ‫ژ‬OȏɓȽƷ‫ژ‬ uȏƷٔȽ‫§ ژ‬

%°ȴɓƌȵƷư‫ژ‬ ƌȲɋǠȽɋ‫ژ‬uƷȂȏȵǠƌǹ‫ژ‬OȏȽȲǠɋƌǹ‫ژ‬ ɱǑȏȵư‫ ژ‬ȵɋǚȏȲƌƷưǠƩȽ‫ژ‬ uƌǒȄȏǹǠƌ‫ژ‬kǠǒǚɋǠȄǒ‫ژ‬ ɱǑȏȵư‫ژ‬ÅȄǠɫƷȵȽǠɋɲ‫ ژ‬ƌȄǵ‫ژ‬ ƌȄǵ‫ژ‬ȏǑ‫ ژ‬ȏȂȂƷȵƩƷ ǹȏٖ%ȵɲ‫ ژ‬ƌȵ‫ژ‬ Ȃɲ‫ژ‬OƷƌư‫ ژ‬ȏȽȂƷɋǠƩȽ‫ژ‬ °ɓȂȂƷȵOȏɓȽƷ‫ژ‬ ¥ǹƷǠȄ‫ ژ‬Ǡȵ OȏǹƩȏȂƨ‫ژ‬%ɓȄƨƌȵ‫ژ‬

uƌǒȄȏǹǠƌ‫ ژ‬ȵǠƩǵ ȏɓȵɋɲƌȵư‫ژ‬uƌȵȵǠȏɋɋ wƷǠǹȽȏȄ‫ټ‬Ƚ‫ژ‬ OǠȄɋȏȄ‫ژڹژ‬OǠȄɋȏȄ ¥ȵȏɫǠȽǠȏȄ‫ژ‬ hƌɋǚƷȵǠȄƷ‫ ژ‬ƷƩǵ °ȴɓƌȵƷ‫ ژ‬ȏȏǵȽ wƷɬǵ‫ټ‬Ƚ‫ژ‬ kȏȽɋ‫ژ‬¥Ǡɼɼƌ‫ژ‬ ÝǠȽǠɋ‫ ژ‬ɱǑȏȵư Fw ‫ژ‬

OxfordMag.com 33

FOOD & DRINK

BRUSSELS SPROUTS GRATIN

WHAT YOU NEED • • • • • • • •

1 pound brussels sprouts 1 shallot, chopped 1 teaspoon chopped or sliced garlic 2-3 slices bacon, chopped (optional) white wine, to taste sherry vinegar, to taste 1 tablespoon butter 2 oz. shredded grana Padano or parmesan

34 December/January 2019

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER Take whole brussels sprouts, cut into quarters and blanch in boiling salted water for approximately 20 seconds. Shock in ice water, drain well.

Heat a sauté pan with olive oil until slightly smoking. Gently place sprouts into pan, sauté until golden. Add shallots, garlic, bacon. Deglaze with white wine, splash in vinegar to taste. Finish with butter and cheese and bake slightly to melt.

FOOD & DRINK

ADULT PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE WHAT YOU NEED • • • • • •

1 1/2 oz. vodka 1 1/2 oz. cold coffee 2 oz. pumpkin spiced puree 3/4 oz. heavy cream 1/2 oz. simple syrup Ice

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER Combine, shake, strain. Top with whipped cream and freshly ground nutmeg.

To make pumpkin spiced puree: 1 can pumpkin puree 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon allspice Combine all ingredients in a mediumsized bowl.

OxfordMag.com 35

36 December/January 2019

WHIMSICAL WONDERLAND Discount Building Materials’ hideaway of Christmas Cheer

A

BY CHRISTINA STEUBE

Approaching Oxford via Highway 6 West, it’s easy to spot Discount Building Materials – but what passersby don’t see behind those warehouse walls is a Christmas wonderland.

Dawn Sink and her husband, Cliff, opened Discounts in June 1994 to primarily carry building supplies and lumber. Sink was also working as a nurse at the time. When her children reached school-age, she introduced the Christmas trend in the showroom.

OxfordMag.com 37

I’ve always loved Christmas, but now I’ve grown to love it even more. I love hearing stories from customers when they tell me that a piece reminds them of something from their childhood.

- Dawn Sink

38 December/January 2019

“We started in 2005 with just a Christmas tree for decoration, but people wanted to buy the materials from it,” she said. “It’s just grown a little bit more every year.”

This year, there are 26 different themes throughout the showroom – from traditional and classic to bold and colorful to neutral and muted.

Upon entering, customers are greeted by a display featuring a life-sized Santa in a convertible.

Weaving through the warehouse, the displays seamlessly blend into the next one, sparking ideas for a multitude of designs.

Sink designs all the themed displays herself, drawing inspiration from ideas at market or even a piece of granite and collaborates with the decorating team to choose the themes each year.

“We just look for color combinations that we like together and try to bring it to life in the displays,” she said.

The planning for the impressive showroom is a year-round affair. Sink already knows what designs she has in mind for the Christmas display in January, when she purchases the items at market.

OxfordMag.com 39

Sink and her team have been working since September into all hours of the night to transform the showroom, which is usually filled with small accent pieces and home décor, into the embodiment of Christmas.

“It really takes a whole team of people,” she said.

“I have a lot of help, and it’s definitely physically straining.”

Throughout the 10,000 square-foot showroom space, there are tens of thousands of different Christmas items. Despite the massive amount, Sink said the vast majority of items sell out as everyone wraps up their decorating.

“We pack up what little is left and put it out again the next year,” she said.

Year after year, Sink said the most popular theme has been what she refers to as “Whimsical Christmas” – traditional red and green with pops of bold colors like hot pink, lime green and purple.

“It’s a really fun design and it’s something easy people can do,” she said. “They can just add a few pops of bright color to the theme they already have.”

Near the front of the showroom with bold, bright ornaments and garland, the whimsical theme is hard to miss. But one of the best parts of strolling through the displays is seeing themes one never would’ve thought of otherwise.

40 December/January 2019

Sink said she chooses a neutral theme in decorating her own home, matching the rest of her décor.

“My den has a flocked tree with champagne and mercury glass ornaments,” she said. “Our entire family comes together to decorate the tree.”

Clearly, transforming the warehouse into the holiday spirit is a labor of love for Sink.

“I’ve always loved Christmas, but now I’ve grown to love it even more,” she said. “I love hearing stories from customers when they tell me that a piece OxfordMag.com 41

42 December/January 2019

reminds them of something from their childhood.

It’s very hard work every year, but it’s nice to see everyone happy, even just walking through the displays.”

Word has traveled about Discounts, too. Around the holiday season, Sink said people come from all over – Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and even Michigan.

“It’s always fascinating to see where the product goes, and we’re so grateful that is has bloomed into the store it is now,” she said.

Sink said she tripled the Christmas order this year.

“We wanted to make a lot more people happy so they can decorate with the products they want.”

OxfordMag.com 43

Discount also takes custom orders for wreaths, donned with ribbon, garland and all the Christmas trappings. Sink guides customers with the design and what they’ll need, resulting in a unique wreath in two weeks.

“This is all definitely a team effort,” she said. “We’re tying hundreds of bows each week. It’s a hard job, but every member of our team makes sacrifices and they are what makes this such a huge success.

Discount Building Materials is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS Karen Kurr & No Time 2 Cook make dinner look easy

BY JAKE THOMPSON PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN OxfordMag.com 45

W

When Karen Kurr began her business, No Time 2 Cook, in 2005, she was preparing dishes out of her home.

Fifteen years later, Kurr has turned her cottage industry into a full-fledged operation – and it’s all due to her family cookbook.

“It literally was birthed in my home kitchen,” Kurr said. “We had an opportunity to take some of my favorite family meals that my kids love to a farmer’s market.”

From going to farmer’s markets in Oxford and Tupelo to buying a space at The Mustard Seed Antique Mall in Oxford, Kurr has seen her family recipes become staples in the grocery stores she and her neighbors frequent.

Due to the lack of oversight at Farmer’s Markets in the early 2000s, people such as Kurr had a little more freedom to start a business out of their kitchens. Although, Kurr was not standing in her kitchen making frozen casseroles in mass quantity for long.

“It didn’t take long. Once we got started, just within a couple of months, it just went so well,” Kurr said.

A kitchen was rented and Kurr utilized a room that was attached to her house which was not in use. Because she lived in Lafayette County, and not inside the city limits of Oxford, she was able to get a license to have a commercial kitchen in her home.

That process lasted around four years before the “business began exploding,” according to Kurr.

Prior to 2005, she was a stay-at-home mother, but she also had a background in home economics. She had also taught child development and family living in Louisiana’s university system and was the first daycare center director at Delta State University.

“I got a lot of commercial kitchen experience in that daycare setting,” Kurr said. “I was in charge. I didn’t do the cooking, but I had cooks and I had to plan meals and I had to develop recipes. I did have a lot of government oversight there through the state. I guess that was some training ground for me.”

After having her first child, Kurr then became a stay-at-home mom until she re-entered the workforce in 2005, with what would eventually become No Time 2 Cook.

Kurr got her first taste of government oversight at flea markets, when she applied for the Tupelo Flea Market which required a license.

46 December/January 2019

She had crock pots set out to offer samples, and at the conclusion of the weekend she sold out of everything.

“I think it was really that weekend that we knew, ‘Okay, this could be big,’” Kurr said.

After having to abide by government regulations for cottage industries, Kurr relocated her homegrown business to a facility off of North Lamar Boulevard behind Chicory Market in Oxford.

There, most of the Cajun and southern dishes she is famous for are made from scratch and prepared to ship to Kroger and independent retailers across the Southeast.

Nearly all the dishes Kurr started with came from family recipes with deep roots in southern Louisiana. Gumbo, red beans and rice and etouffee were the signature dishes Kurr started with.

Nothing Kurr makes or sells is different from what she made for her own family.

“With my child development background, I know, and knew, how important the family dinner (is) for children and healthy families and conversation,” Kurr said. “I knew that was important. It’s how I grew up. My mother had a hot meal on the table every single night and when I had children of my own, I found out it wasn’t as easy as she made it look.”

It really was birthed in my home kitchen. We had an opportunity to take some of my favorite family meals that my kids love to a farmer’s market.

- Karen Kurr

OxfordMag.com 47

48 December/January 2019

Kurr’s mother managed a garden and her father was a cattleman who raised angus beef, helping stock up their freezers when the fall and winter months arrived.

“We were really a farm-to-table family,” Kurr said.

Knowing how difficult it is to run a household and also try to provide fresh meals every night, Kurr would begin cooking on the weekend and then pull dishes out of the freezer when she had “No time to cook.” It was in those moments that Kurr had the idea of her future company planted in her head, and began compiling recipes.

In 2017, Kurr applied to go to Walmart’s open call, an initiative to bring American-grown and -based products to their shelves in support of creating more USA-based jobs. Kurr’s business was accepted and invited to the three-day event. The final stage is getting in front of buyers, who then try the product themselves.

If the buyers like the products, a green card is issued to the business owner. Kurr left Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. with a green card and was invited to come back for the category review that fall.

In the fall of 2018, Kurr’s products were in 250 stores across the southern region. With the expansion to Walmart, they are now in over 620 stores.

“We’ve more than doubled our distribution in a year,” Kurr said. “We’re in all the deep south states.”

Kurr’s products are now sold in Walmart stores in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

Shoppers will be able to find No Time 2 Cook’s chicken and dumplings, chicken tetrazzini and poppyseed chicken in Walmart stores. Kroger also

“

(The demand for new products) is like an animal that’s constantly saying, ‘What’s new?

What’s new? What’s New? - Karen Kurr

carries chicken and dumplings, along with cornbread dressing with chicken.

Marketplace at Oxford Commons and Moore’s Store in Batesville off Highway 6 are some of the independent retailers that currently carry No Time 2 Cook products.

The demand for a new product is always there, and Kurr is using her new corporate lunch catering to test out what they have been working on in their research and development department. The catering is designed to serve as small-scale research and development, she said. “(The demand for new products) is like an animal that’s constantly saying, ‘What’s new? What’s new?

What’s New?’” Kurr said. “We’re always wanting to bring in new products and that’s part of this catering that we’ve just launched, to help R&D.” Kurr said the catering side of the business has already produced some potential new products that she thinks will find their way the freezer section soon.

For more information, visit notime2cook.com or contact Kurr at info@notime2cook.com.

”

OxfordMag.com 49

STYLE

HANDMADE FINERY Nicole Harlow’s vision for Niett Metals

BY CHRISTINA STEUBE PHOTOS BY DEJA SAMUEL 50 December/January 2019

N

Nicole Harlow has always been an artist.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Harlow attended the University of Mississippi and studied both art and business.

Her focus in college was painting, but Harlow forged her own path in fine metals. Three years ago, Harlow founded Niett Metals, a handcrafted jewelry line of precious and semi-precious metals and gems.

After finishing her degree, Harlow wanted to explore design and fashion, which fine metals allowed her to do.

She attended metals-based classes in Seattle to fine-tune her craft before opening a studio in Taylor, next to Taylor Grocery.

“I like the longevity of the material, and knowing that it lasts so long and is a part of someone’s life,” she said. “All of my work is made from consciously sourced metals.”

Every single one of her pieces – earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces, are all handcrafted in her Taylor studio.

Much of her inspiration comes from her Southwestern roots.

“My most liberating memories come from seasons spent in the mountains and deserts of New Mexico,” OxfordMag.com 51

Harlow said. “It is in this Southwestern landscape, where visions of silver and turquoise shine against dusted adobe walls, that the inspiration and spirit of Niett Metals is rooted.”

As a young girl, Harlow remembers exploring leather shops of New Mexico often with her father.

“His ritual entailed stopping two steps inside the door, closing his eyes and taking in as much of the saturated air as possible,” she said. “He would reach for the nearest piece to offer me, insisting, ‘feel this, this is real.’”

52 December/January 2019

Additionally, Harlow said she draws inspiration from other women – in all types of design.

“Each individual piece of jewelry I create is an homage to this rich legacy of artists – from the native craftsmen of New Mexico to the local makers of Mississippi and the renowned artists and architects that many of my pieces are named after,” Harlow said.

“Niett Metals is a reflection of the creative environments I have been lucky enough to explore, and a collection of expressions that I hope to share with others.”

And sometimes, inspiration strikes based on what isn’t available.

“There have been several times when I want the perfect accessories for what I’m wearing, but I can’t get it anywhere,” she said.

“So I’m lucky to be able to create it, wear it and test it out myself.”

Above anything else, Harlow said her goal is to uphold integrity and authenticity through her artistic process.

“The philosophy of Niett Metals emphasizes the beauty of true quality,” she said. “The production process begins with sourcing from trusted suppliers of quality materials– from ethical gold and silver to genuine leather cord and German silks.”

Harlow’s business is almost entirely based online, though her pieces are also available at Cicada in Oxford and Fieldshop in Charleston, S.C. In a town that supports creative freedom, Harlow said her work has been very well received, keeping her consistently busy throughout the year. However, she envisions expanding her company by incorporating other materials in the future.

“I’d love for it to grow into other areas of fashion, like clothing and leather, and I’d also love for it to grow in general among university students,” Harlow said. “As I expand, I’m able to share this fun process with others, and I’d love to get more people on board with my company.”

All of Harlow’s pieces can be viewed at https://www.niettmetals.com/

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56 December/January 2019

FEATURES

5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Erin Smith

By Amelia Hanks

How did you get involved with CASA? ES: As an undergrad at Ole Miss, I was a Kappa Alpha Theta. Once I graduated, I wanted to get involved but there was no CASA program nearby. I looked in Memphis and found a program. However, there are only five CASA programs in the state of Mississippi., even though there’s a definite need. Now that we’ve started a program in Oxford, we have plans to become a regional program called CASA of North Mississippi.

Erin Smith is the Founding Executive Director of CASA of Lafayette County. After graduating from Ole Miss as a Kappa Alpha Theta, she set out to continue serving her sorority’s philanthropy the best way she knew how: taking an active role in giving back to her community. That decision eventually led to her diving head-first into establishing CASA of Lafayette County.

What is a way that people can help out CASA? ES: Obviously the most important is volunteering. You can become an advocate as well. Advocates are sworn in to assist in court cases. A lot of people don’t have time and money to undergo the training, so donations help as well. Every year we do CASA Christmas, and all the foster kids are adopted and people are given a wish list of everything the child might want for Christmas. Another way is by donating financially or volunteering at events, and spreading the word about CASA. Lafayette Schools help with their acts of kindness. I know that Order of Omega on campus is doing a backpack drive, and again Lafayette schools are doing various drives as well.

When was the first time you realized CASA was making a big impact?

ES: Probably in February of 2019.

We were finally serving children. Then a bigger impact has come in the last six months with more progress being made.

Three months after establishing CASA, we were able to provide financially for the foster children. You can see the difference. They know when the volunteer isn’t there, and they come to trust the CASA volunteer. When CPS sometimes can’t provide, CASA volunteers are there with emergency clothing, whatever they need.

What is some advice you would give people who are thinking about getting involved with CASA? ES: If your heart is telling you to get involved, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. But it is really rewarding.

You’re going to be the only constant figure in these kids’ lives. There will be various social workers, but volunteers are always there. We generally are the first to count on, we’re the ones they can count on seeing. It’s not only a time commitment.

How much does it cost for CASA to sponsor a child and how many fulltime CASA staff is there?

ES: For us to care for every child around $3,000 per case. Without including whatever may pop up. I’m the only full-time staffer, but we’re currently in the final process for hiring a second staff member.

OxfordMag.com 57

TYPEFACE is Oxford Magazine’s latest addition. We wanted to find a way for both aspiring and established writers to come together within our pages, to tell the stories only they can tell. Oxford Magazine is so pleased to share these stories with our readers.

Want your own shot at appearing in our pages? Keep an eye out on our social media pages for the next issue’s TYPEFACE submission guidelines.

NOT IN MISSISSIPPI

By Philip Gordon

C

Coming from our nation’s capital, I was used to walking with ghosts. The marble monuments of Jefferson and Lincoln stalk the living and the white graves of Arlington National Cemetery salt the ground next to the Potomac, reminding you of what took place before your short visit on earth.

The first thing I noticed when visiting Mississippi for the first time was crossing into her borders from

58 December/January 2019

Alabama and the asphalt lightening from black to tan.

Was it strictly because of local resources? To reduce the heat absorption? Or was it an ode to Mars?

The big sky vistas were deceptive. Velvet brush lining the highway allowed bits of sunlight to pass through, capturing my intrigue as to what was, what could be concealed behind it. If the air conditioning was off and the windows rolled down, I’m sure I’d

hear whispers and mysterious sounds in the wind. Not knowing it at the time, I had breached its protective membrane and was being pickled in its brine. With each rolling hill, I was being washed and tumbled, without my consent, never to be the same again.

The information I had received was generally the same. Either Mississippi was to be avoided at all costs and could never be considered a destination for any outsider, or it was the natives and alumni who longed for the day when they could return. Middle ground was absent.

Placing my bags down in my Oxford hotel, I promptly took my initial stroll through the downtown square. My subpar sense of smell was aroused by foreign scents. It had to be magnolia, though I couldn’t be sure. I was sure of the rising buttermilk from the millions of biscuits and bubbling vegetable oil. The pedestrians had the good life and were aware of it.

Along with the city workers, they wanted perform their duties without missing an opportunity to call someone, “Hun” or “Brother.” I saw pride in the windows, not only for Ole Miss, but of Oxford, and the state itself. Mississippians are as proud as any New Yorker or Bostonian I’d ever met.

The ghosts of D.C. always seemed too imposing and too distant to truly take appreciation of. I might marvel at the Watergate hotel and try to place myself in the shoes of the security guard that stumbled upon the burglars. Or stand on the Mall and recount the inaugurations, gaze at the Capitol and place myself in the chamber listening to FDR giving his Pearl Harbor speech.

Not in Mississippi. Here, the past was part of the air quality. The calcium dust from bones somehow escapes the earth seeps into your pores. The chocolate waters hold secrets as if they’ve absorbed the totality of dreams, lies, and motives of the fallen residents.

Roadside farmhouses and enduring gas stations arrest your imagination for what they had all seen and who had taken residence there. Historic markers rise up on otherwise insignificant corners and point you to inward.

Two days in and my high-strung disposition was unwoven by every waitress and attendant treating me like the first customer. I overheard conversations of, “Aren’t you so-and-so’s nephew, grandson, whomever?” Someone who had recognized a last name or the ways the eyes set on the face.

The most common adjective I hear of Washington D.C. these days is “transient.” Government workers move from out of town, vacation somewhere else, and take little time to ask strangers how their day was.

Not in Mississippi. It is as far away from transient as it is to Manhattan. The lineages alone are to be marveled at. Extended families intertwine across view and without an insider’s guide, becomes a labyrinth.

Mississippians were forthright when I brought up the awkward issue of a turbulent racial past while

over beers. They did not dance around it, addressed it for what it was, and looked to a promising future.

What will Mississippi look like in fifty years? The past rests on every Mississippian’s collar and there is no effort to brush it off. I have never met a more attune bunch in regards to history and literature. The stereotype of an ignorant population was dispelled with every book reading I attended and discussions on Faulkner and Welty from people who enjoyed football as much as I did, though well rounded and more travelled than myself. I was told stories of Paris, Ireland, and South Africa, that were always concluded with, “This is my place favorite place on earth. Right here.”

The weather strikes down differently here. The sun burns hotter and turns cooler than usual as if some farmer in the Delta has access to the knob. The rains come fast, usually turning the place into a sauna, sometimes allowing a reprieve from the heat. I remembered smoking a cigar on my patio the first night here and still seeing the ashes on the ground four days later. The wind blows when it feels like it and never careless in its direction.

After a week, it was time to leave, back to work, and to crowded interstates. Crossing back into Alabama and eventually Tennessee, exiting the vat of mysterious fluid, my mood shifted back to default, cursing at drivers and dreading the upcoming work week. My first night home, a vine of kudzu pinched around my leg and jarred me awake. The next morning, my mind was still fixated on Mississippi and her call paralyzed my thinking until I had the chance to return again, like something out of Amityville. The search history on my phone was dedicated to the Magnolia State and Oxford. I dug backwards to its inception, the Civil War, the sixties, and what was taking place now.

While sitting in traffic, I’d feel the tentacles yank on my car and hear the calls of specters urging me to return.

For the next year, distraction took full hold, using my down time to stare at pictures of cotton fields at twilight and grainy photos of Oxford from the early twentieth century. In my mind, I had resigned from my job and sent out hundreds of applications, hoping that someone would ask me to return.

The call finally came during the height of July heat and I packed up by car with a ten-day notice and travelled back down south. Flying down the highways, my blinking slowed, and hypnosis was returning.

Unloading the car took about ten trips and the humidity almost made my dark shirt turn see through. I hopped in the ice-cold shower, dried off, and laid on my bed. My pupils were dilated under the influence of the Mississippi atmosphere. There was no pain. And while I was in the land of “the past,” I felt no regret from own, and no longer feared the unknown that laid ahead. I was finally present and thankful to call Mississippi my home.

OxfordMag.com 59

KING ARTHUR’S ROUND TABLE

By Barbara Phillips

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You would not expect to find King Arthur’s Round Table in a farm house dining room. The dining room with its dark wood wainscoting is in the two-story, white wood farmhouse built by Granddaddy and Uncle J.D. with their own hands from the trees they cut down on the land and took to the mill. There was a time when on any summer Sunday afternoon, you would enter that dining room with two long windows that reach almost to the floor and find King Arthur’s Round Table smack in the middle.

The flower garden outside those windows is a cacophony of summer flowers – gladiolas mostly that are Mama Russell’s only pets. And if you promise to be still and quiet, she will let you sit before supper at one of those windows and watch magic – hummingbirds kissing majestic gladiolas.

When you turn around, the heavy antique sideboard, covered with white crisp doilies made by Mama Holt, my great-grandmother, is now holding a blue glass cake stand for coconut cake so high and fluffy it looks like a cloud of delicious that might float away. Next to it will be a white ceramic cake stand for Devil’s Food cake. And there will probably be a strawberry rhubarb pie made with the strawberries and rhubarb I gathered Saturday morning. The big round dining table polished within an inch of its life is now covered with a crisp table cloth so white it makes the china and crystal sparkle. And on top of that sit platters of ham, fried chicken, and maybe rabbit or squirrel. Always three meats for Sunday supper. And then there are the green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, tomatoes, corn and maybe the peas we shelled on the back porch yesterday. There’s the molded country butter I churned. And just when your senses just about can’t handle any more, here come the golden pocketbook yeast rolls with the faint heavenly scent that Mama Russell says only comes when they are baked in a wood burning oven. So she kept her wood burning stove in the kitchen even after Granddaddy bought her a

new electric one. Everything homegrown, home-raised, home-slaughtered. They bought only staples like coffee, tea, flour, sugar and salt at the general store owned by ‘Ole Aust who was always after Daddy Russell’s land.

Granddaddy says only sorry people eat store-bought food.

We gather in our Sunday clothes taking our usual seats around the table with Great Grandaddy Thomas Russell’s portrait presiding over us – Mommie, Daddy, my brother Charles, my sisters Valeria and Betty, Mama Holt, Granddaddy and Mama Russell, and me. Mama Russell hardly sits – she mostly monitors everyone’s plates so she can extinguish any bare space.

She pops up to come round with the bowl or platter and when anyone says, “This is delicious, Mama Russell, but no thank you”, she plops another serving on the plate. And then Granddaddy tells us stories. Stories about hunting bears. Stories about things that happen in the woods. Stories about how Mommie, the only child, brought Daddy home for approval and Granddaddy took him out hunting to see if he could shoot while deciding whether he was good enough to join the family. Stories about how the canon on the town square really belonged to a man named Tiny and who he was and how his canon came to be on the square. Sometimes he’d look at me and launch a story saying, “Now, when you were a boy . . . .” Stories filled with impossible happenings, , carrying-on characters, places he makes you see and feel – stories stuffed with lies that delight.

This farm house sits on two hundred acres of land that have been in my family since Great Granddaddy Russell brought the family here. The Old Home Place down in the holler collapsed a while ago. All that remains are the log house and attached barn used to store ancient farming implements kept so that they can be given to someone who might come along and want to start up farming.

The attached barn is still home to the cows that give us milk and butter.

The cherry orchard is still there. It

must wonder why people don’t come anymore for the parties that used to happen under its branches. The neighbors would walk over carrying lanterns they hung from the branches casting soft light upon the long tables filled with each woman’s specialty while Mommie joins the circle of musicians to play her mandolin and sing. Those moments ended before I was born; I hear the stories, pick those same cherry trees, churn butter from the cows still kept in that barn, put my hands into that same dirt to dig up potatoes for Sunday supper.

Now, we rent the place to the Berry family, descendants of Mr. Dallas Berry who was considered “white trash” by most folk. Granddaddy saw something in that man that others did not see. That’s why Granddaddy sold him a piece of land up the road for his family compound and hired him to pick those cherry trees and work on the crew that kept the dirt road to the farm house passable after a bad rain. Mr. Berry’s family still lives in the compound, some of them live in the farmhouse, and the ones my age tell their grandchildren stories about Mama and Daddy Russell so that they, too, feel like keeping up our cemetery back in the woods across the creek where Mama and Daddy Russell and all Daddy Russell’s people are buried.

In our seventies now, this fourth generation is selling those 200 acres and the farm house with that big round table still in the dining room.

We haven’t sat at that dining table since 1978 when Mama Russell died.

My son and granddaughter will never sit at that table. Besides, it’s just an ordinary table now. But they are steeped in the stories that tell us who we are. They know and I remember that once upon a time there was a Round Table of King Arthur Russell, a Mississippi black man who walked with the independence of saying “No” to ‘Ole Aust, that white man who was always after those 200 acres. And I continue to negotiate this world of white supremacy fortified by all those Sunday suppers at King Arthur’s Round Table.

OxfordMag.com 61

OXFORD FOOD FILM FEST Armory Pavilion PHOTOS ŠJOEY BRENT

1. Melanie Addington, Jude BurkeLewis,and Damon Burkes 2. Andrea Manard and Benita Pretti 3. JoeAnn and Jere Allen 4. Blake Harris and Hanan Albatainch 5. Betsy Chapman and Madison Collum 6. Tamara, Kaylan and Kyla Strong 7. Emily Klein and Sarah Strickland 8. Tony Manard 9. Sarah McNamara and Eric Stevens 10. Daneel Ferreira and Meagan Wolfe 11. Josh Williams and Jenna Mason 12. Matt, Elizabeth and Mary Sessums 13. Ashley Rexroadd, Kaia Molica, Jennifer and Laura Fowlkes with Angela Brooks 14. Don and Susan Mason

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1. Ashley Luke and Scottye Boone 2. Mary Kellum, JoAnn Flynt and Peggy Sneed 3. Sandie McLaughlin and Diane Hollingsworth 4. Betty Durham and Lynn Tutman 5. Carol Jo Barnes, Penny Garrard adn Sallie Ellis 6. Scottye Boone, Wanda Poole and Shirley Crawford 7. Claire Hardy adn Janie Cromeans 8. Cathy Helms and Sylvia Barron 9. Lisa Jones and Margaret Hess 10. Lisa Serrano, Hayley D’Jock, Suzie Dixon and Noel Brown 11. Cindy Cantrell, Julie Wilson, Barbara Purdon and Ginger Bruton 12. Rosie Magee and Rita Rodriguez 13. Karen Lee, Melinda Patrick and Kitty Cox 14. Coach Yo (Yolett McPheeMcCuin) and Laura Webb 15. LeeLee Dessler and Kelly Blackwood 16. Courtney Love and Holly Buchanan 17. Courtney Love, Holly Buchanan, Betsy Ritter and Anne Murray Cotten 18. Ashley Gray and Ashlee Smith 19. Peggie Granderson and Patti Buckner 20. The Ladies of North Oxford Baptist Church

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CONFERENCE ON THE PORCH Plein Air - Taylor, MS PHOTOS ©JOEY BRENT

1. Dr. Jim Brown and Campbell McCool 1 2. Terese Bueker, Brian Jones and Dianne Duperier 3. Bill and Karen Morrow 4. Sharon and Rodney Moore 5. Beth O’Rrilly and Betsy Corso 6. Sharon and Jerry May 7. Lonnie Adamson and Nancy King 4 8. Joyce Jurik and Katherine Blessey 9. Elizabeth and David Johnston 10. Jim and Sharon Brown 11. Virginia Davis and Tricia Etheridge 12. Tom and Jean Marie 8 Harrison 13. Jamie Wilkie, Midge Willard, Meg Bartlett and Kay Croom 14. Robert and Machelle Pitcock 15. Curtis Wilkie and Mimi Graves 16. Patty Bailey, Kim Haynes 12 and Beckey Smalley 17. Davis and Merrick McCool with Risa Darby 18. Elizabeth Walls and Lynn Gray 19. Justin and Amanda Heckert 20. Haley Myatt and Carlisle Wood 21. Dr. Jim and Jona Keeton 16 with Janet and Dee Canole 22. Jackson and Bruce Newman 23. Christy and Sean Carothers 24. Sally Everett, Karen Barnet and Anita Kay Archer 25. Andy Lack (Chairman of NBC News) and Curtis Wilkie 19

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1. Dickie Scruggs with Woodie and Julie Sample 2. Catti Beals and Ruth Ann Ray 3. Zack and Diane Scruggs 4. Barbara Liddon, Abby Moore, Polly and Parham Williams 5. Nick Weaver, Cameron Colyer, Jared Kremer, Blake Cocanougher, Pedar Vonharten and Taylor Davidson 6. Albine Bennett and Kristy Luse 7. Mardra, Leslie and Hannah Thompson 8. Mardra, Leslie and Hannah Thompson with Zack Scruggs 9. Matt and Leah McKenzie 10. Olivia Randle and Avery Lopez 11. Olivia Randle, Sheilds Armstrong, Abby Moore and Avery Lopez 12. Andy and Katie Mullins 13. Tom and Vicki Fowlkes with Pope and Liza Mallette 14. Leighton McCool and Curtis Wilkie 15. Keith and Jill Carter 16. Ashley and Kevin Frye 17. Christine Rayburn and Adrian Shipman 18. Rhea and Robyn Tannehill with Richard Barrett 19. Louis and Lucia Brandt 20. Audra and Sidney Kimble 21. Jake Gibbs and Amanda Tailyour 22. Kirk and Ashley Kinard 23. Trent and Tricia Lott with Lauren and Collins Case 24. Tricia Lott and Hannah Thompson 25. Caleb and Sarah Bell 26. Don and Mary Ann Fruge 27. Richard Barrett, Marshall Ramsey and Stephanie Barrett

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THE OXFORD COMMA QUASAR OPEN HOUSE The Edison PHOTOS ©JOEY BRENT

1. Steve Flannigan and Suzanne Zooch 2. Mattie Thrasher and Scott Mason 3. Mattie Thrasher and Katherine Flannigan 4. Taariq and Adrienne Brown David 5. Helen, Cole and Amy Webb with Elliott Parker 6. Abbie Norris and T. J. Parsons 7. Addison Roush and Jake Brown 8. Rachel and Elizabeth Tettleton 9. Lee Ingram and Meg McCurdy 10. Brice Melton, Garrett Peek, Carter Diggs and Gray Pennison 11. Seth Kellum and Tyler Daniels 12. Sarah Baker and Asia Guest 13. Don and Marsh Cole 14. Kallye Smith and Ashley Crontas 15. Alexandria Rayburn and Nature Humphries 16. Elizabeth Tettleton, Beth Ann Fennelly and Kate Leland 17. Roxanne Murphy, Emma Morton and Kyla Johnson 18. Amy and Ariel Webb with A. J. Luhers 19. Michelle Bruce and Paul Blanco 20. Steve and Katherine Flannigan 21. Sarah Campbell, Ann FisherWirth and Scott Mackenzie 22. Allison Clayton and Wendy Wu 23. Kailey King and Jennifer Roberts 24. Dawn Denham andn January Gill O’Neil 25. Brooke Syke and Channing Green

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MONSTER BALL FOR LEBONHEUR HOSPITALS Swayze Field Diamond Club ALL PHOTOS ©JOEY BRENT

1. Sarah Jent, Kristina Ferris and Reagan Franks 2. Reed Toms and Bailey Brewer 3. Larry and Mary Ann Britt 4. Lindsey Meisenheimer, Samantha Stockett and Lauren Cleary 5. Drew Baker and Tracey Gowen 6. Lea Hix, Miranda Brown, John Gulbin and Carlisle Weed 7. Shannon Thweat and Peder von Harten 8. Maureen O’Connor and Kavanaugh Casey 9. Marjorie and Steven Kilgore with Andi Elliott 10. Summer and Joe Pegram 11. Jim Bulian and Ken Edwards 12. Donna and Bo Martin 13. Lindsey and Tyler Meisenheimer 14. Peder von Harten, Carlisle Weed, Hailey Myatt, Lea Hix, John Gulbin, Miranda Brown, Rebekah Jackson and Ryan Dyn 15. Lendy Edwards, Laura Cleary and Summer McPheron 16. Trey and Angela Eubanks 17. Brandon and Lindsay Hughes 18. Meagan and Brad McDonald 19. Cory Williamson and Blake Wally 20. Kelley and Lou Zeleskey 21. David and Connie Pierce 22. Mike and Ann Slaughter 23. Brad and Sharon Morris, Sam Hammond, Violet Davydenko, Bill and Polina Wheeler with Tanya and Hank Sherman 24. Kayla Wally and McKenzie Williamson 25. Brittni Paris and Kati Pittman 26. Michael Joe and Cheryl Cannon

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TAILGATE FOR PALMER HOME Ole Miss - Manning Center ALL PHOTOS ŠJOEY BRENT

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1. 3393 - Ainsley Hightower, Jane Davis Slade and Tori Heckman 2. Kristin Budzak and Savannah Harrell 3. Terry Crawford and Jean Larroux 4. Sarah Hollis and Amanda Crawford 5. Scott Angle and Jonathan Poland 6. Blair and Drew Hull 7. Robert and Ginger Farris 8. Trace and Elizabeth Randall 9. Cammie and Mike Bianco 10. Camille Bauer and Hannah Rom 11. Stuart and Moni Simpson 12. Bill and Lynn Sloan with George and Wanda Johnston 13. Paul and Pam Walton, Kitty Cox, Victoria Holladay with Karen and Hugh Lee 14. Claire Pollard, Stephanie Edmondson and Mim Boyette 15. Taylor Hardaway, Catherine Berry and Gant Boone 16. JW and Megan McCurdy 17. Mark and Cassidy Shoemake with Julie Glasco 18. Matt and Amy Moore 19. Daniel and Nicole Boyd 20. Duke and June Goza 21. Mark and Lauren Beyers 22. Lou and Kelley Zeleskey 23. Clay and Katie Deweese with Mary Chris and Ryves Moore 24. Brad and Ainsley Hightower 25. Cherie and Jon Maynard 26. Jennifer and Brum Elliott 27. Kermit Davis and Mike Bianco 28. Delia Childers and Katie Krouse 29. Richard and Jane Cross

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SAID AND DONE

LAUGH YOUR ANGST OFF

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CONTRIBUTING EDITOR JIM DEES is a writer and longtime host of Thacker Mountain Radio. He is the author of The Statue and the Fury – A Year of Art, Race, Music and Cocktails.

very year it’s the same in Oxford: we have to deal with the winter blahs when we really don’t even have a winter. It’s more like fall with wet cold. Oh sure, it’s chilly and it gets dark right after lunch but unlike our northern neighbors, in the Deep South there’s no deep freeze. We rarely get snow so there’s no skiing. Ditto ice-skating.

Around these parts, ice is for cocktails. (Okay, that’s one plus for winter).

For the most part, we’re cursed with gray, slate skies, cold rain, and a drab, deadened landscape. Is there anything more forlorn that a dead cornfield with skeletal stalks still standing? Mississippi winters are basically endless days of dark clouds waiting on summer. As the great John Prine wrote, “Humidity built the Snowman, sunshine brought him down.” We don’t even get snowmen.

So how do you beat the winter blues? How do you cope with no hope? We have Rebel basketball at the Pavilion. On certain nights, the games and the crowds really come alive and create a pleasant diversion. There’s also NBA basketball on TV but that is basically a track meet with nets. Aren’t we depressed enough?

For some (deranged) sportsmen, there is duck hunting, even an extended season this year until Jan 30. That’s all well and good for the camo commandos. For others, (read: normal people) rolling out of a warm bed before dawn to go sit in ice water is akin to sky diving, i.e. jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. In other words, what are you thinking?

Like most everything these days, the winter blues has a catchy name with an even catchier acronym, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). To cure particularly severe cases of SAD, some sufferers sit in front of light box for an hour a day to simulate sunlight. Being forced to sit in front of a box every day is a form of sadness itself. I prefer to sink outside the box.

Researchers recommend all sorts of practices to alleviate the humdrum of winter. From getting a house plant (I’d kill it) to going out for “game night” (I’d lose), to outdoor exercise (It’s winter, fool).

One tip that actually makes sense is to listen to upbeat music. Here at the home of the blues, upbeat music goes against our nature but it might be

necessary to stash the John Lee Hooker records for a couple of months and crank up, say, Bruno Mars.

Scratch that. I’m sticking with Hooker.

Here in Oxford we’re blessed with all manner of arts and culture that can be appreciated indoors.

There’s always an art exhibit you haven’t seen, or a movie, or a lecture. There’s also the solidarity pleasure (and warmth) of curling up with a good book. Oxford is so flush with literature, a reading list made up of just local authors would keep you turning pages until spring.

And by the way, around these parts, spring is a misnomer. “Sprung” is more like it. We enjoy spring for a half hour before that pair of buzz kills, heat and humidity, muscle their way in and sweat on our parade. (We survive the summer by wishing for winter. Silly us).

And, the number one way to defeat SAD? Laughter, baby. Some researchers suggest a good, hearty laugh relaxes your body for 45 minutes by releasing endorphins (natural feel-good chemicals) into the brain. It has even been suggested that laughing for 10-15 minutes a day burns 40 calories and gives your abs a workout. Forget the gym, just fire up some David Chappelle.

And there’s this: “A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much.” This is an interesting factoid because one doesn’t necessarily think of the Norwegians as a bowl of chuckles. They do, however, manage to have an actual winter which is no laughing matter.

It’s worth noting that Norway has sunless days for six weeks, a season they rather ominously call, “The Dark Time.” Cue up the Bruno Mars box set.

For us non-Norwegians we’ll deal with our own dark time. Here in Oxford that means enjoying our friends and neighbors, pumping up the tunes, reading words of wisdom and, of course, laughing. And not just mild bemusement. I’m talking knee-slapping, rib-tickling, deep belly laughs that make you break out sweating and crying and works those abs and burns calories like a well-poked fire.

For those that say, ‘What if there’s nothing funny? What if there’s nothing to laugh at?’ To those winter waifs I might suggest looking at the nearest mirror.

OxfordMag.com 71

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Contac t us today to experience the

O x f o r d Wa y o f L i f e .

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