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magazine TIFFANY BYRAM
Owner/Publisher/Editor/Graphics/Layout
VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager SHANNON LEWIS Sales Rep COVER & FEATURE
MODEL: Miss Minden, Abby Reynolds
OUTFIT: Belle of the Bal' Formalwear & Boutique HAIR & MAKEUP: Morgan Phillips PHOTOGRAPHY: Misty Swilley Photography
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Alicia Adams Heather McHorter Bailey Linzie Hebert MOCO Jenny Reynolds Amanda Quimbly
JENNY REYNOLDS Founder
Office Phone: 504.390.2585 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 Address: P.O. Box 961, Belle Chasse, LA 70037
6 Minute Girl Jenny Reynolds 9 Developing Our Strengths
Melanie Groves & Brian Russell of MoCo
14 Small Town Spotlight: Minden Alicia Adams
16 Small Town Spotlight: Ruston Amanda Quimbly
20 Burger Bliss
Heather McHorter Bailey, Social Bites
26 Peach Tea & Pops 30 Momma Chicken Linzie Hebert 39 Authentically Beautiful
Leslie Albritton Barbara Durbin Beth Fontenot Winnie Griggs Wesley Harris Penny Jones Sara McDaniel Jason McReynolds Kathy B. Nelson Rachel Pardue Steven Smith Darla Upton
Abby Reynolds
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The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, Ouachita, Webster, & Lincoln Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take some to your friends, relatives or anyone else who needs a refreshing, enlightening “minute.� Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.
T his issue has us feeling very nostalgic. Former owner and Minute Magazine founder Jenny Reynolds stops by to remind us where we came from. ROOTS.
Our main streets are blooming in North Louisiana. Minden and Ruston are at the forefront of a new trend in living by simply looking to the past. Community and relationships are building better, more vibrant towns. GROWTH. Through the growth of our cities also comes the growth of this magazine. We are sharing our heartbeat all along the I-20 Corridor from Shreveport to Monroe and are so proud to be a part of each community we touch. It's our love of small town and togetherness that drives us. It's hearing from you how our stories bring laughter, joy and maybe a few tears that urges us forward. And we know that together we can build a community of home. Because home is not a place, it's a feeling. HEART.
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Twenty years passed have me reflecting on the birth of my first born…and the birth of this magazine, both of which were coupled together into a wave of significant change in my life. I found myself a new mother, still in college, and torn between my own future and that of wanting to give of myself as much as possible to my new baby girl. As many young moms, working moms, and honestly, just all moms know, we become jugglers. I needed an income. I needed freedom to finish school. And I needed to be with my baby. In trying to figure this all out, I landed myself in my comfy living room chair one night, exhausted, baby down, husband sleeping, house quiet. I cried as I reeled from the cycle of brainstorming I was stuck in, reaching no solution— no “ah-ha” moment. I fell asleep in that chair, tears drying on my face leaving behind a sweet salt trail as I prayed for something—anything that made sense. I dreamed. And I awoke at 3 a.m. astonished by this dream. I had been given something that made sense. It was clearly spelled out for me, this publication I had started, its name, its logo, its purpose, and how I had gotten it off the ground. For the next many hours I would capture every element of that dream onto notepaper and hash out a plan. The Minute was born. Pencil down, coffee in hand, and peace of mind…just before I heard the morning cries of my little Abby waking in her crib. For the next month, I went out into the community of Minden, Louisiana, where I was new to town, and successfully but often painfully convinced enough people to trust my vision and commit to buy into something that didn’t yet exist. I finally had sold enough advertisements to cover the printing costs and I could now begin to build out the first issue, which finally arrived that October. I was shocked by both the trust I’d gained from perfect strangers in this precious little city and also the adversity I was met with from other publications in the region that felt threatened by this tiny little project of mine. But onward, I went! The first issue was well embraced by readers who were thirsty for local, community-oriented, feel-good content… articles that featured their friends and neighbors or the neat little oft-forgotten things that make our community unique.
Finally, after having a few issues under my belt, the publication and interest began to grow and it wasn’t long before The Minute had a staff—partners who brought it to the next level. Together we went all-in and within a year had an office presence, recognition, and businesses calling us to advertise. We were on to something great and we felt it. From 5,000 to 25,000 issues in a year’s time, I finally had my income, my flexibility, and the motherhood I craved. The Minute Magazine was published by myself and three awesome partners for six years before it came back home to me for a few more, at which point I suffered the loss of my father that turned my life upside down. My heart was broken and I couldn’t breathe. I had the privilege of passing the magazine on to a couple of dear friends in 2009 so that it could continue to thrive and exist as a part of our culture and community. I am incredibly proud each time an issue hits the stands and I can revel in the beauty and growth of this amazing publication that makes me so incredibly proud to have birthed. It gives me so much pleasure to witness how others have nurtured and shaped this magazine to keep it true to its mission to fill spirits and souls with positivity and community. Each person who has had their hands on the pulse of this magazine, whether through management, contribution or readership, has played a vital role in making it what it is today. “It takes a village” definitely applies here. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to write about this past twenty years and where The Minute Magazine began, and seeing as my “baby Abby”, now nearly twenty years old, was also asked to be featured on the cover, I’m honored to be sharing this story in this particular issue. It’s quite nostalgic and heartwarming to revisit this trail of need, conception, development, growth, love, and reflection. Twenty years later I can sit back and grin when I see how Tiffany and Vicki have wrapped their arms, hearts, and amazing minds and talents around this publication….I am a proud birth-mama. I am grateful. I am humbled. I am honored. Twenty years ago I became “Minutegirl” in my own mind (an alter-ego of sorts, I suppose) as I set out to see this through, desperate and driven but also hopeful and confident. Twenty years later I am thrilled to smile at the community of Minutegirls who have not only carried out the legacy but also have made it their own.
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Simply Southern Cottage written by Sara McDaniel
Finding Mayberry in Minden
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n early 2014, I was happily residing in sunny, south Texas. Everything was right in my world. All aspects of my life were extremely fulfilling. I LOVED my work. For the first time in my adult life, I was completely and utterly in love with my church. My circle of friends was deeper and wider than ever before. My neighborhood was lined with palm trees that swayed like angel wings with each gust of wind. And I could go to the beach ON A WHIM if I desired. Yet, one evening, after a customer dinner in Laredo, Texas, I audibly heard the Lord call me to move closer to home. I was mindfully recounting how much I loved my life, my customers, my job and Corpus Christi. And in the next moment, the Lord said to me, “You love all these things, yet think how much more your parents love you. How much more I love you.” And just like that I started to ponder a return home to Louisiana after saying NUMEROUS times I would NEVER move back. Of course, I argued with Him over ALL the reasons I couldn’t move home. Specifically, for all the reasons listed above. My life was essentially perfect! Yet, I couldn’t let it go. I began to explore the where of what moving home would look like. Because my career places me on an airplane relatively frequently, I can mostly live where I want. I remembered my company didn’t have representation in Arkansas, so after working up the courage to share my heart with my VP, I offered to take over a cold territory in addition to keeping some current Texas accounts. My company graciously allowed me to make the change, and my search for a new city was on. The purpose of moving home was to be closer to my parents, who live in Springhill. But Springhill was too far from an airport. I began to search all over north Louisiana, east Texas, and south Arkansas. My sister lives in Little Rock and my brother in Forney, so either of those could have worked.
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I longed for the feeling of Mayberry. Where you actually know your neighbors. Where the azaleas and roses bloom full. Where community is valued. Where old architecture is appreciated. Where the drawls are slow and long. Where the food is slow cooked and a bit spicy. And in December 2014, when I found my cottage, I was convinced Minden was the perfect location for me! Chances are, if you are reading this column, you already know Minden. But perhaps you may have forgotten what an amazingly beautiful, little southern gem Minden is! Minden is charming and quaint, full of rich history and southern hospitality. Main Street is constructed of bricks and lined with antique shoppes and unique boutiques. Steeped in German history, Minden was established in 1836 and later settled by pioneers hoping to create a utopian society. Later, during the Civil War, Minden served as a supply depot for nearly 15,000 Confederate troops camping nearby. More recently, Minden has played host to many blockbuster Hollywood productions, so they are no stranger to the entertainment industry.
cook-offs, there are no shortage of community activities to be found in Minden. There’s always a reason to get outside, have fun and engage with your neighbors! Minden also celebrates Mardi Gras in a big way with a lengthy, bead throwin’, music playin’ parade that winds through the Historical Residential District and through the historic downtown area. Something special is happening in Minden, y’all. Historic homes are being renovated (i.e. Simply Southern Cottage, The Shadows House, The Baird Home, and others). New businesses are opening. One of my biggest laments of moving to Minden was the lack of a good coffee shop. A LO AND BEHOLD less than 150 yards away from the cottage, The Broken Bean just opened! (I almost cried when I heard this news. It’s evident the Lord delights in even our smallest desires!) I am thrilled to call Minden my new home and cannot wait for the cottage to be finished so I can move in. Won’t you come and join in on the revitalization efforts? I think you’ll find a little Mayberry in Minden too.
Another thing I love about Minden is there is ALWAYS something happening to promote community. I’ve watched in awe over the years of Minden’s outpouring for St. Jude each January. This little town consistently pulls in over $1,000,000 through the auction, races, meals and other fundraisers. Minden raises more money per capita for St. Jude than any other city in the nation! From the Fasching Season Celebration, to vintage car shows, to the annual Candlelight Tour of Homes to BBQ Hi there! I’m Sara! Home renovation is my passion. This columm documents the renovation process of my 1926 Louisiana cottage. Some would have chosen to it tear down, seeing no hope or future for a home in such terrible condition. Not me! I see resilience and charm hidden beneath the rot, decay and neglect. Much like my home, I too have been devastated and broken down. This cottage will personify beauty from the ashes…my ashes. Join me as I reclaim and restore both my life and my home. You can connect with Sara at: SimplySara.com or SimplySouthernCottage.com.
every single day. What we do for others, how we make others feel, and how we ardently love others all factor into how much we impact the world for good. Last month was last month and yesterday was yesterday. The days add up into months, and the years go by faster and faster. All we have is today and we have to make it count! What will your lasting impact be on the world around you? How will others remember your best contributions? We must remember that there is greatness inside of each and every one of us. But to realize any of this God-given potential, we must focus our attention and energy on becoming the best version of ourselves, not on trying to be like anyone else. Envying other people's talents or not fully appreciating your natural abilities will diminish the depth of excellence that you can offer to others to add value to them. Discover your unique gifts, and then invest in yourself to develop those gifts into strengths. You can't change the world with mediocrity. Living a life that benefits others always depends on us offering our best! Don't chase after success and happiness. Decide to make a difference in the lives of others by offering the best parts of who you are, and success and happiness will find you. When you fully accept who you are and focus on the good in others, you can be a role model for people with your mindset. Plus, as William Arthur Ward said, "When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves." What are you doing when you're making a difference in the lives of others? Are you teaching someone? Are you encouraging someone or praying for them? Are you actively listening to someone and showing them empathy? Are
you helping someone see their untapped potential? Basically, are you offering your strengths as a way to add value to others? Weakness fixing only prevents failure but building strengths leads to excellence! Strength development is transformational. It helps you gain access to making your greatest possible contributions to others. So give up being "well-rounded"! Focus on investing your energy into your areas of talent to form them into strengths. How would developing your strengths add value to all of the people in your life? How important is a legacy to you? What do you want your legacy to be? Are you living that legacy today? Are you remaining focused on your most important priorities? Spend time imagining all of the best investments you would like to make through developing your gifts into strengths. What plans do you need to implement to be able to make these contributions?
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strangers at my
coffeepot
written by Darla Upton
Peaches n' Cream & Kracker n' Me
M
usic is a big part of my life. I learned two-stepping from Waylon; feminism from Tanya Tucker; teenage hostility from Guns N Roses; rhythm from Prince; white boys can rap from Beastie Boys; love from Mary J. Bilge; a life outside mine from U2; dealing with anger from Alanis Morissette; art through music from Yo-Yo Ma; how to not know anything from Nirvana; how to just be from Jack Johnson; how to appreciate new from Bruno Mars; and to never forget my past from Johnny Cash. There are a lot of two-stepping, head banging, crying over a man, grinding on a dance floor, line dancing, hip shaking, boot scootin' years behind me. There's a lot ahead of me too! There's also a new boyfriend in my future to do it with. Now, don't get caught up in the commitment sitting next to me. Bless his heart. The father of my son. The man who stayed; tends to me sick; met my mother and sister and kept staying; may not understand, but accepts my affection for boots and sparkly sandals; held my hair, dried my tears; took my punch; and is blind to wrinkles and butt dimples. Yes, dear, sweet, poor Hugh will be raising that boy solo if Uncle Kracker pats his lap and throws me a wink at the Peach Festival in Ruston this June. There are very few manly, burly men I groove on. It's one thing to like a beast's music and another to feed him pie on your mama's porch. I can appreciate Hank's beer drinking, beard wearing ways and not feel the need to sit on his lap. My predilection has always leaned towards tall, thin and geeky. I knew early on I was gonna need bail
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money. I just sorta knew I was gonna need a man smart enough to get me out of the tight spots. However, there have been exceptions. Kevin Smith turned me into a chubby chaser. He made me laugh and not care he was a hairy, big mess from New Jersey. I was convinced he could be my second husband. However, that all ended when we met. I was too tongue tied and he was still too in love with his wife to appreciate my awesomeness. Plus, my sister was there and it's hard to throw cool when your sister is around looking at you like she's gonna tell. Which is exactly why I haven't invited her to the Peach Festival. She doesn't get down like that, but I will! That's an Uncle Kracker lyric for those that don't know. If you haven't guessed, I've been creeping on him since he was spinning for Bobby and Joe C was still around. And that man is gonna get my full court press, Mack daddy vibe, best wink and smile, slowest southern drawl, smoothest flirt and maybe duct taped and kidnapped! Yep, he's my other exception to the geeky rule. He looks like the type when you can't decide which flavor pie you want he'll order both kinds to go. He also looks like the kind that will shuffle your big booty across the floor and grab it with both hands when you are crying again about the "baby weight." Even when the baby is entering junior high! I bet he is the guy you could text at 6 a.m.
that you want pancakes and he'll spray some cologne on his smokey t-shirt and pick you up in your hoodie, pajama bottoms and last night's makeup under your eyes. At least I hope he is! I have so many middle aged mama music fan fantasies wrapped up around this burly, bad boy that I should just stay home. But I'm not. I'm putting the top down on my Jeep and I'm heading east. I'm going to do all I can to not look red-faced, sweaty and flat haired. I'm going to try to remember every coy and witty thing that'll make a boy from Michigan swoon. I'm going to be cool and beguiling. I'm probably gonna smell like peach juice, be swatting at a bee, and will have lost one of my fake eyelashes by the time he takes the stage at 10 p.m. I'll be a hot mess. That's another one of his songs: hot mess. If you live in Ruston, you explain to him that when I'm nervous I drink and maybe mention to him to not leave his drink unattended with me. --------------------------------------------------
Darla lives in Jefferson, Texas, where she raises her son, Atticus Gregory, with her significant other, Hugh Lewis II. She lived a decade in NC and a short time in Houston. Eventually she returned to her hometown of Texarkana, where she met Hugh while working at the Texarkana Gazette. When they met, Hugh was also the owner of the McKay House Bed & Breakfast. After 10 years in the B&B business they quit. Now, they live in a historic downtown building with a yorkie, a great dane puppy, two cats and a tween son. And vodka and a typewriter. darlam8472@yahoo.com
Upcoming Events
May 4th-7th
70th Pilgrimage Tour of Homes www.JeffersonPilgrimage.com
Diamond Bessie Murder Trial www.DiamondBessiePlay.com
Battle for Jefferson
www.BattleForJefferson.com
May 5th-7th
Jefferson Civil War Days
Girlfriend
Getaway
www.JeffersonCivilWarDays.com
May 20th-21st
Jefferson Train Days & Sunday Social Shoot-Out www.JeffersonTrainDays.com
June 1st-3rd
7th Annual Big Cypress Corvette Classic Car Show
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903-665-3733
www.visitjeffersontexas.com
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a collage of southern stories and recipes:
seasoned moments written by Barbara Durbin
The Kalico Café
---------------------------------------------------Twice Baked Potato Casserole
s a young child, my uncle owned a restaurant identified by its multi-colored tableware. No two pieces matched and if they did they certainly weren’t the same size. This culinary establishment was aptly named, “The Kalico Café”, in consideration of the varied array of mismatched dishes and utensils.
6-7 cups chopped and boiled potatoes (drained) 1 1/2 c. sliced link sausage 1/2 t. black pepper 1 c chopped ham 1/2 t. season salt 1/2 c. chopped onion 1/2 t. garlic powder 1 1/2 c. sour cream 1 1/2 c. grated cheese 4 T. melted margarine salt and pepper to taste
A
Within the walls of this small town café, I learned to cook. I was taught how to make Burgoo, a type of gumbo, homemade chili, as well as all the familiar cafe luncheon specials. We used his secret recipe for homemade onion rings. A recipe even a well-known fried chicken entity tried to buy. As part of our weekly regime, we boiled large whole potatoes. Once cooked, this “edible gold” from the underground was used to make hash browns, potato salad, baked potatoes, or the required potato dish of the moment. The potatoes kept fresh in their jackets in the fridge, until they were needed for preparation before heading to the patron’s plate. My uncle’s famous words to all his just served customers, were, “eat it or wear it”. His hard one-eyed glare may have been believable to those who were not familiar with his teasing; but I never saw anyone wear their food. Of course he was a good cook so rarely was there food left to worry about “wearing”. In any event, I like potatoes. Over the years, I have tested many foods but potatoes have continued as a steady staple in my cupboard. In whatever form they come to the table, I will usually help myself to a serving. Sometimes I help myself twice.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the potatoes, sour cream and 2 tablespoons of melted margarine, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl. Set aside. Sauté sausage, ham and onion in a cast iron skillet in the remaining 2 tablespoons of the margarine. When onions are clear, add the sautéed meats to the potato mixture and stir thoroughly. Add the grated cheese to the mixture, reserving 1/2 cup for topping. Spray the bottom of a 9” x 13” glass baking dish with Pam and spread potato mixture into the pan. Top with remaining cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until casserole is hot and cheese is melted.
---------------------------------------------------"Tator Tot" Casserole 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef 1/4 c. water 1/4 c. milk 1/4 c. chopped onion 1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs 1/4 c. chopped red bell pepper (optional) 1 c. grated cheese 1 can of cream of chicken soup 1 lb pkg. of frozen tator tots 1 can of cream of mushroom soup salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef in a skillet with onions and bell pepper, drain. Add both soups, water, and milk to meat and heat slowly. Add salt and pepper to taste. In the meantime, place tator tots in bottom of 9” x 13” glass baking dish then pour and spread meat mixture over the tots. Sprinkle with cheese and bread crumbs. Top with remaining cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until casserole is hot and cheese is bubbly. ----------------------------------------------------
Barbara Durbin is a legal secretary and a published newspaper and magazine columnist. When not at her "real job", she works on her baskets filled with vintage books/china for "The Vintage Bee." She loves a walk in the woods and her time with God. Barbara and her husband have four children, eight grandchildren and a dappled dachshund named Bella. Look for her on facebook and follow her "Pocket Full of Moment" comments.
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mall towns, they are resilient, they are strong, and they are persistent. They are a preservation of history and traditions that are past down from generation to generation. They are America’s backbone and living in one takes pride, dedication, and love. It is where moms and dads can raise their children, where young adults can open their own businesses and become anything and anyone they wish to be, and once you have paid your dues you can retire to live your days in love and peace. It is where there is always football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in spring/ summer. The children and young adults compete in sports, academics, and strive to get accepted into their favorite colleges. Everyone knows everyone (almost), and if you are not from a small town you are welcomed with open arms. Small towns strive off their community and local businesses and it is the local mom and popshops that gives them their character and life. Local festivals keep the downtown bustling with tourist, shoppers, and locals. There are over hundreds of small towns in the U.S. and they all share these same dynamics. Some are bigger then others and some are more resilient; like Minden, LA. Minden, Louisiana is a special little town right in the middle of North Louisiana. It all started in a little inn built by Charles Veeder in 1835; which grew into the small town it is today. Because his family was from Germany he named it Minden after his
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ancestors. It was not until the 1880s that Minden actually got on the map as the headquarter of the Louisiana and Arkansas railroads. From there Minden opened one of the largest lumbers mills in the world at the time. During the great depression Minden suffered many hardships, because a major fire burned a quarter of its structure and a major tornado caused over $1.2 million in damages and killing 28 people, Minden was sure to fail. It was not until 1941 that the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant came to town and saved the local economy. The Ammunition Plant that stations Louisiana National Guard today is rarely used now but that has not stopped the small town from thriving. Between the local community and local businesses Minden still lives on. It is surrounded by 2 major cities Shreveport LA. and Monroe LA., and it has a population of about 13,000 people. One of the treasures of Minden is not only the history but the community and cultural. Minden has a community of volunteers that works hard to preserve the traditions and cultural of its great town. It takes a team of dedicated passionate people the take pride in reserving the past. One team dedicated is the Minden Main St. Development Commission whose sole purpose is to plan festivals, events, and helps downtown economic development. Becky White who is the Main St Coordinator and Terry Gardner who is the president has dedicated their time to revamp the
board and come up with new fresh ideas to better advance the cause. In 2015, Terry presented the idea of a BBQ Cookoff and in June 2016 the cookoff was a huge success Grilling on Main has been one of the most beneficial festivals with the revitalization on Main St. raising over $11,000 to help preserve the Arizona Ash tree off of Pearl St. Terry has been a big part of the restoration of Main St., and not only has he brought life back to the streets with Grilling on Main but he personally has renovated 3 buildings where Romas Italian Restaurant and Orleans on Main is now. His passion of his small town inspires many young & old to get involved. “We have seen many positive changes over the past few years, our downtown is strong and we see continued investments being made… Our premier event, Grilling on Main is schedule for June 9-10, 2017. Visit our downtown, you will be amazing at our wonderful stores an restaurants.” Terry states.
can use with an outside venue. Kerry hosts events several times a month and opens it to the local community to come and enjoy with friends and family. Who would miss out on good company, a nice cold drink, and live music.
Another enteurpreneuer is Jimmy Hall who has preserved the “The Grace Estate House” off of Main St. Opened in 2015 Jimmy has created a wedding and event venue that provides a bead & breakfast and restaurant. The restaurant is open 5 days a week and Thursdays & Fridays you can experience a romantic dinner on the front patio. But of course that is not the only thing to do when visiting Minden; there is the German Town Colony, The Farm, City Art Works, Dorcheat Museum, The Shadows Plantation, the historical houses, Bed and Breakfasts (Grace Estates, Huffman House), and the historical district packed with antique shops, restaurants, and local boutiques (like The Prink Pratique, Belle of the Ball, D’Treasures, Hers Festivals are not the only jewels that Minden has to offer but Bridal, La French Gypsy, The Vault, and Say Baby) the people in it and what they have to offer. Kerry Easley, not only has preserved one of the historical buildings on Rebuilding small towns do not come easy, it takes a community, Pearl St. but now offers a new and different type of venue, time, money, and a lot of hard work, but it is worth it. Terry, The Court Yard. Kerry has opened up his great venue to offer Kerry, and Jimmy are great examples that it can happen but it a unique place to do something different. Located between will take more then these 3 to do it. If you are interested in how Kerry Easily’s Photography Studio and Mcinnis Brothers you can volunteer to make Minden great again you can visit Construction & Insurance, The court yard provides a cozy nock www.mindenusa.com that has preserved brick walls, water fountains, cast iron stairs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------leading up to the 2nd floor, and local art pieces that showcases Alicia Adams is the owner of Hers Bridal & Special Occasions Minden’s many talents. It is garnished with fresh herbs and in Minden. She and her husband Thomas have spent the plants to give you a real upscale historic feel. It is used for last two years revamping and preserving the historic bridal weddings, anniversaries, graduation parties, and anything you boutique.
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ake a stroll through Downtown Ruston on any morning and the sights are quite surreal. Morning joggers and cyclists on the sidewalks, the smell of freshly brewed coffee as you walk past the local coffee shop, the hustle and bustle of shop owners preparing for the day with their neatly decorated windows, freshly baked cupcakes or seasonal sidewalk sales, (Pause for the train whistle blowing and moving rapidly though Railroad Park), and perfectly manicured landscapes and flower beds. It’s almost a scene from a movie, and this picturesque downtown is one that sets apart Ruston, LA from any other city in the state. What makes Downtown Ruston so unique? For starters, it’s thriving. In a time where downtowns areas and main streets are dying from a lack of investment, business, and general interest, Downtown Ruston is flourishing with restaurants, shops and boutiques, cultural events, public art projects and more. Private businesses are popping up regularly and empty buildings are being actively sought out for potential projects. Ruston’s Main Street has become the heartbeat of the town, going on to receive accreditation as a Certified Local Government Program for preservation efforts, as well as placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Ruston has also just established a Cultural Board to ensure the arts are protected and kept alive in Downtown Ruston.
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Revitalization efforts can be attributed to much of the transformation of downtown into a youthful and vibrant destination. Take a look at downtown focal point Railroad Park. It’s received quite a makeover throughout the last few years. New trees, flowers and shrubbery were planted, new sidewalks laid, street lighting replaced, and the iconic water fountain restored. Even the park stage was overhauled with a permanent stage covering and set up with amenities for music, sound, and lighting. These updates, and the many more happening, have instilled pride, not only in the downtown merchants and business owners, but also the community and then in turn, visitors. “Downtown Ruston is the heart of our community. Here you can experience great shopping, dining, festivals, and more. Walk the beautiful streets, watch a train go by, visit with a Main Street merchant and come see what makes Ruston so unique,” says Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker A true “sense of place” has been created for Ruston, and it was partly achieved by accepting what is unique to us. Ruston is a college town: Two growing universities, an appreciation for the arts, culture and education, a melting pot of deeply rooted values and young, created minds at work. Own who you are as a community, and quality of life, energy and enthusiasm for
development will follow. We can see it unfolding before us with the increased number of events and activities that are being held downtown. It seems as if every downtown area has the same concern – drawing in people. More specifically, drawing in a younger generation of people. It’s a great challenge for any small town to create something people of all ages will enjoy. But there’s a simple solution in NOT finding something for everyone to enjoy. The pressure is off to match a big problem with a big solution. Producing small events and activities on a regular basis bring in constant foot traffic from a variety of demographics. Take Ruston’s most recent event, Railroad Makers & Music Festival, for example. It was the first of its kind in Ruston, joining people of all ages and interests in one location to browse works from area artists, enjoy a series of musical performances and simply celebrate our culture. Parents, students and young professionals alike made their way to Downtown Ruston to eat at local restaurants and food trucks, shop and browse the fair and local merchants, have some drinks and settle in for an evening of entertainment. This event started out as Ruston Makers Fair when one person saw a need in the community for an event showcasing local makers and artists. This year, the event was taken a step farther with the addition of music and alcoholic beverage options. Was it a blowout audience with no sitting or standing room? No. Was it still an overwhelming success? Absolutely. It brought people who were interest in arts and music to
one place to celebrate arts and music. And there were many more small, audience specific events that came before it: Rock the Railroad and Loyal Blue Weekends to celebrate Louisiana Tech Football, Holidays Arts Tour to support shopping local for Christmas, a crawfish boil fundraiser to support March of Dimes. Outdoor dinners, community movie nights, yoga classes – If the goal is to bring people downtown, it’s important that there all types of events attracting all types of people who spend all amounts of money. There is a momentum right now associated with breathing life into downtown districts and creating unique experiences for locals and visitors. Use that energy to start a movement within your own town. Embrace what your community is and what you have to offer. Seek out partnerships with local officials, business owners and individuals who also want to see growth and economic impact. Be inspired by the festivities taking place in Small Town America, where prosperous downtown districts are supposed to be a thing of the past. Don’t fear the ideas that young, up and coming leaders have to offer. Ruston’s thriving downtown area didn’t become that way by sticking to the same old way things have always been done. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Amanda Quimby is the Marketing Director for the Experience Ruston CVB. She has a love for travel and tourism, event planning and showcasing #RustonLA. She’s also very serious about coffee, cocktails, and true crime novels. “Be the Leslie Knope of whatever you do.”
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headlines & hemlines written by Rachel Pardue
Southern Belle meets Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
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f you’ve been following my column since the days when I was writing about my fear of moving to Boston, thank you, and that also means you most likely know all about how my love for entrepreneurship lead my southern self here, snow and all. Two years later, through the grace of God and the overwhelming way in which this global community embraced a small town girl from Louisiana, I’ve found myself in the position of President of eTower. The Entrepreneurship Tower is a building on campus where 20 of Babson’s best student entrepreneurs live and work. eTower has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, and The Bloomberg Business Week. Our residents have founded multi-million dollar businesses, made it onto the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 List, and just this morning I got to watch one of our recent graduates demonstrate his product on The Home Shopping Network. Right now at 1AM on a Tuesday night, one of the nation’s youngest venture capitalist investors, a sought-after web developer, and the CEO of a nonprofit are playing Call of Duty while a couple others are drawing business plans and prototype sketches on our living room walls. Another resident is loudly negotiating a deal with a new manufacturer on their phone, and around our conference table, the cofounder of an all-natural energy drink company is working on his business pitch. Most of the time I feel like I’m living in a sitcom. The craziness that’s happening in this room around me is the best example of entrepreneurship I could ever hope to give you. An entrepreneur is a creator and while the financials and logistics
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are incredibly important, passion and imagination is at the center of what an entrepreneur does. This, I have noticed, leads nearly everyone who lives here to work more like an artist although their jobs are in the heart of the business field. Unlike an accountant or financial advisor who works during office hours and then goes home, entrepreneurs tend to live their work and that includes being personally connected to the people they work with. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that the age-old business adage “it’s not what you know it’s who you know” should be changed to “it’s not what you know it’s who truly knows you”. When I was elected to this position, one of my biggest roles is making sure eTower is the center of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Boston. All of the countless hours of work I put in did not mean too much until I received an invitation to a party at the home of a certain Boston-based entrepreneur. Then I knew I was in. I remember the first time I was in charge of an eTower event, I was nervous to walk into the front of the room as a 19 year old college student with much older and more experienced people in the predominately male audience. I felt my body become rigid and although the voice coming out of me sounded like my own, it was devoid of all personality, and I’m pretty sure I subconsciously tried to make it deeper. I was trying to be more professional, more mature, more serious, more
anything that would make it seem like I knew what I was doing when in reality I got the job only days earlier and was just hoping no one laughed in my face. It was surprisingly challenging for me to fully express my personality in a setting in which I had the pressure of more qualified people looking to me to tell them what to do. I became very conscious of the unspoken line between looking nice but not too nice that you won’t be taken seriously, between being friendly but not too friendly that you come off as passive, between being the boss but not too bossy, etc. What do the greatest entrepreneurs of our time like Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, and Oprah have in common? They all have giant dynamic personalities that inspire people to rally behind their cause and truly believe in their vision. Having the ability to influence others, like any good entrepreneur must, comes from being vulnerable and unapologetically authentic in who you are and what you believe in with every person you meet so that they feel truly inspired and personally connected to who you are as a person. My greatest reminder of this is coming home and hearing “what college are you at again? Babson. Boston? No Babson. Bubson? No BABson” because I’m lucky enough to come from a place where no one really cares where you’ve been or what you’ve done, only how you’ve treated them. ----------------------------------------------------
Rachel Pardue is a graduate of Cedar Creek School in Ruston, Louisiana. She is an aspiring entrepreneur who is studying business at Babson College outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Babson is ranked as the #1 School for Entrepreneurship in the nation, and Rachel is attending as a Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholar.
327 CALIFORNIA PLANT RD, DUBACH, LA
318.680.1304
A lock and leave facility for 132 indoor vendors, 100 outdoor vendors, and 10 food vendors. Located in the rolling hills of north Lincoln Parish just 12 miles from I-20.
One Fabulous Year UPCOMING DATES
MAY 5th, 6th, 7th JUNE 9th, 10th, 11th JULY 7th, 8th, 9th
Don’t Miss Our Anniversary Celebration
Visit our facebook page or website for event details
BIGCREEKTRADEDAYS.COM
BIG CREEK TRADE DAYS
STARTING @ UNDER
$99/month
“NOTHING CUTS LIKE A SCAG” 1620 HWY 531
MINDEN
318.371.2278 19
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The Patty • 1 pound ground lean (7% fat) grassfed beef • 6 large eggs (local farmers markets are great) • 1/2 cup minced onion • 1/4 cup fine dried bread crumbs • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire or Coconut Aminos • 1 or 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced • About 1/2 teaspoon salt • About 1/4 teaspoon pepper Spicy Mayo • 1/2 cup Mayo • 1 tablespoon Sriracha or ceyenne pepper • Don't like mayo? Try Sriracha and ketchup instead Caramelized Onion & Bacon Jam • 4 cups sweet onion chopped • 2 cups bacon, chopped • 1/4 cup honey Everything Else • Bun of choice (Be creative! Pictured is a poppyseed bagel from the bakery at a local grocery store) • 1 tablespoon butter (softened) • Arugula • Cheese of choice (we used mild cheddar) Burger In a bowl, mix ground beef, 1 egg, onion, bread crumbs, Worcestershire, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until well blended. Divide mixture into four equal portions and shape each into a patty about 4 inches wide. Lay burgers on an oiled barbecue grill over a solid bed of hot coals or high heat on a gas grill (grill is ready when you can hold your hand at grill level for only 2 to 3 seconds); close lid on gas grill. Cook burgers, turning once, until browned on both sides and cooked to preferred doneness, 7 to 8 minutes total. Remove from grill. Add cheese immediately. Cut buns and butter, Lay buns, cut side down on grill and cook until lightly toasted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Fry 4 eggs to choice of doneness (We like ours runny) usually 2-3 mins. Salt + Pepper on top during or after cooking Spicy Mayo Mix 1/2 cup mayo + 1 tablespoon cayenne or sriracha together Caramelized Onion & Bacon Jam Cook bacon, set aside and chop. Add onions in rendered fat and reduce until nice and golden brown. Add chopped bacon and honey and cook on medium heat until the honey has reduced down into a thick jam-like state.
RAMEN Bun (for the millennials) • 1 package ramen noodles (discard seasoning package) • 1 egg • 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed • Salt and pepper Cook the ramen according to the directions on the package, then drain off the liquid. Let cool to room temperature. In a small mixing bowl, whisk egg until no streaks of yolk remain. Add the ramen, tossing thoroughly to coat with the egg. Divide the egg-dressed ramen into two portions, and place each half into a ramekin. Cover the ramen with plastic wrap, and weigh it down in a muffin tin or ramekin to compress it into a bun shape. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Add the oil to a skillet, and set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, unmold the ramen buns into the pan, and cook until the bottom is a dark golden brown. Flip both of the patties, and cook until a dark golden brown on both sides.
Burger • Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey! Portobello Bun • 1 package large portobello mushrooms Brush avacado oil on mushroom and Toast on the grill 1 minute on each side Tomato / Avacado Relish • 1 juice of lime (roughly 2 tablespoons) • 1 small tomato diced • 1 ripe Avacado diced • 2 tablespoons cliantro • Salt and pepper to taste Lightly Mix all ingredients together (Avacado will tend to get mushy if stirred too much!) Refrigerate until use Assemble Open Face Burger & Enjoy Toasted mushroom, Burger patty, Relish Top with alfalfa sprouts!
Assemble & Enjoy Toasted bun bottom, burger patty, fried egg, jam, spicy mayo, arugula, top bun
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Speak It!
written by Kathy B. Nelson
Big Dreams in Small Towns
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hat do these towns all have in common: Vidalia, LA, Grenada, MS, Meadville, MS, Crowville, LA, Oak Grove, LA, and Ruston, LA? Yes, they are all small towns and yes they are all in the southern region of our United States. But, the common thread all of them have is…me! These are the small towns I lived in while growing up. Then choosing one of them, Ruston, as the small town my husband and I would raise our two girls in their entire life. I guess you could say, we love a small town. We are still here and still loving it! I am a dreamer. One of the greatest attributes of the small town I live in is that they encourage, equip and facilitate the dreams of its residents. We have those who have created, invented, started, revived, implemented, funded and cast vision for businesses, ministries, buildings, festivals, entertainment, memorials, civic clubs, gardens, health assistance, art, home businesses, organizations that spotlight and help the abused, abandoned, handicapped, disenfranchised, poor, scared and homeless. What this small town has is heart. It’s out of the heart that big things are born. Looking for the zeal and impact of Millennials – (typically, children born from the beginning of the 1980’s until now)? We have thousands of them! I have worked with this age group for over thirty years and I find them to be fresh wind in our city. Our churches,
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schools and businesses are all better because of the talented, creative and ‘yes, we can do that!’ students at Louisiana Tech University and those who are starting their careers and raising their families here. I have watched them go all over the world to render aide and help to hurting people, build homes for those who otherwise would not have one right here in Ruston. They have provided care in homes and schools and daycares. These young adults have built playgrounds, hosted carnivals, and preached. They have performed, served, and even invented things. Thousands have volunteered at nursing homes, schools, civic groups and churches. So many have generally poured out their lives during the few years they are students at our great University. We don’t get all of them in our small town for very long, but, wow, what an impact they make. I believe this town and this university are great for making their big dreams come true. Let us be especially thankful for those who continue to live here and enable others to see their big dreams become reality. They are raising their families here because they believe it is a great place to trust the upbringing this small town provides. That’s huge,
friends. To trust your family with this environment speaks volumes. I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful for the years in a small town. Some might think you can’t have big dreams in small towns and maybe in some small towns that is true. However, in THIS small town – Ruston, Louisiana – big dreams can become real. So, thank you to those who have shared your heart with the rest of us. Thank you for being innovative and protective. Thank you for being personal and visionary. Thank you for being sacrificial and supportive. Thank you for making this small town a place for young and old to see great things happen, and even new things happen! And a special shout out to all those who keep our downtown looking so beautiful and clean and decorated for the seasons. If I lived inside the city limits, I would be proud that my tax dollars go toward these great efforts you have made for years in our downtown area. Every time I drive through our city, I smile. Welcome to small town Ruston, y’all, where big dreams come true. --------------------------------------------------
Kathy is founder of Speak It Ministries, a ministry of encouragement and equipping others in their walk of faith in Christ. She loves any opportunity to teach God’s word to anyone that will listen. She is all about Living life, loving people and laughing out loud. You can follow her on FaceBook, on Twitter @cckathy and on her website www.speakitministries.com
807 Homer Road in Minden
318.382.9000 23
Louisiana Peach Festival Schedule of Events
Arts & Crafts • Parade • Rodeo • Kids’ Activities • Sporting Tournaments Live Music • $1000 Prize Peach Cobbler Eating Contest Antique Car Show • Fine Arts Exhibit
Starting Monday, June 19 The Peach Hunt - $500 Prize!
Friday Concerts, June 23 6pm
Bethany Raybourn
7pm
KATALYST
8:30pm
Grant Terry
10pm
The Chee-Weez
Saturday Concerts, June 24 All Day
Barnes Portraiture Baby Photo Contest Viewing
11am
Piney Hills Chorus
2pm
Lawrence Gibbs & The RussTown Band Concert at The Dixie
6pm
Zach O’Neil
7pm
Beaux Atkins with Monty Russell
8:30pm
Kendal Conrad
10pm
Uncle Kracker
Friday, June 23 All Day
Barnes Portraiture Baby Photo Contest Viewing
8am
Lincoln Parish Park Kids’ Fishing Tournament
8am-5pm
Peach Art Exhibit
10am
Peach Cookery Contest
12pm-6pm
Beta Sigma Phi Arts & Crafts Show
12pm-11pm Sexton Lot Kids’ Zone 6pm
Tennis Tournament
8pm
Rodeo at N. LA Exhibition Center
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Saturday, June 25 7am
5K Walk/Run
8am-6pm
Beta Sigma Phi Arts & Crafts Show
8am-5pm
Peach Art Exhibit
8am-11pm
Sexton Lot Kids’ Zone
9am
“Give Peach a Chance” Parade
9am-3pm
Antique Car Show
11am-4pm
Dinosaurs in Georgia St. Food Court
11am
Barnes Portraiture Diaper Derby
12pm-4pm
Hula Hooper, Stilt Walker, Juggler
6pm
Tennis Tournament
8pm
Peach Cobbler Gobbler Contest
8pm
Rodeo at N. LA Exhibition Center
8pm
Bass Tournament on Lake D’Arbonne
Watch LouisianaPeachFestival.org or Facebook.com/LouisianaPeachFestival for additionally added events and event details.
T imes & P rices Admission for Ages 9 - Adult
Friday $10, 5pm - 11pm (Free Admission Noon till 5pm)
Saturday $10, 8am - 11pm Weekend Pass $15
June 23-24, 2017 Ruston, LA
Louisiana
Peach Fest Friday
Saturday
Noon - 11pm
8am - 11pm
Free Admission Noon till 5pm
GI V E PEACH A CHANCE
LI V E MUSIC
Friday, June 23rd 6pm Bethany Raybourn 7pm KATALYST 8:30pm Grant Terry 10pm The Chee-Weez
Festival Parade
Dinosaurs!
Saturday Starting @ 9am
Saturday After the Parade
The Chee-Weez Fri @ 10pm
Uncle Kracker Sat @ 10pm
Saturday, June 24th 6pm - Zach O’Neil 7pm - Beaux Atkins with Monty Russell 8:30pm - Kendal Conrad 10pm - Uncle Kracker
1-800-392-9032 Full event schedule at louisianapeachfestival.org
Produced by
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• 3 large fresh peaches, diced into small slices or cubes • 5 cups water, divided (you'll also need more water to fill the pitcher) • Approximately 2 cups granulated sugar (your preference for sweetness) • Zest of 1 lemon (optional) • 2-3 family-size tea bags (3 should work) In a large saucepan, add peaches, 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and lemon zest if using. Bring to a light simmer and simmer covered until peaches are soft and the peach skin has lost it's dark peachy color, about 15-20 minutes. With a potato masher, mash the peaches to release more of the juice and continue simmering for about 10 more minutes. Strain the peach mixture through a mesh strainer and discard the solids. (You'll have about 3 to 3½ cups of peach syrup) Set aside. Boil 3 cups of water. Place tea bags in water and let them steep for about 10-15 minutes and then discard tea bags. Add tea to a large pitcher, stir in the peach syrup, gradually add in water a cup at a time. (Be sure to taste the mixture as you increase the water until you find your perfect sweetness preference.) If you find that your tea is not sweet enough add in 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar. If it's too sweet increase the water(please note the sweetness will increase as it sits in the fridge) Refrigerate until cold. Stir before serving and pour over ice to serve. Garnish with mint and fresh peach slices if desired.
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255-3424
2304 W. Woodward Ave www.rustonbrick.com
Building Solid Foundations Since 189
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Brick, Brick Accessory Products, Fireplaces, Manufactured Stone, Natural Stone, Glass Block, Masonry Cement, Pavers and More
27
the uncommon
housewife written by Leslie Albritton
Finding Farmerville
W
elcome to Farmerville, home of the Watermelon Festival and beautiful Lake D’Arbonne. Located in the heart of Louisiana, Farmerville is the largest town in Union Parish and is known for its fishing, watersports, and hunting. The Spanish government granted this land to a trapper named John Honeycutt in 1790. Ideal for his trade and full of wildlife, he settled in the piney hills and used it mainly to trap ground animals. Ironically, Farmerville has very few farmers in it. The town is actually named after Miles Farmer, one of its cofounders. Spread about Lake D’Arbonne this rural town is a popular destination for hardcore anglers. One of north Louisiana’s largest lakes, Lake D’Arbonne is Farmerville’s pride and joy. This 15,000 acre man-made reservoir boasts a tremendous fishery filled with bass, bream, catfish, perch and crappie. In 2000, a lake recordbreaking 15 pound bass was snagged in the lake. There is no shortage of fish in the beautiful waters of Lake D’Arbonne, the lake is kept stocked by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. Lake D’Arbonne offers the best waterfowl migrating grounds around. Mallards, Pintail, Teal, and Gadwall can all be found in abundance throughout the swampy backwaters and winding estuaries. Bathed in grassy cypress knees, the tributaries of Lake D’Arbonne offers the perfect setting with excellent duck hunting opportunities. Watersports on Lake D’Arbonne is tremendously popular among locals and visitors. Nearly every weekend in the summer months the lake plays host to an array of boaters, skiers, and kayakers to name a few. Lake D’Arbonne is no doubt one of the many reasons Louisiana is nicknamed the Sportsman’s Paradise.
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If none of the above is your cup of tea, maybe cooling down under the hot Louisiana sun with cold slices of sweet and juicy watermelon is. Watermelons are a summertime staple in these parts, so much so that they dedicated an entire weekend to this delicious vegetable. Huh??? Who knew! Reigning as Farmerville’s biggest tourism event, the Watermelon Festival draws thousands to downtown Farmerville to celebrate everyone’s favorite melon. Visitors come from all over to enjoy the parade, live music, local crafts, and most of all the food! From classic fair food such as corndogs, funnel cakes, and lemonade all the way to Cajun fried alligator and deep fried Twinkies. The festival was founded in 1963 by the Farmerville Jaycees as a way of promoting the local watermelon industry. It is held annually on the last weekend in July. The three-day event officially kicks off on Thursday afternoon with the Little Miss Watermelon Pageant and ends Saturday night with the Miss Watermelon Pageant. Considered one of the most prestigious in the state, the pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Louisiana Pageant. The Watermelon 5k run starts off the activities for Saturday. One of the toughest 5k’s around, the route is pretty intimidating with a total ascent of 66.52 ft. and a maximum elevation of 224.54 ft. Mt. Everest is the nickname the local
runners has given the tallest hill found on the route at the end of mile 2. Filled with hills and heat, you have to be pretty brave or a little crazy to tackle this 5k. Also on the list of activities for Saturday is a morning breakfast given for the growers entering their watermelons in the size and quality contest. They will definitely need their strength to load up some of these monster melons. A father and son team from Converse, Louisiana demolished the state watermelon record in 2006 when they brought their 252.4 pound watermelon to Farmerville! They were less than 17 pounds shy of beating the world record at 268.8. There are nine varieties of watermelons that are entered in the contest. They are Carolina Cross, Cobb Gem, Jubilee, Black Diamond, Charleston Gray, Desert King, Moon and Stars, Mountain Hoosier and Green Strip. The heaviest three watermelons in each category are auctioned off to the public. The festival also has a treasure hunt sponsored by the Louisiana Lottery along with a golf tournament at the country club. There are even oldfashion events such as the arm wrestling contest and the watermelon seed spitting contest. Farmerville is an experience no one should forgo, there is truly something for everyone found in this little rural town.
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Leslie Albritton is a simple girl living in a country world. She is married to Brent and lives on a small farm in Farmerville with their daughter Nicole. They raise mini donkeys, mini horses and mini goats, hence the "small" farm. A runner, biker and kayaker she enjoys all things outdoors, especially the furry and four legged kind.
Dr. Pallavi Shirsat
Nephrology Internal Medicine
MINDEN MEDICAL CENTER IS PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST PHYSICIAN
Patients with kidney conditions have a new ally and hope in Dr. Pallavi Shirsat. One of the newest members of the Minden Medical Center staff, Dr. Shirsat specializes in NEPHROLOGY, treating kidney patients of all ages with hypertension and kidney diseases. Dr. Shirsat will also establish an inpatient dialysis unit at MMC, providing excellent care, for acute dialysis patients while they are hospitalized. INTERNAL MEDICINE, she enjoys the challenge of working on complex medical cases, with the goal of making patients’ lives easier. By being on top of their illnesses, listening, and addressing all of their Dr. Shirsat is accepting new patients at Minden Nephrology & Hypertension located at 102 Monroe Street, Suite B in Minden. Appointments may be made by calling (318) 382-7290.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP American Society of Nephrology National Kidney Foundation EDUCATION MEDICAL SCHOOL Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College Mumbai, India
INTERNAL MEDICINE & PEDIATRICS INTERNSHIP & RESIDENCY University Health Shreveport, LA NEPHROLOGY FELLOWSHIP University Health Shreveport, LA
PERSONAL Dr. Shirsat grew up in Nasik, Maharashtra, India and enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Kunal, who is also an Internal Medicine Physician and Hospitalist in Bossier City and their son Aansh.
www.mindenmedicalcenter.com #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA 71055 | (318) 377-2321
AUTHORIZED DEALER
- Golf carts - Multi-passenger carts
- Utility carts - Industrial carts
(318) 371-2278
FAIRWAYCARTS.NET 1620 Hwy 531 in Minden (Exit 49)
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ome people just aren't right. Guess I'm one of them. ... On the day I got home from vacation I got news that momma chicken had accidentally been crushed by the two ton henhouse door that was broken off from its hinges. My poor sister didn't realize the door was broken and went in to try to feed her and the rest is history. Among apologies were generous offers to put her out of her misery. I cried on my way home to her from the airport. It was raining and gray outside so it seemed appropriate. She was the last of the biddies I had gotten in the mailbox 3 years prior at the beginning of my "chicken phase" and she had earned my name. Any female who held childbearing status in our house earns a momma title. There is the original momma; me. Momma cat and momma chicken. We are the matriarchs. When I got home to momma chicken she wasn't able to pick herself up off the ground. She was covered in urine and feces. I decided to give her a bath and evaluate the damage. Giving a chicken a bath includes a lot of flailing and rearranging. I did learn if you cover their heads with a towel it settles them down a bit. Until the towel falls off and they loose their junk followed by clucking and more flailing. Being no veterinarian, I splinted what I thought was her injured leg with a tampon (seemed flexible and water resistant), packed up a laundry basket with pine straw, chicken food, and water, placed her in the garage for rehab, and hoped for the best. The first few days I force fed fruit and water to keep her alive. I told her if she was willing to fight that I would fight with her but that my daddy would wring her neck otherwise. It was her choice. I didn't care if she never laid another egg in her life, I just didn't want to see her go out like that. In the meantime, my daddy felt so bad for my chicken loss that he replaced my one hen with 6 new laying hens from another owner who was willing to give some away. He also built me a brand new door. It was about that time that Momma chicken started eating and drinking on her own. I took the worthless splint off and started giving her outside time. Two kids watched for cat predators, one watched for AmĂŠlie (our 18 month old) who always used this time to escape, and I coached and prodded momma to try to stand. Day after day she stank up my garage. Much to my husbands excitement I insisted we let her keep getting stronger. So she did. Eventually standing, then walking backwards with a wing flap, then onto limping forward with a side stumble. When 3 weeks had past she had flown out of her basket into the garage 3 times in 24 hours so I knew it was time to let her go back to the henhouse. I worried and fretted over how the rest of the new flock would respond so much that I stopped to pray especially for momma and her safety. My sweet hubby even laughed at me and sang "Even the sparrow knows who holds tomorrow". That first evening we put her back in, I hauled it to the henhouse after we got home from a party and found what appeared to be a dead lump of feathers in the far corner. My heart sank to the ground. I screamed for Hallie (the oldest of our four children) to grab my flashlight as I jumped in and ran over to her. As I
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came closer I could see slow breathing from two creatures one slightly huddled over the other sleeping. I shooed the black hen away and swept up momma to make sure she was ok. I checked her over as she looked at me like I lost my mind hustling back to her snuggle space as soon as I released her. Not only was she okay but she had made a friend and her friend seemed to be protecting her. I couldn't believe it! Something in momma chicken reminds me of my pitiful limping self last summer after a terrible bike wreck on highway 167. I had been training for my triathlon return post baby when I went down in a five person pile up. I had tire marks across my abdomen from cyclists unable to miss me and abrasions up and down my entire body. My husband Jeremy had to carry me to the potty the first night as I was too injured to stand. I spent the first few hours home crying and screaming as my sister cleaned me off (thankfully she did not hold a towel over my head) in the shower and lying on the floor to shimmy on my clothes. I spent the following weeks rolling mostly on a stool, sweating to stand up to look at patients, and bleeding through my gauze at work as I stumbled a little forward and a little sideways on the good leg. Day by day learning to walk right again. Worried if I would ever get back to what I used to be. Sometimes we get knocked down by the two ton door. We all need a few good friends and family, a little coaching, and a little encouragement to get us back where we need to be. Do not fear the replacements waiting in the wings ready to take over your position. No one else can write your story better than you. As the lyrics of Toby Mac go: "There is always scars when you fall that far. We lose our way, we get back up again It's never too late to get back up again, One day you're gonna shine again, You may be knocked down, But not out forever, Lose our way, we get back up again, So get up, get up, You gonna shine again, Never too late to get back up again, You may be knocked down, But not out forever" Wear those scars with pride and go momma chickens go! ---------------------------------------------------------Linzie Hebert is a 34 year old wife, momma of four, Dermatology Physician Assistant, and triathlon enthusiast. She resides in Choudrant, La surrounded on all sides by family and a great flock of chickens.
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the journey written by Jason McReynolds
Small Town Love, Big Town Envy
S
pring is here. I love spring. My family and I live in New Orleans. It’s the big city of Louisiana but we live in a quiet neighborhood with great neighbors. Next door to us is an older couple that have become pseudo-grandparents. Across the street are two families that have children the same ages as ours. A few houses down is an older family with three weenie dogs that my kids love. Now that it’s spring we’re all outside. In New Orleans, there are basically three months of time that we can play outside. Half of that time is now. You see, here, spring is about a month and a half, summer is eight months, fall is about a month and a half, and winter last anywhere from one weekend to one month. During the summer it’s miserably hot and nobody ventures outdoors to hang out with one another until late in the evening. But spring is awesome! It feels good outside all day. The porches in my neighborhood are overflowing during Spring. I’ve found something else that seems to overflow during spring – envy. I was born in a small town on the Georgia/Alabama border called LaGrange. I ended up in New Orleans because I married a New Orleans girl, and a New Orleans girl doesn’t live more than two miles away from her mama. In LaGrange, I grew up on a 2-acre plot of land next to a 100-acre farm owned by Mr. Whittaker. Doesn’t that sound like a farmer’s name? He was a great guy. He allowed myself and my four neighbor friends to roam the pasture and wooded valley that bordered it without hesitation. It was kind of similar to our current NOLA
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situation too, except there was more land. My family would talk to the other neighbor families on a regular basis. It was a great place to be raised. But I don’t ever remember being envious of my friends or neighbors. Perhaps it was because I was a kid and never noticed, but I’ve found that I fight envy much more now. Spring is envy season. Whether it’s the new plants, new clothes, or new house updates, envy is rough on the soul. It’s why God placed it as one of the ten commandments. It’s number ten. I’ll paraphrase: “Don’t covet your neighbor’s stuff.” It takes our eyes off of Jesus and puts them on material things. It takes my hope off of Christ and places it in something that will eventually fade away. But it’s really, really hard when I’m repairing my car for 2 straight days because we can’t afford to pay for labor costs… and then your neighbor rolls up in a new pristine Chevy 1500. Now, I’ve gotten a lot better at keeping my eyes on Jesus from just a decade ago. I’ve had a lot of practice. My wife and I lived outside of Dallas, Texas and there’s some serious material there. So when the beautiful warm glow of those brand-new LEDs rolled down the street as I’m under a broke down 12-year-old vehicle… my heart wasn’t right. I’m not the only one right? You’ve been there, haven’t you? I realize you
may be in a coffee shop right now but please nod your head so I’m not alone. So, what do we do? I’ve found one action that has helped me - Celebrate how God has blessed your neighbor. Remember when you were a kid and your friend got that new Transformer or GI Joe or Barbie doll? I remember. But I never remember being jealous about it. I was always excited! Maybe it was because, selfishly, I knew that I’d be able to play with it too. Or maybe I was genuinely happy for him. Why can’t we do that now? Why can’t we be genuinely happy for our neighbor and how God has blessed them? We can! And when we take action in this way it diffuses our heart’s desire to be jealous of them and angry at God. Envy doesn’t have any positive attributes to it. It just brings things like anger, jealousy, and depression. And these things, when not given to Jesus, will hurt others around you. No one should experience my anger because my neighbor got a shiny new toy. It doesn’t even make sense! Celebrate what God has done in their lives. Celebrate that you see God moving. Celebrate the fact that He takes care of us. I celebrated when my neighbors received that truck. Now I’m also really celebrating his new pool! I just hope they’ll share it! ----------------------------------------------------
Jason McReynolds is the pastor of New Orleans Community Church. He and his wife, Liev, have two boys and one little girl. Jason enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, watching and/ or playing any kind of sports, and taking his wife out on dates. To learn more about him, or NOCC, visit: www.neworleanscommunitychurch.com
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ramblings of a
coffee addict
Steven Smith
Invest in Your Town
W
hen people mention culture shock, they usually think of it in an international sense; someone from the U.S. moving to Kenya or the rainforest in Brazil, or vice-versa. Culture shock is not usually something that is associated with different locations in the same country, or even the same state, but it is 100% a thing and it’s something that I have to deal with on a daily basis. I was raised in New Orleans. Well, Metairie technically, but it all blends together. A large, metropolis area of people, businesses, and culture mixing together into, what I believe, is one of the greatest cities on earth. I went to a high school of around 2,000 students. Save for the few years after Hurricane Katrina, if you wanted something to eat or were bored and looking for something to do at 1 a.m. in the morning, you could find it! Fast forward to my senior year of high school. My family moved to a “town” with a population of less than 500 people. The high school I graduated from, which so happens to be the high school I currently teach at, had less than 200 students. My graduating class in New Orleans would have had over 500. My wife and I currently live in a town of less than 4,000 people and nothing stays open past 8 p.m. Even after 4 years, I am still trying to get used to the small-town lifestyle, and quite honestly, I don’t think I ever will. Now, I don’t write this to demean or beat down small towns. They definitely have their pros. For example, small towns don’t have rush hour traffic. It doesn’t take me 30 minutes to drive to the grocery store, and that’s pretty nice. But there’s something about the life in city that just gets to me. It’s something that I’ve noticed in New Orleans, but also in other cities I’ve visited; Lafayette, San Antonio, Ashville, and Knoxville, to name a few. People that live in those cites love their city. They invest in their
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city. They’re proud of where they come from and like to talk about it to people. So, what happened to the small towns? If you live in a small town, look at pictures of it from the 40’s or 50’s. Most of these small towns had downtowns with restaurants and shops and people that would spend time there, but sometime between now and then most of these areas have dwindled to almost nothing or completely disappeared. Most small town main streets you visit now consist of a store or two, maybe a restaurant or café, and an old antiques shop that hasn’t sold anything in 20 years. You can blame the demise of these downtown areas on many different factors. Some will say that booms and busts in the economy make it hard for small business owners in areas that don’t have stable industries, so the business gradually shut down over time. Some will blame the McDonalds and Wal-Marts that come in and steal away customers from the local vendors. I think the reason that these downtown areas have become so rare is because people just stopped caring. Going and parking downtown or spending a little extra in a locally-owned store became too much and people didn’t care enough to deal with the hassle, so they stopped going to those stores. I hear a lot of people talk about how they wish that their town could have a cool festival, or a nice restaurant downtown,
or local shops or farmers’ markets like other towns and cities do. The problem is that these same people that wish for this type of town aren’t willing to go out and visit local business and invest in their town. They still would rather get a burger at Sonic or buy groceries at WalMart because it’s quick, convenient, and “cheaper,” albeit for worse quality than you would get from a local vendor. So, what’s a solution for this? Simple, invest in the town you are living in. We can’t all live in hip places like Austin or Seattle, so go out there and make your town hip in its own right. If there’s a local restaurant, go eat there once a week. Buy vegetables and fruits at a local farmers’ market. Invest in local arts and music. Spend time in you downtown area and make it a place where people want to be. If there are no events in your town that people want to go to, volunteer. Join a group or committee to help start events like block parties or festivals, that way more people will want to be involved with the community. If you’re in a situation like me, a big city heart living in a small town, go out there and invest in your community and help make it a place where people want to be involved, because if you don’t start doing it, who will? ----------------------------------------------------
Steven is a high school history and Spanish teacher, but his real passions are travel, coffee, and good food. He is married to an amazing wife, who shares his wanderlust.
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penny for your thoughts written by Penny Jones
Thankful
T
he gentle creaking of the swing is heard as I joyfully jump on to my grandmother’s white porch swing. Looking around one would notice her flower beds in the front of the porch, and two rockers with peeling paint sitting beside each other. Taking a closer glance the rockers have lost their gliders, and it is now a rough porch chair. Cold cement keeps my feet cool as I slip them down to give myself another shove, and the swing takes off again. I am at total peace. Behind me is the most beautiful hydrangea plant loaded with an array of multi-color flowers. They say it is the soil that will determine a hydrangea’s coloring. Since this bush is full of color I am sure the soil is rich in nutrients, just like my Mammaw, who was rich in wisdom. She sits in her rocking chair in elegant fashion working on a quilt. We talk about the weather, my dreams, her plants, and just about anything else a child can think of. She does not treat my conversational topics as if they held no value, but instead as if each word was priceless. I had her full attention. Those days are long gone, and all that remains are the memories. There are many times I wish I could pick up the phone and call her. Ask her how her day is going, and can I come swing. Now I know why people say, “Those where the good ole days.” It is only after becoming a grown woman do I realize the value of time. It is a priceless commodity and one that must be used wisely. We each have twentyfour hours in our day, once it is spent the question remains, will we see a return on our investment? Was your time spent wisely? My grandmother’s was. Her lineage is still reflecting upon her actions, words, and most of all her love that she gave to all. She lived her life and when it was over, I know
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my Heavenly Father opened his arms wide at Heaven’s gate and said “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” May the story below remind you that time is precious, and it is up to you to determine how it is invested. ---------------------------------------------------Lifting my arm to swat away the sweat that continues to pour down my face, I look around to find the pea patch is starting to get empty. Bushel after bushel has been picked, and the farm hands are calling it a day. Slipping my hand down into the plants, I am amazed at the vibrant green which displays the Father’s creativity. It has been tough lately. It seems no matter how hard I try, there is never enough time. Warren was shipped off to war. Lily hasn’t stopped walking since she took her first step, and I am worn out. It seems each month God in his graciousness makes all the money stretch to cover expenses, but there is no extra. Sighing, I pick up my bucket of peas, grateful for the Smiths who let me have all I can pick. This will be food on the table. God supplies all my needs, even when I don’t know where it will come from. He has surrounded me with neighbors who know the value of helping each other. We may not all be rich in monetary means, but each of us has something to offer. Tonight Lily and I are headed down to the church. There is a group of ladies getting together to sew quilts for the needy. Pushing my way through the pea patch I put my bushel in the back of the olive green 1941 Ford pickup truck. Slipping into the driver’s seat, I hear Sherryl Smith call out… “Elizabeth…wait.” Glancing over she hurries from her porch, with Sally hanging on her hip.
“Sorry Elizabeth, I wanted to catch you before you leave. Bring Lily over tomorrow after church, and we can have some tea with fresh lemon cookies to go with lunch while the girls play." I grin in anticipation. “Thanks, Sherryl.” Noticing the weariness around her eyes, I ask... “How are you doing?” She laughingly replies… “Good. Just tired.“ I know what you mean! We say our good byes, and I head home. As I make my way up the dirt road I am reminded time is always moving. Sherryl in her busyness stopped to invite me into her world, though hers was already full. I am thankful for neighbors as their friendship is an intentional gift. I am also thankful for small communities that value a person. Pulling my truck to a stop, I glance up to Heaven, and tell my Father who knows all my concerns… “Thank you for time, friends, family, and life. I pray may I spend it wisely for once it is spent I can’t get it back. I also say a quick thank you for my community of friends.” Margaret just came to the screen door with Lily screaming. Looks like life won’t stand still. ---------------------------------------------------The community this story was based is known as Friendship. It is a small village of people who reside in the heart of Bienville Parish. Once you get there you may find you don’t want to leave. Penny Jones was born and raised in Louisiana, and finds joy in the history of this unique state. She holds a degree in English from the University of Kansas CityMissouri.
“GREAT public course. The tract is really pretty and presents plenty enough challenges. The course was in great condition. The greens are medium fast and run true. If you haven't golfed there, you've missed a treat and a bargain at $27 during the week.” - Kathleen M.
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a knack for
nutrition
written by Beth Fontenot, MS, RD, LDN
Take Back Your Kitchen!
I
s your kitchen cluttered? Are last night’s dishes still in the sink? Are your countertops piled high with bills, junk mail, and old newspapers? Are the kids’ toys piled in a corner of your kitchen? Did you know that a cluttered and chaotic kitchen can contribute to weight gain? Now that could be an incentive to get your kitchen in order! Cluttered kitchens cause stress, and what do many people do when they feel stressed? They eat. And they eat twice as much, especially sweets. When you feel stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that increases your appetite. Not only do you feel hungrier when you’re stressed, but you are more likely to grab highfat, high-sugar foods, like cookies, to satisfy that hunger. An experiment was conducted that placed people in either a noisy, messy, and disorganized kitchen to eat or in a quiet, clean, orderly kitchen. Those in the chaotic kitchen ate twice as many calories over a ten-minute period compared to those who ate in the quiet and orderly kitchen. Though carrots, crackers, and cookies were available for snacking to both groups, the people in the chaotic kitchen chose cookies most often. When surrounded by clutter, people tend to feel stressed and out of control, and that loss of control is often reflected in the way they eat. When everything around you feels out of control, don’t you often ask yourself, at least
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subconsciously, “So why shouldn’t I be, too?” Feeling stressed makes you somehow feel more entitled to overindulge in your favorite comfort foods. Once you begin to clear away the clutter in your kitchen – perhaps in the rest of your home, too - the tendency toward stress-induced, mindless eating begins to lessen. You feel more in control of your home, your life, your surroundings - and your diet. A calmer, more organized environment in your kitchen may help you snack less often and help you make better food choices. Meditation and exercise also help control stress, but for many people an easier way may be to simply clean up the kitchen. So take a look around your kitchen. If it’s a cluttered and chaotic place, you might be consuming more calories without realizing it. The people in the study who ate in a chaotic kitchen consumed 53 calories from cookies in just 10 minutes. Think about how many minutes you spend in your kitchen every day. Fifty-three calories every 10 minutes can add up to a lot of calories fast! Ask yourself what can you do to make your kitchen a more organized and cheery place. Even though it may
seem like an unpleasant and endless task, it’s worth it to give your kitchen a good cleaning and work daily to keep it clean and free of clutter. Dispose of empty food packages promptly. Take care of the mail daily instead of letting it stack up. Designate specific places for junk mail and mail that needs your attention. Find an out of the way place for old newspapers. Remove all the clutter from your countertops. Find a new place for the kids’ toys. Avoid leaving dirty dishes until “later.” Engage other household members in keeping things put away. Give everyone a responsibility. Who will rinse the dishes? Who will load the dishwasher? Who will unload the dishwasher? Who will take out the trash? Keeping your kitchen clean, calm, and organized is a daily effort, but consider it a tool in your toolbox to avoid overeating and manage your weight. A messy kitchen may be just one of the things in your life making you feel stressed and causing you to overeat, but it is something you have control over. Take back your kitchen! ----------------------------------------------------
Beth Fontenot is a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist who divides her time between the swamps of south Louisiana and the piney woods of north Louisiana. Though she’s been known to indulge in a certain Texas brand of ice cream or a fried seafood dinner, she does believe that good nutrition is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle.
onfidence can be found within us all. But, just like a candle wick, it has to be ignited to burn bright. I never had an interest in pageants; however, my heart loves to serve. The Miss Louisiana Organization was the unexpected place that led me to extraordinary opportunities to find my own self-confidence through serving others. I am honored to represent my hometown as Miss Minden in the Miss Louisiana Pageant held this June twenty-fourth. Choosing to succeed in this organization has been a journey. “Authentically Beautiful: Self Confidence Over Social Standards,” is a platform I am very passionate about. Social media has major presence in modern times. While it is a great tool, social apps have unintended effects on user’s self-perception. We see images of the “perfect” lives, material objects, or appearances. Our natural instinct to measure up to imposed social standards slowly changes our truest form. Becoming completely confident with yourself is hard. It was for me. I focused on all of my imperfections instead of focusing on what made me Abby. Wishing my nose was a little slimmer, my legs were a bit more muscular, and wishing I had all of the things I saw online—those were easy to admit. I idolized Carrie Underwood’s body, but never embraced my own but a revelation happened when I saw my little sister facing the same challenges I struggled with. For years I grew up free to express my individuality, until Facebook made its debut. My sister was raised with the trending applications and never got the chance to be without the influence of popular media icons. She felt the need to look like the things she saw in order to be accepted. My platform is a movement to change how social media is used. A movement to allow individuals to recognize their importance and build their self-esteem. A movement to remind Louisiana’s children, our future, that they are beautiful just as they are. To teach them free expression and that they can be successful at whatever they choose. I am encouraging others to become a part of this movement to put Self Confidence Over Social Standards. I found my confidence through serving others. Implementing “Classroom Confidence Kits” in classrooms around the state has opened my eyes to the need for encouraging children and reinforced my confidence in my ability to impact others’ lives. To those of you reading this article: I challenge you to focus on the things that make you beautiful, focus on your best personality traits, and encourage others to do the same.
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bringing back
the past
written by Wesley Harris This Old House: Preservationists seek help for Lincoln Parish’s Autrey House
W
hen Absalom Autrey loaded his family in a wagon in Alabama to move to the wilds of north Louisiana in 1849, he could not have imagined the log home he would build becoming one of the state’s architectural treasures. The large “dogtrot” cabin served as a family home in what is now Lincoln Parish for over one hundred years before sitting idle for decades. In the late 1980s, preservationists recognized the need to protect the unique structure and undertook a massive restoration. Now the Autrey House is again in need of some tender loving care. The dogtrot was a common architectural style in the South in the 1800s. With one to one-and-a-half stories, enclosed rooms at each end were separated by a wide, open passage or breezeway. During hot summer nights, family members might have found the openended airy passage more preferable for sleeping than the interior rooms. The Autrey House has large rooms used for sleeping on one side of its breezeway, while rooms on the opposite side included a kitchen and living area. Steps in the breezeway passage lead up to a large sleeping loft, a necessity since Absalom and Elizabeth Autrey had 15 children. The walls are made from huge hand-hewn, half-round logs joined at the corners with square notches. Few dogtrots remain, and the Autrey House is one of the oldest houses in north Louisiana. Jean Moore, a member of the Autrey House Advisory Board, says the 168-year-old structure on the National Register of Historic Places desperately needs foundation work and a new roof.
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“Dedicated volunteers continue to patch and repair with our limited funds,” Moore said during a recent update on the house, “to preserve the structure for future generations.” But the needs far exceed the current resources available, she said.
now Lincoln Parish, their home is the earliest surviving residence,” she said.
Some of the volunteers are descendants of the original builder. Moore said, “Vicky Autrey Colvin, the great-greatgreat granddaughter of Absalom Autrey, and her husband Loyd are the primary caretakers. They work tirelessly to assure the grounds are maintained and are vigilant in identifying problems to prevent minor issues from becoming more severe.”
Moore said estimates from contractors put repairs to the foundation and the roof around $50,000. The Autrey House Board, under the auspices of the Lincoln Parish Museum, is hoping to raise the funds quickly to protect the structure before any significant damage occurs.
In 1988, the home’s foundation was stabilized, and additional work in 1991 on the walls and floor restored the home to its 19th century appearance and made it accessible for tours by appointment. The property and a small repair fund are overseen by the Lincoln Parish Museum. Now the foundation, which is plagued by rotting joists sitting on giant native ironstone rock piers, is again in need of work. The tin roof, which replaced the original wood shingles over half a century ago, springs leaks constantly and is beyond patching. Moore said protecting the house is important for history and the future. “The Autrey House is our last visible link to the way of life of some of our early pioneers. While the Autrey family was not the first family to settle in what is
“Our community heritage is tied directly to the Autrey family and others who lived lives of industry and hard work, and valued education, family, and faith.”
In a 2008 article about the Autrey House, Tulane University professor emeritus Karen Kingsley wrote, “Because dogtrots were built in remote and rural areas their survival is always at risk. So those that have survived and have been carefully brought back to their original appearance should more than ever be valued and treasured.” The Autrey House sits at the intersection of Louisiana Highways 151 and 152 just west of Dubach. The exterior can be viewed any day; for tours of the interior, call the Lincoln Parish Museum at 318251-0018 or Susan Roach at 318-2572718. Tax-deductible donations to join the effort to preserve the Autrey House may be sent to: Autrey House Museum c/o Lincoln Parish Museum 609 N. Vienna Street Ruston, LA 71270 ----------------------------------------------------
Wesley Harris is a native of Ruston. Among his books are GREETINGS FROM RUSTON: A Post Card History of Ruston, Louisiana and Neither Fear nor Favor: Deputy United States Marshal John Tom Sisemore, available from amazon.com. He can be contacted at campruston@gmail.com. Check out his Louisiana history blog at http:// diggingthepast.blogspot.com.
www.bienvillechamber.org
info@bienvillechamber.org (318) 263-9897
BIENVILLE
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a novel approach written by Winnie Griggs The Art Of Backstory – Part IX
T
his is the ninth and final installment in my series on Weaving Backstory Into Your Work. In previous articles, I discussed what backstory is, what and how much to include in your manuscript, and when to include it. I’ve also discussed five methods you can use, namely Omniscient Narration, Flashbacks, Prologues, Introspection, Dialogue and Implication. Today I’m wrapping things up with a discussion on Description. There are two ways you can use Description to hint at backstory. • Personal Description - You can subtly weave in backstory through a character’s physical description. Calluses or the lack thereof might indicate a certain kind of lifestyle. Scars, limps, nervous habits can all hint at events in their past. • Environmental Description - The things they surround themselves with can also be telling. • If you want to show that your character is an avid traveler, surround him with exotic souvenirs or maps and charts • To show she is well educated, scatter well-read books and such around her lodgings • Has she recently experienced a financial downturn? You can hint at this by having her wear expensive but outdated or faded clothing. Now, let’s look at a couple of examples. Here’s an example Handpicked Husband:
from
my
book
Set-up: The heroine, who is out in the backwoods of northeast Texas, has unexpectedly encountered a man from her adolescent past, one she knows only from occasional visits to Philadelphia. He doesn’t recognize her and, for various reasons, she doesn’t set him straight on her identity. These are her thoughts after they have parted: … she’d recognized him immediately. A woman rarely forgets the object of her first romantic schoolgirl fantasies – even if she’d dusted her hands of that fantasy as she matured. Not that he hadn’t changed dramatically. He’d aged of course, but it was more than that. He still had that heart-stopping dimple in his chin and bluer eyes than any man had a right to. But now those eyes had a flintiness to them, and that dimple seemed incongruous rather than endearing. He’d also got himself a faded but new-to-her scar on his cheek. A souvenir, no doubt,
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from the kind of life he’d lived since she saw him last.
This, of course, is an example of the first type of description – Personal Description. Our heroine knows just where the man has been in the interim since she’s seen him last. With her cryptic comment about his scar being a souvenir of the kind of life he’s led during that time, along with the other select details, hopefully I piqued the reader’s interest to turn the pages in order to find out as well. In addition, describing him as ‘the object of her first romantic schoolgirl fantasies’ gives us a little peek into her own backstory as well This next excerpt, taken from Handpicked Husband as well, shows how to reveal something about your character’s past through description of the objects they surround themselves with. Set-up: The hero and his friends have arrived at Reggie’s cabin and are tending to their horses. Adam stopped dead in his tracks, blinking at the exotic contraption perched beside the small feed crib. It was a wagon, he finally decided. But he’d never seen its like outside of a circus parade. To call it gaudy was doing it a kindness. Only the back and one side was visible from this angle, but it was enough. More than enough. Not only was the caravanstyle conveyance painted in garish shades of green, maroon and gold, but it was constructed in an overblown design, complete with exuberant scrollwork and elaborately carved panels. Ira turned and looked from them to the wagon. “I see you spied Reggie’s photography wagon. She’s a beauty, ain’t she?” Photography wagon? Adam led Trib forward with a click of his tongue. “Did she inherit it from her father?” The balding man cackled. “You didn’t know Reggie’s daddy, did you? Warren Nash would never have been caught driving such a fanciful contraption as this. Plain and
simple was his style.” Ira patted the wagon as if it were an old friend. “No, Reggie designed this herself after one of them traveling circuses passed through here.” She’d actually intended it to look like this? Miss Nash was either as bereft of taste as she was of singing ability, or she had a wicked sense of humor. “It’s the fanciest wagon in all of Turnabout. Everyone stops to stare when we pass by.” “That I’ll believe.” Adam had assumed this photography thing was more along the lines of a pastime, something she toyed with when she was bored, the way other women did with watercolors or the piano. But if she’d gone to the trouble of designing her own wagon...
Based on this incident, our hero has begun to reshape his perception of the heroine and the kind of person she is. It also gives the reader another hint at the kind of lifestyle she’s lived up to this point. That’s it for our discussion of Backstory. There’s no need to limit yourself to only one of the seven methods I’ve discussed with you. If you were paying attention you likely noticed many of my examples throughout this series mixed several methods in one scene. Remember • Reveal backstory only when it’s absolutely necessary to further the development of your story’s current situation. It should answer a crying need for the reader to know this information at this point in time. • Include only the bits and pieces necessary to keep the reader with you. You want to trickle the information in rather than deluge the reader. Keeping these two points in mind will help you maintain the fast pace and page turning quality in your story that all writers strive for. -------------------------------------------------------
Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the back of beyond. She and her siblings spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou. Once she ‘grew up’ she began capturing those wonderful adventures in the pages of her notebooks. Now a multi-published, award winning author, Winnie feels blessed to be able to share her stories with readers through her published books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com or connect with her at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author
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