The Minute Magazine May June 2013

MAY / JUNE 2013

the

+ +

FREE

Minute magazine

Tons of Quick & Easy Summer Recipes

Volume 8, Issue 14

Back to the Garden

Margaret Tripp Timmons: For Good Memories

+

Our Favorite Places to Find Fresh, Local fruits & veggies 1

CALENDAR OF r e m m Su EVENTS The Webster Parish Convention and Visitor’s Bureau invites you to these upcoming 2013 Events:

May 4

Heflin Sawmill Festival will be held in Heflin. This event will feature store vendors, food booths and arts and crafts. For more information call Cathy Lee at (318)377-7539.

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Annual Trails & Trellises Garden Tour and Seminars presented by the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners will be held in Minden on May 18.

For more information, please call (318)371-2586, or email Glenda at gcollums@agcenter.lsu.edu.

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Annual Springhill Rodeo Parade at 5:00 PM on Main Street in historic downtown Springhill.

For more information, contact Eric Simmons at (318) 547-3104.

30-31 61st Annual Springhill PRCA Rodeo, the oldest rodeo in Louisiana. This is rodeo at its finest held at 8:00 PM nightly. For more information, contact Eric Simmons at (318) 547-3104.

June

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61st Annual Springhill PRCA Rodeo, the oldest rodeo in Louisiana. This is rodeo at its finest held at 8:00 PM nightly. For more information, contact Eric Simmons at (318) 547-3104.

1-800-2MINDEN WWW.VISITWEBSTER.NET /Webster Parish Tourism

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Heflin / Minden / Springhill, Louisiana

Faster.

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Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Northern Louisiana Medical Center.

The experienced E.R. physicians and the entire team are committed to working diligently to have you initially seen by a clinical professional* within 30 minutes of your arrival. If you need an E.R. fast, try our fast E.R. Once you do, you won’t want to go anywhere else. Visit us online at NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com to view our average E.R. wait time.

*Clinical professional is defined as a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

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4

You’ve known her for so long. Now, suddenly, something has changed.

If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in the ability to cope with daily living, Senior Care at Minden Medical Center is here to help.

Senior Care is available to persons age 55 and over with a mental or cognitive decline that hinders daily life, who has become a threat to self or others, or is limited in selfcare ability. Our mental health professionals are available through our 24 hour referral line to discuss treatment needs and are devoted to helping patients get back to their optimal level of functioning.

Our services include: • Free initial consultation • Thorough assessment • Customized treatment plans • Group, individual, and family counseling

• Management of secondary medical needs • Continued care planning and referral assistance

You’ve known her for so long. Now, suddenly, something has changed.

If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in For more information the ability to cope with daily Senior Care or toliving, schedule a free, at Minden Medical Center is here to help. confidential assessment,

For Quality

call us at 318-371-5646.

Senior Care is available to persons age 55 and over with to caring for your health. Make it a smart one, a mental or cognitive decline that hinders daily life, who was named one of the nation’s top performers has become a threat to self or others, or is limited in selfHope is only a phone call away. measures two years in a row. care ability. Our mental health professionals are available

The through our 24 hour referral line to discuss treatment Joint Commission, the leading accreditor needs and are devoted to helping patients get back to e nation, for our achievements in quality… but their optimal level of functioning. www.MindenMedicalCenter.com e chosen by you.

Minden Medical Center #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA st toOur patients and their families – safe and services include: to providing the highest quality care possible, • Free initial consultation Management of secondary ing edge technology that you expect at • larger • Thorough assessment

medical needs onveniently close to home.

• Customized treatment • Continued care planning plans and referral assistance • Group, individual, and need, choose Minden Medical Center. family counseling denmedicalcenter.com

For more information or to schedule a free, confidential assessment, call us at 318-371-5646.

Hope is only a phone call away.

www.MindenMedicalCenter.com #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA

editor from the

I

t's SUMMER! Time for flip-flops and basking in the sun. Time for a cold glass of lemonade and some perfectly crisp and sweet watermelon. This issue of the Minute introduces you to several local businesses that offer fresh, homegrown fruits and veggies in North Louisiana. If you have a black thumb like me, these resources should come in handy when you get a hankering for some tastey produce.

We at the Minute encourage all of you, wherever you are, to go out and find local businesses that sell freshly picked fruits and vegetables like your local farmers market or Rosemary's Garden in Ruston, Louisiana. We guarantee that you will taste the difference. Or, maybe you are brave (or crazy) enough to try growing your own produce. We teamed up with Briarhill Farms and they have a great article that teaches you how to get started with your very own garden, even if you don't have a lot of time or space.

Whatever you do, whether you choose to grow your own produce or support local gardeners, we hope that you have a peachy keen summer.

And speaking of peachy keen, don't forget to mark your calendars for the upcoming Louisiana Peach Festival held in Ruston on June 21st and 22nd.

Whew! It's going to be a busy summer. And we all know it will be a hot one! Keep cool out there and remember: IT TAKES YOU TO START THE TREND! SHOP LOCAL EAT LOCAL SPEND LOCAL ENJOY LOCAL

Tiffany Byram 5

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Come in today for these great offers during May & June: 20% Off Obagi Skin Care Products Latisse $110 For longer, fuller, darker lashes

Get bikini ready with 25% off IPL Hair Removal Services

Purchase a gift card during the month of May and receive 10% off of the purchase price.

Gift cards may be used at New Beginnings Wellness Center & Spa. Gift wrapping is complimentary.

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inside this

issue TIFFANY BYRAM & JACKIE LEWIS Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager

The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, Ouachita, Webster, & Lincoln Parishes in Louisiana.

They are FREE for you to enjoy.

Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, visit www.theminutemag.com today! For article suggestions, email Tiffany Byram at theminutemagazine@gmail.com

DONNA ARENDER Feature Story & Cover

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

Contact Information: Office Phone: 504.390.2585 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 2232 Highway 533 Arcadia, LA 71001

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However, you can have it mailed to you for $20 a year to cover postage & handling. Call us at 504.390.2585 and we’ll put you on our mailing list!

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Antique Junkie by Donna Arender Rosemary's Kitchen by Rosemary Thomas Minden Farmers Market by Chris Broussard Ruston Farmers Market by John Benschoter Simple Small Space Gardening by Tom Faber Good Memories by Margaret Tripp Timmons The Journey by Jason McReynolds Simply Cooking by Melissa Teoulet Never Waste a Minute by Ashley Nygaard From Simplicity to Stilettos by Chalaine Scott Louisiana Girl Rivelations by April Timmons Villainy in Vienna by Wes Harris Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett

Copyright 2013. 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.

MAY / JUNE 2013

the

cover

contributors Donna Arender John Benschoter Nancy Bergeron Chris Broussard Tiffany Byram

Vicki Caskey Elizabeth Drewett Tom Faber Wes Harris Jessica Haynes

Laura Horton Jason McReynolds Ashley M. Nygaard Chalaine Scott Melissa Teoulet

Rosemary Thomas Margaret Tripp Timmons April Warford Timmons

Our cover photo features Rosemary Thomas and Sara Corley of Ruston's Rosemary's Kitchen and was taken by Vicki Caskey

+ +

FREE

Minute magazine

Tons of Quick & Easy Summer Recipes

Volume 8, Issue 14

Back to the Garden

Margaret Tripp Timmons: For Good Memories

+

Our Favorite Places to Find Fresh, Local fruits & veggies

7

Many times as my heart was in despair I cried out to God with my head resting on Little Red, like the shoulder of a good friend. Yes, that ol’ red rickety table was more than just a piece of furniture. She was a true friend if I ever had one.

perfectly into our home filled with one-of-a-kind -------------------------------- and re-purposed items.

At first, I didn't like the worn barn-red color of Little Red the legs of the table. I -------------------------------- planned on repainting it, but as time went by, the color seemed to grow on me. So, I named the table "Little Red."

L

ast fall I decided that my little "rickety" old kitchen table needed to be replaced. It squeaked every time someone barely touched it and the cracks seemed to be a magnet for food crumbs and dried play-doh left behind by my two grandsons. I was happy with my primitive table when I first purchased it; as it replaced a modern round table that certainly didn't fit the decor of this Antique Junkie.

A wonderful old primitive church pew sits in front of the kitchen windows, allowing visitors to "come on in and sit a spell.” The antique table that looked as if it might have been some old farmer's work bench and its "flaws" added character as it blended

8

round Little Red as we celebrated birthdays, ate holiday dinners, and sang Happy Birthday Jesus (with a cake) on Christmas morning. We colored Easter Eggs, made scrapbooks, had coloring contest, played games and worked on Science Fair projects... all with the help of this My children were in rickety ol' table. their early teens when Little Red first became Lots of memories were part of our family. Like made with “Red” right most teenagers, having in the center of things friends over seemed to but not all of them were be a daily ritual and our fun. There were times house was deemed a during the "teenage" "hang-out." A sign that years that we had family hangs in my kitchen discussions at the table. says; "Come and Gather Other times, there were at Our Table,” and that's some family squabbles exactly what they did... that Red was caught my kiddos and their up in... and then Little friends gathered in the Red was turned into a kitchen as I prepared court-room until peace supper, and then we'd resumed inside our usually invite them to home. Since my kitchen stay. After school, Little over-looks my garden Red hosted them as area, it is a peaceful they did their homework. place for me to spend Many times, she served my quiet time reading as an assembly line my Bible, journaling, while I baked batch after and spending time with batch of cookies for the the Lord. And let me cross country & track tell you... this table has teams during my kids caught many a tear that high school years. has rolled down my cheeks and soaked into Our family gathered the weathered wood.

My husband and I loved to drink coffee on the weekends sitting at that table, reminiscing about the past or making plans for the future.

Not only was Red part of our children’s life, but she also witnessed our joy as we became grandparents. It was amazing to watch as little hands used Red’s legs to pull up by as our grandbabies began to walk. Then it seemed like only an instant before they were standing on tippy-toes trying to grab something that was out of their reach. Next thing we know... they no longer need a highchair, and they argue who is going to get to “sit by Pappy” at the dinner table. And history repeated itself with the joys & squabbles that were centered around Little Red. Sadly, I got rid of Red last fall. Our family has grown into 6 adults and 2 grandchildren, and I decided it was time for a bigger (and sturdier) table. I searched for months looking for just the perfect table.

(Of course it had to be old!) I finally found the table I was looking for, and I couldn’t wait to get it home. I sold Red to an antique dealer and wasted no time in getting her out... and

my new table in. But on the way home I became overwhelmed with sadness that I had just let go of such an important part of our family. I was flooded with memories of the past decade that had made Little Red such a special gathering place; a piece of family history.

until I got it home and realized that they were actually gray. I thought about painting them but then I remembered Red, and how I had almost painted over her, so I decided not to paint these either. So, we named our newest family member, Gracie and she is already “living up to her name” as our little grandsons have learned to say grace before each meal sitting by her side. Here’s to many more years of making memories together... gathered around our new friend.

I also hope Little Red is happy in her new home, because she will always hold a special place in my heart.

What’s done is done... and there was no turning back. So I decided that Little Red was only supposed to be part of our family for a season. And as seasons change, so do our circumstances. It was time to “make things new” and that meant getting a new (old) table.

It’s funny that I thought the legs of the new table were one color and I -------------------------------wouldn’t change a thing;

Catch Some Rays at Sci-Port This Summer!

Christmas in July

The Depot

Downtown Arcadia

July 26-27 9am-3pm RICA

E

ME

T

A

COUN

ER

S OF

Additional charge applies.

ALIF

EN

Open through June 30

SE

On the downtown Shreveport riverfront www.sciport.org/exhibits

(318) 424-3466

Home Decor Arts & Crafts & Much More! $1.00 admission

All proceeds go to Relay for Life For more information contact: April Picou 318.548.1151 or Melinda Kidd 318.263.84089

written by Jessica

Haynes

-------------------------------- diagnosed in the U.S. alone. irregular. Color is when Healthy Woman program.

Supporting Women's Health

One of the most common and the most dangerous forms of skin cancer is melanoma.

the color varies throughout the mole. Diameter is if the mole's diameter is larger than a pencil's eraser.

best way to find The best way to avoid skin -------------------------------- The melanoma early, when it is cancer is to protect your skin

N

ow ladies, we all know with the weather warming up, you can finally shed the layers and show a lot more skin. However, summer time is when UV rays wreak havoc on exposed skin. Celebrating summer shouldn't mean risking your health. Let's learn about the risk of overexposure to the sun and how to keep your skin healthy.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide.

This year more than 2 million cases of skin cancer will be

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most treatable, is to examine your skin on a regular basis and become familiar with the moles and other skin conditions already on your body to better identify changes. Certain moles for example that are present at birth and are atypical are at higher risk for changing into malignant melanoma.

Recognize the changes in your moles by using the ABCD Chart. Asymmetry, Border, Color, and Diameter are the ABCD characteristic to check for when doing a selfexamination.

Asymmetry is when one side does not match the other.

Border is when the edges of the mole are ragged or

daily! Use a sunscreen of at least 15 that protects against UVA and UVB rays. When in the sun for longer periods of time, seek shade and cover up with a fashionable hat, sunglasses and clothes.

Make sure to limit your time outside between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The weather is warmer, the days are longer and there's more time to go outside and do all kinds of fun things!

Enjoy fun in the sun this summer; just make sure you're not getting too much of a good thing!

This health tip was brought to you by the Northern Louisiana Medical Center

Healthy Woman is a free program designed to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to make informed health care decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Free monthly presentations cover health, communication, relationship, and life balance issues, all designed to improve your life and the ones you love.

Joining the Healthy Woman program is easy — just visit NorthernLouisianaMedical Center.com/HealthyWoman to sign up. Membership is FREE, and the benefits last a lifetime. For more information about Healthy Woman, call Jessica Haynes at 315-254-2492.

--------------------------------

W

e love summer. Don't you? I know, I know... Louisiana summers are HOT. They are so hot, in fact, that you could probably fry an egg on the sidewalk. But summer has its pros to go along with the big sweltering con. A refreshing glass of fresh squeezed lemonade.

Biting into a perfectly ripened peach. Tomatoes straight from the vine. A jar of homemade pickle relish. Shucking corn in your grandmother's kitchen.

ket, and Briarhill Farms to pack this issue full of tips, tricks, and recipies for some of your favorite summer delights.

Whether you are interested in starting your own small summer garden or just finding unique and local places to buy some tastey produce, you've come to the right place.

Special thanks to John Benschoter, Chris Broussard, Tom Faber, and Rosemary Thomas When reminiscing about summer, our thoughts for their fantastic contributions. naturally drift to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Cold, crisp watermelon on a hot July day. All this talk about food is making me hungry so Thickly sliced tomatoes and juicy lettuce piled why don't you read through the next few pages high on a steaming hot chargrilled hamburger. and see if you can't get some quick an easy ideas for tonight's dinner. I think I'm gonna go We've teamed up with Rosemary's Garden, make a snack.

Ruston Farmers Market, Minden Farmers Mar11

Rosemary's Kitchen

Written by Rosemary Thomas Photograph by Vicki Caskey

S

imple.Fresh. Good. These words accurately describe Rosemary’s Kitchen, a new restaurant in Ruston. The old house surrounded by flower beds and perched on the corner of Bonner and Arizona streets has been converted by Rosemary Thomas and her daughter Sara Corley into a cozy spot for lunch. In addition to lunch served Monday through Friday from 11 until 1:30 and Sunday from 11 until 2, Rosemary’s Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from10 until 5:30 for customers needing wholesome food to take home from the coolers and freezers and unique gifts and plants from the gift shop. Light catering and special functions are also part of what Rosemary’s Kitchen has to offer.

Rosemary Thomas, an RN and Sara Corley, who has a degree in Animal Science from Louisiana Tech, seem an unlikely pair to open a restaurant.

“We never imagined we would open a restaurant when we started selling bread and casseroles at the Ruston Farmer’s Market” said Rosemary. “Neither one of us had worked in the food service industry before” said Sara. “But we felt very strongly that there was a niche here in Ruston just waiting to be filled”. Being asked to describe what kind of food is served at Rosemary's Kitchen is a challenge according to Rosemary, because there is a new menu every day! “'Homestyle with a modern twist' is a phrase that seems to describe our food” said

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Sara. Rosemary agrees adding that the phrase on their business card, logo and T-Shirts of “Simple.

Fresh. Good.” also describes the ever-changing menu options.

“Fresh¸fresh, fresh. That is a guiding principle for our food – and this time of year we are in absolute heaven!” said Rosemary. Because Rosemary’s Kitchen started at the Ruston Farmer’s Market, they are big supporters of the farmer’s that sell there every Saturday. Rosemary’s Kitchen will also be hosting and cooking the Farmer’s Market first fund-raising dinner this summer and also plans to host a mid-week mini market in the parking lot when the farmers have a surplus of produce to sell.

“We love to cook, but we also love to garden” said Rosemary. “Although I have had to cut back due to the schedule imposed by owning a business, I still have a large vegetable garden and try to grow some of our own vegetables and herbs for the restaurant.”

When asked to share some of her favorite recipes for summer produce, Rosemary offered us this recipe for Squash-Corn Casserole - a favorite side dish served at Rosemary’s Kitchen. “Fried,steamed, in a casserole with tons of cheese, sautéed, cored out and stuffed with anything you like... just a hundred ways to go with squash” said Rosemary.

Corn-Squash Casserole 2 to 2 1/2 lbs yellow squash l large onion, chopped 1/2 tsp salt 6 Tbsp butter 1 1/2 cup whole kernel corn – fresh corn if at allpossible 1/2 tsp pepper 1 cup + shredded cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cup crushed corn chips (divided) 2 tsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried if fresh not available) ¼ cup cream, half and half, or milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice squash and cook in salted water in covered saucepan with onion until tender. Drain and mash up a bit. (I use a potatomasher for this). Drain again.

Add butter, corn, pepper, thyme,cream, cheese, and 1 cup of the crushed corn chips. Add salt to taste.

Pour into a buttered baking dish and top with remaining1/2 cup corn chips.

Bake about 20 min.

(Note: Do your own thing with this. Add grilled chicken or shrimp or use these tomatoes for brochette.

Yummy!) ___________________ Cucumbers are another vegetable that is locally available and tastes so fresh and cool during the hot summer months. Cucumbers are said to aid digestion and we have all heard that cucumbers are good to use as a beauty aid. Since that ship has sailed for me, I personally don't spend much time lying about with cucumber slices on my eyelids, but certainly will entertain that option once I win the lottery.

In the meantime, try this recipe for freezer pickles.

Very addictive.

Ruth's Pickle Relish 6 - 8 cucumbers sliced 1 onion sliced 1 bell peppers sliced

Good stuff.

Options: Pepper Jack cheese instead of cheddar Add sauteed jalapenos for a little more heat Add red bell pepper for a little color Use whatever chips you have available tortilla chips or even potato chips ___________________

the counter while you are at work. Come home. Boil some pasta. Toss with the tomatoes and add some Parmesan cheese. Heat garlic bread. Sigh a long sigh of utter contentment. Your day just got a little better, didn't it?

-

Another veggie that just about everyone loves, many folks grow and something always available at the Farmer’s Market is fresh tomatoes. “The difference between a home grown tomato and a store bought tomato is like the difference between Grace Kelly andBrittany Spears” said Rosemary. “Just no comparison really. I eat so many tomato sandwiches this time of year, I get mouth ulcers. So, go to your Farmer's Market or befriend your neighbor with a garden and eat a REAL tomato as soon as you can!”

“This is a very simple, very fresh way to prepare tomatoes. Great for hot days when you crave something fresh and simple.”

Annie's Marinated Maters Note: My sister the librarian sent me this recipe and would never, never say "maters".I just did that to irritate her.

Cut up tomatoes (or half some cherry or grape tomatoes). Add lots of cut up basil and several cloves of chopped garlic. Add olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Now... let it sit at room temperature.

All day. Make it in the morning and leave it out on

Combine all of the above and salt generously and list sit for 2 - 3 hours(stir occasionally). Drain and rinse twice. Boil 1 1/2 cup sugar + 1 cup white vinegar + 1 tsp celery seed. Pour over cucumbers. Chill. Freeze containers of this relish and I promise that this winter these littlepickles will be just as crisp and fresh as they were the day you made them. Trust Me! ___________________ Along with vegetables, herbs are one of the things Rosemary and Sara love to grow. There are herbs tucked in every corner of the flower beds surrounding the restaurant, said Sara. Rosemary also has a large herb garden at her house. You may see her early in the morning snipping away in the flower beds as she prepares the daily lunch offerings.

“If you haven't come by Rosemary’s Kitchen yet, we hope that you will be able to visit us soon," said Rosemary. “We also want to thank our loyal customers that we see every week – sometimes two and three times a week –and those who have shared suggestions, encouragement and recipes with us.

These folks seem like family to us now and we are so very grateful for their business and friendship” said Sara.

More recipes are available at Rosemary’s Kitchen blog www.simplefreshgood.blogspot.com. Look up the 2011 and 2012 archive files to find recipes for lots of fresh veggies and herbs.

Visit Rosemary's Kitchen today!

400 South Bonner Street, Ruston, LA 318.202.5951

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Fresh Squeezed Peach Lemonade Basil Lemonade 2 cups coarsely chopped peaches

1 cup of fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup of superfine sugar

4 cups water

8 (or more if desired) fresh basil leaves

1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6 lemons) 4 cups ice

1 quart of water Lemons for garnish

1 peach for garnish 1 lemon for garnish Directions: Combine the first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil; Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.

Place peach mixture in a blender; Let stand for 20 minutes or until cool with blender lid off. Replace lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid. Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Press peach mixture through a sieve over a bowl, reserving liquid and discarding solids. Stir in lemon juice.

Dilute with additional water if desired.

Place 1/2 cup ice in each of 8 glasses.

Pour about 2/3 cup lemonade into each glass; garnish each glass with a peach & lemon wedge.

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Directions: Mix the lemon juice and sugar until the sugar dissolves.

Add the basil leaves to the mixture.

Stir them in and crush them against the sides and bottom as well to really get the taste of the basil in it.

Add the water and stir until the drink is consistent.

Enjoy!

Written by Chris Broussard

MindenFarmers Market T

their own yard sale can do so for a small $10 fee.

“Our ‘fleas and tiques’ area was made available last year to those wishing to hold their garage sales with us,” Mrs. Brunson adds. “The property is beautiful and the huge pecan trees provide a nice big shady area for vendors and shoppers. And we found that many church groups found this helpful in their fundraising efforts.”

he popularity of local farmers markets is growing and Minden’s Farmers Market is no exception.

Established in 2009, Cultural Crossroads’ Farmers Market was started in part by a grant from the Louisiana Cultural Economy Fund. Establishing relationships between local growers and the public has been the goal of this small and quaint market. While providing fresh vegetables for their What sets this market apart from most is the fact customers, the Minden market is also open to area that it is tied in to a local arts agency that owns and manages the four acre historic homestead that 4Hers, artists and young entrepreneurs. houses the market. Mixing agriculture and the arts Minden’s Farmers Market will open Saturday, May has been quite successful for this twenty year old 18th from 7am until noon. Vendors are invited organization that also hosts an annual arts festival to sell as new members of Cultural Crossroads. for children in the spring known as ChickenStock.

An annual membership of $30 guarantees each Summer art camps for kids are also held on the four grower a spot in the pavilion. Occasional vendors acre estate. Efforts are underway now to construct are invited at a rate of $10 per visit. The market will an educational center for square foot gardening on open for six weeks according to market manager, site for future gardeners.

Pam Brunson. “The end of July will be our last day,” comments Mrs. Brunson. “We found that once The four acre estate fondly known as ‘The Farm’ is it starts to get hot, the veggies stop and so do the actually the Moess Center for the Arts & City Farm.

The picturesque grounds are adorned with original customers.” sculptures by regional and national artists. The Guy Twyman, a 7th grader from Glenbrook, various floral gardens were established in 2001 was highlighted at last year’s festival as a young using permaculture design methods. Traveling entrepreneur with his homemade soaps and to Minden on Highway 80 and finding the colorful quickly became a farmers market favorite. A local painted house that serves as a centerpiece for The blueberry orchard found their blueberries easier to Farm is worth the trip if not for the fresh vegetables sell in season at Minden’s Market. While the market but for the view and the ‘eye candy’ that many is small and still growing, the various growers that artists, photographers, and gardeners find there. make up the market’s selection all grow locally. “We don’t have anyone selling veggies from out of state. The Farm is located at 419 East Union in Minden, It’s all grown within a 50 mile radius,” comments Louisiana. Vendors interested in setting up may call Pam Brunson at 318 26-288-7628 or email Mrs. Brunson. pamelabrunson@hotmail.com. To learn more Artists and craftsmen are also welcome. Those about Cultural Crossroads, visit their website at wishing to find a shady spot on Saturday’s to hold www.artsiminden.com.

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Ruston FARMERS MARKET

Photos by Bill Ross Photography Written by John Benschoter

sixth season. Every Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon, from now until December, you can find our vendors in downtown Ruston at the corners of Monroe and Louisiana Avenues selling everything from goat cheese and handmade fudge to heirloom eggplants and summer squash to recycled yard art and baked n January of 2008, a group of people packed a goods. garage-converted yoga studio in Ruston, Louisiana to ask ourselves why there wasn’t a farmers market The Ruston Farmers Market is the only market of in our town. We all knew farmers and backyard its kind in North Central Louisiana. From the start gardeners. We all had stories about markets we it has been run by volunteers dedicated to bringing enjoyed in other parts of the country, even in other fresh and local produce to our region. Our farmers parts of Louisiana. So, why not here? and growers sell what they themselves grow (the only exceptions being a few items only grown in And that’s all it took: people to ask a question South Louisiana on partner farms, always sourceand act on it. Because a little more than three verified). The food vendors sell only what they cook, months after that first meeting—about the time it the arts and crafts vendors only their own handmade takes a vegetable plant to bear fruit—we opened items. Louisiana Grown is not just a label to us. the Ruston Farmers Market in a public parking From the start, we took as our mission to provide lot with a small group of regional growers and a guaranteed direct-sales opportunity for Louisiana local food producers. With the support of the City growers, a place where local farmers could supply of Ruston, the design expertise of a class of art fresh produce to eager consumers without fear of students at Louisiana Tech, and generous people out-of-state/out-of-season competition. from the community, we had a place, a logo and website, and seed money. Only a few days into the With that mission in mind we’ve since started planning, we understood that this was something North Louisiana Farm Fresh, a nonprofit umbrella a lot of people wanted. Coming off a year in which organization that allows us the chance to expand we averaged 12 vendors and 350 customers per market opportunities, develop outreach programs week, our biggest market featuring 21 vendors into our schools to teach kids the importance, and and a tasting tent, we’re excited to have begun our the fun, of growing their own food, and to educate

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and more. Information about any of our markets is posted on our website (rustonfarmersmarket. org), where you can also sign up for our weekly email newsletter filling you in on the latest offerings from our vendors and always with a healthy recipe featuring the produce to be found at the market. You A few of the things to look for as we grow and expand can Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. are Kids Days @ the Market, a mid-week evening market, and our first annual fundraiser dinner. On For more specifics or to ask about being a vendor the first Saturday of each month we’ll be providing or sponsor, email info@rustonfarmersmarket.org or school-age children who have their own gardens, call John Benschoter at 318-232-2535. or who make their own crafts, such as jewelry or birdhouses, the opportunity to taste what it’s like to run their own business. With parental supervision they are free to set up at a tent and table we provide and offer their wares to our enthusiastic customers.

The North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) will offer special crafts projects and local musicians will keep everyone entertained. Look for a minimarket to start sometime late May or early June on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Rosemary’s Kitchen. And, on June 29, North Louisiana Farm Fresh will hold its first annual fundraiser dinner featuring produce from our vendors prepared by the chefs at Rosemary’s Kitchen. people about the health benefits of a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits. We see each of these things as foundational, as supporting a tradition of farming in North Louisiana that we want to thrive long into the future.

Our special Taste of Summer festival coming in June is always a hit, and we’ll continue to feature weekly events, musicians, community fundraisers,

17

Written by Tom Faber

Brought to you by Briarhill Farms

Simple

Small Space Gardening R

emember the summer days of youth walking through your Grandparents garden picking tomatoes, snapping string beans & shelling peas? Now that we’ve become older and so much wiser, the pursuit of fresh vegetables usually ends up taking us to the local chain store where we purchase pretty vegetables that lack flavor and have travelled from places far, far away. We’ve convinced ourselves that this is the right way to do this “healthy thing”.

18

Folks, I’m here to tell you that there is a better way.

There’s a healthier way, and there’s a way that involves you in the production of your own food. You can grow your own fresh vegetables. I can think of very few good reasons for not growing at least some of your own vegetables. Two of the most common excuses I hear are “I don’t have room”, and “I don’t have time”. Let’s look at these excuses.

I don’t have room to have a vegetable garden.

Here at Briarhill Farms we have what we call our “kitchen garden”, it is planted and cared for before any other garden spot on the place. Why? Because it’s where we get our food for our table. Sure we have areas to grow stuff for market and selling from the farm. Those areas are there to generate part of our income, & help supply vegetables to other folks. If they fail, we lose a little money. If the kitchen garden fails we might go without the necessary vegetables we need for the year.

Our kitchen garden encompasses about 250 square feet, which is very small compared to the types of gardens we are accustomed to seeing. But you would be amazed at the types and amount of vegetables it is possible to harvest from such a small area, more than enough for us, and some to give to other family members as well.

By utilizing different planting methods such as raised beds, containers, planting in the ground and even hanging baskets it is possible to maintain a garden capable of feeding your family in a very small space. A popular trend recently is using old shipping pallets for small space gardens. By covering one side of the pallet with landscape cloth and filling the pallet with garden soil you can create an attractive and functional 4’x4’ garden spot that will grow many vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

I don’t have time

same manure about every 2 weeks to maintain healthy vigorous growth.

4. Pest control is a necessary thing in Deep South gardens. The first sign of aphids, tomato horn worms, thrips, or squash beetles is the time to act. Don’t assume they will go away on their own because they won’t. Visit your locally owned garden center and seek out organic solutions. Remember you are going to be putting this stuff in your mouth later; you don’t want to eat sevin dust. Besides that, the pollinators are having enough problems with pesticides without us gardeners adding to their dilemma.

5. Harvest your vegetables as soon as they reach ripeness, leaving them on the plant too long only invites more bugs and diseases you don’t need. Serve them up fresh or preserve them for later.

So there you have it in a nutshell. Train yourself to eat items that are fresh, local and in season. You’ll reap many benefits other than just delicious fresh veggies. What a great way to engage your children or grandchildren.

If you’re still not convinced to try it yourself let me encourage you to visit one of North Louisiana’s many Farmers Markets. Support your local growers, producers, and artisans.

About Briarhill Farms

Briarhill Farms is a farm owned and operated by Tom & Lorrie Faber in Ruston, Louisiana.. They are dedicated to sharing a passion for Farm Fresh food, delicious vegetables, handcrafted products; grown, created, and sought after, by customers while supporting their community and sustainability in North Louisiana.They love to promote locally grown & produced products and can often be found selling their delicious products at the Ruston Farmers Market.

I’ve told people that gardens are only hard work when you are first setting it up, and I believe that. That’s not to say once you’ve got it set up and planted you can just walk away and come back six to eight weeks later and start eating tomatoes. It just doesn’t work like that. Time spent watering, fertilizing, weeding, and harvesting can be kept to a minimum in a small space garden with these For more information about Briarhill Farms, call (318) few tips.

251-2319, email tom@briarhillfarms.com, or visit www.

1. Plant what you know you & your family can & will briarhillfarms.com eat. I know very few families that can put away squash from 12 plants, or can eat the fruit from a flat of tomato plants unless they plan on preserving (which is not a bad idea either). Don’t over plant one type of vegetable, be diverse and try new things. If you don’t like radishes, don’t plant them just because they’re easy to grow. Plant your favorites, enjoy what you harvest.

2. Figure out how you are going to water your plants before you plant them. If you can only water from one or two sides of your garden you don’t want to plant corn in front of your string beans causing the water to miss getting on your beans. Also, water as early in the day as you can so the leaves of your plants will have time to dry before nightfall, this helps reduce fungus problems.

3. Fertilize your plants when you plant them, I recommend good old fashioned cow manure. Side dress with the

Tom & Lorrie Faber 19

Louisiana Peach

FESTIVAL Written by Nancy Bergeron

T

here’s going to be a “Peachy Keen” party in both for the vendors and for festival goers. Everyone Ruston on June 21-22 when the Louisiana Peach seemed to like having all shopping opportunities in one location,” Nancy Bergeron, the chamber’s Festival hosted by Squire Creek begins. communication manager, said. “Plus, it really made The festival, now in its 63rd year, is produced by the for a festive atmosphere.

Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

Applications are being accepted for the handmade This year’s celebration, with the theme “Louisiana and retail venues, and can be downloaded from the is Peachy Keen,” will see the return of all of the festival website, www.louisianapeachfestival.org popular events – arts and crafts, 5K run, antique car show, cookery contest, tennis tournament, rodeo, The biggest change that festival goers will see is a kids’ zone and more – plus the all-time favorite year is that the Sexton Parking lot, located across Vienna Street from Railroad Park, won’t be used for peach ice cream. events this year, and will be available for parking.

The Eta Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi service sorority has once again teamed up with Blue Bell The kids’ amusements located in the lot last year Creameries on a special peach ice cream. The ice will be in the block of Park Avenue that fronts cream will be available both days of the festival at Railroad Park. The downtown food court, including the Railroad Park venue and all day Saturday at the the peach ice cream, will also be along part of Park Avenue.

Civic Center.

Ruston’s own Buddy Terzia Band is this year’s headline entertainer. Their concert begins at 8:30 p.m. on June 22 on the Railroad Park stage. The Southeast Texas band Classics Recovered, that includes former Ruston resident Travis Woods, opens for the Terzia group beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is $10.

New this year is a fabric art challenge quilting contest sponsored by Quilteroos. Small quilts and fabric art must be made from packets available only at Quilteroos in Ruston. Finished product must be turned in to Quilteroos on June 15.

For more information about the festival or a specific event, or to volunteer to help with the festival, visit Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band www.louisianapeachfestival.org. makes a return festival appearance on Friday night beginning at 8:30 p.m. At 6:30 that evening, Dixie The Louisiana Peach Festival is corporately Tradition kicks off the two nights of festival concerts. sponsored by Squire Creek Country Club, Louisiana Dixie Tradition features twins DJ and Jonathan Office of Tourism, Celebrity Theatres, RustonRachal of Blanchard. Friday night admission is $5. Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, Raising All arts and crafts and resale vendors will again Canes, Volvo Rents, Community Trust Bank, be located at the Ruston City Hall-Civic Center Q-94.1 Radio, The News-Star, Ruston Daily Leader, complex. Vendors selling handmade items will Z107.5, ESPN 97.7, The Peach 99.3, KTVE NBC continue to be inside the Civic Center and in the 10, KARD FOX 14, myarklamiss.com, KALB News parking lot on the south side of the building. Resale Channel 5, CBS2 TV, The Radio People – K-104, LA-105, MIX-101.9, 100.1 The Beat, Louisiana Life vendors will be on the lawn in front of City Hall.

Magazine, and Century Marketing Solutions.

“Last year was the first time we had tried having all of our vendors in one location, and it worked well,

20

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JUNE JUNE JUNE 21–22 21–22 21–22 Buddy Terzia Band Saturday, June 22

SI UI I I L O IS IS

2 0 1 3 L OLUO U 2 02103 1 3

Parade • Arts and Crafts • Rodeo • Live Music • Antique Car Show Kids’ Activities • Sporting Tournaments • Peach Eating Contest Citywide Sidewalk Sales • 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk Full Event Schedule at LouisianaPeachFestival.org AA A N AN A N A P EP E LA L A V V A A I I P E C HC HF EFSETS TVA L ACH F ESTI

Parade • Arts Crafts • Rodeo • Live Music • Antique Show Parade • Arts andand Crafts • Rodeo • Live Music • Antique CarCar Show Parade •Activities Arts and • Rodeo • Live• Music •Eating Antique Car Show Kids’ • Crafts Sporting Tournaments • Peach Eating Contest Kids’ Activities • Sporting Tournaments Peach Contest Kids’ Activities • Sporting •Fun Peach Eating Contest Citywide Sidewalk Sales 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk Citywide Sidewalk Sales • Tournaments 5K• 5K andand 1 Mile Run/Walk Citywide Sidewalk Sales • 5Katand 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk Full Event Schedule at LouisianaPeachFestival.org Full Event Schedule LouisianaPeachFestival.org Full Event Schedule at LouisianaPeachFestival.org

Buddy Terzia Band Buddy Terzia Band Saturday, June Saturday, June 22 22 Buddy Terzia Band Saturday, June 22

Produced by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Produced by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

21 Produced by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Produced by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

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In Loving Memory of Margaret Tripp Timmons September 30, 1950 - April 6, 2013

For good memories I am thankful.

Margaret Tripp Timmons was the most beautiful example of strength in the face of difficulty that I have ever known. She bravely faced a lifelong battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis without complaint or bitterness. For over 35 years arthritis deteriorated every joint in her body but she never asked why and she never let it take away her smile.

Margaret Tripp Timmons was incredibly gifted. She loved to draw, write, quilt, and sing.

Long after her fingers were unable to hold a pen, her stories and illustrations lived on through family cookbooks and in the pages of The Minute. Margaret's witty personality and humorous outlook can easily be found in the stories she wrote about her childhood.

There are people in this world who personify goodness and grace. My Aunt Margaret was one of those people. Ask anyone who knew her and they will tell you that she was always the same: kind, compassionate, loving. No matter how much pain she was in, no matter how difficult things were for her, she always had laughter in her eyes and a smile on her face.

She will be missed dearly by her family and friends but we have faith that she is finally without pain.

From your Minute family: We love you.

-Tiffany Tripp Byram

24

of the garage. Daddy trotted along and somehow managed to steer it through the garden gate.

for good memories we are

thankful written by Margaret Tripp Timmons -----------------------------------

Daddy's Hot Rod Tiller -----------------------------------

S

that it helped the tines dig into the soil better.

Sometimes, Daddy would sit one or two of us kids on top to help weigh the tiller down even more (or maybe he was just giving us a free ride around the garden). From between the two wheels, two long handlebars extended to the back. Daddy held on to these and was able to control the speed of his tiller by squeezing the controls, which were mounted on the handlebars.

eems to me Daddy spent most of his time, when he wasn’t at the paper mill working, in the garden. He would plow with this big old garden tiller for hours.

It must have been his endless hours in the garden tilling that gave Jimmy and his friend, T. Wayne, their inspiration. Somewhere, by his early mid-teens, our brother, Daddy’s tiller wasn’t like Jimmy, had learned quite the modern, smaller a lot about motors from ones. His was big, old Daddy. Daddy would let and red. The tires on him tinker with different each side of it were as engines around the big as car tires. The place. From this, Jimmy motor, on the front and T. Wayne decided to between the two tires, help Daddy out. They felt was also big and very that Daddy had to spend noisy. The tiller had too much time behind his ‘tines’ or blades on the tiller in the garden. back that rotated fairly fast. On the front, it had a sort of bumper. Daddy had put a large round weight made of solid iron and about as big around as a dinner plate on the bumper. He said

I can’t remember if Daddy knew about their plan or not. At any rate, I think it took him by surprise.

Not knowing a lot about

motors, I can’t explain exactly what method they went by to ‘soup up’ Daddy’s tiller. All I can do is describe the outcome. I just know that somewhere along the way, the horsepower of the tiller changed drastically from the ‘tired old mule’ to the equivalent of a ’50 race horse team’.

I noticed when Daddy wound the rope around the starter and gave a jerk, that instead of the normal, “putt, putt, putt”, the motor was suddenly revved up to a sound similar to the drag races we occasionally heard over on the highway close to our house.

With barely enough time to get it lined up with the first row of green beans, the tiller lurched into second gear. By now, Daddy’s trot was a little faster, but he managed to round the curve just in time to miss the fence and, once again, get it somewhat aligned with the next row.

Now the trouble with changing things too drastically, is that you have to trade off something to get something in return.

In the case of the tiller, the trade-off involved the effectiveness of the plow. For some reason, the plow now became more or less airborne and the result was high, thick plumes of garden dirt being belched into the air around Daddy.

As you can imagine, visibility was virtually nil by now.

It was at this time the tiller switched into third gear. Daddy didn’t have time to pull out his old mill rag and wipe the sweat pouring from his brow. He was doing Daddy should good just to hold on and have taken notice keep up with the pace of immediately and shut the tiller. her down. Instead, he pulled one of the levers By now, due to the on the handle. That’s low visibility and what set the whole thing accelerated speed, in motion.

Daddy was fighting a losing battle to keep Suddenly, the tiller the tiller lined up with lurched forward, barely the row. It was a major missing the bumper of feat of brute strength the ’56 Chevy station and gutless courage to wagon and skimming keep it from devouring the paint off the side the entire vegetable

25

patch! Nothing less than a miracle took place when Daddy finally maneuvered the tiller into line on the next row.

Dad’s hat flew off and his neck veins bulged as the tiller suddenly lurched into fourth gear! With a wild look in his eyes, Daddy jogged along behind the tiller as it flew down the row of peas.

Beginning to recognize the seriousness of the situation, Daddy tightened his grip on the handlebars and attempted to get ready for the next turn.

Barely avoiding the garden fence, he shoved the tiller around for the next row. Quite suddenly, the tiller gears slid into the fifth position.

Dad gritted his teeth, held his breath, and

26

broke into a full run as he tried to work up some sort of a routine.

He found that it took him only four running steps to cover one, one half acre row. At the end of the row, he would dig his huge number twelve shoes into the soft soil, grab the tiller by the handles, and sling it around in the direction of the next row.

Jimmy and T. Wayne had just come from the pasture to watch and admire their mechanical abilities. Why! It couldn’t have been more than 5 minutes since they’d heard the tiller crank!

And now…

WOW! Daddy was only two rows from the “finish line” across the acre garden!

Talk about record-breaking time!

Plow time was down Jimmy and T. Wayne’s from an hour and a half hides. When they caught to just under 6 minutes! a fleeting glance of the look on Daddy’s face as By some unfathomable he ran behind the tiller feat of human strength, through the gate on his Daddy managed to exit from the garden… miss most of the something told them watermelons, with they would probably only the squash falling be better off in the victims to the runaway woods… WAY BACK in the woods… until the tiller. souped up garden tiller, Daddy frantically turned and Daddy, had both the tiller back in the cooled off! direction of the garden gate and ran, sweating furiously, behind it -------------------------------toward the garage. He pulled the plug on it before it reached the washhouse, but sheer kinetic energy kept it rolling around the house and once more around the pump house before it slowed down enough to finally be parked.

Instinct

alone

saved

boys smiling eyes as we talked and laughed for the next hour or so. I realized it when they slept peacefully through the night like they were sleeping in their beds.

I realized it when I finally understood it through my role as a father. It wasn’t about the s’mores (that’s just icing), it was about being together.

No tv, no computer, just us… together.

-----------------------------------

Camping -----------------------------------

I

’ve got two boys and a girl. 7, 6, & 4 years old.

When my boys were 5 & 4 they told me they wanted to go camping. I didn’t think they knew what it was so I explained it. “That’s when you go out into the woods, cook food over a fire, and then sleep in a tent.” Their response – “Awesome!!!

Can we? Please, please, please?!?!?!”

Now, I grew up camping but I’m not sure I camped that early in my life. My family would go out and camp in this hideous trailer thing (which I actually do not consider true camping… but that’s for another day).

It was not like these big buses or RVs you see today. No, this was a trailer that popped up with a crank and once it was fully raised you still had to duck when you got in. You could literally touch both sides with your outstretched hands. It stunk too. Badly.

It was a musty, moldy, “this thing hasn’t been used

since last year in the rain” Anyway, I told the boys, kinda stank. Yet, somehow “Of course we’ll could go camping!”… but I was we stuck four people in it. concerned. Would they We always had a good love it? Would they hate time in that thing too. Once it? One way to find out. your olfactory receptors I’d take them into the adjusted to the pungent backyard first. That way odor we would play games if they couldn’t handle it and cards as a family. We’d I wouldn’t have to deal walk around the woods with the whining all night and gather firewood. We’d long! We built a campfire roast hot dogs off of sticks. in the driveway, which Then the best part… concerned my neighbors the s’mores! Oh, man, I but they eventually joined was the s’more making us. We had hot dogs, champion in my family. s’mores, and everything Then we’d pack everything else that goes along with up because the raccoons it. Mom and sister were were smarter than Einstein even out there with us. and could figure out a Then it was time to get into combination lock. The next the tent. The ladies of the day we’d cook breakfast, house retreated to their then go on a hike, look for posturepedic oasis in the house (sissies!). bugs, and just explore.

Now my wife did not grow up camping. Her idea of camping is a Holiday Inn Express! If the a/c unit was one of those in-room wall monsters that freezes the person closest and leaves the person furthest sweating into their sheets, well, that was her idea of the great outdoors. Her family did try real camping once. It didn’t go well.

We’ll just leave it at that.

My in-laws may read this.

So here we are, me and the boys. They love it so far.

Granted they have their pillow pets (if you don’t know, they’re awesome!) and their comforters but at least we’re in the tent!

As we lay there looking up out the mesh window at the trees and the stars I realized something. It wasn’t the camping that made it fun when I was a boy, it was my family that was with me. I realized that as I looked into my

It brought to mind something that I tell my congregation constantly.

My first priority is not my church, it is not my extracurricular activities, it is not others. It is my family.

Now, I don’t quit the other things, but I continually prioritize my family first.

There are two living, breathing, organisms (not organizations) that God ordained in the bible. The family and the church.

Guess which came first – the family. Adam and Eve and their kids, Cain and Abel. Now, yes, there were problems from the beginning but God created a family. And it is still the family that God uses to bring those everyday moments and turn them incredible.

In fact, our camping excursion was such a success that my wife and four year old daughter want to go next time. Now that’s a miracle!

Actually, that’s following God by being together… as a family.

Jason McReynolds is the pastor of New Orleans Community Church. He and his wife, Liev, have three children. To learn more about him, or NOCC, visit: www.neworleans community church.com

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Fruit Pizza • 2 thin crust Pizza Crusts • 1 jar of Cream Cheese Frosting • Any fresh fruit you choose This is by far the easiest pizza to make. All it requires is for you to cut up the fruit and assemble.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

-----------------------------------

Lazy Day Pizza -----------------------------------

W

hile there are certainly those times when I’m itching to spend a whole day in the kitchen making amazing food, there are also times when I want to eat something delicious but I don’t really want to expend a whole lot of energy doing it. The two recipes I’m going to give you today are lazy day recipes. I’ve used some store bought stuff and thrown in together with a little bit of homemade.

Voila, dinner is served.

This zucchini pizza is easy and tasty while the fruit pizza is even easier.

-----------------------------------

• 8-oz Shredded Mozzarella Cheese • 1 16-oz jar of Alfredo Sauce • 2 thin crust Pizza Crusts • Cayenne Pepper, to taste • Salt & Pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 375°F. Start by shredding the zucchini, either with a cheese grater or a food processor. Place it all in a bowl lined with a clean towel and sprinkle salt on it. The salt will draw out any moisture from the zucchini so you don’t end up with a soggy pizza. Set that aside to do its thing and chop up the onion. You can either slice or dice the onion, this is your preference. Also mash the roasted garlic into a paste. Or if you prefer, you can use plain minced garlic. I already had some roasted garlic on hand so that is what I used. I bought pre-shredded cheese but if you didn’t, this is where I would tell you to shred the cheese.

the onion garlic mixture.

Using the towel, squeeze the zucchini to remove as much of the excess liquid as you can. Add the zucchini to the bowl and stir all the ingredients together. Taste the mixture and season as needed.

Set that aside and begin assembling your pizza.

Lay the pizza crust down and spoon some of the Alfredo sauce on top.

Spread the sauce evenly and spoon half of the zucchini mixture on top.

Spread the mixture evenly and sprinkle half of the remaining cheeses on top.

Repeat the process with the second pizza crust. Do not expect to use the entire jar of sauce, you will have some leftover.

Bake the pizzas until the cheese is brown, usually about 10-20 minutes. The zucchini can be replaced with other fresh vegetables such as other squash, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, etc… If you substitute a different vegetable, you may not need to salt it and remove excess liquid.

In a sauté pan, add the olive oil and caramelize Zucchini Pizza the onion. Once the onions • 6 medium-sized Zucchini are brown, add the roasted garlic paste or minced • 1 tbsp. Olive Oil garlic and sauté it together • 1 Red Onion • 5 cloves of Roasted with the onion.

Garlic • 8-oz Shredded Parmesan In a large bowl, add half ----------------------------------of the cheeses, cayenne Cheese pepper, salt, pepper, and

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Begin by washing and cutting up the fruit that you picked. I chose strawberries and plums. I quartered the strawberries and sliced the plums.

Once the oven is ready, throw the 2 pizza crusts in the oven to brown up a bit. Set those aside to cool down before assembling or you will melt the icing.

Once cool, assemble the pizzas by spreading a layer of frosting on top and arranging the fruit. If you are feeling fancy, you can arrange the fruit into a pretty design. If you’re feeling extremely lazy, you can dump all the fruit on the pizzas at once and spread them into an even layer. Whichever method you choose is entirely up to you. Incidentally, you can also use your own “sauce” layer by making a homemade cream cheese frosting or nix the icing in favor of a thick pudding instead. Either way, it’s a delicious fruit pizza.

----------------------------------Melissa is a thirtysomething living in Baton Rouge, LA. She studied culinary arts at the Chef John Folse Culinary School at Nicholls State University. We love this petite fireball for her sassy and spunky spirit.

-----------------------------------

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become self aware for a moment. Truly consider the things that are important to you, what you hope to achieve, how you wish for others to see you and treat you, and everything from your smallest dreams to even your largest, seemingly most unrealistic dreams.

that only you can actively alter the direction of your life through your personal optimism, hard -------------------------------- work, and persistence.

Attitude --------------------------------

"Some people say I have attitude- maybe I do... but I think you have too. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does- that makes you a winner right there." ~Venus Williams

T

he most efficient and healthy mindset for both the mind and body includes the action of simply believing in oneself. The power of understanding just how special you are as an individual through veritable means shown in your actions, personality, and aura of presence can make you unstoppable.

Regardless of your goals and dreams it is important to remember

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As with any scenario in life, attitude is key!

Your attitude makes each and every moment of your life relative to your perspective, only emphasizing the importance of remaining optimistic. There is no such thing as equilibrium in life... for each and every moment gives chaos an opportunity to erupt in the midst of our daily motions.

Life occurrences are completely uncontrollable, however, the one thing we can control is our personal attitude.

We must remember that we are only presented with opportunities that we are strong enough to overcome.

Reflection over how far we have come rather than how far we have to go is both an optimistic perspective and also an empowering reinforcement.

Retain the notion that positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, and more happiness.

As time remains our most valuable resource, one that we can never get back, we must understand that every minute lost is another wasted. We must take every moment from here forward and push onward to the completion and attainment of our dreams, goals, and finalizing commitments.

It is only then that we will realize how much our hard work and dedication paid off and taught us individually.

"Success is the sum of many small efforts."

Remember that everyone's success story has its own time frame and every bit of your success is only a reflection of the hard work and time you dedicated to achieving such goals. Through persistence we can prove that anything is achievable to even the greatest critics, namely -------------------------------------------ourselves.

Ashley Marie Nygaard is a 22 year old Remember that as a student, writer, life universal paradox, you enthusiast, and also are free to choose but an aspiring modelyou are not free of the actress.

Residing consequence from your in Shreveport, choice. In this case, the Louisiana for nearly past decade worst consequence may the certainly be regret... Ashley loves taking and the biggest enemy? on new challenges especially FEAR. Fear and low and new self esteem can be your experiencing things. She withholds greatest enemy. a passion for all artistic, is Only in the moment things very enthusiastic that you choose to truly life, and live for yourself, create about considers all things positive change, and possible.

Through advocate the life you high ambitions and a have always dreamt positive attitude she of will you come alive! believes that the one Rather than spending true change she can so much time searching make in the world and questioning the begins within, and so answers of happiness for you it does too. in this life, look within and allow yourself to --------------------------------------------

Insuring your life helps protect their future.

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fill my room.

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Sunshine & Subways -----------------------------------

T

here’s something about an open window, my feet resting on the dashboard, the music as loud as it can go, my hair flowing in the wind as the world flies by outside it.

There’s something about an open window. The breeze sifting in through my screen carrying in the fresh soft air of a summer afternoon, like a speaker system my open window allows all the sounds of the world right into my bedroom.

The sunshine, the scents, the sounds -- my window welcomes it all; and a perfect summer day delivers it to me.

The cush of a metal net clanks together as a basketball swishes through its rim. A car alarm repeats. A police siren fades off in the distance. A melody plays from an ice cream truck passing by. A taxi driver honks his horn at a red light. A whistle blows from the traffic cop. The traffic zooms. A woman yells. Children laugh.

Rap music blares from a convertible. I hear the basketball again, now hitting the pavement in rhythm as it’s dribbled down a court.

There’s so much life happening, so many lives being lived, so many worlds colliding all in this one space, in There’s something this one day, in this one about an open window, minute. the way the sunlight hits my walls, pouring in and The quiet sun beats enveloping my room, down over it all. the way a whish of air flickers the candle on my Outside my window lies nightstand, the push it New York City, outside gives to make the scent your window is probably

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little things make it home, the little things make it feel like the summer we love. The jingle of the ice cream truck brings it to me today, the sweet reminder of the way popsicles melt in your hand on a warm afternoon, the way dirt on knees from baseball fields fill the creases of your skin, the way the sunshine warms your face, the way flowers bloom and the stars glisten on the water-the way your life feels in another place, but the these special moments. summer sun connects The ice cream truck is us all, somehow. my melody of summer; In the city, we fill corner each place has it’s own. blocks with basketball games of shirts verses New York’s sounds a little skins, we catch trains to like nickels and pennies see Yankees games, tan clinking together in a on rooftops, and share used coffee tin from the lunches at sidewalk homeless man on the cafes. In the city, our corner, the clicking of fruit comes fresh from cameras from tourists wooden crates sold by snapping photos, the street vendors, our ice crinkle of shopping cream is served from a bags hustling by on truck parked near our the arms of passers office, and our mornings by, avenues filled with are filled with the honking taxicabs, the melody of a saxophone instrument’s sounding reverberating through from street performers, and above, the quiet the subway station. sun beats down on it all.

In the city, there’s The sun beats down on so much happening it all, beats down on us outside my window, all, ushering in a season but right now, there’s we all love. Of sunshine music echoing through and vacations and a it from an ice cream reminder of all the good truck circling the area, we have in our lives. and right now, that’s all to open, I hear, the ice cream Windows truck bringing me flowers that bloom, home somehow. The oceans that roar, steaks familiar tune brings a that grill, pools that sense of childhood, of refresh, tents that pitch, neighborhood parks concerts that rock, lakes and fresh cut grass on a that dock boats, tan lines that make us feel summer morning. good, late nights that Lots of variables make make us feel young, up a city, lots of things baseball games that make up a season, but make us feel American,

and fireworks that help brews on the boat, the things that define our us celebrate it. summer are the things Summer is more than that enhance our lives. just a season or a few months of bliss, Summer is tradition, no summer is what brings matter where your zip out the best in us, from code is. backyard barbeques to beachside bonfires and In New York City,

we have sunshine states. We all open our on skyscrapers and windows, we let the sunshine on the streets. sunshine fill our faces and its light make its way For you, it might be to our soul, because no sunshine in suburbia or matter what separates sunshine in the sticks, us in every other facet but from subways to our lives, the sunshine dirt roads, it’s really brings us back together.A just sunshine in the cold drink and a little bit of sunshine bring us all back together, somehow.

--------------------------------------------

I am a simple girl rooted in family, friends, the Bible, and my mama’s chicken casserole. At my best, I’m loved and respected; at my worst, I am saved by grace.

I am a girl removed from the country life of belt buckles and boots placed to blend in with the city life of stilettos and suits. From the quiet back roads of Louisiana, to the busy avenues of New York City, I am still just a girl in love with the simplicities: cuddles with my labrador retriever, game night with my family, laughs with my best friends, and a new pair of stilettos adorning my closet. I may be off chasing my big dreams in the big city, but my heart is always home.

Follow me @Chaleezy --------------------------------------------

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how young they are. At some point we all will feel anguish for our children if they are suffering or going through something painful. We can’t help it. It’s something we all share. It’s like a secret sister club - something that you are initiated into and learn when it’s your time to become a mother.

W

ell it’s May again already. The flip flops are flopping. The tank tops are tanking.

It’s pretty much summer time in the south.

Now unless you have been hiding under a rock or haven’t been to a Wal-Mart in the last month you know that Mothers Day is approaching. Mothers Day has been on my mind here lately. Mainly mothers everywhere have been on my mind. Maybe it’s because I have recently become a mother to the sweetest little baby boy in the entire world.

His feet are sweet, his hands are sweet, even when he surprises me with a spray while changing his diaper I still think he’s sweet.

A few days after he was born he was diagnosed with jaundice, which most babies are. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes because bilirubin isn’t excreted from the baby’s system fast enough.

It’s a common ailment for a newborn to have, and normally they don’t require any treatment, but sometimes they do have to spend the night in the hospital for a phototherapy session so that the level doesn’t get too high and cause some irreparable damage.

My newborn’s level had reached a point that the doctors decided a night in the hospital was needed. The overnight hospital stay seemed to be one of the longest nights of my life. We had to leave our

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newborn baby under a light with only a diaper and an eye patch on. We watched as he shivered and whimpered and cried and couldn’t pick him up because he needed to be under the light as much as possible. There was very little sleeping. I watched him most of the night to make sure his eye patch stayed on and to make sure he was still breathing. As I sat there watching my sweet baby, I would pray for him and his comfort. As I prayed for his comfort, a single thought came to my mind: Think of all those mothers who have cried for their children. I thought of woman who had recently lost her infant to SIDS and would never hold him again.

I thought of the agony she must feel and how her arms must ache as much as her heart. I thought of my dear sweet friend who had just lost her adult daughter to a terrible disease that she had been fighting her whole life.

I thought of how she looked while she looked down at her daughter in the casket. The pain in her eyes was palpable.

Her comfort was knowing that her baby didn’t have to feel pain anymore. I also thought of my own mother. I remember hearing her sobs the night my brother was severely burned and we all slept in the waiting room of the LSU Burn Unit. I will never forget hearing that heart wrenching sound. If pain of the heart could be heard, that was the sound.

Then I thought of Mary, Jesus’ mother. I tried to imagine how

she must have felt seeing her son hanging on the cross, for sins and crimes that weren’t even his. I tried to imagine how she must have been in agony watching as the beat and tormented her baby. I tried to imagine how she must have felt when she saw Him draw his last breath on this earth. I thought of all of these mothers and realized that we as mothers all feel the same way about our children no matter how old or

So, on this Mother's Day, make sure you let your mother know exactly what she means to you.

She doesn’t need a fancy gift, she just needs to know you love and appreciate her. At one time or another she suffered for you. Not because she had to, but because she wanted to. She loved you when you were squirming and crying and when you got older she loved you when you may have been unlovable. Call her and tell her how you feel or better yet write it down – more than likely it will be something she’ll treasure always.

Dedicated to my own mom! I love you very much.

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Written by Wes Harris

-----------------------------------

Reconstruction began.

Villainy in Vienna

The small town of Vienna, then in Jackson Parish, was located in the center of this pocket.

Vienna watched the war go by as plantation owners marched their slaves west toward refuge in Texas and meager military supplies came through headed east.

Confederate armies marched through and trained on the outskirts of town but the fighting never reached the little village. The real war, North Louisiana’s war, began with the chaos of Reconstruction as white Democrats fought military-backed Radical Republican control of local offices and state government.

More blood flowed from lawlessness and clashes with the government

----------------------------------

March 12, 1872 Vienna, Jackson Parish, Louisiana Although every community in the South suffered deprivations and despair during the Civil War, some were spared the horrors of armies turning their cotton fields and pastures into battlefields.

North central Louisiana, between Monroe and Shreveport and from north of Alexandria to the Arkansas state line, was such a pocket never penetrated in force by Yankee invaders until the war ended and

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and freed blacks than was ever experienced in the region during the war.

Vigilantism was the norm to correct perceived wrongs that the carpetbag government refused to rectify.

But Vienna thrived after the war, rivaling the parish seat of Vernon in size. It boasted hotels and a number of stores and churches and even cultural activities. There was a dancing school, operated by two men— Peace and Whatley— who also gave lessons in Vernon and perhaps elsewhere in Jackson Parish.

Rumors abounded, however, about what was really happening at the men’s dance studio.

There was something sinister and disturbing about the

men. Supposedly, they were from Natchitoches but had spent time in Texas where one of them had killed a man.

On the evening of March 12, 1872, a young local man who had imbibed too much liquor accompanied Peace into Dr. Jackson’s drug store. The man was loud and obnoxious.

Jackson told the rowdy youth to leave the store.

He snapped back with a rude remark and the doctor replied in kind.

Peace then stepped forward in support of the youth and made remarks of his own.

"Do you take it up?" the doctor asked. The men were now in front of the store where 54year old John Huey, Jr., and Whatley, Peace's partner, were standing.

widow. He called for her without dismounting from his horse, spoke a few words with her, got a pair of boots he had in the house, and left Whatley said, "No, but in what direction is not it's pistols," and fired known. three shots in Huey’s chest and abdomen, Vienna mourned the causing instant death. loss of two of its finest Simultaneously, Peace citizens. Dr. Jackson shot Dr. Jackson had served as a surgeon through the left arm, the in the Confederate army, bullet entering his side and had been practicing and passing through his medicine since the war. chest. Jackson stepped Huey was one of the back into his store, and first settlers of Vienna, reached the back room, well known as the only where he fell over on a hotelkeeper in town for bed, saying as he fell, "I many years. He was considered a warmam dead!" hearted, frank and gentleman One of the two men courteous then shot a Mr. with hosts of friends.

Hedgepeth who had been attracted by the The Ouachita Telegraph gunfire.

Hedgepeth in Monroe reported, “The fell to the ground with affair has cast a deep serious wounds through gloom over the entire his thighs.

Spencer parish, and has justly Colvin, a well-respected incensed its inhabitants local, tried to arrest to a high pitch against the Whatley but received murderers.” A party of several severe blows in men set out from Vienna the face from Whatley's in pursuit of the killers. empty revolver, causing Sheriff Huey, stationed him to retreat. Eugene in the parish seat of Howard, who would Vernon, formed a posse later serve many years and joined the chase. as Lincoln Parish sheriff, The sheriff was deeply fired at the two as they moved by the death ran off, but without of the cousin who had effect. They reached raised him. The Monroe their hotel, procured newspaper announced, fresh revolvers, saddled “We anticipate bloody their horses, and work if the men meet, galloped away.

Just as the pursuers and south of Vienna, they pursued are well armed, encountered a young and the latter will fight man, robbed him of his for life, as well they may, pistol, and demanded for if caught we learn that Louisiana justice, his money. as interpreted by courts That evening Peace and juries of late, will not and Whatley reached be invoked in the case Vernon, the parish seat of these desperadoes.” about sixteen miles correspondent southeast of Vernon. A Vienna supplied Peace had recently at been married to a local the paper with the The exchange of words led Huey to step forward to back up Dr. Jackson and say, "Fighting is the game, is it?"

descriptions of the murderers: “J.M. Peace is about thirty years of age; five feet seven inches high; dark complexion; black hair, eyes and mustache; has remarkably small feet, wears No. 2 shoes; and has a contracted and bad countenance. W.R. Whatley is about twentythree years of age; five feet eleven inches high; fair complexion; light hair and eyes; rather pleasant countenance; is a violinist.”

The sheriff’s posse overtook the two fugitives at Clear Lake not far from Red River opposite Natchitoches.

Peace and Whatley spurred their horses toward a fence, the only chance of escape, intending to leap it and get away.

The horses refused to jump. Peace and Whatley turned, drew their revolvers, and charged full speed at the posse, firing as they rode. Sheriff Huey and his eight men fired on the killers as they advanced. Whatley fell from his horse, shot in the back of his head; Peace's horse fell after receiving numerous wounds and its rider was arrested. None of the posse were hurt but one man was saved when a bullet intended for him struck a small pistol he carried in his side pocket.

The posse found Whatley gravely wounded.

He was beyond help. His last words were to request his horse and pistols be sent to his wife in Sabine

Parish. After Whatley took his last breath, the posse returned Peace to the parish jail in Vernon.

An arraignment was held in district court before Judge E. M. Graham, one of the most celebrated jurists in north Louisiana. Former Confederate General John Young and Captain E. E. Kidd served as the prosecutors.

Former General Henry Gray, well known in the region for his command of the 28th Louisiana Infantry during the war and a Colonel Richardson were appointed to serve as defense counsel.

The hearing lasted two days with numerous witnesses traveling from Vienna to testify. Peace was bound over for trial on a charge of murder with a court date set in May. On March 20 at about 2:30 a.m., a party of 25 men appeared at Sheriff Huey’s house in Vernon.

The sheriff was out of town. They inquired of Mrs. Huey for Deputy Sheriff Dickerson, who lived with the Hueys, and Mrs. Huey said he was not home, either.

The men entered the house and discovered Dickerson and wrested the jail key from him, leaving two men to guard the deputy. Dickerson later reported he saw distinctly the faces of at least twelve men in the bright moonlight but oddly recognized no one.

The party proceeded to the unguarded jail.

Peace slept on the second floor; another man slept in the room

37

below. Screams were heard.

Someone asked for a rope. In the morning, only Peace’s pants, hat, and drops of blood remained in the jail. The Ouachita Telegraph noted, “the supposition is that the confederate of Whatley has joined his comrade in another world.”

Peace’s body was never found.

“What a commentary upon the outlawed condition of the country,” the paper continued, “is this deplorable tragedy!

Ten years ago [in the middle of the Civil War] such an occurrence was never heard of in this peaceful land.

Now, we see four men killed, in the heart of a most tranquil region, a terrible crime and a swift retribution, within the

pledges written on the sands of the sea-shore — when their rulers are corrupt, irresponsible and depraved?”

period of ten days. Why is this? The good people of the last decade are good yet, but the bad men have the power and enjoy immunities, under our hybrid form of a government, that stimulate them to take life in their own hands.

Who can censure us, if we charge all this wrong-doing, and bereavement upon the men now in power, and who have notoriously brought the laws into contempt and put a premium upon crime by permitting ignorance and depravity to control the administration of justice? We shudder at the taking of life — it is a terrible responsibility — but what are good men, women and children to do, when the protection of their government is but as

Post Card History of Ruston, Louisiana and Neither Fear nor Favor: Deputy United States Marshal John Sisemore. Both are available through amazon.com.

Harris can be reached at campruston@gmail. com. Check out his history blog at http:// diggingthepast. blogspot.com

Vienna would recover from the violence and the murders were largely forgotten.

In 1873, it became the seat of government for the newly created Lincoln Parish. When the railroad was finally completed between -------------------------------Monroe and Shreveport in 1884, completely bypassing Vienna, the town literally packed up and moved to the new town of Ruston.

-------------------------------Wes Harris is a native of Ruston. Among his books are GREETINGS FROM RUSTON: A

Dr. Kyla Lokitz

Rheumatology

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Dr. Lokitz is accepting new patients ages 14 years and older, every other Thursday, in the Medical Clinic on Minden Medical

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Shreveport Medical Society American College of Rheumatology USSONAR (Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists) Mentor - trains fellows in musculoskeletal ultrasound

EDUCATION MEDICAL DOCTORATE DEGREE University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill RHEUMATOLOGY FELLOWSHIP LSU – Shreveport MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP LSU – Shreveport

PERSONAL Dr. Lokitz grew up in Southern Louisiana amongst sugar cane with her family, gardening, cooking and eating delicious Cajun food.

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www.mindenmedicalcenter.com #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA 71055 | (318) 377-2321

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the better score: you or your teen?

---------------------------------------

Help Your Teen Be A Better Driver

---------------------------------------

C

ar crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers, claiming the lives of 3,000 each year. But you can play an important role in keeping your kids safer behind the wheel. State

Farm® offers a variety of free tools and helpful resources, such as Road Trips® and Road Aware®, at its Teen Driver Safety Website. In addition, use these ideas to start the conversation with your teen about risky driving behaviors: Create a friendly competition.

Download the State Farm® Driver FeedbackTM app to your smartphone, make sure

the volume is off, the phone is placed where it will not distract the driver and let the driving fun—and education— begin. As you travel, the app measures driving behaviors, including acceleration, braking and cornering; traffic congestion; and the condition of the road. The app gives you a score for the trip, along with helpful suggestions on how to improve your driving on your next trip. Who will get

Sign an agreement. A teen who has completed a driver’s education course knows the basics but lacks experience and doesn’t necessarily understand the complexities of everyday driving. Set written guidelines that both you and your teen can refer to, and sign the agreement.

Include goals for your teen, as well as penalties for violations. When each goal is achieved—such as remaining incident-free for six months after getting their license— offer positive feedback and increased driving privileges.

Be a good example. A teen will be quick to dismiss the driving rules you put in place if you don’t follow the rules yourself. Never talk on the phone or text while driving.

Obey the speed limit and keep your emotions in check when you’re behind the wheel.

-----------------------------------

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exceptional kid, I think his trials as a youngster Pedifix and Other gave him focus that few teenagers have. The Made-Up Words -------------------------------- result? Henry is a great student, an athlete, a fantastic pianist, and ’m a word nerd. has a heart for making So making up new a difference for others words is a form of family suffering with cancer. entertainment at the Drewett house. I thought Henry first started raising I’d share one of my best money for cancer causes new additions to the when he was about 5 or English language and 6 years old selling his the story leading to its uncle's potatoes on the creation. side of the road. The successful potato sales Recently I was preparing led, ultimately, to one of to go to an awards the uncle's potato farm banquet for a very competitors purchasing special family friend, potatoes from Henry to Henry Futch. Henry, an further the fundraising Arcadia resident and for cancer. (I love that fellow Cedar Creek part of the story!) eighth grader with my son Langdon, has been Henry has continued near and dear to the fundraising every year Drewett family for many since the side-of-theyears now. Not only is road potato sales he a close friend of my with activities such as son, he’s also my piano mowing lawns, bake student.

Additionally, sales, etc. It seems to his mom, Diane, is one be just a part of his life, of my closest friends. just like practicing piano Henry looks like any (wink wink). His latest normal 14-year old. fundraising efforts focus But he’s not. He’s a on Relay for Life. For cancer survivor. Over the last couple of years, 10 years ago, he was he has organized his diagnosed and treated own community team. for lymphoma.

An That's where my family --------------------------------

I

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fits into this story. We've been involved with his efforts and my son Langdon was a member of Henry's Relay for Life team.

Watching this young man give so freely of his time to raise money for cancer causes has been so moving to me, both as a mother and also as an observer of mankind.

How many kids do this?

Most teenagers are right smack in the middle of a phase of life where selfdiscovery is primary and others are secondary.

They are typically very inward focused. But here's Henry setting aside his personal free time (especially in the summer) to mow lawns and give the money to cancer causes.

So the teacher in me felt one overwhelming thing - this behavior is worthy of recognition.

He is not typical. And his truly outwardly-focused heart needs to be brought to the attention of others, to encourage him to continue his efforts and to inspire others to also be more outwardly-focused at

the tender age of 14.

I became aware of an annual recognition program sponsored by the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Each year, they recognize eight "Young Heroes."

These kids typically have overcame huge obstacles such as health issues, traumatic events, and overwhelming circumstances.

They are treated to a day of fabulousness in Baton Rouge filled with tours of LSU, the governor's office, and even including lunch at the Governor's mansion. I nominated Henry and he was one of the eight honorees at the gala event held in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, April 17.

And now back to pedifix.

Wednesday morning as I got dressed to head to Baton Rouge for the big event, I looked down at my feet and discovered a woefully inadequate pedicure peeking out of my adorable sandals that were perfect for my outfit and the event. And so began the pedifix.

A pedifix, my dear readers, is when you apply polish ONLY to the toes that are showing (that included 3 toes on each foot) while you are wearing your sandals because you don't have time for anything more.

It curls my hair to do anything half way. But on that day, a pedifix would just have to do!

Cheers to Henry Futch, LPB Young Hero for 2013, and cheers to the pedifix!

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Whatever your healthcare need, choose Minden Medical Center. www.mindenmedicalcenter.com

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