®
THRIVE
May 2018 DoSouthMagazine.com
CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / OWNER Catherine Frederick CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Scott Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeanni Brosius Jennifer Burchett Bonnie Burt Marla Cantrell Catherine Frederick Judy Harrington Dwain Hebda Jade Graves Megan Lankford Jessica Sowards James Stefiuk Tom Wing GRAPHIC DESIGNER Artifex 323 - Jessica Mays
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PROOFREADER Charity Chambers PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC
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INSIDE
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SCOUTING FOR PIE Two sisters with keen baking skills and a taste for pie started a business in this sweet teardrop trailer, and dessert lovers across the region are celebrating.
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KINDRED BARN
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LIFE ON MOSS MOUNTAIN FARM
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When Jesse Keyton asked Hannah Marrone to marry him, she was floating on air. You’ll swoon over the photos taken at Kindred Barn, on the couple’s big day.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick - 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com
EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell - 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com ©2018 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in Do South® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893 Cover Image: Africa Studio
Multi-talented P. Allen Smith lives on a piece of paradise right here in Arkansas, and you can schedule a day trip to see it. Better still, you can have lunch at this gorgeous estate.
MOBILE, MY OH MY Looking for a summer getaway? You’ll love reading about everything Mobile has to offer, from fine dining to trips across the water.
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FOLLOW US Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.
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letter from the editor
R
Rest. It’s a hard concept for kids to under-
We’re heading to Mobile, Alabama, for a tour of
stand, and if we’re being honest, it can be
great things to do. If you’re looking to travel
hard for adults too. Recently, my son was
this summer, this feature is perfect for you!
diagnosed with Achilles Tendonitis, and
There’s a garden nearby I can’t wait to visit!
it’s keeping him from playing travel basketball for the next few weeks. As
Staying closer to home over summer
we all know, that lasts from the end
break? Our trip to Petit Jean State Park
of school ball season until early August.
will get you ready to enjoy the beauty of
You try telling a kid who is in the gym
Arkansas. The story of Petit Jean is another
practically every day that he can’t shoot, he
love story, this one with a tragic end. Not so for
can’t practice, he can’t play tournaments. It’s
our short story this month! Marla Cantrell shared
torture! The sulking, the boredom, the pouting. And my son is very upset about it too! But alas, we are
a love story that involved a wicked storm, an outrageously good-looking man, and a surprising turn of events.
heeding doctor’s orders, tough as it may be for both of us. I spent time in the kitchen for you, making Spring Rolls that It’s funny how you fall into a routine. During the week, it’s
are scrumptious! My family loves them. I think you will too!
work, homework, practice, dinner, shower, bed. Weekends are
Tom Wing’s love of history shines through in this month’s story
full of travel and games. And laundry. Lots of laundry. Then,
about Judge Isaac Parker, a young boy whose father was on
when life throws you a curve ball, you’ve got to adjust. It’s hard
jury duty, and the Judge’s unexpected kindness.
to know what to do with yourself when the curveball is thrown. Sometimes I think it’s His way of telling us to slow down. Take
Finally, we’ve featured local Realtors who work tirelessly to
a time out. Just be.
make sure you get the best deal possible, when buying, or selling a home. Discover more about them and what they have
We’re featuring a bevy of things you can do with downtime this
to say about their services.
month. We’re peeking into the lives of sisters Bo Rogers and Kaitlin Ashley, the owners of Pie Scout, located in downtown Fort
That’s it! I’m headed back to the living room to hang out with
Smith. Their food truck is about the cutest thing we’ve ever seen!
my son. He always makes me feel better, which leads me to the next thing I love: Mother’s Day! To all you moms out there,
Then, we’re heading to a spectacular wedding at Kindred Barn
thank you for all you do. I hope your special day is filled with
in Mulberry. You’re going to love the story of Jesse and Hannah,
joy. You certainly deserve it!
and the path they took that led them to the altar on March 31. Speaking of love, we’re sharing Judy Harrington’s story of her mom’s love of nature and big heart. When she was nearly seventy, she started building a rock stairway that might have
~Catherine
Follow Do South® Magazine
seemed like too big a project, unless you knew her. To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: Editors@DoSouthMagazine.com.
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calendar
MAY 4-5
Submit your events to editors@dosouthmagazine.com
some images courtesy vendors
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TH The Sound of Music Fayetteville waltonartscenter.org
Fort Smith Symphony Fort Smith fortsmithsymphony.org
A new production of The Sound of Music makes its Walton Arts Center premiere May 15, for a limited eight-show run as part of the P&G Broadway series.
Steel Horse Rally Fort Smith thesteelhorserally.com
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Motorcycle Poker Runs and scenic rides, Vendor Village, Birds of Prey Show, live music, family entertainment, and for the first time, motorcycle racing.
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TH This concert features the music of Arkansan Florence Price (1887-1953). It will be followed by recording sessions with the Fort Smith Symphony for Naxos International, the world’s largest classical label.
15 -20
TH Ale on the Border Fort Smith aleontheborder.com
Day at the Derby Fort Smith eventbrite.com/e/day-atthe-derby-tickets
Three live bands, food trucks, tons of great craft beer, all at Chaffee Crossing. Benefits Antioch for Youth and Family, and a contribution will also be made to the Chaffee Crossing Veterans Memorial.
Head to the Clayton House for the Junior League’s Kentucky Derby watch party. Mint juleps, fully-stocked bar, raffles, lawn games, silent auction, bourbon tasting, and derby-style food. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
calendar
THETOPTENTHETOPTEN
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Downtown Junk Fest Van Buren Vanburen.org Van Buren’s Main Street transforms over Memorial Day weekend, with vintage items, reclaimed pieces, antiques, and so much more. Check out the food vendors, and live music and entertainment.
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At 10am on May 28, the Old Fort Days Rodeo Parade takes place downtown. Later that day, the rodeo begins at Kay Rodgers Park, with bronc, bull, and bareback riding, calf roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and so much more!
Books in Bloom Literary Festival Eureka Springs booksinbloom.org From noon to 5pm, at the historic Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, you can meet twelve acclaimed authors from crime writers to bakers, get to know fellow book lovers, and attend literary presentations.
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Old Fort Days Rodeo Fort Smith kayrodgerspark.org
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Lip Dub Fort Smith Fort Smith lipdubfortsmith.com
MAY 31- JUNE 9 T H
Help break a Guinness World Record for the single largest lip-syncing event. Takes place at Fort Smith’s 85th Rodeo Parade, in celebration of the city’s bicentennial.
MAY 28TH JUNE 6 DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
Fox on the Fairway Fort Smith fslt.org The Fort Smith Little Theatre is performing Fox on the Fairway, a map-cap adventure set at a stuffy country club. Performances run from May 31 through June 3, and June 6 through June 9.
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poetry
Springing Up LINEs Bonnie Burt
The daffodils beam at me with chins upturned toward Eos. Like a little child's painting of the sun they smile, beckoning me back to The Garden where something grows that feels like Hope.
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entertainment
84 , Charing Cross Road By Helene Hanff, Penguin Books | 97 pages | $13 review Marla Cantrell
Recently, a new friend, and fellow book lover, welcomed me into
and eggs and sweets for the holidays. She even found a way
her home. At her kitchen table, she’d stacked books she thought
to get nylon stockings to the ladies at 84, Charing Cross Road.
I’d like. As someone who typically reads a book a week, I thought I had a handle on most of the great contemporary literature.
As the years wore on, a deep friendship formed between Helene and Frank. Helene shared her successes, writing for
But when I left, I had a list of book recommendations, and
the TV shows The Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Ellery Queen.
three books she’d loaned me. I devoured them and loved
Frank talked about his family, his second wife whom he loves
them all, each for different reasons. The one I’m sharing with
deeply. His first wife who died so young. In 1965, he admitted
you today is 84, Charing Cross Road, a slim volume of corre-
he “rather likes the Beatles,” a bit of a shock from this middle-
spondence between an often-struggling freelance writer in
aged bookseller.
New York City, and the staff of a used bookstore in London, whose advertisement she found in 1949.
Always, Helene seemed to be saving for a trip to London. When her friend Maxine visited, she wrote to Helene, describing the
For twenty years, Helene Hanff wrote letters to the shop, asking
bookstore’s smell. “It combines must and dust and age, and
for obscure books she couldn’t wait to read. Mostly self-taught,
walls of wood and floors of wood,” she wrote, and Helene’s
Helene seemed to exist on these great books. Her correspondence
heart ached for her chance to see this place she’d come to love.
was brassy and funny and brilliant. All her American charm seemed to soften the resolve of the British shopkeeper, Frank Noel, whose
As I thought about a book to review, I picked up 84, Charing
formal letters became friendlier as the months progressed.
Cross Road several times and put it down. I wondered if it was the right choice for a wide audience. And it is not a new book.
Helene was the talk of the shop, and soon others on staff
In fact, a movie and play about the book were made after its
snagged her address and sent letters of their own, including
initial release. But I think it is relevant today, not only for book
photos of their families, and even a recipe for Yorkshire
lovers, but for all of us who have friends who make our lives
Pudding. Helene, in return, knew the Brits were still rationing
so much better. This book shows the progression of such a
certain foods, a residual effect of World War II. She started
relationship, between two people an ocean apart who found
sending care packages to the staff, making sure they had meat
a way to stay friends for the rest of their lives.
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pets
Animals in Need of Your LOVE M
F
M
M
Luc
M
Alexis
Riley
F
Cowboy
Copper
Coco
Ahimsa Rescue Foundation www.ahimsarescuefoundation.org | savingpaws@aol.com | Help prevent pet overpopulation by having your pet spayed or neutered. Ahimsa low cost spay/neuter clinic and rescue foundation, 801 Ironwood Street, Muldrow, OK 74948 479-651-1319. Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
community DS: Can you give us an overview of how the money would be used? David: There are five main areas being addressed. Keeping our teachers and children safe is the first priority (0.655 mills/$15.9 million). Adding freshman centers at both high schools will create more space for all grade levels (3.242 mills/$78.5 million). We are not currently providing our students with a path for technical training. The addition of a career and technology center will provide every student with solid employment possibilities after graduation (0.567 mills/$13.7 million). The fourth priority is to expand technology to all schools with 1-to-1 student devices in grades 3-12 (0.569 mills/$825,000). Finally, taking care of aging classrooms and buildings will be addressed (0.525 mills/$12.7 million).
The Future of Fort Smith Schools
DS: Security is a major worry across the nation. Can you
Millage Vote on May 22
David: Security is the highest priority and it will be addressed
words Do SouthÂŽ staff
new video surveillance cameras, new fire alarms, ADA
talk about how this millage will improve safety for students? with new secure entry vestibules, card reader access systems, upgrades, parking lot lighting, security fencing and two
On May 22, Fort Smith voters will decide on a 5.558 mill increase that will be used for public school improvements and security upgrades. Currently, the district has a millage rate of 36.5, which is the lowest in Sebastian County. It has not been increased since 1987.
tornado shelters at both high schools.
DS: Why do you believe this increase is so important for the future of Fort Smith? Sheila: We already struggle in being negatively compared to communities in Northwest Arkansas. School districts in those areas with similar student populations
David and Sheila Humphrey, members of Friends of Fort Smith Schools, believe this vote is critical for our children.
DS: Sheila, you’ve been in the classroom and have seen what the district needs. Is that one of the reasons you’re backing this initiative? Sheila: Yes, definitely! I am proud to have retired from the Fort Smith Public Schools, and I am passionate in my belief that we can only continue to offer a premier education for our kids with financial support that allows the district to compete around the state and nation.
have millage rates ranging from a minimum of 4 to 5 mills higher to as many as 12 mills higher.
DS: How would these improvements help students learn? Sheila: Providing a safe environment will allow all staff and students to focus on learning. Also, the current need for shuffling approximately 450 elementary students, due to overcrowding, will be eliminated. As a result, all students will begin learning on the first day of school instead of wasting days, or weeks, waiting to see which schools have openings. Finally, as I experienced firsthand in my classroom, empowering my students for
DS: David, tell us why you believe this vote is so important. David: We must be willing to invest in our children and schools to compete in an ever-changing world. We have not had an
their future with technology skills using up-to-date devices and software was challenging because of a very tight budget. The technology component of this millage proposal is critical.
increase in our educational millage rate in 31 years. The average age of our school buildings is 63 years. Improving the educational opportunities of our children is a long-term investment in
To learn more, visit vote4fsps.com.
our community and in local businesses. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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community
This year, as Fort Smith celebrates its bicentennial, author and historian Tom Wing will be sharing stories of our city’s past in each edition of Do South®.
Guy Nichols with then-Mayor Ray Baker
THE JUDGE, A YOUNG BOY, AND THE PARK RANGER words Tom Wing, Historian and Author IMAGEs Tom Wing and the Fort Smith National Historic Site
In 1996 I started a seasonal job as a park ranger at Fort Smith
Guy Nichols was born in Knoxville, Arkansas, in 1920. As
National Historic Site that would change my life and career. A
a young man, he served in the Navy in World War II, again
couple of years later I was fortunate enough to be offered an
in Korea and then finally in Vietnam completing a twenty-
opportunity to work for the NPS full time. The sheer volume of
year career. He joined the National Park Service at the newly
history, just related to both forts and the Federal Court from
established Fort Smith National Historic Site upon retirement
1817-1896 is astounding. Immediately I knew I had a lot to learn.
spending the next thirty years giving tours, doing research and
I asked numerous questions in those early days, usually in pursuit
telling stories about Fort Smith. Many a student would sit on
of somewhat obscure details that would elicit the answer from
the gallows, or in the “Hell on the Border Jail” while he inter-
exasperated staff members, “I don’t know, call Guy Nichols!”
preted the past. Guy became in that time, the “institutional
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community
memory” of the site, and an authority on Fort Smith’s history. He retired from the NPS by the time I came along but attended luncheons and other functions at the park regularly. I called him many times, and over coffee, or lunch he told me stories of the who, how, when, and why things happened at Fort Smith. While reworking the exhibits after the tornado damage of 1996, we planned to use a letter from the files, written by Judge Parker to a young boy from West Fork, Arkansas. The boy’s unnamed father was serving on the jury of the murder case of Lewis Holder. Holder was eventually found guilty, appealed to the Supreme Court, and his case was upheld. He was executed in 1893. The boy who
Upon reading it the first time, I wanted to know how and when
wrote the letter, obviously missing his father, and with his moth-
it was acquired by the historic site. After exhausting the research
er’s permission and assistance, addressed the Judge concerning
files and staff, I had no other option than to “call Guy Nichols.”
the matter. The boy’s letter has not been found, but Parker’s
Guy remembered the story well. As he was taking down the
response is of great historical value. Parker took time out of a
flags in the parking lot for the night, an elderly man approached.
busy schedule that likely included day and night sessions of court
He asked, “Hey, Mr. Park Ranger, have you ever heard a story
to write this letter on his court stationery:
about Judge Parker writing a little boy a letter?” Ranger Nichols responded that he had seen a reference to the story but had
September 6, 1892
never seen the letter and wondered if it was myth and legend. The man then reached into his pocket and presented a copy of
My Dear Master Langston,
the letter and introduced himself as Argile Langston, the boy whose letter garnered a response from the Judge. Ranger Nichols
I have received your very nice note, asking me to let your papa
had the presence of mind to ask a few questions, among them,
come home. I will be pleased to do so as soon as we can spare
he inquired about Mr. Langston’s profession. Mr. Langston
him. You know your father is a good man, and we need good
replied, “I was a lawyer until I retired.”
men to make up the juries, which are to try cases where men are charged with great crimes such as murder, which men commit
It is impossible to know how much credit Judge Parker should
when they kill others. I hope I may live long to see you become
get for Argile Langston’s decision to practice law, but I’d specu-
a useful good man like your father. I was very glad to get your
late that letter from the Judge’s desk had a lasting impact.
note, you will give my most kind regards to your mother, and you will believe me to be most truly your friend.
As for Guy Nichols, he was my friend, who was always patient with my questions, with whom I shared a great love of the past,
I.C. Parker
and who made history himself, serving our country. He also devoted a large part of his life to helping people connect to the
The letter shows another side of the often maligned and
history of Fort Smith. Guy’s story of meeting Argile Langston
so-called “Hanging Judge.”
changed my view of Judge Parker, but also made me look forward to taking the flag down each day and the daily interactions with visitors whose stories were connected to Fort Smith. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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community
Our Community Cares words Do South® staff
By bringing the local community together and creating a network of churches, businesses, and individuals, Arkansas Family Alliance supports children and families in crisis. From Arkansas Family Alliance
biological families to foster and adoptive families to foster youth transitioning to adult-
2917 Old Greenwood Road,
hood, AFA supports families and children along the entire spectrum of child welfare. Do
Suite 4
South® talked to Executive Director Matt Whitson about their mission.
Fort Smith, AR 72903 479.650.8698
DS: Your non-profit is brand new. How did you know the state needed AFA?
ARFamilyAlliance.org
Matt: I co-founded AFA with my wife, Becca. Our passion started in our own family; we adopted three of our four children through very different circumstances. However, the more we learned about the needs in Arkansas, the more we realized we had to do more. We decided to leverage our skills, knowledge, and experiences to impact this community. Children and families are in crisis all around us, and together we have the power to make a huge impact.
Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area. If you have a non-profit you’d like to see recognized, email us at editors@dosouthmagazine.com.
DS: Your first task is to bring CarePortal to Arkansas. Can you talk about that? Matt: CarePortal creates a platform to connect churches and child welfare agencies to address the needs of local hurting children and families. This innovative technology uses a geographically-based email system that strategically addresses all areas of child welfare. These areas include helping prevent children from entering state care, foster care, adoption, and foster youth aging out of the system. We are excited to launch May 3, 2018.
DS: How will you work with churches in Arkansas? Matt: Churches want to help, but the child welfare statistics can be paralyzing. We are offering churches an opportunity to be directly connected with the needs in their community, allowing them to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their own backyard.
DS: How can Do South® readers help? Matt: This is a community issue, and we work with churches, businesses, and individuals. If readers want to help, they can talk to their pastors and/or small groups about getting their church involved. Individuals and businesses can partner with us financially as we launch CarePortal, continue foster/adoptive parent trainings, and expand the community’s impact on vulnerable children and families.
DS: Is there anything else you’d like to share? Matt: At AFA, our mission is to unite communities to support children and families in crisis. Many nonprofits, churches, and businesses are already working to help make a difference, and we’re excited to partner with them. We look forward to seeing others come alongside us in this fight as well. When it comes to helping vulnerable children and families, it truly does take a village. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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shop
May You Be Happy!! words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors
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479.484.7100
shop
May is a month filled with celebrations. We've gathered a trove of great gifts, and a few things just for you! Enjoy shopping local!
Breton Black Bean Crackers, Boars Head Swiss Cheese, Kim Crawford, 19 Crimes, Meiomi
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people
A Scrap of Memory words and IMAGEs Judy Harrington
S
Scrapbooking serves as my second passion, just behind writing.
home place, a small twenty-acre farm outside the small town
The creativity of a page conveys a story differently than typed
of Mountainburg, Arkansas, whose current population is 624.
words ever could.
Those first rocks were the size of a large suitcase. Both were
I believe the saying “seeing is believing” can never be expressed
anchored with smaller stones and dirt to hold them level. She
any better than through a photograph. I believe placing pictures
never used concrete to secure them because she believed it
into a collage creates a moment frozen in time to be seen by
would disturb nature’s beauty.
your eyes and loved by your heart.
As the stairway grew stone by stone, it soon exploded with the
When I open my scrapbooks, stories jump from the pages. One
fragrance of iris, phlox, daffodils, tulips, and wildflowers from
of my favorite themes immortalizes my mom’s outdoor stairway
spring through summer. Within two years her expanding garden
that she started in 2003, when she was sixty-eight years old.
had invaded the entire hillside on either side of the stairway. The
sight represented a breathtaking testimony to her labors.
It began with just a few stone steps beneath the Horse Tree, an oak given that name because of the way it grew—bent
Looking back at it now, I’m amazed at how a woman of slight
over for me and my two siblings to ride. Standing the test of
stature, who carried only 115 pounds on her five-foot eight-
time, the tree still remains, no more than 500 feet from our old
inch frame, was able to roll and upend the huge rocks that
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people
built the walkway. Some she scooted. Some she dragged with the four-wheeler. All of them came from the bluff far above the country road. Near the end, as she got closer and closer to finishing her vision, the bluff became her destination for the top of the stairway. Her saying, “From the bluff, these rocks came, and to the bluff, they will return,” revealed her grand plan for the quarter-mile stretch. Since she was over halfway there, I have no doubt she would have done just that, if her health had held out. I remember driving up one day to find her working in her garden. She squatted to maneuver another stone in place for the next step. I watched her wiggle and scoot it until she seemed pleased to leave it where it was. “Hey, Lady, are you going to build that stairway all the way to
Stella (Seratt) Easter
heaven?” I joked. “Maybe,” she laughed as she stood and arched her aching back. “You know, I haven’t really thought that far ahead, just know I’m going as far as the bluff for now.” She wiped her brow and left a tiny smear of soil. That was my momma for you. She always enjoyed digging in
playing with a ladybug that had crawled onto the thigh of her
the dirt, and she had a green thumb when it came to planting,
muddy jeans.
both flowers, and vegetables. Everything she stuck in the When I looked at her, I saw a pioneer woman who had helped
ground grew and flourished.
build our house, and then helped restore it after it caught fire, I waited while she tip-toed down the steps to meet me, being
who had even worked on our cars and learned plumbing. But
careful not to step on her newly planted phlox.
that was just a glimpse of who she was. I thought about the prom dress she made for me when I was in high school, such a
I handed her a butterscotch malt from Mountainburg’s Dairy
beautiful thing.
Dream. “Where are your gloves?” Mom worked on the stairway another three years, getting Mom sipped the thick delight through the straw and welcomed a
closer and closer to the bluff, but never reaching it, until finally,
break. “Oh, they just get in my way,” she explained. “I can’t really
in 2009 she became too ill to continue. It still stands anyway,
feel exactly where I need to set the next rock with them on.”
though a bit overgrown and starting to slide from erosion, like a gift from my mom to me, all that work, all that beauty.
I could only shake my head as I surveyed her face. Her eyes sparkled to express that she was so at home with nature. I
When I think of that day, I so wish I had that picture to place in
smiled at the thought. I still do for that matter.
my scrapbook, next to the photo of her prized staircase. Nevertheless, it will always be in my memory. And will come to life
Mom sat down, two steps up from where I sat, content and
every time I look at those pages.
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garden
words Megan Lankford, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks imageS courtesy Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
May in the Garden THE DIRT: By May most gardeners are chomping at the bit to get outside. Many of us have already prepped our beds and filled them with cold-hardy cool season crops like crispy kale and sweet sugar snap peas. Yet we long for warm days to stay around, and for Jack Frost to stay away. TIPS:
We all have a favorite tomato, watermelon, pepper, and so forth, that we love to grow. This month I’d like to share some of mine with you! First is my favorite edamame, Tohya. This delicious, ready-to-eat-fresh soybean is easy to grow! Once the leaves start to turn yellow, you can harvest all of them, bring them inside, and pull the pods off while you watch a movie. They freeze and store well. This next selection is as versatile as it is prolific. Ruby Wallace’s Old Time White cucumbers can be pickled when immature. They also make a cool, crisp and crunchy slicing pickle at full maturity. The white and yellow coloring of the skin makes them a delightful addition to salads; however, they are scrumptious all by themselves. Be sure not to plant too many, or you just might find yourself peddling them to friends, neighbors, and co-workers. My last selection is a new addition to my garden. This personal size watermelon weighs a mere two to four pounds! Little Baby Flower is a darling and delectable addition to any garden. These little melons hold on tight to the vine and are easy to grow vertically without any additional support for the melons. Wait until the curly cue just above the melon turns brown all the way down to the vine before you harvest your sweet summer treat. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
WHAT TO PLANT: DIRECT SOW: Arugula Beets Beans Carrots Corn Melons Cucumbers Squash TRANSPLANT: Eggplant Tomatoes Peppers Leeks Basil Sunflowers Fennel
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Pie Scout, at Your Service words Jennifer Burchett images courtesy Casey Johnson Photography via Pie Scout
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At Garrison Commons, the small park in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas, where bands perform, and movies play sits Pie Scout. Housed in a shiny, silver and turquoise food truck, this new business mixes one-part pie with two-parts fun to create an ultra-memorable family outing. On this day, the classic, teardrop trailer shines brightly in the spring sunshine while parents chat and children (most of whose faces show the remnants of Cookies & Cream Pie) dance in the bubbles from a machine provided by Pie Scout’s owners, Bo Rogers and Kaitlin Lashley, who are sisters. It’s a business that brings people together for a good time and a good cause. Getting it just right was key, so Bo and Kaitlin, both of whom work other jobs, took the time to search for the perfect food truck. Once they discovered this little teardrop
Kaitlin Lashley and Bo Rogers
trailer on the Fourth of July, 2017, the rest, as they say, was history. “The idea seemed to come to us quite organically,” says
Scout to sell out for the day, before closing time. In fact, it’s
Bo. “Once we found the trailer, the design and style hit
becoming the norm.
me instantly.” “Pies with a purpose,” is their motto. But even sweeter than their Taking a look at their menu can be a daunting task, even for
menu, which includes Pineapple Millionaire, Blueberry Crème,
the most well-versed pie eater. After all, how can one really
and S’more, is their commitment to helping local nonprofits.
choose between Blueberry Crème and Peanut Butter? It’s a conundrum that every patron deals with in their own way,
“We wanted to create a business that gives everybody the
and many choose to simply go back for seconds. Of all the
ability to help,” says Bo. With Pie Scout, the sisters have
different flavors, from regular pie to pie pops, Coconut Cream
done just that. Every three months, Bo and Kaitlin choose a
is the current top seller.
nonprofit to whom they will donate a portion of proceeds, and place a sign outside the trailer, letting customers know
Bo shared a bit about the Coconut Cream recipe, but not too
which charity they’re helping.
much. “I created a recipe that includes a vanilla bean middle and a few secret touches.” Other than that, their recipes are
The first and current recipient until the end of May is BOST,
top secret.
a nonprofit organization that offers services to individuals with developmental and related disabilities to help them
Customers are free to order pies by the slice or to purchase
remain active in the community. Currently, Pie Scout averages
whole pies, though you may want to order ahead of time
approximately $15 per operating day in proceeds that will be
through their website, since it’s not uncommon for Pie
contributed to the nonprofit, according to Bo. However, due
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to the huge support of the customers, it’s not uncommon for
avid interest from multiple investors on expanding our foot-
patrons to leave a donation when they pay for their pie. Their
print in various cities,” Bo says.
next partner, starting in June, is HOPE Campus, which offers comprehensive help for the homeless.
These sisters are eager to spread their love of pie and community to cities around the country while keeping the flagship
The donations are just one way they contribute. To further
Fort Smith branch alive and well.
develop a business that aligns with their values, Bo and Kaitlin hire individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Which takes us back to Pie Scout’s grand opening on March 10, 2018. There were local bands and dozens of families for
“At Pie Scout,” Bo says, “we aim to be an inclusive work-
a day of giant Jenga, live music, and all the pie you could
place, with a focus on providing opportunities to individuals
ask for. It was a lovely day, the people were relaxed and
with intellectual or physical disabilities. We currently employ
their bellies full. It must have been heartwarming for Bo
two individuals with disabilities.” According to the Bureau of
and Kaitlin to watch the crowd, to see their response, and
Labor Statistics, individuals with a disability have a higher rate
to believe they could make a difference in our community.
of unemployment than individuals without a disability. Pie
Those of us who’ve tasted their pies, and who’ve heard their
Scout is doing its part to remedy that statistic.
story, are certainly glad they did.
Due to how quickly the business is growing, Pie Scout is actively looking to expand into a bigger kitchen, where they bake all the pies before taking them to their food truck at Garrison
Pie Scout is located at Garrison Commons, 913 Garrison Avenue, in
Commons. As Bo says, “It’s a great problem to have!”
downtown Fort Smith. The food truck is open four days a week: on Thursdays from 12-5pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 12-7pm, and
Bo and Kaitlin believe great things are on the horizon for Pie
Sundays from 12:30-4pm. To order in advance, visit piescout.com.
Scout, and that Fort Smith is just the beginning. The sisters, who each hold MBAs in addition to other master’s degrees, have their eyes set on expanding to Oklahoma City. “We have
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Jesse and Hannah Keyton
Under the
Blue Moon Words Marla Cantrell images Freckled Fox Photography via Kindred Barn at Essie Lane Farm
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Jesse Keyton and Hannah Marrone sit at a table inside Fort Smith Coffee Company. It’s mid-morning on a chilly Saturday, and rain is tugging at the edges of the sky. The weather has been volatile this spring, snow coming in like a perpetually late guest, thunder on its heels, showers swelling creeks and rushing across roadways. Even now, Jesse and Hannah know the weather could complicate their wedding day, March 31, 2018. They shrug at the idea, though, knowing that whatever happens in the sky cannot touch the oasis that lives in their hearts. More than that, they believe God is watching over them, directing their steps. The two smile across the table at each other, and Hannah’s long brown hair falls across her shoulder. She has the kind of beauty you see in bridal ads: dewy skin, rosy cheeks, dark eyes that emit as much light as they take in. Jesse brings up the subject of Kindred Barn at Essie Lane Farm, in Mulberry, built by Hannah’s father, and where the two plan to marry. “I was invited to the barn dedication in 2016. I’d known Hannah for a while then. I have this memory of her doing dishes and singing. She was joyful and had a heart for the Lord. I just loved the way she was. On the day of the dedication, I remember thinking, I want to marry someone like Hannah.” That same year, at Thanksgiving, Jesse talked to Hannah’s father, Joey Marrone, to see if he and Hannah’s mother, Stacy, would allow him to pursue Hannah. Jesse, who’d come to the state four years ago to earn his Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Arkansas, was sweating that conversation, but it turned out well. “When we were finished talking,” Jesse says, “we prayed together.” And, so, the courtship began. Well, sort of. At the time, Hannah was doing missionary work in Thailand, with an organization called Youth with a Mission, which meant the two spent a lot of time using video calls. On that first call, they talked about what was important to them, what they wanted to accomplish. After the call ended, Jesse thought about what was crucial to him—a partner he could pray with. “And then the phone rang, and it was Hannah. She said, ‘This may sound weird but will you pray with me?’ “It was like confirmation that we were on the right path.” Hannah grins. “I liked him from the moment I met him. He makes me better. He’s always encouraging me, saying, ‘Hannah, you’ve got this.’ I used to be so independent; I encouraged myself. I didn’t need help. I’ve been so humbled by how much I need him. He’s one of the kindest people I know. He thinks about others before he thinks of himself.”
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Hannah with her father, Joey Marrone
Kindred Barn
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From November to March of 2017, the two kept up this long-
Hannah’s mom, Stacy, called it the best day ever, filled with
distance relationship. Which led to an epic first date. Hannah
laughing and dancing and eating and fellowship and prayer
was flying from Thailand to Pennsylvania, and Jesse drove
and worship. Kindred Barn, a jewel of a wedding venue, was
there to bring her back home to Arkansas.
bedecked in beauty and flowers and music, the lights twinkling. Outside, there was a feast and wine made just for the
The first night, Jesse and Hannah sat on a bench on the banks
wedding, and so much love it felt like something supernatural.
of the Susquehanna River and watched the sun set. It was an important setting and would become even more important in
The celebration started at 5:30pm and the last guests left
the months to come.
around 11pm. And somewhere in there, Hannah and Jesse Keyton slipped far enough away to dance alone in each other’s
Driving home, they passed through four state capitols, stopping
arms on the night they’d hoped and prayed for.
at each. They nodded off at a rest stop. They talked about what they wanted from a relationship. Not long after, Jesse began
Later, Joey Marrone would say that he’d gained another son that
planning the moment he would ask Hannah to marry him.
night. Stacy Marrone would say that she didn’t recall a single stressful moment. It was a beautiful way to start a life together,
That moment happened in September of last year. The two
there at Kindred Barn, where two years before Jesse had
found themselves sitting on the same bench at the Susque-
looked at Hannah and realized he wanted to marry someone
hanna River after Jesse made a surprise visit to see Hannah,
just like her. Turns out he didn’t want someone like Hannah.
who was at the Youth with a Mission in Pennsylvania. In
He wanted only Hannah. And she only wanted him.
ten hours, Hannah would be leaving for a mission trip to Nepal. The sun was dropping low in the sky, the water below reflecting its glow. Jesse had the ring with him, and he asked Hannah to be his wife. Since then, the two have worked toward the moment when they would say their vows, which was complicated by the fact that Hannah spent four of the six months between the engagement and wedding serving in Nepal. Having parents in the wedding business was a great help to Hannah, who trusts her mother’s taste and judgment above all else. “She made sure all the choices were ours, that the wedding made us happy.” March 31 arrived soggy and with rain in the forecast. Family and friends, 270 of them, from across the country and from other continents gathered to wish this lovely couple well. Six bridesmaids donning blush-colored dresses flitted around Hannah as she slipped into the strapless wedding gown she’d bought as soon as she saw it. The day was perfect. The rain held off, a blue moon rose, and there was more crying and hugging than you can imagine. During the father/daughter dance, Hannah and her dad, Joey, sang “It is Well,” to Jesse, his favorite hymn.
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SING YOUR
Words Jessica Sowards image courtesy Jeremiah Sowards
Song
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The earliest memory I have of singing was in my bedroom closet before I’d even started preschool. I’d asked for one thing for Christmas, a real microphone, and I’d gotten it. It stood on a little stand and had a teal foam head. I loved it, but I was so shy that I refused to sing in front of anyone. Instead, I hid away from any listeners and held concerts for the shoes and hangers in my closet. Ten years after my closet performances, I could be found on a stage. No, not belting my heart out for the world to hear. Rather, I was the one standing in the back row of the ninth-grade choir. I never tried out for the solo, and though I would sometimes daydream about boldly sharing my song for others to hear, I didn’t do it. I tried my best to blend in with the crowd, and when the time came to register for tenth grade, I dropped choir and pursued journalism and photography in its place. Even though I was so painfully shy, I had such a deep longing to make music. I was drawn to it. I marveled at band performances and loved to attend choir concerts. The school talent shows blew me away, and I would be moved to tears as my peers stood and shared their musical gifting. I couldn’t believe how brave they were, and I always assumed that I would probably be brave too if only I were more talented, if music just came more naturally to me. I tried to learn guitar a time or two. I mastered a handful of chords and even developed decent callouses on my fingertips, but I’d always quit before I got good enough to enjoy it. I resolved to just enjoy the music in the people close to me, and I settled into the identity of a nonmusical person. I’d say it, just like that, “Oh, I’m not musical.” When you say you aren’t musical, people generally don’t push. Years went by. I grew up, had babies. The only time I was ever offered a microphone was on karaoke night at the local Mexican restaurant where my mom was a regular. She’d coax me, “Oh Jessie Lane, you can sing. I’m sure you can,” and I would decline. Every time. The thing is, I did sing. When my boys woke in the night, I would sit in the recliner as they settled in at my breast and I would sing to them with my whole heart. I would make up songs about their soft skin and their bow lips and about the wonderful dream-worlds that laid in wait for them to simply close their eyes and rest. Night after night, I sang to them about how much I loved them. Though I was so critical of my voice, they never once complained. For a very long time, I sang for them alone. But God was not content to leave me singing in the dark. He began to stir my heart. I had spent DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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years mumbling along with words on a screen during church
There was no magic moment. It didn’t play out like a Holly-
worship, feeling like the music part of the service was just the
wood movie, where the shy girl breaks out with a set of pipes
introduction to the important part, but God began to show
that rival Beyoncé and everyone is blown away. It might make
me what it means to be a worshipper. He began to show me
a more entertaining story if my song had come forth that way,
that worship is not to prepare a room of people for a preacher,
but I don’t think it would be nearly as encouraging. No, my
but instead to prepare our heart for its King.
song started as a shaky and pitchy thing, rattled with fear but full of love for Jesus. Some people are born with raw talent, but everyone is born with a song. Really, the encouraging part
Suddenly, I understood that it wasn’t just music I’d always been drawn
of my story is the fact that God adores our songs even when they are imperfect. They move His heart. With the help of a very good teacher, encouraging friends,
to. It was worship. And I accepted
and the reassurance of my husband, I’ve grown tremendously
the reality that it was what I was
found it was a much better match for me than guitar. I set
made for. I accepted the reality
morning, I pour a cup of coffee and take my seat on a stool in
that I really was made with a song inside of me, and that God Himself was waiting to hear it.
in the months I’ve been singing. I was gifted a keyboard and it up in front of the window overlooking my garden. Every front of it. There, I sing out loud to Jesus. I don’t have aspirations of making a career out of recording albums or selling songs, but if it moves His heart, that’s enough to draw me back to that window every day. Sometimes, when friends come over, I’ll share new songs with them, playing piano and singing without even a twinge of nervousness. The coolest part of stepping out of insecurity has been
I call this season of my life the Season of Singing Out Loud,
watching my kids follow suit. My husband Jeremiah and I have
and I think I will always reminisce about it with a bit of awe
bought instruments for their birthdays and holidays, and now they
and mystery. It’s hard for me to lay out chronologically or
enthusiastically play their drums and guitars and ukuleles, making
explain in words how I came to pursue music. But it was kind
up their own songs and thrilling at our response to them.
of like I’d been standing in front of a closet for thirty years, looking in at a little microphone with a teal foam head. Then,
I feel a little silly sharing this. I can almost hear that creeping voice
urged by the encouraging voice of the Father, I made the
of fear saying, “What good is a story about a song they can’t
deliberate and difficult choice to hang up my insecurity and
hear?” But I know the truth. Sometimes you just need to be told
take the thing out, to take the identity of “worshipper” out of
that something matters to face your fears. So I’m telling you as
the closet and put it on.
simply as I can. Sing your song. It moves the heart of God.
Follow Jessica
@thehodgepodgedarling.blogspot.com.
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Life on Moss Mountain Farm WORDS Jeanni Brosius Images courtesy P. Allen Smith/Moss Mountain Farm
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The name P. Allen Smith has become a well-recognized name, and it’s no wonder people would want to visit his farm that is featured on so many of his television segments. In Roland, just a short drive from Little Rock, Moss Mountain Farm sits overlooking the Arkansas River Valley. Visitors are harkened by The Big Sister, a 300-year-old oak tree that stands majestically in front of the stately home that looks as old as the tree, but was built in 2010. Paying close attention to detail, Smith built and decorated his home as if it were done in the 1800s. The Big Sister is a significant part of the farm and is located at the center of the property and is where the garden design begins. Visitors gather under the old oak tree at the beginning of the farm tours, which are open to the public. Smith built the private organic farm because he wanted to demonstrate a life of growing food and farm living, which is very dear to him. He based it on the ancient concept of the Ferme Ornee, which means ornamented working farm and was a typical phrase used to describe eighteenth century English gardens. Moss Mountain Farm was designed to be a beautiful and productive retreat on a significant scale. As with his shows, the farm tour also exemplifies Smith’s goal of helping Americans live more healthful lives. He maintains that “Education without inspiration affects little change.” Smith was raised in a family of farmers, artists, horticulturists, and nurserymen. His main occupation has always been a landscape designer, and he owns P. Allen Smith and Associates, a nationally recognized landscape design firm that focuses on residential and commercial projects. “I had the good fortune to grow up on a farm and understand now more than ever before how meaningful that has been to me,” Smith said. Smith is known for sharing his message of good conservation practices. He also teaches his skills for growing food, making crafts and improving lives. He said building the farm was an important step in sharing his passion. He began restoring the property in 2006.
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Smith is an author, conservationist and television host. Many of his shows, Garden Home on PBS, and Garden Style in syndication, are filmed at his farm. When his fans visit his farm, they particularly enjoy visiting the one-acre vegetable garden, lavish rose garden and the 1840-style farmhouse, which are featured on his shows and in magazine articles. “Many of these ardent fans had followed the construction of every aspect of the farm on our PBS television show P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home,” Smith said. “It’s amusing when we have groups to the farm, and these visitors can tell me exactly when certain aspects of the house or farm were featured on the show, and honestly, they can tell me more about details than I can now remember.” Many of the animals featured on the TV shows live at the farm. Smith also has a large variety of heritage poultry breeds. He is passionate about protecting these threatened breeds from becoming extinct. In fact, there’s an entire area of the farm designated to his poultry, and it’s appropriately called Poultryville. A golden chicken perched atop a ledge marks the entrance. He also created Heritage Poultry Conservancy to help preserve these breeds. The conservancy has outreach programs to inspire and assist 4-H members and hosts biannual poultry workshops for backyard chicken keepers. In addition to the heritage poultry, agriculture is also an integral part of the heritage of Arkansas. Farmers are beginning to realize how important agritourism is to Arkansas. Agriculture contributes just under $20 billion to the state’s economy, according to the Arkansas Agricultural Department. Smith also believes agritourism is good for Arkansas. “Agritourism can showcase some of the best Arkansas has to offer to visitors from out of state, DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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help reconnect people to our rich agricultural heritage and
favorite,” he said. “After lunch guests can wander about the
inform them on how and where their food comes from,” he said.
property and visit the gift shop. If I am in town, I like to attend the tours to meet the guests and answer questions. Accessi-
Moss Mountain Farm also serves as a laboratory for new
bility and hospitality are an important part of our brand. … I
flower, vegetable varieties, and experimentation with design
want everything served at the farm to support our message of
in the garden.
the value of good food and a meal shared.”
On tour days, guests arrive at the farm at 10:30 in the morning and are taken on a guided tour of the house and gardens that include the terrace gardens, vegetable garden, 18,000-square-
Tickets are $96.75, and the tour includes lunch made from
foot rose garden and the poultry house, aka Poultryville.
recipes in one of Smith’s cookbooks. To learn more about scheduling an event or to take a tour, call 501.519.5793, or visit
“They have lunch comprised of recipes from my cookbook, P.
the website at pallensmith.com.
Allen Smith’s Seasonal Recipes. The buttermilk pecan pie is a
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SPRING ROLLS IMAGES Catherine Frederick
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INGREDIENTS For the rolls
>> 12 spring roll wrappers (I used Blue Dragon brand) >> 5 oz. cooked rice vermicelli noodles >> Broccoli slaw >> 1 medium cucumber, julienned >> 3-4 leaves of lettuce, sliced >> Cilantro sprigs (you can also use mint or basil) >> Cooked chicken or shrimp, sliced longwise For the peanut ginger sauce
>> ¼ cup creamy peanut butter >> ½ teaspoon ground ginger >> 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce >> 2 – 2 ½ teaspoons soy sauce >> 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar >> ½ - 1 Tablespoon sugar The great thing about these rolls is
>> ½ teaspoon sesame oil
you can stuff them a million different
>> 1 Tablespoon lime juice
ways using your favorite vegetables
>> 1 teaspoon - 1 Tablespoon chili garlic paste
and adding shrimp, beef or chicken,
(optional – this is where your heat comes from)
or go meatless! These ingredients are vegetables and herbs my family enjoys.
>> ¼ - ½ cup warm water (I used 6 Tablespoons) >> Chopped peanuts (optional)
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METHOD FOR THE PEANUT GINGER SAUCE Add everything to a medium bowl (except water) and whisk until smooth. Add 1 Tablespoon of warm water at a time until you reach desired consistency. Pour into serving bowl. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts if desired. Set aside.
FOR THE ROLLS Julienne (think matchsticks), chop, dice, slice and cook all ingredients before you begin assembly (you can buy pre-sliced vegetables like I did for some ingredients). Prepare the wrappers per package directions. Place softened wrapper on a working surface, like a cutting board.
FILLING Do not overstuff! Divide lettuce, cilantro, chicken or shrimp, noodles, and vegetables between each wrapper.
ROLLING Fold up from the bottom to cover the ingredients. Then, fold right and left sides into the middle tightly, and roll the wrapper up to the top. It’s like rolling a burrito! Repeat for each roll. Serve with peanut dipping sauce.
STORING Wrap rolls individually in plastic wrap so they don’t stick together and keep in airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days along with sauce. Best served fresh!
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Pretty in Pink image James Stefiuk
INGREDIENTS • 2-3 cups pink lemonade • ½ - ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (not bottled) • 1 cup triple sec • 1 cup silver tequila • ¼ cup Grand Marnier • Limes (wedges for garnish) • Margarita sugar-salt (optional)
METHOD Pour sugar-salt onto plate. Rim glasses with water or corn syrup and roll in sugar-salt. Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add lemonade, lime juice, triple sec, tequila and Grand Marnier. Shake well. Strain into prepared glasses. Garnish with lime wedge. Delicious served with or without ice. Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.
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Simply the Best Petit Jean State Park words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
T
he quiet things in life are often the most underrated,
tronic dinosaurs either. In some places of the park, it's dicey
overlooked simply because they are quiet. In our hyper-
getting so much as a cell signal. What it does have—in fact,
stimulated, uber-connected world, we've lost something of
what it is—is a time machine; a portal to the days of station
the innocence that takes delight in being still, that hears the
wagons and picnic baskets, a campfire tale come to life, a living
music in the silence. Even as we thirst to be plugged in, we're
Polaroid burnished at the edges.
more disconnected than ever; in our hunger to stand out, we've forgotten our place in the universe.
Petit Jean is Arkansas' first state park. While there were some dandies to follow, the state has never quite improved on the
Therein lies the restorative magic of Petit Jean State Park, a
original. Petit Jean is set on the largest of the rippling humps
2,600-acre gem sitting astride the easternmost section of the
that make up this mountain range across Yell, Logan, Scott
Petit Jean mountains just south of Morrilton in the Arkansas
and Conway counties, that looms indigo, azure, and sapphire
River Valley. There are no roller coasters up here; no anima-
in the morning mist.
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The Museum of Automobiles is up here, founded by the late Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, as is the headquarters of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. There's an airport too, plus a bevy of small businesses catering to the tourists, such as a motel, petting zoo and riding stables, assorted youth campgrounds and private acreages. The quaint First Baptist Church, its bleached white steeple aimed ever-heavenward, nestles peacefully around one bend. Slipping through the veil of pines at the park entrance, the filtered light of the forest splashes off hulking shale boulders and smooth, flat sandstone. For the beginner, it's hard to take everything in; for those who come here often, the natural beauty and sheer scale of the surroundings still stop them in their tracks. There are cabins and campgrounds a-plenty at Petit Jean State Park as well as the stunning Adirondack-style Mather Lodge with twenty-four rooms, a restaurant and swimming pool. Those wishing to go native can rent a yurt or teepee, but most overnight visitors pitch tents or park campers and RVs in one of the designated camping areas. Along the shoreline of Lake Bailey, youngsters of all ages drop a line from the fishing dock, launch a rented canoe or other watercraft and picnic under the pines. Outdoor tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds and ball fields add to the recreational amenities. The story of Petit Jean Mountain is filled with natural wonder and human drama. In the 1700s a young French nobleman named Chavet received a royal grant to claim land in the New World. His Parisian fiancĂŠe, Adrienne Dumont, wanted to move up their wedding so as to accompany him, but he refused in order to spare her the hardships of the journey, instead saying they would marry upon his return. Not wanting to be left behind, Dumont disguised herself and applied for a job as cabin boy on the ship carrying her unsuspecting suitor. The ruse worked; legend has it even Chavet didn't recognize Petit Jean, which is French for "Little John," as the sailors dubbed her. The expedition traversed the ocean, traveled up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers, and arrived at the foot of the mountain where they were welcomed by the native peoples. Dumont kept up the disguise all summer, only to grow ill in the fall just as the party was preparing to return to France. At that time, her true identity was discovered. Before her death, she begged her beloved's forgiveness and asked to DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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be buried atop the mountain, a request that was granted on a
original cabin, built on the north side of Lake Bailey, was restored
spot overlooking the river.
by Civilian Conservation Corps and can be seen today in the park. In 1891, Dan Nelson built a mansion on a choice point
Today, Petit Jean's grave is marked and preserved, but it is the view
overlooking the river valley not far from Petit Jean’s gravesite.
of the river valley below that makes the tale all the more dramatic.
Over the years, the mansion changed hands, was used as a hotel
The patchwork farms and pastureland, trimmed in the curling
and finally donated to the YMCA which used it as a camp before
ribbon of the Arkansas River, race out in every direction below the
it was torn down.
massive overlook. The State Parks Service has constructed viewing platforms where visitors can take in all this beauty.
By the dawn of the twentieth century, much of the land that would become the park was in private hands, including the Seven
More solid sights may be found along the Seven Hollows hiking
Hollows portion owned by Fort Smith Lumber Company. The
trail, a loop that passes through a series of small canyons,
difficulty of logging combined with the overwhelming natural
through dense hardwood forest. Sights include a natural stone
beauty of the place eventually planted the seed for preserving
arch, box canyon and various caves and crannies that sheltered
the area as a national park. That bid failed, but thanks to the
humans for hundreds of years. The four-and-a-half-mile trail is
work of Dr. T.W. Hardison, Petit Jean State Park was established
ranked as moderately difficult.
in 1923, one of the first such spaces in the South.
Settlers eventually came to the mountain: In 1845 John Walker
For Hardison, like the native people, explorers and pioneers
of Tennessee became the first white settler on Petit Jean. His
before him, and the thousands upon thousands of visitors that
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travel
came after, the showstopper at Petit Jean is Cedar Falls. It’s a spectacular waterfall in the center of the park that tumbles ninety-five feet to the basin below. The cliff face is equally beautiful as the water itself, having been shaped by time and weather into a concave backdrop for the snow-white falls. The waterfall is stunning viewed from the handicap-accessible overlook area built by the Parks Department. For a truly unforgettable experience, take the hiking trail from Mather Lodge to the base of the falls, roughly a one-mile jaunt of easy to moderate exertion. A visit to Petit Jean State Park is the antidote for anything the modern world can dish out, reintroducing families to the art of walking dogs, riding bikes and joining at dusk in the melody of laughter harmonized with crackling campfires.
Petit Jean State Park 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton, AR 501.727.5441 petitjeanstatepark.com
Directions: From the west, travel Interstate 40 to Arkansas Highway 7, south at Russellville, then east on Petit Jean Mountain Road at Centerville. From the east, travel Interstate 40 to Arkansas Highway 9 at Morrilton, turn west onto Arkansas Highway 154 (turns into Petit Jean Mountain Road) at Oppelo.
Upcoming Events: May 12 Arkansas Heritage Day Visit Petit Jean to learn more about the park’s history and heritage, including the story of the structures built by the Civil Conservation Corps in the 1930s. June 12-16 60th Annual Auto Show and Swap Meet Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain Antique car show, with classic and vintage automobiles from all over the region are on display. Call the Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain at 501.727.5427 for more information.
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MOBILE
My Oh My!
When I arrived in downtown Mobile, Alabama, its trees were still dressed in Mardi Gras beads months after the signature Moon Pies were tossed from floats to happy crowds. Less than a half-mile away was a cruise ship getting ready for its next adventure, and the size of it seemed mythical to someone who has spent most of her life landlocked. I stayed at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, a lovely hotel that looks out over the water. As I walked down Water Street,
WORDS Marla Cantrell Images courtesy Marla Cantrell, 5 Rivers photo by Debbie Denson; Dauphin Audubon by ABBT and Jeffery Greenberg; Dauphin Restaurant by Dauphin’s; Visit Mobile; other vendors
the sun kept catching those beads, green and gold and purple. Hanging on the then-barren limbs, they seemed to say, Let’s you and me remember how to party. Let’s not waste too much time before we party again.
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taste travel
If I learned one thing while I was there, it is that Mobile is the home of Mardi Gras, holding claim as the first U.S. city to organize its celebration in 1703. Ask about New Orleans, and you’ll get the same answer: New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, while grand in its own right, was never first. That distinction sent me to the Mobile Carnival Museum. But Mardi Gras is just the beginning of what’s unique about Mobile. Downtown has a self-guided walking trail that lets you see the outdoor art. (While you’re there, check out the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa with Mobile’s only Four Diamond restaurant. Opened in 1852, it’s hosted celebrities, a president, even a king. And Elvis stayed there, making it a must-see.) Old houses in neat rows branching out from the downtown area look a lot like the neighborhoods you’ve come to love in New Orleans. Porch ceilings are often painted that baby-soft blue, as they have been since the houses were built. Some say the color kept away haints. Others say wasps wouldn’t nest on the blue boards, that spiders scattered. Ask about the backstory of Mobile, and you’ll hear how the French claimed the city as a colony in 1702. Next, it belonged to Britain, then Spain, and finally the United States. Ask about the waterways, and you’ll learn it’s Alabama’s only saltwater port. Take a ride on the Gulf Coast Ducks, and you’ll learn even more about the 300-year history of this dynamic port city. Here are a few of the highlights from my trip as a guest of Visit Mobile. the evolution of the robes, and you’ll see how they’ve become
WHAT MAKES MOBILE MOBILE?
grander and heavier. One on display weighed 120 pounds, and because it did, the seamstress had to add wheels at critical loca-
Mobile Carnival Museum
tions on the hem, so that the queen could carry it.
355 Government Street, Mobile 251.432.3324
If you’re wondering what those on the floats toss to the
mobilecarnivalmuseum.com
crowds, it’s beads of course, but also Moon Pies, a delicacy in the Deep South. On this visit, I met the 2013 Mobile Area Mardi
In a two-story house laced in wrought iron, lives the carnival
Gras Association Queen, Edra Finley. Edra’s great-grandfather
museum, complete with floats. Many rooms are filled with the
James A. Franklin was one of the founders of MAMGA, so the
gowns and suits worn by the kings and queens, along with their
honor of serving as queen was a monumental experience.
crowns and scepters. Each king and queen works with a specially trained seamstress on their costumes, which are as symbolic as
If you want to see Mobile’s Mardi Gras for yourself, plan a visit
they are opulent. On them, you might see a family crest, a cross
in February or early March 2019. There are thirty-four parades
to symbolize faith, a flower that has significant meaning. Follow
planned between February 15 and March 5, Fat Tuesday.
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travel travel
Fort Gaines Historic Site East End of Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island 251.861.6992 dauphinisland.org Fort Gaines sits on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico and is the site of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. Completed in 1861, it lives today with military reenactments including the firing of old cannons, and live demonstrations by an expert blacksmith. If the fort sounds familiar, it’s because of Admiral Farragut’s History Museum of Mobile
famous command, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”
111 South Royal Street, Mobile
On May 19 and 20, there will be a two-day naval battle reen-
251.208.7569
actment depicting the siege of Fort Gaines.
museumofmobile.com Schedule some time here, because this museum covers 300
PUT ON YOUR WALKING SHOES!
years of Mobile history, beginning with Native Americans, its first inhabitants. The museum is housed in the old courthouse, which is 180 years old. Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail 111 South Royal Street, 2nd Floor 251.725.2236 dffaaht.org Remember Edra Finley, the 2013 MAMGA queen? Her father, Eric, was my tour guide for the African-American Heritage Trail. The tour included forty sites around town with historical significance. Eric offered stories that chronicled the contributions of the African-Americans in Mobile, including baseball greats Hank Aaron and Satchel Page. Stories from the days of
Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary
the slave trade through the Civil Right era abound with exam-
109 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island
ples of courage and determination.
251.861.3607 dauphinisland.org/bird Dauphin Island is just a short drive from Mobile. You’ll see fishing huts, colorful houses, and water as far as the eye can see. Have lunch at Lighthouse Bakery where everything’s freshly made. Try the Cinnamon Pecan Roll! Then head to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, 164 acres of woodlands with trails through pines, oaks, and magnolias. Known as one of the best places to see “neotropical migrants,” a term for birds flying south each fall to the tropics, and north each spring. Also, if you have the experience I did, you’ll see at least one alligator in the swamp. Yikes! DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
travel taste
Gulf Coast Duck Boats 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile 251.802.8687 gulfcoastducks.com If you like a laugh while you learn, tour Mobile Bay, downtown, and Mobile River on the duck! Your guide will show you the sights on land and water and educate you on the 300-year history of this vibrant town.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore 800.247.8420 bellingrath.org Azaleas, 250,000 of them, were starting to bloom when I toured the sixty-five-acre piece of paradise. There are tons of 5 River Delta Center
30945 South Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort
other flowers, but what tops it all is the story of the couple who created this estate in the 1930s, Walter and Bessie Bellin-
Wild Native Tours wildnativetours.com
grath. He was the frugal one, making his fortune in Coca-Cola,
251.625.0814
and she was the gardener whose generosity became legend.
dcnr.state.al.us/outdoor-adventures/5rivers
During the Great Depression, she would often stop to ask a family, down on their luck, if they realized their azaleas were
The Delta center sits on the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, where
extremely rare. Bessie would then offer them cash for one of
the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Apalachee, and Blakely rivers
the plants. Of course, the flowers were not rare, but that didn’t
flow into Mobile Bay. The center has six campsites, a kayak
matter. She was helping families keep food on the table while
and canoe launch, a theater and exhibits. To see the wildlife
preserving their pride. Walk the garden paths, and then tour
and learn things like why alligators bury themselves tail-first up
the family’s home, built in 1935.
to their heads over the winter, take a Wild Native Tour on the Osprey to see the Mobile Tensaw Delta. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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GET IN MY BELLY!
Wintzell’s Oyster House 605 Dauphin Street, Mobile 251.432.4605 wintzellsoysterhouse.com Dauphin’s 107 St. Francis Street, Suite 3400, Mobile
The history of Mobile resides in this iconic eatery, founded in
251.444.0200
1938 with only six seats at the oyster bar. Fresh Gulf seafood,
godauphins.com
gumbo, crawfish etouffee, bread pudding, crab cakes, steaks, and of course oysters “fried, stewed, or nude.” My favorite dish
Fine dining doesn’t get any better than Dauphin’s, and neither does
was Oysters Bienville, with shrimp, crabmeat and parmesan.
the view. Housed atop the Trustmark Bank Building, you have a view of seventy-five nautical miles of the Mobile Bay. Try the Fried
Noble South
Alligator, Fried Green Tomato and Alabama Shrimp Remoulade,
203 Dauphin Street, Mobile
and Airline Chicken, sautéed in lemon, garlic, and rosemary sauce.
251.690.6824 thenoblesouthrestaurant.com This new take on Southern cuisine is a great addition to the food scene in Mobile. Try the Pepper Jelly with Blue Cheese Mousse on Toast, and the Redfish with Chive and Fennel Spaetzle, Arugula and Turnip Salad, Meyer Lemon Beurre Blanc.
For more information, check out mobile.org.
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southern fiction
A
Arbor switches off the TV, throws the remote onto the coffee table with a thud. She can’t watch one more minute of Miranda Lambert mooning over her ex, Blake Shelton, singing about her broken heart. Everybody at the Country Music Awards must be squirming in
Lifted Up
FICTION Marla Cantrell
their seats, except maybe Gwen Stefani, who’s sitting by Blake Shelton like she’d just snagged the biggest teddy bear at the state fair. The next morning, when she flips on the TV to get the weather report, she finds out Miranda won Song of the Year. “Isn’t that something!” Arbor says to her little peanut of a dog, Vinnie. Vinnie turns in a circle, looks at her with his head upturned. If he were people, his eyebrows would be arched just so. He’s anticipating something good, so she reaches into her robe pocket, finds a milkbone, snaps it in two, and hands it over. She dotes on that dog, she knows she does. But he’s been with her seven years now, four more than she’s ever kept a man. Vinnie was a parting gift from Shane, who surprised her with the pup a week before breaking up with her. The sun is shooting rays through the living room’s picture window. People call this light golden, but she sees it as the yellow of Easter flowers. Of gingham dresses she wore when she was a girl. The light makes her happy, and for a split-second, she feels like she used to before the storm. That day, the yellow sky was a different thing. It held the dirt of a city street, the mud from a murky river. Yellow wasn’t a good description, but there was no other word she knew. Then the rain started, followed by hail the size of jawbreakers, and all Arbor could think of was her Honda parked beside the
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southern fiction
house. Two years of payments left. She shined the tires every
The old man of the house found her soon after, the glow of his
Friday when she washed it. Not one dent. Not a ding in the
flashlight hitting her eyes, running down the length of her body.
windshield. She felt her knees go rubbery listening to the hail.
The man said, “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” before squatting down to assess the damage.
Her TV runs on satellite, and it turned to static as soon as the hail started, so she’d sat on her sofa and watched the
He tugged at his neck. “You’re going to be fine,” he said, though
weather unfold through the window that was protected by
he didn’t sound convinced. “I can’t move you, though. You could
her porch. Vinnie, nine weeks old, sat on her lap, his tiny gray
have spinal damage. We don’t want to take a chance.”
body shaking, and Arbor rubbed his head. “Just a bad storm, Vinnie. It’ll pass.”
By then, the adrenaline that rose with her as she sailed through the spring night, began to subside, and her pain demanded
And it did. But not long after, the air turned clammy and still.
attention. “You’ve got to do something!” she said, and the
The sounds of early evening stalled. No tree frogs or birds.
man pushed himself up.
Nothing buzzed or chirped or croaked. She was wearing sweats that day, and when the wind picked up again, she tucked
“I’ll get some covers from the house.” He looked at her as if
Vinnie inside the pouch on her sweatshirt.
to ask if this was the right thing to do. She said, “Call a dadblamed ambulance!”
When the freight train sound she’d heard about her whole life began, she remembered a joke from junior high. “What
At that moment, Vinnie yelped from inside Arbor’s sweatshirt,
did tornadoes sound like before trains were invented?” Not so
and she wailed with relief. Not everything was lost.
funny now, she thought, and headed for the bathroom where there were no windows at all.
In the hospital, she was told how lucky she was. “Twelve dead so far,” a nurse with a PayDay candy bar sticking up from her
Once in the tub, she pulled the quilt she’d grabbed from the
pants’ pocket said. She nodded, the nurse pushed a needle into
back of the sofa and covered up. Vinnie whimpered, and she
the IV bag and Arbor drifted away.
rubbed the front of her sweatshirt with a shaky hand. The last thing she remembers is watching the roof lift off her house,
The next day, the old man who’d found her, whose name was
feeling herself held aloft, suspended above the tub for what
Manford, snuck Vinnie in for a visit. “Smart little cuss,” he said.
seemed like a month of Sundays. And then the wallop of the
“Me and the missus have been teaching him to shake.” He put
storm shot her through that brutal sky.
Vinnie on the floor and demonstrated, and Arbor pretended to watch, even though she couldn’t shift enough to see.
She woke up in somebody’s yard on the other side of the interstate. She landed splat on her back, her left foot mangled, her
For the ten days she was in the hospital, she hoped her Shane
head loud as a drum. Arbor raised herself onto her elbows,
would visit. Would hear her story on the news and realize the
soaked through. In the dusky night, she could see trees
horror of her transcending from this world to the Great Beyond.
uprooted, piles of debris that used to be houses, the sharp calls
But he did not show up or call or send a smoke signal her way.
of folks already looking for the lost.
Some days she imagined him dead in the storm. Those were her better days.
The yard where she lay was littered with tree limbs and other people’s furniture. She knew this because this house, green-
Two months later, she turned thirty years old in the rehab
shuttered, red-bricked, looked untouched, like the lone tree left
center, surrounded by geriatrics with new hips, new knees. Her
in a hay field after harvest.
flimsy ankle, her ruined foot, did the best they could, but she’d always have that limp, that halting reminder of the storm. They let her go on a Wednesday. Manford picked her up.
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In his truck, Vinnie waited, freshly washed, a green bandana
If he had meant it, they would have gone on in the same way
around his tiny neck. His tongue hung out, and his tail wagged,
other couples do. Ups and downs. Days of monotony. Nights of
and he turned in circles on the worn truck seat. That was love.
splendor. But he did not, and even her story of flight was not enough to interest him after a while.
Manford had taken pity on her and offered to oversee the repairs on her house while she was fighting to get better.
You might imagine that he left her once again, but that would
With the insurance money, she’d let his wife, Melba, pick out
be wrong. She packed his bags without a tear. She wrote a
furniture, new drapes, shiny red pots and pans that reminded
letter telling him why the two of them didn’t make sense, why
Arbor of the cherries she used to eat straight from her grand-
even his dimpled smile, his eyes the color of Texas bluebonnets,
ma’s tree. Out back, there was a storm cellar, the earth around
weren’t enough.
it newly dug, the ventilation pipe sticking up like a periscope on a submarine.
Vinnie barks and Arbor turns back now to the morning news show, dropping back into the present. Footage of Blake Shelton
Her new bedroom looked like something that belonged to a
rolls, back when he was with Miranda. He’s as good looking a
woman who wore hats to church, who cut the crusts off her
man as she’d ever seen. The thought makes her tired.
sandwiches. Arbor sat on the violet-covered bedspread and felt like a whole different person.
A storm will do things to a woman. She will start to see how quickly trouble starts. She will start to wonder over her life: the
News teams circled her house that day. They wanted to hear
mistakes, the mad adventures. She will grow cautious if the
from the woman who flew through the air with her dog and
doorbell rings after five in the afternoon. She will grow wary
landed relatively safely in a stranger’s yard. They’d started
of beautiful men.
calling her Dorothy as a joke, her dog Toto, raising their voices when they refused to answer the door.
Tonight, Arbor has a date with Manford’s nephew, a guy with a pouch of a belly and a smattering of freckles across his face.
Manford pulled himself up to his full height of about five and
They’ve been talking on the phone for a month now, getting to
a half feet and scolded them all, his voice shrill and excited as
know each other, laughing sometimes until two in the morning.
he called them nincompoops and bottom feeders.
She can hear Manford in this guy’s voice, in the phrases he uses. When they talk about the tornado, he says, “Lord have mercy!”
Shouldering through the crowd that day was Shane, wearing jeans that strained against his thighs, a Western shirt with
Before the storm, he wouldn’t have been good-looking enough
cut off sleeves that showed his golden arms. He looked like
for Arbor. But now she sees his delicate construction. She looks
an actor in a country song video—that swagger!—carrying
in the mirror and sees the fragile elements of her own body. She
flowers from the grocery, the blossoms sagging like an old
wonders at the lift of resurrection, of beauty deep and shallow.
woman’s bosom.
The night she took flight, it cost her plenty—she’s not naïve. But it gave her eyes that see past broken houses, upturned
He called out to Arbor when Manford wouldn’t open the door.
trees, scattered dishes everywhere. Beyond the brokenness, she
“I’ve come back for you!” he said, and she raised her hand to
found a future with simpler lines, better construction. Arbor
her mouth, then said, “Let him in.”
takes her cane and taps it on the floor three times. The tapping makes her feel as if she’s casting a spell. It makes her feel like
In the hours that followed, Manford left, Shane stayed, and
anything’s possible.
Vinnie growled. When night fell, Shane kissed her broken foot, the crooked toes, the bum ankle. He said words like forever and never and always and please, and Arbor drank them in like water from a canteen on a dusty trip through the desert.
Marla Cantrell is an Arkansas Arts Council Fellow in short fiction.
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REALTOR SPOTLIGHT
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Alice Honea Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479.414.5535 AliceHonea.com
Ramona Roberts Realtors 3500 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith 479.548.8000 RamonaRobertsRealtors.com Since we opened in 1980, our company has focused on one goal; to stay in touch with today’s housing markets, enabling us to find or sell the properties our clientele desire. We accomplish this by maintaining a professional and well-trained staff. We continue by offering the latest technologies which give us data about any area properties. Every day my staff exceeds our goal. Their commitment, outstanding record and high business standards speak volumes! As the person whose name is on every sign, I assure you that our goals have not wavered - we will be there when needed before and after the sale.
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In Business Since 1980
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We will be there for you before and after the sale.
3500 Old Greenwood Road Fort Smith, AR 72903 Office: 479.648.8000 www.RamonaRobertsRealtors.com
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Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company 3920 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith 479.242.4000 WeichertFortSmith.com Spearheaded by owners Kevin and Elizabeth King, our agency
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Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903