April 2013 Bluffs & Bayous

Bluffs & Bayous { April 2013 {

{ April 2013 { Bluffs & Bayous


As I write this letter on the first day of spring, the clouds of the morn-ing sky have moved along to reveal

a beautiful blue palette. The temperatures and soft winds are still a bit chilly, but the emerg-ing sunshine has warmed those cool breezes. With the start of spring come increasing day-light, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of seemingly everything around me, and with the equinox here tomorrow and then gone, our days and nights will continue to yield more and more daylight for watching spring unfold. At my home, I have taken delight in watch-ing the iris bloom, the buds on the azaleas open up, and Japanese Magnolia blossoms spread wide and drift to the ground. The dogwood blooms next door are brilliant, and I see yellow forsythia and jasmine peeking out eager to do their springtime dance. Redbud trees also are in on the blooming, trailing the Bradford Pears whose flowers burst very early upon the scene. Our brown winter lawn is in on the spring fling as well with green leaves of grass popping out all over as if to say, “Don’t forget about us!” By the time you read this, our Bluffs & Bayous’ landscape will be in full bloom, we hopefully will have warmer temps, and Easter will have recently paraded her annual tribute to the risen Christ. What a glorious time to get out-doors and marvel in the greening that surrounds us, get our hands in the dirt to plant our gar-dens or add to existing gardens, and stroll down a beckoning garden path. We invite you to stroll with us through three gardens, two to the east and one to the west of the

From Your Publisher . . .Mississippi, Biedenharn Museum & Gardens in Monroe, Louisiana; the Heritage Demonstration Garden at Vicksburg, Mississippi, National Military Park; and Mynelle Gardens in Jackson, Mississippi—this latter description written by Meaghan McCallum, our office assistant. Over in Pike County, writer Matt Doman and pho-tographer Elise Parker bring to our attention gardener Sara Cockran, who views organic gar-dening as a way of life. Robert Ferguson once again elaborates on the intricacies of growing orchids, and soon I’ll be dropping by his home to take in a tour of his beautiful orchid speci-mens. Caroline Devereaux continues with her healthy-living column and inspires all of us to live more actively and eat more sensibly.

Our Up & Coming events pages offer gar-den tours and workshops, a spectrum of other outdoor events, and exhibits and shows that no one wants to miss. Go online and copy our app to your phone so all area activities are just a touch away. Speaking of events…we just celebrated the birth of my sixth grandchild and the first boy! One of the things my daughter Mary Catherine requested as she was moved into her hospital room was for us to find some “sweet smell-ing” flowers like gardenias. Well, we looked at each other, rather amazed; you see…the baby was named after my father, Henry James Foggo, and his favorite floral scent was garde-nia. Baby “Hank’s” full name is Henry Byrne (his father’s middle name) Moffett. We ran to the floral/gift shop in the hospital to see if we could find any gardenias though

we knew the odds were against us this early in March. We settled on a spring bouquet of iris, freesia, star lily, and lilac. The fragrance in the room was so enticing, reminding me of the sweet scents of my childhood days when we slept with the windows open at our house and could smell the blossoms of Southern spring-time lilting from surrounding gardens. Our writers Ross, Alma, Jennie, Becky, Sam and Dr. Gary have springtime on the mind as well, as they share with you their life along and beyond the Mississippi.


Columnist Dr. Gary R. Bachman is an assistant extension professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Caroline Devereaux is wife to Matt and mom to two daughters, Stella and Mary Tucker. She is a certified Pilates instructor and enjoys educating others on overall health and wellness. They reside north of the Big Easy in Covington, Louisiana.

Robert Ferguson, a resident of Jackson, Mississippi, for most of his life, received his degree in horticulture from Mississippi State University in 1973. Interested in orchids since the age of 13, he owned Ferguson Orchids from 1973 to 2002 where orchids were cloned, grown from seed, and sold. Ferguson is a Life member of The American Orchid Society, has garnered four American Orchid Society Awards for his orchids, and has won three American Orchid Society Exhibition Trophies for Best of Show.

Jennie Guido is a graduate of Delta State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Master’s Degree in English Education. Having lived up Highway 61 in Cleveland, Mississippi, she recently has returned to Natchez, her hometown, to pursue her professional career.

Lucien C. “Sam” Gwin III, a native of Natchez, Mississippi, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981. Since then, he has been practicing at the law firm of Gwin, Lewis, Punches & Kelley, LLP, in Natchez. His practice includes general litigation, real estate law, divorce, contract disputes, eminent domain, products liability, personal injury, medical matters, and some estate work.

Becky Junkin, mother of four, grandmother of soon-to-be six, is a lifelong Natchez resident and a retired elementary teacher of twenty four years. She is a certified Pilates instructior and owner of Pur Pilates Studio. She and her husband Jerry live and entertain in their antebellum home Heckler Hall.

p u b l i s h e rCheryl Foggo Rinehart

e d i t o r sJean Nosser Biglane

Cheryl Foggo Rinehartg r a p h i c d e s i g n e r s

Jan RatcliffAnita Schilling

m e d i a c o o r d i n a t o rAdam Blackwell

s t a f f p h o t o g r a p h e r sVan O’Gwin

Elise D. ParkerJennifer RatliffCheryl Rineharts a l e s s t a f fCheryl RinehartDonna SessionsJoAnna Sproles

o f f i c e a s s i s t a n tMeaghan McCallum

Bluffs & Bayous is published monthly to promote the greater Southern area of Louisiana and Mississippi in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced with-out written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Bluffs & Bayous are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Bluffs & Bayous strives to insure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

o f f i c e423 Main Street, Suite 7 | Natchez, MS 39120

601-442-6847 | fax [email protected]

[email protected]@gmail.com

www.bluffsbayous.com

Jean BiglaneAdam Blackwell

Cheryl Rinehart Anita Schilling

Van O’Gwin

Elise D. Parker Jan Ratcliff

C o n t r i b u t o r s

on the coverAnita Schilling, Warren County Master Gardener and Bluffs & Bayous’ graphic designer, captures a bumble bee on a perfect Mammoth sunflower in theVicksburg National Military Park’sHeritage Demonstration Garden. See related story on pages 62-65.

Meaghan McCallum recently moved to Natchez, Mississippi, from Homer, Alaska. She graduated from Homer High School last May; and after traveling in Australia for a few months she has settled here with her family to finish her gap year before starting college.

Columnist Ross McGehee, a lifelong resident of Natchez, Mississippi, owns a diversified and far-flung farm operation.

Matt Doman, a graduate of North Pike High School and Southwest Mississippi Community College, has lived in Pike County, Mississippi, for 20+ years. He is the co-founder, along with Sara Cochran, of the Pike County Chapter of Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi.

Ann Sherard lives in Redwood, Mississippi, at Milldale, her family’s home for four generations since 1895. Redwood is a rural community ten miles north of Vicksburg off of Highway 61. A Master Gardener since 2004, Ann and her husband Randy, a Vicksburg attorney, have two grown children and an eleven-year-old grandson.

Patricia Taylor is a Doctor of Naturopathy and a Consultant Medical Herbalist, having studied at the University of Wales and Clayton, Alabama. She is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists of Great Britain and a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Taylor has a practice in her hometown in England, and she and her husband John split their year between there and their home in Natchez, Mississippi.

Columnist Alma Womack lives on Smithland Plantation on Black River, south of Jonesville, Louisiana. In addition to her duties as maitresse des maison, she is the keeper of the lawn, the lane and the pecan orchard at Smithland.

Donna Sessions JoAnna SprolesJennifer Ratliff

Meaghan McCallum


Vicksburg’s HeritageDemonstration Garden

pages 60 - 65

April 2013

Little Miss Organicpages 52 - 55

FEATURESLittle Miss Organic ................................................................................................ 52-55Biedenharn Museum & Gardens ......................................................................... 56-59Vicksburg’s Heritage Demonstration Garden ..................................................... 60-65Majestic Mynelle Gardens .............................................................................. 66-67. 91Painting Party for a Queen .................................................................................. 70-71

FAVORITESAll OutdoorsBloodlines ............................................................................................................. 10-11Adams County Deputy Sheriff’s Pro Rodeo ........................................................ 44-45

EventsApril Premier Events ............................................................................................. 76-79April Up & Coming! .............................................................................................. 80-90

G's FareOld Family Favorites ............................................................................................. 16-19

In the GardenCajun Hibiscus Spice Up the Landscape .............................................................. 38-39Paphiopedilum Cypripedium or Slipper Species ................................................. 40-41

Legal NotesLaw Along the Mississippi ......................................................................................... 21

Random JottingsRandom Jottings of Thaxted, Essex ..................................................................... 72-74

Southern SamplerEasing into Spring Along Big Black River ................................................................ 98

Something ScrumptiousThe Onward Store, Onward, Mississippi ............................................................. 24-26

To Your HealthHealthier Living —Meal Planning and Preparations ........................................... 48-49

THEsocial SCENEBrookhaven Trust Art Show Reception ...............................8-9

Krewe of Ceres Ticket Party .............................................12-13

Royal Pages Honor King and Queen ...............................14-15

Trinity School’s Founders’ Day and Open House .................20

Suppa Club’s Christmas Party ................................................22

Historic Natchez Tableaux Pages Host Royal Brunch ..........27

Honoring Santa Steve ......................................................42-43

Mardi Gras Brunch for King Rex XXXI ............................46-47

Lady Luck and Dillard’s Fund United Way ...........................92

Tea for NGC Royal Mothers ..................................................94

THEwedding SCENEWright and Brunt Engagement Celebration ..................28-30

Engle and Smith Engagement Party ...............................32-33

Cox and Strong Engagement ..........................................34-37


Brookhaven Trust Art Show ReceptionA reception for artists Cecilia Edgeworth

Baker and Gwin Robertson, both of Ridgeland, Mississippi, was held January 17, 2013, at the library in Brookhaven, Mississippi. An exhibit of their art was organized by the Arts Council of the Brookhaven Trust and remained on display at the library throughout the month. The paintings of these artists are included in corporate, state, and private collections across the United States and internationally. Gwin Robertson began to pursue her desire to become an “artist” after attending an oil workshop in 1988. Since then, she has studied with local and nationally known artists and participated in solo and group shows. Cecilia Baker is a signature member of the Alabama Pastel Society, active member of the Degas Pastel Society of New Orleans, and a founding member of the Pastel Society of Mississippi. She is represented by the Fondren Art Gallery in Jackson and the Gatewood Gallery in Forest. Photos by Bill Perkins

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Anna Guist with Sherri and Mary BlailockAva Jane Newell and Betty Ann PerkinsBetty Ann Perkins, Mona Guist, and Maxine MinterEric Kaplan and Phyllis SpearmanBetty Bullard, Marilyn Driskell, and Dott CannonGwin Robertson and Cecilia BakerElizabeth Hilton and Nancy ArmisteadJenny Watson and Mona Guist

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Jonnie Johnson, Bill Perkins, and Ava Jane NewellSri Katner with David and Kay CalcoteMarguerite Vinson, Gwin Robertson, and Margie Fay TarverPam Womack and Kathleen SmithPat Allen, Janice Kaplan, and Linda KergosienRoberto Bonilla, Meagan Dupont, and Michael WoodyGwin Robertson and John Thompson


quickly determined, based on her actions, that the doe was being pursued by a buck. Lance made a quick adjustment and shift-ed his buffalo-gun primitive weapon to his left shoulder so he could take a shot on a deer that may pass on his right side. Anyone that has shot a large weapon knows how awkward it is to shoot from the wrong side. It just doesn’t feel right. You’re using an eye that has not been trained to look through the sights, a fi nger that doesn’t have experience on a trigger, and a shoulder that is improperly padded. Think of driving a manual transmission in a British car and shifting with your left hand for the fi rst time. But Lance got ready; and sure enough, a buck trotted into view minutes after the doe had vanished. Lance whistled; the buck stopped and looked for the source of the noise. Lance shot left-handed, got suf-fi ciently thrashed by the recoil—and the buck ran off. Down the ladder in a fl ash, Lance went out to fi nd his deer. Leaning over and peering into the leaves, he saw a spot of blood almost immediately. Then another and another until it seemed like he was spotting a tiny droplet of blood with every step! Then, magically, the blood trail stopped. This is not uncommon. No need to get into the why, but the hardest part of hunt-ing is fi nding game after the shot. And for some, it is as close as they will come to ac-tually hunting because there is no electron-ic gadget for following a blood trail. You have to pay attention to every detail; and the fewer people helping look, the better. Too many footprints can mess up a trail if you have to go back and start over, and that is what Lance did. The trail was going in a strange direc-tion. It just didn’t make sense. But the blood was there; then it stopped. Lance re-ran the route, looking for other signs that weren’t evident as hard as he looked. So he restart-ed at the beginning for the third time, this time not looking for blood, just following the trail, walking erect, and looking for trail crossings, broken sticks, a bush that had been bent as a deer passed, anything for a tip. Then, he began casting in circles from the end of the blood trail, trying to pick it back up. Finding nothing, he cast even fur-ther out, looking for the deer. Finally, in frustration, he called his buddy Jeff, who had a dog trained to fi nd deer after the shot. An hour passed before Jeff found Lance in the woods; and his greeting was, “What the hell happened to you?”

Every once in a while you hear a story that starts out rather bland; then, it turns interesting; then, bizarre; and

fi nally, it winds up amusing. And the plau-sibility of the whole thing makes you won-der why you’ve never heard of its happen-ing before. You also wonder why someone would tell it on himself. That probably an-swers your fi rst wondering. But a good tale should make you think, and this one does. Oh, sure, if you’ve heard one hunting tale, you’ve heard them all! Around the campfi re the stories can get pretty gener-ic, especially if the teller feels compelled to describe every bush he walked past on his particular adventure or enumerate ev-ery lure he possesses in his tackle box. Or they can go the other way: “Me and Tommy went huntin’ and kilt a deer! That thing had the scariest eyes you ever saw in a Q-Beam.” “Me and Cousin Jay caught a boatload of white perch in some gill webbing! Then the game warden showed up.” “That Coldiron boy was squirrel huntin’ at Frogmore and stepped on a snake! Run clear to Wildsville!” “That durn-fool Decker didn’t know he had buckshot in his shotgun when he went rabbit hunting with us. He thought he was MISSING all them rabbits but he was blowing them UP!”

So let’s see how Lance’s story rates. Lance has a degree in forestry and years of experience in the woods as a profession-al timber manager. He currently works for the state as a fi eld representative for a con-servation agency and spends a very large percentage of his time outdoors. He is an accomplished hunter, having been highly successful in his pursuit of deer and tur-keys. He has been a guest in our camp on many occasions, and I am proud to report that both of his children got their fi rst tur-keys there while hunting with their dad. But trailing a deer after the shot is made has proven diffi cult for him at times. Lance was making a primitive weapon hunt for deer this season. Primitive weap-ons are now required to be a certain min-imum size and only capable of holding one cartridge at a time. Telescopic sights are permitted now, and muzzle-loaders are not necessary any longer; neither is black-powder. So Lance was in a tree stand with his buffalo-gun primitive weapon when he heard a deer approaching from behind his position. He twisted around to see a doe coming pretty fast; and judging from her route, she would pass twenty yards to the right of his position. That’s good, and it’s also not good. She’s going to be close enough to shoot but on the wrong side because Lance shoots right-handed. He

All Outdoors

Bloodlines


Lance said, “What do you mean, other than I can’t find my deer?” “Man, your face! Your forehead is a mess!” Jeff explained. They finally figured out that since Lance was not accustomed to shooting the buffalo-gun left-handed, the recoil had slammed the scope into his forehead over his left eye. The adrenalin kept him from feeling the pain; and as he leaned over to look for deer blood in the leaves, the blood he found on the ground was his own. For two hours he had been blood-trailing himself! That’s why the trail didn’t make sense and quit when it did. So, they turned the dog loose, and they located the buck in a very few minutes in the opposite direction from where Lance had laid a trail. It takes a pretty good sense of humor to tell this kind of story on oneself, and I don’t think Lance thought it through com-pletely or realized why I was listening so intently. But if Bluffs & Bayous’ circulation manager has any drops in Smith County, it will get back to him. Chickens don’t cackle till they’ve laid an egg!

story by Ross McGehee


Krewe of CeresTicket PartyThe Krewe of Ceres Ticket Party was held in January at

the home of Josh and Sloane Smith in Brookhaven, Mississippi. At the gathering, krewe members were given Charity Ball tickets to sell, and check donations were received from the previous year’s proceeds. The “Masquerade” Charity Ball took place on February 23, 2013, at the Lincoln Civic Center in Brookhaven.


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Jenny Allen, Holly Gardner, Robin Patterson, and Bette DixonSidney Wilson and Stephany SmithJennifer Adcock and Stacy WalkerMark Lewis, Clint Gardner, and Shannon PattersonSally Lampton, Cathy McDonniel, and Dauphine MageeAnna Smith and Lindsey Robinson


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Emilee and Terry Cutler Lissa Boerner and Amanda WarrenDustin Walker, Diane and Henry Ledet, and Sloane Smith

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Royal Pages Honor King and QueenLiza Byrne, Rachel Prescott, and Aiden Huff—Natchez Garden Club Royal

Pages for the 2013 Historic Natchez Tableaux, part of Natchez Spring Pilgrimage—along with their parents recently hosted a brunch, honoring King Josh Gamberi and Queen Betsy Daggett, at High Cotton restaurant in downtown Natchez, Mississippi. Guests included the Natchez Garden Club’s 2013 Court, Tableaux Committee, and Executive Board. Following the brunch, gifts were exchanged among the King, Queen, and Pages.

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Front—Pages Liza Byrne, Rachel Prescott, and Aiden Huff; back—Olivia Blackwell, Cole Mann, Zac Arnold, Betsy Daggett, Josh Gamberi, Kate Lee Laird, and Ginny DaggettAiden Huff and Josh GamberiFront—Liza Byrne, Aiden Huff, and Rachel Prescott; back—Angie Huff, Betsy Daggett, Josh Gamberi, Jessica Byrne, and Allison Prescott

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Rachel Prescott, Betsy Daggett, and Liza ByrneBetsy Daggett and Jessica ByrnePages Liza Byrne, Rachel Prescott, Aiden Huff with Queen Betsy Daggett and King Josh Gamberi



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Wilbert Trisler, Aiden Huff, and Diane TrislerAndrée, Josh, and Joe GamberiGinny, Rod, Betsy, and Penny Daggett

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{ April 2013 { Bluffs & Bayous{ {

Old Family Favorites

G's Fare

While I was gathering recipes for my April visit with you, I kept running into some old favorites, so I took these “run-ins” as a sign and have focused this month’s article on some of my family’s old favorites.


My grandmother had this recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, and my cousins and I knew that this was going to be Monday’s lunch if you were at her house on that day. My children have loved it, too; and when growing up, they always asked for it for their birthday sup-pers. My daughter, Lari, makes the meatballs on Sunday and combines them with the sauce ingredients in her Crockpot on Monday morning for her family’s supper that night. It is perfect with a green salad and buttered French bread.

Nanny’s Meatballs and Spaghetti SauceMeatballs2 pounds hamburger meat (I use extra-lean ground beef.)1 cup Italian bread crumbs1 cup grated Parmesan cheese1 sprig parsley minced2 buttons garlic minced2 eggs, well beaten1 teaspoon baking powderSalt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, combine meat, bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, garlic, eggs, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly with hands. When rolling meatballs, set a small bowl of water beside you. Each time, dip your fingers in water and rub in palm of hand. When ingredients are well mixed, roll in round balls and brown in hot fat. Set aside the meatballs after you fry them and then add to the sauce after it has cooked for about 1 hour. (I add uncooked meatballs after the sauce has cooked about 1 hour and then cook on low for up to 3 hours until the meatballs are tender; skim off grease).

Spaghetti Sauce3 garlic buttons1 large onion, chopped3 tablespoons olive oil1 cup chopped celery2 cans tomatoes1 can tomato paste1 can tomato sauce2 or 3 cups of water1 1/2 teaspoons salt1/2 teaspoon pepper1 tablespoon sugar2 Bay leaves1 meatball, uncooked

In a large pot, add onion, garlic, celery, and olive oil. Let them cook until soft but not brown. Add tomatoes (squeeze with your hands to separate). Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, meatball, and water. Add remaining ingredients. Sauce should be cooked on low heat, just bubbling for about an hour. Add remaining meatballs and cook up to 3 hours until meatballs are tender.


With 4 children, a full-time job, and outside activities, I had certain meals for certain days. My son said that I could write a cookbook for 1001 different ways to fix chicken, but I really think my menus were a little more varied than that. Thursday night, in fact, was Gingerbread Waffles night. This was a fa-vorite, and my children still make these for supper in their own homes. I got the recipe from The Farm Journal’s Homemade Pies, Cookies and Breads. This is a splendid book if you like to cook breads from scratch.

Gingerbread Waffles1/4 cup butter1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed1/2 cup light molasses2 eggs separated1 cup milk2 cups sifted all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon cinnamon1 teaspoon ginger1/4 teaspoon allspice3/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy; beat in mo-lasses, egg yolks and milk. Sift together flour, baking powder, cin-namon, ginger, allspice, and salt. Beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. Stir dry ingredients into creamed mixture, just enough to moisten all ingredients. Fold in egg whites. Bake batter in pre-heated waffle iron until lightly brown. Makes 7 waffles.

I am not sure where I got this recipe, but I have been using it for years. With young children, these muffins work well, for the butter is already in the muffin so there is no melted butter to drip.

Bisquick Sour Cream Muffins1 stick butter melted1 cup sour cream2 cups Bisquick baking mixPam or other butter/margarine spray

Add butter and sour cream to Bisquick. Stir to combine. Do not over mix. Spray Pam into 2 mini-muffin tins, and drop mixture by teaspoons into tin. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes.


This is an adaptation of Cotton Country Chicken Spectacular which calls for green beans and no cheese. This version dresses it up a bit for adult suppers.

Chicken Spectacular3 cups cooked chicken1 package Uncle Ben’s Combination Wild and White Rice, cooked1 can cream of celery soup1 medium onion, chopped2 cans artichoke hearts, drained and chopped1 cup Monterey Jack cheese1 cup Hellman’s mayonnaiseSalt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients. Pour into a 2 1/2- or 3-quart casserole dish. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350. Serves 16. Casserole may be frozen prior to baking.I was never a big fan of meatloaf until a friend of mine from Monroe, Louisiana, gave me this recipe. My children loved this meatloaf, and I served it with mashed potatoes and green beans. I still make this dish when my children come home.

Meat Loaf1 pound ground beef1/3 cup Pet milk1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs1/4 cup catsup1 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons Lea & Perrins1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup2 teaspoons Lea & Perrins2 tablespoons catsupPam or other butter/margarine spray

Spray loaf pan with Pam. Mix and shape first six ingredients into a loaf in center of baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Mix last three ingredients, pour over meat loaf, and bake 30 minutes more, still uncovered.

My daughter, Lari, is a busy mother and teacher and is always looking for easy and quick recipes for her family. This chocolate cake came from The Cake Doctor cookbook and is wonderful by itself or sprinkled with pow-dered sugar. To make an extra-rich topping for the cake, microwave a can of chocolate fudge frosting for a few seconds until it is pourable but still has a thick consistency. (Be sure to remove ALL the foil sealant from the can before microwaving.)

Darn Good Chocolate Cake1 package devil’s food or dark cocoa fudge cake mix1 package instant chocolate pudding mix4 large eggs1 cup sour cream1/2 cup warm water1/2 cup oil1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips. Fold in chocolate chips. Place in greased Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

In May, I’ll have recipes to help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo. More about that next month and happy cooking in the meantime.

story by Becky Junkin


Trinity School’s Founders’Day and Open House Trinity School’s Founders’ Day and Open House celebration at the school was

held on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, in Natchez, Mississippi. Guest speaker was Donna Ballard Maselli, Class of 1978. After graduating from the University of Mississippi with a double major in English and Economics, Maselli attended law school at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana; practiced law for 18 years; and then pursued her dream of professional decorating in New Orleans. Also marking the occasion, Wayne Bryant presented the Mac Bryant Scholarship, recognizing an outstanding senior, to Murphy Aldridge.

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Murphy Aldridge and Wayne BryantDonna Ballard Maselli and Chesney Blankenstein DoyleLisa Falkenheiner, Shannon Jex, and Zach JexSessions Brown and Wayne BryantWestley OwensDale Ross and Austin JexCaroline Webber, Ann Ward, Hunter Marks, and Cena MullinsAllie Norton and Susannah Heatherly with Barbara ColwellBrittany Smith, Grant Harveston, and Conlee Devening

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Law Along the Mississippi

A Judge’s WalkThe public in my estimation has little

knowledge of what, why, and how things happen in court and have almost no knowl-edge of what is expected of our judges in the State Courts of Mississippi. I can at-test that the majority of our judges are pro-fessional, courteous, and fair minded, and most have a good working knowledge of the law.

However, judges, like every other pro-fessional group I have ever been involved with, have their own bad apples.

I thought readers might be interested in learning generally what conduct is expect-ed of judges in a courtroom and, further, what conduct may demand recusal of a judge or even sanctions by our Mississippi Supreme Court.

I once had to move before an open court and a jury that a judge declare a mistrial in a case I was trying due to the judge’s volatile and explosive outburst when he jumped up and screamed at me to “shut up and sit down!” The judge, of course, re-fused to declare a mistrial; nonetheless, I think the jury felt sorry for me, and I won the case.

Judges are held to a very high stan-dard when it comes to courtroom activity. Without covering all areas, I can general-ly state that the following behavior, taken from the cannons (rules), is required of a judge in the State of Mississippi: Avoid impropriety and/or the appear-ance of impropriety… respect and comply with the law … conduct himself such that he/she promotes public confidence … be impar-tial and diligent … hear all matters of which he has jurisdiction … maintain professional competence … require order and decorum in all proceedings … be patient, dignified, cour-teous to all parties, jurors, and attorneys … act without bias or prejudice … have no ex parte communications (no communication with one side or the other) within limited ex-ceptions … rule prominently, efficiently, and fairly … [and] make no public comment on any pending matter in Court. Finally, judges shall disqualify them-selves or be disqualified in proceedings in which their impartiality might be ques-tioned by a reasonable person knowing all of the circumstances. I reviewed several cases where judg-es had either been removed from cases or

reprimanded for conduct that did not meet the above standards. While there are too many cases to mention here, I tried to pull out some of the more interesting matters. They are as follows:• One judge decided he was going to sum-

mons an entire Board of Supervisors to his court to ask them whether they liked a prior decision of his. Two members did not show, and the judge had them put in jail. The Supreme Court sanctioned the judge as well as imposed a fine on him since there was no litigation which justi-fied any summons to anyone.

• Judges can be publically reprimanded for hearing a case and never rendering a decision.

• Racial slurs by any judge whether in court or out of court can be the basis for a judge’s reprimand and possible judicial removal.

• Any time a judge has ex parte communi-cation, he sets himself up for discipline charges. This seems to be the most com-mon offense for which judges are re-moved or sanctioned.

• One judge was publically sanctioned and fined because he put a lawyer in jail for the attorney’s refusal to repeat the Pledge of Allegiance in open court.

• A number of judges in the State of Mississippi have been fined or sanc-tioned for fixing tickets for their friends. This is the second most committed of-fense by Mississippi judges.

• One judge threw two lawyers in jail for virtually no reason when he simply did not like the way they were handling a case. He was removed from the bench for several months and also had to pay a hefty fine.

• A judge may hear a case involving one of his past clients as long as the matter before him has nothing to do with his past representation. It should also be not-ed that a judge has no conflict when one of his staff has a relationship with either a party or an attorney before him.

• Finally, a judge that displays open hos-tility toward parties or attorneys may be required to recuse himself from litigation.

My Take:Judges have to keep in mind that they

are elected to see that trials are fair and im-partial. When the judges themselves be-come unfair or partial, there is no justice.

by Sam Gwin III

Legal Notes


Suppa Club’s Christmas PartyThe Suppa Club of McComb, Mississippi,

held its 32nd annual Christmas party and dinner at Buddy’s in McComb. This event has historically been held at one of the club-member’s homes. Hosting this year were Craig and Brenda Haskins, who chose to promote a hometown business, and selected Buddy’s. The theme was Eat, Drink and Be Tacky!

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Anna Roberts, Bobby Lenoir, and Angela VanCleaveBobby “Gov” McDanielWinston and Susan Walker with Craig HaskinsCraig Haskins and Nancy Smith LeeEllen Haskins and Logan Finch Brenda Haskins and Teresa PriceWill and Gay Austin Beth Hemeter, LeeEllen Haskins, and Joelene MorrowSusan Hedges, Courtney Watson, Patsy Giles, Brenda Haskins, Liz McDaniel, Belinda Price, Teresa Price, Tina Brumfield, Deranne Booth, Mona Lenoir, and Lynn Kebert

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Bluffs & Bayous { April 2013 { Bluffs & Bayous { April 2013 { Page 23


The Onward StoreOnward, Mississippi

Something Scrumptious

One of the many things that fasci-nate me about Mississippi is the amazing amount of history that

can be squeezed into a single, sometimes lonely, junction on a long stretch of high-way. Exactly 100 miles north of Natchez, Mississippi, on Highway 61, the small town of Onward, Mississippi, packs history, cul-ture, and delicious dining all in one carefully placed enterprise. The Onward Store, which sits at the junction of two of Mississippi’s finest highways (the Great River Road of Highway 1 and the Blues Highway, also known as 61), was founded 100 hundred years ago in 1913 not only to serve as a last stop on a long stretch of Delta road but also

as a place to commemorate a monumental American event of 1902. A story that I had been familiar with since I am a lover of all things Delta, the tale of President Theodore Roosevelt and his hunt in Onward, Mississippi, is one that many Mississippians may not know. What started as a harmless hunt in mid-Novem-ber 1902 turned into an event that would forever change America’s view of this out-doorsy Commander-in-Chief as well as the world of children’s toys. After a long day of searching for a black bear, the leader of the hunt, Holt Collier, came across one, tied him to a nearby tree, and called for the hunting group to hurry

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1. The Onward Store offers history, culture, and delectable dining.

2. Get the “Teddy Bear” facts.

3. With a gift for everyone, this store is more than a drink-and-snack quick-stop.

4. At the junction of Highways 1 and 61, The Onward Store awaits your next road trip.


to the site. Seeing the defenseless bear, Roosevelt stuck to his guns and refused to shoot it. While he did not plan on this particularly unsuccessful hunt becom-ing a nationwide sensation, a toy store in Brooklyn, New York, took to the tale and created “Teddy’s Bear” to be sold to chil-dren across America. The rest is both a

5. Grilled Quail with Sweet Potato Mash and a Grilled Crostini

6. Blackened Duck Breast with a Bourbon Demi Glaze complemented with a Loaded Potato Cake

7. Nick Secoy, a Delta native, takes the reins as the Chef of The Onward Store.

8. A little down-home decor for your next Onward dining experience

9. Homemade preserves and jellies invite your perusal.

hunting legend and a household name for your favorite, cuddly toy.

Today, The Onward Store is the per-fect stop on your way through the Delta, a convenient general store for those living in the area, and a restaurant with an amazing menu and delicatessen. Chef Nick Secoy of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, has been with the store since it reopened in October of 2012; and he explained, “While we’ve ren-ovated the old general store, we’ve main-tained its original nature and added wood from the recently fallen, old Red Barn, a symbol of Rolling Fork and the South Delta. So it’s very special to locals.” As far as the menu goes, Secoy un-derstands the need to keep traditions the same as well as bring in new items for lo-cals and tourists to enjoy. “We’ve kept the original tamales and burgers that have al-ways been local favorites; however, peo-ple love the new smoked catfish cakes and perfect steaks that we serve. I personally love our fish specials, including soft shell crab, which we’re adding to the menu on a permanent, albeit seasonal, basis.

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We are obtaining and serving fresh seafood comparable to the best seafood in Destin, Florida, which is really exciting for the Mississippi Delta.” When I stopped at The Onward Store, Secoy fixed several dishes that seem to be tried-and-true local favorites along with traditional Southern selections. One of these was the Smoked Catfish Cakes, fluffy and grilled to perfection, with a comeback sauce blending all together. Another was the Blackened Duck Breast served with a Loaded Potato Cake and drizzled with a Bourbon Demi Glaze that filled the store with an intoxicating aroma that would bring any-one begging for more. Finally, the Grilled Quail with Sweet Potato Mash and a Grilled Crostini made for a tasty dish to take the locals out of their comfort zones. So, what is next for The Onward Store? “We will always exper-iment with specials, including seasonal food, and we plan to incor-porate live music and have some fun with crawfish boils and out-door barbeque. We are also considering ideas to expand according to our customers’ needs and the volume of customers which has been more than we ever imagined. We’re very grateful for that!” Secoy explained. When you find yourself on the other side of Vicksburg headed north, keep your eyes open for Onward and this unique store. Plan to stop and shop and savor its fare and peruse its top-notch gifts and array of goodies for your ride through history. The Onward Store is one of the last of the South’s general stores to survive into the twenty-first century, still preserving its heritage while serving its surrounding community and its growing clientele from far and wide.

by Jennie Guido

Smoked Catfish Cakes4 catfish filets½ cup diced celery½ diced union¼ cup mayonnaise4 cups of panko (bread crumbs)For smoking catfish:6 cups of hickory chipsWire drip rackLarge roasting pan

Mound hickory chips on one side of the wire rack. Light chips with gas stove or torch. On the other side of the wire rack, lay cat-fish on foil. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove catfish and break apart into large pieces. Mix with celery, onion, mayonnaise, and 2 cups of panko to thicken. Form into 4-ounce cakes by hand and roll in extra panko. Sauté in clari-fied butter until brown on each side. Serve with comeback sauce. Makes 1 dozen cakes.


Historic Natchez Tableaux Pages Host Royal Brunch

The Pilgrimage Garden Club’s Historic Natchez Tableaux pages—Sarah Grace

Stewart, Mamie Sandel, Morgan McCloud, Sam Stout, and Hayden Seal—honored King Harrison Burns and Queen Abagail McCary with a Royal Brunch in Natchez, Mississippi, at the home of Miss Sandel’s grandparents, Becky and Jerry Junkin. Guests enjoyed sitting on the porch and strolling in the yard with refreshments. The children had a delightful time taking turns on the old tree swing and getting to know one another.


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Front—Pages Hayden Seal, Sam Stout, Mamie Sandel, PGC Queen Abagail McCary, Sarah Grace Stewart and Morgan McCloud; back—PGC King Harrison BurnsAbagail McCary and Margaret WilliamsGuy Stout and Barbara McCaryButch and Kristi StewartBarbara McCary, Barbara Nell Stewart, and Linda OgdenAbagail McCary , Mamie Sandel, and Morgan McCloudAbagail McCary, Jim Overton, and Paul BurnsSarah Grace Stewart, Mamie Sandel, Abagail McCary, and Morgan McCloud

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Wright and Brunt Engagement CelebrationThe historic Bazinsky House in Vicksburg,

Mississippi, was the setting of an engagement celebration honoring Valerie Wright and Joshua Brunt. On January 26, 2013, the host couples, family, and friends enjoyed the evening celebration with cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Graham Wright of Vicksburg, and her fiance is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Lewis Brunt of Clarksdale, Mississippi. The wedding will be celebrated April 20, 2013, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with a reception at Emma’s Bay House, both in Fairhope, Alabama.

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Joshua Brunt and Valerie WrightJ. W. and Joyce WrightJoshua Brunt, Valerie Wright, and Joanne and Tim WrightDoris and Stephanie ZepponiDette and Trish Vedros, Myrtle Alvarado, Debbie Smith, Ann Haden, and Maureen VedrosRachel Brewer and Beth PatePhillip and Charlotte Coutch with Karl and Ginger EhrhardtBecca Stewart and Bobby BailessFront—Tim and Joanne Wright; Valerie Wright; and Joshua, Debbie, and Stephen Brunt; back—Mark Vedros, Karl Ehrhardt, Trish Vedros, Ronny Taylor, Donna Suell, Sonny Jones, Debbie Smith, Mike Stewart, Teresa Jones, Ginger Ehrhardt, Bobby Alvardo, Myrtle Alvarado, Suzanne Rottman, Beckie Kerut, Mary Stewart, Tim Kerut, Cindy Lyons, Maureen Vedros, Joe Lyons, Harley Caldwell, Russell Richards, Rick Caldwell, and Teresa Richards Front—Stephanie Zepponi and Doris Zepponi; back—Debbie Brunt and Patsy Malatesta

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THEweddingSCENEVICKSBURG, MS

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Mollie Koon with Zach, Pam, Trish, and Delaney VedrosCindy Martinez, Tim Kerut, Mollie George, Laurie Prescott, and Becky KerutMaureen Vedros, Joanne Wright, Valerie Wright, and Mary StewartKay and Gary McGee with Karl and Ginger EhrhardtRob Amborn with Joey and Shannon LyonsAmy Campbell, Becca Stewart, and Trish and Delaney VedrosBobby Bailess, Tim Kerut, and Debbie SmithAdam and Trisha Cox, Valerie Wright, and Joshua Brunt


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Rachel Brewer, Valerie Wright, Emily Lewis, and Kelly MeeksNick and Kelly MeeksMaureen Vedros and Valerie WrightMary and Mike Stewart


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Engle and Smith Engagement Party

An engagement party honored Melanie Campbell Engle and Robert Leverett

Smith II on December 15, 2012, in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Windham in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The couple will be married on April 20, 2013, at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Vicksburg with a reception following at the Vicksburg Country Club.

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Campbell Engle and Rob SmithCarol Mims and Linda HarrisSylvia Hall, Carolina Hall, and Joan BaileySusan Hadad and Gineva PickettBeth Norman with Mary and Mike ChaneySuzanne Braddock and Deanna MillerJoyce McPherson, Janice Waring, Marlene McLaurin, and Beth NormanNorma HabeebSandra Huffman, Carolyn Hall, and Gloria DornbuschMichael Engle, Lauren Flax, Rob Smith, Campbell Engle, Melanie Bowman, and Billy BowmanSylvia Hall, Carolina Hall, Melanie Bowman, and Campbell Engle

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Melanie Bowman and Ernest ThomasMichael Engle and Lauren FlaxCindy Windham and Campbell EngleHoney Witt and Campbell EnglePenny Varner with Catherine and Patrick HambyDr. Robert Abraham, Carol Horn, and Ginny AbrahamHelen Burks, Albert Dornbusch, Charlie Darden, and Chole ThamesSharon and Ronnie Andrews


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Cox and Strong Engagement

On January 19, 2013, Claire Cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cox of Brookhaven, Mississippi, and Jonathan Strong,

son of Dr. and Mrs. David Strong, also of Brookhaven, were honored with an engagement party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Joe Moak of Brookhaven. The couple will be married June 8, 2013, in Brookhaven at Faith Presbyterian Church. Photos by Bill Perkins

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David, Debra, and Jonathan Strong with Claire, Angie, and Joe CoxAmy and Sue BakerAllen Sparks with Patrick and Maryann StrongAnna Brown and Sally LamptonBill Perkins with Tonya and Dustin BairfieldDr. Mark and Kelly StrongAmy, Brandon, and Katie BakerBeverly Ray and Betsy Lynn Phillips SmithChris and Laura Ann CoxPhyllis Young and Joe CoxElizabeth Kinder, Lane Podder, Tory Card, and Allison McKeeBetsy Belk, Dr. Kim Sessums, Kristi Sessums, and Dr. Nic Belk

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Bill Sones and Alvin HooverCharlie Hodges, Debra Strong, and Dr. Joe MoakClaire Cox, Allison McKee, and Emily WardDustin and Stacy WalkerBob and Jill Logan with Ralph and Phyllis YoungSamuel Moak, Carson and Magan Kisner, Lehke Sunkara, and Brad DeereDr. Greg Howell, Terry Pendley, and Dave PaceEmily Ward, Karen Newman, and Flo BoydDr. David Braden with Merrie and Bill BoernerJean Wood with Ralph and Martha Ann Peeples


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Dr. Mac Baker and Pat LoweryFrancis Brady and Mayor Les BumgarnerVelma Estess and Imogene RyanKelli Rushing and Larue BakerJoe Cox, Don Perkins, and Jim CoxRosemary Moak and Grayson LucasMike and Jennifer HutsonJoe and Angie Cox with Bette and Charles Dixon 23


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Jonathan Strong with Louise and Claire CoxKaren Braden and Shannon ClarkJonathan Strong, Mary Louise Young, and Claire CoxTeresa Sones and Nancy HooverRalph Peeples and Jason StrongMary Louise Young and Angie Cox Landon Magee, Aleisha Cox, and Kelli and John RushingLil Ann Pace and Theresia PerkinsSamuel Moak and Hayley MartinPhil Magee and Mark Davis


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In the Garden

Cajun HibiscusSpice up theLandscape

Several years ago, a new group of tropi-cal hibiscus explod-ed onto the market with vibrant and exciting colors—a Technicolor dream. Thirty-eight fan-tastic selections of

Cajun hibiscus, bred and released by the Dupont Nursery in Louisiana, feature colors ranging from bright yellows to pinks, reds, and whites. Some of the more spectacular blossoms are those with color blends and those with bright red eyes. The foliage is dark green and glossy and provides a nice background to display the colorful blooms. The size of the fl owers can be unbeliev-able; some blooms are wider than nine inch-es across. One of the most interesting fea-tures, especially to plant geeks like myself, is the arrangement of stamens and pistil, which are unusually prominent and colorful. One drawback to this plant is that gen-erally the fl owers only bloom for a single

FUNNY PINK – One of the intriguing features of the

Cajun hibiscus is its interesting stamen and pistil arrangement, shown here on

the Funny Pink variety.

LIGHT MY FIRE – The red eye of some Cajun hibiscus

varieties, such as Light My Fire, makes them stand

out in the landscape.


day. But there is an upside: these plants will produce fl owers almost continually from spring until fall frosts. Hibiscus can be planted in the ground or grown in containers. They need plenty of sunlight whether planted in pots or in raised growing beds that have excellent drainage. Cajun hibiscus grow well in containers. Commercial growing mixes of peat and pine bark have been engineered to provide good drainage and should be used in con-tainers with hibiscus. In most Mississippi gardens, Cajun hi-biscus will need cold-weather protection. You will have to dig up in-ground plants for the winter. Prune the branches and roots back a bit and pot, using good potting mix. In the spring, transplant the hibiscus back into the landscape. This seasonal move is an easier task if hibiscus plants are grown in containers that can be moved indoors before temperatures fall below freezing. Every year or so, these container plants will need to be repotted. Either transplant them into a slightly larger container, or prune the branches and roots back by about one third and replant in the original container. To have the best-looking hibiscus, be sure the plants do not go through periods of drought. It’s also important that the root systems are not water logged, especial-ly in containers, where root rot can cause problems. These plants need to have con-sistent and even watering to maintain the gorgeous fl owers. The watering needs will vary with the season; plants will need more water in hot weather and less in the cooler months. Over- or under-watering can cause buds to drop before the fl owers open fully. Don’t rely on fertilizing just once a sea-son. Cajun hibiscus need a readily avail-able supply of nutrients and like monthly feedings. Granular or slow-release fertil-izers can release nutrients with watering and irrigation. Most gardeners will fi nd it easier to use water-soluble fertilizers and feed dur-ing normal watering. Be sure to use fertil-izers that are low in phosphorus since hi-biscus need only small amounts for normal growth and fl owering. Cajun hibiscus are perfect for adding a tropical fl air on a porch or patio. Combine these gorgeous blooms with other tropical plants such as bananas and canna, which require similar care and management.

story and photos by Dr. Gary R. Bachman

HIGH DEFINITION – Thirty-eight varieties of Cajun hibiscus give plant lovers plenty of color choices, including bright yellows, pinks, reds, whites and color blends, such as this variety, called High Defi nition.


E

In the Garden

Paphiopedilum, Cypripedium or Slipper Species

ver since cloning has introduced orchid pot plants into the chain-store market, gardeners have enjoyed plants that once were only the hobby of the very wealthy. However, some or-chids have escaped the sterile knives of the tis-sue culture labs.

Paphiopedilums or slipper orchids can’t be tissue cultured. This is why they still are beyond the reach of most gardeners. Slipper orchids were first introduced around 1816 by a Mr. Wallace, a plant hunter of the Lords and Dukes of Great Britain, when he discov-ered Paph. venstum from the southern slopes of the Himalayas. Since this initial discovery, in excess of 100 species have been de-scribed by taxonomists.

These orchids grow semi-terrestrially and epiphytically upon tree crotches and jungle floors covered by decomposing organic matter, tree leaves, and mosses over a base growing area of limestone. They occur within an area of bright, indirect light to very subdued light. In jungle habitats, humidity remains elevated above fifty percent with gentle to hurricane-force movement of air around the clock and mon-soon rain periods that occur in cycles. During the months of little to no rain, frequent heavy dews, fogs, and drizzles keep the humidity elevated.


Slippers are probably the most diverse genus in the family of orchids. They are indigenous to Southeast Asia and the off-shore countries and islands thereof. These plants’ foliage coloration ranges from very light green/dark green tessalations on the upper surface with rigid substance and purple blotches on the underside of leaves that have a solid green coloration with leaf spans from 6” to 24”. Although these plants aren’t difficult to bloom, many growers are satisfied with the foliage alone. Leaf span may be great, but root space can be ample in a mere 2” x 2” pot with perfect drainage. Once established, slippers should not be repotted until media begins to decompose and hold too much water, and they should only be repotted during their growing sea-sons. Slippers’ growing elevations can range from sea level to 5,000 feet. Also slip-pers found growing at the upper elevations will require cooler temperatures. Asian soil isn’t the same consistency as soils found in the United States. However, with a base of limestone, these slippers grow well in a per-fectly drained tropical media of decompos-ing organic matter, leaf litter, and mosses. Slipper orchid flowers range in color from vivid pink and combinations of red to green, purple, olive, yellow, orange, and white. Dots, spots, warts, pubescence of all colors accentuate these flowers, depending upon which species it is. Flower count can be one solitary bloom occurring upon a single growth to a single bloom of a successive spike that will pro-duce for many years. Five to six flowers can be produced on a spike, all presented at

once in perfect shape for months. Flower size can also be quite variable from 2” x 2” horizon-tally and vertically to 4” horizon-tally x 20” vertically.

A word of caution for new growers of slipper orchids—One must be careful when watering, for the Labellum (pouch) will hold water; and if the water is not re-moved, it will cause rapid dete-rioration of the flowers. There are many growers throughout the world that sup-ply slipper orchid, but it is ille-gal to import any “JUNGLE”-grown species plants without an Import Permit from the USDA. In addi-tion, all slipper species that are imported must be accompanied by a CITIES certifi-cate (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora), stating that the plants are nursery grown, or customs will CONFISCATE and fine importers.

story and photos by Robert Ferguson


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Honoring Santa SteveA cocktail party in December 2012 at Ken and Missy

Maples’ downtown Victorian home in Natchez, Mississippi, honored the Santa Claus Committee’s 2012 Santa, Steve Newman. Friends gathered to toast the season’s official Santa on the eve of his all-day ride through the neighborhoods of Natchez that culminated in a gifts-giving program for local children of assisted families.

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Santa Steve Newman, Dee Newman, and Mona CurryDee and Christine NewmanAbby Laird and Christine NewmanChristine Newman and John Ward JunkinSandra Ellard and Ken MaplesMike Ellard, Tom Middleton, and Sheriff Chuck MayfieldDee Newman, Royce and Phyllis Copeland, and Steve NewmanMarlee Kate and Patty Serafin, Phyllis Copeland, and Garrett JonesKen Maples, Sharon Rouse, and Missy Maples

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Coral Byrd, Dennis Short,Richard Byrd, and Darby ShortCliff and Katie McCarstle, Johnny Junkin, and Diane and Dickey LairdSusan Graning and Johnny JunkinPam Middleton and Sandra EllardMarlee Kate and Patty SerafinDee Newman, Patty Serafin, Cheryl Frazier, and Darby ShortMarlee Kate Serafin and Garrett Jones

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All Outdoors

Adams County Deputy Sheriff ’s

Pro RodeoGet out your riding boots, your cowboy hats, and your shiny

belt buckles because the Adams County Deputy Sheriff’s Pro Rodeo is headed this way on April 26 and 27. This annual

event gets underway at the Wayne Johnson Covered Arena, located at 200 Foster Mound Road in Adams County, Mississippi, just outside of Natchez. A bona fide rodeo with champion competitors in bareback riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, and roping; world-champion barrel clowns; an honor guard; mechanical bull rides, and a wild west show—this event offers excitement for the whole family! “This is our third year, and it has grown to be one of the largest and most entertaining rodeos in the region,” said Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield. “Our deputies put in a lot of work year round to make it the rousing success it has been. Our goal is to provide whole-some, family-friendly entertainment as well as to raise money for our deputies’ fund.” Events begin during the day on Friday and Saturday with Chris McDaniel’s Wild West Show and rodeo clowns. McDaniel enacts the American Western Arts One Man Wild West Show throughout the country as Buffalo Bill Coty. He has performed on television shows such as Late Night with David Letterman, FOX NEWS, MTV, CMT, and TNN. Some of his theatre performances include Will Rogers’ Follies and Annie Get Your Gun. In Natchez, he will perform his world champion rope tricks, his bull-whipping, lasso-twirling, and gun-flipping acts. His crowd-pleasing show will wow and entertain audiences of all ages. On Saturday the Rodeo Queen Contest will take place at 3:00 pm at the Wayne Johnson Arena. Gates for rodeo-goers will open at


6:00 p.m. At this time, children will have a two-hour window for enjoying a giant wa-ter-ball activity, pony rides, a petting zoo, mechanical bull riding, a gold rush, and a calf scramble. The show begins at 8:00 p.m. with announcer Robbie Thomas from Bogalusa, Louisiana, and Rudy Burns, professional barrel clown from Smithdale,

continued on page 91


Mardi Gras Brunch for Rex XXXI A Mardi Gras brunch honored Krewe of

Phoenix King Rex XXXI Tim Sessions on Sunday January 20, 2013, in Natchez, Mississippi, following the Krewe of Phoenix Call-Out Ball at Pinecrest Plantation. Hosting the event were Andrea and Ray Bradford, Mary Lees Wilson, Francis Cothren, Gay and Joe Drake, and Cheryl and Mike Rinehart.

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Tim Sessions with Cheryl and Mike RinehartDr. Brad, Sherry, and Lauren LeMayChuck and Sherry Beardon, Sherry Bartlett, Donna Sessions, Beth DeAngelis, Pete Cantu, and Jason DauphinCheryl Rinehart, Francis Cothren, Gay Drake, and Deanna TanksleyRon and Kay JinkinsJoe Drake, Dick Power and Betsy SawyerJason Dauphin, Sherry Bartlett, and Casey SmithGeorge Murray, Sherry Beardon, and Peggy MurrayKarri Blaney, René Adams, and Terri and Walt Roddy

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Curtis Moroney with Jo and Walt GraysonRon Jinkins, Mary Lees Wilson, Kay Jinkins, and Deanne Tanksley Stanley Cooper and Sherry BeardonJason Dauphin with Allen and Casey SmithDonna Lindley, Francis Cothren, and Kari Blaney

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appy April to you and yours! April is a fa-vorite month of mine, not only because it’s

my birthday month but also because it’s a great time to get outdoors after a cold and

wet winter for physical exercise like letting the kids play on the playground or walking/

running/biking the St. Tammany Trace (miles of paved bike trails in the area). It’s also the perfect time for fresh produce at our local famer’s market. Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% physical exercise, so remember that when you’ve slaved in the gym or on a really long walk/run and decide to treat yourself to an unhealthy snack for your efforts! It all adds up, folks! The Farmer’s market trip is one I look forward to each week. It is a fun way to healthier grocery shopping, and it incorporates my whole family in the experience. If the weather permits, we load the kids in the double stroller and get a nice brisk walk in after the mar-ket. Stella never tires of petting the rooster that comes each week with the local farmer from whom we buy our free-range, totally or-ganic eggs (If you’ve never tried farm-fresh eggs, you’re missing out!). It’s also a great way to become part of the community as you “buy local produce” and support local businesses. When we buy cabbage, the farmer that planted, cultivated and harvested the cab-bage sells it to me. When we buy fresh seafood, the fi sherman takes my order and our money and hands us the product of his hard day’s work—a sack full of fresh gulf shrimp. For me and my family, this is an important part of our health and wellness. We like knowing where the food we put in our bodies comes from. Buy local! This past weekend we purchased grass-fed ground beef (a rare fi nd and super-expensive in grocery stores), cabbage, kale,

famous Louisiana strawberries, turnips, rainbow Swiss chard, German sausage, and a few other things. One thing we’ve learned from trying Paleo cooking is the importance of meal planning. You’re in for a world of disappointment if you expect to come home from a long day of work and throw something together that’s Paleo and healthy. Paleo requires using fresh, unprocessed foods to create your meals, and that takes a little preparation on our part. What works for us is meal planning, shopping, and cooking from week to week. We make a meal plan of recipes for the week on Friday or Saturday, usu-ally doubling a few of the recipes to allow for leftovers; this trans-lates into less cooking time for us. (Side note: I’m lucky enough to brag and say my husband and I both share the task of cooking because of our work schedules; thus, we both add to the ongoing weekly grocery list. We’ve found an interactive iPhone app called “AnyList” that allows one of us to start a grocery list and share it with the other via iPhone so we can add things and cross them off as we purchase them. Thank you to my dear friend, Susan, for introduc-ing me to another tool that organizes our crazy life!)

Then we head to the farmer’s market and purchase what pro-duce is available that day and fi nish shopping for the remainder of our grocery list at a grocery store, buying “organic” foods as much as possible. Though organic is usually more expensive than conventional foods, we fi nd we’ve saved money by shopping the perimeter of the store, rather than the middle aisles that house tons of processed, preservative-fi lled, pre-made foods. Again, this requires more planning and cooking on our parts, but aware-ness is key, and you can plan your time in the kitchen accord-ingly. Understanding what is and is not healthy just takes a little

To Your Health

Healthier LivingMeal Planning and Preparations


research. We enjoy scanning Paleo books and browsing websites as well as educat-ing ourselves on the importance of eating organic whenever possible. One staple recipe my husband (sur-prisingly) goes bananas over is Paleo “Riced Cauliflower.” This is Asian in-spired and pairs nicely with meats or stir-fried veggies and is a great carb re-placement. I’m still shocked he and my children request this often, but it’s as de-licious as it sounds.

By the grace of the food gods, my 2½-year-old, the ever-discerning eater, loves this recipe and Paleo food in gener-al. I mean LOVES it. Prior to Paleo, she lit-erally refused back-to-back meals at times because she’s a pretty picky eater with a headstrong personality, not uncommon in 2½-year-olds. I just followed my pediatri-cian’s suggestion of skipping meals that she was refusing rather than feeding her empty calories in snack foods or (to be quite frank) giving in and just feeding her what I knew she’d eat. She’d eventually get hungry and eat that meal she’d previously refused, but it isn’t a fun ride during the protest.

Once we started preparing Paleo dish-es, she gobbled them up! Some dishes are a bit too rich for her and the baby; but for the most part, we all eat the same dishes, making mealtime easier, especially for a momma who works nights! Sometimes, if a particular recipe calls for heavy season-ing, I’ll separate a portion of the cooked recipe prior to seasoning and set it aside for the girls.

Meal planning has made all the differ-ence for me in the kitchen. I’ll admit af-ter we had our first baby and I made all her baby food from scratch, I took a hia-tus from cooking. Thanks for picking up the slack, babe! Now I enjoy shopping and cooking healthy meals for my family because I see the impact it makes on our health and wellness, not to mention our weight! May I brag on my hard-working husband who has lost over 40 pounds in the last 6 months?! He deserves a shout-out, for sure! Next month, I’ll dive into a little more discussion of exercises and movement ap-propriate for all ages and level of fitness. Stay tuned!

by Caroline Devereaux

Riced Cauliflower1 head cauliflower3 tablespoons coconut oil3 green onions2 garlic cloves, minced1 egg, whisked1 teaspoon coconut aminos or Bragg

Liquid Aminos (takes the place of soy sauce)

1 tablespoon sesame oilBlack pepper Rinse and dry cauliflower and cut into florets. Place florets into a food pro-cessor; and process until they are finely minced, looking like rice! In a large skil-let, melt the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the cauliflower and sauté for 5-6 minutes. Add the green onions and garlic and sauté with the cauliflower for another 2-3 minutes. Push the cau-liflower mixture to the side of the pan; pour the whisked egg onto the empty side of the pan, and cook until the egg begins to firm. Mix the egg into the cau-liflower mixture; and add the coconut aminos or Bragg Liquid Aminos, the sesame oil, and black pepper. Taste your riced cauliflower, and add more aminos or sesame oil if desired.


Little MissOrganic


For McComb, Mississippi, gardener Sara Cochran, or-ganic is a way of life and a means of taking responsibili-ty for her impact on the plan-et. Knowing and being able

to trust the safety of what she puts in and on her body is her number-one priority, so she reads the labels on all of the food and cleaning products that she buys to make sure they contain natural ingredients. In addition, she tries to grow as much of her own food as possible. Realizing that the easy way isn’t always the best, Sara would rather pull weeds by hand than risk ingesting persistent herbi-cides that could linger in her vegetables and affect her long-term health. She trusts the natural defenses that nature has devel-oped over time and sees herself as an assis-tant or helper, a good steward of the Earth, rather than someone who has to domi-nate and control the plants that she grows. Planting cover crops, companion plant-ing, refusing to heavily till the soil, and us-ing techniques such as biochar and trench composting, Sara is able to work with na-ture rather than against it. Living in a small apartment limits Sara to what is referred to as “container garden-ing” or growing plants in various sized pots rather than directly in the ground. This hasn’t stopped her from cultivating nearly one hundred varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers over the past three years.

What do you think of when you hear the

word organic?


In addition to her home garden, Sara has taken responsibility for reviving the school gardening program at Otken Elementary while working with her mother, McComb, Mississippi, School District Child Nutrition Director Sue Ellen Codding, to introduce the principles of composting and organic gardening into future lesson plans. Together with the help of volunteers from AmeriCorp and other friends and family members, they have added two new raised beds, installed “hoop house” row covers for protection against winter frosts, and taken serious measures to improve the quality of the soil, including biochar and trench composting. Sara is currently enrolled in a course to obtain her School Gardening Program certification as well as her State Master Gardener certification through the Lincoln County Extension Office. For Sara Cochran, gardening and particu-larly people growing their own food is about community. She is always eager to share her knowledge and experience and help others discover the benefits of organic gardening.


For the past year, Sara has been a very ac-tive member of a Facebook Group called “Self-Sustainability in Mississippi” wherein hundreds of members from all walks of life and all corners of the state gather virtually to share information, seek advice, and provide support to each other as they all attempt to restructure their lives and eating habits to be more organic and sustainable.

In addition to her lifetime mem-bership with the National Gardening Association and memberships with the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Park Conservation Association, Sara re-cently became a member of a statewide organization called the Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi (GGSIM). Attending their fourth annu-al Food Summit and Sustainable Living Conference in Oxford, Mississippi, in early March was a motivating experience for Sara

as she formed friendships and strengthened networks that will support her efforts to im-prove and beautify Pike County through the formation of a local chapter of GGSIM.

“My motto is ‘GROW A GARDEN, NOW!” Sara Cochran explained and add-ed, “No one person can do it alone. I cer-tainly can’t. I need all the help I can get, and I’m willing to help anyone who wants to be more responsible and connected to their food source through sustainable liv-ing. If you have an idea for a project, let me know. We’re all in this together!” For more information, visit www.gg-sim.org or the Pike County Chapter’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/GGSIMPikeCounty, or email [email protected].

story by Matt Domanphotos by Elise Parker


he Biedenharn Museum & Gardens is symbol of compassion, generosity, and vicissitude. Built in and around the home of Joseph A. Biedenharn and located in the heart of Monroe, Louisiana, the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens is a dazzling but quaint home-grown hide-away. To fully appreciate the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, you have to understand the Biedenharn family. Joseph Biedenharn was a man of kind-ness and innovation. It was his idea to bottle Coco-Cola so he could accommodate his cus-tomers and have everyone enjoy this unique bev-erage. Ideas such as these were common in the

Biedenharn Museum & Gardens Biedenharn family. His daughter Emy-Lou traveled the world for a decade sharing her beautiful voice with all who listened. When she returned to Monroe, she was inspired by her love of gardens, the Bible, and classical music and subsequently cre-ated ELsong Gardens, the Bible Museum, and the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Foundation.

Today the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens stands as a trib-ute to the Biedenharns, and the Biedenharn Foundation contin-ues its charitable works and sponsors many of the museum’s and gardens’ programs that include public educational and rec-reational activities. Children can enjoy scavenger hunts and Garden Story Baskets, and adults can view some of the engag-ing exhibits the Biedenharn has to offer.


Over the next couple months, Biedenharn Museum & Gardens has many exciting events planned. Marking the beginning of the summer events is the May 4, 2013, Garden Path—Bees, Honey, and More with Amy Weeks; she will share her experiences as a bee keeper and discuss the different flowers that attract bees to your garden. On May 24, there will be a Moonlit Concert, complete with Coke Floats. June’s functions start with a special director’s tour of the Bible Museum on June 1. On into the month, patrons and visitors will enjoy Dogs’ Day in the Gardens on June 15, sup-porting the PAWS of NELA, and another Moonlit Concert set for June 21. People of all ages are welcome to attend these events.

The Biedenharns expanded their home and grounds to share them with the world and enlighten those who come to visit. Experience the wonder of Biedenharn Museum & Gardens; and then, afterwards, tell a friend. The Museum & Gardens are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for chil-dren 12 and under. For additional information, visit www.bmuse-um.org or call 318-387-5281 during business hours.

by Meaghan McCallum


Vicksburg’s Heritage Demonstration Garden


MThose prophetic words were written by Kate Stone on May 27, 1861, soon after moving to Vicksburg, Mississippi. During the 47-day siege of Vicksburg and for a much longer time afterward, food was a scarce commodity in Vicksburg. Residents relied on produce from their kitchen gardens when one could be grown. Many citi-zens experienced hunger as well as many other hardships during this time.

As Vicksburg National Military Park celebrates its sesquicen-tennial in 2013, many events and exhibits will focus on the life and times of Vicksburg’s citizens during the fateful days leading up to and beyond the Siege of Vicksburg. One of the newest features of the park is its Heritage Demonstration Garden created in 2012 and funded through a grant from the National Park Service’s “Parks as Classrooms®” program. Typical eighteenth-century plantings include vegetables, ornamentals, herbs, and grain and other field crops. The garden is dotted with benches, a planter, a sun dial, and

“Mama is having quantities of peas, potatoes, and all things eatable planted, as our only chance for anything from this time until the close of the war will be to raise it ourselves. Strict economy is the order of the day.”

an urn that once were a part of the historic landscape of Vicksburg National Cemetery decades ago.

The Heritage Demonstration Garden, a collaborative partner-ship between Vicksburg National Military Park and the Warren County Master Gardeners, provides an opportunity to present the life of average civilians during the Civil War—the hardships faced, their ingenuity, and the ways they cared for their families—and en-courages visitors to establish a tangible connection to this by-gone era. The garden is located in a picturesque setting in front of the Old Administration Building in the park along a popular walking and jogging route on Pemberton Avenue. The rolling hills of battle during the Siege of Vicksburg, now dotted with views of monu-ments and cannons, surround it. Gardening-related passages, quoted from letters and diaries of Vicksburg residents during the nineteenth century, can be found on the signage along the picket fence surrounding the garden.


Emma Harrison Balfour in a letter dated 1848 to her sister, Louise Harrison, wrote, “I am more and more pleased with my neighbor Mrs. Willis the more I see of her… She sends me too the finest lettuce I ever saw a white and firmly cabbage as any cabbage you ever saw. I asked her what was the secret of its being so finely headed if it was earthed up or tilled? She said it was neither that it was cultivated only in the usual way but the secret was the kind of lettuce. She says it has been in the Vick family for 30 years. I will get some of the seed from her with directions for cultivation and send you in the fall.”

One can only imagine that Mrs. Balfour enjoyed growing the finely headed lettuce until her world was turned upside down that fateful Christmas Eve in 1862. Abruptly interrupting the annual Christmas Eve Ball that Dr. and Mrs. Balfour hosted at their still-existing home on Crawford Street, a breathless messenger brought alarming news of enemy boats approaching.

Heirloom seeds are planted in the Heritage Demonstration Garden whenever possible. Among those included are hyacinth beans, sorghum black amber cane, and Mississippi brown cot-ton, rattlesnake watermelon, plus many other varieties. Master Gardeners have shared pass-along plants, which have been around for generations, from their home gardens to include in the Heritage Demonstration Garden, together with many twenty-first century counterparts planted alongside. Such a combination encourages

interest in gardening today and demonstrates the feasibility of year-round kitchen gardening in Mississippi, both goals of the Warren County Master Gardeners. The Heritage Demonstration Garden also features old cultivation techniques such as planting corn, beans, and squash together (the three sisters) as well as new-er planting methods like lasagna gardening. In addition, herbs as well as annual and perennial flowers abound.

Master Gardeners are often seen planting and maintaining the garden and are always eager to answer visitors’ questions. Whether a part of a group or a casual visitor, you are invited to visit the Heritage Demonstration Garden at Vicksburg National Military Park to reflect on the hardships of Vicksburg’s citizens during “THE” war and also to be inspired to create a garden in your own backyard.

The Heritage Demonstration Garden is open during regu-lar park hours from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, April through September and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. October through March, and Vicksburg National Military Park and the Warren County Master Gardeners invite you to visit this unique exhibit. Educational pro-grams and group tours are encouraged and can be arranged by calling Virginia DuBowy, Natural Resources Program Manager, at 601-619-2911.

story by Ann Sherard / photos by Anita Schilling


MajesticMynelle Gardens


Too often, the true beauty of life is smothered by the urban jungle we live in. True beauty, if we take the time to look for it, is found in nature. Rarely, though, are we provided with an opportunity to experience the magnificence of nature. Lucky for us, we have a sanctuary on our back porch—a seven-acre haven known as Mynelle Gardens in Jackson, Mississippi.

In 1895, William Westbrook married Alice Almita, the daughter of William H. Allen. They had five children together, Will, Jack, Alton, Rondo, and Mynelle. Mynelle, their only daughter, grew up to marry Joseph Green. They moved into her parents’ home on West Capitol Street in Jackson, which her brother Will built in 1912. William and Alice loved this house so much that they enlarged and adapted the design when planning their home, the Westbrook House, a Mediterranean style structure built around a central courtyard. Reflecting her love of flowers, Alice added a sunken garden, formal pool, rose ar-bor and swing, back garden with formal flower beds, and greenhouse. In this locale, Mynelle opened Greenbrook Flowers and the Mynelle Gardens that we know today.

The property expanded through the early for-ties with new structures being added, including the Greenbrook House, and the gardens growing expo-nentially. Mynelle continued to increase the flower business, drawing more attention to the property it-self as the gardens became available to clubs and or-ganizations for special events; they also invited re-covering soldiers to take asylum within the tranquil-ity of their oasis.

After Joseph died Mynelle eventually remarried and moved to Evanston, Illinois, leaving the gar-dens virtually abandoned for a decade. Subsequently, Greenbrook Flowers moved several times and then was ultimately divided among her kin.

continued on page 91


Painting Party for a

Queenilgrimage Garden Club Queen 2013, Abagail McCary, was honored with a painting party at Uniquely Aimee’s studio in Natchez, Mississippi, on March 9, 2013. The party was hosted by Letta Crocker; Rachel Crocker, Natchez Garden Club Queen

1993; Jennifer Edmonson; Deborah Moffett; Jean Reed; and Carol Smith. Attendees included the 2013 PGC court maids, pages, and special guests. The ladies had a delightful

time painting the canvas of an antebellum belle, visiting, and laughing the luncheon hours away.

Front—Kendall Edmonson, Mamie Sandel, Sarah Grace Stewart, and Aubrey

Edmonson; back—Bailee Madden, Alex Stewart, Elizabeth Schmitz, Brooks Turner,

Catherine Schmitz, Margaret Williams, Molly Benbrook, Abagail McCary, Emory

Smith, and Caroline Smith

PGC Queen Abagail McCary


Caroline Smith, Aubrey Edmonson, Kendall

Edmonson, and Abagail McCary

Kendall Edmonson,

Mamie Sandel, Abagail

McCary, Sarah Grace Stewart,

and Aubrey Edmonson

Letta Crocker, Carol Smith, Jean Reed, Abagail McCary, Rachel Crocker, Jennifer

Edmonson, and Deborah Moffett

Mamie Sandel

Sarah Grace Stewart


Random Jottings


Essex has gently rolling hills, patch-work colours of farmland, and cottages dating back hundreds of

years, some thatched, built of red brick, or half timbered lathe and plaster, and found tucked away in tiny villages, all chocolate box beautiful. In summer, their gardens will be a riot of colour, hollyhocks com-peting with delphiniums, standing tall and sentinel along cottage walls, roses trailing over porches, their perfume filling the air. Amidst this beauty is sedate, elegant Thaxted. Listed in the Domesday Book as Tachesteda (old English for “place where thatch was got”), it boasts a guildhall, alms houses, chantry, windmill, coaching inn, and church, all set against a backdrop of Medieval and Georgina houses. As one climbs the steep hill towards the church, pretty Georgian-fronted hous-es appear to cling to the sidewalk, almost in fear of sliding down to the street be-low. Many of these pastel painted houses date back before the Regency period; but the Georgians were very fond of installing false, flat fronts to their houses, probably

to copy the famous crescents of Bath or the squares of London. On the hilltop sits the Church of St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and St. Laurence, ris-ing majestically above the town. Built on the site of a Saxon church, parts of which are still evident in the chancel, it took 170 years to complete, beginning with the nave arches in 1340, adding the tower and spire circa 1485, and completing the clere-story and its roof circa 1510. As the town grew, so did the church, becoming one of the greatest churches in the county and so beautiful it is affectionately known as the Cathedral of Essex. Essex has a Cathedral proper in the city of Chelmsford; but in beauty, size, and stature Thaxted Church outstrips all with its external walls covered in stone carvings. At 183 feet long and 87 feet wide, it boasts the only medieval stone spire in Essex, rising 181 feet to the sky, its flying buttresses marking it out as it towers over the countryside. Inside the spire, 80 feet up, hangs a ring of 8 bells, the eldest cast in 1734. With the wind in the right direction their

soul-stirring sound can be heard for miles. The windows of the church are quite lovely with the Chancel Chapel a wall of glass, only buttresses and mullions keeping the whole in place. It boasts two magnificent organs, one installed in 1952 in memory of Conrad Noel, the vicar of Thaxted (1910 -1942), whose patron of the living was Daisy, Countess of Warwick, the owner of nearby Easton Lodge, discussed in an ear-lier Random Jotting. The larger organ dates to circa 1820 and had a famous organist. Gustav Holst (1874-1934), famous for his orchestral suite The Planets, amongst oth-ers, lived in Thaxted and was choir master and organist at the church. Holst adapted Jupiter (the middle section of The Planets), naming it Thaxted for the town he loved, to fit the patriotic poem “I Vow to Thee My Country,” written by Cecil Spring-Rice. Cecil Spring-Rice, British Ambassador to the United States of America (1912 to 1918), concerned for the thousands that perished in the war, re-wrote and renamed his poem in 1918, (originally titled “Urbs Dei”), to encompass this vast loss of life. It

I vow to thee, my country—all earthly things above—Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;

I Vow to Thee My Country by Cecil Spring-Rice

Random Jottings of Thaxted, Essex


is sung today at memorial services all over the world. In 1926 Holst’s dearest friend and fellow composer Ralph Vaughan Williams included the hymn in his new edition of Songs of Praise. Imagine the wonder-ful music that must have been heard in this church with someone of Holst’s talents living and working there.... amazing. Across from the Church is the Swan Hotel, a picturesque fifteenth-century coaching inn that welcomes all with its beamed ceilings, huge log fires, wonderful food, and a history that goes back to the days when horse-drawn coaches where the mode of travel. It is not difficult to imagine the mail coach from London pulling up the hill, stopping for a change of horses. Sitting in the churchyard is the chantry. Chantries, or guild chapels, were found in church grounds or land set aside by local Barons. The chantry priest would celebrate sung masses for the dead and educate the local children, services paid for by relatives or local guilds. Henry VIII tore the Catholic Church apart but left the chantries alone. It was his son Edward VI who, in 1547, passed an Act for their suppression—surprising, really, since Edward was an advocate of education, found-ing many schools and colleges. The incumbent Thomas Crosbie bought the chantry from the Crown and converted it into alms houses for the poor. As we walk beyond the chantry, a narrow lane separates tiny cottages from the edge of the churchyard. This is my favourite area that seems to have stepped back in time, welcoming me to visualize lace makers sitting on their stoops, pillows on laps, fingers moving swiftly as bobbins chink, passing the time of day with their neighbours. Beyond these cottages is John Webb’s Windmill. Built in 1804 to provide an increasing demand for flour as the town expanded, it was largely abandoned from 1907. A trust was formed in 1970 to renovate it, and it is now a museum and working mill. Cutlery making was responsible for the town’s expansion in the fourteenth century, and Thaxted had its own branch of The Worshipful Guild of Cutlers. Guilds were important during medieval times, each trade having its own to ensure a standard of work and a fair price charged and paid. Being a guild member was an honour; it meant your work met an excellence standard and you were considered reliable and honest. Guilds offered apprenticeships and took care of members and their families if they became sick. Only guild members could work and sell their products within their town unless it was market day; then it was a free-for-all. Guilds became wealthy institutions and built mag-

nificent guildhalls. Thaxted’s Guildhall is still there today and serves as a meeting room and museum. I cannot close my “Random Jottings of Thaxted” without brief mention of the famous Dick Turpin, probably England’s most notorious highwayman. Every fourth village from the Cambridge border to the Thames estuary claims connection with this gentleman, and these villages cannot all be right, but chroniclers do place his birth in Thaxted. He has been the subject of many fictitious romance stories, the lone high-wayman riding through the countryside on his horse Black Bess. In fact, he was a member of the notorious Essex Gang, who robbed remote farmhouses, held up stages, tortured, ter-rorised, or killed at random. Turpin was eventually captured and imprisoned in York Jail. He wrote to his brother to save him, but his brother was too mean to pay the sixpence postage. Turpin was hanged at York Racecourse on 7 April 1739. Thaxted is famous for its Morris Men, but that is story for another time. Goodbye for now.

story and photos by Patricia Taylor


APRIL up & coming! PREMIER EVENTS

April 19 - 2026th Annual RiverFestVicksburg, Mississippi The Vicksburg RiverFest Music and Arts Festival runs April 19 and 20 with Mississippi artists Skylar Laine and Michael Grimm headlining the event. “Skylar and Michael fit in perfectly with this year’s theme ‘Bringing It All Back Home,’” said Johnny Reynolds, RiverFest Board of Directors President. “2013’s RiverFest is all about supporting our Mississippi artists and showcasing the tal-ent of our state.” Vicksburg’s largest festival, RiverFest takes place on Washington Street

in Historic Downtown Vicksburg with two stages, featuring local and regional talent. The North Stage is lo-cated at the China Street inter-section, and the South Stage is at the River Stage Plaza on Crawford Square. Skylar Laine, a Brandon, Mississippi, native, placed fifth on Season 11 of American Idol and will be featured on Friday night at RiverFest. Michael Grimm, who grew up with his grandparents in Waveland, Mississippi, was the Season 5 winner of America’s Got Talent and will perform Saturday night at RiverFest. Along with Laine and Grimm, RiverFest has booked Hannah Belle, Ben Shaw Band, Branded A/C, The Chill, T. J. Burnham, Corey Scallions, Slap Happy, Osgood & Blaque, Riverwind, Williams Road, Ashley Proctor, Projekt Blues Band, Miles Flatt, Vickie Baker, Deanna Nicole, Hairicane, Civilized Gangsta, Mark Doyle, Kandiman, Pizza Punk, Jenny Jenny, and The Duchess. RiverFest gates open at 5:30 p.m., and concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 each night and may be purchased

at the gate or at Paper Plus (1318 Washington Street) and Toot’s Grocery (2500 Confederate Avenue) in Vicksburg. The weekend festival also provides free Saturday daytime activities that include the RiverFest Arts and Crafts Show around City Hall and fam-ily friendly entertainment along historic Washington

Street, featuring street performers, Kid’s Land, food vendors, downtown mer-chants’ sidewalk sales and live music. For more information on RiverFest, visit www.riverfestms.com or www.face-book.com/VicksburgRiverFest. For in-formation on other things to do and places to stay in Vicksburg, visit www.visitvicksburg.com.

April 6St. Francisville Garden StrollSt. Francisville, Louisiana Feliciana Master Gardeners presents the St. Francisville Spring Stroll on Saturday, April 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The tour includes seven beautiful and unique private gardens in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. Master Gardeners will be on hand at all times to provide information. Tickets are $15 for the day and will be available along with driving maps, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the St. Francisville Town Hall on the day of the tour. Tickets also can be purchased in advance from the West

Feliciana AgCenter office. From 9:30 a.m. until noon, country gardens will be open for viewing venues ranging from planta-tion-style gardens to more contemporary settings. Consider a lunch break at one of St. Francisville’s many restaurants, and then continue on the afternoon tour from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The afternoon features two town-home gardens in the historic district and two gardens on the edge of town. Morning gardens include Nydrie, Locust Grove Plantation, the Bordelon, and Leake gardens. The afternoon features the Leake gardens again along with the Wyoming, Kemp, and Plauche gardens. For more information, call 225-635-3614.


PREMIER EVENTS up & coming! APRIL

April 17 - 20Historic Natchez Conference: From Civil War to Civil RightsNatchez, Mississippi

Noted Civil War historian and television personality William C. Davis will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Historic Natchez Conference, which will present a full program of free lectures focusing on the history of the Natchez region. Topics related to antebellum culture set the stage for discussions on the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era, and the Civil Rights Movement. The conference also includes a special ar-chaeological session on Saturday. Conference co-sponsors are California State University, Northridge; Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin; Historic Natchez Foundation; Louisiana State University, Special Collections; Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Natchez National Historical Park; and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The opening session on April 17 at 6:00 p.m. features “Two Museums...One Mississippi: The Two New Museums of Mississippi History and Civil Rights.”

The April 18 program includes the following: “Builders in the New South: Merchants, Capital, and the Remaking of Natchez, 1865-1914,” “The Continuity of War: Rethinking Violence in the Civil War Era,” “The Goat Castle Murderer,” “Jim Crow Justice, and the Saga of Emily Burns,” and “The Library of Rosedown Plantation: A Case Study in Researching Nineteenth-Century Private Libraries.”

On April 19, presentations continue with “Slaves, Dons, and American Planters: Issues of Slavery and Empire in Colonial Natchez, 1770-1808,” “The Boyce Decision and the Responsibility of Common Carriers Toward Slave Cargoes (1829),” “The 1965 Natchez Boycott and Its Impact on the Mississippi Freedom Movement,” “Nothing Less than an Activist: Marge Baroni, Catholicism, and the Natchez,

Mississippi Civil Rights Movement,” “‘One of the prettiest places on earth’: Yankees in Natchez, 1863-1865,” “Black Men in Navy Blue: African Sailors in the U.S. Navy’s Mississippi Squadron during the Civil War,” and When I Rise, docu-mentary, screening and discussion. Lastly, April 20 sessions will feature “On the Banks of Second Creek: The Prehistory and History of Mazique,” “The Mississippi Mound Trail,” and “Natchez Archaeology in the 1840s: Montroville Dickeson and the Egan Panorama.” For more information, contact the Historic Natchez Foundation at 601-442-2500 or [email protected]. The full program is available on the Foundation’s website (www.natchez.org) and Facebook page.


April 19 - 20The Port Gibson Sesquicentennial Commemoration Port Gibson, Mississippi On April 19 and 20, Port Gibson, Mississippi’s Sesquicentennial Committee will provide an array of activities for locals and visitors to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. These events include Whispers in the Cedars, the General Hills Tour, and a Civil War Reenactment.

The Whispers in the Cedars tour will wend through beauti-ful Wintergreen Cemetery, starting at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, and again at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. Appearing in the tour will be Major General Earl Van Dorn along with several other young soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863. Also, Dr. Richard Goone Wharton will make an appearance to discuss the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878 while Captain W. H. Hastings will recall some of his many adventures with the Claiborne Guards before his untimely death. However, this tour would not be complete with-out stories of women who were affected by the Civil War. Kate Butler, Ruth Shreve Guthrie, and Mildred Maury Humphreys will share some of these tales. Rounding out the tour is the account of A. K. Shaifer, whose home provided the grounds where the first shot of the Battle of Port Gibson was fired. This tour will begin at City Hall on College Street, and tickets are $10 for all adults and half price for chil-dren under the age of 12. The April 20 tour from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. will be led by retired Brigadier General Parker Hills. The General has been leading Port Gibson for many years and will share his wealth of knowledge on this particular battle-field. Tickets for this tour are $10 and will begin at the City Hall. The main event is the reenactment that takes place at Grand Gulf Military

Monument Park Friday through Sunday at noon. This reenact-ment will provide visitors with vivid Civil War experience as participants from Crystal Springs and Natchez will be camping and cooking as well as answering questions related to the time period. All attending this event will need to purchase tickets at the park museum which are $1 for students in grades 1 through 12, $3 for all others under 60, and $2 for adults 60 and over. Activities abound during this commemoration, and all are en-couraged to come and enjoy the festivities. For additional information, contact the Port Gibson/Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce at 601-437-4251.

APRIL up & coming! PREMIER EVENTS


May 117th Annual Natchez Tour of GardensNatchez, Mississippi

The Natchez Garden Club will host the 7th annual Natchez Tour of Gardens on May 11. Natchez, one the oldest continu-ous settlements along the Mississippi River, is home to many historic sites, homes, and gardens. The variety of gardens of-fered on the tour will showcase courtyard gardens, water gar-dens, historic gardens, and outdoor living spaces.

The tour will include three gardens in the morning and three in the afternoon. Featured gardens include antebellum Greenlee, home of Philip and Stella Carby, 211 Wall Street; Gary and Molly Wills’ Victorian home, 500 Pearl Street; ante-bellum Cottage Gardens, home of Betty Jo and Jerald Krouse,

816 Myrtle Avenue; antebellum Cherokee, 217 High Street, home of Michael and Sharon Blattner; Oak Hill, an antebellum Bed & Breakfast home, 409 South Rankin Street, home of Doug Mauro and Donald McGlynn; and Monmouth Plantation, 36 Melrose Avenue at Quitman Boulevard, owned by Warren and Nancy Rutherford.

The morning tour is scheduled from 9 until 11:30 a.m. with the afternoon tour from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Individual tour tickets are $15.00 or $25.00 for both tours. Refreshments will be provided throughout the tour.

For more information contact the Natchez Garden Club of-fice, 601-443-6065 or Doug Mauro, Chairman, at 601-446-2500. Ticket sales —Natchez Pilgrimage Tours 800-647-6742 or Natchez Garden Club Office 601-443-9065

PREMIER EVENTS up & coming! APRIL

Through September 8The Annie Laurie Swaim Hearin Memorial Exhibition SeriesJackson, Mississippi

The Donna and Jim Barksdale Galleries for Changing Exhibitions Old Masters to Monet features fifty masterpieces from the collection of the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford,

Connecticut. The outstanding artworks provide a history of French painting, ranging from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries and into the beginning of the twentieth centu-ry and include religious and mythological sub-jects, portraits, landscapes, still-lifes, and genre scenes. Théodore Géricault, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Claude Monet are among the masters represented. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 for students (includes admission to Symbols of Faith, Home, and Beyond: The Art of Theora Hamblett.).

For more information, call 601-960-1515, or visit www.msmuseumart.org.


APRIL up & coming!Through April 7Pieces of the Past: Civil Rights in

JacksonOld Capitol MuseumJackson, MS100 South State StreetTues. - Sat. / 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Sun. / 1 - 4 p.m.Free / 601-576-6934www.visitjackson.comwww.mdah.state.ms.us

Through April 9Southern ExposureNatchez Little TheatreNatchez, MS319 Linton AvenueTues. & Thurs. / 7:30 p.m.$15 admission601-442-2233natchez@bellsouth.netwww.natchezlittletheatre.org

Through May 12Rainforest AdventureMississippi Museum of Natural ScienceJackson, MS2148 Riverside DriveMon. - Fri. / 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.Sat. / 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Sun. / 1 - 5 p.m.Prices vary.601-576-6000www.visitjackson.com / www.mdwfp.com

Through June 1Lydia Thompson: Roots, Connections,

and PathwaysOhr-O’Keefe Museum of ArtBiloxi, MS386 Beach BoulevardTues. - Sat. / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Barbara Johnson Ross / [email protected]

Through June 1Terry Tjader: Ingrained in WoodOhr-O’Keefe Museum of ArtBiloxi, MS386 Beach BoulevardTues. - Sat. / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Barbara Johnson Ross / [email protected]


up & coming! APRIL

Through June 8Dusti Bongé: Revisiting the LegacyOhr-O’Keefe Museum of ArtBiloxi, MS386 Beach BoulevardTues. - Sat. / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Barbara Johnson Ross / [email protected]

Through June 23Symbols of Faith, Home, and Beyond:

The Art of Theora HamblettMississippi Museum of ArtJackson, MS380 South Lamar Street$12 / Adults; $10 / Seniors; $6 / Students601-960-1515www.msmuseumart.org

Through November 1George Ohr: Selections from Gulf

Coast CollectionsOhr-O’Keefe Museum of ArtBiloxi, MSTues. - Sat. / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Barbara Johnson Ross / [email protected]

April 1Taste of MississippiHighland VillageJackson, MS4500 I-55 North7:00 - 10:00 p.m.$65/in advance; $80/at the doorwww.visitjackson.com

April 2Day at McAlister’s DeliSouthern Culture Heritage FoundationVicksburg, MS4200 Clay Street5:00 - 9:00 p.m. [email protected]

April 2Day of Remembrance—Vision of Hope

AssemblyVicksburg High School AuditoriumVicksburg, MS3701 Drummond Street5:30 - 7:00 p.m. 601-634-2914www.vwsd.k12.ms.uswww.root1/vh/vhswebsite.htmwww.visitvicksburg.com

April 2Music in the CityMississippi Museum of ArtJackson, MS380 South Lamar Street5:15 p.m. / Hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar5:45 / Program601-960-1515www.msmuseumart.org


APRIL up & coming!April 3 - 27TapestryVicksburg, MS$30 / 3 Presentations; $15 / 1 PresentationVicksburg Visitor Information Center 601-636-9421www.visitvicksburg.com

April 5th4th Annual Off the Wall FundraiserMasur Museum of ArtMonroe, Lousiana1400 South Grand Street6:30-9:30 pm / $50318-329-2237www.masurmuseum.org

April 5April in Paris GalaMississippi Museum of ArtJackson, MS380 South Lamar Street 8:00 p.m.$100 / Reservations; $150 / [email protected]

April 56th Annual Audubon Nature School

DayAudubon State Historical SiteSt. Francisville, LA11788 Louisiana 9651-888-677-2838 / [email protected] www.stfrancisville.us

April 5Garden TourRosedown Plantation State Historic SiteSt. Francisville, LA12501 Louisiana 1010:00 a.m.888-376-1867 / 225-635-3110

April 5The Music of Mozart Grace Episcopal ChurchSt. Francisville, LA11621 Ferdinand Street$50 / Adults; $48 / Seniors$20 / Individual Concerts225-383-0500


up & coming! APRIL

April 5Birdie, Bogey, & Boogie for KidsJunior Auxiliary of VicksburgVicksburg, MS126 Country Club DriveRegistration & Lunch / 11:30 a.m. 3-Person Scramble / 1:00 p.m.601-630-5014fundraising@javicksburg.orgwww.javicksburg.orgwww.visitvicksburg.com

April 5 - 6Blues HealsAmeristar Bottleneck Blues BarVicksburg, MS4116 South Washington Street8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.601-638-1000www.ameristar.comwww.vicksburgheritage.comshirleywaring@vicksburgheritage.com

April 5 - 6New Albany Home and Garden ShowUnion County FairgroundsNew Albany, MS112 Fairground CircleFri. / 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Sat. / 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.newalbanygardening.com

April 6The Biggest Loser RunWalk Jackson

Half-Marathon/5KJackson Convention ComplexJackson, MS105 East Pascagoula Street7:30 a.m.www.visitjackson.com

April 6Medicinal PlantsHistoric Jefferson CollegeWashington, MS16 Old North Street Free [email protected]

April 6Audubon Evening at the ParkAudubon State Historic SiteSt. Francisville, LA11788 Louisiana 9651-888-677-2838 / 225-635-3739

April 6“Dancing with the Vicksburg Stars”Vicksburg City AuditoriumVicksburg, MS901 Monroe Street601-636-1733 / 601-630-2929 /

866-822-6338www.vicksburgevents.comwww.visitvicksburg.com

April 621st Annual Civil War ShowBattlefield InnVicksburg, MS4137 I-20 North Frontage Road$2 admission601-879-8196 / 601-638-1195www.visitvicksburg.com

April 61860s Battle of the BandsOld Court House MuseumVicksburg, MS1008 Cherry Street1:00 - 3:00 p.m. 601-636-0741www.oldcourthouse.orgsocietyhistorica@bellsouth.netwww.visitvicksburg.com

April 6NatureFEST!Mississippi Museum of Natural ScienceJackson, MS2148 Riverside Drive10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.www.visitjackson.com

April 6Community-Wide SaleJefferson Street United Methodist

ChurchNatchez, MS8 a.m. - 5 p.m.511 Jefferson StreetCarol Smith 601-431-1633


APRIL up & coming!April 7In the Footsteps of AudubonAudubon State Historic SiteSt. Francisville, LA11788 Louisiana 9652:00 p.m.1-888-677-2838 / 225-635-3739

April 10 - 13Four Day Post Pilgrimage EventNatchez, MSMuseum / 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Private Homes / 9 - 11:30 a.m.

& 2 - 4 p.m.Museum / $12; Homes / $10Natchez Pilgrimage Tours / [email protected]

April 11“Big Band Music”Equinox Quintet — Savannah, GAConcordia Bank & Trust Co. Vidalia, LA904 Carter Street7:00 p.m. / Open to the Pubic

April 11High Note JamThe Art Garden Jackson, MS380 South Lamar Street5:30 - 7:30 p.m. / Freewww.msmuseumart.org

April 11, 13, 14, 19, 29 & 21Jesus Christ Superstar!Brookhaven Little TheaterHaven TheaterBrookhaven, MSFri., Sat., Sun. / 7:30 p.m.Sat., Sun. Matinees / 2 p.m.At-door tickets $10

April 12Creative Arts Festival: The Legacy of

Medgar EversJSU Student CenterJackson, MS9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.www.visitjackson.com

April 12Chamber Annual Golf and Tennis

TournamentNatchez, [email protected]


April 12 - 14Market at the MillNew Roads, LAFri. & Sat. / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.;

Sun. / 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Lauren Jones / 225-638-5360 (ext. 212)[email protected]

April 12 - 14Pioneer Living History Encampment &

1813 Gen. Andrew Jackson CampHistoric Jefferson CollegeWashington, MS16 Old North StreetFri. / 1 - 5 p.m.; Sat. / 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.;

Sun. / 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.12 yrs & older / $5 (Sat. only)Toni Avance / [email protected]

April 12 - 14Expedition Natchez 1813:

War of 1812 BicentennialNatchez, MSNatchez Convention and Visitors Bureau [email protected]

April 12 - 132nd Annual Smokin’ on the TracksSummit, MSDowntownAnn Jackson / 601-276-7764

April 12 - 13Celtic Spirituality and the Christian

TraditionSt. James Center for Spiritual FormationBaton Rouge, LA208 North Fourth StreetFri . / 6:30 p.m. / Registration; 7:00 -

8:30 p.m. / Program; Sat. / 8:30 a.m. / Registration; 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. / Program

Fri. / $20; Sat. / $30; Both / $45Jo Craddock / 225-387-5141 (ext. 222)[email protected]

April 12 - 13The House RockersAmeristar Bottleneck Blues BarVicksburg, MS4116 South Washington Street8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.601-638-1000www.ameristar.comwww.vicksburgheritage.comshirleywaring@vicksburgheritage.com

up & coming! APRIL

April 12 - 27“Gold in the Hills”Vicksburg Theatre GuildVicksburg, MS101 Iowa Ave.Fri. & Sat. only / 7:30 p.m.601-636-0471www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com

April 13Second SaturdayNatchez, MSDowntown6 - 8 p.m.www.visitnatchez.org

April 13Komen Central Mississippi Steel

Magnolias Race for the CureWar Memorial Building Jackson, MS120 South State Street8:00 a.m. www.komencentralms.orgwww.visitjackson.com

April 13Santé South Wine FestivalHighland VillageJackson, MS4500 I-55 North601-987-0200 santesouth.com / www.visitjackson.com


APRIL up & coming!April 13 - 14Fairy Tale Theatre Auditions Vicksburg Theatre GuildVicksburg, MS101 Iowa Avenue2:00 - 4:00 p.m.601-636-0471www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com

April 16A View of France: Art, Music, &

LiteratureMississippi Museum of ArtJackson, MS380 South Lamar Street 5:30 p.m. / Cash bar; 6 - 7 p.m. / ProgramFree admission601-960-1515www.msmuseumart.org

April 16 - 28Other Desert CitiesNew Stage TheatreJackson, MS1100 Carlisle Streetwww.visitjackson.com

April 19Zoo Brew Jackson ZooJackson, MS2918 West Capitol Street6:00 - 9:00 p.m.www.visitjackson.comwww.jacksonzoo.org

April 19Look & Learn with HootMississippi Museum of ArtJackson, MS380 South Lamar Street10:30 a.m. / Free admission601-960-1515www.msmuseumart.org

April 19 - 2026th Annual RiverFest Music & Arts

FestivalHistoric Washington StreetVicksburg, MSFri. / 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. / $10Sat. / Free admission601-634-4527www.riverfestms.comwww.downtownvicksburg.orgwww.visitvicksburg.com


up & coming! APRIL

April 20Shark TalkHistoric Jefferson CollegeWashington, MS16 Old North Street11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Free admissionToni Avance / [email protected]

April 20Natchez EarthfestNatchez, MSBroadway Street10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Free admissionMitzi Burkley-Callon / [email protected] / www.ggsim.org

April 19 - 21Parklane Pro Rodeo Pike County Fair GroundsMcComb, MSFri. / Big Rodeo Parade / 3:30 p.m. /

Delaware AvenueWagon Trail Ride to the Fairgrounds.

Performances Friday & Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. Fri. & Sat. / Performances / 7:30 p.m.Sun. / Cowboy Church / 11 a.m.; Dinner;

Rodeo / 2 p.m.

April 19 - 20Stevie JAmeristar Bottleneck Blues BarVicksburg, MS4116 South Washington Street8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.601-638-1000www.ameristar.com

April 20Warrior DashMississippi Off-Road Adventures Jackson, MSRegistration / $45 - $70601-927-7957www.visitjackson.com

April 2033rd Annual Alcorn State University

Jazz FestivalVicksburg Convention CenterVicksburg, MS1600 Mulberry Street7:00 p.m. 866-822-6338 / 601-630-2929www.alcorn.edu/jazzfestwww.vicksburgevents.com www.visitvicksburg.com


April 20Relay for Life “Bass Tournament”Okhissa LakeBude, MS$100 per boat Chassity Burnette / [email protected]

April 21Serenade in the CemeteryNatchez City CemeteryNatchez, MS2 Cemetery Road1 - 5 p.m. / $15Natchez Visitor Center 446-6345800-647-6724www.visitnatchez.org

April 22Lebanese Cooking with LanaSouthern Culture Heritage FoundationVicksburg, MS1302 Adams Street5:30 - 8:00 p.m.$30 / Members; $35 / Non-members601-631-2997info@southernculture.orgwww.southernculture.orgwww.visitvicksburg.com

April 24Guest Chef Dinner featuring Parlor

MarketThe Castle Restaurant & PubNatchez, MS84 Homochitto StreetReservations Recommended / 6:30 p.m.Dunleith Historic Inn / 601-446-8500www.visitnatchez.org

April 24 - 26NarniaJefferson Street United Methodist

ChurchNatchez, MS511 Jefferson StreetWed. & Thurs. / 6 p.m.; Fri. / Dark Sat. & Sun. / 7 p.m.Adults / $16; Youth 10 yrs. & older / $12

9 yrs. and under / [email protected] www.visitnatchez.org

APRIL up & coming!


up & coming! APRIL

April 26Zoo-To-Do for KidsAudubon ZooNew Orleans, LA6500 Magazine StreetEarly / 5:30 - 9 p.m. / $40Gen. / 6:30 - 9 p.m. / $20 (Members) / $25

(Non-members)504-861-6160www.auduboninstitute.org

April 26 - 27Bill “Howl-N-Madd” PerryAmeristar Bottleneck Blues BarVicksburg, MS4116 South Washington Street8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.601-638-1000www.ameristar.comwww.vicksburgheritage.comshirleywaring@vicksburgheritage.com

April 26 - 28Knights of Columbus ConventionsVicksburg Convention CenterVicksburg, MS1600 Mulberry Street601-630-2929 / 866-822-6338www.vicksburgevents.comwww.visitvicksburg.com

April 26 - 28Descendants of the Jersey Settlers

Annual ReunionNatchez, MSKaren O’Neal / 601-446-5742www.djs.org / [email protected]

April 279th Annual BluzCruz Canoe & Kayak

RaceMadison Parish Port, LAVicksburg, MS1108 Levee Street8:00 a.m. $45 / Members; $55 / Non-membersWayne Pratt / [email protected] www.visitvicksburg.com

April 30Meet the Line Up!Fat Mama’s TamalesNatchez, MS303 South Canal Street5:30 - 6:30 p.m.


APRIL up & coming!May 25th Annual Chocolate AffairSouthern Culture Heritage FoundationVicksburg, MS1302 Adams StreetTickets In Advance Only $25 / Members; $30 / Non-members601-631-2997 [email protected]

May 4EXPLORE! OwlHistoric Jefferson CollegeWashington, MS16 Old North StreetRobin Person / [email protected]

May 4 - 5“Cats” AuditionVicksburg Theatre GuildVicksburg, MS101 Iowa Ave.Sat. / 1 - 4 p.m.; Sun. / 2 - 4 p.m.601-636-0471www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com

May 5Madison County Master Gardener

Plant SaleKroger Parking LotMadison, MS1070 Highway 51 8 a.m. - NoonDonna Beliech / [email protected]

May 14 - 16Master Gardener ConferenceLincoln County Civic CenterBrookhaven, MS1096 Belt Line Drive601-823-4046msmastergardener.org

June*Garden Fest 2013www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/re-

search_stations/Burden/News/Garden-Fest-2013.htm

*Information TBA

Be sure to confirm details of the events should changes have occurred since events were submitted.


Adams County Deputy Sheriff’sProfessional Rodeo continued from page 45

In 1952, Mynelle returned to her home in Jackson and began to reclaim and restore the gardens by replacing paths, reworking lawns, and introducing all-new plants and flowers. The original fish pond was ex-panded into a series of connecting pools that cascade into a large lagoon. Mynelle also began creating different cultural areas among the flora, including a Japanese gar-den to provide aesthetic diversity. Bridges were built, exotic plants included, and unique garden fixtures collected. It was during this time that the gardens adopted the current name, Mynelle Gardens. The next year, Mynelle officially opened the area to the public. She continued to aggran-dize the gardens until she sold the property to the City of Jackson in 1973. In 1993 the Westbrook House and Mynelle Gardens were designated a Jackson Landmark. Today, the unique artistry of Mynelle Gardens provides a retreat for anyone wanting to experience the sheer beauty of nature. Carefully maintained by the City of Jackson and its devoted volunteers, Mynelle Gardens is open to people of all ages for weddings and other special events along with tours and the occasional stroll.

Mississippi, along with other performers and a bull-fighting clown.

Local rodeo enthusiasts David Carter, Phil and Jimmie Lou Vasser, and Connie Taunton will all be on hand, working the event in various capacities, as will the en-tire staff of Sheriff Deputies. Proceeds for this event fund Adams County Sheriff’s Department equipment needs that exceed budgetary allowances. Last year, proceeds were used to purchase a boat motor for the Search and Rescue team. Come on out for a weekend full of action, excitement, and family fun. Advanced tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children; tickets at the gate are $12 for adults and $8 for children.

Advanced tickets are available at the Adams County Deputy Sheriff’s Office, 306 State Street, 601-442-2752, or at Double C Western Store, 230 Highway 61 South, 601-442-4451.

Majestic Mynelle Gardenscontinued from page 67

Currently, the staff at Mynelle Gardens are working on a project that brings to the grounds certain flowers and trees men-tioned in the Bible. These plants from the Holy Land are being interspersed with flowers and shrubs currently occupying the gardens and will bloom throughout 2013. This project is funded by a grant from the USDA Forrest Service and administered by the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Gertrude Ford Foundation.

Mynelle Gardens will be hosting its annual fundraising plant sale on April 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You’ll not want to miss this event or any of the year-round attractions and activities at Mynelle Gardens. In spring, summer, winter, or fall, Mynelle Gardens a peaceful and beautiful place to visit.

Mynelle Gardens is open year round, ex-cluding major holidays; hours are season-al. Tickets for adults are $4.00, for seniors are $3.00, and for children ages of 4 to12 are $1.00. For additional information, vis-it www.jacksonms.gov/visitors/mynellgar-dens. For information regarding weddings and reservations, call 601- 960-1894.

by Meaghan McCallum


Alex Gilliam, Director of Casino Operations, Lady Luck Casino; Paul Avery, Vice President/General Manager, Lady Luck Casino; Cathy Pavloski, Player Development Manager, Lady Luck Casino; Kristen Meehan, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, United Way of West Central Mississippi; Steven Doyle, Director of Finance, Lady Luck Casino; Barbara Tolliver, Executive Director, United Way of West Central Mississippi; and William Furlong, Director of Food and Beverage, Lady Luck Casino

Lady Luck Casino in Vicksburg, Mississippi, partnered with the local Dillard’s department store to raise almost $2,000 for the United Way of West Central Mississippi. Employees

of Lady Luck Casino were able to pre-shop in the store and at a special “pop-up” store at the arena of Lady Luck Casino.

Lady Luck and Dillard’s Fund United Way


Tea for NGC Royal MothersIn February, Anne MacNeil and Beth Boggess

hosted a Royal Tea at antebellum Elms Court in Natchez, Mississippi, honoring the Natchez Garden Club’s 2013 King and Queen mothers, Andree Gamberi and Penny Daggett. Guests included Natchez Garden Club and Pilgrimage Garden Club Royal Courts, their mothers, other family members, and friends. Guests enjoyed a delightful buffet of various sandwiches and sweets along with hot and cold teas.

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Anne MacNeil, Andrée Gamberi, Betsy Daggett, Penny Daggett, and Beth BoggessGabrielie Calhoun, Abby Calhoun, Betsy Daggett, and Ginny DaggettAndrée Gamberi, Jean Leckie, and Audrey Leckie (back)Betsy Daggett, Kate Lee Laird, Brooks Turner, and Ginny Daggett (back)Torri Webber and Judy BurkleyAndrée Gamberi and Penny DaggettJennie and Aimee Guido

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Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k

On the River k On the River k On the River k On the River

Bluffs & Bayous { April 2013 { Page 95




Page 96 { April 2013 { Bluffs & Bayous




Bluffs & Bayous { April 2013 { Page 97


I don’t know about the rest of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, residents, but this one is plumb tired of the little beetles

that use my house for winter lodging. They are in the lights, in nooks and crannies, and behind bookcases that weigh multiple hun-dreds of pounds and cannot be moved. The beetles resemble ladybugs in shape, but their color is all wrong, for ladybugs are red with black spots. The varmints in my house are caramel colored, either solid or with darker spots, and you cannot en-courage them to ‘flyaway home’ since they believe that they are home. I won’t spray because the spray might irritate baby Jay, and that certainly wouldn’t do. It looks like I’ll just have to keep sweeping them up until the last one expires, or they find the exit hole back to the great outdoors. Now would be a good time for them to look. This cold spell we’ve been having has decimated the wood supply. When inquir-ing if another load could be delivered soon, I found out that only one load is left; then the woodpile is gone. Unless a dead tree can be found, I will just have to close the

Easing into Spring along Black River

Southern Sampler

fireplace too early in the season, a sad oc-currence. Even in the warm days of April, a little fire at night just feels right. Whenever I build a fire in the fireplace, I remember the advice given by Ross McGehee in one of his stories—that true fire builders disdained any kind of extra help to get the fire started. While I admire the purists’ stance on getting the wood to burn, my method is much simpler and faster. I douse starter paper and the bottom pieces of wood with charcoal starter, light it, and watch the flames climb up the wood. If I run out of starter, there might be trouble doing it the old fashioned way. However, being cold can push a person to get things done; and even if it’s not pretty, at least a fire of some kind can be started. My little boys are growing so fast now that I want to tell them to just slow down for a few years. Woodrow turned five in March, Jay is fifteen months old, and Drew will be five in August. Woodrow and Drew will enter kindergarten this August; Drew is used to school so I have no worries for him. But neither Woodrow nor his ‘emma’

is looking forward to this great new occur-rence that will change our lives. While I tell him how good school will be for learn-ing new things, his little face registers dis-belief and apprehension, feelings I knew well as a child. The months before I started to school were the longest of my life......I thought. Just could not wait to go to school and get some books to read and learn to write cur-sive and to ride the school bus. The first day, Mama and her dad, my Papa, took me to school in his truck since it was just half a day. I changed my mind when he stopped in front of the school and saw what looked like thousands of children running around, and all were strangers. They made me get out and go through the first-day introduc-tion activities; Mama ate lunch with me in the cafeteria, and it was the worst soup I had ever tasted and could not eat it. Papa picked us up about one o’clock, and I could not wait to get home. I decided that school was not for me. Imagine my horror when I was awakened the next morning to get ready to go again, this time on a bus with big, big unknown people. The bus smelled funny, and the school did, too, and I feared that I would throw up in front of everyone. This nightmare lasted for two long years. Mama said I cried every morning, even on party days. When my brother, Nub, started the third year, I am told that I was finally okay with leaving the house. So if Woodrow is uneasy about all this school stuff, we will know that it is genetic. His mama is in for a long, hard ride, and his ‘emma’ will do her best to soothe his little heart, having been in that same awful pit, once upon a time. This is a lovely time of year, generally speaking, and the time to be in the yard and garden, planting flowers and vegetables. House cleaning is good this month, too, to get the grime of winter washed away, and some people’s closets could stand a good straightening and cleaning out also. There is always time for little boys’ base-ball games that have to be worked into the schedule every week for a while, but such a fun time for players, parents, and ‘emmas.’ April is just an all around good month, one that calls us to enjoy life, to watch the new life coming forth, and to celebrate an-other spring. Do yourself a great favor...get out of the house and enjoy the blessings of our Southern life in the lovely outdoors that we are so fortunate to have.

story by Alma M. Womack

April 2013 Bluffs & Bayous

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