No'Ala Shoals May/June 2014

2 | NoAlAprEss.coM | MAY/JUNE 2014

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8 » May/June

Garlan Gudger of Southern Accents Architectural Antiques

SOUTHERN MADE MANGarlan Gudger is not interested in perfection.

BY MICHELLE RUPE EUBANKSPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

3246REMAKING A GRAND ENTRANCEBill Moss’s art is all around us, but chances are you may never know it.

BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

features

54THE ART OF THE COTTAGE GARDENThree Shoals-area gardens showcase native Alabama plants.

BY DAVID SIMSPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL AND PATRICK HOOD

78DROP ANCHORFlorence’s most unique suburb is on the water. Literally.

BY JOANNE CUNNINGHAM WALKERPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

98Two families build the homes of their dreams with spec-tacular water views.

PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

90A ROGERS REVIVALA downtown Florence showpiece is back in business, thanks to one Sheffield family.

BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

18COCKTAIL REVOLUTIONLeading the good fight for better drinking.

BY AMY COLLINSPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson

Okay, I’ll admit it. I love to look at other people’s houses.

Apparently, I’m not the only one; our home and garden issue is one of the most popular issues we publish every year. And no wonder—when you see some of the great homes and gardens we’re featuring this time, you’re sure to get some great ideas for your own! We take a look at some beautiful country gardens, some amaz-ing homes, and the artistic restoration of historic doors, done by a truly outstanding artisan…and much more.

We even had a chance to interview Vern Yip, the HGTV de-sign star who will visit the Shoals for the Riverhill Home & Garden Expo in May. If you aren’t a fan, you will be when you learn what a nice guy he is—and talented, as well! And, be-cause much of our lives at home involve entertaining, we take a look in this issue at craft cocktails, which are making their mark in the Shoals. There are lots of different things to look at in this issue—we hope they satisfy that voyeuristic urge!

We hear this over and over again—the Shoals is really hop-ping! It seems there are things going on all the time, and there’s never a shortage of entertainment. May in Florence, however, is over the top—there are so many things happening that a volunteer group put together a website called Florence-MayDays.com just to tell you about them. Check it out—and then check this is-sue’s calendar. If you can’t find something you love to do this spring, you just aren’t paying attention.

There’s something about the sunshine and blue skies this time of year that make us want to tidy up, plant things, and move outdoors. Remember, when you’re shop-ping for the plants and accessories for your home and garden, that we have a myriad of local retailers who have unique and wonderful things. Shop the Shoals, y’all—and enjoy this beautiful season!

18

May/June 2014Volume 7: Issue 3

• • •

C. Allen TomlinsonEditor-In-Chief

David SimsCreative Director

Contributing WritersAmy Collins, Michelle Rupe Eubanks, Sarah Gaede,

Heidi King, Claire Stewart, David SimsAllen Tomlinson, Joanne Cunningham Walker

Contributing PhotographersPatrick Hood, Danny Mitchell

Advertising DirectorHeidi King

Advertising SalesHeidi King, Myra Sawyer

Features ManagerClaire Stewart

Business ManagerRoy Hall

Graphic DesignerRowan Finnegan

InternChandler Richey

• • •

No’Ala is published six times annually by No’Ala Press PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630

Phone: 256-766-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106Toll-free: 800-779-4222

Web: www.noalapress.com

Standard postage paid at Florence, AL.A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States.

Signed articles reflect only the views of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.

Advertisers are solely responsible forthe content of their advertisements.

© 2008-2014 No’Ala Press, All rights reserved.

Send all correspondence toAllen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above,

or by e-mail to [email protected] may be edited for space and style.

To advertise, contact us at:256-766-4222, or [email protected].

he editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request.Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited

manuscripts; please query the editor first.

No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks.Please recycle.

Connect with us on Facebook: No’Ala Magand Twitter: @NoAla_Magazine

everything else14 CALENDAR Events for May-June 2014

28 KUDOS

70 CHECK IT OUT BOOK REVIEWS BY THE FLORENCE-LAUDERDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

72 MARKET BY CLAIRE STEWART PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

118 BACK TALK “What Features Would You Include In Your Dream Home?” BY CHANDLER RICHEY

122 THE VINE “My World Through Rosé Colored Glasses” BY AMY COLLINS

124 FOOD FOR THOUGHT “In Celebration of Things Simple and Summery” BY SARAH GAEDE

128 BLESS THEIR HEARTS “My Porch of Death” BY HEIDI KING

130 PARTING SHOT BY PATRICK HOOD

© Patrick Hood

VERN YIP: DOCTOR OF DESIGNHGTV’s own design star reveals the unusual path his career has taken, before his upcoming trip to the Shoals.

BY ALLEN TOMLINSON

© C

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rtesy of V

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ip84

10 » contents

14 » calendarNow – May 8Works by James D. Brantley Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm; Free; Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St.; (256) 760-6379

Now – May 9Karen Graffeo exhibition: 3000 Dreams ExplainedMon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Sun 1:00-3:00pm; $5 adults, $3 students; Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0533; ttvaa.org

Thursday, May 1Houndmouth at One Sixteen9:00pm; Admission charged; 116 E. Mobile St.; 116mobile.tumblr.com

Friday, May 2Recall LaGrange Candlelight Drama 7:00pm; Admission charged; LaGrange College, 1461 LaGrange College Rd., Leighton; (256) 446-9324; recall-lagrange.00me.com

First Fridays5:00pm; Free; Court St., Downtown; firstfridaysflorence.com

Saturday, May 3Riverhill Home and Garden Expo with HGTV star Vern Yip9:00am-4:00pm; $8; former Sav-A-Lot location, 1518 Florence Blvd.; (256) 766-4222; riverhillexpo.com

Derby Day3:00pm-6:00pm; $100; Coby Hall, UNA; (256) 765-5188; www.una.edu/derbyday

Farewell Concert Celebration7:30pm; Admission charged; Norton Auditorium, UNA; una.edu/shoals-symphony

Walking Tour of Historic Florence City Cemetery10:00am; Free; 705 E. College St.; (256) 740-4141

Recall LaGrange 10:00am-4:00pm; Free (donations accepted); LaGrange College, 1461 LaGrange College Rd., Leighton; (256) 446-9324; recall-lagrange.00me.com

Tuesday, May 6Ladies Night Out5:00pm-8:00pm; Free; rogersvillealabama.com

Florence Camerata presents Bluegrass Mass 7:30pm; $15 adults, $8 students; Grace Episcopal Church,103 Darby Ave., Sheffield; florencecamerata.com

Saturday, May 106th Annual Jeff Dropo Run 4 Kids7:30am-11:00am; Charity run; Florence High School, 1201 Bradshaw Dr.; (256) 710-9806; jeffdroporun4kids.org

Sheffield Second Saturday 2:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Montgomery Ave., Downtown Sheffield; (256) 483-0634; sheffieldal.org/current

Sunday, May 11 Mother’s Day

Thursday, May 15 – Sunday, May, 18Unnecessary FarceThurs-Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2:00pm; $12 adults, $9 students; Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary St.; (256) 764-1700; shoals.ticketleap.com

Friday, May 16 – Saturday, May 17UNA Front Porch Story Telling FestivalFri and Sat 9:00am-9:00pm; Admission charged; Performance Center, Guillot University Center, UNA; (256) 765-4208; www.una.edu/storytelling

Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18Arts Alive FestivalSat and Sun 9:00am-5:00pm; Free; Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and Wilson Park, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St.; (256) 766-1445; artsalivealabama.com

Saturday, May 17 – Friday, June 20Arts Alive Gallery ExhibitionMon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm; Free; Kennedy-Douglas Centerfor the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St.; (256) 760-6379

Saturday, May 172014 Words from the River: A Shoals Author Fair10:00am-4:00pm; Free; Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 301 North Pine St.; (256) 764-6564; flpl.org

Golf Tournament8:00am; $50; Anderson Golf Club, 2831 County Road 156, Ander-son; (256) 247-9449; rogersvillealabama.com

Friday, May 23Muscle Shoals Movie Screening and Panel Discussion7:00pm; $7; Franklin Theatre, 419 Main St, Franklin, TN; (256) 740-4141

Saturday, May 24The Muscle Shoals All Stars5:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Lawn Chair Theatre, 4144 Old Hillsboro Rd., Leiper’s Fork, TN; (256) 740-4141

Sheffield Street Party, fea. The Oak Ridge Boys 5:00pm-10:00pm; $20 (available at all First Metro and Valley Credit Union branches); Montgomery Ave., Downtown Sheffield; (256) 810-3030

Florence Craft Beer FestivalTime TBD; 21-over only; Mobile Plaza; florencemaydays.com

Sunday, May 25 – Monday, June 30Ethel Davis: A VisionaryMon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Sun 1:00-3:00pm; $5 adults, $3 students; Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0533; ttvaa.org

Monday, May 26 Memorial Day Ceremony 11:00am; Free; Colbert County Courthouse, 201 North Main St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0783

Friday, May 30 Get Dirty at the Library: Tomatoes11:30am-12:30pm; Free; Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave.; (256) 764-6564; flpl.org

Monday, June 2 – Monday, June 30Helen Keller Art Show of AlabamaMon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Sun 1:00-3:00pm; $5 adults, $3 students; Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0533; ttvaa.org

Thursday, June 5 – Saturday, June 7Forever Plaid7:35pm; Admission charged; Ritz Theatre, 111 West Third St., Sheffield; (256) 381-8370; ttvaa.org


Cox Creek Parkway256-764-4013 Shop groganjewelers.com

Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 7 African Heritage Festival Fri 11:00am-6:00pm and Sat 11:00am-8:00pm; Free; Willie Green Center, 609 S. East St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0783

Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 28(Fridays and Saturdays only)The Miracle WorkerFri and Sat 8:00pm; Admission charged; Helen Keller Birthplace, 300 N. Commons W., Tuscumbia; helenkellerbirthplace.com

Friday, June 6First Fridays5:00pm; Free; Court St.; firstfridaysflorence.com

Saturday, June 7 – Sunday, June 8Frontier Day CelebrationSat 10:00am-4:00pm, Sun 1:00pm–4:00pm; Free; Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Dr.; (256) 760-6439

Saturday, June 7Heritage Day3:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Rogersville Town Hall & Heritage Park, 36 Wheeler St, Rogersville; (256) 247-5446; rogersvillealabama.com

Muscle Shoals Street Rod Run Antique and Vintage Car Show 8:00am-4:00pm; Free; One Spring Park Rd., Spring Park, Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0783

Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 13 Young Masters Art School 2014 (First Session)9:00am-11:00am (students entering first-third grades in fall 2014), noon-2:00pm (students in grades fourth-sixth); $50 first child in family, $45 second child in family; Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 East Tuscaloosa St., (256) 760-6379

Thursday, June 12 – Friday, June 13Forever Plaid7:35pm; Admission charged; Ritz Theatre, 111 West Third St., Sheffield; (256) 381-8370; ttvaa.org

Saturday, June 14Marina Day at Joe Wheeler9:00am-1:00pm; Free; Joe Wheeler Marina, 4403 McLean Dr., Rogersville; (256) 247-5461

Sheffield Second Saturday 2:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Montgomery Ave., Downtown Sheffield; (256) 483-0634; sheffieldal.org/current

Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20 Young Masters Art School 2014 (Second Session)9:00am-11:00am (students entering first-third grades in fall 2014),noon-2:00pm (students in grades fourth-sixth); $50 first child in family, $45 second child in family; Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 East Tuscaloosa St., (256) 760-6379

Monday, June 23 – Sunday, June 29Helen Keller FestivalVarious times; Admission charged for some events; Spring Park, Downtown Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0783; helenkellerfestival.com

Friday, June 27Get Dirty at the Library: Rain Barrels11:30am-12:30pm; Free; Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave.; (256) 764-6564; flpl.org

Monday, June 30Songwriting at the Moon Showcase & Workshop6:00pm-9:00pm; $20; Cypress Moon Studio, 1000 Alabama Ave., Sheffield; (256) 335-6961; cypressmoonproduction.com

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

16 » scene

Above: Grand Opening and Ribbon CuttingProgress Bank

January 16, 2014 · Florence

Below: Quilt Shop Day at ThreadMarch 13, 2014 · TuscuMbia

Andy Mann and Mike Doyle

Hugo Dante, Andy Mann, Robin Wade, Maray Daniel, and Aubrey Wilson

Steve Holt, Andy, Randy, Dabsey, Lisa Ruggles, Mickey Haddock, and Mike Doyle

Randy Tidwell, Beth Martin, David Nast, Andy Mann, Dabsey Maxwell, Bruce Pylant, and Doug Ruggles

Ribbon Cutting Don Smith, Mike Johnson, Andy Mann, and Mark Blackburn

Andy Mann, Jeffrey Jones, Dana Coleman, Sam Buxton, Miranda Walton, Katie Stewart,and Debbie Poole

Roger Haddock, Ashlee Haddock,and Jane Haddock

Maggie Crisler and Sarah Hurst

Courtney Hooper and Jessica Hand

Michael and Shelley Michel

April Vafeas

Anna Stephens

Ollie Young and Cindy Taylor

Shelly Spidel and Angie Ayers


Brian Lovejoy, bar manager for Odette, creates a signature cocktail.

COCKTAILREVOLUTION

A TOAST TO OUR ANCESTORS

TexT by amy collins » PhoTos by PaTrick hood



It’s a nod to our ancestors who clinked glasses through some of America’s darkest economic moments and decisive constitutional and cultural changes over a hundred years ago. From New York to Los Angeles, the revolution is happening inside lounges and bars with speakeasy vibes and vested mixologists with long, thin mustaches. Those bartenders-turned-mixologists take careful pains to measure out each element of a drink, round the glass with an exact number of stirs, and garnish with the fruit our ancestors found in their Old Fashioned or Gin Fizz. In the South,

New Orleans has maintained its cocktail reputation from before—and during—Prohibition, and major cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham have their noted newly devoted spots. Now our modest Florence, Alabama, has made its way onto the map of destination drinking.

Certified Spirits Specialist Brian Lovejoy (the only person with that title in the state of Alabama) is leading the good fight for better drinking behind the bar of recently opened Odette restaurant on Court Street in downtown Florence. Lovejoy has been in the restaurant business for years, but it was a bartending job in Iowa City, Iowa, that turned him on to the craft cocktail. “The classics were always my favorites to make, because of the nostalgia behind them, and the certain romantic quality they have,” Lovejoy said. His passion for the elixirs of yesteryear is contagious, and it takes only a little interest in his craft to get him talking about why these drinks are so important. “The cocktail is uniquely American,” he said before delving into a brief history of our drinking culture. “Much of the liquor in the 1860s was poorly made. It was strong, it would get you drunk, but it didn’t taste very good. That’s why they started


“I GET INSPIRATION FROM FRUITS AND FLAVORS THAT ARE IN SEASON,AND ENJOY COMBINING THEM WITH MY FAVORITE LIQUOR OR LIQUEUR OF THE MOMENT.FLAVORS THAT PLAY WELL WITH ONE ANOTHER IN FOOD WILL DO THE SAME IN A COCKTAIL,

SUCH AS BLACKBERRY AND SAGE OR ROSEMARY AND BALSAMIC.” KRISTY BEVIS, ODET TE GENERAL MANAGER

“CHEFS ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST ONES TO GET IT. THEN, ODDLY ENOUGH, WINE PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY DON’T DRINK COCKTAILS GET IT.”

BRIAN LOVEJOY, ODET TE BAR MANAGER


to mix it with sugar and other modifiers, like mint, which they grew themselves.” The Odette drink menu lists several classics under the headings “from the vault,” each with their approximate birth date. The Old Fashioned, circa 1881, is made with bourbon, a sugar cube, bitters, and a flamed orange peel. A hundred years later, Lovejoy said, the country became populated with chain restaurants and a more-for-your-buck mentality, with 20-ounce steaks and 16-ounce cocktails served in pints, glassware better suited to beer than a cocktail built on delicate flavors. The flamed orange peel was replaced with orange wedges and maraschino cherries muddled in the bottom of the glass, in part to build volume in a beverage with only two ounces of liquor. As factory-bottled mixers and blender drinks became more popular, the Old Fashioned disappeared from the bar menu and people stopped drinking it altogether. The lack of craftsmanship and attention to ingredients behind the bar mirrored those in the kitchen; food arrived frozen, pre-made and pre-mixed to be “cooked.” It makes sense that a cocktail re-awakening should arise as more and more Americans take an interest in where their food comes from and how it’s prepared. There’s integrity behind sourcing local, fresh ingredients, as Odette Chef Josh Quick emphasizes in his cuisine, and the resulting product, food or drink, always tastes better. Discussing the hand-crafted cocktails culture, Lovejoy said, “chefs are always the first ones to get it. Then, oddly enough, wine people who normally don’t drink cocktails get it.”

It’s not so odd. Wine and food are an inseparable pair; their flavors, textures, and aromatics play off one another, evolving throughout a meal. Which is exactly how Lovejoy describes a well-constructed drink. The sugar and bitters in the Odette Old Fashioned add nuance to the W.L. Weller Special Reserve bourbon, and the flamed orange peel imparts tannic citrus oil, which balances the sweetness and accents the bourbon flavors. The Southern Cross the Dog, a Lovejoy original, (though he prefers to think of the cocktails under “new tricks” on the menu as riffs on classics rather than new innovations), is a carefully layered beverage, never stirred. Old Grandad bourbon, apricot liqueur, bitters, and a Macallan 12 year Scotch float go into the highball glass. The first sip is distinctively single malt, smooth with hints of smoke and wood spice. The flavors begin to change as the elements mingle, each taste a little different than the previous. It’s no longer a cocktail but an experience. And the name? Two major railroad lines, The Southern and The Yazoo Delta “Yellow Dog,” crossed tracks in Moorehead, Mississippi, creating the Delta’s most important rail link for decades. The crossing gained national attention



in 1914 with W.C. Handy’s influential blues song “The Yellow Dog Rag.” Every drink on the list, both classic and riffed, has a story behind it.

Many of the “new tricks” are collaborative efforts between Lovejoy and General Manager Kristy Bevis. Bevis and sous-chef Kyle Ogden created “Rosemary’s Lovechild,” a unique combination of Sazerac Rye, grapefruit, balsamic reduction, and singed rosemary. The color is near black, the flavors intense, sweet and tart, and the rosemary garnish, literally singed by blowtorch barside, infuses a savory aromatic that begs for roasted meat. It’s an appetizer in and of itself. “I get inspiration from fruits and flavors that are in season, and enjoy combining them with my favorite liquor or liqueur of the moment,” Bevis said. “Flavors that play well with one another in food will do the same in a cocktail, such as blackberry and sage or rosemary and balsamic.”

Creating a successful cocktail doesn’t come easy. Lovejoy and Bevis both demonstrate an understanding of how flavors can compliment and harmonize, and in what amounts. The source and freshness of every element is considered. There are no mixes, no blender, no flavored vodkas in the revolution. (There would be no cranberry juice behind the bar if Lovejoy had his way, but alas we all have to make some concessions sometimes). Watching the bartenders make one of the many offerings—two ounces of this, one ounce of that, a shake, a spritz, a twist and some fire—makes an excellent pre-game show. It might look pretentious at first sight, but there are reasons behind their rhythms—and most importantly, a great drink.

ANATOMY OFA COCKTAILCraft cocktails require precise measurements when building layers of flavor. Mixing can resemble a chemistry experiment, and, as in the lab, eyeballing ingredients will yield an unwanted result. Left, and below: Brian Lovejoy creates“Rosemary’s Lovechild,”one of Odette’s manysignature libations.


YUMM: SHAKING UP THE TRADITIONAL

MARTINIYumm Thai Sushi

& Beyond in historic downtown Florence serves classic Asian

cuisine in a sleek modern atmosphere.

They’re also keepingthe martini bar alive

and well with an array of infused vodkas and original concoctions.Here are some of our

favorites:

DIRTY SPICEAbsolut Peppar Vodka

Olive JuiceRed Pepper Garnish

•LEMON DROP

Absolut Citron VodkaFresh Lemon Juice

Sugared Rim•

LY-CHEEGrey Goose

Orange VodkaTriple Sec

Ly-chee Juice •

LOTUS BLOSSOMAbsolut Citron Vodka

Light SakePeach Schnapps

Citrus Juice


Your BizHub Watchdog

(256) 464-0010

If you’re interested in controlling costs withoffice equipment solutions for almost anybusiness challenge, call me. We’re the specialists, because we’re the watchdogs.—J.T. Ray

450 Production Avenue, Madison, AL 35758

JT Ray ad NoAla Huntsville_Layout 1 4/18/12 7:15 PM Page 1

Riverhill ad HandG 2014_Layout 1 4/13/14 1:46 PM Page 1

• • • PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCALLY-OWNED INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NONPROFITS! • • •

If you want to share some good news about a friend, neighbor, or colleague—or even toot your own horn—send your kudos to [email protected] »

Big Sister—Huge Honor! Susie Martin of Florence won the 2014 Alabama Big Sister of the Year award for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. Martin has been a program volunteer since 2009. She and her little sister Sabrina will be attending the

BB/BS national conference in Chicago in June. Martin says, “In winning this award, I hope to bring more awareness to this great program and the difference it can make in a child’s life. The Shoals chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters desperately needs people to step up and volunteer as mentors for these children. I look forward to watching Sabrina grow into a young woman who excels in life and makes a difference in the lives of others.”

Come on Down…to Grand Cayman Mae Austin, of Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Properties in Florence, traveled to California in January where she won big-time on perennial favorite game show, The Price is Right. After host Drew Carey summoned her stage-side with his trademark “come on down,” Mae preceded to first win a luggage set, then put it to good use with a trip for two to Grand Cayman! (Mae’s segment aired March 4 on CBS.)

And the Oscar® goes to… Long-time Shoals resident Adruitha Lee was honored at the 2014 Academy Awards this March. Lee won the Oscar® in the category of Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling for her work in the 2013 movie Dallas Buyers

Club. Adruitha opened her first salon in the Shoals in 2009. She later moved to Nashville and eventually to Los Angeles. Citizen Cale William Cale, University of North Alabama President, was named Shoals 2013 Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in March. Cale has served as president of the University of North Alabama since January 2005, when he came to UNA from Pennsylvania State University-Altoona. Quality Counts

Glenwood Healthcare won a Quality Award from the American Health Care Association, one of only 12 organizations in the state of Alabama to be recognized.

Champion of Care

The Healing Place’s education and support services coordinator, Kay Parker, is a finalist in the National Champions of Care Award competition. The awards are given to small town heroes who work to create a healthier, happier place to live. The Healing Place provides counseling for children, teens, and families after the death of loved ones. Parker, a co-founder since its opening in 2001, has already won $1,000 for The Healing Place. Winning the

overall prize would mean an additional $30,000 for the facility.

Left: After winning the Oscar®in the category of Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling for work on Dallas Buyers Club, Adruitha Lee (left) and Robin Mathews pose with their Oscar.®

Susie Martin (right) andher little sister, Sabrina

Johnny Vy / ©A.M.P.A.S.

William Cale

©Shannon Wells, UNA


Project3_Layout 1 4/13/14 2:13 PM Page 1


30 » scene

Above: Loving Locals Winter FestFebruary 8, 2014 · coldWaTer books, TuscuMbia

Below: Trissl Sports Cars Porsche ShowcaseMarch 22, 2014 · Florence

Tim and Stacie Kent

Annie and Bubba Cole Angela Broyles and Sandi Hendrix

Patrick Daugherty

Robert and Dixie Bailey

Tom McDonald

Tonya S. HollyBobby Denton

© Butler Studios

Ann Jett, David Jett, Jim Watsonand Bingham Edwards

Craig Cantley, Keith Cantley, and Porter Fell

Frank and Morrie Peterson

Charlcy Ray andBart Hollingsworth

Brian Cook and Jason Schurfeld

Don LetchmanThomas Trissl, Tristan Schoeneweiss, and Jason Schurfeld


TexT by michelle ruPe eubanks » PhoTos by PaTrick hood

Garlan GudGer’s creative quest


A porch posT Worn around The Middle tells of all the small hands that used it as a launching pad into the front yard and the wide world beyond.

A front door, nicked and bruised by time, suggests each time it was opened in welcome to a guest.

A mantle’s patina hints at the tales told in front of the roaring fire that served to keep the cold and boredom of a winter day at bay.

“There are stories in every room and in everything I touch,” Garlan said. “What I like to do is sit and listen.”

How he got here—this gift of his—is a testament to destiny. Garlan Gudger, who, let’s face it, with a name like that, could have been almost anything—matinee idol, frontiersman, construction magnate—followed the only path he knew to be right.

It’s a journey that began in the 1970s, a time still too modern for many of the items that fill his store, Southern Accents Architectural Antiques, in downtown Cull-man, all of which leave a fine layer of dust throughout.

“I guess to really understand this, we’d have to talk about the man who became my father’s mentor,” Garlan said of his dad, Garlan Gudger Sr. “His own father died young, so he got to know a World War II veteran, who, while serving in Europe, came to know quite a bit about the architecture there.”

According to his son, Garlan Sr. soaked in the information like a sponge, and, while still working full-time at Wallace State Community College as a coach and dean, he learned the artistry and craftsmanship behind the old Victorian man-sions that dotted the southern landscape at the time.

The south, in those days, was one of urban renewal. Plantations and Victorian mansions had been left to decay by owners no longer solvent enough to cover the cost of repairs and upkeep. Families had long since moved away to seek their for-tunes amid the wilds of the northern landscape, and derelict property that spoke to a once grander time in the south’s storied history became commonplace.

It is among these beautiful old mansions that first Garlan Senior and then Garlan Junior found a way of life that took advantage of the architecture of a bygone era.

“For my dad, it was fireplaces and old doors that really got him hooked,” Garlan Jr. said. “After that, he’d spend his spare time finding and collecting old pieces, and he began to develop an appreciation for the best quality.”

All of these pieces collected in the Gudger’s garage, and, at seven, Garlan remem-bers sitting at the breakfast table on Saturday mornings and watching people line up to come in and see what his father had gathered and was ready to sell.

“One morning, in particular, I remember these folks coming on into the house from the garage, and they were looking around and asking questions about the furniture inside,” Garlan said. “Not too long after that, my mom made it clear that, if this was going to continue, my dad needed a place outside the house for all of this.”

There are those objects that speak to Garlan Gudger.


Any and all items make their way into South Ac-cents Architectural An-tiques. This spire comes from an old Southern tear down. In the back-ground is an American flag created by Garlan’s friend and Florence native Natalie Chanin, owner and designer for Alabama Chanin.


From there, Garlan said, Dixie Doo-dads was born.

He grins as he remembers the little place that was originally in Vinemont. Not too many months later, the name was changed to the more sophisticated Southern Accents Architectural An-tiques, and, by the mid-1980s, the shop moved to Cullman.

The items inside, however, were no less impressive.

Need vintage pillowcases? Over here is a basket filled to overflowing.

Something missing from the wall in the man cave? Garlan is happy to send you home with a taxidermied moose head. He just happens to have one.

Looking to redo your front porch? An entire gingerbread porch railing from a tear down in Mississippi was unloaded just yesterday.

Running the shop day in and day out is only part of the excitement.

All of these items come from some-where, and, more often than not, it’s Garlan and his father who go to a job site to inspect, pick, and choose the pieces that will come home with them to Cullman.

“I know what I know because of my dad,” Garlan said. “He taught me, as he was taught by his mentor, to look at the texture and patina of an object. I’m not looking for perfect. In fact, I don’t want it to be anywhere near perfect. There’s a reason for the imperfections, and I want to know that story. It really is fo-rensic architecture.”

It wasn’t easy to convince Garlan Se-nior that his son could not only run the family business but allow it to thrive and grow.

Garlan Jr. recalled an afternoon in Birmingham when he and his football teammates from Samford University were walking through a nearby neigh-borhood.

“I stopped along the way to pick up shutters,” Garlan said. “They would tell me I was always picking things up off

Phil Cabri, far right, and Ben Sellers often man the front desk and the rest of the shop. Each day brings requests from customers in search of a variety of items, such as the ornately carved mantle, period but-tons, and clawfoot tubs.

Garlan said one of his greatest pleasures is helping people create something new from something old.


“I know what I know because of my dad. He taught me, as he was taught by his mentor,to look at the texture and patina of an object. I’m not looking for perfect.

In fact, I don’t want it to be anywhere near perfect. There’s a reason for the imperfections,and I want to know that story. It really is forensic architecture.”

[ Garlan Gudger ]

SELF MADE MAN

SELF MADE MAN



the street and taking them home to my dad. I hadn’t even really realized I was doing it.”

Soon, Garlan was seeking out pieces in Auburn, where he ultimately com-pleted his degree, and selling them for a profit.

Even with job offers elsewhere, Garlan said he felt drawn to salvaging and creat-ing something new from something old.

“You know, it just feels natural to do what I do,” he said. “I have a passion for it, and it exercises my imagination. I can look at a piece and see how I could make it into a headboard or a collage for a wall for someone’s home. It’s what I have to do.”

Knowing that so deeply in his bones, feeling it with each piece that fills Southern Accents Architectural An-tiques, craving the thrill of the hunt for the next salvaged item—all of it takes a toll on Garlan’s creativity, as it would the creativity of any artist.

A few years back, looking for a way to recharge his batteries and re-energize for a series of upcoming projects, Gar-lan got together with some other like-minded friends who also happened to be artisans, crafters, and makers.

This cabal developed what is known to-day as Southern Makers.

In its second year, this event, which takes place in May in Montgomery, brings together the best Alabama has to offer.

“I’ve got to tell you that it’s new, and we’re still trying to get it off the ground,” Garlan said of Southern Makers. “We’re taking baby steps. You have to crawl, then you walk, and then you can run, but we want the focus to remain on Alabama and use this as a means to promote the artisans and crafters, these makers, really, who choose to call this state home.”

Southern Makers is a curated show that, to those who attend, could feel a bit like interloping on the gathering of artists who have come together under a single roof.

Almost anything can be had at Southern Accents Architectural Antiques, from old signs, at left, to theater chairs taken from high school auditoriums to doors to stained glass windows.

The map of North and Central America is a graphic illustration of the places Southern Accents has shipped items. Each pin was dropped in 2012. Garlan said Europe and other locations across the globe have also become home to items from his little corner of the world in Cullman.

“We’re all there, and we’re all talking to each other and catch-ing up because we might not have seen each other all year,” Garlan said. “We’ve come together to renew our creativity, get excited about our craft again, see what our friends are doing, and meet folks who enjoy what it is we do.”

That passion is evident in Garlan’s voice as he anticipates this year’s Southern Makers, which will take place May 3.

In addition to his role in architectural salvage, folk artists, including Charlie Lucas, will be on hand, as will artists of cloth Natalie Chanin and Billy Reid, who both call Florence home. Food ways are a large part of the event as well, and Florence residents Josh Quick, who is the chef at Odette, and the Shirey brothers, who create Shirey Ice Cream, have been tapped to attend as makers.

Tuscumbia makers Audwin McGee, whose work can be found throughout the Shoals, as well as Carter McGuyer, who has made a name for himself with industrial design, are expected to be present, too.

In addition to Garlan, Southern Makers was conceptual-ized by Goodwin, Mills and Cawood, a collaborative firm of architects and engineers, with offices in Alabama, Geor-gia, South Carolina, and Tennessee; Matter, a design con-sulting firm specializing in brand development, marketing strategies, and public relations; and E.A.T. South, which is a Montgomery-based non-profit organization that encourag-es healthy lifestyles through education and sustainable food production in urban areas throughout the Southeast.

Tiffany Bell, the event coordinator, said the event was de-signed to be interactive.

“It is a market, so those who attend are prepared to shop,” she said. “But it’s also an opportunity to eat the food prepared by the chefs who made it, speak to candlemakers about their process, listen to the musicians, learn about urban beekeep-ing while sampling the honey from a hive. Nowhere else can you get all of this under one roof.”

The experience for makers is something else all together, ac-cording to Garlan.

Being among those artisans and craftspeople, those who have honed their skill to something as close to perfection as they can achieve, is what he calls the common thread that binds them in place.

“When you get us together, it weaves a canvas of passion, creativity, and artistry,” Garlan said. “I’m as inspired from them because they are just as passionate about their craft as I am mine.”

On Monday, May 5, the second Southern Makers will be in the books, and Garlan, although bone tired and weary, will open the door to the store in downtown Cullman ready for what the day will bring, renewed in his creativity and his pas-sion for salvaging.

“It really is all about the story we tell, and I just want to keep on telling it,” he said.

“There are stories in every roomand in everything I touch.

What I like to do is sit and listen.”[ Garlan Gudger ]

SELF MADE MAN


reMAKINGA GRAND ENTRANCE

TexT by allen Tomlinson » PhoTos by danny miTchell



When you live in one oF The oldesT houses in Lauder-dale CounTy, you’re almost as much a caretaker as a home-owner. For that reason, when it was time for Zac Abramson to restore the front doors of Wakefield, his home in Florence, he called in a restoration expert to faux finish the doors, very much like they had been done when the house was built in the 1820s.

Bill Moss, the craftsman, earned a degree in Fine Arts from Mississippi State and moved to New Orleans, where he was a construction man-ager for an historic renovation company. “I saw a lot of faux painting there, most of it done in a photo-realistic style, and I was fascinated,” he said. He began experi-menting, replicating the look of exotic woods and stones, and perfecting his art.

The idea is not a new one. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used faux paint-ing to capture the look and feel of exotic and expensive woods, even though the actual wood surface underneath was a more common variety. “I am called on to create the look of burls, walnuts, mahogany, and Spanish cedars a lot of the time,” said Bill, “and rarely am asked to recreate the look of pine and oak.” Pine and oak are less expensive and readily available; homeowners want the look of the pricier woods without the expense.

The doors at Wakefield had already undergone an extensive, piece-by-piece re-building by another craftsman, and Bill’s job was to make the heart poplar doors look like mahogany. He began with a citrus blossom undercoat, and began layer-ing light browns and light oranges, gradually working his way darker and darker to reach the tone he wanted. Each oil-based layer of glaze was applied by stippling, graining—dragging the brush through the glaze while it is still wet—and feather-ing. “The angle of the brush and the pressure determine the look of the grain,” said Bill, “and I’m working with the glaze while it’s still wet.”

Because the glaze dries quickly, Bill takes the doors in sections. On an eight-panel door, he works one section at a time, and then moves to the next section. Each door then has to dry for about 24 hours before the next layer is applied. When all layers have been applied and the graining perfectly mimics the look of the exotic wood, a final clear coat of varnish is applied, to protect the work.

Bill doesn’t just create the look of exotic wood and stone surfaces—he’s been called upon to restore hand-painted wallpaper, most recently at “The Magnolias,” an antebellum mansion in Aberdeen, Mississippi. His eye for detail is in great de-mand, and although his home (and family) is in Columbus, Mississippi, his work keeps him on the road. He describes his style as “deliberate and focused—espe-cially when you have to match what’s already there,” he said.

Thankfully, he doesn’t mind when people watch him work. “I love it, actually,” he said. Perhaps when he returns to the Shoals—the bannister on the Wakefield stair-case was also faux finished and is due for a refresh—you’ll have an opportunity to watch a Master at work. Bill Moss’s occupation is a mixture of art and craft, and the results are timeless.

See an illustrated sequence of Bill’s process on the following pages.

Previous page: Artist Bill Moss adds layer upon layer to achieve just the right combination of color, texture, and line—which will ultimately achieve his goal of fooling the eye. Facing page: A detail of the finished doors.


The glazes Bill uses are oil based, but they dry quickly, so he has to work in sections. He begins with a light undercoat and then applies layer after layer of increasingly darker color until he achieves the desired look. The angle of the brush and the pressure applied determine the grain-ing. A final top coat of clear varnish, and the doors are finished.

GRAININGSTEP BY STEP


The glazes Bill uses are oil based, but they dry quickly, so he has to work in sections. He begins with a light undercoat and then applies layer after layer of increasingly darker color until he achieves the desired look. The angle of the brush and the pressure applied determine the grain-ing. A final top coat of clear varnish, and the doors are finished.

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COTTAGEGARDEN

PhoTos by danny miTchell and PaTrick hood » TexT by david sims

Unlike formal English and French gardens, the cottage garden’s roots were born out of practicality—originally created by the English working-class to provide fruits, vegetables

and herbs for sustenance rather than show. Over time, flowers replaced vegetables, becoming the focal point of this informal garden. The traditional cottage garden is often

enclosed, sometimes by a low fence, and many have vine- or rose-covered archways. Self-sowing annuals, ornamental grasses, hardy perennials, and trees of all shapes and

sizes, all keep company in a garden that relies on charm rather than grandeur.

Here are a few of our favorite local cottage-inspired gardens.



Phillip Oliver and Michael Scott live in the Bradshaw home in Florence, a beauti-ful house tucked into a large tree-covered lot. The garden contains a variety of “surprises;” while wandering a path, the visitor makes a turn and catches a glimpse of a statue, an arbor, a bench, or a gate. It’s a lush, cool respite from the world, and it’s easy to lose track of time and space, even though you are min-utes from downtown Florence.

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THE COTTAGE GARDEN

One of the most beautiful examples of a cottage garden is in Colbert County, where the homeown-er has used a variety of native plants to create a glimpse of Heaven. There’s a loose formality to this garden; flowers and colorful plants are grouped, massed, and yet contained. This garden is spec-tacular all year long, but in the spring it’s breathtaking.

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THE COTTAGE GARDEN

Dee Hubbert knows what she’s doing. A Master Gardener, she transformed an oversized lot in a suburban neighbor-hood into a series of wandering paths with interesting and rarely-seen varietals mixed in with traditional favorites. If you visit, plan to spend a lot of time in the garden; you won’t want to leave.

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Beginning May 1, 2014, all dogs andcats in the City of Florence must be licensed. You may purchase your license at theCity Clerk’s office or the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter. Licenses are annual, but a lifetimelicense may be purchased if your pet has beenneutered.

If you adopt a pet from the Shelter, a license willbe issued at that time and your pet will have animplanted chip that will help us return it to you ifit strays.

Love your dog or cat? Do the responsible thingand purchase a license. Proceeds from this program go to a fund to help underwrite a low-cost spay/neuter program in the City of Florence.

For more information, visitwww.florenceal.org/pets.pdf

License ad PAWS_Layout 1 4/13/14 2:27 PM Page 1

70 » check it out » Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

Born on a Mountaintop: On the Road with Davy Crockett and the Ghosts of the Wild FrontierBy Bob Thompson Adult Nonfiction Call Number: 976.8 THO(In Adult Nonfiction Section)

Bob Thompson’s Born on a Mountaintop traces the foot-prints of legendary frontiersman David Crockett from the battlefield of King’s Mountain (where Crockett’s fa-ther supposedly fought the British in the Revolution-ary War), to the halls of Congress (where David fought for the rights of the poor as a representative), to the walls of the Alamo (the site of Crockett’s final battle), to the Disney-inspired Crockett Craze of the 1950s, when Fess Parker helped immortalize Crockett for a generation. Along the way, Thompson also spends a day just north of Florence, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, where Crockett’s political career was born. Along the way, in true road-trip-biography style, Thompson chronicles the thoughts and attitudes of the devoted and often-eccentric legion of ‘Crockettologists’ he meets across Tennessee, Ala-bama, and Texas. And his extensive bibliography proves that Mountaintop is not just a joyride. Thompson pref-aced his road trip with serious historical research and met with some of the nation’s top Crockett historians. Sharply-written and full of humor, Mountaintop is a good book for Fess Parker fans and serious researchers, alike. Put on your coonskin cap and settle in; Thompson will keep you turning the pages of Crockett’s legendary life until the smoke finally clears at the Alamo. —Clint Alley

The Day the Crayons Quitby Drew DaywaltIllustrated by Oliver Jeffers Children’s Fiction Call Number: E DAY(In Easy Books Section)

The Day the Crayons Quit is the story of how a box of crayons goes on strike. Each color writes a note to its owner, Duncan, giving a list of grievances and suggestions on how to improve going

forward. Each color has its own reasons for taking time off. The Red crayon is upset because he feels that he is over-worked, while the Black crayon is sick and tired of only being used as the out-line for other colors. After listening to

the complaints and suggestions of the cray-ons, Duncan decides to solve all of their problems by having the crayons work to-gether to create one multicolored master-

piece. The book tells the story of the struggles faced by every kid with a box of crayons, except from the point of view of the colors themselves. It begins with the complaints of the crayons and ends with the realization that everyone has a place if teamwork is used. The book also shows that the best way to solve your problems is to talk about them. When the crayons are having a problem with the way that Duncan is coloring, they tell him, and in the end, they are able to come to an agreement that keeps all of the parties involved happy. The Day the Crayons Quit is a book that teaches kids and adults alike that working together and talking through your problems is the best course of action. —Colby Dow

The Greater Journey: Americans in Parisby David McCullough Adult Nonfiction Call Number: 920 MCC(In Biography Section)

Paris is known as the city of wonder and romance, a place where all dreams can come true and creative juices flow end-lessly. Numerous Americans from the 1830s through 1900 firmly believed that this was the case and made the trek to Paris hoping to see their dreams and visions of grandeur come to life. The Greater Journey follows the lives of Samuel Morse, Elizabeth Blackwell, James Fenimore Cooper, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and many others as they set out to find inspiration for their writ-ings, paintings, and sculptures. David McCullough also takes care to include a brief history of the Parisian government and the turmoil the city experienced, including the Siege of Paris, during this time period. The Greater Journey demonstrates how the events discussed within the pages of this book had an enormous impact on American history and is an excep-tional read not just for the history buff but also for those who yearn to make their own journey to Paris. McCullough’s


spectacular and immaculate descriptions will transport you to Paris, allowing you to feel and experience the magic and wonder of this phenomenal city. —Kristen Tippett Briggs

Attachments: A Novel by Rainbow Rowell Adult Fiction Call Number: F ROW(In Adult Fiction Section)

Attachments is a very unique look at the development of email and the effect it has on our interactions as well as per-sonal relationships. Set in 1999, prior to the millennial scare, this novel focuses on the lives of a few newsroom employ-ees. Jennifer Scribner-Snyder and Beth Fremont have just begun to use email in the workplace, while Lincoln O’Neill has just been hired to monitor the conversations that occur through this new form of communication. Though Jennifer and Beth are aware that their conversations could get them in trouble with the “internet security officer,” they continue their discussions. With laugh-out-loud moments as Jennifer describes her fear of pregnancy and Beth her desire to marry her long-time boyfriend, author Rainbow Rowell really cap-tures the essence of friendship. All the while, Lincoln be-comes so intrigued in the women’s conversations that he just can’t seem to turn them into newsroom authorities. In fact, he becomes so invested in these daily interactions that he looks forward to reading them and, to top everything off, he realizes he may be falling for Beth. Witty, humorous, clever, and hopeful, Rowell’s novel will catch your attention from the beginning as you find yourself rooting for each character in their quest for love. —Abby Carpenter

The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths Adult Fiction Call Number: F GRI(In New Arrivals Section) As archaeologist Ruth Galloway unearths the bones of the notorious Mother Hook, a Victorian “child farmer” and con-victed murderess, DCI Harry Nelson is rushing to solve the case of “The Childminder,” a kidnapper terrorizing modern-day Norwich. In this new mystery by Elly Griffiths, the pres-ent mirrors the past, but is there a connection? Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway books are fine stand-alones, but they are best read in order to fully appreciate the characters’ history. Ruth, a single mom to three-year-old Kate, is full of self-doubt and worries about everything: does Kate spend more time with her sitter than with her mom? Will Kate suf-fer from not having a closer relationship with her father, who is married with a family? Does Ruth look as overweight and frumpy as she thinks she does, and if so, does she really care? Ruth is a smart, successful, likeable heroine, and Griffiths has created a diverse supporting cast that includes tough detec-tive Nelson, who is Kate’s father, and Cathbad, a mysterious druid friend. The characters are smart and vulnerable, but strong. The mysteries keep the reader guessing, the archae-ology aspect is interesting, and the personal storylines leave us anticipating the next book. —Elisabeth South

72 » market » Claire Stewart » Photos by Danny Mitchell

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“We all Take care oF each oTher.” That’s how Philip Joiner describes his neighborhood. And while you’ve prob-ably heard a similar sentiment ex-pressed about many neighborhoods in North Alabama, there is one big differ-ence between Philip’s and those others. In Philip’s neighborhood, all the homes float. Florence Harbor Marina, with 110 boat slips, is a happy suburb composed of some full-time residents and many more weekend and holiday boaters. Plus, all during the year the population swells with traveling boats that tie up for a few days or weeks.

One of these liveaboards is Joiner, whose nautical address is Dock A. When asked why he chose a floating pad, Joiner ironically explains, “I didn’t get enough boating from twenty-five years in the Navy.” So when he came back to his hometown, he moved onto a houseboat with his dog, Andre and named it King’s Retreat. “I live the way most people va-cation,” he adds with delight.

Over on Dock B is the liveaboard mari-na neighbors affectionately call ‘Mama.’ Betty Yarbrough and her husband, both longtime boaters, moved back and forth between their house in Russell-ville and their houseboat until the day, “my husband retired and we just didn’t go home,” preferring their 48’ Gibson houseboat, Sly Lady. Last year when her husband of fifty-five years died,

TexT by joanne cunningham walker » PhoTos by PaTrick hood

Florence’s most unique suburb is on the water. Literally.


I LOVE IT HERE. I HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS HERE. I GUESS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE WAS COMING HERE,” BETTY “MAMA” YARBROUGH

Betty considered selling the boat but, “I love it here. I have so many friends here and I am close to my son, daugh-ter-in-law, and grandsons who live in Muscle Shoals.” She continues, “Their granddaddy taught our two grandsons to drive the boat as soon as they were big enough to sit up on a stool and see out.” The boys, now 17 and 20, act as her co-captains, piloting and handling boat maintenance. Two of Betty’s three sisters and a brother live in north Ala-bama. “I have so much company I don’t have time to get lonesome.” Indeed, her houseboat is the dock’s social center and neighbors keep a close watch over her, “popping in and out all day.” Rou-tinely, early every morning, she opens the blinds, a signal that she is ready for company. She laughs remembering the one morning, “I didn’t raise the blinds and was taking a shower, didn’t hear the phone ring or a knock on the door.” The other boaters were ready to call for help or break in when Betty finally an-swered her phone. “I guess the best day of my life was coming here,” she con-cludes.

The neighbor knocking on her door is Mike Tennyson who lives on down the dock in a 36’ Carver. He grew up around a marina his dad once owned in Steenson Hollow. As an adult, Mike lived on land, but when his son gradu-ated from high school, the long-time boat lover decided to move onto the water. “My son wanted to stay with me, so this aft cabin cruiser with two staterooms (bedrooms to landlubbers) is perfect for us.” The boat, In The Wind II, is well named for a boat owner who also rides a Harley. “I couldn’t ask for a better life,” he believes. “Nothing like waking up with the sun rising on the port side then watching the sun set on the starboard side. The coolest thing about living on a boat,” he quips, “is it takes one second to do yard work.” Neighborhood cruises aboard In the Wind II are a favorite outing. A bunch of dockers pool gas

Facing page: Betty Yarbrough (affection-ately known as “Mama” to the harbor residents) greets every visitor with her quick wit and infectious smile. Above: The Florence Harbor is home to both year-round residents and seasonal visitors.



money and “off we go, riding around Pickwick Lake.”

Liveaboards range from retirees to col-lege age like UNA student Brennan Par-rish, who lived at the marina for two years. “My dad and I looked at apart-ments, couldn’t find what we wanted, then we saw the boats and said—why not there?” He enjoyed being “close to town and not far from campus.” Although Brennan recently sold his 40’ cruiser he plans a return to boating life soon.

Surrounding these liveaboards are boaters who call Florence Harbor home on weekends, holidays, actually anytime they can carve out a few hours to visit aboard or cruise the Tennessee. Every holiday is celebrated, or created, by barbecues, fish fries, Christmas Pa-rade of Lights, all organized by the resi-dents themselves.

Welcoming and watching over this floating community since 2006 is Har-bormaster Eva Scull. “I say my title is really DOB—daughter of the boss,” she says with a smile. (Her father is Flor-ence native Bill Maffett, the marina’s developer and owner since it opened in 1998.) “Every day is different,” Eva explains in what must be a vast under-statement. Her responsibilities range from office management to pumping fuel to dock maintenance. She hires staff, rescues stranded boaters, lo-cates mechanics, and welcomes visit-ing boaters. “I love the stories I hear, unique to the river,” she cites as a favor-ite aspect of her job.

These stories are often told by travel-ing boaters, known as transients, who arrive from homeports all over the

U.S.A., Canada and other countries to move into this neighborhood for a tem-porary home. Some are making short jaunts up and down the Tennessee River. Many are taking the trip which boaters dub The Great Loop, meaning the continu-ous waterway—rivers and intracoastal—that encompasses the eastern portion of

I COULDN’T ASK FOR A BETTER LIFE,” HE BELIEVES. NOTHING LIKE WAKING UP WITH THE SUN RISING ON THE PORT SIDE THEN WATCHING THE SUN SET ON THE STARBOARD SIDE.” MIKE TENNYSON

Mike Tennyson (above) and his son share a two bedroom cabin cruiser—He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

North America. These ‘Loopers,’ as they are called, may be from far-flung ports but they compose a close-knit commu-nity. Riding around the blue rim of the continent or running its rivers separates these boaters from terra firma as surely as if they had immigrated to a foreign land. They identify one another not by surname but by boat name. “Oh, you’re Carpe Diem,” one crew greets another. “We met in Chicago.” They have much in common and their paths often cross and recross so that news of a good marina, such as Florence Har-bor, travels quickly.

Eva believes the marina’s popularity has to do with the City of Florence. “A college town, all the amenities, good restaurants close-by, medical care, plenty of stores.” Visiting boaters can use the marina’s courtesy van to shop, dine, and explore the Shoals area. Some prefer to walk downtown. Or they stay close, strolling and jogging through McFarland Park and din-ing at the onsite restaurant, Stanfield’s River Bottom Grille.

Florence Harbor’s proximity to Wilson Lock and Dam is a big advantage for boaters headed upriver. This busy lock of-ten requires pleasure boaters to wait, sometimes for hours, since towboats have priority. From the marina, boat captains can call the lockmaster and find out how heavy the traffic is, before pulling away from the dock.

Festivals such as W.C. Handy and Helen Keller are another big draw. So much so that river travelers know to call ahead and reserve a slip.

One visiting boater, Colonel’s Lady, blogged, “I have no stock in this town, just totally enjoyed the entire scene and wanted to pass it on to the Loopers heading this way.” Another cap-tain wrote, “So hard to leave this town (great shopping and eating). To top it off, Eva just does everything to make the transients welcome. Restaurant on site has good food and entertainment. Nice city park next to marina. Transient dock is secure.”

The Harbor offers one more path to this neighborhood, pon-toon boat rentals. For the would-be boaters who just want to dip a toe into this river life, this can be a fun family outing or a romantic cruise, exploring Pickwick Lake without the responsibility of ownership.

Florence Harbor has developed from a fishing launch to a nautical neighborhood of devoted boaters and a significant economic factor in North Alabama.



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VERN YIP: DOCTOROF DESIGNTexT by allen Tomlinson

In fact, he never meant to be a designer at all. The child of Chi-nese immigrants, Vern grew up in McLean, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C., where his parents assumed he would be-come a doctor. “The Chinese culture celebrates children going into the medical profession or teaching, and Chinese parents dream that their children will go into either of these,” said Vern. “My family recognized that I was artistic, and I gravitated to-ward design and architecture, but their feeling was that was fine as a hobby, but they wanted me to be able to support my-self and a family.” So, Vern went to the University of Virginia, earned a degree in economics and chemistry, and was accept-ed into medical school.

Where he wasn’t very happy. “I was working at the National Institute of Health during school breaks, on HIV and Hepatitis-C research, which was very important work—but my heart wasn’t in it,” he said. “Two weeks before school was about to start again, I screwed up my courage and told my folks that I was supposed to be an architect.” Fascinated by architectural design, Vern was accepted at Georgia Tech, where he pursued a Masters degree in Architecture—and also earned an MBA, just to reassure his parents that there was a back-up plan if the architecture thing didn’t work out.

So, Vern embarked on an architectural career, hiring on with the largest firm in Atlanta. But he never meant to be a designer.

Vern’s work focused on convention centers, office buildings, and shopping malls. Interior design was also handled by the firm, but it was on an entirely different floor. “I’m dating myself,” he said, “but back then we did our drawings by hand, and you could tell a lot about a person’s design sensibilities by the way they did their renderings.” One day, the head of interior design came to Vern and told him that they had noticed his style, and they wanted him to tackle an interior design project. Disney was beginning their Disney Cruise division, and Vern was as-signed to design their corporate headquarters. It was the be-ginning of something great.

In 1999, Vern left the large firm and went out on his own. In 2000, he was named Southeastern Designer of the Year. “There was a lot of publicity about that,” he said, “and a production company saw my picture in one of the trade magazines. They called me and told me about a concept they had, called ‘Trad-ing Spaces,’ in which neighbors have a limited amount of time to redecorate each others’ space.” Vern was not interested at

Vern Yip never meant to be a television star.all. “Before ‘Trading Spaces,’ there wasn’t much of a media mar-ketplace for designers, and I wasn’t sure the concept would work.” Vern turned them down, but they kept coming back.

“I turned them down three times,” he said, “but something fi-nally convinced me. Prior to that, interior design had always been seen as something only the super wealthy could afford. Everyone else went to the store and bought things in sets - din-ing room sets, bedroom sets, and the like. There was no oppor-tunity to economically personalize, and I was finally convinced that this show could use television to show people how they could lead fuller and better lives by having their home reflect themselves, and that they could do it affordably. Many times, if people are struggling, interior design doesn’t make their list of priorities; we decided to show them how it could be made affordable.”

The show was an instant hit. It was followed by eight seasons on “HGTV Design Star,” the flagship of the network, and then by “Deserving Design,” one of Vern’s favorites, in which “unsung heroes tell their story and we thank them by giving them a room makeover.” Vern is also the hosting designer for “Bang For Your Buck,” and he’s working on a new series, premiering in June, called “Live In Vern’s House,” the story of building his second home at Rosemary Beach.

Does all of this television work leave time for design? Yes. “I de-sign every day, in so many different ways,” he said. “I take on a few private clients every year, and I’m currently working on a res-idence in Utah and a restaurant in Jamaica. I also design several product lines—six collections for Vern Yip Home, bedding and

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Facing page: Yip in a room filled with textiles from his new line,Vern Yip for Trend. Right: The condo Yip designed in Chicago for HGTV Urban Oasis.



home accessories, and a fabric line called Vern Yip for Trend.” He is also launching a line of home fragrances, including candles.

With this much exposure to design, what is his personal favorite style? “My personal style is global, and reflects me and my fam-ily,” he said. “I traveled to 47 countries over the past six years, and our home is a reflection of that. (Vern is a U.S. Ambassador for UNICEF.) We bring back something major from every trip. Everything has a global perspective, and helps us understand things that are not just in our immediate realm. Travel helps us understand how other people live, and that makes you appre-ciate and understand.”

And with this much experience, what is Vern’s favorite proj-ect? He doesn’t hesitate: “Raising children,” he says. He has a three and a four-year-old, “and we live with 400 pounds of dogs,” he says, laughing. “I love being a Dad and having a fam-ily, and it’s altered the way I think about design. At the end of the day, I design for real people—and I have the most fun de-signing for people just like me, with a career, kids, dogs and ev-erything else. Our homes have to be beautiful—and durable!”

According to Vern, the biggest mistake people make comes from fear. “People get scared and think they don’t know what they are doing,” he said. “The default, then, is to buy things in sets, because that’s the way their parents did it, or because they can replicate what they see in catalogs or in showrooms. That’s never satisfying, because it isn’t reflective of who they are as people or as families.” Vern encourages people to pur-chase one or two large items from the big stores, but then add personal touches that reflect their personality.

What about trends? “There are lots of trends we could pay atten-tion to,” he said, “and not just the colors of the year.” This year’s color is orchid, a bold and bright color, and Vern says that it’s best used in small accents, with sheets, throw pillows, and accesso-ries. “Otherwise, it’s hard to live with and can look dated in a few years,” he says. Other trends worth noting include technology—he points to the end of the incandescent bulb and the move to a more energy-efficient light which is still warm in color and dimmable. Another trend follows the farm-to-table movement, where decor is homemade, locally sourced, and “interior design now adds a level of homecrafted artisanship.”

Vern’s visit to the Riverhill School Home & Garden Expo will be his first visit to north Alabama, but he’s a Southerner and is ex-cited about this place that is already known for design, creativity and music. For a guy who never meant to be a designer, and re-ally never thought about being a television star, he’s done pretty well. Hopefully, his parents don’t worry about that anymore.

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Above: Yip with his HGTV Design Star co-stars—Genevieve Gorder, Sabrina Soto, and David Bromstad. Bottom left: Candles from Vip’s new line of home fragrances.

I love being a Dad and having a family, and it’s altered the way I think about design. At the end of the day, I design for real people—and I have the most fun designing for people just like me, with a career, kids, dogs and everything else. —Vern Yip



88 » scene

Girlfriend Gala for Success By 6–United Way of Northwest Alabamaapril 3, 2014 · pickeTT place, Florence

Betsy McInerney and Celeste Pillow

Jeri Alexander and Susan Goode

Brandeis Short and Adrianne Bugg

Paula Wilkes, Julie Frederick, Tracy Bevis, Leslie Pigg, Rebecca Hamm, Allison Lawson, and Julie Stoddard

Jessica Hof, Heather Boozer, and Colleen Campbell

Kelly Heaps and Kayla MitchellBobbi Tomsik and Patty Klos

© Alabella Studios

Leslie Pigg, Crystal Magruder,and Ashley Anderson

Julie and Parke Cochran, Leslie and Russell Pigg

Girlfriend Gala Committee

Caroline Bobo and Carson RicheyAnne Leslie Warren Tompkins

Trina Ross, Donna Gray, and April Hawton

Zach Chanin, Shirley Webster,and Garry Thomas

Angela Counts and Sandi McGee

Front row: Caitlin Holland, Crystal Magruder, Kai Murphy, Leslie Canida, Melanie Harrison, Ashlan Williams, Grace Anne Coburn, and Amber Crews; Back row: Amanda Terry, Teresa Bartek, Alana Reeves, Stacy Richards, and Lexi Sandlin


TexT by allen Tomlinson » PhoTos by danny miTchelladdiTional PhoTograPhy by PaTrick hood


Quick—naMe The one building in Florence ThaT everyone considers The syMbol oF doWnToWn.

It’s Rogers Department Store, of course, at the corner of Court and Mobile Streets. But five years ago, if you had been asked that question, you would have followed it up with a question of your own: “What’s going to happen to that place?” The landmark building, listed on the National Regis-ter of Historic Places, had been empty for a number of years, after the department store that bore its name closed.

The structure was constructed around 1910, after a fire de-stroyed the original Rogers brothers’ retail establishment. The building underwent an extensive renovation in 1948, and a third floor and the art deco features that distinguish the building today were added. (Legend has it that the entire remodeling operation took place without the store closing for business.) For more than a hundred years, generations of Shoals shoppers had made Rogers one of their preferred destinations, and although Rogers Department Store grew to include other locations, the downtown store was always its anchor.

The building is more than 27,000 square feet large, an im-pressive downtown monument. Many still remember the sweeping mezzanine, the mahogany-paneled elevators—re-ported to be the first building in the region to have them—and the elevator operator who pushed buttons and held the door for entering and exiting department store shoppers. The building was also reported to be the first in the region to have air conditioning.

But when the Rogers family sold their department store chain in 1996, things began to change. For a number of years, to everyone’s dismay, the majestic landmark sat empty.

Meanwhile, in Colbert County, Martin Supply Company (and its umbrella corporation, MSCO, Inc.), an industrial supply company founded 80 years ago, was growing. The company was looking for a location for its corporate head-quarters, a place where its sales, accounting and management staffs could locate to oversee the industrial supply, hardware, security, fastener, safety, and plant services business cur-rently operating in seven states. Run by Gordon, Douglas, and David Ruggles, grandsons of the founder, the company

Facing page: The historic Rogers building is now a multi-use landmark, combining retail and corporate office space. Above: The new staircase to the mezzanine level. Below: Many Shoals residents remember the days when the Rogers elevators were manned by an elevator operator.


Close to 50 people call this new office their corporate home, which brings an influxof professionals to downtown Florence every day. That’s not just good for Martin Supply;

it’s great for other downtown retailers and helps add to the downtown energy.

Facing page: The Ruggles brothers, David, Gordon, and Doug. Inset: the corporate conference room. This page: The restoration on the second floor took advantage of existing brick walls and exposed rafters, giving the renovation an industrial look.


considered the possibility of moving to a larger city, but decided their roots in the Shoals area were too deep.

When Doug pitched the idea of the Rogers building to his brothers (and father, Don), they laughed. But when the ground floor rented to Jos. A. Bank, the brothers realized the building had potential as a retail magnet again in downtown, with plenty of space above for their offices. When two more ten-ants expressed interest—Yumm Thai, Sushi and Beyond and Alabama Out-door—the brothers ran the numbers and determined that they could make it work.

Today, after a major renovation, the building is once again the centerpiece of a thriving downtown. The broth-ers worked with Cherri Pitts, owner of Studio C Architecture Interiors in Birmingham, who came to their at-tention after she designed the Yumm restaurant space on the first floor. Lisa Ruggles, Doug’s wife, was also heavily involved in interior style decisions.

The entire second floor has been con-verted into a corporate showplace, taking advantage of exposed brick, existing columns, and large windows that provide wonderful views of the downtown area. The ceilings have been left open to expose the framework of the building. Large photos from the company’s archives tell the story of the growth of the company, and a stunning lobby makes a good first impression as visitors step off the elevators—sans elevator man—for meetings in one of several meeting spaces.

© Patrick H

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The third floor has not yet been renovated, but the Ruggles are open to ideas. It’s possible that their business will grow into the huge open space up there, or they might consider conversion to some other type of business space. There’s plenty of time for all of that; the important thing is that the building is once again a landmark that area residents point to with pride.

Close to 50 people call this new office their corporate home, which brings an influx of professionals to downtown Flor-ence every day. That’s not just good for Martin Supply; it’s great for other downtown retailers, and helps add to the downtown energy. In addition, as Martin continues to grow, their new contemporary office—in the landmark structure in town—helps them attract the best talent. “It’s just a cool place,” said Doug.

The Rogers renovation combines sleek, mod-ern touches with historic photos and design elements that bring together the old and new. Many of the offices take advantage of light from oversized windows, which also give spectacular views of downtown Florence.

The Rogers business began in 1894 when brothers B.A. and T.M. Rogers opened The Surprise Store on Court Street. After a fire in 1910, the store, which was now named for the brothers, rebuilt in the pres-ent location at the corner of Court and Mobile Streets. In the 1940s, a renovation added the third floor and the Art Deco style still evident today. Rogers Department Store was sold to the Dunlap Company in 1998, and was closed in 2007.

Martin Supply Company began in 1934 when Louis Martin started the business in Sheffield, Alabama, to supply basic indus-trial supplies and spare parts to other businesses. Under the leadership of Louis’s son-in-law, Don Ruggles, the company ex-panded to include on-site sup-ply for major industry, indus-trial supplies, fasteners, safety, plant services, hardware and security. The third generation—brothers Gordon, Douglas and David—oversee the company’s operation today, which includes 260 employees and operations in seven states.



The Best of Both WorldsA Killen Family Combines Their Love of the Gulf Coast and the Mountains into One Very Southern Lakeside Home

Photos by danny mitchell


Darren and Shannon Rhodes and their three girls knew they were going to love their new home because they had been having parties there long before the last coat of paint was applied.

While the house was still under con-struction, “we would gather friends to the house and have movie nights,” says Shannon. “We couldn’t wait to move in—and we just love it here.”

When the couple first decided to build on the lot with a spectacular view of Lake Wilson, they met with designer Jenny Hill Hall and posed a small design dilemma. Shannon was in love with the Gulf Coast, with its laid back vibe and soothing sea glass green and turquoise colors. Darren loved the mountains and the lodges they had visited on numerous ski vacations out West. Was it possible, they asked, to combine the two?

Jenny’s solution was a perfect marriage of the two styles. Stacked stone facades and heavy timbered ceilings are reminis-cent of Aspen or Vail, and light colored walls and tropical-colored textiles speak of Seaside or Destin. What could have been an impossible task instead became almost a permanent vacation, with the perfect blend of lodge and beach house.

Facing page: The house has a near-180 degree view of Wilson Lake. Expansive decks and stoned-wrapped planters pro-vide plenty of space for entertaining fam-ily and friends. A pool house guarantees an escape from the hot Alabama sun, or a place to duck into for a cool drink or to check the game’s score.

This page, top: The home combines paint-ed, textured brick, stacked stone, and iron and timber details. Darren wanted to make sure each bedroom would have a view of the lake. Center: The fire pit is a favorite spot for the family, incorporating intricate faux logs made of iron—a unique idea Darren borrowed from a ski lodge. Bottom: The back deck will be home to many waterside meals for years to come.


Building Designer–Phillip Gamble • Interior Design–Jenny Hill Hall • Custom Cabinetry–Signature CabinetsGranite and Marble Countertops–Kevin Hunt, Florence Marble • Concrete Countertops–Dale Dobbs

Stone and Tile–Jenkins Brick • Kitchen and Bath Fixtures–Tallman Co. HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical–Shoals MPE • Custom Drapery and Pillows–Robin Preuit

Custom Upholstered Headboards–Kathy Johnson • Doors and Windows–McDaniel Window and DoorGarage Doors–Shoals Overhead Door • Landscaping–Chris Hovater, PCH Landscaping • Outdoor Furniture–Ingram’s

Pool and Hot Tub–Jabco • Home Smart System–InControl Electronic Systems


Above, and right: The custom kitchen features intricate cabinetry and millwork, designed by Hall and built by Signature Cabinets, and beautiful granite countertops by Florence Marble. There’s also a cozy breakfast nook and adjacent grilling porch (facing, bottom right). The great room includes an intimate dining corner (facing, top left) decorated with a calming seascape, purchased during one of the family’s many trips to the beach. Casual linen and velvet upholstered pieces in hues of blues and greens flank a stone fireplace and a pair of custom built bookcases. (See opening spread)

The Best of Both Worlds


Above: The family room, designed for long afternoons and eve-nings of fun, includes a built-in bar, flat screen television, cus-tom fireplace mantle, and professional billiard and shuffleboard tables. Right: The Rhodes girls have their own private den for studying and homework, or for just entertaining their friends.

Left: A rough-hewn rolling door separates the staircase and a small powder room from the family room, provid-ing both a beautiful design detail and a way to block noise from upstairs.



Facing page: The master suite includes vaulted ceilings painted in a soothing robin’s egg blue. The bath has an oversized shower with double shower heads, and a soak-ing tub with stacked stone surround. The girls’ bedrooms are designed to evolve as each child grows, with tones of pink, teal, orange and chartreuse. Above: The guest bedroom is located in a quiet corner of the house and features its own private sun porch.

THE

PhoTos by danny miTchell



It was just a little renovation. Well sort of.

A couple of years ago, Bob and Judy Young decided to renovate their 1950s mid-century lake camp on Shoals Creek.They started by building a two-bed-room guesthouse and garage, a place where they could stay while construc-tion was underway. The plan was that the guesthouse would compliment the renovation—or so they hoped. Things didn’t quite work out as planned.

Builder Wade Gilchrist and designer Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins did their best to save the camp, but years of wear and tear (and mold and dry rot) had gotten the best of it, and the Youngs decided it would be easier just to tear it down and start fresh. It ended up being a two-year process.

Anne Leslie had always wanted to de-sign a “glass house.“ The house sits on the spot where the original camp stood, and is less than 3,000 square feet. In-side, soaring 22 foot ceilings let in lots of bright sunshine and give the family unbelievable water views. Anne Leslie describes the style as “modern, organic, and rough-hewn.”

Facing page: The home’s soaring ceilings give the impression it is much larger than it really is. Here, the gallery leads you from the family room with its stacked stone fireplace to the master suite. Above: A view from the dining area looking toward the creek, with the kitchen visible to the right. The staircase above the kitchen leads to Bob’s office and a small bath—the only rooms not on the ground floor. Left: The guest house and garage in the foreground, with the house to the right. The home’s new orienta-tion takes full advantage of the beautiful vistas that Shoals Creek offers.


Above: The back porch and deck provide a bounty of additional living and entertaining space—and some of the best water views in the Shoals. Facing page, upper right: The house as seen from the creek. Right: The boat house was also completely rebuilt during the process to coordinate with the new home and provide additional entertaining space. The new wide staircases function as additional deck space and are scaled to match the wide footprint of the house.

“IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER, I ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE INCREASE IN WATER TRAFFIC ON THE CREEK. I LOVE TO WATCH ALL OF THE KIDS WA-TERSKIING AND PLAYING ON THEIR JET SKIS.” —JUDY YOUNG, HOMEOWNER


THE


“I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DESIGN A GLASS HOUSE.” —ANNE LESLIE WARREN TOMPKINS


THE

Facing page: The main living area, with its wrap around views of the creek and beyond. Above: The kitchen makes up the central core of the house—its handmade green tiles were selected by Judy because they reminded her of the water. Right: A view of the guesthouse, and the treehouse, which was built for the Young’s four grand-children by Shawn Caperton of Imperial Design Landscape, who also designed the landscaping for the property.


THE

This page: The master suite was designed in the same palette of soft taupes and creek-hued teals that appear in the rest of the house.

Design: Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins; Construction: Wade Gilchrist Builders; Landscaping: Imperial Design Landscape; Cabinetry: Signature Cabinets and Doors; Flooring: The Wood Floor Store; Counter-tops: Frye Granite Quality Countertops; HVAC: Young Pittman Company; Tree Removal: Joe Pitts Tree Service


End of life issues are challenging for theentire family...we understand. We are

Hospice of the Shoals, the first hospice inthe Shoals, and a non-profit organization

since the beginning. We provide compassionate care for the entire family—

because we understand.

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Hospice of the Shoals—Share the Love!

Hospice full page Noala Ent 6/9/10 5:22 PM Page 1


End of life issues are challenging for theentire family...we understand. We are

Hospice of the Shoals, the first hospice inthe Shoals, and a non-profit organization

since the beginning. We provide compassionate care for the entire family—

because we understand.

256-767-6699www.hospiceoftheshoals.org

Hospice of the Shoals—Share the Love!

Hospice full page Noala Ent 6/9/10 5:22 PM Page 1

88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsvillewww.apr.org

News, classicalmusic and more

APR Noala HG 2011_Layout 1 10/18/11 8:51 AM Page 1


118 » back talk » Chandler Richey

“ I would have to have one big bathroom all to myself with a soaker tub, slate tile, a huge vanity, and a walk-in closet.” —Anita Parrish

“What features would you includein your dream home?”

“I would have to have a sewing and craft room. It would be all pink with gold accessories.” —Shelly Spidel

“A four-car garage for all of my toys, vehicles, and ATV’s.” —Kevin Knight

“A large, upscale kitchen—deluxe microwave, granite countertops, and nice barstools.” —Ralph Wilson

Kevin Knight

Shelly Spidel

Ralph Wilson

Anita Parrish

“An indoor pool so I can swim year round!” —Michael Rogers

“My dream house would be a log cabin. It would need to be open with hardwood floors and multiple fireplaces.” —Tonya Howton

“A really nice kitchen with lots of counter space and an island that can move around for me to cook on.” —Jeremy Woods

Jason Jennings

Jeremy Woods

Tonya Howton

Brandon Speegle

Michael Rogers

“My dream home would have a big fountain with two staircases like Jay Gatsby’s house.”—Jason Jennings

“It would be surrounded by tons of land for me to go hiking and space to do whatever I please.” —Brandon Speegle



120 » back talk » “What features would you include in your dream home?”

“I would love a craftsman style home built in the 1920s.” —Leilani Dimeler

“A recording studio with a bar and grille inside. The house would have to be on a cliff, by the ocean.” —Dustin Bulman

“I would love a 70s contemporary brick home. I would be very meticulous about the floor plans. “ —Ashley Steenson

Lane Hardison

Ashley Steenson

Dustin Bulman

Laura Steenson

Leilani Dimeler

“My dream home would have a staffed bar and a red room of pain.” —Lane Hardison

“It would have a pool with anoutdoor kitchen.” —Laura Steenson


Quality is Everything.At Glenwood Healthcare, we understand the importance ofproviding comfort and quality care when it comes to yourloved one. Whether you are here for rehab services, assisted living, or long-term care, Quality is everything to us.That is why we were so humbled to receive the AmericanHealth Care Association’s Quality Award, one of only 12

facilities in Alabama to be so recognized. If you need rehabservices, assisted living, or long-term care, you can count onthe caring professionals at Glenwood. Quality isn’t just important to us — it’s everything.

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Dry, pale pink Wine MighT be The single greaTesT reason I drink. There is something so superbly appealing about opening a bottle of good rosé, as if pulling the cork unleashes a genie who instantly grants me a lazy summer afternoon of sunshine and daydreams. Okay, maybe that’s a little much, but my romance with pink wine is long and enduring and at its best in good warm weather. The wine is cold and refreshing, like a dry white, with hints of red wine aromatics that lend just enough complexity and subtle backbone to make it forever interesting. It’s one of the most versatile wines, pairing easily with seafood, eggs, roasted pork, grilled steaks, pasta, charcuterie, cheese, burgers, pizza...you get the idea. It may be the only wine for which everyone awes over the color. Pale blush, rose petal pink, salmon, almost ruby; the spectrum is a rainbow of red-derived hues. And because it’s usually a winemaker’s side project, each vintage will produce just a few bottles. Not every wine region in the world produces pink wine. Italy makes some rosato here and there; Spain makes rosado, usually from Tempranillo; California produces a range of rosés from various grape varieties; and Oregon has increasingly produced more Pinot Noir-based pinks. Australia, Chile and Argentina contribute their fair share as well. But France is the mother of rosé, and within the country, Provence makes far more than any other area. The region’s coastline sits on the Côte d’Azur in the Mediterranean Sea. Marseille, St. Tropez, Cannes, and Nice all lie on this romantic shoreline populated with outdoor cafés, beach combers and topless sun worshippers, and bobbing sail boats anchored in the harbor. Salty air breezes through and the seafood is so fresh it tastes like gold. Further inland, near Avignon and Van Gogh’s Arles, lavender fields and 13th century relics paint the countryside while artisanal goat cheese and Picholine olives keep the wine company. Provence pink is the iconic rosé, the example to follow and my personal favorite, but by no means the only great pink of good value.

In every rosé producing area in the world, winemakers generally follow one of two common methods: saignée or blending. The first method is practiced by pressing red wine grapes, macerating the skins for a short time, usually a few hours to a couple of days, to extract anthocyanins which add color and nuance to the wine, then “bleed” (saignée) the juice off the skins and ferment as with white wine. The finished wine is almost always fermented totally dry. (Note: white zinfandel is not

122 » the vine » Amy Collins

MY WORLD THROUGH ROSÉ- COLORED GLASSES. There is something so superbly

appealing about opening a bottle of good rosé, as if pulling the cork unleashes a genie who instantly grants me a lazy summer afternoon of sunshine and daydreams.


considered rosé in the context of this article). The color of the rosé is dependent on the grapes used and the length of maceration, or time on the skins. Pinot Noir, a thin skinned grape, will lend far less color than Grenache. Grenache based rosés from the Tavel region in France’s Rhône Valley, for example, will be intensely ruby, with more body and structure than those further south in Provence. The second method—blending—requires two finished wines, a white and red, where a little red is blended into the white until it achieves the winemaker’s desired goal. Mouton Noir’s Love Drunk Rosé by winemaker André Mack is a blend of Chardonnay and a little Pinot Noir. Adam Campbell’s Elk Cove Rosé is produced through the bleeding method, but after fermentation he adds a little Pinot Noir back into the wine for color and structure. Both wines are from Oregon.

There is a third, less common method which produces a Vin Gris, and, historically, requires a grey-skinned grape to be pressed but not macerated. Instead, the wine is immediately pulled off the skins and fermented dry, as when making white wine. Robert Sinskey’s Vin Gris of Pinot Noir blows my mind Every. Single. Vintage. It’s not cheap and not plentiful, but it is amour vrai in the glass (and I’m already regretting sharing the secret with you).

Below are a few of my favorite rosés available in North Alabama. The 2013s are just beginning to line the shelves and will continue to roll in over the next few weeks. Try some out, find a favorite, and stock up for the summer.

VRAC Vin de Pays Rosé 2013, Provence, France A nod to European tradition where villagers bought their wine directly from the wine co-op’s tanks - en vrac. Strawberry, floral, hint of minerality, dry finish. $13

Domaine des Carteresses 2013, Tavel, FranceRuby in color, just ripe strawberry, iron, mineral, a hint of strawberry candy on the finish. $16

Mouton Noir Love Drunk Rosé 2013, OregonRaspberry, strawberry, subtle tropical fruits, refreshing, lovely long finish.

Elk Cove Rosé 2013, Willamette Valley, Oregon100% Pinot Noir, fragrant strawberry, watermelon, light floral notes, dry finish. $16

Follow Amy at www.pigandvine.com for more stories and wine suggestions.

124 » food for thought » Sarah Gaede

IN CELEBRATION OF THINGSSIMPLE AND SUMMERY

Thanks To My voracious reading oF English novels, especially detective stories, my culinary world has broadened. I always keep my iPad handy when I’m reading so I can look up dishes unfamiliar to me. How could one not want to know what Bubble and Squeak is? (It’s Brit-speak for a simple dish consisting of leftover vegetables from a roast dinner.) An equally intriguing dessert, or pudding, as the Brits call all desserts, is Eton Mess.

Eton Mess, a mixture of strawberries, pieces of meringue, and cream, is traditionally served at Eton College’s annual cricket game against Harrow School. It was originally served in the 1930s in the school’s snack shop, made with either strawberries or bananas mixed with ice cream or cream. Meringues were a later addition. The word “mess” may aptly refer to the appearance of the dish, or may be used in the sense of “a quantity of food,” as in “a mess of collards,” to put it in the vernacular we southerners understand. A popular origin myth, my favorite, is that Eton mess was created when a meringue des-sert was accidentally crushed by an exuberant dog in the back of an estate wagon while en route to a picnic at Eton College. What could be salvaged was served as a crushed meringue with strawberries and cream. Whatever the origin, it is ultra-yummy and ri-diculously easy to make, especially with ready-made meringues, sold at Publix.

Brits are big on Sunday lunch, a popular way to entertain despite the fact that hardly anyone in England goes to church anymore, except to marry and get the baby done (baptized), not necessarily in that order. Sunday lunch used to feature the classic roast beef and veg with Yorkshire pudding (not a des-sert, but a sort of popover baked in the meat drippings), but lighter fare is gaining in popularity. Those of us who still go to church in the morning might prefer Sunday supper. This simple menu allows for a long, lazy summer afternoon, and no heating up of the oven. The Pimm’s Cup is a quintessentially English drink served at summer garden parties, and is perfect for a sultry evening in more than one sense of the word—it’s deceptively powerful. I order my Pimm’s No. 1, a gin-based li-quor, online, but you ought to be able to get ABC to order it for you. Or you can serve a light white wine instead. Both would be good with bought cheese straws. Publix will order a rack of lamb for you with a few days notice. You can cut it into individual chops your-self, or ask the butcher to do it. Serve with boiled tiny new pota-toes with butter and parsley, and steamed asparagus.

A traditional Eaton Mess, made with strawberries and ice cream and garnished with fresh blueberries.


Pimm’s Cup

• Icecubes• 4lemonslices• 4cucumberslices• 1cupclubsodaorlemon-limesoda• 1cupfreshlemonade(notpowdered Country Time!)• 3cupsPimm’sNo.1Cup

Fill6(8to10-ounce)highballglasseswithicecubes.Divide the lemon and cucumber slices among the glasses. Pour the seltzer or soda, lemonade, and Pimm’s into a pitcher. Stir to combine. Pour mixture intopreparedglasses.Imbibewithcare.

Grilled Baby Lamb Chops

• 1smallrackoflamb,cutintoindividualchops• 1/2cupredwine—preferablythesameoneyouwill be serving with dinner• 2tablespoonsgoodqualitybalsamicvinegar• 2tablespoonssoysauce• 2tablespoonsextra-virginoliveoil• 4clovesgarlic,smashedandpeeled• 2largesprigsfreshrosemary• 1rackoflambserves2-3people. For2racks,doublethemarinade.

Atleast4hoursbeforedinner,trimlambandcutbetween the bones to make individual chops. Whisk together remaining ingredients. Place chops in a heavy zip bag, pour in marinade, and massage bag to make sure all the chops are covered. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 8 hours, turning bag over occasionally.30minutesbeforegrilling,removechopsfrom refrigerator, pour off marinade, and dry on paper towels. Let sit at room temperature while grill is heat-ing. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.Grilltodesireddoneness—preferablynomorethanmediumrare,about3minutesperside.

Eton Mess

• 1quartlovelyripestrawberries, capped and chopped • 12MissMeringuevanillameringuecookies• 1tablespoongranulatedsugar• 1-1/2cupsheavywhippingcream• 1tablespoonpowderedsugar

Tossthechoppedstrawberrieswith1tablespoongranulated sugar and allow to sit at room temperature for30minutestodevelopthejuice.Smasheachmeringue hard with the palm of your hand one time and place whatever results in a mixing bowl. (You might want to do this on a piece of wax paper, so you won’t lose anything.) Whip the cream with the powderedsugartoverysoftpeaks—donotoverwhip.Cover and refrigerate whipped cream if not serving immediately.

Just before serving, reserve a few chopped strawber-ries for garnish and toss the rest together gently with the meringues and whipped cream, using a rubber scraper. Serve in individual dessert bowls or glasses, garnished with reserved strawberries. Also good with perfectly ripe Chilton County peaches.


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128 » bless their hearts » Heidi King

The plants that made it into the ground didn’t stand a chance; the others were dead before Memorial Day. It was like the Universe was sending me a very clear message about my future in gardening.

I love The ouTdoors and I love To garden. This time of year—when the flowers are blooming and everything is a lush shade of green, before the Alabama summer sets in and turns things brown—moves me and makes me want to get my hands in the dirt.

And as strange as it sounds to those who know me, I love to work in the yard. I enjoy raking leaves, mowing the lawn and even weeding—anything that keeps me connected with nature. For me, there is a blissful feeling associated with pouring all of your focus into one task, instead of worrying about an endless work to-do list. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I get to shop for plants and gardening equipment. I enjoy watching things grow and transplanting things from pots into the ground so that they can flourish and thrive.

But the loving honeymoon phase with my plants tends to be rather short-lived. Despite my passion for the beginning stages of botanical endeavors, I have the attention span of a goldfish when it comes to completing a project. This is complicated by my surplus of enthusiasm and my tendency to be a walking example of Murphy’s Law. I know my hus-band dreads the first trip I make to the store, once spring has truly sprung. I always come home with an assortment of fresh plants, all ready to be carefully coaxed into beautifully and perfectly prepared pots. These living things yearn to bloom and grow and eventu-ally get transferred to the rich Alabama soil, where they can continue to develop, grow and produce a whole salad in one convenient plant. That is how it works, right?

But Murphy’s Lawmakers tend to work overtime with me. Some of those lovingly-nurtured baby plants end up being ‘leftovers’. Those are the plants that I either loved so much, I bought too many; the plants I forgot, because they were behind a bag of potting soil; or plants I just ran out of room for in the allotted space.

These plants go to a very special place at my house: we call it the Porch of Death.

No plant in the ten years I have lived in my house has survived more than a single season on the Porch of Death. If you admire a plant on my porch, you can rest assured that the next time you visit me, the pot will still be there, but it will be sad, dry, unloved, and beginning to acquire a dusty coating. There will be no trace of any plant that once lived so proudly in that blue polka dot ceramic pot.

Despite years of evidence that I was no master gardener, I still convince myself every spring that I can do this! I al-ways felt that gardening should be in my blood. My grand-parents had a fairly large and active farm when my mother and her siblings were young. The flowerbeds that surround-ed my grandparent’s house seemed like a wonderland. I re-member my grandmother digging and pulling weeds, fluffing

MY PORCH OF DEATH


I N T E R I O R S

WHEN STRUCTURE AND BEAUTY MERGE.

flowers and pruning vines. There were fruit trees overloaded with apples and plums, and wisteria climbed high into the grove of trees outside their house.

Because I assumed (incorrectly) that I, too, would have a knack for plants, I was thrilled when my husband and I fi-nally moved out of apartment life and into a house. Finally, we could landscape the flowerbeds, fill our windows with pots of herbs, and grow a luscious garden out back full of my favorite veggies. I went to the store with dreams of rakes, spades, and shovels, oh my! I bought oodles of gardening supplies and far too many plants for me to realistically try to plant in my first gardening season. And I did not stop at garden plants—while I was getting my hands dirty, I thought I might as well do a little light decorative planting around my house, too! So, with a car full of plants and a brain filled with relatively no gardening knowledge—my husband smiling at my pure glee—we went home and planted a garden. And, as luck would have it that summer, we found ourselves in the middle of the worst drought in decades…of course. My garden nev-er stood a chance.

Well, let me make it clear. The plants that made it into the ground didn’t stand a chance; the others were dead before Memorial Day. If you had issues with the drought that year, I am sorry: you only have me and my garden to blame. It was like the Universe was sending me a very clear message about my future in gardening. I want to have a green thumb, but sadly I never will. I must admit that and save the lives of countless plants that I could bring home with a dance of joy, only to watch them wither on the Porch of Death. I have high hopes that maybe I will magically inherit this gift of gardening, but the layer of dust on my pile of unfinished gardening books does not bode well for that to happen any time soon. Instead, I try to soak up as much knowledge as I possibly can from my grandmother, because I am pretty sure she is one of the smartest women on the planet. Even though I fear that I have to face the real-ity that some things cannot be taught—and for me, it looks like my thumb is never going to be green—maybe a muddy shade of brown, but not green—there are still things she can teach me. I will just have to spend my time cherishing the flowers that still surround me at my grandparents’ house, though my grandmother can no longer bend to pull weeds or plant flowers. I’ll have to be content as she and I sit together and listen to the bees buzz around the bright flowers, and we can enjoy those quiet moments together, just the two of us sur-rounded by all of the beauty of nature. Though most of the fruit trees and wisteria are gone now, I can still remember the taste of the lip-puckering sour of an unripe apple and smell the powerful sweet aroma of blooming hyacinth.

I just hope that one day, I will be able to afford to pay some-one to create all those things in my own yard.

God bless a trained professional.


130 » parting shot » Patrick Hood

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No'Ala Shoals May/June 2014

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