Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2005 i Southern Lady

Getting mail can be such fun, especially when it’s from a friend. So take a little extra time to stylize your correspondence by adding a few simple embellishments. With just a bit of imagination and some scrapbook supplies, you can turn plain note cards into signature stationery. These days your local craft store carries oodles of papers, scissors, and stickers to spark lots of ideas. And wherever cards are sold, be sure to look for card attachments, tiny accessories that instantly add pizzazz to a plain-Jane greeting card. From a simple peel-and-stick flower to a silver heart with brads on the back, just a tiny addition will make a big impact. You can layer papers, play with patterns, choose a pair of scissors that cut a wavy pattern—the options are…

The tall, slender blonde steps from deck of the Kittywake and strides energetically down the dock. She extends a hand, and her smile widens as she says, “Hi! I’m Kathy. Are you ready to catch some fish?” She’s Kathy Broughton, and she’s just begun her twelfth season as a charter boat captain and inshore fishing guide at Zeke’s Landing in Orange Beach, Alabama. Seven days a week, she carries groups of fishing enthusiasts—some novices, others more experienced—through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Perdido Bay in search of redfish and speckled trout, flounder and mackerel. Her companions for the trip return to shore with a cooler full of the coast’s tastiest offerings and the memory of a day packed with fun and excitement. Kathy’s love of the water…

Oyster plates first graced the table during a time when dinner was an event and each course was part of an elaborate presentation. Originally, the oyster plate was designed to keep the half-shells cold with small depressions holding crushed ice or snow. To the dismay of hostesses, melting became a problem during mealtime, which quickly brought about plates with larger defined depressions that didn’t require ice or snow. But without the frozen buffers, the shells scratched the plates’ delicate designs. Solving the dilemma, a new oyster dish was created that had shell-like recesses for the oyster without its shell, allowing the ornate plate to keep its beauty scratch-free. Today, lavish oyster plates are at the heart of many collections, offering bold colors and intricate designs for all to admire. Handed…

There just weren’t many options out there for cute luggage, and we had lots of people asking us to start a line ourselves,” says Julia Bradford Dibrell, founder of the j. bradford co., a business dedicated to designing bags of all shapes, sizes, and purpose. Julia added the luggage creations just three years ago to her already extensive collection of diaper, cosmetic, and tote bags, handbags, backpacks, and wristlets. Colorful circles, stripes, swirls, and pretty polka dots all have a special place in Julia’s collections, styles that make packing for the trip half the fun. This summer, the popular hues are pink and blue and “anything bright,” Julia says, and her vibrant fabric choices reflect just that. “When planning the lines I think about color trends for the season, and…

Cowboy humorist Will Rogers is credited with coining the term “cowgirl” to describe Lucille Mulhall, a feminine and soft-spoken young woman who could out-rope and out-ride any seasoned ranch hand. In 1905 she packed Madison Square Garden as the star of her father’s Wild West Show, later distinguishing herself as the first woman to compete and win against men in steer roping competitions. Lucille is just one of the hundreds of trail-blazing women whose stories come to life at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. There’s Sacajawea, the Indian maiden who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition; Mamie Hafley, who thrilled audiences by riding her horse off a fifty-foot-high platform into a barrel of water just ten feet across; and riding instructor Connie Reeves, whose advice to generations…

To purchase items featured in our articles, please refer to the information below. If an item is not listed, it is privately owned and not available for purchase. To contact the manufacturers and retail stores referenced below, see Directory of Companies. COVER Dishes and martini glass available at Pier 1 Imports. Napkin and napkin ring available at Table Matters. PRETTY THINGS FOR A SEASHELL EXTRAVAGANZA Page 14: Antique prints, antique copper bowl, pottery, and wicker basket available at Arceneaux Gallery. Page 15: Hand-painted cocktail table, shell wreaths, and framed mirror available at Rast Sherrill. Pillows available at Suite Dreams. Page 16: Stationery available at Suite Dreams. Shell finials available at Rast Sherrill. Reproduction antique shell displays available from Wisteria. Page 17: Handbags available at Clothes Tree. Decorative pillows available at Suite…

Purple on a billboard catches your eye. Something about it seems so intriguing, plus you’ve been driving on Interstate 65 for several hours now. It’s definitely time for a stop, and didn’t that sign say something about Exit 142? You pull off the interstate, park the car, s-t-t-retch your legs, and make your way into a large building by way of a quite curious lavender door. Only yards away cars continue zipping along the road through Fort Deposit, Alabama, but here inside Wisteria Cottage, you’ve entered a world of unexpected delights. It is a world created by Wanda McCray, a world you’ll want to visit again and again. We’ve got two floors and 2,500 square feet of merchandise for the home,” says Wanda, who has over twenty years experience in…

S tately and regal, the English Tudor boasted the charm intrinsic to the style of its architecture, but it lacked fine details. George, who has worked as an interior plaster and exterior stucco specialist in the construction industry for thirty-plus years, knew what was needed to enhance its beauty. “We’ve seen what plaster mouldings can add to a home to really make it shine,” Beth says. With the help of a designer, an architect, hours of research, the talents of a select group of artisans, and a full year of work, the project is complete and the results are nothing short of magnificent. Plaster adornments were handcrafted by skilled artisans using old world techniques.…

We bought this house in 1992,” she remembers, “and the first thing I did was to bring in bulldozers and start over with the garden. I designed and planted the garden before I did anything inside the house.” Some might quail at the task of gardening on sloping ground, but Sue welcomed the challenge. She put in several retaining walls and installed steps that lead into two separate areas. The first is a structured formal garden made up of four quadrants. From there, the path leads to what she calls Grandmother’s Garden. “It’s more relaxed,” she says. “It gets afternoon shade, so that’s where I put tables and chairs.” It’s not surprising, given Sue’s love for flowers, that her garden boasts a wide variety. Lenten roses, hollyhocks, baby’s breath, coneflowers,…

Shorebirds call as the ebb tide reveals surprises in the surf, treasures from the deep. In the evening, boats return and the catch of the day is unloaded by proud and happy fishermen. Fresh-off-the-boat shrimp cook up plump and flavorful to satisfy an appetite for good food and fellowship. Icy drinks offer cool refreshment on a sun-drenched afternoon. Seashore-inspired goblets show off simple cut flowers when filled with water and a bit of colorful aquarium gravel. Seafood Sensation On the Menu Crab Cakes with Fried Green Tomatoes 1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs, divided 1 egg, beaten 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 pound lump crab meat 1/4 cup…

Less than a ten minute drive from the bright lights and bustle of Casino Row, Ocean Springs seems to move at her own unhurried pace, extending a gracious invitation to slow down and savor the quiet charms of this coastal community. Century-old live oaks spread their branches to shade sidewalks and streets lined with intriguing shops and art galleries. A detour down the side roads that lead toward Biloxi Bay reveals gingerbreadtrimmed cottages whose wide front porches promise a cool respite from the thick heat of a Mississippi afternoon. Just blocks from the center of town, sleek pleasure boats bob against their moorings in the Ocean Springs Harbor. Seagulls circle in the sky above, eyeing the decks of shrimp boats as they return from plying their nets in the waters…

Claim to Frame Sight to Sea Shore Inspiration Soft Spot She loves seashells from the seashore. She loves seashells from the seashore. She loves seashells from the seashore. Write Away Finishing Touch On Display On the Go Iridescent Candescence She loves seashells from the seashore. She loves seashells from the seashore. She loves seashells from the seashore.…

When that summer sun starts shining, everything seems a little brighter. With such happiness all around, it’s a prime time to bring a bit of fun and freshness to your décor. Create instant interest with groups of citrus fruits, putting a new twist on traditional table arrangements. Lemons, limes, and kumquats gathered in tulle and tied with ribbon make super-simple centerpieces that take the modest beauty of a bowl of fruit just one step further. And with the many choices of color, shape, and size, adding a few citrus fruits to your table is a sure way to show that variety is the slice of life.…

The seashore has inspired many a decorator. But the beach theme can go beyond the everyday nautical and reach into the realm of fanciful and formal. Pearly shells, silken napkins, sea foam plates etched in gold, swirled vases resembling dunes kissed by the sunset—all come together in a sophisticated table setting, radiating with the romance of the sea, proving that the possibilities are as numerous as the grains of sand on the shore. Set your table like the seven seas in shades of cerulean and with all that glistens.…

That’s good advice from someone who rose to the rank of colonel and holds the distinction of being the most senior woman commander and only woman to lead at the brigade level in the Gulf War. “The timing was right,” Jo says with humility as she looks back over her twentyfour- year career. But it was more than being in the right place at the right time that drove this warm woman with a quick wit and a “can do” attitude along the road to great achievement. Hard work, a gritty determination, and a keen sense of how to succeed in a man’s world made Jo not only stand out among her peers but also propelled her to the top. Raised in Pascagoula, Mississippi, she credits her parents for developing…

Like many of her neighbors, Pandora de Balthazar still faces the challenges of rebuilding nearly a year after Hurricane Ivan washed her home into the Gulf of Mexico and damaged the historic building that houses her Pensacola, Florida, showroom. But she remains surprisingly undaunted, for it was a different hurricane, and a few personal storms, that revealed a way to make her passion her work. Pandora spent thirty years as a successful financial planner until 1995 when Hurricane Opal struck the Florida panhandle. Her business was devastated. “Hurricane Opal changed my work and pushed my financial planning business right into the sound,” she recalls. “That was an awakening. It created a new and adventuresome life for me.” She left the financial world behind, turning instead to creating a business from…

“I don’t really know why I wanted to play soccer. I just remember I really wanted to play. So, I told my parents and they signed me up and I’ve never wanted to stop,” says Catherine “Cat” Reddick. She’s just come from morning practice with the U.S. Women’s National Team. The rest of her day will include another workout, a shower, a few hours at her sports marketing internship—“to learn about the other side of things,” she says—some dinner, and maybe she’ll catch a rerun of Friends while packing for tomorrow’s trip to Portugal for the Algarve Cup tournament. A busy schedule and world travel are nothing new for this fresh-faced young athlete. In fact, easy-going, fun-loving Catherine has been playing on traveling teams for years, showing off her distance-kicking,…

The Lone Star State is like no other place on earth. There, folklore and fables are repeated from father to son, mother to daughter. Wide open spaces beckon to those who seek the solitude of life on the range, and fields of bluebonnets refresh the Texan’s soul. The reputation of its men is legendary, but its women are no less remarkable. Throughout American history, Texas ladies have demonstrated a fascinating combination of adventurous spirits, a commitment to hard, sometimes dangerous, work, and a steely determination that fuels their desire to overcome whatever obstacles lie in the path to their personal fulfillment of purpose. Yet their rough-riding determination has never erased their femininity. From Beaumont to El Paso, beauty, grace, and a fun-loving nature have flourished in the women who have…

Squash Puppies 2 medium yellow squash, grated (1 cup) 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1 cup self-rising corn meal mix 1/4 cup self-rising flour 1 egg, beaten Buttermilk Vegetable oil ■ In a medium bowl, combine grated squash, onion, corn meal mix, flour, and egg. Add enough buttermilk to make a stiff batter (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup). Set aside for 10 minutes. ■ In a medium skillet, add oil to a depth of ½ inch and heat to 350°. Drop batter by tablespoons into oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Yield: 12 squash puppies. Zucchini Bread 2 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 medium zucchini, grated (2 cups) 2 cups all-purpose flour…

Bay Fêtes A Tour of Celebrations Along the Gulf Coast For many folks, a summertime vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida, is an annual event. But for the members of the Junior Service League of Panama City, it is home. The league members compiled more than 350 recipes that have a distinctive coastal flavor. The result was Bay Fêtes, the group’s third cookbook. “What makes this book different from our other books is that it incorporates entertaining,” says cookbook chairman Michelle Kinard. “Bay Leaf, the league’s first book, was fabulous and had a lot of great recipes, and Beyond the Bay took it one step further. Bay Fêtes is our entertainment book.” With party in its name—“fête” means to celebrate with a festival or elaborate party—the cookbook accurately reflects its…