No’Ala Huntsville, July/August 2016

COMMUNITY GARDENS | LITTLE LIBRARIES | TIRIL BENTON: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

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contents 26GARDEN PARTY OF THREEBY ROY HALL PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

Architect Frank Nola and landscape designer Eddie Ray achieve beauty, order, and functionality in three of Huntsville's most spectacular gardens.

ON THE COVER: Meandering walkways border the garden of John and Flo Stallworths Athens home.

16DEBBIES BIG LITTLE IDEABY ROY HALL PHOTOS BY SWEET INDIGO PHOTOGRAPHYNurturing and encouraging literacy, curbside.

20TRADITION WITH A TWISTBY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOODFamily heirlooms, contemporary xtures, and rambunctious color help make this Valley house home for a family of eight.

50GALLERY TOURBY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOODA 1970s Federal style home in the Twickenham is splendidly reborn to suit the aesthetic and practical needs of an art-loving family.

62 FRUITS OF LABORBY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOODTh e sustenance and fellowship of the North Alabama community garden movement both nourishes and nurtures its users.

70ARTIST IN RESIDENCEBY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOODArtist Tiril Benton re ects on life, art, motherhood, and the comfort of home.

80LIFE IN THE NUTT HOUSEBY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOODA warm and welcoming Blossomwood home mirrors the stately grandeur of Th omas Je erson's Monticello.

12CALENDARSELECTED EVENTS FOR JULY/AUGUST 2016

14CRYIN OUT LOUDBY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON

58OLD SCHOOLBY CHRIS PAYSINGER

86SHOPGIRLSBY AISSA CASTILLO AND LAUREN MCCAULPHOTOS BY LAUREN TOMASELLA CARNEY

94BLESS THEIR HEARTSBY DAVID SIMS

96FOOD FOR THOUGHTBY SARAH GAEDE

98PARTING SHOTBY PATRICK HOOD

8 contents

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9 editors letter Roy Hall noala huntsville

advisory boardOsie Adelfang

ARC Design-Build, Inc.

Lynne BerryHudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Sarah BrewerClick Photo Designs by Sarah Brewer

Kimberly CaseyLowe Mill Arts & Entertainment

Donna CastellanoHistoric Huntsville Foundation

Aissa Castilloaislerchic.com

Dan HalcombHuntsville Symphony Orchestra

Lauren McCauldeptofagraculture.com

Guy McClure, Jr.Athens State University

Tom Pattersonknowhuntsville.com

Dr. Holly PoweCalhoun Community College

Olivia ReedOlivia Reed Photography

Patrick RobbinsHuntsville Hospital

Ashley RyalsHomegrown Huntsville

Jennifer SwobodaHagerman & Company

Junior League of Huntsville

Lauren Tomasella Carney Lauren Tomasella Photography

Ashley VaughnWhite Rabbit Studios/Vertical House Records

Charles Vaughn Vaughn Lumber Company

Andrew WilmonBroadway Theatre League

Th e More Th ings Change...If you believe the adage that change only makes things more the same, NoAla should be more like itself than ever before. And despite all the ux around here lately, oddly enough, we are. Just in case our big news somehow passed you by, Allen Tomlinson, NoAla editor and co-founder, and the nimblest thinker this side of the Mississippi, began making the case for increased cancer research from the other side of Portlands Willamette River back in May, as marketing director for the Knight Cancer Institute. Meanwhile, your humble new editor moved in the opposite direction, east-ward approximately 50 feet, to the former o ce of our art director, David Sims, who still makes NoAla beautiful, only these days virtually. Matt Liles, our president, still steers the ship, now from Allens old o ce.

Th e rest of the NoAla familyJamie, Rowan, Patrick, Sara, Carole, Duell, Lauren M., Lauren T., Aissa, and our small army of brilliant freelance photographers, writ-ers, and artistshave all stayed right where they were before. And thank goodness for that. Change may make things more the same, but its still nice to have a xed, familiar point in the center of our hectic lives. Th ats also about as good a de ni-tion of home as there is.

Making homes beautiful is another story, and two Valley designers share theirs for our annual Home and Garden issue.

Frank Nola helps two art-loving families realize their dream homes in very di er-ent ways. Dorrie and Jerry Nutts Blossomwood home re ects the couples admi-ration for Th omas Je ersons neoclassical masterpiece, Monticello, while Nolas spectacular reimagining of Kerry and Tom Dorans Twickenham stunner creates a showplace for the couples extensive art collection.

Decatur-based Miranda Alexander makes home sweet, stylish, and practical by integrating cherished family mementoes into her design for a couple and their six children. And artist Tiril Benton tells us the stories behind her own mementoescanvases inspired by her personal history and imagination that line the walls of her cozy, comfortable home.

Th e beauty and bounty of the great outdoors are represented here as wellin lush landscapes designed by Eddie Ray of Th e Greenery and Frank Nola, and in the nourishing harvests of community gardens, whose missions to nourish bodies and souls feels a lot like home, too.

July/August 2016VOLUME 5: ISSUE 4

C. Allen TomlinsonPUBLISHER

Roy HallEDITORINCHIEF

Matthew LilesPRESIDENT

David SimsCREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jamie NolesADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Rowan FinneganGRAPHIC DESIGNER

Justin HallWEB DESIGNER

Aissa Castillo, Lauren McCaulSHOPGIRLS

Carole MaynardPROOFREADER

Duell AldridgeDISTRIBUTION

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSara Wright Covington, Sarah Gaede, Roy Hall,

Chris Paysinger, David Sims

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSPatrick Hood, Lauren Tomasella Carney, Sweet Indigo Photography

NoAla Huntsville is published six times annually by NoAla Studios PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630

Phone: (256) 766-4222 (800) 779-4222noalastudios.com

Standard postage paid at Huntsville, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States. Signed articles re ect only the viewsof the authors and do not necessarily re ect the views of the editors.

Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements.

2008-2016 NoAla Studios, All rights reserved.

Send all correspondence to Roy Hall, Editor, at the postal address above,or by email to [email protected].

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3800 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 300 Birmingham, Alabama 35243, Phone: (205) 208.8700400 Meridian Street, Suite 200, Huntsville, Alabama 35801, Phone: (256) 970.6888

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Now October 30, 2016Encounters: Dustin Farnsworth

Th e latest exhibition in this long-standing showcase for outstanding regional contemporary art focuses on the emerging North Carolina artists intriguing three-dimensional art. Farnsworths hand-carved gurative sculptures encapsulate the artists interests in character, story, craft, mechanics, composition, empathy, and social commentary. Tues-Sat 11:00am-5:00pm, Th urs 11:00am-8:00pm, Sun noon-5:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org

Monday, July 4 Monday, August 8 (Mondays Only)Concerts in the Park

Th e concert series, presented by Arts Huntsville and the City of Huntsvilles Department of Parks and Recreation, showcases a mix of musical genres from rock and roll, pop, and top-40 to swing, country, bluegrass, Celtic, and jazz. Leashed pets are welcome. 6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Huntsville Museum of Art outdoor stage at Big Spring Park; (256) 519-2787; artshuntsville.org

Friday, July 8 Sunday, July 10Smoke on the Mountain

Smoke on the Mountaintells the story of a Saturday Night Gospel Sing at a country church in North Carolinas Smoky Mountains in 1938. Th e show features two dozen rousing bluegrass songs played and sung by the Sanders Family. Th ough they try to appear perfect in the eyes of a congregation who wants to be inspired by their songs, one thing after another goes awry and they reveal their trueand hilariously imperfectnatures. Fri and Sat 7:00pm and Sun 2:30pm; Admis-sion charged; Renaissance Th eatre Alpha Stage, 1214 Meridian St; (256) 536-3434; renaissancetheatre.net

Friday, July 8 and Friday, August 12 Friday Night Art Walk

Over 40 artists o ering everything from photography to screen printing to bow ties in the pleasant atmosphere of historic down-town Huntsville. Enjoy live music on the Square, grab a drink, or stay for dinner at one of several spots throughout the district.

12 calendar


5:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Downtown Huntsville Square; down-townhuntsville.org

Friday, July 8 and Friday, August 12 Movies in the Park

Historic Huntsville Foundation presents three family-friendly movies on the Big Screen in Big Spring Park East at sundown.Local food vendors will provide delicious treats, and fun activities will be available for kids of all ages. 6:00pm-10:00pm; Free; 200 Church St; (256) 508-5372; historichuntsville.org

Saturday, July 9 and Saturday, August 13Belle Chevre Saturday Suppers

Saturday Suppers include a ve-course prix xe menu inspired by fresh, local ingredients, including Belle Chevres ne artisanal goat cheeses made right here in Alabama. Th ese meals will be prepared by award-winning cookbook author and Belle Chevre Chief Cheese, Tasia Malakasis, and Chef de Cuisine Rick Vonk. First seating 5:30pm, second seating 7:30pm; Admission charged, reservations required; 18849 Upper Fort Hampton Rd, Elkmont; (256) 732-4801; bellechevre.com

Friday, July 15 Sunday, July 17 and Th ursday, July 21 Saturday, July 23Neil Simons Rumors

At a large, tastefully appointed Snedens Landing town-house, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Th ough only a esh wound, four couples are about to experience a severe attack of farce. Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer Ken and wife Chris must get the story straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunica-tions mount, the evening spins o into classic farcical hilar-ity. Von Braun Playhouse; (256) 536-0807; For show times and tickets, visit theatrehsv.org

Saturday, August 27LIT: Light+Innovation+Technology

For one night only, digital art projections, colorful light, and environmental design will transform all four sides of the Downtown Square into a living work of art. Th is juried festival celebrates the uniqueness of Huntsville through the fusion of light, innovation, and technology. 7:00pm-10:00pm; Free; Downtown Huntsville; (256) 519-2787; artshuntsville.org

14 cryin out loud Sara Wright Covington

If you are familiar with this column, youve likely gured out that on more than one occasion, these lists make it to print here, which makes me a little bit like a literary Taylor Swift, who has become known for penning her serial break-up sagas by song.

My editors have been warned that I dont have much of a filter these days, so each time a new issue makes it to print and I see my

column there, I take it as a sign they havent red me yet. Consider yourself warned as well, and just know that Ive been a little irritable lately. Pregnancy

can do that to a girl. As a writer and a devoted note-taker of irony, I tend to keep lists of things people say that strike me as particularly audacious or, in some

cases, incredibly asinine. If you are familiar with this column, youve likely gured out that on more than one occasion, these lists make it to print here, which makes

me a little bit like a literary Taylor Swift, who has become known for penning her serial break-up sagas by song.

Before I launch into my tirade, let me state this: pregnancy is a gift. For a woman, I rmly believe that one of lifes greatest experiences is growing a tiny pod in your belly,

and feeling that little thing kick, and move, and even hiccup as it grows over the months. But for every bit of pregnancys beauty, sacredness, and mysticism, its also uncomfortable, ugly, and awkward. Entire blogs, websites, essays, and social media sites have been devoted to pregnancy, and most every one of them

feature some type of dont say this or that to a pregnant woman if you want to live type advice at some point. And I freely admit, I have even said/asked a few

of these myself. But this is my third baby, and I feel Ive built up a stockpile of things people ask and say that just dont cotton to us ladies with child

very well. Disclaimer before you go any farther: please remember, my hypothetical responses to the below statements/questions are

mostly/probably in jest. And IF you happen to be a close associate, friend, family member, or spouse of mine who has said any of these things, I DO still love you, but no one is exempt from the wrath of a pregnant lady. And really, you should know better.

Heres my list:

Wow! You look like you are about to pop! Im not actually! I have another two months to go. But thanks for

noticing that these extra 20 pounds Im carrying around arent stopping tra c or anything!

WORDS TO THE WISE


So have you heard of the Zika virus? I saw on the news that pregnant women should completely avoid mosquito infested areas.

Zika virus? Ive never heard of that! Its a good thing I live in Alabama and am due in the middle of July so theres, like, zero chance of being around any mosquitos! No, seriously, Ive ordered a full-body mosquito suit o amazon.com that Im planning to wear on the one occasion I leave my house this summer to venture into the outdoors so I can get in the car to go to the hospital to give birth.

So you are having another girl? Are you super disappointed?

Yes. We will probably just leave her at the hospital. Ha, thats funny, Sara. But really, doesnt your husband want a boy to carry on his name? Yes, its di cult to accept here in Communist China circa 1985 that we are going to be two over our household child limit, with no boys to even make it worthwhile. Still, dont yall want to try for a boy? Ok, were done here.

So when do you think you will go into labor?Seriously?

Little girls are just so high-maintenance. So are a lot of adults I know.

Bless your heart. You look absolutely miserable. And you are de nitely starting to waddle.

Um, thank you?

You really should try to work out in pregnancy. It will make delivery easier and you will lose weight faster after pregnancy.

Th anks. I have two other kids under the age of four, so thats my cardio. Im also planning to breastfeed, which is also none of your business, and that burns an additional 500 calories a day postpartum. So, when you are jogging in place at home before bed, staring at your FitBit and attempting to hit your daily step goal, I will likely be eating ice cream while hooked up to a breast pump, milking the calorie burn for all its worth. Pun intended. Oh, Im sorry, that grosses you out? Well, you brought it up.

Even though Im a total stranger, can I touch your stomach? Oh, wait, Im already reaching in before you even have a chance to answer me.

Dont you already have two kids? Did you do this on purpose?

Yes! I guess my husband and I are just crazy irresponsible like that!

So will you call me when you are in labor so I can sit in the waiting room and periodically stick my head in your room to check on your progress?

No.

Are you having a gender reveal party?! No.

I stopped at two kids because I didnt want to have to deal with the middle-child syndrome that happens with three.

Yeah, I dont know what we are thinking. Th ose middle children are the real dregs of society.

How in the world are you going to take care of three small children?

No idea. I guess we will just lock them all in a padded room with no light sockets or sharp edges and hope for the best.

Didnt you tell me that you are building a house right now? How are you going to move with a newborn baby? Are you insane?

Have we met? Havent we already established that Im completely bat-bleeping crazy? Ha Ha, really, Im just not going to move. Th e new owners of our house are going to let me live with them until the baby is a year old and I can resume a normal functioning lifestyle that would allow me to physically relocate.

I cant believe you are having another baby at 36. Yeah, when you get pregnant at 36, they automatically stamp your forehead with the letters AMA, which stand for Advanced Maternal Age. Im required to graze in a separate pasture from the rest of the pregnant cattle.

I mean, the risks go way up once you hit 35 though, dont they? Arent you worried about that? So worried that I actually chose to do this on purpose.


Debbies Big Little Idea

TEXT BY ROY HALLPHOTOS BY SWEET INDIGO PHOTOGRAPHY

WANT A BOOK? TAKE A BOOK! WANT TO SHARE A BOOK? LEAVE A BOOK!

What could be simpler?

Or, for Huntsville resident and Tiny Library owner Debbie Snow, more gratifying?

Snows little library, one of about half-a-dozen in the Huntsville area, is open to friends, neighbors, and word-loving passersbyincluding Snows neighbor and avid reader, Ava Barnes, pictured here.

Th e idea behind little libraries is simple. Homeowners build or buy a mailbox-sized library, ll it with a dozen or so of their favorite tomes, register at littlefreelibrary.org, and wait for the magic to begin.

Its a very rewarding experience, especially when I see kids using it, Snow says. Even if people dont stop, they always smile. For me, thats the greatest pleasure.

Th e books for grown-ups come from Snows collection or anonymous donations from neighbors. Snow buys her childrens books at Friends of the Library book sales. Its a way of supporting big libraries and small ones, Snow says.

Less a library, more of a book exchange, the little library movement inspires neighborhood connections by uniting book lovers worldwide in a mutual love of literature.

For more information about the little library movement, a map of little library locations, or to buy your own little library, visit littlefreelibrary.org.


Debbie Snow (right) and her father, Guy McClure, Sr.

Ava Barnes

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

18 scene

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Above: 2016 HSO Debutante Announcementmay , huntsville country club

Below: 2016 Crescen-Dough AuctionFire y Fanfare

april , von braun center north hall

Nancy and Skipper Colin

Dr. Ben and Debbie Washburn

John Malone and Clare Grisham

Jennifer Crozier, Sarah Hubbard, and Donna Rush

Dr. Rob and Linda Akenhead

Dr. Heather James and Mark Smith

Drs. Lindsay and Matt LimbaughJohn and Courtney Allen

Mark Yeager

Above: Seated (L-R): Maria Caprio, Millie Steed, Olivia Costanza, Elise Greco, Ann Christian Brown; Standing (L-R): Patton Park, Elizabeth Jones, Peyton Mickle, Caroline Curran, Bailey Gardner, Kate Gri n

Right: Seated (L-R): Tindall Morring, Emily Evans, Megan Smith, Julianna Kendall, Abby Knowling; Standing (L-R): Lauren Neighbors, Hattie Crosby, Maddie Kofskey, Hannah Martz, Kate Noble Hall, Caroline Wilson

Above: Seated (L-R): Susanne McCrary, Bailey Bentley, Mandy Kate Malone, Mary Mac Hardin; Standing (L-R): Hannah Splawn, Mary Charles Stewart, Michelle Caudle, Lily Hendrix, Katy Shoemaker, Sarah Abbott Martinson


When Decatur-based interior designer Miranda Alexander was hired to do a home makeover for a young couple and their six children, she knew the task would have its chal-lenges. Built just over a decade ago, the European style home needed to be beautiful, practical, and, most of all, very cozy. Family was also a focal point for the redesign, and Alexan-der worked to incorporate meaningful objects into everyday, functional living.

Th e dining room table and chairs were family heirlooms, so they were very special, says Alexander. But they are also a young family, so we wanted to put a twist on things.

Alexander used two chandeliers in the large room above the table, metal chests for storage and display, custom wool rugs to create warmth, and a blue grasscloth wallpaper to add texture to the walls. Instead of a traditional china cabinet, Alexander chose a distressed cabinet to create a more casual look instead of hiding the family china behind a traditional cabinet.

Its a mix of the old with the more contemporary, says Alexander. Everything is also very functional. Alexander used all indoor/outdoor fabrics, which she says makes them indestructible and, therefore, very kid-friendly. All of the homes doors,

text by sara wright covington photos by patrick hood

TRADITION WITH A TWIST


oors, ceilings, and exposed beams are reclaimed wood to create the feeling of an old house, perfect for a growing family to make their own history.

Th e client just wanted everything to look like it had been there forever. So its very homey, just like an old house even though its not. It was one of the most gratifying projects Ive ever worked on.


Exposed beams and reclaimed wood help to create the feel of an old home, while cool blue hues and white trim give the home a light, airy feel perfect for everyday living.

Facing page: Twin chandeliers ank the familys heirloom table and chairs, giving the dining room a fresh twist.



Alexander helped redecorate the couples twin daughters bedroom as a special Christmas gift. Keeping form and function in mind, Alexander designed a cheery, livable space for the young ladies.


GREEN ROOMtext by roy hall photos by patrick hood


Th e bones were there, Eddie Ray says of the lawn he reclaimed from disrepair many years ago. Th e English garden behind the stately Twickenham-district home had been left to its own devices when new homeowners enlisted Th e Greenerys help in returning it to its former glory.

Rays team waited for winter to begin the process of chopping away at the remnants of a garden run amok. With nature tamed, design work began.

A lush, rectangular lawn is situated perpendicular to the homes back door and runs past a water feature incorporated into the landscape to look like its been there all along. Water is so important, Ray says. To be able to stand on the back porch, look down the central lawn, and hear the sound of water; it pulls you on to the summer house.

Positioned at the rear of the garden, the summer house had also fallen into dis-repair. Ray and his crew painstakingly dismantled and re-built the hardscape, de-signed by Huntsville landscaping legend Bill Nance, preserving the history and integrity of the structure.

TFacing page: Th e soothing sound of water mu es the clamor of the city, creating a sense of serenity for the summer house beyond.

Above: Th e lush lawn behind Mike and Emily Reineys Twickenham-district home o ers a verdant setting for many charitable functions and family get-togethers.


To be able to stand on the back porch, look down the central lawn, and hear the sound of water; it pulls you on to the summer house.

Eddie Ray, Landscape Designer

Hardscape, like the bench and pavers here, lend texture and visual interest to the natural surroundings.

Facing page, clockwise from left: A cozy nook on the Reineys back porch is a tempting alternative to eating indoors; Landscape designer Ray chose peonies, roses, butter y bushes, azaleas, and hydrangeas for his clients garden; A guest house adjacent to the garden includes a kitchen for outdoor entertaining; Water is an essential element in all of Rays designs.

GREEN ROOM


Gardens are more than just plants, Ray insists. Structures are important, too. An outdoor edi ce recalls inte-riors, and in doing so, helps bring the inside out and the outside in.

Mike and Emily Reiney are the homes current owners. Emily hosts many charitable functions, and the formal-but-welcoming garden provides a ver-dant location for dinner parties and galas during the warm months.

Ray maintains the gardens year round, but each spring he returns for fresh plantings. People stop every year while were planting. Last year, we went bold with yellow and orange tulips. We got so many calls.

Th is year, it will be pinks, purples, and whites.

It looks welcoming, Ray says, like a persons garden, not commercial. I think thats what people enjoy.

Right: A host of blooms in delicate shades of silver, pinks, and purple line the fence in front of the Reiney home.

GREEN ROOM


Th e summer house at the rear of John and Flo Stallworths garden creates a sense of privacy and seclusion, with no hint of the housing development a mere 100 yards beyond.

text by roy hall photos by patrick hood


Flo Stallworth grew up growing things. Her fascination with nature, which began on her fa-thers farm, eventually led the self-described country girl away from vegetables and toward gardens.

My father once said, I dont understand why you spend all your time growing things you cant eat, Flo says, laughing.

Th e landscaping at Flo and husband Johns Athens home purchased several years ago did little to inspire Flo, but she trudged along for a while, on her own, dabbling with shrubs here and plantings there. Th en, while visiting a friend in downtown Huntsville, she came across the work of land-scape architects Bill Nash and Th e Greenerys Eddie Ray. It was love at rst sight.

Th e process of designing a new garden begins with a series of questions, according to Ray. Do you do a lot of outdoor entertaining? Do you enjoy dining outside? Do you spend a lot of time in your garden?

F


july/august | noalastudios.com | july/august | noalastudios.com |

Facing page: A quiet space for reading or re ection is tucked among the blooms at the rear of the property.Th is page: A wooden bridge stretches over a dry bed; Annabelle hydrangeas and variegated monkey grass occupy the foreground.

Facing page, clockwise from left: Th e gated walkway, lined in monkey grass, leads to the Stallworths garden; Statuary of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, is situated just beyond the garden gate; A friendly troll greets guests and grandchildren as they cross the bridge; Blue hydrangeas in full bloom ll beds to bursting in the summer. During the spring, Its all about the azaleas, Ray says.

Above: Th e swing, one of many secluded spots throughout the Stallworths garden, is a perfect spot to spend a tranquil afternoon.

Right: Th e water feature was already theresort of, Ray says, of a stream that ran down one side of the garden and disappeared. Ray built up the stream to make it look more natural and redirected it into a re ecting pool at the base.



To each question, the Stallworths responded with an enthu-siastic Yes.

Ray positioned a covered structure with full-functioning kitchen and dining and sitting areas near the main house, for easy access between indoor and outdoor entertaining. Nearby, a hot tub, unobtrusively camou aged as a water fea-ture, represents a compromise between Flo, who wanted a place for the couples grandchildren to splash around in the summertime, and John, who wasnt wild about the idea of backyard swimming pools.

An expansive lawn runs the length of the property, extending the eyeline all the way from the homes glassed rear atrium to a summer house at the back of the lawn. Sidewalks connect front and back, providing a connection between home and summer home as well as a bicycle racetrack.

Facing page, top: Th e expansive central lawn hosts an annual celebrity dinner in conjunction with the John Stallworth Foundation Gold Tournament. Th e space was also the location for the Stallworths daughters wedding last year.

Facing page, bottom: Knockout roses, selected for their disease-resistance and vivid color, beckon beyond the summer house.

Left: Th e soothing sounds of the hot tub, cleverly disguised as a water feature, can be heard from the master suite.

Below: Outdoor entertaining at its nest: a covered structure contains a full-functioning kitchen and living and dining areas.


Our grandchildren all learn to ride their bikes on the sidewalk, Stallworth says. Th ey also set up nets and play volleyball on the main lawn. And its a great garden to play hide and seek, or nd special things.

Th e Stallworths lush and inviting backyard also hosts a celebrity dinner party every June, part of the John Stallworth Golf Tournament. Th e weekend-long golf tournament, now in its 14th year, raises money for the foundations scholarship fund. Former Pittsburgh Steeler and co-owner of Madison Research Group, John Stallworth established the foundation in 1980. Since then, it has raised nearly half-a-million dollars in scholarships. If youd like more information about the foundation or the annual golf tournament, visit johnstallworth.com.



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Abstract sculpture protruding from the wall hints at the fusion of contemporary and classic in the garden beyond.


SCULPTURE GARDENtext by roy hall photos by patrick hood


Th ose who can, do, so when Frank Nola, among the Souths most preeminent architects, moved into his 1835 Greek Revival home and discovered an overgrown, 1950s landscape surrounding a diagonally situated pool, it was to his own drawing board he turned for a solution to the problem of informality.

Th e backyard had outgrown the space, Nola says of his Twickenham-district lawn. Even if tamed, the existing garden and its tremendous variety of plants would still lack the classi-cal garden Nola believed matched the homes stature.

As an architect, I see a line of continuity between house and garden, Nola says. Th e homes shape, trims, columns, and other interior details recall ancient Greek and Roman motifs. Th e garden, built on the main axis connecting the street to the homes front entrance, should be situated along that central axis.

For direction, Nola drew on the Italian Renaissance. Renaissance design is an exercise in geometry as well as beauty; space is divided into rectangles, each of which is bisected by a cross, then subdivided again into more rectangles. Its a very classical planning idea, a way of bringing order to chaos.

Th e ordinary looking urn that once occupied the gardens focal point seemed insubstantial, lacking the heft necessary to hold down the center of such a grand green space.

T


Facing page: Korean and green velvet boxwood and one of the gardens eight Natchez crepe myrtles provide a natural, sculptural presence behind artist Dashers imposing, central focal point.

Symmetrical obelisks and urns and the gates Greek key design recall classical Greek motifs, which informed much of Nolas design.

In addition to boxwood and crepe myrtle, Nolas garden features many variety of hydrangea and green velvet arborvitae.


I imagined something large and abstract, Nola says of a piece he saw in his minds eye. Nola happened on a photo of just such a piece, created by Huntsville sculptor Glenn Dash-er. Even though Dasher did not design his 1990s piece for the space it now occupies, the classically-in uenced piece is in perfect harmony with the aesthetic of the surrounding gar-den. Its di cult to imagine one without the other.

Above: Gravel walkways are positioned with geometric precision around the spectacular sculpture, created by Hunstville artist Glenn Dasher. Right: Salve, the Latin for welcome, greets garden visitors.


With the help of architect Frank Nola and decorator Beverly Bragg, the Dorans designed an ideal entertaining space in an open, airy sunroom full of multiple seating areas and many of the couples interesting artifacts to discuss over cocktails.


When Kerry and Tom Doran pur-chased their 1970s Federal style home in the heart of downtown Huntsvilles Twickenham district in 2011, they wanted to create a place that was ide-al for entertaining and for displaying their extensive art collection. Architect Frank Nola worked with the couple to transform the home into the Dorans vision, which also included privacy and comfort for upstairs guests and long-term livability for Kerry and Tom downstairs.

Th e master was originally upstairs, says Kerry. We constructed a down-stairs addition that included a rear foy-er, utility room, butlers pantry, dress-ing room, and master closets. Th e existing downstairs was mostly all re-con gured; the dining room is now the kitchen, the kitchen is now the master bath, and what was formerly the two-story breakfast room is now the cou-ples master bedroom.

Interior designer Beverly Bragg helped the Dorans create a space where guests could be comfortable while enjoying

text by sara wright covingtonphotos by patrick hood

GalleryTour


outstanding views of the pool and gar-den, as well as the couples impressive art collection. Beverly and I worked tirelessly on the cabinetry, paint and stain colors, trim, molding, ooring, electrical, stone, hardware, and plumb-ing, says Kerry. Beverly has an uncan-ny ability to read my mind and trans-late my wacky ideas. She is also able to call me out when I start chasing rabbits down holes!

Th e unique, 4,300-square-foot home also features a cedar shake roof, gar-den/sunroom with a bar and television, multiple seating areas, a guest house, and even an upper gallery hall with a barrel vault ceiling that is used for an art gallery.

I really have to give Kerry all the cred-it, says Bragg. She has traveled the world and picked out what she likes. My job has been to just help put it all together. She is a wonderful client to work with and her style continues to open my mind.

Kerry Doran has traveled the world, and worked with Bragg to help choose colors and fabrics that would allow her artwork collection to be the focal point of the home, which includes an upper gallery hall with a barrel vault ceiling for showcasing her pieces.


Facing page, and above: An all-antler chandelier is the focal point of the couples kitchen. Bottom: Art from all over the world lines the walls of the Dorans winding staircase.


Above: Th e couples master bedroom features an antique Chinoiserie screen as a headboard and a glass orb light xture. Layers of textured linens make the space especially inviting. Th e master bath (below) features quartzite countertops with hammered silver sinks, two built-in shower seats, and custom wrought iron work as a transom above double glass shower doors. Below, right: Lucy the kitty is right at home in the master bedroom.

58 old school Text and Photos by Chris Paysinger

Today, it seems, we treat travel like a process, something with an end result, so we can crow about it at our next dinner party, replete with glamorous Instagram pics. But good travel is something more than climbing aboard a plane or counting the miles til the next interstate exit with clean bathrooms and a Cracker Barrel. Th at brand of travel washes out and levels the experience. Not to mention, every exit has a Cracker Barrel.

Th e best travel is about movement and experience, something that is an act of discovery. But that kind of travel is elusive these days. We dont take the time; we have deadlines; what if the crowd gets to Th e Lobster Roll before us and there is a line?

So, this summer, let us revisit the lowly road trip.

Road trips loom large in the popular imagination. Th ey call to mind stretching out in the back of the family station wagon, eschewing the safety of seatbelts, listening to the Doobie Brothers on eight-track. But how many of us really take the time and do so today? Growing up, my family never took them, but I have since become enamored with the idea of climbing in a car and striking out with no discernible plan and searching out new people and places.

College o ered my rst introduction to road tripping, usually with a concert as the destination. But my most memorable was a summertime jaunt through the Mississippi Delta with my best friend. Due to the active status of several statutes of limitations, and the fact that I dont want to implicate my friend, a successful professional, in unsavory choices, lets call him Strout (the name my grandmother has mis-takenly used to refer to him for the last 30 years).

Strout and I pursued this road trip in the way all great road trips should be: poorly planned and badly executed. We left North Alabama knowing our rst stop would be in Tuscaloosa to see a friends band. For all of you folks who have spent time in T-town, it was 25-cent Red Dog beer night at the Tusk. Bad decision indeed. Th e next morning, bleary-eyed and reeking of cheap booze and cigarette smoke, we climbed into Strouts truck and set o for the Delta. Th e day culminated in an interrogation by the scari-est of Mississippi state troopers on suspicion of murder.

Road Tripping:A Challenge


It seems we matched the description of some nefarious characters, though I imagine we looked and smelled far worse than they. Stouts bloody shirt on the oorboard, the product of an unfortunately-timed nose bleed, didnt help.

Mr. State Trooper admonished us to get-the-hell-out-of-the-great-state-of-Mississippi, which we promptly tried our dead-level best to do, heading north to Memphis, arriving in time to experience a Harley-Davidson rally. At the Black Diamond on Beale, we ducked onto the two remaining barstools and ordered beers. Id spent the rst part of the summer toiling for a landscaper while bravely ghting the genetic implications of male-pattern baldness and had taken clippers and shorn the last remain-ing brave follicles hanging on. A crusty old biker next to me wheeled, gazed at me harshly, and yelled, What the hell happened to yer head!? I stammered my explanation as a big grin spread under his gray goatee. He said the army had given him the same haircut in 1966 before shipping him o on an all-expenses paid senior trip to Vietnam. We became fast friends as he bought us cheap beers and un-spooled his history for us.

Today, I wonder if a trip like that would even be possible. In this age of Facebook searches and Yelp reviews, could one nd a hidden patch of the South to experience something real in the way of culture?

Everyone it seems these days is trying to plumb the depths of the Souths best, most obscure places. From blogs weighing in on the best BBQ to Twitter feeds expounding on the best places to see live mu-sic, there is no shortage of sources to plan outings. But how many of us are climbing into our cars on Saturday mornings setting o to nd these places? Too often, and I am guilty of this also, we sit behind our screens, living life vicariously through those intrepid explorers who seek out and document those places with wonderful Instagram photo lters.

As a North Alabama native, I believe this place o ers a wonderful base from which to launch road trips. Th ese days, my road trips tend to err on the side of striking out in the morning and returning in time

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to sleep in my own bed. My neighbors are great road trippers, loading up the family for three to four week excursions. Th ough Missy will admit by the end of the trip that three boys in an RV is a test of her character and olfactory systems limits.

For years I too struck out, crisscrossing the South. Primarily I did so looking to experience the historical events and places I read about in my grandmothers World Books many years before. Civil War battle- elds in Virginia, forts in every locale, and grand old homes were the primary destinations. I wouldnt trade those experiences for anything. I had the opportunity to explore Civil War battle elds with pre-eminent historians. I sat in Th omas Je ersons backyard at Monticello on July 4th and watched people become American citizens as tears streamed down their faces, and maybe mine too.

But a few years ago, something happened that changed my road trip agendas. I was working on my masters in History at UA, Huntsville. Dr. Johanna Shields, longtime professor of Southern History, charged us with writing a rather lengthy paper using only authentic, local sources. We all freaked out. Th ere was wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth. And, at rst, very little research. I nally settled on a topic concerning Athens (my current home) in the Civil War. From the other side of her desk, she

These days, most of my road trips are with my daughter. Even at age ten, Aves is a keen observer of the things that make riding backroads great.


pronounced the project dead in the water, that there werent enough sources to put something remotely cogent together, but to carry on and that it had better be great or else.

As I began to search, Athenss Civil War past seemed to fall from the sky. I found reports from embedded journalists with Union soldiers who published wonderful articles for their hometown newspapers in Ohio, published music dedicated to pretty girls at the local female seminary, slave tes-timony and enlistment papers, and the diary of a large plantation owner struggling to come to terms with the New South.

And I realized that for much of my life I had chased other peoples stories, while ignorantly driving past my own.

Th ese days, most of my road trips are with my daughter. Even at age ten, Aves is a keen observer of the things that make riding backroads great. We frequently listen to North Alabama native Jason Is-bell while we drive, stop at mom-and-pop shops, duck o the road to read historic markers, and nd the best lunch dives. (Just last week we had fantastic tacos and tamales from an authentic Mexican res-taurant/mostly butcher shop.) And we do it exclu-sively from North Alabama. As a history guy, it is a way for me to conjure ghosts of the past. But its also a way to spend time with Aves, and make sure she isnt living life behind a screen.

So, I have a challenge for you. I want yall to docu-ment your North Alabama travels this summer and suggest a few for us. From the Shoals, to Huntsville, to Scottsboro, let us know who has the best BBQ, where to catch the best local music, your favorite hidden history, and great old homes. Be sure to tag us using the hashtag #reconstructionsouthtravels so others can nd North Alabamas best people and places.

And follow Aves and me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Reconstruction South as we travel this beautiful region. We look forward to seeing where you lead us. Now, ll up the tank, pop in some great North Alabama music, and go.

by sara wright covington photos by patrick hood



As long as youve got a little land, you can feed yourself, says Heidi Tilenious, Lauderdale County Coordinator for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), whose community garden located on Veterans Drive is on its way to full bloom as this issue goes to print.

In a world where food is readily available through grocery stores, drive-through windows, and even delivery to our doorsteps, its easy to forget there was a time when everyone lived o the land. Our ancestors used weathered hands to dig in the dirt, sow the soil, and collect their crops. Th ose same ancestors valued staying physically active, being able to provide for themselves, and understanding what it meant to nurture something from its very inception to its end.

Th e concept of community gardenscommon pieces of land gardened by many individuals in a communityhas been around since the late 1800s when economic recession made it necessary to use vacant areas of land for gardens to assist the poor and unemployed. Th e popularity of community gardens has ebbed and owed over the years, through periods of war and peace and economic ups and downs. Th e last few years have seen a resurgence in community gardens as people turn to group gardening as a means of producing food as well as teaching work ethic, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and gardening education.

North Alabamas community gardens are thriving as citizens of all ages and abilities are showing up to share the fruits of their labor. Th e ACES garden on Florences Veterans Drive is just one of those North Alabama gardens. NoAla took some time to tour a few others who are growing something

As long as youve got a little

Above: Master Gardener John Norton helps to oversee the garden, working with both the novice and expert patrons of the garden.

| noalastudios.com | july/august | noalastudios.com | july/august

Regional Extension Agent Taylor Vandiver works in her own raised bed in the garden.

much bigger than their harvest and o ering it up for the greater good.

Taylor Vandiver, Regional Extension Agent for Lauderdale Countys Extension System, knew when she graduated from Auburn University with both an undergraduate and masters degree in horticulture that she wanted to use her education to teach and work with others for a worthy cause. Vandivers predecessor, Chris Becker, was the driving force behind Lauderdale Countys garden and spent two years securing funds, developing rules and criteria, and researching the project before it came to fruition. Th is garden is a vehicle to what we do here at Extension, says Vandiver. We are here for education and to help the community with health, nutrition, money management, and improving their quality of life.

To qualify for one of ACES 40 individual raised beds, an individual must be a veteran, disabled, a senior citizen, of


GARDEN HARMONY

For some, the draw of community gardens is primarily about fellowship. Lowe Mills community garden, located just south of its iconic water tower, doesnt include the formalities of many of the larger community gardens. Th e atmosphere here, apropos of an artists facility, is more laid back, providing artists and patrons with a natural, serene space to relax during breaks, or with friends and family in the breezy, evening shade of the gardens shed.

Greg Israel and Mike Burgiel help maintain the garden, which is now thriving in its seventh year. We really just wandered into it, says Israel. We were interested in plants, and there was already a small ower garden there. We just came down and started helping.

Over the years, they have done much experimenting to see what grows best and what doesnt. Crop decisions are made collectively, but tomatoes, okra, and peppers are mainstays. Chef Will, whose popular food truck is based at Lowe Mill, gets a lot of their produce, while much of it is harvested and then placed on a table inside Lowe Mill and distributed using the honor system. Th ey also take excess produce to the Greene Street Market in downtown Huntsville.

Over the years in the garden, various artifacts from the mills past have surfaced, including old shoe molds, railroad spikes, and old pieces of glass and pottery from Lowe Mills manufacturing days. Mikes wife Brenna, who helps with the garden, says although they would eventually like to expand, you dont need very much space to grow a whole lot of food. And while the food is an awesome bene t of the communal space, the ultimate purpose is staying connected to each other.

Th is is the living room of Lowe Mill, she says. Th e artists come here to decompress, and this is where we spend time together as an informal family. Its a nature preserve out here. We see all kinds of wildlife and at the end of the day, we bring out blankets and our dogs and our kids and just enjoy it. Its our little oasis in the middle of the city.

low income, or a person whose residence provides limited or no growing space.

Master Gardener John Norton, who helps oversee the project, says the gardens designers kept their users in mind as they planned the space, raising beds to avoid unnecessary bending and incorporating adequate space between rows to accommodate wheelchairs or crutches. Th e older segment of our clients probably havent gardened for many years, Norton says. But they like being able to stay independent and active.

Orientations, held at the beginning of each planting season, explain garden rules and policies. Herbicides are not allowed; neither are some crops, such as corn, sweet potatoes, and squash, which take up too much space or grow to heights that can block sunlight from other beds. No one is allowed to adjust the irrigation system, and gardeners are required to tend to their beds at least once a week.

Th e majority of the crops produced are tomatoes, peas, beans, eggplant, okra, peppers, radishes, melons, as well as many varieties of owers and herbs. Each year, di erent groups donate seeds and fertilizer. Its rst year alone, the garden yielded over 2,100 pounds of produce during the summer growing season, which would translate to thousands of dollars worth of food in retail.

Cooperation from clients was amazing the rst year, says Norton. We put a weigh station out there to weigh and record the produce, and we didnt know if it would be used or not. But the biggest surprise with the garden is that we never considered there would be so much food there would be waste.

About a third of the surplus is donated, with the majority going to the local homeless shelter and Th e Help Center, which is run by several community churches. In addition to donating surplus food, ACES also provides nutrition education and o ers cooking demonstrations at Th e Help Center.

It just speaks to the real mission of what we do, says Tinenious. No food is left to rot. Its all harvested and donated. Th ere is so much cooperation, and we have people who sponsor rehabilitation. Gardening is therapeutic. If you are angry about something, you can get out there and pull weeds.

Madison County also boasts several community gardens, and like the ACES garden of Florence, most of them have a philanthropic mission at the heart of their harvest. Nonpro t organization CASA (Care Assurance System for


the Aging) of Madison County maintains one of Alabamas oldest gardens, which has been providing for elderly and homebound citizens since 2001. Th e garden covers nearly three-quarters of an acre and averages about 5,300 pounds of produce each year.

Shawn Escher has been the CASAs Garden Services Coordinator for almost four years. Escher spends much of his time working with volunteers, including several regulars and many of the groups who come through to o er their e orts, including churches, college fraternities and sororities, and sports teams. Depending on what experience they have, I assign di erent tasks, says Escher. I demonstrate for them and we just sort of wing it from there. Some groups are more skilled than others, but we get what we can, and thank everyone. If they come out here, it is their intention to help.

CASAs garden serves approximately 300 clients in Madison County, delivering all of their e orts to the elderly and homebound. Th eir harvest includes peas and beans, fruit, potatoes, corn, okra, cabbage, broccoli, cauli ower, and various other greens. In addition to the gardens crop, CASA


Garden Services Coordinator Shawn Escher works in the CASA garden of Madison County, which is

one of Alabamas oldest community gardens.

also has a gleaning program that averages an additional 4,500 pounds of produce each year.

Th e concept of gleaning is borrowed from the Old Testament book of Ruth, in which the poor were allowed to gather what was left in the elds after the farmers had collected the harvest. CASA, along with other non-pro t groups, meets at the Madison market on Saturdays where sellers at the market donate leftover produce that wont make it to the next market. We are not in any way, shape, or form feeding these people, but they get ve to seven deliveries per year, ranking from one to three bags, says Escher. I just appreciate the mission itself. Th e most rewarding volunteer opportunity we have is to deliver the produce to our clients and to know we are helping our seniors to age comfortably at home.

In addition to providing food for those who are of limited means and abilities, community gardens like CASA and the ACES garden o er opportunities for fellowship and personal growth that keep people coming back each year. Master

Gardener John Norton says one of the most rewarding things about his job is teaching others and watching their progress. I love the look on peoples faces when they actually realize they have grown something they can eat, says Norton. I dont know these people before the program, but I know they are all smiles here. Its just a very good vibe.

Waiting lists for community garden space is typical, as those who start planting often stay. As produce yields continue to grow, North Alabamians can likely expect to see more and more garden spaces pop up in their communities. For some, its about that nal yield and sharing the fruits of their labor, but for many, its their personal growth that keeps them returning to the gardens.

I love seeing the collaboration between people and their beds, says Taylor Vandiver. Th ey talk, and they make and can food together, and they form relationships. Gardening is social and therapeutic.

IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE REAL MISSION OF WHAT WE DO. NO FOOD IS LEFT TO ROT. ITS ALL HARVESTED AND DONATED. THERE IS SO MUCH COOPERATION, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SPONSOR REHABILITATION. Heidi Tilenious, Alabama Cooperative Extension System


To nd out how you can become more involved with one of the community gardens near you or to schedule a tour, see the below contact information for the gardens featured in this piece. Garden hours vary by location, and an appointment may be necessary.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System Lauderdale County Extension Of ce802 Veterans DriveFlorence, AL 35630256-766-6223email: [email protected]/Lauderdale

CASA of Madison County701 Andrew Jackson WayHuntsville, AL 35801256-533-7775email: [email protected]

Lowe Mill Arts & EntertainmentCommunity Garden 2211 Seminole Drive, SWHuntsville, AL 35805256-533-0399email: [email protected]



English-born artist and yoga aficionado Tiril Benton perches comfortably on a sofa in the glassed-in side porch of her south Huntsville home. She is completely at ease, even while maintaining the perfect posture that years of yoga practice have made second nature.

Bentons home is equally e ortlessly chic and comfortable. And although no particular theme or decorative style emerges, it all just works. Th ere are stacks of booksfrom volumes of T.S. Eliot to childhood school readers; framed maps from all over the world; and sculptures of Tiril as a little girl. Th ere are comfortable, inviting nooks for hiding away with a book all over the house, three di erent tables for dining or just having co ee, and multiple outdoor seating areas on shipthe Bentons nickname for the wraparound porch whose metal railing calls to mind a boats deck. Snapshots of family, friends, and travel line the walls, along with countless art canvases of all shapes and sizes.

Th is house is my largest canvas, she says. When I rst came to the states, I was taken by the fact that when you walk into a house, everything matched. In England, people dont have as much money, and we tend to make houses out of what we already have.

Benton bristles a bit when asked to de ne her style. She tells me that the concept of style and fashion are, to her mind, intangible, ephemeral. Although she is hesitant to lay claim to any one, authenticity seems to de ne her aesthetic. I wouldnt dream of going into a store and buying something just to ll space, Benton says. Everything in my home has been given or bought with love. Th ats why style to me is redundant. A home is a physical manifestation of who you are.

Artist in Residenceby sara wright covington photos by patrick hood

Facing page: Artist and yoga a cionado Tiril Benton at home in her studio.


Tiril and her husband Bob have spent nearly 20 years carefully crafting the history that lines the walls of their home. When I ask her to tell me more about that history, she graciously accepts, smiling and easing back just a bit into her sofa. She tells a story of a young girl from England who followed divine guidance across an ocean, to Alabama, where she leads an inspiring life as a supremely talented artist, teacher, wife, and mother.

Born and educated in London, Benton spent much of her childhood traveling and lived in Norway, South Africa, and the Middle East before settling in Huntsville with her husband. She believes her fathers unexpected death when she was only 11 is what initially drew her to art.

I had always loved art as a child, she says. We were always surrounded and in uenced by it. It was when my father died that I began drawing a lot. Around this time, Benton also began her lifelong practice of yoga and embarked on a study of the science of kinesiology. She began teaching yoga at 18 as a last-minute ll-in for a sick yoga teacher; she never stopped. Ive done everything from private training to aerobics, she says. I knew I wanted to help people feel better about themselves.

Benton believes yoga is a state of being and applies its tenants and principles to all aspects of her life. When her mother died in 2000 also unexpectedly, she used those same principles to help harness her grief action by painting, a talent Benton believes to be a gift from God.

Paintings began to manifest after my mother died, she remembers. I believe when people die they move into you in a way they never could when they were alive. In the beginning, it was so powerful. My brush wanted me to do one thing, and my head was saying I shouldnt. Luckily, the brush won. Benton believes in being completely led by her instincts, working primarily in oils and acrylics, sometimes painting at three in the morning if shes feeling inspired.

Th e canvas is there, but I have no idea what is going to transpire, she says. I paint with my eyes closed and it just comes. I am a completely intuitive painter. Th is courageous method of painting all goes back to how Benton believes we should live, trusting our instincts and allowing ourselves to be led by the heart.

When she began painting, Benton worked in a tiny room o her kitchen, moving her canvases all over the house, one by

Artist in Residence


One of Bentons favorite sitting spaces is the family sunroom, which features glass walls and a vaulted ceiling. A huge advocate of feng shui, Benton says her spaces are constantly evolving, and she strays as far as she can from matching fabrics or themes.


This house is my largest canvas.

Artist in Residence


Everything in my home has been given or bought with love. Thats why style to me is redundant. A home is a physical manifestation of who you are.


one, as she nished each one. People would come over for dinner and look at the paintings and they felt and understood what I felt when I was painting them. Th ere was so much power in the paintings; I knew I wanted to share them.

In 2007, Benton built an art studio onto their home. Th at same year, she started exhibiting her paintings in small galleries across Huntsville. She now has installations all over the country and the world, from England to New York City to Miami.

Bentons paintings are deeply personalshe rarely accepts a commission to paint for someone else unless she feels truly in tune with that person. And although many of her paintings are on view for the world to see, some are so deeply sacred and personal for the artist, she keeps them close by, away from public viewing.

Bentons philosophies on life, yoga, and painting are not only evident by looking at her canvas-covered walls, but in looking at the lives of her children and her role as a mother. She has three daughters, all very di erent and very creative. I believe when a child is born, they are you, she says. Th e only way you can guide a child is through you. I see a lot of parents trying to mold their children. With my own children, the strongest line of guidance Ive given them is to listen to their hearts. She has instilled in her children to trust their instincts, to never let money or possessions de ne them, to be wary of the opinions of others, to take responsibility for the choices they make, and to never make the mistake of believing they are entitled to a pain-free life.

I applaud whatever it is they are being led to do, she says. Th ey cant learn unless they live it.

Artist in Residence

Many of Bentons own canvas creations line her walls, but countless other paintings and artifacts from all over the world ll the familys home as well.


The canvas is there, but I have no idea what is going to transpire. I paint with my eyes closed and it just comes. I am a completely intuitive painter.

Artist in Residence

Tiril Benton has been a most gracious hostess, o ering tea and co ee more than once, walking me through her home, and patiently explaining the artifacts of her life. We wander from room to room, and she explains that the anti-open oor plan lifestyle allows her family the option of spending time together or alone any time they like. She admits that she rarely leaves the sanctuary of their home. When she isnt painting or teaching private yoga classes, she gardens, embroiders, and reads. Since I was a child, Ive known that everything we need is within us, she says. Th e way that I am is completely intrinsic. Ive always listened to my inner voice.

One of my nal questions is to ask what advice she gives to anyone looking to be more in tune with themselves. She pauses for a moment to collect her thoughts before answering, a mannerism Ive come to realize from just spending an hour with her that is as much a part of her nature as that perfect posture. If there were a practical answer, it would be to practice yoga. But my real answer would be for people to understand everything you need is within. Th e only voice you should listen to is the voice that is silent. Sometimes simple can be the most di cult thing for people.

Like her life, Benton believes her home is constantly changing, its space and energy a re ection of her evolution as a teacher and artist. Home is truly where her heart is, and her creative dwelling seems to be an extension of her own souland they both seem to draw their inspiration from each other. I am a yoga practitioner and a painter, she says. Painting teaches me to live, and that living teaches me to paint.

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COMINGAUGUST 6, 2016

ARCHIMEDESEXHIBITION

rocketcenter.com/archimedes

Featured ExhibitionMay 14 through July 25

Explore the forces of energy and nature through a variety of activities, including feeling the vibrations and sounds of an earthquake! The exhibit also includes a working storm shelter and the Rocket Centers new Magic Planet interactive, spherical display where guests can see hurricanes in motion, airplanes navigating the globe and the Earths climate at work.

Open through July 25

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COMINGAUGUST 6, 201

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, p g g gEarths climate at work.

This exhibition was created byArtisans of Florence - International.


LIFE IN THENUTT HOUSE

by sara wright covington photos by patrick hood



Th e Nutts entrusted their close friend architect Frank Nola with designing their Blossomwood home, giving him free reign to create an open concept space ideal for the couples everyday living and their musical lifestyle. Th e home features an upstairs studio (page 85) where Dorrie can teach music lessons.

LIFE IN THE NUTT HOUSE


When Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Development Director Jerry Nutt and his musician wife Dorrie decided to build another home in the Blossomwood neighborhood where they had already lived for 30 years, they turned to longtime friend and architect Frank Nola to help them design a space for their


active, but empty-nest lifestyle. Th e couple put their complete faith in their old friend, giving him little more than a small list of requirements to keep in mind when creating a house plan. I just told him I liked lots of natural light, says Dorrie. I dont ever want to have to turn on lights when I walk into a room. We also wanted most of our living area to be on the ground oor.

Th e couple also worked with contrac-tor William Lemaster and interior de-signer Margaret Ann Bibb to design a space ideal for both entertaining and music education, as the home features a private studio where Dorrie can teach music lessons.

Completed in 2014, the 3,200 square foot home ts right in with the Blos-somwood neighborhoods aesthetic. Visitors and drivers-by with a keen eye will also observe the homes symmetry and scale bear a striking resemblance to Th omas Je ersons Virginia planta-tion home Monticello, a favorite vaca-tion spot of Jerry and Dorrie and their two grown sons. Th e resulting com-bination of comfort with neoclassical style is perfect harmony for this musi-cal couple and their lifestyle.

LIFE IN THE NUTT HOUSE

86 shopgirls By Aissa Castillo and Lauren McCaul Photos by Lauren Tomasella Carney

CONTAIN YOUR ENTHUSIASM

[A]

[A] BRONZE STANDING CONTAINER WITH GREENERY ($52)[B] PETRIFIED WOOD SLICE ON STAND ($15) [C] STONE SERVING SLAB ($142)[D] WIRE STAND WITH AIR PLANTS ($35) BROOKS AND COLLIER (256) 534-2781

[E] BLUE GLASS CANDLE HOLDER ($66.99) INDIGOS BOUTIQUE (256) 345-6348

[F] SUSAN GORDON ABSTRACT BOWL ($82) SWEET PINEAPPLE (256) 964-7563

[G] GREEN BLOWN GLASS VASES ($50 EACH) WILLOWBROOKE SHOPPE (256) 270-7181

[H] GLASS AND GEODE CANDLESTICK HOLDER/VASE ($250) NOBLE PASSAGE INTERIORS (256) 325-1919

[B]

[E]

[F]

[G]

[G]

[H]

[C]

[D]

88 shopgirls

LEFT TO RIGHT

[A] GREEN SURYA THROW ($139) NOBLE PASSAGE INTERIORS (256) 325-1919

[A] INDIAS HERITAGE OPEN WEAVE THROW ($72) SWEET PINEAPPLE (256) 964-7563

[A] IVORY INDIA CUTWORK QUILT ($125) DEPARTMENT OF AGRA CULTURE DEPTOFAGRACULTURE.COM

THATS AWRAP

90 shopgirls

[A] ABSTRACT GICLEE PRINT ($69.99) INTERIORS BY CONSIGN (256) 880-0909

[B] THREE E-DESIGNS ALABAMA HOME DISH ($28) SWEET PINEAPPLE (256) 964-7563

[C] MANGO WOOD TRAY WITH COPPER HANDLES ($42)[D] IVORY CERAMIC CONTAINER WITH CORK LID ($19) BROOKS AND COLLIER (256) 534-2781

[E] METAL FEATHER DISH ($17.99) INDIGOS BOUTIQUE (256) 345-6348

[F] NORTHERN LIGHTS CANDLE HOLDER ($50) NOBLE PASSAGE INTERIORS (256) 325-1919

WARMWISHES

[B]

[C]

[E]

[A]

[F]

[D]

92 shopgirls

[A] 14 X 20 LINEN PILLOW ($58)[B] MARGUERITE BOUDOIR THROW PILLOW (PRICES VARY, CONTACT SHOP FOR PRICING) SWEET PINEAPPLE (256) 964-7563

[C] SURYA ACCENT PILLOW ($95) NOBLE PASSAGE INTERIORS (256) 325-1919

[D] PASTEL RETRO FRINGE-EDGED PILLOW ($41)[E] PASTEL RETRO STRIPED PILLOW ($41) WILLOWBROOKE SHOPPE (256) 270-7181

[F] AMERICAN FLAG PILLOW ($34.99) INTERIORS BY CONSIGN (256) 880-0909

[G] 20 X 20 INDOOR/OUTDOOR ELAINE SMITH WOVEN ACCENT PILLOW ($195) BROOKS AND COLLIER (256) 534-2781

PILLOWTALK

[E]

[G]

[B]

[A]

[D]

[F]

[C]


PulmonologistDR. MADHURI PENUGONDA

is now accepting new patientsages newborn to 18 years

at

NORTH ALABAMACHILDRENS SPECIALISTS

in Huntsville

NORTH ALABAMACHILDRENS SPECIALISTS

502 Governors Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35801

(256) 533-0833

N O RT H A L A B A M A C H I LD R E N S S P E C I A L I S T SChildrensAL.org/north-alabama-childrens-specialists

Have you ever heard of the American Institute of Stress? What about the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory? Well the former compiles the latter, which is a 43-some-thing list of some of lifes most stressful events that assigns a point value to each. If you re-ceive 300 points or more, they say you have an 80 percent chance of a stress-induced major health breakdown. If you receive 150-300 points, you have a 50/50 chance of losing it, and so forthon down to those with a relatively low amount of life change, which I can only assume applies to cats, who really dont feel stress. Or anything for that matter.

I scored a 149, but the list doesnt include cross-country trips with a geriatric dogthrough some of the most uninhabitable, WIFI-free parts of the United Statesso Im rounding my tally up to 150, which certainly quali es me for some cupcakes, chicken soup, or even a few bless your hearts.

So, why would I move across country with an old dog?

Well, bad segues aside, most of you already know that answer. A few years ago we visited a dear friend in Portland, Oregon, and fell madly in love (with Portland, not our dear friend). We made a pact to retire there in ve years, and put into motion a very detailed plan to do so. Sell our house in the Shoals and rent a cool place downtown. Check. Bring on a younger, smarter partner. Check. Teach him all facets of the business and work with him for the next three years to prepare him for our departure. (Insert sound of needle dragging across a vinyl record here.)

Th is is where Allen decidedon a whimto apply for a major position with the Knight Cancer Institute, part of Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Well, he got it, bless his heart. And suddenly our ve-year plan became a three-and-a-half-year plan. Or something like that.

Fast-forward to April of this year, when Allen leaves for Portland and his new life while I nish up the May/June issue of the magazine, pack up 20 years of my (old) life in the Shoals, and prepare for a four-day, cross-country trip to our new home.

Im not a fan of road trips. Rather, Im not enamored with the idea of seeing the countryslowly, leisurely, or otherwisevia a carunless that car is an airplane cabin, chugging along at 500 miles

per hour. As an aside, I am eagerly awaiting the further testing of that newfangled invention that shoots you cross-country via a vacuum tubejust like a bank deposit.

If it werent for our precious, aforementioned old dog, we would have just sold the car and own. But our sweet, little love nugget is a tad too substantial of stature to cram (place) under the seat in front of me, so we had to drive.

Th e Trip

Wednesday, May 25Th e packers arrived and packed everything but the bed, so I could sleep in the apartment one last time. Th ey even left me with an empty box and a roll of tape so I could pack the sheets the next morn-ing. Matthew the Min Pin knew something was up, and he took this opportunity to punish me with an evening of him staring at me with disdain and contempt.

OLD DOGS. NEW TRICKS.

94 bless their hearts David Sims

There are parts of this trip that are both stunning and surreal. Mountains so high they take your breath away. Spooky rock formations that look as if they were salvaged from a Martian movie set.

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Th ursday, May 26Th e movers arrived, loaded the boxes, wrapped the fur-niture in blankets, packed the large May ower truck, and drove away into the sunset. I was to pick up Allen at the Huntsville airport at around 7:30 p.m. and then we were supposed to make our way to Nashville, have a nice dinner, and begin our big adventure early Friday morning. Th en everything went South, when everything was supposed to go West.

Ultimately, ights were delayed many hours and I got to spend an extra evening in the Shoals. I could have called some friends to keep me company, but I had said so many good-byesso many timesthat most people kept thinking I was back for a visit when, in reality, I had never left.

Friday, May 27 (Florence to Hunts-ville to pick up Allen at airport hotel; Huntsville to Kansas City, Missouri)

Th is was the last day I drove. Its not that I didnt o er; in fact, I had spent weeks mentally preparing myself for driving at least the rst portion of the day, but Al-len had been away from his car for two months and they missed each other. Yes, Im sticking to this version of the story. Stop rolling your eyes.

Its at this point in the story where I should tell you that I probably wont be eating another McDonalds sausage and egg burrito, despite it being a very car-friendly food, ever again. If you can call it food.

Nashville to Kansas City was not that bad, re-ally. We were still o cially in the South, and the surroundings were very familiar to me. My older brother and his family live just out-side Kansas City, and we thought it would be a great spot to stop for the night. You know, see some fa-miliar faces. But my brother had previous plans, so we decided to drive past Missouri into Kansas. To Topeka. (If youre a proud res-ident of Kansas, you should skip on to Sunday, May 29.)

Topeka is full of black and white silent movie sadness. Dorothy Gale certainly had the right idea. I too would have summoned a tornado just to get a little color back in my life.

Saturday, May 28 (Topeka to Laramie, Wyoming)Folks, Kansas never ends. And its at. And there are no people to speak of. Its as if the highway is an airport mov-ing sidewalk and youre rushing to catch a ight in Colo-rado. Th e countryside, however, is beautiful, and it is at this point when the term big sky starts to mean some-

thing special. And, when you cant go out to eat because hotel regulations prohibit you from leaving your dog alone in the room, that grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli takeout from Applebees becomes some-thing special as well.

Sunday, May 29 (Laramie to Boise, Idaho)Th ere are parts of this trip that are both stunning and surreal. Mountains so high they take your breath away. Spooky rock formations that look as if they were salvaged from a Martian movie set. And skies that envelop you in a dome of deep blue, dotted with hundreds of pu y clouds. Utah had some of the most awe-inspiring scenery I have

even seen. And there was an Applebees di-rectly across the street from our Hampton Inn. What a great country we live in.

Monday, May 30 (Laramie to Portland, Oregon)On our way out of Idaho, and just before Oregon, the terrain shifted to a desolate desert. Mix in the fact that we had no cell service (again), and I began to imagine drag-ging my blistering body across hot asphalt during the day and sheltering myself from the blistering cold of night, all while a hun-

gry Min Pin eyed my u y dad bod from across our makeshift encampment.

But things change quickly in these parts, and as we crossed a mountain range into Pendleton, Oregon (should have bought some blankets!), our world turned lush and green. Soon, we were following the Columbia River into the area called the Gorge,

and we instantly knew we had made the right decision. Th is was truly as beauti-ful as it is sold. And I was excited to be in this paradise.

Today, as I continue to unearth myself from a sea of cardboard boxes, I look forward to the last chapter of our livesknowing that I have left one truly special place for another. Im lucky I get

to keep designing this special magazine. Im even luckier that I get to keep one hand in the Tennessee River while I test the waters out here. And now, after driving across country for the rst time in my adult life, I have realized something momentous.

Maybe you really can teach an old dog some new tricks.

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EASY AS PIE

96 food for thought Sarah Gaede

Pie crust is not my gift, even though Im better at pie crust than fried chicken. I cant fry chicken no matter what method I try, despite spending three solid weeks at Richs Cooking School in Atlanta in the 1970s doing nothing but frying chicken. My husband, who cleans up after me, has forbidden me to experiment ever again, although nothing could make a worse mess than the time my g preserves exploded all over the cooktop and fused with every surface they touched. I had to clean that up myself. I may not have even told him about that particular incident.

My mother wasnt a great baker, but she could make good biscuits (although I think mine are better, but it may be the White Lily our); Aunt Nellies pound cake, which my middle sister requires my youngest

sister make for her birthday every year; and wonderful pies, especially apple pie. Ive never been able to duplicate that remembered taste and texture.

Th e weird thing about Mamas crust, which was aky and delicious, is that she used hot water. Th ose of you who have moved beyond Pillsbury All-Ready Crust (not that there is a single

thing wrong with that) know that the secret to pie crust is cold fatbutter, lard, and/or Criscoand ice water. I had no idea how Mama learned to make crust that way until I

looked through her old cookbooks. In Th e Victory Binding of the American Womans Cookbook, Wartime Edition from 1943, I found a recipe for hot water pastryeven

though the heading of the third paragraph in the Pastry and Meringues chapter reads: Everything Must Be Cold. Later on, the author advises, Be swift and deft

still good advice for pastry making, since overworking the gluten in the our makes pastry tough.

After struggling for years with various foolproof crust recipes, I nally settled on Cooks Illustrateds pie crust with vodka, which I can

accomplish if the stars are aligned correctly and my chi is balanced. But theres a new crust in town, and its a life-changermelted butter pie

crust. Mama was onto something! Lynn Rosetta Casper and David Leibowitz are great advocates of this method. Davids recipe

involves browning the butter in the ovenyou can Google it. I like Lynn Rosetta Caspers betterits simpler and safer,

with less risk of burning yourself on the hot Pyrex bowl in which you have melted the butter. Th is crust is ideal

for tarts (pies, not saucy women), which I prefer to pies because they are more elegant, but it also makes

enough to line a 9-inch pie plate. You can order a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan on Amazon

for around ten dollars.

that up myself. I may not have even told him about that particul

My mother wasnt a great baker, but she could make good biscuitit may be the White Lily our); Aunt Nellies pound cake, which

sister make for her birthday every year; and wonderful pies, esto duplicate that remembered taste and texture.

Th e weird thing about Mamas crust, which was aky anTh ose of you who have moved beyond Pillsbury All-R

thing wrong with that) know that the secret to pieCriscoand ice water. I had no idea how Mama

looked through her old cookbooks. In Th e VictCookbook, Wartime Edition from 1943, I foun

though the heading of the third paragraph reads: Everything Must Be Cold. Later on, t

still good advice for pastry making, sincmakes pastry tough.

After struggling for years with nally settled on Cooks Illustrate

accomplish if the stars are alignetheres a new crust in town, an

crust. Mama was onto someLeibowitz are great adv

involves browning theit. I like Lynn Rosetta

with less risk of buin which you hav

for tarts (pies,pies because t

enough to 9-inch re

for ar


Melted Butter Pie Crust 1 1/2 cups (about 6 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose our 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon table salt 11 tablespoons (5 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter, preferably higher-fat European butter

In a medium bowl, whisk together our, sugar, and salt. Melt butter in a well-covered bowl or large glass measuring cup in the microwave (watching very, very carefully because you dont want to have to clean up exploded butter from the entire interior) or a small pot on the stove, which I know from bitter experience is the better choice. Slowly drizzle the butter into the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula or fork until all the our is absorbed and the mixture holds together. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan or pie plate. Be sure to reserve a walnut-sized piece of raw dough in case you have to patch. Crimp the edges if you like. Line the crust with a circle of aluminum foil and ll with pie weights or 1 pound dried beans (you cant eat them afterwards, but they keep in a Mason jar as pie weights for years). Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, patch any cracks if necessary, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Lemon-Lime Tart 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 4 large egg yolks Grated zest of 2 limes and 1 lemon 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 prebaked tart crust (okay if its still warm) 1 cup whipping cream 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk condensed milk, yolks, zest, and juice until smooth. Pour into prebaked crust and bake for 8 minutes. Cool completely and refrigerate. Whip cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Spread over lling before serving.

Note: If you are feeling ambitious, you can use the leftover egg whites to make meringue, and top the pie with it before you pop it in the oven. Bake until tips of meringue swirls are golden.

White Chocolate Cherry Cheese Pie 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoons arrowroot (in the spice section at Publix) 1 (14.5-ounce) can red tart cherries, drained and juice reserved 1/8 teaspoon almond extract, optional 1 3.5-ounce to 4-ounce bar white chocolate, broken in small pieces 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup sour cream 1 prebaked tart or pie crust, cooled

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, arrowroot, and reserved cherry juice. Cook over m

Documents

No’Ala Huntsville, July/August 2016