Download - Slice of Muskogee Spring 2015

1 Slice of Muskogeemuskogeephoenix.com

Spring 2015

Muskogee native now prominent Santa Fe artist ALSO INSIDE: New owners restore bed and breakfast

2 Spring 2015

3 Slice of Muskogee

The Graham-Carroll House has been updated and returns as a bed and breakfast.

BACK IN BUSINESS

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Santa Fe artist, Raymond Nordwall, recalls childhood home.

MEMORIES OF MUSKOGEE

Larry Moore has transitioned from the chief prosecutor to the grocery store owner.

A CUT ABOVE

GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS

EMERGING TRENDS IN CRAFTING

PUBLISHERJeff Parra

EDITORElizabeth Ridenour

PHOTO EDITORJerry Willis

ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION

Kim Maples

LAYOUT & DESIGNJimmy Reily

on the cover

Spring 2015

Slice of Muskogee is published quarterly by the Muskogee

Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No

part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechani-cal, photocopying, recording or

otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Slice of Muskogee, P.O. Box 1968,

Muskogee, OK 74402.e-mail [email protected] - Editorial: 918-684-2929

Advertising and distribution: 918-684-2804

STAFF

Cover photo by M.J. Van Deventer-Shelton

Muskogee native credits much of his success in the Santa Fe art world to artists from the Muskogee area who helped and inspired him early in his career.

muskogeephoenix.com

Spring 2015

Muskogee native now prominent Santa Fe artist ALSO INSIDE: New owners restore bed and breakfast

BACK IN BUSINESS

The Graham-Carroll House has been updated and returns

as a bed and breakfast

Thousands of crystals glis-ten anew in the Graham-

Carroll House.They can bee seen on

a 7-foot chandelier that hangs from a second-floor ceiling and circling doughnut-like around the center of a ceiling lamp downstairs.

The crystals shine for visitors staying at the Graham-Carroll House Bed and Breakfast, which reopened for guests earlier this year in the Founders’ Place His-toric District.

By Cathy SpauldingPhotos by Mandy Lundy

Donna and Jeff Crane and friends spent 27 hours cleaning the crystals from the chandelier and re-assembling it.

6 Spring 2015

7 Slice of Muskogee

The original bed and break-fast went into foreclosure in 2011 after nearly 24 years in business. A year later, Donna and Jeff Crane of Greeley, Colo., bought the house and restored its earlier grandeur.

“We were in the ministry, and we were empty nesters,” Donna said. “My mother had been try-ing to get us back to Oklahoma.”

Donna said her relatives have lived in central Oklahoma since shortly after the 1889 Land Run.

“This house had been on the Internet and piqued my interest. Mom said, ‘Let’s go to Musk-ogee and see that house,” Donna said. “We saw this house and fell in love with it. It had been a dream of mine to have a bed and breakfast.”

The Cranes also saw a great opportunity to restore the house, she said.

“It had been closed for about a Jeff and Donna Crane fulfilled Donna’s dream to have a bed and breakfast when they purchased the Graham-Carroll House.

When Donna and Jeff Crane purchased the home, they tried to preserve as much of the historical quality as possible.

8 Spring 2015

year when we bought it in 2012,” she said. “There was an auction that sold everything that was there.”

Donna recalled the good for-tune they had in buying back the crystal fixtures. She said a neighbor had bought the chan-delier thinking the house’s next owner would want it.

“He saved it in a Rubbermaid tote,” Donna said, recalling the other fixture was “just a pile in a storage unit.”

The Cranes and some friends then began the arduous task of cleaning each crystal. Donna couldn’t begin to say how many they cleaned.

“I stopped counting at 3,000,” she said. “My girlfriend and I took 27 hours to wash all the crystals, reas-semble the whole thing.”

Restoring the rest of the house was just as challenging.

“We tried to preserve as much of the historical quality as pos-sible. But every inch of the place needed, at minimum, some

IF YOU GOWHAT: Graham-Carroll House Bed & Breakfast.WHERE: 501 N. 16th St.WHO: Owners, Donna and Jeff Crane.INFORMATION: [email protected], grahamcarrollhouse.com or (918) 683-0100.

The Graham-Carroll House can accommodate up to 10 guests.

9 Slice of Muskogee

10 Spring 2015

scrubbing or painting.”They also had to find someone

to redo the roof.“The high pitch of the roof

house had to be tended to immediately, but finding some-one who could restore a slate roof proved to be quite chal-lenging,” Donna said. “It took roofers out of Tulsa six weeks to do, because of the steep roof.”

Instead of slate, the Cranes opted for stone-coated metal shingles, which Donna said “gave it more of a historic look.”

Restoration also involved his-toric research, she said.

“We went to the library, and from their historic department we were able to acquire quite a few nuggets from here and there, trying to put together as much of the story as possible,” she said.

Donna discovered the home’s history is as rich as its decor. She said the original home was built around 1913 by the Graham fam-ily, who co-owned the upscale Graham-Sykes Department Store.

Donna Crane cooks all the breakfasts for guests but hires a chef for special dinners.

11 Slice of Muskogee

The original house was a Prairie style with a broad front porch and sweeping, low-pitched roofs.

Donna said Graham sold it to his partner in 1929, the year of the stock market crash.

“When Sykes had the house, and with the economy the way it was, he was not able to maintain it, and it mysteriously burned to the ground,” Donna said. “It sat in rubble for a number of years.”

Fred Carroll, a Texas petro-leum engineer, acquired the property and built a new home for his wife, she said. According to a 1991 newspaper article, blue slate on the roof came from the Fort Gibson military post.

“They built it to withstand a great amount of time,” Donna said. “The first floor is concrete reinforced with railroad rails. The walls are three layers of brick thick. They used the orig-inal bricks, and they scrubbed them all and used as much as they could.”

The Carrolls gave the house a whole new look. Instead of a sweeping, broad Prairie style, they opted for English Tudor, with steep roofs, stonework and thick timber beams.

Donna said the Carrolls lived in the home until the 1980s. New owners converted it into a bed and breakfast, which earned a grand reputation over the fol-lowing decades. In 1991, the

A clawfoot tub provides guests with a place to relax and unwind.

12 Spring 2015

Houston Chronicle profiled the Graham-Carroll House, and it’s next-door neighbor the Queen’s House, in an article, “Chic B & Bs forgo cute to offer quiet elegance.”

Unfortunately, the grandeur could not go on forever. The home went into disrepair, then foreclosure.

The Cranes managed to stay true to the Graham-Carroll House’s heritage, while add-ing their own touches. They retained all the original stone-work and thick timber support beams.

Crane said the most notable difference is the color scheme, replacing pastel pinks and cor-als with warmer, “cozier golden tones.”

The Graham-Carroll House Bed & Breakfast has five rooms, accommodating a total of 10 guests.

Most of the rooms keep the original Graham-Carroll names — Honeymoon Suite,

Silk Stocking Room, Magnolia Room. The rustic Aspen Room

pays homage to the Cranes’ Col-orado roots.

Diners may eat together on a formal dining table Donna Crane’s mother once owned, they may eat in the sunroom or outside.


A rooftop balcony allows visi-tors to enjoy a cool breeze while looking at the stars.

Diners may eat together on a formal dining table Donna’s mother once owned, or they may eat in the sunroom or outside.

Donna cooks all the break-fasts, but hires a chef for special dinners.

“I want to make a combina-tion of heirloom and healthy,” she said. “They have maybe Greek yogurt with vanilla,

drizzled with honey. That would be followed by a generous plate full of fresh quiche, right out of the oven, perhaps a bran muffin, cranberries.”

The Cranes keep other full-time jobs while manag-ing their bed and breakfast. Jeff Crane is manager of the Connors State College. Donna Crane telecommutes and works as an information analyst for Banner Health, Phoenix. 2

Furnishings and decorative items reflect the home’s elegance.

14 Spring 2015

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16 Spring 2015


Memories of MUSKOGEESanta Fe artist, Raymond Nordwall,

recalls childhood home

Raymond Nordwall has been a successful artist in Santa Fe for almost three decades, but he always remembers his childhood in Muskogee and the people who inspired him to become an artist.

Nordwall was only 10 years old and a student at Tony Goetz Elementary School when his mother was killed in a car accident in 1976.

Story and photos by M.J. Van Deventer-Shelton

“ I love the act of creating. When I’m painting, it’s like a prayer. I feel closest to God when I’m painting. ”Raymond noRdwal

Nordwall worked in the gallery of noted artist Frank Howell in Santa Fe. Howell also influenced Nordwall’s work.

18 Spring 2015

Nordwall was poster artist for the 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the most prestigious Native American art markets in the world. He also served as poster artist for the 2014 Red Earth Festival, an Oklahoma City event.


“She loved art,” he recalled in a recent interview in his Canyon Road studio in Santa Fe. “She would buy from Oklahoma art-ists and commission their work. Now, when I’m painting, I feel very close to her. My Dad was Ojibwe, and he took me to pow-wows, which was my link to the culture of the powwows I some-times paint.”

Nordwall especially remem-bers something special that hap-pened to him while he was in the seventh grade at Alice Robert-son Junior High School.

“I met Johnny Tiger Jr., and he bought me my first set of watercolor paints. It was a pro-fessional paint set, just like his. After that, I’ve always tried to use the best paint, even at a young age,” he reminisced.

That gift from Tiger was a gesture of kindness and inspira-tion that changed the path Nor-dwall would follow to become an artist. Today, Nordwall uses

a vividly colored palette and a variety of brushes to achieve his compelling Native American theme paintings.

“I still consider that paint set from Johnny a precious and inspiring gift,” he said.

Tiger and Nordwall painted together often. Sometimes, there were a few other young artist hopefuls copying the paintings by Jerome Tiger that were in the book Peggy Tiger and Molly Babcock wrote about Jerome after his death in 1967.

“Sometimes, Johnny would touch up our paintings,” Nord-wall confided.

“When I was in the sixth grade, I used to draw Snoopy and make cartoons. Before I met Johnny, I made up my own heroes. I always drew. I just didn’t know how to paint. By the time I really started paint-ing, I knew Jerome’s work so well. Johnny gave me my love for painting faces. I studied

with Johnny through gradua-tion from Muskogee High in 1983 and until I left that fall to attend Oklahoma State Univer-sity,” he said.

Nordwall also remembers watching Johnny Tiger Jr., as he often prepared paintings for shows at Muskogee’s Five Civi-lized Tribes Museum, not yet realizing he would someday be getting paintings prepared for his own art shows.

Tiger also gave Nordwall a

glimpse of the art gallery scene. “I was hanging out with

Johnny in Tulsa one day and saw an ad for art galleries in Santa Fe,” Nordwall recalled. “There were 200 galleries noted, and I thought, ‘I bet I could sell to at least 20 of them.’ I was very naïve about the Santa Fe art market at that time.”

Since becoming a prominent and prolific award-winning Santa Fe artist, Nordwall has kept in touch with Jerome’s

20 Spring 2015

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two daughters, Dana and Lisa. Dana, now a prominent art-ist, resides in Muskogee and maintains the Jerome Tiger Collection at her art studio. Her daughter, Christie, lives in Santa Fe, as does Lisa, one of Nordwall’s close friends.

By the time Nordwall was attending high school, he had studied the Renaissance paint-ers and the Old Masters. He spent his first year of college at OSU, but their more con-temporary art program was not a good fit for him. He consid-ers it a blessing he returned to Muskogee to study at Bacone College with Dick West, who was an artist in residence there near the end of his art career.

“Mr. West taught me how to do research so that everything I painted was totally accurate. I learned about Native Ameri-can regalia, their accoutrements, how they lived. Mr. West was a great inspiration to me,” Nord-wall related.

After studying with West, Nordwall was accepted on scholarship at the prestigious Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe. During that time, he worked in the gallery of noted artist Frank Howell.

“He changed my whole approach to painting,” Nord-wall said. “He also taught me the business side of art. I was his gofer. I took his art to galler-ies to sell, and I began to study more contemporary native painters. I saw who they were

Raymond Nordwall uses a vividly colored palette and a variety of brushes to achieve his compelling Native American theme paintings. Nordwall considers it a blessing he studied at Bacone College with Dick West, who was an artist in residence there near the end of his art career.

“My love of art and art history inspires

me. I paint six to eight hours every day,

here in the studio. I’m usually working

on five to eight paintings at a time.”

Raymond noRdwal

22 Spring 2015

influenced by and I studied their work, too.

That was an incredibly cre-ative time for Nordwall as he surveyed a range of art styles — cubism, impressionism, pop art, Japanese wood blocks, plein air painting. He credits Howell for teaching him oil painting techniques.

“Howell is considered the premier painter and monotype maker among Indian artists. His works evoke the spirit of ancestry,” Nordwall said. “I could not have had a better teacher for the monotypes that have enhanced my career.”

In 1992, Nordwall traveled to Europe to study the art of the master painters. He became enamored with the art of the famous French impression-ist, Claude Monet, who still influences the glistening water reflections in his contemporary

oil paintings. That technique characterizes

many of his paintings of neon bright horses splashing through water and coming toward the viewer at breakneck speed with spirited energy. His collectors still love and buy the vibrant primary colors of the horses and the shimmering water reflections.

Those paintings brought Nordwall numerous commis-sions and awards, including the honor of serving as the poster artist for the 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the most prestigious Native American art markets in the world. He also served as Poster Artist for the 2014 Red Earth Festival, an Oklahoma City event that mar-ries art, music and food with native dancing.

His work is now shown in gal-leries across the country and in


Europe. His list of collectors is impressive: Ralph Lauren, Gary Hart, Randy Travis and the late Gianni Versace. His art also is featured in the museum collec-tions of the IAIA, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Congress of the American Indian, Bacone College and OSU.

Nordwall has owned his Can-yon Road gallery for 15 years and loves his life as an artist.

“My love of art and art history inspires me. I paint six to eight

hours every day, here in the stu-dio,” he says. “I’m usually work-ing on five to eight paintings at a time. I begin the day by tak-ing my son, 14-year-old Miles, to school, then picking him up at 4.”

Evenings and weekends are special family times with Miles and his wife, Gina, hous-ing manager for The Santa Fe Opera. Family is precious to Nordwall, who also has a daugh-ter, Jessica, from a previous mar-riage, and three grandchildren.

A son, Jack, passed away in 1991. On those rare occasions when

he is not inspired to paint, he listens to music — especially the soulful sound of Ray Charles or jazz by Miles Davis. He also seeks inspiration by visit-ing other art galleries, reading profiles or watching videos about other artists, historic and contemporary.

“I love the act of creating,” he says. “When I’m painting, it’s like a prayer. I feel closest to God when I’m painting.”

Nordwall celebrated his 49th birthday September 24. As he approaches that milestone half-century point in his life and career he says, “I love the life I lead. I live in my little world. I’m blessed. I sell everything I paint. I’m so grateful to have grown up in Muskogee where I was exposed to so much Native American art. What I miss most about Muskogee is football, barbecue and the warmth and friendliness of the people.” 2

Raymond Nordwall traveled to Europe and was enamored with the paintings of French impressionist, Claude Monet, who still influences the glistening water reflections in his contemporary oil paintings.

24 Spring 2015

A CUT ABOVE

Larry Moore has transitioned from the chief prosecutor to the grocery store owner

Larry Moore mulled over an idea about future plans if he lost the election to retain his seat as Muskogee County’s top prosecutor.

He asked for God’s intercession, Moore said, but God didn’t answer that prayer.

“But He did give me something better than I asked for,” Moore said, referring to ALPS grocery store.

By Mark Hughes • Photos by John Hasler

Displaying a cut of meat, Larry Moore, who is buying ALPS, said a lot of hard working people who don’t have the highest income shop at ALPS and can afford to eat just as good as everyone else.

26 Spring 2015

When he was running for re-election as the Muskogee County D istrict Attorney, Moore paid a visit to Bill John-son, owner of ALPS grocery store. During the conversation Moore joked that if he loses he might need a job as a stocker, to which Johnson replied, how about owner?

Moore said he didn’t pay much attention to Johnson’s comment — until he lost the election.

“I firmly believe, at least for my life, that God answers prayers,” Moore said.

Moore hasn’t actually pur-chased the store from Johnson yet. Maybe in the middle of this year is when the transition will take place, Moore said. Johnson “has made a very gracious offer to be my mentor, and I’m taking advantage of that offer.”

“I’m 55 and not ready to retire. I still have to pay my bills,” Moore said.

Johnson has been successful in his grocery business career, Moore said, and “if I can just do what Bill has done in this store, I can be very successful. I’m hoping to take it to another level, and Bill is teaching me how to do that.

“With all his years in the gro-cery business, Bill has built per-sonal relationships with people out of state, and we get a lot of product from them,” Moore said.

Johnson is introducing Moore to those relationships in order to keep the same products com-ing at the same deep discount prices, Moore explained.

Johnson, who has been in the business for 50 years, has been vital to Moore by teaching the business end of the grocery busi-ness, he said.

“I’ve spent my entire life in the grocery business — from the wholesale end to the retail end — and I’ve been able to show Larry that just because you’re

in the grocery business and just because you have the lowest prices in town, if you know what you’re doing, you can still make a living,” Johnson said.

Moore worked at the former Safeway grocery store while he

was in high school, college and law school and admits there have been a lot of changes in the grocery market since then.

“I know more about the law than I do about the grocery business right now, and I could

make a very lucrative living doing that (practicing law),” Moore said.

But he doesn’t want to prac-tice law right now because “all you see is bad and negative things.”

New shelving that will create floor space for about 600 new items is being inspected by Larry Moore, left, who is purchasing ALPS from Bill Johnson. Johnson has 50 years in the retail and wholesale grocery business. Moore worked at the a Safeway store while attending high school, college and law school.


Moore said that if attorneys would be honest, a lot of them would do something different at some point in their lives because there is a lot of stress in the law-yer business.

“I’m 55 and want the last part of my life not to be in the strug-gle of litigation. No one really wins when you go to court,” Moore said.

He said that when he was in private practice he would go home and tell his wife that the judge told him he won the divorce case.

“But in the hall, momma is crying, daddy is cussing and the kids are crying. And who won? No one won,” Moore exclaimed.

When he was in private prac-tice he made “some good sums of money” in personal injury

Aubrey Wade, meat manager at ALPS, discusses the wide variety of discounted meats offered at ALPS with soon-to-be owner Larry Moore.

MOORE, Page 31

28 Spring 2015

Eastside Diner The Original Boom-a-rang Diner!

Founded by Charles Degraffenreid at 828 Eastside Blvd. in Muskogee

In March of 2014, remolding began on the original Boom-a-rang Diner on Eastside Blvd. in Muskogee. The dining area was extended by 600 square feet, a spacious bathroom was installed, parking area was

paved, and for our customers’ convenience, a drive thru window was added. It’s also handicap accessi ble.

On March 26, 2014, Mr. Degraffenreid passed away before he was able to see the results of his hard w ork. The Eastside Boom-a-rang went from being the smallest to doubling its size and creating more

comfortable and enjoyable dining experience!

Stop by and see the newly remodeled Boom-a-rang on Eastside Blvd. and meet the amazing crew! You’ll love how you’re treated at Boom-a-rang!

Before After

boom a rang 2x3


Eastside Diner The Original Boom-a-rang Diner!

Founded by Charles Degraffenreid at 828 Eastside Blvd. in Muskogee

In March of 2014, remolding began on the original Boom-a-rang Diner on Eastside Blvd. in Muskogee. The dining area was extended by 600 square feet, a spacious bathroom was installed, parking area was

paved, and for our customers’ convenience, a drive thru window was added. It’s also handicap accessi ble.

On March 26, 2014, Mr. Degraffenreid passed away before he was able to see the results of his hard w ork. The Eastside Boom-a-rang went from being the smallest to doubling its size and creating more

comfortable and enjoyable dining experience!

Stop by and see the newly remodeled Boom-a-rang on Eastside Blvd. and meet the amazing crew! You’ll love how you’re treated at Boom-a-rang!

Before After

boom a rang 2x3

30 Spring 2015


cases “but the people I repre-sented were damaged for life.”

It doesn’t make sense to leave the courtroom after getting a conviction in a murder case and say that you’ve won, he said, because the family didn’t win, they lost a loved one.

“I’ve convicted a member of the defendant’s family and they lose, too. I’ve done years and years of that type of work,” he said.

That’s why “it’s so wonderful to see the people come in here (ALPS) and I say, ‘How are you doing, ma’am,’ and they speak to you and they’re sincere,” Moore said. “It shows you there are still so many good people out in this world. You just don’t get to meet them in the job that I did.”

How can ALPS offer such

deep discounts and still be in business? For example, ALPS recently sold 14-ounce contain-ers of Starbucks Coffee for $1.89, Johnson said. A compa-rable size of Folgers was $4.89.

One way to obtain prices like these is through a membership with the Associated Wholesale Groceries, a co-op owned by the grocerymen like Harps Foods and Reasor’s Foods.

“The co-op provides mem-bers with the lowest cost of goods and makes no money, so they return their profits to us annually,” Johnson explained. “There are additional sources of products that I access that oth-ers don’t access. They are able to offer values and bargains that they don’t have access to — abso-lute unique, niche market.”

“By obta in ing gro cery products through the insur-ance industry, closeouts and

close-dated merchandise, we have some great bargains for our customers.”

And, ALPS meat department is second to none, Johnson said.

“We can buy any meat those other stores can buy,” Johnson said.

And being a home-owned business also has its advantages compared to corporate stores like Walmart or Safeway, John-son said.

“This store is a niche opera-tion, nobody can compete with our prices, not even Walmart.”

“One thing Bill has taught me is that corporate stores, like Walmart or Safeway, they have to get permission from district or their headquarters on what to buy, how to price it and how much to discount it,” Moore said.

“We can make immediate decisions on what to buy, what

to charge and how much to sell it for rather than taking the time to ask someone,” he said.

Lots of hard working people “who are not blessed with the highest income” shop at ALPS, Moore said. “For them, to be able to buy the same products and eat just as good as you and I eat gets me excited.”

Moore is now focusing on the skills God gave him to ensure the future of ALPS because people on the lower end of the socio-economic scale have to eat.

“If we can offer the very best pricing and product, then peo-ple are genuinely blessed to be able to have that. I’ve always believed that God is not going to let me go broke for help-ing people,” Moore said. “If I squander and waste my other stuff, that will happen, but He won’t let me go broke for help-ing people.” 2

MOORE, from Page 27

Discussing store business over a pallet of water is Bill Johnson, left, owner of ALPS and Larry Moore, who will become the new owner in a few months. “I know more about the law than the grocery business,” Moore said, and is grateful to Bill Johnson for mentoring him through the business side of the industry.

32 Spring 2015

URBAN ENTERTAINMENT... There are so many things

to do in and around your hometown!

OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE STYLE!


URBAN ENTERTAINMENT... There are so many things

to do in and around your hometown!

OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE STYLE!

34 Spring 2015

Gardening tips for beginners

Gardening is a rewarding hobby that many enthusiasts credit with helping them to peacefully escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Though gardening can

be both relaxing and rewarding, it’s not as easy as it may seem, and the more time and effort a person devotes to his or her garden the more likely it is to be successful.


Gardening can be a little daunting for beginners who have little or no experience planting flowers or vegetables. But garden-ing need not be so intimidating, especially for those beginners who adhere to the fol-lowing tips aimed at helping novice garden-ers start their gardens off on the right foot.

� Determine what you should plant. Where you live will go a long way toward determining what you should plant. While you can plant anything you can get your hands on, the United States Department of Agriculture has determined specific plant hardiness zones that indicate which plants are most likely to thrive in given locations. Maps of these zones can be found at www.usda.gov. By adhering to the maps, garden-ers can significantly increase their chances of growing successful gardens. When in doubt about what to plant, consult a local garden-ing center or seek advice from a professional landscaper.

� Think location when beginning your garden. Beginners with large yards have the luxury of choosing the right location on their properties to start planting. When choosing a spot, consider how much sun-light a location gets on a daily basis and the spot’s proximity to a water supply. If planting flowers, try to avoid planting in areas with heavy foot traffic so the flow-ers are less likely to be stomped. If you’re planting flowers to accent walkways, then consider erecting a barrier around the flower bed to safeguard the flowers from foot traffic.

� Get started before you plant. Prepar-ing the soil a few weeks before you start planting can help the plants thrive down the road. Add some organic material, such as compost or fertilizer, to the soil roughly three weeks before planting. This helps the soil retain water and nutrients, which will help your garden thrive.

� Time your planting. When you plant is sometimes as important as what you plant. Some climates allow for year-round planting, but many do not. When buying seeds, the packaging might suggest what time of year to plant the seeds. Adhere to these suggestions or your garden might not grow much at all. In addition, keep in mind that many seedlings need significant light throughout the day in order to grow, so choose a time of year with ample daylight.

� Don’t forget to mulch. Mulch can be as aesthetically appealing as it is effective.

Mulch retains soil, helping roots to grow stronger, while deterring bugs and prevent-ing weed growth. And many gardeners find mulch adds visual appeal their garden, and does so in a very inexpensive way.

� Clean your tools. Beginners rarely rec-ognize the importance of cleaning garden-ing tools before putting them away. At the

end of each gardening session, clean your tools thoroughly, as soil left on your garden tools can play host to potentially harmful microbes that might kill your plants.

Gardening can be a labor-intensive yet gratifying hobby. By sticking to a few simple rules, beginners can develop a thriving gar-den to reward all of that hard work. 2

36 Spring 2015

“Why buy it when you can make it yourself?” is a mantra many crafters or do-it-yourself-ers live by. Crafting can be an excellent outlet for self-expres-sion and an entertaining way

to pass the time. Many crafters even turn their hobbies into suc-cessful business ventures.

This year, certain trends are poised to take crafting by storm, while fads of 2014 should

continue. Those making the rounds on Pinterest and crafting blogs may discover the follow-ing crafts are trending in 2015.

Natural elementsCrafters are taking their cues

from nature, and you’re certain to find natural elements, such as wood, bark and burlap, in craft projects. Distressed finishes on furniture and photo frames will still demand attention. Do-it-yourself projects, such as turn-ing a slab of a tree trunk into a table or upcycling wooden ship-ping palettes into shelving, also will grow in popularity. When-ever working on designs that feature natural materials, try to repurpose elements whenever possible for the most rustic, authentic feel.

Chevron and diamondsThose sprucing up home dec-

orating elements with stencils or chalk paint can find inspira-tion in many places. Patterns

that continue to show up in abundance include chevron and various incarnations of the dia-mond. It’s easy to dress up just about any element with some well-placed stenciling, which does not necessarily require a wealth of skill or experience. Stencils also can be used on flooring to create a faux area rug effect.

Color of the YearIf you get giddy over the

warmth of browns and reds, you will be enamored with Pan-tone’s 2015 Color of the Year. The authority on color and a provider of color systems, Pan-tone has chosen Marsala to be the “it” shade for 2015. Blend-ing burgundy and brown tones to create a hue perfect for filling a wine glass or painting dining room walls, you will see plenty of this robust shade in decora-tive elements and clothing in the year ahead.

Emerging trends in crafting


Bringing the outside inAn ecologically sound and creative trend

for spring involves crafting your own gar-den terrarium. Terrariums can be made out of just about any shaped glass or plastic container. Use hardy plants and a moisture-holding substrate to help your terrarium flourish. Terrariums can be interesting focal points for any room, and they’re a creative use for empty vases, aquariums and other containers collecting dust.

Painting on canvasEach year brings with it a new crafting

obsession. This year it’s poised to be water-color painting. Classes are bound to pop up in craft stores and other hobby centers near you. Or you can experiment at home with just a few basic tools.

Another growing paint trend is to enjoy a ladies’ night out that pairs painting with wine and socialization. Participants work on a painting over a predetermined number of ses-sions and then take their masterpieces home.

Spring into greenGreen hues and floral and foliage patterns

for decorating will be popular this year. Anyone can liven up interior spaces with elements that borrow from nature, includ-ing leaf patterns and flowers.

Crafting continues to be a popular form of expression and a beloved pastime. Certain trends emerge each year that set the course for do-it-yourself projects.

38 Spring 2015


Calendar of Events10TH ANNUAL AZALEA POW-WOW, 2 p.m. April 18, Muskogee Civic Center. Hosts are Fife Indian United Methodist Church and Multi-Cultural Division/City of Musk-ogee. There will be Gourd Dancing from 2 to 5 p.m., a dinner break from 5 to 6 p.m., gourd dancing from 6 to 7 p.m. and Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door. Information: Stan Smith, (580) 491-1350 and Joyce Deere, (918) 230-4734. 16TH ANNUAL BARE BONES INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM, ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL, April 10 to 19. Headquarters: Studio Broad-way, 213 W. Broadway. Information: (918) 608-5394. ART UNDER THE OAKS COMPETITIVE SHOW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 6-30. Reception 2 p.m. April 12, Five Civilized Tribes Museum, 1101 Honor Heights Drive. ART UNDER THE OAKS MARKET, 10 a.m., April 18, Five Civilized Tribes Museum, 1101 Honor Heights Drive. AZALEA FESTIVAL PARADE, 11 a.m. April 11, downtown Muskogee. Free. Information: (918) 684-6302. BOOK EATS: AN INTERNATIONAL EDIBLE BOOK FESTIVAL, 6:30 p.m. April 16, Muskogee Public Library, 801 W. Okmulgee Ave. Fun for all ages. Create and/or judge edible cre-ations based on books. May the best book win! Information: (918) 682-6657, ext. 236. CHILDREN’S BOOK CLUB, 4 p.m. Thursdays in April, Muskogee Public Library, 801 W. Okmulgee Ave. Ages 10-13. Book schedule subject to change based on availability. April 2, “Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling; April 9, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis; April 16, “A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula K. LeGuin; April 23, “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan; April 30, “Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk” by Angie Sage. Infor-mation: (918) 682-6657, ext. 236. FLOWER POWER BIKE RIDE, 9 a.m. April 25.

Three Forks Harbor. The Flower Power Bike Ride is one of the first rides of the cycling season and coincides with Musk-ogee’s annual Azalea festival. The ride begins and ends at Three Forks Harbor and features five different routes that range in length from 15 to 100 miles. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 9 a.m. Information: (918) 684-6302 or email [email protected]. “GERONIMO, LIFE ON THE RESERVATION,” 7:30 p.m. April 4, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, 401 S. Third St. Starring Rudy Ramos. This is a story about the last 23 years of Geronimo’s life as a prisoner of war. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 day of the show. Information: (918) 687-0800 or OMHOF.com. INAUGURAL RHINESTONE COWBOY MUSK-OGEE — A TRIBUTE TO THE GLAMOROUS WEST, 5:30 p.m. April 7, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. For reservations, contact Samantha Cook, (918) 683-1578 or [email protected]. Individual tickets are $20 or $35 per couple. Dinner will be catered by Cowboys Bar-B-Q and Catering. Proceeds benefit Volunteers of America Oklahoma (RSVP of Musk-ogee). Volunteers of America Oklahoma reaches out to more than 2,000 individuals every month providing affordable senior housing, residential support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and assisting individuals at risk of homelessness. Infor-mation: www.voaok.org or www.facebook.com/VOAOKRhinestoneCowboy. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 6 to 8 p.m. April 30, Green Country Lanes. There will be fun, good food, door prizes and contests. Help provide Junior Achieve-ment Programs for 2,000 Muskogee stu-dents. Information: Brian Jackson, (918) 663-2156 or [email protected]. MUSKOGEE ART GUILD SPRING JUDGED ART SHOW. The Muskogee Art Guild Spring Judged Art Show reception and awards presentation will be from 6 to 8:45 p.m. April 10 at Arrowhead Mall. The Muskogee

Art Guild Spring Judged Art show will be April 11-18 at Arrowhead Mall. Information: Marie Gassaway, (918) 682-3745. MUSKOGEE EXCHANGE CLUB ANNUAL CHILI & BARBECUE COOK-OFF, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 11, a full day of entertainment, drinks, chili, and barbecue for the entire family! Kids’ zone with, food, inflatables, pony and camel rides etc., for the kids. Purchase a taster kit for $10 (or two for $15) and sample some of the best chili, barbecue, chicken or hog in the five-state area. Located at Civic Center Market Square Festival Area, Fifth and Boston streets. Information: (918) 869-0733 or email [email protected]. PARTY IN THE PARK, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 18, Honor Heights Park. Sponsored by the Muskogee Rotary Club, this annual event brings together Oklahoma wineries, breweries, and local food vendors for an afternoon of wine, beer, and food tasting in The Papilion, the park’s new butterfly garden. Proceeds are used to drill water wells and provide water filters to fami-lies, villages and schools where water is unavailable or unclean. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door and includes a souvenir wine glass. MUSKOGEE LITTLE THEATRE: “CASH RING OF FIRE,” April 10-18. 325 Cincinnati St. Infor-mation: www.muskogeelittletheatre.com or [email protected]. “QUILTED DREAMS,” 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 10-11, St. Paul United Methodist Church. The Muskogee Area Quilters Guild 30th annual quilt show. Admission $5. There will be more than 100 quilts, vendors, boutiques with lots of gift ideas, demonstrations, quilt raffle, door prizes and lunch available. Information: Sue Tardiff, (651) 470-1179, [email protected] or www.MAQG.net. TOUCH-A-TRUCK, 9 a.m. April 25, at Davis Field. Come climb, sit, explore, honk, blow sirens, and bounce! Admission, $2. Infor-mation: Jan Bryant or Lorie Fennel, (918) 682-6657.

40 Spring 2015

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