Southern Living October 2022

MY FATHER, John Evans, was fond of the saying, “A house is nothing but a money pit.” As someone who loves beautiful homes and edits a magazine about them, I always thought that was a pretty cynical view. I prefer the more romantic notions of homeownership—a place to bring together friends and family (and dogs), to make memories, to celebrate holidays, and to channel your creativity. Since the pandemic started, my wife, Susan, and I have tried to turn our old 1950s home into more of a sanctuary by updating some spaces we had ignored for years. We’ve done some work on the porch, turned a playroom into an office, and fixed up the guest bedroom. But lately, my father’s view has seemed much closer to the truth. A few weeks…

WHAT WE’RE LOVING, SHARING, AND CELEBRATING THE MONIKER “hostess with the mostest” has been bestowed upon Southerners with a knack for creating memorable events, and Mary Hollis Huddleston is an ideal example. As the founder of the lifestyle site Mrs. Southern Social (mrssouthernsocial.com) and the elevated event-rental company Please Be Seated, the Nashville native (pictured at right) knows a thing or two about throwing a festive and stress-free party, thanks to her tasteful eye and tactful playbook. Her secret for breezy entertaining is making it simple, accessible, affordable, and—most importantly—enjoyable. “Don’t obsess over perfection; just have fun,” Huddleston says. “The hosts set the tone, so if they aren’t having a good time, no one will.” Here, she serves up her foolproof recipe for a fall porch party with all the autumnal…

Sweet and Tangy Roasted Pumpkin Salad Toss 4 cups chopped unpeeled sugar pumpkin, 15 sage leaves, ½ cup pumpkin seeds (from sugar pumpkin), 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, 1 ½ Tbsp. honey, 1 tsp. kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. black pepper on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 425°F until pumpkin is tender and golden, 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cool 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together 3 Tbsp. each extra-virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp. honey, ½ tsp. kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Combine 5 oz. mixed baby greens, 2 oz. crumbled goat cheese, ¼ cup sweetened dried cranberries, and roasted pumpkin and seeds on a large serving platter. Drizzle with vinaigrette and…

WHEN GEORGE Jones Jr.’s great-grandfather began crafting brooms during the Great Depression, it was because he needed another source of income to support the farm he managed. Jones’ grandfather learned the skill too. But by the time Jones himself was taught to create brooms in 1986, it was less about survival and more about beauty. This Jones aimed to make the family trade his own. Now, through his company, George’s Broom Closet (georgesbroomcloset.com), the Florence, Alabama, native crafts functional pieces of art. He designs a wide variety of styles, from thin, tapered brooms ideal for squeezing into hard-to-reach places to small dustpan-size ones for quick cleanups. He even makes custom pieces for couples planning to “jump the broom,” a tradition sometimes included in African American wedding ceremonies. Although online sales are essential…

Natural Wonders This Gainesville, Virginia, cancer survivor finds healing in creativity IT ALL STARTED with Amy Hindman’s search for a perfect scarf during her treatment for stage 3 breast cancer. “I tried a few different materials,” she says. “Silk was slippery, and I was nervous that it was going to slide off at an inconvenient time. The cotton scarves I found were not very soft, or they had synthetic dyes and didn’t feel super beautiful or healthy.” Once she was on the mend, the Virginia native earned two grants through the American Society of Clinical Oncology to study organic textiles and natural dyes. “That started an art practice I had never dreamed of,” she says. Inspired by age-old techniques, she launched Saint Virginia (@saintvirginiatextiles), a collection of scarves, home goods, and dresses…

SPOTLIGHT A River Runs Through the Ozarks Arkansas’ Buffalo National River celebrates 50 years In the highlands of northwest Arkansas, a free-flowing river carves a 135-mile path through the Ozark Mountains. Come fall, the cool waters, which range from serene pools to lively rapids, course through limestone bluffs that are covered in trees ablaze with red and yellow leaves. It’s a magical scene—making it easy to see why the National Park Service decided to protect the 300-million-year-old landmark as the country’s first national river in 1972. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Buffalo National River’s official designation. While paddling a kayak or canoe offers an up-close vantage point of the area’s spectacular scenery, miles of hiking trails throughout the park’s surrounding 95,000 acres yield equally impressive views. If you’re looking to…