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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
26 | H O ME FEAT U R E Ashley Toney of First Fruit Collection achieves the perfect blend of beauty and comfort in her parents' Germantown home. 8 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • July 2020
36 | D E S IGN Designer Cindy McCord transforms her Collierville backyard into an enviable oasis.
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
J U LY 2 0 2 0
home & travel 26 HOME FEATURE Fresh for the Family
36 DESIGN
Pool Perfection
46 EXPERIENCE THIS Hernando Farmers Market 54 IN THE GARDEN
Bringing the Outdoors In
food & drink
60 IN THE KITCHEN
Chilled Cucumber and Avocado Soup
for you
42 WEDDING
Mr. & Mrs. Worth Morgan
62 HEALTHY YOU
Normal Forgetfulness
66 ON A GOOD NOTE PURE Youth
in every issue
14 PUBLISHER'S NOTE
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65 SOURCES
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JULY 2020 • VOL. 19 NO. 4 PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MARGARET MONGER | mmonger@athomemms.com
MANAGING EDITOR AUBREY ANN MONGER | aamonger@athomemms.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER GINNI JONES | gjones@athomemms.com
COPY EDITOR TERRI GLAZER
IMAGING COLOR MANAGEMENT CHARLES REYNOLDS | cr@colorretouching.com
ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HILARY FRANKEL | hafrankel@comcast.net
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE GAIL HARRELL | gharrell@athomemms.com
REGIONAL MARKETING JANA FITE HERBISON | jfherbison@gmail.com
BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TRIP MONGER | tmonger@athomemms.com
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION HARRIET W. DEATON | hdeaton@athomemms.com
HOW TO REACH US 320 SOUTH WALNUT BEND, SUITE 11 CORDOVA, TN 38018 | 901.684.4155 ATHOMEMMS.COM At Home Memphis & Mid South doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. To inquire about freelance opportunities, send a letter, resume and three writing samples to—Editor, At Home Memphis & Mid South: 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018. SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 901.684.4155 or subscribe at athomemms. com. Annual subscription rate: $19.95. Single copy price: $4.99. At Home Memphis & Mid South is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes or omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Trip Monger; At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018 or to tmonger@athomemms.com.
@athomemagazine
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PUBLISHER'S
Note
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e have hit the halfway mark of the glorious year of 2020! July is here and although our large cookouts and public fireworks displays might be altered a bit, we can and will still celebrate our country. With outdoor living spaces becoming more and more popular as beautiful extensions of Mid South residences, they are now a necessity for those of us who like to entertain at home. An outdoor area is more than just where we grill; it is now where we can entertain friends and family while maintaining a safe and healthy distance. My outdoor area is also serving as my office that I share with our chickens, Blanche and Dorothy, our nameless koi, our small vegetable garden and so many herbs and plants. I never realized how relaxing my new office space could be. During this time, we miss bringing you some of our normal features, such as dining out and entertaining, to name a couple. We are so fortunate to still be able to share with you beautiful homes and this month, particularly, an outdoor space and pool area that is simply stunning and extremely practical for entertaining as we continue to social distance for our safety. In this time of Covid, some of our stress levels might be a bit on the rise, so a peaceful outdoor retreat is more important than ever. We are both excited and very fortunate to be able to share another issue with you. I hope you find a peaceful spot of your own outdoors. Whether it’s a stunning full living space or a simple hammock under a shady tree, as long as it brings you peace, the mission is accomplished. So grab our July issue, maybe a cup of Jim Norton’s chilled cucumber and avocado soup, relax and be thankful. Our country’s birthday might look a bit different this year but it’s still worth celebrating. Wishing you all a safe and happy July 4th celebration and a very happy birthday to America!
Margaret Monger, PUBLISHER
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FRESH fo r t he fa m i ly STORY TERRI GLAZER | PHOTOGRAPHY ANNABELLA CHARLES 26 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • July 2020 INTERIOR
DESIGN FIRST FRUIT COLLECTION
H O M E F E AT U R E
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he stately Georgian architecture of Brooke and Brian Sparks’ Germantown house might give the impression that the interior would have a stuffy, formal feel. Not so. Thanks to Brooke’s vision and daughter Ashley Toney’s professional expertise, the home is the perfect blend of beauty and comfort.
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H O M E F E AT U R E
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hat’s a good thing, because the house is often filled with the couple’s family: three daughters, two sons-in-law and four young grandchildren, all under the age of four, who live in the area. When the Sparkses bought the home about a year and a half ago, the original 1993 decor was in need of an update. Ashley recalls, “My mom’s friends wondered why she wanted to move into this house. Her previous house was brand new and, of course, updated.” Toney, an interior designer and owner of First Fruit Collection in Collierville, could see past the tired decor to the home’s true potential. “The thing about this house that’s really great is that you take this house that you thought was super dated, you redo the bathrooms and the kitchen, add new paint, new light fixtures, and it’s amazing how different it is,” she says.
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atty Michaelis, First Fruit store manager and designer, echoes Toney’s formula for bringing any home from past to present. “You can make your house look fabulous; it doesn’t matter how old it is!” she says. “We didn’t even have to replace the floors or the cabinets in this house. A lot of people would have come in here and thought they had to rip out everything.” The freshen-up began in the light-filled front entry with new custom doors, furniture and drapes. Weathered benches under arched windows in alcoves on either side of the front door, and a pair of antique sideboards with blue paint in just the right degree of chippiness set the relaxed mood for the entire house.
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H O M E F E AT U R E
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djacent to the foyer is the office, the perfect workspace for Brian and his constant canine companion, Gunner, who usually makes himself right at home in a comfy leather mission-style chair. Over the room’s fireplace hangs a custom painting by Nashville artist Lauren Dunn depicting Gunner perched in Brian’s rowboat, ready for a duck hunt. Just across the foyer, the dining room is a mirror image of the office architecturally with a matching fireplace and the same floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s plenty of room for the family Brooke loves so much to gather for a meal around the primitive farm table. Louis XVI chairs with monogrammed backs and a stunning chandelier lend a dressy touch. With a grand piano and showcased collection of Herend animals, many living rooms would be off limits to children, but in the Sparks house the design choices were made with the youngest family members in mind. All the furniture is upholstered in performance fabrics so stains are never an issue. “We can sit on all the furniture; it’s very liveable,” says Toney. While the kitchen received a major facelift, the work didn’t involve changing the room’s footprint. As Michaelis points out, the “bones” of the room were fine—no gut job necessary. It was design magic rather than revised architecture that brought this room from dated to dazzling. “We painted all the cabinets, redid the backsplash, put in new countertops and added new hardware,” Toney says. The soft gray/green color she chose for the cabinets, paired with classic white marble counters and subway tile backsplash, gives the kitchen an almost seaside quality. Gold-tone hardware warms the look up and adds a hint of elegance. In the connected breakfast area, the beachy theme continues, from the painting of sailboats on the water, another Lauren Dunn original, to the table and chairs in the colors of driftwood. The custom drapes in the breakfast nook, and throughout the home, reflect a trend Toney says is becoming quite popular of late: they have pattern. Whether the fabric is a floral print or the interest comes in the form of trim, today’s drapes are more of a focal point in design than in the recent past. July 2020 • athomemms.com | 31
H O M E F E AT U R E
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eople are definitely going for more color,” she says. “It’s great that people are wanting more than just white. We’re still doing neutrals on the walls—this house is painted all the same color—but you have pops of color with the rugs, pillows, fabrics and wallpaper.” Yes, wallpaper is making a comeback, but it’s not your grandmother’s chintz roses and borders. Michaelis admits that it’s not always easy to talk customers into it, though. “Sometimes it’s hard to get people to agree to wallpaper because they’re afraid of it after growing up with it. It was everywhere!” Adds Toney, proving the old adage that the design apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. “We love wallpaper in bathrooms and we love it in laundry rooms and in bookcases. It’s great because Mom loves wallpaper, too.” Brooke and Brian’s master bathroom wallpaper proves that point. Subtle and understated, the pattern doesn’t scream out its presence at first glance, only revealing itself as wallpaper on closer inspection. Its impact in the room is major, however, in the quiet beauty it gives. The wallpaper was only part of the head-to-toe makeover in the master bath, which Michaelis says is her favorite room in the house. With new tile in a show-stopping hexagon pattern, newly painted cabinets, fresh marble countertops, a new soaking tub and a reworked zero-entry shower, the space is all-new and all luxurious.
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H O M E F E AT U R E
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he master bedroom, bathed in calming cool tones, is a quiet retreat. A wall of windows affords views of the home’s exquisite backyard and pool area. The home’s upstairs is clearly the domain of the grandchildren Brooke loves so much. Bedrooms feature design elements including twin iron beds adorned with bunnies and a table and chairs with a tea party set, just waiting for invitees. The upstairs bathroom features wallpaper, but this time it’s on the more vibrant end of the spectrum. A whimsical treasure map scattered with pirate ships and animals galore lines the walls, making hand washing and bath time a thrilling adventure. Also designed with little ones in mind was the upstairs bonus room, now transformed into a spacious playroom with toys, books and games to keep the grandchildren endlessly entertained. Toney says that the friends who were initially naysayers about the house are wowed by its transformation, and her mother is also thrilled with her daughter’s work on her new home. “Mom says she thinks her house is beautiful, but warm and inviting and liveable, since her grandkids are constantly in it. Her home shows that she loves and lives for Jesus and her family, especially the grandkids—she’s all about them!”
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POOL
perfection DESIGN CINDY MCCORD STORY TERRI GLAZER | PHOTOGRAPHY ROSS GROUP CREATIVE
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DESIGN
When adding a pool, bigger isn’t always better and waiting pays off...
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n a hot July day, a Mid Southerner’s thoughts can easily turn to daydreams of floating in a peaceful backyard pool. If you’re considering adding a pool to your property, pay attention to these tips from a local design pro who recently took the plunge and transformed her backyard into an enviable oasis. Interior designer Cindy McCord and her husband Fred McCord built their Collierville home with Thomas Wirth of Germantown Homebuilders in 2015. During the initial construction Cindy designed a pool, but the couple decided not to build it at the time. She now says she’s happy they hesitated, having waited until last summer to put it in. “I’m glad we didn’t build the pool when we moved it, even though it would have been less expensive
and less hassle,” Cindy admits. With time, she realized the pool would be better placed in a completely different spot than she initially thought, and she was able to fine tune its design. “Some people ask why we put it so close to the house,” Cindy says. “I really wanted it to be right here because this [adjacent outdoor living area] is where we spend a lot of time. We can be on the porch and talk to someone in the pool. And we were able to keep the pretty back area untouched.” The McCords had prior experience with a backyard pool. “We bought a house and lived in it for about five years that had a really big older pool,” Cindy explains. This time, she knew a smaller version would better suit her family’s lifestyle. “We just wanted something to jump into when it gets really hot or to float in.”
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DESIGN
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he was also certain about what she didn’t want—a lot of hardscape surrounding the pool. “I wanted no concrete around it except a couple of little pads; I liked the look of it butting up to grass and having the limestone coping. When there’s more green around it, it’s not so sterile,” she says. What were the McCords’ other must-haves for her new pool? A sundeck that could accommodate lounging chairs, and a water feature of some kind. She credits Johnny Deniston of AgriScapes Landscape and Irrigation with bringing her vision to life, and Jim Phillips of Pools Unlimited, who did the construction, for making it a reality. “Johnny came out one day and we drew [the design] on a napkin. He knew I wanted something simple; nothing too big. In two minutes we decided what we were doing. He even drew in the little pads: it was almost exactly like what you see now.” With a graceful curve, the shallow sundeck Deniston conceived holds a pair of Ledge Lounger chaises. With a sleek, one-piece design they are eye-catching and practical—ideal for relaxing in the sun or shade, thanks to detachable shades. Around the pool, an inviting outdoor daybed and more chaises from the Kolo Collection provide room for all the McCords to relax together poolside. For the pool’s focal-point wall with water feature, Phillips called on the services of Christie Cut Stone to create and place the large limestone spheres. Cindy had seen a similar design in a magazine and was adamant that hers would be every bit as striking. “They tried to talk me into using smaller balls, but I really wanted the big ones,” she laughs. “It was crazy getting them in place. They had to build a ramp and roll them up!” 38 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • July 2020
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DESIGN
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O
nce the pool itself was completed, the AgriScapes crew handled the landscape plan and installation. Deniston and McCord have worked together in the past, so she trusted him to complete the project in keeping with her design aesthetic. “I told him to landscape it however he thought it would be best and he did a great job,” she says. “He knows my style so I was able to say, ‘Surprise me!’” Deniston’s design scheme includes classic elements like a formal hedgerow, a diamond-patterned vine trellis on the exterior wall opposite the pool, a topiary feature and a garden bench flanked by matching boxwoods in decorative urns. To complete the backyard renovation project Cindy called on Jeff Bramlett, the architect who designed the house, to reimagine the outdoor kitchen. She says she couldn’t be happier with his vision for the grill area, as well as the adjacent porch he included in the original home plan. “We really live on our porch. We’ve had it set up like this since we moved in,” says Cindy. “We were limited on size for the porch, but we love the coziness of it. We also love that you can see it from just about every room in our house and access it from several doors. When we have people over we just open all the doors and we have great circulation.” The timing for adding the pool couldn’t have been better. Since the project was finished in early September of 2019, this is the first summer the McCords have had full use of their new outdoor oasis. And with their two young adult daughters home from school early due to COVID-19 closures, the whole family has really enjoyed it. Of all the McCords, it may be Cindy who uses the pool the most on the weekends. The hard-working designer, who has owned her own business for over 26 years, admits, “Part of the reason we added it was to keep me from being upstairs in my home office working every weekend, and it has worked! I love being out there!” July 2020 • athomemms.com | 41
WEDDING
Bonner & Worth Morgan M A RC H 20, 2020 | M E M P H I S, T N
PARENTS OF THE BRIDE: JENNE & TOM WILLIAMS | PARENTS OF THE GROOM: MUSET TE & ALLEN MORGAN, JR.
WEDDING: ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | FLORIST: LE FLEUR | PHOTOGRAPHER: SUSAN RIDDLE DUKE HAIR: THE BRIDE'S MOTHER, JENNE WILLIAMS | MAKEUP: THE BRIDE'S SISTER, CORINNE WILLIAMS
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WEDDING
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PH
OT
OS
RN
A N S TO C O & F D O RY U R A R C O BY TE ME M GI S Y RS M U A M OF M N A HE ARK ITY THE RN ET DE NY AN DI VE D O R E C LO P FA TO ME NT RM R ER SM AR KE T
HE
EXPERIENCE THIS
STORY ANNA ROY | PHOTOS courtesy of COASTAL MISSISSIPPI CVB
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Hernando FARMERS MARKET - a fresh local experience -
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he Hernando Farmers Market brings together the best of local food, artistry and the agricultural traditions of the Mid South. Located on Hernando’s historic Town Square, the market is open each Saturday through the end of October from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The open-air market features locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as fresh local milk, grass-fed beef and pork, cage-free eggs, local honey, canned/preserved items, plants and more. Area artisans sell handcrafted items under the large shade trees that canopy the square. The Hernando Farmers Market is proud to host more than 70 vendors from Mississippi and the Mid South. The average distance food travels from local farms to the market is only 27 miles. When you consider that most food eaten in the U.S. has traveled nearly 2,500 miles to the consumer, it’s easy to understand how fresh Farmers Market produce is compared to that sold elsewhere. Local farmers return three times more of their sales to the local economy than chain retailers. The Hernando Farmers Market helps connect Mississippi farmers and cottage businesses to local consumers, providing the freshest produce and products to Mid Southerners. Last year the market attracted more than 100,000 visitors. Due to the COVID-19 the market has put together safety protocols to keep everyone safe. Sanitizer pump stations, hand-washing stations and signs about social distancing are placed throughout the market. July 2020 • athomemms.com | 47
EXPERIENCE THIS
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top by the outdoor cafe and savor a freshly brewed cappuccino or iced coffee and baked goods, or participate in a free yoga class at sunrise. Throughout the season enjoy live music, food demonstrations, gardening tips and special events that take place during market hours. Families with young children can participate in the monthly Power of Produce (POP) program with fun activities for kids. The first 60 children receive POP bucks to purchase their favorite fruit or veggie to encourage healthy eating at an early age. Senior Days offer line dancing, arthritis management class, health assessments and more.
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EXPERIENCE THIS
M
ore than just a place to gather or shop, the Hernando Farmers Market is a place to experience the rich simplicity of a Mississippi small town. For more information on vendors and upcoming events, go to Facebook.com/ HernandoFarmersMarket
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GATES LUMBER CO. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF BUSINESS & SERVING THE MID SOUTH 1920-2020
The year 1920 was a remarkable one. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was approved, giving women the right to vote. Prohibition began. The first commercial radio station in the United States went on the air. Memphis was home to 160,000 people. And Gates Lumber Company began buying and selling wholesale hardwood and timber. At the time, Memphis was building its reputation as the “Hardwood Capital of the World” and Gates Lumber was right in the middle of it all. After World War II, Gates was a key part of the local economy, taking rough Southern pine lumber and remanufacturing it into the sizes needed to build homes for the post-war housing boom. Fresh out of the Marine Corps, a young man named George Buzard went to work for North Memphis Lumber Co. in 1955, shortly after North Memphis purchased Gates. He started out as an hourly worker, worked his way up, and in 1985 he purchased Gates Lumber Co. Since then, the woodworking skills of the people at Gates have been on display at some of the Mid South’s best-known buildings and construction projects. In 1992, Gates was chosen to furnish the Honduras mahogany lumber, mouldings and plywood for the $50 million renovation of the Shelby County Courthouse in downtown Memphis. That work reestablished the building’s former glory and the courthouse has since been featured in many movies and television shows because of its neoclassical beauty. It has not always been easy. In March 2004, a lightning strike touched off a massive fire that burned two-thirds of the Gates plant on South Bellevue. Loyal customers stuck with the company, however, and just two days later, Bobby Buzard, George’s son, had a rented building, started restocking the inventory, and initiated the process of re-building.
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ince then, Gates Lumber has continued to grow. Still run by the Buzard family, the company creates one-of-a-kind millwork for the Mid South. The recently remodeled display room at the Gates facility on S. Belleview houses examples of Kolbe and Jeld-Wen windows and perhaps the most complete display of doors anywhere. The custom shop can build anything from a tabletop chess set to massive, 14-foot-tall barn doors. With a 5,000-knife inventory, a state-of-theart knife grinder, and two high-speed Weinig moulders, the moulding department can match any pattern or create your dream design. The Gates operation includes departments for interior door unit production, exterior metal and fiberglass door unit sales, special frames and stair parts. Everything is done in house, which allows for complete control of production so that when customers need a specific product, it’s ready on time every time. . For Gates, the past 100 years have been about serving the architects, interior designers, home builders, general contractors, remodelers and homeowners of the Mid South with windows, doors and fine wood products. The company remains committed to continuing that work for the next 100 years, as well. The slogan says it all: “Your Gateway to Quality and Service.”
JOIN IN THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION BY VISITING THE GATES LUMBER WEBSITE AT GATESLUMBER.COM
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IN THE GARDEN
STORY BY ANGELINA SCHMIDT | PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAWNSTARTE R
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IN THE GARDEN
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hen you think back to childhood do you remember climbing trees, running around a playground or camping in the backyard? Many of today’s young people will grow up without such memories. Even before the COVID pandemic, Americans spent 90 percent of their time indoors. This statistic is alarming, considering our intrinsic need for exposure to natural environments. Given our limited time outdoors, the integration of natural elements into interior design is increasingly important to maintain a connection to nature. We may not be able to take a daily walk in a forest, but we can add touches of nature to transform our living spaces. July 2020 • athomemms.com | 55
IN THE GARDEN
Incorporate Natural Materials Think outside the box, inside the house. Interior design can present many opportunities to add natural materials. Consider keeping original hardwood floors for a rustic theme. Get an eco-friendly bamboo bed to add an element of Zen to the bedroom. Even simple touches go a long way, such as placing a small pile of smooth pebbles into the bathroom sink to create a spa-like feel. While the sun isn’t exactly a material, opening up shades and maximizing natural sunlight can work wonders to make you feel more connected to the outside world.
Add Plant Life Adding living plants to your home can decrease air pollutants, lower blood pressure and keep you from getting sick. When selecting indoor plants, consider the amount of sunlight, water and humidity each one needs. Start with plants that grow well in the Memphis climate. If
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you’re like most people and usually end up either over- or under-watering plants, choose low-maintenance greenery such as sedums that will survive if you happen to forget about them. You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy fresh cut flowers. Butterfly pea and daylilies grow like wildflowers in Tennessee. Grab a vase full for the dining room and living room.
Grow an Herb Garden The plant life in your home doesn’t have to be just for looks. While it might be tough to make room for large potted plants in the kitchen, herb gardens can easily fit on a countertop or windowsill. These petite gardens are easy to maintain and add a delicate touch of greenery that also serves as a source for fresh flavor in salsas, salads and pasta. Pick herbs like basil, lavender and rosemary to bring the scent of the outdoors in.
Include Subtle Touches Don’t underestimate how powerful even small nods to nature can be. Natural repeating patterns have proven pleasing effects. Adorn your entryway with stylish honeycomb wallpaper, or find curtains with a calm ocean wave pattern. Play recorded sounds found in nature to subtly connect your indoors with the outside world. Opt for a natural woodburning fireplace so you can enjoy the cozy crackling of wood. Add a small Zen fountain that provides the soothing sound of a bubbling waterfall.
Color Is Everything Color may hold the most power when it comes to transforming interior design. Take a moment to picture an environment you love and note the colors that come to mind. Is it a glacier field filled with icy blues and steel grays, or a vast desert bathed in sandy reds and dusty oranges? Paint your walls in these shades to immerse yourself in the feeling of your favorite landscape. You can also use different accent pieces throughout the year to connect yourself with the changing seasons. Cozy espresso-colored throw pillows on the couch will help welcome autumn; brightly colored flowers on the table will add life to a spring brunch. Whether you’re working with a microsized city apartment or a sprawling home in the country, taking time to incorporate outdoor elements into your home is a worthwhile way to honor our connection to nature. Both large and small design elements that remind us of natural spaces are powerful tools to increase health and happiness.
Angelina Schmidt is a writer and home designer who blends the best of the old and the new into her designs.
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IN THE KITCHEN
THIS TIME OF YEAR IT’S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING FRESH AND COOL—THIS CHILLED SOUP RECIPE IS JUST THAT! IT’S SO GOOD I’M SURE YOU’LL MAKE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. RECIPE & PHOTO JIM NORTON
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INGREDIENTS 4 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped 3 avocados, chopped ½ cup chopped red onion ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup fresh lime juice 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes Fresh basil, julienned Pine nuts 1 pint colorful cherry/grape tomatoes, cut in halves
Check out Jim Norton on social media! thenortonrecipe.com Facebook @thenortonrecipe Instagram @thejimnorton
DIRECTIONS Add the first eight ingredients to a blender. Blend on high until puréed and smooth. Pour into an airtight container. Stir in red pepper flakes. Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight. To serve, ladle the desired amount into individual bowls. Top each with a handful of halved cherry or grape tomatoes, a few pine nuts and a few pieces of julienned basil. Enjoy!
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H E A LT H Y Y O U
Memory & Brain Function STORY MICHELLE JOHNS
"Memory is the fabric of our souls.” —Daniel Amen Our memory comprises all of our being. It is our history, our connection to family and friends; it helps us navigate daily life as we remember appointments, to-do lists, grocery lists, travel to and from activities, experience daily life, and recall people and experiences. Our memory gives our life significance. From time to time, most of us have a forgetful moment. Some forgetfulness is normal—no one has perfect memory. As we age, knowing when to be concerned about forgetfulness can be difficult. Although the medical community recommends physical annual exams that assess practically every aspect of our body, our brains are not examined unless we report memory loss. At that point, we are often asked to answer a short series of questions to assess the degree of our memory loss or forgetfulness. If the survey reveals that further tests are needed, we may be given an MRI or CT scan which will reveal any structural issues, but may not reveal functional problems of the brain. SPECT, PET or QEEG exams are more useful in helping to assess brain functionality. If you recall some of the facts I shared in last month’s article, you will remember that the brain is wildly fascinating and extremely complex. Though memories seem to be stored in the brain like indexed photographs, retaining and recalling memory is far more involved than it appears. Memories are fragmented parts stored in multiple areas of the brain. In order for memory to be fully functioning and reliable, all parts of the brain must be operating at optimum capacity. The brain quad, as I like to call it, is the four main regions of the brain: the frontal, temporal, parietal 62 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • July 2020
and occipital lobes. Each region plays a significant role in daily performance, decision making and overall participation in the activity of life. As the name suggests, the frontal lobe is located in the front half of the brain. It includes the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the motor cortex and the premotor area. The PFC is the brain’s CEO; the planning, decision making, impulse control and judgement powerhouse. It is the short-term memory and working memory processing center. In short, the success of our daily interactions and functions depends on an effectively operating PFC.
The temporal lobe, located behind the eyes and underneath the temples, helps to encode memories for long-term storage. This area of the brain helps us recall names of people, places and objects. It helps with reading and making sense of language. It is also the mood-stabilizing center of the brain. The hippocampus and the amygdala are located in the temporal lobe. The hippocampus is the area where stem cells are generated to help this part of the brain function. The amygdala encodes emotional responses to experiences and helps in storing the emotions with the memory. It aids in the determination between what is helpful or harmful. The parietal lobe is the brain’s navigation system. It helps with spatial awareness, visual processing and sense of direction and is one of the first areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. The parietal lobe is involved in a person’s ability to create visual maps, solve mathematical equations and understand rotating objects (spatial awareness). The occipital lobe is located at the back of the brain. It processes visual information. Identifying shapes, colors and shades of light are a function of this part of the brain.
Additionally, the cerebellum, located behind the brainstem at the base of the brain, helps control balance, movement and coordination (timing). The cerebellum plays a significant role in our ability to process thoughts, speak and move. New research is revealing the cerebellum may also be involved in much of the same high-level thinking and executive functioning as the PFC. I am constantly affirmed in my holistic approach to life when I read of the ways research is revealing things we already instinctively know about our own bodies—everything is connected. This is evident when you consider that the cerebellum’s function has a strong connection to that of the PFC, and as I reported in my April article, even gut activity has to do with the brain. Improving blood flow and reducing toxicity are two key factors in maintaining an optimally functioning brain. Blood flow can be increased by daily exercise and diet. Toxicity can be managed by eating organic foods every day and reducing the use of chemical-filled products. Eat more whole foods and fewer processed foods. Eat more foods with healthy fats and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Basically, what is good for your heart is also good for your brain. If you have blood flow blockage in one area, you likely have it in another. Next month, I will conclude this series on the brain by taking a look at information on indicators of normal and abnormal forgetfulness, as well as more information on the brain’s ability to be restored to good health. July 2020 • athomemms.com | 63
64 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • July 2020
SOURCES
H O ME F EAT U R E Special Thanks First Fruit Collection firstfruitcollection.com Annabella Charles Photography annabellacharles.com
DESIGN Special Thanks Cindy McCord Design cindymccord.com Ross Group Creative rossgroupcreative.com
EXPERIENCE THIS Special Thanks Hernando Farmers Market cityofhernando.org/services/ farmers-market
IN THE GARDEN Special Thanks LawnStarter lawnstarter.com
IN THE KITCHEN Special Thanks Jim Norton thenortonrecipe.com
HEALTHY YOU Special Thanks Michelle Johns mjohns@transformingwellness.com
ON A GOOD NOTE Special Thanks PURE Youth pureyouth.org July 2020 • athomemms.com | 65
ON A GOOD NOTE
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ocated on three acres of land in Whitehaven is PURE (Progressing Under Restraints and Extremes) Youth Athletic Alliance. Led by founder Melvin Cole, the organization’s mission is to empower underprivileged students through a nutrition bar. Not only will PURE education and athletics, allowing have space to offer programming for them to reach their full potential, and to put them on a path to college. its full-time students and tutoring participants, the alliance hopes to host community enrichment At PURE Youth, boys thrive at seminars on subjects including athletics, academics and character health, nutrition and financial development. Cole has dedicated literacy in the facility. The Academic his life to saving young men who Center will also house a certified are growing up at-risk, as he did. USDA food program site. The goal of PURE is to break the generational poverty cycle. “Building The first graduate from PURE’s first-generation college students residential program, a firstis how we create opportunities generation college student, started for success,” Cole says. “When at Texas A&M in the spring 2020 you overcome bad situations, semester, the only student from you become stronger and more Memphis to be admitted to the dedicated to your life's purpose.” university as an early enrollee. He recently completed his first semester PURE is in the process of a campus of college with a 3.0 GPA. development project, adding an Academic Center and dormitory. The multi-use PURE Academic Center will For more information on PURE Youth Athletic Alliance or to donate, visit house state-regulated classrooms, www.pureyouth.org. meeting rooms, a fitness center and
PHOTO COURTESY OF PURE YOUTH 66 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • July 2020
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78 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • April 2020