05 Nov 2023 Celebrating ‘The Sweet Life’

Posted at 9:48 PMh in Editor's Note by

Fudge. Just the thought of the delicious candy awakens my sweet tooth, and I’m sure the “501 LIFE Pecan Caramel Apple Fudge” on the cover has awakened yours! We asked Paw Paw’s Pecans to combine our state nut (pecans) and state flower (apple blossoms) to create a one-of-a-kind fudge for the holiday season, and they did! The theme of this issue is “The Sweet Life,” and Paw Paw’s Pecans in Conway County has created a delicious confection for our readers that can be purchased across the 501 this month. Take it from a dessert aficionado – this fudge is truly sweet as pie.

November hosts two national holidays, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. At 501 LIFE Magazine, we are grateful to veterans for keeping this the land of the free and the home of the brave. If you know a senior adult veteran, be sure to share our article about Forever Young Veterans. The founder is from Morrilton (Conway County), and they take groups to battlefields and to Washington, D.C. for free.

With Thanksgiving arriving early, I’ll be planning a menu of traditional favorites and at least one new dessert. It will feature pecans, and there is no shortage of places to buy them in the 501. Check out our pecan articles and plan to visit Keo’s annual Arkansas Pecan Festival on Dec. 2. The drive to Lonoke County will be worth it. They host The Pie Ride for cyclists and the State Pecan Pie Championship.

How sweet it is to hear stories that tickle your funny bone! We found the ultimate “Why did the chicken cross the road?” story in Greenbrier (Faulkner County.) Don’t miss this short and sweet love story.

Finally, it is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Suzann DeShazo Waggoner, who helped me develop our “Artist of the Month” feature two years ago. She introduced me to painters, dancers, set builders and sculptors, and I will always be grateful to the national award-winning artist for her time.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, our valued reader! May you begin the holiday season with a hopeful heart and sweet disposition.

Stefanie Brazile
Editor