After having careers while living in Texas, Mexico and Greenville, Tony and Betty Johnson are living in Attala County doing what they said they feel inspired to do.
Those inspirations range from art and beekeeping to woodworking and home building. Base of operation for their work is from a rustic barn on the Charles Temple farmstead, the location to which they commute from their home in the Jerusalem Community. The farm house on the property is the residence of her mother Evelyn Cannata and stepfather Anthony Cannata.
A feeling of nostalgia surrounds the couple in the picturesque barn, the smokehouse and other buildings on the grounds of the former Temple farm.
The couple moved to Attala County from Greenville where they had lived for 23 years.
A section of the barn has been converted to Betty’s art studio kept warm on winter days by a potbelly stove which once warmed children in a schoolhouse in the Ethel area. It is in this setting Betty says she works when she is inspired.
“I always liked to draw as a child and wrote on everything, even the walls. Now I have plenty of time and motivation,” she said. She does portraits and still life and is also certified for forensic art. She attended Lon Moris College in Jacksonville, Texas and has had art lessons by Lois Gibson, a noted forensic artist. “Taking forensic art has helped and inspired me,” she said. Those lessons revived an interest in what she loved to do.
Tony’s workshop is located across from the art studio in another area of the barn, and it is there that he practices his craft of woodwork. An island designed for a kitchen is under construction. Templates are on display that Tony uses for making seasonal décor that adorns benches he makes. He has also constructed several Buddy Benches which he donated Lower Elementary School. Stained glass covered a counter where he wasputting the varied pieces together for a window in a home he is currently building.
Tony’s work with Laz-Boy recliners and Baldwin Piano Co. is indicative of other talents. While living in Mexico he said he was involved in constructing antique reproductions.
Another area of the barn is designated the beekeeping room. Beekeeper clothing designed to prevent getting stung when working around her three hives, hangs ready to be used when time comes to harvest honey. Betty said she plans to use the honey byproducts. The beekeeping room is equipped with all the necessary equipment for harvesting and processing the honey.
“There is never a dull moment around here,” said Tony.
“We feel that we are experiencing a double blessing in that we are doing wehat we love to do and being near my mother and stepfather,” said Betty.
