Amarillo Magazine | December 2009

special advertising section: top 20 under 40

amarillomagonline.com DECEMBER 2009

I T’ S

A

WONDERFUL

LIFE

A ranching family’s own brand of happiness

The AM Most Wanted List

cheers! Salute!

Prost! Cin Cin!

q&a with gov. mike Huckabee

We went ahead and made your holiday shopping list for you.

(You’re welcome!)

Certified Wine Educator Hobby Kuehnast shares dinner-and-drink pairings for every holiday occasion.

The former presidential candidate brings you a book of heartfelt holiday stories.

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Sunset Art Gallery of Amarillo "Friendliest Gallery in Texas"

Featured Art: Southwest Beauty First Friday Artwalk December 4, 2009 5-9 p.m.

Kent Ullberg-NA James Roybal Nelda Sheets Pat Dagnon Ginger Bowen Bonnie Williams Ramon Kelley

Sculptors L'Deane Trueblood Bev Steigerwald Painters Anita Louise West Elainne de Kooning Benjamin Kelley Lawrence Calcagno Richard Alan Nichols

Jim Gilmore Don Webster Cecy Turner Rick Howell Wes Hyde Guido Frick Bud Heiss

Fine Art and Sculptures 3701 Plains Blvd. #122 Amarillo, Texas (806)353-5700 (806) 352-2706 www.sunsetartgalleryofamarillo.com ***Voted Best Gallery in Amarillo! - Thank You Art Lovers***

contents

On the cover PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

44 It’s a Wonderful Life

A Ranching Family’s Own Brand of Happiness Daily rural life may run at a slow pace, but the physical labor required on a working ranch is anything but easy.

For the Johnsons, their reward is a sustainable livelihood and a strong family bond.

Features 26 The AM Most Wanted List

We went ahead and made your holiday shopping list for you (You’re welcome!) and didn’t leave anyone out. The AM staff went window shopping to bring you our best suggestions during this season of giving.

38 Cheers! Salute!

Prost! Cin Cin!

Certified Wine Educator Hobby Kuehnast from Market Street United shares the perfect dinner-and-drink pairings for every holiday occasion, including the best bubbly to enjoy on New Year’s Eve.

52 Q&A with Governor Mike Huckabee

The former presidential candidate took a break from politics to bring you a book of heartfelt holiday stories written to highlight the true meaning of Christmas. We talked with Governor Huckabee about A Simple Christmas and what he hopes for our country – and you – in the New Year.

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sections

Govenor Mike Huckabee

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

CLINT JOHNSON

Online Page............. 12 Out & About............. 14 The Way I See It....... 22 Get Involved............. 24 Dress Code............... 26 Color Me.................. 34 To Your Health.......... 36 Inside...................... 38 Outside.................... 42 Special Feature........ 52

Inspire..................... 56 Book Nook............... 60 What’s Cooking?....... 62 Events..................... 69 Let’s Eat!................. 73 History 101........... 103 Retro Rewind......... 104 Local Exposure....... 106 Spotlight................ 108

Publisher

Editor

Features Writer

Creative Services Manager

Les Simpson Michele McAffrey 806.345.3256 michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com Jennie Treadway-Miller 806.345.3223 jennie.miller@amarillo.com Steven Adams

Designers

Jeremy Say Livia Woodburn

Staff Photographer

Kevin Briles

Intern

Advertising Director

Nancy Garcia

Mike Distelhorst

Online Sales Director

Cindy Brown

Advertising Sales Manager

Jaime Pipkin

Major/National Accounts Manager

Dewey Shanks

Account Representatives

Kimberly Barclay Laura Collins Sharon Denny Trish Faris Cory Griggs Rick Miller Hailey Morrison Michelle Parsons Marcy Weldon Cindy Ledesma

Ad Services Manager

Jennifer Thomas 806.345.3226 jennifer.thomas@amarillo.com

Sales Assistants

Natasha Reavis Charla Moore Sarena Poor Cassie Mendoza

Patrick Ayala

Online Production Manager Programmer

editor’s letter

Tosh Lyons

To advertise in Amarillo Magazine, please contact Jaime Pipkin at 806.345.3432 or jaime.pipkin@amarillo.com To advertise on amarillomagonline.com, please contact Cindy Brown at 806.345.3373 or cindy.brown@amarillo.com

A

s is often the case, our cover story this month got me thinking. When we met the Johnson family on their ranch in mid-October, the word that first came to mind was peace. I don’t know about you but I find myself lacking in that virtue lately, especially during the busy holiday season.

Putting together a magazine is deadline driven work. Since we work about six weeks ahead on every issue of Amarillo Magazine, I have to stop and remind myself to enjoy the here and now. The Johnsons do just that. They enjoy their livelihood and it’s clear that they enjoy each other, which is so important in today’s harried world. The time I spent with them was a good reminder to step back and remember what’s important and that it’s okay to do things simply because they make me happy.

Whenever we get together with family and friends, it seems to always revolve around food. I enjoy making the dishes that my mother used to make. It’s a way to remember good times we had together and I feel like I am building memories with my family as well. We asked readers to share their best family recipes with us, and now we’re passing them to you in our “What’s Cooking?” section.

For me, there’s nothing more important than the family and friends that I cherish, and I intend to enjoy them on purpose this holiday season. I hope the same for you.

Happy Holidays,

Production Director Mike O’Connor Circulation Director David Brown Division Controller Mike Clayton 900 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of Amarillo Globe-News Custom Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

amarillo voices ROTARY NEWSL TISING SECTION: SPECIA L ADVER

ETTER 2009

I would like to add to the positive ❰ we ask, you answer ❱ feedback for your new Amarillo Magazine. It is a bright star! I started out reading the August olve The Result of Res cover article “Visionaries: Building Amarillo,” and after finishing the story on Bar-B-Q In November, we asked, “What grilling, Rx 411, catching up on is your tried-and-true favorite Kids Inc. and the farmers market, and holiday recipe?” We received many tasty recipes, reading your editor’s letter I decided to so that it was hard to choose. look at all the colorful pictures and ads. Nancy Thompson’s entry, “Grandmother Lamb’s Jam I actually went cover to cover and read the entire Cake,” was a delightful surprise. This vintage recipe magazine. I did finally read the story about my was delicious, especially three visionary friends. What a treat! It is fresh, warm. Go to page 64 for the interesting and very well put together. I still have complete recipe. business interests in Amarillo so I am always Grandmother Lamb’s Jam Cake This cake was one of my Dad’s favorites, interested in seeing and knowing what is new in especially at Christmas. When I would my birthplace and former hometown. make it for him, he would always smile

• amarillo magonli NOVEMB ER 2009

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AUGUST 20

Dean Campbell Wimberley, Texas

We just moved from North Dakota and are very excited to be here. Amarillo Magazine provides great information. You are doing an awesome job!

Sonja Vandiver Good magazine! Keep up the good work.

Wendy Marsh I really enjoy Amarillo Magazine. It has lots of useful information.

Karen Walker I have taken the time to go to the website and have a look around. I have to say that by far this is one of the best Amarillo websites that I have ever seen. I believe that it’s one of the most user-friendly.

Felicia Ann Turner

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I love Amarillo Magazine. I’m new to Amarillo and love it. I’ll continue to support your publication.

Jeri Jenkins

I live in Hereford so my daughter saves me the magazine each month and brings it home for me to read and pass around at work. I love all the creativity that is put into Amarillo Magazine....great job!

Nancy Friemel

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

and say it reminded him of when he was a little boy. My grandmother used to make it for her family as far back as the 1930’s.

Nancy Thompson

Nancy won a $100 gift certificate to Dillard’s.

We want to hear from you! Your feedback helps us know what you want to read. Do you have a favorite section in the magazine? Let us know at amarillomagonline.com.

go online

amarillomagonline.com “What was your favorite thing ertificate about 2009?” a $100 gift c rtiser in to any adve We want to see your photos! This month, we want to know:

win

azine.

Amarillo Mag

Go to online.com m amarillo ag to enter

Did you have your first child? Did your first born get married? Did you capture Amarillo in a new light? You must include a photo with your answer. Simply upload your photo to our group after answering the question on the AM website. The winning answer will receive a $100 gift card to any AM advertiser, and you may find your photos sprinkled throughout 2010 in”Local Exposure.” www.flickr.com/groups/amarillomagazine ®

Our New Digs!

Huckabee Read the full interview with Gov. Mike Huckabee as he talks about his newest book, A Simple Christmas.

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The AM office had a facelift and we didn’t even break the bank to do it. We went old school by repurposing vintage newsroom furniture from the Globe-News basement and pairing our finds with inexpensive accents from area stores. We documented the four-month process and it’s now online for you to see.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Holiday Recipe Overflow Space may be limited in print, but that isn’t the case online. If you don’t find a recipe you’d like to try in this month’s “What’s Cooking?,” log on and flip through a gallery of additional recipes we just had to share.

out & about

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Mad Scientist Ball

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On October 17th, the Don Harrington Discovery Center offered an evening of mayhem and fun for adults, along with live music by The Space Rockers. The event included a variety of interactive science experiments and an upscale epicurean dinner complete with spooky cocktails that billowed smoke.

The attire for the evening was “Science Geek Chick.” White lab coats were provided for each guest so they’d blend in with the Discovery Center’s own mad scientists. The inaugural ball raised funds to help support the DHDC’s unique educational programs. Without a doubt, this was an unforgettable evening of monstrous fun.

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1. The Space Rockers, 2. Jessica Janner and Jake Smith, 3. Ves Barnes, 4. Lauren Navarez, 5. Darlene and Jack Knight, 6. Roy Urrutia and Mike Culp, 7. Cindy Barnes, 8. Ashley and Larry Roberson, 9. Cale Bessen

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

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9 PHOTos BY JEff Harbin, life of riley photography

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out & about

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Signature Chefs The 8th Annual Amarillo Signature Chefs Auction benefiting The March of Dimes was held on Saturday October 17th at the Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room.

This unique fundraising event displays the culinary excellence of local chefs and caterers who present their signature dishes in a tasting format. One in seven infants born in Texas is premature. The funds raised by the event benefit the work of The March of Dimes as they promote healthy babies and fight premature births.

1. Amanda Goodman, Walt Howard and Vicki Brooks, 2. Morgan Moss and Ann Curl, 3. Chef Rick Madrigal, 4. Chef Joni Prater and Patti Hoag, 5. Chef Brian Mason and Chef Pat Webb, 6. Chef Paula McCabe

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

PHOTos BY Twyla Brassfield, T Photography

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out & about

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Amarillo Start! Heart Walk

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The American Heart Association sponsored the Amarillo Start! Heart Walk on Saturday October 17th to build awareness about achieving heart health through physical activity and a healthier lifestyle. The participants gathered at MediPark for the one and three mile non-competitive walks. This year also included a 5K competitive race. The money raised from the walk is used in the fight against both the leading and number three causes of death in American adults: heart attack and stroke.

1. William Bobst, 2. Katy Miller and Yvonne Perry, 3. Allan Dixon, Patrick Gibson, Marie Oliver and Justin Wright, 4. Mia Whitney, 5. Valerie and Michael Narvaez, 6.Tricia Davis, 7. Kimberly Boit, 8. Castor Snyder

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

8 PHOTos BY Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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out & about

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Peppermints & Pearls Christmas Roundup 2009 The 29th annual Christmas Roundup was held November 6-8th at the Amarillo Civic Center. Sponsored by the Art Museum Alliance and the Symphony Guild, shoppers enjoyed three days of strolling up and down the decorated market aisles to see what vendors had on display. Buyers left with bags of holiday décor, clothing, jewelry, and art pieces, as well as food and gift items.

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1.Sean Pryer, Crystal Bundy and Bianca Miller, 2. Av Bjork and Barbara Arwine, 3. Sherri Gilbert and Katherine Stribling, 4. Beverly Plank, Ilene Balliett, Arlene Pool and Debbie Reilly, 5. Celia Meadors, 6. Marcy Rossiter, 7. Jamie Haynes

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

PHOTos BY Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

Give Comfort

Plush Robes, Dreamy Pajamas, and Cozy Slippers 2614 Wolflin Village 356-7500

Holiday Hours Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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the way i see it

Jon Mark Beilue

Winter is Wonderful - For Three Weeks I

’m not sure why I don’t like winter. It could come from being a kid at a high school football playoff game. My fingers were so stiff I couldn’t button my pants in the restroom and so I had to eventually work up the courage to ask my dad to do it in the stands.

Or it could be getting a pullover sweater as a teen that had two deer on the front that almost looked like they were mating. Get a few laughs from wearing that and anyone will long for the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

Or it could be that I just don’t like being cold. And I don’t like ice on roads. And I don’t like bone-chilling winds and darkness at 6 p.m. And I don’t like scraping windshields. And I don’t like shoveling snow off the sidewalk leading to the porch. And I don’t like high heating bills. And I don’t like my lungs searing from the cold when running.

Well, you get my snowdrift.

But winter is upon us. Oh, it’s not officially winter until December 21st, but the calendar doesn’t fool anybody. And it’s supposed to be worse this year because El Nino is back in town and he’s in a foul mood.

I actually like the seasons and the change. Same weather all the time would be boring, but if we’re really going to condense one of those seasons, it’s winter. I like my snow and cold from right now until December 26th.

Christmas cold is fine and proper.

There are no songs about chestnuts cooling in the well house. I’ll gladly walk in a winter wonderland around the holidays and feel the crunch of snow under my feet, see my breath, smell the fireplace smoke from neighboring chimneys.

In fact, let’s have a nice big snow a few days before Christmas — and then hang out in Hawaiian shirts in lawn chairs and watch that snow melt under glorious sunshine on December 26th. By New Year’s Day, it’s time for 70-degree weather and on into spring.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Right. The thing is, December is just the tip of the winter iceberg, figuratively and literally.

January, February and even March are much worse and there are no holidays to buffer the dreary mood. Anyone remember last March 27th, just five days before April?

Let me refresh your thawed-out memory: seven inches of snow in Amarillo, 10 inches in Dalhart, 10-feet drifts, 25 mph northerly winds and travelers stranded in churches. That old saying about the only thing between Amarillo and Canada is a barbed wire fence and it’s down half the time was never so true.

Mark Twain said that everybody talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. The man had a point. If I could have done anything about it, it would have happened long ago.

So, I’ve tried to adopt a better attitude and failed. I’ve tried mental imaging of the quiet of snow and crisp cold on the cheeks, but my toes get numb. I’ve tried to think of snow as white rain, as much needed moisture, but would rather have an inch of rain in 45-degree temperatures.

I’ve focused on variety, and the wonder of the different seasons, but three weeks of variety is plenty. There’s that inner child thing, of snowball fights and building snowmen, but then remember I didn’t much care for that as a kid either. What am I missing?

Brad Newman works about six feet from me, and the Globe-News features writer is the only person I know whose favorite, that’s right, favorite, season is winter.

“I like the cold weather and you bundle up and keep your toes warm, building a fire in the fireplace,” he said. “The best thing about winter is candy corn. That’s the only time you can really eat it. And egg nog. Christmas. All of that.

“I’ll concede there’s some difficulty, but what about summer when your car overheats or you’re about to die from exhaustion because it’s so hot outside?”

No help. Somehow that still seems preferable to wearing a sweater with two deer mating on the front. am

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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get involved

Another Chance House Sandy Fenburg

What is the mission of Another Chance House?

To provide a path of self-sufficiency to homeless men.

Tell us about a treasured moment from working with your organization.

Treasured moments happen every day. The ability to improve the quality of life for these men is my treasure. I stay in touch with men that have reunited with their families. They call from upstate New York to California and it is like visiting with old friends. Bradley, a veteran, came to us through Texas Mental Health. At that time, he was not receiving any benefits through the VA. By working hand in hand with the VA, he now receives the benefits he needs, has graduated our VA program, is now living in transitional housing, and probation is releasing him early. Without Another Chance House, he would be living on the streets or in prison.

What motivated you to get involved with your organization?

I was volunteering at the Tyler Street Resource Center. It was there that I started working with homeless men, helping them obtain day labor and with various problems. They were always so appreciative and grateful. I was then asked by a board member of Another Chance to assist in the office to help them organize things. I don’t have any one reason that I started, and anyone that knows me cannot believe the line of work I am involved in. I started changing Another Chance House from a woman’s point of view, not a man’s.

What life lesson have you learned?

Tough love works. Sometime it takes horns not halos.

What is your favorite thing about your organization?

The residents and the people who care enough to help. Every day, I am fortunate enough to see men who have taken the worst cards life can deal make the daily decision to pull themselves up with their own initiative. And every day, I am fortunate enough to see those who are blessed give of themselves and their blessings to those who don’t have as much.

What are a few compelling statistics related to your organization?

For the past three years, Another Chance House has assisted more than 70 percent of its residents off the streets and into permanent housing.

When compared to national statistics, this is amazing. We are reuniting these men with their families as they become productive members of society no longer supported by the system.

In what specific areas does your organization most need the help of volunteers?

Providing a meal is always nice. We are a working home and the men are usually gone during the day. Funding is our greatest need. We also need food and supplies. We would appreciate more involvement from churches and sunday schools. am

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

dress code

B editor’s pick

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“I love how delicate this is, as well as the retro styling.

It’s a unique gift for a lady who’s hard to buy for.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

editor’s pick

The AM

“It’s short enough to wear with a casual outfit but luxurious enough to wear on an evening out. There’s nothing like the feel of cashmere.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

Most Wanted List

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If you’re making out your holiday shopping list and have a case of writer’s block, put your pencil down and take heart: The AM staff has done the work for you. We’ve gathered an array of underthe-tree possibilities ranging from the most luxurious cashmere wrap for your sweetie to a simple SIGG stocking stuffer for your kid. Big and small, naughty or nice, you are sure to find a little jewel on these pages for your Someone Special.

“I love anything sparkly and shiny!”

- Cindy Brown, online sales director

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“It’s just the cutest thing ever.

That’s it. That’s all.”

- Hailey Morrison, account representative

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

“These shoes coordinate well with my Black Falcon attire. I’m a proud mama of my Bushland sports teams.”

- Jennifer Thomas, ad services manager

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“I love all of Katy’s designs. They are simple yet chic. This silk chord necklace comes in many colors and can be looped around to double as a fun bracelet .”

- Livia Woodburn, graphic designer

“I saw a bracelet similar to this one on a lady in the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe and fell in love with it. When I saw this one, that did it! It’s on the top of my Christmas wish list.”

- Trish Farris, account representative

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“North Face has the best outerwear hands-down, and this fuzzy pink jacket takes the cake. I love how soft it is, and while I may not wear it on the ski slopes, I’d wear out its worth in one winter.”

- Jennie Treadway-Miller, features writer

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All She Wants for Christmas

Listen up, gentlemen. Our ladies’ gift guide won’t leave you searching the shelves on Christmas Eve.

“You can layer this necklace with others that you have and then change out the pendants. You can create so many different looks and it’s still affordable. There are unlimited combinations.”

- Jaime Pipkin, advertising sales manager

(A) Cashmere Cape trimmed with Indigo Fox $995, Marcella’s Furs & Leather

(G) Build your own necklace from $10 to $200, Judy’s Card Cottage

(B) Bougainvillea coin purse $30, Kem’s Bed & Bath

(H) Gianni Bini flat boots $79.99, Dillard’s

(C) David Yurman Bracelet starting at $350, Duncan & Boyd (D) Liz Soto Black and Cream Satchel $125, Riley Blue (E) Gold cuff bracelet $14, The Wild Iris

(I) Vintage Navajo Turquoise Pettipoint Cuff Bracelet $285, Amarillo’s Route 66 Store (J) Katy Grey Designs 36” red silk cord necklace with 14kt gold plated chain $114, Janey’s (K) The North Face jacket $99, Hill’s Sport Shop

(F) Nike Shox $110, Foot Locker december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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“For the outdoorsman, a new, well-fitting functional pack is always a good gift.”

- Jennie Treadway-Miller, features writer

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“I like this particular GPS because it comes pre-loaded with all the available courses in North America so you can just turn it on and use it. Plus it automatically knows what course and hole you are on…..all this with no annual fee.”

- Cory Griggs, account representative

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editor’s pick

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“I love it because it’s young and sexy, but any age man can wear it.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

editor’s pick

“Many would say that D-Day has been done to death. This book is well researched and written by soldiers. If anyone is interested in World War II or history in general, it’s a good holiday buy.”

- Jon Mark Beilue, columnist

“If you live with the King of the Grill like I do, then these grilling tools will help him take his craft to the next level.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

Boys and their Toys

Give the men in your life what they really want for Christmas (whether they know it or not).

“It’ll keep me warm while I’m taking my wintertime rides.”

- Rick Miller, account representative

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(A) Harley-Davidson leather jacket $475 Tripp’s Harley Davidson (B) Givenchy Play eau de toilette $71, Dillard’s (C) Golf Buddy Tour GPS - $429, Golf Etcetera (D) High Sierra Ridgeline outdoor pack $49.99, Gander Mountain

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

(E) Skagen titanium watch $130, Dillard’s (F) Ion profile pro usb turntable $99.99, Bed Bath & Beyond (G) D-Day: The Battle for Normandy” by Anthony Beevor $32.95, Hastings (H) Bobby Flay sauce pot $24.99 and grilling tool kit $79.99, Kohl’s

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D “I could listen to Michael Buble’s voice all day, everyday, and his latest album doesn’t disappoint.

His rendition of ‘Crazy Love’ has become my favorite.”

- Jennie Treadway-Miller, features writer

“It’s just so soft and warm.

Honestly, I haven’t had a new robe since my daughter was born and she’s 14 years old.”

- Laura Collins, account representative

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editor’s pick “This has been a favorite of mine for years and I think every woman deserves the luxury of using it.

It’s because the scent stays with you all day and doesn’t ruin your clothing.

It’s beautiful.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

Come, All Ye Tired and Worn

When all the work of the holiday is done, give the gift of relaxation to Santa’s Little Helpers.

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(A) Origins Ginger Body Scrub $31, Dillard’s (B) DERMAdoctor KP duty moisturizing therapy for skin $36, Ulta

editor’s pick “It’s like having your own spa at home. This salt scrub gives your skin the brightest glow and the organic, light fragrance is very refreshing.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

(F) Lollia Relax foaming bath $37.50, Kem’s Bed & Bath (G) J. R. Watkins natural beeswax lip balm $2.99, Ulta

(C) Sonoma eucalyptus eye mask $18.50, Kem’s Bed & Bath (D) Minky dots bath robe $115, Hills Hallmark E) “Crazy Love” by Michael Buble $13.99, Hastings

(H) The Art of Shaving sandalwood shaving cream $22; after-shave balm $38; pre-shave oil $22, Raffkind’s (I) Donna Karan Cashmere Mist anti-perspirant/ deodorant $18, Dillard’s

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“If you have little ones, then it’s worth the investment to buy things that are virtually indestructible. These water bottles serve the purpose and make for sweet stocking stuffers.”

- Jennie Treadway-Miller, features writer

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If your kids made the Nice List

Spark their imagination with gifts that don’t break the bank.

(A) playmobil animal nursery set $39.99, Toys R Us

(H) Catan board game $29.99, Toys R Us

(B) Smartwool baby booties $17.95, Hill’s Sport Shop

(I) Leap Frog Tag reading system $29.99, Toys R Us

(C) Thymes Sweetleaf baby wash, lotion and hand cleanser $17.75/ea., Kem’s Bed & Bath

(J) Eye Clops infrared night vision stealth binoculars $59.99, Toys R Us

(D) Crayola magic light brush $19.99, Toys R Us (E) SIGG water bottle $17.99, Target (F) OPI Russian Navy matte nail polish $8.50, Ulta (G) Feather headband $14.50, Icing

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(K) Samsonite Drive Collection Spinner $359.99, Kohl’s (L) Doug & Melissa “Abby & Emma” magnetic wooden dress-up dolls $19.99, Toys R Us (M) Cobra two-way radios $34.99, Toys R Us

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

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editor’s pick “For teenage girls, feathers are a hot accessory for hair, and they’ll love the matte look of OPI’s latest line of polish.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

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“If you have a high school senior leaving the nest for college, then a collection of luggage is a useful gift. I especially like the practicality of the Samsonite Drive line. The four wheels, instead of two, make the bags easier to manage.”

- Jennie Treadway-Miller, features writer

editor’s pick “These dress-up dolls offer the same versatility of a paper doll but without the waste. Little hands can’t rip them since they’re so sturdy.”

- Michele McAffrey, editor

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“I have been working so hard on our Amarillo Globe-News 100th Year History book I think it’s the “Must Have” gift to give this year. It’s a beautiful coffee table book about Amarillo’s history through the eyes of the newspaper.”

- Michael Schumacher, photo editor

G

“Unless you experienced Emmet Otter at Christmastime, your childhood wasn’t complete.”

- Kevin Briles, staff photographer “I thought this lamp was just fabulous. That hand-painted shade caught my eye.”

- Sharon Denny, account representative

“Musically, it’s an amazing album. I can’t stop listening to it.”

- Jeremy Say, graphic designer

H D

C

I

“I’m a big fan of hand-made pottery. The folks at Blue Sage Gallery deliver with their creative and original pieces made from local materials.”

- Mike Distelhorst, advertising director

B “I think this captures the atmosphere and history of the area.

I wouldn’t buy a cow hide pillow in New Jersey.”

- Steven Adams, creative services manager

J

“I am a huge fan of the ‘Wizard of Oz.’ My home office is painted “yellow brick road” and is filled with ‘Wizard of Oz’ memorabilia. I have it all.

I even have light switch covers and fan pulls.”

- Michelle Parsons, account representative

Comfort and Joy

For home décor, movie nights and good reads, here are some hints for gifts that please.

A

(A) Keurig Personal Brewer $89.99, Bed, Bath & Beyond

(F) Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas DVD $11.98, Hastings

(B) Cowhide and leather pillow $39.95, Chuck’s Rustic Furniture

(G) “No Line on the Horizon” by U2 $11.99, Hastings

(C) Lola wooden box $170.95, The Zebra’s Tail inside The Mustard Seed (D) Guild Master Distressed Wood Floor Lamp with Hand Painted Shade $493, Little Brown House (E) Amarillo Globe-News Through Our Eyes book $39.95

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(H) Monthly magnetic calendar $40, Nest (I) Vessel $115, Blue Sage Gallery (J) 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors’ Edition of “Wizard of Oz” $19.99, Hastings

We’re everywhere!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and at the AM blog.

Start at

amarillomagonline.com See behind-the-scenes photos, read web exclusives and get the scoop about upcoming issues.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

33

color me . . .

metallic

W

hether from the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree or the shine from your best silver serving platters, the holidays do seem to sparkle. And the best way to bring little nuggets of brilliance into your home is through a variety of metallic colors.

They are the universal shades of the season, whatever your occasion or celebration, and bring instant glitter to a room. (A little sparkle around your wrist doesn’t hurt either.)

Juliska bowl and platter set $78, Little Brown House Big Buddha bag $84, Tobacco Leaf Boutique

Cuff bracelets $6/each, Charlotte Russe

jonathan wachtel cufflinks $135, Raffkind’s

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Raz ornaments (copper) $9; (harlequin) $9; (silver) $13, Peppermint Garden

Barrettes $3.50, The Children’s Place

Platter $29.95, Accents Home Décor & Gifts

Brighton trinket box $44 and clock $42, The Secret Place

PHOTos BY donna alexander

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

35

to your health

Managing Holiday Step-Stress Ron L. Deal

I

f you think life is hectic during the holidays, try coordinating schedules, dinner plans, and Christmas gifts with the parents of three households—most of whom don’t care for each other very much. Stepfamily life can make everything more complicated. There are more people in the mix who influence each other’s plans and don’t share the same priorities. It can feel like trying to hit a moving target.

The holidays are supposed to be a time to slow down from the everyday hustle and bustle of life, spend some extra time with your children and extended family, enjoy some well-planned meals, do a little shopping, and see the latest Christmas movie. But for the average household, the holidays are an endless list of to-do’s: parties, travel to see extended family, decorating and putting up lights, attending school programs, and making purchases we can’t afford and won’t pay for until we get our tax refund next April. In addition, these normal stressors are even more challenging given the complexity of stepfamilies.

That’s why managing holiday step-stress begins with proactive planning.

Plan, plan, plan. Be proactive in discussing

upcoming holiday events.

A lot of stress results when families fail to plan and then play catch-up with all that needs to be done. Get an early start anticipating and coordinating your schedule with other households and family members. Set a spending budget and stick to it.

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

MaintainAsimple rituals of connection throughout the hectic schedule can make us forget the simple things. The holidays. small, simple behaviors that families repeat on a regular, even daily basis communicate love and keep us connected even when life’s typical schedule is disrupted. Hugs before leaving for school, a special note in a lunch box, and Friday night pizza and a family video are rituals that should be maintained if at all possible.

Be flexible and make sacrifices. You cannot make everyone happy all the time. Accepting this truth immediately takes away the pressure to give everyone what they want. Being flexible means modifying an old tradition to bring an “outsider” (i.e., stepfamily member) in and being willing, for example, to open presents a day before or after Christmas in order to ease between-home transitions for children.

364. It’s easy to get so caught up in the uniqueness of the Parent holidays that we obsess in making them “perfect.” Don’t forget that what really matters most to children is what happens the other 364 days a year.

Give Permission. Give kids your permission to enjoy the other household and all their family members while away from you during the holidays. When a mother says, “I’m thrilled that you will be spending time with your dad and stepmom over Christmas. Have lots of fun!” you are releasing them from guilt and worry over how you will fare during their departure.

Be aware of loyalty and loss. Realize that no matter how long it’s been since a divorce or marriage, children struggle with feelings of loss.

Being with mom means not being with dad. Being with dad means cutting short time with a favorite aunt on mom’s side of the family.

Or if a parent is deceased, family traditions don’t feel the same without that person’s presence. Be sensitive to children’s losses and realize that mixed reactions are common. For example, children may show excitement and sadness within just a short period of time. Don’t punish them for sadness. Listen, hug, and provide a little extra TLC to help them through.

Honor traditions.

Maintaining old traditions can be more difficult given the shifting presence of family members. Keep the ones you can and look for ways to establish new traditions if new family members are present.

Do what you canWork andonaccept what you your co-parental cannot change. relationship throughout the year so as to improve your chances of respectful negotiation during the holidays. But realize that ultimately you cannot control the other household and you may have to grin and bear it. When stuck in awkward or tough situations, appeal to difficult family members with, “For your son’s sake, let’s try to put our differences aside and resolve this matter.” Hopefully this will be motivation enough. In the end, do what you can, accept what you cannot change, and go on.

Live and learn. One stepfather found himself disappointed year after year because

his stepson had to be rushed off to his father’s house in the middle of Christmas day. He was never able to fully enjoy the day with his wife and stepson because everyone was watching the clock. Eventually, he and his wife proposed a change to her ex. As it turned out, her ex-husband was also discouraged each Christmas and was open to changing the visitation agreement. They settled on an alternating arrangement that gave each home an undisturbed Christmas holiday while the other home had an undisturbed Thanksgiving holiday. The loss of togetherness experienced during a given holiday was moderated by the joy they received during the other. am Originally published in HomeLife magazine. Used with permission.

N O M A T T E R W H E R E Y O U G O, T H E M E M O R I E S W I L L A L W A Y S TA K E Y O U B A C K .

Ron L. Deal

Ron is Founder and President of Successful Stepfamilies, author of The Smart Stepfamily, The Smart Stepfamily DVD, The Smart Stepmom (with Laura Petherbridge), and The Remarriage Checkup (with David H. Olson). Find hundreds of free articles and videos for your family at www.SuccessfulStepfamilies.com.

MON-FRI: 9:30-5:30 SAT: 10:00-5:00

3690 S. SONCY

|

467-9800

(BE T WE E N 3 4T H & 4 5 T H)

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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inside outside

Cheers! Salute!

Prost! Cin Cin!

by Jennie Treadway-Miller

T

here are a hundred ways to say it, but the gist is – Bottoms up! We’re celebrating the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, and to make sure we do it right, we solicited the advice of someone who knows wine. Hobby Kuehnast is a Certified Wine Educator who got his feet wet in the restaurant business and then spent 16 years in wine wholesale. He was hired by Market Street United in 1999 prior to its opening in 2000 and has been their wine specialist since. As a member of the International Society of Wine Educators, Hobby holds the highest certification available (CWE) and enjoys teaching others about his passion.

Perfect Pairings The game-like quality of turkey matches well with red wines, like a Beaujolais or Petite Sirah. If red isn’t your thing, try a fruity Zinfandel or an oaky Chardonnay. For ham dinners, go bold with a Chianti red or lighter with a Pinot Noir. If you prefer a white wine, serve a Pinot Grigio or Riesling.

Hobby s holiday recommendations

38

For a turkey dinner, try:

If ham is on the menu, try:

Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2007 Monterey County, $15.49 Concannon Petite Sirah 2006, $7.99 (particularly for a smoked turkey) Marietta Old Vine Red Lot 50, $12.99 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay 2006, $14.99 Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut, $9.99

Charles Smith KungFu Riesling 2008, $11.49 Gloria Ferrer Brut, $18.49 Covey Run Riesling 2007, $9.49

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Yes, the Glass Matters Lest you think one glass fits all, you are mistaken. The shape of the bowl, the thickness of the glass and the shape of the rim are entirely intentional, as they all contribute to the direction of the flow of wine into the sensory parts of your mouth. Hobby recommends Riedel glassware because it offers a variety of sizes for reds and whites, or whatever your drink of choice.

Hobby s Tips • When matching food with wine, always think about the texture of the food and the texture of the wine. Light foods need light wine while heavier foods (smoked, spiced, and sauced) need fuller-bodied wines.

• Allow five servings of wine per 750 ml bottle.

• Don’t over-chill any whites served with food, as it numbs the flavors. (Optimal serving temperature is 45-55 degrees.)

If the wine is stored in the refrigerator, bring it out 30 minutes before serving.

A light red wine, like a Pinot Noir, is better served in a round glass with a wider bowl and opening, which allows air into the glass and helps to release the aroma of the wine.

Light, fine white wines, like a Pinot Gris or Riesling, are better enjoyed from a narrow bowl and opening, as the slim shape helps keep the wine chilled.

When the opening is smaller, the sweet scents are protected from too much exposure to the air.

For the broader red, like a Merlot, choose a glass with a slightly narrower opening to help direct the wine towards the back of the mouth.

A narrow flute is the best choice for champagnes and other sparkling wines because the height of the glass keeps the bubbly from going flat.

• Always try it. If you try it and don’t like it, at least you learned something.

For Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays, the stronger whites, choose a glass with a slender, yet wider, bowl with a narrow opening.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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inside outside

Handle e r a C h t wi

1

Jody Macinnis

2

I

f you find yourself with an abundance of china stacked and stashed in more than one place, it is time to get organized. Whether you inherited your great grandmothers’ Spode or found the perfect set at a yard sale, with the proper care and storage, you will be able to enjoy it for years to come. am

3

4

After Before • This hutch is full of too many different items to adequately remember what’s been stored in it.

• Start by pulling all your china into one place so you can take inventory of what you have.

• Sort into three piles; keep, throw away and give away. If you do not love it, use it, or need it, pass it on to someone who will. If a piece of china is broken or chipped and is unsafe to use, it is best to throw it away.

• It is natural to stack pieces high on top of one another. Unfortunately, the weight will cause china to crack and break over time.

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China Care Take time to properly care for your china so it will last for generations to come.

Find a safe place to store china. This could be a hutch, cupboard, sidebar or even a hall closet. Avoid extremes of hot and cold which cause cracking.

Line your sink with a soft dish towel before washing dishes to prevent chips and scratches. Wash china by hand in warm (not hot) soapy water immediately after each use to avoid staining from remnants of food. Don’t use harsh scrubs that can scratch the surface. Dry thoroughly by hand to avoid spots from air drying before storing it.

Don’t put hot food on a cold plate.

PHOTos BY donna alexander

1

Make a wise investment by purchasing containers designed to store china.

There are different styles to choose from, but all have the same design and intention.

2

Each container is shaped to fit around each piece of china. They zip closed, keeping dishes protected from accumulating dust and include pieces of foam to layer between each plate and bowl to prevent cracking and breaking.

Once you have stored your dishes properly, label each container so you will know what is inside. You can use address labels or write with a permanent marker right on the container.

3

EXPRESSION AND STYLE

WITH NO

COMPROMISE.

Keep a list of how many plates, bowls, mugs, etc. that you own. Place each list in its respective container so you’ll know at a glance what you have.

4

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.

Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh

Jody Macinnis

Jody has been happily married for 15 years and has two children. She has lived in Amarillo almost five years. As a professional organizer, Jody enjoys helping people to create a peaceful, orderly and welcoming home.

Bring plates to room temperature before storing them.

If your china has fine, spidery surface cracks, repair them by placing the cracked pieces in a pan of warm milk for half an hour. The cracks should disappear if they are not too deep.

Even if it’s not in your budget to buy the zip containers, using something as simple as a sheet of paper towels in between each piece of china will temporarily help with cracking and breaking.

hillssport.com

Write down the pieces you lack so you can buy them as your budget allows. When it is time to entertain, you will have all the china you need.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

41

inside outside

Weather the Winter Keep your outside pet cozy, warm and dry Laveta Bryan, DVM

T

he first cold snaps of winter let us know it’s time to take inventory of our winter prep. Panhandle folks have learned to be four season folks. We know you can have a blizzard in May and a 90 degree day in January, but we still need to take the steps to ensure that our pets can “weather” the Panhandle microclimates as well.

Of course cold is our primary concern with a combination of wet and cold being even more critical. The primary challenge for an outdoor pet is to have a structure or a place in the yard where they are protected from rain and of course our gentle Panhandle breezes. The pet abode needs to be well insulated with just enough room where they can curl up to maintain body heat. If the structure is too large, you may need to add extra padding so your fuzzy companion can wallow out a bed. Wheat straw makes nice insulation. You will need to periodically check any bedding you use. If it gets wet, it will not be as warm for your pet and it can grow mold. Be sure the opening of the structure is positioned to avoid wind and rain blowing into it. Having a dog house on the inside corner of a patio is ideal.

Remember, a pet always needs access to fresh water. In the winter, this means constant vigilance against freezing. Check their water supply at least twice daily to ensure that it is available. Keeping bowls close to the wall can help. You can also use a heater to warm the water and avoid freezing. If your pet is trained to use them, there are also devices that attach to your outside faucet that your pet “bumps” to get water at anytime. They are somewhat reminiscent of water bottles that hamsters use.

A properly placed doggie door can solve all these challenges.

These doors can lead into the house itself or to a garage or storage building. Bedding and water can then be left in these areas. If it is a non-heated building, your pet will still need a spot where he can curl up in some bedding.

Inventory your yard as well. You should make sure that there are no hazards for your pet to get into. Pay particular attention to your fence and gates. Recall those gentle Panhandle breezes - they can wreak havoc with your security. The worst time for your pet to escape is during one of our infamous white outs. Winter motto: repair, replace, strengthen!

Most importantly, take time to inventory your pet. Not all of our little ones can weather our winters. If your dog is very small, very young or old, or suffering from an illness, inside is the best place for them. Dogs with sparse coats or those who are extremely thin can’t keep their body temperature up for long periods of time. Arthritic dogs suffer more in the cold and it is more painful for them to curl up. Physically or mentally challenged dogs need supervision and the security of a home. Keep your dog in the best physical condition possible. Add sweaters if needed.

My poodle has her own personal ensemble, and my golden loves to curl up on the snow drifts for a nap. Know your dog.

One final tip: Thump your car hood before you turn the key. Cats love to crawl up in engines on cold days for warmth. Cats + engines are not a good equation. am

Laveta Bryan, DVM

Dr. Bryan lives in the wilds of a Panhandle canyon where she has many adventures with an assortment of critters, great and small. She has been a practicing veterinarian in the Amarillo area for way too long to support these adventures.

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a wonderful life

by Jennie Treadway-Miller PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

I T’ S

A

WONDERFUL

LIFE

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A ranching family’s own brand of happiness

A

ccording to the Farmers Almanac, it’s going to be a cold, wet winter. For most of us, that means pulling out the cold-weather parka, winterizing the car and maybe a day or two out of school. It means getting to work a little later than usual because of the roads and bringing leftover soup for lunch.

For farmers and ranchers, a cold, wet winter means something else entirely, because there is no sleeping in, no day off, no staying inside to keep warm.

It means waking in the middle of a cold winter’s night to check on your newborn calves or chopping up tanks of ice so the animals have water to drink.

While most of us will sleep in and lay around in our pajamas on Christmas morning, Clint and Mindy Johnson will be awake with the sun tending to the animals on their ranch. And they don’t want it any other way.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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a wonderful life

W

hen you think about spending a winter holiday on a ranch, you might picture a cozy cabin decorated with garland and lights nestled on a widespread plot of land with the occasional horse in the background. You might drink your hot apple cider on the porch, or perhaps you take it next to the stone fireplace and fully decorated Christmas tree. The days are busy and boisterous and filled with stories and laughter, as the revolving door of family and friends keeps the ranch in swing.

For the Johnson family, those things very well may happen on their ranch, located downstream from the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Canyon. However, before all of the holiday memories are made, Clint and Mindy, along with their children, Ben and Janie, and ranch hand, Danny Stocker, make sure their working ranch is tended to.

“We bought this place in 1996 as an already functioning ranch,” says Mindy. “We combined two little houses by building a roof over them, which created a second floor. It was set up like a lodge originally, so we converted it.

It was a year and a half project.”

They bought the ranch from Arley Barnett, the first Coors Distributor in Amarillo, who built the place in 1939 to be more of a hunting and party getaway. When the Johnsons bought it, they immediately got to work on making it their new family home and livelihood.

For Clint, the ranching life is what he’s always known.

Born and raised in Spearfish, South Dakota, Clint was the youngest of eight children and has early memories of bottle-feeding bum lambs and driving his father’s pick-up truck around their ranch – when he could barely reach the pedals – at feeding time. He grew up a 4H kid, showing horses and sheep, doing chores before and after school, and stacking square bales of hay all summer for winter storage.

In addition to the ranch where the Johnson family lived, they also owned a 20,000-acre sheep and cattle ranch 50 miles north of Spearfish. Today, two of Clint’s brothers own and maintain that South Dakota land.

At 10 years old, Clint got his feet wet in rodeo, riding calves at 4H competitions, and going on to compete in high school. He went to South Dakota State University on a rodeo scholarship but left in 1977, after three years, to try his hand at the professional level. Clint started with the Professional

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Rodeo Cowboys Association at 20 years old, making it to the finals in 1978 and 1979. He went on to win the finals four times – in 1980, 1987, 1988, and 1989.

Clint and Mindy met in 1985, between his Championship wins, at the Horseshoe Casino her grandfather owned in Las Vegas. Mindy was no stranger to ranching either, as she was also born in South Dakota and spent her early years in Jordan, Montana. When she reached school age, her father found a job in Amarillo and her family moved to the Panhandle. Mindy attended West Texas A&M University for a few years before transferring to the University of Texas in Austin, where she studied business. It was while she was still attending UT-Austin that she met Clint.

“The National Finals had just moved to Las Vegas. They had been in Oklahoma City for years. My parents were big rodeo fans since my dad used to ride saddle broncs,” she says. “A friend of Clint’s was from Montana and his family knew my family and he kept saying that Clint and I had to meet. But Clint lived in South Dakota and I lived in Texas, so I just knew it wasn’t going to work.”

Little did she know that it would, in fact, work out quite nicely. The two married in January 1988 and spent a February honeymoon in Calgary, Canada, where Clint participated in a cultural event during the Olympics. He won a gold medal in saddle bronc.

Clint retired from the PRCA in 1991 shortly after Ben was born. He was ready to hang up his hat and focus on the second phase of their life. He’d had a successful run in rodeo, able to walk away uninjured, and the focus now was to build a ranch near Amarillo. In 1994, they welcomed their daughter, Janie.

“We kept an eye open for a ranch and over a couple of years, looked at buying a few places. We looked in Canadian a lot but nothing came up that we could buy,” says Clint.

“We had a small camp of land in Channing with some cattle on it, but we wanted something more.” When the Barnett place came up for sale, the Johnsons jumped and purchased it in August 1996.

Renovations to the ranch began immediately when they converted the house and built pens at the barn. It had been dry all summer but right after buying the ranch, the Panhandle got a burst of rain. The six inches of water quenched the dry earth and brought a beautiful fall.

JANIE

CLINT WITH HIS FAVORITE COW

MINDY

THE JOHNSON FAMILY

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

47

SNOOPY

DANNY STOCKER

BEN

I personally believe we’re here for a reason. God put us here. Our livelihood comes from the earth, what God created. ~ Clint Johnson

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

a wonderful life Clint purchased 120 registered Angus heifers from Kansas and thus began their new phase of life raising replacement heifers and registered bulls and breeding their better mares for cutting competitions.

By 1998 the Johnsons moved into the house, and in a way, Clint and Mindy created a lifestyle similar to Clint’s upbringing.

The family worked the ranch together, calving, breeding and branding.

“It’s definitely taught me how to work. I enjoy it now, working with my hands. I mean, I do a lot of book work but it’s good to clean stalls too,” says Ben. “It’s like when a parent gives their kid a dog to teach him responsibility. Well, here it’s like having 25 really big dogs.”

Ben graduated from high school a year early and is currently a sophomore at WTAMU, while Janie is a sophomore at Canyon High School. Both grew up showing cutting horses, doing high school rodeo and helping to run the Johnson ranch.

“My friends have never had to do anything like what I do, but I really love living out here,” says Janie. “Every single day I have to ride my horse, but I love it. It’s me time.”

Right off the bat, you realize Ben and Janie are the kind

have near the freedom they do, however little, if it weren’t for him.

Danny went to Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari on a rodeo scholarship prior to working for the Johnsons. He holds a degree in Equine Science and is married with two daughters. He also dreams of having a ranch one day.

It is especially helpful to have an extra set of hands around come winter, when the unpredictable Panhandle weather can mean more work for ranchers. More than anything, water is the biggest threat during winter.

“It seems like more work in the winter because it’s ten times colder outside,” laughs Janie. “We have lots of family time at Christmas, though. Mom and Dad do more work than anybody.”

“If it gets really cold and tanks freeze up, then you’re chopping ice. Some tanks have heaters in them and a little wind helps to keep the water running,” says Clint. “But if not, then someone has to break ice. Too much wet makes for a muddy ranch. Plus, a calf can be born in the cold, but if there’s a cold rain, it can kill them.”

The business of calving usually takes place in January and February when it’s the coldest, and that means Clint is getting up every couple of hours throughout the night – regardless of weather – to check on his heifers.

Calving can be an intense process, going on for weeks.

Then there’s stockpiling feed and keeping hay on hand. Bulls need hay all the time to stay on their gaining program (they need to be fat and ready to sell in spring), and if it snows enough to cover the grass, the horses will need hay as well.

“One Christmas we had 18 inches of snow and lost power for five days. If you don’t get the wind, it’s not too bad,” says Clint.

“Actually, the north wind isn’t as bad, but if it’s an east wind, it’s usually bad news.”

It may sound a little superstitious, but there is something to keeping up with weather patterns. Specifically, there’s something about that Farmers Almanac, and if it’s forecasting a colder, wetter winter, the Johnson’s are paying attention.

“I’ve heard the Farmers Almanac is more reliable than the Weather Channel,” says Mindy, grabbing 2009’s edition from her kitchen counter. “It tells you all kinds of things, when it’s a good time to cut your hair or mow your grass, when it’s a good time to quit smoking or start a diet. It’s a little bizarre.”

“I even weaned my kids according to it,” she laughs.

While they don’t follow it to the extreme, they do consider the almanac’s suggestions when its time to castrate or wean. Decades of experience has proven it to be worthwhile.

I’ve always enjoyed working with my dad on Christmas morning. It’s so pretty here in the winter, especially if it snows. of kids parents hope for, hard-working, respectful, and affectionate with one another. They truly enjoy their life and, while it isn’t clear whether either of them will end up ranching they way their parents have, Ben and Janie are content to work alongside them for now.

“They weren’t interested in it at all when they were little, but that’s changing,” says Mindy. “We’d always do big projects on the weekend so it was good family time. They really pride themselves on what they accomplish.”

“They’ve always helped,” adds Clint, his spurs clinking under the table. “They probably had a better deal than I did as a kid.”

A typical day on the ranch isn’t much different from when they first bought it 13 years ago. There were plenty of mornings when both Mindy and the kids would help Clint in the early morning hours before school, but those days are fewer now. They hired Danny two years ago, which enabled the Johnson’s to travel and participate in cutting competitions. They insist that they wouldn’t

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

The Foundation of a Forecast Since 1818, farmers and ranchers have relied on the mostly-accurate weather predictions from the Farmers Almanac. Founded by Ben Franklin and David Young, its first editor, the FA took forecasting weather to the extreme, making predictions a full two years in advance based on secret mathematical and astrological calculations, sunspot activity, tidal action and the position of the planet. The almanac is “written” by Caleb Weatherbee, a pseudonym for the forecasters, past and present. It boasts an accuracy rate of 85 percent, and that includes more than just the amount of rain and snow.

The Farmers Almanac is a resource for all kinds of predictions, and it’s not just for farmers and ranchers. Along with long-range weather predictions, the FA gives the Best Days to do a number of tasks, everything from cutting your hair to promote growth (or to retard growth) and pottytraining to waxing your floors and chopping firewood. It even tells you when to travel for pleasure, host a party and get married.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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a wonderful life CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49

The business of ranching is probably most lucrative when there isn’t an emotional connection between the ranchers and their animals but such isn’t the case with the Johnsons. Their business has done well in spite of having his and her favorites, and when it comes right down to it, their affection for their simple, organic lifestyle has translated to success on all levels.

“There are horses here that I’d never sell. If you really want to be successful, you probably shouldn’t be that way. And Clint has his favorite cow,” she says, looking adoringly at her husband.

“She gets a little extra feed everyday.”

My friends have never had to do anything like what I do, but I really love living out here. Every single day I have to ride my horse, but I love it.

It’s me time.

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“She’s more than carried her weight,” he adds modestly.

“All of her calves have been good. She’s been a good cow and has tried hard.”

The Johnsons feel a deep connection not just to the animals they raise but also to the land itself. They talk about the Golden Hour, when the winter sun begins to set and the sky is painted in brilliant shades of yellow and orange. When it rains enough to fill their backyard basin, the temporary lake shows off a reflection of the Tierra Blanca canyon. This is the life they choose, and while some would see life on a working ranch to be grueling, hard labor from sunrise to sunset, the Johnsons consider it a blessing.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with my dad on Christmas morning. It’s so pretty here in the winter, especially if it snows,” says Ben. “No matter what I do with my life, I’m never gonna be on my butt. Just like Dad, I can’t sit for too long or I get annoyed with myself.”

There is something to this life, the slower pace, the physical work, and the pride from seeing the fruits of a long endeavor. This life built a strong, bonded family and a sustainable, satisfying livelihood. While the days may be long and there is almost never a day off, the Johnson’s are thankful and content.

“I personally believe we’re here for a reason. God put us here.

Our livelihood comes from the earth, what God created,” says Clint. “I would hope that we take Christmas time to appreciate that a little more.” am

special feature

Jennie Treadway-Miller: Hello, Governor Huckabee. It’s a pleasure to speak with you.

Governor Mike Huckabee: Well thank you. I’m happy to call.

JTM: Let’s just jump right in. When you were approached about doing a Christmas book, how did you decide to tell personal stories?

GMH: When the publisher called and asked me about doing a Christmas book, I was trying to think through how I’d handle it and sketched out an idea. The publisher loved it and it really unfolded. It was an incredibly positive experience, cathartic and therapeutic in many ways. This is my seventh book and easily my favorite. I’m almost a little nervous because I’m enjoying it so much that I hope other people will too. I want to not only tell the First Christmas Story in a way they’ve not heard it before, but to also tell personal stories that will make them think of their own stories – the good, the bad and the ugly.

JTM: Some of the chapters must

have been harder to write than others, particularly Loneliness, about your Uncle Garvin, Crisis, regarding your wife’s cancer diagnosis, and then Faith, about your father’s passing. How hard was it to take those memories and turn them into something uplifting for readers?

GMH: That was one of the great therapies for me. A lot of things in the book I’ve not talked about. Sitting down and working through it, I realized the impact – when I thought about my Uncle Garvin and I realized how he meant so much to me, but I never put it on the level as I did telling the story like that. Same thing with my dad. It was something only my sister and I lived through, so nobody else could

52

understand who he was and the impact he had on us. Here is a person who came to faith late in life, but it was real and genuine, and better to have real faith for a portion of your life than a phony one for your entire life. What a great legacy he left me. I’ve always told people that Dad didn’t have anything hardly his whole life, but what he left me was better than if he’d left me Warren Buffett’s fortune.

JTM: I love the lesson about how he wasn’t

going to let the cancer steal the last time he had left. I thought that was such a great lesson for you and your family.

GMH: Well, I

appreciate that. I tried to tell it in a way that we still had moments of levity, how we joked about his last ten “last Christmas’s.”

I think there are a lot of families who have a father like that. Then it all gets very serious all of a sudden and you think – this is the real deal.

JTM: Hope is something that we struggle with the most, especially when it comes to losing a parent, a spouse, a child… You said in the chapter on Hope, that “coming closer to death brings you closer to life.” What do you tell the person who’s about to experience their first Christmas having lost a loved one?

GMH: Christmas can bring out some of

our best memories, but the reality is that sometimes it can bring out the most painful ones. The first time you look down at the end of the table and that chair’s empty, the one that’s been occupied your entire life by your dad or your grandfather, that’s when it really hits you. It’s not at their funeral, because you’re still numb then. None of the holidays

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

hit you as hard as Christmas because all the family is together and everyone sits in the same chairs and does the same things and the first time you do all of that without that person, that’s when it really comes crashing in on you.

You want to say, “God doesn’t understand how much this hurts,” and that’s when you have to go back to that First Christmas. When He showed up, it wasn’t with all the royalty and attendants. It looked like an unmitigated failure. Unwed pregnant teenage girl, away from home, no place to stay, no doctors, no midwives, no Lamaze classes… We have so sanitized the birth of Jesus in our church pageants. But that’s the point – there’s no place we ever come to in life where we can say, “But God, you don’t understand. You’ve never known life so rough.” And then we remember the real Bethlehem, and say, “Yeah, I guess you do.”

JTM: I read that paragraph to my editor

this morning, where you describe the birth of Jesus and say, “Top that, whiners of the world!” and it just made me laugh so hard because it’s true. The story seems so pleasant because we’ve seen it acted out on the church stage so nicely.

GMH: One of the lines my daughter cringed at was, “Silent Night, my foot!” Are you kidding me? Have you ever been in a maternity ward?

This isn’t some quiet little lady looking up at heaven hearing the Hallelujah Chorus.

JTM: Yeah, no one has really actually acted

out the labor and delivery of Jesus. It’s always that she’s pregnant and then – voila – there’s a baby.

GMH: Yeah, how many hours did she go

through labor? The idea that she had a different kind of birth would defy the whole point. If she was going to have that kind of birth, she would’ve had Jesus in a king’s palace. But that wasn’t the point.

JTM: In the chapter about Limitations, I was

struck by the remark about your father living in a Depression-era mindset and not going into debt for something he couldn’t afford, which is such an important life lesson.

GMH: Gosh, don’t you wish Congress could learn that lesson?

JTM: Oh yes… But the holidays have become synonymous with debt, it seems. What would you tell the person who’s charging Christmas presents on the credit card and overextending himself?

GMH: I’d say Christmas is not about the What

but about the Who. It’s about who you’re going to be with. No one says, “I don’t mind being alone on Christmas as long as I get the latest Gameboy.” No, you want to be surrounded by people who love you and people who you love.

We get so caught up in what we get but it’s not about that all. It’s about being connected to our family.

JTM: When you write about your childhood,

wants are more important than anything else.

I always tell people, if you don’t think you have a self-centered nature, next time you take a group photo and get a copy of the photo back, who do you look at first? I mean, if your eyes are closed, it’s a terrible picture. But if everybody else looks like they have Halloween masks on and you look fine, you say, “Oh this one will work.” That’s just our basic nature.

you paint a very clear picture of how simple it was – being able to play outside in the afternoons without worry and even leaving your front door unlocked. Do you miss that simpler life?

JTM: You continue to write books about

GMH: Oh yeah. My mind takes me back there

GMH: I was fortunate enough to grow up

often. I realize now that I really grew up in Mayberry and I miss it. It was a great time to be a kid. We didn’t think, oh my, you can’t ride your bike because you don’t have a helmet, or you can’t go down the street because there might be predators. There was no internet.

I didn’t have to worry about someone trying to scam me or abduct me from an internet conversation. We only had three channels and they were in black and white and they were so boring it caused us to go outside. We didn’t worry about obesity because we were lucky to eat enough to keep us as thin as we were.

JTM: Right, so when was the

last time you ate garbage soup?

GMH: Ha ha! It’s been a while.

the issue of a person’s character. When did you come to realize that character is the foundation of a person’s life and how have you taught this lesson to your children?

with it. My dad would say things like, “The only thing a poor man has is his word. You lose that, you have nothing. If you have your word, you have everything.” Or he’d say, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said because you’ll just tell the same

I want to not only tell the First Christmas Story in a way they’ve not heard it before, but to also tell personal stories that will make them think of their own stories – the good, the bad and the ugly.

And when we tell our kids about garbage soup, they look us like, “You’re kidding me!” And at times, I’m thinking, you know, there were tough times in their lifetime, but nothing like when Janet and I started out.

it and hitting the deadline, that for a few weeks, you don’t want anything to do with it.

So when I went into the studio to record the audio version in August, you know, Jennie, to be honest, there were a couple of times that I’d start laughing. It was embarrassing. The engineer must’ve thought, geez, you think your own jokes are that funny?

JTM: Yeah, keep it together!

GMH: Right, but you know I was reading it

then as objectively as I could. I really thought, you know, I hope people take it as I just did.

And there’d be other times I’d read something and I’d have to take a sip of water because I’d be choked up. If people are touched by it as I was looking at it with fresh eyes, then it’ll be an effective book. Whether it’s successful or not, I don’t know. But I’d like it to be effective.

JTM: Lastly, what do you hope for in 2010 – for this country, its people, and for your family? When you think about next year, what’s on your mind?

GMH: I hope people will adopt a philosophy

I’ve had since I was a young man, which is take God more seriously and take yourself less seriously. I think we tend to do the opposite.

We act like it’s all about our wants and needs.

It really isn’t all about us.

JTM: I so appreciate you calling me. I’ve been sitting here thinking about it for the last hour and I’m so pleased to have talked with you.

GMH: It’s been a pleasure, Jennie, and I’m so

glad you read the book. It’s kind of refreshing to do an interview with someone who actually read the book. Most people, if they’re forced to do an interview, they might at best read what the publisher sent or just the book jacket.

JTM: No, no, I wanted to read it.

in poverty than in prosperity. There has to be truth in that because you’re not distracted by all the “stuff.”

thing the next time.” I mean, those are great life lessons.

I mean, it’s real simple stuff, but those are the lessons we sometimes miss because we want to give kids some deep, psychological lesson on the inner workings of the human psyche. No, just tell them, look, don’t do something to someone you don’t want done to you.

GMH: Those early years were good years

JTM: Sometimes it seems like politicians

you’re here at Thanksgiving, and then you could sign my book, but I’ll be home in Tennessee.

JTM: You even say that Christmas is simpler

because it didn’t take a lot to make us happy.

We knew we weren’t going to have 20 gifts under the tree. There wasn’t a long list of things that had to be fulfilled. We knew we’d have a good meal and there’d be a few modest gifts and it was more about the traditions.

JTM: Right off the bat you said something

that caught me. My favorite quote is from the chapter on Patience. It reads: “There are some things in life that are best experienced in their proper season and at the appropriate moment.” Why do you think that is such a hard lesson to learn?

GMH: It goes back to our self-centered

nature, that our schedule, our desires and

write a book for the sake of writing a book, but you obviously enjoy writing and have been a writer and communicator for the bulk of your life. One of our local writers once told me that every writer as a story or two under his bed. Is that the case for you? Are there things you still have in mind to write?

GMH: Writing is something I love to do,

and I write every week. I do three radio commentaries a day, five days a week. I write my monologues for the television every weekend, but this book, for me, was very different. It was a great creative release for me. When you get that last chapter into the publisher, you’re just so glad to be done with

GMH: Well that means a lot. Thank you.

JTM: I wish I could be here to meet you when

GMH: I would be glad to do it, Jennie, but

you’ll be exactly where you need to be. I hope you have a great time with your family.

JTM: Thank you. Enjoy your book tour!

GMH: Thanks so much. am Read the extended interview at www.amarillomagonline.com

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

53

special feature

Amarillo artist, Celia Meadors, paints the real face of Santa

By Jennie Treadway-Miller

54

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

PHOTO BY PAM LARY PHOTOGRAPHY

elia Meadors knew she had talent at seven years old, when her drawing of Wilda, the French poodle who only understood French, captured the attention of her teacher. The dog belonged to her older sister, Jean, and her Parisian husband, Jack, and was groomed in the Royal Dutch style. It seemed as though no one in Celia’s hometown of Wellington had ever seen such a dog.

“At Christmas, my mother had all of my class over to our house to listen to ‘A Christmas Carol’ on the record player,” Celia recalls. “And when my teacher saw the drawing I’d done, she was so shocked because she’d never seen a dog like that. I knew then that there was a right way and a wrong way to draw.”

Specifically, Celia looked at facial features, like a person’s nose, and wondered why others drew noses in the shape of a checkmark when it was clear to her that noses were more detailed than that. By the second grade, Celia was taking art classes after school and, as her artistry and interest grew, ended up taking whatever class was offered in Wellington.

When Celia was 12 years old, she and her pal, Patricia, started three years of lessons with an art teacher who traveled the Panhandle.

Celia was 17 years old when her father passed away and her uncle stepped into the role of handling her education. Though she was determined to continue studying art, her uncle had other ideas.

“He actually told me that I was not to major in Art because they didn’t want me to be a starving artist,” she laughs. Celia began her college career at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. “He said I should study education, but I knew that’s not what I wanted. What I did do was major in journalism and on the sly, for my electives, I continued to take painting.”

The journalism focus appeased her uncle, who was the Capital reporter for the Houston Chronicle in Austin, but considering Celia didn’t want to conduct interviews, she knew it wasn’t going to work out. Celia took a break from school, married Ben Meadors in 1964, and no longer had to consult anyone on the choices she made regarding her education. In fact, Celia went back to school in 1966 and graduated from West Texas State University in August 1970 with a degree in Fine Arts.

In between school sessions, Celia taught in the public school systems in Dotson and Stratford while her husband worked at various Ford dealerships in the Panhandle. She also taught painting classes at a number of craft shops.

“Portraits are my specialty. I just really like faces, especially animated, character faces. I wasn’t really interested in backgrounds or landscapes so portraits remained my focus,” she says. “When you graduate, you have to have a following to be able to make it as a studio artist, and I really didn’t think I could do that.”

By 1985, Celia was onto something. She was a faithful art show attendee doing quick sketches and caricatures, something that she has done since she was a senior at WT. Her talent has been especially helpful to the Amarillo Police

C

Department, as she’s done composite sketches for them for more than 30 years. However, Celia was still looking for her niche and a friend of hers with the Amarillo Independent School District gave her an idea.

“Jeryl Vance, who used to be the head of the art department at AISD, said to me, ‘If I could paint faces as well as you can, I would paint drippy Indians,’” says Celia. “At the time, we were struggling financially and I knew I had to make my degree work. So I went home and tried this method. I took 15 pieces to a show and sold them all, so from that point on, that’s what I did. Until about 1991, I painted mountain Indians.”

By method, Celia means that she treats her oil paint in a watercolor method, something that caught the eye of other artists in town when her pieces were on display at a show. The big break, however, occurred at Christmas Roundup in 1991, an annual art show and auction sponsored by the Art Alliance and the Symphony Guild.

“I knew I needed to do a piece for the show and I’d waited too long to do it. I had to do a 4 by 6-foot piece and it was due in three weeks.

I knew the only way I’d get it done was if I used this drip method, so I painted a Santa Claus and it went at auction for $1000,” she says.

“I knew then that I’d developed something sellable.”

Boy, did she. Her Santa Claus paintings are well known in Amarillo, as Celia has shown her artwork in every Roundup in the last decade. When her husband, Ben, died four years ago, Celia threw herself into work. Her husband was not only her business partner and father of their two children, RayAnn and Andy, but he was also her biggest fan. Celia knows it would’ve disappointed him had she stopped painting upon his passing.

Her niche holiday art is not only a beloved keepsake for locals who get their pieces personalized with family names, but has also recently been given national attention. Celia’s art was noticed at the Christmas Affair show in Austin last November and consequently picked up by Farrisilk Inc., a Christmas décor and textiles company in Placentia, California. This season, Celia’s work will be shown at the Atlanta and Dallas markets, as well as at a Farrisilk home show in Placentia.

“This is the first time my stuff has been picked up nationally. I’m hopeful, yet cautious,” she says. “You have to have something you’re known for, and if this is what I’m known for, that’s okay. I love what I do.” Despite the larger possibilities, Celia still travels to art shows in Austin, Lubbock, Canadian, Santa Fe and other cities in the region.

To Celia, the key to selling her Santa paintings are making them personal with names. Her busy season is June to November, when it takes listening to Christmas music all summer to get her in the mood.

Celia displays her holiday pieces at two frame shops in town, The Right Angle and Arden’s of Amarillo, starting each November, so come January, she takes a much needed break.

For her holiday collection, she may get ideas from a variety of things she seen, or even from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade from the previous year. But the face of Santa, she says, is entirely her own idea.

“I’ve done a profile of him, I’ve painted him as a gingerbread baker, and last year I did a Texan Santa,” says Celia. “I love hearing people go by my booth saying, ‘That’s what Santa Claus looked like when I was a kid,’ or ‘That’s what he really looks like.’

“A lot of times you see him with blue eyes, but I’ve always said my own personal Santa Claus’s eyes are brown,” she continues.

“This is my version of Santa. This is what he looks like in my mind.” am

You have to have something you’re known for, and if this is what I’m known for, that’s okay. I love what I do.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

55

inspire

A “For Real”

Christmas Dr. Howie Batson

T

ake any happy holiday commercial—for jewelry, greeting cards, or even a beverage – and the story line is predictable: A beautiful family of four drives to Grandma’s in their brand new luxury SUV. Not a scratch, not a dent, not a problem.

As they merrily drive to Grandma’s, there are no construction delays on the highway, no road- rage traffic, and snow has, coincidentally, blanketed the landscape without landing on the road.

(Are there heated roads in the commercial?)

Cruising to Christmas at Grandmother’s house, the family carols along the way: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light. Next year all our troubles will be out of sight….” As they pull into the winding, tree-lined driveway, the camera focuses on a beautiful cottage in the distance.

Looking in the window, we can see that Grandma is beautiful, growing older with grace. As the family meanders up the sidewalk, the camera cuts to a close-up as Grandma takes a golden turkey out of the oven. It’s the last piece of the perfect holiday puzzle, as the table setting is absolutely exquisite. Just as grandma displays that golden-brown bird – it is moist, you can tell by looking – on the table, the doorbell rings.

Their timing is perfect. Grandma opens the door, and the grandchildren leap into her arms, sharing a holiday hug.

56

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

All is well in the winter wonderland of Christmas commercials.

But is this a “for real” Christmas? No. Everyday life bears many burdens. Perhaps your family gathering includes eating Christmas lunch with your grandmother in the Alzheimer’s care facility. Your own grandmother may not even recognize you this year. For many of us, life is hardly a “Hallmark” holiday.

Viewing the Madison Avenue version of holiday happiness, we conclude that we, too, are entitled to a carefree Christmas. And as we compare the orchestrated Christmas commercial to our “for real” holiday, we find ourselves feeling let down or even a bit cheated.

Where do you find your “for real” Christmas this year? For some, Christmas 2009 will be the first since your divorce has been final. The reality is that your children will have to be shared with your ex-spouse’s family. Other people face Christmas with fear because a chair will be empty at the dinner table. Your husband, wife, parent or child died this year, and you ponder how Christmas will have changed forever. Still others find financial crisis and unemployment foiling their spirit of holiday bliss. For you and all who hurt during this holiday, I offer four words of advice.

Realize

you are not alone.

The “Hallmark” holiday doesn’t exist as a reality for anyone. Only 25 percent of folks even live in what was once thought of as a traditional family. And they, of course, still bear their own burdens. A “poor me” attitude will always result if you compare your actual holiday circumstances with the illusion of the carefree Christmas of the commercials.

Holiday Gifts Galore. . .

Refuse to let troubles rob you of Christmas hope.

The list of main characters in the first Christmas story includes a poor carpenter and his teenage bride, lowly shepherds who existed below the baseline of society, and an old man, Simeon, and an aged woman, Anna, who had longed to see the Lord’s Christ.

Christmas hope comes in the midst of our troubles today, even as it did two thousand years ago.

Remember

that the Christ child came to suffer alongside us, not to remove our troubles.

The coming of the Christ child embodies the idea that as God puts on flesh, He also experiences our hardships. Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness and grief as part of His human experience. He went forty days without food, wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus, and received the bruising blows of a Roman whip.

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Rejoice

in the real message of Christmas.

Long before Madison Avenue was pitching perfect parties as a model Christmas, the angel made the declaration, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be for all people everywhere. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Despite the fact that we have to experience a “for real” Christmas, no hardship can rob us of the joy that accompanies the coming of the Christ.

In fact, our hardships are actually what make His presence “for real” in our lives. am

Dr. Howie Batson

Dr. Batson is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo. He also currently serves as chairman of the Board of Regents at Baylor University.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

57

inspire

How to Say Goodbye Suzy Winter

I

know this is a clichéd question, but here goes: Do you remember where you were the moment you fell in love? I mean true, head over heels, life changing love? Well, I was lying on my ob’s examination table as he slowly, methodically, began sliding the ultrasound wand over my enormous belly trying to get a good glimpse of our first child.

All of a sudden, Daniel Ryan Winter gave us a sneak peek of his personality. Laying back, arm draped over his head (a common trait of all Winter males) with his charisma evident even then, I fell in love with that little guy who had me right at “hello mom.”

As Daniel cruised through the toddler years and into boyhood, I determined in my heart not to warp him into a momma’s boy. He would be a man’s man. Of course my husband had a hand at making sure this would happen. However, if Daniel scraped a knee, I didn’t make a big deal of it. We’d wipe it off, spray it with antiseptic, bandage it, and get back to action faster than an Indy pit crew, all the while helping him feel like a man in charge.

As he burst into adolescence, we tried to fill his world with books, music, friends, sports and sense of self. We watched him forge his own identity and personality. I watched him shoot up a good three or four inches during Christmas break of his eighth grade year and relentlessly put up with his gloating that he was finally taller than me. Over the years, we strived to teach him (as well as our daughters) our Christian values, which should be a given considering his dad is a pastor. But no matter his dad’s calling, this would have been part of his training and he knows that. The focal point of many of my prayers was a deep desire that he would have his own relationship with Jesus that was genuine, a relationship that would see him through those turbulent teen years and beyond.

Beyond arrived this year when he departed for Texas A&M University. As we waved goodbye, I finally understood what my mom used to say about having a piece of your heart leave with your child when they move out of the nest. I wondered if 18 years had really been enough time to adequately prepare him for this new adventure.

Did he know how to separate the whites from the colors when doing laundry? That a balanced meal includes vegetables? That some college professors sometimes spout opinions as gospel and expect those same opinions as the “correct” answer on exams? That just because he’s far from home, God is still with him? Bottom line - do I really trust in the verse that states, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it?” I think I do, in theory. But that one word really bothers me - go. I mean seriously, just when Daniel became an interesting young man to talk with, he had to go?

Tell me, what’s wrong with that picture?

In my heart of hearts, I know he’ll be okay. A few weeks before he left, we had time for a real conversation, a rare moment. I’ve found that if you take the boy shopping every few months, miracles can happen. During that afternoon, our conversation flowed from one thing to another and I ended up asking why he didn’t fall into the same lifestyle choices of so many kids today. I’ll never forget he just point blank replied, “Mom, I know what I want in life and I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize that.”

I know what I want in life – those words give me hope; however, they have not kept the tears from flowing or my heart from worrying the past few months.

Like the text message he sent me after church in September saying he might have a staph infection. I wanted to rush to his side, but I had to put my trust in God and in Daniel to do the right thing. Thankfully, he just had an allergic reaction to laundry soap that was easily treated. Not a life threatening event but a learning event for both of us.

In the many books I’ve read over the years on raising confident children, I don’t recall a chapter on how to let go and say goodbye or how to shrink the miles between Texas A&M and Amarillo. I’m sure it was there (maybe not the magical mile eraser). I probably just skipped over it in denial. Yet I know in this age of texting, email, IM, Facebook and cell phones, goodbyes are not forever, but those devices are really not the same even if the commercials say so. I miss coming home to the sound of him singing and playing piano. I miss the smell of his cologne as he gets ready for an evening out. I even miss (can’t believe I’m actually admitting this) his teasing, poking and generally annoying me.

Even his sisters say “It’s boring without Daniel.” We’re almost used to it now – but not really.

Thankfully, the holidays will be here before we know it and we can reconnect once again as family. The house will be full of all the things we’ve missed. Then he’ll go back and we’ll have to deal with the void left behind again. I know having a son go off to school is not a new concept. Young men have gone off to find gold, fight wars, find themselves, and attend school for centuries. And just as those young men returned home changed, I am curious what will have changed in Daniel. That may not necessarily be the hardest but certainly the weirdest part of this milestone, yet change is the most essential key to this whole process.

There is an acceptance that the young man who will walk in the door Christmas Break will be a new person. And on one of these trips home, he’ll probably bring the girl he intends to marry. Till then and as always, I will pray that his steadfast faith will remain steady, if not deepen. His sisters and I will make lists of his favorite foods and I will find my comfort in these words by Dr. Seuss, who was once Daniel’s favorite author and the one who always says it best –

Possibilities

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You’re on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

- Dr. Seuss

Suzy Winter

Suzy is a freelance writer from Amarillo where she lives with her husband, Kent, and their three children.

201 WESTGATE PARKWAY • SUITE J-1 355.2955

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

59

book nook

Non-Fiction

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

By John Krakauer Doubleday, 2009

In May 2002, troubled by 9/11 and morally drawn to fight for his country, Pat Tillman walked away from his $3.6 million NFL contract to enlist in the U.S. Army.

Two years later, he died on a hillside in southeastern Afghanistan. John Krakauer takes from Tillman’s own letters, along with interviews with his wife, friends, and soldiers who served alongside him, to tell the tragic yet captivating story of this hero’s patriotism, commitment and character. hero’s patriotism, commitment tragic yet captivating story of this served alongside him, to tell the his wife, friends, and soldiers who

Fiction

Non-Fiction

Under the Dome

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel

By Stephen King Scribner, 2009

By Jeannette Walls Scribner, 2009

For the first 10 years of her life, Lily Casey Smith lived in a dirt dugout in West Texas.

She became a teacher at age 15 in a remote frontier town and married a bigamist that nearly killed her spirit. After remarrying a rancher, having two children and selling bootleg liquor during Prohibition, Lily continued her life as a heroine and fearless breaker of horses. Jeannette Walls, Lily’s granddaughter, tells the heartwarming story of her grandmother, a woman whose persistence and vigilance broke the mold of early pioneer women.

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It was a normal day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, when the town was suddenly cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field.

Out-of-towners are cut off from their families and nothing can penetrate “the dome.” No one can explain where it came from, why the barrier was created, and when – or if – it’ll go away.

The story centers around a collection of diverse Chester’s Mill citizens, including politician Big Jim Rennie who will stop at nothing to hold the reins of power.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Fiction

Ford County

By John Grisham Doubleday, 2009

Set in Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill, John Grisham shares his first collection of short stories featuring a cast of unforgettable characters. He brings to life an array of tales that paints a vivid portrait of diversity and heartache, adventure and laughter, in Grisham’s unforgettable and entertaining way.

Young Adult

Non-Fiction

PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God

The Secret Life of Prince Charming

By Frank Warren William Morrow, 2009

By Deb Caletti Simon and Schuster, 2009

When Frank Warren started PostSecret.com as a community art project, where people could send him anonymous postcards with any and all kinds of messages on them, he didn’t foresee the world-wide ripple effect. Since November 2004, he’s received more than 150,000 postcards with messages ranging from the profound to the hilarious to the heart-wrenching. In his latest book, he chronicles a collection of topic-specific cards on the issues of life, death, and God.

Non-Fiction

All of a sudden, Quinn is just like the other women in her family – hurt over and over again by men. (It’s not like her grandmother, aunt and mother didn’t warn her!) Then, while her broken heart is still mending, she renews her relationship with her formerly absent father. As their relationship deepens, she learns that he has a bad habit of mistreating women, stealing more than just their hearts.

Young Readers (ages 4-8) Olivia Forms a Band

By Ian Falconer Atheneum, 2009

When Olivia finds out there’s no band playing at the fireworks show, she decides to put one together – all by herself. Using pots, pans, her brother’s toys and her dad’s suspenders, Olivia creates fanfare by making the kind of noise that startles every crowd.

This beloved character is back again with another adventure in creativity and spunk.

One Simple Act: Discovering the Act of Generosity

By Debbie Macomber Howard Books, 2009

How-To

Change the sting of the world with one simple act: your generosity. This blend of true stories and motivating messages will delight and surprise readers on how giving the gifts of time, encouragement, hope, laughter, prayer, hospitality, service, and forgiveness can have lasting, life-changing impact, not only on the recipient of such gifts but on the giver as well.

Cookie Craft Christmas: Dozens of Decorating Ideas for a Sweet Holiday

By Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer Workman Publishing Company, 2009

Fiction

Forget the take-and-bake cookies from the refrigerated section and create your own cookie masterpieces. With more than 60 new ideas for holiday cookies, including Hanukkah and New Year’s treats, decorating cookies has never been so fun. Grab your kids and make sweet – and sugary –– holiday holiday memories. memories. kids and make sweet – and sugary has never been so fun. Grab your Year’s treats, decorating cookies including Hanukkah and New

The Vintage Caper

By Peter Mayle Knopf, 2009

The story begins in L.A., at the extravagant home and equally impressive wine cellar of entertainment lawyer Danny Roth. After inviting the Los Angeles Times to write a piece on his extensive collection, Roth soon finds himself the victim of a world-class wine heist that leads him to Paris, Bordeaux, Marseilles, and Provence.

Sink your teeth and wet your palate with the delectable flavors of France as the author leads readers through an international crime scene.

Fiction

Wishin’ and Hopin’: A Christmas Story

By Wally Lamb Harper, 2009

It’s 1964 and 10-year-old Felix is sure of a few things: the birds and the bees are puzzling, television is magical, and this is one Christmas he’ll never forget. This precocious fifth grader has a lot to figure out in his Three Rivers, Connecticut, hometown, namely French kissing and the workings of the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Enjoy a wise and witty story that might make you feel like a kid again.

Sponsored by: For more selections, to check availability, or to order online, visit gohastings.com

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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what’s cooking?

best

the

reader recipes

We asked AM readers to share their tried-and-true holiday recipes, either original dishes or something yummy from Grandma’s hand-me-down recipe book. The response was delicious, and to complete the two-page pull-out recipe cards, we’ve included a few of our own.

(A full recipe gallery is available online.)

PHOTOS BY KEVIN BRILES

Sweet Potato Soufflé

Grandmother Lamb’s Jam Cake

's AM rite

Favo

Neapolitan Cheesecake

Cranberr y-Jalapeño Relish

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what's cooking?

Grandmother Lamb’s Jam Cake Submitted by Nancy Thompson, reader 1 lb. brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1½ cups butter 6 eggs ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon pepper 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons cinnamon

1 tablespoon allspice 1 teaspoon nutmeg 3½ cups flour, divided 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup chopped dried figs 1 cup broken walnuts 2 cups raisins 2 cups blackberry jam

Cream together sugars and butter. Add eggs, mixing well after each. Combine salt, soda, pepper, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and 3¼ cups flour. Use the other ¼ cup of flour to coat chopped figs. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, about 1/3 cup at a time. Add jam and mix well. Add figs, nuts and raisins. Pour into a large cake pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 1 hour. Makes lots of cake.

This cake was one of my Dad’s favorites, especially at Christmas. When I would make it for him, he would always smile and say it reminded him of when he was a little boy. My grandmother used to make it for her family as far back as the 1930’s. – Nancy Thompson

Cranberry-Jalapeño Relish Submitted by Livia Woodburn, AM graphic designer

2 cups frozen cranberries 1 tablespoon lime juice ½ cup sugar 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed and seeded ¼ cup cilantro 1 medium orange, peeled, seeded and segmented or 2-3 clementines 1 tablespoon red onion Place all ingredients in food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Refrigerate relish for several hours to allow flavors to mellow and blend. Serve with turkey chicken or pork.

This is a favorite at our house during the holidays and it has replaced traditional cranberry sauce. Being spicy food addicts we all love the extra kick that the jalapeño adds. - Livia Woodburn

sweet potato soufflé

Submitted by Michele Mcaffrey, AM editor For the soufflé: ½ stick butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 large can of sweet potatoes ½ cup sugar

¼ cup milk ½ cup pecans 2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and blend with mixer. Pour into a medium sized casserole dish.

For the topping: 2 small cans crushed pineapple, drained ¼ cup flour ½ cup sugar

1 egg, beaten ½ cup butter

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Cream in sugar and flour. Remove from heat. Add beaten egg and pineapple. Pour over sweet potatoes. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until center is set.

This recipe was my mother’s, and it’s something my family enjoys every holiday. I’m not sure where she got the recipe originally, but I’ve never seen anything else like it. Don’t let the unusual combination of pineapple and sweet potatoes throw you. It’s delicious. – Michele McAffrey

Neapolitan Cheesecake Submitted by Cindy Eastland, reader

Cheesecake 8 ounce package 1 teaspoon instant coffee Barnum’s animal crackers dissolved in 2 tablespoons 3 tablespoons melted butter Kahlua or water 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted ¹/3 cup of seedless raspberry jam 5 – 8 ounce packages cream cheese ¹/3 to ½ cup raspberry liqueur 1½ cups sugar ½ teaspoon red food coloring 5 eggs ½ teaspoon almond flavoring ¼ cup cream ¹/3 cup flour Raspberry Sauce 10 oz. frozen raspberries (thawed) ¾ cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup cold water 2 tablespoons raspberry liqueur Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9-inch spring-form pan with non-stick spray.

Pulse animal crackers in food processor with melted butter. Press into spring form pan and chill while mixing cake.

Beat cream cheese and sugar. Mix in eggs one at a time. Add flour to mix until dissolved. Stir in cream or milk. Divide into 3 equal parts. For the chocolate layer, mix in chocolate and instant coffee mixture. (If the instant coffee won’t dissolve, microwave for 5 to 10 seconds.) For the vanilla layer, do nothing. For the raspberry layer, mix in raspberry jam, liqueur, almond flavoring and red food coloring. Layer chocolate in pan first, then vanilla, then raspberry. Bake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees, then 300 degrees for one hour. Turn off oven and open the door. Do not remove cake for 30 minutes.

For sauce, combine cornstarch mixture with raspberries and cook in microwave for 5 minutes, checking every two minutes for desired thickness. Pour sauce on cake.

Let cool 30 minutes before serving. Remove from fridge and decorate with additional melted chocolate, whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

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Hagerman’s German Chocolate Cake

Butter Cookies

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

Bourbon Slush

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what's cooking?

Butter Cookies

Submitted by Jennie Treadway-Miller, AM Features Writer ½ cup unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup sugar 1 egg ¾ teaspoon vanilla 1¾ cup all purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Add the dry ingredients. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Dust the work surface with flour and roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use a variety of cookie cutters to create holiday shapes and place on parchment paper on cookie sheets.

Bake exactly 10 minutes and let cool completely before decorating.

Glaze/icing: 1 cup sifted confectioner’s sugar for every 1 tablespoon of milk. Use less milk to thicken the icing for decorating. To color the icing, use professional paste coloring instead of liquid food coloring so the consistency of the icing isn’t compromised. Make an array of colors and use plastic sandwich bags with the tips cut off of the corners to decorate.

Hagerman's German Chocolate Cake

Submitted by Phyliss Miranda, reader Cake 2 cups sugar 1 cup shortening 4 eggs, separated 2½ cups flour

½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup buttermilk 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate

Dissolve chocolate in ½ cup hot water. Set aside. Dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk. Set aside. Cream together sugar and 4 egg yolks (beaten). Add flour and salt, alternating with buttermilk mixture. Add melted chocolate. Beat 4 egg whites until stiff but not dry, and fold mixture into egg whites. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately ½ an hour or until done. Makes 3 round pans.

Icing 1 cup sugar 1 cup canned milk ½ cup pecans 1 cup shredded coconut

3 egg yolks Pinch of salt ½ stick of butter Vanilla

Combine ingredients. Cook over very low heat until mixture spreads smoothly.

Ice cake.

In the 1950's and 60's my grandmother, Pauline Johnson, was the pastry cook for Hagerman's Cafeteria. They were located at 8th and Polk in the building where Duncan and Boyd Jewelers is now located. One of their bestsellers and town favorites was their German Chocolate Cake. I have Granny's old handwritten spiral notebook, spattered with cake batter, and took the recipe directly from it. It's been one of our family favorites ever since I can remember. - Phyliss Miranda

Bourbon Slush

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

4 small tea bags 2 cups water 7 cups boiling water 2 small cans of frozen orange juice 2 small cans of frozen lemonade 1½ cups sugar 2 cups bourbon 7-Up

Makes approximately 12 muffins, 3 small loaves, or 1 large loaf 1¾ cup (1 15 oz. can) pureed pumpkin 1½ cup brown sugar (or Splenda Brown Sugar) ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened 3 eggs 3-4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour (or 2 cups Whole Wheat, 2 Cups Bread Flour) 2 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1-2 cups dark chocolate chips (depending on preference) walnuts - optional

Submitted by Michele McAffrey, AM editor

Make strong tea with 2 cups water and tea bags.

Meanwhile, boil the 7 additional cups of water. Discard tea bags and combine all remaining ingredients, stirring well.

Freeze overnight. To serve, combine slush with 7-Up. My good friend Dana got this recipe from her step-mother. It’s a staple at all of our holiday gatherings. For a non-alcoholic version that’s kid friendly, use the same recipe and leave out the bourbon.- Michele McAffrey

Submitted by Holly Novak, reader

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, butter and eggs and mix until creamy.

In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients except the nuts or chocolate chips. Mix 3 cups of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then add as much of the fourth cup as necessary to achieve the proper consistency (moist, but thick enough to stand a spoon in). Add the chocolate chips and stir.

Pour or spoon the batter onto large baking stone or into greased muffin tins or bread pans. Add walnuts on top if you like. Bake on the center rack until a toothpick poked into the center comes out dry. At sea level, muffins should take between 20 and 25 minutes to bake, small loaves between 25 and 30 minutes, and full sized loaves between 50 minutes and 1 hour.

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Helpful Hints & Tips Baking When bread is baking, a small dish of water in the oven will help keep the crust from hardening.

Dip a spoon in hot water to measure shortening and butter and the fat will slip out more easily.

Pie crusts will be better and easier to make if all the ingredients are chilled.

Hot water kills yeast. One way to tell the correct temperature is to pour the water over your forearm. If you cannot feel either hot or cold, the temperature is just right.

When in doubt, always sift your flour before using.

The freshness of eggs can be tested by placing them in a large bowl of cold water. If they float, don’t use them.

Dust a bread pan or work surface with flour by filling an empty glass salt shaker with flour.

For greater volume, egg whites whip better when they’re at room temperature.

Cooking Whole potatoes soaked in salted water for 20 minutes before baking will bake more rapidly.

To keep celery crisp, stand it upright in a pitcher of cold, salted water and refrigerate.

To keep cauliflower white while cooking, add a little milk to the water.

When boiling corn, add sugar to the water instead of salt. Salt toughens the corn while sugar brings out the natural flavor.

Fresh lemon juice will remove the onion scent from your hands.

Substitutions 1 teaspoon of baking powder = ¼ teaspoon baking soda plus ½ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 cup self-rising flour = 1 cup all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup whole milk = ½ cup evaporated milk plus ½ cup water ½ cup brown sugar = ½ cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons molasses ½ cup buttermilk = 1 /3 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 tablespoon fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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PA RA MOUNT BA PT IST CHUR CH PRESENTS

Dec. 18–20, 2009

Amarillo Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 18 (7 pm) • Dec. 19 (2 pm, 7 pm) • Dec. 20 (2 pm, 7 pm) TICKETS: $10 adults, $8 children (under 12) Available at panhandletickets.com or Panhandle Tickets locations.

For group ticket pricing, please call 806-355-3396 iawl.net

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FEATURED EVENT

The Nutcracker If seeing “The Nutcracker” isn’t already a family holiday tradition, consider starting one this year. Though the Lone Star Ballet has performed Peter Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday tale for decades, 2009 brings the third season of “The New Nutcracker,” a revamped, whimsical version complete with hand-painted sets and redesigned costumes.

“The Nutcracker” tells the story of Clara, a young German girl who receives a toy Nutcracker from her godfather the night of her parents’ Christmas Eve party. Her brother, Fritz, breaks the toy in a fit of jealousy and her godfather repairs it for her while she sleeps.

When Clara wakes in the middle of the night, an adventure begins with the Christmas tree that grew too tall, a Mouse King who wants to battle, and her beloved Nutcracker who came to life to defend her.

The LSB brings sparkle to an already magical tale, and if previous years are any indication of the show’s popularity, expect “The Nutcracker” to sell out. Reserve your tickets now for an evening of enchantment with Clara, the Nutcracker and a host of dancing sugarplum fairies, soldiers and sweet treats.

Friday, December 11th, at 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 12th, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 13th, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For tickets, call Panhandle Tickets at 378.3096, the Lone Star Ballet Office at 372.2463 or log on to pandhandletickets.com To have an event listed on the calendar, email details to michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com or fax a press release to 806.345.3282.

VIEW AN UPDATED LISTING OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AT AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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December 1

Beethoven Society Dinner 6-10 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show 9 a.m.-5 p.m. One of the nation’s largest indoor farm and ranch expositions. Admission benefits

December 2

the FFA. Amarillo Civic Center 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Chamber of Commerce Ag Appreciation Luncheon 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 3

Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

FEATURED EVENT

Panhandle Plains Historic Museum Christmas Open House Get in the holiday spirit at the Panhandle Plains Historic Museum in Canyon with its long-time Open House event. Start off the season with crafts for your kids, songs with school choirs, Pioneer Town role players and a visit from St. Nick. 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, 651.2250

Friday, December 4, 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, December 5, 2-6 p.m.

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Amarillo Symphony “Kinderkonzerts” 10:45 a.m. and 1p.m. Make this light-hearted event a family tradition. The concert encourages kids to sing and conduct along with the orchestra. GlobeNews Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m.

Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 Eleven Hundred Springs Concert 9 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

December 4

Amarillo Symphony Kinderkonzerts” 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 Center City Electric Light Parade 6p.m. Take part in a lighted downtown parade to welcome the holiday season. Includes more than 60 floats. Begins on 10th and Polk and ends at the parking lot of the Amarillo Globe-News Center where city officials light the city Christmas tree and Santa hears children’s Christmas wishes. 372.6744 First Friday Art Walk 5-9 p.m. The Galleries at Sunset 3701 Plains Blvd., 353.5700 PPHM Annual Christmas Open House 6-9 p.m. A traditional family event to welcome the holiday season.

Includes musical entertainment, children’s activities, Santa and Mrs. Claus, costumed interpreters and storytellers. 2503 4th Ave., Canyon 651.2250 Cowboy Times Barrel Racing 6-8 p.m. Amarillo National Center at the Tri-State Fairgrounds 3301 E. 10th, 488.2144 The Dynamite Lazerbeam 9 p.m.

Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

December 5

All Region Orchestra Concert 5:30-7 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m.

Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 PPHM Annual Christmas Open House 2-6 p.m. A traditional family event to welcome the holiday season.

Includes musical entertainment, children’s activities, Santa and Mrs. Claus, costumed interpreters and storytellers. 2503 4th Ave., Canyon 651.2244 AMoA Christmas Workshop 10-11:30 a.m. Annual workshop is designed for children age four to ten.

Kids have the opportunity to create their own holiday ornaments, cards and gift items for family and friends while they enjoy refreshments, music and a visit from Santa. Reservations required. 371.5050 All Region Orchestra Concert 5:30-7 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Cowboy Times Barrel Racing 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Amarillo National Center at the Tri-State Fairgrounds 3301 E. 10th, 488.2144 Travis Linville 9 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237 WTAMU Renaissance Holiday Feast 7 p.m. Alumni Banquet Hall, WTAMU in Canyon, 651.2314

December 6

Globe-News Empty Stocking Fund Concert 3-5 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

Telemundo Plaza Christmas 2-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Service 3- 8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Cowboy Times Barrel Racing 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Amarillo National Center at the Tri-State Fairgrounds 3301 E. 10th, 376.7767

December 7

Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council Annual Christmas Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Chamber Businesswoman of the Year will be announced. This year’s luncheon benefits Camp Alphie..

Amarillo Club, 600 S. Tyler, Chase Tower, 31st floor. Reservations are required by November 20th. 342.2003 Amarillo Gorillas vs. Bossier Shreveport 7:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 9

CPA Seminar 8-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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December 10

Tascosa Pops Concert 6-9:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 Poinsettia Luncheon 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Bridge 20th Anniversary 4-6 p.m. Come and go reception. 804 Quail Creek Drive, 372.2873 Matt King 9 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

December 11

Gifts

The best

of the season!

Find the perfect gift for that perfect someone … or treat yourself!

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Colorado Eagles 7:05 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Nutcracker Ballet 8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

December 12

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Arizona Sundogs 7:05 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 Texas Gun and Knife Show 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Nutcracker Ballet 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Clanks 9 a.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

December 13

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 2:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 Texas Gun and Knife Show 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 The Nutcracker Ballet 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 16

Scholastic Book Fair 12-8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Regency Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 17

Third Thursday 6:30- 9 p.m. Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren, 371.5050 Scholastic Book Fair 12-8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Regency Room 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 3rd Thursdays 3 p.m. Taste coffee from around the world. The Ground Café on the ground floor of the Chase Tower 600 S. Tyler, 367.7399 MERLENORMAN .COM

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December 18

“It’s a Wonderful Life” 7 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 B&W Pantex Christmas Project 6-8 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center South Exhibit Hall 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Leopold and His Fiction 9 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

December 19

“It’s a Wonderful Life” 7 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Amarillo Gorillas vs. Laredo Bucks 7:05 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 Polar Bear Hike 5-6 p.m. What can you see on a winter evening in the canyon? Find out by joining park staff for a hike on the Juniper Riverside Trail, weather permitting. Group size limited to 40. no pets please.

Reservations required. Deadline December 17, 2009.

488.2227, ext. 106 Panhandle Team Penning & Sorting 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Amarillo National Center at the Tri-State Fairgrounds 3301 E. 10th, 282.6315 Tennessee Tuckness 10 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

December 20

“It’s a Wonderful Life” 7 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 26

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 7:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 27

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 4:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096

December 31

Amarillo Gorillas vs. Rapid City Rush 7:05 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum 401 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “Uncorked New Year’s Eve” Amarillo Symphony Enjoy a live concert and dance until midnight with local bands, then join your friends in a champagne toast to the New Year. 8 p.m. Globe News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan 376.8782 Amarillo Symphony “Kinderkonzerts” 10:45 a.m. and 1p.m. Make this light-hearted event a family tradition. The concert encourages kids to sing and conduct long with the orchestra. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Buchanan, 378.3096 “You Can’t Take it With You” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991 Eleven Hundred Springs Concert 9 p.m. Golden Light Cantina 2908 West 6th, 374.9237

let’s eat!

RESTAURANTS • FOOD • SPIRITS

David’s Steaks and Seafood Originally opened in 1970 as the Seafood Galley, David’s was renamed in 1992 and still remains the place to go for a classic steak dinner. For the month of December, patrons can experience the best David’s has to offer with a 6 oz. filet with a mushroom port wine reduction, served with mashed potato casserole and asparagus. They recommend pairing the dish with a heavier wine, like Viu Manent Reserva Malbec 2007, to complement the savory beef. Each steak is cooked to order, ensuring each customer’s plate is picture perfect and abundant in flavor.

David’s is open Tuesday through Saturday. They are currently working on an updated menu for 2010.

2721 Virginia Circle · 355.8171 · davidssteaks.com

PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees under $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees over $21

RESTAURANT KEY Outdoor Dining ☎ Reservations Recommended T Live Music y

c Full Bar C Beer and/or Wine only ^ Best of Amarillo Winner

NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE

Updated entry

The Let’s Eat! Guide is a reader service compiled by the Amarillo Magazine editorial staff. The magazine does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for a listing. The guide is updated regularly. To correct a listing or recommend a restaurant for consideration, contact Michele McAffrey at michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com.

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575 Pizzeria Toppings runneth over at 575 Pizzeria, not to mention the specials that rotate every month. (Check the board when you walk in.) It’s family-owned and family-friendly, so it’s a great Friday night dinner choice. 2803 Civic Circle 331.3627 575pizzeria.com $$ C T Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy The authentic atmosphere and generous portions make for an enjoyable lunch or romantic evening out. If you’re stumped by all the choices, try the Enchiladas de Cozumel, three crepes filled with guacamole and topped with bountiful seafood, fresh spinach and roasted peppers. As a rule, always get the queso. 3501 SW 45th 354.8294 abuelos. com $$ ^ c Antonio’s Bistro Italiano If it’s authentic Italian food you’re after, drive over to Antonio’s. The tiramisu is made fresh daily, and that’s reason enough to go. Not to mention you can totally reenact the spaghetti scene from Lady & the Tramp with your sweetheart. 2734 Westhaven Village 331.4996 $$ C ☎ T BL Bistro The intimate, cozy atmosphere creates the ideal date place, not to mention the food is plated perfection.

Note: you might want to leave the kids with a sitter. 2203 S. Austin 355.7838 blbistro.com $$$ c ☎ ^ y The Back Porch An Amarillo original, this quaint tea room serves up great lunch fare.

The Chicken Avocado Sandwich on croissant is the way to go. Get the lunch plate with a cup of cheesy veggie soup and chips. Wash it all down with their excellent flavored tea.

3440 Bell 358.8871 $ The Bagel Place Whether for breakfast or lunch, the Bagel Place offers a wide variety of flavored cream cheese and bagel flavors. Zip through the convenient drive through for a great lazy morning take home breakfast. For lunch, try their bagel sandwiches made with Boars Head cheese and meat. 3301 Bell 353.5985 $ Bangkok Tokyo This casual, quaint place is often packed, so try it for an early dinner or a late lunch. Try the Crispy Chicken with Basil or the Bangkok Tokyo Fried Rice. Neither disappoints. 2413 S. Western 353.4777 $$

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Barnaby’s Beanery Visit Barnaby’s on historic Route 66 for classic café food. If you haven’t had their corn bread cheeseburger, you’re missing out. Leave room for homemade fruit cobbler. 3811 SW 6th 358.6998 $ NEW BBQ Barn The BBQ Barn is a great little hole in the wall BBQ joint. With excellent BBQ beef sandwiches and tasty Frito pie, it’s the perfect place for a quick lunch or dinner. 3319 Bell, 352.9715 $ NEW Beef O’Brady’s There’s something for every member of the family at Beef’s. Enjoy the game while you eat. If you’ve never eaten their fried Oreos, they are worth every calorie. 7306 SW 34th, 358.0997, beefobradys.com $ C The Big Texan Steak Ranch Everyone knows about the 72-ouncer, but did you know the breakfast buffet is only $8.95? Yes, you read that right.

Every morning from 7-11 a.m. you can pile your plate high with pancakes, sausage, and skillet potatoes. Top it off with a trip to the Omelet Bar before leaving completely satisfied.

7701 I-40 East 372.7000 bigtexan.com $$ c ☎ ^ T Blue Front Café When it comes to a hardy breakfast, the Blue Front cooks really know their stuff. It’s a great place for Saturday morning pancakes. Not in the mood for breakfast? Fill up on a variety of classic café food. 801 SW 6th 372.0659 amarillobluefrontcafe.com $ Blue Sky Blue Sky’s burgers and homemade fries are the perfect companions to a Lone Star Beer or an Oreo shake.

Be prepared to share the one-sizefeeds-a lot cheese fries. 4201 I-40 West 355.8100 $ C T ^ y Buffalo Wild Wings You can’t go wrong with Buffalo’s hot wings, especially on a Tuesday night. Keep busy with their interactive games and every televised sport under the sun. 5416 S. Coulter 359.4386 buffalowildwings.com $$ ^

c Café Marizon Enjoy the quaint café atmosphere in a historic building on Polk. Great homecooked taste with consistently tasty specials of the day. Go early so you can have a piece of the homemade pie or cake. 705 S. Polk 374.3058 $ y

Calico County An Amarillo favorite for decades, the home-cooked taste keeps people going back for more. You can’t beat the petite cinnamon rolls dripping in butter, the squash casserole and the chicken fried chicken. Be sure to try their excellent waffles as well. 2410 Paramount 358.7664 $ Carolina’s Wood Fired Italian Despite the small interior, Carolina’s is great for a date or even the whole family. Start your meal off right with their first-rate Caesar salad and garlic bread. You can’t go wrong with any of the authentic pasta entrees.

2916 Wolflin Avenue 358.2099 $$ C Cattle Call Enjoy Texas style BBQ beef, sausage and chicken at Cattle Call. For something different, try the stuffed baked potato. It’s delicious. So are the onion rings. 2203 Paramount 331.1227 / 4111 Wolflin Ave. 463.7900 cattlecall.com $ C ^ Cheddars There’s a reason that there is always a crowd at Cheddars. They serve outstanding American-style food at prices that won’t break your budget, which makes it the perfect place to bring the whole family. Treat yourself to a basket of buttery honey-kissed croissants with your meal, and no matter what you order, you’ll discover that everything’s good. 3901 I-40 West 358.2111 cheddars.com $$ c ^ Country Barn The Country Barn serves up more than the expected steaks and BBQ. Home of the ultra tender Bonsmara beef, their steaks are sliced up and cooked fresh daily and served in an authentically western atmosphere. 8200 I-40 West 335.2325 countrybarnsteakhouse.com $$ c Cowboy Gelato Who says Italian-style gelato and cowboy hats don’t mix? We’ll admit that the saloon décor and “Hi ya’ll” greeting might throw you, but this isn’t your average ice cream shop (it is Amarillo, after all). After more than a few sample spoonfuls of gelato, we settled on the lime and the banana chocolate chip, but it's all good. 2806 SW 6th Ave. 376.5286 $ Coyote Bluff Café Don’t let the outside fool you. This is seriously good food. The full pound, green chile cheese burger is Southwest divine (add jalapenos for extra zip). Cool off with an ice cold beer. 2417 S. Grand 373.4640 coyotebluffcafe.com $ C ^

Cracker Barrel A home-cooked breakfast for supper says comfort food like nothing else, especially when there’s a chill in the air. We love Uncle Herschel’s Favorite.

It’s almost too much to handle, but we’re not afraid to try! 2323 I-40 East 372.2034 crackerbarrel.com $ C ^ NEW Crazy Larry’s BBQ A visit to Larry’s isn’t complete without an order of Frito Pie – make it a “moose” with the works. Their authentic Texas-style BBQ is fingerlicking good, and everything on the menu is delivered with some of the friendliest service in town. The prices are reasonable too. 4315 Teckla, 359.3176 $ Crush Wine Bar & Deli Have you always wished for your very own Cheers? A place where everybody knows your name? Forget the beer and peanuts, Crush Wine Bar & Deli has that beat by a mile. Not sure how to choose from the extensive wine list? No worries, they’ll school you on their favorites, and you can try a smaller pour just to be sure. Also try the excellent tapas, sandwiches and desserts, 701 S. Polk 418.2011 crushdeli.com $$ c y ^ Dyer’s Bar-B-Que If you’re a meat lover, Dyers is the place for you. Their all-you-can-eat lunch special is hard to beat. Wash it all down with sweet tea and finish up with a heaping bowl of hot fruit cobbler. 1619 S. Kentucky 358.7104 $$ ^ Eddie’s Napolis Napoli’s has created an oasis in Amarillo that cannot be missed.

Indulge yourself in the homemade bread while you browse the ample menu. We gently nudge you towards the Amarillo Special or a personalized New York Style Pizza. 700 S. Taylor 373.0927 napolisonline.com $$ c ☎ Ty^

El Bracero Mexican Restaurant For 10 years, El Bracero has provided hungry patrons with delicious meals and great traditional Mexican food.

The Nachos con Carne appetizer and a Michelada are a must. 3303 Bell 355.0889 2116 S. Grand, 373.4788 $ Tc

English Field House Restaurant Visit a piece of Amarillo history at the English Field House. Named for Amarillo’s first air field, the restaurant offers great cooked fresh café food. Take the family for Sunday breakfast. It’s worth the drive. 10610 American Drive 335.2996 $ december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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the best gift of them all?

YOUR HEALTH.

Famous Dave’s If you live in a house that’s divided over which barbecue style is best, make peace at Famous Dave’s. Not only can you choose the type of meat, but you can choose your sauce as well. They truly have something for everyone. 8518 I-40 West 358.3283 famousdaves.com $$ c NEW Fire Slice Pizza You’ll know you’re in for a good time at Fire Slice when you see the menu. Choose from pizza specialties like “Tommy Boy” and “Hot Momma” or build your own. Each pizza is made fresh in their custom-built pizza oven.

7306 SW 34th, Space 10 (behind Chop Chop) 331-2232 fireslice.com $$ C Golden Light Café As the oldest operating restaurant in Amarillo, the Golden Light has been in business since 1947, all in the same location. For a great burger and fries, this is the place to go. 2908 SW 6th 374.9237 goldenlightcafe.com $$

C^ T

Wishing you a healthy holiday season.

1400 Coulter • Amarillo, Texas | For appointments call 354.5600

Goody’s Bar & Grill Pull up a chair and get ready to savor traditional comfort foods like chicken fried steak, pork chops and prime rib with Goody’s trademark modern twist.

The relaxed atmosphere of the bar area carries over to their cozy dining area. We’re wild about the Bananas Foster. 4000 I-40 West 352.1498 $$-$$$

c Hoffbrau Steakhouse Family-owned Hoffbrau has been serving Texas-style steaks and beer for three decades. We recommend one of their Gr8 Steaks or something from their Hill Country Favorites list upon your first visit. Guaranteed,

you’ll go back again. 7203 I-40 West 358.6595 hoffbrausteaks.com $$ c Hummer’s Sports Café Hang out with friends, Cheers style, and eat your fill of their great appetizers. Start off with a platter of raw oysters and a bucket of beer. We highly recommend the steak. 2600 Paramount 353.0723 $$ c y Johnny Carino’s For the taste of Little Italy, we recommend one of the house specialties like Angel Hair with Artichokes and Shrimp and an Italian Margarita. Don’t forget the excellent cheesecake as the perfect finish to a great meal. 8400 I-40 West 468.9375 carinos.com $$ c Jorge’s Mexican Bar & Grill If you’re in the mood for fajitas, look no further than Jorge’s Mexican Bar and Grill, specifically their new location at Hillside and Bell. Portion sizes are generous and prices are reasonable. 6051 S. Bell 354.2141 $$

cy^

The King & I Feast on authentic Thai food at The King & I. They specialize in soups and stir-fry dishes and offer an extensive all-you-can-eat buffet for both lunch and dinner. If you’re ordering off the menu, we recommend the Cashew Chicken. 2300 Bell 355.1016 $ Kolache Café If you like authentic beirox, you’ll be delighted with the Kolache Café. And it doesn’t stop there. Choose from a variety of meat and fruit fillings for a filling breakfast, lunch or mid-day snack. Everything on the menu is baked fresh daily and so affordable

DINING SPOTLIGHT

Belmar Bakery Belmar Bakery is going on 45 years as a top sweet spot in Amarillo. Current owners Richard and Deana Zaccardo have worked diligently since 2002 to expand the bakery, offering more than just gourmet pastries, cookies and cakes.

Their Café is a great place for breakfast, lunch or brunch, and the party tray and gift baskets are perfect for the holidays.

(And locals would know. Belmar has been voted Best Bakery seven years in a row.) 3325 Bell 355-0141 belmarbakery.com $ ^

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that you can grab a dozen kolaches to go for a quick and tasty meal. 2207 S. Western, Suite B1-90 322.3279 $ y La Fiesta Grande Authentic taste and a lively atmosphere make La Fiesta a great place to take the whole family. From nachos to barbacoa, there’s something for every taste. 2200 Ross 374.3689 / 7415 SW 45th 352.1330 lafiestagrande.com $$ C La Frontera La Frontera has served the Amarillo community for over 20 years, offering the true taste of authentic traditional Mexican food. With a cozy atmosphere, great service, friendly staff and delicious food, what else could you ask for? 1401 S. Arthur 372.4593 eatatlafrontera.com $ T NEW Landshark’s Billiard and Sports Grill Locally owned and operated, Landshark’s combines the energy of a billiards parlor with a range of standard and not-so standard grill fare from chicken strips to their “garbage plate,” three mini burgers piled on top of three different salads.

In addition to billiards action, you’ll also find video games and dart leagues all in a smoke-free atmosphere. And they’ll make sure you quickly feel like part of the family when they greet you by name.

3415 Bell, Suite K, 352.3864 landsharksbilliards.com $c Las Brisas Las Brisas is the perfect place to unwind at the end of a hectic work week. Relax with friends, a great glass of merlot and a juicy steak served on sizzling butter. Heck, who needs to wait for the weekend?

3311 Olsen 331.2800 lasbrisassouthweststeakhouse.com $$ c ☎ y Leal’s If Mexican food is what crave, Leal’s serves several dishes that blend the traditional flavors of Mexico with a few new twists that will delight you. Try excellent non-traditional items like quail and salmon along with new sauce combinations and desserts. Let’s not forget about their freshsqueezed lime margaritas, some of the best margaritas anywhere. 1619 S Kentucky 359.5959 lealsmexicanfoods.com $$ c Lone Star Bar & Grill Visit Lone Star Bar & Grill for classic American grill-style food, including savory steaks, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and more all at an affordable price. You’ll also enjoy down-home friendly service.

Their guarantee: no hot beer and no small steaks.

FM 1151 622.9827 $$ c NEW Macaroni Joe’s Macaroni Joe’s isn’t just a place to eat a great meal. The Tuscan inspired rooms are the ideal place for creating memories. Whether for a first date, the start of a new life together, or celebrating important milestones, Joe’s offers excellent service and an exquisite food and wine menu. They’re at the top of our list. 1619 S. Kentucky, Suite 1500 358.8990 macaronijoes.com $$-$$$ ^ ☎ C y

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My Thai It’s hard to find authentic Thai cuisine that compares to My Thai. We recommend the angel noodle with sautéed tomatoes and mushrooms for a tasty alternative to fried rice. 2029 S. Coulter 352.9014 $ ^

The Potato Factory Too Come hungry to The Potato Factory where you can fill up fast on huge baked potatoes loaded with toppings from veggies to chili. They’ve also got some of the best chili dogs and Frito pie in town. 2808 SW 34th 463.7783 $

Nachos Bar & Grill Enjoy the fresh hot sauce and chips while you wait for your food. The wait staff are efficient and friendly, and the home town feel of Nachos makes this a great place to take the kids. 3333 S. Coulter 322.1140 $ c

NEW Red Lobster Seafood is a real treat in the Texas Panhandle and Red Lobster is an old stand-by when you have a hankering for shrimp. Our favorite?

The scampi swimming in delicious garlic butter complemented by their tasty garlic cheese biscuits. 3311 I-40 West, 353.9596 $$ c

OHMS Café & Bar Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves lunch buffet style and dinner in style. The chefs feature specials each week that range from seafood to smoked duck to grilled beef tenderloin. Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger. 619 S. Tyler 373.3233 ohmscafe. com $$$ ☎ T ^ C

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS

BEST 2009 OF AMARILLO

NEW On the Border Become a part of the revolution at On the Border. The fajita revolution, that is. Made to order, they’ll knock your socks off. Of course, good Mexican food is even better with a cold beer. Go ahead, indulge. 2401 Soncy, 468.9800 $$ c Outback Steakhouse Let’s just start with the Bloomin’ Onion. We could actually end there and be completely satisfied, but what’s a trip to Outback without a Wallaby Darned and Pepper Mill Steak? Speaking of completely satisfied, leave room for the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under.

7101 I-40 West 352.4032 outback.com $$ ^ c Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim offers a variety of Asian Fusion cuisine in a unique setting. One of the best things about this place is the greeting you’ll get from Andy when you walk in. But let’s talk food. Their lettuce wraps are outstanding. In fact, everything is good. They even offer speedy delivery. 2061 Paramount 353.9179 pacificrimam.com $ C The Plaza A long-time Amarillo favorite, the many loyal customers of the Plaza attest to the great food and affordable prices. Eat your fill of the fresh chips and hot sauce and enjoy the laid back atmosphere. Perfect for a family night out, they offer enough variety to suit the pickiest eaters. 2400 3415 Bell 358.4897 $ c

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Red Robin We recommend one hand for a gourmet burger and the other for the bottomless fries and onion rings. (And plenty of napkins.) You’ll leave happy if you finished with a raspberry shake.

They are creamy goodness. If your family needs room to spread out, Red Robin is perfect for large gatherings.

8720 I-40 West 359-9800 redrobin.com $$ ^ c Rosa’s Café & Tortilla Factory Perfect for take-out or a quick, satisfying meal, Rosa’s offers Tex Mex favorites and a fun, upbeat atmosphere. You can’t beat their homemade tortillas, made fresh everyday. 4312 SW 45th 351.1194 $ ^ Ruby Tequila’s Mexican Kitchen Ruby’s is Tex-Mex at its finest.

Fajita burritos, crispy tacos, stuffed poblanos and savory meats off the grill are just a short list of what they offer. Every Wednesday evening, enjoy the vibrant atmosphere with a margarita in hand. 2001 S Georgia / 358.7829, 3616 Soncy rubytequilas.com $$ c ☎ T y ^ Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q Rudy’s serves up the same original recipes that they’ve used since 1989: brisket, ribs, turkey, pork loin and sausage slow-smoked over an oak fire, seasoned with their own secret dry spice blend and topped with their famous “Sause.” Plenty of sides and delicious desserts ensure that you’ll need plenty of napkins. 3751 I-40 West 677.7452 rudys.com $$ Sakura Choose from an extensive sushi menu that includes Nigiri style, cut rolls, special rolls, spicy rolls, sushi salads and for the beef lover, Texas sushi. At Sakura, be ready to be entertained by the chefs who prepare your meal at the table. We wholeheartedly recommend the swordfish. 4000 Soncy

358.8148 sakuraamarillo.com $$-$$$

c Scott’s Oyster Bar If you are a fresh oyster connoisseur, Scott’s is the place for you. Even though it’s a little on the small side, the quick service and excellent seafood make it one of our favorite places to hang out. 4150 Paramount 354.9110 $$ C y Sharky’s Burrito Company Think of Sharky’s as a burrito assembly line, a place where you call the shots and load a tortilla (flavored or not) with all your favorite toppings.

Start with the meat and work your way through a plethora of options including beans, rice, veggies and cheese. The endless combinations will keep you going back for more.

1612 S. Georgia 359-7330 $ T.G.I. Friday’s T.G.I. Friday’s new, right portion, right price menu fills you up even when your wallet’s a little on the light side.

Try the gourmet mac n’ five cheese meal for a delicious twist on a classic.

3100 I-40 West 468-8000 tgifridays.com $-$$ c Taqueria El Tapatio Taqueria El Tapatio serves up authentic Mexican flavor in every dish they offer. It’s just plain good food.

The generous portions and affordable prices are easy on your pocketbook too. 3410 S Coulter 331.6248 $ C Texas Firehouse Sports Bar & Grill More grill than bar, Texas Firehouse offers everything from a delicious fried green bean appetizer to steaks, all in a family friendly smoke-free environment. Watch all your favorite sporting events while you eat. 3333 S. Coulter 351.1800 $-$$ C Texas Roadhouse This is one place that you don’t have to worry about your kids leaving a mess. Everyone knows it’s okay to throw your peanut shells on the floor at the Roadhouse. Bread lovers will rejoice over the rolls, steak lovers will drool over the meat on display as soon as you walk through the door.

Be ready for a wait, but the food’s worth it. 2805 I-40 West 352.7427 texasroadhouse.com $ c ^ ☎ Thai Arawan You’ll get your fill of fresh, authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Arawan. We recommend the angel noodle and the chicken fried rice. Consistently good flavor and friendly service make this one of our favorites. 2834 Wolflin 463.7167 $$ ^

Village Bakery & Café The Village offers a large selection of handmade European pastries and breads to complement their fresh gourmet style breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The casual bistro setting makes it perfect place for a special lunch date. 2606 Wolflin Village 358.1358 villagebakerycafe.com $ ^ y Vince’s Pizza Vince’s calzones are some of the best we’ve had. He also offers wonderful Greek salads, gyros and a huge family-sized pizza. The quirky atmosphere will make you feel like you’re in Little Italy. 2413 S. Western 352.2656 $ Wheels, Chicken & Waffles You’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time to a quaint old-fashioned diner when you visit wheels. The inside is covered with vintage car memorabilia and wheels galore. We love the southern fried chicken with waffles.

The mix of savory and sweet is delicious. Save room for dessert when you dine. You won’t want to miss the waffle cheesecake. It’s a big Belgian waffle piled high with cheesecake filling, whipped cream and both chocolate and caramel syrup. 2710 10th Avenue 342.5400 $ Wing Stop Wing Stop cooks up some of the best chicken wings around. There’s a flavor for every palate. If you haven’t had their sugared French fries, you just haven’t lived. 45th & Bell / 356.9464, I-40 & Grand / 331.9464 wingstop.com $$ ^ C Ye Old Pancake Station With breakfast this good, you’ll be glad to know that the Pancake Station serves it all day long. They also offer great café style meals. We recommend the huge omelets and fresh pancakes. 2800 Virginia Circle 355.0211 $ ^ Young Sushi The friendly greeting you’ll receive when you walk into Young’s is your first clue that your experience will be a good one. The helpful staff is always willing to offer suggestions regarding the sushi. If sushi’s not your thing, they also offer authentic Thai cuisine.

900 S Tyler 371-7200 $$ C

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A Gift Certificate From Tripp’s Makes A Great Gift.

TRIPP’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON

6040 W I-40 . AMARILLO . 352.2021 . TRIPPSHD.COM

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Happy Holidays From Your Friends At MCGAVOCK NISSAN 4401 South Georgia, Amarillo, TX

(806) 354-3550 • www.mcgavocknissan.com

an advertising section created by amarillo globe-news custom publishing

Holiday Treasures

Scent of the Season

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To order your subscription to the Amarillo Globe-News call 806.345.3407 today!

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2614 Wolflin Village • 356-7500 Holiday Hours: Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm

Exquisite Gifts for Men Superlative tools that belong equally to the most rugged tasks & the most refined collections.

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2600 Wolflin Avenue in Wolflin Square 806.352.0321

A Good Night’s Sleep

Come see our selection of Holiday sweaters, bandanas and toys for your pet. Daycare and boarding also available for small breeds!

Relax and enjoy the comfort of a Sealy Mattress Firm, Plush, Pillowtop, or Plush Eurotop.

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Holiday Treasures

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Holiday Treasures

Caspri Tabletop Entertainment Products

Colorful Holiday Gifts

The Feel of Paper-The Look Of Porcelain Napkins are made to resemble linen. Plates are formed to resemble fine porcelain, adapting the elegance of a formal place setting to everyday living.

We carry the largest Selection of Vera Bradley in the area, from bags to rugs.

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You’ll be in for a barrel of fun with our Sock Monkey Collection. Christmas ornaments, drawer pulls, trinket boxes, magnets, pillows, night lights, baby items and more.

Spa Fragrances Spa Fragrances for the home in stunning mouth blown cobalt glass container. Capri Blue fragrances blend essential and fragrance oils specially selected to enhance your sense of well being. Get your Capri Blue Bliss On!

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2711 Stanley · 806.372.4472 Amarillo, Tx 79106

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www.the-wildiris.com • 806.355.880 3351 Bell Street •Amarillo, Tx 79106

Lampe Berger Lamps!

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Gift card covers with a fun surprise inside . . . a shopping spree for her favorite things

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HOLIDAY TREASUREs

101

Holiday Treasures

Barefoot Contessa Grab and Go Gifts Some of Contessa’s best selling products paired with a silicone spatula, pre-packaged and tied with a beautiful grosgrain ribbon. Several different mixes available.

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Holiday Treasures

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Several tins, tubes, and towers to choose from full of holiday treats for you and your holiday guests. $6.95-$49.95

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december

history 101 7

1, 1970 Levi Strauss & Company announced further expansion with the leasing of 143,560 sq. feet of warehouse space at the former SAC building at the Amarillo Municipal Airport. The expansion developed 100 job openings.

15, 1877 16, 1971

Preliminary plans for a 110,000 sq. foot library and an 80,469 sq. foot science building were approved by the WTSU board of regents.

2, 1982 The first permanent artificial heart is successfully implanted at the University of Utah in retired dentist Barney Clark. He lived 112 days with the Jarvik-7 heart.

17, 1843

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is published with 6,000 copies sold.

18, 1975

The school of Nursing at West Texas State University is accredited by the National League of Nursing Board of Review of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs.

3, 1976

The doctor-population ratio in Amarillo was 1 to 964, slightly behind the national average but considerably better than the Texas average of 1 to 1126.

4, 1952 Killer fogs begin in London, England.

“Smog” becomes a word.

5, 1776

15

21, 1979

More than $4000 worth of toys were donated to forty-nine children from High Plains Children’s’ Home and the Children’s Cottage at an event sponsored by KGNC.

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.

22, 1990

The $20 million Northwest Texas Hospital referendum is approved by voters and planning to immediately begin building the new hospital at the Amarillo Medical Center starts.

Lech Walesa is sworn in as Poland’s first president elected by popular vote.

23, 1977

9, 1906 First Christmas Seals sold at Wilmington, Delaware, post office.

23

10, 1869

Wyoming becomes the first state to adopt women’s suffrage.

Three annexation requests are studied by the Amarillo Planning and Zoning Commission chambers. These areas included Loop 335 near Olympia street, 150 acres at the northwest corner of Arden Road and Bell, and 50 acres west of Amarillo High School.

Frank Sinatra, singer and actor, is

26, 1982

TIME’s Man of the Year is a

27, 1968 28, 1895

Apollo 8 returns to earth.

29, 1954 30, 1940 31, 1879

Actor Denzel Washington is born.

The world’s first movie theater opens in Paris.

13, 1918

President Wilson makes first U.S. presidential trip to Europe.

24, 1906 The first radio program is broadcast.

25, 1979 The Globe-News Empty Stocking

computer.

born.

of 67.

The movies Star Wars and Saturday Night Fever were playing at the Showplace 4 Movie Theater in Puckett Plaza.

Fund, with a record of more than $54,000 in donations, provided gifts to over 300 needy persons and families.

11, 1972

14, 1799

NASA unveils plans for a lunar colony and manned mission to Mars.

Rationing of automobile tires ends in the United States.

6, 1963 The Beatles begin a tradition of releasing a Christmas record for fans.

12, 1915

19, 1988 20, 1945

First US fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa,

is formed.

7, 1941 8, 1976

Thomas Edison patents the

phonograph.

George Washington dies at the age 12

California’s first freeway opens.

Thomas Edison first publicly demonstrates the electric light bulb.

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine 103

retro rewind

T

here’s nothing like a good snowfall to bring out the child in all of us. (And let’s face it – we all want a white Christmas, don’t we?) It’s a grab-your-camera kind of moment, when little ones run to the frosted window in their footed pajamas to gaze at the soft white powder that fell overnight. Sledding, skiing, and catching our balance on a pair of ice skates are the winter memories that last a lifetime. Do you recognize the faces in these photos?

Drop us a line and let us know.

104 Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Shouldn’t blowing out the candles be about the wish versus the battle for air?

People with asthma know what it is to struggle for each breath, worrying about how they will get through the day – or the night. In time, fear and frustration begin to limit even the most basic activities, leading to poorer overall health and even depression.

The good news is that treatment programs today can provide relief and renewal – and enough wind to blow out all the candles in one breath. Now that is a wish come true!

It’s Time to Feel Better!

With increased awareness, proper diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment program, you can overcome asthma’s assaults and take control of your health and well being. Welcome back to the good life!

To find out more, contact Allergy A.R.T.S. at (806) 353-7000 or visit our Web site at www.allergyarts.com

6842 Plum Creek Drive Amarillo, Texas 79124

Constantine Saadeh, M.D., FACP, FACR

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine 105

local exposure Michael Schumacher / Amarillo Globe-News

Merry and Bright

Nothing ushers in the magic and wonder of the season like the stringing of twinkling lights – the soft glow on a dark night, images of poinsettias, candy canes and reindeer illuminating the streets of Amarillo. It is enchanting to see our city all dressed up for the holidays and even more delightful to drive down the streets at night with the kids in their pajamas and Christmas music playing on the radio.

106 Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

Decorative Holiday Trays

Holiday Hours

december 2009 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine 107

spotlight

Dave Oliver When I get in my car, the first thing I listen to is…

Usually some praise music

My friends and family call me…Dave.

My favorite meal to make from scratch is…

Jambalaya.

In an alternate life, I would’ve been an…

Astronaut.

My biggest pet peeve is…

Going to the store for peanut butter and finding only smooth!

If I had an open plane ticket to anywhere, I would go to…

Alaska with my wife.

After a long, hard day, I love to…

Take my dogs, Muffin and Bernie, for a long walk.

One of my favorite childhood toys was…

Matchbox cars and trucks.

Calling himself, jokingly, of course, the “Grandfather of Amarillo T.V.,” Dave Oliver is probably one of the most recognizable local television personalities in town. Best known as “Doppler Dave,” the NewsChannel 10 Chief Meteorologist has called Amarillo – and his job at the station – home for more than 24 years.

“I’ve had adults come up to me and tell me I visited their Kindergarten class,” he laughs. “Yeah, that makes me feel old.”

Born in Wichita, Kansas, coincidentally the middle of tornado alley, Dave spent a brief time in Oklahoma City before moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, at the age of 12. He has been interested in the weather since early childhood, saying that whenever there was a tornado warning in the area, his mother would have to go outside and retrieve him from a tree. Essentially, he says, he was born this way.

Naturally, Dave went on to study meteorology and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1983, marrying his wife, Carol, the same year.

(They have two children, Aubrey, 22, and Luke, 19.) Dave got his first meteorologist job at a CBS affiliate in Corpus Christi, then spent a brief two years in Victoria, Texas. In October 1986, Dave started at NewsChannel 10 as the morning meteorologist and within the year was promoted to Chief.

“I’m really a storm chaser who got a job in T.V. That’s my passion,” says Dave, who loves reporting the Panhandle weather. “I always say that when God created the weather, He made us the headquarters. You never get burned out here.”

108 Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • december 2009

One movie I could watch over and over again is…

A Walk to Remember.

If I were a character in a book, I would be…

A biblical archaeologist.

The greatest piece of advice I’ve ever received is… ”Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and

all these things will be given to you as well.”

When my children grow up, the one thing I want them to always remember is…

The joy they have given me and what a privilege it has been to be their father.

You may be surprised to know that I… Play some drums now and then.

One habit I wish I could break is…

Getting impatient with other drivers.

My guilty pleasure is…

Lots of caffeine.

I know every word to the song… ”Singing in the Rain.”

If I had the time, I would…

Fish every lake in America.

My favorite bad-for-mefood is…

A good, drippy cheeseburger.

When I get online, I always go to…

Look at weather stuff.

The thing I love the most about living in Amarillo is…

We have the some of the most interesting weather in the country and the people here are so warm and friendly.

For the extended story on Dave Oliver, log on to www.amarillomagonline.com

Being at grandma’s house on Christmas is your thing

getting you there safely is ours

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