The Dominion - December 2017

DECEMBER 2017

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER BRIAN KENNETH SWAIN

CHARITY ROUNDUP ARTIST CORNER RESTAURANT REVIEW AND MORE!

FULL INTERIOR RENOVATIONS Kitchens | Bathrooms | Room Modifications EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS Roofing | Exterior Carpentry Paint Professionals

Meet the owner, Aron Lofton and family 17806 IH-10 suite 300 | San Antonio Texas 78257 210.906.9151 | Call to speak with a live person now!

COME VISIT US AT EILAN!

WHO ARE WE? THD Construction is a residential and commercial renovation company founded in 2004 as Texas Home Design.

WHAT DO WE DO? THD handles full interior and exterior renovations with over 80 full time, project managers, skilled carpenters, paint experts, masons, and roofing crews.

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED? The Lofton family resides happily at the Dominion. THD has offices at Eilan at LaCantera and our original home office in downtown Austin,Texas.

WHY CHOOSE THD TO BID YOUR NEXT PROJECT? You will be dealing with real people that enjoy delivering your vision on time and on budget. We have the expertise to set realistic expectations for home owners. We treat your home like we would like ours to be treated. Our Team is comprised of the most highly skilled designers and craftsmen in the business. They are experienced professionals with knowledge and expertise in all the newest practices. They are dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of design work. We work together in a unique design-build process that blends design creativity and uncompromising craftsmanship. This ensures that your project is completed to the highest of standards – both yours and ours – and that your space is beautifully transformed into an area or home that is uniquely yours, ready for you to create many new happy memories. Our staff can handle the design, the budget, and the construction all in one bundle.

THE THD FAMILY CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY!!!

We happily donate time, materials, and funding to a great and meaningful organization that makes a big difference in tomorrows future.

Meadowlands Academy (RMYA) is an orphanage located in Boerne. RMYA creates brighter futures for children in crisis by promoting individual success and healthy relationships in a safe, healing environment, giving children and families the tools to end the cycle of abuse.

CONTENTS THE DOMINION MAGAZINE |

DECEMBER 2017

Brian Kenneth Swain took his love of electronics, toured the world via the military, achieved multiple degrees from an Ivy League college, wrote several books, and ultimately found it here to call The Dominion home.

COVER 36

WELCOME 14

Fitness 52

THE CLUB

Home tour 54

Calendar 16 Club Happenings 18

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from the hoa 20 Charity Roundup 24

community interest 60

Boerne Performing Arts

Art 62

San Antonio Museum of Art

Travel 26

DAAG 64

Business profile 34

TMI 66

Bar 301

TENNIS 42

Good Reads 68

54

Before We Were ours

Restaurant review 70

Christmas trees 44

Grey Moss Inn

Artist profile 48

Area Events 72

Kim Tomes Dietz

Golf 50

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DECEMBER 2017 | VOLUME 4 ISSUE 12

PUBLISHED By SMV Texas Design Group, LLC 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006 210-507-5250

SMV TEXAS DESIGN GROUP, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. Schooley ben@smvtexas.com

Welcome TO

the Dominion Magazine Dear Reader,

Welcome to the December issue of DOMINION magazine.

As the holidays are now in full swing it’s been so wonderful to see the lights and events that surround the holidays here in the Dominion on full display.

This month’s cover feature Brian Kenneth Swain has been one of the people involved in the magazine for a long time. It was a fun to be able to put him in the spotlight this month and tell his story, which I trust you will find as interesting as I did.

From all of us at the DOMINION Magazine we hope your Christmas season is filled with family and wonderful memories.

OPERATIONS MANAGER Peggy Schooley peggy@smvtexas.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com THE DOMINION HOA OFFICE 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-1232 | www.dominionhoa.com THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB 1 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-3364 | www.the-dominion.com

Sincerely,

BEN SCHOOLEY, PUBLISHER The Dominion Magazine

The Dominion Magazine is published by Schooley Media Ventures in Boerne, TX. The Dominion Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of

FOr Advertising opportunities call 210-507-5250 14

DECEMBE R 2017

The Dominion and/or Schooley Media Ventures.

Copyright 2017 Schooley Media Ventures, 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006

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DECEMBER

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ANNUAL WOMEN’S FORUM HOLIDAY BAZAAR 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Shop until you drop from over 55 carefully selected vendors offering everything from baked goods to specialty nuts, jewelry, clothing, housewares and so much more! $21 Please RSVP to 210-698-3364 or receptionist@the-dominion.com

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Elf Louise Tennis Charity Event 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Bring a Gift for the Children. Tennis and Luncheon. For more information about our work for Elf Louise, please see page 24.

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Supper Club 6:00 P.M. Welcome and Cocktail Hour: 6:00 P.M - 7:00 P.M. Dinner and Program: 7:00 P.M.

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SANTA SUNDAY BRUNCH 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. This delightful tradition continues!

Make your list, check it twice, Santa knows you all have been so nice! Enjoy brunch and a visit with Santa with your loved ones! 48 hour cancellation notice in effect Please call 210-698-3364 to reserve

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DECEM BE R 2017

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CAMERA CLUB 6:00 P.M. Join us this month and learn about all things CAMERA! $10 per person. Light refreshments served

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Monthly Sunday Brunch 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Enjoy this lovely Dominion-signature brunch with family and friends! $29.95 Adults, $17.95 Children 4-11

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NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY 7:00 P.M. New band this year - very lively and lots of fun! Elegant dining, dancing and drinks... countdown to an amazing 2018 and an omelet station before you head home... a very happy New Year’s Eve, indeed!

RSVP required to 210-698-3364. 48 hour cancellation policy in effect

Every Tuesday

Every Wednesday

Every Thursday

Every saturday

Every sunday

Burger Night in the Grille 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Delicious, cooked to order and just $5! Treat the family, invite friends!

RSVP to 210-698-3364

Wine Down Wednesdays 1/2 Price Bottle Specials!

6:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.

Wednesdays just got a lot better!

Enjoy the bottles for HALF OFF! Champagne Sparkling wine Chardonnay White Wines Merlot & More

Chef Special Dining Night 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a different and very delicious meal every Thursday, carefully selected and prepared by Executive Chef Jay Nash!

A specialty half price appetizer is offered every Thursday as well!

Enjoy!

Tennis- Saturday Morning Workout 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

All levels, men & women.

Guaranteed to hit a thousand balls. Loud music and lots of fun!

Tennis- SUNDAY Workout 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Open to all levels. Contact Coach Dan at dan@thedominion.com

Tuesday Night TENNIS 105 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Open to all levels, limit 10.

Email Coach Rajah rajah@the-dominion.com or call the tennis shop to sign up 210-698-2288

Thursday Night TENNIS 105 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Open to all levels, limit 10.

Email Coach Rajah rajah@the-dominion.com or call the tennis shop to sign up 210-698-2288

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CLUB HAPPENINGS

NEW MEMBER MIXER

Thank you to our member hosts!

SUPPER CLUB The Dominion Supper Club honors Veterans on Veteran’s Day

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WOMEN’S FORUM FIRESIDE S’MORES

The Women’s Forum members and their friends enjoyed a taste of autumn in Texas with a chance to sit by a roaring fire and make s’mores ‘just the way they like it’.

WOMEN’S FORUM November luncheon and Chef Judy presentation

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FROM THE HOA

BEAUTIFYING OUR DOMINION COMMUNITY It has been a busy year for the HOA Landscape Committee - and we hope that residents are enjoying the results!

spot for residents walking dogs, exercising, picnicking, photographing, relaxing, or just enjoying the beauty and peace.

The Landscape Committee, along with the HOA staff, is charged with managing the maintenance of all property, trees, irrigation systems, hardscaping, and lighting in all common areas, as well as reviewing and making landscape recommendations to developers within the Dominion PUD.

There have been new plantings installed at each entrance gate area, the entrances to many of the neighborhoods, along the major thoroughfares, and inside of each individual Dominion neighborhood, well over 100 locations.

Probably the most noticeable work, though, is the installation and refurbishing of plant material - helping to keep The Dominion the beautiful community it is!

We thought it would be fun to share some photos of some of the new landscaping that has been completed this year.

In 2017, projects have been completed in every neighborhood throughout the community. The year began with the completion of the project of revitalizing The Lakes park, our stunning multi-lake area at Dominion Drive and Ambassador.

Plant material, benches, walking trails, new grass, and an extended walking trail were added, helping make The Lakes a must-visit

THE NEW PLAYGROUND IS OPEN! As you see from the excited faces in our photos, the Dominion’s own children have already discovered the new playground and begun putting it through its paces! In case you haven’t noticed it, somehow, it is by the Home Owner’s Association offices!

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HOA ANNUAL FALL BONFIRE The Dominion’s own BRET MULLINS BAND provided an exciting musical accompaniment to the annual Bonfire event!

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TRUNK & TREAT

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WINE AT THE LAKES

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CHARITY ROUNDUP ELF LO UISE THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB TENNIS CENTER

The last 17 years, the Dominion Tennis Center hosts an Elf Louse event. As a part of the event, a tennis clinic is led and taught by the very best tennis professionals from the San Antonio and surrounding areas!

is this a great cause, but we all have a wonderful time. All of the Pro’s donate their time and talents, and all of us at the Tennis Center are honored to be a part of Elf Louise!”

The clinic is followed by an opportunity to try out your new skills learned during the clinic — a Doubles Round Robin. “This doubles event is a blast and everyone has a lot of fun!”, says Barry Mills.

Even if you aren’t a tennis player, if you would like to participate in the Elf Louise effort, please drop off your unwrapped children’s gift at the Tennis Shop from Thanksgiving forward!

To participate, please donate an UNWRAPPED children’s gift of any kind or type. Elf Louise gathers these gifts, sorts and wraps them, and a myriad of Santas and Elves deliver them to the children who are looking for Santa to arrive at their homes on Christmas morning!

December 6 9:30 am to 1:00 p.m.

Dominion Tennis Center To sign up, call the Tennis Shop at 210-698-2288

Last year, we hosted 75 ladies at this event, and we would love to have you join us this year. Barry continued by saying “Not only

COVERS FOR LOVE REMINDER DON’T FORGET!!!

If you want to donate money or NEW, UNUSED blankets to the Covers for Love effort, please deliver them to Marlo Mullins at 210 883-8468 OR bring them by Frontier Title, located at 1723 N. Loop 1604 East, Ste. 2.

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DECEM BER 2017

BEAR HUNT

Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS® organization is continuing its annual tradition of collecting new and pre-loved bears or other stuffed animals. These plush donations go to children in need and help make a child’s holiday a little brighter. Our goal this year is to collect 10,000 stuffed animals for our Bear Hunt.

Since 1990, during the holiday season, we collect thousands of stuffed animals and distributes them to many different organizations. We truly enjoy giving back to our community and making wishes come true.

There are more than twenty organizations in San Antonio, Boerne, Fredericksburg, Kerrville and other surrounding Hill Country areas, that directly benefit from these efforts.

COUPON REQUIRED

License #M-16956

COUPON REQUIRED

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T R AV E L

by Brian Kenneth Swain, Dominion Resident :: photos courtesy of Jack Hebdon

SOJOURN ON THE OKAVANGO DELTA

It seems a little counterintuitive until you take a close look at a map of the African continent. Why would you plan a safari adventure for July rather than, say, October? Turns out that because much of subSaharan Africa is south of the equator (which runs through central Kenya), July is the time to go if you want cool mornings and pleasant afternoons. Indeed, October is regarded by experienced Africa travelers as the “killer month.” So when Christina and Charles Randall and friends Carol and Jack Hebdon scheduled their two-week safari earlier this year, July was the month they chose.

There are lots of ways out of the U.S. for such a long trip, but only one way into southern Africa, and that’s through Johannesburg, South Africa. After that, it’s a small jet to Maun, Botswana, and then really small (single-prop small) planes to the various camps from which safaris are operated in the country. Botswana is an excellent safari country, not only for the great diversity of animal life (the “big five” comprising elephant, lion, leopard, cape buffalo, and rhinoceros), but also because so little hunting takes place in the country that the animals are unafraid of safari vehicles, allowing for many close encounters and magnificent photo opportunities.

For this trip, the Randalls and Hebdons chose Wilderness Safaris, one of the largest, most established safari operators on the continent.

They traveled between three camps—Tubu Tree, Chitabe, and Duma Tau, all of them near the Okavango Delta, the largest inland river delta in the world. Camps (or “concessions”) are immense, typically comprising hundreds of thousands of acres, most of it dry, but some wet, the latter ideal if hippos and crocodiles are your thing.

A typical day is up at sunrise, then a quick breakfast and gathering of equipment before heading out in large rover vehicles for a morning of close encounters with the aforementioned “big five,” as well as kudu (a large species of antelope), colorful African wild dogs (a primary objective of the trip for the couples), baboons, and undertaker birds.

Are there risks associated with interacting with nature in such an up close and personal way? No question about it, though the list of dangers is not quite what the uninitiated might think. Hazards in 26

DECEMBE R 2017

Africa, in descending order of lethality, include mosquitoes (malaria), hippos, and cape buffalo. Which is not to suggest that getting out of your safari vehicle near a pride of feeding lions or a curious elephant is an especially good idea. It was pointed out by their guides that an angry African elephant is capable of lifting and tossing an entire safari vehicle (including occupants) through the air if so inclined.

Adventures during the two-week sojourn in Botswana included not only roaming the Kalahari Sands in search of animal encounters, but also staying safe in the camp at night. The couples were instructed to remain in their tents after dark, and were awakened more than once at late hours by nearby lions and other nighttime predators. Christina relates a harrowing tale of simply trying to get to the nearby bar at the Tubu Tree camp around midnight (a hundred-yard jaunt), only to find it locked (to keep out baboons, apparently big fans of safari drinks!), requiring a quick empty-handed sprint back to the tent, all the while surrounded by the snarls of lions feeding on a nearby zebra.

So, whether relaxing on a patio while elephants graze just beyond the railing, wading across crocodile-filled rivers, or dodging annoyed hippos, the journey to Botswana is one the Randalls will not soon forget. They came away with more photos than they could possibly print and more memories than they can ever recall over dinner and drinks. A journey like this one, whether once in lifetime, or one that’s repeated every few years, affords an opportunity to see life unencumbered by the trappings of every day modernity, where survival is about speed, stealth, and fortitude, and where the tourist is just another animal, which is why it’s a good idea to always stay in the truck.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

by Ben Schooley

BA R 3 0 1

NAME Frank Hakspiel TITLE Owner

HOW DID THE IDEA FOR BAR 301 COME ABOUT? Since 2008, my wife and I thought about having a wine bar because Fralo’s could not get a liquor license at that moment (wine or beer). There was an opportunity and we bought the next door building to develop the concept of a wine bar so people, our customers could go and have a drink before or after Fralo’s. For Fralo’s COMMA we got the license in 2010 and put the original idea on hold. Then we “cooked” up a better plan.

A better idea! A classy jazz piano bar. We love piano, and our son, Grant, plays. It was also driven by the fact that our customers in the local area were really eager to see our next venture!

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DECEMBE R 2017

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED ALONG THE WAY WITH CONSTRUCTION? I can tell you that the city worked closely with us. Because this piece of property was one of the last pieces of raw land, we received a variance from them. Of course, the project took longer than expected for several reasons.

Construction is always a challenge! But we finally developed it, and it is a great product that people are enjoying! A big part of the construction challenge was remodeling the building from the 1960’s. We moved it from Austin, TX and reimagined it for our bar — and the result is simply outstanding!

HOW DOES IT COMPLIMENT FRALO’S? People can go to Fralo’s and have a great pizza, salad and wine; enjoy family time in a great environment and then you walk 50 ft and have a completely different experience.

It was never intended to compliment Fralo’s but the experience of seeing customers walking from Fralo’s to the bar is great!

HAS THE COMMUNITY BEEN SUPPORTIVE OVERALL? This community is awesome. They embraced us and this idea with great enthusiasm as soon as they heard about it. People tell us they were just waiting for the day we opened — and that was true because people are coming — and having a ball!

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE FRALO’S “COMPOUND”? ANY OTHER CONCEPTS? Two new concepts coming to Boerne… soon!

We are working on them!

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THE PEN IS MIGHTIER

Brian Kenneth Swain took his love of electronics, toured the world via the military, achieved multiple degrees from an Ivy League college, wrote several books, and ultimately found it here to call The Dominion home. His journey, while vast, was one where his perseverance and passion served him well and allowed him to accomplish so much.

Swain begins, “When I got out of high school, the only real good option I had was military. I went Air Force, and my first ever flight was to come to San Antonio for training actually. Our house in New England where I grew up was right under the flight pattern for the local base, so it’s just been a common part of my life forever.

I had to pick a service, and it was the most logical one. I was interested in electronic things, so I got the Air Force Specialty Code position, so I was fixing the electronics on the planes. Things like Nav systems, radar, all that cool techy stuff. I did it on a bunch of different planes, and so I bounced around the country, including a year in Biloxi, and a year and a half in Louisiana working on A-7s, but I didn’t care much for that part of the country.

I even spent 2 years in Okinawa.”

by Ben Schooley

photography by Ben Weber

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DECEM BE R 2017

Swain’s decision to enter the military right out of high school was based on financial need, but also on his understanding that he probably wouldn’t have gotten accepted to a premier university as he had hoped. However, his military experience proved most beneficial. “I’m not sure why I did military, except that it was more of a money thing. Based on my high school academic record, I would have gotten into an ‘OK’ school. After 8 years in the military, I got out and went through the application process again, and I did tons better on the SAT. I applied only to super good schools, primarily Ivy League schools, and but in one day, I got 6 rejection letters from all of them….except for Columbia. So sure enough, I was accepted. As I learned, most every applicant is 4.0, President of the class, Valedictorian, etc and you have to stand out in some way. So in my case, the thing that made the difference was that I was coming out of the Air Force. A lot of those students that come from excellence actually have a tough time because they come out of an environment where they’re the best of the best, and they enter an environment where they are ‘average’”.

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Earning his BS in Electrical Engineering in 4 years, Swain was poised to finally break out into the corporate world and let his career take shape. “I was hired by Bell Labs in Holmdel, Iowa. It was part of AT&T’s research arm and part of the cool part of working for them is that one of their job requirements is that within 2 years you had to get your MS, and they paid for it. So I went back to Columbia and got my MS in Engineering. I then went to Wharton for my MBA. They paid for both, and it was great. I was living in north Jersey at the time.”

WRITING As Swain’s career advanced, so did a passion that he had not fully explored yet: writing.

Without the chance to ever really explore his desire to write because of his career, Swain was ultimately granted this opportunity in 2003. “I didn’t write a lot in high school. I had one teacher, Mrs. Brown, who was mildly encouraging. I wrote a bit of poetry back then and of course it was horrible. I remember having a binder of stuff that I had written but I suppose it was lost to antiquity. The passion for writing didn’t really kick in until later.

All of my formal education was engineering and business related. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I seriously got into writing. It was a somewhat spurious thing: I had been noodling an idea for a book for a while. All of a sudden I got laid off for a job, and I got a great severance package that enabled me to really focus on it. So I spent almost all of 2003 and 2004 writing that first novel that was ultimately published in ’07, titled ‘World Hunger’.”

Since then, Swain has gone on to publish 5 different fiction novels. He also has worked with short stories and poetry, as well as essay and poetry collections. He has been a featured poet at the Poetry Society of Texas, Houston Poetry Fest (five-time juried poet), Austin International Poetry Festival (juried poet), InPrint, Barnes & Noble, and Borders, as well as on Pacifica and NPR radio. His work has appeared in Voces de la Luna, Di-Verseity, Ampersand, Bayou Review, Edgar Literary Magazine, Free Press Houston, Mutabilis Press, Northwest Review, Pebble Lake Review, Spikey Palm, and The Texas Poetry Calendar.

He is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee.

While Swain’s career is certainly a key part of his life, writing has grown and grown for him and become a larger interest and passion in his life. He explains, “Almost every person you talk to will say ‘I don’t know how to start, I have this great idea, and how do I do it?’ For me every story starts with ‘What would happen if……..’ so it’s some idea that comes about from other inspiration and I just take it from there.

One of the neat things I’ve done over the years is that I create characters at random and I keep them on a file in my computer. They’re just made up people. So when I get an idea for characters or for the story, I can go back to that file and just grab them and see if they fit in the story. All writing is exactly the same in one way: every story is to create one or more characters and give them enough reality so that people care about them, and put them in some conflict, and see how they get out of it.

My mother used to give me hell because my stories have so much conflict. But there has to be conflict.”

ALL WRITING IS EXACTLY THE SAME IN ONE WAY: EVERY STORY IS TO CREATE ONE OR MORE CHARACTERS AND GIVE THEM ENOUGH REALITY SO THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM, AND PUT THEM IN SOME CONFLICT, AND SEE HOW THEY GET OUT OF IT. While the writing has kept Swain busy, so has his career and he remains as passionate as ever about it. He continues, “I consulted for 7 years out of Jersey with the electric power industry in the UK. Most things I’ve gotten into involve customer care and support. I’ve worked with every electric utility in the US at one point, all of them in the UK, Pakistan, New Zealand, Tokyo, basically all over the world. I also worked with McKinsey & Co in Houston which is easily the most well known in the management consulting space. I was their Researching/Information Manager for 3 years. I liked Houston – it’s a little jarring coming from the Northeast, but I was single and I just figured I’d see what Texas was all about so I moved here in December of ‘99.

I wasn’t doing the consulting any more, but I was managing these teams that were T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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supporting the consultants. The subject matter was all over the place, and I remember one that was “Can you ship tarantulas by air without them dying?” It was always different and I enjoyed it a lot.”

POLITICS Another of Swain’s passions is centered on politics, and he has worked extensively in this arena. He explains, “I worked on Bill White’s mayoral campaign in ’03 when he was running for Mayor of Houston. When Hurricane Rita came through in ’05, he told everyone to get out of town. I got in my car and I spent a week driving randomly all over the back roads of the Southeast US. I went to all these little towns and so every place that I went I wrote a little one page poem about the town.

I got home and decided that I wanted to write something for every state in the country. A little town in every state in the country, and so that was published shortly thereafter. I have also lived here for 17 years, but I’m not a very good Texan. No boots, no hats, no guns, no country western music. I’m a Northeast liberal guy. Even though I grew up in Maine, I relate more to my NJ and NE time and I laugh that living back up there would be the easy way out. I disagree with almost everyone politically about everything in South Texas, though I love them. So I’m here, and we argue and we debate and I love it. I’m a news junkie.

I’m a politics junkie. By Texas state law, I could never run for anything because I have no wife, no kids, and facial hair. The Texas State Constitution actually says you cannot run for office unless you’re a Christian.”

As for political aspirations, Swain has few. “I see what the politicians do and their schedules, and am not really all that interested. The political passion I have wasn’t from my mom…cause she was too busy working. I can’t tell you where it came from, but it’s just interested me the most since I moved to Texas. I have learned a lot. I love BBQ. The people are amazing, but I’ve never been on a horse…and I like it here. I love the cost of living, the cultural experiences here, the dining... it’s really a great mix.”

The Dominion is a good fit for Swain as well, and he is very content with his house that he has been in since 2011. “I looked at houses here and I looked in a bunch of other places… but I loved the neighborhood here, and I just frankly loved this house. It’s a handy location to everything. The company I was working with was right behind the Quarry, and I can get almost anywhere pretty quick. I have (Photos Courtesy of The Grill Leon Springs) discovered that there are At actually single

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people living here contrary to rumor…but not many. Most of them have been here a while, although to be honest, meeting people via the magazine has been huge for me. Meeting my neighbors and just getting to know everyone has been amazing. There’s such a wide range of people…there’s normal people like me…then there’s the ones living in 20,000 square foot houses. I’ve come to find that the perception is that everyone here is super wealthy, and while there is a lot of that here, there’s also a lot of normal, middle-income people and I love that about it.”

Swain finishes with one of his favorite Da Vinci quotes, “Works of art are never finished.

They are just abandoned.” With his two dogs, Maya and Loki, ensconced at his feet, Swain is poised well for the next many adventures and for the pursuit of his art…in the many mediums that he enjoys.

WORKS OF ART ARE NEVER FINISHED. THEY ARE JUST ABANDONED.

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TENNIS

As Julian outlined “Coaching wasn't a part of my early childhood dream, but after teaching tennis one summer in 1990 (just to pay my tennis travel bills), I discovered that mentoring and developing tennis players to be my true calling. I loved spending time with people who share my same passion for the sport of tennis.”

JULIAN LOPEZ,

TENNIS PROFESSIONAL

by Barry Mills, Director of Tennis

Please welcome Julian Lopez, our newest addition to the Dominion Country Club!

Julian was born in Grants, New Mexico, and recently moved to Boerne with his wife, Elisabeth and their 9 year old daughter, Isabella. Julian grew up in Houston (Congratulations Astros!) and, at age 10, learned to play tennis at John Holladay's Copperfield Racquet and Health Club.

Julian’s dad was a professional baseball player, who, having introduced tennis to a young Julian, immediately regretted his decision to do so. Baseball, football, soccer and pretty much everything else was forgotten from that moment on. Before too long, there was the Cy-Fair High School tennis team, and then on to a full tennis scholarship to Oral Roberts University.

Julian attended college with the plan of becoming a geologist, but the dream of tennis stardom pulled him back. So, when the opportunity to turn his tennis passion into a career became a reality, he dove in and never looked back.

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The next 3 years were spent teaching tennis full time at his home club in Copperfield.

He traveled extensively with his players, all the while honing his teaching skills and continuing his own tennis journey. "Coaching allowed me to see tennis from a different perspective and, overall, made me a better player. It also gives me the chance to pass on my experience to new generations of tennis players, and that has been the greatest reward."

27 years later, Julian has developed junior tennis players of all levels. His successes have been myriad and impressive — “Many students left for college with full tennis scholarships, some spent time on the tour, and others have followed in my example and become teaching pros.” He continued “One of my coaching career highlights was the opportunity to work with Luciane Kelbert, Brazil's #1 player, for 3 years while she played on the tour. My most recent successes include the ground-up development of a strong group of Texas tennis players, several of which have gone on to attend full time academies, including the prestigious Harry Hopman Tennis Academy in Florida.”

Please join us in welcoming Julian to our club and our community. If you ever wanted to have some of the best training available for your junior player, please call to arrange a time with Julian.

w w w. j i m b o l e s c o n s t . c o m

210.710.6441

A Eorest of Trees

by Peggy Schooley

We’ve all probably been in a forest: the hushed environment, the beauty you can find in any direction you can look.

One of your Dominion neighbors does nature one better. She has a forest of trees, but they are in her home, and each one is beautifully decorated with a theme for Christmas!

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Marilyn Farello and her family have built their forest lovingly over many years, and this year brings a total of 26 Christmas trees to their home!

When I asked Marilyn the basic question of “How did this happen?”, she was quick to answer “I have always been crazy about Christmas decorations!

So, I am always on the lookout for Christmas decoration collections, or ideas that can be the base of a collection, and build from there!”

As you make your way through their beautiful home, you first see the main tree. As Marilyn described it, she outlined “it is huge and completely decorated in German hand-blown ornaments which I have been collecting for years. However, my other themes evolved more gradually.”

She continued “Some of the trees are themed based on some of my passions. For example, I have themed trees for two of my favorite sports teams — the Boston Red Sox and the San Antonio Spurs. I also do a tree with all wine-oriented decorations, one with all movie ornaments, and another with all cheese ornaments.

Some of the other trees happened because I found a specific ornament or interesting garland and planned a tree based on that. My laundry room tree started after I found an ironing board ornament and a laundry basket ornament! The snowflake tree in my master bath evolved from snowflake garland I discovered. My grown son always had several trees in his room growing up based on his interests at the time. He is employed in Computer Science, so upstairs there is a tree with computer and video game ornaments.” As an aside, Marilyn noted “He lives downtown so I enjoy it more than he does!”

Marilyn loves the hunt for the theme ideas, but also just because they are beautiful. As she told me “Other trees happened simply because I liked how they looked — one with all gold ornaments, one with all silver, a retro tree, one with wild animals, one with ladies in black and silver gowns, one in spring green and fuschia themed with butterflies. Of course, I had to have a Texasthemed tree and also one with a Mexico theme!”

What a wonderful way to enjoy not only the season, but also Marilyn’s artistic creativity and fun — all wrapped up into 26 Christmas trees to see and just…smile. Thank you for sharing, Marilyn — now I love Christmas just a little bit more, too!

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INSIDE THE ARTIST ’S STUDIO

by Brian Kenneth Swain, Dominion Resident

KIM TOMES DIETZ Eleven-year Dominion resident Kim Tomes Dietz has been drawn to artistic pursuits since her earliest recollections. Her third-grade rendering of a sleeping bear caught the attention of a teacher who arranged to have it displayed in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

She has been doodling, sketching, sculpting, and crafting artworks for so long that it’s now second nature. Her high school schedule was too filled with classes, choir, and drill team practice for her to fit in a formal art class. Nevertheless, she frequently visited the class, studied the artworks the other students were creating, and secretly wished she could take part as well.

Later in life, upon entering Texas A&M University, her mother informed her, in no uncertain terms, that, rather than majoring in art, she would be studying to become a teacher, with which demand Kim dutifully complied. Since then she has never used the teaching degree, but years later her mother happily introduced Kim as “her daughter the artist.” She has taken classes at The Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, where she studied drawing, sculpture, and watercolor techniques, as well as having taken classes at other U.S. institutions and studied decorative painting in Italy.

Kim’s goal is to tell stories with her artwork, whether a painting on canvas, a bronze sculpture, or the interior design of an adobe home near Big Bend, the latter an opportunity to meld eighteenth- and nineteenth-century antiques with modern pieces to create a truly unique space.

She muses about a ceiling mural she painted years ago: “I recall looking up at a fifty-four-foot-long barrel ceiling, forty feet high, and being overcome with fear as I contemplated covering it with landscapes and architectural structures. It was a daunting challenge, and two months later, once the scaffolding had been removed and I looked up at my work, I realized in that moment that I was not the artist, but rather just the channel for God’s gift of talent.”

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GOLF

by Tony Johnson, Director of Golf, Dominion Country Club

LADIES’ CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 2017 Ladies’ Club Champion Betty Ferguson

Betty Ferguson won the 2017 Ladies’ Club Championship for an unprecedented 6th time! Katie Lenss finished 3 strokes behind Betty Ferguson to finish Runner-Up in the Championship.

Tania Mirabent finished in first place for the Net Flight in the Ladies’ Club Championship. Sunny Won finished one stroke behind Tania for Second Place in the Net Flight.

DECEMBER GOLF EVENTS

The DWGA LAST BLAST - Thursday, December 7, 2017. 9:00 a.m. Breakfast & Awards followed by 9 Hole Scramble.

Monday Open Play - Monday, December 18, 2017.

Special Guest Rate of $50.

12 Days of Christmas - December 8-19. Different items and apparel will be on sale each of the 12 Days.

WINTER GOLF PRACTICE TIPS Putting - As we know, putting accounts for nearly 50% of strokes taken on the golf course! Whenever it is too cold to go outside during the winter months, throw down a coffee mug in your living room or office, and practice 3 to 6 foot putts!

Follow Hank Haney’s advice and make 100 swings a day. The noted instructor taught that the best way to groove a swing is to repeat it without worrying about where the ball is headed. You can do this in your backyard, or if you’re blessed with high ceilings and an understanding spouse, you might not even have to leave the house.

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SERVING ALL PAINTING, REMODELING & RENOVATION NEEDS! We are committed to perform our assignment to meet each and every customer’s expectation and satisfaction.

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- We provide Residential and Commercial Services - Interior and Exterior Painting - Powerwashing - Drywall & Texture

210-899-9914

DiamondPaint.Remodeling@gmail.com

210.337.3900 | 210.269.8056 16106 University Oaks #1 San Antonio, TX 78249 www.cambridgesa.com shelly@cambridgesa.com T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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FITNESS

BALANCE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH HEALTHY HABITS Jonathan Andrews and Patrick Hafner

Did you know that 75% of annual weight gain takes place during the holiday season….and that the average American never loses it?!?

Time commitments and stress rise dramatically, while unhealthy food, decadent desserts and increased alcohol intake disrupt your normal routine. Indulging is okay…to a point. However, portion control is key.

Go ahead and celebrate, but make a commitment to celebrate with moderation and balance in mind. Don’t view this as selfdenial but as a way to enjoy the indulgences of the season without harming your health.

Here are some quick and easy tricks to help you watch you health during the Holidays:

CELEBRATING IN MODERATION 1, Never Arrive Hungry Have a nutritious snack beforehand and drink water before filling up your plate.

2. Divert Your Attention There is more to a party than just food!

Focus instead on enjoying your friends company.

3. Pace Yourself!

This goes for alcohol as well as food. Too much alcohol leads to too little self control over what you eat. And those liquid calories add up quickly!

4. Outsmart The Buffet Use the smallest plate and go for the simplest foods. Beware of added sauces and dips. Keep meals balanced with protein and incorporate fiber rich foods. Start your meals with a soup or salad.

5. BYOD – Bring Your Own Dish Bring a healthy dish so you know there is at least one good alternative.

6. Limit “Tastes” While Cooking People lose their appetites when they have been cooking because they “taste” the whole time. These small bites can add up in calories!

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HEALTHY HOLIDAY HABITS 8. Get Plenty of Sleep Insufficient sleep may increase your hunger hormone levels, ultimately leading to higher calorie intake.

9. Control Your Stress Levels High Stress level lead to an increase in cortisol which may cause weight gain and craving for higher carb junk foods.

10. Do Not Give Up Your Regular Exercise Routine!

It is important to stick to your daily routines as often as possible. Schedule workouts on your calendar just as you do any other holiday commitments. Committing to stay healthy throughout the holiday season is the first step, but to make your commitment a reality, you need to follow through and even up the ante in some cases.

11. Sign Up for a Holiday Fitness Event Check local event listings to find running, walking, or cycling races in your area. If you sign up for an event, chances are you’ll follow through on the necessary training.

If you have children, look for events with a family friendly focus and get the entire gang involved.

12. Celebrate With Activity Create new holiday traditions with your family by choosing to engage in active celebrations. For instance, don’t drive to see

the neighborhood lighting displays! Walk instead. Your kids and loved ones will cherish the time with you. Check recreation centers, rock climbing gyms, and bowling alleys to see if they have special Christmas programs. Not only will it get everyone away from the food for a while, but there is something about physical activity that puts you in control.

Follow these simple tips and you can survive holiday temptations and emerge in the New Year healthier than before!

Do you need a great gift idea for the “Hard to Buy For” person in your life? How about the gift of Healthy Habits? We offer packages from Golf Fitness to Private Yoga, to Personal Training, and Personal Coaching. Your Dominion Country Club Fitness Center has many options for that hard to buy for person - just call us for more information!

F I T N E SS & W E LL N E S S F AI R Thank you to all the businesses who participated in the inaugural event and making it a huge success: Sono Bello, CryoFit, MDConceirge - Dr. Khris Ramdeen, First Course Salad Kitchen, The Focus Total Health, Doterra Essential Oils, Connie White & Beverly Davis: Jin Shin Jyutsu, Everskin Botanically Delivered Skincare-Lety Medina, Boerne Lacrosse, Bra Chick, Lee Dental Centers, Bryant Chiropractic, Massage by Teresa, Therapy Rocks with Tom, PLLC, Heather’s Beauty Bar, Waxing The City, JuicePlus+, Christus Pediatric Physicians- Dominion Crossing, Victory Martial Arts, Blo Blow-Dry Bar, Isagenix International - Judy Watson, Alek Chesser - Therapeutic Massage & Body Work, Airrosti, and Matori Safaris.

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HOME TOUR

by Peggy Schooley :: photography by Ben Weber

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ROMANCE BLOSSOMS AT THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB Rod and Tania Mirabent The Mirabent’s home, at first glance upon arrival, appears to be similar to others in the community - brick with a beautiful entrance and amazing front doors. But then, you enter the foyer, and find you are in an eclectic, contemporary home filled with love and light, with a warm welcome from Rod and Tania.

Their ‘home’ story has interesting international twists and yet, is so like all wonderful stories — charming beginnings and happy endings. Rod and Tania met via an apartment in Mexico City. As Tania’s whole family slowly made its way to San Antonio, she often spent time here with them, leaving her with the apartment in Mexico City not being used regularly. When she offered it for rent, Rod signed on — never knowing where that decision would ultimately lead him.

Rod, too, had his connections to San Antonio. “My company’s headquarters are in San Antonio, and I made the trip back and forth quite often. In fact, I even joined the Dominion Country Club as an international member! Getting into a Club in Mexico City was beyond my means, but the DCC’s international program was perfect for me!”

So, the plot line was set. “Rod was the nicest guy,” Tania explained. “When he was making a trip to San Antonio, he would always call to offer to pick something up in San Antonio - or take something from Mexico to my family if needed. That, along with the rental payments, kept us in touch for a long time.”

Tania continued “And then, in 2003, I decided to make the final move to San Antonio. I called Rod to let him know I was moving to open a jewelry store.” Rod picked up the story here to say “I seemed to always find a way to keep up with Tania even when we didn’t see one another. One day I was in SA and just ‘happened’ to see that her store was open. I visited it, and asked her to lunch.

Then the next day to the movies. Then the next day to play golf at the Club. In fact, when I finally asked her to marry me six months later — it was on the 17th Green on the Dominion’s course!”

In contrast, while Rod mentions the six months as “a long time,” Tania says “Oh gosh!

It was so FAST! He’d only met my mom a couple of times and she was scandalized by the speed! In Spain, where I’m from, a boyfriend spends hours and hours at his sweetheart’s home: meeting parents, siblings, understanding the family. My whole family was just shocked by this!”

The first major change after the wedding was the arrival of their twins Pilar and Camilla, now five. Tania said “I was so content. My family was complete!” Rod said, with a sparkle in his eye, “But I could tell that she was expecting again, even though she kept denying it!” Just 13 months later, their son Borja arrived.

As happens so often in our lives, surprises occur that bring big changes. In this case, Tania said “Rod and I knew immediately that

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our sweet home in the Cottages just wasn’t big enough any more. So we worked with Binkan Cinaroglu, our realtor, to ‘just look around’ at what was available. And, of course, this home was on the market, but already under contract. We were partially relieved, because the house was substantially over our budget. But, then again, it seemed perfect for us.” However, it seemed not to be. Someone else bought it, so that was it… and they continued their search.

“We put our Cottage on the market, assuming it would take a few months before it sold. But, of course, it was sold in two 56

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weeks and we had to pack up a family of five and put all our things in storage!” Rod reminisced. “We kept looking at homes with nothing really capturing us like ‘that first house we saw.’”

Our realtor called us to tell us “The house at 2 Sandhurst Lane is back on the market!

The other deal fell through!” Tania reflected “We were so excited — but we knew it was still an unlikely opportunity, because we just couldn’t pay what was being asked. So, we made our really too-low offer, but we included a very sincere and heartfelt letter outlining that while this was all we could

afford, we felt that this home was meant for us and we would cherish it for years to come.

We honestly expected a rejection.”

Rod continued “So imagine our surprise when our offer was accepted! That was five years ago, and we couldn’t be happier. We love our neighbors, our location, the home, everything is perfect.” Rod and Tania’s home is open and bright, with colorful art and beautiful family photographs making each room feel warm and loving. “We love the more contemporary feel of the home, and the fact we are on a hill that is mostly ‘raw’ landscaping. Our children love to explore,

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climb trees, build forts, and discover lizards, and raccoons, possums, and even the occasional scary - for me - snake!”

I asked about selecting, and then remaining in the Dominion. Rod and Tania quickly agreed on the answer! “The Dominion is the best place to raise children. Our twins attend Leon Springs Elementary, and couldn’t be happier with the school or with the teaching staff. The children are safe to roam our little street, our neighbors love them, and they have plenty of trees to climb and ‘forests’ to explore! So many of their friends live very close and the children have so many playmates. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Tania continued “One of the advantages we love most is the number of events and activities in the community - through both the HOA and the Club. The children meet so many of their neighborhood and school friends at all the events, and they can’t wait until the next one happens. Rod and I feel the same.”

As an aside, Tania just won the Dominion Country Club Ladies Golf Championship. “I hadn’t been able to play very much since the children came along, so it was a lot of fun to go into the competition and discover my skills are returned! I’ve been playing quite a bit in preparation, but I was truly surprised I did so well!”

Rod and Tania are avid wine connoisseurs, and having a huge wine vault spurred that hobby on. Not without some learning, however! Rod shared “When we first moved in, I was determined to fill the wine cellar up - which turned out to be a huge statement!

About three years into the ‘project’ I learned that unless you buy wines that are meant to be aged for long periods of time, wine goes bad before you can drink it all!” Laughingly, he continued “So we have been having lots of parties to drink it up! A fun part of that is our traditional Sunday family gather for paella and wine, and our two families, gathered together, have really helped me get through the wines!” (Here I confess that I asked for and got a copy of Rod’s favorite and famous Paella Almirall recipe, which is on my menu for next weekend.)

While “romance” started this story, it seems a romance of another kind is finishing it — The Dominion community has once again captured the hearts of a family - and they are unlikely to ever leave this little spot of contentment they’ve found.

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COMMUNITY INTEREST

by Sue Talford

BOERNE PERFORMING ARTS

As we approach the holiday season…where we wish “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”…How about extending your funfilled holidays with another “good night” in 2018? Catch your breathe from the holidays with a delightful evening in Boerne, Texas… providing you a much-needed break from the New Year demands and resolutions.

Celebrate 2018 with an evening to remember in this hill country getaway…just minutes out the I-10 corridor.

Stroll down Main Street where you can amble, take in a breathe of fresh air, enjoy the aromas of the many specialty dining establishments, and then have a seat to enjoy one of the savory meals prepared at the numerous eateries on the Hill Country Mile.

Those moments will take you back in time where the finer things in life were slower paced and neighborly. But, there’s more!

After dinner, attend a world-class performing arts production featuring artists from around the world.

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Boerne Performing Arts is presenting their seventh season with an incredible line-up of four artists from around the world…The Ten Tenors (Australia), Tango Fire (Argentina), TAO Drummers (Japan), and the Accordion Virtuosi of Russia. These artists regularly perform in the major venues of the world, but for one night only, each artist will present their own concert in the intimate venue of Champion Auditorium. Now, for four nights and four different shows, you can be up close and personal with the artists!

And wait…there’s more! These BIG EVENTS in the small town of Boerne offer easy parking (with NO parking fees), your walk to the auditorium meanders through a grove of live oaks, and the traffic going to and from the venue is much easier than the alternatives! Come and check out the fun at one of the hill country’s best-kept secrets!

Tuesday, January 23 – Tango Fire, the hottest Tango Company in Buenos Aires, promises an electrifying evening that showcases some of the speediest footwork and tightest twirling in the dance business! Accompanied by a quartet of brilliant musicians, this show will deliver an evening of high-energy and sophistication that will leave you breathless.

Thursday, February 15 – A world-renowned orchestra that has performed at the opening ceremonies of three Olympic Games, will now transfix audiences in the hill country with their diverse repertoire ranging from folks songs to pop music to full orchestration of the classics. And the most incredible part…their Instruments! This is THE Accordion Virtuosi of Russia! This ensemble is in demand world-wide and literally provides a squeezebox of musicality in each performance.

Tuesday, February 20 – Direct from Down Under, The Ten Tenors will begin their 2018 North American Tour in Boerne, Texas! Fresh off the success of their 20th Anniversary World Tour, The Ten Tenors will pay tribute to musical legends lost before their time in their new show, Wish You Were Here! If you’ve never experienced this group, now is your chance to meet the Power of Ten! This special event is in addition to the 3-concert series.

Friday, April 13 – TAO returns with their latest production, Drum Heart. Having performed in 23 countries worldwide to over 7 million spectators, this unBEATable drum art performance hallmarks the ancient art of Japanese taiko drumming in a modern, magical, mystifying performance.

Back by popular demand, TAO combines highly physical large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals. You’ll be both exhausted and enthralled!

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ART

by Lynette Aleman, Dominion Resident

SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART San Antonio. The pieces range from mummies of Egypt, Roman statues, Asian screens, Hindu sculptures, and Latin, Latin American and Contemporary art.

With the holidays approaching and cooler weather starting to tease us, why not head to the museum! A great place to consider is the San Antonio Museum of Art, also called SAMA for short. SAMA is located at 200 West Jones Avenue.

Your viewing pleasure begins as you arrive.

Take in the beauty of the building that sits upon the river in the museum reach area of the Riverwalk. This building was built in 1884 and was formerly the Lone Star Brewery. The current building houses 67,000 square feet of gallery space. Outside the grounds you will find cobble stone lined paths and greenery that lead to a patio overlooking the Riverwalk.

SAMA is a great place to come in from the cold (when nature does tease us with a cold spell) and stretch your legs while enjoying the collection. There is an astounding 30,000 pieces housed at SAMA of which only 5-10% of the collection is on display at a time. Most notable is the collection also spans over 5,000 years of history. Imagine that! Over 5,000 years in one building in 62

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With all these pieces to draw inspiration from, it is no wonder how many events they have planned for their patrons and members during the year. I am going to mention just a few here but please check out their website and go to calendar to see so many more.

During your visit, if you so feel inspired, you can sketch in the gallery. You bring your own sketch pad and supplies or — if you are inspired during your first visit, you can check out a sketch guide, sketch pad and pencils at no charge from the gift shop.

SAMA offers an array of activities on select evenings. The second Friday of each month they host an evening Art Party where the museum is open late for your enjoyment.

After going through the museum, head to their scenic patio overlooking the River Walk.

Enjoy a specialty cocktail, wine or beer for purchase from Esquire Tavern while taking in the scenery. A local Latin, Jazz, or Swing band also takes over the patio to enhance your experience. The Art Party is free with Museum admission.

The current Fall exhibition is called The Latino List, featuring works by photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. His work focuses on influential Hispanic Americans including (but certainly not limited to) Chi Chi Rodriguez, Sandra Sotomayer, Sandra Cisneros, Henry Cisneros, Eva Longoria and even Pitbull.

I am VERY impressed with the docents in the gallery. They go through an in-depth 2-year training program to learn about each piece on display. They lead school tours and group tours and in fact led over 652 tours last year to 26,624 adults and children. You can attend a docent-led gallery talk, which is offered twice a week. The Docent will give in depth discussion about a selection in the museum. During the Art Party the docents lead 2-3 tours of the gallery focusing on the theme of the art party. For example, for the October Friday the 13th art party, they lead a fun and fascinating tour of good luck and bad luck symbols and amulets in the museum.

In December, they will do it again with the theme is It’s a Small World After All. A perfect way to get familiar with the works at SAMA. Art to Lunch is another fun event if you have time to get away during the day. On the first and third Thursday of the month they offer a two-hour focus on particular pieces in the museum and go over details you may miss when going through the museum on your own.

If all of the upcoming holidays have you fretting, attend one of their mind, body and spirit events to relax such as Meditation in the Japanese Gallery every Saturday from 10:15 to 11:00 am. There is also an Art and Yoga experience offered on select Tuesdays with the next one on December 12th, 2017.

If you are a parent or grandparent of a little one, SAMA offers a program called Playdates.

This program invites toddlers to visit the gallery and will offer a theme and art catered to them. In December is Dancing Deer.

There are many exciting events also coming up in December as well — such as the Museum Reach Riverwalk Lighting on December 2nd. It will feature Around the World Holiday Tour, ornament making and holiday music. They continue boosting your holiday spirit a few days later on December 5th with the River City Ringers, a local handbell choir.

This list shares only a sample of the events SAMA is offering for December! Check their event calendar online at www.samuseum.org

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DAAG

PET OF THE MONTH - DUTCH Dear Santa Claws, I write to you to ask for a box for Christmas.

A couple of boxes, actually. Okay, maybe 7 boxes...or 15. Just send all the empty boxes that can comfurrtably fit a 17-pound, 4-yearold very handsome cat. I can ask for anything because I am on the NICE list, and I am asking for boxes.

Oh yes, and a home. I need one of those, too, with really nice people, and of course, purrfurrably with room for boxes as my suitcase shall have many.

Love, Dutch Dutch is available for adoption through Dominion Animal Advocates Group (DAAG).

He is neutered and fully vetted. Dutch is a serious overeater and will do best in a home where his diet can be strictly controlled.

Contact DAAG at (210) 854-8055 or daagadoptions@gmail.com to inquire about Dutch or another foster pet.

HOWL-O-WEEN

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TMI

by Paula Allen

TMI T E E S OFF

W I T H NEW-ST YL E GOL F T OU R N A ME N T

The Episcopal School hosted Tee Off Fore TMI on October 18 at Topgolf, a sports and entertainment complex for golfers and nongolfers alike.

About 180 alumni, parents, students and other friends of TMI attended the fundraising event, a fun, family-friendly, new twist on the traditional golf tournament.

The TMI party filled 30 of the venue’s hitting bays; spectators also were welcome to watch the golf competitions, buy raffle tickets for jewelry and other prizes; and enjoy the dinner buffet.

Event sponsors included Jonathon Beitz, Briones Engineering, Corsair Interests LLC, the Greehey School of Business at St. Mary’s University, Higginbotham and Rick Smith ’71, MassMutual South Texas, Virginia E. Maurer PLLC, the Mims family, A.J. Monier Service Co., St. George Episcopal School, Steve’s Plumbing and Robi Jalnos and Bob Loeffler, and Wortham Insurance and Risk Management.

The well-received new event raised valuable funds for the school. Proceeds will benefit tuition assistance, classroom technology and faculty professional development.

For more information about TMI, including admissions and upcoming events, visit www.tmi-sa.org.

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SIMPLY DIVINE Jewelry with a Texas attitude

325 South Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006 • 830-249-7393 www.thegreenbull.com

GOOD READS

by Marlene Neslund, Dominion Resident

BE FORE WE WERE YOURS

brains, beauty, a handsome fiancé and a loving family in high standing. She dutifully leaves her Washington D.C. job to return home to help her senator father with his fight against health and political challenges.

A chance encounter at a nursing home leads her on a journey that takes her into the past with all its hidden truths.

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate introduces us to two strong female characters in two separate stories, generations apart, that ultimately interweave.

This novel opens up in Memphis, 1939, on the Mississippi River in a shanty boat. Twelveyear old Rill Foss is left in charge of her four younger siblings while their father rushes their mother to the hospital. The children are taken by force to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage. Thus begins the highly emotional and heart-breaking journey describing horrific truths about this real life institution.

Alternate chapters deal with Avery Stafford in Aiken, South Carolina, in the present day.

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Each of these stories progresses in alternate chapters until they ultimately, and somewhat predictably, merge. The tale of the Foss children is by far the more engaging.

It embodies many colorful and good-souled characters who try to save the children - Silas, Zidy, Hootsie, Zuma and Arney. Even their names are imaginative. The story is more absorbing because it is based on actual historic fact. It relates the horror of Georgia Tann, the real director of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, who kidnapped and brokered poor children to wealthy families all over the nation for three decades. Two of her more notable clients were Joan Crawford and June Allyson. (FYI, young readers, these were two famous Hollywood stars back in the day.) It is estimated that 5000 children were kidnapped and trafficked before this adoption organization was closed in 1950.

Wingate fills her pages with words of wisdom from her characters’ mouths; May (Rill) gives us the most. “A woman’s past need not predict her future. She can dance to new music if she chooses. Her own music.”

“Life is not unlike cinema. Each scene has

its own music, and the music is created for the scene, woven to it in ways we do not understand. No matter how much we may love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn’t suit the moment.”

“But the love of sisters needs no words, It does not depend on memories or mementos or proof. It runs deep as a heartbeat. It is ever present as a pulse.”

Irony runs deep in this emotional novel.

Georgia Tann, a despicable thief and liar, states, “They are blank slates. They are born untainted and if you adopt them at an early age and surround them with beauty and culture, they will become anything you want them to be.” Some of the Foss children were fortunate to be adopted by loving families and were given far more opportunities in life than if they had remained in a impoverished river life. They married well and contributed to society, Also, the high profile adoptions did take the social stigmatism out of the process. But, when all truths be told, the ends never justify the means. Across the board, this novel rated four and half stars out of five - a real page turner!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Wingate is an inspirational speaker as well as an author of over twenty novels.

Her awards are numerous, including the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, the Utah Library Award, the Carol Award, the Oklahoma Book Award and the RT Reviews’ Choice Award.

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS is a NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller as well as a USA TODAY Bestseller. Lisa Wingate makes her home in central Texas.

PR

RE ICE

C DU

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314 Schweppe St $497,000 MLS# 1234208

Charming cottage on .66 acre lot one block off Main Street.

3/2 Main house 2403 sq. ft. 1/1 Guest suite off garage (not included in footage). Mature trees and meticulous landscaping.

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by Ashley DeVane, Dominion Resident

GRE Y MO S S I NN

Rich in history on Scenic Loop Road is the romantic Hill Country dining locale The Grey Moss Inn. This ideal setting became home to the Inn in 1929 when it was founded by Mary Howell. She opened it first as a tea room and then gained fame for her Southern hospitality and fine cooking.

Today serving mostly steaks, prime rib, lamb, game and seafood specialties, The Grey Moss Inn upholds the techniques — and many of the recipes — that have been served for almost 85 years. Mary’s CuminHerbed Zucchini Squash Au Gratin remains a tradition and is served alongside their sour cream twice-baked potato in accompaniment to many of the entrée items.

I have been dining at The Grey Moss Inn since before I moved to San Antonio in 2006.

There is something about the romantic ambiance that lures me in. The aroma of candles burning and meat smoking over mesquite wood is reminiscent of my German grandparent’s cooking. The setting, the smells, and the food are like coming home to another kinder time.

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this recently added entrée: double-boned pork chop with bacon. The chop was smoked to perfection over the mesquite fire. It arrived along with a bowl of fresh tomato soup topped with fried basil and burrata mozzarella, and joined a side of fried escargot and frites. This off-the-menu side was amazing! Chef Skylar said he can make this almost any time upon request.

The Grey Moss Inn offers a scrumptious variety of scratch-made desserts, such as apple pie, and after dinner drinks and port wines to more than satisfy your sweet tooth.

Unfortunately, I did not wear my stretchy pants, so we opted out of dessert but I can vouch for how wonderfully homemade they taste! We did, however, have a taste of the 20-year Tawney Port and Ice Port wines.

Both ports share an excellent aroma and taste to round out the evening.

Upon arriving under the majestic oak trees you see the Inn on the left and the restaurant on the right behind old stone walls. You can already smell the huge wood burning outdoor grill where they baste their meats with their famous “witches brew” – an original Inn recipe.

We were warmly welcomed, and as we passed through the atrium with stone floors, we entered the main dining area with old hardwoods and were shown to our table by the antique iron fireplace. Upon requesting the wine list I quickly recalled how extensive the wine list is. I asked for a recommendation from our server, and he brought us World’s End Cabernet “If Six was Nine”. The bold flavors were sure to be a

perfect pairing with the hearty, earthy dishes we were about to be tasting. We asked Chef Skylar Passant to prepare a sampling of appetizers that showcased his own and the Inn’s old time techniques. He prepared delicious west coast chicken-fried oysters, garlic herb and wine sautéed mushrooms, gulf shrimp cocktail, crab-stuffed mini bell peppers and Colorado jalapeno duck sausage.

Next, we were served one of their signature dishes - two amazing roasted Texas quail stuffed with homemade chorizo and topped with sweet tomato berry sauce. This can be ordered as an appetizer, entrée or an entrée add-on. I highly recommend trying this! As if our palates were not already pleasantly gratified, Chef Skylar served as a follow-up

The restaurant has served parties of up to 125 people and makes for a great destination for rehearsal dinners, receptions, and other special events. They also host wine dinners about every 4-6 weeks, and the next one will be in January 2018. This event will be called “Zin-Din” and features 15 Zinfandel wines along with a special pairing dinner (call for details and reservations). Their award winning wine list continually receives Wine Spectators Award of Excellence and The San Antonio Express News “Special Occasion Favorite”.

So, if you have not visited The Grey Moss Inn recently, or have not yet had the opportunity over the years, make your reservation now. It provides for an interesting piece of history that is sure to make for a memorable evening!

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DECEMBER AREA EVENTS YOU CAN’T MISS

Our wonderful part of Texas gets hummin’ during the Holidays! Almost every nook and cranny of our territory can be seen filled with light and laughter. Here is what we hope is a useful ‘Compendium” of Holiday things to fill your season with joy and memories!

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Dominion Magazine to you!

If you are a wine enthusiast, please review TexasWineTrail.com for a calendar of the events occurring almost every day of the month of December. Our Texas vineyards and their award-winning wines are showcased for the Holidays at all the vineyards — and all over the Hill Country, along with food, music, and vendors!!

If your Holiday Plans are best when paired with a resort atmosphere, here are a couple of places to start your search!

JW MARRIOTT SAN ANTONIO HILL COUNTRY RESORT & SPA Nothing says Christmas like Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves and live reindeer, all of which you're likely to see if you time your visit to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa correctly. But the holiday cheer doesn't stop there. The spirit of the season is evident throughout the building, from the Lantana Spa, where you'll find treatments such as a pumpkin enzyme masque, chocolate candy cane pedicure and a sugar cookie body scrub, to hotel bars and restaurants, where you'll discover winter sangria and even a "Rudolphtini" on the menu. Other events of note: a gingerbread

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craft workshop, Christmas card photos, a polar plunge, carolers and a miniature living Christmas tree farm. Multiple packages are available; check website for details. 210-2762500; jwsanantonio.com.

WESTIN LA CANTERA RESORT Little ones can listen to holiday stories as "snow" falls from the sky during the Legendary Holidays program at Westin La Cantera, which takes place every day December. 13-24 at 5 p.m. Want something more active? Try Frost, 1,200-square-foot synthetic iceless skating venue that features music and lights. Other notable attractions include seasonal arts and crafts in the Westin Kids Club, special holiday menus for Christmas and New Year's Eve, holiday cocktails and complimentary shuttle service to the nearby Shops at La Cantera. Packages are available; a portion of proceeds from holiday events benefit a local charity. 210558-6500; westinlacantera.com.

HYATT REGENCY LOST PINES RESORT & SPA Already got New Year's Eve on the brain? If you're looking for a place to go with your whole brood, consider the Family New Year's Eve Celebration at Hyatt Lost Pines. Little

ones will love riding on a Ferris wheel, classic carousel and miniature train, while adults will appreciate the barbecue buffet dinner and the champagne and Shiner Bock toast.

Other festivities will include face-painting, balloon art, a bungee run and a midnight countdown and toast. Can't make it for New Year's? Other events, including a Lost Pines Christmas Bird Count and a Christmas brunch, are also being offered. Check website for details and packages. 512-3081234; lostpines.hyatt.com.

HORSESHOE BAY RESORT From horse-drawn carriage rides to a Moulin Rouge-theme New Year's Eve celebration, the holiday season is in full swing at Horseshoe Bay Resort. Guests at the resort can expect to find a variety of themed events that include a Christmas Golf Clinic, gingerbread house Decemberorating, a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (complete with milk and cookies, naturally), a Christmas brunch and a viewing of holiday movies such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Santa Clause 2 Packages are available. 830-598-2511; hsbresort.com.

If you prefer the charming Christmases of small towns around the area: November 23-December 31, 2017 CHRISTMAS LIGHT FEST Welfare, at Don Strange Ranch, 103 Waring Welfare Road. 6-10p. Annual event. Drive through two scenic miles of two million twinkling lights. Santa's village, food, drink craft booths, Santa. Cost: $27 per vehicle.

210-570-7669, November 24, 2017 - January 2, 2018 EISBAHN OUTDOOR ICE SKATING Fredericksburg, Marktplatz, the downtown square at corner of W Main and N Adams.

Marktplatz will be holiday Decemberorated.

Have fun and exercise skating. Open daily, Mon-Fri: 4-8p; Sat: 10a-10p; Sun: 1-8p. Hours vary on holidays. Day pass: $10. Includes skate rental. 830-997-6597.

November 29-December 9, 2017 SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF SAN MARCOS San Marcos, at Plaza Park, 206 N CM Allen Parkway. Holiday fest features carnival, living Nativity, arts & crafts shopping, live music, entertainment, Santa, plus thousands of lights on the banks of the San Marcos river.

512-393-8400 December 1, 2017 LIGHT THE NIGHT CHRISTMAS PARADE & HOLIDAY SHARING VILLAGE Fredericksburg, at Main Street, Marktplatz.

Parade 6:30p; After Glow Market 3-10p.

Activities begin at 6:30p with a 12-minute laser light show on Marktplatz, facing the 100 block of W Main Street. "Afterglow" open on Marktplatz from 3-10p. when children's activities and holiday vendors will be featured. Free to the public and includes local foods, beer and wine, arts and crafts and entertainment. Rain or shine. 830-9975000.

December 1-2, 2017 HILL COUNTRY HANDMADE MARKET Comfort, at 8th Street Market, 523 8th Street, Comfort TX 78013. 7p-10p/9a-5p.

VIP Shopping Event, tickets include 30+ handmade vendors, all 8th Street market vendors, drink ticket, snacks and desserts, live music, free hand lettering classes, first chance holiday shopping, give-a-ways, shopping bag and free entry for Saturday market. 30+ handmade vendors plus all 8th Street Market vendors, live music, food trucks and more!. Bi-annual. Beth Legge, 210663-9046 December 2, 2017 HOLIDAY HOME TOUR & MARKET Fredericksburg. 11a-5p. Gillespie County Historical Society fundraiser. Walk through

distinctive homes Decemberorated for the holidays. Tickets required. Annual event. $25.

830-990-8441.

December 2, 2017 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES New Braunfels. 10a-2p. Annual event, visit 6 beautiful homes, historic to modern. 512556-2224. 830-822-0620. January Morton, December 2, 2017 OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Leander, at 100 N Brushy Street. 10a.

Town comes alive to spread Christmas joy throughout the community. Activities for the kids, pictures with Santa, local school performances and entertainment, food court, local vendors, and more. Cost: Free. Annual event. 512-259-1907.

December 2, 2017 FESTIVAL OF TEXAS FIDDLING Twin Sisters, at Dance Hall, 6720 US-281 S, 6 mi S of Blanco. 11a. All styles of fiddling in Texas from Old Time and Country to Contet style, Western Swing, Creole, Texas Polish, Cajun, Son Huasteca, Bluegrass and Blues!

Annual event. 512-833-5773.

December 2-3, 2017 OMA'S CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Boerne, Kendall County Fairgrounds, 1307 River Rd. Annual event featuring "handcrafted in America" products. Anything from hand made beautiful jewelry to hand carved logs that have been turned into wonderful whimsical animals to be used as home or yard décor. Texas hand crafted wood items, home made jellies, hand crafted clothing, wall hangings, ceramics, knitted and crocheted goods, hand embroidered items "like your grandmother used to make" and hand painted bird feeders and bird houses that will surely please the most discerning back yard birds. Marilyn Culak, 830-537-4096, December 7, 2017 PEARL HARBOR OBSERVANCE Fredericksburg, at National Museum of the Pacific War, 500 E Austin. Remember "the date that will live in infamy". 12:30a. Annual free event. 830-997-8600 ext #204.

December 7, 2017 WASSAILFEST New Braunfels, at downtown, 6-9p. Sample free wassail, live music, see holiday lights, and taste yummy festival food. 830-221-4350.

December 9, 2017 ST. JOSEPH’S HALLE CRAFT SHOW Fredericksburg, 212 W San Antonio, from 9a-5p. Gree annual show features local artisans who will have hand crafted items

including holiday décor, martin birdhouses, hand- knitted and crochet sweaters and scarves. One-of-a-kind felted purses and pillows, stylish fleece jackets, embroidery items and beautiful cutting boards will also be displayed. Lovely mosaic stained glass windows, heirloom silverplate spoon jewelry along with shabby chic hand painted furniture and vintage inspired garden items.

830-798-4040.

December 9, 2017 KINDERFEST Fredericksburg, at Pioneer Museum, 325 W Main St. 10a-11a. Children invited to bring their stockings to hang over the large hearth in the Kammlah House. While children are entertained with singing, stories and crafts, St. Nick drops in and fill their stockings.

Annual event, free. 830-997-2835.

December 9, 2017 CHRISTMAS MARKET ON MAIN Marble Falls, at Historic Downtown Main Street. 10a-4p. With merchants selling everything from fine-art to homemade goodies, vendors with items such as jewelry and organic soap, warm beverages, live music, and Christmas activities for kids, you're in for a treat! 830-693-2815.

December 15, 2017 WINE & WASSAIL WALK San Marcos, at Downtown Square.

5:30p-8:30p. Enjoy an evening of holiday cheer that includes a progressive tour of retail businesses serving a variety of wines, homemade wassail, and paired hors d'oeuvres. Kick off the holiday season with exclusive shopping specials at retailers.

Take a horse-drawn carriage around the Courthouse Square for a guided historic tour.

Proceeds benefit United Way of Hays County and downtown improvements by the Main Street Program. Cost: $25. 512-393-8430.

December 17, 2017 LBJ TREE LIGHTING Stonewall, at LBJ State Park & Historic Site, at 199 Park Rd 52, at Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. 6p. Time honored tradition that was started years ago by President and Mrs. Johnson. Enjoy music, a live nativity, Santa Claus and of course, the spectacular tree lighting. Trails lit to provide visitors a beautiful experience an old-fashioned German Christmas. Sights and smells fill the air as German cookies and cakes are on the table. Glowing lanterns and candles light the farm as visitors stroll through the yard and houses. A traditional candle lit German Christmas Tree and music. Annual family event, free. 830-644-2252.

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The Dominion Homeowners Association 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, TX 78257

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FULTON, MO PERMIT #38