EXPLORE - February 2023

All You Need Is Love

local events

sweet FINDS:

GOURMET CANDY MADE IN THE HILL COUNTRY

THE WILLIAM: luxury on the hill country mile

LIVE MUSIC from 1-4pm and 6-9pm.

VENDOR MARKET from 12-5pm.

Food and drink specials ALL DAY!!!

Live Music Free Events!

Friday 2/3 – Shad Blair

Saturday 2/4 – Cannon Brand

Friday 2/10 – Sierra Lynn

Saturday 2/11 – Michael Alanis

Friday 2/17 – David Touchton

Saturday 2/18 – Meg Groves

Sunday 2/19 – Bexar Brass (1-4pm)

Wednesday 2/22 – Josh Baca (6-8pm)

Friday 2/24 – The March Divide

Saturday 2/25 – Briana Adams

All of the above shows are 6-9pm unless stated otherwise

Mardi Gras

Sunday Funday

Krewe of Caluda Imperial King Cake Blonde beer collaborated with Cibolo Creek Brewing Company. Bexar Brass Band from 1-4pm. We encourage folks to dress up and celebrate as if it were Fat Tuesday!

National Margarita Day

Josh Baca of Los Texamaniacs performing from 6-8pm to celebrate National Margarita Day!

$30 Early Registration Late Registration $35 (Limited to the First 200 Registrants) Note: Agenda Subject to Change and No Pop-Up tents

Trophies for Best in Class and Class Award.

All Profits benefit Triple H which offers a variety of programs for children, adults, & veterans with a wide array of physical and mental disabilities.

Calendar of Events

Bandera

Through February 25

Cowboys On Main Main Street

Every Saturday, see free cowboy fun in downtown Bandera. Activities can include chuck wagon storyteller, hopping on a saddle-broke Longhorn, or a horse-drawn wagon tour of Bandera. Most Saturdays the Bandera Cattle Company perform gunfights at Rattlesnake Ridge located behind the Visitors Center Banderabusiness.com

February 10-12

11th Street Mardi Gras and Main Street Parade

11th Street Cowboy Bar, 307 11th St.

Join the fun at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar for a three-day Mardi Gras celebration with Cajun food and zydeco music. Enjoy all the colorful floats and other parade entries as they travel down Bandera’s Main Street in the Mardi Gras Parade on Feb. 11. 11thstreetcowboybar.com

February 11

Mardi Gras Arts and Crafts Show

500 Main St.

Shop a range of merchandise at this Mardi Gras arts and crafts show located at the Bandera County Courthouse lawn. Banderacowboycapital.com

Cowboy Mardi Gras Bull Riding

Mansfiled Park Rodeo Arena, 2886 SH 16 N.

Watch as talented bull riders attempt to beat the clock and stay atop excited bulls, putting on a great show the whole family can enjoy. ridingonfaithrodeo.com

February 16

Cowboy Camp with Lew Peterbaugh

Bandera Beverage Barn, 1407 SH 16 North

Bring your guitar to play along or simply come to listen on the third Thursday of the month. Pickers who play cowboy, Texas country, or Western swing music are welcome to sit in. banderacowboycapital.com

February 26

Frontier Times Fourth Sunday Jamboree

Frontier Times Museum, 510 13th St.

On most fourth Sundays of the month, the Frontier Times Museum presents an afternoon jamboree featuring live music, storytelling, and fun for all ages. Frontiertimesmuseum.org

Boerne

Every Friday & Saturday Night

Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort SINGER/ SONGWRITER SERIES

1 Resort Way 6:30 - 10:30 PM at La Cascada Table & Bar

Kick back at our La Cascada Table & Bar and enjoy pure Texas fare, a refreshing beverage, and live music from talented artists Friday and Saturday evenings.

Live Music at Dog & Pony Grill

1481 S. Main – Boerne

Weekends in February – See Ad on Page 3 for full schedule

February 10 -11

Chocolate Walk

Historic Downtown Boerne, 100 N. Main St.

This sweet event takes participants on a stroll through historic downtown Boerne. Collect a special chocolate treat as you step inside each participating store, gallery, and restaurant along Main Street. Once you’ve visited all the stores, return your raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes donated by the store owners. Must purchase a ticket to participate – ci.boerne.tx.us

February 11-12

Boerne Market Days

Main Plaza, 100 N. Main St.

On the second weekend of each month, hundreds of festive booths display everything from collectibles and remembrances of the past to modern innovations that bring a smile of wonder to those who stroll past. boernemarketdays.com

February 11, 25

Bluegrass Jam at the AgriCultural

The AgriCultural Museum, 102 City Park Road

Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, bring your instrument and play along, or just come to listen to the musicians participating in the Bluegrass Jam. theagricultural.org/bluegrassjams

Kuhlmann-King Museum Tour

Kuhlmann-King Museum, 402 E. Blanco Road

On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, the Kuhlmann-King house gives the public the opportunity to step back in time to see what a historic Boerne home looked like “way back when.” Monthly events and themes vary. facebook.com/ kuhlmannkinghouse

February 25-26

Spring Antique Show

Kendall County Fair Grounds, 1307 River Road

This antiques show features exhibitor booths overflowing with fine American antiques found from estates around the country. Collectors find real antiques—no reproductions or imports—that include country furniture, baskets, stoneware, glassware, jewelry, textiles, early paper, toys, silver, quilts, pewter, American Oak, and Southwestern items. texasantiqueshows.com

Comfort

February 11

Second Saturdays at America Reclaimed

America Reclaimed, 810 Avenue A

Come shop reclaimed lumber, antiques, vintage signs, custom furniture & more. Live Music! Complimentary Adult Beverages! And lots of fun! Americareclaimed.co

Fredericksburg

Through February 24

Wine Lovers Celebration

Various locations

Love is in the air, wine is in your glass, and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Take time this February to relax and discover all that wineries in the Texas Wine Country have to offer during this seasonal celebration. texaswinetrail.com

February 17-19

Trade Days

Fredericksburg Trade Days, 355 Sunday Farms Lane Shop more than 350 vendors in seven barns and acres of antiques, collectibles, tools, crafts, shabby chic items, candles, unique clothing, jewelry, and food; plus, enjoy a biergarten and live music. Located 7 miles east on State Highway 290 across from Wildseed Farms. Fbgtradedays.com

Feb. 10-12, 17-19, 24-26

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

Steve W. Shepherd Theater, 1668 US 87 South Fredericksburg Theater Company presents this musical based on the popular film. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is sophisticated and suave with a good dash of mischief—a hilarious battle of cons that keeps you laughing, humming, and guessing to the end. Fredericksburgtheater.org

February 19 Emily

Jumes Oskins in Concert

Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 N. Llano St.

Fredericksburg Music Club presents harpist Emily Jumes Oskins, who started playing the harp and piano at an early age and has continued with her harp endeavors for over 15 years. Fredericksburgmusicclub.com

Gruene

Everyday Gruene Hall

LIVE MUSIC EVERY DAY! Call 830-629-5077 to confirm ticket prices and information.

February 11

Love the Run You’re With

Gruene Historic District, near Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road Grab your spouse, friend, or furry loved one and come dressed as your favorite famous duo to the fourth annual Love the Run You’re With 5K presented by Comal ISD’s Comal Fit. athleteguild.com

February 18-19 Old Gruene Market Days

Gruene Historic District, 1724 Gruene Road

Nearly 100 vendors offer uniquely crafted items and packaged Texas foods. gruenemarketdays.com

February 24

Friday Afternoon Club at Gruene Hall

Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road

Now in its 25th year, this Gruene Hall tradition is where hipsters, oldsters, suits, locals, and drifters mix it up to start their weekend. This quintessential Friday happy hour includes great beer prices, prize giveaways, and the best in Texas tunes broadcast live by KNBT 92.1 FM Radio New Braunfels. There’s even a special guest interview each week. gruenehall.com

Kerrville

February 17

Camerata San Antonio String Quartet

First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St.

Grammy-nominated Camerata San Antonio is a flexible classical chamber music ensemble serving San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country. cameratasa.org

February 23

Symphony of the Hills

Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St.

The centerpiece of this concert is the Edvard Grieg’s “Piano Concerto in A Minor” featuring Jiale Yi, the 2020 Gurwitz International Piano Competition gold medalist. The first half of the concert opens with music of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” followed by Mexican composer Carlos Chavez’s innovative music composed with indigenous melodies, harmonies, and instruments. symphonyofthehills.org

February 25

“The Highwaymen Live: a Musical Tribute”

Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St.

Perhaps the greatest country music super group in history, The Highwaymen—featuring Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash—traveled the world performing country music to millions of fans. Now comes a show featuring spot-on portrayals of those stars. caillouxperformingarts.com

Luckenbach

February 10 -11

Hug-In and Valentine Ball

Luckenbach Texas, 412 Luckenbach Town Loop

It’s that time of year again for folks to get “Back to the Basics of Love” at Luckenbach’s 48th annual Hug-In and Valentine Ball. Enjoy live music and dancing all weekend long. luckenbachtexas.com

SweetFinds

LOCAL TREATS

GOURMET CANDIES CREATED RIGHT HERE IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

It’s February, love is in the air and there’s chocolate everywhere! This Valentine’s Day, skip the drugstore aisle and treat the ones you love to something truly special – artisan candies and confections made locally with love.

CHARITY TEAGUE CONFECTIONS

Charity Teague is a pastry chef and chocolatier who specializes in making small-batch, artisan chocolates. Each bon bon is hand painted with colorful cocoa butters and truly an edible piece of art! Order online at www.charityteague.com/shop

LOVE, CHOCOLATE

HILL COUNTRY CHOCOLATE

For Hill Country Chocolate, every detail counts! They concentrate their efforts on creating an experience with meticulous attention to confectionery details, techniques, and ingredients that deliverer the best possible products. They offer gourmet chocolates, fine confections and even wine. Visit them at 144 Industrial Loop in Fredericksburg or shop online at www.hillcountrychocolates.com

DOUBLESIDE TOFFEE COMPANY

Doubleside Toffee Company handcrafts treats that taste good and do good through donations to local, faith-based non-profits. These gourmet, gluten-free treats are a great gift that everyone loves and will ask for again and again.

These handmade, gourmet chocolates are made by Kerrville local, Brittany Perez, from high quality ingredients. Stop by the Heart of the Hills Farmers Market in Kerrville on Saturdays to get yours!

The William Hotel

A Hotel as Beautiful and Unique as Boerne

Whether you are an out-of-towner or a hill country local looking for a fantastic staycation, there is no better way to experience the best of downtown Boerne than with a stay at The William.

Located right on the Hill Country Mile, this upscale boutique hotel offers guests the perfect location to experience all that this town has to offer. Just steps outside your door are fabulous restaurants, charming shops and a handful of breweries and wine bars.

The elevated hotel offers a view overlooking Boerne’s historic Main Street right from the gorgeous balcony. Once inside your room you will find a unique, residentially designed space that invokes luxury with a touch of whimsy. Each room has been individually named after a plant or place that is native to the area and features a large flat screen television, writing desks, Keurig coffee maker, marble bathrooms and deluxe bath amenities. A variety of Deluxe, King, Queen and Double Queen rooms are available.

There is no denying the charm of downtown Boerne. Pair that with a lavish stay right in the center of it all and you are sure to fall in love with this historic hill country town.

100 Decisive Battles sold well enough that Oxford University Press picked it up for a paperback edition. Ultimately, it was released in five different editions, including one in Italian and a pirated version in Chinese.

Paul K. Davis

by Tracy Tully

Paul was born and raised in San Antonio. He got his bachelor and master’s degrees in history from Southwest Texas State. While there, God provided a series of miracles which led him to a British military campaign in the Middle East after World War I. Looking for a topic for his master’s thesis, this led him to expand on it for his doctorate. Since the material for the research would be in England, he decided he might as well kill two birds with one stone and apply to a university there. This ended up with a Ph.D. in War Studies from King’s College, University of London.

Once home in 1981, he began looking for college teaching positions at just the wrong time. The Vietnam war had pretty much killed universities teaching military history, so he taught US and world history at a variety of colleges in San Antonio. While at St. Mary’s University, one professor helped him get his dissertation published and another professor linked him up with a publisher looking for a military history topic. The result was 100 Decisive Battles. It sold well enough that Oxford University Press picked it up for a paperback edition. Ultimately, it was released in five different editions, including one in Italian and a pirated version in Chinese. This was succeeded by Besieged, An Encyclopedia of Invasions and Conquests, An Encyclopedia of Warrior Peoples and Fighting Groups, and finally Masters of the Battlefield, a study of fifteen of the greatest generals in history. The first and last of these books are available at The Boerne Bookshop, where he works since his retirement in early 2022. When not at the shop or doing research, he’s an artist specializing in portraits, sports, and aircraft.

by Matt Kersh

Music has saved my life. Literally. On at least several occasions. There are a handful of distinct moments I can recall in my life where I felt so broken, lost, and hopeless that I was seriously struggling with the desire to go on living. In those moments, I knew I needed music.

Perhaps, like me, you have faced things in your life that knocked you to the ground and steamrolled you in a way that left you unsure of how to get up and live another day. I think maybe we all have. Sure, the specific circumstances can vary in all sorts of ways, but there has been or will be a day when it seems like the road suddenly ends and it appears the only thing to do is continue over the cliff.

I am here to say, as living proof, that is not the only option. When I got to that cliff with seemingly nowhere else to go, I remembered I could call my ever-faithful friend to save me. A friend that has picked me up plenty of times before and will again. MUSIC. And at that precipice of hopelessness, music helped me to fly rather than fall.

There is a video I saw a couple of years ago that elucidates the indescribable effects music can have better than mere words could ever communicate. I watched it again today and it touched me to my core. Allow me to paint a word picture of it for you.

In the video, there is a woman shown in her wheelchair, back bowed and hunched over, with a virtually expressionless face. Her name is Marta and she is nearly 100 years old. Not only is

her body beginning to fail, her mental condition is even further gone than she is physically.

As Marta sits in her chair, with a seemingly broken spirit, a caretaker puts a pair of headphones on her. Seconds later, she hears the opening notes of the main theme from Swan Lake. Within a few seconds, her body begins to straighten, expression comes to her face, in her eyes can be seen a level of focus and purpose that was not there moments ago. As the music builds, Marta’s arms go out to her sides, hands in graceful lines, and even though she is confined to that chair, she is dancing.

You see, over 60 years before, Marta danced to this same song. Except then, it was for the New York City Ballet where she was a Prima Ballerina, which is one of the highest honors awarded to a dance troupe’s primary dancer. There is even side by side footage of her in her chair and on stage many years before, a young, vibrant, talented woman at the pinnacle of her craft. The mirrored movements between the two versions of this same individual shows the reflection of a life where music transcends time and indelibly changes parts of us that are at our deepest core.

“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.”

—Kahlil Gibran

“Music can heal the wounds which medicine cannot touch.”

—Debasish Mridha (Renowned Physician in Neurology & Sleep Medicine)

There is much scientific data which shows the widespread positive impacts of music. These can be seen by changes in brain activity while listening to music, healthy behavioral changes, and on the visible effects it can have on people that almost seem to be shells of a human being, like our friend, Marta.

An in-depth, 4 week study on a group of individuals with advanced cases of fibromyalgia reported significantly less pain/ discomfort of their symptoms that listened to an hour of music everyday in the control group.

Similarly, a 2015 study done on the effects of music on patients facing a significant surgery found that patients who listened to music before, during, or even after the surgery experienced less pain and anxiety than those who did not listen to music.

In a study done on college students, participants struggling with insomnia listened to classical music, an audiobook, or nothing at all at bedtime for three weeks. Researchers assessed sleep quality of those in the study both before and after completion of the test period. Those that listened to music before bed had significantly better sleep (both in brain activity and patient testimony) than those that listened to an audiobook or nothing at all.

We could go on and on citing studies where music positively impacts motivation levels of high-level athletes and those with high pressure jobs in the business world. We would see how general depression and anxiety are calmed significantly in those that regularly sit to enjoy music for therapeutic purposes. The list goes on…

Regardless of age, sex, or personal struggle, music has been shown to bring marked improvements to those who make enjoying it on a regular basis a priority.

As I spoke of earlier, music has saved my life. In the moments I felt most lost and empty, God used songs that spoke to my soul through the darkness in ways He knew I needed. As someone that deeply knows what those dark, difficult days on the journey feel like, my hope each day is that I might be a source of hope to others that are struggling. When those times come, when there feels like there is nowhere to turn, that simply isn’t the truth.

Two things I know beyond a shadow of a doubt will always be there to save me: my God and my music. Don’t ever forget that hope and healing, no matter what, are possible—I am living proof of this reality. It is possible to pull yourself out of the pit of despair at the very gates of hell and begin again.

And when it seems your mind and body and soul are failing, remember that you can still dance. Like the sweet, broken, nearly 100 year old ballerina, new life can be found. All you have to do is listen. Listen to the truth. Listen to the beauty. Listen to your heart and it will whisper…THIS IS NOT THE END.

Nurs. 2013;14(2):e39-46. doi:10.1016/j. pmn.2010.09.004

Hole J, Hirsch M, Ball E, Meads C. Music as an aid for postoperative recovery in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2015;386(10004):1659-71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60169-6

Harmat L, Takács J, Bódizs R. Music improves sleep quality in students. J Adv Nurs. 2008;62(3):327-35. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04602.x

“Music will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.”

—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Onieva-Zafra MD, Castro-Sánchez AM, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, MorenoLorenzo C. Effect of music as nursing intervention for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Pain Manag

thirty eight & vine now offering

Dessert Flight

Boerne wine bar and event space, Thirty Eight & Vine, has teamed up with gourmet cookie bakery, Opal & Onyx, to offer a delightful dessert flight.

The flight includes a selection of three cookies in assorted flavors, perfectly paired with dessert wines. Wines will be similar to those pictured, but may vary daily.

The pairings pictured are a Royal Tokaji & Vanilla cookie, Inniskillin Icewine Cabernet Franc & Strawberry cookie, and a Quarts de Chaume & Cocoa Nutella cookie.

In additon to the Dessert Flight, Thirty Eight & Vine offers a curated rotating wine list dispensed at the touch of a button. Their unique self-serve concept offers casual wine enthusiasts and aficionados alike the opportunity to sample and discover a new favorite without the commitment. If you find something you like, they also sell their wines by the bottle!

Stop in for a fun afternoon, a romantic date night, a quick break from shopping the Hill Country Mile, or for no particular reason at all.

Kendall County Historic Jail Museum CAPTIVATING LOCAL HISTORY

Step back in time as you tour the Kendall County Historic Jail Museum. Paul Barwick and Dean Sprowl, two local collectors and history enthusiasts with a passion for the area’s rich natural and cultural heritage, have poured their hearts, souls, and countless hours of sweat equity into restoring this historic jail built in 1887.

This local attraction houses some rare and fascinating Kendall County and regional artifacts. According to Barwick, “The jail itself is a significant attraction. Many of our guests just desire to see the inside of this historic jail that was in use for 99 years! However, once inside we have captivating exhibits on the first floor that quickly draws the attention of our visitors.”

So how did all of this come about? Paul Barwick, the City of Boerne’s Special Projects Director, and Dean Sprowl happened to meet six years ago when Sprowl was giving a Camel Corp presentation to the Genealogical Society of Kendall County. The two hit it off and Barwick approached Sprowl with the idea of restoring the historical jail. “We knew that the building was available and that on several occasions the Kendall County Sheriff’s Department had considered utilizing the old jail for a law enforcement museum,” said Barwick. “We began by visiting with Sheriff Auxier, Judge Lux, and a couple county commissioners to get some feedback and guidance. Once we had secured our vision for the building we were able to make a presentation to the County. The Commissioners Court liked the idea and we were able to secure a 10-year lease with an option to renew after that time,” Sprowl added. A nonprofit was formed, Friends of the Kendall County Historic Jail, and board members include Dean Sprowl, Paul Barwick, David Phillip, Roberta Belanger, and Ron Cisneros.

Once the lease was signed and an initial improvement plan was put in place, that’s when the demolition and renovation began. “It took us almost four years to make the extensive renovations to the structure and to fabricate the exhibits. We had to save the building. It is basically a new building on the inside with all new electrical and AC, plumbing, plastered walls, flooring and repaired ceiling and windows. We have invested significant sweat equity to make these changes happen and thankfully the county allocated some funding to assist with the renovation work which we leveraged with many favors and financial support from friends, local businesses and contractors,” said Sprowl.

Once the structural work on the building was completed, the pair focused on what would go inside. “Our desire is to present and interpret the unique and authentic history of Kendall County. Our desire is to share a glimpse of the unique people, stories, and artifacts of Kendall County with visitors, residents, and newcomers alike. We don’t want the museum to become stagnant so we constantly improve our exhibits, bring in guest collections and host events to celebrate our shared history,” said Barwick.

Looking to the future, Sprowl and Barwick are constantly on the hunt for interesting pieces of local history to exhibit. “If anyone has

THE MUSEUM’S CURRENT GUEST AND PERMANENT EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

Booking/Evidence Room

Sheriffs of Kendall County/Emergency Responders

Texas Rangers – Battle of Walkers Creek

Western Cattle Trail

Apelt Armadillo Farm

Adolph & Plinky Toepperwein – The Fabulous Topperweins

Arnold Toepperwien – The Little Deputy & Ring Tail Rino

San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway

Lex Sanitarium

Newton Boys

Telegraph & Telephone

Bat Bomb

Regional Archeology

Kendall County Caves & Moonshine

Big Bill Lister – Radio’s Tallest Singing Cowboy

Built in 1887, the limestone jail was designed and built by Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company and stood next door to the Kendall County Courthouse, built 17 years prior.

The jail housed four jail cells and also served as home to the early sheriffs and their spouses, who would often cook for the inmates. The jail served as workspace for county employees after its closure in 1987, and as storage space since 2012.

unique local heirlooms, artifacts, or interior or exterior photographs of the historic jail, we would love to see them and discuss the possibility of a guest exhibit. Exhibit space is very limited, so we must carefully discern what to display in the museum,” added Barwick.

Sprowl and Barwick are very pleased with the reception and favorable comments received from those who have visited the museum. Stop on by for a mug shot and experience a few minutes behind bars and learn more about the county’s captivating history!

STOP

When life hands you limes, make margaritas!

Largely considered the official drink of having fun, the Margarita was invented in Mexico in 1938. The basic margarita consists of triple sec, tequila and lime juice, but over the years there have been endless varieties concocted in flavors from jalapeño to prickly pear and everything in between. Serve them straight up, on the rocks or frozen - there simply is no wrong way!

THE PERFECT CLASSIC MARGARITA RECIPE

The best margarita calls for the best margarita ingredients - always use fresh lime juice and high quality tequila & triple sec.

Serves 1

FEBRUARY

Ingredients

2oz blanco tequila

1.5 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

.5oz triple sec

2 splashes of bitters

Ice

Salt (optional)

1. Decide if you want salt or no salt. If so, rub the rim of your glass with lime, pour some salt on a plate and dip the rim in the salt

2. Fill your glass with ice

3. Measure your tequila, lime juice, and triple sec and bitters into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Cover the shaker and shake for 20 seconds.

4. Strain the cocktail into your glass

5. Enjoy!

FUN FACT: The first Margarita Machine was invented in Dallas in 1971! Mariano Martinez opened Mariano’s Hacienda restaurant in East Dallas, and while the food was amazing, it was his margaritas that kept people coming back for more. Guests raved about these margaritas, but there was one problem. The high demand was creating inconsistent results. Martinez needed a solution. His morning coffee stop eventually resulted in an invention that would change the entire margarita industry. It was a Slurpee machine at a gas station that gave him the idea and not long after, Martinez and his friend, Frank Adams, had transformed an old soft-serve ice cream machine into the first ever frozen margarita machine. Now Mario could serve his guests the perfect margarita every time! Martinez’s original frozen margarita machine can be found at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

The Art of Fine Woodcraft

by Deva Moore

Art is creative and enchanting. The artist has an innate sense of beauty and sometimes it appears when the artist is very young and sometimes the artist finds themselves pursuing their passion later in life. When the artist has a mentor who guides and provides the motivation necessary to pursue their passion the journey evolves quickly and the art unfolds into the most beautiful gift.

Andy Rawls is one of those artists. At a young age, Andy became interested in the beauty of wood furniture artistry. He started building furniture with his dad while he was in high school. He chose other journeys in life, attending Baylor where he studied telecommunications for a time, until he decided that woodworking was his calling. In 2012, he started Andy Rawls Fine Woodcraft in his garage. Having studied under such masters as Paul Sellers and Frank Strazza, Rawls learned valuable information and earned a great appreciation for handcrafted and handmade. After graduating from Baylor, Andy enjoyed the opportunity to briefly apprentice under Brian Boggs in Kentucky. He has also worked under Brent Catterton of Catterton Woodworks, absorbing even more wood crafting ideas and education. Throughout his career, Rawls has built furniture and other wood pieces for clients

all over the United States, and a few have made it overseas.

Andy values the durability and longevity of custom handcrafted, heirloom quality pieces of furniture and other wood products. He requires quality and craftsmanship from everything he offers. Rawls still has his first small pine box that he built. It sits in his windowsill in his shop as a reminder of the beauty and elusiveness of his craft. The beauty is obvious and the elusiveness of his craft, well Andy uses it as a reminder of the little imperfections – unnoticeable to the untrained eye are all of the little mistakes he sees.

Woodworking is an ever evolving craft. The woodcrafter can always see how he could have improved or created a more advanced product. Determined to provide an heirloom quality piece, Andy strives for the best and sturdiest workmanship available.

As a master himself, Andy has his own YouTube channel so that he may share his craft and expertise with his fans. His education in telecommunications aids him in his YouTube endeavors. Rawls walks his viewers through each step of handcrafting his beautiful wood projects, showcasing the quality and workmanship clearly.

Andy finds today’s mass market furniture that many consumers fill their homes with is of quality that is not truly handmade or handcrafted. He creates a wood product that is created for generations of use and enjoyment. His products are designed with all of the heart and soul of quality sturdiness to last for years. Andy feels that as a generation we are losing the appreciation of family generation narrative and history. While his furniture does not capture that appreciation for everyone, it does fill a comfortable void. He crafts elegant bedroom sets, dining room tables, living room furniture and other home goods. His business has grown steadily, mostly by word of mouth. And that is how Andy likes it, keeping things personal. Andy keeps a list of his requested work and if you are interested, then now is the time to contact him to get on the list for your own beautiful wood piece. Commission work is how to obtain a special piece of your own and I urge you to contact him today because he shared with me that his work is already on a 4-5 month waiting list right now!

Andy does woodcrafting the way they did way back in the days of quality. He does not glue, staple or nail the pieces together, but prefers to use tried and true old school methods for longevity and

sturdiness to last for generations as family heirloom quality. For those who know quality furniture then they understand joinery and Andy uses joinery of old. If the wood piece does not have AR on it then it is not Andy Rawls.

Andy has a lifetime warranty on his products, giving a peace of mind to the owner knowing that Rawls stands behind the quality of is work.

If you are interested in obtaining a piece of furniture from Rawls, he offers an online catalogue or you can contact him and describe what is desired. He can do almost anything and the finished product will amaze. Everything is completely crafted in his shop from start to finish.

Andy has many different types of wood in his toolbox, so to speak, and a visit with him on your project will find him suggesting and recommending just the right wood. He works with Texas Pecan, oak, mesquite, Cypress and many more. He has even done a wood project with teak. He has quite a remarkable talent list of projects to share and seeks the best pieces for the designated project. It is then cut and fit together so that it may be permanently fused or joined. Andy assured me that all of his projects are meticulously chosen from woods that are large enough for the entire project. No project is piece milled together from various grains, but all from the same tree.

Once finished, the wood is sealed for a protective finish and desired look. Even the sealing is appropriate for the long term to last for years with the proper care. Some of his more memorable pieces were a bookshelf that converted into a photo booth for a client and his wife, and he recently rebuilt a carriage out of pecan for a canon at the Alamo in San Antonio. Andy has done many pieces for the HEB foundation, including a waterfall style table and bench and an oval starburst table top. He was also honored to create a table for Season 2 of the The Chosen. Due to the marvel of what Andy can do with wood, most any of his work is memorable and gorgeous!!!

Andy enjoys the German historic influence in some of the region’s historical pieces of furniture. He shared with me that “…he is not doing anything different than they did hundreds of years ago...I am creating the next antique of tomorrow…” pretty special for today’s standards.

If you are interested in having Rawls create an heirloom piece of furniture for you, contact him soon. It “wood” be a shame if you missed out on a beautiful piece you can hand down to future generations!

Horses and Horsepower 3rd Annual Open Car Show

The 3rd Annual Horses and Horsepower Open Car Show will be held on March 18th (March 25 if rained out on the 18th) at Brutal Off-Road, in Bandera Hwy 16. The Alamo Area Corvette Club (AACC) puts on the event each year and selected Triple H EquiTherapy Center as its beneficiary three years ago.

Gene and Diane Skillrud are members of AACC and are both volunteer and Directors for the organization. They approached the club and with the support of other equine Corvette enthusiasts renamed their annual car show to Horses and Horsepower 3 years ago. Ginger Eways, Executive Director, describes Triple H EquiTherapy as an Equine facility that serves people who have special challenges in terms of their physical, mental, and emotional health. She and her staff of trained professionals work to improve their health via equine assisted therapy. Their clients include everyone from three years on up with no upper age limit. Most of the clients are veterans with PTSD and kids who are at risk, so they do a lot of work with Meadowlands. The interaction with the horses work the magic and they are the catalyst that make it work.

In their ongoing efforts to raise funds for the organization, the group quickly saw an opportunity with AACC to join forces. Afterall, they both are interested in Horse Power. Chris and Richard Lange who are

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also AACC members have supported other EquiTherapy centers over the years and have seen firsthand the great work the horses do to promote healing.

It’s a family fun event all day with food trucks, activities, and live music. It’s a tremendous event for everyone and a very exciting way to do a car show. There will also be a drill team to present the flag. Past shows have had 100 plus cars on display including Vets, Mustangs, Vintage cars, Trucks, and other classic models. We expect over 150 cars this year.

The money raised from the event goes to support Triple H programs. Each session, about 8 weeks, costs approximately $1000. Very few clients can pay anything toward this program. Kids at residential treatment facilities like Meadowlands and St. Jude cannot cover these costs, so the money goes to those program expenses. One of the biggest expenses is horse care. There are 19 horses used in the program who require a lot of hay and regular annual vet costs. There is a small staff of three full time people and five part time folks who manage the horses and barn, as well as providing the riding lessons as well as volunteers who are the lifeblood of the program. Eway says “We are so blessed with 100 or more volunteers throughout the 26 years we have been in operation.” It was founded by Kent and Cathy Harbaugh who moved here to be closer to her parents who had some health issues. Kent

had retired from the Air Force as a Colonel, and she founded an equine therapy center in Alabama prior to founding the one here. Triple H has grown steadily ever since. “We are about changing the lives of folks and improving their mental and physical health. Every client has an individual plan and we tailor what we do with the horse to meet the needs of each individual.

Lange adds, “I think it’s so exciting that the Vette club has partnered with a small non-profit and been so energetic and dedicated to making this a top notch car show. They always put on good car shows, but they’ve also seen the work that Triple H does and are motivated to put on a great show each year to get maximum support.

Eways concludes, “Not everyone responds to talk therapy. Most of our veterans don’t want to talk anymore to therapists. We have a very holistic approach that is different for them. They respond so much better to the therapy we provide than previous therapy they’ve participated in – moms tell us all the time ‘ You’ve done more for my kids than any other therapy combined! – the horse is such a magnificent creature and they are so empathetic and putting that relationship together is just so powerful it’s a beautiful thing to see.’ A lot of times our veterans will go through the classes and then come back to volunteer. It’s a beautiful thing and we are so blessed.”

Located in the former Boerne Wine Company building

CELEBRATE with the French 75.