Kendall County Woman - Nov/Dec 2022

KENDALL COUNTY WOMAN

November / December | Issue 24

Dear Kendall County Woman reader,

After a wild few years like we’ve all just endured, we felt like we wanted to tell a great story of perseverance, dedication, and frankly, a story that would just make you smile. I think that we delivered that with our cover story on Mandy Jones, owners of the Jones Family Christmas Ranch. What started as a local “must visit” attraction at the Jones’ personal residence has fast blossomed into being a full business operation with a heavy non-profit foundation designed to help local families in need. Located at the old Vanguard school location, this is sure to set us all up for a great new Christmas tradition!

We enjoyed hearing about not only the origins of the family’s motivations for the extravagant light show, but also to hear about their very deliberate work with local charities to help those that need it the most.

In addition, this issue has a slew of other content that we really hopes inspires you to learn more about your neighbors, their businesses, and to learn even more about our area.

As winter is in full swing, and we begin to already start looking toward the holidays, we hope that you’ll take a look around at people you might know that would make an interesting story. Local business owner with a great story? Local woman doing some amazing things? A non-profit that is making a difference? We want to hear about it! Don’t be shy! Should any of us an email to the right of this letter and let’s have a conversation. This magazine exists only because of our dear clients and the many people like you that appreciate our local community enough to support it!

Welcome to the November/December 2022 issue. Let me know if we brought you a smile!

Thanks,

PUBLISHED BY Compass Creative Texas, LLC Boerne, TX Advertising Inquiries: (210) 507-5250

PUBLISHER Peggy Schooley peggy@compasscreativetx.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Benjamin D. Schooley ben@ compasscreativetx.com 210.507.5250

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER Megan Smart megan@compasscreativetx.com

DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY Compass Creative Texas, LLC

from the Publisher

Peggy Schooley, Publisher Kendall County Woman Magazine

SALES & MARKETING

Meredith Sturlin meredith@compasscreativetx.com

Good ReadsNovember/December 2022

Mad Honey

By Jodi Picoult

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. She never imagined she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in with her son, Asher, and taking over her father's beekeeping business.

Lily Campanello is familiar with doovers, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for him, too. Yet at times, she wonders if she can trust him completely . . .

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

By Gabrielle Zevin

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom.

These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts. A dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.

A Hill Country Christmas

By Michael Barr, Lynn Dean, Gail Kittleson, Gina Lister, Shannon McFarland

A collection of 18 holiday stories from every corner of the Texas Hill Country. Five different authors make history come alive in these multi-cultural narratives about life and death, humor and sadness, heartache and romance, the blessings of Christmas and the triumph of the human spirit. The holiday season isn’t always easy, but these stories are filled with inspiration from Christmas Past and hope for the difficult times we live in today.

The House Across the Lake

By Riley Sager

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of bourbon, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple living in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is powerful; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous. One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage isn’t as perfect as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey immediately suspects Tom of foul play. What she doesn’t realize is that there’s more to the story than meets the eye— and that shocking secrets can lurk beneath the most placid of surfaces.beatur auta volupti aut litatem imenit.

The Matchmaker’s Gift

By Lynda Cohen Loigman

Even as a child in 1910, Sara Glikman knows her gift: she is a maker of matches and a seeker of soulmates. After making matches in secret for more than a decade, Sara must fight to take her rightful place among her peers, and to demand the recognition she deserves. Two generations later, Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful Manhattan divorce attorney. When her beloved Grandma Sara dies, Abby inherits her collection of handwritten journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. But among the faded volumes, Abby finds more questions than answers. Why did Abby’s grandmother leave this library to her and what did she hope Abby would discover within its pages? Why does the work Abby once found so compelling suddenly feel inconsequential and flawed? How much of our lives is fate, and how much is choice?

#Dancefever

By Kady Hinojosa

FBI Tactical Intelligence Analyst Mali Hooper is enjoying life working on a task force in New York City with her fiancé, Jacob Black, and a team she considers family. When a tragedy leads them to a new case, they are immediately ordered to disengage. It's a DEA matter. Unable to move on, Mali and Jake are forced to take a leave of absence. But people, the most disturbing being children, are dying of a devastating epidemic, so Mali and Jake decide to act on their own. They find a chilling clue that sends them on a trajectory where there's no way back: Revancha Payback. With the help of a few friends, including Jake's Army buddies, they put their careers and lives on the line with an unauthorized operation. Can Mali and Jake stay a step ahead of the DEA and solve the case, without getting killed first?

The Measure

By Nikki Erlick

7One spring day, small wooden boxes arrive for every person, all over the world, from suburban doorsteps to desert tents. All the boxes feature the same inscription, “The measure of your life lies within,” and vary in only two ways: the name of the recipient and the length of the single string inside. Instantly, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy, first to ascertain their origin and meaning, and then to confront the truth of the strings. Told through multiple perspectives, The Measure introduces an unforgettable cast of characters whose lives weave and interlock with one another upon the arrival of the strings. As society divides itself, the truth has the power to unravel their long-held beliefs and relationships all while forging new alliances and philosophies about our time on this earth and our place in the community. Would you choose to find out the length of your life?

Murder at the Menger

By Kathleen Kaska

It's 1953, and detective Sydney Lockhart finds herself solving another murder. The victim is a slick bookie named Johnny Pine who had his dirty fingers in pies from Texas to Florida. Sydney tracks Pine to the Menger Hotel in San Antonio where she discovers he's been murdered in the room next to hers. And as usual, Sydney is a suspect. With her partner, Ralph Dixon, handling the case from Austin, or so she believes, Sydney is working alone in unfamiliar territory. To make matters worse her car is stolen, and she elicits the help of an Irish cab driver named Taco and a bouncer named Rip. Soon she's on the trail of Nora Jasper, a harlot jazz singer and Pine's girlfriend. Corpses start to pile up, a string of illicit deeds surface and Sydney's home life goes south. But the investigation takes a bizarre turn when Sydney is whacked over the head and thrown into the river. She surfaces with a faulty memory, uncertain of whom she can trust. Her only choice is to find the killer before the killer finds her, or before she gets arrested.few friends, including Jak.

Bandera

Nov. 4: BuckFest Gala

Mansfield Park Show Barn, 2886 SH 16 North

Bandera County Chamber of Commerce’s annual BuckFest Gala features a social hour, dinner and dance, live and silent auctions, and a raffle. banderatex.com

Nov. 5 : Market Days

Bandera County Courthouse Lawn, 500 Main St.

The first Saturday of every month, this market is open with arts and crafts vendors on the courthouse lawn in downtown Bandera. banderabusiness.com

Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26 : Cowboys On Main

Downtown Bandera, Main Street

Enjoy free cowboy fun in downtown Bandera. Listen to a chuck wagon storyteller, hop on a saddle-broke Longhorn, or take a horse-drawn wagon tour of Bandera. Most Saturdays, the Bandera Cattle Company Gunfighters perform gun battle reenactments at “Rattlesnake Ridge” behind the Convention and Visitors Bureau. banderabusiness.com

Nov. 12 : Veterans Parade and Honors

Various locations

The American Legion 157 Post organizes this 20th annual celebration that includes displays, information booths, a special program honoring Vietnam War-era veterans, a parade on Main Street, and a veterans and spouses barbecue. al157tx.org

Nov. 17 : Third Thursday Cowboy Camp with Lew Peter baugh

Bandera Beverage Barn, 1407 SH 16 North

Bring your guitar to play along or simply come to listen. Pickers who play cowboy, Texas, or Western swing music are welcome to sit in. banderacowboycapital.com/business/bandera-bever age-barn

Nov. 27 : Frontier Times Fourth Sunday Jamboree

Frontier Times Museum, 510 13th St.

On the fourth Sunday of each month, the Frontier Times Museum hosts this family-friendly event that offers live music, storytelling, and other performances. frontiertimesmuseum.org

Boerne

Nov. 4: Night Hikes for Adults

Cibolo Center for Conservation, 140 City Park Road

Join naturalist Jasmine Torrez and explore the Cibolo Center for Conservation to discover various living organisms that call the Cibolo home. cibolo.org/calendar

Nov. 4-6: Master Artwork

Show

The Bevy Hotel, 101 Herff Road

This intimate and unique art experience features artists and inte

rior designers who are available for discussions and consultations.

Accomplished artists show 2-D art, sculptures, wearable art, glass, and more on display in the large and open space. ci.boerne.tx.us

Nov. 10 : Fall Diva Night

Hill Country Mile, Main Street

The best girls’ night out on the Mile is back. Fall Diva Night bursts with late shopping hours, cocktails, delicious bites, music, and other fun. Come out and support local businesses with a night of fun shopping. ci.boerne.tx.us

Nov. 12-13 : Market Days

Main Plaza, 100 N. Main St.

On the second weekend of the month, this market offers hundreds of festive booths displaying everything from collectibles and remembrances of the past to modern innovations that bring a smile of wonder to those who stroll past. boernemarketdays.com/ boerne.html

Nov. 25-26 : Dickens on Main

Hill Country Mile, 100 N. Main St. Boerne’s historic Hill Country Mile transforms into a vintage Christmas experience, with nonstop entertainment in various holiday villages set up throughout the venue. The celebration’s main attractions include live music and performances, visits with Santa Claus, ice sculpting, children’s take-home crafts, snow along Main Street, roving musicians, carolers, and other revelers. adickenscelebration.com

Nov. 26: Music in the Cave: Sounds of the Season Cave Without a Name Throne Room, 325 Kreutzberg Road Enjoy Tinsel, an a cappella quartet, for sounds of the Christmas season with contemporary classics and beloved carols. Described as sleek, sophisticated, and distinctive, Tinsel has a roster of professional singers who are Grammy winners and classically trained vocalists. They entertain audiences with classical and contemporary original arrangements of holiday favorites. cave withoutaname.com

Fredericksburg

Nov.

4: First Friday Art Walk

Various locations

Participating fine art galleries remain open until 8 p.m. so visitors have time to explore the various events and exhibits planned throughout the day and enjoy local refreshments. Just look for the galleries flying the Art Walk flag. visitfredericksburgtx.com

are announced. Come, enjoy, and vote for the best if the show art work. Friday 5pm to 8pm – Saturday 10am to 5pm. — Sunday 11am to 4pm https://https//:dkfredericksburg.org 8302855005

Nov. 12-13 : Disney’s “High School Musical JR”

Steve W. Shepherd Theater, 1668 US 87 South

Fredericksburg Theater Company presents a junior stage version of Disney’s smash-hit musical. A “brainiac” girl and “jock” boy cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical. Together, their alliance might just open the door for other students to shine as well. fredericksburgtheater.org

Nov. 18-20 : 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, primitives, ranch furniture, hunting accessories, candles, unique clothing, jewelry, food, and other items. fbgtradedays.com

Nov. 19 : Historic Home Tour and Holiday Market

Pioneer Museum, 325 W. Main St.

The Gillespie County Historical Society offers tours of historic homes in and around Fredericksburg as well as a holiday market that’s decorated in its holiday finest. pioneermuseum.org

Nov. 25-27 : The Peddler Holiday Show

Gillespie County Fairgrounds and Exhibition Hall, 530 Fair Drive Celebrating over 40 years as Texas’ favorite arts and crafts show, the Peddler Holiday Show always arrives at the perfect time for holiday shopping. peddlershow.com

Nov. 25-27 : Trade Days Holiday Encore

Fredericksburg Trade Days, 355 Sunday Farms Lane Shop twice in November at this encore Trade Days, with over 350 vendors in seven barns, acres of antiques, a biergarten, and live music. fbgtradedays.com

Nov. 25-Jan. 2 : Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating

Marktplatz, 100 block of West Main Street

This annual seasonal outdoor ice skating rink benefits the Heritage School, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg. heritageschool.org/eisbahn

Ingram

Nov. 11-Dec. 17: ArtMart Christmas Gift Showcase

Hill Country Arts Foundation, 120 Point Theatre Road

Nov. 11-13

: Die Kunstler von Fredericksburg Art Show and Sale

Once a year over 40 artist of Fredericksburg present their best work. Meet the artist at the Friday night reception from 5pm to 8pm. Saturday various artist demonstrate their skills and answer questions. Sunday the People’s Choice and Artists’ Choice awards

This annual holiday shopping showcase features handmade crafts by area artists. hcaf.com

Nov. 18-20, 25-27; Dec. 2-4, 9-11: “A Christmas Carol”

Hill Country Arts Foundation, 120 Point Theatre Road

“A Christmas Carol” recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business

partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. hcaf.com

Johnson City

Nov. 25-26 : Market Days at Lights Spectacular Courthouse Square

Held the fourth weekend of the month, this open-air market fea tures vendors and artisans selling handmade or locally produced products for the Christmas holiday season. johnsoncitytexas.info

Kerrville

Marble Falls

Nov. 18, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023 : Walkway of Lights

Lakeside Park, 305 Buena Vista Drive

This is one of the biggest holiday events in the Highland Lakes each year. Two million lights on more than 130 sculptures illumi nate Lakeside Park beginning each year in November. On week ends and holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, children can visit with Santa and his elves. There is no charge, but donations are accepted. visitmarblefalls.org/christmas-season

Medina

Nov.

5: Medina VFD Hunters Game Dinner

Nov. 19-20 : Holidays in Gruene: Old Gruene Market Days and Photos with Cowboy Kringle

Gruene Historic District

Nearly 100 vendors offer uniquely crafted items and packaged Texas foods. Reserve a spot in advance to create a lasting Christ mas memory with Cowboy Kringle, Gruene’s own brand of Santa. holidaysingruene.com

Nov. 24 : Holidays in Gruene: Turkey Trot and Kids’ Turkey Chase

Gruene Historic District

Nov. 5 : Kerr County Market Days and Hill Country

Swap Meet

Kerr County Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 SH 27

Every month, Market Days features artists and crafters special izing in original handcrafted items. Hill Country Swap Meet is a monthly community garage sale/flea market. kerrmarketdays.org

Nov. 5 : Holiday Magic Handmade Crafts Sale

Elk’s Lodge, 1907 Junction Highway

Holiday decorations, handmade crafts, gifts, boutique items, jewelry, a bake sale, and a light lunch are available at this event, with proceeds supporting local charities. facebook.com/crafting forgood

Nov. 12-13 : Texas Gun and Knife Show

Kerr County Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 SH 27

Vendors sell new and used guns, knives, ammunition, coins, jewelry, camping gear, and outdoor accessories. texasgunand knifeshows.com

Nov. 12 : Open Car Show and Parade

Kerrville VA Hospital, 3600 Memorial Highway

The open car show and parade includes live entertainment, food, fun, and great comradery; benefits the patients at the Kerrville VA Hospital; and 100% of proceeds benefit VA patients. everycarshow.com

The Farm Country Club, 475 Pue Road

Medina Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual Hunters Game Dinner, a fundraiser with dinner and a dance. medinavfd. com

New Braunfels

Nov. 4-13 : Wurstfest

Wurstfest, 120 Landa St.

During the 10-day festival, find a variety of entertainment, food, and fun while celebrating German culture. Enjoy carnival rides, games, German and Texan beers, special events, and the finest Bavarian-style entertainment. Wurstfest.com

Nov. 15 : Holidays in Gruene: Sip-N-Shop

Gruene Historic District Stroll through Gruene Historic District enjoying complimentary beverages and special offers at the many participating shops. This event is also the official “Kringle Cash” kickoff, available at select retailers. Stroll as long as you can, then rest your feet at Gruene Hall with free live music. holidaysingruene.com

Nov. 17 : Come and Taste It: Meet Texas’ Best Winemakers

The Grapevine, 1612 Hunter Road

Start your Thanksgiving day with the 14th annual 5K run/walk through Gruene Historic District. Kids under 12 years old have a blast chasing a turkey mascot for a quarter mile. Races begin and end in front of Gruene Hall and benefit local charities, including the Comal County Sheriff’s Green Santa Program and the New Braunfels Police Department Blue Santa Program. holidaysin gruene.com

Nov. 25-27 : Holidays in Gruene: Photos with Cowboy Kringle

Gruene Historic District

Reserve a spot in advance to create a lasting Christmas memory with Cowboy Kringle, Gruene’s own brand of Santa. holidaysin gruene.com

Nov. 19:

Holiday Lighted Parade and Christmas Tree and Tranquility Lighting Ceremonies

Kerr County Courthouse, 700 Main St.

Officially welcome the holiday season, and most importantly the arrival of Santa Clause riding in on his signature fire truck, at this holiday event. Grab your hot cocoa and join others for this annual downtown community tradition. kerrvilletx.gov Llano

Nov. 25-Dec. 31: Starry Starry Nights Lighted Christmas Park

Badu Park, 300 W. Legion Drive

Sip hot chocolate and stroll along the Llano River enjoying all of the displays that light up Badu Park. It’s a great place to celebrate the season with family and friends. llanostarrystarrynights.com

On the third Thursday of each month (except January), come to The Grapevine and taste some of Texas’ best wines and craft beer straight from the winemakers and brewers. This monthly event features complimentary tastings, live music, and door prizes. grapevineingruene.com

Nov. 18-20 : Weihnachtsmarkt

New Braunfels Convention and Visitor’s Center, 375 S. Castell Ave. Weihnachtsmarkt (Vy-noks-markt) is a German-style Christmas Market with a Texas twist. Held the weekend before Thanksgiving, this New Braunfels tradition offers the charm of the open-air Christmas markets of Germany, except indoors. Enjoy gemutlich keit (good cheer) and three days of shopping for authentic Ger man ornaments, unique Christmas decorations, specialty items, apparel, and fabulous gifts from a wide array of retail merchants and artisans. newbraunfelsweihnachtsmarkt.com

www.TheAgriCultural.org

VELVET IS THE PERFECT ADDITION TO ANY CLOSET.

The Madison burnout leopard velvet top comes in 3 color options, in sizes S-2XL. We paired it with black skinny jeans, gold flats (not sold in store) and great jewelry. This top could be styled a variety of ways. Wear it to work or holiday parties! 830-331-7340 312 RIver Road, Boerne TX 78006 info@thepearlantler.com

Fashion

LOOKING FOR A FUN WEEKEND LOOK?

This Southwest Cactus sweatshirt (S-2XL), paired with distressed denim and a felt hat is the perfect weekend look. Of course we added lots of turquoise jewelry for an extra pop!Whether you're touring the hill country or out running errands, you will look darling doing it!

VELVET & SEQUINS?

This is a great holiday look. The Adalaide velvet sequin top is available in S-2XL, paired with black skinny pants, gold booties (not sold in store) and of course the fall staple, a felt hat!

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

802 East Blanco Rd

Boerne, TX 78006

Phone: 830-331-9181

ReJeania Bollier HAIRBENDERS

How long have you been in Boerne? 33 years

What brought you to Boerne? Better economy and opportunity for growth

What got you into this industry?

As a teen I loved styling my hair and being creative with my makeup. Often family and friends would ask me to do their hair—and I loved making people feel beautiful!

What keeps you at your job?

Getting to be creative every single day. Seeing the smiles on clients faces.

What's something people don't understand about your job?

You aren’t just a client to me. You are an incredible human being who has put their trust in me and I will do my absolute best to create a look just for you!

What's something that people would find surprising about your job?

There is a tremendous amount of science and chemistry involved in processing hair color and permanents. It is a delicate balance to keep the client’s hair in optimal condition. For cutting hair there is a certain amount of math involve-- the style will change based in the angles and degrees of how we choose to cut the hair.

What's been the hardest part about your job?

Long hours of standing on my feet with my hands in the air for weeks and years on end. Many days we go without lunch or potty breaks, especially during the holidays. When you are in my chair—you are my number one priority.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Right now, I still love being behind the chair. However, educating new and upcoming stylists would be a fabulous place to spread my wings. I want to share the many years of knowledge I have gained and pass it onto the next generation.

Before & After

MODEL: CINDY MCCASH

HAIR : REJEANIA

EYELASHES AND MAKEUP : CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ

Anything you'd like to say to the local community?

Our goal at Hairbenders is to help our clients feel better about themselves and their future. I have spent many hours in extra training and education to provide the best look for my clients

What

TEAM MEMBERS (LEFT TO RIGHT)

Kristyn Carney, Cosmetologist

After 30 years,I consider this to be the most rewarding career path I could have possible have chosen. I love my job every day! I love being creative, having fun with clients and making them feel amazing about themselves!

Colleen Wooley, Cosmetologist

Claudia Rodriguez : Licensed Aesthetician, Registered in Permanent Makeup

ReJeania Bollier, Owner and Cosmetologist

Misty Hamilton, Cosmetologist

wisdom would you offer someone thinking about going into your profession?

Holiday Cocktails

by Lillian Oler

Assemble Cocktail Workshop

Grapefruit Fizz

1 oz Cardamom infused Gin or Alcohol Free Gin Alternative

2 oz Fresh Pink Grapefruit Juice

1/2 oz Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Prosecco or Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine Alternative Rosemary

Method:

In a shaker tin with ice, combine gin, grape fruit juice and simple syrup and shake until well chilled. Strain over into a coupe glass and top off with Prosecco. Carefully torch a rosemary sprig and place over the edge of the glass. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Assemble Cocktail Workshop is a unique activity to do on Boerne's Hill Country Mile. Owner, Lillian Oler has a passion for hospitality and quality craft cocktails and looks forward to hosting locals and visitors alike. Perfect for girls night out, date night, celebrations, team building experiences and more. Reservations can be made online at assemblecocktail.com.

Spiced Old Fashioned 2 oz Bourbon

1/4 oz Spiced Syrup (see recipe below)

3 dashes Regan's Orange Bitters

Whole orange (to peel)

Method:

Add all liquids required into a mixing glass. Fill ice above the liquid line and stir for about 20 to 30 sec onds. Strain over a large ice ball in a double rocks glass. Peel a 2 inch piece of orange peel, with the pith side up and the outer orange peel facing down towards the cocktail, squeeze gently to express oil into the cocktail and gently touch over the rim of the glass. Trim up peel to make a flag for the rim, or simply place the expressed peel into the cocktail between the ice and the liquid. If available, use a star of anise pod to garnish as well.

Spiced Syrup Recipe:

9 inches of cinnamon stick

12 cloves 12 star anise pods

16 oz 1:1 simple syrup

Start by breaking down cinnamon into small pieces. Add them and the rest of the spices into a spice grinder. Preheat a stainless steel pan and add ground spices. Allow to toast for up to two minutes. Be careful not to burn the mixture as you'll have to toss it out start over. In a separate vessel, dissolve 16 oz turbinado sugar into 16 oz filtered water, then add it to the pan with the spice mix. Simmer together for about 5 minutes and allow to cool completely. Strain and keep refrigerated for up to 10 days. This recipe is enough for about 30 servings.

by Ben Schooley

andy and Mike Jones are serious about Christmas. VERY serious. So serious that they have taken their well-known Christmas light show they have hosted at their home for several years, and are creating a full drive-thru experience on acreage just north of Boerne. The couple sat down with us to describe where this passion originated, their plans for the new property...and how big their electric bill can be.

Mandy, a 2000 graduate from BISD, and Mike, a 2000 graduate from Uvalde, met while in college at Texas A&M. After a brief 6 month courtship, the duo were married and just recently celebrated 19 years together.

Upon graduation, Mike was hired with CutCo as a salesman and the couple were sent to Amarillo. Mandy explains, “We were just too far away, and we both agreed we just weren’t happy. Luckily, Mike was soon promoted and they moved us back to the area, and we lived in Schertz”. The couple bought a home, had two young children, and quickly discovered that the ISD didn’t serve their expectations and Mandy explains “we realized that the ISD wasn’t what we really needed in Schertz. We knew BISD was a much better school for the kids, so we came back in 2014 and will never leave again.”

And the Christmas lights soon made their formal entrance into the couple’s life together.

In 2007, the lights were set to music. In 2008 it started getting to become quite the local attraction. In 2010, it started winning awards.

Mike explains, “I look at it as a hobby, but my passion as well. When I was a kid, some neighborhoods would decorate big. It was a thing for us to do as a family. That seems to have died down in recent memory. When I had kids I wanted to make sure we were doing it because I love to just see the sparkle in their eyes. My dad decorated the house and I have forever said “Oh man – I have to do this” so I’ve been decorating the house since I was 12 years old.”

In 2007, the lights were set to music. In 2008 it started getting to become quite the local attraction. In 2010, it started winning awards.

Mandy continues, “Every year it just got bigger and bigger. I thought it was super fun and thought it was just a great thing. He definitely took it to another level.

We kept growing out of our house and it just got nuts. When we bought a new house we had to consider how we would decorate the house, how the traffic would flow, etc. Every house we would grow out of it quickly because of the decorations.”

The couple moved to the Woods of Fredericks Creek but immediately realized that the Christmas lights wouldn’t work in such a neighborhood. So their search for the perfect home continued. Mike explains,

“I liked the house in Fredericks Creek but I knew we wouldn’t be able to do the show that we wanted. She called me from a house on Wolfschlager and said “Wait till you can see what we can do for Christmas!” and so I ran out there and said “Yup – that’s the one’. I didn’t even go inside.”

In 2015, the couple relocated again and their passion for Christmas lights only continued to grow. Eventually network television even took notice. Mandy continues, “In 2017 we were asked to be on Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC. At that point we were at 400,000 lights. It was a lot of fun. We didn’t have to apply – they reached out to us. It was fun but exhausting...it was a contest where we were up against 4 other houses. They have a judge that goes to each one and he determines the winner. It was a super fun experience and they have called us again to try to participate but we declined. So much of what we do was about our mission and our Christianity and

they cut all that from the show and we didn’t really like it.”

Speaking of their spirituality, this is core component of the Jones’ and their passion for the Christmas light show. Mandy explains, “It’s so positive. There’s nothing negative you can take from it. People are always smiling, happy. Our themes are always focused on Christ and it is simply designed to make your heart happy and to focus on Him. We want them to feel the joy of Jesus when they come there.” Mike adds, “It’s that time of year that you can lift someone’s spirit. There’s plenty of negativity, but this is simply joy. Everyone smiles. There’s no way you can have a bad time. I’ve always loved doing this and intend to do it for as long as I can. When I was a kid we didn’t have any money so we only had a few thousand lights, so I would change the layout all the time. I’ve already designed the this year’s layout. This is God’s dream – not ours. Everything has fallen into place

and we’re simply doing what we know we’re supposed to do. It has been simply perfect, and that means it’s all in God’s plan.”

And God’s plan was for them to expand the outreach, and the couple is doing exactly that.

After growing from 400,000 lights...to 600,000...and even to 800,000 lights which included a typical electric bill north of $2000 a month, the couple continued to expand. Mandy explains, “We were looking for a drive thru location for our show, and it’s an entire year project to do this. It’s literally a full time job. In ‘21 it got so big that we began looking for land to do this. I got on realtor.com and found this property and stumbled on the old Vanguard property. We weren’t really sure what it was or if it would work, but we pulled in and knew immediately that it would work. It was time to move the display out of the neighborhoods and it was just too much. The amount of people that come to the house

every year grew and we knew we’d have to pull back due to the traffic or we’d have to take it to the next level.”

Mike continues, “there was power, lots of electrical infrastructure, 8 buildings, these great roads that ran through the property, and the location was perfect. I do a lot of nonprofit work and so my passion is about that, so when we pulled up we saw this 18k square foot gym I thought about all the great outreach work that we could do. “Shine Bright Ministries” is one that we work closely with – we’re going to host events throughout the year in children’s homes. Every Christmas we host kids from other groups that work

with kids, and we host them, feed them, have Santa, give them gifts, and try to give them just a magical gift. We’ve always done work like that and with the giant gym, I knew we could do so much more.”

So the whole family has begun production for this year’s show. With a planned 2.5 MILLION lights for this year, they have their work cut out for them. With the acreage, there’s trees to be cleared, roads to be repaired, the buildings to be re-purposed...and obviously a LOT of lights to be hung throughout the property and programmed via Mike’s software he uses to synchronize everything.

Mandy adds, “We didn’t want to look back in 20 years and say “We shoulda bought it”. We were praying so hard to find the land like this and when we found it we just knew that we had to move on it. We pulled up and there was Christmas lights on the tree and we just knew it was for us. They did a big Christmas deal every year and when we walked the property, we just knew it would work. Who else would this be meant for?”

Since inception, the couple has simply softly asked for donations to offset some of the cost of the show, and then they quietly give the majority of the money away to those in need. Mandy continues, “I’m big into outreach. We’ve seen so much good come with this. It’s so much more than Christmas lights. We’ve gotten anonymous letters in the mail and they are so moving and that’s what keeps us going. How many more people can we help? Who can we reach? This is a ministry. We reach so many different people and it’s such a unique way to do it – and Jesus is the reason we do this. These letters about how their lives are over and the lights made their heart happy or they lost a relative recently and the lights made the season special again. My first word as a baby was LIGHT. It’s apparently always been a thing. I tell the kids “be the light in the darkness” so yeah, it’s been a theme.”

For the future, the family intends to have a

fee to enjoy the lights, but it’s only to help cover the substantially larger costs and also for them to grow their ability to extend their charitable efforts. Mandy continues, “What would we like to say to the community of Kendall County? That’s easy: Thank you. We couldn’t thank the community enough for the support and for believing in our mission and outreach to those families we’ve anonymously helped. So many families have no idea where some of our gifts have come from and that simply sustains me. But I couldn’t do any of that without the support of the community. To step in and get someone a car who couldn’t get to work...to help cancer patients, to get wardrobes for kids that didn’t have clothes, to work with so many of the local charities that do amazing things. You don’t think there’s kids here actually sleeping on the floor, but there are a lot. The admission will not only assist us with keeping this going, but we’ll be able to reach so many more people now.”

As for the future plans for the family, they’re uncertain. However, they are certain that it will include the lights. Mandy finishes, “We’ll do this forever, and maybe one of the kids will want to do it. They’ve only known decorating and when we’d drive around and the kids would yell “Bah Humbug” if they didn’t have lights, we’d all laugh. As a family, we’re just so passionate about it and it drives us year in and out. It feeds our souls, so how could we ever stop doing that?”

After growing from 400,000 lights...to 600,000...and even to 800,000 lights which included a typical electric bill north of $2000 a month, the couple continued to expand.

Abbey Frazier the Shoppes at 222

How long have you been in Boerne? What brought you to Boerne?

I have been in Boerne for 8 years, born and raised in the Hill County. Love the Hill Country and Texas!

What got you into this industry?

I've always wanted to have a boutique and share the experience with my 2 daughters. We started the Cactus Daughter back in March of 2021. I had the opportunity to take over this amazing historic building and share this space with wonderful local vendors to create the best gifts on Main Street and offer "Something for Everyone."

222 S. Main St. in Boerne

Open 10am-5pm Monday - Friday 10am to 6pm Saturday. 12pm to 5pm Sundays.

What keeps you at your job?

The people that walk into the door every day. AND my vendors. They are the ones that make this shoppe so unique and special.

What makes your store so special to you?

My vendors. They are all local or the next county over. They handcraft their own items or lease a space to create their own creative niche. There is truly something here for everyone!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully winning the Best Boerne Explore for Best Gift Shop in 2023!

Anything you'd like to say to the local community?

We are an amazing shoppe offering many local and handcrafted items. Stop on by for yourself, a special someone—maybe create an amazing gift basket, and definitely enjoy some homemade ice cream from Blithe Creamery while shopping with us. Support local and shop small!

Maisen Stemple

Maisen's Lemonade & Lawns

Young entrepreneur, Maisen Stemple, is in business of lawn maintence and selling lemonade. We asked him a few things about his business.

When did you start your business? 2019

Tell us about how you got into entrepreneurship? I wanted to make money for things I wanted, so I talked to my mom about having a lemonade stand, as I got busier I started to offer other drinks, like ice tea flavored lemonades and eventually snacks. As the weather changed I decided that I could go around the neighbourhood and ask if I could rake leaves, trim small bushes, weed eating and things like that.

What has been the most challenging part of working for yourself? I would say I am a little shy so sometimes I get embarrassed to ask if I can work for someone, but once I find a client and they are happy then it's word of mouth so it helps me feel better.

What has been your favorite part of your business? Making money honestly, and getting to talk to my clients and asking them how their day is or what their plans are, I like to meet people and I like to talk to them about what they do for a living, and I always ask how much money do you make ..... I try to compare jobs so I can figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

What are your next plans for business? I earned enough money for a leaf blower last summer so I added that on my lawn care side, and next I would like to make enough money for a pressure washer so I can pressure wash drive ways and houses too.

What would you like to do when you grow up? I want to be a business man, I want to do everything I like working outside but I also like to calculate numbers. As long as I can make money to buy what I want I don't want to narrow down my search yet.

If you'd like to go to college, where would that be? A&M as of right now but I'm not really sure.

Anything to say to the community as a whole and your parents?

Money doesn't grow on trees, so you must work hard for those things you need and want, and you will learn a lot too if you work for what you want.

“Kyrsten Budde Valenzuela is very involved in our community. She’s the owner/manager of Agape Equine Ranch and is an accomplished competitor who regularly competes at barrel races, rodeos, and ropings. She gives horse lessons to kids of all ages and is a spiritual mentor to them. She is always willing to go the extra mile for her families and of course the animals. She just expanded her business to include horse rehabilitation. Kyrsten also started a nonprofit called Sacred Echo Ministry to help abused and bullied kids.”- Kathy Budde

WOMEN DOING WONDERFUL Things in Kendall County

Nominated by local women, these ladies are creating businesses, relationships, art, and teaching kids real life skills.

“I'd love to nominate Laura White. She started the Craft Beer Girls of Boerne group and is (possibly without knowing it) bringing so many women together. The Facebook group has grown greatly over the last several months with meetups at local breweries and restaurants. I know it has impacted sales at these establishments and has allowed ladies a common reason to come together. Her gatherings are casual and welcome to all. What she is doing is so great for our beer-loving community--so much better than a book club in my opinion.”

- Lillian Oler

Kyrsten Budde Valenzuela

Laura White

“I immediately thought of my mother and wanted to submit her: Elizabeth Nolen, former director of Boerne ISD student mentoring program, brought the concept of Free Little Art Gallery to Boerne, Texas. Her project unites and connects people of all ages. More Free Little Art Galleries have opened in Boerne, introducing and nurturing art and creation in our special little town. Elizabeth believes art should be accessible to all, to participate with humanity in a shared yearning to live in this place we call the world. She looks forward to meeting, supporting, and growing with others through this unique and new way of experiencing art!”

Check it out at https://www.elizabethannanolen.com/ free-little-art-gallery -

“Blythe Arts with Girl with Grit is awesome. She is selfless and does amazing work with the girls and boys of our com munity.  She teaches them real life skills and is amazing!  The impact she has on young teenagers is so very cool to witness. They open up to her in a way that no other adult can do. She is currently expanding through the hill country and Austin.”

Girl with Grit Program is a 501c3 nonprofit that was officially started by Blythe Zemel in December of 2020. Blythe had re cently developed a line of female safety glasses, Safety Sasses and became aware of that we often overlook teaching girls some fundamental skills.

Check it out at https://girlwithgrit.com/ -Lauren Watson

Elizabeth Nolen

Blythe Zemel

Hill Country Family Services

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

When a crisis occurs it’s not just affecting the adults in the home. “We have three kids at home, and one is in full-time pre-school.” Sandy is not alone. COVID-19 forced hundreds of local families into an unexpected panic when they lost their jobs or were furloughed in 2020. “We moved to Boerne less than a year ago because they schools are so incredibly good. But it was an expensive decision. We really stretched our finances to give our kids the best quality of life. With out my income, I’m not sure we’re going to be able to financially survive for very long.”

Sandy and her family were experiencing a short term yet terrorizing crisis in 2020. Local nonprofit Hill Country Family Services (HCFS) was able to immedi ately intervene and provide the assistance needed to keep Sandy and her family stable until Sandy could find a new job.

“I’m still in shock”, said Sandy. “Things like this don’t happen to people like me. I have a college degree!” Sandy continues to explain, “I lost my job due to COVID -19. We definitely need my income to pay for our household expenses”.

HCFS provided emergency financial assistance to pay the next month’s mortgage, fresh and healthy self-se lection groceries for three months and all toiletry and household cleaning items at no cost to the family. Even the family dog received dog food from the Daisy Cares program through a HCFS partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank.

What exactly is a crisis?

Everyone’s “crisis” is different. But 2020 was the great equalizer when everyone on Earth was affected by the crisis called COVID-19. HCFS has quietly been serving families in Boerne in crisis for 36 years. HCFS uses the industry standard definition of a crisis to determine if they can help local individuals and families: Crisis

(1) Crisis intervention can wait up to 72 hours,

(2) The crisis is a disruption to daily functioning for an individual or family

(3) Someone in crisis can recover quickly with assistance, intervention, and community support.

When a family is faced with a crisis, humility, and vulnerability and sometimes fear is extremely evident when they reach out for help. Staci Almager, CEO of HCFS, explains, “We believe that our purpose and our role in the community is to help an individual or family get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Bad things do happen to extremely good people. But a crisis doesn’t have to last forever. With our help, a family can and will recover from any crisis”.

Sandy’s family recovered from their short-term crisis. They continue to share their experiences and vulner ability on social media with others. They have chosen to be part of reducing the stigma of asking for help when experiencing a crisis.

HCFS

“No

Are you or do you know someone in the community currently struggling with a crisis?

Or, would you like to donate or volunteer?

Contact Staci Almager at (830) 249-8643 or info@hcfstx.org

acts as a community triage organization helping to identify as many local nonprofit agencies to assist the individual and family along with HCFS. Staci says,

local nonprofit organization can serve alone. We need all of our friends and partner agencies working together to help solve complex crisis issues”.

A SUCCESSFUL DIET WORKS WHEN YOU EAT WITH INTENTION.

Boerne Nutrition

By Eric Wendt

Everybody does it. The family gets together, you're staring at the mountain of rolls in the face, your aunt Susan's sugary yams are staring at you in the face and you say "Ooo lawdy lets do this", and you immediately regret it the next day. This is OKAY. If you are dieting, the situation gets tricky when this "isolated" occasion becomes reoccurring.

A successful diet works when you eat with intention. Say you know you're going to a family get together that evening, or you know you're going to want to sit down later in the evening with a bowl of popcorn and ice cream; just allocate your calories accordingly. However, DO NOT STARVE YOURSELF. Eat light healthy meals for breakfast/lunch, maybe a meal-replacement shake (cough, cough maybe from Boerne Nutrition), with healthy snacks in between, and this will set you up for a high calorie meal later in the day.

Some folks also will use healthy drinks to help them get to their next meal if they're feeling the munchies. Caffeine can be used to curve the appetite to help avoid those mid-day cravings, which quickly raise your daily caloric intake.

Again, all of this is just general advice for those who are dieting. This is not for everybody. At Boerne Nutrition we try to make eating healthy fun and tasty. Our energizing tea are full of vitamins and will leave you operating at a higher level throughout the day. Our shakes, waffles, and protein coffees offer a wonderful meal replacement to help you take control of your diet and daily caloric intake.

104 E Hosack St, Boerne, TX, United States, Texas (830) 443-2182 Weareboernenutrition@gmail.com

AT BOERNE NUTRITION WE TRY TO MAKE EATING HEALTHY FUN AND TASTY.

COMPREHENSIVE

EYE EXAMINATIONS

| EYE CARE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Jennifer Johnson has dreamed of becoming an optometrist since she was in middle school, and through hard work and determination, she made her dream come true.

At the young age of four, Jennifer was diagnosed with accommodative esotropia and hyperopia, and was prescribed her first pair of eyeglasses and began engaging in vision therapy. It was during this phase of her life that she was introduced to a whole new visual world, and began developing her passion for optometry.

Jennifer attended Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA), where she successfully completed the pre-professional program in 1996. During her time at SFA, she worked as an optometric technician for four years, which is where she learned all aspects of running an optometry practice. Upon graduating from SFA, she was accepted to Southern College of Optometry (SCO), in Memphis, Tennessee, where she graduated with honors in 2000. She then moved to San Antonio and started practicing on the south side of town in a multi-specialty eye clinic.

Missing her small-town roots and dreaming of practicing within a familiar, close knit community, she and her family moved to Boerne, Texas in 2009. In 2011, Jennifer joined the staff at Boerne Vision Center, where she established close personal relationships with members of the community. While working as part of the Boerne Vision Center team, she began participating in, and graduated from, “Leadership Boerne,” which is sponsored by the Boerne

Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she joined the Board of the Rainbow Senior Center at the Kronkosky Place in 2012 and was named Boerne Business Woman of the year in 2015.

After more than 17 years of practicing optometry and gaining experience in various areas of eye and vision care, under the supervision of talented mentors and experienced optometry professionals, Jennifer decided it was time to realize her dream of owning and operating her own practice. After consulting God through prayer, and her family, in August of 2017, Jennifer Johnson founded Johnson Eye Care in Boerne, Texas.

In addition to serving the Fair Oaks and Boerne community as a talented optometrist, Jennifer is also married to Dr. Michael Johnson, who was also her high school sweetheart. Together, they have two amazing daughters, Cate and Grace. The Johnson family lives in the Fair Oaks Ranch community, where they are active members of First United Methodist Church of Boerne, and serve the community through various ministries. Cate and Grace enjoy participating in many of the weekly children’s and youth programs at their church.

Jennifer L. Johnson, OD, FAAO Therapeutic Optometrist Optometric Glaucoma Specialist