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CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS
8
5 Editor’s Note
THIS TIME OF YEAR
28 Mary Kate Hunter, National Day of the Horse, Leonard Brothers.
LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT 30 31 32 34 36
The Depot Museum of Henderson Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights Service & Sacrifice—Honoring Veterans Little Pines Lake Barndominium Nostalgic Shopping in McKinney
ARTS & CULTURE
20
40 Randall Ricketts Design 41 Yee Haw Jamboree, Fiddlin Around 42 Artist Depicts Holiday Fantasies
34
52
FILM 46 Foxx Adds Soul to Successful Career
LITERARY 48 50 51
Northeast Texas Poetry Contest Author Tells of Parents Heroic Lives DeFoore Authors Small Town Texas McConaughy Pens “Greenlights” World War II is Backdrop for Island Song
MUSIC 52 CMA Awards 53 Beatles vs Stones
FEATURES
8 Photographer Captures American Indian Heritage
14 54
FOOD & DRINK 54 Oxbow’s Best Pecan Pie Recipe
Hector Maldonado grew up amidst the Texas Alabama-Coushatta tribe near Livingston and found their heritage through photography. By Lisa Tang
14 Family Encourages Adoption
The Sowells of Whitehouse opened their home and their hearts to four sisters who needed to stay together. By Lisa Tang
20 Fun and Fabulous Fiber Art
Fiber art is a popular craft in the Upper East Side of Texas with ample resources to nature’s ingedients. By P.A. Geddie & Lisa Tang
SEE WEBSITE EXTRAS! www.CountyLineMagazine.com 4 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
Cover: Photo of a child at an Alabama-Coushatta pow wow by artist Hector Maldonado.
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Serving those living & playing in the Upper East Side of Texas
PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR P.A. Geddie
CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Tang Judy Peacock Tracy Torma Carolina Alcocer-Salas Joe Dan Boyd Dave Shultz Hector Maldonado Katelyn Lester Hilda Rodriguez Nallely Guitierrez
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EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, Can you BELIEVE it is almost the end of 2020? A whirlwind year for sure with many ups and downs and ins and outs. I am so thankful for the people of the Upper East Side of Texas that continue to ride out the Pandemic Pause with grace, kindness, and creativity. Because of them I often find myself saying that what we’re going through is not so bad, it’s just different. As Miranda Lambert says in her song “Bluebird,” just keep turning the page. The song is nominated for a CMA award and Lambert has many other possible wins this year. Read more in the Music section of this issue about her and also note a piece on page 51 about the man she credits with jump starting her song-
Read some of her story in her own words below and look for more of her contributions in 2021. To reach Lisa with a story idea or comments, email lisa@countylinemagazine.com. May this season of joy find you in the thick of all things good and turning the pages of the County Line as we leave 2020 and enter a new year with hopeful hearts. P.A. Geddie
been in Palestine five years now and enjoying the slower small-town life.
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This issue is packed with so many good stories and as you read through you’ll see many of them are told by Lisa Tang. She’s been generously sharing her talents in County Line most of this year and I thought it time to introduce her to you.
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County Line Magazine eEdition is published every other month, 6 times a year in digital format. Material may not be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in articles or advertising appearing in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Mailing address: P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 Phone: 903.963.1101. E-mail: info@countylinemagazine.com Website: www.countylinemagazine.com. Free listings are entered on a space available basis. Advertising space may be purchased by calling 903.963.1101. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem incompatible with our mission.
writing career, John DeFoore, who has a new book out.
My quest to become a writer started in college when I began writing for the University of Dallas campus newspaper and earning a degree in history. I also completed a Master of Journalism at the University of North Texas, but I’ve never stopped learning. I taught high school and worked in public libraries.
I’m a native Texan with most of my roots in the Dallas area. My mom, brother, and extended family still live there, and our little family — my husband Mark and our two children — visit often. I’m amazed every time we return to Dallas at how rapidly things change. As we zoom past new businesses, highways, and housing along the freeway, I try not to blink lest I miss seeing new buildings and venues along the way. More than 20 years ago, I felt overwhelmed by all the changes in my hometown and wished I could live in a simpler setting. I married Mark Tang and escaped to northwest Texas. We moved a few times after that, but we’ve
With the opportunity to return to reporting and writing three years ago at the Palestine Herald-Press, I was able to continue learning while connecting with people in the community and I write for them now on a freelance basis. Writing for County Line is broadening my horizons as I get to know the Upper East Side of Texas. I enjoy writing about encouraging people, places, and events whenever possible. County Line Magazine is part of our social and cultural fabric. What better way for our communities to thrive than through uplifting stories that bind our hearts and minds together? Thank you for reading my story. I hope I can tell yours someday. Lisa Tang
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 5
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Photographer Captures Alabama-Coushatta Heritage Hector Maldonado Combines Art With Culture By Lisa Tang At age 14, Hector Maldonado attended his first Native American powwow in Chicago. He saw tribe members dressed in regalia dancing ceremoniously, performing traditions of their ancestors. He captured the event with his father’s 35 millimeter camera and realized he found a lifelong passion. Today, Maldonado attends one or two powwows a year in Chicago near his hometown of Bridgeport or on the Alabama-Coushatta reservation near Livingston, Texas, where he spent time with extended family while growing up. Maldonado affectionately describes powwows as large family meetings and they hold a special place in his heart. “It was always a heart-warming family affair because we didn’t have any family in Chicago,” Maldonado says. “It’s like going to a family reunion with additional family members that are not part of your family. I’m lucky that I can have a thread back to knowing this heritage.” Maldonado’s aunt and uncle, Colabe III Clem Fain Sylestine and Leona Sylestine, were tribal leaders and role models to young Hector. Uncle Clem served as chief of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe and told many stories; Aunt Leona was a respected matriarch. The Alabama-Coushattas live on Texas’ oldest reservation. The present-day tribe merged from two tribes, the Alabama and Coushatta Indians, who lived near each other in Alabama and shared many customs. By the late 1780s the tribes migrated to Louisiana and east of the Sabine River to Texas in search of better lands. The tribe’s past is intertwined with Texas history. Sam Houston arranged a treaty with the Alabama-Coushatta before the Texas War of Independence in 1836, and many members supported the Texans in their war against Mexico. The tribes were known for farming and hunting, but also as effective warriors. Some guided Houston’s army, while others supplied provisions to Texas
refugees as they fled the Mexican army. After Texas won the revolution, the Republic of Texas recognized the tribes’ claim to their lands in 1839. In 1987, the Restoration Act restored the tribe to federal recognition. They are a self-governing nation of roughly
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continued page 10
TOP: Photographer Hector Maldonado skillfully captures details of powwow dancers’ regalia and unique facial expressions. Alabama-Coushatta powwows draw hundreds of visitors to the reservation in Polk County, Texas, near the Big Thicket annually. RIGHT: Maldonado often captures expressions of people as they wait on the sidelines. NEXT PAGE: Dancers compete in different categories, such as: Fancy, Womens and Mens Traditional, Womens Fancy Shawl, Womens Jingle, and Mens Grass.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 9
MALDONADO continued from page 8 900 members. The 10,000-acre reservation in Polk County is tucked away inside the Big Thicket, about 17 miles from Livingston. The Alabama-Coushattas canceled their June 2020 powwow because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual event usually draws hundreds from around the country. Monthly powwows draw visitors from Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Financial limitations sometimes keep Maldonado from attending AlabamaCoushatta powwows every year, but he loves to go, and always carries a camera. He often shoots with a 35-millimeter Leica Rangefinder camera, but he sometimes enjoys using a Graflex largeformat camera used by news photographers in the 1940s and 50s. Shooting with the vintage camera is a slow process that allows just one photo at a time but is worth the results because it offers the photographer more control over the camera’s exposure times and aperture opening. Maldonado prefers the aesthetics of black and white film and its archival properties. He makes his own developers and processes the film before scanning the images to large digital files. The process is time consuming but gives him control over the finished product. “Film, for me, is a tangible thing,” Maldonado says. “I like taking out the negatives and holding them up to the light.” People who travel from across the nation to yearly powwows recognize Maldonado and respect his art. He’s there to capture the moment, whether it’s the central action, the environment, or something behind the scenes, such as children playing around or people waiting to join the dance. “I usually don’t plan anything. I just want to catch realism — something that’s actually happening. I’m constantly looking,” he says. He describes himself as reserved and observant, like many older Native Americans. “I remember sitting with our family for a long time, and not too many words being spoken,” he says.
Maldonado considers his photographs so personal that he doesn’t usually sell them. He recalls selling some at a onetime fundraiser for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe after his uncle passed away. “It’s hard for me to sell these images. I’m very sensitive about abusing them to make money for myself,” he says. “I really want to respect the [tribes’] heritage and traditions. I would hate to see someone think I’m trying to make money off of their performance.” People can see Maldonado’s photographs on Instagram, or on display in some galleries and public spaces. Chicago’s Harold Washington Library Center displayed his photographs in a 2019 exhibit titled, “Finding Myself, My Heritage within Me.” A video of that exhibition is available. Other venues that often display his photographs include The Trickster Gallery of Native American Arts in Schaumburg, Illinois; Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey; and the Chrysler House Basement Art Gallery in Detroit. Another of his projects, “City Abandoned,” focusing on an impoverished neighborhood in Istanbul, was featured at The Rangefinder Gallery in Chicago and at Ilford Photo in Worcester, England, in 2014. Maldonado visited Turkey several years ago where he met his wife, Selin. In between working in Chicago and visiting Selin’s family in Turkey, Maldonado looks forward to attending more powwows in Chicago and Texas, where he uses his photography to connect with others and what’s happening in the world. “[I] try to share the diversity of the world I have experienced with the viewers,” he says. “It is my hope that these photographs will give viewers a glimpse into the hearts and minds of Native American people.” The Alabama-Coushatta tribe welcomes visitors. Guests can stay at the Lake Tombigbee Campground, which offers camping sites, teepees, and cabin rentals to overnight guests. Activities include fishing, swimming, and paddle boating. The tribe also owns and operates Naskila Gaming, an electronic bingo dining and entertainment business. To learn more, visit www.alabama-coushattatribe.com.
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Family Encourages Others to Adopt
By Lisa Tang Years ago, when Christi and Jeff Sowell began talking about a future together, they decided they wanted a large family. Christi grew up with a brood of six brothers and sisters. Jeff, who has one brother, enjoyed Christi’s large family so much that he wanted the same for his own children someday.
However, as Aaron approached the sixth grade and Christi approached 40, their initial thoughts about adoption returned. Both thought Aaron needed to be part of a larger family. “I saw Christi’s family, and I gotta say I was jealous,” Jeff says. “I was wanting [Aaron] to have some siblings.”
With big hearts and dreamy eyes, the young couple discussed the possibility of adopting children, agreeing it was something they both wanted. After tying the knot, the Sowells expected to plunge into the full-time life of parenting.
When learning about adoption, the Sowells decided a sibling group could quickly increase their family size while helping foster children cope with emotional trauma. Adopting a sibling group involves keeping biological children together, preserving what’s left of their biological family.
Proud and happy with their first child, Aaron, they waited for more to come.
“I knew there were kids that needed good parents,” Jeff says. “That seemed
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The Sowell family doubled its size in 2013 when they adopted four sisters living in foster care. From left: Jeff, Aaron, Alicia, Eden, Christi, Blanca, and Anna Sowell.
like something we could do something about.” They also learned that foster kids come with lots of issues and adopting four at the same time could mean four times as much trouble. “Most people don’t want to take in four children. There are lots and lots of sibling groups in foster care, and many of them age out of the system,” Christi says. “That’s why we ended up with four.” The Sowells met with a few sibling groups before meeting Alicia, Eden,
Anna, and Blanca, four sisters in foster care, hoping to be adopted by the same family. “When I saw these girls, I thought, ‘those are mine,’” Jeff says. Jeff works in Information Technology for Austin Bank in Longview. Nowadays, he’s busy at home too playing board games, fixing toys or shoes, or practicing volleyball with the kids. Jeff says being the girls’ dad is a rewarding experience. “We get to be a part of their lives, and they don’t go through foster care and age out of the system,” he says. Now 19, Aaron studies kinesiology at Tyler Junior College and shares an apartment with a roommate but enjoys coming home to visit family on the weekends. He enjoys having a bigger family and says he had fun growing up with four sisters. “They’re all really loving, and they really needed us,” he says. Alicia, the oldest sister, was nine when she became part of the Sowell family; Blanca, the youngest, was only four. At 17, Alicia is a senior at Whitehouse High School. She plans to study graphic design at the University of North Texas in Denton next year, where she hopes to earn a scholarship. She’s already putting her design skills to work in her job decorating cakes and cookies at the Great American Cookie Company in Tyler. Alicia appreciates being able to grow up with her younger sisters. “It was 10 times more stressful on my parents, but I’m glad that’s the way things turned out,” she says. Alicia says her younger sisters sometimes get on her nerves, but she enjoys playing video games, watching TV with them, and driving them places as they listen to music. Only four years old when she was adopted, Blanca is now in the sixth grade. She enjoys learning about science and playing volleyball. Her favorite thing to do is talking, especially to her parents. “I like to talk to them a lot; I like to hang out with them at night,” Blanca says. “They are nice and caring and loving.” Anna says she would miss her sisters if they weren’t together and appreciates having her parents there when she needs them. “It’s a really happy feeling to know there’s a family that wants to support you,” she says. Besides caring for her own adopted children, Christi is a cheerleader and a resource for many other fostering and adoptive families. As Program Director for the Fostering Collective, a nonprofit located in Whitehouse, continued page 17 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 15
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SOWELLS continued from page 15 Texas, she offers a range of services to 50 to 60 families each month. The Collective works directly with 30 churches and 12 child placing agencies to support more than 300 adoptive and foster families by connecting them with helpful resources. It serves Smith County and a 45-mile radius around, including Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Rusk, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. The agency provides information meetings for families interested in adoption, support groups for parents and children, foster babysitter training and even “wraparound families” — community members who can offer support to foster families, such as preparing meals, babysitting, or lending an ear. They also give away necessary parenting supplies, such as diapers, car seats, and children’s clothing, to foster and adoptive families. The Collective is tackling broader issues, such as rallying more local families to foster or adopt children. When agencies have to place foster children
outside the county where their biological parents live, family visits become more difficult to juggle and arrange. “There’s a lack of foster families in Smith County. We have 308 kids in foster care and about 150 families,” Christi says. “That’s why it’s important that we rally people in our community [to provide foster care] so kids can visit their families.” In November, the Fostering Collective is encouraging community members to “Be the Light” in honor of National Adoption Month. Yard signs around the region encourage people considering adoption to attend information and interest meetings. Christi is also championing the fight against sexual trafficking as a Woman of Hope in Hope Gala 2020. She says 75 percent of kids caught in sex trafficking are from foster care. This year’s Hope Gala is being held virtually November 6 to raise awareness of sexual trafficking and support for its victims. Christi is one of 24 Women of Hope nominated to raise money for the event. The Sowells have challenges, just like
Jeff, Blanca, Eden, Aaron, Anna, Christi, and Alicia enjoy spending time with each other in their large family.
other families. Their entertainment occurs at home, where the kids play games, or they attend the girls’ sporting events. Going to movies or eating at restaurants takes up too much of the family budget. The Sowells prefer to set money aside for important things like Aaron’s college tuition and insurance for the teens’ vehicles. Despite financial challenges, Christi says the rewards of adopting are more than worthwhile. She recently read an essay Alicia wrote for a college application. “I wept when I read it,” Christi says. “You want your kid to know and value themselves and to know who they are before they go out into this big, bad world, and she got it. She really got it.” For information about the Fostering Collective, visit www.thefosteringcollective.org. To learn about the Hope Gala, visit www.hopegala.forthesilent.org.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 17
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Fiber Art: Fun, Fabulous, and Functional By Lisa Tang & P.A. Geddie Little did 23-year-old Alyson Gurney of Washington, DC, know that making tiny felted versions of people’s pets would gain her so much attention. She’s an internet success with 50,000 followers on Instagram and is making the TV talk show rounds. People send photos of their pets and she creates three-inch tall felt sculptures using wool with a technique called needle felting. Her business, Little Felted Friends, now has a four-month waiting list even at $80 per mini-pet. Needle felting is one of many techniques involved in fiber arts that use textiles such as fabric, yarn, and natural and synthetic fibers to create works of art that communicate messages or emotions just like other fine arts. The Upper East Side of Texas is home to many fiber artists, some who even farm their own fibers like cotton from cotton seed pods, linen from flax stems, silk from the spun cocoons of silkworms, and wool from sheep hair. Carolyn Jones of Chicken Coop Dyeworks in Cedar Hill south of Dallas is raising a small flock of Rambouillet sheep, which grow a long, soft wool similar to their cousins, Merino sheep. She clips the fleece once a year and sends to a mill in the northwest for processing. Pam Rowlett raises a small flock of California Red Sheep, which she shears, but she has not yet used their fleece in knitting or weaving projects. She says the sheep are red, but their fleece is an oatmeal color with flecks of red. Keri Gabriele raises angora rabbits and collects their wool for her own knitting projects. She also grows heirloom cotton, which she often combines with angora by spinning them together, which creates a lighter material. Midge Jackson of Tyler says many people in the region own alpacas and llamas. She sometimes buys their fleece
VIDEO
Watch this three-minute video of Alyson Gurney creating tiny felt pet sculptures.
then dyes and spins the wool to create wearable art. Once the origin product is in hand, the next step involves spinning, knotting, twining, plaiting, coiling, and other forms of treating the fibers to get them into workable material. Then many artists will dye the material to get the colors they want in their finished products. Jackson — also known as The Pearly Queen — says she loves luxury fibers and works with a range of them in creating hand-dyed yarns and hand-woven outerwear. She frequently sells the projects in her online store on www.etsy.com at reasonable prices because she loves the feel of the fibers, even if they are time consuming. “You can never really be paid for the amount of time you put into the project,” she says. Carolyn Jones dyes a variety of wool and silk fibers, which her clients purchase for weaving or knitting shawls, scarves, hats, and socks. Knitters purchase her yarns because she pairs unique color combinations. Weavers love her silk, using it for the warp of the fabric, since silk is the strongest of fibers, she says. “People are looking for a creative outlet, and [fiber arts] really works well,” Jones says. “It’s very contemplative, and it’s intellectually stimulating.” Wendy Forrest of Amanda Hope Yarn
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in Nacogdoches began dyeing her own wool when she could not find the muted, sophisticated yarn colors she wanted to use for knitting. After visiting a dyer’s shop in Ireland, she brought home her new knowledge and began experimenting with dyes in her own kitchen. Forrest’s online business has grown rapidly. She offers a unique way to add fine art to fiber arts. She sells Advent kits of yarn with 25 mini-skeins (rolls of yard), one for each day of the season leading up to Christmas Day. Last year’s series featured the colors of paintings by Edgar Degas. The 2020 Advent series features colors from the seven Unicorn Tapestries which hang in the Met Cloisters inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The 25 colors offer surprise and inspiration to knitters, who appreciate the designer, hand-dyed colors. “Everyone likes the idea of having something that’s hand-crafted rather than mass-produced,” Forrest says. Melanie Sanford of Conserving Threads in Dallas also sells on www.etsy.com. Sanford sells plant fibers, including cotton, hemp, flax, and nettle. Until hemp is more widely available locally, Sanford is buying it from a collective farm in Europe. She says hemp is a stronger fiber and stiff at first but softens during washes and use. Sanford sometimes sells raw fibers in sample boxes, so fiber artists can experiment working with them and see what they like. She also dyes some of the fibers, preferring to use natural dyes like continued page 23 TOP: Fiber art starts with nature’s ingredients including cotton, flax stems (linen), silkworm cocoons, and sheep’s wool. RIGHT: Mary Wilhite makes silk, hand-dyed scarves. Some like this one, she places wool fiber and locks on one side and wet-felts it together. This is called Nuno felting. The fibers lock together when wet, soaped, and agitated. Photo by P.A. Geddie
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FIBER ART continued from page 20 indigo and marigold when they’re available. Sanford also sells yarn salvaged from old sweaters bought in second-hand shops. She first takes apart a sweater and unravels it then washes the yarn in a plant-based detergent and re-skeins it. The natural fibers may be wool, cotton, linen, or a mixture. Often, the sweaters are out of style and may not be used again, so salvaging the yarn gives it new life. She sells each sweater as one bundle, which gives other fiber artists the opportunity to dye over the original color. Mary Wilhite of Heart Felted Style at Blue Moon Gardens in Edom says felting is her favorite fiber art and like Alyson Gurney she enjoys creating animals as well as many other pieces which she sells at Blue Moon Gardens in Edom. Needle felting involves sewing wool fibers together by poking them with a barbed needle. Each project takes on a form as the crafter adds new features with additional layers. Wilhite makes animals and natural shapes including squirrels, pumpkins, acorns, horses, donkeys, deer, bunnies, and owls. For Christmas, she often makes Santas, nativity scenes, and ornaments. She teaches felting classes at Blue Moon, and says felting is a good project for beginners. She also creates wall hangings by laying pieces of felt side by side while making a pattern or design. Wool and silk are the only materials suitable for felting. “Fiber art is really good for people who like tactile crafts,” Willhite says. “It’s soft and involves quite a few of your senses. A lot of people get joy and interest out of that. “East Texas has a very vibrant fiber arts community,” Wilhite says. “There’s an amazing amount of talent around here.” continued page 24 LEFT: Wendy Forrest of Amanda Hope Yarn in Nacogdoches began dying Merino wool because she wanted to create subtle yarn colors with a soft sheen. RIGHT: A model shows a couple of Midge Jackson’s woven shawls. Jackson also creates scarves, and cuffs like this one. Better known as The Pearly Queen, Jackson loves working with natural fibers, from spinning to knitting and weaving and sells her creations on her Etsy site. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 23
FIBER ART continued from page 23 Sharon Smith of Azurro Luna Studio — also available at Blue Moon Gardens — is a long-time knitter, but recently found she enjoys making small, colorful rugs in a technique known as rug hooking. Smith uses natural wool fibers, chiffon, or sari silk. She cuts wool fabric and silk into strips to create a bulky look. Assembling a rug begins with a woven linen backing with large holes. The backing serves as a canvas. Smith draws a design on the linen and hooks wool yarns or fabric into the holes. She prefers to make small rugs because they sell more quickly. People typically use them as wall hangings or pillows, however. She also teaches classes in rug hooking at Blue Moon Gardens. Beginners can finish a project in one class then sign up for a more advanced class. “Once you learn the one technique, you’re ready to go on to another class,” Smith says. Smith estimates hundreds of people in the Upper East Side of Texas practice fiber arts. “Everyone has the ability to create art, as long as you can find the niche to make you happy,” she says. Valerie Guignon, who lives in Winnsboro, designs a variety of silk clothing. She hand-paints and designs silk “wearable art,” including tops, ponchos, kimonos, and scarves, which sell in boutiques nationwide. She also designs decorative items such as silk lamps, metal and glass sculptures, handbags, and decorative fiber art collages. Boutiques in the Upper East Side of Texas featuring Guignon’s fiber arts include Clara Ida Frances and the Winnsboro Center for the Arts gift shop in Winnsboro and The Experience in Edom. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society also sell her creations. Learn more about Guignon’s creations online at www.guignon.com. Some of these artists meet up with others from around Texas and the surrounding states in the East Texas Fiber Fest held annually in Lindale or Canton. This year, the festival is taking place
virtually. The East Texas VirtuWool Festival takes place November 20 and 21. Organizers Pam Rowlett and Keri Gabriele are hosting around 30 vendors, with many teaching classes and leading discussions on Zoom and YouTube. The Zoom sessions allow clients to interact with instructors by asking or typing questions, and streamed videos are accessible to a wider audience. “We want to be a source for Texans to find other fiber artists and fiber makers,” Gabriele says. “It’s about showing Texas to the rest of the world, that we know how to knit, too.” This year’s VirtuWool festival is open to everyone and visitors catch a glimpse of the many artists who create beautiful, wearable and decorative designs throughout the year. Many get their
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fiber arts start at festivals like these and the seasoned artists offer sage advice to beginners. “The festival is accessible to anybody,” Midge Jackson. “Even people who aren’t into spinning and weaving like to come, and they find it very interesting.” It’s an important thread that connects the East Texas fiber arts community. For more information about the East Texas Fiber Festival, visit their Facebook page or www.easttexasfiberfestival.weebly.com. ABOVE: Valerie Guignon of Winnsboro designs clothing she calls “wearable art,” such as this painted silk shawl. RIGHT Top to Bottom: Mary Wilhite creates little furry critters and other home decor. Sharon Smith does rug hooking, making decorative and useful pieces for walls or floors.
Fiber Arts Techniques Quilting. Layers of fabric sewn together. Weaving. A method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Knitting. A method by which thread or yarn is turned into knitted fabric consisting of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can be passed through them. Crochet. A process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook. Embroidery. Decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Appliqué. A smaller ornament or device applied to another surface. Rug Making. Rug making is the craft of producing a thick fabric that covers part of a floor, which is most known as a rug. There are many types of rugs like braided, prodded, woven, and more. Rug Hooking. Rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, rug warp or monks cloth. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a latch hook mounted in a handle for leverage. Felting. Non-woven cloth produced by matting, condensing and pressing woolen fibers. Braiding or Plaiting. A complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers, wire, or human hair. Macramé. A form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot and forms of “hitching”: full hitch and double half hitches. Needle Lace. Created using a needle and
thread to stitch up hundreds of small stitches to form the lace itself. Tatting. A technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace constructed by a series of knots and loops. Flocking (texture) – the process of depositing many small fiber particles (called flock) onto a surface. Tapestry. Special type of weaving in which the weft yarns are manipulated freely to form a pattern or design on the front of the fabric. Basketry. The process of weaving unspun vegetable fibers into a basket or other similar form. Patchwork. A form of needlework that involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design. Silk Fusion. Washed, carded, and dyed raw, silk fibers are laid out in different directions on a base layer. Soapy water and a textile medium are painted on this surface and allowed to dry. Silk Screen. A process of adding paint or dye to fabric using a screen covered with synthetic or silk mesh that has an image emulsified onto it. Rope Making. Rope making is combining many strands of a form one stronger cord. The combined by braiding and/or material together.
the craft of material to strands are twisting the
Canvas Work. Counted-thread embroidery is stitched onto a canvas or some other type of sturdy material. The most common type of canvas work is needlepoint. Other types include petit point and bargello. Spinning. The process of combining fibers to make thread or yarn. The thread or yarn is then used to create textiles which is then used to make items like clothing. The more popular technique used for this is ring spinning. Other methods include open-end spinnings, break spinning and more.
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THIS TIME OF YEAR NOVEMBER 8, 1866
JOY
to the World DECEMBER 13
Mary Kate Hunter Fought For Women Equal Suffrage Association and as Vice President of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association from 1915-1916. After women gained the right to vote in 1920, she taught voting procedures and methods for evaluating candidates. Traveling to Washington in 1821, Hunter accepted the task of starting a local unit of the Woman’s National Foundation. She organized the group in her home with 52 charter members to pursue the study of local history. Hunter later organized a chapter of the Fort Houston Daughters of the Republic of Texas in 1927, which collected rare Texas history books and donated them to the library. Mary Kate Hunter, born November 8, 1866, at Brushy Creek, Texas, pursued many interests, including poetry, history, and music, yet she’s best remembered for leading efforts to found the Palestine Carnegie Library (1914) and helping women gain the right to vote (1920). Hunter attended Palestine Female Academy and Sam Houston State Teachers College (now Sam Houston State University). She traveled widely, studying classical music in Boston, Chicago, and Berlin. She briefly taught public school in Mexia and Palestine, but taught piano to scores of Palestine youth until retiring in 1941. For decades, Hunter participated in women’s clubs, which lead social reforms. She was a charter member of the Palestine Self Culture Club and served as delegate to the first meeting of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1898. Hunter is best-known for helping found the Palestine Carnegie Library as a free public library. A grant of $15,000 from the Carnegie Foundation and support from the City of Palestine funded construction of the building, which housed the city’s library for 71 years and is one of 13 remaining Carnegie Libraries in Texas. Hunter also campaigned for women’s suffrage, serving as president of the Palestine
Hunter belonged to the Poetry Society of Texas and published a volume of poetry titled Vision in 1836. She also served on the boards of the Texas State Library and Historical Commission and the Texas State Historical Association. She worked on an early history of Anderson County for many years, collecting oral histories from scores of early residents. Hunter’s other literary endeavors include publishing poetry in well-known newspapers and magazines, serving as society editor of The Palestine Daily Advocate, and as publisher of The Observer, a society and current events review. Hunter died April 14, 1945, while preparing for Palestine’s centennial celebration. The city celebrated its centennial the following year, dedicating it to Hunter. She donated many volumes of her writings to the Palestine Public Library, where they are used as reference material for Texas history. The National Register of Historic Places recently added Palestine to a database of 1,000-plus places called “Where Women Made History” in 2020, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920. The campaign is accepting voluntary nominations through the end of 2020.
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VIDEO
Nation Celebrates All Things Horses Among the obscure official national holidays is National Day of the Horse on December 13. It’s meant to encourage people to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of our country. For one organization in the Upper East Side of Texas, every day is “Day of the Horse.” The Pegasus Project near Ben Wheeler cares for 40 to 45 rescued horses on regular basis. Coming from neglected and often abusive situations, the staff at Pegasus nurses them back to health and guides the horses through the process of learning to trust humans again. Founded in 2009, Pegasus works with law enforcement and animal welfare groups like the SPCA of East Texas to rescue and rehabilitate neglected, abused or abandoned horses, donkeys and mules. Volunteers help rehabilitate and retrain the horses with the goal of adopting them out to carefully chosen homes, while several specialneeds horses stay with The Pegasus Project for life. Read more in an ARTICLE in the County Line archives and watch this video to hear Pegasus director Allyson DeCanio talk about the important work they do.
DECEMBER 14, 1918
Leonard Brothers Built Retail Empire
November 13 - 14 Historic Downtown Winnsboro, Texas A Texas Official Cultural Arts District
Juried Artists Wineries J. Marvin Leonard was born in 1895 near Linden, Texas. His parents operated a small general store there. During World War I Marvin moved to Dallas, where he worked in a store that specialized in salvaged merchandise. On December 14, 1918, Marvin Leonard opened a small store that sold groceries and salvaged merchandise. He was soon joined by his brother Obie and the store grew to occupy more than six blocks in downtown Fort Worth. Leonard Brothers became a store so large that even to this day it dwarfs anything that any single retail user has ever tried to accomplish. The Leonard Brothers was a cross between a modern day super store and a shopping mall. It was a place to purchase merchandise and a place to meet up with friends. Going to Leonard’s on a Saturday was an event the whole family looked forward to doing together whether they traveled to the store from across town or from across the state. Leonard’s played an integral role in life
throughout the 20th century. It boasted Fort Worth’s first escalator, provided coupons and cash vouchers for locals after World War II, hired African Americans during the very early days of integration, and offered a plethora of store-brand alternatives for shoppers. The Leonard brothers even constructed a subway in downtown Fort Worth (allegedly the world’s only privately owned subway) that escorted shoppers straight to the store. Obie purchased his brother’s interest in the store in 1965 and sold Leonard Brothers to Charles David Tandy in 1967. On March 4, 1974, Tandy sold Leonard Brothers to Dillards, and the Leonards’ name came down from the stores. These two little boys from tiny Linden, Texas, left quite a legacy. Visitors can learn more about it and see artifacts at the Leonard’s Museum in downtown Fort Worth, 200 Carroll Street. Call (817) 336-9111 or visit their Facebook page for more information. Excerpts from Texas State Historical Association and Leonard’s Museum Facebook page.
Craft Breweries Foodies Cigars and More! Friday: 1 to 7 p.m. Wineries open until 8 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Can’t be there? Buy art virtually on Facebook @WinnsboroArtWine (More details coming soon)
WinnsboroOnlineGuide.com WinnsboroCenterfortheArts.com
(903) 342-0686
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LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT
Check out the eMAGAZINE www.countylinemagazine.com for extended event listings.
The Depot Museum — Five Acres of History By Lisa Tang The Henderson Depot Museum and Children’s Discovery Center offers a cultural and educational experience for all ages, featuring the historic town’s enduring heritage. The Depot campus and downtown Henderson still feature buildings that date before the Civil War, plus many others recognized as historic landmarks. The Depot itself is much more than a museum — it’s one of 12 or more restored historic structures that invite visitors into the past and experience it first hand. Docents lead tours around the five-acre park and inside the buildings when weather conditions are favorable. Two structures are recognized Texas Historical Markers: The Walling Cabin, built in 1841, and the Arnold Outhouse — the state’s only outhouse with a historical marker. A restored, fully-operational cotton gin is another highlight of the tour. Other structures include a carousel, a train caboose, a printing shop, a sawmill, an oil derrick, and a dry goods store. The Depot is located at 514 North High Street near downtown Henderson, and serves as grounds for the annual Heritage Syrup Festival the second week in November (canceled for 2020 due to COVID-19). The festival celebrates the tradition of ribbon cane syrup making, powered the old-fashioned way, by mules. The Syrup Festival is the largest
of its kind in the region, drawing thousands each year, featuring folk art and craft demonstrations. Inside the Depot are many treasures from Rusk County’s earliest days. Visitors can view Native American artifacts, an original covered wagon, a one-room schoolhouse, and a historic kitchen. Illustrated displays feature significant phases of Henderson’s past. Historic eras include Native American life, early farm settlements, a destructive downtown fire in 1860, and arrival of the railroad in 1874, which connected
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Henderson to Overton in northern Rusk County and the rest of the world. Built in 1901, the Depot represents the town’s connection to the outside world on the Missouri-Pacific Railway, which still runs through town. During the oil boom of 1930, Henderson became one of the largest boomtowns in East Texas, swelling from 2,000 to more than 10,000 people in a few months. In another chapter of Henderson’s history, the airfield served as a remote training destination for British Royal Air Force cadets. The airmen practiced flying from the Terrell, Texas, airbase, to Henderson — the exact distance from London, England, to Dunkirk, France. The Children’s Discovery Center offers many hands-on activities that encourage discovery and developmental growth for young children. The Depot is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information about the Depot Museum and Children’s Discovery Center, visit www.depotmuseum.com. Call (903) 657-4303 to confirm availability of outdoor tours.
Photo by Ron Munden
Make Plans To See Marshall’s Annual Wonderland of Lights
Wonderland of Lights returns to a simpler time this year without some of the usual activities like nightly ice skating, carousel, and train rides. However, there’s plenty to see and experience as they abide by the necessary safety guidelines during the pandemic.
See the opening ceremony virtually from their Facebook page on November 25. On Small Business Saturday November 28, the Wassail Walk takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. with downtown shops serving the tasty beverage and offering specials.
Visitors enjoy driving and walking through downtown Marshall lit up with millions of lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, many cheerful holiday scenes, and beautifully decorated shops.
An Outdoor Christmas Market takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. December 5 and 12 and includes vendors from the Harrison County Farmers’ Market.
Wonderland of Sites offers a self-guided history tour and Story Walk takes place each week during Wonderland of Lights that runs through December 31. The downtown shops have in-store events often and children’s crafts and Santa sometimes makes an appearance. Marshall has numerous lodging opportunities for overnight guests. For details, go to www.wonderlandoflights. com.
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Service & Sacrifice — Harrison County At War This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict that changed millions of lives and the course of American history. The Harrison County Historical Museum in Marshall has an exhibit, “Service & Sacrifice — Harrison County At War,” that honors the service of veterans across all wars.
It includes interactive exhibits such as listening stations, touch screens. and even a movie theater. Click on the image below to take a virtual tour of the exhibit and make plans to go see in it person. The exhibit is located in the Memorial City Hall Performance Center. It is
VIRTUAL TOUR
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open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Other hours are offered by appointment. The exhibit includes conflict information from both the War Front and Home Front perspectives. All exhibits in the museum were obtained from
residents of Harrison County. Displays reflect how the men and women of the community are part of a global story. Throughout history and around the world, Harrison County soldiers fought wars and kept peace. Some brought home stories of a larger world. Others never returned. An example of some of the memorabilia found at the museum is a photograph of a captured Japanese sub-
marine sitting in downtown Marshall in 1943 with a crowd of community members surrounding it. Comments for the photo say that it failed in the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and was captured when it became grounded on a reef. It traveled to Harrison County as a part of a war bond selling tour across the nation. Marshall was the submarine’s 176th stop along the route. Adults who purchased $1 in bonds, and
children who purchased 25 cents, got to peer inside the 81 foot long submarine. Viewing ports were cut into the hull. It was met at the edge of town and was given a police escort to downtown. Sirens across town blasted three times to announce its arrival. The submarine is now at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. Learn more about the exhibit at www. harrisoncountymuseum.org.
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Unplug and Escape at Chic Barndominium By Lisa Tang In November, the air at Little Pines Lake feels warm during the day but crisp and cool at night. Steam rises from the lake most mornings, and the fresh, clean air invites peace and relaxation against a colorful backdrop of brilliant shades of yellow, red, and orange foliage. Wood ducks paddle along the lake, and occasionally, a bald eagle swoops down to catch a fish. Now imagine experiencing these natural wonders without leaving behind the luxuries of home. That’s why guests say Little Pines Lake Barndominium and surrounding 100-acre property near Daingerfield, Texas, just 90 minutes from Dallas, is an ideal destination. When Jacquie and Kris Von Hohn of Houston purchased the property from members of Kris’ family in 2017, they wanted to enhance it in ways to help others enjoy nature in the peaceful setting. Jacquie used her skills as an interior designer, and Kris helped with the remodeling to transform the barn into a comfortable haven. “I wanted to make it like a cute, cozy barndominium where people could come to unplug and enjoy nature and the beauty of East Texas,” Jacquie says. “Once you get out there, there’s no one else for miles around. Many people have appreciated being away from other people, but there are still lots of things to do.” Without Wifi but lots of real activities, the site helps visitors of all ages connect with nature. There’s fishing for bass and crappie in the stocked lake and a pier for fishing and paddle boating. Guests can also explore the private walking trails, an outdoor fire pit with plentiful seating for enjoying nippy evenings with hot cocoa and s’mores, an outdoor picnic table, and an oversized porch swing with a mattress soft enough to sleep on all day. The beautifully-furnished barn accommodates up to four guests with three beds in two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a kitchen stocked with cookware and dining ware.
The downstairs playroom offers four full-sized games: pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, and a basketball challenge known as pop-a-shot. Indoor games and toys for all ages await in the upstairs loft. When not enjoying evenings around the outdoor fire pit or dining in the modern kitchen, guests can enjoy watching a range of movies on DVD while cuddling in front of the loft’s large-screen TV. The barndominium lies just 12 to 15 minutes away from Daingerfield State Park — one of the state’s finest — where visitors enjoy picnics and swimming during the summer. Jacquie recommends making reservations to visit ahead of time. Visitors describe the barndominium as a great place to unplug and unwind. They’re leaving glowing reviews of the service and communication they receive during their stays, as well as the amenities, furnishings, and cleanliness, on airbnb.com. Cindy Walkup says she enjoyed a birthday getaway with her girlfriends at the lake. “It was so nice to get out of the city and stay at this beautiful hideaway,” Walkup says. “We could really enjoy each other’s company without distractions.”
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Amanda Thomas says she enjoyed reading and relaxing while her family played in the game room. “The barndominium is impeccably clean and very stylish with all new amenities and appliances,” Thomas says. “The beds were very comfortable, and it was just enough space for our family of four.” Melissa Stowers compliments the getaway’s natural setting and plentiful equipment for activities. “The game room was truly impressive, but our kids were so busy outside we didn’t even have a chance to indulge in all of the games that were there,” Stowers says. “It was totally worth escaping ‘normal’ life to experience true country living. We cannot thank our hosts enough for being so helpful and thoughtful.” Jacquie says hosting the property is an enjoyable experience because people are so appreciative. “It’s been so much greater than what we expected,” she says. For information about the property, contact Jacquie at (832) 646-4274 or via email at jvonhohn@gmail.com. For bookings, visit www.airbnb.com/ rooms/43310465.
The Little Pines Lake barndominium features comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces like this cozy downstairs bedroom (top), outdoor fire pit with built-in seating (right), outdoor spaces for enjoying a view of the lake (left and bottom), and an open kitchen-dining area well-equipped for cooking and entertaining. Courtesy photos
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Nostalgic Shopping Through the Decades By Lisa Tang Time travel seems real when shopping Miss Henny Penny’s Groovy Coop and Red Zeppelin Records in historic downtown McKinney. The two vintage boutiques with eclectic vibes are helping some relive the past, while allowing others to discover it. Both stores take shoppers back to the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. The Groovy Coop offers a mix of funky, retro-inspired gift items. Mugs, stickers, T-shirts, posters, art, socks, jewelry, books, incense, and semi-precious stones are new objects that inspire individuality, creativity, and fond memories. Shoppers also find artifacts that miraculously survived the decades. Metal lunch boxes decorated with Snoopy or Cinderella, macrame handbags, vintage Starline luggage, and many other relics adorning the Coop are awaiting a second or third life in a new home. The Crewel Corner at Groovy Coop displays several hand-stitched crewel embroidery designs. All are one-of-a-kind pieces that will never appear in the store again. Many shoppers dig the authentic midcentury furniture. Their solid wood and detailed construction put modular furniture to shame. The Coop’s funky, eclectic mix makes shopping fun. Everyone finds something that speaks to them, rousing memories of days gone by. Call it serendipity, karma, or just groovy. Even those who think shopping is a chore find amusement while browsing the boutique. The Coop celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. Customer reviews give the store consistent five-star ratings for variety, quality, and service. “I love The Groovy Coop for the cool, funky stationery and socks. It has a seriously cool vibe and something for everyone,” Sarah Erickson says. Monica Milner Reasor says she and her daughter shop the Coop often. “The owners are awesome,” Reasor says. “They went the extra mile for my daughter, and we won’t forget that. Love going here every chance we get.”
The Coop previously sold vinyl records, but sales were so good that owner Katie Scott opened a second store named Red Zeppelin Records dedicated solely to the once-forgotten music medium. Red Zeppelin opened earlier this year and celebrated its grand opening in September. So far, they’ve enjoyed a smashing success. The quixotic allure of vinyl requires some explaining. Vinyl’s popularity seems to reach all ages from today’s teenage punk fans to Gen Z and X-ers to Baby Boomers. Vinyl albums offer a physical experience that music streaming doesn’t. Browsing album covers encourages exposure to new artists and genres. People use tactile
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TOP: A shopper tries on a witch’s hat, one of many vintage inspired novelties for sale at The Groovy Coop in historic downtown McKinney. RIGHT: Red Zeppelin’s galley design offers the perfect setting for browsing stacks of new and vintage vinyl records while listening to picks of the day.
senses to hold an album, appreciate the cover art, and turn it over to find other details — song titles, lyrics, band members’ names, and more. There’s also the possibility of surprise when looking inside a vinyl album. The record’s color, the printed label or inner sleeves, posters, lyric sheets, and booklets offer a context for discovering new music. Used CDs, stickers, refrigerator magnets,
posters, patches, pins, and T-shirts sell alongside the long, browsable shelves of vinyl albums. Red Zeppelin’s potpourri of music genres represents a variety of retro music. The best sellers are rock, metal, punk, pop, blues, hip hop, and grunge. The store also carries some classic country, movie soundtracks, and albums by local artists.
receives deliveries of new releases and originals. Red Zeppelin shoppers write glowing reviews for the store on Facebook. “If you’re looking for eclectic selection, you’ve found it. If they don’t have it in stock, they can attempt to order it for you,” Sean Kershaw says.
Themed social media posts on Facebook and Instagram show a continuous stream of albums arriving weekly.
“Absolutely love the store, the selection and the staff. Highly recommend,” Kyle Krukar says.
Themes are Metal Monday, Punk Tuesday, Women in Music Wednesday, and Grunge Thursday. On Fridays, the store
“Cool vibe, great music, and great selection. My new record store for sure,” Ryan Oliver says.
Miss Henny Penny’s Groovy Coop is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The address is 109 S. Tennessee Street, McKinney, Texas, 75069. Call (469) 617-3820 for more information or visit their Facebook page @thegroovycoop. Red Zeppelin Records is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The store is located at 206 E. Louisiana Street. McKinney, Texas, 75069. For information, visit www.redzeppelinrecords.com, call (469) 500-7277.
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Sidetrack in Mineola FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Enjoy Nature, Shopping, Dining & Entertainment in Historic Mineola, Texas CHRISTMAS PARADE Shop Historic Downtown Mineola this Holiday Season! Unique Stores, Restaurants, Antiques and More
December 5 • 5:30 p.m. Downtown Mineola
IRON HORSE SQUARE
Playground, water tower, benches, train watching 200 West Front Street
HISTORIC SELECT THEATER
First run movies, plays, band concerts 114 N. Johnson. (903) 569-2300 www.lakecountryplayhouse.com
MINEOLA NATURE PRESERVE 7:30 a.m. until sunset Hiking/Biking/Equestrian Trails Disc Golf Course/Fishing
MINEOLA HISTORICAL MUSEUM 114 Pacific St (Hwy. 69) (903) 569-2631 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
RAILROAD MUSEUM
Restored 1906 Mineola Depot 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. 7 days a week. FREE
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE Designated Daily Stop 1-800-669-8509
1.800.MINEOLA www.VisitMineola.com Follow us at facebook.com/mineolatexas and twitter@mineolatexas
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ARTS + CULTURE Artist Creates Hand-Crafted, Three-Legged Stools
By P.A. Geddie Randall Ricketts of Lindale, Texas, is a furniture designer and woodworker. He makes sleek three-legged stools in the style of traditional craftsmen. He works primarily with salvaged hardwoods including native Texas woods like pecan, mesquite, and walnut. In making his furniture, Ricketts, strives to bring out the natural beauty in the
wood and shapes each stool by hand. He turns the legs on a lathe and finishes each piece with tung oil. Every one of his stools are functional, comfortable, and beautiful works of art designed to use and enjoy for a lifetime. Ricketts says it was important that his creations are timeless and that the design will hold for many decades. The stools are perfect for use at a kitch-
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en counter, desk or cafe table. Guitar players also find them perfect to sit on whether performing on stage or practicing in the garage. Ricketts sells his stools at art markets around Texas and is often accepted in juried shows. He sells his work by appointment as well. Visit his website gallery to see more of his pieces and get more information at www.randallrickettsdesign.com.
Greenville Theatre Works Presents Yee Haw
Greenville Theatre Works is back on stage November 20-21 at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium for two nights only with a nostalgia and hay-filled experience, “The Yee Haw Jamboree.” To be part of the the socially-distanced "studio audience" guests may go to the performance in person or it is available via live stream. This classic country
humor and music act features special musical guest artists, and other talented singers, musicians, and characters that are sure to tickle the funny bone. This variety show is reminiscent of those classic “Hee Haw” episodes that bring good memories and barrels of laughs. Call (903) 457-3126 or visit www.showtimeatthegma.com for more information.
The East Texas Arboretum in Athens presents "Fiddlin' Around the Arboretum," an exhibition October 31 through November 21 of artist-decorated wooden fiddles. For more information, call (903)675-5630 and visit www. easttexasarboretum.org.
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John York Depicts Holiday Fantasies By Lisa Tang John Randall York is well-known in Tyler for painting many iconic buildings and landmarks. The artist’s delicate, realistic watercolor scenes decorate the walls of many public buildings and businesses in the Rose City, his hometown. Yet York’s range is broader and more imaginative than many locals realize. His studio paintings feature whimsical creatures — friendly fairies, elves, dragons, and spooks — celebrating seasons and holidays against enchanting backdrops of colorful hues and palettes. The surreal scenes arouse fascination and wonder, opening eyes to vivid worlds that alight in dreams or children’s imaginations. York says he doesn’t like to plan what he paints, but rather begins with a blank canvas and allows his imagination to take over. “It’s kind of an adventure all the time,” he says. “My hope and wish is that I can connect with people and strike a chord with them.” York’s best-selling fantasy art involves Halloween themes, but he also frequently paints a range of other seasons and holidays in bright hues that march through the year. “Three Fairy Musicians” shows a parade of pixies celebrating autumn. An elfish “Christmas Cantata” features imaginary creatures singing joyfully among bright flowers and holly berries. “Fairy Parade” shows pixies leading a vivid Chinese dragon through an unnamed Chinatown. Springtime is another lively season for York’s art of fantasy. “The Leprechaun Tree” is a whimsical celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Another painting, “Sunset Fairy Tree,” features a gorgeous palette of evening hues in late spring. Sometimes, the artist intertwines reality and fantasy, creating scenes both real and imaginary. “Fairies Under the Bridge at Bergfeld Park” offers a glimpse of pixies enjoying a clandestine ballet in a fairy world. Though committed to illustrating his art of fantasy, York remains objective
while observing differences between the two. He does not believe in elves or fairies, though some of his fans do. Instead, he describes the mythical creatures as “unique pixie forms” that “represent good memories.” Stories and libraries are also common themes in York’s art. The classic brick facade of another popular painting, the “Carnegie Library,” depicts youth enthralled with reading as they perch on stacks of books, symbolic of other fantasy worlds. In other drawings, dragons sit intertwined among stacks of library books while lazily reading through them.
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York thrives on imagination, including a book series he is illustrating with author Gregory Miller of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Miller became a fan of York’s Halloween art on eBay, the online auction site. After the two became friends, Miller invited York to illustrate his series for children continued page 45 ABOVE: Artist John Randall York often ventures outdoors to paint Tyler’s homes, downtown buildings, and ornate churches. RIGHT TOP: “319” is a commissioned painting of a family enjoying the outdoors in front of their home. BOTTOM Left to Right: “Autumn Coffee” and “Fairy Musicians in a Decorated Tree.”
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YORK ART continued from page 42 titled, “An Omnibus of Tales.” York says he enjoys planning illustrations for books in the “Uncanny Chronicles” series as he chats with Miller on the phone. “We’re like a couple of kids telling ghost stories,” he says. “It gets my imagination going.” York’s broad imagination also leads him to experiment and dabble in other media, including a web comics series titled “King Bronty and the Pirate Treasure,” who York calls “The World’s Greatest Dinosaur Knight.” A recent project, “Robot Halloween Tree,” is York’s first digital painting, drawn on a computer screen with a stylus using the Autodesk Sketchbook program. York says painting the screen is like starting with a blank canvas. During the process, he adds new interpretations through color, shape, and form. York became known as Tyler’s “Downtown Painter” as he carried his easel and watercolors outdoors to capture landmarks such as Marvin Methodist Church and Tyler Candle Company in 2016. The Tyler Museum of Art featured the paintings in an exhibit titled “Songs of the House Where We Live” in 2017. “The pretty old buildings are attractive to paint,” he says. York’s projects continue to populate the town — sometimes in surprising places. Recently, a design firm commissioned York to create paintings of Tyler church interiors in the lobby of the BradleyThompson Tower at Christus Trinity Mother Francis Hospital. In another part of town, a York elf perches himself on an artbox at a busy intersection. Brick and mortar stores that sell York’s prints include Brady’s Coffee Shop, Gold Leaf Art Gallery, and Ground Zero Comics. His art of fantasy also continues to make footprints online at www.downtownpainter.com, www.oldworldmusicandgifts.com, www.johnrandallyork.com, and on eBay. OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP: “Santa’s Snail Mail.” BOTTOM Left to Right: A cartoonish adult fairy finds Lewis Carroll’s classic a fascinating read and “Sunset Music.” RIGHT Top to Bottom: “Fairies in a Winter Field,” “Three Fairy Musicians,” and “Lonely Christmas Road.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 45
FILM Foxx Adds Soul to Successful Career VIDEO
By Lisa Tang Actor, singer, songwriter, comedian, and producer Jamie Foxx is starring in Soul, a new inspirational movie by Disney’s Pixar Studios, releasing in theaters November 22. Foxx is one of today’s most talented and versatile performers. He continues to win awards in the worlds of music, television, and film. In Soul, Foxx stars as Joe Gardner, a middle school band director who has lost his passion for music. As he’s walking and talking on a cell phone on a busy city street, he falls down a manhole in an accident that almost takes his life. Gardner finds himself in a mysterious world where he meets a soul named 22, voiced by co-star Tina Fey. As a new soul, 22 doesn’t want to go to Earth, but Gardner is determined to find his way back to life on the planet and regain his enthusiasm for music. Soul’s inspirational, wholesome theme encourages youth to pursue their passions wholeheartedly. “You want to become the person that you were born to be,” Gardner advises 22. “Spend your precious hours doing what will bring out the real you, the brilliant, passionate you.” Along their journey through the “Other World,” Gardner and 22 have humorous discussions about life, including its meaning and purpose, and how to make every moment count. The visually-appealing film includes a de-
lightful, jazz-inspired score and beautiful cinematography. Rated PG, Soul debuts almost six months after the pandemic shutdown postponed its original release date in June. Phylicia Rashad, Angela Bassett, Quest Love, and Daveed Diggs perform other leading characters. Soul resembles previous films by director Pete Docter, who is known for Monsters, Inc. (2001), WALL·E (2008), Up (2009), and Inside Out (2015). Foxx started life in Terrell, Texas, in 1967 as Eric Marlon Bishop. After his parents’ divorce, his maternal grandparents, Mark and Estelle Talley, adopted him at seven months old. He grew up playing piano, attending church and Boy Scouts, and entertaining his classmates. Foxx’s comedy career may have started in the second grade, when his teacher allowed him to entertain the class as a reward for their good behavior. He played basketball and football in high school and later won a scholarship to United States International University in California (now Alliant International University), where he studied music and composition for two years. Jamie Foxx is a stage name he adopted at the start of his career in 1989 to break into comedy. Noticing that female comedians were chosen more frequently on open mic night, he adopted the androgynous name “Jamie” to improve his chances of getting on stage and the surname “Foxx” as a tribute to comedian Red Foxx. In 2004, Foxx won an Academy Award
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for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his leading role in Ray (2004), the acclaimed musical biography about singer and songwriter Ray Charles. He has also won two Grammy Awards for musical performances in 2006 and 2010. Foxx is also known for his performances in Collateral (2004) and Dream Girls (2006). Later films include Django Unchained (2012), White House Down (2013), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Annie (2014), and Baby Driver (2017). In 2020, he received the Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his role as Walter McMillan in Just Mercy (2019). Previously, Foxx won image awards for Ray and The Jamie Foxx Show. He starred in the television shows In Living Color on the Fox Network (19911994) and The Jamie Foxx Show on the WB Television Network (1996-2001). Foxx’s current television series on the Fox network is Beat Shazam (2017-2020), a humorous game show in which contestants identify music hits while competing against themselves and Shazam, an app that identifies songs. His daughter Corinne Foxx co-stars as the show’s deejay. His work in sitcoms continues with Netflix in Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, a new series he produces and directs. Visit a trailer for Soul on the link above.
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E-EDITION www.countylinemagazine.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 47
LITERARY 2020 Northeast Texas Poetry Contest Winners Northeast Texas Community College • Mount Pleasant, Texas Creo
Texas Symbol Love Affair The Pecan speaks: Fly to me, my little bird Adorn me Crown me with your smoky figure Haunt my being by sun and by moon. When you go, I cannot follow Rob me not of your nearness Flutter, return, I ache in your absence. The Mockingbird replies: My shade, my nest A balm against the bitter heat I shelter in your tresses And arise early for your closeness. Your embrace is strong and sure Like the roots that run deep beneath, Run into me. Pecan rhapsodizes: My lover speaks in silvery song Her words a sweet refrain. Hold still, listen close, Her throat a garden spring. Rejoice in the melody, Bathe my boughs in the heavenly notes. Mockingbird closes: I blush in your adoration A welcome warmth in spite of the fever This land washes us in. A kiss of honey, of butter, Every taste a delicate reminder He remains mine, and I am always his. Katelyn Lester, Mount Vernon
ATTENTION POETS Submit your poem for possible inclusion in a future County Line Magazine. All ages.
editor@countylinemagazine.com
Las Manos de un Trabajador Those hands that you may see, Those palms that you may feel, They bear with them so much. Behind every callus, every scar Every scratch and every line, There is a story. A story that not everyone knows. A story of a hardworking, hispanic man---a son, a brother, and a father. From feeling the fresh, early morning breeze to wiping off the sweat on his forehead, Those hands have felt it all. The rays of the hot, blazing, Northeast Texas sun; The mildew that forms on the grass in the fields; The smoothness of cattle hides as they try to tame the animal; The roughness of the barbed wire fences that line the ranch; Those hands have felt it all. From driving a bright blue, New Holland tractor under the Texas sky to holding the hand of a loved one, Those hands have done it all. Those hands have helped plow and plant fields; Fields that stretch for miles on the rolling Texas landscape. Those hands have helped bring food to a table; A table where a family gathers to feast on the riches those hands have provided. Those hands have done it all. They have bled. They have been bruised. They have been blistered. They have brought blessings upon this family. “Que dios te cuide.” May God take care of you, As those same hands make the sign of the cross. No matter how rough they may get Or how tired they may be, Those hands that you see are Las manos de un trabajador. Nallely Gutierrez, Mount Vernon
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Got here in 01. Out of the Mexican sun. With shades of ambition, A brand new ethnic edition! Couldn’t dictate where we would reside. Only God would provide. But we came to Northeast Texas! Here we are. We are following our star. Creo. I believe. Therefore here I am! Haven’t thought of leaving To the green pastures and still, clear waters cleaving Great old Lone Star, in you believing. We moved around a bit Life got painful. We couldn’t quit. My parents, working at Pilgrim’s couldn’t make time for prayer. Hence: They got covid. We all got covid. Our great Savior has disciplined us. That firm hand opened our eyes. Still and in all ways, we say with no fuss: We must. . . . “In God We Trust.” Now maybe we are through With the Flu. And better for it? Behold, mothers call the shots in La Familia. And grandmothers hold the blessing, And they all said: En Dios Confía! And so here we are, alive. Shall we be deprived? My parents were called “essential workers.” While others stayed home and bickered Their breath of life flickered. They had worked the line Their tired body aching Their own safety breaking . . . But the line was never problema alguna In the whole scheme of our fortuna Everyone has to eat. And keep the beat. Why not help. Without a whelp. We kept working HAVE WE EARNED YOUR RESPECT? O standoffish state We have tolerated your hate Here we are. We are following our star. Creo. I believe. Therefore here I am! Haven’t thought of leaving In you O Hostile State, still believing. Hilda Rodriguez, Mount Pleasant
Mood Swings Your early morning smile is breathtaking You are a sweet gentle bright light in my day At noon you are an amber burning flame so beautiful You have a way of giving life to everything with your charm Your bubbly personality brings you to tears of joy And as I wipe them off your face I think to myself You are beautiful I love you the way you are But there come times when I cannot stand your anger You snap and turn ablaze And yes, I admit sometimes I do get burnt by the symptoms of your rage You have this thing you do when you are mad you passive-aggressively show me your love Your hugs do not even feel like you are trying to comfort me anymore But burn me And I think to myself I hate it when you are like this But you have a way of changing your colors that make my heartbeat Not only can you be a gentle bright light, an amber fire, and a lustrous sage you are also passionate and hearty You are my beautiful place of rest Your tranquility puts me at ease You have this thing you do when you begin to sing The cool lullabies of your song puts me to sleep And I think to myself Can this please last forever? But then your cold countenance brings me back to my senses Your warmth becomes a distant reality In times like this, I long for your warm hugs Even if they do burn But you have this thing you do when you smile Your pearly white smile leaves a new type of burn on my cheek But this chilly bite is a special kind of present It makes it feel like Christmas Chills run through my spine whenever I feel your touch And I think to myself Is this the type of love that fairy tales talk about? But no matter how it much it hurts or burns I can always love your smile I can always stand your heat I can always love your song I can always stand your cold All of this because You are my home. Carolina Alcocer-Salas, Chapel Hill
Pandemic in Northeast Texas: Thanatopsis Revisited 2020 Invisible as a China breeze, it fluttered into our life. On little cat’s feet it crept into our country and state. Corona virus it was first called, and then Covid-19. Death was its stern message and our potential fate. Masks, social distance and please wash your hands: Keep safe, avoid crowds and just stay home. No movies, no concerts, no indoor church service: Against both science and superstition, death comes. Death: Are you avenger, angel or bitter avarice? Swiftly you transformed my young life, Galloping away with my mother: I was only two. Will she know me in a divine afterlife? Speedily as well, you carried my father away, When I was a lad barely past the age of three: All this after the death of my sister, Nelda June, Only seven months old: Before any thought of me. Your legacy so harsh: Strong like virulent ash. In my boyish dreams, you were never far away: Lurking here, there, unseen, yet surely everywhere, Lying in wait for me, shrouded in mist of gray. Not until I was thirty, my father’s maximum age, Did I cease to fear your dark presence, foreboding: That it was not, in fact, my fate to die young. Brightening my fitful dreams: My life emboldening. Still, memories recall to me the preciousness of life: A funeral service for an accidentally slain mockingbird. Endless tears for Poochie, dog love of my lengthened life, Sorrow at a brother’s funeral, comforted only by The Word. Grief at the tragic death of a close college friend. I still tell the story of his exemplary life: At Aggie Musters I recount his bravery, Integrity, loyalty, character, in both joy and strife. Covid 19 reminds of other pandemics and plagues: Polio, agonizing killer from days of my childhood, Spanish Flu, a virus from the generation of my parents, Bubonic Plague, black death of Europe’s somber mood. Five Million Covid-19 cases in US by August, 2020. Death’s bitter hour to 176,000 unsuspecting souls. World-wide pandemic in 2020, and all 50 US States. Not even Northeast Texas would be spared whole Now mature: Some call me sad-eyed ancient, I treasure the flickering wind we call breath. Comprehending not, the motivation of anyone Who ignores precautions, encouraging death. May we so live that when comes our own clear call To become one with rocks, rills and peaceful streams: There we explore realms unknown, moving with Grace and trust to slumber in purposeful dreams. A tribute to lives lost to Covid-19 in Northeast TX Joe Dan Boyd, Winnsboro
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Author Tells Story of Parents’ Heroic Lives his parents about their most heroic moments. He attributes their silence to post-traumatic syndrome disorder, or PTSD, and spent years piecing together the details. “As an artist and romanticist I was compelled to reprise their sterling years filled with passion, love, and honor,” Kirk says. The young couple knew little of the fame, honor, and responsibility they would experience in the coming years through their career of service in the armed forces. Kirk’s mother, Joan, was a stunning beauty who once turned down invitations to a Hollywood screen test. Far from the glamorous lifestyle that may have led to, she was living in officers’ quarters near Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked the island in Hawaii. She dodged enemy fire, was evacuated to safety that night, and slept on the floor of a high school gym — all before giving birth to the couple’s first child in Honolulu the next day. The actions that earned his father the prestigious Medal of Honor and a lifetime of acclaim occurred about a year later over two days in the Pacific Theater. When Colonel Davis volunteered to scout an enemy stronghold on Guadalcanal Island in January 1943, he wanted to liberate his battalion from the exhaustion of intense heat, dehydration, and an insurmountable barrage of enemy crossfire. After radioing the enemy’s location, Colonel Davis led a charge the next day that reversed the American Army’s stalemate on the island’s Galloping Horse Hill and eliminating the enemy. By Lisa Tang J. Kirk Davis shares the story of his parents Colonel Charles W. and Joan Davis in his book, The Hero & the Beauty, honoring their selfless determination, valor, and heroism during World War II. The book eloquently narrates the details of the couple’s lives with copious evidence in the form of letters and photographs from his mother’s collection, including dozens of valuable signatures of presidents, generals, and celebrities. Kirk’s parents were survivors, victors, and bearers of the ominous times they lived in, yet they never thought of sharing their story publicly. Their reticence wasn’t just a matter of modesty, however. As an adult, Kirk experienced difficulty in coaxing details from
After retirement, Charles Davis served as president of the National Medal of Honor Society and as an advisor on the White House Commission on Veterans Affairs under President Ronald Reagan. Charles died January 16, 1991 at the age of 73. Joan died June 27, 2013, at 98 years old. They are both buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Kirk recently ensured his parents’ continuing legacy by donating his father’s medal and memorabilia to the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation in Arlington, Texas. The museum is still in the planning stages with a focus to commemorate the stories of American Medal of Honor recipients. Honorable foundation directors include all living former Commanders in Chief — Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter. Kirk’s book is available online at www.amazon.com. For more information about the museum visit www.mohmuseum.org.
READ A GOOD BOOK LATELY? Book review submissions welcome. Submit your book review for possible inclusion in a future County Line Magazine to editor @countylinemagazine.com.
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DeFoore Authors Small Town Texas Stories John DeFoore is legendary in the Upper East Side of Texas. He’s a gifted guitar and songwriting teacher with former students that include Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Michelle Shocked, and Ryan Beaver, to name a few. Now he’s ventured in to writing short story fiction and has a book called Texas Ghost Town Snapshots, available through Amazon and other booksellers. He began collecting the stories many years ago. “Driving from my homes in Mineola and Grand Saline, Texas, to my parents’ home in Bourne for 30 years, I started to wonder about the old deserted houses along the route.” Curiosity led him to create stories about who might have lived there and what might have happened in their lives. So he began writing down “glimpses” of life of small town Texas. Hear DeFoore narrate one of his stories, “Leonard of Kelsey,” accompanied by guitar, on this video.
VIDEO
McConaughy Sails Through Greenlights Longview native Matthew McConaughey recently released his book, Greenlights, based on a diary he kept
for 35 years, including his years at Longview High School. Rather than doing a traditional memoir or advice book, McConaughey said Greenlights is based on adventures in his life. “Adventures that have been significant, enlightening, and funny, sometimes because they were meant to be, but mostly because they didn’t try to be,” he says in a publicity statement. “I’ve been in this life for 50 years,” he continues, and says the book contains “Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.” Get Greenlights on Amazon and from other booksellers.
World War II is the Backdrop for Island Song Island Song, a World War II novel by author Herb Marlow, is now available in Ebook and paperback formats. Island Song is about a young man just returned from WWII in the Pacific Theater. Eric Travers is a much-decorated former U.S. Navy corpsman who served with the Marines in the Pacific Islands Campaign — notably on Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was wounded several times, and felt lucky to be alive. Now he is back in Omaha, Nebraska, his home town, and he wonders what to do with his life. Sure he has a truck driving job, but he wants to go to medical school to see if he can be a surgeon, but how will he do that? And then there’s Sally Richards, the pretty waitress at Ernie’s Diner. Eric has many flashbacks of combat situations — today that is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder — but hopes someday to be rid of those, perhaps with Sally’s help. See all of Herb Marlow’s books at www. herbmarlowbooks.com, www.amazon. com, and www.barnesandnoble.com.
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MUSIC
Lambert Receives Most CMA Award Nominations BLUEBIRD Yeah, I’m a turner I turn pages all the time VIDEO Don’t like where I’m at, 34 was bad So I just turn to 35 Yeah, I’m a keeper I keep digging down for the deep Like the records I’m playing They might keep you waiting But you know I’m gonna play ‘em for keeps And if the house just keeps on winning I got a wildcard up my sleeve And if love keeps giving me lemons I’ll just mix ‘em in my drink And if the whole wide world stops singing And all the stars go dark I’ll keep a light on in my soul Keep a bluebird in my heart Well, I’m a giver Yeah, and I’m still giving ‘em hell Forgiving’s pretty hard So I made an art out of forgettin’ ‘em well Yeah, I’m a rhymer I can turn twenty cents into a ten And if I get confused, and I start to lose I rhyme a dime ‘til it all makes sense And if the house just keeps on winning I got a wildcard up my sleeve And if love keeps giving me lemons I’ll just mix ‘em in my drink And if the whole wide world stops singing And all the stars go dark I turn the light on in my soul And keep a bluebird in my heart
The 54th Country Music Association (CMA) Awards are televised on Wednesday, November 11, on ABC network. Several Upper East Side of Texas people are nominees.
Musical Event of the Year (Fooled Around and Fell in Love featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack), and Music Video of the Year (Bluebird).
Lindale’s Miranda Lambert is up for more awards than any other person this year so odds are it’s going to be a good night for her. Nominees include Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (Wildcard), Single of the Year (Bluebird), Song of the Year (Bluebird),
Bluebird is written by Lambert along with Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby. It’s about having to go through some bad times to appreciate good times. “It all comes back to turn the page,” she explains in this VIDEO about the song.
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“The next page will be better.” Maren Morris (Arlington) and Kacey Musgraves (Mineola) are also nominees for Female Vocalist of the Year — that’s three out of five in this category from the “what’s in the water” region. Maren Morris is also nominated for Single of the Year and Song of the Year “The Bones,” written by Morris along with Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz. The song is also up for Musical Event of the Year.
Beatles vs. Stones Show Returns to Greenville Stage SHAWN COLVIN
The debate between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has been going on ever since they first crossed paths on the charts 55 years ago. The argument at the time, and one that still persists, was that the Beatles were a pop group and the Stones were a rock band: the boys next door vs. the bad boys of rock. So who’s better? Tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction engage in an onstage musical showdown at 8 p.m. Saturday, November 14 at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium (GMA). Full COVID protocols and socially distanced seating are in place. Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the county’s top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles’ career. They face off against renowned Stones tribute band Satisfaction - The International Rolling Stones Show, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion. “Music fans never had a chance to see the Beatles and the Rolling Stones per-
form on the same marquee,” said Chris Legrand, who plays “Mick Jagger” in the show. “Now, music aficionados can watch this debate play out on stage.” The Greenville show is part of a 125 stop tour of the U.S., Australia and Canada and has been touring since 2011. The show also performs long term residencies for a number of the Harrah’s Casino properties. The production includes some of the more popular songs from the two rock pioneers and covers the scope of their musical careers, although the set list for Satisfaction usually includes Rolling Stones songs up to the 1980s. “They certainly have more pop songs but we’re a really great live show. The fans are in for an incredible night of music,” LeGrand says. During the two-hour show, the bands perform three sets each, trading places in quick set changes and ending the night with an all-out encore involving both bands. The band members have their outfits custom-made, since avid fans know exactly what the Beatles and
Stones wore onstage during different time periods in their careers. There’s a lot of good-natured jabbing between the bands as well. “Without Beatlemania, the Stones might still be a cover band in London,” said Chris Overall, who plays “Paul”. “There’s no question that the Beatles set the standard.” “It’s just a fun time and a cool back-andforth nonstop show,” Overall added. “We’re going to bring it all. It’s going to be an evening of high-energy music,” LeGrand says. For tickets go to www.showtimeatthegma.com
LIVE MUSIC Check the County Line Calendar for live music and live streaming shows.
www.countylinemagazine.com
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FOOD & DRINK
Oxbow’s Best Pecan Pie Recipe 3. Sprinkle cold salt water over the mixture and toss lightly with a fork until the dough comes together. Add more iced saltwater if needed. 4. Form dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. 5.Set the oven to 425 degrees. Unwrap dough and place it on a lightly-floured surface. Roll into a 14-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a 9 ½-inch pie plate, pressing the dough into the bottom and sides. Trim the pie crust, leaving about 1 inch around the edges. Fold edges under and crimp. Bake about four minutes or until the crust sets. Cool on a wire rack for two to three minutes and fill any cracks with dough scraps. Cool the crust 30 minutes then brush lightly with the beaten egg. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. FILLING 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 cup + 2 tablespoons light corn syrup Photo by Dave Shultz
4 extra-large eggs, beaten
On Thanksgiving Eve, people line up along East Crawford Street in Old Town Palestine for blocks, waiting patiently for up to an hour on warm days to purchase the perfect pie at Oxbow Bakery. Owners Becky and David Wolfe sell about 400 pies before Thanksgiving — mostly to visitors from out of town.
formation, visit them online at www. oxbowpies.com or call (903) 723-5100.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Here they share the recipe for their Best Pecan Pie.
2 cups chopped pecans
The mother and son team sell roughly a dozen varieties year-round, from Buttermilk, Pecan Praline Cream, and Chocolate Pecan, to fruit flavors such as Coconut Meringue, Lemon Icebox, and Cherry Cream Cheese. Pumpkin and Strawberry Pies are available seasonally.
¼ cup ice water and 1-2 tablespoons more, if needed
Prices range from $15 to $21 for whole pies, but most flavors are also available by the slice for $3 to $4, and coffee is also available. The bakery and general store are open Thursday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more in-
1. Dissolve salt in ice water in a glass measuring cup. Chill for 30 minutes.
CRUST ½ teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface 10 tablespoons vegetable shortening 1 large egg, lightly beaten
2. Place flour in a large bowl. Cut shortening into flour with a pastry blender until crumbly.
54 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
3/8 teaspoon salt
1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture bubbles, three to four minutes. Add corn syrup and repeat the steps. 2. Remove from heat and cool for five minutes. Slowly whisk one cup of the mixture into the beaten eggs and slowly whisk that mixture back into the sugar mixture until thoroughly mixed. Whisk in vanilla and salt. Stir in pecans. 3. Pour filling into cooled crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes, until the pie is cooked through and set in the middle. Cover crust edges with aluminum foil after 30 minutes to prevent browning. Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing, about two hours.
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MAGAZINE We at Winnsboro Center for the Arts in Winnsboro established a relationship with P.A. Geddie and County Line Magazine over five years ago. They worked with us then in developing an advertising plan and continue to work with us now on ad content and direction. CLM has always been responsive with the changes and edits that are a part of the changing needs of advertising and promotion. The staff at CLM has a passion for promoting the Upper East Side of Texas and all of the many events, concerts and activities in it. They have created a truly excellent magazine and it's not unusual for folks to tell us that they saw us in County Line Magazine.
ADVERTISE WITH US. IT WORKS!
Jim Willis Director of The Bowery Stage Winnsboro Center for the Arts County Line Magazine is our “go to” publication for marketing Mineola, Texas, to our target audience in the North by Northeast Texas area. We know that County Line Magazine will present our entertainment and leisure information in the best light possible with attractive ads and interesting articles that its readers will notice and enjoy. Visitors to our city often comment that they saw our information in the County Line Magazine. Fast response on ad proofs and changes make working with staff a pleasure. We love County Line Magazine. Lynn Kitchens Director of Marketing Asst. Director Economic Development City of Mineola
Reach those Living & Playing in the Upper East Side of Texas
County Line has always been and continues to be a significant partner to our community. The magazine is beautifully laid out, filled with relevant information, and reaches our most important target market — the Northeast Texas drive market. The County Line Team is always very professional and the magazine is a great asset to the entire area. Kevin Banks Manager, Greenville CVB P.A. Geddie and the County Line are a tremendous asset for us at Four Winds Steakhouse. We have worked together for about 14 years. Through the years I have seen the publication grow and consistently get better. It has been a great local tool for our business and its reach continues to grow. They do a great job putting our ads together and I enjoy working with P.A. Frank Rumore Four Winds Steakhouse
www.CountyLineMagazine.com • (903) 963-1101 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.COUNTYLINEMAGAZINE.COM • 55
“The happiness of life is made up of little things — a smile, a helping hand, a caring heart, a word of praise, a moment of shared laughter. We are most alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” Thornton Wilder
Discover the treasures of the Upper East Side of Texas.
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