July Eastex Postcards

Cover Photo by Pam Johnson Postcards 2022 Photo Contest Submission

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WOW! Thank you for the warm welcome!

Karen Altom

The very first day the Eastex Edition of Postcards Magazine hit the street, we started hearing from you! We have received calls, emails, and comments from all around the area.

One question I want to address is about sharing your submissions. Whatever you would like to share--pets, grandkids, recipes, etc.--the process is same for everything.

1. Go to our website www.PostcardsLive.com

2. Click on the “Contact & Share” link in the top menu

3. Fill out your info and click the box for what you want to share

4. Follow the instructions, upload your photo, and you’re done! If you have any problem, just email me at the address above or call!

Now the BIG question – Does it cost anything to submit? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Your submission is FREE to publish. Remember our goal? We want you to feel more connected to your neighbors. “Community. It’s what we do.”

While you are flipping through this issue, be sure to take a moment and thank an advertiser for helping bring this publication to you. They make what we do possible. Until next time,

~ Karen

As we move from June into the heart of summer, July brings warmer temperatures, Independence Day festivities, and an abundance of fresh produce from our gardens and roadside stands thanks to the wet, cooler June. It’s a time to be grateful and celebrate, but also to prioritize safety. Let’s stay mindful of children’s play, engage in recreational activities responsibly, and stay hydrated amidst the summer heat.

Independence Day brings us together as a community, fostering a sense of unity and shared values. We relish joyous moments, colorful fireworks, and creating lasting memories with loved ones.

Please visit Postcardslive.com and share with us! We welcome your photos, comments, and recommendations for our community magazine. Your submissions create a magazine that reflects the diverse spirit of our residents. Do you know an interesting person we should interview? Tell us! Karen provided information on how to contribute, making it a collective effort. It really is easy!

As we embrace the heart of summer, let’s celebrate, give thanks for what we have, stay safe, and nurture our community spirit. Together, we can enjoy this season and make memories to last a lifetime.

Kent Holder

Dear Gabby

Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. Happy Independence Day! God Bless America; America Bless God. Ronald Reagan once said: All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” Tag; you’re it! It’s summer vacation time. Several years ago, I hung a map in my house to put pins in all of the locations I have visited. I had to go to Cape Flattery, Washington and Madawaska, Maine first, so the map wouldn’t fall down. This year, I checked my summer vacation budget. I’ll be going to a movie. Send your questions to me by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive.com/share.

DEAR GABBY

My husband loves gadgets. Consequently, he has one of everything, and it’s very hard to buy him gifts. Do you have any suggestions?

PUZZLED

for his birthday. I used to have a nice large wooden cutting board. Now I have two small ones. It’s going back!

DEAR PUZZLED

Not knowing anything about your husband, I’m sorry, but I don’t. But, my husband is the same way. I do have a suggestion of something to avoid buying for him. My husband Dud really likes to keep the household knives very sharp. He thinks they are actually less likely to cut you badly since you’re not required to put much pressure on what you’re cutting. He sharpened the blades the old fashioned way, so I bought him a fancy new electric sharpener

CONFIDENTIAL TO “PET PEEVE”: That is exactly mine, too. To fly Old Glory in an improper or tattered condition is not honoring what she stands for. Please replace any worn or discolored flags. Thank you, and have a safe and happy Independence Day!

GABBY

“Lord, don’t let me rust.”

After Luther Eugene “Gene” Hunter passed, his daughter Patricia Blaikie found an old Bible that had belonged to him. She looked through the pages, certain she would find great verses he underlined to lead her life by. The only thing she found was that single handwritten sentence in the back.

At 71 years young, Patricia seems determined to take those words to heart, embodying a determined spirit of volunteerism she inherited by example.

Story by Wes Altom

Photos by Kent Holder

Patricia stands at the outside entrance to the train room at the Museum, in front of artwork she painted.

Patricia Blaikie

Tell us about your role with the Cleveland Historical Society and Museum.

I was not involved in the Cleveland Historical Society from its beginning. But the day I came in, I got a lifetime membership, because I knew this was something I was very interested in. I became a board member. My friend Pat Mange had been president, but she left around the middle of 2022. We came to a board meeting to elect a new president, and I think I sat on the wrong side of her, because I became the president! <laughs> We are fortunate to have a collection of great artifacts and history. The city has been very gracious with us and our facility.

Share what’s next for the organization.

I have a lot of ideas. I used to be on the board of trustees for the Brazosport Museum of Natural Science, and I helped with a lot of the displays and research there. One of my best co-workers/volunteers is Rose Owens (who is also strong on genealogy). She is the Curator of Museum Collections, and she also has been and is instrumental in helping implement new ideas.

Our hope is to get younger folks interested in history. History is now! Just having the first history

camp—by next year, that’s history! If we don’t start getting younger people interested in preserving history, we are going to lose it.

The Cleveland Historical Society will also celebrate its 20th anniversary in October, and we are working toward a special event at the Museum to commemorate the occasion.

You have other community involvement as well.

Recently, I became president of the board of the Cleveland

We are having a history camp at the Cleveland Historic Museum on July 10th (K - 2nd grade) and July 12th (3rd - 5th grade). Anyone interested can call me at (281) 224-4682 for information.

Senior Citizen Center. My dad was on the first board that started the group in 1987. He really instilled a spirit of volunteerism in me. On and off through my life, I had always been involved in volunteering, delivering Meals on Wheels and such. We have a new director there now, and we are trying to get some money raised to help with debt incurred keeping things going during Covid. My husband George Blaikie and my son Michael Blaikie both do AC work, and they repaired a unit and an ice machine on the building—they volunteer, too… whether they want to or not!

Tell us about growing up.

I was born at Fort Bliss, Texas. We went all over the place due to the military. We landed in Houston, before my parents decided to move to get away from the big city. I started in the fourth grade here, and I have lived in Cleveland pretty much ever since. I was brought up with no electricity or running water when we first moved here. One of my grandsons asked me, “What’s going to happen when the Zombie Apocalypse hits, and we have to live without electricity or internet?” I told him, “I’ve lived through it. I know what to do.”

In the 1960s, I did go to “find myself.” I went to Woodstock; I danced in New Orleans; I actually hitchhiked to every state in the United States. But when my first daughter was born, I came back to Cleveland and settled.

My mother was killed in a car accident when I was 16, and my dad later remarried a widow, Grace Childers, whose family owned the Liberty Café in Cleveland. We had a definite mother/daughter relationship, and she taught

me a lot, and a lot about Cleveland history.

Sounds like family is important to you.

We have a large family. We fostered in the past, and some of their offspring I consider mine. At one point, we actually had 12 teenagers in our house for two years…and I still have hair! So, I’m happy. I’m also raising two of my 18 great-grandchildren, Katy (10) and Angel (6).

That’s impressive. Raising two younger children can be a fulltime job itself. Do you have any spare time for hobbies?

I’m an artist, also. When I traveled the nation “finding myself,” I saw a lot of art and drew in the knowledge of art a lot of people would talk to me about. I used to belong to several art leagues and had a studio across from the Texan Theatre. I have many avenues of art that I like to do. I love watercolor, as well as a technique called Zentangle (pattern art). I

do collage; I do found art (everyday objects converted into art). I love encaustic (wax) art. I wish I could do more art now, but I just don’t have time with raising these kids.

You are involved in so much! You must take good vitamins.

I’m waiting right now to have a heart valve repair that will give me more energy…I’m not going to rust.

The Garden Post

By Kim Bius

Summer is Here!

With so many fun things to do and places to see, summer gardening needs to be relaxed, carefree and enjoyable. To get to “carefree,” here are a few tips to keep your gardening chore list on the lighter side.

Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper is a must. This granular preemergent will kill all seeds in the soil to a 5” depth, so be careful to only apply to sod or garden beds where reseeding annuals are not an issue. Apply after cleaning the bed, and you will notice NO new seed germination for 30-45 days. For weeds that are above ground, use Fertilome Weed Free Zone. This is a liquid “selective” herbicide and will not affect established St. Augustine sod. Read the label; many plants are tolerant of the herbicide and can be over-sprayed. Ensure the sprinkler system is off and no rainfall for 48 hours to give the herbicide time to absorb and to obtain maximum “kill” rate.

Headed out of town for a 7-10 day vacation?

Place pot plants in a heavily shaded area in a round, plastic kiddie pool with 1” of water-or place in a heavily shaded area (even if sun lovers) where the sprinkler system will hit 4x a week. Ensure your sprinkler system is in working order before leaving for an extended period (and that it will “kick back on” if the power goes out).

Love summer color, but not so great at remembering to water several times a week?

Try purslane, portulaca, or ice plant. These

hardy, sun loving, blooming annuals make excellent hanging baskets and pot plants (also great companion color for rock beds areas with a xeriscape design or limited water). If deer are a problem, consider vinca (periwinkle), lantana, or plumbago.

It is time to move petunia, geraniums, and calibrochoa baskets/pot plants into areas with morning sun and no direct sunlight after 12:30 pm. Some of these plants will need to be pruned back to the rim of the basket or pot (due to becoming leggy). Fertilize with Osmocote 14-14-14 for a slow-release formula that will last till August.

Keep a keen eye out for chinch bug in the lawn and spider mites on tropicals. This is definitely their favorite time of year. Both can be treated with a systemic granular or liquid organic. Fertilome Triple Action Plus is an excellent organic insecticide, miticide, and disease control that can be used up until the day of harvest. It can also be applied bimonthly as a preventative.

Keep tropicals fertilized monthly, and remember to only use hibiscus food on hibiscus. These beauties can be killed with high phosphorous fertilizer. Phosphorous content needs to be 5% or lower (save the Super Bloom for your blooming annuals).

Plant pumpkin seeds now for a Halloween harvest. Kids love watching them grow!

Enjoy outdoor time, because the next time we visit, it will be fall gardening time! Happy Gardening.

What’s Cookin’

Smashed Peach and Poblano Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

2 peaches, halved

1/2 tsp ground ancho chile pepper (optional)

4 slices sourdough bread

3 oz sliced sharp white Cheddar cheese

1 large poblano pepper, roasted and cut into strips

4 slices crisp-cooked bacon

2 Tbs butter, softened

Raw Corn Salad

Ingredients

2 ears corn, kernels cut from the cob

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced

1 avocado, diced

1 small sweet onion, finely chopped

¼ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, or to taste

1 green onion, green parts only, thinly sliced

Directions

Step 1: Sprinkle cut sides of peach halves with ground chile (if using). Using a potato masher, a flatbottom heavy skillet, or the flat side of a meat mallet, gently smash peach halves to 1/2-inch thickness. Top 2 bread slices with Cheddar cheese. Layer 2 peach halves, half of the poblano strips, and 2 slices bacon on top of the cheese. Top with remaining bread slices. Butter both sides of each sandwich.

Step 2: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook, turning halfway through, until bread is toasted and cheese melts, 4 to 6 minutes.

1 drizzle extra-virgin olive oil

1 lime, juiced salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1: Mix corn kernels, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, onion, cilantro, and green onion together in a large bowl.

Step 2: Add a drizzle of olive oil. Squeeze lime juice into the bowl, season with salt and pepper.

Lakelynn Kimich Grandchild of Ricky Kimich

Liam Jackson Collins Grandchild of Richard & Lanelle Collins

Isabella & Arabella Grandchildren of Dolly Rasco

Just for Fun

Kids operating real construction equipment !

“We started fundraising in 2019. Then Covid hit. We joked, ‘We’re already crazy telling the world we’re going to put four-year-olds on excavators. Now we’re crazy doing that AND trying to build a theme park in the middle of Covid. So, we’re double-crazy!’”

–Jacob Robinson, Dig World owner

Story by Wes and Karen Altom

Photos by Julie Knight

In Texas, we WORK BIG and PLAY BIG! So, a theme attraction where small children operate actual life-size construction equipment doesn’t seem too crazy, right? Enter Dig World in Katy, which opened in March 2022. The Postcards Team, accompanied by Duke Sherman (our official kid tester of the attractions), took a trip to check out Dig World so we could share firsthand about the park with readers. For starters, we sat down with owner Jacob Robinson and asked him to share more about Dig World.

“My business partner Rick and I came up with this idea back in 2018. I have a sevenyear-old son who has always been obsessed with construction equipment. My son got sick in 2017 with bacterial meningitis, and it left him permanently disabled, with a whole host of special needs. Coming out of that, my desire was to create a place where he, and individuals like him, could participate, have a great experience, and bring families together.

We began a journey to see what was out there. There’s a park in New Jersey like ours. We thought we could bring one to Texas and do it well here. Initially, we planned a larger park with an all-day experience.

After Covid paused our plans, we shifted our business model into the 3.5 acre park you see today. We broke ground in 2021 and opened the doors March 2022.”

Dig World learned that a 2-hour experience is ideal for their target demographic, so they plan to keep the original park plan. Additional locations are being considered in the Dallas/

Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio areas. Rides are restricted by height. Children taller than 48” may operate all attractions by themselves. Children taller than 42” can operate most of the equipment by themselves. Children between 32” and 48” tall may ride and operate machinery with an adult. Children shorter than 32” may utilize all other attractions in the park except for the machinery. All children under 32” tall are FREE! For everyone else, a 2-hour pass is $24.99.

Tickets are good for two hours, and customers can do each attraction multiple times (provided they proceed through the line each time). Each person entering the park must purchase a ticket. The reasons for this are many, according to Jacob, but the primary reasons are: 1) an accompanying adult may need to help the child; and 2) most adults end up wanting to operate the equipment, too!

It’s hard for some people to believe the children are actually operating the machines at Dig World. Said Jacob, “I had a parent here last week who was a heavy equipment operator for Fort Bend County. He asked us if we were controlling the equipment with drones. I had a difficult time convincing him the kids were actually running the equipment.”

Giving and Giving Back

The staff we encountered on our visit were mostly young, but definitely enthusiastic and competent. Says Jacob of his staff, “We

are blessed with some great high school kids. Our kids have bought into what we are trying to deliver--bought into the customer experience and providing a lasting positive experience.” This isn’t by accident, but by design. “It stems from Amanda, our general manager, providing great leadership,” said Jacob, “but also from attitude. Rick and I joke that we want to have ‘Chick-fil-A customer service’ and be ‘Buc-ee’s clean.’ That’s the standard we are trying to build.”

Each quarter, a Special Needs Night is a great service opportunity for the organization. According to Jacob, “We have 100% of employees raise their hand and say, ‘I want to work that night.’ That makes my heart happy. They’re a great group of employees.” Knowing firsthand that having a special needs child can result in financial and environmental restrictions for families, Jacob

Smiles abound as children experience the fun.

Duke pictured with his Pop, Dr. John Knight.

Pond fishing game during the 2022 grand opening.

Duke driving a skid steer with grandfather John Knight along for the ride!

Piece Robinson, Pierce’s Post & the inspiration for Dig World.

AttrAction HigHligHts

• 2 Skid Steer Tracks - Take a drive in a full-size Caterpillar 236D3 Skid Steer Loader around a windy track!

• UTV Course - Get behind the wheel of a UTV side-by-side and venture through a safely guided track!

• Mini Excavator Dig - Get behind the controls of a Caterpillar 303.5 Mini-Excavator and dig real dirt to your heart’s desire!

• Mini Excavator Game: Pond Fishing - Test your skills as you fish objects out of mini ponds with a full-size Caterpillar 303.5 MiniExcavator!

• Mini Excavator Game: Cone Pick-up - Pick up all the cones with a full-size Caterpillar 302.7 Mini-Excavator!

• Playground

• Gem Mining Station

• Turf Field with Yard Games

has made it a priority to work with community partners and sponsors to underwrite tickets to Special Needs Night so families in which a person has a disability can come for free to Dig World.

Dig World is also a great place for parties. The park had 400 birthday parties during its first year. “We are hosting eight parties today,” said Jacob, “and then we have a military families group of about 100 people coming in later. It’s a busy day.” Jacob also said that Chelsea, their event director, is always looking to improve that process and experience for customers.

A source of pride for Dig World is a partnership with the Texas A&M University Engineering Department. University students designed and created informational “fun fact” signs on display at Dig World, and students also developed a curriculum for school field trips, an aspect of the park Jacob hopes to really grow.

Building More Than Can Be Accomplished with Construction Equipment

When asked what the most important thing he has learned from building and operating

Dig World, Jacob reflected, “This park-we get the opportunity to interact with people from all around the world. We get to employ high school students--so I can pour into high school kids, and I can deal with grandparents. There are not many jobs where you get to do that on a consistent minute-by-minute basis. In my own way, I get to love on people and show them people care about them. It’s fun.”

Editor’s Note:

Readers may rest easy knowing Dig World was Duke Sherman tested…Duke Sherman approved!

5000 Katy Mills Blvd, Suite 455 Katy, TX 77494 digworldtx.com

Open weekends only during the school year (except for holidays). Open Thursday through Sunday during the summer.

Things My Granddaddy Said

Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.

Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

Marriage is a mistake every man should make.

A bachelor is a man who never makes the same mistake.

You’re so worrisome, you could wear the horns off a billy goat.

Tonie Sikes

I’m 83 years old. I don’t even buy green bananas anymore!

Daniel Weaver

Publisher Karen Altom and her Granddaddy J.C. Farris

As I grow older, more and more often I find myself saying, “Like my Granddaddy used to say…” In an effort to keep some of these old sayings alive, we are sharing them here. Please feel free to share yours with us!

Story by Wes Altom

Submitted Photos

Lacy Cooper-Bell

When it comes to home loans in today’s market, oftentimes “the early bird gets the worm.”

Lacy Cooper-Bell is no stranger to our area. She is a Liberty County native who graduated from Dayton High School and Lamar University. After spending 13 years working in the oil and gas industry, Lacy longed for a career with more personal ownership. She found that, plus the added benefit of constantly connecting with her community, in becoming a loan officer for Southern Elite Mortgage Services.

Southern Elite Mortgage Services is the trusted American Pacific Mortgage Corporation division that caters to the specific needs of local communities. Southern Elite Mortgage Services’ mission is to create experiences that matter while serving your home financing needs. While the bulk of their loans are residential, Lacy says they do some commercial lending as well. “We have a lot of growth in our area. With that growth comes challenges, and we work to stay on top of those,” said Lacy.

Southern Elite offers both fixed and adjustable-rate loans with a variety of options and strives to make sure the loan sought is the best fit for the customer.

As to how long the process takes, Lacy says 30 days is typical. “We like to shorten that wherever we can. When you have a couple who both work and are W-2 employees, that’s straightforward, we have an AI underwriting program that can sometimes get them approved within a week..” For applicants who are self-employed, the process to prove income can sometimes be a little more difficult and take more time. “We are working

I’m worried I can’t buy a home due to down payment requirements.

You might be surprised. You may be in an income bracket that qualifies for down payment assistance. There are several options available. Some require repayment, but some include forgiveness after a certain amount of time in the home.

I need a loan for a mobile home.

“We do cover mobile homes,” stated Lacy. “That’s a big question we get in our area. We have a lot of mobile home owners.”

What if I live outside of the area?

Lacy can service loans for any property in the state.

I’m concerned about interest rates.

“Don’t wait. If you’re financially ready right now, don’t put it off,” said Lacy. “You can’t predict the future. If rates go down in the future, you always have the option to refinance.”

on a process right now to make it faster for them,” said Lacy.

Lacy finds many people really don’t have a good understanding of how credit and credit ratings affect them. “It’s not just ‘all my bills are paid, so I’m good’,” said Lacy. “To qualify for a mortgage, you really need to have existing credit lines with a two-year history of faithfully paying without missed payments.” While Lacy can’t actually perform credit repair services for customers, she happily educates them, helps them identify issues that need to be addressed, and shares resources that might assist them to improve their credit scores.

According to Lacy, the ideal time to start the process is six months to a year ahead of home purchase. “Then we can look at your credit and anything you have going on debtwise. This gives time for us to get ‘all your ducks in a row’ and have everything looking great, so when we go to do your application, you are immediately approved.” Waiting until you’ve already found a house you’re looking for, then having some credit issue pop up, can delay the process and even result in

missed purchase opportunities. “A lot of people don’t do it ahead, but ideally, you want to get pre-approved for the loan first. This process also helps you have a realistic idea of what you can afford in a mortgage,” advised Lacy.

Lacy also has the flexibility to communicate with customers in any manner they prefer— whether by phone call, email, text messaging, meeting in person, or through their realtor.

When she’s not working, Lacy enjoys time with her husband Brian Bell and her parents, Oscar and Izora Cooper, working on their blueberry farm and vegetable garden. Lacy said, “It’s just the four of us, and that’s our ‘pet project’ together. I enjoy feeding people!”

“Given the growth in our area right now, I think it’s an exciting time to be here. It’s an exciting time to be involved in the process of getting people in their new dream home, building community.”

Whether you are buying your first home, a new investment property, or building your dream home, Lacy and Southern Elite Mortgage Services can empower you with confidence, knowledge, and solid expertise from loan application through closing.

Lacy & husband, Brian Bell

Lacy & mother, Izora Cooper

Lacy & father, Oscar Cooper

Mustard Seed Moments

by Wes Altom

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes!

As a child, I vividly remember mom taking us to the shoe store when we outgrew our current pair. There would always be a measurement with a store employee on that metal shoe sizer, followed by selecting a pair, trying them on, “Raise your toe so I can see where it is,” then “Yes, I WOULD like to wear them out of the store.” But, for a child buying tennis shoes, the most important item on the checklist was, “Stand back so I can see how fast they are,” followed by a blazing run to the end of the aisle and back. Somehow, there seemed to be “magic” in those new shoes (or maybe it was a magical excuse to be able to run indoors without getting in trouble.)

Now that I’m older, I believe more than ever in the magic of a new pair of shoes. I have learned over time that the key to learning so many important life lessons—how to have compassion, how to be a servant, how to forgive, how to have humility…how to apply the Golden Rule in general—rests in our ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes (with Dictionary assist: To imagine oneself in the situation or circumstances of another person, so as to understand or empathize with their perspective, opinion, or point of view.)

I think one could argue, in fact, that we are never more Christ-like than when we do so. After all, he left heaven to walk a few thousand miles (and the road to Calvary) in our shoes…

Here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love. Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first. Philippians 2:2-4