October November 2020 Ellis County Living Magazine by Ellis County Living Magazine

ellis county eats 2020 www.living-magazine.com

New Logo, Same Exceptional Service

Terry Wooten 214.949.9285 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 224831 Terry.Wooten@GatewayLoan.com

Tom Ker 972.365.7022 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 356892 Tom.Ker@GatewayLoan.com

Lance Wallace 903.571.9869 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 1146461 Lance.Wallace@GatewayLoan.com

Matt Authier 903.654.0145 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 1527367 Matt.Authier@GatewayLoan.com

Adrian Sanchez 469.628.3868 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 643358 Adrian.Sanchez@GatewayLoan.com

Matt Helms 903.641.9838 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 1696114 Matt.Helms@GatewayLoan.com

Danny Gildea 972.921.5569 LOAN ORIGINATOR NMLS 1903297 Danny.Gildea@GatewayLoan.com

Office: 972.937.2200 1332 W. Hwy 287 Bypass, Suite-1 | Waxahachie, TX 75165 www.gatewayloan.com/waxahachie-tx

Gateway Mortgage Group, A division of Gateway First Bank, NMLS 7233

ASK US ABOUT OUR

$99 WHITENING SPECIAL

CALL US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION 972-298-8515 WILLIAM A. BROWN, D.D.S. F.A.G.D. General Dentistry 226 N. Cedar Ridge Rd. Duncanville, TX 75116 williamabrowndds@gmail.com

www.WilliamABrownDDS.com

Contact one of the these City Real Estate Agents today to discuss your next move!

Amelia Valdez 469-658-5506

Shirley Martinez 972-742-5762

Becky Herrera 469-693-5227

Karen Emery 817-917-5035

Jessica Correa 469-556-0024

Marlene Norcross 512-431-4413

We keep current info of all transactions of your city, and use leading edge technology to provide clients with current and accurate property information. We provide free Market Analysis of your home. Janie Hendrix 817-271-0720

Ennis Main Office Red Oak Office Waxahachie Office Corsicana Office 101 NW Main St 100 Plaza Dr, Suite 500 311 Ferris Ave 108 S Beaton St Ennis, TX 75119 Red Oak, TX 75154 Waxahachie, TX 75165 Corsicana, TX 75110

Professional Values • Real Estate Solutions • Your City Real Estate citytxrealestate.com • 972-878-2222

“ Contents OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020 |

ELLIS COUNTY EATS: Here in Ellis County, we each make up a piece of the pie that creates our amazing area. Thank you to Angel with Bittersweet for creating this beatiful pie tart on our cover and making our mouths water.. am I right? With Fall right around the corner and yummy eats at our fingertips we hope this issue inspires your inner foodie and fall enthusiast.

volume 16

issue 5

LIFE + STYLE BEAUTY • 12 Fall Favorites

HOME + GARDEN REVIVAL LIVING • 26 Your Kitchen Your Way

FASHION • 14 Call of the West

FEATURE • 30 Welcome to My Happy Place

TRAVEL • 18 Food Guide of Ellis County RECIPES • 22 Pasture to Plate Pork Farm in Waxahachie, Texas is making it easy to source quality food.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

”

COURTNEY WARREN • 34 Fall DIY Featuring Pink Pumpkins OCTOBER/NOVEMBER TIPS • 38 Planting/Growing Guide for the Season

MEDICAL DR. MATHEW • 42 Returning to Sports Safely This Fall

LA FIN CINDY BURCH • 44 Vote

Experience. Expertise. Understanding.

Dr. Andrew Sun

Dr. Allan Van Horn

Texas Urology Specialists Midlothian will provide comprehensive urologic care to patients, from pre-screening, testing, and diagnosis to the ongoing care and treatment of urologic conditions for both men and women. The practice offers treatment for more than 13 urologic conditions and over 28 cutting-edge procedures. Our compassionate physicians partner with you to help you understand your options and develop a personalized treatment plan. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 972-780-0480 or visit www.TexasUrologySpecialists.com. Starting October 1st we are seeing patients in our NEW Midlothian office and accepting most insurance plans. 2220 Bryan Place Suite 104 Midlothian TX 75065 Phone: 972-780-0480 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 972-780-1453

www.TexasUrologySpecialists.com

YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR ELLIS COUNTY LIFESTYLE, HOME AND COMMUNITY SINCE 2005

PUBLISHER CINDY CAMP publisher@living-magazine.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR LINDSEY KEENEY lindsey@living-magazine.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAVIS M. SMITH travis@living-magazine.com

ART DIRECTOR CARLY PECHAL carly@living-magazine.com

BRAND & MARKETING SPECIALIST KELSEY POYNOR kelsey@living-magazine.com

Living

ELLIS COUNTY

MAGAZINE

Cover photo by Kaitlin Michele Photogrphy Cover Dessert Created by Angel Schiffer of Bittersweet Bakery Staff photos by Rebecca Chesney Photo & Film A special thanks to all of our contributing writers. For advertising information, please contact Ellis County Living Magazine at 972.935.0938 or info@living-magazine.com.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Ellis County Living Magazine is published bi-monthly by ECL Media, Inc.© using only environmentally-friendly ink.

We are proud members of the Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian and Red Oak Chambers of Commerce.

Copyright 2020, ECL Media, Inc.© All rights reserved. No portion of Ellis County Living Magazine shall be reprinted in any other publication without permission. The views expressed herein should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician.

Discover Downtown WAXAHACHIE

Gingerbread Antiques

Farmhouse

Now offering Country Chic Paint! Country Chic is a beautiful clay-based furniture paint designed specifically for DIYers with a love of refinishing furniture and home decor. Come in to see all the amazing color choices!

Come browse our wide variety of fall décor, antiques and much more! We have everything you need for your home projects and all your home décor needs! Monday – Saturday, 10-5. Home – Garden – Antiques – Art

972.937.0968 | 310 S. College St. | Waxahachie

farmhouse308.com

facebook.com/GingerbreadAntiquesTX

Bittersweet Bakery Want to learn to decorate cakes like the pros? Our popular cake decorating classes are FINALLY back! To sign up head to: www.bittersweet-bakery.com/classes. Was your March class cancelled? Call us and we will get you in to the new ones! Pricing and additional information can be found on our classes page as well. 972.937.2253 204 S. Elm St. | Waxahachie

bittersweet-bakery.com

972.938.9090 | 308 S. College St. | Waxahachie

Fall

FAVORITES BY LINDSEY KEENEY AUSTRALIAN EMU APPLE DREAMY GLOW DROPS are a great supplement to your skincare routine for that extra boost of moisture and Vitamin C in the fall months. AUSTRALIAN EMU APPLE SUPER BOUNCE MASK provides super-potent antioxidants and gives you that refreshing feeling. Paint your face with this dreamy mask and application brush (included).

AUSTRALIAN EMU APPLE DREAMY GLOW DROPS www.sandandsky.com

GOOD GIRL SUPRÊME is an elegant and daring new spin on the Good Girl fragrance. The iconic stiletto is the perfect addition to your scent collection. Top notes: Berries, Heart notes: Egyptian Jasmine, Bottom notes: Tonka Bean & Vetiver. GOOD GIRL SUPRÊME www.carolinaherrera.com

AUSTRALIAN EMU APPLE SUPER BOUNCE MASK www.sandandsky.com

STONED VIBES EYESHADOW PALETTE contains four neutral matte shades as well and eight ultra unique gemstone inspired shades! We love the wide variety of looks and combinations this palette can create. With bolds and neutrals, there are endless opportunities to express yourself.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

STONED VIBES EYESHADOW PALETTE www.urbandecay.com

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

call of the

WEST STORY & PHOTOS BY MELISSA MCBRIDE My passion for fabrics, design, and collecting interesting notions was ignited at an early age. Years worth of gathered fabric remnants were stacked in my grandparents’ attic where my sweet grandma, Ada Mae, had a sewing area. I was about five when she taught me to sew on a very vintage 1910 Singer treadle sewing machine. Once a supervisor at a dress factory, she was an excellent seamstress. I would watch and learn with childlike wonder as she skillfully cut and pieced selective shapes together to make quilts, effortlessly constructed a dress or an apron (it seemed she was always wearing an apron), or patiently crocheted a colorful afghan. These invaluable experiences gave me an appreciation for all things handmade. I was surrounded by supplies. Decorative buttons and beads dazzled through glass jars in baskets and boxes. She had a treasury of lace, ric rac, yarn, and embroidery threads. Ideas continually danced in my head, my eye for detail and embellishment blossomed, and I always looked forward to making “something”. This beloved attic space was my first creative playground. Santa Fe, officially nicknamed “The City Different”, is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Its visual charm, breathtaking topography, diverse personality, innovative art, remarkable shopping, flavorful food, incomparable light, and glorious sunsets tug at my heart and creative spirit. This mecca of beautifully blended cultures was my current destination. This trip was different. I wanted to spend a lot of time alone to reflect, write, create...and “play” with a couple of the “best in the west” to pull together a collection of accessories. With a head full of design ideas and way too much luggage (I still don’t have that “pack light” travel thing down), I left Dallas (late of course) with hopes to be in Amarillo by midnight. I drove across the Lone Star State to complete Part Two of last issue’s story. Goodnight, Texas (population somewhere around 25?), is the approximate halfway point between Dallas and Santa Fe, but Amarillo is “close enough” and obviously a much more viable stopover. Bonus…Taco Villa for lunch the next day! It’s worth driving five hours for their bean burrito with green sauce accompanied by the signature heart-shaped tortilla chips and tasty salsa!

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Between Amarillo and Santa Fe there’s miles of picturesque terrain and a whole lot of time to think. I’ve always loved to drive. I crave travel and adventure. My mind drifts back to my father’s concerns as I drove away to college in my first car…a Ford Maverick. Y’all…it was blue. It was bad. It had reflective vinyl racing stripes. It was nicknamed “The Bad Mav”. Definition of maverick: “An unorthodox or independent minded person. An unbranded calf or yearling”. I think it was the name that resonated with me. Taking a short detour off the highway to drive a small portion of the Mother Road, Route 66, through Tucumcari, I was visually delighted by the mid century modern reminders of early Americana travel. Vintage automobiles, a string of neon signs, restored hotels, and kitschy gift shops line both sides of Rte 66 in this darling New Mexico town. LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

The goal of the Santa Fe trip was not to be social, but rather to enjoy quiet time alone or hang out in two private studios of friends to codesign a couple of purses, hats, and a whimsical bolo collage of medallions...which represents many accessory possibilities for stylish customers. Jerry Faires has made some of my most cherished sterling and turquoise pieces, as shown. A friend of a dozen years, he is a charming and colorful character! Not only is he a super talented master silversmith and artist, he is also a singer, songwriter, and a poet. He introduced me to a new friend…a fabulous leather designer and also a silversmith, Myka of Santa Fe. Myka is truly an incredible artist on so many levels and understands style, quality, comfort, and beauty! There’s so much talent in apparel design, but one Texas company in particular stands out. I have long admired Double D Ranch because I appreciate intricate details. Contrast stitching, nail heads, leather lacing, embroidery, specialty buttons, conchos, beading, artfully embellished fabrics & leathers are their signature. I enjoyed perusing through their four fall collections in the Dallas showroom. Most everything they produced this season perfectly aligns with my own favored colors (kiwi, terra cotta, turquoise, rust, espresso, and black), patterns (cheetah, serape, paisley, and southwest graphics), materials (chambray, leather, fringe, velvet, silver studding), and silhouettes (suiting, marble snap shirts, prairie skirts) which I feel will all remain strong in wardrobing for the remainder of the year. This year is DDR’s 30th anniversary and I thought it fitting to celebrate their ongoing success by including a handful of their clothing for this shoot. Ironically, I purchased my first DDR jacket in a shop on the Santa Fe plaza about twenty years ago. I was “rockstar cool” as I walked out wearing their original cheetah jacket with dramatic twisted fringe. I was hooked! I lived in the suburbs of Chicago for about sixteen years, but my heart always yearned to be back in Texas. I started noticing Double D Ranch clothing and home goods when I traveled. In the late 90’s, I was at a crossroads in life and was feeling like a maverick lost in the midwest. I had owned three consecutive store front locations which were stocked with my own creations…my art, custom apparel, and accessories. I reached out to see if there was a job opportunity. I didn’t even know where Yoakum was, but by golly I would have moved there to get back to Texas. After speaking with someone over the phone who politely told me they weren’t hiring outside designers, I quickly realized that DDR stands for “Doug & Daughters” and their beloved ranch. It was a tightly knit “family affair” blessed with the talent, grit, and grace of the three beautiful and persevering McMullen sisters and their supportive parents, Doug and Margie. Fast forward years later to 2008, when I opened Gunslinger in Bandera, Texas, I immediately started buying and selling DDR. In 2010, I ordered the updated 20th Anniversary version of the cheetah twisted fringe jacket because I had practically worn out the original. This fall, the 30th year commemorative version (love the new yoke!) is part of the Cody collection. Check out their gorgeous website for their full range of clothing, bags, belts, boots, hats and jewelry! Catch up on their blogs and all the fun they’ve had designing for Tanya Tucker recently. One of the key pieces for this shoot is the gorgeous “Man in Black” embroidered suit. They had designed a similar yet tastefully beaded version for Tanya’s performance on the evening of winning her first two Grammys back in January. The teenager in me who drove “The Bad Mav” applauds her overdue accomplishments. I embrace the happy memories of my high school best friend and I driving around town using the 8-track tape deck to play her early recordings. This road trip was packed with invaluable experience as I watched, learned, respected, and relived that childlike wonder. Surrounded by an abundance of interesting supplies and the well-loved tools of both Jerry and Myka…I am grateful. I thoroughly enjoyed mingling in their creative playgrounds. I applaud DDR and their endurance as a legacy in fashion. Thanks for riding along on this adventure! Enjoy this New West collaboration and have a fabulous fall!

Melissa McBride Owner & Designer at Wild Grace Believer. Encourager. Artist. Writer. Designer. Wanderlust. Photo journalist. Owner of Wild Grace. Forever grateful for His truths and wild grace!

Wild Grace Instagram & Facebook @shopwildgrace

shopwildgrace.com 972.205.9819

Ellis County Eats THE GUIDE

Let the foodie in you try some of these eateries in Ellis County. We put together a list of the unique restaurants that are based in each of our towns. Thank you to each city for helping gather this list to allow our entire community to see, plan and eat local.

Midlothian

Taqueria 287 2685 E, US-287

Hideout Burgers 1601 S 9th St #500

Rising Sun Hibachi/Hibachio 402 E Main St

Adoriana sushi and asian grill 2050 FM 663 #230

Jalapeno’s Lemon Pepper 400 W Avenue F

Snow Shack & Heritage House 6881 FM 1387

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Address: 1000 George Hopper Rd

Jimmy’s Pizza Pasta & Subs 300 N 8th St

Texicurian 412 W Ave F

Bellucci’s Italian 2000 FM663, Suite 100

Kim & Jenny’s Restaurant 133 N 8th St

Tio Tony’s Mexican Restaurant 110 N 13th St

Branded Burger Co. 100 N 8th St

Lighthouse Coffee Bar 1404 N 9th St

Villa Italiana 202 W Main St

Campuzano Fine Mexican 108 N 8th St

Los Tapatios 4470 E, US-287 Ste 100

Wong’s Express 135 N 8th St

Caroline’s Country Cafe 1000 E Main St # 304

Midtowne Donuts 501 George Hopper Rd

Young Donuts 1601 S 9th St #600

Doolee’s Baking Co 4470 US-287 #1000

Nana B’s Bake Shop (817) 296-2938

Ellis County BBQ 700 Silken Crossing Rd #300

Per Amore Italian 128 North 8th Street

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Ennis Amigos de Nutricion (smoothies) 108 W. Crockett St. Asian Grand Ennis Buffet 201-A S. I-45 Bailey’s Café 508 S. Kaufman St. Barbecue Bubba’s Bar-B-Q & Steakhouse 210 S. I-45 Birrieria Aguinaga 905 E. Ennis Ave. Bluebonnet City Grill 305 SW Main St., Suite C Chamoyadas Snacks & Mas (fresh fruit & frozen treats) 104 W. Crockett Charlie’s Exxon and Grocery (Czech sasuage) 501 E. Ennis Ave.

Ennis All Star Bowl 2303 W. Ennis Ave.

La Michoacana Meat Market 401 S.W. Main St.

Ennis Donuts 501 1/2 E. Ennis Ave.

La Grande Supermarket 1511 N. Kaufman St.

Fiesta Grill 309 S. Kaufman St.

Little Habana Bakery 212 W. Brown St.

Fresh Donuts 415 S. Clay St.

Miguel’s Tex-Mex 1108 Lake Bardwell Dr.

Four Star Quick Pantry 2201 W. Ennis Ave.

Nortenos Mexican Food 104 W. Crockett St.

Heavenly Donuts 117 W. Ennis Ave.

Reina’s Taqueria 502 S. Kaufman St.

Herbal 106 W. Brown St.

Taco Gomez 101 S. Kaufman St.

Hilda’s Kitchen 509 E. Ennis Ave.

Paleteria Los Michoacanas (fresh fruit & frozen treats) 305 S.W. Main St.

Home Grown Market 101 S. Dallas St., Suite 100

Don Jose’s Restaurant 2301 W. Ennis Ave.

Hometown Nutrition (smoothies & teas) 100 N.E Main St.

Donut Palace 2203 W. Ennis Ave.

Italian Bella Italia 105 S. Kaufman

Dulceria Doble AA (candy shop) 108 W. Brown St.

JJ Hughes Grocery 1108 N. Kaufman St.

Ennis Cafe 2709 S. Kaufman St. El Mexicano Grill 219 W. Ennis Ave.

Kolache Depot Bakery 1103-B E. Ennis Ave. Kwick Pick Grocery / Krispy Krunchy Chicken 907 N. Kaufman St.

Pop Top Coffee Shop 120 N. Dallas St Pop Top Coffee Shop Drive-Thru 2300 W. Ennis Ave Rooftop 101 218 W. Ennis Ave. Taqueria Dona Mary 1405 S. Kaufman St. Wall Express 1001 E. Ennis Wildflower Cafe 211 W. Knox

Red Oak Amaya’s Bar & Grill 523 TX-342

Mr. Jims Pizza 205 S Main St

Soulmans Bar-B-Que 321 East Ovilla Road

Cancuns of Red Oak 273 East Ovilla Road

Palio’s Pizza Café 102 E Ovilla Rd Suite B1

The Lonestar Burger Bar 110 Ovilla Rd #2a

Country Kitchen 279 East Ovilla Road

Plato Loco Restaurant 2520 Ovilla Rd #500

Wall Chinese Café 111 East Ovilla Road

Junior’s Barbeque 251 East Ovilla Road

Pollo Regio 103 Harris Ave

Mamacita’s Restaurant & Cantina 100 Plaza Dr #100

Randys Bar-B-Que 271 TX-342

Waxahachie ABC Boba Tea & Smoothie 791 N. US Hwy 77, 501-A1

Doves Nest Restaurant 105 W. Jefferson

Osuba Hibachi Sushi & Bar 606 N. Hwy. 77

Wall Chinese Café 995 W. Hwy. 287 Bypass

Ann’s Health Food 2305 N. Hwy. 77

Einstein Bros Bagels , SAGU Hagee Communications Center 1200 Sycamore St.

Panza’s Tapping Italy 107 N. Rogers

Waxahachie Donuts 1311 W. Main

Pho Noodle & Asian Cuisine 1035 N. Hwy. 77 Suite 200

White Rhino Coffee + Kitchen 414 W. Main

Asian King Buffet 507 N. Hwy. 77, #950 Atkins Seafood 300 Ferris Ave. Big Al’s Down the Hatch 200 S. Rogers Bittersweet Bakery 204 S. Elm Bluebonnet Barbecue 3921 US Hwy 287 Blue Sky Restaurant 220 S Hwy 77 Branded Burger 2801 N Hwy 77, Suite 150 Butter & Grace 1585 N. Hwy 77 Cancun’s Ameri-Mex Restaurant 2000 Corporate Parkway Catfish Plantation 814 Water St. Chill Zero Creamistry & Paleteria 1620 N Hwy 77 College Street Pub 210 N. College St. Cork & Keg 100 College St. Cork House Winery 213 E. Main Country Café 217 S. Hwy. 77 Creations Bakery 512 Ferris Avenue Donut Palace 401 E. University Ave., Suite 21 Donut Time 2100 Brown #101 Donuts Plus 130 N. Hwy. 77

El Mexicano Grill 114 E. Franklin El Mexicano Grill #2 1620 N. Hwy 77 #800 El Trebol Taqueria 1204 Ferris Ave. Farm Luck Soda Fountain 109 W. Franklin St. Suite 119 Fingers 2 tha bone BBQ 505 Wyatt Fresh Market Coffee 501 S. Rogers Fruteria Chely 507 N. Hwy 77 Go Loco Street Tacos & Burritos 625 Ovilla Rd. Hibachio 503 N. Hwy 77 Jimmy’s Wings & Burgers 401 N. Highway 77, Suite 2

Pollo Regio 1102 Ferris Avenue Pop’s Burger Stand 107 S. Monroe Rice Box Express 508 N. Hwy 77 Suite 300 Snowflake Donuts 2251 Brown St. Snowflake Donuts. 713 Ferris Ave. Straight from Philly 110 E. Main St. Super Sliders 1313 W. Main Ta Molly’s Mexican Kitchen 1735 N. Hwy. 77 Taco Suave 121 N. Hwy. 77

Kika’s Grilled Chicken 317 N. Elm

Taste of Mexico Restaurant & Bakery 112 W. Marvin

La Feria Paleteria 401 N. Hwy 77, Suite 6

The Courthouse Café 115 E. Franklin

La Mejor Tortilleria 508 N Hwy 77 Suit 200

The Dessert Spot 100 N. College Suite 103

Marco’s Pizza 1107 Ferris Ave.

The Vault Smokehouse 207 S. College

Mi Casa 1200 Ferris Ave.

Three Rivers Coffee US Hwy 77, Suite 100

Milano’s Pizza 1309 W. Main, Suite 105C

Tomatos Mexican & Italian Restaurant 619 Ferris Ave.

Ohana’s 1101 Hwy. 287 Bypass Oma’s Jiffy Burger 403 Water St.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Tuscan Slice 401 N. Hwy. 77, Suite 15 Two Amigos Taqueria 241 Monroe

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Pasture to Plate Pork Farm in Waxahachie, Texas is making it easy to source quality food.

STORY BY TRACY MCCOY, CHIEF HILLBILLY PHOTOS BY MEGAN HOOTON PHOTOGRAPHY Let us introduce ourselves and our Mission: Gary and Tracy McCoy, aka Mr. & Mrs. Hillbilly, our mission is to produce clean quality pork, providing farm to table food in the most naturalway. Our journey from city dwellers to Hillbilly Farmers started with our love of quality food, that’s right a couple of certified foodies. Food is our love language, eating it, cooking it, and sharing it with others. Eventually, all this love for good eats led us to become impassioned with where our food came from. It became obvious that there was something different about today’s food industry and how much it had changed during our lifetime. In late 2011, Hillbilly Nutrition was born; our goal to learn as much as possible about how farmers were raising our food and to help people reconnect to the food on their dinner table. We fell in love with farming upon realization that Farmers held the cards for our health by what they put into their stock. Producers across the board can lead the change. From 2012-2016 we spent our time advocating for the local farmer by way of

a co-op in our community. We sourced, gathered, and organized the sales and distribution of local farm foods in the North Texas region to our neighboring suburbs. This was a huge passion of ours and it was very fulfilling to marry the needs of our neighbors with the supply of local farms right in our area. It was obvious people wanted to get their hands on farm-fresh food. Our small parcel of land came on the market in 2016 and we felt excitement as we realized it was an answer to prayer. This little piece of Texas paradise would allow us to try our hand what all that we had learned about food production. It was go time y’all! We sourced our feed, decided on what livestock we wanted to raise and began acquiring and building infrastructure on our property. A heritage breed pig called Red Wattle, known for their marbling and flavor became our breed of choice. It is the tastiest, most premier pork out there. Our pigs are allowed to be pigs; muddy and eating more grass than you would think rooting, napping, in their rotated pastures (every 2-3 weeks). There are no barns in our operation and the grass is free from pesticides.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Our meat is as clean as you can get free of vaccines, hormones, and antibiotics, but it is also free of GMO’s, soy, corn, and peanut. Raised with lots of grass and sunshine. The results of this organic approach is a pork with excellent flavor and color. It’s rich and full of quality fats, vitamin D and E, and has an undeniable taste. It’s the way Pork was meant to be. In late 2019 we broke ground on the Hillbilly Farm Store. We wanted a place that local customers could come pick up their orders, but also envisioned it as a hub for future classes, farm tours, and tastings. Currently customers can schedule a farm tour on Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings, shop on our website (www.hillbillynutrition.com), and select farm store pickup. We hope to have shopping hours and class offerings beginning this Fall. We currently carry our very own pork and pastured chicken, grass-fed grass-finished lamb and beef sourced from a sister farm raising and rotating like we would ourselves. You can also find a variety of our spice blends, pork lard, lamb and pork broth, local honey from Josephine, Texas, and pastured eggs on occasion. Part of our core values are to be transparent with our customers, allowing them to grow a sense of connection to what they are putting into their bodies. From there, it becomes a conscious decision to do better. We are what we eat. From Southern roots, Hillbilly’s are known for their humble, unrefined, and simple upbringing. Hillbilly Nutrition is a marriage between simple, nutritious, and incredibly humble food in order to provide the nutrition our bodies need. From our farm to your table, we hope that you appreciate knowing where your food comes from as much as we enjoy raising it for you. Check us out at www.hillbillynutrition.com tracy@hillbillynutrition.com IG & FB @hillbillynutrition

As the temperature begins to give us a break here in Ellis County, Texas, we start to crave more comforting fall foods. Warming foods, rich in nutrients, and foods that remind us of seasons past. I wanted to share this recipe with you in hopes to bring you a little bit of what it means to Eat like a Hillbilly.

BEFORE

Visit our website to find Tracy’s Hillbilly Chili Recipe! www.living-magazine.com

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

YOUR KITCHEN YOUR WAY STORY BY REVIVAL LIVING INTERIORS PHOTOS BY PAINTED PEACOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it so true that the kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. A room that functions as a family hub for meals, homework time, happy hour with friends and neighbors, and family holidays and gatherings. So much life happens in our kitchens every day! We thought we would share with you some of our favorite tips on how to make your kitchen function best for your home. 26

Revival Recommends:

1) Make your layout a great one! Take the time needed to designate work spaces, place appliances strategically, plan for an adequate amount of space for all of your storage needs, and be able to comfortably move around. Most homeowners start with the triangle; the sink, the stove, and the refrigerator. This triangle serves as a foundation for your kitchen with which everything else will flow from, making it both aesthetically pleasing and effective. A good kitchen functions, but a dream kitchen performs. 2) Make your kitchen fit you. Are you a baker? An entertainer? THE host for holiday gatherings? If so, here are a few needs and wants to keep in mindâ&#x20AC;Ś Extra large prep space; Storage for your abundance of serving pieces; Display places for family heirlooms or dishes (Glass cabinetry with lighting is a beautiful way to showcase these items). Think about what you need specifically for you.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

3) When planning finishes, make selections that will stand the test of time. Paint vs stain: Trends of painted versus stained cabinetry ebb and flow, remember stain is more durable than painted cabinets. Depending on your family, you can consider if stain or paint, or possibly a combination of the two is best! Lots of people like to stain their island or only paint their upper cabinetry. Backsplash: So many cool backsplashes are available for your choosing these days. Do you want to use your quartz countertop as your backsplash? Do you like a smaller format or a larger one? Lots of grout lines or none at all? Countertops: When selecting your countertops keep in mind, some materials are more durable than others. While marble is absolutely gorgeous, it etches, stains and scratches and tends to be the most fragile of all the options. Quartz countertops are a man made product, and are definitely at the other end of the durability spectrum! There are also some great options in between, Make sure to ask your fabricator a lot of questions about performance and maintenance.

Ultimately, the perfect kitchen is personal. If you are considering building from scratch or remodeling, spend some time sitting down and contemplating your wish list and thinking about what works best for you and your family. Taking it one step at a time is definitely important! The finishes are the fun part, but the planning is vital. Remember, most of our kitchen construction is not an HGTV episode, your kitchen will not be perfect and complete in 30 minutes!

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

EMILY MYERS AND STACIE CAFFEY Revival Living Interiors in Bryan, Texas began when two friends shared a love for interior design and thought just maybe other people would like their style. We pray that, through this business, we may help others live their best story, with their home as they’re starting point, resting place, and the setting for what is most important. Thanks for letting us share a little bit of our world with you. We hope you can see your favorite spaces with a fresh eye and a little inspiration. Here’s to a February filled with balance - in life and in design! We’ve got many design ideas we can’t wait to share with you. www.revivallivinginteriors.com

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Welcome tO my happy place

STORY BY TIFFANY NOVOTNY PHOTOS BY CRYSTA MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

Welcome to our happy place, where we have turned our new farmhouse build, into a forever home. I hope you will follow along with the journey and find some inspiration along the way! Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start back in April of 2019 when we purchased our land. We found 13 acres for sale right outside the city limits of Ennis and knew instantly it was the perfect location for our little family of 4. My sister and her family were looking for land as well, and we decided to purchase the land together and divide the 13 acres. I love that my sister and I grew up together, and now we will grow old together on the land we share. We started building in September of 2019, and things started to

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

become a blur. I had so many questions as a first time builder. What type of house plan would be best for our family? What builder do we choose? Where is the best place to buy lights, appliances, or furniture for our home? There were so many decisions it was overwhelming! Family was very helpful, but I wanted to research inspiration for building farmhouses on the internet to find my own style and figure out what I like. I found so much inspiration on Instagram from other home building accounts. The information they offered was a tremendous amount of help! It helped me understand more of the building process, what to expect throughout the stages of building, and ideas on where to purchase things for our home.

Fast forward to today, and I am now able to return the favor to those who are building or maybe just need some decoration inspiration. I have my own Instagram account, @Forever.Six.Acres and I talk about the building process, and home decor. Every Wednesday I do a Building101 series on Instagram with a group of amazing women who have just built, or are still in the process of building a home. We cover different topics each week that would be beneficial to those who are in the building process or are about to start the building process.

We are going to start expanding our topics to life after the build and how to create your new house into a home. The Building101 group has such a wide variety of styles, and we feel that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beneficial to our followers so they are able to get different styles and opinions so they can figure out what they like best for their style of home. Our topics will start covering how to arrange furniture, where to buy, how to decorate for year-round or seasonal holidays, even organization around the home. We truly love being able to help and inspire others during and after the building process.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;One topic I am excited to cover is decorating for the holidays and how to incorporate it into your everyday lifestyle. I decorate for the lifestyle that best works for our family. I have to consider having a 6 year-old boy, and a 2 year-old boy in mind when I am decorating, or my pumpkins might become something they launch from a catapult!â&#x20AC;?

My home is very neutral throughout the year, but for holiday seasonal decor I will use pops of color to help the decor stand out more than my everyday decor. Decorating for every season can be expensive, so I usually shop at Hobby Lobby, Canton Trade Days, Homegoods, Kirklands, or Target to find some good deals. If you see anything you like in my home, you can easily find where to get it by following my Instagram account. For every post I do on Instagram, i’m able to link the products I buy to my LIKEtoKNOW.it account. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a free app, that influencers on social media can link the items you buy, and in return,

it gives the influencer a little commission if items are bought through their links. I link everything from my lights I bought from Amazon, to the wreath around the candle on the island. If the items are no longer sold, then I will link similar products so you can still get the same look! Since my Instagram account has grown to almost 15k followers, I have been able to collaborate with some amazing small businesses, like Twigs and Home Lighting, Sweet Water Decor, and my most recent collaboration was with a clothing boutique, Tailgating Gypsy. Matter of fact, the green top, and maroon floral kimono I am wearing in my picture are two things I got from

her boutique! I love being able to support small businesses and advertise their products on my Instagram! This journey has been amazing, I have met amazing people on Instagram and created so many new relationships with people and small businesses. I never thought that starting an Instagram about my home would have gone this far. I hope that I can continue to grow and help others through their building process, and how to help create their new house into a home. Knowing that i’m able to help people all over the world, makes my heart so happy!

TIFFANY NOVOTNY Tiffany is from Ennis, Tx and has lived there the majority of her life. She is married to Jeremy Novotny, and together they have two boys. Tiffany is an art teacher at Howard Junior High in Waxahachie and considers her Instagram a second job. Follow her accounts below to see more behind the scenes of what she does, and follow along to get more inspiration! @forever.six.acres www.liketoknow.it/forever.six.acres

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Fall DIY Featuring PinK pkins m u P

STORY & PHOTOS BY COURTNEY WARREN

I’ve never been super interested in being exactly like other people. I mean, don’t get me wrong... growing up I didn’t want to look totally different than anybody else. (When everyone got a Liz Claiborne purse in 8th grade, I wanted one too. But I always knew I had a little colorful spunk in me that khaki pants and button up shirts couldn’t contain.) That’s really the way I approach my design as well. I can do designs that we see on Pinterest and they look beautiful. But my REAL joy is working with clients that want something a little bit different than everyone else. THEY want to be the pin on Pinterest that is setting the stage for other trends. It could be through a use of color, graphics like dots and stripes, or pairing metallic tones.

“When I have a client that really lets me use my creativity, it never fails that I love the end result. Being creative and out of the ordinary gets me really excited.”

So it’s no surprise now that fall has arrived, I am leaving traditional fall colors behind- gold, red and brownand having a little pumpkin fun. So plug in your glue gun and get ready to ruin your manicure- it is DIY time! Real Life Design Tip: I chose my colors carefully. I knew I wanted an expected take on pairing with orange. Since most pairings are dark like fall foliage…(mustard yellow and brown and red), I kept going back to the unexpected combination of punchy turquoise with orange. I found a couple of color palette samples on Pinterest and finally decided on turquoise, orange, fuchsia and light pink. When I shopped for the colors, I held the bottles next to each other to envision what the painted pumpkins would look like next to each other on the garland. Especially with the two pinks, I wanted to make sure the shades were exactly like I envisioned- not too similar to each other, or it would lose the impact of using two pinks.

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GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES. YOU’LL NEED;

-mini pumpkins, any color (the kind on a wire are easy to hold for painting) -several stems of large almond-shape leaves -small picks of gold and white berries -some light pink, hot pink, white, orange, and caribbean blue acrylic craft paint -medium craft brushes -a roll of florist tape -hot glue gun and glue, if needed

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Next, enlist your helpers to paint the pumpkins-or enjoy a blissfully quiet hour on this project while the gang is gone! I even enlisted merry helpers.

Now, here’s a chance to exercise your creative gifts: outline some leaves in pink or blue. Paint pink or blue veins on others. Or paint only the center a color. Most of the leaves will have some gold showing. I did stripes, solid, and outlines to make bold statement leaves. This step let me channel the forgotten Disney cartoon Pocahontas and “paint with all the colors of the wind”. I let the leaves and pumpkins dry for about 30 minutes and did a 2nd coat so they would look brighter. This second coat was key in making them pop

Nestle a good number of pumpkins along the garland. Lastly, tuck in some gold and white berry clusters here and there. Use florist tape or hot glue to secure.

Then, reconstruct the stems by turning them end to end and taping the colorful leaves back to the stem, staggering them as you go and leaving space between. Tape several stems together to create a garland.

Easy Life Hack: An easy way to paint the pumpkins without smearing them (getting paint all over your fingers) is to insert the wire into the top of an inverted plastic cup. Paint some of them light pink, some hot pink, some blue. Leave some white or orange, depending on the color of the pumpkins you started with. Next, deconstruct your leaf stems, leaving a leaf of two on the end of each stem. Paint all leaves gold if they’re not already metallic.

Next is the part I had to play around with. I started taping the leaves with floral tape but the tape wasn’t secure enough to hold it as tightly as I wanted. I switched to floral wire and hotglue, but next time I think zip ties would be most effective. Now add in your colorful pumpkins at intervals. If your pumpkins are on a wire, snip most of the length and twist the remaining bit around the garland and fasten with florist tape. No wire? Just hot glue the pumpkins among the leaves. Vary the colors and sizes, and don’t skimp.

In the end, I am so glad I took a departure from my typical fall decor. My breakfast table looks like a pumpkin dance party that I am invited to every morning! (Just don’t start the techno beats until I have had my coffee first.) Are you ready to take on your fall DIY? Share your creations with me on Instagram or Facebook @courtneywarrenhome. DIY not your thing this holiday season? I am booking dates for holiday home decorating now at hello@courtneywarren.com. Message me for availability.

Wow! Stand back and admire your work! Look in your spring table linens to see what placemats and napkins you might use with this exuberant fall tablescape. but because this is such a rich color palette, I didn’t’ want it to get too sweet. I cut some of the bright sweetness of the color by using simple white and black plates. Plan a special meal to enjoy--and show off--the fruits of your labor.

Courtney Warren, Dallas-based interior designer, is in high demand for her ability to move clients’ home designs “From Stuck to Stylish”. Her big laugh, quick wit and joyful personality assure her clients that design can be FUN! Courtney’s projects are often featured in national magazines including Better Homes and Gardens Do It Yourself, Kids Rooms, Best of Flea Market Style, Cottages and Bungalows, and American Farmhouse Style, where she has earned distinctive nicknames such as “flea market queen” and “fast-footed bargain hunter”. Courtney was chosen for TLC’s series Four Houses and is a frequent design consultant and commentator on Fox 4 TV’s Good Day program. She is a pastor’s wife and busy mom of two boys who loves to share favorite quotes (the ones that make her snort-laugh) and current design projects on Instagram @courtneywarrenhome.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Ellis County Master GardenErs

Monthly Tips

BY MELINDA KOCIAN, ELLIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION

tips for

OCTOBER

PLANTING • Plant cool-season annuals such as pinks, snapdragons and ornamental cabbages and kale early in the month. Wait until temperatures have cooled to plant pansies and violas. • Complete planting these fall vegetables early in the month: radishes, spinach and turnips. • Last chance to sow wildflowers in order to have blooms next spring. Always purchase “fresh” seed. • Purchase spring-flowering bulbs while selection is good. Chill tulip and Dutch hyacinth at 45°F for 60 days prior to planting. Daffodil and grape hyacinth require no special handling but should be stored in a cool location until planting (soil temperature below 55° F). Recommended daffodil varieties include Ice Follies, Fortune, Carlton, Cheerfulness and Tahiti. • Fall is a great time to set out perennial herbs, including thyme, oregano, rosemary, parsley, lemon balm, pineapple sage and Mexican mint marigold. Work a few inches of compost into soil prior to planting and mulch the plants after planting.

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING • Remove annuals that have completed their life cycle. Leave seed pods to self-seed next year (cleome, cosmos, four o’clock). • Continue to feed tropical plants in containers and hanging baskets with a water-soluble fertilizer. Cut back or repot overgrown houseplants and fertilize with same fertilizer. • Spring and summer-flowering shrubs and vines (including climbing roses, wisteria, etc.) should not be pruned at this time because they have already established their buds for next year’s bloom. Prune these plants immediately after they stop blooming next year.

• GARDEN WATCH

• Watch for brown-patch fungus on St. Augustine lawns. Water only in the mornings and apply turf fungicide at first sign of fungus. • Watch for cutworms and looper caterpillars on young leafy vegetables. Products containing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) are safe to control these pests. Control aphids with a strong spray of water or insecticidal soap. • Attention, Christmas cactus owners! To initiate flower buds, give the plants bright light each day followed by 12-14 hours of total darkness at night, for 30 days starting mid-month. And keep night temperatures under 65° F.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

tips for

NOVEMBER

PLANTING • Now through February is the perfect time to plant containergrown trees and shrubs. Dig a hole two times the diameter and one inch shallower than the root ball. Make sure the root ball and the hole are thoroughly wet before planting. Backfill with existing soil and water well. • Use the “Custom Tree Selector” at http://texastreeplanting. tamu.edu for help in selecting the right tree for the right location. Also, see “Native and Adapted Plants for North Texas” at https://wateruniversity.tamu.edu/about/publications. • Plant pansies and violas now. Bluebonnets can still be planted from transplants. • Daffodils and grape hyacinth may be planted once soil temperature drops below 55° F. Plant 2-3 times as deep as the bulb is tall.

• FERTILIZING AND PRUNING

• Feed winter annuals growing in the ground and in outdoor containers with a high-nitrogen, water-soluble plant food every two to three weeks. Also, feed and water cool-season vegetables that you are growing now. • Remove the tops of herbaceous perennials after they have died. Add 2-3 inches of mulch to the beds to reduce winter weed growth. • Trim patio plants and hanging baskets before moving indoors for the winter. Locate them near bright windows. • Refrain from pruning freeze-damaged woody plants at this time. This pruning is best done in late winter.

GARDEN WATCH • It’s time to winterize! Disconnect hoses from faucets and drain all hose-end sprinklers. Drain fuel from gasoline-powered engines and run the carburetor dry. Greenhouse owners should check the heating and ventilation systems to ensure proper operation. • Check outdoor potted plants for insects (mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, roaches, ants) before moving inside for the winter. Apply a labeled insecticide if needed. • When planning new landscapes, select trees, shrubs and perennials that are winter hardy in your area. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map, Ellis County is located in Zone 8 (average lowest annual temperature is 10° F to 20° F). Therefore, it is best to choose plants listed for Zone 8, or the one or two zones to the north (Zone 6 or 7).

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RETURNING TO SPORTS SAFELY THIS FALL BY STEPHEN MATHEW, MD ADULT & PEDIATRIC SPORTS MEDICINE SURGEON AT BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE

As we reopen our communities, this fall brings an unprecedented situation for athletes returning to sports at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. After missing spring and summer seasons and training, athletes face unique challenges in this postCOVID-19 era including concern for infection, overuse injuries due to poor conditioning, in addition to the normal acute injuries. As a sports medicine physician who is asked about this daily, here are some general guidelines for fall sports.

Gradual Return to Play It cannot be stressed enough that many athletes are deconditioned after missing much of their regimented training over the last several months. This puts them at an elevated risk for injury when resuming competitive sports, especially if done at an accelerated pace due to condensed playing seasons. This is particularly true of overuse injuries which, even prior to COVID-19, had been on the rise in our youth populations. This can result in decreased performance as well as lost playing time. A gradual return to play with the appropriate window of training prior to competition can decrease this risk. Pre-season examinations are also of particular importance as they can help identify athletes who are at high risk, both from a medical and orthopedic standpoint. As always, I recommend avoiding year-round play. This is important for the physical and emotional well-being of the athlete and helps avoid longterm burnout.

COVID-19 Precautions The required social interaction from participation in sports does inherently pose a higher risk for COVID-19 transmission. Particular caution should be taken for those with risk factors such as uncontrolled asthma, type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, and the immunocompromised. While it is difficult to adhere to social distancing when playing team sports, precautions can still be taken. This includes using masks when not actively participating, avoiding sharing items such as water bottles and towels, frequently

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disinfecting balls and surfaces, and practicing good hand hygiene. We have worked with local schools and organizations on developing protocols that minimize exposure by reducing athletes to smaller training groups, training outdoors when possible, and increasing access to testing. Finally, it should be clear that athletes, coaches, and families have a social and moral responsibility to report symptoms of COVID-19. Failure to do so may result in spread of the disease and harm to others. As the pandemic continues to evolve, I recommend adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines.

Concussions The breadth of knowledge on concussions has grown rapidly in recent years. While concussions do happen in contact sports such as football, the rate when compared to total injuries may be even higher in other sports such as women’s soccer. Regardless of the sport, the athlete needs to be evaluated by his or her trainer and possibly a concussion expert.

Soccer Similar to volleyball, overuse injuries such as strains and stress fractures can be common. Wearing the appropriate shoes, ensuring that field conditions are safe, and participating in proper warm-ups can decrease these injuries. Playing with their “head up” and avoiding headers in younger athletes can also reduce collisions and head injuries.

“While nothing can entirely negate the risks of COVID-19 or injury, a thoughtful approach and adherence to guidelines can significantly mitigate these risks for athletes, coaches, and their families. Youth sports have numerous benefits in the physical and mental health of our young athletes, and as a community we owe it to them to safely work towards this new normal.”

Football Being the sport with the highest number of participants, football always has a high number of injuries. Approximately 50% of football players will have an injury throughout the season. Most of these involve the lower extremity with knee injuries being the most common. Some injuries can be prevented by wearing well-fitting protective equipment and proper training on correct tackling techniques. When serious injuries such as fractures, dislocations, or concussions do happen, please seek the advice of a medical professional.

Volleyball While volleyball is not considered a contact sport, players are more prone to overuse injuries such as rotator cuff strains, ankle sprains, and patellar tendonitis. A regimen of stretching and core strengthening can lower the risk of these injuries. It is important to take 1-2 days off per week during the season, as well as extended time off between seasons.

STEPHEN MATHEW, MD 469.800.9790 Adult & Pediatric Sports Medicine Surgeon at Baylor Scott & White Dr. Mathew is fellowship trained in pediatric and adult sports medicine. Over the years, he has taken care of athletes at the high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic levels.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

When I was a sophomore at Baylor University, the 1980 presidential election was coming up that November. I remember walking through the Richland Mall one afternoon when a news reporter and camera man stopped to ask my thoughts on the man running against Jimmy Carter. I shrugged and said I didn’t know. I felt like one of those mindless people late night talk show hosts stop on the street. I couldn’t answer the question because I hadn’t taken the time to learn anything about Ronald Reagan, except that he was an actor before becoming Governor of California. I was old enough and given the privilege to vote, but too self absorbed with college life to know the candidates running for the highest office in the land. That day I made an effort to change. When I think back to 1980, the country was increasingly dissatisfied with liberal policies and big government. The nation was wracked by high inflation and unemployment, gasoline shortages, and a hostage crisis in Iran in which more than 50 Americans were held captive by radical Muslims. President Carter seemed weak and powerless and voters were worried about their future. Called a dangerous cowboy, a B-movie actor, an intellectual lightweight and a heartless rightwinger, many people thought Reagan was too extreme and simplistic, but opposition to the status quo ran so deep that the electorate decided to give the former movie star a chance in the White House. On Election Day he won by a landslide vote. As he maneuvered through his first term, instead of getting bitter or frustrated with his naysayers, he pursued the presidency with a special brand of good cheer and optimism

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VOTE

that impressed the American people. Reagan proved to be the antidote. He urged Americans to believe in themselves again and declared that the United States was a “shining city on a hill” whose best days were still ahead.

As his popularity grew a journalist asked Reagan what Americans saw in him. “Would you laugh if I told you that I think, maybe, they see themselves and that I’m one of them?” he replied. “I’ve never been able to detach myself or think that I, somehow, am apart from them.”

I’m not suggesting that you vote for one over another, but I would like to challenge people to be aware of the issues our county, state and country are faced with in this election year, especially our younger generation who will live far longer to see the repercussions than I will.

We have some major hurdles to get over as a nation and we need a strong leader to see us through and continue to fight for that “shining city on a hill”.

The irony was that Reagan had been a Democrat but the more he studied politics and government the more conservative he grew and eventually became a Republican. Despite his political shift, he never forgot his middle-class roots. I learned a man who wasn’t a career politician can sometimes be the change we need. My fear in our upcoming 2020 elections is that many people are going to vote their emotions and not take the time to learn all the facts before they vote. This is true for not only our presidential election but also for our local election. All I hear from many liberals is that they hate President Trump, but when pressed on the issue they can’t tell you specifics other than they think he’s rude and tweets too much. All I hear from many conservatives is they do not want socialism and Biden has had over 40 years to get things done and still hasn’t accomplished much. That is not enough knowledge about either candidate to make a good decision.

Cindy Burch and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest in historic downtown Waxahachie. Cindy is also a freelance writer, caterer and consultant. Her award-winning cookbook, “The Doves Nest Restaurant: New American Recipes From A Historic Texas Town,” is in its fifth printing.

Cindy Burch

October November 2020 Ellis County Living Magazine

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