Artist: Russian Influences // Leaps Of Faith // New You IN 2014 // Caldwell Zoo's Flamingos
January/February 2014 | Complimentary Copy
Life Lessons From
Kids
Fashion:
New year New look Love
at
Sunday Dinners
Music:
Aaron Watson
First Sight
Love's Lookout The Wedding Issue
Planning a Wedding There’s Much To Do
Before Saying ‘I Do’ Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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A symbol of
courage and
commitment
This bell rings through the corridors of the ETMC Cancer Institute every time a patient completes his or her course of treatment. It rings to celebrate East Texans who stand up to cancer and the people who stand by them. It rings for a cancer program that was first in East Texas to be certified by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer – a program whose 25th anniversary, in 2011, was capped by an Outstanding Achievement Award.
To the people we care for, the ETMC cancer program provides: • Leading-edge technologies, including TrueBeam radiotherapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery • Access to clinical trials and new treatment options, with an active community-based investigational review board to help assure their safety and effectiveness • Weekly treatment planning conferences in which cases are reviewed by specialists in all areas of cancer treatment • RN Patient Navigators who guide individuals through every step of their treatment plans • One-call care initiation, in which our Patient Navigators schedule and coordinate appointments and communications with the medical team to save precious time • Care for the whole person, including counseling and support groups for patients and their families The sound of our bell is the sound of promises made, and kept, to tens of thousands of East Texans. If you or someone you love is facing a cancer diagnosis, turn to the region’s first and most comprehensive cancer program.
We treat cancer. We care for people.
Free iPhone app
A not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in East Texas communities. etmc.org
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
One with East Texas.
It’s a fact. There’s more people with lung disease out here in East Texas than anywhere else in the state. Thankfully, you’ll find the best lung disease physicians, treatments and scientists at UT Health Northeast. Our campus offers an oasis of healing to help you breathe easier (not to mention a nice alternative to a sea of concrete and steel). Find the right doctor for you, and make an appointment today. Just call 903.877.7000.
Healing just feels better out here. UTHEALTH.ORG
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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January/February 2014
124
44 contents:
98
6 From the Editor
arts & technology 12 14 22 26 28
Tech: Automatic Music: Aaron Watson Artist: Russian Influences IN Books: What We’re Reading App Review: The Reading World is Your Oyster
features
22
32 Love At First Sight 36 Pretty In Pink: Caldwell Zoo's Flamingos 40 Beautiful Beadwork 44 Planning a Wedding: There’s Much To Do Before Saying ‘I Do’
live healthy
86 Progress Not Perfection 90 Life Lessons From Kids 92 New You IN 2014
food & culture 98 104 108 110 114
52 Sunday Dinners The Dining Guide Family Friendly Dallas Calendar of Events Screeches, Screams & Somber Sounds
outdoors
120 Fast Forward 124 Leaps of Faith 128 East Texas: A Birding Paradise
style
54 New Year New Look Featured on the Cover
130 Spirituality: Displaying Love
62 Go-to-Girl: Fashion Forward
dwell On the Cover:
Jamie Lynn Hughes
Photo by: Sarah A. Miller Design by: Ben Huffine 4
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
68 Showcase Home: Zen with a Southern Spin 78 Do-it-Yourself: Transformation 82 What’s Your Remodeling Resolution?
Web Extra:
www.inmagtexas.com
Texarkana: Twice as Nice
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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From the Editor
‘Thank You’ Aaron Watson
Danny Mogle Editor of IN Magazine
A
n open letter to Aaron Watson Hey Aaron. I’m Danny Mogle, the guy who interviewed you for IN Magazine. I’ve got to confess that I’m not one of your longtime fans. I don’t have your albums and don’t go out of my way to attend your concerts. Don’t get me wrong, your music is terrific and you seem destined for bigger and better things. Your music is a good reason to be an Aaron Watson fan but that is not why I am one of your fans. I’m a fan because you’re in a profession that often celebrates getting rowdy, getting drunk and hooking up, yet you choose to sing about family, tradition and helping one another get through tough times. I’m a fan because instead of hanging out in bars and honky tonks, you choose to spend your spare time with your wife and three young children. The day we talked, you were picking your boys up from elementary school. I’m a fan because you choose to be a good ol’ boy in the best sense of the word. You remain true to your beliefs – faith and family – and don’t seem to care if doing so doesn’t’ make you look “cool.”
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
I’m a fan because you wear your heart on your sleeve and reach out to others. Most of all, I’m a fan because of the entry dated Dec. 12, 2012, on your blog “Inspiration Thoughts: Barbed Wire Halo” found on www.aaronwatson.com. You talk about missing Julia Grace, your baby daughter who died from a heart defect shortly after birth. When I read these words, I see your heart. “Life goes on, I know, but over a year later we still long to hold our little girl as much as the day we had to let her go. Our entire family just feels incomplete without Julia. There is something missing and that something is our baby girl. “Jake and Jack miss her and talk about her all the time and I love that! Even Jolee Kate told me the other day that her little sister was in Heaven with Jesus. We talk about her daily but she is no longer here with us. If I had one word to describe all of this it would be bittersweet. “And I may sound like a broken record, but I have to tell you the truth: I thank God for giving me Julia Grace every day. Getting to be her daddy is one of the greatest honors I’ll ever have. Holding her in my arms and singing to her as she gracefully slipped away is one of my most treasured memories. If you are in any way feeling sorry for me and my family … DONT! I am not sharing my story seeking sympathy. “We still hurt but we are OK. I am sharing Julia’s story because through this ordeal I witnessed firsthand the grace of God, the power of prayer, and the importance of a strong church family. I am sharing Julia’s story because I want to tell this world about the love of Jesus Christ. If you are hurting I want you to know that you can find peace and assurance even during your most intense moments of suffering … just as I did … just as I still do. “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.” Aaron, you have no idea how many people these words will help. Thank you. Your Fan, Danny Mogle
Your Voice 25 Years of “The Nutcracker” Story November/December Issue Ana Oxler (who is mentioned in the story) is my granddaughter. Ana has a great love for dance and cannot keep from smiling as she glides across the stage. Thanks for acknowledging these three girls for their hard work. Margaret Paradee
The magazine looks amazing and the stories are really interesting! You guys are doing a great job! Kamren Scott
“The Bigsbys” Story November/December Issue Love the story on the Bigsbys!! Paul McClendon
“Shreveport Opera” Story November/December Issue Steve Aiken has done a brilliant job not only rescuing the company from disaster but building it for the future. Great job. David
Enjoy reading IN? Tell us about it. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of IN Magazine. Please let us know what you think about our bi-monthly publication by sending your comments to, danny@ inmagtexas.com.
Find us on Facebook or send us a tweet. www.INMagTexas.com
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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INMagTexas.com January/February 2014
Publications Manager | Shannon Dorsey 903.596.6369 • sdorsey@inmagtexas.com Editor | Danny Mogle 903.596.6278 • danny@inmagtexas.com Creative Director & Graphic Designer | Ben Huffine 903.596.6347 • ben@inmagtexas.com
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Sales Executive | Dawn Rhodes 903.596.6354 • drhodes@inmagtexas.com Regional Sales Executive | Lindsay Hanks 903.596.6209 • lindsay@inmagtexas.com Regional Sales Executive | Rhonda Smith 903.330.2278 • rsmith@inmagtexas.com
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Contributing Writers: Jennifer Babisak, Tina Bausinger, Tamra Bolton, Crystal Breaux, Nick Buske, Jackie Devine, Leslie Harrison, Jacque Hilburn-Simmons, the Rev. Charles Hunt, Brittany Lee, Amanda Main, Grace Malone, Danny Mogle, Hugh Neeld, Favian Quezada and Dave Sherman Photographers: Sarah A. Miller, Herb Nygren Jr., Dave Sherman, Angel Sonnentag, Victor Texcucano and CJ White Models: Konnie Hill, Jamie Lynn Hughes and Hannah Walker © TBB Printing, Inc., 2014
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Web Extra:
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Style: Casual Outfits
Do you wish you had the energy of a 5 year old? Are you tired of not having energy, feeling bad, and not having the quality of life you really want? Have you spent days, months, or even years treating the symptoms of an illness or disease without understanding the true cause of the problem? At QHI Wellness, we identify the cause of the underlying issue and give you the tools to TREAT your health challenges. We do this by combining the very best of cutting edge natural medicine with conventional medicine in support of a healthier you!
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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DAVID K. FLETCHER, M.D., ABAARM, Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine
Now a new treatment for COPD, Emphysema, & Chronic Bronchitis Stem cells have come a very long way in the few years that they have been used in the medical field. Now stem-like cells can be derived from your own fat cells. They may offer benefits in a variety of medical conditions. Animal studies already done show that experimentally induced Emphysema responded to stem cell transplantation and restored pulmonary function. Other studies showed reduction in damage after deliberate injury to the lung. A human study presently going on in another country seems to confirm the safety of the procedure and there have been some dramatic improvements but the final results have not been tabulated. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD every year in the U.S. and someone dies of COPD every 4 minutes. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the main subtypes of COPD and it is thought that chronic inflammation and auto -immunity appear to be part of the disease process.
Who is this man? He is Dr. David Fletcher, an anti-aging expert in Tyler; former president of Smith County Medical Society, and former chief of staff at East Texas Medical Center Hospital. He is the founder and current medical director of Executive Health and Stem Cell of East Texas. He has been designated as an anti-aging specialist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He is always on the cutting edge of medical progress.
Many times tobacco use or other air pollutants are implicated. This study can enroll up to 100 patients but not everyone qualifies. You have to be off of tobacco products. It is investigational. It is not covered by insurance. Not everyone will benefit. The main treatment is done in one day as an outpatient at our clinic in Tyler, TX.
Call Dr. Fletcher or Francene at 903.592.2999 to discuss this new innovative treatment for COPD, Bronchitis, and/or Emphysema
EAST TEXAS INSTITUTE FOR
EXECUTIVE HEALTH ANTI-AGING & REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
WWW.LIVINGYOUNGER.ORG
David K. Fletcher, MD, ABAA RM, Cenegenics Certified 816 S. Fleishel Ave • Tyler, • 903.592.2999
Arts & Technology
Technology > Tech: Automatic, 12 > Tech App Reviews, 28
Art
Courtesy Photo
> Artist Feature: Russian Influences, 22 > Music: Aaron Watson, 14
Reviews > IN Books: What We’re Reading, 26
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Automatic
Your Smart Driving Assistant
Nobody wants a back-seat driver, but every Smartphone owner may appreciate under-dash driver Automatic. By NICK BUSKE
Y
You’ve heard of the front-seat driver. Maybe you’re even married to one. My wife would be thrilled if we owned a vehicle with dual brakes. And, of course, you’ve heard of the back-seat driver. Perhaps you clothe and feed a few of these of your own. But what about the under-dash driver? Ever heard of that? Most people would pay a small fortune to get rid of unsolicited commentary while at the wheel. But I paid good money to add more. I use a cool little gizmo called Automatic. About the size of a matchbox, it resides underneath the dashboard, drawing power from and interfacing with the diagnostic port (found in any post-1996 vehicle). Automatic aims to make me a better driver. How does it do this? Automatic gives me audible alerts when I accelerate too quickly, brake too hard and drive too fast (over 70 mph). Excessive acceleration not only is terrible for gas mileage, it puts me into an intersection faster than necessary – maybe even faster than expected by the crazy driver who is about to run a red light at my intersection. Automatic knows when I’m heavy on the gas pedal and chides me with a few stern tones. Some might label this negative reinforcement, but I call it constructive criticism. It’s easier for me to take cues from cold technology than a warm-blooded family member. How does it know about my driving? The built-in accelerometer senses undue braking and acceleration. You might be under the impression that Automatic is flying solo. Yet, there is
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an unspoken critical bond between the underdash dongle and my Smartphone – namely the iPhone. That bond is Bluetooth. It’s the key to those speeding alerts and every other novel Automatic feature. When my iPhone is in Bluetooth range of my running vehicle, the devices are paired in a superbly mutualistic relationship. The iPhone feeds Automatic with GPS data for speed and location, and Automatic feeds my iPhone, via the free Automatic app, with information about my driving habits and details about my vehicle. The communication raises Automatic from nag to personal driving assistant. The result of this dynamic duo is a treasure trove of data in one place and presented in a beautifully designed app anyone can grapple. Anytime I travel, the app deciphers and displays data gathered for that trip. On a recent jaunt to Bullard’s Happy Donuts, the app shows that I started the car at 6:55 a.m., drove 3.5 miles under 70 mph and did not commit any hard braking or accelerations, turned off the car at 7:12 a.m. and used 98 cents worth of fuel. Automatic logs every trip and aggregates the data in weekly snapshots going all the back to its first use. What good is that? Well, those weekly snapshots show how many miles and hours I drove and average fuel economy and fuel costs. Each week is given a score from 0 to 100, taking into account the quality of my driving habits. If I’m looking for evidence that my driving is improving, data is just a finger tap away. What would you pay for an under-dash personal driving assistant? Considering that you likely will take the dongle, attach it to your vehicle and never touch it again, maybe your answer is: “Not much.” Priced at $100, the device – as described thus far – is for data enthusiasts. But what if Automatic could help you find your SUV in an ocean-sized parking lot at Sea World? It can, because it tracks the location of your vehicle every time you turn the ignition on and off. Still too attached to your C-note? What if I told you that Automatic could help save your life? The accelerometer that issues tattle-tale chirps during hard stops and braking also detects serious collisions. As long as Automatic is bonded via Bluetooth to your iPhone and both devices are functional, the app will call Automatic’s emergency operators. Using data provided by your iPhone’s GPS, operators will dispatch emergency responders to your vehicle and call three contacts you assign during setup of the app. Automatic’s price seems more justifiable when you consider this potentially powerful safety feature. Nobody wants a back-seat driver, but every Smartphone owner may appreciate underdash driver Automatic. Automatic is for sale at www.automatic. com and Apple retail stores. The Automatic app currently is for iOS only but an Android version is in the works.
Jason Jones
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JasonJonesInsurance.com Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Aaron
Watson Faith, Family & Fans By Danny Mogle | Courtesy Photos
It is a message of hope and a message of life... 14
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Watson, a Texas native, is coming out with a new album this year.
C
ountry singer Aaron Watson was up late one night in his Abilene home writing songs and flipping through television channels when he came across “8 Seconds,” the movie about Lane Frost. Aaron was captivated by the story of the young cowboy who died moments after a raging bull named Takin’ Care of Business plowed its powerful head into his side at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in 1989. Although no autopsy was conducted, doctors believe the bull snapped one of Lane’s ribs, which severed a major artery. While on his computer finding out more about Lane, Aaron came across a quote from Lane’s mother, Elsie. “She said Lane was a world champion bull rider but more importantly, he had accepted Jesus to be his Savior. That hit me in the heart. That really touched me and inspired the song.” The song Aaron is talking about is “July in Cheyenne,” a single off his newest album, “Real Good Time.” In the rain and the mud in July in Cheyenne, they had to carry away a brave young man.
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
A little part of every heart of every rodeo fan, died there in the rain and the mud in July in Cheyenne And it ends … In the rain and the mud in July in Cheyenne, they had to carry away that brave young man. If your washed in the blood someday you’ll see him again and it won’t be in the rain and the mud in July in Cheynne. “I never intended for it to be on the radio,” says Aaron. “I just wanted to write a song about Lane just for her (his mother). This song became a single because it was a fans’ choice. It’s a powerful song because the content is honest and true.” Aaron sings of the heartbreak of a life taken too soon and finding strength amid pain. Aaron and his wife, Kimberly, know this pain all too well. A few months earlier, their newborn daughter, Julia Grace, died from a heart defect. “I thank God for giving me Julia Grace every day,” Aaron shares on his blog. “Getting to be her Daddy is one of the greatest honors I’ll ever have. Holding her in my arms and singing to her as she gracefully slipped away is one of my most treasured memories. “I am not sharing my story seeking sympathy. We still hurt but
we are OK. I’m sharing Julia’s story because through this ordeal I witnessed first-hand the grace of God, the power of prayer, and the importance of a strong church family. I am sharing Julia’s story because I want to tell this world about the love of Jesus Christ. If you’re hurting I want you to know that you can find peace and assurance even during your most intense moments of suffering just as I did, just as I still do.” Aaron says “July and Cheyenne” poured out of him. “It is a message of hope and a message of life. Mrs. Lane isn’t the only mom who has lost a son. … Losing my daughter was the toughest thing I’ve ever experienced but there were some beautiful, beautiful moments that came from it.” During the despair of losing his daughter, Aaron asked for strength and guidance. “I said. ‘God if you want me to write songs for a living again, I need some help.’ … A couple of weeks later, I woke up and was on fire. I wrote the whole album in a short amount of time.”
COUNTRY BOY Aaron was raised in Amarillo. His grew up listening to music as diverse as Johnny Cash and the Beach Boys. As a kid, he was more interested in sports than making music. While attending Abilene Christian University, he discovered he was pretty good with the guitar and had a knack for writing catchy country tunes – not to mention being a pretty good singer. Now 35, Aaron is more popular than ever. “Real Good Time” is his 12th album. He has sold over 150,000 records and has had seven No. 1 hits on the Texas Music Chart. In December, he was a featured performer at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Aaron says he never set out to be superstar. “I am not really going after awards. If that happens it happens. … I’m the CEO of my own record label, not a puppet on a string. My fans are my family and I treat them like royalty. … I’m putting
food on the table, making records for my fans and being true to myself. I have a nice house and a bus and band and a ranch, if this is good as it gets, it’s pretty good.”
SETTING PRIORITIES Through it all, his priorities remain the same: faith, family and fans. “When I’m writing songs, that’s what is on my mind,” shares Aaron. “What else is there? It’s reflective of who I am. And I think that is what makes an artist an artist. … I don’t sing cheating songs. It’s not about selling millions of records. It’s about making a positive impact, and my music is my legacy. I want people to listen and know what I was about after I have left this world.” Aaron and Kimberly have three children, elementary-age sons, Jake and Jack, and a younger daughter, Jolee Kate. When he’s not on the road, you’ll find Aaron at home. He says it’s hard to juggle the demands of a singing career with the responsibilities of being a good husband and father. “It’s a struggle. My bus feels kind of like a jail cell. My kids are always asking me ‘When do you leave again?’ I do (work) like a fireman’s schedule with three or four (days) on the road at a time and three or four off. You can let any job overwhelm and ruin your life. You’ve got to keep priorities.” At the time of the interview, Aaron and his band were preparing to record their next album “The Underdog.” It will be released this year. “It’s a stressful time,” says Aaron, noting that his career has never been hotter and he feels pressure to keep putting out good music. “I don’t want to lose any momentum.” At this point, Aaron has to end the interview to pick up his boys from school. I ask him if he has anything to add. And he does. “God bless you. And thank you sir.”
“I am not sharing my story seeking sympathy. We still hurt but we are OK.”
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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RBC Wealth Management is pleased to announce that Thomas Smith and Mel Lovelady have joined our Tyler Office. RBC Wealth Management has a long-standing stewardship tradition of responsibly managing the wealth entrusted to our care. So when you become our client, you can expect to work with a company with deep resources, a reputation for putting the interests of clients ahead of our own and a passion for helping transform the lives of the people we serve. RBC Wealth Management has again been recognized as one of the world’s top 10 largest wealth managers1. There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™
Thomas Smith CFP®, CLU® Senior Vice President - Financial Advisor
We have also moved to a new location! 1347 Dominion Plaza • Tyler, TX 75703
1) Scorpio Partnership 2013 KPI Benchmark, This measurement includes all global RBC Wealth Management affiliates including the U.S. division. © 2010 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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By Amanda Main | Courtesy Photos of Barnhill Artwork
Making dreams come true is reality for Valeria Barnhill. She always imagined she would be an artist and now owns a studio and trains new artists. Valeria and her daughter, Eva, moved to from their native St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2008 to be with her new husband, Terry Barnhill. She opened Valeria ArtLab in Tyler last September. Valeria says she was drawn to Terry, who she first corresponded with on the Internet, because he represented a culture different than the one she knew. “I traveled a lot. I was in many countries and parts of the world, and it was always very interesting to meet people from different countries — to know how they think, how they act, what they like, how they live.” Leaving Russia was difficult. “I think the most difficult part is to finish everything in that country. … I left my family, I left my job, I left my language, I left my friends and everything that I used to see around.” THE ARTIST Valeria has been drawing since she was old enough to hold a pen. “My mom told me that she could sit me at the table and I could draw an hour or two. So I was drawing at school, in (the) university. I was drawing on books and making cartoons. “But I’d never been an artist. I was a designer and what I was doing was drawing sketches to show an idea to a customer. And it usually was with pen. That’s it. But I never felt like I am an artist. So, I was always wanting to do real art, to do real art on canvas with paints.” She says that in Russia, it’s not easy to become an “artist” because artists need extensive education to be taken seriously. However, she used her artistic skills while working at her fam-
ily’s floral and interior landscape design business in St. Petersburg, Russia. “People give flowers in any occasions – for birthdays. I can’t imagine how to go to (a) birthday (party) without flowers. Funerals, you’re buying flowers and you go to them. Not like here. Anything – graduation, it’s flowers.” After coming to the United States, Valeria further developed her talent. Her artistic work now includes paintings, oil pastels, jewelry, painted shoes and even hats and shawls. Her style hovers between abstract and whimsical. In her paintings, she almost always uses bright colors and strong lines. She tends to depict people, especially children, cats, and stilllife scenes. Some people in her paintings resemble Russian nesting dolls. She describes much of her art as being cartoonish. It tends to reflect happy subjects. She cannot create art if she’s stressed. “If I’m painting, I’m in a good mood, and you can see it. I always love what I am doing. And I love my artworks. So I think it’s very important to love what you’re doing when you’re painting and to paint what you love.” She doesn’t know exactly from where her ideas emerge but says Eva often inspires her. Eva, 11, appears to have inherited her mother’s love of creating bright paintings and intricately patterned ink drawings. Mother and daughter frequently play off each other in their artwork. For example, Eva did a work she calls “Gladiator Fish” that is similar to her mother’s “Friendly Beast.” Valeria says she guides Eva in art but wants her daughter to develop skills at her own pace. Valeria admires many artists. The pop art collage above her ArtLab desk is reminiscent of Andy Warhol. Pablo Picasso’s influence is seen in her paintings. One of her favorite artists | Cont. on page 24 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Cont. from page 23 | is Russian realist Konstantin Makovsky. “He’s so detailed with faces and with people, and I can stand in the museum looking at the details.” One of Valeria’s abstract paintings holds hidden meaning. “The Family Still Life” depicts flowers and vases and also symbolizes her family’s relationships. The two flowers represent Terry’s twin daughters from a previous marriage, and the vase on the left represents, Eva. The two large vases in the middle represent Valeria and Terry. ARTLAB Valeria says many people have artistic abilities, but are afraid to try or don’t know where to start. Through classes she passes on what she has learned. “I’m teaching simple things and quality. We’re creating quality artwork. And we’re doing it with students who already have abilities. And going through this, we’re solving their problems on the way.” When students complete training, she promotes their art through her New Artists program. One of her students is 24-year-old Zal Camara. “I always wanted to learn how to draw, but I was too scared,” Zal says. “She explained to me that it was a process and not to be scared. I had to be in the right state of mind.” Zal enjoyed drawing but didn’t think he had abilities. “I always considered drawing, but I was a kid like everybody else. I never tried drawing the human body or anything like that. It was just for fun when I was growing up.” Valeria had Zal look at a picture of artwork and re-create what he saw. “She keeps telling me the drawing was pretty nice, but to me it was just trash,” he says. “I was like, ‘No, I’m going to hide it, because nobody’s going to want to know who drew that.’ But she said it’s pretty good. I have it in my apartment now, and when people see it, they say, ‘Wow, that’s pretty nice.’” Valeria sells postcard prints of Zal’s works in ArtLab. REACHING OUT Valeria says once in the United States, she realized how little Americans know about Russia. To help bridge the gap, she created a project called Russians for Americans. She wants people from different cultures to realize they’re more alike than they realize. “It was interesting that people don’t know anything about Russia. … They’re asking questions, ‘Where is Russia?’ I couldn’t believe it. For most of Americans, my age probably, it’s some kind of red spot (of communism) on the globe.” Part of her Russians for Americans project is a Facebook page. She wants to provide artists, musicians and writers a way to show their work in America and Americans to understand her culture better. “(Politics are) always just putting a wall between people,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what our countries do, the people need to be closer.” BIG GOALS Valeria has big goals. She is in talks with a Tyler pastor to paint a mural on a church. She would eventually like to paint over a 1923 piano her husband brought home. She plans to fill the few bare spaces on ArtLab’s walls with murals of a streetscape. “I’m growing,” she says. “I’m getting experience with all my artwork, with each artwork. So I’m getting better and better.”
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IN Books:
What We’re Reading
By Tina Bausinger | Courtesy Photos
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Book Reviews
“My Story” // by Elizabeth Smart with Chris Stewart When Elizabeth Smart was 14, Brian David Mitchell, a homeless derelict, slit the screen to her bedroom, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her family if she did not go with him. Mitchell told Elizabeth she was destined to be his second wife. Mitchell’s wife, Wanda Barzee, collaborated with him. Amazingly, Elizabeth lived to see both of them convicted for their crimes and sent to jail. Although we saw a peek into what Elizabeth’s parents experienced in their novel “Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope,” this is Elizabeth’s account of her nine-month ordeal, written from her own pen ten years later. Most of the time that Elizabeth was with Mitchell, she only was a few miles away from her affluent Salt Lake City home. Held captive at a rough campsite where she experienced torture of all kinds – including including starvation and extreme thirst – Smart decided on her goal: to remain alive. Mitchell attempted to brainwash Elizabeth into believing he was a prophet anointed by God. A powerfully written narrative, Smart credits her faith in God and the strength of character taught by her parents as her reasons for enduring the captivity.
“The Secret River” // by Kate Grenville The first of a three-part trilogy, “The Secret River” is a post-colonial family saga set in the early 19th century. Chronicling the life of William Thornhill, the story portrays a man who, as a penalty for a crime committed, was forced to leave London and begin a new life in Australia as a prisoner-turned-citizen who can never outrun his past. Battling the elements as well as the original native inhabitants, Thornhill strives to tame the wild Australian land and stake his claim to a dangerous place others call home.
Kate Grenville loosely based this story on a distant relative. It’s an effort, at least in part, to explain hardships and the difficult circumstances that the first Australians were forced to endure. This beautifully written novel is an awardwinning literary masterpiece.
“Dr. Sleep” // by Stephen King In this long-awaited sequel to “The Shining,” King does not disappoint. The story catches up with Jack’s son, Danny Torrance (the creepy “redrum” kid), who survived the Overlook Hotel only to walk away with many of his daddy’s demons. Dan discovers that although the hotel burned to the ground years ago, the forces that drove it are still alive and well. He wastes much of his life attempting to shake off the echoes of that experience and, to a large degree, is able to control his gift and remain unattached to and unaware of others in his drifting nomadic existence. Then he meets a 12-year-old girl who shares his talent and needs help to save her life from (dare we say it?) a tribe of vampires that live on the souls of those who shine. Dan is the only one who can help her. Compelling and literary despite the guilty pleasure aspect, King does not fail to give fans what they want: a delicious, well-told story that keeps us guessing until the end. Totally worth the wait! Please Mr. King, can we have more?
For other book reviews check out INMagTexas.com
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App Review The Reading World is Your Oyster By NICK BUSKE
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There’s good news for those who resolve to use Smartphones and tablets to read more in 2014. While there certainly is no shortage of apps for reading books on tablets and Smartphones, a new kid has arrived on the playground. The app is called Oyster – as in the Shakespearean line “the world’s mine oyster.” Though this newcomer currently plays nicely only with iOS, it soon will work with Android devices. What’s so great about Oyster? As a portal to a revolutionary service for reading books, Oyster opens a whole new way to consume written text. For those familiar with Netflix, Oyster’s service model rings true. If not, then let’s use the buffet restaurant metaphor: by paying a flat fee to the buffet and all its choices, you’ll likely consume more and maybe even try new things. The restaurateur hopes this pay/value model sits well in your stomach and that you become a loyal patron. Such is the aim of Oyster. A month-to-month subscription fee of $9.95 provides all-you-can-read access to thousands of books. Sure, you've got your popular Mo Goo Gai Pan kinds of books, such as Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants” and Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi.” Then, you’ve got your tried-and-true beef and broccoli types like Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.” But strange books also are on the buffet as well. These literary works are like that delicious-smelling but unidentifiable pan of food on the buffet with a serving ladle instead of a spoon. Jennie P. Grant’s “City Goats” looks and sounds weird but haven’t you always thought of raising goats in your back yard but didn’t know how to start? This is where Oyster reveals its most pearlescent perk. While you might not normally choose to pay for an odd book like
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Relatively unknown books often prove educationally delicious or just plain fun. Grant’s, it nevertheless is accessible in the buffet included with your subscription. These relatively unknown books often prove educationally delicious or just plain fun. The Oyster is beautifully minimalistic with only four distinct design elements on its home screen. The ever-popular magnifying glass is used to search for a book by collection, keyword or author. Downloaded books reside beneath the magnifying glass in the “recent books” field. The scrollable midsection reveals books Oyster deems popular and/or notable. The bottom banner is the navigational and settings field, which allows jumping between home, activity and profile pages. To inspect a book more closely, tap its cover image and find other users’ star-ratings, a synopsis and related works. Touching the plus sign allows you to add the book to your reading list, mark it as read or share it. Adding the book to your list downloads it to your device for reading. Internet connectivity is only required for the initial download, so you can load your device for hours of reading enjoyment on, say a flight to Antarctica. Just make sure to satiate your all-you-can-eat needs before landing. While the icy continent has a surplus of penguins, you will find no Kung Pao chicken.
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CABINS / CAMPFIRES / STARS / FORESTS / MOUNTAINS / LAKES / RIVERS / WILDLIFE / BIGFOOT
THE KIAMICHI MOUNTAINS cover the Beavers Bend area in rolling hills. At the center is Broken Bow Lake, so clear you can see your feet. Swift trout streams and lazy rivers wind through the county. A totem, a winery, a birding paradise and a complete dinosaur skeleton are all waiting for you just around the Beavers Bend in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. V I S I T M C C U R T A I N C O U N T Y. C O M • 8 0 0 - 5 2 8 - 7 3 3 7
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Features Features
Photo by Herb Nygren Jr.
> Love At First Sight, 32 > Pretty In Pink: Caldwell Zoo's Flamingos, 36 > Beautiful Beadwork, 40 > Wedding Planning, 44
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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LO VE
At First Sight By Hugh Neeld | Photos by Victor Texcucano
“We were thinking of a special place to exchange our vows, we wanted to capture our moment in a special place.”
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One of the first things you see traveling south on Highway 69 nearing Jacksonville is an old watchtower perched high on a hill at Love’s Lookout. Painted a fall-foliage orange and displaying the city logo, it welcomes people to the town of 15,000. Love’s Lookout, a state rest stop with a spectacular view, is like few places in East Texas you’ll ever see. Jacksonville residents Ralph and Jill Lindsey were married there on June 5, 2005. As president of Jacksonville Chamber Commerce in 2004, Ralph was involved in getting the rest stop restored. “We were thinking of a special place to exchange our vows, we wanted to capture our moment in a special place,” Jill says. “The beauty of the rolling hills of East Texas has been special to us. Love’s Lookout allowed us to capture the beauty we enjoy here in East Texas. The twilight setting and eastward view from the Lookout was a pinnacle of our special day.”
WHAT A VIEW The architecture at Love’s Lookout recalls Jacksonville’s past. The buildings are designed to resemble the many tomato sheds that were clustered along the railroad tracks from the 1920s to 1940s, when Jacksonville boasted a reputation as “The Tomato Capital of the World.” Outside the Visitor Center, five picnic arbors in this same style dot the grounds. The big semi-circular terrace behind the main building, adorned with a state historical plaque, offers a stunning view. At an elevation of 720 feet above sea level and 240 feet above the forest-covered valley far below, you can see on a clear day about 35 miles out. Visitors marvel that it is one of the most breathtaking views in the region.
“Each time I’ve been to Love’s Lookout, I’ve been struck by the beautiful view from the top of the mountain,” says Carla Szafran of Longview. “I had to remind myself that I was still in East Texas and not the Ozarks.” Joe Crispino a visitor from Aguanga, California, is equally enthusisastic: “It is one of the few places in Texas having a view like this.”
VOLUNTEERS The spacious Visitor Center is staffed by volunteers. Betty Brown epitomizes the 25 who serve. “I have been a volunteer since 2008,” says Betty. “The first year for volunteer was when the new facility opened in 2004. There were so many, some had to be turned down. … I enjoy talking to people from other parts of the country. I like talking to local folks, too, especially those who came to Love’s Lookout when they were young – when the swimming pool was open and people could climb the old watchtower. I just like coming here because it is beautiful and people who stop are so complimentary.”
HISTORY
Located south of Jacksonville, Love’s Lookout provides one spectacular view.
The bluff on which the facility sits became known as Love’s Lookout in the early 1900s. It is named after Wesley Love, who in 1904, bought much of the surrounding area and planted a 600-acre peach farm. Visitors often assume the name came from the use of the hilltop as a romantic getaway by those in love. Following Love’s death in 1925, his wife donated a 22-acre tract to the state of Texas for a state park. The state failed to develop the park and in 1934 the city of Jacksonville purchased an additional 25 acres from a Love’s heir and developed a city park. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Depression-era Works Progress Administration came to the hill in the 1930s. Using red rock mined in Cherokee County, workers constructed roads, trails and recreation facilities. Attractions included an Olympic-size swimming pool and a pavilion that housed dances. An amphitheater built into the hillside was used for sunrise religious services and as a site for concerts. The fire watchtower, originally constructed of wood in 1920 by the Texas Forest Service, remained in use by forest rangers during periods of high fire danger until the late 1960s, when it was declared obsolete. With the tower no longer in use, the Texas Forest Service deeded it to the city of Jacksonville for $300. The tower stood untouched for 10 years until the Texas Preservation Fund provided money to renovate it with reinforced steel legs. The tower remains a proud part of Love’s Lookout. In 1967, the Love family turned the original tract over to the Texas Highway Department, which developed it into a roadside park. In 1978, the Texas Historical Commission placed a marker on the site. In 1981, a slight earthquake in Jacksonville weakened the amphitheater, which about a year later crumbled and slid down the steep hillside. In 2004, the aging buildings at Love’s Lookout were torn down. The old bath house, game room and dance hall were destroyed and work began on a major facelift. On Nov. 10 of that year, a ceremony opening the new Visitor center drew people from the Jacksonville area and beyond. A sheriff’s substation now also occupies the grounds.
VISITORS WELCOME Should your travel plans include East Texas, Love’s Lookout is worth a stop. Visit in the spring when the white and pink dogwood trees and flowers are in bloom or in the fall when the hillside is ablaze with red, purple, yellow and golden foliage. Check out the stunning view during those moments when daylight and dark compete for supremacy – especially as the sun begins its rise on the horizon. Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Pretty in Pink
Caldwell Zoo’s Flamingos By Danny Mogle | Photos by Herb Nygren Jr.
Aug. 26, 2013 The Chilean flamingos at Caldwell Zoo are, to put it politely, in a feisty mood. It is breeding season and the birds are on the rambunctious side. They are prancing, squawking and even pecking at one another with their hooked black beaks. “Oh they can be aggressive,” says Brenda Davis, a bird specialist at the zoo who’s watching with great interest from outside the flamingo lagoon. Inside the enclosure, Curator of Birds and Reptiles Yvonne Stainback is wearing big rubber boots as she sloshes through the shallow water to get a closer look. Her attention is glued to a pair of breeding flamingos hovering over a chimney-shaped nest of red mud on the end of the island. “Do you see an egg?” Stainback calls to Davis. “I can’t tell if there’s one,” replies Davis. Her view partially is blocked by birds moving about. The flamingos are identified by a number stamped onto bands around their bony legs. Davis, 36
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
however, doesn’t need to see the numbers to make identifications. She knows each by sight based on the subtle differences in their pink colorings, sizes and characteristics. “You’ve got your leaders (among the flock), some are more laid back … and some are big babies,” she says. The flamingo sitting on the mud nest in question suddenly shakes its feathers, honks and rises. “Yeh, there’s an egg. I can see it now,” calls out Davis. That’s good news. Flamingo breeding season is off to a good start. | Cont. on page 38
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| Cont. from page 36 With beautiful pink and crimson tipped feathers, flamingos are a star attraction at Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo. Strategically positioned near the front entrance, the flamingo lagoon often is the first thing visitors encounter. Many are amused by the flamingos’ practice of standing for long periods on one long, pencil-thin leg. The zoo has housed flamingos since the late 1980s. In 1989, the first Chilean flamingo chick hatched at the zoo. Since the mid1990s, the staff has managed a breeding flock. They take steps to make sure every egg has the best chance possible to produce a chick. Caldwell Zoo has one of the most successful Chilean flamingo breeding programs in the nation. The zoo raises flamingos to sustain its flock and to sell birds to other zoos and wildlife parks. In the wild, Chilean flamingos live in mudflats, estuaries and shallow lagoons on the western coasts of South America. In the 1970s, conservation groups estimated the population to be about half a million. Today, the numbers have declined to about 300,000. The population is dropping because of loss of habitat along coastal regions. The species is listed as “near threatened.” Conservationists are becoming more concerned about the long-term outlook. Chilean flamingos typically live in large flocks and begin to breed when the late-spring rainy season sets in. At Caldwell Zoo, there is no late spring rainy season. The zoo uses a sprinkler system to help simulate rain but that doesn’t always do the trick. It often is a waiting game for Mother Nature to run its course. The flamingos make it clear when they are ready to breed. “They start exhibiting marching behaviors,” explains Davis. “They start marching as a group and flagging.” 38
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In “flagging,” they simultaneously stretch their long necks as high as possible. With bills to the sky, they turn their heads from side to side. “Marching” looks like synchronized line dancing. The birds move in quick steps: first in one direction and then the other. Stainback and Davis also watch for when the birds use their strong beaks to begin forming mud nests. Once the nest is formed and the female lays an egg, she defends the territory from others. During these skirmishes, the birds aggressively stomp and peck, which often shatters the fragile eggs. That’s why Stainback and Davis wait and watch for new eggs. When both parents temporarily move from the nest, they quickly replace the real egg with a fake egg. The flamingo parents – both the male and female care for the egg – have no idea they are carefully incubating nothing more than a big blob of plaster of paris.
Sept. 4, 2013 The hatchery, a small building in the administration complex not accessible to visitors, is full of the eggs that have been removed from the flamingos. The eggs are stored in incubators that control the humidity and sustain the temperature at a steady 95 degrees. The eggs are rotated five times a day. It is the zoo’s version of parental tender loving care. In the hatchery, Stainback performs candling to determine whether the egg is fertile. She takes an egg (about the size of a goose egg) and in a darkened room holds it to a bright light to see inside the thin shell. She looks for signs of life – an air sac and a small reddish area with tiny red lines (blood vessels) extending from it. On about the 28th day, the growing bird inside begins to use its already strong beak to peck its way out. On this September afternoon, a chick has just hatched. With the broken remains of the shell still clinging to it, the newest fla-
mingo at Caldwell Zoo gingerly pushes itself forward. Other new chicks are on the way. Stainback reaches into the incubator and pulls out an egg. She rotates the egg, to reveal a small hole. In the tiny opening, one can make out the beak of the baby inside. The flamingo is trying as hard as it can to enter the world. Stainback has one more flamingo baby to show off. About a week old, the bird is covered with a fluffy white downy coat of feathers. Resembling an oversized, wiggly cotton ball with legs, it fits in the palm of her hand. She places the delicate bird on a towel as a photographer moves in to snap photos. The little one, who the staff has named Charlie, looks directly at the camera as if to say, “Hello world, here I am!” On wobbly legs, the bird stands and then plops down, seemingly exhausted by the effort. “Look at him go,” praises Davis, clearly delighted by the little bird’s progress. The zoo staff raises some of the flamingoes in the nursery. Most of the time, they replace the fake egg left in the mud nests with a real egg as soon as the baby begins to peck out. The parents do not make connections with the baby until they hear its first faint crying noise, called a pip, within the egg. The flamingo parents never know what happened, assures Davis.
Oct. 2, 2013
There are babies galore in the flamingo lagoon. Their white downy feathers have been replaced by more hardy grey feathers. It will be months before their mature pink plumage comes in. The pink coloring comes from a pigment found in the crustaceans they eat in the wild. In captivity, their diet is supplemented with the pigment. The babies spend five to eight days in the nest before venturing out. Davis says the arrival of flamingo babies is a highlight of her year. “Baby season is the best,” she says with a smile. Outside the flamingo lagoon on this fall morning, a little girl is so excited, she barely can contain herself. “Look Mama, a baby bird. It is sooo cute!” she squeals, pointing to a flamingo baby on the edge of the water that seems reluctant to venture far from its protective parent. “Look Mama! Look Mama! The baby is sooo cute.” A young couple pushing a stroller hears the little girl and moves in for a closer look at the flamingos. Thrilled with what they are seeing, the man whips out his video camera and starts filming. The baby flamingos are already the stars of the show.
Pages. 37 and 38: Chilean flamingos at Caldwell Zoo. Top photo: Testing to see whether an egg is fertile. A baby flamingo being raised in the nursery.
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Beautiful Beadwork One Woman’s Quest to Preserve the Lost Art of Cherokee Beading
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By Jacque Hilburn-Simmons | Photos by Herb Nygren Jr.
utside of Tyler, narrow country roads bridge the hurried pace of urban society with quiet country settings – places where the whisper of wind in the pines prevails and calls of coyotes punctuate the darkness. Martha Berry, a renowned Cherokee beadwork artist, finds comfort and inspiration in this natural environment. She believes solitude allows her imagination and spirit to more easily connect with the past. Being one with nature is central to her mission: to create dignified, historically accurate Cherokee beadwork honoring her heritage and to educate others so this largely forgotten art is not lost. “This (beadwork) is something I truly enjoy doing, but it’s also something I feel I must do,” says Martha. “There was this huge gap in Cherokee history. I knew I had to learn how to do it to tell their stories.” In her country home, an unassuming bottle containing soil from her native Oklahoma represents the motivation behind her work. Some might say the soil represents dreams shattered generations ago when the United States government ejected Native Americans from their ancestral tribal lands. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced thousands of Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and Seminoles and other southeast
tribes to relocate to Oklahoma to make room for white settlers. The journey is known as Trail of Tears. Historians estimate more than 15,000 Cherokees attempted the 1,000-mile journey. In the harsh winter conditions, some 4,000 perished of disease, starvation and exposure during the trek. The soil Martha keeps is a constant reminder of her ancestors stripped of property, dignity and identity in what many simply refer to as The Removal. “It’s a connection, it goes back to those women I wanted to know,” she says, cupping the bottle in her hands. “This is dirt that would have been under their fingernails. This is where they walked and talked. This was where dreams were broken, babies were born and grandparents died. To me, it’s a spirit, not dirt.”
FAMILY INFLUENCE
Martha, the daughter of Cherokee and Anglo parents, was 5 when her mother and grandmother introduced her to sewing. At 9, she was making clothes and by 20 she was crafting elaborate outfits for a traveling ice show. In spite of her heritage, she didn’t know until adulthood much about their Indian traditions and what it means to be Cherokee. “It was not trendy back then to be Native American,” she says. “My father was a banker, my mother volunteered | Cont. on page 42
Page 40: Bag features Martha Berry’s intricate beadwork inspired by Cherokee designs. Top: Thousands of beads are used in each piece.
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Cont. from page 41 | a lot. No one really talked about it back then … a lot of knowledge was lost forever.” Martha married and had two daughters, Christina and Karen, with husband, Dave Berry, an award-winning journalist and photographer. In her 30s, she felt compelled to learn more about her roots. “I was curious, I wanted to know our story,” she says. “It was hard to get my father to talk.” She learned that her father’s grandparents settled in the western part of the Cherokee Nation after the Civil War. They slowly began to acquire 1,000 acres, only to lose it when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. “Like all Cherokee families, the federal government took away all we had, twice,” Martha says. Three family members subsequently were awarded small allocations of land, but it represented only a fraction of the original parcel. The soil that connects Martha to her heritage was removed from a relative’s yard. “Out of 1,000 acres, this is all I have,” she says, gazing at the contents. “This is it.” Martha studied old photographs of Cherokees to identify details of their lives. The proud faces that stared back deeply moved her. She spotted examples of hauntingly beautiful beaded accessories. Curious about their origin and purpose, she learned more. “The bags, they were used for diplomatic gift exchanges, such as from chief to chief,” she says, citing instances in which goods were presented to U.S. presidents and dignitaries. Between 1840 and 1922, the beaded finery seemed to disappear and some traditional designs suddenly changed. But why? “The beadwork stopped by the Trail of Tears,” she says. “I kept thinking, ‘If this beadwork is so important, why did they abandon it?’ There are probably many reasons why.” Some caught up in The Removal may only have had minutes to pack before being torn from their homes. Many elders – the people who created most of the bead art – died along the route. Those who survived probably focused more on housing and stabilizing the families than creating beaded work of art, she says. “One of my ancestors died after reaching Oklahoma. There was unbelievable poverty … people were weak and exhausted. They were given land, but they had to hack it out of the wilderness.” Shelter and food were sparse. Few tools were available to help improve their situations. “Here was a side of me I never knew existed,” Martha says, shaking her head. “I wanted to connect with these people. I kept wondering, ‘What can I do? How can I ever find the bond that I seem to need to have?’ I decided to learn how to bead.”
PRESERVING HISTORY
Martha’s cultural preservation efforts garner national attention. She lectures at places such as Stanford and Harvard universities. The Cherokee Nation presented Martha its Cherokee National Living Treasure Award honoring her exceptional contributions to preservation its traditions. “Without Martha Berry, Cherokee beadwork would continue to be in the collection drawers of national museums,” says Tonia Weavel, education director for the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill, Okla. “Martha single-handedly revived Cherokee beadwork within the Cherokee community. Re-enactors and others were doing the Cherokee styled beadwork, but it was not familiar in the Cherokee communities. As a matter of fact, there were several doubters who claimed Cherokees never did beadwork. “Martha continued to research, document and teach the beautiful beadwork style. She was very careful to begin her classes with a historical overview. The first time I heard the 42
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
overview I felt that with each stitch, I was making history. It was very compelling.” Christina E. Burke, curator of Native American & NonWestern Art at Philbrook Museum of Art in Oklahoma, says no one pushes the limits of intricacy, accuracy and creativity like Martha. Even more remarkable, she adds, is Martha’s willingness to share her knowledge with others. “No one else has had the kind of influence on the artwork that Martha has,” Christina says. “She is the driving force behind the growing appreciation and creation of Cherokee beadwork in the 21st century.”
THE PROCESS
Martha searches old photos for inspiration and creates sketches. Symbols, such as woodpeckers and spiders carry special meanings. She combines the symbols in beading to tell stories and convey emotions. At first, the intricate designs, with their twists and turns, seem to swirl independently. Only when meaning is applied to the symbols, are observers transported into a world that speaks of things in the past and to come. During the design phase, Martha sometimes spends time listening to the wind and letting the story she wants to tell play out in her consciousness. She often hangs out on a small back patio that has chimes and bird feeders. “I can spend hours out there,” she says, gazing out the kitchen window. At the Berry home, a design on a bag tells the story of a spider that snatches a glowing ember from a tree on an island in a lake that is struck by lightning. The spider carries the ember on her back as she swims across the cold lake and then delivers it so the Cherokee people can build a fire. The little spider, hailed as a hero for her selfless act, is featured prominently on the flap. “I think the longest I ever worked on a bag was 319 hours,” she says, explaining the symbols on the bag. “Some take at about 250 hours to complete.” Period-specific supplies can be costly and difficult to find. Martha uses carefully selected, historically accurate materials, relying on providers that specialize in items created according to original methods and practices. Felt-like wool broadcloth she uses to make bandolier bags, for example, is the same type many artisans use to create costumes for Revolutionary War reenactments. The beads – each small enough to balance on the head of a straight pin – only are produced in Germany, Italy and France. It takes thousands of beads to create a project and each must be stitched into place.
Museums provided examples of early Cherokee artwork, beaded accessories, bandolier bags, moccasins and belts. Martha visited the Smithsonian and inspected some of the bead artifacts available. It took years of painstaking research and practice to recreate historically accurate renditions of the artifacts. In 2000, Cherokee Heritage Museum in Tahlequah, Okla., agreed to let her do a one-woman show and seminar in hopes of reviving interest in beadwork. “Nobody up there knew me,” she says. “I didn’t sell anything. I would talk and talk and teach.” The efforts seemed to be going nowhere until examples of Cherokee beadwork were assembled from museums, including one as far as Scotland, and showcased in a special exhibit. “People were amazed,” she says of the reactions. “Some wanted to learn how to do it too.” Her subsequent shows and seminars were more successful. Today, Martha’s work is displayed in museums, educational institutions and private collections. She’s one of about 15 bead artists working to reclaim the lost art. Martha credits her family and late mentor Anna Belle Sixkiller Mitchell, who revived an early Cherokee form of clay pottery, with helping her stay the course. Her father, also a supporter, died in 2004, knowing a proud Cherokee legacy had been reborn. “I guess I was stubborn,” she says, reflecting on the difficult days. “I just didn’t want to give up.”
Martha Berry works in her Tyler home on one of her Cherokee beading projects. Below: She keeps soil from her ancestors’ land in Oklahoma to better connect to her Native American heritage.
REVIVNG A LOST ART
Hollywood largely is to blame for creating misconceptions about Native Americans. Action-packed movies often featured painted, whooping plains Indians racing bareback as part of thrilling battles. Martha was surprised to learn that Cherokees farmed and fished and led lives vastly different than the stereotypical warrior personas. “Cherokees never wore feather headdresses,” she says. “They wore turbans. They never lived in teepees.” There are few references about their beadwork skills. She was shocked to learn most people of Cherokee heritage didn’t realize their ancestors had been bead artists. Few had much interest in reviving the art. “There were no classes, no books,” she says. “Their work was discounted; some things even said it was copied from the Europeans. I was frustrated, so I got my nerve up and wrote the museums to see if they had any photos of Cherokees wearing beadwork artifacts.” Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Planning a Wedding There’s Much To Do Before Saying ‘I Do’ By Grace Malone | Photos by Angel Sonnentag
S
Six months ago, Jonathan Barker kneeled in the gym at Tyler’s Robert E. Lee High School, the place where he met Sarah Riley, and in front of friends and family asked her to marry him. Now Riley is facing the daunting task of planning their June ceremony. She’s juggling making wedding plans with demands of taking classes at The University of Texas at Arlington, two hours away from her future husband, a student at Tyler Junior College. Thankfully, she’s receiving help from family and friends. Bride-to-be Mandy Hartung faces even greater logistical challenges. Although the wedding to her fiancé, Sun Hirata of Japan, will take place in Texas in May, she’s having to make arrangements while living in Osaka, Japan. The pressure to make one’s wedding “the most amazing day of your life” is huge but experts say that planning the
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wedding is less nerve-wrecking if the couple begins making decisions far in advance. “Our main thing is we wanted to enjoy the wedding planning process, not be like totally stressed out and angry about everything, says Riley “… It’s going really smoothly. We’re just enjoying it.” PLANNING TIMELINE Couples who use a wedding consultant should hire one as early as possible. If they want to handle all the details themselves, here is a to-do list based on a 12-month schedule. 12 months before ceremony: As soon as the engagement ring slips on the finger, begin thinking about three things: budget, number of guests and wedding date. “You should start with a budget because| Cont. on page 46
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Cont. from page 44 | you may find a fantastic photographer who is just going to take up half your budget if you don’t know what you’re doing,” says Donna Wood, a coordinator at Much Obliged Events in Tyler. “So you just really have to have that (budget) information set in stone. “You don’t have to go through and divide up how much you want to spend on each area, but having a total amount helps you know what you should spend on those (individual) areas,” says Wood. “I am actually very blessed to have parents who are willing to pay for the majority of our wedding,” Hartung says. “My parents have offered to cover up to $20,000 for both the American wedding as well as the reception in Japan a few weeks later. We (the couple) are paying for our wedding rings and for any costs over that budget.” Riley also is receiving financial help from her family. “We tried to set a budget,” laughs Riley. “We kind of allocated the costs of things. Like his parents are paying for the food at our wedding. My parents are paying for our honeymoon.” 10 to 8 months before the ceremony: Book the venue, hire vendors and finalize participants in the wedding party. Make sure all involved will help the process go smoothly and not put extra stress on the couple. Decide on colors and theme elements, taking into consideration personal tastes, the season in which the wedding will take place and even the time of the ceremony. “The ideas (for the ceremony) that the brides go with need to 46
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match the season they are (having the wedding) in,” advises Esther Yeager, a coordinator for Plan It! Events in Tyler. Seasonal factors come into consideration when selecting flowers, wedding dresses and bridesmaids’ dresses. Begin hiring professionals including a photographer, videographer, musicians, entertainers for the reception and caterers. 7 to 5 months before the ceremony: Finalize contracts with vendors and pay deposits. Get engagement photos done, design wedding invitations, pick out bridal wear and order flowers for bouquets and decorations. 4 to 3 months before the ceremony: Mail wedding invitations, finalize decisions involving the reception, design the wedding program and rent (or purchase) the attire for the men in the wedding party. Final months before wedding day: Apply for the marriage license, finalize fittings for the wedding dress and plan a seating chart for the reception. Finalize arrangements for the honeymoon. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS The Venue: Decide whether the ceremony will be indoors or outdoors and public or private. Prices tend to go up when an outdoor or private venue is selected, due to costs of renting chairs and extra decorations. Riley’s wedding will take place inside a church. Hartung’s ceremony will take place outdoors at the Shoemaker Hill Ranch in Jacksonville.
The Dress: Most brides have imagined their dream wedding dress. Many are then surprised to find that dresses in other shapes and designs look even better on them. It is best to try on dresses that are different than a preconceived idea. Choosing a silhouette that fits the bride’s physique is of utmost importance. Styles include ball gown dresses, curvehugging sheath dresses, A-line dresses, mermaid dresses with a fin-like flare at the bottom and empire-waist gowns that cinch below the bust and loosely flow down. Riley says she’s always had in her mind what she wanted her dress to look like. She will be wearing a lace strapless, fitted Casablanca mermaid dress. It’s very “whimsical” and “romantic,” gushes Riley. “I picked out my dress so quick. I already knew what I wanted. … I’m pretty sure I got my dress like the second week after we got engaged.” Hartung has not selected the dress she will be wearing on the special day. She’s leaning more to a sheath-style dress. Flowers: Common uses of flowers are for the bridal bouquet, groom’s buttonhole, bridesmaids’ posies, corsages and arrangements for table centerpieces. Flowers that bloom in spring include freesia, lily of the valley, orchid, sweet pea and anemone. In summer, available flowers are lily, magnolia, peony, rose and sunflower. In fall, blooming flowers are daisy, hydrangea, passion flower and aster. In winter, iris, pansy, poinsettia and tulip are available. Riley is still selecting her flowers. She says that she wants something simple. Before making choices, make sure those who will make contact with the flowers will not have an allergic reaction to the flowers. The cake: First, decide whether the cake will be made by a family or friend, purchased from a bakery or created specifically for the ceremony by a designer. Cakes made with fondant are more expensive than ones made with butter-cream frosting, Yeager says. Riley says they are going to buy their wedding cake and that most likely it will be a traditional three-tier cake. Hartung’s cake will be a custom-made cake. “It’s going to be a butter-cream cake with gum paste cherry blossoms winding to the top,” she says.
The cake, photography, venue, catering, flowers and the couple’s clothing are among the many details of planning a wedding.
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Modern
Nails & Spa 1816 ESE Loop 323 • Tyler
903.526.7005
Private Rooms for Parties • Weddings • Work Groups • Birthdays
Mon.-Sat. 9:00am-7:30pm Walk-ins welcome (across from Hobby Lobby).
www.modernailsspatyler.com 48
shop ou r store! shop ou r store!
invitations for all occasions w w w.e e bb e ese.ces o m .c o m w w w.e l ll lii e
1418 M cCann Road | Longv iew, T X 75601 | 903 . 758 . 0300
1418 M cCann Road | Longv iew, T X 75601 | 903 . 7 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Come Together
With beautiful indoor and outdoor facilities, The Arbor is the ideal venue for all your important events and celebrations. Accommodating all types of events, from weddings and receptions to business functions and parties. We're here to make sure everything is perfect for you.
2215 Roy Road | Tyler, TX 903.534.4997 | ArborVenue.com
You've dreamed of this dress.. let us preserve it for a lifetime.
FULL SERVICE CATERING: Whether it’s a ranch style wedding, casual hors d’oeuvres or an elegant sit-down meal we can make your wedding reception extra special. 903-617-4405 • 903-363-2222 thefattapple.com
Y UR Texas
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Free Pickup & Delivery · Wedding Dress & Bridal Alterations · Traditional or French Bustles · Bridal Gown Cleaning & Preservation · Monogramming & Embroidery · On Site, Bridal Gown Steaming & Pressing
www.BigRedHanger.com • 903.939.9900
Matthew Hogan Photography
Located off 31 Between Tyler & Athens in Murchison
903.530.4201
www.stoneoakranch.com Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
49
FAMILY LAW
The
ELLIS
Law Firm TOURS WELCOME Come join our family.
Attorneys Scott R. Ellis • Nathan Thauwald 419 W. Houston St. • 2 Blocks West of Broadway • mkmoreland@suddenlinkmail.com
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Move In Today! A safe environment with all of the comfort and convenience of home.
LOCATIONS:
SULPHUR SPRINGS WESLEY OAKS 1044 CHURCH ST. SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX 75482
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903.734.1784
For more information call
T
his is the place patients come to heal.Where people choose the hospital ranked number one in Texas for Patient Safety and Overall Medical Excellence in Heart Care, based on the independent research conducted by CareChex, a division of Comparion. Here a distinguished team embodies a culture where anything less than the best is just not good enough. Welcome to a new day in heart care. Welcome to the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital at Trinity Mother Frances.
866.475.5255 Taking deposits for Memory Care Unit. WesleySeniorliving.com 50
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Outpatient Department of Mother Frances Hospital
713 S. Fleishel • Tyler, Texas 13-0789
tmfheart.org
Tyler
Tents & Events
Opening in February 936.581.2583 | 5515 Hwy 31 W | www.tylertentandevent.com
Diamonds • Experienced Registry Consultants • Create and Update Registries Online • Complimentary Registry Announcements • Over 100 Table Top Lines • Gift with Registry • Great Selection of Bridesmaid& Groomsman Gifts • Monogramming & Engraving
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where the runway meets the boardwalk 52
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Photo by By Sarah A. Miller
Style
FASHION
> New Year New Look, 54
beauty
> Beauty Tips: Go-to-Girl, 62
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
53
Nights on the town demand looks that are sleek, sophisticated and flirty. Our models are strutting their stuff at the stylish new Juls Restaurant, Lounge and CafĂŠ in Tyler. Dresses from Spinout Boutique, 20 Two 10 and That Girl's Boutique. Hair styling by Identity Day Spa.
style
New Year
New Look
Photographs by Sarah
54
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
A. Miller
Parker Black Lace Long Sleeve Backless Dress From Spinout
Keepsake Cooper Ribbed Dress
From Spinout
Gold Sequin Dress From 20 Two 10 Black Parker Sequin Dress From Spinout
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
55
Parker Gatsby Feather Dress From Spinout Premier Designs Jewelry
Parker Sweetheart Lace Dress From Spinout Premier Designs Jewelry
56
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Jourdan Dress From
20 Two 10
Premier Designs Jewelry
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
57
Black Top with Palazzo Chevron Pants From That Girl's Boutique Premier Designs Jewelry
58
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Cape by Sisters From That Girl's
Boutique
Gold Sequin Jacket, Brown Seamless Shirt & Burgandy Pants From That Girl's Boutique Boots from
Dillard's
Premier Designs Jewelry
Michael Kors Top From That Girl's
Boutique
Premier Designs Jewelry
White Overlay, Black Pants & Head Warmer From
That Girl's Boutique
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
59
Red Leather Jacket by KUT From That Girl's Boutique
60
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
110 Johnston Street • Longview, TX • 903-758-6164 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
61
forward
Fashion 62
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
I
Brittany lee, go-to-girl
If you’re like me, you were thinking about fashion resolutions long before the start of the new year. Well, guess what? It’s here! And the fashion world is shedding its fears and providing some fabulous and refreshing looks for the ladies and fashion-forward guys out there. Even though winter’s chill is holding on, fashion’s 2014 color palette is headed in a sunny direction.
FASHION FORECAST Brights, brights, brights! That’s all I can say. If it’s neon or a pop of color, then you’ll find it in a store near you. Bold electric prints reign. Also look for fringe and subtle details, such as tailoring or word details (remember how big “saying shirts” were a few years ago? Yeah, they’re back). Tailored jackets feature a mishmash of both masculine and feminine details. A good example is Michael Kors tailored faux-leather blazer. If you crave bold patterns but have conservative tastes, try something like a funky colored patent leather clutch or a big jeweled bangle bracelet. The jeweled cuff from j crew (pictured here) caught my eye. When shopping for additions to your new year wardrobe, keep in mind electric blues, tangerine golds and ruby reds – they’re all MUST HAVE’S. Have fun with them and let your bright side show! People tend to be more open to trying new fashion trends at the beginning of a year, since so much advertising and marketing is centered around “new looks.” A great rule of thumb if you GO FOR IT and try something new, is to center your ensemble around one clothing piece or color you are comfortable with and experiment with the rest. FOR MEN ONLY Several of you fashion forward guys (you know who you are) brought to my attention that I have more male readers than I realized. For that I thank you and I promise from now on that I will have something for you as well. I find male fashion deliciously understated. A guy with a few days scruff on his face and wearing a casual blazer over a plain tee suddenly looks like he walked off the pages of GQ. (So not fair!) Guys, if you feel clueless or a little intimidated when it comes to being fashion forward, here’s the key: keep it simple, keep it classic and stay with neutral tones. Go for a rugged but classic blazer. The Wont wool jersey blazer by BOSS Orange is a great example. Also, 7diamonds is an awesome dress-shirt brand. It’s styles and patterns make great bold statements while playing in a subtle comfort zone. I really love the vintage mint color of the long-sleeved style called All American. Don’t forget to accent with a belt or shoes. A bold belt paired with a classic outfit is a great way to show your style while staying in your comfort zone. Shoes, such as a great pair of classic Converse Chuck Taylor Oxfords, can add rock-star flair to an otherwise classic ensemble. The key to both completing and starting your look is confidence. Rock what you’ve got – enhanced by a few fashion tips from your GO TO GIRL here. I assure you, the look will be yours.
TIME AFTER TIME (PIECE) Watches, once simple necessities only used for monitoring time, are a great way to add a little pizzazz to your wardrobe. They come in so many colors and types that it’s hard to choose just one! I often hear people say, “I’m not much of a watch person.” This completely perplexes me! I want to help everyone be a watch person. They are a great way to complete an outfit and are useful too. For the ladies, I love Fossil Brand and Lucky. They are casual,
everyday looks with feminine accents often using colored leather or bejeweled faces. My fiancé, Forrest, works in a suit, so he prefers the smooth masculine look of Relic watches, which have classic details, larger faces and strong, yet dressy, lines. Take YOUR TIME looking for the perfect watch. I know you’ll find one absolutely made for you. Hopefully these tips will start you off to a Happy New Year indeed.
XoXo- The Go-To-Girl Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
63
Celebrate 2014 With Fuller Hair
8th S t r e e t
ARE SOMEONE ELSE’S LIPS ON YOUR MIND?
Boutique in our NEW location:
117 E Erwin St • tylEr
Between Don Juan’s & Salon Verve on the Square in downtown Tyler
LIP ENHANCEMENT COMPLIMENTS YOUR FACIAL FEATURES AS WELL AS REMOVING WRINKLES AROUND THE MOUTH. IT ALSO ADDS VOLUME TO AN UNEVEN SMILE AND TO A NATURALLY THIN TOP LIP.
“Friends don’t let friends shop at chain stores”
FEEL CONFIDENT WHEN YOU SMILE WITH OUR LONG LASTING JUVEDERM PRODUCTS!
From supporting the local art scene directly from the Heart of Tyler to offering exclusive organic and vegan clothing lines; from unique gifts & accessories to special evening and weekend events especially for our girls...
Rumours Salon & Spa 3394 US 250 • Longview, TX
903.595.6557
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903.918.6235 ™
a Boy and His Dog
By Appointment 903-561-9697 positivehair.com 64
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
” New practi-[cool] wears for the New Year.” French Quarter Shopping Center 4548 South Broadway • Tyler, TX 75703
www.shopABoyandHisDog.com
903.787.8176 Mon. - Fri. 10a-6p and Sat. 10a-5p
.com
Alex Becnel Hair + Makeup services
Regina Roosth Welcoming Newcomers to Tyler for over thirty years Martha Alfaro • 903-539-1250 • Martha@welcometotyler.net
New Location...New Treasures!!
Royal Passage Antiques Bergfeld Center 113 E. 7th • Tyler, TX Shelba Johnson - Owner (903)595-1800 RoyalPassageAntiques.com
On site hair and makeup for weddings, proms, photoshoots and special events. 504-715-6686 alexbecnel@gmail.com
Girls’ Night Out Music, Food, Door Prizes, Raffle March 13, 6-9pm SHREVEPORT CONVENTION CENTER Patron Party $5.00 GENERAL ADMISSION O R S Hors P E C I A d’Oeuvres, L EVENT INFORMATION & TICKETS CALL 318.221.6144 Music Fand Desserts and Silent Auction featuring a Blue Dog Painting March 14, 7-10pm
Breakfast with Bunnies Enjoy breakfast and have spring pictures taken with some furry friends! March 15, 10-11am 400 CADDO STREET SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA 71101 JLSB.ORG
March 13-14, 10am - 7pm March 15, 10am - 5pm S T RO E EN T V E N T I O N C E N T E R S SHH RRE VEE PVO RET 4,P0L0OOUC IARSDI TAD NO AC 71101
$5.00 G E RRGA L A D M I S S I O N J LE S BN. O FOR SPECIAL EVENT INFORMATION & TICKETS CALL
318.221.6144
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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3866 Hogan Dr.
$350,600
All homes have hardwood floors, granite, custom built cabinets, tile, double sinks, walk-in closets, vanities, garden or Jacuzzi tubs, WBFP, covered patios with landscaping & security system. Custom finish out is available now. Choose your lot and custom build or choose from our list of approved builders. 3922 Hogan Dr.
$363,200
4591 Cascades Blvd
$439,750
Future Homes
Lot Only
Future Homes Lot Only
3788 Hogan Drive 3782 Hogan Drive 3776 Hogan Drive 3770 Hogan Drive 3764 Hogan Drive 3758 Hogan Drive 3752 Hogan Drive 3746 Hogan Drive 3848 Hogan Drive 3842 Hogan Drive
$55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $60,000 $60,000
3836 Hogan Drive 3830 Hogan Drive 3824 Hogan Drive 3964 Hogan Drive 3958 Hogan Drive 3952 Hogan Drive 3946 Hogan Drive 3940 Hogan Drive 3934 Hogan Drive
$60,000 $60,000 $60,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000
See next issue of IN Magazine for the unveiling of our new development and properties at The Cascades. 66
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Dwell Showcase home
> Zen with a Southern Spin, 68
Design
Photo by CJ White
> Do-it-Yourself: Transformation, 78 > What’s Your Remodeling Resolution? 82
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
67
Zen Sout hern with a By Danny Mogle | Photos by CJ White
R
ay and Marilyn Thompson had lived in their Tyler home for over two decades when they decided to make some changes. We’re not talking about changing a piece of furniture, moving accessories around or even taking out a wall. Think more along the lines of gutting virtually the entire interior and starting over. It’s not that the Thompsons didn’t love their 5,000-square-foot ranch. Quite the contrary. They loved the way the home nestles among towering hardwoods on their two-acre lot creating a retreat that feels far from the hustle and bustle of the city. And they loved the precious memories each nook and cranny harbors. They didn’t want a new home, they just wanted toreinvent the home they had. “The time was right,” says Marilyn of taking on the challenge. Their two grown sons had moved out and started families. As empty-nesters, the Thompsons had new needs and desires for their living space. They placed the project – which ended up taking about a year – in the capable hands of general contractor and builder Sam Vercher of Tyler and design specialist Harry Crouse of Kilgore. From floor to ceiling, almost everything received an update. They: • Removed a wall between the kitchen and living room to open the space; • Raised the ceiling in the master bedroom; • Removed a wall in a guest bathroom; • Reconfigured the master bathroom and closets; • Added new windows and doors; • Added a picture window that looked onto a cour yard; • Put in new plumbing, electrical and water purification systems; • Added high-grade appliances. | Cont. on page 70
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Spin
They didn’t want a new home, they just wanted to reinvent the home they had... Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Cont. from page 68 | Marilyn says all decisions were made with one mission in mind. “We wanted to accomplish a minimalist zen and modern look.” And they had to showcase their collection of paintings depicting Southern heritage. Call it zen with a Southern spin.
HARMONY & BALANCE
The result is a home that exudes balance, harmony and tranquility. The open and airy floorplan features large windows through which nature’s light pours in, clean and simple lines (no ornate crown moldings or fabric window dressings), natural materials (especially wood and stone) and a soothing monochrome palette of off-whites and tans. Mined from a single quarry in Egypt and carefully installed piece by piece, Sanai Pearl limestone flooring runs throughout most of the house. In shades of darker brown, the floors in the living room, dining room and Ray’s study are made of mesquite wood planks accented with black walnut borders. The kitchen countertops are polished quartzite from Brazil with a flowing abstract pattern that looks like a work of art from the paintbrush of van Gough. Countertops in the laundry room and most bathrooms were chiseled from white, Sea Pearl quartzite slabs. Custom-made maple cabinets have simple, stainless-steel ornamental hardware. Stained maple also is used for the interior doors and baseboards. The rooms are designed around large and comfortable signature pieces that speak of casual elegance. Accessories, which are kept to a minimum, add pops of color – especially red – without compromising the prevailing calm. Crouse created window coverings and designed large area rugs specifically to complete the look. On the walls are abstract oil paintings acquired during visits to one of their favorite places: the Southern Breeze Gallery in Jackson, Miss. The colorful landscapes and images of life in The South during a simpler time are dear to the hearts of Ray and Marilyn, who fell in love while attending The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. “Artist and (Southern Breeze) gallery owner Jackie Ellens came to Tyler to help with placement of the art in the home,” confides Marilyn.
OUTDOOR SPACES
Their quest for zen continues to the outdoors where renovations include adding a large porte-cochere and horseshoeshaped driveway that completely changed the front entrance; installing copper gutters; and revamping the | Cont. on page 75 70
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Views of the backyard pool, kitchen with marble countertops and master bedroom with wood-plank headboard.
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Neutral tones, lots of natural light and clean uncluttered lines create calm and harmony. 72
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Cont. from page 70 | backyard pool area by adding decking and a flowing water feature. They moved azaleas from the front yard to the back yard and replaced the plants in front with new landscaping. “We desired a natural landscape that would make our home appear to be floating in natural Texas grasses,” says Marilyn.
MORE TO COME
Although it has been months since they moved back in, Marilyn says the task of decorating and filling the home with beautiful furnishings is far from over. She points out that some places are still a bit sparse. But that’s OK. Taking life slow and easy, Marilyn’s more than happy to wait until she comes across the perfect pieces that enhance their home-made harmony. On this sunny morning, she’s leisurely enjoying a hot cup of coffee in her new kitchen and taking in the clutter-free, understated beauty surrounding her. “I wanted a feeling of zen and I think we’ve achieved that,” she says with a smile. “This home makes me happy.” Mission accomplished.
The
Thompson
Home Renovation Contractor: Sam Vercher Interior Design: Harry Crouse Interior Decorating: Virginia Low Pool: Lanny Musslewhite - Preferred Pools Landscape Design: Mike Loggins Landscaping Services: Artmire’s Urban Forestry Doors & Windows: Grand Openings Lighting: Fixture This Appliances: Don’ TV & Appliance Architectural Hardware: Sword Company
Many of the paintings in the house come from the Southern Breeze Gallery in Mississippi.
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TRANS ORMATION
By David Wallace | Photos by Sarah A. Miller
F
“Did you ever see lassie, a lassie, a lassie? Did you ever see a lassie, go this way and that?”
Did you ever get a song stuck in your head? For some reason, the “Lassie” song is stuck in my head. … this way and that. Fortunately, “this way and that” also is my mantra. I pick up something, look at it and imagine which way it can go … go this way and that. I comb shelves of thrift stores, pick discarded items 78
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
of people’s lives and find ways to turn them into something new … go this way and that. The “Lassie” song has been a tradition since 1895. The folk song and singing game is believed to have originated in Scotland. Throngs of children for generations have delighted in its novel little rhyming rhythm. Some may believe it represents a woman’s right to change her mind. In the next stanza, the question is asked, have you ever seen a laddie, go this way and that? Apparently, we share the same privilege.
THE ISLAND
I’m excited to share this project of transforming two ordinary objects: a CD tower and an inexpensive little metal desk. I’ve seen these items in the trash many times. The ones I picked up
together cost $6. Because music and movies are now streamed over the Internet, CD towers are being phased out and pouring into thrift stores. I’ve found many ways to use CD towers this way and that! If you can build a box, you can build the kitchen island. We need two boxes – one for the top and one for the bottom – combined with the little metal desk. You only need simple hand tools: a hammer and saw. If you use power tools, use caution, follow the rules of safety and protect your eyes. For this project, MDF, (medium-density fiberboard) is a good choice. MDF is strong, less expensive than wood, easy to sand and paint and has no irregularities. MDF is manufactured from wood fibers, wax and binders. It is easier to cut than real lumber. It comes in many sizes and thicknesses as well as almost all standard board sizes. Here is what you need:
2 sheets of 2ft x4ft (24 inches x 48 inches) MDF (1/4 inch thick) 2 boards of 1" x 2" x 8 ft length 2 boards of 1" x 6" x 8 ft length Wood glue 3/4 inch finish nails
The two sheets of MDF will be used as they are. You will make two cuts on each of your four boards of MDF. Eight cuts total and easily done with a hand saw. Start with a smaller-width board. Make one cut of 48 inches, then one cut of 22 1/2 inches. Each board was 8-feet long (96 inches). After the two cuts, you should have a leftover piece of about 15 1/2 inches. Discard this piece. Repeat the same cuts on the other smaller-width board. Moving to the wider width boards (two), make the same cuts. Take one board, measure 48 inches, and cut. Then measure 22 1/2 inches, cut, and discard leftover 15 1/2 inch piece. Repeat cuts on last of boards. Now comes the box construction. Working with the smallerwidth boards, glue the two shorter pieces inside and at the ends of the larger pieces. Apply glue to the inside edge, not the outside edge. If you fail to glue them on the inside edge, they will not align with the 2x4 sheets of MDF. After the glue dries and is secure, run another bead of wood glue along the top edges of your board construction. Align the sheet of MDF, allow the glue to dry and then secure with finishing nails around the edge of MDF sheet. Nail from the top of the sheet, through and into the boards beneath. Repeat this process with the wider width boards and the other sheet of MDF. Allow plenty of time for the glue to completely set (overnight is good). You can now sand edges for a smoother finish. I used a hand power jigsaw to cut out a simple detail on the bottom edge of the larger bottom box to give it the appearance of having “feet.” I think this optional detail is worth the trouble. Don’t use a stain on MDF. Latex or acrylic paint works well. I used a water-based marine sealer over my paint job. This final coat will protect the piece from stains and water rings. This is a good idea because the surface will be used for food preparation. The desk, standing at about 30-inches high, is too short for working at a standing position. This is why we built the two boxes. Starting with the larger bottom box, position the desk on top. The combined height is now about 36 inches. This is perfect for working while standing. The bottom box also provides additional shelf space.
THE POT RACK
Hanging the CD tower as a pot rack is a little trickier, but really not that difficult. You must be absolutely sure that it is secured to a solid sub-structure in your ceiling, such as the studs. Pots and pans are heavy. You don’t want everything to come crashing down. The end result is very impressive. For less than $30, you’ve made a kitchen island that looks worth far more money. Next time you’re “picking” through objects, ask yourself, “Did you ever see it go this way or that?”
David Wallace converts an old CD tower and metal desk in to a hanging pot rack and kitchen island. Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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What’s Your Remodeling Resolution? 82
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By Jackie Devine | Courtesy Photos
inter is the perfect time to transform your home. Once the temperature starts to fall and lazy days by the lake come to an end, my brain makes the big shift from outdoor to indoor projects. I start to fantasize about
blustery winter days, a cozy fire and my husband and I working on home-improvement projects. Am I crazy that I find demolition more romantic than snuggling?
Getting Started
The first step in any home-improvement project is making a wish list. From floors to walls, from fixtures to furnishings, put anything and everything on the list. Next, determine your budget. I advise my clients to set aside 20 percent of the amount of
the walls. Why do we always assume walls have to have color? Why not bring in an unpredictable element instead, like brick, fabric, laser-cut wood, built-ins or – dare I say it – wallpaper?
Consider Wallpaper
I know some of you are cringing, but wallpaper is back and better than ever! It’s not your parents’ wallpaper. My dear, sweet mother loved roses. Every wall in her bathroom, including the ceiling, was papered in pink roses. And don’t get me started on the farm motif wallpaper. Today’s wallpaper is bold, textured and elegant and often can be a work of art. Consider the wall behind a TV. Most people don’t do anything with this space. But something as simple as a textured grass print wallpaper – and that’s it – can absolutely transform the wall and the room.
Frame It
Use traditional square/rectangle art or frames in untraditional ways. Do you have a landscape photo from a favorite family vacation? Turn it into wall art by enlarging it and separating the photo into three parts. Hang each component about six to ten inches apart. Finish it by placing a frame around all three parts. Violá! Oversized wall art with special meaning to your family. How about adding upholstered panels to a wall? With the right fabric, adding a few panels or paneling an entire wall can bring a soft appeal to a sleek modern design. If you really want to make a “cutting-edge” statement (and have money left in the budget), visit a sawmill to have a wood panel cut. In additions to patterns they have available, they can cut practically any design you may bring. Think about adding light behind the piece to showcase the design. This type of element can be awesome in an entrance hallway.
Weathered Cedar
Now we agree that walls have possibilities, let’s return to my project. In my master bathroom, we’ve decided to add one of my favor textures – weathered cedar – to the vanity wall. When we removed the bathtub to create a walk-in shower, we used tile that has a slight grey tint, making the weathered cedar a perfect accent. I’ve used this material. It is very easy to install. Best of all, being in the heart of the piney woods, we didn’t have to travel far to get the look. East Texas has lumberyards with outstanding showrooms. You’ll be amazed the things talented craftsmen can do with your walls with just wood! As the New Year gets going, I remain committed to making my bathroom a rustic oasis. I can’t wait to share the “after” pics with you at www.cottonshedno11.com. What is your remodeling resolution? I’d love to see before and after photos. Happy Designing in 2014! Jackie Devine is an interior decorator and owner of Cotton Shed No 11 (unique home décor) in downtown Canton. For more information, go to www.simplydevinedecor.com or www.cottonshedstore.com
Wallpaper is back and better than ever adding a bold statement to walls and even ceilings.
money you plan to spend for unforeseen issues. Now that you have a “real” budget, determine the one project or couple of things that can be done today. Do research to determine trends and your likes and dislikes. I flip through stacks of magazines and spend hours on sites like Pinterest and Houzz to get ideas. Our winter project is renovating our master bathroom! From day one, I definitely knew I wanted to throw out the notion of painting Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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nationally ranked in 12 specialties. the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. When a diagnosis can affect your life, how far would you travel for the best? As one of the best hospitals in America, according to U.S. News & World Report, Houston Methodist is the choice of patients from around the country for their critical health needs. That’s why we offer complimentary medical and concierge services for out of town patients, making it as easy as possible for patients to access the best. For appointments, trip-planning assistance and more, call 877.790.DOCS. houstonmethodist.org/usa
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Live Healthy HEALTH
Photo by Sarah A. Miller
> Progress Not Perfection, 86 > Life Lessons From Kids, 90 > New You IN 2014, 92
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Wife and Mother
Women want to do all and be all, but let’s get honest. Is it possible to cook a fourcourse meal every night, volunteer for numerous projects and have kids involved in every activity? Instead of trying to be perfect in every area, focus on making progress on important things with your family. In one of my favorite books, “Crazy Love,” author Francis Chan quotes Tim Kizziar: “Our greatest fear as individuals should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
Health and Fitness
Not Perfection M
By Crystal Breaux | Courtesy Illustration
“Mom, I’m done with my room. Does it have to be perfect?” When these words came from my nine-year-old daughter who was cleaning her room, I realized she was concerned about my expectations of perfection for her. Did she believe she had to be perfect before I thought she had done a good job? If her grade improves from 80 to 90 in math, would she feel it needs to be 100 to be acceptable for me? Increasing a grade 10 points is a big accomplishment to be celebrated. I want her to celebrate progress not perfection. Women often use the word perfect because they feel a need to be perfect. When women do not conquer perfection, they can feel failure, guilt and insecurity. Instead, strive for progress in all areas of your life.
Career
As a business owner, it is easy for me to have the mindset that to be successful I need to get it all done ASAP, not make a mistake and grow at a rapid pace. However, setbacks and failures give me an opportunity to learn and do things differently. If I strived to have a perfect career and gave 120 percent all the time, something else in my life would suffer, like my family or health. 86
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I have worked with women who feel they must look, exercise and eat perfectly 100 percent of the time. When they “slip up,” they quickly give up. Remember two things: 1. Failure teaches us how to train, prepare or eat differently the next time. 2. Feeling the need to always do it perfectly doesn’t allow for enjoying an occasional ice cream and special moment with a child or light workout and conversation with a girlfriend.
Spiritual
Moral perfection is hard to achieve if trying to “be good” is the focus. Being obedient to God out of love and devotion takes the focus off of being perfect. Philippians 1:6 tells us: “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” God does not expect us to be perfect, but desires that we grow and progress until the day of Jesus.”
Work in Progress
As you think about life as a work in progress, resolve to make changes. For your career, make one new contact or new marketing/business strategy. As a family, eliminate activities you “think” are necessary to create more time together that build quality relationships. Instead of attempting to never eat out, set a goal to cook two meals at home a week. To improve fitness, add one day of exercise or do one thing differently than you did last year. Avoid trying too many new things at one time. Celebrating progress builds confidence and a life of wellness and balance. I want my daughter to feel proud of successes and good about accomplishments. I want to spend time and celebrate accomplishments with her instead of working hard to have everything “perfect.” Throw out unrealistic expectations and focus on small steps toward progress, not perfection. Crystal Breaux designs exercise and eating plans for women. She has worked as a personal trainer and weight-loss instructor. To learn more, go to www.yourfitnessdesigner. com.
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Is Your Arthritis Inflammatory? Special Section: Medical Guide Special Section: Medical Guide
Special Section: Medical Guide William Brelsford,M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R. William Brelsford,M.D., Internist, Rheumatologist William Brelsford,M.D., F.A.C.P ., F.A.C.R. F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R. Internist, Rheumatologist Internist, Rheumatologist
Dr. William G. Brelsford was raised in Tyler in a medical family. His fa-
ther was a surgeon here for was many years, moving here after World War II. William G. in Brelsford raised in Tyler Dr. William G. Brelsford was Dr. raised in Tyler a medical family. His fa- in a medical family. His faHis grew up in Longview. thermother was a surgeon many years, here after World War II. ther was a surgeon here for many years, moving here here for after World Warmoving II. Dr. Brelsford aninhonor graduate of both Robert E. Lee High school His mother grewisup Longview. His mother grew up in Longview. and Methodist University. After completing school in Dr.Southern Brelsford an honor graduate both Robert E.medical Lee High school Dr. Brelsford is an honor graduate of bothisRobert E. Lee High of school We provide diagnosis & treatment of: Galveston at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Dr. Brelsford comand Southern Methodist University. After completing medical school in and Southern Methodist University. After completing medical school in • Hand & Feet Joint injections pleted his residency and fellowship training in Dallas and Shreveport. He Galveston at the Branch, University Texas Medical Galveston at the University of Texas Medical Dr.ofBrelsford com- Branch, Dr. Brelsford • BonecomDensity Testing is board in Internal Medicine and board certified in Rheumatolpleted hiscertified residency and and fellowship training He pleted his residency and fellowship training in Dallas Shreveport. Hein Dallas and Shreveport. • IV Infusions to Arrest Arthritis & Osteoporosis ogy. Dr. Brelsford has authored and co-authored several publications in board certified in Internal and board certified in Rheumatolis board certified in Internal is Medicine and board certified Medicine in RheumatolWe utiliize respected journals has in Rheumatology. He has practiced in the latest treatments & technologies: ogy. Dr. co-authored Brelsford authored and co-authored severalrheumatology publications in ogy. Dr. Brelsford has authored and several publications in • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Lupus East Texasjournals for overin28Rheumatology. years. Dr. Brelsford is a member of the American respected He has respected journals in Rheumatology. He has practiced rheumatology in practiced rheumatology in • General Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, SmithofCounty Medi- Arthritis of Joints & Back East Texas for over 28 years. Dr. Brelsford is a member the American East Texas for over 28 years. Dr. Brelsford is a member of the American • Osteoporosis • Other Auto-immune Disorders cal Society, and is a fellow in Medical the American College of Rheumatology and Smith County MediMedical Association, Texas Medical Medical Association, Association, Texas Smith County Association, MediAmerican College of Physicians. cal Society, and is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic ofcal East Texas, P.A. Society, and is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and 1212 Clinic Drive Dr. Brelsford owns the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic of East Texas in American College of Physicians. of Physicians. Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic ofAmerican East Texas,College P.A. Texas 75701 inic of Tyler, East Texas, P.A. Tyler. Dr. Brelsford isthe married to Peggy and they raised twoofkids, and 1212 Clinic Drive 903.596.8858 Dr. Brelsford owns Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic EastKate Texas in Dr. Brelsford owns the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic of East Texas in Tyler, Texas 75701 www.DrBrelsford.com George. He enjoys hunting andtogolf and being with his family. Dr. Brelsford is married Peggy 903.596.8858 Tyler. Dr. Brelsford is marriedTyler. to Peggy and they raised two kids, Kateand andthey raised two kids, Kate and
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George. Hebeing enjoys hunting and golf and being with his family. George. He enjoys hunting and golf and with his family.
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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2014 Medical Guide
From hospitals to home health agencies and private practices to academia, health care is an intrinsic part of the socioeconomic climate of the area. People come from all over the state – and beyond – to avail themselves of the very best medical opportunities available here in East Texas.
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Life Lessons From Kids
L
ike any good mother, I believe my children are Mensa candidates and wise beyond their years. By the same token, my kids think that I know pretty much nothing. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
By Leslie Harrison | Courtesy Photo
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“Mom, I’ll love you even when you’re old and stinky.” dole out nuggets of wisdom. By taking time to really listen to my kids’ observations and interpretations of the world around them, I learn to tackle my own trouble spots, some of which I didn’t even know that I had. Below are life lessons from my children.
Patience
Parenting forces you, kicking and screaming, to have a certain degree of patience. I’m referring to a different level of patience – the purest kind of patience. The patience to wait out your son’s excruciatingly detailed version of his dream about his grandfather swimming in milk, even though it’s Monday morning and you haven’t had your coffee, everyone overslept, the dog is vomiting and your husband conveniently forgot he has to leave early to make a meeting. The patience to watch your daughter draw a picture of members of the band One Direction, complete with a written explanation of the characteristics, pants sag and personality traits of each. The patience to decipher your fourteen-year-old son’s language. And, perhaps most importantly, patience with yourself when you fail to exercise patience.
Slow Down and Be in the Moment
Our schedules are jam-packed with activities to the point that we completely become focused in reaching the end result and lose enjoyment in the process of getting there. There are weeks when it seems that my kids have a big exam every day for which I have to help them study. My middle child is quite creative. Once, when I was testing him on spelling words he wanted to “act out” the letters. Initially, I was totally annoyed and wanted him to give me the spelling so I could get on with my evening. But then I saw how much fun he was having while learning. I appreciated that he was taking a mundane task and turning it into an enjoyable activity. While I can’t remember what grade he made, I’ll always remember how he gyrated and jumped around my room bringing letters to life.
Acceptance and Honesty
Regardless, I recognize one of my roles as a parent is to make time for teaching moments. A slew of situations arise daily which provide opportunities for me to impart knowledge to my children. They probably would say that I take every opportunity and then some. My favorite topics to discuss with them are life lessons – consequences of poor choices, agreeing to disagree, and that it’s more important to be kind than right. In my family I am not the only one who can
The other day, out of nowhere, my daughter said to me, “Mom, I’ll love you even when you’re old and stinky.” My immediate thought was, “As if.” Then I realized that, yes, I will certainly be old one day and quite possibly stinky, too. That was her way of telling me that she loved me unconditionally. She also unintentionally imparted the message that I had to accept that life is about change. Once we accept that truth, we can be honest with ourselves and comfortable with where we are at any moment. Accepting our flaws doesn’t equate to admitting that we are inferior. After all, only through recognizing our rough spots can we make improvements. No one is ever too mature to pick up pointers for leading a more meaningful life, even from a source younger and shorter than one might think capable of passing on wisdom. Open yourself to possibilities of learning about how the world works, or perhaps how it really should work if we all were a little more patient, slowed down and lived in the moment, and were more honest with ourselves. Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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2014
NEW YOU 92
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>>>>>> IN By Danny Mogle | Photos by Sarah A. Miller
DIETING When it comes to how many calories you need each day, one number does not fit all. Your age, height, activity level and overall health, come into play. Heath experts say most healthy, moderately active men need about 2,500 calories per day and moderately active women need about 2,000 calories per day. Where those calories come from makes all the difference in the world. “As far as diet, there are several daily decisions made that make a huge difference in your weight-loss plan,” says Murphy. “The key to weight loss is taking| Cont. on page 94
Premier Fitness owner Michael Murphy goes through a workout utilizing all major muscle groups.
>>>>>> >>>>>>
S
o, you’ve resolved in 2014 to have a new body – a healthier, leaner more muscular body – by the time Cupid pulls back his bow. Bad news. It doesn’t work that way. There are no quick fixes, warns Michael Murphy, owner of Premier Fitness in Tyler. “Today the world revolves around rushing through every aspect of life, from fast food to quick weight loss. Unfortunately, the quick way to everything usually leaves unhealthiness. At Premier, we strive to teach a healthy lifestyle and create an environment that families can come on a regular basis to enhance that healthy lifestyle.” Murphy, a champion body builder and professional trainer, says fitness is all about three equally important things: proper eating, regular cardio sessions and strength training. Although some may find the challenge of taking on all three intimidating, Murphy says all three go hand in hand and that with the right knowledge and motivation, it’s really not hard. “It’s so easy to create a healthy diet and exercise program if you have the right guidance.”
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Cont. from page 93 | in fewer (bad) carbs and calories; while gaining muscle is all about adding extra protein and good carbs to a diet.” A balanced diet contains plenty of whole-grain pastas, brown rice, whole-wheat breads, fruits, vegetables, beans, fresh fish, lean meats and Greek yogurt.
CARDIO Cardio includes activities that put your body in motion and raise and then sustain your heart rate. Running, jogging, swimming all provide multiple benefits: toning muscles, building stamina and burning calories. Group cardio classes are a good way for those who have not exercised in a while to get back into the swing of things, advises Murphy. “Many people walk into a gym and feel lost.” Group cardio classes help remove the anxiety of not knowing what exercises to do or how long to do them. “All they (class participants) have to do is follow the leader.” Participants can modify the exercises as needed, depending on their fitness level.
STRENGTH TRAINING The biggest mistake people seeking fitness do is to leave out strength training, says Murphy. “Unfortunately if a person always just works cardio, they will not build muscle tone.” As you gain muscle, your body burns calories more efficiently making it easier to control weight. Strength training includes using your own body weight as resistance, such as doing pullups and pushups; or using resistance tubing, free weights (barbells) or weight machines that provide resistance. Gym personnel are trained to help you create a strength-training regime and become comfortable working with equipment. “We help educate members to be able to walk in and have the knowledge and freedom to work specific muscles on machines or with free weights,” says Murphy. Strength training should cover all major muscle groups. Murphy recommends the following exercises. Adjust weights and resistance to where each exercise can be accomplished in three sets with 10 to 15 repetitions performed in each set.
“Today the world revolves around rushing through every aspect of life, from fast food to quick weight loss." 94
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Chest: barbell bench press
& barbell incline press
Legs: barbell squats and leg press Chest: cable cross-chest flys Shoulders: cable front raises Back: cable lat pull-downs
& seated cable rows
Arms: rope tricep push-downs
& bicep curls
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Food & Culture Food
> 52 Sunday Dinners, 98 > Dining Guide, 104
culture
> Family Friendly Dallas, 108 > Screeches, Screams & Somber Sounds, 114
Events
Photo by Sarah A. Miller
> Calendar of Events, 110
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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52 Sunday Dinners By Dave Sherman | Photos by Sarah A. Miller & Dave Sherman
Dave Sherman of Tyler is author of 52SundayDinners.com. A website with recipes for large-family gatherings. I’m a Texan, an Italian, construction manager, musician and praise team leader. Most importantly I’m a husband, father of three and grandfather of nine. The love for my family led me to begin a tradition of cooking for them every Sunday evening. I now share this tradition with others through my blog, 52SundayDinners.com. I provide the cooking schedule and recipes. You can provide the table, ingredients and the love for your family. Each meal at our home begins with giving thanks to God for the blessings He provides, including thanks for our family and food. Sundays are even more special because almost all of our extended family – seven adults and nine grandchildren – are present. I must admit, the inspiration was our grandchildren. My wife, Teresa, and I have the 98
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
best grandkids in world. We enjoy seeing the grandkids and all of our family, so we meet every Sunday at 7:30 for a homecooked meal. No take-out pizza. No drive through pick-up, but a real family-style meal. Nothing too fancy. No china. Just good, fresh, nutritious food.
FAMILY AFFAIR Occasionally the grandkids help prepare the meal. Their contributions may be mixing or creating simple desserts. It is important to build their self-esteem by engaging them in cooking. The oldest grandson has helped me for a few years. We look
forward to our time together. Remember, the kitchen is a fun place, but you must protect them from things that can hurt them. Discuss safety. You might be thinking, “That sounds peachy, but I can’t cook.” Neither could I. I’m still learning, but I enjoy experimenting with flavors, spices, techniques and styles. Until a few years ago, my wife cooked almost all meals for the family. My role was to do the occasional outdoor grilling and make bread, a skill I learned from my father, Big Papa. Some meals turn out better than others and many have been repeated. I hate recipes. I am guilty of “using a little of this and a pinch of that.” However, I try to record my progress and quantities closely.
SURPLUS OF FOOD We usually have a surplus of food that turns into leftovers for quick lunches and lunchbox food. The concept is simple. If you are going to the trouble to fix pot roast, for example, the cost of an extra pound of carrots, celery and potatoes is minimal. The extra yield, however, is huge. Making gumbo? Throw in extra veggies and prepare a few extra cups of rice. This will stretch your food cost considerably and save you time later as you enjoy leftovers. If you want to learn how to feed your family in 30 minutes or less, stop reading. Most meals in 52SundayDinners.com require more time than Chef Rachael Ray’s “30 Minute Meals” episodes. I present reality. For me, washing, chopping, slicing and slow cooking is a statement of love for my family. It’s not hard. It’s just not “shake and bake” or “set it and forget it.” I prepare special meals because I know at the end of the evening my mother-inlaw, grown children and grandkids all will leave with big smiles.
Recipes Continued on next page...
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> Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto Although lamb is definitely meat, it is not as popular as beef or pork, but it should be. You’ll find this delicacy easy to fix. The flavor is very mild. You will be surprised that the kids liked it as much as the adults. There are many ways to prepare lamb chops. Some require marinating and overnight preparation. This recipe does not. It is SO easy. Just watch the internal temperature. Everything else is beginner-level cooking, but your family will think you have been studying under Julia Child.
Ingredients > 3 Pounds – Fresh Lamb Chops, Frenched (meaning your butcher already trimmed the ribs) > Salt & Pepper > 1 Cup – Fresh Mint Leaves > 1/5 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing (or 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Preparation
> Season your racks of lamb chops with a generous portion of salt and pepper. You may use an All Spice of your choice. > Cook Lamb on your outdoor gas or charcoal grill, using the INDIRECT cooking method. Place your lamb chops on the side of the grill where the fire is NOT. The grill should stay covered and be at a temperature of 350 degrees. > Turn every 10 minutes to sear all of the edges of the lamb chops. > Cook until the internal temperature of the lamb reaches 150 degrees. Lamb will be perfectly cooked, and medium-rare. > Mix the cups of fresh mint leaves and ranch dressing (or extra virgin olive oil) in your food processor. > Coat the bottom edge of the chops with the mint paste before cutting them.
Serving Suggestions
> Serve with tabouli (a Greek salad made of mint, parsley and cracked wheat) and garlic masked potatoes or rice. > Garnish with ribbons of fresh mint leaves. > Use an egg-ring to form a perfect circle of tabouli
100 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
> Nana Sarullo’s Unbelievable Spaghetti Gravy – Marinara Sauce Ingredients > 1 – Medium Onion, Chopped Fine > 1/2 Cup – Extra Virgin Olive Oil > 10 Ounces - Water > 3 Cloves – Fresh Garlic, Minced > 1/2 Teaspoons – Sweet Basil (fresh or dry, chopped fine) > 1/2 Teaspoon – Oregano (fresh or dry, chopped fine) > 1 Teaspoon - Salt > 1/4 Teaspoon - Pepper > 2 – 18 oz. Cans of Whole Tomatoes > 2 – 15 oz. Cans of Diced Tomatoes > 1 – 32 oz. Cans of Tomato Sauce > 2 – 6 oz. Cans of Tomato Paste
Preparation > Saute onion in extra virgin olive oil in a large Dutch oven, until onions are clear. > Add the balance of the ingredients and cover. > Cook on low heat for three (3) full hours. Low heat means that the gravy will bubble slowly.
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> Hand Made Shrimp Ravioli Shrimp Ingredients > 1/5 Pounds – Fresh or Pre-cooked, Peeled & De-veined Shrimp > 1 Teaspoon – Salt > 2 Tablespoons – Extra Virgin Olive Oil > 1 Tablespoon – Butter > 2 Teaspoons – Dried Italian Seasoning > 3 – Large Cloves of Garlic
Preparation
> Saute shrimp Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Butter, Dried Italian Seasoning and Minced Garlic. I usually use pre-cooked shrimp and saute for 3 minutes on low to blend the flavors. Fresh Shrimp will take slightly longer. > Allow shrimp mixture to cool. > Rough-chop shrimp mixture in food processor. > Combine Shrimp mixture and filling ingredients. > Refrigerate combined mixture. > Begin pasta forming by cutting 4 cup mixtures into 4 parts. Keep your working surface dusted with all-purpose flour to prevent the pasta from sticking to the countertop or pasta attachment. > Form each pasta segment into a thin rectangle. Run through the pasta maker’s widest setting. > Reduce the thickness with each pass until the thinnest setting is achieved. > Place the pasta sheets on your counter-top, or extra table. > Coat the entire face with egg-wash, a 50/50 mixture of egg-whites and water. > Begin to place the filling on one side. Each Ravioli should contain about 1 teaspoon of shrimp filling.
102 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Filling Ingredients > 1/3 Cup – Ricotta Cheese > 1/3 Cup – Grated Parmesan Cheese > 2 – Eggs > 1 Teaspoon – Salt > 1/2 Teaspoon - Finely Ground Pepper
> Top with a similar sized section of pasta and seal with your fingers. Make sure all air excess air is removed. > Cut the pasta with a zig-zag cutter. Recycle the excess pasta pieces, if needed. > Crimp edges of each ravioli with a form to seal the edges. > Again, make sure your stored pasta is on a flour covered countertop. > Boil Ravioli in salted water in a large pot or Dutch oven with a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil to prevent sticking. Since the pasta is fresh and not dried it will cook quickly. You can cook half or your batch, remove the ravioli, keeping the water hot and add the second batch. > Place pasta sauce ingredients in a skillet and heat until cream is to your liking. This will take just a few minutes on low heat. Please ensure that the cream does not burn. > Serve sauce over the ravioli and garnish with strips of fresh Basil. Leaves may be thinly cut by tightly rolled then leaves and sliced with a sharp knife.
Garnish > 1/4 Cup of Fresh Basil Leaves
> Apple Pie Search for apple pie recipes and you’ll find two schools of thought. The easy way out … buy pie crust in a can. Or … the better way, keep reading.
Pastry Ingredients (calculation are for 1 of 2 batches you’ll need to make) > 2.5 Cups - All Purpose Flour > 2 Sticks (that’s right) – Very Cold Butter > 1 Teaspoon – Salt > 1 Teaspoon - Sugar > 7 Tablespoons – Ice Water
Pastry Preparation
> Combine flour, salt and sugar in food processor. > Mix. > Add butter and pulse until mixture looks like coarse meal. > Add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture begins to bind together. Stop adding water when it begins to stick to itself. > Remove the dough and form into a ball, wrap with plastic-wrap and refrigerate.
Apple Pie Filling Ingredients > 8 Each – Apples, Peeled and Cubed > 1 1/4 Cup - Sugar > 3/4 Teaspoon – Ground Cinnamon > 3 Tablespoons – Butter
[Prepare pie filling now]
Apple Pie Filling Preparation > Toss ingredients in a large skillet and cook on low heat until apples begin to soften.
Putting it all together
> When filling is ready and cooled to room temperature, roll dough with a rolling pin on a liberally floured countertop until it is thin enough to cover your 9" x 9" square pie (casserole) pan. > Dust pie pan with flour and insert pastry with sides overlapping. > Fill with yummy pie filling. > Wash pie crust with water or egg white/water mixture. The interlocking seam really doesn’t need much binding. > Place top layer of pie crust. > Trim excess, as required. Leave enough pie crust to roll into a solid seam. > Pinch top with fork for nice pattern at top. > Split top of pie crust to prevent a “blow-out”. > Preheat oven at 350 degrees. > Bake approximately 30 minutes, or until the top crust is golden brown. > Cool almost completely before cutting with sharp knife. > Enjoy!
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The Dining Guide Rick’s
Since 1992 Prime steaks, market fresh seafood, down-home cooking from scratch, housemade desserts and vintage wines; also fresh oysters, shrimp, jumbo lump crab & more. Over 40 items under $20. A culinary variety you’ll find nowhere else and a beautiful open-air patio. Catering on and off premises with private meeting rooms available for up to 200 guests. LCD projectors and screens available; free secure wireless Internet. Happy Hour Monday through Friday with great food and drink specials. Full menu until closing. Complimentary valet service at the front door. Live music Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights!; grand piano in the main bar. Hours: Monday through Friday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Saturday: 4 p.m.-1 a.m.
104 W. Erwin | Tyler, TX | 903-531-2415
rix.com
Villa Montez
Villa Montez is a unique casual family dining restaurant that offers the best of the “Cocina Latina.” Come to our festive environment for a delicious meal with friends and family. Private rooms available | Catering | Beautiful Patio Seating Lunch & Dinner-Closed on Sundays | Gift Cards Available
3324 Old Henderson Highway | Tyler, TX | 903-592-9696
villamontez.com
Bernard’s
Bernard’s was envisioned as a getaway, where all East Texans could escape to and experience the great tastes of the Mediterranean. With that in mind, we have paid special attention to the relaxing atmosphere and the extraordinary tastes you will experience at Bernard’s. Lunch 11am-2pm Tues.-Fri. | Dinner 5:30pm-10pm Mon.-Sat. Reservations are recommended.
212 Grande Blvd | Tyler, TX | 903-534-0265
bernardsintyler.com
Ribmaster's “Try our NEW BEEF RIBS!” Visit us for the best tasting, fall off the bone, award winning ribs in East Texas. We also have smoked turkey, brisket, sausage, delicious sides and desserts. We have All You Can Eat Ribs on Fridays and Saturdays.
Let us cater your next event, party or Super Bowl party! 803A Hwy. 110 N Whitehouse, TX | INMagTexas.com 104 Jan/Feb 2014 903-839-0530
9502 FM 773 Murchison, TX 903-469-3001
312 N. Houston St. Bullard, TX 903-894-5016
Bruno’s Pizza & Pasta “Homemade Italian Food” Dine In - Take Out | Full Service Catering Parties - Banquet Facility - Special Events Bring the whole Family or Two! Mon.-Thurs. 11am-9pm | Fri.-Sat. 11am-10pm NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS! 11am-3pm
1400 S. Vine Ave. & 15770 FM 2493 Tyler, TX 903.595.1676 | 903.939.0002
brunospizzatyler.com
Athena
Greek & American Family Restaurant “Authentic Rotisserie Gyro” Enjoy traditional Greek favorites along with a variety of American home cooked foods. Healthy menu choices prepared with extra virgin olive oil and fresh vegetables. 2 FOR $12 CHOOSE FROM 10 MENU ITEMS • M-F 11-3 Hot Oven Subs • Sandwiches • Soups • Salads • Pastas • Kids' Meals
Bring This AD for FREE Dessert with Entree Purchase Exp. 2/28/14
1593 WSW Loop 323 | Tyler, TX | 903-561-8065 or 903-561-8067
Cork
-Food & DrinkEnjoy modern Euro-Asian cuisine. From our famous Shrimp Mezcal and Lamb Chops to the market fresh Sushi and Seafood. A unique casual dining restaurant with an extensive wine list, live music, hand crafted cocktails and fabulous dining. Brunch on Saturday & Sunday • We Cater! Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 10:37pm
5201 S. Broadway Avenue | Tyler, TX | 903-363-9197
corktyler.com
Breakers Its the hit of the season! Breakers all you can eat snow crab special. Come in every Monday night from 5 to 9 and get all you can eat with corn and potatoes. This special is for a limited time only so don't miss out!!
5016 Old Bullard Rd | Tyler, TX | 903-534-0161
breakerstyler.com Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
105
Shreveport Opera presents
GUY LOMBARDO'S ROYAL CANADIANS with
Al Pierson Don't miss out on the greatest dinner/dance of the season!
Thursday, March 13, 2014 6 p.m. Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Riverdome Call (318) 227-9503 or visit www.shreveportopera.org Individual Tickets: $100 Table sponsorships are also available.
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local Live music � theater � special events � restaurants 106 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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A.
Family Friendly
W
By Jennifer Babisak | Courtesy Photos
alking on woven ropes suspended in the treetops, it’s difficult to remember that we’re only minutes away from the traffic and fast-paced lifestyle of downtown Dallas. But on a quest to explore the family-friendly side of Dallas, me and my young children find ourselves in the Dallas Arboretum’s new Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden where urban bustle takes a backseat to unhurried exploration. Children romp through the eight acres of more than 150 interactive science exhibits, learning about everything from the water cycle to effective gardening practices. The debut of this children’s garden – one of the premier outdoor, science-education facilities in the world – couldn’t come at a better time. As children increasingly become immersed in technology, their lack of time in nature is producing unfortunate consequences. “A growing body of evidence indicates disconnection from the natural world poses real threats for our children’s health 108 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Dallas
and well-being, as well as for future stewardship of our natural resources,” says Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director Carter Smith. “Providing settings for creative play and curious exploration outdoors is thus one of the most important things we can do, and the Dallas Arboretum's Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden is a flagship model for this vital work.” We spend a better part of a day working through this fantastic land of science play: using oversized green blocks to build a formal hedge garden, winding through the interior of a towering model of a tree and discovering treasures along the labyrinthine path of a secret garden. We aren’t able to cover it all or explore the gorgeous floral gardens on the rest of the Arboretum’s 60 acres.
HOLTEL PALOMAR
We head to the posh Hotel Palomar to rest and recharge. This historic hotel, located just a few miles west of the Arboretum, opened in 1967. Several years ago, a complete makeover transformed it into a modern vision of eco-friendly luxury. The hotel boasts numerous kid-friendly perks. Hotel Palomar is known for its pet-friendliness (water, treats, and a grassy area
for pups). It even offers a pet-perk to guests who leave their four-legged friends behind. The Guppy Love program enables guests to check out goldfish to keep in-room during their stay. My kids were truly mesmerized watching the orange flash of our borrowed fish glide through its bowl. Other kid-perks include balloon animals, kid-sized robes and a turndown treat of milk and cookies. The next morning, we fuel up at Central 214, Hotel Palomar’s restaurant. The seasonal menu features fresh ingredients – many grown by local farmers. Though the chic setting initially sets my nerves on edge, the staff goes out of its way to welcome and cater to the children. Our waiter insists that the kids drink out of adult glasses rather than lidded plastic versions, saying in his lyrical French accent, “They will be fine.” The kids dig into a heaping cornflake crusted French toast and a medley of fresh berries while I savor a wild mushroom and chevre omelet. And our waiter is right, the children behave marvelously thanks to their focus on devouring the delicious food.
B.
A. The pool area at Hotel Palomar; B. Dallas Museum of Art; C. Dallas Arboretum’s Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden; D. Klyde Warren Park.
C.
DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART
Thoroughly satiated, we can’t pass up the chance to explore the Dallas Museum of Art’s new digital scavenger hunt. It brings art appreciation alive for even pintsized guests. Called the DMA Friends program, it allows visitors to earn and digitally-log points as they explore the museum. Points can be redeemed for things like free parking or gift shop discounts. And the best thing about the DMA (aside from the world-class art) is that it offers free admission! Though the children show interest in exploring the sophisticated exhibits, they particularly enjoy the children’s area called the Center for Creative Connection. It brims with engaging interactive exhibits. Arturo’s Nest provides preschoolers a place to explore the arts with all their senses: dancing with streamers, making music and learning about different textures. Older kids can experiment with magnet art and a puppet theater in the Young Learners Gallery. And the whole family can engage in artistic expression in the Drop-In Art Making Studio.
KLYDE WARREN PARK
D.
Such a cultural education works up an appetite, so we walk across the street to Dallas’ newest urban park. Klyde Warren Park was built atop the Woodall Rogers Freeway a year ago. The five-acre green space offers family programming from outdoor yoga classes to live performances. The Children’s Park area features a beautiful playground complete with splash fountains and innovative play structures seamlessly woven into the greenery. An outdoor library features books, magazines and board games available for check out. Food trucks (the hottest trend in urban dining) surround the perimeter of the park offering tasty fare, such as gourmet burgers and handmade ice cream sandwiches. With all our exploration, we’ve only covered a small fraction of Dallas’ family friendly attractions. We’ll have to devote another weekend to the fantastic new Perot Museum of Natural Science, Dallas Aquarium, and the museums of Fair Park. It seems that Dallas is on the way to becoming a world-class destination for educational family adventures. Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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CALENDAR JAN& OF EVENTS FEBRUARY: The Hot List for music, culture and adventure JANUARY JAN. 2-5 First Monday Trade Days Canton www.firstmondaycanton.com
JAN. 3 First Friday Art Tour Tyler Museum of Art, 11 a.m. www.tylermuseum.org
JAN. 5 Wedded Bliss Bridal Faire The Cascades, Tyler www.theweddedbliss.com
JAN. 12 “Mozart and More” Concert of Chamber Music 4 p.m., Liberty Hall, Tyler
JAN. 12 River Cities Jubilee
7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Longview
JAN. 14 Wedded Bliss Bridal Show Maude Cobb Center, Longview www.theweddedbliss.com
JAN. 17-19, 23-26 “Sin, Sex and the CIA” Tyler Civic Theatre www.tylercivictheatre.com
110 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
JAN. 18 East Texas Symphony Orchestra
JAN. 25 Sinbad
JAN. 18 Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
JAN. 28 Pianist Andrew Parr
JAN. 20 Tyler Business Expo
JAN. 30 SFA Wind Symphony & Symphonic Band
7:30 p.m., Cowan Center, Tyler www.etso.org
7:30 p.m., Temple Theater, Lufkin www.angelinaarts.org
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Harvey Center, Tyler
7:30 p.m., Crockett Civic Center www.pwfaa.org
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
7:30 p.m., Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
JAN. 21 Pianist Randall Sulton
7:30, Mabee Recital Hall East Texas Baptist University, Marshall
JAN. 30-FEB. 2 First Monday Trade Days Canton www.firstmondaycanton.com
JAN. 23 Dance Theatre of Harlem 7:30 p.m., UT Tyler Cowan Center www.cowancenter.org
JAN. 24 Sinbad
7 p.m., Whatley Center, Mount Pleasant www.ntcc.edu/whatley
JAN. 24-25 Kiwanis Antique, Collectibles Show & Sale Harvey Center, Tyler www.tylerkiwanis.org
JAN 24-26 East Texas Outdoor Expo Maude Cobb Complex, Longview www.easttexasoutdoorexpo.com
Sinbad
FEBRUARY FEB. 1 Death By Chocolate
Keep Longview Beautiful fundraiser Maude Cobb Center, Longview
FEB. 1 The Ten Tenors
7:30 p.m., Belcher Center, Longview www.belchercenter.com
FEB. 1 “Stuart Little”
Noon, Temple Theater, Lufkin www.angelinaarts.org
FEB. 4 SFA Wind Ensemble
Nacogdoches 7:30 p.m., Turner Auditorium, Stephen F. Austin University www.music.sfasu.edu
FEB. 8 ETBU Reunion Choir
Beauty and the Beast
Million Dollar Quartet
7:30 p.m., Baker Auditorium East Texas Baptist University, Marshall
FEB. 9 Pianist Edward Eikner
3 p.m., Marvin United Methodist Church www.marvinumc.com
FEB. 11 SFA Music Faculty Recital 7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
FEB. 13 Bach to the Future
7:30 p.m., Caldwell Auditorium, Tyler www.tcca.biz
FEB. 13 “Million Dollar Quartet” 7:30 p.m., UT Tyler Cowan Center www.cowancenter.org
FEB. 4-9 “Mary Todd”
Tyler Civic Theatre www.tylercivictheatre.com
FEB. 13 “Beauty and the Beast” 7:30 p.m., Perot Theater, Texarkana www.trahc.org
FEB. 5 Charles Gavin, French horn 7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
FEB. 13-15 “Art”
AC Theatre show 7:30 p.m., Temple Theter, Lufkin
FEB. 6 The King’s Singers
7:30 p.m., Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches www.finearts.sfasu.edu
FEB. 15 Tyler Civic Chorale
7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Tyler www.tylercivicchorale.org
FEB. 7-8 First Friday Art Tour Tyler Museum of Art, 11 a.m. www.tylermuseum.org
FEB. 15 “The Mikado”
7:30 p.m., Shreveport Opera RiverView Theater, Shreveport
FEB. 7 “Tikki Tikki Tembo”
6 p.m., ArtsView Children’s Theatre, Longview
FEB. 7-9 East Texas Builders Home & Garden Show Maude Cobb Center, Longview www.easttexasbuilders.org
Events Cont. on page 112
Want your event on our calendar? email the details to danny@inmagtexas.com
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Cont. Events from page 111
FEB. 18 Moscow Festival Ballet in “Sleeping Beauty” 7:30 p.m., Perot Theater, Texarkana www.trahc.org
FEB. 22 Night at the Museum Longview Museum of Fine Arts www.lmfa.org
FEB. 23 Marshall Symphony Orchestra 3 p.m., ETBU’s Baker Auditorium www.marshallsymphony.com
FEB. 18 Sergio Pallottelli, flute
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
FEB. 20 The Official Blues Brothers Revue 7:30 p.m., UT Tyler Cowan Center www.cowancenter.org
FEB. 23 Tyler Youth Orchestra
Henderson Civic Theatre www.hendersoncivictheater.com
FEB. 27-28, MARCH 1 “Menotti - Amelia Goes to the Ball” 7:30 p.m., East Texas Baptist University, Marshall www.marshallartscouncil.org
FEB. 27-MARCH 2 First Monday Trade Days Canton www.firstmondaycanton.com
FEB. 25 City of Tomorrow Wind Quintet
FEB. 27-MARCH 2 “Macbeth”
FEB. 25-March 1 “Blood Wedding” 7:30 p.m., SFA’s Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches www.theatre.sfasu.edu
FEB. 20 Moscow Festival Ballet in “Don Quixote”
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.finearts.sfasu.edu
4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Tyler
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
FEB. 21-23, 28, MARCH 1-2 “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
FEB. 27 SFA Jazz Bands Concert
Paris Junior College www.parisjc.edu
FEB. 28-March 2 Longview Zonta Club Antique Show & Tea Room Maude Cobb Center, Longview
FEB. 28 SFA A’Cappella Choir
7 p.m., Belcher Center, Longview www.belchercenter.com
FEB. 26-MARCH 1 “Sweeney Todd” Tyler Junior College, Jean Browne Theatre
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.finearts.sfasu.edu
FEB. 21 SFA Percussion Ensemble with James Campbell
FEB. 27 Riders in the Sky
FEB. 28, MARCH 1-2, 7-8 “Passing Go”
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Nacogdoches www.music.sfasu.edu
7 p.m., Belcher Center, Longview www.belchercenter.com
FEB. 21 ETBU Symphonic Band
7:30 p.m. Baker Auditorium East Texas Baptist University, Marshall
FEB. 21 Ballroom with a Twist 7:30 p.m., Crockett Civic Center www.pwfaa.org
FEB. 21 Bach Lunch Concert Series 12:20 p.m., Trinity Episcopal, Longview www.longviewsymphony.org
FEB. 22 Texarkana Symphony Orchestra 7:30 p.m., Perot Theater, Texarkana www.trahc.org 112 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Screeches, Screams & Somber Sounds
W
With Kilgore College’s Keyboard Orchestra, anything is possible. Need the haunting sound of drums playing in the distance? No problem. Need the high-pitched cry of a violin? Just dial it up. Need the hair-raising wail of a woman screaming her head off? Done. The eight students in the keyboard ensemble play synthesizers capable of producing more than 600 sounds – every instrument in an orchestra and more. If you can imagine it, they can make it happen and put it to music. And that’s exactly what excites Sandra Siler, the head of piano instruction at Kilgore College
114 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
“With these keyboards you can do some amazing things,” says Siler. “You have orchestration at your fingertips!” To demonstrate, Siler has a student play a melody that sounds as if it is coming from the flute of a pied-piper. Another student puts his hands on the keyboard and out comes the blast of a trumpet. In concert, the Keyboard Orchestra puts its unique spin on everything from the classics to the contemporary. Siler requires her students to write original compositions as well. And the students – some of whom are keyboard majors and other who simple love to play – do much more than stand behind
Anything’s Possible With The Keyboard Orchestra the keyboards and smile. During performances, they don wigs and costumes and incorporate dance moves. Shows are electrified with laser light displays and all sorts of images projected on big screens. It is as much performance art as concert. “We want every kid who sees one of our shows to come away wanting to play the piano,” says Siler. When they are not playing synthesizers, Keyboard Orchestra members find ways to turn a traditional piano into multiple instruments. During a rehearsal of an original student composition called
By Danny Mogle | Photos by Herb Nygren Jr.
“Scary Piece,” one student stayed the keyboard while three others hovered over the uncovered piano. These students plucked the exposed strings like a harp and struck the strings with mallets. A student ran a coaster made of tiny seashells up and down the strings to make an unworldly sound and moments later began beating the piano like it was a giant drum. The song was a mishmash of the familiar and the unusual. A few bars of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” morphed into an eerie howl that sounded as if it could have been a sound effect from a spooky movie. During the final bars of the song, one | Cont. on page 116 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
115
Kilgore College Keyboard Orchestra students use every part of the piano to make music.
Cont. on page 115 | student began moving around – arms straight out in front – as if he was a crazed zombie or Frankenstein on the prowl. The compositions and performances are opening the students’ minds to what can be “music.” “I’ve learned that music should not only be simplified to just melodies and harmonies,” says Brittany Crowe, a piano major from Longview. “Having the choice to perform music using everyday sound effects, (thunder, rain, a human scream, footsteps), adds a new flavor that an acoustic piano cannot. Using our keyboards to play different instruments and sound effects on a piece is like adding multiple toppings to a bowl of ice cream. Eventually, people get tired of just vanilla.” Nineteen-year-old Seth Briley, a piano performance major from Longview, says: “The Keyboard Orchestra has opened my eyes to immense possibilities for 21st century music composition. I hope to one day compose many works for keyboard orchestras as a common practice form of classical music. “With over 600 sounds on one keyboard, an entire symphonic work can be performed with a relatively small group of keyboardists making performances of large works more manageable,” he says. Orchestra member Melodi King, a graphic design and advertising major, says she better understands how to “speak” using music.
“It has taught me that music can give things a voice better than most words. Music you can feel what the musician is feeling, but with words it is harder to imagine what they are feeling.” Siler was introduced to the keyboard orchestra concept while attending a music convention several years ago. She came away with new ideas of what keyboard music could be and should be. Kilgore College was supportive of creating the orchestra and began promoting it as an exciting alternative to traditional keyboard and composition classes.
“I’ve learned that music should not only be simplified to just melodies and harmonies.”
116 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Now students from near and far compete for one of the coveted spots in the ensemble. The KC Keyboard Orchestra has performed before the Music Teachers’ National Convention on numerous occasions and the Texas State Music Teachers Convention. However, in East Texas, it still is relatively unknown. “We are the best kept secret at Kilgore College,” says Siler. “We want to change that.”
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Love. 118 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Outdoors
OUTDOORS
Courtesy Photo
> Fast Forward, 120 > Leaps of Faith, 124 > East Texas: A Birding Paradise, 128
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
119
Fast
Forward By Danny Mogle | Courtesy Photos
All Terrain Research (ATR) loves a good challenge – the bigger the better. Such as the big challenge of building a prototype vehicle for U.S. Marine Corps special forces; or the incredible challenge of helping create a UTV that can do a backflip; or the seemingly impossible challenge of transforming a rugged off-road vehicle into a speedy race car. The engineers, designers and motorsports enthusiasts at the Tyler company design and manufacture some of the world’s most advanced off-road vehicle products. “From initial concept sketches to manufacturing the finished piece, we can make it happen!” the company notes on its website. Jeremy Bratcher, the owner, likes to put it another way: “We’re all about problem solving.”
SUCCESS STORIES
In 2010, a defense contractor hired ATR to create for the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command a vehicle tough and safe enough for elite expeditionary teams to use on dangerous missions in some of the most hostile environments imaginable “The ATR team immediately went to work pulling from a decade full of design ideas for this one vehicle,” says Bratcher. Using 3D computer-aided-design software, they created a rendering in just three weeks and, facing a tight deadline, rushed to deliver the prototype on time. The late Caleb Moore, an X Games medal winner known for high-flying stunts, came to ATR in 2011 with the crazy idea of launching a Polaris RZR off a ramp and flip it backward – a jaw-dropping stunt never attempted. The two-seater utility terrain vehicle (UTV) was never designed to go flying off ramps, much less execute a controlled flip. “From our standpoint it just looked like the perfect project for us … from an en120 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
gineering standpoint and showcasing our products,” says Bratcher. “So, we were on board from the get-go.” The ATR team improved the chassis and suspension; designed a ramp that worked in conjunction with the suspension to propel the RZR rotating backward; and strengthened the frame and roll cage. After successfully completing the flip into a giant foam pit during a practice run, Moore and ATR attempted the stunt in front of a revved-up crowd and international spotlight at the popular Lucas OffRoad Xperience show in Las Vegas. On the first attempt, the RZR did not get all the way around and smashed onto its front bumper. Despite the hard landing on the exit ramp, the vehicle held up well and Moore was unharmed. The second attempt was a success. Moore and ATR made history and the crowd went wild. Driver Doug Siddens turned to ATR in 2012 to help convert an RZR-X into a competition car for the grueling Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a 12.5mile race with 156 hairpin| Cont. on page 122
A Polaris RZR modified by ATR performs a backflip during a show in Las Vegas. (Right) Work takes place at the ATR shop in Tyler.
Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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looking to acquire a facility with more space. An offshoot company, ATR Oilfield Solutions, creates oilfield equipment, including pipe rack assemblies, vapor recovery units and pressure gas flares. With its partners, ATR Oilfield Solutions helped design a system in which most components are manufactured in Tyler, shipped to the oilfield and assembled into a working unit. ATR is ready for new challenges. Bratcher envisions creating better functioning utility vehicles for fire departments, searchand-rescue operations and the forestry service as well as specialty equipment for all types of industries. If someone can dream it, ATR wants to take on the challenge of creating it. “We want to be known as the go-to guys,” says Bratcher.
Cont. from page 120 | turns that begins at an elevation of 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110-foot summit. The UTV (with a factory top speed of about 60 mph) had to be retrofitted with a 300 horsepower engine for speed and power and receive major aerodynamic improvements to drastically increase stabilization and cornering capabilities. Many were skeptical that the UTV could be competitive, says Bratcher, adding that “on a shoestring budget Siddens would be going up against some of the world’s top race teams.” Siddens not only won the Exhibition Powersport Class, he came in ninth out of 172. “He still holds the Pikes Peak world record for the fastest time with a UTV,” says Bratcher.
THE FUTURE
Bratcher recently bought out another machine shop and is
A. A. The modified Polaris that took on the Pikes Peak Challenge. B. Welding at the machine shop. C. Work on the military prototype vehicle.
B.
122 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Leaps of
Faith By Favian Quezada | Photos by Sarah A. Miller
Go ahead and tell Paul Schick to take a flying leap. He’ll be more than happy to oblige. In fact, he’ll probably throw in a twist or two while in the air, land on his feet and continue running in one graceful, fluid motion. For the 23-year-old Tylerite, running, leaping and twisting are ways of expressing himself. “I’m not a person of words,” says Schick, who on this day is demonstrating his skills in Tyler’s Bergfeld Park, “moving is so much better, to me, of expressing yourself.” Wearing a T-shirt and baggy sweat pants, Paul leaps over a rock wall in the park’s amphitheater. Placing his hands on the wall he propels his tall and lanky body high into the air with ease and lands softly, moving immediately into a roll. At 6-1, 170 pounds, he makes it all look effortless. A tumbling instructor at Spirit of Tyler,
Paul practices what is known as Parkour, or freerunning.
PARKOUR VS. FREERUNNING “A lot of people get all fussy about (the differences in) Parkour versus freerunning. I just love moving," says Paul. “I don't care what I’m doing, I just love doing it.” By definition, Parkour is the activity of moving rapidly through an area, typically an urban environment, while negotiating obstacles in the most efficient way possible by running, jumping, swinging and climbing. Freerunning is | Cont. on page 126 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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Cont. from page 125 | a version of Parkour that also incorporates acrobatic and gymnastic movements. Parkour gained popularity in the late 1980s when French native David Belle began receiving attention for his agility, Spiderman-like ability to climb walls and death-defying leaps across building rooftops. The name Parkour comes from the French word parcours, meaning course. Freerunning evolved after a documentary called “Jump London” featured Sébastien Foucan, a former Parkour practitioner with Belle. In 2007, what is believed to be the first freerunning championships were held in Vienna, Austria. “To me, personally there’s an American style and there’s a European style (of freerunning),” Paul explains. “There’s one guy in England Daniel Ilabaca. I mean he can make walking look good. You just look at him (and) you’re just like, ‘how are you doing this?’ He makes the most simple things look spectacular." Ilabaca is a founder of the World Freerunning and Parkour Federation and has toured Europe with others demonstrating skills.
INJURIES Paul has a scar that runs almost the full length of his face – a scar he received doing a common freerunning move he now hates. “I hate wall flips, but you know, I gotta do these,” Paul explains with a laugh. “So I was stepping up to flip back, I just don't know if my foot slipped or if I just didn't plant. I started to flip too soon and my head comes back and I land head first. It was pretty wild. It was like this extreme vibration all through my face. I’d torn all these nerves.” Paul was on the campus of The University of Texas at Tyler when he suffered the accident. “Luckily the girls’ soccer team was out there and a trainer came up. She said, ‘Hey someone said you fell, are you all right?’ And I look up at her. I had no idea what I looked like at this point. This Cshape (of detached skin) was folded over my eye, so I thought I'd actually had a big black eye.” The injury landed him in the emergency room. It took doctors 100 stitches to sew his face back together. He also had broken his nose. While freerunning in Tyler, Paul injured his ankle attempting a monkey vault. “I was going to jump up on a wall. This was downtown, and … I guess I wasn’t ready for my foot and my toes just kind of came up to my shin so everything in my ankle … stretched out.” Paul had to stay off his ankle for three weeks. 126 Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
Paul Schick demonstrates at Bergfeld Park and the Spirit of Tyler gym, where he teaches tumbling, some of the moves he uses in freerunning.
“But, I wasn’t recovered for a good year, year and a half. That was actually real recently I’ve gotten over that.”
OBSESSION Paul sometimes practices freerunning while between classes at The University of Texas at Tyler. “It’s an obsession. I mean that’s what my friends and I kind of joke about up at UT Tyler. I mean most people walk by the levels (of stairs outside the HudnallPirtle-Rooths Building). … To me that’s such a beautiful spot. … It’s such a great area and so many people walk by that … not even noticing.” A video Paul made and posted on YouTube shows him at this location preparing to make what looks like an impossible leap across a very wide set of stairs. A passerby sees Paul and, seemingly in disbelief, asks, “Are you about to jump?” Paul calmly replies, “Yup.” And then does so, as the passerby continues to look on. “Everything I love doing now all came through freerunning. I love making videos, I love cinematography. I remember my sophomore year I made a video for school. And it dawned on me (that) my mom had never seen me do this. I’ve done this for two, three years and this is the first time she’s seen me do this. “So that’s what got me so addicted to making videos. I could present this to family and you know ’cause my mom’s not going to go to downtown and run around with me four or five hours you know.”
FUTURE NINJA Paul hopes to become a contestant on “American Ninja Warrior,” a televised competition in which contestants use strength, balance and body control – all skills in which freerunners have – to conquer a giant obstacle course. “I hope to try out in 2014. I’m going to go to the Dallas tryouts. … I’ve been really training doing a lot of pull-ups and jumping stuff.” Paul says freerunning is part of his training for “American Ninja Warrior.” “It’s just that comfortability. It doesn't matter what you’re about to do (with your body).”
Ilabaca is a founder of the World Freerunning and Parkour Federation and has toured Europe with others demonstrating skills. Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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East Texas: A Birding Paradise By Tamra Bolton | Courtesy Photos
W
hen my kids were young, I created a bird feeder out of an empty milk jug and hung it from a limb outside their bedroom window. That little carton provided hours of entertainment on cold damp days when they couldn’t play outside. Although my children are grown and have moved away, I still watch birds outside their window and have added a few feeders of my own. Bird-watching is addictive. It is the second largest hobby in the country. Only gardening is more popular. In East Texas, we have a front seat to the best birding in North America. The Central and Mississippi flyways overlap in East Texas creating a huge funnel effect that brings a large portion of the continent’s migrating birds through our area. We are likely to see more species in our yards than any other
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place in the United States. With over seventy types of birds seen during winter, East Texas birders rarely get bored. Accidentals (birds not usually are found in an area) also sometimes wander through. These rare guests make a bird-watcher sit up and take notice. Betty Railey, a veteran birder from Marshall, describes the first time she saw an unexpected visitor to her feeders. “I thought I would pass out! You never know what you’re going to see … every day is a surprise.” Devoted birders keep a checklist of species they have identified. Some have seen birds from countries around the globe. Jamie Vance, a Scottsville artist, has been carefully observing and painting birds for over twenty years. She transforms her stunning artwork into notecards for charity.
“I don’t sell my work anymore,” Jamie confides. “It took all the fun out of it. I just give it away now.” Jamie donates her notecards to Breckenridge Village in Tyler and the Lakeview Baptist Assembly Campground gift shop in Lone Star to raise funds for projects.
SERIOUS BIRDERS Bird-watching has come a long way since the days of Bermuda shorts, Panama hats and the ubiquitous binoculars. Birdwatchers have graduated to using sophisticated spotting scopes, remote cameras and video feeds. I am amazed at the quality pictures my cousin takes with a remote camera he set up in his yard. He photographs a wide variety of species without disturbing their feeding/nesting grounds. With today’s technology, anyone can enjoy watching birds at close range without interfering with their natural movements. Birding is not just for the tech savvy though; it can be done without special equipment. Many nursing homes, schools and parks maintain bird feeders, especially during winter. These encourage appreciation for our feathered neighbors and the beauty they bring into our lives. You can earn a certification for maintaining an inviting environment and take courses on bird watching. You also can become involved in bird counts that naturalists use to check the health of certain species population and monitor migration patterns. Tyler Audubon Society sponsors many events. This month it is offering members a chance to visit Quito, Ecuador, to view that region’s rich avian variety.
BIRD-FEEDING 101 Two schools of thought exist when it comes to winter birdfeeding. Some believe that offering seeds, suet and other treats in feeders is the way to go. Others (including some ornithologists or bird scientists) maintain you should only offer natural plantings, shrubs, vines and trees. I provide birds with both feeders and a smorgasbord of berries and seeds in my landscaping. I have gleaned a few tips that will help you offer the best feeding environment for your feathered friends, regardless of the side of the feeding fence you happen to be on. • Keep feeders clean; replace soggy or moldy seeds promptly. • Keep areas under feeders clean to prevent ground feeding birds (such as juncos) from wading in droppings and possibly spreading diseases. • Provide shelter/cover for birds to hide in case of a predator attack (cat, raccoon, bird of prey). • Refrain from over trimming shrubbery and trees in corners of your yard. Birds use these places to hide and roost at night. • Keep feeders at least five feet from windows and patio doors to prevent collisions with the glass. • Always provide a source of clean water, either a birdbath or an ornamental pond. • To offer plenty of food, especially in winter, plant in your yard these varieties: yaupon, American holly, sweet gum, sassafras, rusty blackhaw, American beautyberry, loblolly pine, deciduous holly, eastern red cedar, cherry laurel, smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, Laurel greenbrier and native bittersweet vine (not the invasive oriental variety often sold in nurseries). A word of warning about the bittersweet vine: cedar waxwings love the berries which sometimes stay on the vine long enough to ferment. Flocks of waxwings have been known to ingest fermented berries and end up on the ground in a drunken stupor. Who says birding is a tame hobby?
out the window, bird-watching is rewarding and supplementing birds’ diets with native plantings helps maintain a healthy population for future bird generations. Treat your visiting guests well and they will return favor for many seasons by offering a wintertime display of colorful antics. Teaching children about taking care of nature is important and bird-watching is an easy and fun way to introduce them to a world of learning about nature. I am delighted that my daughter has placed a bird feeder outside my granddaughter’s bedroom window. It is nicer than the old plastic milk jug she grew up with. I am pleased she is giving the same experience of watching birds to her daughter. In celebration of National Bird-Feeding Months (January and February), National Hot Tea Month (January) and Chocolate Lovers Month (February), I’m going to fill my bird feeders, make a cup of hot tea, treat myself to an amaretto truffle, sit back, reminisce a little and enjoy the show. Who knows? Maybe the cedar waxwings will show up, get drunk and give me a few laughs.
Birding Information: Tyler Audubon Society www.tyleraudubon.org National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Certification/Backyard Habitat Certification info www.nwf.org Texas Parks and Wildlife checklist www.tpwmagazine.com/birding On-line class – Bird Watching: 101 www.universalclass.com Cornell Lab of Ornithology www.birds.cornell.edu
REWARDING Even if all you want to do is sit in your favorite chair and gaze Jan/Feb 2014 | INMagTexas.com
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spirituality
Displaying
Love
The Rev Charles T. Hunt is senior pastor of Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Longview. He attended East Texas Baptist University and graduated from Louisiana Baptist University. He has been pastor at Woodland Hills since 2004 and has served in Southern Baptist Convention on local, state and national levels.
By Charles T. Hunt | Courtesy Photo
1 Corinthians 13:1-3:
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” There are many different ideas about “love” in our world today. We’re accustomed to hearing people say, “I love you.” Yet people who say “I love you” often do no actions that prove their love. True love is a balancing act between “talking and doing.” There also are people who actually do wonderful things, but their actions are not motivated by love. Again, the proper perspective is to not only “speak love” but also “do love.” In the early 1800s, John A Grenade wrote the lyrics to an old hymn…
“I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee my Lord, I love Thee my Savior, I love Thee my God. I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know; But how much I love Thee my actions will show.” In I Samuel 24, King Saul is seeking David. Saul is sure that David wants to kill him. But when David has an opportunity to kill Saul in a cave, he doesn’t do so. In 1 Samuel 24:8-11, David says to Saul, “Why are you listening to all the people who are saying, I’m trying to kill you. I’m holding a piece of your robe in my hand … If I was going to kill you, I’d already have done it. I love God enough that I am not going to touch one of God’s anointed.” What David is saying is that it’s one thing to say, “I love the king,” but it’s another thing to prove that love by one’s actions. Our King today is the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is one thing to say we love Him with all our hearts. Christians do that when we sing hymns, choruses and praises as part of our worship services. But the question is not whether we are speaking that love … that’s obvious. The real question is: are we backing those words of love up with deeds and works when we leave the church building. We have an opportunity this year to make sure our actions of loving Jesus match the words of loving Jesus that we speak. May God graciously give us the grace to do just that.
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