Argyle Living Magazine February 2022

FEBRUARY 2022

when just a

LITTLE is more than ENOUGH

10 HOT

R E S TAU R A N TS W I T H O U T D O O R PAT I O S

5 THINGS

TO D O D O G PA R K S

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contents TA B L E O F

12

WHEN JUST A

LITTLE

is more than enough

ARTICLES

08

10 HOT RESTAURANTS WITH OUTDOOR PATIOS

19

ADDING VALUE TO HOMES

21

5 THINGS TO DO

22

ANIMAL MOVIES - FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

25

SHERIFF’S CORNER WITH SHERIFF TRACY MURPHREE

26

INSIDE COMMUNITY & EDUCATION

33

OMICRON VARIANT & WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

35

MATTERS OF THE HEART

36

DENTISTRY WITH COUNTRY LAKES FAMILY DENTAL

46

GARDENING WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS

42

SENIOR PAWS - HELPING SENIORS FEED THEIR PETS

FEATURED

11

CARE IN A BOX

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16

MORE THAN A HODGEPODGE RESCUE

44

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION GROUP IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY FEBRUARY 2022 | ARGYLE LIVING | 5

Publisher of Murray Media Group, kelly@murray-media.com Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Administration

GET OUTDOORS with your

I

FAMILY and pets

have a long-time friend who, just like me, loves eating at local restaurants. But while I won’t pass on a chance to sit out on the patio at my favorite eatery with Scott and the kids, she insists

on sitting indoors. When we plan anything between our families, the same is true — she’d prefer to do everything indoors.

Needless to say, we don’t always see eye to eye.

I’m not sure what side of the fence you’re on in this argument, but now that we’re past the latest version of February winter storms in Texas, it’s high time we break from our crotchety routines and get outdoors.

In this month’s issue, you’ll find fun pet articles, including one that features 10 of the hottest local restaurants with outdoor patios. One of our writers even pieced together a list of the best dog parks. The point, ladies and gents, is that we spend way too much of our time indoors. Think about it — we’re inside for work, school, home life, restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls, etc. Every once in a while, it’s nice to take the dogs for a walk at a nearby park or spend the day having a picnic with the family.

I may never convince my friend to change her ways. And that’s fine — I’ll love her like a sister forever. But she’s not going to change me, either. So I’m going to put my laptop up and head outside.

Who’s coming with me?

Thanks for reading, and enjoy this month’s issue!

Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Writers

Caylie Howard, Steve Gamel, Diane Ciarloni Jade Kensington, Jean Eisenmann Leena Duwadi, Mark Miller

Advertising Inquiries

sales@murray-media.com

Production

Graphic Designers Mish Cunningham-Scott Cayla Thompson Arynn Tomson Hallie Preece

Photography

Miranda Longoria Photography Your Candid Memories Photography What’s That Guy’s Name? Photography by Guy T Live Beautifully Photography

Letters

Argyle Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments.

Email artwork@murray-media.com.

All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial Inquiries Call Caylie Howard at 972.899.3637 or email editor@murray-media.com www.Murray-Media.com Address: 3513 Yucca Dr., Ste. 200 Flower Mound, TX 75028 Argyle Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group.

Some articles and/or content may be sponsored by advertisers.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Argyle Living is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2022 Murray Media Group

Sincerely, Kelly Murray 6 | ARGYLE LIVING | FEBRUARY 2022

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when just a

LITTLE is more than enough

by Diane M. Ciarloni photography by Your Candid Memories Photography

He had a healthy appetite for experiencing whatever life offered, but that special vista with his ‘I know what I’m going to do for the rest of my life’ niche hadn’t opened yet.

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T

homas Little, a family law attorney in Flower Mound, has one of those last names that begs to appear in a “cutesy”

headline. So, mission accomplished!

There’s nothing small about Little unless you want to consider Vann, his ten-year-old son who looks suspiciously like a clone of his dad. Not only does Little confirm the clone theory, he even refers to Vann as a “mini-me.” They share not only a physical appearance but also sports (Little coaches), a love of travel, and a sincere spirit of adventure. Sadly, they also share the loss of wife/mother, Kelsi, who fell victim to cancer when Vann was only two. For Vann, the loss of his mom is simply a fact of life since he was so young.

Little’s focus as a teenager was football. He found his way to Texas A&M, where he played football as a 12th Man on the kickoff team while pulling together a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. By then, the thought of becoming an attorney fluttered through Little’s brain. But that’s all it was — a tiny flutter. He had a healthy appetite for experiencing whatever life offered, but that special vista with his “I know what I’m going to do for the rest of my life” niche hadn’t opened yet.

With a degree in hand, he enlisted in the Army Infantry and later attended Officer Candidate School to become an Armor Officer (a tank commander). He was stationed in Germany and deployed to Kosovo. That was back when he and three good buddies used one of their leaves to travel to Spain where, with no prior planning, they ran with the bulls at Pamplona. cont...

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The compadres used other three and four-day breaks to travel all over Europe searching for adventure.

After the Army, Little thought a bit more about the legal arena but, even so, he decided to study for an MBA in business, again at Texas A&M. He became a licensed project management professional, spending six years traveling the world as a consultant. That’s how a young, adventurous man from Texas happened to work in Saudi Arabia.

It was in those six years that Little discovered the fluttering thought about becoming an attorney had blossomed into a full-blown passion. He threw the brakes on everything else, pulled out his GI Bill and, enrolled at St. Mary’s University of School of Law. He married Kelsi and had Vann during law school. When Kelsi passed away, Thomas moved with his son to Lantana, where his mother, Chris Little, sister, Meredith Lowery, and brother-in-law and longtime best friend Gene Lowery were residents, with Vann’s cousins, Emma and Ellie Lowery.

Little passed the bar and began practicing at Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, LLP, in Denton in 2015. He hung out on his private practice shingle in 2019.

Now, what does Thomas Little bring to the table as a private practice, family law attorney?

One client used all the niceties to describe Little but added, “He can also be a shark!” He no doubt learned shark tactics in his Saudi Arabia dealings and in his other business consulting across the globe. The scuba diving, running with bulls, and celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, all taught Little to use his spirit of adventure to think outside the typical box.

As a family law attorney, Little deals with a long list of sensitive issues. Divorce. Child custody. Property division. Spousal support. Mediation. Wills. Powers of Attorney.

Even adoption. All these are vital, family-related, life-changing situations. Little and paralegal, Sharron Dowdle, are acutely aware of the landmines.

“It’s critical that we use a strong moral compass that includes respect and integrity if we intend to earn the best outcome for our clients,” says Little. “That’s why everything we do must be client-focused. Almost everything we deal with is sensitive and delicate, sometimes unpleasant and emotionally charged. That’s why we’re so persistent about making every effort to take the high road.”

Respect, integrity, and client-focused attention are three of Little Family Law’s most important building blocks. You can be sure of that and, also: When the client speaks, Little listens.

940.489.8440 LittleFamilyLawFirm.com office@littlefamilylawfirm.com 2904 Corporate Cir., Ste. 123 Flower Mound, TX 75028 14 | ARGYLE LIVING | FEBRUARY 2022

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MORE than

a Hodgepodge

rescue

by Diane Ciarloni | photos courtesy of Hodgepodge Farm

L

auren Koenig’s passion for animals most likely began at birth. Evidence of that likelihood is born out by signs that were obvious before she could even say the

words “dog” or “cat.”

“My mom always told me I dragged home every animal that looked as if it might need help,” Lauren said with a chuckle.

“It must be true because I still do it, and it includes any animal.”

No one was surprised when she founded Hodgepodge Rescue in 2008. She was single at the time, with one child, and dozens of thoughts in her brain about what to do with Hodgepodge. An opportunity to buy a piece of property in Argyle presented itself in 2012. Lauren looked at the two horses, two goats, dogs, and cats she already had and decided it was a godsend.

A neglected, starved, elderly horse joined the crew soon after the move. Unfortunately, he didn’t get along well with the established equine residents, so Lauren brought in a miniature horse as his companion.

To get the true picture of Hodgepodge, it’s necessary to understand it doesn’t follow the strict definition of a traditional animal rescue. Yes, it is a registered 501©3 but it’s based on a far-reaching, multi-pronged plan.

“It’s not my intention to simply collect animals,” Lauren stressed. “Most of the ones I have now are results of people calling me and telling me about an abandoned or mistreated animal. They ask me if I’m willing to help and, of course, I don’t think I’ve ever refused.

“My goal is to rescue the animal, feed it, love it, fix whatever is wrong with it, and find it a new home, where the people

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will cover it with the care and respect it deserves.”

That brings us to Ivy. “We received a call on Christmas Eve last year, asking if I could take in another goat for bottle feeding,” Lauren related. “The caller said it was about five weeks old and in one of her neighbor’s backyards. When the neighbor was asked what he intended to do with the baby goat, he announced his plans to cook it for Christmas dinner.”

There would be no baby goat cooked for dinner on Lauren’s watch!

“I flew around, getting ready to leave,” Lauren continued. “My 15-year-old son, Alex, said he was coming with me. We got there and discovered it was a lamb, not a goat. Its umbilical cord was still attached. We loaded her up, went home, and she’s been in the house with us ever since. cont...

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“Alex assumed most of the caretaking duties.

He named her Ivy for the Christmas song The Holly and the Ivy. He feeds her and plays his guitar for her. She’s now five weeks old and sleeps in his room.”

Lauren’s Hodgepodge will launch another prong this spring.

“I’m calling it our Outreach Team,” she said. “I want to take animals such as Ivy to schools and other public venues where we can encourage people to engage with us in non-threatening conversations. We want to encourage the kids and the adults to listen and to learn about animals. We want them to understand animals share many of our emotions – they think, fear, hurt, love, and much more.

“I certainly don’t intend on doing a Super Woman routine, telling everyone how much they need to become vegan. But I do think they

to understand there’s a beginning point long before the grocery store.”

Lauren is praying that, at some point, she’ll connect with enough people and her efforts will coalesce with other organizations to bring about the final eradication of slaughter, especially the cruel and inhumane exportation of horses to Mexico and Canada.

Lauren and her husband Jack work toward a day when Lauren will leave corporate America and work only for Hodgepodge. Their arms are open to others who may want to donate time, money, ideas, contacts, and connections to the Hodgepodge mission.

Hodgepodgerescue.com Facebook: HodgePodge Farm Instagram: instagram.com/ Hodgepodgerescue Email: hodgepodgerescue@gmail.com

deserve to know their food doesn’t actually come from Kroger or Walmart. I want them

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Outdoor Living

Custom Pools

Pool Remodels

Cedar and Iron Fencing

don’t just go outside ... live outside

469-293-3656 Visit our Showroom

762 E. Hwy 121 Business Lewisville, TX 75057

dfwpoolandpatio.com facebook.com/txtraditions

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what is the

OMICRON variant

and what parents should know

by Dr. Rebecca Butler Lantana Resident | Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics

1. THE OMICRON VARIANT IS SPREADING FAST.

As of January 2022 – only one month after the variant was first detected in the U.S. – Omicron accounts for about 98% of all new COVID19 cases in the country.

Omicron is much more contagious than prior COVID19 variants, including Delta. One reason for this may be the variant’s high number of mutations in the spike protein. This can help it evade immunity or a body’s built-up protection

Children with chronic underlying conditions can be more susceptible to severe infection with COVID in general and you should discuss vaccination with your pediatrician. Children can also spread the virus to others who are at high risk. Lastly, we’re still learning about possible long-term effects of COVID19 – even from mild COVID19 infection. For these reasons, it’s important to take steps to reduce the risk of infection.

3. WE’RE STILL LEARNING ABOUT OMICRON.

to the virus. Experts at the CDC expect that

Each new variant, like Omicron, varies in how

anyone with Omicron infection can spread the

contagious it is and how virulent (harmful) it

virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or

may be. Each variant can affect the immune

don’t have symptoms.

system differently and change how effective

2. CHILDREN ARE BEING AFFECTED

BY OMICRON.

Because Omicron is highly contagious, more and more people are becoming infected with COVID19 including children.

Parents may take comfort in the fact that Omicron does not appear to cause more severe illness in children than prior variants. In general, children are still at lower risk for severe illness from COVID19 than adults.

the Omicron variant. There are also more breakthrough cases with Omicron; meaning, cases where people are vaccinated but still contract the virus.

4. SYMPTOMS OF OMICRON IN CHILDREN ARE SIMILAR TO PAST VARIANTS.

With the increased spread of COVID19, it’s important to watch for any symptoms of infection. In general, symptoms of Omicron in children remain similar to symptoms caused by prior variants. COVID19 symptoms in children can include: •

Fever (at least 100°F)

•

Chills

•

Congestion or runny nose

•

Cough

•

Diarrhea

•

Fatigue

•

Headache

•

Muscle or body aches

•

Nausea or vomiting

•

New loss of taste or smell

•

Shortness of breath or trouble breathing

•

Sore throat

If your child starts to show COVID19 symptoms, contact your primary care provider for guidance. If your child tests positive, isolate to prevent the spread of the virus.

Most children have mild illnesses and can recover at home. However, watch for the following warning signs that your child requires emergency care: Trouble breathing.

vaccination is against infection.

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.

Researchers are still working to uncover

New confusion.

how the Omicron variant behaves and how it responds to a person’s built-up immunity.

Inability to wake or stay awake.

We still don’t know how severe the effects of

Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail

Omicron are. Some studies suggest this variant

beds, depending on skin tone.

may cause less damage to the lungs and has a lower risk of hospitalization.

There is evidence that prior COVID19 infection

Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, decreased urination) or inability to take liquids by mouth.

may not give a person protection against cont...

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5. THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM OMICRON AND FUTURE VARIANTS.

Make an educated decision for you and your family regarding COVID19 vaccination.

As new variants of the virus continue to emerge, parents and children should take additional steps to reduce the spread of infection.

Mask up and make sure to use high quality, well-fitting masks.

Keep hands clean by washing or sanitizing.

Avoid crowds when possible.

Get tested if you show any symptoms.

Stay home when sick.

Stay informed– utilize trusted and reliable sources such as your PCP for direction and more information.

If you are going to see high-risk individuals during the Omicron surge, take extra precautions to keep them healthy. Try to limit your exposure ahead of seeing them, wear masks when in public, and get a test if you suspect any exposure to the virus.

940.455.7200 | LantanaPediatrics.com 74 McMakin Rd., Ste. 100 • Bartonville, TX 76226 Mon, Tues, Thurs: 7:30am-6pm | Wed: 7:30am-1pm Fri: 7:30am-5pm | Sat: 9am-12pm

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You

We

Photos were submitted by area residents. If you would like to submit your photos for publication, please email them to editor@murray-media.com.

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