Seguin Magazine - December 2021

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

December 2021

Holiday traditions From our families to yours; sharing holiday family recipes

Festive holiday decorations Starcke Furniture is ready for christmas with a beautifully decorated showroom

motorcycle santa makes deliveries Group of friends spread joy to families in need at Christmas

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in this issue December 2021

FEATURES 12 MOTORCYCLE TOY DRIVE

With the help of Santa Claus, motorcycle riding friends deliver christmas cheer to families in need

12

16

20

22

16 MINIATURE MODEL GUITARS

Luthier Robert Gwynne struts his replica mini-guitar works of art

20 LIGHTING UP DOWNTOWN SEGUIN

40 years ago, Henry Hill helped turn a dark central park into a christmas wonderland for all to enjoy

22 INSPIRATIONAL TABLE DECOR

When renovations uncovered an old brick wall, Lynne Starcke set out to transform the space into a holiday dinner themed showroom

CULINARY CREATIONS 26 HOLIDAY TRADITIONS FROM THE GAZETTE From our family to yours, recipes that you can cut out and keep or share with loved ones

ON THE SCENE 30 HANDCRAFTED BEESWAX CANDLES

Mark and Thiên show off all the details and time that go into making a truly magnificent candle

POWER UP 34 GIFT GUIDE FOR GEEKS

A small tour of local shops to help you find gifts for the geek on your list

AROUND TOWN 38 FAVORITE FINDS

Unique items from small local businesses

40 SAVE THE DATE

See what events are coming up

42 FACES OF SEGUIN

Submitted photos from our readers

on the cover

Photo by Felicia Frazar

Lynne and Hilmar Starcke III cheers to a beautifully decorated display room in Starcke Furniture showing off the store’s historic charm.

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FROM THE

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

Vol. 8, No. 7 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette.

Publisher

Elizabeth Engelhardt Editor

Desiree Gerland

Graphic Designer

Rebecca Harrison Writers

Felicia Frazar Dalondo Moultrie Michael Pape Bianca Rawlings

ADVERTISING

Delilah Reyes Gay Lynn Olsovsky

S

editor

outh Texas doesn’t always have a dramatic change in seasons (I won’t mention the polar vortex), but with copious amounts of eggnog, fourth cousins rooting through your fridge, and last-minute shopping the holiday festivities enunciate the mild winter weather outside. Add some stressfully hung lights to this Christmas concoction, and I’m all in. Dazzlingly decorated homes with twinkling lights are my favorite part of Christmas, and I’m not in the spirit until I see them.

For this issue, we want you to get in the spirit, and get inspired to shop, eat, and adventure your way through the season with a local gift guide, recipes, and some very special deliveries from Santa and his friends. I hope as you flip through this year’s holiday edition you are filled with warmth and the desire to spread as much joy to those around you as possible.

However you celebrate at this time of year, I want to add my joy to yours. Even though it feels like this year has flown by, I’m hoping this month lasts long enough for me to get all my shopping done before it’s too late, eat too much delicious food, and spend every last second with those I love. I hope you do the same.

Happy Holidays, Seguin.

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SEARCH SEGUIN GAZETTE All material herein c. 2021 Southern Newspapers Inc., dba The Seguin Gazette, 805 E. Court St., Ste. #200, Seguin, Tx, 78155 All rights reserved

Desiree Gerland Desiree Gerland

Magazine Editor & Creative Director desiree.gerland@seguingazette.com

An INSIDE look from our

WRITERS

“For the past several years, I have had the privilege to tag along with 2W4L (2 Wheels 4 Life) as they make their Toy and Turkey runs.

“It is a treat to watch as this group of friends hop on their motorcycles, drive around the city delivering holiday cheer. They ensure that everyone in the family is taken care, especially the children at Christmas.

They get their wish list and fulfill everything on it, as they can.

“In just a few short years they have gone from helping two to three families to lifting up 10. I can’t wait to tag along again and watch as they make Christmas dreams come true.”

– Felicia Frazar

“This month’s magazine is all about shopping local. That can take on many forms and I was delighted to have been granted the opportunity to speak with people representing two very different perspectives and write about each.

“Starcke Furniture has been operating in Seguin for more than double the number of years I’ve been alive, while Rob Gwynne of Gwynne Miniature Guitars has only lived in the area and produced his tiny, electric instrument replicas for a much shorter amount of time.

“However, both ventures offer high-quality merchandise and top-notch service to customers proving that tried and true can be a good thing but so can what’s new.

Seguinites should shop both for quality goods when in the market for their services.”

– Dalondo Moultrie

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12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Dear Santa

Motorcycle group makes special deliveries to families in need Story and Photos by Felicia Frazar

E

jumped on board to lend a hand.

“We started with like six couples, maybe,” he said. “Then it started to grow. Our friends that live around the area wanted to come help us. That’s how it got as big as it is. You get hooked on it. It’s a good feeling.”

The group started out small by helping two to three families at both Christmas and Thanksgiving. As support from family, friends and strangers grew, so did their reach, Mario said. This year’s Turkey Run made 10 deliveries to local families, while the Santa will make 10 special visits during the Christmas Run. “They see us ride through town or hear about what we do and want to get involved,” 2W4L member Val Luna. “They don’t know us, but they are curious and want to see what is going on. People have come to us like that.”

During their annual Turkey Run, 2W4L serves up all of the fixin’s for a Thanksgiving meal from the turkey and stuffing down the canned cranberries and rolls. At Christmas, they go all out helping create a special day for the children. With the help of the school district, they identify families in need. They get the names of all of the immediate family members, their ages and the children’s wish lists.

“We get them exactly what they want on the list. It makes it even better,” Mario said.

“It’s Santa granting their wishes.”

Every donation the group gets is put toward the Christmas wish lists and ThanksGUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13

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ngines rev and the roar of motorcycles come alive as a group of friends prepare for one of their annual rides.

The ride in December is different than most for the group 2W4L (2 Wheels 4 Life) as they are led by Santa and make special stops at the homes, handing out gifts and Christmas cheer for families in need.

“The families have no idea,” member Mario Navarro said of their Christmas Run. “When we go and deliver to these families, they’re surprised.”

2W4L is not an organization, but rather a collection of friends who like to ride motorcycles and give back to the community they love.

It started with Navarro and his wife, Vicki, having a conversation at a barbecue, he said.

“We were just talking and I thought, man there are people out there dying to eat,” he said.

“So, I told my wife I wanted to cook a meal for a family.”

The couple contacted Seguin ISD and learned of a family who recently lost a family member and wanted to help them out. As they prepared to make a delivery of cooked brisket, rice and beans, they learned the family suffered another loss, Mario said.

“We got there and delivered the food and they welcomed us to stay there to have dinner,” he said. “I didn’t expect that, but it was something I’ll never forget.”

The following year as they had planned to do something similar, their family and friends

giving meals, Mario said.

“The more money we make, the more money we spend,” he said. “I have no use for it. Everything we do is going toward Thanksgiving, Christmas and buying the kids gifts that they want.”

The group’s payment is more than money can buy, Mario said. It’s the look on the family’s faces as 2W4L makes the special deliveries, both men said.

“Once we went and delivered all of these gifts to them, we come back to our bikes and before we take off, these guys are crying,” Mario said. “A lot of these guys don’t realize there is more people that need help until they went out there and saw them. It really touches your heart when you do stuff like that. They 14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

know that there are people that need help, but until they see it, it hits home.

It’s an interesting dynamic for many of the families as a large group of bikers pull up in front of their houses, Luna said. And the children’s faces light up when they see all of the motorcycles.

“Every single little kid when they see motorcycles go by their eyes light up. It makes us feel good,” he said.

While the Navarro’s aren’t originally from Seguin, they’ve made the community their home. Luna on the other hand is a native of the town and enjoys giving back however and whenever he can.

“Growing up a lot of us didn’t have this picture perfect up bringing; we

didn’t have a lot” Luna said. “Now, I’m older, doing well, it is my opportunity to give back. A lot of times, kids are dealt a bad hand and it is an awesome feeling to get to help those kids and those families.”

Both men said the group couldn’t do what they do, without the help of their family, friends, the community and God. “Seguin is a great community and everybody really pulls together,” Luna said.

“This is proof. I think that shows a lot about the community as a whole here in Seguin. It makes me proud to be part of this community.”

“We’re just a group of friends that want to do something good,” Mario said.

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16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Local artist Creates Amazing miniatures

F

Story by dalondo Moultrie, Photos by Felicia Frazar

or many, the thought of electric guitars probably evokes mental images of amplifiers, rock bands and big sounds.

But for a Seguin man and jewelry maker, his thoughts of guitars goes in the complete opposite direction.

Robert Gwynne has always loved guitars and guitar music so he decided years ago to couple that love with another passion: building model kits.

He continues to this day to make extravagantly adorned and exquisitely detailed model guitars about 8 3/4 inches tall.

“I hand create these exact replicas of miniature guitars; Fender guitars, Lords of London, Gibson, things like that. I make them so if you look at a picture, you would swear you were looking at the real thing,” Gwynne said. “The only thing you can’t do is play them. On some of them you can actually adjust the strings and things like that.”

New Zealand-born Gwynne grew up building models. He crafted model cars, model planes, boats, you name it.

It was a hobby he carried into his teen years. But also around the time he was about 16 years old, he got

into the jewelry industry and spent several years in a factory working his first job. From there, he branched into diamond setting and working on precious-stone jewelry.

As a goldsmith, Gwynne plied his trade for years in his birth country and continued as a jeweler when he and his family moved to California in 1979. Eventually, he and his now-exwife left the Sunshine State for the Lone Star State because California was cost prohibitive.

“I love California but I don’t want to live there,” Gwynne said.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 17

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Small Wonders

“I wanted to retire in California. I retired and was back at work two months later. I spent two more years in California working part time for a couple jewelry stores while we made our plans to move down to Texas.”

He moved to New Braunfels in 2015 and then, after the divorce, moved to Seguin on Feb. 25.

At each stop, Gwynne has continued making jewelry. The 74-year-old built his first miniature guitar at around age 17 and then started making them again about 12 years ago using his jewelry expertise to fine tune the tiny instruments.

“I don’t buy anything for these guitars, I make it all,” Gwynne said. “I even make the little screws that hold the scratch guard in place, things like that. All the little screws, I make them myself. The only thing I have to buy is the paint I paint them with.”

He has a friend donate the wood and he shapes and fashions onto it silver, gold and other precious materials to make the pieces shine.

The one first he built 50-plus years 18 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

ago was inlaid in gold and remains special to Gwynne. His mini guitars have been on display in different shows and in some stores in California and can be very valuable, he said.

They are works of art, Gwynne said.

“The one I have that’s got all the gold metal on it, that has to sell for about $1,800 because that’s solid gold. I have one that has white and yellow gold. That has to sell for about

$1,200,” he said. “If I make up one with silver, that can usually be around about $800. If I make one with brass metal with the hardware and metal plates on it, that type of thing, if I make that out of brass and silver plate it, I can bring it down to somewhere in the $380-$400 range.”

He often can make something to suit a potential purchaser’s price range as long as they’re aware of the difference in the metals, Gwynne said.

For his own Gwynne Miniature Guitars, the craftsman creates the realistic works of art with stunning detail. Mostly he’s been selling to jewelry clients but is open to expanding to more clients.

He makes money off the replicas when they do sell, though he said he isn’t sure how much. It’s also about the art of creating the little duplicates, Gwynne said.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever sat down and figured how much,” he said. “My profit is good but you have to account for the time … and the expertise.”

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Cheer { feature }

Lit with Cheer

the Historic Downtown Lights of Seguin Story by Felicia Frazar, Photos by The Seguin Gazette staff

20 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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he lights that hang from the trees in Central Park twinkle in the night sky every night all year long.

Those year-round decorations didn’t start as such.

Almost 40 years ago, a bank with a marketing plan changed the look of Central Park during the holiday season and eventually, year-round.

Henry Hill, who worked at Nolte National Bank, now know as Wells Fargo, was part of the marketing team in the mid-1980s that came with the idea to decorate the trees in Central Park with lights for Christmas.

“Someone came up with the idea of putting lights up in the trees in Central Park and we said ‘let’s do that,’” Hill

said. “We couldn’t put them in all of the trees but we could put them in several of the trees and made it look nice.”

The bank reached out to a San Antonio company for help, however, the cost was just a little out of the bank’s budget. So they decided to do the work themselves, Hill said.

“I said that’s not a hard job, all you gotta do is climb trees and put lights up,” he said. “We bought about $2,000 worth of lights from that company and went over to Bergfeld and rented as many tall ladders as he had and got them ready down there.”

Hill, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Seguin, enlisted the help of the members of their high school counterpart, the Key Club. In the end, Hill

said he ended up climbing a majority of the trees, stringing up strands of lights.

“Of course, I was more younger back then,” the 87-year-old said. “We did it ourselves with long poles, ladders and tree climbing.”

The bank decorated the park for several years until the city took it over, Hill said.

“It was sometime after I left,” he said.

In March 2016, the Seguin City Council voted to keep the lights up year round, which Hill enjoys seeing.

“I’m glad we started it, I’m glad it is still going. I think it is a real good thing for Seguin,” he said. “I get a kick out of it. I like the fact that a lot of business have their lights on too. I think it looks good.”

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 21

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Deck the Halls

With inspiration from Hilmar and Lynne Starcke Story by DALONDO MOUlTRIE Photos by felicia Frazar

S

tarcke Furniture in downtown Seguin is nearly 110 years old but a recent makeover part of the century-old store took one space inside back to its original look.

The renovation came courtesy of Lynne Starcke, owner Hilmar Starcke III’s wife. Lynne a is a design consultant at the shop her grandfather-in-law started in 1912 and after finding an office Hilmar Sr. used in total disrepair, Lynne gave the space the rehab no one knew it needed.

“You can tell I’m excited about it,” Lynne said of the space. “It was such hard work but it was fun to witness the transformation.”

Hilmar Sr. started in the furniture business partnered with a Mrs. Weisskopff in a venture called Weisskopff-Starcke Furniture, Hilmar III, also known as Hil, said. The partnership lasted from 1910 to 1912, when Hilmar Sr. bought out his partner and took over full operations and rebranded the company Starcke Furniture.

“He bought her out,” Hil said. “She 22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

GO BACK GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 23

was the widow of a Rev. Weisskopff, he was a minister. The gentleman passed away and my grandfather bought the balance of the company and changed it to Starcke Furniture in 1912.”

The original Starcke Furniture location was a short distance up the block from the current building. Hilmar Sr. was married to Lalla Nolte, whose father Edgar Nolte’s family owned Nolte Bank in town. Edgar built a new building for Lalla and Hilmar Starcke Sr. and that’s where since Jan. 2, 1915, Starcke Furniture has operated.

Hilmar Sr. had a room in the building that, when it was uncovered, had seen better days.

“It was an office in 1915 and Lynne, my wife, started this project of taking off some of the plaster exposing the brick and making quite a few repairs, taking up the carpet and exposing the longleaf, white, pine floor,” Hil said.

“She took it back to certainly look a whole lot more similar to the way it was in 1915.”

Lynne did a phenomenal job with the space, Hil said, but almost anything would have

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GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25

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been an improvement. Before she got to it, he said, the area “looked like hell.”

“That old room, let me describe what it was like,” Lynne said. “It had sculptured shag carpet that was very old and dirty, probably from the ’70s. It was awful.”

A leaky roof sent water down behind plaster in the room and that caused plaster to break away from some areas of the walls, she said. Huge chunks of plaster fell to the floor and chunked into the shag carpeting.

The carpet had to go and once she moved it, Lynne found a hidden gem of original hardwood flooring. It needed work but was definitely going to be better than the ancient carpet, she said.

After rehabbing the room, it came time to adorn it with furniture staged for selling.

Lynne took a gold-leafed mirror that’s been in the Starcke family for six generations and placed it in the area along with a beautiful oriental rug. She added an all-wood dining room set and made the area look like a comfy, inviting home, Lynne said.

It looks like something out of Southern Living Magazine, she said.

“The room transformed from this dingy, dirty, broken mess to this showroom,” Lynne said. “I don’t think anybody there thought it was ever going to be decent. But they’re all like, ‘Now, I see what you were talking about.’”

She finished the project, which Lynne called a labor of love, in time for the holidays. It serves as a show place for dining room furniture sold at Starcke.

Now when people are getting together again, having dinner as families and gathering for the holidays, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Shopping at Starcke Furniture for pieces to highlight holiday meals will be a bit brighter thanks to the furniture store’s design consultant with an eye for what works and historic charm.

“I feel like we’ve brought a little history to life,” Lynne said. “This store is going to be 110 years old next year in 2022. … I’m very pleased with it. The floor itself, I mean, all of it, the walls, it’s just worth seeing.”

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Holiday Traditions sharing meals & making memories

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he holidays are filled with tradition. Those traditions range far and wide, from very general to extremely particular. While the real original recipe for many such eats may be buried in family lore, the traditions remain.

But if you were to simmer those traditions to just essentials, you would be left with one, simple concept – sharing. For the holidays, we set out to share our good will, festive disposition and spirit of generosity. And what better way to communicate that

jolly mindset and generous spirit than with food? Try one of these family’s recipes, or ask your relatives if they have any favorites of their own.

It’s never too late to start a new family recipe tradition that you can pass down to your kids and grandkids.

Classic eggnog W

ith my mom being in the military and having a busy schedule during the holidays we decided to keep it simple when it came down to cooking on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve. But one tradition I will always hold dear to my heart is the one glass of eggnog that we would

From sye Bennefield

share in celebration of the joyous festivities. It started sometime around when I was in first grade in Germany and has continued on in my 20s, here in Texas. My mother and I laugh about it now but that one glass of eggnog has truly become a staple in our holiday celebrations.

From DELILAH REYES

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or as long as I can remember I knew Christmas was near when my mom would start cooking the meat and preparing the masa for tamales. My mom would cover the dining table with plastic and then layer it with newspaper, making tamales can get pretty messy. We would gather around the table each with a different job. I have so many wonderful memories of talking and laughing with my parents as we worked. My father has since passed and my mother is her 80’s.

Due to COVID my mother was not able to come visit last Christmas. For the first time, I had to take on her duty of preparing the masa and the meat. My kids gathered around the table and we laughed and talked for hours while we worked. I love the fact that this beautiful Hispanic tradition will continue on with my children and that it is a piece of their culture they can be proud of. I hope this recipe will help you make your own wonderful, messy memories while making delicious tamales with those who matter most to you.

Ingredients: (makes 5 dozen) For the Dough: 5 lbs corn masa 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 lb Lard 5 cups Pork broth (from cooked pork) 2 teaspoons salt 3 tablespoons onion powder 3 tablespoons chili powder 2 tablespoons ground cumin 1 lb corn husks Filling: 5 lbs pound pork butt roast Salt and pepper 1 packet Goya seasoning with cilantro and achiote 1 tablespoons garlic salt 1 tablespoons cumin 2 tablespoons chile powder 1/3 cup beef stock (or red wine)

Instructions: 1. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a medium bowl until light and creamy.

2. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cream, milk, nutmeg and salt. Stir often until mixture reaches a bare simmer.

3. Add a big spoonful of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking vigorously. Repeat, adding a big spoonful at a time, to temper the eggs.

4. Once most of the hot milk has been added to the eggs, pour the mixture back into the saucepan on the stove.

5. Whisk constantly for just a few minutes, until the mixture is just slightly thickened (or until it reaches about 160 degrees F on a thermometer). It will thicken more as it cools.

6. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

7. Pour the eggnog into a pitcher or other container and cover with plastic wrap.

8. Refrigerate until chilled. It will thicken as it cools.

If you want a thinner, completely smooth consistency, you can add the entire mixture to a blender with 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk and blend until smooth.

9. Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and fresh whipped cream, if desired. * Store homemade eggnog in the fridge for up to one week.

Instructions: 1. Soak the corn husks in a bowl of very hot water for 2 hours or until softened.

2. Cut pork shoulder into small (1-2 inch) pieces. Add garlic, pork pieces and spices to a large stock pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook over low heat for about 3 hours or until meat is tender. Remove meat and shred. Let meat cool and refrigerate overnight. Reserve pork broth. Heat some lard in a heavy saucepan. Add shredded meat and spices to your desired taste and cook for about 20 minutes.

3. Make the masa dough: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the lard and 2 tablespoons of broth until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Combine the masa flour, baking powder, salt, and cumin in a separate bowl; stir into the lard mixture and beat well with an electric mixer.

4. Add the broth, little by little to form a very soft dough. Beat on high speed for several minutes. The dough should spread like creamy peanut butter and be slightly sticky. Cover the mixing bowl with a damp paper towel, to keep the dough from drying out.

5. Assemble the tamales: Spread masa on the bottom half of the husk. Then add filing in a line on the left side.

6. Fold husk over the filling and begin to roll the rest.

Fold the top un massed portion of the husk down to close the top of the tamale.

7. Cook on the stove-top: Add water to the bottom of your steamer. Lay a few extra corn husks on the bottom rack to keep the tamales from falling through and any boiling water from directly touching them.

10. Place tamales standing upright, with their open end up, just tightly enough to keep them standing.

11. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and steam for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Check them after 45 minutes.

12. To test if the tamales are done: Remove one and try to pull the husk off. If the husk pulls away cleanly from the tamale they're done. If the dough is still sticky or wet looking, cook them for 5-10 minutes longer and try again.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 27

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traditional Tamales

Recipe by: Tastes Better From Scratch

Ingredients: 6 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 cups milk 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg pinch of salt 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract ground cinnamon , for topping

W

hen I think about the holidays my memory always draws me back to spending time with my family. For us that meant being wherever my grandmother was. Whether we traveled around or stayed in town, holidays meant spending time with Moey (our grandchild gifted title of affection for my grandmother).

Holidays also meant the crowning jewel of the year – Moey’s buttermilk pie. Though several important family members held the recipe, and we take turns making them, the recipe remains a treasured family secret. Church gatherings that were graced with her pies often resulted in money thrown on the table in attempt to know how it was made, bartering for extra pies and tarts and the ever present “If I invite you over for the holiday, will you bring a pie?”

Her sweet dessert brought many happy gatherings even greater joy. She loved her sweets and her family.That’s just the way she was. When she passed several years ago, I was determined to take up the pie mantle, and it’s become one of my favorite things to do at the holiday.

So I offer to you a buttermilk pie recipe for your own family traditions. And while this isn’t my Moey’s recipe, (if I were to publish that I might never be seen again), I hope you will enjoy it!

In holiday spirit, may it bring the sweetness of life to your family, from mine to yours.

BUTTERMILK PIE

From REBECCA HARRISON

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1 (9-inch) Pie Crust Recipe, unbaked

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.

3 eggs 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 cup butter melted 1 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt

2. Mix together eggs, granulated sugar, flour, butter, buttermilk, vanilla, and salt until well-combined.

3. Pour into the unbaked pie crust and bake for 45-50 minutes until set and golden brown.

4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool prior to slicing.

5. Store in the refrigerator.

6. By popular vote, this pie is best when eaten at any meal; i.e breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Paired with coffee, vanilla ice cream, or just devoured as quickly as possible, as is the way of my family.

I

n Hispanic heritage it is believed buñuelos bring good luck when eaten during the holiday season. It would not be New Years in our household without buenelos being fried up batch after batch. They are one of my childhood (and adulthood) holiday favorites.

Buñuelos are a great party food because traditionally, you break off a piece, and leave the rest for someone else to finish. They make great gifts, too. Enjoy!

Ingredients: (makes 2 dozen) Masa: 4 cups all purpose flour, extra for dusting rolling surface 1 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup shortening 1 ¼ cup boiling water

MEXICAN BUñUELOS

From DELILAH REYES

vegetable oil for deep frying Topping: 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoon cinnamon Instructions: 1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.

Add shortening, and using your fingers, rub shortening into flour until well blended. Make a well in the center of flour mixture.

2. Pour 1 cup boiling water into the well, and stir flour into the water. Not all flour will be incorporated.

Add the remaining ¼ cup of boiling water, and mix until dough forms. If dough needs a little more water, add a tablespoon at a time.

28 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

3. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough until elastic and smooth, 3-5 minutes.

4. Pinch off a ping pong size piece of dough, and using your hands, shape into a ball. Repeat with remaining dough, and transfer dough balls in bowl, loosely covered with a dishtowel. Let sit for 30 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, in a heavy bottom pot or electric skillet, pour oil to a depth of 1-inch. Heat on medium-high heat or until oil reaches 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with paper towels. Have a pair of tongs nearby. In a small bowl stir sugar and cinnamon together, and set nearby as you will work quickly after each buñuelo is fried.

6. On a floured surface, using a rolling pin, roll a dough ball into an almost transparent circle, about

7-8-inches in diameter. Lift from surface and gently stretch dough circle an additional inch. If it tears, just pinch back together, do not reroll.

7. Heated oil is ready when a small piece of rolled out dough sizzles when it touches oil. Working with one buñuelo at a time, place rolled and stretched circle of dough into oil. Buñuelo will sizzle and puff up. Use tongs to gently press the center, allowing to puff up but pressing dough into oil to evenly brown on the bottom side, 30-60 seconds. Flip buñuelo and brown the other side, 30-60 seconds.

8. Lift from oil, drain well allowing oil to drain back into skillet. Transfer to paper towel liked baking sheets.

Immediately sprinkle each side generously with cinnamon sugar. Let cool, and repeat with remaining dough balls.

1 Puff Pastry Sheet- Homemade or Store-bought 12oz Mild Pork Sausage Meat 1 Egg & splash of water Optional add: thyme, sage, or onion spices to the sausage meat Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C and line a baking sheet with a Silpat liner or parchment paper.

English Sausage Rolls

From Felicia Frazar

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rowing up with a British grandmother, I became accustomed to some traditional English fare.

Each year around the holidays we would gather at her home and feast on the goodies she crafted prior to gorging on our Christmas or Thanksgiving meal.

These pre-course, savory delights were English sausage rolls and mince meat pies.

When my sister, my cousin and myself were old enough, she would let us in the kitchen to help her. With a rolling pin in hand, flour on our faces and and enough pastry to fill a bakery shelf, we created more than eats. We crafted long-lasting memories. Usually, there were a few that “mysteriously fell off the baking sheet” as

the pans came straight out of the oven. The smell of the cooked puff pastry and sausage, and those first bites are forever seared in my brain.

As an adult, I try to re-create my grandmother’s sausage rolls, but they never come out quite the same. While hers are fluffy and full, mine tend to fall a little on the flatter side. I think I roll out the pastry too much.

My younger cousins have also followed in those footsteps of learning grandma’s English baking ways.

Now, I’m looking forward to carry on the tradition with my nieces and nephews.

Since we don’t have there recipe written down, I found this one on Confessions of a Baking Queen’s website.

2. In a small bowl whisk together the egg and water, set aside.

3. On a floured work surface place puff pastry sheet, (if using Pepperidge Farms it should already be scored into 3.) Cut pastry sheet into thirds then roll the pastry out just a bit (see the picture above).

4. Take a chunk of the pork sausage meat and roll it into a snake shape-just under 1/2” thick. Place the sausage on one side of the pastry, not super close to the edge- you are going to fold the other side of the pastry over the sausage meat and enclose it with the bit of pastry next to the sausage.

5. Before closing the pastry brush a bit of egg wash on the bottom of the pastry next to the sausage, then fold the pastry over the sausage. Using a fork to press down into the pastry to seal the pastry together.

6. Using a knife score the pastry with lots of little lines on top. Cut the sausage rolls about 1 1/2-2” thick. Place them on a baking sheet, making sure to space the sausage rolls evenly on the sheet. Brush with remaining egg wash.

7. Bake for 13 minutes then rotate the pan. Bake for another 6-9 minutes- or until the sausage rolls are golden brown. Transfer the sausage rolls to a wire rack right after you take them out of the oven.

Ingredients: 1 cup long grain rice 5 to 6 cups milk 2/3 to 3/4 cups sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt Sugar and cinnamon to taste Instructions: 1. Combine rice and milk and cook slowly on low heat until done, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Making sure not to burn to bottom of pan.

2. Add sugar and salt and cook about 30 minutes longer.

3. Pour into a dish. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

4. Serve hot. Enjoy!

From Gay Lynn Olsovsky GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 29

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T

his German recipe has been a favorite of my family for many years now. It was passed down by my grandmother Margaret Schraub who would cook it for special holiday meals. Followed by my mother Joyce Schraub taking over in later years. And know I have continued the tradition to make this special dish for holiday occasions. My cousins tell me I almost have it down.

SUESSER REIS ( SWEET RICE )

Recipe by: Elizabeth Waterson | Confessions of a Baking Queen

Ingredients: (makes 2 dozen)

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Gretchen Bee Ranch Creating Candles that Wow

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Story by Bianca Rawlings

here is much more to buzz about than just honey at Gretchen Bee Ranch.

Nestled in the scenic Seguin countryside, Gretchen Bee Ranch, boasts a wide range of natural products from artfully crafted beeswax candles and ornaments to hydrating honey body scrubs and lip balms. When Gretchen Bee Ranch owner, Mark Gretchen, discovered his beekeeping passion more than four decades ago, he never dreamed he would use beeswax — which at first glance seemed like the less tasty byproduct of his beekeeping — to create candles and stocking stuffer worthy ornaments that adorn his shop today.

In 2009, Gretchen shelved his librarian career and decided to start a new chapter in his life by pursuing his beekeeping passion full-time.

Owning a business is risky — especially one that involves bee stingers and depends on uncontrollable environmental conditions such as drought.

But the reward of doing his part in replenishing the native bee population is more satisfying 30 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Photos by felicia Frazar

than even the sweetest honey he collects from his bees, Gretchen said. Assisted by his wife and business partner, Thiên Gretchen, Mark has grown Gretchen Bee Farms from a passion project into a booming business that now hosts a bustling shop, an abundant amount of bee hives and an ever expanding collection of bee-approved products.

The latest of which are the 100% natural beeswax candles that are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face and shine a light on even the darkest of winter days. Mark dove into learning how to create hand-crafted candles when he discovered just how truly valuable beeswax is.

Together Mark and Thiên seek out inspiration and brainstorm new candle-making methods, relying on their intuition and years of experience as both beekeepers and beekeeping educators to come up with the perfect process for each piece. Mark welcomes failure as an essential part of the process.

“Even if it doesn’t turn out, you experiment

GO BACK GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 31

32 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

ernia V a L Orthopedics Office

with different methods, it’s practical but fun,” he said.

280 S. King St. Seguin, TX musculos High quality care for • • • From conducting countless trial disorders injuries.

Walnut Springs Familyand Health and error runs, the couple has learned to •SportsSt. injuries •Trauma 309 Silverado LaVernia, TX •Fractures appreciate all the details and time that go LaVernia Patients Seen Thursday Mornings •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot P into making a truly magnificent and funcWalnut Springs Family Health High quality care for musculoskeletal tional candle. Mark and Thiên both agree Steven White, MD trent J. twit 309 Silverado St.,disorders La Vernia andG.injuries. that candle making requires patience but •Sports injuries •Trauma •Fractures that it is time well spent.

Call •Arthritis for an•Hand/Foot appt. 830-379-9492 •Joint Replacements Problems “We try to do it together, so we can Walnut Springs Family Health help each other catch any309 flaws that are St., La Vernia G. Steven White, MD trent J. twitero, MDA Prompt Silverado ppoint coming or any issues,” Thiên said. me Availab nts le!

Every candle, even the ones crafted Call for an appt. 830-379-9492 by molds, is unique because of the various factors that go into the final product.

The large lantern centerpieces are some of the more time consuming pieces to create and Thiên takes extra care when selecting which of her pressed flowers to use for them.

“Learning how different early ances Most insur accepted, summer pressing is compared to this one I ing lud inc mp Worker’s Co just pressed last week has also been inter& Medicaid esting,” she said.

Thiên presses current selections she plucks from her garden she tends at CALL FOR AN APPT. 830-379-9492 the couple’s home. For many years, long before her and Mark’s beekeeping endeavors, Thiên enjoyed gardening and can now incorporate those two aspects into their business adventure by adding a “wow” factor to their bees waxy works of art.

Akin to a sketching or painting, even the smallest alteration of brush strokes will result in a slightly differing finished product. Over the years these small tweaks, such as amping up their beeswax filtration process or using varying wax temperatures depending on the type of candle they are creating, have led them to the candles they carry today.

It is easy to see by looking at the beautiful honeycomb pillar or floating lotus candle in Mark’s shop that he has a passion custom Designs - sales - Repairs for all things bee. The craftsmanship that goes into his work, combined with the We are proud supporters of softly honey scented wax, makes even the busiest bee stop for a second to admire our community and his handiwork. Much like a cake that is all surrounding counties!!!! too beautiful to eat, some may argue these 1024 E. Court St. Seguin, Tx 78155 • 830-372-1944 candles are too lovely to light. Though Fabiosjewelry@gmail.com ∙ FabiosJewelry.com Mark and Thiên Gretchen love the funcFollow us on Social Media! tionality of their work and wouldn’t have it any other way.

a i n r e V a L Orthopedics in in

r e V a L

High quality care for m disorders and i

Walnut Springs Family Health 309 Silverado St., La Vernia

•Sports injuries •Traum •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •H

G. Steven White, MD

tre GO BACK

Call for an appt. 830-379-9492 Tis the Season

Fabio’s your Local Jeweler

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 33

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Geek Gift Guide Story by Michael Pape

A

ll over Guadalupe County are lovely boutiques, clothing outlets, and oases for antique seekers. All fantastic shops, but sometimes us geeks need something of a nerdier variety. The geekdom zeitgeist is long in effect, and we hunger to support our local video gaming, comic book, and anime havens. With the holidays here before you know it, we have a few places you can visit for a geeky loved one (or yourself ) and suggestions for what you might want when you get there.

Culture 114 E. Court St., Seguin Culture is a streetwear clothing shop, with a plentiful selection of fashion goods. The geeky goodness is here, but they also carry some attractive items anyone would love to get for the holidays.

Culture is also a skateboarding fashion representative if you ask me, and it’s only fitting. Skateboarding and Designer Socks geek culture have gone hand-in-hand Any good geek with style wears a snapback. I was never extremely into hats, but since the dawn of skateboarding, and it’s browsing their selection had me considering rocking one again. The quality is fully on display in this store. They don’t excellent, and the selection from anime to comic book hats is top-notch. have a huge selection of boards, but the general atmosphere and attire might serve as a gateway to get you or a loved Snapback Hats one into a gnarly hobby.

Socks! The cliche “bummer” Christmas gift is cool again, especially with a huge variThe massive tee selection yells at ety of fantastic quality socks in stock. Culture carries socks for comic book fans, Harry you as you walk in the door, so I have Potter fans, Disney fans, etcetera-infinitum. As a longtime geek, my sock collection has some suggestions to encourage you to grown to a ridiculous size, so I can tell you this: these socks won’t disappoint. browse a little more thoroughly after you’re done perusing the shirts: 34 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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All Stars Cards & 732 Gaming S. Austin St., Seguin Older gamers know the atmosphere of shops long gone; the shops they could hang out in and talk about their passions/hobbies for hours with Collectible Card Games their friends, or random shoppers passPokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards never seem to not be hot for collecting or playing. ing through. If you’re a gamer (card, or These are collectible card games you can get into with your kids, or they can just video) looking for a cozy place to call collect for visual appreciation because the art is so incredibly well done. All Stars home, All Stars might be it. carries complete starter packs, booster packs for deck customization, and also has With tables set up for card game binder after binder of individual cards to pick and choose from. For those well-versed tournaments/Dungeons and Dragons, with card games, you might find that gem of a card you’ve been looking for for ages!

TVs set up for rented gaming sessions, and walls covered in a true variety of geek goods, All Stars has a little of everyVintage comics thing for the all-in-one geek. The retro To have access to the bronze and copper ages of comics (1970-2008) right in Seguin video game cartridges behind glass is mind-blowing. The selection is strong enough to keep me cherry-picking for a lifecounters, and the back room with disctime. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe huge to people of all ages that have never based games and other geeky goodies picked up a comic book, now is the time to introduce them to some of the true origins are worth a little store unto themselves. of these characters. Plenty of these singular issues have self-contained storylines, so no It’s such a broad spread of new and old, worries about jumping right in; anyone can be grabbed by these pages.

I’ll guide you through a few items you might want to keep an eye out for: GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 35

Flashback Gaming 238 Terminal Loop Rd., McQueeney Flashback Gaming hides in a cargo container-based shop lurking in McQueeney. It seems small, but the selection is huge. To the left of the entrance, you’ll find a plethora of anime collectibles: keychains, statues, lanyards, and so on. To the right? A beautiful assortment of retro games, modern console games, and even video gaming-related merchandise. From the original Nintendo Enterfunko pop! vinyl figures tainment System to the PlayStation 4, Funko Pop! Figures are absolutely everywhere. I admit I’ve turned an eye to them you’ll find tons of titles to potentially take quite often. Then, one spooky Halloween day, they released horror movie-related home and wrap up. figures. It was from that point forward that they owned my movie-geek soul. ThouIt doesn’t end there. Flashback can sands of Pop! Figures are available now, so if you’re stumped just dig deep down to the be a home for those invested or interested cartoon, show, movie, game, or anime that your loved one never stops talking about. in import gaming. A selection of quality I’m quite certain you’ll find one they’ll love.

Japanese retro games are available, and even the consoles capable of playing them.

Anime Figures and Statues I love the energy of this shop (and Statues based on anime or Japanese show characters are a classic shelf piece for fans owner) and recommend coming here just of any particular series. Everyone that watched anything Japan-produced most likely to browse the walls and have a chat. The has one lurking amongst their stuff. If not, then you can be the first to gift them one. owner is well-versed in retro games and They’ll never forget it. Flashback carries Demon Slayer statues, which are incredibly imports, and can help educate you on hot right now. Have an older geek to gift? Godzilla and Ultraman figures await. There this holiday journey. If you’re still overare even models for the builder on your list. whelmed, take note of my favorites you’ll find at Flashback Gaming: 36 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

There are so many options at the shops mentioned here, and I’ve only given you a few of my standout suggestions. For those that are already in the know about your favorite geek passions: buy what you love. For those that are entering new territory: don’t be afraid to ask questions. The lovely people running these shops got into these kinds of businesses because of their passion for their hobbies, and they know what you need to know.

The interactions with owners, and their knowledgeable employees, can make shopping local incredibly rewarding. Support local businesses, and they’ll support you.

Ballroom

Wedding Venue, Banquet Hall, Meeting Rooms Available Perfect for Weddings, Birthdays, Dances, Service Club Meetings and Fundraising holds up to 300 people Full service catering available

The Silver Center

Dining Room

Tuesday-Friday 11am-1pm

Open to the Public Daily Deliveries

Yellow Rose Room Holds 80 people

830-303-6612 510 E. Count - Seguin www.silverCenterSeguin.com

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 37

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The Crystal Chandelier

there’s no place like home for the holidays!

Choose local and independent for all your gift giving needs!

Thank you for continuing to support our community.

Handmade Pressed Flower Luminary Gretchen Bee Ranch - $45 Candy Dish and Spoon Set Keepers Interiors - $25

By Mud Pie Gifts. These dish and spoon sets are a sweet deal that comes boxed, perfect for gifting.

These beeswax luminary are made and decorated by hand, and are beautifully unique! Made with 100% beeswax and dried pressed flowers.

Each comes with a beeswax tealight to place inside, which when lit gives the whole luminary its warm, beautiful glow.

2745 W. Kingsbury St., Seguin | (830) 305-7925 www.gretchenbeeranch.com

615 N. Austin St., Seguin | (830) 379-9995 www.furniturestoreseguintx.com

Christmas Gifts for Dogs Thunderpaws Canine Solutions

Santa Paws is coming to town! Chances are, your pets have been pretty good this year (except for the time you left your leftover turkey sandwich too close to the edge of the table and it magically “disappeared”), and so it’s time to reward their stellar behavior.

206 S. Austin St., Seguin | (830) 379-7000 www.thunderpawsdogs.com 38 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Cape Cod Chicken Salad Sandwhich Court Street Coffee Shop - $7.49

Chicken salad with tomato and organic spring mix. Served fresh!

Chips, drink, and dessert sold seperately.

301 N Austin St, Seguin, in Aumont Building | (830) 379-7711 www.courtstreetcoffeeshop.com

Experience

Heirloom

Beauty

Stainless Steel Telescoping Straw Gift & Gourmet - $14.99 This two-piece straw set includes one BPA-free, stainless steel telescoping straw and a straw cleaning brush, all packed in a carrying case that is hygienic and handy.

A variety of Woods, styles, and Custom Work Available

12286 US HWY 87W, LaVernia, Tx 78121 951.490.2374 - hardwoodchairman@yahoo.com GO BACK

212 S. Austin St., Seguin (830) 379-1242 www.giftandgourmetseguin.com

chair style shown: “contentment” wood: walnut

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL Providing Comfort To Our Customers Since 1994

Canvas Wine Bags Southern Good - $10.99

Canvas Christmas wine bags are the perfect gift for the holidays! Printed on high quality canvas material, these festive wine bags make the cutest addition to your elegant party decor.

106 N. Austin St., Seguin (830) 463-5170 www.fb.com/southerngood

Your comfort is our Business

VOTED BEST HEATING/AC COMPANY IN SEGUIN

Change your life with

(830) 303-8624

TACLA010612C

WIFI T-STAT

510 N. Austin • Seguin www.TriCountyAC.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 39

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EVENT C A L E N D A R -Decembercountry christmas: tenth - eleventh – 5 - 8 PM Bring the family and friends to join in on the fun as we celebrate Christmas from the years past.

Christmas trees are decorated in the tradition of the diverse cultures in Texas and a variety of Nativity scenes are displayed inside the Red Barn. Visitors can enjoy Christmas music and other live entertainment performed while they enjoy chili & tamales, hot chocolate, cobbler & more. Dress for the weather, there is a lot to take in outdoors. Location: Big Red Barn, 390 Cordova Rd.

Goat cuddles and wine: eleventh – 1:30 - 3 PM Come and enjoy the beautiful Blue Lotus winery while hanging out with bouncing baby goats. The goats will mingle with you, sit in your lap, pose for pictures, and even need to be bottle fed. Your ticket includes a glass of wine as well as entry to hang out with the baby goats!

Location: Blue Lotus Winery, 5151 FM 20.

Texas reptile expo: eleventh - twelfth – 10 am - 5 PM Our wide variety of vendors allows you to interact with many types of fascinating slitherers, crawlers, and swimmers. Everybody and anybody can have a grand ol’ time here, from fun-loving families with kids to serious herpers. Say howdy to a new adventure!

Location: McQueeney Lions Club, 3211 FM 78, McQueeney

mid-Texas Symphony home for the holidays: twelfth – 4 - 6 PM Here comes Old St. Nick! This festive holiday program features a jazzy take on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and a powerful rendition of O Holy Night by tenor Rick Novak. Bring the whole family to enjoy these holiday favorites! Visit www.mtsymphony.org for more info and to purchase tickets.

Location: Jackson Auditorium at Texas Lutheran University, 1000 W. Court St.

Third Thursday - holiday shopping: sixteenth – 4 - 8 PM Come out for our holiday shopping night in Downtown Seguin! Enjoy music from area children’s groups, food trucks, and other fun and exciting events at each of the shops.

Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY: seventeenth – 11 AM - 2 PM Join Guadalupe County and the Seguin Main Street Program every third Friday behind the Justice Center for delicious eats. Location: S. Camp and W. Donnegan.

Send event details to seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com to have your event added to this calendar

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