Seguin Magazine - March 2021 by Seguin Gazette

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

March 2021

FROM CHAOS TO BLISS

Professional organizer, Ivy Meehan is a decluttering superhero

bespoke shoes

The Maberrys RESCUE BABIES

BOTTLE AT A TIME

ONE

Eric Norman brings European design and Japanese technique to our closets

13 Saturday March 27, 2021

ONLY 300 TICKETS AVAILABLE TICKETS WILL BE SOLD UNTIL MARCH 20TH, 2021 Scan QR CODE to purchase tickets Tickets can also be purchased online at seguinolc.org or our Facebook page

HUGE SELECTION OF GENUINE RECLINERS

399

F RO M TO

We Buy Gold

1199

In Stock & Ready for FAST - FREE DELIVERY

www.starckefurniture.com

300 S. Austin St. • 379-4622 La-Z-Boy Recliners | Broyhill Furniture

Gift and Gourmet 212 S. Austin St. Seguin, Tx 830-379-1242

Bring in your gold & diamonds for cash or trade! We buy all precious metals including gold, silver, and platinum, and diamond jewelry for immediate payment. You can also trade any of these items for new jewelry!

-Kendra Scott-Kendra -Jon Hart ScottDesign-Jon Hart Design -Costa Del Mar- -Tyler Candle Co.-Pura Vida Jewelry-

-Tyler Candle Shop OurCo.-Ronaldo Jewelrynew website! www.giftandgourmetseguin.com ...and so much more!

830-625-3203 www.ernestos.com ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ New Braunfels Marketplace 717 N. Business IH 35 Suite 150

in this issue March 2021

FEATURES 12 ORGANIZATION TREND

Working from home has created a rise in the desire for a more organized space and life

18 BESPOKE SHOE DESIGN

Footwear that features the wearers personality and are made to function for decades

22 BOTTLE FED FUR BABIES

The Maberry family shares their home with baby animals to ensure they have a better start in life

ON THE SCENE

24 CARVING WOOD INTO ART

Howard Crunk finds therapy through his art as he learns how to overcome the imperfections

AROUND TOWN 32 FAVORITE FINDS

Unique items from local small businesses

34 FACES OF SEGUIN

Submitted photos from our readers

on the cover Photo by Lizz Daniels

Teagan is surrounded by her current herd of bottle baby lambs. Together with her mom, they work as a team to feed and care for their animal companions with special needs.

SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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

Vol. 7, No. 10 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette. Publisher

Elizabeth Engelhardt Editor

Desiree Gerland

Graphic Designer

Bethy Male Writers

Dalondo Moultrie Katy O’Bryan Lizz Daniels

ADVERTISING

Delilah Reyes Gay Lynn Olsovsky

TO ADVERTISE IN SEGUIN Magazine call 830-379-5402 have Story Ideas? let us know

seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com

hot tip

ACCORDING TO FOLKLORE, YOU SHOULD WEAR A SPRIG OF ROSEMARY IN YOUR HAIR TO IMPROVE MEMORY! 6

SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

An INSIDE look from our

WRITERS

“I’ve never known anyone as enthusiastic about cleaning as Ivy Meehan. OK, what she doesn’t maybe can’t be called cleaning. She organizes professionally and seems to be more passionate about it than I ever have in all of my years. Meehan goes about helping people like me who dread the process of decluttering spaces and making them look neat again. Her technique is to organize things so that items easily can be put back in their proper places. I have plans to use her technique around my home so hopefully, one day, I won’t dread the work as much.” – Dalondo Moultrie

“I’ve met artists of all kinds, but getting to know Eric Norman and learning about the authentic craft of shoemaking was an entirely new depth for me. My article is just a glimpse inside of the things Eric taught me, and I could have written an entire book about the conversations we had in his workshop.” – Katy O’Bryan

“Meeting Teagan and all of her furry friends was such an uplifting experience. She is a bright, incredibly intelligent young woman who has a way with animals and to be perfectly honest, I can’t wait to see where she ends up in the future. Kids like her give me hope because that kind of caring is what we need in the world.” – Lizz Daniels

Shop at SistersRocks.com

Everything for today’s trendy woman, kids & home

918 10th Street, Floresville, TX 78114 830-393-7993 Monday-Saturday 9-6 • Sunday 12-6 GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN

FROM THE

Editor

eing trapped inside has been something that many of us have become accustomed to in the last year, but what we all experienced a few weeks ago with the sudden snowpocalypse was something for the history books. Many of us were definitely not prepared and I think we all learned a lot, and quickly. The aftermath was also somewhat traumatic for many, as we played catch up with work and assessed damages to our homes, schools, and workplaces. The Seguin Gazette offices were not immune to the weather, either. As I myself played catch up and talked with my wonderfully supportive team about the articles in this month’s issue, specifically the one about Howard Crunk’s beautiful art and how he overcomes the frustrations of the imperfections, I expressed how I completely understood! While doing my own art, or designing these very pages, I find myself with these same frustrations. One of our team members said to me “Something that

someone once told me that was very helpful is that no one else can see the perfect image that you have in your head, so to them what you create and present can be perceived as perfect in their eyes. So it’s ok to let go and find peace in the work that you do.” I can’t begin to tell you how much that impacted me in that moment. Even as I continued to be completely swamped and overwhelmed with the looming deadlines that were approaching rapidly, the echoing of that sentiment in my brain made the work a tad bit easier to tackle head on. This issue is all about tackling life head on and using the things that inspire us to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. I hope these articles inspire you to do what you are passionate about, and that you find success, even with the imperfections. The sun is shining, Seguin!

Desiree Gerland

Desiree Gerland, Editor

SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Keepers

PREPARE YOUR TASTE BUDS

FOR BATTLE!

Interiors & Furniture

SATURDAY, April 17th 10am-9pm mAX STARCKE PARK EAST

Find something you love for your home

Furniture • Art • Lamps Beatriz Ball • Home Accessories Lampe Berger • Gifts Chalk Paint ® by Annie Sloan Paint & Workshops Custom Upholstery • Furniture Repair Interior Design Consultation • Custom Window Treatments

830-379-9995 keepersinteriors.com 615 N Austin S t, S eguin, T X 78155

Texas Ladies State 50th Chili Championship CHILI, CRAFT AND FOOD VENDORS, SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLES, GAMES, MUSIC AND MORE! SIGN UP TO BE A CHILI JUDGE AT TLSCCO.COM

VisitSeguin.com | 830-401-5000

PROVIDING THE BEST EYE CARE IN SEGUIN FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

CATARACTS - DRY EYE - OPTICAL GLAUCOMA CARE - DIABETIC EYE CARE ROUTINE EXAMS - LASIK - CORNEA SURGERY 908 E. Court St., Seguin TX 78155 www.EyesTx.com

Call today to schedule! 830-379-EYES (3937) Also in San Antonio, New Braunfels, La Vernia, Luling, Lockhart, Gonzales, Hondo, & Castroville. Most Health and Vision Plans Accepted.

LCR Custom Fence & Construction Let us build your custom fence for farm, ranch, business or home.

We have the latest equipment and best crews to get in and out leaving you with a quality custom fence.

Pipe • Barbed Wire • Net Wire • Custom Gates No money upfront, you pay when your custom fence is complete! Contact Leighton Robbins | 210-289-0264 | leighton@lcrcfc.com

106 North Austin Seguin, TX 78155 (830)-463-5170 Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm Sat - 10am - 5pm Sun - 12pm - 4pm

THE OF B T ES

BES

Women’s & Children’s Apparel Home Decor Accessories & So much more!

2020

Trent Twitero, MD Proudly serving Seguin since 2010

Orthopedic Surgeon

• General orthopedic care for all ages • Joint replacement; hip, knee & shoulder • Arthroscopy; shoulder, knee & ankle • Injections and other targeted procedures • Fracture care

Phone: 830-625-0009 1340 E Walnut, Suite 1344 Accepting most major medical insurance including Medicare and Tricare

Professional Organization

that will change

your life S t o ry by Da l ondo Moultri e

E Closet Kitchen Bathroom Office Garage living room Laundry Room Baby & Kids

12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

veryone wants to get their life in order, right? A pandemic threw many things into flux, including the nature of some people’s homes. Clutter seemed to be the order of the day for many and a local woman decided to take it upon herself to help. “A lot of people were having to stay home and look at it while they worked,” said Ivy Meehan, professional organizer and owner of TidyIvy, the business she recently started. “We noticed the chaos we live in. It became kind of a moment in itself with organizers being hired to do professional jobs.” She became one of those organizers a little less than a year ago and hasn’t looked back since. Now, clients hire her to declutter their homes or businesses. She focuses on small or large areas. They can include garages, pantries, attics and more. The idea came to her as she was spending lots of time at home during the start of the pandemic with her then 2-year-old twin daughters. “We were doing art projects, chalk outlines … I started realizing how much of a mess the garage was,” Meehan said.

She decided to do something about her own surroundings. Organizing the spaces around her own home led to hiring out her services to help others. “Basically, I just wanted to help family and friends,” Meehan said. “As the pandemic continued, people were spending so much time at home and you were realizing how much stuff you have.”

“As the pandemic continued, people were spending so much time at home and you were realizing how much stuff you have.”

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13

Keeping things minimal is an option for someone trying not to blow the bank on organization

14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Calls began to increase. Work picked up. A business began. Gail LaFerrara, a longtime friend of the family, heard about what Meehan was doing and wanted in. The self-described pack rat needed help with a shed where she stores boxes upon boxes and bins upon bins of decorations for Christmas, Halloween, Easter and the like. Her old way of doing things wasn’t working, LaFerrara said. “I look very organized because if you walk in my house, everything is always in its place. But if you open a cabinet, a closet or a drawer, you will be taking your life into your own hands. This is not a joke,” LaFerrara said. “Out of sight out of mind, throw it and slam the door, thats my motto. I needed to be able to open that door and see what I actually have.” She plans to have Meehan return for other areas of the home. Beyond cleaning up the shed, LaFerrara said she needs help ridding her space of items. She hopes Meehan will give her the confidence to purge some unneeded things. She began accumulating stuff well before the pandemic and now can use a hand organizing spaces at her home, LaFerrara said. “It’s not like professional organizers didn’t exist before COVID, but my theory is that with everyone staying home, a lot of us noticed how chaotic and unorganized we’d become,” Meehan said. “And maybe, even though we’re home and living more consecutive hours in that clutter, we still didn’t have time to get back to being organized. So it was an exasperated situation. ‘I’m with all this stuff and I can’t ignore it going in to work all day.’ “So, that’s where I thought an organization business would thrive.” Following her epiphany, professional organization shows like Netflix’s “The Minimalist, Marie Kondo,” and “The Home Edit” hit the airwaves. More people started buying in to the idea of organizers saving the world from itself. A movement of sorts began, Meehan said.

"Look To Seguin Assisted Living For A Carefree Future.”

Family Owned And Operated • Large Apartments / 3 Floorplans to Choose From • Selective Menu at All Meals • Daily Activities Call us today for information or to arrange your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

226 Preston Drive, Seguin, Tx 830.379.8882 www.SeguinAssistedLiving.com

Lic# 050604

Owning a home opens the doors to security and the opportunity to create the lifestyle you deserve. We’re here to address your questions so that you can unlock all the benefits a home has to offer.

109 E Court St - Seguin 830-372-9466 Locally Owned and Operated

WWW.ANDERSPIERCE.COM

480 S Seguin ave - New braunfels 830-214-6002

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 15

People on the shows and organizers on social media were sharing drastic “before” and “after” photos but the spaces didn’t seem functional for busy families in her opinion. Organizers gaining fame talked about creating systems but didn’t give advice to clients as to how to maintain the organization, Meehan said. She developed a system and isn’t afraid to share it with everyone. “My advice is to look at a space you want to organize and use this formula: establish zones/categories, contain, and label,” Meehan said. “I recommend utilizing shelving units to help use vertical space. What I mean by zones is if you think about a garage, ideally you have a zone for tools, a zone for kids’ outdoor toys, a zone for sporting equipment.” Then comes containing everything within the zones, she said. Using containers such as plastic bins, or converted cereal boxes for storage, make the spaces “look like those organized spaces in magazines,” Meehan suggested. Labeling could be the most important part of her system, she said. Photo labels are helpful to include young children in the organizational process and maintenance of that order, Meehan said. Keeping things minimal is an option for someone trying not to blow the bank on organization, she said. “You don’t need to spend a ton on fancy labels; duct tape works great and is easy to remove if you, and you will need to, relabel what’s in the bin,” Meehan said. The whole system is important because, especially with young children, maintaining a decluttered space can be difficult without a plan. That’s what she offers her clients and believes all professional organizers should strive to do. Sure, it could lead to less repeat business if clients don’t need her anymore, but racking up satisfied customers who she has helped is the goal, Meehan said. “I don’t want them to have to rehire me,” she said. “Maybe that’s not the best money-making business 16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“My goal is as soon as I leave the house, the client can maintain what I’ve done.”

model but ultimately, maybe they’ll hire me for a different space in the house. “My goal is as soon as I leave the house, the client can maintain what I’ve done.”

Getting a space organized is one thing. But keeping it that way or knowing how to quickly tidy it up is another. And isn’t that what everyone wants?

Professional Quality Service You Can Trust

wki

WESTERHOLM K O E H L E R INSURANCE

HOME. AUTO. LIFE. COMMERCIAL.

830-379-7352 533 E. Court St. • Seguin www.wkitexas.com

@designassociatesseguin @theshopSeguin

830-303-1522

WWW.SEGUINGAZET TE.COM

OVER 500,000 MONTHLY VISITORS!

Seguin’sPremiere Premiere Medispa Seguin’s Medispa Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Family Medicine Seguin’s Medispa Seguin’sPremiere Premiere Medispa Family Medicine Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Weight Loss • Hormone Therapy Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Family Medicine Family Medicine Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Loss • Hormone Therapy Seguin’sWeight Premiere Medispa Aesthetics Women’s Health Weight Loss Therapy Weight Loss• ••Hormone Hormone Therapy Family Medicine • Family Medicine • Weight Loss • Family Medicine • Hormone Therapy • Weight Loss • Family Medicine • Family Medicine • Aesthetics • Hormone Therapy • Weight Loss • Weight Loss • Family Medicine • Botox & Fillers • Aesthetics • Hormone Therapy • Hormone Therapy • Weight Loss • Family Medicine • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers • Aesthetics • Aesthetics • Hormone Therapy • Weight Loss • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers • Botox & Fillers • Aesthetics • Hormone Therapy • Micro-needling • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers • Aesthetics •• Micro-needling Microblading • Eyelash Extensions • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers • Medi Facials •• Micro-needling Microblading • Micro-needling • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Women’s Health • Medi Facials • Microblading • Microblading Laser Hair Removal • Micro-needling • Eyelash Extensions • Women’s Health • Medi Facials • Medi Facials IPL Photofacials •• Women’s Health Microblading • Micro-needling • Women’s Health •• Medi Facials Microblading •• Medi Facials Seguin, TX 78155 • Women’s Health •• Women’s Health Seguin, TX 78155

Aesthetics • Family Women’s Health Medicine Aesthetics • Women’s Health Aesthetics • Women’s Health Weight Loss • Hormone Therapy www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com Weight Loss • •Hormone www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com CHECK THE COMMUNITY Aesthetics Women’sTherapy Health CALENDAR www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com • Women’s Health 515 N. King St., Ste. 103 •Aesthetics Seguin, TX 78155

830-372-5200 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 515 N. King St., Ste.www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com 103 • Seguin, TX 78155 830-372-5200 515 103 TX 515N.N.King KingSt., St.,Ste. Ste. 103••Seguin, Seguin, TX78155 78155 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com 830-372-5200 GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS

VIEW SPECIAL SECTIONS LOOK AT CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

Call us for BackCall to School us forSpecials Back to School Book ausfacial, Call for Call us Specials for

515 N. King St.,515Ste. 103St.,•Ste.103 Seguin, TX 78155 N. King 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 515 N. King St.,515Ste. 103St.,•Ste.103 Seguin, TX 78155 N. King READ LOCAL OPINIONS www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com getBack a Back free Dermaplane to School Specials to School Specials

Back to School Specials Call usSt., forSt., 830-372-5200 515 N.N. King Ste.103 • Seguin, 515 King Ste.103 • Seguin,TX TX78155 78155 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com Back to School Specials 830-372-5200 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com 515 N.www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com King St., Ste.103 • Seguin, TX 78155 515 N. King St., Ste.103 • Seguin, TX 78155 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com Call us for

& VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE OF SEGUIN MAGAZINE

personalized shoes

handmade to last BESPOKE SHOE DESIGN WITH ERIC NORMAN

S to ry by k at y o’ b rya n P h o t o s by f el ic ia f r a za r

here are only five people in the United States who custom make bespoke shoes, and one of them is a newer Seguin resident. Shoemaker Eric Norman set out to learn the art of crafting sophisticated leather shoes by hand about five years ago and is preparing to open up a shop from his home. The one-man shoemaking operation is a slow, detailed process that Norman refers to as “anti-Amazon.” “It’s hard to escape the romantic side of it because this is the opposite of modernization,” he said. “It’s slow, it’s personalized, it’s all about the reputation with the client.” Norman creates his shoes with global ties, as most manufacturers left the United States long ago. Tools from Japan, India, Czech Republic and other parts of the world are used in the shoemaking process along with materials sourced as far away as Germany and Austria. Hand-picked wooden shoe molds, or lasts, are individually sourced from Italy depending on the clients’ needs and kept for future use for each particular customer. Despite his use of foreign materi-

als, Norman says using locally sourced leather alludes to his more natural and traditional taste. “Sustainability is about localization,” he said. “I’m not trying to be a European shoemaker, I’m trying to be an American shoemaker.” Norman always had a subconscious pull toward shoemaking, but it wasn’t until after he earned a master’s in a different field that he found his real calling. Working in the hospitality field started to drag on

Norman, leaving an opening for him to find his true inspiration, and shoemaking just “fit his personality better.” “I decided I wanted to make something,” he said. “I don’t want to contribute to the junk that exists in the world, because there is already enough of that. I want to make high quality things.” After telling his wife about this revelation, together they set out to find a way for Norman to learn the art of shoemaking without attendance at pricey universities. Networking took Norman across the continent as an apprentice in Michigan and Toronto, trading labor for knowledge. Leaving Toronto, he visited Japan and ended up studying as long as the Japanese government would allow. Training in a Japanese workshop

Tools from Japan, India, Czech Republic and other parts of the world are used in the shoemaking process along with materials sourced as far away as Germany and Austria. Hand-picked wooden shoe molds, or lasts, are individually sourced from Italy.

“I’m not trying to be a European shoemaker, I’m trying to be an American shoemaker.”

turned out to be an entirely new experience than Norman said he ever knew. “Not only do they make shoes that are more beautiful and more precise, but they also work faster, which is incredible,” he said. “So the guys that taught me were very patient with me and very generous to teach me.” Unable to get back to Europe for another apprenticeship, Norman decided to turn his talents into his own business here in Guadalupe County. “We ultimately decided that I would try to go on my own and start making with what I knew, and keep learning and perfecting along the way,” he said. “So that’s kind of where we GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 19

are now, and that whole process has taken about five years.” Creating two pairs of shoes a month is Norman’s current projection, but each custom pair is tailored specifically to the client’s preference. Working from his lap or on one of the custom benches in his workshop, each of his creations is one of a kind. “This is everything slow, everything for quality not price. It’s expensive, that’s inherent. It’s taken me five years to get these skills,” he said. At first consultation, Norman usually prefers to get to know his customers a bit and then work together to come up with a style best suited to client preference but is also sensible for their lifestyle. “Ultimately making shoes is kind of a balance between making something beautiful, sculptural and making something ergonomic and shaped the way the body is shaped,” he explained.

A shoe in its final creation stage sits next to an empty last atop a workbench in Norman’s shop. Temporary nails are helping the leather mold to the last which will help the leather hold form.

“Sometimes it produces something that’s beautiful if you do a good job with it.” Followed are sketches, last selection, then a mock shoe is created for a fitting. When it is time for the final product, his clients can be sure that every stitch, cut, slice and nail is done by hand with immaculate precision. Norman gives client style choice heavy consideration, but said his products are meant to last a lifetime. Ten years in really great shape and 10 more as a Saturday shoe, they have easily 20 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

replaceable soles that help the shoe span decades. Starting at $2,700 a pair, the artist said he delivers a product to be handed down for generations. “I don’t like to make flashy stuff that somebody is just doing,” Norman said. “If you have the money and that’s your intention, there’s probably other people that are better suited. My goal is to make something timeless, something that breaks down and wears out, this is something that the leather will get softer, it will conform to your foot, and once you wear the

sole out, we can just put another one on. Basically it’s rebuildable, so these will wear in, be really comfortable and you’ll have them for decades, and that is my goal.” Norman is five years deep in the process of shoemaking, and said he still finds the process fascinating. “When you get me talking about shoes, I can talk for a while,” he said. “I think most people have no idea how much is on the inside of a shoe that you don’t see.”

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL Providing Comfort To Our Customers Since 1994

VOTED BEST HEATING/AC COMPANY IN SEGUIN

Your comfort is our Business

Change your life with

(830) 303-8624

TACLA010612C

WIFI T-STAT

510 N. Austin • Seguin www.TriCountyAC.com

Spend your ambitions Wisely.

Living a life of love and impact is a journey of small steps. And First United Bank is here to inspire and empower you along the way. We invite you to call or stop by today to learn more. Seguin-East • 1539 E. Court St. • 830-401-1170 Seguin-Main • 200 N. Austin St. • 830-401-1100 Seguin-West • 901 N. State Hwy 46 • 830-401-1175 Member FDIC.

Equal Housing Lender. NMLS# 400025.

FirstUnitedBank.com

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 21

FEEDING

TIME with Teagan

22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

living life with Bottle Babies Story a nd Photos by L i zz Da ni e l s

hen mammals are born, a clock begins ticking down. Within two hours, the newborn needs to nurse. Instinct usually kicks in guiding the process, but occasionally complications make nursing the natural way impossible. That’s when humans have to bust out the bottles and step in with milk replacement formula. At only 11 years old, Teagan Maberry is an animal husbandry expert and loves to share her knowledge with others while living a life surrounded by furry companions. From lambs to lizards, the Maberrys live alongside animals much like a Guadalupe County version of Australia’s famous Erwin family. When Teagan explains a newborn calf ’s need for colostrum with an excited grin and maturity far beyond her years, it is apparent –– she’s the Bindi of the family. “The animals we care for don’t always get the best start in life,” Teagan said. “If they don’t get colostrum, they go into passive immunity failure. Colostrum is the first milk, which helps defend their systems against illnesses. It also helps them grow by getting their stomach moving.

It’s rare to keep one alive that doesn’t get those nutrients within 24 hours.” Bottle feeding is time consuming. Just like humans, infant animals need to nurse regularly. That means formula is prepared multiple times a day and sometimes throughout the night. When it’s feeding time, the Maberry house goes wild. The dogs start yapping, the rooster gets a little ruffled, and the four lambs Teagan is currently caring for begin baa-ing. The care the Maberrys provide goes beyond just providing formula. When temperatures start to dip, it can get too cold outside, even for wooly lambs, so the family shares their house with the baby sheep at night. For those uninitiated to living alongside animals in this way, it might be a shock, but for Teagan, this is just the way life is. “I was born into life with animals,” she said. “I have been out with cattle and goats since before I was born. My dad brought home my first calf when I was three, then we got a second and things have just kept growing from there.” Teagan’s interests evolved beyond the farm animals to which she was first introduced. She now has a collec-

tion of pets, including sugar gliders, chinchillas, and two talkative guinea pigs who make happy whistles when she’s nearby. “I really have a passion for more exotic animals,” Teagan said. “I fell in love with my first hamster, Dotty. She was amazing. I realized I really like handling small animals. One of the local game wardens introduced me to her snakes, and that’s when I found out I like reptiles. I really wanted a bearded dragon, but decided that the maintenance was too high, so I recently got a Mack snow leopard gecko.” Teagan’s gecko lives in a glass habitat complete with warming and cooling elements to fit his unique biological needs. With animals that require such specific care, Teagan learns a lot and shares her knowledge with others through 4-H and her non-profit, Wiggles World. “My mom started her own unrelated non-profit, and it looked like so much fun, I thought we could do something like it for the animals,” she said. “Wiggles World started on my 10th birthday, and right now I have a Facebook where I share stories, photos and videos. I also do educaGUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 23

tional tours for students and 4-H presentations. My sister, Taylor, is behind the inspiration for educating others. Watching her doing presentations for 4-H inspired me to do the same, which led to everything else.” Taylor didn’t stop there in inspiring her little sister, though. For Teagan’s last birthday, she reached out to the Australia Zoo and asked for a photo to give as a gift. The staff sent back an entire birthday package complete with signed postcards, a zoo map, and more. They even made

The animals we care for don’t always get the best start in life.

Teagan an official Wildlife Warrior. “My sister is amazing,” Teagan said. “I want to be a game warden when I grow up, but I’d also like to work at the Australia Zoo, so it was a special gift.” And if a little attention from the Australia Zoo wasn’t enough, Teagan’s mom Abbie says her youngest daughter stopped zookeeper Jack Hannah in his tracks when they met. “He was doing a presentation in Seguin at TLU and she took her sugar glider with her like usual,” Abbie said. “After the presentation they were moving people through, but when he saw her sugar glider, they had a 24 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

moment.” Hannah stopped what he was doing and talked to Teagan about her animals while other fans waited. It was the experience of a lifetime. Teagan’s journey with animals is far from over and will likely be a path she walks for the rest of her life. “I want to help people know what to do with their animals, so that when they get a guinea pig, they don’t get just one, or when they have sugar gliders, they don’t separate them,” Teagan said. “When I teach little kids, they get so excited and their faces light up when they see these animals they’ve never seen before. They’ll point to a

Teagan cares for a wide variety of animals including the exotics pictured. Her hedgehog, Charlie, is also a rescue who, despite a grumpy personality, loves Teagan.

THE OF B

T ES

BES

M.E. Plumbing has served clients in Seguin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Luling, La Vernia, Gonzales and surrounding areas of Texas since 2005.

2020

nEW RMP-37076

24 Hour Commercial and Residential Plumbing Services

Orthopedics Off

ia n r e V a L Orthopedics Office Orthopedics Office 830-303-5534 Seguin 925 S. Austin St., Seguin, TX 78155

nEW in Lain LVearnViearnia nEW

280 S. King St. Seguin, TX musculos High quality care for • • • disorders injuries. Walnut Springs Familyand Health

•SportsSt. injuries •Trauma 309 Silverado LaVernia, TX •Fractures LaVernia Patients Seen Every Thursday Morning •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot P

High quality care for musculoskeletal Walnut Springs Health High Family quality care for musculoskeletal G. Steven MD trent J. twit 309 Silverado St.,disorders La Vernia disorders andWhite, injuries. and injuries.

injuries •Trauma •Fractures •Sports injuries•Sports •Trauma •Fractures Call for an appt. •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot Problems •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot830-379-9492 Problems Walnut Springs Family Health cockatoo and say they saw it in their Walnut Springs Family Health G. Steven trent MD J. twitero, Prom MD Steven White, MD White, trent MD J. twitero, 309 Silverado St.,Silverado La VerniaSt., LaG.Vernia backyard, and I’d like to share my 309 Appoin pt tme knowledge so they know that probably Availab nts le! Call for an appt. 830-379-9492 Call for an appt. 830-379-9492 wasn’t the case.” The Maberry menagerie continues to grow, and they are considering applying for petting zoo licensing to help further the non-profit’s educational goals. As the bottle babies grow hungry and start crying, Teagan prepares ances another round of formula while Abbie Most insur accepted, ing lud watches. Together they head out, inc mp Worker’s Co The health and safety of our patients and staff & Medicaid greeted by hungry babies who rush in are our highest priority as we strive to eagerly, all while waiting for the call minimize the spread of COVID infection. that will lead to their next rescue. CALL FOR AN APPT. 830-379-9492

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25

{ ontheScene }

VISUALIZING THE

Artist

Dreams of an t h e c r e at i v e m i n d o f H O W A R D C R U N K

STORY BY DA L ONDO MOULTRI E Photo by f e l i ci a f ra za r

or as long as he can remember, and maybe even beyond that, Howard Crunk has seen the world a bit differently and taken pains to depict his interpretations of what he visualized. “I’ve drawn since I was 2. I started painting when I was 7,” the Seguinite said. “I started doing sculpting in the 8th grade; I guess I was 12. “It’s a passion I’ve always had, and interest, also.” Over the years, Crunk has transformed that interest into a gift and the 44-year-old now puts his passion to work for him. Though he performs various duties to pay the bills and works with a cousin’s landscaping company, Crunk paints, sculpts and creates in hopes of earning a buck that way as well. “Everything I create is always for sale,” he said. “I show at different venues online, go to different art shows, galleries.” The art he makes and displays is varied. Crunk creates oil paintings, and sculpts using stone and wood. Generally he buys materials at hobby supply stores or finds them in nature. He goes for a more realistic style,

Artist Howard Crunk chisels away at a wooden sculpture behind his home. Crunk said depending on the size, it can take three to six months to finish a sculpture. 26 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

The Maasai – acrylic on canvas

but also puts his own personal slant on things, Crunk said. “That’s what I have been drawn to, trying to recreate reality, trying to recreate what I see, trying to push my talent for what I perceive as far as it can go,” he said. “I’ve never been one for abstract or minimalism. They have their place in the art spectrum but I’ve never gravitated toward them.” He includes artists who came before him as some of the greats. Rembrandt, Crunk said, is his favorite painter. When it comes to his top choice as sculptors go, Crunk’s choice is much more contemporary. His favorite sculptor and biggest influence is Marika Bordes, for whom he apprenticed after college, Crunk said. She taught him a lot. “If anything, I learned more how to perfect my finishing of my pieces as well as expand my creativity and let myself go wild,” he said. “Everything doesn’t have to be 100% realism. It doesn’t have to be what I see but I can let my imagination dictate some of the general flow of what I’m creating.” Bordes has since moved away from the area and now resides in the small, art-centric town of Mont-SaintHilaire near Montreal in Canada. She remembers learning from Crunk’s mother in summer 2007 about the talented artist. They started working together in 2009 and formed an immediate bond. The pair collaborated on a number of art works as Bordes took Crunk under her wing. They learned from and about each other in the process, Bordes said. “Howard is a very good artist: drawing, painting, sculpture,” she said. “He is a strong team player with constructive and problem-solving input, and at times he needs encouragement to express the thoughts in his creative mind.” Crunk recognizes his tendency to

The Peacock – sycamore wood carving GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 27

get in his own way while creating. Of his own works, Crunk has a couple favorites. One is a sycamore sculpture depicting a peacock perched on what appears to be some sort of plant with flowers attached. His favorite painting shows a trio of ducks navigating a pond. One of the water fowl has its wings slightly opened as if preparing to take flight or just landing on the surface of the ripply water. When asked why, he doesn’t tout the works’ artistic excellence or pat himself on the back for their brilliance. Instead, Crunk points to a more personal reason. “I’m never truly satisfied with what I create when I finish, but those gave me the most satisfaction when I finished them,” he said. “I felt more complete when I finished those than anything else. They’re closer to what I envisioned. “When I envisioned something in my head, those two pieces came closer. I’ve never had anything 100% come out as I envisioned, but those are the closest.”

Ducks in a Texas Pond II – oil on canvas

28 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Mashan Bua – oil on canvas

Cardinals – oil on canvas

A New Delivery – stone carving

Crunk acknowledges a kind of perfectionistic streak within himself. It creates loads of frustration and lack of contentment. They are feelings he believes other artists also might endure. He is coming to terms with accepting what is and knowing perfection is an often elusive dream. “I’m never truly content most of the time with what I’ve created,” Crunk said. “It’s different degrees of frustration of not getting to where I wanted to be. Eventually, after taking so much time on a piece, you have to let it go. Everyone else may love it but inside you’re a raging ball of fire.” Stopping and just moving on to the next piece is his way of ending the frustration, but doing so in a therapeutic way, he said. “You’re so engrossed in the next piece that you forget all the past frustrations,” Crunk said. “You can’t dwell on the past while you’re working on the present. You have a third mind’s eye looking toward the future, too.” What he sees leads to inspiration for his art works, Crunk said. That goes for things he sees in the natural world and those picked up by his “mind’s eye,” he said. GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 29

Sometimes ideas come in dreams and they’re so vivid that he is quickly drawn to work them out on canvas or in sculpture form, Crunk said. Artists play important roles in society, he said. They chronicle individual moments in history. Art is a bookmark on a current environment of man, Crunk said. It’s like a snapshot of society and its ebb and flow, he said. “Art has always been a way to show the world we live in or just to show what the current society’s thoughts are, Crunk said. “It’s like a human expression. Mankind has always wanted to express themselves in some way and it’s always been through art.” The artist hopes to be such a recorder of history and possibly make a modest living at the same time. Earning enough from his art to live comfortably — “I don’t need to be rich,” Crunk said — is also a goal. Whether the money rolls in or not, Crunk likely will continue hammering out ideas on wood, stone and canvas because, that’s just what he does. “I’ve always been drawn to do it,” he said. “I’ve always had ideas running in my head and not just standing there watching the world go by. When I go to sleep there are dreams and something that makes me always want to create. “It’s just a natural part of me, as I live and breathe.”

North Padre Island – oil on canvas

“Mankind has always wanted to express themselves in some way and it’s always been through art.” 30 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

DON’T MISS OUT ON NEXT MONTHS ISSUE OF G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

LEGEND

PLUMBING & SEPTIC

• Plumbing Repairs • Drain Cleaning • Septic Services

Free Estimates *

830-303-3335

GET TWELVE MONTHS OF LOCAL STORIES DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX FOR ONLY

$39.95!

24/7* www.asklegend.com

*Call for details

BRET BROWN RMP 16126

Refresh YOUR LOOK FOR SPRING

Professional Hair Salon Flowers Candy

830-372-0881 Dinner R 117 Peach Street

Enou

Get more GREEN for your spring!

OR SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEGUIN GAZETTE TO GET SEGUIN MAGAZINE INCLUDED WITH YOUR NEWSPAPER.

ORDER NOW-

830-379-5441 OR VISIT

seguingazette.com

Toledo Finance Corp. (830) 433-9362

550 N Hwy 123 Bypass Suite 142 • Seguin, TX

Not just oil, Pennzoil

SEGUIN

NEW BRAUNFELS

SCHERTZ

128 Hwy. 46 S

988 Mission Dr.

482 Hwy. 46 S

1190 Borgfeld Rd.

(830) 379-6659

(830) 625-0401

(830) 626-3280

(830) 566-1077

at Court St.

123 S. King St. (830) 379-6654

at Landa St.

Next to Kohl’s

992 Business IH35 S 830-214-0622

at FM 3009

SAN MARCOS

1044 Hwy. 123 (512) 396-3493

OPEN: Mon - Fri 8AM-6PM • Sat 8AM-5PM

Fa♥orite Finds THIS ISSUE’S FAVORITE FINDS have been picked by the seguin gazette staff. Thank you for continuing to support our community.

Home Fragrance - Delicate Osmanthus Keepers Interiors & Furniture- $22 The Lampe Berger Delicate Osmanthus fragrance has a complex fragrance profile including notes of patchouli and musk, florals, pear and lemon. 615 N. Austin St., Seguin • (830) 379-9995

www.furniturestoreseguintx.com

Hand Rescue Cream Pump Sisters Boutique & Gifts - $18.95 Escape the dry hand doldrums. Bring back the beach from your next vacation with this 8oz pump bottle of fresh-cut pineapple formula. Not just for your hands! Use this popular hand rescue as a body cream as well! 918 10th St., Floresville • (830) 393-7993

www.sistersrocks.com Electric Rum Punch The Powerplant Texas Grill - $10 A sweet combination of Bacardi, Malibu, Myers Rum, house juices, and a splash of grenadine. Seriously, this punch is great for any occasion. 2006 Stockdale Hwy, Seguin • (830) 379-0000

www.seguinpowerplant.com

32 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Eco-Friendly Organic Dishcloth The Shop at Design Associates - $6.95 A cloth that will help you save money and the Earth! Each towel has a unique design. Durable. Softens when wet. 100% bio-degradeable. Lasts 200 washes. 110 W. Nolte St., Seguin • (830) 303-1522 www.designassociatestx.com

Sushi Tower Ebi-Ebi Sushi - $14.25 A platform of rice topped with crab meat, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, avocado, massago, crunchies, and drizzled with eel sauce, spicy mayo, sriracha, & honey wasabi sauce. 110 E. Court St., Seguin • (830) 433-9805

Water Bottle Carrier Gift & Gourmet - $22 This water bottle carrier is so cute & functional! Made of neoprene to keep your drinks extra insulated, it is perfect for being on-the-go! 212 S Austin St., Seguin • (830) 379-1242

www.giftandgourmetseguin.com

www.ebi-ebisushi.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 33

Faces of seguin email YOUR PHOTOS to SEGUINMAGAZINE@SEGUINGAZETTE.COM

WORLD-CLASS SAFETY Close to home. National recognition for Patient Safety Board-certified and highly skilled physicians Experienced and compassionate nursing staff Comprehensive COVID-19 safety protocols

Hospitalist Sarah Lester, MD Intensivist Bhupinder Sangha, MD

1215 E. Court St. Seguin, TX 78155 830.379.2411 grmedcenter.com 1215 E. Court St.

Seguin, TX 78155

830.379.2411

g r m e d c e n t e r. c o m