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DECEMBER 2013
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contents
magazine
Holiday stress getting you down? Some good ways to relax and enjoy the season.
Family For Life. A San Marcos organization works to bring separated siblings together.
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Don’t just go with the flow. That old garden hose may contain some risky contaminants.
Create a smoking good holiday feast by giving that turkey some special treatment this year.
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Ease texas kraycreativedesign@gmail.com
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Adam Thornsley explores the strange case of the good wine gone bad.
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Holiday Stress Management
by Melinda West Seifert LoneStart Wellness
e’re eating too much. We’re spending too much. There’s no time. We’re not ready for the holidays. We have stress. And then, all of a sudden, the holidays are over, and now we feel let-down, depressed, even more stressed and, to add insult to injury—guilty. There’s no way to un-eat, un-drink or un-spend what we spent the last few months eating, drinking and spending. All that’s left is damage control. Experts say it’s a combination of many factors that results in both pre- and postholiday stress: unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization and financial constraints as well as the demands of shopping, parties, family reunions, house guests, and too much joy and cheer. We experience stress in the form of headaches, over-eating, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, bloating or fatigue from too much fat or sugar, and the guilt from eating, drinking and spending too Melinda West Seifert much. In fact, stress is sometimes the result of a little too much of everything, even the good times with family and friends. It’s hard to argue with the fact that as wonderful as they are, the holidays can be stressful. When we’re under stress, we may find it harder to keep (or begin) healthier habits. And during particularly stressful times, we tend to eat in an attempt to fulfill emotional needs (stress eating). We’re especially likely to eat high-calorie foods during times of stress, even when we’re not hungry. Yet, this isn’t what the holidays are all about—not even close. It might be how we cope, but with a closer look, and a little thought, we don’t want to “just” cope. We want to achieve, and move forward, and then achieve still more. So, how can we find ways to manage the stress in our everyday, day-in, day-out lives, especially this time of year? Here’s a given. When we feel less stressed and more in control of our lives, we will find it easier to make better nutritional choices. Mindful behaviors, mindful eating and mindful choices will result in positive changes. Through stress reduction techniques such as what LoneStartNow calls “mindful relaxation” you can create a mind-body connection that helps put you in control when faced with stressful conditions. Practicing mindful relaxation results in an increased awareness and acceptance of the choices you make in the present moment: Focus your attention—It frees your mind from distractions that cause stress. You can focus on specific objects, an image, your breathing, or a special thought. Relaxed breathing—This involves deep, even-paced breathing using the diaphragm muscle to expand your lungs. The purpose is to slow your breathing, take in more oxygen and reduce the use of shoulder, neck and upper chest muscles while breathing so you breath more efficiently. Location—At the beginning you may find it easier to practice mindful relaxation in a quiet private place without distractions. As you become more skilled, you will find you can do it anywhere, especially in high-stress situations where you benefit the most—such as a traffic jam, a stressful meeting, or when you find yourself in “the long line.” 4 EASEmagazine of texas
Position—Whether you’re sitting, standing, walking, lying down or washing dishes, be sure you’re comfortable. Experiment and you’ll find what works best for you. Adapt these techniques to meet your needs “in the moment.” What matters is that it helps reduce stress and contributes to your overall health and well-being. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, look to the future – Don’t just write off the mistakes made during the holiday season. We should learn from them, and use them to make positive choices in the future.
To find out how LoneStart Wellness can help your organization lay the foundation for a sustainable culture of wellness and to schedule a presentation to your organization, contact: LoneStart Wellness, 512-894-3440. www.lonestartnow.com
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Max helps water the plants and demonstrates the benefits of the Gatorhyde hose made in America and 100% lead free.
Safe Water suggestions for organic gardens by B. Michael Ferweda
t is hard to believe the simple act of turning on the hose bib and taking a long drink from your garden hose can be dangerous. In fact the thirst quenching, sweat drenching, mouth full of cool water is loaded with lead, chlorine, bromine, cadmium, phthalates, and bisphenal A (BPA). The presence of both lead, phthalates, and BPA, particularly in garden hoses, proves to be the most astonishing fact since we all have grown up with the pleasure of drinking refreshing water from our garden hoses. The truth is that the garden hoses of yesterday were made from different materials than those of today, but still contained harmful chemicals found in the brass fittings and linings. Today, all garden hoses made from PVC rather than rubber or other forms of material contain phthalates and BPA. Phthalates, a notorious plasticizer, has been traced to hormone disruption, genital birth defects, breast cancer and other genetic changes in our bodies. BPA has Different streams of the Little been traced to cancer. Big Shot Nozzle. It is important to put this new fact 6 EASEmagazine of texas
into perspective. The vision of the new gardener is to adopt healthy living trends. These trends include natural or organic gardening. Gardeners want to avoid the use of strong fertilizers, pesticides, and other contaminants. However, as consumers, they continue to purchase the least expensive hoses on the market delivering an unsafe level of toxins into the soil and root system of organically grown food. Why continue to introduce hazardous chemicals into your soil by using these products? Are we really saving money in the long run? Polyurethane or natural rubber water hoses are made that avoid the contamination and potential harmful effects these chemicals have on our bodies. Gatorhyde hoses are made in America and are 100% lead free. These hoses contain no harmful contaminations or BPA. There are newer hoses entering the market to meet the US water act requirements but no other garden hose is as safe to use as the Gatorhyde hose. Even the brass fittings that normally contain lead content (lead is used to increase the malleable qualities of brass) is plated to prevent exposure. Keep in mind the nozzle that you use to spray
nozzle avoids harmful exposure by utilizing a silicon insert running from end to end delivering a healthy dose of H2O. Note: currently there is no information on any chemical transfer from silicone used in this manner and silicone has been passed by the FDA as having no toxic transfer. The use of the Little Big Shot has many other benefits. First, it delivers 40% more
cals into our bodies. Always flush water from the hose into an area of the yard that is not disturbed by humans or pets.
If you would like additional information on Gatorhyde hoses and Little Big Shot, feel free to contact Zinger Hardware at 4001 N.Lamar in Austin, 512-381-8111.
B. Michael Ferweda has extensive knowledge in the product sector, retail marketing, and product positioning. His 35 years of executive retail leadership have aided startups and product launches. Michael offers in depth information on products and their benefits to consumers.
photo by Sherry Grona
the garden or deliver that cool drink is suswater pressure with 40% less water consumppect. It is worth noting that the brass found in tion. With water at a premium in Central residential water fittings Texas this is an extremely and nozzles are not under beneficial attribute. regulation from the Safe Additionally, the Little Big Drinking Water Act of Shot is made in America 2013. Therefore, not all and assembled by our disresidential products meet abled veterans. The nozzle the requirement of having is a small price to pay to less than 2,500 ppm of put our veterans back to lead. I repeat, the brass work. components of garden If you are concerned hoses are not regulated. In about lead exposure you studies, the brass found in should do the following: most garden hose connecTest the soil to determine tors has been found to if contamination has have more than 2,500 ppm occurred. of lead. The use of a simAvoid storage of garden ple garden nozzle by the tools and hoses in the sun name of Little Big Shot or high heat conditions. can offer a greener soluNever drink from nonLittle Big Shot Nozzle offers a tion to spraying your veglabeled hoses, and/or fill greener solution. 40% more etables than either a fully pet water dishes, children’s water pressure with 40% less leaded and/or chemically pools and other vessels that water consumpiton. laden plastic version. The may deliver harmful chemi-
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Sights & Sounds to bring Santa to town
Santa is coming to town! San Marcos’ annual Sights & Sounds of Christmas celebration kicks off at San Marcos Plaza Park Dec. 4 - 7. WEDNESDAY: Santa by Helicopter (6:30 p.m.) See Santa and Mrs. Claus on opening night. Santa will fly in at 6:30 p.m. and land at the park on the soccer fields. Welcome them and walk through the park to Santa’s photo area. Don’t forget to bring your wish list! THURSDAY: Santa by Harley Davidson (6:30 p.m.) Ever see Santa on a Harley? You will at Sights & Sounds of Christmas on Thursday night. Bring the whole family and watch as Santa and Mrs. Claus ride into the park in style. Santa arrives at 6:30 p.m. by motorcycle at the front main gate of our event. FRIDAY: Santa by Classic Car Parade
(6:30 p.m.) Bring the whole family out Friday night and watch all the classic cars arrive from Dick’s Classic Car Garage. Classic cars from the past bring Santa and Mrs. Claus in style. 6:30 p.m. at the front gate. Don’t forget your camera. SATURDAY: Santa arrives by River Boat! (6:30 p.m.)You’ll know Santa has arrived when you see the big spotlight coming down the historic San Marcos River. The river boat arrives at 6:30 p.m. at the two bridge crossings in the park. $7 to attend all four nights of the Sights & Sound of Christmas 2013! To redeem your wristband(s) please print and bring your online paypal receipt with photo I.D. to the “WILL CALL” admission booth at the main gate. You may also pick up your wristband(s) early at the San Marcos Parks & Recreation Office.
December 4th - 7th
Sights & Sounds of Christmas! San Marcos Plaza Park
2013 Attractions: TOWN OF BETHLEHEM: Take a journey back in time and explore activities from the time of ancient Bethlehem. CARNIVAL: Enjoy the largest carnival to hit San Marcos at the Sights & Sounds. FREE SANTA PHOTOS: Take as many pictures as you would like with Santa & Mrs. Claus! LIVE PERFORMANCE STAGES: Two performance stages hosts the best in entertainment from local artists and community schools. ARTS & CRAFTS: Shop hand made Christmas decor and more from 30+ local vendors. 5K & 1K REINDEER DASH: Saturday morning join in on our 5K & Kids 1K. PONY & RIDES: Bring a cowboy hat and take a ride on a real pony.
Santa Arrives Nightly at 6:30 pm • Wednesday by Helicopter • Thursday by Harley • Friday by Classic Car • Saturday by Boat Performances by Local School Children
Explore the Town of Bethlehem 5K & 1K Run December 7th Food Court • YUM! Fried Fish, Turkey Legs, Mexican Food, BBQ, Hamburgers, Chicken Tenders, Cotton Candy, Manske Rolls and Kettle Biscuits All at the
Sights & Sounds of Christmas!
www.sights-n-sounds.org 8 EASEmagazine of texas
Kids 12 And Under are FREE Nightly Admission • $5.00 Presale 4 Day Wristband • $6 Online 4 Day Wristband • $8
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Kayla Royal is the business development director of a youth baseball complex located just outside of San Marcos. “My real love, however, is the heat of an oven and the fire of a stove. I started cooking with my mom and dad at the age of 4. Both share the love of cooking and the experimentation process with food that spilled right over into my blood. Any extra time I get I spend it in the kitchen cooking, changing and perfecting my craft. My background is Italian but I don’t exactly like staying in one category when it comes to food. Everything from homemade eclairs to homemade pasta to slow cooked carnita’s, nothing is off limits or untouchable!”
Steak Au Pois
Seasoning Rub for Steaks: Thyme, Salt, Pepper, Crushed Garlic, Sweet Paprika, Olive Oil
Sear off 2 NY Strip Steaks to med rare (3 – 4 min per side depending on thickness) Set cooked steaks aside to rest under foil tent.
Sauce: Sautee 2 minced shallots and sliced Porcini mushrooms in olive oil in the same pan with juices from searing steaks until translucent. Add ½ cup of brandy to deglaze pan. Careful of the flame. Turn heat down to med low and let cool slightly. Slowly stir in 1 cup heavy cream, chopped fresh thyme , salt and pepper to taste. Let sauce simmer (constant stirring) until it thickens. Take off heat and pour on top of steaks.
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Potato Gratin
4 -6 med golden potatoes sliced thinly Put sliced potatoes in large mixing Bowl. Add 1 stick melted butter and 1 ½ cups cream. Season with chopped thyme, garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Add 2 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese. Combine well in mixing bowl and transfer into a greased or lined glass baking dish. Sprinkle the top with extra Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 min to 1 hour.
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Familyfor by Rowe Ray
Life
Family For Life founder Rob Rodriguez in the middle.
Bringing siblings together
“It's not something I ever thought I'd be doing, but by accident and guilt and necessity, here we are.” For the past 10 years, Rob Rodriguez' Family For Life has worked to help siblings separated by foster care and adoption to reconnect through weekend camps and other activities designed to create an atmosphere of safety, support and – perhaps most of all – trust. The work is challenging, the camps can be emotion-charged and funds are almost always in short supply. But the determination of Rodriguez and his faithful board of directors and dedicated camp volunteers never seems to waiver. They see the cause as just, the need as absolute and the opportunity to help this most fragile and innocent population as a labor of love. The cause is also rather unique. Family For Life is the only organization in Texas – and one of only a handful in the nation – which works to reunite separated siblings in this way. There are more than 585,000 children in foster care across the United States. Seventy five percent of siblings end up apart when they enter foster care. As Rodriguez talks about the inspiration for his San Marcosbased organization, he looks back not 10 years but 32 to a day when he was nearly strangled to death by a relative. “The beginning was a long, long time ago. We had a large family and I had eight siblings. That's really the formation of realizing how important family is, especially in times of crisis. I was raised in an abusive environment, which really came to a head for me when at 13 years old I was actually almost strangled to death by a relative. There's a lot that goes through your mind in those minutes and seconds. How I got away from it I'm not quite sure but it made me think from then on that there was a reason that I was going to live. I wanted to take that experience of abuse – for all of us in the family – and turn it into something much more positive.” As he grew up, Rodriguez began working with children in day care centers, in after-school programs and eventually in schools. “I kept seeing the same things – the underdogs – those people who were being held back in life because others didn't know and 12 EASEmagazine of texas
didn't understand what they were going through, and why they couldn't behave and why they couldn't focus and why they couldn't learn. It was important for me to figure out how I could help in some way.” When Rodriguez lost his father at age 16, he realized that there had been no real relationship between the two of them. “He was pretty reserved and so he didn't do a lot of reaching out. And when he passed away I realized I was really not finished building that relationship. So that made me want to be a parent for sure. I always wanted to have a family. I saw adoption as a viable option and something I was sure I could do. I knew that there were kids out there who were in abusive and neglectful situations.” Determined to be a parent and become a good father, Rodriguez adopted a seven-year-old son. It was a decision which would soon open his eyes to the emotional challenges faced by siblings torn apart by the foster care and adoption systems. His son had a 13-year-old sister, and neither Rodriguez nor the state were prepared for him to tackle the adoption of two children as a single parent. In dealing with a young boy who had never been separated from his sibling, Rodriguez quickly found himself the student in crash course on family dynamics for which he was somewhat unprepared. “He reminded me many times as a young child how he blamed me for separating them. And his sister blamed me, too. My adoption of him came just after the state decided to adopt them out separately, but it's hard to explain to a seven–year–old the reason they were not going to be placed in the same home. I was so overwhelmed by the adoption process, I didn't give a lot of thought to how difficult the process would be for them, too. It was just by accident and guilt that the adoption process helped me focus on the separation issue.” “Of course I wanted to keep the two connected as much as possible. The trouble was we never could find her. My son would send letters and they would come back. We couldn't understand why we couldn't reach her with letters or get her on the phone. And I could get no answers from the state. So at that point I decided to create an organization with a board of directors which
I thought might get more attention from the state and give me some answers.” It was then that the beginnings of Family For Life took root, eventually bringing some of those answers – and more attention – from state officials. In 2003, Rodriguez and 13 trusted adults put together the first of Family For Life's weekend camps which brought separated siblings together for two days at Dunbar Center in San Marcos. It went well in the sense that people got a little more comfortable with how to do it that weekend, he said. Unfortunately for Rodriguez and his son, the sister couldn't make the gathering. “It was a huge disappointment but he's always been a trooper through change and despair. And 14 years later he's still a trooper. But not having his sister at that first camp was really tough.” Training for Family For Life volunteers is a crucial part of effectively reuniting siblings in a positive and supportive way. Adults who help with the camps step into another world for two days – one which is likely challenging and most certainly intense. “What I tell people is that you start in your comfort zone and then I'm going to push you immediately into a growth zone. But before you leave the training session you will be in a panic zone. I tell them these kids live in a panic zone and we're asking them to leave the temporary place they are living and come to another place with a group of strangers, stay overnight and trust that everything will go well. That's a lot to ask of them. When the kids come in on Saturday, there is one adult for each child. They have supervision as individuals and as a group.” “We get six-month behavior background reports on all the campers and we create a crisis plan for every child. We try to be well prepared if different things happen. And anything can happen at this point. We know that.” While Family For Life usually sponsors three camps a year – spring, summer and fall – this year's November camp was cancelled because of a lack of funding. Each camp costs between $3,000 and $4,000, depending on the number of campers. The organization can accommodate 20-25 campers per session, but the group is sometimes smaller due to budget constraints.
“The fall camp is important to the kids because holidays are the time when they need the most support. They're heading into the toughest time of the year for them. But sometimes the money just runs out.” “Our big charity walk is in the spring and this year we are selling handmade crosses at Sights & Sounds of Christmas. But the booth costs $300 and it's hard to make back the $300 plus more for the camps by selling $8 crosses. But we're hoping it helps. We also take donations – and no amount of money is too small. Everything is appreciated.” Family For Life is a 501©3 non-profit organization. Rodriguez can be reached through the organization's website at www.family4life.org, by email at rob@family4life.org or by phone at 512.393.9369. If Rodriguez could send a message to the San Marcos and Hays County communities about Family For Life, it is this: “We are working toward something that I don't think is ending any time soon. And I don't think people realize that we do a lot with very little. This is a cause that is important to this community. I'm indebted to everyone who gives of their time to help us help these kids. We have many volunteers who do really great work and one who has been with us since the beginning 10 years ago.” “A volunteer asked me a couple of months ago how long I will do this work. I said I would do it, ‘as long as you do.’ “I can't do it alone, but as long as we have volunteers willing to get involved, I will do it. This is just so personal to me that I won't not do it. It's part of my life's work. I've thought about stopping, but every time I go to a camp I think, how would we just stop and say we can't do this any more?” “We can't. We can't stop.”
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Visit us at the food court at Premium Outlets in San Marcos 3939 IH 35 S. • (512) 396-0015 Serving Chopped Beef Sandwiches at NCFD Farm Club in Zorn EASEmagazine of texas 13
by Jeff Walker
Every
Families and Turkeys
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family has its holiday tradition. Mine is gathering around every year to watch “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Proud, every-day family man Clark W. Griswold - equal parts endearing and egregious throughout this holiday film - is essentially the Walker family’s George Bailey. There’s a particularly great line from this seminal holiday classic starring Chevy Chase. Moments after the extended family has shown up at his door, invading the living room with tales of hemorrhoids, moles that change colors, and the pint of fluid that had to be removed from grandpa Art’s back, Clark W. Griswold smiles cynically back at wife Ellen. “Well I'm gonna park the cars and get the luggage, and well, I'll be outside… for… the season,” Griswold says. We all love our families dearly. But we can also appreciate Clark’s sentiment here. We’d much rather escape to the outdoors, away from Aunt Betty’s latest ailment and self-diagnosis or Uncle John’s unsolicited life insurance sales pitch. There’s a sort of amnesia that consumes us every year in the months and weeks leading up to Christmas, wiping out any previous holiday memories of stress and strife, urging us to get the whole happy family together again. • A conversation with your spouse one evening in late October/ early November: “Wouldn’t it be GREAT to have everyone HERE for the holidays?” • A conversation with your spouse an hour or two after everyone has arrived: “What were we THINKING?” To minimize family-related tension this holiday season, I propose that you offer to take on the centerpiece of any traditional American holiday meal – the turkey. Don’t roast it – you do that every year. Don’t fry it – you’ll risk skin-searing burns every time that bird moves an inch inside that pot of boiling oil. For best results, I recommend pulling out the oak wood and smoking a turkey. A smoked turkey isn’t just a delicious, unique way to cook the big family bird. It might just be your ticket to freedom. Come along, Griswold. We’re headed outside….
Jeff Walker currently handles the Marketing at East Texas Copy Systems. He, his wife Lindsay, son Jude and dog Townes live in Tyler. Beyond his ongoing pursuit of the next great barbecue joint, Jeff collects vinyl, cooks and roots for the Texas Rangers.
for… at least a few hours this season. But first, a few pointers while you’re enjoying the solace of the cool, winter afternoon breeze. • Smoking anything takes time, and this is bigger than the bird you’re probably used to throwing on your smoker. The cooking method here is low and slow. • First, brine the turkey with a good salt bath. On cooking day, a lot of good flavor comes from filling the cavity with items of your choice: Butter, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper are a good start. • Don’t try to get too fancy or ambitious with basting. Just let the smoke do the trick. • Remember: low and slow. Honey-Brined Smoked Turkey Recipe adapted from Alton Brown Ingredients • 1 gallon hot water • 1 pound kosher salt • Wood chips • 2 quarts vegetable broth • 1 pound honey • 1 (7-pound) bag of ice • 1 (15 to 20-pound) turkey, remove giblets • Vegetable oil, for rubbing turkey Directions Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid.. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours. Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil. Heat smoker, or grill positioned for indirect heat, to 225 degrees. Place bird in and smoke at that temperature for 8 to 9 hours (for a 10 to 12 pound turkey), or until temperature reaches 165 on the thickest part of the thigh. If necessary, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking to prevent burning of skin. Replace wood chips as necessary. Allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.
Rudy’s Barber Shop “Old Style Barber Shop”
NOW OPEN
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Rudy
Soliz
Barber since 1980
Rudy Soliz with client Will Weaver.
114 N. LBJ on the Square in San Marcos Mon-Friday from 8 am - 5 pm Sat. from 8 am - 12 pm • (512) 392-5522
Regular Military Cuts • Little or No Waiting Boy’s First Haircut Welcome • Gift Certificates Available EASEmagazine of texas 15
Central Texas resident Dorothy Warren has done her part over the years to support the nutcracker as a holiday art form.
T
he holiday season can be a nutty time of year. And that's just fine for those who take great pride in buying, making and displaying as many of those colorful wooden nutcrackers as they can get their hands on. Whether they come as soldiers, sailors, palace guards or a myriad of other more modern designs, the traditional wooden nutcracker has carved out a special place in the hearts of millions. With its roots in early Germany in the 15th century, these nutcrackers have become a holiday staple around the world. There are even museums dedicated to them. The popular ballet, “The Nutcracker,” with music by Tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by Petipa, has taken its seat as a must-see production in most communities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Central Texas resident Dorothy Warren has done her part over the years to support the nutcracker as a holiday art form. Her collection is vast and varied and family members agree that it just wouldn't be Christmas without her nutcrackers taking their place throughout her home. As with the nutcracker collections of many, hers represent different themes and times and each holds a special memory. That's why when the holiday season comes to a close, she packs them carefully away in tissue paper to await their next appearance in 12 months. So how did the tradition of the nutcracker get started? According to Wikipedia, nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut
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in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas. The ballet “The Nutcracker” derives its name from this festive holiday decoration. Nutcrackers have long been a traditional symbol of Christmas. The original nutcrackers were first seen in Germany and were thought to have guardian-like properties because of their strong appearance. The carving of nutcrackers—as well as of religious figures and of cribs – developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. The most famous nutcracker carvings come from Sonneberg in Thuringia (also a center of dollmaking) and from the Ore Mountains. Wood-carving usually provided the only income for the people living there. Today the travel industry supplements their income by bringing visitors to the remote areas. According to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, the oldest known metal nutcracker dates to the third or fourth century B.C. and is shown in a museum in Tarent, Italy. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum shows a bronze Roman nutcracker dated between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D. It was found in 1960 after being buried for more than 1,800 years. The first wooden nutcrackers were simply two pieces of wood fastened together by a leather strap or metal hinge. By the 15th and 16th century, wood carvers in France and England were creating beautiful wooden nutcrackers. They used the wood from their locality, but preferred boxwood because of its fine grain and uniform color. By the 18th and 19th Centuries carvers in Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy were producing many carved nutcrackers in the likeness of animals and humans. The screw nutcrackers did not appear until the 17th century and at first these were simple in structure. However, it was not long before artisans were carving and shaping intricate designs. Standing wooden nutcrackers in the form of soldiers and kings were shown in the Sonneberg and Erzgebirge regions of Germany by 1800 and in 1830, the term “Nussknacker” appeared in the dictionary of the Brothers Grim. It was defined as “often in the form of a misshaped little man, in whose mouth the nut, by means of a leaver or screw, is cracked open.” In 1872 Wilhelm Füchtner, known as the “father of the nutcracker,” made the first commercial production of nutcrackers using the lathe to create many of the same design.
The Ballet “The Nutcracker”
A&A Automotive
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Tickle Blagg Animal Hospital in San Marcos is a full service companion animal hospital committed to providing quality veterinary care throughout the life of your pet. Our services and facilities are designed to assist in routine preventative care for young, healthy pets; early detection and treatment of diseases as your pet ages; and complete medical and surgical care as necessary during his or her lifetime.
Our Services include: • Laser surgery • Boarding • Preventative Medicine • Vaccinations • Dental Services • In-House Laboratory and Diagnostic Services
Tickle Blagg Animal Hospital 1100 Hwy 80 512-353-1871 We treat your pets like a valued family member.
Dr. Robert Blagg and Dr. Angela Jordan EASEmagazine of texas 19
Photos by Karen Karen Ray Ray Fall Harvest Harvest 2013 2013 Fall
Napa California
The strange case of how good wine goes bad by Adam Thornsley was in a wine cave outside of downtown Napa when a nice couple from Seattle told a story any wine lover could probably relate to. While out at dinner they had enjoyed a bottle of wine so much that they jotted the name down and later purchased that same wine to imbibe at home. After months of anticipation they decided to revisit those memories and pull the cork. To their disappointment, the wine was nothing like they remembered. There are many reasons two bottles of the same wine from the same producer can result in very different experiences. I endeavor to explore a few factors that you as the purchaser are best able to identify and mitigate. First and foremost, don’t underestimate the importance vintage (year of harvest) has on the characteristics of a wine. Climactic changes from year-to-year can drastically affect flavors, tannins, acidity, and overall balance of a finished wine. If you enjoyed a California Cabernet harvested in 2005 (generally considered an outstanding vintage) you should not expect to get the same level of enjoyment out of the same
I
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Jekyll and Hyde
wine harvested in 2006 (generally considered an average vintage). Identify the vintage when recording details of the wine you wish to purchase, as well as any special designation such as ‘Reserve.’ Better yet, take a picture of the label with your phone for worry-free recollection and become best buds with your local wine merchant. They can hunt down the distributor that carries the wine you seek. I suspect many of these disappointing experiences come down to the serving vessel. This is good news for you because few things are easier to change than the glass (or solo® cup) you are drinking from. The shape of a glass affects the experience in so many profound ways that the subject warrants its own article. For now, let’s focus on the fact that the shape of the glass determines where the wine first hits the tongue and generates that first impression of the flavor profile. Every moment on thru the aftertaste is then affected by this initial placement. If you were impressed by a wine when first drinking it from the restaurant’s high-end Riedel glasses, it is unlikely you will be so impressed when tasting that same wine from a glass made for miniature martinis. If you went
out of your way to search for a particular bottle of wine, go the extra distance and identify the proper vessel to express its characteristics. A quick search engine entry like “best glass for cabernet sauvignon” will give you all the information you need to point you in the right direction. Proper wine storage is the last factor we’ll focus on. When we encounter a truly special wine we typically mark it for a special occasion – often weeks, months, even years into the future. I remember being extremely excited about a bottle of wine I had purchased and brought home after a wine tasting one spring. In the fall of that same year we had an impromptu visit to the house by a good friend and I immediately
thought of this wine; singing its virtues prior to popping the cork. Once everyone took a sip the general consensus was the profile resembled that of a “baby’s diaper” and I felt about two feet tall. I knew immediately what had happened. I had intended to drink the wine earlier that summer and for that reason had stored it in the dining room rather than the basement cellar. The sunlight regularly brought the temperature of the bottle up over 80 degrees and essentially “cooked” the wine inside. Keep your special bottle in a dark, cool location free from vibration and you should avoid this pitfall. More drastic measures such as humidity control may be necessary if storing your wine for more than a few years.
Hydrangeas with huge blooms in Napa Sept. 2013
Adam Thornsley is a General Partner of The Rootstock Capital Management, LLC which specializes in broadening the motion picture experience to include wine and cuisine. He can be reached at therootstockcm@gmail.com.
Grapes ready for harvest (above) and an ornate Winery gate (right).
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by Madonna Kimball
T
Wimberley Market Days
Shoppers Hill Country paradise
he first Saturday of each month, from March through December, brings thousands of treasure seekers and shopalcoholics to the little village of Wimberley. Although Wimberley is always a popular getaway with all the shopping, dining and bed and breakfast choices, Wimberley Market Days, the oldest and largest outdoor market in the Hill Country, hosts more than 475+ vendors and welcomes thousands of shoppers. What started out in 1964 as a market on the Wimberley Square, with local vendors selling food, animals, furniture and their artwork out of the back of their pickup trucks, outgrew that location. A much larger space was needed to accommodate vendors and shoppers. In 1972 The Wimberley Lions Club assumed the management and organization of the ever growing market and purchased 19 acres of land on FM 2325, now known as Lions Market Day Field. Over the years the market has grown to host vendors from Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas, San Antonio and around the state offering everything you just can’t live without. With so many vendors, it’s difficult to see all there is to offer and many shoppers return month after month. This isn’t your typical flea market. Here you’ll find everything from arts & crafts, plants, jewelry, fossils, quilts, clothing, antiques, collectibles, food, toys and more. You’ll find things at Market Days that will jog childhood memories, handmade items by artists and craftsmen and you’ll find new and unusual items as well as the old but not forgotten. Some vendors offer samples of their butters, salsas, jellies, dips and roasted nuts. Wimberley Lions Market Days is unique, unlike most other markets, as the Lions donate 100% of their profits from the market to charities, scholarships and local organizations As of November 2009, this all volunteer organization has awarded more than $3 million to non-profit groups. The Lions sponsor the food booths and offer plenty of options, including barbecue plates and sandwiches, sausage wraps, smoked turkey legs, nachos, breakfast tacos, chicken tender baskets, fries, corn dogs, hot dogs, hamburgers and more. Visitors can also purchase popcorn, ice cream, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, shaved
ice, cold beer and wine. And this year enjoy wood fired, brick oven pizza from Mandola’s. Shoppers can enjoy a break at the spacious, covered pavilion beside the BBQ House; sit in the shade eat, drink, rest and listen to the music of area musicians. There are plenty of clean rest room facilities conveniently located by the pavilion and around the market. It takes a volunteer staff of more than 200 workers each market day to operate the market, not to mention the many hours of meetings and preparation prior to each market. For everyone involved, it’s a wonderful example of a community working together toward a common good. In addition to the Lions, local organizations which receive scholarships and donations from the market, assist in cooking brisket; preparing and serving barbecue dinners; managing, ordering, stocking and working in concession stands; manning parking lots and information booths; leasing and transferring booths; scheduling workers; scheduling merchandise pick ups and performing many other duties. The Ambassadors, who act as liaisons between the Lions and vendors, hand out newsletters and vendor directories, listen to problems and refer them to Lions to resolve, distribute vendor badges and parking permits and provide vendors a contract to renew their booth for the following year. There is no charge for admission to Market Days, but there is a charge for parking in the lots located across the road. Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service dogs. If you think you’d like to become a Market Day vendor, but are not quite ready to commit to an annual lease, give it a try with a day booth. Day booths rent for $60 a day. Online day booth registration begins at 1 p.m. Thursday the week of Market Days. Wimberley Market Days is located at Lions Field, 601 RR 2325 in Wimberley, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country between Austin and San Antonio, north of San Marcos. Motor coach tours are welcome. E-mail info@shopmarketdays.com to make arrangement and receive materials for your group. Visit the website www.shopmarketdays.com. For more information about Market Days call the Wimberley Visitor Center, 512-847-2201.
BASEBALL LEGENDS AT FARM CLUB Former Major League Baseball players Cecil Fielder and Kundy Gutierrez. both with the Baseball Legends organization, recently paid a visit to the North Carolina Furniture Direct Farm Club baseball complex in Zorn near San Marcos. They toured the state-of-the-art youth baseball complex and met with NCFD Farm Club owner Earl Studdard. The Baseball Legends is a company built around educating and supporting the growth of youth athletes and adults in the U.S. and Mexico. Each year the organization sponsors league play, tournaments, camps and clinics, culminating in the Cecil Fielder Elite World Series. Shown left to right are Studdard, Fielder and Gutierrez. 22 EASEmagazine of texas
Geronimo Garza weighs some meat for a customer. Look at all of the steaks and veggies to choose from below.
Bon Ton Meat Market and Country Store T he Bon Ton Meat Market has been a part of the Kyle area culture for decades. Quality meats, top notch customer service, deer meat processing, speciality cuts, custom roasts and prime rib remain among the premiere offerings of this home-owned market. While a 2002 fire destroyed the original Bon Ton Meat Market in downtown Kyle, it continues to serves the residents of Kyle and Hays County at its new location on Highway 21. Following the devastating blaze, owner Craig Fuller pondered his future and that of the Bon Ton Meat Market. Fuller originally thought about opening a smaller place with plans for just processing deer meat during special months out of the year. But eventually he decided to create a
full meat market and country store which could serve the needs of the residents of Kyle, Uhland and San Marcos. Fuller’s family bought the original store from the prior owners back in the 60s and Fuller came into the family business full time in 1985. He said the store is still very family oriented. They have a small number of employees but some have been with Bon Ton since almost the beginning,” Fuller explained. Bon Ton’s meat processing for area hunters makes up an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the business. “We specialize in custom meat and wild game processing,” Fuller said. The Bon Ton Meat Market and Country Store also carries specialty items like chorizo and items for party trays. Prime ribs and custom roasts are a spe-
ciality during the holiday season. Fuller said those items and others bring customers from all over Central Texas. Another major item is the marketing of his monthly “freezer specials.” The meat is cut into sizes to fit in a family’s freezer, but is packaged so that the customer can save money. With the rising popularity of the country store, Fuller has also taken on selling lines from other local businesses in the area such as the Texas Pie Company in Kyle and from New World Bakery, also in Kyle. The Bon Ton Meat Market and Country Store has something for almost everyone. Quality meats and other tasty foods, great personal service and professional deer meat processing await customers willing to take a nice little drive out Highway 21.
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