EXPLORE March 2014 by Schooley Media Ventures, LLC

March 2014

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MARCH

Explore what's inside this issue! 8

From the Publisher

30 Spiritual

10 Calendar

32 Wine

14 Music

38 Old Timer

18 Fitness Challenge 22 History 26 Dining EXPLORE magazine is published by Schooley Media Ventures in Boerne, TX. EXPLORE Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EXPLORE and/or Schooley Media Ventures. Copyright 2012 Schooley Media Ventures, 265 N. Main, Suite C, Boerne, TX 78006

Contributing Writers

Marjorie Hagy (History) MARJORIE is a bibliophile, a history nut and an insomniac, among several other conditions, both diagnosed and otherwise. When she's not working tirelessly to avoid getting a real job, she nurses an obsession with her grandson and is involved in passing legislation restricting the wearing of socks with sandals. She is an aspiring pet hoarder who enjoys vicious games of Scrabble, reading Agatha Christie, and sitting around doing nothing while claiming to be thinking deeply. Marjorie has five grown children, a poodle to whom she is inordinately devoted in spite of his breath, and holds an Explore record for never having submitted an article on time. She's been writing for us for five years now.

Rene Villanueva (Music)

Rene Villanueva is the lead singer/bass player for the band Hacienda. Having toured worldwide, hacienda has also been featured on several late night shows, including Late Show with David Letterman. Rene and his wife Rachel live in Boerne, TX and just welcomed thier first child.

Publisher Benjamin D. Schooley ben@hillcountryexplore.com Creative Director Benjamin N. Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com OPERATIONS MANAGER Kate Kent kate@smvtexas.com ADVERTISING SALES 210-507-5250 sales@hillcountryexplore.com

Kendall D. Aaron (Spiritual)

I’m just a normal guy. I’m not a theology student, I don’t preach in church, and I’ve never written a book. I’m just a normal guy that thinks, and feels, and is on a never-ending journey attempting to be the best person I can be. I fail frequently at this quest, yet each day, the quest continues. I’ve lived in Boerne since the late ‘80s, I’ve got a most beautiful wife, three wonderful children, and just really, really love God. Thanks for going on my spiritual journey with me.

Old Timer (Ramblings)

The Old Timer tells us he's been a resident of Boerne since about 1965. He enjoys telling people what he doesn't like. When not bust'n punks he can be found feeding the ducks just off Main St. or wandering aimlessly in the newly expanded HEB. Despite his rough and sometimes brash persona, Old Timer is really a wise and thoughtful individual. If you can sort through the BS.

EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

Surprise Visit!

M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A R T O D AY

Czech Chefs Honza Cerny and his wife Chef Jarka will be joining our team for two weeks starting April 1st. Their specialty is pig grilling and steak tartare. A dish rarely served in the US. Call today to make your reservations for this special event!

5 1 8 R I V E R R O A D , B O E R N E , T X : : W W W. L I T T L E G R E T E L . C O M : : 8 3 0 - 3 3 1 - 1 3 6 8

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim FREEDOM for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoner Isaiah 61:1

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March 2014

www.hillcountryexplore.com

From the Publisher Dearest EXPLORE reader, Growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, my experience as a young kid in a car was vastly different than it is today. I sound like an old timer when I say “In MY day…”, but in my day, things were a little less safe. I can remember riding to the coast while suntanning on the rear dash beneath the back windshield. While the car was doing 80. I don’t even think the backseat had a seatbelt, and when things got boring, I could crawl down into the foot space behind the front seat and color in my books. All cars had ashtrays, because EVERYONE smoked, and most cars weighed about 11 tons and got 5 mpg. Ah, the good old days. Isn’t it amazing that we all survived? Always a pretty inquisitive soul, the act of driving around the city and state was a pretty amazing feat to me. We would be heading to an auto parts store 20 minutes from home, and after taking a half dozen turns, I would ask my Dad, “How do you know how to get there?” He would smile and just say, “I’ve driven it many times. You just figure it out once you’ve driven it once.” This was very confusing to my young mind. I mean, the city is a big place, and there are roads virtually EVERYWHERE. How could a person possibly memorize so many routes to so many places? It was mind-boggling to me. My mom, bless her soul, is the everlasting teacher. As I got a little older, she did her best to prep me for my driving days. We would be driving down a random road and she would whisper, “Ben, what road are we on?” Sometimes I could answer her, but most times not. Then she would throw me for a loop: “What direction are we going?” I would close my eyes and try to figure it out, and would half-heartedly respond with “North?” She would smile, tell me that we were heading East, and I would grumble and stare out the window. It was just all so confusing. So many roads. So many turns. So many trees and stop signs and flashing lights and passing strip centers. Everything looked and seemed the same to me, and in those days before GPS, I figured that I would be stopping at every 3rd gas station to ask for directions. The world was just so BIG and mysterious and dangerous. And, I figured, it always would be. So now we fast forward 30 years and, sure enough, I know my way around as good as anyone. You can name a couple of cross streets, and odds are, I have a pretty good idea of where you’re talking about. I have even caught myself telling stories that involve lines like “You know, I was heading east on Johns Road…”. Just like my parents before me, the world is not nearly as big anymore and I know my way around pretty well. I can’t exactly figure out why, but this has been a depressing issue for me of late. Something about making the world “small” is not a healthy thing for a man’s mind. I don’t want a small world; I want a huge world full of adventure and intrigue and getting lost and strange sights and new directions; not familiar stop signs and the same old strip center signs.

But that’s life, I guess. What is new and exciting becomes old and mundane. What is exhilarating (driving), becomes diluted by habit. The unknown of the open road becomes the familiar pathways we memorize and ignore. In our un-ending quest here at EXPLORE to identify the connections that we all share, I think that “driving” would be a pretty easy one. While we are all surely pretty comfortable with driving and consider it a most mundane task, there’s a lot to find out there if we seek it. Let me explain: a few doors up from my house is a guy that lives with his wife and three kids. It’s a normal house in a normal neighborhood that you would pass while running your normal errands. There’s a truck in the driveway, and you’d probably see some kids running around the front yard. Because you are so familiar with this street, you would turn up the radio and go brain-dead as you cruised down the road on the way to your destination. But inside this house, you would meet a man that is fighting for his life against a disease trying to kill him, and a wife that is struggling to handle three young boys. You would meet them and see their spirit and their passion for one another and your jaw would hit the floor. At the other end of my street, you’d meet a couple with two kids. She’s a realtor, and he’s a restaurateur. They struggle to manage their lives along with their kids, he’s stressed about the state of his business, and she’s hoping the phone will ring with a prospective buyer. They’re delightful people with stories to share, wisdom to impart, and hope to inspire. But they’re just in plain old houses in a plain old neighborhood that you’d pass on the way to your normal old destination. And I’ve come to understand that this is where the adventure is, where the intrigue is, and where the mystery is; in the people and in their hearts. No matter how small the world may get in my eyes, nor how familiar with a particular area I might get, I’m passing by so many stories, so much knowledge, and so much inspiration in the people that make an area their home. Beneath the Insurance Sales sign stands a man that is thinking about opening a new business. He’s scared to death because insurance sales pays the bills, but dang it, it’s always been his dream. Will he or won’t he? What will he do if it goes bad? How will it all unfold? Ah, the mystery. I now believe that my world is HUGE. Yes, I know my little town and its ins-and-outs like the back of my hand, but there’s this quirky guy near my office that likes to sit on his front porch, smoke his pipe (who does that anymore?) and he reads Tolstoy, Shakespeare, and other antique books. I can see him sometimes from my office window while he rocks gently in his chair with his little mutt dog at his feet. I bet if I wandered over there and struck up a conversation, he would tell me of travels and loves and adventures that would seem so big to me. So dangerous. So exotic. All from the front porch of a mundane home in Boerne. Welcome to March. It’s Spring (finally), and warmer temperatures are upon us. Get out there and seek the adventure of the world. No, you don’t have to embark on an Amazon expedition, but instead, start by striking up a conversation with a person up the street. I’ve decided that until I know the story of virtually every person in my town, then it shall remain big and mysterious and adventurous. My directional abilities might have increased a hundred fold in the last 30 years, but my appreciation for the human spirit continues to grow exponentially, and I will seek it as often as I can. And as always, I will just continue to drive these roads, and……………EXPLORE. Smiling,

Benjamin D. Schooley

EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

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MARCH

Get out and enjoy the great Texas Hill Country! The most comprehensive events calendar. Send submissions to info@hillcountryexplore.com

March 1–May 15 NEW BRAUNFELS Brothers Grimm Kindermarchen/ Fairy Tales Exhibit

This exhibit brings 18 classic tales to life with items from museum collections, including some brought by German immigrants. The Grimms, as well as many New Braunfels founding families, hailed from the central German region of Hessen. The Sophienburg New Braunfels Archives and Museum of History, 401 W. Coll St. www.sophienburg.com 830-629-1572

March 6-15 FREDERICKSBURG The Auslander Spring Music Festival Weeklong tribute to great Texas music features a different band every night. The Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten, 323 E. Main. www.theauslander.com 830-997-7714

March 7 FREDERICKSBURG First Friday Art Walk

Tour fine art galleries offering special events, refreshments and extended viewing hours. www. ffawf.com 830-997-6523

March 8 BOERNE Second Saturday Art and Wine

Enjoy a glass of wine and stroll through the art galleries. Hours are 4–8 p.m. Various venues. www. secondsaturdayartandwine.com 877-833-0621 or 830-249-1500

March 8 Boerne CASK TAPPING

The cask is made special for Random by brewery, the old fashion way. Barrel Aged fermentation not Co2. Paired with Awesome Burgers and Sofrito Caribbean Cuisine. This is going to be special! 11 Upper Cibolo Creek Rd. Boerne Tx 78006 Facebook. com/RandomTexasFamilyFun or call 210-724-6921

March 8 MARBLE FALLS Main Street Market Day

More than 100 vendors offer a variety of items. Hours are 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Main Street. www.marblefalls.org 830-693-2815

March 8-9 BOERNE Market Days

Artists, crafters and vendors share their creative talents and wares to the sounds of homegrown Texas musicians. Main Plaza, 100 N. Main. www. boernemarketdays.com 210-844-8193

March 8-9 FREDERICKSBURG Pacific Combat Living History Program

Living history demonstration covers World War II weaponry, clothing, training and tactics of U.S. and Japanese military. Programs begin at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. National Museum of the Pacific

War Combat Zone, 500 E. Austin St. www.pacificwarmuseum.org 830-997-8600 ext. 205

March 8-15 FREDERICKSBURG Texas Hell Week Bicycle Tour

Features routes of 40 miles, 70 miles and 100 miles each day. Headquarters is at the Sunset Inn, 900 S. Adams St. www.hellweek.com 806-683-6489

March 9 MARBLE FALLS Wine Faire

Vineyard celebration with gumbo, crawfish boil, wine, and Zydeco music. Flat Creek Estate Vineyard, noon – 5pm. www.FlatCreekEstate.com 512267-6310

March 14-16 FREDERICKSBURG Trade Days

Shop with more than 350 vendors in six barns, plus acres of antiques and collectibles, or kick back and enjoy the biergarten and live music. Seven miles east of town off U.S. 290, at 355 Sunday Farms Lane. www.fbgtradedays.com 830-990-4900 or 210-846-4094

March 15-16 FREDERICKSBURG Texas Hill Country Home and Garden Show

Gillespie County Fairgrounds. www.hillcountryhomeandgardenshow.com

March 15-16 GRUENE Old Gruene Market Days

Nearly 100 vendors offer uniquely crafted items and packaged Texas foods. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Gruene Historic District, 1724 Hunter Road. www.gruenemarketdays.com 830-832-1721

March 15, 22, 29 BANDERA Cowboys on Main

Features a Western display in front of the Bandera County Courthouse and strolling entertainers on Main Street. Historical gunfight demonstrations happen at noon and 2 p.m. Hours are 1–4 p.m. Main Street. www.banderatexasbusiness.com 800364-3833

March 20 GRUENE Come and Taste It

Three wines from the best wineries in the state and surrounding regions are featured, along with live music, food samples, giveaways and more. This a great opportunity to hear from winemakers about how they craft their wines, enjoy the natural surroundings and explore the other offerings of Gruene Historic District. Grapevine Texas Wine Bar, 1612 Hunter Road. www.grapevineingruene.com 830-606-0093

March 29 BOERNE Lester’s Automotive Open Annual Charity Car Show

Lester’s Automotive, 32128 I-10 West. www.lesterautomotivecenter.com

March 29 BURNET Hill Country Lawn and Garden Show

Enjoy demonstrations, a children’s area, raffle, and plants and garden items for sale. Burnet Community Center, 401 E. Jackson St. www.burnetcountyhighlandlakesmastergardener.org 512-588-0696

March 29 CASTROVILLE Market Trail Days

Shop arts, crafts, food and Farmer’s Market vendors in Historic Castroville. Houston Square, 8am – 4pm. www.castroville.com or brenda@castroville. com 830-538-3142

March 29 JOHNSON CITY Texas Men’s State Chili Cook-Off

This CASI-sanctioned cook-off takes place on the banks of the Pedernales River with categories for chili, beans, wings and more. Blanco County Fairgrounds, 619 US 281 N. www.texasmenschili.org 512-567-2835

March 29-30 SABINAL Wild Hog Festival

Includes a wild-hog catching contest, arts and crafts, games, entertainment and food. Veterans Memorial Live Oak Park, 1001 N. Center St. www. wildhogfestival.com

March 29-30 STONEWALL LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour and Time Trials

Includes a variety of routes through the picturesque Hill Country starting at 9 a.m. After the ride on Saturday, enjoy free food and drink, live entertainment, and the latest in cycling technology on display. A 16-mile competitive time trial starts Sunday at 9 a.m. LBJ Ranch airstrip. www.lbj100bicycletour.org 210/355-2645 or 210-414-8559

March 30 Boerne Food Truck Awesomeness

Sofrito Food Truck nominated Best Food Truck in San Antonio Buy WOAI. And Crazy Carls winner of the Food Truck Throwdown 2013 along with debuting on the television series East St. on the Cooking Channel. Both with be at Random. 11 Upper Cibolo Creek Rd. Boerne Tx 78006 Facebook.com/ RandomTexasFamilyFun or call 210-724-6921

March 25 BOERNE Time For Three in Concert

Boerne Champion High School Auditorium. www. boerneperformingarts.com 830-331-9079

EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

Over $800 million real estate sales production in San Antonio and the Hill Country last year.

Our mission, since 1989, has been simply to be The Very Best. In 2013 our total sales production accounted for an astonishing $801,852,865 in property sales. With four office locations specializing in luxury residential property and a dedicated Ranch department, Phyllis Browning Company is proud to be the exclusive listing broker for the finest real estate in San Antonio and throughout the Texas Hill Country.

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March 2014

www.hillcountryexplore.com

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EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

March 2014

www.hillcountryexplore.com

MUSIC

By Rene Villanueva

It feels so natural to have sound around me during the day, that silence is shocking to my system. Isn’t that why it feels so good to live in the quiet of the hill country? It’s why I love coming back home to Boerne after a long tour. Months in the clubs, bars, and noise makes my thoughts cluttered and my head unbalanced. I take a stroll out in Cibolo or along the river during the week, and feel all that noise melt away. I believe my ears hunger for the sounds of a quiet life. But in this quiet thought I realize something else about our cultural barrage of noise, particularly music.... maybe it’s so prevalent we pay less attention than we should. Music wakes us in the morning from a bedside radio, plays on our drives to work, or at the office. It’s always on when we shop, or in the background at a restaurant. Music plays during commercials and our favorite TV shows. From iPods and phones, to tiny busted speakers in old buildings, elevators, and satellite corners in outdoor patios. I think the only time we really notice the ambient music is when it’s not playing. “It’s quiet... oddly quiet?” I think, in a store surrounded by the tapping of shoes, the shuffling merchandise, an eerie so quiet you can hear other people breathing... Or worse the silent bathrooms of awkwardness that keep eyes averted... better or worse, Music’s constantly signing into our subconsciousness. None of these however, having anything to do with actually listening to music. Not just letting it buzz around you, but focusing in. Absorbing. Far from just Audiophile, High-Fedility bravada, believe me when I say you really haven’t heard anything until you’ve listened completely. Listening isn’t easy, but valuable things rarely are. A great recording is not just an artifact to be glossed over; it is a living emotion trying to communicate with you. At every level music is alive, and needs an active audience, like you or I need air to breath. Every note, every beat a unique interaction between itself, the music around it, and the listener. That is to say, this specific bass note, played along with this specific kick drum, cushioned by this keyboard, and sang over by this voice, played through this system, heard by your ear, at this specific time, is a unique living experience at a unique time. And if that reads like a mouthful, that’s because it is. Since this experience is so rich and dense, it deserves our full attention. That’s exactly why Music is powerful, why it can encapsulate a mood, feeling, time, or experience so well. I really began listening as a teenager at nights when I couldn’t sleep, I have a very active mind at night. Putting on headphones, shutting my eyes, and getting lost in my favorite records. Trying to shut off thoughts in my head, and replace them with a cosmos of sound till 2 or 3 in the morning when I could finally drift away. This made for some exhausting school days, but gave me probably the strongest foundation into understanding music, where it comes from, and how it works. It’s that cooperative social interaction of pitch and rhythm that gives me my love of music.

When I meet people and they find out I’m a musician, they usually like to give me a run through of their favorite songs or artists. They also love to tell me what they hate. And people passionately hate some kinds of music, and adore others. I’ve met a lot of people (critics and musician’s included) who are dismissive. What I mean is they’re quick to insult a piece they don’t understand with only a cursory listen. Quick to skip to the next track. Quick to throw into the dustbin of the mind. But music takes time to GET. You have to give back. Some music speaks to us on the first try, but most won’t be understood on the first, tenth, or hundredth listen. Some music we grow into, and some we grow out of. That’s not to say that they have to like everything, but no track should be judged until it’s been experienced properly. Alright, so how? First of all, you need Environment. A Space for listening, and Time. Maybe you’re busy and don’t have time for a full album but three to five minutes of uninterrupted thought for a song? I think we can manage that. Preferably a place that’s comfortable, with little distractions. I have a friend who swears by listening to music blindfolded, I still like to listen in the dark, but that might be extreme, so let’s just say with comfortable light. Now that the mood is set, pick a song, anyone will do, it doesn’t matter, but maybe one you know well. I usually like to pick music to match my mood, happy, sad, anger, whatever, but that’s just me. Note: my preferred method is vinyl but I’ll talk more about that next time. For beginners I recommend a nice set of headphones. It’s easier to submerge yourself than speakers. And requires less investment than a nice stereo and speakers. A proper listen requires a few tries, but the first one shouldn’t be technical. On the first listen, go for mood, gut reaction and feeling. What does this song sound like? Where does it put you? Do you like it, hate it, feel confused or indifferent? Listen to the landscape of sound. What is in it? Where are they placed? If you imagine a physical space for every sound you well notice some to the left, some to the right, some in the middle, all with different depths and prospective. This is known as ‘the mix’ and every song is mixed differently. Listen to the interaction between sounds. How the different instruments play off each other to create mood and melody. How they dance, synchronize or propel each other forward. Most importantly, and hardest of all, is to shut off our own thoughts. To let the music take over. To listen without injecting your own voice into your head. Feel. Hear. This will be hard but once perfected, a sublime experience. A chance to feel deeply into ideas and thoughts, that are beyond the scope of words and pictures. A part of the human experience that is wholly heard. Save your ideas and answers for after the track is done. When the final notes have faded into the beautiful silence. Let it absorb into you. One song at a time.

A son of South-Texas, and two of the most beautiful souls I’ll ever know. Writer, dreamer, singer of songs, bass player, and professional observer. Toured the world with my band of “real-blood-tied” brothers, and friends as Hacienda/Fast-five. Recorded three albums, written countless songs, played countless shows, including two national tv late-night extravaganzas, festivals, throwdowns, parties, and hoot-nights. Lover of books, vinyl, dancing, people who laugh loud, walking, vintage craftsmanship, and my home in Boerne.

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March 2014

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FITNESS

In the Spring of 2012, EXPLORE did a “Challenge”. We had several people sign up to do 90 days of Hill Country Crossfit and we were going to document their struggles, successes, and achievements. 90 days of hardcore fitness, diet, and goal-setting. We had people that we wanted to take from “not so great” to “really, really fit.” The participants were eager, and their coaches were determined. And so, with that inaugural class, we took several people, toned them up, and hopefully changed their lives for the better. But I always thought there was something missing. The participants from that class were awesome people, and really gave it their all, but as magazine people, I always thought that we missed the “not so pretty side”. We all want to get healthy and be fit, but watching the silly testimonials from an infomercial can still leave us with the “They can do it but I can’t” mentality. And that’s kind of

Name: Ben Schooley Age: 38 Weight: 186 BMI: 23.9 What’s your goal? My goal is really just to finish. Like a lot of people, I’ve started many “fitness kicks”, only to cave after a month or so. I’m determined to see this all the way through the 90 days. What do you think will be your biggest challenge? My challenges are named Kendall, Aaron, and David. My 3 kids. They eat up a helluva lot of time, and working in a good hour a day of exercise is certainly not easy. Also, my diet is not always the best, as I’m pretty bad about eating out, so that will take some discipline as well. What will your program consist of? I’m going to do p90x2. I like to work out at home; if I have to get in my car to go somewhere to work out, well, it just won’t happen. I can do this program in my bathroom before the kids are up, and I think it gives me a good shot. Additionally, it requires minimal equipment.

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how our first challenge felt. People were understandably a little secretive about their weight, their measurements, and weren’t about to show us how their body looked upon completion. So after much, much discussion, Ben and I decided that we would do this up as a real-deal fitness before/after challenge. Yes, I’m Ben, but then there is Creative Ninja Ben (the guy that designs the magazine). A fellow sloth, we both discussed this and eventually decided that we would put ourselves out there as real people with real bumps. So for the next 90 days, we have pinky-swore that we would both document our struggles and successes as we attempt to change our lives. So with that, here we go. Here’s the “BEFORE” us. We’ll see you in a month, and will hopefully have made some improvements.

Name: Ben Weber Age: 32 Weight: 205 BMI: 29.4 What’s your goal? To be consistent. I have no problem eating really healthy and exercising 3+ days a week for a couple of weeks. I would like to, at the very least get back to the shape I was in about a year ago. What do you think will be your biggest challenge? Eating. I’ve finally come to the realization that I’m a stress eater. Unfortunately there can be a lot of stress when it comes to producing magazines. Also, my family and I are temporarily living in an apartment and cooking in the teeny tiny kitchen is not fun. So we just go grab drive-thru. What will your program consist of? I was a part of the CrossFit Challenge and have continued with that for the past year. I go three days per week, so to supplement the other days, and so Ben doesn’t cry that I’m only working out three days a week, I plan on running. Outside or on a treadmill doesn’t really matter to me. I’m also going to hit the nutrition aspect pretty hard.

March 2014

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March 2014

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HISTORY

A Cyclic Poem Written by Time

By Marjorie Hagy

My great-grandmother was named Mabel Marie Marcroft, but I knew her as Mamo, and she was one of my favorite people in the world. An old lady with snow-white hair, she’d had a long, long life in which she’d already run across both Bob Hope and Pretty Boy Floyd by the time I was born. She’d worn a black dress with heels and pearls at her job at Frost Brothers in downtown San Antonio and smoked cigarettes and got divorces back when women weren’t doing either of those things. Those old ads for Virginia Slims with the slogan ‘You’ve come a long way, baby’ always reminded me of my Mamo- a classy old lady with a bad case of idol worship who adored rubbing elbows with the wealthy socialites she dressed as a bridal consultant, she really had come a long way from her youth in the sticks in rural Missouri. She used to tell the story, still with awe in her tone, of how she once saw the Northern Lights from the back porch of her mother’s home in Bolivar, Missouri, during World War II, and thought at first that it was some new atrocity from the Germans. Missouri was way too far south for the Aurora, and remember that in just a few years from that wondrous night, a new weapon would be unleashed on the world in the form of a mushroom cloud over Japan, so the possibility that the enemy had somehow caused that light show in the night wasn’t as far-fetched as we might think it now. Mamo stepped out the back door for a smoke, and was suddenly enveloped and surrounded by the most beautiful sight she would ever behold; her wonderment at the spectacle drew her out into her mother’s yard to stare up in bewildered awe. She told that story for the rest of her life, and she told it to me, her darling favorite, many times. And now, twenty-five years after her death, that night my great-grandmother saw the Northern Lights in Missouri, has become a little piece of history- all because she passed it down to me. History, to me, used to be an easy A back in school, and something which, like math, I expected would have absolutely no bearing on the rest of my life. It was who had been president in what year, it was the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of San Jacinto and the bare-bones fact of the Civil War, but it was absolutely uninteresting and uninspiring, and I memorized the facts to regurgitate them at test time and then dismiss them from my memory forever after. I never thought of myself as what I am, and what we all are, in actual fact- a repository of all kinds of real-life history, and the product of generations of my family’s stories- as one link in the chain connecting all of my ancestors with the children I would have some day, and their children and their grandchildren after them. I had nothing to do with Grover Cleveland or the Monroe Doctrine, but as long as I held my great-grandmother’s memory of those wartime Northern Lights in my own mind like a scene in a snow globe, I was holding her history, and the history of my family, in guardianship for people yet to be born. We who delve into our family’s history at sites like ancestry.com are able to find out birth and death dates, marriage and military service records, but what wouldn’t we give for a priceless footnote like that on an unknown ancestor’s life: 1942, Mabel was amazed to see the Aurora Borealis in Bolivar, Missouri, and it profoundly affected her. 1865, Uncle Virgil learned of President Lincoln’s death and dropped to his knees to pray in his field. 1917, Aunt Lorraine danced every dance with her boyfriend James, who would leave the following week to fight in France where he was killed. She married Uncle Peter the following year. What I was never told in school, and what every teacher of history should be required to tell their students, is that history is not only Lincoln’s assassination in the Ford Theater while watching ‘Our American Cousin’, nor the shot heard round the world when the first American revolutionary saw the whites of their eyes, but it is all of the things that will be forgotten if someone doesn’t gather them up and tell the story to someone else. History is not just the Lusitania torpedoed one Spring afternoon off the southern coast of Ireland, it is also my grandfather’s birth in the mansion his father built in Terrell Hills, a week after the unsinkable Titanic went to the bottom of the ocean. It is my great-grandfather Weinburger, a generation out of the Fatherland, arrested on the streets of his hometown in Michigan for speaking German during the First World War; his deep sense of betrayal would cause him never to speak his first language in public again. It is my great-great uncle Simmons, in a Doughboy’s uniform somewhere in France. December 7, 1941, is a date which will live in infamy, not only in the collective conscious of a nation but in my father’s memory as a two-and-a-half year old boy, bewildered and terrified as his mother ran from the room where the radio was to be sick down the hall. The picture of that infamous morning remains vivid to him, seventy-three years later, and by his sharing, I too can see that December morning, through his eyes and his mother’s, who died before I was born. It is more than a recording of a president’s famous words, it’s a picture of stunned horror in one household in San Antonio, perhaps indicative of the mood that gripped the whole country that day they heard they’d been blitzed on their own soil and that their country was suddenly in the grip of bloody, brutal war. What makes a young woman’s glimpse of the Northern Lights in Missouri, or a grandmother’s reaction to her stark fear on the eve of war, into history? My grandfather Hagy’s birth became history the moment it was recorded, and great-grandfather Weinburgers’ arrest presumably left a paper trail as well, but how do the other stories count as history? Mamo left the porch that night so long ago to wander in a daze out in the swept yard of her mother’s house, staring in awe up at the show in the sky, and those few moments of wonder might have been forgotten, or may have stayed in her own mind and died along with her, but what transformed them into family lore, and into history, was her simple act of telling. My father remembered Pearl Harbor Day and the particular way in which it rained down on his own family, but his memory became history when he told me, and now I’ve written it down. ‘The past actually happened but history is only what someone wrote down,’ states A. Whitney Brown in The Big Picture. Instead of his story of that infamous

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day going out of existence with my dad- a long, long time from now, God bless him- his recollection has now entered the anecdotal narrative of our culture, and some future student of history, searching for what it was like in America on the dawn of World War II, can find this story and it is here, it is real and tangible and has weight. It is history. In Boerne, in Kendall County, so many things have been saved from dying by the simple act of telling. In 1949 during the centennial celebration of Boerne, local historians Emilie and Fritz Toepperwein told the story of the charcoal burners who lived along the Guadalupe River near Kendalia and Bergheim and so saved their story from oblivion. These were people cut adrift after the Civil War and Reconstruction left them penniless and homeless, who landed in the hill country and were allowed by local landowners to camp near the river and clear their acres of cedar, which they burned to sell as charcoal. These men and women built communities in those woods, from salvaged lumber and wagon boxes, of tarps held up by string tied between two trees, and there they raised their children in the haze of the cedar smoke. Bergheim was founded for the cedar choppersAndreas Engel ran a trading post at Engel’s Crossing on the west bank of the Guadalupe for nine years before he established the store and post office in his new town of Bergheim. Engel traded goods with the charcoal people in exchange for their coal, which he would then sell himself- one cedar burner, years later, would say, ‘Us charcoal people should love Mr. Engel, as he kept many a one of us from starving to death.’ Letters for the people of String Down, Wilke Bend, Happy Valley and Richter’s Flats- the little villages that made up Charcoal City- were often addressed to the Guadalupe Post Office, which made for confusion with the post office in Guadalupe, Texas, so they changed the name to Schiller, Texas, and another little town was born, and memory of it may have vanished along with the few living people who remembered it ever existed, if the Toepperweins hadn’t written it down. The cedar burners, with their blackened hands and faces and the women in their stove-pipe bonnets, looked down upon by the ‘proper’ citizens of Boerne as rubes & outliers, may have disappeared from the face of the earth and from our knowledge when the charcoal business dried up with the

History is a cyclic poem written by Time upon the memories of man.

- Percy Bysshe Shelley

advent of electricity in the 1920s, but the Toepperweins made sure that culture in that place and time did not die with the last of them, and now a copy of their pamphlet sits in the library where people a hundred years from now can read about their lives on the banks of the Guadalupe. Their dances at Anhalt and the Christmas trees they hawked on the streets of San Antonio at Christmas time along with their loads of coal, door to door; that chinaberry and pecan made the best axe handles and that it was an eight-mile walk to church- ‘We used to have some happy times in Charcoal City- come of a Sunday we used to have picnics, dinners, big suppers, watermelon feasts, foot races, horse races, prayer meetings and singing sociables and dances. I can tell you, everyone was mighty welcome and friendly in Charcoal City-’ all those things would have died out of existence when the last family packed up their meager worldly goods and drove away from the Guadalupe, but the Toepperweins sought them out and talked to them, drew out their stories and wrote them down, and now the charcoal burners of the Hill Country are a palpable, tangible piece of history. Looking through old numbers of the Boerne Star, I came across an issue from the seventies featuring an old postcard picture of a building on the site of the new Heath Library, with a caption asking if anyone recognized it and knew what it was. I don’t know if anyone wrote in to the paper about it, but I, in the twenty-first century, was instantly able to recognize the old building as St. Mary’s Sanitarium, a tuberculin hospital to which Dr. Herff sent his lung patients back in Boerne’s resort era. It had begun as a nursing home for priests suffering from the ‘white death’, but had then received patients from all walks of life as Dr. Herff recommended people from all over the country to come to Boerne for its healthful, life-saving mountain air. Next door to St. Mary’s was a Catholic School, Holy Angel’s Academy, run by sister nuns of those who ran the sanitarium, and both of those buildings are long gone now, and evidently forgotten by the 1970s- a mere fifty years after their demise. The site had only ever been a big wooded lot along Main Street during my recall, but I knew instantly what that old picture depicted because a guy named Garland Perry rescued St. Mary’s and Holy Angels from limbo and wrote about them, he fleshed out their stories and found people who remembered them, who’d graduated from Holy Angels Academy and knew the people who’d stayed at St. Mary’s Sanitarium. Garland Perry was another historian who saved the past and made it real by writing about it, who gave weight and sound and smell to our past. Here was a guy who wasn’t even from Boerne, who’d lived and worked in Houston until he retired here and then went on a search for the past and the people who could connect him to it. He interviewed Henry Fabra and Max Theis, the Herff twins and Rose Esser Kemp and wrote down their memories and stories, and so now we can feel and see and touch that past- Henry Fabra in his horse-drawn meat wagon, driving through the streets of town in the mornings calling ‘Meat! Fresh meat! Meat for sale!’ and the hausfraus coming out to their gates to buy their food for the day; the dances the Kronkoskys threw up on the hill for the young people of Boerne and the soldiers stationed at Camp Stanley, the beer they were still able to serve right through Prohibition and the sparkling lights everywhere that made the place look like fairyland; the first motorcar they had ever seen, scaring a group of picnicking schoolchildren off of a country road near Kendalia. I remember thinking, back when I was in high school, I suppose, that all of the history had been written, that everything that happened anymore was well-documented and that anything I could add would already have been said. And today, we can be sure that all the big things will be remembered- no future generations will have to rely on unearthed shards of pottery and the crumbling pages of old diaries to piece together what life

March 2014

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was like in 2014, or 1989, or 1976. But no history book will look and sound like your own history, and who will tell your grandchildren how it felt to you, in 1989, for the country to go to war for the first time since the horrific mess in Vietnam? And who but me can tell how I stood out on the hill where my family lived on Bicentennial Day in 1976 and hear the church bells ringing, altogether across the United States on her 200th birthday, carrying all the way on that hot, blue, cloudless day, from Boerne to our house in Pleasant Valley? When I was a child, all the old people had been born in the 19th century, and when I worked at the nursing home when I was in high school, most of the people who lived there had grown up in a very tiny, interrelated Boerne together, had been born around the same time and had gone to the school where the City Hall is, had dated each other and had gone to each other’s houses or had despised and avoided each other as much as was possible in a village the size of Boerne- who knows? I missed the opportunity to sit down with those old people and find out what their world had been likemy great-grandfather Hagy, who had built beautiful homes in Olmos Park and Alamo Heights, who had seen come to pass radio and television and cars and airplanes and submarines and Elvis and hippies and world war, who had seen his own city grow from a small town to one of the biggest cities in the USwhat would he have told me had I asked? I missed the opportunity to talk to the people in the nursing home who could have told me- what? Now that I’m pushing fifty, I know the importance of asking the people who lived it what their world was like, what history they can tell me and that I can write down and save from limbo, from dying with them. I can tell you this- I was born on the same day in history that the Munsters first appeared on television; I was born on the day that the Warren Commission delivered its infamous report on the assassination of President Kennedy to President Johnson. My mother was feeling labor pains and drove my father and that beloved great-grandmother of mine, Mamo, out of their minds by refusing to leave for the hospital until Ozzie & Harriet was over. I was born just months after the Beatles first hit America like a ton of bricks, the same year as the Cibolo flooded and washed away Riverside Grocery, fifty years ago. Some day I expect my own kids to finally become interested, and then I’ll repeat to them all the things they’ve been bored by before- watching TV footage from the Viet Nam war and being terrified by the ‘gorilla’ fighting, not knowing what was going on the other side of the world in the jungle but feeling sick every time it came on the news because I’d seen the picture of the crying man with the gun to his head. Glimpses of the Manson girls singing in the hallway of the courthouse. My mother crying in the kitchen when Martin Luther King was killed. Sitting with my aunt in a line so long you couldn’t see the end of it at the gas pump during the Arab oil embargo. The principal coming over the intercom in tenth grade announcing that President Reagan had been shot. One line from facebook actually got me to thinking about the importance of telling our stories and writing down those of our elders- it was just a comment from someone from Boerne, and I can’t remember exactly how it went and can’t find it now, but it was something about an old house where the author used to hang out, and ‘those cinnamon toothpicks on the front porch summer days.’ That stayed with me- those cinnamon toothpicks on the front porch summer days. So many memories that would never make the textbooks- the smell of those cinnamon toothpicks on the schoolbus on the chilly morning ride to school, and the boy who sold them, a born businessman in his overalls and boots, with a pair of tweezers tied to the bottle with which to neatly extract a cinnamon stick. Summer days and the smell of baking caliche, the taste of water from the hose and the sticker burrs in the tough soles of your bare, dirty little feet, another summer day and those same bare feet skipping along the scorching concrete at the side of the old Boerne pool, the strong smell of bleach and the taste of cold Dr. Pepper from a can, the news on the transistor radio that Elvis had died and the mothers sitting in the shade, softly weeping. A snowy day in high school, driving through the unfamiliar white landscape of your own neighborhood with your boyfriend; another winter day wrapping your baby’s feet in bread wrappers to go play outside in the thirteen inch snowfall- as foreign and exotic in Boerne as the Northern Lights in Bolivar, Missouri. The history books can tell you that Ronald Reagan was president of the US that snowy day in 1985, but only I can tell you how we slid down unpaved East Highland Street on a cardboard box and how my baby daughter’s laughter rang like a bell in the otherworldly frozen still of the day. That’s the real history- it’s in the lives of the people who lived it, it’s in the stories that only we know, in the sounds and the flavors and the smells of those memories. Go talk to your elders and let them tell you their stories, and write them down. Don’t let your opportunities slip away- make history right now, today.

thefam2001@yahoo.com

EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

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Bluebonnet Realty

DINING

ERIN GO BRAUGH “May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door” I’ve done a lot of talking about my Southern heritage, and a lot of cooking to show it off. But long before my people were living in the southern United States, their people were living in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Germany…Once they finally hopped on boats to come to the states, they married other Irishman, Englishman, and some Native Americans. What eventually trickled down to become the greater part of my heritage was Irish, Native American, and German. I know. I’m a regular World Atlas of genetic material. The upside is that I get to celebrate A LOT. Just about any week of the year, one or more of the groups in my gene pool is celebrating something. When I am in the kitchen, the influence that comes out most often is the Native American, as it was also the most influential to the Latin American and Southwestern cultures from which Texas grew. My cooking style, which I call Texas Fusion, seeks to incorporate those flavors into dishes from other cultures and regions. But the part of my heritage that was the most evident in my family life and my formative years was the Irish part. Since we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day this week, it’s a perfect time to honor that heritage. My people came from Ireland, from the area around County Limerick, and County Cork. Our family name, and my maiden name, is Gough, a variation from the much earlier McKeough. It rhymes with cough. One of the traits that has come to typify, if not stereotype the Irish people is their love of drink, song, and some very colorful language. Have I mentioned how a good thick Irish brogue (accent) makes me go weak in the knees? If you are watching a movie set in Ireland, there will almost inevitably be a scene set in a bar filled with rosy-cheeked locals drinking pints of Guinness and singing Irish folk songs. A more cheerful and gregarious bunch of Catholics there never was. And nobody can turn a phrase better than an Irishman. My Papa was no exception. Since I was a little girl, I remember him always, always singing--except when he was humming-- “GalwayBay”, and “Danny Boy”. And since he was also a proper Catholic—like any good Irishman should be—he also sung “The Lord’s Prayer”, and “Ave Maria”. He had the voice of an angel, and I can still hear him singing like it was yesterday. Singing in an Irish Pub would not be complete without liberal application of alcohol, and Ireland is famous for producing its share. Guinness Stout, and Irish Whiskey, most notably. Guinness is the famously dark ale that has been produced in Dublin since 1759, and is the most popular drink in Ireland. Irish Whiskey is a hard liquor made of one or more types of grains—barley being most common. It is almost always distilled three times and aged for at least three years,

Seared Cod With Colcannon, Stout Reduction, and Cress Puree

For the Cress Puree: 1 cup watercress leaves 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ cup high quality olive oil Whiz until smooth in a blender or food processor. Set aside. For the Stout Reduction: 12 oz stout beer 1 T tomato paste 2 T cider vinegar ½ t salt Whisk ingredients in a medium-sized skillet set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and allow to cook down until thick, and reduced to about ½ cup. Whisk occasionally while you prepare the rest of the dish. Reduce to very low to keep warm if you need time to finish.

Colcannon:

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 large leek, white and light green part only, cleaned and thinly sliced 2 cups (tightly packed) kale leaves, thinly sliced 2 teaspoons salt ¼ cup butter ½ cup cream (I use fat-free half and half) Boil potatoes in enough water to cover, until tender. Drain and put into a large bowl. Place butter, kale and leeks into a large skillet, and sprinkle with salt. Cook for a few minutes until tender, but while still bright green. Pour over potatoes in bowl, along with Cream. Mash roughly, and stir all together. Add additional salt if desired. Set aside to cool slightly while you sear the fish.

Fish:

1 pound thick cut cod fillets 1 t coarse salt 2 t fresh ground pepper (use a pepper blend— such as white, black, green, and pink) 2 T butter 1 T olive oil

although frequently much longer. Only products distilled in Ireland can legally be called Irish Whiskey, in much the same way that only sparkling wines bottled in France can legitimately be called Champagne. Also, the whiskey produced in most other countries— the United States being an exception—are spelled whisky. Scotch Whisky and Canadian Whisky, for example. Given their proclivity for drinking and cheerful song, no culture has produced better toasts or folk expressions than the Irish: “Bricks and mortar make a house but the laughter of children makes a home” “Many a time a man’s mouth broke his nose” “May the roof above us never fall in, and us friends beneath it never fall out” And due to the large incidence of Catholicism in Ireland, plenty of lovely blessings too……. “May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you In the palm of his hand.” “May you have: A world of wishes at your command. God and his angels close to hand. Friends and family their love impart, and Irish blessings in your heart!” “Laughter is brightest where food is best” It is in the spirit of the last one that I present you with an Irish meal to warm your belly and your heart. For an authentic experience, you must share this meal with people you love….Liberal use of spirits, toasting, and song will complete your meal. Corned Beef and Guinness Stew are two of the most common Irish dishes you will see this time of year, so I want to offer an alternative choice. Like anywhere else, food culture in Ireland grew from what was available, and in coastal areas, that means seafood. Still have to serve it with Colcannon, as that is my very favorite Irish dish.

Season both sides of fish with salt and pepper blend. Melt butter with olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add fish to skillet, and sear until golden on both sides. To plate: Place 1 cup of colcannon on plate, pressing into a cake if you wish. I use deep plastic cookie or biscuit cutters to form them into nice tight shapes. Otherwise, if you aren’t trying to get fancy, you can serve it just as you would mashed potatoes. Place one piece of fish on top. Drizzle small amounts of each sauce onto the dish. Serve right away. Plated the “un-fancy” way...Tastes just as good!

Summer Pudding

Summer pudding is NOT pudding in the American sense of the word. It is most kin to a berry shortcake in the states. It couldn’t be any simpler to make, and makes excellent use of fresh berries when they are plentiful. 6 cups assorted fresh berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries) 1 cup sugar ¼ water or fruit juice 1 loaf (about 20 slices) of white sandwich bread, crusts removed whipped cream, for topping, if desired Hull and cut in half any strawberries you are using. Place all berries, sugar and liquid in a large skillet, and bring to boil over medium heat. Boil just until sugar is dissolved. Line a 2 or 3 quart soufflé dish or bowl with plastic wrap. Line with bread slices, cutting to fit if necessary. Allow pieces to overlap, rather than leaving gaps. Pour fruit and juices from pan over bread. Top with remaining bread, filling all gaps. Top with plastic wrap. Place a plate that is mall enough to fit into the bowl (such as a dessert plate) onto the top, and place a 2 pound vegetable can, or a few bricks onto the plate. Place in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. Remove weight, and plate. Peel back plastic wrap from top. Place serving plate over bowl, and quickly flip over. Lift bowl off of serving plate, and peel plastic wrap away. Cut into slices and serve with fresh sweetened whipped cream. Sláinte! (to your health)

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Welcome to Boerne

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Bluebonnet Realty HOMES FOR SALE

1.) FOR SALE - $196,000 - 4 bed, 2.5 bath approx.

2269 s.f. living area in Villas at Hampton Place

2.) FOR SALE - $704,000 - Cordillera Ranch - approx. 3761 s.f. of living area, 5.31 acres, 4 bed, 3.5 baths, pool, close to club house, room for horses, club membership not included.

3.) FOR SALE - $215000 - Bentwood 4 bed 2 1/2 baths large fenced corner lot.

HOMES & COMMERCIAL FOR LEASE

4.) FOR LEASE - $1750 - Right in town! Cute 2 bed, 1 bath charmer. Great back yard too.

5.) FOR LEASE - $2650 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in Cordillera Ranch on 4.57 Acres with great outdoor kitchen for entertaining.

6.) FOR LEASE - $2500 - Napa Oaks new home. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, beautiful kitchen and family room.

7.) FOR LEASE - $1475 - 3 Bed, 2 ba with approximately 1646 s.f. of living area, fenced yard, in Boerne Heights. Easy care floors in living area.

8.) FOR LEASE - $1300 - Country life style in this 3 bed, 2 bath home on 1 acre Approximately 1270 s.f. of live area

9.) FOR LEASE - $1900 - 3 bed, 2 bath approximately 2133 s.f. of living area including large family room and rock fireplace on 1/3 ac. in town.

830-816-2288 â&#x20AC;˘ www.boernetexashomes.com

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Promotions, Weddings (Individually Priced) Blanco

Cupcakes Baked Fresh from Scratch Available Daily!

Main St. Old Library

Mercantile

Ye Kendall Inn

(830) 331-2523

128 W. Blanco Rd., Ste. 9 • Boerne, TX 78006

Inn

Located adjacent to the main plaza, beside the Ye Kendall Inn, Monday-Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm

Enjoy your life. We’ll take care of the rest. Home Automation Solutions

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Town Plaza

Mary Mellard, DDS

Randy Mellard, DDS, MS

• American Dental Association

• Texas Dental Association

• San Antonio Dental Society

• Academy of General Dentistry

DENTISTRY for the WHOLE FAMILY

The minute you walk through the doors at Mellard Dentistry, you will know you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Mary Mellard and Dr. Randy Mellard, a well-regarded husband-and-wife dental team, will help make you and your family more comfortable than you ever thought possible. Both doctors received their degrees from the University of Texas at Houston, and each year they continue to study advanced, postgraduate dentistry with some of the best-known clinicians in the country, In addition, Dr. Randy Mellard is a specialist in periodontology (gum therapy), and has advanced training in implant dentistry. But despite their clinical accolades, Dr. Mellard and Dr. Mellard do something all too rare in today’s rushed world... they listen, and get to know each patient one-on-one. So whether you’re looking for advanced cosmetic and restorative dentistry or simply a dentist to help maintain your family’s dental health, join us. We’ll give you something to smile about! Dr. Mary Mellard and Dr. Randy Mellard have been married more than twenty years, and have four children. They are native Texans, and enjoy being active in our local community.

Important Awards: Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry - Dr. Mary & Dr. Randy Mellard Master, Academy of General Dentistry - Dr. Mary Mellard Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition Award - Dr. Mary Mellard (one of 10 dentists in the state)

Comprehensive Dental Care

Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry

• Great with children and adults • Professional dental cleanings • State-of-the-art equipment • Digital x-rays significantly reduce radiation • We make your comfort our priority • Periodontal specialist on staff

• Advanced training in cosmetic dentistry • Invisalign® “invisible” orthodontics • Galileos ® 3D Dental Imaging System • Implants to replace missing teeth

Twice nominated as Texas Dentist of the Year (2007 & 2009) - Dr. Mary Mellard Master of Science in Periodontics, University of Texas -Dr. Randy Mellard

Services Offered:

Sedation Dentistry for fearful patients or long procedures All-on-Four Smile in a Day Same day crowns (Cerec) Implants Six Month Smiles Cosmetic makeovers Invisalign Non-surgical treatment for gum disease

CARE for the whole Children deserve a wonderful dental experience. We encourage parents to bring their children in for a visit any time after their first birthday. Your child will love it here!

Now Welcoming New Patients

(210) 782-8421

www.mellarddentistry.com

Creating the healthy beautiful smile of your dreams in a comfortable caring atmosphere

SPIRITUAL

WORTHY ARE THE WORTHLESS By Kendall D. Aaron kendall@hillcountryexplore.com

Sometimes I like to get down on myself. I like to just go through certain periods and really, REALLY tell myself that I’m a miserable failure, a mess, and that I’m just going to die alone in a desert. I mean, I’m an awful sinner who constantly falls short of my goals and God’s, so my natural response is to simply hang my head, resign myself to the fact that God Himself is doing a facepalm in heaven, and so I just sulk. There’s no hope for me. It’s a delightful activity that reaps me much value and positivity. No, honestly, it sucks. But am I the only one that does this? Surely not. We all tend to set these goals of perfection for ourselves and hold ourselves to standards that surely do not translate very well to real life. So you occasionally tell lies? You have this big talk with God and pour out your heart to Him and pledge that you are going to do better about lying. This is one of those moments you feel GOOD about yourself. You’ve confessed this sins, repented from him, and are seriously going to make some headway toward being free of lying. You puff your chest out, put your chin up, and brother, you are walking tall. And then tomorrow happens. Ah, tomorrow. That day when real life has to happen all over again and you’re faced with an entirely NEW days’ worth of drama and struggles. A new day where you are truly put to the test and are put in situations that require your resolve, your faith, and your determination. And then you fail, and you lie. You would think that you were responsible for mass murder by your reaction, because you immediately wail out in despair, beat your head against the wall, and murmur to yourself “I’m so worthless.” Worthless. Pathetic. Failure. My 9 year old daughter struggles at math. Badly. She inherited this special trait from me, as I hold the world record for time required to compute correct change. Poor kid. Unfortunately, my daughter has similar struggles in math, and it breaks my heart when I watch her try with all of her might to figure out a problem quickly, only to struggle and get the answer wrong. She will throw her arms in the air, sigh deeply, and just mumble, “I will never, ever get this right.” Now, I’m just her dad, and watching her try so hard only to fail…..just breaks my heart. What do you think God thinks when YOU are trying to do something hard? And what do you think He does when you fail? Does He turn his back on you and condemn you? Does He throw his hands up in the air and scream “My goodness you’re an idiot!”? Does He mumble “I knew you’d fail.”? No. He runs for you and holds you and loves you. While my daughter will get better at math, she will never be perfect at math. Neither will you be perfect at life. You just won’t be. You WILL fail, and you will fall, and you will do the wrong thing. Why expect yourself to not make a mistake? What would change in your life if you woke up every day knowing that you would probably commit sin that day? Guess what: you will. So instead of seeking perfection, seek effort. Wake up refreshed and ready to navigate your day in the most God-like way that you can. Will you succeed? Marginally. But the pursuit of Christ is the true test to hold yourself to. If you can lay your head down at night and say “You know, I sincerely tried hard today to ensure that I was pursuing Christ.” If you can say that, then honestly, it was a PERFECT day.

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Facility available for special events Call for details Guitar Workshops • Artist Performances String instrument rentals for students

Premier Custom Home Builder in the Texas Hill Country

109 Oak Park Dr. Boerne, Texas 78006

830-331-9840 Call today to reserve your lesson space

For over 40 years, KCN has been building beautiful custom homes of all sizes in Boerne, Comfort, Bandera, Castroville and throughout the Texas Hill Country. Our commitment to excellence is reflected not just in the quality of our products, but also in the superior level of customer service we provide during the building process. Our reputation for honesty and integrity, combined with our commitment to deliver excellent quality, expert craftsmanship, and customer service, has afforded us the opportunity to build many long lasting relationships with our clients. In fact, we are now working with our 29th repeat client.

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Shared Beat Crawfish Boil At Random!

April 12, 2014 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Live Music By Road Side Libby Live & Silent Auction Tickets can be purchased at Random or visit info@ sharedbeat.org or call 830-331-2691 Deadline April 5th Individual Tickets $50 ($25- Tax Deductible) Table Sponsors $750 ( Table for 10 - $500 Tax Deductible ) An Evening of Fun & Entertainment to Benefit Children & Families! Help Shared Beat’s Medical Programs in Guatemala.

Shared Beat operates a full-time clinic at Safe Passage in Guatemala City. Clinic support includes year-round supplies and medications, an Emergency Fund, a full-time Guatemalan nurse, and part-time Guatemalan doctor. Shared Beat provides year-round vitamins for 4800 children, pregnant & nursing mothers and senior adults living around the Guatemala City dump and in 22 rural Guatemalan villages. Check them out at www.SharedBeat.org

11 Upper Cibolo Creek Rd. • (210) 724-6921 • Facebook.com/RandomTexasFamilyFun Kiddo Friendly • Dog Lovers • Wonderful Food Truck Eats • Live Music! Great space for Weddings, Birthday & Corporate Parties! Please call we are very interested in hearing from you!

March 2014

www.hillcountryexplore.com

Wine

THE NOBLE EXPERIMENT

THAT FAILED By Tom Geoghegan | tgeoghegan@boernewineco.com

This past December marked the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the 18th amendment, affectionately referred to as Prohibition. No one disputes the problems relating to the addiction aspects of alcohol, but history has shown it’s very difficult to legislate morality for a nation. Some social historians have even suggested the immense profits generated for organized crime during that period laid the foundation for the initial financing of our modern drug problems. And with the historical background in place, I thought it might be fun to look at another aspect of the alcohol beverage industry…distilled spirits. 10 years ago, barely half a dozen distilleries were in operation, not counting the ones way out in the woods. In 2014, we have 50 plus operating with more on the horizon, producing rum, bourbon, vodka, tequila, gin, and even sake. In one of the most heavily regulated industries in America, there is of course the small group that embraces the true spirit of the law, not just the letter. It’s perfectly legal to have product produced elsewhere, then shipped to Texas to be bottled. In the interests of time, space, and my liver, I thought we could take a quick look at 3 of the local, authentic favorites….Garrison Brothers, Tito’s, and Ranger Creek. “Never tell a Texan he can’t do something”…wrote author C.K.Cowdery. With this thought in mind I’m sure, Dan Garrison made a momentous career change in the early 2000s. After reading an article about the early growth of the Texas distillery industry, he wondered aloud why no one was producing his spirit of choice…straight, uncut Bourbon whiskey. His wife’s response was …” as much of that stuff as you drink, maybe you should make one…we’d probably save money”. Next thing he knew, he was in the heart of Kentucky, learning as much as he

could, building up contacts, and collecting the assortment of tanks, plumbing, barrels, and everything else he would need to produce a world class spirit. The crown of his collection of parts and materials was an antique 40 year old pot still originally built for Wild Turkey. Renamed the “Copper Cowgirl”, she was the basis for his first series of experimental batches. Opening officially in 2008, Dan and his assorted friends, family, and volunteers have been producing stellar products ever since. Just named the 2014 Micro Whiskey of the year, is just another in a series of accolades from the press and consumers. Dan believes he’s producing a true Texas whiskey, not just a Kentucky clone. His recipe calls for Texas panhandle organic corn, Pacific NW barley, his own “estate grown” wheat (when the rain gods cooperate),barrel aging in the hot Texas sun for part of the year, and of course delicious aquifer water. Only the finest ingredients, but a wonderful product that’s worth every penny. They do it all there on site…everything from the corn to the cork in the finished bottle. A great addition to any trip to the Texas 290 wine trail, or just as a day trip by itself, they’re located in beautiful downtown Hye, Texas. Fair warning…these great folks have been “discovered”…please make sure you call ahead for reservations regarding a tour/tasting (www.garrisonbros.com/ 512-302-0608). Let’s keep Dan smiling and employed as he crafts his favorite spirit…or as he puts it “I own most of the business today, or at least my wife lets me think I do”. Next on the list is Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Born in San Antonio and a UT Austin grad, Bert “Tito” Beveridge embarked on a career that included the oil industry, water analysis, even mortgage banking. In the early 1990s, he watched the growth of small boutique wineries and microbreweries, and wondered if he could take his favorite

EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

hobby of making small batches of vodka, and help create a new industry…micro distilling. Almost single handily, he began the lobbying process to create the legal right to open a distillery in Texas. In 1997, his efforts were rewarded with the very first distillery permit for his vodka. His vision was to create a Texas product fusing domestic corn with the classic old world pot still method used in making fine cognac, single malt scotches. The journey was a long slow process at the beginning, with help from just family and friends. The major investor group consisted of basically Tito, and his 19 credit cards. His goal was to make the purest and smoothest product possible. Some vodkas make a big deal about being triple distilled…Tito quietly does his 6 times. As always, more information on his website (www.titosvodka.com). Check out the conclusion to “the story”. I can’t remember the last time I heard an owner finish his own business story with “Thank you very much.” Good people…drink well! Last in our grouping are the folks at Ranger Creek. Mark, Dennis, and TJ met coming out of business school. After a short stint in the corporate world, they began to kick around business plans for a business that would be fun and produce a product that they all enjoyed. The demographics for the local market here in the San Antonio metroplex seemed ideal for an alcoholic beverage product. The problem arose that they were passionate about both beer and whiskey, and accordingly they developed separate business plans, figuring the coin-toss would determine the winner. Inspiration struck as they created the first brewstillery that I’m aware off…talk about Texas ingenuity! Now of course, all three of this down to earth group will never take individual credit for the idea, so we’ll just let them all share in the glory! This offers them the unique ability to do some very innovative products with cross-over in technologies occurring all the time. Where else could you age your own beer in bourbon barrels you used for your whiskey? Then distill your beers into a matching style whiskey. Texas harmony at its best. We’ll save the beer portion of their business for a future article (hopefully…let me know if you’re interested). Currently, they offer 3 very creative and limited edition whiskeys they refer to as their “Small Caliber Series”. I’m going to ask Mr. Cook (Cook Winston and Company, fine sporting arms and appraisals www.cookwinston.com ) to help me with the translation of all the gun terms, but what a nice Texas touch. In the current offering are their .44 Texas Rye Whiskey, .36 Texas Bourbon, and their most intriguing... Rimfire Mesquite-smoked Texas Single Malt Whiskey using mesquite to smoke the batch instead of Scottish peat. I’m hoping in the future they might take a look at their Texas interpretation of a fine Irish whiskey, and produce a small batch. As I indicated, a good group. Reach out to them for more information, ask for it at your favorite bar, restaurant, and package store, and give them a yell about visiting for a tour (www.drinkrangercreek.com The author William Faulkner observed this whole process very eloquently…”There is no such thing as bad whiskey. Some whiskeys just happen to be better than others.”Hopefully by the time you folks are reading this, the weather will be back to normal, Daylight savings time will be kicking off, and there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a fine handcrafted Texas spirit by the fire pit some cool afternoon or evening. As an alternative to wine, this might be a fun time to explore the Texas spirits industry with plenty of brands and styles to choose from. We’ll let Tito have the last word….”My friends advised me to start small. Try to own your hometown, then, if you do that, try to own your home state, then, if you do that, try to own your home country.”Personally, I think we’re headed in the right direction.

March 2014

www.hillcountryexplore.com

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p. (830) 816-5888 f. (830) 816-5889

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For a FUN, LEARNING EXPERIENCE, subscribe today to Bill Zaner’s informative, entertaining new videos on oil and watercolor painting, currently available at his website: BILLZANER.COM The images below, from Bill Zaner’s vast production of painting, representing 70 years of experience, are intended to show prospective students/subscribers the range of possibilities inherent within his subjects and how he approaches the rendering of the landscape or seascape to best effect.

“Rain & Redbuds - Gifts of Spring” Oil 30”x40” All us folks lucky enough to live in the Hill Country of Texas, and other nice places, too, keep an eye peeled, beginning the middle of February, for the first tiny, bright pink redbud bloom on a limb of that dead-looking little tree, the we know that bluebonnets are not too far off now! Bill Zaner has, as he does each winter, depicted for all you students and other “noticers” out there, this delightful annual occurrence.

“Solo Flight” Oil 24”x36” This “sand and sea” work captures a moment at the beach, just at sunset, when a lonely gull makes one last food run, hoping to spot an edible morsel missed by his compadres. Soon, successful or not, he will head to his roosting place and leave only the wind and the surf sounds until dawn, when the bird and his friends will resume their noisy daily quest.

“Blue, Red, Gold” Oil 12”x36” This scene pictures what we’ve been waiting for all winter long! All those cold, miserable days of January only serve to enhance even more our appreciation of “Bluebonnet Time”. Aren’t we lucky that, we in these temperate climates, get to enjoy several Months of Flowertime every year! Photos of the paintings courtesy of my friend Pat Whitty :: www.imagecorp.zenfolio.com

Bill’s paintings are available for viewing & purchase exclusively at one of the finest gallery spaces in the country - Johny Rosa’s TEXAS TREASURES FINE ART GALLERY at 605 S. Main in Boerne, TX. Johny, a veteran of the Santa Fe art scene, has assembled a distinctive collection of art and placed it in several beautifully appointed rooms. The gallery is open 7 days a week for your convenience.

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As a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Chet Hawkins posses the highest level of education recognized for a dentist. As a graduate of the Pankey Institute, he’s had the finest post-doctoral training in the world. “I want to establish a master plan and then develop a blueprint for my patients’ long-term care,” he explains. “We want to solve the causes of the problems before we do anything else to their teeth. Then we can rebuild or repair with confidence that the fix will last as long as possible. We also educate our patients about other health issues related to oral disease. There is a connection between periodontal disease and heart disease that people need to know about.” Dr. Hawkins and his wife, Deby, have been residents of Boerne for 7 years and are excited to be joining the practice in Boerne.

I just went to see Dr. Hawkins yesterday for an exam and cleaning. I was promptly seen, the procedures were done painlessly and in a timely manner with the latest equipment. My necessary dental work was explained fully to me. Everyone in the office greeted me warmly and made me feel special. - Elaine The moment you enter the office you are greeted by Kim’s warm smile and friendly personality. The hygienists are professional and make you feel very at ease. Dr. Hawkins is very calm and soft spoken with a gentle touch. The office runs very smoothly and on time for appointments. - Charlotte Pleasant, friendly staff. No wait. Dr. Hawkins listens to your issues and then provides clear solutions. Great dentist. Also, great hygienist. Overall, great experience. - Cindy

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Boerne’s ONLY Master Dentist The Dental Wellness Center • 806 N. Main St. • Boerne • 830-249-7870 • www.drchethawkins.com

We care for seniors in their home... INDEPENDANT LIVING COTTAGES AMENITIES: • One or two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, bathroom, laundry room & screened in portch overlooking beautiful woodland grounds and pond • 3 Meals a day delivered to cottage • Housekeeping and laundry service • Medication reminders • Activities, socialization and entertainment • Senior Buddies personal assistance available as needed. • Pets Allowed

ASSISTED LIVING AMENITIES: • Private and Semi private rooms and suites • Assistance with bathing, dressing & grooming • Medication assistance and healthcare management • Assistance with ambulation to meals and activities • Excellent home cooked meals and special diets • Activities, exercise and entertainment • 24 hour staff • Housekeeping and laundry service • Beauty and barber shop services • Senior Buddies personal assistance service is available for one on one care. • Walking paths in a beautiful woodland setting

...where their heart is SENIOR BUDDIES was founded to provide a loving, caring way to assist the elderly and their families. We specialize in enhancing the lives of seniors limited by Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and strokes. We also provide respite care, surgery recovery and service for other seniorrelated needs.

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Old

Timer

Old Timer is our resident cranky old guy. We all know one or love one, and we’ve become quite fond of Old Timer, and enjoy letting him spout off about stuff that he sees happening around town.

OLD TIMER, BILL MILLER’S BBQ IS COMING TO TOWN! THAT ROCKS, RIGHT? I am pleased and welcome our new BBQ Overlords. My only complaint is the location at Cascade Caverns/I-10. Could there be a worse light in town? Back in my day, there was no light; only a stop sign. And you know what? We all got through it pretty painlessly. TxDot showed up, and in their overwhelming intelligence, installed 18 traffic lights there. Now, it’s backed up a quarter mile every morning. At least I can eat a $3 BBQ sandwich while waiting for that stupid light.

Hey Old Timer, who do you have in the Commissioner’s Court elections? As soon as you can tell me what the hell a “Commissioner” does, I’ll let you know who I’m voting for. Man, that was one mean winter, Old Timer. How are you faring? Pfffft. I remember the Winter of ’38. Now THAT was a mean winter. The whole damn town froze solid, for what felt like weeks. It was cold as hell, but you know what? We all went to work. Schools were open. Life carried on. What the hell is up with that nowadays? As soon as temps hit 29, the schools lock down, 18 people die, and the entire state ceases operations. C’mon people, suck it up. Old Timer, seriously. What the heck is up with the bridge? How can it not be done yet? That stupid project has now hit the comical stage of governmental affairs. Wasn’t it supposed to be done in August? I challenge anyone to even explain what work they have actually completed to improve the bridge. You know, to “improve” the perfectly fine, operational, functional bridge that didn’t need anything done to it in the first place. You know, I’m pissed at you for even bringing up the bridge project. It raises my blood pressure. I mean, if I’m one day late on paying my electric bill, I’m fined. The city blows their construction timeline by 7 freaking months, and nobody cares. And don’t you know that when it’s done the Mayor will go and hold a press conference and talk about this fantastic project and how pleased they are with it. Ugh. And my electric bill….still making me pay it through that damned plate of glass. That stupid glass gives me nightmares. I swear I’ve been

tempted to go there and just smash them with a hammer, but I know I’d be labeled a terrorist. But man, it sure would feel good. Don’t ever talk to me about the bridge again. My heart can’t take it. Or that damned glass. Pissing me off. Old Timer, any great summer plans for you? I’m taking a class on oil painting this summer. I like to paint. Don’t judge me. Hey man – are you on Facebook or Twitter? I’d love to see your interactions online. I know 7 people, and we all have coffee on Tuesdays at Riverside. We sit down, sip coffee, and talk. Face to face. With our voices. This is how humans were designed to share their lives. There’s not enough that happens to me in a day that is even worth sharing. That’s why we get together once a week. By then, something new might have happened. How people can go online and share that their toothbrush is broken, and then talk about their lunch plans, and conclude their day with photos of their dinner is simply ridiculous. You would be highly disappointed with my Facebook posts if I was even on there. And I’m not sure I’d like to know someone that was a Twitter user. Sounds dangerous.

EXPLORE it! LIVE IT! The REAL Kendall County.

PICTURE IT. COLOR OF THE YEAR! 920

NE 15-3

PANTO

Placid Blue

PANTONE 16-3823

Violet Tulip

114

NE 15-6

PANTO

Hemlock

PANTO

PANTONE

NE 15-1

16-0000

Paloma

Sand

225

852

NE 14-0

PANTO

Freesia

PANTONE

PANTONE 17-1360

18-1651

Cayenne

Celosia Orange

PANTO

NE 18-3

Radiant Orc

224

hid

949

NE 18-3

e Dazzling Blu

PANTO

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March 2014