Tex Appeal April 2016 by Temple Daily Telegram

MUSIC

COMFORT

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SECURITY

LIGHTING

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Features

GROW YOUR VEGGIES Heights community garden

These days there seems to be an emphasis on eating a healthy plant-based diet. People are flocking to their area farmers markets to purchase responsibly grown produce and flowers, and many people are starting their own edible backyard gardens in raised beds where they can harvest their own seasonal food. For those who cannot make it to the farmers’ market or don’t have the space to create a garden, the Harker Heights Community Garden provides raised plots for experienced or aspiring gardeners. By CATHERINE HOSMAN

A DESIGNER’S EYE

HOME TRENDS

Area builders showcase building and décor styles

Rows of rooftops from new subdivisions are popping up around Killeen and Harker Heights, supplanting the farms and ranches that once held a legacy to this area. From country rustic and modern, to sleek and contemporary, there is a home style to fit every budget and fulfill a homebuyer’s wish list. By CATHERINE HOSMAN

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Interior decorator brings out owners’ personalities Today’s homes are a reflection of a homeowner’s personality, but taking an idea and turning it into reality can be challenging. More people are turning to professional interior designers or decorators to help them realize their vision. For interior decorator Terri Smith, the process begins the moment she opens the door to a client’s home. Whether she is doing a complete renovation, redecorating a room or sprucing up a home, she knows how to capture her client’s wish list and create a specific look, all within budget. By CATHERINE HOSMAN

REVIVING A LANDMARK Temple home gets a facelift

In 1984, Temple architect, the late Charles Voelter, wanted to build a home for his family. He had a vision to create a peaceful escape in a tranquil area where they would be surrounded by nature, yet remain in the city and be close to schools for his two daughters. By CATHERINE HOSMAN TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Departments

TexTalk Neighbors Longhorn Rancher Judy Hundley

TexTalk FLAVOURS Narunya’s Thai cuisine in Belton

TexTalk BEAUTY Terri Smith opens her bag

TexTalk SPOTLIGHT Temple Area Builders Association

TexTalk SCENE Day for Women

TexTalk CALENDAR Upcoming events in April

EDITOR’S LETTER

Contributors

PROFILES

ON the COVER Local longhorn rancher Judy Hundley. 12 Photograph by JULIE NABOURS

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64 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 66

TexTHERAPY

TexTalk WELL-FED HEAD Landscaping with Edible Plants in Texas

TexVOLUNTEERS

Gardeners bring nature to McLane Children’s Hospital

TexFIT

Exercises for full body strength

TexADVENTURES Wonders of Wimberley

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

From the Editor Dear Readers, Living in Texas we can’t go by the idiom April showers bring May flowers because in our part of the country, it’s the March showers that bring us April flowers. I’ve already seen a blanket of bluebonnets on the embankment along U.S. Highway 190 between Belton and Nolanville — their blue color unmistakable. It seems appropriate that the wildflowers are blooming just in time for our Home and Garden issue. This month we have a variety of stories to share with you. In addition to our stories about homes, décor and gardens, we introduce you to Judy Hundley of Moody, who is a woman rancher raising longhorn cattle just for the love of the breed. She doesn’t raise them for market, but to keep up the legacy of Texas that they represent, Page 12. Meet interior decorator Terri Smith. She has been moving furniture around since she was a child and 12 years ago decided to make it her career. Known for her Tuscan designs, she also can design a house flip, create an interior to fulfill her clients’ wishes, and turn a home into a rustic cabin, Page 48. These days people seem to be leaning toward an organic, plant-based diet and many are planting their own gardens. For folks who don’t want to go through the process of turning their backyard into an organic vegetable field they now have the option to rent, at a nominal fee, a small plot in the Harker Heights Community Garden, Page 29. If you need help planting your garden, this month’s book review, “Landscaping with Edible Plants,” by Cheryl Beesley, may help you decide if you want to redo your own yard, Page 26. Gardens come in all sizes and are created for many reasons. Meet two volunteers from the Bell County Master Gardeners who donate their time to be part of the team that created the McLane Children’s Hospital Garden, Page 53. If you haven’t noticed, the Bell County housing market is booming. Homes are popping up almost overnight in nearly every quadrant of the county, with a heavy concentration in south Killeen toward State Highway 195. Read about what is driving this growth, how the home designs are changing, or staying the same, and what is trending in exterior and interior designs, Page 32. What could be better than women coming together to celebrate who they are? On Feb. 20, the Frank Mayborn Convention Center in Temple opened its doors to the 12th Day for Women, in conjunction with the Temple Daily Telegram. Many womenowned businesses were represented in the exhibit hall and the highlight of the day was author Rachel Anne Ridge who wrote the book “Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith and Second Chances.” After introducing the antics of Flash, she segued into her keynote speech about women and friendship, Page 22. This month is our final installment of workouts you can do from home, Page 56, and travel to Wimberley for a day or weekend of adventure and shopping, Page 60. Wherever you might be in your busy day, take a break, pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and read this month’s issue of Tex Appeal.

Catherine Hosman

Tex Appeal Editor edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com 254-501-7511

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas

Published by FRANK MAYBORN ENTERPRISES, INC. KILLEEN DAILY HERALD 1809 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76540

TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501

Publisher SUE MAYBORN Editor CATHERINE HOSMAN Editorial Director ROSE FITZPATRICK Photographers/Graphic Designers

M. CLARE HAEFNER JULIE NABOURS ERIC J. SHELTON Contributors

Contributors FreD AFFLERBACH is an award-winning writer and novelist, college graduate at age 50, and former long-haul trucker. His stories and columns have been published in daily newspapers across Texas. His novel, “Roll On,” debuted in 2012, and is an interstate odyssey about a man afflicted with an incurable wanderlust despite pressure from family and friends to settle down. Fred lives in Cedar Park with his wife, Diane, and enjoys perusing Central Texas backroads with a keen eye out for roadrunners, old trucks and lipstick sunsets. MITCHEL BARRETT is an award-winning photographer and owner of Mitchel Barrett Photography. Although originally from the British Virgin Islands, for the past 12 years he has come to call the city of Killeen his home. He developed his love of photography while attending high school and the KISD Career Center, and has enjoyed life behind the lens ever since. When not busy taking photos, you can probably find him at the movies with friends or at home with his family and two dogs. VAL VALDEZ has taught theater arts and film classes at Central Texas College in Killeen since 2009. An accomplished writer of stage plays and screenplays, she earned her M.A. in theater arts from Texas State University in 1991. Val served as a marketing director for architecture firms in Austin for a decade. From 1981 to 1991, she worked as a producer and director of training films for the U.S. Army at Fort Hood and was also a program director at NBC and PBS affiliates for eight years.

FRED AFFLERBACH MITCHEL BARRETT VAL VALDEZ Advertising 254-778-4444 254-501-7500

Tex Appeal Magazine is published monthly by Frank Mayborn Enterprises, Inc. 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501. The cover and content of Tex Appeal Magazine is fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. Subscriptions: For the United States, $24 per year, 12 issues. Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114.

Questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Tex Appeal Magazine, P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. How to contact us: Advertising: Call 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500. Editorial: Contact Catherine Hosman at 254-501-7511 or email edittexappealmagazine@ gmail.com. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk

neighbors 13 flavours 16 beauty 18 spotlight 19 scene 20 calendar 23 well-fed head 24

Local rancher preserves

legacy of longhorns

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Judy Hundley stands in front of a historical windmill on her ranch in Moody that was relocated from South Texas by her late husband, David.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk neighbors

Hundley raises longhorns gently on the land Story by Fred Afflerbach Photos by Julie Nabours

ne hundred forty years after the last cattle, cowboys and chuck wagons meandered down the Chisholm Trail through Central Texas you can still find purebred longhorns grazing along the historic route. Longhorn rancher Judy Hundley is helping to preserve that legacy. On a sunny February afternoon, Hundley was tending to her herd on her ranch in northern Bell County that stretches along the old trail. She points to a bull named Legacy with horns that stretch about seven feet from tip to tip. An orange-and-white mother cow swishes her tail while two young calves with nubs above their ears hop and skip. Hundley breeds these living memorials to Texas history on 130 acres that have been in the family for 44 years. A state historical marker at the front gate commemorates what some historians call the largest cattle stampede in the west. A rainbow, not lightning, mysteriously spooked a couple thousand head at that spot in 1876. Working with her late husband, David, the Hundleys began raising longhorns 10 years ago. Unlike large-scale beef producers who ship their cattle to slaughterhouses in the Texas Panhandle, Hundley sells only a few calves a year. Her customers buy longhorns not for beef, but to honor the legacy and symbolism of the longhorns and the cattle drives. Bell County farmer and rancher Bill Carberry bought two longhorns from Hundley a couple of years ago. A 1974 University of Texas graduate, Carberry said he has a sentimental attachment to longhorns. “A commercial cattleman is always trying to find ways to make money,” Carberry said. “The pure longhorn breeders have a real passion. They want other people to enjoy their cattle. There are a lot of people that pull off the highway and take pictures of longhorns. It’s part of our heritage.” Hundley recently employed a holistic approach to managing the ranch. She recognizes cattle are notorious for eating 12

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the most desirable grasses almost to the roots before moving on. The long-term effects of giving livestock free reign can leave pastures barren, so Hundley moves the cattle often, using a rest and restore approach to the paddocks. Hundley compares her land management practice to how bison once crossed the plains, aerating the soil with their hooves, grazing native grasses minimally, fertilizing with their dung. Whereas her longhorns once grazed from corner post to corner post, she now employs a symbiotic relationship between plants and animals, moving the cattle according to range conditions. Hundley also eschews herbicides and fertilizer. “The reason that you have wildflowers,” Hundley said, pointing to a bluebonnet budded out and about to bloom, “we have not put any chemicals on this land in all the time we’ve had it. We’ve got grass everywhere. I don’t have bare ground and I had that for a while. It’s so much fun to see it change. Just having grass out there with that cactus is huge.”

Judy Hundley raises longhorn cattle on her ranch near Moody on land once part of the Chisholm Trail.

Holistic Management It seems only natural the former educator (she was the principal at Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

The horns on this longhorn calf are just starting to grow.

Bonham Middle School in Temple) would seek training in her quest to maintain biodiversity at her ranch. Hundley recently completed a five-month class taught by instructors at Holistic Management International. HMI is a nonprofit organization that teaches landowners and producers how to “enhance the health, productivity and profitability of their land.” Along with other women that have managed farms and ranches for less than 10 years, Hundley enrolled in the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program. She was assigned a mentor, Kathy Harris, program manager at HMI. Harris said the holistic approach is about setting goals for a sustainable operation that also enhances the quality of life for the individual. Her students build a plan that squares sustainability with the bottom line. Harris visited Hundley’s ranch and pointed out how to read the biological health of the soil. They looked for erosion problems, how water percolated into the ground or ran off, and recognized the importance of diverse plant life. Harris suggested building barbed-wire fences to create several small pastures out of one large one. “She has a very strong connection to the land,” Harris said. “It’s something she wants to continue for her kids and grandkids. This long-term view is 14

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very important to her. She has a deep connection with the longhorn. Those cows, she loves them and they’re part of what she sees as Texas heritage and history. Those are all things we take into account. She can grow what her animals need to eat on the property without having to purchase a lot of feed.”

Homage to David Hundley The vestiges of Judy’s husband, David, who died two years ago, are omnipresent at the Hundley ranch. He transplanted numerous yuccas and a windmill from South Texas to give their homestead a southwestern aura. Working with a friend, he hauled stones from a freestanding, abandoned chimney a couple of miles away and had a stonemason rebuild the chimney at the guest house. He planted mountain laurels among the juniper thickets and purple sage at the gate. Two dozen live oaks that David planted thrive behind the ranch house today. Judy calls it the Heavenly Forest. But above all David Hundley’s contributions, the historical marker erected in 2002 at the gate is the most notable. For several years, David researched the history of the area along Stampede Creek. After lobbying the state historical commission, Judy and David were honored with the plaque that explains two stampedes 37

ABOVE: Judy Hundley’s granddaughter feeds one of her happy longhorns. BELOW: Treats are always welcome.

years apart erupted at the creek that runs through their ranch. David Hundley, a Vietnam War veteran, died from brain cancer at age 68. Judy says he was exposed to Agent Orange, an herbicide used to defoliate jungles in Southeast Asia. The irony of losing her husband to exposure to chemicals while eschewing their use at their ranch is not lost on Judy. “We’re back to the same stuff,” she said. “That’s why I’m trying to keep chemicals off the land.” Judy keeps her husband’s legacy alive by sharing the ranch with visitors, especially urban dwellers who don’t often leave the city. “I do think we’re doing some good just by having people out on the land. And that has been my goal. I would not understand how people don’t believe in God if they come out and see these sunrises and sunsets. It’s just so much closer to nature than any place I’ve ever been.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk flavours

Narunya’s modern Thai cuisine creates a fusion of flavors

Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by ERIC J. SHELTON

or a taste of Thailand, visit Narunya’s restaurant in Belton. Family owned and operated, Chef Narunya prepares from scratch curry dishes from her native Surat-Thani, Thailand, and a fusion of other Thai recipes. Everything on the menu, except for the noodles, is homemade. That includes her mango sorbet she uses in her Sticky Rice with Mango Sorbet dessert. The welcoming restaurant is bright in hues of electric green and pink and accented by her original artwork hanging on the walls. She arrived in Central Texas in 2007 with her husband, Martin Estrada, and said she was struggling, missing her native dishes. She even admitted she was a picky eater when it came to Thai food. After visiting several Thai restaurants, she said they didn’t have the food she was familiar with and talked to her mom about bringing her food here. But after a career as a secretary at an art gallery in her hometown, and her love of everything art, she decided to go for a degree in fine arts. Her husband offered to realize whatever dream she had, and she graduated from Temple College with an associate’s degree. She was all set to transfer to the University of Texas when she found Le Cordon Bleu School of Culinary arts, changed her direction and decided to merge her two passions: her regional food and art. Narunya graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2014 and on the last day of her final semester, she said she found the building that would become her restaurant. With a lot of help from her husband, they took the empty building and renovated it into an inviting restaurant with bright colors, soft jazz playing over the loudspeakers and 16

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RAD-NAH WITH SHRIMP Narunya is sharing her recipe for a dish called Rad Nah. It is stir-fried flat rice noodles with broccoli, carrots, baby corns in a brown gravy sauce, with your choice of protein. She added shrimp. Yield: 4 servings Active Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes

IF YOU GO Narunya’s Dine in or carry out 316 E. Central Avenue, Belton Phone: 254-613-5244 Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sundays. amazing fragrances coming out of the kitchen. Her signature dishes, which are true to her hometown, are the spicy dumplings, an appetizer she said many order as an entrée, and Mussels Tom-Yum Soup, a fusion of muscles in coconut milk and broth with fresh julienne cut carrots and celery. Other offerings that will wake up

the taste buds are her Thai Tea and Thai Lemon Grass Tea. But before any menu item goes out to customers, she has taste-tests with her staff and watches for their reaction. “If they won’t eat it, or don’t eat it, it will never go out to a customer,” she said. When I see a customer eating and I peek out there and they are smiling, I’m happy. If they are unhappy I want to find out why.” Narunya said she hopes her customers will feel the freshness, love and care that she puts into her meals. “People come here with an open mind. They will feel what we do for the food.”

Tips and Techniques Shrimp substitutions: add any of your favorite proteins or mixed seafood. You can adjust the amount of protein, vegetables and noodles to taste. Want to go green and lean? Make it without protein, it won’t taste bad either. Can’t find fresh noodles? Then you can use dry noodles. Soak in hot water for at least 1 hour or until they turn soft.

2-3 tablespoons cooking oil 4 tablespoons tapioca flour or corn flour (mix in with ½ cup of water) 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon vinegar 2 tablespoons yellow bean sauce 3½ cups broth 2 to 4 drops liquid white pepper, or to taste

1. Prepare the shrimp or any other protein of your choice. 2. Cut vegetables into bite-size pieces. 3. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add a heaping tablespoon of salt. Add the broccoli florets and cook until crisp-tender, 1 to 1½ minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and plunge immediately into the ice water. 4. Repeat this step with carrots. 5. Heat up the fresh noodles in Ingredients microwave for about 3-4 minutes to De-vein and clean 20-30 shrimp loosen the strands. But if you use the 1 pound fresh flat rice noodles dried noodles that have been soaked in 1 head broccoli, cut in bite-size pieces the water, you have to drain them after 2-3 carrots sliced they get soft. Straw mushrooms, baby corn (optional) Cooking Noodles 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in wok/pan. (or to taste) For home cooking, a non-stick pan will 1 tablespoon soy sauce work easier. When the oil is ready, put 1 tablespoon black soy sauce in the noodles and stir in circle fast. 3 tablespoons oyster sauce Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of black soy

sauce on the noodles, keep stirring until the noodles are cooked. They will look clearer, but if you are not sure, taste them. Set noodles aside in four bowls. Cooking Sauce In a big pan add 1 tablespoon cooking oil and heat on medium. Add garlic and cook until golden. Add all the broth and bring to a boil. Add yellow bean sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and vinegar. Stir for consistency and bring it to boil again. Add cornstarch and stir constantly. (Do not add all the flour; add just enough to make it thick like gravy). Add shrimp and vegetables. Turn the heat off when shrimp are cooked. Serve immediately. Plating Put noodles in the middle of the plates (or big bowls) and top with the sauce, sprinkle some ground white pepper. Place the shrimp on top of the noodles in the middle of bowl and surround with vegetables. Serve hot. In Thailand, Rad Nah is served with common condiments: sugar, fish sauce, pickled peppers and ground chili pepper for your personal taste. The addition of pickled peppers adds a lot of dynamics to the final flavor. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Beauty in the Bag

beauty TexTalk

By CATHERINE HOSMAN

How do you stay beautiful on the go?

Each month Tex Appeal peeks inside the bag of one busy woman to reveal her best beauty secrets and must-have essentials.

Terri Smith Interior decorator

The ESSENTIALS she CARRIES

MAC Strobe cream: The ultimate quick fix for the skin. Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants. I wouldn’t want to go without it in my bag. MAC Cosmetics Face and Body Makeup: I love a light finish where your actual skin can still shine through, and this is MAC Face & Body. Less is very much more in my book. MAC Glazed Lipstick: To keep my lips hydrated and looking good. A little lipstick can brighten up any day. Definicils Mascara: It’s a very good balance of length and volume for an everyday lash. Very minimal flaking, smearing, deflating. Two- Faced Lip Injection Gloss: If you are considering lip injections get this gloss. It’s amazing! Benetint Lip & Cheek stain: Just for a quick touchup at times. Mirror: With a mirror 18

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Photographs by MITCHEL BARRETT

Most valuable TOOL in her BAG at hand you can check to make sure you’re still the fairest in the land. Keys: Keys and a cute Coach key fob never hurt anyone. Coach Skinny Wallet: An essential item for credit cards, ID and my

emergency $100 bill. Cross pen: I feel like it’s more hygienic to use your own pen, plus I like how this one writes Coach Bag: I love all sorts of styles, but for me on a day-to-day basis, I love a genuinely classic bag.

My Design with Consignment Tape measure because as an interior decorator, I never know when I’m going to need to measure something for a perfect fit. Do you have a helpful hint you can share with readers? Don’t ever go anywhere without your phone. My iPhone is the oxygen in my life. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

spotlight TexTalk

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk scene

Annual event brings women together in business, friendship

Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by JULIE NABOURS

undreds of women visited more than 50 exhibit booths at the 2016 Day of Women on Feb. 20 at the Frank W. Mayborn Convention Center in Temple. Each attendee picked up a “passport” upon entering and had to go from booth to booth and get it stamped to be eligible for a random drawing of a Michael Kors handbag and wallet at the end of the day. In addition to the many women business-owned vendors, there were two fashion shows presented by Precious Memories, a demonstration of personal fitness through Pilates, barre and cycling, by Truecore Fitness, and a discussion of how to incorporate the vintage look into your décor by Darling Décor. But the highlight of the event was keynote speaker, author Rachel Anne Ridge, who wrote the book “Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me About Life, Faith and Second Chances.” Ridge had the audience’s full attention, at the Day of Women luncheon, as she recalled the moment she and her husband Tom came home to find a lost donkey standing in their driveway on their rural property outside Dallas. At first, the tried to find the rightful owner, but that proved futile. So they decided to keep the low key donkey they named Flash and embarked on a new journey in their life with three kids, a growing art mural business and a donkey. “I see so much of myself reflected in this opinionated donkey in resisting the changes and being slow to see the lessons that life brings,” Ridge said. “By observing this donkey in my pasture, he has provided so many lessons that I apply to my every day life.” Some of life’s lessons Ridge said she has learned from Flash is how to live in the moment. She said he “just enjoys whatever experience comes his way” whether it’s someone coming out to scratch his ears or looking for a particular leaf or weed to eat. “’He’s all in,” she said. 22

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Rachel Anne Ridge speaks during the 2016 Day for Women event at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple on Feb. 20.

Once her heartwarming recollection of Flash was finished, she seamlessly transitioned into her talk about friendship, the importance of girlfriends, and relationships with other women. “Most meaningful things . . . treasure the friends you have and make other friends,” she said. She called friendship a superpower that helps you cope with life and the things that come with older age. “Friendship is really good for you,” she said. “It reduces stress, lowers your pulse and heartbeat. It reduces cortisol.” She went on to say that friendship is a mood booster and is associated with brain health. “You become a better version of yourself,” she said. “Friendship helps you live longer. Sisterhood is the key to happiness.” Ridge said friendship creates strong social bonds and friendships can change the world. “Friendship is a function of needing people. I thought it was a weakness to need other people,” she said. When pursuing friendships, Ridge said to be intentional and assess the level of closeness you feel with that person. Friendship comes in many forms: acquaintances, casual friendships,

good friends, close friends and intimate friends who know more about you than you do. “With an intimate friendship, you take off the mask, enjoy spontaneity,” she said. “An intimate friendship calls for grace, and it comes at a cost. You must be quick to forgive and willing to work things out.” She calls kindness the “currency of friendship.” “We must bring softness to a harsh world,” she said. “Don’t forget to be kind.” She said she chose her topic based on the knowledge that this was a women’s event and that the real purpose was to support businesses that are geared for women. “I think I’m a late bloomer when it comes to really discovering the value of friendships with other women,” she said. “I knew women would be there with their friends and thought it would be a topic that we all can relate to — to see our friendships in our life as a source of strength and inspiration and something that creates a happy healthy life.” Now in its 12th year, planning for an event of this caliber begins one year in advance. In fact, as soon as this event was over, coordinators were already on the phone booking space for next year. Lauren Ballard, the event coordinator at the Temple Daily Telegram, said one of the first things they do after the site has been secured is brainstorm for the speaker. “We want to find someone who is interesting,” she said. In late fall, things start moving along as color schemes, themes and trends are identified for that year. In November and December, the search for a caterer begins and doesn’t end until they find the right one for their event. “We had more vendors this year than in the past,” Ballard said. “The event was great.” Day for Women is produced by the Temple Daily Telegram and presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors. It was sponsored by Precious Memories, AFC Urgent Care, Smile Doctors and H-E-B.

1. The 2016 Day for Women event at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple on Feb. 20 included a demonstration by Trucore staff. 2. Amy Martinka and Debbie Burt. 3. From left, Jo Ann Peeler, Lisa Marshall and Lola Joyce. 4. Cathy Brem and Judy Porubsky. 5. From left, Ann Bickel, Abbie Atkinson and Gail Daniel. 6. Betty Rodgers and Pam Bland. 7. Shirley and Joe Mankawich. 8. The Toothfairy greets guests at the Forest Trail Dental booth. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk calendar

University of Mary Hardin Baylor University presents The Marriage of Figaro Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; libretto by Lorenzo DaPonte April 1: 7:30 p.m. April 3: 2:30 p.m. Temple Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple For more information, call 254-773-9926. Tickets available online at http://undergrad.umhb.edu/music/ opera/upcoming-shows. Bell County Master Gardeners 2016 Spring Plant Sale April 2, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Native perennials, organic vegetables, herbs, succulents, roses and other plants will be available. Free information booths about composting and rain water harvesting along with the popular kids camp and Ask a Master Gardener. Master Gardener Building at the Bell County Extension Office 1605 N. Main, Belton More information, visit http://txmg. org/bell/ or call Pat Johnson at 254-778-4425 or email docpatj@gmail.com. Under the Big Top Family Day April 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free In honor of our circus themed exhibit, “Step Right Up” on display at the museum, we are hosting a circus-themed family day. Get a feel for life in showbiz and celebrate the folks who work under

15th Annual Wildflower Arts & Crafts Festival April 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists and artisans from Texas and throughout the Southwest show their work in Salado. For more information, call 254-947-8634, email chamber@salado. com or visit www.salado.com. Step Right Up! April 6 to May 25 Behind the scenes of the Circus Big Top, 1890 to 1965 Railroad and Heritage Museum 315 W. Avenue B, Temple For more information, call 254-298-5172 or visit www.rrhm.org

Central Texas residents enjoy the 2015 Bloomin’ Temple Festival. This year’s festival is April 29-30.

the big top. Railroad and Heritage Museum 315 W. Avenue B, Temple For more information, call 254-298-5172 or visit www.rrhm.org.

Belton Senior Activity Center Country Dance Time 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 7, Old Friends

April 21, Larry Burgin, Texas Traditions Suggested donation: $5 Live country music, two-step and fantastic dancers. Bring a small food item for the snack table. Check the schedule for your favorite band. 842 Mitchell St., Belton For more information, call 254-939-1170

Harker Heights Parks & Recreation GO Heights: Geocaching April 14, 2016 6 to 7 p.m. Geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers with other participants in the activity. Come to the meetup and learn how to discover new and interesting places near you that you never knew were there! This activity is open to all skill levels. Smartphones with the geocaching app or a handheld GPS are recommended, but not required. Carl Levin Park Pavilion 400 Miller’s Crossing, Harker Heights For more information or to RSVP, visit www.meetup.com/goheights, call 254-953-5466 or email smylcraine@ ci.haker-heights.tx.us. Traditional Craft Workshop – Rag Dolls April 16, 1 to 3 p.m. Ages 12 and up; $10 (pre-registration required by April 8) Get hands-on instruction in traditional crafts. Participants will make rag dolls to take home at the end of the class. Supplies will be provided. Railroad and Heritage Museum 315 W. Avenue B, Temple For information, and to preregister, call 254-298-5172 or visit www.rrhm.org. Market Days April 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buy, sell and trade in downtown Belton. Come see our vendors and farmers

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

calendar TexTalk

market in our historic downtown on Central Ave. Enjoy food and entertainment every third Saturday of the month. For more information, visit http://www.downtownbelton.com.

Dueling Pianos in the Park April 23, 7 to 9 p.m. Free Admission Lion Sam Farrow Amphitheater Lions Park 4320 Lions Park Road, Temple For more information, call 254-298-5440. Food Truck Frenzy April 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Downtown City Square 120 W. Central Ave., Temple For more information, call 254-2985378 or visit discover temple.com. Bloomin’ Temple Festival April 29, 5 p.m. to midnight April 30, 10 a.m. to midnight The 11th annual festival features topnotch musical performances, a carnival midway, Kids Zone and more. Day pass, $10; 2-Day Pass, $15 (available online only); Kids 12 and younger admitted free. For more information, call 254-298-5586. Email upcoming events to edittexappealmag@gmail.com. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk well-fed head

Learn to landscape with edible plants

By VAL VALDEZ

Living Well at Home is the Best Way to Live

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254-947-0888

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

ometimes gardening books are complicated, formulaic or intimidating with lots of data and complex charts. Information overload! But in Cheryl Beesley’s new book, “Landscaping with Edible Plants in Texas,” published by Texas A&M University Press, she takes a natural approach, like she’s walking you through her garden giving helpful tips. And she is on every page. The concept of combining ornamental plants with edible ones in landscaping schemes is centuries old, but Beesley’s book is the first one to focus on edible gardening and landscape designs just for Texas. And that’s a daunting task since Texas has seven of the 26 U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones. This soft-cover book is divided into three parts with 21 short chapters; most are less than 10-pages, complimented by plenty of photos and helpful diagrams that are easy to understand. That is one of the best features of Beesley’s book, it’s written for all types of gardeners from a novice — “What’s mulch?” — to the expert — “I was born with soil in my blood.” No stone is left unturned as the book starts in Part I — Planning & Preparation with the first step in design, site evaluation. She states up front the importance of evaluating the existing site, structure, hardscapes and plants. Next is the garden layout where she explains design considerations, like style of existing architecture, scale and ideas for urban gardens. “Farmers grow plants in rows, but we don’t have to do that. This book brings plants, like Swiss chard and Rosemary, into the ornamental landscape for their looks and value as edible plants,” Beesley said. The chapter on soil preparation reveals there are 1,200 soil series in Texas, and it’s not uncommon for several of them to appear in the same yard. She adds helpful information on soil preparation for healthier, nutrientrich soil, simply make your own compost from leftover vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and egg shells mixed with leaves. For more complex soil problems, Beesley walks the reader through understanding the pH level of your soil, how to test it and what to add to it. Part II — Design focuses on the design elements and a unique problem with edible gardens, harvesting, a concern Beesley compares to working a 3-D puzzle. After you harvest vegetables from plants, what and when do you plant another in

At Home Care Assistance we focus on high quality care for seniors in the comfort of their own home. Top Caregivers: our caregiver employees are experienced, screened and trained in our programs and methods. Balanced Care Method™: supports longevity through healthy diet, physical exercise, mental stimulation, socialization and sense of purpose and calm. that same spot? She gets to the heart of design with explanations on texture, form, size and color to aid a gardener in selecting the ideal plants. For instance, bold-textured plants have large, deeply lobed leaves that make a strong statement as a dense screen, like kale, leeks and Swiss chard. Some of the fine texture ones with a softer appearance are carrot, dill, and asparagus that often act as background plants. Good to know. This chapter also highlights the Parterre garden at Lake Austin Spa Resort and the children’s garden at the Olive Tree Learning Center. Both seem worth a trip to Austin to see these gardens for ideas and inspiration. Part III — Edible Plants for Texas is about the huge variety of edibles from fruit trees, like pecan, apple or pear, and shrubs and perennial to herbs, including fennel, lemon grass and mint, plus vegetables like spinach and squash among many others. It is like an encyclopedia, a book in itself, filled with short descriptions and many photos on what to grow and how to grow it. Appendixes instruct readers on disease and insect control, additional variety selections, and plant and seed sources. As Beesley points out, vegetables and fruits — long relegated to their own plots and often hidden from view — can become beautiful and practical additions to the ornamental landscape. Cheryl Beesley is a longtime designer and gardener with a Master’s Degree in landscape architecture and has more than 20 years experience in landscape design. “Each site is unique, so use the book as a guide, but be specific to your site as to what you want to grow and eat,” she said. It’s obvious that Beesley wants to help gardeners succeed, and her book is the first seed of knowledge on how to select a plant and grow a lovely, functional edible garden as part of your Texas landscape design. Start digging!

Cognitive Therapeutics Method™: we are the only home care agency that offers this proprietary, researched-backed, activities program that promotes brain health. Specialized Care: our caregivers have experienced caring for adults with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

254-856-0600

HomeCareAssistanceTemple.com

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Harker Heights Community Garden offers healthier way to

get your veggies Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by MITCHEL BARRETT

Annalese and Aiden Maltsberger enjoy gardening with their mother, Josephine. 28

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hese days there seems to be an emphasis on eating a healthy plant-based diet. People are flocking to their area farmers’ markets to purchase responsibly grown produce and flowers, and many people are starting their own edible backyard gardens in raised beds where they can harvest their own seasonal food source. For those who cannot make it to the farmer’s market or don’t have the space to create a garden, the Harker Heights Community Garden rents raised plots for experienced or aspiring gardeners. Killeen resident Ricky Sadler is originally from soil-rich Southern Illinois. He was watering his homegrown broccoli in Plot 22 at the garden on a warm March day. Except for the wind, the cloudless turquoise blue sky was an indication of an early spring in Central Texas. Sadler said his adopted mom first got him interested in gardening. He said she canned potatoes and beans pulled from her own garden. Freshly grown corn on the cob was harvested and frozen. “We lived off what we grew and she introduced me to the garden tiller,” Sadler said, with a reflective smile as he finished watering his crop. Composting is another integral part of natural gardening and Sadler pointed to the three compost bins that hold the new waste, processing waste and usable product. “The green stuff is nitrogen,” he explained. “And the brown stuff is carbon. You can put anything in compost except meat material that may attract rodents, or smell.” When creating compost, Sadler said it can sometimes emit an ammonia type odor, which means there is too much nitrogen in it and can be easily fixed by adding carbon. “You can break it down, just keep turning it,” he explained. “The compost is available for anyone who has a plot here.” Now retired from the military, he said he didn’t have the time or interest in

Rick Sadler is new to community gardening and is growing broccoli in his rented plot in Harker Heights.

gardening, until the community garden opened its gate. Dave Hailey, new to the garden, was busy turning over a recently vacated plot with Sarah Mylcraine, activities specialist for Harker Heights Parks and Recreation.

“Gardeners leave but don’t turn over their plots,” he said as he worked the soil to get it ready for the next gardener. “I’ve been in the city for a long time and I wanted a place where I could have a little garden. I

Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

New gardener Dave Hailey and Sarah Mylcraine, activities coordinator for Harker Heights Parks and Recreation, get a plot ready for planting in the Harker Heights Community Garden. BELOW: Tulips and marigolds frame an organic vegetable plot. Marigolds are used to keep pests away.

like to know I’m really eating something not full of pesticides.” Also retired from the military, Hailey served 21 years in the army and has served the community as a police officer for 28 years. “I like to get out and enjoy myself.” At another plot, Annalese Maltsberger, 7, and her brother Aiden, 10, are learning about gardening with their mother, Josephine. Their garden is thick with the foliage of organically grown Swiss chard, peas, cat mint, mint, stevia, Brussels sprouts, mint, oregano and lemon balm, to name a few. Planted in the recesses of the bricks that frame the garden are natural plant pesticides to keep bugs off their crops. “It has to be organic,” Josephine Maltsberger said. “All has to be organic,” Sadler added. Commercial pesticides are not allowed in the Community Garden. Not only can they ruin the quality of the crop, but also the quality of the plot.

Building community one plot at a time

The idea of a community garden came on the heels of the creation of the Harker Heights Farmers Market in 2011 by Harker Heights Parks and Recreation Activities Coordinator Heather Buller and former staff member, Sarah Rodriguez. It began with a series of gardening 30

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classes to teach the public about sustainable, organic gardening. Eventually, the city created the garden with a total of 36 raised cinder block plots, all about 4 feet by 8 feet. Today, 24 gardeners are growing flowers and vegetables, three plots are being used by the city to grow trees, and nine are available to rent. The community garden opened its gates in 2012 and Mylcraine said “it’s very important.” “The community garden grows a community,” she said. “Gardeners can come out here and talk to the other plot holders,

get advice and feedback about what is growing in their plot.” Mylcraine said she has done minimal gardening and never had a garden for herself, but her jobs at parks and recreation taught her a lot. “I listen to other gardeners, take all the classes, plan for the speakers and topics, coordinate the classes, go in, listen and learn,” she said. Experienced and aspiring gardeners have resources available at the click of a computer mouse or in person the second Monday of every month at the activities center. Topics for this year have included Container Gardening, Fruit Production, Spring Garden Planning/Square Foot Gardening and Making Stepping Stones. Plots are available for residents and nonresidents at variable costs and can be leased on a 6-month or 12-month basis. There are basic tasks gardeners must complete including preparing your plot, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting. It takes a minimal four and a half hours each week to maintain your plot, but like anything else, you can put as much time in it as you need to. For more information about staring your own garden, visit http://www.ci.harkerheights.tx.us/index.php/programs-a-events/ community-garden or call 254-953-5466. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Checking out trends in homes and décor

Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by MITCHEL BARRETT

ows of rooftops from new subdivisions are popping up around Killeen and Harker Heights, supplanting the farms and ranches that once marked this area. From country rustic and modern, to sleek and contemporary, there is a home style to fit every budget and fulfill a homebuyer’s wish list. With Bell County being one of the fastest growing counties in the state, people from all walks of life are finding life in Central Texas to be complete when it comes to schools, outdoor recreational activities and affordable, quality housing. With the Intestate 35 corridor running north and south through the county and State Highway 195 running east and west, Bell County is an attractive area for growth, giving homeowners and renters a lower cost of living, a business friendly community, picturesque outdoor recreational areas and a close proximity to the cities of Georgetown, Round Rock and Austin. Although 32

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the area hasn’t quite achieved the moniker of “bedroom community,” Adam Parker, board member and former president of the Central Texas Home Builders Association said “we’re not quite there yet.” “Maybe for Georgetown; we can see it moving in that direction. With the development of transportation (improved roads) into Austin, it depends on how quickly someone can get to work,” Parker said. “We see people moving out of Austin but continuing to work in Austin.” “This is an attractive area for growth,” reiterated Brad Wyrick, executive director of Temple Area Builders Association. “We have the I-35 corridor, we are a business friendly community and we are close to Austin.” Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, Parker said Bell County has always been a boomtown for one reason or another. The growth was usually associated with the military presence at Fort Hood, but Parker said he has seen more retirees moving to this area than in the past. Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

ABOVE: An open floor plan gives this Stylecraft home a flow from one room to the next. Hardwood floors, dark cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances are still a staple in new homes. BELOW LEFT: Country rustic is a popular decor choice. BELOW CENTER: Sunset colored walls and a recessed ceiling give this bedroom the feeling of a Tuscan villa. Double sinks and a separate water closet are showing up in many new homes. BELOW RIGHT: A stone fireplace gives this Purser home a rustic feel.

New home construction and trends Regardless of the size of a house, or cost, interiors continue to be an extension of the home’s exterior and homeowner’s persona. Prices for new home construction range from the $120s to the $450s all the way up to multi-million dollar housing. But be assured, a builder will work with his client to create a home that checks off most of their wish list. “Typically, most custom home builders can create an interior to a customer’s wishes, but it depends on the cost of materials,” Parker said. Still trending are stone accent walls and fireplaces. Dark wood kitchen cabinets bring a rustic country feel to new homes in Central Texas. Homebuyers are opting for tile or hardwood floors, omitting carpet throughout a home. Some homebuilders today present a tinted concrete floor, void of any covering except for what the residents might create. “Wood floors are not as popular as previously, tile is still seeing popularity,” Parker added. “We do see a lot of laminate, and vinyl planks that look like wood. People don’t want carpet, although a lot of new homes have carpet in the bedrooms.” Teri Stermer, director of the Central Texas Home Builder’s Association said as far as interior wall colors, people are choosing shades of yellow, gray and navy blue. Granite countertops still rock the kitchens and bathrooms, and stainless steel appliances are still in vogue. Baseboards, crown molding and chair rails are popular and create a vintagehome feel. For folks who prefer a more contemporary look, rock accent walls are replaced with traditional flat walls and fireplaces are wood-framed with mantels.

In this model home by Lennar, clean lines and contemporary furniture give this home a ’60s vibe.

DID YOU KNOW? According to the 2014 Census, there are 329,140 people living in Bell County, compared to 255,529 in 2004. According to the National Association of Home Builders, there are 106,743 households and 150 newcomers arrive to Central Texas every day. Master bathrooms boast marble or granite countertops, double sinks, tiled shower stalls, garden tubs and a separate water closet for the commode. Furnishings and décor are a personal choice with many homeowners choosing a rustic Tuscan or rustic elegant design with vintage wood dining tables. A contemporary home flows with clean lines, and with furniture and accents with abstract designs that are

reminiscent of the 1960s. “For the exterior façade, people like a rock and stucco combination more than brick,” Parker said. Central Texas Homes come in all sizes and price ranges. Parker said with an open floor plan and functionality in the rest of the house people who want to cut down on square footage can do so.

Areas of Growth Despite a housing downturn in 2008 and 2009 the area is continuing to see a strong re-growth, although not quite back to full strength. “We are making steady progress,” said Wyrick, who grew up in Temple and has seen the changes. New subdivisions are springing up as if overnight everywhere around Central Texas, with homes going up in all four quadrants of Temple, south Belton and west Belton. “We’re growing in every direction,” Wyrick said. Parker said the bulk of new home subdivisions are being built in south Killeen. He said with “the lay of the land, military reservation to the north, we can’t go west towards Copperas Cove, we are almost forced to go south.” Both Parker and Wyrick said that new home construction has improved due to new building codes. “Builders are using new technology, glass (window) requirement, insulation, how they zip up their houses to control the air and energy efficiency,” Wyrick said.

In this new duplex by Flintrock Custom Homes, stained concrete flooring is the trend. 34

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TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Reviving a landmark

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Temple home gets new life Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by JULIE NABOURS and contributed by KEN EMERY and JEAN SHINE

n 1984, Temple architect, the late Charles Voelter, wanted to build a home for his family. He had a vision to create a peaceful escape in a tranquil setting, yet remain in the city and be close to schools for his two daughters. He also wanted something unique that would define at-home entertaining, and a place that didn’t look like other homes and was embedded in nature so that no matter what room his guests might be in the house, it seemed as if nature came indoors. He found a plat of land tucked down an incline on a traditional neighborhood street in Temple and found his oasis surrounded by forest and with Bird Creek running through it. Texas native plants adorned the landscape that included a grove of bamboo. It took awhile, but Voelter built his home that seems reminiscent of a home by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with its angled rooms and clean lines. When Voelter passed away in 2004, his wife remained in the house for a few years before deciding to sell it. “This house had never been on the market before,” said Jean Shine, whose real estate agency represents the home for sale now owned by Ken Emery of Concept Homes. “Scott (Shine) knew the owner and knew it would be hard to find the right person to love it back to its original look.” “I enjoyed the history of the house, knowing that it was their (the Voelters) home that he built for his family to live in,” Scott Shine said. “It was Mr. Voelter’s sole vision. He picked the site, designed the house, so it was a great focus for expression of his vision.” When Emery heard about the home, he purchased the property in 2014 with the commitment to return it to its stateliness. He said it became one of his most challenging projects. It took Emery one year to renovate this hidden gem. With the eye of an artist, Emery knew what he wanted to do to bring the home back to its original grandeur. “Lots of builders use blueprints. It’s not about the blueprint but learning about the client and their visions,” said Emery, whose motto is “Vision beyond Design”; however, he said he does make suggestions to his clients for flooring, colors and creating texture in the home. “I have a switch,” Emery said. “I can change to whatever style someone wants.” Emery was looking for a modern structure to work with when the Voelter house came to his attention. He purchased the property in December 2014 and began the transformation.

AFTER BEFORE

Challenges It took Emery one year to complete renovations and it wasn’t without major challenges. The biggest challenge, he said, was repairing the roof that leaked and caused some of the ceiling joists to sag. He had to cutout, replace and re-engineer the ceiling structure that included putting in some new beams. Continued 38

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AFTER

BEFORE

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Home builders, decor & more Laura White Interior Design

1023 Canyon Creek Drive #105, Temple | 254-773-1075 | laurawhiteinterior.com In business since 1980, Laura White received her degree from the University of Texas in Austin in interior design. Her husband George is the business manager, assisting in selection and installation of products. Laura has been an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers since 1973 and has been named “The Best” in the Temple Daily Telegram’s Readers Choice awards for the last 15 years. Laura White Interior Design is a hands-on consultative interior design company that assists in sourcing and selection of materials, product applications and installations to achieve the best results. Services include residential and commercial design consulting, area rugs, wall coverings, faux finishing, custom bedding, slipcovers and upholstering, fabrics and trim sourcing and custom drapery hardware.

AFTER He removed the popcorn ceiling, replaced the roof, created a second master suite upstairs, replacing the floor-to-ceiling windows with upper wall windows, and built in a double-French door that opens up to a private balcony. “We also replaced a lot of windows and doors on the second floor, all exterior doors on the home were replaced, down to the garage door and entry doors,” Emery said. Except for the original tile on the first floor, every appliance and plumbing fixture, every ceiling fan and light fixture, every wall finish, and electrical plates were replaced. “We redid the whole house,” he said. Emery didn’t anticipate renovating the entire house to the extent that he did, but when the emotional impact of the project set in, he said he realized he wasn’t just remodeling another house, but recreating a piece of architectural work that needed to be brought back to its “original or better” condition. “It was no small undertaking.” The home now has a new roof, larger windows that let the forest in, more opportunity for open air, new doors, quartz countertops throughout the home, and updated flooring in the bedrooms, just to name a few of the myriad renovations made to the historical property. “New construction is much easier than this,” Emery said. Although he was simultaneously working on multi-million dollar projects when he took on the Voelter house renovation, he realized that was where he wanted to be. “My heart was in it,” he said. “I was there directing every part of it.” In addition to renovating the structure, which required some very tactical driving of large trucks down the steep, narrow driveway to the property, the forest required some cleaning up of its own, removing debris in the woods, the bamboo grove and the creek. “This property sits on one of the most unique lots in Central Texas, and within the city limits of Temple,” said Scott Shine. “Mr. 40

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

They are a Hunter Douglas showcase dealer specializing in custom window treatments from shutters, blinds and shades to soft fabric treatments including cornices, soft valances and layered fabric panels. Their solar roller shades are a must for Texas windows. They also provide motorization installations for their products. Let Laura White give your home that “finishing touch.” George and Laura White

Budget Blinds

BEFORE Voelter understood the value of this site and built the house to be one with the lot so that from any room you are in, you experience nature around you — nature and seclusion, a peaceful setting.” With the renovation complete, the home retains its original travertine tile floors downstairs, and new quartz countertops, cabinets and kitchen appliances are visible in the open concept living area. The home has four bedrooms, including two master suites. The metallic gray walls carry the color palate throughout the house, and a variety of textures gives the contemporary home a touch of Texas rustic. The indoor pool area includes a hot tub and plenty of space for entertaining. With almost 6,000 square feet of living and entertainment space, not to mention the natural acreage, Shine said the home had lost its original grandeur and needed some tender loving care from a builder who would bring its back to its “original, but better, splendor.” “Renovating this property was the saving of a Temple landmark,” Scott Shine said.

Temple and Killeen locations 254-654-1992 | budgetblinds.com/temple When Michael and Allison Dunn were affected by a corporate downsizing, they went in search of a franchising opportunity. They found the perfect fit with Budget Blinds, opening their Central Texas business in April 2014. “We chose Budget Blinds due to their commitment to their business owners and the fantastic partners and vendors that are part of our Vendor Alliance system,” the Dunns said, “and we chose the Temple and Killeen territories to purchase due to the fantastic growth of the Central Texas region.” And business has grown - a new showroom will be opening soon in Belton at 671 HWY 190. They have a simple mission for their business: “We want to be the premier window covering specialists in the local area, offering customers the best products and services available, and to treat each customer as part of the family and not just a number.”

Allison and Michael Dunn Budget Blinds offers all types of interior and exterior window coverings, including blinds, shutters, shades, solar screens, draperies, enclosed door blinds, decorative faux iron, and even high-quality area rugs. The Dunns have access to the best products at the best prices through the Vendor Alliance system that is exclusive to Budget Blinds owners and is not available at other window covering dealers. Budget Blinds also has the best warranties in the industry available to customers. Most of the products carry a five-year “No Questions Asked” warranty should there be accidental damage to the window covering in the first five years of ownership. “The majority of our business is conducted in the customer’s home,” the Dunns said. This allows the customer to actually see how the products will look and function in their home with their current colors and décor, versus trying to visualize the final look. “We care about our customers even after the sale,” the Dunns said. “We are creating ‘customers for life’ and are building our business through repeat customers and referrals.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

The Blind & Shutter Gallery/Gallery Design Center 2314 West Adams Avenue, Suite F, Temple | 254-773-9890 | tbsgallery.com

Brenda and Jesse Esparza, the owners of The Blind & Shutter Gallery/Gallery Design Center have a mission to provide exceptional customer service, quality products and competitive prices. They are succeeding, according to the comments from their customers. “Great experience.” “Friendly and professional.” “ Saved us money.” “Five stars.” These are just a few of the many glowing endorsements the business receives from new and repeat customers. Opened in 1998, The Blind & Shutter Gallery/Gallery Design Center specializes in custom window coverings, solar screens, floor coverings and window replacements. The business slogan, “One call, many solutions” describes the variety of products and services offered. “Everything is designed and custom made,” Brenda said. “We have our own product line, ‘The Gallery Collection.’ We also have an exclusive line from Hunter Douglas, ‘The Alustra Collection.’”

Brenda and Jesse Esparza

Brenda and Jesse are known for their customer service, product knowlege, experience and attention to details. They work with customers to meet their needs and budget. What has made the business so successful? “Our wonderful customers - their repeat business along with referrals to their friends and families.”

Eagle Ridge Builders

1208 South 31st Street, Temple | 254-931-1222 | eagleridgebuilders.net

Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc.

Elaine Shepperd, SVP, Cornerstone Home Lending NMLS# 208933

It’s about home, heart and heritage. It’s about selecting the right product for your lifestyle. It’s about bringing families together and expressing your style. Eagle Ridge Builders constructs homes to reflect your personality and passions, while it accommodates the way you and your family live, work and relax.

417 North Main Street, Salado 254-613-1779 | ElaineShepperd.com | MLS# 1269847

Your home should be a warm haven, a place where you throw off the cares of the world and relax with family and friends. From the kitchen, where you launch your busy days, to the bedrooms, where you close your eyes at night and dream, we want your home to be a reflection of your personal tastes and desires.

3820 West Adams Avenue, Temple 254-791-3400 | ElaineShepperd.com | MLS# 281022

With a career spanning more than 40 years in the real estate and mortgage industries, Elaine Shepperd is both practiced in and passionate about helping people become homeowners. Because Elaine’s business approach has always been customer service first, she chose Cornerstone as her professional home in 2001. Elaine and the Cornerstone team in Temple have more than 60 years combined mortgage experience. “We are customer focused,” said Elaine. “We are a trusted advisor who recommends and provides loan products that meet the financial needs of our customers.” Her business goal is simple, “To help as many people as possible make a dream come true of owning their own home.” Cornerstone makes that possible for more customers by having a variety of loan products. A wide array of investors to choose from, state-of-the-art technology and in-house underwriting are only a few of the many benefits Elaine provides for her clients. Her professionalism, coupled with the premier level of service she provides, have earned her a strong referral base among her customers. Elaine and her team carefully scrutinize each aspect of the loan program to make sure every client’s long- and short-term financial goals are met. Having been a real estate broker before becoming a mortgage banker, Elaine understands every facet of the home-buying process. She has implemented a system of procedures to ensure quality service. Number one on Elaine’s list is “always returning my phone calls.” For her, the importance of keeping her clients informed every step of the way and making sure their questions

are answered cannot be overemphasized. A native Texan, Elaine lived in the Austin/Dripping Springs area for more than 35 years before returning to the Salado area to be closer to her family. Described by those who know her as “outgoing, hard-working and trustworthy,” Elaine also has a wonderful sense of humor that immediately makes her clients feel at ease. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Chris Hodges, an experienced framer and builder, pays special attention to the structure and craftsmanship of each home with a desire to create unique, yet traditional homes with a practical style. He prides himself on building homes that are conveniently functional to families and has experience in completing projects efficiently. While incorporating new trends in his residential homes, Chris is able to achieve a modern, traditional style appealing to many. Joann and Chris Hodges, owners

“I love working with people, and I enjoy forming relationships with my clients built on trust, integrity and hard work,” said Elaine. “Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have questions about your current mortgage, prequalification for a new mortgage or any other home-financing needs.

HOMESPEC Real Estate Inspections P.O. Box 1369,Temple | 254-770-8057 | homespec1.com

“Also, please feel free to pass on my name to any friends or relatives who you think may benefit from my services. Referrals are the highest compliment I can receive!”

If you are buying, selling or building a home, HOMESPEC Real Estate Inspections involved will provide essential information. Founded in 1989 by Brad Phillips, HOMESPEC has been providing real estate, construction and FHA inspections to buyers and sellers for more than 28 years. Kelly Hankins joined HOMESPEC in 1998; HOMESPEC covers all of Central Texas.

At Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc., you will find an atmosphere of enthusiasm, a spirit of dedication and a great desire to build quality relationships. Experience the Cornerstone difference.

“

I form relationships with my clients built on trust, integrity and hard work.

“Our goal is to provide exceptional service to our customers who are purchasing an existing home or commercial property, or building a new home or commercial property. We provide them with information about the property so that they can make informed purchasing decisions,” said Phillips.

”

“Instead of having just one person complete an inspection, HOMESPEC will typically put multiple inspectors on the job, which speeds up the inspection process,” Phillips stated. “We have many repeat customers that use us purchase after purchase. HOMESPEC’s inspectors are involved in continuing education programs so they are up to date on the latest products, building methods and codes.”

Elaine Shepperd, SVP, Cornerstone Home Lending Brad Phillips and Kelly Hankins

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Eagle Ridge Builders will feature a home at 6907 Sun Valley in the Valley Ranch subdivision in Temple and looks forward to seeing you.

The company is also involved in state and national trade associations. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Kiella Homebuilders

7462 West Adams Avenue, Temple | 254-778-0092 | kiella.com Kiella Homebuilders was established in 1987 by John and Suzanne Kiella. They recognized a need for affordable, quality housing and an opportunity for growth in West Temple. What started as a homebuilding company has since evolved into Kiella Real Estate Group, a multi-faceted entity involved in land acquisition and development, investment ventures, and commercial real estate. Their team is focused on strategically planning and creating communities in desirable locations with attractive amenities and walking distance to public schools. The commercial division is actively working with national and local businesses to provide their community with retail centers, executive buildings, dining and health care facilities. Their friendly and knowledgeable sales team will guide you through the home-buying process from contract to closing. We pride ourselves on quality craftsmanship, floor plans that meet lifestyle needs, and a cohesive team of individuals devoted to upholding the highest level of customer care and integrity. Suzanne Kiella, John Kiella, Megan Kiella, Scott Kiella

Ramirez Swimming Pools

5206 South General Bruce Drive, Temple | 254-773-0765 | ramirezpools.com The Ramirez name has been synonymous with quality swimming pools, spas and service in Central Texas for 49 years. “Simply the Best” is not just a motto, it is reality. Curtis and Andrew Cook

Curtis Cook Residential Designs

Ramirez was the first pool company to open in Temple when it was founded by the late Joe R. Ramirez and his wife Helen H. Ramirez in 1967. It quickly built a reputation for quality, integrity and customer service. That reputation has continued and grown for the family-owned business.

371 Mill Creek Drive, Salado 254-947-3800 | curtiscookdesigns.com

At Curtis Cook Residential Designs, the goal is to design a home for you based on your needs and desires using the latest in home design technology. The staff provides you with the most innovative custom home designs and the newest ideas focusing on your lifestyle. Curtis Cook has been designing homes in the Central Texas area for over 25 years. His son Andrew joined him four years ago. Together they can accommodate any custom home design, stock plan or largeformat printing needs that you may have. In addition to his design duties, Andrew has updated their website and keeps their social media, Facebook and Houzz.com site current. The design firm’s creativity, experience and professionalism are what separates them from the competition. Curtis has built a reputation designing elegant homes for clients with discriminating taste. What sets them apart from other designers in the area is their commitment to create a home that not only meets the owner’s needs and personal tastes, and also to develop a plan that clearly and accurately conveys those desires to the builder.

The company is owned by Helen H. Ramirez, Paul H. Ramirez, Joe Eddy Ramirez, Ralph H. Ramirez and Virginia R. Garcia. Their mission is to install the highest quality, best-built swimming pools and spas, and offer top-notch service after the sale.

Their thorough and organized process ensures your satisfaction with a finished product that will provide pride of place and years of enjoyable living. Curtis Cook Residential Designs has been rewarded by their clients with many repeat commissions. The design firm has been recognized by Houzz.com three consecutive years for design and service excellence. Houzz is a nationwide home design platform.

The Ramirez reputation for quality workmanship and exceptional service has been key to the company’s success. “Our customers have been inspired to recommend us time after time,” Virginia said. “It has been our honor and privilege to create and transform our customers’ backyards into their own private family paradise.” Ralph H. Ramirez, Paul H. Ramirez, & Joe Eddy Ramirez

“We are very pleased when our clients come back for second and third homes and recommend us to their friends and family. There is no better endorsement!”

Purifoy & Company Insurance

14 South 9th Street, Temple | 254.773.6844 | purifoyinsurance.com

“

At Curtis Cook Designs we design homes for the Art of Living.

Purifoy & Company Insurance, located in downtown Temple, has been dedicated to serving clients in the Central Texas area for over 80 years!

”

The employees of Purifoy & Company Insurance have over 120 years of combined experience. They strive to provide you with the most comprehensive insurance needs from global providers at the most competitive prices. They take pride in providing personalized insurance for all your needs, including business, home, auto and life insurance.

Curtis Cook, owner

Our lives are constantly changing. Let Purifoy & Company Insurance help you during those times.

“We believe that client and builder collaboration is key in the designing process, because it not only achieves a memorable design, but it also brings your dream home to life on a budget,” Curtis said.

Purifoy & Company, your Trusted Choice!

Mack Purifoy, Owner 44

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Stellar Homes

P.O. Box 292, Belton 254-933-8807 | stellarhomes.us Stellar HOMES was established by co-founders Mark Rendon and Rex Karl, who set out to establish exceptional standards in the home-building market for Central Texas. Always aiming to raise the bar in building practices, Mark and Rex continually strive for robust construction techniques through engineering-minded principles while paying meticulous attention to detail. Building at this caliber not only translates into longterm benefits, such as lower maintenance costs and higher efficiency, but also becomes immediately evident to any homeowner through the solid architecture and sturdy construction. Stellar HOMES makes it a standard practice to closely work with clients to preserve lifestyle and individuality. This care and thoughtfulness is offered for homes at all levels.

Rex Karl and Mark Rendon, co-founders

Pride of craftsmanship and legacy has awarded Stellar HOMES the cherished status of over three decades of expert home-building. And, coupled with dedicated care to their customers, it is no wonder why Stellar HOMES is the No. 1 choice for a personalized and worry-free builder for custom homes. While Stellar HOMES builds in many subdivisions, its flagship subdivision is Las Colinas in Temple. Schedule a visit to see model homes and feel the difference! Brad Dragoo, Branch Manager

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Temple, Harker Heights, Waco and Georgetown 254-231-0597 | fairwaytxonline.com | NMLS#270043

A Navy veteran, former realtor and lifelong Bell County resident, Brad Dragoo is committed to serving Central Texas homebuyers, real estate professionals and the community. He is the branch manager for Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. Brad’s career in real estate began in 1995 when he returned to Central Texas with his family after serving on the USS Nimitz and USS California during Operation Desert Storm. He worked as a realtor under the mentorship of Sara Irvine, now the broker for Sojourn Real Estate, and for several years as a realtor for Mikeska Realty in Temple. His experience as a realtor gave Brad a good perspective on how to serve customers and real estate professionals when he joined Allied Home Mortgage in 2001. A few years later, he opened Advantage Home Loans. Always on the lookout for improvement, Brad began searching for a mortgage company to better serve the area. In 2006, he brought Fairway Independent Mortgage to Central Texas. In his own branch and at the corporate level, Brad is a longtime supporter of the Boot Campaign Housing Program, which sponsors mortgage-free homes for wounded veterans nationwide. Military awareness and appreciation are important to Brad and the people working at Fairway. He looks forward to continuing this support through the American Warrior Initiative, sponsored by Fairway Independent Mortgage. Brad is active in the community. He has been a member of the Temple Jaycees and is a member of the Temple Lions Club. He sponsors area sports teams, both at school and recreational 46

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

4801 South Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718 NMLS# 2289 | 877-699-0353 levels. Brad rarely says “No” when asked to sponsor a local event or team, especially when asked by local youth. Fairway also sponsors many local events, such as Relay for Life, CTCS Walk-A-Thon, TABA Skeet Shoot and various other school and community fundraisers. He has also been a member of the Troy Area Fair Boosters and a buyer for the Bell County Youth Fair since 2001. In 2013, Brad was named “Affiliate of the Year” by the Temple Area Builders Association. The following year he was named “Affiliate of the Year” by the Temple-Belton Board of Realtors. Brad places a high value on his relationships not only with customers, but with everyone involved in the home buying or refinancing process.

Rinehart Real Estate Inspection Service 445 E Central Texas Expy, Harker Heights 254-690-1186 | realestateinspection.net Facebook.com/thetexasinspector

Buying a home is typically the biggest investment you will ever make. You are always encouraged to get advice froma professional home inspector. In Texas, the inspection is performance-based, it either works or it doesn’t work. It’s the advice we give that is valuable to the client. A typical home inspection takes three hours or more to perform all of the required tasks. It includes everything from up on the roof to in the attic all of the walls doors windows electrical plumbing appliances heating air conditioning foundation.

Brad and his wife, Katie Dragoo (formerly Griggs), who is a native of Belton, live in Troy and have four wonderful children - Courtney, Jake, Connor, and Carlie.

Steven Rinehart is a native Texan, 26 year Army veteran as a maintenance officer test pilot and flight instructor. Over the last 16 years he has performed over 25,000 inspections of various types. He is currently the chairman of the Texas Real Estate Commission Inspector Committee and Energy Code Ambassador for the state of Texas.

Brad and his knowledgeable group of loan officers and support staff look forward to serving your home buying or refinancing needs.

Bruce Ebbert is a native of Florida. He has been in the Central Texas area for over 25 years. He has been municipal inspector since 1994. Top Row: Michael Beard, Steven Rinehart, Bruce Ebbert Bottom Row: Steven Philen, Norma Baker

“

Fairway has built its business by making purchase loans a priority. Brad Dragoo, Branch Manager

”

Steve Philen is a native Texas and a retired 35 year veteran of the fire service. He has been in the construction field all his life. He formally held a journeyman electrician license and is currently serving on the board for the Bluebonnet chapter of the ICC. Michael Beard was born in Kansas City Missouri. In 2007 he joined the City of Lampasas as a Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer and then in 2009 the City’s Building Official. He has performed about 20,000 inspections. He currently is the Vice-President for the Bluebonnet Chapter of the ICC. Norma Baker, also a native Texan, from the El Paso area. Norma’s experience includes retail, management, banking, dental and now construction. She joined Rinehart Real Estate Inspection Service in July 2004 as office manager. Her dutiesconsists but not limited to scheduling of 2000 inspections a year, completing the inspection paperwork and performing the day to day operations of the office. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

A designer’s eye

Interior decorator helps homes reflect owners’ personalities Story by Catherine Hosman Photos by Mitchel Barrett

oday’s homes are a reflection of a homeowner’s personality, but taking an idea and turning it into reality can be challenging. More people are turning to professional interior designers or decorators to help them realize their vision. For interior decorator Terri Smith, the process begins the moment she opens the door to a client’s home. Whether she is doing a complete renovation, redecorating a room or sprucing up a home, she knows how to capture her client’s wish list and create a specific look, all within budget. Smith has been decorating homes for 12 years, mostly by word of mouth. At first, she did it for herself, rearranging rooms, changing up colors. Before long, her friends began to ask her for help with their homes. Initially she decorated the occasional room, but then “it morphed into full-home decorating.” “I always tell people how fortunate I

A butcher block countertop adds another dimension of texture to this renovated home designed by Terri Smith.

am to actually work in the field that I love to do every single day,” she said. “Interior decorating was something I was destined to do.” Finding her niche came early. As

The recessed ceiling, chandelier, baseboards and crown molding give this room a feeling of vintage rustic elegance. 48

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

a child growing up in Georgia, she rearranged her bedroom and enjoyed seeing how different her space looked each time. “I had no clue that people could actually place furniture for a living,” she said. “As silly as it may sound, there is something magical about putting a design plan together for a client and then seeing it come to life.” Two of Smith’s recent creations went way beyond choosing colors, fabrics and placement of furniture to include renovations that removed walls, raised arches, and created space where there wasn’t any. Recently she renovated a house that was neglected by its previous owners and purchased by a local builder. After a visual sweep of the property that boasted garish interior colors, defacement of the walls, and structural damage, she knew how she wanted to turn this property into a home. After consulting with the new owners about budget and their vision, she went to work. Smith recommended removing the

Interior decorator Terri Smith with homeowner Leonard Fisher in his rustic cabin kitchen designed by Smith.

entry closet to open the flow from the living room to the kitchen; she created rustic wooden beams to frame the archways downstairs as well as the new opening that connects the kitchen to the family room. With the new owner, she chose chocolate brown for the walls throughout the house accented by white baseboards. In the kitchen/dining area, she took out the sliding doors that led to the patio and replaced it with French doors. To add character and texture she created a brick wall that extends to the kitchen sink back splash. Instead of traditional granite countertops, she chose butcher block that she said seems to be trending in homes today. In the upstairs loft area, she removed the partition wall and replaced it with a wrought iron railing to open the space. The master bedroom suite doors were replaced with double doors. Each of the bathrooms has an antique-looking brass sink basin in a Continued

Leonard Fisher handcrafted this four-poster bed for his rustic Florence cabin and made the light fixture and mirror. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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The open concept in this renovated house designed by Terri Smith gives the home a spacious feeling.

Temple Credit Office | 2552 Blue Meadow Drive

decorative vanity that completes the overall rustic quality of the home. “I find a lot of my pieces at consignment shops or Craig’s List,” she said. “You can find good quality at lower prices.” Although she admits that Tuscan is her preferred style of décor, this country girl at heart knows how to turn a home into a rustic retreat.

Cabin fever Just off one of the side streets in downtown Florence is the home of adventurer, photographer and woodworking artist, Leonard Fisher. When he bought the house back in the late ’70s, this Briggs native had it moved from its location on Maxdale Street in Florence, to its present location. Too busy to settle down, he spent his life living in places like Alaska, the Yukon, Montana and Iceland, renting out his small “shack.” But when he returned to Texas, Fisher was looking for someone who could turn his “shack” into the rustic Montana cabin he always wanted. He called his friend, Terri, to help him create his vision. With a new design, a little tweaking, and hand crafted furniture and accessories made by Fisher, slowly the house became a cabin. Except for his sofa and TV and maybe a ceiling fan or two, Fisher built his own furniture including a wooden 50

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This wood stove was originally in Leonard Fisher’s childhood home in Briggs. It still works in his new home.

four-poster bed, deer antler chandeliers, a wooden table lamp with a wooden lampshade, coffee tables, a large desk made from pieces of small logs, a rolling island in the kitchen and accent floors made with wooden “cookies” he sliced from tree limbs. On the walls hang framed photographic images he captured on one of his many adventures. With Smith’s eye for decorating, and Fisher’s talent for creating, the home

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was transformed, befitting any cowboy adventurer. “Terri wants me to be happy and satisfied where I live,” Fisher said. “She takes a person’s personality and works with what they have.” “This was my most out-of-the-box project,” Smith said. “We argued, but I decided to put my full faith and trust in her,” Fisher said, smiling.

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APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM ATMO-16-999 WCNG Earth_7_875x5_125_01mg.indd 1

3/4/16 4:52 PM

TexVolunteers

A peaceful garden Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by JULIE NABOURS

aster Gardeners Frances Idoux and Carol Runyan meet in the meditation garden at McLane Children’s Hospital in Temple. It’s Tuesday, and it’s their day to pull weeds where needed, remove last season’s flowers and get ready to plant the new spring crop. On this warm, but windy March day, the garden was still in bloom with winter pansies, snapdragons, lantana and calendula. The fragrance of rosemary floated across the garden on the wind. “We like plants that bloom all year,” Idoux said. Today they will remove the winter bulbs in preparation for heat-tolerant plants like verbena and zinnias that can survive in Texas’ summer. Most of the herbs in the garden are perennials and only need to be trimmed to continue to grow. An annual, like basil, needs to be replanted each year. The idea for the garden was conceived in 2012. Bell County Master Gardeners volunteered and planned the garden to provide a place of tranquility where patients, families and staff can escape their daily routine, if only for a few minutes. “We wanted to add color, fragrance and touchability to the garden,” Idoux said. “The garden is very valuable for children and adults. It’s a connection to the natural world and some of nature’s gifts come in small packages.” In season, butterflies are attracted to the colorful flowers that bloom throughout the garden. “We want the children to use all their senses, see nature, colors, be able to touch things and walk up to the plants that are kid friendly,” said hospital representative Dr. Chanin Wright, Pediatric Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Both Idoux and Runyan are quick to point out that the garden is a team effort. 52

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Frances Idoux and Carol Runyan volunteer every Tuesday to maintain the garden at McLane Children’s Hospital .

It became a reality with the support of Bell County Master Gardeners President Gary Slanga, other members of the group who donated their time to keep the garden maintained, and hospital staff volunteers. It began when Slanga made a site visit and had the soil tested. He suggested raised plant beds for drainage and also recommended using self-watering planters that would help with maintenance.

“Frances is in charge of the garden with Carol Runyan and some other folks. They just wanted us to help them get it started,” Slanga said. “Most of the garden was established but the plants were not doing well because the soil was poor, which is why we did soil testing on it. Now that the garden is doing well and the plants are good, we are going to do Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

some periodic programs with the kids up there.” This seasonal garden grows only kid-friendly, nontoxic plants. Most of the plants are in-ground, but raised planters of flowers and herbs are just the right height for the kids in wheelchairs to pull up to the boxes to touch the plants, smell the herbs, and rub the scent on their fingers. “One of the things the hospital was asking for were herbs to use and things kids can touch, smell and even take a bite of something,” Idoux said, adding that the herbs are clipped regularly for use in the hospital’s kitchen. Above the herb planter that sits against a brick wall in the garden, window boxes filled with succulents create a thornfree textural display. The garden pathway is paved with donated bricks that were the result of a fundraiser for the garden. Some are engraved in memory of a loved one, some have the name of the donor, and others remain blank. “There is a story behind every brick,” Idoux said. Also in the garden are the centerpiece rock water fountain and the historical archway that pays homage to the King’s Daughters Hospital created in 1896 and the original occupant of the site. Sculptures depicting children and animals are placed throughout the garden and are at ground level so children can touch and imagine. Tall, abstract pinwheels offer a calming form of meditation. As you stare at the winddriven, spherical designs they seem to expand and contract as they spin in the wind. “The garden provides color, movement, happiness and charm,” Idoux said. In addition to the garden being a peaceful environment, it also offers a gentle form of exercise for children as they go on a scavenger hunt with a map created by Runyan’s son, Mark. The children are led to some of the surprises placed throughout the garden. As they follow along the pathway, they check off their finds that include sculptures that depict a snail family, an alligator, a rosemary plant they can touch and smell, and several other carefully placed sculpture, plants and even Ronald McDonald. Idoux joined Master Gardeners in 2001, after her family relocated to 54

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Carol Runyan waters plants in raised beds as Frances Idoux looks on.

TEXAS-SIZE SAVINGS The garden pathway is paved with donated bricks that raised funds for the garden. Some are engraved in memory of a loved one, some have the name of the donor, and others remain blank.

Central Texas when her husband, Dr. John P. Idoux, an academic chemist and administrator, accepted a position in Temple. “I had read an article about the Master Gardeners Club, filled out an application and graduated in 2002,” Idoux said. “Being in Master Gardeners involves both being educated in gardening and providing service for educational and horticulture projects.” Runyan, whose husband, Thomas, is a retired physician, has always loved to garden and she joined Master Gardeners in 2008. Classes were four hours every Wednesday for six months. Each week a lecturer from Texas A&M taught classes

on gardening including horticulture, propagation, soil and etymology. “We learned what bugs were good,” Runyan said. “Many bugs are called beneficials, like the lady bug.” Idoux said the garden also benefits hospital staff and is an another place where they can take their lunch or break. “It’s a stressful occupation and to get a little relief — that’s important,” Runyan added. “The garden is a place for families and patients to come and get away from the hospital and get outside,” Wright added. “We want children to use all their senses, see nature and colors, touch things.”

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F U LLbody STRENGTH

Below Kathleen Phillips provides instructions for the exercises. Combine these with the previous two months’ exercises for full body strengthening.

scorpion

By CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos and design by JULIE NABOURS

This is a mobility move, meant to mobilize your lumbar spine or lower back. or segments one and two of this three-part series, you learned about the importance of core and lower body strength. This month’s exercise introduces the Supermans, Scorpion, Active Planking/Tactical Plank moves for the lower back and full-body core. “These moves continue targeting all regions of the body,” said Kathleen Phillips, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. “Between all the different exercises, we’ve touched on all the major muscle groups. With this month’s Lower Body and Core exercises, we will continue to benefit the development of all the muscles we targeted.” By doing these movements, Phillips said you will experience reduced back pain, tone core and posterior chain muscles, and improve balance and stability in the body. If practiced consistently, they’ll also bring “an overall ability to bear one’s own body weight and perform basic body weight moves, and enjoy increased strength and stability,” she said. Phillips said after mastering these new moves, you can integrate them into a more full-body workout. “You can use them hand in hand with a circuit training approach where you might perform an aerobic interval for one or two minutes, then you can get into one of these strength moves and pair them with interval cardio vascular moves,” she said. Cardiovascular workouts could be going fast on a stationery bike for a couple of minutes, running, sprinting for intervals, or anything that gets your heart rate up. With all these new routines, sometimes things happen and for one reason or

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Lie face down, arms extended out to the sides, palm down, so if someone were to look at you from the ceiling your body would make a ‘T’. another, you might find yourself on a break from exercise. If this happens, Phillips recommends you restart your program with the baseline routines until your strength is rebuilt. “Another important part of developing an exercise program you can maintain is finding something that is interesting and motivating and fun,” she said. “For somebody who got started working out at home and find their strength is improving, they may want more to develop these muscles. That’s when you might need to find a gym that offers classes in weightlifting and offers you something interesting and fun and will help you to expand on what you have established at home.” Phillips stressed that in the long run, it doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do, as long as you find that it is something that is going to continue to interest you. “That is something different for everyone,” she said. “Whatever is interesting and motivating to me is different for the person down the block.” Another important consideration, Phillips said, is finding balance. “Find a schedule that will allow you to exercise a minimum of three days a week,” she said. “And remember that rest is just as important as putting in the work, once you have a program going.”

Keeping both arms glued to the floor, head and neck relaxed, reach one leg up towards the ceiling, then cross it behind you over the leg still lying on the floor - try to touch your toes to the floor on the outside of the leg still lying relaxed. Hold for 3-5 seconds, repeat on the other side.

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Wes Sweetser and Manda Barnes collaborate on crafting a vase at Wimberley Glassworks. The gas furnace is heated up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

TexAdventures

Wonders of Wimberley Story and photos by FRED AFFLERBACH

Native plants and a small yard now sit where several businesses were washed away along Cypress Creek in 2015 flooding. This row of brightly-colored shops farther up the creek bed were spared.

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

umerous pathways lead to Wimberley, a Hill Country enclave 30 miles southwest of Austin. Highways from different directions traverse vistas such as Devil’s Backbone then dive into an emerald green valley where towering cypress tress hug riverbanks and shade downtown shops and cafes. So after a day trip or weekend visit, why do so many visitors have trouble finding their way home? Perhaps it’s the art, music, food, wine, rafting, hiking or shopping that grabs tourists with an emotional tug that won’t let go. Or could it be the Wimberley mystique? “There’s something about this little town and I can’t explain it. Everybody that comes here . . . they want to move here. It’s a mystery,” said Wimberley resident Sissy McCullough. Ten years ago, McCullough moved here and opened a hot dog stand. Today she greets folks at the Wimberley Café on the town square with a dry sense of humor. “I did 50 years in Dallas. I deserve to live here. It’s a real friendly town. There is a lot of energy here.” That “energy” is manifest seven days a week at Wimberley Glassworks, a popular destination that serves as the city’s gateway east of town on Ranch Road 12. Owner and glassblower Tim deJong encourages visitors to bring food and drinks and hang out for an afternoon. Glassblowers create light fixtures, vases, platters and sculptures in a modern studio with bleachers for public viewing. Glassblowers, called gaffers, explain the history of making glass, going back 3,500 years to Egypt. Wimberley Glassworks is more than a gallery, deJong says, “it’s an experience.” He opened Wimberley Glassworks in 1992. “I came down here on vacation; fell in love with the valley. I think I looked at real estate all week long,” deJong said. But back in deJong’s hometown, Philadelphia, he had second thoughts about moving to Texas. “I went out in my backyard and was thinking. What am I? Crazy? You want to

After Sissy McCullough closed her Wimberley hot dog stand she nailed this sign to the front of her house. Yet sometimes an out-of town visitor unaware Sissy has retired knocks on the door looking for a fresh frankfurter.

up and move halfway across the country? Then I heard this crack. Someone shot at me. I went inside and filled out that earnest money contract and I was gone in 11 months.” Rob Pitzer was running a successful

art gallery in Carmel, Calif., when he got the itch to return to his native Texas. Rather than going back to his hometown, Houston, Pitzer opened a gallery on the square in Wimberley in 2006. Pitzer’s Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Fine Arts sells the work of more than 30 well-established artists, some national and some local. You can find a bronze sculpture of a young girl floating on butterfly wings, oil paintings of fly fisherman, and watercolors of shrimp boats on the Texas Gulf Coast. “When you come down the valley, you get a feel you’re in a different world,” Pitzer said. “I kind of compare Wimberley to a small, emerging Carmel. In Carmel, there were no chain stores. You could park in one place and walk all over town. That’s kind of what Wimberley is. It’s unique Mom and Pop shops you’re not going to find in the mall.” Cathy Moreman, the executive director at the Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce, said 12 art galleries huddled on the town square create a synergy that is contagious. After living in Houston, she says her job promoting Wimberley is a dream come true. “It’s far enough away from the big city, but you can get here easily. You feel like you escaped. I truly feel like I’m on vacation most of the time because of the contrast, the lifestyle I led in Houston, the concrete and big city I was surrounded by.” Across the street from the town square, a restored 1948 cottage is home to a simple boutique called Gracious Ladies. Towels, toys and shawls come in white, gray and various shades in between. No loud colors. No tie-dye T-shirts. Owner Jessica Bennett, an Austin and Arizona refugee said “rustic elegance” with a modern French country feel defines her store. She named the small shop to recognize three influential women. “I wanted a store that told a story. My mother gave me every sense of style I have. She represents the standard for how I run my business and how I run my life,” Bennett said. “My one aunt, Dorothy, every year would take me and buy a special outfit for school. My other aunt (Betty) worked at a department store when I was little and she was the first role model I had for a working woman.” Bennett has raised $1,200 for flood victims by selling ladies shirts that proclaim “I love Wimberley.”

The Floods The cypress tree-lined Blanco River that beckons swimmers, rafters and kayakers turned deadly Memorial Day weekend 2015. The National Weather 62

APRIL 2016 | TEX APPEAL

This mural, painted on the side of Ino’z Brew and Chew, captures the spirit of Wimberley, which has captivated artists, musicians and retirees from across the country.

“Sisterhood” by Holly Edwards can be found at 110 Old Kyle Road in Wimberley. It is one of 50 cowboy boots artists have decorated with various themes in and around the town.

Service reports the river near downtown rose 35 feet in a few hours. Altogether, 11 people died when 12 inches of rain fell upstream in a short period. Several buildings hugging the river in downtown were washed away. Coping with the aftermath and trying to move on hasn’t been easy. But the Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance called for submissions to a monument project that will honor victims and promote healing. The monument will be the centerpiece in a park that will be built somewhere along the river later this year, said Don Minnick, member of the Blanco River Monument Park steering committee. “Once we decided the humanitarian needs were met after the flood, we thought that since Wimberley is such a huge artist community this might be an opportunity to generate an artistic response to that event,”

said Minnick. “We want to acknowledge the beauty of the river. That’s why all of us live here, that’s why people come to visit. But also, to recognize it has this power for destruction.” First place winner, “River Pillars,” by J.J. Priour will feature two limestone towers with glass panels between them that symbolize the river. Meanwhile, the village of Wimberley hums along with its bevy of art galleries and eateries so busy that visitors may have to circle the block a few times before lighting in a parking spot. “We’re still here. We did not get washed away in the flood,” said gallery owner Pitzer. “We’re open for business.”

The Boots You can’t go anywhere in Wimberley without bumping into a colorful, six-foot tall cowboy boot. The art project took

If you go Wimberley is far enough off the beaten path yet easily accessible to give it that Shangri-La feeling of a lost paradise. From the TempleBelton-Killeen metroplex, take I-35 south to San Marcos. Take Ranch Road 12 west about 15 miles to this Hill Country village of about 2,600. off in 2014, sponsored by the Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance. It grew from about 20 boots to 50 in a short time. Visitors can pick up a map at various merchants that shows locations of all the boots and hit the trail. Each boot has an individual history, location, name and artist. “Hill Country Birds,” by Doug Hiser is a bright blue tribute to our feathered friends with an owl prominently painted on the side. You can find it in front of the Wimberley Visitor Center on RR 12. “Boot Scootin’ Believer” by Jean Schuler features the silhouette of a cowboy atop a bucking bronco. It sits outside the Hill Country Cowboy Church on Green Acres Road. Although the Wimberley art scene draws tourists from as far away as Australia, outdoor enthusiasts flock to the

A windmill made from Texas license plates captures the small town sense of Texas pride Wimberley residents share with locals and visitors.

area for zip lining, tubing and swimming. The city has won grants from various state agencies and preserved two natural landmarks, Blue Hole Regional Park and Old Baldy, which could have been lost to developers. Swimmers at Blue Hole splash and drop from a rope swing at the 125-acre park on spring-fed Cypress Creek. The popular swimming hole has drawn folks

to its cool waters for more than 100 years. On the city’s west side, climbing the 220 steps to the top of Old Baldy has been a physical and spiritual exercise for generations. A woman in running shorts and tennis shoes twice climbed to the top on a warm February evening. She gazed west where a golden sun dropped below blue-green distant hills. “Beautiful,” she says and disappears down the hillside. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

ADVERTISERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; INDEX A&M Cleaning............................................................................... 65 AFC Urgent Care............................................................................. 5 Atmos...............................................................................................51 Bell Air Conditioning..................................................................... 19 Bell County Museum........................................................................ 5 Blind & Shutter . ........................................................................... 43 Budget Blinds...................................................................................41 CCA Bartlett State Jail..................................................................... 9 Central Texas Home Builders........................................................ 64 Central Texas Orthodontic.............................................................31 Cornerstone.................................................................................... 42 Curtis Cook............................................................................... 29,44 Custom Integrators........................................................................... 2 Dermatology Associates.................................................................. 38 DocuMaxx....................................................................................... 25 Dr. Phillip Davis............................................................................... 9 Dr. Shelley Gieble........................................................................... 19 Eagle Home Mortgage.................................................................... 38 Eagle Ridge Builders....................................................................... 43 Ellis Air Systems.............................................................................. 24 English Maids..................................................................................14 Estacias.............................................................................................. 7 Extraco Banks..............................................................................Back Fairway Mortgage............................................................................ 46 Forest Trail Dental............................................................................ 9 Hallmark Service Co....................................................................... 55 Home Care Assistance.................................................................... 27 Homespec....................................................................................... 43 Kiella Homes................................................................................... 45 Killeen Overhead Doors................................................................... 7 Lastovica Jewelers . ......................................................................... 27 Laura White Interior Design...........................................................41 Lochridge Priest.............................................................................. 59 Lone Star Ag Credit.........................................................................51 Lucky Bebe.......................................................................................31 LULAC Council 4535.................................................................... 64 MB Harrell Law Office................................................................... 26 Metroplex.......................................................................................... 3 Precious Memories...........................................................................51 Purifoy & Company Insurance....................................................... 45 Railroad & Heritage Museum........................................................ 65 Ramirez Swimming Pools............................................................... 45 Rick Lamar...................................................................................... 19 Rinehart Real Estate....................................................................... 47 Running Right Auto Care................................................................ 9 Scotts Lawn Care............................................................................ 55 Seton Medical Center..................................................................... 10 Shoppes on Main............................................................................ 26 Solar CenTex..................................................................................... 7 StellarHomes................................................................................... 47 Texas A&M University-Central Texas............................................ 67 Texas Area Builders Association......................................................21 Texas Farm Bureau......................................................................... 55 Trucore Fitness................................................................................ 65 Union State Bank........................................................................... 65 Veranda Blooms................................................................................ 5 Wiseners Auto Clinic......................................................................31 The Advertisers Index is published for reader convenience. Every effort is made to list information correctly. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. 64

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