Tex Appeal October 2014 by Temple Daily Telegram

L i f e & S t y l e i n C e n t r a l Te x a s

OCTOBER 2013 TEX APPEAL

October 2014

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Features

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WOMAN’s WISDOM

Temple resident turns 102

When Naomi Myers turned 102 on Aug. 2, she was feted with a birthday bash at the Arbor House of Temple where she lives. Friends from the Arbor House community came to celebrate her life. By LORETTA JAMES

Don’t STRESS

Tips to plan perfect parties

When it comes to party planning, wedding and event coordinator Geri Schwartzman believes in using all five senses. Schwartzman, owner of Milestone Memories and Events in Harker Heights, wants party guests to be “wowed” when they walk into one of her rooms. To achieve this, she relies on the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. By GAIL DILLON

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Joyce Hodson teaches etiquette for all occasions

Baker brings ideas to life

Let’s celebrate

“Teaching manners and etiquette teaches kids to think about others first, how to treat them with respect, dignity and honor,” Joyce Hodson said as she gets set for her annual Merry Manners Tea. By CATHERINE HOSMAN

FROM THE HEART

Watching Heike Noble in her kitchen, it is clear this is where her heart’s joy lies. Observing her easily decorate a cake with delicate scrollwork designs is like watching a gifted artist doodle enviable scribbles on the side of a notepad. By JESSICA PEARCE TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Departments

TexTalk Neighbors Personal Chef Kanesha Roberts

TexTalk Spotlight Medical Aesthetics

TexTalk FLAVOURS Acropolis Greek Cuisine

TexTalk SCENE Dale Watson concert Star-Spangled Spectacular Fashion Show

TexTalk BEAUTY Joyce Hodson opens her bag

L i f e & S t y l e i n C e n t r a l Te x a s

October 2014

WELL-CONNECTED Contributors

PROFILES 2

OCTOBER 2013 TEX APPEAL

ON the COVER Chef Kanesha Roberts gets love of cooking from her grandmother. 16 Photograph by Julie Nabours

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

TexTHERAPY

TexTalk CALENDAR TexTalk Well-Fed head “Fetch The Devil”

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TexAdventures Harvest Festival at Silo Christmas Tree Farm TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

From the Editor

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas

Well-Connected

Published by FRANK MAYBORN ENTERPRISES, INC. Jun

KILLEEN DAILY HERALD 1809 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76540

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

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Dear Readers, Every day we celebrate life with all its challenges. These celebrations come in all sizes, from the tiniest newborn baby to a grandparent turning 100. There are birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, graduations, confirmations, bar and bat mitzvahs, new jobs and new spouses. There is your child’s first day of kindergarten or last day of graduate school. We celebrate numerous national holidays with parades and fireworks, and we remember our veterans. This month we celebrate life as we share with our readers the story of Naomi Myers, who turned 102 in August and has witnessed most of the history we only read in books, Page 36. Personal Chef Kanesha Roberts, owner of Compliments of the Chef, wants to make your dinner time easier, whether its hosting an intimate dinner party at home, or helping you plan meals for your busy week. Roberts will come into your home and help you choose the right meal for the occasion, purchase the ingredients, help with the ambiance and create a dinner for two or more. Or maybe you are just too busy to cook for yourself. Chef Roberts can prepare meals ready to cook for you to enjoy, page 16. Are you planning a larger event and need an event planner or caterer to help you pull everything together? Check out Geri Schwartzman of Milestones and Memories Event Planning and Meredith Viguers of Let Us Do the Cooking, on page 39, and learn their tips for throwing that perfect party. Looking toward your own milestone this year, maybe you are turning 40, or 50, or 60, or 100 and you want to have that special cake to commemorate the occasion? Heike’s Cakes, page 45, in Killeen will create the birthday cake of your themes. And if you are in the mood to bake, she shares a recipe for her spritz cookies. But what is a party without manners? Joyce Hodson, of Winning in Social Excellence, helps children learn their manners and etiquette before attending holiday parties with their families. She takes you on a trip to a not-too-distant time in our society when good manners and etiquette were an every day occurrence, page 33. Whatever your life’s celebration might be, have a seat, pour a glass or cup of your favorite beverage and get ready to plan your next event with help from Tex Appeal Magazine! Remember to send us your ideas for people and places to know in Central Texas and “like” us on Facebook. Happy reading!

Catherine Hosman

Tex Appeal Editor edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com 10

JULY 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Graphic Designer/Photographer JULIE NABOURS Graphic Designers SANDRA BOYER RENEE BLUE M. CLARE HAEFNER

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Contributors KRISTEN CARMONA GAIL DILLON LORETTA JAMES JESSICA PEARCE JAMES PAUL STANLEY WILLIAM TORO VALERIE VALDEZ

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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 254-774-5264.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Tex Appeal Magazine, P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. How to contact us: Advertising: Contact 254-774-5264 or 254-501-7500. Editorial: Contact Catherine Hosman at 254-501-7511 or email edittexappealmagazine@ gmail.com.

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Contributors

Gail Dillon is a journalist and a former Air Force Public Affairs officer. She also writes a weekly blog, “Married To It,” about life as a military wife and mother, for the Killeen Daily Herald, and a weekly column for the Fort Hood Herald. She and her family are currently stationed at Fort Hood.

LORETTA JAMES is a former columnist for the New Mexico Free Press in Santa Fe where she focused on the festivals and people native to that area. She has always loved to write and has published poetry. She is currently working on a Bible-based children’s book. Loretta is married and lives in Belton.

Jessa McClure is a part-time freelance writer and full-time mom to two energetic children. She is a longtime resident of Bell County and spends her time running around with her kids, volunteering and channeling her creativity. She finds inspiration everywhere and uses her experiences to create articles that inspire and touch those who read them.

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Valerie L. 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.

James Paul Stanley is a Central Texas freelance photographer. His interest in photography began while serving at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Retired from 20 years of military service, he had the opportunity to travel to many countries and capture life through the lens. He currently resides in Killeen with his wife Julie and daughter Sarah, and teaches Basic Photography for the Continuing Education department at Central Texas College.

9/11/2014 11:57:00 AM

William Toro is a long-time resident of the Killeen-Fort Hood area and the a son of a retired soldier. He attended Texas State Technical College where he earned an Associate of Applied Science in media communications and information. He is a freelance photographer. His background includes contributing to the Waco ISD Television sports program and having photographs published in the Killeen Daily Herald. He lives in Killeen with his boxer — Lulu.

JOIN OUR TEAM: Tex Appeal Magazine is looking for photographers and freelance writers with at least one year experience

photographing and/or writing features for a newspaper or magazine. We are seeking candidates from the Central Texas area to include the cities of Killeen, Temple, Belton, Salado, Copperas Cove and Harker Heights. Candidates must be detail- and deadline-oriented and good story tellers, and must be familiar with AP style. Ability for writers to take photos is a plus, but not required. Interested candidates may send their resumes and three recent clippings and/or photographs for consideration to Catherine Hosman at edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com. 12

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

“luxuries for your lucky little ones”

7410 W. Adams Ave No 170, Temple

254.773.5200 | Mon - Fri 10:00am - 5:30pm | Sat 10:00am - 4:00pm TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk

neighbors 16 spotlight 18 flavours 20 scene 21 beauty 24 calendar 25 well-fed head 30

Celebrating Food

This busy entrepreneur, personal chef and sergeant in the U.S. Army doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time for drama and keeps moving forward, looking for solutions and not excuses.

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Photograph by JULIE NABOURS

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TexTalk neighbors

neighbors TexTalk

Kanesha Roberts gets love of cooking from grandmother By Catherine Hosman

evening, Roberts will prepare, cook and serve it at her client’s home. “I’m flexible and I like to do what works best for my clients,” she said. A week’s worth of groceries might cost as little as $65, depending on menu selected. She is picky about her ingredients and said she visits the Austin Farmers Market to get locally grown foods for her clients.

anesha Roberts welcomes her guests into her small Temple office wearing a pink chef’s coat and black cap that bear the name of her company, Compliments of the Chef. The office wall is decorated in white, pink and black vertical stripes with her logo, a smiling chef’s hat. Her own smile is as big as her personality and doesn’t, for a moment, give away the fact that she just arrived back in town at 4 a.m. that morning after a week-long trip to Atlanta where she entertained family and friends with her cooking; or that the airlines lost her luggage that included many of her expensive chef coats and shoes, not to mention her car keys (the luggage was eventually found). This busy entrepreneur, personal chef and sergeant in the U.S. Army where she is the Dining Facility Manager of the Regiment Training Institute dining facility at Camp Mabry in Austin, doesn’t have time for drama and keeps moving forward, looking for solutions and not excuses. One of four siblings born to Sheila and Jimmy Roberts, in Augusta, Ga., Roberts, 31, a single mother to son Collier, 12, is a classically trained French Chef with a degree from the Le’ Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Roberts’ love of cooking was instilled by her grandmother, Classie. Growing up in a large family in Stapleton, Ga., it was her grandmother who rose at 5 a.m. every day to prepare breakfast for the family. And on Sundays, Roberts said her grandmother not only had breakfast prepared before they headed off to church, but also had the Sunday dinner done, which greeted them upon their return home. A typical Sunday dinner in the Roberts house might include pig tails, chitterlings, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, buttermilk biscuits, corn bread and fried corn. “And her famous banana pudding and lemonade; she still rolls her lemons even to this day. I tried to make it once, but I could tell it didn’t go right because the pitcher didn’t get gone,” she said, laughing 16

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

at the memory of trying to duplicate her grandmother’s lemonade. During the week, Classie’s meals included butter beans, squash, baked chicken or hamburger steak, and on the holidays, all her daughters were in the kitchen helping and Roberts was close behind. “I was the only granddaughter in the kitchen to help cook,” she said. “I prepped everything. I washed the vegetables, meat and cut potatoes for her famous potato salad.” Roberts now takes her cooking excellence into clients’ homes where she prepares ready-to-cook entrees as their personal chef. Her fees vary depending on the number of people in the home and number of meals they may want. A week’s worth of entrees might include lasagna, ready-to-grill chicken breasts and a roast— all vacuum wrapped and ready to cook. She prepares the food in her home kitchen and the client cooks the food when it is ready to be served. “I like my food to be really fresh,” Roberts said, explaining why the meals are uncooked but ready for the oven or grill. “Leftover dishes don’t taste the same.” If the food is to be served the same

Cooking for the Troops As the Dining Facilities Manager for the RTI, she plies her trade for the evergrateful soldiers at Camp Mabry as a chef and teacher, and has prepared Texas size barbecue for generals visiting Ft. Hood. “I cook for the students, as well as regular soldiers on Camp Mabry. I’m also part of the Army Mobile Feeding Team,” she said. “We travel to different military installations in Texas to cook for soldiers who are training to deploy, or soldiers who are in the field environment for extended periods.” Roberts said she enjoys “going to the kitchen and teaching my soldiers how to cook.” “I want them to be the best cooks,” she said, of her students who are learning their jobs to cook for soldiers. “We have some of the best chow in the army.” Roberts’ menu changes, sometimes according to her mood for the day. Some days she prepares classic soul food with fried chicken, cabbage, macaroni and cheese. Other days it might be Italian Day and she’ll prepare lasagna, or Hispanic Day and she’ll fix tacos and burritos with all the sides. “It just depends on how I’m feeling that day,” she quipped. “When those soldiers come in tired and overworked, their eyes light up when they come through the chow line.” “Her food is delicious,” said MSG Scott Zachary, her supervisor. “She takes the Army menu and enhances it to make it a lot better than what the army calls for.” MSG Scott said Sgt. Roberts is in charge of “feeding up to 300 soldiers sometimes, daily. “She does a splendid job and is in a position where she is working two ranks ahead of herself,” he said.

Roasted Summer Vegetables

2 cups yellow squash (sliced) 2 cups zucchini (sliced) 1 cup cherry tomatoes (sliced in half) 1 cup Monterey mushrooms (quartered) 1 cup bacon (cut into pieces) 2 tablespoons Mrs. Dash original 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon chicken base 1 tablespoon water

Combine veggies, bacon and Mrs. Dash into a bowl. Add olive oil and toss lightly. Then mix chicken base and water together and add to veggies. Place in a roasting pan, cover, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Enjoy! Makes 4 servings

Rosemary Chicken Wings 8 wings (whole) 3 fresh rosemary sprigs 3 fresh thyme sprigs 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons garlic salt Wash wings thoroughly. Rub wings with olive oil. Remove leaves from two sprigs of each herb. Rub leaves on chicken. Season with garlic salt. Put in baking dish. Place last 2 herb sprigs on top of chicken Bake at 350° for 30 minutes

Lavender Caprese Salad

1 medium garden tomato ¼ cup lavender balsamic vinegar 4 ounces fresh mozzarella ½ cup fresh basil leaves Pinch of salt and fresh cracked black pepper Slice tomato and mozzarella cheese. Layer tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaf. Reduce balsamic vinegar by ½. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic reduction over salad. Season with salt and pepper if desired. For traditional Caprese salad use regular balsamic vinegar. Photographs by JULIE NABOURS

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

spotlight TexTalk

TexTalk spotlight thing from acne to age spots.

Medical Aesthetics:

In addition to her presentation, Rinehart will conduct two workshops for the physicians attending the conference on both non-laser tattoo reversal techniques and chemical peeling/titration procedures. She will also travel to several hospitals throughout China and speak with top Chinese and U.S. CEOs to present a strong case for the integration of medical aesthetics as a specialized field, which complements the current medical offerings available in China.

The New Gold Standard for Skincare

By JESSICA PEARCE

ing medical aesthetics field, to participate.

n recent years politics between the U.S. and China have often been strained. However, this has not prevented a significant medical collaboration between the two countries, as evidenced through a medical conference being hosted this month by Nanjing Victoria International Plastic Surgery Hospital in Nanjing, China. Dr. Jianming Song of Shanghai, China, who currently practices in both Oregon and in British Columbia, has organized this conference with the Chinese, culling an international delegation of the top physicians, medical professionals and CEOs from North America and China. They will discuss combining the best of American and Canadian medicine with the best of current Chinese medical care to create a stronger medical system within China and to extend the U.S. and Canada’s business partnership with several hospitals throughout China.

Rinehart herself is a certified CIDESCO diplomat, having undergone rigorous international standardized training and testing to obtain an international diploma in aesthetics. A select body of medical professionals from countries in Europe and throughout the world work every year to obtain the CIDESCO status which ensures that they will be able to practice anywhere in the world. There are currently only four registered CIDESCO training and examination sites in the U.S. Rinehart described the CIDESCO certification exam she underwent in Houston as a highly-standardized “physical and procedural exam” that does not vary

Anna D. Rinehart, CIDESCO Diplomat, Internationally-recognized Skincare Specialist, Director of Medical Aesthetics FACE®

sional,” combining both beauty aesthetics and medical practice to treat patients holistically, both inside and out. By combining her knowledge and experience in nursing, aesthetics and facial aesthetics education, Rinehart has worked vigorously to expand the mindset of current medical professionals beyond the original specialization they trained in to encompass this blended discipline.

Many doctors, dermatologists and other medical professionals throughout the world have recognized the need to expand their practice in non-traditional ways to encompass total patient care and to generate multiple forms of revenue in a shifting world economy.

Dr. Song has identified that, while China has grown economically by leaps and bounds over the past 25 years, “this economic growth has not resulted in better health and healthcare in China. The demand for highquality healthcare has risen, especially in cosmetic and plastic surgery, high-risk obstetrics, infertility and cancer treatment.” As part of Dr. Song’s pool of conference delegates he has invited Anna D. Rinehart, the leading specialist and pioneer of the emerg18

OCTOBER 014 2014| |TEX TEXAPPEAL APPEAL OCTOBER

anywhere in the world, ensuring the quality and status of CIDESCO Diplomats. Rinehart has expanded her work and practice over several decades beyond that of her diplomat status, however. She has developed the concept of the “blended profes-

Rinehart believes that for many years the landscape of medicine as we know it has been changing. Many doctors, dermatologists and other medical professionals throughout the world have recognized the need to expand their practice in non-traditional ways to encompass total patient care and to generate multiple forms of revenue in a shifting world economy. When Rinehart participates in the

upcoming Nanjing conference she will speak on the emergence of medical aesthetics in the U.S. as a discipline and how it can benefit medicine in China as well. She will be offering a presentation on the “Evolution of Medical Aesthetics Integration in the U.S. and Clinical Application within the Healthcare System.” In it, she will address skincare rejuvenation from a medical aesthetics perspective from fundamental practices to the more advanced clinical skills needed to treat both aging skin and skin diseases. She will advocate for the integration of highly-diversified medical aestheticians into traditional medical facilities who possess both the medical and aesthetic knowledge to treat every-

Rinehart firmly believes that physicians in both the U.S. and China are currently missing the element of “hands-on” skin care management, instead deeming laser treatments to be the “gold standard” of care. She will stress the financial burden of laser treatments on physicians, medical offices and patients, arguing instead for affordable, personalized skincare management offered by the skilled hands of a medical aesthetician. Her goal is to provide the Chinese medical community a concrete way they can expand their own medical practices beyond their current offerings to benefit their citizens’ overall wellness, as well as their economy through strategic business partnerships with the U.S. Rinehart believes that she will connect well with China’s medical professionals over their “shared work ethic.” She believes that this opportunity to influence the mindset of top leaders from both China and the U.S. will pave the way for medical aesthetics to become the new gold standard of skincare management the world over.

Rinehart believes that this opportunity to influence the mindset of top leaders from both China and the U.S. will pave the way for medical aesthetics to become the new gold standard of skincare management the world over.

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TexTalk flavours

scene TexTalk

Acropolis offers Greek cuisine By Catherine Hosman

pened just nine months, Acropolis Greek Cuisine restaurant in Harker Heights brings a taste of Greece to the community. Owned and operated by Frank and Joni Biqiri, Acropolis serves excellent cuisine in a clean and welcoming environment. Originally from Albania, Biqiri, who said food in his home country is a blend of Italian, Greek and Albanian, opened Acropolis because he saw a need. “I know the kitchen, I know cooking, this town needed it,” said Biqiri, who also owns Little Italy in Killeen. The Acropolis menu has something for everyone, Biqiri said. “If you are a vegetarian, we have plenty of dishes. You can also choose vegan. All of my veggies and side dishes are not mixed with any flavors of meat or base. The menu completes people from meat lovers to baked casseroles to vegetarians.” However, like all great Mediterranean chefs, Biqiri doesn’t use recipes for his made-from-scratch, fresh homemade foods. “This is not fast food, there are no measurements,” he said, adding that he adds a little bit of this and a little bit of that, season to taste and you have a meal. A customer favorite is Greek chicken, and although there is no recipe, Biqiri created one on the spot. Acropolis Greek Cuisine 360 W. Central Texas Expressway, #206 Harker Heights, Texas 76548 Call: 254-213-9867 Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays. Acropolis also offers a variety of beers and Greek wines. 20

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Dale Watson performs show for fans in Temple 3 Frank Biqiri, owner of Acropolis Greek Cuisine in Harker Heights, shows Greek Chicken.

Greek Chicken Season to taste In a baking dish or pan Use either 1/4-1/2 chicken, dark or white meat as preferred. Wash the chicken and season with salt to taste. Add fresh, ground black pepper Add ¼ dried oregano, crush first to release the oils and flavor; or fresh oregano 1-2 cloves of freshly chopped or sliced fresh garlic Place the crushed garlic on top of the chicken Add squeezed fresh lemon to taste

Photograph by WILLIAM TORO

(Biqiri said he usually uses the juice of one lemon) Marinade at least two hours, but overnight is best The flavors will meld together. Bake at 400 degrees covered for 45 minutes; remove cover and bake another 15 minutes Serve with garlic roasted potatoes or rice, and a side Greek salad or roasted vegetables. For garlic roasted potatoes simply toss your cubed potatoes in lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Roast at 400 degrees until crispy and tender.

1. A crowd gathers before the start of the Dale Watson concert Aug. 23 at the Temple Cultural Arts Center. 2. Dale Watson performs at the CAC in Temple. 3. Mary Vaughan, left, of Temple, and Mary Denner of Belton wait for the show to start. 4. Rich and Amber Phenis of Temple are pictured before the performance at the CAC. 5. Jordan Rhudy, of Gatesville, and Aly Shetter, of Waco, at the Dale Watson concert. Photographs by WILLIAM TORO TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk scene

scene TexTalk

Star-Spangled Spectacular benefits Temple CAC 7

3 4 1. From left, Julie Schramm, Jessica Walker, Anna Tranum-Kessler and Sharla Winkler model business attire during the Star Spangled Spectacular fashion show Sept. 13 presented by The Contemporaries of the Cultural Activities Center in Temple. All outfits were provided by Dillards in Temple. 2. Bridgett Gloria and Wyatt Campbell model fashions. 3. Brenda Hill, left, and her mother, Carrice Wunch, walk the runway. 22

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

9 10

4 & 5. Guests eat brunch and mingle before the Star-Spangled Spectacular show Sept. 13 at the Temple Cultural Activities Center. 6. Whitney King, left, and Anna Tranum-Kessler wait their call to the runway for the fashion show presented by The Contemporaries of the CAC. 7. Alexandria Cage performs with the Belton High School Junior Varsity Magic Belles during the opening ceremony of the fashion show. 8. Coordinator and emcee Betty Thrasher welcomes guests to the fundraising fashion show. 9. Sharon Douglas, left, president of The Contemporaries of the Cultural Activities Center, and Patrice Haynes, Metro Hair Aware product and beauty researcher, attend the show. 10. Donna Mischchtian of the Cultural Activities Center in Temple plays music for guests. Photographs by JAMES PAUL STANLEY TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk beauty

Beauty in the Bag

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 musthave essentials.

Joyce Hodson

Winning in Social Excellence Etiquette Instruction and Training

Five ESSENTIALS she CARRIES Joyce Hodson likes to use alliteration to keep track of things and said she carries one large bag with “more stuff in it than I need, but I always want to be prepared, just in case.” Smaller cosmetic cases: I group the items in smaller cases so I don’t have to dig to the bottom of the bag to find things. The items are organized by the four Ms. Make-up, manicure and mirror: For retouching on-the-go during a busy work day. Mints and medicine: Freshen breath and combat allergies that flare up in the fall. memo pad and pen: To jot down good

quotes and important things to remember. Money and wallet: For shopping, dining and safe-keeping of driver’s license. pure grace by philosophy: My signature fragrance. It’s light and clean with a hint of musk. lip gloss: Although I wear lip color and gloss, I depend most on a base cover of chap stick to keep my lips moist. Currently, my favorite chap stick is a promotional give-away from a funeral home! I like it because it has a spearmint flavor and has the word Dignity printed on it. It reminds me to treat all people with dignity and respect.

Photographs by JULIE NABOURS

Most valuable TOOL in her BAG

I keep my cellphone and my keys in two front pockets on my bag so that I have quick, easy access to them at all times. 24

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

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TexTalk calendar

calendar TexTalk

Harker Heights Coat Drive Oct. 1- 31 The City of Harker Heights is hosting a Coat Drive benefitting the students of the Killeen Independent School District Homeless Awareness Response Program. The city is collecting new and gently used coats, winter gloves and scarfs. Sizes needed: youth small all the way to adult XXL. Coats may be donated at the Activities Center/Library, 400 Indian Trail; Recreation Center, 307 Miller’s Crossing; or City Hall, 305 Miller’s Crossing. For more information, call 254-953-5465 or visit www.ci.harker-heights.tx.us/parks. Belton Senior Activity Center Arts and Crafts Sale Fundraiser Oct. 4, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Handcrafted items will be available for purchase. There will be a book signing with Boots Brizendine, author of “Grandma’s Thoughts” a daily devotional, and Guy Smith, author of Christian themed Western books. There is also a bake sale, food court and quilt raffle. All proceeds benefit the Belton Senior Activity Center. For vendor information visit the Belton Senior Activity Center at 842 S. Mitchell Street, Belton, call the center at 254-9391170 or the Activities Director at 254-7181859. The sale is open to the public. Belton’s First Annual Motorcycle Showdown Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your bike and enter the contest. Bikes will be judged by the spectators.

ily fun night on a spook-tacular trail. Bring a flashlight, friends and a Halloween bag to gather treats along the trail. Help us support the local food bank by bringing at least one canned good item as cost of admission. Miller Park, 1919 N. First St., Temple For more information, call 254-2985403.

Attendees look at the Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray exhibit at the Bell County Museum.

Motorcycle Entry Fee, $20; Vendor Booth Fee, $45; Spectator fee, any pet product, food, towels, toys, collars, leashes, etc. Items will benefit local Belton and Temple animal rescues and pet shelters. Prizes are $300, Best in Show; $150, second place; $75 Third Place. For more information, call Diana Myers at 512-484-5714.

Copperas Cove City-Wide Garage Sale Oct. 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event takes place rain or shine and is free for yard sale shoppers, who traditionally find lots of bargains from household décor to exercise equipment, clothing, jewelry, toys, tools and furniture. Vendor spaces are $40, food vendor spaces are $65. Avenue E in Downtown Copperas

Cove. For more information, call Liz Sherman at 254-547-7571.

Christmas in October Oct. 10-11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Start your Christmas shopping early in Salado at The Ladies Auxilary’s Christmas in October. There will be a style show, a delicious bake sale and the delightful Christmas shopping available in our local shops. Admission is $2 per person. Parking and shuttle are free. Money collected from the Christmas in October goes to fund local grants and scholarships. Stagecoach Conference Center, 401 S. Stagecoach Drive, Salado For more information, call 254-9475040 or email chamber@salado.com.

Tablerock’s one-half mile walking Fright Trail presents thrills and chills.

Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines Oct. 11 Concert 7:30 p.m., dinner 6:30 p.m. Austin singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix’s versatile, folksy style, which hangs elements of blues, pop and traditional music on a country framework, is perfectly complimented by Grammy winning producer and multi-instrumentalist Lloyd Maines. Come early for the pre show dinner of Cowboy Stack-BBQ Fritos, Brisket, Pinto Beans, BBQ sauce, cheese by Schoepf’s BBQ, $10 inclusive. Cultural Activities Center, 3011 North 3rd Street, Temple; For more information, call 254-773-9926

Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray Now through Dec. 20 The exhibit provides an intimate look at Frida Kahlo, Mexico’s most prolific and well-known female artist, through the photographic lens of her long-time friend and paramour, Nickolas Muray. Bell County Museum, 201 N. Main St., Belton For more information, visit or call 254-933-5243. Second Annual Howl at the Harvest Moon Oct. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join us on this hallowed eve for a fam-

Texas Archaeology Month Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Living history interpreter Curtis Carter discusses and demonstrates Plains Indian material culture. From the inside his own tipi he will display artifacts and demonstrate how they were used. Learn about hide tanning, grinding earth paints, painting with buffalo bone brushes and toys used by Plains Indian children. During Texas Archaeology Month the museum’s archaeology pits will be open. Bell County Museum, 201 N. Main St., Belton For more information, visit www.bellcountymuseum.org or call 254-933-5243. Tablerock’s Fright Trail Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tablerock’s one-half mile walking trail presents thrills and chills. $5 adults, $3 children 12 and under Tablerock Ampitheater, Royal Street and Table Rock Road, Salado For more information, call 254-9479205, or visit www.tablerock.org.

Celebrating Our First Year as Lone Star Ag Credit At Lone Star Ag Credit — formerly Texas Land Bank — we in the Temple branch office are celebrating the first year under our new name.

Serving 48 counties in Texas

Yet, some things remain the same. Our Temple office continues to finance agricultural operations, rural real estate, country homes and agribusiness throughout central Texas.

Temple Credit Office 2552 Blue Meadow Dr. Temple, Texas 76502

We still offer the same friendly, professional service and local knowledge our customers have come to expect. And with nearly 100 years of experience, we’re still the experts in agricultural and rural financing. Stop by and visit us, or give us a call. Let us help you with a customized loan.

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Temple anniverary ad_7.75x3.2_color-final.indd 1

LoneStarAgCredit.com 254.778.8111 Nathan Van Noord*, Credit Office President Jason Collier**, Loan Officer *NMLS: 643222, **NMLS: 688178

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TexTalk calendar

American Breast Cancer Society 2nd Annual Bra Brunch “Purses and Pearls” Oct. 23. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Event activities include a plated lunch, celebrity models, live bra auction, survivorgive-aways, and the “Purses and Pearls” raffle. Guest speaker is Jim Richardson, senior vice president of Shine Investments who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Dan Ingham of KWTX News 10 will emcee the event. Guests are encouraged to wear pink. Belton Expo Center, 301 W. Loop 121, Belton For information on sponsorships and individual tickets, contact Cherise Myatt at cherise.myatt@cancer.org or call 254-7530807. For details and ticket information, visit www.acsbrabrunch.org. Halloween Splash Bash Oct. 24, 6 to 8 p.m. $15 per family This Haunted Pool Party is wickedly fun for the whole family. Come for the spooky music, tasty candy, games and a splashing good time for everyone. Sammons Indoor Pool 2220 W. Avenue D, Temple For more information, call 254-2985930. Fei-Fei Dong, pianist Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Finalist Fei-Fei Dong is presented jointly by the Central Texas Orchestral Society and the Temple Symphony, in the CAC’s Mayborn Auditorium. Meet and greet the artist at 6:30 p.m. in Strasburger Hall. Cultural Activities Center, 3011 North 3rd Street, Temple For more information, call 254-7739926 2014 Monster Dash — 5K Walk/Run, 5K Team Run & The Little Monster Dash Oct. 25 The Rotary Clubs of Copperas Cove, Harker Heights, Killeen, Killeen Evening and Killeen Heights present the Monster Dash 5K walk/run, and 5K team (fourperson) competition. Activities include a free costume contest and a 1/3 mile Little Monster Dash ($5) for children 10 years 28

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old and under. All proceeds benefit the Rotary Clubs’ local projects such as scholarships, vocational grants, youth character education programs (Early Act First Knight), school supplies for needy children and many others. Costumes, especially for the Little Monster Dash, are encouraged. This is a sanctioned race of the Cen-Tex race series. Dana Peak Park, 3800 Comanche Gap Road, Harker Heights For more information, contact Harker Heights Parks and Recreation, 254-9535657. To register, visit the Harker Heights Recreation Center at 307 Miller’s Crossing. Entry fees and deadlines apply.

Haunted Hayride Oct. 25, 6 to 10 p.m. Enjoy a narrated Haunted Halloween Hayride, while rumbling down a trail inhabited by creepy characters and spooky scenes around Wilson Park. Face painting and concessions will also be available. Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the door. They can be purchased at Wilson Park Recreation Center, 2205 Curtis B. Elliott Drive, Temple For more information, contact Belinda Garcia at 254-298-5733. Friends of the Killeen Library Book Sale Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 8 to 9 a.m. members only; 9 to 11:45 open to public Noon to 2 p.m. bag sale $3 (all the books you can fit) Membership: $10 Killeen Arts & Activities Center, 802 Second St. at Second and Sprott (enter on Sprott) For more information, contact the Main Library at 254-501-8996.

Odalis Delacruz takes a photo of her children, Olivia and Oliver, at the Harker Heights Halloween Hoopla last year at Carl Levin Park in Harker Heights.

Eco Harvest Oct. 27, TIME Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful is proud to present Eco Harvest, a sustainability education event focusing on recycling, waste reduction, litter prevention, and beautification. During the event, attendees have the opportunity to see short, interactive presentations about everything from recycling, composting and planting, to preventing storm water pollution, wa-

ter/energy conservation, and encouraging reusable shopping bag usage. 1206 W. Avenue B, Copperas Cove For more information, call Silvia Rhoads at 254-547-4242.

9th Annual Halloween Hoopla Oct. 31, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Carl Levin Park, 400 Miller’s Crossing The city of Harker Heights is host-

ing this fun-filled evening to provide the youth in the community with a fun, safe alternative to door-to-door Trick or Treating. Games, inflatables, candy, activities, and other forms of entertainment will be present. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.ci.harker-heights.tx.us/ parks Email upcoming events to edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com.

Harker Heights Farmers Market Fall Festival Oct. 25 8 a.m. to noon Seton Medical Center Harker Heights, 850 W. Central Texas Expressway Come shop and celebrate the last Farmers Market of the season with local vendors and business owners. Enjoy activities and photo booth while you shop for local produce, baked goods, herbs and much much more! For more information, visit www. ci.harker-heights.tx.us or call 254-953-5493. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk well-fed head

A tale of two mysteries

By VALERIE VALDEZ

ometimes the best writing is the simplest. “Fetch the Devil” author Clint Richmond, a former newspaper reporter, applied reporting methods with the stylistic richness of storytelling to create the absorbing tale of the baffling unsolved Frome murder case. In 1938, California socialite mother and daughter Hazel and Nancy Frome were traveling on a cross-country road trip when car trouble stranded them in El Paso for several days. After their delay, the women continued on their trip but only to disappear. Their bodies were later found in Van Horn, about 120 miles from El Paso. Then an array of lawmen descended upon the case, including the FBI, Texas Rangers and El Paso Sheriff Chris Fox, with the reputation as a tough cop, who was appointed “coordinator” overseeing the largest murder investigation in the Southwest. Who did it and why? Written with minimal flair, Richmond examined the double-homicide and the massive investigation, making the 325 pages a readable, engrossing story that leads to his logical yet mind-blowing theory involving German spies. “‘Fetch the Devil’ is really two stories: a historical truecrime and a Nazi spy story, joined together by the police work of one man, the legendary Sheriff Chris Fox of El Paso, Texas,” Richmond stated. Expertly reconstructing the murder and the investigation, Richmond generated mesmerizing suspense with astonishing, no-stone-left-unturned detail, such as

the clump of dark hair found clutched in Nancy’s hand. It resembles a jig-saw puzzle filled with plenty of clues and suspects, including a Nazi spy disguised as a doctor in El Paso. In particular, Richmond made the time and places of the 76-year-old case vibrate to life on the page, drawing a reader deeper into the crime’s web and the abyss of international espionage. Divided into three parts, Richmond’s crisp narrative sets the stage by recounting the history of the Frome family in the San Francisco Bay area headed by patriarch Weston G. “Pop” Frome, a munitions executive with the Atlas Powder Company, and a leader in the explosives industry. The Frome murder rocked pre-World War II America and initially many investigators concluded it was a robbery-murder in the Texas desert, although the ladies’ expensive jewelry was found on their bodies. With a pit bull’s tenacity, Sheriff Fox wouldn’t let go of the case, certain that the murder and motive had its roots in California, but unaware of the Nazi espionage activity on the U.S. and Mexico border. Fox delved deeper into the case, often butting heads with the Texas Rangers, until he was removed from it. Equally tenacious was Richmond who spent 15 years researching the case and finally getting the chance to examine the few remaining files. “For my research, I had access to two sources that had not been mined before: recently declassified FBI files on Nazi activities in the United States in the 1930s, and the voluminous cold-case files of Chris Fox in the El Paso Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

“‘Fetch the Devil’ is really two stories: a historical true-crime and a Nazi spy story, joined together by the police work of one man, the legendary Sheriff Chris Fox of El Paso, Texas.” — Clint Richmond

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Richmond’s impartial writing style gives a complete character illustration of everyone involved: from each of the Fromes, to Sheriff Fox, the Texas Ranger investigators, and even the suspected Nazi spy ring killers. True to his reporter’s code of objectivity, Richmond never revealed his personal sentiments or biases, but instead he brilliantly combined the elements of a fictional murder novel with factual journalism and the political climate here and abroad as the world edged closer to war. “The Frome murder mystery has been described through the years—by lawmen and writers alike—as one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the American Southwest. Fetch the Devil is the first fulllength, narrative account of this historical case. And it’s the first book to document the years before we entered World War II,” said Richmond. Although the case remains unsolved, Clint Richmond offers a conclusion that ties up all the loose ends in a shocking yet believable knot in this meticulously researched and engrossing true-crime story that will captivate readers. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Ready to celebrate

Joyce Hodson is gearing up for her annual Merry Manners Tea, where she teaches formal etiquette to children. 32

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Story by Catherine Hosman • Photographs by Julie Nabours

Joyce Hodson teaches etiquette for all occasions

oyce Hodson, president of Winning in Social Excellence, looks festive in her red satin dress. Using her own holiday fine china, tablecloths, napkins and flatware, she is putting the finishing touches on a table setting, making sure all the plates, flatware, tea cups, tea pots and napkins are all in the right place. A three-tiered tray decorated with red and gold ornaments is the centerpiece and adds a holiday dimension to the table. This is just a practice run for her annual Merry Manners Tea to be held next month and will teach children manners and etiquette before the holidays. “Teaching manners and etiquette teaches kids to think about others first, how to treat them with respect, dignity and honor,” Hodson said, as she kept arranging her table. Hodson said she was inspired to teach children good manners when she attended a 1998 banquet in Houston with young teens who “were intimidated by the fancy table setting.” When she returned from her trip, she turned to Google, still in its infancy, to look up Proper Table Etiquette. “What I got was How to Place Bets in Las Vegas,” she said, laughing. She refined the search to ‘teaching children manners’ and found the National League of Junior Cotillions and in 1999 she became licensed to teach children etiquette, social skills and ballroom dance to middle school students. Before starting WISE, she said she “served as a national director for NLJC, High School Cotillion and the Debutante Presentation Society until 2008.” As president of WISE, next month Hodson’s students, both boys and girls, will learn proper etiquette and manners in a fun, un-intimidating way before sitting down to dinner with their family this holiday season. “The first half of the tea teaches table instructions including how to be a good guest or host and how to eat,” she said. “Workshops include napkin folding and table setting. Each child gets to take home a placemat that is a master diagram on how to set a table.” Hodson’s timing is not by accident. She chose November for the tea to get the

Joyce Hodson displays etiquette books for children, ranging from Emily Post to the Idiot’s Guide to Etiquette.

children ready for Thanksgiving. “If they are going to grandmother’s house or an aunt’s house, I challenge them to volunteer to set the table,” she said. The children also learn poise and posture, crafts and cookie decorating. “Having good manners is sometimes looked at as snooty or high brow. Really it’s not,” she said as she adjusts a table setting. “Basically, it’s getting along with others. It’s the Golden Rule.” “Joyce is an awesome lady who is dedicated to the youth in our community. She does everything high quality and the tea is no exception,” said Ursula Pirtle, whose

daughter, Katie, attends the tea. “I hope the event grows each year so more children have the opportunity to learn those things that aren’t taught in school, and sometimes at home either.”

Traveling toddler and teen Etiquette wasn’t always the first thing on Hodson’s mind. A self-proclaimed Army brat, she was born in Stuttgart, Germany, where her father was stationed. The family moved to Fort Bragg, N.C., and finally to Killeen when she was 14. Her father was the “mess sergeant and the best cook in all of North Carolina.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

“Every Thanksgiving we went to mess hall and had a lot of food to eat, all we wanted, and we didn’t even have to do the dishes,” she recalled. Her family had to move only three times during her father’s career in the Army, however, Hodson said the move to Killeen was the toughest on her. “I didn’t want to leave my friends. I didn’t know anyone in Killeen,” she said. She made new friends almost immediately and despite a little culinary culture shock, she thought she was going to a church when she was invited to go to Mission Taco for lunch, she assimilated into Killeen life. “I never had a taco or a burrito,” she admitted. Hodson said she grew up in a “clean, happy healthy home, but not a fancy one.” Her late mother, Wilma Waldrop, made breakfast and Hodson said “kids from the neighborhood conveniently found their way to our house for juice and toast.” Her perspective changed, however, when she married her husband, Evan.

TOP: Joyce Hodson teaches the art of napkin folding at her Merry Manners Tea. Pictured counter clockwise from left are Christine Freiberg, Layla Irvin, Ashlyn Miller, Katie Pirtle, Hodson, Becky Sparks and Kristin Kragle.

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

AT LEFT: Joyce Hodson is gearing up for her annual Merry Manners Tea, where she teaches formal etiquette to children. She also offers tips on spectacular table settings, like the one seen above.

A course in manners Joyce and Evan Hodson recently celebrated 30 years of marriage. They have three sons: Jason, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand; James, who is married with two children and lives in Charlotte, N.C. and Jonathan, of Los Angeles who is studying psychology. It was during her early years with Evan, branch office manager at SII Investments Inc., in Temple, that she was introduced to the world of formal etiquette and manners by his mother Mrs. Fremont (Alice) Hodson.

Evan Hodson’s grandfather and father were generals in the army and his mother often entertained high profile personnel. When she wasn’t planning or entertaining, she taught a course called “The Little Black Dress.” “Basically, it was an etiquette course,” Joyce Hodson said. “I didn’t know about that stuff.” When she married Evan, she learned that his mother liked to do everything “fancy.” “She taught me everything with every kind of dining equipment in a loving way. After I married Evan, we would go to their house for Thanksgiving and polish silver for days. Then we’d set the table, everything was very nice. That’s what got me interested.” When children arrive to the banquet room at the Marriott Courtyard in November, they will be dressed in their Sunday best, and partake in a three-course tea service that includes sandwiches, savories and sweets, along with three different types of tea and lemonade for the non-tea drinkers. They will learn manners from the moment they arrive from how to escort a lady to how to be seated properly, where to place their napkins, and when to begin eating. Instead of playing party games, they play “pass the teacup” that teaches children the proper way of holding a cup and saucer. “The art of good manners is knowing how to do the right thing, this comes from the heart,” she explained. “Good etiquette is knowing how to do things right, this comes from the mind. I believe both are essential to prepare today’s children for a successful future; and count it a privilege to provide a bit of the mortar to help bind their building blocks of success.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Naomi Myers celebrates life in two centuries

By Loretta James

hen Naomi Myers turned 102 on Aug. 2, she was feted with a birthday bash at the Arbor House of Temple where she lives. Friends from the Arbor House community came to celebrate her life. During the course of her 102 years, Myers has seen and experienced many changes in the world. She was a child during World War I and a teenager during the horrendous dustbowl of the 1930s that hit Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Kansas, where she grew up one of seven siblings on a dairy farm in Mulvane. During that time she also lived through the great depression. Myers has seen mom and pop stores turn into super stores; watched as the telephone went from a party line to smartphones that give information with just the touch of an app, and she has seen 17 presidents come and go. “I think it’s wonderful how the world has grown and improved,” she said. “I don’t know what would be the greatest.” Myers lived in the same house until she married her late husband James, in 1932. “I was just a little farm girl who couldn’t leave Mulvane until I married,” she said, adding that she and James were married more than 65 years. “We had quite an exciting life.” Jim Myers was a manager and later a lobbyist for the Rural Electrification Administration, which was very important to the farmers at the time, and they had to move often for his job. When her husband suffered a coronary he became one of the first patients to receive open heart surgery. However, following his surgery he had to take an early retirement and the couple moved to Hondo, Texas. From Hondo, they moved to Temple, where they lived for more than 50 years. The couple had two children, now both in their 70s; Sandy Mekiej, who lives 36

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Naomi Myers has seen mom and pop stores turn into super stores; watched as the telephone went from a party line to smartphones ... and she has seen 17 presidents come and go. in Temple with her husband Walter, and Patricia Miller, who lives in Denver, with her husband Robert. As time passes, memories often fade, but Myers said one of her most memorable times was when she went with her church group to visit the Holy Land. “It was such a blessing to me. My parents were strong Christians and they raised us to be the same. When I got to the Holy Land, I just loved everything and, of course, there were special baptisms in the Jordan River.” “Even then, they had to leave during the dead of night to escape shelling that was taking place along the border,” added her daughter, Pat Miller. Today, Myers’ activities are somewhat limited, but she remains a voracious reader. There is a place on her bed with books stacked two and three high. “When I lie down to sleep at night, I have to read at least an hour before I fall asleep,” she said. She has read the Bible three times in her life, and is now working on the fourth read. But her love of reading is only one passion. At 102, she still plays the piano every afternoon at 4 p.m. and gathers her friends and anyone else who wants to hear her play or sing along. “I don’t think anybody realizes how this has touched my life,” she said, lighting up when she talks about it. She always had a piano at home and when she wasn’t helping her girls with piano lessons, she said the piano “mostly sat.”

“I guess I played some for church, but not regularly,” she recalled. In her later years when she and her husband decided to move into an assistedliving community, she was able to take her piano with her. She told her husband that “maybe I’ll have time to get back into playing again.” She did get back into playing and cherishes the afternoon sing-a-longs when people gather and she plays hymns for them. “We have anywhere from four to 25 people show up,” she said. “Last night there were 12. You could tell it was heartfelt and special. They just sang their hearts out.” Myers loves her comfortable home at Arbor House, and when her children aren’t with her, her family photos, her music and the caregivers keep her company. Recently, Darlene Rodriguez, director of the Arbor House asked Myers “What words of wisdom would you like to leave to us youngsters?” Myers’ reply was simple. “Don’t make lists every day of things you want to accomplish. Just live each day as it comes along.”

Naomi Myers, 102, still enjoys playing piano for her friends and families at the Arbor House of Temple, where she lives. Photograph by Loretta James

Wishing her a happy birthday on Aug. 2, at left, is staff member Tina Otamba. Courtesy photo

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Plan an almost stress-free party By Gail Dillon

Geri Schwartzman, of Milestone Memories and Events, prepares boutonnieres for a wedding. 38

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Photo courtesy of Milestone MEMORIES

hen it comes to party planning, wedding and event coordinator Geri Schwartzman believes in using all five senses. Schwartzman, owner of Milestone Memories and Events in Harker Heights, wants party guests to be “wowed” when they walk into one of her rooms. To achieve this, she relies on the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. “What is it that you want people to be inundated with when they walk in,” she asked rhetorically. Schwartzman said party planning begins with choosing a theme because it gives you a place to start. “The theme helps you drive it home and it gives you a guideline, a key,” she said. With the holidays close, she said it is not too early to start planning a Christmas party. Using the theme “Frozen” as an example for a holiday party, she described how each of the five senses could be capitalized on. “We use color, we use lighting, we use accessories to convey the feeling of coldness,” she explained. Sight, for instance, is important as it is usually the first sense guests use upon entering a party. “When you walk in, what is the focal point there?” she asked. “What do you want people to see. . .and remember?” Continuing with the “Frozen” motif, she suggested using the color blue and possibly decorations that evoke ice throughout the room. Schwartzman said lighting is often overlooked but can go a long way toward setting the mood of an event. “It just creates a different experience ... a different ambience for folks,” she said. Sound is another critical aspect of a party’s success. She said music can set the tone but that it can change throughout the evening, or perhaps vary from room to room.

‘The classic error is not leaving enough time for the day of the event. Give yourself a couple hours to get dolled up.” — Geri Schwartzman As for touch, Schwartzman encourages hosts to use texture to their advantage. Pulling out a vibrant purple tablecloth with a rose bud design, she said provides bold color and texture and can serve as a focal part of a room’s décor. Many decorative items can also be reused from year to year for fresh purposes. “You learn to look at things differently,” she said, such as flipping a vase over. Finally, she said smell is all about what you’re serving guests, but can also be provided by incense or candles; however, they should not mix. “I make it a point to never have scented candles near the food, it destroys the palate,” she warned. “When it comes to food, let it speak for itself.” As a former Army wife, Schwartzman has been planning and coordinating events for 15 years. After her husband retired, she was able to go “official,” and began her business in January of 2011. Her trademark planning tool is a Vision board, which resembles a one-page scrapbook of fabric swatches, sketches, key colors, and other planning tools. “It just unifies everything,” she said. “It makes a big difference.” Similar planning can be done using Power Point or even handwriting an outline or list. One common hostess mistake she has witnessed over the years is time management. “The classic error is not leaving enough time for the day of the event,” she said, suggesting allowing two hours to prepare. “Give yourself a couple hours to get TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Meredith Viguers, owner of Let Us Do the Cooking in Killeen, is seen with two dishes that are requested most: lasagna with spring mixed salad and chocolate and strawberry cake. 40

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Photograph by Bryan Correira

Catered affair Killeen-based “Let Us Do the Cooking” owner Meredith Viguers says simple is better when it comes to most events, whether home-prepared or catered. “I tend to think that most people overcomplicate (party planning),” she said. ”If you are generally a casual person and throwing a really high-end cocktail party is not your thing, then don’t try to throw that kind of party.” Viguers said that with the popularity and accessibility of websites such as Pinterest, as well as the recent explosion of celebrity cooking shows on TV, it is easy to bite off too much when planning your own event. “Those are not normal,” she said, laughing. “They’re on television for a reason.” Viguers started her business out of her home when her husband was deployed and she was expecting her third child. “I just got in the kitchen and discovered I had sort of a knack for being able to put things together,” she said. At first it was just meals for friends but quickly grew into taking dinner orders for more and more people and finally into actually catering events, with the help of a couple she knew from church, who had event-planning experience. “I never said no when anybody called,” she said. Now with a staff of about 120, “Let Us do the Cooking” handles events such as the recent USO Fort Hood Yellow Ribbon Gala that served more than 300 people. “What we specialize in is catered events with home-cooked food,” she said. “When we first started, we quickly realized that was the niche in the community that was missing.” Her favorite events to cater are usually corporate and military-related, Viguers said, because “we’ve kind of got those down to a science.” Like Schwartzman, Viguers believes

Ice crème soda sundae centerpiece

For an inexpensive party centerpiece for kids of all ages, start with a plastic (if you’re outdoors by the pool) teal colored ice cream cup. Add some pink silk flowers as ‘ice cream,’ white silk flowers as “whipped cream.” Top with a real cherry!

Meredith Viguers said that with the popularity and accessibility of websites such as Pinterest, as well as the recent explosion of celebrity cooking shows on television, it is easy to bite off too much when planning an event. planning is the key to a successful party. “Start early,” she advised. “Believe it or not, people who are just beginning to

plan their holiday parties are late.” Getting as much done in advance can make the day of any event less stressful and more fun for a host or hostess. “Don’t do food that has to be done at the last minute, do things that you can make a day or two ahead of time,” she said. Viguers said a mistake she sees frequently is doing a “labor-intensive” task right before a party starts. “Then you’re frazzled as people are arriving,” she explained. “And so it becomes this huge undertaking. . .what’s the point?” If she were throwing a get-together at her own house, she said it would likely be a very casual affair. “You can have amazing parties that are simple. It doesn’t have to be too formal, too stuffy or over the top.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Photo courtesy of Milestone MEMORIES

dolled up. You are part of the décor—make your guests feel comfortable by being ready for them.” Another error is allowing guests to congregate in the kitchen. To solve this, she said “stay out of the kitchen.” This means having most everything done in advance. “You can either pre-plan like the dickens or you hire an event planner to do it for you,” she said. Once the planning part of an event is underway, it’s time to either choose a caterer or prepare to make the menu yourself.

1950s theme party dessert bar

Bring back the 1950s to your next birthday party with the sweet pink and Cadillac teal bordered by black and white checks! Surrounding cupcakes, guests will find a candy bar and all the trimmings for root beer floats, brownie ice cream sundaes and banana splits.

SEPTEMBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Baking full circle W

atching Heike Noble in her kitchen, it is clear this is where her heart’s joy lies. There is a feeling of calm and tranquility that is as tangible as the pastries covering her counters. She deftly dips her German Spritz Gebaeck cookies in melted chocolate, before laying them gently back down on parchment paper. Observing her easily decorate a cake with delicate scrollwork designs is like watching a gifted artist doodle enviable scribbles on the side of a notepad. While preparing cookie dough, Noble points out one of her three Kitchen Aid mixers, stating, “He’s been with me for about 20 years.” As she switches from cookies to shaping rolls, she explains the things she loves best about baking. “I love working with yeast and seeing the pastry dough grow,” she said. “My favorite thing to bake is Christmas cookies — the whole house smells like cinnamon, anise and cloves. The best part, though, is seeing people smile when they see the cakes I’ve made, especially the kids.” Noble grew up in Mannheim, Germany, watching her mother bake Sunday cake every week, helping her in the kitchen, from the tender age of 10. It was at her mother’s side that she learned how to make her family’s fourth-generation crumb cake recipe and bake from the family’s favorite cookbook, “Back Vergnugen Wie noch Nie,” (Baking: Fun Like Never Before). She married at 19 and became a military bride to Philip Noble, an American stationed in Mannheim at the time. On his first duty station, he decided he could not go back to the United States without her. “He picked me up as a souvenir,” Noble said. Leaving her mother and her beloved cookbook behind in the move, Noble left with her husband to begin a new life. The couple waited several years to start a family, spending time traveling instead. When the couple moved to Texas they began a family, raising their now 21-year-old son Nicko and 19-year-old daughter Jeannette. Heike Noble decorates a cake. 44

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Heike Noble creates sugar cookies decorated with frosting and hand-made bees to sell at the farmers market.

A new business Noble said she had always baked, but added that she had no formal training. “I never thought I would go into baking professionally,” she said. “I love baking; it’s a stress reliever for me, unless it doesn’t go the way you want it to!” After taking Wilton cake-decorating classes purely for fun, Noble began working with Connie’s Creations, a local bak-

ery in Killeen at the time. She became a good friend of the owner, who encouraged Noble to begin her own business, even passing on several of her own regular customers to her. Noble began making cakes and pastries for customers through word of mouth, though she still considered baking more of a hobby than a business. Word began to spread that Noble’s German Spritz Gebaeck cookies and

Story by JESSICA PEARCE • Photographs by WILLIAM TORO TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Tricks of the Trade Heike Noble has learned many tricks of the trade from small to great that help her on a daily basis. She advises anyone starting out in baking to “take a Wilton cake decorating class.” She prefers using pre-colored fondant to cover her more elaborate cake designs, which has proven a time saver as well as being less gummy and more pliable for molding. She also recommends using a good melting chocolate, like Ghiradelli melting chocolates, for dipping cookies and baking. She advises melting chocolate in a plastic container for short 20-second intervals in the microwave to prevent scorching, stirring between intervals until the chocolate is melted. Heike Noble with her beloved cookbook in her kitchen. Below are two of her themed cakes.

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

artistic cakes were too good to pass up. She saw the interest in her baking, but was limited by a shoestring budget and then-current Texas Cottage Food Law, which did not allow home baking businesses, requiring commercial kitchens instead. As luck would have it, Texas recently passed a new “cottage business” law last November, enabling home entrepreneurs to make everything from pickles to pastries from the comfort of their own kitchen. However, cottage business owners can sell their goods only at local farmers markets and to private clientele. A further stipulation of the law only allows family members to assist in the business, not outside staff. While others might feel constrained by cottage law, Noble found it freeing, enabling her to launch her business in earnest. It suited her well — she had already been grooming her daughter, Jeanette, who also maintains a side business of baking and selling natural dog treats, to assist her for many years. Her husband had a strong background in accounting, so she enlisted him to keep the books and do the taxes. Her son, now stationed with the Air Force in Utah, became her official taste-tester. Last November, Noble formally named her business “Heike’s Cakes,” and began selling her pastries at the Pioneer Farmers Market in Killeen in March of this year. She has seen her clientele multiply and has begun to look forward to her clients’ birthdays and anniversaries, knowing she will be the one to provide their celebration cakes. While business has been good, Noble admitted that business problems can arise, “if I take on more than I can chew. I try not to put myself in that predicament. “This business is unpredictable,” she said. “One day you may have something, or you may have nothing.” The most essential ingredient to good business success, Noble said, is to “have an understanding husband and family.” She recently celebrated her 29th wedding anniversary with husband Philip. Two years ago, he found an out-of-print edition of the cookbook she learned to bake from as a child that she had left behind in Germany and presented it to her as a Christmas gift. Holding her beloved cookbook in her own kitchen, Noble has truly come full circle. In baking, as in all of life, she said, “Don’t be afraid to try anything. You can always start again.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Heike Noble creates cakes in themes for all occasions, including these tool box, shark, jackpot and hot cocoa cakes. 48

SEPTEMBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Heike Noble and her daughter, Jeanette prepare Spritz Gebaeck Cookies. Jeanette is following in her mother’s footsteps covered in paw prints with her own business, Everything Paw Related. She bakes natural dog treats and birthday cakes and sells her goodies next to mother’s at the Pioneer Farmers Market in Killeen.

Heike Noble’s Spritz Gebaeck Cookies Noble shared her delicious Spritz Gebaeck cookie recipe with us. Having sampled the cookies freshly dipped in melted chocolate, it is easy to see why they are a continual favorite among her loyal customers. 1 stick butter ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 egg yolk 1¼ cup flour 1/3 cup almond meal 1½ teaspoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ cup milk Semi-sweet baking chocolate for dipping Sprinkles for decoration (optional) Tools Piping bag or large Ziploc bag Large “star” piping tip Parchment paper Cookie sheet Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Beat powdered sugar and butter until 50

AUGUST 2014 | TEX APPEAL

creamy. Add egg yolk and beat again until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, almond meal, cornstarch and baking powder. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture; beat on low speed. Do not over-mix batter. Place large star tip on piping bag. Fill bag with cookie dough and pipe circles, S-shapes, or stripes directly onto parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light brown around cookie edges.

Let cookies cool on cookie sheet. Melt baking chocolate and dip each cookie halfway in chocolate, replacing on parchmentlined cookie sheet. Scatter sprinkles on dipped cookies if desired. Allow chocolate to harden, then remove cookies from parchment paper. Tip: If without a piping bag or “star” tip, use large Ziploc bag instead. Fill bag with cookie dough, cut one corner of bag, and pipe designs directly onto parchmentlined cookie sheet. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Schoepf’s BBQ & Backyard

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

702 East Central Avenue, Belton 254-939-1151 | schoepfsbbq.com Find us on Facebook

Choose Schoepf’s BBQ, who has been recognized many times as one of the best in Texas, for your next event or special occasion. Schoepf’s has been serving barbeque in Central Texas for more than 20 years. Eat here or we’ll bring it to you. Either way, we’re here to make sure you and your guests experience some of the best barbeque in Texas! Schoepf’s Backroom is a large indoor facility with a fireplace, bar, television access, Internet, and private restrooms. The Backroom overlooks our famous Backyard!

Schoepf’s Backyard

photograph by Julie Nabours

The Backyard was started for the April through mid-August Texas Music Series, which just completed its 7th year. Schoepf”s Backyard is a large outdoor open area covered with plenty of trees for any type of event. The backyard features a large bar, stage, and dance floor. It’s all here.

Schoepf’s BBQ specializes in catering fresh mesquite smoked barbeque and homemade sides. Add a delicious dessert and your guests will be more than satisfied. Or you can change it up a bit. If it goes on a pit, we can serve it to your guests. Our catering ranges from small to large groups for any occasion. We now offer breakfast tacos and kolaches! Schoepf’s has been featured by Texas Monthly Magazine, Ride Magazine, Texas Highways Magazine, Taste of the South Magazine, The Food Network, and PBS. We were recently recognized by the Governor’s Office and Texas Workforce Commission for being a community partner and giving back to many local charities. Call us to book your next meeting or celebration!

Cotton Patch Cafe

3111 S. 31st St., Temple Mall 254-771-3899 | cottonpatch.com Area residents and visitors enjoy freshly made food, fast service and casual atmosphere at the Cotton Patch Café located at the Temple Mall. Cotton Patch also caters, bringing good tastes and good service to your special event. Cotton Patch is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Temple in October, local owner/operator Michael Maraffa said. Attracted by the community’s growth and location, it has been a great partnership.

Grand Avenue Theater

2809 Oakmark Dr, Belton | 254-939-5000 | grandavenuetheater.com

The Temple location is one of 41 Cotton Patch restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The company was started 25 years ago in Nacogdoches by Larry Marshall and Mike Patranella. Their goal was to create a community restaurant that offered great food made from scratch and served by caring folks who are part of the community.

General Manager Daniel Bucher and the local owners of the Grand Avenue Theater in Belton want to provide a high-quality, family-friendly entertainment venue to the community. By all accounts, they are succeeding with a “best in class movie and dining experience.” Grand Avenue Theater provides a clean, staff-friendly environment where guests are entertained in “Grand Style.” The theater features a full-service kitchen, reserved seating options and state-of-the-art technology. Grand Avenue has become a partner with the community, hosting fundraisers, charity events, and movies in the park. Upcoming events include National Night Out on Oct. 7 and Ghoulfest on Halloween. Come and enjoy Monday Night Football on the big screen all season long. The theater is a grand place for a birthday party or other special event. Birthday party packages include a kid’s meal from the kitchen while in the party room, and a movie with popcorn, soft drink and candy – all for just $15 per child. 52

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Cotton Patch Cafe

photograph by Julie Nabours

Cotton Patch in Temple strives to meet that goal every day. Menu items are made fresh from scratch every shift. That’s a tall order for a restaurant that dishes up 600 to 700 meals daily. The catering division can serve groups of all sizes, from small dinner party to a wedding, reunion, organization or corporate event. Many customers start their visit with the homemade Queso and Salsa, which won the “Best Queso” at the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo. The lunch and dinner menu features salmon, salads, pork chops, steaks, burgers, pot roast fried green tomatoes, chicken and dumplings, broccoli rice casserole, baked squash. Chicken Fried Steak – fresh, never frozen and handbattered – is an all-time favorite. Maraffa said the key to the restaurant’s success is the staff – General Manager Clair Norcross, Service Manager Andrew Leal, Kitchen Manager Sarah Simmons and Catering Manager Walter Leatherwood. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Roy’s Photo Booth Killeen, Texas Tel 254-681-7999 www.roysphotobooth.com

Every event has a “serious” photographer, but the photos folks post on Facebook and talk about for days to come are the candid shots they take in Roy’s Photo Booth. Roy’s is the perfect option for adding fun and excitement to any event, be it a birthday or holiday party, wedding reception or corporate fundraiser. Recently opened in July of this year, owners Roy and Melinda Clayton have seen their business take

off through social media, referrals and through the quality customer service they provide. Roy’s offers portable photo booths for hourly or daily rentals. They deliver booths within the Killeen/Central Texas area (fees may apply for out of area) and can set them up on any level spot, whether indoors or out. Roy’s offers two styles of photo booths; the first is a large, wheelchair-accessible enclosed booth that comfortably fits ten people with a 20” monitor that allows guests to see themselves and adjust before they take pictures. The second style is an open-air “booth” set up with the client’s own background/backdrop and a 20” viewing monitor as well.

Roy Clayton Roy’s provides a personal attendant for all events so that both hosts and guests can relax and enjoy posing without worry. In addition, Roy’s supplies a free selection of photo props for every event, including hats, boas and the ever-popular mustache masque. All booths print custom photo strips within 15-20 seconds, and all guests are given a keepsake photo strip to take with them.

a b m u Z

Story by Kristen Carmona Photographs by WILLIAM TORO 54

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

La Cravis Russell (aka Qua) during a Zumba class.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexFit

Zumba – A fun workout celebration

The History of Zumba Beto Perez’s life took an unexpected turn one day when he rushed off to teach an aerobics class and forgot his traditional aerobics music, according to Zumba.com. The celebrity fitness trainer improvised using his own mix of music from tapes he had in his backpack — an array of popular salsa and merengue. Perez spontaneously created a new kind of fitness dance — one that took the focus off counting reps over music and instead focused on letting the music move the exercisers. His class loved it. Energy electrified the room and everyone was smiling and cheering. On that day in the 1990s, a revolutionary new fitness concept was born. By 2011, Zumba Fitness became the largest branded fitness program in the world with more than 12 million weekly class participants in 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries.

TexFit

Fun Facts about Zumba • The word Zumba means to “move fast and have fun.” • Zumba burns between 500-1,000 calories per hour and is proven to improve cardiovascular fitness. • Zumba improves balance, flexibility and posture. The sweating, dancing and occasional shouting also relieve stress and tension in the body.

L 56

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atin rhythms stream from the aerobics room at Heritage Park Fitness in Harker Heights where instructors LaCravis “Qua” Russell and Almond Seals lead a class of Zumba enthusiasts wearing brightly colored clothes and smiling faces. Zumba, an aerobic dance class set to South American beats, is one of the hottest exercise trends in health clubs and exercise studios from Miami to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexFit

Lacravis Russell leads a Zumba class at Heritage Park Gym in Harker Heights.

AUGUST 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Meet Some Local Instructors Zumba classes are offered at just about every gym in Central Texas. These classes have a huge following. Many participants go from gym to gym to get their Zumba Fitness class in for the day. The goal is to meet new friends, dance, shout and burn calories at the same time. The celebration of Zumba is what made Russell love it right from the start. “I got into Zumba at home after having my second daughter,” she said. “I needed a way to work out at home to lose the baby weight. I saw the preview; it looked super fun, so I tried it and loved it. I got great results, too, as that was my only workout at the time.” Russell eventually found a live class, and Zumba became part of her regular routine. After she moved to Texas, she found a new class and became an instructor. Jackie Smith, a regular in Russell’s class, thinks Zumba is both fun and motivating. “We have a great group of ladies and we are always laughing,” she said. “If I have had a bad day, Zumba always turns it around.” To find your local Zumba class go to Zumba.Com. Search your city and join the party!

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexAdventures

Harvest celebration brings families together to make memories, enjoy the season

By Jessa McClure

Bob and Marilyn Garber own the Silo Christmas Tree Farm in Moffat. 60

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

Courtesy photos

s the scarlet sun sets over a grove of young trees, Bob and Marilyn Garber sit inside their 100-year-old farmhouse discussing the busy next few weeks of their lives. Although they have long-since retired from full-time work, they are still hard at work making the Silo Christmas Tree Farm in Moffat, Texas, a place where families can come and enjoy the fruits of the season. Soon, the historic farm will be filled with thousands of people picking pumpkins, jumping in piles of crunchy hay, chowing down on seasonal desserts and dressing their very own scarecrows. All of these fall-themed activities are part of the farm’s annual harvest celebration that they lovingly call Pumpkin Patch. But this month-long event is so much more than pumpkins. It’s a time for families to gather together and enjoy each other

outside of hectic schedules and away from electronic distractions.

Planting a Seed

“We were already selling Christmas trees and we wanted to add something else,” Marilyn Garber said. “Some of our other farm friends said you really should do a pumpkin patch because of your location—so close to Killeen, Temple, Waco and Belton.” On the advice of their friends and family, the couple began thinking about what it would take to pull it off. Then, in the spring of 2007, they happened upon a large hay wagon that was ideal for hay rides. “We thought, well, I guess we’re supposed to be doing this,” she said. The first order of business was finding some pumpkins. The rocky, Central Texas soil made it impossible to grow the seasonal gourds on their farm. Once again

the Garbers sought the advice of their farm friends who had given them the idea for the business. They soon found a supplier in Lubbock who had 400 acres full of pumpkins, ripe for the picking. The Garbers ordered a semi truck full of the orange delicacies and had them ready for purchase by the first weekend in October. “The first two weekends went by and we sold out of the pumpkins we thought would last the whole month,” Marilyn said. The couple then had to bring in another truck from Lubbock to meet the needs of the 1,000 pumpkin patch customers who attended the event that first year. “The next year and every year since [the pumpkin patch] has just grown and grown,” Marilyn Garber said. “And the other activities we offer have just grown right along with it.” Along with pumpkin picking, the TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexAdventures harvest celebration also offers kiddie train rides, duck races, hayrides, bounce houses, a chance to feed farm animals, pony rides, and their most popular event — pumpkin painting — that allows children of all ages to choose a soccer ball-sized pie pumpkin to paint. “The first year of the pumpkin patch, we had a little school table from my teaching years that would seat four children at a time and a pair of saw horses with a piece of plywood across it,” she said. “Now we have to have two eight-foot kindergartentype tables to accommodate all of the children who want to paint a pumpkin.” Today, the couple welcomes more than 12,000 visitors each year and hauls in more than 200,000 pounds of pumpkins for their annual event. And as the customer-base grows, so does the need for more things to entertain and feed them. “When we first started we had American Legion come in and prepare the food that we sold,” she said. “They had their own setup behind the pumpkins. They did it for two years, but it was too much for them. We said, we thank you a lot, but we’ll take it over.” Today, there is an entire pavilion area that offers everything from chili cheese dogs to nachos to barbecue to ice cream and everything in between. While the couple now employs workers who are food services trained and certified, Marilyn does like to contribute her famous pumpkin bread to the menu on occasion. But when people ask this wife and grandmother, now in her 70s, if she creates the entire menu, she kindly tells them she “doesn’t make and bake anymore.” But, there’s more than just good food to eat. When you come out to the Silo Christmas Tree Farm for Pumpkin Patch you will also have the opportunity to browse Nana’s Gift Shop that includes handcrafted items that Marilyn purchases herself. “We have baked goodies, candies, and we even have two friends who are Mennonites who furnish all of our jams and jellies.”

Enjoying Fruits of Their Labor

When the Garbers moved to Central Texas in 1972 to escape the bitter Michigan winters, they never imagined that they would be hauling more than 100 tons of 62

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

TexAdventures

Pumpkin Bread with real pumpkin Prepare the pumpkin

Marilyn Garber recommends using pie pumpkins because they are heavier and have a denser flesh. Wash the outside; cut open; remove seeds. Cut into quarters; place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees 30 to 45 minutes. Insert a fork to test; the flesh should be soft like a potato. Let cool enough to handle; then scoop out the pie filling and use in any recipe of your choice.

Pumpkin Bread

During the Harvest Festival at the Silo Christmas Tree Farm in Moffat, people can pick out pumpkins and take hay rides. Courtesy photos

2 2/3 cups sugar 2/3 cup shortening 4 eggs 3 1/3 cups flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons soda ½ teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups pumpkin 2/3 cup water 1 cup dates 1 cup pecans

Using an electric mixer, cream sugar, shortening and eggs until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except dates and nuts; beat until smooth. Fold in dates and pecans. Place in three greased loaf pans or four small loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees about one hour for large pans; less time for small pans or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. pumpkins to their country farm. In those days, Bob was working to establish a construction business and Marilyn was teach ing children in her own nursery school in Harker Heights while raising the couple’s three daughters. As the years went by the hard-working couple decided they wanted a break from the hustle and bustle of the city to unwind and enjoy their golden years. So, in 2000, the couple purchased what would become the Silo Christmas Tree Farm and began making plans to grow trees for the holiday season. Today, their Christmas tree business

and the pumpkin patch are hugely popular, bringing in customers from all over the state. And because the couple knows what it means to be a hard-working family raising children on a budget, they like to make their events pocketbook-friendly as well. “Families can buy as few or as many tickets as they want,” Bob Garber said. “They can come out here and really have a great time without spending too much of their hard-earned money. They can spend the whole day together, inexpensively and make memories that will last the rest of their lives.”

Visit Nana’s Gift Shop

The Silo Christmas Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch is at 7617 McGregor Park Road, Temple. For more information, visit www. silochristmastreefarm.com or call 254-986-7988.

Silo Christmas Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch Oct. 4-5; 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 Admission is food or monetary donation to Helping Hands Ministry. Cameras welcome, please leave pets at home. $1 activity tickets can be purchased with cash or credit card 2 tickets Snow cones Maze

Kiddie train ride Duck races

3 tickets Hayrides, ages 3 years and older, under 3 years ride free Bounce house Feed farm animals (includes food) 5 tickets Pumpkin Painting (includes pie pumpkin) 6 tickets Pony Rides

Pumpkins & More

$.50 - $12 Jack-O-Lanterns Mini & Pie Pumpkins Specialty Pumpkins & Squash Indian Corn Cornstalks & Hay Bales

Stuff the Scarecrow

Includes hay & burlap bag for head Bring your own clothes $10 Use our clothes $15

Farm Eats & Treats

Purchase with cash or tickets. Chili/cheese dogs, hot dogs, barbecue, sausage wraps, nachos, Frito pies, water, soft drinks, Capri Suns, snacks, ice cream. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

ADVERTISERS INDEX Adorn.................................................. 49

Diva Chicks......................................... 43

MaxFlight.............................................. 5

Shar’s Consignment.......................... 35

Atmos Energy........................................ 9

Doctors Express.................................. 13

Medical Aesthetics...............................18

Smile At The World Orthodontics.....11

Bell County Public Health................. 22

Dr. Philip Davis Jr., DDS.....................17

Merry Manners Tea............................. 24

Solar Centex....................................... 59

Bell County Museum...........................47

Eagle Home Mortgage.........................31

Metabolic Research Center of Waco.... 7

Sonic................................................... 64

Bello Photography............................... 26

Edward Jones/Howell........................... 9

Metroplex Hospital............................... 3

Stillhouse Wine Room....................... 64

Best Wishes Gifts.................................. 7

Elmcroft of Cottonwood.................... 43

Montessori Schools of Central Texas 65

Swift Construction..............................14

Blind & Shutter Gallery....................... 9

English Maids..................................... 39

Painting with a Twist.......................... 13

Texas A&M-Central Texas.................... 4

Bob Mills Furniture ............................. 2

Estacia’s............................................... 59

Paperdoodles....................................... 35

Texas Bariatric Specialists....................47

Callies.................................................. 28

Extraco Banks .................................... 68

Party N Jump....................................... 54

Texas State Optical............................... 7

Cameron Park Zoo...............................31

Grand Avenue Theater....................... 52

Pop Abilities Gourmet Popcorn......... 39

The Shoppes on Main.........................57

Central Texas Orthodontics............... 49

Grout Works....................................... 49

Precious Memories...............................47

Tital Total Training..............................14

Clem Mikeska’s Pit Bar B Q................. 9

Killeen Power Sports............................67

Remax................................................. 28

Union State Bank............................... 43

CottonPatch Café............................... 53

Lastovica Jewelers.................................31

Rockin’ R Retreat Center................... 36

Vitalogy Skincare.................................51

Crotty Funeral Home......................... 24

Little Helpers Learning Academy........51

Roy’s Photo Booth.............................. 54

Walker Honey......................................57

Dairy Queen....................................... 22

Lochridge Priest.................................. 24

Salons At Tuscan Square.....................14

Westside Baptist Church.................... 64

Dead Fish Grill................................... 24

Lone Star Ag Credit ...........................27

Schoepf’s BBQ.................................... 53

Zootys...................................................14

Dermatology Associates...................... 29

Lucky Bebe.......................................... 13

Scott’s Lawn Care Central Texas........ 59

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.

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

TexTherapy

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” — Oprah

OCTOBER 2014 | TEX APPEAL

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