Texan Magazine - Winter 2022

LIFESTYLE CULTURE MAGAZINE

TRAVEL LAKE TAHOE

PRISTINE MOUNTAIN PARADISE

RODEO 101 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

WINTER 2022

SNOW AGAIN

IN 2022?

TX METEOROLOGIST

MIKE HERNANDEZ TELLS ALL

FASHION VALENTINE’S DAY VIBRANT VIBES

TEXAS RANGERS & COMANCHES FORT MARTIN SCOTT EXPERIENCE THE LIVING HISTORY NE, I W , S E RECIP ORE …

AND M

GARDENING

HOUSE PLANTS THAT MAY IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH

A v a i l a b l e W o r l d w i d e . . . F r o m D e e p i n t h e H e a r tJanuary/February 2022

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EXPERIENCE AMAZING

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CURRENT INVENTORY

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January/February 2022

TEXAN

WINTER 2022 TABLE OF FEATURING

CONTENTS

BUSINESS 9

LEXUS

You’ll think you’re on vacation at one of the most unique luxury car dealerships in the USA

by James Cole

WINE 28

A WINE EXPERT’S JOURNEY OF COLLECTING

Tips on establishing your own wine collection

by Jim Peterson

FASHION 40

RED HOT RIGHT NOW Why is red so attractive?

by Lisa Dante

TRAVEL 53

LAKE TAHOE

Breathtaking and pristine winter paradise

by Bill Dante Winter, January/February 2022

Texan

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COWBOY LORE 65

SADDLE UP! It’s Rodeo season!

Everything you need to know before you go

by Chip Schweiger

WEATHER 79

WILL WE SEE SNOW AGAIN? An important question: The winter forecast for South Texas

by Mike Hernandez, Meteorologist

TEXAS RANGERS 89

HISTORIC SITE FORT MARTIN SCOTT Experience living history at one of the first US Army establishments set up in Texas

by Marvin F. Schroeder

CULINARY 99

COMFORT IN A BOWL Recipes that are guaranteed to warm you up on a cold day

Winter, January/February 2022 4 January/February 2022

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RECIPES 105

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER RECIPES An evening of romance begins with the perfect meal

by George Yuengling

GARDENING 112

INDOOR RX Houseplants that improve your mood and lower stress and anxiety

by Marc Hess

COCKTAILS 119

VALENTINE’S COCKTAIL RECIPE Love Potion #9

Winter, January/February 2022

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TEXAN

Letter from the Editor

I’m not really one to make New Year’s resolutions because I think every day is a perfect day to start living life better. My hope for you and yours in the new year is that you can truly focus on what’s important to you. Staying safe and healthy is always a good priority.

Speaking of staying safe….. Last year’s devastating Texas snow storms and single digit temperatures have many Texans wondering if it will happen again in the next few months. Well respected and longtime Texas meteorologist Mike Hernandez gives us his thoughts, forecast and expertise on that very subject.

Also, don’t you just love easy solutions to improve the quality of your environment? Check out what our gardening expert, Marc Hess has to say.

Did you know that certain houseplants can improve indoor air quality by removing toxins from the air?

February always signals two things to most Texans. It’s the most romantic month of the year as we celebrate Valentine’s Day….AND it’s the start of rodeo season! We’ve got you covered in both areas with an in depth rodeo guide and Valentine’s recipes you’ll adore.

Do you love history and being outdoors in the fresh air? What better way to experience living history and the great outdoors than to visit historic Fort Martin Scott and the Texas Rangers Heritage Center in the hill country. There’s so much more in this issue to explore.

Remember, at the start of any new year the possibilities are endless.

Happy New Year!

Lisa Dante

Rodeo ready!

Hat and hatband: Billy’s Western Wear Turquoise sterling silver hoop earrings: Hippie Cowgirl Couture

Editor in Chief

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TEXAN Volume 09 // Issue 01

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTORS

ILLUSTRATOR

LISA DANTE KEITH CHESTER JOSH HUSKIN COLLETTE ORQUIZ AIESSA AMMETER MICHAEL CIRLOS ROSS BENTON MARC HESS EDUARD PEYER JIM PETERSON LISA DANTE CLINT J. HALL MATTHEW HARVEY BILL DANTE MIKE HERNANDEZ TEXAS RANGER RETIRED JOE DAVIS JAMES COLE JEREMIAH TEUTSCH

CONTRIBUTING PRODUCTION STAFF

JOSH LOPEZ, SAMANTHA MUSCAT-SCHERR, GABRIELA ALTAMIRANO LADALE JUNIEL, CASEY VASQUEZ, PERIAN WILLIAMS

PUBLISHER STERLING TEMPLAR PUBLISHING LLC EXECUTIVE PRODUCER KEITH M CHESTER

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Proceeds from the Texan Magazine are donated to the Texas Rangers Foundation, a Nonprofit 501(C)3.

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COPYRIGHT ©2020 STERLING TEMPLAR | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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LUXURY MOUNTAIN SKI LODGE DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS I S R E A L LY A ST U N N I N G L E XU S D E A L E R S H I P WITH ALL THE AMENITIES

by JAMES COLE

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ave you seen the large mountain ski lodge or Yellowstone type ranch house, on IH 10 , in the Dominion/Leon Springs area?

Everyone who passed by during construction watched the progress day by day, wondering and admiring

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this beautiful building. What could it be? Is it a business or someone’s grand home?

Well it turned out to be the most unique LEXUS dealership ever built. It’s not a cookie cutter dealership.

OH,NO! There is not another dealership like this in the world.

It’s one of a kind and right here in San Antonio. Even the Lexus corporate leadership was and is still amazed at the workmanship, exclusive style and detail that went into building our Lexus dealership.

They loved it and it received their five star approval. It was built with you, your family and neighbors in mind. If you’re one of our customers you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you’re not then you need to come by, relax, and take a look. You will agree.

All of us are familiar with the saying “Not all things are created equal!”

This is a phrase I have heard over and over for many years especially in the auto industry. After being a part of the Kahlig Automotive Group, in San Antonio, for almost 30 years, I now know for certain, that all auto dealers are definitely far from being created equal. You know exactly what I mean. We, at the Kahlig Automotive Group, first of all, are blessed to be a locally owned family company. The entire group of dealerships are employee centered with a lot of your friends and family working with us for many years. But most of all, we are a customer, meaning you, serving group of dealers.

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Kahlig automotive firmly believes that faith and family are the cornerstones to creating a great business and an impeccable guest experience. This is why this specific dealership was built. For example, our employees are very very proud of the customer service they provide and take great pride in providing you a buying and servicing experience that would rival any fine, five star, hotel in the world. We truly value each and every client we serve!

It’s a family atmosphere! That’s the company

philosophy from top to bottom.

North Park Lexus at Dominion officially became a part of the great northwest IH10 community in December of 2014. Our customers live near by and extend all the way up into theTexas Hill Country. This dealership, which is a one-of-a-kind resort-style facility, was able to sell and service the very first cars within the very first month of operations! That is normally unheard of in the auto industry, especially South Texas.

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AMBIANCE….let’s talk about it!

This Lexus facility was designed and built to replicate one of the finest mountain lodges that you would find in Telluride or Aspen Colorado.

Every item inside and outside of the dealership to the smallest detail was with you in mind. Starting with the huge antler chandeliers, the gorgeous large cedar beams, the rugged stone columns, and not one but seven fireplaces, that’s right, seven inside and out – provide a one-of-akind feeling as you enter our

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facility. As you approach the building, you are greeted by two beautiful, serene ponds, one on each side of the entry, complete with flowering lilies, waterfalls and striking landscape features.

You probably will choose to spend some time outside in the serenity close to one of our outdoor seating areas, which also includes one of those gorgeous wood-burning fireplaces. I think, however, when you enter the main door, your first impression is a big WOW! You will immediately enjoy stepping inside our Lexus lodge “resort!” There is so much to see and enjoy.

As you enter our two grand, solid-wood double-doors,

you’re welcomed by our towering ceilings, the antler chandeliers, and of course, our friendly receptionists. You can expect a big smile and a warm welcome! At North Park Lexus at Dominion, they believe when you purchase and own a Lexus it should not and never is just a transaction – we want it to be and it should be an experience that occurs each time you come to see us.

We aim to provide a wonderful, luxurious experience every time you walk through our doors. You deserve only the best and that is our attitude toward you every day! The best for the best!

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Now listen to this and check out these amenities that are yours for the taking. It’s unlike any other dealership that you may have been to in the past. Let’s start off your visit and introduce you to our professional baristas, with a complimentary, full-service Starbucks coffee bar. Have a perfectly made cappuccino, latte, or a freshly ground hot cup of coffee.

How about a warm, freshly-baked cookie or hot popcorn made right in front of your eyes?

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There are candies, trail-mixes, and additional snacks at no charge to you for our guests and your families. So, order a hot drink and a warm cookie and then you can cozy up next to another one of our wood-burning fireplaces.

If you desire something else, we host a complimentary nail salon service, unheard of right? Wait, how about a large, unbelievable chair massage experience, and in addition, have your shoes shined.

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The object is to keep you feeling as relaxed, looking your best and blissful as you deserve. Soft plush sofas and chairs invite to sit and visit with others. Still not impressed? How about some boutique shopping!

A short walk across our service drive and you’ll spend some time shopping in our large, unique boutique. Take your time and browse and you’ll find hand selected items and maybe a

gift idea, especially for yourself.

Remember you deserve it! Now, while you’re shopping, you can also visit our Lexus Café as well! Another café? Yep, very chic and enjoyable.

It’s obvious at North Park Lexus at Dominion, everyone’s goal is to treat you as if you were a welcomed guest in our own home. In addition to our numerous, comfortable lobby areas, did I mention, we offer

a children’s cove for your little ones as well! Again, we’re taking care of your needs and making your visit as stress free as possible.

By now, you’re beginning to see that North Park Lexus at Dominion is a family experience like no other. However, what you will truly find that sets us apart from all others is our people.

We have selected our staff that makes up our family, with unique precision. Everyone is a trained expert in their field and this makes for a smooth, no stress experience from the minute you walk into our dealership. People, is the magic word! Repeat after me say,”People!”

Did I mention we sell LEXUS? That’s how we pay for the cookies.

Our “certified” sales staff is always available and ready to serve you. They are honored to assist you with any of your automotive needs, including even guiding our customers with their next vehicle purchase.

They take pride in taking the time to truly understand your needs and desires to ensure the vehicle you choose is the perfect vehicle for you, your family, and your lifestyle. When you visit with them you will be able to tell immediately that it’s all about you…. As it should be.

We work to ensure our sales professionals are trained to be Master Certified by Lexus.

Further, we continue their education annually to ensure their certification is maintained.

They are skilled professionals.

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BUSINESS

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SERVICE We are all about service.

Our service department is one of the highest rated service departments in the entire United States. How did they earn that rating? They are highly recognized, highly honored, with continued new training offered and that delivers to you an unparalleled experience every visit, every day. Oh, all of our technicians are Certified

by Lexus. As the employees’ tenure and wisdom increases, so does the certification level from Senior Certified to Master Certified. How about this, at our location, we have FOUR Master Certified Lexus technicians, and we anticipate many more in the future! This training includes frequent webinars and hands-on experience. If you happen to have a more extensive repair, no worries!

We offer complimentary loaner vehicles when available.

We also offer pickup and delivery services if you prefer not to leave the comfort of your own home.We even provide to you a videoed, multi-point inspection so you can see exactly what our technicians see. When your vehicle is returned to you, rest assured it will be spick-and-span! We offer complementary washes.

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James Cole General Manager North Park Lexus at Dominion

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Alison Billman Controller January/February 2022

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Something you need to know is Lexus has awarded this dealership one of the highest and most-esteemed awards for customer satisfaction for every single year that we have been in operation. We are proud and honored to call ourselves an “Elite of Lexus Award” recipient. The award is only awarded to a few select dealers nationwide who are specially chosen based on certain performance and quality metrics – with customer care being of the utmost importance.

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Left to right: Gerard Zambrano Service Director Richard Stagg Service Manager

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From left to right: Ronnie Vaughn Pre-Owned Sales Director Said Cantu Master Certified PreOwned Sales Director 22

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Dillon Deberry Parts Manager North Park Lexus At Dominion

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My management team, and myself personally, would love to take this opportunity to invite you in to see us. Check out the ambiance that I spoke about earlier. We personally would like to shake your hand and say welcome. Then show you why North Park Lexus at Dominion is truly in a class of its own. We accept the challenge daily to take care of our team so they can take care of you like no other place can! Our staff is made up of your neighbors, fellow TEXANS and possibly even some of your family and friends.

Please come visit us and give us the opportunity to prove to you that not all dealers are 24

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created equal. We know that North Park Lexus at Dominion is exceptional and unmatched. Let us prove that to you.

James Cole General Manager North Park Lexus at Dominion *All complimentary services are subject to availability. Loaner cars offered to guests may not always consist of Lexus-branded vehicles.

We do not rent snow mobiles or fix snow skis.

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WINE

A JOURNEY

THROUGH WINE

by JIM PETERSON, WINE ENTHUSIAST & INSTAGRAM WINE INFLUENCER

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WINE

here is a simple truth about me. I have not had a normal wine life.

Over the years I have tasted some of the best wines in the world, and many of them in multiple vintages. One of my first enduring wine memories occurred on Valentine’s Day 1999. A friend unexpectedly sent over a glass of the 1982 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, a top tier Bordeaux. As I smelled the wine, I was captivated. I could

not even bring myself to taste the wine for several minutes because I did not want to give up those aromatics. The palate was equally amazing, and the memory of that small glass of heaven on earth has never faded. This was the first of many such experiences. Over the years there have been key moments, unexpected delights, friendships made, and memorable experiences that have shaped and formed my interest in, and great love for, wine.

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Thomas Jefferson was so enamored with Haut Brion he sent six cases back to Virginia in 1787

Not long after that I accidentally stumbled into tasting a 1966 Château Haut Brion. Here is a legendary Château, documented to be producing wine as far back as 1423. The famous diarist Samuel Pepys wrote a note 30

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in 1663 that he “drank a sort of French wine called Ho Bryen that hath a good and most particular taste I never met with.” Thomas Jefferson was so enamored with Haut Brion he sent six cases back to Virginia in 1787. And then

there is me. Over 200 years later I boldly crashed an acquaintance’s “man cave” while I was randomly driving by and saw he was there. When I walked in, he just happened to be sharing a 1981 Haut Brion with two guests. He was incredibly gracious and poured me a glass. That first bottle disappeared rather quickly, and he said, “Shall we open another?” Who could say no? He went back towards his cellar, with a sly look towards me as he walked out and came back with the legendary 1966 vintage of Haut Brion. I had to contain my glee. Here was another wine that astounded me to such a degree that I cannot shake the memory of that experience.

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SHARING IS CARING

Despite the thousands of wines I have tasted since then, I have never had the opportunity to try either of those wines again. I still think about them.

I constantly wonder if the next Bordeaux I taste will meet that standard. One thing I have learned over the years of my personal wine journey is that trying to force a wine moment like this simply does not work.

Often, it is that random bottle a friend opens unexpectedly.

The aspect of sharing wine has been part of my desire to collect and age wine. There is always the chance I will provide that similar memory, that same spark that unwittingly inspires someone else to fall in love with wine in a way they had not believed possible. And it works!

A few years ago I opened a 1989 Château Pichon Lalande to celebrate my birthday (what a coincidence), and my friend, who had not really tasted properly aged wine before, was completely blown away by it. From that point forward his approach to wine collecting was altered.

Having a wine collection certainly helps with sharing.

Choosing wine from the collection, no matter how many bottles you own, can often be frustrating. A few months ago I made a comment on my

Instagram that I was staring at over 600 bottles of wine in my collection and I had nothing to open. I know it seems ridiculous but opening a bottle for just myself is not the same as pulling a bottle to go out to dinner with friends. There are certain wines I only want to taste with friends. I mean, is a bottle really that great if you’re

the only one tasting it? Plus, many wines in my cellar simply require more age. So therein lies the dilemma that most serious wine collectors face.

In my poll on this topic, 79% of respondents said it happened to them too. It may seem crazy, but it happens a lot.

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PRO TIP:

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The easiest way to avoid having to agonize over which “good wine” to choose is to simply keep a small collection of quaffable “daily drinkers” on hand. These are wines you should never feel bad about opening. If you ever have trouble deciding, just go to one of the default wines and call it a night.

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STARTING A COLLECTION

What do you do if you want to start a collection? I was lucky. I moved to Germany right about the time I had decided to start collecting. The great vintage of 2000 Bordeaux was available for pre-order (or futures), and I took advantage of the cheaper prices in Europe, ordering several cases. Then I just kept shopping the whole time I lived there. A trip to Tuscany, loading up the station wagon, made it easy to kickstart my Italian selections. All in all, I brought back over 400 bottles to begin my collection. It is also possible to slowly build up a collection over time with patience, selective purchases, and discipline (like utilizing the daily drinker strategy). I do believe it is important to understand which wines will be cellar worthy to avoid future disappointments. This just came up in a conversation with another long-time collector, and he commented it was best to try and start out collecting some of the higher end age-worthy

wines. As your taste changes, and particularly if you “get the bug” and start preferring higher end wines, you can end up stuck with wines that simply no longer interest you. There are many collectors who have experienced this. A great aspect of wine is there are so many possibilities in the collectible category that finding wines you know you will enjoy later should not be a problem.

I have said this before, but temperaturecontrolled wine storage is an absolute necessity if you plan to cellar wine for the long-term. I purchased a large wine cabinet right after I returned from my first assignment in Germany.

My wine has been stored at 55° ever since. If you lack the space for in-home wine storage, there are usually specialty storage rentals for wine in most large cities. One advantage of offsite storage is the lack of easy access can also help with cellar discipline.

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Lastly, it is also a good idea to have a target “do not open before” date in mind.

That can also help with cellar discipline.

In whatever way you decide to enjoy your wine, I hope you will always approach your wine journey with an enthusiasm for both learning and sharing. There is great satisfaction in helping others experience the nuance, the pleasure, and the mystery of great wine. And you might be surprised at how much you can learn in hearing about how they perceive the wine differently from you. How do you approach your wine life?

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CELLAR RECOMMENDATIONS

It is no surprise my wine cellar is heavily skewed toward European (or Old World) wines. These are the easily recognizable regions that have stood the test of time – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Brunello, Barolo, some Super Tuscans, fine German Riesling, and vintage Champagne. For American wines, the most likely candidates are the multitude of finer Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, but there are certainly Washington State and Oregon wines that have proven they can age well. Professional scores can guide you, but it is best to consider the range of scores rather than rely on just one source.

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Bordeaux – Look for classified growths from the main appellations of Pauillac, Saint Julien, Saint Éstephe, Margaux, and Saint Émilion. Pomerol does not classify their wines, but include them too. Many Bordeaux are exorbitantly priced, but there are good values to be found. You can find quality wines in recent vintages of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Burgundy – The best collectibles are ridiculously priced, and I have always believed you must have a suitable knowledge of the producers when collecting Burgundy. I urge caution.

Brunello – The recently released vintages of 2015 and 2016 are simply outstanding. The nice thing about Brunello is it can be opened a bit early with a good decant. See my first article on Tuscan wines for recommendations.

Barolo – The recently released vintages of 2015, 2016, and 2017 are solid. Keep in mind that most Barolo really take 15-20 years before they truly show well. My favorite producer is Paolo Scavino, but there are many worth seeking out.

Super Tuscans, German Riesling, and Champagne – There are recommendations in my prior articles on these topics.

Follow Jim on Instagram, @tx_wine_ pilot, for more wine tips and reviews.

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Jim Peterson is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who mainly flew the A-10 fighter jet.

He has ties to the wine business going back over 20 years and is an avid wine collector.

His extensive wine knowledge includes travel to many wine regions while living in Europe, many tastings led by Master Sommeliers, and ongoing personal wine exploration and selfstudy. He has cultivated a large following on his Instagram account, @tx_wine_pilot, tasting and reporting on wines from vintage to value.

He now works in marketing and resides in San Antonio, Texas.

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TEXAN

FASHION

WRAPPED IN

RED

by LISA DANTE

R

ed is an undeniable power color.

It’s strong and striking and gets your attention. Red is for energy, passion and even danger. No wonder it’s the color most associated with Valentine’s Day. After all, it is the color of the heart. The celebration of love got me thinking about love in general.

I think there’s a song that goes, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.

No, not just for some, but for everyone.”

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The special day of love, celebrated on February 14th, should include everyone, not just those that are madly in love. Maybe you just want to express

feelings of friendship, or perhaps you simply have a sweet tooth and want to treat yourself to flowers and chocolate or some other special treat.

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On V’day you might start scrolling through social media and see all of the flowers and candy that friends and loved ones have received. But have you ever wondered if some of them might have sent them to themselves? There’s certainly nothing wrong with that! The gift will be special because it’s from someone who knows you best—you!

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Every so often I have to remind myself that I’m responsible for my own happiness.

I realize that there are many things in life that are way beyond our control, but I believe Valentine’s Day should include everyone, not just couples in relationships.

It should be a celebration of all forms of romantic and platonic love. I like to think of it as a day of kindness that reminds people that they matter.

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I realize in some instances some people choose to be single or are simply not interested in a relationship. In any case, if you find yourself solo, be your own secret admirer. Pamper yourself and plan a date with single friends. Brighten someone else’s day!

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Put Those Petals To Good Use If you do receive roses, whether a gift from your true love or a treat you’ve given to yourself, try a rose petal bath. Rose water soothes the skin and the petals give off a natural calming scent that has the power to melt away the day behind you.

Plus, you’ll feel like a queen! You can add coconut milk or lavender to elevate the experience. (Coconut milk softens your skin and lavender deepens your relaxation.)

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Now for your fashion game plan.

It’s really quite simple. Choose a pop of red! You can go head to toe red or maybe just an accent. It’s up to you! I love a red boot or shoe with a neutral toned outfit. Maybe you’re just going for red lips and nails. That works too! Don’t forget about all shades of pink, from the softest pastels to neon brights.

The bottom line is, do what makes you happy.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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See why Devils River Whiskey is one of the most awarded Texas whiskies by joining us at the Burns Building 401 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX

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TRAVEL

LAKE

TAHOE

Majestic, Breathtaking, Pristine Beauty

by BILL DANTE

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W

hen you mention going to a ski area or to the mountains in the summer, most Texans usually think of Colorado or New Mexico.

Some may say, for winter sports, Utah or the Yellowstone area is their destination of choice. But very few bring up ski areas further west of the Rockies.

I want to share with you one of our favorite places to snow ski and vacation in all of the United States. It’s Lake Tahoe, the largest Alpine lake on the North American continent. The California-Nevada state line goes right through the middle of the lake. At 6,224 feet altitude, the lake is 90 miles around with a 72 mile scenic beach lined drive. The lake is deeper than the Empire State Building is tall and considered one of the purest fresh water lakes in all of the world. Even USA Today wrote it’s “America’s Best Lake.”

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Let’s start with a little personal history. Early in my radio career, a friend from Texas who was working in Lake Tahoe insisted I come to see Lake Tahoe. I drove from San Antonio to Reno then to Lake Tahoe. I decided to stay and got a job at a small radio station in a very small ski resort called North Star, which is on the north side of the lake. While working as an announcer, we would go skiing in the morning. We’d ski down the mountain right up to the door of the radio station, take off our skis, go in and do my radio show. (Now remember North Star.)

I stayed a whole year through lots of snow (too much record snow) great skiing, lots of new friends but my heart was in San Antonio and I came back home to pursue my career as an NBC meteorologist.

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Where is it? Lake Tahoe is in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It’s located off of Interstate 80 and cuts through the mountains from Reno, Nevada, (one hour drive) to San Francisco (3 hour drive). There is quite a bit of early settler history close to Lake Tahoe. This is approximately where the big California gold rush began in 1848.

Your first morning there, walk outside to look around at the Sierras and slowly take a deep breath. It will overwhelm your senses.

The tall pine trees, the clean pure air and the pine cones laying at your feet with the rivers rushing by you with newly melted snow will take your breath away. Then take a short tram ride up the mountain to see Lake Tahoe for your first full view. It’s stunning…… the largest, clearest, fresh water lake in the US. That first emotion never leaves you! As many times as I have been there and looked as far as you can see….my thought remains the same…..extraordinary, majestic natural 56

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beauty at its finest!

You can get there by flying to San Francisco or Reno. We always fly to Reno because it’s faster from the airport to your lodging in the Lake Tahoe area. If you’re going in the winter make sure to rent a four wheel drive vehicle.

From the airport you drive straight up the mountain and the first town you will arrive at, is Truckee, California. This is an old mining town. It still has that feel, and the shopping and food are great. Try to arrange your time to arrive for breakfast and eat at the Wagon Train restaurant. Owned by the same family since 1947 and the pancakes have always been some of my favorites. In case you’re running late, the Wagon Train opens at 5am and closes at 2pm. Truckee is on the north side of Lake Tahoe and is about 12 miles from the actual lake. This is the side of Lake Tahoe that we prefer. There is the south side which I will explain shortly.

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We go for the winter sports with snow skiing being our favorite. With that in mind there are many ski areas to chose from, from beginner to expert slopes. Lodging has many choices from condos and chalets to resort hotels. You can find a place to fit your budget and VRBO (Vacation Rental

By Owner) is a great way to book your reservations in advance. I just checked out the cost to fly from San Antonio to Reno and

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found some flights as low as $78 dollars per person one way. That is a great fare!

You and your friends will really have a choice as to where you want to stay and what type of atmosphere you want to enjoy all at a leisure pace. Choose from remote chalets in the snow covered mountains or a lake side condo in one of the many quaint towns that surround the entire lake.

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One of the more famous ski areas is Squaw Valley, the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. It’s a must to take the tram up to the top of the mountain. Have lunch at the Squaw restaurant, sip on hot mulled wine and toast your feet next to an indoor or outdoor fireplace while looking down at the lake in all it’s splendor.

This is an experience you will never forget!

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Ok, so your probably wondering where do we stay. Well, remember I said I lived there for a year and I lived, at that time, in a beautiful town, called Tahoe City. It’s right on the lake. I also said to remember the little ski area called North Star where the radio station was located.

Well today North Star is a major family ski village resort and it is our choice for fun. The radio station is long gone but in its place are beautiful chalets and condos and 60

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even a Ritz Carlton resort, further up the mountain. There are lots of shops, coffee bars, and a very large ice skating rink with comfortable seating and outdoor fireplaces that allows you to just sit and enjoy people watching.

Ski in and ski out is nearby with other winter sports for the entire family. The lake is only 6 miles away and can be seen while you ski or relax at the top of their tram.

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Now, let’s talk about the south side of the lake. It’s not as rustic. Half is in Nevada with major casinos like Caesar’s, Harrah’s, Bally’s, the Mont Bleu resort and The Hard Rock. These are just a few overlooking the lake.

There is even a large paddle wheeler boat that goes back and forth across the lake for you to enjoy.

It’s a mini Vegas with all the shows but in the Sierra mountains. The main ski area is called Heavenly and on any day you may be standing next to a movie star.

Just a few of the movies that have been shot in the Lake Tahoe area were Godfather 2, Bodyguard, Top Gun and even the old Bonanza TV series.

A lot of movie stars and professional athletes have homes in both the north and south shore. The locals treat them as everyone else and allow them to just be themselves.

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Keep in mind, there are more visitors in the spring and summer because the water and weather is perfect. But if you go in the early winter there may not be enough snow for winter sports.

It happened to us one New Years, so we drove down the mountain, on the other side to San Francisco for a few days. The trolly cars, Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz made it worth while OH! Ironically, on the way back it started to

snow so hard we almost didn’t make it across the pass back to Lake Tahoe! It turned out to be fabulous skiing after all.

As Texans you are probably used to driving a few hours to see a concert, go to Port Aransas or maybe a weekend in the Texas Hill Country. So San Francisco is an excellent side trip. Snow or no snow.

Expand your travels and go west!

See you on the slopes!!

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COWBOY LORE

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO

RODEO

by CHIP SCHWEIGER

H

ead to any small county in Texas, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, or basically anywhere in the West and Northwest, and you will likely have an opportunity to see the local rodeo in town. If fact, the Fort Worth Stockyards hosts a rodeo every weekend evening, while the major rodeos of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Calgary Stampede, the Pendleton Round-Up, and the Cheyenne Frontier Days draw tens of thousands of fans for each performance. And, of course, there’s the “national championship” for every rodeo cowboy and cowgirl, The National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas each December.

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While rodeo stresses its western folk hero image as a genuinely American creation, in fact, it grew out of the practices of Spanish ranchers and their Mexican ranch hands known as vaqueros, as a mixture of cattle wrangling and bullfighting that dates to the sixteenth-century conquistadors of Spain. The term “rodeo” (from the Spanish word rodear) means “to surround” or “go around,” and was first used in American English about 1834 to denote a “round up” of cattle.

Early rodeo-like affairs of the 1820s and 1830s were informal events in the western United States and northern Mexico with cowboys and vaqueros testing their working skills against one another. Bull riding, for example, originated with Mexican equestrian contests known as charreadas, where competitors wrestled the steer to the ground by riding up behind it, grabbing its tail, and twisting it to the ground. Bull wrestling had been part of an ancient tradition throughout the ancient Mediterranean world including Spain. The events spread throughout the Viceroyalty of New Spain and were found at fairgrounds, racetracks, fiestas, and festivals in nineteenth century southwestern areas that now comprise the United States.

While rodeo stresses its western folk hero image as a genuinely American creation, in fact, it grew out of the practices of Spanish ranchers and their Mexican ranch hands.

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COWBOY LORE

However, unlike the roping, riding, and racing of the early festivals of the American west, rodeos never attracted a following among Anglo cowboys or audiences until after the Texas Revolution and the US-Mexican War, after which Anglo cowboys started to realize the value of learning the skills, attire, vocabulary, and sports of the vaqueros.

Ranch-versus-ranch contests gradually sprang up, as bronc riding, bull riding, and roping contests appeared at racetracks, fairgrounds, and festivals of all kinds.

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The first rodeo

While there is not universal agreement as to the first official rodeo, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody is credited with creating a major rodeo and the first Wild West show in North Platte, Nebraska in 1882. Following this successful endeavor, Cody organized his touring Wild West show, leaving other entrepreneurs to create what became known as professional rodeo. While most recognized rodeo organizations weren’t established until the early 20th century, much of what we know about rodeo today evolved from the Prescott Rodeo held on July 4, 1888. Rodeos and Wild West shows enjoyed a parallel existence, employing many of the same stars, while capitalizing on the continuing allure of the mythic West. Women joined the Wild West and contest rodeo circuits in the 1890s and their participation grew as the activities spread geographically, and eventually evolved into what we know as rodeo.

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Modern day rodeo is a competitive sport practiced in the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It’s a sporting event that involves horses and other livestock, designed to test the skill and speed of cowboys and cowgirls, as well as that of horses bred to compete in rodeo events. American style professional rodeos generally comprise events divided into two basic categories: the timed events of tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing where winners are determined by the fastest time, and the rough stock events of saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, and bull riding where winners are determined by the highest score. Depending on sanctioning organization and region, other events such as breakaway roping, goat tying, and pole bending may also be a part of some rodeos. Other rodeos can have any nature of events, limited only by the imagination of the organizers.

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Trevor Brazile, who has won 24 “gold buckle” world championships, is known as the “King of the Cowboys.” Photo courtesy of Dan Hubbell and The Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Your rodeo guide

Here’s a little bit about the most popular events in any rodeo: TIE-DOWN ROPING Like many rodeo events, tie-down roping is practiced on the working ranches of the American West. The roper begins his run from a “roping box,” with a barrier rope across the open front. The box is adjacent to a chute, containing the calf. One end of the breakaway barrier is looped around the calf and released as soon as the calf reaches its advantage point. If the roper beats the calf out of the chute, a 10-second penalty is added to his final time for the “broken barrier.” Once the calf is caught by the cowboy’s loop, the horse is trained to stop and pull back to

remove any “slack” or extra rope to keep the calf still. The cowboy quickly dismounts and sprints down his rope to the calf and “flanks” the calf by hand flat on the ground. Once flanked, the roper ties any three of the animal’s legs together with a short looped rope called a “pigging string.” To signal his run is complete, the cowboy throws his hands in the air and remounts his horse. He and his horse must wait six seconds to ensure that the calf does not kick free, which would result in a “no time.” The practice of tie down roping is used on the working ranch to catch a runaway calf for purposes of doctoring, branding, or otherwise capturing, and because the animal is younger, the capture of a calf can be handled by one cowboy.

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TEAM ROPING Like tie-down roping, team roping is used on the working cattle ranch to capture a steer for purposes of doctoring or branding, but unlike tie-down roping, it takes two cowboys to rope the larger steer and so this is the only true team event in rodeo — one “header” who ropes the head of the steer and one “heeler” who ropes the heels, or feet, of the steer. Each contestant begins in their respective roping box with a chute containing the steer in the middle. Like the other timed events of tie-down roping and steer wrestling, a breakaway rope or “barrier”

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is attached to the steer and released once the steer reaches its advantage point. The “broken barrier” rule also applies here too, with a 10-second penalty added to a team’s time. Once the steer is out, the header leaves the roping box in pursuit of the steer, roping it around the horns, neck, or a horn-neck combination. He then turns the steer quickly to the left, so the heeler has a shot at both of its hind legs. The clock stops when their horses are facing each other, and their ropes are pulled tightly. If the heeler catches only one leg, a five-second penalty is added.

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STEER WRESTLING Sometimes referred to as “bulldogging,” steer wrestling is an all-out battle of strength.

The cowboy starts out horseback in a box with the barrier rope attached to the steer. Once the cowboy nods to indicate his readiness, the gate is opened, and the steer exits the chute.

When the steer reaches the end of the rope, the barrier is released, and the cowboy takes off in pursuit. If the cowboy leaves before the steer, a 10-second penalty is added to his final time

for the broken barrier. If the cowboy reaches the steer, he dismounts using strength and leverage, slows the animal by digging his heels into the dirt and maneuvers the steer to the ground. To catch the sprinting steer, the bulldogger relies on a “hazer,” which is another mounted cowboy running beside the steer. Time stops when the steer is on its side with all four feet pointing in the same direction. If you are on a working ranch and need to get a steer on the ground quickly, this is how you’d do it.

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BARREL RACING Arranged in a triangle, barrel racers must run around all three barrels in a pattern known as a “cloverleaf” being careful not to turn one over. Riders may begin on the left or the right barrel first, but the pattern cannot be broken.

Horses must be not only swift, but accurate in their ability to maneuver around the barrels with

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ease and agility. If the rider or the horse makes contact with a barrel, it can be touched in order to keep it from falling. Each fallen barrel, though, adds a five-second penalty to the rider’s final time. This sport, unlike other timed events, is timed to the hundredth of a second using an “electric eye” or an automatic stopwatch.

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COWBOY LORE

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Saddle bronc riding is rodeo’s classic event since it derived from the practice of “breaking” or training saddle horses in the early days of the American West.

A contestant sits in a standard saddle attached to the back of the horse – but with no saddle horn.

For leverage, he holds a thick “rein” or rope that is attached to the horse’s halter, which can only be held with one hand. When the gate swings open, the cowboy must adhere to the “mark-out” rule in which he must have his heels touching the animal above the point of the horse’s shoulders when it makes its first jump. Otherwise, the cowboy will be disqualified and given zero points. Synchronization with the horse’s movements earns higher scores. When the horse’s front feet are on the ground, the rider’s heels must be in front of the horse’s shoulders, toes turned out. As the horse resets for its next move, the cowboy brings his heels to the back of the saddle, all the while anticipating the animal’s next jump. If the contestant touches any part of the horse or himself with his free hand during the eight-second ride, he will be disqualified.

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BAREBACK RIDING

With nothing to hold but a “rigging” or suitcase-like handle on a strap secured comfortably behind the horse’s front legs, the cowboy must maintain balance and control while the horse bucks and pitches. A “flank strap” is secured around the horse’s hind end which tells the animal it’s go-time! The ride is judged on the cowboy’s spurring motion in coordination with the horse’s movement, as well as the bucking action of the animal. A rider is disqualified if he fails to mark out properly as in the saddle bronc event. And, as before, the rider cannot touch any part of the horse or himself during the eight-second ride.

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Between them almost-had-’ems and broken bones and the dream of a buckle I’ll never put on, I’m jaded, and I hate it.

- Country singer Cody Johnson‘s love song to the sport of rodeo, “Dear Rodeo” BULL RIDING

One 2,000-pound animal paired against one 150-pound man ensures an adrenaline rush for those brave enough to climb in the chutes. To stay on, a rider grasps a flat braided rope or “bull rope” which is wrapped around the bull’s chest just behind its front legs. One end of the bull rope, called the “tail,” is threaded through the loop on the other end and fastened around the animal. The rider then wraps the tail around his hand holding the rope, sometimes weaving it

through his fingers to further secure his grip. When the chute gate opens, the rider must stay on for eight seconds, while a twisting, bucking mass of muscle tries anything and everything to buck them off. If the contestant makes contact with the animal or themselves with their free hand, they receive no score. Points are based on rider’s ability to stay on, as well as the bull’s bucking action. Extra points are awarded to those who are controlled enough to spur their bull with one or both of their dulled spurs.

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While not every working cowboy participates in rodeos, and while not every rodeo cowboy works on a ranch on a regular basis, every cowboy is a cowboy plain and simple. Each draws their heritage from the traditions of the working ranch of the American West. And each celebrates the spirit of western heritage every time they enter an arena, be it for a rodeo competition or to get a day’s work done.

Rodeo is a popular sport to watch, and its competitors are among the most talented athletes you’ll find. The working cowboy has a special affinity for the sport of rodeo, and rodeo fans love their cowboys and cowgirls. While rodeo is particularly popular today throughout the western United States and within the Canadian province of Alberta, it’s also the official state sport of Texas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. And 76

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rodeo is so important to Wyoming that the iconic silhouette image of a bucking horse and rider is the federal and state-registered trademark of the State of Wyoming!

So, the next time a rodeo comes to your town, or you are visiting a rural county most anywhere in the American West, you might buy a ticket, grab some food, and take a few hours to settle in for a fun time marveling at the skill of the competitors, both human and animal.

Until next time, happy trails! ★ Chip Schweiger, CPA The Cowboy Accountant™ CowboyAccountant.com Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @TheCowboyCPA #CowboyAccountant

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E V E N T

S C H E D U L E

Thursday, Feb. 10

7:00 PM Toby Keith following PRCA Rodeo

Friday, Feb. 11

7:00 PM Midland following PRCA Rodeo

Saturday, Feb. 12

1:00 PM Riley Green following PRCA Rodeo 7:00 PM Little Texas following PRCA Rodeo

Sunday, Feb. 13

1:00 PM Wade Bowen following PRCA Rodeo 7:00 PM Tanya Tucker following PRCA Rodeo

2022

Saturday, Feb. 19

1:00 PM Tim McGraw following PRCA Rodeo 7:00 PM Tim McGraw following PRCA Rodeo

Sunday, Feb. 20

1:00 PM Mickey Guyton following PRCA Rodeo 7:00 PM Ramon Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte following Noche del Vaquero

Monday, Feb. 21

7:00 PM Little Big Town following PRCA Rodeo

Tuesday, Feb. 22

7:00 PM 3 Doors Down following PRCA Rodeo

Monday, Feb. 14

7:00 PM Lady A following PRCA Rodeo - Lady A Following PRCA Rodeo

Tuesday, Feb. 15

7:00 PM Brad Paisley following PRCA Rodeo

Wednesday, Feb. 23

7:00 PM Texas Storytellers following Ranch Rodeo

Thursday, Feb. 24

7:00 PM Brett Young following PRCA Rodeo

Wednesday, Feb. 16

7:00 PM Sam Hunt following PRCA Rodeo

Friday, Feb. 25

7:00 PM STYX following PRCA Rodeo Semifinals

Thursday, Feb. 17

7:00 PM Ludacris following PRCA Rodeo

Friday, Feb. 18

7:00 PM Night Ranger following PRCA Rodeo

Saturday, Feb. 26

1:00 PM Jimmie Allen following PRCA Rodeo 7:00 PM Ryan Bingham following PRCA Rodeo Finals January/February 2022

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CLICK 78 January/February 2022 HERE

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TEXAS WINTER FORECAST 2022 W I L L I T S N O W A G A I N ?

by Mike Hernandez, Meteorologist

The Alamo, February 2021 January/February 2022

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The University of Austin, February 2021

H

ow time flies!! It’s kind of hard to believe that another winter season is on our back door step. After last years winter, there are a lot of us that are wondering if we’re going to see a repeat of The Big Freeze!!

There were some cool names that were used to describe that cold snap, Snowmagedden, The Big Chill, Arctic Blast, The Polar Express and the Big Nasty! But whatever you called it, it was a doozy!! February brought one of the most severe winter weather events that most of us have ever seen in the Lone Star state. That was especially true from Central Texas and South to the Rio Grande Valley and along the Coastal Bend. It was pretty much unprecedented there. Of course the Northern and far Western parts of the state are more used to stronger winters but even for them it was bone cold.

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Temperatures plummeted to below zero in much of North Texas and in the South we saw single digits for days. The fact that we never got above freezing for over a week caused major power outages for more than 4 million people. It was crazy!! I remember not taking off my coat inside the house for days and pulling out all the blankets we could find for us and for our little doggies. We walked around with candles to see and to warm our hands, and this was all in our house not outside.

I’m not sure if this happened where you were but for us we went through about three to four days where the electricity would turn on every few hours, if we were lucky, for about 20 minutes. We’d scramble around trying to heat some food in the microwave and look for things that we couldn’t find in the dark.

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Then the water issues started to happen.

We had to boil water for drinking or cooking, if that was even possible, and were stuck in the house getting low on groceries and gas.

You know, I realized just how lucky we are to be able to count on things like that almost all the time without even thinking about it.

And then there was the snow! Austin, San Antonio, and much of the Hill Country had record setting snow totals. Almost a foot of

snow fell in the Alamo City and Austin. But for me the fact that we got two snows in a week was the nutty part! I’m sure that’s happened before but not since we started keeping records. So that made traveling very difficult or impossible for days because let’s face it, other than the Northern and far Western parts of the state we are not prepared for that kind of weather. You don’t see a lot of snow plows around like in other parts of the country.

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So what happened? What caused this unprecedented cold to take over our state?

And the second question is are we going to see this again this coming winter? So let me answer question number one first. I don’t want to get all meteorological on you, but there are are few things that happened I feel were responsible for the bitter cold outbreak that I’d like to explain. You can blame the increasingly familiar Polar Vortex, which brought a taste of the Arctic to places where winter often requires no more than a jacket.

Around the North Pole, winter’s ultra-cold air is usually kept bottled up 15 to 30 miles high. That’s the Polar Vortex, which spins like a whirling top at the top of the planet. But occasionally as the upper level winds that 82

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bind this super cold air weaken it allows for some of the Arctic air to ooze out into Canada and the U.S. Most of the time that will mean the Dakotas, Minnesota, the Great Lakes and eventually New England feel it’s winter wrath.

Most years if that happens the Southern part of the country, including Texas usually get just a glancing blow. It gets real cold and snowy with ice in Northern Texas and in the South we see a few flurries in the Hill Country if we’re lucky. Some icy conditions around Austin to San Antonio along the I-35 corridor are also pretty common during these times. It’s been happening more often, and scientists are still not completely sure why, but they suggest it’s a mix of natural random weather and humancaused climate change.

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Every once in a blue moon that Arctic air doesn’t just tease us for a few days. Every once in awhile the Arctic air pours straight down across the plains and heads right for us.

In the past when that happened it got colder than a normal winter and sometimes a little dicy as well. But last year the cold air just kept coming and coming. The upper level pattern let that cold air run straight out of the Arctic into Texas and the same weather pattern took hold for more than a week. That and a lot of upper level moisture that poured in from the west helped to form the perfect storm! The perfect setup for a whopper of cold snap.

So I hope that sheds a little light on how that happened.

Now the second and in my mind the real question on everyones mind, Is it going to happen again this winter??

To answer that, let’s discuss some of the weather patterns that are setting up for this coming winter that were also in place last winter. La Nina is once again the dominant synoptic pattern. Just about everyone now has heard the terms La Nina and El Nino.

I won’t go into a big explanation of these phenomena instead I’ll just say that when we were in a La Nina pattern it typically means warmer and dryer conditions than a normal winter for Texas. So if that’s the case and we had this same pattern last winter then why did we get that incredible cold weather? The answer to that really deals more with the Polar Vortex and what it did and is capable to do again in the next few months. The La Nina pattern tends to develop a strong ridge of high pressure in the Northwest part of the U.S.

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At the same time it tends to develop an equally persistent trough of low pressure across the North Central and Northeast parts of the country. And that’s normally where the coldest temperatures are reported during most years. But what we’re seeing more often is the weakening of the Polar Vortex and this allows for some of the Arctic air to drip South. That’s what happened last year! Since the trough from la Nina was already there the cold air was able to drive all the way into Texas. So the pieces are in place but does that mean it will happen again?

Very rare snowfall last year in far Northwest Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas, February 2021 January/February 2022

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San Antonio River Walk, February 2021

The short answer for me is “No.” One thing I learned early on in my 45 plus years in Meteorology was that when something unprecedented happens in our recorded weather history it likely won’t happen again right away. In 150 years since we started keeping records it hasn’t happened like that and even though I do believe that climate change is accelerating more extreme weather I just can’t get myself to say it’s going to happen this winter. And I’ve got to tell you I don’t mind being wrong but I hope for all of us I’m not wrong about this.

One footnote here. The Farmer’s Almanac is forecasting as it puts it, “chilled to the bone” for Texas.

And although I do think we’ll definitely see a few periods of chilly days I don’t think we’ll see anything like the The Big Chill of last winter here in our state.

Stay warm and have a wonderful, prosperous and peace filled 2022. God Bless you all!

Mike Hernandez is a retired TV Meteorologist and local personality. He currently owns the “Mike Hernandez Realty Group,” and has clients, both buyers and sellers, all across South Texas.

Contact Information: Mike Hernandez (210)-870-0725 Weathergolf@yahoo.com January/February 2022

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TEXAS RANGERS LAW ENFORCEMENT

EXPERIENCE LIVING HISTORY AT

HISTORIC FORT MARTIN SCOTT U.S. ARMY OUTPOST BUILT IN 1848 FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

by MARVIN F. SCHROEDER

Living History Headquarters Company, Re-enactors January/February 2022

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TEXAS RANGERS LAW ENFORCEMENT

enegade Comanche Indians were only one tribe that the first settlers in Fredericksburg, Texas had to deal with.

That’s one of the reasons that the U.S. army sent soldiers to build Fort Martin Scott in 1848.

Imagine what it must have been like for U.S. soldiers to build one of the first army forts in the Texas Hill Country, especially when most of the soldiers were from the east coast or even Europe.

They dealt with everything from mountain lions and black bears in addition to the Indians.

Now in 2022 a living history environment exists at Fort Martin Scott. The fort is adjacent to the Texas Rangers Heritage Center which in itself is a “worth the visit” taste of Texas history.

Combine Fort Martin Scott and the Texas Rangers and you have a major piece of Texas to enjoy with the entire family. The experience is free and open to the public.

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You’ll be able to relive how Company B of the Second Dragoon Regiment Calvary soldiers day began and ended. Besides patrolling the area and protecting the immigrant German citizens, they fetched water for the men and animals from Barons Creek. The creek remains right next to the fort today. Their barracks can be seen and you will stand on the spot where they ate, played cards, worked and slept. Imagine the blacksmith, in his adobe house, making horse shoes, metal parts for the wagons and even repairing weapons when needed. What main roads they had were few and very far between.

The historical Pinta Trail went right passed Fort Martin Scott on the other side of Barons Creek.

This gave travelers to Fredericksburg and heading further west an opportunity to stop and rest under the protection of the soldiers.

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Folks needed some protection and law and order.

Why Is Fort Martin Scott so important to Texas History?

Let’s talk about Texas history, yes I know, it kind of reminds you of school days, boring. We all know Texas has a lot and I mean a lot of history. So why is Fort Martin Scott so important?

Now comes the fun part, who was here first? At the height of their existence they estimate over thirty different tribes of Native Americans lived here. Many of the tribes traveled through Gillespie County on a route known as the ‘Pinta Trail’. This trail passed along the creek called ‘Barons creek,’ which runs along the North side of this creek where Fort Martin Scott is located. Then came the Spaniards and of course there was a clash of cultures. Then this state was part of Mexico. In the early 1800’s Mexico opened this land to several foreign settlers, with a major condition that they had to become Mexican citizens! Of course this means even more clashes with the different people here.

Now add to this the Mexican citizens that were living here that had their share of issues with being under the Mexican Government hundreds of miles South. There was also the on going challenges with the Native Americans and well, shall we say, less than desirable people...............bandits and such.

Stay with me now…… believe me, I going to get us to Fort Martin Scott!

In 1823 Stephen F. Austin and the folks in his Colony were struggling with challenges of the cross section of humanity and the lawlessness. This is why they had to create a “protection force” of men who were willing to help defend or bring to justice those breaking the law. This organization struggled for several years with being understaffed, little or no pay and some of the most challenging conditions imaginable! This group of men later were to become known as the “Texas Rangers”.

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TEXAS RANGERS LAW ENFORCEMENT By late 1835 things were beginning to get pretty rough with the Mexican type of Government and in the spring of 1836 the “Texians” went to war with Mexico seeking their freedom. During that winter the Texians managed to survive and win that freedom in April at a place called San Jacinto.

The new word for Texas was, “Republic.” So for a few years we were our own little Republic between the United States and Mexico! On December 29, 1845 Texas was annexed into the United States, well this did not sit well with Mexico and the second war with Mexico was started on May 13, 1846.

Now, understand this was not a war with Texas since we were now part of the United Sates, it became a war between Mexico and the United States. That war ended with the Treaty of GuadalupeHildalgo on February 2, 1848.

Now comes Fort Martin Scott three miles East of Fredericksburg, Texas!

This fort was named after Martin Scott who as an officer in the U.S. Army and was killed in the Mexican War.

Why is this fort here you say?

Well, since Texas is now a part of the United States and yes, there are still issues between the Native Americans, the settlers moving in and other unsavory folks we needed some protection and Law and Order! So the United States established five forts in Texas and Fort Martin Scott was the first one built in December 1848.

It’s located on the banks of Barons creek, in Fredericksburg on Highway 290 on a nice flat piece of land perfectly suited for a fort.

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So how do you build a fort?

Well, you hope some of your soldiers in the detachment sent there know or you hire some skilled locals to assist you. The Army hired the right people for the job and what became Fort Martin Scott had about 21 buildings overall and most were made of stone from local quarries and timbers from a small mill close by.

The good news is the Army paid for this work in ‘real’ monies not by using the barter system like so many of the locals were used to doing. This brought in cash for the local

economy as well as providing the protection they were needing.

I want to add something here that is rather unique about Fredericksburg, Texas. The locals had established with assistance from the outside a treaty with seven local Indian tribes! The U.S. Military also sought a treaty with some of the same tribes. A detachment from Fort Martin Scott with a Company of Texas Rangers accomplished this very successfully.

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Here are some very interesting dates that were going to have a significant impact on Fort Martin Scott and Fredericksburg.

This small German town was established in 1845, a short three years later (1848) Fort Martin Scott is built. In 1849 we all know about the “Gold Rush” of California. Well, to get there most folks had to come through Fredericksburg because this was the safest route of travel to the West.

Fort Martin Scott was officially closed in 1851 because the frontier was moving West very rapidly and new forts further West were needed. But the fort remained a supply stop for the U.S. Military, and a camp stop for the Texas Rangers for a few more years after its closing. Today the fort is a quiet, picturesque place on the very edge of Fredericksburg

on highway 290 but one lone building still stands as a reminder of its former military days. The original Guardhouse is still here! It has had some minor repairs and a new roof but the two foot thick limestone rock walls are still here to remind us of a different and challenging time of early Texas.

In the early 1990’s two reproduction Officer Quarters were constructed on the original foundations. There is also a log cabin in the form of a ‘dog-trot’ style building representing barracks.

On selected weekends and several ‘special event dates’ the fort comes alive with “living history” participants. You might get to see soldiers, Texas Rangers or just good civilians giving you a glimpse of the fort and early Texas History.

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CULINARY

SOUPS ON! When the temperature drops, there’s nothing quite like a comforting bowl of soup or stew to really warm you up!

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CULINARY

BAVARIAN HUNTER’S BEEF STEW • 1 ½ pounds high-quality beef chuck, cubed • 1 cup of beef stock • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 1/2 teaspoon of marjoram leaves • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 2 or 3 medium white potatoes with skin, cut into small pieces • 2 large white onions, chopped • 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped • 2 cups of sliced mushrooms • 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning • 1 cup dry red wine such as burgundy or red merlo • 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

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Directions: -Start off by coating cubed beef with salt and pepper -Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high -Add beef (coat in flour if you prefer a thicker stew) and stir frequently with a wooden spoon until meat is evenly browned - Add onion and mushroom. Cook until onion becomes transparent, stirring occasionally -Add dry red wine and stir to evenly coat meat, mushrooms, onions and the herbs. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

-Add beef stock. Simmer for another 30 minutes.

-Add potatoes and carrots -When potatoes and carrots are soft, remove stew from heat and ladle into bowls to serve.

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CULINARY

NOVA SCOTIA LOBSTER CHOWDER • 1 large onion, diced • 4 slices of thick bacon, diced • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter • 2 cloves of garlic, minced • 2 cans (6.5 ounce) chopped clams, juices reserved • 1 bay leaf • 1 cup milk • 1 cup vegetable stock • ½ teaspoon dried thyme • 3 tablespoons all- purpose flour • 2 russet potatoes, cut into small pieces • 1 cup half and half • Dash of salt and ground pepper • 1 cup white yellow corn • 2 (12 ounce) chopped, cooked lobster tails, shells removed

Directions: -Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat -Add bacon and cook until brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate -Melt butter in stockpot. Add garlic and onion, stirring frequently until onions have become translucent -Stir In Thyme -Whisk in flour until lightly browned -Gradually whisk in milk, vegetable stock, clam juice and bay leaf, stir constantly -Add potatoes -Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender - Stir In half and half, corn and clams and cooked lobster tails Enjoy your favorite baked bread and put your feet up next to the fireplace.

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CULINARY

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TEXAN WHITE BEAN TURKEY CHILI • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 pounds extra lean ground turkey • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices • 2 Tablespoons chili powder • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped • 2 (4 ounces) cans diced green chilies • 2 (14 ounce) cans white kidney beans, drained (cannellini) • ½ cup sour cream • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: -Add the onion and oil to a pot over medium-high heat and sauté.

-Add the turkey and cook until it turns white, about 5 minutes - Add the tomatoes and remaining ingredients EXCEPT the sour cream -Once chili starts to bubble, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes - Stir in sour cream before serving

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Happy New Year! Thanks for your friendship and business!

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RECIPES

ROMANTIC DINNER IDEAS

W

hether you’re celebrating with the love of your life OR maybe you just love life, these delicious recipes will have you saying, “Cheers to love!”

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RECIPES

CITRUS-ROASTED SALMON

(Super easy, but oh-so impressive!)

Ingredients • 3 clementines, divided • 1 lemon, sliced • 8 sprigs thyme, plus 1 tablespoon thyme leaves • 1 (3 pound) skin- on salmon fillet • 1 ½ Tablespoon pure honey • 1 Tablespoon fennel seeds, crushed • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 106

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Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Slice 1 clementine.

Arrange sliced clementine, lemon, and thyme sprigs in center of a baking sheet.

Top with salmon, skin side down.

2. Grate zest from 1 clementine into a measuring cup, then squeeze in juice from both remaining clementines (you should get about 1/4 cup). Add honey and whisk until dissolved.

Brush salmon with half of clementine mixture, then sprinkle with fennel and thyme leaves.

Season with salt and pepper. Roast 10 minutes.

3. Brush salmon with remaining juice mixture. Roast until barely opaque throughout, 12 to 15 minutes.

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RECIPES

ROASTED OYSTERS WITH GARLIC PARSLEY BUTTER Ingredients • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened • 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley • 2 tablespoons minced shallots • 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest • 1 tablespoon roasted garlic • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper • 24 oysters (in the shell)

Instructions 1 baguette, cut into ½” thick slices Prepare the garlic-parsley butter: Puree the butter, parsley, shallots, lemon zest, roasted garlic and a little salt and pepper in a food processor until smooth.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Open the oysters with an oyster knife. Divide the oysters among small baking dishes lined with baguette slices. Place a heaping teaspoon of garlic-parsley butter on each oyster. Roast the oysters until the butter is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

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RECIPES

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RECIPES

MERLOT FILET MIGNON Ingredients • 2 beef tenderloin steaks (8 ounces each) • 3 tablespoons butter, divided • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 cup merlot • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions In a small skillet, cook steaks in 1 tablespoon butter and the olive oil over medium heat until meat reaches desired doneness (for mediumrare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°), 4-6 minutes on each side. Remove and keep warm.

In the same skillet, add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup. Add the cream, salt and remaining butter; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and butter is melted, 1-2 minutes. Serve with steaks.

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RECIPES

LOBSTER THERMIDOR This classic is such an iconic special occasion dish!

Ingredients • 4 (4 ounce) lobster tails • 3 tablespoons butter, divided • 2 tablespoons minced shallots • Salt, to taste • 1 ½ cups diced mushrooms (Optional) • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 2 tablespoons cognac or brandy • ½ cup whole milk 110

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• 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or heavy cream • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon • Cayenne pepper, to taste • 2 teaspoons fine dried bread crumbs • 2 teaspoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese • 2 teaspoons melted butter

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RECIPES

Instructions Step 1 Cut bottom shell of lobster tails using kitchen shears along each side where it meets the top shell; do not remove the shell at this point.

Step 2 Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place lobster tails cut side down in the butter. Cook, covered, about 3 minutes. Turn lobster tails over (they are curved so will lean to one side); cover and cook 1 minute. Lean them to the other side; cover and cook 1 minute more.

Step 3 Remove from heat. Transfer lobster tails to a bowl. Remove any shell pieces from the skillet.

Step 4 Place 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet over medium heat; add shallots and pinch of salt. Cook and stir until pan starts to deglaze and shallots soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add mushrooms; stir until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add flour; stir until mushrooms are coated and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in cognac; use a kitchen torch to flame cognac to burn off alcohol.

This will take just a few seconds. Add milk; cook and stir until pan is completely deglazed and milk begins to thicken and turn bubbly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in creme fraiche. Let cool.

Step 5 Remove lobster meat from the shell, leaving top shell intact. Remove any bits of bottom shell from the meat.

Step 6 Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking pan with crinkled up foil. Make 4 channel-like indentations in the foil to hold and stabilize the lobster tails as they bake.

Step 7 Slice lobster meat down the middle and check for and remove any dark veins. Chop into 1/2inch pieces. Transfer meat to a mixing bowl.

Add cooled sauce, tarragon, pinch of salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir gently until well blended.

Step 8 Divide mixture among the lobster tail shells; place in prepared foil-lined pan. Sprinkle each lobster tail with about 1/2 teaspoon bread crumbs and 1/2 teaspoon grated cheese.

Drizzle melted butter on the stuffed shells.

Step 9 Bake in preheated oven until nicely browned and heated through, about 10 minutes. If you like, you can turn on the broiler and broil 1 minute until tops are golden and crispy.

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GARDENING

B R I N G I N G

T H E

GREEN INDOORS

by MARC HESS, EDITOR, MILBERGER’S GARDENING SOUTH TEXAS

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I

GARDENING

ndoor plants are easy to maintain and can be placed in any room of your home. From ferns to ficus, houseplants can add color, beauty and texture to your space and offer air cleaning health benefits. The key is to know which varieties work best indoors, what level of care is required for them, and understanding what you can realistically expect from your indoor plants.

Picking the right houseplant is easy- but it does require a little

forethought if you want to get the most from it. Light and air flow are the two most important factors that will determine which house plants to put in which location. Areas in your home that have low light can still be used for indoor plants. For instance, the Zanzibar Gem (or ZuZu) requires a minimum amount of light. Additional low light indoor plants include Peace Lily, English Ivy, Boston Fern, Cast Iron Plant, Palms, Pothos, Dracaena and Orchids.

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Different rooms will naturally have different light and airflow patterns, plus there’s something to be said for what you will be doing in that room. Take your bedroom, for example – the room where you want to relax, get some good sleep and wake up refreshed. Is there a plant for that? Several, actually, but one the best are plants from the Bromeliad family which release the majority of their oxygen – while working to

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remove pollutants – at night so they are a great option to have in your bedroom while you sleep. Plus, due to their variety, there’s a bromeliad to go with virtually any bedroom decor. Another choice indoor plant that makes the most sense for your bedroom is the Sansevieria (aka Devil’s Tongue, Snake Plant, or Bow String Hemp), which lowers airborne allergen levels while it releases moisture into the air.

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GARDENING

Peace Lilies are eye-catching plants and super easy to grow. They thrive in the low light areas inside your house. However, there’s a trick to getting those gorgeous blooms. Peace Lilies are perfectly happy growing in containers, but they don’t like sitting in pots much larger than their root balls.

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GARDENING Think about your kitchen from a plant’s point of view.

You can guess that fluctuating temperatures, varying light levels, (from sun-drenched to overheard lighting), and all manner of smells and other airborne “extras” will play a major role in deciding which plants work best in the heart of your home. Plants that help with moisture control are the best types to have in your kitchen. Ficus Lyrate, also known as Fiddle-Leaf Fig, controls humidity and purifies the air, naturally cleaning your kitchen of chemical compounds and dust. Additionally, Hedera Ivy can substantially reduce the amount of mold in the air.

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Dracaena is one of the best plant choices to remove harmful pollutants from the air, like benzene chemicals commonly found in cleaning products, plastics and paint.

Because of their air cleaning properties, Dracaena is an ideal indoor plant for people with asthma.

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Just like outdoor plants, indoor plants need care and maintenance with water, light and proper nourishment to grow, survive and thrive. However, keep in mind that indoor plants do not like standing in water.

While most houseplants are low maintenance, there are a few varieties that are especially easy to care for. Bromeliads,

Cacti, Succulents, Airplants, Ponytail Palm, Hedera Ivy, Maidenhair Fern and more are all easy to manage – even for beginner gardeners.

Another important factor when considering the best houseplants for your space is the location or room you want to put your plants in.

MARC HESS is an author whose latest novel, “The Gillespie County Fair,” is available on Amazon. It’s a riveting story about the gentrification of rural Texas. He is also the editor of Milberger’s Gardening South Texas newsletter, a monthly (except January) publication covering the challenges and solutions of gardening in South Central Texas’s unique growing zone. It’s available on-line at no charge at https://www.milbergernursery.com/newsletter-archive/ 118

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COCKTAILS

VALENTINE’S DAY COCKTAIL

LOVE POTION #9

Prep time: 15 Minutes Makes 2 Servings Ingredients • 3 oz. Prosecco • 2 oz. Pink Lemonade • 1.5 oz. Chilled Vodka • 1 cup Diced Strawberries • 2 tbsp. Honey and Sugar (for rim) • Garnish: Mint Leaf and Strawberries

Instructions Pour honey and sugar into small plates and gently dip glassware rim into each for cocktail décor.

Add a cup of diced strawberries, pink lemonade and chilled vodka into a cocktail shaker with ice.

Shake well.

Pour shaker ingredients evenly into prepared glasses and top off with Prosecco.

Garnish each cocktail with fresh mint leaf and a decorative toothpick with heart shaped strawberries.

You may add a small piece of dry ice (use tongs for this) in the bottom of each glass, for visual affect.

TIP: To get heart-shaped strawberries cut strawberries in half, laying them flat on a cutting board and cut a V-shape from the top of berry off.

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L UX URY LO DG ING & R ESO RT A MENIT IES

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