Texan Magazine Winter 2024

LIFESTYLE CULTURE MAGAZINE

RODEO SEASON - FT. WORTH

WINTER 2024

WESTERN FASHION ROUNDUP TRENDS

- SAN ANTONIO - HOUSTON

WINTER KISS

CHOCOLATE LIBATION

WINE

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON. HEAVEN IN A GLASS

GARDENING HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING DEEP FREEZE

TRAVEL ROMANTIC HONEYMOON IN GREECE

RY A N I L U C U KNOW

DO YO OIL? OLIVE AIN AG THINK

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TEXAN

WINTER 2024 TABLE OF

CONTENTS

FEATURING EVENTS 15

DUST OFF YOUR BOOTS

It’s always rodeo season in Texas, but the biggest rodeos in the state start in January.

Bill Dante

FASHION 28

HOW THE WEST WAS WON

From rodeo-ready denim to flirty fringe, get set to show off your cowgirl chic style.

Lisa Dante

WINE 41

TANTALIZING WINES OF OREGON

Willamette Valley, Oregon’s oldest wine region is home to more than 700 wineries. Check out these top selections.

Jim Peterson

January/February 2024 8 Winter January/February 2024

Texan

texanmag.com

TEXAN

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TRAVEL

GRECIAN HONEYMOON

Greece is a country bestowed with breathtaking natural beauty, rich history and warmhearted people. Celebrate love, honeymoon style!

Denise Payne

CULINARY 68

TEXAS LIQUID GOLD

How to buy olive oil that you can feel great about, without breaking the bank.

Bill Dante

GARDENING 75

GET YOUR PLANTS READY FOR THE BIG FREEZE

The last two Texas winters saw record breaking cold temps. Will it happen again? Get Ready!

Marc Hess 85

COCKTAILS

TEXAN CRÈME BRÛLÉE RASPBERRY KISS One great kiss deserves another…

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TEXAN

TEXAN Volume 11 // Issue 01

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LISA DANTE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

KEITH CHESTER

PHOTOGRAPHERS

JOSH HUSKIN LISA DANTE

CONTRIBUTORS

ILLUSTRATOR

MARC HESS DR. JUSTIN PHILLIPS, L.Ac LISA DANTE MARSHALL E. KUYKENDALL BILL DANTE MATTHEW HARVEY DR. RICHARD BRUCE WINDERS ALBERT FLORES NANCY FOSTER SHERIFF JAVIER SALAZAR JIM PETERSON DENISE PAYNE JEREMIAH TEUTSCH

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TEXAN

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Howdy!

Cheers to a new year, new beginnings and what’s to come in 2024! For many Texans, the new year means the start of a rip roarin’ rodeo season in three major Texas cities. Yee Haw! Speaking of cowboys, after a recent concert, I caught up with one of the most successful cowboy singer-songwriters, icon and living legend, Michael Martin Murphey. He had exciting news to share. His new movie, “Wildfire: The Legend Of The Cherokee Ghost Horse,”will be in theaters on January 26th. Inspired by Murphey’s mega hit song, “Wildfire,” it tells the story of redemption and forgiveness. Murphey said, “It’s about a horse rescue, but it’s the horse that rescues the person.” The buzz about the movie is that it’s a feel good, long overdue family movie about goodness and light in a world of darkness that will speak to everyone. I can’t wait to see it!

Love is in the air! February, and Valentine’s Day will soon be here. Get in the mood for love. Welcome writer and contributor, Denise Payne as she chronicles her exciting honeymoon trip to Greece. The images, shot by Denise herself, will absolutely take your breath away! I promise!

With January and February comes the strong possibility of a repeat of the dangerous and extreme cold weather Texas has seen in the last few consecutive years.

Writer, Marc Hess, tells us how to get ready to avoid potential disaster.

Many of us try to start the new year on a healthy note. Think you know everything there is to know about olive oil?

You might be surprised as to what you find in our feature story about the liquid gold oil. As always there is so much more in this issue.

Thank you for being a part of the Texan Magazine family!

I see you, I hear you and please know, you are very important to me!

Happy New Year!

Lisa Dante Editor-In-Chief

January/February 2024

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TEXAN

EVENTS

DUST OFF YOUR

BOOTS, IT’S RODEO SEASON IN TEXAS!

by BILL DANTE

January/February 2024

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EVENTS

he western craze remains alive and well! For us Texans, it’s a way of life.

According to retailers, more hats and boots were sold in 2023 across the nation than in any other year.

The postponement of the popular TV series, Yellowstone, which started the massive increase in western wear sales did not dull the resurgence of the western craze. Now you toss in the buzz about the new 4 Sixes series (6666 Ranch) plus throw in a few spinoffs and the western train keeps roaring down the track. Just recently it was announced that Texas’ 16 January/February 2024

own favorite son, Matthew McConaughey, is slated to star in a new Taylor Sheridan created western series. No wonder interest in the cowboy lifestyle is at an all time high. But “official”rodeos in Texas have been around since 1883 and continue to grow in popularity, breaking all attendance records. You won’t be putting your boots and hats away anytime soon. That’s great news for the increase in scholarship dollars for today’s youth. Major rodeos have been known to contribute millions of dollars as non-profits over the years and now those numbers are climbing.

TEXAN

EVENTS

Besides the rodeo feeding the fire for everything western, many exciting events have taken place too.The famous and legendary lawmen, the “Texas Rangers” celebrated their 200th anniversary from one end of Texas to the Rio Grande, 1823-2023. Still wearing fine cowboy boots and the famous Stetson silver belly cowboy hat, these fearless men and women brought even more popularity to western dressing and the way of life.

Even iconic cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphy kicked off the 200th celebration at the Texas Ranger’s Gala and George Straits Band “Ace in the Hole” with special guest Bubba Strait ended the year out. It’s been said if it wasn’t for the Texas Rangers there wouldn’t be any Texas! By the way, their namesake the Texas Rangers Baseball team even won the World Series in 2023 just to help the legend along.

So grab your hat and boots and get ready for Texas rodeo season! It’s one heck of a ride!

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EVENTS

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EVENTS

FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO January 12 - February 3, 2024

It all kicks off in one of the more historic and famous western towns, Fort Worth. Starting back in the 1890s, it’s the way a rodeo should be done.

Twenty three days of exciting rodeo competition, specialty foods and drink and lots to see in the famous Dickies Arena. If you’ve never been, then Dickies is the place to start your adventure. There’s family fun, from kids activities to live music, a carnival, shopping, and extreme bull riding.

With over one million dollars paid to the winning athletes and double that paid in scholarships and educational grants, you don’t want to miss it!

Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston are among the top ten rodeos in the country!

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EVENTS

SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO February 8 – February 25, 2024

Heading south, down U.S. 281 or IH-35 will take you right into the Alamo City. This Texas city is a favorite not only for folks from around the world with 32 million visitors a year, but surprisingly 80 percent of these visitors are Texans.

The San Antonio Rodeo is one of the best. At the same time there is a lot to do besides the rodeo. You can enjoy the winding and beautiful River Walk, SeaWorld, Fiesta Texas and just a 45 minute drive away you will find yourself in the picturesque Hill Country.

Entertainers like Wynonna Judd, Brad Paisley, Brooks and Dunn, Styx and Grupo El Duelo will be featured, just to name a few.

San Antonio has lots of great food from Mexican to some of the best steak restaurants in the state!

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TEXAN

EVENTS

HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO February 27 - March 17, 2024

Who doesn’t like Bar-B-Que and who would like to go see the World Championship contest? How about over 250 teams from all over the world competing on the Houston Rodeo grounds in NRG Park. It takes place on February 22-24th this year. Last year over 200,000 people attended the competition with the team from Jasper County taking first place.

The Houston Rodeo is considered by many as the best in the state. Last year saw record breaking attendance numbers of guests at over two and half million. It’s the world’s largest indoor rodeo featuring chuck wagon races, mutton busting for the kids and even a calf scramble. You might have to take a vacation during and afterwards to recover. It’s a sea of cowboy and cowgirl hats. Make sure you have yours! If you do go, try and catch the annual rodeo parade which happens on the 24th of February.

Check out the complete schedules attached to this article. Also you can go to Texanmag.com and get the free App. In the archived issue (with the Texas flag on the cover, Winter 2022), you will find a “rodeo 101” article, just in case you need to brush up or in case it actually is your first rodeo.

Grab your hat and shine those boots….Yee Haw!

January/February 2024

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TEXAN

EVENTS Saturday, Jan. 20 7:30 PM • Smokey Robinson - Auditorium Entertainment presented by Ariat 9:30 PM • Dunn & Brooks - Bud Light Roadhouse Sunday, Jan. 21 3:30 PM • FWSSR Fiddle Showdown

Friday, Jan. 12 7:30 PM • Sammy Kershaw - Auditorium Entertainment presented by Ariat 9:30 PM • David Adam Byrnes - Bud Light Roadhouse Saturday, Jan. 13 9:00 AM • Mariachi Competition 9:30 PM • The Wilder Blue - Bud Light Roadhouse Sunday, Jan. 14 5:30 PM • Banda Santa Cruz - Bud Light Roadhouse Monday, Jan. 15 4:00 PM • The Inspiration Band - Bud Light Roadhouse Tuesday, Jan. 16 9:30 PM • Courtney Patton - Bud Light Roadhouse Wednesday, Jan. 17 9:30 PM • Straight Tequila Night - Bud Light Roadhouse Thursday, Jan. 18 7:30 PM • Old Crow Medicine Show 9:30 PM • Keller Cox Bud Light Roadhouse Friday, Jan. 19 7:30 PM • Trace Adkins - Auditorium Entertainment presented by Ariat - Trace Adkins 9:30 PM • Shania Twang Bud Light Roadhouse

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Monday, Jan. 22 12:00 PM • Cowboy Campfire Western Music & Cowboy Poetry Tuesday, Jan. 23 12:00 PM • Cowboy Campfire Western Music & Cowboy Poetry 9:30 PM • Summer Dean - Bud Light Roadhouse

Friday, Jan. 26 9:30 PM • Karen Waldrup - Bud Light Roadhouse Saturday, Jan. 27 9:30 PM • Poo Live Crew - Bud Light Roadhouse Monday, Jan. 29 9:30 PM • Jamie Richards -- Bud Light Roadhouse Tuesday, Jan. 30 9:30 PM • Matt Hillyer Bud Light Roadhouse Wednesday, Jan. 31 9:30 PM • Local Yoakam Bud Light Roadhouse

Wednesday, Jan. 24 12:00 PM • Cowboy Campfire Western Music & Cowboy Poetry 9:30 PM • Like Combs Bud Light Roadhouse

Thursday, Feb. 1 7:30 PM • Pam Tillis + Little Texas - Auditorium Entertainment presented by Ariat 9:30 PM • John Baumann - Bud Light Roadhouse

Thursday, Jan. 25 9:30 PM • Cody Hibbard Bud Light Roadhouse

Friday, Feb. 2 9:30 PM • Sons of Bocephus - Bud Light Roadhouse

TEXAN

EVENTS

Thursday, Feb. 8 7 PM • Old Dominion Friday, Feb. 9 7 PM • Midland Saturday, Feb. 10, 12 PM • Wynonna Judd Saturday, Feb. 10 7:30 PM • Brad Paisley Sunday, Feb. 11 12 PM • Mike and the Moonpies

Sunday, Feb. 11 7:30 PM • The Oak Ridge Boys

Sunday, Feb. 18 7:30 PM • Grupo el Duelo

Monday, Feb. 12 7 PM • Neal McCoy

Monday, Feb. 19 7 PM • John Michael Montgomery

Tuesday, Feb. 13 7 PM • Robert Earl Keen

Tuesday, Feb. 20 7 PM • STYX

Wednesday, Feb. 14 7 PM • Gary Allan

Wednesday, Feb. 21 7 PM • Chris Young

Thursday, Feb. 15 7 PM • Shane Smith & The Saints

Thursday, Feb. 22 7 PM • Charley Crockett

Friday, Feb. 16 7 PM • Cheap Trick

Friday, Feb. 23 7 PM • Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson

Saturday, Feb. 17 12 PM • Brooks & Dunn Saturday, Feb. 17 7:30 PM • Brooks & Dunn Sunday, Feb. 18 12 PM • Randy Rogers Band

Saturday, Feb. 2 12 PM • William Beckmann Saturday Feb. 24 7:30 PM • Clint Black

January/February 2024

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EVENTS

Tuesday, Feb.28 Parker McCollum Wednesday, March 1 Brooks & Dunn Thursday, March 2 Lauren Daigle Friday, March 3 Bun B’s Southern Takeover Saturday, March 4 Walker Hayes

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Sunday, March 5 Zac Brown Band

Monday, March 13 Cody Jinks

Monday, March 6 Jason Aldean

Tuesday, March 14 Machine Gun Kelly

Tuesday, March 7 New Kids on The Block

Wednesday, March 15 Kenny Chesney

Wednesday, March 8 Jon Pardi

Thursday, March 16 Chris Stapleton

Thursday, March 9 Ashley McBryde

Friday, March 17 Cody Johnson

Friday, March 10 The Chainsmokers

Saturday, March 18 Brad Paisley

Saturday, March 11 Turnpike Troubadours

Sunday, March 19 Luke Bryan

Sunday, March 12 La Fiera de Ojinaga

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FASHION

HOW THE

WEST WAS WON

by LISA DANTE

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TEXAN

FASHION

T

exas is known for its legendary cowboy culture.

Western boots and hats have been a part of the Texas scene since the early cattle drives. Ranch rodeos that began way back in the 1800s are still influencing modern Western style. In fashion terms, the look is referred to as ranch dressing. The entire fashion community at large has seen an increased interest in Westernstyle clothing. Western dressing brings a sense of freedom and adventure. Styles inspired by the Old West remain classics. You don’t have to go full-on chaps and spurs to get rodeo season ready, (although you could!).

Rodeo inspired fashion is taking on a retro vibe. The late 1920s to 1950s was the heyday of Western style clothing. Black and white Western movies captured the life of the Wild West.

Fringe shirts, fancy chaps and rhinestone sparkling belt buckles never lost their appeal.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were two of the iconic stars of the time. They inspired an entire generation of wanna-be cowboys and cowgirls. Fringe shirts, fancy chaps and rhinestone sparkling belt buckles never lost their appeal. Various shades of tanned leather dripping in fringe, embroidery, and beads are still popular today. Ranch wear never seems to fade.

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FASHION

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FASHION

Dynamic Denim

One thing that remains unchanged and stands the test of time is the classic, blue denim jacket. It’s versatility is endless and its style has been virtually untouched. It really goes with anything. Isn’t it nice when you come across an item in your closet that truly stands the test of time? If the one in your closet hasn’t seen the light of day in a while, now’s the time to dust off that jacket for rodeo season.

I’ve seen it worn over a sparkly, short sequin dress with cowboy boots at the chicest of Western galas. Should you match the shade of your denim jacket to your jeans?

Nope, not necessarily. Not at all, if you don’t want to. Denim jackets also come in just about any color you can think of. Why limit yourself to just a shade of blue? You might opt for solid colors, such as black, red, tan, white or turquoise. These colors will be a little dressier than classic blue denim.

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FASHION

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FASHION

Which Type Of Cowboy Hat Is Best?

Just select the one that speaks to you. Still not sure? Well, the pros at the better Western wear stores, like Billy’s Western Wear, can help you select a hat that’s right for your height, build and face shape. The customizing options, including hat bands are endless! If there’s one thing to bring your entire Western wardrobe together, it’s a chic cowboy hat.

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FASHION

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FASHION

Accessories

The right accessories are the finishing touch to the perfect rodeo outfit. Of course turquoise jewelry and silver bracelets are always popular. You can also layer gold or silver pendant necklaces.

Don’t forget about the classic neck scarf. It’s a versatile accessory that can add color, texture, and warmth to your western outfit. Whether it’s a light silk scarf tied around your neck or a heavier material, a scarf can help you stay comfortable and stylish no matter the weather. When choosing a scarf, consider the pattern and color scheme. A paisley bandana or a colorful pattern can add a pop of color to a neutral outfit. And remember, rhinestones always add a touch of cowgirl sparkle.

However, if you’re wearing a lot of prints and patterns, keep your jewelry simple. Conversely, if you opt for a more simple, solid color scheme, feel free to layer on multiple necklaces and bracelets.

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FASHION

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FASHION

Trends

When it comes to western fashion, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) held last month in Las Vegas always sets the trends for the upcoming rodeo season. There were lots of sequins paired with classic Western looks. Bell bottom pants of every color were seen, some with layers of ruffles on the bottom. Retro remained strong, featuring shirts with angular yokes and pearly buttons, trucker jackets, vests and wide-brimmed hats.

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FASHION

Ranch Dressing

The choices and combinations are really only limited to your imagination. Whether on the ranch or city streets, Western style is one way of dressing to tip your hat to. It may be rodeo season but ranch dressing is not just for your salad and is here to stay!

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WINE

DISCOVERING THE

TANTALIZING WINES of

OREGON

by JIM PETERSON, WINE ENTHUSIAST & INSTAGRAM WINE INFLUENCER

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WINE

here are all sorts of ways to expand your wine knowledge. As unlikely as it seems, the pandemic provided a most interesting opportunity when I joined a wine tasting group based in Oregon. We met virtually on Zoom each week. My increased interest in Oregon wines had begun a few years earlier, and this group of committed Oregon wine enthusiasts had all sorts of insider information to impart. We even had a few winemakers join us to introduce their wines and talk about their winemaking techniques.

The history of Oregon winemaking goes back to the mid-1800s when grapevines were carried along the Oregon Trail. Interestingly, Oregon voters approved a prohibition law in 1916, four years before the 18th Amendment was passed. Even

42 January/February 2024

after prohibition was lifted, it wasn’t until the 1960s that serious winemaking began making a return.

The Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) was the first AVA designated in Oregon, and that wasn’t until 1983. There are now 23 AVAs in Oregon with over 1,000 wineries across the state.

While there are a multitude of grape varieties grown in Oregon, the Pinot Noir grape represents over 50% of the plantings. The Pinot Gris white grape is a distant second, followed by Chardonnay. The Pinot Gris is more of a legacy grape, and many wineries are now replacing it with Chardonnay. That’s because Oregon Chardonnay is quickly gaining a reputation for exceptional quality. With that in mind, let’s explore what makes Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay so special.

The history of Oregon winemaking goes back to the mid-1800s when grapevines were carried along the Oregon Trail.

TEXAN

WINE

OREGON PINOT NOIR

The Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon is home to about two thirds of Oregon’s wineries. There are 11 nested AVAs that highlight some of the unique smaller microclimates within the Willamette Valley. The generally cooler climate is augmented by soils with an interesting mix of marine sediment, volcanic material, and loess (a silty, loamy dust-like material). This typically produces Pinot Noir with intense fruit that includes bright cherry and red berry aromas and flavors.

These flavors are usually supported by a noticeable acidity on the palate. Acidity can sometimes be recognized by a sensation of tartness that can literally make you salivate. This is especially true with younger Oregon Pinot Noir. They will age beautifully though, and when the fruit remains fresh, and the hints of earthiness surface, it’s heaven in a glass.

Jason Wehling, a member of the Oregon tasting group I mentioned, has an incredible collec-

tion of Oregon Pinot Noir, with his current oldest vintage from 1983.

He says, “Oregon Pinot Noir has texture, flavor, and soul. Veronique Drouhin of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, once told me that Oregon Pinot isn’t velvet, it’s cashmere. That is so true! People sometimes forget Pinot Noir is white inside, so the tannins are mostly from the skin.

These tannins are usually more supple than other reds, and they integrate more quickly with age.

That silky smooth texture always gets me.” Jason also notes the sense of community and sharing of knowledge among the Oregon winemakers. “The winemakers are interested in the pursuit of excellence in a way that supersedes their own advantage. I love this quality of the Oregon wine culture.”

Oregon Pinot Noir has texture, flavor and soul.

Veronique Drouhin of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, once told me that Oregon Pinot isn’t velvet, it’s cashmere. ~ Jason Wehling

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WINE

OREGON CHARDONNAY

That same culture has permeated the Oregon Chardonnay revolution. While I had tasted a few Oregon Pinot Noir over the years, it wasn’t until a few years ago when I finally tasted my first Oregon Chardonnay. Wow! What a surprise it was. I have always loved Chardonnay from Chablis (as noted in an earlier article), and it has a lot to do with the minerality and crispness of Chablis. The Oregon Chardonnay has a similar freshness to it that I find irresistible.

I reached out to Clare Carver of Big Table Farm for a comment on Oregon Chardonnay. It turns out she had just tasted a bottle of Chablis at her birthday dinner and her takeaway was, “Oregon walks the balance perfectly between warmth and acidity that brings out the best in Chardonnay.” I cannot think of a more perfect description. I know it’s true because the 2016 Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Chardonnay was the first Oregon Chardonnay I tried.

I also commented to Clare how there is such a difference between their AVA Chardon-

nays – the Eola Amity versus the Yamhill-Carlton. She pointed out the Eola Amity is a bit softer and more elegant because there is a volcanic layer of soil to keep it in check. The Yamhill-Carlton is spicy and bolder with more minerality due to the excess of marine sedimentary soil.

They are both incredibly delicious in their own way.

This holds true for so many great Oregon Chardonnay producers. The Chardonnay grape is allowed to express

Oregon walks the balance perfectly between warmth and acidity that brings out the best in Chardonnay itself more clearly due to a limited use of new oak when aging, typically 10-25% at most.

Neutral oak or stainless steel is used for the rest. The best Oregon Chardonnay can display a spectrum of flavors from lemon zest to lemon curd along with complex stony notes, spice, melon, apple, or peach.

Like I said, they are irresistible.

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WINE

WINERY RECOMMENDATIONS With over 700 wineries in Willamette Valley, you can imagine how hard it might be to whittle it down to the few I can fit on this page. With that said, here is a short list of favorites I have compiled with a little help from my friend Jason.

BEAUX FRÈRES: Michael Etzel started his winemaking adventure in 1986, buying a foreclosed pig farm with the help of his brother-in-law, famed wine critic Robert Parker, Jr. The winery name derives from the French idiom for brother-in-law.

Simply put, Beaux Frères helped set the standard for how amazing Oregon wines can be.

DOMAINE DROUHIN OREGON: You had to know something good would come from Oregon when the world-famous Burgundy producer, Domaine Joseph Drouhin, planted its roots there. A few years ago, I had their 1992 Pinot Noir. It was astonishing. I love their wines.

BIG TABLE FARM: To say I’m a fan of Big Table Farm wines is an understatement.

They have a beautiful lineup of single vineyard and single AVA Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. On the fun side, their “Laughing Pig” rosé, Pinot Gris, and Syrah all reflect the personality of the husband-and-wife team of Brian Marcy and Clare Carver.

ANTICA TERRA: Their first vines were planted in 1989 where prehistoric seabeds sit at the surface. This forces the vines to struggle. As any oenophile knows, struggling vines can produce great wines. To preserve the greatness of single plots, Antica Terra will top off barrels using small riverbed rocks to eliminate the air rather than blend in a juice of lesser quality.

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WINE

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WINE

WALTER SCOTT: I cannot count the number of times I have seen Instagram posts from my wine friends praising the Chardonnays of Walter Scott Wines. This is the work of another husband-and-wife team, Erica Landon and Ken Pahlow. The name Walter Scott honors Ken’s grandfather (Walter) and his nephew (Scott).

MORGEN LONG: Seth Morgen Long only makes Chardonnay. My friend Jason makes a nice case for his wines by saying, “That dude is a trip, and he’s making insane Chardonnay. Seriously!” I ask you. What better recommendation could there be?

I’ll close this out by saying there are many other great producers in Oregon. I’ve also met winemakers, family members, and tasted wines from Ayoub Wines, Brooks Wine, Hazelfern Cellars, and Vincent Wine Company. All of these, along with so many others, have their unique stories and outstanding wines. Willamette Valley houses an amazing selection of fantastic producers, and I encourage you to search them out and acquire some of these small production wines you will likely never see in a local wine shop or grocery store.

Take a trip along your personal Oregon Wine Trail. Now is the time. The cooler winter months are the best opportunity to have wine shipped to Texas. It may be the only way you’ll ever taste some of these. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Cheers!

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

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, tasting many of the world’s top wines, and ongoing personal wine exploration. He has cultivated a large following on his Instagram account, @tx_wine_pilot.

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TRAVEL

HONEYMOON

IN GREECE

A stunning Mediterranean destination with legendary sunsets, whitewashed homes, ancient history and the brilliant blue Aegean Sea Story and images by DENISE PAYNE

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TRAVEL

I

’ve always wanted to visit Greece, thankfully so did my new husband.

With much excitement, I started planning our honeymoon ten months in advance. I carefully thought out and thoroughly researched our destination.

We decided to go a few months after we were married. I joined Greek Island Facebook groups to get tips and helpful info. According to those groups, July and August are horribly hot and crowded. I planned our trip for the end of August and all of September, still warm enough for swimming. It didn’t feel that unbearable to us since we live in south central Texas.

I purchased all of our plane tickets, ferry tickets and Airbnb’s early, and online.

ATHENS

After months of planning, we were finally heading to the Austin airport.

Before flying to our first island, we stayed in Athens one night to acclimate to the time difference. We wanted to be near the Acropolis neighborhoods and stayed at the Acropolis View hotel. Our hotel rooftop had a stunning view of the sunset and Acropolis from our balcony.

Walking to the rooftop for breakfast the next morning presented us with the Acropolis view against an orangey red sunrise. We opted for a light day of sightseeing and strolling around the narrow alleys of Athens. We walked to Parliament to view the precise movements during the changing of the guard. We explored the Acropolis Museum and then looked for a cute place to eat. If you like eating, Greece is the place.

As my friends can attest, I’m a picky eater, but the food was wonderful!

My husband, Steve and I both noted how even the tomatoes tasted so unbelievably good. I tasted Feta once and wasn’t a fan but the Feta I tasted here was exceptionally good!

We both became hooked on Greek salad. Towards the end of our trip we could actually taste the differences in Fetas.

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Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

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MYKONOS

The next morning, the hotel car took us to Athens airport and we flew Aegean Air to our first Greek Island, Mykonos. We decided to rent a car on all the islands.

Some people suggested buses since they run to major sights and are cheaper. Most of our Airbnb’s were in the country so a car was our best option. After seeing people waiting for buses in the hot sun on the side of roads. We decided we had made the right choice. The streets were narrow and the drivers a bit erratic. After a few days navigating the roads, Steve was an expert.

We headed to the famous area called Little Venice. My research indicated it’s a very popular area. We were early so we were able to have drinks in cafes that

are usually packed. This area is famous for pinkish orange sunsets and colorfully painted restaurants perched right on the water. We found a nice restaurant called Sunsets, aptly named. We then reserved a table for the night of my birthday, a few days later. Roaming around the narrow alleys we discovered beautiful shops and Greek artwork. Eventually we headed back to our Airbnb. We found Airbnb’s were the way to go for us. Our honeymoon was for 6 weeks so I wanted to hand wash things along the way. I bought detergent sheets online which were flat like dryer sheets to use as needed. Airbnb’s had either yards, balconies, etc. where I could set up the 5 ft wash line rope I brought. It worked perfectly.

Little Venice neighborhood on Mykonos island

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Old Town Mykonos

Denise & Steve Payne

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DELOS

From Mykonos we planned a day trip via boat for the next morning to the island of Delos, which is a world UNESCO heritage site. The ruins were amazing! An archaeologist from the tour told us the history of the island as she led us around. We were able to wander around freely before heading back to the boat.

Back on the boat they were serving lunch and then swimming at a nearby small island.

The next day we explored the town and had my birthday dinner back in Little Venice, at the Sunset restaurant. I have to tell you, Mykonos was nice, but not our style. It’s expensive and the beaches were just ok. It was very crowded.

Image courtesy of Denise Payne January/February 2024

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MILOS

According to YouTube videos the ferries are crowded and chaotic. So, I was a bit apprehensive about our first ferry trip, which was to Milos island. Getting on and storing our luggage went well. We both had a backpack and a large suitcase, and we managed fine. It was not confusing as I had heard. But, the trip itself was a different story. I have never been seasick in my life but came close to it this time.

We were on a Seajet superjet. A smaller and faster boat, but the water was rough. The boat was warm and that didn’t help with many people getting sick. Thankfully I made it to the port without incident. I had heard Bluestar ferries had less incidence with seasickness. If I ever go back, I’d book with Bluestar.

The next outing was taking a sailboat cruise around Milos with Sunfos Alessia Yachting. There are some beaches only accessible via boat. After watching many videos about the island, we really wanted to see these beaches. The crew fed us breakfast, snacks, lunch, and more snacks and offered us snorkels if we wanted. The boat stopped at some unbelievably beautiful rock formations. One area named Kleftiko was where we jumped into the water, went snorkeling and swimming in caves. The water was a crystal-clear turquoise color. It did not disappoint. The sailboat stopped at three other beaches for swimming and a dingy ride to more caves.

Image by Denise Payne

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Sunrise Milos Island Greece 56 January/February 2024

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SARAKINIKO

Viewing the beach from the boat helped us format the next day’s outing. We knew we had to leave early for Sarakiniko beach because of its popularity, especially with photographers. Waves shaped the greyish-white rocks into amazing forms. It felt like being on the moon. Though we were there at 7:30 am, there were a few others around, such as a bride having pictures taken. Two large yachts were moored off the beach and two people were getting massages on tables set up right there on the rocks. This beach is quite remote, so we thought that was quite odd. We found catacombs behind a clump of bushes. Luckily, I had a small flashlight in my backpack, so we could explore the caves.

GOOD TIP: Always carry a flashlight!

We saw a few people jumping off of the cliffs into the aquamarine water and others just sunbathing. I was really glad we experienced Sarakiniko.

Our next beach was Firopotamos, which is a small seaside village complete with a Cyladic church and sandy beach. It was nice. While there, a women suggested we see Pollonia. Off we went! We fell in love with this waterside village.

Great restaurants right on a sandy beach. A very chill area.

We wish we had found this place earlier, so we could have spent more time here. We really recommend Milos island to anyone contemplating going to the Greek Islands. With its unusual beaches, it is an island begging to be explored.

Firopotamos beach and fishing village

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SANTORINI

After my last experience on a ferry, I was hesitant about going on another one. But we were already booked on one to Santorini, our next island. The ferry ride was an unexpected, pleasant trip. Our seats were at a table which had a lot of leg room. It was a bigger boat than our last experience and in no time we were in Santorini.

Like Mykonos it is a popular and expensive island, but we felt like we should see it for ourselves. We found our way to Oia, where the famous blue domed churches are located and took pictures. If you ever see pictures of Greece, it’s most likely a picture of them.

On our way to our Airbnb we stopped in Fira, another popular town. We walked around and both thought it wasn’t for us. Too crowded, not the experience we wanted. Our Airbnb was a typical whitewashed cave house in the town of Akrotiri. Very cute, within walking distance of great restaurants. Not far from the Ruins of Akrotiri are the towns of Megalochori and Pyrgos, towns we wanted to see. As we wandered 58 January/February 2024

around exploring Megalochori and Pyrgos, they seemed similar to us with winding narrow streets filled with restaurants, churches, cute stores and of course blue domed churches.

These towns to us were just as beautiful and not as crowded as Oia and Fira. The Ruins of Akrotiri are well-preserved in this prehistoric town. You will find pottery, frescoes , and parts of ancient buildings. Another famous spot was the Akrotiri lighthouse for sunset pictures. We got to the area early and secured a spot on the rocks for sunset viewing. Eventually many people arrived and began blocking our view, so we left to search for another spot. As we started walking to our car, I found an area between some trees for some great sunset pictures. It was right in the parking lot before you walked up to the light house. We heard about White Beach and Red beach. We saw Red beach and weren’t impressed. We never made it to White beach. After visiting Milos’s beautiful beaches, it was hard for beaches to impress us.

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RHODES

The next day we flew to Rhodes. Our castle like Airbnb was about a thousand years old and had been in the hosts family for many, many generations. It was inspiring and I envisioned the lives of the people who lived there many years ago. During research for our trip, we found Old Rhodes and the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. We love medieval sights and couldn’t wait to go there. Old Rhodes is a walled medieval town with no cars allowed. We didn’t rent a car for this portion of our trip and an airport taxi dropped us off at one of the gates into town.

It was like stepping back in time to the era of the Knights Of The Round Table. The Palace was stunning. As we explored the many rooms, I took hundreds of pictures.

We also walked on the top of the wall encircling the town and were rewarded with a picturesque view. The next two days we explored the cobblestone alleys, shops, and restaurants. We bought a few treasures, and our ”honeymoon” rings from Tassos Samourakis Gold and Silver Jewelry store in Old Rhodes.

He designs and makes his own jewelry and is reasonably priced. Discovering the rest of the island required us to pick up our rental car and leave Old Rhodes. Being in the carless part of Rhodes, our host took us by golf cart to one of the gates of the wall. On our way to our Airbnb in the town of Stegna, we stopped at the Filerimos Monastery.

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This gorgeous archaeological site is located high on a hill surrounded by tall pine trees with countless peacocks strolling around. We thought this monastery was beautiful.

On our way to our next

Airbnb we were awarded a view of a lovely, tiny beach town with crystal clear water.

I felt fortunate that we found this place. After checking in, we couldn’t wait to swim in that enticing water.

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Monastery of Filerimos on Rhodes

I brought a tube with me from home. It was perfect. Folded super flat and took 2 minutes to blow up. I carried this with me to every beach we visited. Floating in the clear cool water I could see fish four feet below me, swimming along the rocky bottom. For such a small town, there were many restaurants to choose from. We recommend trying them all. Many were right on the beach.

Lindos was the next castle town we explored. Due to our research predicting large crowds, we got up early to climb the castle ruins. From the castle top we walked down to a beautiful sandy beach below and floated in the dazzling aqua water for hours.

The following day we drove to the other side of Rhodes to explore the Acropolis of

Kamiros, the Monolithos and more beaches.

Kamiros ruins were a beautiful walk back in time. Twenty minutes down the hill after leaving Ancient Kamiros we found Porto Antico, a nice restaurant right on the beach. The food was excellent and the beach had brightly colored tiny pebbles all along the waters edge. Thinking back, we should have stayed longer and went for a swim but we wanted to drive along the northern coast and visit the Monolitho, a 15th century Venetian castle.

It turned out that the “castle” was more of a ruin with a small church. The drive was nice though and we cut across southern Rhodes on the way back to Stegna. Rhodes was a larger island than the others we visited so we needed more time driving from sight to sight.

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Lindos, Rhodes 62 January/February 2024

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CRETE

We woke up very early to catch a plane to the island of Crete. It was Steve’s birthday. Poor guy, there was no sleeping in late. We arrived in Chania, a port town and picked up our rental car from Discover rental cars. It was the second time we used this company. I was hesitant about using a no name rental place but they were amazing. Previously they went out of their way when we had to drop off the car at 4:00 am.

We wandered Chania a bit, had brunch and then we went to the archaeological site of Aptera. We couldn’t check into our Airbnb for hours yet and were hoping to find something to do. I was so glad we found Aptera. Loving history, it was very interesting to explore.

Our Airbnb in the town of Gerani had a gorgeous marble balcony. Our host’s dad gave us eggs from his chickens, when we first arrived. The next morning we ate fresh scrambled eggs while watching the coral- colored sun rise from that balcony. After breakfast we drove 15 minutes to the old town of Rethymno and Venetian Fortezza Fortress. The fortress was amazing. We walked all over and soon discovered stone steps leading down to a cellar filled with ancient tablets and statues. I was in heaven just thinking about the people who chiseled these tablets and their lives.

It was fantastic. We absolutely loved Rethymno

and visited twice during our time on Crete. Narrow cobblestone alleys filled with shops, restaurants, museums and plenty of history is what you will find. Lunch was delicious, and I savored every bite of my goulash- like meal.

About a half hour away from

Rethymno we read about a village where the whole town makes stoneware, so we drove to Margarites pottery village. After finding a perfect piece of pottery we drove to The Monastery of Arkadi, built in 1587. One of the most beautiful sights we visited.

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If you read the history before you go, you’ll appreciate it even more. Words cannot describe it.

It was a beautiful place to discover. Our next historical stop was the beautiful Minoan ruins, Knossos settled in 7000 BC. After strolling around we drove back to Rethymno for another delicious meal.

Though it sounds crazy we got up early to drive two hours to the world famous, colorful Balos beach.

Famous for the different shades of blues and turquoise.

You have to arrive early because of crowds. Part of our trip was a half hour drive on rough rocky roads, and a half hour walk down a stony hill. Or you can take a boat, which gives you limited time. We drove. It was windy as we walked down the hill and it only got worse as we arrived on the beach. Sand was pelting our faces and we found shelter behind a large rock.

After 10 minutes, we gave up and hiked 45 minutes up the hill to the car and drove to Falasarna beach. The turquoise-colored water on this beach was unbelievably beautiful. We thought just as pretty as Balos. The parking lot was close to the beach, so no hiking was required. The sand was soft and a part of the beach had large boulders with hidden areas to sit for privacy. This became one of my favorite beaches.

West Bastion of the north entrance of the Palace of Knossos

Old Harbor of Chania on Crete 64 January/February 2024

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Athens

From Crete we flew back to Athens.

The hotel Adrian was centrally located for what we wanted to see. We spent four days discovering the area. The Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Panathenaic Olympic Stadium, Kerameikos, Hadrians library, and of course the Acropolis with the Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike were some highlights.

TIP: We heard cruise ship pas-

sengers go back to their ships later in the day and that was the best time to see the Acropolis. So, we planned a late in the afternoon visit the next day, and it wasn’t nearly as crowded as I’ve seen in pictures. It worked perfectly!

The neighborhoods below the Acropolis are filled with wonderful restaurants and bars. Cobblestone pathways line the stores selling Greek art, clothing, souvenirs, food, and there are many experiences to discover. We made sure we had time here to see everything we wanted at a leisurely pace. We hung out at cafes longer and relaxed to absorb the feeling of the town.

In Greece your server will not give you your bill unless you ask for it. They believe in enjoying your meal, so they don’t try and rush you. The entire six weeks in Greece, we had wonderful weather. We met and got to know great people from all over the world. Doing my research for this trip, I heard that Greek people are very friendly. Words do not describe how wonderful Greek people really are.

We felt like we were family. One time we couldn’t find our Airbnb and asked a stranger for directions. The man hopped in his car and told us to follow him. Within five minutes we were at our Airbnb!

The Greeks go out of their way for perfect strangers. Greece was a wonderful part of our honeymoon!

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Denise Payne was born and raised in New York, but as the saying goes, she got to Texas as fast as she could. In 2022, she married the love of her life, Steve, who was born and raised in Texas. She enjoys traveling the world, writing, photography, hiking and working on their property in the Texas Hill Country.

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CULINARY

TEXAS LIQUID GOLD

by BILL DANTE

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CULINARY

an you name a gold liquid that we or you probably have been familiar with and have taken for granted for a long time? I’ll give you a hint. It’s more popular than wine but similar to wine when it comes to price, quality, age, taste, popularity, and worldwide awareness. At the same time, it can be confusing to many.

Did you guess it? It’s olive oil, yes, olive oil and for thousands of years it has been used by mankind. The Ro-

mans and the Greeks used olive oil in their cuisine way before other European and Mediterranean countries.

Long, long ago, it was sometimes used as a simple oil in a lamp to light up a room or castle. But today, olive oil is consumed and used worldwide by millions. Think about when you dine out, many restaurants serve you a plate of olive oil and herbs with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and warm, delicious bread for dipping.

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Buyer Beware, Not All Olive Oil Is The Same

Let’s talk about purchasing olive oil. You go to the store and there it is on the shelf. Not a few bottles but sometimes the entire length of the grocery store aisle.

Which one is the best? What should you buy? Does it really matter? Oh, then you see prices that can start at $5.00 a bottle and can go to $75 or more. My research tells me that price is NOT an indicator of quality!

It’s similar to buying wine.

But by now you know what kind of wine you like or want to afford. But olive oil is like wine in a sense, meaning just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean you’ll like it.

So I’m going to help you with the basics of olive oil because it can get very confusing and you’ll thank me.

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What To Look For

Look for the words COLD PRESSED or COLD EXTRACTED. It’s the first action that is taken, next to shaken off the trees, to removing the best oil from the olives. No heat is used and cold pressed is all about quality and it’s the best tasting. This allows the taste, the fabulous smell and all the antioxidants and nutrients to be maintained at a very high level.

NEXT…look for EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, or EVOO. This is excellent to drizzle and for dipping, sautéing and cooking. After Extra Virgin Olive Oil there is just Virgin and then so many more choices. Don’t do it.

Did you know that 70% of all olive oil in the world comes from Spain. But that doesn’t make it the best olive oil, according to professional chefs. It can also be sourced from all over the world, for example, from Italy,

Greece, the USA, (including Texas) and so many more places and countries.

And guess what? Just because the front of the bottle says Tuscany doesn’t mean the olives came from Italy. Nope, turn the the bottle around and look. It might say a blend from Greece or not from Italy at all. A large portion of Italian olive oil companies buy their olives from Tunisia, which by the way has great tasting olives.

Another important thing to look for to ensure authenticity and quality is to look at the batch or harvest date on the bottle, the month it was put into the bottle or tin. It should be on the bottle and if not, I would pass. This is much more important than the expiration date. Because you will finish your new found olive oil way before the expiration date. Buy smaller quantities. Some quality stores will let you sample before purchasing.

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CULINARY

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The olive oil should be smooth and not have a greasy lingering taste or feel. Italy has many different varieties stretching from the Florence area to Sicily.

I prefer the olive oil from the Puglia region, which is in the heel of the Italian boot. 40 % of all Italian olive oil comes from Puglia, which is right across the Adriatic from Greece, another great country for olive oil. Italian olive oil is known to be robust, yet some can be milder. Whereas Greek is smoother and has a fruity aftertaste.

Assuming you’ve selected your olive oil, let’s talk about where to place it for storage.

Would you leave a favorite bottle of wine close to your stove or burners for weeks? I don’t think so. The same is true for olive oil. A lot of people have it right next to their stove. Also no sunlight, put it in a dark bottle or at least don’t put it on a window sill. Same with wine. Why? It will deteriorate and turn rancid. Also as I mentioned, buy a small bottle and replace it at least every six months.

Now you know the basics.

Give olive oil a try, some of my favorite brands are Olio De Carlo from Italy, Atlas is another and Garza.California Olive Ranch is great for everyday cooking and if you use a lot on a daily basis Kirkland is good in bulk. Olio Nuevo, with the yellow horse on the label can be picked up at Trader Joe’s.

Finally, I want to mention Texas Hill Country Olive Company. Located in Dripping Springs, close to Austin, you

will find an actual expansive olive grove, manufacturing facility, bistro, and gourmet shop. You will learn about harvesting, milling, and the bottling process. Tastings and tours operate seven days a week. Cost is $25 per person.

You will need a reservation. I highly recommend taking the tour. It’s absolutely fascinating and a great way to spend a day or two in the Hill Country.

Their olive oil is exquisite and truly fabulous. You will find lots to choose from, all available for purchase.

We enjoyed a personalized tour including a pleasant stroll through their olive groves, a wonderful lunch and then a complete learning introduction on the benefits, history and just enough olive oil knowledge to make you dangerous on your next trip to your local grocer.

Happy Drizzling and Dipping, Ciao Ya’ll!

Dante January/February 2024

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GARDENING

GET YOUR PLANTS READY FOR THE

BIG FREEZE

by MARC HESS, EDITOR, “GARDENING SOUTH TEXAS,” NEWSLETTER

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The best chance that your garden and landscape have to make it through our next winter surprise is to prepare for it ahead of time.

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I

t is going to happen again. And we’re going to be surprised. Again.

The first surprise was the ice apocalypse called Uri that caught us off guard between February 13th and 17th in 2021. A year later we were surprised again by a deep freeze that lasted from February 22nd through the 26th in 2022. Then in 2023, it snuck up on us in late January and stayed around until

February 2nd of 2023. So what do you think just might happen this February?

The best chance that your garden and landscape have to make it through our next winter surprise is to prepare for it ahead of time. A hard freeze is considered 28°F or lower for two hours or more, killing crops and patio plants.

In the big freezes the last three years, temperatures were at 0°F for several days.

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Protect Your Irrigation System

During deep freezes ice will form inside any exposed pipes and equipment, causing them to burst. You will need to pay attention to your outside faucet covers and your landscape irrigation before you tend to your plants.

This is especially important because: 1. water run-off from your outside watering system can freeze on sidewalks and roadways creating black ice and dangerous driving and walking conditions and 2. freezing water can cause permanent damage to your equipment.

You will need to: • Be sure to turn off your irrigation at the irrigation controller, which is typically located in the garage. You can leave your irrigation system off until March or April and just water manually if needed.

• Disconnect, drain and store anything connected to an outdoor hose bib. Your irrigation backflow device is expensive—and usually full of water—so it should definitely be protected from freezing temperatures if it’s installed above ground.

• Pay attention to all your vulnerable pipes and hose bibs. They can be protected with fiberglass pipe sleeves, foam and faucet covers.

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Not All Plants Need Protection from a Hard Freeze

If you plant native plants and other hardy plants, they’ll handle freezing temps well. These hardy plants may take some freeze damage but their roots rarely die and they will grow back when warm weather arrives.

Covering only comes into play with tender annuals and semi-hardy plants.

Plants grown in pots and containers are particularly susceptible to deathby-freezing because their roots are directly exposed

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to extreme temperatures.

Move your smaller pots and baskets inside. You may not be able to do that with your large containers. Try to roll them out of the north wind and under an overhead cover. Group them together so they keep each other warm.

You may want to wrap blankets around the outside of the pots to keep the plants’ roots warm. When it warms up after a deep freeze move your container plants away from each over so that their leaves do not touch and spread their black freeze rot from one plant to the next.

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Pond plants can be vulnerable too. When a hard freeze is predicted, just drop your floating plants, like dwarf papyrus and the burgundy crinum to the bottom of the pond and leave them there until it warms up. Your pond will ice over but they will usually survive.

Don’t worry about your hardy water lilies. They might partly die back or all the way, but they will be back in the spring.

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Freeze Hardy Perennials

Most perennial plants do not suffer enough frost damage to kill them and, therefore, they do not need to be covered. Freeze hardy perennials such as primrose, peonies, violas and heuchera can all be expected to survive the winter along with your irises and lily of the valley. Pansies are especially resilient to hard freezes but remember that they are short lived-perennials which means they will survive a winter or two but regardless of the weather, they will decline after that.

However frost sensitive perennials can be killed off in a period of prolonged sub-zero temperatures. The perennial that will need to be covered during harsh freezes include hostas and Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra). They should be covered to protect their foliage and flowers. Also you may want to cover up any blooming or budded up perennials. Often cyclamen works as a perennial in South Texas, and phlox also tolerates frost but they should be covered in the event of a deep freeze.

In general, tender plants like cannas will need to be cut back after freeze damage. The best practice is to plant them with this in mind, in combination with evergreen shrubs or other features that can conceal freeze damage.

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Above from Top: Lily of the valley; Violas; Below: Pink Primroses

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Say Goodbye to Your Tender Annuals Well, they are called annuals because you can expect them to die every winter under normal conditions. If you have any annuals then you had better protect them. Your beautiful, flowering, summer annuals are likely to die when temperatures dip to 32°F and lower. We love these annuals because they thrive in our long hot summers.

Some annuals such as marigold, calendula and sweet alyssum are commonly treated as perennials in south Texas because they can usually tolerate our moderate winters. Other tender annuals like zinnias and cosmos will be gone by the time winter is over. That being said, there are some hardy annuals which are often categorized as biennials, annuals, hardy annu-

als, tender perennials, or semi-perennials that can tolerate a frost but don’t like a deep freeze.

These include the Laura Bush petunia, dianthus and snapdragons. If you hold out any hope to see these flowers next spring you will have to cover them, mulch them and pray over them and prepare to plant new stock in the spring.

It’s always good to complete these freeze protection tasks before severe weather approaches.

REMINDER:

If suppliers run out of inventory in the run-up to a cold snap, you may get stuck using very thick cloth and bubble wrap.

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It’s a lot of work to cover plants for a hard freeze, and I don’t recommend getting sucked too deeply into it. When your hardy perennials get freeze-dried, leave them standing until mid- to late February so they can shelter the creatures who share your garden, as well as their own roots, and so their seeds can provide food for birds. It’s only another month and a half, and then you can whack them back to your heart’s content. ~ Pam Penick, Cool Gardens in a Hot Climate (penick.net)

You can protect some freeze-tender plants with cotton sheets, lightweight blankets or cardboard boxes. But don’t rely on plastic, which can worsen cold damage where it touches plants. If you’re covering plants, make sure the sheets reach all the way to the ground and weigh down the corners.

Apply a healthy layer of mulch around your annuals. Mulch protects their roots from cold temperatures. Care for the plants well, watering and fertilizing them as their species require.

Healthy plants are less likely to suffer permanent damage from frost than unhealthy plants.

San Antonio River Walk

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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 online at no charge at https://www.milbergernursery.com/newsletter-archive/

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COCKTAILS

TEXAN CRÈME BRÛLÉE RASPBERRY KISS Love is worth celebrating any day of the year, but February 14th is an especially good occasion. Cheers!

Makes 2-3 servings Ingredients: • About 24 fresh Red Raspberries • 6 ounces of Vanilla Vodka (we suggest Triple Eight Vanilla) • 1 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps • 2 ounces of Irish Cream Liqueur • 3 ounces of Creme De Framboise (Raspberry)Liqueur • 1 or 2 ounces of Cream • A few pieces of chocolate, to melt

Instructions: • Melt chocolate in bowl by microwaving at 15 second intervals until soft. Remove and stir.

• Dip rim of martini glasses in melted chocolate and chill in refrigerator for about 15 minutes to firm up chocolate.

• MUDDLE the red raspberries in base of shaker.

• Combine vanilla Vodka, and other ingredients, Schnapps, Irish Crème, Raspberry Liqueur and cream, also into shaker • Add Ice • Shake, then strain into pre-chilled glasses….

ONE GREAT KISS DESERVES ANOTHER… January/February 2024

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Meet our compact SUV. For every version of you.

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Expressive.

Go the extra mile. Ask about the Volvo XC40 Recharge All Electric.

The Volvo XC40 has been engineered to deliver smooth take-offs and refined acceleration, making both city and highway journeys more refined.

Stop by for a test drive and start your journey with the Volvo XC40 today.

Principle Volvo Cars San Antonio 1326 N.E. Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78209 principlevolvocarssanantonio.com | 210-384-1124 Principle Auto Group. Driven by Principle™ We take the risk—never you. We value your time, respect you and the opportunity to serve you with unparalleled service, and deliver exceptional value.

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DRIVE LUXURY. DRIVE ANYWHERE. Discover the ultimate luxury sedan, designed to move the ones who move the world.

The 2024 7 Series lives up to its legacy with a streamlined exterior, brilliant displays, and lavish interior. Visit BMW of San Antonio to schedule a test drive today.

BMW of San Antonio 15507 W IH-10, San Antonio, TX BMWofSanAntonio.com | 210-418-2428 Principle Auto Group. Driven by Principle™ We take the risk—never you. We value your time, respect you and the opportunity to serve you with unparalleled service, and deliver exceptional value. © 2024 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW trademarks are registered trademarks.

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