Mueller April 2024

Alluring April

April...a gorgeous month in Austin. The trees have burst open with new life for the season, flowers are in full bloom and the neighborhood looks just beautiful. This is a great month to get out and enjoy all that the season and community have to offer.

This month, we feature a Mueller original: Bao’d Up. Its proprietors, Tin Ling and Alex Wu, create authentic Chinese bao buns that have made their establishment an Austin favorite. Learning about their back story and commitment to their heritage is fascinating!

We also meet Mueller resident Tabitha Ruggiero and learn how hard work and dedication to her start-up company, Hello Housewares, has made it a success. Her story is inspirational, and her products are beautiful.  As we know, Mueller is home to many pets. But what about all the dogs and cats in shelters that don’t have homes to go to? New contributor Shannon Holmes addresses this timely issue and provides information on how to rescue animals locally. And this month’s Meet Me at the Market department introduces us to Goatilicious, a unique company that creates milk and other food items, along with soaps, from healthy goat’s milk.

Finally, in this issue we introduce a brandnew department called Perspectives. This page gives Mueller residents an opportunity to send in poems, short essays or thoughts that they would like to share in the magazine. Feel free to send submissions to hello@ muellermagazine.com.

With so much going on in the neighborhood at this time of year, get out and enjoy the sunshine!

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARGARITA GARCIA ACEVEDO

In the Neighborhood

THE BIRTH OF BAMBINO

Restauranteur Adam Orman along with partner and chef Fiore Tedesco have done it again! Opening in March, Bambino—the sister restaurant to L’Oca d’Oro—is a casual Italian eatery specializing in seasonal rotating pizza selections and other Italian specialties. You can also enjoy cocktails and wines on tap, seasonal frozen libations and a high-end bottle list. 979 Springdale Rd., Ste. 153, Austin. www.bambinoaustin.com

A PLACE TO GATHER WITH BUDS

Redbud, at 2027 Anchor Lane, opened its doors in March with great excitement. The restaurant is designed to be a community gathering place for locals, bringing back the idea of the traditional Texas icehouse. The establishment serves smashburgers and other barbecue sandwiches, long necks and local beers—including one brewed by neighboring Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches. Stop in and enjoy the expansive patio, kids’ play area, soft-serve ice cream and local music. For more: www.redbudicehouse.com.

LAUNCHING THE CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR

In March, students from the Acton School in Austin took over part of Branch Park on a glorious Sunday alongside the Farmers’ Market for the first Children’s Business Fair in this location. Children ranging from ages 7 to 15 showed off their entrepreneurial talents with businesses such as homemade food items, books, beauty products and candles. All products and businesses were conceived of, developed and run by the children. Kudos all around!

CELEBRATE

MOTHERS’ MILK BANK

Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin is celebrating 25 years of saving babies’ lives through donor milk by throwing a party for the community. Come to learn, have fun and celebrate donor milk! Email elizabeth@milkbank.org to reserve a seat on May 17 or to join in the family fun on May 18.

Milky Way 2024 Under the

Two days celebrating the 25th anniversary of MOTHERS’ MILK BANK AT AUSTIN in honor of founders Drs. George Sharpe and Audelio Rivera

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Did you see a film crew hanging out in Branch Park—specifically in the pavilion—a few weeks ago?

Wonder what was going on?

Filming took place in the pavilion building for the CW TV show “Walker.” Be sure to look out for the episode!

Dinner and Dancing

Family Fun Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austi

May 17th 5:30 to 9:30 pm 5925 Dillard Circle

Event planning by

May 18th 10 am to 1 pm

Whitt Ross

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Milk Got His Goat

When cow’s milk caused problems for his son, Robert Ragels turned to another source—and launched Goatilicious.

BY CARMEN GRAY

Robert Ragels is the proud founder of one of the stands most of us have seen or visited at the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller on any given Sunday. You’ll find an array of goat milk products on display, including soaps, chèvre and even cajeta, a delicious Mexican caramel sauce.

Ragels began his business with just goat milk in the late 1990s. He says that his son had a sensitivity to cow’s milk that resulted in gastrointestinal issues and countless ear infections. When the family switched to goat’s milk, per a doctor’s suggestion, the problems resolved.

They were living in Flagstaff, Arizona, and they had enough land to acquire a few goats of their own there. Eventually, this led Ragels to sell goat milk—and Goatilicious was born.

Markets in Texas

Ragels relocated to Texas in 2005 and continued to expand his business on a farm in New Braunfels.

He now sells his food products to several nearby establishments: Muck & Fuss Craft Beer and Burgers in New Braunfels, The Beignet Stand in San Antonio and Il Forno in San Antonio.

In addition to this, Ragels sells both the food and soap products at all four farmers’ markets in Austin. He says that the Mueller Farmers’ Market is consistently the one where his products sell out fastest.

Goatilicious has a best-selling

chèvre with its fig and black pepper. But Ragels says his favorite is jalapeño/ artichoke. He also says the cajeta is a popular pick and that many people love the soaps, especially the chaiscented one.

Seasonal Production

Goatilicious only sells milk for six to eight months of the year, beginning around February until late summer and into early fall.

It all depends on when goats give

birth and how many kids they are feeding. All the goats will be dried off in the last three months of their pregnancy, and then the fall/winter milk goes into making cheese.

You can pick up raw milk by appointment at the farm or it can be picked up at the Farmers’ Market. Goatilicious only bottles milk when it is ordered, to ensure that it is the freshest milk possible.

To learn more, visit http:// drinkgoatsmilk.com.

The goats that Robert Ragels raises on his farm allow him to sell milk, cheese, sauce and soap products.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a dual-language teacher, a published author and freelance writer, and contributing editor for Latino magazine.

Ting Lin (left) and Alex Wu share a passion for producing favorite Chinese dishes made with naturally sourced, unprocessed ingredients.

The Tao of Bao

At Bao’d Up, Ting Lin and Alex Wu serve authentic Chinese comfort food for the body and soul.

A Chinese proverb states, “With love, even water is filling, but without, not even food will make you full.”

This notion has resonated with longtime neighbors and friends Ting Lin and Alex Wu, who, respectively, are the executive chef and CEO of Bao’d Up in Mueller.

When they founded their company in 2017, Mueller was on the cusp of blossoming into the vibrant and energetic community it is today.

But it wasn’t quite there yet, so they were taking a chance on their “quaint little hole-in-the-wall storefront on Aldrich Street.”

Since then, they have solidified their spot here in Mueller and further expanded their success throughout Austin.

Cultural Comfort Food

For Lin and Wu, the goal has always been to bring great food to Austin, but their plans went beyond just that.

Their vision was to introduce China’s beloved comfort food, bao, to the West while also honoring culinary flavors found in Wu’s homeland in the province of Fujian in China.

That vision remains the same today. “We continue to celebrate our unique culinary heritage, offering an authentic taste of China’s comfort food, redefined for today’s diverse palate, in a way that resonates with our values and aspirations,” Wu says.

What Is Bao?

Bao consists of soft, steamed buns often derived from vegetables such as red cabbage and carrots that impart iconic, vibrant colors. They are filled with meats such as chicken, brisket and pork.

Lin prides himself on using only naturally sourced, unprocessed ingredients, which give diners a wholesome and healthy dining experience while preserving the authentic flavors of his childhood.

In addition to featuring bao, the menu at Bao’d Up includes Chinese favorites such as soup dumplings, ramen

and signature milk and tea drinks.

“Someday in the future, bao will be as popular as burgers and pizza around the world,” Wu says. “Our goal is to help make that happen one bao at a time!”

Branching Out from Mueller

Until then, Lin and Wu are spreading their delicious, steamed buns throughout Austin. In addition to their Mueller site, they now have Riverside and Sunset Valley locations. They also serve their fan-favorite buns at Q2 Stadium at all Austin FC home games.

Even with the partners’ expanded

reach and success, Mueller will always hold a special place in their hearts. Since it was their original location, it became the blueprint for their future expansion. “Bao is my passion, expertise and soul,” says Lin.

At Bao’d Up, Ling and Wu offer a modern twist on traditional comfort food. They stay true to their mission of making bao the go-to comfort food in Austin.

You can find these delicious treats at their restaurant located at 1911 Aldrich St. or you can place an order online at www.baodup.com.

Texas Meets Italy

Tabitha Ruggiero puts a local spin on terrazzo designs at start-up Hello Housewares.

An entrepreneur is defined as “a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.” This exemplifies Tabitha Ruggiero, owner of local business Hello Housewares.

Ruggiero began her journey seven years ago, operating out of a studio in her garage. She had a passion to craft beautiful products for the home that resonate with people and bring joy to their lives. Her design aesthetic: Texas meets Italy.

That may sound a bit counterintuitive, but Ruggiero makes it work with her twist on terrazzo, a design method named after the town of Terrazzo, Italy.

Opposite page: The Threefold space at Good Dad Studios

local outlets

Hello

Tabitha Ruggiero’s terrazzo designs feature pops of color from multihued chips or materials that are embedded into a molded base.

is among many

where

Housewares products are available.

Terrazzo Tapestries

The idea behind terrazzo is that a base is poured into a mold and then multicolored chips or pieces of materials are mixed in for unexpected pops of color.

Ruggiero incorporates specific color blends into her creations as a nod to her deep-rooted connection to Texas.

“Each one of our designs captures the essence of our community,” she explains. “By exploring the stories behind our terrazzo blends, you’ll uncover a rich tapestry of inspirations, history and sense of place that resonates within our designs.”

Some of her combinations include Moontower, Longhorn, Barton Springs and Bluebonnet.

Hard work and talent moved her forward from a small business out of her home to creating a robust online marketplace and having her creations featured in several Austin locations and outlets. Her wares have been found at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, Parker and Scott, Clover + Maven, Blue Elephant Boutique and even the gift shop at the Blanton Museum of Art.

Inspired by Connections

But it is Ruggiero’s newest venture that is currently keeping her extremely busy.

She recently opened a shop called Threefold with two other locally owned businesses at Good Dad Studios, where the collaborators share the floor with talented artists and craftspeople from across Austin.

In addition to Ruggiero’s terrazzo creations, the shop features Texas-inspired paper goods, handembroidered accessories and a custom hat bar.

Ruggiero’s newfound success keeps her incredibly motivated, but it is the connections with the people she has met along the way and her

community that continue to inspire her. Our Mueller community means the world to her and her family.

“I have never lived in a neighborhood where I have felt so much community as in Mueller,” she says. “The connections I have made and the comfort I feel here are beyond anything I have experienced anywhere else I have lived.”

Her community and her surroundings continue to propel Ruggiero forward as she expands her offerings and reach throughout Austin and beyond. The sky is the limit for her and her talents. In addition to the retail locations mentioned, you can find her creations at https://hellohousewares.com.

Gaining Cats and Dogs

The stray animal population is overwhelming local shelters. Fostering or adopting can ease the influx of pets.

BY SHANNON HOLMES

Austin is an amazing city, and we love calling it our home.

Did you know that more than 27 million people visit Austin every year and over 45,000 decide to put down roots?

But there’s another demographic that calls Austin home: dogs! According to the

American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 190,000 dogs reside in Austin.

However, we have a serious issue that we need to address.

Last year, Austin Animal Center (AAC) admitted over 10,000 dogs and cats, and the majority of these intakes were stray animals.

This influx is causing AAC to run out of space, and it is being forced to house some animals in crates that overflow into offices or hallways.

As members of the Mueller community, we can help solve this issue by adopting or fostering a shelter pet.

Neil

Austin Animal Center had all of these animals available for fostering or adoption at the time of publication.

Zoolander

Marcela

Orzo

Ways to Help

Both adoption and fostering open up kennel space for new intakes that are in desperate need of help. AAC provides invaluable information to those interested in fostering or adopting an animal. You can find further information by visiting www. austintexas.gov/austin-animal-center.

Austin is a no-kill city, and it’s up to us to act and make a difference to prevent an increasing number of animals entering AAC to be euthanasized.

If adoption or fostering is not an option, you can still help by donating to AAC. Your donation can help the organization provide the care needed for these shelter animals. AAC also has an Amazon wish list from which items may be purchased.

Lexi

Rocco Amira

A Rewarding Experience

The Mueller community has over 140 acres of parks, trails and open spaces where you can take a forever pet or foster pet for recreation. These are perfect places to bond and make memories with your furry friend. In addition, the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller is a great place to network and find potential adopters for a foster animal.

As someone who has fostered shelter pups throughout the years, I can tell you that it has been one of the most rewarding

experiences of my life. The enjoyment of fostering is a firsthand experience that has led me to adopt one of my fosters, Milo, in 2020.

We can make a difference together and save the lives of these shelter animals. So let’s take action now—by adopting a shelter pet, fostering an animal, donating to AAC or purchasing items from the organization’s Amazon wish list. Every little bit helps, and we can make a positive impact on the lives of these animals.

Shannon Holmes is a proud Austin native. When not busy with her career as a representative for a radiological company, she teaches the Bible, takes care of her pets, travels the world and fosters adorable pups.

Just-Right Springtime

Mueller residents have lots of opportunities to get out and celebrate the Goldilocks of seasons.

Thanks to our relatively temperate climate, outdoor activity can happen in Mueller almost year-round, but colder winter months and brutal summer temperatures often make it less appealing to be outdoors during those seasons.

But the spring…well, that is just a perfect opportunity to be

outdoors and take it all in.

Mueller is beautiful any time of year, but there is something extra special about spring with the trees coming back to life, flowers blooming in their colorful glory and our residents out and about, enjoying it all. Here are some springtime sights around Mueller to appreciate.

The Secrets Of Children’s Sleep

A guide to eye-opening truths about kids and the effects of too little shut-eye

The baby who wakes you at 3 a.m. The nap-resistant toddler. The teen who texts deep into the night, then sleeps too late in the morning.

For many parents, concerns about when a child should and should not be sleeping begin at birth and don’t end until the child is out of the house—and for good reason.

Sleep is the glue that holds us together, and lack of it contributes to difficulties with learning, memory and emotional control, and causes disruptive behavior, decreased energy and lack of motivation. So how can you help write a better bedtime story for your child?

The Early Years: Babies and Toddlers

Newborns don’t enter the world with an internal clock. Before 3 months of age, baby doesn’t know the difference between day and night. But once they are about 3 months old, you can teach baby to self-soothe and fall asleep without parental presence, and keep to a schedule.

Most babies will take a morning nap and an afternoon nap. Between 1 and 2 years old, the morning nap gradually gets later and becomes the only nap. Since nap time often becomes a battle of wills, how does a parent know when to insist? One guideline is based on your child’s behavior: If a child is 3 years old, doesn’t nap and is a wreck the whole day, then that child still needs a nap.

Having an established sleep routine at night (for example, taking a bath, brushing teeth and reading a book) helps signal the brain that there is about to be a shift to sleep.

Later On: Tweens and Teens

By the teenage years, most kids have evolved from larks (showing a preference for waking early and going to bed early) to owls (staying up later and wanting to sleep later).

A “perfect storm” of sleep-disturbing factors takes place in these years: School starts earlier, kids go to bed later and electronics in the bedroom detract from sleep.

Uneven schedules also play a role. Teens sleep in on weekends, stay up even later on weekend nights and create a bad cycle of morning sluggishness for the beginning of the new school week.

To compensate, many teens go back to taking a nap. Napping can be good if it’s 20 to 40 minutes and if it’s sporadic, but many teens nap after school and then have trouble going to sleep at night. Try to allow no more than two hours’ difference between weekend and weekday bedtimes.

Another problem endemic to this age group: Teens do everything in their bedrooms, including homework, phone calls and social media. That can become bad for sleeping, as teens subconsciously associate the stresses of life with bed instead of looking at bed as a place for sleep and comfort.

Regardless of age, these suggestions can help set the stage for a good night’s sleep.

• Keep the bedroom cool (at a temperature less than 75 degrees), comfortable and quiet.

• Block out as much light as possible.

• Keep electronics out of the room and keep pets out of the bed.

Could It Be a Sleep Disorder?

If your child’s sleep-related behavior is troubling, a sleep disorder is a possibility.

Doctors classify something as a sleep disorder when a lack of sleep seeps into daytime behavior or activities. If you have a child who is snoring three or more days a week or who is exhibiting daytime sleepiness or difficulties in school, speak to your pediatrician or consider seeing a sleep doctor. Diagnosis of a sleep disorder begins with a thorough history and physical exam. For babies and younger kids, keeping a sleep log can be helpful. For teens, a wrist recorder or smartwatch can track this information.

The most common childhood sleep disorders include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea, marked by snoring and feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep.

• Insomnia, which causes trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep.

• Hypersomnia, which causes excessive sleepiness.

• Parasomnia (sleepwalking or sleeptalking).

• Rhythmic body movements. The most common of these is restless leg syndrome, which causes a creepy-crawly feeling in the legs, often mistaken for growing pains.

• Secondary nocturnal enuresis, a form of bed-wetting that develops six months or more after a child has learned to control his or her bladder.

• Delayed sleep phase syndrome, in which sleep is delayed by two or more hours beyond bedtime and thereby causes difficulty waking.

However, most children’s unhealthy sleep patterns can be improved or corrected with simple steps that ensure the bedtime story has a happy—or at least more restful—ending.

PERSPECTIVES

Listen

Poem by Susan Martinello

Listen

to my beehive clock, its tick of minutes, chime and gong of hours, its pendulum loving cajoler through my teens—the old timey pull on my rush, the comfort of rubbed walnut,

surely crafted by a joyful man and sturdy whose well-versed hands read the wood’s grain, who hummed as he sawed making his careful kerf cuts, who smiled to remember honey’s taste,

the harvest from hives woven of straw and wicker, the same shape into which he eased veneers to curve and meet at gentle point, this shelter he sent to Seth Thomas, this hive for brass gears

and spiral springs I’ve wound for sixty years to catch the muffled hum of abiding bees.

Mueller resident Susan Martinello’s poems have appeared various publications and anthologies, and her book “Gears of Time” was issued in 2020 by Negative Capability Press.