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CONTENTS MARCH 2018
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42 OUR COVER Cowboy Szymanski forges a knife a Phenix Knives in Bellville. Photo by Christina Stewart
In Every Issue
Features
8 Rural Ramblings 12 Travel + Leisure 42 Relics of Yesterday
9 REMEMBERING A HOGG Varner-Hogg Plantation honors Texas first native-born governor.
46 Garden Basics 48 Recipes 52 Cafés Across Texas
12 A TEXAS ORIGINAL Family honors Bellville icon Buck Fergeson 37 SPRING OUTING Beautiful Texas churches make for a great road trip. 44 FRESH FROM THE GARDEN Larry and Sara Bruce turn garden into farmto-table restaurant.
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EDITOR’S WELCOME
CHRISTINA STEWART
Getting to know you
www.texasfarmandhome.com VOLUME 8 • NUMBER 6 MANAGING EDITORS Christina Cutler Stewart, cstewart@texasfarmandhome.com Wayne Stewart, wstewart@texasfarmandhome.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Linda Moffett, Jolene Renfro ADVERTISING SALES Department Linda Moffett, Promotions Manager lmoffett@texasfarmandhome.com 512-966-9426 Ansel Bradshaw, sales ab@texasfarmandhome.com 936-546-6707 Rhonda Bush, sales rhondab@texasfarmandhome.com DISTRIBUTION Randy Rollo SUBSCRIPTIONS Lesia Rounsavall, lrounsavall@messenger-news.com 936-687-2424 or Texas Farm & Home, P.O. Box 130, Grapeland TX, 75844
EDITORIAL/SALES OFFICES: 202 South Main St., Grapeland, TX 75844. TEXAS FARM & HOME is published monthly by Nicol Publishing Company L.L.C., Copyright 2018. Subscription price: $24.95 a year (12 issues). Reproduction without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.
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I am one of the world’s worst about communicating with people. If there is anyone who may hate talking on the phone worse than Wayne, it might be me. Well, I don’t mind talking as long as someone calls me, I just don’t like doing the calling, I never know quite how to start the conversation. I’m not one to write either. We usually send out Christmas cards the week before Christmas, Wayne and I will split duties on that. Now that Claire can write well, I’ll start getting her to dictate for me. Now, even though I may not like to call folks, or to write, I do enjoy hearing from people. I enjoy talking to people at church and getting to know them and see what’s going on in their lives. I’m having to take on that role more now as Wayne is serving as an interim pastor. We’ve fallen in love with the people at the church and it’s always amazing to have people that may have been strangers a few weeks before suddenly become close family members and we’ve grown to love every one of them. With that being said I also enjoy hearing from our readers. We also are like family members in many ways. Wayne and I talk about our family using this forum all the time and many of you have gotten to know us through the magazine. The thing is, we don’t get to know all of our readers, so that’s why we love getting correspondence from them, so we can share in their lives as well. Dear Texas Farm & Home, We picked up a copy of your magazine at a local restaurant today (The Feed Mill in Gatesville.) The articles you wrote about Floyd Salmon was great! We had only heard about his death a couple of weeks ago. We attended Bluegrass Festivals at Salmon Lake Park for many years. Floyd and Fannie always treated all of us (pickers and listeners alike) with a feeling of love and respect. We are too old to travel very much, but sure have some fond memories of our Bluegrass days. Thanks again for the article. Really like your magazine. Maybe we will be able to do Brenham during bluebonnet season. Sincerely, Ruth E. McGaugh Dear Texas Farm & Home, Thank you for a wonderful and interesting magazine that I can’t wait to receive each month! We don’t realize how many beautiful places and events we have in our own state. I wish I could travel to every one of them! I’ve really learned a lot about the history of Texas along with an insight into so many fascinating individuals. Good Luck in 2018. Theresa Schultz P.S. You may be interested in Needville. Each year Needville Youth Fair in April and Needville Harvest Festival in October, both support our community and raise funds for student scholarships. Dear Wayne, I just read your article about my father, Floyd Salmon in the February issue of Texas Farm & Home. I don’t even know where to begin to express my appreciation to you for honoring my father in that way. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind words, your faith in what he did and accomplished for not only himself and his family but for our community as well. I especially want to thank you for sharing the plan of salvation in this same article about my dad. We had conversations about The Lord here and there over time, and although he quit going to church a long time ago, I don’t doubt his faith or relationship with Jesus. Thank you so much Wayne, Sincerely, Carolyn Salmon Kazmierczak
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RURAL RAMBLINGS
WAYNE STEWART
Welcoming Spring Spring is here, almost, and it is a welcome friend after the winter we had around our neck of Texas. Christina and I have been married 16 years, almost, and have been burning wood for our heat for 14 of those years, and we burned more wood this year than we have in any year of those past 14. I didn’t lay up as much this year as the past few winters were quite warm so I got to thinking winter only lasted a week or so, well, God sent winter back to us and it stuck around, and around, and around. Christina and I are still young, relatively, but with each candle we add to our birthday cake, we like the cold a bit less. The kids, though, I don’t know how they survive. It can be frigid outside, in the 50s (that’s frigid to me these days) Sam’s out splashing through mud puddles with a t-shirt, shorts and his ubiquitous rubber boots. I’m on the porch, got a heavy coat on, holding on to a hot cup of coffee and ask him, “Aren’t you cold, boy?” He looks at me and says, “It’s not cold out here.” I shake my head, go in, and stand in front of the heater and long for the days when the cold didn’t bite quite so hard. Don’t worry, though, there’s no move to sunny Florida, I mean I live in East Texas, why would I want to move somewhere even more hot and humid. Of course, when it’s 10 degrees outside, it is tempting, but not quite enough to go there, much less move there. Summer awaits, just around the corner, lurking in the weeds, waiting to pounce and bathe us in 100-degree heat once again. Of course, never one to be happy, I will complain about that, too. We complain about a lot, don’t we, yet we have so much that’s been given to us. Most of us do not
even realize how much has been given us. We take it for granted. We have food that we don’t have to work months to bring out of the ground, we have a roof over our head and don’t have to go to the woods and chop down trees and whatnot for shelter, nor do we have to seek out caves when the weather turns nasty. We live in a relatively free society, we take it all for granted. In Ephesians 1:4, Paul tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” God gave us so much, He’s given us every blessing we could ever need, and that’s His Son, Jesus Christ. To be sure, there are people who find themselves, for whatever reason, in bad situations; whether by their own decisions or from outside forces, but Jesus is there, saying, “I am the way out of your trouble;” the troubles may not go away, but your ability to persevere and live through them lies in the nail-scarred hands of the object of our faith — Jesus Christ — and not in your own machinations. Jesus is everything we need. Whether you believe it or not, He is everything.
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HISTORY + HERITAGE
VARNER-HOGG
Plantation to celebrate 60th anniversary
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ear the Gulf Coast town of West Columbia, one of the finest plantation sites in Texas still beckons people to its serene landscape to go back in time to before Texas was born. The Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, named after its first owner Martin Varner and Texas’ first native-born governor James Hogg, who later bought the plantation, served as a rum distillery and a sugar mill, with its large sugarcane-growing operation. Columbus Patton, who bought the plantation in 1834, grew the sugar-making industry on the plantation. As it got more expensive to produce the sought-after commodity when slavery was abolished with the Civil War, the plantation’s focus turned to cotton, but that proved difficult as well. In 1876 the Texas Land Co. purchased the plantation and turned it into a cattle ranching operation. Former Texas Gov. James Hogg pur
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chased what was left of the plantation in 1901, believing oil to be below the surface of the land. It was never found during his lifetime, but his prophecy proved true and the land made his children wealthy. Ima Hogg, the governor’s daughter, donated the plantation site to Texas, forever preserving the rich heritage of the site. The Varner-Hogg Plantation has three special events scheduled for March, all on March 24. They include Governor Hogg’s Easter Egg Hunt; Governor Hogg’s Birthday Party; and the Varner-Hogg Plantation’s 60th Anniversary Celebration. The Easter Egg Hunt is set to run from 10 a.m. to noon at the plantation. The Easter Bunny is expected to be there to along with story time and photographs with Governor Hogg. Separate hunts will be held for different
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age groups throughout the morning. Check the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site website for information and times. While not hunting Easter eggs, celebrate Gov. Hogg’s birthday; it’s his 167th. Originally born near Rusk in Cherokee County, Hogg, served as the first native-born governor of Texas. He became a large man in the life of Texas, both in politics and in real life. See an actor play the governor on the grounds of the plantation, enjoy some cake and punch and play some historic games on the lawn of the stately home, while there, learn the role Hogg played in Texas and some of his greatest accomplishments, one of which was making Texas an important cog in the country’s rail system. The governor’s birthday party is set to run from 2 to 4 p.m. March 24 also marks the anniversary of Ima Hogg, the governor’s last surviving child, donating the plantation and the land to the state of Texas. It officially opened to the public in 1958. Refreshments will be served all to the music of the 1950s. The house will be open for visitors, who are encouraged to dress in their best 1950s outfits. The anniversary celebration is set to run from 6 to 8 p.m. The Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site is located at 1702 North 13th St. in West Columbia, located south of Houston in Brazoria County. The main house was built in 1835 and is a fine example of Greek Revival Architecture. It briefly served as a holding place for Santa Anna after his capture after the Battle of San Jacinto. The plantation also featured several outbuildings such as a smokehouse, sugar mill, slave quarters, barn, stables and more. Many of those buildings were damaged or destroyed during the great hurricane of 1900, before Gov. Hogg purchased the property the following year.
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TRAVEL + LEISURE
Buck Fergeson Bronze
Buck Fergeson Originals
Buck Fergeson Originals
Bellville’s Buck Fergeson RODEO COWBOY TURNED ARTIST LEFT MARK ON SPORT AND HIS HOME TOWN. NOW FAMILY KEEPING HIS LEGACY ALIVE.
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here’s no mentioning Bellville without thoughts turning to rodeo stalwart and renowned artist Buck Fergeson. Mr. Fergeson passed in 2010, but his daughter Kerri Byler and her husband Bill keep his memory alive through their store, Buck Fergeson’s Originals, and a museum honoring Buck’s legacy. “Buck’s dad was big into rodeo, he had rodeo acts, Buck’s dad started the monkey riding on the Border Collie,” Mr. Byler said. “Buck came up through that. He was a bull rider and in the pro rodeo.” In the 1970s Buck found his passion in art, specifically rodeo art. He became a noted sculptor and his work was presented to the winners of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year. His work garnered him national fame and earned him a place in the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in Belton.
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Buck Fergeson Originals
Bill and Kerri Byler, daughter of Buck Fergeson and owners of Buck Fergeson Originals
E.O. Finn Building
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TRAVEL + LEISURE Back nearly 30 years ago he opened the Buck Fergeson Originals in Bellville where Mr. Fergeson worked on his art, plus displayed it, along with jewelry and other items. Kerri joined the business about 20 years ago and she brought a fresh look at it and introduced Western décor and clothing. “We wanted to keep this generational thing going,” Kerri Byler said. “My dad became famous for his bronzes; he was in rodeo, our children rodeo and they married rodeo people. My daughter married Caleb Smidt, (calf and team roping) who won the Houston Rodeo last year. “If dad would have been alive he would have gotten one of his sculptures,” Mrs. Byler added. Caleb is active in rodeo with a strong faith in God, and that is shared by his family and is seen in the work the family did in preserving the memory of Buck as they worked to restore the old building in which it was located. Now, the store features a clothing boutique, a baby registry and other Western décor. It also has a bar for the men to come and sit and soak in the atmosphere while browsing through a museum dedicated to Buck Fergeson, his father and the family’s rodeo legacy, all while viewing many of his bronzes and other pieces of art, that turned Buck Fergeson into a rodeo artist icon. The redesign work on the Buck Fergeson Originals building finally was completed in the fall, after a lot of work. “We wanted to make something historical here and draw people to Bellville, like the Fort Worth Stockyards,” Mrs. Byler said. “There’s a lot of rodeo history not just in our family, but in Bellville, we want to show that.” The couple also owns the E.O. Finn Building and the 1891 Blacksmith Shop, which is the home of Phenix Knives and Cowboy Szymanski who makes some of the finest forged knives in the country. They are working tirelessly to bring the history of Bellville, the county seat of Austin County, back to the forefront. The E.O. Finn building, built according to plans provided by Studebaker, served as a wagon and carriage dealership, with the blacksmith shop next door being where they were put together. “The E.O. Finn building, the old carriage house, was a dealership for Studebaker wagons,” Mr. Byler said. “It was designed in Indiana and it featured an indoor well and featured a lot of 14
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TRAVEL + LEISURE special features.” The old building was constructed in 1886 by E.O. Finn and John Colleton. Finn was a German immigrant, blacksmith, wagon maker and much more, while Colleton was a brick maker who made most of the bricks for the historic buildings around downtown Bellville. Stucco was placed over the bricks and made to look like stone. Wagons, buggies, carriages, har-
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ness and more were sold on the first floor while the owners lived on the upper floor, common for businesses back in the late 1800s. A cistern on the ceiling of the second floor bathroom collected rain water which was then piped to the bathtub, sink and commode. These two buildings, the blacksmith shop and the E.O. Finn building are located on the opposite side E.O. Finn Building of the Austin County Courthouse as the Buck Fergeson Originals building. As for Buck Fergeson Originals, it’s one of the premiere Western wear and Western décor shops in Texas. Now the third generation is coming into the business as Kerri’s daughter Lynette brings her newer ideas into the business. “Buck would be excited to see three generations in the business,” Kerri Byler said. “I think he’s up there smiling looking down to see what’s going on.”
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Cowboy Szymanski of Bellville
Famed smiths to converge on Bellville Some of the best smiths in the nation will converge on Bellville on Saturday April 7, for the first Texas Select Forged in Fire at Cowboy Szymanski’s Phenix Knives. “We have 17 smiths coming in,” Cowboy said. “We’ll have open hammering, customer interactions, leather workers and two question and answer sessions.” Many of the smiths have won, or been featured on The History Channel’s
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series Forged in Fire, of which Cowboy Szymanski appeared on the first season. “We can have a fireside chat and the smiths can tell what it was like to be on the show,” Cowboy said. “We’re trying to be as interactive as we can.” T-shirts will be for sale and guests can get their shirts autographed by some of the best smiths across the land. Some of the scheduled smiths include
Cowboy Szymanski, along with fellow Forged in Fire guests Christ Farrell, Guy Harris, Tobin Nieto, James Helm, James Huse, Don Halter and many more. For aspiring smiths, this is a great time to come, watch and learn from the best up close and personal. They will have the chance to purchase forged knives and other items from the smiths. They can also tour the E.O. Finn building located next door and known as the Carriage House. Also at the event will be Lonestar Knifemakers Supply, giving would-be smiths a chance to buy some products to help them get started in this ancient endeavor. Cowboys Szymanski and Phenix Knives donated a custom knife forged from meteorite and items from the International Space Station to be raffled to support and raise funds for the Engineering, Science & Technology Booster Club for summer science camp. For those visiting Bellville be sure and stop by Market Day on the Square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the Farmer’s Market from 9 a.m. to noon and tour the Austin County Jail Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phenix Knives is housed in the 1891 Blacksmith Shop located at 305 E. Main St. The Texas Select Forged in Fire event is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 7.
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German Heritage
Tomball celebrates its roots March 23-25 with German food, beer and wine, a petting zoo, performers and more Get a little German for three days in March at Tomball’s annual German Festival. The German Festival is held in Old Town Tomball and includes four music stages; more than 200 street vendors; lots and lots of German food, beer and wine; a petting zoo; street performers; arts and crafts; antiques and so much more on the streets of this special town in northern Harris County. This year’s festival is set for March 23 through 25 and is held near 201 S. Elm St. near the historical train depot plaza. It all began 18 years ago when the first German Festival was just getting started.
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“We (Tomball) have a German sister city called Telgte,” said German Festival organizer Grady Martin. “People forget that Tomball was one of the original German cities of Texas. “After Texas won its independence Steven Austin and Sam Houston wanted good, European stock to help built Texas up, so they would sell land for dirt cheap for $1 and acre. There were two major ports in Texas at the time, one in Galveston and one in Indianola. “The Germans who came into Galveston came in and settled in northwest Harris County, which is where Tomball is today. It was good farm land. We knew people were losing sight of the fact that Tomball is a Texas-German town, it was a doorway to the German Belt in Texas,” Mr. Martin added. The city and festival organizers took a patient approach to the festival to allow it to grow. So for that first festival, using a loaned flatbed trailer they got a German band to come and perform. “We got them cheap,” Mr. Martin joked. “Those bands are busy in the fall 20
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with the Oktober festivals. We didn’t do much that first year or those first few years… We took baby steps and decided to not get in a hurry and after 18 years it’s now one of the largest festivals in Texas.” It’s even expanded into two festivals. The German Festival is held in March, normally between the ending of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Easter. About 10 years ago, Mr. Martin said the mayor of Tomball asked if they could do another German festival in December for Christmas. It too, has become a hit with the community and the visitors who come to it. Now, tens of thousands come to the German Festival over the course of the three years. Mr. Martin said the festival has something for the entire family. There’s German entertainment on four different stages, with headliner being Grammy nominated Alex Meixner headlining. There’s traditional folk dancers, street performers and more helping people have a good time on the streets of downtown Tomball. There’s a carnival and an area for kids to have some fun. There’s also a whole bunch of arts and crafts vendors selling German 22
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themed items and souvenirs. Of course there’s the food which will feature traditional German favorites and the ubiquitous fair foods like funnel cakes and sausage on a stick. To learn more about all the happenings at Tomball’s German Festival, visit the website at www.tomballgermanfest. com.
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WHERE THE DOGWOODS BLOOM PALESTINE TO HOST 80TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL Spring is here and that means the dogwoods are in bloom, and the trails around the picturesque East Texas town of Palestine are full of these forest favorites.
This year marks Palestine’s 80th annual Dogwood Trails Festival that spans three weekends from March 23 through April 8. Along with the dogwoods, enjoy a ride on the historic Texas State Railroad, as it travels through the East Texas countryside between Palestine and Rusk. The festival also boasts the Palestine Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival, the Main Street Farm & Flower Market and a live production by the historic Texas Theatre.
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The first weekend of the festival always is a rousing bout of fun. From the Dogwood Trails Festival Parade, to the arts and crafts festival that follows in downtown Palestine, all that takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday March 24. Also, don’t miss the People’s Choice Car Show to see some of the finest machines on wheels. In what has become one of the most popular events at the Dogwood Trails Festival, is the Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival. This special music festival runs from Thursday, March 22 through Saturday, March 24 at the Museum for East Texas Culture located in Reagan Park, at 400 Micheaux St., south of downtown Palestine.
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This is one of the most interactive music festivals around and features workshops to help those who love to play old time music, or want to learn to play some instruments used in old time music. Professional musicians from around the country come to attend the festival, to teach and to perform. Several concerts are held for the public throughout the music festival and provide a lot of entertainment. Several things are happening around Palestine throughout the opening weekend, and all three weekends of the festival. Some of the events include tours of the historic Redlands Hotel from 11 am. To 2 p.m. each Friday and Saturday of the three-weekend event. On March 23 through 24, rodeo fans can visit the Boston Porter Memorial Rodeo held at the Anderson County Livestock Pavilion located on U.S. 287. The Anderson County Master Gardeners hold their annual tree and plant sale on March 24, and is held in the Federal Building parking lot in downtown Palestine. Palestine has some of the finest churches in all of East Texas, with some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in the state. Stained Glass tours will be held throughout the Dogwood Trails Celebration. Churches on the tour include Sacred Heart Catholic Church; St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and First Christian Church. On Sunday, March 25, don’t miss more historic entertainment with the Gingerbread and Coffee at Pilgrim Church and Cemetery from 2 to 4 p.m. Learn about the legendary Parker family, from whom the last great
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TRAVEL + LEISURE Comanche Chief Quanah Parker descended. Pilgrim Church is located south of Elkhart on FM 861 in Anderson County. It is the oldest Baptist church in Texas, and may well have been the first Protestant church in Texas when it was founded in 1833. The second weekend includes more fun, including most of the tours held throughout the first weekend. Special events for the second weekend include 6th Annual Easter Event at Texas Vineyard & Smokehaus. This family-friendly event includes a visit from the Easter Bunny and an Easter Egg Hung on three egg fields. Prizes will be awarded. Events begin at 1:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per family. The third weekend of the celebration includes a presentation of The Little Shop of Horrors, presented by the Historic Texas Theatre. Performances will be given on April 6, 7 and 8 and also the following weekend. Head to Reagan Park for Classic Movies in the Park, around dark weather permitting. Of course beautiful Davey Dogwood Park will be open throughout the festival where visitors can drive through miles of trails lined with beautiful dogwood trees in their splendorous best. Davey Dogwood Park is located north of Palestine at 900 N. Link St. For more on everything happening during the Palestine’s annual Dogwood Trails Celebration, visit www. texasdogwoodtrails.com.
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Family-friendly entertainment F
Walker County Fair & Rodeo April 6 - 14
rom April 6 through 14 all eyes in and around Huntsville are turned toward the Walker County Fair & Rodeo. Events for the fair include the annual livestock show and other 4H and FFA projects Walker County students. A Fair Queen contest, and all the things a great festival needs to provide a ton of family-friendly entertainment including a carnival that will run throughout the days of the annual fair. There’s a petting zoo for the kids throughout the fair. Barbecue and chili lovers will enjoy the BBQ/Chili Cookoff from on Friday, April 13 and 14. There’s also a domino tournament that day. There also will be a quilt show on April 14 and live musical entertainment featuring Rick Trevino. The Walker County Fair PRCA Rodeo happens on April 5, 6, 7 and 11.
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There’s live entertainment throughout the week of the fair, including an opening performance by Rick Trevino on March 31; Tejano Day Dance will be held on Saturday April 1; and a Black Heritage Day Dance held on Saturday April 14. On April 8, the fair holds its annual Freezer Sale, which allows kids who did not make the top 15 with their animal project to sell their livestock. The price is capped at the lowest price from the Premium Sale. Other youth items also will be made available at the sale. On April 6 there will be a Special Kids Rodeo where local Walker County students can come to the Walker County Fairgrounds and interact with the PRCA Cowboys and Clowns. There also will be stick horse races, horseback
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riding, roping, barrel bucking bull riding and much more. The Walker County Fair Association was formed in 1978 to bring back the youth-centered agriculture activity missing from the area since the 1950s. Over the years since, the annual fair has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of scholarships to Walker County youth. For more about all the events and happenings at the Walker County Fair & Rodeo, visit their website at www. walkercountyfair.com.
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Photos courtesy of the Tyler County Dogwood Festival
Wooodland Beauty F
Tyler county gearing up for three-weekend celebration of the Dogwood
or three weekends every spring Woodville celebrates the dogwood and its beautiful woodland blooms, but it’s much more than that during the weekends of March 24; March 30; and April 7. It all begins with the Festival of the Arts, that starts Friday, March 23 with the Denim and Dogwoods Gala. The fun resumes Saturday, March 24 at Heritage Village with a tour of its historic grounds; a Dogwood Festival Exhibit; Spinning and Weaving demonstration; a quilt show; a buggies and wagon exhibit; chair caning and cattail rush weaving demonstration and the railroad museum. Heritage Village is full of East Texas history from the late 1800s and early 1900s and features historic cabins, a church, the Collier Store, a blacksmith shop and much more. The Pickett House Restaurant also features some of the best home-style cooking around, served boarding house style. Eat from such Southern delicacies as chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, country vegetables, cobbler, biscuits, cornbread and so much more. On the Sunday of the opening weekend head to Heritage Village for Dinner
on the Grounds from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, head to the Village Street Bed and Breakfast for Royal Tea from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for dinner on the grounds are $10 for adults and for $5 for children under 12. The second weekend of Woodville’s Tyler County Dogwood Festival, is one of the most popular as it’s Western Weekend. Friday, March 30 features trailrides and a rodeo that begins at 7 p.m The Tyler County Dogwood Festival Rodeo is sponsored by the Woodville Lions Club. Rodeo events will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31. Saturday also features to the Trailride Parade, as people on horseback and in wagons make their way to Woodville. The parade begins at 2 p.m. and travels from downtown Woodville to the Tyler County 4H/FFA Rodeo Arena. The third weekend of the Tyler County Dogwood Festival is the Queen’s Weekend. All the events that weekend center around Saturday, April 7 and features the Dogwood Dash, which is a 10K and 5K run. There also is the Big Thicket Arts & Crafts Fair, which also takes place during the Western Weekend as well.
The crafts fair is held in the parking lot of Citizens State Bank. There also is a motorcycle and classic car exhibit; a Queen’s Parade through downtown Woodville; followed by the coronation and historical play, held outdoors at the Dogwood Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. For more on all the happenings of the Tyler County Dogwood Festival, visit their website at www.tylercountydogwoodfestival.org.
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SAUSAGE MAKING CONTEST
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Arts & Crafts, Dancing, Music and more on tap at SAUSAGEFEST If you love sausage, then Schulenburg is the place to be on Saturday, April 14. This festival celebrates the Czech and German heritage of the people living in and around the Schulenburg area in the southern reaches of Fayette County. What makes this festival unique, is its centerpiece, the sausage. Sausage makers will gather and make their sausage from scratch there on the beautiful streets of Schulenburg. They also have a contest on who can make the best wine, pickles and sauerkraut. Some of the sausage categories include smoked sausage, fresh sausage, klobasniki, sausage-based concoctions, dried sausage and everything but the oink (items like head sausage, boudin and others.) Of course the day has lots of live entertainment with plenty of polka music setting the mood for all the delicious food found at this unique festival. Some of the scheduled bands include the Moravians, Czechaholics, Mark Halata and Texavia and Los Kolaches. To go along with the traditional Czech and German favorites, there will be an arts and crafts fair for visitors to browse through as they sample the delectable delights. All the fun kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Schulenburg. To learn more about the Schulenburg Sausage Fest, visit their website at www.schulenburgsausagefest.com. 34
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Antique tractor & engine show The East Texas Antique Tractor & Engine Club will hold its annual antique tractor and engine show on April 20 and 21 at the Rusk County Youth Expo Center in Henderson, located on FM 13 off of Loop 571. The show will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. It will feature antique tractor pulls, tractor games, lots of antique equipment and demonstrations. Also on hand will be tool displays, hit and miss engines issuing their distinctive pop, pop, pop across the expo grounds. There also will be a sawmill demonstration, antique hay baling demonstrations and even a tractor parade on Saturday of the show. This family-friendly event is a great way to introduce kids to the love of old and antique machinery. For lovers of vintage and antique trucks there will be a display of vintage trucks by an area truck club. For information on all that’s happening at this annual event, call 903-889-2671.
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Spring Outing TAKE A ROAD TRIP AND EXPLORE SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES THAT DOT THE TEXAS LANDSCAPE
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xploring historic churches is one of our favorite pastimes at Texas Farm & Home. Texas has many different churches featuring a plethora of architectural styles. Many are famous, and many more should be. You will notice all the churches featured are Catholic churches, there’s no bias there, it’s just these churches have unparalleled architectural features, which make them a draw. Schulenburg, and Fayette County are famous for their painted churches, like the one above and to the right in Ammansville, between Schulenburg and Fayetteville. The airy nature of the architecture and the vibrant colors reflect the Czech heritage of the community. Other churches, like St. Joseph’s in New Waverly has a Polish flair. Still others, like Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the East Texas town of Palestine, features a very distinct architecture separate from the rest. Most of the churches we have featured are of Czech, German and Polish in nature, but the one in Palestine is distinctly Irish. It has Irish saints featured on the ornate stained glass windows. The crosses have a distance Gaelic flare, and so does the heavy, dark wood ornamentation inside the church, reflecting the Irish culture brought
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into the town by the railroad workers. Tours are given of the historic church during Palestine’s annual Dogwood Trails Celebration. Photos of the church can be seen on the facing page. Top left is the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Waverly. At top right is the St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Dubina, in Fayette County. Above is St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill; and above right and to the right is St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brenham. The Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce offers tours of the Painted Churches in the surrounding area. Also, towns like Anderson, Chappell Hill, Plantersville and others feature distinctive Polish churches and architecture. So enjoy spring by exploring the faith communities of this great state.
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TEXAS EVENTS
Antiques, folk festivals and more WECHES
Folk Festival The Mission Tejas State Park will hold its annual Folk Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28. On display will be folk crafts and occupations demonstrated by folks in period costumes. Presentations may include the one room school, quilting, tool making and use, chair making, trapper camps, fire making, weaving, spinning & beading, soap making & laundry,Civil War exhibits, Texas Ranger history, El Camino Real routes and history, daily early pioneer life and much more! Doc’s BBQ will provide barbecue and The Jacksonville Jammers will play music.
CROCKETT
Annual Spring Flower Sale The Annual Spring Flower Sale hosted by the Crockett Garden Club will be
on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Old Filling Station across from First United Methodist Church of Crockett. Renew your flower beds for spring and summer enjoyment. Money made from the sale goes into community beautification projects.
GRANDVIEW Antique Alley
April 20-22 Grandview Antique Alley Texas and 30+ miles of SCATTERED sales...AntiqueAlleyTexas.com family friendly “treasure hunt” 817-666-5024
HUNTSVILLE:
Antiques, Herbs and Bacon March 10-11 Rusty Chippy Vintage Hippy & Garden Show Held indoors at the air- conditioned Walker County Fairgrounds, this show brings an antique, vintage, and re-purposed wonderland to this little corner of East Texas. Walker County Fairgrounds, 3925 SH 30. huntsvilletexas.com 936-291-9726
March 17 Herb Festival at the Wynne Home Herbs, perennials, pollinator plants, and vegetables for sale. Vendors, speakers, music, artists, and children’s activities. Wynne Home Arts Center, 1428 11th St. texasthymeunit.org 936-891-5024 March 24 Bacon & Brew Fest Expect to see multiple bacon vendors, beers from different Texas breweries, a concert, a 5K, and much more at the inaugural event. Historic Downtown Square, 1203 University Ave. huntsvillemainstreet.com 936-291-9726
BURTON
Rangers and Antiques March 17 Texas Ranger Day Celebrate Burton’s history and honor former and current Texas Rangers with a day full of activities including tasty food, live action by the Old West Rangers, kids activities, and more. Burton Railroad Depot, 507 N. Railroad St. burtonheritagesociety.org/celebrate 979-353-0050 March 30-April 7 LaBahia Antiques Dealers across the country will provide antiques, collectibles, vintage, and repurpose items at the show. Free admission and parking. LaBahia Hall, 550 SH 237. labahiaantiques.com 979289-2684
SPRING SpringFest March 24-25 SpringFest What began as a Texas wine and art show has evolved to so much more. This year’s event will be adding a new twist with a home and garden show—visit the demonstration area for DIY project inspiration. Walk the shop-lined streets of Old Town Spring as you taste craft beers and wines from coast to coast, eat delicious foods, shop the local craft vendors and town shops, and see a demonstration or crafting class while listening to great music. Preservation Park, 130 Spring School Road. oldtownspring.com 281-353-9310
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TRAVEL + LEISURE
Round Top Spring Antiques 2018 EVENTS BEGIN MARCH 23 AND RUNS THROUGH APRIL 8
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ound Top’s Spring Antique Show begins Thursday March 23 and runs through Sunday April 8 at several locations throughout the greater-Round Top area include Warrenton, Odenburg, Carmine, Burton and other locales in and around Fayette County. Beyond antiques shopping Round Top offers a wide variety of fun activities including spas, fine restaurants, art galleries and other offerings sure to please guests to this town of just 90 people. The Big Red Barn has been there since the beginning, and Round Top Vintage also has been a long-time staple of the spring and fall antique shows in Round Top. Carmine, just 7 miles from Round Top, comes alive with several shows in and around the town. Shows are held at the Carmine Dance Hall, also La Bahia, right off of U.S. 290 on the way to Round Top holds a large antiques show. The town of Carmine turns into an antique show during this special time in the life of Fayette County. Search for and find things like old railroad lamps, outdoors goodies, old firefighting equipment, antique toys and plenty of other thing to pique a collector’s interest. Carmine is located at the intersection of Spur 458 and U.S. Highway 290 and is home to several different antique stores. Be sure to stop by Unique Antiques, Stoney Creek and many more venues sure to have
something every shopper needs, while there enjoy a great meal at JW’s Steakhouse. The Carmine Dance Hall Show features free admission and parking in this air conditioned venue and offers barbecue and other refreshments. The hall offers a variety of antiques from across the country including plenty of country store items, and is considered one of the best shows in the Round Top area. The County Line Antique Show is one of the newest hot spots for Antiques Week, according to Show Daily, a publication for the Round Top area. It features more than 100 dealers spaces along with food vendors. Admission to the show is free, along with free parking. If features air conditioned buildings with outdoor vendors as well. The County Line is located at the intersection of Spur 458 and FM 237. From March 17 through April, do not miss Grace’s Treasure Hunt Antique Show, located at the Carmine Y. Some of the vendors for this show include Matter of Taste Catering Co. and Best Friends Forever Antiques. For more on all the antique events over that three week span in March and April, visit the Round Top Area Chamber of Commerce website at roundtop.org.
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RELICS OF YESTERDAY SEARCHING FOR ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES & VINTAGE FINDS WITH LINDA
“Come Dig Our Stuff” Armadillo Emporium owners and Siblings, Julee and Andy Emmons have a lot of talent to offer In the heart of downtown Fairfield, on the corner of Mount and Commerce St. owned and operated by a brother and sister team, sits Armadillo Emporium. Inside Armadillo one will find several local vendor booths from which to browse and find those cute, charming and unique items along with some one of a kind jewelry, adorable gift items, antiques, vintage toys, reclaimed furniture, re-purposed home decor, yard art and much more. Opening their doors in 2012, owners, Julee and Andy Emmons recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of Armadillo Emporium and was named Business of the Month by Fairfield Chamber of Commerce in December 2017. They are open every Tuesday through Saturday and you can pretty much always find one of them on hand to help you and sometimes mom (Linda Emmons) will be filling in or helping out. Not only is this brother and sister team very business minded and share in ownership of the Armadillo, they are also both very talented. Julee spends much of her time creating her beautiful, handcrafted jewelry, Juls by Jul, a business that she started in the 1990’s, working on her jewelry while pursuing her degree in Fashion Merchandising. You can find her work displayed in the
front of the store where it has been since 1998 before the Emporium opened its doors in 2012. Andy Emmons, brother and partner is known for his ContempoLINDA MOFFETT rary Folk Art and displays art and vintage collectibles in his booth in the Armadillo. Andy, being himself a well known Texas Folk Art painter and sculptor offers painting lessons several times a month. You can contact Andy at the store for more details on the classes which are $30 each for adults and $20 for children under 12. This establishment is truly an Emmons family affair and everyone contributes....Linda brings her beautiful home decor to the equation which is displayed in “Linda’s Gifts” and she also helps to run the store when needed. Make it a point when traveling down I-45 or just out looking for those special finds to stop in and browse: Armadillo Emporium Antique mall located at 101 W. Commerce St. Fairfield, Texas. Julee & Andy invite you to “Come Dig Our Stuff”!
Julee and Andy Emmons ( Sister and brother owners of Armadillo Emporium, Fairfield Texas)
Charming and Unique 5 Variety of Antiques: For unique and one-of-a-kind items visit Armadillo Emporium 101 W. Commerce, Fairfield; FB or Instagram @armadilloemporium or call 903-389-3336.
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Dating back to the 1890s
Pretty and Porcelain
5 Variety of Antiques: This majestic oak side-
5 Variety of Antiques: Granny’s Korner in
board buffet dates back to the 1890s has its original bevel mirrored top. This piece is in gorgeous condition and exudes its quality and character of its 120 years. The stories it could tell. It can be found at Nana’s Main Street Cottage, 314 Main Street, Tomball, TX (www.facebook.com/nanasmainstreetcottage)
Historic Antique District of Tomball is the place to find this antique porcelain top island on wheels and a fabulous metal bread bin. Granny’s Korner is located at 201 Market St., Tomball, TX 77375. 281-351-8903 or www.grannyskorner.com. Shop Granny’s for Antiques, Home Décor and Much More!
Corner Cupboard 4 Wood and Pewter: A wonderful early corner cupboard in a mustard yellow paint and a antique pewter teapots basin and cups can be found at Hodges Farm Antiques at Nothing Ordinary Antique Mall, located at 123 East Main Street, Bellville, TX. Follow Hodges Farm Country Antiques on Facebook or call 979-8659077 or 979-865-0895 for more information on their upcoming antiques show.
Dual Purpose 5 Circa 1920: This bench is a youth/toddler bed that also can be used as a bench. It comes with removable ladder sides. c1920s Find this and other antiques and home décor at Alternatives, 21S. Bell, Bellville 77418; phone: 832-264-0917; deborah.connell@gmail. com
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Fresh from the Garden Larry Bruce Gardens offers home-grown goodness Fresh from the garden, every day, that’s what
makes a meal at Larry Bruce Gardens something special, because most of it comes from the many gardens on the beautiful grounds. Larry, and his wife Sara, have worked tirelessly to improve the area around their little slice of heaven, located near the eastern Houston County town of Kennard. They also offer some beautifully restored and renovated buildings and cottages on their patch of East Texas heaven. The restaurant and guest quarters are located on some old family land that’s been in Mr. Bruce’s family since the 1860s, located a few miles outside of Kennard. Before they got in the food business Mr. Bruce was in the
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landscaping business and when the economy crashed in 2008. “Nobody wanted landscaping when they didn’t have any money,” Mr. Bruce said of 2008. “Sara thought it would be a good idea if we learned how to grow a good garden and by the next spring we had our garden going and it turned out real good.” Out of that garden came a lot of canning to help preserve the harvest, so in 2010 they built a detached kitchen to do all the canning. Mr. Bruce then went to A&M to get certified as a commercial canner and by 2011 and 2013 they started serving people out of their facilities. Eventually with an addition here and there, Larry and Sara Bruce found themselves in the restaurant business. “Everything we do is so we can afford to grow the garden,” Mr. Bruce said. Larry and Sara now have 8 acres inside a game fence and grow a variety of different vegetables, all of them East Texas favorites; items like potatoes, corn, squash, peas, greens and much more. Over the years they moved some guest houses in and created a great place for people to come and get away from it all. “It’s been a journey,” Mr. Bruce said. “It’s been one step at a time — everything’s a learning process, sometimes one expense after another.” The restaurant, outside of the meat, comes from the gardens. They can and freeze much of the produce in order for it to be enjoyed even during the depths of winter. So potatoes dug in May and June can show up as potato soup in January. The dining room is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; from 10 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and opens
for brunch and Sunday buffet at noon. So, he doesn’t miss out on worship services on Sundays, Mr. Bruce has a church on the grounds, then he can get ready for the people coming in after church. There’s usually live music on Sundays as his daughter April and her husband Lloyd Wright perform with their eclectic take on roots music, with Mr. Bruce joining in on the fiddle now and then. It’s also a great place for wedding rehearsals and other special events, or maybe just a place to get away for a
weekend and enjoy the hard work of Larry and Sara Bruce. They also sell canned goods and produce when it is in season. Their menu includes a variety of salads, from the favorite Cobb Salad, to Cranberry Apple, Turkey Avocado Salad; sandwiches such as the Reuben, Club,
BLT, so much more. To learn more about all the happenings around Larry Bruce Gardens and all the menu items then visit their website, larrybrucegardens.com.
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GARDENING BASICS H Let’s get growing
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W a s g t k S i a
a m m r a n
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i p ( t p
Sweet Williams Story by Jolene Renfro Crockett Garden Club and Davy Crockett Master Gardeners
I am lucky enough to have three Sweet Williams in my life — my father was
William, I have a son, William and a grandson, William — all three worthy of being called sweet. How the flower got the name Sweet William is lost to history, but some say it is named for William the Conqueror, a warrior king (he doesn’t sound so sweet to me!). Another name for the flower is Pinks due to the flower petals looking like they have been cut by pinking shears and that they bloom in various shades of light and dark pink as well as being white and two-toned. A third name for these plants is the scientific name Dianthus. Translated, this name means “divine flower”, referring to the ancient Greeks and Romans making garlands of them for use on festive occasions. 46
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Like their cousins, the Carnations, Sweet Williams are easy to grow, have long lasting flowers, make good cut flowers, come in many varieties, and produce a pleasant aroma. For gardeners who want a winter-hardy bedding plant, they fit the bill! There are three ways to grow Sweet Williams— grow from seeds, cuttings, or bedding plants. If you choose to plant seeds, sow them directly in the garden soil early in the fall. Cover with 1/8 inch of soil and water lightly. Put them in a place where they will get 4 hours of sun a day and here in Zone 8, they do fine in the shade also. If you had Sweet Williams in a flower bed before, they will probably reseed themselves or you can harvest the dried pods and scatter the seeds yourself where you would like to have them growing. You can take cuttings of off-shoots from a mature plant, place the cut portion in rooting hormone, and place in loose soil in a warm, moist, shaded area. They will soon develop new root sys-
tems and be ready to go into the garden. The easiest way to plant Sweet Williams is to purchase bedding plants and plant them in rich, well- drained soil 6 inches apart. Bury the plant in the ground at the same level as it grows in the pot and put some mulch around it to keep down weeds and preserve moisture. Sweet Williams benefit from a soil that is slightly alkaline (6.75) and a monthly application of dilute, balanced fertilizer. A few problems to be on the lookout for are nematodes, wilt, leaf spot, rust, grey mold and root rot. Nematodes look like microscopic round worms, and attack the root system. Your garden center will have a treatment for nematodes if you find you need it. The other problems mentioned are caused by various types of fungi and may need treatment with a fungicide. Keeping the plants slightly on the dry side will help prevent the growth of these diseases. A bonus to planting Sweet Williams is that the flowers are eatable and look pretty in a salad. Now isn’t that sweet? (However, be aware that the leaves are toxic to pets and small children and take proper caution.)
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RECIPES
Irish and Easter Cook up something special for St. Patrick’s Day and for Easter
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arch is here and brings spring with it. March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day and a couple of weeks later it’s Easter, this year Easter is on April 1. We thought we would combine these two holidays in our food section in this edition of Texas Farm & Home and include an Irish Stew and Colcannon (an Irish potato and cabbage combination,) some coconut macaroons and an apple cake and an easy Irish Soda Bread.
Irish Soda Bread 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 2 cups buttermilk 48
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Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease the sides and bottom of a 10-inch Dutch oven. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Stir in the buttermilk and mix until dough is fully moistened. Place dough into Dutch oven and smooth into a ball shape. Score twice across the top deeply with a knife, making a cross shape. Place lid on Dutch oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove lid and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes more. Remove from oven and invert oven onto wire rack and allow to cool 30 minutes. Slice the bread, great with stews and soups, or make sandwiches with it.
Irish Stew 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 pounds stew meat 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup onion, chopped 1 cup carrot, chopped 1 stalk celery, sliced 1/2 cup malt vinegar 1 cup water 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Brown stew meat with olive oil in Dutch oven until brown on all sides. Stir in the flour and add onion,
Coconut Macaroons
carrots, celery, malt vinegar, water, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper, garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, cover and allow to simmer about 45 minutes to an hour, or until liquid is reduced by half. To serve, place a scoop of colcannon on a plate, and form into a bowl-like shape and fill with stew.
Colcannon 4 slices bacon 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 2 cups thinly sliced cabbage 1/4 cup milk 4 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Fry bacon in skillet until crisp. Remove bacon and crumble after
it cools. In hot bacon grease place sliced cabbage into the skillet and cook until cabbage is wilted. Meanwhile, place potatoes in a pot and cover with water, bring water to a boil and cook about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot, mash with a potato masher, add in salt, pepper, butter, milk and cabbage, and continue to mash until thoroughly mixed. Serve with Irish Stew.
Coconut Macaroons 1 cup all-purpose flour 6 cups sweetened coconut 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet. Mix all ingredients together with hands. Scoop mixture
and form into balls, roughly an inch across, and place on baking sheet. Bake about 15 minutes, or until coconut is toasted.
Irish Apple Cake 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 2 sticks (8 ounces) butter, melted 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cubed 2 eggs 3/4 cup milk Blend all ingredients together and fold into a greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake in 350-degree oven about 45 to 60 minutes until inserted knife comes out clean. Slice the cake and serve with a caramel sauce if desired.
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RECIPES
Irish Apple Cake
Hasselback Potatoes 5 lbs. miniature golden or fingerling IdahoÂŽ potatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste For the Creamy Dill Dip: 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 4 scallions, green and white parts, thinly sliced Zest of one lemon 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup mayonnaise Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Using a sharp knife, cut slits into the potatoes that are approximately 1/4 of an inch apart. Do not cut all the way through. You can use chopsticks or something similar to brace each side of the potato and stop your knife from going through. Place cut potatoes in a large bowl and mix with olive oil and 50
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plenty of salt and pepper, stirring to coat. Place potatoes cut side up onto a parchment covered rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and golden brown on the outside. Meanwhile, mix together ingredients for dip in a medium bowl. Refrigerate. Serve the potatoes warm with the dip. Notes: Time Saving Tip: To make these in advance, follow all instructions as directed. Refrigerate the dip and the potatoes overnight, and reheat the potatoes on a roasting pan at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until warmed and crispy. For extra flavor: For crispier, more decadent potatoes, brush them with more olive oil or some melted butter halfway through baking. Hasselback Recipe and photo courtesy of Idaho Potato Commission
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TFH
Cafés Across Texas
TRAILBLAZER GRILLE See what one of the Hill Country’s favorite dining spots is cooking up.
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urnet’s Trailblazer Grille has become a favorite in this beautiful Hill Country town. The restaurant is located on the town square in Burnet. It specializes in Home-style Southern cooking and is famous for its chicken pot pie and of course chicken and dumplings; one of the all-time favorite comfort foods. Trailblazer also offers a variety of gourmet foods and other retail products, along with catering service Trailblazer Grille is an official dealer of Young Living Essential Oils. Trailblazer has become a Hill Country favorite. They’ve been featured on the Texas Country Reporter for their great country cuisine. It’s also a place where a family can go and have some fun, whether it’s live music, kids movie night, karaoke or more. There’s something special for everyone. Check their website at www.trailblazergrille.com. Trailblazer Grille features daily specials, other holiday specials. Trailblazer Grille sports a large and varied menu. It begins with the appetizers which range from nachos, to quesadillas and potato skins and more. For salads, it offers a Caesar Salad, berry salad, garden salad and more. Trailblazer Grille makes its own salad dressings and range from ranch, jalapeno ranch, Caesar, honey mustard, Thousand Island, Blue Cheese, Balsamic Vinaigrette and Strawberry Vinaigrette. Entrees range from chicken, to meatloaf to hand-cut
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rib-eye steaks, cooked to the diner’s desire. Home-style favorites include the chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken and catfish — either fried or blackened. Trailblazer Grille offers a spate of burgers including a Swiss Mushroom Burger, and perhaps two of the best burgers around, the Trailblazer Burger and the Texas Stacker. The Trailblazer Burger features a 1/2-pound grilled Angus patty, topped with Swiss and American cheese, further topped with bacon and the Trailblazer’s own hickory smoked barbecue sauce. The Texas Stacker features a whole pound of beef, Swiss and Cheddar cheese, a fried egg, bacon, mayonnaise, mustard and Texas toast. A whole menu page is devoted to sandwiches, and it features one of Texas Farm & Home’s favorite sandwiches, the French Dip. It has several other sandwiches including a Reuben, a Philly Cheese Steak, Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich and many more. They also offer wraps and great sides such as French fries, sweet potato fries, hashbrown casserole, mashed potatoes, fried okra, onion rings and baked mac and cheese. They also offer a complete beer and wine list, including several Texas wines from which to choose. No meal, though, would be complete without dessert, which include a chess pie, coconut cream pie, pecan pie, chocolate cream pie, chocolate brownie ala mode, and homemade peach cobbler. For more on everything Trailblazer Grille has to offer, visit their website at www.trailblazergrille.com, or find them on Facebook. Trailblazer Grille is located at 216 S. Main St. in Burnet; they can be reached by phone at (512)7567636. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Trailblazer Grille is closed Sunday. Burnet’s Trailblazer Grille has become a favorite in this beautiful Hill Country town. The restaurant is located on the town square in Burnet. It specializes in Home-style Southern cooking and is famous for its chicken pot pie and of course chicken and dumplings; one of the all-time favorite comfort foods. Trailblazer also offers a variety of gourmet foods and other retail products, along with catering service Trailblazer Grille is an official dealer of Young Living Essential Oils. Trailblazer has become a Hill Country favorite. They’ve been featured on the Texas Country Reporter for their great country cuisine. It’s also a place where a family can go and have some fun, whether it’s live music, kids movie night, karaoke or more. There’s something special for everyone. Check their website at www.trailblazergrille.com. Trailblazer Grille features daily specials, other holiday specials. Trailblazer Grille sports a large and varied menu. It begins with the appetizers which range from nachos, to quesadillas and potato skins and more. For salads, it offers a Caesar Salad, berry salad, garden salad and more. Trailblazer Grille makes its own salad
dressings and range from ranch, jalapeno ranch, Caesar, honey mustard, Thousand Island, Blue Cheese, Balsamic Vinaigrette and Strawberry Vinaigrette. Entrees range from chicken, to meatloaf to hand-cut rib-eye steaks, cooked to the diner’s desire. Home-style favorites include the chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken and catfish — either fried or blackened. Trailblazer Grille offers a spate of burgers including a Swiss Mushroom Burger, and perhaps two of the best burgers around, the Trailblazer Burger and the Texas Stacker. The Trailblazer Burger features a 1/2-pound grilled Angus patty, topped with Swiss and American cheese, further topped with bacon and the Trailblazer’s own hickory smoked barbecue sauce. The Texas Stacker features a whole pound of beef, Swiss and Cheddar cheese, a fried egg, bacon, mayonnaise, mustard and Texas toast. A whole menu page is devoted to sandwiches, and it features one of Texas Farm & Home’s favorite sandwiches, the French Dip. It has several other sandwiches including a Reuben, a Philly Cheese Steak, Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich and many more. They also offer wraps and great sides such as French fries, sweet potato fries, hashbrown casserole, mashed potatoes, fried okra, onion rings and baked mac and cheese. They also offer a complete beer and wine list, including several Texas wines from which to choose. No meal, though, would be complete without dessert, which include a chess pie, coconut cream pie, pecan pie, chocolate cream pie, chocolate brownie ala mode, and homemade peach cobbler. For more on everything Trailblazer Grille has to offer, visit their website at www.trailblazergrille.com, or find them on Facebook. Trailblazer Grille is located at 216 S. Main St. in Burnet; they can be reached by phone at (512)7567636. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Trailblazer Grille is closed Sunday.
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LIFE ON A RED DIRT ROAD
Remembering Ol’ Gus I’ve told you stories about the Starling family before, about how Brinford Joe Starling one time got his imaginary log truck stuck in a mud puddle outside of school and was late for class; well, he’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Starlings. One of them was known as Gus Starling, he was an uncle to Brinford Joe, and, well… Gus marched to his own tune. He was drafted into the Army before World War II started, he probably could have taken on a whole regiment of Germans as he was one of those just too crazy to get hurt by anything types of people; but the Army didn’t want him. He never quite knew where he was or what he was doing there. After he got drafted he was sent to Georgia for basic training, well, when Gus crossed the Mississippi River he didn’t know where he was, and he kept telling his sergeant “I don’t mind fightin’ for America, but I ain’t fightin’ for Mississippi.” His language was a bit more colorful than that, but seeing as this is a family-friendly publication I cut some of that out. Somehow, he managed to get away from his camp and he made his way home, nobody quite knew how as most folks that knew Gus knew he probably couldn’t find an elephant if he hung on to his tail, much less make his way half-way across the country. Well, folks would see Gus in town and ask, “You come home on a furlough, Gus?” To which he would reply, “Naw, I came in a Greyhound Bus.” When the Army came and finally picked him up and took him back to camp, they then realized ol’ Gus’ coal wouldn’t burn and they let him go back
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home — and he got to take his Army uniform with him. In fact, he never took that uniform off and wore it every day, all day, even at night, for a year and a half before it finally rotted off of him. Even in the heat of an East Texas summer, ol’ Gus wore that wool coat the Army gave him with pride, fully buttoned from top to bottom. In spite of all that, Gus was a good ol’ boy. He worked hard and was probably one of the strongest people around. He could put rings on a piston and stick them in a cylinder all with his bare hands. I’ve seen him dig a well and walk up a ladder with a five-gallon bucket of mud in each hand — nobody did much to rile ol’ Gus. Someone from the REA (for those too young to know that stands for Rural Electric Administration) came once to disconnect the electricity from Gus’ house. The man said he climbed up the pole to the transformer when he heard two clicks; he looked down and saw Gus’ drawing a bead on him with a double-barrel shotgun — needless to say Gus never had his electricity disconnected. He didn’t use much anyway, just a single light and an old icebox. Sadly, we don’t have a lot of folks like Gus around these days; it seems the law wants to lock them up or dope them up and that’s not right, because the folks like ol’ Gus just wanted to be left alone to mind his own business. Shouldn’t we all have the right to be left alone? ——— Bern Clute is a lifelong East Texas resident, rancher, farmer, sawmiller and storyteller. He and his wife Annie still live on the family farm, raising cows and getting in each other’s way.
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St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Plantersville 56
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