Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year! Decreasing temperatures, Friday night lights and college football stadiums packed with cheering fans, a season filled with holidays and family gatherings, outdoor farmers’ markets and pumpkin patches, those same pumpkins and beautiful fall flowers appearing on porches to be replaced a month later by festive holiday decorations…the list of things I love about fall is a long one.
This issue of Canyon Creek Life continues our tradition of celebrating people, businesses and pets which make our neighborhood such a special place to live. We thank you for your submissions and hope you will continue to send your content suggestions to us. We love the diversity that your recommendations bring to the magazine.
Speaking of diversity…did you know that Canyon Creek is home to a haunted house actor with a Ph.D in Applied Electrochemistry who is married to a lovely Frenchwoman fluent in several languages? Or that one of our families opens their Thanksgiving table to anyone who wishes to join them…especially students from UTD? On top of that, we’ve discovered three families who own very special pet turtles. All of this and more is featured in this issue.
In celebration of the upcoming holidays, our CCHOA is establishing a new “best dressed” holiday lighting award. You’ll want to read about it and start decorating soon. Or stop by the neighborhood’s newest pop-up shop Holiday Loving by Designer Lulu for a lovely holiday wreath or decoration.
So many reasons exist to love living in Canyon Creek. We’re hoping this magazine joins your list of things to love about being a homeowner here.
Enjoy fall, y’all!
Patti
Publisher
Kyla Obert
Ad Sales
Mike Obert
Designer
Wilson Allen, Lisa Parelli-Monaghan, Angela Green, Ryan Amerson, Warren Caldwell, Gabe Meadows and Patti Otte
Editor
Patti Otte
Photographer
Kyla Obert
Agnès and Adrian Denvir, Shea Dupuis, Georgia and Cody Kruse, the Brank, DeVoe and Pawkett families, and Leslie Loving
For Advertising Questions, please email mobert@hylogroup.com
For Editoral Requests, please email nominations@hylogroup.com
224 W Campbell Rd, STE 428 Richardson, TX 75080
Mike and Kyla Obert
While you may not think of a turtle or tortoise as a lovable pet, three Canyon Creek families have fallen in love with their four-legged reptiles. Did you know that tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises? We’ve gathered some fun facts about turtles and tortoises so you can tell them apart if you ever meet one of our shelled neighborhood friends.
• Turtles and tortoises cannot crawl out of their shells. The shells are permanently attached to their spine and rib cage.
• Jonathan, the oldest living Seychelles giant tortoise, is 190 years old! He lives in the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena. So far his life has spanned 8 British monarchs, 53 British prime ministers and 40 US presidents.
• World Turtle Day is May 23!
Katy, David, Charlie, Ebbie and Eli Brank Chelsea the Red-Eared Slider
“Chelsea was the last gift my dad gave to our son Charlie. Turtles were my dad’s thing. Growing up we always had turtles…both box and sliders lived in our backyard. Dad collected them. We lost “hopbear” (my dad) in 2019, so having Chelsea is like having a piece of him with us. During the snowstorm of 2019 when we lost power, I slept with Chelsea in my sweatshirt to keep her from freezing to death. I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time!” - Katy
Primarily water dwellers
Sport thinner, more water-dynamic shells
Omnivores
Webbed feet with long claws or flipper-like legs
Average life span of 30 years
Live completely on land
Have heavy, large dome-shaped shells
Primarily herbivores
Club-like forelegs and elephantine hind legs
Average life span of 90 years
“Our son Jake fell in love with reptiles in 2016 and talked us into a red-footed tortoise. I decided (based on no research) that we should get two so one wouldn’t be lonely—mistake! They both turned out to be boys and now I spend my life refereeing tortoise fights. All kidding aside, they are sweet boys that have made great pets!” - Tammie
Leeroy Jenkins the Turtle
“Leeroy Jenkins (the kids named him!) is about the size of an Oreo. You have to say his name like the gamer guy on YouTube. I got him in China Town in Los Angeles. He flew with me from there to Idaho and then back to Dallas. He is super cool because he will beg for food and we can hand feed him dried shrimp!” - Kelli
Both DIY (Do It Yourself) and Profes sional Projects (remodeling, plumb ing, electrical, etc.) have their costs. For a DIY job, the biggest investment is your time. When you hire a professional, it’s cash. In both cases, however, you want to get the most for your money. By keep ing a few tips in mind when you consider starting a project, you can maximize your investment – in both time and money.
There are generally five situations in which you should consider hiring a professional:
1. If Your Life is too Busy. Consider what you have going on in your life…what other projects or activi ties would you forego to complete ly DIY the project?
2. If DIY is Not Your Cup of Tea. If you dislike the thought of spend ing time to do the project even though you have the skills to do it and you dread it, don’t take it on!
3. What is your Time Worth? If your time is equal in value to the amount it would cost to pay some one else, then it is not worth do ing. As an example, if your time is worth $100 an hour and it would take you 10 hours to do it yourself, it definitely makes more sense to pay $1000 to someone who likely can get it done in less time.
4. The Project is too Dangerous! Let’s be smart about this…elec trical, climbing on ladders, etc. are not worth the risk of hurting yourself. Leave it to the profes sionals!
5. You have no Clue what you’re doing. Sometimes those videos on YouTube can’t help you through… leave it to the professionals.
By thinking through these considerations, you can make an informed decision about DIY versus Professional Project. If you decide to engage a Professional, there are
still a couple of options. For example, you may want to “update” while keeping the same floor plan and you have a very modest budget. In this scenario, even though you would like to hire a remodeling contractor, you may be forced to consider hiring each contractor for the project and scheduling the work yourself. Depending on the ex act nature of the work, hiring a handyman may be a better option for you.
If there are structural changes involved in the project such as removing walls, doing so can greatly impact a second-floor space, roof structure or overall building integrity. An experienced general remodeling con tractor understands this type of work.
City code compliance is also important. While it sometimes seems like a hassle, code compliance is necessary for your fam ily’s safety. A home remodeling contractor should understand how your space change will be affected by code. They would take this into consideration in the permitting process and in the instructions and direc tion given to the different subcontractors on the project. Ultimately, permits and city inspections will help ensure that code compliance is met.
By definition, a remodeling contractor, otherwise known as a general contractor, is an individual or firm that estimates a proj ect, orders materials, schedules multiple crews (both employee and subcontractors) and supervises those crews until a project is completed. When hiring a home remod eling contractor, you get the benefit of their years of experience, the relationships they have forged with vendors, suppliers and city inspectors, and their knowledge of running construction projects. There is a financial value assigned to hiring a GC. You must believe your time and level of ex perience is worth hiring someone else to help you, or a remodeling contractor is not a good fit for you.
Always remember: you get what you pay for and you only want to pay for a proj ect once! Your time is money. And most importantly, know that general contrac tors do not have to be licensed in the State of Texas. Do your homework and decide wisely!
photo courtesy of Shutterstock
This month we welcome to the pages of Canyon Creek Life one of our neighborhood’s most fascinating families: Agnès, Adrian, Aenghus and Ambrose Denvir. Agnès (pronounced on-YEZ) is originally from Nîmes in the south of France, while Adrian grew up in Downpatrick (the town where Saint Patrick is buried), Northern Ireland. Theirs is such an interesting love story, which began more than thirty years ago in Paris, France. According to the couple, they met at an AC/DC concert in the “City of Love.” Adrian recalls, “I was abandoned by my friends before the concert and ended up standing beside Agnès at the show. She was impressed that I knew all the lyrics to the songs and we hit it off right then and
there.” He still has the T-shirt from the show and they’ve been married twentyseven years. Agnès laughs, “Time flies when you rock’n’roll!”
This family takes having fun to a new level! They like to swim, to travel, to watch movies and sports, to play card games, board games, any games together, and to eat. Adrian loves to grill and Agnès is an accomplished baker, having binge-watched literally every episode of Paul Hollywood’s
The Great British Bake Off and recreating each recipe during the COVID-19 quarantine. She’s especially fond of Hollywood’s essential book “How to Bake” and says that “his recipes are absolutely perfect, including French classics such as croissants and pains au chocolat.”
The Denvirs have maintained their European tradition of sitting together around the table for meals and love the time together, catching up with everyone’s day. They always have a French-Irish style Christmas on Christmas Eve with a traditional “raclette” dinner: raclette cheese, deli meats and potatoes with all the trimmings. They use a cooking apparatus called a raclette machine to melt the cheese. Desserts are usually a combination of French (roulés au nutella, tarte aux abricots and more) and Irish (homemade trifle, mince pies and pavlova). The family enjoys time together at the table before going to midnight Mass.
Agnès is a middle school Spanish and LOTE (Languages Other Than English)
teacher at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas. A passionate lover of language and global cultures, she teaches a dozen languages and coaches Quiz Bowl, an academic competition that tests players on a wide variety of academic subjects. After graduating from a prestigious Paris school for translators and interpreters, Agnès worked in France and in the UK. She continued translating when the Denvirs moved to the United States until she began teaching in Houston, their first American home.
When she’s not teaching or baking, she’ll be playing Bingo or on a trip to Choctaw with friends. But life is not all fun and games for Agnès. She’s also heavily involved with supporting the Metroplex’s Ukrainian community, in particular the UCCD, the Ukrainian Cultural Club of Dallas. It’s a charitable organization that, according to Agnes, “relentlessly helps the Ukrainians under attack in Ukraine as well as the refugees who have been displaced.”
Adrian received his Ph.D. in Applied Electrochemistry from the University of Southampton and his Bachelor of Science in Pure and Applied Chemistry from Coventry University in London. As the Director of New Science and Technology for NCH Corporation in Irving, he runs a research lab looking at solutions to water shortage as well as water reuse and recycling. Prior to NCH, he co-founded Lynntech Technology Transfer Division (based in Richardson), a spin off from parent Company Lynntech Inc. Lynntech Inc, a technology development company based in College Station, brought the couple to the United States. While working for the Technology Transfer Division, Adrian worked closely with UTD, UTSW, and UNT Health Science Center to spin out inventions as new start-up companies.
And while Adrian is very accomplished in his field, he’s also very “scary!” He loves working at the Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, where he’s been a haunt actor since 2018. Not only does he still act, but he has now become the stunt coordinator and works with the company’s promo team. If you were at the Wildflower Music Festival or at the Canyon Creek Fourth of July Parade, you may have seen him as Treeman on his stilts with his son Ambrose. He also enjoys designing and making costumes for the stilt creatures he creates.
Adrian has brought his special interest in costume creation and acting to Canyon Creek. It is not unusual to see him walking on stilts around Custer Park near the tennis courts in his Treeman costume, or Krampus costume, or other costume depending on the theme and season. One of his favorite things to do is “Krampusnacht” in the park. He dresses up as Krampus and his son Ambrose is Saint Nicholas. According to Adrian, “We hand out candy to the good boys and girls while the naughty ones
are taken away by Krampus. The first year we did it, someone posted in the Canyon Creek Residents Facebook page that there was a Warlock performing rituals in the park, which made me laugh.”
Adrian and Agnès have two sons: Aenghus (pronounced angus), 19, a sophomore at Texas A&M and Ambrose, 14, Treeman’s sidekick and a freshman at PISD Academy High School. Before that, Aenghus attended Aldridge until third grade, then St. Mark Catholic School,
photos provided by Agnès Denvir
and Ambrose attended St. Mark and St. Rita. Aenghus loves his faith, Formula 1, soccer and playing the viola. Ambrose is an entomologist and a gamer, who loves animé and mangas. Both of them speak French, Ambrose a bit more reluctantly. Adrian coached Aenghus when he played soccer in the Richardson Soccer League and was involved with both Aenghus and Ambrose at the Plano Rugby Club along with a few other dads from the neighborhood.
The Denvirs have lived in Canyon Creek for seventeen years after moving here from College Station in 2005. Adrian’s work brought them here, and Canyon Creek was exactly what they were looking for in a neighborhood. The family enjoys all the businesses and restaurants at II Creeks as well as the parks throughout the area. Recalls Agnès, “We definitely have a soft spot for Custer Park, where our kids used to play together on the playground, as we met many of the Canyon Creek friends we still have today (even though my Australian friend Relle Austin still claims to this day that I used to ignore her with my French haughtiness).” They also love hearing live music from local talent in a safe, familyfriendly atmosphere.
If you find yourself near Custer Park this holiday season, look for a man on stilts and stop to say hello. And if you’re hanging out at one of II Creeks’ events or restaurants and hear two different accents coming from one family—one French and one Irish—you’ll definitely want to introduce yourself to the Denvirs. Before you know it, you’ll be fast friends!
photos provided by Agnès Denvir
Tell us your name and which Richardson schools you have attended.
My name is Shea Dupuis and I am currently a senior at JJ. Pearce High School. Before that, I attended Mohawk Elementary and North Junior High.
We’d love to hear about your sports journey.
I played volleyball in junior high and then tried out for the Pearce volleyball team. I made varsity my freshman year. I was also recruited to play club volleyball with Madfrog as a freshman. I’ve been lucky enough to play with several of my Pearce teammates who also play for Madfrog. I had played club soccer for Sting and Solar since first grade and had thought I wanted to play soccer in college. I continued to play both club and school volleyball and soccer my freshman and sophomore years, but the combination was difficult and took up a lot of time. After my sophomore year, I knew that volleyball was my passion, so I quit soccer to focus 100% on volleyball with the goal of playing in college.
This summer our Madfrog team qualified for Nationals and we finished tied for 9th place. We were tournament champions
at Pacific NW Qualifier in Spokane and 3rd place at Lonestar Qualifier in Dallas. Last year our team finished in 3rd place at AAU Nationals. We beat a team that no one thought we could beat. It was a great way to finish the season because we had a lot of injuries, which made winning very challenging.
After Nationals, I was very fortunate to receive offers to play in college and have committed to playing D1 volleyball at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and I am very excited! I knew after my visit that it was the right place for me.
I love the coach, the staff and the school. I have had a lot of support and guidance from Coach Nance at Pearce and owe a lot to her!
I have also had support from my coaches at Madfrog, my teammates, friends and family. It’s a stressful process and I am glad to be done. GO CARDS!
Tell us about your other activities inside or outside of school (what you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.) and why you enjoy them.
I love being with my friends! I enjoy snow skiing, going to the lake with friends, the beach and traveling with my team and my family. My aunt and uncle have a ranch in
South Texas and I love going there! Two years ago I shot the turkey that we ate for Thanksgiving. Over the summer I was a lifeguard at Greenwood Hills Pool, which was fun.
Brag on yourself: Tell us your honors and awards in school.
I was Academic All District for volleyball all four years of high school and have serve as the 2022 Varsity Co-Captain. I made AllDistrict 7-6A-1st Team my sophomore and junior years and was recently recognized for achieving 500 Career Kills! In 2021 I was named All-District 7-6A Hitter of the Year and JJ Pearce Offensive Player of the Year.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
Math is my favorite and most interesting subject. I also really enjoy being a Peer Helper. We mentor kids at the elementary schools twice a week.
How long have you lived in Canyon Creek and what do you love most about living here?
My family has been in Canyon Creek two and a half years. We were in the Mohawk neighborhood for fourteen years before moving here. We have great neighbors and I love living close to so many of my friends and being close to the golf course. When we first moved in, my friends and I would try to drive the golf cart to Chick-fil-A, but our parents put a stop to that. We thought it was fun, but they didn’t!
Tell us a favorite story or two about a memorable moment during high school.
I think my favorite moment would be last year in volleyball when we beat Lake Highlands at home. The game went to five matches and we beat them in the fifth. Our student section was awesome, and it was so great to beat them at home in front of our fans; we have the best student section in our district!
Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you?
This year I am coaching Prairie Creek sixth grade SVAA girls and I love it! We just started the season, but I can already tell that they are getting better. Wish us luck!
What is your name and the name of your business?
My name is Leslie Loving and the name of my business is Designer Lulu. Designer Lulu (that’s me!) has an array of offerings and the name of my Canyon Creek pop-up shop will be called Holiday Loving by Designer Lulu.
Tell us about yourself and the story behind the creation of Designer Lulu.
In 2019 I retired from my role as Creative Director for an Addison-based company and started my business as a wreath and floral design maker. During my two decades in Addison, I led a team of designers that focused on interior design of model apartments and leasing centers.
Here’s what I know: if you are creative, people will ask you to do just about anything. I wear many “hats,” creating hats being one of them! I have designed and sold headbands and bows for little girls and babies along with hats for ladies. When a Kentucky Derby or Tea Party happens, I often receive a call to create “over the top” hats, headbands or fascinators for the more refined ladies.
Another “hat” I wear is that of a home stager. One time a realtor friend asked me if I would be interested in shooting her 360-degree tours for her listings. We visited a home so she could show me how to use the camera. However, I was more interested in straightening pillows and moving things around to make the homeowners' things look better for the pictures than I was in the actual photography. My friend said, ‘’I think you should be my new stager.” So that is what I did and still do.
The knowledge and experience I gained during my years as a Creative Director informed my home staging endeavors and bolstered my passion for interior design which, in turn, added one more “hat” to my diverse collection: helping clients who are looking to update their home or office. I assist them with paint colors, layouts for furniture, accessories and more.
Designer Lulu also plans parties thanks to another friend. One day she was talking about a big party she needed to plan for her milestone birthday. I shared what I had done
for my own milestone birthday and she asked me to plan hers. Boom! I added one more “hat” to my growing business.
I plan to open a brick & mortar pop up shop for my wreath and floral business in early October, which will be open through Christmas. The location of Holiday Loving by Designer Lulu will be 508 W. Lookout #22 in Richardson (between Get Noticed Boutique and The Wine Authority.) Shoppers can still find products in my online store at designerlulu.com.
What inspired you to do what you do?
Everything! I have always taken an interest in all things creative and I search for beauty in everything. My first job after school was working at a florist. I really loved flowers and discovered that I had a natural talent for flower arranging. After that I was involved in multi-family property management. I moved from the management side to the vendor side of multi-family when I became their Creative Director. Designer Lulu has become my "retirement job."
Do you live in Canyon Creek? Tell us about your family.
My husband Jason and I have lived in Canyon Creek since 2005. We had known about the neighborhood for a long time and looked here in the late 1990's but ended up in Allen prior to moving here. Jason and I have been married for more than twenty-five years. He’s an electrical engineer and has a company in information technology called Contego Solutions. We have a dog named Garth, named after Garth Brooks. He was adopted from Take Me Home Pet Rescue when he was three months old and was part of the Country & Western litter. He will celebrate his tenth birthday in October. We love living and working in Richardson!
TThemission of Energy Attic is so simple it’s brilliant. Transform attics. Trans-form lives. ey operate by doing what’s right, loving people, and working hum-bly to make an eternal di erence.
Based on Micah 6:8, that vision has been the driving force behind this Christian-owned and operated business for 13 years. Energy Attic Founder and Owner Ryan Amerson and COO Guy Charles be-gin and end each day asking themselves how they can make life better for their clients, their em-ployees, their community, and their world. And their e orts have resulted in 10-fold growth over the years.
he mission of Energy Attic is so simple it’s brilliant. Transform attics. Transform lives. They operate by doing what’s right, loving people, and working humbly to make an eternal difference. Based on Micah 6:8, that vision has been the driving force behind this Christian-owned and operated business since 2005. Energy Attic Owner Ryan Amerson begins and ends each day asking himself how he can make life better for his clients, his employees, and his community. “Our efforts have resulted in 10x growth over the years, and lots of positive impact on our industry!” Ryan said. “We do our part by making your home more comfortable, improving your indoor air quality, and saving you money on your utility bills. Put simply, we want to transform your attic space which will transform your living space, so your home can be all that it should be”. It’s something they’ve done for over 10,000 happy families, creating environments where people can love others through a comfortable and safe home. “There’s a Mother Theresa quote we love,” Ryan said. “If you
“We want people to live their best life at home,” Ryan said. “We do our part by making your home more comfortable, improving your indoor air quality, and saving you money on your utility bills. Put simply, we want to transform your attic space which will transform your living space, so you can live your best life.” It’s something they’ve done for over 10,000 happy families, creating environments where people can love others through a comfortable and safe home.
ere’s a Mother eresa quote we love,” Guy said. “ ‘If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.’ We’re all about creating healthy, comfortable homes so our friends and neighbors can do just that. What could you ac-complish if your home was comfortable and dust and allergies were not an issue?”
want to change the world, go home and love your family.” He added, “we’re all about creating healthy, comfortable homes so our friends and neighbors can do just that. What could you accomplish if your home was comfortable and dust and allergies were not an issue?”
Friend: “May you live in interesting times”. Me: “Thank you!......I think?”. There is never a better time to keep a cool and level head when so many are losing theirs. To insert a musicallyreferencing metaphor as is my wont, When others are Panicking at the Disco, keep dancing.
Our animal shelter is undergoing a renovation that has reduced capacity by 50% for the next several months. The need is great. To all our many neighborhood rescuers and our own dog whisperer, Julia Porter of Hot Diggity Dog Daycare and Boarding, thank you for helping transition beautiful life companions to a forever home with loving families. If your home and heart can accommodate unconditional love to smooth life’s bumpy road, please consider a visit to our shelter as Rescue is unequivocally the best breed.
It occurs to make known the fact that actual print publication of Echoes occurs some weeks after its creation so if I extol the safety and virtues of dirigible travel, please don’t hold it against me if the Hindenburg crashes in the interim.
One of my recurrent phrases is “A strong Neighborhood makes a strong Country Club and a strong Country Club makes a strong Neighborhood”. My Father, Warren Caldwell, was an Executive at Lomas & Nettleton and participated as a lender in the financing of the early construction of our neighborhood. In those early days, one who lived in the neighborhood was automatically a member of the Canyon Creek Country Club. As my understanding goes, this was not warmly viewed by the IRS and so we must now join to enjoy the benefits.
The Canyon Creek Country Club has three upcoming Charity Events: Friday, October 28th 6:00 PM Tennis and Pickleball Mixer. Sunday, November 6th 12:30 Annual Golf Outing. Sunday, November 6th 5:30 PM Concert on the Green featuring Emerald City. Check it out. We typically hold our HOA meetings there and it is a Friendly Door.
Denizens of Richardson have so many opportunities to give and in turn receive. If one wishes to expand their horizons and make
lifelong friends while moving the proverbial needle in a positive direction, please check out: Inside RISD, Plano ISD Leadership and Ambassador Program, Richardson Citizen’s Police Academy, Richardson Citizen’s Fire Academy, Leadership Richardson and Richardson CARES. You have the opportunity to learn so much about your City. You see, your biggest investment isn’t dollars that you put into your home, it’s the time where you choose to invest your life.
For four years, I have preached the coming of an eventual roundabout at Collins and Fall Creek and it has not made it into our City Budget. While somewhat initially bewildering when first navigated, there are a plethora of reasons to be encouraged by one’s installation. They discourage traffic flow into our neighborhood while slowing the speed of traffic navigating the twists and turns of Collins. They flow up to 50% faster than a 4 way stop that many will run anyway. (Reference point: Collins and Prairie Creek West. I have great Intel.)
The Federal Highway Administration (a Federal Agency that I haven’t yet lost faith in) adds: 90% fewer fatalities, fewer pedestrian/bicycle crashes, safer for beginners and elderly, less delay waiting, can be landscaped with trees and plants, no cost for traffic signals, and a few other tidbits. As with many things, please keep an open mind.
Finally, in what may become a regular feature during these challenging economic times, we will name drop a business to consider when you make your decisions. This month, it is Yoga Chikitsa (Yoga-Chikitsa.com) conveniently located at 635 West Campbell Suite 232. “The path yoga creates to self-understanding, healing and growth leads us toward a deeper purpose in life.”
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve the Neighborhood I love.
I hope something good happens to you today.
Warren Caldwell
Canyon Creek HOA - President
Canyon Creek HOA Secretary Doris Benner is one busy lady! Not only does she serve on our HOA Board, but she’s also involved in a host of other Richardson organizations. She’s on the Selection Committee for Richardson Real Heroes; the Chief Judge for the Canyon Creek 4th of July Parade; a Crime Watch Coordinator; a Patroller for the Richardson Police Department; and a member of 100 Women of Richardson.
During her free time, Doris is a student at Richland College, a line dancer at the Senior Center and an enthusiastic golfer at Canyon Creek Country Club. She’s passionate about family, friends, volunteering, writing, and sports, and she spreads that enthusiasm throughout the community.
Says Doris, “I loved Canyon Creek from the moment our realtor drove me to my forever home on Sutton Place, then to Prairie Creek Elementary where my children would attend school, and finally to Prairie Creek Park. The neighborhood was exactly what we were looking for. I’ve now been here 49 years!”
We love you, Doris, and thank you for all you do for our wonderful community!
Halloween is on a Monday this year. Make sure to be on the lookout for trick or treaters who will be out and about in the neighborhood. If possible, keep your outdoor lights on to indicate you are welcoming ‘spooky’ visitors. Parents, please remember that these kids have to wake up for school the next day!
For the past year or so, your Canyon Creek Homeowners Association has been paying to apply new residence numbers to 2,800 curbs and we are almost finished. This free residential service is paid for out of our CCHOA treasury, which is funded by dues income and flag program profits. If any of your neighbors are not current CCHOA members, tell them that you paid for their curb numbers to be applied!
Since our curbs are 50+ years old and adhesion is a challenge, the contractor uses a pre-application power washer that requires some water. As a result, the contractor needs to hook up to the front water faucet of some houses. This process uses a minimum amount of water and we thank you for your permission to use the water source at your home.
By the way, the City of Richardson has a street number ordinance that requires home address numbers in three (3) locations: on the back of the house; on the front of the house; and on the front curb OR on the curbside mailbox. This ordinance is designed to help the police and fire departments find the right address in case of an emergency. The Pizza Delivery guys like it, too. Pepperoni, anyone?!?!
Jay Dalehite Membership/Flag/Curb DirectorDeck the halls! For the very first time, our Canyon Creek Homeowners Association will celebrate the beauty of our neighborhood’s holiday lights with a special recognition/award for the Most Impressive Yard Lights Display. We’re calling it the MIyLD award!
Starting December 1 and continuing through December 18, our Quadrant Coordinators will scour all four quadrants of Canyon Creek to find the most dazzling displays of holiday lights. The four award winners (one household per quadrant) will be notified on December 19. We have retained photographer Meredith Embry to provide us with "nightlight" photographs of the homes selected to win this first-ever contest.
Each MIyLD winner will then be recognized in Canyon Creek Life Magazine and receive:
• A $250 Visa gift card;
• Letters from the Mayor of Richardson, the CCHOA President and the CCHOA Beautification Director
• $50 worth of gift certificates from Bruce Miller Nursery
• A special half-page photograph of your light display in Canyon Creek Life Magazine; and
• A personal portrait of your family posed in front of your winning light display.
It's never too early to start those creative wheels turning on your 2022 holiday decoration plans. No pressure, but the whole neighborhood will be watching!
Let your Canyon Creek Homeowners Association be the first to say, "Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!"
Gabe Meadows CCHOA Beautification DirectorOur successful Flag Lease Program is available only to current dues-paying members. Subscribers get a 3’ x 5’ American Flag on a 10’ flag pole placed at their curb on four Patriotic Holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, 9/11 Observance Day and Veterans Day). The Flag Lease Subscription is $35 a year, and it can be paid with your dues payment (total $50.00). After each holiday, the Flag Lease Subscription charge is reduced, so check with our Membership and Flag Lease Headquarters in the Canyon Creek Postal Company at 508 West Lookout Drive for the exact amount after Memorial Day. The annual $15 Membership Dues is not reduced since it is based on a calendar year basis but must be paid to subscribe to a Flag Lease.
Georgia and Cody Kruse exemplify the warm and welcoming spirit of our Canyon Creek neighborhood. Says Georgia, “I am never happier than when my table is full of friends and family. I love Thanksgiving because it is the perfect time to bring family together, along with friends and neighbors to celebrate all the good gifts God has given us. We love introducing Thanksgiving to our international friends as well. We are especially looking forward to spending our first Thanksgiving with our grandson this year.” Georgia said YES to sharing her favorite Thanksgiving recipes with our readers. Enjoy!
“My dad recently passed away at the age of 91. Before his passing and despite the pandemic, we had a great Thanksgiving held outdoors. All of his grandkids were there and it was a wonderful family time. I will hang on to that great memory for a long time.” — Cody
1 15-18 lb. turkey, thawed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper salt and pepper to season cavity
1 medium onion peeled and quartered
1 carrot
1 large celery stalk cut in half 3 cups chicken broth
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
“Several years ago one of our guests traced his hand onto our kitchen chalkboard and turned it into a turkey. Others joined in the fun, and it just became a tradition. It’s one of my favorite things we do at Thanksgiving.” — Georgia
• In a medium-sized bowl, mix together softened butter, sage, thyme and parsley until well combined. Remove the neck and other innards from the turkey cavity. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Place the carrot, celery and onion quarters into the cavity of the turkey. Tie the turkey legs together with kitchen twine, and tuck the wings underneath the turkey.
• Starting at the neck end, slide your hands under the breast skin to loosen. Smear 3 tablespoons of the herb butter underneath the breast skin. Smear another 4 tablespoons of the herb butter over the entire topside of the turkey.
• Place the turkey in a roasting pan, breast side up. Cover the breasts with foil and place the turkey in the oven.
• Roast the turkey for 2 hours, basting with ½ cup chicken broth every 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil from the breast. If you find that the legs are browning too much, cover each drumstick with foil. Continue roasting the turkey until a thermometer inserted in the deepest part of the thigh registers 170 degrees F, basting every 30 minutes with the pan drippings, about 1 hour total.
• Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer it to a platter, tent with foil and let rest for 20 minutes before carving. Remove the carrot, celery and onion from the cavity and discard.
(From Jerry Weaver, Georgia’s mom)
2 quarts day-old crumbled cornbread
2 quarts day-old crumbled biscuits
1 cup chopped onions
¼ cup chopped green onions
1 cup chopped celery
¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1-½ teaspoons sage
1 teaspoon salt
black Pepper to taste
3-4 cups chicken broth + more as needed
½ cup melted butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
• Combine cornbread and biscuits, onion, green onions, celery, parsley, sage, salt and pepper. Toss well. Add broth, butter and eggs. Mix well, but lightly. Mixture should be very moist, but not soupy. Bake at 350 degrees F in a well-greased baking dish for 45 minutes. Makes 11-12 cups.
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 stick butter, melted
⅓ cup milk
Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
⅓ cup flour
⅓ cup butter
•
Mix mashed sweet potatoes with the next five ingredients. Spoon into a greased 2-3 quart casserole dish. Mix topping ingredients with a fork, and crumble on top of potato mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
“Anyone is welcome so we often end up with people from all over the world celebrating Thanksgiving with our family!” — daughter Laura
“Thanksgiving is always one of my favorite holidays. I love the way it brings our family and friends together, I love the crazy smorgasbord always put together, and I love the family siesta after the meal!” — son Clint
“What I love best about Thanksgiving is getting to spend time with my whole extended family. A house full of people is a ton of fun.” — son Jake
(From Cody’s Mom, Joan Kruse)
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
½ cup fresh lemon juice
½ cup melted butter
1 teaspoon cornmeal
1 teaspoon flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
• Beat the eggs thoroughly. Gradually beat in the sugar until mix ture is fluffy. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well. Pour mix ture into an unbaked pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 min utes until the top is brown. Be careful not to overbake.
(Recipe from my Mammaw, Georgia’s grandmother)
1 cup white syrup
1 cup brown sugar
⅓ cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
3 eggs
dash of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
•
Mix all ingredients and pour into an unbaked pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-45 minutes until the pie is set, but slightly jiggly in the center.
When you get into a car accident, there are certain steps you may want to take in order to help make sure everyone is safe, to follow the law and to get the insurance claim process started.
If you're injured, call 911 or ask someone else to do so. If you're seriously injured, try not to move, and wait for emergency personnel.
If you're not too hurt to move, check on the other passengers in your car. If anyone's injured, get on the phone with emergency services or ask a bystander to call for help.
If you're able to, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If your car is safe to drive and is causing a hazard where it is, pull it to the side of the road. Otherwise, leave it where it is and get yourself to safety.
Whether an accident is minor or a major, calling the police is important. The officers will fill out an accident report and document the scene. If the police don’t come to the scene, you will still have the accident documented with the department. When you file a claim with your insurer, they may ask for a copy of the police report.
Turn off your engine, turn on your hazard lights and use the road flares to warn other vehicles to slow down. Also, beware of bandit tow trucks, warns the National Insurance Crime Bureau. These are tow truck drivers you didn't call who pull over and offer to help. It may be a scam. If your vehicle needs to be towed, call a tow truck or have the police call one
After an accident, drivers should exchange:
• Full name and contact information
• Insurance company and policy number
• Driver's license and license plate number
• Type, color and model of vehicle
• Location of accident
Avoid discussing fault when going over the facts with the other driver. When filing an insurance claim, the adjuster reviewing your claim will determine who's at fault based on an inspection of the vehicles damaged, information provided by you and the other parties involved, and any supporting documentation, like the police report or photographs from the scene.
In order to help protect yourself, take the following steps:
• Identify the officers - Once the police arrive, get the name and badge number of all responding officers.
• Get a copy - Ask the police officers present where you can obtain a copy of the accident report. Your insurer may ask for a copy of the report when you file a car insurance claim.
• Take pictures - Document the accident by taking pictures of your vehicle from different angles, showing the damage done to both cars. Also, take pictures of the other car's license plate.
• Take down names - Write down the names and addresses of all parties involved, including any passengers in the other vehicle.
• Talk to witnesses - If there were any witnesses to the accident, take down their names and their contact information, as well.
If it is clear who was at fault, Call the at fault persons insurance company and file a claim with them. If the accident was in an intersection, side swipe, or a “he said she said” situation then file the claim with the insurance and let the two insurance companies decide who was at fault. If you are not liable then you will get your deductible back and your insurance company will get their money back.
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