POSTCARDS MAGAZINE - Piney Woods - November 2023

Piney Woods

November 2023

POSTCARDS Magazine

Postal Customer

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 51 PAID U.S. POSTAGE PRSRT STD

Dale Enderlin • Lone Star Lights • Texas State Parks 100th • Beekeeper • Perri Dermatology

F

t Storewide

Sale

Holiday

All In Stock

Furniture

40

% Off Retail Price

Expires 11-30-23

Ward Furniture & Flooring www.wardfurniture.com 180 I-45 • Huntsville • Mon. - Fri. 8-5:30 • Sat. 9-4

936-295-2514

2 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

b

From our family to yours,

thank you for your continued business and support.

(936) 291-7500 230 I-45 North • Huntsville

wiesnerhuntsville.com

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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FEATURES

November 2023 | Volume 13, Issue 11

14 Do You Know?

Dale Enderlin

30 Just for Fun

Lone Star Lights Cover Photo by Carolyn Payne

38 Texas Treasures

Postcards 2022 Photo Contest Submission

100 Years of Texas State Parks-Part 2

56 A Day in the Life Beekeeper

78 Business Focus

Perri Dermatology

20 Questions -11 Along the Road -82 Awesome Apps -50 Community Calendar -94 Conundrum -88 Creative Corner -83 Dear Gabby -20 From Our Readers -6 From the Mouth of Babes -85 Garden Post, The -22 Giggles & Grins -93

FAVORITES Glorious Grandkids -62 Kidding Around -48 Let’s Celebrate -12 Living with Children -52 Medical Matters -92 Milestones -36 Mustard Seed Moments - 98 Pet Pals -28 Publisher’s Post -9 Puzzle Solutions -46 “Seens” from our World -96

Snapshots -54 Star Students -24 Sudoku Marketplace -89 Teachers Touching Tomorrow -26 The Grands -63 Things My Granddaddy Said -65 What Are You Reading -10 What’s Cookin’? -72 Wildlife Wonders -86 Your Best AgriLife -64

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4 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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From Our Readers Pet Pals

Thank you

I do enjoy your magazine, and especially the Pet Pals.

Thank you for sharing the story about Kathryn Casey. I ordered her Clara Jeffries series and her Sara Armstrong series. All of the books in both series, are well written and fascinating. In the Sara Armstrong series I found it especially interesting that the stories take place in locations that are familiar to us in East Texas.

Betty Bashen

Ms. Casey’s latest book Angel Falls is an historical fiction. I felt so in the moment when I heard on our local public radio station an interview with Kathryn Casey about Angel Falls and female explorer Ruth Robertson.

Thank you for introducing your readers to influential local people. I appreciate Postcards Magazine.

Debbye Jones

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6 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

WE ARE

THANKFUL FOR YOUR TRUST IN US! Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

Perri Dermatology

Anthony J.Perri, M.D. BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

The Woodlands

Conroe

281-943-2749 9305 Pinecroft Dr. • Suite 305 The Woodlands, Texas 77380

936-522-4966 4015 I-45 N @ League Line Rd. Conroe, Texas 77304

Se Habla Español

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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Publisher’s Post Karen Altom

Your Local Community Magazine! @PostcardsMag

PostcardsLive.com

publisher@postcardslive.com

Trash out.

If you would like to receive our magazine and are not currently on our mailing list, subscriptions are available.

Two words. They were the first two words spoken by my husband this morning after he got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and unset the house alarm. They made me smile.

MAILED to select postal routes in Huntsville, New Waverly, Midway, Madisonville, Riverside and Trinity.

Today is our wedding anniversary of 31 years. It hasn’t dawned on him yet. Way back in 1992 when we got married, the scenes of a lifelong romance danced through my head. You know, like those scenes from daytime dramas and romantic movies where you roll over in bed to greet each other in the morning with a soft kiss and a snuggle. Ha! No one ever acknowledges both parties have stinky morning breath and probably need to get up and empty their bladder more than anything else.

FREE rack copies at advertisers and businesses in towns listed above.

Published Monthly by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc. Publisher Karen Altom Editor Wes Altom Operations Manager Marshall Altom Advertising Team Nancy Jolly Jennifer Abbrat Kent Holder Leah Lamp Marshall Altom Design Team Mary Partida April Key

Real life doesn’t look like movies and television. Real life is harder… and better.

Today will be a good day. It will be a day we spend working together on this magazine and in our family business. The first time he realizes today is our anniversary may be when he edits this column...and that is okay. Because, while I have been writing this, he has been doing what he always does--taking care of me with his servant heart. I have heard him unloading the dishwasher and taking out the trash. Now I hear he has put Rosie the Roomba to work cleaning the floors.

Some years, we plan ahead and have big anniversary celebrations. Some years, we don’t. Today, we will do what we have done every day for the last 31 years--life together. And that is a very good thing.

From us to you - thank you for being a part of our life.

Until next time, ~

Karen

Printed in Texas by Shweiki Media Online: www.PostcardsLive.com Address: PO Box 690 • Huntsville, TX 77342 Call our Office: 936.293.1188 We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted.

The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of any unsolicited material. No material from Postcards Magazine™ can be copied, faxed, electronically, or otherwise used without express written permission. Publication of articles, advertisements or product information does not constitute endorsement or approval by Postcards Magazine™ and/ or its publisher. Business Focus stories printed in Postcards Magazine™ are drawn at random from contract advertisers. © 2023 by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc., All rights reserved.

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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What Are You Reading?

Denise Winston reading

Start with Why

By Simon Sinek

Tell us what you’re reading!

PostcardsLive.com

Michelle Page Kopp

Tammy Bybee

reading

reading

Honey, Baby, Mine

All the Pretty People

By Laura Dern & Diane Ladd

By Barbara Freethy

Home and Land Ownership…The American Dream!

Homes

Ranches

Investment Properties

Commercial Properties

Home and Land Ownership…The American Dream!

1702 E Main St. Madisonville, TX 77864

936-348-9977 (Office) www.dblrealestate.com

We are thankful for our clients!

10 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Twenty Questions

Bonne Hendrix

It’s that time again...

Retired Teacher

1

SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED? West Columbia Independent School District

2

FAVORITE MOVIE? Steel Magnolias

3

HOW DID YOU MAKE YOUR FIRST DOLLAR? Worked for Mr. Wright’s Auto

4

BOOK THAT LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON YOU? The Bible

5

LAST THING YOU BINGE-WATCHED? Gunsmoke

6

WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU RIDING DOWN THE ROAD LISTENING TO? KMVL

7

YOUR FAVORITE DISH? Spaghetti

8

YOUR GO-TO BARISTA ORDER? Coffee w/ Sugar

9

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY Leading the band on the field

10

SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE US ABOUT YOU? I’m 86, does that help?

11

WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING ON YOUR DAY OFF? Working at the ASK Program (After School Kids)

12

HOW WOULD YOUR PERFECT DAY BEGIN? With a prayer

13

HOW DO YOU CLEAR YOUR MIND AFTER A BAD DAY? I don’t have bad days

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ONE THING YOU’RE EPICALLY BAD AT? Singing!

15

BUCKET LIST ITEM YOU’RE MOST GLAD YOU’VE DONE? Went to Great Smoky Mountains

16

TOP THING LEFT TO DO ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? Keep working with ASK

17

IF YOU COULD LIVE ABROAD, WHERE WOULD THAT BE? France

18

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE? Our pastor, Jim Jackson - a very devout person

19

BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? Be good.

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ADVICE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF? Slow down.

CALL AND PRE-ORDER YOUR CAJUN FRIED TURKEY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!* *All pre-orders must be paid when ordered.

Join us for: Taco Tuesdays - Cornhole Night, battle of the bags!

Wing Wednesdays - Test your knowledge during our Trivia Night!

Thursdays - Enjoy our Steak & Pork Chop Night!

Saturdays - Enjoy Live Music every Saturday!

All of us at the Big E-Z’s would like to wish you and your family a very blessed Thanksgiving.

(936) 295-2003 2707 S. SAM HOUSTON AVE. HUNTSVILLE, TX 77340

facebook.com/bigecrawfish November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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GOT PROBLEMS?

Let’s Celebrate!

This Month’s Business Anniversaries:

1957 - Celebrating 66 years Walker County Federal Credit Union

See ad on page 21

1972 - Celebrating 51 years Huntsville Rental Center See ad on page 33

We’re your problem solvers!

1979 - Celebrating 44 years Huntsville Truck & Tractor See ad on page 80

1996 - Celebrating 27 years Farris Insurance See ad on page 28

Pete

n s o h o J Wrecker Servicen

• Light & Heavy Car Carriers • Flatbed Carriers • 49 Years of Service

2007 - Celebrating 16 years Madisonville Veterinarian Hospital See ad on page 48

2010 - Celebrating 13 years Woods Tree Service See ad on page 82

• 24 Hour Emergency Service • Texas Towing & Storage Association • Unlock Cars

2019 - Celebrating 4 years MSAG Plumbing & Excavation See ad on page 35

• State Licensed

(936) 291-1119 Toll Free 1-800-743-1029 631 Ryans Ferry Rd. • Huntsville 12 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

2020 - Celebrating 3 years Livingston CPA See ad on page 23

OUR TEAM

No-Cost & Confidential Business Advising!

Contact the Sam Houston State University SBDC to connect with an advisor: (936) 294-3737

Rhonda Ellisor

Kim McLerran

John Fletcher

Sue Slater

Edwin Cantu

Cindy Truax

Director/Advisor

The SBDC advising staff can assist you in various stages of the business life cycle: preventure or early stage, startup, expansion, growth and exit.

Business Advisor

Business Advisor

Admin. Associate

Business Advisor

Specialist Coordinator

Huntsville Office 1 Financial Plaza Suite 300 Huntsville, TX 77340

“The SHSU SBDC is a business advising and training center of the University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network serving 32 counties in Southeast Texas. The SBDC program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.”

The Woodlands Office 3380 College Park Drive Suite 141 The Woodlands, TX 77384

OUR TEAM OF SPECIALISTS!

Margarey Valdez

Erica McGruder

Brad Bricker

Jada Harris

Margarey specializes as a Brand Strategist, Website Designer & Developer, Social Media Manager and Business Consultant.

Margarey's services are available in Español.

Erica brings valuable insights and strategies to create harmonious and thriving workplaces. She works with a diverse range of clients, from startups to established businesses navigating the complexities of HR.

Brad is an IT and Cyber Security specialist. He can help create a methodical and proactive plan to support business continuity in the face of a natural disaster or a cyber security incident.

Jada is a QuickBooks expert and contract management consultant.

Her expertise includes QuickBooks Online management, contract management, small business accounting, bookkeeping and more.

Marketing

Human Resources

IT Specialist

QuickBooks

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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Do You Know?

Story by Claudia Kirkwood Photos by Tom Miller

Dale Enderlin Two paths, two passions, two purposes, one person.

Dale Enderlin of Huntsville, Texas, by blending dual experiences into his life, has provided a means of peace and tranquility, healing and meaning, for all who have traversed the journey as well.

Dale, you serve as Executive Director of Operation Red Wings Foundation and mentioned it is near and dear to your heart.

Please share its mission and how it serves as a road or path to others for healing and peace.

Operation Red Wings Foundation, originally known as “Lone Survivor,” was rebranded to bring honor to the memories of the nineteen soldiers (eleven of whom were Navy

Seals along with eight U.S. Army Special Operations aviators) who lost their lives in a battle of the same name. This battle took place in Afghanistan from late June to midJuly 2005 on the slopes of a mountain near Asadabad. Through military conflicts such as this, veterans come back home many times with memories filled with conflict, carnage, and confusion, thereby bringing a form of this same chaos to their own family. Known as PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, it

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creates strife and conflict in the home and must be dealt with on a professional level to change its course. The family, in welcoming their beloved one back home, are unaware of the experiences and resulting trauma that may harbor within the veteran and are confused when he or she lashes out in unexpected ways. This now puts the spouse and children within their own type of “war zone” and creates a form of stress in their lives as well.

Operation Red Wings Foundation provides a path to healing and change for the veteran, the spouse, and the children through retreats that provide resources that, if utilized, can start the family on a road to understanding and change. Being involved in this process is a passion of mine and has brought a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction to all of us who work toward this end, knowing that more than 3,500 veterans have been served since 2011. In 2022, we had our highest

number of applications to attend our retreats.

Where do these retreats take place, how can the veteran access all Operation Red Wings Foundation has to offer, and what is the cost?

The retreat location is in Huntsville at the property formerly known as Camp Coyote, but I am excited to announce we have recently purchased almost 15 acres of

land off Hwy 19 on Dusty Road. This new 5000-foot complex, now in the planning stages, will house up to twelve veterans at a time and includes a kitchen and rooms for therapy, yoga, and staff. This new facility should be functional within the next twelve months, if all goes as planned. A serene outdoor environment, well-planned facilities, and excellent staffing can go a long way in countering the crippling effects of PTSD for all involved. And this is at no cost to the

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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15 acres of land at the new location Existing house on new land

veteran and family members. This is 100% privately funded.

Where does the financial support come from for providing these excellent services?

In the past, our fundraisers have taken place in cities across the U.S. Since moving the office to Huntsville in 2019, we are hoping to establish financial contacts here. This is a city that is steeped in a love for veterans and their causes. The fact that the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum of Texas and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

Office in Huntsville

8 Reasons to be Thankful for Eye Care • Seeing Loved Ones • Better Academic Performances • Preventing Headaches • Lifesaving Care

• Detecting Diseases • Independence • Athletic Success • Self-Expression and Confidence

Ocular Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Stephen H. Means, O.D. & Associates Therapeutic Optometrists

109 Medical Park Lane (Behind Hospital) • Huntsville 16 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

936-291-8282

PI

U RIT

AL SANC

TU

T

HI

NK

TI

FOR

ANS

Y

AS

AR

First Christian Church Imagine God’s Limitless Love.

ING

I R H C

S

Traditional worship We welcome all to the Lord’s table as God has welcomed us Inspiring music Thought provoking sermons November 19th • 3 pm Community Thanksgiving Prayer Service at First United Methodist Church Local veterans involved in the Operation Red Wings Foundation

December 3rd • 10:45 am First Sunday of Advent December 24th • 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Candles and Carols

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

are here is proof of that. We are working to build relationships here for the funding of Operation Red Wings Foundation and the critical needs this organization helps to meet.

These funding opportunities may come from local golf tournaments, community-wide fundraising dinners, local clubs, private donors, and other means. We welcome any and all interested toward this end. Our contact information will be shown at the end of this article.

We mentioned two paths, and the first one has certainly proven rich in purpose and meaning. Your passion for it is evident. Now for your second path, please share what it is and its importance.

This path involves riding a motorcycle, so I guess you can say it is the actual roadways and where they go that inspire me! I find I feel closest to God when I ride the roads and am enveloped in the beautiful scenery He provides. My wife Shawnna goes along

Sunday worship service @ 10:45 AM Adult Bible Study and Children’s Sunday School @ 9:30 AM Sunday Youth Group from 3:00-5:00 PM Nursery Available with me for many of these outings. When we first met, she would have nothing to do with riding a motorcycle of any kind. At the time, we were living in The Woodlands, and I was commuting to my job in Houston.

This takes us to your life, your education and career, and a future move to Huntsville. Please fill in the blanks for us!

I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana where I attended high school and loved sports, especially baseball. Upon graduation, I moved to Fort Myers, Florida, so I could continue my dream of playing professional baseball, then came to Sam Houston State

»

Wednesday Bible Study @ 10:00 AM Worship services are live streamed on our FB page First Christian Church Huntsville, TX Pastor Daniel Paul The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): A Movement for Wholeness in a Fragmented World.

1800 Ave. R. • Huntsville, Texas 77340 (936)295-3677 Email - firstcchuntsville@gmail.com Website: Fcchtx.org

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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University for my junior and senior years. My aspiration of being a major league pitcher never panned out, but I did fall in love with the small-town feel of this community.

After graduating in 1981 with a degree in accounting, I moved to Houston to start a job with the accounting firm Arthur Young, later renamed Ernst and Young.

After spending several years of “paying my dues” by working12-hour days, six days a week, I left and went to work for another firm in the city. I later went solo, establishing a sole proprietorship practice. During this time, and being familiar with the requirements of non-profit organizations, I was asked to help with the newly formed Lone Survivor Foundation, filling their accounting needs.

This was only a 4-8 hour per week job which I could do alongside my own work, and since I had never served in the military, it gave me an avenue through which I could show my appreciation for their service by giving back to veterans. In 2013, they asked me to come onboard full-time, which I did.

Fast-forward to late 2014, my wife Shawnna suggested a motorcycle trip, which totally shocked me since she avoided this style

Rocking motorcycle & remodel

of travel at all costs! We boarded my bike and headed to Huntsville for the day. After polishing off a delicious chicken fried steak at the old Café Texan, we headed north on

Hwy 19 to enjoy the countryside when a “For Sale” sign caught my eye. Making a U-turn, we headed south to view the 3 acres and house on Robinson Road that would become our home in January 2015. Seeing two doe walk across the road compelled Shawnna to ask, “What would you think about moving to

What's not to LOVE? Women's Boutique

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Voted #1 Boutique in Huntsville!

Jewelry • Clothing • Shoes • Accessories • Gifts

936-661-6125 Locally Owned & Operated

by Sandy Newman

18 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Follow us!

Huntsville?” For the next four years, I commuted 80.5 miles each way to my job located near NRG Stadium, which allowed me plenty of time to pray and reflect on things as I drove in the quietness of my car.

People asked how I could stand that drive each day, and my response was always that it paled in comparison to what our veterans have had to endure.

In 2019, Tom Fordyce took over the foundation and moved the office to Huntsville at 1414 11th Street, a move that I celebrated, for now my job would be close to home. Tom retired 15 months ago, and I was promoted to Executive Director. It’s been a fruitful journey and will now continue on in new surroundings that enable us to accomplish our goals with the utmost success.

Two rewarding paths, two passions, two purposes, and you, one busy person! What else does your journey involve?

I love to do woodworking projects and totally gutted our house after we moved in. We love the feel that an old farmhouse décor brings, so I rebuilt it to resemble this look, complete with a fence board ceiling, wood walls, and open shelving. Shawnna and I love it. She looks forward to the comfort of her farmhouse-style home each day upon returning from her work as a dental assistant at the TDCJ Goree Unit. I have three sons, Brooks, Patrick, and Corey, and their families include three grandsons to boast about. They are now becoming recipients of my woodworking projects. I recently built a “rocking motorcycle” for one of my grandsons and have more projects on the list to accomplish.

Other interests (and responsibilities!) include caring for our 41 chickens and their eggs, which we sell to Hunziker’s Farm for resell.

We also have six rescue dogs, a terrier,a black mouth cur, a mutt, a border collie, a lab, and a pit bull. We belong to the First Baptist Church, and I oversee the Upward basketball program for kids. I enjoy an occasional round of golf, and of course, we enjoy our biking trips, with some flyfishing on the side. For the long trips, we transport my 2016 Indian Roadmaster to our location and then enjoy the roads and scenery once there.

We’re

Thankful for you!

Your life is marked in accomplishing tasks resulting in the peace and well-being of others. What advice do you have for young people that they might experience the enduring rewards of accomplishment as well?

Work hard! Focus on your dreams and never give up. But work hard.

None of us are entitled to anything, and we should be grateful for every opportunity that comes our way.

OPERATION RED WINGS FOUNDATION 1414 11thStreet, Huntsville, TX 77340 P: 936-755-6075 X 102 C: 832-278-5803/832-278-5801 dale@orwfoundation.org orwfoundation.org Resources for more information regarding Operation Red Wings: •WarsoftheWorld/OperationRedWings •Leave No Man Behind, by Dr. Tony Brooks

Enrolling now for Fall 2024!

A classical, Christ-centered Pre-K-12th grade school

3891 Hwy 30 W. • Huntsville

936-438-8833 alphaomegaacademy.org November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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Dear Gabby Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. November is a month of remembrance and giving thanks. Please remember our veterans on Veteran’s Day, Saturday, November 11. Thank them for protecting our freedoms by serving our country. May God bless them and their families. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 23, and commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621. Be thankful for your blessings and for those who prepare the food and wash the dishes. Gobble ‘til you wobble. Just remember; it’s all fun and games until your pant buttons start popping. Send your questions to me by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive.com/share.

DEAR GABBY I try to be helpful to my fiancée. I like to remind him of his appointments and when to take his medication. It’s just my nature to be considerate.

He doesn’t seem to appreciate my concern and sometimes seems to resent it. Should I stop trying to help him and/or reconsider his proposal?

ACCOMO-DATING LADY DEAR A-D L You can have a long and happy marriage if you learn not to take a husband’s criticism to heart. Keep doing what you’re doing, because they really need to have their memory jogged occasionally. Here’s an example of a recent conversation between my husband/hero Dud and me. Me: “Did you remember to pick up the dry cleaning?” Dud: “I am a grown man, stop mothering me. Have you seen my wallet? Where did you hang my jacket? Where do I park at the meeting tonight? I don’t have any clean underwear. Can you pick up the dry cleaning tomorrow?” See? GABBY

DEAR GABBY What is the number one thing on your bucket list?

NOSY ROSIE DEAR NOSY 1.Keep breathing. I’ve done all the rest of them.

GABBY

CONFIDENTIAL TO “BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER GIVEN?” Never take a dog named Shark to the beach.

Funded in part by a grant from the City of Conroe.

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from our WCFCU family to yours, C=90 M=30 Y=95 K=30

C=19 M=68 Y=73 K=5 PMS - 167

C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=50

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?

Y

walkercountyfcu.com

Y

Personal and Business Accounts Land Loans • Construction Loans

Y

1802 Normal Park Dr • Huntsville • 936-291-2171 November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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The Garden Post

By Kim Bius

November is a beautiful season.

Trees are beginning to “color,” sasanqua camellias are beginning to bloom, and the Holidays are beginning to “peek” into our day-to-day routine. The scope of gardening has become a lifestyle today. Our homes are now designed with outdoor living spaces (outdoor kitchens, pools, multiple gardens, fireplaces and more), not just patios--and gardening now encompasses “home and garden.”

In the South, gardening is as much a part of our culture as iced tea and homemade pie. Our gardens are an extension of our lives--we eat out of them, we decorate out of them, we live in them, and we raise families and teach values through them. Our garden may not be the traditional 10’x10’ vegetable garden--it may be a container garden or a collection of indoor windowsill plants--but gardening runs deep in our veins.

Above: Sasanqua camellias Right: Japonica camellia

Thankful

Grateful McCAFFETY

ELECTRIC Licensed • Bonded • Insured • TECL-19206

Blessed

Wishing you and your family an abundance of happiness, good health, and blessings.

CALL US For All Your Wiring Needs Huntsville: (936) 295-2831

Conroe: (936) 539-5411

Bryan/College Station: (979) 250-6091

Visit our lighting showroom at 1711 Sycamore or visit us online at www.mccaffetyelectric.com 22 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Fall is the best planting season of all. Planting now allows root systems to grow deep and establish themselves before the summer heat arrives. Trees and non-drought tolerant plants such as azaleas, gardenias and camellias, will especially benefit from being planted in the fall. Transplanting a tree should NOT be considered until after the second “killing freeze” (which is generally in late January).

Sasanqua camellias are heavily budded now and beginning to bloom. These southern belles bloom beautifully in shade and wilt badly in heavy sun. The Japonica camellia is heavily budded also, but do not expect blooms until late January. Both camellia varieties require well drained, rich humic soil. Do not fertilize now or these beauties will drop their buds. Give camellias a bit of room, at least 4’ apart and 3’ from a structure. With age, camellias can be trimmed into a tree and underplanted with shade loving annuals and perennials.

U-RENT-EM U-RENT-EM, WE-GOT-EM

Fall is also the time to fertilize with winterizer fertilizer to give your lawn the dose of nitrogen and potassium it needs to grow strong deep roots and increase hardiness. It is also the time to apply a granular pre-emergent herbicide to keep those pesky winter weeds out of the lawn.

Pansy season is here, and hopefully warm weather does not return, or the pansies will “bolt” (grow rapidly upright and leggy). Pinch the top 2-4” out of the pansy, and new growth will begin. Fertilize pansies with 1 tablespoon of blood meal under each 4” plant and reapply every 30 days. Water in immediately. Remember, pets will love this, so water in quickly. Blood meal is a 10-0-0, giving your pansies the natural element they crave--nitrogen.

Remember to mulch your beds with 2”-3” of bark mulch to retain moisture, insulate the soil, and keep weeds at bay. Keep in mind, hardwood mulch can change the ph of the soil over time for acid lovers such as azaleas and camellias, resulting in chlorosis. It is best to use pine bark mulch around azaleas, gardenias, camellias, magnolias, and fern.

We now have more varieties of plants to choose from than any time in history. Gardening is no longer a hobby--it is a lifestyle. The difference in big box home and garden centers and independents (which are a dying breed themselves) is knowledge, service, craftsmanship, and quality. So, the next time you are wondering why your local garden center has become a home and garden center, you will know.

Mini-Ex’s • Trencher Mud-Buggy • Generators Stump Grinder • Much More

936-439-4848

Mon. - Fri. 7am - 5pm Sat. 8am - 12pm

103 Hwy 30 East Huntsville

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

23

Star Students Kayla Marie Kembro

Kathryn Peach

Trinity High School

Alpha Omega Academy Favorite Movie: The Blindside Favorite Movie: The 10 Things I Hate About You Favorite Music/Artist: Thomas Rhett, Taylor Swift Favorite Food: Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap

Favorite Music/Artist: Zach Bryan Favorite Food: Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes Favorite Quote: “You were born an original; don’t become a copy.”—Coco Chanel

Favorite Quote: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”—Ayn Rand

K

athryn is a senior at Alpha Omega Academy and is the daughter of Rebecca and Stanley Peach. Her activities include Fellowship of Christian Athletes, basketball, football trainer, track, house leader, and active with Second Youth. Following graduation, Kathryn plans to attend Texas A&M University to obtain a BSN. She hopes to become a NICU nurse.

She believes, “You only live once, so live for Jesus.”

K

ayla is a senior at Trinity High School and is the daughter of Brian and Kimberly Kembro. Her activities include National Honor Society, BETA Club, student council, FFA, 4-H, TCFA Fair Queen, showing cattle at the “majors,” and Trinity Tiger Mascot. Following graduation, Kayla plans to attend Texas A&M University to study animal science and specialize in animal embryology. She believes, “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, but from what you do consistently.”

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1370 Hwy 75 N • Huntsville • 936-291-7100 24 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

H

S T H S

Hannah Heinemann

AJ Steffa Alpha Omega Academy

Huntsville High School

Favorite Movie: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Favorite Movie: Hacksaw Ridge

Favorite Music/Artist: Randy Travis

Favorite Music/Artist: Old Country / George Jones

Favorite Food: Grilled Shrimp

Favorite Food: Sausage and Gravy with Biscuits

Favorite Quote: “Do hard things.”—Mrs. Gaston

Favorite Quote: “You’ll never change your life until you

H

change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” –John C. Maxwell

annah is a senior at Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Emily and Kyle Heinemann. Her activities include soccer, band, cross country, National Honor Society, German Honor Society, French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, UIL Academics, and student council. Following graduation, Hannah plans to attend college to study neuroscience research.

She believes, “If you’re going to do something, do it well.”

A

j is a senior at Alpha Omega Academy and is the son of Ron and Cristy Steffa. His activities include basketball, Interact, student council, and University Heights Baptist Church youth group. AJ believes the words of Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

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So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. ~ Ezra 8:23 November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

25

Teachers Touching Tomorrow

Honoring teachers who work with our kids day in and day out. They go above and beyond, and really do “Touch Tomorrow.”

Trinity Coe

Nominated by Kayla Kembro

Trinity High School

She taught me that hard work and dedication pay off, and I should not let the little things affect me in the show ring.

Agricultural Science

Nominate a special teacher today by going online: www.PostcardsLive.com.

Those chosen for publication are awarded a gift card to 1836 Steakhouse.

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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29

Just for Fun Story by Wes Altom Submitted Photos

Spotlighting this Christmas attraction… which—like the holiday itself—is about much more than lights.

Wes Armstrong

30 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

What is Lone Star Lights? How do you describe it? Over 1.2 million lights, live music, dinner theatre, snow zone with real snow, sledding hill, vendor market, zip line, petting farm, Santa, Nativity—these bullet points fit easily on a brochure or website--yet, they fail to tell the full story. Even a catchy phrase like “Many marvels on a mission to make memories” doesn’t capture it all. Postcards sat down with Wes Armstrong, Director of Lone Star Lights, to gain insight as to the beginning and progression of the inspiration that became Lone Star Lights.

…

and it has to be interactive. You can go see Christmas lights a lot of places. Lone Star Lights had to be highly interactive to be unique. This shines through in things like…the three venues in the park where we invite community performers…the custom talking reindeer… seeing Santa in his workshop…or building your own toy at Toymaker’s Workshop. We tried to create experiences that engage all the senses, not just your eyes in looking at lights.”

In its inaugural season of 2022, Lone Star Lights had just over 1 million lights and saw 16,000 attendees over 16 nights.

»

A lightbulb of an idea

Let there be light!

Winter months are, by default, a low activity period for camp centers. Carolina Creek wanted to develop a plan to use their property and resources during this time to help community and families to connect with each other and with Jesus.

In their research, they located a camp in Washington which had a walkthrough holiday light experience.

In January 2022, the official “green light” came. January through November was a sprint of ordering, receiving, and (in the words of Wes) “learning a lot of things we didn’t know that we didn’t know” in the first year of the attraction.

In 2016, they developed a plan to create a similar experience at Carolina Creek.

Thus began a two-year period of travel to conferences, other camps, Christmas events, theme parks, and botanical gardens—anywhere that created immersive Christmas environments—to learn what worked and what could have worked better.

With the uniqueness of their creativity in orders and requests, Carolina Creek found they were also challenging the lighting and display vendors to think bigger as well.

“They came into it thinking they were just filling an order for a camp center, and a camp center is not going to be doing these big or crazy things,” said Wes. “Our creative requirements were: it has to be immersive,

This included examining technologies and suppliers as well. “We work with the same companies that supply lights for Disney World, said Lone Star Lights Director Wes Armstrong. We run on a very technical standard, including a control room where all our lighting, audio, and video systems are networked.”

In 2019, the board almost gave a “green light” to the project, but staff wasn’t quite ready yet. This turned out to be a blessing in that it allowed the initiative to avoid a pandemic shutdown immediately after startup. Thus began a waiting period with another year in development to refine the plan and the end product.

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

31

Over 2,000 people participated in the dinner theatre experience with Houston-based A.D. Players, 270 tons of snow were trucked in, 38 animals were in the Petting Farm, and more than 1,200 prayer requests or praises were written and hung in the Prayer Arbor.

Spreading the Light So, what’s new for the 2023 season? A lot! Of course, more lights. This year, there will be 1.2 million lights! A Chuckwagon Roundup experience will debut.

This is a 45-minute family-

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oriented dinner experience featuring Coyote Joe with singing, dancing, live animals, and comedy in a highly interactive show with prizes (as well as cowboy stew, cornbread, and peach cobbler). The A.D. Players will return for the dinner theatre experience with a fun, new comedy, “A Christmas of Many Errors.” There will also be a new high adventure activity called Crate Stackin’.

Yes, Crate Stackin’--a competitive activity in which the participants stack plastic milk crates as high as they can, all the while climbing the stack

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Also new will be Silver Bell Bakery, where guests can decorate their own sugar cookies. Santa and Rolly the talking reindeer will be in an all-new zone this year called Candy Cane Lane, where you will also find Holly Hall, a community performance stage. Young guests will enjoy The Storybook Place, an outdoor venue where characters will be reading classic Christmas stories. The Fractile Forest zone from last year has been reinvented with the addition of a light maze. And last, but certainly not least, the parking area has been expanded to more than twice the size as last year.

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34 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

“Our primary motivation in producing Lone Star Lights is to create a family-centric, community-oriented event where people can make memories through the Christmas holidays,” said Wes. “We really have a heart of making it accessible to all. From a price point, we try to keep it as low as we possibly can. If there’s something we can do for free, we’re going to do that. I can’t tell you how many people were surprised last year when they had their photo with Santa, and it was free. People walked up with their wallets open and couldn’t believe it. The snow zone is included. The petting farm is included. The performance stages are included. We really try to make it something that’s affordable for the whole family to come.”

While Carolina Creek is a faith-based organization, you won’t see them forcing this message onto guests. “The way we accomplish our mission is not by preaching a Gospel message,” stated Wes. “Rather, the way our team and staff interact with and treat others should evidence

our faith. Guests should walk away feeling like they experienced Jesus in a new way.”

And while there is a zone in the attraction called Reason for the Season, with a larger-than-life Nativity and the Prayer Arbor, these exist simply as an invitation—guests can lean into the experience at their comfort level—or not at all.

Speaking of invitations, you are invited to experience Lone Star Lights and create some special Christmas memories this year. The event runs from November 24 through December 22. Tell your family and friends, then bring them along! Visit lonestarlights.org for more information.

936.744.0134 5 Anticipation Drive, Huntsville, TX 77320 lonestarlights.org

Carolina Creek was founded in 2002 by a group of men and women who called Houston home, but saw a need for a space for youth to be able to reconnect with Creation—to have a change of pace and setting that wasn’t inner-city.

The mission of Carolina Creek is to help people know the love of Jesus by creating immersive environments and partnering with individuals and groups to provide an experience accessible to all.

The first camp center opened with 200 beds. The property now has three camp centers with 1,200 beds. Each center is self-sufficient, with its own lodging, dining hall, and activities— so three different camps can run simultaneously and never cross paths. Carolina Creek programs are designed for K-12.

They write their own curriculum and can provide turnkey events. They also do daytrip events and multi-day retreats for corporate teambuilding, and have hosted groups from companies such as H-E-B, Chick-fil-A, and Walmart.

carolinacreek.org | 936.261.8334 Mailing Address: PO Box 989, Riverside, TX 77367

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

35

Share your Milestone!

Milestones

PostcardsLive.com/Share

David, Elton, and Karen Cleveland. Elton turned 106 on October 10, 2023! He loves to play the piano every day and also has interests in photography, astronomy, and trains. He is posing in this photo with his son David & daughter Karen.

Elsie & Louis Schroeder recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on September 1st, and Louis celebrated his 100th birthday on September 10th!

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36 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

All Star Dog Lodge & Spaw Book your appointment today! allstardoglodge.com (936) 444-6015 161 Robinson Rd, • Huntsville

Ask The Doc: Best Treatments for Sciatica Pain?

Dr. Brian McGee, DC Welcome to “Ask the Doc,” your go-to source for valuable healthcare insights and advice from our expert team at Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute.

What is Sciatica?

Professional Help for Sciatica

Sciatica is a painful condition caused by the compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down through the legs. Symptoms can include sharp pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.

It can significantly affect your quality of life, but the good news is that there are effective treatments available.

If home treatments don’t bring you the relief you need it’s a sign there may be a more series cause to your sciatica, like a pinched nerve or bulging disc, and time to consult with a professional who specializes in treating sciatica. Below are some of the best non-surgical treatments proven to provide sciatica relief: 1. Chiropractic Adjustments: Specific chiropractic adjustments can realign the spine, reducing pressure on the sciatic nerve and providing long-term relief.

Home Remedies for Sciatica Before seeking professional help, it’s worth trying some home treatments to alleviate sciatic pain:

2. Spinal Decompression: This non-invasive therapy gently stretches the spine, taking pressure off the affected disc and nerves to promote relief and healing.

1. Heat and Ice: Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes, followed by a heating pad for 20 minutes, to the affected area to reduce inflammation and relax tense muscles.

2. Stretching Exercises: Gently stretch the lower back and legs to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. Yoga and regular stretching routines can be beneficial.

3. Maintain Good Posture: Proper posture can relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. Use ergonomic chairs and pillows for support.

3. Physical Rehabilitation: Muscles need to be both flexible and strong. Restoring proper flexibility and strength to the muscles involved around the sciatica nerve are essential for long term relief.

For over 40 Years, Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute has been helping people get rid of their sciatica pain and back to enjoying their life. You can reach us at 936-291-2111 for help with your sciatica pain.

Thank You Huntsville…

For 40 Incredible Years and Counting!

We, at Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute, want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for allowing us to be a part of your lives for the past 40 years.

As we look back on our four decades together, we’ve been on this journey together, helping you and your loved ones lead healthier, happier lives.

Each day, each smile, and each success story have been our greatest rewards.

Here's to the next 40 years of health, happiness, and community.

With a heart full of gratitude, Dr. Brian McGee, DC

936-291-2111 901 Normal Park Dr, #201 Huntsville TX 77320

BACK PAIN * JOINT PAIN * NEUROPATHY • CHIROPRACTIC * PHYSICAL REHAB * MEDICAL November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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Texas Treasures Story and Photos by Mike Yawn

Texas State Parks 100th Anniversary

In part two of our salute to Texas State Parks, an informative account of one couple’s trip, full of adventure… and misadventure.

Big Bend Ranch State Park at sunset.

38 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Monahans Sandhills State Park

My girlfriend Stephanie told me to take a left. We were headed to Estero Llano State Park. Established in 2006, it is one of the newer additions to the Texas State Park System. Nonetheless, at less than 30 miles from McAllen and, amidst the Rio Grande Valley and its 1.4 million residents, it helps the System fulfill one of its original goals: to provide the State’s residents, even those in urban areas, access to nature and nature’s blessings.

I thought these blessings could best be found on the right. Gifted with a strong sense of direction, I am almost never wrong about these things. I turned right, where I found a winding paved road, then a dirt road, and then a dead end. Through some error in the urban planner’s design, I had been led astray.

A three-point turn is surprisingly loud when there is complete silence inside the car.

There is the difference in engine hum from drive, to reverse, to drive; there is the squealing of the axles as they turn; and there is distinctive sound of tires on an unpaved road. Fortunately for me, there was not the sound of anyone uttering, “I told you so.”

Eventually, we found Estero Llano Grande (it was on the left), and we were soon enjoying another of the State’s 89 parks—a total that does not include historical sites. While at the Park, we saw green jays, chachalacas, and otherwise enjoyed our first foray into the Valley. Seeing the State Parks, we have learned, is a way to see Texas.

»

Green Jay (top) & Chachalacas (bottom) spotted at Estero Llano State Park

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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The Park’s Centenary

“Texas-sized sandbox.”

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Texas Park System, and when I first heard this, I became more serious in my goal to visit all of Texas’s Parks. To date, I have explored more than 30 parks, many of them multiple times.

There are some excellent guidebooks on Texas State Parks. I recommend Laurence Parent’s Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites.

I have my favorites. Cedar Hill State Park, located just 18 miles from Dallas, is a great urban park; Caprock Canyon State Park has the largest bison herd in Texas; the coastal state parks offer numerous beautiful views; and Monahans Sandhills offers a unique geologic setting, what the Park refers to as a

Hueco Tanks Humans have occupied—or passed through—Hueco Tanks since at least 10,000 BC. The Park’s mountains were made of sterner stuff than the surrounding rock and have eroded more slowly, leaving us with three large, rocky mounds. But even this hard rock has worn away in places, leaving

Hueco Tanks bawl and chain trail, pictograph & Kiva cave.

T hanksgiving is much more than a day in November….

Appreciation happens whenever we pause to remember the happiness gathered and shared year by year with people like you. We feel you are an important part of our family and want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your loyalty and confidence. We also invite those who are not yet part of our Sims Dentistry family to experience individualized compassionate care.

May all the traditions you care about most be part of your Happy Thanksgiving- the laughter and sharing, the warmth and the caring and the blessings that make life worth living!!

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40 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

hollows in the rock. The Spanish called these hollows “huecos,” and the historic site is named “Hueco Tanks.”

Over millennia, the area’s inhabitants created more than 3,000 paintings that still grace various surfaces in the region. Some of the most famous are inside Kiva Cave—which sounds more impressive than “Kiva Crawlspace.” But crawl we did, scooching through tight spaces until we found all eight pictographs. It was an intriguing find, and we exited elatedly, with worm-like maneuvers to inch our way out.

This was quite enough excitement for Stephanie, who did not want to do “overdo things.” Prudently, I refrained from scoffing, but, confident in my own abilities—I am almost never wrong about these things—I was in no mood to stop exploring. Stephanie retreated downhill, leaving me with a parting reminder to “be careful.”

These words floated by me as I began my climb. Because it is steep, generally slippery, and rocky all over, rangers have installed a chain

“rope” to help visitors ascend. Cleverly referred to as the “bawl and chain” trail by some, it can be a strenuous hike.

I certainly didn’t need the chain. I roamed, crawling over boulders, squeezing into tight places, and enjoying the views from the top of the mountain. Eventually, I descended, doing so with a certain elan, walking purposefully toward the base of the mountain.

Encouraged by my rapid pace, I cavalierly refused to use the chain supports. This sense of confidence abandoned me when my foot hit the ground a bit awkwardly, landing in a slick spot next to a small ridge.

My body landed to the right of the chain, and my left arm dangled to the other side, forcing my armpit into the role of a gondola lift, keeping my upper body erect and guiding me such that I slid perfectly parallel with the chain, which collected pieces of my arm. I skidded 20 feet down the mountain, a one-man impersonation of a toboggan, haunted by the words, “be careful,” echoing in my ears.

Big Bend Ranch State Park It was late at night, and a few hours before we would arrive at our destination: Big Bend Ranch State Park. Running low on gas, I suggested we stop at the next gas station.

»

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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The “next station” appeared shortly. True, there were no external lights, the eaves were bent and dangling, and there were potholes in the parking lot, but it was a gas station, and the pumps were seemingly operable. Stephanie, however, hesitated…suggesting we get gas “at the next station.” I assured her it would be okay. I manfully disembarked and began fueling.

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Big Bend Ranch State Park Hoodoo Trail

With the fuel pumping, I wandered, getting in some steps around the unlit lot—when, to my right, I detected movement. I glanced over, seeing what appeared to be a black cat running in my direction. I do not like cats, and they often sense this, so it was an odd sight to see one running toward me. Odder still, it stopped about five feet from me, slowly turned around, and raised its tail. It was then I noticed the black fur was tinged with a white stripe.

The ride to Big Bend Ranch State Park is a long one. From Huntsville, it is approximately a nine-hour drive. But it is longer still when one of the car’s occupants has been sprayed by a skunk.

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For the next two days, we repeatedly doused the vehicle’s interior with Febreze—using half a bottle in the process. We also left the windows down, even while the car was parked outside our line of vision. It is a new, somewhat expensive model, and we were on the border, in lawless lands west of the Pecos--but no thief was so bold as to approach it.

“Building the American Dream”

Apart from the smell, the days were a joy as we took in the natural beauty of Big Bend Ranch. Derrick Birdsall, a friend and photographer, has long extolled the Park’s virtues, and we followed his suggestions in exploring the largest of Texas Parks. We drove along the El Camino del Rio, which author Laurence Parent described as perhaps “the most spectacular drive in Texas.” We visited old churches; stopped at Fort Leaton; hiked Ojita Adentro and the Cinca Tinajas Trails, and we enjoyed the beautiful views.

On our last day, we embarked on the Hoodoo Trail, a short hike abutting the Rio Grande and predictably adorned with hoodoos, which Park literature describes as “rock structures with strange animal shapes” that “embody evil spirts.” There was, however, nothing foreboding about this hike. It was bright, clear, and beautiful.

As the day and the trip drew to an end, we made our way to Closed Canyon. Tackling this hike at golden hour, I thought, might offer intriguing photographic possibilities, topping off what had mostly been a wonderful excursion.

»

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Big Bend Ranch State Park Cinco Tinaja Trail

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

43

some of the canyon’s rock bed. Such floods had also eroded parts of the canyon floor, producing small waterfalls and, in turn, tinajas beneath the waterfalls. The visual effect is striking, but the practical effect is the canyon is marked with slopes and pits that can make access difficult. “Do not go down any slopes,” a park ranger noted, “that you cannot get back up.”

For half a mile, all was well. We spotted lizards darting through the canyon; eyed birds flying; and we marveled as the day’s last light reflected on the canyon’s walls.

But we also noted the canyon floor was becoming steeper in places.

Big Bend Ranch State Closed Canyon

Closed Canyon is a “slot canyon,” or a narrow channel, typically with a depth-towidth ratio of at least 10:1. In places, the canyon narrows to a width of six-to-eight feet, while the sheer walls tower some 200 above the trail.

Fortunately, these walls were not crowned with hoodoos carrying evil spirits. We were, however, given fair warning about troubles that can befall careless hikers. The trail’s brochure encourages hikers to be on the lookout for rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and flash floods from even small amounts of rain.

While hiking, we saw evidence of these floods, which had washed and polished

44 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

When we arrived at one drop of about 20 feet, Stephanie declined to go further. After some negotiation, she agreed to let me continue, so long as I promised to “be careful.”

Spotted lizard at Big Bend Ranch State Park

I trekked on for half a mile, before a tinaja full of water blocked my path. I looked for ways around the obstacle, but I was stymied. There was no safe path to the trail’s conclusion.

This was disappointing, but I know my limitations. I am almost never wrong about these things.

Thus, I returned.

Stephanie looked relieved when she caught sight of me, but as I approached her, it was I who became uneasy. She seemed to have grown taller in my absence; or, more accurately, the slope on which she stood seemed to be higher and steeper.

With some trepidation, I made my first attempt at climbing out, which proved in vain.

Before my second attempt, I handed my gear to Stephanie, lightening my load, but this attempt, too, was fruitless.

I paused my efforts, which were both exhausting and futile. I got the sense that Stephanie was looking in my direction with disapproval, so I looked elsewhere. I glanced behind me, up the canyon walls, and toward the setting sun.

In this dwindling sunlight, I saw bats

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from the pit, still a half mile walk to the car.

Hiking can be quite loud when there is no conversation. Bats’ wings whir, owls hoot noisily, wind whistles through the canyon, and hikers’ breathing is heavy. But, fortunately, there was no sound of anyone saying, “I told you so.”

Big Bend Ranch State Park Smiley

flitting; heard owls hooting; recalled the trail brochure, warning hikers of the danger of mountain lions. I remembered the park ranger’s admonition: “Don’t go down any slopes you cannot get back up.”

I devised a plan. I began collecting rocks, the largest I could carry, and I piled them at the base of the pit. As I depleted the rocks in my vicinity, I roamed further to find new rocks, necessitating longer hauls. After 100 or so rocks, I tried another climb, again to no avail.

But I was closer.

Stephanie, ever-resourceful, took my cameras, removed the straps, and tied them together, producing a “rope” of sorts more than six-feet long. This rope, combined with the rock scaffolding, did the trick. I emerged

Coda Our departure from Big Bend Ranch State Park was bittersweet. Even in the face of recent misadventures, I wished I could stay in the midst of this natural beauty, remain connected to nature, and see more wildlife.

I reflected as we reached the Closed Canyon parking lot, and I turned briefly to bid the trail adieu. Vestiges of the sunset persisted, and I looked admiringly at the orange streaks against a purple sky. It was beautiful, a fitting afterglow to a three-day trip that taught me a bit about Texas…and a lot about myself.

Armed with this knowledge, I entered the car, detecting a faint aroma of Febreze.

For a moment I wondered, “Left or right?”

Regaining my confidence, I turned right. I am almost never wrong about these things.

Elizabeth Hebert is an attorney at Haney HOMETOWN LAWYER, Sarah Paschal & Romoser, P.C. She grew up in Huntsville, TX with her family. Sarah graduated from Huntsville READY TO SERVE High School in 2012, then attended The University of Texas at Austin where she graduated in 2016 with a B .A. in Government. In 2020, Sarah received her law degree from Mercer School of Law in Macon, Georgia and became licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. During law school, Sarah completed a Summer Law Fellowship in Washington, D.C., consisting of academic coursework at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and a full-time internship at Political Law, a campaign finance law firm. Additionally, Sarah interned with lobbyist Todd Kercheval of Kercheval & Associates in Austin, Texas.

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www.huntsville-texas-attorneys.com November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

45

Sudoku #1 5

8

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6 9 7 4 3 1 1 5 6 8 2 3 7 4 9 2 1 8 3 7 4 9

6

Answers

5

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3

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Sudoku #2

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Puzzle 6 7 3 1 8 4 5 9 2Solutions

9

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3 9 6 588 6 8 3 4 1 9 7from2page CONUNDRUM 3 5 4 7 8 1 2 6 9 NOVEM from the Latin meaning nine.

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9 3 7 9 3 6 1 2 7 5 4 8 4 7 5 3 9 8 6 1 2 SUDOKU

5 2 4 3 8 6 8 9 5 2 7 4 9 2 7 8 3 1 6 7 9 5 4 3 5 8 2 1 6 9 4 6 3 7 5 8 1 5 6 9 2 2 7 3 8 4 1

Sudoku #1 Sudoku #3 8 4 2 6 6 8 4 5 9 7 3 4 9 7 2 6 1 5 6 3 5 1 3 8 5 6 9 2 3 2 5 4 3 1 8 5 7 6 8 1 4 2 7 8 1 4 9 7 7 3 5 9 2 5 6 3 2 8 4 1 4 3 7 9 6 9 1 7 8 9 1 2 Answers

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Novice Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 20, Book 50 from page 89 EASY Sudoku #2

Sudoku #4 3 1 9 5 6 7 2 4 8 4 7 1 3 6 9 2 5 8 5 6 4 2 8 1 7 3 9 3 8 6 7 2 5 4 1 9 7 2 8 3 9 4 5 1 6 9 5 2 4 8 1 7 3 6 6 4 3 9 7 5 8 2 1 6 9 8 2 5 4 1 7 3 2 8 5 4 1 3 6 9 7 1 3 4 9 7 8 5 6 2 1 9 7 8 2 6 4 5 3 5 2 7 6 1 3 9 8 4 9 3 6 7 5 2 1 8 4 7 6 3 5 9 2 8 4 1 4 7 2 1 3 8 9 6 5 2 1 5 8 4 6 3 9 7 8 5 1 6 4 9 3 7 2 8 4 9 1 3 7 6 2 5 Intermediate Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 20, Book 50

Sudoku Sudoku #1 #3 Sudoku 6 2 8 #54 9 7 3 5 1 6 4 3 5 2 9 1 8 7 1 4 4 3 5 52 6 3 99 28 86 77 1 1 8 9 7 3 6 5 2 4 2 3 4 6 8 5 7 1 99 2 35 57 84 28 11 79 63 46 8 6 7 9 1 4 2 3 15 5 9 2 64 96 75 43 28 87 31 7 3 65 those 1 46 who 347 89 98 22 1 We are also grateful are 6 78for52 all 1 4 3 9 5 5 1 7 6 9 3 8 2 4 2 4 9 1 8 3 6 7 5 5 3 1 9at 7this 8 4 6 2of year away from their families 6 12 79 48 94 87time 3 5 1 6 54 9 2 3 6 5 7 31 28 5 2 11 8 7 bless serving our country.

483 3 56 94 69you all!

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MEDIUM Sudoku Sudoku #2 #4 Sudoku 4 8 6 3 7 5 2 1 9 #6 8 4 2 5 1 7 3 6 9 7 81 74 16 23 55 92 48 69 36 5 3 9 2 8 7 1 4 8 66 43 97 32 79 11 25 84 57 9 1 6 3 4 8 5 2 755 272 549 321 684 88 47 93 16 1 9 3 6 611 339 168 52 96 43 75 84 27 7 9 5 2 4 8 5 7 4 8 1 9 2 3 46 9 9 2 88 23 74 16 55 67 31 7 6 1 8 94 73 32 69 15 2 4 1 5 8 7 2 86 59 43 1 78 47 32 63 16 95 89 54 2 3 8 7 1 6 9 4 2 5 7 66 85 51 94 28 39 72 132 46 9 4 5 3 1 8 7 2 8 5 3 9 6 4 7 1

Sudoku Sudoku #3 #5 Sudoku 4 7 5 3 9 1 8 6 2 #7 3 9 5 7 4 6 2 1 8 9 7 3 14 91 66 38 45 82 27 51 2 6 8 5 3 7 4 9 1 4 9 7 3 8 6 42 35 9 8 7 4 89 22 11 65 56 73 8 7 3 2 5 4 9 1 16 2 93 67 55 48 74 26 39 81 5 1 2 8 17 49 246 546 73 9 61 33 87 98Conroe 5 2 Huntsville 5 49 88 27 14 96 51 73 62 3 5 8 1 2 6 9 3936.494.1292 7 4 936.294.0283 7 2 78 53 49 86 24 95 6 1 1 3 9 5 3 6 1 2 4 8 7 • 127 Medical Park Lane 98 24 55 12 87 61 79• 1020 3Riverwood Ct. 46 7 6 2 4 9 8 1 Suite 3 35 120 7 46 39 95 24 12 61 58 3 8 • 227 Hwy 75 N - Suite 24574 1 8 3 7 5 9 2 6 1 2 9 6 8 3 7 5 4

Sudoku Sudoku #4 #6 Sudoku 7 6 1 3 9 8 4 5 2 #8 3 1 2 7 6 8 9 4 5 1 16 79 37 84 93 48 25 52 66 9 8 4 5 3 1 2 7 7 4 5 8 9 6 1 3 92 8 5 7 34 49 22 51 76 18 63 1 6 2 9 7 4 85 68 13 9 9 5 3 6 48 77 54 31 22 344 789 56 23 11 87 92 68 45 1 3 9 2 5 7 6 7 45 98 69 52 36 83 74 11 27 2 6 1 4 5 3 9 8 113 932 491 584 375 268 627 859 746 789 21 67 86 93 44 15 52 38 6 5 2 1 4 7 3 9 5 1 3 7 56 34 82 18 79 6 2 4 7 5 3 9 28 46 91 8 3 5 2 7 1 4 6 9

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46 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Sudoku Sudoku #5 #7 6 1 8 9

5

2 4 7 3

HARD

Sudoku Sudoku #6 #8 5 8 2 4

6

7

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

51

Living with Children By: John K. Rosemond www.rosemond.com

Advice about 7-year-old who worries about getting sick again Q: Our 7-year-old daughter recently had a short-lived stomach virus. Ever since, she has been fearful that eating may make her sick. Every night at dinner she becomes concerned that she’s going to be sick and breaks down in tears.

My husband and I regrettably have lost our patience with her a few times and told her to just get over it. This has been going on for almost two months now. We are concerned this may become a pattern. How should we handle this situation?

A: You’re correct in thinking your daughter’s “petite-neurosis” could become not only a pattern, but an ever-worsening condition.

Your letter would suggest, however, that she is not having this problem at lunchtime at school. If that’s so, then the problem is still in its infancy and should be fairly easy to put behind you.

you and she are now going through are what I would term “aftershocks.”

To bring this chapter in your family life to a quick close, you are going to have to exert a disciplinary authority that is more potent than her anxieties. You need to tell her, matterof-factly, that the evening meal is a time for family harmony and that panic and weeping at the dinner table is very disruptive and not allowed.

Therefore, you are going to feed her first, and she is going to eat by herself until she feels she can once again join the family without becoming upset and upsetting the two of you. You also need to tell her you’ve said all you have to say about her anxieties, and you are not going to talk about them anymore.

Children often misinterpret events, especially upsetting ones, and are prone to exaggerated emotions or dramatics. This is what’s happened here, which means this is not a psychological problem in the sense of it being deeply rooted in your daughter’s psyche. Her illness was upsetting to her, obviously. She didn’t fully understand what was happening to her or why, and she became fearful. What

52 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

It’s important that you not present this as punishment, but as simply what you need to do to enjoy the evening meal.

When you serve her dinner, you need to leave the room and let her eat by herself. Tell her that she does not have to eat what you have prepared but you are not going to fix her another meal or reheat her food later. If she doesn’t want to eat, she should simply get up from the table and go find something to do.

If she becomes hungry later, she should fix herself a snack. It’s very important that you not fix more for her than one evening meal.

My experience tells me that if you stay the course, this problem should be history within a month.

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

53

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A Day in the Life Story by Ruth Fields Photos by Gina Turner

Beekeeper What’s a day like for a full-time beekeeper?

Busy as a bee!

Editor’s Note: Back in 2016, Postcards shared a story featuring hobbyist beekeepers from the Walker County Beekeepers Association. With beekeeping a current buzz-word surrounding potential agricultural property tax exemptions, we visited with an area beekeeper, whose full-time occupation is a honey of a gig.

56 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

No day is the same for Cyrus Nasr, a fulltime beekeeper. In some ways, he says, beekeeping is like any other agricultural operation: every day, a beekeeper must do what needs to be done (and not necessarily what he had planned). “There’s always something to be done,” Cyrus says. Days can be long, but the work is rewarding.

Harvest Season Cyrus’s days are more predictable during the late spring and early summer, when flowers appear in the fields and gardens of Texas. Bees busily collect nectar from blossoms and do their bee magic, storing it in the form of honey. Because flowers bloom at different times, Cyrus notes, honey can usually be harvested throughout May, June and July, although thanks to late-blooming plants, some honey can also be harvested in the fall.

On most days during harvest season, Cyrus loads his truck with his protective bee suit and equipment, leaving the farm at about 9 a.m. Hive Bee Farm owns more than 200 hives, which are located on about 20 properties. Some are just a few miles down the road, while others are as much as 80 miles away. During harvest season, Cyrus visits the hives on at least one property each day. He does most of his beekeeping between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for two reasons: it’s not as hot then as it will be later; besides, about half of the bees will be out foraging for food.

»

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

57

A hive, Cyrus explains, is contained in several bee boxes. The bottom two are reserved for the bees’ use, but as many as four more boxes can be stacked on top.

These are the boxes that supply the extra honey that beekeepers harvest. While some beekeepers collect only liquid honey, Cyrus also harvests honeycomb. (Before he became a beekeeper, Cyrus owned and operated restaurants for 15 years. During that time, he learned that restaurants use honeycomb on cheese trays, charcuterie boards, and desserts. His fresh, virgin honeycomb is popular at many eateries.)

Although a good beekeeper won’t harvest honey the bees need for food, Cyrus says, bees don’t know this, so they don’t appreciate humans tampering with their

honey. Furthermore, they don’t like the heat, and to harvest honey, beekeepers must lift the lid off the hive during the hottest months of the year. To minimize the chance of being stung, beekeepers use smoke. Cyrus points out that the smoke from a bee hive smoker will mask the pheromones that bees use to communicate; in addition, the smoke mimics a forest fire. The bees respond by consuming honey to prepare for the possibility of having to vacate their hive. Unfortunately, there is still a great possibility of being stung by irate bees, so beekeepers wear full-body bee suits. It’s a recipe for an uncomfortable experience. “You are in a ski suit in the sun doing CrossFit,” Cyrus jokes.

When honeycomb is capped with beeswax, it is ready to be harvested, either for the

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UGLY CONCRETE??

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We’ve got you covered! honeycomb itself or for liquid honey. When the honeycomb is ready, Cyrus brushes bees off the top box of the hive and uses an “escape board” so that bees can get out. The goal is to leave the bees behind because, he notes, a lost bee won’t find a new colony.

Once the bees in the top box have flown out, Cyrus takes the honeycomb and honey— box and all—back to the farm. Liquid honey pours better when it’s warm, but Cyrus allows honeycombs to cool in the air conditioning for a few hours to firm up. “Honeycombs are soft and delicate,” he says. Once the beeswax is firm, he cuts the honeycombs, puts them in food service boxes and stores them in a freezer to pause the crystallization process.

An unlikely bee-ginning In early 2016, Cyrus’s wife, Sandi Murray, an avid gardener, purchased two bee hives from a local beekeeper. At the time, the couple lived in Houston in a small house on a Houston-sized lot, and Cyrus was not enthusiastic about Sandi’s beekeeping endeavor. “I wanted nothing to do with it,” he admits. Sandi, however, soon found that she found beekeeping as enjoyable as gardening.

She took a class from the beekeeper who had sold her the hives and followed him on Facebook. A few months later, he decided to

move out of state and sell his 34 hives and vast assortment of beekeeping equipment.

He posted a notice on Facebook and Cyrus, who was contemplating a career change, responded. “It’s a business. I have been running businesses for 15 years,” he thought, figuring he could learn what he needed to know about beekeeping. Unbeknownst to him, Sandi responded too. “We became fulltime beekeepers overnight,” he says. The learning curve was steep, but the couple not only persevered, but grew their operation, too. It soon became known as Hive Bee Farm.

Cyrus and Sandi’s Houston residence was not ideal for beekeeping, but the situation was about to change. During the pandemic, Sandi’s job in human resources became permanently remote, so she and Cyrus began looking for a roomier place. After looking “all over,” Cyrus says, they stumbled upon a house on seven-plus beautiful acres near Montgomery. They moved in 2021 and built a large workshop where they bottle honey, store honeycomb, make beeswax candles, and store beekeeping equipment.

Mondays and Saturdays Cyrus has established routines on

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Mondays and Saturdays throughout the year. On Mondays, he visits the restaurants that have placed honeycomb orders, as well as his wholesale customers. Currently, Hive Bee Farm honey is sold in Montgomery County at Conroe Feeders Supply, C&S Feed, McCoy’s, A Slice of Amish and Healthy Living. On Saturdays, Hive Bee Farms operates booths at three farmers markets, including Montgomery Farmers Market.

On other days (other than during harvest season), Cyrus’s days are much less predictable.

From Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day, he maintains his hives, but doesn’t need to check on them as often. He often utilizes the “lift test:” if a bee box is so heavy that it can’t be lifted with two fingers, there is enough food for the bees and it does not need to be disturbed.

Sometimes, however, there are problems.

Bees have been having trouble lately, Cyrus says, mainly because of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), herbicides, pesticides and varroa mites. Sometimes, hives need mite treatments. Occasionally, a box needs to be repaired. And sometimes, bees exhibit behavior that indicates they’re about to swarm. When they swarm, about half the bees in a hive leave with the queen in search of a new home, leaving the rest of the bees behind to make a new queen. If a beekeeper

senses an imminent swarm, he will “split” the hive, allowing the same benefits of a swarm while still keeping all the bees in producing hives.

Hive Bee Farm leases hives to many landowners in the area who wish to get agricultural tax exemptions for their five to twenty acres, but who do not have the time or inclination to be beekeepers. It’s not unusual for Cyrus to respond to these landowners when they sense the beehives on their

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properties need Cyrus’s expert touch. Bees might be exhibiting swarm behavior; a storm might have knocked the hive over; the top might have blown off.

“If a beekeeper does nothing else,” Cyrus says, “he manages space.”

If there is too much space, there is room for the invasion of pests; furthermore, it’s hard for bees to stay warm in winter. If there is too little space, the bees run out of room for food and brood (baby bees).

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Honey, Honey Hive Bee Farm sells raw, unfiltered, local honey, which is popular because of its health benefits. Truly local honey, Cyrus explains, is honey that is made from the flowers that grow in the area where it is sold. Allergy sufferers often tout the benefits of local honey, but to be effective, Cyrus says, people must consume honey that is made from the same flowers they are allergic to. Although filtering honey makes it attractive on grocery store shelves, he says, it removes beneficial properties.

The business also makes whiskey barrel-aged honey. About every three months, Cyrus obtains a 50-gallon oak whiskey barrel from the William Price distillery in Houston. He pours honey inside; after three months, the honey is slightly darker and has a subtle whiskey flavor. (After the honey is taken out, Cyrus returns the barrel and the distillery uses it to make honey whiskey.)

In addition, a newer product is being produced especially for athletes and health-conscious individuals. Bee Butter is a superfood made from honey and pollen. It has the consistency of loose peanut butter, Cyrus says, and can supply quick energy because honey can be broken down into glycogen—muscle fuel—efficiently.

In just seven years, Cyrus has become highly-knowledgeable about bees and their proper care, so people often ask him how to become beekeepers themselves. He often suggests that they join a local beekeeping organization, such as Walker County Beekeepers Association (facebook.com/walkercountybeekeepers). For more information about Hive Bee Farm, visit hivebeefarm.com.

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

61

Glorious Grandkids

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The Grands 1

What is your grandparent name and does it have a special meaning?

Layne- it’s a take off my name

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Number of grandchildren and age range?

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Favorite activity with them?

Just being together

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Advice to other/new grandparents?

Love them every day

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What’s your fondest memory of your grandparents?

Drawing water at the well and shelling peas.

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What do you hope your grandkids remember about you?

That they were loved & special.

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COLLEGE OF ARTS & MEDIA NOVEMBER EVENTS

Art GLOSSOLALIA EXHIBITION Oct. 16 – Nov. 24 University Gallery, ART Free Admission Music WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT Nov. 1 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance SENIOR STUDIO Nov. 2 – 4 | 8 p.m.

Dance Theater, GPAC Music OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES PROGRAM Nov. 16 – 18 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre SHE LOVES ME Book by Joe Masteroff Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Hernick Nov. 16 – 18 | 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 18 | Matinee | 2 p.m.

Erica Starr Theatre, UTC

Music JAZZ BANDS CONCERT Nov. 21 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance DANCE SPECTRUM IN CONCERT Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 | 8 p.m.

Dance Theater, GPAC

College of Arts & Media CAM ARTIST SERIES: HOLIDAY CONCERT Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

FOR TICKETS & INFORMATION SHSU.EDU/CAMEVENTS tickets@shsu.edu | 936.294.2339

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

63

Your Best AgriLife By: Jamie Sugg, Walker County Extension Agent jamie.sugg@ag.tamu.edu

Fall--A Great Time to Plant...or Replant!

Well, I made it through this year’s drought without running up my water bill to a ridiculous amount. To be truthful, I confess I lost some landscape plants because I was stingy with the water…and I now need to replace a few plants around the house.

Good thing fall is here, and we’ve had some decent rainfall. Fall is a great time to plant, move, or replant landscape plants. Planting or transplanting this time of year helps root systems develop in preparation for our hardest season--our typical hot, harsh summers. A plant’s demand for water is less in cool and rainy fall weather, and plants have a better chance of quick recovery, especially if it has a chance to develop new roots before the next growing season.

Fall planting also gives time to build up nutrient reserves needed for healthy growth next spring. If you are digging up and moving a plant from one location to another, let’s wait until the dead of winter and try to leave as much of the plant roots as possible. But for any perennial sold in a pot, fall is the best time to plant.

Proper planting is the most important step.

Many problems with a tree or shrub can be traced back to improper planting. Dig the

hole at least two feet wider than the size of the root system or root ball. A large hole will allow better root growth and is especially important in compacted soils.

Planting depth is of critical importance.

Trees often are planted too deep in the hole.

Carefully set the tree in the hole at the same depth or slightly higher than it was in the pot.

Container-grown specimens often have roots growing around the inside of the container. After removing the container, gently straighten the roots. If the roots are not straightened (loosened from their position hugging the pot), they will not grow out at their full potential.

for at least three years after planting.

Make sure the plant is well watered for one to three weeks after transplanting. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of the shrub will help prevent weeds from becoming established and help soil to retain moisture.

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, national origin, genetic information or veteran status.

The Texas A&M University System,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Fill the hole with soil about one-half full, lightly tamping it with your foot to remove any air pockets. Make sure the shrubs and tree are standing upright and not leaning. Water slowly to saturate the soil and remove any remaining air pockets, then finish filling the hole with soil.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to fertilize when you plant perennials at this time of year. Fertilizing with nitrogen in the fall may contribute to cold damage transplant shock.

Newly planted trees require routine and thorough watering. Water the tree regularly

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64 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Things My Granddaddy Said

We are counting our blessings...

If you climb in the saddle, be ready for the ride.

Older people shouldn’t eat health food; they need all the preservatives they can get.

A watched pot never boils.

1. our students A little bird told me a secret.

I couldn’t get a word in edgeways.

2. our teachers 3. our staff 4. our administrators

I’m pleased as punch.

5. our parents 6. our volunteers & mentors

He spilled the beans.

7. our wonderful community

Happy Thanksgiving!

Publisher Karen Altom and her Granddaddy J.C. Farris

As I grow older, more and more often I find myself saying, “Like my Granddaddy used to say…” In an effort to keep some of these old sayings alive, we are sharing them here.

Please feel free to share yours with us!

936-435-6300

www.huntsville-isd.org

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

65

A Special Conversation Story by Amy Barnett Submitted Photos

Ryan Lindsay

All roads lead to Texas… even for a country music singer from Canada.

66 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Singer-songwriter Ryan Lindsay has two “happy places” – behind a microphone with his guitar and out in the Canadian backcountry. He is a five-time Country Music Alberta award winner whose first career was working as an outdoor guide in the Canadian Rockies, where he’d run multi-day river trips helping people experience the great outdoors. At night, he’d sometimes play his guitar and sing around a campfire. It didn’t take him long to realize he had the talent to pursue music – and he had stories to tell.

This spring Lindsay made his way to Texas and shared songs from his new album, “Seasons,” a collection of music that provides an introspective look at the seasons of his life.

Lindsay shared with Postcards the concept behind the album, his influences in music, and what he loves most about touring in Texas.

The New Album

Tell us about your new album, “Seasons.” How did you come up with the concept of this album?

Back when 45s were common, artists used to press two songs into a record, and I’ve always liked that idea. I wanted to create a body of work, so the idea developed into releasing the music as I recorded it, two songs at a time over the course of a year.

It’s like a collection of 45s that make one full album. So, we started with a two-song digital 45 called “Fall,” and released those songs on streaming, followed by “Winter,” “Spring,” and “Summer.” We then compiled them this year into a final album with a bonus track.

How important was this strategy?

Most artists are starting to market their music as a series of singles instead of albums these days. That’s just a result of people’s listening habits, but with this project, I still wanted to express the music through a body of work.

This allowed me to stagger the releases and give people a little more than just a single each time new music dropped.

»

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

67

resonated so well with listeners?

“Heart of a Troubadour” is a story about being young and a little bit naïve and growing up to recognize there is a lot more to life than you realize. There’s always more to learn, there’s always a little searching left to do.

I guess I can’t speak for the listeners, but I think it’s something we all experience, and it was something that certainly resonated with me when I wrote the song.

“Rich Folks” was your most recent release. Talk about the light-hearted tone of the song and the story behind writing it.

You’ve said this album allowed you to share the personal seasons of your life. Describe that journey with us.

Recording an album is always a journey you go through different emotions throughout the year, and the music tends to change the further you get into the project. This album

was a way to share that experience with my audience.

You released “Heart of a Troubadour” to radio in Texas, and it did well here and on streaming. Why do you think it

This was such a fun song to have on an album that was otherwise quite reflective and at times got a little heavy. I felt like it was important to just cut a song for the joy of it - this song just came from that place. It’s been a great song for radio, and the story is simple - you don’t need money to have a rich experience in life!

HAPPY Thanks

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Do you have a favorite song on the album? If so, why is it your top pick?

I love all the songs for different reasons, but if I had to pick one that defines the record, I would choose “Heart of a Troubadour.” I had just started playing harmonica at the time, and it’s fun to listen back on how it all came together. Val McCallum from Jackson Browne’s band played slide guitar on it, which gave it a little heartland rock flair. I think once we recorded that song, it set a new tone for the rest of the album.

How do you go about songwriting? Do you start with a

melody or a lyric, or do they hit you all at once?

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I use voice notes to take down melodic ideas or lyrical ideas – often the two together. I’ll use that as a starting point, and then sit down and work it out later. Every song gets worked out a little differently, and I kind of let the song guide the process.

Pursuing Music

Why did you decide to pursue a career in music?

I guess I reached a point in my life where I felt I had something to say. I started writing, and it just became my life. Music is that thing

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3156 State Highway 19 • Huntsville November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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into the Americana genre, but I just consider myself a country artist more than anything else.

Who are some of your favorite musicians who have inspired or influenced you in your career?

I have admired artists like Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Blue Rodeo, and The Eagles. I grew up around that music.

Who are some of your favorite current artists?

I need to shout out some friends that are touring right now that you need to catch live - probably my favorite Texas-based band right now is The Wilder Blue, and a killer band from Winnipeg, Canada – The Bros.

Landreth. Go see them live.

in my life that kept tugging at me, and I am so grateful for all the great experiences and friendships I’ve made doing this for a living.

How would you describe your style of music?

People have called it heartland country, and more recently, the “Seasons” album has fit

We understand you are quite the outdoorsman. When you’re not playing music, what are some of your favorite outdoor activities?

My favorite thing to do when I have the time

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70 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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201 N. Madison • Madisonville, Tx One block off the Downtown Square

is canoeing. There is nothing better than to pack your bags and head down a river for a few days. I also love to hunt and fish – any chance I can get to be in the backcountry is a good day for me.

Touring Texas

Texas is a long way from Alberta! What are the major differences in touring here vs. in Canada?

The distance between towns! Alberta is very spread out, and has a lot of wide-open spaces, but in many ways very similar to Texas. It’s very rural, and people love their country music.

What do you like most about playing in Texas?

I love the venues. There are many cool listening rooms down there, and I think those tend to be my favorite style of shows to play these days.

Share your favorite Texas venue and what makes it special.

My very first show in Texas was at a place called Hidden Oaks up in Windthorst, so that one has a special place in my heart. It was born out of a house concert series. It is cool to see how that kind of thing can grow.

When will you bring your tour back to Texas, and what can people expect when they attend a show?

I’ll be back in Texas this fall and announcing some tour dates. I’ll be stripping back the show to a solo acoustic performance. It’s a cool opportunity for me to share some more stories and sing the songs the way they were written, just myself and my guitar.

If you enjoy great storytelling and live music, don’t miss Ryan Lindsay when he comes back to Texas. Visit www.ryanlindsaymusic.com to find out when he will be playing a show near you. And make sure to follow him on social media and download “Seasons” wherever you get your music.

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

71

What’s Cookin’ 2 large eggs, beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract Crunch Topping: ¾ cup brown sugar ¾ cup sweetened flaked coconut ¾ cup chopped pecans 3 Tbs all-purpose flour 3 Tbs melted butter

Sweet Potato Crunch Ingredients 6 sweet potatoes ⅓ cup butter 2 Tbs white sugar ½ cup milk

Directions Step 1: Place sweet potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and peel.

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Step 3: Mash sweet potatoes, 1/3 cup butter, and white sugar together in a bowl. Beat milk, eggs, and vanilla into sweet potato mixture using an electric mixer until smooth; pour 1/2 of the mixture into a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

Step 4: Make the topping: Mix brown sugar, coconut, pecans, and flour together in a bowl; stir in 3 tablespoons melted butter until evenly coated. Sprinkle 1/2 of the topping over sweet potato mixture in the baking dish. Pour remaining sweet potato mixture over topping and sprinkle with remaining topping.

Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and topping is lightly browned, about 1 hour.

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Christopher L Davis, LUTCF Financial Advisor chris.davis@mutualofomaha.com

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Roasted Butternut Squash Salad Ingredients 1 med butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded 1 Tbs olive oil, or as needed 6 slices bacon 1 cup sliced onion 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce ⅓ cup pecans, toasted and chopped ⅓ cup raisins 2 Tbs maple syrup, or to taste

Directions Step 1: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

reserving any remaining squash for another use.

Step 4: Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crispy, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Add onions to the skillet and cook in the bacon grease for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 8 cups squash and cook, tossing occasionally, until onions are soft and beginning to caramelize, and squash cubes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 5: Place romaine lettuce in a large serving bowl; crumble bacon on top and add pecans and raisins. Add butternut squash-onion mixture; toss to combine. Drizzle with maple syrup and serve warm.

Step 2: Brush cut sides of butternut squash with olive oil. Wrap each squash half tightly in aluminum foil.

Step 3: Roast squash halves in the preheated oven until they begin to soften, about 20 minutes. Remove squash from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Remove foil and slice into 3/4-inch thick slices.

Remove skin from each slice and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Set aside 8 cups of the cubed squash,

Recipe Tip: You can cook the butternut squash on an outdoor grill over indirect heat, if you prefer.

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Thankful and Blessed at Rita’s Playschool

Rita’s Playschool & Day Care 114 York Drive • Madisonville 936-348-0276 Curtis & Donna O’Brien, Owners

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

73

Jerk Roast Turkey

refrigerator for 4 to 12 hours.

Turkey: 3 ½ lbs boneless turkey breast

Ingredients

1 large yellow onion, sliced

Marinade: ½ cup diced yellow onion ¼ cup green onions, sliced 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 2 habanero peppers, seeded and chopped 1 Tbs fresh thyme leaves 2 tsp dried thyme 1 Tbs kosher salt 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp ground allspice ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 2 limes, juiced 3 Tbs soy sauce 2 Tbs packed brown sugar 2 Tbs vegetable oil

kosher salt to taste 1 lime, cut into wedges (optional) Directions Step 1: Combine diced onions, green onions, garlic, habanero peppers, fresh and dried thyme, kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cinnamon, cumin, and nutmeg in a blender.

Add lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Blend until smooth.

Step 2: Place turkey breast into a large bowl, splay it open, and pour marinade all over the turkey. Flip and toss turkey breast a number of times until it is evenly covered in marinade. Press plastic wrap over the turkey and marinate in the

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Transfer the turkey into a roasting pan and tie together with cooking twine. Add sliced onions underneath and around the turkey.

Season with salt.

Step 4: Roast turkey in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 300 degrees and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 145 degrees, about 1 hour and 15 minutes longer.

Step 5: Loosely tent with foil and let rest for about 20 minutes. Snip off the strings and serve.

Cook’s Notes: A cup of chicken or turkey broth can be stirred into the hot roasting pan, while the turkey rests. Scrape any browned bits off the bottom and spoon these pan juices over the sliced meat.

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Pumpkin Turkey Chili Ingredients 1 Tbs vegetable oil 1 cup chopped onion

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1 clove garlic, minced 1 lb ground turkey 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes 2 cups pumpkin puree 1 ½ Tbs chili powder or more to taste ½ tsp ground black pepper 1 dash salt ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese ½ cup sour cream Directions Step 1: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic; cook and stir until tender.

Step 2: Stir in turkey and cook until evenly brown; drain.

Step 3: Mix in tomatoes and pumpkin. Season with chili powder, pepper, and salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Serve topped with Cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Cook’s Note: Add different veggies, beans, or more chili powder to suit your taste.

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Turkey Salad

red bell pepper in a blender or food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.

Ingredients

Step 2: Transfer turkey mixture to a medium bowl. Mix in mayonnaise, prepared Dijon-style mustard, cider vinegar, white sugar, and salt until well combined. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight, before serving.

¾ lb cooked turkey meat 2 stalks celery 2 green onions ½ red bell pepper 3 Tbs mayonnaise 2 Tbs prepared Dijon-style mustard 1 Tbs cider vinegar 1 tsp white sugar ¼ tsp salt Directions Step 1: Place cooked turkey meat, celery, green onions, and

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Business Focus

The Business Focus is chosen each month by random drawing from among Postcards contract advertisers.

Story by Ruth Fields Photos by Tom Miller

Perri Dermatology A Texas-raised and Texas-trained dermatologist. A team that is like a family. Patients who can get timely appointments and compassionate care. It’s what Perri Dermatology does best.

Texas raised and Texas trained Dr. Anthony Perri grew up in Corsicana, Texas, where his father was a general urologist. The younger Perri followed in his father’s proverbial footsteps and became a physician himself; however, when it came time to choose his own medical specialty, he found his father’s own surprising and sobering diagnosis had influenced him the most. During a routine skin screening, the elder Dr. Perri learned that he had developed a melanoma—an aggressive, deadly skin cancer. Fortunately, early detection allowed him to make a complete recovery.

78 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

A M c t b h T h h s i e w

D h p a t p a

Maria Rojero

After graduating from Baylor College of Medicine with honors, the younger Dr. Perri completed his dermatology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch and became a board-certified dermatologist. As he often tells people, he is Texas raised and Texas trained. When he was ready to set up his own practice, he remembered how much he liked growing up in a smaller Texas city, so he joined a large, multi-specialty practice in Conroe. In 2012, the practice closed, endangering thousands of patients who were without access to their physicians.

Dr. Perri soon formed Perri Dermatology so his patients were not left in the gap. “I am proud that my patients did not experience any disruption in their treatment or care for their dermatological needs,” he says. “My practice provided peace of mind, stability, and security on top of dermatological care

Melissa Crawford

during very difficult months.”

His commitment to his patients did not stop there. It can take months to get appointments with some dermatologists; however, Dr. Perri is committed to providing patients with easily accessible care. He notes it can be stressful for patients to have to worry about worsening skin conditions while waiting to see a dermatologist; furthermore, timely appointments can help detect skin cancer and other conditions when they are most treatable. “Fast access is one of the pillars built into my practice’s standard day-to-day business operations,” Dr. Perri says. “At Perri Dermatology, we know life is busy. We proactively work every day to make sure your interaction with us is efficient, so you are discouraged from postponing your medical care,” he adds. Not only are his patients able to get appointments without long waits, but

they can expect to see Dr. Perri personally when they come to the office. In addition, they can readily speak with trained staff and will have their insurance claims processed quickly.

The Perri Dermatology family Dr. Perri is backed by a loyal staff that seems almost like a family. Many members of the Perri Dermatology team have been with the practice since it opened in 2012, and several members worked with Dr. Perri even before he founded his solo practice. Alba Galvez, office manager, estimates that two-thirds of the staff have been working for Perri Dermatology for five years or longer. “We are a family,” she says. “We work together for a common purpose: helping our patients. We make a difference.”

»

Melissa Johnson

Alba Galvez

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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“ p o i D r

T h s f m w P s

M b t S e n t u

Melissa Crawford, Maria Rojero, Melissa Johnson, & Alba Galvez

“I am very proud to have been a part of this dedicated team of professionals for many years”

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80 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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“It’s kind of like a little family unit here,” agrees Melissa Crawford, who has worked at the practice for 12 years, serving as medical assistant, clinical supervisor, and OSHA compliance officer. Like many of the staff members at Perri Dermatology, she is interested in medical issues and enjoys helping people. Crawford and other staff members have high praise for Dr. Perri and enjoy being a part of the Perri Dermatology team. “Dr. Perri treats the staff with respect,” she says.

Tiffany Rushing, whose primary job as a certified medical billing and coding specialist is to help patients with insurance claims, concurs. “Dr. Perri is a really good person to work for,” she says. “He is a loyal employer.” Rushing, who began working with Dr. Perri before he founded Perri Dermatology, has continued to work for the practice even after moving many miles from the office. She enjoys educating patients about their insurance concerns and works hard to ensure their claims are processed correctly. She is proud to be a part of the Perri Dermatology family. “We genuinely care about our patients,” she says. “I try to make sure their experience with us is a good one.”

Melissa Johnson, like Rushing, is a certified medical billing and coding specialist and began working for Dr. Perri before the formation of Perri Dermatology. “I am very proud to have been a part of this dedicated team of professionals for many years,” she says.

She enjoys helping patients, especially those who are confused by the complexities they encounter when they switch to Medicare. “We love our Medicare patients,” Galvez says, noting that Johnson listens carefully to patients’ concerns. “I will take the time to explain it to them,” Johnson says. “Once they get the hang of it, they can feel more confident in their understanding of their insurance.”

Staff members also work with patients to make sure they understand skin diagnoses and treatment. Maria Rojero, a clinical supervisor who joined Perri Dermatology in 2013, particularly enjoys helping patients in this way. She answers their questions and makes sure they know what to do in the days ahead, striving to treat patients the way she’d like to be treated herself. “I make them feel comfortable and make sure they get the appropriate information they need before they leave the office,” she says. “I’m proud of being able to work with Dr. Perri and to be able to educate patients about different dermatology diagnoses.”

By greeting patients with a friendly smile, treating them with respect, and taking the time to answer their questions, the Perri Dermatology team works together to make sure patients have a positive experience when they visit the office. Team members share a desire to help others and are proud to be able to give assistance to Dr. Perri’s patients. And, behind the staff is a dermatologist who is known for his skill and compassion. Perhaps that is why so many people have been Dr. Perri’s patients since he first founded his practice. “I am honored to be their dermatologist,” he says. “I appreciate and value each patient’s trust.”

Perri Dermatology has offices in The Woodlands and Conroe. For more information, visit perridermatology.com or call 936-522-4966.

4015 Interstate 45 North, Suite #200 Conroe, TX 77304 9305 Pinecroft Dr., Suite #305 The Woodlands, TX 77380 perridematology.com (936) 522-4966

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Along the Road San Antonio National Cemetery

The oldest national cemetery in Texas is located two miles east of downtown San Antonio. The national cemetery sits in the middle of a cluster of 30 other cemeteries and serves as the burial ground for soldiers posted to the western frontier and veterans of the Indian Wars and Spanish-American War. Today, the cemetery is the final resting place for several famous Texans, many Medal of Honor recipients, and more than 280 African American “Buffalo” soldiers.

Many of its first burials were the reinterments of Union soldiers from the cemeteries in and around the city, and as far away as Salado and Indianola. The cemetery covers most of a rectangular city block, bound by Center Street to the north, South Monumental Street to the west, and Paso Hondo Street to the south.

The cemetery features over 250 private monuments, the earliest of which dates to 1853. Section A is dedicated as the officers’ section, while Section J is set aside for soldiers who died at the military post of San Antonio. The Unknown Dead Monument, located in Section H, honors all of the unknown soldiers buried at the cemetery, including over 300 buried in an adjacent common grave.

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82 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

Creative Corner Oh, Say Can YOU See?

By J. Smith

There is a song About a flag, That fighting men— Tired and hurt, Strained in dark, And longed to see.

When beheld “By the dawn’s early light,” What a shout There must have been!

“Hallelujah!

Praise God, Praise Be!” This beautiful flag, So carefully sewn Stitch by stitch, Now lies in ashes.

Disgraced in shame, And no more free.

There are no more Fighters to shout, No more brave That love the land.

We now cry, “Shame on me.”

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84 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

From the Mouths of Babes My 7-year-old daughter walked into the room, casually confirmed, “You have to have a backstory to why you’re evil, right?” And walked out.

Stop leaving y’all’s kids around them extra old folks…I asked my little nephew how old he was turning, and he said, “If the Lord see fit, 6 in May.”

Luke (4): Ugh! You’re such an idiot, Mom! Me: What? Why?!

Luke: Wait…what does idiot mean?”

I asked my 4-year-old if he was excited to be in his uncle’s wedding.

He responded, “Yeah, I can’t wait to be the ring bear. I have been practicing.” He then proceeded to get down on all fours and growl loudly at me. I have no plans to correct his understanding of his role.

My 8-year-old just asked me if Bingo is the name of the farmer or the dog…and now I am questioning everything I thought I knew about life.

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

85

Wildlife Wonders LOVE IS IN THE AIR

By Cheryl Conley Lake Creek Preserve Board of Directors Yep, it’s that time of year. White-tailed bucks are checking out the girls. They aren’t very particular, however, and certainly aren’t faithful to only one doe.

Bucks mate with a number of does, and there’s only a small percentage of males that mate with most of the females.

Generally speaking, a doe will give birth for the first time at about two years old.

White-tailed females go into heat multiple times during the breeding season, and the heat period lasts 24 hours. If the doe doesn’t conceive during a heat period, she’ll go into another heat period 28 days later. Once pregnant, the gestation period is about 200 days, and she won’t show any signs of pregnancy until the third trimester. Her belly will be enlarged, she cleans her fur frequently, and she appears to be on high alert. It’s not uncommon to see several does traveling together in groups for safety. Once it’s time to give birth, Mom will look for an area of tall grass or heavy vegetation so the fawn will be well hidden. Most does give birth to twins, but they can give birth to 1, 2, 3, or even 4 fawns.

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The birthing process is similar to many other mammals. The doe will lie on her side and, once the baby is partially out, she will stand up. Once the baby is completely out, it will have the first feeding. She cleans the baby which removes any traces of her scent. This leaves the baby nearly scentless which protects it from predators. The baby can usually stand within 20 minutes of birth, at which time Mom will move it to another vegetated area.

For the first few weeks, the baby is fragile (it’s difficult to keep up with the mom, so it doesn’t even try). I don’t know how she does it, but somehow Mom “tells” the babies to stay put until she gets back. She then heads out to forage. She can be gone for several hours and will occasionally go back to nurse if the coast is clear. This is when people with good intentions “kidnap” fawns thinking they are helping them. The best thing to do if you find a fawn is to observe from a distance. In the majority of cases, the mom will return to her baby. If a fawn should stray from the spot where the mom “parked” it, the fawn is innately trained to go back to the spot where the doe last left it.

At about a month of age, the fawn is strong enough to run and keep up with Mom. They are still considered fawns until they’re a year old; then they are referred to as yearlings. Fawns and yearlings are at the greatest risk from predators, and the mortality rate is about 40%.

During the second year of life, the males will be driven off by the mother prior to mating season to avoid inbreeding. Females will leave after 2 years, or they may choose to stay around and form a family group.

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86 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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see answers on page 46

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88 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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Email: ken.holland@edwardjones.com 90 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

91

Medical Matters

By Sachin Allahabadi, MD

Signs it’s time to see a doctor about your knee pain Knee pain is hard to ignore. You feel it with just about every move you make. And if you’re active, an achy knee can also make the first few minutes of a workout pretty miserable — or totally disrupt your exercise routine, if the pain is bad enough.

It’s not long before you’re looking to do something about it, but what’s the best way to get knee pain relief? And should you see a doctor about it?

Knowing how to get rid of knee pain starts with trying to get to the bottom of why your knee hurts in the first place, as well as whether the pain warrants seeing a doctor or if there are things you can safely try at home first.

“Knee injuries tend to be the most common in recreational athletes, and they tend to

be bothersome as they’re used for almost every daily activity, in addition to sporting activities,” says Dr. Sachin Allahabadi, orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. “In general, if you have an injury that causes new pain that exceeds normal soreness, results in instability (feeling that your joint is ‘giving way’), or large amounts of swelling, it is helpful to be evaluated sooner than later.”

The most common causes of knee pain include: • Overuse (too much activity) – which can also lead to misuse • Growing pains – such as growth plate changes in young people • Arthritis – typically in older adults • Injury – meniscus or ligament (ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL) tears Of those, only injury is cause for immediate action. If you experienced an acute injury to the knee — felt or heard a pop, for instance — make an appointment with your doctor.

“The major signs to get evaluated for a new knee injury would be: any trauma, instability

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(feeling that your joint is ‘giving way’ or buckling), inability to fully move your knee in either straightening or bending, swelling, and popping that causes pain,” says Dr. Allahabadi. “Furthermore, if you have a minor pain that is not improving with rest and time, it is worthwhile to be evaluated.”

If you’ve tried the at-home remedies for achy knees and you’re still dealing with trying to stay active through the pain, it’s time to see a sports medicine doctor.

“Pushing through injuries or pushing too hard can only make an existing injury worse or increase the risk of additional injuries,” says Dr. Allahabadi.

And if knee pain is new and you’re worried about it, don’t be shy about looking for help, even if it feels minor.

“Pain, even if minor, which is not improving, should be evaluated to understand the cause and if it is something that could get worse with more activity and time. Many times, if we can catch a minor injury early, we can help guide a recovery process that allows you to get back to being active sooner.”

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92 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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Giggles & Grins In high school, our gym teacher asked us who we thought the smartest teacher in the school was. We guessed the AP chem teacher, the pre-calc teacher, the AP physics teacher, etc. He said, “Nope, it’s me…because I get paid the same as those guys, and I play dodge ball all day.”

My wife asked me to stop singing “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees because she found it annoying. At first, I thought she was kidding.

But then I saw her face.

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I just yelled, “1, 2, 3, Mommy is lava!” and my kids ran away, leaving me to drink my coffee in peace. I’m pretty sure I’ve peaked for the day.

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November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

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November

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94 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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Locally owned & operated for 4 generations November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

95

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NormangeeStateBank.com November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

97

Mustard Seed Moments

by Wes Altom

For Every Action…

One of the flaws in human nature, at least in our culture and time, seems to be a tendency to be more reactive than proactive. We are created in His image, yet we too often fail to take action as His hands and feet; we don’t effectively embrace the example He so often sets by actively pursuing and proactively showering us with blessings.

Being habitually reactive can lead to being reaction-ary. Look no further than social media for your daily overdose of examples. By their nature, social media posts are designed to gain a “reaction,” and this inevitably and quickly seems to deteriorate into reactionary bickering of some form or another. Some seem to be eagerly awaiting an opportunity to pounce on another with the extremity of their response.

This brought to my mind the words of Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It makes sense to my logical brain that having vision would be a prerequisite to being proactive in following the example set for us.

Here are some additional translations of this verse to digest and meditate on: If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

MSG Where there is no message from God, people don’t control themselves.

But blessed is the one who obeys wisdom’s instruction.

NIRV Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild, but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.

VOICE God, bring us to realize the only actions and reactions we control are our own. Help us to embrace a vision that compels us to act in positive ways, rather than react in negative ones.

With Gratitude at Thanksgiving We thank you for your trust!

Office (936) 291-6589 3205 Robinson Creek Parkway Huntsville Dr. Aaron Fritsch

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98 Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition | November 2023

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1979 INTERSTATE 45 N, MADISONVILLE, TX, 77864 BRAYSMOTOR.COM . 936-463-6339 November 2023 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition

99