NATURAL TEXAN - Summer 2022

Natural

TEXA Life in the Pines

2022

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There are multiple weddings every year but, there is always that one that will stand out and leave a memory in everyone’s mind. After a whimsical surprise proposal in Las Vegas, I’d think everyone would be in agreement that the wedding of the year would go to Blake and Lexi Bell. Lexi’s mother Heather is the owner of Hughes Florist out did herself on the wedding decor. We all know that weddings take time, patience and lots of planning. I would have to say Blake and Lexi had one amazing team behind them. The Cover photo Is Lexi Bell taken by Stephanie Snell during her bridal photo shoot.

Lexi is the daughter of Donny and Heather Moody of Center, Tx. Lexi is a very well accomplished young lady, she graduated from the UT Tyler where she received her BSN in nursing.

Along with multiple accomplishments during her high school years as well. The Bell’s just recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Banks. The most amazing chapter in their life has only just began!

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PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gabrielle West

LAYOUT & DESIGN April Key

EDITOR

Desiree Nitzschke

STAFF WRITER Terri Lacher

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Stephanie Snell

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Beth Collins Whitney Husbnad Lacey Parmer

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Bobbie Jean Wood

Want to see your business or your story in The Natural Texan?

Please call: 936-332-8144 Please email: info@naturaltexan.net Summer 2022 | naturaltexan.net

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table of

CONTENTS features

SPECIAL THANKS to our advertisers

Boles Covington David Shields Auto

6-10

Dazzle Me Pink & Blue

let’s eat

DCU Edward Jones Griffin Landworks Harkness Litter Hughes Florist Masterson Insurance

6-12

McAdams R & R

Homestead

R and D Distributing Shoop Financial The Forge

6-12

Natural Guidance Summer 2022 |

W e c o u l d n’ t d o t h i s w i t h o u t y o u , Thank You!

naturaltexan.net | 4

a letter from the

EDITOR W

ell that was rough.. I would have to say the last year and a half has been the most

difficult year that think I have ever witnessed in the history of me being alive. I am not sure if it is because I am old enough that it actually affected myself and my family, or perhaps it is because I pay more attention to everything now that I have gotten older and have children of my own.

It’s most definitely a scary time we are living in right now. I think to myself every time I lay my head to my pillow at night, I should pray this world turns around for the better, especially for our children that we are raising in these times.

I am so blessed and thankful that I am able to get the Natural Texan back out to the community and bring joy to everyone with all the amazing people and things we have here in East Texas. I hope that the next few issues bring you lots of knowledge and joy throughout the pages.

xo,

Summer 2022 | naturaltexan.net

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Let’s Eat! Lacey Parmer Apple Pie

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Ingredients For the Apple Filling 8 cups peeled apples, sliced ¼-inch thick 6-8 apples, 3.5 pounds 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup all purpose flour ¼ cup to ½ cup granulated sugar amount depending on how sweet you want your pie, see note ¼ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon salt For the Pie Crust 2¼ cups all purpose flour may substitute up to half of the flour with white whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes 16 tablespoons 7 tablespoons ice-cold water

Remaining Ingredients 1 tablespoon milk coarse turbinado sugar optional

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Instructions Make the Apple Filling Place the peeled, sliced apples in a large bowl. Add the vanilla, ¼ cup flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar to the bowl with the apples. Sprinkle the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt over the apples. Stir to combine. Set aside while you make the pie crust.

Make the Pie Crust Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. (Alternatively, the pie crust dough can be made by hand in a large bowl using a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut in the butter.) Pulse to combine the dry ingredients. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse about 10 times, until the largest butter pieces are the size of small peas. Add the ice-cold water and pulse just until the dough comes together. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and form it into a ball. Cut the ball in half and shape each half into a round disk. Wrap one of the disks in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the second disk out to a 12-inch round and transfer it to a deep-dish pie dish. (This is easily done by wrapping the dough round around your rolling pin to help move it.)

Assemble the Pie By this time, the apples should have released some of their juices. Stir the apple mixture to make sure everything is well combined and then pour the apples and their juices into the pie crust. Roll out the second pie dough disk to a 12-inch round. You can place the dough round on top of the pie as is, or you can make a lattice-top pie crust. If putting the full dough round on top of the pie, cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape as the pie bakes.

To make a lattice top pie crust: Cut the second dough round into ½-inch strips. Place the longest strip down the center of the pie. Reserving Summer 2022 |

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every other dough strip to go in the other direction on the pie, lay strips across the pie with just a little bit of space between. Then weave in strips going the opposite direction on the pie. Brush the pie crust with milk (to help with browning and to help the coarse sugar stick) and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.

Refrigerate pie for 30 minutes before baking.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400° F with a rack in the lower third of the oven. Bake the pie at 400° for 20 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350° F. Continue baking the pie for 40-50 minutes more, until the filling is bubbly. Check on the pie partway through the baking time and tent it with foil as needed to prevent the crust from over-browning. Let the pie cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the filling to thicken.

Store pie at room temperature for up to one day, or in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 5 days. Pie can also be frozen, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months.

Notes I find that this pie is plenty sweet when made with 1/4 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup brown sugar. Depending on the sweetness

Nutrition Serving: 1/8 pie | Calories: 470kcal

of your apples and how sweet you like your pie,

| Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g |

you can adjust the amount of sugar.

Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar:

This recipe makes enough filling for a deep dish

28g | Vitamin A: 777IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium:

apple pie. If your pie plate is small, consider

30mg | Iron: 2mg Nutrition information is only an

reducing the number of apples.

estimate.

Summer 2022 | naturaltexan.net

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An educational chicken post for y’all!!!

Blue Black Splash!!! What does that actually mean??

These little fluffy creatures in general are a representation of a BBS Ameraucauna! These are a recognized breed of a “true blue” egg layer.

From L-R... you will have a blue, then black, then splash! Ms. Splash just hatched, so she isn’t totally fluffy yet. But how can you not love those cute puffy cheeks! Different breeds have a BBS and what that means is chicks could be either blue, black, or a splash at hatch!! Makes the coloring so fun!

True Ameraucaunas, they are type that is always labeled with misleading tags at your local feed store or hatchery. This causes a lot of confusion for those just starting out! My favorite part about this breed is that they have the best roosters.

Their flighty nature makes them not want to be near you and therefore, we have never had an issue with any of the roosters even attempting to come at me or the kids. Also, their flightiness makes them great foragers and free rangers! I wouldn’t consider them a lap breed at all, but if you want hearty in extreme cold or hot, they do offer that.

I have added some pictures with this article to hopefully help you on your new chicken adventures.These are just some things that I have come across in my years of raising chickens that I thought to be very helpful. I hope this can give you a better understanding about things that left me with lots of questions in the beginning.

Happy laying!

Summer 2022 |

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Homestead Have a dream and a passion

Summer 2022 |

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Sunflowers,

Zinnias,

rabbits,

chickens, a pony, a calf, and a rooster that runs the farm - hey, hey,! greets visitors to the Sigler Homestead here in Center, Texas.

When

Sheryl

Sigler

relocated

to

Center several years ago, she knew she wanted animals around her home.

“I grew up in New Caney, Texas,” she said.” I raised chickens, steers, and lambs for 4H and FFA. Being around animals has always been a part of my life, and I have also been a 4H Leader.”

Summer 2022 | naturaltexan.net

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Once Sheryl stopped showing animals, her kids began showing them. Sheryl wanted to bring something to the community when she moved to Center. Thus, every trip to the Sigler Farm is an educational experience.

Sheryl wants people to leave the farm with hands-on experience in caring for animals, as well as growing and picking both flowers and vegetables. She also wants people to have a place to go and enjoy life in East Texas with beautiful sunsets and flowers that can make A-A-H-H-MAZING photos,all while enjoying a full organic experience!

Sigler Farm started out small with hen houses from Tractor Supply, a few chickens, and rabbits. Within the years, it has steadily grown. Sigler’s now has a barn that was built by Sheryl”s husband Steve. Steve told her, “Have a dream and a passion, and I will make it happen.”

Though Sheryl’s vision surely has come a long way in just a short amount of time, it is only the beginning: the best is yet to come. Darcie Hays, the owner at Center Floral, purchases Zinnias from Sheryl by the week. Talk about hometown support we have it!

In talking with Sheryl, she shared her many visions for the future of the farm.

We want the community to be aware of all the upcoming events that are coming to the Sigler Homestead throughout 2022 and to Summer 2022 |

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help this vision come true by being a part of it.

Sheryl wants to bring something to the community that it currently does not have.

She will offer barnyard birthday parties, photo sessions, a petting zoo, women’s events (painting and crafts), and movie nights. These are all new activities that will become available.

When you live in East Texas, you will realize that people will do anything to help anyone. So let’s help as a community to add something to our town that is needed. You can find them on facebook or located at 872 County Road 2010 Center, Tx. Spread the Sigler Homestead word!

Summer 2022 | naturaltexan.net

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Natural Guidance Written by Beth Collins If you’re like me, it seems as if things are in

a spiritual mind, a deliberate mindset, and a

such turmoil.

mind fixed on Jesus.

I see more and more people

living in anxiety and fear. Let’s face it, this world is a hard place to live. With all that’s going on lately, gloom and doom seems to be

Colossians 3:2 says…SET your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

the headline of the day, and we buy into it. So

One of the most detrimental things we do is to

how do we cope with the worry and fear that

allow our problems to be our daily focus. Soon

is just a thought away?

they become so powerful that they are exalted

One major problem is that our thought lives are in trouble. We allow our thoughts to run rampant without any boundaries. A mind that is undisciplined and untrained is like an outof-control toddler. It leads to disaster. This

above the Lord; we have made them bigger than our God. At this point they are like idols before God and a stronghold to the worrier. To combat this, we must practice being spiritually minded and break this destructive habit.

way of thinking is a life weighed down, and

Years ago, I was in a position where I had

satan loves it, but it is dishonorable to God.

no choice but to walk by faith.

Satan wants to steal our joy and peace, and if

control whatsoever of the dire circumstances

we allow it, that’s exactly what he’s going to

surrounding me on every side. My mind was

do.

a battlefield, and it was no joke.

Our thought life demonstrates a great deal about our real spiritual condition. It reveals

I had no

It almost

destroyed me, but God began teaching me, and I opened my mind to Him.

what is actually going on and gives us an idea

Ephesians 2:4-6 tell us that we are seated in

about who we truly trust. We fret so much

the heavenlies with Christ.

about the what ifs of life that the joy and peace we are to abide in is nowhere to be found.

If we can see this image in our mind’s-eye, we can get out of our problems and see them

When all I focus on are the circumstances

through the eyes of Jesus. We’re above our

around me, that’s a stumbling block, a fall

problems and not in them.

to the pit waiting to happen.

When what I

trust and have faith in is my Lord, that takes Summer 2022 |

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought

naturaltexan.net | 16

captive to the obedience of Christ.

We have a choice here. Much of our destructive thinking comes from control. We try so hard to figure things out and control the outcome,

God has shown His faithfulness to you. Add to the list as often as possible. Remember, God’s most prominent act of faithfulness was sending His Son to die for our sins.

but this is total lack of faith.

3. Meditate on Scripture that builds us up

Over 300 times in the Bible we are told, DO NOT

God’s Word is the main ingredient in renewing

FEAR. This is not a suggestion but a command;

our minds and keeping our focus on Him. His

God takes our disobedience seriously and so

Word changes us from the inside out and is

should we.

absolutely necessary for a healthy, spiritual

Okay, so let’s spell it out. To defeat worry and

mind.

have a healthy thought life we must take our eyes off of self and focus on Jesus. It all boils down to trust. Is our God big enough? Is He sufficient?

1. We must set our minds on the Lord and who we know Him to be.

A mind renewed by the Holy Spirit is a healthy mind. You can then be filled with peace and joy no matter what is going on around you.

Romans 12:2 says…and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. This renewal allows us to think beyond the way of the world to God’s thoughts. Renewing your mind to God’s Word is key to lasting change, to breaking the habit of worry. It’s a daily pursuit. For the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, we must be radically dependent and focused on Him. 2. Rehearse God’s faithfulness To help build faith, take note of times where Summer 2022 | naturaltexan.net

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Isaiah 26:3 says…You will keep him in perfect

Actively watch for seeds of worry in your life;

peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because

look for places where there is lack of faith

he trusts You.

settling in your thoughts and chase them away

The more I spend time away from the Lord,

with the Word of God before they take root.

the more I try to control my own life. When

Philippians 4:6 & 7 tells us to be anxious

my spiritual life is fed by prayer, Bible study,

for nothing, but in everything by prayer and

worship and praise, I am able to let go of life’s

supplication,

problems and trust God to handle them. Keeping

requests be made known to God; and the peace

my focus on Him builds my trust. When I am

of God, which surpasses all understanding, will

hungry spiritually, I become the controller. My

guard your hearts and minds through Christ

mind is obsessed with my problems – that’s

Jesus.

my FOCUS. I no longer have the mind of Christ because my “flesh” has continued to be fed.

with

thanksgiving,

let

your

Our wild God is all inspiring; He’s like the mountains we cannot contain. Let’s allow Him

Romans 8:6 says…letting your sinful nature

out of the little, bitty box he’s been placed in,

control your mind leads to death. But letting

and trust Him fully.

the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

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