Liberty Hill Digest • June 2021

Liberty Hill digest

JUNE 2021

HighPointe Estate THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED ARTFULLY CREATED FOR THE HIGH POINTS IN YOUR LIFE

IN THIS ISSUE Liberty Hill Prays | A Father’s Prayer & A Wall of Prayer Education | Celebrating the Class of 2021 Mustang Grapes | Picking, Canning & Cooking

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INSIDE

FAVORITES 6

EDUCATION Military Signing Day at LHHS

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EXPERIENCE LIBERTY HILL Independence Day Spectacular

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COMMUNITY Simply Home’s Prayer Wall

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ASK THE EXPERT Cooking and Canning with Mustang Grapes

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WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”?

Cowboys

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FACTS TO BLOW YOUR MIND Take Me Out...

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BELLE CHIMES IN Deus Ex Mayberry

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FOOD Summer Comfort Food

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PARTING SHOT LH Intermediate School

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ON THE COVER

A view of the chapel at HighPointe Estate; just part of the 42-acres overlooking the Gabriel River Valley.

Photos by Todd White

FEATURES 4 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

HighPointe Estate Thoughtfully Created, Artfully Designed for You

16 FATHER’S DAY

One Family’s “Beautiful Tragedy”

photo by Kendra Cofer

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MILITARY SIGNING DAY Five Liberty Hill seniors signed their commitments to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces after graduation.

FATHER’S DAY One father’s mission to share heavenly love and earthly expertise.

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Liberty Hill digest

Published by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC

PUBLISHER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ann Marie Kennon

Cathy Payne

EDITOR’S NOTE | MEGAN DIANE BEATTY Dear Readers, School’s...Out. For. Summer! Yes, I sang that as I typed it. If you are looking for me you can find me at the water’s edge, with a book in my hand or a journal and a pen. After all the crazy Texas weather we have endured, my body definitely needs some vitamin D—and a sno-cone or two.

Congratulations to the graduates of 2021! Go be great!

COMMUNITY EDITOR

Megan Diane Beatty

Megan, a mom of two, has been a part of the Liberty Hill community for 11 years.

Originally trained as a nurse, today, she channels her passion to help others into throwing birthday parties for kids battling cancer. Megan’s other passion is running, and that same zest for life flows into her writing and sharing the inspiring stories of Liberty Hill.

SENIOR WRITER Charlotte Kovalchuk CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Greta Bauer GRAPHICS & DESIGN Zion Pistole • Ann Marie Kennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kendra Cofer • Charlotte Kovalchuk Megan Diane Beatty SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR • Jenny Campbell ACCOUNT SERVICES • Debbie Tolliver DISTRIBUTION • David Schumacher IT/WEBMASTER • Jesse Payne CONSULTANT • W. Ben Daniel

ADVERTISING Mark Elliott 512-240-2267 • 512-746-4545 mark@lhtxdigest.com

Liberty Hill Digest is a Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC publication.

Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved. Liberty Hill Digest is published monthly and mailed USPS, free of charge, to homes and businesses in Liberty Hill, TX zip codes. Mail may be sent to Liberty Hill Digest, P.O. Box 213, Jarrell, TX 76537.

Email: info@lhtxdigest.com

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In this issue you will read about five courageous graduates who have boldly committed to protecting our freedom and why the United States Military ‘just got better.’

Thank you for your brave choice!

The walls of one boutique in town are filled with treasures from clothing to gifts of all sorts, but in between, is the shop’s most prized possession—a prayer wall. I really enjoyed learning the “why” behind the wall. I hope you feel as touched by Tami’s story as I do.

Thanks to this month’s content my daughters and I will spend part of the summer searching the town for wild grapes. I have never made jelly before but I have always wanted to and I am excited to try Emily’s recipe. I have tried quite a few of her jellies and they are all phenomenal.

Happy Father’s Day, not only to my dad who set the bar unbelievably high for all men, but to all you amazing dads out there! Speaking of dads, Owen’s dad is climbing mountains to share his son’s story and all of God’s glory. I feel incredibly blessed to help with that.

I also want to share some birthday love to a young boy battling leukemia. He was hoping to be out of the hospital for his birthday and it didn’t work out but that did not stop me from making his day stand out! Thank you to the people in Liberty Hill who continue to support my mission and make this possible for me to do. You know who you are!

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For the High Points in Your Life photos by Todd White

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ot surprisingly, it all started with a wedding.

Before Dawson and Leanne Clark (facing page) knew they wanted to build one of North Austin’s go-to wedding destinations in HighPointe Estate—before they even knew that the wedding industry was their true calling—they were just another mom and dad committed to making their son’s wedding beautiful.

“I’ve been a floral hobbyist most of my adult life,” Dawson says, as he reflects on his early days as a wedding entrepreneur. While he and Leanne considered their involvement in their son’s wedding, they landed on a unique way of contributing. “We told our kids we thought we could design all the flowers.

Fortunately, my daughterin-law said, ‘I trust you.’”

Soon, Clark found himself running a part-time wedding floral business out of Leanne’s kitchen. Along the way, the couple realized they were no longer satisfied with weddings being a part-time hobby.

So they embarked on a multi-year mission to build the perfect wedding venue in the heart of Williamson County. In designing HighPointe Estate, Clark drew on his experience in event planning to solve pain points families face in wedding planning.

The most critical was the need for a

Construction of The Great Hall was completed in early 2020 and the business launched with great excitement. Then, after just four weddings, the global pandemic caused a three-month shutdown and the rescheduling of more than 35 weddings.

“We are so grateful for those families who trusted us to create their special family celebration, even in the midst of such challenging circumstances,” he said. “We have celebrated more than 150 weddings in less than one year and are thrilled to be serving the community in the many ways that we have.”

AN EQUALLY COMMITTED TEAM

The floral designs created by the couple, along with a host of family and friends—were a hit, and it wasn’t long before Dawson’s keen eye for color and design caught the attention of several friends who had their own weddings on the horizon.

The Clarks’ love of weddings, and their commitment to every couple celebrating the wedding of their dreams, is key to HighPointe Estate’s early success. As they worked to establish and build the business, they assem-

HighPointeEstate.com 4

dedicated indoor ceremony space to serve as a “Plan B” option for outdoor weddings, which led to the creation of the beautiful chapel at HighPointe Estate.

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business spotlight bled an equally committed team of passionate partners and staff.

Their long-time friends, Lee & Kristi Smith, joined the business as investors in early 2019, and have contributed significantly to HighPointe Estate’s success.

Dawson’s team has grown to nearly a dozen staff, who plan with and work with the couples and families served at HighPointe Estate. Almost all of them shared a personal experience as clients or vendors with the venue before join-

ing the team. In fact, several were served as brides or parents planning their own wedding at the venue.

The level of service and passion they experienced as clients caused them to know that they wanted to join the HighPointe Estate team.

“We are keenly aware that every wedding is a once-in-alifetime opportunity to create a beautiful and memorable event in the life of our clients,” Dawson says. “And we are extremely grateful for the trust shown by each of them.

“We can’t wait to welcome even more Liberty Hill families to HighPointe Estate.”

Beautiful d etail and d esign inside and out, th oughtful ar chitecture in both the chapel and great hall, and amazin g ambiance nest in 40+ acre s of Liberty led Hill.

— Reid M. via Yelp

5 5 5 5 C o u n t y R oad 2 5 8

Li berty Hi l l, TX 786 4 2

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celebrating the class of 2021

The Armed Forces Got Better Today

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THE CEREMONY

nd-of-school means many things to many people, and for a courageous few, it means a commitment to serve our country. Last month, Liberty Hill High School honored members of the Class of 2021 who have chosen to serve our country at the 4th annual Military Signing Day. Family members, teachers, board trustees, and recruiters watched proudly as five young men committed to military life after graduation.

The students were excited, the families were beaming and the educators were proud of what the day meant.

Principal John Bever said, “I am grateful to be able to work with these students; this is an exciting moment for the beginning of their new lives.”

Echoing his sentiments, College, Career and Military Readiness advisor Deah Twine added, “It is not a decision taken lightly when a student decides to serve our great nation.

We know many of you here today helped to guide these students to make such an honorable choice.”

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Associate Principal Monica Miller began making Military Signing Day a school event in 2018 and says it is always emotional. “We honor the young men and women who have chosen to serve our great country. I never want to take for granted these brave young people who step up and choose to protect our freedoms.

As the proud wife of Army COL Zebediah Miller, I have a special heart for these students and never want them to feel that their decision to serve the United States of America in one of our branches of the military is not appreciated.”

READY TO SERVE First to receive his certificate was Jakobe Martinez, who has chosen to train for the most selective and elite force in the U.S. Air Force; Special Operations. Recruiter TSgt. Andrew Burdette explains, “It is incredibly difficult and selective to get into Special Operations. We have an 80 to 90 percent failure rate; mostly be-

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Principal John Bever

cause of quitting. The training is very difficult, but we do it for a reason.

These Airmen find themselves in very challenging scenarios.”

Taylor Gutierrez and Chris Alegria chose to be first in with the United States Marine Corps. Taylor wishes to be a USMC Military Police Officer.

Chris will be an O311 Rifleman as part of the world’s elite infantry, and his long-term goal is to return home and lead the ROTC program at Liberty Hill High School.

Academy Bound photo courtesy Congressman Carter PIO

by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com event photos by Kendra Cofer

T H E A R M Y, A I R F O R C E , M A R I N E S A N D M E R C H A N T M A R I N E S G OT B E T T E R TO D AY. I ’ L L S L E E P A L I T T L E B E T T E R AT N I G H T K N O W I N G T H E S E G U Y S A R E P R OT E C T I N G O U R CO U N T R Y. ~ SUPERINTENDENT STEVE SNELL Their recruiter Sgt. Brian Cain said, “It has been my absolute privilege to mentor and guide these two young men during their journeys to become a part of something bigger than themselves; The United States Marine Corps.”

Ty Hunter enlisted into the United States Army. He will be, as recruiter SGT Emmanual Garcia says, “Part of a large and very special organization comprised of people with many skillsets. Ty encountered some obstacles when we first met him, but he is resilient; he dug in, and never lost his momentum.”

B E B O L D. D O T H I N G S T H A T MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE. ~ COLONEL ZEBADIAH MILLER From the editor: To the Liberty Hill 2021 graduates who have chosen to step out of their comfort zones and away from their families to fight for our freedoms by protecting and serving our great country, thank you.

Your courage is beyond inspiring. 

Konnor Bye was accepted into The Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York and will be studying Marine engineering.

In April, he and eight other seniors were honored by Congressman John Carter (TX31) at the 4th annual “Salute to Service Academy Appointees”. Appointees complete an intense application process, including rounds of interviews, to receive a nomination from Representative Carter to one of the nation’s Service Academies.

“Nominating students to a U.S. Service Academy is one of my greatest honors as a Congressman,” said Representative Carter. “After seeing their hard work and dedication firsthand, I know the future of our nation is in good hands. The path these students have chosen will not be easy, but I have no doubt they are up for the challenge. I am exceptionally proud of the appointees from Texas’ 31st district and cannot wait to see all that they accomplish.”

Military Academies accept only the very highest achievers each year, which include a very small percentage accepted into the Merchant Marines.

In addition to his academic record and reputation for service, Konnor is also the area’s triple jump champion and he has already been asked to jump for the Academy.

Coach Kent Walker expresses with deep sincerity, “It’s been a rough, rough year. I could not be more proud of this young man and everything he’s accomplished.”

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celebrating the class of 2021

photos by Megan Diane Beatty and Stephanie Smith

Graduation!

 What began out of necessity in 2020 has become a part of the graduation tradition. Panther spirit was in full glory as the Class of 2021 held their celebration parade May 23.

Hundreds lined the street to cheer and recognize seniors and their future plans.

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 The theme of being adaptable and flexible this school year continued with Friday night’s graduation ceremony. Liberty Hill, and many other local schools moved their ceremonies inside. With the abrupt change in venue, guests were limited to four per student.

Liberty Hill Digest staff are grateful to parents who provided personal photos of the mortarboard toss to share with our readers.

Mom Imelda Anderson said, “As storms rolled in, I wondered if graduation would take place. Thanks for keeping the program engaging and brief. It was fun to hear our kids being cheered on and to hear the hootin’ and hollerin’ from upstairs! I’m so thankful our kids go to celebrate this year.”

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EXPERIENCE LIBERTY HILL

Spectacular Celebration • July 3

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eighbors and friends in Liberty Hill have gathered in years past at City Park to appreciate freedom in the most patriotic way. Celebrating a return to group activities, as well as America’s 245th birthday, Liberty Hill’s 2021 Independence Day Spectacular has been scaled up and moved to the grounds between Liberty Hill Intermediate and Junior High Schools (see map next page). The event will take place, as planned, as long as there are no thunderstorms in the forecast. Spoiler alert... the fireworks display is going to be bigger and higher than ever before.

TRADITIONS Culinary artists still have time to sign up for the Homemade Apple Pie contest sponsored

by Ortho 360, and a Homemade Ice Cream contest sponsored by the City of Liberty Hill. Judging will take place June 19 and the blue-ribbon winners will be announced at the July 3 event.

There will be no shortage of food activities at the Spectacular as well. Revelers can expect plenty of pie and ice cream for purchase and, for the competitive types, there are also blue ribbons to be won in the hot dog eating contest sponsored by We Clean Home Solutions, and watermelon seed spitting contest sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

At 7:55pm, prepare for the traditional BeachBall Drop—and frenzy! To avoid

injuries, and give everyone a fair chance, there will be two drops; one for kids under 6 and another for those age 7-12.

Sponsored by LH Orthdontics, some balls will have prizes attached, and the biggest will include a grand prize; a full set of braces.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW? The school location provides for great parking—$5 per car, or $20 for premium spots—so there is no need for shuttles and all money raised goes to the Education Foundation.

While deciding between 16 food trucks, families can enjoy free activities all evening, including the Radical Run Obstacle Course, trackless train, inflatables, rock wall, pirate ship, and Velcro wall.

Band performances begin immediately after the Beach Ball Drop and will be bigger than ever. Headliner Stoney Larue will entertain right up to the lighting of the fireworks.

Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and bags. Due to school regulations, outside fireworks, pets, alcohol, and coolers are not permitted on the grounds, but there will be water refill stations available all evening.

There are no COVID restrictions, and residents are encouraged to check the FAQ page for upates and details. There are also plenty of sponsorships still available (at press time) for businesses or individuals to support events, booths, and games.

by Ann Marie Kennon · annmarie@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy of City of Liberty Hill

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SCHEDULE 6:00-9:00PM • KIDS ZONE OPEN 6:00-7:00PM • CALEB YOUNG BAND 6:00-7:30PM • WATERMELON SEED SPITTING CONTEST 7:00PM • OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS 7:15PM • HOT DOG EATING CONTEST 7:40PM • CONTEST AWARDS 7:55PM • BEACH BALL DROP 8:00-9:30PM • STONEY LARUE 9:35PM • FIREWORKS

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community

by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com photo courtesy Tami Spearman

Simply Home, Simply Sincere

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imply Home takes “one stop shop” to a higher level. The charming yellow house is so much more than a boutique filled with treasures, it’s a place of divine inspiration, as owner Tami Spearman says, “Built on the foundation of God; a platform to share His love, grace and mercy. Many go on the mission field to spread the love of Jesus, but I wanted to do that right here.”

Tami became a prayer warrior many years ago when her family needed miracles; her son, Caleb, would be born with a congenital heart defect that would require three open-heart surgeries. She was impacted by her prayer chain as it spread across the nation and around the world. “Knowing someone is praying is comforting; knowing how big the prayer circle can get is incredibly powerful. I still get emotional recalling how prayer and God got us through those stressful times.” Proof positive—today, Caleb is a thriving 22-year-old man.

A SPIRITUAL ARMY Tami says, “Everyone on the Simply Home team loves Christ and we truly are a team of prayer warriors. We have been blessed to pray with many people since opening our doors nine years ago.” Some of her favorite stories are about relationships that began with prayer.

“A new customer was checking out during a very busy time and shared with me that she was waiting on results to see if she had breast cancer. I had a long line waiting to check out, but I leaned over and prayed with her. We developed a friendship, and we continue to pray for her as she battles cancer.”

Knowing there may be no opportunity for conversation or, perhaps, a customer may not feel comfortable asking, the team came up with an idea to share and make prayer needs known. Tami’s husband Jeff manifested that idea 12

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in 2020—a prayer wall in the hall of the yellow house. Customers can leave their burdens and concerns on the wall knowing there is an amazing group of ladies standing in faith, praying over the requests daily.

While some choose to send in their prayer request, others add them to the wall while passing through the store. She adds, if led to do so, anyone can stop and say a prayer for someone else.

The team (pictured) updates the prayer wall every month, and posts on social media to ask for new requests, updates or praises. “For instance,” Tami says, “My best friend from kindergarten recently had surgery to remove tumors in her throat that were possibly cancerous. Praise God that all results came back benign and that is now on our wall!”

The Simply Home team hopes readers with prayer requests or anyone with a need might ‘simply’ come add it to the wall or message them so they can add it. No prayer is too big or too small for the prayer wall in the hall of the yellow house. Visit them at 15280 Highway 29 in Liberty Hill.

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father’s day

by Megan Diane Beatty · megan@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy Darin Coulter

Father Love — Earthly and Heavenly

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of doctors and nurses saving his life. In most emergency situations, it is chaotic, loud and stressful. However, I witnessed a perfectly orchestrated calm, quiet, and focused medical team that moved in such a way you knew God was in the room.”

n December 2018, when most of us were making Christmas preparations, Liberty Hill’s Darin Coulter and his wife Kristin were rushing to the hospital. Darin is a fire fighter with Austin FD and, this Father’s Day, he wished to share how tragedy opens the door for our Heavenly Father to work in ways only He can. Darin’s story is about how the Coulter family became an avenue for others to see all the glory and power of God.

HEROIC MEASURES Their five-year-old son Owen suffered multiple cardiac arrest episodes after a virus attacked his heart.

At Dell Children’s Hospital, staff performed CPR for over an hour and Darin recalls, “As a first responder, I am the one that takes over to miti-

gate the emergency. In this situation, I wasn’t able to do anything to help my son. I had to step back and let the doctors and nurses do what they were trained to do and I had to fall back on all I had; my faith. Knowing God was in control gave me peace and courage to spend 90 minutes watching Him work through the team

Owen spent 56 days in the hospital and today, 2-1/2 years later, he is a healthy and happy 7-year-old miracle child. He enjoys playing with his big sister Madelyn and his twin brother Hudson.

He takes no medication, is meeting all age appropriate milestones, and has showed great progress with his heart, kidney, and stroke recovery.

Where once, every system in his body was failing, he is now running and playing like every other kid in the neighborhood. Darin says, “If I had to give it a number, I’d say he’s 95 percent recovered. The other 5 percent I call a hitch in his get up.”

During the 90 minutes of CPR Owen suffered at least two strokes, one of which affected his spinal cord and caused him to walk with a slight limp. “I thank the Lord every day for the 95 percent he’s given back to us.”

LIVING IN FAITH This tragic event strengthened the Coulter family’s faith by experiencing, first hand, God’s love and mercy.

“We call it our beautiful tragedy,” his dad explains. They use Owen’s story as a platform to share God’s perfect timing and how graciously He works.

“Owen has shown me that life can change in an instant but, if you have “Heroes know who heroes are, and Owen was a hero that day.” ~ Darin Coulter 16

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father’s day

the right mindset, there is always a rainbow overhead with a message of love and purpose.”

Together they enjoy giving back to the community that surrounded them with love and support when they needed it most. Being forever grateful, they feel indebted to Dell Children’s Medical Center, Ronald McDonald House, and Children’s Miracle Network (CMN).

Darin and Owen hope readers might spread awareness of the campaign. “There are opportunities to make a difference with your time, resources, and gifts to support the only Level I Trauma Pediatric Hospital in Austin. You just never know if your child, a family member, or friend will need pediatric medical care.”

Darin explains, “Children’s Miracle Network raises funds and awareness to support local pediatric hospitals. All CMN fundraising in the Austin area campaign goes directly to Dell Children’s Medical Center.”

The Coulters volunteer their time as ambassadors for events at the hospital and RMHC that bring awareness to programs that are saving children’s lives in Central Texas, and providing a home-away-from-home while in the hospital.

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Summer Snack Strategy

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day means waiting until the bucket is refilled on Sunday to get another.

s we embark upon two months of summer, as a former Kindergarten teacher, I’m sharing an idea that may help maintain a bit of health and harmony for busy kids at home.

I hope this will also help him think ahead—something we work on in all his life skill areas.

My oldest son is generally ravenous and will eat all the snacks in one day if we let him. So, we have embarked upon the snack basket system.

HOW IT WORKS It took about an hour to make— including laminating, cutting, and printing, so my response to “Mom, I’m starving!” is a not-frustrated “Check your snack basket.” Boom, it’s out of my hands.

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contributed by Hillary Kennon

I allow four snacks per day—ideally a fruit and a grain, then a protein and a grain—but he will have to figure this out. Options rotate based on groceries purchased and I don’t tell him what he can choose; if it is in the basket, it’s free reign.

What I hope he learns is that eating all the granola bars in one

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If he chooses something not physically in the basket, he transfers the appropriate clothespin into a plastic bag attached to the bucket. Over time, he will realize if the bucket is empty in the first half of the week, he may have trouble making it from meal to meal in the second half of the week.

Have genius ideas you want to share? Send us your summer strategies.

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ask the expert

Canning with Mustang Grapes

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aking jelly has been a fun hobby of mine for over 20 years. I love sharing jelly, and canning jellies is a straightforward process.

Since Mustang grapes grow wild in many parts of Texas, they are a great place to start. You can find them found blanketing old fence lines, and climbing up trees and power lines along roadsides. They ripen as early as mid-June and can be picked through August and you’ll know a ripe berry from its thick skin and deep dark purple color. It is recommended to pick and handle them wearing gloves to protect your skin from the high acidity of the juice. As well, it is not recommended to eat them straight off the vine.

This may sound like a negative, but in the world of jelly making, acidity levels are a positive in creating a beautiful firm jelly.

My jelly recipe requires only three ingredients, including grapes you want to pick early in the season, and no pectin, which saves money.

The key to not needing pectin is making sure that onefourth of the grapes are unripe; the firm green grapes growing alongside the ripe purple ones. Unripe grapes contain a high amount of natural pectin. I use scissors to cut them off the vine in bunches, which makes them last longer.

MAKE THE JUICE Remove stems and leaves, then rinse with clean water.

Fill a thick deep pot half full of the grape combination (3/4 ripe, 1/4 unripe). This doesn’t have to be exact, it’s more of a guesstimate to your actual ratio of ripe to unripe grapes, but it is okay to guess or measure out.

Fill the pot with grapes and enough water to cover them.

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contributed by Emily Kane

Bring the water to a boil then lower the temperature to a simmer; this cooks the grapes.

While grapes are cooking, use a potato masher to mash them. When done, grapes will look like a soup.

Strain the juice. My preferred method is to use a few layers of cheesecloth over a strainer placed into a large bowl. I rest my strainer on a mug to elevate it and allow more space for the juice to filter into the bowl.

Another way is to use a fine mesh strainer instead of cheesecloth. If you use a fine mesh strainer, you may need to strain the juice twice to filter out debris (grape skin, twig, seeds, etc.).

Allow the cooked berries to strain. Cover in plastic wrap and leave on counter or place in fridge.

Allowing to strain overnight allows you to harvest the most juice and the last bit will be thicker with a rich quality.

Now that you have the juice, you make the jelly.

MAKING THE JELLY In a heavy pot, bring 5 cups of juice and 7 cups of sugar to a boil, stirring often. Reduce to medium to keep it to a boil and prevent it from boiling over.

Note: At this point, if you were unable to use one-fourth unripe grapes, add one pack of pectin after the mixture reaches boiling point, allow it to boil for one minute and then remove from heat.

The jelly is done when the temperature reaches 220°F, this can be checked by using a candy or jelly thermometer. If your recipe included unripe grapes, the surface and color of the jelly will have a smooth, dark look.

Another way to tell when it is done is to cool some on a spoon and see how it drips off the spoon. When the jelly has jelled, a drop will hang on the spoon.

STORING THE JELLY If you know you are going to use it right away or gift to family and friends who will use it soon, there is no need to can it. Use a container with a lid and store in fridge.

If you want to keep some year-round or gift it throughout the year, this is where canning your jelly comes in handy. The shelf life of canned jelly is over a year.

Sterilize your jars in boiling water and dry them before using them.

Pour hot jelly into sterilized jars.

Wipe the jar rim clean with a clean damp wash cloth or paper towel.

Place clean lids on the jar and put the rings on, finger-tight and seat the jars using the water bath method.

WATER BATH The water bath should be at a boil before the jars are lowered on the rack into the water. The water level needs to cover the jars by at least two inches.

The jars need to be in the boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Remove them from the bath and allow them to cool on a towel for 12 to 24 hours before moving them The jars should seal. You will hear “pings” as the jars make their seal.

CLEAN AND LABEL JARS The last step is to clean and label your jars of Mustang jelly.

Fill clean sink with warm soapy water. Remove the rings, leaving the lids on the jars, and submerge the sealed jars upright in the soapy water. This cleans the outside of the jars and helps detects false seals. The lid should be firm and not move up and down when you press on it. If you discover jars didn’t seal, place those jars in your fridge to use first.

The date jelly was made and name of jelly can be easily written with a permanent marker on the lid. A good thing to do is make a label with the name and ingredients. This is an important step if you are gifting in case your recipients have food allergies.

My last word of advice is don’t be afraid of failure. If the jelly doesn’t get firm, there are ways to use it. You can try boiling and canning it again, use the juice as a syrup, or as a fruit juice concentrate (just add water until it tastes like grape juice). Happy jelly making, and good luck.

Check our Food section (page 26-27) for recipes for baking and cooking.

Rinse off soap, dry the jars and rings. Put the rings on and label the jars.

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by Ann Marie Kennon annmarie@lhtxdigest.com

COWBOYS WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”?

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hough the occupation and lifestyle originated in Mexico, American cowboys exemplified the kind of spirit that shaped our nation, and to this day, Texas is the cowboy capital of the world. While their ascendancy spanned a relatively short time in history, cowboys have since been celebrated ubiquitously in popular culture for the freedom, natural living, and romance of the Old West.

In the 21st century, opportunities may have shifted, but the American Cowboy is still very much a part of life in Texas and those who have done it know how challenging the life can be.

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BIRTH OF A LEGEND New World explorers from Spain began building ranches in Mexico in 1519.

Using animals brought from Spain, landowners trained Native Americans to ride their horses and handle the cattle.

By the early 1700s, cattle ranching had spread north to lands destined to be Texas, and the riders, called vaqueros (from the Spanish word for cow; vaca), used braided rawhide reatas (the root word for lariat).

Over the next century, settlers continued to move westward and adopted cowboy culture and practices. Cowboys

what makes Texas “Texas” came from diverse backgrounds and included African-Americans, Native Americans, Mexicans and settlers from the eastern United States and Europe.

THE GOLDEN AGE Though there were cowboys long before the cattle drives of the latter 19th century, the golden age of the American cowboy began in earnest after the Civil War. Prior to that, ranchers primarily raised cattle to eat and sell locally. Since Texas was home to vast herds of Longhorns and cattle that had been breeding and free-roaming for nearly 400 years, beef was veritably free for the taking. As a result, most of the legendary trails and cattle drives originated in Texas, heading north to the railroads of Kansas, which created opportunities for cowboys to make $19 to $40 a month driving them.

MODERN COWBOYS Modern cowboy Sean Kampmeier is a former rodeo rider. He explains a bit about the arena lifestyle and some of its key players. At 41, he is ready for the ‘senior’ tour (over 40) despite many broken bones and being temporarily paralyzed. “On both sides of the fence, this is a family. Maybe I’m just a little nuttier than most, but the rodeo is different from every other sport. When I finish a ride, thrown or not, I get back on that gate or in the chute and help my buddies out. In any case, the camaraderie of the rodeo is unique. You want to win, but we’re all here pulling each others’ ropes and telling each other, ‘You better win this one!’ Basically, it beats a day job and I’m good at it.”

Over the years, the number of working cowboys has declined, but the occupation isn’t obsolete. The cowboy lifestyle and culture is still found in Texas, albeit to a lesser degree than a century ago. Working cattle is a year-round job that takes dedication and commitment to the well-being of all animals.

Cowboys continue to help run large ranches in Texas and other states, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2003 there were about 9,730 workers in the category “support activities for animal production,” which includes cowboys.

Oliver Loving (L) was a Texas pioneer in the cattle industry as early as 1845. He was the first to drive cattle to the northern markets of Illinois in 1855 and Colorado in 1860. In 1866 he and Charles Goodnight set out with 2,000 cattle and 18 riders to blaze the Goodnight-Loving Trail from Texas to Colorado.

This went on to be a well-traveled route to both Colorado and Wyoming.

Charles Goodnight (R) was a cattleman, rancher, philanthropist. He started as a cowboy, joined the Texas Rangers, blazed the Goodnight-Loving trail, became a rancher at Palo Duro Canyon, and was one of the most wealthy cattle barons of his time. Goodnight crossed longhorns with Herefords to produce a more commercial breed of cattle. He also was instrumental in saving the few remaining herds of Buffalo from extinction. In their later years, Goodnight and his wife Molly founded Goodnight College.

Loving and Goodnight were loosely represented as Gus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call in Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove”.

Bill “Bulldogger” Pickett was a cowboy of African and Native American descent. He worked as a ranch hand at a young age.

By studying the way herding dogs subdued steers, Bill developed a cowboy technique for wresting and controlling them (including biting their upper lip), which became part of ranch and rodeo history and was called “bulldogging.”

His abilities brought him respect and renown, and before long he was performing with the “101 Ranch Wild West Show” in Oklahoma, often receiving top billing despite Will Rogers’ participation in the shows. He was the first Black American to be inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1971.

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facts to blow your mind

Take Me Out...

In 1963, major league baseball pitcher Gaylord Perry remarked, “They’ll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run.” On July 20, 1969, an hour after Neil Armstrong set foot on the surface of the moon, Perry hit is first, and only, home run while playing for the San Francisco Giants.

The average lifespan of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.

Initially baseball players wore numbers based on the batting order. Babe Ruth was number 3 because he always hit third.

He wore a cabbage leaf under his cap to keep his head cool.

He changed it every two innings. In 1920, he out-homered every American League team.

In addition to being the first to break the color barrier in baseball, Jackie Robinson was also the first African-American vice president of a major American corporation — he served as vice president of personnel for Chock Full O’ Nuts coffee from 1957–1964.

All major league baseball umpires must wear black underwear while on the job in case their pants split.

Many major league baseball players, including Moises Alou, Jorge Posada, and Kerry Wood, have admitted they urinate on their own hands during baseball season to “toughen” their grip.

Johnny Bench could hold seven baseballs in one hand.

During World War II, the U.S. military designed a grenade to be the size and weight of a baseball, since “any young American man should be able to properly throw it.”

Jackie Mitchell, a 17-year-old female pitcher for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts, once played the New York Yankees in an exhibition game and struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in succession.

Bank robber John Dillinger was once a professional second baseman, although he never made it to the major leagues. He played shortshop and 2nd base for the Martinsville Athletics in 1924. Sentenced to prison for his first robbery, he played for the Indiana State Reformatory ball club.

Bobby Richardson won the World Series MVP in 1960 after hitting .367 with 12 RBIs — he played for the losing team.

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belle chimes in

Deus ex Mayberry I

t’s Father’s Day and I can’t help thinking about how often I get “God from Mayberry.”

The older I get the more I appreciate the TV Land channel and all the memories of my childhood it evokes.

Most specifically, all the shows I watched as a kid because they were what my dad watched. Since there was only one television in the house (What?! said all the millennials in the world), everyone basically watched whatever Dad watched. We also functioned as his remote control...”Go change it to channel 7, please.”

That also explains why I like a few typically non-female-demo things like Star Trek, Barney Miller, Sanford & Son, and Muhammad Ali. Although I did get to watch The Brady Bunch when he wasn’t around.

My dad was Archie Bunker most of the time, Hawkeye Pierce some days, and a little John Wayne now and then.

Definitely not a Mike Brady. When we were in trouble there were no sit-on-the-couch-to-share-feelings episodes. Just plain old run-for-your-life moments.

Those were good days with wholesome TV. I liked Andy Taylor then, but, as a parent, I have a new appreciation for his kindness, wisdom, and the way he always defused the insanity around him without taking credit for it.

Opie once got his feelings hurt because Andy had a new girlfriend and he was worried his Pa wouldn’t like him as much someday. What Pa said stuck in my head word for word because of it’s brevity and profoundness.

“Come here a minute. I’m gon’ tell you somethin’ Op’e and I want you to listen real carefully. You’re my young’un.

And I love you more than anything or anybody in the whole world. And nothing or nobody can ever change that. You know it’s hard for me to tell you just how much you do mean to me cause you’re a part of me.”

Simple as that. You are my own and a part of me. You didn’t earn my love and affection because you didn’t have to, but they are there for you until I’m gone. I know it’s just a bunch of TV writers and a script but I get choked up every time I see that one.

Even more so the time Opie had to give up his milk money to a bully and Andy taught him to stand his ground without ever letting on that he knew his son was being mistreated.

Again, even though they were actors, the scene where Andy looks Opie in the eye before he goes to school, presumably to be punched in the eye, is a true sense of a Father loving his young’un enough to let him be a man, even if he’s only 6. Opie was so proud of his black eye and they shared a great moment.

I know life is not like TV, but I like to think that dads really do love their kids like that, even if they can’t always show it. You know, because they’re big strong men who have to just wipe the dust from their eyes when they have an emotion.

Today, I know a lot of Andy Taylors. There’s Charlie, whom I secretly believe is a baby whisperer because his children are gentle, kind, and want to please him out of love and respect. There’s Bill, who shepherds pretty much everyone he comes in contact with, from a place of Godly love and genuine compassion. He gets a twinkle in his eye when he’s being clever, just like the good Sheriff Taylor. There’s Robert, who is a ‘father’ to hundreds of kids.

He doesn’t divide his love between them, he multiplies it.

My own dad has been gone more than half my life and it’s odd to think I’m nearly as old as he was when he passed away. And while I feel confident I can love and protect my little boy like a bear and a good soldier, I hope he will always have a few good men like my dad to look up to as well.

Who else is going to share those priceless, “Don’t tell your mother we did this” moments, or slip a $20 bill in a handshake before a date or a trip? Dads are great to share the first sip of beer, the first worm on a hook, the first driving lesson, the first “girls/boys suck” conversation, and that last minute getaway offer (just in case) right before the wedding.

Dads, enjoy your special day, the comfy chair, the big piece of chicken, and sole control of the remote.

Happy Father’s Day! XXOO JUNE 2021  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

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food

Summer Comfort Food TEA-BRINED DOUBLE-FRIED CHICKEN Inspired by chef Joseph Lenn of Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm.

June is

ICED TEA MONTH If you have too many lemons and don’t want them to go bad, slice them into quarters and freeze in an airtight bag or container.

A frozen lemon wedge is also wonderful in a cold glass of tea!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 T molasses

Breading • 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour (divided)

• 1/2 c. Kosher salt

• 3 garlic cloves

• 1 1/2 T cornstarch

• 10 sprigs thyme

• 1 T cayenne pepper

• 1 c. Seltzer

• 1 head garlic

• 1/2 c. lard or unsalted butter

• canola oil for frying

• 1/2 lemon (sliced) • 4 drumsticks

• Salt

Brine • 8 c. sweet tea

Coating • 3 T chili paste

• 4 chicken thighs In large saucepan, bring 4 cups of sweet tea just to a boil. Add kosher salt and stir until dissolved. Add thyme, halved garlic head, lemon slices and remaining 4 cups of sweet tea and let cool completely, then refrigerate until well chilled.

Add chicken to the brine, cover and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.

Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine 3 garlic cloves with the chili paste, molasses, and cayenne and puree until a paste forms. Add lard and puree until smooth. Season with salt. Scrape the chile mixture into a very large bowl.

In large saucepan, heat 3 inches oil to 350°F. Set a rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Spread 1 cup flour in a pie plate. In medium bowl, whisk remaining 1/2 cup flour with cornstarch, and a

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generous pinch of salt. Whisk 3/4 cup of seltzer until a thick batter forms, adding more seltzer if needed.

Dredge 4 chicken pieces in the flour, tap off excess and transfer to the rack. Dip 1 piece of chicken at a time in the batter, let the excess drip back into the bowl and add chicken to hot oil. Fry chicken at 350°F, turning occasionally, until pale golden and crisp, about 8 minutes; transfer chicken to the rack. Repeat with the remaining 4 pieces.

Return first 4 pieces of chicken to the hot oil and fry at 350°F until golden and reaches internal 165°F, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to paper towel–lined plate. Repeat with the remaining 4 pieces of chicken. Add chicken to very large bowl with the chile mixture and toss to coat. Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve right away.

food

THE BEST DINNER ROLLS

dipped in jelly you can make from the recipe on p. 20

• 4-5 c all-purpose flour • 2 T rapid rise, instant yeast • 1/3 c granulated sugar • 1 t salt • 1-1/2 c warm milk (110°F) • 5 T butter, softened • 1 egg, room temperature

INGREDIENTS Combine 3c flour and remaining ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Attach the dough hook and mix on lowest speed until flour is incorporated, scraping sides of bowl as necessary.

down slightly.

Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.

Add 1/2c flour and blend with dough hook until incorporated. Add another 1/2c flour and repeat, mixing at medium speed 2 minutes until a ball forms.

Add additional flour as necessary. Dough should be slightly sticky, soft, and pulling away from the bowl’s edge.

Transfer dough to lightly greased bowl and cover with towel or plastic wrap. Let rise 30 mins at room temperature. Remove cover and deflate dough by punching

GREEN GRAPE PIE

In 19th-century Texas, Spring was not a time for great dessert fruit. Pioneers did have sugar from local mills, which they used to sweeten the readily available but very tart green Mustang grapes.

Pinch off pieces of dough and form 24 rolls. Size may vary but, if weighed, they should be about 2 ounces each.

Transfer rolls to lightly-greased quarter baking sheet or 9”x13” baking dish. Cover with towel or plastic wrap and let rise an additional 30 minutes at room temperature.

Bake in pre-heated 375°oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Tent with foil to avoid too much browning.

Remove rolls and, while hot, brush with melted butter.

Serve immediately or store cooled in a plastic bag for up to three days.

recipe by Earlene Drumm Mix first 7 ingredients to make a custard. Then mix in the grapes and pour the mixture into the pie shell. Add crust strips to make a lattice.

Bake 45 – 50 minutes, or until golden brown.

“Green” means unripe. Pick them when they are nearly full size, but still green. The seeds will not have had a chance to harden; they are still soft and relatively small so they will not be noticeable in the pie.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 egg beaten

• 1 ½ cup sugar

• 3 tablespoons flour

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup heavy cream

• ½ teaspoon lemon juice

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla • 1 cup de-stemmed green grapes • 1 unbaked pie shell with top lattice strips Pre-heat oven to 350°F.

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PARTING SHOT

by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy LHISD

End of an Era They always say great things must come to an end, but in this instance I do not see that to be true. Great things will continue for you and in your future.

It has been an amazing experience being at the Intermediate for all these years and watching you and your predecessors learn and grown not only in the classroom but in life as well.

I could not have asked for a better campus to serve Liberty Hill ISD and the community than at the Intermediate.

W

hen LHISD students left for summer break, it wasn’t just the end of the year, it meant the end of an era for the intermediate school.

The school held an end-of-an-era commemoration that was emotional, touching, and extremely special for everyone present, particularly when Cathy Major, the school’s first principal, spoke to the assembly.

Cathy opened the school in 2000, and deserves much credit for helping build the culture around the school.

Everyone in the gym was moved as she bookended 21 years of excellence perfectly into one speech.

“Keep exploring, keep reaching, keep doing it right, and achieving success in all future endeavors. Go Panthers!”

Students, parents, board members, faculty and staff filled the Interme-

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diate gym to reflect on all that the school has achieved over the years.

Principal Josh Curtis proudly stated, “The accomplishments you all and the students before you have accomplished will be remembered for years to come.” Cathy Major, the school’s first principal, was the guest speaker.

Superintendent Steve Snell stood to tell the students and staff, “As we talk about the end of an era and the beginning of a new era you all have a big challenge—I want you to stay unified as panthers. I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

The intermediate will now be Noble Elementary. Depending on your zone, all 5th graders will be spread throughout the 5 elementaries and 6th graders will be in one of the two middle schools. Change is hard but nothing is too challenging for our panther nation!

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As we close this chapter and open another one, I want you all to always remember that you are Champions in academics, character, and community.

Remember all the amazing things you learned here and carry them into the future. Do not ever forget that you were part of The Best Intermediate in the State, and you helped shape and define a culture that will never be broken.

Dream Big and Work Hard.

Josh Curtis

Principal, Liberty Hill Intermediate

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P.O. Box 213, Jarrell. TX, 76537

ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON LIBERTY HILL, TX

JUNE 2021  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

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