Liberty Hill Digest • September 2020

RETURN TO LEARN

WHAT’S NEWS IN THE HILL

WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”

First Day of School

Updates from the City

Barbecue, of course

Page 4

Page 7

Page 18

SEPTEMBER 2020

WOMEN WHO LEAD Judge Donna King

An Uncommon Judge in a Perfect Storm SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

1

2

S E P T E M B E R 2020 ï‚« LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

CONTENTS

FAVORITES 14

NEW NORMAL Video Call Etiquette

15

EXPERIENCE LIBERTY HILL Operation Liberty Hill

18

WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS” Texas Barbecue

22

WORTH THE DRIVE Simple Sparrow Care Farm

24

SAVE THE PLANET Backyard Two-for-One

25

BELLE CHIMES IN The Suburbs Mouse

26

FOOD Seasonal September

28

4

Photo courtesy Facebook/LHISD

PARTING SHOT “Victories” Over Stress

FEATURES 4

LHISD RETURNS TO LEARN Back to school with Superintendent Steve Snell

7

WHAT’S NEW IN THE HILL News you can use about your city

11

PRESERVING, PROTECTING, AND DEFENDING THE LAW An inside look at an exceptional judicial decision

22 SIMPLE SPARROW: LEARN + GROW + HEAL

ON THE COVER Judge Donna King at the historic 26th District Courthouse at the County seat in Georgetown.

8 DEFENDING THE POLICE

Wind Therapy Freedom Riders supporting the police department and empowering the community August 8.

Photo courtesy Facebook/Liberty Hill, TX

Photo by Donnie Boyd

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

1

Digest Published by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC

PUBLISHER

Cathy Payne

Like many of the best in her craft, Cathy has a specialized degree—in her case, hard science—and a gift for writing. She found her voice and fulfilment reporting and writing news and magazine features for a regional Central Texas audience.

Along with serving as the publisher of the Liberty Hill Digest, Cathy oversees multiple magazines, marketing campaigns, and books.

EDITOR Ann Marie Ludlow Kennon

ANN MARIE KENNON EDITOR’S NOTE

Writing this note, I looked back at some things I wrote in a similar letter last September. It struck me that, for the past 18 years, September has been about remembrance, and, sadly, it doesn’t seem to be any part of our current news cycles. That revelation served to demonstrate (again) just how absurd 2020 has been. At the same time, 2020 is a positive reminder of how much we need and should value our first responders all the time; not just during a crisis.

Every call they take is a crisis for someone.

Knowing that the City of Liberty Hill respects and appreciates law enforcement is a wonderful reminder of how great it is to live in Texas, and we were also glad to hear positive community feedback from Chief Graeter.

While not a native of Texas, Ann Marie is at home here. With a quarter-century of writing, reporting, and marketing behind her, she not only writes about central Texas, she dove into community service almost as soon as she moved here.

Currently, she is on the board of the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center and Carver Elementary PTA, and a member of several support organizations.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Kovalchuk • Greta Bauer GRAPHICS & DESIGN Zion Pistole • Ann Marie Kennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rudy Ximenez • David Valdez • Todd White 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@fpgtx.com

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

Copyright © 2020 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@fpgtx.com

2

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

I also have to high-five Superintendent Steve Snell, who took time to speak to us about plans and goals for this unusual new school year. Sure, talking to media is part of his job, but he made time to talk well after school ended on the first day, and even admitted he was likely to be at his desk for a few hours after we hung up. It seems the ISD is in great hands as well.

On the business side, we have created a new section this month that wraps up our “city desk” stories, to give you a bird’s eye view of some of the important issues in Liberty Hill and surrounding. But there are also plenty of fun facts, life hacks, and entertainment for your reading enjoyment.

YOUR DEDICATED WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF “I accept nothing but constant improvement and innovation. Our goal is to prevent crime before it happens, and when we can’t, we must find and arrest the culprit while guaranteeing that innocent citizens can live their lives as undisturbed and safely as possible.”

 Priority Response Times Cut in Half  Cracking Down on Domestic Abusers  Expanding Wilco’s K9 Units  Modernizing Wilco Sheriff’s Office with New Tech  Created Cold Case & Joint-Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Teams  Provided Self Defense & Active Shooter training to 30,000+ Wilco residents  Developed the Jr. Deputies, Explorers, and Sheriff’s Citizens Academy to reach out and introduce citizens, and their families, to law enforcement in a positive way

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST Pol. Ad Paid for by Sheriff Chody Campaign

3

LHISD Returns to Learn

T

he review from the Superintendent’s office is that the first day of school in Liberty Hill was “Fantastic!” Superintendent Steve Snell says roughly two-thirds of the district’s students chose in-person school, and, thanks to a week of extra in-service and training for teachers and administrators, the only problems that occurred were minor technical difficulties for online access. Not content to simply ensure health protocols, all students and staff were encouraged to do a simultaneous connectivity test a week before to identify signal problems and potential ‘traffic’ jams. “Our teachers were heartbroken last spring when things went in one week to being done for the year.

They begged to come back in person, and worked every day for that moment. It was a smoother-than-normal first day, with positive attitudes all around. Every student arrived with a mask, everything worked as planned.”

SILVER LININGS Like many organizations, schools also reflect a few positives from the pandemic. Steve was pleased that his technology department was able to provide technology for every student in a matter of days, which, under normal circumstances would have taken a year to plan.

“Our curriculum department was able to start producing virtual lessons on the spot. It wasn’t what we would consider the same education you would get in person, but we did the best we could. That’s the norm in education; you have to win with the hand you’re dealt.”

As well, while he acknowledges that not everyone loved converting to video meetings, the benefit to his staff and the entire community was quickly noted. “I got to have weekly meetings with the entire ISD staff. I would have never thought to interrupt the daily routines of 600 people to organize a staff meeting. But every single employee was able to hear from me in a crisis, and that is a tool we will continue to use moving forward. Even as things return to normal, it will make everyone’s lives a little easier to attend a staff or town hall meeting right where they are.”

4

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

by Ann Marie Kennon Photos: Facebook/LHISD Used with Permission

He is also pleased that this abrupt and rather forced entry into the digital age will benefit students who must stay home from school for any illness or injury. “Kids are still going to get sick with allergies or strep throat, and now there is no more need to call the teacher to get the work; the kids can just tune in to class. This alteration of the in-seat attendance model will allow teachers to check on students personally, and kids can see their friends.

This is the world our kids live in after all. There is no reason for healthy students in quarantine, due to exposure, to miss a beat in their studies.”

AFTER SCHOOL While Spring sports cannot recapture their lost season, the UIL has loosened a few rules regarding conditioning and practice. Steve reports that regular practice for football and volleyball has already begun, but all students are allowed to practice out of season. “In the past, students could work out on an empty court or a field for independent conditioning, as long as coaches were not present. This year, all sports are allowed to practice, with guidance, up to two hours daily.”

The District also arrived at a compromise that will allow football games to be televised, live, on Friday nights.

“We will be live-streaming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday games to help fans who do not wish to attend in person

with a crowd. Outside of health concerns, the digital age also means long-distance family and friends, or fans who are not able to travel to away games, will not miss a play.

Plus, fans no longer have to worry about not seeing a game because it’s raining. We plan to do the same for basketball, soccer, and likely Spring sports.”

IT’S ALL ABOUT SAFETY The Superintendent is satisfied with and assured by the district safety plan. With help from many local doctors and nurses, he is certain of his staff’s ability to keep teachers and students safe. “We delayed our planned opening for one week, until the numbers were right. Based on everyone’s desire to be here, and the extra time built in to the schedule for unforeseen closings, one week will not have a detrimental effect.

“In terms of exposure, the cases of COVID we’ve seen are not spread from inside the schools. We don’t now what the numbers might look like a month from now, but we prepared for this all summer, and today we were ready.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP To keep families informed, the district has posted and will update a public dashboard daily, including case numbers and exposure information. Schools are required and will notify parents via e-mail, if there are positive cases at a school, to provide peace of mind. They will also inform parents and tighten protocols if a cluster emerges.

“What we need from parents is to recognize the safety protocols do not end at 3:30 when the bell rings. We all need to continue to practice safe things outside the school. People may still spread the virus without symptoms, so sleepovers and get-togethers can multiply positive cases. Our message is to be consistent. We want our kids here, healthy, playing sports, and actively learning, so let’s not let our guard down.”

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

5

6

S E P T E M B E R 2020 ï‚« LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

What’s News in The Hill Council to Vote on 2020 Tax Dec rease At press time, we await City Council’s decision to officially approve the city’s property tax decrease for the second year in a row. Mayor Rick Hall shared with us that he is 99 percent certain of a “Yes” vote, but it is not a guarantee. Residents are invited to participate in the public hearing on the city budget and tax cut, scheduled for September 14. After the hearing—at 6:30pm— council will vote to approve both.

City Finance Director Becky Wilkins explains the Council took its first look at the proposed $1.491 million 2020/2021 operating budget, which includes a recommendation for a 4 cent property tax rate reduction on August 24. They took a roll call vote and unanimously approved the proposed decreased rate of $0.454559.

WHAT IT IS

Tax bills are based on the city’s annually adopted tax rate and the certified value of an individual property, as established by the Williamson County Appraisal District.

Tax rates are assigned to every $100 in value for a property; e.g., a home appraised at $200,000 with a tax rate of 5 percent will receive a tax bill for $100.

Becky says, “Even with the tax decrease, the new budget will raise an additional $300,879 from property taxes; 93 percent of that revenue will be from new properties.”

In the aggregate, new properties have increased the taxable value of the city overall by 18 percent; the total for 2020 is $410,244,123.

“NO” VOTE IMPACT

Tax rates are subject to a ceiling, so if Council has to revisit the plan, the rates can only go lower. Becky explains, “We were very conservative with the budget planning due to COVID. We wanted to make sure we left room for flexibility if residents were unable to pay their taxes on time. The impact might only be a delay in creating new positions or acquiring new equipment, but there will be no decrease in services.”

“YES” VOTE IMPACT

While the property tax bill goes down, sales tax in Liberty Hill is growing faster than in many other municipalities. Tax revenues have previously been very dependent on “rooftop” tax, but with several new businesses opening, sales tax will make up that difference. Becky explains, “Sales tax reporting is about two months behind actual, and during the shutdown, we kept expecting a bad month, which never came. We are up 34 percent this year, mostly thanks to the people who live here. Everyone stayed home, then shopped and ate locally, which not only supported our business owners, but our tax base as well. For their part, our local businesses adapted quickly to curbside and home delivery, so recovery was ongoing rather than an event after the fact. Looking forward, as more businesses come to town, we can look at reducing taxes on homes even more, which is good for homeowners.”

The public hearing will be September 14 at 6pm at 2801 Ranch Rd, 1869. Citizens’ comments regarding the proposed Annual Budget are welcome.

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

7

DEFEN DIN G THE P O LI C E

A

mid inexplicable calls to the contrary around the nation, Liberty Hill is showing confidence in and appreciation for its police officers in the form of pay increases. Chief Royce Graeter recently made a presentation to City Council that focused on the need to further fund the police; “We included factors of recruitment and retention in an effort to secure appropriate funding from the city.”

and compensating for that growth will add to our competitive edge and the career potential for officers who want to live in our family atmosphere and enjoy high morale.”

NEW FRIENDS On August 8, members of the Wind Therapy Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club arrived in Liberty Hill to show support for and boost morale within the department.

Chief Graeter explains while The Club has visited many cities to the funding does not represent an show support for law enforcement, but across-the-board raise, the council President Luis “Hollywood” Rodriguez vote does raise a starting officer’s said Liberty Hill was his favorite that day. annual salary by $6,000, which will “It looked like the entire community enable the department to recruit top came out to see us. They put up tents, notch employees, and stay on par provided lemonade, and the police gave with salaries in other cities. “We do away stickers and community engagenot want our starting pay to mean ment items. It was very cool.” Liberty Hill we wind up hiring people who settle officers also set up their own vehicles, From top: Community support for WTFrs for working here. We want the best and Liberty Hill law enforcement. • Chief and equipment to give kids and commuRoyce Graeter • Mayor Rick Hall with WTFrs officers who are also applying evnity members a close-up look at how the President Luis Rodriguez erywhere else. This show of support good work gets done in the city.

Photos: Facebook / LibertyHillTX from City Council will enable us to The Club stayed in town for about an fill the openings of those who are hour before moving on to their next stop. Chief Graeter retiring early, and retain the services of those who have noted that is it unfortunate that this group does not get trained here and might otherwise go to Leander or another nearby city. We can now be competitive with those the recognition they deserve outside of any counter protests that draw news cameras. “I am pleased that we are municipalities some of our officers drive through every seeing this kind of thing all over the country; bike groups day to get here.” and boat parades. They are trying to keep everyone The Chief adds that he has been pleased with the positive; supporting us and keeping our morale up. It is a shows of support received from the community as well. great help to those of us who know that just going out to “We are growing, and looking to add other specialized do your job the right way can end in tragedy.” programs like SWAT, bike patrols, and CID. Advertising 8

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

SAFET Y AT LIB E RT Y PAR K E

R

oad safety is a high priority in Liberty Hill and, this month, the city plans to begin final designs for an extension to Stonewall Parkway that will connect directly to the Liberty Parke Subdivision. Council approved the preliminary design and cost estimates at its August 13 special session.

In the final plan, the existing ingress/egress at Liberty Way (in red) will be demolished, and a new entrance to the east (yellow) will be built at the intersection of Stonewall and 29, where a traffic signal is already present. Stonewall Parkway will extend into the subdivision and terminate at a stop sign at Liberty Way. Construction is expected to begin in early 2021 and should be complete within the calendar year.

Mayor Rick Hall says the extension is the result of residents’ concerns about getting out of the neighborhood onto a busy highway, without the aid of a traffic signal.

“We received feedback about the potential for incidents.

Shifting the entrance to an existing signal was more reasonable for traffic flow than adding another light.”

Police Chief Graeter adds that the new entrance will benefit the entire area. “This is a bad intersection due to people getting into the center lane too soon, and travel-

ing in opposite directions, to access retail shops and the neighborhood. The same happens when drivers use the center to merge coming out of the bank and Circle K. Things get stacked up, with shoppers and people trying to get home, and we’ve had everything from fender-benders to head-on collisions. This new entrance will help everyone.”

The Mayor says the city will hold a public meeting to get resident buy-in on the final plans once final pricing for the project is available. “We are doing this to keep people safe, so we absolutely want to engage the residents in the process as much as possible.”

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

9

10

S E P T E M B E R 2020 ï‚« LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

Preserving, Protecting, and Defending the Law

F

by Ann Marie Kennon

indings of actual innocence are rare in the justice system. In cases of child sexual abuse, a finding of actual innocence without a victim recantation, or DNA evidence is unheard of. But that is exactly what Judge Donna King spent nine months tackling on the Greg Kelley case.

Judge King explains, “A judge receives new evidence and weighs it in conjunction with the old. The duty, simply put, is to consider, ‘If the jury knew then what I know now, would they have still convicted?’ In the original trial, unfortunately for Mr. Kelley, the jury did not hear all the information that would have acquitted him, a significant portion of which existed at the time of his original trial.”

Even more rare is that because new evidence for Greg’s claim of actual innocence did not fall within the normal grounds for which relief is granted, his case established an entirely new category.

There being no DNA or victim recantation in Greg’s case, the resulting legal basis focused on the validity of new circumstantial evidence. The new evidence included old evidence never pursued; a conflict of interest that existed with his original trial attorney, who had represented several members of the family of the owner of the day care center where the assault occurred; and deficiencies in the initial law enforcement investigation.

The Judge illustrates; “Let’s say a conviction was based on Facts A, B, and C; but a legal team keeps the case alive and gathers new evidence, as [Greg’s girlfriend] Gaebri was diligent in doing. The legal team then presents a Writ of Habeas Corpus to the trial court, based on A-C, and adds Facts D, E, and F. The totality of all of those facts leads to a new conclusion.

“It was my solemn duty, with many boxes covering my floors, to pore over the trial transcripts, exhibits, and videos; and conduct a new inquiry, listening to many, many new witnesses. I came to believe it had been a perfect storm, with all parties blinded to a certain extent by tunnel vision where the suspect was concerned. There were also some who turned a blind eye to the suggestive and persuasive interrogations that resulted in a second charge with another child at the daycare. The prosecutors at Greg’s trial did not appropriately question the second charge, which ultimately strengthened their first case against Mr. Kelley.”

In July, Showtime network aired a five-part documentary series about the trial, conviction, and exoneration of Greg Kelley.

Donna King was the Judge upon whom rested the immense, and unusual burden of getting, finally, to the truth.

KELLEY’S IMPACT

After Judge King made her findings, they had to be reviewed and decided upon by the Court of Criminal Appeals before Greg could be exonerated. The Court did

Photo by Donnie Boyd  SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

11

HABEUS CORPUS (release the body)

Convicted persons may file this writ to compel law enforcement to bring them to court to determine if they are being held legally.

Writs may be filed at any time. Because Greg Kelley waived his right to appeal, the writ sent to Judge King requested relief based on a foundation of Constitutional violations, and actual innocence.

not write an opinion on why they unanimously agreed with Judge King, but she suggests that their Order affirming her determination that Greg be declared “actually innocent” opens pathways for future defendants to seek relief as Greg did. She cautions that this type of relief claim is very narrow—it might apply to fewer than one in 100,000 cases. “Habeus corpus is very case-specific, and there will be people in the system who throw everything they can at a writ. If the court had filed an opinion with their ruling, essentially explaining why they ruled, it might open the door to many subjective interpretations. We must, however, always consider writs of this type because justice requires it.”

WEIGHTY RESPONSIBILITY “ P E O P L E S E E T H E M S E LV E S , O R T H E I R K I D S IN GREG. HE IS A T YPICAL, ALL-AMERICAN, B OY A N D I T M A K E S U S A L L R E A L I Z E I T C A N H A P P E N TO A N YO N E .”

Drilling down on a writ of this type, she says, a judge must determine if there is a legal issue; a Constitutional violation that needs further examination. “The judge ‘drives the train on the process.’ I have a toolbox of options allowed by the law and I can choose to just review the claims, or have a hearing to consider the claims fully.

Beyond the legal responsibilities of my office, I struggled personally to be certain that my decision was about truth; not allowing a guilty person back on the street because of a technicality. It was equally important not to send an innocent person back to prison for a crime not proven in the original trial.”

Although this kind of case is rare, Judge King says she had a feeling it would be coming to her even before she took her oath of office. The guilty verdict was rendered in July 2014 and she was appointed to the bench in October of that same year. She received the writ in early 12

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

2017 and studied it day and night, outside her regular docket, for nine months before making a determination of innocence. “As a trial lawyer and a judge, Greg’s case opened my eyes not only to the real possibility of justice not being served, but being completely and systemically denied from day one. None of the safety nets we take for granted worked for him, and for everything that went wrong in the first trial process, it took a monumental effort to fix it.”

THE JUSTICE COMMUNITY Having been a criminal attorney for 22 years prior, the Judge says this was the most challenging case of her career. While there is always great emotion and a sense of urgency with a child victim, she always had confidence in the system in which she worked. “This is a county where we all know each other; lawyers, prosecutors, police officers, and former judges; we are tight knit. It was a strange dynamic to perform an ‘autopsy’ on the system that came down to people I knew. It is even more astonishing when you consider how recently Michael Morton suffered the same injustice.”

Judge King says she felt great satisfaction when word came that her findings would stand, and Greg would be officially declared innocent. “It was a waiting game for nearly two years while the Court of Criminal Appeals made its determination. You would think I would have worried more over time, but the longer I was removed from it, the more comfort I felt. Originally, when I turned over my findings, I sort of went through a grieving process, because it was all very personal. It was traumatic upending a justice system and process that included colleagues whom I respected; I was shocked and disappointed by what I found when I was doing my job. But as time went on, I was able to put things in proper perspective and rejoice that the court reached the same conclusion. I was grateful we all had closure.” 

At the end, Greg was the only original player, but Judge King, District Attorney Shawn Dick, and Greg’s attorney Keith Hampton recognized that success was due to no one in particular. “It hit all of us what we had been a part of. I count my blessings to have been part of a process that was so important. Williamson County and our justice system are my home and, while we can’t change what happened, we have obligations to uphold the duties of our offices. The system works when everyone is committed to their best, and the roles they have; police, defense attorneys, prosecutors, jurors, and judges.”

HONEST HOMETOWN HEALTHCARE

WWW.CAREFIRSTCLINIC.COM Photo: GRK Foundation

12701 W. STATE HWY 29 | LIBERTY HILL, TX 78642 PH 512-548-5373

you

WWW.THEBLUEDOORGIFTSTORE.COM

FOR A LIMITED TIME

SHOP ONLINE & GET

FREE SHIPPING

HELPING FIND MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE

Custom Gift Baskets

And spread joy. We'll even gift-wrap it.

shop

WITH US MONDAY - SATURDAY 10-6PM 14365 W. SH 29 | LIBERTY HILL, TX | 512-548-6711

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

13

new normal

by Ann Marie Kennon

Video Call Etiquette

A

s much as we might appreciate “going to work” without pants, it looks like virtual meetings and workplaces might become the norm for many of us.

While it may have been fun to see our co-workers’ kitchens and dogs because we are all in this together, we’ve now had months to get over the novelty and casualness. It’s time to adapt to this new way of doing things.

The reality is, your professionalism still matters. It may be that your next job interview, or first day of work at your new job will be a conference call; what do you want your colleagues to think of you?

Following are some tips to remember (other than the obvious *don’t walk around in your boxers*) to up your video call game, or just maintain the respect and reputation you spent time building in person. Remember, looking good on video is the new dress code.

EYE LEVEL

Just because you are virtual doesn’t mean eye contact doesn’t matter. Plus, no one wants to look up your nose because you have your tablet in your lap. If you have a small device or laptop with built-in webcam, put a few books under it to raise the camera to your eye. If not built-in, get an adjustable webcam and mount on something at your eye level.

If you are on a computer, keep the videocall window high on the screen, so while you are watching people speak, your head is still pointed toward the camera. This will also encourage better posture, which makes a good impression in any circumstance.

LIGHTING

Having your back to a sunny window or an overhead light turns you into a silhouette. Avoid this by having windows or lights in front of you, even at a slight elevation. Having sufficient light on your face helps ensure all-important facial expressions and body language are clearly seen. Since we are likely to spend plenty of time on Mute, an occasional smile, nod, or raised hand to show agreement and validation will be easily noted by your fellow conferencees.

14

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

STAGING

The fewer distractions in your background the better.

Put yourself in your peers’ shoes and think about what impression it makes if you are showing open doors with kids walking back and forth, a wall of golf trophies, or animal heads behind you. Ask yourself, “Would this be appropriate on the wall in my work office?” (If you work at a day care, Academy, or hunting lodge, go for it!)

Ideally, boring may be the way to go. Do a quick review of your virtual presentation, or have an online meeting with a trusted person and ask, “What does this view say about me?”

STAY AWARE

When you’re at a conference table, it’s pretty obvious when people are looking at you. On your boxy video screen, you can’t really know if any (or all) of the participants are watching you in a given moment.

Try to drink or eat sparingly, resist the urge to fix your hair, or look at that thing you found in your ear. No need to be a robot, but try to time necessary fidgeting to a point when a speaker is being very engaging, and more likely to have everyone else’s attention.

Be extra vigilant when you have a need to share your screen. Once again, people just might be looking at your open documents at the bottom, or open browser tabs at the top. You don’t want people texting about you on the side because you were looking at FootFungusHacks.com or working on divorce.xlsx before the call.

Perhaps, after the meeting, call your boss on a phone and ask for feedback regarding the visual and spoken impression you make. Showing eagerness to adapt well to this new environment, as well as polishing your virtual presentation, may go a long way to a real world promotion.

by Charlotte Kovalchuk Photos courtesy of Operation Liberty Hill

EXPERIENCE LIBERTY HILL

Feeding and Clothing the Needy

S

Operation Liberty Hill Growing Closer Than Ever

usan Baker, executive director of Operation Liberty Hill, is thankful for the partnerships the center has with its many partners, despite a major volunteer reduction and program challenges. “We have always had a good network of social services; other pantries and organizations that provide assistance, but since COVID-19, those relationships have really gelled,” she says.

Through its thrift store and food pantry, Operation Liberty Hill provides food, clothing, household items, furniture, and financial assistance to those in need in Liberty Hill, Leander, Bertram, and Briggs. Most of those donations are courtesy of residents, the Central Texas Food Bank, and local grocers.

While the organization, which is a program of the Round Rock Area Serving Center, serves people who meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s poverty guidelines, anyone facing a crisis is welcome, even if they are not eligible for government programs. “If you’ve got a car repair or medical issue causing you to need extra help, we don’t turn anyone away,” Susan says.

During the last few months, the organization has worked more closely with Opportunities for Williamson & Burnet Counties to assist people who need help with rent, utilities, and medical costs. When the center needed more space for food, Opportunities went above and beyond by buying them a portable storage building. Community Pathways has also provided additional Panther Packs, which supplement the school free and reduced lunch program, for kids at home who are not able to participate in the school program. “We are coming together more as social service providers,” Susan says.

households, compared to 328 in July of 2020. Due to the increased need, people are now invited to visit the food pantry weekly, instead of once a month.

Despite a challenging year, they still plan to bless residents during the holidays with Angel Tree gifts for youth and Christmas dinner boxes for families.

L E N D A H A N D

This organization, which began in an 800-square foot house has grown to an 8,000-square foot facility. Today, Operation Liberty Hill is bursting at the seams and will begin seeking a land donation to build a bigger and better pantry and thrift store, Susan says.

The biggest complication from COVID-19 has been a major reduction of its volunteers, many of whom are seniors and/or have compromised immune systems. The organization is now down to about half of its usual 70 volunteers, but the opportunity is open to anyone able to serve even a few hours a week. In addition to the need for more volunteers, they are also happy to accept monetary and non-perishable food donations.

To learn about donating or volunteering, call 512-778-4175 or visit operationlh.org.

A NEW OPERATION

In mid-March, Operation Liberty Hill had to close its food pantry and thrift store for a few months, but adapted services with curbside and home delivery of food.

Both have since reopened at 1401 Hwy 183 N, Leander.

One thing that hasn’t changed in this ever-evolving health crisis is the generous food donations they have received from grocery stores. “God has continued to bless us with lots of food. We’ve never had a shortage,” Susan says. These extra donations are especially needed as the organization has seen aAlarge uptick incrowd clientele in recent pre-pandemic months. In June 2019, Operation Hill served 275 enjoying the DahliaLiberty Café ‘s backyard.

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

15

16

S E P T E M B E R 2020 ï‚« LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

SEPTEMBER 2020 ï‚« LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

17

WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”? part 3

GOT BRISKET? IF YOU FIND A TEXAS TOWN WITHOUT A BARBECUE PLACE, LOOK AROUND...

YOU MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY DRIVEN INTO NEW MEXICO

by Ann Marie Kennon

18

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

what makes texas “texas” C L A S S I C T E X A S B A R B E C U E I S A B E E F B R I S K E T, S AU S A G E , A N D R I B S . A “ V E G E TA B L E P L AT E ” I S T R A D I T I O N A L LY A P OTATO S A L A D, R AW W H I T E O N I O N S , A N D P I C K L E S . N OT Q U I T E W H AT M O S T P E O P L E W O U L D C A L L A H E A LT H Y V E G E TA B L E P L AT E , B U T T H I S I S H O W W E D O I T I N T E X A S . ~ L I Z A PA L M E R , N O W H E R E B U T H O M E

T

o understand the importance of grilling and barbecue in Texas, naturally, we consult a Harvard anthropologist. Dr. Richard Wrangham believes the combination of controlled fire and cooked meat had a great deal with do with a large leap in the evolution of the human brain. So it is plain to see why, 700,000 years later, “it’s bigger in Texas” also includes brains.

THE BASICS

First, it is important to know that not all food on a grill is “barbecue,” and just pouring a red, tangy sauce on it doesn’t make it so. Confuse the two and you risk losing your Texas membership card.

For barbecue, one piles coals or wood to the side or in the center, spreads the meat around the grill top, and closes the lid. Cooking meat in this way is a slow process, used for large cuts, and can take a half-day or longer.

Conversely, when you grill, you put the meat right over the fire (direct heat) for a quicker cooking time. This is appropriate for smaller cuts—burgers, steaks, and hot dogs.

In America, we generally recognize four major types of barbecue; Memphis, Kansas City, Carolina, and Texas.

Each uses a proprietary blend of meats, spices, fuel, and fixin’s. If people know nothing else about Texas, they know we have cows. So, what sets Texas BBQ apart begins with beef, and ends with wood-burning, and dry rubs.

P.S. - Don’t let anyone sell you “Oklahoma” barbecue; theirs is a mix of Texas style and things they gleaned from Kansas City and Memphis.

Early Texas restaurants cooked in dirt pits outside, and eventually built above-ground brick pits for indoor use.

If you want to watch some old school cooks at work, Smitty’s, in Lockhart, is a legendary spot that has been firing up the same indoor pit since 1948.

SOME HISTORY

Barbecue historian Dr. Howard L. Taylor believes the first big barbecue in Texas “was probably held on April 30, 1598, near San Elizario on the Rio Grande, about 30 miles Southeast of El Paso, TX.” Natives were present, and it was a traditional, religious, outdoor feast that included spit-roasted wild game and birds, and native vegetables, plus customary salted pork, hard biscuits, and red wine from Spain.

Over time, regional styles emerged that reflect the influences of the people who settled here. In Central Texas, Czech and German butchers smoked leftover meats to extend the time they could sell it, which the locals loved.

In the south, Mexican farmhands introduced centuries-old barbacoa—cow heads wrapped in damp leaves and cooked over hot coals—to their new Texas friends.

You can still give that a try at Vera’s in Brownsville; cheek meat is apparently great in tacos.

East Texas gives credit to African-Americans, who settled there after emancipation, for a saucy, chopped variety of cooked beef. Finally, West Texas barbecue is often called ‘cowboy barbecue’ because it is cooked over an open fire and grew out of convenience on cattle drives and trail blazing.

WHY IT MATTERS

Barbecue is not just a meal; it’s an event. If you’ve ever  argued with a Georgian about how they can eat Low Country Boil all day, or a Marylander about picking blue crabs for hours, you understand barbecue is as much about the activity as it is staving off hunger.

In Texas, taking a half-day or longer to cook the meal means there is plenty of time for family, tradition, or community celebration. Plus, while cooking methods and gear have improved over the years, recipes and techniques are still passed down (perhaps secretly) from one generation to the next, leaving plenty of room for personal pride.  SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

19

what makes texas “texas”

A TRUE BELIEVER

John Brotherton is the owner of Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville (one of the best known in Texas), and Liberty Barbecue in Round Rock. He is a self-proclaimed barbecue nerd—and a bona fide expert, traveling all over the state and the nation to eat Photo: Facebook/John Brotherton it. “I live and breathe it, and all my life revolves around it, so I put a lot of passion into what I do. People feel that when they walk in the door, and they can taste it in the food.”

John enjoys making traditional brisket for his customers, but has a twinkle in his eye about his ribs. “I’m from southeast Texas, so my flavors are a mix of what I grew up on. I have found that many people know what they like, but meat lovers are always ready to try something new. I guess if more Texans were that set in their ways, I wouldn’t sell much.”

IT’S NOT WHAT WE PUT IN OUR BARBECUE, IT’S WHAT WE DON’T PUT IN OUR BARBECUE THAT MAKES IT SO GOOD.

FROM THE FARMER WHO RAISED THE ANIMAL TO THE MANY HOURS WE SPEND CARING AND PREPARING EACH CUT OF MEAT, WE DON’T WANT TO MASK THE NATURAL FLAVORS OF THE MEAT AND SMOKE WE ALL WORKED SO HARD FOR.

I T ’ S N OT J U S T A B O U T T H E F O O D — I T ’ S T H E PA C K A G E .

B A R B E C U E I S FA M I LY, A W E LCO M I N G P L A C E , A N D P O S I T I V E E N E R G Y. . . I T ’ S T E X A S O N A P L AT E .

John is also a quintessential Texan when it comes to his love of barbecue culture; “Barbecue is a food that brings people together. It’s something you enjoy with family and friends. Growing up, we had backyard grills and families that gathered around them. It is about nostalgia, which takes us back to our parents, grandparents, and good memories. And really, no one ‘gets together’ for a salad.”

~PITMASTER EDGAR BLACK, JR. 1925-2017

WHEN YOU GO

Texas is a big state, but rest easy knowing there’s always a great barbecue joint close by. Texas leads the nation in total numbers, and is second place for per capita—one restaurant for every 12,000 residents.

First-place-per-capita Alabama has 5 million residents to our 29 million, so our nearly 2,500 locations are still something to brag about. It also appears that, even in downturns or pandemic years, barbecue joints continue to thrive, even outside of Texas. The biggest barbecue chain in the country is Dallas-based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, maintaining more than 500 locations nationwide.

Still, while other regions generously slop sauce over meats while they cook, and argue among themselves about vinegar vs. mustard base, the only things you will find in nearly all Texas brisket are beef, oak smoke, and a little salt and pepper. Many restaurants and take-outs do not serve sauce at all. At Smitty’s, you have to ask for it, and at the nearby Kreuz Market, the signs explain it to tourists (and perhaps new Texans): “No barbecue sauce, no forks, no kidding.”

Add patience to wait up to 18 hours... and dig in.

20

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

HIS FATHER, EDGAR BLACK SR. STARTED BLACK’S BARBECUE IN 1932 PHOTO: FACEBOOK, BLACK’S BBQ

SEPTEMBER 2020 ï‚« LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

21

WORTH THE DRIVE

Story and Photos by Charlotte Kovalchuk

Simple Sparrow: Learn + Grow + Heal SIMPLE SPARROW CARE FARM • 1601 COUNTY ROAD 107, HUTTO 512-677-9102 • WWW.SIMPLESPARROW.FARM • PRIVATE VISITS START AT $45 Jamie Tanner chats with Dash, left, and Lindt.

Care Farm Provides Healing through Animals, Nature

A

t Simple Sparrow Care Farm, visitors get to enjoy feeding chickens and petting goats amid beautiful scenery. But, this nonprofit organization provides more than just a wonderful taste of farm life.

Simple Sparrow collaborates with schools, businesses, therapists, and other nonprofits to provide therapeutic farm education for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. “Our mission is to learn, grow, and heal, and we believe when people are equipped to take care of all living things—the animals and the land—they are better equipped to take care of themselves and other people,” says Jamie Tanner, founder and president of Simple Sparrow.

The farm also offers private tours to the public, in which groups and individuals can interact with 60 22

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

animals; chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, and pigs. But don’t miss their adorable and gentle mini horse, or the much different Jacopo; a grumpy but protective llama that guards the goats.

In a stressful world, Simple Sparrow is an oasis —one simply cannot be stressed while cuddling a chick, petting a friendly goat or feeding a chicken out of the palm of your hand.

HOW IT BEGAN When Jamie and her husband Eric bought the farm in 2013, it was simply so Jamie could give her children the same experience she had growing up on a farm as a child. After years of hosting friends and family for events and meals, it became clear that

Little Red enjoys breakfast from Jamie Tanner’s hand.

The farm is especially needed during COVID-19, she adds, because it’s a safe place for many people who live in abusive homes and have no place to go right now.

FALL FUN

Jamie Tanner cuddles with Lindt while Jacopo, goat herd guard, keeps watch.

Starting this month, Simple Sparrow will offer a new three-hour care program in addition to the one-hour visit. Both programs allow visitors to connect with nature in a meaningful and fun way. The one-hour tour allows visitors to explore the farm and interact with animals. During the three-hour visit, you can meet the animals, explore the farm, then participate in an art project led by local artists.

There is also a gardening project that includes seeds to take home or plant on the farm, or both. Jamie hopes visitors will leave with an understanding of how to leave an environmentally friendly footprint, and understand we are here not only for our own healing, but also for the healing of others.

others benefited from farm life, too. “We realized animals and nature can be healing,” she says.

Jamie began bringing animals to local schools to talk about compassion, care, and self-awareness.

She also invited therapists and their clients who benefited from farm therapy to the farm. The community responded with overwhelming support and Simple Sparrow Care Farm became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2017.

Today, everyone from at-risk youth and sex trafficking survivors to domestic violence victims and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder receive help at Simple Sparrow. “Anybody who’s misunderstood and marginalized, anybody who’s cast aside and overlooked, that’s where my heart is,” Jamie says.

WHEN YOU GO In the Texas heat, the best time to visit Simple Sparrow is in the morning. Fall and spring are particularly lovely seasons at the farm. After a 20-minute drive from Georgetown, guests will receive a warm welcome at the gate by staff, followed by directions to park on the driveway or the grass.

View the program schedule, directions, and register at SimpleSparrow.farm for a one-hour visit, which costs $45 per person, or the three-hour visit, $350 for groups up to 12 people. Visitors are welcome to bring snacks and drinks. Masks are required for compliance, and handwashing stations are available.

For more information, call 512-677-9102.

S I M P L E S PA R R O W A CC E P T S M O N E TA R Y, F E E D, A N D S U P P LY D O N AT I O N S AT S I M P L E S PA R R O W. FA R M / D O N AT E T H E Y A L S O W E LCO M E V O LU N T E E R S • E M A I L M E L I S S A @ S I M P L E S PA R R O W. FA R M SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

23

save the planet

by Greta Bauer

Backyard Two-for-One

C

onservation takes many forms. This month we are going to tackle food waste and wild birds. One of the easiest ways to enjoy wildlife without leaving home is to watch birds in your yard or at a feeder. Unlike many parts of the country, Texas does not have a hard-pack freeze in the winter, but our feathered friends can still use a leg up in the cooler months.

Offering scraps as food for birds is a great way to save money on birdseed by using food that might otherwise be thrown away. Less is wasted and the birds enjoy a greater variety of treats that may keep them coming back to your feeders.

This kind of supplemental feeding certainly helps individual birds in your neighborhood, and the general rule is: do not feed when it might cause harm. Like humans, just because they like to eat something doesn’t mean it is good for them.

Common yard birds in Texas include bluejays, cardinals, finches, robins, sparrows, doves, and grackles.

Depending on your specific homestead, you may even have an owl or two, hawks, or turkey buzzards.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Instead of throwing in the trash or compost, these items will appeal to most Central Texas yard birds.

Apples: Slice and remove the seeds.

Bananas: Remove the peel and cut in half lengthwise.

Cooked pasta and rice: A favorite of bluejays and woodpeckers. Serve plain, and chop pasta into little bites to make it easier to eat.

Eggshells: Bake clean shells at 250 degrees for 15 minutes. Crush and set out in a dish, or mix in birdseed. They provide calcium for egg laying Melon, pumpkin and squash seeds: Roast in the oven first and scatter.

Peanut butter: This is a nearly-universal favorite. Drop a dollop in a dried-out orange half, or spread over a pinecone.

Raisins: Soak in warm water so they’re soft and easier for birds to bite.

24

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

DIY SUET

Suet is affordable and great in the fall and winter when birds need more calories to maintain body heat and energy levels. Suet is animal fat that has been rendered to form hard cakes, balls, or other shapes. You can use bacon and pork meat drippings, which are soft but is still suitable for the birds as a rare treat. But, do not feed bacon drippings exclusively; some compounds and high salt content from that type of fried fat could be harmful long-term.

Strain the fat several times to remove any particles or contaminants. Pour into molds or containers to cool.

Cakes can be chopped or cut for direct feeding, or pressed into containers to fit your feeders. It may also be frozen for several weeks.

Add simple ingredients to make it more appetizing to a wider range of birds; chunky peanut butter, cornmeal, and white or wheat flour. If using peanut butter, melt it with the suet for better blending.

Popular ingredients to customize a suet recipe include favorites listed here, but you can also add chopped, unsalted nuts (especially peanuts); or insects, such as dried mealworms, flies, or crickets.

Enjoy an im-peck-able view!

belle chimes in

The Suburbs Mouse I

n a time in which we are all struggling with divisiveness, I have used some of the time I might have spent watching the news, or doomscrolling, to look at some psychology. One of the things I came up with has to do simply with density. There are many differences between urban and rural lifestyles that explain, in an often obvious way, why people vote/ protest/meme the way they do. It’s interesting how the suburbs generally wobble between them.

Here’s a difference between city and country mice. People who live in dense places tend to have a lot more government, and appreciate it more than they do in rural places, because they kinda need it. In the less dense areas, people are left much more to their own devices; there’s less government, which is spread more thinly, and it’s a lot less disruptive. Country Mice don’t need government as much because they desire and appreciate a self-sustaining lifestyle (so... Texas).

It’s really about rules. In 1900 Texas, there was enough room for every citizen to own 6.4 acres.

Without accounting for livestock, there wasn’t much call for rules other than “Don’t come on my land uninvited.” No need for encyclopedic lawbooks because, as long as you follow that simple rule, there’s no trouble.

But, it’s as true in Texas as it is everywhere else, the larger and more dense a place becomes, the more law and enforcement is required to keep the peace. Let’s posit that 5 percent of the population don’t follow the rules. In a town of 5,000, that’s 250 troublemakers that a handful of rules and lawmen can handle. In a city with 1 million people, that’s 50,000 problems, necessitating all kinds of justice that has to apply to all 1 million people.

A simple example, out there in a rural area, when you drive into town and see cousin Virgil, you pull into the turn lane and idle for a while to chat him up about the upcoming church social, without causing much problem. Or pull over right where you are, to park and head into the diner for a bit. No one

needs to complain because you’re not blocking traffic, and, if the town is small enough, everyone knows it’s your truck so they’ll come find you if they want you to move it.

Maybe Officer Fife comes by and sees your truck sticking out too far in the road, but he knows everyone in town, is aware of your heart condition, and he doesn’t mind if you park close. He might look for you to make sure you’re doing okay, or just tell you to stop being a knucklehead and straighten out your truck. But that will likely be all. Nobody will be mad and you may not even get a ticket.

But then there’s cities. If you haven’t checked the hours on the signs, or the colors of the curbs, or the reserved spaces... and you’re wrong... your car will be booted or towed in minutes, and you’ll be facing huge fines. Plus, if you get mouthy about it with an officer, who had to do this 26 times today already, you might be in for a ride to the city hotel.

Why? Because in a big city, parking your car in the middle of the street does cause a traffic problem, truly inconveniences a lot of people, makes them late for their job in adjacent high rise, and really does cause a public safety issue. Everyone is angry because, in a city with a million people, what are the odds that something like that doesn’t happen every. single. day. But, still entirely untrue in our hypothetical Mayberry.

Being a Suburb Mouse lies somewhere between.

We live here because we don’t like traffic, high prices, and literally rubbing shoulders with strangers all day. But we’re also not quite ready to kill and skin our own dinner every night. Yes, I’m being hyperbolic, but with all the looming arguments about the importance of the electoral college, I think it’s important to recognize why all those blue blobs on the map are nearly always in places with beltways and skylines.

Just puttin’ on a little understanding is all. Y’all come back now...

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

25

food

Seasonal September APPLE CIDER CHICKEN • 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil - divided

SEASONAL FOODS ARE BETTER FOR OUR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT Following their natural life cycle, fruits and vegetables not only have more nutrients and active substances, you get extra bonuses —more intense taste and aroma.

• 1-1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs - (about 8, depending on size) • 1 tsp kosher salt - divided • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper - divided • 1/2 cup fresh apple cider • 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 3 med firm, sweet apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices • 2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium high.

Sprinkle top of chicken evenly with 1/2 tsp kosher salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add chicken to the pan, top-side down. Cook 4 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until the meat is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 160°; 3 to 4 additional minutes.

Remove to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

FIGS GRAPES PEARS ELDERBERRIES BEANS PRICKLY PEARS APPLES CHERRIES

In small bowl or large measuring cup, mix apple cider and mustard. With a paper towel, carefully wipe the skillet clean.

Add remaining 2 tsp oil to the pan over medium high. Once the oil is hot, add apple slices, remaining salt, pepper, and rosemary.

Cook 5 minutes, until the apples are lightly tender and begin to turn golden.

Return chicken to the pan and pour cider mixture over the top. Let cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by half.

Serve warm, sprinkled with additional chopped rosemary as desired.

This recipe is best enjoyed the day it is made, but can last 1 to 2 days in the fridge. Reheat leftovers gently in microwave or on stovetop with a bit of chicken broth to keep chicken from drying out. You can swap chicken breasts for the thighs; be sure to watch cooking time to ensure internal temperature on larger cuts.

DATES MUSHROOMS

26

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

fo o d WILD RICE WITH ROASTED GRAPES Gra pe s a re high in A a n d B1, co nt a in vit a m in B 3 a n d C , a n d h ave a l o t o f mine ra l sa lts. Th ey h elp d etoxify a n d m in era li ze th e bo d y a n d ta c k l e a n e mi a .

B y chewing a gra p e wit h it s seed s yo u will b en e f i t o f th e e f fe c ts o f a n atu ra l a nticho le sterol. O r, j u st wh ip u p t h is p er fec t Fa l l s i d e d i s h .

• 1 cup wild rice, cooked according to package directions • 2 cups red seedless grapes

• 1 shallot, thinly sliced

• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted

• 1 tbsp + 2 tsp olive oil, divided

• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, chopped

DRAGONS? “Michaelmas,” September 29, is a Christian festival of angels.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Michael was the archangel who

Toss the grapes and shallot with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Transfer to a baking sheet that’s been sprayed with oil or lined with parchment paper and roast for about 20 minutes, or until the grapes are softened, but not burst.

threw Lucifer, often represented as a dragon, out of heaven.

Because it falls near the equinox, this celebration is

Transfer grapes and shallot to a large bowl. Add rice, walnuts, remaining oil, vinegar, and sage; gently toss, careful not to smash grapes. Salt & pepper to taste.

MICHAELMAS DRAGONBREAD • 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

• 3 3/4 cups flour

• 3/4 cup warm water

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 cup sugar

associated with the beginning of Autumn and the shortening of days.

Michael the Archangel is not only a dragonslayer, he is also the patron saint of police officers, and military personnel, he also favors

DIRECTIONS

children, grocers, mariners, and

Mix together the yeast and warm water and allow it to rest.

In another bowl, mix eggs, oil, salt, and sugar. Add flour; then yeast and water mixture, mix until blended. Knead dough on a floured surface until firm and smooth.

paratroopers.

Plenty of reasons to bake some bread!

Round into a bowl coated in a little oil. Turn the ball over once to coat both sides of dough with oil, then let rise in a warm place until it doubles in size.

Place dough on a greased cookie sheet and shape into a dragon. Use scissors to cut legs, a mouth, scales, etc.

Poke in almonds for teeth, or dried fruits for spikes.

Cover and let rise again for about 30 minutes.

Bake at 350° until done.

Devour with righteousness!

SEPTEMBER 2020  LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

27

parting shot

“Victories” Over Stress

A

few months ago, when going to a grocery store was a major undertaking, only to find empty shelves, many people took steps to take back some control. Georgetown, like many other towns around, has seen a proliferation of new “victory” chicken coops and gardens. And why not—backyard chickens eat your pests and make breakfast.

While not a common name any more, victory gardens are an old idea. During World War I, Americans were encouraged to sow on whatever land (or dirt) they had available to prevent food insecurity. Even city dwellers built window boxes or potting racks to add fresh things to their diets. Victory gardens not only provide food, but also allow gardeners to feel in control of something in an anxious time.

28

S E P T E M B E R 2020  LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T

The experts agree. Nate Kleinman of the Experimental Farm Network says, “The ability to grow your own crops can alleviate stress and anxiety.” For a little local proof, Whittlesey Landscape’s Clayton Shepherd reports that March and April were the biggest months they’ve had since they opened. “I think there were a lot of wives telling husbands if they weren’t gong to work, there was a honey-do list to get started on.”

Above, Tyler is just 3 years old, but he helped his parents build a new chicken coop on the family farm, and is already learning how to nurture the earth to help with that additional sense of security.

Plus—at any age—it’s really fun to play in the dirt or spray with the hose.

Photos courtesy of Evelyn McLean

SEPTEMBER 2020 ï‚« LIBERTY HILL DIGEST

3

A Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC P.O. Box 213, Jarrell.

TX,Publication 76537

Digest

ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON LIBERTY HILL, TX