Texas Hill Country Culture Dec 2017

LIVING

THE

BEAUTIFUL

LIFE

DECEMBER 2017

Deck the halls CHRISTMAS DECOR POINTERS

Taking in a show THEATER PERFORMANCES TO GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Christmas time in the hills

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Hill Country CULTURE 1

12

Contents 53

24

Features

Departments

24 TRADITIONS

8 UNCORKED

Pipe Creek Christmas

Tree Farm, Christmas Corner

4.0 Cellars

12

GOOD TASTE

62 HILL COUNTRY

31

EDITOR’S PICKS

Christmas gift guide

Mac and Ernie’s Roadside Eatery

17

THE ARTS

Local theaters break out holiday shows

Your Home in the Hill Country

21 HILL COUNTRY

42

HOME SHOWCASE

Castle Pines home offers scenic looks

Johnson City offers sights to see

53

CHRISTMAS DECOR

36

HEALTHY LIVING

Going above and beyond this year

Controlling holiday stress

SCENE

2 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

60 WHEELS Raymond Holloway MADE

Gems of the Hill Country

64

GET TO KNOW

Kathleen Hudson

66 HERITAGE ON THE COVER

Gifting museums this season

68

OUT & ABOUT

Hilton Bock saw his mommy, Tara Bock, kissing Santa Claus, Todd Bock.

Baubles & Beads

Photo by Tom Holden

70 EVENTS

December calendar

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Hill Country CULTURE 3

December 2017 - Volume 2 - Issue 12

Autumn Bernhard Magazine Editor

Neice Bell Publisher

Lisa Treiber-Walter Managing Editor

Chelsea M.K. Stack Special Sections Editor

Dean Heep Composing Manager

Tom Holden Photo Editor

Writers Jacob Karre Nancy Foster

Photographers Dale Bargmann Brad Hodges John Mooring Alexandria Randolph

Jennifer McCullough Advertising Director

Account Executives John Doran Jeff Herring Luly Miller Tom Lanza

For advertising inquiries: ads@dailytimes.com

For editorial inquiries and story ideas: autumn.bernhard@dailytimes.com

The Kerrville Daily Times 429 Jefferson St., Kerrville, Texas 78028 www.dailytimes.com | Phone: 830-896-7000 | Fax: 830-896-1150

952 Jefferson St. Kerrville, Texas 78028 (830) 896-3727 kerrvilleinsurance.com 4 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Copyright: Hill Country Culture is published by The Kerrville Daily Times under Southern Newspapers Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

CONTRIBUTORS John and Carol Aceti After encouragement from Dick Holmberg, owner of Singing Water Vineyards, John wrote “Wineries of the Texas Hill Country Plus One Fine Brewery” in December 2016. After visiting 30 wineries in the Hill Country, he is convinced that the area has plenty to offer wine connoisseurs and casual wine enthusiasts.

Michael Bowlin Kerr County native Michael Bowlin is a former staff writer for The Kerrville Daily Times.

His most popular articles were on the rich history of Kerr County and the surrounding area. He also served as the editor of the KDT’s Hill Country Magazine and TV Guide. He continues to promote, preserve and protect this county’s history as a member of the Kerr County Historical Commission, serving as vice chairman.

Dana Cardwell Dana Cardwell is a licensed professional counselor, licensed drug and alcohol counselor and yoga instructor. She uses mindfulness based stress relief in her therapy sessions with adults, teens and children.

Jeff Cunningham Jeff Cunningham has worked at Kerrville-area theaters for more than 20 years. Currently, he serves as the director of university theater at Schreiner University and as a theater associate at the Point Theatre.

John and Polly Holmes John and Polly Holmes are longtime gearheads. They have written for automotive publications for more than 40 years. Now they’re going to bring some interesting stories about things with wheels in the Hill Country. Their perspective comes from years of racing, restoring classics and participating in car club activities.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 5

EDITOR’S LETTER Hello readers, If you’re like me, this time of year makes you think of one thing: presents — both the art of wrapping them and the “maybe-not-so-artful” way of unwrapping them on Christmas morning. After Thanksgiving, there seems to be a shift from remembering everything you’re thankful for to everything you want to see under the tree. Although it might seem like a logical shift, I think it discredits the holiday season.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m guilty of it, but this year, I am working to actually enjoy the season for what it is — a time to be with family and friends and simply being merry with one another.

Now that I’m back in the Hill Country, I plan on taking in all things Christmas. From attending the Light the Night Christmas Parade in Fredericksburg to the living nativity in Bandera to A Night in Whoville in Kerrville to walking through the Lights Spectacular in Johnson City, I will be there in my Santa hat, and I hope to see you there.

Best wishes and Merry Christmas!

Autumn Bernhard Magazine Editor

autumn.bernhard@dailytimes.com

We live in an area like none other, and the month of December clearly shows it. We have a Christmas tree farm in Pipe Creek, holiday shows at local theaters, Christmas parades, lighting ceremonies, festivals and overall just a good jolly spirit about us.

Growing up in Fredericksburg, I never thought about how spectacular a Hill Country Christmas really is. I always enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights strung at Marktplatz and down Main Street, but I never really appreciated it all until I went to college. Although it is only a short drive to Texas State University in San Marcos, it was plain to see that Christmastime was different there.

Special thanks Texas Hill Country Culture would like to thank the Bock family for agreeing to be on our cover and being such good sports for the photo shoot.

We’d also like to thank the Point Theatre for letting us borrow a Santa Claus costume for the cover.

Also, we extend our gratitude to Hometown Crafts for allowing us to use props for our Editor’s picks Christmas gift guide.

6 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

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Hill Country CULTURE 7

A group effort

Three wineries come together at 4.0 Cellars

By John and Carol Aceti

H

igh school and college students work hard for a 4.0 grade point average as a stepping stone to a productive future.

4.0 Cellars thinks that a 4.0 is the same stepping stone for a winery.

Three Texas wineries came together — Brennan Vineyards in Comanche, Lost Oak Winery in Burleson and McPherson Cellars in Lubbock —

and named themselves 4.0 to reflect their common goal of striving for perfection.

The three small family wine producers had known each other for years, shared ideas and even sold grapes to each other, at times.

One day, the friends sat sipping and opined that each separately breaking into the Hill Country wine scene would be great but expensive.

Together, however, it could be done.

They started planning in 2010 and

8 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

opened 4.0 Cellars in 2012.

Located on the famous Wine Road Trail on U.S. 290, east of Fredericksburg, there is a nononsense modern showroom built of wood, steel and glass for tasting on days that are too hot or cold. For power relaxing, there are rocking chairs in front of the building.

An outdoor covered patio, wine bar and music is the preferred choice of Comfort residents Kjell and Jacqueline Stensrud. They come

UNCORKED

for the music and an inexpensive afternoon of wine tasting.

Photos courtesy of 4.0 Cellars

A featured wine contributed by McPherson Cellars is Les Copains Red 2015, which offers aromas of wild strawberry and herbal spice. Owner Dr. Clinton McPherson has been a leader in Texas wine growing for 40 years. He and his son, Kim, were inducted into the Who’s Who in Food and Wine in the Texas Hall of Fame in 1999.

Rain Dance Red 2015 strikes the DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 9

UNCORKED

palate with earthy and tobacco notes with toasty oak and is offered by Lost Oak Winery. Gene Estes, owner of Lost Oak Winery, produced his first real wine in 1999 from estate-grown vinifera grapes.

Pat and Trellise Brennan, owners of Brennan Vineyards, first planted grapes in 2002 and feature Tempranillo 2015 with aromas of cherries and bramble berries.

Colorful plates of appetite-tempting foods also can bring out the bold flavors of your wine. Since combining wine and cheese is practically a food group, add some fruit and a few crackers and the nutritional needs for the day could be met.

4.0 Cellars

10354 Highway 290, Fredericksburg 830-997-7470 fourpointwine.com

10 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Photos courtesy of 4.0 Cellars

The cheeses available are the product of Veldhuizen Family Farm in Dublin. Milk from Jersey cows is handcrafted into fine cheeses in “The Cave,� where the cheese is aged up to three years. It is produced without hormones, chemicals or pesticides.

Of the 10 cheeses they offer, Redneck Cheddar is tangy, soaked in stout, dark beer and is of medium sharpness.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 11

Mac and Ernie’s Roadside Eatery Where you can find burgers by day, gourmet meals by night

The Mac-Dude, lunch special

Story by Jacob Karre Photos by Tom Holden

M

ac and Ernie’s Roadside Eatery didn’t earn its name by “playing it close to the vest.” In fact, Mac and Ernie’s boldly throws zest and zing into all of its dishes by adding what owner and cook Naylene Dillingham calls “fun.”

Mac and Ernie’s Roadside Eatery offers its guests a variety of options for lunch and dinner. The lunch menu includes burgers, fried catfish, sausage wraps and owner Naylene Dillingham’s favorite, her cabrito burger. The dinner menu includes lamb chops, pork tenderloin kebabs, salmon, quail, ribeye steaks and grilled chicken.

The fame

The food

The Hill Country eatery’s delicious food has even garnered the attention of TV hosts from the Food Network, such as Guy Fieri.

The food is unconventional, but as a restaurant tucked in the hills of Tarpley and miles from the nearest town, it has to be unique in order to draw out its customers — which it has no problem doing, even on cold, rainy days.

Dillingham was candid, saying she didn’t even know what the Food Network was and second guessed the network, asking Fieri, who even watches the Food Network?

That was the scene of its grand opening day 18 years ago, when it made $300 in sales, said Dillingham. Despite the cold, rain and the size of their income, she said she knew it was what she had been looking for.

Mac and Ernie’s meals aren’t served on ceramic plates, nor does she hand out metal utensils.

“I call it gourmet on paper plates with plastic knives and forks,” she said proudly.

12 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

But she said the taping of the show “still pays dividends” to this day. She can tell whenever the episode has a rerun, because the restaurant will automatically see an influx of hungry customers, who will brave any kind of weather to line outside the front door before the establishment opens.

“We’ve been really fortunate,” she said. The distance from any large town could deter anyone from making the trek out to get a bite to eat, but that doesn’t seem to stop them.

GOOD TASTE Ancho chili honey basted quail

The resturant’s famous cabrito burger

Chicken burger

Fried catfish basket DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 13

GOOD TASTE

Naylene Dillingham has a very hands-on approach to running Mac and Ernie’s Roadside Eatery in Tarpley. She will take your order, head back to the grill and prepare the food and hand-deliver it to the table. Brandon Wright has been working with Dillingham on and off over the past few years. Together, they create a friendly environment that keeps customers coming back year after year.

The drive out is as much as a treat as the food itself — wandering through the vibrant evergreen cedars between rolling hills with no destination in sight.

The journey Despite harnessing the power of well-prepared food, Dillingham isn’t a conventional cook — she’s not a trained chef.

“I got a degree in international studies, then I found out I didn’t want to have a regular job,” she said.

She job hopped around the Hill Country and San Antonio, tending bars and cooking whenever she was given the chance.

She worked at the Grey Moss Inn Restaurant in Helotes, a regimented, work environment that quickly whipped her into shape, she said. Then she found her way to the Liberty Bar in San Antonio where she was granted the freedom to be creative in the kitchen.

“I worked under people [who] allowed me to learn,” she said.

That free spirit in work has translated into Mac and Ernie’s, she said.

“Here, we like to have fun and have a good ol’ time. If you can’t do that, then what’s the point of working?” she asked.

14 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

The attitude Dillingham’s attitude toward cooking is another aspect to the food prepared at the roadside eatery.

“I like to cook what I want, when I want,” she added, a motto that she’s lived by since starting the business 18 years ago.

“Our attitude about food keeps people coming back,” she said. “We do what we want to do, but we also treat people right.”

She added that treating customers with respect was vital to the business’ success — that paired with the fact she’s in the kitchen, feeling the warmth of a hot stove every day, says a lot about the quality of food she serves, she said.

Every meal is cooked to order and hand delivered to each customer, whether they’re inside the eclectic space or sitting outside underneath a grove of trees.

“You don’t see that very much,” Dillingham said.

“You don’t see the owner cooking the food.”

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THE ARTS

A special time of year

Local theaters staging holiday shows

By Jeff Cunningham

E

very autumn there are signs that remind us of the coming holiday season. Whether it’s the oft-maligned pumpkin spice flavor everywhere or the Christmas decorations that are out before Halloween, a change is in the air. In our house, that magic moment happens sometime between the first Tivy High School home football game and the first morning the kids can’t leave the house without jackets on. Everyone has their favorite harbingers of Jack Frost and the ensuing yuletide time of year.

Top photo courtesy Quenedit Dance Theater; bottom photo courtesy Point Theatre

For theater people, on both sides of the curtain, there are two traditional shows with titles as much a part of the Christmas season as mistletoe and hot chocolate: “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker.”

When we see the sore face of Ebenezer Scrooge staring menacingly back at us from the posters in the Mini Mart windows or we hear Tchaikovsky’s familiar notes — which inspired Clara to dance with her toy soldier — we know that a special time in the theater season has begun.

Many people have strong memories tied to these two shows. Point Theatre Director Sarah Derousseau once told me that one of her earliest theater memories was watching the Ghost of Christmas Present float out on a cloud of fog to threaten a terrified Scrooge.

“I was five years old, and this fog rolled into our laps. He seemed like a giant to me. It was so exciting, that memory stayed with me the rest of my life,” she said. She would audition for a role in “A Christmas

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 17

THE ARTS Carol” years later in college and getting that role helped start her on the professional path she’s on today.

Countless young girls in our community have dreamt of being Clara and dancing with the Nutcracker Prince after seeing companies, such as the San Diego and Saint Petersburg Ballets, dancing on the Kathleen C. Cailloux City Center for the Performing Arts’ stage.

Generations of ballet goers share wonderful family memories in darkened theaters, watching the holiday magic unfurl on stage. For anyone in the Texas Hill Country whose Christmas experience isn’t complete without seeing one of these timeless and traditional shows, you are in luck.

Once again, the Point Theatre is bringing Scrooge and his Christmas spirits to the stage with “A Dickens Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts.” This version tells the story of an acting troupe who’s past its prime, suffering with dueling divas and an ancient set about to fall apart.

The show opens at the Hill Country Arts Foundation’s Huth-Coates Indoor Theatre on Friday, Nov. 17, and runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for three weeks with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Nov. 26.

Likewise, Playhouse 2000’s Cailloux Theater is hosting the Quenedit Dance Theatre of San Antonio and its award-winning production of “The Nutcracker,” which performs for one night only at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15. This amazing San Antonio dance company helped Playhouse 2000 ensure reasonable ticket prices for a target audience of families.

Both shows guarantee to be entertaining and uplifting. Build memories and support your community this holiday season by seeing these treasured shows.

Holiday performance schedule Cailloux Theater Hill Country Youth Orchestra’s Winter Concert — 3 p.m. Dec. 3 Symphony of the Hills’ Gloria: Celestial Holiday Music — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 Asleep at the Wheel’s Merry Texas Christmas, Y’all — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 caillouxtheater.com

“A Spell of Cold Weather” by Spare Oom Children’s Theater — 2 p.m. Dec. 9-17 at Huth Coates indoor stage hcaf.com Fredericksburg Theater Company “The Grinch Tapped into Christmas” and “The Nutcracker” — 7:30 p.m. Nov.30-Dec. 2 and 2 p.m.

Dec. 3 “Dena and Carey Dyer’s Happily Ever Laughter” — Dec. 8-10 “The English Brothers’ Cowboy Christmas” — Dec. 15-17 fredericksburgtheatre.org 18 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Top photo by Tom Holden; bottom photo courtesty Cailloux Theater

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Hill Country CULTURE 21

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Christmas in the hills

Nothing says Christmas like a fresh pine tree in the living room decked out in ornaments.

Photo by Autumn Bernhard

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 23

TRADITIONS

24 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Creating lasting memories Christmas tree farm allows for family fun in Pipe Creek Story and photos by Autumn Bernhard

I

f you don’t think of the Texas Hill Country as a place to get an authentic Christmas tree, then you aren’t one of the hundreds of families that make the annual trip to Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm.

What started as a hobby for Jim Hingst in 1991 has become a Christmas must for many families.

“We see a lot of the same people every year,” said Doug Hingst, Jim’s son and co-owner of the farm. “It’s a tradition for families. A lot of people that come out here came as kids, and now they are bringing their own children. Parents will come and meet their kids here as they are growing up.”

According to Doug, that’s what the farm is all about: creating memories for visitors.

Christmas tree farms are not a common sight in Texas, which is one of the reasons Doug believes visitors typically come from a distance.

The place where people think of Christmas tree farms is North Carolina, Michigan, Oregon and Washington, Doug said.

“Here, the experience of cutting your own tree is not common,” Doug said. “We are basically giving kids and families that experience. When people leave, they thank us for being here.”

The season That experience can be done as early as the Monday before DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 25

TRADITIONS the movie Braveheart with everyone rushing in trying to get the best tree,” Doug said.

When a family arrives at the park, they are given a PVC pole to measure the height and a saw to cut the tree down.

“As families come in, we say, ‘Here’s a pole, a saw and a field, have at it,’” Doug said.

The average sellers are 7 to 8 feet, and the farm sells about three Afghan pines to every one Leyland cypress, Doug said.

“People come out in the field and they want the biggest tree they can find,” Doug said.

Once the perfect tree is found, the tree is cut down and loaded onto the hayride or brought up to the gate by hand.

Thanksgiving, when the farm opens for the Christmas season.

“We used to always open up the day after Thanksgiving, but a lot of people now want trees before Thanksgiving,” Doug said. “But we really get busy the day after and that weekend.”

According to Doug, by the third weekend after Thanksgiving, the farm has typically sold 1,800 trees from the field, marking the end of the season.

“That’s when we shut it down to let the other trees grow,” Doug said.

“This whole place looks chopped down. You look and think, ‘There won’t be anything for next year.’ And if Christmas came every 10 months, it wouldn’t be enough time. But by 12 months, everything gets its growth back, and you have another 1,500 trees ready to cut. It’s pretty amazing.”

Selection The farm grows two types of trees on seven acres — Leyland cypress and Afghan pines. A total of 6,000 trees in the field actually make the shape of a large Christmas tree.

Everywhere someone cuts a tree down, Doug will plant a new tree in March.

The Leylands are cleaner trees with no needles and are better for people with allergies. The pines have soft needles with strong branches and are not as dense as the Leyland cypresses.

Some of the farm’s trees are in pots, which allows them to be used for two purposes.

“People take them as Christmas trees, decorate them and then plant them outside after Christmas,” Doug said.

The farm has Arizona cypress trees sprinkled throughout the field.

The farm also brings in about 500 pre-cut Fraser fir trees from North Carolina. The trees range in height from 3 to 14 feet, Doug said.

“When they get them, they are taken off the truck, the trunks are cut, and they are stored in water in the shade,” he said. “They are in good shape. We pride ourselves on the fact that we take care of them. People come from all over Texas to get them.”

It is then put on a machine that shakes the loose needles from the tree and wraps the tree in netting. The farm provides cords to tie the tree to a vehicle, and attendants will help tie the tree to the vehicle.

“People can come out in cars, trucks or anything,” Doug said. “We’ve had people come out in Smart Cars and drive off with a 10-foot tree on top.”

Pricing Any tree in the field is $7.50 a foot and there is a 4-foot minimum. There is no entrance fee.

The trees brought in from North Carolina start at $59 and are priced on their size.

Upkeep The farm keeps Doug and Jim busy year-round with planting and sheering. The duo goes through the field trimming trees to ensure they have the proper “Christmas tree look.”

“It’s not easy to grow Christmas trees in Texas,” Doug said.

The experience Every weekend the farm is open, cars will be lined up down the dirt road to get to the farm.

26 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

“When we open the gates, it’s like

Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm 805 Phil’s Road, Pipe Creek 210-426-6191 pipecreekchristmastrees.com

TRAIDIONS

Christmas wreaths How one woman’s love for Christmas turned into a storefront in Bandera Story and photos by Autumn Bernhard

F

or the past four years, Alice Ragan, also known as Mrs. Claus in training, has been bringing Christmas cheer to Bandera’s Main Street.

“I sell everything Christmas and a little bit of everything else,” she said. “I want to be a one-stop shop.”

That one-stop shop currently includes nutcrackers, Christmas ornaments and figurines, candy and an assortment of knickknacks for easy stocking stuffers “You never know what is going to strike

someone’s fancy,” Ragan said.

However, the most known item in the store is her beautiful wreaths.

“I’ve become kind of known for them,” she said. “I have people call and say, ‘I got two last week, but I need another one.’”

In fact, Ragan just did a wreath for a woman’s gate in Medina, and she called back wanting six more little ones to use as Christmas gifts.

“My girlfriend and I are the ones that make the wreaths,” she said. “We don’t duplicate anything, that’s something you get at a department store.”

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 27

TRADITIONS

For Ragan, everything just “kind of came together” when it came to the store.

“After working at the grocery store, I went home one day and told my husband I was taking all our money and opening a store. When I said it would be a Christmas store, he said, ‘Go get it,’” she said.

Ragan’s husband knew the passion that she had for Christmas, and walking in her store it is plain to see.

“Christmas was always the safe thing in my home,” she said.

“It’s been my entire life. It’s been the most important thing every single year.”

tall windows. The sixth time I went inside, I told my mom we had to move to the North Pole.”

When her mother asked why, she said, “I have to get a job working for Santa Claus.”

Wreaths are priced based on size and range from $35 to $150.

Sell!

28 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Family Owned!

1918 Junction Hwy • Kerrville Mon - Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-1

When Ragan was 5, her mother told her that if she wanted a Christmas tree, she would have to decorate it herself.

“I spent the rest of the evening going out front and looking in the

Christmas Corner

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Why do I advertise in Texas Hill Country Culture?

Texas Hill Country Culture is seen by more of my “would be” clients.

“This wonderful magazine is the perfect way for me to project on a monthly basis what is most important to my business. As a subscriber, it’s fantastic that it is inserted with the weekend home edition of the Kerrville Daily Times at the end of every month. That’s a huge clientele for me to relate what I’ve got going on; whether it’s showing off a new listing, suggesting a great property to flip, or boast about a quick sale of one of my listings.

I’m proud to market myself in the Texas Hill Country Culture.”

Randy Purswell, Realtor

30 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Editor’s picks Finding the right gift is not an easy task. To try to relieve some shopping stresses, we complied a list of items anyone would be happy to find under the tree on Christmas morning.

Photo by thinkstock/AlexRaths

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 31

3

9 13

4

1

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1. Cheeta print Happy Wax Signature Wax Warmer ($42) and Herbal Wax Melts ($8) at The Golden Antler Boutique in Kerrville.

2. Looftlighter to light a charcoal or wood burning fireplace in seconds with superheated air ($29.99) at Hill Country Propane in Fredericksburg.

3. “Wonder Woman” original 16-inch by-20-inch oil painting by James Snuffer ($775) at River’s Edge Gallery in Kerrville.

4. “Chago’s Sunday Afternoon” bronze statue by LeNell Deane ($2,200) at River’s Edge Gallery in Kerrville.

8. Turquoise, opal and onyx sterling silver belt buckle ($875) at River’s Edge Gallery in Kerrville.

5. Deer bottle opener ($11) and deer wine bottle stoppers ($6) at The Golden Antler Boutique in Kerrville.

9. American West Handmade Leather handbag ($258) and wallet ($104,) necklace by Holifield Designs ($199) and silk scarf ($59) at Turkey Ridge Trading Company in Comfort.

6. “Catalpa Waltz” pottery by Susan Ehlers ($85) at Comfort Crockery in Comfort.

7. Goverre portable stemless wine glass ($25) at The Golden Antler Boutique in Kerrville.

32 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

10. Segmented turned vase by Harold Dykes with stair-step pattern ($445) at Comfort Crockery.

Photo by Tom Holden

12

EDITOR’S PICKS

18

15

17

20

16

19

11. Elta UV Elements, a chemical free sunscreen ($33,) and ZO Daily Power Defense, protecting and repairing lotion ($150) at O Young MD in Kerrville.

15. Floss and Rock Tea set ($86), Kid Made Modern comic book kit ($22) and “The Story of Baby Jesus” ($9.99) at LulaBelle’s Pirates & Pretties in Kerrville.

12. Good tidings serving plate ($13.99) and holiday pie server ($5.59) at Turkey Ridge Trading Company in Comfort.

16. Assorted sizes of crosses: small ($9.99,) medium ($16.99) and large ($26.99) at Hometwon Crafts in Kerrville.

13. “Gourmet Bohemian WaxWing” framed original pastel by Cindy Morawski ($85) at Comfort Crockery.

17. Grillbot, automatic grill cleaning robot with an alarm, timer, rechargeable battery that is dishwasher safe ($99.99) at Hill Country Propane Inc. in Fredericksburg.

14. Winter scene pie server dish ($24.49) and Christmas rolling pin ($17.75) at Turkey Ridge Trading Company in Comfort.

19. Ivy garden designed plates made of heavy-weight melamine: 11 inches ($14) and 8.5 inches ($10) with red swirl tumblers: 14 ounce ($7.50) and 19 ounce ($8.50,) and rustic red wedge placemat ($4) at OutBack Patio Furnishings.

20. Extra heavy 9.5 inch Artisan tile plate ($15,) grey crackle 11.5 inch dining plate ($14,) rainbow cascade 12-ounce wine glass ($9) and sage wedge placemat ($4) at OutBack Patio Furnishings.

18. Classic lantern 9-by-9-by21-inch ($178) at OutBack Patio Furnishings in Kerrville.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 33

EDITOR’S PICKS

1

2

3

4

5 6

9

7 8

10 12

13

1. 62-inch, 12-karat pearl necklace ($665) at Segner’s Jewelers in Fredericksburg.

6. Mens Rolex watch with black dial ($5,000) at Fitch Estate Sales in Kerrville.

2. Turquoise vintage Mexican bracelet of .925 silver ($195) at Horsefeathers in Ingram.

7. 14-karat white gold men’s wedding band with .83 total weight diamond ($1,459) at Fitch Estate Sales in Kerrville.

3. Vintage Mexican bracelet of .925 silver ($325) at Horsefeathers in Ingram.

8. 1.25-carat canary diamond with 18-karat white gold band ($10,000) at Fitch Estate Sales in Kerrville.

4. Assorted opal sterling silver cuffs ($185 each) at River’s Edge Gallery in Kerrville.

5. 14-karat shogun cultured pearl necklace ($2,250) at Baublit’s Jewelers in Kerrville.

9. Stackable bands: white 14-karat band with .13 total weight round diamonds ($520,) yellow 14-karat band with .18 total weight round diamonds ($525) and yellow 14-karat ring with .21 total weight round diamonds ($1,295) at Segner’s Jewelers in Fredericksburg.

34 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

10. 14-karat gold and sapphire crystal watch ($4,875) at Baublit’s Jewelers in Kerrville.

11. .65 solitare Tiffany style engagement ring set in platinum ($3,500) at Fitch Estate Sales in Kerrville.

12. 1.07 total carat weight solitare with diamond halo and 14-karat white gold band ($3,599) at Fitch Estate Sales in Kerrville.

13. Custom sterling necklace ($99) at Segner’s Jewelers in Fredericksburg.

Photo by Tom Holden

11

*Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased from November 16, 2017, through January 2, 2018, to four national charities designated by the purchaser or lessee. Pre-approved Hometown Charities may be selected for donation depending on retailer participation. Certain participating retailers will make an additional donation to the Hometown Charities selected. Purchasers/lessees must make their charity designations by January 31, 2017.The four national charities will receive a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 each. See your local Subaru retailer for details, or visit subaru.com/share. All donations made by Subaru of America, Inc.

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Hill Country CULTURE 35

Holiday stresses How to balance the happiness of others, self

By Dana Cardwell

happy.

S

Too many times we create stress during the holidays by working too hard to make sure everyone is happy and it backfires on us. The art of creating balance, or homeostasis, is the key to your success this year.

Research suggests that there are three paths to happiness: having something to look forward to, sharing, and making somebody else happy. Happiness has to do with our own efforts, not relying on someone else to make us happy. It’s ironic that the secret to being happy is not depending on others for happiness, but actually helping others to be 36 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Nutrition What we eat during the holidays has a huge impact on our attention, sleep and moods. According to a Harvard newsletter, numerous studies showed that people who eat clean diets — high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains and small amounts of meats — are more likely to feel better, physically and emotionally.

Our diet is a blueprint to a good mood and feeling stress-free. So, one possibility is to start off on a good foot each day with a protein-packed smoothie, such as the one on the next page. Each smoothie has a protein mix added with 20 grams of protein, and less than 5 grams of sugar and fiber.

Photo by Metro Newspaper Service

tress. What is it really? MerrianWebster’s Dictionary defines it as “mental or physical tension, urgency, pressure, strain.” There is even a definition for stressed-out, which is being “tired, nervous, as from overwork, mental pressure, etc.” I’ve noticed that many of us look forward to the holidays and then we end up stressed-out when they are finally upon us.

But, I have some important tips to save you from looking frazzled, pulling your hair out, and ending up tired, nervous and overworked this year.

Our bodies also need protein to start the day off right. Amino acids are building blocks for serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are our stress-busting, feel-good transmitters. Without adequate building blocks, we submit ourselves to stress and leave our body, mind and spirit in the gutter.

We are happier when we are healthier. Why wait for the new year to start getting healthy? Just one change in the morning can set you up for a happy, healthy and stressfree day.

Mindfulness Often times, we try to create the perfect event, situation or life and fall flat on our faces by trying too hard. The use of mindfulness brings awareness to our thoughts, emotions and feelings. Mindfulness allows us to just notice the present moment. Not to control it, not to make it into something, but to just notice, experience, process and recognize what is taking place.

My favorite book is the “Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

It’s about a shepherd boy who is dissatisfied with his current life as a shepherd and sets off to follow his dream of becoming an Alchemist.

He finds true life treasures along the way. This would be a great book to read this holiday season.

Situations The stress and anxiety of a high pressure situation can have a significant effect on an individual.

Removal from the situation may perpetuate a healing process. If you are at a social event and nasty ninny is about to head your way with some passive-aggressive advice, then just smile, be cordial and step outside for some life-giving air. Don’t subject yourself to that.

With others, taking the time to find out what makes people tick can be a great option. Actually listening to someone’s story can be incredibly humanizing, allowing us to connect to others in a stress-free way.

SUPER BRAIN SMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS: milk 1/2 banana frozen cranberries fresh blueberries and strawberries 1 scoop Green Superfood 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon olive oil DIRECTIONS: Use regular, almond or soy milk as the base.

Add banana and berries.

Photo by Metro Newspaper Service

Add the Green Superfood, which has your daily greens, plus cleansing herbs and spices for pH balance and detox.

Add apple cider vinegar and olive oil.

HEALTHY LIVING

10 tips

to avoid holiday stress 1. Limit social media.

Research shows social media creates more stress, not less.

2. Take a friend to coffee.

Talk, catch up and socialize in person. Have a get-together but don’t put parameters on how the event should look, be or go. Just allow it to flow.

3. Meditate. Allow your belly to rise as you breath in through your nose. Allow your belly to slowly come back down as you exhale through your nose. Inhale the words “peace,” exhale “stress.” You can do this at night, in the morning or prior to an event.

4. Pet your dog, cat or bird.

Being with an animal releases oxytocin — a feel-good hormone.

5. Go to a church service, spiritual gathering or yoga class. Research shows those connected spiritually are happier.

Happy equals less stress and cortisol.

6. Watch what you eat and your libation intake. Limit alcohol — moderation is key.

7. Be mindful and volunteer to help someone in need.

8. Be safe when shopping.

While you are looking to give, others may be looking to take — be alert of your surroundings.

9. Limit retail therapy.

Life is not about material items.

Happiness should never come with a price tag.

10. Exercise, walk, jog, go to the gym, do yoga, play soccer or listen to Christmas music while you deep clean your home. Just do something. We are happier when we are healthier.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 37

Photo by thinkstock/leekris

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 39

jones3bart@gmail.com

(830) 928-4820

Lazy Eye Ranch

190 Fairway Drive Kerrville, Texas 78028

Rice Ranch

ON

E RG

LA

CE

PRI

Vanderpool, Texas - This 200 acres is on the beautiful SABINAL RIVER and offers 1,200 ft. of private river and dam. The exquisite rock and cedar home is hidden on the side of a hill in a wooded valley. The 3/3 home, with three fireplaces and 2,000 ft. of porches was designed

by UT Austin architect Mel Lawrence. The house is designed using tall glass windows, dry-stack stone walls, and cedar posts. Indoor cedar ceilings rise from 12 ft. to 20 ft. allowing for outside light. It has a large master bedroom with fireplace and high glass window walls which make you feel as if you are sleeping outside. The house has slate floors throughout. An indoor screen porch, with fireplace, looks out to the high hills. A stone gated entrance with asphalt drive goes along the river, with large oak and cypress trees, across the dam and up to the house. The house and 3 acres are high fenced. The wildlife tax-exempt ranch has level ground to wooded high hills and an undisturbed valley. The ranch has rarely been hunted. It is located 2 miles north of Vanderpool, near Lost Maples State Park. Price $3,350,000 $2,950,000.

40 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

ON

CTI

CTI

U RED

Bart Jones, Broker

E RG

LA

CE

PRI

U RED

RICE RANCH This is a wonderful large, 3 bedroom 3 ½ bath, log home in well maintained Pecan Valley Subdivision, which is 4.5 miles south of Center Point. It sits on 26 acres of heavily wooded land. In 2012 an approx. 2000 sq. ft. of additional living space was added. It included a large log family room with fireplace, wet bar, and half bath. Also added was a large master bedroom upstairs. The back porch looks out to the pool, hot tub, and spacious yard with trees. Price $795,000 $510,000.

1701 Landmark Rd. in The Horizon | $796,000

Exquisite 5 acre property, 5 bdrm, 4 full baths, 2 living rooms + study. Open floor plan, hardwood floors, a true cook’s kitchen. Stunning pool has a waterfall, enclosed with privacy wall. Garage currently being used as a man-cave with coated flooring, garden area is 38 x 16, cedar framed greenhouse (heaters) 11 x 20, 1500 sq ft insulated workshop.

1401 Sidney Baker St. - Kerr ville, TX 78028 Each office independently owned and operated.

CAREY BOND

BROKER ASSOCIATE

w. CareyBond.com o. 830.896.1122 m. 830.377.8268 e. info@careybond.com

Kerrville

Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.* Stop by and let us show you why!

*As measured by residential transaction sides.

1835 Sidney Baker • Kerrville, TX 78028 • Office: 830-895-7771 500-C Main Street • Kerrville, TX 78028 • Office: 830-896-3200

www.Remax-Kerrville-Tx.com Each REMAX® real estate office is independently owned and operated.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 41

HOME SHOWCASE

Photo by Tom Holden

42 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Hill Country Views Castle Pines home offers beautiful scenic look

Photos courtesy of ERA Colonial Real Estate

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 43

Photo courtesy of ERA Colonial Real Estate

(830) 896-5500 • 1712 SYDNEY BAKER ST. CBHARPER.COM | SERVING KERRVILLE & THE SURROUNDING AREAS

501 WATER ST.

1020 REMSCHEL ST.

4BR 2BA Old world features, plenty of charm & built in’s w/this classic 1940’s corner house on lrg tree cvrd

lot. Two story w/master up & down w/hardwood flrs. Detached 400+sqft garage w/privacy fenced yard.

Bob Moore | (830) 896-5500 | MID# 1580H | MLS# 94511 | $159,625

5310 N. GOEHMANN LANE

3BR 2BA Great property in central location w/entrance from two different streets. Open concept property has

been renovated near carport & exterior rear of home. Kitchen & dining area is updated. Fenced in garden area.

Ronald Hackett | (830) 285-4355 | MLS# 93035 | $229,999

105 S CHERRY ST.

5BR 5.5BA Richard Laughlin home. East wing w/great rm, library, 2 bd/2 ba & powder room. West wing w/fam rm & 2 bd/2 ba. Guest home w/great rm, kitchenette, 1 bd/1 ba & sit rm.

Janet Goad | (830) 822-7129 | MID# 1509H | MLS# 73325 | $1,678,900

3BR 2.5BA Contemporary house located off Main street. Lrg great room. Kit w/high ceils, concrete flrs, Raku test tiles on backsplash, SS, honed slate countertops. Screened in porch. Office/studio. Pool & landscaping.

Pat Boothe | (210) 213-3441 | MID# 1520H | MLS# 73337 | $825,000

Text The "Mobile ID" Number (MID#) to 85377 ®

©2017 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

44 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

HOME SHOWCASE Story by Chelsea M.K. Stack

T

he 5,272-square-foot home with four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms at 219 Castle Pines in Riverhill is on the market for $759,000.

The master bedroom is 18 feet

by 15 feet with two walk-in closets.

The master bathroom has a walk-in shower and jacuzzi tub, as well as his and her vanities. Each bedroom has its own walk-in closet and bathroom.

The second bedroom is 15 feet by 16 feet, the third bedroom is 16 feet by 16 feet and the fourth bedroom is

16 feet by 18 feet.

“I like the privacy each bedroom had and the fact that each one had its own full bathroom,” said Cary, a potential buyer. “I also loved the kitchen and the way the floor plan was open.”

Photos courtesy of ERA Colonial Real Estate

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 45

est. 1999

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Christine.Durham@ERA.com 1005 Sidney Baker Suite A EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING

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Fredericksburg • Boerne The Hill Country FREE Written Estimates Local References Insurance Claim Specialists

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324 Clay Street • Kerrville, TX 78028 • 830.792.5775 • Fax: 830.792.5959 46 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

HOME SHOWCASE

The gourmet kitchen is 18 feet by 16 feet with a center island, granite counters, custom cabinets, stainless appliances, a gas cooktop, dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave and oven.

Both living areas have crown molding and high tray

ceilings throughout and wood floors. The formal living area is 10 feet by 15 feet and the family room/living area/ game room is 18 feet by 23 feet with built-in custom cabinets on the entertainment center, a wet bar and fireplace.

Photos courtesy of ERA Colonial Real Estate

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 47

Expected completion date March 2018

133 Center Oaks - $631,900 Expected completion date March 2018

Randy Purswell Office 830.896.1041 Cell 713.817.9786 randy@forepremier properties.com www.randypurswell.com

241 HeigHts trail $624,900 KEY FEATURES • 100% masonry finish with materials that are sourced locally • Open cell foam insulation • 24 inch standing seam metal roof • 15 SEER Carrier HVAC • Outdoor patio and kitchen • Fiber-optics to lot • Gated Community • Insulated steel garage doors • Custom build hardwood cabinets • Buried 250 gallon propane tank • Bosch appliances House plan (including features, layout, landscaping, size, availability, and price) is subject to change without notice. Drawings, information, photographs, and features are for illustration purposes only and may vary from the actual house.

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL CALL PURSWELL

JOSHUA CADE, CRAFTSMAN www.joshuacadecraftsman.com

48 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

HOME SHOWCASE There also is an office off the family room with built-in cabinets and a formal dining room with a breakfast area and an attached three-car garage. Outside, the home has a large two-level deck that’s half covered with a great view, sitting on 1.77 acres.

“I liked all the custom details, wood floors, high ceilings, walk-in pantry, large laundry room and the gourmet kitchen,” said Christine Durham of ERA Colonial Real Estate. “I also like the large covered deck with views.”

For more informa-tion, call 830-955-0363 or visit ERA Colonial Real Estate, 1005 Sidney Baker, Suite A in Kerrville.

Photos courtesy of ERA Colonial Real Estate

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 49

Full Page PNL YH

ElEvatE your PErsPEctivE

The Heights of Kerrville is one of the most exclusive master planned communities in the Texas Hill Country. This majestic 300-acre gated community offers large acreage lots in the heart of Kerrville, convenient to shopping, schools, medical facilities, recreation and entertainment. The Heights of Kerrville is truely country living at its finest while continuing to enjoy city amenities.

(830) 832-2972 50 KERR HillCOC Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS 2 pg mag 11.10.17v2.indd 1

www.hillcountryheights.com 11/8/2017 3:18:50 PM

The Heights of Kerrville showcases its natural beauty creating a scenic place to live while providing quality in neighborhood planning, home designs, and landscape features bringing people and nature together in the Texas Hill Country.

The beauty of The Heights of Kerrville is enhanced by extensive tree coverage surrounding the development and natural topography with valleys and hilltops that provide distant Hill Country views.

The communities master plan has beendesigned to take advantage of and enhance these natural features.

Full Page

Lots start at $75,000. Lot sizes range from 2.5 to 12 acres.

Spacious single story homes with 3-car garages currently under construction and available for purchase or choose to buy a lot and build

PNL YH

KERR COC 2 pg mag 11.10.17v2.indd 2

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 51 11/8/2017 3:18:55 PM

$

Residential 500 Main Street, Suite L Kerrville, Texas 78028 Finance coRpoRation (830) 890-5794

Lee T. Johnson • NMLS #214142 • rfctexas@aol.com • Purchases • Refinances • 2nd Homes • Investor Loans • Cash Out Loans • Jumbo Loans • Construction Loans • Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA loans

Lee T. Johnson All loan programs, terms and rates are subject to change without notice. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

Residential Finance Corporation is a Texas Corporation and Equal Housing Mortgage Company. NMLS #346431 (Not affiliated with Residential Finance Corporation of OHIO)

Your Trusted Mortgage Lender Leslie Barnett, Senior Loan Officer Leslie Barnett has consulted and facilitated homeownership as a mortgage loan officer for local families since 2000. A Tivy graduate, she knows how wonderful our Texas Hill Country is and believes everyone should own their own piece of paradise! She is committed to providing realistic expectations and simple solutions to help meet each buyer’s needs and is equipped with the knowledge buyers need to explore the many financing options available – Providing service to her clients beyond expectations is her main priority.

She has been with SWBC Mortgage since 2012 and loves the way they do business, putting people first! SWBC Mortgage is committed to providing clients with a stress-free home buying experience. Offering in-house underwriting, processing and funding – ensuring consistency and timely closings.

Your trusted mortgage lender… for more than 20 years 924 Jefferson Street, Suite 4 Kerrville, Texas 78028 www.swbcmortgage.com/lesliebarnett 830.928.9080 Phone 866.697.1547 Fax 15900 La Cantera, Suite 26230 San Antonio, Tx 78256 NMLS #225632

52 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Loans are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and conditions may apply. Programs and guidelines are subject to change without notice.

Rates are subject to change daily.

SWBC Mortgage Corporation.

Corporate office located at 9311 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78216.

NMLS #9741 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

CHRISTMAS DECOR

Deck the halls From outside lights, to inside decor, learn how to go above and beyond this Christmas

By Chelsea M.K. Stack

Photo by Fire Rock Photography LLC

O

ne of the most magical moments during Christmastime is decorating your home for the holiday season.

However, without understanding safety precautions or having a theme in mind, that dreamy family memory can become a fullblown nightmare.

For those who haven’t picked a theme this year or need some quick tips to make

their holiday decorating experience a little easier, here are some tricks from some professionals.

Inspiration from others Not everyone has an idea in mind when it comes to decorating for the holidays, so it might be a good idea to attend the Fredericksburg’s Christmas Home Tour.

This year, the event is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, when the event will celebrate six decades of showing off DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 53

This year, Lindy and Mike Haley will have their 1870s multigenerational home in the tour for the third time over the past 30 years. Although they don’t always participate in the tour, Lindy hasn’t missed a chance to attend the event.

the box. It looks very festive in my kitchen. I put greenery and berries in old cast iron coffee pots and even decorate an old tin matchbox holder that hangs on the wall in the kitchen.”

For those who don’t have quite the collection of Christmas decor, she encourages them to visit the gift shops on Main Street in Fredericksburg.

“Use what you like,” Lindy suggested. “I have things I’ve had

“My daughter and I go every year,” she said. “I would recommend it, for sure. It’s fun to walk around them — not just to see the homes but how they’re decorated, too.”

She said some houses are decorated more minimalistic, and others are decorated closer to what she prefers — more traditional and old fashioned.

The more modernly decorated homes give the girls ideas.

The Haleys usually decorate their home with plaid bows, with a red and green color palette. She said her decorations were accumulated over the years through either her own purchases or as gifts from family and friends.

“I love to use things that I have around the house in my decorating,” Lindy said. “For instance, I have an old wooden bread box that was used in this house 100 years ago. I place pinecones and greenery in the box and tie a ribbon on the handle of 54 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

for years, and they bring me a lot of joy when I take them out. Use what brings you joy, because you’re going to be the one to spend the most time in your house anyway.”

She said her favorite thing about decorating for the holidays is opening the boxes and finding all her treasures from over the years.

“They bring back memories,” Lindy said. “It’s just fun for me. I love to decorate anyway, so Christmas is when I go all out.”

Lindy usually begins decorating the first part of December, but since her house is in the tour this year, she will deck the halls a bit earlier.

Outside decor More and more people are turning to decorating professionals to string lights outside.

Tammy Sheffield, owner of Christmas Decor of the Hill Country in Kerrville, said they are finding each year an increasing need for their services.

“People are just getting hurt, and a lot of people just don’t have time,” she said. “They don’t want to have to buy the lights. The lights they would buy at a store can’t connect as many as we could. They try to connect them all and then they blow the breaker.”

For those who chose to string their holiday lights themselves, Sheffield offered some safety tips.

“If you’re working on a ladder or on the roof, tie yourself off,” Sheffield

Photos by John Mooring

beautiful, historic homes decorated for Christmas. The event also features a market, which sells one-of-a-kind artisan merchandise. Tickets can be purchased online at pioneermuseum. net, or at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg.

CHRISTMAS DECOR said. “Always have a harness on, so if you do fall, you’re always protected.”

Professional holiday decorators use a variety of techniques to make sure the property is not damaged.

“We use clips that don’t penetrate the home in anyway,” Sheffield said. “Everything is home-friendly — shingle tabs that slide onto the shingles, magnetic lights for metal roofs and gutter clips.”

For those unsure of how to decorate their property, the decorators will evaluate and map the property, listen to their clients’ desires and then create a lighting and decorating plan that accents the best features of the homes.

“The theme that has been popular the past four or five years is simple — traditional white lights with greenery,” Sheffield said. “Prior to that, we saw a lot of people wanting colored or multi-colored lights and white icicles.”

For more than 20 years, Christmas Decor of the Hill Country’s decorating professionals have provided the full spectrum of decorating options, including complete design, full installation, in-season service and timely takedown.

Hanging the mistletoe inside For those looking to purchase Christmas decorations, The Christmas Store in Fredericksburg has a huge assortment of collectible Christmas ornaments available and souvenir ornaments just as it has had for the past 26 years.

Photos courtesy of Christmas Decor of the Hill Country

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 55

CHRISTMAS DECOR They also provide a service most people aren’t aware of — interior decorating.

When it comes to interior decorating for Christmas, everyone is different. Some people change their colors every year and others want the same thing every year, according to John Mooring, a designer at The Christmas Store. Fortunately, most of his clients will give him a loose parameter to work with and give him free rein on the rest.

“Some people have high-fence operations, where we use antlers and things like that throughout the house,” Mooring said. “Some people like vintage ornaments, and some people like European blown glass ornaments on their trees. Most of what I do is beautiful garland and glass.”

Mooring had a few tips when it comes to Christmas decorations: More is more, use LED lighting because it lasts longer, and don’t buy cheap ornaments or garland.

“You have to work with really nice materials, like florals and garlands, in order to make them turn out spectacular,” he said. “It’s really important to buy good quality that will last year after year.”

He had some advice for garland and tree work.

“Trees are just like garland — when you set up a tree, ribbons go in first.

Anything running through the tree, don’t just put it on the outside, put it deep inside to get a good reflection; go deep and work your way out.”

He suggested identifying focal points to decorate. For instance, if you just have chains on your chandelier, it doesn’t hurt to work some garland into the chains, he said.

“Touch every surface that you can without taking it too far,” Mooring said.

56 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Photo by Fire Rock Photography LLC

“If you put up a garland, anything that’s going to run through the garland, start at the bottom and work your florals in. The last thing you want to do is punctuate your garland with ornaments to fill in the spaces,” Mooring said.

Beth Watson, owner, and Don Mooring, another designer and John’s identical twin, are also part of the team of year-round Christmas elves who help run the store.

DIY Christmas decor Hometown Crafts in Kerrville offers an array of Christmas crafts for those interested in do-it-yourself Christmas decorations. There are plenty of reasons to make your own Christmas decorations this holiday season, and employees at Hometown Crafts offer a few.

“You can make them like you want and personalize it with your own style,” said Sherrie Thornton, floral designer at Hometown Crafts.

“It’s fun to do with family and easy so young kids can do them,” said Brooke Wood from the store’s craft department. “They make good gifts, too, for family and friends. You could even do a Christmas craft at a party or at ladies night.”

“Sometimes, it’s less expensive and it’s a more personal touch,” said Sandra Welch, vice president of Hometown Crafts. “You can say you made it yourself.”

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Hill Country CULTURE 57

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www.century21thehills.com | 1726 Sidney Baker in Kerrville | 830.285.0190 ©2014 CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® is a trademark owned by CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunities Act. Each office is independently owned and operated.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 59

WHEELS

Fixer upper R The journey of a retired

Story and photos by John and Polly Holmes

firefighter and his passion as a life-long gearhead

aymond Holloway is a retired member of the Kerrville Fire Department, where he served for 35 years and was the chief for 25 of those years. We spent a nice Saturday morning with him at his Mountain Home ranch, where he tends his cows and also has a building with a couple of his restored old cars — talk about a “barn find.” We had two things in common with him: We spent 15 years as volunteer firefighters and restored a ’56 Chevy Bel Air sedan, a ’57 Bel Air convertible and a rare ’55 Chevy Cameo pickup.

Raymond is a typical gearhead, having had a passion for fixing up old cars and pickups since he was a boy. He talked about starting out rebuilding ’40s and ’50s pickups.

In time, he moved on to some award-winning vehicles, including a really cool ’50 Chevy five-window pickup.

It had the classic 350 c.i. engine/turbo 350 automatic transmission combo and was a beautiful bronze color. He did a couple of Chevelles — a nice blue ’72 Sport Coupe with a 350 and a rare maroon ’70 SS 396 with a fourspeed; both were matching numbers cars. He sold all of those.

He fired up a really nice ’41 Ford Coupe that he’s had for 15 years, which is equipped with the typical Chevy 350/350 combo. It’s got a Mustang 2 front end and a ’41 Ford Coupe

’41 Ford Coupe

60 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Camaro rear end, which makes a great driving street rod — it shows lots of loving care over the years.

His ’30 Ford Coupe also has a 350/350 combo, but with a story that is something else. When he bought the property, it came with this “barn find” sitting in one of the buildings.

The only trouble was it was just the cab; it was missing the frame, fenders, engine, transmission and suspension components. He built it back to a very nice street rod piece by piece — lots of work.

If you know of someone who has old cars like these, let us know. We would like to display them in a future edition of Texas Hill Country Culture. Also, notify us of upcoming classic car shows or outfits that specialize in restoring old wheels.

In closing, here’s a chuckle: A man went into his shrink’s office and said, “Doc, you have to help me. Every night, I keep dreaming that I’m a pickup truck. The other night, I dreamt I was a Ram 3500. Next, I dreamt I was a Ford F-350. Last night, I dreamt I was a Chevy Duramax. What does this mean?”

“Relax,” said the doctor. “You’re just having an autobody experience.”

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’30 Ford Coupe DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 61

1:

Lone Star Cut Texas topaz

A real Texas gem Ingram artisan creates ‘real estate’ with jewelry

W

respond.

hen asked why people buy her beautiful Texas topaz jewelry, Diane Eames was quick to

“You know you’re buying a tiny piece of Texas real estate that you can take with you anywhere,” she said. “It just grounds you.”

Gems of the Hill Country was formed with exactly that premise in mind. Diane and her husband, Brad Hodges, own and run the shop at 200 Texas Highway 39 in Ingram. They sell original rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings — all meticulously handcrafted by Diane out of beautiful Texas topaz.

Each piece can be considered heirloom quality, and each exquisite creation bears

Lone Star Cut Texas topaz

62 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Photos by Brad Hodges

Story by Nancy Foster

HILL COUNTRY MADE Career path Diane holds the distinguished designation of being the only female gemologist gem-cutter in the state. This mega-talented lady also holds title as the president of the Texas Faceters Guild and president of the U.S. Faceters Guild. In addition, she is accredited as a jewelry appraiser.

Her long career in the world of jewelry spans 27 years and includes stints in retail and wholesale jewelry operations. A 2005 move to Mason County introduced her to the land of the Texas topaz and her next career move. With the help of several mentors and a faceting class she audited at the University of Texas at Austin, she set forth in 2006 to begin gem faceting in earnest and never looked back. In 2015, Diane and Brad moved to Ingram and opened Gems of the Hill Country. Brad currently manages the website and photography, freeing Diane to concentrate on designs and lapidary work.

The products The Ingram showroom itself is not overly large, but the display cases are attractively arranged and displays the contents beautifully.

the impeccable touches of a master craftsman.

Jewelry made with the specialized Lone Star Cut is especially coveted.

Texas topaz The history of this beautiful mineral dates back to 1905, when it was discovered in Mason County.

Settlers had no idea what it was and originally dubbed it “desert ice.” Today, Mason County is recognized as the only place in Texas to find the gem, which primarily grows in the Llano uplift and can be found in Precambrian granite outcroppings and pegmatite.

Although some topaz can be found on the surface, it is more often found in streambeds and ravines as deep as 6 feet below ground. The river-rolled gems vary in color, although clear is the most common.

The desirable blue topaz, indigenous to Mason County, is rare and gets its color from irradiation.

Topaz is not mined commercially in Mason County, although several ranches do offer seasonal hunts for rock hobbyists.

Photo by Nancy Foster

State gem The Texas Blue Topaz was designated the official state gem in 1969. In 1977, the Lone Star Cut was adopted as the official state gemstone cut, reflecting the five-pointed star in the Texas Lone Star.

Gems of the Hill Country specializes in the Texas star cuts, popular with both men and women.

The star cut process is painstaking and precise, requiring six to eight hours to complete.

“Our gems are not color treated and are untouched by man other than faceting,” Diane said.

The gems can be mounted in materials ranging from copper to platinum. Current pieces range in price from a $200 pendant to an exquisite $7,000 ring with diamonds. For those wanting something even more special, Diane will customize pieces or add a gem to an existing piece of jewelry, as she recently did with a hand engraved silver bracelet from Mexico.

In-state buyers are her best customers, followed by non-Texans married to someone with roots in the Lone Star state. Many also buy for those with November birthdays, since topaz is the month’s official gemstone.

Although online shopping is available, Diane encourages perspective buyers to visit the retail store.

“Many people arrive saying, ‘I saw one and now I’ve gotta have one,’” she said. “Seeing is believing for most of our customers.”

Gems of the Hill Country is open Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information, visit www.texas-topaz.com.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 63

GET TO KNOW

15 things you didn’t know about Kathleen Hudson Take a look into the life of the mother, musician, Schreiner professor 1. My dream as a kid was to compete in the Fort Worth

Stock Show and Rodeo. I bought my first horse in college at Texas Christian University and ended up competing for seven years. I treasure my badges.

2. My first experience with music was in my Baptist

3. Summer camp at Camp El Tesoro on the Brazos River in Granbury was a life-altering experience for me. My first attempt at horseback riding, my first circle of songs around a campfire and my first night camping under a Texas sky. It was a Camp Fire Girls Camp.

4. I am forever grateful that my mother, Annabel Lee,

encouraged me in piano lessons for 10 years, even bargaining that I did not have to play in recitals, which terrified me, if I would keep taking them through high school. She also took me to ballet and jazz lessons through high school. I performed “Cat in the Forest” at my high school talent show, dancing amongst ladders covered with spider webs in a silver lame costume.

5. I loved theater in high school, performing in all the

plays, and I was a theater major my freshman year at TCU. After I received my first horse, I could not attend all the rehearsals, so I switched to math. After calculus, I decided it was way too abstract and double majored in English and history instead. My advisor said, “You have more hours in English now.” I graduated in four years.

6. I am the oldest of five children. My dad was a doctor,

my two brothers are emergency room doctors, my other brother is an accountant, and my sister is a nurse anesthetist. My youngest brother, John, was born the July before I entered TCU in 1963. I asked mom not to come visit me carrying John.

from Beaumont and guitar slinger. Five more followed on my arms and wrist.

9. When I moved here in 1984, I took my horse to the

Y.O. Ranch for a trail ride to raise money for the Cowboy Artists of America Museum.

10. I moved here to work with Rod Kennedy on his

songwriting foundation in 1984. In 1985, I worked part time for Schreiner University in the public relations department. Under the supervision of Karen Kilgore, I wrote my first story on an Abbie Hoffman/Jerry Rubin debate at Schreiner.

11. I was born in Bethesda, Maryland, at the National

Naval Medical Center in 1945. I had a childhood in Arlington, Virginia, while mom worked as a secretary at the Pentagon and dad, David Pillow, went to George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

We did return to Texas for him to go to TCU for three years, graduating valedictorian. My memories include the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, fireworks at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and the Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn. A childhood I almost forgot.

12. I have three grown wonderful children, five

grandchildren and one great-grandson, who is 6.

13. I have interviewed two of my three musical heroes:

Willie Nelson and Leonard Cohen, while Bob Dylan remains elusive. I knew the music of all three as a college student 50 years ago.

7. I have been the unpaid director of the foundation I

14. I have loved the poetry of my friends, Kirpal and Goat

8. I received my first tattoo, Pegasus, on my left shoulder

15. I play bones, drums, castanets, piano (some), guitar

started in 1987 for 30 years. I am stepping away this year, and my projects live on at Schreiner, my home. after an interview with Johnny Winter, the illustrated man 64 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Carson, so much that I started a publishing press, Pegasus Press Inc., and published their books. (a little) and frattoire.

Photo by Tom Holden

church in Fort Worth. We had a music director at North Richland Hills Baptist Church, Paul Paschal, who took worship to new heights through the music. A great memory is summer church camp in Central Texas with a choir singing “How Great Thou Art” under a blue neon sign and star-filled Texas sky.

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Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. © 2017 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (9/17)

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 65

Gifting history

events; online newsletter; 10 percent discount on gift shop purchases; and invitations to special members-only events. For more information, visit pioneermuseum.net.

By Michael Bowlin

The National Museum of the Pacific War, 340 E. Main St., was originally housed in the old Nimitz Hotel, but now the museum is spread over a 6-acre site and includes the George H.W. Bush Gallery, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Pacific Combat Zone, Plaza of Presidents, Memorial Courtyard, Japanese Garden of Peace and the Nimitz Education and Research Center. It is the only institution in the continental U.S. dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific Theater battles of World War II.

Area museums offer learning opportunties for all ages

C

onsider giving the gift of history to someone on your Christmas list this year. There are many excellent museums in the Hill Country that offer annual memberships at a reasonable cost.

Fredericksburg The Pioneer Museum, 325 W. Main St., was started in 1955 by the Gillespie County Historical Society. The museum originally offered a wide variety of historic items related to Fredericksburg’s history, while the complex now sits on 3.5 acres and includes 10 buildings, four of which are in their original spot. These buildings include three houses, a log cabin, smokehouse, bathhouse, wagon shed, schoolhouse and horse-drawn fire engines, each filled with authentic vintage furnishings.

Membership categories vary, but all include free admission to the museum and Vereins Kirche, or Society Church, in Marktplatz; advance notice of museum

Membership to the museum includes a 15 percent discount on museum store purchases, discounted admissions for symposiums and other educational programs, as well as the quarterly Nimitz News Dispatch.

For more information, visit pacificwarmuseum.org.

Bandera Next year, the Frontier Times Museum, 510 13th St., will celebrate 85 years of operation. According to the museum’s executive director, Rebecca Norton, the museum has changed very little since J. Marvin Hunter Sr. first opened the facility in 1933. Hunter is famous for launching the now highly collectable The Frontier Times Magazine, which contained fascinating stories about the Old West.

“Before the days of TV or the internet, Mr. Hunter wanted to give the folks in Bandera a window into the world, so he collected from all over — not just from Texas.

The museum looks very much like it did in Mr. Hunter’s time, with cases full of everything from ostrich eggs to antique dolls, a two-faced goat and even a shrunken head.

There’s something for everyone,” Norton said.

National Museum of the Pacific War

66 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

National Museum of the Pacific War

Photos courtesy of National Museum of the Pacific War

Membership allows free entry into the museum, a subscription to the museum newsletter, invitations to museum events and 20 percent discount at the museum store. With a sustaining membership, a member receives a reciprocal membership into the North American Reciprocal Museum Association, which

HERITAGE Frontier Times Museum

Frontier Times Museum

provides free admission to museums around Texas and the country that participate in the association, Norton said. For more information, visit frontiertimesmuseum.org.

Photo courtesy of Frontier Times Museum

The Bandera Natural History Museum, 267 Old San Antonio Highway, sits on eight acres and cost just more than $3 million to create. Outside the museum, visitors can view life-size dinosaurs and ice age animals, as well as interact with educational play stations, including a dinosaur dig site. Inside, there are more than 100 full body animal mounts positioned in hand-painted dioramas, portraying their natural habitats, including a rain forest, Arctic tundra, grand Kilimanjaro and swamp. The taxidermy collection came from Juan Carlos Infante, a seasonal resident of the area.

Infante also was a leader in getting the museum built. An international collection of art pieces, including valuable sculptures and carvings, also are on display in the museum.

A variety of memberships are available. For more information, visit banderanhm.org.

Mason The 4,000-square-foot Mason Square Museum, 130 Fort McKavett, opened its doors in 2007 with

artifacts donated by some of Mason’s oldest families. According to the Mason County Chamber of Commerce, the museum is arranged in a chronological timeline from the earliest geology to ranching and banking.

On display is a mammoth tusk dating back 25,000 years and welldesigned panels that show prehistoric man from 11,500 B.C. to the Native Americans and German immigrants of the 1800s. These panels also delve into the history of Fort Mason, which became a training ground for many generals, including Robert E. Lee. Pottery, coins and uniform buttons are just some of the artifacts on display from the fort. Another panel details the events that led up to the Mason County War, also known as the Hoodoo War. One of the most interesting displays in the museums is a large blue rock found in Mason County in 1904, weighing 6,480 carats (almost 3 pounds). According to the chamber, the rancher who found it was using it as a doorstop until it was identified as a blue topaz. The state gem, the topaz, is on loan from the Smithsonian Institution.

Just southwest of the town square sits an old two-story building that is home to the Mason County

Historical Museum and various government offices. This building also houses a variety of artifacts pertaining to Mason County’s history and a “must see” to get the complete history of Mason County.

Membership prices vary For more information, visit masonsquaremuseum.org.

Kerrville The Museum of Western Art, 1550 Bandera Highway, houses the permanent collection of approximately 150 sculptures, 250 paintings and many artifacts. The museum has many works by both deceased and living western artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

MOWA also houses an extensive research library, which includes more than 300 volumes and an equal number of periodicals. This library covers everything to do with the West — from history to art, from railroads to cattle drives — and includes the specific history of the artists whose works are in the vaults.

A membership to the museum includes priority notice and free admission to future exhibits, as well as a 15 percent discount in the museum store. Visit museumofwesternart.com for more information.

DECEMBER 2017 |

Hill Country CULTURE 67

OUT AND ABOUT

Baubles and Beads Hundreds show up to raise funds at style show Photos by Alexandria Randolph The 16th annual Baubles and Beads Style Show and Luncheon was held at the Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference Center on Oct. 24. Sponsoring the annual event was the Executive Women’s Club of Kerrville, in conjunction with Peterson Health and Peterson Medical Associations.

The event is held each October to raise funds for its Breast Cancer Assistance Fund, which helps women in the area who are battling breast cancer, while at the same time raising awareness about the disease. Since its inception, it has raised $400,000.

Carol Greene, Linda Jordan and Leslie North

Kerri Truelock and Gina Lagrove

Maribel Richel, Bliss Vickers, Shannon Stolz, Jason Loftin, Christy Loftin, Barbara Stehling and Jenny Stuber

Sharon Spenrath, Chris Booker, Jannell Bullock, Meredith Schwedeman, Julie Fisher and Amy Ives

68 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS IN THE HILLS

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  

         

    

    

 

    $795         

         

  

         

EVENTS

December Calendar Tree lightings, parades, living nativities and more planned in the Hill Country LIGHT THE NIGHT CHRISTMAS PARADE AND AFTERGLOW Dec. 1 AfterGlow will include diverse food, local wine, holiday shopping and family entertainment under the glow of the magnificent Christmas lights of Marktplatz. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be available for free photos in his sleigh, and there will be a children’s activity area.

2017

AfterGlow 3-9 p.m. with parade at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 1; Marktplatz on Main Street, Fredericksburg; lightthenightchristmasparade.com, 830-997-5000

LIVING NATIVITY Dec. 2 Enjoy beautiful lights and the sweet sound of children’s voices as choirs resound with Christmas cheer. A living nativity scene is provided by the students of Pipe Creek Christian School. Event will include a Bandera County Chamber of Commerce night parade, merchant booths for holiday shopping and streets filled with strolling Christmas carolers, musicians and cowboys.

4:45-9 p.m. with cowboy Santa at 6:15 p.m. Dec. 2; Bandera Courthouse Lawn, 500 Main St., Bandera; banderatexasbusiness.com

A LONE STAR CHRISTMAS Dec. 2 The 31st annual Weihnacht Parade is a long-standing Boerne Christmas tradition. Up to 100 lit parade floats will travel Main Street, from Frederick Street by the firehouse to River Road.

6 p.m. Dec. 2; Main Street, Boerne; 830-816-2775

A LONE STAR CHRISTMAS Dec. 3 Celebrate the holidays on the beautiful Medina River.

Gather around the campfire and enjoy amazing cowboy storytellers and the soothing vocal stylings of local cowboy singers. At dark, the Chosen Generation Radio Show will display the story of Christmas and a living nativity will be spotlighted against the banks of the Medina River. Bring a lawn chair, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.

5 p.m., Dec. 3; Bandera City Park, 1102 Maple St., Bandera; banderatexasbusiness.com 70 Hill Country CULTURE | CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE HILLS

Baublit’s

Stop by and See Our NEW Look During Our Holiday Sale

719 Water Steet • Kerrville, TX • 830-257-8317

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas

THE KERRVILLE MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE CHRISTMAS WALK Dec. 5 Five downtown churches — including the First Assembly of God Church, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Notre Dame Catholic Church and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church — will each have a 20-minute Christmas-themed service retelling the Christmas story in five parts. Each will feature music and teach themes, including Old Testament prophesies, Mary, Joseph, shepherds and wise men, as well as a look toward the second coming and advent of Jesus Christ. After the final service, there will be fellowship with cookies, punch and coffee.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 5; Notre Dame Catholic Church, 909 Main St.; to First Baptist Church, 625 Washington St., Kerrville; 830-792-9844

A NIGHT IN WHOVILLE Dec. 9 A free event with games, face painting, a candy cane hunt and real live “who-people.” The classic animated 30-minute movie of the Dr. Seuss story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” will play at the amphitheater, so bring the family, blankets and smiles and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, popcorn and bottled water.

M

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& Blue Santa

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Drop off any Unwrapped New Toy

5:30 p.m. Dec. 9; Kerrville-Schreiner Park, 2385 Bandera Highway, Kerrville; 830-257-7300, kerrvilletx.gov

THE 10TH ANNUAL TANNENBAUM BALL Dec. 9

Photo by Tom Holden

An elegant, seasonal party that includes a fabulous catered dinner; the finest wine, beer and spirits; as well as silent and live auctions featuring lavish trips and unusual items.

The evening closes with a live band playing tunes for a rockin’ dance crowd.

6:30-11:30 p.m. Dec. 9; St. Mary’s Holy Family Center, 304 W. San Antonio St., Frederickburg; 830-990-8441, pioneermuseum.net

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Hill Country CULTURE 71

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Queen Victoria hosts a retro-futuristic, steampunk adventure set in the 1800s. Be amazed by cowboys, ray guns, steam powered inventions and time machines.

Participate in the gadget, invention and costume contests.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 17; River Star Arts and Events Park, 4000 Riverside Drive, Kerrville; 214-632-5766, wildwestvictorianfest.com

LUCKENBACH CHRISTMAS BALL Dec. 16 The Christmas Ball will feature music by Gary P. Nunn and Bob Apple.

8-11 p.m. Dec. 16; Luckenbach Dance Hall, 412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg; 830-997-3224, luckenbachtexas.com

CHRISTMAS AT THE BOYHOOD HOME Dec. 17

215 Old Ingram Loop

(830)367-5020

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National Park Rangers will provide lamplight tours of the historic house, which was Lyndon Baines Johnson’s boyhood home, and will explain life in Johnson City prior to rural electrification.

6-9 p.m. Dec. 17; Elm Street, Johnson City; 830-868-7128, ext. 231

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Membership Membership at Comanche Trace offers an array of golf, social events, along with fine & casual dining, designed to enhance our beautiful community’s casually elegant lifestyle. Members can enjoy a vast number of amenities and recreational opportunities throughout the development.

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