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Check in with a cardiologist.

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Q

Contributors Questions What is your dream vacation?

Issue 35 | Are We !ere Yet? May/June 2023 Publisher Editor Associate Publisher

Victoria Wise Lee Virden Geurkink Jennifer Kieta

Hannah

Victoria

A three-month tour of Italy with private guide and future BFF Stanley Tucci.

My dream vacation would be taking the whole family on a month-long European vacation. I'd love to hit Spain, France, Italy, and Germany.

Contributing Writers Hannah Bush Julie Rhodes William Wise

Contributing Photographer

William

Andre

Trish

Andre Le

As long as my family are there with me, the destination doesn't matter all that much. Especially if the destination is Turks & Caicos.

My dream vacation is Bali, Indonesia. I've been seeing it all over social media and YouTube. I want to experience staying in one of the gorgeous villas, visit the famous Tegallalang Rice Terrace, and swing on a jungle swing.

I just returned from my dream trip exploring Italy, but when I shook off the jet lag, I started dreaming of the Royal Scotsman train across Scotland.

Illustrator Trish Wise

Lead Design

Cover Design

Conor Dardis

Victoria Wise

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com Looking for more copies Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth or Tom Thumb on Hulen Street.

Tiptoeing Through the Tulip Festival

by Lee Virden Geurkink Imagine a flat river valley, impossibly green and lush. Now imagine tulips. Millions of tulips. Tulips as far as the eye can see. Tulips of all colors and varieties.

No, you’re not in the Netherlands. You’re in the Skagit River Valley of Washington.

Rising in British Columbia in the Canadian Cascades, the Skagit (SKAJ-it) River flows down the western side of the mountains until it enters Skagit Bay, a branch of Puget Sound. Between the mountains and the bay, it meanders through the fertile Skagit Valley.

At the turn of the last century, an Englishman named George Gibbs recognized the area’s potential for growing bulbs. He wrote to Dutch horticulturalists, the acknowledged experts in tulip cultivation, to ask for their advice, but the Dutch ferociously protected their growing secrets. To pique their interest, Gibbs sent them some of the bulbs he had cultivated, and against their wills, the Dutch were greatly impressed. A delegation came to Washington to see for themselves this tulip paradise.

Over the years, more growers arrived, attracted by the rich, alluvial soil and climate that is similar to those of the Netherlands or northern France.

The Skagit Valley now produces tens of millions

Lee

Julie

There are so many – watching the aurora borealis in Finland, exploring Buenos Aires, eating my way through Singapore’s hawker markets, visiting friends in Edinburgh, taking the train from Vancouver to Lake Louise… I just need someone to pay for them.

My dream vacation involves coffee in the morning overlooking a snowy peak, with nothing to hear but birdsong and breezes, and nothing whatsoever to do or to be. Gourmet food that I don’t cook and a hammock. Wine. Long walks with great views.

Basically mountains, food, and silence.

of tulips, daffodils, and other flowers every year.

And there is no better way to experience this floral exuberance than the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

Celebrated every year since 1984 (except for 2020, when the pandemic shut it down), the Tulip Festival has, to coin a phrase, something for everyone.

Bike through miles of tulip fields. Tune up your photographic skills with a photo tour. Enjoy wine tastings and brewery tours. Visit a museum or tour a tulip farm.

Travel from DFW is relatively easy. Multiple airlines fly from DFW to Seattle every day. When my family lived in Seattle, I loved flying Alaska Airlines. The planes are some of the newest in the fleet, the tickets are less expensive, and the seats are bigger with USB ports in every seat. What’s not to love?

Rent a car at Sea-Tac. The Skagit Valley is only an hour north of the city.

To explore the Festival and tulip fields, you can stay in Mount Vernon, Burlington, La Conner, Anacortes, or, if you’re willing to drive 30 minutes, Bellingham.

My family was always partial to La Conner, a charming town along the Swinomish Channel. We stayed at the La Conner Channel Lodge, which boasts beautiful Northwest-style rooms overlooking the water. Whispering Firs B&B and Lodge in Mount Vernon is set on 250 acres overlooking Puget Sound. And Hotel Bellwether is a luxurious, boutique hotel on Bellingham Bay, only 20 minutes away from the Skagit Valley.

One of the quirkiest events during the Tulip Festival is the Tulip Rallye. Presented by the MG Car Club NW Centre, trivia and riddles replace time and distance checkpoints of traditional speed or navigation rallies. The route winds through

04

the tulip fields, and the entry fee helps the club support a local food bank. Continuing in the quirky vein, the La Conner Not So Impromptu Tulip Parade welcomes all as spectators or participants.

No entry is too small, and last-minute entries are encouraged. (Participation is a great way to embarrass your teens.)

Aside from the tulips, one of the best things about the Skagit Valley is the eating. With the freshest seafood from Puget Sound, incredible produce from local farms, and luxurious wines from Washington’s award-winning wineries, the Skagit Valley is an epicurean’s dream vacation. Nell Thorn Waterfront Bistro in La Conner features some of the Pacific Northwest’s best farm-to-table cuisine, while local chain Anthony’s has several locations in the area with the best seafood you will ever eat.

And don’t miss the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue. For a pittance, you will get gorgeous wild Pacific salmon barbecued over alder, a baked potato, slaw, garlic bread, and ice cream. It’s an insanely good value.

If you’re a shopper, La Conner and Bellingham are particularly blessed with boutiques and galleries.

My favorite bookstore in all the world is Village Books & Paper Dreams in Fairhaven Village in Bellingham. With three stories of books and gifts, this independent bookstore is a bibliophile’s dream.

Earthenworks Gallery in La Conner, located in the historic Hotel Planter, has been recognized as one of America’s top craft galleries.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs the entire month of April and is, in my humble opinion, one of the most perfect ways to celebrate the arrival of spring.

The Perfect Marriage

of Construction and Real Estate

Fort Worth Events May/June 2023

May 1-July 30 ZimSculpt: Fort Worth Botanic Garden

May 9 - 14 Tootsie: Bass Performance Hall

May 1 – May 21

May 12-14 Jurassic Quest: Fort Worth Convention Center

fwbg.org

basshall.com

jurassicquest.com

David H. Gibson (b. 1939), Sunrise Moments, Eagle Nest Lake, New Mexico August 31, 2021, 6:37:48 AM, inkjet print, Courtesy of the artist, © David H. Gibson

Morning Light, Photographs of David H. Gibson: Amon Carter Museum of American Art

FORT WORTH’S TRUSTED PARTNER WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FAMILY’S HOME! ALAN LITTENBERG Construction 817.822.9294 LEAH LITTENBERG Real Estate 817.507.8420 finepointhomes.com

Ready to get started on your next home project or looking for a trusted realtor?

Contact us today!

gofrogs.com

May 12-20 Fort Worth Foto Fest fortworthfotofest.com

May 16-18

May 4-7 Mayfest: Trinity Park May 4-May 21 Cruel Intentions, The 90’s Musical: Stage West stagewest.org

2/1/23 3:02 PM

gofrogs.com

May 6 DIY Tabletop Topiaries: Fort Worth Botanic Garden fwbg.org

We are a professional organizing company who strives to make every space beautiful, organized and functional. Each project is unique and we take pride in exceeding your expectations from start to finish.

May 6 Brooks & Dunn: Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

May 6

www.organizednest.com

Courtesy of Amphibian Stage

Stand-up Comic Residency, Sarah Schaefer: Amphibian Stage amphibianstage.com

May 18 Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles dickiesarena.com May 19-June 3 Praise the Lord and Raise the Roof: Jubilee Theatre jubileetheatre.org

WHERE EVERYTHING HAS A HOME. @theorganizednest

@organized_nest

June 4-Sept 17 Robert Motherwell, Pure Painting: The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth June 8 Pasta Making Class: Il Modo| dfwi.org

June 9 Friday on the Green: Magnolia Green Park nearsouthsidefw.org

June 19

Courtesy of Austin James

juneteenthftw.com

June 24 Kid Rock: Dickies Arena June 24 Water Lantern Festival: Panther Island Pavilion

pantherislandpavilion.com

May 7-Sep 30

May 20 Bird Walking with Fort Worth Audubon Society: Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Haydn, The Creation: Bass Performance Hall fwsymphony.org

fwbg.org

THE ORGANIZED NEST

amphibianstage.com

dickiesarena.com

Courtesy of FWSO

kimbellart.org

June 1-17 Sparkfest: Amphibian Stage

May 19-21

wildflowerfestival.com

May 6 - 28 Alice in Wonderland: Bass Performance Hall

Lives of the Gods, Divinity in Maya Art: Kimbell Art Museum

fwsymphony.org

Juneteenth

thepostatrivereast.com

Wajaat Na Chahk and a collaborator (Maya sculptors, active 8th century) Panel 3 Piedras Negras, Petén, Guatemala ca.

782–95 A.D., Courtesy of Kimbell Art Museum

Concerts in the Garden: Fort Worth Botanic Garden

May 19-21 Wildflower Arts & Music Festival: Richardson, TX

Waylon Payne: The Post

texasballettheater.org

Courtesy of FWSO

themodern.org

mayfest.org

May 5-7 TCU Baseball v Cal State: Lupton Stadium FPH_TanglewoodAd.indd 1

May 12-14 TCU Baseball v Baylor: Lupton Stadium

cartermuseum.org

Fine Point Homes believes in cutting through the confusion around your perfect home – whether that’s buying, selling, building or remodeling. We simplify the process and craft a relaxed, high quality experience.

May 26-June 11

June 27 Live Pictionary: Martin House Brewing

martinhousebrewing.com

June 27-July 2 Hadestown: Bass Performance Hall basshall.com

June 30

May 22-38 Charles Schwab Challenge: Colonial Country Club charlesschwabchallenge.com

May 23 Max Gomez: The Post thepostatrivereast.com

Courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo

Family Sleepover: Fort Worth Zoo fortworthzoo.org

Fresh Family Recipes

by Lee Virden Geurkink

Dansk Nøddetærte (Danish Nut Tart), !ree Danes Baking Company

Gnocchi with Two Sauces, Beneventi’s Italian, Mingus, Texas

This lovely nut tart from Darlene Marks of Three Danes Baking is a marriage of two special family recipes. The linsedej (pastry dough) is from Darlene’s Danish grandmother’s (Katherine Poulson) cookbook, which her mother, Erna Poulsen Marks, brought with her when she emigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1960. The filling is a recipe shared by Darlene’s Danish cousin Matilde Andersen. Mathilde got it from her mother, Lone Hørmann Andersen, who is married to Darlene’s cousin Peter Andersen.

Darlene said, “I adore this recipe… because when I make it, I am reminded that it is a collaboration of recipes shared and passed down by mothers to daughters through generations in my family. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do!”

Located in Mingus, Texas, located 70 miles west of Fort Worth, Beneventi’s Italian Restaurant serves up delicious Italian dishes made from the Auda family’s recipes. More importantly, Beneventi’s is part of the Mingus Job Accelerator, a unique on-the-job training concept for adults with IDD (intellectual developmental differences). This delicious dish can be served with either one or, if you’re feeling adventurous, both of these sauces.

Ingredients For the dough 200 grams salted butter, softened 400 grams unbleached flour 100 grams powdered sugar 1 large egg For the filling 100 grams walnuts, whole or in pieces 100 grams blanched, slivered almonds 100 grams blanched, skinless hazelnuts 100 milliliters heavy cream 50 grams salted butter 2 tablespoons honey 75 grams sugar 1 tablespoon flour

Ingredients For the gnocchi 1 kilogram potatoes, approximately 2 pounds (Editor’s Note: you can use either Russet potatoes or Yukon Golds, but I prefer Yukon Golds because they taste richer.)

300 grams or 1 ½ cups flour 1 whole egg ½ teaspoon salt Dash of nutmeg Water (measurements vary) For the crema 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon garlic paste 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup heavy cream Dash of salt 2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated

For the ragù 2 to 4 cloves garlic, finely minced 1 rib celery, strings removed and finely chopped 1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound ground beef (Editor’s Note: I used lean ground beef for this recipe.)

1 tube double-concentrated tomato paste 1 28-ounce can of petite diced tomatoes Salt to taste Dash of cinnamon (this is the Beneventi secret!)

Dash of allspice Grated parmesan cheese Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Directions

Directions

Mix all the ingredients for the dough together using your hands, until it comes together in a ball. Place the ball of dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. This is very important!

For the gnocchi Either boil or bake the potatoes. Discard the skins and mash until smooth using either an immersion blender or by hand. (Editor’s Note: I use a ricer when making gnocchi. If you use an immersion blender, pay attention so you don’t over-blend and get gummy potatoes.)

Preheat the oven to 350° F. On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough out into a round shape (about an inch larger than your tart pan) and place in the tart pan. If you are making mini tarts, cut the dough using a 5-inch round cutter into 6 circles and place into the mini tart pans. The dough should cover the bottom and about halfway up the sides of your tart pan(s).

Mix the walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts together and spread them on top of the dough in the tart pan(s).

In a small saucepan, heat the cream, butter, honey, sugar, and flour over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Cook gently for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the dry ingredients dissolve.

Pour the liquid ingredients over the nuts in the tart pan(s).

Place the mashed potatoes in a mixer with a dough hook. With the mixer on slow, add in the flour, egg, salt, and nutmeg.

Slowly add in enough water until the mixture has turned into a workable dough. Remove from the mixer onto a floured surface. Pat the dough into a large slab measuring about ½ to ¾ inch thick. Cut 1-inch strips, dusting with flour to avoid sticking. For the strips into a semi-roll lengthwise and cut into ½-inch pieces.

To cook the gnocchi, place the gnocchi in a pot of salted, rapidly boiling water.

The gnocchi will float to the top when cooked thoroughly, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and season appropriately, depending on the sauce you choose. (See directions for sauces below.)

For the crema sauce In a skillet or sauté pan, melt the butter in the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic paste and cook for about a minute, or until you can smell the garlic.

Add the heavy cream and salt and bring to almost a boil over medium-high heat. Add in the grated parmesan cheese and stir until thickened. Toss the cooked gnocchi in the sauce and add more grated parmesan.

For the ragù In a large saucepan or sauté pan over medium heat, sauté the garlic, celery, and carrot in the olive oil until tender. Add the ground beef and brown. Stir in the tomato paste and then add the petite diced tomatoes, salt, and cinnamon.

Allow the sauce to simmer for at least an hour. To serve the gnocchi with ragù, place the cooked gnocchi in a bowl and sprinkle with a dash of allspice and another dash of cinnamon. Add a generous grating of parmesan cheese and toss with a heaving ladle of ragù.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crusts brown, and the filling is bubbly. Remove the tart(s) from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting. This can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

Makes one 9-inch tart or six 4-inch mini tarts.

06

lllustrations by Trish Wise

Listen, I get it. You got married years ago. You’re reading this article because Tuscany is romantic, and weddings are romantic, and you want a little of that romance back.

Tips for a

Terrific Tuscan Wedding

by Julie Rhodes

Or because your daughter has announced plans for an international elopement, and you’re scrambling to be involved.

Or you, the bride, were just planning a “small thing” with a “few people,” but you’re dreaming.

Unless…

Unless a terrific Tuscan wedding might, in fact, be possible!

I can’t take credit for knowing that it’s possible or about terrific Tuscan weddings in general, but my dearest pseudo-daughter/former nanny Courtney sure does. I’m borrowing her top-level expertise so that we might live vicariously through Courtney and her darling fiancée, Taylor, as they plan her October wedding.

Join me on a brief flight of fancy to the rolling vineyards, blue skies, and persistent pasta comas of northern Italy while I talk tips.

Hire an Italian wedding planner.

When there is a language barrier, you need a native speaker. Period.

Courtney tried contacting venues herself, but she quickly discovered when the word “wedding” came tumbling from her all-American lips, the prices skyrocketed.

After interviewing ten, count ‘em, TEN, wedding planners, Courtney and Taylor decided on Danila from DAMA Wedding.

The key to finding Danila and the other good candidates were the Facebook groups Courtney joined. People are more than happy to give advice on social media, and it shouldn’t take long to connect with fellow romantics in the Meta-verse.

Communicate with your guests EARLY. Brace yourself: there will be a lot of “nos.” Asking people to fly to Italy for a wedding is a BIG ask, but those who really care will find a way to make it happen – if you catch them early enough. For an October 2023 wedding, Courtney and Taylor started sharing their grand plan with friends and family in July of 2022.

How you frame a destination wedding is important. Try suggesting that the wedding can be part of that European trip they’ve been planning since before the pandemic. If guests feel free to “choose their own adventure,” you’ll get more “yeses.”

Familiarize yourself with travel credit cards and correct documentation.

If you’ve never traveled internationally, get an airline credit card with a large international presence (American, Delta, or United), and a secondary card that gives you other perks.

The cards should be widely accepted in Europe but shouldn't have foreign transaction fees. Also, research the travel documentation required for the countries you’re visiting. You don’t want to show up at a foreign airport only to be told that because your passport expires in 3 months, you cannot fly home.

Julie’s Tip Within a Tip: If there is a language difference, free apps like Duolingo are a great tool to help familiarize yourself with the language of your destination.

Go see your options. In person.

I know. You’re already paying a lot of money for your terrific Tuscan wedding, and now I’m asking you to go twice? Yes. Yes, I am.

Courtney and Taylor visited Italy in late September of 2022 (about a year out from their target wedding date) to tour venues. They claim it was by far one of the best things they did. The scouting trip forced them to think about things like the availability of air conditioning and an on-site restaurant. They were able to decide if they wanted to request that everyone stay at the resort.

There’s a lot to think about, but once you’re feeling the storied Tuscan sun on your face, you’ll be in a much better position to make informed decisions that will impact your loved ones who are paying a lot to come to your wedding.

Create a wedding email account.

The first thing Courtney did when they got engaged was to create a free Gmail account for the wedding correspondence, and she claims it’s a lifesaver. Both she and Taylor can access it, and they are able to store vendor contracts on the Google Drive attached to the email.

*BONUS TIP* Get married BEFORE you leave.

Yes. You read that right. Getting legally married outside of the US is quite an ordeal and far more expensive than you think. Save yourself the stress and pay a visit to the courthouse the week before you leave so you can enjoy your truly magical Italian wedding without added hassle and cost. (It’ll be an excuse for two anniversary gifts in years to come!)

Buona fortuna!

A Trip to Paradise

by William Wise

There are a few generally accepted ideas of what paradise is. Some think paradise is a quiet lakeshore cabin in the wood.

Others think it’s a quaint hamlet nestled in a dramatic mountain landscape, while still others claim beautifully white, sandy beaches, gin-clear water, and copious sunshine are the components that make up a proper paradise.

Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is a British Overseas Territory of about forty low-lying corral islands sprinkled in the Atlantic Ocean, just southeast of the Bahamas. I’m here to say that Grace Bay on the north shore of the island of Providenciales is, in fact, paradise. At least, it’s as close as we can get in this lifetime.

Think I’m wrong? Go and see for yourself. And you should consider staying at Windsong on the Reef. A quiet resort with well-appointed rooms and suites, Windsong isn’t the most glamorous resort on Grace Bay. It isn’t a party spot or a see-and-be-seen destination. It isn’t a stationary cruise ship with loud restaurants and shows six times a day. It is a beautiful little hotel on a picture-postcard beach with

a very good restaurant and bar, a peaceful pool, an impeccable staff, and its own natural coral reef for worldclass snorkeling. It can be all-inclusive, and unlike many all-inclusive resorts, the food is fantastic and the drinks aren’t watered down. In fact, with its gorgeous dune seating, the restaurant is a destination in itself. Windsong is perhaps the perfect lodging for a family trip to paradise. Just a suggestion.

Getting to paradise is easy. American flies non-stop from DFW, and most resorts will have shuttles. If you plan on staying on the resort property of your choice, with only the occasional dinner or shopping excursion, don’t rent a car.

Be aware, however, that taxi fare on Providenciales is larcenous. Paradise isn’t free. If you plan on dining out a lot or cruising around town, renting a vehicle may be the way to go.

As for dining and shopping, there are luxury jewelry shops, basic T-shirt shops, and everything in between; restaurants range from street food to fine dining. There are a few restaurants you should absolutely visit: Da Conch Shack, Hemingway’s, and especially Coco Bistro.

Food and shopping are great, but the stars of paradise are the beaches and the water. According to TripAdvisor, Grace Bay Beach is one of the top five beaches in the world.

Most of the resorts have snorkeling gear, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards for use by guests. Windsong and other resorts also have Hobie Cats catamarans for guests to sail in the bay.

If you want to explore farther afield, there is no shortage of tour companies offering everything from parasailing and guided scuba/snorkeling trips to deep sea fishing and catamaran outings. I highly suggest a half-day trip with Caicos Dream Tours. Enjoy snorkeling on a giant reef where to see beautiful coral formations and sea life. The tour stops for an hour or so of exploration on Iguana Island, which is aptly named. Caicos Dream Tours boats can be described as party barges.

There is loud music and alcohol, but it is totally appropriate for kids of all ages. They serve lunch and nonalcoholic beverages, too.

Finally, you really should charter a private boat for a day and cruise to North Caicos Island. (Trust me on this.)

Be sure to stop at a local spot called

08

Seashell Beach. As you will discover, it, like Iguana Island, is aptly named. Your guide can point out the remnants of an old British army fort, and you can even see sunken cannons. If you’re lucky, you might come upon some dolphins to swim with. We did, and it was mindblowingly incredible.

If you’re feeling adventurous, and if you’re a bit of a bird nerd, you can rent a car on North Caicos, which is rather rustic, and drive out to see flamingos by the millions roosting on a huge inland lake called Flamingo Pond. This is also aptly named – the good people of TCI don’t waste their time on fancy nomenclature.

Speaking of the islanders, they are friendly and helpful. They know you’re there to relax, have fun, and spend money. They will offer you whatever they think you might buy, but as tourism is the basis of the TCI economy, you should support these lovely people and buy mementos of your trip.

Or you may decide to never leave. It is paradise, after all.

There Aren’t Enough Apples in the World to Show our Gratitude At First Financial Bank, we understand how important teachers are to our community. Teachers shape the future and set the tone for future generations. Teachers putting others First is a source of inspiration, and something we should all aspire to. So to all teachers, we simply say, “thank you.”

First Financial Bank wishes all of our Fort Worth Teachers a wonderful summer!

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She'll Figure It Out...

by Lee Virden Geurkink Cover photo by Andre Le

“”

“Wanderlust (ˈwɑːn.dɚ.lʌst), noun: the wish to travel far away and to many different places” - Cambridge Dictionary When we met for coffee at Press Cafe on a sunny spring morning, Kate Team apologized for being a little flustered. Considering that she was two weeks away from a 23-hour-long trip as a solo parent with her young children, she was the model of calm.

“We’re flying from DFW to Japan and from there to Singapore. It’s going to be 23 hours or more traveling, and three days before my husband meets us and we go on to Bali. But I’ll figure it out.”

Let me say here that Kate’s two daughters are three and five. I’m flustered for her.

“I’ll figure it out” seems to be Kate’s mantra. A property manager who ran her own company before becoming a popular family travel blogger, Kate is good at figuring things out. However, as anyone who follows her Instagram account, @adiosteam, knows, a great deal of research and planning happens before each trip so that she can figure things out.

The travel bug bit Kate early. She and her siblings grew up going to the beach or the mountains. “I’m the youngest of four, and we wouldn’t go far [as my family goes now]. We’d go to the Caribbean, and my sister and I would stay on the beach while my brothers would go diving. Or we’d take road trips to Colorado or Myrtle Beach. We learned to be good travelers.”

As I grew up going on road trips every summer, we spent a minute marveling at how different road trips are now. “They’re so different,” Kate laughed. “We didn’t have to be in car seats!” I said that we didn’t have tablets to play games or watch movies – your choices for entertainment were limited to reading a book, looking out the window, or, horror of horrors, talking to your family. “We did have Gameboys,” Kate admitted. “But we also listened to a lot of CDs as we drove across West Texas!”

10

The Fort Worth native went to Trinity Valley School.

Then, as now, the school had a global presence, and Kate’s family often had foreign exchange students staying with them. “Also, in eighth grade, I did an Outward Bound trip with the school. We had to get special permission to go [because] I was one of two eighth grade girls to go with the high schoolers to Costa Rica. It was a really great trip.”

I asked Kate if she had done a study abroad in college. “Oh, yes!” she said as a huge smile blossomed on her face. “I did a semester internship in London.” (We both agreed that London is one of our favorite cities in the world.)

research, though – I knew to bring my own cup because they only use tiny cups for beer! But really, that was the start. We had so much fun, and we got along really well. So we started going on trips.”

This naturally led to me asking about their honeymoon. After all, two world travelers should surely have had a pretty amazing honeymoon.

They did.

Singapore

“I was a public relations [major] at the time. I ended up switching to marketing, but I did the PR internship, and it was so fun.” Kate continued, “Although it was counted as a study abroad, it was really an internship; I had to interview and everything. I swear I was hired because I was from Texas.”

Unlike more traditional study abroad programs, Kate actually had to go to work five days a week.

However, she spent the evenings and weekends exploring the nooks and crannies of London. “The only problem with being an intern is that you can’t travel like other study abroad students. But London is so much fun. I loved it.”

“We went to Thailand, and I planned the whole thing.” Kate said proudly. “I got into serious planning because I tried to get a travel agent to plan our trip. I said I didn’t want to Phuket and all the usual tourist stuff, and the itineraries we got were to Phuket. I could tell it was just a premade trip with nothing that I had asked for.

“I was in property management then, and one of my owners was living in Singapore. I started getting recommendations, and I just figured it out.

That was the first big trip I planned.”

After a pause, Kate said, “I’m already talking to my kids about college. I don’t want them to be so close.

I mean, I don’t want them to go to St. Andrews [University, in Scotland], but I just don’t want to run into my daughter in the grocery store! Margaret did say that she wants to ‘go to college where Mardi Gras is,’ so that could work. We’ll figure it out.”

Considering her children are, at three (Louise, aka Weezie) and five (Margaret), seasoned international travelers, I have no doubt that they will figure it out.

Given Kate’s obvious love of travel, I asked if her husband, Craig, liked to travel as much as she does.

It’s safe to say that he does.

“Five months into dating, we decided to go to Mexico.” Kate said, laughing as I almost choked on my coffee. “Yeah, that was the start. We did a cheap, everything-included trip. I had done my

I asked why she goes to such trouble to travel with her children when her mother is clearly happy to take care of them. I mean, I love my children, but traveling with them as toddlers and preschoolers was almost aways an exercise in frustration that wrung us all out.

Kate didn’t hesitate a moment. “Travel shows you that you’re not the center of the universe,” she smiled. “Everyone else is on the same trip, so you can’t expect the world to revolve around you. It opens your eyes to other people.”

From solo traveler to a traveling duo to travel family, Kate knows how to explore the world. Watch her Instagram Stories. She’s insanely organized. She’s done the research. (I secretly think she loves the researching almost as much as the actual traveling.)

She thinks through each moment of the trip she’s planned and is prepared for anything that can go wrong. And if not, well, she’ll figure it out.

“We were three weeks away from a big trip to Europe when I found out I was pregnant. We’d been planning that trip for a year. I’d gotten reservations for restaurants that I was dying to go to. It was something of a shock,” Kate said.

“When we got back and announced [the pregnancy], over and over I heard, ‘Well, it’s a good thing you traveled when you did!’ Everyone said it was over,” Kate frowned as she remembered.

“Then right after we had the baby, we had two trips come up. My sister-in-law was graduating in New Orleans… and one of my husband’s friends was getting married in New York… I was scared, but we figured it out. People were shocked that we brought the baby, but it was great. I got my hair done for the wedding with her on my lap.”

She did admit that traveling with her kids has, by necessity, changed as they have gotten older. I asked about nap time.

Kate admitted that she didn’t tour colleges when she was looking and is a little sorry about that. “We didn’t tour schools. I went to Texas Tech – I saw a brochure and said, ‘Okay.’ I mean, I really thrived in college, and I graduated early, and because I graduated early, I met my husband, so it all worked out.”

I’m exhausted just typing that.

Needless to say, it wasn’t the last.

We agreed that traveling with infants is infinitely easier than traveling once the little darlings are mobile. Babies are portable, after all, and as Kate reminded me, “If you travel when you’re breastfeeding, you’ll have to pump if you don’t take them, so why not take them?”

Paris

before going on to Gili Air, one of several islands across the Lombok Strait. From Gili Air, they will go back to Ubud and then onto Seoul for a couple of days before heading back home.

“Some travel families nap on the go, but my kids do better with a dedicated nap time,” Kate said. “We go hard in the morning, and then we have a quiet time. My husband can work or rest, and I go and shop or just have a couple of hours by myself. Or we switch. We learned early if the kids are overtired, it rains on everybody’s, and I mean everybody’s parade.”

Another great tip that Kate shared is that the family always stays in a suite or apartment. “The kids go to bed around 7:15,” Kate said. “We have an extra room or a balcony so that we can sit together and have our time. My husband always finds a wine store and gets a few bottles. We listen to music and just be together without the children.”

I asked if Kate and Craig ever travel by themselves now. She grinned. “Of course! Once a year, we travel without the kids. My mom moved back from California in 2021… so she watches the grandkids while we do four days here and there. We did Mexico City because we like to eat all the food, and I want to do all the cultural things. I mean, I can’t imagine doing a beach trip without my kids (beach trips are easy!), but in Mexico City, we wanted to go to Michelin-starred restaurants.”

The trip that Kate was preparing for is, technically, a beach trip. After spending four days in Singapore, the Teams are flying to Bali. They’ll stay in Ubud

11

San Miguel de Allende

What are the five things you ABSOLUTELY MUST have when traveling with toddlers?

1. A lightweight stroller that you can store in the overhead bin or gate check. Having a stroller in the airport is great for tired kiddos.

2. A carrier. I’ve been using the Ergobaby carrier since my girls were days old, and I still always take it on trips. It’s great to use when you travel to destinations that aren’t stroller-friendly, like Montmartre in Paris or San Miguel de Allende.

3. Travel blackout curtains to help with sleep.

4. A “snackle” box. It’s essentially a tackle box filled with snacks. The flight attendants always compliment it.

5. A sound machine for naps and bedtime. This gives my husband and me some time to listen to music while hanging out in a separate room.

What spots are you dreaming of visiting?

1. Antarctica 2. A safari in Africa 3. Egypt 4. Patagonia 5. Vietnam BUT… my bucket list is constantly changing!

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Far and Away

Cape Town The oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town is frequently described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Nestled between the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean in the far southwest corner of South Africa, Cape Town (originally named Cape of Good Hope) was established as a waystation by the Dutch East India Company for ships to refuel and restock on the way to the Dutch East Indies. Table Mountain, with its “tablecloth” of clouds, is a beautiful backdrop for this dynamic city.

by Madeworthy Staff For the past several of our travel issues, the Madeworthy staff has worked with travel agents and local explorers to bring you expert advice on places to stay, activities to do, and things to see in various cities. Our first year, we focused on Texas cities. Last year, we widened our scope to cities across the United States. This year, we go international.

To figure out which cities we should focus on, the staff sat down and did some serious daydreaming. We talked about places we’ve been that we want to visit again and about trips that are on our bucket lists. We dreamed BIG. We settled on three trips, and we reached out to our experts to give us the scoop on each one. We hope you enjoy!

Travelers of all kinds, from outdoor adventurers to oenophiles, from surfers to history buffs (Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27-year prison sentence, is near the city), Cape Town has a more than a little something for everyone.

Kaleigh Kirkpatrick of The Shameless Tourist has some great suggestions for enjoying Cape Town.

Best time to visit October to March to enjoy the beaches

Must-visit restaurants La Colombe & Fyn

Best splurge hotel The Silo (favorite hotel ever!)

Nightlife can't-miss Honestly, I don't really recommend going out at night in Cape Town unless you are in the V&A Waterfront. I know there is good nightlife, but safety after dark is questionable at night. [Editor’s note: Cape Town is a large city. Exercise the same level of caution as you would in any large city around the world.]

Best value hotel Cape Grace Hotel Best touristy must-do V&A Waterfront, Chapman's Peak Best local haunts The Gin Bar & Honest Chocolate Shop (Chocolate in the Front of the shop, Gin Bar in the back) Best shopping areas The Watershed

Ecuador From the lush Amazonian jungle to the snow-capped Andes to the biological diversity of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is a country of contrasts. It is home to two cities with UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites (Quito and Cuenca), as well as two UNESCO World Heritage Natural Sites (the Galapagos Islands and Sangay National Park) and one World Biosphere Reserve (the Cajas Massif). Quito, the capital, is one of the best-preserved colonial capitals in the Americas.

Paola Wollmann, a local explorer, gave us the lowdown on Ecuador.

Best time to visit depends on the activities you want to do • • • • •

Mountains – September to March Coastline – December to April Jungle – December to March Galapagos – December to May Other provinces and the capital – All year

Best Splurge Hotels • Mashpi Lodge Ecuador (Quito) • Las Tanusas (Puerto Cayo, you have to try Bocavaldivia, the restaurant!)

• Finch Bay (Galapagos Islands) • Casa Gargontena (historic Quito center) Best Touristy Must-Dos: • Stay at Hacienda el Porvenir and do the full experience (horses, delicious Ecuadorian meals, hikes around the area) • Go to see the stunning glacier in Cayambe (you need a tour guide for this) • Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort (natural hot springs) • Galapagos islands, obviously • Sacha Eco Lodge (the best meals I ever had, amazing cabins, super-fun activities like white water rafting and tourism to local Amazon jungle communities)

Best way to get around town Rent a car What necessities to pack Adaptors, hiking boots (for Table Mountain National Park), swimwear (for the beach)

River Cruise through Germany, Austria, & Hungary When we reached out to travel agent Angie Garcia-Lavin of Mouse O’Clock Travel for this issue, she suggested a European river cruise. She had done a seven-night cruise down the Danube from Germany, through Austria, to Hungary to explore the area’s famed Christmas markets.

“River cruises are very different from ocean cruises,” Angie said. “Ocean cruises are known for activities onboard like casinos, huge water slides, bars, and restaurants. The focus on many ocean cruises is the SHIP… River cruises through Europe are a totally different focus. The ship is your luxury hotel that sails to a different city and culture each day. The shore times are usually much longer and can include tours of the local cities so that you can really experience the culture of each area.”

Best time to visit For Christmas Markets, you can go as early as the end of November all through December… Keep in mind that many countries do celebrate the holidays and if you go closer to the actual Christmas holiday, some tourist attractions may be closed.

Best touristy must-do On a river cruise, visit all the churches and cathedrals to see the beautiful buildings and architecture. You'll be able to stop at all the well-known sites and buildings that are world famous.

Best local haunts On our tour we added the pre-stay in Prague… Prague is one of the few cities that survived the bombings of World War II, so there are parts of the streets that are just breathtaking. The ship crew is generally locals who can give you the best

13

advice on where to eat or visit for each stop as well.

Best shopping areas Visit the Christkindl Markets at every stop.

Each area has its own food and drink and specialty hand-crafted ornaments.

Nightlife can't-miss Check the ship itinerary and plan to take in as much or as little as you prefer.

Best way to get around town Most of our tours and excursions had transport provided for us. Otherwise, we walked.

What necessities to pack Passport, camera, layers of clothes, translation device or dictionary, passport style wallet to wear safely under clothes, boots in case it snows.

Be Enchanted in Taos

by William Wise

Two Day Itinerary

The Blake at Taos Ski Valley

Rottenstone Pottery in Arroyo Seco

New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment for a reason. There is a subtle, unnamable magic about it. You can’t quite put a finger on it, but you can feel it, and it will put you under its spell.

In Albuquerque, this magic might be tough to discern, but it’s noticeable in Santa Fe. In Taos though, it’s palpable. Taos is smaller, more rustic, and slower-paced than Santa Fe. Its collection of galleries, shops, hotels, and dining options pales in comparison to what you will find in the state capitol, but the mystical New Mexico spirit is closer to the surface.

Taos is just less commercial and more… authentic.

It’s also a fantastic two-day getaway, for two days is really all you need.

Getting to Taos is not quite as easy as getting to Santa Fe. It isn’t difficult, though, and yields great rewards. It’s about a 10-hour drive from Fort Worth, an hour-and-a-half drive from Santa Fe, or two-anda-half hours from Albuquerque. There are shuttles from both cities if you don’t want to rent a car, and there are also flights out of Love Field to Taos Regional Airport, which has free shuttles to town or the ski area.

Speaking of skiing… Yes, we are aware this is our May/June issue and ski season is a long way off, but it’s never too early to start planning. Taos Ski Valley offers world-class skiing in a breathtaking setting. The mountain isn’t huge, but there’s plenty of terrain for anyone. From sweeping groomers to seriously steep and difficult terrain, when the snow is good, Taos does not disappoint. Couple the fantastic skiing with a pretty base area with plenty of dining, shopping, and lodging options, and Taos Ski Valley is itself a compelling destination. But with the ski hill only 20 minutes from town, it’s easy to have the best of both worlds.

The town of Taos itself is situated at the base of the beautiful Sangre De Cristo mountains. It is bracketed to the north by Taos Pueblo, a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and to the south by Ranchos de Taos, a census-designated place also known as Old Town.

Like pretty much every historic town in New Mexico, Taos has a town square, or plaza.

Surrounding the Taos Plaza are shops and galleries, as well as the Hotel La Fonda de Taos. Frequent Santa Fe visitors will recognize the name, and as in Santa Fe, the Taos La Fonda is a great place to call home during your adventure. Other lodging options include The Blake at Taos Ski Valley for those with few, er, budgetary constraints. In town, Taos Valley Lodge is a fun and affordable option housed in a remodeled 1960s-era motel with perhaps the best coffee shop in town.

Kit Carson Street, named for the famed frontiersman (who is buried about five minutes away from the Taos Plaza), boasts a small but engaging collection of shops and galleries. Be sure to go to tea.o.graphy for a delicious variety of teas and the friendliest shopkeepers around. The Benedictine Monastery of San Juan Diego has a gift shop on Kit Carson, where the monks sell their handmade soaps and leather goods, as well as devotional items. It’s a great way to shop local and support the local monastic community.

San Francisco de Asis

Other shops you should not miss include Boxie Tees for an attractive collection of women’s apparel and accessories. Bryan’s Gallery is the place for Native American art and jewelry. On your way from town to the ski area is a little village called Arroyo Seco (don’t blink!) that is home to Rottenstone Pottery, an eclectic pottery studio that’s well worth a visit.

There are dining options aplenty in Taos but be sure to indulge Northern New Mexican cuisine while you’re there. Be sure to try Antonio’s the Taste of Mexico. Antonio’s has a small dining room so call ahead or prepare to wait. Other New Mexican cuisine options include Doc Martin’s in the historic Taos Inn and the delicious Guadalajara Grill. Martyr’s Steakhouse is a great choice for finer dining. For breakfast, you must go to Michael’s Kitchen. The wait can be long, but it’s worth it.

Michael’s also has a fantastic bakery for grab-andgo pastries and coffee. A single cinnamon roll will likely feed your entire tribe.

Be sure to make time to explore. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, 10 minutes outside of town, spans an 800-foot-deep gorge that will take your breath away. It is truly stunning. Park at the end of the bridge and walk out onto it to get the full effect.

Afraid of heights? Wait in the car. Ranchos de Taos is home to the historically significant 17th-century San Francisco de Asis Catholic Mission Church. A painting of the church by Georgia O’Keefe hangs in Fort Worth’s own Amon Carter Museum.

DAY ONE ················ Lunch at Martyr’s Steakhouse ········ Visit the shops and galleries on Kit Carson Street and around the Plaza ········ Drive out to the Rio Grande Gorge and catch the sunset on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains ········ Enjoy drinks and dinner on Doc Martin’s patio DAY TWO ················ Breakfast at Michael’s Kitchen – be sure to buy some pastries for a snack ········ Visit Ranchos de Taos and San Francisco de Asis Church ········ Lunch at Guadalajara Grill Visit Taos Pueblo and just absorb the sacred ········ Dinner at Antonio’s the Taste of Mexico SKI TRIP ITINERARY ················ Head straight to the ski area and don’t leave unless you’re dining in town.

Stop at Rottenstone Pottery in Arroyo Seco on your way out.

A trip to Taos Pueblo is illuminating. The Pueblo is one of 19 pueblos in New Mexico and maintains the traditional Puebloan way of life. There is no electricity or running water in the Pueblo. All Puebloans, including the children, speak Tiwa, the language of their ancestors. The Pueblo is open to visitors most days but closes at night and for ceremonies. A visit to the Pueblo is a visit to a different country. You are on Pueblo land. It is a sacred place.

The Land of Enchantment can feel over-touristy sometimes. But if you seek it out, if you allow yourself to see and hear rather than simply look and listen, there’s an energy, a holiness, a spiritual depth within the rich and diverse culture of New Mexico, and it’s not too hard to find in Taos.

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The World Is a Book

by Lee Virden Geurkink I’m a reader. I love to immerse myself in a book, wandering through the book’s locations in my imagination. Whether it’s climbing the wooden steps at Barbary Lane with Mouse on my way to dinner with Mrs. Madrigal or following Gerry as he explores Corfu, I am right there with my favorite character in my mind, experiencing the location with them. And if I ever visit a city that figures prominently in a beloved book, you can be sure that I visit the locales mentioned by the author.

Juliet's Balcony, Verona, Italy Literary tourism is not a new thing. Upper-class European men (and later women) of means and ranking would take a “grand tour” through Europe. The Grand Tour was supposed to be a complete immersion in art, music, architecture, and literature to educate and give depth to shallow youths. Tourists would flock to Florence to walk in the footsteps of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. Verona has long capitalized on its ties to Romeo and Juliet. (If you go to Verona, be aware that “Juliet’s Balcony” was added to the façade of a 13th-century house in 1937 as a set for George Cukor’s film of the Shakespearean tragedy.) Literary tours continue to this day, as you will see.

Did you watch the Masterpiece Theater series, The Durrells in Corfu? This popular show was based on a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels by renowned naturalist and conservationist Gerald Durrell. The trilogy, consisting of My Family and Other Animals; Birds, Beasts and Relatives; and Fauna and Family (published in the United Kingdom as The Garden of the Gods) recounts the four bucolic years that Durrell spent on the Greek island of Corfu with his family before World War II erupted and sent the family hurrying back to England.

Gerald Durrell was the youngest of four siblings.

His stories of life with Larry (the famed novelist

Lawrence Durrell), Leslie, Margo, and Mother, as well as his dogs, Roger, Widdle, and Puke, and assorted wildlife Gerald adopts are some of the funniest you will ever read. Seriously, I can’t read these books in public because I invariably end up laughing until I’m crying. And thanks to the television series, a new generation has come to appreciate Durrell's books.

Fortunately for all of us Durrellites, we can tour Corfu and visit many of the sites mentioned. We can see the Strawberry Pink Villa and the Daffodil Yellow Villa, two of the places the Durrells lived.

We can wander across the Chessboard Fields near Lake Chalikiopoulou, where Gerry would wait for the tortoises to emerge in the spring. We can wander along Pontikonisi, or Mouse Island, and get coffee in Corfu’s Old Town. There are several tour companies on the island who are devoted solely to the Durrells' idyllic stay on this magical island.

Maupin used San Francisco as essentially a character in the books, with locations like Russian Hill, Grace Cathedral, and Jackson Square adding color and realism to the books. I’ve read these books so often, I can walk in the footsteps of Mouse, Mary Ann, and Mrs. Madrigal in my mind.

My mother is an Austenite. She loves the books of Jane Austen with a passion that has not dimmed. While I am not quite as much of a fan as my mother, millions of others are. Jane Austen was a brilliant writer. Walter Scott, in an anonymous review of Emma, praised Austen’s realism, her "art of copying from nature as she really exists in the common walks of life, and presenting to the reader, instead of the splendid scenes from an imaginary world, a correct and striking representation of that which is daily taking place around him.”

For those who want to walk in their footsteps in real life, don’t despair. Lovers of the books (and of both the PBS series and the later Netflix series) can either visit the books’ locations by themselves or take a guided tour. There are several companies that offer “Tales Tours.” Be sure to climb the Macondray Steps, the inspiration for the Barbary Lanes Steps in the novels. Or fly a kite where Anna and Edgar did on Ocean Beach, adjacent to Golden Gate Park. The possibilities to experience Maupin’s San Francisco are almost endless.

With the enduring popularity of Austen’s books, there are naturally many companies that offer tours of “Austen’s England.” Do you want to explore Austen’s life? You can tour both Steventon, the small village in Hampshire where Austen grew up, and Chawton, 15 miles away, where the house where Austen wrote all six of her novels is now a museum. Or perhaps you’d prefer to visit Bath and explore the settings of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Chatsworth House, the Derbyshire seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, is one of the estates that claims to be the inspiration for “Pemberley,” Mr. Darcy’s stately home in Pride and Prejudice. Another is Lyme Park, former home of the Legh family, in Cheshire. Austenites can visit both houses and decide for themselves.

When I was in college, my roommate introduced me to Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City.”

This series of books was originally published as a serial of newspaper installments, starting in 1978, and follows a group of friends in San Francisco.

Old Town, Corfu, Greece

16

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

James Joyce's statue, Dublin, Ireland So when planning your next trip, why not think about the books you love. Visit James Joyce’s Dublin or The Lost Generation’s Paris. Follow in the footsteps of Spencer as you tour Boston or find out where Hogwarts really is. Literary tours are a wonderful way to see a location and will add depth to your next re-reading of your favorite books.

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Fort Worth's Ultimate Bucket List

by William Wise

Do you have a travel bucket list?

Either one you’ve written down or one that just resides in your head.

Maybe you’re a planner and have a spreadsheet with separate tabs, timelines, and packing lists for each bucket list item. Or maybe you’re more of a daydreamer, and the things you’d like to do before you kick it float serenely by like clouds, changing shape as they go.

Maybe you dream of going on an African safari, or taking a dip in the Ganges, or kissing your significant other in front of the Eiffel Tower. Those are all wonderful ideas, but for most of us, far-flung adventures are relatively few and often too far between. Regardless of what’s on your bucket list, many items likely fall into the “Some Day” category, so we suggest you consider expanding that list to include some local list items that you may not have considered. You need is a local bucket list.

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die is essentially that: a Fort Worth bucket list. Written by well-known local writer and third-generation Fort Worthian, Celestina Blok, and published

by Reedy Press as part of a nationwide series, 100 Things To Do In Fort Worth Before You Die may just be the definitive guide to exploring our fair burg. At the very least, it is an enlightening collection of activities to satisfy your peripatetic longings. Of course, there are things in the

Eric Marion: Our Jerky making journey began from receiving a gift from my brother Ron… the recipe for the original beef jerky flavor. It began as a hobby, and friends and family loved the finished product.

Made in Fort Worth: Uncle Ron's Beef Jerky

MW: What made you decide to start making jerky as a business?

EM: I was a member of Corporate America for many years. After my position with the company ended, I found myself in need of work… I knew I had to pivot my career. I had this recipe for beef jerky that everyone loved. My wife and I decided to start this journey. I quickly adapted new recipes and flavors to provide a variety of options available for all.

For our travel issue, we thought we would feature a company that makes the original travel snack – beef jerky. The process of seasoning and drying meat not only prevents meat from spoiling, it makes it supremely portable. And delicious!

We spoke with Darlene and Eric Marion, the owners of Uncle Ron’s Beef Jerky. You may have come across the Marions at various farmers markets around the area, or you may have stopped at their brick-and-mortar location on Westcreek Drive. If so, you know that their jerky makes the perfect travel snack, full of flavor and protein to keep you going all day long.

Madeworthy: How did your jerky-making journey begin? Was it a hobby first?

MW: How is the jerky made?

Smoked? Dried? Both? Other? What is the difference?

EM: Our jerky starts as a slab of beef.

It is then cut into half, and from there it is cut into steaks. Then all fat and

book that you’ve already done.

I mean who hasn’t had a margarita on Joe T’s patio? Many of us have done that this week, some of you twice. Or thrice.

While you will certainly recognize a good number of the Things, there will be several surprises and perhaps even a few headscratchers. For instance, did you know Fort Worth is home to the second-longest-burning light bulb on Earth? Now you do!

(You’re welcome.) You’ll have to read the book to discover where to track down this marvel of notso-modern science.

Did you know when you’re the first in line at the beautifully renovated Isis Theater in the Stockyards, you get to choose the movie everyone will watch? No pressure.

When was the last time you took the family bowling at Cowtown Bowl on River Oaks Boulevard?

Or spent a day swimming and picnicking at Burger’s Lake, home to the most professional roster of lifeguards west of the Pacific Ocean? Have you ever counted alligators at the Fort Worth Nature Center or taken a flight in a WWIIera warbird? You can do all that and about 93 other things without ever crossing I-820.

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die crosses generations. It will entertain you, your parents, your kids, and your grandkids for years. When outof-town guests begin to verge on wearing out their welcome, hand them the book and challenge

blood pockets are removed by hand.

Once that’s done, it’s hand sliced into strips and dropped into marinade.

[After marinating], it’s then loaded in the dehydrator piece by piece…

While you can find 100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die for purchase in the travel book section of that online retailer, we suggest buying locally at Monkey & Dog Books, Jabo’s Ace Hardware, or if you must, at Barnes & Nobel and Walgreen’s stores.

However, the best way to get your hands on one is to buy a signed copy directly from Celestina Blok on her Instagram page, @100thingsfortworth, and it won’t cost you a dime more. Be sure to follow Celestina on Instagram so she can remind you about recurring and time-sensitive items on the list, like Angelo’s annual anniversary celebration on St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer and barbecue, yeehaw!

Your bucket list doesn’t have to be a repository of only difficult to attain “someday” dreams. Keep it local and pursue some of those things that are easy to cross off the list. After all, isn’t that what lists are for? You’ll get a feeling of accomplishment and have a truckload of fun.

By the way, I take mine frozen with salt.

EM: Besides jerky, we sell a variety of trail mixes. We also offer chocolatecovered walnuts, pecans, and almonds… T-Shirts and gift packages are also available.

Once it’s fully cooked to perfection, it’s then bagged, labeled, and sealed for sale. The difference between Uncle Ron’s beef jerky and others is ours is 100% beef that is sliced by hand across the grain [for easy eating] and perfectly marinated to have flavor in every bite.

MW: You have a lot of flavors, 18 by my count. Which are your most popular?

EM: The most popular flavors are Coarse Black Pepper, Regular, Smokehouse, Original Peppered, Spicy Garlic, and Sweet & Spicy.

MW: Do you source your beef locally or where does it come from?

EM: Our beef is sourced from our local meat market. We found them to be a consistent source to keep up with the demand of the business.

MW: Do you make jerky from other meats?

MW: Where can Fort Worthians buy Uncle Ron’s Jerky?

EM: You can purchase our beef jerky at our shop at 5677 Westcreek Drive, Suite C, or at uncleronsbeefjerky.com.

We’re at the Clearfork Market every Saturday and the Benbrook Farmers Market.

EM: We currently only make beef jerky. However, we have considered other products such as turkey, deer, and mushroom jerky.

MW: What makes your jerky better than others out there?

MW: For those who don’t live here or if folks want to send your jerky as a gift, do you offer shipping?

EM: You can send a gift or order online. You will receive a free gift with all purchases made online. This will be a free bag of our beef jerky of a flavor you did not order. If you choose to send our jerky as a gift, we will pass your free gift along to the recipient and include a note stating that this is a gift from you.

EM: What makes my jerky better than others out there is the fact that there is flavor in every bite because we hand slice and marinate. Also, there are no artificial fillers; it’s 100% Angus beef.

19

them to spend a day knocking as many things off the list as they can while you go drink margaritas at Joe T’s. While you may not set out to do any or all of the things every week, month, or even year, you will be inspired to see, learn, and do things in our fascinating city you never even knew existed.

MW: Besides jerky, what other products do you make and sell?

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AN EPIPHANY IN THAILAND

by Hannah Bush

Photos by Hannah Bush

I have a travel confession.

When the opportunity and funds allow for an international trip, my first, second, and third destination picks are invariably somewhere in western Europe. Like my good friends Hemingway and Tucci (forgive me, Ernest and Stanley), I’m captivated by the romance of an afternoon cocktail in a dimly lit Parisian bar or a sunset passeggiata along the weathered streets of Rome, in casual pursuit of tomato sauce and cheese. If there’s a television series or film set in a European locale, I’ve seen it and loved it. Quality is irrelevant. I’ve even been known to work out to Italian opera, not understanding the words but comprehending them, nonetheless.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand and the former seat of the powerful Lanna Kingdom. Both ancient and modern, it’s perfectly normal for a hipster coffee shop to be located across the street from a 15th-century temple (wat). This province is home to more Buddhist temples than you could dream of visiting, elephant sanctuaries, ornate spirit houses, hill tribes, and misty mountains. Tour historic Chiang Mai by tuk-tuk; explore the famous Sunday night market inside the Thapae Gate; visit revered temples Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chedi Luang; and spend a day at an elephant sanctuary tending to and learning about Thailand’s most respected animal.

Don’t forget to pack gloves.

There are terms for people like me, the Disney adults of travel. "Francophile," "Italophile," "Angophile," etc. The suffix “phile” makes anyone sound sophisticated (there are some known exceptions), making me sound sophisticated, like I should be holding a cigarette between slim and delicate fingers as I sip black coffee at a sidewalk café. But don’t waste your admiration on me, ma chérie, for I am nothing more than a one-dimensional tourist with the keychains and fridge magnets to prove it.

This revelation hit me at an unusual time, as revelations so often do. I was sifting through elephant dung on a sunny day in northern Thailand, trying my best to count the fibers, when I realized that I had never held animal excrement on any of my previous vacations.

Here I was on the other side of the world, learning to care for this sacred creature in an unfamiliar country where I did not speak a lick of the language. It was a transformative experience. After an enthusiastic declaration that my pachydermatous friend was in good health, I rinsed my hands from a nearby hose, the water a symbol of my regeneration.

Khao Sok National Park

If Chiang Mai requires constant activity, Khao Sok is the place where you just stand and stare in amazement, utterly incapable of speech, at the almost 500 square miles of jewel-toned lakes, giant limestone cliffs, and vocally gifted monkeys. This national park in the southern Surat Thani province encompasses the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world. It would be irresponsible not to visit if you are en route to/from the coast. Book a multi-day jungle safari, survey the lakes via long-tail boat, or do what I did and do nothing at all by going off the grid in a floating bungalow in Cheow Larn Lake.

My short time in Thailand was filled with expansive moments like this, though excrement wasn’t always involved. Whether riding in a zippy tuk-tuk, navigating the chaos of a night market, or observing Buddhist monks tending to their temple duties, I remained in a constant state of wonder, keenly aware that I was a long way from home and unsure if I wanted to go back. Why would I? In Thailand, I was totally present, surrounded by beautiful and dramatic landscapes, interacting with people eager to share their customs, beliefs, and sticky rice with a stranger.

Don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with having a favorite place in the world, near or far, that you can’t wait to explore time and time again. And visiting a heavily-touristed country in Southeast Asia one time does not make me Marco Polo. But there is something to be said for mixing it up, for stepping into the unknown. So, as a changed person who feels the unsolicited need to share her experience, I invite you to enjoy the following abbreviated highlights from my recent visit to the Land of Smiles.

Phuket

This is the island you see pictured on screensavers everywhere that you didn’t think was real. But it’s very real. Sadly, my time in Phuket was limited. I made the most of it, though, and spent almost all of it on the water, touring Phang Nga Bay where the famous James Bond Island can be found jutting out of the Andaman Sea, kayaking through narrow tidal caves, and enjoying a plate of massaman curry on a secluded island.

THAI TIPS

If you aren’t part airplane, consider a pit stop in Europe (yes, I know) to break up the 20-plus-hour journey. Just trust me on this.

Arrange for a tour guide. Seeing the country through the lens of a local is invaluable. You’ll be able to communicate with people through your translator and find the best coconuts and mangos at the market.

Requesting “medium spice” in Thailand is very different from requesting "medium spice" at Malai Kitchen or Thailicious.

If you are asked, inspect the dung. It could lead to an epiphany.

22

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