Lifestyles Magazine Nov/Dec 2020 by mrobertsdigital

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EDITOR’S LETTER

The perfect time to reflect and give thanks

John Anderson

t is that time of the year as we turn to the holidays. In a year of so many things taken away from us, it's the perfect time to reflect on what we are thankful for. One of the blessings has been the ability to recover from a pandemic and the uncertainty that faced our colleges and universities, as well as our children who had their opportunity for higher learning halted in the spring. At East Texas Baptist University, the university has its highest undergraduate and graduate enrollment rates in school history. As for the high-school students and their families who had to make a choice? They also set a new record for the most students in a freshman class. As Jessica Dillon writes (her story begins on page 16), "That means its sidewalks, snaking past those signs of progress and prosperity, are a bit more crowded this year." Photographer Les Hassell not only captured the spirit of the campus and the diversity of the programs, his subjects — the students — have a twinkle in their eyes that even Santa would envy. There are so many renovations, new programs and even expansion of a campus into Tyler to read about. I hope you enjoy this look into ETBU as much as I did. Speaking of Santa, Jessica had another exclusive as she caught up with the most famous Santa in East Texas, Paul T. Fanning. In her story (starts on page 42), find out what your kids are asking, and telling, Santa Claus during those visits. Paul has amazing answers and stories. His travels are many and this article is a gift. He even tells Jessica of the lessons he has learned from children. For parents who are not looking forward to long sixfeet-at-a-time waits to see Santa this season, a look at a

new virtual network he has joined may make that part of the season easier, giving parents more time to shop! The lens of Sarah Miller also smells a little better today after her trip with Jessica to the historic Lindale Candy Company. Jeremiah and Kaitlin Cagle take us behind the counter and behind the scenes into Lindale's very own Santa's Workshop. Instead of elves, Jeremiah and Kaitlin are making world-famous peppermint and brittle. See the 74-year-old copper kettle and the sweet story behind the candy, starting on page 48. Our Peters Autosports travel takes us to the Dallas Arboretum where Ann Bush talks about her adventures. It's another must-see day trip and starts on page 30. As many Texans are getting active and outside, our Trip into Nature (starting on page 8) is a guide and look at what you are missing. Enjoy the beautiful weather we are having while staying active. Instead of the usual recipes, Jessica Dillon and Sarah Miller went to the Delightful Food Company and brought baking to life with a wonderful story and photos starting on page 62. And yes, there is a traditional recipe as well. See Hillary Coppock in action creating the delicious dessert you can make alone or with a family member, and maybe even start your own tradition. We hope you've enjoyed this year of Lifestyles Magazine as much as we have enjoyed putting editions together for you to be safely delivered to your door. We are looking forward to bringing you even more stories and photos in 2021. I hope your holiday season is a great way to end a difficult 2020, but we survived and it's time to celebrate 2021!

LIFESTYLES M

PUBLISHER Justin Wilcox EDITOR John Anderson MANAGING EDITOR Jessica Dillon DESIGNERS Ted Townsend Haley Holcomb ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Alyssa Purselley-Hankins 903-596-6295 4

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah A. Miller, Les Hassell, Ann Bush

THE COVER Football player, James Wright III, junior business administration major, is just one of many students helping ETBU defy the odds during a global pandemic.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Anderson, Jessica Dillon, Ann Bush

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CONTENTS

DRUMMING 8 Step into nature 12 DRUMMERS42 Santa is that you? In need of some serious stress relief? Leave your phone in the car. Step into the forest. Feel your body heal.

Just a trial lawyer hoping to improve his selfrespect, Paul T. Fanning shares the unexpected journey to becoming Santa Claus.

16 God's Grace

48 Peppermint & Possibilities

With record enrollment and the creation of new degree pathways and partnerships, Christmas came early for East Texas Baptist University in what should have been the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most challenging year.

30 12 Days of Christmas Love

Ann Bush takes us on a journey to the Dallas Arboretum, where 25-foot-tall gazebos come aglow with holiday spirit.

Jeremiah and Kaitlin Cagle, new owners of the historical Lindale Candy Company, are carrying the tastes of the past into a bright, candy-coated future.

60 A mouthful of memories

Hillary Coppock, of Delightful Food Company, offers up something sweet with her new recipe.

66 Holiday Healthy Tips

The Mayo Clinic offers tips on how to have your cake and eat it, too. 6

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Step into . . . Forest Bathing or Texas Shizen S T O RY & P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N N B U S H

he importance of trees is often discussed in relationship to the economy, tourism or the environment. Forests provide amazing benefits to our life – they cleanse the air we breathe and purify our water. Trees prevent the erosion of land from flooding rivers. As the ozone layer erodes from excess carbon dioxide, only plants can replace this toxin with oxygen that is crucial to our existence. Forests provide fruit to feed us and materials to build our homes. City dwellers seek the shade and ambiance of parks mainly because of its trees. Important historic events happen around or under trees, connecting our lives to each other through these stories.

But can a person find a moment of peace and obtain good health from a tree? Shizen, which translates from Japanese as ‘nature’, is one of the seven principles of Zen aesthetics that co-mingles the natural world with human nature. The idea is that we are all emotionally, spiritually and physically connected to nature; and that the more closely something relates to nature, the more pleasing it is. Examples are wooden spoons, stained wood furniture or floors, a vase of flowers, gardens or landscape patterns on clothing. It is no surprise that when the industrial revolution boomed, so did landscape paintings. American biologist E.O. Wilson made famous in 1984 the concept of biophilia – the concept that humans have a biological need to connect with nature. Biophilia comes from the Greek’s meaning “love of life and the living world”. Wilson believed that because we evolved from nature, we have a biological need that is genetically determined through our DNA to be close to the natural world. Could America’s addiction to large green lawns be a secret desire to live in a prairie? Was the exodus from city apartments to suburbs a desire to have more trees surround us? Is the invention of the outdoor BBQ grill a ploy to interact with nature and breathe fresh air? Does this explain the fun children | CONT. ON PG. 11 8

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Today, there is a wealth of information that proves time spent in nature can improve your health.

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C E L E B R AT I N G

We’ve been your choice | CONT. FROM PG. 8 experience playing in an unadorned sandbox or the excitement of going to the lake? Is this why most people prefer flora scented toiletries and pine scented cleaning supplies? Wilson founded the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is the author of numerous books concerning the need and importance of nature to our wellbeing, a diverse natural world and our biological heritage. Today, there is a wealth of information that proves time spent in nature can improve our health. A few benefits include reduced blood pressure, lower stress, lower blood-sugar levels, improved concentration and memory, better sleep patterns, lifted depression, increased energy, boosted immune system and sustained weight loss. I may not have scientific proof, but I can attest that sitting for just a few minutes outside on my backyard deck makes me feel better. Dr. Qing Li, a forest scientist, immunologist at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo and Chairman of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine wrote a book titled Forest Bathing that became an international sensation. The book was published in the U.S. in 2018, and the guide for practicing nature therapy | CONT. ON PG. 13

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A few benefits . . . of time spent in nature . . . include reduced blood pressure, lower stress, lower bloodsugar levels, improved concentration and memory, better sleep patterns, lifted depression, increased energy, boosted immune system and sustained weight loss.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 11 continues to be the hottest trend in health management. As a scientist, Dr. Li focused his studies on why nature makes us feel better. He practices the medicine of nature, taking his students on longs walks called Shinrin-yoku or forest baths in Tokyo’s parks and surrounding forests. According to Dr. Li, “Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us”. Dr. Li believes a feeling of well-being from a strong connection with a forest can only be accomplished if you focus on the natural world with all five senses. “When we open up our senses, we begin to connect to the natural world” says Dr. Li. Walking slowly through the forest concentrating on seeing, listening, smelling, tasting and touching nature enables us to bring our rhythms into harmony, and the body begins to heal. A few years ago I found Dr. Li’s book at the Tyler Public Library and leaned of his research and science projects confirming his theories. The forest bathing techniques he suggests are simple, and can be done in any forest, park or backyard with trees. November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

A Texas Forest The oldest untouched forest in Texas is the Big Thicket National Preserve. The term “thicket” was used because the woods are incredibly dense with the abundance of plant growth. However, any forest will do if there is quiet and few interruptions. A few of my favorite public places within a short day trip where it is possible to “get lost in the forest” include Tyler State Park, Dangerfield State Park, Atlanta State Park, Mission Tejas State Park and Caddo Lake.

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Forest Bathing Techniques

irst, leave your phone in the car and walk into a forest or a park with lots of trees. Find a spot and slow down. Let your body be your guide and follow your nose. Breathe deeply often. Dr. Li found that the sense of smell was the most powerful of the five senses and plays a crucial role in the forest’s healing effects. The forest’s natural aromatherapy – plant chemicals known as phytoncides – provides a huge boost to a person’s immune system. Phytoncides are the natural oils within a plant that are part of a tree’s defense system against insects. Evergreens like pines, cedars, spruces and conifers are the strongest with the best results. There is a substance called microbes in the soil which we breathe into our lungs when slowly strolling in a forest. Dr. Mary O’Brien from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London discovered that injecting lung cancer patients with a Mycobacterium vaccine made from these microbes improved their immune systems and they were able to fight the disease better. Listen to a bird sing, the breeze rustling in the leaves and the chirping of crickets. Close and slowly open your eyes, looking up and notice the different shades of green. Follow the sun rays filtering through the branches to the ground and search for flowers or glittering spider webs in the bushes. Taste the freshness of the air. Bring an apple and savor the fruit of a tree. Touch the trunk and feel the roughness of the bark. Dip your hand into a stream, pick up a fallen leaf, let dirt flow through your fingers or lie down on the ground. Take your time. It doesn’t matter if you go anyplace in particular. This is not about the destination but about the journey. Feel the forest and let your body heal.

Lee Jamison (b. 1957), Goodman-Le Grand House Museum, 2019, oil on canvas, 22 x 28 inches

Ode to East Texas

Paintings by Lee Jamison November 8, 2020 - February 7, 2021

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The sidewalks zig-zagging across East Texas Baptist University’s scenic, 253-acre campus look a little different these days. For starters, the students who walk them now all wear masks — a sure sign of the global pandemic that still permeates most parts of life here in the United States. But that’s not the only thing that’s changed . . .

ew buildings, like the Chapel on the Hill — a dedicated house of worship allowing students to focus on the power of prayer, the sanctity of biblical marriage and the celebration of loved ones — are popping up along the grassy edges of the ETBU pond, while historic landmarks are seeing major updates and transformations that make them fit for the modern age. The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation recently awarded ETBU a challenge grant in the amount of $1,500,000 towards the construction of a momentous project, the Great Commission Center, and the future home for ETBU’s Fred Hale School of Business — a promise that the landscape will again soon be changing. With a new mental health clinic at the ETBU-Tyler campus, 1301 S. Broadway in | CONT. ON PG. 19

S T O RY B Y J E S S I C A D I L L O N PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

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Alana Goodson, junior Christian ministry major November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

Mckenna Cassels, junior elementary education major

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| CONT. FROM PG. 16

Tyler, and the recent renovations to the historic Marshall Grand downtown, which now houses the School of Nursing, the ETBU campus is expanding even further yet, spilling out into neighboring communities and extending its reach as academic opportunities grow. And while colleges and universities across the nation see decreased enrollment — struggling with tightened budgets, furloughing employees and making cuts to programming and course offerings — East Texas Baptist University has defied the odds, welcoming a record-breaking freshman class and boasting its highest undergraduate and graduate enrollment rates in school history. That means its sidewalks, snaking past those signs of progress and prosperity, are a bit more crowded this year. The change is a welcome one. “In my 25 years of serving here on the Hill, this is the best I have ever seen the university,” Dr. John Harris, dean of the School of Christian Studies, said. “Although there are many events and obstacles occurring on the peripheral, there is a renewed electricity, excitement, and camaraderie on campus that I have never seen before. While across the nation, we hear about anxiety and fear, here within our community of faculty, staff, and students, morale is high, and we have a chance to be a shining light of hope to the world.” Record enrollment in a pandemic, he said, is unheard of. And the numbers, up 8% percent since fall of last year, serve testament to the willingness of university faculty, staff and students to wholly embrace a shifting educational landscape, swiftly rolling out virtual learning opportunities while implementing plans to ensure that, come August, students would be able to return to in-person instruction to the fullest extent possible. “Our identity as a Christ-centered university is tied to the biblical concept of koinonia or community,” Dr. Thomas

. . . while colleges and universities across the nation see decreased enrollment — struggling with tightened budgets, furloughing employees and making cuts to programming and course offerings — East Texas Baptist University has defied the odds, welcoming a recordbreaking freshman class and boasting its highest undergraduate and graduate enrollment rates in school history.

| CONT. ON PG. 21 November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our identity as a Christ-centered university is tied to the biblical concept of koinonia or community."

Keyontea Cooper, junior mass communication major 20

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Dr. Thomas Sanders, provost and vice president for academic affairs | CONT. FROM PG. 19

Sanders, provost and vice president for academic affairs, explained. “In late spring, we came to the clear conclusion that we had to find a safe way to bring our students back to campus to be in community together with our faculty and staff in order to accomplish our mission to educate Christian servant leaders who are called to serve God and humanity.” He explained that the university made the decision to invest in technology — including flat-screen televisions and smart podiums equipped with integrated cameras — that would allow faculty to teach students in classrooms at 50% capacity while the remainder of students tuned in virtually for synchronous learning. “This multifaceted strategy addressed the need for spatial distancing and allowed us to include students who may be in quarantine should that be necessary,” Sanders said. “We have found that this innovation, while complicated to develop, has worked well. Students not only can observe but can participate in the instructional process through small group work, shared presentations, and a virtual whiteboard for illustrating work.” Students like Alana Goodson, a junior Christian ministry major, are taking notice of those efforts. Because of the number of students enrolled in Goodson’s particular classes, she is able to attend all of them in person. While she admits she has to clean her desks and work spaces after each class owing to new safety protocols, she says she doesn’t mind too much because it’s “helping to keep us safe.”

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POINTS OF DISTINCTION • 99% of ETBU students receive some form of financial assistance. • Over 75% of full-time faculty have terminal degrees within their discipline. • The recently donated Sisk Health Services Clinic will offer health services that address minor illnesses and injuries, and provide screenings, vaccinations, immunizations, and basic pharmaceutical prescriptions • The ETBU School of Nursing is currently ranked as the #1 BSN program in Texas by RegisteredNursing.org. • The National Council on Teacher Quality named ETBU’s Elementary Teacher Prep Program as one of the top 15 programs in the nation for its strong commitment to evidencebased reading instruction. • ETBU students currently devote more than 50,000 hours of volunteer service annually in the region and across the globe. 22

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Taylor Singleton, junior biology major

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"Navigating all the new changes that have come along with COVID-19 has been a once-in-a-lifetime experince." Corinne Clark, senior nursing major | CONT. FROM PG. 21

“ETBU has done and is doing an excellent job to make sure we are able to have in-person classes,” Goodson said. “I actually don’t do too well with online classes, so I’m truly thankful that ETBU has put forth so much time and effort into ensuring our success. It honestly means a lot.” Goodson says her overall experience at ETBU hasn’t changed all that much since the pandemic, except that now, she has to do everything while wearing a mask. And as she glimpses higher learning in other parts of the nation, she feels especially glad that she’s decided to make ETBU her home for the next few years. “When I came for my tour and all the staff and faculty members were very kind and helpful to me, I knew this was going to be my home,” Goodson said. "Go Tigers!” In her pride and gratitude, Goodson is not alone. Many students in the ETBU School of Nursing — recently named the No. 1 BSN program in the state of Texas — feared a major wrench would be thrown into their coursework and their ability to fulfill program requirements when the pandemic began earlier this year. “Navigating all the new changes that have come along with COVID-19 has been a oncein-a-lifetime experience,” Corinne Clark, a senior nursing major, said. “The most difficult part so far has been having to be separated from half of my classmates and friends, not getting to see their smiles, or even being able to sit in a seat next to any of them.” But as Clark and her peers face new challenges head-on, they’re grateful for the opportunities provided to them by ETBU. “I think it has taken some time to get used to all of the online assignments and Zoom meetings for both the professors and students,” Clark said. “Nursing school is a lot of hands-on activity and I was worried I would 24

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not get enough experience in order to be a good nurse. However, to my relief, we are still able to go to the hospitals for our clinicals.” For Clark, that’s meant days that begin at 3:45 or 4:45 a.m., and always with a cup of coffee, before she scrambles into her scrubs and sets off on a 35-minute commute to Longview. “Upon arrival, I walk to my assigned unit of the hospital, ready to meet the nurse I will be with for the day and get the morning patient report at 6:45 a.m.,” Clark said. “My day is then filled with administering medications, doing assessments, taking vital signs, completing my paperwork, and starting IVs, among other nursing interventions. I also sometimes get to observe surgeries or other procedures during the day. At the end of my twelve-hour clinical, my nurse and I give the patient report to the night shift nurse and, finally, it is time to go home.” Clark will eat dinner, check her next-day calendar, study for her courses and then, at last, tuck into bed. Though she admits the schedule is challenging, she’s proud it’s one she gets to experience while at ETBU. “I love that ETBU is a school that maintains biblical principles in a modern world, especially one that is currently going through a pandemic,” Clark said. “I love that I am getting a foundation of nursing education that includes Christ. Along with this, the new nursing building is spectacular! It has been a blessing to have classes in this beautiful building, and I love how ETBU was able to preserve some of the historical 1920s elements. The professors here are amazing. They are always willing to lend a hand and pray with you.” While she’s hopeful that everything will soon return to “the way things used to be,” she said everyone at ETBU recognizes the need for changes and protocols in order to maintain health and safety, and that she feels ETBU | CONT. ON PG. 26

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| CONT. FROM PG. 24

has consistently put students first in its pandemic response. “ETBU has followed the CDC and government guidelines that have been put in place to keep everyone safe,” Clark said. “Throughout this semester, the repeated theme on campus has been that wearing a mask and complying with safety guidelines is the best way to show brotherly love towards each other and to put the needs of others before ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 says it best, ‘Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others.’ I have been able to see success through God’s grace, and the support of my classmates and peers.” As Sanders reflected on the comments of Clark, and the testimonials of recent graduates of the program, he said he’s especially proud of nursing students who continue to face COVID-19 on the front lines. “(Being named the No. 1 nursing program) was a gift that could be quickly overshadowed by COVID,” Sanders said. “But let me say that at the same time it gives me great pride to know that one of the greatest impacts our school can have right now is putting more highly qualified nurses in the field serving as the healing hands of Christ to combat COVID.” He said the continued success of ETBU, in all its programs, is thanks in large part to the constant dedication of those tasked with providing higher education. “I am in awe of our faculty and staff for their patience and hard work during this crisis,” Sanders said. “To be honest, I can get emotional when I think how they have sacrificed to make student learning work in a scenario that could not have been predicted and that is changing every day. We have some heroes here!” In a recent letter, ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn recalled the challenging hour faced by all, and reiterated the pride and gratitude expressed by so many at ETBU over the past year. “2020 is a milestone year in the life of East Texas Baptist,” Blackburn said. “No doubt, we will reflect on this time in our lives, marking the tragedies and trials we have confronted as a nation. Despite the pain, the anguish, the anxiety we have encountered in America, the people of God can rejoice as believers in a Savior and Lord, who reigns and redeems for His glory.” | CONT. ON PG. 29 26

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“2020 is a milestone year in the life of East Texas Baptist . . . No doubt, we will reflect on this time in our lives, marking the tragedies and trials we have confronted as a nation. Despite the pain, the anguish, the anxiety we have encountered in America, the people of God can rejoice as believers in a Savior and Lord, who reigns and redeems for His glory.” J. Blair Blackburn, ETBU President

Josh Bumpas, senior mass communication major

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“These are difficult times, yet we remain hopeful for what God is doing to bring honor and glory to Himself through these days . . . As a committed Christcentered university, ETBU will continue to stand with His banner over us for the Gospel of Jesus.” Skylar Stutts, freshman marketing major

J. Blair Blackburn, ETBU President | CONT. FROM PG. 26

He praised the university for its efforts to ensure safety and health, even when health care services in and around campus seemed to be lacking. “Through an institutional investment in facilities, equipment, supplies, and personnel, ETBU created an on-campus health services clinic, where we could identify, track, trace, treat, and isolate sick campus community members,” Blackburn said. “In three months, we built a clinic and hired the medical staff (doctor, nurse practitioner and tracing coordinator, all supported by student nurses). The ability to keep our campus and our Marshall community safe from the spread of infection required ETBU to convert facilities, make building modifications, and develop separate areas for residential quarantine of students and mitigation of the viral impact. We acknowledge that there will be coronavirus infection among our community, but we pray, we plan, and we protect to minimize spread.” He said that the efforts taken by all have allowed the “Light on the Hill” to continue burning brightly without the shadow of layoffs, furloughs or closures. “These are difficult times, yet we remain hopeful for what God is doing to bring honor and glory to Himself through these days,” Blackburn said. “As a committed Christ-centered university, ETBU will continue to stand with His banner over us for the Gospel of Jesus.” November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE

2 TURTLE DOVES

3 FRENCH HENS

4 CALLING BIRDS

5 GOLD RINGS

6 GEESE A – LAYING

7 SWANS A – SWIMMING

8 MAIDS A – MILKING

9 LADIES DANCING

10 LORDS A – LEAPING

11 PIPERS PIPING

12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING

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S T O RY B Y A N N B U S H PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DALLAS ARBORETUM

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a pushover for holiday light shows. Booming Fourth of July fireworks, twinkling pumpkins, sparkling Easter bunnies, gleaming parade floats or flaming red hearts easily persuade me into a road trip. However, there is no better way to enjoy a Christmas holiday than meandering through an East Texas garden decked with glittering multicolored lights. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens go a remarkably large step further, with over a million lights glowing throughout a dozen full-scale displays that celebrate the popular song The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The exhibits are open to the public during the day but extend their hours during December to let visitors enjoy the holiday lights. My friend and I arrived one late afternoon to enjoy the gardens before sunset. Lingering until dark, we strolled along the easy walking path one more time. It was well worth the wait. Twelve lavishly decorated Victorian styled gazebos are scattered along the main areas of this 66 acre garden. With life-size mannequins of people, animals and flora filling all twelve scenes, we start with the started of the showâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; a

| CONT. ON PG. 33

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

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If you go:

he Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden is located on the shores of White Rock Lake and is supported, in part, by the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. Open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., the gardens are known for their seasonal exhibits throughout the year. As of the writing of this story during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arboretum was open to the public and planned to offer the Twelve Days of Christmas and Christkindlmarket exhibits; however the historic Degolyer House will be closed this year. Visit their website at www.dallasarboretum.org for updated information concerning hours, activity cancellations and ticket prices. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

| CONT. FROM PG. 31 magnificent swinging partridge. We smiled back at skating Lords a Leaping, watched dancing ladies show off their elegant gowns, swayed with twirling bears, laughed at mooing cows, peered under magical snow covered trees at graceful swans, and ended, of course, with wows at a magnificent drum concert.

THE SONG

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

It is hotly debated between France and England who can claim themselves as the creator of The Twelve Days of Christmas carol. The unusual song was sung for almost two centuries before officially published in 1780 in England. In 1909, the popular song was officially composed by Federic Austin into the folk melody enjoyed today around the world. Most people believe the song is about a hopelessly in love, devoted and clearly wealthy suitor. However, many scholars surmise the song has religious meaning. From 1558 until 1829, Christians in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly and some believe the carol was a catechism lesson for children. Each element has a hidden meaning to make it easier to remember important biblical passages. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testament. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four colly birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. (see note about colly birds below) The five golden rings recalled the first five books of the Old Testament, also considered the Torah. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spiritâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The eight maids milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The ten Lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Creed. Why twelve days? In 567, the religious-based Council of Tours proclaimed the sacred festive season to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, begins on Dec. 25 and ends on Jan, 5. However various Christian ideologies such as the Eastern Orthodoxy, Armenian Apostolic Church, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholics follow the same tradition but may vary the dates. It is a time of fasting, reflection, prayer and celebration of a Messiah.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 33 In Tudor England, the tradition was solidified when William Shakespeare used it as the setting for one of his most famous stage plays - Twelfth Night. In Colonial America, the wreath tradition began. Fashioned from local greenery and fruits, wreaths were hung on doors on Christmas Eve and stayed during the twelve days. The 13th day is considered Epiphany, and great celebrations were held. The French in Louisiana started the tradition of offering a special cake called the king cake, which is served on this special day. Most Boomers will agree that their unforgettable favorite version of this iconic song was performed by the Muppets, with John Denver and released in 1979. For whatever reason, and whoever sings it, the song will forever be an eminent reflection of Christmas around the world.

THE EXHIBITS

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

Each gazebo portrays one of the songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts. Visitors can walk around the gazebos, which allows for unique views at numerous angles. Every dress, hat and costume has lavish attention to detail. Some exhibits have mechanical animation, such as a swinging tail on a cow being milked by a pretty maiden that I noticed was very popular with children. Considering the crowds at this gazebo, the adult favorite was Scottish bagpipers decked out in kilts. All the animals are hand carved and hand painted. Each mannequinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face is hand painted with their own unique personality. The dresses of the nine ladies dancing took four people to sew, using 180 yards of fabric and thousands of beads. There are 30,456 wooden berries on transoms and 28,328 rhinestones on the columns, all supporting 8,160 square feet of rooftop. In some cases, the display rotates, allowing visitors to sit in nearby benches and watch the scene go by. Whimsical music from each gazebo resembling Old World music boxes floats through the park. To protect the elaborate displays from the elements, each gazebo is encased with glass.

THE DONORS

It all began in 2012 with an idea of longtime Arboretum supporters Phyllis and Tom McCasland to spice up the holidays in Dallas. Both from Duncan, Oklahoma, they raised a family and grew a successful family business for over 40 years. They often took their children to Dallas to experience the arts, museums and theater. Phyllis is an amateur gardener, and a trip to the Dallas Arboretum was on the list of places to go often. When they retired in 1998 after turning the business over to their children, they moved to Dallas. Phyllis thought the arboretum was a wonderful venue for people to see a lot of plants and flowers and

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November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

Christkindlmarket

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

n 2019, the Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Family Christmas Village opened near the Twelve Days of Christmas exhibits to add to the holiday experience. The Neuhoff ’s have deep roots in Dallas and are avid supporters of the community concerning education, the arts and places of beauty. The European-styled Christkindlmarket is designed with structures large enough so that several children and adults can enter at a time enhancing the holiday spirit experience is of a busy village street. Measuring almost 20 feet high, the interior walls of each shop feature illustrations and embellishments appropriate for the kind of shop it represents. At night, the village is lit by a glow of lights in trees and outlining the roof of each shop. During the weekends and evenings, volunteers dress as shopkeepers in each store passing out samples of their wares, such as a piece of candy at the candy shop. Other shops include a bakery, butcher shop, bookstore, hat shop, cobbler, post office, flower shop, clock tower, music shop and doctor’s office. Don’t miss the home of Santa Clause complete with a sleigh for a family photo. Performers such as jugglers, dancers, and plate spinners fill the street and common grounds to entertain visitors. Other events and activities that are normally offered during the holidays at the Dallas Arboretum include an ugly sweater contest, Holiday Teas, Holiday Drinks and Eats Café on the Green, author speaker series, an outdoor movie party showing White Christmas, cooking classes, floral arrangement demonstrations and 12 Days of Beer featuring a tasting sample from around the world each day. These dramatic, show-stopping Christmas displays tucked in a botanical garden away from the hubbub of the city are not only beautiful, serene and fun, but can also be a safe-distance environment for families to boost this year’s holiday spirit. November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

here are four colly birds, not calling birds. The word colly is an Old English word that translates to coal or the color black, meaning the birds were black birds. The word colly was found in very old versions of the song long before it was published.

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

| CONT. FROM PG. 37 enjoyed the festivals. Soon they were active members. A few years later, the couple wanted to invest in their new city and met with Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum president to discuss a donation. Brinegar has lots of ideas, and the McCaslands donated funds to build the sunken gardens that are popular during the wedding season. But Phyllis was not done. As the McCaslands continued to be involved in the Arboretum, Phyllis realized that Dallas needed something grand during the holidays, something that would be family friendly, entertaining and educational, something that Dallas could be known for during the Christmas holidays. She knew from her involvement at the Arboretum that the gardens had plenty of space and contacted Brinegar once more. She presented the idea of creating a Twelve Days of Christmas display with no particular design in mind. Brinegar loved the idea and knew just who to call for advice on design, Tommy Bourgeois. The idea grew more grandiose and evolved into building gazebos, one for each particular day of the popular Christmas carol.

THE DESIGNER & BUILDER

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

Born and raised in New Orleans, Tommy Bourgeois has Mardi Gras in his blood. Surrounded by a festive atmosphere year-round full of music, elaborate floats and costumes, it is no surprise he studied art in college, earning a Masters in Arts, design and criticism from Southwest Texas State University and a Masters in Fine Arts in costume and set design from Southern Methodist University. Bourgeois worked in theater and fashion in New York before returning to Texas, and has worked for the Dallas Opera for over thirty years. Often he designs and fashions Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden exhibits, with his handiwork seen throughout the garden during various seasons. His work on the 12 Days of Christmas has become the largest holiday exhibit ever to be displayed at the Dallas Arboretum. Taking the ideas and designs from concept to reality, Greg Blackburn, president of the Dallas Stage Scenery company, began construction. The 25-foot tall gazebos were so large that not all the pieces would fit in Blackburn’s warehouse. As the project advanced, new ideas were proposed such as adding lights, music and moving parts. Bourgeois carefully considered each request, designing each new idea exceeding expectations, and Blackburn made it happen. It took 20,000 hours of labor to build the displays, using 6,000 bolts, 400 gallons of paint, 29,137 pounds of glass and 25,963 pounds of aluminum. The process took almost two years, resulting in a $2 million exhibition that opened to the public on Nov. 16, 2014. “When we were building and sourcing out the labor, we tried to do everything in Texas,” adds Blackburn. All craftsmanship, aside from wig creations and bird feathering, has been done with local Texas artists, builders, craftsmen and vendors. It takes volunteers and staff eight weeks to reassemble the gazebos in the garden each year. November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

. . . is that you? 42

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Paul T. Fanning – rosy-cheeked, and sporting a white beard and a smile – has long drawn the occasional side-eye from curious children wondering, just maybe, if he could be the real deal.

hey catch sight of him filling a cart at the grocery store, or pumping gas at a local station, and then give an urgent tug on mom or dad’s sleeve. “Look,” they whisper. “Do you think that’s Santa Claus?” Often, their questions are met with some vague and mysterious answer from their parents. Something like, “Well, I suppose it could be … What do you think?” That’s when Mr. Fanning, who sometimes answers to another name, will pluck a small white feather from his pocket. Or, perhaps, a magical key. “You can fool kids about a lot of things, but one thing you cannot fool kids about is Santa Claus,” Fanning, in a booming voice, proclaims. “They know what to expect when it comes to Santa. You must deliver,

and you must be perfect.” He has dozens of tricks up his sleeve to help convince the nonbelievers, or to spread the Christmas spirit when, as happens so often these days, merry and bright things are lacking, and the world could use a little cheer. “Lots of times, kids will try to trip you up and expose you,” Fanning says. “For example, they’ll say, ‘Hey, if you’re really Santa, then what’s my name?’ Or, ‘If you’re really Santa, then what’s my address?’ You have to be prepared with a plausible answer.” And Fanning has one. In the North Pole, children are known by different names than they are here in America, or Mexico, Canada or France, Fanning says easily. And as for street addresses? | CONT. ON PG. 44

S T O RY B Y J E S S I C A D I L L O N P H O T O G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F PA U L T. FA N N I N G

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

| CONT. FROM PG. 43 “Well, I don’t land on the street! But I know your roof address.” If you dare come straight out and ask him, “Are you real,” he’ll bellow his answer right back. “Of course, I’m Santa Claus!” But he wasn’t always. For decades, nearly five of them, he was a trial lawyer who “made a lot of people unhappy.” Then, “kind of on a dare,” he decided he’d try out North Pole living, just to see what it was like. “I looked it up online and saw that the best Santa Claus school was Charles W. Howard in Michigan,” Fanning says. “So I applied for enrollment and, to my surprise, they accepted me.” The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School is, in fact, a real and verifiable place. It was begun in 1937 after Charles Howard, a farmer in western New York, saw dozens of Santas in frayed suits and cheap beards wandering about with a “shockingly inadequate knowledge of reindeer.” 44

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

Howard, wanting to create a better image for Old Saint Nick, soon began offering lessons on his farm. While his first class consisted of just three men – a neighbor, a friend, and a welder from New Jersey – over time it grew into something much more. Howard himself was the featured Santa Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948 to 1965. And today, though Howard is long gone, his legacy lives on – and his school continues to educate an eager student body of about 300 “joyful and jolly” Santa Claus hopefuls each and every year. Fanning remembers suiting up for the long drive from Tyler to Midland, Michigan, where he’d learn all the tricks of the Santa trade, on a fine October morning in 2012. He shimmied a long-sleeved maroon tee over his belly, snapped red suspenders to his trousers and wrapped a black leather belt around his waist. On his head, he wore a “Yes I AM” baseball cap. On his wrist, a watch that also serves as a naughty/nice meter. He was Santa Claus, after all, he explains. This was no time for pretending. While at Santa Claus school – where cookies are, of course,

If you dare come straight out and ask him, “Are you real,” he’ll bellow his answer right back. “Of course, I’m Santa Claus!” — Paul T. Fanning, Santa Claus available at all times – Fanning made sure to sit way up close to the teacher, in the very first row. “I did not want to miss anything,” Fanning says. When they asked him who he was and why he came, he put on his biggest Texas accent to answer. “Well, my name is Paul Fanning and I’m from a little town you’ve probably never heard of, and most of the people in Tyler prefer it that way. The reason I came to Santa Claus school is after 47 years of working as a divorce trial lawyer, I had to do something to improve my self-respect.” The laughter began then, Fanning says, and never really stopped. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the next three days, he and his few hundred peers practiced their storytelling, danced, by orders of the fitness instructor, as if they were wrapping presents, and filled stockings while singing along to Christmas classics. They learned toy making and how to command a sled pulled by reindeer – “two very important talents for Santa Claus” – and took excursions, like one to the world’s largest Christmas store. “But the most important thing they teach you,” Fanning | CONT. ON PG. 46 November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

| CONT. FROM PG. 45

“It’s a lot of fun being Santa Claus . . . Santa Claus makes everybody happy.” — Paul T. Fanning, Santa Claus

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

says, “is that there are two types of Santas in this world. There are the kind who don’t care if they do it right, just as long as they get paid, and there are the kind who will always do it right, and they don’t care if they get paid or not.” The Charles W. Howard graduates, Fanning explains, all fall into the latter category. And, on his way back to Texas following Santa school graduation, he got the chance to prove it. Somewhere along his journey, he stopped for fuel off of Highway 127. As he approached the counter with some breakfast snacks and a French vanilla cappuccino, he “met a young, attractive store clerk who viewed me suspiciously – wondering whether to say anything about my appearance,” Fanning says. “I can see you don’t fully believe in me,” he told her. “So here is proof that I am real.” He left her with a “One Wish” coin – a coin she could give to anyone, Fanning said, anyone at all. In return, they’d have to grant her one reasonable wish. Though it took a little convincing, the clerk told him she believed in him as she waved goodbye. “See ya, Santa. Merry Christmas!” A little later, still fatigued from his “trip to the North Pole,” Fanning stopped in for an iced coffee at McDonald’s. By the end of his brief transaction, he had the entire restaurant – adults and all – singing along to a boisterous rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Mind you, it was the middle of October. “It’s a lot of fun being Santa Claus,” he admits. “Santa Claus makes everybody happy.” He’s held the formal title for about 10 years, working gigs across East Texas. That means he doesn’t do the mall scene, he said – he’ll make appearances at office Christmas parties, visit hospitals or even creep into homes (with mom and dad’s permission, of course) on Christmas Eve. Kiddos can meet up with Santa for milk and cookies and posed holiday pictures, listen to a Christmas story or just shoot the breeze for a little while. And all of it, Fanning says, is only meant to spread a little Christmas cheer. Of course, this year, like so many other things, Santa’s visits are going virtual. “There are going to be lots of Zoom visits with Santa,” Fanning says. “That’s something I’ve done very, very little of in the past. It’ll take some getting used to.” He’s still working out the logistics, he says – but thanks to a new, highly coveted membership in the 100 Miracle Santas network, he’ll have the big guys on his side. The network recently launched its “How to Save Christmas” campaign, which will allow parents to schedule one-on-one Zoom calls with miracle Santas like Fanning and 99 others from across the world. “It’s going to be all about Santa and the kids,” Fanning says. “We want to make this an especially merry Christmas.” To learn more about Fanning or how to schedule virtual visits for the holidays, head over to SantaTexas.org. But be prepared, Fanning warns. His holiday spirit is often infectious, and if you’re not careful, you’ll wind up belting out Christmas tunes, in public, in the middle of broad daylight … just like those folks at McDonald’s all those years ago.

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JEREMIAH AND KAITLIN CAGLE, NEW OWNERS OF THE HISTORICAL LINDALE CANDY COMPANY, ARE CARRYING THE TASTES OF THE PAST INTO A BRIGHT, CANDY-COATED FUTURE. STORY BY JESSICA DILLON | PHOTOS BY SARAH A. MILLER n Mondays, the sign hung on the door to Lindale Candy Company is flipped to “closed,” the bolt is locked and the lights are off. But there’s still some magic happening inside. Because beyond the darkened storefront, owners Jeremiah and Kaitlin Cagle are hard at work, hand pulling peppermint, pouring brittle and producing hundreds of pounds of traditional candy for the glistening cases on their main floor. “Mondays are our peppermint and brittle days,” Jeremiah, in a candy-striped apron, explains. “We may be closed, but we’re in here working all day long.” He and his wife arrive early to heat a massive, 74-year-old copper kettle — used to warm the sugar, corn syrup and water that proves the base for the homemade peppermint sticks, bites, bowls and lollipops the couple will soon be producing in 35-pound batches — and haul out the countless, racks of fresh chocolates so that they won’t melt as the temperature rises. | CONT. ON PG. 50 48

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| CONT. FROM PG. 48

By 10 a.m., antique machines are whirring and rattling as the room heats up to a balmy 110 degrees — perfect for peppermint, but catastrophic for Kaitlin’s gourmet chocolates that make up 90% of year-round sales. And now the Cagles are working, wordless and in sync, as they add precise drops of peppermint extract to the golden mixture and stretch it into submission. “This is the original cooling table, scale, rolling tables, stretcher,” Jeremiah explains as he folds and scrapes the bubbling peppermint base, careful not to get any of the boiling candy on his skin. “We’re still using all the same stuff that Mr. ‘Candyman’ Jim Withrow worked on all those years ago.” Then he and Kaitlin are moving again, shifting the 25-pound mass to an old and clunky contraption a few feet away, where the machine will pull the candy base into something that looks a lot like taffy and that transforms, as oxygen is pumped inside, into an elegant peppermint-white that’s emblematic of the classic holiday treat. “We call Mondays our spa days,” Jeremiah chuckles, the faint smell of peppermint now wafting through the air, “because we’re back here sweating, and we have our essential oils.” Soon, the couple is back at the cooling table, Jeremiah working the stretched peppermint into a massive cube while Kaitlin adds a strip or two of peppermint, dyed a “Christmas red”according to a nearby jar of food coloring, to the mix. “This is what makes our process so special,” Jeremiah says. “Most places that make peppermint, they | CONT. ON PG. 53

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

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| CONT. FROM PG. 50

have machines that do all of this, so every candy cane looks the same.” As it stands, Lindale Candy Company is one of about three known companies in the nation to still work the peppermint process entirely by hand. And so they purposefully work to ensure that every batch of peppermint has its own unique style and striping, Jeremiah says. That way, guests who come to pick out a candy cane have the joy of knowing theirs won’t look like anyone else’s — “They’re like snowflakes, there’s no two the same.” The process, which takes about 2.5 hours from start to finish, has occurred every Monday since early June. While that may seem awfully early for Christmas candy, the couple is operating with the new knowledge gained from their first year in business. Last holiday season, they weren’t quite prepared for the surge of orders from area companies and organizations that request peppermint sticks 200 pounds at a time. “There was not a lick of peppermint here for a full week before Christmas,” Jeremiah said. “But those are good growing pains.” He and Kaitlin purchased the historic location, begun in 1946 by Mr. Withrow and his wife, “Miss Ruby,” in mid-May of 2019. They’d needed a storefront for Kaitlin’s blossoming chocolate business, and the Lindale Candy Company “just fell into (their) lap.” Kaitlin had launched her chocolate career about 15 years earlier, when she took a high-school job at a candy shop near her hometown. When it closed down, her commitment as a chocolatier endured, and for eight years she | CONT. ON PG. 55 November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

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50 | CONT. FROM PG. 53

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worked out of her house, selling handmade Kaitlin’s Confections under the Texas Cottage Food Law. That was fun for awhile, but Kaitlin wasn’t able to leave her work at the door, sometimes staying up until 4 in the morning working on orders for customers, she explained. Plus, it’s tough to live in a house always cluttered with sticky mixing bowls, drippy whisks and all the tools necessary to make her delicious, gourmet treats. “Finding the Lindale Candy Company was perfect,” Kaitlin says. “This way, we could have a place for me to sell my chocolates, and I could close the door on the business when it was time to go home.” Jeremiah, who had been working on the management side of things for an area farm at the time, had tasted Kaitlin’s chocolate, and knew it was worth its salt. “I always joked with Kaitlin that she was my retirement policy,” he says. “So when we found the Lindale Candy Company, we went all in on sugar.” And even though they approached the shop with intentions of growing Kaitlin’s chocolate business, “We didn’t want to do away with the tradition of what the candy company had been for 73 years,” Kaitlin says. With the shop’s original recipes in hand, their first

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year in business thus proved both tumultuous and rewarding, full of unexpected twists, turns, and struggles they’ve overcome the longer they’ve been in business. “This time last year I was eight months pregnant doing this,” Kaitlin says. “Having a belly in the way, it was different.” Baby Jentzen was born Dec. 10, right in the middle of the busiest season for peppermint. And then, in March, there was the pandemic. “It’s been a wild ride,” Kaitlin says. “But I feel if we made it through that, we’re ready for whatever comes next. The possibilities are endless.” Today, the candy company houses a massive, morethan-6-foot-tall gumball machine, which still accepts quarters, a handful of candy cases always full with chocolates — glistening, heart-shaped, Dr. Pepperflavored truffles, seasonal pumpkin spice candies, white

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| CONT. FROM PG. 55

chocolate molded to look like roses, or pistols, or most anything — shining jars filled with candy Lego bricks and sugarcoated, peach ring gummies, plus an assortment of Slobber Jawbers, Wax Fangs, Pop Rocks, Sugar Daddies, Tootsie Pops and other favorites. About 85% of everything in-store is handmade by the Cagles. And soon, the Lindale Candy Company will be expanding its facilities even further. Next March, just after the holiday season ends (on Jan. 1 they begin prepping for massive amounts of Valentine’s Day orders and dedicating resources to the thousands of strawberries they’ll hand dip during a single week in February) they’ll begin work rehabbing an old building on the property so that they can have two separate candy kitchens, one for chocolate and one for peppermint. The expansion will include exterior renovations — they’re hoping to add a wall of windows and a turf patio to allow passerby to stop and watch the candy making in action — and will allow them to expand the floorspace of their store, as well. They expect to hire another six “helpers” following the project’s completion, which they hope to punctuate with the introduction of a historical marker and a big celebration for the company’s 75th year in business. Kaitlin said it’s “been fun to bring the old with the new,” and that she hopes to provide East Texans with “a taste of history.” But she continues with her candycoated innovations — recently creating holiday-themed truffles, like chocolate chip cookie and hot cocoa flavors, that may debut at special events around the East Texas area this season. “We’re really thankful to come into an existing business that’s been here for as long as it has and carry on the tradition,” Jeremiah says. “We would like to think | CONT. ON PG. 59 56

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

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“WHEN YOU COME IN AND SEE A 17-POUND PEPPERMINT STICK OR THE DOLLS AND THE C H O C O L AT E FOOTBALL, JUST THE UNIQUENESS O F W H AT W E H AV E , I T S P R E A D S J O Y. W E H AV E A LOT OF SMILES IN THE STORE.”

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

| CONT. FROM PG. 56

that we make the original owners proud of what we’re doing. We are glad to be able to carry that on.” And they mentioned they’re incredibly grateful to the anonymous partners, “who make everything possible.” “None of this would happen without one special family,” Jeremiah says. “They’re very dear to us.” The candy-making is now, and will continue to be, a family affair. Jeremiah’s 10-year-old son, Trenton, and baby Jentzen “are our future candy men,” Jeremiah says. “It’s Kaitlin’s vision and her dream, and the family aspect is so much fun. I’m just glad to be a part of it.” They’re especially looking forward to the hustle and bustle of the holidays and to spread some Christmas cheer this year. “That kid-in-a-candy-store look goes for the grown-ups too,” Jeremiah says. “When you come in and see a 17-pound peppermint stick or the dolls and the chocolate football, just the uniqueness of what we have, it spreads joy. We have a lot of smiles in the store.” Though they’ve taken some major steps to ensure they’re fully stocked for the holiday season, the Cagles recommend snatching up peppermint and other specialty gifts earlier, rather than later. “Our peppermint bowls, especially, are a big hit,” Jeremiah says. “We fill up the bowls with different candies and chocolates … those go early.” They also sell peppermint logs so large you’ll need a hammer and chisel to indulge. “But those come with the peppermint,” Jeremiah says, laughing a little. “This Christmas season will be extra special, and we’re just really thankful to be a part of it.” The Lindale Candy Company, at 113 W. Hubbard St., is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

a mouthful of

Memories S T O RY B Y J E S S I C A D I L L O N PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH A. MILLER

There’s something to be said about breaking bread together. But what about baking bread together?

My own grandmother taught me the careful art in her warm kitchen, where we — coated in flour and the sticky beginnings of bread dough — would watch the KitchenAid mixer whirl and whip a thick and fluffy bread dough into existence. Then we’d ball up our fists, pound it down into the bottom of the bowl, cover it with a plate, and wait. And wait. Sometimes too long, until the bread dough was bubbling up out of the top of the stainless steel bowl. The plate would fall off in a clatter, and we’d rush into the kitchen to find the mess. We’d laugh and laugh about it, later — Grandma always knew just what to do to fix it. On a rainy day, there was nothing more special than carving a thick slice of cinnamon bread fresh from the oven, | CONT. ON PG. 63

Pictured at left — Hillary Coppock, Delightful Food Company

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

“I had a great grandmother who was a fantastic, fantastic cook . . . I have memories as a child of going to her home. When we stepped inside, it was like a Southern Living magazine.” Hillary Coppock Delightful Food Company | CONT. FROM PG. 61

watching grandma spread a thin slab of butter across its cracks and crevices, and sinking my teeth into a job well done. And though I’d never met Hillary Coppock, of Delightful Food Company, the moment I heard her voice crackle to life over the phone a few weeks ago, I knew we shared that same spirit. “I had a great grandmother who was a fantastic, fantastic cook,” Coppock said. “I have memories as a child of going to her home. When we stepped inside, it was like a Southern Living magazine.” Coppock is the face behind Delightful Food Company, and she spends her days crafting unique, artisanal pastries and sweets — iced cakes dotted in creamy chocolate buttercream roses … thick, flaky scones stuffed with blueberries and drizzled in icing ... massive cinnamon buns … crumbly chocolate babka inspired from the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan … and on, and on. Baking, with an emphasis on whole ingredients from local sources, has long been a love of Coppock’s. And it’s one largely inspired by her great grandmother all those years ago. “She was so warm and loving,” Coppock explained. “She is who I think of when I think of who I want to be. She loved everybody, she welcomed everybody, and she literally changed my life. I’ve never met anybody like that.” Today, Coppock expresses her love and | CONT. ON PG. 64 November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

| CONT. FROM PG. 63

“I just love getting people to try things that they have never tasted before . . .” Hillary Coppock Delightful Food Company 64

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

care for others by feeding them in ways she hopes are both nourishing and delicious. Delightful Food Company is thus all organic, and Coppock uses only stainless steel, glass and non-lead ceramics as she prepares her treats. “I think there’s just some things that are in your DNA,” Coppock said. “Eating organic and taking care of myself, those things are important to me. But I love sweets at the same time — that’s always been something that’s a part of me.” Just in time for the holidays, she’s shared with us a recipe for butterscotch cream pie (found on page 65), that she hopes will leave bellies full and faces smiling once their plates have been wiped clean. She’s experimented, tweaked and perfected the recipe so that the flavors are just right, and said those who attempt to recreate her creamy pie can expect “a super flaky crust, a butterscotch filling with a lot of intensity and oomph, all pulled together with a light whipped cream.” “I just love getting people to try things that they have never tasted before,” Coppock said. “I always can tell at the farmer’s market when people really like things, ‘cause they always say ‘mmm.’” And with this recipe, she bets you’ll do the same.

Butterscotch Meringue Pie Crust: 1.5 Cups Flour 1 Teaspoon Sugar Pinch of Salt 4 oz. Butter, cubed 4-5 Tablespoons of Water Combine flour, sugar and salt in food processor. Add cubed butter and pulse until butter is broken into pea sized bits. Add water, just as needed, until a ball is formed. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for one hour. After rolling out, place in 9 inch pie pan. Fill with parchment and pie weights and prebake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven, remove weights and parchment. Bake for another 15 minutes or until crust is fully baked. Butterscotch Filling: 2 Tablespoons Flour 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch 2.5 Cups Whole Milk 3 Egg Yolks 4 Tablespoons Butter Âž Cup Brown Sugar (preferably a combination of light and dark) 1 Cup Heavy Cream 1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Combine first four ingredients in bowl and set aside. In a tall-sided saucepan, melt butter. Add all brown sugar at once, stirring CONSTANTLY on medium heat, until the butter leaks out. Continue stirring and bring to a boil. The mixture will separate a second time. Keep stirring for about 10 minutes until recombined. The mixture will liquefy and become a dark brown caramel. Once that happens, remove from heat and add heavy cream. The mixture will seize. Return to heat, stirring constantly, for roughly 10 minutes, until smooth. Once smooth, add a third at a time to reserved cornstarch mixture. Return to heat and bring to boil. The mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Strain and pour into pie shell. Meringue: 3 Egg Whites Pinch of Salt Âž Cup Light Brown Sugar Seeds from one Vanilla Bean Set up a bain-marie and add ingredients except vanilla to top bowl. Bring water to simmer in bottom bowl. Whisking continuously, bring mixture up to 165 degrees. Remove from heat and beat with hand mixer until mixture thickens. Add vanilla seeds. Beat to soft peak stage and spread over pie filling. Broil until browned on top and enjoy!

November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

Tips for a Y Healthier Holiday

ou step into a warm kitchen to shed your layers, remove your winter hat, unwind the scarf from ‘round your neck. Already, your senses are bombarded with all the scents and sights of the holiday. Pie crusts line the counter, filled with peaches and pumpkin puree, hand-stuffed pierogies float in a bubbling pot on the stove, latkes are crisping in a nearby pan, and chocolate chip cookies lay cooling on the rack, with a fresh

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For those hoping to navigate a healthier holiday season, they offer these tips: Don’t skip meals. Skipping meals with the goal of “saving calories” prior to a big event can often backfire — the hungrier you are, the more you’re likely to eat. Instead, snack on something filling, like fruit, string cheese or yogurt, before you head off to your celebration. Offer to bring a healthy dish. Find a healthy recipe you already know you like, or experiment with something new! This way, you’ll ensure at least one nutritious choice is available wherever you may go. Choose your splurges. Scan the buffet or dinner table and choose a couple holiday favorites to splurge on, instead of eating foods that you can have any other time of year. Think Color. Aim to cover half your plate in colorful fruits and veggies. Choose drinks wisely. Stick to calorie-free drinks, such as water, tea or seltzer, instead of high-calorie, festive drinks. Alcoholic beverages contribute empty calories and can cause you to make poor judgments with food. If you do choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation, and alternate each alcoholic drink with a glass of water. Visit the people, not the food. Unless your self-control is off the charts, don’t spend your time loitering by the snack table or relish trays. Say no to food pushers (politely). If you’re just not hungry, it’s OK to say so! Savor seasonal treats. Having treats once a year will not make or break your health and fitness goals. Make sure you take time to really taste and enjoy that special treat when you have it. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. No one likes that icky, stuffed feeling after a meal. Eat slowly, and check your fullness levels while you’re eating. Remember — there are always leftovers! Don’t feel guilty. If you did overindulge, don’t beat yourself up. Just make sure your next meal is healthy, and be sure to incorporate exercise into your routine. November/December 2020 | MyLifeStylesMag.com

batch of thumbprints on the way. You feel your stomach grumble, and wonder where to start. But in the back of your mind, you might feel a tug of worry, too. The holiday season, in all its splendor, is notorious for its tendencies to cause the belt line to bulge a little — and you’ve been doing such a good job of making healthy choices all year long. All is not lost, experts from the Mayo Clinic say — you ARE allowed to have your cake, and eat it, too!

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Lifestyles Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

Articles inside

Holiday Healthy Tips

A mouthful of memories

12 Days of Christmas Love

12 DRUMMERS DRUMMINGStep into nature 42 Santa is that you?

God's Grace