March 2019 Seguin Magazine

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

March 2019

Pullin Premuim BBQ How Kathy Pullin found her niche

Living in a World of Color Sam Ehrlich shares his love of art

Julia Rocks

A local shows o fashion and her passion for modeling

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Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin

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G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

Vol. 5, No. 10 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette.

GENERAL MANAGER Elizabeth Engelhardt

Tattoos by Jeremiah

EDITOR Hannah Ruiz-Gruver

Award winning artist

Private Studio • Seguin, TX

• Custom Work • Color Art • Black & Grey Art • Cover-Ups

GRAPHIC DESIGN Tera Swango Vicki Beicker

ADVERTISING Gay Lynn Olsovsky Laurie Cheatham

WRITERS Felicia Frazar Valerie Bustamante Priscilla Aguirre Zach Ienatsch

TO ADVERTISE IN SEGUIN MAGAZINE CALL 830-379-5402 STORY IDEAS seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com

CONTRIBUTORS Lizz Pumphrey SEARCH SEGUIN GAZETTE All material herein c. 2019 Southern Newspapers Inc., dba The Seguin Gazette, 1012 Schriewer Road, Seguin, TX, 78155.

All rights reserved

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SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Julia Miller became a local celebrity through the Torrid Model search in 2017. Before her big move to New York she stopped by to strut her stuff in the Seguin Gazette warehouse.

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An inside look from our WRITERS... “ Who doesn’t love sweets? Melanie, the owner of Sugar Zona, creates the tastiest treats that everyone can enjoy.”

– Priscilla Aguirre “I will take any opportunity to visit a state park but this one was even more special because I balanced journalist mode and time spent with people I care about. Nature is the perfect place to spend time with loved ones. If I don’t go camping soon, I’ll go insane.”

– Zach Ienatsch “Kathy Pullin truly is an inspiration and her journey to where she is at now is amazing. She really puts love into her barbecue and it definitely shows as she has been very successful with her catering company — Pullin Premium BBQ.” – Priscilla Aguirre “It was interesting getting to meet Jay Dorrough, of Blue J Woodworking and hear how he started his business. You can tell he really pours his heart into what he does by the attention of detail to how he communicates with his customers after his job is done.”

–Valerie Bustamante

8

Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

F

inding your passion or niche can be hard. For some people it can take a lifetime to discover what makes them happy.

In this issue of Seguin Magazine we share the stories of five people who have found their passion and niche in the world. Zach shares a hiking adventure at Guadalupe State Park and a great Mediterranean dish that he created with his mom.

Priscilla met up with two ladies who both have found their niche and are making their mark with the foods they create. Kathy Pullin found her love of BBQ through unfortunate circumstances, but she made the best of things and has created a successful business.

On the other hand Melanie Trumble has always loved to bake and you can tell that she puts that love into every cake.

Sam Ehrlich graces our pages with a passion for art that was instilled in him by his father. He also shares with us about his trip to England to learn from Annie Sloan.

Everyone is different and their passions very like, Jay Dorrough’s love of creating beautiful things out of wood.

As always we at Seguin Magazine feel that creating this book for you is our passion and we thank you for picking it up. So turn the page and enjoy.

Hannah RuizGruver

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Features 34 Blue J Woodworking 38 Living in a world of color 42 SugarZOna Cakes 46 Pullin Premium BBQ

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14 Closet Closeup

28 Fashion

18 Under the Hood

54 Faces of Seguin

22 Culinary Creations

58 Favorite Finds

24 Day Tripper 50 Luxury Lifestyle

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SIZZLINFIVE

Five events you don’t want to miss

March 7th

guadaluPe county Bras For a cause

Bras For A Cause benefits the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation’s Cancer Assistance fund as local first responders strut their stuff on the runway modeling elaborately decorated bras to help the community’s fight against cancer. The event is slated to start at 6 p.m. on March 7 at the Seguin Events Complex and will include heavy hor d’oeuvres and a Pick of the Litter Raffle.

March 23rd

sPringtime Fun run/WalK

The Seguin Sunrise Lions Club is inviting the community to join them for a stroll in the park with the second Springtime Fun 5K Run/Walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Walnut Springs Park. The free event is open to walkers, runners, riders of all ages. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, visit Sunrise Funrunwalk on Facebook or email marvel.maddox@gmail.com.

March 23rd

11th annual caJun JamBoree

The Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center looks to put a little cajun spice into life with the 11th annual Cajun Jamboree, 6 to 9 p.m., on Saturday March 23. The event brings a crawfish, shrimp and sausage boil to the area with Zydeco music, as well as live and silent auctions as a fundraising venture.

March 28th

carden circus

The Carden family is bringing the circus to town for the second year in a row at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28 at the Seguin Events Complex. The show features performances of amazing feats including aerial acrobatics. It also incorporates elephants, tigers and more. For more information, visit supershrinecircus.com.

April 6th

5K suPerhero dash

The Guadalupe County Child Welfare Board and the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center are joining forces, calling for all capped or masked crusaders to join them at the second 5K Superhero Dash starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 6 at the Patricia Irving King Pavilion in Starcke Park East. Proceeds from the event will benefit both organizations which are geared toward helping children. For more information, visit either organization’s Facebook page. To preregister, visit www.athleteguild.com.

12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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Austen Hill

By Valerie Bustamante

S

taying comfortable while still looking professional is how local business owner and insurance agent Austen Hill describes his sense of style.

Usually sporting the business professional look, Hill is often seen wearing suits or slacks while on the job.

“I’m not a big fan of ties, but a suit and a dress shirt and a nice pair of shoes are what I wear. I’m pretty old school with my dress shoes they’re just plain dress shoes,” he said. “I’ve pretty much only got two — brown and black — but as long as they’re in good shape and look good with what I wear I’m fine.”

For his professional attire, Hill opts for the custom suits at Men’s Warehouse.

“They have a person there that does custom suits. You get to pick out the Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 15

“I went to college at Oklahoma State and so I have a lot of Oklahoma State dress socks that are orange and don’t match anything I have.”

Austen Hill

material, the lining and everything,” he said. “They’ll do lifetime alterations on them as well. It was cheaper to do a brand from them — Joseph Abboud — then it was to buy something of another name brand or already made.”

When shopping for new looks, Hill gravitates toward the blues, browns and greys. However, for his socks it’s a different story.

“I went to college at Oklahoma State and so I have a lot of Oklahoma State dress socks that are orange and don’t match anything I have,” Hill said. “That seems to be the style now is socks that don’t match anything. I don’t have any plain black socks. All of them are some kind of pattern and color. It makes it a little bit more exciting.”

As for his weekend wear, the golfing enthusiast opts for his golfing shirts, or button down shirts and a pair of Ariat jeans from Cavender’s with his Ariat cowboy boots.

Hill said he doesn’t wear t-shirts anymore outside the house, however, there are times when he will bring out his Oklahoma State shirts.

“I do a lot of woodworking in my free time and that’s usually when I dress more casual and wear t-shirts and shorts,” Hill said.

While Cavender’s is a favorite store of his, Hill said he doesn’t particularly have a favorite brand.

“I do a lot of online shopping, but I don’t have a brand that I’m extremely loyal to. If it fits and it is comfortable and looks good and my wife approves then that’s what I go with,” Hill laughed. “If I need something I’ll add it to the collection, but I got pairs of jeans that I’ve had that are older than my marriage.”

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1932 Ford

5-Window Coupe

By Felicia Frazar

Engine

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Chassis TCI

independent front suspension Ford 9-inch rear end

Body

original except for louvers and hood

Rumble seat

currently not installed

M

artha Greenlawn found the hot rod of her dreams in need of a little TLC while it sat in an airport hanger where she worked.

In 1997, Greenlawn and husband Charles purchased a 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe, later named Ruby.

“She (Ruby) was a basketcase sitting in a hanger at the Carl’s Bad Airport where Martha worked,” Charles said.

It just so happened the same week Martha discovered Ruby, Charles found the classic car he’d been searching for a ‘34 Ford Cabriolet.

“I had one when I was in high school, I wanted one again,” he said. “I had seen an ad in a magazine for one in Oregon. It was a great deal.”

Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 19

By the end of the week, the couple had a pair of new-to-them hot rods, to join another they already had.

“In one week we went from one hot rod — the green ‘34 — to three hot rods,” he said. “The ‘34 was the only one running, but it was pretty sad.”

Eventually, the couple rebuilt the cars and got them road worthy.

“We built (Ruby) in ‘97, put a new chassis under it, I gave her my engine that in the ‘34 and the transmission for this car,” Charles said.

Their daughter drove the Coupe to high school her senior year.

Throughout the years the couple

has modified and rebuilt the Coupe, pulling pieces from their other hot rods and sharing parts of Ruby with them.

The car features five windows — two side windows that roll down, a front window that folds up, and a rear window that folds down and a moon roof.

The front window was a feature used to cool the driver and passenger down on a hot day, while the rear window allowed the passengers in the rumble seat to talk with the front seat occupants.

They’ve raced Ruby at El Mirage —

Southern California Timing Association’s land speed racing site — and at the Bonneville Salt Flats speed runs.

Ruby was a speedster before Martha purchased the car.

“In her previous life, she was a drag racer,” Charles said. “The fellow who owned her had a machine shop in the Mid West and raced this car.”

The couple belongs to the San Diego Roadster Club and the New Braunfels Car Club.

“We drive her around when the weather is nice,” Charles said.

Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 21

A Taste of the Med�erranean By zach ienatsch

I

n an effort to showcase some healthy cuisine with no meat, my mom and I whipped up the Mediterranean classic dish baked orzo with artichokes, tomatoes and halloumi.

Orzo is an Italian pasta shaped like large, short grains of rice. When baked, the dish comes out like a casserole. You can serve it as an entree, like we did, or as a side to a steak or grilled chicken.

Mediterranean food is a very good choice for people trying to take care of their heart and feel healthy. The whole grain pasta mixed with a variety of vegetables is sure to fill you up without feeling sick or bloated afterward.

In this dish, artichokes are a great source of protein,

fiber and antioxidants while tomatoes provide huge amounts of vitamins C and K and potassium.

Halloumi is a cheese originating from the island nation of Cyrus. It is a semi-hard cheese made from a mixture of goat, sheep and cow milk. it is often brined and served fried, grilled, or in this case, baked into some Orzo. If you cannot find halloumi in your local grocery store, feta works too.

I recommend eating lots of olives with this dish to fully capture the vivid tastes of Southern Europe.

Meat can also be added to the recipe if you so choose.

Baked orzo is delicious whether fresh out of the oven or eaten as leftovers for lunch the next day. This dish easily lasts several days in the fridge after cooking.

Ingredients 8 oz. dried orzo 2 tbsp. olive oil, plus 1 tsp., divided 3 garlic cloves, chopped finely 1 tsp. Aleppo pepper flakes Zest of 1 lemon 15 oz. canned or frozen and thawed artichoke hearts, cut in half 8 oz. halloumi cheese, cut into small cubes 4 oz. grated parmesan, divided 4 oz. cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half 1 tsp. dried oregano Salt, as needed Recipe from The Mediterranean Diet Weight Loss Solution By Julene Stassou

Directions Preheat oven to 400Ëš and bring a pot of water to a boil. Add in the orzo and cook until just about done, about 7 to 8 minutes. Once done, drain the orzo and set aside.

In a small pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil and add the garlic, Aleppo pepper, lemon zest and artichoke hearts and saute until the garlic is lightly caramelized, about 2 minutes.

Add the artichoke mixture to the cooked orzo, along with the halloumi and parmesan, and toss everything together. Add salt to taste.

Transfer the mixture to an oiled 12-inch by 8 1/2 inch casserole dish and top with cherry tomatoes, dried oregano and an extra grating of parmesan cheese. Drizzle the remaining olive oil on top and bake for 20 minutes until the tomatoes begin to lightly char and get soft.

Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.

GOVERNMENT

Canyon

STATE PARK

By zach ienatsch

W

hen I was the lucky recipient of the next Day Tripper, I knew I had to visit a state park.

Coming off of my majestic trip to Yosemite National Park just before the government shutdown and my subsequent jaunt to Texas’ own Enchanted Rock, I was looking for something a little more intimate and less vertical.

Enter Government Canyon State Park in western San Antonio. This state park is a little bit of a hidden gem and I might regret telling everyone about it, but being so close to my heart and my home, I can’t think of a better subject of to feature.

Government Canyon has more than 40 miles of trails throughout the park.

However, the chance of doing all of them in just a few visits is not very likely. The park’s natural area functions as a recreational space second and a nature preserve first. Many trails in the park’s “back country” are closed from March to September because of the mating season of many species of birds. The park is also closed Tuesday through Thursday.

However, should the time constraints permit you to visit, it really is something special. Everything about this area screams Central Texas wilderness, from the cedar trees to the limestone rock. There’s plenty of wildlife living in the area too, but you have to remember you are a guest in their home and I know I wouldn’t want anyone bothering me when I’m relaxing at home.

I’m usually able to dupe my girlfriend, Mary, into coming with me on these long, nature hikes, but this time I was able to lasso in two more companions: Mary’s sister Stephany and her fiance, Kyle. The two of them are recent transplants from California and after living with Mary’s parents for a few months, they stood to benefit from getting out of the house for a Saturday.

One of the things we were excited to see at the park was the canyon’s dinosaur tracks. This area has a rich history of paleontology, as San Antonio was once an ancient shoreline during the time before humans. However, the dinosaur footprints were in the closed back country area of the park.

I don’t include this to say it was GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25

disappointing, but rather that even when things don’t go as planned, the state parks of Texas are always a welcome sight and a fun time for all.

When I visited Big Bend in 2017, it rained every night. I wasn’t worried about getting wet, but the weather obscured the famous night sky over the Chisos Basin, one of the best sights in all of West Texas. But much like Government Canyon, one setback does not make a busted trip and quite the opposite, really.

Within four hours, we hiked about eight miles, I am told. For me, I enjoy fitness much more when I’m on a trail or camping versus in the gym. That’s not to eschew the value of a gym; I’m just a mountain man and always have been.

You won’t catch me out on a trail without my trusted hiking boots, which serve me faithfully whether it’s 26 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

when they’re allowed in certain areas.

And for Government Canyon, the park’s entire “front country” is dog friendly! Unfortunately, Mary and I left our basset hound, Gertrude, at home because we didn’t want to stick to just the front country nor did we trust Gertie to behave when prospective friends come around the bend. She really is the most friendly dog, much to our chagrin sometimes.

If you’re ever unsure about what you want to do in a state park, talk to a ranger. Texas Parks & Wildlife staff has always been accommodating and helpful, no matter which of the nearly 100 Texas state parks you find yourself in. Often times, these are people who have loved nature their entire lives and instead of regulating it to recreation like me, they’ve dedicated their entire careers to keeping Texas’s natural areas the way they ought to be. I’d be hard pressed to find a group of workers in the state government who work harder and more selflessly than our park rangers.

The best part of the hike is when the trail ends, at either at a peak or bluff or other marvelous sights. When you think about it, a hike is really just the distance between you and a nice view. Some views are worth miles and miles of foot travel. Some natural views cannot be faithfully depicted, no matter how nice a camera you have.

Almost everyone sees pictures of the Grand Canyon before they go, but the granite bluffs of Yosemite or the nothing will prepare you for seeing it chaparral of Big Bend. Mary, unforin person for the very first time. tunately, decided to wear some less Countless packs of Cub Scouts also comfortable boots instead of her were present in the park when we hiking gear and is still tending to the went and every time our paths crossed blisters. So word to the wise, if you with the young men and their fathers, plan on hiking longer than an hour, I remembered why I fell in love with get some decent hiking boots. And Texas’ natural areas all those years ago. no matter what, never hike without I don’t know if I’ll ever have the same closed-toe shoes. innocent fun as I did with my mates on Besides decent shoes, water is invaluable. It’s dangerous to get caught those camping trips all those years ago. without water when hiking for as long If I ever have kids, they will probably as we did, even if it’s the winter. Dehy- be persuaded to join scouting. Soccer dration can hit when the sun is low or and karate is cool too, but the scouts behind clouds. It is the classic folly of have clout that can’t be matched at that man to let your hubris determine that age.

I’m very thankful for the governwater is not important when doing ment officials, both at the state and any sort of physical activity, hiking federal level, who had the foresight included.

Beyond the right clothing and water, to set aside large swathes of land for future generations to visit and marvel hiking is a simple activity. The old do at the most beautiful sights the Creator it. The young do it. Some dogs do it

has left for us. Even more so, I give props to the park staff who keep these lands beautiful, even with all-time high visitation.

There will always be new restaurants, bars, theaters and amusement parks to visit and enjoy. But once this land is gone or misused, it’s gone. I encourage all people to visit our Texas State Parks and National Parks, but when you go, treat this land like a temple. Leave only footprints, take only photos and kill nothing but time.

Parks can be a day trip, as this column’s title suggests, but should you have more time to camp under the stars, I say go for it. It’s good for the soul and for your circadian rhythm.

Humans weren’t meant to be walking on concrete every day for the entirety of our lives. We are social, adventurous and intelligent animals, and the state parks is the best place to visit the intersection of all of those qualities. If I didn’t have to work, I would visit the parks full-time.

Since the New Year, I have made the decision to visit a state or national park every month from now on. This also works to the advantage of my earlier promise to visit all National Parks in my lifetime. I have eight down, with dozens more to go. If everything works out, I plan to tackle another one in October: Guadalupe Mountains, home of the tallest mountain in the state. It’s no easy feat, but as John Shedd once said: “A ship in harbor is safe. But that is not what ships are built for.”

After we left the park, the four of us went to Babe’s Old Fashioned Food for a late lunch. I am told they have delicious burgers but because I don’t eat meat, I settled for the nachos.

Mary’s parents joined us and told us all about their own travel adventures from the previous few weeks. We are all very excited to visit Disney World in November, which will be a first for Mary’s parents and truthfully, the reason for the trip in the first place.

But until then, many smaller trips to this great state’s natural areas will come to pass. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll return to Government Canyon when the dinosaur tracks become available.

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Julia

Rocks This month’s fashion features local model Julia Miller. On her way to New York City, Miller — a Seguin High School graduate and former Torrid model — made a pitstop at the Seguin Gazette office to show off some of fashion trends found in the area.

Photography by Lizz Phumphrey

Julia is looking stunning in this Hayden black asymmetrical dress- $49.99 and L&B ruby/gold duster-$54.99 From Southern Good

She is wearing All That Tunic in purple$26, Turquoise Haven lace silver sequin wrap-$ $44, multi colored crystal necklace-$15.99 and Special A Jeans/Los Angeles California-$44.97 Shirt, wrap and necklace are provided by Kimber Grace Boutique and the Jeans are From Bling

Julia is looking stunning in this flowered wine colored She + Sky front tie top-$40.97, jeggings jeans Special A Jeans/Los Angeles California-$44.97and a tan crystal necklace15.99All from Bling

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Passion for Wood

By Valerie Bustamante

A

bout three years ago, one Guadalupe County man took a leap of faith.

For several years, Jay Dorrough had a crew and his own business building custom cabinets in Schertz. However, when the opportunity to move to the countryside in Seguin offered itself, Dorrough and his wife Mallory took it by moving their family to a piece of land with a home they planned to restore.

While Dorrough let his business and the crew go, it wasn’t long before he started a new one called Blue J Woodworking, which focuses on high-quality furniture.

“We were working seven days a week and it was crazy. I was missing the opportunity on the smaller fun custom projects because all we were doing was cabinets,” Dorrough said. “So when we came across this property, we decided to move out here and kind of slow the pace down.

So I let all my employees go and basically said 'yes' to all the smaller projects.”

Originally from the southeast side of San Antonio, Dorrough has been practicing the art of woodworking for more than 10 years.

34 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

“I started out working for a buddy of mine doing trim work and custom homes and then I moved from that to cabinets and then progressed to furniture,” he said. “No one in my family ever did anything like this. You know a lot of people were in construction and stuff but it was mostly management. There's not a whole lot of hands-on mechanical people in my family so I'm kind of different in that aspect.”

Since starting Blue J Woodworking as a one-man crew, Dorrough said it’s had its perks and challenges.

“It was nice for me because I don't really like to talk a lot, so I'm okay with like just putting my headphones in and just working on it,” he said. “But on the other hand, it's a lot more challenging because I have no one else to rely on.

You know, in the other shop, I would prep a lot of stuff and then I could leave and go meet with clients and stuff and they would they would just take care of the rest.”

Now Dorrough said it’s all on him although his wife does help manage the books and the social media accounts.

“I have to meet with clients, figure out exactly what they are wanting, do all the work in the shop from start to

Photo by Don Hopkins

finish," he said. "In a way it's a little bit slower pace, a little bit more peaceful but in another way it can be more stressful.”

While it can be stressful, the business serves as an outlet for Dorrough, he said.

“It’s by far my best creative outlet. I’m not really artsy in any other way. Like, I don't draw well or paint or anything like that. But I'm able to meet with clients and I can get an idea of what they want. I just get to start with raw materials and build something that goes in their house, that they love and use on a daily basis. So being creative in that way, is really what I love most.”

The product Unlike his previous business, which focused solely on cabinets, Blue J Woodworking creates high-quality furniture including dining room tables, media consoles, serving boards and trays, cutting boards and desks.

“We take on pretty much any custom project. I don't build anything and hope someone buys it. I only build custom for someone who contacts me, which is nice, because I

Photo by Don Hopkins

can't imagine the stress of having furniture sitting around hoping someone buys it,” Dorrough said.

When Dorrough first started the business, he said his main focus was just dining room tables.

“I really loved the same basic concepts of a dining room table, but every single one was different,” he said. “It was a different kind of wood and style of base and all that, but we haven’t had enough clients in this area looking specifically for custom dining room tables. So I’ve done quite a few coffee tables and media units and mantels.”

When the time comes for someone interested in a Blue J piece, Dorrough starts the process by visiting their home, if possible, to pinpoint a style.

“I do like to go and meet people in person, and see their house even though I'm not real social,” he said. “I still enjoy that part of it. When I meet someone and talk to them while seeing the space I really get a feel for their style, the things they like, and the colors that they're drawn to.”

After finalizing styles and designs, Dorrough tries to visit local businesses for lumber.

“I try to find the best local source for lumber, but when Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 35

that doesn't always happen sometimes I do have to go to some of the larger suppliers in San Antonio,” he said. “I do always check with the local mills that are a small business just like I am.

I personally love building with pecan and try to build as much stuff as I can, but we do a lot of walnut and white oak and some other woods that aren't necessarily as prominent in this area.”

Once the woods are picked out, Dorrough dives into the project.

“All throughout the project I like to send the clients pictures of the progress. A lot of times they have no idea what they're looking at, but I still like to do it anyway,” he said. “After I deliver it I always try to check back in with my clients and make sure they were happy with the product and if there was anything they would want to change differently in the future.”

Dorrough’s largest project so far was a gun display at the Robert Lee Brothers Jr. Memorial Library in Gonzales.

“They had a citizen donate over 500 guns to the city and so they were needing a way to display them in their library,” Dorrough said. “It was an old bank and had this large vault, which was the perfect area to display them so they weren’t accessible to the public.”

Dorrough created several displays measuring to about eight feet tall each all along the vault.

‘Somehow I managed to pull that all by myself. I had that somebody help me with the deliveries, but that was it,” he said. “That was really the largest project have done.”

Photo by Don Hopkins

Etsy A couple of months ago Dorrough wanted to reach a new audience with his Blue J Woodworking by launching an Etsy shop.

“I know there's a lot of people including my own family that are constantly just like ‘Man I wish I could afford for you to build me something,’” Dorrough said. “So this was kind of an outlet for people to be able to purchase something like a cutting board or a serving board or a tray with my branding logo.”

The shop is available at www.etsy. com/shop/bluejwoodworking .

A family affair While Blue J Woodworking has given the opportunity for Dorrough to be more creative, it’ has allowed for something more important — the chance to spend more time with family.

Dorrough said he tries to involve his three kids as much as he can in his shop, which sits beside their family home.

“That's obviously not always easy because they're small and there are dangers of being in the shop, but yeah we love what we got now being so close to home,” Dorrough said. “My wife works full time as well but most of it is from home. When we moved out here the bigger picture dream outside of Blue J Woodworking was a slower paced lifestyle.”

Dorrough said it’s so easy to get caught up in the business of life and before you know it your kids are grown up.

“I just hope someday my children — we've got two girls and we have a boy now — I just hope that someday they will at least, even if they're not doing something like this full time, they have some knowledge and appreciation for the craft,” he said.

For more information on Blue J Woodworking, visit www.facebook. com/bluejwoodworking/.

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38 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

Living in a

World Of Color S

By Felicia Frazar

am Ehrlich grew up in a world of art.

“I could paint and create art before I could talk, as could my brother,” he said. “My father is an artist and was an art teacher for part of his career.

That was part of our growing up and who we were, we created art. Growing up, I didn’t realize that everyone else didn’t paint at the dinner table every night or create fun hats out of foil. It was just an everyday part of life. Art is who I am.”

As a fourth generation artist, Ehrlich found his passion for painting and his love of colors.

“I have always been surrounded by art,” he said. “That is what I think my attraction to color is. You are encouraged to use color and to experiment.”

Ehrlich uses his love of sharing art in his everyday life at Texas Lutheran University and in the business that he co-owns with his wife, Amber.

“In my work at TLU, in the granting and the corporate side, it is all about the art of it. It truly is,” he said. “If I approach it as an artist, I can see it more clearly than if I approached it any other way.”

Sam has studied the works of various artists throughout the years, but none more closely than Annie Sloan, “who is widely recognized as one of the world’s most respected experts in paint and colour.”

For the past four years, Sam and Amber’s business, Keepers Interiors, has stocked Sloan’s signature Chalk Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 39

Paint® which he uses for his own personal works of art, his home and their business.

“I knew of Annie Sloan’s paint before it was even sold in the U.S.,” he said. “She used these pigments that I couldn’t find anywhere and couldn’t mix to get that color. I was always attracted to that. Her neutrals are just as beautiful as her bright colors. The bright colors are what sells everything. Once I got into the paint, I found it is more different than any of the other paint that I’ve used just in the way it lays on, the way it dries the way it mixes, the way it absorbs, the way it attaches.”

It was through social media that Sam was able to make contact with Sloan, and talk art.

She eventually invited him to join her in England for a week and study under her with about a dozen other artists from around the world, Sam said.

“To be able to study with her in the town of Oxford is really great,” he said. “It sounds really fancy and like a movie, but you get there you see Annie is a human. She just mixes and colors, and just wants to paint. We really got into the grit and grind about colors and how she is doing it. She has really — not just educated me — but pulled me out of my comfort zone in the world of art.”

While there he also got to meet the people who mix the paint and create the colors he adores.

“They all eat lunch together every day,” he said. “It is that type of community. It sounds really storybook, but it is just like going home to spend time with Annie and learn as much from her as I can because I know that I am blessed to have this experience.”

Since his visit last year, Sam has kept in contact with Sloan, showing her the work he is doing here.

“She asks questions, she said she likes my spunk,” he 40 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

said. “Sometimes I challenge Annie when I do my brighter pieces, but every day Annie challenges me and that’s what I like. She has liked what I have continued to do and so this March I’m spending another week with her, in studio and in travel again. She has agreed to take me to the Charleston House again, which inspires me a lot.”

During his first visit to Charleston at the Bloomsbury Group House, Sam said they were challenged to find something that inspired them.

“Mine was a picture of a nymph,” he said. “While I used that, it was not the nymph that I painted, but I used some of the same techniques and tried to match the colors that were in my head to get that on to the cupboard that I was painting.”

It’s that technique that he uses when helping customers or creating new pieces.

“I want them to love this piece and create it to where they can brag about it,” he said. “It is a piece of art, even if it is white. They’ve changed it, they’ve made it what they wanted and then there is faux techniques that we teach when we do our classes that allow you try something that will blow your mind with how simple it really is.”

At the shop, he uses what he has learned to upcycle and recycle pieces he finds in local resale shops.

“In doing that, I find that going to our Habitat Store here in Seguin and the Cranny, they are treasure troves and I find a piece that is dinged up because it makes it look even better,” he said. “If I know the lines are good and it’s not selling, I can add color to it and make it a knockout. I recently did a piece that was a 1980s dining chair and it was fabric and wood. I painted the fabric and then I painted over it, what I thought the pattern should be, so now they have a new piece of pattern fabric for their twin girls.”

He loves to offer up the tips, tools and trades he has learned to those who take the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® classes at Keepers.

“I am known for my love of art and color, but another passion of mine is teaching,” he said. “I love to teach the concepts and techniques of Annie Sloan to anyone who wishes. It’s not a ‘secret’ I can keep to myself. I want everyone to enjoy the process and the finished art project.”

The classes are taught at the Erlich’s business and include an introductory class or lesson in painting cabinetry.

Sam said he works with those who participate from start to finish until they have mastered their craft.

“Often groups of girlfriends, neighbors, couples and more come and leave with a full mastery of the process and have developed camaraderie,” he said. “I remember walking into Seguin Brewing Company a few months ago, and sitting at the table was a full group that had taken a level two class months ago. After the class, they exchanged numbers and do projects together — slipping in a local brew every once in a while.”

Oftentimes, people tell him they are not artists, to which is response everyone is.

“We get a lot of people who say, ‘I’m not an artist, I can’t even draw a stick figure,’” he said. “That’s where the Annie Sloan Method and Chalk Paint ® come in — anyone can do it. It takes away the pretensions of art and allows everyone to create. That’s why I really love teaching it.”

Sam will continue sharing what he has learned in years to come.

“I spend most of my time teaching the classes which takes away my ability to actually paint as much as I like,” he said. “Yes, I love creating art but I mostly love teaching other people.

Being able to help other people is more joy than someone saying ‘ooh, I love your piece.’ Yes, I like people to like my art, but when someone else gets to create their first piece and other people love it, therein lies the value of art.”

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Sugar Zona

By Priscilla Aguirre

B

aking has always been a love for Melanie Trumble, which is one of the many reasons she decided to take a leap, quit her day job and start up a business that allows her to make cakes full-time.

“I just said to myself ‘I just got to do it,” Trumble said. “I love baking and I’ve been doing it forever. I’ve always done random other stuff and never really focused on this and now I get to focus on just this and it’s been a lot of 42 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

fun.”

For more than 20 years, Trumble has been baking. Although Trumble is mostly self-taught, she does give thanks to her husband’s abuelita or grandmother — who taught her a few things about baking.

“She really kind of encouraged me in a way,” she said. “I have all of her cookie cutters from Mexico. She left it down to me so I kind of felt like I had to take over with it and I ran with it. She showed me how to do some

of her gum paste flowers, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to learn from her too much, she passed away shortly after that.”

Before Trumble made the jump to a full-time baker, she was a real estate agent in Arizona. Trumble moved to Guadalupe County six years ago and continued her career as in real estate while takings cake gigs on the side.

“When I moved here, it (cake gigs) took off way better than it did in Arizona,” Trumble said. “So I would

INFO BOX: Melanie Trumble Cake Baker/ Decorator Email: MySugarZona@gmail.com Call: (210) 551-2843 Instagram: @Sugar.Zona Facebook: SugarZona be working 8 to 5 and then come and start baking cakes and doing cakes.

There were times where I was up until 2 to 3 in the morning. It was crazy.”

With the encouragement of her friends and family, and the inspiration from the book “Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff ” by Chip Gaines, Trumble took a leap of faith and launched her own business in October 2018.

“That book really helped me take the plunge,” Trumble said. “It’s scary

because I made the change during the holidays, but then things started to pick up. I was a little shocked because I couldn’t believe all the different people in Texas who would love a custom cake.”

As for the name of her business, Trumble credits her friend Celena Martinez — who helped her come up with SugarZona.

“She was so cute, she goes ‘Arizona’ ‘Sugar’ and we were playing around with it and she came up with Sugar-

Zona,” Trumble said. “It’s a little bit of sugar from Arizona. I thought it was really cute and I Googled it to see if it was taken and it was totally clear, so it was golden.”

With the help of her daughter (Taylor), Trumble made business cards, created a logo and began to get the word out that she can make anyone’s cake dreams come true.

“I can do strawberry, vanilla, fresh vanilla — pretty much I kind of tell my clients to look on Pinterest,” Trumble Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 43

said. “I’m not really good per se with coming up with the cake designs in my own head. I can take your ideas, ideas from Pinterest and then I can add to it, so I’m really good at that. I’m a visual person, I’ve always been visual. Just tell me and we can tweak it wherever you want to tweak it.”

From Whataburger cakes to a Day of the Dead cake and even a Yeti cake, Trumble has designed many unique deserts for several occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and weddings.

“Two of my favorites are my chocolate and my white almond amaretto,” Trumble said. “The white almond amaretto is, of course, a wedding favorite which is a an almond flavored cake with amaretto filling, a puddishtype amaretto filling.

“My chocolate is homemade chocolate. I also have Guinness chocolate, so it has a Guinness beer-based chocolate sauce in it. Then I have a buttercream Irish cream frosting, so there is Irishcream alcohol in the buttercream frosting and I can do that in a cream-cheese as well.”

The cost of cakes and cupcakes vary depending on size, flavors and design, but Trumble said her prices are affordable.

“I don’t jack up wedding prices just because it’s wedding prices, the difference is if it is tiered and I have to deliver, there is a cost and if I have to set up there is a cost. That’s it,” she said.

Although Trumble went full-time in October 2018, she said she has been baking for Guadalupe County for quite some time now and hopes to continue to do so.

“I love creating, my whole thing is creating new creations, give me something challenging,” Trumble said. “I’m affordable, I don’t gauge anybody on the prices. I just love doing it. It’s one of those things that I do, I love seeing their expressions on their face when they come in and see it. It’s definitely fun and my mission is to ‘Bake the World a Better Place’ and I’m ready to go.”

44 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

Guadalupe County living ~ Seguin 45

The love of

barbecue

By Priscilla Aguirre

K

athy Pullin is a domestic violence survivor, a volunteer and a barbecue queen.

She has built a catering business from the ground up and has made appearances on television, has participated in several cooking competitions and used her company to help others in need.

From appearing on the Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games show to catering KJ 97, Pullin said barbecue and Texas helped change her life.

“Barbecue is a family,” she said. “I know some people from Des Moines, Iowa, I know some from Canada, we are a family. It doesn’t matter if we cook once a year together or 20 times a year. The people here taught and showed me that there is love that can be made, so barbecue and Texas really saved me.”

46 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

Finding the love of barbecue Pullin grew up on the East Coast, having lived in Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kansas City before setting roots in Seguin. She worked in the insurance industry and a job transfer sent her to San Antonio, which led her to her now-husband Ronny Pullin.

When her work asked her if she wanted to move back to the North, Pullin immediately turned it down so she could stay in Texas.

“Texas takes your heart,” she said.

“I came from a domestic violence background, so moving to Texas, I got away from everything that happened in the past and I was able to breathe. I started to experience domestic violence at the age of 15 and it was like ‘Who is that 15-yearold girl?’ I had to find her at age 40, so moving here to Texas did that because, from 15 to 38, I’d never

been by myself. Never. One bad relationship after another. The last one led me to barbecue, however.”

In 1994, while living in Kansas City, Pullin’s ex-husband was participating in the American Royal Barbecue competition. When her ex-husband burned the ribs the was going to turn in he decided to turn in Pullin’s ribs that she had been cooking for fun.

Pullin’s ribs took 10th place out of a field of 400.

From then on, Pullin knew cooking barbecue was something she wanted to do more of.

“I was like ‘OK boys, it’s my turn,’” she said.

Premium Pullin BBQ Before Pullin started her own catering service, she spent nights and weekends honing her craft by catering private events, as Sassy Sauceless BBQ. However, in 2011, Pullin decided focus full-time on just barbecue and launched her catering business Premium Pullin BBQ. “A good friend of mine came to me about five years ago and said ‘Honey, you put too much love in your ‘cue to do just cook-offs,’” Pullin said. “So he’s someone that actually encouraged me to do catering.”

Pullin books private catering events, brings her fully-equipped truck (that her husband built for her) to the site and can make anything her clients ask for, she said.

“I can cook high-end things, I’ve done prime-rib roast, brisket, sausage, anything really, as long as it’s not seafood because I’m allergic,” Pullin said. “Ribs are my favorite, I mean that’s what got me hooked. I bring my East Coast flare, my Kansas City flare and Texas flare and combine it into my style. That’s what makes me sassy.”

For the past 25 years, Pullin has been doing what she loves — cooking barbecue and plans to continue her work of art for as long as she can.

“I’m an artist by nature and to me, barbecue is an art form,” Pullin said.

“It’s the art of the imperfection, you know, I don’t have anything that is a 48 Seguin ~ Guadalupe County living

pellet grill or anything that requires gas, propane or electricity because I like the art of the imperfection. I mean if you think about it what did everybody cook on before we had stoves they cooked on fires, they cooked on dutch ovens, they cooked on natural wood.

“So to me, it’s relying on mother nature, taking a bad cut of meat and making it good. To me that’s how barbecue started, so taking a brisket and making it tender and juicy, that’s a challenge to me.”

Sharing her success While booking private catering events, Pullin also makes regular appearances on SA Living, doing cooking segments, has competed in countless cook-offs and has served as a judge on several as well.

In May 2015, Pullin appeared on Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games television show on the Thrillin’ and Grillin’ episode on the Food Network. Pullin was 1 of 4 chosen out of more than 1,000 applications and finished third place on the episode.

Pullin spoke publicly about being a domestic violence survivor ono the episode — which was the first time she talked about it publicly.

“I mean I talk about it all the time, but to actually say it on National TV was quite humbling, scary and breathtaking at the same time,” she said. “A lot of women have reached out to me across the world because of that episode. I made a lot of friends. It allowed me to be able to mentor more women. I think it also accelerated me and helped me to get on the board of directors here at the Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter.”

Pullin also donates a percentage of her sales she makes with her catering service to the shelter every year. She hosts several events and works with different committees to find a way to give back to domestic violence.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, Pullin traveled to Port O'Connor by herself to feed the community from Monday to Friday from noon until she ran out of food. She raised money through social media, drove back daily for supplies and stayed up at night cooking so she could serve the residents.

Pullin said she can’t help but smile more and be blessed as she looks back at her past and into the future.

“My heart is lighter, my mind is clearer, I’m able to give back and do service,” she said. “As a Catholic, you are raised to give a life of service and sometimes it was hard to do that back then because I was always so oppressed. Now, it’s totally different, I’m freer, I don’t live in fear anymore.

It’s a much freer feeling and a much happier feeling.”

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The master suite offers everything you could want for the head of household, including a walk-in shower, whirlpool tub, his/her vanities and closets and a private courtyard.

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this off the shoulder bat wig style top from Shirley cold Shoulder, i absolutely fell in love with . it has soft spandex and rayon fabric for comfortable wear and wash. i found this beautiful top at kimber grace Boutigue for $27

thomas Sabos love Bridge, cherish messages for ever, each design of the personalized jewelery line is made of high-quality 925 Sterling silver and in some cases lavishly gold-plated with classic 18k rosé or yellow gold. various engraving possibilities create unique jewelery items with truly individual meaning. the engraving is included in the purchase. you can find these bracelets at gift and gourmet for staring at $119

i found this adorable oversized weekender bag (measurements 20x17) by myra Bag at Southern good for $54.99

58 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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