heart of texas today

Heart Of Texas TodayJuly-August 2014 Free

Bandera Kerrville Ingram Hunt Center Point Harper

A Magazine For:

Our 2nd Anniversary Issue

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Heart of Texas Today | July - August 2014 3

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To Advertise Call 830-370-9257 The Opinions expressed in Heart Of Texas Today are those of

the advertisers and writers. And not necessarily those of this magazine.

Publisher

Alice Sadler

Graphics & Production

Golden MonkeyProductions

Head Writer

David Blackburn

Staff Writer

Cynthia Jones

Contributing Writers

Kelly Dooley

David LeMeilleur

Denise LeMeilleur

Lainie Johnson

G. Wayne Hacker

J.J. Smith

Karen Hill

Cover Photography

William KierceKierce Photography

5 Consumers See Agents as Best Enrollment Resource

6 Comfort Sells!

9 Overcoming Auto Repair Misconceptions

10 Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall

14 Food For ThoughtWhat and When to Feed Your Baby

15 Bill’s Bar-B-Que

16 A Texas State of Mind…A Short Story from a Tall Texan:Where’s Baby Rodger?

18 Trust the Journey

19 Mary’s Journey

20 Where They Come From

22 Intrepid Fallen Heroes

24 Me-Ma & Poppy Meet a Ghost

25 Natation Triviality

28 Summer Recipes

www.heartoftexastoday.com

Consumers See Agents as Best Enrollment Resource A study released last month, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation, and published by the Urban Institute, a Washington DC

think tank and proponent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), found that

84% of consumers surveyed thought that their health insurance agent or

broker was the most valuable resource during open enrollment. Agents

and brokers were clearly the leading source of credible ACA assistance.

Agents and brokers topped navigators, other assisters, and the call

center, which received the worst rating among consumers. The results

of this study are consistent with our experience and anecdotal evidence

provided by our customers. We have found that a significant number of

our new individual health insurance clients have been misinformed,

enrolled in plans without local providers, or have had their tax subsidies

calculated incorrectly by these other enrollment sources. Do not make

this same mistake. You can receive our professional assistance with your enrollment and with any questions or issues throughout the life of your policy for free! If you already have a policy and would like

some competent local assistance, you can assign us as your agent at any time for no additional cost. We welcome the opportunity to assist

you.

Employer Sponsored Coverage The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently

extended the option for small employer groups (2-50) to keep their

current health plans for two years, with the possibility of adding a one-

year extension. This is great news for many Texas small employers that

feared large premium increases as a result of adjusted community rating,

the “essential health benefits”, and the new plan out-of-pocket

limitations. However, this transitional policy option will not be available

to many employers until the fourth quarter of 2014 as insurance carriers

rush to administratively facilitate this option.

An Oliver Wyman consultants’ study projects a 20% increase in small

employer plan premiums in 2014. This expectation, combined with new

employer responsibilities, tax changes, and a plethora of new plan rules

have dramatically changed the landscape of benefits. However, there

are many strategies that can be implemented to reduce cost, mitigate tax

liabilities, and minimize the overall impact of this legislation.

Seek advice from a healthcare specialist and begin planning now.

Mr. Peter is a Registered Health Underwriter, Registered Employee Benefit Consultant, Chartered Health Care Consultant, Small Group Specialist and has been recognized as one of the top health insurance producers in the nation by the National Association of Health Underwriters. Mr. Peter is the owner of Benefit Solutions located in Kerrville, TX. He provides free consultations by appointment.

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Email:

Phone #: (830) 459-0452

Kelly DooleyEmail:

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Ed Hamilton

SHERMAN & CO., REALTORS ®819 WATER STREET

ONE SCHREINER CENTER

OFFICE: 830-257-7588

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6 Heart of Texas Today | July - August 2014

Joann FaustEmail:

Phone #: 830-329-2902

2001 FABULOUS ROCK HOME IN NORTHWEST HILLS!!!

Call Joann or Kelly! – Only $395,000 – MLS #83723

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Lots & Land1.84-ACRE PRIME COMMERCIAL lot with city utili-

$387,000. MLS #82988. Call Kelly or Joann!HIGH VISIBILITY COMMERCIAL 4.32-ACRE

considered! Priced at $185,000 for quick sale. MLS #82880. Call Ed!4.24-ACRE BUILDING SITE IN HUNT! Area of nice

Only $69,500! MLS #84086.COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL 0.44-ACRE

Only $49,900! MLS #82721. Call Kelly!HIGHLANDS RANCH CLOSE-OUT:

Ranging from 0.89-acre for $29,900 to 1.4-acre for $48,300. Call Kelly!COMMERCIAL

Priced for quick sale at $31,500. MLS #82894. Call Ed!

TWO HOMES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!!!

Call Kelly! – Only $247,500 – MLS #84398

LOADS OF CHARM!!!

Call Kelly or Joann! -- $134,500 – MLS #84359

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The contents of this article are the opinion of Kelly Dooley, a professional real estate agent with Sherman & Co., Realtors® in Kerrville,

Texas. Other professional real estate brokers and agents may disagree or have other views. Comments and questions are welcome by email at [email protected]. Your comments and questions and/or Kelly’s

response may be printed in an upcoming issue.

When only the best will do… -

Offered at $1,800,000. MLS #82673. Call Kelly Dooley at 830-459-0452

SHERMAN & CO., REALTORS ®819 WATER STREET

ONE SCHREINER CENTER

OFFICE: 830-257-7588

www.ShermanCo.com

Joann FaustKelly Dooley

Email:

Phone #: (830) 459-0452

Email:

Phone #: 830-329-2902

Comfort Sells!

not to use highly perfumed scents due to allergies and different

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Acres

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Heart of Texas Today | May - June 2014 9

Overcoming Auto Repair Shop Misconceptions

Owning a car is more than just something to drive, especially when you consider the cost of a new vehicle. A basic car with no options including air, automatic transmission or electric seats can cost as much as $12,000. If you have a car with all the bells and whistles and it is your everyday driver you could spend as much as $55,000 to $65,000 on your vehicle. Not to add the loss in value (depreciation), insurance cost, maintenance and repairs over the length of time you own the vehicle; and most people keep their cars nowadays on average

4-5 years so your investment could bump $100,000 easily. So you must be thinking to yourself, “Who do I get to repair or perform maintenance on my vehicle?” and, “Is the cheaper shop the way to go?” So let’s look at some misconceptions about where to go for maintenance and why cheap isn’t always cheap.

Car manufacturers recommend specific maintenance schedules just to get you back to the Dealer to make more money after the sale. NO. Although manufacturers are making cars that last longer and require less overall maintenance, they do require some preventative maintenance. If maintained properly, you can expect your car to easily go over 100,000 miles without major service. And, it will not void a factory warranty if you have an independent shop perform these services. It is always good to establish a relationship with a shop you can trust who will be there when the car’s manufacturer warranty is over.

A shop can give you an accurate price quote over the phone without seeing your car. NO. You can waste your time calling 20 different shops and get 20 different price quotes for your brakes and chances are every one of them will be wrong. Unless the shop has had a chance to examine or test drive the car in person, there is no way to accurately diagnose your problem and give you an accurate price quote. Beware of any auto repair shops that are willing to give you a quote for your brakes over the phone without seeing the car. Most likely they’ll tell you a real low price just to get you in the door and then come up with “other charges” then they’ll probably hit you with a bill that was much higher when the repair is completed. As a general rule these are the kind of shops where you will always have a problem with the repair later.

Most auto repair shops will recommend extra work just to get you to spend more money. NO. The fact is, any repair shop that doesn’t look for potential safety issues like brake problems is actually doing you a great disservice. Quality repair shops have basic inspections they perform on every car that comes into their shop. This enables them to uncover inexpensive repairs, like brake pads, that may be needed now, before they turn into a major brake repair later with rotors and calipers later. And besides, who wants to be sitting on the side of the road over a minor repair?

All Independent repair shops are the same. NO. In fact, there can be a huge difference between auto repair shops. New car technology requires constant training to keep up with all the changes. It also requires the shop to have the latest diagnostic equipment available. The repair shop with the best trained and ASE certified Professionals along with the most up to date equipment will usually do the best repair for you. Find out if they offer a warranty and what their reputation is. How clean is their shop? Discover if they are involved in the community, supporting nonprofits and youth activities. And, with an Independent “Mom and Pop” shop, typically, it is their name on the door so they have a reputation to uphold in the community.

A lot has changed over the last 16 years as an Independent repair shop but the one thing that has remained constant has been our promise to you, our Customer with our Vision Statement:

“At LeMeilleur’s RV Truck & Equipment Repair Co., Inc. we believe the second most important investment most people make is to buy a vehicle. It is our belief that proper maintenance & repairs to your vehicle will keep it performing efficiently and be a safe mode of transportation for you, your family and your business. We believe repairs are only expensive if you to pay to have the same repair done more than once.” So find a shop where they specialize in overcoming misconceptions and focus on “Fixing it Right the First Time.” Your vehicle will thank you by providing you with years of worry free transportation.

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10 Heart of Texas Today | May - June 2014 Heart of Texas Today | November - December 25

What could be more fun than a good old fashioned Texas Rodeo? How about a Rodeo every Saturday Night? Since 1925 the Crider family has welcomed thousands of people each summer to their weekly rodeo and dance. Yep, every Saturday from late May through Labor Day, people gather along the banks of the Guadalupe under a giant live oak tree for an evening of bucking broncs and two step dancing. Crider's Rodeo is pure Texan and has been a boot-scootin' legend for almost 90 years. At 9 PM some of the biggest names and best talent in Texas music hit the stage. The real charm is the mingling off all sorts of folks--cowboys, cedar choppers, oil men, sophisticates, professional football players, astronauts, truck drivers, TV personalities, politicians, grandparents, grandchildren---the list goes on forever and the party never ends. Some come for the music, some for the dancing, and everybody comes to enjoy one of the

greatest events the Hill Country has to offer. Sometimes rodeoing and dancing can make a body hungry (or "hongry", as we locals like to say). When that happens, Crider's Cafe serves all the honky tonk favorites---Friday night's catfish fry has been a legend for as long as anyone can remember. Everything is top notch and delicious---so, as Grandma used to say, "Y'all come! And bring your appetite with you!!"



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Food For ThoughtWhat and When to Feed Your Baby

What you feed your baby and how you feed your baby at specific ages are vitally important to the development of his brain and organs.

When your baby is first born, breast milk is best. It even changes in structure as your baby ma-tures, providing just the right amount of sugar, fat, protein and water that your baby needs to grow and to be healthy. The nutrients and hormones in breast milk protect your baby from certain diseases and it is easy for your baby to digest.

However, if you are unable to breastfeed, formula offers an acceptable substitute.

Never feed cow’s milk to a baby that is less than a year old!

If you are breast-feeding your baby, you will know she has enough to eat because she will be gain-ing an average of four to seven ounces per week after her initial after-birth weight loss. After the first few weeks, she should be gaining about one to two pounds per month for the first six months and then a pound per month until she is a year old.

You will also be able to tell he is getting enough to eat because he will be a generally happy baby. A hungry baby will be a fussy baby.

Your baby is born with an adequate supply of iron that will stay in her body until she is about six months old. At that time, it is vitally important to supplement breast milk with iron-fortified food, Most experts recommend an iron-fortified rice cereal.

If your baby does not receive adequate iron he might suffer from impaired motor skills (assessed at 18 months) or mental retardation (assessed at 10 years of age) as well as increased behav-ioral problems and attention problems. These problems might show up latter in life even after the iron deficiency experienced in infancy has been corrected.

To learn more, please contact us at www.thepregnancyresourcecenter.org We offer FREE parent-ing classes, on an individual basis to address whatever concerns you may have about your child – from conception to teens.

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16 Heart of Texas Today | May - June 2014

A Texas State of Mind…. A Short Story from a Tall Texan

WHERE'S BABY RODGER?

by David Blackburn I love dogs. I have had dogs in my life since I was a very young child and they have always been excellent companions. My favorite breed has always been the German Shepard; they are, at least in my opinion, the most intelligent and loyal of all canines. They are easily trained and seem to be very intuitive in their ability and desire to communicate with their human counterparts. My dog Lucy was a prime example of how smart and dependable such dogs can be. At one point in time my house was filled with pets. We had Lucy, our female Shepard, two gerbils, a chinchilla, and a baby kitten that someone had abandoned in front of our house. The kitten appeared one rainy afternoon all cold and wet, crying and frightened, and we immediately took him in. I have always been amazed at the calloused acts that people exhibit when they dispose of an unwanted animal in such a cruel manner, but it happens quite often. In this case the tiny black and white kitten touched our heartstrings and we adopted him without hesitation. My only concern was how Lucy would react to having a cat in the house---after all, dogs and cats are not supposed to get along very well, right? My concerns evaporated rapidly as Lucy seemed to be attracted to the new arrival. Lucy was a young adult and was nearing breeding age when the kitten crossed our doorstep and her maternal instincts were much stronger than I had ever envisioned. She was drawn to the little guy and before long they were inseparable. The kitten, whom we named Baby Rodger (don't ask me why; I am sure it made sense at the time), was never more than a few feet away from Lucy and seemed very comfortable and protected in the big dog's presence. Lucy let Baby Rodger eat out of her bowl and the two of them always slept together with Rodger curled up in a section of Lucy's long fur. The baby kitten would position himself between Lucy's forelegs and purr loudly as the two of them drifted into slumber. It was a wonderful sight to behold. A few weeks passed and one Saturday afternoon I was unloading groceries from the car trunk and carrying them into the house. It was raining again and I wanted to get the bags inside before I got soaked; I left the front door open as I made several trips from the car to the kitchen. Lucy was inside and started to make a beeline for the open door; I told her to "Stay" and she did as she was instructed. She sat patiently on the hall floor as I brought in the week's supplies. I then closed the door as the light rain turned into a torrent, with thunder and lightning filling the summer sky. As we sat in the living room looking out the window at the lightning bolts, I noticed that Lucy was somewhat agitated. She began sniffing around behind the potted plants and the sofa and soon began running from room to room, obviously searching for something. Within minutes she began to bark loudly and became more and more tense. It was at this moment that I realized the kitten, which had become Lucy's ever present companion, was nowhere in sight. We started to search for him, going from room to room calling his name---"Baby Rodger! Where are you? Baby Rodger! Baby Rodger!". There was no response; our kitten was missing. It dawned on me that the little guy must have gotten outside when the front door was open. Lucy, well trained and obedient, had heeded my command to stay, but the baby was too young to understand any such directive and had wandered outside. We left Lucy in the house as we grabbed our umbrellas and began to search the front yard for the little feline. We wandered from our yard to the neighbors on each side of the

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house shouting "Baby Rodger? Where are you? Baby Rodger!". After about half an hour we were both soaked and had not found the kitten; remorse and melancholia began to set in. We had saved the kitten from just such a rainstorm on the day of his arrival, now it seemed that we had lost him to an identical circumstance.

We returned to our house and entered the living room after attempting to shake the water from our umbrellas. Lucy was pacing back and forth between the windows and the front door; she obviously understood the situation as well as we did and was very upset. She barked and pawed at the door as she looked up at me. She was concerned about the kitten just as we were, so I decided to put her instincts to good use.

"Lucy! Where's Baby Rodger? Where is he, Lucy? Where's Baby Rodger?" She began to bark more loudly and jump up and down as she scratched at the front door. I spoke to her again---"Lucy! Where's Baby Rodger? Go find him, Lucy! Get Baby Rodger!" With that I opened the door and she took off like a rifle shot into the thunder and pouring rain. I put on a windbreaker, picked up my umbrella, and followed her outside.

The rain was cold for a summer day and I could imagine the poor kitten being confused, wet, and frightened. Lucy was nowhere to be seen, and for a moment I thought I had made a terrible mistake by turning her loose in the storm. Losing the kitten would have been bad, but now I was worried about my dog that we loved so dearly. What if we lost both of them on this bleak afternoon? I dreaded that possibility. However, in a few minutes, I heard the distinctive bark of my beloved Lucy. She sounded as if she was a couple of blocks away and I ran as fast as I could toward the sound of the barking. I soon came upon a sight that I will remember for a long time. Lucy had found Baby Rodger, soaked to the skin and shivering, and was attempting to dry him off with her tongue. He was mewing loudly and frightened, but otherwise unharmed. I picked him up and put him inside my jacket. "Good girl, Lucy!! You found him! Good girl! Let's go home now..."

After returning to the warmth and comfort of our home, we toweled both Lucy and Baby Rodger until they were as dry as possible and they both calmed down. Lucy lay on her side as the baby curled up between her front forelegs and the two of them settled in for a nap as the rain continued outside. We watched this tender scene for quite a while and were amazed at the love and affection these two animals showed for each other. I remember thinking that if only the rest of the world could get along as well as this dog and cat, what a wonderful world it would be.� �

18 Heart of Texas Today | June - July 2014


Heart of Texas T


Where They Come From By G. Wayne Hacker

There are over eighty dogs in the CCPAL

kennels at all the times. I imagine that many of

you have wondered at one time or another

where they all come from.

Well sadly, the easiest course of action for some

folks - too many, I’m afraid - is to drive their

family pet, or some poor, half-starved stray that

has shown up at their place, out to a dangerous

highway or back road and dump them there. It is

also the most heart wrenching. If the animal

doesn’t get killed in traffic, they are forced to

sleep in the brush and forage for food. Dogs

have been domesticated for nearly 32,000 years

and in that time have lost nearly all of their

natural instincts - leaving them ill prepared to do

either. So in desperation, they seek out the

nearest building or

ranch house to beg for

a handout. If the people

there turn them away,

they are forced to

scavenge trash cans or

simply curl up and die

painfully from

starvation. You have to

admit, that is a sad

epithet for a creature

that never wanted

anything more from life than to share their love

with some human being.

Some people get more creative. One such

person placed a litter of 5 eight week old

puppies in a cardboard toilet tissue box before

tossing them out. In desperation, one of the

small creatures had crawled up on the backs of

his littermates and stuck his nose out a hole in

the top of the carton. It was at that time that a

lady drove by and saw the nose; I hate to think

what would have happened to them if she hadn’t

come along. When our handlers opened the

box, they discovered that the puppies were

covered with sarcoptic mange. I’m glad to report

that they just received their last treatment from

the vet and have regained their hair. As you can

see, they are cute little fellows and the one on

the left has already been adopted.

Sometimes they come to

us from people in need.

We received 3 two year

old canines from a

veteran that is suffering

from cancer and has been

permanently confined to a hospital. He has no

family and lost his home to taxes. Get this - their

names are Willie, Nelson and Windy, and while

the trio is doing quite well in our kennels, they

are hoping for a good home with loving people.

Oh, by the way, Willie is the black and white

one.

Then there was the time we received a call from

someone who discovered that a stray

Schnauzer that had crawled up under their

porch and delivered a litter of seven puppies.

They were all frightened and the mother was

protective. Still, with caring hands, we were able

to fish them out. Once we had them in the

daylight, we could see that they had been bitten

raw by a fleas and ticks. After a few trips to the

veterinarian to rid them of the pests, we were

able to place them all in good homes.

I will close this article in the same manner that I

always do when discussing this issue – “I’ve

never heard of a dog dumping a person.”

CCPAL is short for The Cowboy Capital Pet

Assistance League and we are a 501(c)3

volunteer run organization dedicated to helping

needy dogs find homes. We have a modern

animal care facility and are always in dire need

of financial donations and loving homes for our

canine friends. We also run a pet supply and

resale store at 8469 Highway 16 South in Pipe

Creek to raise money for their wellbeing. We will

gladly accept your

sellable clothing and

household donations.

We are open for

shopping Thursday thru

Saturday from 10:00 until

3. For more information

on our dogs or the store,

call 210-867-1769 or

830- 688- 0635.

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126 State Highway 16 S, Bandera, TX 78003

1-800-364-3833 [email protected]

Contact us for our current events

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www.longhornsaloonbandera.com1307 Main St., Bandera, Texas

Shop Smart

Shop Local

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Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Begun in 2000, the Fund has provided over $150 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel, veterans and their families. These efforts are funded entirely with donations from the public. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have generously contributed to our projects. The Hill Country NAPA AutoCare Business Development Group is a partnership of reputable, independently owned, auto and truck service centers in Kerrville that are apart of the NAPA AutoCare Center organization. The service centers that make up the BDG are; A-1 Transmission, Balser’s Northside Automotive, Kerrville Automatics, LeMeilleur’s RV Truck and Equipment, Moss Motors and National Car Sales.

Together these shops are joining NAPA Auto Parts and the local NAPA Kerrville Automotive to raise funds during the month of July for the “Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund*, the wounded Veterans of our great country. This is the third year NAPA Auto Parts is partnering with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and July is the perfect month to celebrate our independence and give back to our veterans. The promotion is very simple; NAPA pledges to “give back” to The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund* through consumer rebates, fundraisers, the sale of T-shirts and Wristbands. The goal for 2014 is to raise more than a million dollars to support this worthy cause.

The BDG is using this opportunity to launch our first fundraiser. We are planning a Saturday, July 19th celebration as our local “give back” with an array of activities, promotions, food and fun. We will be holding our event at the Kerr County Court House parking lot on Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 10-2:00. REV FM – KRVL will be giving away Schlitterbaun Water Park passes, South Texas Blood Bank will be holding a blood drive, all of the shops involved will be holding an ”Ask the Tech” forum and there will be food and drink (hotdogs, bottled water and lemonade) at the event.

*The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, fallenheroesfund.org is a national leader in supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families since 2000.

Has provided almost $150 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for those severely wounded in performance of their duty in Afghanistan and/or Iraq

In 2007, opened a world-class physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas

In 2010, opened the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) on the Navy campus in Bethesda, Maryland, for the research, diagnosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTS) and related injuries sustained by military personnel

In 2013, opened two NICoE Satellite Centers (Ft. Belvoir VA, Camp Lejeune NC). These sites will enable military personnel to receive state-of-the-art treatment for TBI and PTS in connection with the main NICoE center located in Maryland

Two more centers (Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg) are funded and now under construction and construction of five additional NICoE Satellite Centers are being planned.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THIS EVENT July 19th from 10-2 at the Kerr County Courthouse

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Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau 2108 Sidney Baker, Kerrville TX 78028

800-221-7958or

830-792-3535www.KerrvilleTexasCVB.com

Contact us for our current Events

Let me start off by saying this is a third hand story so even though the facts are right it’s possible some of the details are wrong. After all, my Grandmother told my Mother who told me so this goes back quite a few years.

It starts around the time the 19th was edging into the 20th century. My maternal grandparents, Emma Georgia and John James, known to me as Me-Ma and Poppy, had gotten married and like many couples of the day they began married life living with Me-Ma’s parents, until John was offered a job working in the sawmill of a nearby town called Otter Water. The opportunity was too good to be ignored so they decided to move. John James went ahead to get some kind of house or rooms and considering how tight the housing was in the booming town it went better than he thought it would. Later he’d learn why. Once the lease was signed word was sent to Emma Georgia telling her they had a house and come join him.

Emma Georgia and her parents packed the wagon and early one morning Emma Georgia and her father, Samuel, started out. They arrived late in the day but it was still light enough to see the house, a fine, two storied clapboard with a wide front porch, close to the railway station and within walking distance of the sawmill—if you followed the tracks across the trestle. Otherwise John would have a four mile one way trip by road.

Unloading their small amount of furniture plus clothes, linens and kitchenware the three spent the night camped out in the downstairs rooms. They all agreed John James had snagged a perfect house for a good price. Next day Samuel stayed over to help set up the rooms and later John took him to the sawmill where he would begin work on Monday.

The following morning Samuel departed, leaving the young couple alone for the first time since they had gotten married. They were very happy with their new home and new independence.

On the days John went to work so did Emma Georgia, cleaning each room with a good scouring using strong soap with vinegar washes and a sturdy scrub brush. Soon the house not only looked clean, it smelled clean. The few pieces of furniture were arranged, rugs laid and a lady was hired to come in every Monday to assist with the cleaning and washing.

John was also doing well. He had been quickly promoted and the extra money was useful for adding more furniture and even a few luxuries to their Spartan place. With the downstairs cleaned Emma-Georgia turned one of the front rooms into their bedroom until she could get the upstairs into some sort of order. On a cool, early autumn morning she began, starting with the big room in front

overlooking the front porch. Opening the windows, not an easy task and one which involved soaping the runners, allowed crisp, fresh air to enter the musty room, shaking the cobwebs. Emma Georgia cleaned and the cleaner it got the colder it became with the autumn winds slicing through the house.

Finally she finished and went down to start supper because John was always starving after working all day. She was thankful to feel the temperature rising as she went down the stairs and by the time she was in the front hallway it was downright warm. She thought to herself that maybe the front bedroom wouldn’t be the best if it was in a

cold spot. She’d check tomorrow—maybe one of the other rooms would be better.

John got in as the sun was setting so the lamps were lit, they had a nice supper, talked on the porch for a while and finally turned in. Both were tired and soon asleep—until the early morning hours.

Emma Georgia was the first to hear someone walking upstairs. She nudged John who woke and heard the same thing. It was the sound of someone shuffling along using a cane, the scraping noise rattling through the wooden ceilings. John got his pistol, which was pretty standard in those days, and started up the stairs. With only the moonlight for illumination he searched the entire second floor and could find nothing. The dust covered floors of the back rooms showed no trace of footprints, animal or human.

Going downstairs he and Emma Georgia decided it had to be either squirrels or maybe even a raccoon. The rest of the night was peaceful and the next day they both returned to their jobs. Cleaning the back rooms of the second floor was fairly easy but Emma Georgia noticed it was still cold upstairs—colder than the season warranted. Downstairs was warm but upstairs was downright frosty.

After supper she told John about the iciness which seemed to settle on the upper rooms so they decided they’d just leave their bed where it was for now since winter was coming and it had a fireplace.

After turning in they were wakened from a deep sleep by the same sound as before. A shuffle with a thump, like an old man or woman with a walking stick, but this time it was coming down the stairs. The two young people lay in their bed, John holding his pistol, while the shuffling noise drug across the hall and into their room where it slowly moved back and forth around their bed.

John scrambled for the matches, finally getting one lit.

Nothing.

The room was empty, except for them, and the door was closed. This went on for a week or so by which time they were staying awake all night, holding matches ready to light when the shuffle started. They never saw anything.


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Emma Georgia wrote to her sister, Mattie, telling her about the weird happenings. Mattie, who had previously lived in Otter Water, immediately wired back saying she and her husband, also named John James, were coming by train that weekend and have another bed set up in the front room for them.

Emma Georgia and John did as the wire asked. Both were exhausted from working all day and staying up all night waiting for the walker but they got everything ready. When Mattie and her husband arrived Emma Georgia almost broke down but soon the excitement of having visitors stopped some of the worries.

After dinner the two couples sat on the front porch, the men smoking their pipes discussing local politics while the women shared family news and recipes. It was almost pleasant except Emma Georgia knew what was ahead.

At an appropriate time both couples got dressed for the evening in separate rooms and the two pairs retired to their beds. No one could sleep. All four lay there with matches and/or guns in their fists waiting for the noise to start.

And start it did. In the early hours the shuffling and clomp started in the front room overhead, came down the staircase, crossed the hall and came into the room where the four were sitting straight up in their beds. As it shuffled back and forth around the beds Mattie shouted, “I know what it is. It’s that damned old Mrs. Plowright. She was a mean woman alive and she’s still mean now she’s dead.”

Basically, that’s the end of my tale. There was no further information forwarded to me except the chill left the second floor, the cane tapping, shuffling stopped forever and soon the first of seven children was expected. My Me-Ma swore it was Mrs. Plowright’s ghost and Aunt Mattie broke the curse. Me-Ma and Poppy moved into the upstairs front room and lived there for many years until they relocated further south. And she never saw or heard another ghost for the rest of her life—but that’s another story.


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The World's Best Teriyaki Marinade Submitted by David Blackburn 1 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup water 4 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 cup chopped green onions The secret is to make sure the sugar is completely dissolved. Heat the 1/2 cup of water in the microwave then put in the 4 tablespoons of sugar. Stir until crystals are no longer visible, then let cool to room temperature. After water/ sugar mix is cool, add all other ingredients. Marinade two steaks, such as Rib Eyes, New York strips, or T-bones for at least 4-6 hours, depending on the thickness of the meat. Grill and enjoy.

Grilled Dijon Mixed Vegetables

What You Need

2 each zucchini and yellow squash, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices, 2 each red and yellow peppers, cut lengthwise into 1-inch-wide strips 1 small red onion, cut into thin wedges. 1/4cup plus 2 Tbsp. KRAFT Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing, divided 1Tbsp. GREY POUPON Dijon Mustard

Make It: HEAT grill to medium heat. TOSS vegetables with 2 Tbsp. dressing in large bowl. GRILL 8 to 10 min. or until crisp-tender, turning occasionally.

MIX remaining dressing and mustard in same bowl. Add vegetables; toss to coat.

Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup

Makes 4 Servings 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 1 Large Onion Chopped 3 Cloves Garlic Minced 2 Cups Vegetable Broth 2 (14.5 ounce) Cans Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes 2 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Cilantro (divided) 1 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes ½ Cup Heavy Whipping Cream Directions Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour vegetable broth over the onion mixture; add tomatoes, 1 tablespoon cilantro, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, place a cover on the saucepan, and simmer until the tomatoes are really soft, about 15 minutes. Pour tomato mixture into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid in place; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth and return to the saucepan. Put pureed soup over medium heat and cook until hot, about 5 minutes. Stir remaining tablespoon cilantro and the heavy cream into the soup.

Mexican Strawberry Water (Agua de Fresa) Makes 10 Servings 4 Cups Strawberries, Sliced 1 Cup White Sugar 8 Cups Cold Water 1 Lime Cut into 8 Wedges (optional) 8 Fresh Mint Sprigs (optional)

In a medium bowl, mix together sliced strawberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours. Remove the strawberry mixture from the refrigerator and pour into a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Pour the blended berry mixture through a wire mesh strainer set over a large mixing bowl; discard the pulp and seeds. Add the remaining 7 cups cold water to the pureed strawberries and mix well. Place the Aqua de Fresa in the refrigerator to chill for several hours or pour over ice and serve immediately. Garnish with lime slices or mint leaves.

Upside Down Plum Cake

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plus1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter,

plus extra for the pan, at room temperature

4 firm, ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges 2/3 cup granulated

sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 large egg

2/3 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Heat oven to 350° F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the plums and 1/4 cup of the sugar and cook, tossing, until the sugar dissolves and the juices from the plums become syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Arrange the plums in the cake pan in slightly overlapping concentric circles, starting from the outside. Spoon any pan juices over the top. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup of the butter and 2/3 cup of the sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Pour the batter over the plums and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 1 hour. Place a large plate over the cake pan and invert the cake onto the plate.

Thank You

We want to thank our readers, advertisers, writers and our rodeo photographer for our great action covers, on our 2nd anniversary issue.


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Kierce PhotographyAward Winning Photography

“From Portraits to Rodeos We Do it all.”Call us for your next event.

(210) 273-4033William Kierce has been approved for PRCA Rodeos.

And tours the PBR events.

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