July-September 2020 Issue

What a year this has been! And we are just now half-way through it. With all the craziness – COVID-19, protests, fires, elections, and more, I’m more than ready for life to return to some level of normal. Thankfully, summer is upon us and with all the recent rains, we have lush, green landscapes to enjoy after the last couple of months of lockdown due to the Corona virus.

The American spirit is difficult to break. Heck, some might say it’s downright impossible! The past many months have no doubt been a trying time for not just us Americans, but for the entire world with the Covid 19 Pandemic. Despite our lives being so deeply affected in many ways, we have persisted.

We have been married for 27 years (it’s true)! Mercedes grew up in Manila, Philippines and Jesse in Orange County, California. We met at a friend’s house which just happened to be everybody’s hangout place. Following our graduation from art school, Mercedes did a lot of work as a graphic designer, and Jesse worked first as a 3D artist and then transitioned into digital strategy. Thirteen years ago, we moved from California to Austin, Texas, and ten years ago started a wedding photogra ...

You are newlyweds but can’t afford a honeymoon on Italy’s Isle of Capri. Where do you go? You have a long holiday weekend and want to take the family someplace impressive. Where do you go? You’re new to Central Texas and want to learn all you can about it. Where do you go? The answer to all these questions is the Texas Hill Country Trail that winds around 19 counties full of scenic beauty, small-town charm, and historic sites. “Green hills roll like waves to the horizon.

Getting married is a symbol of love and what better place to get married than one founded and built and maintained on love. Texas Old Town, near the city of Kyle, is just down the road from the city of Austin but when you are here you will feel like you are way out in the country or that you’ve stepped back in time. The four wedding venues on the 55 acres here are surrounded by grass and trees and flowers, some are near quaint waterfalls and creeks, and each building is handcrafted of w ...

Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau managers never stop working to promote their areas of the Hill Country. But planning for, and announcing specific future plans, may be challenging and difficult during these unusual Covid-19 times. In adapting to circumstances, some CoC and CVB managers are shifting their marketing strategy and focus -- and they are optimistic about opening up public events and activities, in accordance with guidelines or state government regulations. U ...

People ask you why you fish for crappies. I mean, what’s the deal? They don’t yank down your scales like a big yellow cat. They don’t strip your reel like a striped bass. They don’t explode the surface like a lunker largemouth. And I’ll bet you haven’t read any Hemingway novels about The Old Man and the Crappie.

Staying closer to home these past few months may have you wondering what to do next. Work from home, teleconferences, home schooling, tv watching, video games and reading may be wearing thin. Have you tried herb gardening? It’s a creative, calming outdoor activity with functional, satisfying results. The following ideas and info may help you get started, whether you’re a novice, average or aspiring herb gardener. While the Hill Country is full of green and beautiful areas, chances are t ...

Looming large on Brady’s iconic courthouse square is a hidden gem. Passing by the three-story brick building on the northwest corner, one might not give it a second glance. However, nestled inside the almost 100-year-old Hotel Brady is the emerging Trucountry Inn – a vintage boutique respite with Western-themed suites and rooms, an elegant ballroom and a fun, sometimes lively saloon. While finishing touches are still being made inside and outside, beaming owner Heather Myles tips her ...

A wedding definitely represents a major milestone for any loving couple seeking to affirm their deep, emotional commitments to each other. And as such, its inception and, actual execution, take on an importance that, when successfully achieved, can help ensure a lauded recognition of what all associated desire to be the joyous beginning of two shared lives.