October-December 2020 Issue

Hello readers! As we enter into the fourth quarter of this year, it goes without saying that 2020 has been quite a year! While it has been a year of challenges and changes, it has given me a chance to slow down, reflect on my busyness, and re-evaluate what is important to me. In the first weeks of living through a pandemic, I was in the grocery store and as the stock of paper towels, toilet paper, peanut butter and cereal dwindled, the panic and fear from shoppers was almost palpable.

Our “new normal” has really begun to set in as we continue to weather through the COVID-19 pandemic. What we thought was a three week shutdown has turned into many, many months of concern, confusion and even hesitance to shop and support local businesses that would normally be frequented. From clothing stores to restaurants, wineries and breweries, everyone has suffered massive challenges with how to operate in these trying times, while maintaining the most important standard… a clean, ...

Have you seen metal baskets suspended on poles above the ground, with a series of chains around the basket? Those are disc golf targets and instead of using a golf club, a frisbee-like disc is thrown at a high rate of speed. Discs are weighted and designed slightly different from frisbees to provide control by the thrower.

The nighttime confrontation occurred with split-second suddenness. Appearing out of nowhere, a white-tailed deer darted out of the dark and into the path of Gay Guilott’s SUV, the collision leaving her with rattled nerves and a $1,500 body-shop repair bill. This scenario repeats itself thousands of times a year in Texas, especially in the autumn and early-winter months.

Have you been to Polly, Texas? Do you know where Polly is? Have you ever heard of Polly? You need to. This is a truly scenic and serene area full of grand oaks and Hill Country cedars along the banks of Privilege Creek and Bear Creek. And full of history. Mostly abandoned now, about 70 families once called Polly, Texas home.

Health authorities generally agree on a simple-yet-powerful prescription for everyone to help cope with the COVID-19 pandemic – get plenty of fresh air, sunshine and exercise. In Kerrville, that’s easy to take because of the Guadalupe River flowing through the city and the River Trail paralleling the serene stream’s cypress-lined banks.

Are you looking for some safe entertainment? Feeling nostalgic for a taste of the 1950s or ‘60s? Just want to get out of the house because it’s Saturday night and you hear your kids almost screaming with cabin fever? And maybe you feel like screaming too! Well -- have I got a deal for you! But first I have to tell you that I love live theatre and have been a movie buff since I was knee high to a katydid.

There was a time when being at home meant relaxation, but this year has been challenging for everyone and as Texans, most of us are used to the open range, rather than being penned up. Working from home, helping the kids with online learning and finding downtime for yourself isn’t easy. Now more than ever, we’re feeling the need for fresh air and space to roam the great outdoors.

Moving into the last part of 2020, Llano is gearing up for some great outdoor events that are sure to provide entertainment for all. Beginning the third weekend in October, Llano County will host a Fall Festival at Robinson Park in Llano. The event will have flint knapping, archery, vendors, live music, kayak races and a barbecue cook-off. Held along the river under the trees, the Fall Festival will help to usher in the fall season for the county. That same weekend, the Texas Longhorn B ...

Andrew Brazell and his wife, Kasie, are wildflower prairie enthusiasts. To fulfill their dream of giving back to nature by creating a Native Habitat, they moved to Weir, in Williamson County, Texas, and began planting wildflowers. In 2014, a producer for the popular public television show, Central Texas Gardener, chanced upon Brazell's breathtaking acres of bluebonnets, which led to a feature story about the wildflower preserve.