Volume 4, Issue 4
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July/August 2012
ALL NEW CONTENT
+
M E D I A I N T E G R AT I O N FASHION INTERIOR DESIGN ART NEW GOLF COURSE RANKING F A M I LY L I F E & SO MUCH MORE
this is living. p ure and simp l e. w w w. co r d i lle r a r a nchLIVING.COM
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This isn’t just any construction project, this is your home and there’s a lot on the line. The guidance and discernment must be exceptional, and the details exacting. The relationships and trust must be genuine and true. At Robert S. Thornton Great Homes we form a team – starting with the client through the architect/designer, supervisors, interior designers, longstanding subcontractors and vendors. And if the team and relationships are right the process and product will be unsurpassed. From inception through long term service we strive to please. If you’re in the market for a new home just ask around, and along with rave reviews we know that they’ll share that we are creative, honest, hardworking and trustworthy – for your sake and ours. Thank you to each of our 60+ friends and clients of Cordillera Ranch for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of your team.
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F E AT U R E S
30
COVER FEATURE Cordillera Ranch resident Rose Monday’s road to the Olympics with 800-meter runner Maggie Vessey. Their successes, failures and struggles have gotten them this far and hopefully further. BY BEN SCHOOLEY
64
MEDIA INTEGRATION Electronic technicians and interior designers give some tips on how to seemlessly integrate your electronic and media devices and keep your home looking pristine. BY CRAIG COLVIN
68
HOME TOUR An exclusive tour of the Di Lusso Villas at Cordillera Ranch and the features that make them so unique. BY GABE GARCIA
ALSO INSIDE: 16 Welcome Letter 20 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 24 GOLF - MARC DEWALL 36 Financial - 5 things to do with your money... NOW 44 Cordillera Ranch Scene 46 STAFF PROFILE - Sarah Conklin 48 Travel - Private charter jets 52 Family - MASTERING homework 56 ArtIST PROFILE - Greg Glowka 60 OUTDOORS - Summer camps 72 GVTC & CORDILLERA RANCH 74 Boerne ISD’s RISING STAR 78 DRIVE - 2012 Porsche 911 carrera s cabriolet
12 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
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welcome
S
ince the fall of 2008, Cordillera Ranch Living magazine has been a great resource for Cordillera Ranch residents, members and those curious about the Cordillera Ranch lifestyle. As the magazine has grown and captured more and more readers, we have continued to broaden its content and story base to meet not just the interests of Cordillera Ranch residents and members, but those interested in the lifestyle in Cordillera Ranch, Boerne and the Hill Country. So, with that in mind, welcome to the all new Cordillera Ranch Living. We have significantly increased the variety of content in the magazine, and we hope that you find the refreshed look, layout and features entertaining and engaging. From interior design to art to family articles, this magazine now truly represents the finest in Cordillera Ranch and Hill Country living. If you don’t live here quite yet, we trust that the articles you are about to read will only deepen your desire to breathe deeply amongst the beauty of our area. As for our cover, we were lucky enough to spend some time with Cordillera Ranch resident Rose Monday and Maggie Vessey. Rose is one of the most respected 800m coaches in the world, and is also one of the coaches for Team USA’s Track and Field teams for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Maggie is currently a world-class 800m runner that is training with Rose, and has her sights also set on the Olympic Games. It’s a fascinating story about two women, 25 years apart, bonded by shared desires to fulfill dreams in a discipline they are amazingly passionate about and - though they have tried- neither seem to be able to retire from it. Again, I truly hope that you enjoy this May/June 2012 issue of Cordillera Ranch Living. A lot of work goes into the magazine, and we are constantly looking to improve. If you ever have a suggestion, idea or critique…I’d love to hear it. Drop me an e-mail anytime.
LIVING www.cordilleraranch.com 830.336.3570 www.facebook.com/cordillera.ranch PUBLISHERS: Schooley Media Ventures, LLC / Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation SCHOOLEY MEDIA VENTURES, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. Schooley ben@smvtexas.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com CORDILLERA RANCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION VICE PRESIDENT Charlie Hill cphill@cordilleraranch.com CONTACT: Cordillera Ranch Living Magazine 265 N. Main, Boerne, TX 78006 210-507-5250 info@smvtexas.com Cordillera Ranch Sales 830-336-3570 info@cordilleraranch.com Clubs of Cordillera Ranch 830-336-9000 Cover & cover feature photography provided by West Vita Photography. 830-431-1157 www.westvita.com
Enjoy the read,
Charlie Hill Vice President Cordillera Ranch
16 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
Cordillera Ranch Living is published bi-monthly through a joint venture between Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation and Schooley Media Ventures, LLC. No reproduction in any form is authorized without the consent of both Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation and Schooley Media Ventures, LLC. Cordillera Ranch Living is a registered trademark of Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation. 265 N. Main, Boerne, TX 78006. Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 2008. All rights reserved. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited submissions. Manuscripts, photographs, and other submitted material can be acknowledged or returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The content contained does not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation, Schooley Media Ventures, LLC, or Cordillera Ranch residents. Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation and Schooley Media Ventures, LLC assumes no liability for misinformation, omissions, or errors.
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CALENDAR : MEMBER TRADITIONS Tuesday Evenings FAMILY NIGHT
Wednesday Evenings CORDILLERA RANCH GOLD RUSH
Thursday Evenings PLENTY FOR $20
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Come to the Club on Tuesday nights for Family night! Enjoy a special feature prepared by Chef Dwight, and the best part…kids 10 and under eat free off the kids menu!
We will draw a member’s name from our Membership Roster. If that person or anyone in their immediate family is in the main clubhouse at the time of the drawing they will be awarded the current club credit. ($50 added for next week’s drawing if winner not present)
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Every Thursday evening enjoy our fantastic features, accompanied by a specialty wine menu featuring selections from around the World for only $20 per bottle.
Thursday - Saturday Evenings CORDILLERA RANCH’S FRESH STEAK AND SEAFOOD MARKET MENU
Friday Evenings SIGNATURE DINING
Saturdays CARDIO TENNIS
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Join us for dinner at the club as we spotlight our chef’s finest steak and seafood features, delivering an unparalleled fine dining experience.
Featuring live entertainment from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Join us for an elegant dining experience, live music and Chef’s finest features. Advance reservations strongly suggested.
Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Contact Cordillera Ranch Tennis Pro Glenn at 830.336.4660 at the tennis shop or by e-mail: gbarton@cordilleraranch.com.
Keep up with new events at the Clubs on facebook at www.facebook.com/cordillera.ranch and on twitter at twitter.com/cordilleraranch
The Clubs of
Cordillera Ranch www.clubsofcordilleraranch.com 830.336.9000 Visit this site for more information on: Ladies’ Golf Events Sporting Clay Leagues Men’s Golf Events Tennis Leagues Guided Fishing Excursions Equestrian Activities
Relax and Rejuvenate with The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch Spa Services. Featuring an array of services including massage therapy, facials, manicures and pedicures Tammy Stone, Nail Technician 210.833.0083 tammystone1958@yahoo.com Martha Miehe-Renard, Massage Therapist & Pilates Instructor 830.446.1140 marthamiehe@hotmail.com Karen Walton, Massage Therapist 210.363.6194 Lois Garber, Esthetician 210.415.1771
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EVENTS : CALENDAR JULY
AUGUST
July 14 Greek Festival
August 2 Shuck n’ Jive
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Zorba never had it so good! Enjoy Greek food and music at the Main Clubhouse. The event offers guests a taste of such traditional Greek goodies as baklava, dolmades, pastitsio, and souvlaki. You can also purchase imported Greek wines to accompany the homemade food, prepared by the women of the church.
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Enjoy Cajun food and live jazz music at the Main Clubhouse. Feature menu will include fried shrimp, fried catfish, red beans & rice, jambalaya, peel and eat shrimp, fresh oysters on half shell, frozen mint juleps, and much more.
August 18 Cool Pool Jazz & Hot Summer Nights 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. We’re chillin’ pool side with live jazz music. Enjoy selected pit smoked fare and drink specials. Chef will be pit smoking brisket, ribs & chicken served with our blazin’ saddle beans, homemade potato salad, biscuits and cornbread. Sip on $2 ice cold beer or $5 frozen margaritas. It’s the last summer night before the kids start back to school.
Hill Country Events July 19 NEW BRAUNFELS: Come and Taste It!
July 27-29 FREDERICKSBURG: Hill Country Auto Swap Meet
Special Guest Haak Winery. A wide range and evolving selection of Texas and New World wines available for complimentary tastings, German wines, specialty beers, wine accessories & décor are available daily at The Grapevine, and live entertainment can be found nightly at Texas’ Oldest Dancehall. The Grapevine – Texas Wine Bar, 5-8pm. www. grapevineingruene.com or thegrapevine@ gruenetexas.com 830-606-0093
This 35th annual auto swap meet, car corral and flea market is hosted by the Fredericksburg Vintage Car Club. Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. www. fredericksburgcarclub.com 830-998-4058
July 28-Aug. 19 UVALDE: FAI World Gliding Championship
August 23 - 26 FREDERICKSBURG: Gillespie County Fair
Enjoy competition flying, rides in gliders and helicopters, the Taste of Texas Festival, bull riding, Uvalde Opera House melodramas, arts and crafts, booths and more at this event that draws 130 of the world’s best glider pilots from 25 countries. Includes a welcome party July 27, a pre-competition barbecue and dance Aug. 3, and a parade on Getty Street and opening ceremonies Aug. 4. http:// wgc2012uvalde.com 830-278-4115
Features horse racing, concerts, dances, carnival and midway, and displays of agricultural, livestock and home skills. Parade begins at 10 a.m. Friday. Gillespie County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Drive. For more information call 830-997-2359 or go to www. gillespiefair.com.
July 27-Aug 12 Kerrville: Wizard of Oz Based almost entirely on the classic MGM Musical film, this production brings to life all of our favorite characters from the wonderful world of Oz: Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard and, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West! Beloved by kids of all ages, this musical fantasy is sure to be a crowd pleaser. For more information and tickets visit www. caillouxtheater.com
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 21
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2012
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Cordillera
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Barry Denton Championship Fl ig
ht Winner
erck ner Jerry M t’s Flight Win en Presid Corbett Christie Second Flight Winner
y Mark McCurle ner First Flight Win
Upload your own photos to www.facebook.com/cordillera.ranch for a chance to be featured in next issue’s Ranch Scene
24 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
E TH BS U CL
Watermelon eatin
g contest
Kathryn Chishol m wins Memorial Day H ula Hoop
arilyn
Dan & M Ticket Winners er rt ha C s’ ur Sp lver Dancers McGaw with Si
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CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 25
Golf GOLF
Right now is the perfect time to come out and enjoy one of the best golf courses in the State of Texas. Cordillera Ranch was recently rated the #5 golf course in The Dallas Morning News Best of Texas Golf edition for 2012. This is quite an honor considering the rich tradition of great golf courses across the state (see page 26 for more). Golf Course Superintendent Mark Semm and his team have the course in wonderful shape. May also marks an initiative called Welcome to Golf Month and PGA Free Lesson Month. The professional staff at Cordillera Ranch will be working on encouraging new golfers to come out and give the game a try throughout the month. We also are offering complimentary 10-minute lessons to all of our members. The tournament schedule is definitely in high gear and we have a number of great events planned that I hope you will be able to participate in. May 3-4 we will once again host the popular Guest Days. This is a wonderful way to bring out a few friends or clients, showcase all that Cordillera Ranch has to offer and enjoy a great day on the course, all at a discounted rate. The Cordillera Women’s Golf Association will be hosting their first ever Member-Guest event on May 9-10 titled the Cordillera Ranch Round-Up. They have worked extremely hard in putting together a special event and we look forward to hosting the tournament. The Third Annual Couples Stampede is set for May 12 and is the most popular Couples event of the year. The Men’s Club Championship also takes place May 18-20 when 2011 champion Brad Saathoff will look to defend his title. There is not much time for rest when moving into June as we still have a few events on the schedule for you to enjoy. The Men’s Match Play Championship is set for June 1-3 and we have a Men’s One-Day Member-Guest planned for Friday June 15. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy playing golf here at Cordillera Ranch. Even if you do not care to play in a tournament, just come out and enjoy the game and the beauty of the golf course.
Marc DeWall, PGA Director of Golf, The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch mdewall@cordilleraranch.com | 830.336.4653
PRODUCT
FEATURE By Marc DeWall
Belly Putter Fitting Tool There continues to be a growing interest and increased usage in belly and long putters. The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch Golf Shop now has available a belly-putter fitting tool. The device’s all-steel telescoping shaft is designed to easily and accurately fit consumers for the proper length belly putter. The Taylor Made belly putter fitting tool offers a seven-inch range of adjustability to fit putter lengths from 39 inches to 46 inches, through the use of a continuousflow telescoping shaft with clear markings at
26 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
every quarter-inch to allow exact fitting. The telescoping shaft includes a quick-release lock that, when engaged, allows golfers to test their length while experiencing the same feel of an actual putter. The tool is designed to precisely determine the proper length of belly putter for a given player, which depends on several variables including the player’s height, build and posture. The shaft system allows Taylor Made to build the tool to a weight and flex consistent with that of a fully assembled belly putter. This
consistency provides proper feel through the fitting process and can allow golfers to putt normally with the tool while testing different shaft lengths and positions. The tool’s grip includes reference markings at 15 inches, 17 inches and 21 inches, to determine correct club and grip length. Please stop by the Golf Shop and take a look at this great new fitting tool.
E TH
Controlling distance of bunker shots By Marc DeWall
There are three different ways to control distance in the bunker shot: 1. Face Angle- for longer shots set up with the clubface square and for shorter shots open the clubface. 2. Length of Backswing and Follow-Thru- for longer shots take a bigger backswing and for shorter shots take a smaller back swing. The same holds true for the follow-thru. 3. Speed of the swing – for longer shots increase the speed of your swing and for shorter shots decrease the speed of your swing. You may use any of these techniques to control your distances. However, keep your hands behind or on top of the ball at the address to expose the bounce of the golf club.
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TIPSANDTRICKS PLAYING THE COURSE
This month we have our second installment in a series of articles describing course strategy for some of the best holes at Cordillera Ranch. Hole #12 at Cordillera Ranch is the number two handicap hole on the course and often recognized as a hole that a player can make a big number on in a hurry. Here, five time Senior Men’s Club Champion Jarratt Jones shares a few of the strategies involved in playing this hole with the hope that it may help you lower your score the next time you play: Hole 12 612 Yards Par 5 Hndcp. 2 Don’t be intimidated by this hole...it is not as difficult as it first looks. There is more room right than you can see from the tee. A perfect tee shot is down the right edge with a little draw. The slope of the fairway will bring it back to the center and the second is easier from the right side than left. Hole 16 green is on your left, take a peek. Take a drive up to look at the second landing area. I don’t recommend trying to hit this green in two unless you have 200 yards or less and can bring it in high and soft. There are two lay up options: One is into the middle of the elevated flat area, which is quite generous, but might look intimidating. This will leave about 100 to 120 yards. The other option is to hit it down just short of the green and chip to the pin. If you are 230 to 280 out, take 50 yards off and hit your shot towards the tree on the right corner of the green. The ball will release down the hill and leave you a reasonable chip to a fairly complex green. Most of the green runs left to right... the only exception is the front pin. Position 2
LONGER SHOT
SHORTER SHOT
Position 1
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 27
CHEF SAYS Your favorite recipe you’ve been making lately? My Coriander Cure, a.k.a. Pastrami Cure. I sometimes call it Pastrami Cure because it has the same spices and flavor profile that goes into making pastrami. It’s so versatile—good with any red meat, fish, or fowl, and people have always loved it. Rub the meat with the cure and let it marinate briefly before grilling or sautéing. What’s one substitution ingredient that most people don’t know to use? Whenever I’m making a salad course for a nice wine dinner I stay away from using vinegar in the dressing and substitute a citrus juice instead. This helps the salad course to marry with the paired wine and not clash with it What’s one good ingredient that you can find locally grown? Blueberries or Fredericksburg Peaches in the early Summer If left to your own devices, what’s your go-to recipe or dish? That depends on the weather. Cold weather calls for something rich, hot, and hearty, like braised venison shanks and simple mashed potatoes. Chicken and Dumplings also comes to mind. Hot Weather calls for something off of the grill so you don’t heat the house up more with the cooking process. In the summer time I will cook an entire meal on the grill to keep the house as cool as possible. An example would be a nice grilled sirloin steak with grilled onions, mushroom, and eggplant with either baked potatoes cooked on the grill, or “campfire potatoes”—diced new potatoes, onions, and butter wrapped in foil and cooked over the coals You’ve got friends showing up to your home in 30 minutes for dinner. In a pinch, what is a fast and yet elegant dish? An entire meal cooked on the charcoal grill outside. (see above) Steak (or a whole venison backstrap if they’re really good friends), chicken or salmon, an assortment of grilled vegetables, a potato dish, and even the bread cooked over the coals to go with the meal. Get the charcoal lit and then begin prepping everything. By the time the fire is ready, so is the prep. Relatively quick, very rustic, and elegant at the same time. Pack the ultimate picnic basket. With the guys: Cold fried chicken, biscuits, pickled jalepenos, cole slaw, and cold beer. Maybe some fried peach or cherry pies for
28 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
dessert. For that special woman: an assortment of good, ripe cheeses, crusty French bread, some fresh berries, grapes, and a couple of good bottles of wine or bubbles. What’s one secret to preparing the perfect brisket? Don’t trim the fat from the brisket until after it is cooked. Keep the cooking temperature as close to just under 200 F as possible. A good brisket takes time—12 to 18 hours—so don’t wait until the last minute. Describe the most exotic dish you’ve ever made? That would have to be a traditional Japanese breakfast as prepared at the Westin Hotel Galleria Dallas back when I apprenticed there and Westin Hotels were under Japanese ownership. The whole thing was very ritualistic. You had a cold, rolled omelet that was sliced, some hot miso soup with a coddled duck egg that was broken into the soup by the diner, sticky rice, all sorts of different pickled vegetables, and little dried whole fish. Every item was placed in its own decorated ceramic dish, which all fit onto an elaborately decorated wooden tray. Not something I have carried with me or would ever try to duplicate, but the whole ritual and tradition surrounding the traditional Japanese breakfast was intriguing. Favorite local fine dining restaurant and why? It used to be Restaurant Biga, which moved downtown and became Biga on the Banks. The quality of the food and service is unsurpassed, a great but reasonable wine list, and the everchanging imaginative menu offerings would make any chef jealous of Bruce Auden’s ability to pull it all off. Why become a chef? Why not become a NASCAR driver or astronaut? Wait... what? I could have been a NASCAR driver? I think if my Mom and Dad had been NASCAR drivers, chances are good I would be one too, or at least a boot-legger. Although neither Mom nor Dad were chefs, they both loved to cook and showed their love for friends and family through their cooking. As a kid I was always in the kitchen watching and helping my Mom, or was outside with Dad working the grill. I didn’t learn everything I needed to know about the culinary arts or how to be a chef from either one, but I did learn the most important thing—good cooking begins and ends with a lot of love.
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The
Styskal Bunch By Ben Schooley a West Vit Photography by
The paths that our lives can take are often not exactly the way we might have planned them. Unforeseen challenges, tragedies, and triumphs affect the roadmap that leads us through the many adventures of life. For Ken and Julie Styskal, their path has taken them from the humblest of beginnings…to adventures around the world that they never would have imagined.
Ken begins, “I was born in Kearney, Nebraska. My father was a manufacturing engineer, and my mother was a school teacher. I was into all the sports, and was the Captain of the football team. Eventually, the family moved to Colorado, and I graduated in ’83.” Initially intending to follow in his father’s steps, Ken enrolled in the University of Colorado and pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering, however, he quickly altered course. “I’m a chemical engineer
at this point. My dad was an engineer, and I figured I could do anything with the degree. At the time, the bottom fell out of the oil industry. I found that I was much more into the biology side of engineering so I went to medical school. I wanted to be a heart surgeon initially. However, I met a bunch of surgeons that weren’t very happy people, and so I went away from there. As a surgeon, it’s hard to have a life. It consumes you. But I found that as an emergency doctor, you work shifts, so
you can actually exist and have a life. So in 1991, I graduated from medical school.” At the same time that Ken was attending medical school, a young lady named Julie was going through a difficult time, and was living in her car in the Phoenix heat with her two children. Julie begins, “I got married right after high school and had two kids. The marriage wasn’t a great thing, and I ended up living on the streets for a while. My husband was abusive so for safety’s sake I felt it best to leave. A
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 31
women’s auxiliary group came to help us occasionally. They would show up on the streets and bring us food and help us in most any way. We had a great bond over my pride in my children. They were also the first people that thought I was smart, and that meant a lot to me.” Even though Julie had moved to Phoenix when she was 5, and had family in the area, she felt the streets were her only options. “My parents were very concerned with how we looked to the outside world. They did not approve of my divorce at all. I just did whatever it took to get through that time. We went to some friend’s houses, but it was never a long term solution. And so we simply survived as best we could.” The Women’s Auxilliary Group that helped Julie began to have a very serious impact on her life and would eventually get her off the streets. “When you are living on the streets, everyone wants you to accept Christ, Buddha, Monkeys, whatever. When I met the women’s group, I really saw Christ in them. So I knew God cared about my kids, but I had done a lot of bad stuff. However, they didn’t give up on me. Eventually they even paid for a significant amount of nursing school, which is how I eventually got my degree and was able to really pull my life together.”
32 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
Armed with her degree, Julie began work as a nurse and was focused on simply moving on from some rough chapters in her life. At the same time, Ken had recently taken an internship at the same hospital Julie was working as he completed the requirements for his medical license. Ken laughs, “I met Julie on June 23, 1991. I remember this because it was the first night of my internship. I had pulled call for the night. There was a drunk guy that was withdrawing, and Julie wanted to sedate him, so she came to me. The guy was pretty worked up, and she wanted to sedate him a bit much, so I said ‘No.’ We were dating the next year.” However, their relationship was going to require a kick start in order to get it off the ground. And Julie was up to the challenge. Julie explains, “I worked the night shift with a bunch of other nurses. We were a pretty wild bunch and we were all just being silly one night and making resolutions for the coming year. We decided to pick the person that would be the hardest for us to date. I am extremely loud and outgoing, and so the other girls picked Ken as the most shy. And so the bet was made – if I could get a date with Ken, I would win the pot!” However, Ken proved a worthy adversary. “I tried so hard to flirt with him and turn on the charm, but none of it
seemed to work. Later I found out that he hadn’t seen the Phoenix Zoo, so I asked him if he’d like to come along with me and my children. He said yes, and there you have it, I had won the pot!” And as they dated, their relationship began to grow, eventually leading to marriage in 1993. Ken explains, “It was mainly just Julie’s openness. She is an open book and I so enjoyed learning everything about her. She is so unencumbered with life in general and I found it simply beautiful.” Julie adds, “I was such a hard soul at that time. I loved that Ken truly believed that marriage could work if two people worked at it, and I never would have believed that until I met him. He always sees the best in things and his dreams were not only big, but they were beautiful. I can honestly say that Ken is the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. Everything about him…his aura is simply beautiful.” Upon marriage, the Styskals welcomed Megan to the family in 1994, and followed with Eric in 1995, in addition to JennaLynn and Joshua from Julie’s previous marriage. (Ken would eventually adopt Julie’s children officially as his own). “We had Eric right as I was finishing up my residency. We had been looking for someplace to live as I began my career, and I had grown up in Nebraska where it can get really
cold, so we wanted someplace warmer. We came down to San Antonio to visit Julie’s brother who lived in Fair Oaks. We really liked the area, and so we were happy that I became one of the Emergency Medicine doctors at Baptist Health Systems. I was confident in my training and eager to finally get out and do what I was trained to do.” So in 1995, the Styskals became the newest residents of the area. Julie had stopped her nursing career in 1995 while undergoing a rough pregnancy with Eric, so newly transplanted to Texas, she looked for areas to get involved. She explains, “The first group I volunteered with was hospice. One of my favorite parts about nursing was helping the family through the dying process. It’s a part of life and there is a way to do it with grace and dignity.” She laughs, “But I soon realized that all of my friends were dying, so I began to look at other ways to help in the area, and eventually I landed with Meadowlands (group home for troubled kids). I was part of a group of Cordillera Ranch women who started an education incentive program there and I wanted them to know that your past is your past and your parents are your parents, and there’s nothing you can do about it. It was important to me for them to know they were in charge of their future, and only they can decide it. So we would bring in people that would speak about where they were in life and how they got there so that the kids could set goals.” In 1998, the Styskals began to add to their family by becoming foster parents. As they both worked in a medical capacity, the Styskals quickly became the foster parents of choice for children that were born addicted to drugs or had other health problems. Julie explains, “When you become a foster parent, you have to understand that you’re not permanent. The ultimate, greatest goal would be to get them back with their parents. So we would go in for weekly visits with the parents and try to love on them and help them get to a better place. We worked with them to try and help them through it, however, none of our foster parents ever were able to regain custody of their children.” And while they knew that being a foster parent was a temporary duty, it didn’t make it any easier to give the kids up. Julie continues, “Anabel came to us in August of 2000. She was born with drugs in her system. The family had many interventions with CPS, and the last straw was that one of the members of the house stabbed himself in front of all the kids. So she came straight to me from the hospital. We fostered her for years and we had a lot of specialists that worked with her through a lot of her
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 33
physical issues. Her parent’s rights were terminated when she was 1 and I had to go in and testify against the mother, even though I had tried so hard to help the mom. As we were leaving, my phone rang and it was my dad saying that he was in the ER with my mom, and then the ER doc came on the phone and said that my mom had died. So Anabel and I both lost our mom on the same day. We had a special bond, and we officially adopted her when she was 2.” Recently relocated to Cordillera Ranch, the Styskals were enjoying their new home, as well as being free of infants for the first time in a long time. After moving to Cordillera Ranch in 2000, they were becoming more and more involved with local non profits and simply enjoying life. And Cordillera Ranch was a big part of the involvement that they felt. Julie explains, “The deeper truth about the Cordillera Ranch community is its genuine heart of
34 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
compassion, warmth and acceptance. We cannot go a day without hearing stories of acts of compassion, folks going out of their way to volunteer, families adopting from here and abroad, doctors, nurses and youth going on mission trips, and just basic neighbors helping neighbors thru good times and bad. We love the fact that our daughter has had the opportunity to “talk books” with an amazing author across the street, or the fact that one of our neighbors has the incredible job of transplanting organs to give sick people a new lease on life. What we love most however is the melting pot of retired military, school teachers (elementary-university), retired police officers, pharmacists, dentists, orthodontists, pilots, veterinarians, realtors, the list goes on and on. Not all are “famous” but each is a treasure and we are proud to call them our neighbors.” Shortly after, the Styskals began looking to find a local church home. Historically,
both Julie and Ken had shunned formal church settings, but spurred on by their children, they began to seek a church they could attend. Julie says “Our kids wanted to go to church. We went to C4 (Cibolo Creek Community Church), and they were drinking coffee in church and the pastor read from the bible on a PDA. We walked out the door and we both said ‘We’re not going back’. But I coached soccer and I had an assistant coach whose life was just upside down. But he always had this outrageous faith. It started wearing on me and I knew he was a wild dog when he was young and I figured that if he could go to that church and they were ok with him, then we could go there. “ However, the family was quickly set to grow again. “I was so tired of diapers, and we had all the kids to school age, and my house was empty and I was so loving it. And then my phone rang and CPS told me that Anabel had a biological brother that was born and they wanted us to foster him. He had problems also, but we took him on too. This would have been 2004. So we started the whole process over again and the same court sessions, and the family knew that we were going to be the best for the kids. So we were able to adopt Anabel’s younger brother as well.” With a household of 6 children and free of infants, Julie made a decision that would ultimately change their lives. “I heard about some sort of husband/wife trip at church, so I signed us up. Later they told me it was some sort of mission trip, so I said ‘No way’. I called them to cancel and they told me ‘No, you cannot cancel’. It was a mission trip to Reynosa. I flew under the radar the whole time, but just really fell in love with serving under privileged kids. It was just so comfortable for me.” And so she quickly went to Sri Lanka after the tsunami of 2005 and assisted there. And followed that up with a trip to Nigeria. She laughs, “I just fell in love with Nigeria. I say all the time that my heart truly lives in Nigeria!” On one of her trips to Nigeria, Julie met Hannah, and instantly fell in love with her. She had discussed adopting her with Ken, who initially resisted the idea. To further compound the discussion, the Styskals were given some terrible news that would shake any family: Julie has a genetic disorder that affects her lungs and liver, and is terminal unless a liver transplant can be found. Julie says, “My sister and brother both have the disease, and my sister is on the transplant list. My brother is in stage IV. I’m not on the list because now I’m too healthy. It’s kind of backwards, but they won’t put you on the transplant list until you get sick enough, and I’m not there yet. But without the transplant, I will defi-
nitely get sick, and without the transplant, it’s a terminal condition. So when I brought up Hannah’s adoption, it was done knowing that Ken might be left to raise her. He went with me on a trip to Nigeria, met Hannah, and instantly she fell in love with Ken. It was just downhill from there!” Ken adds, “The way that Julie responded to her diagnosis was just beautiful and so strong, and it just pulled me in even more. And I know that after I met Hannah, God just spoke to me and so I agreed, and we adopted her shortly thereafter.” However, they weren’t done just quite yet. “I was finishing the adoption for Hannah and I was in Nigeria, and this man on a motorcycle drove up and had a cloth under his arm, and I unrolled the cloth and there were two twins in there that just looked terrible. They were emaciated, and they were soon to die. So we took them and somehow made it through the night. Every night I slept with Aiden on my chest just so he could hear a mother’s heartbeat. We had to leave to go home, but my friend Crystal took them in. Hussana died a few weeks later. Aiden obviously survived. We had no intention of adopting, but God kept knocking on our door. Somebody actually wanted to adopt him, but because he had a whiter face, they said that it was because he knew that he had a white mother. So they kept asking me if other people could adopt him. And every time I told them ‘Yes, they can adopt him.’ And for whatever reason, it never happened. We showed up down there on our next trip, they walked up with Aiden and said ‘here’s your son.’ We just laughed and said ‘Let’s just take him home.’ In 2009 we finalized Aiden’s adoption and he became the youngest of 8.” And from there, the Styskals have maintained a close and vibrant relationship with the orphanage in Nigeria. Ken serves as a medical adviser to the facility, and via Skype and the internet, assists the patients there over a webcam. Julie coordinated the installation of the internet. She still visits three times a year, however, she’s acutely aware that her health might deteriorate to the point that she won’t be able to travel. But even when she can’t travel, she has assisted 4 families adopt with adopting children from Nigeria. And through it all, she continues to simply defy the odds. Julie laughs, “My doctor told me to quit coming in for checkups because I’m quite healthy. We know I’ve still got the genetic disorder, but I’m just not going to worry about it. I’m just going to live the best way I can and enjoy the life that God has given me.” “Are we done yet? What’s next for us? I don’t know. It’s really just up to God. We think we’re done, but hey, you just never know.”
“
Are we done yet? What’s next for us? I don’t know. It’s really just up to God. We think we’re done, but hey, you just never know.
”
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 35
STAFF PROFILE
CHARLES E. MUELLER, JR. REAL ESTATE SALES AGENT, Cordillera Ranch Realty cmueller@cordilleraranch.com 210.710.6359
NAME
Charles E. Mueller, Jr. HOMETOWN
San Antonio, Texas FAMILY
Married for 14 years to my childhood sweetheart, Ann. We were both born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. We have one beautiful daughter named Elizabeth (11 yrs.) EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s Law School 1988 & BBA in Finance from St. Mary’s University 1985 HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR FIELD?
My mother was one of the top real estate agents in San Antonio during the 1980’s. During summer vacation, I would cover for her by sitting in on Sunday afternoon Open Houses. Doing so inspired me to obtain my Real Estate license during my senior year of high school. WHERE WERE YOU BEFORE CORDILLERA RANCH?
I practiced law for 11 years prior to transitioning back into residential real estate sales in 1998. Most of my time since then has been spent in land sales with Bluegreen Corporation at Mystic Shores on Canyon Lake.
Middleweight World Championship fight in Las Vegas was probably the best three rounds of boxing I have ever seen. FAVORITE QUOTE?
When you cease to grow, you begin to die. FAVORITE MOVIE AND WHY?
I enjoy flying ultralight aircraft, playing racquetball, golf and all water sports.
Top Gun. I have always had a high appreciation for aviation and especially admire the skills, attitude, and commitment it takes to be one of this country’s top gun fighter pilots.
FAVORITE SPORTING EVENT YOU’VE ATTENDED?
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR BUSINESS?
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES/ INTERESTS?
University of Texas football games and my daughter’s soccer games. Although, the Hagler vs. Hearns 36 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
The biggest challenge has been overcoming the inherent cyclical fluctuations of the market and clients’
corresponding fears of making a mistake. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS?
As a real estate professional, the most rewarding experience in my business at this stage is helping people realize their dreams of securing that perfect home or home site. As opposed to my early career as an attorney, I helped people realize the failure of their dreams by doing some divorce and bankruptcy work. Currently, I am honored to be surrounded by a team of real estate professionals in the incredibly beautiful surroundings of what is Cordillera Ranch, and to me, that beats going to the courthouse any day!
Tasha Polizzi Rocki Gorman Old Gringo
18007 IH-10 W - San Antonio, TX
210-319-3001
www.RanchAtTheRim.com RATR_CORD_HALF.indd 1
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194 South Main Street, Suite 110, Boerne, Texas 78006 (830) 331-9495 MommieAndMe@BabyLove.com Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm BabyLove.com CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 37
developer
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38 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
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The #1 resource for Cordillera Ranch Real Estate Information. Director of Real Estate: Barry Denton Agents: Gary Peterson
Charles Mueller
Tracy Harris
gpeterson@cordilleraranch.com
cmueller@cordilleraranch.com
tharris@cordilleraranch.com
Realty Rick Grimes
Stephanie Monsanto
rgrimes@cordilleraranch.com
smonsanto@cordilleraranch.com
142 Riverwood $1,399,000
1
6,253 Square Feet
MLS# 917079
Classic Tuscan design with clean lines, spacious and easy-flowing floor plan centered on 2.32 acres with heated pool and spa as the centerpiece of a fantastic outdoor living space. 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 3 half baths and 3 car garage Chef’s kitchen with gas cooktop, large granite island, dual ovens and custom Alder cabinetry Master suite has oversized seating area plus attached fitness room Oversized and richly appointed dining room Upgraded tile and wooden flooring Inviting floor plan that combines kitchen with family room Downstairs media room complete with surround sound, conveniently located next to the family room Study with masculine built-ins Game room and bar combination Heated pool and spa Master Golf membership available for purchase
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117 Park Ridge
2
$989,500 5,269 Square Feet
MLS# 920097
A stunning 5,269 sq. ft. home on 8.66 acres of prime horse property within the gates of Cordillera Ranch is the perfect home for anyone looking for Hill Country acreage. Elegant and relaxed, this home is spacious and perfect for families of any size. · 5 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms · 4 Car Garage · Luxurious Master Suite including a seating area, oversized closets and a fitness room · Large Kitchen with a subzero refrigerator, granite island prep area, walk-in pantry and copious amounts of storage space · Combined Kitchen and Family Room · Private and masculine Study/Library is the perfect workspace for any occasion · Welcoming grand staircase in entryway · Game Room upstairs · Elegant Texas Hill Country blend of hardwood flooring, travertine and carpet throughout the home · Custom heated pool/spa • Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase
www.CordilleraRanch.com/realty | 830.336.3570
215 Greystone circle $649,900
3
3,123 Square Feet
MLS# 931322
A classic Ranch-style estate nestled amongst majestic oaks and removed from street view. Multiple living areas including game, living and dining rooms provide easy flow and a welcoming environment in this secluded Hill Country escape • • • • • • • • • •
3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom 2 car garage Downstairs master bedroom with walk-in closets, full bath, separate tub and shower and separate vanity as well 4 sides masonry with a combination stone/wood exterior Large, open living room downstairs with fireplace and large windows Large game room upstairs with attached porch 3.84 acres with beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country Secluded, private winding drive Wooden floors Kitchen equipped with gas cook top and new appliances
3383 rio cordillera
4
$1,150,000 4,730 Square Feet + 717 Square Foot Casita MLS# 735390 This beautiful custom home by Burdick & Christofilis sits among the oaks and is on 5.43 horse friendly acres. Enjoy a private setting from the covered patio overlooking the pool with an outdoor kitchen. • 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bath, 3 car garage • Detached casita with full kitchen, living, separate bedroom & fireplace with 1 car garage • Thermador professional stainless steel appliances including a 6 burner-griddle cook top, double ovens, warming drawer & 48” built-in • Elegant slate, wood & travertine flooring • 180 bottle built-in wine cooler • Sound system is throughout the house & outdoor kitchen • Outdoor kitchen with DCS grill & fireplace • Media room with HP projector & 96”screen • Keith Zars Pool with pebble-tec finish & automated salt water system • Full Golf Membership Available
537 Cordillera Trace
5
$889,000 3,962 Square Feet
MLS#940609
This stunning custom home is designed with classic Hill Country features as well as contemporary accents and is designed around the long range views that welcome you as you enter the home. The views can be taken in from all rooms along the secluded back elevation of this 3,844 sq. ft. home. A custom pool/spa in the back overlooking this 5+ acre estate is the perfect outdoor living area; fully equipped with an outdoor kitchen and the refreshing southeastern breeze. · 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Bath, Study/Office, Game Room, Master bedroom downstairs · An easy, open floor plan with large windows and stunning long-range views, as well a secluded exterior allow you to enjoy the Hill Country in privacy · Hardwood, tile and carpet floors throughout the home · Over-sized 3-car garage with an optional workspace/boat storage area · Both a formal dining room as well a break fast area · Custom heated pool/spa, outdoor living area w/outdoor kitchen · Living room with beam trusses; 2nd living room serves as a family room and both boast long-range Hill Country views · Kitchen complete with granite countertops, icemaker, stainless steel appliances and a large island · Fully equipped security system · Rock accents throughout the home accentuate the Hill Country architecture
www.CordilleraRanch.com/realty | 830.336.3570
148 RIVERWOOD $1,125,000
6
4,538 Square Feet
MLS# 898789
This stunning Burdick & Christofilis home is nestled among mature oak trees and on this beautiful 2.01 acre piece of the Hill Country. Its open floor plan and spacious outdoor living area complete with a custom pool make this home perfect for relaxing and entertaining alike. · Elegant hill country blend of slate and hardwood flooring makes this home warm and inviting · 2 acres on central water and sewer · Open floor plan-- spacious kitchen with gas cook top, granite countertops and center island – ideal for entertaining · Wolf & Sub-zero appliances · 4 bedrooms / 4 baths with 3 car garage · Large Master retreat with sitting area · Spacious outdoor summer kitchen with fireplace that transitions into a spectacular pool setting · Master Full Golf Membership Available
25 augusta $2,595,000
7
7,300 Square Feet
MLS# 763447
This Stadler Custom Home was featured as the “WOAI Concept Home.” The ultimate entertainment home on more than 1.5 acres overlooking the 15th tee box on the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. • • • • • • • • • •
4 bedroom, 4 ½ bath, with 3 car garage Enormous gourmet kitchen features Miele appliances & an abundance of counter space Coffee bar in master bathroom Two-sided salt water aquarium visual in both study & entry way The ultimate outdoor living area with a fireplace, cascading waterfall pool, hot tub & a full outdoor kitchen State of the art Zenpanion electronic/audio/visual home automation system Private outdoor putting green Golf simulator room & golf cart garage Numerous water features Full Golf Membership Available
www.CordilleraRanch.com/realty | 830.336.3570
2825 Rio Cordillera $2,495,000
8
7,100 Square Feet
MLS# 896192
Custom dream home with separate casita. Enter gracious foyer leading to banks of retractable glass walls that offer views of outdoor living. • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Pool / spa 2 Fireplaces 2 Summer kitchens Wine cellar Master suite with fireplace Dry sauna His & her baths with separate dressing areas Additional washer/dryer Strategically placed cameras to view your home from your laptop anywhere in the world Lutron Lighting Outdoor private spa off of master wing Maxed out home theater Delightful music or games room
206 RIVERWOOD
9
$995,000 4,965 Square Feet
MLS# 947940
This stunning Thornton custom home is conveniently located close to the Guadalupe River and on 3.1 Hill Country acres. At 4,914 sq. ft. of living space and an open yet warm floor plan. A combination of stone/stucco exterior gives this home a true Texas Hill Country feel that blends flawlessly with its natural surroundings. The kitchen is equipped with both Sub Zero and Wolf appliances as well as a Viking gas cook-top competed with a custom copper vent, as well as a separate wine/drink refrigerator. Pella windows and doors are accented by Alder wood cabinets and doors, with unique features like custom blown glass fixtures completing this beautiful custom master piece. • • • • • • • • •
4 bedroom/3.5 bathroom – optional 2nd master Stained concrete and pine wood flooring Custom pool/spa combo Hill Country views – located minutes from the Guadalupe River Library, play room and study/office 3-car garage with side entry High ceilings, with open floor plan Classic Texas Hill Country design Property include the right to purchase a Master Full Golf membership at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch
112 Horseshoe bend $860,000
10
3,984 Square Feet
MLS# 878326
This Mediterranean style estate in the rolling hills of Cordillera Ranch is positioned on 6.28 acres of undisturbed views. This beautifully appointed custom home is spacious with a heated infinity pool overlooking miles of the scenic Texas Hill Country. The easy flowing floor plan is perfect for the growing family and those who like to entertain. If you are looking for privacy, it doesn’t get any better than this! • • • • • • • •
4 Bedroom, 4.5 Bath, Office/Study, optional Game Room Elegant gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, wine refrigerator, Alder cabinetry and granite countertops Spacious Master Suite with Jacuzzi tub, His/Hers sinks, separate walk-in closets and private access to the pool Sophisticated family living area with crown moldings, vaulted ceilings and travertine floors Fully equipped security system Two fireplaces for your enjoyment 3 car garage and expertly designed Panache landscaping Master Golf Membership Available
www.CordilleraRanch.com/realty | 830.336.3570
11 320 Park Ridge
$999,500
4,404 Square Feet
MLS# 921553
This 4,404 sq. ft. Mediterranean style estate on 5 acres is your own personal retreat. Custom heated Keith Zars pool and spa, imported tile flooring and state of the art appliances make this Hill Country retreat a home. • 5 Bedrooms · 4.5 Bathrooms · Master bedroom has attached exercise room · Central vacuum system · Over-sized Gourmet Kitchen with Stainless Steel GE appliance including a Monogram Refrigerator and Freezer · Wet Bar · Media/Game Room · 33 Plantation Shutters · Large Wood Burning Fireplace · Outdoor living area with lighting package is perfect for entertaining year-round
151 RIVERWOOD $1,899,000
12
5,636 Square Feet
MLS# 932618
This spectacular Burdick and Christofilis custom home is nestled up against the private and peaceful Swede Creek Park with breathtaking views of the lake, creek and surrounding canyon. Private but not removed, this home is your escape in the Hill Country; while an attached casita provides the perfect space for family and guests. A spacious outdoor living/kitchen area is fully equipped with an 8-port jet stream outdoor A/C system that, in conjunction with the pleasant year-round south-easterly breeze, subdues even the hottest of Texas summers. · 4 bedroom & 5.5 bath · 4+ acre lot with direct access to Swede Creek park via trail · Large great room and formal dining with custom wood timber trusses adding warmth throughout · Oversized 3-car garage, fully insulated with specialty floor coating and work bench/cabinetry with lots of storage · Control 4 home automation – wireless lighting/audio/video system/climate/ security · Separate entrance to attached casita/with its own kitchenette/full bath/ screened porch · Oversized study/trophy room · Living room, kitchen and outdoor living areas all equipped with fireplaces · Oversized wet bar with 2 drawer refrigerator and wine chiller that holds up to 78 bottles, and an ice maker and dishwasher · Top of the line appliances throughout the home – includes 4 under-counter refrigerators located in the wet bar, coffee bar, outdoor kitchen and casita
www.CordilleraRanch.com/realty | 830.336.3570
Cordillera Ranch Realty Homes for Sale 1 - 142 Riverwood 2 - 117 Park Ridge (Pending) 3 - 215 Greystone Circle 4 - 3383 Rio Cordillera 5 - 537 Cordillera Trace 6 - 148 Riverwood 7 - 25 Augusta 8 - 2825 Rio Cordillera 9 - 206 Riverwood 10 - 112 Horseshoe Bend 11 - 102 Swede Creek 12 - 151 Riverwood
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finance
FINANCIAL ROUND TABLE
48 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
FINANCIAL ROUND TABLE
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 49
e 2002 and has nc si g in nc fe h nc me and ra of most every type s specialized in ga al ha d se ce ri en rp ri te pe En ex R Double s. We have allenging e for over 40 year ad tr n t seems like a ch ow ha kn w g ily in m fa ak a m in en be d provide and exceed y of our work an ition imaginable nc nd ie co fic d ef an d n an ai y rr it te clude in the qual rvices provided in s. We take pride se es er cc th su O a s. n io er at om situ r our cust on. and materials fo ts uc od pr ring and excavati st ea be cl e e th ag re ac & t , lo road construction
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830-331-9840
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FAMILY
By Leah Bredemeyer
52 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
With the fall school year already looming in the distance, some students are starting to plan out their schedule and deciding whether to play sports or not. If your child does decide to play, no matter what level they are, playing sports takes up a lot of time. Learning how to balance academics, sports, social life and downtime takes major organization and commitment. Growing up, my life was pretty hectic and always crammed full with activities. Trying to fit in piano lessons, sports and keeping up with my schoolwork was difficult. It seemed like there was never enough hours in the day. To capitalize on my time, my parents made myself stick to a complex agenda and tried to keep me from procrastinating. You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again. - Benjamin Franklin A way you can help out is by scheduling your child’s week/month in advance. Set aside practical times to study, practice, train, and meet other obligations. Try to stick to the schedule as best as possible, but also allow flexibility because everyone knows – life happens. Sticking to the same routine may at first seem mundane, but by doing so, you’ll find that completing everything on time and on schedule will come more and more easily. My schedule was very structured in school. Knowing exactly what I was supposed to be doing meant less missed appointments and homework assignments. While some nights I got lucky and didn’t have any homework, when I did, I knew after basketball practice every day, I would be doing that homework – no exceptions. A good way to begin structuring your child’s days is to have them use the same place to study each day. Make sure it is a place that will encourage your child doing work and doesn’t have many distractions. This will make it a regular part of your child’s schedule and soon will be second nature. Experiment with study and practice schedules & styles until you find the time management techniques that work best your child. If you or your child need help scheduling, a counselor can help map out a good plan. Also, don’t forget about downtime. If your child is constantly running, working, studying and practicing, they may start to feel burned out. Make sure the schedule includes some time to relax and unwind. Also, to prevent a burnout, make sure your child get enough sleep. Not enough sleep can begin to be harmful not only to their health, but also to their schoolwork and functionality. On the other end of the scale, too much sleep can also cause problems to your child – not exactly health wise, but time wise. To recharge each night, make sure to get between 6 to 8 hours each night. Going to bed early and rising early can also be beneficial to a successful schedule. During basketball season, there were times when I only got 4 hours of sleep at night. The days following I never
seemed to be able to catch up, I was less alert during class and my energy levels bottomed out fast. I learned quickly that sleep is precious and not to abuse it. One way I made sure to do during game nights is that I made sure I finished all my homework during school or on the bus ride to an away game. That way I wasn’t doing homework after a game when I was worn out and still got to bed at a decent hour. If you find an area where your child is struggling, don’t ignore it. Make sure they can ask for help if a certain subject is giving them trouble. Get a tutor to help with their studies before their grades start to slide. If a certain skill on the field is giving them trouble, schedule some extra time each day to work on it. Set high expectations for themselves, but don’t be too hard either. Remember that occasionally, we all drop the ball. My parents always encouraged me to focus on my studies and always do my best, but they also let me be a kid. It’s important to allow this – especially now a days with kids enrolled in so many activities. Children should be able to have fun, and if they are not enjoying themselves any longer with an activity, don’t force them to continue. The biggest key to helping out your child is communication. If you see them starting to struggle, talk to them to see if being involved in all activities is right for them. Academics should always be at the top of their list. Remind them they have to maintain their grades to be eligible to play sports and to let you know if they have too much on their plate to manage. The way my days were structured in elementary, jr. high and high school was so successful, I ended up organizing my college days similar. Keeping a detailed calendar kept me on track and helped me not procrastinate. Even today with work, I keep a detailed organizer to prevent me from missing deadlines. Keeping your child’s life in order not only will keep them on track in school, but will point the way to a successful future.`
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 53
FINE ART
Texas
Fine Art 54 | JULY/AUGUST 2012
Art collectors from around the world converge on the Texas Hill Country every year in search of some of the finest collections of art in the world. From Boerne to Fredericksburg to Wimberley and Austin, the Hill Country features many world-renowned artists that are showing in multiple galleries throughout our area. One local group is now capitalizing on this popularity and is producing a publication specifically geared to assisting art enthusiasts plan their trips, identify the key galleries they’d like to visit, know where art shows are occurring, and even where to dine and lodge. Kerry Green, North Texas Market Manager for the Texas Fine Art Collector’s Guide begins, “The art market in Texas is simply exploding. We are seeing people coming in from all around the globe and they are looking for world class art. Texas has lots of it, but until now, they have had no resource to assist them with finding the very art they were seeking. Now, via the magazine, a collector can identify a specific town or region, and instantly see the galleries, learn about who’s art is showing where, and even can learn where some fine dining and lodging options are.” Currently in production, the magazine is slated for a January 1, 2013 release, but it’s apparent that the art community in Texas has been clamoring for this resource. South Texas Market Manager, Suzanne Meyer, continues, “While the publication is proving popular with art enthusiasts, the art galleries themselves have quickly supported this concept and so we are excited to see the whole thing come together late this year. All of us working on the magazine are ardent supporters of art, and so while we are trying to run a business, we are also trying to assist the industry in reaching its true potential. We want Texas to be one of the premier art destinations in the country, and so that’s our mission.” For more information: Texas Fine Art Collector’s Guide www.txcollectorsguide.com
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 55
TEXAS INVESTORS TITLE Performance is ourPriority
Commercial, Ranch and Residential Title Transactions
Steve Vallone President
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FITNESS
We all know how difficult it is to eat healthy and stay active while travelling. If you aren’t eating on the go then meals generally involve lunch or dinner engagements with business associates including large and unhealthy meals. So what is the solution? You have a travel itinerary, so why not have a diet and exercise itinerary? The key to eating well when traveling is to plan your meals in advance and be prepared. Below are a few tips that can help keep your eating and exercise regimen in place while on the road.
By Ann Kristin Bjørnstad Physical Fitness Specialist at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch Call ahead to the hotel you are staying at and request a menu. If you know in advance what the menu looks like, you’ll be better prepared to choose healthful choices after a long day’s work. If they do not have healthy choices on the menu then request the chef to prepare a healthy meal option. It is always helpful to familiarize yourself with the surrounding restaurant options as well. When in a pinch, you’ll know where you can grab a quick bite that won’t derail your diet. While traveling, it is easy to get dehydrated; this feels the same as being hungry. Drink water and wait 20 minutes to see if you are still hungry. And as a standard, keep a water bottle on hand, as staying hydrated will help you feel more energized, can help fight illnesses and will ward off feelings of headaches, back pain, muscle weakness, fatigue and dizziness (all of which come with dehydration). When traveling and working, stress will make you eat faster (hyper-active fork syndrome). Be mindful of eating slower and taking time to enjoy your meal. One method to eat slower is to eat with your non-dominant hand. Have a snack in between meals to take the edge off your hunger so you’re less likely to pig out at meals. Snacks should consist of fresh fruit and vegetables, low fat proteins, and whole grains, with carbohydrates, proteins and fats being well balanced. One way to ensure you
are snacking in a healthy way is to pack your snacks and carry on in your luggage. Airports also now have healthier food options if you are wise with your choices. When consuming alcoholic beverages, remember to drink equal amounts of water. While eating out, consider specifying to the waiter to that you want no salt and less butter/oil. Ask for more spices such as garlic, red pepper, etc. Most spices can increase the rate that your body burns calories. Stay as active as you can. Take the stairs when possible and walk to your gate and around the airport if you have extra time verses sitting and waiting for departure. Choose a hotel with a gym and know what equipment they offer so you can plan your workout. Try to work out in the morning as it will increase your metabolism throughout the day and you’ll be more likely to actually get your workout in. When ordering food at restaurants, remember, the chef doesn’t know gender, age and weight of the customers, thus, portion size will always be the same. Ask about portion size before ordering or ask them to put half in a to-go box. Request that all sauces and salad dressings be put on the side and make sure vegetables (not the creamed ones) is the majority of your plate.
Eating on the road can be a hard one to maneuver. Keep your choices sensible and don’t let one bad decision ruin your whole trip. If you do eat an unhealthy meal, pick right back up with good choices and stick with them. Good luck!
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 59
CELLAR CLUB WINE TRIP
By Insert Name
“Wine and dining through Napa and Sonoma” “Behind the Vines” and wining and dining our way through Napa and Sonoma was the theme of the inaugural Cordillera Ranch Cellar Club wine trip! Recently launched, the Club boasts approximately 100 Cellar Club Members of which 14 wine-loving aficionados embraced four full days of exclusive behindthe scenes wine tasting, fine dining and vintner education. Hosted and put together by Jeff Cohen, Beverage Manager, and Debbie Pepper, Membership Director, the trip featured exclusive boutique wineries and vineyards most of which are not open to the public. Leaving from San Francisco on Sunday morning, the group arrived in Napa at noon to begin our trip with three young talented vintners/owners representing Mi Sueno, Cultivar and Frias Family wineries along with a specially catered luncheon. Our welcome reception at the Villagio Hotel & Spa’s V Wine Cellar, allowed our Members to partake in the art of “champagne sabering” before our dinner and more wine. For three consecutive days thereafter we toured three wineries/ vineyards per day with stops for a three course lunch daily and fabulous dinners by night. Trip highlights included the fabulous Petroni Vineyards where we were hosted by
owner Lorenzo Petroni (also owner of the famous North Beach Restaurant in Little Italy, San Francisco). Lorenzo walked us through vineyards, his olive grove and a special insider view of the wine cave he is in the process of building. Highlighted by fabulous wines, Lorenzo treated us to a three course Italian meal poolside at his estate home with Italian godfather music playing in the background. Very, very special! From there we tasted wonderful pinot noirs at Merry Edwards and then another very special vineyard tour and tasting at Corison. Owner Cathy Corison treated us to a selection from her library including 2001, 2002 and 2003 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon. Tuesday’s trip included the beautiful mountainside David Arthur Vineyards atop Pritchard Hill where we experienced our first barrel tasting and then lunch at Auberge du Soleil with panoramic views of the valley below. From there we moved on to Vicki and Tom Celani’s private estate in the Vaca Mountain Range where we tasted the world class wines of Mark Herold. And last we travelled to the wine caves of Failla estate where we tasted extraordinary pinot noirs by
reknowned winemaker Ehren Jordan of Turley fame. We ended the evening with dinner at Michael Chiarello’s Bottega. Our final day on Wednesday began with a lively tasting and shopping spree at Hill Family Estates where owner Ryan Hill treated us to some very special wines and tequila before joining us for lunch at Redd’s next door. The next very special stop was a tour of the exclusive Hestan Vineyards and private residence of Stanley and Helen Cheng where we enjoyed a tasting with winemaker, Jeff Gaffner, and President, Debra Eagle around the estate dining room table. We finished our day at Roy Estates where owner, Shirley Roy, dazzled us with her sincere personality and passion for her wines while we snacked on her homemade hors d’oeurves and fabulous wines around her dining room table. Again another very special day ending with our farewell dinner at Press under the stars. A wonderful and memorable time was had by all and the rumor is they want to do it again together next year. So save the date for summer 2013!!
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109 ENTERPRISE DR., STE 204, BOERNE, TEXAS 78006 | 110143 1H 37, PLEASANTON, TEXAS 78064
Picturesque Hill Country Ranch
1,968± Acres | Fredericksburg
Just outside of quaint Fredericksburg, spanning 3 counties (Kendall, Kerr, & Gillespie), lies this amazing
live water ranch. Scenic Bear Creek runs through the property yielding stunning views. Rolling hills
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neighbors, 3+ miles of paved road frontage on Hwy 87, as well as 2.3+ miles of paved frontage along Grape Creek Road complete this amazing ranch.
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Cedar Creek Ranch
Nueces River Ranch
6,378± Acres | Barksdale
1,285± Acres | Edwards County
Breathtaking Cedar Creek flows through the property ❖ Picturesque valleys
Pristine ranch with breathtaking scenery and elevations ❖ Nueces River
trees ❖ Unique native Indian sites, as well as caves and sink holes ❖ Front gate
Pecan orchards scatter the river bottom ❖ Fertile pastures ❖ Abundant game
❖ Beautiful captivating mountaintops ❖ Giant pecan, oak, and pinion pine only 1.5 miles down county maintained Cedar Creek Rd.
Offered at $2,850/Acre
515 Acres|Atascosa County Gentle rolling terrain with rich sandy loam (“red dirt”) ❖ 400+ irrigated acres with remainder in coastal ❖ Cattle pens with loading chute ❖ Metal barn, electric irrigation well, 2 pivot systems, and 6 water troughs ❖ 3 Producing oil wells (owned by seller) ❖ 100% of minerals owned will convey at listed price.
Offered at $5,000,000
50 Acres | Cordillera Ranch Estate
Impeccable 6,550 SF home ❖ 4 Bedrooms and 5 bathrooms ❖ Elegant hardwood floors ❖ Gorgeous interior limestone arches ❖ Large gourmet island kitchen ❖ Pool and outdoor kitchen ❖ Roping arena ❖ Boerne ISD ❖ Full Master Golf Membership available.
Call For Pricing
and Ruth’s Draw, a spring branch creek, border property for over 1 mile ❖ including axis, black buck, antelope, whitetail, turkey, and hogs.
Offered at $3,950,000
Income Producing Property | Pleasanton
27 Duplex Units | Pleasanton
10,000 SF leased building located in the Eagle Ford Shale ❖ $240,000 Annual income potential ❖ Situated on 10+ acres of prime land fronting IH37 ❖ Office and insulated warehouse space ❖ Multiple acres of compacted base to allow 18 wheelers easy maneuvering ❖ Leased for 6 years triple net lease.
12 Free standing duplex buildings with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath ❖ 1 triplex unit with 1 bedroom, 1 bath units ❖ All units have 100% brick exterior, carports, and washer and dryer hookups ❖ Scenic lots, many with large oak trees ❖ Currently 100% occupied with most lease terms at 1 year ❖ Potential monthly rental income to owner of $24,960.
Offered at $2,150,000
All measurements and figures are approximate. Source of information is deemed reliable, but not verified.
Offered at $3,603,305
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By Shane Reynolds When thinking about spending quiet time with one’s self, most people do not think about venturing into the wilderness for a multiple day trip alone. To most people, it must seem foolish, selfish or just plain unthinkable. I’m not quite sure what stirs me to go into the wilderness by myself, but I have come to realize that it is the only way I can truly re-create myself and cleanse my spirit.
I first started venturing into the woods alone during my years in California. The sheer beauty and majesty of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, that runs north to south for 400 miles in California, is where I spend most of my solo journeys. From the foothills through the alpine meadows and well above tree line into the high alpine regions, the Sierra Nevada has virtually thousands of miles of trail to explore. As the Director of Outdoor Adventures at UCLA for many years, my role was to guide groups of students into the wilderness of California and beyond. Working with groups lends itself to many rewards as a leader, but can also be a challenge due to the experience level of your participants. A group leader must insist that the group can only travel at the speed of the slowest group member. As an avid outdoorsman, I can move at a much different pace by myself compared to leading groups of others. This was one of the first reasons I started venturing out on my own, to be able to move at my pace, experience the things I wanted to do, and to be free of worrying about others while enjoying the peace and solitude the mountains offer. “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust, hotels and baggage and chatter.” ~ John Muir My solo journeys are normally backpacking trips into remote wilderness areas in search of high altitude fishing spots. The last trip I did was Kings Canyon National Park. A three hour flight to Los
Angeles, followed by a 6 hour drive to the trailhead and the journey begins. On this particular trip, my journey started at Cedar Grove, and after spending the first night at the trail head to acclimate to the altitude, I walked north for 8 miles while gaining 3400 feet in elevation. I then hopped around several alpine lakes for the next four days and three nights. My wife struggles to understand my need to venture out into the wilderness alone, but since she has been on many trips with me, she understands the reason that nature is so close to my heart. She is always worried for me on my trips and there is a part of me that feels bad, but it doesn’t stop me. I often wonder if what I am doing is selfish and selfindulgent, but for me, the extreme solitude that wilderness areas offer is spiritual in nature. Eastern philosophies have taught me that the search for the higher self is at the core of human motivation. The higher self is that God-like part of us mentioned in the Bible, and in a Christian way of thinking, is called the soul. This constant search for my real self is truly what drives me. These solo trips are a time for true reflection without the constant chatter from a civilized society. “Those of us who have spent time in wilderness are aware of the fact that there is something more to the wilderness than we ourselves can express. Wilderness is an instrument for enabling us to recover our lost capacity for religious experience…” “We cannot today recreate the original “wilderness man” in shape form or habitat. But we can recover him because he exists in us. He is the foundation in spirit or psyche on which we build and we are not complete until we have recovered him…” ~ Laurens van der Post
you scared to be out there all alone?” Fear is a state of mind you cannot let yourself venture into while on a solo journey. Understanding the environment I am traveling in, understanding the flora and fauna of my chosen area, understanding the potential weather in a certain area, and knowing I have the right equipment and supplies to keep myself dry, fed and sheltered all gives me great peace of mind. I can say that on one particular trip, as I approached my trailhead on an old dirt logging road in the southern Sierra Nevada, two mountain lions darted across the road. Although they were moving extremely fast, these two lions did remain on my mind for the entire night, as my tent site was only a mile from where I saw these beautiful animals. “It must be a poor life that achieves freedom from fear.” ~ Aldo Leopold As my children begin to get to an age where I can take them out into the wilderness, my days of the solo wilderness adventure will be few and far between. There is nothing more I look forward to than introducing wilderness travel to my two kids. The pure joy of knowing they both enjoy being in the outdoors as much as I do is what inspires me to further my quest for my higher self. I’m not sure at what age I will introduce the concept of a solo wilderness trip to each of them, but it is certainly a rite of passage they will need to experience during their time on earth. Shane Reynolds Outdoor Recreation Director Cordillera Ranch
One of the most common questions I get from family and friends about my solo wilderness journey is fear based. “Aren’t
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 67
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DESIGN
Fundamentals of Pool Design By Nick Thompson, Pristine Pools
A backyard used to be thought of as a place for children to run and play but possessed minimal outdoor living features. Today the exterior design of a home is sometimes just as intricate as the home itself. Simple green lawns have turned into outdoor oases for families to enjoy a variety of spaces including swimming pools, spas, outdoor kitchens, and thoughtfully designed landscapes. In designing today’s outdoor living spaces, there are many different factors to be considered. Studying these factors in depth will help to achieve a project that will meet your goals, both aesthetically and functionally. Swimming pool and spa design is a process of analyzing the site, function, features and the overall aesthetic which includes the decks to then harmonize with these other outdoor elements. Site analysis and inventory is a crucial first step which includes noting existing site conditions and how they relate to your project. If your site has a lot of slope, you might have an opportunity to create interest by designing a multilevel project with steps and landing areas. Seat walls are a great feature to use when stepping down levels and can be dual purpose. They serve as a functional retaining wall, and also serve as secondary or overflow seating. Having a drop off on your site might allow you to create a more dramatic water feature, such as a waterfall and/or a vanishing edge. When designing and placing water features it is important to remember that water naturally runs downhill. It is very hard to get a water feature that runs against the natural slope of the land to look like it belongs. The placement of a waterfeature can also be determined by a particular view. If there are views we want to screen or block, we can utilize a taller water
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feature with a landscape backdrop. If there are views we want to enhance, we can find ways to frame them to create a focal point. During the site inventory there are often features we come across that we may want to highlight or relate back into the project. For example, there may be trees we want to work around or save, or perhaps there is a native rock outcropping that we want to enhance. During this phase we will also want to examine the sunny and shady locations, and this can help us to determine the best location for the pool. When designing the pool deck area we want to consider both having sunny areas for loungers to lie out but also shaded areas to retreat from the summer heat. In this phase, we will also want to note how the pool will relate to the architecture of the house as well as keeping the pool in scale with the residence. The size and shape of a pool are also dictated by the functions that clients are looking for. The many ways clients want to use the pool will create the function profile. If you have a large family and plan on doing lots of entertaining, this is going to lead to a pool that is larger than average, making sure you have the ability to accommodate you and your guests. The depths of a pool will also to be determined in this phase. Most pools today are sport depths which typically
if you would like, which is mainly done is the beginning and end of the season. In addition to the spa, our clients frequently request other features such as waterfalls, raised beam, bubblers, and vanishing edges. I try to help guide our clients in selecting water features that relate to the style of their pool and again lend to the function. For example, we may put boulder waterfalls on freeform pool s and more architectural features on rectangle pools. The bubblers shooting out of the entry shelf serves as a great interactive feature for small children and can also give nice soothing background sound. One more quick note, it is important to plumb the pool properly. This allows you to enjoy these water features at the same time, so you do not have to choose between running your waterfall or your spa. The pool deck is the hardscape or softscape that surrounds your pool and ties the pool into your other outdoor living elements. The function of the deck is going to be the biggest factor to consider, helping to determine the size as well as the set up. There will need to be areas designated for tables and chairs, as well as sun lounging. Steps in the pool deck are going to change how the deck will function. When considering decking materials, there are a couple of factors to keep in mind including heat and
are not any deeper than 5 feet in the middle. This style of pool lends itself to a more usable and kid friendly pool. As children prefer to play where they can stand up and have their heads out of the water, a pool for younger kids will need plenty of benches and swim outs. Diving pools are typically for families with older children. The function of the pool can also help us to determine the location where an entry shelf should be placed. Recreational lap swimmers prefer to have a solid wall to swim against, so we will want to keep the benches and loungers off to the side. For recreational swimming, you can still do a freeform pool as long as the ends are clean and contain larger smoother curves. Knowing how the clients plan on using their pools will also help develop a list of features they want to see in their pool design. Pool features are another important element we want to consider when designing a pool. The first feature I always look at is a spa. The reasons I always recommend a spa/hot tub are twofold. First, they are a built-in water feature and if you include a spa, you will be creating water movement and sound. Secondly, your pool becomes more usable year round. Hot tubs are great in cooler weather. You are obviously not going to heat your pool year round, but with a spa, you have the ability to heat the pool
safety. Darker materials will absorb more heat; therefore will be hotter on your feet as well as materials that have to be sealed are traditionally hotter on your feet. Sealer will typically also make a deck more slippery so pool decks with small children will require a more slip resistant surface. Women’s high heels and their ability to walk/stand on an even surface is often a function that gets overlooked. There are many pool deck material choices such as salt finish concrete and flagstone just to name a couple. The design possibilities for a pool deck are endless but designed well will act as the link between your other outdoor living elements with the swimming pool. While there are many other factors to consider when designing your swimming pool, these are just a few that will get you started in the right direction. Outdoor living today has become not only a place for kids to run and play but an oasis for families which can include not only swimming pools but spas, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, entertaining areas and developed landscapes which needs to all work together to create a harmonious backyard retreat.
CordilleraRanchLiving.com | 71
NAME Bryce M. Kramer (son of Bradley and Mariann Kramer) AGE 17 HOMETOWN Boerne, TX (Cordillera Ranch) SPORTS YOU PARTICIPATE IN Swimming AWARDS (FOR SPORTS) I have won numerous medals and high point honors as a competitive swimmer with the Alamo Area Aquatics Association during the past seven years. Swimming with the Boerne Champion High School swim team I was the first Boerne freshman to compete at State and represented Champion there each year. I hold CHS records for the 500 yard freestyle and the 100 yard butterfly. I am particularly proud of receiving the MVP and high point awards in my senior year. I was recently named to the San Antonio Express-News All-Area Team for the second consecutive year. ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS I have received the Academic Recognition Award and President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence each year at Champion and am a College Board Advanced Placement Scholar. WHAT COLLEGE DO YOU PLAN TO ATTEND? I received a nomination to the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. by Sen. John Cornyn and have been accepted by the Academy. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS COLLEGE? Although I am looking forward to the
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opportunity to swim for the USMMA team, the Academy offers a four-year academic program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and a license as a merchant marine officer or an appointment as a commissioned officer in any of the military services. GOALS FOR COLLEGE? I’m looking forward to the demanding curriculum that is not only designed to ensure my professional competency, but provide training for leadership and responsibility. SUBJECT YOU PLAN TO MAJOR IN? I plan to major in Marine Transportation, but I’m also open to a Computer Systems major. FUTURE ASPIRATIONS? I hope to be able to live in a place much like Cordillera after a successful career. INTERESTS? I’m very interested in History, and I like to read quite a bit. WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BOERNE? I will definitely miss all of my friends, but I think I will miss the good food around here. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM? I would like to meet Bill Gates and ask him how it feels to be a genius. FAVORITE QUOTE? “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” – Albert Einstein
PEARL SALON
HOME TOUR
Interior Stone LA NOVA TILE IMPORTERS Wood Flooring BOARDWALK FLOORS Clay Roofing INNOVA TILE Landscaping LONESTAR LANDSCAPE SERVICES Lighting LIGHTING UNLIMITED Millwork AUTHENTIC CUSTOM CABINETS Mechanical Systems CB PLUMBING & MECHANICAL STUCCO La Habra Painting FERNANDO & SONS PAINTING
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HOME TOUR
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BEAUTITUDE
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A floor plan can simply be a dimensioned layout. Or a floor plan can be a well thought out design created especially for livability with divine details. The difference between the two is the designer behind the floor plan. The design of your home is special; it will artfully express your personality, taste and lifestyle. Your selection of a designer is crucial to your experience of designing and building your home. There is great value to a designer with formal training in architecture and interior design. And beyond the education, a distinguishing factor among designers is their experience. In all stages of home design and construction, anyone can benefit from an experienced design professional. Israel Peña, President of Authentic Custom Homes, has a degree in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, and his associate Teri Froetschel has an Interior Design degree from Texas Christian University. Authentic Custom Homes has over 30 years of excellence in designing and building luxury homes throughout the Texas Hill Country. To us, design-build is centered on a philosophy that homes must have beautiful architectural form with practical convenience and functionality. Our team of designers and builders work together to develop a home plan from day one that fits our clients’ vision and practicality of construction. Magazine tear outs, links to Houzz and a board on Pinterest... you have so many ideas but are overwhelmed with how they will all come together. We understand this. Today our client’s have access to so many resources for design
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ideas. We are experienced at listening to our clients, and we have the ability to abstract their ideas during our interview, edit and interpret them into a refined style. We understand space relationships and are able to predict details that will present opportunities throughout the design. With a genuine passion for design, creativity and discovery we are able to envision our client’s needs and orchestrate their design from the formation of their first desire to final placement of that family portrait on the fireplace mantle. We have the experience necessary to place your home on your property in a way that blends the exterior and interior of your home to capture the views and the natural beauty of your property. The collaboration of a designer and a contractor is the most critical element to the success of your home’s design. At Authentic Custom Homes, we understand the costs, the efficiencies and the practicality of what we are designing. Our ability to value engineer your home is what distinguishes our company from another. We evaluate the spaces to confirm that the entire square footage is meaningful. Israel Peña has 30 years of experience designing and building homes. Additionally, Teri Froetschel has 25 years of experience designing and building homes. This collaborative experience translates to a full design that protects your investment. Ultimately, we know building a home is much more than a technical achievement. It is the place you’ll live. The place where your memories will be built. Your new home should be designed and built on trust and it’s about your relationship with the firm you select to create it.
FOR ALL YOUR LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE NEEDS Lawn And Landscape Maintenance
Mowing, Edging And Bed Weeding
Landscape Installation
Irrigation Installation And Repair
Turf And Plant Fertilization
Custom Outdoor Living Areas
Tree And Shrub Pruning
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TOM NORTHINGTON 210-416-5005 tpn1010@gmail.com
A N T O N I O ZANE PRICE 830-446-1446 wzprice@hotmail.com
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CUSTOMERS RECEIVE ONE MONTH FREE WITH YEARLY CONTRACT.
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TEXAS TREASURES FINE ART GALLERY
Thank you to all who attended our Anniversary Show. It is an honor to be “ Your” Gallery of Choice. Upcoming Events: May 12th: 2nd Saturday Art and Wine 4pm- 8pm We will have new work in from Santa Fe for this show. June 7th: Jazz Art & Wine Stroll 6pm - 9pm (at the Cabana) Someone You Love, Loves the Art at Texas Treasures Fine Art Gallery! Mother’s Day May 13th / Father’s Day June 17th
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CORDILLERA RANCH LIVING
808 Hwy 46 East Boerne, Texas 78006
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TX PERMIT #6450