Photography: Angela Sitz | Model: Lily Marshall, Senior at Lake Belton High School, attending Ole Miss in the fall
Salado’s Kelly Dahlseid finds her passion
Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping ready to help residents with spring planting
At Crow & Cactus Interior Design, Amy Morter strives to create beautiful, functional spaces that reflect the people who live and work in them. | 46 Photo by BECKY STINEHOUR
Life and Style in Central Texas
Ihope you all had a wonderful holiday season. As with every first issue of the year, I’m always excited about inviting new possibilities. Fresh pages, fresh plans, and for many of us, a fresh look at the spaces we call home.
Our annual Home & Garden issue is all about inspiration, creativity and craftsmanship. As winter gives way to warmer weather, we celebrate the people who shape the places around us. Helping make the community healthier, more vibrant and more beautiful. With their hard-working hands and big hearts, they help our homes, gardens and landscapes come alive with possibilities.
Kelly Dahlseid, owner of Trophy Honey, is featured on our cover. Kelly is a beekeeper, helping one of Mother Nature’s greatest creatures, and then sharing their delicious creation with the community. Bees are truly extraordinary and have always intrigued me. Their little wings don’t appear to be large enough to support their plump bodies, yet they fly around perfectly. I once read that their wings don’t flap like other flying animals, they create tiny whirlwinds that propel them through the air. I love that bees have a purpose in life and they fulfill it. They don’t waste time on nonsense. Every thing they do is purposeful, which is why I’m excited for you to read about Kelly’s story on page 28. I guarantee the bees would feel right at home at our next feature. Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping in Nolanville, page 34, is home to beautiful flowers, lush gardens and unique features that makes it a peaceful destination to visit. The business is owned by Ben Gillilan, who has brought his entire family into the mix.
Army veteran Eric Goldhardt, founder of Goldhardt Woodworks, page 38, is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to woodworking. His passion began as a junior in his high school’s woodworking class. After cultivating his skills, he opened his own business in Salado, creating one-of-a-kind pieces for his customers to cherish for generations to come.
Taryn Cox, owner of TABS Renovation and Design, is a professional house flipper, taking unsellable properties and transforming them into homes that never stay on the market for long. Read all about Taryn and find out some tips for transforming your own home on page 42.
Amy Morter, owner of Crow & Cactus Interior Design, shares how her life as a military child and then spouse inspired her to become an interior designer, page 46. She explains how she helps people bring their vision for a space to life, because the space should reflect the person who lives and works in it.
In this issue, we also meet Dr. Lincoln and Apryl Coffie, page 50. Lincoln is the founder and director of Killeen Family Medicine and Urgent Care Clinic. Together, the Coffies also founded Open Fire International Fellowship Church. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Coffies share what it’s like working side-by-side with the one you love.
I hope this issue inspires you to plant new ideas, cultivate creativity and make this year one of growth — inside and out.
For the United States, $24 per year, 6 issues. Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. For questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.
HOW TO CONTACT US: Advertising: 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500. Editorial: Contact Brandy Cruz at editor@texappealmag.com
PHOENIX CARLISLE is an obsessive book lover, who can’t stop rearranging her shelves to fit her new finds. She is a Temple College student who is exploring new books and teaching younger children. Phoenix wants to be an elementary teacher, and she hopes that she can travel to all the places of which she dreams. As of now, she is working at school to grow her skills of nurturing young minds as she continues to read and write.
JANE GIBSON is owner of Jane Gibson Photography and has more than 30 years of experience in portrait, event/wedding and travel photography. She is a native of Killeen and volunteers her time and her camera lens to many charitable organizations and community events. She is also a retired adjunct professor of Spanish and a Realtor for Native Real Estate. Find her at https://janegibson.zenfolio.com.
DEMI GUILLORY is a freelance writer with experience in writing a variety of content published in both print and digital magazines across the country. Storytelling is her passion, and her work represents the joy and fulfillment she gets from connecting with people and sharing their stories. Like most English majors, enjoys reading when she isn’t writing.
JOHNJOHN MONTELONGO is a seasoned professional photographer with more than 20 years of experience behind the lens. His work has been published in numerous magazines, and he has been invited to feature as a solo exhibiting artist at several galleries. In 2015, he received the prestigious Texas Photography Award, honoring his creative impact and dedication to the craft. His curiosity and sense of mystery also lead him to travel the state investigating paranormal phenomena, blending visual storytelling with supernatural exploration.
AMY ROGNLIE is an author and middleschool teacher. Her newest series of cozy mystery novels, The Short Creek Mysteries, are set in Bell County. Amy’s articles have been published in national magazines and websites. She blogs on encouragement, hope and faith on AmyRognlie.com. Amy and her family reside in Little River-Academy.
BECKY STINEHOUR is a portrait, commercial and event photographer, specializing in live music venues. Her work has been published in several regional magazines. She is a Killeen High School graduate who loves to highlight her hometown connections through the lens of her camera. Find her on Instagram at ciphoto.
RACHEL STRICKLAND is an adjunct English professor at Temple College and the founding editor of the literary magazine, The Raven Review. She earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Central Texas in 2021. In her free time, she’s usually reading, crocheting, or trying to keep her houseplants alive.
JENNISE VENTURA has been saving money through couponing and budgeting for over 25 years. She is founder of Savealotmom on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. She lives in Killeen with her husband, two daughters and their Yorkie.
TONYA WARREN has been a registered nurse for 33 years with Ascension Providence Healthcare in Waco and a lifestyles writer for a few years. She lives in Waco and enjoys reading, writing and taking her grouchy German Shepherd on walks.
SHARON WHITE is an award-winning author who lives in Temple. Her writing has been featured in the New York Daily News, Huffington Post, AdvancingWomen.com and FashionBible.com. Her weekly lifestyle blog, QStyleTheBook.com, is based on her book, Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look.
DR. KERRY ANN ZAMORE BYRD is a licensed clinical social worker and professor of social work at Baylor University. With over two decades of clinical and academic experience, she specializes in mental health, trauma recovery, and faith-integrated counseling. Her work centers on empowering individuals and communities through education, storytelling in the arts, wellness and purposeful living.
JANNA ZEPP is a native Texan. Her career in mass communication includes writing for film, TV, radio, and print media. She spent four years writing for the Fort Hood Sentinel and two years as a III Corps Public Affairs television producer, anchor and writer for Fort Hood On Track and three years as the editor of Tex Appeal.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Tex Appeal is looking for local photographers and freelance writers with newspaper or magazine experience. Send a resume and three to five recent published samples for consideration to editor@texappealmag.com.
Beloved and Beyond
ROSEBUD CAMP CATERS TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of BELOVED AND BEYOND
“Changed lives for His glory — that is the big why of what we do at Beloved and Beyond,” said Glen Elder, founder and director of the nonprofit camp in Rosebud. “There are thousands of young people in our community who have special needs and have no place where they feel they belong.”
Enter Beloved and Beyond Camp, where all people can believe they are beloved and belong; that they have been created with beauty and blessing. This Christian summer camp is dedicated to serving children and adults with disabilities and giving hope and encouragement to families who deal with the challenges of disabilities while increasing awareness in hundreds of volunteers each year. This is a place where everyone — campers and staff alike — are celebrated as exactly who God designed them to be; where everyone can be love to others, be loved by others, and know that God calls them each beloved.
Beloved and Beyond offers nine weeks of camp each summer, with three of those weeks also welcoming sibling campers, creating a unique space for them to experience the joy of camp together. The camp offers all the classic summer camp activities — adapted so that every camper, no matter their abilities, can fully participate and experience the joy of God’s creation. Campers enjoy horseback riding, fishing and canoeing, swimming in the pool every day, silent discos, zip-lining, a giant swing, arts and crafts, a fun-filled costume closet, water games and archery. Each night, campers participate in themed parties and at the end of the week, campers have a chance to shine in a talent show.
“I grew up going to church camp every summer and saw how awesome it was for people to get out in God's creation and learn more about Him,” Elder said. “My wife, Laura, who also serves as camp program director, and I have five kids, two of whom have special needs.”
The Elders passion for camp was lit in 2006 when friends asked them to help start a camp for kids and
Activities at Beloved and Beyond Camp in Rosebud include playing in the pool, water sliding, horseback riding and many more traditional camp fun, with options catered to people of all abilities so everyone has a good experience.
adults with disabilities, including their siblings. The couple directed the camp until 2020, witnessing incredible growth in the camp from only 17 campers the first year to 700 in 2019.
In 2020, they launched Beloved and Beyond and hosted their first winter camp during the height of the pandemic. For the next two years, they utilized existing camp facilities to execute Beloved and Beyond on the road, renting various camps around Texas.
In 2022, they purchased an existing camp and began upgrading it with roads, sidewalks, ADA bathrooms, and a zero-entry accessible swimming pool. Rolling hills, beautiful trees, and a huge spring fed lake are part of the experience as the campers fish and boat in the beautiful Central Texas sunset.
Since the camp was founded in 2020, more than 7,700 campers, volunteers and staff have been to camp. For the campers, Beloved and Beyond provides six days of unbridled fun, new relationships, and a sense of belonging. For the parents, camp offers a few days of respite — often the only respite days families experience in a year. For the young volunteers, a week of camp at Beloved and Beyond is life-changing.
Elder loves to see the transformation of volunteers, such as the tough high school football player who volunteers at the camp to meet his service hour requirement. He doesn’t “get it” at first, but by the end of the week, he is holding hands with his buddy and crying when the campers leave.
“In a six-day period, you can radically change how these young people (the volunteers) view others who are different than themselves,” Elder said. “They even relate to each other differently than before they came to camp. Because we are so accepting of our campers, they all — campers and volunteers — become accepting of each other and begin to
Activities at Beloved and Beyond Camp include fishing and playing with bubbles on the lawn.
understand the value of unconditional love and community.”
Besides the nine weeks of summer camp, the Beloved and Beyond staff also hosts a spring break camp, a winter camp and a family camp throughout the year. Though the camp has many repeat volunteers, the camp needs more than 800 high school and college-aged volunteers to staff all of the sessions. Adults, teenagers as young as 13, and volunteer medical personnel are also needed for each camp session.
In addition to their camps, Beloved and Beyond offers the Beyond Team, which is a job training program for campers who want to come back and serve and learn job skills. Elder can testify to the effectiveness of their program, as his own son, Kody Noah, recently completed the program and was able to land a job at a local Chick-fil-A. The restaurant’s managers are very impressed with Kody’s skills, showing that he learned a lot about serving food and cleaning through the Beyond Team program.
“More than just fun, everything we do is rooted in sharing the love of Jesus. Through every activity, friendship and moment of joy, we want each camper to know that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:14) and deeply loved by Him,” Elder added. “Our greatest joy is creating a space where campers can experience Christ’s love, be fully known and accepted, and have an unforgettable week filled with joy, connection and faith.”
TEMPLE BIBLE CHURCH HOSTS SPECIAL-NEEDS PROM ON FEB. 13
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of TEMPLE BIBLE CHURCH
“It’s not about the red carpet or the crowns. It’s about someone realizing — maybe for the first time — that they’ve always had worth. Why? Because they’re made in the image of God,” said Tim Tebow, former NFL quarterback and founder of The Tim Tebow Foundation and Night to Shine.
Night to Shine is an unforgettable worldwide celebration event, centered on God's love, which honors and values people with special needs. In 2015, a simple idea to celebrate the foundation’s fifth anniversary sparked what is now a worldwide movement celebrating more than 100,000 people with special needs annually. Night to Shine values, honors and supports honored guests and their families through a prom, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs held simultaneously around the world on the Friday before Valentine’s Day each year. Night to Shine has since become a catalyst for additional programming intentionally designed to create year-round impact and true life-change in communities.
For the last two years, Temple Bible Church has been a local host for Night to Shine, and they are busy gearing
up for this year’s special night on Feb. 13.
“Before we became a host site, people from this area drove to Waco, to either volunteer or to bring their children as honored guests,” said Ashley Oliver, Children’s Ministry and Special Needs Ministry leader at Temple Bible Church. “The leadership team at Temple Bible Church wanted to be able to bring this event closer to make it easily accessible to those in Temple and the surrounding community.”
The highly anticipated annual event is a formal prom, complete with limousine rides, dancing, food, games and a lot of laughter. The red-carpet experience is a special part of the evening, as each of the 125 “kings” and “queens” individually makes his or her entrance to a cheering crowd, including family, friends and community members. Cheerleading squads from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Central Texas Christian School join in the fun, adding to the excitement. Once inside, participants can choose from many activities, including a game room and a sensory room.
The kings and queens are each assigned a buddy for the momentous evening, which provides a new friend for each participant and allows their caregivers the opportunity for some respite time. While the kings and queens are enjoying the festivities and an unusual measure of freedom, parents or other caregivers are treated to a catered meal during “Night to Dine.” For caregivers, this is a precious time where they can relax, enjoy a meal, and visit with friends, old and new, who share a common bond with them.
While caregivers view the evening’s activities via livestream, the kings and queens enjoy the dance before watching a video from Tim Tebow and his wife, DemiLeigh, which is broadcast to all the worldwide Night to Shine events. Each participant is then crowned as a king or queen.
“This is a time of pure joy,” Oliver said. “The kings and queens are jumping up and down, giving each other high fives — it's like the world outside of this building doesn't exist for two hours.”
Of course, it takes many volunteers to make this event
happen. On the night of the event, Temple Bible Church serves 125 kings and queens and 250 caregivers. About 350 volunteers from all over Central Texas make this event possible. The team is still in the planning stages for this year, but in years past they have had numerous UMHB students and faculty serve as volunteers. Miss UMHB girls help crown kings and queens, the Cru Spirit Band plays as the kings and queens exit the limousines and walk down the red carpet, and the UMHB Occupational Therapy department takes the lead on the Sensory Room.
Local organizations provide items for swag bags given to each honored guest. During the Night to Dine, representatives from local organizations are present for caregivers to learn about community resources. Folks from area churches volunteer their time and serve at Night to Shine in various ways. Everyone joins together, from the planning process to clean up, and their hearts are for making sure everyone in the special needs community is loved and supported. And the caring and love extend far beyond just Night to Shine.
“There are families that have moved to Bell County because of what our community has to offer their child/ adult with disabilities. We are truly blessed to have
an amazing, supportive, collaborative community that embraces people with disabilities,” said Susie Marek, who has served on the leadership team for both the Waco and Temple Night to Shine events for several years. “I am a parent of a 31-year-old son with autism. Through our journey of parenting a son with disabilities, we want him to know that God created him in His image, and that his life has purpose.”
“Night to Shine is so much fun. We have an absolute blast and each year I hear participants and volunteers say, ‘I can't wait for next year,’” Oliver said. “If you have never experienced pure joy, then volunteer at Night to Shine. But remember that though Night to Shine is an important evening, there are many ways throughout the year that people can get involved. I recommend that people research all that Bell County has to offer to our special needs community.”
GET INVOLVED
Temple Night to Shine: https://templebiblechurch.org/ ntsvolunteer/ Ashley Oliver: Email ashleyo@tbcweb.org Tim Tebow Foundation: timtebowfoundation.org/
Kings and queens at Temple’s Night to Shine get the red-carpet treatment as they arrive for a night of dancing.
Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR 2 3 4
1. Girl Scouts on a candy-themed float wave to crowds during Salado’s annual Christmas parade in December.
2. Parade-watchers try to stay warm by a fire pit.
3. Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to crowds from their float.
4. Salado High School’s marching band performs a festive song during the parade.
5. People try to stay warm with some hot chocolate.
Upscale Cocktails
TRY AN ELDERFLOWER MARTINI FOR CELEBRATIONS
Story and photo by JANNA ZEPP
Looking for something a little more upscale for the upcoming February and March holidays?
Elevate your Valentine’s Day or your St. Patrick’s Day with a sophisticated alternative to beer or sparkling wine with the elegant Elderflower Martini.
When faced with any choice, my preference leans toward luxury and this cocktail has it in spades. Its presentation, with a twist of lemon, is straight out of a James Bond movie. Picture the leading lady dressed in a full-length black evening gown, dripping diamonds and emeralds, holding the iconic martini glass in her jewel-encrusted talons and sipping this lush elixir while at the baccarats table — timeless elegance — regardless of season or setting.
I discovered this gem at Cheeves Brothers several years ago and it is my favorite of their bar offerings.
ELDERFLOWER MARTINI
Equipment
Cocktail shaker and strainer
Ingredients
3 ½ ounces vodka or gin
1 ounce elderflower liqueur
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice from a squeezed wedge
Twist of lemon
Preparation
Fill the shaker with ice
and add the vodka or gin.
Squeeze lemon juice into the mixing glass from a fresh wedge of lemon. Add the elderberry liqueur to the cocktail shaker.
Mix with a long spoon or cover and shake.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Note: Add muddled cucumbers and/or cucumber vodka for a clean, refreshing boost to the drink’s flavor.
Pages Filled With Love
By M. CLARE HAEFNER | Covers courtesy of the publishers
If books are your love language, consider these gems ahead of Valentine’s Day or for a Gallentine’s Day book club selection. From Regency to contemporary romance and a fantastical look at the history of glass beads in Italy, you’ll fall for these three sweet stories.
Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers, December 2025)
Determined to live a single life, Anne Loveday accepts a job as a nurse to escape her stepmother’s matchmaking schemes. As Anne settles into life at Painswick Court, the grand house in the village where she spent many childhood summers in her grandparents’ nearby home, she soon learns that all is not as it seems with Lady Celia Fitzjohn and her spinster daughter, Katherine. Anne begins to question whether someone — or more than one someone — may be trying to kill Lady Celia.
Julie Klassen’s newest novel is part Regency romance, for which she is well-known, and part murder mystery, taking a page from the well-loved Gothic romances of the time period in which Whispers at Painswick Court is set.
With a colorful cast of characters, including more than one potential love interest for Anne, Klassen delivers a fast-paced story that will delight fans of romance and mystery.
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams (Delacorte Press, December 2025)
farm-to-table concept seems like the perfect way to start fresh even when Madison learns the restaurant is owned by her brother’s best friend and neighbor, James Huxley.
James has been secretly in love with Madison for years, but their road to happily ever after won’t run as smoothly as he’d like.
While it’s clear Adams’ lead characters are headed for a happy ending, there’s enough comedy and fun along the way to make In Your Dreams a delightful read. The best part of this series is the meddlesome, small-town neighbors who always want to have their say.
Sarah Adams hits another home run with the fourth book in her Rome, Kentucky, contemporary romance series. In this misadventure, the fourth Walker sibling, Madison, returns to her hometown to help open a new restaurant after chasing success as a chef in New York City. The
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (Viking, June 2024)
One of 2024’s bestselling historical novels, I wish I’d picked up The Glassmaker sooner. Part romance, part historical fiction, part fantasy, Chevalier’s novel is a gem that instantly brought me back to the magical Italian city I first visited in 2000. It follows a family of glassmakers from Renaissance-era Italy to the present day, skipping through the centuries like a stone across the lagoon connecting Venice to Murano.
Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of glassblowers on the famed Italian isle. She dreams of helping her family, but blowing glass is not an occupation for women. Following her father’s tragic death, Orsola tries her hand at lampwork, a process for creating glass beads and small figurines, and soon finds herself supplementing the family’s fortunes with her unique creations.
In The Glassmaker, Chevalier spins a magical tale that transports readers through history alongside the incredibly long lives of the Rosso family and their masterful women who help ensure their work and their legacy endures.
J Petals Pints &
Celebrate spring at Petals & Pints in Temple, the Wildflower Capital of Texas! Enjoy local craft brews, gourmet food, a car show, local artisan booths, and live music. Explore activities for all ages, learn about Texas wildflowers and pollinators, and snap photos in beautiful bloom settings.
SANTA FE PLAZA
MARCH 21, 2026
Temple,Texas
J J
Listen to Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass
By PHOENIX CARLISLE | Cover courtesy of SIMON & SCHUSTER AUDIO
With Valentine’s Day and the first bouts of spring reaching through the cold, maybe what you truly need is a way to love yourself, to find yourself in the intertwining words from an award-winning lyricist. Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass is the work of collected poems from singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It explains her intimate feelings of her past, emotions of her own self-image and relationship while she navigates the concrete jungle of Los Angeles.
“Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass is the title poem of the book and the first poem I wrote of many,” the New York Times best-selling author said about her book. “Some of which came to me in their entirety, which I dictated and then typed out, and some that I worked laboriously, picking apart each word to make the perfect poem. They are eclectic and honest and not trying to be anything other than what they are and for that reason I’m proud of them, especially because the spirit in which they were written was very authentic.”
The singer also brings her breathtaking poetry to life in an unprecedented audiobook. In this stunning spoken word performance, Del Rey reads 14 poems from her debut book, accompanied by music from Grammy Awardwinning musician Jack Antonoff. The project solidifies her as “the essential writer of her times” (The Atlantic). This audiobook features her reading select poems from the book, including “LA Who Am I to Love You?,” “The Land of 1,000 Fires,” “Past the Bushes Cypress Thriving,” “Never to Heaven,” “Tessa DiPietro,” “Happy,” and several others. The result is an extraordinary poetic landscape that reflects the unguarded spirit of its creator.
I discovered Lana Del Rey, like many others, at 14 during the infamous COVID lockdown. Peak middle school with raging hormones and now the world around me felt destroyed. Del Ray is praised for her lyrics as she pulls lines from books or her other forms of inspirations to curate the feelings of being a woman. Even now, as I step into my adult life, I take comfort in her songs to navigate joys or hardships in my heart. She has become a cushion for my emotions and holding her personal poetry emphasizes that universal connection she continues to bring. Finding a true artist that you can always fall back to is extremely rare in this time of fast money media.
Now let’s talk about poetry itself. The typewriter font used for the connective style was a fantastic choice. Del Rey always uses a combination of classic forms from the
’60s and ’70s as well as rustic photographical styles as media visuals with her writing. One thing about her is that her first few dorms of media around her background, such as her music videos, were always beautiful forms of mixed media from old movies, her own photography and recordings that she would intentionally string together for the audience to immerse themselves into her art. This made her work in my view timeless; the work felt as though it was the personal record work of a lost starlet from the ’50s finding her true self under all the glamour and glitter or a wandering groupie from the ’70s navigating having a rocker boyfriend which in a way she was all of these. Her writing takes forms of who she’s been for the past decade and a half with her music blowing up. The poetical works of her life allow yourself to find her and find who you are in all the phases of your own life. This is what the seasonal shift is for. Finding time and love for yourself in all phases, even the ones you don't want to go back to.
Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass has selected works of poetry that describe LA as simply as our town of Temple while finding ways you can discover yourself in hardships. I recommend reading the poetry on your own first, as to emphasize and interpret what you please, then finding the version of Del Rey reading her work, as to see what she found best to emulate and interpret.
Take time to listen to songs of her music as well; each of her albums has a specific vibe that brings out the best and worst of everything, from relationships to how we view ourselves. Her work is timeless and to support an artist is to support their phases of hardship because that's where the true art lies.
Try Terrariums at Home
MANY PLANTS CAN THRIVE INSIDE GLASS JARS
By AMY ROGNLIE
Back in the day, I recall being fascinated with my grandparents’ terrarium. It was the late 1970s and apparently, terrariums were a thing. My grandparents’ terrarium was basically an enormous, thinnecked glass bottle with some potting soil in the bottom and a few scraggly plants gutting out an existence. I assume it was beautiful when they first acquired it, but neither of them were plant people, so the poor thing was quite neglected. They capped the bottle with one of my grandpa’s spare golf balls and poured a trickle of water in once in a while. I remember it steaming up inside as it baked in the sun in front of the sliding glass door that led to their minuscule porch. Sitting in a sauna couldn’t have been too healthy, so the plants that didn’t die of neglect no doubt steamed to death at some point in their doomed-from-the-beginning life.
I have no idea what happened to my grandparents’ terrarium or even what kind of plants lived — rather, died — in it. The plants must have been something fairly hardy because the poor things held on for a looooong time. At any rate, terrariums are now a thing again, if you hadn’t noticed. In fact, terrariums are back bigger and better than ever. Instead of sticking a few sad fittonias and pothos in a pickle jar, some folks have even added “wildlife” — think sow bugs, lizards, toads, ants ... yup. I haven’t gone that far yet.
Anyway, terrariums are popular for a reason. Several reasons, actually. First, they can be easy to care for and a little bit forgiving when it comes to watering. The easiest are the cacti terrariums, where several cacti and some decorative rock are placed in an open glass container. Second, terrariums are fun and easy to create and if you don’t have the time, money or space to have a garden outside, terrariums provide an opportunity to have your own little garden encapsulated in glass.
Which brings me to the next point: open or closed? Some terrariums are intended to grow in perpetuity into their own microcosm in an enclosed glass container with only minimal maintenance. The problem with this type is that if you don’t know what you’re doing, you will quickly end up with a glass jar full of mold and slime. So, if you haven’t created a terrarium before, I would suggest either an open terrarium or a partially closed one so you can better monitor the health of the plants.
Of course, there are all kinds of fancy tools and soil mixes which are cool, but for a fun afternoon project that will look lovely for months, all you need are the basics: a glass container of some sort, a little gravel, potting soil and plants. If you are making a desert-vibe terrarium, a shallower container works fine. If you’re going with other types of plants, you’ll need a deeper container to allow space for drainage. It’s fine to repurpose a jar you already have. I like jars that come with a lid in case I want to keep a bit more moisture in some days or need to let the terrarium dry out a bit at other times.
For a cactus terrarium, use cactus potting soil or mix regular potting soil with sand and/or perlite, both of which are easy to find at any store with a plant department. Cover the bottom of the jar with gravel, then add the potting soil on top and plant your cacti in it. That’s about it. Cacti like to be watered thoroughly and then left to dry out completely before being watered again. Never let water sit in the bottom of a cacti terrarium. Also, though they are desert plants, most cacti would rather not bake in a south window all day every day. Even cacti need some protection from the sun.
For a terrarium with herbaceous plants, you’ll need a deeper layer of gravel in the bottom of the jar to provide a place for water to drain. Depending on the size of your jar, you need at least an inch or two of gravel. You can put the potting soil directly on top of the gravel, but most folks like to put a layer of sphagnum moss (also found at the garden center) between the gravel and the potting soil to keep the soil from filtering down into the gravel.
Next is the fun part. Plant the little beauties that you chose, give them a drink and set your miniature garden somewhere bright but not in direct afternoon sunlight. Depending on the type of plants you used, you may want to keep the lid on halfway to allow more humidity to build in the jar, but don’t close it all the way. If things start to look too wet, leave the lid off for a day or two. Once your terrarium is established and your plants are happily rooted in their new home, resist the urge to water until at least the top inch of soil is dry.
Most of all, enjoy the process of creating a microenvironment and watching it grow and thrive. Then head outside and start planting your cool season veggies. It’s prime gardening time in Central Texas!
Saving the Bees SALADO’S KELLY DAHLSEID FINDS HER PASSION
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of KELLY DAHLSEID
On a warm Central Texas day, the air around Kelly Dahlseid’s farm buzzes with excitement and purpose. Thousands of honey bees move in rhythm — foraging, guarding and building — while Kelly quietly observes the colonies at work, still amazed after eight years that such tiny creatures can produce liquid gold.
“First off, I love the bees. I get such joy from just opening up a hive and watching them. I love the smell of the beeswax, the hum of the bees and the amazing end result … delicious honey,” she said. “Each hive is completely different and offers unique challenges. I enjoy the mental challenge and the problem solving.”
The Salado beekeeper said it was actually her husband, Ron, who originally wanted to raise bees. After moving from Round Rock to a farm in Salado in 2018 to enjoy the community’s small-town charm, the Dahlseids needed an agricultural exemption for their farm. Due to Ron’s background growing up on a ranch in California, he knew he didn’t want to raise goats, cows or any large animals, but was interested in beekeeping.
After taking beekeeping classes, joining every Facebook group they could find and attending local beekeeping meetings at the Temple Area Beekeepers Club in Troy, they decided to take the plunge into the world of beekeeping.
2019. From there, things escalated quickly — and generously.
“We made it our mission, not only to expand our number of hives, but to save as many hives as we could,” Kelly said. She began offering free bee removals, swarm rehoming, and even water meter removals through the Temple Water Supply. “They kept me busy for years!”
At their peak, the Dahlseids managed nearly 70 hives — an impressive feat, especially while also caring for their disabled daughter and working fulltime.
“Seventy hives for the two of us was too much to manage,” Kelly said. As neighbors no longer needed bees for agricultural exemptions, they scaled back to a more sustainable 35 to 40 hives. “We love managing this amount and have worked hard to build a really good stock of honeyproducing hives.”
“Everyone in the beekeeping world was so friendly and helpful when it came to learning about bees and how to be good stewards of the bees,” Kelly said. “I felt like I should have a PhD in beekeeping after all the time I spent learning and obsessing over beekeeping.”
That same year, the couple formed Trophy Honey, LLC, officially launching their beekeeping venture. Starting with just eight hives, they sold their first honey harvest locally through Facebook in
Raising honey bees is not as easy as one would assume. She said the work is far from passive. Each hive presents its own puzzle, from monitoring food stores and space to watching for pests like the varroa destructor mite, which can devastate colonies if left unchecked.
Another fear she worries about is Africanized bees, which can be very dangerous and aggressive. She said they will try to enter a beekeeper’s protective suit. Lucky for her, she hasn’t encountered any yet, just some “very spicy bees.”
“I always check my bee suit for rips in my veil. They love to go for your face and can find the smallest hole to get in, so I make sure I’m zipped up good! I learned from my mentor when I first started to ‘trust my suit’ so I definitely remind myself of this when I encounter pretty spicy bees,” she said. “It’s my own fault when I have bees get into my suit. I either didn’t zip up or didn’t see a
Continued
Kelly Dahlseid keeps bees on her Salado farm.
tear in my veil. You can get complacent and make mistakes. They sure hurt when you do. I once had 15 stings to my head and face because of a tear in my veil.
She also worries about other people’s safety. She said people are curious and want to come see what she’s doing. Generally the bees don’t bother anyone nearby, but you just never know when it could happen.
One thing she said she always advises people about bees is to not kill or spray them with anything. If a nest is found, the best thing to do is to take a picture of the hive from a safe distance and contact a local beekeeper to see if they can remove it.
“It’s heartbreaking when I go to do a removal and the bees have been sprayed. The queen is usually dead and most of the bees,” she said. “The survivors are just wandering around without a hive and there is nothing we can do at that point to round up the bees that didn’t die. It’s so sad to see.”
Kelly describes bee removals as both exciting and challenging. It can sometimes be difficult to find the queen and without her, the other bees will not follow.
“You have to be very surgical in that you want to be careful not to kill the queen as you are cutting away comb. The queen loves to hide in the comb where it’s dark. If it’s a hive that has recently swarmed, she can even fly up and away and land on something nearby. It can be a very tedious process, cutting away each piece of comb and carefully looking for her and shaking the bees into their new home, your box,” she said. “Once the queen has been located, she is put in a queen clip, which looks kind of like a hair clip, and the bees will follow her pheromones and join her in the hive. I typically leave the queen and new hive box overnight so all the bees that are out flying and foraging will join her in the box overnight and not be left behind. Beekeepers hate to leave stranded bees.”
“Beekeeping is constant problem-solving,” Kelly added. “The hives need different attention at different times throughout the year. We try to always enter the hive with a purpose, so we don’t interrupt the bees unnecessarily.”
The reward comes each spring, when Central Texas delivers a single, strong honey flow. Kelly and Ron harvest once a year, carefully leaving enough honey for the bees while collecting the excess. The result is a rich, amber-to-dark honey infused with the flavors of local wildflowers — Indian blanket, Continued
coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Indian paintbrush, thistle, oak and elm, among others.
While they once sold honey at the Salado Farmers Market at Barrow Brewing, their busy schedules no longer allowed for the weekly market. Today, Trophy Honey can be found at The Shoppes on Main in Salado. Still, Kelly cherishes the memories of sharing her passion face-to-face at the market.
“We loved educating adults and children about bees,” she said. “That connection meant everything.”
Beyond the honey, beyond the removals, she sees education as one of the most important parts of her work. Every conversation and every rescued swarm is an opportunity to shift how people view bees — not as a threat, but as an essential part of the ecosystem.
After finding her home nestled in the heart of Texas, Kelly also found a calling that blends purpose, patience, and a deep respect for the natural world. In the gentle hum of her hives, she’s building something lasting — one bee, one bloom, and one jar of honey at a time.
Ben Gillilan owns Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping in Nolanville.
Growing Business
GRIZZLY’S HIDDEN FALLS NURSERY & LANDSCAPING READY TO HELP RESIDENTS WITH SPRING PLANTING
By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
Spring has nearly sprung in Central Texas, and folks are gearing up to plant their gardens and landscape their yards. Ben Gillilan, owner of Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping in Nolanville, is ready to help in any way he can. Not only does his nursery offer many types of plants, shrubs and trees, but it’s also a quaint, peaceful destination for those who just want to relax in nature.
While in the Army, the Gillilans were stationed all over the world and across the United States, from Washington state to Virginia and Louisiana. But everywhere he went, his interest in the local flora and fauna stayed constant. When he retired in Texas, his interest in native plants and the great outdoors only grew, and he began to help others with the knowledge that he gained.
“People ask me questions, and I say, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out and get back to you.’ And that’s exactly what I did,” he said.
Gillilan retired from the Army in 2003, and his family settled in Central Texas. He initially worked for another local lawn care service for several years, but his dream was to start his own business. He eventually started Grizzly Lawn & Home and worked for a few years doing lawn care and small landscape jobs.
In 2015, an opportunity arose that he couldn’t pass up. The owner of a local nursery called Hidden Falls was selling and asked if Gillilan would be interested in purchasing it. Gillilan said he didn’t want the nursery to simply close because the area needed one, so he jumped in with both feet and purchased what is now called Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping. Both he and his wife are veterans, and they have eight veterans working for them. His son is his right-hand man, and his daughter-in-law runs the nursery.
He says his knowledge of landscaping and Texas natives is all self-taught, born from a desire to help people to work with nature, not against it.
“I read every book I get my hands on, and I’ve talked with Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists,
and the Native Plant Society of Texas. It’s just been a fun ride so far,” he said.
Before he purchased the nursery, his business’s focus was primarily on maintenance. They did lawn care, built decks and fences, and installed water features. So, he turned the purchase of the nursery into a learning environment, not just for his employees, but for his customers, a lot of whom come from all over the country. Many people who are new to Texas don’t know where to start with gardening or landscaping.
“It’s been fun because I’ve gotten to educate people on what they should do versus what they think they can do because they’re not in Kansas anymore,” he said.
If you’re unsure where to start on your landscaping or gardening journey, Gillilan advises to simply give him a call talk about it.
“We’ll walk around your property, and we can talk about everything you want to do and make a master plan,” he said. “Or we can talk about where you should start and then you can build off that.”
Grizzly’s offers all sorts of landscaping services, such as designing and building decks and pergolas, installing outdoor lighting, building privacy fences, installing sod, and building water features, such as garden ponds.
“Some folks want to put in shrubs that they can keep trimmed round, square, triangle, or whatever they want to do with them,” he added.
Gillilan and his team also install xeriscapes, which literally means “dry landscaping,” and they’re very popular in hot, arid places like Texas. He explained that when xeriscaping, they use native plants that are used to the dry environment.
For those hoping to start gardening in 2026, Gillilan said you can start planting for the spring well before the season starts, but he advises to start small.
“A lot of people want to start big,” he said. “They want that instant ‘wow!’ They put too much stuff in their garden, but it’s not the size it’s going
to be yet. Then it gets big and they’re like, ‘Oh my goodness, this took over my whole garden!’”
Some of his favorite plants are autumn sage and Blackfoot daisies, which attract butterflies. Flame acanthus is another favorite, and it can get up to four feet tall and is covered in little reddish-orange flowers. His favorite shrub is the Texas sage, which blooms right before it rains, and bees love it, so it’s great for pollination. If you’re more into arid plants, you can’t go wrong with a cactus. Gillilan recommends the spineless prickly pear, so you don’t have to worry about getting poked. A fan favorite of many customers is the red yucca, which sends up tall shoots of red flowers on top that hummingbirds love.
For the newbies hoping to start an edible garden
this spring, some of the easiest plants to begin with are cherry or roma tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. Gillilan’s advice for tomatoes is to avoid over-planting them. He recommends no more than a six-pack of seeds.
“Don’t plant them six inches apart — plant them four to five feet apart, so you’ve got plenty of room.”
Lettuce is also an easy plant for beginners.
“You can plant it close your door if you want to use it in a salad frequently,” he said. “You can go out and snip it off, throw on your salad or sandwich, and it just grows back.”
He also advises that asparagus is easy to grow, but warns that you’ll never be able to get rid of it. Grizzly’s Hidden Falls is more than just a nursery
— it’s an experience. There are trees, shrubs, perennials, flowers, native plants, concrete statuary, pottery and metal art available for purchase, but there are also tons of fun hidden gems that enhance the experience. There’s a waterfall flowing out of a claw-foot bathtub resting in the bed of an old truck, as well as a 1952 Chevy with a waterfall coming out of the front of it going into a pond where kids love to fish. They’ve also covered almost the entire shopping area with a shade material so you don’t have to walk around in the blazing sun during the summer.
There’s a hiking trail that goes along the cow pasture and then leads back down along Nolan Creek. You can also sit and relax in the silo gazebo or walk around the greenhouse and peruse the
succulents and tropical plants.
“There’s a variety of things that you can do — not just shop but come here and relax and get away from the stress of the world if you want to,” Gillilan said.
While he is a huge fan of all the nurseries in the area, he believes what sets Grizzly’s apart is that they’re a destination, not just a place to buy plants.
“You can visit with our parrot, Captain Jack, or walk around the pond or the creek, or sit down and listen to the waterfall and enjoy the butterflies floating all over the boat-turned-flower bed,” Gillilan said. “So, I think you get an experience here, more than just walking around and spending money. People tend to stick around, and they become family.”
Where Craft Becomes Legacy
ERIC GOLDHARDT CREATES CUSTOM FURNITURE
By JOHNJOHN MONTELONGO | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of ERIC GOLDHARDT
In an age of mass production and disposable design, the craft of woodworking can feel like a lost art. Yet today, as families seek homes filled with meaning rather than objects without memory, that ancient craft is not only returning — it is becoming essential. Custom furniture, thoughtfully made and built to last, has reemerged as a way to tell a family’s story through grain, texture, and time.
Few embody this revival more clearly than Eric Goldhardt, founder of Goldhardt Woodworks in Salado. A U.S. military veteran originally from just outside Tacoma, Washington, Goldhardt joined the Army in 2019 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. But long before his service, his path had already been shaped by working with his hands.
His love for building began in junior high wood shop, where raw lumber first transformed into something useful, personal, and enduring. What started as curiosity grew into skill, and skill into passion.
“I always found it very therapeutic,” he shared about transforming a simple piece of wood into furniture that families could cherish for generations. That passion came full circle in 2019, when Goldhardt found himself needing furniture for his own home. Instead of buying off the shelf, he turned back to his roots — crafting the pieces himself. The results were striking enough that his wife immediately recognized something more than a hobby. Her encouragement planted the seed that would eventually become Goldhardt Woodworks, launched as the family relocated to Salado when the family was stationed at Fort Hood.
Woodworking, Goldhardt says, is more than skill — it is patience, discipline and therapy. Hours can pass unnoticed as he becomes immersed in shaping a custom design, allowing the material to guide the process as much as his hands do.
Today, roughly 75 to 80 percent of his work is custom-ordered, created for law offices, businesses and family homes. Each piece is designed with intention, measured not just for space, but for the story.
The true reward, he says, comes in the final moment: unveiling the finished work and watching a customer’s reaction. In that instant, the long hours, the physical demands, and the meticulous care all become worth it. The furniture is no longer
Army veteran Eric Goldhardt turned his hobby into a business making custom furniture. Continued
just wood — it is something meant to endure, to be lived with, and to be passed down through generations.
“Getting out to the shop, doing stuff for other people and knowing it's going to put a huge smile on their face (makes a difference),” he added.
Goldhardt credits his inspiration to his family above all else. His four children and his steadfast, supportive wife are the driving force behind his commitment to excellence. They are the reason every piece leaves his workshop with the care and pride of a legacy build.
His military background continues to shape his approach as well. Discipline, leadership and attention to detail define, not only how he works, but how he serves his clients.
From meeting deadlines to keeping prices within reach for families, Goldhardt applies the same principles he learned as a soldier to the craft he now calls his mission.
In every custom table, every hand-built fixture, and every carefully finished surface, Goldhardt proves that woodworking is not a lost art — it is a living one.
And in his hands, it becomes something rare in modern life: a lasting reminder that the most meaningful things are still built, one deliberate cut at a time.
Trusted leadership is built on experience and results. As County Judge, I will deliver steady, accountable leadership that manages resources wisely and keeps county government efficient and fair. My priorities as County Judge are clear: strong communication, common-sense decision-making, and responsible leadership. With a background spanning education, military service, law enforcement, and over 30 years of judicial experience, I bring disciplined, practical leadership to public service. My career includes service with local law enforcement and three decades as Justice of the Peace for Bell County Precinct 1, where I have managed budgets, overseen court operations, and worked closely with county and state leadership. This experience has prepared me to serve effectively as Bell County Judge.
Upgrade Your Space
PROFESSIONAL HOME FLIPPER SHARES DESIGN TIPS
By JOHNJOHN MONTELONGO | Photos by JANE GIBSON
When some see an old, broken-down house, they may dismiss it as an eyesore — something to tear down or turn away from. But for Taryn Cox, those same walls tell a different story. To her, each weathered home is a blank canvas, a work of art waiting patiently to be unveiled.
Cox, owner of TABS Renovation and Design, approaches every project with an artist’s eye and an intuitive sense of flow. From the moment she steps inside, she begins to envision what the home can become. Each room is treated as its own creative space, designed to carry a personality and purpose all its own. From the interior down to the smallest finishing touches — and extending all the way to the home’s exterior — nothing is accidental. Every detail is considered, planned, and intentionally placed as she moves through waves of creative momentum.
“What's hot right now (in home upgrades) is warmth. The days of cool colors are gone. People are drawn to earthy colors and textures, as well as natural materials. In addition, changing rarely used spaces into areas that are visited every day,” Cox said. “For example, the come-back of the scullery or butler's pantry. I've been able to repurpose unused formal dining rooms to areas of fantastic function.”
Yet, Cox is the first to admit she does not do this alone. At the core of every renovation is her family and trusted specialty contractors. From large-scale construction to the tiniest detail, they all play a role in bringing the vision to life. Their involvement is more than labor — it’s encouragement, trust, and shared purpose. With her husband’s steady support, both big and small, the process becomes a collective effort, one that fuels her confidence and sustains her creativity.
That confidence shows in the results. Cox flips approximately three to four homes each year, and they rarely stay on the market long — often selling in less than a week. In fact, the longest one of her remodeled homes has stayed on the market is 16 days. Success, however, does not mean the absence of struggle. Renovating homes in historic districts comes with its own set of challenges: regulations, permits, delays, and inevitable setbacks. Still, with patience and persistence, everything eventually aligns, and another home is ready to welcome a new family.
Finding the right canvas is part of the art. Cox works closely with a trusted friend and Realtor to identify properties that spark her imagination — homes that offer both challenge and possibility. Once acquired, she transforms them with a signature style that has become a hallmark of her work. Every home bears her artistic fingerprint, a quiet but unmistakable cohesion that sets her renovations apart.
Cox said home renovations vary widely in price ranges. Kitchen and bathrooms are usually the most popular areas of a home to upgrade. The cost associated with upgrading varies greatly depending on size, quality of finishes and the value of the home.
“Because I sell the homes I renovate, it's important that the kitchen matches the home's value,” she said. “If I were renovating my own home, I would definitely spend my money in the kitchen. It is the most utilized area of your home and you want it to be functional and beautiful while spending time in it.”
and Design.
Taryn Cox owns TABS Renovation
For a simple way to transform the look and feel of your home, Cox said there’s no better way to make a visual difference than paint.
“Comparatively, paint offers the biggest bang for your buck,” she said. “You can paint walls, ceilings, create design, paint furniture and other home accessories to completely change the look of any room.”
Another simple but cost-effective way to make a difference in the look of your home is to simply change out the hardware. That includes anything from cabinet hardware to plumbing.
Offering her best advice for someone looking to remodel their own home, she said to think about the long game plan.
“Do you plan to eventually renovate other areas of the home? Will what you want to do later fit with what you are planning to do now?” she said. “Do you plan on having the same flooring throughout? If so, buy enough for the entire house now even if you are only doing one room now. It is not likely that you will find the flooring you need later. In addition, if the renovation is planned to cost $20k, try to have an additional reserve of 20%. Sometimes, staying on budget works out. More often, you forgot about something in your estimating, or you change your mind along the way. Always better to be prepared for those surprises.”
Beyond her work in real estate, Cox is deeply rooted in her community. She is a proud member of Altrusa, a service organization dedicated to improving communities through personal service. She was named the 2025 Altrusan of the Year for Altrusa International of Temple. One recent project brought Altrusa members to the Ronald McDonald House, where they renovated four rooms — offering comfort and care to families during difficult times.
Cox is more than a house flipper. She is a creator, a collaborator, and a steward of spaces meant to hold memories. When you step into a home she has renovated, you are stepping into a place shaped by intention, pride, and heart. Each detail has been carefully considered, each choice made with purpose. What you are buying is not just a house — it is creativity, quality, and care.
As Cox herself puts it, “building relationships is more important.” And with each project, as she continues to grow and evolve, she reminds herself, “you learn with every single property, you learn more and more.”
Amy Morter brings clients’ visions to life through Crow & Cactus Interior Design.
Different Approach
AMY MORTER FINDS HER NICHE WITH CROW & CACTUS INTERIOR DESIGN
By AMY MORTER and BRANDY CRUZ Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of CROW & CACTUS INTERIOR DESIGN
In a community like Belton — where historic charm meets a growing creative energy — interior designer Amy Morter is quickly carving out her own distinctive niche with Crow & Cactus Interior Design.
Morter believes what sets her apart is listening and valuing the opinions of her clients, and then providing them with beautiful, functional spaces that reflect the people who live and work in them.
“My design work is never about me,” Morter said. “It’s about giving my clients the most perfect space for their life. It is about their aesthetics, their routines, the way they gather, work and make memories. I want to give them what they are envisioning in their minds. Sometimes they don’t know what they want, but I can help them discover and achieve it.”
Morter’s entire life was shaped by the military, first as a child and then married to a soldier, so adapting to new homes and communities was a requirement. While living in three countries and 29 different homes — each with its own distinctive style, size and character — she began fostering a deep appreciation for art, architecture, history and culture, which sparked her creativity. It’s the same creativity shared by her mother, who worked as an interior designer for Ethan Allen.
“My mother had a natural ability to turn every house into a home,” Morter fondly recalled. “No matter where we lived, the spaces were always beautiful, functional and welcoming. She was my inspiration to learn about design and open the store.”
As military spouses can attest, each new home presented a fresh challenge, often demanding creative solutions, rearranging furniture, repurposing pieces, and learning how to make unfamiliar spaces feel grounded, welcoming and like “home.” Interior design became Morter’s way of creating continuity.
“Before I opened the store and started working in interior design, my poor husband got used to coming home from deployments and find the entire house rearranged,” she said, laughing. “I used to do it to my parents too. They would be gone for an evening and come home to find everything rearranged. I was always looking for ways to improve how the spaces
functioned and how they felt. I think they were all relieved when I opened the store. Now, I have a creative outlet through my clients and store.”
Though her years of travel have exposed her to diverse cultures, architectural traditions and ways of living which provide her with a lot of influence to draw upon, she said it all comes down to her clients.
“These elements are the framework for the design, but the space itself should ultimately reflect the
Continued
client’s story and style, not mine,” she added.
Her projects span interior and exterior residential and commercial design, as well as custom furniture. She believes what sets her apart is her intentional refusal to design from a single aesthetic or trend. She does not impose a signature look and is not tied to trends. Instead, she begins every project, home or business, by learning how her clients live, what they like, and what they are hoping to achieve from a functional standpoint and an emotional one. Every project begins with the following questions:
• How do they start their mornings?
• How do they gather with others?
• What will the function of the space be?
• What do they need their space to give back to them?
From there, Morter builds layered environments using natural materials, thoughtful lighting, custom furniture, and carefully curated details to create spaces that feel elevated yet livable, refined yet warm and truly reflect the clients.
Morter’s most recent commercial projects reflect both versatility and creativity. In downtown Belton, Highlands Lounge, a Scottish-themed whiskey lounge, blends warmth and Scottish heritage into a space intentionally designed to feel like a pub in Scotland where people can socialize, relax and connect.
In Waco, Morter completed a Baylor Universitythemed lounge and event space inside Dog Haus Biergarten, incorporating historic 1950’s Baylor University and Waco memorabilia into an environment that feels elevated and refined. The space is rented out for executive gatherings and private functions.
Her current project, Hell Yeah, is a bold new restaurant opening this April in downtown Belton. Confident and experiential, she said the space is designed to feel elevated, exciting and memorable while remaining comfortable, welcoming and free of pretension. While each project is distinct, what remains consistent is the quality of her work and the experience that is created for those who live and work in those spaces — comfort. Her spaces are not only designed to impress at first glance, but to support the lives lived within them and represent their own stories.
For Morter, success is measured not by the ability to follow and design based on trends, but by the quiet moment when a client realizes they love where they live or work.
“When a space feels right and reflects who you are and supports how you move through the world, it becomes more than a beautiful design. It becomes a beautiful place you want to return to, again and again,” she said. “I think of interior design
as an investment in wellness and happiness. Our environment affects how we feel, how productive we are and our emotions. I believe our homes and places of work should be thoughtfully designed and curated to provide an experience that makes us feel our best and brings us joy. We should love our homes, they should be our favorite place, the place that tells our story and inspires our future. If we invest in what we love and what feels good, we will be happier, healthier and more successful.”
40 YEARS Serving ladies who love to shop!
DR. LINCOLN AND APRYL COFFIE SHARE
A Love Story Divinely On Time
By DEMI GUILLORY | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
“Are you here to see me?”
It is the question Dr. Lincoln Coffie asked his wife, Apryl, when he first laid eyes on her in the Montego Bay Airport, traveling home to Jamaica from New York, where he was practicing medicine in January 2011.
The trip home was supposed to be nothing out of the ordinary — Lincoln was anticipating spending time with family and, in his own words, “I was going to party.” Far from his missionary work at that point in his life, he had packed everything up in his Great Neck apartment after the ending of a long-term relationship, and a “reset” on familiar territory with some fun as the only expectation.
Then the chance encounter with Apryl as he waited for his sister’s delayed flight from Canada became his biggest and best distraction, ultimately changing the trajectory of his life. Reflecting on that fateful moment, Lincoln admitted his bold approach took some courage.
“It was kind of uncharacteristic of me,” he said about his tactic to get Apryl’s attention. “I think she thought I was crazy. Once I started talking to her, I’m like, ‘Wow, she’s very interesting.’”
No less intrigued but guarded, Apryl did not hide her initial skepticism and struggled with understanding Lincoln’s true intentions in wanting to pursue her.
“About three or four years prior (to meeting Lincoln), I had literally just walked away as well,” she recalled. “I came out of a very horrible heartbreak, and at this time, I don’t even think I was thinking about love.”
Her plans home in Jamaica were a stark contrast.
“I was already a very devoted Christian. I was in Bible school at the time and was on a journey of healing,” Apryl added.
Romance was not on her radar, but Lincoln was determined to change her mind and ended up capturing her heart.
“I said to her, ‘I want to take you out to dinner,’” he fondly remembered.
Her response?
“You have to date me and the whole church.”
Lincoln was happy to oblige.
“I said, ‘I’ll take you, your pastor, and everybody at the church just to take you out.’”
The trip Lincoln had envisioned quickly evolved into something far better than he ever imagined.
“My whole focus while I was there became talking to her,” he said.
They exchanged numbers, talked every day on the phone for hours until they could physically see each other again, and Lincoln’s mission became successful: Lincoln and Apryl were married just three and a half months after their airport meeting and began their life together in a small apartment in Jamaica — a humble beginning to a beautiful love story that has spanned fifteen years and two children together.
What others may see as a happy coincidence, the Coffies realize now was divine spiritual planning. As Lincoln was awaiting his sister’s arrival, Apryl was anticipating seeing her father for the first time since she was 10 years old. Apryl’s dad and Lincoln’s sister were on the same flight that day, which was delayed due to weather.
“We would have literally missed each other had the flight not stayed in the air,” Apryl said. “In those 30 minutes, a divine moment happened.”
With Christ at the center of everything they do, service to others and each other is what ultimately sustains their relationship.
Service to others is what led the Coffies to Killeen, after Lincoln felt led to return to his Army roots, having served at Fort Hood as his first duty station.
They founded Open Fire International Fellowship Church in November 2012. While Lincoln serves as
Dr. Lincoln and Apryl Coffie share a love story and a calling as the founders of Open Fire International Fellowship Church.
senior pastor, Apryl, the co-pastor, manages the church’s day-to-day business.
But Lincoln doesn’t just serve the community’s spiritual needs, he also serves their medical needs.
He opened Killeen Family Medicine and Urgent Care Clinic in September, filling a long void of adequate, essential healthcare in the area and providing residents with crucial access to medical care. His medical practice now sees roughly 500 patients every month.
“I truly enjoy meeting the needs of my patients and providing access to quality healthcare,” Lincoln said. “When my patients are happy and cared for, that brings me real joy and fulfillment.”
Balancing a medical practice and a church can be demanding, but the Coffies still prioritize time with each other. The “secret” to striking the perfect work-life balance, they say, is no secret at all.
“It’s being intentional, both of us, about it,” Lincoln said.
For Apryl, her love language is handling the small things because she knows they make the biggest difference.
“My husband is such a pioneer and visionary, and he’s always leading. I took the pressure off of him to have to feel like he has to bear the burden
to do time for us,” she said. “I work with his schedule and fit all of our lives in it.”
Apryl pencils in the date for their desired activity, and Lincoln, with a clear schedule, is ready to go.
“I will plan dates and be like, ‘OK honey, today, I’m going to pick you up. We’re going on a date, and he’ll just get ready,” she said. “We’re also always working together (in missionary) and are making life decisions together, which works in our favor. Our lives are not separate from each other — he constantly keeps me in the loop and presents everything to me. ‘Honey, here’s my schedule, here’s where I’m going to be, here’s where you can find me.’”
Date nights may sometimes look as mundane as doing the budget or financial planning for the family, but the Coffies find fulfillment, not in what they do, but simply being with each other because they realize anytime they’re together is quality time.
“When we put our minds and our hearts together, we’re able to accomplish far more than we ever could individually,” Lincoln said. “My wife, in particular, is a constant source of inspiration — she always gives her best, and that motivates me to do the same.”
HOW AI TOOLS CAN HELP SOLVE YOUR Decorating Dilemmas
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hire a professional interior designer to style your home? Well, now you can call on artificial intelligence to generate ideas and produce images with the simple touch of a button. Get inspiration to transform a room — or even design your dream house — with the help of your computer.
After downloading a photo of any room in your house, AI can analyze the room's dimensions and existing layout to create realistic 3D renderings. It makes suggestions that can:
• optimize your current furniture layout or recommends new ones
• create different color schemes
• introduce innovative ways to accessorize
• help define your style aesthetic more clearly
Unbelievably, you will be able visualize your spaces in completely different ways.
Computer applications have been used for decades in industries such as furniture design, fashion and architecture to name a few.
Take a look at my living room, entryway and backyard before and after I created new designs using AI.
Did I enjoy using this tool to reinvent my spaces...Yes! It was fun, and I came away with a few
Story and photos by SHARON WHITE | AI photos generated by DecAI
INTEGRITY EXPERIENCE HONESTY
My name is Patrick Patterson, and I’m honored to be running for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1. I was raised right here in this community. I went to school here, worked here, and built lifelong relationships that have shaped who I am today.
My wife, Darby, and I have raised our three children—Jack, Hannah, and Cooper—right here at home in this same community that’s given us so much.
I stand before you not as a politician, but as your neighbor, your friend, and a fellow citizen who believes deeply in fairness, compassion, and common sense.
I was fortunate to be raised by two great men—my dad, Bob Patterson, and my stepfather, Ted Duffield. This journey is personal to me because many of you know my stepfather currently serves as Justice of the Peace Pct 1. Watching him lead with integrity, patience, and respect for the law has inspired me more than words can say.
I’ve been taught that true public service isn’t about talking the loudest, it’s about listening the most. There’s a quote I hold close: “If you have the ability to lead, then you have the responsibility to lead.”
So here’s my promise to you:·
• I will serve with humility.
• I will listen with empathy.
• And I will ensure the law is applied fairly, consistently, and with respect for every person who walks through those courtroom doors.
Last Day to Register to Vote: Monday, February 2, 2026
Early Voting: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to Friday, February 27, 2026
Election Day: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
new ideas (like painting my red brick fireplace to lighten it up). The one thing this app could not do was redesign a specific wall I had my TV on. It kept thinking it was a living room remodel and insisted on putting a sofa on the wall, instead of giving me hints on how to design around my TV, which is what I wanted.
How to use AI to generate interior design ideas:
• Choose one of the many interior design apps available online and create an account at a nominal cost (I chose DecAI). I paid $7.99 to
use it for one week.*
• Follow the instructions and download a photo of your room (e.g., living room, bedroom, bathroom, entryway). I used my phone to take pictures.
• Choose a style: For example — traditional, modern, cozy, minimalist, Scandinavian, luxury, farmhouse, mid-century, Mediterranean, rustic, etc. You can even pick a theme like Christmas or Halloween.
• Select a color palette.
• Press a button.
Your computer will produce original design options within seconds, and you can edit even more with prompts. You get to decide if you want to use your existing furniture layout or change it. Some websites even provide links to buy furniture. Of course, AI can never replace the personal touch you put into your own decorating, using pieces you've loved and collected over the years. But with the magic of these design tools, you can reimagine your interiors, exteriors, gardens, patios
and pools. You can experiment with ideas and layouts before you commit.
You can become your own interior designer — styling the home of your dreams with ideas you may never have thought of. The possibilities are endless.
*Note: Here are some other interior design apps: www.homedesigns.ai, www.homestyler.com, www. decormatters.com, www.roomgenius.com (Be sure to read the fine print when subscribing to these websites.)
A Spring Reset
NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW MOMENTUM FOR RENEWAL
Spring has a way of reminding us that life is always offering another beginning. The flowers bloom, the days grow longer, and everything around us begins to come back to life. This season invites us to do the same — especially when it comes to the goals we set at the start of the year.
DR. KERRY ANN ZAMORE BYRD
Many of us began the year with strong intentions. Maybe you committed to improving your health, getting your finances in order, becoming more socially connected, reading or writing more, or traveling. And now, as spring arrives, you may realize that some of those plans haven’t yet taken shape.
Here is the good news: it is not too late.
Spring is a natural time for renewal and recalibration. The first quarter of the year is not about perfection — it is about awareness. This season gives us permission to pause, reflect, and honestly assess what is working and what needs attention. If you have not yet made progress on your goals, this moment is not a failure; it is an invitation.
Think of spring as a planning season. Growth
does not happen overnight. Just as a bird builds a nest over time — gathering materials, choosing the right place, preparing carefully before laying its eggs — our goals also require patience, intention, and consistency. Even after the eggs are laid, there is a season of stillness before new life emerges. Progress often looks quiet before it looks visible.
Spring reminds us that renewal is a process. New beginnings require time, preparation and steady action. To help you move forward, consider these five gentle but powerful steps:
Revisit your goals with compassion. Reflect on what you hoped to accomplish and release any selfjudgment.
Clarify what matters most right now. You do not have to do everything — focus on what feels most meaningful in this season.
Break goals into small, realistic actions. Progress is built through manageable steps, not grand leaps. Set simple timelines. Giving yourself target dates creates direction without pressure.
Begin again — today. Small action taken now is more powerful than waiting for the “perfect” time. Spring teaches us that growth is always possible. Wherever you are in your journey, you are allowed to begin again — with hope, intention and patience.
Master Storyteller VANNETTA CHAPMAN CALLS LAMPASAS HOME
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of VANNETTA CHAPMAN
Tell me a story.
“Those four words are powerful, and that's what I try to do, across quite a few genres,” said Central Texas resident and bestselling author Vannetta Chapman. “I tell a good story because I think the reader deserves that.”
Chapman, who lives in Lampasas, released her 52nd book in 2025 with titles in inspirational romance, Amish romance, Amish cozy mystery, dystopian, techno-thriller and inspirational thriller.
“I write across various genres, but all my stories share characters you’ll care about. Whether they’re surviving the apocalypse, chasing a cyber terrorist, or solving a murder mystery, you’ll be cheering them on, turning pages to find out what happens next. Stephen King said, ‘Art should be a place of hope.’ In my books, you’ll find that glimmer of hope and themes that reflect our shared human experiences,” Chapman said.
Since moving to the Texas Hill Country 18 years ago from the Dallas area, Chapman has taught English at Lampasas High School and Central Texas College. As a big reader herself and with a master’s degree in English literature, Chapman enjoys participating in local writing groups and helping to mentor new and/or aspiring writers.
worth doing. It brings us together in a way that few things can.”
Living in Central Texas for many years, Chapman appreciates the sense of community. She and her husband often volunteer with their church’s disaster relief organization.
“If you have a story to tell, find a way to tell it,” Chapman said. “There are a lot of avenues available to writers today, and a lot of experts willing to help. I'd also encourage people to keep reading. In our technologically saturated day and age, it's easy to get out of the habit. Reading is something that is
“We've been through so many difficult times in Texas in the last 18 years — floods, wildfires and tornadoes, to name a few. I am always amazed at how people come together to help one another, and we always come away humbled by all that people do for one another.”
Though Chapman has been fortunate to hit all the bestseller lists including USA Today, the New York Times and Publishers Weekly, and won numerous awards including first place in the 2024 Daphne Du Mauer Award for Excellence in Mystery/ Suspense, she is most proud when she receives correspondence from readers telling her how a story helped them through a rough patch.
"Readers have told me that my books helped them find their faith again, reminded them to reach out to friends, and encouraged them to believe in what they were able to accomplish,” Chapman said. “Those types of letters are a bit intimidating to me, as I think of myself as simply telling a story, but if that story can help someone through a tough time in their life, I'm grateful for that."
Chapman plans to continue writing two books a year while teaching high school English full time, but enjoys the challenge of both. She plans to release two cozy mysteries and a women's fiction title in 2026.
Website: www.vannettachapman.com
Martial Arts Champs
COVE TEENS MEDAL IN WORLD COMPETITION
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photo by BECKY STINEHOUR
Under the bright lights of the World Martial Arts Games Committee World Games in Oslo, Norway, two young martial artists from Copperas Cove stood toe-to-toe with the world’s best — and proved they belonged on the international stage, earning silver and bronze medals to bring back home to Central Texas.
Rodney Phillips and Zachary Phillips represented the United States as part of the U.S. Martial Arts Team after undergoing a rigorous national selection process in which only the country’s top athletes qualify. Their journey to the Word Games was long and intensely competitive — making their results all the more impressive.
“Getting to the World Games is a long and demanding process,” explained Sensei Ron Phillips, owner of FC Iron Dojo in Copperas Cove and the boys’ coach. “Competitors must qualify through national-level events here in the U.S. Only top athletes are selected to join the U.S. Martial Arts Team. From there, training intensifies, because the World Games bring together elite martial artists from around the world. Simply earning a place on that team is a major accomplishment.”
The two teens said it was exciting to represent the U.S. and are proud they gave it their all.
While many people initially believe the teens are brothers, 13-year-old Zachary is actually Rodney’s uncle, despite being two years younger than him.
“Most people assume they’re brothers,” Phillips said. “They’ve lived together for all of Zachary’s life, so they really do act like brothers.”
Rodney said he’s been training in martial arts for most of his life. While the 15-year-old enjoys the competition aspect, he loves that martial arts help him stay disciplined and confident. It also doesn’t hurt to have someone alongside him to train.
“I started training when I was very young,” Zachary said. “I looked up to Rodney, and training with him motivates me every day.”
Rodney delivered a standout performance in
Oslo, earning a silver medal in Point Sparring and a second silver in Individual Kata. In fact, his Kata score was tied for gold.
“He actually tied for the gold medal in Kata — the score was exactly the same,” Phillips said. “But due to the WMAGC’s tie-breaking method, he was ultimately awarded silver.”
During matches, Rodney said his approach was all about control and precision.
“I focused on staying calm, keeping good form, and using everything I’ve trained for.”
Zachary brought home a bronze medal in Continuous Sparring, winning the medal match in a dramatic showdown — against Rodney. The moment perfectly captured the competitive spirit between the two.
“I tried to block out everything except the match,” Rodney said. “You have to stay sharp and trust your training.”
When the winners were announced and they realized they both received medals, the impact of everything they had worked so far for really hit home for the young men.
“I felt proud and grateful,” Rodney said. “Tying for gold in Kata and earning two silvers showed me how far I’ve come and how much more I can do.”
Zachary called his moment unforgettable.
“Winning a bronze medal at an international event felt amazing, especially because of the level of competition.”
Watching from the sidelines, Phillips experienced every moment alongside them, feeling all the excitement and nervousness that comes with competition.
“You watch them step up against world-class competitors, and you just want them to give their best. Every round is intense, but seeing them execute what they’ve trained for is an unforgettable experience. It’s incredibly rewarding,” he said. “As a coach, you want to see your students reach their full potential. As a family member, it hits even
deeper. Watching them step onto an international stage representing the United States fills you with pride, gratitude and admiration for their dedication.”
FC Iron Dojo has been part of the Copperas Cove community for several years, offering programs for kids, teens and adults, and is currently accepting new students of all ages. The familyfocused dojo teaches traditional martial arts, selfdefense, sparring, Kata and weapons, along with an after-school program, helping every student grow mentally, physically and emotionally.
Despite their international success, both
competitors are already focused on what comes next, and both young men have their eyes set on a gold medal.
“(I want) to keep improving, compete at even higher levels, and go for gold next time,” Rodney said, with Zachary echoing his ambition. “To continue training, return to international competition, and one day win gold for the USA.”
With medals earned, lessons learned, and an unwavering support system behind them, Rodney and Zachary Phillips have proven that world-class talent can come from a small-town dojo — and that their journey is just beginning.
Zachary Phillips, left, and Rodney Phillips took home silver and bronze medals in the World Games.
Save for Summer Vacation
Preplanning for summer vacation is always fun to do, however, it can also be daunting because the cost of planning a vacation can be high. The good news is that you have time to look for deals.
First, think of what your budget looks like. Consider having an emergency budget as well. Create an email address strictly for family vacations to track digital purchases and confirmations. This will keep all your vacation correspondences in one email, instead of having it mixed in with your personal or work emails. Create a fun name such as JohnsonFamilyVacation@gmail.com or TheTuckersTrip@yahoo.com. When selecting a place to stay, look at hotels and their amenities, Airbnb, VRBO and local rental companies. I do find that rental companies are cheaper and often offer discounts, such as military, first responder, AARP and educator discounts.
While it’s part of the experience to visit local restaurants, saving money on meals also means having a kitchen in the place you are staying. I preplan my grocery list, order for curbside pickup at Walmart and prepare meals for the family during the stay. The Walmart+ program offers cash back on select grocery items and I also use Ibotta (referral code OBWG) so that helps me save money. If you review the restaurants you want to eat at, go to their website about three weeks before you leave and sign up for special offers (don’t forget to use the family vacation email to sign up). You may receive discounts. Every little bit helps!
When I was planning our family vacation to South Padre Island last year, I started to look at VRBO and Airbnbs. Those listings have the name of the person or company in charge of those rentals. So, I search those companies’ names and they had their own websites with exact listings. I discovered the prices were cheaper and they offered discounts. They also had discounts on golf carts, which we needed. What was super nice is that we were directly in contact with the company and we had employees who assisted us during our
vacation. It made our experience more favorable. If I obtained a rental through VRBO and had an issue, most likely, I would have to utilize the VRBO website to contact the rental company. The idea of dealing with a middleman would definitely cause a delay and personally, an annoying experience for me.
Join Facebook and Instagram pages of the area you are visiting. Review their posts, read comments and ask questions. You’ll get the best source of information from the locals. You’ll be familiarized with what’s happening, what’s coming up, what places to check out (or avoid), and tips and tricks. If you want a quiet relaxing week with the family, it’s important to find out if there’s any big events or festivities happening the week you are going to be there. You don’t want to be sabotaged by large crowds, loud noises and music.
Contact the chamber of commerce for the area. This is another resource that is undervalued. Check out their website and social media. Their information should be treated as gold. Most chamber offices have a large array of brochures with information, including discounts. If you have specifics on what you want to do or go see, they can provide insights and suggestions. With the details offered, you will be able to research online and purchase with the discounts.
If you are flying, book your flights as soon as possible. Use discount airline websites to compare prices, such as Expedia, Kayak and Priceline. One of the benefits of using these websites is that if there’s a cancellation or an overbooked flight, the travel agents can review all the carriers and find you the next flight out. From experience, this is something I value. If you are like me, an anxious traveler, you’ll need an agent to help you find options.
If you are military and leaving your vehicle at the airport, check your departing airport to see if they offer free or discounted parking. Austin Bergstrom International offers free parking up to five days. Go to the website for more information to see if you qualify.
If you are driving, use Gasbuddy or the Walmart+ app to help you save money on gas. There are other gasoline companies such as Exxon
JENNISE VENTURA
Mobil and Chevron Texaco that have a rewards program. Depending on the drive, plan out the road trips based on where these are located so
you can save at each stop. Finally, don’t forget to relax and enjoy your much-deserved vacation.
SCENE: CHROME & CAROLS
Photos by JANE GIBSON 2 3
1. Event organizers and guests pose for a fun photos during the 2025 Chrome & Carols Festival of Trees at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center.
2. A festive tree with tools and workshop equipment is one of dozens auctioned during the event, which supports the United Way of Central Texas.
3. Party-goers pose for a photo in front of one of the trees.
