Features

My journey this week took me to Redwood Baptist Church; the Sunday message on Thanksgiving was preached by the Associate Pastor, Michael Johnson. Johnson is a graduate of Texas A&M Kingsville, and retired from The Community Action, Inc, of Hays, Caldwell and Blanco Counties. He has experience in benevolence with a diverse population through his volunteer work for Hays County Salvation Army. His intense study of the Scriptures has blessed his ministry.

As warm weather slowly turns cold, certain dishes that don’t make much sense serving during the summer start to sound more appealing. Potpie is one such dish. Cooks who want to try something new with potpie can try the following recipe for “Tortellini & Pancetta Potpie” from Elinor Klivans’ “Potpies: Yumminess in a Dish” (Chronicle Books).

There has been a storm brewing in the Eastern United States and it is one that will prove to beautify Central Texas landscapes for years to come. The Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in Mills River, N.C. are already horticultural heroes of sorts through their breeding. Proven Winners, through their production and marketing, are now bringing the landscape the Double Take Storm flowering quinces with the most shocking blooms you ever imagined. Flowering quinces have a long history in Central Texas and these Double Take selections. Scarlet Storm, Peach Storm, Pink Storm and Orange Storm are perfect for fall or spring planting. They are all double flowered and will cause you to first think camellia.

Graham Reynolds has built a career on improvising interesting connections with sound. With his unique composition style, he has written the musical scores for dozens of wellknown films, TV shows and plays, including Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly and Before Midnight, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Reynolds also leads the experimental jazz based band, the Golden Arm Trio, and participates in a number of other collaborative composerled musical ventures in the area to cultivate and support Austin’s own unique sound.