“Reaching for Grace” summary: After a vagrant upbringing, free-spirited Wren Atwood’s lifelong dream is coming true, with a little blue house to call her own. But when a hurricane hits the Texas coast, everything changes. Daugherty’s debut novel, “Outside of Grace,” was an Amazon Best Seller.
Book cover from Black Rose Writing
Author Anna Daugherty
San Marcos resident Anna Daugherty was visiting family in Houston when Hurricane Harvey hit. After witnessing the catastrophic floods that devastated thousands of homes and businesses, Daugherty knew she would one day write about the experience.
Dear Readers, Boas Festas! It’s the celebration of São João (St. John the Baptist) in the north of Portugal, and I couldn’t be more excited to join in the revelry. Last year, I had been looking forward to this big day because it was THE thing that everyone told me I needed to see. It’s basically the biggest holiday of the year, but I was forced to return home to fight through the triple-digit heat and multiple court appearances, hoping that justice would prevail and allow my children to be reunited with me at my home in Portugal.
House plants purify the air of indoor environments, including workspaces and enclosed patios like the one above. A microbe found in the soil releases cytokines, which enable the human brain to produce serotonin.
Photos by Celeste Cook
A multitude of house plants beautify the stark rock walls of Leap Castle in Ireland.
Spaghetti squash seedlings sprout in a container kept on a kitchen cabinet.
Growing a healthy indoor garden... with science
MOVIES AND MUSIC
There’s an event tonight that combines two of my favorite things. There is a June Dive-in Movie at James Adkins Pool, located at 1100 West Center Street in Kyle. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the movie starts at 7:30 p.m. The movie selection is a cute one — Finding Dory. There will also be raffle prizes, outdoor games and family fun. Registration is required due to capacity limits. Adults pay $7 and $5 for kids. Attendees can register at TeamSideline.com/Kyle. My other event is also for today. Downtown San Marcos is hosting Make Music Day on the Hays County Historic Courthouse lawn, which is filled with events for the whole family. There is a baby and toddlers class at 9 a.m. There are violin and fiddle lessons for kids ages nine and older at 10 a.m. There is an open jam session from 12 to 3 p.m. Guitar lessons are at 3 p.m., instrumental workshops at 4 to 6 p.m. and an open jam finale at 6 p.m.
LOVING TO LEARN
Nature versus nurture.
It’s an age old debate that I promise I won’t end today, but as the father of two young children, I often wonder just how much influence I have over their growth into adulthood. As with most of life, I’m sure the answer isn’t one side or the other but rather somewhere in the middle.
One of the challenges of being a parent is determining how to teach your children the types of things you value the most. I hope I am able to inspire a love of learning in my children, although I think they may have been born with that innate sense of wonder that leads to a life of leaning. Still, I try and find ways to encourage that wonder and curiosity by making learning fun. This weekend, that will be pretty easy with the Seasons of Science Free Kid Craft event that is being hosted at Roughhouse Brewing on the outskirts of San Marcos. The Texas State Biology Department has put together a free day of crafts, games and environmental science for kids with the Texas State Seasons of Science team. There will be science-oriented freebies and lessons about eco-friendly habits. They’ve also got a fun little playground at the facility and if you need to pass the time with a drink, Roughhouse is a great place to wet your whistle. It runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday this weekend.
Also, if your kids are into sports, First Lockhart National Bank on Hunter Road is having a Back to School Bash on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. There will be Texas State football players on hand giving out free backpacks and signing autographs in addition to games, food, music and more.
KEEP YOUR PETS OUT OF THE SHELTER
For those of you with pets of all shapes and sizes, PALS is hosting a low-cost Vaccine and Microchip Clinic at 215 W. San Antonio St. on June 22nd - no appointment needed! From 9 a.m.-12 p.m., you can ensure your best friend is taken care of and up to date on their essential vaccinations. Pets are a massive responsibility, and as a pet owner myself, I know it can be a challenge to find time or the opportunity to make sure you’ve checked all their boxes. Through PALS, it couldn’t be easier! Microchipping your pet goes a long way in terms of ensuring their safety, and helping out your local shelter. According to the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, 117 animals entered their shelter last week alone - do your part in making sure lost pets always find their way back home. In addition, protecting my puppy, Lucky, from potential illnesses through vaccinations is a priority that I’m glad to not have dismissed. Look out for the safety and security of your animals - PALS will be immensely grateful for your support! For more information on the “when” and “how” of this event, visit their Facebook page or website at preventalitter.com.
Seen from the Leap of Faith zipline, participants can see the full panorama of Lake Travis and the dock where the boats disembark.
Photo by Celeste Cook
Parker Dumas and LTZA tour guide Jessie Chiella set up a forced perspective shot from one of the LTZA ziplines.
A concession stand with drinks and light refreshments awaits zipliners at the end.
LTZA supplies water throughout the hike.
Photo submitted by LTZA
High fives across the sky: Participants on a Lake Travis Zipline Adventures tour beckon to each other as they take the platform.
Photos submitted by LTZA
Add some zip to a summer day trip with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Texas Performing Arts will host a performance of Branford Marsalis with the UT Jazz Orchestra at Bates Recital Hall, Friday Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and the Branford Marsalis Quartet at The Mansion, Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. In the SMTXLife story titled “TPA releases all new 24-25 season lineup,” we listed Chris Thile as a featured performer for the TPA season. Due to scheduling conflicts, Thile is not able to participate. The Record regrets the error. For information about the season lineup, visit the website at texasperformingarts.org.
Photo submitted by TPA
Texas Performing Arts to welcome Branford Marsalis Quartet
Photo submitted by LTZA
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures will host #LTZAgives with 100% of all tours booked on Tuesday, June 18 benefiting Alzheimer’s Association Capital of Texas Chapter. Typically closed on a Tuesday, patrons can schedule a tour for this special fundraiser by selecting “Charity Tour” when booking online at ziplaketravis. com.
UNITY AND BUBBLES
Saturday at 9 a.m. (setup at 8:30 a.m.) is the annual Juneteenth unity walk that starts at the crossroads of MLK Dr and LBJ Drive (in the parking lot of Industry and Gus’ Fried Chicken). The walk goes through the historic district and ends at the WIllie Mae Mitchell Center, located at 715 Valley Street. Make sure you wear sunscreen and hydrate well beforehand because it will be hot. Though last year, they had a golf cart riding with the walk that had a lot of cold water bottles in the back. Afterwards, stay for the Juneteenth BBQ cookoff festivities that will be going on at the Mitchell Center. Also on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hays County Historic Courthouse on the square will be Bubble Fest hosted by Downtown SMTX. There will be free bubble play with the Bubble Wranglers, bubble entertainment by the Ambient Bubble Artist, a bubble dance party, a cool zone for a break from the heat, local vendors and music by DJ Alpha.
FIESTA SAN MARCOS
Live music, outside, in the park along the river. In Texas, or at least around these parts influenced by the Live Music Capital of the World, it means summer.
The inaugural Fiesta San Marcos will be held at San Marcos Plaza Park on Saturday with five Tejano musical groups. There will be more than 20 food booths, vendors, arts and crafts and more.
The new Fiesta celebration is hosted by AJ Castillo, who from Austin, and has a long history of success in the music business. Castillo was named the Tejano All Star Music Awards Male Entertainer of the Year in 2021 and was featured on Juan Treviño’s “Siempre Es Asi,” which won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Regional Song in 2017. He is known for his unique accordion sound and style.
The Fiesta also features Jaime De Anda, Mike Gonzalez and the Iconiczz, Los Desperadoz and Da Krazy Pimpz and is held in partnership with the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce.
The event takes place, rain or shine, on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are on pre-sale for $25 online at fiestasanmarcos. org.
PADDLEBOARDING ON SPRING LAKE
I love the outdoors, and I like water. It’s one of the reasons San Marcos is my home, because there is no place on earth where I can enjoy being with nature on the best river in the world. That is why I want to check out the Spring Lake Stand-Up Paddle Tours.
Having a rare opportunity to be out in the water on Spring Lake, this tour is a chance to experience the heart of the San Marcos River.
It’s one thing to see Spring Lake from the land, but another all together to see it from the Glass Bottom Boat Tours.
To be on the water at Spring Lake on a paddle board and have a rare opportunity to see what makes the San Marcos River flow from a different perspective is too good to pass up.
Without the need of scuba equipment, it will be the closest you can get to Spring Lake.
However if you want to sign up for the tour, you need to sign up quickly as these tours get popular from time to time and have limited spots available. You can sign up at meadowscenter.txst.edu/education/eco-adventures. html.
The San Marcos Daily Record staff gives recommendations on what to do in our community
(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666
