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Christmas Cactus

By
Cary Sims
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When I think of a potted plant for the Christmas holidays, I first think of the poinsettia.  We’ll buy one, then let it die, and buy another one next year.

But another potted plant that folks don’t let perish is the Christmas cactus, known scientifically as Schlumbergera.

Originating from coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil near the Atlantic Ocean, this sub-species of cactus grows in a region which is generally relatively cool, shaded and has high humidity. 

Historical records state that it was cultivated in Europe 200 years ago in 1818. They were in the first greenhouses and prized for their fall and winter blooms. By 1852, they had fallen out of favor and most cultivars were lost.

But starting in the 1950’s, breeding resumed in North America, Europe and even Australia and New Zealand.  Without going into extensive progeny and cultivar selections, there are four main cultivar groups in use today. 

The flowers range in color from red, yellow, salmon, pink, fuchsia, and white or combinations of those colors.

If you are given a Christmas Cactus, place it in a sunny location indoors. A north or east window gives the ideal light. If you want to grow it indoors in a south or west window, be sure that it gets some shade, even if is from the blinds.

Christmas cactus is easy to grow for most.  The complaints often center on getting it to bloom again. Although warm temperatures are good during the growing season, cool temperatures are important for flowering. Visiting with my mom over Thanksgiving, I noticed hers was blooming.  

Christmas Cactus is a succulent plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in the leaves. However, it is not completely drought tolerant. Water well when the top half of the growing mix feels dry to the touch.

Christmas cactus can be moved outdoors in summer onto a porch or patio but should be kept in a partial to full shaded area. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. When fall arrives in September, move the plant indoors after making sure no insects are tagging along.

For the fall, place the Christmas cactus in a sunny location. High light intensity is important to flower development.

From October on, keep the plant where temperatures are between 60 to 65 degrees. Keep Christmas cacti away from heat vents, fireplaces, or other sources of hot air. If temperatures remain in this range for a period of six weeks, flower buds will develop.

Once buds form, keep Christmas cactus in the medium to high light it likes and normal home temperatures. When the top of the growing mix dries, water to keep the plant evenly moist. Fertilize Christmas cactus every other week with a half rate of liquid houseplant fertilizer.

Plants that appear unhealthy can be repotted any time of year. Follow up by applying half the recommended rate of a liquid houseplant fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks.

Lastly, Christmas cactus is relatively easy to propagate in the warmer months of the year and can be a plant that is passed along to others during the holiday season. 

Dancing With Dinos (Angelina County)

By
Rozalin Martin
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Bring your date out to enjoy the Naranjo Museum of Natural History’s Annual Gala, Dancing with Dinos. Enjoy a night out with dinner with great food catered by Tome, an open bar, music by Amplified Entertainment, and dancing.

Tickets can be purchased at the Naranjo Museum, on Eventbrite, or by contacting museum manager Chloe Morrell at chloe@naranjomuseum.org.

Great Ways to Encourage Imagination During Playtime

By
Statepoint
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There’s no better time than playtime to encourage an active imagination. Here are a few ways to bring more inventiveness into the fun.

Introduce Toys

Look for toys that allow kids to imagine themselves in new roles and scenarios. For example, little ones can transform into super-duper, fixer-uppers with toys that allow children to “fix” things.

For kids who may have watched older siblings and friends get their game on, another fun toy could be one that allows kids to learn about animals or words. This turns the child’s game time into learning time safely and without worries, while giving young kids an opportunity to feel like big kid gamers.

For kids who have a passion for gardening, give them a few seeds and let them experience the wonder in taking care of something that can grow. Not only is it a good way to teach responsibility, it can also be a good coping mechanism.

Use Creative Prompts

Art is one of the best avenues for the imagination to run free. And when it comes to different forms of art, the sky is limit. Encourage kids to create music, poems, stories, paintings and plays. Feeling stumped? Give them prompts to get them started. Here are a few to try:

• Paint a picture of a beautiful place you want to go.

• Draw a picture of your favorite animal.

• Tell me a story about a kid and their dog.

• Paint a picture of the way you are feeling right now.

• Put on a play about two friends who are lost and trying to find their way home.

With fun role-playing toys and a bit of resourcefulness, you can make the most of playtime by letting imaginations run wild.

Volunteers Help Spread Holiday Hope

By
Larry Waldorp
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Community Donors Help Salvation Army Distribute Gifts to Children in Need

Giving gifts is one of, if not the most defining thing of the Christmas season. But many times, those who go without much get left behind. What the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program has shown through their generous giving is that love is the greatest way to inspire change. Giving to everyone, including those in need, spreads a lot of that love around.

The Salvation Army partnered with various donors to provide gifts to those in need in East Texas as part of their Angel Tree program on Dec. 21, 2022, at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin, Texas.

“It helps provide clothing, toys, food, and even gift certificates to countless families,” said Jennifer Phillips, Captain of Salvation Army Lufkin. 

Captain Jennifer Phillips pauses for a photo-op between helping volunteers during gift distribution on Wed., Dec. 21, 2022.

There were thousands of gifts to give out and they helped over 850 kids this year. The Angel Tree Program also provides day shelters, which equip the homeless with hygiene kits, showers, hot meals, and also vouchers, which they give through grocery stores to aid those in need.

Rachel Collins, Branch Manager for the East Texas Food Bank at the Deep East Texas Resource Center, said “It is great because it serves as a one-stop shop so that people won’t have to go to different places for different items and gifts.” 

The East Texas Food Bank participated in providing fresh produce and canned foods. Collins also says that this is a community that rallies around the needy.

“We want them to know that they are loved, that we are going to meet them right where they are in life, and that we’ll be happy to do so,” said Collins. “I encourage anyone who is in need to reach out because the resources are here and we’d like to help them overcome their troubles.”

Pastor Jerome Brimmage of First United Methodist Church is another volunteer, who gave out candy canes to help lighten the mood and get in the Christmas spirit. He thinks that volunteering with the Salvation Army is a very powerful way to send a loving message to society as a whole and bases this opportunity on what he believes Jesus taught in the Scriptures.

“Jesus was all about loving God and loving your neighbor. People need to realize that this gift of presents and food is not just a gift, it’s a blessing,” said Pastor Brimmage.

Pastor Jerome Brimmage, left, takes a break from volunteering to speak with TFCL writer Larry Wardlaw Jr.

To sweeten all the blessings, there were even donors from local Christian radio station KSWP 90.9. Sarina Dowlearn, Promotions and Community Outreach Coordinator for KSWP says that “it is the most conspicuous way to spread hope.” She and others with the radio station were passing out stadium cups and offering prayer to those picking up Angel Tree gifts.

“If one wants to really show who Jesus is, simply just spread love, and this is one of the ways to show it,” said Dowlearn.

To find out more about the Salvation Army or to partner with them to help those in need in our community, please visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/lufkin/

DIY Snowflakes To Cure Boredom

By
Bee Martinez
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With Christmas just around the corner, it would be fun to do some crafts. I’ve actually never made a paper snowflake so this will be an experience for me as well as for some of you. Come and learn with me!

When you get a piece of paper you’ll have to fold it into a potential square and cut off the excess as shown in the picture.

Once you’ve taken care of the waste, you’ll fold the paper into a smaller triangle and fold the left corner upwards to the middle of the long end of the paper.

Then you will fold the other half and line it up. After lining it up, you will then cut off the points so that it makes the shape of a cone.

You will then outline what you would like the snowflake to be and cut off what you don’t want.

And voila! Now you have a beautiful snowflake to put on your wall, door, ceiling, or wherever you want!

Thinking back on how difficult this was, I would say for a small brainer such as myself, it’s relatively easy until you think about all those other difficult patterns you could do. All together, this was a fun project that I would 100% do again and I hope you will consider making more as well!

If you think you’re a prodigy at making snowflakes then consider checking out these complicated designs! I know I will.

Roadrunner Baseball Signs Hudson Standout Turner Lefty Hurler to Join Angelina College in Fall of 2023

By
Gary Stallard
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When Hudson High School pitcher Colby Turner has his best stuff going for him on the mound, he’s extremely hard to beat.

On the days when he doesn’t particularly have his best stuff – he’s still very hard to beat.

The Hornet lefty head coach Glen Kimble calls “a true competitor” finds a way to gut his way through every outing. As a junior in 2022, he led the Hornet pitching staff in innings pitched (74.2) and strikeouts (119) while posting a miniscule 1.97 ERA. That following a stellar sophomore season that saw Turner strike out 27 hitters in 18 innings pitched to finish with a 1.17 ERA.

While his numbers certainly speak for themselves, it was his overall will to win that caught the eye of Angelina College head baseball head coach Jeff Livin, and on Tuesday, Turner signed his letter of intent to join the Roadrunners in the fall of 2023.

“He’s a lefty, which is always a plus,” Livin said on Tuesday. “He throws strikes, he has great stuff and he competes. He’s physical with a lot of projectability – all the things we’re looking for in a player. He’s coming from a great program.

“Obviously, we think he has a chance to compete for a spot in our starting rotation at some point.”

Turner said his decision to become a Roadrunner??

“I’m a homebody, and I like the idea of playing near home for at least another couple of years,” Turner said. “I’m familiar with the AC program and Coach Livin, and I’m looking forward to being part of it.”

Heading into his senior year, Turner credited Hornet head coach Glen Kimble with his development.

“He really taught me how to pitch, and not just to throw,” Turner said. “How to learn new pitches and how to work my way through situations.”

Turner plans to major in Business, and said his goal is to continue his academic and athletic careers at a university after his time at Angelina College.

He’s the son of Carolyn Divins and Tory Turner.

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Making the Perfect Sugar Cookies

By
Misty Boggs
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Any time I’ve set out to decorate sugar cookies with my niece and nephew at the holidays, two things stand in my way. My expectations for how this baking session is going to go down and All. The. Details.

Let’s just say thinking through the process is not a strong suit of mine. Its been a carefully fought and very uphill battle of mine over the years, but through that I’ve learned a few things that I’d like to share with you. And we’ve thrown in some helpful suggestions for making the sugar cookie decorating process a whole lot easier.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

Let’s start with the dough. It’s the foundation for the icing, which is definitely the star of the show. If the dough isn’t strong enough to withstand being held, dipped, and transferred to the cookie tray, there will be nothing to decorate later on. Or it will crumble in the royal icing. Or make the perfect little munchy bites. Just saying.

The pros at Wilton have an easy and straightforward recipe that even comes with their notes on baking the perfect sugar cookie. This list includes reminders to not overmix the dough, really easy solutions to getting the perfect cookie thickness, and dipping cookie cutters in flour before pressing it into the dough. You can check out the recipe and the notes on their blog by clicking here. There’s even a video for the visual learners!

Hani at Hanielas.com shares even more tips and tricks about creating the best sugar cookie dough, and even offers vegan and gluten free options. Her recipe uses unsalted butter which may be ideal for low-sodium or no-sodium diets. Plus, there are tons of visuals mixed in with tips like knowing when the butter is actually room temperature. Be sure to check out her ideas on decorating without icing, too!

Taking the time to lay a solid foundation is so important. In baking and in life, I am often tempted to skip a step or rush ahead, thinking I know or understand what to do. When I take time to follow the process and let it do what its supposed to do, moving forward is a whole lot easier. Of course, there is a solution out there for my fellow rule-breakers and step-skippers. Store bought is okay, too. Some things are just better left to the pros. Not to mention the time saved on clean-up and ingredients.

Priorities, baby. Priorities.

ICING THE COOKIE

Now that we’ve got the foundation, let’s move on to icing those sugar cookies. Keep this handy little guide from A Little Knick A Little Nack on a Pinterest board. Its literally a one-stop wonder of all the things you will need for icing right down to a visual guide for the consistency of the royal icing. Yep, its true what they say. Consistency is key. There is also a link to their fool-proof icing recipe. Looking for one without meringue powder? Try this one from realhousemoms.com. Easy peesy, piping bag squeezy.

From here, the options are limited only by imagination. Candy canes, wreaths, stars, and Christmas trees galore are available on Pinterest. Pick a few and try them yourself or gather the kids around see what designs they create. For the wee little ones, you can try this marble dipping method. Messy? Yep, but the end result is worth it.

Kinda like life.

Got a topic, recipe, or how-to you’d like us to share? We’d love to hear about it! Drop us a line at info@texasforestcountryliving.com.

Holiday Events Popping Up Across the Pineywoods

By
Misty Boggs
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It’s that beautiful time of year.

Twinkling lights, candy canes, Christmas trees, and little angels fresh out of school for holiday break.

The nights are longer now and its gotten a little (okay, a LOT) cooler here in the Pineywoods of deep east Texas. With visions of tantrums and endless questions dancing in their minds, parents of children in our twelve counties may be asking themselves, “What do we do now?”

We’ve put together a list of events and activities from around the area that may be able to help alleviate a little of that stress while giving you time to reconnect with your family and create new holiday memories.

Lufkin/Angelina County

  • Kurth Memorial Library is offering craft and story times for children (and adults) of all ages. You can check out their calendar here for dates and times. There’s even an adult crafternoon!
  • Hudson Trail of Lights is open Fridays, Saturdays, and some Sundays now through Christmas. Its free and donations help support the Hudson volunteer fire department. Grab the hot chocolate for this one and set Spotify to Christmas tunes for this one!
  • Ice Skating in the Pines is happening now through Jan. 8 in the Angelina Room at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center. The 45-minute sessions begin at 5pm and doors close at 10pm. Check out their web page to book your session, find out important information, and when you and your kiddos can get pictures with Santa.
  • Catch the drive-thru Nativity this weekend at First Christian Church. Carolers, Santa, and the story of the birth of Jesus will be on display from 6-8pm on Dec. 17 and admission is free.

Nacogdoches

  • The Lamp-Lite Theater is presenting ‘A Christmas Special’ on Dec. 16 and again on the 17th with a special guest from Santa AND Mrs. Claus. You can find show times and ticket prices on their website.
  • Want dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus? Join them from 6-8pm at Peking Restaurant in Nacogdoches on Dec. 16. You can find more information here.

Livingston

  • Livingston First United Methodist will perform A Texas Christmas Carol Dec. 16, 17, and 18. Doors open at 6:30pm on the 16th and 17th, and at 3pm on the 18th. You can find out more information on their web page.

Know of an event not listed above? Reach out to us at info@texasforestcountryliving.com and let us know! We’d love to add it to our list.

Angelina College Releases Fall 2022 Dean’s List

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College officials and faculty members are pleased to release the names of 178 students named to the Dean’s Honor List for the Fall 2022 semester.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must have enrolled in at least 12 semester hours of college-level work and have attained a grade point average of 3.5 with no grade lower than a “C”.

The names of students who make the Dean’s Honor Lists are posted at the end of each long semester.

Following is the list of recognized students divided by town or city of residency.

Abilene:

Jaxon Hansen.

Alto:

Coty Allen, Rhett Black and Olivia Low.

Austin:

Jack Brinson.

Bellville:

Isaac Yuna.

Brenham:

Hayden Hupe.

Broaddus:

Ireland Reynolds.

Center:

Nichole Morrison.

Campbelltown, New South Wales:

Mia Gilmore.

Chapel Hill:

Parker Mason.

Chester:

Kaitlyn Clack, Susanna Olbrych and Garren Toler.

Cleveland:

Ashley Suttle.

Clute:

Damian Leal.

College Station:

Christian Letendre.

Colmesneil:

Phillip Ryan.

Crockett:

Ryan Arvizu, Wendy Carcamo, Alonzo Cervantes, Brian Fiolek, Mayra Martinez, Isaac Perez and Matthew Wheeler.

Cushing:

Bradi Bradshaw and Bethany Dawson.

Cypress:

Jose Bojorquez Huerta, James Cromer.

Cyprus (Lefkoshia):

Georgios Theodoulidis.

Diboll:

Victor Arreola, Breahna Cordova, Edward Danini, Jaime Franco, Aracely Gonzalez, Olivia Havard, Alivia Jackson, M’lisa Loving, Mayra Medina, Kody Owens, Anna Romero, Tanya Scott, Rafael Sepulveda, Tyra Stewart and Coral Tamez.

Eagle Pass:

Magaly Huerta.

Evadale:

Klay Sylvester.

Fort Polk, LA:

Joshua Longendyke.

Garrison:

Madison Owens.

Grapeland:

Marley Duhon.

Hemphill:

Analuisa Cisneros and Justin Simpson.

Houston:

Elian Balmaceda, Tatyanna Guzman and Wilondja Loni.

Huntington:

Kelton Sanderson.

Huntsville:

Risper Nyabicha.

Jasper:

Haley Primrose, Martha Segura and Daniel Wade.

Kennard:

Ava Barclay, Emma McMullen, Kaydence Northcutt and Nicholas Pennington.

Lufkin:

Sarah Ackley, Cassidy Adams, Ezequiel Alanis, Kayla Allen-Torres, Giselle Anaya, Jaelah Bennett, Justin Black, Sydney Blanton, Stuart Brimmage, Jessica Brockett, Tommy Butler, Julia Cabrera, Devin Capps, Jorge Cervantes, Ian Cox, Kayley Daniels, Leah Davis, Miguel De La Cruz, Maddux Dezern, Hunter Ditsworth, Sandra Dominguez, Jacqueline Escobedo, Jessica Escobedo, Isaac Estrada, Chad Fischer, Liberty Goins, Leah Gonzalez, Joshua Gutierrez, Mary-Beth Harbuck, Morgan Hay, Jonathan Holt, Demi Treanna Johnson, Allyson Lea, Monserrat Lopez, Zachary Lumpkin, Ashton Martin-Kibbey, Yajaira Mendoza, Marvin Mendoza-Duran, Xstacia Newton, Cy Ochoa, Jontreace Pierson, Arnold Ramirez, Crystal Reynolds, Jordan Rhodes, Paulina Rios, Mayra Rivas, Miguel Rodriguez, Luis Ruiz, Martin Salinas, Saul Santoyo, Teresita Santoyo, Logan Taylor, Cecilia Vallejo, Parker Winthrop, Alicia Zavala and Jonathan Zuniga.

Livingston:

Jennifer Altom, Miles Burkhardt, Ashley Fletcher, Kara Gardner, Billy Lewis, Shakel Sykes, Gavin Tardy and Jorge Trejo.

Magnolia:

Mason Swidersky.

Moscow:

Natalya Soto.

Montgomery:

Weston Dean.

Nacogdoches:

Daniel Acevedo Rodriguez, Ty Baker, Crystal Ballard, David Boyer, Chelsea Brookshire, Cory Cadle, Katherine Chidester, Sydney Collins, Collin Fuller, Yuan Huang, Brittany Hutto, Morgan Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Amber Lee, Haylee Lewis, Collyn Lobb, Lorena Macias, Gabriela Martinez Noriega Llanas, Alejandro Martinez, Kendall McCollum, Israel Pedroza Flores, Angelica Pelaez, Markee Rasberry, Ashley Riley, Trey Smith, Jordan Thompson and Tyler Young.

Nederland:

Alyssa Collazo.

Onalaska:

Tamara Ernst, Annanell Franklin and Tiffany Watters.

Pollok:

Jacob Anderson, Jennifer Harkless and Kristie Wright.

Riverside:

Rebecca Stumpf.

Round Rock:

Mario Mendoza, Jr.

San Augustine:

Brenna Harvey.

Spurger:

Gabrielle Coleman.

Sugar Land:

William Krenek.

Sydney, Australia:

Madison Baker.

Trinity:

Alexander Davalos.

Wells:

Katlynn Upshaw.

Wimberly:

Matthew Tippie.

Woden:

Kennedy Bankosh

Woodville:

Paige Evans.

Zavalla:

Kennedy Peeples and Trevor Reppond.

Angelina College Releases Fall 2022 President’s List

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College officials and faculty members are pleased to release the names of 94 students named to the President’s Honor List for the Fall 2022 semester.

To qualify, students must have enrolled in at least 12 semester hours of college-level work and have attained a grade point average of 4.0.

The names of students who make the President’s Honor List are posted at the end of each long semester.

Following is the list, divided by town or city of residency, of students named to the President’s Honor List:

Alto:

Jaycie Richardson.

Apple Springs:

Ashley Contreras, Douglas Maxfield.

Coldspring:

Tate Stamper.

Crosby:

Dalton Fletcher.

Diboll:

Clarissa Alday, Sariah Cruz, Deandre Ikpe and Yanelys Pulido.

Douglass:

Savannah Bragg.

Grapeland:

Daria Konkova.

Groveton:

Hydee Drake and Rebecca Langley.

Hemphill:

Tammy Mitchell.

Houston:

Alexandra Nunez.

Hudson:

Aubraysha Lacy.

Huntington:

Hannah Matteson and Lindsey Newcomb.

Huntsville:

Lillian Lumumba.

Jasper:

Victor Romero.

Kennard:

Whitney Cole.

Kingwood:

Aliyah Bustamante and Tyler Ward.

Kirbyville:

Lilly White.

Laoag City, Philippines:

Mir Raciv T. Tayamen.

Liberty:

Dalton Mullins.

Livingston:

Robin Assuncao, Erica Baker, Jordan Charlie and Holly Lenox.

Lufkin:

Yasmine Acevedo, Anson Adams, Ajetutu Akinlade, Spencer Alexander, Alondra Almaguer, Rogelio Alvarado, Candace Barron, Abigail Bennett, Rachel Bonnin, Yadira Caldera, Kaylyn Collins, Carmeisha Davis, Susana De La Paz, Kinley Earnest, Nathan Edwards, Deondra Eleby, Shadye Forrest, Camila Garcia, Naydi Gonzales, Griselda Herrera, Simone Hunt, Just Jackson, Donald Jefferys, Jenna Jones, Kiersten Landrum, Samantha Lizarraga, Avery Maclaren, Lorenzo Mansilla, Christian Marquez, Kiarra McCloy, Jesse McLain, Alex Mendoza, Natalya Mitchell, Arianna Montoya, Luis Morales, Avery Neal, Joyce Olvera, Daphne Ortiz, Hannah Pierce, Julissa Ramirez, Pranav Rao, Jose Rojas, Adrian Roman, Emily Sanchez, Nathaly Sarmiento, Dillon Standley, Stormie Sterling, Perla Tovar, Brooke Washburn, Jacob Weibe and Alyssa Willis.

Nacogdoches:

Lucia Cruz, Makena Meador, Madysen Morrow, Kayli Samford, Addyson Williams and Stephanie Williams.

Orange:

Bailey Frenzel.

Pollok:

Kyle Coleman and Chloe Murray.

Shelbyville:

Amber Wilburn.

Sour Lake:

Landon McLeod.

Warren:

Phillip Thomas.

Zavalla:

Bailey Boulware.

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