"A Joyful Heart" is the latest creation to come out of my studio.   This is something I dreamed up a while back but it took awhile to make the dream a reality.  First I had to make a sketch so my husband could make the stickman.  Then I had to decide on what colors to use and make all the hollow glass hearts and then came the real challenge.... trying to figure out how to attach the hearts to the stickman! 

I entered this sculpture into a judged art show at work and while it didn't win any awards I am still proud of myself for being brave enough to enter a judged exhibit.  It's also a big deal because I've been blocked artistically for over a year and it really got bad this summer.  It's like everything just shut down and it was a tedious chore to work in the studio.  The block made it very hard to write blogs as well.

How did I get through the block, you ask?  Well I enrolled in an Artist's Way group, it's like a 12-step program for blocked creatives. The group has been a very powerful experience for me both spiritually and creatively and I am so glad I joined up. 

One morning, about three weeks into the program, I woke up and started watching YouTube videos of other lampworkers at work.  Sometime during the course of watching the videos the realization hit me that I haven't been having fun in my studio.  The few times I've sat at the torch to make something for a customer or a silent auction contribution were not fun.  I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to create the "perfect" vessel, the "perfect" bead set, the "perfect" whatever....

So I decided, as they say in "The Princess Bride," to go back to the beginning.  I started working with beginner techniques and basics and decided to just have fun with the process.  When I approached the studio I refused to put any expectations on my work.  I was there to have fun and create - nothing else.  I even used expensive glasses and tools I had been hoarding for when I got "really good."  I just had fun... and it was one of the best torching sessions I've had in my life.  Before I knew it, my kiln was full of little hollow hearts, all in bright, happy colors!

I didn't really grasp how big a deal my play session was until I overheard my husband telling my mom that my "playdate" was the first time in a long time he didn't hear curse words or sounds of frustration coming out of my studio.  I didn't even realize I had been vocal in the past!

I had been taking myself way too seriously and it was holding me back. So from here on out I promise to be nicer to myself and embrace the joy of creating instead of chasing perfection.

I truly believe that we are put on this earth to love, create and learn.... in that order.  (This is something I read recently and am fully embracing the philosophy.)  Being loving means I must be loving to myself as well as others.  I can't create if I don't come from a place of love. And I can't learn if I am not willing to make mistakes.  Powerful stuff, isn't it?

Movers and Shakers, 1895



Kerr County Confederate Veterans, 1895



Since childhood I've been fascinated with old photos. I love pouring over old black and white images, sometimes with a jeweler's loop, to learn more about the people and times shown.  The older the photo, the more it interests me.  In my teens, my aunt Anna Belle, then the family historian, shared her own collection of photos with me and that is when I first saw this picture.

This is one of two photos in Anna Belle's collection that I considered "mystery photos."  When I asked what the photo was she said she wasn't sure but that both of her grandfathers were in the photo.  In all fairness to Anna Belle, the photo was taken 12 years before she was born and five years before her parents were married.  She most likely inherited the image from a grandparent, with no explanation.  When A.B. knew the history of a photo, she was really good about labeling the back of the image and identifying anyone she could.

The bottom of the photo says "Kerrville Camp UCV No. 699, at Barbecue Given October 26, 1895 at Kerrville" and names Albert Glock as the photographer.  I recognized my great grandfather in the photo, along with P.M. and Richard Steagall (PM was Anna Belle's grandfather and I had photos of both him and his brother, Richard handy for comparison.)  I assumed "UCV" was a lodge, like Woodmen of the World or Odd Fellows.

It wasn't until 2 years ago when I was looking for an obituary in the October 13, 1938 issue of the Kerrville Mountain Sun that I realized what this photo was.  Right above the obituary was this photo.  The Mountain Sun published the photo, identified it as a gathering of Kerr County Confederate Veterans with a few of the people in the photo identified.  The Sun offered an award to the person who could identify the most people in the photo.

In the October 30, 1938 the winner was announced. It was A.P. Brown, the son of Joshua Brown, founder of Kerrville. "Mr. Brown, with the aid if a reading glass, was able to identify 45 persons, including those named in last week's paper."  A.P. Brown was awarded a year's subscription to the Mountain Sun. Unfortunately, the names of the men and women in the photo that Mr. Brown supplied were given in no particular order. For the last two years I've been working on correctly identifying the people in this photo.

This photo shows more than a gathering of Confederate Veterans, it is also photographic record of many of the significant figures in Kerr County history and gives the viewer a good idea of what the citizenry of Kerr County was like in 1895.  Below is a run-down of the individuals I've been able to identify so far, and a brief history of each person.  It is my hope that by publishing this photo here with my findings, others will be able to add names to those unidentified and correct me if I have any of the names wrong.  (Also, if anyone would like a high resolution - 600 dpi - copy of this photo without my identification marks added, just shoot me an e-mail and I'll be happy to share.)

Among those pictured are:

Albert Glock, Photographer  (1838 - 1923)
Mr. Glock was born in Germany and came to Texas in 1852.  At a time when most German immigrants in Central Texas were either Union sympathizers or took a pacifist role, refusing to fight, Mr. Glock served in Company C of the 1st Texas Calvary, Green's Brigade, Trans Mississippi Army. I have not been able to find much out about Mr. Glock, other than he was a professional photographer who worked mostly in Kerrville and Fredericksburg in the late 1800s. I would love to know more about this man because I imagine his story to be a fascinating one.  He was admitted to the Texas Confederate Home in Austin on March 17, 1917 and is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. 

T.M. Bradwell (1836 - 1920)
Thomas Marion Bradwell served in the 1st Gordon  Squadron, 2nd Calvary  (State Guards) and 1st (Ramsey's) Infantry, Georgia.   I have not been able to find out much about Mr. Bradwell, other than he lived on Water Street and was a farmer . He also gave several testimonies in the Mountain Sun between 1916 and 1920 about the benefits of Doan's Liver Pills and credited the medicine with curing severe back aches that kept him from sleeping at night.  His daughter, Daisy (pictured at right) was a 1901 Graduate of Tivy High School.  In 1902 she opened a school in the Turtle Creek Community and later taught high school at both Brenham and Goliad.   Mr. Bradwell is buried in the "Confederate Row" of Glen Rest Cemetery, Kerrville.

PM Steagall (1838 - 1911)
Pleasant M. Steagall served in the 23rd Infantry (Martin's Regiment), Tennessee.  P.M. and his wife Josephine came to Kerrville in 1886 from Rutherford County, TN.  They owned and operated the Steagall House Hotel near the intersection of Clay and Main Streets.  Josephine was the sister of W.V. Gregory, the original owner of the Pampell's building in Kerrville.  P.M. and Josephine are buried in Glen Rest Cemetery.  P.M's brother, Richard, must have been visiting Kerrville during the time of the veteran's reunion - he visited Kerrville often, but his home was always in Rockvale, Tennessee. Descendants of Richard still live on the Steagall homestead in Tennessee.

Hance Burney (1826-1915)
Hance McCain Burney came to Kerrville in 1852.  While I couldn't immediately find information on his service during the Civil War, he and members of his family were important figures in Kerr County history.  Mr. Burney was Kerrville's first Postmaster and served as Kerr County Judge.  He also served as president of the First National Bank of Center Point and was instrumental in establishing more than one sawmill in Kerr County.  His brother, W.D.C. Burney, was the first sherriff of Kerrville.  Hance's oldest son, Robert, served two terms as Texas senator and 22 years as district judge.  Hance Burney is buried in the Center Point Cemetery.

Note:  A.P. Brown said that another member of the Burney family, Dewitt Burney, is also in this photo but there is no indication of where he is in the photo.

William D'Estridge "Buck" Council (1846-1908)
"Buck" Council was my great grandfather.  He was born in Chatham County, North Carolina.  He served in the 35th Regiment, North Carolina.  He was injured in the shoulder at the Battle of Plymouth and had to leave service due to the injury. It was an injury that plagued him throughout his life.  After the Civil War he and his wife, Roxanna, relocated to Mississippi and eventually moved his family to Kerr County in 1890.  He purchased Sherman's Mill, between Ingram and Hunt, from the Sherman family and the family operated the mill until 1915.   Buck and Roxanna are buried at Glen Rest Cemetery in Kerrville.

 Note:  There are some WEIRD names in my family - mine included - and I sure would love to know where the name "D'Estridge" came from!!

P.A. Crenshaw (1850 - 1935)

According to Footnote.com, Pleasant Anthony Crenshaw served in the Texas Mounted Rifles during the Civil War.  He and his two brothers, Dock and Carey, came to Texas in the 1860s.  After coming to Texas, P.A. joined up with Captain Ivery's Troop.  The troop had the task of tracking down Jayhawkers, Army deserters who were stealing from and killing settlers.  He eventually settled in Kerrville in 1869, on the banks of Bear Creek.  Another record in Footnote shows that P.A. Crenshaw served in the "Indian Wars" between 1874 and 1877.  PA Crenshaw is buried in Nichols Cemetery in Ingram.

Steve McElroy (1846 - 1938)
Stephen "Uncle Steve" McElroy was born in Weakley County, Tennessee and served for two years during the Civil War.  He arrived in Kerrville on Christmas day of 1866. He was a Texas Ranger who served with Capt. Neal Coldwell, a Chisholm Trail cattle driver, wagon freighter, and farmer - A true renaissance man! He helped to build a flour mill  on the Guadalupe near the Methodist Encampment area and helped build another mill on the Medina River.  He is buried in the Center Point cemetery.







George W. Colvin (left) (1842 - 1906) and
Richard H. Colvin (1840 - 1933)
Richard Howison Colvin and George Washington Colvin were born in Virginia.  They both served in Company. A. 4th Virginia Cavalry (a.k.a.the Prince William Company).  George served as a scout under J.E.B. Stewart and was briefly held as a prisoner of war in the Old Capital Prison in Washington, DC.  They arrived in Kerr County in the 1870s.  Richard purchased land in Blanco County in 1885 and then relocated to Cochise Co, Arizona in 1911, where he is buried.  George stayed in Kerr County and lived on what is now Sidney Baker Street.  Later, he and his wife, Mollie, operated a hotel in Ingram.  George is buried in Nichols Cemetery.

Frank Moore (1833 - 1909)
In the late 1850's Francis M. "Frank" Moore came from Weakley, Tennessee to Center Point.  Frank served in the 36th Regiment Texas Cavalry, Company B (Wood's Regiment). In 1874 he enlisted with the Texas Rangers for  "duty against raiding parties of Indians."

In 1877 Captain Moore returned to his ranch in Kerr County and in 1882 he was elected Kerr County Sheriff.  He was a charter member of Rising Star Masonic Lodge No.429 in Center Point, Cattlemen's Association and the Ex-Confederate Veterans. Frank Moore is buried in the Center Point Cemetery. He was a "confirmed batchelor" who never married or had children.

David Newton Wharton (1846 -1938)
"Uncle Dave" Wharton was born in McNary County, Tennessee. In 1857, at the age of 11, he came to Kerr County and lived on the same property for the next 81 years.  He lived near Camp Verde and grew up watching the camels coming and going from the fort.  He became a freighter for the Army during the Civil War and also  served as a Frontier Ranger.  After the war he farmed his ranch in Camp Verde.  In 1936 he was placed on the Centennial Honor Roll by the Ft. Worth Star Telegram as the last living person to have seen a camel at Camp Verde.  He was also the last Kerr County citizen to receive a pension for his service during the Civil War.  Dave Wharton is buried at Wharton Cemetery.

E.A. "Doc" Steel (1838 - 1912)
Elisha Asbury Steel was born in North Carolina.  His family moved to Wilson County, Texas when he was a boy. In 1861 Doc joined the Confederate Army and served in the Frontier, Texas Regiment. He was discharged from service In 1866 and moved to Kerr County.  Where he lived in the homes of Joshua Brown and Spence Goss.  He married Matilda Skinner in 1869 and settled four miles west of Center Point, later he moved to Town Creek north of Kerrville.  Doc was elected to the office of hide and animal inspector for Kerr County in 1880 and served in the position for close to 20 years. He is buried in the Center Point Cemetery.

His daughter, Lea Steele, was the oldest of his children, born in 1877. She married late in life, moved to Midland and had no children.  She died in 1956.

James Hudspeth (1842 - 1920)
James Ayers Hudspeth was born in Neshoba, Mississippi and at some point moved to Drew County, Arkansas.  In 1861 he joined in Company B of the 2nd Arkansas Regiment.  He was discharged from service in 1863 due to "hemorhage of the lungs." He married Ann Elizabeth Smith in 1864.  They moved to Lavaca County, Texas in 1865, to Bandera County in 1872  where he served as County Treasurer and then to Kerr County in 1895.  I have not been able to find much information about his life after moving to Kerr County.  He is buried in Glen Rest Cemetery.






Others in the photo:

There are four young women in the photo that have been identified, Georgia Jones, Mary Walker, Maggie Vann and Dallas Love.  I believe these women to be the daughters of "Water Wagon" Jones,  S.G. Walker, W.W. Vann, and Jim Love - men who are reported to be in the photo but I have yet to be able to identify or research.

Others who may be in the photo (according to AP Brown)  include Pres Taylor, Sam Wellborn, Doc Norwood, DC Robinson, Jim Pruitt, Jim Horn, Joe Hollomon, HH Marshall, Steve Wray, WC Peterson, WW Wells, Wylie Hyatt, Jones Glenn, SJ Jennings, John Clark, Pete Yost, Dewitt Burney, Tom Farmer, JM Webb, WW Howell, and George Baldwin. 

If you recognize a relative in this photo, would like me to e-mail a copy to you or have information to add to anything I've gathered above, please  contact me!!

Bike as Art

Nora gets a look at one of her "sisters," currently on display at KACC

SJ Derby, an extremely talented photographer and flower arranger, is one of the artists currently on display at the art center where I work (Kerr Arts & Cultural Center, aka KACC).  Her exhibit is titled Nature's Inspirations and features what SJ calls "constructions."  Among the constructions are the giant stalk of a century plant, painted red and adorned with colorful wire and fiber nests, painted metal bedsprings arranged into modern sculpture, and a red screen door decorated with fall leaves. 

A closeup of the palm frond accents
on the wheel of the art bike. Note the
identical fins on Nora's wheel.

SJ has incorporated everything from honeycomb and weathered wood to tomato cages and gourds into her works.  It's an engaging, fun exhibit!

When the exhibit was being installed into the gallery, one of the constructions caught my particular interest.  It was an old, rusted bicycle adorned with what looks like silver painted palm fronds and silver stars.

As I studied that old bicycle (because that's what bike nuts do: study bikes, no matter what condition they're in.) some familiar features caught my eye.  The lines of the frame, the fins at the back wheel, the bracket on the headtube, even the chain ring are identical to my cruiser bike, Nora.  They're both 1963 Sears Spacliners!  The art bike is a 24" frame and Nora is a 26", but they're definitely the same year and model of bike!  Of course, when I made the discovery I had to tell EVERYONE within talking distance!

That's all I have for this afternoon! 
May the world around you continue to inspire and surprise you!
-Lanza

Queen of the Mountain!!

"Marina," my modern comfort bike at the
downtown pavilion overlooking the river.

This morning I was celebrating that I had a day off with nowhere to go, except to a friend's house to feed her cat.  I mused about taking a longer than normal weekend bike ride when Larry laughed and said, "Why don't you combine the two and ride your bike up to feed the cat?"

My initial response was "Not bloody likely!"  The reason I responded this way is that the friend's house is across town and on top of a very big hill.  Most of the rides I've taken have been on quiet neighborhood streets.  The terrain is fairly flat and if I were to be completely honest with myself, even though I've been going on progressively longer rides, I haven't been challenging myself or going outside of my comfort zone.

As I dressed for the day I decided to rise to the challenge! I hopped on my bike and  immediately discovered a flat tire!!  A pretty little brass nail had punctured the back tire and tube.  In the past I probably would have let this discovery discourage me or give me an excuse to put it off for another day.  Instead I waited while Larry patched the tube and remounted the tire. (The husband comes to the rescue once again!) In less than an hour I was back on the bike and headed uphill! 

Here's the route I took:

Map of progress



The footpath, taken on the ride home.
What a God-Send!  See the rays from heaven?
It's actually a lot steeper than it looks.



The ride is about three and a half miles one way.  Most of the ride was pleasant and uneventful, even on the busy streets I traveled. For the most part, Kerrville drivers are courteous and thoughtful towards cyclists.

Some guy in a huge water truck drove past me on Barnett Street and whistled at me.  I don't think I've ever been whistled at in my life!  The random and unexpected event made me laugh.

In one of the neighborhoods I went through there was a chihuahua who thought he was the size of a timber wolf. He materialized out of nowhere, but I easily outran his short legs and razor-sharp teeth.

The biggest challenge was THE HILL.  There were two approaches, one on Leland Street that was a straight, vertical climb; and the other on Galbraith Street, a twisty, turny narrow road with blind spots.  Neither seemed like a good idea.

I went to the base of the hill on both streets, trying to figure the best approach up the rise, when I remembered a foot path a block from Galbraith Street that went from the end of Circle Street to the top of the hill on Galbraith.  I found the path and took it, thankful for a more gradual path up the hill.  It felt so good to reach the top of that hill!  I felt like I conquered Everest!

Pywacket the Cat, hiding under a chair.
Bad quality photo from my cellphone.

Anyway, I got to the friend's house, high on accomplishment, with a face as red as my tank top.

Pywacket the Cat was unimpressed.  The cat hates me at the moment because I had to give her some cat laxative a couple of days ago for hairballs. She currently hisses and hides every time I enter the house.  So I embraced the anticlimax, cleaned the catbox, fed "Lady P" and headed home.

Going home, back down the hill, was fun! Flying downhill gives me an exhilaration that reminds me childhood.  A fast, free ride down a hill that lifts the hair off the neck never fails to make my heart leap with joy.

Both the trip up the hill and the trip back home took 30 minutes.  The round-trip was a little under 7 miles, which is not the longest trip I've made so far, but it is my most challenging.  My average speed was seven miles an hour... slow and steady (and not very likely to win a race but better than I expected). 

My next goal is a Kerrville to Ingram trip.  It's going to take some time to build up to it, but after today I am feeling very encouraged.

Have a beautiful, amazing week!

-Lanza





Tivy High School Seniors, 1935

Iris Chronis, the sister of Gene Lock (who was the original owner), gave me this wonderful photo today and I had to share. 

Tivy Seniors, 1935  (The same year the old Post Office building where I work was built)
You can click on the photo to view it at a larger size.  The handwriting on the back of this photo identifying everyone was really hard to read, so if I got someone wrong, please write me and let me know.

First Row: Marcia Jane Morris, Louis Fisher, Lucille Plumb, Ruben Zumwalt, Jean Leinweber, Cecil Londess, Moralee Jensen, Jimmie Yelvington, Laura Pelton, Frank Hatch.


Second Row: Sammie Marshall, Jonnie Stoetzner, Gene Lock, Evelyn Guthrie, Rudolph Radeleff, Doris Frances White, Doyle Nichols, Elsie Gammenthaler, Raymond Mickle, Julie Jackson

Third Row: Evelyn Littlefield, Norman Forehand, Mable Bernhard, John Spencer, Nellie Nye, Herbert Brown, Seraphina Castillo, Huling Mosty.

Fourth Row: Teddy Rothrock, Lois Butt, George “Jiggs” Leigh, Ruth Butt, Robert Smith, Edna Wolfmueller, Paxton Bollinger, Eloise Zumwalt, Spence Rogers, Melba McKay


Fifth Row: Juanita Childs, Ora Russell, Clarice Green, Ruth Smith, Vernon Sandel, Elizabeth Richards, Mildred Cotton, Juanita Long, Leona Stephens, Eloise Rutlege

Sixth Row: L.T. Davis, Jr., Rose Linstead, Imgene Merritt, Cecil Rawson, Hazel Sublett, Elizabeth Fowler, Margaret Grona, Charlotte Seeker, Geraldine Davis, J.D. Rose


One of the funny things I noticed about this photo is how it was produced.  Individual photos were pasted onto a board and then hung on a chicken wire fence to be photographed. That's a lot of work!  All we have to do is slap a bunch of images together in a program and it's ready to go.  Mr. Wheelus, who took the photo, had to get everything JUST RIGHT on that board before he snapped the photo.

More Sparkly Creations

I spent some time in my studio on Monday and here are the highlights:

Pearl and Turquoise Chip Necklace with handblown glass vessel.
I didn't like the way the glass on the vessel looked with the materials in the necklace
so I etched the vessel, giving the glass a misty appearance.  I wore it to work today and got a lot of compliments, which made my day!  I am debating on whether to keep this or sell it in the gift shop.

Bright green and deep purple perfume bottle.  This bottle was made for my friend Marsha Mefferd, an extremely talented artist. The colors of the vessel and the dots on the stopper were inspired by her artwork.  It is the first
perfume bottle I've made that I've been happy with. It stands about 3 inches tall from the top of the stopper to the bottom of the bottle.  It's a late birthday gift for Marsha .... she hasn't seen it yet.

Passion in Purple!

This is the latest vessel to come out of my studio.  The weather has finally cooled enough that working over a 1200 degree torch with a 947 degree kiln running within two feet of the work station isn't too daunting.

I am recovering from a nasty bug, so I only made three vessels this weekend.  Two in purple and one in teal.  (The teal will be posted soon).  The purple vessel above is a donation to a silent auction for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. I hope it brings them lots of big bids!

After I turned off the torch, I emerged from the studio to find out that I have friends in areas of Texas that are currently being threatened by wildfires.  I reflected briefly on how fire can be both a creative and destructive force and then I commenced to worrying about loved ones.

The east Texas neighborhood where I lived before moving back home to Kerrville was evacuated yesterday and  I have good friends in the Bastrop area who were also evacuated.  It is so difficult knowing that people I care about are in harm's way and that there's nothing I can do other than offer a safe place for them to shelter and spend time on my knees in prayer.  I guess that's where faith comes in - somewhere, in all of this mess God is in control.

Please pray for Texas and the end to this miserable drought and the destructive fires that rage across the state.