Crystal Beach Local News

Most people walking the beach are delighted to find pretty shells and sand polished beach glass. I, on the other hand, stop to inspect spiky fish bones, gnarly bits of wood and blobs of rock. It was one such rock, a treasure found in Crystal Beach, that gave birth to The Rock Man nearly six years ago. An unusual, yet familiar shape, I scooped it up and immediately saw the face of a weathered and wise man as his history raced through my imagination. It was only a head, but I knew right then I would search for, and reassemble, the rest of him. It took nearly three years of walking the same stretch of beach in front of The Seahoose, carefully inspecting all I came across that was particularly unusual or odd to find most of his parts. I say most, not all, as his evolution was interrupted by a formidable adversary, Ike, but what was not found I now know tells little of his story and is not missed.

Some finds were so extraordinary, like his boots, one foot in celebration of his female side, the other fit for combat; his look-out and life long friend; his faithful steed; his pipe which fit perfectly, and the most amazing of all, his child;  I ran home with excitement to reunite them. His journey has brought him to Houston for the time being, but it's clear in his eye he longs for the salt air and ocean sounds. I will bring him home one day soon,  when he will pass his kingdom to his beloved child completing his quest, and stand watch proudly on a deck once more.

Only one part was added after the storm, a piece of the electrical system I found on my first trip back, an homage if you will to the magical energy of lives woven together through time which had been,  and despite the horrific destruction, is once again Crystal Beach.

A design style comprised of a combination of clean lines and organic finishes that work together to create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. The color scheme is inspired by the beach and the natural environment of sun, sea and sand!

Week number 4 and I am having such a good time!  Thanks to all of you that have given me feedback, I always enjoy hearing from you.  I hope last week’s column gave you inspiration with your decorating and rebuilding here on the Peninsula.  Together we are all making this a much better place to live and creating an inviting environment for ourselves and visitors.  Congratulations to everyone that has been able to rebuild and my prayer is for all of the Beach Believers we have will be able to return someday.   That is the wonderful strength of our community!

This week the room that I chose is the epitome of Beach Chic.  This organic driftwood coffee table stands alone.  A few throw pillows with a beach theme added to any room and you have a beautiful setting that anyone will envy.  I stopped by Tropical Accents and they have a beautiful and similar table to the one I have featured here.  Driftwood accents are available everywhere and as a do it yourselfer I would make some picture frames with the beautiful pieces I find walking on the beach.  When you find the driftwood, clean it real well and then let it dry thoroughly.  Then let your imagination run wild!

This week I will show you how to make a creative and inexpensive end table for your living room or bedroom.   After finding or dusting off some old suitcases you may have forgotten in your attic, thoroughly clean the outside with a rag, soap and water.  The first step in the painting process is to prime the outside of the suitcase and all of the hardware with primer and paint.  For your finish paint choose either a high gloss or semi-gloss paint for a durable finish.  A bright white will go with most beach chic decors.  Being adventurous by painting them a bright sea color would make these real standouts and great conversation starters.

Joel Osteen’s super church is just across the ferry and down the interstate about 75 miles from where I live. I visited his church a few years ago when the Houston Rockets were center stage.  His congregation spent many millions to buy the building and then spent an additional $95 million to renovate it into a church.  Inside the arena-church there is no Christian symbolism, not even a cross. I believe that this deliberate omission for-shadowed the content of the sermons Osteen now preaches. More on that later! The “auditorium” holds 16,000 souls and is full-up on Sundays and about one quarter empty on Saturday evening according to Oprah whose program I watched to draw my thoughts...

Go to A Pastor's Thoughts

Bolivar Peninsula, Gilchrist, TX.  GPS pinpointed the fishing hot spot, electronic depth recorders located the oyster bed, impregnated lures attracted the redfish bite and a cell-phone snapped a photo then e-mailed the image to a fishing friend nearby.
 
Sport fishing today has changed "somewhat" from what it used to be. Years ago, back in the '60s to be exact, I took notice of the first portable depth sounder being advertised. It was Lowrance’s LFP-300 "Fish-LO-K-Tor", or the "little green box" as we called it. The LFP-300 was the first portable flasher type fish finder developed for personal use by sport anglers. This amazing unit began to revolutionize sport fishing techniques as we knew it and anglers who recognized this fact soon began reaping the benefits. Intrigued by this new electronic fishing device I confabbed with my fishing pals about its possibilities.

To my great surprise they had a very negative view of the contraption, warning that if I bought such a gadget they would never go fishing with me again. They were of the opinion that this "little green box" would ruin fishing as we knew it. So, after some serious thought I had my wife purchase the unit as a birthday gift. But the guise didn't work and, ALAS, they weren't fooled and refused to go fishing with me.

In a way, they were right! The new contraption DID change fishing, but in such a way as to open up a whole new world of fishing to the sport angler.

Read the rest of the story...

Judging books by their cover

By Brenda Cannon Henley

I just read a book with a dull, uninteresting cover and the name of the novel somewhat unbelievable.  "Honk and Holler Opening Soon" was a fun read with quirky characters I won't soon forget.  The book was filled with heartache aplenty, a good love story, a mother's far reaching love, a veteran's struggle, compassion bestowed on others, animal lore, and more twists and turns than a bowl of spaghetti.        

I am glad I did not follow tradition in choosing this book.  I would have missed the blessing held in its pages.  We are taught in journalism classes that the cover of a book must be engaging to sell.  If the cover doesn't attract the potential buyer, then the writer and publisher are out of luck as far as sales go. 

I have been blessed with both of my recent books to have remarkable covers.  The Winds Over Bolivar cover features the majestic palm tree artwork of my friend Cindy de Lao.  We used her original photograph.  Morning Glories features my Mama Cole's lavender blue flowers that bloomed near her front porch all the years of my life.

Today, Ted and I chanced to meet four workers providing a service for us.  Had we judged these books by their covers, or first impressions, we might not have had the opportunity to get to know these good men and their families.  We discovered in conversation that we all loved fishing, grandbabies, Texas, good food, and hard workers.  Before the afternoon had come to an end and our work completed, we had mutually agreed to plan to get together again.

God help us all to be careful, conscious of our surroundings, considerate of others, and not quite so quick to judge folks on their covers, as it were.  We may just be forfeiting a huge blessing simply because someone is not exactly like us, comes from a different part of the world, or appears to be quiet, shy, or uninvolved.  Gamble a little and see if God blesses you with an outstanding read, a new friend, or two, or in learning something new and exciting.

It is also said that Laffite interacted with Jane Long who is known as the "mother of Texas" and was in residence on Bolivar peninsula while he occupied ...

Attractions like Galveston County's Fort Travis on the Bolivar Peninsula or the city of Galveston's nature preserve, the East End Lagoon, could be made part ...

CONCEALED HANDGUN CLASS has been scheduled for Feb. 12 th from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Please call Murphy Bowers for details at 408-553-1732.

The play is scheduled for Friday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM. Menu is: Brisket, chicken, sausage, beans, potato salad, salad, rolls, desserts! Cost is $10 per adult or child 9 and up. Ages 8 to 4 are $5 and under that age are free. Come join us for a night of drama where a lesson about character is emphasized. This is a serious play, but our next dinner theater will be all laughs. :) Come support our students-trust me, they are working hard. Tickets will be pre-sold and will be sold at the door. Our students will be your waiters and waitresses for the evening. Come enjoy the night with us.

For more information, please contact Catherine Jackson @ 409-949-7842 or Rhea Raymond @ 832-236-8605.

Click here for printable flyer.