November 2007 Making-up Disaster Kindness Rests in...

November 2007

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

FT. WORTH, TXPERMIT NO. 711

Farminga New

Life

Farminga New

Life

KindnessRests in

Her Heart

KindnessRests in

Her Heart

OfficialGood SportOfficial

Good Sport

Making-upDisaster

Making-upDisaster

At Home With

Rob and Lori Ellis

At Home With

Rob and Lori Ellis

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----Publisher, Connie Poirier

General Manager, Rick Hensley

Managing Editor, Becky Walker

Editorial Coordinator, Sandra McIntosh

Creative Director, Jami Navarro

Art Director, Chris McCalla

Sales Assistant, Jessica Vasquez

Midlothian Editor, Betty Tryon

Contributing Writers, Alex Allred . Melinda Hines

Nancy Fenton . Clay Money . Tim Tobey

Photography, Rod Cordsen . Ivey Photography

Sandra McIntosh . Terri Ozymy

Contributing Editors/Proofreaders, Pamela Parisi

Jamie Ruark . Beverly Shay

Advertising Representatives, Amy Farrar . Will Epps

Lacy Hightower . Carolyn Mixon . Linda Moffett

Terri Ozymy . Steve Randle . Terri Yates

Graphic Designers, Allee Brand . Dale Frie

Marshall Hinsley . Arlene Honza

Steve Koldjeski . Brande Morgan

MidlothianNOW is a NOW Magazines, L.L.C. publication. Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved. MidlothianNOW ispublished monthly and individually mailed free of charge to homes and businesses in the Midlothian zip codes.

Subscriptions are available at the rate of $35 per year or $3.50 per issue. Subscription and editorial correspondence shouldbe sent to: MidlothianNOW, P.O. Box 1071, Waxahachie, TX 75168. For advertising rates and other information, call(972) 937-8447 or e-mail us at: [email protected].

On the Cover: A whimsical scarecrowadds warmth to the Ellis home thisholiday season.

Photo by Ivey Photography.

ContentsNovember 2007, Volume 3, Issue 11

36 Around TownNOW

38 Who’s CookingNOW

40 FinanceNOW

42 HealthNOW

44 OutdoorsNOW

45 Community Calendar

ArtsNOWMaking-up Disaster

6

20SportsNOW Official Good Sport

24BusinessNOWWhy Sweat It?

30EducationNOW Farming a New Life

32

12

Kindness Rests in Her Heart

Beginning With the Letter MAt Home With Rob and Lori Ellis

www.nowmagazines.com 3 MidlothianNOW November 2007



Editor’s Note

Dear Readers,

It is time to count our blessings and be thankful. Iam grateful for the freedom to worship my Savior as Ichoose. I am thankful for my husband, my children andall the joys and struggles that come with a family. I amthankful my mom still lives and for our love for eachother. I am thankful for little things, like a good bookor a rip roarin’ western. I cherish pleasant memories,like standing in my grandma’s kitchen, smelling her biscuits warm from theoven and peering through the backdoor screen at my grandfather as he rode histractor in the fields.

Caring for members of that era is something the individual in our main feature, Vicki Massey, does everyday. She works tirelessly to feed the hungry seniors in our community. Read the story of her work in this issue. To donate to this worthy cause, contact her at (972) 723-6177.

I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving as you gather together and give thanks toGod for all His blessings.

Betty TryonMidlothian Editor


IIt is 5 a.m. and Vicki Massey is up

and running. She and six other peoplemust reach the North Texas Food Bankbefore 6 o’clock, or risk being late ingetting food to the hungry elderly inMidlothian. “We have to have enoughtime to load the trucks and trailers, getback to Midlothian, unload the suppliesand have everything ready for the foodbank to open at 1 o’clock,” she explained.“We distribute about 20,000 poundsof food every week on Thursday andFriday.” The whole process sounds soorganized and smooth, but getting tothat point was anything but. Vicki hadto wrestle with problems of acquiringthe food, finding a place to distributeit and dealing with the occasionalnaysayer along the way.

“I love being around older people,”she said. “I used to visit two elderly

— By Betty Tryon

Vicki Massey and her team of volunteers are dedicated to ensuring that none of the senior citizens of our community go hungry.

ladies in the city and saw empty catfood cans in their trash, but I knewthey didn’t have a cat. I asked themabout it and they told me they couldnot afford to buy food. Cat food tunawas then 17 cents and regular tuna was68 cents. They could not afford the 51cents difference.

“I started taking them roast, potatoesand carrots. After awhile, I thought,they must be getting pretty tired ofthat. About that same time, a friend of mine was manager of a 7-Elevenstore; she said they would throw awaysandwiches that didn’t sell at the endof the day. I was able to get the sandwiches and started taking them tothe ladies. Sometimes, there were somany left over that I was able to helpother seniors as well.”

“I always took care to transport the

food carefully. During this time, theSouthland Corporation, which owns 7-Eleven was sued because someonegot a bad sandwich, and my friend couldno longer donate to us. I took it all theway up the ladder to the president ofSouthland, and he told me to go to theNorth Texas Food Bank to pick upthere.” That was the beginning of herrelationship with the food bank.

“I started attending the SeniorCitizen Program in 1990; we met atthe high school. I met some of theseniors who didn’t have enough to eat,and I would take baggies of food tothem. We started giving food away tothose who needed it. There were about35 in the program then. I have hadwidows say this was the first time theyhad food in their pantry since theirhusband died.”


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“Once, while at the high school, weaccidentally spilled some grease on thesidewalk. We scrubbed with soap andwater until it was as clean as we couldget it. All that day, 80- and 90-year-oldshad walked through that same area;however, a lady said she slipped andfell, and then tried to sue us. In Texas,the Good Samaritan Act says if you are

giving away food, you can’t be sued,so nothing came of it. However, wewere asked not to bring food up thereanymore. We had to find another place.”

Vicki likes to say that for 11 yearsshe was a street person. “Every Thursdaywe were in a different place to pass outfood.” Smiling, she said, “I would ratheroperate on the principle of asking forgiveness than permission, so we setup at the Fina station and were givenpermission to use the paved area inback. We were outside there in allkinds of weather. The seniors wouldhave to stand in the cold, rain and the


Above: Vicki Massey is a GoodSamaritan to many senior citizens.

Below: Margaret McClendon volunteersher time at the food pantry.


heat. One night at a Lions Clubmeeting, Randy Hampton offered usthe use of the funeral home on Thursdaymornings. We were there for four yearsuntil someone got angry and reportedus. The USDA (United StatesDepartment of Agriculture) told us wehad to find a place with a pantry.”

Meeting resistance again, Vicki was,nonetheless, undaunted. The seniorswere still hungry and needed help, andshe was determined not to let themdown. Help came in the person of J.D.

Kennedy, superintendent of MidlothianIndependent School District. Heallowed her to move into the LauraJenkins School. At that time, there wereover 150 seniors in her program. Vickisaid, “Finally, we had a permanent place.The school has been so wonderful tous. They have bent over backwards.When we moved into the building, Inever asked anyone to volunteer. Whenwe opened, all these people came outto help us unload, stock and clean.They were mostly senior citizens.”

“The North Texas Food Bank comesout twice a year to inspect. I makesure all recall items are off the floor.All refrigerators and freezers havethermometers. Food is properly storedand insect control is okay. AlliedWaste has been just wonderful to helpwith the trash.”

Vicki has been receiving donations,but more funds are needed. She will havea fundraiser this month, a Gospel Jubilee,to raise money for Thanksgiving meals.

Vicki thinks her love of the elderlystems from her childhood. “Mygrandparents adopted me, and Icalled them Mother and Daddy.Daddy died when I was 12 years ofage, so my mother had to raise mealone. I never really thought of her as


“We’ll take any kind of donation; we’ll take it because

someone needs it. It’s a Godthing. I have nothing to do with

it. It is strictly the Lord whotakes care of His seniors.”

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being old, but we used to visit all ofher friends and pay respect to them. Ienjoyed those visits.”

She went to Mary Hardin-Baylorand UT in Austin with the goal ofbecoming an attorney. “I met PercyForeman, one of the great criminaldefense lawyers in Texas. I went up tohim and said, ‘I’ll buy you a cherry

phosphate if you come talk to me.’ Hedid. We met four more times. Some ofthe advice he gave me on being anattorney was to take all the acting,speech and diction classes I could.”

Well, Vicki never became an attorney.She fell in love with Hershel Massey;they had one daughter and now havefour grandsons. The law profession’sloss has been our community’s gain.Caring for the seniors is a missionwith Vicki. She remarked, “We willnever see another generation like thisone. They have been through so much.These people deserve whatever we cando for them. They have paid their duesand adapted to more changes. We’lltake any kind of donation; we’ll take itbecause someone needs it. It’s a Godthing. I have nothing to do with it. Itis strictly the Lord who takes care ofHis seniors.”

God has blessed Vicki with a specialgift. Kindness rests in her heart, andsenior citizens in the Midlothian areahave found a friend in her.


Sard McClendon helps carry a newshipment of food into the pantry.



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RRob and Lori Ellis, along with their two

daughters Marisa and Mariah, came toMidlothian by way of Oklahoma just over ayear ago. The family’s four dogs — Mia,Mele, Mr. M and Maui — did not want tobe left behind, so of course, they too camealong for the journey.

A new move for any young family meansnew adventures and the Ellis family is noexception. A job offer was extended to Robthat he just could not pass up. “I was thesales manager at McClain’s RV store whilewe were in Oklahoma,” Rob said. “Theowners wanted to close the Alvarado location and build something larger.” Afterthe promotion to general manager of the newFort Worth store was offered and accepted,Rob came to Texas, taking up residence ina fifth-wheel RV. During the week, itproved plenty roomy for him, but when thefamily came to visit it quickly becamecramped, as well as a bit overcrowded.

The couple had every intention of findingsome land and building their dream home,but first they had to decide where would bethe best place to rear their two girls. “Weknew we didn’t want to raise them in thecity,” Rob explained. “So naturally, we

— By Sandra McIntosh


started looking outside the metroplex.”Schools were the deciding factor forLori. “I had heardand read so manygood things aboutMidlothian,” Lorisaid, adding thatMidlothian startedwith the letter m.“If you haven’t already noticed, thegirls’ names and the dogs’ names all

begin with the letter m. We put a lotof thought into naming our kids and

our pets, so finding justthe right place to live wasimportant. It just seemedappropriate to relocate toa town that also startedwith the letter m.” Lorialso added with a laugh

that Midlothian was in Ellis Countyand their last name is Ellis.

Beginning With the Letter M

At Home With

Rob and Lori Ellis

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Once the town was decided upon, itwas not long before the construction ofthe couple’s two-story, five-bedroom,three-and-one-half-bath Legendary

home got underwayin the Brandi Ridgeaddition, just a fewmiles from FM 66and only minutesfrom Rob’s job indowntown FortWorth. “We were

the first ones to buy a lot on thisstreet,” Rob said, “and our home wasthe second one to be completed.”Looking around the neighborhoodnow, one would be amazed at theenormous growth seen in the past 12months. “There are houses everywhereyou look now,” Lori added.

When the Ellis family moved intotheir new home on the evening of


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gave their home the Old WorldEuropean style it boasts of today. “Ihad taken pictures of colors I liked andKim was able to match them perfectly.”From the green in the home office tothe gold and deep shades of khakifound throughout the first level of thehome, it is easy to see that Kim

completed her job to perfection. Thefinished style is not only steeped inrich, warm hues, but it also includesmetal abstract art and grapevines,greenery and Italian wine bottles thattake their rightful places on the cornicespace above the kitchen cabinets.

Bricks peaking through the

August 25, 2006, all the walls were astark white, “coconut” to be exact. Itwas not long before Lori realized theyneeded to incorporate color into theirlives. “Getting in contact with KimRoberds of Wallpaper, Paint & Design‘by Kim’ was the best thing,” Lori said,referring to the interior specialist, who

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on the block because of the way they actively involved theirdaughters in the decorating process. “The girls picked out

the paint colors for each of their rooms, as wellas the tile we used in their separate bathrooms.We’re all about the kids,” Lori said. “It wasimportant for them to have a part in theprocess. It allowed them ownership in theirnew home.” Rob and Lori also noted that thegirls buried pennies in the cement on thefront porch for good luck.

Mariah’s room has four walls, each of a different color.There is brown, pink, lime green and her favorite color,

honey-glazed wall treatment with white trim give visitorsthe feeling they have entered a romantic villa in Italy. “Ifinally got my bricks,” Lori said, explainingthe accents are paper, which is textured to lookand feel like real bricks. “I absolutely love mykitchen.” A wall decal with the appearance ofa stucco window ledge has also been strategicallyplaced well above the pantry door. It is eye-catching and has proven to be the topic ofmany kitchen conversations.

In most circles where young children are allowed to do thevoting, Rob and Lori would be considered the “coolest” parents



purple. Polka dots in all the same colors complete the room. Marisa’s room is justas bright and colorful. She also chose fourkey colors — purple, red and two distinctly different shades of pink. The accent wall is acombination of all four colors in vertical stripes.Her accent motifs are lips in all shapes, sizes andmatching colors. Both rooms have their fair shareof baby pageant trophies, as well as medals and ribbons from the years both girls spent in gymnastics. Sincerelocating, the girls no longer take part in a gymnastics program. Nowadays, they can be found dividing their freetime after school between soccer, volleyball and basketball.

When Rob and Lori said it was all about the children, theyreally were not kidding. The second floor is home not only tothe girls’ bedrooms, but also to an oversized playroom andhome theater, where imaginations run rampant. “Both girlshave their very own personalized director chair,” Rob said.“They put on original plays for the adult guests of the house.It’s been great for birthday parties and family gatherings.”

The holidays are quickly approaching. Itwill soon be time for Lori to box up the

fall pumpkins and unpack her large collection of Christmas decor. In fact,

she is looking forward to it for onereason in particular. “My mom was

an art teacher who loved creatingceramics. My favorite piece she

crafted is a Nativity Scene dating back to 1964,” Lori said.

“It holds very special meaning becauseshe made it for my dad. The intricate detailing

on the kings’ robes in 24-carat gold paint is reallymy dad’s initials.” It means the world to Lori and she

derives great pleasure in sharing it with others. Moving to Midlothian is everything the Ellis family

expected it to be and so much more. “We’re happy here,”Rob and Lori agreed, almost simultaneously. “We plan tolive here forever!”

“We’re happyhere.”


TThe photograph of the beautiful young woman

is riveting. However, her beauty is not what capturesyour attention. The deep burns that cover her facemake you gasp in horror. Copious amounts ofblood cover the area like a gory shroud on theseemingly lifeless woman. While observing thephoto, Christie Lee cheerily chirps, “That’s myfriend!” If you are thinking, “What’s wrong withthis picture?” – you are not alone. Her friend is OK.Makeup is responsible for the gruesome picture!Christie is a makeup artist and well on her way to perfectingher craft.

As a 2006 Midlothian graduate,she has gained in just one year,experience most veterans of her profession would envy. It all startedwhen she was 13 years of age.Sherry Wiedmann, Christie’s mom,laughingly said, “She became interested in makeup when shestarted wearing it!”

Christie stated, “I have alwaysbeen interested in color. I wasalways doing my friends makeupand hair. Every week we were atCVS buying a box of hair color. Iwould change my color every week.Since I was doing my friends’ makeup and hair, one of themoffered to pay me for it. That was when I realized I couldmake a living at it.”


Sherry said, “Christie expressed an interest in doing this inher sophomore year in high school. There was atraveling makeup school in Dallas called Last LookAcademy she attended. I wanted her to experience it,to see if that is what she really wanted to do.” Christie,of course, loved it and went on to CosmetologySchool in Waxahachie while still in high school. Sheadded, “After high school graduation, I went toMake-up Designory School in New York. I had fourweeks of makeup classes and six weeks of characteror special effect classes. I learned how to recreateburns, cuts, baldheads and gunshot wounds. Ourhomework assignment was to study pictures of realwounds and re-create them.”

Christie’s work requires a high degree of artistryand creativity. She said, “I like to paint, but I don’tdraw that well.” She manages with aids, such asprosthetics for nose growths, cuts and face pieces.

“The prosthetics gives it a three-dimensional look,” sheexplained. “I also use a product called 3 Degrees. It is a silicone

Making-up

Disaster— By Betty Tryon

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product. Once I open it, I only havethree to five minutes to carve it intowhatever I want.”

Christie is currently employed byMAC Cosmetics (Makeup, Artist,Cosmetics), where she gets to indulgeher passion every day. “I do makeup allday long. People come in who aregoing out and want to look their best.

Brides come in for makeup for theirweddings. I had a lady come in whowas going to her 25th high schoolreunion, and she wanted to look good.She was so excited with the way shelooked. It was pretty cool. I enjoy doingthis, because I get instant gratificationfrom changing someone’s hair color andapplying their makeup. Thirty minuteslater, you can completely changesomeone’s mood and appearance.”

Although Christie enjoys her job,her future lies in television and films.She has already been the makeup artistfor a movie. “My uncle owns RenavatioProduction Company, and he hired meto do all the makeup for his moviecalled Drug Wars. It is a docudrama — a documentary with re-enactments.We were on location on the border inMexico, and it was very intense andscary,” she remarked somberly. “Thepeople my uncle is letting everyoneknow about are not nice people. I wasafraid because the Americans who livenear the border don’t cross, because so


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many don’t come back. Many get kidnapped.” Because the nature of thefilm dealt with the seedy, violent worldof drugs, Christie had to use all her skillsin a variety of situations to re-createhorrific conditions.

“I would use a photo from the newsand make the actors up to look exactlylike the tortured ones in the picture. It

was mostly burns,cuts, bruises, gunshot wounds,covering up tattoosand re-creating tattoos. At first, the pictures weredisturbing, but I got used to it becauseI had a job to do. It was a tiring,demanding job because I had to beavailable at all times for touch-ups andwhen someone changed their mindabout a scene.”

Not all of her assignments were asdark. She recently undertook a projectof doing the makeup for a music videofor the band, Every Time I Die. It is aspoof on the movie Teen Wolf, whichwill be shown on MTV2. “We had todo a lot of work with hair.”

Christie also did the makeup for the model on the brochure for nextyear’s Miss Spokesmodel International.“That was fun. I really enjoy my jobbecause I get to travel, which is something I like to do. I work hardand play hard!” Christie lives anincredibly focused and self-motivatedlife. Watch for her in the movie creditsas she pursues her career!


HHere is the job description: You may be forced to run anywhere

from four to 10 miles a day, the pay is low and you must endureextreme heat, cold and rain. You will be yelled at, chastised andrepeatedly questioned. You will rarely be thanked, and often youwill be overlooked despite your good intentions and hard work.You are a weekend warrior. You are a youth league soccer referee.

Despite these warnings, Andrew Payne signed on and remainsone of the most recognized and popular referees in Midlothian.“It’s really not difficult,” Andrew said of officiating. “There areonly 17 rules in the game of soccer and one of them deals withthe size of the ball.” Of course, this is the same man who has runup and down the lines of the soccer fields in Midlothian foralmost a decade, dedicating entire weekends to the sport whilejoking about possible heat stroke.

Andrew is different than most referees in that he came to thesport not as an athlete, but as a coach. Most referees are athleteswho move into officiating, but Andrew knew little of the gameuntil his son, Geoff, wanted to play. “I didn’t understand it,” hesaid, “but I liked kicking the ball around.”


— By Alex Allred

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He began asking questions, trying tolearn the rules of the game and how tobetter help his budding new soccer star.When his youngest child, Anna, wantedto play soccer, Andrew volunteered tocoach, but it quickly became clear thesoccer association did not have enough

qualified referees. It was then Andrewbecame an outspoken advocate for referee clinics and certification courses.Rather than stand around complainingabout the need for referees, Andrewtook on the role as head ref. In fact,the position of Chief of Referees wasspecifically created for him with the


Andrew Payne and two other soccerreferees meet before a game.

“When you have a good 90-minutematch with breakaways and

aggressive players, a ref can runup to four or five miles per game.”

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Midlothian Soccer Association (MSA). While he is reluctant to talk about

the role he’s played in its success, hehas become the face of the MSA formany soccer families. Few people,however, know the man behind thebright yellow uniform. Fewer stillrealize during their “less than stellarmoments,” they are yelling at a minister.

Indeed, the man in yellow is a manof God. He is also a man of many talents. A self-described “computergeek,” Andrew works for a humanresources consulting firm in Dallas,but also serves as a professor at DallasBaptist University (DBU), with a doctorate in New Testament. Beforehe began teaching at DBU, Andrewserved on staff in Midlothian as aminister. Today, when not teaching orofficiating games, he volunteers withlocal churches, leads a Bible studyand, working around a busy soccerschedule and the curriculum of 70college students, spends time with hisfamily. He is busy, to say the least.

“I have discovered people will dowhat is most important to them,”Andrew said, noting that he is nolonger the runner he used to be.“When you have a good 90-minutematch with breakaways and aggressiveplayers, a ref can run up to four or fivemiles per game,” he explained. “I justcan’t do them [games] back-to-back


“A good day is when hewatches teammates

pass the ball back and

forth. It is a suresign of successin life and on

the field.”



anymore.” Instead, Andrew has beenknown to mentor younger refereesbetween his own games.

As invested as a parent feels inwatching his or her child play thegame, or as impassioned as a coachmay feel, Andrew will not give up theintegrity of the sport for lack of solidofficiating. He has too much respectfor the athletes, the coaches and thesport itself. Although his own childrenare grown and no longer play, he isstill out on the soccer fields.

In fact, it is not uncommon to hearhim talking to the young athletes aftera good play, encouraging them. “Whenthe goalie gets just the fingertips onthe ball, but it’s enough to push theball out, I’ll tell ’em what a good playthat was,” he added. “I talk to theplayers all day.” For him, a good day iswhen he watches teammates pass theball back and forth. It is a sure sign ofsuccess in life and on the field.

He treats the games and his athletesjust as seriously as he does his collegeclasses. He once called a sports radioshow to ask, “How is it we have the bestreferees move up, but keep the mostinexperienced or less skilled officials atthe lower levels?” As cliché as it is, hismission really is about the children.

He is outspoken, passionate and, by his own admission, impatient. Heis of the mind that if he can maketime for children, so can other parents.Together, he and his wife, Cindy, whoserves as an educator at J.A. Vitovsky,have dedicated their lives to helpingand inspiring children. “In no way amI saying I’m already there; I know I’vegot a long way to go,” Andrew said,“but I would hope it can be said that Iwas always willing to give.”

In recent years, Andrew has played ina number of adult leagues. His strengthis not passing the ball while playing.His strength is found in passing on hisexperience to others with a desire tofind success as a referee.


WWhy suffer in the hot sun for that

healthy glow when 4 Ever Tan offers aspa-ahh experience! From the pleasant,clean scent that meets you at the door andthe smiling staff, to the complimentarybottled water, Danielle Erbert has createda welcoming atmosphere to achieve theperfect tan.

One staff member acknowledgesthat she enjoys working there becauseshe likes talking to people and gettingto know the customers. Danielle said,“Our staff is friendly and knowledgeable.I really emphasize cleanliness. I go onthe principle that you can never be tooclean. My girls [staff] are always to be upand doing something: cleaning the floors,the chairs and the door handles. Anythingthe customer will touch is a priority.Towels, beds and goggles are sanitizedafter each use or even a suspected use.”

Danielle wants her customers to havethe best experience possible in her tanning salon. “I want to offer relaxationand a unique tanning experience with

excellent service,” she said. “The staffis trained in customer service andeager to talk to you about all yourquestions, such as discussing your skintype, how long to stayunder the lights, theproper use of the bed andthe use of lotion.”

4 Ever Tan offers several different types oflotions, which containbronzers and acceleratorsto help hydrate and tanthe skin. The bronzersare used to give the skinmore color — for thatdeeper tan glow. Danielleexplained the benefitsfurther, “If the customer has indoortanning lotion on, it speeds up the tanning process. It takes only 45 secondsto start the tanning. Without the lotion,it takes anywhere from three to fiveminutes to begin the process. That

means you’ve just wasted the first fewminutes of your tanning session. Mystaff matches you up to the best lotion

for you and teachesyou how to apply it.”

They offer threedifferent levels oftanning beds. Thedifferences betweenthe three depend onamenities, amountof wattage andlength of time whiletanning. All of thebeds have faciallamps and give asurround tan.Excellence 800 hasthe shortest amount

of tanning time — 12 minutes.Danielle remarked, “Its bed is morecontoured to eliminate white spots. Ithas neck and shoulder lamps. It alsohas an a.c. unit and is our highest powerbed. You get more tan in less time.”

Why Sweat It?


— By Betty Tryon

MIDNNov07p30-31Bus.qxd 10/19/07 11:39 AM Page 30

“The next is the Advantage 400. Itis ventilation-controlled and also helpswith pressure points. It takes 15 minutesto tan. The Ambition 250 takes thelongest to tan at 20 minutes.”

They also have a Mystic Tan booth.It is UV-free tanning and requires twominutes. A fine mist is applied usingMagneTan technology. It uses the body’sown magnetic properties to attract themicro-particles of the tanning mist.

4 Ever Tan is more than a tanningsalon. It offers an aqua massage bedand an infrared sauna. “The advantagesof the aqua massage bed helps to loosenmuscles, lessen tension and you canremain clothed. The massage bed canbe used as many times a day as youwant,” Danielle explained.

An infrared sauna, which is a drysauna, can burn many calories in a 30minute session. They offer a two-seater;the benefits include relaxation, detoxification, pain relief and alsoclaims to reduce cellulite and acnewith continued use over a consistentamount of time.

A visit to 4 Ever Tan can leave youlooking healthy and feeling relaxed.So, what are you waiting for? They arelocated at 910 E. Main, Suite 600 inMidlothian. You can reach them at (972)775-4448 for more information.


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FFrom the high Andes Mountains in South America to

Midlothian, Texas, alpacas are thriving! Nancy Rickettsremembered a vacation in 1996 when they went to a woolshow in Colorado: “There were live alpacas on display and Isaid to my husband, Terry, ‘This is what I want to do whenwe retire.’”

Nancy initially thought she would not be able to pursueher dream of being an alpaca farmer in Texas because of theheat. “After we retired, we were planning on moving toColorado to start our farm,” she said. “Then one day whenwe were traveling to visit a sick relative near Austin, I waslooking out the window andsaw alpacas!”

So began the journey. Sheexplained, “Once I saw that itwas possible to raise alpacas inTexas, we started our research.Terry, my husband, is the computer expert, so he didresearch. We went to seminars,visited about 15 farms andread books.”

That was three years ago,and the Ricketts now owneight alpacas with two pregnant females. Alpacas arepart of the camel family andare hypoallergenic. Nancy commented that, “People who areallergic to wool can wear it [alpaca]. It is expensive becauseit is exotic. Alpacas are no longer considered exotic animalsin Texas, because now there are so many of them.”

— By Betty Tryon

Nancy takes exception to the TV ads which give theimpression that alpacas are cuddly animals. She remarked,“Alpacas are aloof. They are not pets, but are domestic livestock.They are wonderful animals that meet people on their ownterms. They can live for 20 years. The females are pregnantfor one year, and they wean their babies after six months.”

The Ricketts have been on the farm for two-and-a-halfyears. Before they couldplace any animals on theland, a lot of work hadto be done. Nancy said,“We put up carportsand fencing. I have awhole new appreciationfor the skills a farmerneeds to have. I havehad to learn how to give shots, and there is constant problemsolving for whatevermay go wrong. Youhave to be physician,nurse and a mechanic.”

An important part of caring for the alpacas is keepingthem cool in the Texas summer heat. “The alpacas need ashady area, which we have. I have to go out and hose themdown on their neck, bellies and legs to cool them down.


Farminga New Life

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There are fans in the shelters, and I putice in their water. They can die inTexas heat,” Nancy informed.

There was one task that Nancy wasnot interested in learning — shearing.“We raise our animals for their fiber.So, when it’s time to shear the alpacas,we have someone else do it. It is thisfellow from Australia who travels all

over the United States to meet fellowalpaca owners at an agreed location.We met at the Copper Hill Ranch inCovington, Texas. He can shear an adultanimal in two-and-a-half minutes.”

Having the alpacas presented a greatopportunity for the Ricketts to educateothers about not only the animals, butabout farm life. Nancy said, “We havehad many students come to visit thefarm and see the animals. I enjoyteaching them about barns, pasturesand caring for the livestock. We havehad Mission Midlothian children cometo visit, international students, and aflock of children who come with parentsand grandparents. Many of them haveno idea of what farm life is about. I liketeaching them about it and showingthem real life experiences. Now whenthey read about it in books, they will


“Then one day when we were traveling to

visit a sick relative nearAustin, I was looking out the window and saw alpacas!”

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have pictures in their head to go alongwith the words.”

Nancy also spends a great deal oftime educating others about raisingalpacas. “We answer questions frompeople interested in becoming alpacafarmers and helping them makeinformed decisions. We also participate

in Alpaca Day where our farm is opento the public to visit and learn aboutthe animals.”

Educating others is natural to Nancybecause in the years leading up tobecoming a farmer, she was a teacher.She started her career as a Peace Corpsvolunteer teaching English as a secondlanguage to school children in thePhilippines. When she returned toAmerica, she taught for several yearsuntil she married and became a stay-at-home mom. Returning to theeducational system, Nancy earned hermaster’s in special education from SanJose State University and taught for18 years in a local school. When she andTerry signed on with Wycliffe BibleTranslators, Nancy became a careercounselor for the organization whileTerry put his computer skills to use.

She has now embarked on a wholenew journey. “Farming is a whole lotof work and a little bit of sitting andadmiring. With babies that need to befed, it gives me a reason to get up inthe morning. Being an alpaca andangora farmer was the furthest thingfrom my mind whenever I thoughtabout what I would do at retirement,but I love it.”


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SHEPHERD’S PIE

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained2 14.75-oz. cans creamed corn4 large potatoes, boiled to make

mashed potatoes3/4 cup milk4 Tbsp. buttersalt and pepper to taste

Layer browned ground beef in bottomof 9 x 12-inch casserole dish. Coverwith both cans of creamed corn. In separate bowl, cream together potatoes,milk, butter and salt and pepper. Spoonon top of corn, and spread evenly.

TACO SALAD

1 lb. ground beef (browned, drained and seasoned with 1/2 packet of taco seasoning)

1 head lettuce (washed and shredded)2 large tomatoes, washed and diced1 8-oz. package shredded, mild

cheddar cheese1 8-oz. bag Nacho Cheese Doritos,

crushedThousand Island Dressing, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.Add Thousand Island Dressing to tasteand serve immediately. Serves 6 - 8

IN THE KITCHEN WITH KRISTEN SWANSON

Look Who’s

Cooking

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 F or untilpotatoes are browned. Let stand 5 minutes and serve. Serves 6 - 8.

BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESESTUFFED FRENCH TOAST

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened1/2 can blueberry pie filling1 loaf unsliced French bread6 eggs, beaten

Beat cream cheese and blueberry pie filling together in a bowl. Set aside.Cut bread into 1-inch slices. Cut eachindividual slice almost all the way

— By Melinda Hines

K risten’s first attempt at cooking at the tender age of 7 resulted in salty scrambled eggs. “Unfortunately, I

thought tsp. meant Tbsp. and they were a little salty,”Kristen said. Kristen enjoys cooking simple, basic mealsand comfort food. “I work full time and my kids are veryactive, so when I get home, I need to be able to make dinner quickly. I love to cook for my husband and fourchildren,” she said. “When I find something everyonelikes, which is next to impossible, I usually keep it on ourregular menu.”

Kristen actually feels that her husband Zane is the chefin their family. “He is constantly making up recipes that weall end up enjoying over and over,” Kristen said.

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through, making sure not to cut all theway (to hold in filling). Fill each slicewith cream cheese mixture. Coat bothsides of filled bread with egg mixtureand cook on 425 F griddle untilbrowned. Top with your favorite syrupor remaining pie filling and enjoy.

FRUIT PIZZA

1 16-oz. pkg. Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough (or you can make homemade sugar cookie dough)

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened1 8-oz. container Cool Whip6 cups of cut up fresh fruit of your choice

(I use grapes, strawberries, bananas, and mandarin oranges) coated in lemon juice to prevent browning

blueberry syrup to taste

Spread cookie dough on 9 x 12-inchcookie sheet. Poke holes in dough withfork. Bake at temperature on packagefor about 10 minutes, or until browned.Cool well. Blend together creamcheese and Cool Whip until smooth.Spread over baked cookie dough. Topwith cut up fruit. Drizzle with blueberrysyrup and enjoy.

CORN CHOWDER

5 - 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled1 small sweet onion, diced and sautéed

in bacon grease (drain)3 medium potatoes, chopped2 14.75-oz. cans of creamed corn1 tsp. butterdash thymedash basil1 cup hot milk1/2 cup chopped celery1/2 cup chopped carrotssalt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients into crock pot on low and cook until potatoes are done(about 6 hours on low). Serve withsalad and corn bread.


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— By Tim Tobey

I am talking with more familiesabout planning for the future. Whilefamilies almost always want to talkabout retirement, their most immediateconcern is saving for their children’scollege education. This is wise.College education will, in most cases,be a family’s second largest expenseafter home ownership, so it deservescareful planning. Rising college costsmake saving even more important.

According to The College Board,Trends in College Pricing 2006, tuition andfees for a public college or universityaverage $5,836 per year, over six percenthigher than in the 2005 report. Forprivate colleges and universities, theaverage tuition and fees have alsoincreased nearly six percent to over$22,000. That is just tuition, notroom and board, books and supplies,and other expenses.

Saving for

CollegeIf those numbers do not make you

want to start putting money aside, Ido not know what will. The good newsis that with sound planning and along-term outlook you have the potential,over the course of 10 - 15 years, tobuild up a nice college nest egg. Thegovernment even has ways to help youreach that goal.

In 1997, Congress gave middle-incomeparents a new college-planning toolwith the Education IRA, now calledthe Coverdell Education SavingsAccount (ESA). Contributions to anESA are limited to $2,000 per year.Parents, grandparents, aunts and unclescan all contribute until the child reaches18 years of age, as long as the totalyearly contribution for the child doesnot exceed $2,000.

529 Plans are another tool availableto set aside money for education. Since529 Plans are regulated by the states,each state determines the contributionlimit. However, 529 Plans allow you tocontribute much more than allowed byan ESA. This gives families a greateropportunity to better meet their education savings needs.

While contributions to theseaccounts are not tax deductible, earnings

accumulate tax deferred. Even better,when you draw the money out to startpaying for qualified education expenses,those distributions are tax free.1 Youwould be surprised how a program likethat can help. If you have an 8-year-oldchild — and thus have 10 years to savefor college — an investment of $100per month at an 8 percent annual rateof return would create a nest egg of$18,295 when the child turns 18.These figures are based on the value ofthe investment with an 8 percent fixedrate of return and do not represent anyparticular investment. While such ratesof return may not be representative ofinvestments currently or historicallyavailable, this hypothetical situation is added for illustrative purposes onlyand reinforces that starting early can be significant.

That is good for any investor to know,especially if you want to invest inmutual funds, which contain a certainelement of risk. Disciplined investorsknow that while the stock and bondmarkets do fluctuate, over time theyhave historically produced a greaterrate of return than other types ofinvestments that carry lower risk.

As with any investment, saving for

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college takes preparation, some guidanceand, in many cases, sacrifice. Americanshave traditionally been more thanwilling to make that sacrifice to securea better future for their children. Bysetting up a plan with earning potential,we can help our children fulfill theirlearning potential. There is no assurancethat any investment will achieve itsinvestment objectives. Past performanceis not indicative of future performance.Investment return and principal valuewill fluctuate and the investment, whenredeemed, may be worth more or lessthan its original cost.

Note:1. If the money is used for purposes other than education,

earnings are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject toan additional 10 percent tax penalty. Funds must be withdrawnwithin 30 days of the beneficiary’s 30th birthday. At that time,earnings are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject toan additional 10 percent tax penalty.

Tim Tobey is a State Farm Insuranceagent based in Midlothian.

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F“While high blood sugar is indeed

dangerous and can cause other complicationssuch as damage to the eyes, kidneys andnerves — unchecked cholesterol and bloodpressure levels are even more so,” Dr. Astburysaid. “Even if a diabetic is meticulousabout controlling their blood sugar, theyare still at risk for heart disease.”

Dr. Astbury said to help prevent heartdisease, diabetics should work with theirphysician to determine the best treatmentplan. He recommended the followingguidelines:

• Maintain normal blood glucose levels.“Blood glucose levels vary depending onthe time of day, what and how much youhave eaten, as well as if you have exercisedor not, but a ‘normal’ blood glucose levelis in the low to mid 100s.”

• Keep blood pressure under 130/80,using medication if necessary. “High bloodpressure puts diabetics at risk for heartattack, stroke, eye problems and kidneydisease. Have your blood pressure checkedregularly if you are a diabetic. It can usuallybe controlled with medication andlifestyle changes.”

• Keep cholesterol levels under control,using medication if necessary. “There is no


way to tell if your cholesterol levels are highwithout a blood test. It is recommended thatdiabetics keep their LDL (bad) cholesterollevels below 100 mg/dl, their HDL (good)levels above 40 mg/dl and their triglyceridelevels below 150 mg/dl.”

• Maintain a healthy weight. “In mostcases, weight loss can lessen the symptomsof Type 2 diabetes and in some cases keep itunder control without the use of medication.”

• Exercise regularly. “Regular exercise iscrucial for Type 2 diabetics and it is nevertoo late to start. Exercise can lower your bloodsugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levelsand actually increase your energy level.”

• Maintain a heart-healthy diet that islow in fat and salt. “Try to avoid foodthat is high in fat as this can increaseyour cholesterol levels and anything highin sodium can increase your blood pressure. Try to eat a balanced diet withlots of fruits and vegetables, whole grainsand choose lean meats and low-fat dairy.Most importantly, Type 2 diabetics shouldavoid sugar.”

The most common signs of a heartattack include:

• chest pain or discomfort• Pain or discomfort in your arms,

back, jaw, neck or stomach• Shortness of breath• Sweating or light-headedness

For the nearly 20 million Americansliving with Type 2 diabetes, monitoringtheir blood sugar levels is a critical and dailytask. While keeping blood sugar numbersin check is essential for managing the disease, paying attention to cholesterol andblood pressure levels is just as important.

According to the American DiabetesAssociation (ADA), about 73,000 diabetics dieeach year from diabetes-related complications.Topping the list of complications is cardiovascular disease. In fact, the ADAestimates that two out of three diabetics willeventually die from heart disease or stroke.While cardiovascular disease is a seriousand common complication of diabetes, only18 percent of diabetics are aware of this,according to a survey done by the ADA.

So what is the link between cardiovasculardisease and diabetes? Jeffrey Astbury, M.D.,internal medicine physician on the medicalstaff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachiesaid that over time, high blood glucoselevels can lead to increased fatty depositson blood vessel walls, affecting blood flowand increasing the risk of clogging andatherosclerosis (hardening of the bloodvessels) ultimately increasing the risk for aheart attack.

Surviving Diabetes Requires MoreThan Just Managing Blood Sugar

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• Indigestion or nausea• Fatigue

“If you experience any of these symptoms,take them seriously and call 9-1-1 right away,” Dr. Astbury said. He added thatType 2 diabetes is manageable, especiallyif it is detected in the early stages beforeany significant damage has been done.“Common symptoms of Type 2 diabetesinclude frequent thirst and urination,weakness and fatigue, blurred vision andtingling or loss of feeling in the hands orfeet to name a few. If you suspect you mayhave Type 2 diabetes, talk to your physicianabout taking a blood glucose test.”

* Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’ssubsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents ofthose medical centers, Baylor Medical Center atWaxahachie or Baylor Health Care System.


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N


plant new ones. Try some that mightbe new ones to you, like the possumhall holly or vitex which will surviveour hot and dry summers.

The Farmers’ Almanac is predictinganother hot, dry summer for northernTexas. With our changing climate at thepoles, it could happen. Bed preparationwith shale and compost, plus theselection of plants that can tolerate theheat, will help your landscape maintainthe look you want. The trees that shadeus absorb 2,250,000 tons of CO2 pertree each year and produce oxygen forus. Think about planting a tree forevery member of your family. Justremember to plant it high, mulch itheavily and give it a weekly wateringeven through the winter.

Christmas is coming, and if you arealready thinking about your gardenerfriends, order magazines like Birds andBloom (birdsandblooms.com) or Texas

Gardener (texasgardener.com). It takessix weeks or longer for the magazinesto get it together, so you need to startworking on it this month if you planon giving them as Christmas presents.

It is also the time to take a look atyour tools to see if any of them needrepair, replacement or general cleanup.As the shorter days approach, a briefswipe with sandpaper and a little oilwill make those tools shine and last foranother season! The mower can stand acleanup, blade sharpening and oil andair filter change before it turns cold.Let’s pass up the frustration of amower that does not want to startnext spring by spending a little timewith it this month!

Have a great Thanksgiving, andplan ahead for a glorious spring!

Nancy Fenton is a Master Gardener inEllis County.

— By Nancy Fenton

November is here, and we can lookforward to some cooler weather for awhile. It is time to look at the yardand make some decisions as to whatwe want it to look like next year. Haveyou split up those perennials yet? Haveyou planted those spring bloomingbulbs? There is still time to get to it. Ilike the ones that naturalize, like thenarcissi, crocuses and jonquils. I havejust enlisted my grandsons’ help to putin another 300 bulbs in our naturalarea across the creek. The boys are alot closer to the ground than I am!

It is too late to trim back thoseshrubs and trees, but not too late to

Time to Plan Ahead

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First and Third TuesdaysTraining Academy for Dental Assistants holds free informationalsessions at 5:30 p.m. Call (972) 842-2999.

First and Third ThursdaysMidlothian Lions Club meeting, 7 p.m. at Midlothian CivicCenter, 224 S. 11th Street. Call (972) 775-7118.

“Leads to Success” Leads Group meets at 8 a.m. at 2nd @Main Place.

Second and Fourth MondaysTexas Ladies Networking meets from 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Ryan's in Waxahachie. Call (214) 587-1221.

Second and Fourth TuesdaysToastmasters meets at 6:30 p.m. inside Baylorworx, 507 N.Hwy. 77 in Waxahachie.

Midlothian City Council meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Every TuesdayMidlothian Rotary Club meeting, noon at Midlothian CivicCenter, 224 South 11th Street. Call (972) 775-7118 forinformation.

November 3The National Team, Celebrate Moms One Day Women'sConference, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Ferris Avenue BaptistChurch, Waxahachie. Visit Celebratemoms.org or callMelissa Howell at (866) 324-2893, ext. 4414 for information.

John Mahailov and Daryl May on stage at 7:30 p.m. atDeb & Jerry’s Restuarant.

Longbranch Community Baptist Church orientation forUpward Basketball and Cheerleading, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the church. For information, call (972) 723-6442.

November 6Free financial seminar “Freedom Debt” by Sue Falter withPrimerica, 7 p.m. at the Midlothian Health Center.

November 9WGMS annual Veteran's Day Celebration, 10:30 a.m. atWalnut Grove Middle School. All armed forces veterans areencouraged to attend. Lunch will be provided for veteransand their spouses after the event. Contact Walnut GroveMiddle School, (972) 775-5355, if you plan to attend.

November 10 Dallas Zoo Nature Exchange program, 9 a.m. - noon atPettigrew Academy, 806 East Marvin, Waxahachie. Call(972) 923-1633 for more information or to exhibit.

Corby Lacroix and the House Ranch Band on stage at 7:30 p.m. at Deb & Jerry's Restuarant.

Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Lions Club from 7 - 11a.m. Call (972) 775-7118 for information.

November 11Santa will make another special appearance at MadearisStudio at 1000 East Main Street #301. Call (972) 775-8489for information.

November 2007 Community Calendar

November 13“Look Good Feel Better Program,” sponsored by theAmerican Cancer Society, 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. at theMidlothian Wellness Center, (Methodist Imaging Center),2210 Bryan Place, Midlothian. Free admission. Program for women undergoing cancer treatments. A licensed cosmetologist provides a free workshop on makeup application and skin care. A complimentary makeup kit isprovided to each participant. Contact Vicki Hallum at (972)775-7410 for information.

November 14Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at the MidlothianConference Center.

November 15Ribbon Cutting for Approved Home Health Care, 11:30 a.m.at 200 Silken Crossing, Ste. 202.

November 1719th Annual Midlothian Band Booster Christmas Craft Fair,9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Midlothian High School. Contact MelanieMiller at (972) 723-0971 for information.

Santa will make another special appearance at MadearisStudio at 1000 East Main Street #301. Call (972) 775-8489for information.

November 26Creative Quilters Guild of Ellis County meeting, 7 p.m. atSt. Paul Episcopal Church, Hwy. 287 at Ovilla Road,Waxahachie. Visit CQGuild.org for information.


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