Around Town ~ The Book Nook on Main

        As an avid reader I’m so excited that there is a book store once again in Sulphur Springs.  The Book Nook on Main located at 218-A Main Street, in downtown Sulphur Springs, is the small, sweet escape for your book buying needs.  Open Thursday - Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday - Monday from Noon to 4 pm, be sure to check social media for up to the date hours, before you stop by.  

The Book Nook on Main offers readers a variety of genres and options for readers to explore the pages beyond everyday life.  Get lost in a memoir or discover a new cook book.  This book store has a little bit of something for everyone, including a children's section, featuring the store owner’s, very own children’s books.  

Not only do we have a book store, but it is owned and operated by a local author, Sharon Feldt, who has written a few different children’s stories.  Her first book The Stable is a portrayal of Christ’s Birth from the point of view of the animals.  I feel like her more recognizable books are the Sarah O’Shea books, shown in our images above.  Who could miss all that crazy red hair?  

With a history of teaching kindergarten for over 40 years and even running a bed and breakfast in West Virginia for 7, Sharon has lots of stories to share.  Her “Sarah” books were written about a student of hers years ago who took it upon herself to be Sharon’s fashion consultant one year.  Even her book about a mouse and a keyboard, stem from experiences she has had in her life.  

Her latest adventure, the book store, developed when Billie Ruth suggested she open a store and share her knowledge of the literary world with others.    Not only is she actively running her book store, she continues to write and is currently developing a story about her dog Percy.  You can sometimes find Percy in the shop, looking for attention or just hanging out behind the counter. 

Take some time to drop into the Book Nook on Main to find your next read or explore the world through the eyes of another person.  Pull up a chair to enjoy some local treats from Beef Cakes Meats and Sweets, and a cup of coffee or tea.  

Sharon also carries a variety of book trinkets to help readers fully enjoy their reading experiences.  Book marks, tote bags and tumblers can all be purchased during your visit. You can even find local authors doing book signings and Storytime's in the shop. A special section of the store is dedicated to local authors, which continues to show the support our community gives to one another. 

Once a month Duckies Book Pond meets at the Book Nook on Main at 10 a.m. and Storytime with Kate happens on a regular basis as well.  The next time you can hear her story will be Saturday, April 4 during the Easter event in the Courtyard.  There is always something new and exciting happening at the book store.  Find your next favorite read while there.

In the Garden ~ Victory Garden

 

        The effort at home during World War I was to encourage families to plant a Victory Garden.  Widely encouraged during World War II as well, Victory Gardens were a sign of support and self-sufficiency of the Americans on the home front.  Call it what you will, a garden is one of the best ways for people to feed themselves from the land they already own and occupy.  A Victory Garden became ways for neighbors to help neighbors during times of strife and challenge. 

Today the landscape of the American people has changed and gardens could have a bigger impact on today's culture than ever before.  Food deserts are popping up everywhere in large cities and create food scarcity for millions of families.  Food scarcity is a larger problem today than it was sixty or even seventy years ago.  Afterall, “13.7 percent (18.3 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2024” (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics).  

Not everyone can grow a garden or have access to even attempt to grow in containers but there are other options available to help reduce food scarcity.  In our community alone there are several food resources that are open to applicants and provide a variety of food choices to help eliminate food scarcity.  There is even a community garden whose goal it is to feed those in need but provide a learning space for others to learn how to grow their own food and help them to become self-sufficient.  

Gardening is more than just feeding your family. It’s a skill that can be put to use to help others learn to grow food and provide nutrition in a meaningful and fulfilling way.  The sense of pride and accomplishment from growing your own food and sharing with those around you is worth more than one can measure.  “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”  The same concept can be given to the garden.  

A garden doesn’t need to be acres upon acres.  It can start at as two small pots of items you want to try.  Potatoes and tomatoes, or squash and cucumbers.  Find your favorite veggie and start out small, then grow as you learn more and can expand into more space.  Find a sunny window and allow your plants to flourish.  Learn from family, friends or the internet how to grow your favorite food.  Ask for help from your local garden center or attend a live class to learn how to grow your own food.  

Knowledge is power in all things, not just in your primary education but in all aspects of your life.  Work with your neighbors to grow different things and share the bounty with each other.  Come together and grow food to feed your body and your soul.  Whether you are growing food for your family or to share, the reward will be worth the effort in the end. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Thyme Whiskey Limoncello

     

    March is here at last and we are ready for all that this month happens to bring with it.  Vacations, Spring break and hopefully a little rain.  To start the month off in a celebratory mood, we will be serving up our cocktail of the month, a Thyme Whiskey Limoncello.  Of course, we used our favorite Irish whiskey for this drink, Telling Single Pot Whiskey.  But you can use your favorite Whiskey or whatever you happen to have on hand.  Of course we chose an Irish whiskey in remembrance of St. Patrick’s Day. 

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, who when he was just 16 years old, was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave.  He managed to escape but returned to convert the Irish to Christianity in 432 ce, and is recorded with opening churches, monasteries and schools during his thirty years on the island.  He is said to have used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and is also said to have driven snakes from Ireland.  The Irish community celebrates the day as a religious feast day and it became Americanized in 1732 led by parade, “wearing of the green,” and dying rivers green, just to name a few.  

In continued celebration with St. Patrick, we selected Irish Whiskey as our base for our cocktail of the month and are excited to share it with you this month.  Please note here are a few more tips to make your drink the way you want it when making it on your own.  If you like your drink on the sweeter side, add in an ounce of simple syrup.  Do not have any Limoncello, just add more fresh squeezed lemon juice.  Make your drink the way you want it and use your favorite whiskey. 

Thyme Whiskey Limoncello

Serves 1

2 ounces Teeling Whiskey

1 ounce Limoncello

½-¾ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice

One sprig of thyme

Pull off the thyme leaves directly into your ice filled shaker cup.  Add in the whiskey, limoncello and lemon juice.  Shake until the outside is cold.  Pour into an ice filled glass.  Garnish with lemon rind and fresh thyme. 

This cocktail is great to sip and enjoy under the moon light, with friends.  Enjoy your drink with a hearty Irish stew or Seafood chowder.  Ask for it by request when you stay at the Oaks Bed and Breakfast or for any special event.  

Please enjoy responsibly and have a designated driver.  Cheers!

In the Garden ~ Companion Planting

 

    This February weather has been pretty mild so far, but do not let it fool you into complacency, your plants are not yet ready to go outside.  What you can do instead is get ready to plant in the coming weeks by starting your plants early inside, if you have the space.  This could be anywhere you have good lighting or you can also use grow lights.  If you are really lucky, a green house.  To get some of the best yields you have ever had, we wanted to talk about companion planting.  

Companion planting is growing vegetables, herbs or flowers near each other to optimize the soil, bug deterrents and pollinators, for a stronger healthier plant and a larger yield.  Did you know that tomatoes love carrots?  While we usually plant basil with our tomatoes, they also love carrots.  Since carrots like cooler weather, start them first, then succession plant in tomatoes and basil, as the days go longer and the temperature increases.

Another favorite of ours to plant together is nasturtium and cucumbers.  Nastirtium is a flowering green, where everything it grows is edible.  The flower and leaves are a perfect addition to salads, and adds a bit of peppery spice to the dish.  Cucumbers thrive with nasturtium growing close by.  Ours took off and did not look back.  

Probably our most successful and favored planting companions is the “three sisters” combination of beans, squash and corn.  This triple threat works great together and produces wonderful yields when grown together.  With differing times of produce, you can have food all summer long with these companions.

We usually mix together our greens, in rows by and around each other.  Kale, spinach, arugula and chard all go well together and create bountiful yields when planted.  The cooler weather allows for greens to grow and thrive together early on in the season, and when planted next to each other, they all thrive.  

We have left the best for last, marigolds.  Marigolds are a garden staple and we plant these all around the edge of our beds to help keep away unwanted pests and to draw in pollinators.  Marigolds help tomatoes, summer squash, lettuce, and green beans.  These flowers are beautiful as well as beneficial for any garden.  

Do not be afraid to combine your plants this year for a stronger, healthy plant that produces more food for you and your family.  Companion planting is more than just planting next to each other, its a great way to ward off pests and optimize your garden to produce more.  Be sure to check out the chart from the Farmers Almanac website for more details and plants that we did not cover.  Happy planning and plating this Spring.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Pomegranate Bliss Martini

    

     Love is in the air, or at least the card and chocolate companies want you to think so. Personally, I feel that love can and should be celebrated all year long.  Afterall, it should not be something you take for granted or celebrate only when the calendar tells you to do so.  Even though that is how I feel I still wanted to create a cocktail this month that brought out the feelings of love.  The only way I knew how to make that happen was with color.  

While pink is not my favorite color, it does demonstrate qualities of love and has people feeling like they are feeling the love, when drinking this delicious mixture.  A simple yet elegant drink with a bit of mint, makes for a wonderful and flavorful drink to enjoy while dining.  The pomegranate really sings in this one, and gives a lovely tart but also sweet finish.  

While this drink is served in a martini glass it holds none of the traditional martini flavors or alcohols in the mix.  It is strictly of its own making.  While made in a shaker cup, you could possibly pour and stir, if that is your preferred way to drink and serve a martini.  Today we are shaking, and then pouring our drink into our preferred glass.  

The glass ware used to serve a martini has become an iconic piece of drink couture, and was originally designed to help keep the contents cold, and away from warm hands.  This elegant v-shaped glass really became all the rage in the mid 1920’s and could be found all over the world, and made more popular with the desire for people to imbibe in gin.  Either way, the v-shaped glass has become known as a martini glass to patrons the world over.

Pomegranate Bliss Martini

¾ ounce Pomegranate Juice

  1 ½ ounces  Vodka

½ ounce Cointreau

½  ounce Fresh lime juice

Mint for garnish

Place mint in the bottom of the shaker cup and muddle.  Add ice and the remaining ingredients.  Shake until the outside of the cup is cold.  Pour into martini glass. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.  If you would like  your drink to be a bit sweeter add in ¼ to ½ ounce simple syrup. 

This drink is so simple to make and great to share with others.  You may be wondering if you can substitute out Cointreau with Grand Marnier, and I would say no, unless you are ready for the color of your drink to change.  Grand Marnier is a darker, more amber colored liquor while the Cointreau is clear.  Let the pomegranate shine in this drink and keep the Grand Marnier for another time.  

Around Town ~ Villa Del Mar

 

        Time flies when you are having fun and that can’t be more true when owning a restaurant.  A new Mexican food restaurant opened just last September and we finally made our way over to check out Villa Del Mar.  Located at 326 Industrial Drive E, Sulphur Springs, and open Sunday - Thursday from 11 am - 10 pm, and Friday - Saturday from 11 am - 11 pm.  On special event  nights they are open later.  Of course, you can hop in for happy hour from 2-6 pm during the week and grab a drink.

Diego and I chatted for a bit before the evening rush to find out what the best dishes are and when the musical talent will be arriving next.  If you have not been inside the building in a while, there is a raised platform towards the front that allows for bands to come and perform.  This Saturday is when they will next have a live band, performing from 8 pm - 12 am.  And then a mariachi band will play on Saturday, February 14.  This Saturday, come and see Pilotos Del Triangulo, no cover fee, order some food and drinks and enjoy the music.  

Villa Del Mar is not your typical Tex-Mex, while they do have some crowd favorites on the menu their focus is more seafood, with that great Mexican flavor.  Think Coastal Mexico, with a variety of seafood choices to fill your plate and your tummy.  By far the favorite dish at the restaurant is their seafood tostadas.  Three fried corn tortillas, topped with a variety of items including some seafood favorites.  The other crowd favorite is molcajete, and their seafood option is the most selected one.  A bowl filled with octopus, shrimp, a delicious sauce and so much flavor.  

Of course I should have asked about the favorites before we ordered but what we ordered was just as delicious.  Shrimp nachos, chicken enchiladas, full shrimp dish and a brisket dish that had a great kick.  If spice isn’t your thing, be sure to ask if you can have your dish a little bit milder, even my spice loving group, was looking for their water glass.  

If water is not your beverage of choice, Villa Del Mar offers a full bar with plenty of beers on tap or in the bottle.  Customize your drink with specialty tequila or grab one to sip on during your meal.  Or ask for some classic mixed drinks such as a Paloma or house made Margarita. You will not be disappointed with your choice. 

We hope that you will stop in and visit Villa Del Mar soon and discover Mexican food from the ocean is just as delicious as that from Texas.  No matter if you are there for just a meal or to enjoy the band, you won’t go wrong with a visit. 

B2B Travel ~ Work and Wander

     I recently had to travel for work and figured I would take a bit of time to add in some wander to my travels.  While traveling for work is about being productive and functional there is no reason to miss out, go and explore the destination.  This is true now more than ever when “bleisure” and “townsizing” have become intrinsic with business travel. 

Work and wander go hand in hand when traveling to smaller towns, such as where our bed and breakfast is located and other small towns world wide.  Studies have found that taking breaks throughout the day can actually increase productivity in workers, which can be even more true for those who are traveling while working.  Why not add in that bit of wander to help boost energy and productivity?

The edge in boosting productivity starts with the location where you stay.  Local accommodations such as a boutique inn or bed and breakfast, will serve as your personal guide.   These hosts help you to make the best “wander” decisions in your day, so that wander time is used wisely and effectively. 

Wandering can help to reset your mind and body from being locked in a singular place for too long and increase blood flow to reactivate your mind for better results once back in that week's office.  Whether a stroll through a historic downtown or even walking to a local cafe for lunch these moments of movement improve your focus for the remainder of the day. 

Now that you have found the perfect place to stay and they are helping your to explore, embrace your work life balance with that bit of wander when traveling for business.  Take the time during the day to explore a little to get the lay of the land, or use innkeeper recommendations for authentic local experience. 

Work and wander is more than a new trend,  it’s a new way of approaching business travel.  By taking those short breaks to explore your temporary home, you’ll discover that the best part of the trip isn’t just the work you finish, but the world you find along the way.