MANSFIELD, TX — Tonya LeClair was only about 8 months old when her dad brought her to visit Grandma at her job in the Wonder Bread bakery in Sioux City, Iowa. Little Tonya’s eye rested on a ceramic kitty cat with a little pink nose. “She had a fit wanting it,” said Evelyn Pedersen, aka Grandma, who is now 80 years old and living with Tonya and her husband, Ed, and their son, Brandon. Wonder kitty sits atop their kitchen cabinet, purring at all the love he witnesses.

The family moved into their new home in August of last year from just up the street. Tonya had been laid off, so they all downsized. Originally from Iowa, they came to Texas 14 years ago. Now, Brandon is in his third year at Legacy High School, where he sings in the choir besides pursuing his studies. He uses his bedroom as a practice hall before choir concerts. And to prepare for a hoped- for career in criminal justice, this young history buff spends a lot of his time here at home, in his room, reading.

“I’m also on the computer, Facebook, into technology and figuring out how the programs on the computer work,” Brandon said. “Like Microsoft PowerPoint, which I use for my history notes so I can go over them and remember them.” This diligence translates into mostly A’s and B’s all this year and last year, and has earned the young man a place in Who’s Who of American High School Students.

Just up the hall is Evelyn’s room, past the ocean-themed bathroom, which Brandon keeps clean so his great- grandma can enjoy it, too. “The seashell motif was Brandon’s idea,” beamed Evelyn, whose pride in her great- grandson contributes to the fun in the home they share.

Another factor, Ed explained with a grin: “Grandma’s in her second teenage years.”

So, Ed and Tonya run Evelyn and Brandon from here to there. Ed will be teaching Brandon to drive this year. And Evelyn? “When I came down from Iowa to live with them, I said, ‘You just have to know your limits.’ I told them, ‘I don’t drive.’” But Evelyn met a “friend,” Bill Benson, at the 2009 Christmas dance at the Mansfield Activities Center. And Bill drives. “Grandma’s got him running all over to pick up their friends for the dances,” Ed laughed.

“I can’t have anybody sitting by themselves,” Evelyn said. “Once Bill and I started dancing, we’ve been dancing ever since.”

Brandon helps everyone in the family. “Keeping up with Grandma is a full- time job,” said Brandon, who helps her fix stuff. If Bill wants his computer to even run, he calls Brandon. The teen also cooks and bakes, finding many of his recipes on the Internet.

This Easter, he will help Ed and Tonya cook a nice meal. Since Brandon has grown up, they no longer decorate Easter eggs. Tonya treasures an Easter bunny, hanging out in a little basket, made by two of her sisters. One does the sawing, and the other — who is legally blind — uses a magnifying glass to draw and paint. “Between the two of them they

can make just about anything,” Tonya said. “Of course, Easter is about Jesus, and we go to mass.” They have crosses displayed, as well. The one in the kitchen curio cabinet, hanging behind the flowers, came from Ed’s parents. A rebar cross on the front porch is propped next to a little deer Evelyn brought from Iowa three years ago, after accepting Ed’s invitation to move down to Mansfield where family could care for her.

Grandma shared the task of decorating this home with Tonya, who loves the rosary from the Holy Land that hangs on the living room curio cabinet full of dolls and mementos of Ed’s family. This is where Ed relaxes after a long day’s work at Cuna Mutual Group working with disability claims. He watches the History Channel on television, surrounded by two sentimental and long-lived houseplants. “The peace lily came from Grandpa Teddy’s funeral, in 1996,” Tonya said. “That plant is so durable! Our Labrador- Boxer mix, Daisy, once pulled it down, and I repotted it. Once we went on a trip and came home to find it drooping. Now, it’s blooming!” Brandon planted the other vine during second grade in a two-liter coke bottle. Half of it is now in his great- grandma’s room, where Evelyn sleeps with her shadow, Lucky the Chihuahua- Rat Terrier. Eight decades of beautiful memories line the walls of Evelyn’s room. “In 1975, my middle husband stood in line for four hours to get me a Cabbage Patch Kid. It’s pathetic,” laughed Evelyn. “Her name is Sheila, and she has a birth certificate! I found Jimmie at a garage sale so she could have company. I can’t stand for nothing to be alone.”

Everything in Evelyn’s curio cabinet has a story, from the poem “What Mom Took” painted in gold on a ceramic book that her youngest son gave her, to the flowers from her wedding to JR, to the corsage from Tonya’s wedding to Ed. “This glass rose is supposed to be put on a bride’s breakfast-in-bed tray, and that’s going to be Brandon’s,” reminisced Evelyn. “The sugar and creamer I got in 1939, when I married my first husband, who gave me my children. Behind it is a vase from 1958, when I married  my second husband who helped raise my children. The blue plate I got from Denmark in 1997, when I married my third husband, who was just for me.”

“He worshiped the ground you walked on,” Ed said.

“I don’t associate with bad men,” Evelyn said with a wink, patting Bill on the arm.

Opposite Evelyn and Brandon’s wing is the bedroom Ed and Tonya share. For organizing her clothes, they use a buffet that was Ed’s grandmother’s. “It was manufactured sometime in the 1800s, and was pretty shabby, but I took it and sanded it, refinished it. I’m still working on it,” Ed said. “The desk was also handed down from my grandma. Both of those have followed me throughout my life.”

Ed follows the family closely, looking for ways to help. When Tonya bakes guitar cakes for Grandma or a truck cake for a friend, Ed is there to help clean up. Sunday mornings, he heads to the kitchen and whips up eggs, bacon and hash browns. “Eddie doesn’t have to get up. He could sleep another half hour,” Tonya observed. “But he gets up and makes breakfast for us all!” Then he takes Evelyn to worship at Bisbee Baptist Church before the LeClair’s go to their church service.

“Breakfast is something my dad used to cook for us on Sundays. It’s a family tradition,” Ed shrugged. “In this relaxed family, everyone knows what they are supposed to do, and they just do it. God has blessed us. So far, so good.”

Written by Melissa Rawlins.

“Being in a small community where people are so friendly is wonderful,” she said.

Erie, Pennsylvania, the town from which Dolores hails, is greatly influenced by the many Italian immigrants who settled in that city’s Little Italy many years ago. “Most of my vacations throughout the years have been back to Erie,” Dolores revealed.

She and her late husband, Alfred Richard Schriefer, were high school sweethearts attending very traditional Catholic schools in the city. “We knew each other quite a while before we got married,” Dolores recalled. Their 57-year marriage produced five children.

Transfers were a fact of life during Al’s 45-year career with General Telephone and Electronics Corporation (GTE), which is now Verizon Communications. From Erie the couple moved to Lexington, Kentucky, followed by a move to California. The year 1970 brought Dolores and Al to Corsicana and their current home. “This home has only had one owner, really,” Dolores stated. Updates that Dolores has completed throughout the years have made the home reflective of her Italian and Catholic heritage, as well as a beautiful and functional abode in which to entertain and live.

The entryway is convenient to both the den and living room. A bay window enlarges the living room and provides space for Dolores’ Christmas village each year. Pieces of the village, with its rolling hills of snow, have been given to Dolores over the years by friends and family. She especially enjoys the Christmas season and keeps many of her decorations on display year-round. Her near-Christmas birthday inspires a love of angels and Madonnas.

A collection of Swarovski crystal sparkles in a cabinet above an English butler table that was purchased locally. Several other furniture pieces are reminders of the couple’s time as newlyweds. A Nativity scene crafted by the Anri master wood carvers of the Tuscany area of Italy and Dolores’ Hummel figurine collection from Germany complete the European tour of the formal area. Hummel figures were first created by Sister Hummel, a Catholic nun whose artworks and drawings continue to inspire the figurines of children and Catholic saints.

Dolores has hung an elegant engagement portrait of herself in the formal dining room. Her mother commissioned the work of art. Artistic talent runs in the family, as elaborate needlework created by Dolores’ mother, her daughter and daughter-in-law grace other walls. Dolores enjoys knitting as a pastime.

The focal point of the kitchen, remodeled in 1997, is the beautiful hand- painted backdrop of a Mediterranean area scene created in hand-painted tiles by Stephanie Brown. The work, commissioned by Dolores, is complemented further by the custom painted tile work carried throughout the countertops. “I wanted to see the Mediterranean every day,” she explained.

The informal dining area, with its bay window, is a favorite and comfortable gathering place for friends and Dolores’ children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Since her children all live in Texas, Dolores hosts regular family get-togethers. A leaded glass cabinet provides ample display and storage space for her collection of hand-painted Tuscan pottery pieces, which are inspired by Italian art and fashion designs.

Family holiday gatherings are celebrated in traditional Italian fashion. Dolores remembers when her children discovered at school that their classmates ate turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and ham for Easter. “They came home saying, ‘It’s Christmas, and they’re going to have turkey again,’” she laughed. The menu for Easter in Dolores’ kitchen includes ravioli, antipasto, sausage meatballs with sauce and ricotta cheesecake pie. “The ravioli takes all day to prepare,” Dolores stated. “Everything is made by hand, from scratch.”
A very recently remodeled half guest bath and utility area leads out to a side entry garage. Dolores purchased an onyx vessel, which she had installed as a sink with a decorative old-fashioned style hand-water pump for a faucet. New tile throughout completes the look.

A fireplace gently warms the den and welcomes everyone to come in and relax. The mantel displays two of Dolores’ favorite Hummel Madonnas and two pieces of Lladro figurines. Angels also watch from high above the mantel. A complete wall of the room is dedicated to lighted, built-in cabinets, which are the backdrop for the colorful collections of Hummels, Italian ceramic clowns and the white cups of Vietri pottery.

A trip down the hallway leading to the four bedrooms is also a visit down memory lane for Dolores since family photographs for several generations have been hung with care. One bedroom is dedicated to a home office space where more family photos and needlework are displayed. Two guest bedrooms are adjoined by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.

These rooms were recently redecorated in shades of pink and aqua, with wicker furnishings giving the sunshine bright rooms with their large windows a feeling of being out-of-doors.
The master bedroom is decorated in warm corals and greens with an accompanying bath that wraps around to the hallway. Dolores, ever updating her home, has plans for a complete remodeling of these two rooms, which will complete the European trip throughout this warm and inviting home.

Dolores enjoys sitting on her backyard patio, which takes full advantage of her corner lot where she has created a rock garden guarded by a faithful little garden gnome. After working for nearly 20 years as the bookkeeper for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Collins Catholic School, Dolores does not just relax in her retirement years. Still active in her church, she also enjoys playing golf and other activities with the Ladies Golf Association at Corsicana Country Club and playing poker with “the girls.” “It’s nice to be in a town where you can be involved in things,” Dolores said. Even when travels take her away from Corsicana to New England and Cape Cod, she is still ready to come home to her little piece of Europe in Corsicana where she can be involved in the business of living.

Written by Virginia Riddle.

“We’re original for each other,” Glena added. And considering the circumstances that brought them together, it would seem their destinies were determined.
Larry grew up in Sweetwater, Texas, and had it not been for an odd turn of events, he and Glena might never have met. It was the late ’60s. Larry was a missile technician in the Army, and he had every expectation of going to Vietnam. “The day we were to leave, my unit received orders to report to Key West, Florida, instead. When we arrived, we were given the choice to report to any missile base in the United States. I picked the Nike Hercules Missile Base in Alvarado because it was in Texas.” He was stationed in Alvarado for six months and, in that time, a mutual friend introduced him to Glena. Before long, the two native Texans were married. They began their lives as husband and wife in a marriage that continues to be powered by a spirit of collaboration and an agreement to keep each other a priority.
When Larry retired in 1994 following 28 years with Amoco Oil, Glena suggested moving from Odessa to Fort Worth. They purchased a condominium overlooking the fastidious lawns of Ridglea Country Club, which was also convenient to the elementary school where she is a diagnostic technician.

Until the beginning of last year, Burleson was nowhere in their future. “I was born and raised in Cleburne,” Glena said. “For me, Burleson was a place to drive through to visit grandparents in Fort Worth.” As it turned out, 2010 was a pivotal year. It began with their daughter Pamela, 2-year-old beloved granddaughter Katheryn and son-in-law Pete moving from Dallas to San Jose, California, and with Larry discovering something in Burleson that would turn
their worlds upside-down. “We like to collaborate,” Glena said. And that is a good thing, for it was this spirit of collaboration that enabled them to build their dream home and move to Burleson last July.

It began when the Burleson neighborhood of Southern Oaks caught Larry’s attention. “He thought we would like the area,” Glena explained. “He knows I am all about a view. We picked our Fort Worth condominium largely because it overlooked the country club.”

When they saw the lot in Burleson and realized it was an opportunity to customize a home against a backdrop of trees and the Southern Oaks Country Club, they agreed it was time to build a home and that Burleson was the place to do it. “We looked at a house in the neighborhood that had already been built and made changes to fit our style. We like the Tuscany look, and I found a photo in a magazine to guide us,” Glena said. “The house, built by Peter Thomas of Oakmont Classic Homes, is basically designed around the view from the back of our house. We wanted the inside to be as open as possible so the great room, breakfast area and kitchen are banked by large windows with full views to the outside.” The master suite is also fitted with large windows and offers stunning morning views. “I like to have my coffee sitting in the oversized chair in our bedroom,” Glena said.

Attention to quality and detail is abundantly apparent in the 2,800-square- foot home. From the custom front door with scrolled ironwork on a glass panel to the striking “art piece” of a copper vent-a-hood over the island cook top in the kitchen, it has all been carefully chosen.

“Larry was there through the building process,” Glena said. “We would come out in the evenings. We made most of the decisions together, except for the vent-a-hood that was Larry’s project. He designed it, but it was handmade by a local craftsman.”
The kitchen’s granite countertops and exquisite cabinetry, coupled with the copper vent-a-hood, make the perfect statement at the heart of the home. The kitchen opens to the great room which is lined with tall windows and accentuated by a large remote-controlled gas fireplace. “Larry’s favorite rooms are the master bath and game/media room,” Glena
said. The master bath includes beautiful travertine tile and birch cabinetry. It is home to two angel statues mounted above each entrance. Larry’s game/ media room sports a full-sized pool table and large-screen TV with four electric- controlled leather recliners. The walls are deep red, the carpet is stylishly patterned and the bar countertop is made of rainforest marble. There is also a balcony that affords a view from the upstairs.

Glena picked most of the home’s interior colors which, in Tuscan fashion, are “tannish” yellow with a soft faux peach on some of the ceilings and in the formal dining room. The ceilings, most of which are at least 11 feet tall, have varying architectural features including the “barrel” entrance with two chandeliers that cast their own patterns. The ceilings are accented with crown molding throughout.

There is an office toward the front of the house with custom-made cabinetry and a not-so-custom statue. “I call him Einstein,” Larry said. The 3-foot plaster statue with a stack of books in his hand resembles the famous scientist.

Not surprisingly, one of the three bedrooms was decorated and reserved especially for “Princess Katheryn.” Although she lives in California now, she has already visited her special room, and like grandmother like granddaughter, her favorite spot is the little table in front of a big window.

The Bagleys left the backyard small to minimize maintenance and for the enjoyment of having a long back porch. “The foliage from the natural stand of trees and tall grasses between the house and golf course cools the wind as it comes through in the spring and summer,” Larry explained. “We like the wilderness of the natural area, and it helps with drainage during heavy rains. In the springtime, the trees fill out, but we can still see the golf course when we’re sitting down. Our condominium was on a golf course in Fort Worth, but this is different because it is natural.”

“I could have a little hut out here as long as I have the view,” Glena said. “But I love the style, and we love living in Burleson. I don’t mind coming from work on that busy highway because I know I’m coming home.”

Written by Carolyn Wills

Another “eye” is then added for every year of that child’s life until he or she reaches the age of 5. The four points of the eye’s design represent earth, fire, air and water, which combine to give the eye the power to see and understand the unknown and unknowable. Jane weaves Ojos de Dios designs that are very complex and beautiful, some with as many as eight points, but they are not spiritual. More treasures lie within the china cabinet that graces the dining room. “I’ve just collected this and that,” Jane explained very modestly. Her most prized possession is a Blackware pottery bowl made by Maria Montoya Martinez and her son, Popovi, who lived in the San Ildefonso Pueblo of New Mexico. The original “Maria bowl” is joined by other pottery bowls and a horse-hair basket woven in the design of a labyrinth. A Zuni Indian Frog Woman vase signed with a frog design by the artist is an example of an animal fetish believed by the Zuni tribes to hold great powers, especially with the spirit world. Statues of a storyteller and “Van Goat,” so named by Jane because he had lost an ear, bring humor into the collection. Viewing the precious pieces Jane remarked, “It is like taking a little journey.”
A framed Navajo weaving in the hallway shows the various native southwestern plants that are gathered by the Navajos for use in making their dyes for the sheep’s wool. A woven Navajo saddle blanket decorating a nearby sofa utilizes many of the colors. In their guest bedroom, Jane pointed out two of her early paintings — a pastel on black paper cubist-style city scene and a watercolor scene of the Chama area of New Mexico. “My mother framed them and gave them to me after she found them,” Jane said.
Jane’s photographs of Canyon de Chelley in Arizona enhance the colors of a blanket that she knitted and crocheted. Jane also uses many of these same colors in the beautiful southwestern-themed necklaces that she enjoys making. One unfortunate experience with prickly pear cactus has kept Jane from using that plant in her art. “I dodge that bullet now,” she laughed. The couple uses another bedroom as an office and headquarters for Fred’s ham radio hobby, as well as his reading nook.

“I’m just very boring; I read a lot,” he said modestly. A consultant now, it was Fred’s position with Exxon that brought the couple to Corsicana, in 1981. Prior to that, they lived in Dallas, where they met and married 32 years ago. Jane, a respiratory therapist, worked for Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Navarro Regional Hospital, in Corsicana and did some agency work prior to retiring. Originally an art major during her college years in Albuquerque, a professor talked her into training for a “real job” rather than becoming another starving artist — a decision that she has not regretted. Finding activities to fill their retirement years has not been difficult for the Gordons.

“Women, especially, are like fresh red meat when they retire. I’ve had to turn people down, and sometimes they get mad,” Jane said regretfully. Jane, however, does enjoy performing with her church choir and “The Bad Habits” as Sister Mary Dyslexia. “I can’t quite get together with everyone else on the choreography, and people laughed, so we made my clumsiness part of the act,” Jane laughed.

As the cats “go fishing” among the baskets, Cookie, their dog, wanders into the house. “She’s what you would call a gently used dog. We got her from the pound after her owner had died,” Jane remembered. “She’s had to adapt to our cats, but she’s done pretty well. She’s outnumbered!”
Since their family members are scattered to the winds, Fred and Jane enjoy living in their adopted central Texas city of Corsicana. “We feel safe here,” Fred said. Jane added, “Cast your bread on the water,” to which Fred quickly responded with wry humor, “And it will sink.” But as the cats’ eyes, the many Ojos de Dios weavings and Jane’s artist’s eyes watched him, Fred added, “Home is where you make it, and we have made this our home.”

Written by Virginia Riddle

The original 1,500-square-foot house was built in 1935. Since it bears a historic designation, it must maintain its original dignified appearance — at least, on the outside. During most of the year, it does just that. Even the parlor just inside the front door wears period costume: art deco chairs and a baby grand piano. But by December 1, an 8-foot white floral tree has appeared beside the dining room door, festooned with full-size top hats in red or black. One stray hat winks from atop the piano, snuggled next to a red feather boa and a saucy pair of feminine, high-heeled red Santa boots. A reindeer ballerina stands on tiptoe to see, while stylized red Christmas trees on the mantel lean toward each other as if sharing the joke. “Those are our ‘tipsy’ trees,” Becky explained.

Bob and Becky Lynn

The parlor’s whimsy echoes the Lynns’ own love story. The traditional way to a man’s heart is through his stomach; rarely do you find a way to a woman’s heart through a man’s stomach. Bob and Becky, longtime casual acquaintances, had become “single again.” Becky, a fourth-grade teacher at Northside Elementary, was also a cook of almost legendary skill. One day, Becky related, “Bob got real hungry. He called me and asked, ‘If I bring some food will you cook it?’ I told him, ‘Yes.’ I was perfectly content staying single, but we found out we liked all the same things. Bob even likes shopping!”

Bob smiled and patted his stomach. “That was 14 years and 40 pounds ago!”

Anyone might gain weight in the inviting “Peacock” dining room, featuring off-white trim against bold blue walls. For the holidays, the room glitters with peacock-feathered garland, centerpiece and Christmas tree, their blues and purples frosted with gold.

The kitchen, just beyond the dining room, wears a casual costume that could have been designed by Mrs. Santa herself. Dubbed “The Gingerbread Room,” it is accessorized with candy canes, its own shiny red tree and gingerbread people. These seem to have come from the gingerbread house outside, which last week had been an ordinary tool shed.

The Lynns bought their home in 2005. When they first began looking, they did not consider an older house. But their Realtor knew of one previously for sale that she thought they would love. It was not even on the market, but she asked the owner whether she would like to sell. The owner agreed. When the Realtor described the house, Becky said, “We decided to buy it without even seeing the inside first.”

Becky’s favorite room is the white bookshelf-lined library off the entry. Mischievous stuffed animals adorn its white Christmas tree, their teasing smiles giving no hint about what is in the gift-wrapped packages scattered around the room.

The front rooms still have their original windows and dark wood floors. But in the five years since joining the Lynn family, the house has grown considerably. A new den with a stone fireplace puts on Christmas finery each December just like the older rooms. A tall gold-and-silver “snowflake” tree occupies one corner, while smaller trees twinkle from tabletops and shelves. Wilson, the Labrador Retriever, has his own tree on the hearth, just below his personalized stocking. Not surprisingly, the master suite holds yet another Christmas tree, laden with handmade ornaments. Lighted “gifts” and stuffed bears fill a guest cradle along one wall. The room also sports greenery, tinsel and a snow-skiing polar bear. Becky is most enthused about the suite’s two separate bathrooms. “It was Bob’s idea,” she said. “He managed to get two whole bathrooms into this space. We just had to make one of the closets smaller… and it wasn’t going to be mine!”

In the spare bedroom, a boisterous pile of gift packages and stuffed animals spills over the bed. And the closet holds a secret: a leaded-glass window in the hallway is set into one of its walls. The glow from the window lights up the hall whenever the closet light is on. “This window came from an old building in Chicago,” Bob said. “When we bought it, we had no place to put it.” In the last few years, the Lynns have gained four grandchildren. “It’s a new chapter in our life,” Bob said.

“Grandparenting is the only way to go.” With all the toys and presents, it is no wonder the little ones love to visit in December. In fact, it looks as if the home dressed up just for them. Bob disagreed. “No, we do the fun stuff for us — if they like it, that’s great!”

How can the home of two busy professionals transform, with no visible effort, into a winter wonderland full of quirky decorations? If you suspect they had a little help from elves, you are not far wrong. “We bought most of our decorations from the Briar Patch,” Becky explained. “Last year we gave Kirstie Brown, the owner, a house key, and she started decorating while we were at work.” Elfin help could not have come at a better time; the Lynns’ house was slated for the 2009 Candlelight Home Tour. They love to share their home, but they must find many volunteers. Bob has learned to keep the house manned throughout each hour of the tour. One evening last year, tour traffic dwindled. It was early, but no visitors had come by for some time. Bob finally suggested the volunteers call it a night, so they left. He shook his head. “It wasn’t 15 minutes later when two busses pulled up, and people just poured out.” Becky laughed, remembering the chaos. “It was hectic there for a while!”

Bob explained why they do not mind hosting: “I think we are two of the most blessed people we know, and we feel an obligation to ‘pay it forward.’” He cited the cochlear implant that saved Becky from losing her hearing and having to retire from teaching. Afterward, she heard her first birdcall in 10 years. “That was a tremendous treasure given back to us.”

Besides, the invitation to host came from Waxahachie Merchants’ Association founder Hilda Harbin Chapman, whom Bob describes as “a silent hero — absolutely tireless.” Despite some initial misgivings, he said, “We enjoyed it; we got to hear people’s memories and the history of the neighborhood.”

The masquerade is over in January, when the Lynns must face the hardest job of all: “Un-decorating,” Becky said. “It takes weeks!”

Written by Janice C. Johnson

Married for 17 years, the Blakes met on a blind date. Though both had experienced heartache (Jan was divorced, and Tom had lost his first wife to cancer), they quickly fell in love and were married a year after they met. Originally from Boston, Tom has been in Texas for almost 40 years and works in the banking world. Jan, a native Texan, grew up in Oak Cliff and is a special events coordinator for a nonprofit organization in Dallas.

As you step into their Cedar Hill home, the first thing you will notice is the flooring that runs through the downstairs area. The paved concrete floor is stained a rich mahogany color and keeps the home cool during hot summers.
Inside the 3,500-square-foot home, which is set on one-third of an acre, an abundance of natural light brightens the entire downstairs. A painting of bright flowers, in shades of reds, pinks and whites, is framed above an antique console table, which actually matches the couple’s dining room set and kitchen decor. Avid antique collectors, the Blakes’ home is full of warm pieces.

Across the foyer entrance is the downstairs office. Larger than your average home office, the room has built- in shelves filled with books and photos of the Blakes and their family members. A carpet in the center of the room, its center oval design a blend of red and pink roses, provides a pop of color.

The Blakes’ home is not one of angles and lines, but of curves and turns that invite you to explore and take it all in. In the living room, two mauve-colored chairs face a couch, the furniture adjacent to the family’s fireplace. The fireplace — framed in green, white and black swirly marble tiles — features hidden panels where small knickknacks are stored.
“Extra storage spaces like this are all over the home,” Tom said, “especially in the form of existing closets where, in most homes, only walls would be.”

The Blake home was custom-built, and as a recommendation to others who are building their homes, Jan advised, “Don’t just take pictures of the home as it goes up, follow the framers as they go about building spaces.”
Jan proudly showed off her hidden closets and extra-sized storage areas, including an attic where rows of gently used gift bags hang in a rainbow of polka dots, stripes and solid colors. “If you ever get to build, do. And be there when they frame out. A lot of times, people don’t ealize there’s a lot of empty space where they put a wall up, and there’s a bunch of wasted space where they could put a closet or something.”

The Blakes love to entertain and are very active in the Dallas Northway campus of The Village Church. Each Tuesday, some members of their church gather at their home for fellowship. The couple’s strong faith, reverence for family and hospitable spirit are truly reflected in their decor.

A large table stands in the living room, where a small statue of a tree rests on a trio of ornate and illustration-filled Bibles. Jan refers to this as her “tree of life.” A soft gold vase resting on the mantel has the shape of a water jug, which women of biblical times used to gather water. Two wooden statues are also on display — one playing an instrument resembling a guitar and one of a mother and a small child hugging her long skirts. “My faith is reflected in all of this,” she said of the symbolism.

The kitchen in the home is painted in cheery yellows, accented by decorative blue and yellow plates adorning the walls — some from local antique shops, while others arrived from faraway lands like Holland, Scotland and Germany. The Blakes and their daughter, Becky, a student in her last semester of law school, are avid travelers.

On the other side of the kitchen is the formal dining room. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling, its decorative, shiny crystals accented by a chain of faux pearls intertwined in its cord. A china cabinet, with a backlit array of beautiful silver and glass dish settings, sits against the wall.

The master suite is also on the ground level of the home. A beautiful, dark wood antique bed and armoire set are prominent and serve as the centerpiece of the room. The adjoining bath features a traditional garden tub and gleaming his- and-her sinks. One of the most striking pieces in the bathroom is an antique stained glass window above the tub. Shades of purple, red and white are the dominant colors of the window, though it is hard to agree upon exactly what the design is. “We don’t know if it’s a flower or what,” Jan laughed.

Tom chimed in with his interpretation. “It looks like a beetle bug to me,” he said with a smile.
Moving upstairs, visitors will find an expansive game room, with a pool table and book shelves (there are over 500 books in the house) lining the wall. One wall showcases dozens of the family’s photographs and a scattering of picture frames throughout reflects happy faces and fun times. Also upstairs is the guest room, referred to as the “Rose Room” by Jan. The room is decorated in shades of green and soft pink and brings to mind a beautiful rose garden. Immediately noticeable is the padded headboard with its green and white stripes. A white wooden cross with a spray of colorful wild flowers painted on it hangs on the wall.

Entering Becky’s room, her vibrant personality and zeal for life are evident. Her athleticism (signified by a football signed by Herschel Walker), her love for travel (represented by the large replica of the Eiffel Tower in one corner) and her dedication to her studies (indicated by numerous books) are all displayed. Directly outside her room hangs a plaque from the 2001 Inauguration she attended, which includes a ticket to the event and a large photo of the student leadership group she was with.

All in all, the Blakes love their home and probably will do just a little bit more to it before it is all said and done. Effortlessly blending a mix of contemporary and classic, they have carved out their own niche on their quiet cul-de-sac. “We truly recognize the blessings we have,” Jan said, “in both our home and our lives.”

Written by Katrina D. McNair

Not ready for retirement quite yet, George and Sherry moved to Lake Richland Chambers two years ago, in spite of still being employed. The couple decided to make the move early, after being inspired by annual visits to a lakeside home owned by some friends in Toronto, Canada. “We knew we could make the move as long as I was within a two-hour drive of a major airport,” George said. That way he could continue working for a company that services toll roads across the United States.

After finding their perfect home, the couple sold their Arabian horses and left their former Flower Mound home, including furnishings and acreage, in their daughter’s capable hands. Their new home reflects their desire for the slower pace of life and allows for the hobbies they enjoy. “It’s so peaceful and relaxed here. It’s retirement living without being retired,” Sherry stated.

Set in a quiet cul-de-sac in a gated community, George and Sherry’s native limestone and antique redbrick home is nestled within attractive landscaping. Brick paths lead to the front door with an etched glass, Texas star insert. Favored reading, mystery and history books, line one wall of the entry while a welcoming quilt Sherry made displays words to live by — “Faith, Love and Hope.” Sherry’s grandfather’s dominoes are just one
of many family heirlooms displayed throughout the home. An impressive view of the lake takes visitors’ eyes through the living room where Sherry’s prized possession is placed: her baby grand piano. Artistic touches include a painting of Arabian horses hung over the limestone fireplace and a stained glass insert placed above the panoramic lake view.

The window in the isolated master bedroom overlooks the lake and a nest of baby birds provides constant enjoyment. The roll-top desk gives George an office space when at home, and a glass block wall offers privacy in the luxurious master bathroom.

A keyboard and guitar, tools of Sherry’s love of music as both a gifted performer and composer, grace her home office. She serves as part of the ministry at Corsicana’s Calvary Worship Center, and she has collaboratively written and performed with Chari “Ulise White Eagle” Bouse and another friend, David One Feather, on a CD titled Native Sounds From Heaven. A pianist since the age of 4, Sherry said, “Music is one of the most important things in my life.” Also from her home office, Sherry runs a business as show secretary for area Arabian horse clubs. “I borrow friends’ horses now when I want to ride,” she remarked.

George enjoys cooking in the functionally beautiful kitchen, which features a work island and a large pantry with a Texas star-themed door. Since he and his co-workers eat in restaurants while working out-of-town, George revealed, “The guys
that I work with trade recipes. I mess around and do most of the cooking around here.” The adjoining dining room features another magnificent view of the lake flanked by two maple chairs that George’s grandfather bought for 25 cents each. George’s boyhood chest-of-drawers that he refinished complements a large dining room table with a Lazy Susan. George is quick to point out a painting done by Sherry. “That’s one of her other talents,” he said proudly.
Daughter, Jenn, and son, Jack, both of whom are in their 20s and single, visit their parents’ home often, bringing friends with them. “All through their high school years, we were where the kids came to,” George remembered. Jenn’s bedroom sports another view of the lake as well as a framed lace antique collar given to Sherry by George’s mother. “She handed it down to me because she knew I would appreciate it,” Sherry said.

A guest bedroom shares a bath with Jenn’s room and features a display of Sherry’s quilts, including a T-shirt quilt made from T-shirts George collected from endurance horseback rides. “The longest ride I ever did was 55 miles,” he stated. The bed, bought by George’s grandfather in 1916 for $2.00, is still in use.

Caiti, the family’s rescued Doberman, beds down in the utility room, which leads to the three-car garage where George has room for his tools and workbenches. An addition above the garage has been added by the couple to accommodate Sherry’s passion for quilting, which she inherited from her mother, grandmother and aunt. “She has every sewing implement known to mankind,” George remarked. Sherry admitted, “I give quilts away to friends; I don’t make them to sell. That would ruin it for me.”

The downstairs is “party central” with a pool table and exercise area. “This is where the kids hang out,” George said. A wall displays framed memorabilia from George’s great-grandfather’s service at the Battle of Gettysburg. Jack’s bedroom is close by, with a handy exit to the lake and dock. “He’s close to the important things,” George laughed. George’s grandfather’s chest and a brass bed, purchased by George just after he graduated from college, complete the room. Ample couches allow young guests plenty of room to “crash” for the weekend. Friends are important. “We always take one major family vacation each year. The kids can always take one friend each along,” George said.

This couple has enjoyed having close neighbors. “We just transfer food back and forth. We were kind of isolated before on our acreage,” George said. Referring to the quilting room addition, George added, “My next door neighbor and I did the floor. We are now certified floor installers.”

George and Sherry met while working for the same company. “He signed my paychecks,” Sherry laughed. Married for 27 years, Sherry revealed George’s idea of relaxing. “He’ll jump on a Ski-Doo or fish. His fish commit suicide since he keeps three to four lines out at a time.” George revealed that the multitalented Sherry likes to play golf. “My husband is so supportive of everything I do; he’s absolutely the best,” Sherry exclaimed.

A “Tree of Life” quilt, one of the many quilts Sherry has made over the years, is representative of the cycle of life. George and Sherry have, fittingly, begun a new, highly creative and productive, but more restful cycle in their lives by fulfilling their dream of living in a heaven-on-earth lakeside retreat where friends and family are always welcome and new memories can be made while the memories of ’yore are cherished.

Written by Virginia Riddle

Next to loving antiques and cherishing family heirlooms, the Kellys are all about tradition. “Our Thanksgiving tradition took on another dimension the year our daughter did a project in school that involved a bottle rocket,” he explained. “Everyone enjoyed it so much that we launched our own bottle rocket contest. Each Thanksgiving, the winner takes home a perpetual trophy.

“We really kind of ‘blew’ this house up three years ago,” he continued. “Our goal was to add a porch and increase the interior space but, importantly, we didn’t want it to look like an add-on. We described our vision to an individual who drew up the plans; then we hired a contractor and were on our way.”
Today, the little house on Black Jack Lane is an impressive 2,300-square-foot country home dressed in a beautiful sandstone exterior, surrounded by stylish metal fencing that defines both the house and the neighboring building that houses Keith’s business, the KMP Group, one of the largest suppliers of emergency vehicle graphics in Texas. The original bedrooms and baths remain as they were, but the dining room, kitchen, living room and game room/home office combination have either been added or renovated.

The old front door is now an interior entry to a tiny pantry while the new front door opens to a massive dining room with 12-foot ceilings and an open state- of-the art kitchen with stainless steel counters and a massive granite-topped island. The old brick fireplace in the living room has been refaced with the same sandstone as the home’s exterior and now has the substance and look suited to a country home. With the approval of the Kelly’s three dogs, Lizzy, the Greyhound/Doberman mix; Mason, the Golden Retriever; and Abby, the Brittany Spaniel mix, the flooring in the living room is a wide- plank oak, and, in the kitchen, dining and game areas, it is a soft-colored ceramic tile. “We kept the walls and floors neutral,” Diane explained, “to highlight our antiques, most of which are family heirlooms.”

“We like old things,” Keith reiterated. “The piano, purchased in 1898, was passed down to Diane from her great-grandmother. Our bed is the one I slept in as a child. Amazingly, it survived the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood and Diane brought it back to ‘life’ by refinishing it.”
Keith’s enthusiasm for old things also extends to his passion for motor sports and historic vehicles. “I bought an antique fire truck four years ago and have driven it in more parades than I can count.” As past president of the Burleson Lions Club, Keith is active in the community. He grew up attending Formula One races in his hometown of Watkins Glen, New York, and, as president of KMP Racing, a division of his company, he has represented clients and sponsors competing at the top levels
of racing. “We’ve also held part ownership in pro racing teams,” he added.

It is hard to imagine the Kellys’ home as having been different than it is today. The open space and higher ceilings in the dining room and a portion of the kitchen meld into the original 8-foot ceilings so that the impression is one of architectural interest rather than any sign of renovation. And the large game room and home office, distinguished by a bay window and French doors opening to the back porch, show no signs of having been anything but an integral part of the home. The neutral walls and floors and tall ceilings accentuate the spacious open design so that each piece of antique furniture is set apart and appears as
a work of art. The walls are largely left bare with the exception of two substantial art pieces created by Burleson artist, Gary Crouch. “I love the kitchen, and I love that the house is so open,” Diane said, “but I especially love the big back porch.”

In fact, the expansive back porch has inspired another tradition. “A musician friend stopped by to see the house,” Keith said. “He looked at the porch and announced he and a friend would be returning to play some music, and we were welcome to invite a few of our friends.” That October evening three years ago sparked what is now known as the Battle of the Bands. Each year, the Kellys’ backyard fills with people who come to enjoy the music and, as Kelly tradition will have it, the celebration promises to thrive for many years.

Until 20 years ago, Texas was nowhere in Keith and Diane’s history nor a part of any plan. Keith had grown up in upstate New York and Diane had grown up in northern Pennsylvania. Their first home as husband and wife was in Boston where they lived for five years until Keith was called to Fort Worth for a temporary job. Before they knew it, his job became full time; Diane was offered a position in Cleburne; and the search for a new home was on. “We must have looked at 70 houses before we found this one,” Keith said. “I don’t know if we picked it because we were so tired or because we liked it!” At the time, the house was still a modest three-bedroom, two-bath, ranch style brick on four acres. Burleson was just beginning to grow and the area off East Renfro was largely unpopulated.

As life unfolded, the neighborhood developed; Burleson became a small city; and, most importantly, the Kellys’ daughter was born. “Shannon is 17,” Diane said, “and is a senior at Burleson High School.” Over the years, other changes happened, too. Keith established his business, and Diane accepted a position in the Leadership Development Department of Texas Health Resources in Arlington where she continues to enjoy her job. “We’re so blessed,” Diane said. The little house on Black Jack Lane that served the Kelly family for 17 years is now their spacious country home.

Written by Carolyn Wills

In 1961, Margie and Joe relocated from Dallas County to the outskirts of Ennis. “We moved here to help farm with my dad,” she stated. “Joe loved farming as much as I loved the country way of life.” Her parents had 525 acres of farm land; of which they gifted 128 acres to Margie and Joe. “I currently have three-and-a-half acres left,” she explained. “The rest has remained in the family.”

The farm house Margie lovingly still calls home used to boast of only two bedrooms. “My parents gave it to Joe and me while they built a new home right next door,” she said. The structural changes the couple made were few.

Closing in the garage allowed for two additional bedrooms. “One of my aunts moved in with us when the kids were younger,” she said. “We closed the garage in so she [the aunt] could take the boys’ room. Joe and I and the boys moved to the new rooms.”

Today, one bedroom serves as the home office and the other is vacant throughout the summer, until it is time for Margie to bring outdoor plants in for the winter.
“It’s lined with windows, so it makes a great hothouse,” she smiled. When the colder weather comes, the room is filled to capacity with flowers, philodendra and ferns. She and Joe also remodeled the kitchen, bringing it up-to-date.

Before retiring, Margie was the “Home Interior” lady of Ellis County. For 30 consecutive years, she helped others decorate their homes with beauty, so it is no wonder her home is just as quaint, comfortable and welcoming as the homes she has helped decorate over the years. The formal living room displays splashes of purple, Margie’s favorite color. The buffet/dining table, which came from her mother’s side of the family, is over 100 years old. “At one time, I also had a pie safe that matched the dining table that I used to display dolls in,” she said. “I let another family member have it. I still can’t believe I did that.”

When forced to remain indoors, Margie’s favorite rooms are the den and the kitchen because they are side-by-side. She is able to close off the rest of the house, thus keeping her cooling and heating bills to a minimum. “So many things in the home are from the past,” Margie said, as she began pointing at memorabilia, which evoked past memories of family. “That picture over the kitchen table is a watercolor of my mom in the garden. Above that is a panoramic view of her garden from years ago. We’ve always had family living with us; I’m rich in family.”

Waking up in the master bedroom, also decorated in shades of purple, affords Margie a wonderful view of the beauty she has been able to create and maintain outdoors. “I love to see the world when the sun comes up,” she said. An old Singer sewing machine displays several family photographs. “The mantle above the sewing machine once belonged to my aunts,” she said. “They never married, so we called them the ‘Old Maids.’ That’s the Old Maid’s mantle,” she laughed. An antique piano also displays more family photos, spanning the generations from Margie’s great-grandfather to her five children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. “Everything I have is nostalgic,” she confessed. “It’s all been passed down over the years.”

Margie’s greatest love is spending time outdoors. In fact, she made a deal with her children several years ago. “The kids told me that if I stayed home, they would build me a potting shed,” she said. Larry Pechal, Cindy’s husband, laid the foundation and the sidewalk. Mitzi and her husband, Richard Cook, drew up the plans. “It was Mitzi’s idea,” Margie explained, “but everyone worked on it.” The rest of the children — Paul and Cozette Duke, Bart and Jerri Snell, and Robert and Nynke Duke — helped financially, as well as providing the manual labor necessary to raise the building where Margie has found endless hours of contentment. “I don’t spend lots of time indoors,” she reiterated. “We all have a passion for something. Mine just happens to be flowers.”

The potting shed was built on memories, too. The front door, the windows, the kitchen sink and the countertop, where all the planting takes place, were all pieces that came from the homes of the “Old Maids.”

“When they passed, I was told to come and get whatever I wanted,” Margie remembered. “The three crepe myrtles I got must be over 60 years old. They bloomed the same summer they were replanted.”

She smiles and begins to laugh as she recalls the many trips she has made to and from town over the past 50 years. “Every time I go to town,” she said, “I bring another flower or plant home. Still today, I’ll bring flowers and plants home.” Looking around, one would only guess where the new purchases from her most recent trip are planted. No doubt, somewhere within one of the many vignettes Margie has masterfully created. Vignettes include perennials that bloom throughout the year; knockout roses by her daddy’s old, antique wagon; the live oak planted by her grandchildren in memory of their grandfather; and potted plants in many varieties and colors that complement one another, while adding natural beauty to Margie’s country surroundings.

A couple times each year, Margie hires someone to help her in the yard, but she does the majority of the gardening, planting and pruning herself. In the past, she maintained a large garden, but she no longer has the desire to can vegetables. “It’s almost comical,” she said. “I only have two tomato plants now. I love vegetables, but I’d rather buy them at the store.”

Margie’s passion for flowers came from her mom and her maternal aunt. “There’s just something special about being outdoors and digging in the dirt,” Margie said. “I just love having dirt under my nails, and gardening makes me feel closer to the Lord.”

Written by Sandra Strong.

“I knew who Mrs. Stanley Pittman Senior was. But after he passed away, I had no idea who Jackie Pittman was. I was 57 years old when he died, and that’s young,” said Jackie, who had always been a wife, a mom and a grandmother. “My husband was bound and determined to prove to my parents that he could take care of me! I had never gotten the oil changed in the car; I had never bought insurance. The second year after he died was the year I bought my first car.” It was also the year Jackie started making her home into what she proudly calls “a woman’s froufrou house.” At Easter, Jackie put yellow grass in the bathroom windowsill, and filled it with eggs. She makes her bed daily and sets on it a serving tray with a vase and flower. She has kept a few reminders of her husband but turned her home all feminine.
“My kids tease me about the bookcase in my sitting room. Everything on it was something really important to my husband. None of it is sad memories,” Jackie said. “I knew that if I was going to stay in this house, I needed to make this My home, My place, My comfort spot, My security blanket.” Jackie received a lot of help from her dear friend from San Antonio, Mary Solomon, whose husband had been Stan’s colleague. “Mary was always redecorating her house, and when I decided to do some redecorating she said, ‘Let’s set a date. I’ll come; we’ll talk; we’ll go look at fabric.’”
When you know exactly what you want, you do not waste time! “Mary sewed the table skirt that we put on the 59-year-old coffee table that myself and my children and my grandchildren learned to walk around. She put a pillow on top where I can put my feet up here if I want to,” Jackie said. “She made the mosaic tile serving tray that’s on top with a fondue set. It’s wonderful to have a friend who loves to decorate!”
Mary sewed the window treatments throughout Jackie’s home. On a window seat in the kitchen nook built originally by developers Don and Donna Volkman, Jackie has arranged at least 12 pillows. “Some were made by Mary; the white ones with Battenberg Lace were my mother’s,” Jackie said. “I’m free now to have as many pillows as I like! My husband didn’t like pillows. I love pillows!”
The burgundy guest room gives that bed-and-breakfast feel. From the adjoining bathroom, lined with spring bouquet wallpaper, you gaze through greenish-gold lace onto the tall four-
poster bed, fluffy with a satin comforter. “The rocking chair was my mom’s,” Jackie said. “She rocked my children and her great-grandchildren in it. The buffet that’s in there was my daddy’s mother’s.”
Jackie sleeps on the cast-iron bed that belonged to her parents. “I’m very sentimental,” Jackie admitted. “There isn’t enough money in the whole wide world to buy my memories. I also love making memories. Every time we took a trip or did something really unusual, Stan would say, ‘We’re making memories!’ How wonderful our life was because we filled it with memories!”
In the extended dining room where Jackie entertains friends and family, her grandchildren, Colton, Bethany and Jack Tanner, like to sit with the adults at the dining table. On one wall, Jackie displays her bell collection in a hand-made cabinet that Stan commissioned from a craftsman in Burleson. Around 2004, Jackie switched to collecting kitchen chefs and now has 72 “little cooking buddies” surrounding her while she cooks for the 13-member small group from her church that Jackie says brought laughter back into her life.

“After Stan died, I had really given up living. I got very involved in church at First United Methodist in Alvarado, where I have been for 18 years,” said Jackie, who now co-chairs the bereavement dinner committee, serves on the congregational care committee and leads the new Stephens Ministry counseling program. “I definitely found out who Jackie Pittman is: Jackie Pittman is a caregiver. It’s a different direction now from wife, mother and Grammie.
“The biggest thing in my life now is my Stephens Ministry. Not having one at our church, and being asked to start one showed me a side of me that I didn’t know existed, the fact that someone saw leadership in me. It’s been wonderful,” Jackie said. “God leads you in directions where you have no idea you could walk down that road, but He leads you down that road.”
Jackie also spends a lot of time putting together pictures of all her generations to adorn the walls of the hall on the way to her red, white and blue Mickey Mouse room. Her favorite ride at the family’s much-loved vacation spot, Disney World, is memorialized by a music globe that plays “It’s a Small World,” just one of the many souvenirs Stan bought her. Jackie is still taking her time getting her Mickey Mouse room just the way she wants it.
Jackie has so many other areas to play with! In the den, she keeps current a holiday tree. For Independence Day, she puts garlands, strings of white lights, flags and any knickknack that is red, white and blue. “I also decorate it for St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter,” Jackie said. “I just always wanted to have one, so I decided a couple of years ago, Why not?” Most recently, Jackie hired two trustworthy men to retile her screened porch. From Jackie’s lounging glider — or from one of the two rocking chairs that she and Stan bought from Cracker Barrel as a gift for his mom before she passed away — Jackie can sit and gaze at the pool. “It’s a neat place to drink coffee in the morning and meditate,” she said. “Now, I gotta get my happy butt in that pool!”

Written by Melissa Rawlins