Making the Best of It

SUNDAY April 26, 2020

We get to start a new month this week — isn't this just the longest April ever! Our rural counties are still showing an increase in COVID-19 cases this past week and we know many others that have the virus and are not able to get tested so the numbers are higher. It's here. Stay safe. Continue to stay home as much as you can for a while longer.

Hopefully May sees us starting to ease in to safe visits to shops providing curbside pick up and enjoying our state parks, nature trails, and farmers' markets. The rules remain the same for now for going out in public: 1) wear a mask, 2) keep six feet away from people outside your family, and 3) no gatherings of more than five people.

This is our new normal for a while. Make the best of it.

Event organizers are getting creative. Our neighbors in Shreveport are planning on taking their annual hot air balloon event out of a it's usual location and moving it strictly to the skies where people can see it from their homes and cars. Porch concerts are happening where people can hear from their cars. Farmers' markets are restructuring for drive-thru shopping, or spreading out booths and lines to make sure people are six feet apart. The virtual concerts and other events continue to increase and we look forward to hearing soon about other creative ways people are holding events in compliance with CDC requirements.

Enjoy this issue and check out the updated Pandemic Pause article for more fun things to do.

Photo by Lisa Hilbers

FEATURES

Blindspot Back to Save the World

Happy birthday to Paris, Texas, native Blake Neely, born April 28, 1969. His music helps create stories for some of the great TV shows and movies. This week hear his music as the backdrop for NBC's crime drama television series, Blindspot — created by Martin Gero and starring Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Alexander — as it returns at 9 p.m. this Thursday, April 30. READ MORE about Neely in this County Line Magazine interview from the archives.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Life's Better in a State of Travel

Enjoy this message of hope and purpose from our friends at Texas Travel Alliance.

On Our Calendar

On our calendar this week find the continuation of virtual events including EarthX, Sequestered Songwriters paying tribute to George Strait, live streams from Chris Pureka, Cliburn Kids, Travis Bolt, Mark McKinney, Robbie Fulks, Sarah Morris, Max & Heather Stalling, Patrice Pike, Amythyst Kiah, and Cody Cannon of Whiskey Myers. Find links to their streams on the County Line calendar .

DESTINATION COUNTY LINE

Mineola Nature Preserve flyover Oct 2017

Mineola Nature Preserve on the Sabine River

The Mineola Nature Preserve is now open daily from 7:30 a.m. to Sunset. COVID-19 rules include 1) face coverings are required, 2) maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of your party, and 3) no gathering in groups larger than five.

THIS TIME OF YEAR

You're the One in a Million Duane Allen

Happy birthday April 29 to Duane Allen, one part of the four-part harmonies of the Oak Ridge Boys. Allen was born April 29, 1943, in the tiny crossroads community of Taylor Town south of Paris, Texas. Before he joined the band he was a DJ at KPLT radio in Paris and he attended Texas A&M University at Commerce.

On April 15, 2014, Lamar County officials dedicated the Duane Allen Memorial Bridge on Duane Allen Road just a few hundred yards from where Allen was born and raised.

Pictured are the Oak Ridge Boys, (l-r) William Lee Golden, Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, and Richard Sterban. .

ARTS & CULTURE

Artist Brings Watercolor Dreams to Life

Celene Terry always dreamed of painting in watercolor. After retiring from a career in education, she seized the opportunity and has won regional and state awards for her paintings. She enjoys portraying a variety of subjects, including children, animals, still lifes, vehicles, public spaces, and landscapes. Her images feature vivid colors and contrasting lights and shadows. Soft lines and perspectives also convey her subjects’ personality and point of view. Read Lisa Tang's interview with Terry HERE .

FOOD & DRINKS

Almost Shrimp Paesano

There's a restaurant in San Antonio called Paesanos that has the best shrimp dish ever. Those of us that can't get there very often yet crave it, try to duplicate the recipe. Although it's not quite the same, this version is close and really delicious.

1 egg

1 pound extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on

1 cup milk or half and half

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup all-purpose flour

Vegetable oil

In a shallow bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Dip shrimp in mixture, then dip in flour lightly. Heat oil in a saute pan until hot, then add shrimp 4 to 6 at a time, making sure shrimp have plenty of room to cook. (It’s important that shrimp are not near each other or touch.) Brown them on one side, then turn and brown them on the other. Cook until done, or put on a baking sheet in a preheated 350 degrees oven to finish cooking. Meanwhile, prepare sauce.

Sauce

1 ½ cups (3 sticks) cold butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Juice of 1 medium lemon

In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, lemon juice and garlic. Put over medium-low heat and whisk mixture constantly until the butter is just melted and thickened. Stir in parsley, then remove from heat. Pool sauce on plate, then top with cooked shrimp. (Leftover sauce is also good with grilled or broiled seafood.) Good with pasta. Serves 3 to 4.