On the upcoming ballot, Proposition 1 empowers you to vote to cut your property taxes and protect your home from additional taxes.  Here is a little bit more on what Proposition 1 is really about:

WHAT DOES PROP 1 DO?

Proposition 1 does four things. First, it lowers property taxes by increasing the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000. Second, it ensures senior Texans and disabled Texans get as much tax relief as possible. Third, it prohibits local governments from repealing or reducing any homestead exemption that may exist. And finally, it ensures real estate transactions will never be subject to a tax.

WHAT IS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION?

A homestead exemption means that your home isn’t taxed at its full value – instead, a certain…

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I grew up New York and love the Autumn.  Cool, crisp mornings and making homemade apple sauce with my mom are some of my favorite memories.  While I don't make homemade apple sauce any more, I do like to cook with apples and my favorite Fall recipe is Grandma Ople's Apple Pie. Found this fabulous 5 star recipe on Allrecipes.com.   It's now my go-to apple pie.  What's unique about this recipe is you make a syrup that is poured into the lattice crust once it's assembled.   Sounds crazy but makes for the best tasting, most beautiful pie.   To see the recipe, click on the link below.   The only adjustments I made to this prize winning recipe were the addition of one teaspoon of cinnamon and mixing some of the syrup with the apples prior to assembling.  …

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Photo credit - Kelly Brown/The Eagle   If you've driven on Booneville Road recently, you've probably seen the activity on the land not far from the entrance to Austin's Colony.   Today, a log cabin that was built in the 1800's, dismantled, brought to Booneville Heritage Park and fully restored will be dedicated and the public will have its first chance to explore it.    For more information about Booneville Heritage Park and the log cabin check out the article in The Eagle, click here        

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I love to read.  It's no secret.  Every 2 or 3 weeks, I head over to the Bryan/College Station Public Library and pick up an armful of books.  
These are some of the books I've read over the last 10 years that I would consider favorites and would recommend them. They are in alphabetical order.  


My favorite on the list is a non-fiction book that I feel is extremely thought provoking called:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  

  1. 19th Wife , David Ebershoff
  2. Ape House , Sara Gruen
  3. Baking Cakes in Kigali , Gaile Parkin
  4. Beautiful Ruins , Jess Walter
  5. Bel Canto , Ann Patchett
  6. Bless Me, Ultima , Rudolfo A. Anaya
  7. Blink, Malcolm Gladwell
  8. Cane River , Lalita Tademy
  9. Cutting  For Stone , Abraham Verghese
  10. …

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