Category: Prattling On

Courtney Dyer: The Five Question Interview

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Courtney Dyer is an educator turned homeschool mother to three kiddos, all while running a small family farm, Smithville’s farmers’ market, and the nonprofit that surrounds it.

“I absolutely love to create, love all things crafty, and am dedicated to being a lifelong learner.”

1. Why did you move to Paige?

 My husband and I always knew we wanted to buy land at some point. We had been looking for years, mostly just as dreamers, and really hadn’t pinned down what area spoke to us most. Then, one day our search landed us in Bastrop and we really fell in love with the area. So we narrowed our search, got a lot more serious, and ended up finding a gem of a property at the start of the pandemic. We bought 18 acres in May of 2020 in what we thought was Smithville, but when we broke ground on the house and finally added a mailbox, we were surprised to have an address in Paige. As it turns out, our property is right on the border of both towns and while our back gate is in Smithville, our front gate is in Paige.

2. What compelled you to start a farm in Paige and a farmers’ market in Smithville? 

Back in my younger days, I was such a big city girl but as I’ve gotten older I have felt this calling for a quieter, more simple way of living. Once we started looking for land, my dreams of our own small family farm soared. It all started with chickens and just grew from there. We switched the existing ag exemption from cattle to bees since I always knew I wanted at least one hive. What difference was nine more?! Then, we added donkeys to help keep the coyotes away and our flock now consists of too many chickens to count, a handful of ducks, and some geese. We also have 16 raised beds for growing our own food and 2 large flower fields for my cut flower farm. And this is just our beginning… there is so much more to come. One of the things I love most about farm life is the steep learning curves. My mind absolutely craves those types of challenges!

As for the farmers’ market in Smithville, this project transpired while I was looking for a place to sell my flowers and honey. As I reached out to a local market manager, I was completely turned off by how unfriendly and unsupportive they were and I wondered how many other vendors had felt the same. My family joked that I should just start my own and the rest is history. I started doing my research, found a need in my own small town, got connected to a local real estate agent who loved my idea, went before our City Council, and a couple months later I was up and running! This project is such a labor of love for me and I absolutely love hosting it for our community.

3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.

Having a green thumb is not something you either have or you don’t. It is cultivated and with a little effort and an open mind, anything is possible!

Farm life is a slow life, but there ain’t nothing slow about it! 

It only takes one small flame to start a fire. Being the change can start with one.

4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?

I absolutely love to learn new crafts and skills. Currently, I am teaching myself to knit and have been working on a few bookbinding projects. Watercolor and embroidery are also on my list this year. As for reading, I am currently deep diving into all the books/information on native plant gardening in Texas as I believe in gardening with a purpose and supporting native pollinators and wildlife. My TV watchlist consists of anything romantic, girly, or period-based like The Last Kingdom or Bridgerton. And I love to listen to Disney movie soundtracks while driving in the car.

5. Cake or Pie?

Pie, without a doubt. Fun fact- When my husband and I got married, we actually cut into pie instead of the traditional cake and had a pie bar served for our guests. 

Instagram: @ivoryacresfarm
Website: ivoryacresfarm.com

Instagram: @smithvillemarket
Website: smithvillemarket.com

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Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive early notice for workshops, shop updates and links to some of my favorite things. While I can’t promise it will dazzle, it will always be cheeky, handsome, and useful. I mean, how bad can it be?

I am so grateful for the opportunity to show up in your inbox. I respect your privacy and will never share your email with another party… I pinky promise.

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Shannon Bagent: The Five Question Interview

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Shannon Bagent is community builder and owner of Black Sparrow Music Parlor in Taylor, Texas. Black Sparrow is a coffee and beer bar and live entertainment venue dedicated to independent thinking and cretive freedom.

1. Why did you move to Taylor? 

Spring of 2016: I lived in South Austin. I worked all over, in live music. During any free time I’d get in the car and just drive straight out of Austin, in any direction. On one of these day trips, I came across this building that just spoke to me.  I was 40 miles from home, in an empty and seemingly forgotten town. Almost all of the buildings were boarded up and not a single car, other than mine, was on the street. There was a sign in the window of the building that said, ‘For Sale’ but it wasn’t a realtor’s sign. It was store bought with a number written in black marker. I came back the next week and went inside and met the owner, Don. We got into an argument that day about why women act crazy.  I liked him and he liked me. We knew how to talk to each other. I sold everything I owned back in Austin and put it all on the table. Don sold me the building. That’s it. The building spoke to me and I went for it. That’s what brought me to Taylor. 

2. What compelled you to start a business in Taylor? 

I had just turned 40 and working for other people had really run its course. I had to do something to make a living and Pinocchio’s father (Geppetto) seem to have the right idea. One building, downtown, work up front, live in the back. That just made sense to me. Simple. Compact. Whether a candle maker, a shoe cobbler, a baker, or running a printing press,  just keep it all under one roof. That was the life for me. I went with what I knew – live music. 

3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.

1. Deep grief robs you of a specific type of innocence that is impossible to know you have until it’s gone. Deep grief changes you. You can get better. You can heal. But it changes you. 

2. You can dial your life to perfection. You can really get it all right. You can find happiness. And then you can lose it, to no fault of your own. Shit happens. And we can’t stop that. But we can learn to get good at rolling with it.  

3. If you’re self-sufficient and independent, the only reason to couple up is if doing so improves your life beyond what you can do by yourself.

4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?

Currently I’m rewatching ‘Sex and the City’, which is bad and good. I’ll likely stop watching it soon but…  I said that last season. 

I have about 15 books piled up on my nightstand, all of which I’ve read the first two chapters. I’m in one of those shameful phases where t.v. wins every time. I do write in my notebook before falling asleep every night, without fail. 

5. Cake or Pie?

Why does this question make me angry? I hate the idea of having to choose. PieCake. (please deliver to 113 W 2nd Street in Taylor Texas, leave at the door and text 512-804-8626). 

blacksparrowmusicparlor.com

@blacksparrowmusicparlor

Let’s Keep in Touch!

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive early notice for workshops, shop updates and links to some of my favorite things. While I can’t promise it will dazzle, it will always be cheeky, handsome, and useful. I mean, how bad can it be?

I am so grateful for the opportunity to show up in your inbox. I respect your privacy and will never share your email with another party… I pinky promise.

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Talitha Gaylor: The Five Question Interview

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Talitha Gaylor is the artist owner of Opaline Glassworks. She lives in a 125-year-old farm house in Elgin with her husband and dogs.

1. Why did you move to Elgin? 

My family and I moved to Elgin eight years ago when our daughter started college at UT. We fell in love with a 125-year-old farmhouse and we have gradually worked on restoring it and creating our dream home. We have also fallen in love with this amazing community and our daughter recently bought a house here as well!

2. What compels you to spend time creating?

I have had a lifelong love for creating and writing. I spent 25 years as a teacher and school counselor, squeezing in opportunities for creative outlets. It’s such a privilege to be able to dedicate my time to creating full-time. I am a very goal driven person so maintaining challenging and interesting goals keeps me motivated. I also thrive on connection so from the moment I discovered the She Creates Community in Elgin I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.

She Creates also led me to finding an awesome accountability group. They have taught me so much about productivity as an artist. I’ve always enjoyed working as part of a team so it’s great to have like-minded collaborators. 

It’s hard to choose just three things I’ve learned in the past five years. Starting a new career after 50 has been a rapid learning curve, but I love it! Having an accountability group has taught me so much about establishing processes when I am creating. 

They have also taught me about what it means to be a business person and how to promote myself and my business. 

The most important thing I have learned is to truly regard myself as an artist, valuing my time and my work in higher esteem. I still have a LOT to learn but I’m enjoying it.

4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?

I was lucky enough to be gifted an abundance of vintage glass recently so I’ve been working backwards on my stained glass projects lately. I usually choose a project and buy materials to create it. Now I am creating projects that lend themselves to the materials. It has been an unexpected challenge for me because the glass seems to break in different ways so it’s also a chance to improve my skills and try out some larger pieces. 

  I love junk journaling. It really helps me focus my thoughts. I was inspired by a friend to start 1000 Gratitudes and this has become part of my journaling. I have a lot of varied interests so reminding myself of what’s really important helps me follow through AND edit.

  I also enjoy writing and I’m working on a Hero’s Journey story with a friend. I’ve been reading Fantasy Story Recipes created by Storyfolk and just finished reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King. I generally like to pair nonfiction and fiction on whatever theme or idea I’m exploring. I think it must be the teacher in me!

5. Cake or Pie?

PIE, all kinds, sweet and savory!

…….

Instagram @opalineglassworks

Let’s Keep in Touch!

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive early notice for workshops, shop updates and links to some of my favorite things. While I can’t promise it will dazzle, it will always be cheeky, handsome, and useful. I mean, how bad can it be?

I am so grateful for the opportunity to show up in your inbox. I respect your privacy and will never share your email with another party… I pinky promise.

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