Country Lifestyles
The Shop God Built – Aunt Pam’s Closet
By Jessica Crabtree
Located off Gilbert Street on the square in Henrietta, Texas, is a store known as the one built by God. Aunt Pam’s Closet possesses more than what you see on the outside; it is the inside that matters. Aunt Pam’s closet is a fabric store where the owner and her coworker/friends make custom quilts, do long-arm quilting for the public, repairs, alterations and offer quilting classes.
The namesake of the establishment comes from owner, Pam Schenk, “My niece [Dusti Butler] was real little when we used to play dress up and have tea parties. She once said, ‘One thing about it, you never know what’s gunna come out of Aunt Pam’s Closet.”’ When Pam and her late husband Bill put the notion of a store into motion, the name “Aunt Pam’s Closet” stuck. After returning to Clay County from Charlotte, N.C., the nation was in a recession. Hard times called for serious measures and the two embarked on a new way to make ends meet. That dream came to life in a 288 square foot building where Pam had two sewing machines to do alterations (Aunt Pam’s Closet) and Bill had two computers and did computer repair (Reboot Computers).
The couple was in that location a year before a new opportunity presented itself. Pam moved her shop to what once was Alcorn’s Dry Good Store built in either 1919 or 1920, a place that once offered alterations as a service to the town as well as sold fabric. Pam’s sister Penny Riordan was there already. The move allowed Penny to sell real estate in the front and Pam and her husband to use the back. Pam’s husband’s health began to decline and the custom sewing and alterations allowed Pam to work when she could and care for her husband when necessary.
The building, owned by Jeff and Cathy Pierce, is a story all in itself. Pam shared a story of the building’s past; it is part of a tall tale from centuries ago. When in the area, Quanah Parker would visit and on occasion, would ride his horse through the center of the building and out the front door.
To read more pick up a copy of the May 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Aunt Pam’s Closet owner and namesake is Pam Schenk. (Photos by Jessica Crabtree)
By Dal Houston
I am terribly saddened by all the argumentative discourse that seems to be going on in today’s world. It seems as though it is no longer enough just to disagree on certain issues. We are expected to classify someone as an enemy if they do not always agree with us on all issues, lest we be considered weak.
To make things even worse, because those who disagree with you are now considered enemies, the sentiment seems to be that it is only fair and proper to destroy them, because they are the enemy, again with the fear of ridicule for being weak if we do not fight.
With all that said, and seemingly unrelated, I am a big John Wayne fan. From watching him dive into his role as a cowboy, to marveling at his time portraying a soldier or appreciating his acting gig as a sailor, there is seldom a week that goes by without me watching at least one
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Martha Crump
That old adage, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.,” may have some basis in truth when applied to minor situations. However, when what you don’t know is presented in the form of a “Trojan Horse” and is what amounts to an incredible attempt to fleece American property rights, it becomes a different story altogether.
To put this unbelievable tale together, we need to step back to Joe Biden’s 2021 Executive Order which pledged commitment to help restore balance on public lands and waters, to create jobs, and to provide a path to align the management of America’s public lands and waters with our nation’s climate, conservation, and clean energy goals.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Lacey Vilhauer
Ingredients:
1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
¼ cup water
Directions:
Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl. Puree the strawberries in a food processor and add to the lemon mixture along with juice of one lemon and water. Taste and add more juice as desired.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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