< Previous60 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 61 COUNTER CULTURE PERPETUAL HOLIDAY The main constant in this island kitchen is changing décor story by BARBARA CANETTI photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS F or Fran Card, holidays, whether they involve big festivals or minor celebrations, mean it’s time to decorate her Galveston kitchen and dining room. Card decorates her kitchen for Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Fourth of July, Chinese New Year and other holidays, and also for seasons, or to play up nautical and beach themes. She rotates art work on the walls to coordinate with the decorations, all to keep things interesting, she said. “Because of COVID, we haven’t entertained much in the past two years, so I keep changing things around,” Card said. She and husband, Terry Card, moved into their mid-is- land home four years ago after selling their large, multi-sto- ry home on Galveston’s West End. They wanted to keep things simple, with all living accommodations on one floor and a garden and covered porch in the back. The house, which was built in the 1960s and once was a bait camp, according to neighbors, was rather plain, she said. The kitchen needed some updates and the couple decided it would be a DIY project for them. On the flat-surface cabinet doors, Terry learned how to use a miter saw, which perfectly cut 45-degree corners on strips of decorative chair rail moulding, which they put on the perimeter of each door. Rather than replace all the cabinets, the couple achieved a new look for under $1,000, she said. They also purchased three large pantries for the empty wall, putting a small desk between them for Fran’s cookbook collection. “We had an assembly line: Terry cut the wood, glued it on and I moved the doors to the back room to paint them,” Fran said. “I also refinished and cleaned the hinges.” They installed from the ceiling a light fixture with a hidden fan to further update the space. She also purchased a toy red pickup truck, which she uses as a vehicle for (Left) Fran and Terry Card’s dining room is decorated for summer with a beach theme of shells, driftwood and shades of blue. Fran changes the décor for all the holidays and seasons.62 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 COUNTER CULTURE decorations, filling the bed of the toy truck with flags for Independence Day, holiday trees for Christmas, pumpkins for Halloween and flowers for the spring. In the dining room, Fran decorates a table that once belonged to her mother with a variety of dishes, knick- knacks, arrangements and ornaments to continue her holiday themes. This summer, it was all about the beach: She collect- ed shells and other coastal items and decorated the table, the chandelier, around the doors and in the wall art. “I’ve run out of wall space,” she said. The constant in the kitch- en is her collection of cop- per décor — bowls, molds, cups and vases. And on the window sill, a small garden of healthy plants get plenty of sunshine. Fran’s favorite things to prepare are crêpes. For the past 50 years, she has relied on the recipes from “The New York Times Cookbook” by Craig Claiborne and Mable Hoffman’s “Crepe Cookery.” She uses their recipes with modifications and has come up with her own technique for crêpes. (Clockwise from top) Fran and Terry Card created extra storage in their kitchen by installing three pan- tries on an empty wall. They also added shelves and a small desk between the pantries; the Cards updated their 1960s kitchen cab- inet doors by adding decorative trim; a vintage Japanese tea set is displayed in a cabinet in the din- ing room. The couple purchased the set while living in Spain; The Cards have traveled and lived all over world. A map, with pins mark- ing all the places they’ve visited, hangs in their dining room.BATTER FOR CRÊPES 4 egg yolks 4 whole eggs 1¼ cups flour 1 cup milk (add more if needed) 2 tablespoon cooking oil/butter melted MIXER OR WHISK METHOD In medium mixing bowl, combine whole eggs and egg yolks thoroughly. Gradually add flour, alter- nating with the milk using an electric mixer or hand whisk until smooth. Add oil. If you wish for sweeter crêpes for dessert, add 1 tablespoon of sugar. BLENDER METHOD Combine ingredients in a blender jar; blend for about 1 minute. Scrape down sides with spatula and blend another 15 seconds. Refrigerate batter at least 1 hour. Makes about 25 crêpes, depending on size. If batter appears too thick, then add milk or water to thin. CRÊPES SUZETTE ½ pound butter, salted or unsalted ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice ½ cup orange juice ½ cup orange liqueur 1 tablespoon grated orange zest/peel For the sauce: 2 tablespoon sugars ½ cup orange liqueur ½ cup cognac Use 2-3 crêpes per serving Beat butter with ½ cup sugar until very creamy and slowly add lemon juice, orange juice and ¼ cup of orange liqueur while beating. Stir in orange peel/zest. Refrigerate until needed. Heat orange butter mixture in a large frying pan or chafing dish until hot. It doesn’t need to bubble. Dip crêpes in hot orange butter sauce and fold into ¼ to make a trian- gle shape. Use tongs or two forks to fold crêpes over or roll them into tube shapes. With all the crêpes in the one pan, sprinkle with sugar. Pour ½ cup liqueur and ¼ cup cognac into center of pan. For drama, use a long match to set alight, shak- ing pan/chafing dish with one hand to move flame around. Use a long-han- dled spoon to pour sauce over crêpes. Flaming doesn’t change the taste, but it’s dramatic. Serve crêpes on individu- al plates with sauce. COASTMONTHLY.COM | SePTeMBeR 2022 63 (Clockwise from top) Fran Card pours crêpe batter, swirling the pan to coat it. Crêpes are a favorite recipe and she often makes extra and freezes them; Terry Card stirs his crêpe filling of chicken with pineapple and vegetables; crêpes rolled with a sweet and savory filling created by Terry. (Top right) Crêpes Suzette are made by dipping crêpes in a warm orange butter mixture.64 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 KARENFLOWERS-(409)789-7377 DAVEBRIDGWATER-(409)392-5655 JOETRAMONTEREALTY (409)765-9837 ELLING BUYING Weareheretohelp youwithyourhome! Imagine your home, totally organized! Custom Closets Garage Cabinets Home Offices Wall Beds Wall Organizers Pantries Laundries Wall Units Hobby Rooms Garage Flooring Media Centers and more... Call for a free in home design consultation and estimate 409-904-0787 www.closetsbydesign.com CM Follow us Terms and Conditions: 40% off any order of $1000 or more or 30% off any order of $700 or more on any complete custom closet, garage, or home office unit. Not valid with any other offer. Free installation with any complete unit order of $600 or more. With incoming order, at time of purchase only. Expires in 30 days . Offer not valid in all regions. 40 % Off Plus Free Installation SPECIAL FINANCING FOR 18 MONTHS With approved credit. Call or ask your Designer for details. Not available in all areas. COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 65 In Independent Living you can be who you were meant to be.... It’s never too late to discover new hobbies, start an exercise program, and make new life-long friends. Choose The Meridian Independent Living and let us take care of the little things ~ so you can live big! Enjoy our fine dining, coffee bar, on-site library, fitness room and movie theater. Spend some quiet time in our chapel. Participate in scheduled activities. Take a walk on the beach. Your days can be filled with all of this and more! The Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care gives the residents the support they need while they maintain their dignity and independence. On our Post-Acute Skilled Unit we provide Skilled Nursing and Therapy after a hospital stay where Medicare and Insurance will often cover your stay. We also offer Long-Term Care. At The Meridian, we are not just community... we are Family. Call us today or Book a Tour here! We can’t wait to meet you! www.themeridian-galveston.com Call today 409.763.6437 2228 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77550 The Meridian is a Senior Living Community Thank you, Galveston! For all the support, encouragement, and recommendations throughout the year! Only You made our tourist season successful! Thank You! From our Seafood Market to our Seafood House, we will always be proud to be able to put Fresh Gulf Seafood on your table! 409-763-8160 1902 Wharf Rd • Galveston, TX 77550 www.katiesseafoodmarket.com 409-765-5688 2000 Wharf Rd, Galveston, TX 77550 www.katiesseafoodhouse.com66 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 HOMEPORT ‘JUST WHAT WE WANTED’ East Enders put their skills into historic home that needed a lot of work story by BARBARA CANETTI | photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS S haron and Jim Thompson like to entertain. She collects dishes and loves to set the table with one of her 10 sets of china — each for a different mood or celebration. “But no one wants to just sit in the dining room,” Sha- ron said. “Everyone is always in the kitchen — getting in the way.” Their kitchen is large with an oversized island in the center and enough room for lots of guests to gather at once. The Thompsons bought their East End Galveston home four years ago, and although the building was structurally sound, it needed quite a bit of work. “I could see past all the mess and realize this house had good bones,” said Sharon, who retired two years ago from the furniture and furnishings industry, where she had a high-end showroom in the The Decorative Center of Houston for 30 years. When the couple decided to make Galveston their permanent home, they both retired to their East End residence. (Above) Sharon and Jim Thompson’s East End home in Galveston was built in 1873. Known as the August Roemer house, it features three dormers at the front that let in natural light upstairs. (Right) Sharon and Jim Thompson often entertain and can seat several guests at the oversized island in the kitchen. COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 6768 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 HOMEPORT (Clockwise from left) A formal living room features rich, chocolate brown walls, a light-colored couch and unique gold chandelier; Sharon Thompson’s pressed-steel riding horse from her childhood is displayed in the hallway; the hardwood floors in Jim and Sharon Thompson’s home are original. The house, referred to as the August Roemer Tenant House, was built in 1873. Roemer, a German immigrant, built it initially as a tenant house or rent property. Over the years, it changed hands repeatedly and many of the original architectural decorations had been removed. But the woodwork all is original, as are the transoms over all the inte- rior and exterior doors. And a pair of pocket doors between the family room and Jim’s home office still are intact. The original hardwood floors had to be refinished, but downstairs the red oak floors are immaculate and the long leaf pine up- stairs also are in great condition. COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 69 (Clockwise from left) The formal dining room features a Maitland Smith Penshell chandelier. Panels from a Japanese screen were converted into custom doors leading to the kitchen; an original built-in cabinet is tucked into the corner of the kitchen; a comfortable corner chair in the kitchen gives Sharon Thompson a place to sit and read cookbooks. What makes this house a bit different than most of the historical houses on the island is its three dormer windows, which are on sloped sides of roofs. These areas give the home lots of natural light upstairs and cross-ventilation as well as room for a window seat in the upstairs hall and private sitting areas in the bedrooms. A 20-foot-long attic space was converted into a generous closet for hanging clothes and shelves for shoes. Each of the two upstairs bedrooms have closets, but they’re small. “These old houses don’t have much stor- age, but this is great,” she said.Next >