Explore an ‘Unknown Place Called Texas’ as Canyon Lake Reads Continues

There’s still time to saddle up and learn about an unknown place called Texas through the eyes and ears of early settlers — and meet a direct descendant of legendary Comanche Chief Quanah Parker.

It’s all part of Canyon Lake Reads, a month-long series of events sponsored by Friends of Tye Preston Memorial Library.

Ask Friends: “What would happen if all of Canyon Lake read the same book at the same time?”

That book is Bold Crossings by Lance E. Osborne. The novel explores the themes of family, cultures and survival in “an unknown place called Texas in the 1830s.”

“Whether we are from Texas or not, we can learn to appreciate the journey and the courage that brought us to this time and place,” said Doris Roberts, a volunteer.

The program is funded by a grant from the Texas Historical Foundation.

Upcoming events at the library include:

• Lunch & Learn: Comanche Transition from Life on the Plains – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, March 18 at TPML, 16311 S. Access Rd., Canyon Lake. Lance Tahmahkera, great-great grandson of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker shares the origins of the Comanche tribe’s history/culture and tells stories about life on the plains from the days of Quanah and Cynthia Ann Parker
• Family Night at the Library: Comanche Children’s Stories – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18 at TPML. Lance Tahmahkera, great-great grandson of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker shares children’s stories and tribal artifacts. Cookies and lemonade will be served.
• Lunch & Learn: Mountain Dulcimer – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 at TPML. Join Dee Baker for a discussion on the dulcimer’s origin and history and enjoy a mini-dulcimer concert. Learn why this instrument is the most fun you can have with only three strings.
• Family Night at the Library: The Legend of the Bluebonnet and Shadow Puppets – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21 at TPML. Join Robin Krig for a discussion of The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola and watch it unfold in a shadow puppet presentation. Stick around to make your own shadow puppets and practice a puppet play. Cookies and lemonade will be served.
• Lunch & Learn: A Victorian Lady on the Texas Frontier – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at TPML. Susan James represents Ann Raney Thomas Coleman, a British woman who emigrated to Texas in 1832. The presentation includes true stories from Ann’s autobiography as well as interpretive insights into the daily life of pioneer women in early Texas.

Off-site events (reservations required) include:

• Special tour of Heritage Village New Braunfels – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16 – Docents provide interactive chats about early Texas art and artisans. Includes music and musicians, Texas rangers, woodworking, blacksmiths, broom makers and firearms.
• Bullock Texas State History Museum – 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. The special tour includes exhibits related to the Bold Crossings noel. $40 per person includes bus trip, museum tickets and lunch.
• Square Dancing Lessons – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CRRC Rec Center, 125 Mabel Jones Dr. Learn basic square dance moves. Bring one canned good for the Food Pantry. $10 lunch. Adults only.
• Texas Hoedown (closing event by invitation only) – Wrap up Canyon Lake Reads with line dancing and Texas-style celebrating at Canyon Lake Cabins and Cottages Outback Hall, 21400 FM 306, Canyon Lake.