Eighth-grader Luka is a student & at Caddo Middle Magnet

Who is also in the Gifted program at school. While he currently has straight A’s, he admits that he might have gotten three B’s while in the 3rd grade. His favorite subjects are Science and Math; he wants to be an astronomer or astrophysicist. He says that “all our problems can be solved by space. I want to make a major contribution.” He sees himselfas an adult “in a room doing math and science, and figuring out the mysteries of the world and helping the world.” He likes all his other subjects equally. For fun, Luka says, “all academics are fun.” He likes working with Legos, is on the Quiz Bowl for the area, and loves to fence. He is a Boy Scout and will soon be an Eagle Scout. His fellow Scouts have been his best friends since elementary school; he loves hiking and connecting with the outside world.

Luka enjoys reading the classics “Mysterious Island,” “Kim,” and “Animal Farm,” and works by Alexandre Dumas, J. D. Salinger, and Jules Verne. In the classics, they had a different way of thinking.” He plays the French Horn, listens to classical music, and is in the Honor Band. “Music is another way to let emotions out.” The “Star Wars” franchise is his absolute favorite, plus he collects Star Wars Lego action figures.

The hardest thing about 8th grade, Luka feels, is the responsibility. “I suddenly have a lot more responsibility in this grade: becoming more independent, transitioning to High School, and moving toward complete independence.” The easiest thing for him is his friend relationships. “I’ve known them so long we can tell each other anything.” He says that he is good at board games and has even invented one of his own. He said that every night is game night or movie night at his house. He advises younger students: “Don’t just follow dreams but push toward them. If you want to become the best in your field, don’t slack off. Believe in yourself and persevere 150%. Pour your passion into your soul – that’s how you achieve things in life.”

Many aspects of Red Ball Oxygen allow them to shine brighter than the rest. They service over 5,000 customers and supply most of the nuclear power plants in this region, in addition to hospitals, construction sites, and refineries. This technologically capable, customer-driven, open-books company is one of the largest hydrogen providers in the area. Red Ball offered oxygen services to hospitals during the trying times of COVID.

When the snowstorm of 2021 hit our area, Red Ball delivered hydrogen with the assistance of state police and the National Guard. Their three ISO accreditations are a testament to their dedication to unsurpassed service. In addition, the Red Ball Oxygen specialty gas division is growing by leaps and bounds. “We have a whole division that makes incredibly technical specialty gases and sells EPA protocol gases. We send These emissions monitoring gases to power plants and refineries to monitor greenhouse gas emissions to help keep our climate goals in mind, “says Alex. 

April 2024 marked the opening of a new customer service location in Port Arthur, TX. Red Ball is also completing construction on a 10-acre, state-of-the-art industrial and specialty gas plant in Friendswood, TX, and adding another liquid hydrogen facility in Grand Prairie, TX. The opening of the new hydrogen facility, in addition to the existing hydrogen facility in Shreveport, cements Red Ball as one of the leading hydrogen providers in the area. Alex says, “The estate planning that we’ve done and transitioning to the 3rd generation solidifies our position. It gives us a long-term, big-picture outlook for the company now that we’re firmly solidified into the 3rd generation of young owners”.

609 N Market St, Shreveport, LA 71107

318-425-3211

redballoxygen.com

 “I was unequivocally smitten,” Sara wrote on her website Simply Southern Cottage, which documented her restoration of the home. “I felt the draw and knew it was supposed to be my home. But it was in bad shape. It was rotten on the outside, the roof was bad, and the ceiling was caving in.” 

Unfortunately, it was not for sale.

For the next two years she tried convincing the owners, whose family had owned the property for over 90 years, to sell it. The process proved extremely challenging, even for Sara, a woman of great faith. But her “pleasant persistence” as she describes it, paid off, and she finally purchased the cottage in September 2016.

Upon buying the property, Sara began a full, “down to the studs” restoration. She put on a tin roof, and installed new plumbing, electrical, insulation and HVAC. Three layers of wallpaper, cheesecloth and paneling were torn out, revealing 90+ year-old shiplap. All the existing light fixtures were restored and reused.

To help with the project, Sara was generous in using local talent and supporting locals who work on old houses and crediting them for their work, such as J-Dog Junk Removal of Minden, Red River Remodelers of Shreveport, and Ali’s Creations of Caster, to make her home the special place it is.

Sara said she never felt overwhelmed as she took on the project, and she encourages anyone in the market for a new home to consider taking on similar undertakings. “Do it. Don’t hesitate,” she says, “There are so many houses that are just sitting vacant. Don’t be afraid. It is so rewarding to bring something back to life and houses aren’t built like this anymore.”

Step inside to see this beautiful cottage with lots of charm, both inside and out. Every room offers a bit of a surprise—delivering interesting decor that engages everyone who sets foot in the space. And while Sara brought in a little bit of a funky flair, there’s also a lot of nostalgia worth pointing out.

Don’t Be Afraid to Break with Trends

“I wanted to do something other than a typical island,” says Sara, who took inspiration from the cottage’s light hardwood floors when she settled on the revamped kitchen’s slightly more contemporary island. Shreveport Salvage built and stained the top a honey-blond hue that complements the floors. Light walls, casement windows, and a flat ceiling strike just the right balance and keep the space bright.

A spot to grow plants in the winter and enjoy the backyard in the summer, the new greenhouse is composed of the cottage’s original windows and is home to a wicker settee Sara found on the roadside. The master bath is a testament to the union of beauty and practicality: waterproof laminate planks provide the look of wood; the ladder towel rack was another roadside find; and the vintage-look chandelier is an Amazon purchase.

Embrace That Old-Home Soul

A deft mix of accessories and vintage furniture placed throughout lends the home an immediate sense of both history and personality. A pair of folding wood seats along one wall of the library was salvaged from a Michigan theater. Sara cleverly surrounded an oversize quote artwork with open books. “I used a lot of textural pieces to give the layered, lived-in feel—as well as to give the room some dimension.”

Lean Into the Lifestyle

The kitchen remodel entailed a new farmhouse sink with an old look, white cabinets topped with quartz countertops, and a trio of windows to usher in daylight and cooling breezes. In the upper-level bath, an antique vanity Sara found in a junk shop proved to be a perfect fit under the eaves and atop blue-and-white cement floor tiles that bring a punch of pretty pattern and color to the space. 

Add a Touch of Whimsy

Throughout the house, Sara’s passion for combining family pieces with thrift store finds creates an air of welcoming, collected charm. Sara’s mother found the bench, knowing it would fit perfectly beneath this window beside the kitchen, and a friend made the pillows. Faux herbs wrapped in brown paper tied with twine bring simplicity and everlasting color to the kitchen windowsill.

“I love shopping garage sales the most because of the bargains,” she says. “But I’m very intentional. It’s not a huge investment and gives so much character. I feel like these spaces should be memorable. I want to keep my life—and surroundings—simple.”

One of Benjamin Franklin’s famous sayings was, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Yes, home maintenance means adding more chores to your list. But deferring maintenance is likely to be time consuming and costly. Performing home maintenance tasks can prevent larger problems or deterioration, extend the life and value of the property, and create a safe and comfortable place to live.

To make home maintenance less painful, include home maintenance costs in your monthly budget or set aside funds in your emergency savings account for unexpected repairs.

You can identify potential issues around the home when you engage in ongoing inspections of your property. Here are some ideas for keeping up with home maintenance:

Maintaining the trees in your yard is good for the health of the tree and helps prevent any safety issues. Pruning, mulching, fertilizing, and watering are all important parts of caring for trees, depending on type, age, and size of tree. Inspections help identify pest problems or disease. Consult a certified arborist to inspect and report on the health of your trees. A certified arborist focuses primarily on the long-term health and maintenance of trees, but also removes trees. An arborist can help you determine if a tree can be saved. A tree removal specialist primarily focuses on the safe and efficient removal of trees.

Maintain the lawn area by trimming trees and shrubs, cutting grass, cleaning out gutters, addressing any drainage issues, and inspecting the irrigation system.

Stay on top of safety measures. Some examples are installing, checking, repairing, or replacing smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, alarm systems, door and window locks, first aid kits, indoor and outdoor lighting, stairs, thresholds, and railings.

Keeping your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system properly maintained helps it run efficiently and save energy. Having it serviced once a year by a professional is recommended. Tasks may include cleaning or changing out filters, cleaning vents and ducts, checking thermostats, inspecting, and cleaning outdoor units and servicing the furnace.

Keep Up With Home Maintenance

Create a checklist so all areas and systems are reviewed.
Schedule your review of items on the checklist. Some areas may need to be reviewed more often than others.
Identify and address issues promptly.
Hire a professional when needed for repairs or replacements.
Keep receipts, records, and warranties for any work done.

Happy Homeownership!