German Culture is Part of Texas For some reason, when people speak of immigrants to the USA, New York’s Ellis Island gets all the press. We tend to overlook the fact that the port of Galveston in Texas brought many newcomers to our country, as well. Starting in the 1830’s, for instance, tens of thousands of Germans came to Texas. Although their cultural influence extends across the state, most of them settled in the Hill Country (near Austin), creating towns such as Fredricksburg, Boerne (pronounced, “bernie”) and New Braunfels. While the German flag never flew over Texas, its language and…
Tag: #atozchallenge
In Texas, Every Day is Flag Day Technically, Flag Day is June 14th, but it’s easy to get the impression that Flag Day is every day here in the state of Texas. The Dallas – Fort Worth region is quite breezy, which makes it easy to express your pride for state and country with proudly waving flags. Texas State Flag: A Popular Urban Legend Since moving here, I’ve heard over and over that, “Texas is the only state in the USA allowed to fly its flag at the same height as the US flag.” This, it turns out, is an…
A to Z Texas: D is for Dinosaurs While many American states have official fossils, only eight – including Texas – have an official state dinosaur. (For those interested, here’s a full list 8 Official State Dinosaurs) The Lone Star State’s official dino is called Pauluxysaurus Jonesi and looks like a huge brontosaurus. Biggest Dinosaur Ever Just as you might expect, this being Texas, our state dinosaur isn’t just big, it is – arguably – the biggest creature ever to walk the earth! Dinosaur Tracks in Glen Rose, Texas What’s great about the Texas state dinosaur is that you don’t…
What is CFS? When I first moved to Texas, I had no idea what people around here meant by the term “CFS.” To me, it sounded like shorthand for a debilitating disease! I eventually learned that CFS stands for, “chicken fried steak,” or, “county fried steak,” depending on whose etymology you choose. Recipes vary, but the general idea is a battered fried cutlet. In Texas restaurants, it’s usually topped with a thick white gravy flecked with black pepper and a side of mashed potatoes. Does CFS Have European Roots? Like the hamburger, whose origins are widely disputed, the exact origins…
Wildflowers are Big in Texas Each year, spring slams into Texas with all the subtlety of a meteor, and bright swathes of red, blue, purple and yellow wildflowers bloom alongside the highways. Bluebonnets are the Texas state flower While those living elsewhere are often oblivious to their state’s flower, it’s a rare Texan who does not know that the Bluebonnet is the Lone Star State’s official blossom. In fact, it’s become a Texan tradition to dress in your Sunday best, park along the shoulder of a road, and take photos of your loved ones surrounded by wildflowers. Lady Bird’s Bill…
Blogging from A to Z I’m blogging about Texas from A to Z this month, with an emphasis on the quirky side of the Lone Star State. Bloggers all over the world are working their way through the alphabet, too, with topics as diverse as wacky princesses, vegan recipes and Romanian culture. If you’d like to join along, check out the official A to Z blogging challenge for details. A is for: Alien Grave in Aurora, Texas Last year, I learned of a strange incident that allegedly occurred in Aurora, Texas. According to a newspaper article published by the Dallas…