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…
Tag: photographer
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…
What is Book Spine Poetry? Book spine poems are created by stacking books, then reading their titles as though each were a line of verse. This poetic form is known as a cento. What is a cento? According to Wikipedia: A cento is a poetical work wholly composed of verses or passages taken from other authors; only disposed in a new form or order. My Book Spine Poem It took a few months of inspiration ping pong between me and Nicole Rivera (@riverand) before I finally got around to stacking some books and snapping a photo. I don’t know why…
Not all reading is the same If you’re like me, you spend a lot of your day reading. But how much of that time do you spend on pleasure reading versus task-oriented reading? When I was a kid, the majority of my reading time was pleasure reading. Now, however, the majority of my reading time is task-oriented. Seems like I’m always troubleshooting programs or hunting down specific information rather than kicking back with a great story, or leisurely reading other people’s blogs. Don’t get me wrong; task-oriented reading can be a lot of fun. I especially enjoy researching travel articles…