Welcome to the #UnexTex Unexpected Texas Book Release Blog Tour Welcome to the #UnexTex Unexpected Texas Book Release Blog Tour! My quirky travel guide Unexpected Texas officially launches today, which means it’s now available as both a paperback and eBook on Amazon. To get the word out, I organized a week-long book release blog tour. Each day this week, my book Unexpected Texas will be featured on a different blog. These are all fellow writers who inspired and helped me along the way. What’s the #UnextTex hashtag for? If you use Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media platform where…
Tag: Texas
Here in Texas we have everything from an official state cooking vessel (Dutch oven) to an official state dinosaur (Pauluxysauras Jonesi.) We don’t yet have an official state vehicle, but if we did, it would surely be the pick-up truck. One in four Texans owns a pick-up truck, and they are often customized. Pick-ups aren’t just for macho men, either. In my neighborhood, I sometimes see a bright pink one with “Daddy’s Girl” emblazoned across the back window. My favorite local customized truck, however, sports a purple and green Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme. (Every time I see it drive…
What is a Jackalope? Jackalopes are mythical rabbit/antelope hybrids that frequently appear in folk tales from the southwestern United States. Why is there a Jackalope in Fort Worth, Texas? In the 1980’s, Fort Worth artist Nancy Lamb was commissioned to create an eight foot tall jackalope sculpture for a garden and pottery shop. Rooftop Jackalope Address Although the Jackalope Store has since gone under, its unique mascot remains on the roof of what is now a car dealership. I always keep an eye out for it when driving through town. If you’re ever in north Texas and would like to…
Talented Texan Makes it Big on Broadway Mary Martin, the performer most strongly identified with role of Peter Pan, was born in Weatherford, Texas. This talented singer and actress was also the first to play Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music, as well as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific. In 1976, the artist Ronald Thomason created a life-sized bronze of Mary Martin as Peter Pan. The sculpture still stands in front of the Weatherford Public Library, and the photos you see in this post are ones I snapped when I visited town. I must also say that, to…
For today’s Friday Photo, I’ve decided to post the most popular photo from my 2013 Instagr.am feed. (If you’re on Instagr.am follow me, @TuiSnider, and say hi. I will definitely follow you back!) Here’s the story behind the picture: My husband and I were on a tour of the Caribbean island, St. Maarten, when our group decided to stop by the seaside. As we stepped out of the van, the driver warned us that part of the area was clothing optional, so if we were offended by this, we should pay close attention to the signs. I’d never been to…
Beautiful Reflections along the Bayou Today’s photo essay features shots I took with my iPhone while floating down the Big Cypress Bayou in Jefferson, Texas. It was hard to restrain myself to only sharing six pictures with you because I could not stop taking photos. It was that beautiful! If, like me, you enjoy dreamy reflections, then a cruise with Turning Basin Riverboat Tours is made for you. East Texas History & Lore Our boat was captained by John Nance, who kept us entertained with a mixture of historical information, local lore and facts about nature. After showing us a…