Category: All Things Texas

Travelling tips for the state of Texas.
Discover Texas back roads and hide-away spots.
Learn about famous Texans.

Texas Suspense Readers Meet Lisa Garner

pink colored background with words: Book Review in black

One of my favorite suspense authors – #1 NYTimes best seller, Lisa Garner. January 2020, Lisa Garner was the highlight for crowds of suspense readers at NRH Library. (that’s Texas, folks) I was a fan girl, too! Meeting Lisa and listening to her writing process, learning tidbits of author knowledge, then obtaining a personalized, autographed copy of her latest release: When You See Me was a true rush. When You See Me – book review If you’re a lover of Lisa Garner, then this book is a journey filled with old friends: FBI agent Kimberly Quincy, Sergeant D.D. Warren, and serial-killer-survivor Flora Dane. These dynamic women stalk then storm across the pages of When You … Read more

Just Mercy – Texas actor Jamie Foxx

green and brown background with Texas actor Jamie Foxx in foreground dressed in black bowtie and black jacket

Texas Actor, Jamie Foxx delivers a compelling performance in Just Mercy. Graduating from Terrell High School, in a small Texas town with a current population over 17K, Jamie Foxx was known to his classmates as Eric Bishop. His career beginnings included music and comedy before he became a power-house in the film industry. Whether he’s staring in action films, such as White House Down, Law Abiding Citizen, Collateral or assuming the persona of Ray Charles, Jamie Foxx’s early flair for imitation seems to enhance his chameleon-changing ability in his acting career. Raised by his grandmother, a devout Christian woman, Jamie Foxx learned then excelled at piano (perhaps foreshadowing for his role as Ray Charles, in … Read more

Famous Texas Flyers

Photo of Columbia Space Shuttle crew as they boarded the bus to the launch pad. All members dressed in orange astronaut gear.

Tomorrow is the 17th anniversary of the Columbia Shuttle . . . disaster? tragedy? devastating event? Whatever terminology applies, it seems appropriate to reflect on the glory & guts of some famous Texas flyers. Columbia Space crew, 7 members strong, died during re-entry. I love that Alan Bean went on to foster another career – that of an artist. He brought the magic of space flight to those of earth-bound. What other barriers have Texas famous flyers broken? First female African-American aviator, Azellia White. Then there was the sweet-singing cowboy who took time from his music career to serve in the Air Force – Gene Autry. Want to visit Texas flight museums? NASA in Houston, … Read more

Wreaths across America

young girl in winter clothes - red hat and blue jacket - laying a Christmas wreath on a fallen solider's grave

Remembering the Fallen US Veterans . . . National Decoration Day is this Saturday, December 14th, 2019. DFW celebrates Wreaths Across America by honoring veterans at National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211 Volunteer Opportunities Lay wreaths on graves on Wreaths Day Coordinate a ceremony or location Lead a fundraising group Help to raise funds for wreaths’ sponsorship Other ways Need to find a Veterans’ site near you? For those who gave their all . . . here is a day to remember the sacrifice and lay a bit of Christmas cheer in honor.

Texans celebrating the SEASON!

Texas state outline, colored blue, red, and white like the Texas flag, with writing God Bless Texas

So many places to visit . . . so many events to stuff into the schedule, it’s hard to know where to start. If you live in the DFW area or are planning a visit, here’s a complied list for your seasonal fun. Grapevine, Texas 1,400 Holiday events packed into 40 days of seasonal celebration. North Pole Express Board the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, visit with elves, enjoy cookies and milk, and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the end of the ride, all while sporting your favorite warm jammies. What could be more fun? Entertaining for both kids and adults. ICE! . . . a wonderland of carved ICE come to life as ‘A Charlie … Read more

Matthew McConaughey Unveiled: his deep Texas roots!

For Texans, all paths lead home. That’s home to Texas. It seems that actor, Matthew McConaughey is no different. From his native roots of Uvalde, Texas (a South West Texas town of a 17,000 or so residents), then straight up I-35 for the University of Texas (where he attended the graduate program for Film Directing), the actor has traveled quite a few roads in the Lone Star State. He’s rather like a Texas tumbleweed, always on the move through the state and his fans never know where he’ll turn up next. For 30 seriously lucky University of Texas film students, they could brag Matthew McConaughey, alumni class of 1993, was their assigned professor as he … Read more

Whataburger — Tasty Travels & Tr(EATS) in Texas

Whataburger – the Tale of a Legend Whataburger opened its first store in Corpus Christi, Texas in August of 1950. Hamburgers sold for .35C and milk shakes were .15C. No inside – or for that matter outside – seating. No Drive-THRU. (Although the drive-in burger joint was already popular.) No phone-in orders or GrubHub deliveries. ONE walk-up window to place an order. What gave Whataburger the edge? Perhaps it was their innovative thinking, entrenched with family-owned traditions: 1) The 5-inch paddy that required two hands to hold. (All others at the time served a 4-inch paddy). 2) The unique A-frame orange & white striped buildings. (Entrepreneur Harmon Dobson was a pilot and he wanted the … Read more

6 Steps to SURVIVING summer heat.

Here in Texas, we take our heat pretty serious. Even though Texans can fry an egg on the sidewalk, pop tar bubbles with toes, and get a tan in 10 minutes, that doesn’t mean folks in the Lone Star State don’t take heat seriously. Real serious. 100 degree weather with 70% humidity = frighteningly high heat indexes. When temps SOAR, who needs the most attention? Kids Elderly Hard-headed teens Pets CDC Warning Signs for Heat-Related Illnesses So those are the medical specifics . . . but what actual steps do folks who bake in six months of heat follow? No SKIMPING on water consumption! Room temperature is fine. My farm-boy daddy swore that when you … Read more