Texas Tidbits

Over the last two years I have from time to time alluded to what it was like to live in Texas. From its vastness to its unabashed patriotism, both for our country and the State, it is quite the experience.

          I need to be careful here because no matter how much I’ve traveled around this great country, I’ve found that you really can’t get to get a “feel” for a place until you’ve spent a decent amount of time there (I don’t want to leave anywhere else out, it’s just that this is what I’ve found here).

          That’s no surprise, the Immersion Factor has been around for as long as folks have been traveling. So, I will just go on with my observations and say that the level of the aforementioned Patriotism, adding in a good, down home, genteel, country way of life, is probably unsurpassed anywhere else in the USA. That’s not to say that there may be some places equal to Texas, but I’m fairly sure that there are probably none better at exhibiting this.

          Especially when it comes to the State of Texas.

          I’ve made this observation before and it bears repeating, the Lone Star Flag is flown EVERYWHERE!

           Sometimes all by itself.

          That Star of Texas is EVERYWHERE, homes, barns, chicken coops, big ranch gates, municipal buildings, floral gardens, you name it, it’s there.

          So Don, what brings about this latest re-observation?

          Well, it is this…. We had the opportunity to be at a local quilting club “meeting” this past week. The Friendship Quilt Guild of Brenham is a thirty-odd year-old organization that started with a handful of members and now boasts close to fifty quilters that meet monthly in order to make quilts for members of the community, especially Veterans. It was for this reason that we attended the meeting as both Dan and Kaitie are Veterans. Dan had four Tours of Duty (two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan) while Kaitie had one Tour in Iraq. They were being presented with the quilts that were made just for them during a ceremony that included several other Veterans, two from Korea and two others from Iraq and Afghanistan. Each Vet was brought up front where their active duty was explained, and their medals and awards were listed.  They were then presented with their very own “work of art” (aka, “quilt”) and were wrapped up in it to the delight, respect, and appreciation of all that were there.

          It was quite the experience.

          Another rather unique Texas character is of the four-legged, two -horned variety, and that is the Texas Longhorn. This breed is the oldest one in the United States, coming from the south more than five-hundred years ago. It is the ubiquitous symbol of the Old West, with the horns and skulls decorating everything from the hoods of Cadillacs to the doorways of barns.

          They are so cool to see!

          And….. apparently one of the easier breeds to raise. They are very adapting, hardy, and they look great on your ranch or front lawn! Imagine having a herd of these in Sussex County….. yes, they will survive the winter and how much fun would it be to have traffic jams, cars lined up for miles with Tourons taking photos!

          Just ask us and we’ll bring a few back with us next year!