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Presidential Libraries in Texas

June 8, 2011 By
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library - Colleg... 

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The presidential library system began in 1939.  So far, the United States has 13 such libraries.  Presidential libraries are the repository for photographs (official and familial), memorabilia, letters, speeches, and documents collected during the presidency.  That Texas is home to three presidential libraries is a huge windfall for the touring history buff.  Two are currently open for visitors.

Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Library and Museum

The LBJ library is located in Austin Texas.  LBJ began his presidency on the night President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The library covers the years 1961 through 1969.  Included in the collection are the photographs, speeches, journals and documents surrounding the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Vietnam War, and the War on Poverty.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Located in College Station, Texas, the George Bush Presidential Library’s collection includes documents, speeches and photos around the first conflict in Iraq: Desert Storm, Iraq War, the capturing of General Manuel Noriega, and President Bush’s call for a new volunteerism in America: A Thousand Points of Light.  In addition, the library offers a summer day camp from June through August for children ages 7-12.

George W. Bush Presidential Library

Lewiston, Texas is the temporary home of the George W. Bush Presidential Library.  The permanent location will be on the campus of Southern Methodist University and is scheduled to be open to the public in 2013.  Look for documents, letters, journals and speeches surrounding September 11, 2001, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with his pivotal education policy: No Child Left Behind.

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The Wild, Wild Flowers of Texas

June 4, 2011 By
Closeup of lupines in bloom along trail, Lady ... 

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Texas is known for a lot of things, cowboys and cattle, oil wells, and country music.  It also has one of the most beautiful displays of wild flowers in the U.S.  The richest display of these jewels of nature is in the central hill country just northwest of Austin, in Llano country.  The most resplendent displays are seen in Spring through early summer.

Bluebonnets are by far the most popular Texas wild flower.  Typically they are an early Spring flower and have usually bloomed out by early May. The common name “bluebonnet” came from the similarity of the shapes of the petals to the bonnets pioneer women used to protect themselves from the sun.

Texas Paintbrush bloom alongside Bluebonnets.  It is often described by horticulturists as a hairy upright biennial herb.  It has an orange-red flower, loves direct sun, and blooms in early Spring.  Texas Paintbrush is self-seeding and while technically an annual, it returns to same fields year after year.

Indian Blanket is another very popular and prolific Texas wild flower. Its blooms are circular, with a deep red center, an orange mid-section, and sweet yellow tips.  The bloom ranges in size from 1 to 2-1/2 inches in size.

In honor of the Texas Wild Flowers and native plants throughout the United States, Lady Bird Johnson has created a Wildflower Center in Austin.  If you are unable to see the wildflowers in Spring and early summer, a trip to the Wildflower Center in Austin is an excellent substitute.  The Wildflower Center has developed a native plant information network that catalogues more than 7,200 native species.

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Nine Flags of Nacogdoches

June 1, 2011 By
Part of historic downtown Nacogdoches, Texas

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Located in east central Texas, Nacogdoches is officially, the oldest town in Texas.  The area between LaNana and Banita Creeks in what is now downtown Nacogdoches was the home a Paleolithic settlement  dating back to approximately 10,000 B.C.  Over time it evolved into the a settlement for Caddoan Indian tribe.

Because of its antiquity, nine flags have flown over the city Nacogdoches.  The first that we know of, is the French flag which flew in the years 1685-1689. The French influence was short lived and ultimately they were  pushed aside by the Spaniards.  The second flag was the Spanish flag which flew for almost 300 years (1510 to 1821).

The third and fourth flags are less well known.  The third flag was that of Gutierrez-Magee and flew for just one year  from 1812 to 1813.  It was Bernardo Gutierrez and Augustus Magee who made the first attempt to make Texas a republic.  The fourth flag was that of Dr. James Long and flew from 1819 through 1821.  Long led a failed expedition to claim Texas for the United States.

The fifth flag was the Mexican flag which flew from 1821 through most of the years until 1836.  However for a brief period, the sixth flag, that of the Fredonia Rebellion also flew. The Fredonia Rebellion was one of several attempts for Texans to free themselves from Mexican rule.

The seventh flag, Lone Star, commemorated the Battle of Nacogdoches which freed parts of Texas from Mexican rule in 1836.  The eighth flag was the Confederate Flag which flew during the Civil War period.

Finally, the ninth and lasting flag is the United States of America.

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Best St. Patrick’s Day party treats

March 12, 2011 By

It’s an expectation of dull hours and duller traditions — St. Patrick’s Day is often ignored by the masses, thought to offer no chance for celebrations (beyond an excess of alcohol). Halloween steals all excitement; Christmas revels in its history and tradition. No other holiday is believed to be worthy of a party.

However, the month of March proves this to be wrong.

Choose to indulge in Irish culture with a St. Patrick’s Day event. Inspire guests with theme activities and treats. Create memories that will last throughout the year.

Success is found in flavor:

Soda Bread Satisfaction

Capture the traditions of the Emerald Isle by offering soda bread. This tasty treat — named for the unusual inclusion of sodium bicarbonate instead of yeast, which meant it was more accessible to the masses — will delight all guests. A heady flavor of caraway and buttermilk marks this the perfect compliment to any dinner. Be certain to allow yourself enough time for baking, though. A loaf can claim over an hour in the oven and will need (at least) 30 minutes to cool. Don’t make the soda bread overnight, however, as it can harden and become difficult to eat for the next day’s party. Let it be fresh and hot for a greater effect.

Cupcake Comfort

All St. Patrick’s celebrations demand easy laughter and easier tastes. Offer guests the simple pleasures of cupcakes — adorned with holiday designs. You will create an instant taste sensation with these Ireland-inspired treats. Use butter-cream icing to top each chocolate cupcake, shaping patterns of shamrocks, leprechaun faces and gold coins. Consider adding a drop of Irish cream to the cake to offer moist texture (and unbeatable flavor).

Flag Favorites

Patriotism is filled to color and such color can even be found in baking. Provide your guests with food that does more than merely satisfy — it will instead impress. Offer crisp cookies (a simple sugar base is recommended, using only vanilla extract for flavor) coated to resemble the Irish flag. Choose green, white and orange frosting to create a symbolic treat. These will be worthy additions to a St. Patrick’s Day party kit. Be careful to keep your eye on them, though — they tend to form quickly in the oven and can easily burn when not watched.

Corned Confection

Expectations define every party and no St. Patrick’s Day event can be deemed truly successful unless it’s involved corned beef and cabbage. This meal is the most anticipated and guests will wait for its arrival. The components are easy: cured meat, boiled cabbage and a careful assortment of onions, potatoes and spices. The flavors are strong, straightforward and reflect the dish’s historical beginnings. The process of creating this dish can be complicated (with 20 minutes of preparation and two hours of cooking). It is best to serve it right away — rather than letting the flavors sit for a while — so timing is vital.

No longer ignore the season. No longer deny the day. Create a St. Patrick’s event that will be enjoyed by all. Excitement can be yours — are you willing to claim it?

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13 Year Old Texas Murder Case Finally Ends

February 5, 2011 By

Thirteen years ago a 19 year old woman was killed on her way to work at a local grocery store by two men in North Texas – Michael Hall and Robert Neville. The part that completely outraged the state was the fact that 19 year old Amy Robinson was mentally challenged – she had no way of determining that her killers were going to harm her.

Robinson worked at a local grocery store with both of her killers – this probably was the reason why she was so willing to get in their car. After all, they were supposedly offering her a ride to work since she was stuck riding her bike. Instead of driving to the grocery store, Hall and Neville took Robinson out to an empty field and shot her multiple times until she died. Sadly for her, Robinson was not even the person that they were out to target that day.

The first man that was found guilty in her murder was convicted and executed almost five years ago. However, that still left her second killer, Michael Hall, to face the jury and receive his sentence. Fortunately, the horrible story for her family is finally coming to an end. As of right now Hall is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas on Tuesday, February 15th. If everything goes as planned he will be the first to receive the Texas death sentence this year – his lawyers are still trying to claim that he was not mentally stable at the time of the killing.

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Gulf Turtles Finally Make Home After Freezing

January 25, 2011 By

Green Sea Turtles rarely leave the water, except when they are entering breeding season and ready to lay batches of eggs in the sad pits that they dig – and especially not when the weather is below freezing. However, for whatever reason hundreds of them began abandoning their native territory in the Gulf of Mexico to come up on Texas shores several months ago. The numbers of the travelling turtles were so large that it captured the attention of the entire state of Texas – there have been well over 1000 of the land exploring turtles this winter.

This is very unusual behavior for a reptile since they rely solely on their environment to regulate their body temperature – logic says that the turtles should not have survived the freezing temperatures that they had to endure after leaving the warm Gulf waters. Because of the less than ideal temperatures most of the turtles that have been found thus far were already suffering from shock from the cold.

Fortunately for the sake of the Green Sea Turtles, Texas researchers have been slowly returning them to their native habitat these past few weeks – of course, the turtles were allowed to recuperate from the cold shock before being released again. There have already been several hundred returned to the water as of right now. Many native Texans who have taken interest in the strange story have been present to watch the turtles return to the sea – in fact, the following of enthusiasts is already well over 2000 people.

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