A to Z Texas: H is for the Healing Water of Mineral Wells

April 9, 2013
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Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Weird Tasting Water Has Healing Properties In the 1880′s, Judge James Alvis Lynch and his wife, Armenia, moved to north Texas and dug a well. At first, the couple was afraid to drink from it because the water tasted odd. After seeing that their livestock thrived, however, the pair began drinking from the well, too.…

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A to Z Texas: G is for German Dialect

April 8, 2013
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Sure, he looks like Elvis, but he might speak Texas German (photo by Tui Snider)

German Culture is Part of Texas For some reason, when people speak of immigrants to the USA, New York’s Ellis Island gets all the press. We tend to overlook the fact that the port of Galveston in Texas brought many newcomers to our country, as well. Starting in the 1830′s, for instance, tens of thousands…

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A to Z: The 6 Flags of Texas

April 6, 2013
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Texas State Flag (photo by Tui Snider)

In Texas, Every Day is Flag Day Technically, Flag Day is June 14th, but it’s easy to get the impression that Flag Day is every day here in the state of Texas. The Dallas – Fort Worth region is quite breezy, which makes it easy to express your pride for state and country with proudly…

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A to Z: Eiffel Tower Replica in Paris, Texas

April 5, 2013
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Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

Texas Eiffel Tower Replica In the early 1990′s Babcock & Wilcox Company built an Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, Texas using volunteer parts and labor. This metal structure replaced an earlier wooden version that was destroyed by a tornado. Unlike other Eiffel Tower replicas around the USA, the city of Paris, Texas chose to add…

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A to Z Texas: Dinosaur Footprints in Glen Rose

April 4, 2013
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Dinosaur World in Glen Rose, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

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…

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A to Z: CFS – the Freedom Fries of Texas?

April 3, 2013
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Glorious Texas sunset (photo by Tui Snider)

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…

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A to Z Texas: Bluebonnets & Bastard Cabbage

April 2, 2013
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Field of Bastard Cabbage in Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

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…

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A to Z Texas: Alien Grave in Aurora

April 1, 2013
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Alien grave in Aurora, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

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…

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My April A to Z Blog Challenge Reveal

March 21, 2013
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Texas cowboy with a lasso (photo by Tui Snider)

My 2013 A to Z blog challenge theme Each April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the A to Z blog challenge. Many of them choose a theme to blog about, although it’s not mandatory. All you have to do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet in April.…

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