Many times over the years I’d simply drive through neighborhoods during Christmas to see the lights. There was always at least one property where I heard myself say, “Wow, look at that one.” This year one of those homes – with figures, props and background music – is in Fayetteville, Texas, population two hundred fifty eight. At night the show
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That’s a little hyperbole. Dr. Frankenstein’s exultation was a much bigger deal, and certainly in a different realm. But real garden success is something to shout about too. After three years trying to grow in dreaded black-gumbo clay soil – with little to show for it – I finally have tangible progress. [Please see Archives 23 June article: DRAT THAT
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[This article first appeared in 2004, and yearly thereafter, when my daughter and I had a writer’s e-zine. But it is just as fresh and valid today as it was then. And I don’t think that the location – New York – makes any difference to people who grew up in Texas or anywhere else. Once you start to read you
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His name might not mean much in Texas where football is king. But he was at home on an ice rink, which is to Canada what the gridiron is to Texas. For nearly twenty years this Canadian was hockey’s man of consummate skill and respect. When he came to a city with his team – the Montreal Canadiens – so did
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You always have to be ready when driving back country roads. Surprises can appear around any curve. That’s the reason I use them. And I’m no longer rushing to be on time for a really really important corporate meeting. With a camera most times in my truck I quickly pulled over to capture these guys. Actually, they could have captured me.
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My favorite animal. Burros. We had a couple back in the late Eighties in New Hampshire. They had been saved from the slaughterhouse door by Cleveland Amory, animal-rights activist. Smart and friendly many people think of them as dumb and stubborn. Well, in my experience, that is just another bogus urban-style legend. They are now widely used as the equivalent
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It was a beautiful, sunny, blue-sky Texas afternoon in Fayetteville. Sitting outside simply enjoying the weather and the day I heard geese off in the distance. I grabbed my binoculars. A flock was coming towards me, flying north to south towards the Gulf of Mexico. It is time for their seasonal migration to warmer climes. They were very high in
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You’ve hummed the lyrics countless times since you were a kid; probably more times than Lady Gaga has hairs on her head. And even If you haven’t memorized the words, you certainly know the story: Santa very publicly anoints Rudolph as leader by declaring “….Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” [*] What is left
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It reminded me of an afternoon Manila, Philippines monsoon rain. The kind of deluge that happens so fast you have to balance a bamboo rucksack on your shoulder while walking with flip flops in three feet of street water. That really did happen to me once upon a time. But here in Fayetteville, Texas it wasn’t initially the rain itself that was
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If you happen to be driving west of Brenham on 290 it would be hard to miss this Big Mama of barbeques. Six stacks, count ‘em. In order to optimize it you probably have to bring along a semi filled with tons of ribs and brisket. And another one full of mesquite to cook it. [Or maybe that red box has
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