luluThere’s plenty to do in Houston, but every now and then it’s fun to leave the big city behind and explore the wide open spaces that define Texas.
It doesn’t take long to see what rural Texas is about. Cattle graze lazily in fields
and the sprawling metropolis is replaced by a series of small towns.
This time of year the landscape colored by wildflowers is spectacular. No matter how many times I see fields of blue, red, yellow and pink my heart sings in appreciation of nature’s beauty.
Another reason to get out and about now is the Round Top Antique Show which these days is said to cover some 28 miles. That means a lot of stuff to browse. Now, I don’t need a thing, but that doesn’t keep my eye from wandering in search of the unusual or interesting.
Bottles never fail to get my attention. These are truffle jars that when filled with mushrooms and cotton hold in the moisture necessary for preservation. You can be sure that in my possession they would be filled with flowers to create a centerpiece for a tablescape.
Talk about an unusual flower container. Take a look at this chemical beaker. I didn’t buy one, but the temptation was great. These were $175 each, a little pricey so I’m going to look into finding new pieces and creating the look.
These wooden mallets got my attention because of their varying shapes and heights. In case you are wondering, they were used for barn building. I wouldn’t want someone with one of those in their hand to get mad at me!
One exhibit featured lamps and chandeliers made from the most interesting materials. For a fleeting moment I could imagine one in my eclectic mix of things.
Then, there were those things that reminded me of some of you bloggers. White porcelain
and blue and white pieces are favorites of many of you.
Exhibits are in fields, tents and enclosed spaces some of which are beautifully displayed.
I have a hard time imagining how much dealers have to sell to justify the cost. As one said, it’s always a gamble and you have to do a show knowing that you will win or lose.
A day or two of wandering among the exhibits is about all I can take and then I’m ready to get back in the car and wander the country roads stopping here and there to take a photo.
i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
I don’t know about you, but when I think of Texas ranches I think of wide open spaces under brilliant blue sky.
I think of cows grazing in those wide open spaces, occasionally looking up to see who or what is passing by.
Well, that’s still happening, but on a visit to a friend’s ranch I learned there’s something new happening in ranching. Horses were replaced by ATVs
and where once cows grazed, there were all kinds of exotic animals
I never expected to see zebras roaming the pastures
or geese strolling those wide open spaces totally at home with their four legged friends. 
The only animal that wasn’t a surprise was the white tailed deer so common in Texas they become a nuisance. I’m told they are thinned out (meaning shot) several times a year to keep their numbers down. 
Big Bend is one of the more interesting but least visited national parks in the United States. There’s good reason for that. Big Bend is not an easy place to get to.
It is not right off any super highway which means you better know where to turn to get there. And, it’s a good idea to start with a full tank of gas because there’s no close place to fill up when the gas gauge nears E.
Once there, the solitude and beauty of the place is overwhelming. 
It is desert 
It is green valleys along the Rio Grande,
the narrow, shallow river that serves as the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
Big Bend is sunrise
and sunset and so much more, but that can wait for another day. Do come back to share the grandeur and mystery of this captivating national treasure.
With all it has to offer, Houston is a great place, but from time to time it’s fun to leave the big city behind and go exploring. Come along and let’s go west.
From Houston to San Antonio, there’s not a great deal to see, but once past San Antonio, scenery changes dramatically. First comes the rolling Hill Country, quite different from Houston’s flattness.
In no time at all that gives way to wide open spaces and an 80 MPH speed limit which means making pretty good time on the road.
About the only thing dotting the landscape is hundreds of wind turbines which make Texas the largest provider of wind power in the country.
First stop on this adventure is Marathon, 8 hours from Houston and quite a bit above the sea level we are used to.
Marathon’s main attraction is the historic Gage Hotel and its excellent restaurant. It is the reason most folks choose to stop in Marathon and reservations are often hard to come by.
That being the case, we opted for Eve’s Garden, a funky B & B.
With all its bright colors and unique architectural features, Eve’s struck me as a west Texas version of Gaudi. It was astonishing to learn that the construction is of bricks made with recycled paper, clay and water. That made me think all that paper I recycle is worth something!
As night fell, the rooftop proved a great place to capture the waning sun, a sight seldom seen in Houston. Such color made me think about how it could be incorporated into one of my woven pieces. Nature provides such great inspiration for creativity.
First on the menu was a grapefruit topped with an impressive meringue. How could I not find out how to do this! Once the meringue is heaped on the grapefruit, it goes in the oven for about 4 minutes. Sounds easy enough, huhn, but I forgot to ask about temperature!
Next came a fragrant frittata, and if one desired a little kick there were lots of hot sauce choices. Who would have guessed there were so many?
With appetite satisfied and glimpses of Marathon in the rear view mirror, it was time to move on to Big Bend, a national park you won’t want to miss so stay tuned.
There’ll be bronc busting,
barrel races for the gals
This time of year means cowboy hats and denim,
maybe even a prize winning steer showing up for a spell.
Hungry cowboys and cowgirls will gather round to tell tall tales
as they enjoy a cold Lone Star, the national beer of Texas.
Tables don’t have to be too fancy, 
but whatever fills the bowl better be hearty and good.
I’m thinking a good bowl of 
