A to Z - Eye on Texas: P

 Eye on Texas - P - visits Ponder Texas. It's located in Denton County, north of the Dallas Fort Worth area. It has a population of 1400.

 Big claim to fame is that Bonnie and Clyde might have tried to rob the Ponder State Bank back in the day. That definitely has a cool factor, especially if you think of the Warren Beatty/Faye Dunaway version of Bonnie and Clyde.

Today the claim to fame is the Ranchman's Ponder Steakhouse. I have not eaten here, but it's supposed to be worth the trek.  www.ranchman.com


From Mrs. Pattmore, our favorite cook on Downton - "Listen to me and take those kidneys up to the servery before I knock you down and serve your brains as fritters."

A to Z - Eye on Texas: O

 Eye on Texas - O - Odessa, Texas.  We've traveled from N - Nacogdoches in east Texas to O - Odessa in far west Texas. Darn big state - that's a lot of miles and driving. Much easier to just zoom there on the computer via my blog. C'mon armchair travelers - let's check it out

 Friday Night Lights and Football - yep, read Buzz Bissinger's book by that name (it is excellent), check out Peter Berg's movie (superb), and now stream Kyle Chandler from that show (oh yeah).  The Odessa Broncos vs. the Permian Panthers offers today's version of the Roman gladiators. This is life and death in west Texas entertainment. Odessa is a city of 90,000 people. It has the seventh largest football stadium in the nation for high school football.  (info and pics courtesy of Wikipedia)

 When they say roughnecks, they mean it.  West Texas is tough territory.

 Oil. Oil. Oil.  Here's Texas money and backbone

If you are looking for a lot of wide open space, a place to stake a claim, make your name - Odessa could be your answer. Watch out for rattlesnakes.

Oh Countess - any Downton Abbey comment that could be appropriate....applicable to Friday Night Lights

"Wars have been waged with less fervour"

A to Z - Eye on Texas - N

Eye on Texas - N - visits Nacogdoches - one of the oldest towns in Texas. It claims life under nine flags, and there was a Spanish mission built in 1716. It is located in east Texas and has a lake of the same name.

 
 Stephen F. Austin University is located here. There is a restored historical train depot as well as other museums.

 random info - the city of 20,000 people is the largest producer of blueberries in Texas. It's known for its azaleas, and forested areas.

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From Wikipedia - In 1912, the Marx Brothers came to town to perform their singing act at the old Opera House (now the SFA Cole Art Center). Their performance was interrupted by a man who came inside shouting, "Runaway mule!" Most of the audience left the building, apparently thinking a runaway mule would provide better entertainment. When they filed back in, Julius (later known as Groucho) began insulting them, saying "Nacogdoches is full of roaches!" and "The jackass is the flower of Tex-ass!"

Plenty of history to enjoy in the Nacogdoches area. And any town with a university such as Stephen F. Austin University has plenty of entertainment and restaurants. Enjoy!

Oh dear - what does the Countess on Downton Abbey have to say -
"Why would you want to go to a real school? You're not a doctor's daughter. "

A to Z - Eye on Texas: M

Eye on Texas - let's head west to Marfa, Texas for the letter M.

Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park.  The city was founded in the early 1880s as a waterstop; the population increased during World War II, but the growth stalled and reversed somewhat during the late 20th century.

 rugged desert plains. Make sure you have plenty of gas in your pick-up truck if you choose to trek out here

 Today, Marfa is a tourist destination and a major center for Minimalist art. Attractions include Building 98, the Chinati Foundation, artisan shops, historical architecture, a classic Texas town square, modern art installments, and art galleries.

I always thought the Prada, Marfa sounded cool - it was just plopped out in the desert - a bare storefront. What does it mean?  or stand for?

Marfa may be most famous for the Marfa lights, visible on clear nights between Marfa and the Paisano Pass when one is facing southwest (toward the Chinati Mountains). According to the Handbook of Texas Online, "... at times they appear colored as they twinkle in the distance. They move about, split apart, melt together, disappear, and reappear.

I always thought I'd like to visit Marfa, Texas but it's a loooonnnnggg  drive through a whole lot of desert nothingness to get there. Texas is a huge state - check your map. If you visit Marfa, fill me in on the cool factor.

A to Z - Eye on Texas: L

Eye on Texas - L brings you La Grange Texas, with the sound of ZZ Top in the background. The town of close to 5000 was founded during the Spanish period of American history, then settled in 1837 during the Republic of Texas period.  The town is influenced by German and Czech settlers.

 La Grange is located north west of Houston along the Colorado River.

On January 17, 1849, Heinrich Ludwig Kreische, a recent German immigrant, purchased 172 acres (70 ha) of land which included the tomb. He built a three-story house and, in 1860, began building a brewery. By 1879, it was the third-largest brewing operation in Texas, with its flagship product being "Kreische's Bluff Beer." Kreische maintained the tomb for the rest of his life, but the tomb and Kreische Brewery began to deteriorate after his death in 1882. The brewery closed in 1884.

 Probably one of the most notorious, but famous, spots is located just outside of La Grange - the famous Chicken Ranch brothel.

Representation in popular culture[edit]

• ZZ Top attracted international attention to La Grange with its classic rock song "La Grange" (1973), which referred to "that shack outside La Grange".
• La Grange's attractions inspired the hit stage musical play in 1979, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, as well as the 1982 movie based on that play.
• The town is also mentioned in the song "Northeast Texas Women" by Willis Alan Ramsey.
• Charlie Robison mentions La Grange in his song "My Hometown" ("We worked 80 hours makin' time-and-a-half, but La Grange was too damn hot").
• A local playwright composed a musical featuring La Grange in "Heart of the Tin Trunk".

Thanks to Wikipedia for our tour of La Grange, Texas today. 

end with ZZ Top guitar licks and growl.....just outside La Grange........

A to Z - Eye on Texas: K

 Eye on Texas visits K for Knickerbocker. It's an unincorporated community but I liked the name.

Named for Washington Irving's character Diedrich Knickerbocker by early settlers related to Irving, the community quickly became significant, being the most important community in the county aside from San Angelo. Agriculture was long the community's mainstay, between grain farming and sheep ranching. The first settlers in the area arrived in 1875, and the first townsite was established along Dove Creek; Knickerbocker's post office was established in 1881 and rebuilt in 1896 and 1936. The community was moved in 1889 around a nearby hill in order to have better access to water.

 

For any attractions, food, hotels, etc. you need to head to San Angelo.  But looks like Knickerbocker has that spare Texas rugged look.  

Kick Ass K

A to Z - Eye on Texas - J

 Eye on Texas - J had a shock this morning. She looked for her J post and it wasn't there. She was NOT Jolly, because she had picked Jolly Texas to kick things off.  So I am winging it.

 Then I picked Justin Texas because that's where I drive my hour to work. This weekend it's packed with folks for NASCAR. Hee haw. That's why I did not work on Friday. I did not need any part of that circus.

Justin is also famous for its Justin boots.

And I can also vouch for a darn delicious chicken fried steak at Mom's Café

Sorry this is rushed, but that's Joanne's J adventure.

Have a great weekend.  (I checked - my K is intact for Monday)

Jolly good!