Confession and Repentence

I am an Alaskan native- not a Native Alaskan, but, nonetheless, I am native as in born there.  Alaskans are the last  true pioneers- we hunt moose, catch salmon and  grow 70 lb cabbages. Our  state is the coolest, AND the BIGGEST- don't you love this visual?





I moved from the coolest, BIGGEST state in the union to Colorado- Coloradoans are also cool but I cannot in good conscience put the coveted green and white native license plate on my car.

Sigh....  I don't even live there any more and my car is registered in another state.  I do wish I had saved my dad's plates- he was a Colorado native  AND an Alaskan pioneer . You can't get any cooler than that.

And cool Alaskans and cooler Coloradoans.....

 well, we hate Texans. 

Texans are loud and obnoxious on Colorado ski slopes. When they visited Alaska, Texans thought I was an Eskimo - to be fair, not many travelled to Alaska in the early '60's but they were probably all obnoxious.   Texans think their state is so cool. 

See?

Obnoxious.

Well, I confess...

to hatred- well, at least, intense dislike of all things Texas and Texans.  Big hair, Cadillacs with cattle horns, and even, big hair WITH gold cattle horns (don't ya love the Google image search) .... 

Then my son, my own firstborn,  marries a Texan.  

A really nice, really smart, really beautiful, really godly.... Texas woman.  When he told me she was all these attributes and more, I said, "Son, marry her- quickly."  He did. She's wonderful. And they've given me my first granddaughter. Also a  Texas native.  And both mother and child have really nice hair- coppery red and not too big.    So far, no cattle have been seen. 

So.... I repent. 

I repent of hatred and even intense dislike. I repent of prejudging and assuming ill of an entire state. 

And after spending a couple of days in Austin (A on the map), today I drove across a portion of Texas- just a portion. As part of my repentance, I will swallow my pride and say, Texas is a truly  big state.  Not the biggest, of course, but big enough.  My drive took hours and hours. It was supposed to be six hours but there was so much to see and photograph, I took me about ten. And I could have taken twice as long. 

My route was west and included Fredricksburg (B), a Bavarian/Texas town and a model of cuteness on steriods- everything is bigger in Texas, including cute towns with interesting histories. Short story- Bavarians fled Europe, settled West Texas.  And for us it's  pretty much shopping. Possibly some big hair. But definitely cute.    http://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/ 

Nearby is Stonewall, Texas -the Peach Capital of Texas 

http://www.texaspeaches.com/

and Lyndon Baines Johnson's ranch. 

http://www.nps.gov/lyjo/index.htm 

 Johnson City is President Johnson's childhood home and a really fun, little town.  I may do an entire blog on....corrugated steel structures.  My new obsession.

 Hye, Texas boasts the Hye Brother's Whiskey Distillery and has the cutest post office.

  

We all know Texans and their cattle. This was my impression, my prejudice...

Very swishy and shiny. Cattle art.

But instead, on my drive, I saw the Crack of Noon Ranch .

http://hillcountrypremier.com/lodging/properties/crack-of-noon-ranch/ 

and the El Rancho Not So Grande 

with their "cattle"....

Terrible pic- iPhoto is acting up.... the "cattle" are GOATS.  :)

 I love Texas whimsy and a sly sense of humor. Who knew? 

And just east of Fredricksburg is....

Valeskas Iron Works- wholesale to the public! We have all sizes and kinds of Brazilian and Columbian Cowhides as well as patchwork cowhide rugs, furniture, Fire Pits & grills, Rustic Home Decor and Pottery, Antiques and so much More! We have over 4 acres of Rustic western items at the lowest prices anywhere! At valeskas we do our best to satisfy your every need. We even deliver to san antonio and austin! Come Check Us out @- Location(s) 8626 hwy 290 e fredericksburg Texas 78624 & 406 E main street Fredericksburg Texas 78626

The Iron Works was just as messy, confusing and weird as that online reference.  It was fun- my kind of shopping- cheap, negotiable and a bit of digging through dirty stuff.  I'm going home with some cruddy old sliver to hang on my walls.  My nod to the Texas "art" of rusting everything and nailing it on their exterior walls. 

I  plan to use old silver pieces.  Rustic and classy. 

 I did pass on this "wall art".  This head would give me nightmares. 

Hey- how often does "Rustic Home Decor" include stuffed boar heads?
-complete with sawdust.
You should see the "antiques". 

But I've arrived in Alpine (C on the map).  Time to rest.

This place is another story....

Lovely pool... but it's 45 degrees and no, the pool isn't heated.  But it looks good.

If I hadn't just confessed and repented,
I'd be tempted to tuck this mirror in my suitcase.

So, forgive me, Texas.

  

You are a great state and I love the Hill Country especially. 

I wish you Goodwill.... and love this cool store front on a thrift store. 

Your map is pretty cool, especially on corrugated steel. 

And forgive me, Texans.

You are cool. 

And patriotic.  

This sign was right next to the "Texas, my Texas. All Hail the Mighty State" sign.

I saw lots of America flags on my drive.
They aren't really going to secede from the union.

I hope.

I