Right next door to Big Bend National Park in Texas is another, even more secluded, gem: Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Yesterday I had somewhere to be. But, I got on the road early and decided to take my time to get there. I was attending an event in Smithville, Texas called the Photo Festival. More about that in another post with different images. I decided to try and take backroads for as much of the way there as I felt comfortable. What should have been a 35 min drive was slowly turned into a 90 min drive. This allowed me to explore small highways like hwy 21 through this central part of Texas. I saw lots of great things to shoot, and was getting eager to pull out my camera. Of course, after one of the dryest summers in the history of central Texas, it rained, a lot. But as I got further into my journey, my itch progressively getting more intense a by chance moment the clouds opened as I came over a hill to find this abandoned farm house in the middle of a field. Neighboring houses a few acres away were very occupied but this seemed to be cleaned up of yard trash and farming equipment and just left to be picturesque with beautiful open space all around it. I had to shoot it. So there I stood on the side of the road, truckers whizzing by with their big rigs, SUVs honking the occasional horn as if I'm the crazy one out in this area. No matter, I got another shot that made my day a better one, and it made for a great start before arriving at the festival where I saw lots of friends and had a great time. @lifebypixels
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**No longer accessible to the public for conservation reasons** The Narrows is an ecologically fragile, beautiful Texas property. Several endangered species make their home in these unique cliffs and the surrounding ranch lands. The Narrows provides habitat for the endangered bird species, the Golden-cheeked warbler and Black-capped vireo. The globally rare plant, the Canyon mock-orange, can be found on the Narrows, as well as the rare wild Smoke tree, maidenbush, and chatterbox orchid. The upper part of this canyon (called the Narrows) is no more than 10 feet wide at its narrowest point. At this point, the river cuts through an exposed coral reef dating from the Late Cretaceous period (shortly before the extinction of dinosaurs). It is a product of water erosion through relatively soft limestone. According to a report compiled by the Southwest Association of Student Geological Societies, these bluffs contain a sequence of rocks showing the gradual emergence of an ancient reef out of the ocean. Fossils of more than 29 types have been found. Though the Blanco often dries up during hot summertime, there are swimming holes formed by potholes in the canyon. There are four waterfalls, water from subsurface aquifers seeps out through the walls, supporting garden-like beds of maidenhair fern, shield fern, and chatterbox orchid. At one point, the canyon walls have eroded leaving an isolated limestone tower. Geologists brought to the site by J. David Bamberger think it may once have been a cave that collapsed and that the potholes were formed in the cave. Not surprisingly, the property also contains at least one cave big enough to crawl into. This tract was purchased in 2000 by a group of partners, who shared a goal of conserving the uniqueness of a canyon between sheer bluffs up to forty feet tall formed by the Blanco River in the Texas Hill Country. The property includes a 1000-foot-stretch known as the "Narrows," as well as an additional 3000 feet of river frontage. The joint owners donated a conservation easement to TLC, in November 2001, ensuring that the ranch will never be further subdivided. Due to the conservation ethic of a group of private landowners, this property will be protected forever from development and preserved for its conservation value. For this, the Texas Land Conservancy is deeply grateful for the foresight of these private landowners.
Actual location: 31.784, -106.480
" Santa Gertrudis " - King Ranch Headquarters, Kingsville, Texas VIEW FROM EAST THE KING RANCH, "SANTA GERTRUDIS", NEAR SAN ANTO...
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Today, I am taking you to Alsace in the northeastern corner of France. Well, not exactly, but I am going to share a few of my little treasures! If you are not familiar with Alsace, I’ll bet that you could guess from the photo that it is on the border with Germany…but it is still VERY French. Warning! Warning! I feel the French teacher in me coming out! lol photo of Strasbourg from Wikipedia First, I would like to share with you my two favorite Alsatian plates. In the upper left is a Sarreguemines plate in the Obernai pattern depicting an Alsatian woman and her daughter going to church, dressed in traditional costumes. I love the flowers on the border! On the lower right is a Limoges plate featuring the products of Alsace, including a peek at the traditional architecture with a stork nesting on the chimney. I’ll tell you a little more about the costumes and the storks later. The yellow fruit is mirabelles…a sort of yellow plum which makes a yummy tarte! And this little jewel is a special favorite because it was a gift from a dear French friend of mine to my mother. It is only three inches in diameter! It depicts the traditional architecture of Strasbourg with the cathedral in the background and a stork’s nest. It is believed that having a stork build its nest on your home brings luck. However…no fires in the fireplace! And…if you want a baby brother or sister, just leave a sugar cube on the window sill and the stork will grant your wish in return for the treat! I love these little people dressed in the traditional Alsatian costumes! I bought several sets of these to give as gifts, but could only part with one set…which I gave to my sister. She hangs them on her tree at Christmas. I have them hung in several places around my house as a reminder of a trip to Strasbourg for the Christmas Market. When you tug on the string, their arms and legs move! I am sure that you have noticed by now that Alsatian women are frequently portrayed as wearing a large black bow. Actually, there are numerous traditional coiffes or caps for the region, but this one has come to represent all of Alsace. It was worn by the women in protest of the German occupation of Alsace in 1870 and 1914. You have to admire them for making their political views known! The traditional costume is now only worn for special fêtes or holidays. photo from Wikipedia This is a colorful little cookie tin whose cookies long ago...er...disappeared! You can see men and women in costume, as well as references to some of the products of Alsace…vins d’Alsace and bière d’Alsace…wine and beer from Alsace. The brasserie, a sort of bar/restaurant, is serving the local specialties. And, of course, there is a stork’s nest! Hmmmm…I would like to show you this picture that usually hangs in my kitchen…but Kitty isn’t in a sharing mood! It features several labels from the wines of Alsace. Have you ever had a glass of Riesling or Gewürztraminer? Then you have sampled them! Finally! She has allowed me to show you a little peek! I love this one…it has all of the traditional elements…the costumes, the architecture and the stork!! One day, I hope to go back to Alsace…but it will not be soon enough! In the meantime, I will have to visit through my little treasures! Thanks so much for stopping by! Please join me in visiting Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, where you will see one of her beautiful mosaics and find a list of this week’s participants. Then on Tuesday, head on over to Tam’s at The Gypsy’s Corner where I am joining our wonderful hostess for my very first Three or More Tuesday! There you will find all sorts of interesting collections! I am happy to be a part of this meme and I do believe that it may become a habit! See you next time! A la prochaine!
Dinner and one of the most amazing views you'll ever see - what more could you want?
Valley view, hike from Murren to Gimmewald, Switzerland
Including hidden gems like the Broadcast Museum and Mrs. Lee's Daffodil Gardens, here are the top 12 things to do in East Texas.
Good ol California How many of these have you visited? #california #travel #explore #adventure #movetocalifornia. realest_agent · Original audio
This new action park is sure to get your heart racing!
