§ The Birthplace of Texas...

As some of my blogging visitors are from Texas, you know that Texas Independence day is March 2nd! This year, 2023, marks 187 years...

Washington-on-the-Brazos is known as "the birthplace of Texas" because, on March 1, 1836, Texas delegates met in the town to formally announce Texas' intention to separate from Mexico and to draft a constitution for the new Republic of Texas. They organized an interim government to serve until a permanent one could be formed

source: Here

The delegates adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, signing it on the following day. They adopted their constitution on March 16. The delegates worked until March 17, when they had to flee with the residents of Washington, to escape the advancing Mexican Army. The townspeople returned after the Mexican Army was defeated at San Jacinto on April 21. Town leaders lobbied for Washington's designation as the permanent capital of the Republic of Texas, but leaders of the Republic favored Waterloo, later renamed Austin. [More on the capitol in another post]

We visited Texas' Birthplace...






Next stop...the Museum at Washington on the Brazos. A small museum but filled with so much history!! [By the way, the Black Vultures seen above, were EVERYWHERE!]
Note: The river seen is the Brazos, the gray clapboard building is where it was all delegated and signed to have Texas become independent.

§ A Dose of Vitamin SEA

Several days ago I read on my ebird connection that a couple of frigatebirds were sighted along the ship channel at Port Aransas. Of course, I had to drive over to SEA if I could spot them since they are water birds that rarely come ashore, preferring to stay out on the gulf. I didn't find any, but I enjoyed the time outdoors, walking. I stopped at the bird reserves first. Not much going on there bird-wise, and I enjoyed the quietness...no one else around birding. I had the area all to myself.  For about half an hour, I watched the sky for those frigatebirds soaring [they're nicknamed the Pirates of the Caribbean since they're robbers of fish caught by the sport's enthusiasts...sometimes  stealing the catch right out of the tern's mouth].  Afterwards, I got back in the car and drove to the area that has a small city park near the ferry docks. I then walked to bring my step count up to my goal before the summer heat made it unbearable to be out exercising, as I watched those that were fishing along the channel banks, and the ferries taking cars, trucks, semi trucks, and RV campers across the water to the town, Aransas Pass,  side or visa-versa...bringing them back to Port Aransas. First, I'll take you along the highway at sunrise...as I drive across Mustang Island to Port A. Some areas along the 15 mile trip you find motels, condominiums, RV parks, residential areas, park access roads to the beaches, churches, and golf courses. It was a beautiful morning...

I've mentioned on another blog post the fact that small boats, called the Farley Boat, were first made in Port Aransas, Texas. Historical data prides in stating that FDR [US president] made a special trip to fish for tarpon here, sailing in a Farley Boat.  And when you drive around the fishing village, you can see replicas [most all painted with seaworthy scenes -some are patriotic, and quite individualistic] on just about every property; on private residences to hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Along the park entrance, several Farley Boats are lined up along the car lanes at the yacht club. Here are two:

Also, found docked nearby is a Pirate Ship replica [also photographed and shared before]...you can go on a harbor cruise and dine aboard. I believe there is also entertainment while dining, making an evening of thrills, chills, and good food...



My next post will be ferries and scenes around the yacht club...

§ A Sepia Rainbow...

'Tis early morning, and I type this out to share with you. It's a bit eclectic; something I choose to do oftentimes when I need to get things off my thought-wave and onto paper so to speak. I'll start with a bit of humor. Some of you may have seen this before but it's worth repeating...

....something I should consider doing!!
[image not mine; unknown source]

Sunday morning, on my drive home after my walk in the park, I pulled over, off the road, and walked into the field to get photos. Looks to me, with all the crops around town and outside the limits, that it's gonna be a bumper crop this year [both the cotton and sorghum]!!! Now, question is, will the economy of our country do the farmers any good with selling this to the right bidder? Anyway, the cotton fields are lush, thick, and green. The blossoms so far are heavy and ripe...

The other day when I posted my share of pencil sketches, most of you mentioned in the comments that the one of Clint by the mirror, brushing his hair, was your favorite [as is mine]. Well, skimming through my photo folders, I came upon the copy of the original that Irene sent me so I could sketch it at the time. Here is the color photo [an aged, very faded copy]. I thought y'all might like seeing what I used to achieve the sketch.  When I take time to stop and view either the photo or my drawing, I feel the bittersweet tears of memories of those scary days when we nearly lost him...

...and then, today I leave you with the thought that has been running thru my mind these past weeks of global turmoil.  First, the statues being torn down and demolished....they are our heritage and history, people, you can't erase history!  Second, the Churchill statue in London, being defaced with graffiti...the word "Racist".  I'm sad because of this, the unrest...if only the younger generation would realize if it weren't for Winston Churchill, England would be a fascist country today, if not for his strength and determination to beat Hitler!  Lost lives, true, but for freedom...the price tho heavy, was necessary.  Oh, and all the websites removing anything relating to Gone With the Wind...it's fiction dear friends!!  I can't help but ask myself  "What is wrong with people?"  One online friend, as we discussed this about Churchill, Phil [England] reminded me that "Anni, the difference is, you and I have lived through the University of Life, but the young ones have yet a lot to learn".  Indeed.  Now, my vision of a rainbow and racial colors of the todays and those of the tomorrows...

Take a Rainbow
by
Anni
© June 2020


[image courtesy of Google Images made sepia by my software program]

Take a rainbow
Make it sepia tone...
The colors blend
None standing alone!
The browns, whites, yellows and other hues
meld into a simple beauty of mix...
The rainbow still lives on, arching to the sky.
You can see the glory of it all if you so choose.  
It reaches across the land for people passing by.
Colors we cannot change, nor want to fix.
Take the rainbow and...
And see the sepia tone...
Colors that blend
Together, none standing alone!!!

original poem by me
do not copy or steal

§ The Past Meets the Present...

NOTE: the rare hawk Bud & I found can be seen on my bird photo blog this week. Link to site is above, by the picture.

The afternoon was beautiful...blue sky, a gentle, warm breeze.  The temperature was 83 degrees.  I had my work done for the day, and decided since the sun was shining, I'd take a drive in the country again, hawk hunting.




At this blog and on my bird photograph blog, I'd Rather B Birdin', you probably recall me posting about driving in the country, in and around what is called by locals [and on the map], Chapman Ranch. It's mostly farming, cotton and sorghum, but there are oil wells and hundreds of wind generators on the farm land also. The area, tho subdivided now, and dozens of private ranching [cattle and horses], it remains huge. The original Chapman Ranch, before selling off, was amassed at over 34,000 acres...Philip Chapman bought this vast parcel of land from Richard King of the historic King Ranch [King Ranch originally consisting of 1.2 million acres, now 825,000 acres covering nearly 1300 square miles] around Kingsville, Texas, in 1919. At the time of purchase, Chapman Ranch was dubbed Nueces Farms. Since 1924, after subdividing the land into 160 acre plots, it was then known as Chapman Ranch. Historically, it was billed as the world's largest mechanized farm. Experiments were conducted with both crops and machinery. Implements were introduced for improved cotton production and even a specific strain of cotton was developed on the ranch. According to the Texas State Historical Marker, the strain of rice was developed in the 1930s; being a "superior strain of long-staple cotton", which was marketed world-wide. Today, all that remains are some buildings of the past, and one is still operating. There were schools, a post office, grocery store, hardware, a hospital, and even a barber shop, a car dealership, gas station, and more. The post office was just recently, within the last decade, closed for good. Now, you see abandoned buildings, farming equipment and a few remaining residents. But, forever, the land remains and Chapman's Ranch is still marked on maps of today. The heirs of the Chapman family continue to run the ranch. You can drive around on the country roads for hours and still be on the ranch!!

Normally, I just drive by this...this day, I pulled off the highway on my return-to-home trip, and took a few photos:

Hawks were active! A couple weeks ago, just beginning of plowed fields...now, sorghum sprouting!! Some parts are posted, while other fields are open territory.

The 'town'...is it a ghost town, y'wonder?




Note: Red Brick buildings are school houses.

Read more on:

Long Staple Cotton versus Short Staple Cotton

King's Ranch Family

King's Ranch Dynasty

Secret History - Was Richard King a Fraudulent Man? 

can be enlarged for clarified viewing

§ The WALL

Temp 96°(F) Heat Index 112°

I've been absent for a while...other than thinking of basting myself and hoping I'll be done cooking shortly, I haven't done much.  On a hazy, summer morning this week, before the rush hour traffic got heavy, I headed to downtown and the seawall. I figured Shoreline Blvd, being open air, there may be a slight breeze blowing in off the bay to keep my body temperature a bit cooler. [it wasn't the temp recorded up at the top right margin of my post...this posted temp was mid-afternoon when I typed the blog for pre-scheduling]  I got hot, but not too much. This summer, I have been suffering a bit in the hot humid days.  More so than years past.  In time, the dog days of summer will be over, and hopefully some drier air will move in for a new season! I'm counting the days...and this year, I'm hoping it's sooner than later!! As you can see by the first photo when I stopped to photograph part of the marina, the air was thick. You can almost feel the humidity in it, can't you?

I'll just let you browse what you may see along the seawall, as you walk with me. From the many restaurants to sculptures, ship replicas, boats, yachts, seabirds, shrimp boats, skyline, culture [art gallery], unicyclist, and more. Come along...bring plenty of cool water, you're gonna need it. The round trip on only PART of the seawall will be about 7000 steps if you're counting [7196 for me]:

a ship's mast and signage [Corpus Christi Marina] and Joe's crab shack restaurant


Shrimp boats tied up at the docks and looking out beyond the breakwater to the open Gulf of Mexico



A replica of one of Christopher Columbus's ships...being restored. [note: it's been at 'dry dock' for years being restored! I see no new work done!!!]


The skyline

In all the time we'll be walking today, there is only ONE shrimper out to sea...the rest are tied up as you've seen in a previous series of pics. Either, too early or too hot? I do like to see them but you wouldn't catch me on one...they look rotten right down to the hull. And I can't swim. lol

Along the wall, on the sidewalk, you can rent scooters...or bring your own unicycle!  The white building behind the mirador is one of two art galleries in this area.  The large ship in the marina is a tour boat and the two benches, the shape of a ship's hull, is for lunching or dining as the sun sets along the parkway...maybe stop and have a smoothie, slushy, or cone?!!

I enjoy reading yacht's [boat's] names! Besides this one, Honky Voodoo, I spied one named Gypsy Pirate....hmmm!! The yellow piece of equipment is about a couple miles away from where we stand now...this is the new harbor bridge construction  I shared photos of a few weeks ago.  Of course, with a marina, you must have a yacht club.  And birds...A few Royal Terns graced some of the wall.

A big huge attraction in the downtown area seawall is the memorial to the Latino Singer-songrighter, Selena. Called the Queen of Tejano, Selena was a Texas native. She was one of the most celebrated Mexican American entertainers in our country. She was murdered in Corpus Christi by an obsessed fan in 1995.  Many,  many visit this site from all over the world!!

...and to conclude our day trippin' this time around, the last images:

Another sea-side restaurant is Harrison's Landing.  The owners have a historical background from the Harrison Family during the Civil War.  At Berkley Harrison [or Berkley Plantation] Plantation in Virginia ...it's home to the well-known music...the bugle played at the end of the day or at military funerals, TAPS.  The song was composed [1862].  The plantation is one of the first plantations in America, ancestral home of two U S presidents, and more. i.e, the first Thanksgiving  To end our walk, naturally, I have to photograph the favorite, the brown pelican.  And the last two are historical markers about the seawall construction [1941] and who designed it [the sculptor of Mt. Rushmore].

Read more of Selena
Read more on the plantation