§ School Days Past...

I'm an early riser, so during the quiet times before any one else woke up for the day, I sat at the computer and this time around, I drew a self portrait using a photo as a guide. Looking through old photos this past weekend, I found a high school photo saved among all the rest. It was of me in my Junior year. 54 years ago?!! Whoa. Anyway, I sat down and sketched. Once done, I put it on the computer, and then inserted the original photo for comparison. Now, I share it...

Erik left for Houston late on Sunday after a four day stay with us.  I will work today on getting the house cleaned and I have to go to the store to replenish food stuffs.  Otherwise, I'm back online.  Probably a bit sporadic at first...but, back to blogging none-the-less. Thanks for all the well wishes from everyone! Much appreciated, and I read all the comments left for me...you made my day.

§ Walking, History - Book Tour [blog-style]

Erik, our son, was here for over a week during the holiday break from his teaching position at the college in Houston. For a few days, weather permitting, he and I did a lot of walking. Of course, he walked faster and way ahead of me for the most part! LOL One day he wanted to work different muscles in his body with a more 'hilly' area instead of the flatlands you find in town. Well, putting my thinking cap on: "Hmmmm, hilly, huh? Okay, how 'bout HILLtop Community Trails then?" Off we went. He did ALL the trails and then walked 'em a 2nd time.  After I walked them once around, I then took photos. This park is a bit of an historical area. With an historical cemetery on the other side of the street...and the park/trails being 'home' to Nuecestown School [1884]. Afterwards we then drove to West Guth Park. Also rolling hills, trails, and swimming pool, duck ponds and picnic areas. I'll share a few photos of that day, keeping  'em small for loading time:



Nuecestown School House - Historical Markers
Nuecestown, Texas [now incorporated Corpus Christi, Texas]





Along the many paths of Hilltop Community Hiking/Biking Trail









Birds Spotted in West Guth Park [between Corpus Christi and Calallen, Texas] top to bottom:

Brown Goose - Hybrid Mallard Duck - Northern Shoveler Duck & Cormorant - Couch's Kingbird [yellow breast] & Loggerhead Shrike




* * * * *

I am not much on historical facts, nor reading much on history. But, throughout the years I've often wondered just how some of the states got their shape within the USA borders. When I found this book [I've been looking for it for weeks at the used book store on my son's recommendation], I bought it. I'm sure I won't read it from cover to cover, but I will glance at it every once in a while when the curiosity gets the better of me. At first glance I skimmed the states' chapters and found Texas of course....for instance:

1. for what reason is the Texas panhandle?
2. why stop short of Kansas border creating a panhandle for Oklahoma?
3. Texas only follows the Rio Grande a partial distance...why?
4. the northwest border, why turn on such a sharp angle when and where it does?

In short, history tells us Texas is shaped as it is for several reasons. The Spanish [1691], the French, the John Quincy Adams-Onis Treaty, Texas slavery and the Missouri Compromise gives boundary precedence on the panhandle. Before the Independence of Texas it was a much larger land area....with boundaries reaching north to where Wyoming is now. Even with the land that Texas lost once part of the Union, it is still the largest state in the main, continental U. S. What it all boils down to is this: Congress did not create Texas. Texas created Texas; paying off debts etc; selling land. No other state equals!!

I'm sure reading about all fifty states [yes, including Hawaii that, you'd think, would be obvious...but not so. THERE ARE historical facts of interest here too!] The book just may evolve into a valuable history lesson for me.


- - -

I found two books that day. The other one I bought that caught my eye, is a novel. Based on South Texas Folklore, the tale of a headless rider...The Headless Horseman a Strange Tale of Texas Legend. I've only read a few chapters so far. The narrative is slow, but remains interesting and intrigues me to continue reading. From Wikipedia:

The novel was reportedly inspired by Creed Taylor's (1820–1906) true story of El Muerto, the Headless Horseman. Taylor was a veteran of the Texas Revolution, the War with Mexico, the Civil War and an Indian fighter, who was also involved in the Sutton–Taylor feud, once considered the state's longest and deadliest feud. Also, Texas Rangers & horse thieves with decapitating one wrangler as a warning which prompted: "Travelers and soldiers at Fort Inge near Uvalde soon were reporting sightings of a wily headless rider."

I'm sure this novel would be of more interest to Bud than for me since he's the one who dwells in western novels and novelists with the likes of Braun, Brand, McMurtry, Johnston, Zane Grey, etc. But this may be a new genre that will be a good read; a bit reminiscent of Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow,  a favorite of mine...lol.

§ A drive-by shooting...

Highway Rubbish on Tuesday...

...that's what this is....a drive by shooting!!
The island highway is just a narrow two-laner and most times a bit difficult to pull off the shoulder, stop, and take any photos...taken from the car window traveling at 60MPH and having a line of cars behind us...hence, the photo isn't too sharp.
It's on Mustang Island...
...it once was a billboard!! When I pay attention to billboards and business signs jutting up in the sky as we drive the freeways, I always think of our first lady, Lady Bird Johnson....how she worked hard long hours trying to get the 'ugliness' off our highways and bi-ways, instigating a limit on the height of them. It worked while her husband was in office, but now...it's a whole different thing these days...what I don't like are the digital, animated signs...they ARE VERY distracting!!!  If you feel the earth tremor, that's probably Lady Bird rolling over in her grave.


Linking to: Rubbish Tuesday


Our World, Wild Birds, and Nature Notes

Since Corpus Christi is part of the Great Coastal Birding Trail throughout the state of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico, there are quite a lot of birding themes...and bronze sculptures along the seawall. This one is just blocks from the beginning of the interstate highway #37 at water's edge. I took photos of it from both sides around midday...

On the left, the silhouette of two brown pelicans as you look toward the Marina and Gulf of Mexico...on the right, the two pelicans as you face the city skyline and begin the journey on the interstate highway that'll take you toward San Antonio.


...and a walk through our back yard--- ---
I have a lot more images, I'll share them later!
These photos I share have mouse-over captions. Just scroll mouse over image and pause...






linking to: Wild Bird Wednesday - Nature Notes - Our World Tuesday

HODGEPODGE

1. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to actually doing? We have a huge Bird of Paradise plant that stopped blooming. And for one reason...it needs a trim!! It's grown wild the last couple of years, and way too dense. It needs to be cleaned out, trimmed down and thinned out. But it's been way too hot this summer. We're waiting for the first cool day to get out there and get workin' on it.

2. Share a favorite memory of your own back-to-school days as a child? Kissin' Bobby for the first time on the playground! He was my first love.

3. What's one chore or daily task you prefer doing 'old-school'? I'd prefer to get on my hands and knees to scrub floors. I do it every once in a while...but usually use a mop.

4. Share something you've learned in life through the 'school of hard knocks'? Parenting. It's the most challenging job ever. Worrying, disciplining, being there when needed to comfort, etc. And even tho my two children are grown and left home years ago, the worry doesn't stop when they walk out the door. Being a parent is a life-time job once they're born.

5. As a child, did you mostly bring or buy your lunch for school? What was your favorite thing to find in your lunchbox? In grade school, we took our lunch. By the time I was in High School, I usually was out by noon, so I ate out at a restaurant before starting work at 1 pm. What was in my lunchbox that was a favorite? When we'd have leftover bacon from breakfast, my mom would make me a bacon sandwich which I requested!! I still love 'em today.

6. Football season is upon us which has me wondering... how big of a sports fan are you (not just football)? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being 'I scream at the players through my television screen' and 1 being 'is knitting a sport?' where do you fall in fan-dom? I'm okay with the sport of football...but I am only a 'team' fanatic!! In other words I support 'my' team...the Denver Broncos...been a fan since the team was lead by Craig Morton as quarterback [1977-]!!!!! But Baseball is my favorite sport to watch and follow the stats up to the Fall Classic each season. As an all around fan rating for myself----I'd be 5.

7. Share a favorite quote you think might inspire students of all ages at the start of a new school year. He who opens a school door, closes a prison. ~Victor Hugo


There was no 'random' #8 when I copied the questions, but speaking of sports....
8] I love baseball! Living in Colorado...we even followed the Rockies during Spring Break to where they trained in Spring to Tucson AZ. And we followed the AZ Diamondbacks...we even have the DVD of the World Series where the DBacks beat the Yankees...what a thrilling series. Now we keep tabs on our favorite Texas team, tho good?---not so much. Anyway, reading Yah00 sports news and catching up on the team stats, I viewed this image. And they do have links for twitter and facebook and email to share this...so I'm hoping it's not a copyright issue. This was an historic move on the Dodgers against the Padres last week....12th inning, bases loaded...score still tied of course 2 to 2!!! The entire infield came for defense between 1st and 2nd base.  Up to bat --- he swung having the ball fly infield....the player on the L A side threw the ball to home...a sloppy throw. SCORE!!! Padres win!! None-the-less, an historic move that'll go into the history annals of baseball.

linking to: HODGEPODGE!!


courtesy of Yah00

§ Little House on the 'prairie'

....aka One Room School and D is for Desk...



Nuecestown School circa 1892-


Way north and west of the bustle of the city, about 15 miles from home, there is a birding/exercising trail to be walked. It's all part of a "Hilltop Community". Driving the long distance, around the city, over the interstate highway toward San Antonio and then backtracking into the NW area of the city [to avoid a slew of traffic lights and gazillion intersections]...Bud and I traversed the area over the past weekend. It was a hot, sultry morning and the vast overgrowth of trees and observation decks were a haven to rest and search for birds. We found no birds worthy of photographing [most were just flitting from tree to tree], but we still enjoyed the area. Across the highway, there is an old-town cemetery that Bud and I walked around several months ago [here is a LINK to view a slideshow I posted of the old cemetery]...I think it was two Halloweens ago since we love walking around historical cemeteries in October. LOL Anyway, we haven't been to this trail yet. And we found out we were missing out on some pretty territory. We will return again and again. This particular time, it was crowded with family activity...picnic and BBQ pits abound before you enter the trail, and they were becoming quite filled up - the lack of birds is probably that reason...they were loud and boisterous so the birds remained 'hidden'. The wild flowers along an open area were beautiful...the thick, dense greenery was a welcome sight. The winding trail was a vigorous walk for a while in the thick humidity with the hills...but we did get a good work out since we're both so used to walking along the seashore and flat land.

After we completed the entire trail walk [link to photos of the trail], we came out at the opposite end we began. Here is where *the oldest surviving school* is preserved and a well-kept secret. There is a complex of dance schools that are adjacent to the area and there were young girls attending classes and trials for the day. As we approached the State Historical Marker for the school, we were invited to go inside the school by the dance instructor who had the key to unlock the building. Normally it is NOT open to the public. We were lucky enough to be there at the right time I guess, either that or she thought that we may be tourists from out of town since I was toting my camera in case of a bird sighting [LOL]; who knows. But when asked if we'd like to see inside, I jumped at the chance and followed her inside. I was amazed at the quality and preservation...


From the Texas Online Handbook, history of the community is sparse, but this I share with you.

NUECESTOWN, TEXAS. Nuecestown was originally about thirteen miles northwest of Corpus Christi in Nueces County. In 1989 what remained was located in the 11400 block of Leopard St. in Corpus Christi. The town was established in 1852 and called the Motts by English and German settlers, in reference to clusters of trees in the area. Later the community was renamed after the Nueces River. Henry Kinney, the founder, required that each settler purchase 100 acres at a dollar an acre and a minimum of ten cows at ten dollars a head. By 1859 a post office had been established in the community; a temporary post office had existed in 1854–55. The town was raided in the Nuecestown Raid by Mexican bandits on March 26, 1875. [137 years ago last Monday, the 26th]

*By 1885 Nuecestown had one of the largest schools in the county, with thirty-two students enrolled. The schoolhouse of 1892, constructed after the first two burned, is one of the few surviving structures of Nuecestown.* In its prime the town had a stagecoach inn, a public ferry, a meat-packing plant, a cotton gin, a general store, and a blacksmith shop. The community declined after being bypassed by the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway in 1905. In 1896 the population was about 200, and Nuecestown had daily mail service. By 1927 the post office had closed, and the townsite was the at center of the Turkey Creek oilfield and had a population of fifty. In the 1960s all that was left of Nuecestown was a Motts Restaurant and curio shop run by Jim Wright. In 1980 all that remained was the preserved schoolhouse of 1892 and the Nuecestown Cemetery, both located within the Corpus Christi city limits.

To follow along with Tina's Picstory challenge for the week, she suggested it be about the letter "D"....hence, desks. The original school desks, inside the one room school, of the 1890s era in Nuecestown Texas...



Reminds me of the old TV program LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE




FURTHER READING: The Nuecestown Mexican Raid of 1875 [mentioned above]

And on a side note...why else would a town go defunct with a name like Nuecestown....nueces in Spanish is 'nut'....Nut town? [sorry, I couldn't help myself] Of course, according to this site, if you capitalize nueces to Nueces...its literal translation is WALnuts...but still-----








CONNECTING TO:

next week Picstory challenge: Fruits