Build Your Own Private Renaissance Library.

"Your library is your paradise."

-- Desiderius Erasmus
(1466 {69?} - 1536) - Scholar, theologian, humanist, author, Renaissance man.

This is what I call a quote-worthy re-quote.  It's something a person says that you're more than happy to quote over and over and over again.

 Private library of Frans and Gertrude Blom in Casa Na Bolom. Français : Bibliothèque personnelle de Frans et Gertrude Blom à Na Bolom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Several years back we relocated from Texas to Maryland.  It was a job transfer. For a few months, we lived in temporary quarters. I found a classified ad in a Texas newspaper that led me to a women-owned business. They rented out temporary housing. We were set up in a lovely home in Bethesda, Maryland and what was awesome about this house was that it had a private library. My dream home would definitely have to have a library. But what kind of books would be on the shelves? For sure there would definitely be books about the Renaissance.  

FYI.  We were in Maryland from 1988 to 1995 and then we moved back to Texas.  The cost of living is much more reasonable and you seldom have to shovel snow!  My home does not have a library.  But that's OK.  We have Internet access. ☺  I still dream about having a home with my own library though.

Are you a Renaissance enthusiast?  Build Your Own Private Renaissance Library.  It'll be Great Reading!

Build Your Renaissance Library | Wizzley.com

A #Renaissance man has wide knowledge in many fields and can educate and inform others. ~ https://t.co/QqhbFtiPsK ~ Based on that definition you should be able to objectively answer the question: Are You a Renaissance Man? ❓ pic.twitter.com/OKxze6IQZR

— My Fox Nooze (@FoxMarks_ATX) September 8, 2018

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Retirement Planning : Texas Cities : Athens is a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years

Dallas, Texas is a great place to work and live, but for retirement, some may prefer Athens, Texas; a small town nearby that offers good fortune and adventure!

By Danny S. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

English: Category:Images of Dallas, Texas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Looking for a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years? Planning Retirement? Athens, Texas is a Certified Retirement Community. Learn More

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July 2011, Forbes magazine published a TOP 10 List of Cities considered to be "economic superstars". Dallas, Texas was chosen as one of those cities because of its relatively low housing prices and its attractive job market. While Dallas may be a terrific place to work and live, some may prefer to retire to one of the surrounding Texan communities or towns such as Athens (population 10,000+ as of 2010).



Good Luck Peas and Texas Caviar
In 1971, Athens held the first-ever Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree. The history behind this event is as follows.


The late J. B. Henry, an Athens businessman, decided to grow the black-eyed pea and market the legumes on a commercial scale as "Good Luck Peas for New Year's Day"; and for the wealthy and well-to-do (or those who like to dream they are), pickled black-eyed peas were sold as "Texas Caviar".


Mr. Henry passed away in 1940 but to this day he is still referred to as the "Black-Eyed Pea King of East Texas". Such loyalty to his kingship is deserved. Giving black-eyed peas the aura of "good fortune" and calling them "caviar" for the rich folks. Who would've thunk it? That was genius!!!


Today, all the credit being given to the savvy marketing talents of Mr. Henry, Athens, Texas is referred to as the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World".


First GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community
In addition to the honor of being designated the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World", Athens holds the honor of being chosen as one of the first "GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities" in the state.


If you visit the site Retire in Texas, and go to the respective page, you will find a list of all the communities that have been approved for this program. The Texas Department of Agriculture, Trade and Business Development state their intentions plainly as follows:


"The GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community Program is a certification and promotion program provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture.  The GO TEXAN stamp of approval ensures each certified community has demonstrated through its application that it can meet the living, employment/volunteer, health, entertainment, education and safety needs of its citizens and visitors - all the things that make Texas a great place to retire."


Other Texas cities or towns are welcome to apply for this program.


Final Accolade
Per USA Today, ziplining is a zany form of adventure for thrill-seekers that first became popular in Costa Rica but has now become popular in the USA.


Athens, Texas is the first city that I have ever known that puts New York and Texas together and makes it work. Not New York, New York (which is what I thought of when I first saw one of the advertisements for the New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures; but New York, Texas (about 20 miles east of Athens). It's easy to get confused, especially when you discover that there is also an Athens, New York!


But an article by freelance writer, Veronica Terres, entitled "Get Up and Get Out" in the May-June 2011 issue of the East Texas Outdoors Magazine made everything plain when she pointed out the location of the NY TX Zip Line Adventures and aptly described this attraction in two words: "Adrenaline Rush".


But why would this attraction about a ziplining adventure be significant if you're planning to retire to Athens, Texas, instead of say ... assurances about golfing? I don't know! Why did former President George Bush Sr. decide to go parachuting on his 80th and 85th birthdays and plan to do it again when he turns 90? Ziplining may be a key factor in deciding whether or not you want to retire to Athens, Texas.


Recommended Reading:

• Purposefully Planning Your Retirement - What Is Time To You?

Practical advice and information from Jeff Brown (aka "The Bawld Guy"), who has extensive knowledge and experience in long term retirement planning.


General Information Links:

• Athens Daily Review
• City of Athens, Texas | Official Website
• Welcome to The City of Athens Texas
• Athens, TX Housing and Residents

References:

• Kotkin, Joel. "The Next Big Boom Towns In The U.S." Forbes.com, 6 July 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• Bly, Laura. "The Zany Joy of Ziplining Catches Hold in the USA - USATODAY.com." Travel. USATODAY, 13 June 2008. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• Terres, Veronica. "Get Up and Get Out." East Texas Outdoors Magazine. Youblisher, May-June 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• "Bush Parachutes for 80th Birthday - CNN." Featured Articles from CNN. 13 June 2004. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• "George Bush Snr Celebrates 85th Birthday with Skydive over Maine - Telegraph." Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. Telegraph.co.uk, 12 June 2009. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

Quotes About Texas ~ Kinky and Others

Rummaging through some of my old content and material and found this two quotes. Have a board on Pinterest that I maintain called "ALL THINGS TEXAS". Published this post and tacked on an image just so I could pin them. :)

Kinky Friedman contemplates a question from the audience at a campaign rally at the Bastrop High School, West Campus Gymnasium, Bastrop, Texas, United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 "The folks in Mississippi are saying, 'Thank God for Texas.' "   -Kinky Friedman.  (Richard S. "Kinky" Friedman (1944 - ), American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain.)

 "I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day." -James Dean  (James Byron Dean (1931 - 1955), American film actor and cultural icon, who died at age 24 in a tragic car accident.  Best embodied by the title of his most celebrated film, "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955). -  NOTE:  I've heard a lot about that movie.  But I don''t remember watching it.  I remember Mr. Dean from the movie "Giant" with Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.)


Mr. Dean is pictured on the LIFE magazine cover sandwiched between Marilyn Monroe and Bruce Lee.

LIFE Gone too Soon

 
  Texas Flag Heart Vinyl Binder by LgTshirts Browse other Texas Binders

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Related articles

• James Dean films 'East of Eden,' 'Rebel Without a Cause,' 'Giant' coming to Blu-ray in November (miamiherald.typepad.com)
• Everyone hates Kinky (texpate.com)
• The Curse of James Deans Car (mysterioustimes.wordpress.com)

View this post on Instagram

"I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day." ~ #JamesDean * #FellowTexans on @Instagram. Holler!! * #Texas #AustinTX #quotesaboutTexas #celebrities #celebrityquotes

A post shared by Treathyl Fox (@treathylfoxcmoneyspinner) on Jun 12, 2018 at 9:26am PDT

Travel: USA Cities: Grapevine, Texas

In 1843, Texas political leaders and leaders of 10 Native American Indian nations signed a treaty of“peace, friendship, and commerce”, which allowed settlers to make their new homes in Grapevine, Texas. This city, which was named for its wild mustang grapes (Vitis Mustangensis), has been included on official lists published by CNN Money such as “America’s Best Places to Live” and “America’s Best Small Cities”. Probably the only two people who don’t think the City of Grapevine, Texas is a great place to visit or to live are the notorious bank-robbing duo known as Bonnie and Clyde. It’s where Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker breathed their last breath; May 23, 1934. They had it coming!

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Original Source

Texas Real Estate: Corsicana, Texas

Corsicana is an oil town in Texas.

It survived both the Great Depression and the World Wars, as the oil business was the foundation of the town's economy. Corsicana is home to Collin Street Bakery and Wolf Brand Chili.

Moving forward, from 1956 to today, Corsicana has experienced steady growth. In 1985, Corsicana was designated as an official Texas Main Street City. The Texas Main Street Program is part of the Texas Historical Commission's Community Heritage Development Division.

Current Mayor Chuck McClanahan, born and raised in Corsicana, is quoted as saying: "It's a New Day in Corsicana." He believes Corsicana offers the best of both worlds “ city-ease and country-style.

• Learn more: Small Town USA - Corsicana, Texas (near Dallas).

[Never been to Corsicana myself. But I know some good folks from there! ]

2014 Photo The Old Jail, now (in 2014) a private residence in Corsicana, Texas Location: Corsicana, Texas

Corsicana Daily Sun:

• 19^th Century Slave Cemetery find larger than originally thought

• World War II gave the Corsicana airport a place in history.

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For Your Information:  If You Like Fruit Cake, Collin Street Bakery Makes the Best!

NOTE: This content was previously published at HUBPages.com; however my writer's profile was deleted. To view the archived copy of the article, click here.

Interesting People: Anousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari was born September 12, 1966, Mashhad, Iran. Her life story could be titled: Dots on the Map from Iran to Texas to Space. She displayed both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit.

Anousheh Ansari’s family is originally from Iran but they transplanted themselves in America after the Islamic Revolution; and guess where they chose to settle? Yup! Texas!

She had a childhood dream. Going into space.

Did she realize that dream? Yes she did!

Did she have to overcome prejudices and obstacles? Uuuhhh … hmmm?

A female, an American of Iranian descent who wanted to display both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit.

Was she insane? NO! She was a dreamer and her dreams came true!

Anouseh Ansari’s story is your typical American success story. Or at least, all of US would like to believe that her story is “typical” because it feels good to be able to boast to others that this kind of dream realization happens only in America. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball” likes to call these kinds of typical fairy tales “American exceptionalism”.

• Books Worth Reading: “My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer” by Anousheh Ansari and Homer Hickam

I was lucky. So many didn’t get a chance to live their life to their full potential https://t.co/jJYiIcqwUD

— Anousheh Ansari (@AnoushehAnsari) September 26, 2022

Places to Live: Florida OR Texas? CHOOSE!

I grew up in Florida.  I now live in Texas.  Neither state has state taxes; and the weather is usually pretty nice all year round, except for hurricanes and tornadoes every now and then. So I don't have to choose.  I can say BOTH!  If you love palm trees and coconut trees, then definitely your choice should be Florida. 

Having lived in both states I can attest that the information the article (mentioned below) writer supplied is very reliable. Even though Florida came out “the winner”, I am still happy that I moved my family to Texas. What I'm not happy about is that folks from California keep moving to Texas! 

Why can't they keep on moving and relocate to Florida. The prices of residential and commercial properties are SOARING!! And I know it's all because of them!! They're moving from California and bringing their California prices with them. 

I know I'm being selfish. But I really do wish those folks would stay where they are OR move somewhere else! It could be Florida. 🌴 It could be another country. Just STOP moving to Texas! Please! 

Is it Better to Live in Florida or Texas? See the Comparison Here

Throwback Music: Everybody Wants To Rule The World ~ Tears for Fears

My YouTube pick for Throwback Thursday is the original video by an awesome duo from my generation called Tears for Fears. Threw in the other video just because. 

These guys held a concert in Austin, Texas in 2015; Austin Music Hall. Did not attend but was so glad to see the advertisement in the paper and to know these two brothers childhood friends were still around making their awesome music. ((I always thought they were brothers.  But I discovered later they were just good friends.)  I converted some of my kids and got them to listen to this talented duo. :)  The music of Tears for Fears is still relevant today.

Image credit: By KWa (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

You want to know a secret? It's a genuine secret. Never told this to anybody but always thought it. You see the guy with the long black hair and the curly locks?  He looks like one of my cousins.  Never told anybody because my cousin was a girl named Helen.  Kept that secret for almost 30 years.  Guess it's OK to reveal it now.  :)

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Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - 



Find Info on Future Concerts

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Tears for Fears: Rule The World: The Greatest Hits via @amazon @amazonmusic #streaming #MP3 #CD #Vinyl #collectible #music #music #musiclovers pic.twitter.com/WLPFLQzkdn

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) June 3, 2022

WORLD CUISINE: Great Recipes from Around the World (and Texas)

Hello!  How are you?  Thanks for visiting!  The content you're searching for has been republished at my foodie blog.  Click here. 

WORLD CUISINE: Great Recipes from Around the World (and Texas)

A handy reference list. Descriptive list of the different and popular dishes from the Philippines that every Filipino family have enjoyed cooking and serving on their dinner table. A Taste of the Caribbean: Make Jamaican Patties for Supper! This is a great recipe for authentic tasting Jamaican Patties; delicious golden pastry filled with curried beef and spices.

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Just survived the “historic” February 2021 winter storm of Texas. (Reblog)

Just survived the “historic” February 2021 winter storm of Texas. 

It's the first time the entire state was told to brace for the snow.  We were not ready for it!  My electricity was off for a week,  My water is still not turned on.  We have bottled water for drinking but we can't flush our toilets.  It's awful!  Because I had no electricity, I could not access the Internet.  I finally got access back on Saturday and signed in to sites I was using to make money online and earn cryptocurrencies.  One of my favorite sites is Noise.Cash. You earn Bitcoin Cash at that site. When I was finally able to sign in I shared a music video by Ed Sheeran (https://noise.cash/post/1nv8287k)  I guess because I had not signed in for a few days I did not get any Free Tips.  (Join the site and you'll figure out what the Free Tips are.)  Hope I can get ball rolling again!  

On the last day of the storm when the weather started warming up again, my daughter said she heard a bird singing.  It's what woke her up.  Peace and Love everybody!!

Winter storm in Texas: Here's how a week of frigid weather and catastrophe unfolded – CNN

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Reblogged from Texas Blogger on Tumblr

Cool Pages on Facebook: The Austinot - BLOGGERS WANTED!

Most ‪‎Austin‬ residents have never been, but this is a true gem and must-see experience.

Here are the Top 7 Things to See and Do at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

SOURCE: Shared by The Austinot via Facebook

Officially declared myself an Austin-ite when we relocated here in 1998. In keeping with collecting and/or sharing ALL THINGS TEXAS, especially, information about Austin, the state capital, the above is just a little something that was posted by a cool page on Facebook. You can find lots of information about Austin at their website. Also, if you can write about Austin, make yourself available for a 6-month commitment and produce two high quality,  400+ word articles per month, then perhaps you can become a Contributing Blogger.  Opportunity is knocking!


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Related articles

• 21st-century technology to tell LBJ’s story
• How Did The Lorax End Up In LBJ’s Archives?
• Texas and Ohio fight over LBJ plane

5 Ways You Can Support Austin Music During the Coronavirus Crisis https://t.co/7NQpLeFLHj pic.twitter.com/4QGKLYs8Sd

— the Austinot (@theAustinot) April 15, 2020

Texas Cultural Diversity: The Czech Culture of Texas | hubpages.com

Texas is a huge state with a lot of history and color. Many are familiar with the flavor of this great state and often write very interesting articles about the different cities, like this one written by fellow freelance writer Wesman Todd Shaw.

Texas USA is also a place of HUGE ethnic and cultural diversity. ... »

• Texas Cultural Diversity: The Czech Culture of Texas

📷 Texas Cultural Diversity: The Czech Culture of Texas https://t.co/AP5tCRs2sc

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 16, 2020

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Texas Round Up 

~ My Blog Posts About Texas

• Retirement Planning : Texas Cities : Athens is a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years
• Small Town USA - Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas)
• Small Town USA - Greenville, Texas (near Dallas)
• Cedar Park, Texas – Small City-Town USA
• Texas Real Estate: Corsicana, Texas
• Cool Pages on Facebook: The Austinot - BLOGGERS WANTED!
• Honoring a Uniquely Texan Holiday

Cmoneyspinner's HomeBiz Projects's board ALL THINGS TEXAS! on Pinterest

Follow Cmoneyspinner's HomeBiz Projects's board ALL THINGS TEXAS! on Pinterest.

Small Town USA - Greenville, Texas (near Dallas)

Back in 2011, Forbes magazine prepared a TOP 10 List of cities considered to be “economic superstars”. They were recognized as a “superstar” because they have relatively low housing prices, and somehow experienced an increase in new jobs, and managed to keep their economies afloat. The List included 4 Texas cities. - Austin, Texas was Number 1; - San Antonio was Number 4 on the List; - Houston, Number 5; and - Dallas, Number 7. 

- Read more at:  "The Next Big Boom Towns in the U.S." https://web.archive.org/web/20161202135817/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_113083.html

Austin is the state capital; and in the same way, Cedar Park, Texas benefits from being a part of the Greater Austin community, Greenville, Texas is a “small town” that likely benefits from their proximity to Dallas, one of the places named as an economic superstar. Downtown Greenville is an easy 45 minute trip from Dallas, Texas.

The 2015 estimated population projection for this city is less than 30,000. That's close enough to meeting my definition of having small-town charm.

Greenville, TX is north of Dallas in Northeast, Texas. 

Map found at greenville-texas.com



Here are just a few facts to peak your interest in this colorful U.S. city.


Greenville was established in 1846. It was famous for a sign that read "Welcome to Greenville, The Blackest Land, The Whitest People". 

This sign was hung over the main street in the downtown area from the 1920s to the 1960s. Between the 1960s and 1970s, the sign was changed to "The Blackest Land, The Greatest People". 

There has been a dispute over the interpretation of those words.  Some believed the sign indicated a racist attitude of the people in the city.  Others insisted that "whitest" was not referring to their race but rather their purity, honesty, and integrity of the people who lived there. The color "white" is symbolic for purity, is it not?

Eventually, the sign was just taken down. The fertile black soil of the area resulted in excellent cotton production, and Greenville became known as the "cotton capital of the world".
 
Times have changed for the better and the new attitude is reflected in the City's vision statement:

“The vision of the City of Greenville is to build on our hometown values and rich heritage as a diverse community, by providing cost-effective, quality services to create an enjoyable vibrant place where families and business choose to live, grow and prosper.”

Image credit: Old map of Greenville, TX, 1891; Public Domain; Wikimedia Commons

Related articles:

• Don’t Mess with Texas: Favorite Texas Spots from A Piece of Toast

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• Small Town USA - Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas)

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• Looking for a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years? | Athens, Texas

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• Cedar Park, Texas - Small City-Town USA

Small Town USA - Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas)

In 2011, Forbes recognized Dallas as an “economic superstar”; and Grapevine, Texas is a nearby town.

• SPOTLIGHT ON: GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (Tarrant County).
• Travel approximately 20 miles southeast to reach Dallas, TX.
• Latest Population Figure (2010): Almost 50,000

Interesting Celebrity Tidbits!

-  Willie Nelson, the Judds, Jimmy Dean, LeAnn Rimes have performed at the Grapevine Opry. Source: *Grapevine Opry*

-  "On April 1, 1934, Bonnie and Clyde encountered two young highway patrolmen near Grapevine, Texas. Before the officers could draw their guns, they were shot. ..." (FBI —Bonnie and Clyde)

- In recent years several wineries have opened in Grapevine. Not surprising since there are so many mustang grapes. "They taste simply awful, but their wine is very respectable!" (Quote Source: "Winemaking: Mustang Grape Wine." The Winemaking Home Page. Web.)

Learn more:

Grapevine, Texas is a lovely small town.

Also close to Dallas, Texas but Hurst, Euless, and Coppell, Texas are also nearby cities.

• Hurst, a Quality of Life City, is located in the heart of the DFW metropolitan area, 10 miles from downtown Fort Worth and 25 miles from downtown Dallas.
• Euless, known as "Tree City USA", is part of the Mid-Cities between Dallas and Fort Worth.
• Coppell, close to the D/FW International Airport; considered to be "A Family Community For a Lifetime".

Kitchen Decor Grape Pedestal Fruit Bowl, Salad Bowl

Originally Posted on December 30, 2013 at 1:45 PM - Cinex Notes Services  ~ CNS Blog was discontinued; eff date June 11, 2014.

Cedar Park, Texas – Small City-Town USA

Cedar Park, Texas is part of the Greater Austin Community.

It is is a small city-town, near Austin, Texas, the state capital, that was incorporated in 1973. Since 2005, the community’s population has grown by about 30%. In 2010 the population was a little under 50,000 and by 2015, it is projected that the population will have increased by another 30% to approximately 65,000.

H-E-B Center at Cedar Park; Wikimedia Commons

The boundary lines encompass two Texas counties, Travis and Williamson, and it is is the third-largest city in the Austin Metro area.

It is a lovely and thriving family-oriented community with a rural feel to it; located just 20 minutes from downtown Austin, the state’s capital; making it close enough to provide easy access to all the facilities and services the big city has to offer. A current project, the Schlitterbahn Cedar Park; a water park resort, had a targeted opening date of May 2012; however, the incentive package expired. The City Council is still interested and they are optimistic about reaching their goal. Visit the city’s official website to view more projects.

Home building efforts for this lovely city can be credited to a response by the city’s economic development representatives who invited IBM (over a decade ago) to relocate their business to Austin, Texas. IBM indicated that if they accepted the invitation they would need a place to relocate their employees along with their families.

The real estate market consists mainly of single-family homes for sale, starting in the low-$100,000s and can go as high up to $650,000 plus. It has all the appeal of small-town charm with the conveniences of living in and living close to a metropolitan city. There are golf course properties, condominiums, townhouses; and land is also available for custom building. Investors (or home-buyers) can locate foreclosures, short sales, bank-owned properties, and other investment real estate.

Having lived in Cedar Park, Texas, it has my personal stamp of approval as a fabulous place to work, live and raise a family. Below are all of my plusses based on my family priorities:

• Excellent schools
• Low crime rate
• Convenient access to major highways
• Nice neighbors and nice neighboring communities (Leander, Georgetown, etc.)

Perfectly situated between metro Austin and the Texas Hill Country, it could easily be classed on any official listing of Best U.S. Cities to Live In. It’s a fine place to own your home, excellent for real estate investing, and a great place to retire.

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• 
  
• Austin recognized as a leader in the solar energy market | Hydrogen Fuel News(hydrogenfuelnews.com)
• 
  CENSUS: Cedar Park is 4th fastest-growing city in the nation(txwclp.org)

Food and Drink: Mexican Favorites - Recipes for Peace?

Published an article about a proposed solution to the "problem" of illegal immigration in the United States via HUBPages.com.  For the life of me, can't understand why everybody isn't on board with it!  Isn't the temptation of Mexican cuisine a persuasive enough argument?!  THINK "homemade fresh chorizo".  That's worth coming to an agreement, isn't it?

26 Recipes: Mexican Favorites - Slideshow

EES shares recipes, cooking tips and all things foodie!

Everyday Exotic Spices

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Follow my foodie blog for more recipes, cooking tips, etc.

March 2nd: Honoring a Uniquely Texan Holiday

“I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat.”

Who said that?  This guy!

This is a painting of William Barret Travis, who died at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

-William Barret Travis at the Alamo, 1836

Every year on March 2, Texans celebrate a holiday that is entirely and uniquely Texan”Texas Independence Day. The day marks the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.The 59 delegates to the historic convention were a diverse group. Two delegates, José Francisco Ruiz and José Antonio Navarro, were native Mexicans. The rest were immigrants from other parts of Mexico, the United States, and Europe. Two-thirds of the delegates were less than forty years old.

The delegates “ and the people they represented “ had a clear goal. They sought to preserve the freedoms guaranteed to them under the Mexican Constitution, which had been lost under the dictatorship of President Antonio López de Santa Anna. They modeled their Declaration on the one signed in Philadelphia 60 years earlier, expressing their just grievances, determination to protect their freedoms, and vision for a new nation: the Republic of Texas.

Unlike the deliberations today in the U.S. Congress, the Texas Declaration of Independence was non-controversial and approved swiftly. The Unanimous Declaration of Independence by the Delegates of the People of Texas was signed on March 2, 1836. Five copies were sent to the towns of Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches, Brazoria, and San Felipe. Because there was no printing press in Washington-on-the-Brazos, the printer at San Felipe was ordered to print 1,000 copies in handbill form. The original copy was sent to the U.S. Department of State in Washington “ where it would stay for six decades before being returned to the land where it was written.

Even as the delegates signed this historic document, they knew their love of liberty might command the ultimate sacrifice. At that moment, less than 200 miles to the West, Santa Anna's army was laying siege to the Alamo. Just days earlier, its young commander, William Barret Travis, sent a letter addressed to the people of the Republic of Texas and all Americans. He wrote:
 

Fellow citizens and compatriots “ I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna “ I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man “ The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken.

I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls “ I shall never surrender or retreat. 

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch “ The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days.

If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country “ Victory or Death!

The Travis Letter became a rallying cry for freedom across the young Republic, and though death came to the defenders of the Alamo, victory eventually came for the people of Texas. Not long after the fall of the Alamo, General Sam Houston and about 900 Texas soldiers defeated the larger Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto. The surprise attack was so successful that the battle lasted only 18 minutes, and the next day Santa Anna himself was captured. By this victory, Texans won the independence they had declared less than two months earlier.
 

Map of the Republic of Texas, 1836“1845 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

via cornyn.senate.gov

Sign up to receive the Lone Star Weekly (cornyn.enews.senate.gov).
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Related articles

• If Only Santa Anna Had Been a Better General, Texas Would not be OUR Problem
• Alamo's mythic past lives comfortably with San Antonio's lively present
• 1836 (thing)
• Here is Where: Holding the Fort in San Antonio