Petrified wood house in Glen Rose, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Traveler’s Show & Tell – 27th Edition

Welcome to this week’s Traveler’s Show & Tell blog carnival.

Today’s blog carnival balances specific travel tips with philosophical travel musings. Read on to find out:

• …how citizens of the USA tend to underestimate a visit to Canada.
• …where to find the best persimmon pudding, fried catfish and sweet potato fries in Indiana.
• …how one couple built a successful online travel business in the midst of the current recession.
• …and much more:

This Week’s Photo: Modern Ruins in Glen Rose, TX

This week’s photo was snapped on a recent road trip my husband and I took to Glen Rose, Texas. Glen Rose is a cute little town with roughly 2,000 inhabitants. Not only is Glen Rose home to the official state dinosaur of Texas, Paluxysaurus Jonesi, but many of its buildings are made of stone and petrified wood.

This one, on the outskirts of town, is rumored to have once been a speakeasy. Wish I could buy it and fix it up. Quick, somebody call This Old House. Maybe they can bring it back to life!

1. “Your Own Backyard” by Joii Cooper

Joii Cooper presents Your Own Backyard posted at A Full Day. It’s her account of a day trip she and her husband took to Nashville, Indiana. From her description, it sounds like a cute little town with some fun places to eat:

“There’s Miller’s Ice Cream. You have to try persimmon pudding with vanilla ice cream. Then there’s The Trolley. There it’s either a sloppy joe or pulled pork sandwich with potato salad, baked beans, chips and a pickle. Don’t forget a cup of sweet tea. OMG!!!! Then there’s the Artist Colony Inn. So much there is super tasty. I usually go with the fried catfish sandwich with sun fries (sweet potato fries). “

Her post makes me want to head over and grab some lunch. I’d never heard of persimmon pudding before!

2. “Writer in Transit” by Claire van den Heever

Claire van den Heever presents Writer in Transit posted at Old World Wandering, saying,

“An article on working on the road – or, to use the buzz word, being a location independent professional – and how difficult it can sometimes be to have your mind and body in the same place.”

It’s a well-written and thought-provoking account, full of observations that make the reader stop and mull it over, such as this:

It wasn’t India that sucked all inspiration out of me; India has a habit of giving and taking in equal proportions. During my first few days in Mumbai, I was alive; I looked on the world with the open-eyed gaze of a traveller. I was experiencing a temporary – but intense – release of stress, having packed up my life in Shanghai.

See what I mean?

3. “One Day in Victoria, British Columbia” by Perrin Smith

Perrin Smith presents One Day in Victoria, British Columbia posted at nod ‘n’ smile. Perrin’s travelogue includes lovely pictures of this photogenic city, and she makes a good point:

“Canada is a country that’s often overlooked and under-appreciated by Americans as an international destination because it seems so close to home (literally and figuratively). An oft-repeated conversation: “Have you been outside of the country?” “No. Well, I’ve been to Canada but that doesn’t really count.””

Judging from Perrin’s vibrant photos and lengthy list of activities, I’d say she had quite an action-packed day in Victoria!

4. “The start of Fay Safaris” by Ambert

Ambert presents The start of Fay Safaris posted at Fay Safaris Tanzania, saying,

“It was 2007 and the recession had just hit the west and getting in business was an uphill battle. With no agents and connections abroad we had only one way of getting the word out – The Net.”

5. “Mohamed Ali Mosque – Cairo, Egypt” byShawali

Shawali presents Mohamed Ali Mosque – Cairo , Egypt posted at We are all in !!!. His fact-filled post describes an impressive building:

“Situated on the summit of the citadel, this Ottoman mosque, the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th century is, with its animated silhouette and twin minarets, the most visible mosque in Cairo. The mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad Ali’s oldest son, who died in 1816.”

I especially like the photo he has of the interior in which not only shows you how big the building is, but is filled with beautiful lamps. You’ll see what I mean when you check out his article.

Technorati tags:

traveler’s show and tell, blog carnival.

Culbertson Fountain in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Weekend Road Trip to Paris, Texas

If you’re looking for fun Texas travel ideas, consider a road trip to Paris, Texas. My husband and I recently drove there for an impromptu, “let’s get the hell out of dodge,” weekend and had a great time. (To see the write up I did for Discovering Dallas – Fort Worth, check out, Paris Texas Day Trip – Come See the Other Eiffel Tower.

With only Sunday and Monday off, we couldn’t venture too far from our little burg in the DFW region of north Texas. Our basic plan was to escape the crazy heatwave we’re having this summer. A quick glance at a heat index map of the USA, however, made it clear that there was no place within a day’s drive that qualified as cool – and by ‘cool,’ I mean 85 degrees or less.

Culbertson fountain in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Even so, a change of scenery sounded fun. Last year, for instance, we took a quick road trip to New Mexico, stopping in Roswell along the way. I wanted to see the UFO museum there and whether or not the town openly embraces or rejects its alien reputation. (Check out My Close Encounter with Roswell, New Mexico if you’re curious. No alien sightings, but we did find a great Tex Mex joint.)

This time around, when I asked my husband for road trip suggestions, he just shrugged and said, “You’re the travel writer. Pick a place and we’ll go.”

Lion detail on fountain in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Using Twitter for Road Trip Ideas

So I popped onto Twitter and asked for road trip ideas in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. People came up with all sorts of  suggestions, and I even learned about a new site called Mygola.com where you post travel questions such as mine and get answers from regular folks. You’ve gotta love Twitter!

Glen Rose and Granbury were the Texan towns most often suggested for our road trip, and while I love Granbury’s charming town square, and intend to check out Glen Rose, Paris, Texas – which no one actually suggested – won out in the end.

Cherub on the fountain in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Why visit Paris, Texas?

So why, after all that great advice, did we end up in Paris? Simply put, the more I researched the town, the more whimsical and endearing it sounded. For instance:

• The city built an Eiffel Tower Replica, which wears a bright red cowboy hat on top.
• The local cemetery features a statue in which Jesus is depicted wearing cowboy boots.
• The city’s walking/cycling trail, a.k.a. the Trail de Paris features a scale replica of the solar system painted along the way.
• According to online reviews the town has an excellent bakery.

I confess, it was those reviews of Paris Bakery that clinched it.  I had visions of sitting at a shady sidewalk table, sipping espresso and nibbling a freshly baked croissant – et voila! I had to make it happen.

I grabbed my traveling bag, tossed in my red beret, our toothbrushes, and – this being Texas – some heavy duty sunscreen, then told my hubby, “Let’s spend the weekend in Paris!”

Courthouse column detail in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Driving to Paris

It’s roughly a 4 hour drive from our little castle to Paris, Texas. I say “roughly” because Google maps and our GPS did not agree. We had quite a tussel with our GPS, in fact, who insisted that we drive through Dallas. How could we convey to her linear AI mind that we were in the mood for picturesque back roads and dusty little burgs? Ms. GPS was programmed for efficient Point A to Point B journeys, after all, not leisurely road trip meandering.

We ignored her instructions, and drove in the opposite direction – away from Dallas – as she repeatedly admonished us in her crisp British accent to, “Make a U Turn, when possible.” Ms. GPS finally relented and sent us on a serpentine route via dusty back roads. I could anthropomorphize even more, but I think that route was the only one possible by then.

Pink granite lion in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Downtown Paris, Texas

The mercury was flirting with 110 by the time we reached downtown Paris. We parked in some shade by the main square which features a lovely marble fountain donated to the city in 1927 by a rich fellow named Culbertson. The fountain creates a beautiful centerpiece in old town Paris, and is rich with detail.

Antique Shops and more…

Culbertson Fountain is flanked on all sides by interesting Mom and Pop businesses, as well as a franchise or two, but only one place was open on Sunday, a little antique shop on the corner called the Antique Mall.

When we returned Monday, a bunch of places were open including a health food joint called Vital Beet, and a lively home interior shop called Spangler’s.

These Parisian venues are fun to explore, and the staff was friendly everywhere we went. We spent most of our time wandering through antique shops, following a little map which highlights 15 different ones, all within walking distance of the Culbertson Fountain.  My favorite is called Priest’s Emporium. It had the widest variety of items and included quirky vintage toys as well as furniture and glassware.

Sam Bell Maxey House (photo by Tui Cameron)

Historic Architecture in Paris, Texas

Paris is one of those rare towns in America which resists looking like “Anytown, USA” by actively cultivating its charms. Fans of Victorian architecture will enjoy wandering through the Historic Neighborhood on foot or by car. Paris is surprisingly lush, too. I admired all the big old trees as much as I admired all the big old houses.

Most of these older houses are well kept, but some are rundown. Those rundown ones spawned numerous daydreams of fixing them up, then inviting my dearest friends to move in with me (kinda like Professor X did for the X Men, y’know?) Most of these older homes are private residences, except for the Sam Bell Maxey House, which is a museum. Unfortunately, as of this writing, it is closed for remodeling.

Downtown Paris features old style buildings, one of which has gargoyles on the corners, as you can see in my photos. I especially loved the Lamar County Courthouse, which is a short walk from the town square. It’s a pink granite building featuring ornate columns and other carved details such as smirking lions.

Gargoyles in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Eiffel Tower Replica

By the time we reached, “the second largest Eiffel Tower in the world,” I was overheated. My face turned blotchy and red, as if I’d been running, and I was super thirsty. It was my own fault, though, since earlier, at the town square, I turned up my nose at the idea of buying a drink at Subway.

Given the choice, I prefer to spend money at Mom and Pop places rather than franchises. Trouble is, on a Sunday in a sleepy Texan town, one is not always given the choice. I finally swallowed my pride (as well as several refills of iced tea) at the local Dairy Queen.

As a result, I only snapped a couple quick photos of the Eiffel Tower Replica that first afternoon. We returned the next morning, though, and I donned my red wool beret and posed my heart out in front of the structure, wiping my forehead between shots. Since it was already topping 100 degrees, I instinctively stood in a shadow, which did not make  good photos. C’est la vie!

Jesus in cowboy boots (photo by Tui Cameron)

Jesus in Cowboy Boots

Next on our must-see-while-in-Paris list was the legendary Jesus in Cowboy Boots located in Evergreen Cemetery. No one quite knows why the sculptor chose such iconic footwear. Some say it was a compromise since the artist did not know how to sculpt feet. Who knows?

For those who enjoy wandering through old graveyards, Evergreen Cemetery is a real treat. I took a bunch of photos there, which I’ll share in another post, since this one is already long and photo laden!

Giant soup can in Paris, TX (photo by Tui Cameron)

Trail de Paris Solar System Replica

The Valley of the Caddo Museum recently created a model solar system along the Trail de Paris walking/cycling trail. It was too hot to walk the whole trail, but we did find Jupiter, which is 4 inches in diameter. Elsewhere, they have the sun at 42 inches round and, yes, they include Pluto, even though it is a mere .07 inches in diameter at this scale.

Huge Campbell Soup Can

One rather anticlimatic item on our Paris, Texas sightseeing tour was the allegedly “huge” Campbell Soup can. Turns out that it’s simply a larger than life can of tomato soup attached to the sign at the entrance gate of the soup factory.  It’s worth a drive-by, especially if you’re an Andy Warhol fan, but it is certainly not a must-see.

Trail de Paris, TX solar system replica (photo by Tui Cameron)

Planning Your Trip to Paris, Texas

Here’s something I wish I could have found when I was researching Paris, Texas as a road trip destination – a list of addresses for the main attractions to plug into your GPS:

Culbertson Fountain in Historical Downtown Paris: The fountain is located right across from the local Chamber of Commerce, 8 West Plaza, Paris, TX 75460

Evergreen Cemetery – Jesus in Cowboy Boots statue: Wander through the older section of the cemetery until you see the grave marker for Willet Babcock. Evergreen Cemetery, 560 Evergreen St, Paris, TX 75460

Eiffel Tower Replica: Located at Love Civic Center, 2025 South Collegiate Drive, Paris, TX 75460

Trail de Paris: There are several trailheads. Look for a sign marking the one at Noyes Stadium, 1245 24th Street, Paris, TX 75460

Sam Bell Maxey House: 812 South Church Street, Paris, TX 75460

Campbell Soup Can: You can view this at the entrance to the factory at 500 NW Loop 286 Paris, TX 75460

Y’all Come Back

Paris is a friendly town, and business owners actually say, “Y’all come back,” as you head out the door. I just may have to go back because the Paris Bakery, the business that beckoned me from afar with promises of espresso and pastries was closed for vacation during our visit! Not to mention that it is really hard to wear a wool beret in triple digit heat.

Even so, I had fun and agree with the town slogan for Paris, Texas which proclaims it to be, “A great place to hang your hat.” Of course, I doubt they had a red wool beret in mind…

The Texan Connection
As a recent transplant to the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex (via Naples, Italy and the Pacific Northwest) I must agree with the state slogan of, “Texas, it’s like a whole other country.” It’s not only because the state is huge, or the fact that it has its own power grid. There is just something about Texas that sets it apart from other states. Every time I land in Dallas, for instance, I feel like I should get my passport stamped.

So how does all this fit in with the Gita Italiana? Well, I’ve discovered that the bel paese and the Lone Star State have a surprising amount of things in common. Don’t believe me? Read on!

Dallas skyscraper.

Iconic Shapes
If you pulled a tortilla chip out of a bag and it were shaped like either Texas or Italy, you might notice. You might even get a few bids if you placed that chip on eBay. At the very least, your friends would probably nod in agreement as you dipped it in salsa and took a bite. Try the same with a chip resembling Colorado or Belgium, however, and people will think you’re nuts. Those shapes are not nearly as striking or recognizable.

Texas and Italy, on the other hand, are like the geographical equivalents of Beyonce or Christine Hendricks; they are not afraid to flaunt their shape. While living in Naples, I even had people use my lower leg as a makeshift map from time to time. I confess that I am so bad at geography that this was the only way to get their point across, but hey, it worked. And while I still think there is a market for tights imprinted with a map of Italy, there is definitely a market for anything Texas-shaped. You name it, if there’s a way to produce a Texas-shaped version of a product, someone will do it, and Texans will buy it. I’ve seen Texas-shaped belt buckles, tattoos, muffins, swimming pools, crewcuts – there’s even a Flickr pool of Texas-shaped things.

I'm not sure how to pair wine with Chicken Fried Stuff.

Love of Wine
We all know that Italy produces some of the finest wines in the world, however Texas makes its share of vino, too. The state has over 200 family-owned vineyards, and a whole bunch of wineries. The city of Grapevine is named after the indigenous mustang grape (Vitis Mustangensis) and hosts the largest wine festival in the southwest. Meanwhile, DFW International Airport has an on-site winery, which offers the aptly named “Aero Port.”

I honestly can’t say yet how Texan wines compare to Italian ones (ask me again after Texas Wine Month this October) but I can tell you that the European wine industry will be forever grateful to a Texan named Thomas Munson. Munson developed a vine hearty enough to resist phylloxera, an aphid-like critter which wreaked havoc on grape harvests in the 19th century, so propose a toast to him the next time you open a tasty bottle of Italian red.

A sign at my favorite Chinese restaurant in Texas.

Unique Dialects
While living in Naples, I enjoyed learning phrases in Neapolitan dialect, as well as songs in dialect such as “O Sole Mio,” and “Funiculi, Funicula.” I was surprised, however, to learn that Texas has its own dialect. I am not just talking about the contagious Texan twang. Texas actually  has its own unique version of German, thanks to generations of immigrants. The German word for “skunk” is stinktier, for example, while the Tex-German variation is stinkkatze.

Wacky Men in Charge
It would take a lot to rival the buffoonery of Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, but from what I’ve seen here in Texas, Governor Rick Perry has his moments. Not only has Perry been dubbed “Governor Good Hair” due to his immaculate coiffure, but he’s been known to impulsively smooth the unruly locks of strangers in the audience during public appearances. Also, back in April of this year, Perry shot and killed a coyote … while out jogging! He claims the coyote was menacing his pooch, but I have my doubts. I’ve lived near coyotes before, and they are very skittish. In any case, who packs heat on their morning jog?

Confusing restroom sign in Dallas.

Freakishly Large Insects
If you’ve ever spent time in the Italian countryside, chances are you’ve seen those huge, black bumblees known as Calabrone. While your average bee buzzes like a Vespa (pun intended!) a Calabrone rumbles like a Harley Davidson, and just like a “hog”, you can hear them coming a mile away. Fortunately, Calabrone rarely sting humans.

Turns out that Texas has its share of big bees, too. Lately I’ve spied Cicada Killer Wasps in our yard. As the name suggests, this creature kills cicadas (which, I might add, is another hefty-sized bug.) Cicada Killers are an impressive 2″ long and thankfully, like the Calabrone, they have better things to do than sting you. I still tend to shriek and run the other way, though, whenever I see one.

Texans leads the USA in wind power.

Regional Pride
More than anything else, both Texas and Italy share a deeply rooted sense of pride, and locals are eager to share their traditions with you.  Nor is Texas afraid to take on what it finds cool about Italy and put a Lone Star spin on it. There are plenty of Texan towns named after Italian cities: Italy, Florence and Naples, to name a few. Dallas has a mozzarella company, as well as one of the few Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) certified restaurants in the USA, while the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth is home to the only Michelangelo painting in the Americas. I still get a kick out the Maccaroni Grill, an Italian restaurant where the ladies room is labelled, “Uomini.” (Pretty confusing, since that means “men” in Italian.)

The Texan love of Italy runs deep, but doesn’t veer into wannabe behavior.  One incident in particular summed this up for me, it was when the waiter at an Italian place in Dallas exclaimed, “Mangia, y’all!” after setting our entree on the table. At that moment I realized that no matter how passionate this guy was about Italian cuisine, he was still Texan through and through.

So there you have it, a brief sojourn off the boot and over to the land of cowboy boots, where there is more in common than you might expect!

p.s. I want to thank Michelle for inviting me on her Gita Italiana. She was the first expat I connected with online while living in Italy. From Bleeding Espresso, I quickly found Cherrye Moore, another expat who just so happens to hail from the great state of Texas. Although we’ve never met in person, those two are a continuing source of inspiration to me. :)

Camping in West Texas (photo by Tui Cameron)

Welcome to the Saturday Show & Tell blog carnival!

This week, Sarah V. brings us an enthusiastic travelogue about camping in west Texas, entitled Big Bend: Unexpected Beauty posted at Wandering Off. Her post includes photos and vivid descriptions:

The flat landscape became a series of dramatic cliffs. The short desert plants disappeared and were replaced by golden grasses and Juniper trees. The straight road began to curve in its attempt to make its way into the basin.

Sarah’s post makes me look forward to doing more camping when I get home. I’ve learned, however, that autumn is better than summer for camping in Texas. When it is still 90 degrees at midnight, it is kinda hard to get much sleep. (The photo at the top of this post is from a west Texas camping trip I took in the fall.)

Katie Sorene brings us an article claiming to reveal the 15 Most Magical Places in the World posted over at Tripbase blog. Katie’s opening is evocative:

Wizards, sorcerers, hobbits and goblins. This maybe the stuff of fairy-tales but you can bring magic to life! Visit these breath-taking magical destinations and live out your own travel legend!

It’s a beautiful post, with lush photos that sent me off on a daydreaming journey. (I can’t complain, however, since at the moment this blog post is published, I shall be sailing my way to Spain.)

That wraps up this week’s edition of the Saturday Show & Tell blog carnival. Thanks to all who participated this week, either by submitting a post, or by leaving comments below. See you next time!

Speaking of…

Would you like to highlight your blog on an upcoming Saturday Show & Tell? If so, here are 2 ways to submit your post. Either send the link directly to me via tui [at] mentalmosaic [dot] com, or submit it through the Blog Carnival site via this link. If you have any questions, shoot me an email, or ask in a comment below.

As always, if you enjoyed this week’s post, give us a shout out. If you didn’t, well, just remember what your mama told you about doing when you don’t have anything nice to say.

Photo by Paula Puffer

Now that the Blog Carnival site has recovered, I received a bunch of interesting submissions for Saturday Show & Tell. The first one, as you can see at the top of this post, is a photo from Paula Puffer. As she explains:

“It was taken a couple weeks ago at Armand Bayou Nature Center here in Texas. I love the contrast of the colors and the newness of the leaves on the tree. Spring has definitely sprung!”

To see more of her photography, writing and other projects, check out Paula Puffer and her blog, Don’t Be a Pickle Bump. While I agree with Paula that spring has sprung here in Texas, it’s been way too bouncy for my taste. Today the mercury is pushing 90, while yesterday, I ran the wood stove and sipped hot tea to stay warm.

Speaking of chilly weather, Pam Mandel recently returned from Antarctica. She brings us a beautifully written travel essay entitled, On Amazement:

How do you write about places that are “indescribable”? Well, you have to try, at least. In this post, blogger Pam Mandel tackles the difficulties of writing about Antarctica.

Not only does Pam do a great job of describing the indescribable, she includes stunning photos, as well. If you never thought of visiting Antarctica, Pam’s piece may change your mind.

While we’re down in the southern hemisphere, C. in Oz, submitted a post called The Utopia Myth, which she describes as:

“…a piece I wrote about what I call the “utopia myth,” that we can somehow run away from what we don’t like about our home country by moving elsewhere. Ah, if only it were that simple!”

I especially like the part where she compares the USA to “your crazy Aunt Tilly.”  After living in both Belgium and Italy, I know that feeling very well.

I nearly forgot to toss something into the hat this week, but C’s post reminded me of my own expat experiences, which made me think of, Chuck Norris and a Morphed Sense of Home, in which I muse about the meaning of home as well as a close encounter I had with Mr. Norris:

Have you ever looked Chuck Norris in the eye? It was kinda scary, at least until he smiled and gave us a wave, realizing that we had simply recognized him from afar and were not people he actually knew.

Next up, Katie Sorene dives into the subconscious with the intriguing, What Your Travel Dreams Mean:

“Do you remember your dreams? Where do you go in your sleep? Travel dreams specifically have a lot of meaning for you and what’s going on in your life.”

I’m a big Carl Jung fan, so I really enjoyed Katie’s take on the symbolism of travel dreams. (As an aside, vitamin B6 really helps with dream recall.)

Kyra Dosch-Klemer shares her Mighty Life List with us, which includes such diverse desires such as:

“See the Northern Lights (in person), ” “Donate bone marrow,” and “Own a pair of blue cowboy boots and rock them!”

While I have noticed more and more bucket lists out there, I  resist making one of my own – I’m not sure why.  I like how spontaneous Kyra’s Mighty Life List feels, however; have you made one for yourself?

Jennifer Miner joins us this week with, Kids’ Choice Awards Gifting Lounge’s Eco-Friendly Travel Gifts , which, as she explains:

It was an unusual day for this travel writer to be invited to Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards’ pre-show gifting lounge, but there were some interesting, unique eco-friendly travel gifts there, with great back stories.

I see gift ideas there for all ages, actually. My favorite is the gum wrapper purses – so snazzy looking and cleverly made.

Our last submission, called simply, 3/14/11 comes from Kurt Kland. Since we started this edition with an image, I figure we can end with one, too. Here is what Kurt had to say:

My blog is purely visual based on doodles I draw during staff meetings at the office. This one is a self portrait.

I wonder if the other staffers think he is diligently taking notes during those meetings? Are you reading this, Kurt? If so, clue us in.

That wraps up this week’s edition of the Saturday Show & Tell blog carnival. Thanks to all who participated this week, either by submitting a post, or by leaving comments below. See you next time!

Speaking of…

Would you like to highlight your blog on an upcoming Saturday Show & Tell? If so, here are 2 ways to submit your post. Either send the link directly to me via tui [at] mentalmosaic [dot] com, or submit it through the Blog Carnival site via this link. If you have any questions, shoot me an email, or ask in a comment below.

Speaking of comments, if you enjoyed this week’s post, give us a shout out. If you didn’t, well, just remember what your mama told you about doing when you don’t have anything nice to say.

Texan butterfly foraging in Indian Paintbrush. photo by Tui Cameron

This week’s Saturday Show & Tell rounds up 4 posts, all from bloggers here in Texas. (Notice that I didn’t call us, “Texan bloggers,” I don’t think I have lived here long enough to qualify as a Texan yet!)

Paula Puffer came up with this week’s timely theme:

“Here’s something fun for this week’s carnival. Since it’s springtime in Texas, I thought wildflowers would be a good topic.”

Oh, Paula, of course!

Texas springtime and wildflowers go hand in hand. As I mentioned in, Wildflower Viewing: A Texan Tradition :

“…it’s a rare Texan who does not know that the bluebonnet is the Lone Star State’s official blossom.”

Click on this link to find out why we have Ladybird Johnson to thank for this, and which of the 5 different bluebonnet species is the official Texan one.

In springtime it is common to see cars parked on highway shoulders, as families (dressed in their Sunday best, of course) pose for photos amid the colorful roadside blooms. Fellow Texan transplant, Christina Uticone, marvels at the Texan wildflower obsession in her article, Operation Bluebonnet.

Meanwhile, Paula Puffer’s post, Pig and Penny Look at Wildflowers takes a playful look at the Texan wildflower portrait tradition.

And lastly, another Houstanite, Susan Sternberg, recently posted photographic evidence that bluebonnets are already a-blooming in southern Texas in her post, Tiptoe through the Wildflowers.

That wraps up this week’s edition of the Saturday Show & Tell blog carnival. Thanks to all who participated this week, either by submitting a post, or by leaving comments below. See you next time!

Speaking of…

Would you like to highlight one of your past blog posts on an upcoming Saturday Show & Tell? Saturday Show & Tell is here to call attention to blog posts you wrote a while ago, but are still interesting to read. C’mon and share those golden oldies with us!

If you want to join in, here are 2 ways to submit your post. Send the link directly to me via tui [at] mentalmosaic.com, or submit it through the Blog Carnival site via this link. If you have any questions, shoot me an email, or ask in a comment below.

Red carpet interview with Black Swan at the 2011 Oscar Party in Fort Worth, Texas

The 2011 Oscar Awards Ceremony was broadly panned by critics and fans, and if I had stayed home to watch it, I might have found it lackluster, too. Instead, my boyfriend and I attended the free Oscar Party at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (or simply “The Modern,” as folks around here call it) and had a great time.

First off, the people-watching was top notch. Not only were there snappy tuxedos and glittering gowns galore, but many people came in character. I spotted a gaggle of Black Swans, and several Alice in Wonderland characters, as well as a Phyllis Diller lookalike. A handful of guys sported cowboy hats (not uncommon around here) but I did not see a single eye patch, much to my surprise.  One clever person came dressed as a Facebook profile page.

Best costume winner - The Black Swan

Papparazzi and journalists greeted us at the entrance, interviewed everyone, and shot red carpet photos of all us ‘celebrities.’ When asked what I was wearing, I told my interview, “Thrift Town,” the name of a local second hand shop (it really is a great store.)

A professional photographer snapped high-quality red carpet pictures that are available for sale on his site (It costs $9.75 for a digital version, which seems a little steep. Still, I may take the plunge.)

Due to various microbes and other unforeseen events, none of our friends could attend, so I worried we would have a lonely night. I feared the event might attract an insular crowd, y’know, some impenetrable clique of film snobs, but that was not the case at all.

This is Cowtown, after all, not the real Hollywood. People were friendly, and we had lively conversations all evening. An open bar, snacks, a slew of generous prizes and a fellow drawing free caricatures of people as their favorite Toy Story 3 character, rounded out the offerings.

Me, my fiance and the White Rabbit at the 2011 Oscar Party in Fort Worth, Texas.

This is the third consecutive year that The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has hosted this show in conjuction with DFW.com and the Lone Star Film Society . They did a tremendous job. Having thrown a party or two in my time, I know how much hard work it takes, and these guys pulled it off well.

I am kicking myself for not taking more pictures, however, and not using the flash when I did. Guess I was a little star struck. Also, we should have asked more that one person to take our photo. Live and learn, I suppose.

Considering that I recently blogged about wishing people would have more fun with fashion and dress up for fun, I certainly got my wish Sunday evening. I definitely plan to attend the 2012 Oscar watching party at The Modern in Fort Worth.

Did you watch the Oscars? If so, where were you and how do you feel it compared to previous years?

One of my favorite things about Texas, in fact, is its strong sense of identity. Texas is like a loud-mouthed, opinionated friend you don’t always agree with, but you love to hang out with, anyway.

Live crabs at Nguyen Loi Oriental Supermarket in Haltom City, Texas. Photo by Tui Cameron

A couple days ago, however, it felt like I stepped out of Texas and into another country. My fiance and I popped over to nearby Haltom City for the afternoon, where we meandered through a strip mall full of Vietnamese shops: restaurants specializing in pho, coffeehouses, an Asian video store, and a shop with the snicker-worthy name of Dung Jewelry.

My favorite place was Nguyen Loi Oriental Supermarket. You can tell it’s been around a while, since the use of the word “oriental” is kinda dated. If they opened the place nowadays it would probably be called the “Asian Supermarket,” instead, y’know?

The grocery store altar is conveniently located in between aisles 2 and 3. Photo by Tui Cameron

We have been to a couple of north Texas Indian markets, but this was the first Asian one I’ve seen around here. A while back, I was lamenting that I missed Uwajimaya’s, the large Japanese supermarket up in Seattle’s Chinatown. (As an aside, I call it Chinatown, because years ago when I worked at the Preservation and Development Authority there, a coworker pulled me aside and said, “Only white people call it the Asian District. Everyone else calls it Chinatown.” So I’ve stuck to that ever since, even though fellow whiteys sometimes criticize me for this!)

The moment I stepped into Nguyen Loi, I was greeted with an array of interesting odors. There were mysterious items in the produce section with names I could not pronounce and had no idea how to eat. The meat section included live fish and crab as well as an assortment of fresh-looking fish on ice. In addition to chicken eggs, the dairy section offered duck eggs, quail eggs and even fertilized hen eggs.

Not many places unabashedly sell MSG these days. Photo by Tui Cameron

I was like a kid in a candy store, an illiterate kid who wasn’t even sure if they liked candy. Yeah, that’s the kind of kid I was. As I said to my fiance, “Dorothy, I don’t feel like we’re in Texas anymore.” He agreed and added that the smells were transporting him, which prompted me to send a text to Proust, who has yet to reply. (Then again, the cellphone coverage in his cork-lined study sucks.) I only regret that I took so few pictures.

Are there any places in your neck of the woods that make you feel like you are on a road trip? Places that transport you like a mini-vacation, or give you a taste of another culture?

Recycled Books in Denton, Texas. This is my kind of view!

The first thing we discovered about Denton is that Sundays are the worst day of the week to visit. Nearly all the shops and museums were closed. Luckily, there was a fabulous used bookstore open, a place called Recycled Books.

I love any bookstore, but funky, used bookstores are my favorites. The moment I stepped inside Recycled Books, I caught a whiff of used books (love that smell!), saw a huge room crammed with well-labeled sections of books, and knew we had stumbled upon a gem.

At that point, I didn’t even realize that there was a massive basement to explore, but I was still quite impressed. All in all, Recycled Books is 17,000 square feet of used book deliciousness. It more than made up for visiting Denton on a Sunday.

I even learned a new word while strolling through Recycled Books: Texana. According to The Big Apple (a cool etymology site) this is a term used to describe all things Texan. In fact, Texana, Texiana and Texicana can all be used, but Texana is the most popular word these days. I’m a bit partial to the word, Texicana, myself. Kinda makes me wonder how I can get the words I coined, Texcentric and Texcentricity, to catch on?

In any case, I look forward to visiting Denton again. For one thing, it’s the home of Shelly Tucker, a professional storyteller who blogs over at This Eclectic Life. She is one of those witty, wonderful, wise women I bumped into on the internet and would like to meet IRL someday.