Legendy Teksasu - post dla Klubu Polki na Obczyźnie

Z przyjemnoscią informuję: na blogu Klubu Polki na Obczyźnie ukazał się mój post, w cyklu Ciekawostki. Przedstawiam w nim jedną z legend Teksasu - 'Jeździec bez głowy'.

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Just to inform you - first article, written by myself (in Polish), has been posted on the Polish Ladies Abroad blog. The text tells about Texas legend - "Headless Rider".

My Texas Alphabet: B for Beans

The idea for this alphabet post series comes from ' The Alphabet of My Emigration' by Dee Dorota L., member of The Polish Ladies Abroad Club, who has relocated to England.
I have also decided to join the project and write about My Texas Alphabet twice a week.

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Thinking about my life in Poland, there were only a few kinds of beans available in the local stores. At least as far as I can remember. Dry: white one, called Jas (Johnny); canned: white and red (in water); fresh: green and yellow bean pods, and frozen bags of green pods. Moreover, we did not eat beans too often - just once in a while.

In Texas, beans are a most important ingredient of many traditional dishes. Beans were also a main everyday meal in the old cowboy days. Maybe that is a reason, there are so many various sorts of beans here.

What you can see in the picture above, is a supermarket 'beans aisle' - white, red and black beans, (including eg. pinto beans, kidney beans and so on) dry, canned, seasoned, unseasoned - whatever you need and want. When I first saw that loads of beans, it was as surprising as overwhelming. I simply did not know which one to choose. And I felt lost - in the world of beans. Lost but not alone - my husband and my greatest supporter helped me. That time, and many times before and after the beans dilemma moment.

These days I have no problems with getting the beans I like. I have learned a lot since then. Furthermore, some of them (eg. baked up beans) have become my favorites. Since beans are high in fiber, iron, folate, protein and complex carbohydrates, they make a simple but quite a nutritious meal. From time to time, we enjoy having pinto beans, cooked in a traditional way (a recipe is to be posted on the Polish Ladies Abroad blog soon) and other ones too.

In a way, the beans are only an example of all the new things I have experienced and learned here. I would not have been able to go through it if it was not for my husband's love and care. At least not so smoothly as I did/do.

Other 'B' entries by Polish Ladies Abroad:

Gabi / B jak Boję się (in English & Polish)
Dee / B jak Boże Narodzenie, buraki i Belgia
Kropka za Oceanem  / B - jak Brookfield Zoo
Karolina / B jak Bordeaux
Anna Maria / B jak Belgia 
Justyna / B jak Będzin 
Anna / B jak Bon apetit 
Viola / B jak bagaż

My Texas Alphabet: A for Aloe

The idea for this alphabet post series comes from ' The Alphabet of My Emigration' by Dee Dorota L., member of The Polish Ladies Abroad Club, who has relocated to England.
I have also decided to join the project and write about My Texas Alphabet twice a week.

This week I am planning to have more alphabet posts than two, as I need to catch up with the pace of the project. What is more, the letter which comes after 'A', in the Polish alphabet, is 'Ą' . Obviously, it is not part of the English alphabet so I thought, I would have two 'A' entries instead.

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Aloe Vera is the only plant that I have managed to grow successfully on our patio, in the heat of the Texas summer. Well, the only one so far. Since it is a succulent, it enjoys the hot sun rays and does not need much watering. Once a week is enough. Watering is not the problem, though, I could do it more often if it was required. 
We used to have  a couple of Aloe plants at home in Poland. I liked them - they were rather old, but not too large, despite their age. Besides being decorative, Aloe Vera is also quite a good medicine (topical use) which heals minor skin burns - from sunburn to 'kitchen burns'.

I am wondering how big our succulent will grow, considering the local weather conditions. I like gardening and enjoy the beauty of flowers and other plants. I only need to find some other heat-proof ones which would be able to stand up the Texas summer. Soon, I will get a bigger pot for this Aloe Vera, to let it 'stretch its legs' and enlarge properly. Maybe it will bloom too?

'Ą' entries by Polish Ladies Abroad (in Polish)

Dee/ Nie zawsze poprawne zapiski Dee: 'ą jak w początku'
Anna / Zaczynam od początku: 'ą jak ąę'

UPDATE:

Our aloe plant grew big and, as you can see in the photo, we sometimes used it as a second Christmas tree. Sadly, the winter freeze in February 2021 killed our PT and it is no more.

The little plant pot is the original one/size of the aloe plant when we bought it. Later we had to replant it twice - place in in bigger pots.

Our beautiful PT

My Texas Alphabet: A for Aloe

The idea for this alphabet post series comes from ' The Alphabet of My Emigration' by Dee Dorota L., member of The Polish Ladies Abroad Club, who has relocated to England.
I have also decided to join the project and write about My Texas Alphabet twice a week.

This week I am planning to have more alphabet posts than two, as I need to catch up with the pace of the project. What is more, the letter which comes after 'A', in the Polish alphabet, is 'Ą' . Obviously, it is not part of the English alphabet so I thought, I would have two 'A' entries instead.

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Aloe Vera is the only plant which I have managed to grow successfully on our patio, in the heat of the Texas summer. Well, the only one so far. Since it is a succulent, it enjoys the hot sun rays and does not need much watering. Once a week is enough. Watering is not the problem, though, I could do it more often if it was required. 
We used to have  a couple of Aloe plants at home in Poland. I liked them - they were rather old, but not too large, despite their age. Besides being decorative, Aloe Vera is also quite a good medicine (topical use) which heals minor skin burns - from sunburn to 'kitchen burns'.

I am wondering how big our succulent will grow, considering the local weather conditions. I like gardening and enjoy the beauty of flowers and other plants. I only need to find some other heat-proof ones which would be able to stand up the Texas summer. Soon, I will get a bigger pot for this Aloe Vera, to let it 'stretch its legs' and enlarge properly. Maybe it will bloom too?

'Ą' entries by Polish Ladies Abroad (in Polish)

Dee/ Nie zawsze poprawne zapiski Dee: 'ą jak w początku'
Anna / Zaczynam od początku: 'ą jak ąę'
Joanna / Grugrubleble: Przygody z francuską mową
Agnieszka / Zapiski szwedzkie: Ą jak nawiĄzywanie znajomości a może Pan lub Pani Ącka ;) i w końcu zwĄtpienie…
 

My Texas Alphabet: A for Air Condition

The idea for this alphabet post series comes from ' The Alphabet of My Emigration' by Dee Dorota L., member of The Polish Ladies Abroad Club, who has relocated to England.
I have also decided to join the project and write about My Texas Alphabet twice a week.

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I always wonder how people managed to survive Texas summer heat when they had no air condition. Especially in the early pioneer times, when they had no electric fans either. Cooling systems make the hot and humid weather conditions less oppressive and miserable. And I do very much appreciate the positive sides of the AC and the fact that it helps survive the summer days, and nights also. It simply makes breathing possible. On the other hand, it is not my favorite technology invention at all.
I have noticed, most Texans place themselves as close to the cooling systems and fans as possible. The closer, the better. I do the opposite. I do not like when the cool air is blowing straight on myself. I am simply not used to it and the cool air flow makes me suffer: I am cold, feel uncomfortable and get a headache. That is why, when in public places, I try to avoid that closeness as much as I can. Which is not easy - there are plenty of AC holes in each (e.g. restaurant) ceiling, not to mention a million fans cooling the air as well. Sometimes the air happens to be so cold that, if I could, I would put on a winter hat to cover/protect my head. And sometimes I did use a scarf....

My AC 'allergy' must be found quite weird by some locals. Fortunately, my husband understands it. Anyway, it happens we need to change seats when the 'air conditions' is too shivery (according to me only of course). Sometimes, it also causes a kind of awkward situation, when a person hosting us at their place tries to be kind and make me feel comfortable and places a big fan very near me. I always appreciate the hospitality and care, so I hate to tell them I do not enjoy the fan treat.

I think a reason for my AC intolerance might be connected with the totally different climate conditions I am/my body is used to. It was much colder (both in the summer and in the winter) where I lived most of my life.  When you needed fresh air, it was enough to open a window, and the air condition was not needed at all.
According to my theory - in Texas, a cool breeze means relief because, most of the year, it is extremely hot here. Where I used to live - the chilly wind meant danger to the body (especially when it was freezing outside) - possibly cold and sickness. Maybe, that was why my body was programmed in a certain way and still reacts like that, despite the change of climate conditions around me. I do not know, but I have learned that I need to sleep under a (thin) blanket, even during the hottest Texas season. If I do not, and use the usual summer bed-sheet only, I quickly get sick. But I am not complaining. Oh no.

All in all, I am glad we have a good AC system in our place. Luckily, it is possible to adjust it to my 'likes' so I am able to enjoy its advantages too. And soon, the time of the day will come, when it gets unpleasantly hot outside and inside. And I will need to turn on the air again. Glad I can!

'A' entries by Polish Ladies Abroad: 

Dee / A jak Anglia 
Anna Maria / A jak mój ulubiony mąż
Gabi  / A jak AIESEC
Agnieszka / A jak... Agnieszka w Ångermanland
Kropka / A jak Addison
Anna / Anna postanawia znaleźć Alternatywę
Justyna / A jak Alex 
Anna / A jak Ameryka
Karolina / A jak Aquitaine 
Viola / A jak Abstrakcyjne rozwiązania
Joanna / A jak Adaptacja
Jagoda / A jak Algeciras – port na Cieślinie Gibraltarskiej po hiszpańskiej stronie
 

Reading Time: "To Hell and Back" by Audie Murphy

Three days ago there was 76th anniversary of the WW2 beginning. I think it is the right time to tell you about the book recommended by my husband: 'To Hell And Back' written by Audie Murphy.

For those of you who do not know: Audie Murphy, WW2 hero, was one of the most decorated American soldiers. Born (1925) and raised in Texas, he was also an exquisite rifle shooter. Audie joined the US Army on June 30, 1942.

In his book, Audie Murphy wrote about his military career - Brothers in Arms and the horrors of combat. He also told about his emotions, how - many times - he had thought he would not survive the following day.
Furthermore, Audie described how the guys that had fought together for a long time, had built a special bond for each other. They would share everything with each other: from food and, as a “treasure”, a bottle of European wine, found in an abandoned house or barn, stories about their lives back home before the war, and what their plans were after the war if they got through the next day of fighting…to making each other laugh with tall tales. How they would love to tell wild tales to the new soldiers that had just arrived to the front and keep them at a distance as they did not want to get close and lose, yet, another friend.   How, as the war dragged on, few would feel they would stay alive when hell is as close as six feet deep…………………………….

The book is written in a fascinating way and it is certainly worth reading. A true story of/about a real person and the nightmare of the war he went through.

And something not mentioned in the book: my husband worked for years with a cousin of Audie Murphy. The man often spoke on how it was after the war, when Audie returned as a hero and went on to star in Hollywood movies. Despite being famous, Audie Murphy remained a humble man: when he came back to the fields and backwoods town of Texas, he would never brag or talk big. He would load up as many cousins and children he could in his car and run them up the drug stores for ice cream cones on hot Texas days…. A hero - even to children.

Fort Worth - Joe T. Garcia's

Not far from the old Fort Worth Stockyards, there is a restaurant which we enjoy visiting. Especially when we happen to be in the area.
Joe T. Garcia's has served traditional Mexican food since 1935. Whenever we come to Joe T's, it is always packed with people, which certainly means good meals are made here.

Last weekend we also enjoyed a delicious family lunch, including (among others) chips, salsa, nachos, tacos, fajita meat, enchiladas, rice and re-fried beans.

The inner rooms of the restaurant are quite big but many visitors prefer having food on the patio, in the charming restaurant garden (even if they have to wait in line for a long time to get a table).
We did not wait though. After the feast, we just went for a walk along the garden paths (see the pictures below).

Joe T Garcia's - Fort Worth TX