Austin Statesman journalist Michael Cox explores the origin and rise of the famed Texas Rangers. Starting in 1821 with just a handful of men, the Rangers’ first purpose was to keep settlers safe from the feared and gruesome Karankawa Indians, a cannibalistic tribe that wanderd the Texas territory. As the influx of settlers grew, the attacks increased, and it became clear that a larger, better trained force was necessary.  Taking readers through the major social and political movements of the

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Gone to Texas engagingly tells the story of the Lone Star State, from the arrival of humans in the Panhandle more than 10,000 years ago to the opening of the twenty-first century. Focusing on the state′s successive waves of immigrants, the book offers an inclusive view of the vast array of Texans who, often in conflict with each other and always in a struggle with the land, created a history and an idea of Texas. Striking a balance between revisionist and traditional approaches to history, auth

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Thirstystone’s Occasions coaster line features a wide selection of stylish, trend-right designs.

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Our authors hit all the highlights, from the nightlife in funky Austin to bright lights of Dallas to the trails of Big Bend. They’ve checked out all the state′s best hotels and restaurants in person, and offers authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget.You’ll also get up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; accurate neighborhood maps; the best historial sites (the Alamo, Dealey Plaza) and advice on planning a successful famil

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Usually the only fans of cactus (besides artists and environmentalists) are ranchers in desert areas, where in really bad droughts they sometimes have to burn the needles off prickly pear cactus with flamethrowers so the cattle can eat them. That makes prickly pear valuable to them, I guess.

That practice led Texas A&M University ag researchers to develop a spineless prickly pear, but it still has those little tiny stickers that get into your skin and drive you crazy. (Ask me how I know.)

Of course, some cacti make really pretty flowers—when they bloom, which is not often. And there are people to go to the trouble to pick the prickly pear fruit (which is not prickly itself) and make jelly out of it, if you can imagine.

Not only that, but in Mexico people peel the spiny outer skin off prickly pear pads (the paddle-like “leaves”) and eat them as a vegetable. Around here you can buy them in grocery stores. They are called nopales or nopalitos. Apparently nopal, or prickly pear, plays a big part in the cuisine of northern Mexico. So I guess it must be tasty.

But imagine my surprise when it turns out that the fruit of the prickly pear or Nopal cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) is full of some kind of rare antioxidants called betalains that can detoxify the body and relieve pain by helping the body reduce inflammation. I mean, who knew?

So now there’s this drink called Nopalea (No-pah lay’uh), made from Nopal cactus fruit. It turns out that the native peoples of northern Mexico have known about the health benefits of Nopal cactus for centuries,  but I guess no Anglos paid any attention to them.

But then doctors discovered that inflammation is a major cause of pain and other problems, and somebody scientifically proved that those betalain antioxidants reduce inflammation. So now prickly pear (Nopal) cactus is a big deal.

And now all those good effects the ancient peoples of Mexico discovered are available in 32-oz bottles of Nopalea, which is made by a 12-year-old company called Trivita. (You can try this stuff for free if you call 1-800-203-7063 and pay $9.95 for shipping.)

They say Nopalea helps your body neutralize its inner toxins and reduce its inflammation, which—along with health problems related to it—is a major source of pain for many people. Inflammation can cause problems with muscles, joints, respiratory system, arteries, digestive tract, and other cells in the body. When you drink Nopalea daily it apparently helps your body reduce inflammation, clean out toxins, and just…feel better.

So hurray for prickly pear! Who knew? Oh, yeah, millions of people over the centuries. And why weren’t we Anglos listening to them? Like we know so much.

Just goes to show….we are not all as smart as we think we are. And modern is not always best. Just like my grandmother used to say.

Larry′s latest tale begins in the family’s car with a trailer hitched to the back — they’re off on a road trip in the Lone Star State! Follow Larry as he gets separated from his best friend Pete and searches all over Texas for him. He hits the major cities — Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth among them — where he meets armadillos and snakes and even hitches a ride from a horse in a trailer. He also visits the Cadillac Ranch sculpture, the NASA space station, and a rodeo before passing by pu

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Show your team spirit with this resin garden gnome! Gnomes have been known through the ages as guardians of treasures and what bigger treasure than your favorite team? All decked out in team colors he stands 11.25″ H x 4.75″L. Even though he’s known as a garden gnome, why leave him outside? Bring him in to stand watch over the buffet table, or just to watch the game with you.

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The Alamo. Big Bend. Cadillac Ranch. Texas is full of places so unique, they’ve become part of American legend. Each corner of the state offers sights found nowhere else. In San Antonio, visitors can wander in the 17th-century missions, now in the midst of a cosmopolitan mecca. In Fort Worth, they can relive the days of the Wild West at the Stockyards National Historic District. And in Houston, they can stop at NASA′s Mission Control and learn the latest details of space exploration. The natio

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Limestone hills, cold spring-fed streams, live oaks and cedar, old German towns–the Texas Hill Country may well be the most beloved region of the state. Unlike West Texas with its dramatic expanses of plains and sky, or the eastern Piney Woods in their lush fecundity, the Hill Country never overwhelms. Its intimate landscapes of rolling hills, fields of wildflowers, and cypress-shaded rivers impart a peace and serenity that draws the urban-weary from across Texas and even beyond. In this volu

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Legend has it that everything’s bigger in Texas… even the stars! This magnificent wall wreath is a fun and unique way to declare your love for the Lone Star State, boldly styled and richly detailed in chocolate-finish metalcraft. Measures an impressive 25 inches across! Painted metal. 23 1/2 inches x 3 inches x 25 1/2 inches high.

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