Calling all Texans

[Sunnypup]

Okay, here's the dealy. I'm totally new to this Texas thing. I am just finally getting that it takes over a freaking day to drive the length of the stupid state. It's hot and dusty and the people talk funny However it is to be my home for at least the next 3 years. I figure I should make myself comfortable until Tim is finished with his degree. So what can you tell me about my new "home"? I live in Longview, Tx which is east, sort of close to Louisiana (1/2 hr from Shreveport airport) . What are the good things to do here? Places to backpack, mountain bike, take the dogs for a swim and find a freaking wholefoods store so help me or I'm going to die. :yikes:

Also, is there a good way to keep my plants from, ya know, shriveling up and dying from the scorching blazing sun? I water them, I feed them, I have them in half shade and still the stupid heat has turned my favorite bleeding heart plant to a small decrepit pile of straw with a few tender green shoots still holding on for dear life. I finally brought her inside, which I am sure will only be slightly less detrimental since we keep the ac on all the time for the dogs. Lets just say that "Emily" (yes, I named my plant) isn't adapting to the heat as well as I had hoped, and the temperature change is bound to do terrible things to her as well.

Oh, and another thing. Stormy has developed TERRIBLE dry skin, and is ceaselessly scratching herself. I've started her on weekly oatmeal baths, and have cream on her, plus increased the oils in her food...she's still itching. It's not fleas. Could it be *shudders* fire ant bites? I don't see any (and heaven knows I've had them so I know what they look like) If so, what do I do for her? And WHY must every blazing innocuous thing bite, sting, burn or otherwise destroy?! Ants that BITE? what the heck?! And flies, and gnats. plus the random plant that destroys my foot when I walk outside barefoot but LOOKS like regular grass. Argh.

Oh, and where do all of YOU live if we wanted to get together? Anyone sort of close to me? I'm lonely *aroooooooooo* .

in closing (sing it with me!)" the stars at night are big and bright (clap clap clap) deep in the heart of Texas!"

 

[lizzybeth727]

I just moved here 11 months ago (yes, I'm still counting.... it was actually 11 months exactly today). Luckily I moved from AL, so almost everything you described, I was already pretty much used to. Where did you move from? I KNOW the grass that you're talking about, though, we did NOT have that in AL! I absolutely cannot walk barefoot outside, because about 80% of my property is ROCK, and the other 20% is solid "prickily stuff" - the awful grass, briars, and have you seen that grassy, bushy plant that's impossible to kill but pokes you like a needle whenever you THINK about walking near it???

Luckily, too, I'm not too far from Austin, which I really like. There's a huge whole foods store, along with tons of hike and bike trails, places to let the dogs swim, etc. Any way you could relocate???

 

[Sunnypup]

sigh. if only. The university he is at is here. It is the singular reason we moved to this area.

We moved from Pennsylvania. We actually had these funny things called "seasons" where it got colder or hotter depending on the month

Isn't that grass murder?! I actually have a fenced in back yard for once and I can't hardly enjoy it for the nasty grass and the heat. Oi.

 

[bubbatd]

Having lived in Texas for 1 1/2 years , I feel for you !!! Me from Quebec and Texas back then with no AC. My Mom flew down in January and Tom and I broke up when she de-planed !!! Fur boots , fur hat , wool coat , scarf and gloves !!! Another funny was when we took her to our favorite steak place ..... Tom and I both liked rare , but knowing the place, we ordered ordered medium and suggested she should too .. Oh no .....she wanted RARE and it came cold and raw ! Don't think it even saw a flame ! Ah ... the Blue Bonnet State . Love you all here though !

 

[ttwillow]

I am from Ohio, but moved to San Antonio, which is not like being in Texas so much. I like it here. It's a very pretty town. I say town even though it is now the 7th largest city in the nation. it has a town feel to it.

I think not to far south from you are the piney woods. I hear there are some nice state parks over there. I want to visit Big Bend, which is a good 12-14 hours west from San Antonio. We have Whole Foods here plus Sun Harvest...a lower scale Whole Foods. Whole Foods started in Austin. Sun Harvest started in El Paso.

Longview is a small town. I think you will have to go to Austin for WFs. I dont think Dallas even has WF...but I may be wrong about that.

 

[GlassOnion]

We moved from Pennsylvania. We actually had these funny things called "seasons" where it got colder or hotter depending on the month

Hey! We have seasons! Sprall and Summer.


As for getting acclimated, I don't know. Don't know much about that neck of the woods. Are you saying ya'll yet? You should be. It's an awesome word.

 

[ttwillow]

I loved to garden in Ohio. I have tried a few times here and have given up. Bleeding hearts are not native plants to Texas You really have to go native plants here. I cannot even grow tomatos or peppers here.

 

[Sunnierhawk0]

Born and raised in Texas, only been gone for 4 months, and am moving back next week. Will be moving back to my area, Fort Worth.

Have to agree, yall is def. a great word. Use it as much as possible.

You will eventually get use to the heat. 80 degree days will be cool, 90 normal, and if its 65, break out the sweater.

 

[bubbatd]

We were in San Antonio too !!! Only things I planted was cactus !!! Neighbors thought I was nuts, but heck , they were new to me !

 

[lizzybeth727]

I still think cacti are really cool and want to plant some.

I HATE hot weather, even AL was way too hot for me,but I must say I think I'm getting used to the heat. It probably helps that I'm outside about 6 hours a day. A friend from AL came to visit me a couple of weeks ago, and she just about DIED from the heat.... and I was ok. It was a strange awakening for me.

 

[bubbatd]

I had heat rash the whole time !!! I don't sweat much .... just dry up !

 

[GlassOnion]

I cannot even grow tomatos or peppers here.

Sure you can. I planted some tomatoes two summers ago.

 

[filarotten]

Well, I live in the lovely hot subtropical area of Texas known as Houston/Galveston area. You can grow just about anything that likes it warm. Vegies do wondeful, we have long growing seasons, and you might even enjoy a lemon, orange, or lime tree. My favorite...the palm trees. Just walk outside and your in a sauna.

I did live in Athens,Texas for 3 years, it is close to Tyler. It was closer to the actual 4 seasons but still nothing like Penslyvania would be. Winter did have some snow, but was still pretty mild.

 

[bubbatd]

I'm sure that there are lovely areas ... just like in CA , but I like my seasons !

 

[boneyjean]

I was born and raised in Fort Worth. Moved down to Austin for a year in college and came back here to finish school. Austin is a great place for you to take a little road trip. Very neat city, same with San Antonio. I love it in Tx and I think you will adjust to the heat. We have had a VERY hot summer this year. I think the prickly things you are talking about are some sort of weed that puts off burs. We had those at our last house and I think when hubby kept it mowed, it wasn't as much of a problem. There are a lot of wonderful plants that do great in the TX heat too. One of my absolute favorites is hibiscus. They put off beautiful blooms and lots of them and love the sun and can tolerate the heat. Hopefully your bleeding heart will do better inside with filtered light.

As for Whole Foods, it looks like there are 2 different "Dallas" locations plus one in Richardson and one in Plano as well as one in Highland Park which are all sort of in the "Dallas" area. I would look at their website and see if any are worth the trek. That is what I just did. I know there is a Central Market in Dallas and surely there is another organic food store or two there. I think Dallas is probably closer to you than Austin or San Antonio. You might also look in Shreveport as I think it is even closer to you...maybe 1 hours or less, instead of the 2 it will take to get you to Dallas, plus the traffic in Dallas sucks! But there is some AWESOME shopping! Shreveport might have something else similiar.

There is something in Longview called Jacks Natural Food Store. Have you checked that out yet? I am not sure what it is about Whole Foods that is the draw for you but just throwing something else out there that might meet those needs on a smaller scale. It looks like they have 3 locations so it is a chain of some sort.

Oh and welcome to Texas! You will have to explore the state some more. Longview is nothing like some of the other places here. Be sure to go down to Austin sometime....very cool city. It would be the only other place here I would ever want to live.

 

[Laurelin]

I second the traveling! Texas is so big and thus has all kinds of landscapes and things to see. Texas is an awesome place to live. I missed it sooo much during high school- it's great to be back.

Btw, words of wisdom. Any form of 'soda' is called a coke. If you ask for a coke, you'll be asked what kind.

Also, y'all is an essential vocab word as is all y'all. It's a subtle difference, but very important.


Welcome to the promised land.

 

[bubbatd]

I must say that we did enjoy our one day trips into Mexico and try to enjoy the culture . Sad and interesting . We went into Padres Negress ( sp ? ) after they had some major flooding and the wine without labels cost about a 25 cents ! We did do the bull fights ( which I didn't like but wanted to experience ) I do appreciate my experiences there .

 

[GlassOnion]

Btw, words of wisdom. Any form of 'soda' is called a coke. If you ask for a coke, you'll be asked what kind.

Oh I forgot about that.

Yes, when hanging out with friends from here, if they ask if you want a Coke you say yes, then specify what type. Coke = drink. I remember asking one of my friends I met here in college if he wanted a Coke, he goes sure and I said 'what type?' and he kinda looked at me weird and went 'errrr....vanilla?' He's from Maryland and still 3 years later thinks it's the most bizarre thing he's ever heard.

Also, y'all is an essential vocab word as is all y'all. It's a subtle difference, but very important.

The difference, to me, is that ya'll is generally a small group of people. Like to your friends 'what do ya'll want to do?' or talking to someone about there weekend 'what'd ya'll do?'

All ya'll is a much larger group. Like 'Are all ya'll from around here?' when leading a tour or something.

It differs a bit and that's certainly not concrete but I believe that's the common difference betwixt the two.

 

[Barb04]

I'm enjoying reading all your posts as my niece & her fiance used to live in Missippi, now live in Iowa, and he may be getting a job in Houston. He finds out next week.

 

[Sunnierhawk0]

Par take in the mexican food as much as you can, I remmeber when I first came up to Arkansas, I tried a mexican food place, and I about gaged. What they called mexican food was a joke compared to what you will find in Tx.

First thing Imma do when I get back is go and have some *real* mexican food. *has made self hungry*