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Digging for Topaz

Topaz is the official gemstone of Texas as well as the birthstone for the month of November. This beautiful gemstone is found only among the granite hills and sandy creek beds of Mason County — in the geologic region of the state known as the Llano Uplift. The town of Mason, the county seat, is about an hour’s drive from Fredericksburg in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
Topaz StoreTopaz was found in greater abundance in Mason County at the turn of the twentieth century. Old-timers speak of stumbling across topaz stones while looking for arrowheads in creek beds. In those days, however, there was a greater demand for arrowheads. Topaz was just another pretty rock.
Omar Topaz DiggingToday, topaz hunters have to look a little harder and dig a little deeper to find this stone. Topaz resembles shards of broken glass or frozen water, thus earning it the nickname “Desert Ice.” Topaz, however, also occurs naturally in a variety of colors including blue, orange, brown, green, beige, and red. A good place to look for topaz is around granite outcroppings in creek beds and ditches.
Cheryl SiftingDigging for topaz has been on my wife Cheryl’s list of Texas adventures for quite some time. So, we finally made the time to head to Mason County to try our hand at searching for the Texas State Gem. We set out with the understanding that topaz is hard to find and that we would be content to just share this adventure together.
Omar SiftingCheryl arranged for us to dig at the Seaquist Ranch in Mason County. The Seaquist family left their native Sweden at the turn of the twentieth century and settled in Mason County. The family still owns and operates their ranch located a few miles outside of the town of Mason. People have enjoyed rock hunting on the Seaquist Ranch since the 1970’s.
Soil SifterOur adventure began at eight in the morning. We met Jean Seaquist in the parking lot of the Dairy Queen in Mason, paid our $20 per person fee, and set off for the ranch. Jean personally escorted us to an area of the ranch known as Topaz Gulch — a creek bed snaking its way through the rugged hills at the base of pink granite outcroppings.
Digging DeepAfter our orientation, we set up our base camp — our canopy, camp chairs, and ice chest filled with fruit, water, and gatorade to beat the heat. And then we collected our gear and set off for the creek bed. We worked an hour at a time, digging and sifting material in our soil sifters. We found lots of pretty rocks and some that might be topaz. We’ll know more when we’ve had time to clean and examine our haul.
Topaz Gulch

All in all, this was a fun and affordable adventure. Like fishing, you have to be prepared to just enjoy the experience regardless of whether you catch anything. The best part of the adventure was the anticipation of finding something and spending lots of quality time together. We both agreed that we’d like to share this adventure again in the future. And that is priceless!

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Discover the Gem of the Hill Country

Small towns are a big deal for those of us who love exploring the Lone Star State. There is usually more history tucked away in small towns than most folks realize. The town of Mason is a case in point. Located on the western side of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Mason is steeped in some interesting Texas history.
Mason City SignMason is known as the “Gem of the Hill Country”  — in part because Mason County is the only place in Texas where you can find Topaz, the Texas State Gem. But also because it is a gem in other senses of the word. Mason sparkles with culture, history, friendly folks, and a town square regarded as one of the five most beautiful squares in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine.
Mason Courthouse
Willow Creek Cafe OutsideMason Square is really cool. The beautiful county courthouse, built in 1910, is surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings that have been repurposed as restaurants, art and antique shops, museums, and more. My wife and I enjoyed a delicious meal at the Willow Creek Cafe located in one of the old buildings across the street from the courthouse. Eating at this cafe is a definite must if you visit Mason.
Mason Collectibles

Mason Collectibles BooksIf you enjoy shopping for cool stuff, then be sure to stop by Mason Country Collectibles. This is one amazing place crammed full of all kinds of old stuff, antique items, books, gems, art work, and a zillion other things. While there, be sure to ask for a peek at the 587-caret Grand Azure — the most beautiful piece of Topaz ever found in Mason County. Whether you like picking or not, you owe it to yourself to stop and look around this fascinating place.
Old Yeller
Old Yeller StatueIf you love old heart-warming stories, you’ll be happy to know that Fred Gipson, one of the finest novelists in America, was born on a farm near Mason. Gipson wrote Old Yeller in 1956. A year later, Disney released a film version of the book, introducing Gipson’s story about a dingy yellow dog to a wider audience. A statue of Old Yeller and Travis, his human companion, greet visitors to the Mason Library.
Fort Mason

Fort Mason CannonThe site of Fort Mason sits atop a hill overlooking the town. This fort was established in 1851 to protect settlers from Indians and to encourage the development of this vast and sparsely settled region of the state. Settlers often sought refuge at the fort during frequent Indian raids. Fort Mason was also Robert E. Lee’s last command post in the U.S. Army before the Civil War. Today, the only thing that remains at the site is a reproduction of the officers’ quarters. Worth a visit!
Mason FenceThere is a whole lot more to discover in Mason and the surrounding area. So, if you find yourself traveling through Central Texas or are looking for an interesting destination for a day trip or vacation, add Mason to your travel plans. Be sure to schedule your trip from Thursday through the weekend when more of the local shops are open to weekend visitors. It won’t take you long to discover why Mason is indeed the Gem of the Hill Country.

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5 Facts About Gayfeather

Texas has no shortage of beautiful native wildflowers. Gayfeather is among the most finely attired in the Lone Star State’s pageant of wildflowers. Standing taller than most, it draws your attention with its distinctive purple-pink spikes and tassels. This showy flower that resembles a bottle-brush makes its debut in pastures, prairies, and roadways in July and hangs around until October. Here are a few interesting facts about Gayfeather.
Gayfeather 11. Gayfeather is a plant with aliases.

Gayfeather is also known by other show-bizesque names like Blazing Star and Button-Snakeroot. There are 43 species of plants in this handsome family. Identifying particular species can be hard because the species have a tendency to cross.

2. Gayfeather is a great garden plant.

This perennial plant can take the heat, is deer resistant, and requires no pampering — making it a popular choice for low-water xeriscapes. You can, essentially, plant Gayfeathers and then leave them alone. They won’t hold it against you and will not disappoint you.
Gayfeather 53. Gayfeather is an attractive plant.

Gayfeather plants are a favorite dining spot for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Hummingbirds are also quite fond of Gayfeather. This plant is the perfect addition to any butterfly garden.

4. Gayfeather plants bloom from the top down.

Gayfeather plants bloom from the top down. Each flower spike starts to bloom at the top and slowly descends toward the base. The flower spike will have blooms on it for a long time. Gayfeather is a favorite in the cut flower industry because, when dried, it hold its color for a long time.
Gayfeather 75. The Gayfeather pharmacy.

Native Americans discovered many medicinal qualities in the Gayfeather plant. The Cheyenne ground and used the roots to make a medicine to relieve headaches, arthritis, fever — and to treat measles, smallpox, and earaches. The Paiute shelled, cooked, and ate the small feathered nuts of the plant. Other Indians used the leaves to relieve upset stomachs and as an antiseptic wash.

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Hamlin Pharmacy and Fountain

Long before the days of fast food chains and drive-thru lanes, folks who wanted to go out for a soda or burger had few options. One of those options was the local soda fountain — a place where a soda jerk took your order and prepared your soda or flavored drink. Few of those old-fashioned places remain, and those that do remain are definitely worth a visit.
Hamlin PharmacyHamlin Pharmacy and Fountain in Corpus Christi operates the last remaining soda fountain in the Sparkling City by the Sea. While times have changed, their old-fashioned values have remained the same. If you are looking for a nostalgic dining experience, this is the place to go. You can enjoy your meal in one of the booths or sit on a swivel stool at the counter.
Hamlin Pharmacy MenuI visited on a day when the soda fountain was packed with customers but waited for a place to sit. This is one dining experience I was not going to miss. Fortunately, a booth opened up quickly and their friendly staff promptly took our order. As usual, I order a cheeseburger, onion rings, and a tall glass of iced tea.
Hamlin Pharmacy BoothThe service was reasonably fast, but fast was the last thing I was concerned about. I wanted to enjoy my time in this place steeped in nostalgia — from the rotary public phone to the vinyl-clad booth benches. Fast food chains have trained us to eat fast and leave quickly. Not so at Hamlin Pharmacy. This is a place where you can enjoy your meal and have a conversation without feeling the need to rush off.
Hamlin Pharmacy BurgerAs for the food, it was pretty tasty. I have no complaints about my burger or the onion rings. An honest meal served up piping hot. Everything about the burger was good, including the moist bun. It was obvious this was not one of those made-in-a-hurry burgers. I enjoyed every bite. And, I really liked the slow and easy vibe of the place — a throwback to simpler times when lunch time was as much about connecting with friends as it was about enjoying a good meal.
Hamlin Pharmacy PhoneIf you find yourself in or anywhere near Corpus Christi at lunch time, swing by the soda fountain at the Hamlin Pharmacy. This is a great place to talk to your kids about old-fashioned places and old-fashioned values and the importance of using meal times as opportunities to enjoy more than your food. Because there are fewer and fewer places like this, it’s definitely worth visiting Hamlin Pharmacy and Soda Fountain.

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The Filling Station

Filling stations, as they were once popularly called, are something we take for granted today. There is no shortage of places to refuel when we head out on a road trip. And, to make things even better, gas stations have evolved into a convenience store and fast food hybrid. We can now fuel up in every sense of the word.
Felipe Garcia 1912Things were not always so easy for road trippers. I recently listened to an audio cassette recording of my grandfather describing a road trip he took in 1917 from San Diego in Duval County all the way to California. “In those days,” he said, “the roads were almost impossible. There were no paved roads. It was a hard trip.” But, he made it.
Four Pump Gas StationI definitely inherited my grandfather’s yearning for the open road. As much as I enjoy my travels around the world, there is nothing quite like getting behind the wheel of my pick-up truck and exploring Texas highways and byways. I love the fact that I can drive all day and still find myself under the vast Texas sky. And, of course, I have seemingly endless options of places to stop and refuel.
Two Pump Gas StationAs I venture down Texas roads, I always keep an eye open for abandoned places. These idle and lonely structures draw me in and stir my imagination. I am especially fascinated by abandoned filling stations, the places where the generation of road trippers before me stopped for fuel and refreshment, perhaps an ice-cold Coca-Cola and a Moon Pie.
Gas Station EncinoSome of the abandoned filling stations I have come across are from the days of full-service — when someone actually pumped the gas for you and even cleaned the bugs off the windshield. I started driving in the days before self-service pumps. The lowest I ever paid for a gallon of gas in those days was eighteen cents. And I bought more than my share of Cokes at filling stations.
Sky Chief Gas PumpThe old abandoned filling stations on remote stretches of highways remain as mute testimony to our restlessness and yearning to explore the places near and far from us. They made it possible for the previous generation of road trippers to see and explore more of the Lone Star State and places beyond.
Texaco Station The next time you are on the road, take a moment to reflect on the role of the filling station. We are certainly fortunate to live in a day when we can travel as far as we like — and, on well-maintained roads. But, were it not for the humble filling station, we really would not get very far at all. They are indeed an oasis for road trippers.

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5 Facts About Mexican Hat Flowers

Just about the time that bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush make their exit, the Mexican hat flower makes it seasonal debut. Colonies of these wildflowers grace Texas fields and roadsides from East Texas through the Trans-Pecos (the region west of the Pecos River) and to the Panhandle from May through July. Here are a few interesting facts about Mexican hat flowers.
Mexican hat red1. A flower with the perfect name.

The Mexican hat is a flower with the perfect name. This hearty flower resembles a Mexican sombrero, the über-broad-brimmed hat typically worn in Mexico and the Southwest. The flower is also known as the long-headed coneflower and thimbleflower — both very descriptive names of this colorful flower that grows as tall as three-plus feet.
Mexican hat yellow2. A flower with the same sombrero shape in different color combinations.

The Mexican hat flower is believed to have originated in Madagascar. This prolific droopy-petaled flower is part of the sunflower family and can be found in solid yellow to yellow-orange to reddish orange combinations. However, regardless of the color combination, the distinctive sombrero shape makes it an easy flower to identify.
Mexican hat red closeup3. A flower that can stand the heat.

Make no mistake about it, the Mexican hat is not some sissy high-maintenance flower. Mexican hat graces our Texas highways and byways from May through July and can take the heat. This drought resistant flower makes it perfect for inexperienced gardeners or those who prefer low maintenance gardening.
Mexican hat 14. A flower that is on the menu.

The nectar rich Mexican hat attracts beneficial insects, bees, and butterflies. The flower is deer resistant but on the menu for big game animals. Birds and small mammals prefer the seed of the flower. Domestic livestock enjoy this nutritious flower when it is in the early stages of growth.
Mexican hat fence5. A flower with medicinal qualities.

Native Americans discovered that the Mexican hat flower has some medicinal qualities. Indians boiled the leaves to make a type of tea that they applied externally to treat snakebites and to reduce the symptoms of poison ivy. They reportedly also made a medicinal tea from the ripened flower heads and leaves to treat non-specified medical issues. However, lacking more specific information, it would be best to not try this at home. Stick to drinking good old Lipton Tea instead.

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The Texas Water Safari

The Texas Water Safari is billed as the world’s toughest canoe race and, to my knowledge, no one who has competed in and finished this ultramarathon race has ever disputed this claim. Contestants must navigate their vessels 260 miles down two Texas rivers and reach the finish line in 100 hours or less.
Dad and Jon TWS 2013To make the course even more challenging, contestants must reach the multiple check points along the route on or before the specified deadline for each respective check point or risk being disqualified. This race is the paddling equivalent of doing ten marathons back-to-back.
TWS RouteThe race starts in San Marcos and follows the beautiful San Marcos River all the way to its confluence with the Guadalupe River in Gonzales. Racers then paddle down the Guadalupe all the way to San Antonio Bay where they must tackle a five-mile crossing to the finish line in Seadrift.
TWS 2016 StartSomeone described the Texas Water Safari as a race from San Marcos to Gonzales and a death march from Gonzales to Seadrift. Having finished this race on each of my two attempts, I agree with this assessment. The finish line is an estimated one quarter of a million paddle strokes from the starting line. That is a lot of paddle strokes!
Portaging Rio VisaTo say there are challenges along the way would be an understatement. In addition to paddling day and night for as many as four days, paddlers must deal with hunger, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, several portages and rapids, and the unexpected challenges the river always presents. Anything can happen along the way to keep you from reaching the finish line — regardless of whether you are a novice or the most experienced paddler.
TWS 2016 Staples DamThis truly amazing race is held every June, normally starting on the second Saturday. Last year and this year, race officials were forced to postpone the start of the race because of record rains and floods that made the river dangerous to navigate. But, this morning, under overcast skies, more than one-hundred paddlers stirred the crystal clear waters of the San Marcos River and began their journey toward Seadrift.
TWS Finish 1The fastest paddlers will reach the finish line in far less than half the allotted time. Paddlers arrive in Seadrift to the cheers of family, friends, and fellow paddlers all the way through the deadline on Wednesday. The prize — a patch and a plaque that commends you for finishing the world’s toughest canoe race. For me, that was enough. The real reward was sharing the adventure with my son the first year and a friend the second year — and the satisfaction that I had done something really hard.
Bay Crossing 2The Texas Water Safari is now officially underway. When I go to bed tonight I will do so dreaming about those who will paddle through the night. As with every year, this year’s safari will give us some fascinating stories that will be added to the treasury of stories that are told and retold year after year. I invite you to read Resolve On the River, one of my favorite safari stories.

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Padre Island Burger Company

No matter where you go in Texas, you are sure to find a burger joint nearby — not the fast food assembly line variety but one of those honest-to-goodness one-of-a-kind burger joints. On a recent trip to Corpus Christi, I made it a point to visit a burger joint on Padre Island, a place appropriately named Padre Island Burger Company.
Padre IslandPadre Island bears the distinction of being the world’s longest barrier island, stretching from Corpus Christi all the way to the southern tip of Texas. Padre Island Burger Company is comfortably nestled in what looks like a beach shack near the intersection of Park Road 22 and the road that leads to Mustang Island State Park.
Padre Island Burger CompanyThe Burger Company offers a variety of custom burgers with names like First Date, the Hangover, and the Chronic. With names like these you can’t go wrong. The burgers are made with a half-pound of ground chuck served on a delicious buttered and toasted sourdough bun. The other ingredients are up to you. I ordered a cheeseburger with corn-cob smoked bacon and a side of onion rings.
IMG_9180My kids and nephews each ordered different custom burgers — some with mushrooms, fried eggs, a Dr. Pepper based bar-b-cue sauce, and other great tasting ingredients. We all bit into our respective burgers at the same time and came to the same conclusion. These were some mighty delicious burgers. I firmly believe that a bun can either make or break a burger. We all agreed that the sourdough buns were amazing.
Padre Island Burger Company BurgerAs for the sides of onion rings and sweet potato fries, these were also really tasty. Add to that the cool vibe of the joint and we had ourselves one enjoyable dining experience. I’m glad we stopped to eat at Padre Island Burger Company. Definitely one of the better burgers I have eaten in the Lone Star State. If you are on the hunt for a great burger and find yourself anywhere near Padre Island, then you owe it to yourself to check out Padre Island Burger Company. You’ll be glad you did!

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Guadalupe El Torero Church

As I travel Texas backroads, I find myself irresistibly drawn to abandoned places — old and dilapidated structures slowly being erased by time. Not long ago I came across a photograph of an abandoned adobe style church taken in the fading light of day. The photo captivated me. I knew I had to find this place and go there to see it for myself.
El Torero Church Side ViewWith a little research I learned that the old church building is located along FM 1017, the road that connects San Manuel−Linn and San Isidro. This is in the heart of rugged South Texas ranch country. Many of the ranch owners in the area can trace their respective lineages back to the days of the Spanish Land Grants. These families have stewarded these lands for generations.
El Torero FrontThe old church, known as Guadalupe El Torero, was built between 1918 and 1920 in a place called San Luisito, a town that no longer exists. In those days, the only option for families was to travel ten miles one way by horse and buggy to worship at the old San Isidro Catholic Church. That was a long way to travel. So, the original El Torero Church was constructed in San Luisito behind the home of Juan and Luisa Bazan.
El Torero Back ViewOn January 5, 1924, Juan Cavazos purchased ten acres of land that was part of the San Ramon Land Grant that had originally been granted to Julian Farias. Juan gave a tithe of the land to the church under the pastorate of Father Gustavo Gollbach. A few years later, the original church building was moved to this new and permanent location and the entry tower bearing the cross was added.
El Torero InteriorA woman named Sylvia Perez Kotzur, who lives about a mile from the old church, attended services at El Torero when she was a child. She remembers that it had “a celestial blue trim and benches and wood plank floors.” She also recalled looking out the windows and watching the cattle grazing during Mass.
El Torero Side DoorI could not find any information about when the final service was held at El Torero. Whatever day that might have been, that became the first day that would lead to years of neglect — years that eventually took their toll on the building that Kotzur remembers as being “small and cute.”
IMG_0906When I walked through the weeds and into the old building, it was easy to envision what it must have looked like in its day. I could still see traces of the blue paint that Kotzur recalled. It was, however, sad to see a place that had once been so special to local residents in this condition.
El Torero SignThe good news is that Kotzur and other area residents started a fundraising campaign to build a new church. The old structure is beyond repair and must be torn down. The new structure will be built on the same footprint as the old church.
El Torero SteepleKudos to everyone involved in giving new life to El Torero Church. I hope that the new structure will bear some resemblance to the old church. I can’t wait to see the new house of worship and hope it will stand as an enduring symbol of faith in this rugged place for generations to come.

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Texans Helping Texans

Recent record-setting floods in Texas wreaked havoc throughout the state, leaving in their wake thousands of Texans dealing with millions of dollars in losses. In many cases, homeowners fled rising flood waters with only the possessions they could hastily cram into their cars and trucks. Everything left behind was either washed away or completely destroyed.
IMG_9117Over the past weeks, images of destruction, damage, and even deaths have poured into our homes courtesy of the evening news. Weather reports have taken on greater significance, especially in areas where the ground is so saturated that no one dares to even spit on their lawn. The phrase “five-hundred year flood” is now a part of our vocabulary.
KBC TBM TeamThe damage caused by flood waters is heart-breaking. There is no feeling more helpless than watching water levels rise until they cross the threshold into our homes. Once inside, the waters soak and destroy everything in their path. And when they finally recede, they leave behind a deposit of mud and filth and stench — and homeowners who must deal with it all.
KBC TBM TrailerBut, the worst of things often bring out the best in people. That’s certainly the case in regard to the recent flooding in the Lone Star State. I am proud to serve with my church’s disaster response team that works under the auspices of the Texas Baptist Men (and women, too). We are a team of Texans (born or moved here as fast as they could) helping Texans.
KBC TBM WalkwayThe Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief Team is one of the most highly regarded disaster relief agencies in the world, and with good reason. They have earned this reputation. This organization is on the governor’s speed dial and can mobilize with little notice. Their teams provide assistance to homeowners who have experienced loss due to floods, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.
KBC TBM Sheetrock RemovalIn the case of flooding, teams help homeowners to box up belongings that can be salvaged, clean out mud, and remove damaged sheetrock, insulation, and appliances. The Texas Baptist Men also mobilize feeding units, chainsaw crews, and shower and laundry units. They remain on the scene until the work is done. The only thing they leave behind is hope and a reminder that no one in Texas needs to face tough times alone.
KBC TBM Kitchen WorkI served with our team this past weekend. We assisted homeowners in Wallis — a young couple whose home flooded as they expected their first child. While our team was hard at work on their home, the young mother was in labor at the hospital. Knowing that this young family needed to get back home as soon as possible fueled our own labor.
KBC TBM DebrisI am certainly proud to be a Texan and more than proud to play a small role in helping my neighbors in need through the Texas Baptist Men’s disaster relief work. I know that if anything ever happens to my home, I can count on help from my fellow Texans. That’s just the way we do things here in the Lone Star State. We don’t mind hard work and we are not afraid to sweat. In the wise words of an old cowboy, we know “no one ever drowned himself in his own sweat.”
KBC TBM Hug