Walking the Llano

Walking the Llano PDF Author: Shelley Armitage
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
ISBN: 0806154217
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 217

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Book Description
When American explorers crossed the Texas Panhandle, they dubbed it part of the “Great American Desert.” A “sea of grass,” the llano appeared empty, flat, and barely habitable. Contemporary developments—cell phone towers, oil rigs, and wind turbines—have only added to this stereotype. Yet in this lyrical ecomemoir, Shelley Armitage charts a unique rediscovery of the largely unknown land, a journey at once deeply personal and far-reaching in its exploration of the connections between memory, spirit, and place. Armitage begins her narrative with the intention to walk the llano from her family farm thirty meandering miles along the Middle Alamosa Creek to the Canadian River. Along the way, she seeks the connection between her father and one of the area’s first settlers, Ysabel Gurule, who built his dugout on the banks of the Canadian. Armitage, who grew up nearby in the small town of Vega, finds this act of walking inseparable from the act of listening and writing. “What does the land say to us?” she asks as she witnesses human alterations to the landscape—perhaps most catastrophic the continued drainage of the land’s most precious resource, the Ogallala Aquifer. Yet the llano’s wonders persist: dynamic mesas and canyons, vast flora and fauna, diverse wildlife, rich histories. Armitage recovers the voices of ancient, Native, and Hispano peoples, their stories interwoven with her own: her father’s legacy, her mother’s decline, a brother’s love. The llano holds not only the beauty of ecological surprises but a renewed realization of kinship in a world ever changing. Reminiscent of the work of Terry Tempest Williams and John McPhee, Walking the Llano is both a celebration of an oft-overlooked region and a soaring testimony to the power of the landscape to draw us into greater understanding of ourselves and others by experiencing a deeper connection with the places we inhabit.

The Shawnee Trail

The Shawnee Trail PDF Author: Ralph Compton
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN: 1429903112
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 367

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Book Description
Stampedes, rustlers, and hostile Indians wouldn't slow them down. They were bound for Kansas, and a Texas-sized fight! The only riches Texans had left after the Civil War were five million maerick longhorns and the brains, brown and boldness to drive them north where the money was. Now, Ralph Compton brings this violent and magnificent time to life in an extraordinary epic series based on the history-blazing trail drives. The Shawnee Trail Long John Coons, the Cajun son of a conjuring woman, was driving 2,000 head of cattle north from Texas to the railroad in Kansas--through Indian Territory and outlaw strongholds. At his side was a beautiful woman with a sordid past, three ex-cattle rustlers, some renegate Indians, Mexican vanqueros and a straight-laced young trail boss. And while Long John tried to keep his hot headed crew from killing each other before they reached the end of the line, the biggest dangers was waiting up ahead--where an all-out war in Kansas make the Texas fight together, or die at the same time.

Easy-Gaited Horses

Easy-Gaited Horses PDF Author: Lee Ziegler
Publisher: Storey Publishing
ISBN: 1580175627
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
For more than 30 years, Lee Ziegler has been one of the foremost advocates of gaited horses in North America and Europe. Through her writing and in her clinics, she has introduced countless riders to the pleasures of riding a horse that is calm, obedient, relaxed, alert, sure-footed, easily maneuvered, and consistent in his gait. Now, in "Easy-Gaited Horses, Ziegler offers a comprehensive guide to riding and training gaited pleasure horses. And unlike the old methods that called for manipulation of a horse's hooves or other gimmicks that could be cruel, Ziegler offers training methods that are gentle, humane, and produce a gaited horse that can be ridden in his gait barefoot, trimmed to his natural angles, with a mild bit, or even without one. Ziegler begins by defining various types of gaits, explaining how they look to an observer and how they feel to the rider. Next, adopting a whole-body approach to training, she reveals the importance of understanding equine anatomy. She then discusses how to introduce the horse to a variety of gaits: the ordinary walk, the flat walk, the fox trot, the running walk, the saddle rack, and the canter. She explains how to ride a multi-gaited horse, how to handle gait problems, and even how to retrain an easy-gaited show horse for pleasure riding. Ziegler also discusses how to train gaited foals and colts and explains what preparation is necessary before taking the young horse on his first ride. As riders grow older, comfort on horseback becomes more of an issue. That's where easy-gaited horses step in. Their unique, smooth gaits allow riders to enjoy time in the saddle with minimal physical exertion.

Walking on La Palma

Walking on La Palma PDF Author: Paddy Dillon
Publisher: Cicerone Press Limited
ISBN: 1783626984
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
Guide to walking on La Palma. In total 45 day walks are described ranging from 7 to 32km in length, and covering a wide variety of terrain. Although La Palma is one of the smaller Canary Islands, there are routes of all types from easy strolls to hands-on scrambling, from simple day walks to long-distance treks on rocky mountain paths, including the GR130, which circumnavigates the island, and the island-hopping GR131. With full route descriptions, including custom-made maps, refreshment options and transport for each walk, accommodation, useful contacts and a Spanish-English glossary. The book also includes lots of background information on geology, wildlife, plants and flowers. The circular GR130 trail takes about a week to complete and can be started and finished at any point around the island. The GR131 trail is exclusively high level and mountainous, requiring careful planning. The dramatic volcanic landscape of La Palma, reputed to be one of the steepest islands in the world, is little-known outside the Canaries, but offers an ideal winter walking destination for walkers of most abilities, featuring rocky treks and mountain paths.

In My World

In My World PDF Author: Tiziana Vazquez
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1477291881
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 111

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Book Description
Mika is a nine-year-old girl that sees the world differently than anyone else. Even though she is going through what every girl may one-day face, fighting with her best friend and feeling like an outcast, she is not like every other girl. Her mother, Ava and brother, Javi stand by her side while Mika struggles endlessly to feel normal, when instead she must embrace her uniqueness. Children with Down syndrome, like Mika, are angels that help us see the world with our hearts, instead of our eyes.

A Meditation of Fire

A Meditation of Fire PDF Author: Kippra D. Hopper
Publisher: Texas Tech University Press
ISBN: 9780896724198
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
Among the highlights of this book documenting twenty years in the life and work of a major Texas artist is Watkins's creation of the double-walled caldron that has become his forte. Offering an extensive photographic explanation of Watkins's techniques, the book shows how the vessels are built, how various materials are used to create different surfaces, how clay slips are made from organic materials collected at the various sites Watkins often visits in Texas, and how both technology and serendipity are part of the firing process. Describing the construction and the aesthetics of Watkins's pottery, the book also illustrates the influence of place and experience--both externally and in dreams and memories. Drawing upon his love for the land and nature of the American Southwest, Watkins also derives inspiration from memories of growing up in rural Alabama in the 1960s; the influence of various teachers; his African-American heritage; and his belief in the power of dreams. Readers will discover the rare beauty of parts of the American Southwest not often seen and how those landscapes translate into the aesthetic. Watkins, a professor in the Texas Tech University College of Architecture, blends the subject of his teaching--drawing--into his ceramic work. His work has been included in the White House Collection of American Crafts exhibit and in the Smithsonian Institution.

Backroads of Texas

Backroads of Texas PDF Author: Larry Hodge
Publisher: Taylor Trade Publications
ISBN: 089123053X
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 201

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Book Description
This new edition takes you off the major highways to discover the sights, scenes, history, and places that make the Lone Star State unique.

Day Trips® from Austin

Day Trips® from Austin PDF Author: Paris Permenter
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0762767294
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
For local travelers looking for an experience in their own backyard, this book is the essential guide to things to see and do around Austin, from Waco's Texas Ranger Hall of Fame to Museum of Handmade Furniture in Braunfels.

Best Rail Trails California

Best Rail Trails California PDF Author: Tracy Salcedo
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0762755644
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
Comprehensive directory to the state's most popular rail trails. Each trail will receive a full trail profile, descriptive narrative, detailed information, and more.

Moon Oaxaca

Moon Oaxaca PDF Author: Cody Copeland
Publisher: Moon Travel
ISBN: 1640490884
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 624

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Book Description
With rugged mountain ranges and stunning Pacific coastline, savory mole and smoky mezcal, Oaxaca is more than just a stop along the way: it's an adventure in itself. Stay a while with Moon Oaxaca. Inside you'll find: Strategic itineraries for backpackers, foodies, ecotourists, and more, whether you're spending ten days or just a weekend in Oaxaca The top activities and unique experiences: Spend a day strolling Oaxaca City's cobblestone streets and stopping in trendy cafes, mezcal shops, artisan cooperatives, and art galleries. Tour the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán, trek the mountain paths of the Sierra Norte, or surf the world-class swells off Oaxaca's coast. Revel in the blur of parades, fireworks, and friendly locals inviting you to view their ofrendas (altars) during Oaxaca's legendary Day of the Dead celebration The best local flavors: Indulge in steamy pozole from a street stand, try traditional mole negro, or snack on fried grasshoppers. Visit a mezcal distillery to sample the smoky spirit and explore the fields of spiky agave, or satisfy your sweet tooth with a frothy espuma Local insight: Mexico City writer and former Oaxaca dweller Cody Copeland shares what inspires him about the region Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Helpful background on the landscape, culture, history, and environment, plus tips on health and safety, how to get around, and a handy Spanish phrasebook With Moon's practical tips and local insight, you can experience the best of Oaxaca. Looking for más Mexico? Check out Moon Yucatán Peninsula, Moon San Miguel de Allende, or Moon Mexico City.