One World One Heart (Giveaway Closed)

Welcome to One World One Heart and Texifornia!

One World One Heart is a fun event where bloggers around the world post giveaways and share a little bit about themselves!  If you still want to join in, you can until Feb 12.  Find out how here.

Sadly I hear this is the final One World, One Heart!  I've had so much fun the last two years I've participate!  I have been pondering over an idea for a similar type of adventure and if you might like to ponder with me me please visit my post here.

Now, about me and Texifornia...

Texifornia is a little spot I created for Californians living in Texas (like me)

Publish Post

and Texans in California, and anyone else who'd like to stop for a visit.I try to post news, humor and other tid-bits about California and Texas (and especially anything that relates to BOTH states) but lately on the blog I've mainly been posting pictures of wildflowers and sunsets.

Since many of you are traveling in from other places, let me share a little bit about California and Texas with you.

Texas is the biggest state in the US other than Alaska.  And people here are proud of their state...in no other state that I know of will you find everything from swimming pools to waffles made in the state shape.

 

1. A Texan Birdfeeder, 2. Texas-Shaped Grill, 

3. Texas Waffle 4. Texas Brick

Texas is hot in summer (days and days over 100 degrees) and bleak in winter (dead grass not often covered by snow, which is rare here).

Picture by Jollyville

But what it lacks in winter snow it makes up for in Spring wildflowers...


Picture by Malloy


Picture by Ruthie On Art

Californians, on the other hand, don't tend to brag as much about their state....at least until they leave it and realize what they missed!  California has just about as much beauty as nature can offer:  mountains, deserts, forests, and of course, beaches.

Picture by Peggy Farnsworth, My Mom

Picture by MLH Radio

Picture by Me!

And California has wildflowers too!

Picture by Daniel Peckham

So, from wherever around the world today, Hello and welcome to Texifornia!

And, now...on to the giveaway.  It's small, but fun!  Just like last year, I'm giving away:











A Post Card from From Texas (From Me)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/ CC BY 2.0

No, this isn't the actual one you'll get. It's a picture I found on Flicr and doctored up (with permission - love Creative Commons!).  The real one will be a surprise (don't you just love surprises)!   And, like last year, I'll pick one person at random and probably send a few more postcards...just because.



I know this isn't a big prize, but the main idea of the of the One World One Heart  is to explore and meet some fun people around the world...the giveaways are just a good excuse to do that.



TO ENTER
Leave a comment below.  Pretty simple.  If you don't know what to say, just tell me where you're from.  :-)  Make sure to include an e-mail or a link to your blog so I can contact you.

RULES
Anyone can participate, worldwide. Giveaway ends February 17th at a9ish (pm, CST).   Prize might possibly be forfeited if you wait more than a month to claim it, and definately will if you don't leave a way to contact me.

My Other OWOH Posts
(on my other blogs)

Scribbleprints
 
Such Fun to Give

Sky Watch Friday - Texas Sunset

'The sky is that beautiful old parchment wherein 
the sun and the moon keep their diaries'.

Alfred Kreymbora

I found the quote above on the blog Similkameen Skies browsing Sky Watch this week.  I thought it was lovely.

The picture above is from my in-laws house in Texas, taken just before my trip to California earlier this month.  I loved how the sky looked that night! 

Texas is dried out and plain this time of year, but the nights are always lovely.  California, in contrast, is beautiful in the day, but at night the sky in inland SoCal looked dingy.  I remember looking out at the sky from our hotel.  You couldn't see the stars, and smog combined with miles and miles of house and street-lights gave it a musty purple hue (not a pretty purple like you see above).  Sunset are pretty there too, though...smog makes for some beautiful sunsets.

Below are my favourite California and Texas pictures from last week's Sky Watch Friday:

TEXAS

Only Connect - Owl's Farm

Ben Gill - Terrel Daily Photo
Hazy Farm Sunrise - As the Mind Wanders

CALIFORNIA

Salten Sea - Live, Love, Give
Oceanside - Pat and Jerry
The Sky is Big in Pasadena


Also Shared On
Throwback Thursday
 

Aloha Friday/2 Question Thursday - Radio

Every now and then I participate in Aloha Friday, where I ask a simple question for you to answer (nothing that requires a lengthy response) and Two Question Thursday (same idea...only TWO questions).  If you'ld like to, comment with an answer to the questions below:

• Do you listen to talk radio?
• If you do, what's your favorite radio programs?

I'm very hooked on NPR...the whole station.  But my faves are Car Talk, Wait,  Fresh Air, and Wait, Don't Tell Me.


If you have a blog and would like to post your own questions you can leave your link on the appropriate day at the linkys at 2 Questions Thursday and An Island Life.

How to Get to Japan

Try this (trust me, it's funny):
1. Go to Google Maps and click on 'Get Directions'.
2. Write 'USA' as your start point.
3. Write 'Japan' as your destination.
4. Go to the 31st point on your route and when you stop laughing, share this with a friend so they can laugh too.

Sky Watch Friday - Clouds Over the Mountains

More pictures from my California trip! These are of some pretty clouds I noticed driving down the mountain (or riding down the mountain, I should say...my mom was driving...otherwise taking these would have pretty risky).

For more beautiful pictures visit...

Sky Watch Friday
Weekly Color

My Favorite California and Texas Sky Watch Pictures from Last Week

CALIFORNIA
Sierra Nevada Mountains - Wandering Images
Encinita Palms - Objectif Regarder
Los Angelos Skyline - Live, Love, Give
Keys Point, Joshua Tree - Deserts and Beyond
Half Mast - San Pedro Daily Photo
Palm Desert - Deep Canyon


TEXAS
Snow Days - Owl's Farm
Big Texas Sky - DASH Photography



Also shared on...

Throwback Thursday

Sky Watch Friday - California

My mom and I got some great sky pictures during our trip out to California...

In Upland, looking toward the mountains.
(Someone else on Skywatch took pictures of this
exact same mountain this week!)

This one my mom took I thought was just gorgeous!

This is up in the mountains near my home town.
You can just see the Strawberry Peak Fire Tower through the tree.

Here's one my mom took at the airport.

And here were some clouds half-way on our trip home.

Sky Watch Friday

Aloha Frida - Traveling

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday! Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

  My question is...

What's the last place you traveled to? 

My last trip was to California to see family. Just got back. See pictures here.

Please leave your answer in a comment below.  And, if you have a blog and would like to post your own question you can leave your link at An Island Life.

California Here I Come!

Well, tomorrow I will be in California.  Thought I'd update the blog with a little California flavor to celebrate!