Champions of Second Chances – Part 1

Champions of Second Chances – Part 1

Barbara Wampler comes to the rescue of neglected, vintage textiles. Catherine “Rabbit” Janecka brings new life to weathered wood, chipped resin, and rusted iron. These “champions of second chances” repurpose, repair, and recycle items that others might consider trash....
How Hot Is Houston?

How Hot Is Houston?

I joined the influx of immigrants to Houston about a decade after our friend, Richard Dixon. We didn’t know each other back then, but comparing notes now makes us laugh. The heat of that first summer we spent in our respective corners of the Bayou City was not for the...
David Heller – In It for the Long Haul

David Heller – In It for the Long Haul

We can set our clock by David Heller of the Hallettsville (Texas) Livestock Commission. When this cattleman says he’ll arrive on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. to haul our livestock, count on it. As David turns off the main road onto the uneven surface of our lane, the gates...
Great Depression Art in Texas Post Offices

Great Depression Art in Texas Post Offices

You’ll have to look up if you want to see some amazing examples of Great Depression-era art in rural Texas! A massive mural of galloping horses hangs above the postmaster’s door at our post office in La Grange. At nearby Smithville, Texas Rangers make an arrest...