Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 28

This is the 28th week of my personal 50-week States of the Union Challenge. Each week I research one of the 50 United States (in the order they attained statehood). I share tidbits of information about the state here on my blog and I create a card that is inspired by something about that state.

This week's state (the 28th one to attain statehood) is...

Texas

Date of Statehood: December 29, 1845

Here is some information about the state of Texas...

Primarily known for its oil, Texas is the leader in wind power business, and has huge aerospace and aviation industry. 

The Texas State Capitol is taller than the U.S. Capitol by 15 feet.

There are over 70,000 miles of highway in Texas.

“Don’t mess with Texas” started off as an anti-litter message in the 1980’s. Back then it was common to see cowboys driving down the street tossing a beer can out the window. As a result, the state Department of Transportation had to hire an advertising agency to help them with its anti-litter campaign which came up with the phrase “Don’t mess with Texas.” It soon caught up and has since turned into an unofficial slogan for Texas pride.

In Norwegian slang, "Texas" means "crazy."

Athens, Texas claims to be the official birthplace of the American hamburger.

The official state dish is a big ol' bowl of hot chili.

Texas is larger than any country in Western Europe.

Dr Pepper was invented in Waco, Texas. Texas pharmacist Charles Alderton formulated the unique flavor in 1885.

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) has more public parking spaces than any other airport in the United States. DFW Airport has 39,988 public parking spaces.

The famous King Ranch in West Texas popularly known as “The birthplace of Texas ranching” is 825,000 acres. It is actually larger than the state of Rhode Island and spans across six different counties in Texas. Everything is really bigger in Texas! 

Galveston, Texas, an island city located about 50 miles southeast of Houston, was hit by a Category 4 hurricane on September 8, 1900 killing an estimated 8,000 people. It is the deadliest natural disaster in recorded U.S. history.

The cattle population is almost 17 million.

Caddo Lake is Texas’s only natural lake. 

First suspension bridge in the U.S. was built in 1870 in Waco and is still operational. 

Midland Man is one of the oldest human skeletons found in the America. And the interesting fact is that it’s actually a woman. The 9,500 years old remains were uncovered on a ranch in Midland in 1953.

Sam Houston, the first president and first governor of Texas, is arguably the most famous Texan. Ironically, he was born in Virginia and was the governor of Tennessee. His statue called a “Tribute to Courage” is the world’s largest free-standing statue of an American.

Things that are illegal in Texas include selling one’s eye, milking another person’s cow and taking more than three sips of beer at a time while standing. Also, if you are unhappy with the weather forecast and want to modify the weather, you can place a notification in the local newspaper. Really! It’s in the books.

It's illegal to let a camel run loose on the beaches of Galveston.

The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone. Say what!?!??!?!?!?!?

It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.

It's completely legal to shoot and kill Big Foot if you see him (or her) in Texas.

I've decided to go with this bit of Texas information for my card's inspiration... The state motto is Friendship.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Cat's Pajama's Friendship stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU So Saffron CS and DP from the Bo Bunny Adventure Paper Pad

Embellishments: Foof-a-La Buttons and SU Ribbon