Bits & Pieces Archives - Page 10 of 15

La Sal del Rey & Raymondville, Texas

November 19, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

It’s raining yet again down here in southeast Texas and I still don’t have an umbrella for some reason ☔️☔️ Maybe because trying to frantically open one inside my car or the doorway of a building as rain splashes down around me is like trying to solve a Chinese puzzle box. It’s more trouble than it’s worth in my world, and I’d rather be rained on for a few seconds than open an umbrella 💦😓💧

Umbrella or not, it’s really making me wish I was back in the Rio Grande Valley, where it was bright and sunny all day everyday like a tropical heaven ☀️🌴 I looooove this southernmost region of Texas almost as much as I love chocolate and puppies. I already wrote about being Vegan in the Rio Grande Valley and Exploring the Rio Grande Valley, and I have one more post in this three part series. Here are my favorite photos from my adventures to La Sal del Rey and Raymondville, Texas. [Read more…]

My Visit to Rowdy Girl Sanctuary

November 5, 2015 by Jillian 8 Comments

Beautiful bovines! Magnificent moos! Chipper chickens! Purdy piggy! They all awaited me and more at the amazing Rowdy Girl Sanctuary in Angleton, Texas. The interesting thing about this particular sanctuary is that up until recently it was a cattle ranch, and had been for many years. But Renee Sonnen couldn’t bear to watch the calves torn from their mamas and loaded up into the red trailer to be taken off to the sale barn for slaughter. After stints of being vegetarian and even having a raw diet at one point, she made the connection between these sentient animals and the food she was eating and decided that she’d had enough. She went vegan and bought the remaining cattle from her husband Tommy, and the Sonnen Ranch became Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.

Renee and Tommy (and Jolene the dachshund) were kind enough to take me on a tour of the sanctuary and introduce me to these wonderful animals and their personal stories. Along with the cattle from their ranch, they have also begun rescuing other farm animals and hope to expand the sanctuary so they can accommodate even more cute critters 🐮🐔 🐷

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Exploring the Rio Grande Valley

October 16, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

I recently returned from a 10 day visit to the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, which is located in the southernmost tip of South Texas. It lies along the northern bank of the Rio Grande river, which separates Mexico from the United States. This area is known as The Valley to locals, and not only does it boast natural beauty and lively culture, but it’s quite historic as well.

Last week I wrote about my experience being Vegan in the Rio Grande Valley, but this week I wanted to share the photos I took of all the cool places there are to visit in the region. I’m only sad I couldn’t stay longer, because there was a lot I didn’t get to see.

McAllen, Texas

This is one of the largest cities in the valley, but as someone that’s lived in huge cities, McAllen is just the right size. It still has a small town feel in certain ways, but lots of modern amenities so it was easy to find everything I needed. There’s lots of local events, which provided me a good chance to immerse myself in the community and interact with the locals.

The Cine El Rey Theatre hosts lots of events, including stand up comedy, open-mic night, wrestling, and musicals. They also offer tons of free movie screenings complete with free popcorn. I decided to join the local French Club for a Sunday matinee of a French thriller and it was pretty awesome. Free popcorn, drinks, donuts, cookies, and there’s couches in the theater if you prefer that to actual chairs 🙂

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Vegan in the Rio Grande Valley

October 8, 2015 by Jillian 8 Comments

This is the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Oddly enough, there are no valleys here. It’s flat, lush land for miles and miles. I’ve spent the past week and a half traversing this southernmost region of Texas and I have to say – I love it. Maybe it’s all the palm trees, tropical flowers, sunshine, and friendly people, but there’s something about this area that captivates me. 🌴🌴 It’s made up mostly of small towns, many dotting the border of Mexico, so as a vegan coming down to visit I had no idea what to expect in terms of veg friendly food. But I was pleasantly surprised.

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Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center

September 24, 2015 by Jillian 2 Comments

The saying third time’s a charm was definitely true in my experience with visiting Shangri La. The first time my friend and I visited a couple of years ago, we got inside the gates, we watched the welcome video, we were ready to explore the beautiful gardens that awaited us, and bam! – thunder and torrential downpour. We intended to visit again a year later when I was in town for the weekend. We were ready to spend all day Sunday gallivanting around Shangri La, and due to poor planning on our part, realized too late that they are closed on Sunday 🙁

Fast forward four months and finally the magic happens 🎉🎉 It only took about two years. So worth it, though! Shangri La Botanical Gardens is located in the heart of Orange, Texas, which is really close to the Louisiana state line. You can tour the gardens, visit the gift shop, and grab a snack at the cafe. Here is their info:

Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

2111 West Park Avenue

Orange, Texas 77630

I really enjoyed exploring the natural beauty, the creative landscaping, and the wildlife. It’s very peaceful and inspiring. Here are some of my favorite photos from our visit, but I encourage you to visit and see for yourself 🌻

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