Diesel Fried Chicken

From Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men

Yes, it is a real place, the sign still there...in Van Horn

 

"When they pulled into Van Horn it was seven oclock at night.  She'd slept a good part of the way, curlted up with her knapsack as a pillow.  He pulled into a truckstop and shut off the engine and her eyes snapped open like a deer's.  She sat up and looked at him and then looked out at the parking lot.


Where are we? she said.

Van Horn.  You hungry?


I could eat a bite.


You want some diesel fried chicken?"

12 Days of Christmas AND Small Business Saturday, Celebrating and Patronizing our Far West Texas business people!

Inside Alpine's Front Street Books

Included in Front Street's holiday catalog!

We're continuing our feature called the 12 Days of Christmas to highlight the special places you can do holiday shopping in the region.  Today is also Small Business Saturday, and so we thought a business with TWO regional locations, with great holiday shopping was the perfect choice.

Front Street Books, with shops in both Alpine and Marathon, hosts events and readings and promotes books and authors with a regional connection.  We love their Texana section, as well as their travel/adventure/map section to help us plan all our outings. On December 3, they're hosting a holiday event at their Marathon store, La Fiesta de Nochebuena.

Their holiday catalog makes the case for shopping with local retailers:

"When you spend $100 with your local retailer, $68 stays in your community, compared with $43 per $100 spent at a national chain, and $0 when you buy online."

Front Street is holding a 30% off special during the holidays....all the books in their 2011 Winter Catalog qualify for this offer!  We were happy to see that one of our favorite bloggers, Lisa Fain, of the Homesick Texan's cookbook, is in the catalog...so onto our holiday list goes the Homesick Texan Cookbook!)

Don't live in the region, or can't get to one of their stores?  Just give them a call (432-837-3360), and do your holiday shopping over the phone!  They welcome that! 

Most places don't even have independent bookstores anymore, but we're blessed with several GREAT ones...in addition to Front Street two locations, consider shopping at:

Marfa Book Company, Marfa  (They also host WONDERFUL events, exhibits and readings!)
The Bookery on El Paso's Mission Trail

Patronize small businesses today!

Jackrabbit!

We spotted this jackrabbit just south of Marathon on the "Ride to the Post" heritage bike route. 

This little guy reminded us of the children's book, How the Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears, by Heather Irbinskas, which is available at local bookstores, Front Street Books in Alpine and Marathon,  and Marfa Book Company in Marfa, as well as local visitors centers at museums and regional state parks!