Adventures in and Around Fort Worth

It's been a while since I've done a travel piece, but a few days ago I got to escape to my favorite weekend getaway — Fort Davis and Marfa, Texas.  Sitting on the roof of the Indian Lodge, I look out through the valley of the Davis Mountains. It is quiet. The only thing I can hear is my fingers tapping my computer keys. I feel clean, raw, pure and more fully myself out here. I don’t know anybody, and nobody is expecting anything of me. Wispy, high clouds brush the blue-gray, autumn sky. A cool breeze tickles my bare feet and lifts my hair. The sun slowly sets over the pale gold winter grass and mountains reflecting peach hues off the high clouds. I love it here in West Texas. Lunch earlier that day             For lunch we stopped at the Pizza Foundation in Marfa. It is some of the best pizza I’ve ever had — thin, chewy homemade crust, big slices and even bigger flavor.The cheese has so much flavor that I didn’t want to...

I know the Rangers lost the World Series again, but failure is a part of life. It's especially a part of baseball. But some people can't live with failure. I was reading an article in Atlantic Monthly last week about how the Angels' pitcher, Donnie Moore, committed suicide because he couldn't accept his failure. Finding this article seemed to confirm that failure was the theme for the week—at a dinner party I had last night, one friend said her New Year's resolution was to "fail more." She said if you don't fail then you aren't trying. Washington's failure got our team to the World Series not once, but twice two years in a row. I'm posting this article about accepting failure by one of my favorite writers and a friend of mine, Michael Mooney. I think we all have something to learn from Washington and how he faces challenges in his life. After all, "he do what he do." Ron Washington: He Do What He Do by Michael J. Mooney

This piece was originally written for the eChaser, the monthly newsletter of the Fort Worth chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Relations Society of America and International Association of Business Communicators. The consensus of about 100 people at the Trinity River Vision panel discussion moderated by Society of Professional Journalists Oct. 12 was that the project is one huge, expensive distraction. Panelists Jim Lane, former City Councilman and Tarrant Regional Water District Board Member, former City Councilman Clyde Picht, Fort Worth certified public accountant Steve Hollern and meteorologist John Basham added their input for the project. Trinity River Vision executive director J.D. Granger and the representative for the city of Fort Worth’s seat remained empty. “I don’t really have a big for or against The Trinity River Vision downtown other than that it is a distraction, and what I mean by distraction is we in Texas … don’t get enough rainfall,” ...

The best breakfast taco I've had is from the Taco Heads food truck on West Seventh and Carroll Street. I've had a lot of breakfast tacos, but this one reels me back almost every day. It's embarrassing actually. And I don't order one, but two. The eggs don't taste like they've been sitting under a warmer for hours. They are perfectly scrambled every time and spill out of the warm, grilled flour tortilla (corn tortillas are also available). Taco Heads doesn't skimp on the shredded sharp cheddar cheese that's sprinkled all over the top either. The bacon isn't rubbery or undercooked; it's thick and crispy. And the fresh, finely chopped pico adds another layer of flavor to finish off my favorite breakfast taco. The tacos come with their light, spicy verde sauce. You must at least try a bite with this tummy concoction. Taco Heads just started serving breakfast Aug. 6, and I couldn't be happier. The only thing is I need to tack on an extra...

Harper's Bluebonnet Bakery When I was a little girl my mom surprised us with treats. We would come home from school to find a snickers in the kitchen, some sparkle lip gloss on our pillow or my favorite treat — sugar cookies from the best  bakery in town . Not only did they taste brilliant, but the cookies always highlighted a theme in Fort Worth (like TCU football is here), a holiday or season. In the fall we would find brown, red and orange autumn leaves, black or purple bats, orange pumpkins and black witches on broomsticks in a white box on our kitchen counter. Since then my mom has moved away, and now in my late twenties I try not to eat snickers and cookies every afternoon. But the other day she came in for my brother's birthday and brought me a box of these butterflies and T-shirts. I recommend stopping by Harper's Bluebonnet Bakery's new location and trying one. I have eaten the whole box in a matter of days.

Scotland: Food, Edinburgh and the Highlands

picture from The Feast website "Ace of Cakes" Duff Goldman tries Mike Smith's coconut pie at Paris Coffee Shop for his new show "Sugar High." Click here for more information .