Texas Ten

Today is the day. Paraguay is in the way. It’s ok. We have three amigos ready to play.

Good luck to Texans Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi and Alejandro Zendejas in the World Cup opener.

🤠 Lace up those boots and clear some space on the dance floor!

This week on Texas Ten, we're stepping into the heart of Texas dance hall culture—from the legendary Broken Spoke in Austin to the historic Twin Sisters Dance Hall near Blanco. These aren't just places to hear great music, they're where Texas traditions, community, and two-stepping come alive!

Whether you're a seasoned dancer or you've never cut a rug in your life, these iconic dance halls offer a true taste of the Lone Star State.

🎶 What's your favorite Texas dance hall?

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ2JlCGIGDA

Day 19 of “Things We Love About Texas" pays homage to a California invention that Texas perfected. If you grew up in a 1960’s single-family home as Texas Ten did, it is a near certainty that it was a “Ranch House,” even if the “ranch” was a quarter acre or less.

Ranches are places of great romance, but the truth is that they are harsh environments where economy is paramount. Real ranch houses were less expensive to construct, used nearby materials, and offered multifunctional and more open spaces, efficient for larger groups. In the 1920s and 30s, a growing movement of architects elevated from over function. Adapting ranch homes to suburban living was a no brainer.

Originally, it adobe or board batten walls, although that changed over time. There was less ornamentation than the European and early American Colonial styles that dominated housing stock to that point. More light through larger windows, courtyards or indoor/outdoor space (sliding glass doors anyone?), eat-in kitchens, and great rooms became the norm. Housed under a hip roof that gave the house a sleeker, low slung look, you had something that could be cool and functional.

Texas had plenty of ranch houses because it had plenty of ranches. The real trick, however, was the explosive growth of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio when the ranch style comprised 90% of new home construction. Steve and M’Lissa grew up in ranch style homes and raised their family in them. We loved it and still do. What do you remember best about your childhood Texas home?

Day 1 of the Texas Ten 250 Road Trip is in the books!

We loved our drive along Highway 31 through East Texas. First stop: Chandler to check in on the . Then it was on to the Country Tavern for what may be the best ribs in the world.

Crossing Louisiana, we passed through Gibsland, where Bonnie and Clyde met their infamous end at the hands of Texas Ranger Frank Hamer and his posse. From there, we rolled through Vicksburg, Mississippi, where Texas regiments played a significant role in the Battle of Vicksburg.

We wrapped up the day in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a place our Texan daughter, Kendall Howen, proudly called home during her years at Bama. Roll Tide!

As promised, wherever we go, we find Texas connections.

Day 18 of Texas Ten’s “Things We Love About Texas” is the FANdangle (to help with correct pronunciation) produced by the citizens of Shackelford County, and held the third and fourth weekends in June in Albany. The Fandangle is an outdoor summer musical with an only-local cast.

Texas Ten first encountered Fandangle decades ago when M’Lissa went with her family. We returned a few years ago for Steve’s first look. He thought it would be elevated amateur hour, but decades of doing this has refined the gene pool apparently. They rope, they ride, they sing-Roy Rogers and Gene Autry live here! It is a musical of the first class, and a tremendous night of family entertainment.

On top of it, Albany is a gem of a town with good restaurants, great shopping, and one of the best small art museums in Texas at the Old Jail Art Center. The Fort Griffin State Historical Site is one of the best in Texas. So you can fill a weekend. The shows are on Friday and Saturday nights, June 19-20 and June 26-27. Tickets are on sale now!

Most of all, in all our travels across Texas, we haven’t seen a better example of community pride and spirit. Sort of inspirational. For more on the show, check out our full episode through the link in the bio/first comment.

In the meantime, the Fandangle had its start as a high school musical. If you ever played a part in a high school musical, name it in the comments below.

For this week's Texas Ten memory, M'Lissa shares one of her favorite adventures with Steve right in their hometown of San Antonio. From biking the Mission Trail and exploring centuries-old chapels to admiring a beautiful quinceañera photoshoot, this day was filled with history, beauty, and unforgettable memories.

Sometimes the best Texas adventures aren't the ones that take you far from home—they're the ones that help you see familiar places in a whole new way.

Have you ever biked the San Antonio Missions Trail? Let us know in the comments! 👇

🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBZbinnIL74

The Force is With Us.

Storyline for Game Four