I took this in line for the ATM at my bank... Wells Fargo if anyone is wondering.
It made me laugh... so I share.

Tree Meet Sky


This was taken about sunrise. It's the tree in my backyard. I'm just happy to see the little fuzzy buds on the tree. You know what that means? Right... the tree has survived another year of being cared for by me. THAT is relatively amazing.
Happy Saturday.

Friday Night Lights

I think technically this is in Buda, although it's about 3 minutes from the front of my neighborhood in Kyle. This is the high school stadium, as seen from the road. Yes. High School. I believe when Bob Shelton Stadium was built it was bigger than the stadium at Texas State University - San Marcos.

We take our high school football serious 'round here.

From Buda's Wikipedia page:
Buda and Kyle share the Jack C. Hays High School, whose mascot is the Rebels, and Lehman High School, whose mascot is the Lobos. A popular local pastime is watching high school football games at the Bob Shelton Stadium, named for the long-time Hays High School coach.



Oh... before I forget (like that's possible on an editable blog...) If you're in the area come on out to Kyle's Lucky Cup tonight for some good music.. and... well.. I'll be there. See interesting image below for more information:

Kyle United Methodist Church

Center Grocery


I wonder how long this place will survive once the new HEB Plus (big box store supermarket for those who don't know) opens in June of this year?

I mean... the prices are one thing, but the 5 times I've gone in there... I've been ignored completely 4 of them and the time I wasn't ignored they weren't helpful at all.

I know I should be supporting local business... but sometimes it's just hard.
I like to support GOOD business... like next door to this grocery is a damn good restaurant called Bordeaux.

And.. by all means please walk into Center Grocery and prove me wrong... I hope you do... but I doubt you will.

On the Right Track


This is the Original Kyle Train Depot. It resided for a long while on private property (not sure who's) and it was donated back to the city and moved to this spot at the entrance to downtown Kyle in 2004. It is the current home of the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

Happy Monday!

The Tower


If you've ever driven down I-35 between Austin and San Antonio Texas without stopping... chances are you'd recognize Kyle because of this water tower. It has been said it finds it's way into "all" of the photos of downtown Kyle. I don't know about that, but it does sometimes make it a trial to shoot north when you're downtown without getting the tower.

It's a trademark. If I was the City of Kyle, that would be my logo.

(Interesting story - http://www.texasescapes.com/FallingBehind/Kyle-Texas-Growing-with-Thought.htm. The neighborhood they are talking about in this story is the one in which I reside, Plum Creek)

Happy Sunday!

Downtown....Downtown...


This may look like the classic old-time cityscape.. and it almost is... If you're called for jury duty, you go to the white building. If you want to visit the newspaper you go to the one-story to the right... but the middle isn't a barber-shop... it's a salon and day spa.... I don't think "Cliff the barber" could be found there.

I love the look though. This is just over the tracks as you enter into downtown... the next block to the right is the Old City Hall... which I featured yesterday.

Happy Saturday!

Old City Hall


I don't think this building has a name... since the new City Hall opened up.. it's called "Old City Hall" Kind of sad.

From an April 4, 2006 column:
The historic City Hall on Kyle's town square isn't one of the great meccas of governance. But the 80-year old building has seen more than its share of thrills and spills while the city has grown from about 200 people when the first city council meetings took place there in 1975 to nearly 20,000 people today.


City Manager Tom Mattis had this to say about the place... on the night when the last City Council Meeting was held in that building:
"We've had some tough meetings in this room," Mattis said to the council. "But we've had a lot of good meetings, too ... We've made a lot of the most important decisions for the City of Kyle."

(Everything in italics from: http://www.hayshighway.com/2006041w.html#e26)

Katherine Anne Porter House


Greetings from Wilmington Delaware (I'm traveling on business right now).
This shot is of a Kyle Landmark - The Katherine Anne Porter House.

A fairly recent addition to Kyle's interesting buildings is the former home of author Katherine Ann Porter. Ms. Porter was actually born in Indian Creek, Texas, but spent about ten years of her girlhood here. The Porter House is a few blocks west of "downtown" Kyle on the right (North) side of the street (so says texasescapes.com)


If you'd like to read more about this author go here: http://www.famoustexans.com/katherineanneporter.htm

Kyle Auction Oak


Here's a little history for ya...

I didn't actually know about this... but the photo you see here is a picture of the tree where Kyle came to be...

Jay Gould, the 19th Century railroad magnate decided that his International-Great Northern Railroad needed a station between Austin and San Marcos. He made a deal with property owners David Moore and Fergus Kyle and 200 acres of their former land was auctioned off in 1880 under the Kyle Auction Oak

Wow...
Happy Wednesday.

Smokin...


You know, I'd feel better if I could explain to you what this is a photo of... but in my best opinion it's a pile of smoking dirt. It's next to a site that looks like it's being cleared for construction... near Five Mile Dam.

dontcha think?



i·ro·ny - [ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-] –noun, plural -nies.
1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

Happy Sunday.

I drought it...

OK.. I didn't actually post the photo with the same angle before... I thought I had. My bad. This is a photo (as yesterday's was) from Five Mile Dam in Kyle. Back in August I drove by there to see it empty... I was thrilled to drive by there last week and see what you are seeing in the last two days photos.

If you click on the photo you'll see a shot from August I took (that I posted in December...go figure)

This Hays County park is a well kept secret. Situated on the banks of the Blanco River, the park is a short drive from both Austin and San Marcos, perfect for a day retreat. Although nearby development is encroaching on this swimming hole (notice the houses perched above the river), it remains a beautiful, quiet park.
- texasescapes.com

Don't go chasing


This photo has me thinking of breaking into song... so instead of me.. I'll give you a little TLC


Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and lakes that
You're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way
Or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast


On an off note, I'm very happy to see this waterfall back. Tomorrow I'll post a photo from an angle you may recognize from a previous post...

Happy Thursday!

Off What?

February is Dental Month!!! Woo-Hoo! Hurray K-9 Canines!

One would hope that this sign means 15% off services...
Happy Wednesday!

Train train train

I started a new job on Monday... and I'm still in training.
Get it? Train-ing?
It's really funny if you think about it... but if you have to think about it... um... maybe not.

Moment of Zen

Today is my birthday... so I'll just say.. this is your moment of Zen for the day... a man walking his dog on a hill....taken near the Plum Creek Lake.

Are you sure THAT's legal?


After reading this sign all I have to say is thank God this is a catch and release lake. I know I've never fished for residents though...

Ding Sing


I would have had a Kyle Daily Photo earlier but I was caught by the train.

People who live in this area are more than aware of this scenerio. Actually, my wife works in San Marcos (which is the town about 5 miles south of Kyle...as Austin is about 15 miles North) and often gets caught by the SAME train in both cities. Talk about mildly annoying.

I wonder what these cars are carrying?
Hmmmm...

Happy Saturday.

Habitat For Hum...um... Fishanity



I could write a whole bunch about this photo that I took last Saturday... but I already have. If you click on the photo..it's linked to a story I wrote that is in this week's Hays Free Press newspaper.

Enjoy and Happy Friday!
Sean

No big silhouettes


Even though that gas station was tolerant of FUELMAN...it was not happy for employees to drive big trucks... or apparently RVs... or something. Other people could... but NO RVs for employees!

I guess that would condone sleeping on break-time or something.
Happy Thursday!




*by the way... for anyone wondering who Fuelman is... it's not a who.. its a what. http://www.fuelman.com
Sorry for the confusion... :)