Fly bird.

Fly bird.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Another year gone with the wind.

Merry Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus!

It was like a Christmas miracle. Not "like" one... it actually was one. At 3:00p.m. yesterday, the City of Kyle granted the Kyle United Methodist Church a permit to occupy the New Life Center for Christmas Eve service.

This has been a long process (since about August 2007)... filled with many problems along the way, but as Pastor Harold (Dailey) said last night at the service, he received a calling and God told him they would need the space for his children..so he worked tirelessly (as did an amazing crew of contractors) to make it happen. It did.

As it turns out, there were 146 (I think that was the count) at Christmas Eve Service. Our sanctuary holds about 100. So, God was right....(that's a given) and we did need the space.

Here's some shots from the first service, a wonderful, heartfelt Christmas Eve service, at the Kyle United Methodist Church's New Life Center.

Consider these #18 in my series of the building of the New Life Center. You can track back my photos of the building by visiting #17 at this link - http://kyledailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/11/kyle-united-methodist-church-update.html











Here's the photo taken in August 2007, just before the ground breaking for the New Life Center.


Merry Christmas everybody.

Stained Glass - KUMC

Stained Glass - KUMC
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Is it fitting that I just noticed this star? It's in the front window of the Kyle United Methodist Church (where my family has been going for over 5 years).

Merry Christmas Eve everyone.

Bricks and a Rose

Bricks and a Rose
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

(From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1594)

Here's a little video I did featuring the light show at the main square in Kyle (around the old City Hall) with a impromptu sing-along by my 1 year old, Harper, who doesn't thing Santa should give the singer what she wants apparently.

If you're around Kyle in the next few days, I highly recommend checking this out.

"Santa Baby"(little clip)

Back window skin. Sirus looks on

Back window skin. Sirus looks on
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This was a car I was behind in traffic. Angel/Devil Skin.... and the Sirus dog.
He looks scared.

Welcome Home

Welcome Home
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

OK... I've been bad, but if you drive through Kyle after 5:00p.m. you've GOT to see the lights in the main square. You should stop.. and there's a radio station (a sign tells you the station) you can tune your car radio to.... and the lights dance to it.

I need to get a video or something. But this Welcome Home sign will do for today.

Sunset in Kyle - off a marble slab

Sunset in Kyle - off a marble slab
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Same sunset as yesterday... different view. This was taken bouncing off some of the marble sitting outside C.F. Stoneworks (Photo on December 7). It's like picture in picture.

Oooh... fancy.

Sunset in Kyle

Sunset in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Just a little sunset shot. The sky was particularly colorful.

We're getting a Kohl's!

We're getting a Kohl's!
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Woo-Hoo!

Here's my photo for today... followed by a press release for a Christmas Festival this weekend.
This is the Kyle United Methodist Church



All Invited to the KUMC Christmas Festival
Boasting A Live Nativity, Games, Choir Performance, and Wassail


There’s a wonderful tradition of family and fellowship that surrounds Christmas. It is in this spirit that the Kyle United Methodist Church (408 W Lockhart St) invites all of our neighbors to our first ever Christmas Festival on December 13, 2008.

The Festival kicks off at 4:00p.m. and you’ll find refreshments like applesauce cake and wassail (a hot spiced punch). You can do some Christmas shopping as we’ll be selling hand-made items such as baby blankets, fancy Christmas bows, Jars of Joy (decorated ingredient jars for tasty soups, brownies, cookies, and beverages), and other unique gift items and baked goods. There will also be a “New To You” re-gifting booth of brand-new items that will be sold for a heavenly song.

Children of all ages will have plenty to do. We’ll have a booth for face painting and we’ll have games like “Frosty Toss,” “Pin The Nose of Rudolph,” and the “Christmas Card Toss.” We’ve also been in contact with Saint Nicholas, and he said he’d be there as well to say hello and listen to all of the children’s Christmas wishes.

The Children of the KUMC will entertain the crowds with a performance of “The Nativity.” This will include a live Nativity and narration from scripture. You’ll have a chance to sing along with the kiddos when they perform “Silent Night.” They will perform twice, at 5:00p.m. and 6:00p.m. If you’ve ever seen little ones perform…you know it’ll be fun.

Once 7:00p.m. comes, it’s time to head inside the sanctuary for an hour-long performance by the KUMC Choir, led by Choir Director Jenny Sandoval. The title of the performance is “An Old Fashioned Christmas” - The story of a man wishing for the simpler times in which to celebrate Christmas and is told through the diary of a young girl written in the late 1800's.

The KUMC Christmas Festival is free to attend. All the proceeds raised through the Festival will go towards furnishing the children's nursery or to children's playground equipment for the New Life Center being built at KUMC. The entire community is invited to attend. Additional information may be obtained by calling the church office (512-268-2331) or e-maling (KyleUMC@Verizon.net).

Who: Kyle United Methodist Church
What: KUMC’s First Ever Christmas Festival
When: Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 4:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Where: Kyle United Methodist Church, 408 W. Lockhart Street, Kyle, Texas 78640
Why: Meet our neighbors and celebrate Christmas
Cost: Free to the public.

Sunset over Baptist Church in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

The view of the sky behind the First Baptist Church in Kyle, Texas.
www.firstbaptistchurchkyletx.com

Kyle City Hall wreaths

Kyle City Hall wreaths
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Those are the BIGGEST WREATHS EVER.

C.F. Stoneworks

C.F. Stoneworks
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Need marble, granite or something else in Kyle, Texas?
Call 268-4393 - C.F. Stoneworks
Tell 'em Kyle Daily Photo sent ya.

They'll probably say something like... Um... ok.
(I should charge for promo... eh?)

The Zipper

The Zipper
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

I call this one... "hey, your Zipper's Down."
This is the carnival ride, The Zipper headed down the highway in Kyle, Texas headed for the San Marcos event Sights and Sounds of Christmas... sights-n-sounds.org/

12/12 - INsite Night @ Red Eyed Fly

12/12 - INsite Night @ Red Eyed Fly
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

What? An Ad as a Kyle, Texas Daily Photo?
Well... I took this shot of my daughter... in our living room. Thought I'd share. Yes... the magazine I own is throwing a concert in Austin on the 12th... if you're in the area... come on down.


If you say you know me it's $5 at the door.
If you don't say you know me... it's 500 pennies.

12/12 - INsite Night @ Red Eyed Fly

December's INsite Night
December 12, 2008
Where:Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River Austin, Tx 78701

12:30-Mike Truth & The Replacement Killers
11:30-Oak Is Keeping
10:30-Distant Lights
9:30-Little Triggers
8:30-Mansfield

Here's a Sign.

Here's a Sign.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Texas Blind Salamanders @ Railroad BBQ in Kyle

Texas Blind Salamanders @ Railroad BBQ in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Here's another Salamander shot.
:)

Texas Blind Salamanders @ Railroad BBQ in Kyle

Texas Blind Salamanders @ Railroad BBQ in Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

The Texas Blind Salamanders played Saturday November 22 @ Kyle's Railroad BBQ

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Kyle United Methodist Church - Photo 17 in a series

Kyle United Methodist Church - Photo 17 in a series
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

The building is going strong on the New Life Center.

Looking good. The inside is lmost complete, we picked out florring and paint color a few weeks ago. Neat!

A lot has happened since the last update.


Click here to go to #16 in the series.

Funny angle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Just a shot I took while driving down the road on my way to work. This is on Farm to Market road 1626.

I thought you might want to know EXACTLY where 1626 is...
Check it out on Mapquest.

Chuck Nash - Kyle

Chuck Nash - Kyle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

I took this while driving by... I'm actually heading north on 1-35 here.There's a new car dealer in town... Chuck Nash.
http://www.chucknash.com

WARNING - DON'T LOOK AT THIS IF A LITTLE BLOOD IRKS YOU...

They've got me in stitches!




I've got a real excuse this time....
Sure... I'm busy...and trying have a daily photo spot for Kyle is a little trying... I mean I do have a full-time job, I am the co-owner and managing editor of an entertainment Magazine, do some freelance writing, act at the Communications Chair at my church, and am an active father of two great kiddos... but my excuse for not having updated photos very regularly for the last week or so is... I had surgery to remove a cyst in my neck. It was a little more substantial than expected... so I've been a little out-of-sorts...

Here's two shots of the damage... the first taken as soon as I took the dressing off (last Sunday) the second taken yesterday morining. It's looking much better... and I'm almost off the Darvocet.

The first glimpse:


Yesterday:

What's the word?

What's the word?
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

If you were laying down under this sign... it would be "Word up."

Read the label.

Read the label.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

6" Weiner Buns.
Made me laugh.
Made my wife laugh too.. she asked me to snap this shot.

Manna From Heaven

Manna From Heaven
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Good stuff.... really.. really good stuff.
If you're in the area... meet folks for lunch here.

Manna From Heaven Restaurant.
602 W Center St
Kyle, TX 78640.
(512) 268-6900.

Kyle Elementary School Drawings
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Here's another shot from the Nov. 1 Dia De Los Muertos party in Kyle.

There was a long fence with drawings from local schoolkiddos... really cute stuff (if death is cute).

I've often heard....

Street shot
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

If you need a friend, buy a dog.
Looks like it works.

(taken at the Dia De Los Muertos event on 11/1)

Turkey for Life!

Turkey for Life!
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

One of the local newspaper's in Kyle is the Hay's Free Press... this is Editor Beth Nelson posing with a Turkey. They turkey is from the Hays Area Food Bank, and she was promoting the "Turkey's Tackling Hunger" Thanksgiving Fundraiser - http://www.turkeystacklinghunger.org.

Kyle United Methodist Church New Life Center - #14 in the series

A makeshift Cross
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

The drywall folks put this makeshift cross up at the Kyle United Methodist Church New Life Center as they worked on the interior of the building. After everything that has gone on during the building of this new construction, they felt compelled to do so. I thought it was a very nice touch.

You can see my tracking of the New Life Center being built by visiting #13 in the series and clicking backwards or clicking the photo below.


Here's the latest shot of the exterior I took in August.. (I really need to take a November shot... LOTS has been done.

Time for Christmas

Time for Christmas
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Taken on 11/1/08 - Downtown Kyle is already putting up the Christmas decor... I got a giggle out of this one... it reads "DAYS TO GO" with a blank for the days... should they put up "48" since as of today (11/6) that's how many days until Christmas?

The Spencer Thomas Band rocked the street at the Dia De Los Muertos party...







------

Not sure how this happened, but I was given the "Kreativ Blogger Award" from Saretta of the Molfetta, Italy Daily Photo. Neat!



So... I was also asked to list 6 things that made me happy.

1. My wife and children
2. Writing
3. Photography
4. Live Music
5. Eating at a good hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a friend
6. Sandra Boynton childrens books

Here are the rules for the Kreativ Blogger Award:

1. The winner may put the logo on her blog. (done)

2. Put a link to the person you received the award from. (done)

3. Nominate 5 blogs and put links to the blogs.

1. The Brookville Daily photo is daily photo blog out of Ohio. Abraham Lincoln is the photographer. Great photos and it's always nice to get a message from him.

2. Austin, Texas: this is the city I work and play in... and own a monthly entertainment magazine called INsite. I just came across this daily photo blog... which has me wondering if I need to update my Daily Photo Blog list... (the answer is yes)

3-5: Three Other Daily Photo Blogs from bloggers who have nice shots and have visited me over the last month...
Isle Of Man
Ystad, Sweden
Knoxville, TN

Here's some shots from Saturday's grand opening of the Old Town Gift Emporium.
The business is a mix-match of local and area artisans who lease space inside the store in order to sell their wares. There's some really neat art and clothing inside. It is located in the heart of the "downtown square" in Kyle and really makes the area have that small town feel. I hope they can make a go of this place. I'm pretty excited about it.


"Unattended Children will be given an expresso and a free puppy." Awesome.


From the Right.


From the Left.


Some of the jewelry.


John and Michelle Hawn (Owners) stand outside their store.