Love this sign.
At the Old Town Gift Emporium
http://oldtowngiftemporium.com/

Intimidators - Gene kicks...

Intimidators
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is a photo from 2 Friday's ago. I took this before we played another team. This Friday we god pwned by The Intimidators.

The Intimidators are a good team.
Pray Ball is a fun team.

Gene... the guy kicking here... is darn good. On defense he plays shortstop... and NOTHING gets past him.

I learned not to kick it to Gene.

This photo is of the Kyle Kickball League... one of the cool things brought to you by the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department.
I've heard rumors that budgets are being cut and we may lose some funding to the Park and Rec Dept. THAT WOULD BE A SHAME.

Activities like the Adult Kickball League are great additions to the Kyle landscape. Great people. Great times. Great fun... while exercising.

Done for the day and trying to find a little shade...

Our neighborhood pool is a happy place. When you hang out there for a while, you start to know the American family isn't in any jeopardy at all; that it's really thriving in all its patterns and permutations, whatever they may be. And we are certainly equalized by our need to cool off. While this photo was being taken, I was explaining to my son that God gave us a little built-in air conditioner. He says, "Is it the size of one of those little hamburgers?" as if we had a miniature HVAC somewhere nestled alongside the left lung or something. "No," I explained, "we sweat and wind moves across our bodies and cools the water." He says, "I think your hat is my good air conditioner."

Three Wolf Moon - Mother in Law
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Three Wolf Moon is at The Old Town Gift Emporium. I felt the power. I asked my mother in law to hold the shirt up so I could take a photo. She has no clue about the 3WM.

Do you? Check out Three Wolf Moon on Amazon.com. Just take a browse at the comments. It's amazing.

This makes me think of The Christmas Story
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Here's a bright idea. It's a lamp that looks like a lady from the waist down. It kind of reminded me of "A Christmas Story."

I saw this at the Old Town Gift Emporium oldtowngiftemporium.com/.

First Day of School

DSCF1032.jpg
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

My 5 year old started kindergarten today.
Wow...

Welcome back to school everyone!

Bullseye!

DSCF0925.JPG
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Guess who's coming to town?

Yup.
Target.

I like to call it Tar...jay....

PEACE BE WITH YOU.

(twilight in East Kyle)

Chapa Autocraft
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Chapa Autocraft
218 South Front Street,
Kyle Texas
78640
(512) 504-9577

It's now open (so says the sign).
I've never been there, but on Yahoo, a person called 'Satisfied Customer" has this to say:
"I was really impressed with the honesty and excellent service provided. There prices are reasonable and just overall excellent service. I highly recommend Chapa Autocraft to anyone."

Now... that doesn't sound like a fake entry... does it?

They've got a webpage.
http://www.s-collectiveprojects.com/hosting/chapa/services.html

Manhole Cover

Manhole Cover
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is just about the prettiest manhole cover I've ever seen. I found it on the roads that have recently been built behind the new Kohl's.

Growing my own.

I'm shamelessly assuming that my own back yard is interesting enough to be Kyle's daily photo. But it's fall garden season, y'all! It's the trade off of the hot summers that you can begin again in late August with tomatoes, squash, and peppers. I started my tomato sprouts today.

The watermelons will last another couple of months. They take a good long while to get ready to eat, so come see me in September for juicy homegrown yumminess!

The NEW Fire Department.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

There's going to be a new fire station in Kyle. This thing is a monster. It's going to be called "Station #1." I swear.. I don't know who comes up with those awesome names. But, I'm really glad it's happening. We are a big enough city to have this... and we're getting it. Yahoo.

Some history:
The Kyle Fire Department was formed, soon after the town of Kyle itself, in 1880. The membership of the department was divided up into three companies, a Hook and Ladder Company, a Bucket Brigade Company, and a Hose Company.

(read more here - http://www.kylefire.com/Kyle-Fire-Department-history.php)


Or click the photo to go to the Kyle Fire Department's Homepage.

New business...

New business...
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This building is located on Front Street, next door to the big slice of cherry pie (aka Texas Pie Company). They're applying for a liquor license... ARE WE GETTING A BAR IN KYLE?

Yea.

(It was about 2 years ago that selling alcohol by the bottle/glass was approved in town... before that you couldn't have a beer with dinner in a restaurant... FYI)

Another closed shop.
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is located about a block left of downtown, just over the tracks.

This has been about 4 things in the last 5 years. a couple of coffee shops, a pandarea, a gift shop... I just found out that it will be the new location of the Lucky Cup Coffeehouse.

Lucky Cup used to be located in the front of the Plum Creek neighborhood. It disappeared about a month ago. I really liked it there... they threw free concerts and we had a lot of good memories.

Hopefully that vibe will be retained in the new location. Not sure when it will open... but as I understand it, it will be here.

Check their Website to see when they will open:
http://luckycup.net

100_1092
Originally uploaded by BarbaraAziz

On Friday night, I'm a part of a co-ed kickball team called PRAY BALL. We're all members of the Kyle United Methodist Church.
This was the scene after the game. I'm posing with a ball on my head... the ball that I popped by kicking it onto the fence (foul ball). Jenni J. is in front of me...she did the splits as she ran to second base...and was safe. in the front is Andrea...she didn't want to be out so she dove for first base. She was out... but it was AWESOME.

So... it was a really really fun game. Our team lost 1-0 but it was a great time.
We play again on Friday @ 7:30. For team schedules and game time... check the link:
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=kylekickball


This photo was taken by Pastor Barbara Aziz. Click the photo to go to all the photos from Friday's game.

TRAIN

TRAIN
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

If you've been to Kyle.. you've been stopped by a train.
If you've driven from Kyle to San Marcos... you've probably been stopped by the same train... twice.

Working to bring worlds together... these are the very young men and women of Kyle studying timeworn Korean discipline, coordination, and honor. At the beginning and end of every class at Larsen's Taekwondo, the students and instructors recite a pledge:

"I promise
to be a good person
with knowledge in my mind
strength in my body
honesty in my heart
to make good friends
to be a good leader
and to earn my black belt."

I truly believe this place is one of the best things ever to happen to my son.

Larsen's Taekwondo
109 Center St.
268-8000

The Kyle Auction Oak
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is a shot of the Kyle Auction Oak. It's one of our historical landmarks. Located on 204 S. Sledge St (turn left one block past "the square" downtown and head a few blocks in) in front of a residence.

Here's some history.

Historical period: Frontier Texas (1865 - 1899)
Historical topics: Frontier Settlements
Species: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
County: Hays
Public access?: Yes


Between 1870 and 1880, the international and great Northern Railroad planned to construct a line between Austin and San Antonio. However, when the planners found that no towns lay on the route between San Marcos and Austin, they decided to establish a station town at some point along their route.

Several offers of land in northern Hays County were received, but the offer by the Captain Ferguson Kyle and D. R. Moore families was accepted. All of the land, excepting a depot site and track right-of-way, was then deeded to the Texas Land Company for development as a town.

In less than a week, the town was surveyed and a plat recorded with the county clerk. Streets and alleys were deeded to the town, officially designated as Kyle, Texas, in honor of one of the men who donated the land. Captain Kyle was a native of Mississippi and had served as a captain with Terry's Rangers in the War Between the States.

In the shade of this mammoth live oak, all of the business lots and most of Kyle's residential lots were sold at auction. As an added inducement, the railroad offered free train rides to participants in the sale.

The land on which this historic tree stands was donated by the railroad in June 1881 for the construction of the town's first school, Kyle Academy.

(Info from - http://famoustreesoftexas.tamu.edu/TreeHistory.aspx?TreeName=Kyle%20Auction%20Oak)

What a slogan!

What a slogan!
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Very interesting slogan.
"We meet the nicest people by accident"

Funny... for that time in your life when things aren't really that comical.
:)

crepe myrtle
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

August 1 was my Grandma Soja's birthday. She passed away in 2006. One of the things she really liked was the Crepe Myrtle, the tree seen here.

Someday I'm going to plant a Crepe Myrtle in her honor in my yard.

(Here's my Kyle Daily Photo post I put up when I learned she passed away - http://kyledailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006/10/rest-in-peace-helen-louise-soja.html)

The Lone Star...

I'm no nationalist, but I sure as hell am a Texan.

A Storm in Heaven.