Thanks to a light rain we had today (not enough to effect the hot weather) we were blessed with a double rainbow.

Shipley Donuts & Mr. Spuds Salads and Subs in Kyle, Texas

Shipley Donuts & Mr. Spuds Salads and Subs in Kyle, Texas
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

It's always fun to come to church on Sunday morning to find which local donut shop the person supplying the donuts decided to go to. This week three dozen Shipley Donuts apeared.

I'm partial to their competition.. but they DO make a good blueberry-glazed offering. I should know.. I had 2.

Also attached to this building is a "Mr. Spuds." Good stuff there too... potatoes...sandwiches...salads. So when you have a donut-filled breakfast you can eat "good" for lunch.
:)

The basketball court has been pretty silent. Yup... school is back in session.
Happy First Friday of school... (Or happy last day of summer to some).

Hello Texas.
This is a flag that flies at Cowboy Honda in Kyle. It's HUGE.

We've got a new AT&T store in Kyle. That wouldn't be too much to report... but I visited there because my phone is about to fall off the hinge and they were *gasp* helpful!


For anyone who's dealt with this company before when you need something... you know how amazing this is. Perhaps because it's located in Kyle.. and we're Simply Charming.

Yesterday was my daughter's first day of First grade. My wife snapped this pic of me walking her to school.

This is bacon. I didn't have any of that this past weekend. I was at a Walk to Emmaus that was held at a place in Wimberley called Camp Young Judea. It was a life altering experience. It was also a no-pork zone (I'm Methodist... but the camp where we were is a Jewish Summer Camp)... which I got used to pretty quick... but my wife did put bacon on my pizza when I arrived home.

This is a painting I made that features the bible verse from 2 Peter 3:18. It is the verse that the church I attend uses to explain our slogan "Come Grow With Us."
I thought I'd share. You can see the actual painting if you visit the Kyle United Methodist Church on any given Sunday. 

The Kyle water tower is likely the most iconic image that people associate with Kyle, Texas. I have always shot it from the other side (the south side) but I decided to take a chance at getting the North side the other day.

I'm going to be out of pocket until Sunday so you'll not see any updates from me. I'm going on a spiritual retreat called the Walk To Emmaus. Please keep me in thoughts an prayers.

School starts on Monday in Kyle... and our oldest is heading into first grade... wow... how time flies.
Take care everyone and we'll see you soon.

This is an awesome lawn ornament. I think the person who lives here owns a local Real Estate Company called Rooster Realty. All I know is this big metal rooster rocks.

Austin Self, 14-year-old race car driver, and his crew graciously donated the winnings from their July 31st race to Hope & Love 4 Kids. Self led 49 of 50 laps on July 31st at the Thunderhill Raceway for the local non-profit. Last Saturday Founder, Mia Hendricks and her intern, Caitlyn Pesl, were presented with a $1,000 check at Thunderhill to kick off open ceremonies of race night. 

Austin Self picked up his third win of the season, and will be making a second donation to the local charity! The Self racing team partnered with the charity in June of this year and is happy to know that every penny from the donation will be put towards helping children in need in our community. 
Hope & Love 4 Kids will be out at Thunderhill Raceway cheering on Austin Self through October 3rd, so be sure to come out and support both of these community favorites. If you would like more information on Hope & Love 4 Kids or Austin Self visit www.hopeandlove4kids.org or www.austinself.com

(Photo by Tim Self)

Saw this guy in the CVS parking lot. Nice bike.. but it reminded me of a commercial I saw recently.. "motorcycles don't crash themselves." Hope this guy finds a helmet.
:)

I took the kiddos to story time at the Kyle Library on Wednesday.  They were reading about penguins. Then they did a craft where they created a construction paper penguin. Really neat.

Story Time happens every Wednesday at 10:30a and 12:00n.
They also have a bilingual story time on Fridays at 10:30a.

Ranch Road 12 @ Kyle Market Days 8/7/10
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

My favorite part of Kyle Market Days is the live music. There's 2 performers each month..one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I caught the early performance on 8/7/10. This is a Hill Country bluegrass band by the name of Ranch Road 12.

http://www.ranchroad12.com/

Rocky's Emporium

Rocky's Emporium
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

More from Kyle Market Days... these rings are custom designs from Rocky's Emporium. Neat stuff.

Rocky's Emporium
110 E. Bee St.
Lockhart, TX
512-964-1533
rockyoiz@yahoo.com

Alteredair Custom Airbrushing
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Who said airbrushing is a dead art form? Not this guy... he and his business "Alteredair Custom Airbrushing" can pretty much do anything you ask.. be it on t-shirts, helmets, or motorcycles.

Check him out online at Alteredair Custom Airbrushing - www.alteredair.com

South Texas Mesquite
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

I went to the Kyle Market Days this past Saturday and took some shots of some of the really cool things the vendors had for sale. Kyle Market Days happens the first Saturday of the month in the center of town in front of "old city hall." It occurs from April to November.

This beautiful cross is from South Texas Mesquite. They do a beautiful job of inlaying turquoise in many of their pieces. I bought a jewelry box for my mom a few years ago from them. She loved it.

Information about Kyle Market Days can be found here: http://www.cityofkyle.com/kylemarketdays.php
Info:

South Texas Mesquite
1381 FM 1979
San Marcos, TX 78666

http://www.mesquiteboxes.com/

830-303-4818

Went to the Kyle Chamber's Ambassador's B.A.S.H. Thursday night hosted by Wilson Insurance. Good times.. enjoyed chatting to a bunch of folks... shared the August INsite Magazine, and ran into some good friends. Oh.. and I won some Fox's Pizza too. All in a days work for Kyle Daily Photo. :)

When I was a kid, pet rocks were amazingly cool. I was taken back to that when I came to the Kyle Market Days & Farmers Market last month. These "rock heads" were being sold at one of the vendor booths. Hopefully they'll be back this Saturday. Since this is the first Saturday of the month Market Days will be in full swing at the center of town at City Square Park (aka the place in front of the old City Hall at 101 S. Burleson). It's a really fun time to check out local and area artisans, buy some fresh veggies and listen to some good tunes.

Oh.. and if you're wondering.. I still have one of my rock friends from my childhood. It's a rock concert. My Grandma gave it to me.

I call this a "median mohawk." Took this photo near the Plum Creek Golf Course on FM1626.
Reminds me I need to mow my lawn. Anyone want to come do it for me? I'll pay you in... um... candy.

I was driving on Kyle Crossing next to Home Depot the other day and came across a bunch of businesses I'd not discovered before. A nail salon, hair salon, dog salon (hee hee) fence company and an Insurance Agency. 

Then I check the Kyle Chamber's site to see when the next "Ambassador's B.A.S.H. (Business Advancement Social Hour) was and lo and behold.. it's going to be this Thursday (8/5/10) at Wilson's Insurance Agency (3601 Kyle Crossing / Kyle, TX 78640).

How odd... but it sure made be happy to know I now know where I'm going Thursday.

If you're an area business owner, check out the Ambassador's B.A.S.H. via the Kyle Chamber Website

Driving down Old Stagecoach Road near Five Mile Dam I saw these... Round Bales always remind me of my mom... who told me once that when she was a child she called them "shredded wheat"

Saw this van driving downtown. Neat.