Old Train Depot - Kyle

The "old train depot" in Kyle with a train coming through in the background.

The city has been renovating this space for a few years. It looks almost finished. Excited to see what it looks like inside now. 

Fruteria y Nieveria los 4 Hermanos

We heard the legend of the Mangonada (mango ice cream, mangos, Chamoy, and chili powder) and corn in a cup (Elote) at this place in East Kyle... So we decided to try it out.

Pretty solid.

Here's what they looked like:

Fruteria y Nieveria los 4 Hermanos

798 High Rd, Kyle, TX 78640

Phone

Stopped off at Park Place grocery on Beebe Rd. in Kyle this morning. Saw the remnants of a time that once was. Phone booth... No phone. 

Luckily I had my cell phone so I took this shot. would this be considers meta?

Ronnie McDonald

Tuesday, August 25.

Ronnie McDonald (Texas Rural Leadership Program) presents at the Lyle Chamber Luncheon.

National Dog Day is today

Me and Towdah.

August 26, 2015 was National Dog Day.
Here's me and my puppy, Towdah.
She's been a blessing to our family.

Backpack Blessings.

Backpack Blessings at Kyle United Methodist Church

With tomorrow being the first day of public school for most of the kiddos around here, the Kyle United Methodist Church had their annual Backpack Blessings.

Communion - Kyle United Methodist Church

Kyle United Methodist Church Pastor Darlene Boaz

Concerts For A Cause - August Show

Concerts For A Cause - Hope & Love 4 Kids School Supply Drive 8/1/15

On August 1, Down South Railhouse in Kyle was the setting for a Concerts For A Cause show to raise money, awareness and School Supplies for a local non-profit Hope & Love 4 Kids. It was a great turnout and great event.

The next Concerts For A Cause is September 12 and it's a benefit for Kids Outdoor Zone.

Lone Star Delights Opens

I was lucky #1 at Lone Star Delights today when they opened thier storefront for the first time!

Stop in for their fantastic Lone Star Kettle Corn and Real Fruit Shaved Ice.

108 S. Front Street in Kyle

(Across the street from the VFW)

https://www.facebook.com/LoneStarDelights

Classic Truck at Chuck Nash

While getting an oil change, I wandered around the showroom at Chuck Nash (chucknash.com) and saw this beauty. It's a restored 1951 Chevrolet 3100. It's for sale if you're looking.  $46,000.

Technically, Chuck Nash is in San Marcos... But close enough to Kyle to throw a stone and hit the city limit sign.

Kyle Chamber of Commerce Luncheon - State of the City

Kyle Chamber of Commerce Luncheon - State of the City

Today The Kyle Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon where Mayor Todd Webster and City Manager, Scott Sellers both presented about the "State of the City."

Very interesting information.

Kyle United Methodist Church - Farewell Wes Cain

Today was our pastor, Wes Cain's final Sunday as pastor of KyleUMC

Happy Father's Day - A collage

Happy Father's Day to all! Here's a little Claes family collage of iPhone photos I took.  My kids threw me a party on 6/20 because my oldest was heading to church camp on the 21st.

They may drive me crazy... but I wouldn't trade them for a freckle-faced puppy dog.

Concerts For A Cause: Flood Relief Benefit - United Way of Hays County 6/6/15

Drew Kennedy (back row w/ hat), The Rankin Twins (front middle) and Keith Kelso (Front w/ cowboy hat)

On June 6, 2015 Concerts For A Cause held a Flood Relief Benefit Event.
Four venues, three cities, one day.

Over $4,000 was donated on 6/6/15.... and all of it went to United Way of Hays County who has the resources and knowledge and ability to do the greatest good directly for the victims of the flood on May 24, 2015.

You may still donate (no expiration date) by texting SRTONG to 41444.


I wandered back to the green room and grabbed a photo with 3 of the 5 performers.

Flood Benefit Show - Central Texas Speedway - The Rankin Twins

On June 6, 2015 Concerts For A Cause held a Flood Relief Benefit Event.
Four venues, three cities, one cause.



Over $4,000 was donated on 6/6/15.... and all of it went to United Way of Hays County who has the resources and knowledge and ability to do the greatest good directly for the victims of the flood on May 24, 2015.

You may still donate (no expiration date) by texting SRTONG to 41444.

I went to the Central Texas Speedway concert and saw:

• 3rd Watch Trio (4-5:30p)
• The Keith Kelso Band (6-7:15p)
• Brad Dunn Band (7:45-9:00p)
• The Rankin Twins (9:15-10p)
• Drew Kennedy (10:15-11p)

Here's a shot I took of The Rankin Twins:

Memorial Day and Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Ceremony - Kyle, Texas 5/25/15

Central Texas AMVETS Post 115 presented a Memorial Day and Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Ceremony at 10am on Monday May 25th, 2015 at their Post Headquarters in Kyle, Texas.

The ceremony offered remembrance to all members of the military who have given their lives for our country and featured a solemn tribute with the reading of the names of Hays County military members whom were Killed in Action in Vietnam.

Marine Corporal Max Vasquez, a Vietnam Veteran and four-time Purple Heart recipient, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. The Texas State Guard Regimental Band provided music for the ceremony.

Texas State Guard Regimental Band

 

Marine Corporal Max Vasquez

 

 

Plum Creek Front Porch Day 5/3/15 - Crowd

Lots of folks attended Front Porch Days in Kyle, Texas

That should about do my week long Front Porch Days photo blog. Until next year.

Plum Creek's Front Porch Days 5/3/15 - The Front Porch Days Races

The RUN DMC 3PO Running team at the FPD 5k

More info: http://frontporchdays.com/front-porch-days-races.html

Plum Creek's Front Porch Days 5/3/15 - Rockaroni & Cheese + Little Batman and Robin

Long time Front Porch Days supporters Rockaroni and Cheese played again. Little known fact.. you might see some similarities between 2 of the members of Rockaroni and Cheese and the internet sensations "Little Batman and Robin" (link).

In fact... Little Batman and Robin made an appearance at Front Porch Days and even filmed an episode (at the end of this post) called "Justice Is Its Own Reward" that has Corey Brill (Pete from AMC's Walking Dead) in it.

Rockaroni & Cheese performed

I ran into Little Batman and Robin (internet sensations)

Plum Creek Front Porch Days - 5/3/15

Local organization Concerts For A Cause had a booth with PAWS Animal Shelter

Plum Creek Front Porch Days - 5/3/15

The annual Kyle United Methodist Church's Washer Tournament

Plum Creek Front Porch Days - contd

A family takes photos at the United Heritage Federal Credit Union's booth

Plum Creek Neighborhood's Front Porch Days 5/3/15

The Kyle, Texas neighborhood of Plum Creek hosted their annual Front Porch Days celebration. It was a 2 day party that included a 5k, garden tour, live music, pie baking contest, booths, a petting zoo, washer's tournament... and a lot more. I took a few photos and thought I'd spend this week sharing them.

http://www.frontporchdays.com for more info.

Austin band "the easy out" performed on the rock stage

Bob Schneider performs at Hats Off for Hospice - 4/12/15

Austin's Bob Schneider has a wonderful solo performance

Hats off for Hospice (link) is an annual event that raises funds for the Dream a Dream program from the Central Texas Medical Center. Bob Schneider performed at the 2015 event which was held at Texas Old Town on April 12, 2015.

Here's a little time-lapse video I made of the event: link

Headlight Shiny Again with Bug Spray (with warning at end)

So, I saw a video on Youtube about using OFF! bug repellent on car headlights and taillights that have that worn foggy residue on it... I really didn't buy that all you did was spray some off on a rag and wipe the lens clean... but I tried it.

See the results below... it worked! Almost immediately.

I used Deep Woods OFF!

Trippy

Now... I'm going to see how long it lasts... 

UPDATE: I'm still waiting to see how it works for me... but this video says folks SHOULDN'T do it: link

"Sunrise" Book signing w/ Author Scott J. Abel

Scott J. Abel Book Signing at Kyle United Methodist Church

Kyle, Texas Young Adult author Scott J. Abel held a book signing at the Kyle United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 8. His book Sunrise was released on February 4, 2015.

Hope & Love 4 Kids

Hope & Love 4 Kids office

Hope & Love 4 Kids is a local non-profit in Kyle, Texas. I stopped by their office to visit the other day... I snapped this photo.

Learn more about them here: hopeandlove4kids.org/

Concerts For A Cause - Lucas Cook

Lucas Cook plays Down South Railhouse during the April 2015 Concerts For A Cause

You can read all about the April Concerts For A Cause, a benefit for Hope & Love 4 Kids,  here: link

April Theme Day - Camera-Shy Self Portrait

April Theme Day - Shy Selfie

The City Daily Photo Theme Day for the month of Arpil is "Camera-Shy Self Portrait."
I am known to take LOTS of selfies... and I'm not shy about it... but sometimes I do aim badly and end up with something like the above photo.

Below are a few of the "selfies" I've taken over the years that were published on this blog.
Now.. this is a few of them... I've got more. :)

My sister's birthday a few years ago (2010?)

w/ a Church Garage Sale item

Movember!

Superbown Sunday a few years ago

Custom Visitor Sticker

Running a "tutu & tennies 5k"

My Dog Died

My Dog Neon - End of Life 3/30/15

I peeled the "D" and "E" off of my Dodge Neon.... and made it my "Dog."

My Dog Died.

The need for a $2,500 engine replacement job = the death of my Dog Neon. It's been a good 3 year journey, my friend. His name was Ramsey after Mr. Dave Ramsey (I sold my truck that had a payment and bought this car outright.. no car payment after taking his Financial Peace University).

I think I'll miss the bumper stickers the most.

Good Dog.

An ass, a sidekick and a mini horse walk into a post...

Flat Guillermo in Kyle, Texas

Flat Guillermo from the Jimmy Kimmel show visits Cross Plants and Produce in Kyle, Texas - www.crossplants.com

So, on March 16 I was able to go to the Austin, Texas taping of the Jimmy Kimmel show. At that show I was given (along with everyone else in the audience) a "Flat Guillermo" which is Kimmel's sidekick.

Much like Flat Stanley, we were told to post photos of Guillermo around town. There were some great ones. Check out the Instagram posts that tagged #GuillermoInAustin - link

I took him to Kyle with me... and visited a few places... here's him at Cross Plants and Produce.

My car seems to have gone to a Flaming Lips show overnight.

2015 Concerts For A Cause - First Show

Down South Railhouse is the 2015 home of Concerts For A Cause. 

March 14 was the Grand Opening of Down South Railhouse AND the first show of the 2015 season of the Kyle, Texas soon-to-be non-profit, Concerts for a Cause.

Pictured below is Austin singer-songwriter D.C. Bloom playing during the event which raised over $500 for the cause of the month. The cause for the 1st show WAS Concerts For A Cause in order to afford to file the paperwork to become a non-profit.

DC Bloom @ Concerts For A Cause

About Concerts for a Cause: Concerts for a Cause is a way to raise awareness of and raise money for some of the local-to-Hays County charities that work to make this “simply charming” county an even better place to live. Sponsorships are available for each show in our 2015 season.

Visit at: http://www.kyleconcerts.com
Please follow us on Facebook.

texashsfootball.com & SXSW

Made it to Kyle's Central Texas Speedway for an unofficial SXSW TexasHSFootball.com mixer. Ran into some of my favorite folks.

5th Annual Negley 5k

Leata Bartlett and her kiddos finish the 5k

What a fun time!
Here is my set of photos I took (after I finished the race myself)
Link

Bible Study - Blue Moon and a Parable

Blue Moon & Matthew 20 at Garcia's Restaurant

Cross Plants and Produce - Mini Celebrities

Meeting Spot and Shorty

My nephews came to visit this past weekend... so I decided to take them to Cross Plants and Produce... which is a nursery and market where they have grass-fed beef and buy their veggies & eggs and things like that direct from farmers.

They also have local celebrity animals, Spot and Shorty. It may have been drizzling.. but a mini-horse and mini-donkey was worth the trip for the kiddos... and I picked up some carrots.

March Theme - Aging

How I react to the theme of Aging

This is a photo of my daughter from a few years ago... I call this one "Rampage."
When I think of aging.. I think.. let's do this! I'm ready! Just because we're getting older doesn't mean we have to become frail old people in rocking chairs that live for the soft food at Luby's. Let's roar into our 90s!

Verizon Wireless - Kyle Ribbon Cutting

Verizon Wireless - Kyle Ribbon Cutting

Yesterday (Friday, February 27, 2015) was the Kyle Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for the brand new Verizon Wireless store in Kyle, Texas.

You can find them on Facebook here: link

Gnome Cross-ing

At Cross Plants and Produce

There's a local Computer repair shop called Blue Computer Solutions who do a really good job promoting local businesses. They have a gnome that travels around town. We came to Cross Plants and Produce to buy a few tomatoes and found the gnome hanging out... so we thought we'd take a picture with it.