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... :)

Everyone Is Equal

Some people think of Texas as a place where people are intolerant of othes that are not just like them. Well... I'd like to say that Kyle, Texas is not like that at all... Kyle Texas is accepting of all kinds*... as this poster typifies.

Although he may strike fear in the hearts, minds, and pocketbooks of a great many cities and states... FUELMAN is accepted here. FUELMAN is so accepted here that someone made signs to make sure everyone knows it.

I love my city.



*Please note that I am not qualified to speak on behalf of the city. I applied for that job but did not get it. Go figure.

HEB Plus... Part I


Here's another of my series of things that are being built. This is the new HEB Plus.. well the bones of it. I'll hopefully bring an interesting series out of this.

Here's a little background on H-E-B. This is from a press release that it located at the end of the page that the photo here links to if you click it.

The Kyle HEB
store is expected to open in Summer 2007. For 100 years, HEB has been an innovative retailer. Known for its fresh food, quality products and convenient services, HEB strives to provide the best customer experience at the lowest prices. Based in San Antonio, HEB proudly employs over 60,000 Partners and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities throughout Texas and Mexico.

Hey.. that's hay!


It has always been my dream to run down a line of hay bales. I may have to settle for this photo.
Happy Sunday.

Take A Seat


I decided I'd check out some of the new things that are being built in town and so I drove to the east side of the town. For those who don't know... Kyle, Texas is a city that is located between Austin and San Antonio and is kind of split in half by Interstate 35. The "west side" includes the city square and "old Kyle" the "east side" contains many subdivisions... and few businesses along the highway. Recently new developments like a Goodyear, Motif Furniture store.. and other things. I decided to check out that side (which is a bunch of "roads" that will eventually lead to stores once they are built) and I came across this photo. It made me laugh... a sofa in a field with the highway behind it.

I'm sure I could come up with a fantastic social commentary about this... something containing words like "pausing" and "highway of life" but lets face it.... someone dumped their couch... that's it.

So as you cruise down the highway of life.. make sure you take time to pause and look at what you have accomplished thus far.

OK.. so I came up with the social commentary anyways.

Happy Saturday. I'm going to a Neil Diamond Birthday Party tonight.. hooray me. MAYBE I'll share photos... perhaps not.

I'm coming to AMMMMEEEEERRRRIIIICCCCCCAAAAAAAAAAA TODAY!

(See? When I don't post for a while you get posts like this...)

My Fault this time
Allright.. I got really really super busy and forgot to post.
I had the photos ready... just forgot to upload them and post them.



What was I busy doing> Well... manicure and pedicure of course. It's hard to be a 2 3/4 year old in the world today.

I'm sorry I missed posting. it won't happen again (unless it does).
I know I am behind 3 photos.. but this one will have to do.
Happy Friday!

I LEARNED
Because my account has been wonky... I missed a few days without knowing it... so here they are. The theme continues to be "it was cold." I'll change the theme tomorrow.

Saturday, January 20

These gnomes were frozen in action...

Sunday, January 21

I love a good sky/tree shot.

Monday, January 22

Yes, The United Methodist Church of Kyle was frozen too. It was really warm inside though... you should stop in some Sunday or Wednesday.

Tuesday, January 20

I was in motion when I took this shot.... the train was not.

A Little Jealous

This is the snowman (or sleetman) my neighbor built on Tuesday afternoon. I'm a little jealous since I didn't build one. 4 years ago when it snowed I made a daddy and kid snowman... my wife was pregnant with my daughter at the time. The good news is... this time my daughter got to see the ice/snow in her own yard for the first time.

Hooray ice!
Now scram.

Happy Friday!

um... sorry


Remember earlier this week when I was so excited about the little bit of actual ice on my icycle lights? Well... never mind about that.

Happy Thursday.

Burrrrrleson Street


We finally got out of the house today (my wife had to work so I drove her). I grabbed the camera and took a couple of shots around town. I thought this stop sign looked pretty interesting... and the street name was pretty perfect for an icy sign shot.

Happy Wednesday!

Winter Part II


OK... this marks day 2 that I'm not going anywhere... so here's a shot of my house with ice/sleet and yes a little snow. For those who live in the north or in places where snow is a normal occurance... feel free to laugh at central Texans... but I'm staying put inside my house... other people are scary in cold weather. It's not me... it's them.

(Oh.. if a central Texan reads this... that last sentence was about someone else... not you)

SNOW DAY!

OK maybe an ice day.

Two things about today's photo... it couldn't be made possible without the help of mother nature as it is a frozen day in Kyle, Texas. It also couldn't be made possible without laziness. You see, I haven't taken our Christmas lights down yet and because of that my icycle lights are true to name.

Happy Monday!

Here's Your Sign


We had C.S.A. Beef Raisers. What did you have?

Can I Buy A Vowel?

This sign is in front of a metal building business. Well... the busines itself was actually wooden, but they SELL metal buildings... like sheds and parking garages and stuff.

Happy Saturday. Stay warm!

Facing Friday


I thought the trunk of this tree looked like it had a face on it.. it made me laugh. Hopefully you'll get a smile out of it too.
Happy Friday everyone!

Buggin' Out!


This shot is a "blast from the past." I took it in 2003. It's interesting to me (and perhaps only me) that the Diamond Shamrock on the right is now a Valero sign and the bridge that I featured on Tuesday is the old one... and you can see it (barely) in the distance.

Now.. I also think it's a darned cool VW Beetle. I took this while in motion through my windshield.
Now.. do you know the last thing that goes through a Bugs mind when it hits the windshield?

Happy Thursday!

Some Assemblly Required Part 4 - Assembled!

On November 24, 2006 I posted the third part of this study of a home being built... Follow this link for part III. Part two was posted on November 8, and part one was on October 8. You can link backwards if you'd like.

I may have another update.. but this may be it because after I shot this photo I saw people moving into the home. So no matter how much you like this home... it's sold. Sorry folks.

Of course if you like this home and are thinking about moving to Kyle, Texas let me know I can point you to a few of the homebuilders in this neighborhood (Plum Creek).

I hope you've enjoyed checking the process of this home being built as much as I have bringing it to you. Maybe I'll find something else being built to follow.... I know an HEB Plus is coming to town (HEB is a big chain grocery store that runs rampant in Texas and is headquartered just down the road in San Antonio, Texas).

Happy Wednesday.

Birdges over Hays County

Last August I posted a photo of the bridge over Center Street which was in full construction mode. Follow this link to see that shot. Well.. it's about done so I thought I'd give an update. The 4 lane bridge is really nice and almost makes for the annoying construction on one of the two bridges into town.

Happy Tuesday.

A Little Chilly


It's actually dropped to the 30s and 40s round these parts. A far cry from the 70s from a few days ago. See... even the horses are wearing jackets.

Happy Monday!

The House


If walls could talk, I'll bet this decomposing house would have some great stories. This house is actually surrounded by newer, inhabited homes in southwest Kyle... right around the corner from the Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church that I featured a last Tuesday..

I hope everyone has a fantastic Sunday!

Pasture Prime

On Wednesday I posted a photo of three horses hamming it up for the camera. This shot was taken about 2 minutes before that shot... this is the shot I was going for initially (before I got the cooler shot that I posted on Wednesday).

Hope you are having a fantastic Saturday.

No Tresspassing


This field is bordered by railroad tracks on one side and a house on the other. There is a "No Tresspassing" sign on the tree. It looks so inviting though. For the record I didn't step foot on the property to take the photo... I actually stayed in the car... so I'm OK.

If you know the song by the Five Man Electrical Band (Or Tesla in 1990 as I learned it) sing along with me.. OK?

"Signs Signs
Everywhere there's signs
[Messing] up the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that
Can't you read the sign"

Happy Friday!

Berry Good Thursday


I hope you have a "berry" good Thursday. Yes I'm aware it's a horrible pun... I actually used to have a Science teacher in 7th grade who's "v" sound always came out sounding like a "b." Maybe she just liked Strawberry Shortcake and wanted to talk like her. I don't know.

Anyhow... I thought the contrast between the green bush, blue sky, and red berries worked well.
Happy Thursday!

Three...Three Horses ahh ha ha



I was taking some photos of an old barn with some horses in the field... but then the horses decided to come up and say hello to me. So... these three curious horses are my photo of the day for January 3, 2007.

Three for three.
Happy Wednesday.

Open The Doors And See All The People


Actually, there wouldn't be many people there on a Tuesday afternoon when I took this photo, but the Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Kyle made a cool photo.

Happy Tuesday.

Splish, Splash, We're Polar Bears!


My wife actually got permission at our last pre-natal visit (yes, we're adding to the family in April 2007) to jump in the Kyle Pool for the New Years Polar Bear swim. We missed the "big jump" at 1:00, apparently there were about 30 swimmers, but we did it! I've split the photo for today so you can get our official...

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CLAES FAMILY!!