(Courtesy Information)
Claiborne Kyle Log House fried chicken dinner — 10 a.m. Saturday. September 22, 2007

Dinner served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Benefits the Claiborne Kyle Log House Commission. 2400 S. Old Stagecoach Road, Kyle. Admission and entertainment free. (512) 268-9981.


(Yes, that's my 22 week old daughter.)

Not Corny

No, this photo isn't corny.. it wheat.
Happy Friday!

They'll level Paradise... to put up a CVS


My title is a play on the Joni Mitchell song "Big Yellow Taxi" if you didn't get that on the first read. This is one of the first places I ate in Kyle, The Paradise Restaurant. Apparently (check my facts if you will) the entire lot here, consisting of about 5 places of business, was sold in order to make room for a CVS Pharmacy. I'm pretty happy about the CVS coming in so I'll be able to pick up my perscriptions in town instead of taking an extra trip to San Marcos (about 7 miles south of us) and I think it'll be a 24-hour business.

On a sad note, this restaurant was pretty much a Kyle institution. Many a family ate dinner 'round the table at Paradise. This is the second "old town Kyle" restaurant I've noticed that closed in recent memory. Fonzie'z closed a few weeks ago, the family retired. I took a photo of Fonzie'z here in August 2006. So, Paradise and Fonzie'z will be missed.

Anyhow. I thought I'd capture a photo of this place before its torn down. Happy Thursday y'all.

Yesterday, I visited the Selma, Alabama Daily Photo and she posted a fantastic close-up of a cotton ball (is it a cotton ball when it's still on the plant?) so I was inspired to post my cotton photo. I shot this Monday night in East Kyle. There are a few cotton fields bordering the east side of the city, I snapped this one of a "closed" bud with an open one in the background. Hope you enjoy!

Lobos!



The Lehman Lobos practice on a Monday afternoon.

The Lehman Lobos are the football team of Kyle's Lehman High School

Want to learn their Fight Song (mp3)?

I swear I'll have some shots from the East Side of IH-35 starting tomorrow... I just don't have time to post one today. Sleep is calling.

Yes.. it's a pretty flower... but beware, it's still a cactus.

File this under "truck stop."

Ponder this


Why do they call them butterflies when they don't look, smell, or taste like butter?

Mmmmm Pie


The Texas Pie Company.... You've got to try their Peanut Butter Pie... and their Macaroons.

Utterly Good


On August 24, 2007 Marc Utter and the Blackland played a free show at the Lucky Cup Coffehouse in the Plum Creek neighborhood. Since there's a little concert happening in Austin (just up the road) starting Friday.. I thought I'd post this shot.

Some Assemblly Required Part 5 - Behind Shot

I'd been following the construction of a home in the Plum Creek neighborhood... and the final posting I had was in January...You can see it here.. and track back and watch it disassemble.

Well... I wandered by the house the other day and saw something I hadn't seen before... a BIG three-car garage. Wow... I'm guessing one of those garages is for a boat.




I swear I'll take some good shots of the East Side of I-35 in Kyle soon... (I-35 kind of splits the city and I live on the West side so most of my travels have me on that side...so most of my photos are of that side.)

Thanks for reading!

p.s. I shared my reflection on 9/11 (a different perspective) on another blog - http://seanclaesdotcom.blogspot.com/ if you care to read.

Please indulge me... as the photo you'll see is actually from San Marcos, Texas... not Kyle. But I wanted to share some great news... Everyone needs great news for a Monday, don't they?
Thanks,
Sean

---
For those who don't know... this "Daily Photo" thing was a new adventure for me. I've spent many years in the dark of clubs and venues shooting music (and still do, if you visit - http://www.seanclaes.com/musicphotos.html). What got me started shooting "landscape" or outdoor photography was the San Marcos Naturescapes Photography Contest and Exhibition. It was held for the first time three years ago. Like the Kyle Daily Photo (which I really enjoy doing) it was a way to force me to get out there and take photos.

So.. this year was the 3rd Annual San Marcos Naturescapes Photography Contest and Exhibition. And...for the third year in a row, I've entered. Every year, I've been excited to find that some of my photos were chosen to be displayed in the Exhibit.

The first year, I actually got 3rd place for a photo I took of some canoers (that my wife has hanging in her office now). Last year I had 3 shots in the show, but nothing placed.

This year's contest winners were announced on Friday September 7, 2007 with a reception at the San Marcos Recreation Center. I was very pleased to have two shots in the show. A photo of some tubers I took, and a photo of a flower I saw down by the river.

After they went through the "Honorable Mention, 2nd and 1st Place" of each catagory, I thought the night was over except for the Best of Show... so I thought "At least the fried mushrooms rocked and I enjoy seeing everyone's photos and chatting with folks" but then My name was called along with 3 others.

My River Flower won the "Award of Excellence" meaning it was the top rated photo in my category of "Wildlife and Plants." I'm amazed. I almost didn't enter the photo... but my wife pretty much begged me to. I should listen to her more often.

So here's the shot.


You can see it in person at the San Marcos Activity Center Walker's Gallery until October 26... for details, go to: http://www.smgreenbelt.org/PhotoContest.htm


You can also see some of the winners from the last 2 years (including my Canoers shot.. and a root photo) on that site.


Oh.. my other shot in the show hanging right now - "Tubers Tubing":

Went for a walk yesterday and happened upon the pool near the house. Well... the Hays Swim Team Club () was holding their Swim-A-Thon fundraiser. They were raising funds for pool and equipment upgrades. Not sure how much they raised, they were going after $5,000. Many members swam 200 laps. Pretty amazing to watch.

Head back in the clouds for a Saturday Morning.

Finally got back to Luviano's Mexican Restaurant (804 W. Center Street ) for dinner last week... I was their 2nd customer when they opened. I have a thing where I'd like to be someone's first customer... but I missed it by about 5 minutes on this one. Someday. Anyhow... went to dinner there and love the atmosphere... they built a big deck and have some cool decor. I took a shot of these little dolls that were in the corner of a window.

OK... no more clouds... I'll moon you for a Wednesday.

Don't mind me... my head's been in the clouds lately.
I really dig clouds... I've been noticing them recently. Maybe it's because of the new Simpson's movie... I enjoy "Simpson's sky"

This, and yesterdays post, is photos just before a rainstorm.

Hays Performing Arts Center


The Hays CISD Performing Arts Center opened about 2 years ago. It's a pretty striking building. Good acoustics inside as well.