Christmas items at Old Town Gift Emporium
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Here's a member of the Snowberry Fire Department ready to hang on your tree.

It's not a locally produced item... but it is pretty darn cute.

It's a Snowberry Cutie.
http://snowberrycuties.com/

The description on their site is:
"An emergency on your Christmas tree requiring plenty of holiday charm? call in the Snowberry Cutie Fireman!"

Nice.

Christmas items at Old Town Gift Emporium
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Here's one of the nice hand-stitched wall hangings at Old Town Gift Emporium. I dig the message.

Christmas has arrived at the Old Town Gift Emporium.

I stopped in yesterday to take a few photos of some art pieces to use in the INsite Magazine 2009 Totally Austin Gift Guide (see the original painting that will be the cover on my Flickr Page) and I saw some amazing Christmas items. So... I'll feature a few of them in the coming days.

For those who don't know, The Old Town Gift Emporium is a store that houses about 40 artists items. There are some really neat things handmade by locals and folks from the area.

This is the old man that greets everyone as you walk into the store.

Traffic on I-35

Traffic on I-35
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Travel safe. Happy Thanksgiving.

Kyle Animal Control Truck

Kyle Animal Control Truck
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This dogcatchermobile looks so much cooler than it does in the cartoons.

No need for Superego....

No need for Superego....
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

It's Thanksgiving week... you should make sure to have your id ready. As you know... the id is the "fun" part of your psyche. So... have fun. Just be sure to keep your Ego and Superego in check... and save me a slice of pie.

Flag in front of Plum Creek Neighborhood house

Flag in front of Plum Creek Neighborhood house
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

Flag in front of Plum Creek Neighborhood house.

We went to HEB Plis! for breakfast on Saturday morning. Potato and egg tacos all around!Don't worry.. it's Sprite in the cup.

Daddy had his own coffee mug.

KING (or queen) OF THE MOUNTAIN!

KING (or queen) OF THE MOUNTAIN!
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

My daughter and a friend climbed to the top of the big rock at Gregg-Clarke Park. Neat-O.

This is the best piece of graffiti I've ever seen.
I know... I shouldn't feature it. But it made me laugh... a lot.


You have to really look... but it says "Me + Your Mom = You"

It's so wrong that it's funny.
This is at the playground at Greg-Clarke Park in Kyle.

Gregg-Clarke Park
1300 W Center St
Kyle, TX 78640

Kyle Trash Day
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This was the scene at Gregg-Clarke Park on the morning of Saturday, November 14th. It was FREE TRASH DAY. It was provided by the Texas Disposal Systems to Kyle residents as a way to get rid of items that cannot be thrown out with your regular bins.

These trucks were full of stuff like sofas, BBQ grills, lawn mowers, swing sets, scrap wood, branches and brush. Air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers. I even saw a big screen TV.

As promised here's part II of the Inn Above Onion Creek. It really is a beautiful place. I've made sure friends and folks that have come in on business who are going to be in the Kyle/Buda/South Austin area know about this Bed and Breakfast.

Here's a few photos of the main honestead and the surrounding area.

Here's the main building with the kitchen/dining inside.


Here's the other main building. I believe there are 6 rooms in this one.


The main garden area.


My daughter rocks. Literally.


The dining table is set for a wonderful meal.


A peek into the kitchen. She was icing a carrot cake with orange cream-cheese frosting. Looked REALLY good.

The Inn Above Onion Creek
4444 W FM 150
Kyle, Texas 78640
512-268-1617 

http://www.innaboveonioncreek.com

So, I went out to the Inn Above Onion Creek last week to drop off some pumpkins they purchased from the Kyle United Methodist Church pumpkin patch. While I was there Mary Mattis invited me in for some wonderful flavored tea and fresh cookies. I had my camera with me and she allowed me to wander around the main homestead area to take some photos.

I took a good number of pics, so 'll give you 2 days of multiple photos for this Kyle Daily Photo.

First... the information:

The Inn Above Onion Creek
4444 W FM 150
Kyle, Texas 78640
512-268-1617 

http://www.innaboveonioncreek.com

 


Here's the sign on FM150 that greeted me when I got to the Inn.


Along the mile-long driveway I found this.


At the entrance to the homestead I found this photo op. Don't know what kind of flower this is... but it's pretty fantastic.


The pool is directly to the left of the homestead.


We were invited inside and were offered one of their homemade cookies. I've been to visit folks staying at the the Inn Above Onion Creek several times and I must say I always look forward to the cookies.

... I'll publish part 2 tomorrow.

Which way to go?

Sign leaving Inn Above Onion Creek
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is the sign leaving Inn Above Onion Creek.
It's --> way from Kyle.

Another of the vendors from Kyle Market Days was Deborah Thomas. She was selling some of her paintings and some jewelry. I was interested in her scrabble necklaces. Apparently game pieces are now viable as jewelry (see yesterday's domino pendants), but her paintings were beautiful as well.

Here's the scrabble necklaces:


And one of her original paintings.


She can be reached via her blog - http://deborah-thomas.blogspot.com or via e-mail at deborahkth@sbcglobal.net

Kyle Market Days
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

I stopped in and chatted with Judy Thomas and DeNay Simpson of S&T Jewelry and Etc. of Stockdale Texas. This is a little bit of their Handmade Jewelry they had for sale at Kyle Market Days.

Here's a couple more photos of their offerings. They don't have a Website, but if anything catches your fancy call 1-830-996-3619 (got it from their business card).


Dominoes as jewelry


Old Buzzard Welcome Sign


Beautiful cross pendant

And... oddly enough.. TURTLES (that's part of the "etc." in their name.





This was the last Kyle Market Days for the year. I'll post a few more shots later this week. The next Market Days is April 3, 2010. Check http://www.cityofkyle.com/marketdaysschedule.php for more information.

Some photos from the Dia De Los Muertos Festival.


Folklorico Dancers


The Spencer Thomas Band


An Altar


The Kyle United Methodist Church booth


You can see my entire album

I mentioned it earlier this week.. but I thought I'd drive it home with a few photos from last years celebration.

COME ON OUT TO KYLE FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL!
(click that link for the flier)
When: Saturday 11/7 from 2-9p (but in "the square" there's Kyle Market Days from 9a-2p)
Where: Corner of Center and Main Street in Kyle (Next to the Old Town Gift Emporium)
It's going to be fun.

As promised... here's shots from last year (and I'll post a few since I didn't have a chance to put shots up this week much)


Many people dress up for the celebration.. which is also called "Day of the Dead" or "All Souls' Day." The purpose of Dia De Los Muertos is to remember friends and family members who have died.


The kids of Kyle Elementary last year hung drawings made for the Dia De Los Muertos celebration.


The Kyle United Methodist Church will again have their fantastic baked goods on sale (There are going to be about 30 vendors this year)


Last year John Hawn (pictured Michelle) conceived this festival as a grand opening for his business..and a real cool thing for the City of Kyle.


This year (as last year) The Spencer Thomas Band will be playing!

Good thing the Kyle Public Library has a big soft yard. Playing tag is even better than the storytime we missed by two hours!

HAPPY DIA DE LOS MUERTOS!


This Saturday (November 7 from 2-9pm) is the BIG Dia De Los Muertos festival in Kyle in the street next to the Old Town Gift Emporium.




I stopped into the Emplorium a few months ago and found this book featuring some great photos of the celebration.

What is Dia De Los Muertos?

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls' Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

 Read more on - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead