Stinger

BABY SHOWER!

Congrats Merlin and Andrea. Baby shower from 6/2/13 ay Kyle's Kyle United Methodist Church.

Kyle Flea Market

Furby is at the Kyle Flea Market!

On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Kyle, Texas I took the kiddos to the Kyle Flea Market. They discovered FURBY!  Hadn't been in years. It's got some really interesting things. If you've not visited in a while, it's time.

They are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9a-5p.

Kyle Flea Market
1119 N. Old HWY 81
Kyle, TX 78640

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyleFleaMarket

Races 2U @ Central Texas Speedway

Races 2U

Races2U is a billed as "Mobile Digital Slot Car Racing." http://www.races2u.com

This isn't the racetrack I grew up playing with... this required some skill and concentration. In order to make a lap without wiping out or wrecking you've got to have a light trigger finger. It was pretty neat to watch.

This company will set up at any event in the Austin/San Antonio area is sounds like
More information:

Races 2U
http://www.races2u.com/
512-761-7223
Warren Peck, President

Tigo Wins

Tigo Wins the Washers Tournament

So, at Front Porch Days in the Plum Creek Neighborhood, the Kyle United Methodist Church had a washer's tournament for the 5th year.

Here's a shot of the winners in front of the brackets. They were kind enough to shorten their team name a "bitty" to "Tigo" for the sake of the tournament being sponsored by a church.
:)

Fender bender on the Track - Sport Mods



At Central Texas Speedway

 Watching the races at Central Texas Speedway on June 1 was awesome... here's a little fender bender during the Sport Mods race that resulted in a fight. Yes.. I took pictures of the fight too... seems the Car 96 (Rick Pollaro) was convinced it was Car 28's (Colt James') fault... and 1/2 lap later... Pollaro t-bones James. James wasn't thrilled... below is a shot of James launching out of the car going after Pollaro... who never got out of his car and ultimately left the race.

When car James got back on the track, he was in last place with about 20 laps to go. He ended up winning. Pretty amazing race.

Kyle City Council Member Chad Benninghoff

Chad Benninghoff (far right) talks to the crowd after winning his run-off.

On Saturday, June 1, 2013 Chad Benninghoff won the run-off election and became Kyle's newest City Council Member. I was at his election results watching party at Milt's Pit BBQ. Here's a shot of him talking to the crowd.

Central Texas Speedway Ribbon Cutting

Kyle Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on the track of the Central Texas Speedway.

The Central Texas Speedway (http://centexspeedway.com/) had their Kyle Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on the track on Saturday, June 1, 2013.

Central Texas Speedway
24801 Interstate 35, Exit 210

Kyle, TX 78640

Rock The Porch - 1

Some Assembly Required

The Plum Creek Neighborhood of Kyle, Texas is currently hosting an initiative called Rock The Porch - link - where 15 rocking chairs have been distributed to local and area individuals and groups in order for them to put their artistic spin on them.

I was chosen as one of the artists. I'll incorporate much of what you've seen on here since day 1 in the design... photos of the people and places of the neighborhood and community.

I'll document my design process on here. So this is Photo 1.
Hope you enjoy the photos to come... and lets hope for a fantastic final product.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the other 14 chairs will look like.

Drew Womack @ Central Texas Speedway

Drew Womack

Last night was week 9 of the KOKE FM Free Texas Concert Series at the Central Texas Speedway in Kyle. This week was "Drew Womack and Friends." Drew Womack is an amazing singer-songwriter who co-penned the "She's Got It All" which became Kenny Chesney's first #1 hit, and his former band, Sons of the Desert, were the beautiful backup voices on the Lee Ann Womack hit "I Hope You Dance."

He's written with and for Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Robert Earl Keen, Josh Abbot and many others who make up the "Red Dirt Scene" of country music... and he's made fans of most of the names you'd associate with Texas Country/Americana.

Look him up. He's much better than my not-so-great iPhone photo above - http://thedrewwomack.com/

Negley Goes Green Fashion Show

"Negley Goes Green" Fashion Show

The annual Negley Goes Green Fashion Show was held on May 23, 2013. This is where students (and one mascot) makes clothing or other wearables out of recycled materials. My little one wanted to be an astronaut.. or more to the point.. "Jetpack Joyride" from the iPhone game.

There were some pretty fantastic and inventive outfits.

Texas Pie Company

It just Screams Kyle. :)

Designed by local group Great Big Signs. 

Memorial Day - A sunrise

Happy Memorial Day. 

Because of those who gave all, we can enjoy the beauty of a sunrise.
You are not forgotten. You will always be in our hearts and we honor you.

Blue Water Highway Band

The Blue Water Highway Band

On Sunday, May 5, 2013 the Blue Water Highway Band played the Plum Creek Neighborhood's Front Porch Days.

Blue Water Highway Band - http://www.facebook.com/bluewaterhighwayband

Happenstance - A Band

Happenstance plays the Kyle Chamber BASH 5/2/13

BBQ and a Chamber BASH....

Former Kyle Chamber of Commerce President Ray Hernandez (he was the president at the time of this photo) talks with Milt and Bunnie from Milt's BBQ on May 2 at the Kyle Chamber BASH.

ROCK THE PORCH - Community Art Project

Rock The Porch example at Front Porch Days

Rock The Porch is an art-installation that will occur in the Plum Creek Neighborhood of Kyle, Texas. They will have several rocking chairs that will be decorated/designed by area artists. When complete they will be placed all over the neighborhood.

From their Website:

What's Rock the Porch?

Similar to the Cow Parade of Chicago and Guitar Town up in Austin, Rock the Porch is a public art initiative from Plum Creek that will manifest in the creation of 15 artistic rocking chairs by 15 local artists, groups and individuals. The unique art pieces will be placed in the public spaces of the neighborhood and within the greater Kyle community by the end of summer 2013.

I was chosen to be a participant. I plan to use my photos and decoupage the chair with images of Kyle and the Plum Creek neighborhood. :) Hope it comes out as amazing as it does in my head. 

Pray Ball - 4th Place

Our church kickball team, PRAY BALL, came in 4th in last weekends Kyle Parksand  Rec tournament. I'm the one kneeling w/ the ball. :)

The Biscuit Brothers Play Kyle, Texas

2013 Front Porch Days (5/5/13), a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

For the 5th year in a row, Austin's Emmy Award-winning and PBS Television show-having Biscuit Brothers played the annual Front Porch Days celebration in the Plum Creek Neighborhood of Kyle, Texas.

It was cra-zee...

Happy Mother's Day - Family shot.

Happy Mother's Day!

Claes Family self portrait... that's my incredible wife in the background there.
Photo taken at the lake in the Plum Creek neighborhood of Kyle. :)

Crazy clouds

Tonight... Just before it rained... A lot.

Rock The Porch... accepting Artists

Rock The Porch!

So.. kind of like Cow Parade and Gibson Guitartown... the Plum Creek neighborhood in Kyle, Texas is doing a public art initiative called "ROCK THE PORCH." It's neat. I'm going to see if I can get a Kyle, Texas Daily Photo chair... we'll see.

If you're an artist... and live in the are, you can apply to get a chair.
Here's a story from Kyle Living that give more information - http://kyleliving.com/rock-the-porch-a-public-art-initiative-from-plum-creek/

KICKBALL!

Kyle PARD Adult Co-Ed Kickball

This was the Free Ballers vs. Great Balls of Fire from 4/18/13.
kickball is a lot of fun to watch and play.
Look for information about playing on the Kyle PARD website - http://www.cityofkyle.com/recreation

Ball Washer



Golf Ball washer

 At the Plum Creek Golf Course.

Kyle Lake Clean Up

A few months ago there was a Lake Kyle clean-up. Here's a pic of most of the volunteers.

PRAY BALL - praying

PRAY BALL - Spring 2013, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

Probably my favorite part of playing Co-Ed Adult Kickball for my church team, PRAY BALL, is praying with the other team at the end of the game. My wife caught this photo last Friday.

Wasps New?

Beware of wasps nests. It's been my experience that, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

Kickball :30

Free Ballers vs. Great Balls of Fire

Safe at first... but a nice throw.

Do you Hop?

Well... IHOP. Breakfast is good. Of course my favorite thing is the carafe of coffee.

Lake Kyle - PARTY TONIGHT!

Lake Kyle, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

This is Lake Kyle. Last year the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department moved their headquarters to the land around this.

There's a BIG party tonight at the lake... includes night fishing, washers & horseshoes, a fun run, games for kiddos, some great music, and more. It's the FULL MOON JUBILEE.

Check out all the stuff going on:
http://www.cityofkyle.com/recreation/full-moon-jubilee-1



Date: April 26th, 2013
Time: 6 p.m.- 11 p.m.
at Lake Kyle Park

It's $10 a car (as many folks as you can squeeze into a car).

Happy HootDay!

HOOT!

In honor of my best friend, Brian "The Hoot" Allman, who turns 40 today... here's a hoot owl.
I found this in the Cooridor Primary Care doctor's office in front of the Plum Creek neighborhood.

Happy Birthday Hoot.

Tortilla Soup Label Mishap



Can you spot the error?


I was reading the back label of some Cookwell & Company Tortilla Soup. I THINK this was an error... but I can't be sure. There's something in parenthesis that I think was a note to the editors of the label... and ended up getting printed.

I guess I've been a writer/editor too long... because this made me chuckle... and then take a picture.

.. FYI I agree with the sentiment... sour cream shouldn't be a part of tortilla soup.

Plum Creek Lake - Kyle, Texas

This is the dock at the Plum Creek Lake in the Plum Creek neighborhood in Kyle, Texas. Residents of the neighborhood are allowed to catch-and-release fish... and there's a jogging trail around the lake. You can also be like my family and I and hang on the dock and skip rocks.

Biker Barbie

A bike at the Kyle Parks & Rec Bike Rodeo... had this Barbie bike attached to it. Pretty awesome... Barbie has seen better days. :)

Happy 9 and 6 Kiddos!

April 21, my brownie turned 9. April 18, my blondie turned 6. They rock.

That is a 2 layer ice-crem cake... made of ice cream sandwiches, because my wife is awesome that way.

This was at their birthday party last weekend. We spent their birthday weekend at Old Settlers Music Festival... which was amazing.

Bountiful Baskets!



Bountiful Baskets WIN!


Every two weeks, my wife and I buy from Bountiful Baskets in Kyle, Texas. For $15 you can get an assortment of veggies and fruit.

This is my photo of the stuff we got today. We spent more than $15 on this haul... because we added on artisan bread, granola, carrots and apples.

Totally worth it.
Look up Bountiful Baskets in your area - http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/
If you want to connect with the Kyle group, it's on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BountifulBasketsKyleTx

Ray Hernandez Farewell Celebration

Ray Hernandez Farewell Celebration, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 the City of Kyle declared it to be Raymond Charles Hernandez day. The Executive Director of the Kyle Chamber of Commerce was also celebrated as he has accepted a position at another Chamber.

Ray is the one in the back row under the Texas flag.

Today is his last day as the Executive Director of the Kyle Chamber of Commerce.

Train Art in Kyle

Train Art.

Sometimes we have to wait on a train here in Kyle. Well... most times. I like to take the time to check out the traveling art show.

Respect.

Respect., a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

There were many flags around Kyle, Texas flown at half-staff yesterday to honor the memories of those who perished in the senseless Boston bombings.

This one was at the Sac N Pac (20925 Interstate 35 North).

Casa Garcias in Kyle

Mmmm fajitas, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

Went to the Kyle location of Casa Garcias yesterday for lunch. Had their fajita plate... it was under $7 and it was pretty stellar.

I dig the fact they have a tortilla lady making fresh ones. Mmmm fajitas.

Casa Garcias
5401 S. FM 1626
Kyle, TX 78640
http://casagarcias.net/

Kyle Parks and Rec Family Fun Ride

Kyle Parks and Rec Family Fun Ride, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

Today the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department had a Bicycle Rodeo and Family Fun Ride. We had a great time. It's fantastic to live in a town that has so much to do.

Texas.

Texas., a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

My daughter's boots hanging out over the water of the lake at Plum Creek in Kyle, Texas.

I don't know why her boots have zippers on the side. They don't serve a purpose... I guess it's an 8-year-old thing.

Duane and Marilyn Beals at The Claiborne Kyle Log House

2013 Blooms Over The Blanco, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

I snapped this picture of Duane and Marilyn Beals at the 2013 Blooms over the Blanco at the Claiborne Kyle Log House in Kyle, Texas.

Duane and Marilyn served on the Claiborne Kyle Log House Commission for many years before "retiring" from it recently.

They are the reason I learned of and first visited this historic home all those years ago. Glad I did. It's an amazing piece of Kyle history.

It's open on the first Sunday of each month from May - August this year. If you're in the area, it's worth a look.

If you' like to stay up-to-date on things concerning the Kyle Log House, they've got a Facebook Page - facebook.com/KyleLogHouse

Celebrating the Fajita King's Birthday on 3/13



Sean Claes & Ray Hernandez

 So, March 13 was the Sonny "The Fajita King" Falcon's birthday. I think I've established his awesomeness in the Kyle area in the last few days.

On that day, I called up Kyle Chamber Director Ray Hernanadez and we went to Garcia's Restaurant (575 E Ranch 150 Rd, Kyle, TX)  to celebrate Sonny's birthday the way any self-respecting Kyle citizen should... with a fajita taco.

Lucky Dawgs BBQ - Kyle Fajita Fiesta 2013 Grand Champion

Lucky Dawgs BBQ pose with winnings & The Lions Club's Blake Hartman

This past weekend was the Lions Club's Kyle Fajita Fiesta & BBQ Cookoff.

Kyle has a Fajita Fiesta becase it was during Kyle's Dies y Seis de Septiembre celebration in 1969 that Sonny Falcon sold the very first Fajita taco. (source)

This is Lucky Dawgs BBQ. They won Grand Champion BBQ team for 2013.

They received 3rd place Chicken, 2nd place Ribs, and 2nd place Brisket.

I judged all three of those and I have to say... there were quite a few DELICIOUS entries...so this was a tough one.

Lucky Dawgs BBQ - facebook.com/luckydawgsbbq

If you'd like to see ALL of the photos (I took photos of each of the winners in every category) visit my flickr set - http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanclaes/sets/72157633184749574/

Me with Sonny "The Fajita King" Falcon.

Me with Sonny "The Fajita King" Falcon. He CREATED the fajita taco. In Kyle Texas in 1969. I'm about to judge ribs with him., a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

Sonny "The Fajita King" Falcon sold the first fajita taco. Really. Kyle, Texas is the home of the Fajita taco.

From Wikipedia: "Sonny Falcon is believed to have operated the first commercial fajita taco stand at a weeklong outdoor event in Kyle, Texas, in 1969" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fajita
I got to judge ribs with him at the BBQ cookoff during the 2013 Kyle Fajita Fiesta on Saturday.

I'm a lucky guy.

Bountiful Baskets - Kyle

Bountiful Baskets - Kyle, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

Recently, Kyle became a distribution point for Bountiful Baskets (http://bountifulbaskets.org/). This is a photo I took of a few of the baskets on the morning of the last distribution.

Bountiful Baskets is a Food co-op that is run by the folks who purchase the items which are largely produce. The cost is  $15 for a Conventional Basket, and $25 for a 100% Certified Organic Basket. Plus.. they have some fantastic add ons for a little extra $$. The bread is amazing.

My family has bought a basket a few times and the fruits and veggies we get are pretty amazing.

If you live in America, check their Website to see if they distribute in your area. Tell 'em Kyle, Texas Daily Photo sent you. It won't mean anything to them.. but it'll make me feel good. :)

Bob Schneider @ Hats Off For Hospice

DSCF5944, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

On March 24, 2013 Austin musician Bob Schneider played for a great crowd at the annual Hats off for Hospice at Texas Old Town. It was a great day with a lot of money raised for the cause + we even got to see a marriage proposal.

All American Camel

All American Camel, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

Last weekend there were camel rides in Kyle. Apparently this was 2 guys out of New Mexico that were traveling with a camel and a Zony (Zebra/Pony). They get permission with the city (so it's all legal) and then set-up shop for a few days selling $5 camel rides.

They said they were headed to San Antonio and Laredo next. Keep up with them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-American-Camel/307896329248242