Bountiful Baskets

Bountiful Baskets

This is this week's haul for Bountiful Baskets.

I pick this up every other Saturday (when we sign up for one... you buy them as you want, it's not automatic). 

Love the fact that it's good veggies and fruit that we'll eat.

Here's the Kyle, Texas Facebook page for Bountiful Baskets - https://www.facebook.com/BountifulBasketsKyleTx

Railroad BBQ Closed. Auction next week.

Railroad BBQ in Kyle closed their doors last week.

They're having an Auction on 4/29. So... I shot this photo.

Sad. It's a Kyle Landmark.

Of course... I used it more for directions (turn right at Railroad BBQ) than I did for food. 

7th Annual Kyle Parks and Recreation Bike Rodeo

The 7th Annual Kyle Parks and Recreation Bike Rodeo

Was held 4/12/14. 

This is an amazing event where, for $10 kids are able to participate in a "bike rodeo" (several courses), a t-shirt, a bag of goodies and then parents can join the kiddos on a 2-3 mile bike ride through Kyle.

BUT the bonus is in all the extras. There's a little bike safety presentation,  a ton of giveaways and if you are in need, they will fit you with a new (and free) helmet.

Arrowhead Bikes (Kyle business) 

Me being very unsafe taking a photo over my shoulder during the ride.

My Youngest little girl actually WON this bike... and she LOVES it.


Here are the rest of my photos from the day:
flickr.com/photos/seanclaes/sets/72157643891541514/

Throwback Thursday - Kyle's BON TON

Throwback Thursday... Kyle Edition.

If anyone was in Kyle before 2002, they will recall the local meat market / grocery downtown by the name of Bon Ton. It opened in 1926.

It stood for just shy of 80 years on the same place where the Kyle City Hall now stands.

In 2002 it burned to the ground. It reopened at another location, just outside of Kyle, in 2004.

The Bon Ton Grocery - Downtown Kyle, Texas (photo by Hays Free Press)

Apparently, Chuck Norris Shops at the Bon Ton. (Located in Uhland now)

Bon Ton Meat Market & Country Store

115 S. Camino Real (Hwy. 21), 

Uhland, Texas

512-398-3810, 

www.facebook.com/bontonmeatmarket

Hours of operation: Mon.–Tue. and Thu.–Fri. 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Wed.

Silly Faces for April 1.

My girls deliver silly Faces for April Fools

The girls wanted to take a picture with our friend David Wilson at the Hats off for Hospice event this past weekend. Of course... every time we take photos... there's the "silly face" pic at the end.

Seemed appropriate for April Fools.

On a serious note.. David Wilson is running for Kyle City Council. Learn more about him at http://votedavidwilson.net/

10th Annual Hats off for Hospice at Texas Old Town in Kyle, Texas.

Information - http://www.hatsoffforhospice.com/

Blake Hartman conducts the live auction.

Stoney LaRue - Hats off for Hospice

Stoney LaRue @ Hats off for Hospice 2014

Stoney LaRue performed as part of the 10th Annual Hats off for Hospice at Texas Old Town in Kyle, Texas.

Information - http://www.hatsoffforhospice.com/

Prayer Circle for Gabriella Montoya

17 year-old Gabriella "Gaby" Montoya passed away today. 

March 28, 2014.

She was involved in a car accident last Saturday where she suffered a traumatic brain injury. She was taken off of life support this morning and passed at 10:30a.

The players of the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department's Kickball league came together Friday night and held a prayer circle to remember Gaby and pray for the Montoya family.. and all who knew and love her.

There is a fundraising site to help pay for medical expenses and funeral expenses. http://www.gofundme.com/7rr6vo

UPDATE: here's a story the Hays Free Press did on her and a balloon release that occurred Saturday: http://haysfreepress.com

Prayer Circle - Remembering Gaby Montoya

Some of the people who were part of the prayer circle.

Browning Family Chiropractic & Wellness - Ribbon Cutting

Browning Chiropractic Ribbon Cutting

Kyle Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Browning Family Chiropractic & Wellness was held on 3/18/14.

Browning Family Chiropractic & Wellness187A Kirkham Circle
Kyle, TX 78640

Website for more information on their services:
http://www.browningfamilychiropractic.com/

Irishfree School of Irish Dancing - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Had to find something "Irish" for today.

The Irishfree School of Irish Dancing holds classes in Kyle. 

This is them participating in the Kyle Founder's Day Parade this past year.

FUN!
Info: http://www.irishdanceaustin.com/

Happy Pi Day - Pizza Edition

Happy PI Day.
I ate 3.14 slices of this homemage pizza pie in honor of the day.

Add caption

The Jumpy Place - Funny of the day

Yes.. these kids ultimately got into trouble for climbing inside the "baskets" of this inflatable basketball game.. called "Hoop Zone" BUT.. for all of the people who's kids these weren't (including me) this was possibly the funniest thing we saw. 

GO FOR 50!

Seen at The Jumpy Place - http://www.thejumpyplacetx.com/
241 Weldon Johnston Way 
Kyle, TX 78640

Chickens, Booze and Bail Bonds

Great teaser in this month's "All Around Hays" which is the monthly magazine the local paper, the Hays Free Press, puts out.

I'd hoped I'd find all three in one story.... alas.. Chickens, booze and bail bonds were 3 separate ones.

If you'd like to read this magazine, it's online here - link

Yoda - The Scarecrow

Every year Negley Elementary School in Kyle, Texas holds a scarecrow making contest in October.... I realize I hadn't updated this blog on a regular basis in the last year or so.. but I wanted to share Yoda. This was the creation of My daughter's 4th Grade class... and my neighbor's awesome artistic ability (Brad did the Yoda head cutout... and Jenni painted it)

Balls & Dolls vs. Shut Em Up

Here's an action photo... this is Bobby w/ Balls & Dolls kicking against Shut 'Em Up.
Balls & Dolls took 3rd while Shut 'Em Up took 2nd.

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of "Most Hated" who won the tourney.

B.A.M. - Kickball Tournament

B.A.M No Mercy

B.A.M No Mercy was in the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department's coed Kickball tournament as well... they also took 5th. (There was 2 7ths and 2 5ths)

Just Kickin' It - KICKBALL

Just Kickin' It

This is Just Kickin' It, another of the teams that playing in the Kyle Parks and Recreation co-ed kickball tournament this past weekend.. They took 5th Place.

Kickball Tournament - PRAY BALL

PRAY BALL - Kyle United Methodist Church kickball team

This weekend was the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department's Winter 2014 Co-ed kickball tournament. I play on the Kyle United Methodist Church's team, PRAY BALL. We took 7th place out of 12 teams today. Yea.

My new Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR Digital Camera

New Toy!

Guess what my wife got me for my birthday? A new camera? I'm a big supporter of FujiFilm cameras.. I've had 4 different models. For an entry-level low-cost "professional" camera... they can't be beat.

Where else can you pick up a camera for under $500 that won't get you laughed out of the pit at music festivals and concerts..and that you can use to shoot freelance photography?

This is the Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR Digital Camera. Amazon has it on sale...in a kit w/ lots of extras for $459. link.

I can't wait to put it to use at a show!

Lone Star Kettle Corn - Taste Testing

I was tapped to taste-test some new options (oil) for popping Lone Star Kettle Corn

Kettle Corn is one of my favorite things. Luckily (or unluckily for my fitness) my friends own Lone Star Kettle Corn - http://lonestarkettlecorn.com/.

They were working on a new oil to make their kettle corn more healthy... so I got to try 4 different options. Mission Accepted. Belly Full.

Happy Birthday to me.

Happy Birthday to me. I turned 41 today.
My wife made me a Peanut Butter Pie. My favorite.

Susie T. Fuentes Elementary - Health and Fitness Night 1/23/14

3rd annual Family Health and Fitness Night @ At Susie T. Fuentes Elementary School in Kyle, Texas

IHOP - All You Can Eat Pancakes

Challenge Accepted.

I really wish they'd call this "All you CARE to eat" because I'd have stopped after 2. I ate a full breakfast (2 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, hash browns) and THEN ate 4 pancakes. I was full.. but I COULD eat more... so I ordered 2 more, which I had to pack up and take home.

Kyle, Texas Snowpocalypse 2014

The great freeze of 2014. January 24.

Yes.. this is my back porch. I know.. it doesn't look like much... but to Kyle, Texas it was a "snow day" and all of the schools were closed. The roads were iced over and it really wasn't safe to travel.

I worked from home... so I didn't miss work. Hooray internet!

Fuentes Elementary: 3rd Annual Family Health and Fitness Night

Zumba! At the 3rd Annual Health and Fitness Night

Fuentes Elementary held their 3rd Annual Family Health and Fitness Night on 1/23. Here's some folks doing some Zumba. It was a great time and I found some good information about activities and programs going on in Kyle, Texas.

I share a lot of them on my Fun in Kyle, Texas page. You can find it on Facebook - here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FunInKyleTexas/

ACC Hays Campus Grand Opening & Dedication

Austin Community College Hays Campus Grand Opening

Today I was able to witness the ribbon cutting at the ACC Hays Campus (1200 Kohlers Crossing, Kyle). Pretty big deal for Kyle, Texas!

Link: http://www.austincc.edu/locations/campuses/hays-campus

Offering at Kyle UMC

Offering at the 11a service at Kyle United Methodist Church

Chad Benninghoff - Polar Bear Splash

Chad Benninghoff "King of the Pool"

Happy New Year! The Kyle Parks and Rec Department holds an annual Polar Bear Splash. City Council member Chad Benninghoff is seen here in the Kyle Pool. I stayed out of the water this year as I was getting over a cold... but Chad does it every year and tries (and succeeds) being the last one out of the pool.

"After" shots... see yesterday to know what this was...

Happy Day After Christmas.
Here's some shots of the kiddos doing their damage to... well.. see what it used to look like here: link

Merry Christmas...

The Claes Graham Cracker House

Merry Christmas Day!

Come back tomorrow for the "After" photo of this.
We build this every year.. and let the kids at our Christmas Eve party destroy and eat it.
Good times.

Merry Christmas from the Claes4 & Kyle Daily Photo

Merry Christmas 2013 from the Claes4.

Below you will find some photos from our Christmas Adventure this season... in Kyle & Buda, Texas.

We saw a lot of Santas.. :)

Also here's the track listing of our 2013 Claes4 Christmas CD.

Each year we choose 15-20 of our favorite tunes from the past year... burn them onto a CD and hand them out to friends and family in hopes of helping them discover some of the great music this area (and the world) has. For the first time... we've gone digital. So, if you'd like these tunes... click here - link. It will take you to the Dropbox where these tracks reside. 

Just do me a favor. If you like these artists... seek them out. Find them in 2014 and attend a show, buy a CD and shake their hand. The links go to their Facebook page.

The 2013 Claes4 Christmas Album

1. Starts With Me - Tim Timmons
2. Hold Us Together - Matt Maher
3. Together - Steven Curtis Chapman
4. Richest Poor People - Brandon Rhyder
5. A Life That’s Good - Nashville Cast
6. I Need To Love You - George Ducas
7. We Made The Spirits Move - Tina Wilkins
8. Rain All Night - Walt Wilkins
9. Overnight Success - Zane William...s
10. You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Slaid Cleaves
11. Soul - Jack Burton
12. Down to the Station - OMAR and the Howlers FB
13. Can You Handle It - ROXY ROCA
14. Ba Da Ba - Full Service
15. O Holy Night - Rick Springfield
16. Mi Gloria - Julian L. Fernandez
17. In Control Of Just One Soul - Omarr Awake
18. Same Love (w/Mary Lambert) - Macklemore And Ryan Lewis

Download here ---> Merry Christmas

At Tree Lighting in Kyle.

At Buda Trail of Lights

At Kyle Performing Arts Center "Night Before Christmas"

With my personal Santa... Realtor Bruce King (Keller Williams Realty)

Family Photo @ Night Before Christmas

Kyle, Texas Tree

The Claes4 Christmas Tree. Flying Pig FTW

This made me chuckle. So... What does a Flaming Bird say?

This made me chuckle. So... What does a Flaming Bird say?, a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

We all know what a fox says.... but what does a flaming bird say?

Manger - Kyle United Methodist Church

The Manger scene at the 9a service of the Kyle United Methodist Church - 12/2013

Stop Peeking Around A Tree.

Stop Peeking Around A Tree., a photo by seanclaes on Flickr.

I like the way the folks who pruned this tree (located next to the Hays Free Press on Center Street in Kyle, Texas) made it possible for the stop sign to peek through.

Omarr Awake @ Milt's Pit BBQ

Omarr Awake

Milt's Pit BBQ is beginning a Saturday evening concert series.
Free music from 7-9p throughout December.
The first act was Omarr Awake. He was fantastic!

Next Saturday will be Philip Gibbs (12/14/13).

Santa Arrives In Kyle!

Santa Came to Kyle, Texas!

Thanks to the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department (and the Kyle Fire Department)... Santa Arrived safely in Kyle Texas tonight... and while he was here he went ahead and lit the Christmas Tree in Kyle's Old City Square Park.

After the shave - Movember 2013 Final

The "After" show from December 1's photo.

The "before" of the shave-off was published yesterday (link).
This is the "after"

Shave and a haircut... THANKS SPORTS CLIPS KYLE!

The Great Shave-Off - Goodbye Movember 2013

MoBro Greg about to be shaved at Sports Clips

Thank you Sports Clips of Kyle, Texas for again hosting The Simply Charming Mo's of Kyle, Texas' Movember Shave-off.