306/365

Agricultural Structure

I'm not sure what this structure is but it's pretty imposing in downtown Abilene, TX.  I was there on a day when it was closed and there were no people around.  

It was a beautiful clear day.

305/365

Downtown Church

I had my wide angle lens on the camera and got this image of this downtown church.  No indication about what kind of church it is, but the street view is beautiful. 

304/365

What is It?

I was walking around downtown Abilene today and came across this beautiful building which I've seen many times before.  There are no signs indicating what the structure is for.  It appears to be a large home, but I don't think it is.  It must be some kind of business, but whatever it is, it's beautiful.

303/365

Beautiful Church

It was a gorgeous day today so I went for another walk through town.  I forced myself to use a wide-angle lens, even though I wanted to use my usual lens.  I couldn't have gotten this image with the lens I always use, so this was a treat.

This is a stunning church in downtown Abilene, Texas.  The air was clear, the sky was blue and there were no people walking around, so I could get this image easily. 

302/365

Doughnuts

Today was the last day of early voting here in Abilene.  One of the other clerks was kind enough to bring doughnuts for us this morning.  

Some of us ordered burgers for lunch,  and one of the clerks went out to get them for us.  The price was amazing and the burgers were incredibly delicious.  I guess I'll have to keep that burger place in mind the next time I get a burger craving.  

301/365

Office Building

I'm very seldom out early in the morning when it's still dark, but today I was.  This office building is across the street from where I was headed this morning.  While I was waiting for the door to be opened, I noticed how awesome the building looked.  

It was very early...I wonder what was going on in the offices where the lights were at that time?

Early voting today and tomorrow are 12.5 hour days.  I'm glad all the workers get along and we have some fun during the day.

Election Day will be a 13-14 hour day.  Sigh

300/365

Three Models

When I first moved to Texas, I somehow got connected with a group of photographers who organized a photo shoot with some models.  It was really fun and the girls were totally into the session.

It was great watching the other photographers work and then getting a chance to do some images of my own.  

There's never been another session like that one and I've never seen the girls since then.

299/365

House for Sale 

I had the opportunity to photograph another house that's going on the sale market pretty soon.  It was late in the day and the light was beautiful.  The house is cute.  It's just two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room.  It needs some work but it would be a great starter house for a new couple or an ending home for an older couple.

The neighborhood in the small town is a little iffy, but with a little work the curb appeal could be improved.

298/365

298/365

The Lion and the Lamb

This beautiful statue is seen outside the entrance to the Sight and Sound Theater

located in Branson, MO.  The venue shows plays from Scripture and they are absolutey spectacular.

The one we saw was "DAVID", which will probably be  showing for the next 1.5 years.

The theater is closed for a few months starting in Jan I think.

The quality of these productions rival anything seen on Broadway.

297/365

Wall Safe

I was in the interior of a building this afternoon and saw this wall safe.  The door went practically from the floor to the ceiling.  I've never seen anything like this in person before.  Very interesting.

It threatened rain all day and finally began raining hard around 4 pm.  It's early evening right now and it's been raining steadily for hours.  Praise God for the rain.  The roads were nearly flooded at certain

intersections so I had to drive very carefully through them to get home, but it's so worth it.

"POLDARK" is being shown on Netflix again.  I've already watched through the series once, but it's irresistible so I'm watching through it again.  What a great show.

296/365

America's Main Street

Painted on a wall in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Rt 66 runs through this town.

It brought back memories of watching the show when I was a child.

295/365

Butterfly Graffiti

A yellow and black butterfly painted on a wall in Anson, Texas.

294/365

Greer's Shop

An abandoned building painted green in a small Texas town.

293/365

Abandoned Antique Shop    

An abandoned antique shop in a small Texas town.

292/365

Indian totem pole

This totem pole and information center is located at one of the tourist areas in Fairbanks, Alaska.

 

291/365

Clock Tower

This clock tower is on the campus of Hardin-Simons University in Abilene, Texas.  

290/365

Tally's on 66

This great eating place is located on Rt 66.  That might not mean much to some of my readers, but when I was young there was a show on TV called Rt.66 and it was very popular.  Rt. 66 is a destination now for those who know about it.  It goes from the middle of the country to the west coast but is now called other names.  

289/365

Artwork on a Fence

I'm staying at an airbnb tonight.  When I pulled into the driveway I saw all this artwork on the wooden fence and decided that it would make a great photo for today.

Sadly I didn't get out there when there was still some light, but as I walked into the driveway, a security light popped on so I was able to make this image.  

Someone in this house is an artist. 

288/365

Side Entrance

Barnard's Refinishing.  

I don't know if this business is still functioning, but the sign was there along with graffiti on the wall. 

This is located in downtown Abilene, Texas.  

287/365

Front Door

I just thought this looked sweet with the two flower urns on each side of the front door.

286/365

Black/White Fire Escape

I was walking around downtown the other day and I saw this fire escape.  Thought it was interesting so I turned it into black and white.  

I'm sure fire escapes have save many lives, but hopefully they don't get used much.

Weather was beautiful again.  I hope it lasts a long time.  The heat of the summer is just too much and it's great walking around with these temperate temps.

285/365

Closed Shop in Ranger, Texas

This is a closed shop in Ranger, Texas with two random chairs on the front sidewalk. 

284/365

Jacob's Ladder at Abilene Christian University

This beautiful sculpture of Jacob's Ladder is seen on the campus of the

Abilene Christian University. It's in Abilene, Texas on the outskirts of the city. 

The school was founded in 1906 and is associated with the Church of Christ.

283/365

Two-Apartment Building

I'm getting pretty desperate about finding photos for this "photo-a-day" blog.  Seems like I've been posting a lot of abandoned/vacant buildings lately (of which there are many, many, many) and I can't seem to find out what they were in their prime.

So today I walked around Abilene in an area I don't usually walk in, and I came across this building I've seen as I drive by, but I never stopped to take a photo.

This is a pretty new building and I'd love to get into it to see the inside.

Maybe someday.

It's been cooler here lately which is a welcome relief.  The mornings are wonderful even though the afternoons get hot.  The last two weeks of October are early voting weeks and I'm working at the polls, so for at least 2 weeks I'll have something to do.

282/365

Abandoned Bldg in Ranger

I don't know what this building was once upon a time, but now it's just a shell, no walls or floor plan 

inside, just some supporting poles holding up the beams that supported the upper floors.

There are planters along the outside of the lower level, as though someone is trying too make the building/sidewalk look nice.

281/365

Eastland County Courthouse

This beautiful courthouse building is the Eastland County Courthouse located in Eastland, Texas. 

In 2000 the population of the county was a little over 17,000.

The structure is located in the center of the town.

280/365

Two Buildings in Eastland

Today was a field trip to Eastland, TX.  These two buildings are in the downtown area.  The taller one looks to be uninhabited, but would surely make a great apartment building.  I couldn't tell about the other one.

The weather was beautiful today for walking around getting photos,  We stopped in to a great coffee shop for coffees and a snack.  It was a really good day.  

279/365

New Baby, New Portrait

Things were going along pretty well with this family portrait session until the little guy decided to have a melt-down. The big guy was doing a great job holding him in spite

of the wee one losing his patience.

For some reason, I really like this particular image.  

There were other images that might be more appealing, but I like the reality of this one.

I don't know which images the mom will choose, but this is still high on my list of favorites. 

278/365

Clock Tower

This beautiful clock tower is located on the campus of Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

It has an arch under it that allows students to walk the path from the sidewalk onto the campus between two buildings.  The tower is red brick with a golden dome.

277/365

Orange Sculpture

This orange sculpture of squares is located outside the art building at Hardin-Simons University in Abilene, Texas.  The middle box is the same orange as the rest, but the way the sun was shining washed it out to a lighter shade.

It's pretty interesting I guess, but it's not what I would have used as an indicator or

the art building.

276/365

Abandoned White Country Church

On our field trip the other day we drove about 1.5 hours west of Abilene.  I can't remember the town we were in, but there wasn't much there except for a few abandoned buildings.

This church, which must have been the centerpiece of the community at one time, was all boarded up.  No other buildings were near it, but it looks like it had an active spiritual life at one time.  Sadly the doors were locked so we couldn't get inside.

275/365

Abandoned Post Office

This abandoned building is located in Norton, Texas. The Post Office was opened in 1894.

In 1940 the population was 120 and had five businesses.

From 1980 to 2000 the population was 76.

274/365

The Mailbox is in Good Shape

A totally abandoned house.  But the mailbox is in good condition.

273/365

Abandoned Shed

My friend and I took a long ride today to find some photo ops.  We came upon this shed where half is falling down and the other half is still standing but is in terrible condition.  

272/365

Wildflowers

Today I had to take my car to Firestone for an oil change.  They were going to do some other work on it too, so I left the car there and got a ride home, only about a mile away.

When it was time to get the car, I walked back to the shop and on the way I saw these wildflowers growing in a cluster.  I've seen them other places too but only when I was driving and couldn't stop to get a photo.

I don't know the name of the flowers, but they're just so sweet and pretty.

271/365

Partial Pyramid in Lima, Peru

In the foreground of the image you can see the remains of a pyramid right in the center of Lima, Peru.  In the background are hi-rise apartment buildings that surround the pyramid on all sides.

The history of the pyramid is very interesting, although I was dealing with a very sore foot and 

was a little distracted by the discomfort of walking so much around and in the structure.

270/365

Baptist Church

I went to an estate sale this afternoon.  I don't ever want to buy anything, but it's something to do and it gets me out of the house.  

I'm always astounded at how much is in those houses~~what do people do with so much stuff, most of which is put away in cabinets and closets and not even used.

Anyway, after that I decided to drive around and look for some photo ops. 

Before I got out of town I drove down some streets I've never been on before and I came upon this beautiful Baptist Church.  What an interesting building. 

269/365

Back Door

We met for our monthly bookgroup today.  We usually go to a local coffee house, which I'm not overly fond of, but it works and there's a room that's usually empty that we meet in.

The book we discussed is the second in the series of The #1 Ladies Detective Agency, 

"The Tears of the Giraffe".

It was a fun discussion and the books, as well as the set of DVDs, is just sweet.  No swearing, no sex, no violence...

I was parked across the street from the coffee shop and when I got in my car to leave I just sat there for a while trying to figure out what to do since the weather was so nice and I didn't really want to go home and just sit on the couch.  I glanced over and noticed this side door of the coffee shop.  It's not very exciting, but for some reason I thought it was a good photo op.

I'm not sure anyone uses this doorway, but I like the color palette of it, and I couldn't think of anything else to photograph today.  I drove around on my way home hoping to find something else to photograph, but no such luck.

268/365

Three Cowboys

Three cowboys awaiting the start of the yearly rodeo in Abilene, Texas at the Annual Fair and Rodeo.

267/365

Pool Closed

Some of the saddest words ever.  

In Texas it's in the low 90s until the end of Sept or beginning of Oct, so why, I wonder, 

does the pool close so early?  So discouraging.

266/365

Photo of Paint Cans

I got my hair trimmed today in a small town about 20 minutes from where I live and then I drove around hoping to find something to photograph.  

I drove down a side road I haven't been on before and there was a Hardware Store with this photo on the outside.  I thought it was pretty cool. What a way to advertise a business.

265/365

House for Sale

I occasionally work with a realtor to photograph houses they want to sell.  The other day I had the pleasure of capturing this sweet little house in pics.  

It's just too adorable.  I wish I could buy it, but there's one legal item keeping me from getting 

a mortgage.  I can't get the house out of my mind, but I guess I'll have to wait on the Lord to make it possible if buying a house is His will for me.

264/365

Chain Link and Storage

Not too far from where I live is this storage place surrounded by a chain link fence. Not much to say about it...it's clean and I never see anyone in there, but I only drive past it once a day.

I wonder how many units are rented. 

I love shooting through chain link, weird I know.

263/365

Living Quarters

An apartment building across the street from the local church located on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.

262/365

Front Facade

This beautiful architecture is seen on a building in the historic town square of Lima, Peru.  The town square is referred to as Plaza Mayor or Plaza de Armas.

Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535.

Lima is the second largest desert city in the world and is also the home of the oldest 

university in the Americas. 

261/365

Peruvian Saleswoman

Selling her wares near the town center in Lima, Peru.

260/365

Close-Up Architecture

This is a close-up look at a beautiful building in downtown Lima, Peru.  The buildings surrounding the town square are breathtaking.  

Sadly, though, there's much of Lima that is incredibly poor.

How do they reconcile the great disparity?

259/365

Opening Ceremony at the Rodeo

These 6 White Horses, sponsored by one of the local Universities in Abilene, perform the opening ceremony at the West Texas Fair and  Rodeo each year, in addition to other performances they do throughout the year at other events.

258/365

Group of Peruvian Seniors

Our first workday in Lima, my group of about 12 and adults from the local church traveled to a camp in the hills and we had some medical assessments and discussions, a great lunch and then some fun playing games.

Always an opportunity for a group photo at the end of the day.

257/365

Our Mission Group 

Our mission group had their photo made in front of the hotel in Lima the first full day we were there.

There were 99 of us and we went out to minister to others in our different groups.