209/365

Construction Site

This old school has been under renovation for quite a while.  I'm so glad they didn't just tear it down, it was probably a beautiful building in its day.  Wish I could have seen the inside of it before they began the remodel.

I don't know why, but I love shooting through chain link.  

I'm grateful for:

those who can see potential in an old structure

208/365

Gold Lock

I passed by a construction site this afternoon and saw this "gold" chain and lock on the gate.  I thought the gold chain and lock on the silver chain link looked really pretty.

My heart is grateful for:

the installation of our new pastor last night

207/365

Nana Mug

When I first moved to be near my daughter and her new family, she gave me this mug.  I love it~~the shape, the color and the sentiment.  For some reason  decided to use it for a pen holder, but the other day I was looking at it and realized it would serve me better as my coffee mug.

So I cleaned it up and now it's my new go-to mug and I'm loving it.

My heart is grateful for:

joy in the little things of life

206/365

Cactus

I saw this cactus as I was walking back to my car from a yard sale.  It's almost pristine which s pretty rare. 

My heart is grateful for:

cool early morning temps

205/365

Water Filter

When I first moved here, I discovered how awful the tap water tastes.  So for about three years I bought water.  When buying in bulk it's not very expensive but it's such a pain to remember to take the containers, make the extra stop, lug the containers into the house and then buy more before running completely out.

So I finally decided to get a home filter.  Not cheap, but the convenience is awesome.  The water doesn't taste as good as purchased water, but definitely doesn't taste as bad as the tap water, and according to the company, the filter purifies the water even better than the city system.

I'm grateful today for:

my comfortable bed

204/365    

Brand NEW Pencils

Around here, school will be starting in a couple of weeks.  The grandkids will be homeschooled.  One will be in Kindergarten, the next will be in a gentle pre-K.  The Pre-K girl has a birthday this weekend, so I got her a fun workbook, and some brand New Pencils.  

What in the world is more exciting to a kid than brand new pencils and a completely blank, fun, workbook?  Well....maybe a brand new box of Crayola Crayons!

Maybe I should get a box for her~~I'm also going to look for pencils with her name on them. 

The Kindergarten boy will get some pencils with his name on them, but not for a couple of weeks. 

My heart is grateful for:

exciting new beginnings

203/365

Another Abandoned Building

I'm behind and just so I don't fall too far behind, this image is from my files from about 4 days ago when I took a little road trip to Sweetwater, TX. According to the red sign, it might have been a carpet store once upon a time.  It looks pretty abandoned right now, although there are two air-conditioners in the upstairs windows.

So what did I do today?  Hmmm, this morning I played racketball with my friend and then had a doctor's appointment.  Home for a couple of hours then off to my monthly book group meeting.

We discussed the book "The Midnight Library"  I totally forgot to take a pic of the book so I could use it as a post.  sigh   There were mixed reactions to the book but it's worth reading.

My heart is grateful today for:

my racketball buddy and our weekly court date

202/365

The Breakroom

Seen in the alleyway area behind a business in Sweetwater, TX.  

I'm grateful today for:

cataract surgery

201/365

Band Practice

As I was driving home today I noticed this band practicing on the lawn of one of the local colleges. (99 degrees and rising)  I guess classes will be starting pretty soon for the students in this state.  Where I come from school doesn't begin until two days after Labor Day so it seems weird to me that activities are beginning in anticipation of the starting of the school year.

I'm grateful today for:

life choices

200/365

First Baptist Church of Sweetwater, TX

A beautiful structure with a learning center adjacent to it in the center of Sweetwater, Tx, in Nolan County.  The church was first established in 1881 and the construction was updated several times throughout the years.

My heart is grateful for:

our freedoms to worship as we like

199/365

Fire Escape

A fire escape seen on the side of a business in Sweetwater, Texas.  

My heart is grateful today for:

my reliable car

198/365

A Graphic Look

Seen at the end of a tunnel underneath the train tracks in downtown Abilene, Texas.  Not sure what the pipes are for but I love the graphic look it gives in the image.

My heart is grateful for:

pizza for dinner tonight

197/365

Chess Players

The minute I walked into my fave coffee shop I saw these two guys playing chess. While I was waiting for my drink to be ready I asked them if I could take a pic of them and they readily agreed.  

I've never seen them there before but I don't usually go there in the early evening.

I'm grateful for:

seeing friends enjoying each other's company while doing something together that they enjoy

196/365

White Pitcher

Another still-life taken in the house because it's too hot to be outside.  I love this little ceramic pitcher with blue trim.  I was at an antique store with a friend who was going to buy it for his photo studio, but then he changed his mind so now I own it.  Sometimes I put flowers in it but most of the time I just display it as is.

My heart is grateful for:

unexpected antique store finds

195/365

Ceramic Planter

It's hot outside.  I spent the afternoon trying to figure out where to go to take a photo to post and I kept remembering that it's 102F outside so I decided to try a still-life.  I love this little planter and I think the purple flowers are so sweet, even though I don't know what they are.  

If you like this image, go on over to Linda-buckman.pixels.com and check out all the products they offer with my images on them.  It's a great site to find a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.  Or you could just look at the images there and enjoy the "look".

My heart is grateful today for:

the estate sale at which I recently made an incredible purchase

(patience IS a virtue after all)

194/365

Less is More

I love images like this.  These red doors with black handles were too irresistible to pass by.  There are times when it's definitely true that "less is more".

My heart is grateful that:

I took a new route through town today and found this scene

193/365

Episcopal Church

I drove through an area of town where I've never been before and came across this beautiful church.  In spite of the 105 temps, I parked the car and took some photos of the gorgeous architecture.  And the sky/clouds were perfect.

My heart is grateful again for:

air conditioning

192/365

Plant Decor

This plant was seen on an outside table on the patio of a restaurant in Dunedin, Florida.  The restaurant was closed the day we saw this scene, but I thought it was the perfect piece of decor for an outdoor space.

My heart is grateful for:

the food in my pantry and refrigerator

191/365

Colored Overhead Door

Walking around the small Florida town of Dunedin, we saw an eatery that had some outside seating and this overhead door that is painted these beautiful colors.  The business was closed the day we saw it, so maybe during open hours this door is open to the inside of the restaurant,

In any case, I just think the colors are so pretty and I deliberately tilted the frame to get the stripes on a diagonal.

Today I'm grateful for:

having the eyes to see beauty everywhere

190/365

Perceptions of a Renegade Mind

I borrowed this book from a friend and about ¼ of the way through it I knew I had to own it.  I told him how much I was enjoying it and after a few days he gifted it to me and bought himself another copy.  That was so sweet.

If you haven't read it, or anything by David Icke, it should be at the top of your reading list.  This book deals with how we were all so deceived in the past 3.5 years.  

The back cover of the book states:

From the man who has called current events for more than 30 years...

The world as it REALLY IS.

In my opinion this book is a must read and it's a great reminder to never, NEVER, let ourselves be deceived in such a way again.

My heart is grateful for:

those who tell the whole truth in spite of the consequences

189/365

Oh Baby

This is a file from a few weeks ago.  I'm falling behind on my daily posting, so I'm trying to play catch-up again. 

My friend makes the flowers and decorates cakes.  I'm so impressed with people who are creative so I wanted to share her beautiful work again.

I'm grateful for:

the opportunity I had today to photograph my daughter and her 4 children, the youngest of which is only two weeks old.  It was a lot of fun, but now I know why I'm not a baby photographer.

Architecture is much easier!

188/365

The Christmas Story Lamp

Last month I was in a burger place I don't usually go to and I saw this lamp on the counter.  I've never seen one other than in the movie, so I had to grab a pic of it.  I don't know why I didn't post it sooner, but here it is now.  

Today I'm grateful for:

humor

187/365

Classic Books

These books are in my personal library.  I've read them all and I love them all.

Anna Karenina was a tough one.  I read it years ago, but recently someone in my book group picked it and she suggested we do it as a two-part series.  Everyone agreed. So we had a discussion of the first part one month, then the second part was the following month.  That worked out pretty well and

everyone liked it.

If there's one in this group you haven't read, I recommend that you read it soon.

Just my opinion.

My heart is grateful for:

good literature and even not-so-good literature at times

186/365

Toothpicks

Years and years ago my parents went to Florida for vacation~~it was a huge thing for them to go so far away and they had a good time.

Mom brought back a couple of these toothpick holders and this is the one I chose.  It's still on my kitchen counter and I think of her often because of it.  

She passed many years ago and there are still times when I think of something I'd like to share with her but then remember it's not possible.

Communicate with those you care about and love as much as possible while you have the chance.  If you don't, there will come a day when you'll long for those lost opportunities.

My heart is grateful for:

memories

185/365

Remains of a Covered Wagon

Seen on the grounds of Ft. Phantom Hill in West Texas. It was an important fort in the late 1850s.

My heart is grateful for:

America's birthday, July 4th

184/365

Three remaining chimneys and a canon.

Remains seen on the grounds of Ft. Phantom Hill in central Texas.  This was one of the largest and most important forts in the early 1850s.  The chimneys are just three of a series of remaining chimneys along the row that made up the Officer's quarters.  Several of the structures had cellars which were very unusual for a Texas fort

May heart is grateful for:

all the rain that has made everything so beautifully green this year

183/365

Abandoned Store Front

Dublin, Texas

Most small towns in West Texas have a few abandoned structures scattered about.  It's sad to see, but they often make great photo ops.  I stepped inside this "structure" and all that's left is a cement slab where the floor would be, and walls from the businesses on each side.  No roof.  

I wonder what the original business was and why they had to abandoned the space.  

I'm grateful today:

for finding something important that was temporarily misplaced

182/365

Three leaf clover

This 3-leaf clover is seen on the outside wall of a business just as you step into the alley in a small town in Texas called Dublin.

There are a lot of abandoned buildings in Dublin, but several seemingly thriving businesses and many, many beautiful homes.  What a contrast.

My heart is grateful for:

Visiting a place I've never been before

181/365

In a Town Called Dublin

There's a small town in Texas called Dublin.  This, sadly, is the abandoned train station running through the town.  It must have been beautiful in its day. 

My heart is grateful today for:

an unexpected, unplanned, fun roadtrip with friends