106/366

Cactus

I took this one day as I was wandering around one of the parks in Abilene, Texas.

My heart is grateful for:

nature's beauty all round if we have the eyes to see

105/366

Female Winter Hiker

This is from my files.  This is a friend of mine taken on a day when we hiked in the Adirondack Park of upstate NY.  I don't like winter, but those hikes we did were so much fun.  I miss them and the ladies I used to hike with.

My heart is grateful:

for the memories I have of good times with good people

104/366

Green Car and Headlights

Another car seen at the annual car walk in downtown Abilene, TX.

103/366

Car detail and Reflection

A car detail with the reflection of a building seen at the local car show.

102/366

Living Room Decor

I've had this rattan cube for a long time.  I store extra blankets in it.  Once upon a time I saw a photo in a magazine about decorating by putting books in a pile and then some kind of knick-knack on top and I loved the idea.  There's a spot in my living room where I can't really put a piece of furniture, so I put the cube there with the books on top of it.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.

My heart is grateful:

That I have something pleasing to fill that space

101/366

Into Thin Air

I read this book years ago.  It was published in 1997, one year after a disastrous Mount Everest expedition during which a total of 12 climbers perished.

I chose this book for my bookgroup which meets at the end of April.  

It's not a happy story, but it's incredibly well written and it left me scratching my head about why someone would pay $65,000 (in 1996~~who knows how much a climber would have to pay today?) to climb the highest mountain in the world knowing that at any given moment they could perish, be seriously injured, not make it to the top, or be one of the few who beat the odds and stand for a mere 2-3 minutes at the top after the brutal trek to 29,000 + feet.

100/366

Artwork at the Bank

I was in my bank the other day in a room by myself trying to reconcile a my account when I noticed this artwork on the wall.  Throughout the bank lobby there were various piecers of artwork created by local artists. 

I don't really like abstract art, but for some reason this one appealed to me.

99/366

Waco-Made Ice Cream

When we were in Waco a few weeks ago, some of us were looking for an ice-cream shop and we came upon this one.  The old bus was parked at the curb, advertising the shop.

We were not disappointed.

My heart is grateful that:

I'll be joining some friends tonight for a concert at the zoo.

98/366

Car Enthusiasts

A section of the huge crowd that attending the Abilene annual car walk a few nights ago.  The weather was spectacular, there were some live bands, many food trucks, businesses were open and there was vendors selling their products, and of course, beautiful cars.

My heart is happy that:

I'll get to see the grandkids at their lesson this morning.

97/366

Car Detail

Seen on a car at the yearly car walk in Abilene, Texas.

My heart is happy that:

I'll be seeing the grandkids tomorrow to help celebrate their birthdays.

96/366

Church of Christ

Just a couple of blocks from the seemingly functioning Methodist Church in the previous post, this building housing the Church of Christ appears to be abandoned.  The blinds in the windows were broken and discolored, the lawn wasn't mowed and it didn't look like there had been any foot traffic recently.  

How sad.

95/366

Methodist Church

Just a couple of blocks from the abandoned, neglected Main Street of Lueders, Texas, this Methodist church appears to be in good condition and is probably one of the places people worship on Sundays.

The lawn was nicely manicured and the building next door might be the manse.  

94/366

Stone Quarry

Although the town of Lueders, TX has so few inhabitants, it seems to be know for farming/ranching and stone quarries.  I passed this one on the way to find the town.  There were 3 or 4 along the road so apparently there's some form of commerce in the area.

My heart is grateful for

the beautiful weather today

93/366

Abandoned Garage Interior

I visited a town I never heard of until the other day.  Lueders, TX.  The Main Street is about 1.5 blocks long and consists of abandoned buildings except for the post office, the town hall and one convenience store. As of 2021 the population was 261.  It's a 45 minute drive from Abilene, and I don't know what other towns is might be close to, ie, where do those residents grocery shop, get gas, work???

 

This is the interior of a gas station on Main Street that looks like it's been abandoned for a very long time.  It has the typical Texas awning out front, but no gas pumps.

My heart is grateful that:

I was able to see the grandkids get tested for their martial arts class and move into the next group yesterday.  

92/366

The Magnolia Silos

Seen in Waco, TX.