290/365

Colored Disks

There was an area in the local zoo that might have been intended for people to use as a background for their cell phone pics of their children.  I can't think of any other reason for this area.  

I just thought it was so pretty with the brightly colored disks.

If my grandkids had been with me today, I definitely would have taken their pics in front of this pretty background.

I'm grateful for:

beautiful colors that decorate our world

289/365

Two Pumpkins

The local zoo sets up a hay maze every fall and within the maze there are many smaller areas of decorations.  I just thought this was really sweet.  Not a word class winner, but I like the simplicity of the pumpkins on the hay bales

My heart is grateful that:

nature is so beautiful

288/365

Three Pumpkins

I went to the local zoo today.  They do a wonderful job decorating for the Fall holidays.  They always create a hay maze, and the entrance has an archway of these adorable artificial pumpkins.  

My heart is grateful for:

joyful decorations

287/365

An abandoned home

Another abandoned structure in Bradshaw, TX.  

Just thinking that this was someone's comfy home once upon a time.

I'm grateful that:

I get to see the world anew again through the eyes and excitement of my grandkids

286/365

Country Church

I drove to this "town" this afternoon.  In 1929 it was a thriving community of 450 residents.  As of 2000, the population was about 26. 

Bradshaw, TX, in the southern area of Taylor County, was founded in 1909 when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad was constructed near the town's location.

When the railroad relocated closer to Abilene, the population dropped off and now it seems to be just a collection of abandoned & forgotten structures.

This building appears to have been a church of some kind since the room just inside the front doors is filled with pews.

I'm grateful for:

better temps so I could actually open my house windows today

285/365

Cobra Jet

An insignia seen on an antique car at a car show in small town Texas. The red color was a beautiful cherry red and the car was fantastic.

I'm grateful that:

God is not surprised by the predicaments in my life

284/365

V8 Symbol

Seen on the side of an antique car at a car show in a small town in Texas.

I'm grateful that:

the price of gas has gone down a little lately

283/365

Up and Over

I saw this set of steps going over the barbed wire fence as I was driving down a country road.  I made a quick U-turn to get back there and make some images of the steps and the small silo inside the fence.  

How interesting~~the barbed wire fence is in place to keep out intruders, but there was easy access up and over the steps.  Weird.

I'm grateful today:

the the spontaneous visit to my daughter's house not far from this spot

282/365

Decorative Handrail

As I was driving down a country road, I came upon a small church that I decided to photograph.  When I walked closer to it I noticed this beautiful decorative handrail at the steps.  It was also creating columns from the steps to the small overhang for the porch.

I'm grateful today for:

the much cooler temps

281/365

Scarecrow and Pumpkins

I'm not a fan of Halloween. Never have been.  Sometimes, if the decorations aren't too disgusting, I think they're cute.  

This display was outside the local YMCA.  The scarecrow is animated and randomly begins to move and say things and the pumpkins are inflatables.  

I miss the days when the grandkids were young enough to enjoy coming to my house and carving pumpkins.  We would usually make a day of it, culminating with the carving and putting candles in them once it was dark outside.  

Those days, sadly, are gone.

My heart is grateful that:

I had those fun times with the grandkids and we all still have the memories

280/365

Pink Flamingos

A quick trip to the zoo today because the weather is so incredibly gorgeous. 

I'm grateful for:

finishing a project that I've been procrastinating over for weeks

279/365

9/11 Tribute

This is an older, much older, image from 2015.  I was looking through some of my older posts and came across this one and several more from the same shoot.  The post was created in 2015, the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

Many towns throughout the United States held/hold a "Stair Climb" as close to 9/11 as possible in honor of the responders who died that day.  This one was in Utica, NY at the tallest building.  Not sure how many flights it is, but the participates go up and down as many times as necessary to replicate the Twin Towers.

Each participant wears one or two name tags of a responder who died that awful day and at the end of the climb they post the name tag on a central viewing board for everyone to see.

If you can navigate to it, the post was in 2015 on Sept 11 where you'll see more photos of the event participants.  It's actually a full weekend of different events.  

I attended the event for several years and there wasn't one time when I didn't shed a tear or two while there.

My heart is grateful for:

selfless men and women

278/365

Little Lending Library

Seen in Dunedin, FL where their claim to fame is oranges.

277/365

Blue Wall Art

Seen on a downtown apartment building in Dunedin, FL.

276/365

House Decor

Some decor seen at a friend's house.  

275/365

Just the Facts

I attended a meeting last night where the author of this book spoke about the horrendous things that are really happening at the southern border in Texas.  It's worse than we all know and worse than we want to believe.  I could go on a political rant right now, but I don't think that's what my blog should be about.

I will recommend this book for anyone who wants to know the facts.  The author is a former ICE and Homeland Security Agent, who was shot three times in an altercation (during which his partner was killed) and who is now advocating for stricter restrictions at the border.

My heart is grateful for:

men who are courageous and willing to fight the fight

274/365

Emblem

I went to a meeting at the First Church of the Nazarene last night and I got there early so I decided to see if there were any photo ops.  This emblem is situated on the front facade of the church building. Simplicity at its best.

I'm grateful for:

God's love

273/365

Wonky Tree

This tree looks partially dead, so seeing the limbs is easy.  Wonky shape.

My heart is grateful for:

blue skies

272/365

Shadows and Wires

I just thought these shadows looked great being criss-crossed with all the wires.

My heart is grateful for:

cooler temperatures

271/365

A House Cafe

A couple of friends of mine went to this house-cafe last week and told me about it.  Allegedly they're hiring and I need a job.  They're only open for lunch, so it would be a perfect place to work.

It's so sweet outside and in.

My heart is grateful for:

potential

270/365

Abandoned Country Barn

This abandoned barn is seen on a country road on the outskirts of Abilene, Texas.  

My heart is grateful for:

breakfast at a cafe with my daughter and the grandkids

269/365

A hi-rise

This hi-rise is located in Abilene, Texas, seen against and intense blue sky.  

I'm grateful today for:

the fun time I had with the grandkids this morning

268/365

Mattress Company

There are so many abandoned businesses downtown.

I grateful that:

I got to spend some time with a friend today

267/365

Abandoned GMC

I already posted an image of this truck and house, but this is a different perspective and I think I like this better.

My heart is grateful for:

My monthly bookgroup meeting tomorrow afternoon.  I look forward to it all month.

266/365

Garage Door Mural

Driving through the little town of Buffalo Gap, Texas, I saw this garage door mural and in the background of the backyard was a table with brightly painted bird houses.  This place might be a small retreat house of some kind, but there was no signage and no people around to ask.

I'm grateful for:

art

265/365

Apartment Windows

These windows are on the side of an apartment building in downtown Cisco, Texas.

I'm grateful today for:

tomorrow being Saturday and not having to rush out of the house unless I want to

264/365

Abandoned Or Not

I' ve seen this building in Cisco, Texas several times and it never looks inhabited.  The blinds are old and damaged, the paint around the windows is peeling and the mailbox doesn't look functional.  There's an ATT symbol on the peak of the structure (which I removed for this post) and the air conditioner near the door was running.

So is the building abandoned or not?  Hmmm

I'm grateful that:

my monthly photo meeting is tonight

263/365

Leaning Tower

I saw this tower while I was walking around some side streets in Cisco, Texas.  I have no idea what it was originally.

I'm grateful for:

cooler temperatures 

262/365

Bottle on the Steps

I noticed these steps first and then I saw the bottle.  I didn't handle it so I don't know what was in the bottle. 

I'm grateful for:

My new-to-me washer/dryer being installed today

261/365

Red Awnings

Seen on an office building on the south side of downtown Abilene, Texas.  

I'm grateful that:

I was able to mow the lawn this morning while it was still cool

260/365

Rodeo Clown and Bull

An event at the annual West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene, Texas

My heart is grateful today for:

bringing leftover food home from church after the weekend Presbytery, so now I don't have to cook for a few days!!!  win-win

259/365

Barrel Racing 

One of the events at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo

My heart is grateful that:

the grandkids were here today and the oldest (5.5 years) is old enough to play my favorite board game, 

"Sorry".

258/365

Bronc Rider

Another rodeo.

My heart is grateful for:

Talking on the phone today with a friend I haven't seen in a long time

257/365

Performer

While waiting for the Rodeo to begin, I wandered around the midway and came upon this group performing.  The volume was crazy loud and I didn't understand a word they were singing, but it was great getting pics of the group.  

I'm grateful today for:

all the good books I've read in my lifetime and how much I enjoy reading

256/365

Whirling

I'm not sure what this ride is called, but the last time I went on one (45 years ago) I thought I was going to throw up. So now I just enjoy the ride from the ground and take photos.

My heart is grateful for:

wisdom 

255/365

Rainbow at the Fair

After a little rain when I first got to the Fair, the sky started to clear but not before this beautiful rainbow appeared.  

My heart is grateful for:

God's promise to His people

254/365

Gerhart Hall

This is the building of the Parish Hall of the Episcopal Church of Heavenly Rest in Abilene, Texas.  It was constructed several years after the church was completed in 1953

My heart is grateful for:

my hope that God will work out a sticky problem in my life

253/365

Abandoned Horse Trailer

As I was driving down a country road, I saw this abandoned horse trailer.  When you consider how much these trailers cost, it makes you wonder why anyone would abandon one.

My heart is grateful for:

the rain and cooler temps we had today

252/365

Bell Tower

This beautiful structure is the bell tower of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, TX.

The cornerstone indicates that it was built in 1953, but it existed as a church before that in another structure in downtown Abilene.

My heart is grateful that:

the temps have cooled off a little and there's rain in the forecast

252/365

Six White Horses

Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, TX has a club (if that's what it's called) whose members care for and ride six white horses in parades, rodeos and other community activities both local and in towns around Abilene.  From the little I've heard about this group, there are about 20 horses that are rotated for the different rides and the group of girls in the club also rotate as the riders.  

They are iconic for the local parades.

This parade is the kick-off event for the West Texas Fair and Rodeo that began this week.

I'm grateful for:

God's beautiful creatures

251/365

Ride at West Texas Fair & Rodeo

After working for a few hours selling tickets to the fair, I walked around a little taking some photos. When I was editing this one, I was surprised to see the people inside the ride.  

This pic is just a happy serendipitous image.

My heart is grateful that:

I had something fun to do this evening

250/365

100 (years) sign

This "100" sits farther into the campus of McMurry College.  It represents that the college is 100 years old.  1923-2023

My heart is happy that:

some things last for a long time

249/365

Sculpture

This sculpture is in front of the Fine Arts building of McMurry University.  I've been wanting to photograph it for a long time, but it's situated on a main road that has a lot of traffic and parking is difficult.  But today I decided to figure out a way to get to it.  I normally don't like abstract art, but I find this kind of pretty.  Who knows how much it must have cost~~probably enough to make me gasp.

My heart is grateful for:

making hard decisions and figuring out how to solve surmountable problems

248/365

Rodeo

The West Texas Fair and Rodeo starts at the end of this week..  This is a photo from my files, maybe from last year or the year before.  I LOVE photographing rodeo events.  I love cowboys and horses and anything related to them.  I might just have to rent a lens that's a little faster and longer than any I have.  Maybe/maybe not.  I'll have to see how long I can keep it and how much it will cost.

My heart is grateful that:

there will be a little excitement around here soon

247/365

Pothos Houseplant

This is one of my favorite houseplants.  In spite of my "black thumb" I've never managed to kill one of these.  They thrive like crazy in spite of careless or careful attention.

From "Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me":

If you wait until you're really sure, you'll never take off the training wheels.

My heart is grateful for:

the beauty of nature indoors

 246/365

A Wide Empty Landscape

I went to an estate sale yesterday.  It was a few miles from a small town and then three more miles down a dirt road, basically in the middle of nowhere.  This is one view from the house and it was like this 360 degrees around the house.

I know there are people who like to live as much off the grid as possible, but this makes me scratch my head.  My question is "why"?

My heart is grateful today that:

I went to the movies to see the new movie "The Hill".

I recommend it highly.

245/365

Abandoned and Abandoned

I saw this abandoned house and truck on my way home from a small town about 30 miles outside of Abilene.  I almost rode on by but at the last minute I decided to go back.  I only had my trusty Canon point-and-shoot with me, but that camera takes amazing photos.

I was able to get close to the house because part of the fence around the property was damaged and I easily stepped over it into the "yard".  I desperately wanted to get into the house, but there's no telling how safe it is and I wasn't wearing good shoes, so I reluctantly passed up the opportunity to go inside.

It's been a long time since I've managed to get an image that I like as much as I like this one.  These scenes are few and far between around here.

I'm grateful for:

random adventures and surprises

244/365

Aqua Keurig

This machine belongs to my roommate who will be moving out in a few weeks.  I LOVE this color even though it doesn't match anything in the kitchen.  

I'll have to get my own machine when she moves out.  The other appliances are black & silver, so I guess I'll get a Keurig that matches them.

My heart is grateful for: 

choices~~for whatever...

243/365

Abstract Man

My daughter made this abstract man in art class when she was in middle school.  I don't usually like abstracts of any kind, but I like this so much I framed it and it's been on my dining room wall ever since.  She had a WONDERFUL art teacher in middle school.

My heart is grateful for:

inspirational and caring teachers

242/365

The Airport

I took a friend to the airport this morning.  It's a regional airport and only about a 15 minute drive from town.  My last home was about an hour from the airport, so 15 minutes is a real treat.

He'll be back early next week.  I didn't ask him yet, but he might be up for stopping at my fave coffee shop for a treat.

My heart is grateful that:

someone else is going to work on the church bulletin next week so I have a week off