50/366

Ballfield????

This grassy field had three chain link ball fences, but no designated base lines.  Guess it must have been the home of several ball fields once upon a time.

My heart is grateful for:

Athletic fields for kids and the opportunities they provide for the kids

49/366

Fence

Nothing special about this fence, I just thought it was interesting and I'm getting desperate for photo ops around this town.

My heart is grateful for:

the incredibly beautiful weather we're having right now

48/366

Home for Children

This beautiful building is the Hendrick Home for Children in Abilene, Texas.  You can google it to find out about its services to children and families in need.

My heart is grateful for:

those who obey God's calling to minister to the needy

47/366

Dying Rose

Someone gave me a rose as a thank-you.  I stuck it into a jar where I was rooting a shoot from a plant I have. They thrived together very nicely, but now the rose is pretty much dead and many of the petals have fallen.  I haven't touched it, I like the way it looks and I knew I would get a photo of it sooner or later. If I can get motivated, I'll try to figure out a few other photos with the dead petals and what's left of the rose on the stem.

I'm grateful for:

beautiful nature

46/366

Defunct Electric Company Building

This is the defunct electric company building surrounded by chain link in Abilene, Texas. Right now, off to the right of the image is the new power grid.

My heart is grateful that:

it's been a pretty calm day after two weeks of being very busy

45/366

Metal Flowers on display for sale at a Garden Store

44/366

Skateboarder in Santa Fe

My heart is grateful for:

getting another realty job this week

43/366

Four Meter Boxes

See in an alleyway behind a huge building in downtown Abilene, TX

My heart is grateful that:

I have another photo job booked fore this week

42/366

The Mill

This structure was, once upon a time, a flour mill that helped bring financial resources to Abilene, TX. Currently the lower level is a very popular Wine and Event Center.

My heart is grateful that:

my pregnant daughter-in-law is feeling better

41/366

Overhead Door and Staircase

This building is huge.  It's about 1.5 blocks long and 1 block deep.  There used to be two businesses in it that I knew, plus some others.  Those two businesses have relocated and some others have taken over the spaces.  This is what's seen in the back alley.  Facing the street is a walkway along which are other overhead loading doors.  The building is three stories tall.  

I don't know who owns the building or who pays the taxes.  

My heart is grateful for:

old buildings that are maintained instead of being demolished

40/366

Peeling paint

This door is on a loading dock of a building that appears to be abandoned.  It was probably a warehouse of some sort, it spans an entire block.  But today there was this pallet leaning on the wall and there was some cardboard scattered along the walkway where the overhead doors are.  So is the building abandoned or not?  

My heart is grateful for:

finding some photo ops where there never were any before

39/366

Ivy on a wall

I was walking around downtown again to find some photo ops.  It's a beautiful day, not even a sweater needed.  I've been past this building many times, but today I noticed the ivy growing up the side of the building along the window.   The blue sky and the clouds are reflected in the window.  Just a really pretty composition I think.

My heart is grateful for:

 seeing something pretty in a scene I've passed many times before

38/366

American Flag on fence.

I might have already posted this image a long while back, I can't remember.  I saw it as I was looking through my files and for some reason I really like it.  A few days after I made this image, I was walking around the same area and the flag was gone, sad face.

My heart is grateful:

that I live in America where we're still free

37/366

Clothespins

I was at my daughter's house one day helping her take the laundry off the clothesline. I looked up

and voila, there was the shot.

My heart is grateful for:

the cooler weather

36/366

Envy Nightclub sign and black car.

I just thought this made a cute image.  The black sign "Envy" and the black car parked almost perfectly beneath it.

My heart is grateful for the photo job I had today

35/366

Steps

Not sure where this was taken...I think it was in Knoxville, TN.  I just love the curve of the steps and the brick wall.

My heart is grateful:

that I've located a nice place to live that's a little less pricey than where I am right now

34/366

Law Building at University of Tennessee

This building is located in downtown Knoxville, TN.  I just love the architectural form of it, and being winter, the trees didn't really block the view.  

My heart is grateful for:

beautiful and creative architecture

33/366

Screen Door and Shadow

A door on the side of a downtown building in Baird, Texas.

I'm grateful:

for the rain we're having tonight

32/366

Renovated Building

This building has been under renovation for a long time.  It reminds me of a school, but the sign says it was the county courthouse.  Whatever it was, they're doing a great job renovating it.

I'm grateful that:

I managed to get over 14,000 steps today

31/366

Church Steeple

Presbyterian Church steeple seen against a cloudy white sky.

I'm grateful that:

We have freedom of religion in this country

30/366

Farmer's Co Op

A number of silos clustered around at a farmer's co op

29/366

Abandoned Motel

I went to Baird today to see if there were any photo ops.  I've passed this place several times before, but I never stopped.  Today I did.  There was a fence around the perimeter so I couldn't get any closer, but this will do.  The tree in the foreground is probably stunning when it's in bloom.

I'm grateful that:

I unexpectedly had the chance to have dinner with my daughter and her family tonight

28/366

Abilene Rodeo

I've been busy this week and it's winter so I haven't been too inspired.  But just so I don't get further behind in posting one a day, I pulled this from my files from many months ago.

I'm grateful for:

a day's work which will turn into a paycheck

27/366

Wilford Moore Stadium

This is a side view of the football stadium bleachers of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.  It's home to the War Hawks football team and other teams.  The capacity of the bleachers is 3,200 and the field was opened in 1937. 

I'm grateful that:

I got a lot of work done around the house today and that the weather was so mild again

26/366

An Apartment Building

I saw this apartment building staircase with balconies while walking around downtown Knoxville.

I'm grateful that:

I was able to watch the grandkids at their MMA lesson today

25/366

The dock at the Lake

Fact:  there is only one natural lake in Texas.

All the rest are man-made.

For someone who comes from a place where there are lakes around every bend in the road, that's a difficult fact to wrap your brain around.

I went to the lake near my home today hoping beyond hope there would be a photo op.  There wasn't. This dock adjacent to a boat launch was the best I could do.  

My heart is grateful that:

the sun was shining today and I was fairly busy

24/366

Parking Garage

When I was walking around downtown Knoxville, I came upon this building, which I first thought was an apartment building.  Then I realized it's a parking garage and the balconies are just steps from the interior elevators.  A pretty fancy structure for a parking garage I'd say.

My heart is grateful for:

a sunny day after many days of rain

23/366

Another Abandoned building

 

As I was driving a new route home today, I came upon this seemingly abandoned church building.  

There's a sign off to the right of the building, but it's empty so I don't even know what denomination it originally was.  

My heart is grateful for:

my first day at my new PT job today

22/366

Winter Tree

As I was getting into my parked car this afternoon, I noticed this tree.  It has a beautiful shape and it's probably gorgeous when it's blooming.  I'll have to check back in the spring/summer and get another shot of it.

M<y heart is grateful that:

this was another peaceful day and that I get to work tomorrow

21/366

South Side Baptist Church

It's a rainy,  cloudy day today but even though the sky is plain white, I thought this is a great church front.

My heart is grateful for:

all the rain we're having now

20/366

Watercolor

I saw this in my chiropractor's office today.  I've seen it other times but today the lightbulb went off that I should take a photo of it.  I only had my phone so the quality isn't great, but I still thing it's a great image to have in the office.

My heart is grateful for:

my chiropractor who offers non-medicinal healing

 

19/366

Restaurant Sign

I've been downtown so many times and N.E.V.E.R thought of taking a photo of this sign.  I guess I've just never looked "up" when passing this place.  I finally did and how cool is the sign?

My heart is grateful for:

how busy I was today in spite of the cold weather

18/366

Icy Fountain

I guess it got pretty cold in Abilene while I was away.  The downtown fountain is still icy even though it was about 52 degrees today.  

I'm grateful that:

I had some extra spare time today and was able to get some important chores done

17/366

Fence at the Lake

A day or two before the snow storm I was at the lake and saw this fence, the shadow and the lake.  Not a world class photo, but I like the sparkles of the lake water and the way the fence creates the shadow.

My heart is grateful that:

in spite of the crazy long flight delay, things were ok and I'm finally home

16/366

I thought I was done with snow.  Visiting in Knoxville, we had to shovel the car out of 8.5 inches of snow since I'm heading to the airport this afternoon.  

My friend said snow hasn't been this deep in forever~~well sure, that's the way I roll.

My heart is grateful for:

enduring friendship

15/366

Blue Shed in Snow

I've never been in Knoxville in the winter.  I didn't know it snowed here.  Good grief, this photo was taken this morning and it's late afternoon now and it's been snowing all day.  Yikes. I thought I'd be done with snow when I left the northeast, but I guess not.

My heart is grateful that:

I had one last chance to see my grandson today before heading home tomorrow~~he's doing his best to talk me into moving to TN, and he's being somewhat successful

14/366

Colored Houses

I saw these while walking around downtown Knoxville.  There were many others painted nice colors, but these three were all in a row.

I'm grateful for:

the good weather before the storm that's on the way

13/366

Blowing Bubbles

12/366

Stream in Great Smokey Mountain National Park

It was a dreary day, sometimes rainy.  The wind was blowing and the roads through the park were closed because of falling branches.  Sigh

I'm grateful for:

winter scenery 

11/366

Barber Shop

Seen outside a barber shop in Lawrenceburg, IN

10/366

The Ark Encounter

A full-scale replica of Noah's Ark is located in Williamsburg, KY.  I've read about it but never thought I'd be able to visit in person.

I got there today.

It's truly amazing.  It took Noah 10 years to build the ark.  Only 8 people survived the flood, along with 7 of every clean animal and 2 of every unclean animal. (there are differing opinions about exactly how many animals were on the ark but the animals were smaller in those days, and it was a "kind" of each species, so not as many animals as we think there might have been) It's 2 football fields long.

There was one door on the ark and God closed the door from the outside.  

The structure was an engineering marvel.

I'm grateful that;

Some of God's people have been so obedient

9/366

We're Not In the Adirondacks Anymore

At the end of a walking path in one of the many parks in Knoxville, these red chairs were waiting visitors.  They aren't Adirondack chairs and I didn't sit in them so I don't know how comfortable they are.  I'm spoiled~~Adirondack chairs are soooo comfortable.

my heart is grateful for:

nature spaces in the town

8/366

Winter Marina

Ft. Loudon Lake in Knoxville, Tennessee.  

I'm grateful that:

we had the chance to be out-and-about looking for photo ops while the northeast was being pummeled with snow

7/366

Cabin at Abandoned Zoo in Cisco

The abandoned zoo trail led along a series of cabins on the hill that had been available for zoo visitors.  The outside walls and most of the inner walls are still intact, giving a great visual of how beautiful these cabins must have been in their hey-day.  

My heart is grateful that:

some history is preserved, even if not in pristine condition

6/366

Admiral David Glasgow Farragut

seen in Knoxville, TN

It's so nice to be someplace different and see different photo ops for a change.  This is a statue of Admiral Farragut, who was born in July 1801, joined the US Navy when only 11, saw his first combat at that age and commanded his first vessel at 12. By the time he died in 1870 he had been serving 

the US in uniform for 59 years.

He is quoted as saying, 

"damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead".

5/366

Welcome sign at baggage claim

Visiting a friend I haven't seen in years.  This area is like eye-candy compared to where I live.  So glad to have this chance to visit.

I'm grateful for:

a change of scenery

4/366

One of the last times I went to Hawaii for the winter, I found this checkbook cover at a vendor booth at one of the fairgrounds.  I've been using it ever since.  It brings back fond memories and there are so many times I wish I were back there.

I guess that was a season of my life that will probably never be repeated.  It was good while it lasted.

I'm grateful for: 

the many years I was able to be in Hawaii for the winter and not have to deal with upstate NY winter weather.

3/366

I'm dealing with an issue in my life right now for which I need to be very patient while trusting the Lord.  I know He has a plan...I can't wait to see what it is.

2/366

I received this rocking chair from my husband when our second child was born. That son is now 52.  I went on to rock and comfort 4 more children in that chair.

I made the quilt about 35 years ago when I knew practically nothing about quilting, but I belonged to a small group whose members were very helpful and I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

 1/366

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S

A new year, a new photo-a-day challenge.  I fell 6 images short of the challenge in 2023.

2024 is leap year, so an extra image will be needed.

I don't know why I find this challenge so difficult, but I'm giving it another go this year.

There's an abandoned zoo in Cisco, Texas.  It opened in 1923 and closed in the 1930s due to the unsolved mystery of the poisoning of a bear and the equally mysterious unsolved death of a deer.

Today the grounds provide hiking trails that wind past the old animal enclosures as well as cabins that were available to the zoo visitors.