Will the REAL Bevo Please Come Forward!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted (which is very unlike me) due to being just a little preoccupied. This past weekend we traveled to Austin for Son’s graduation from the University of Texas. 

We had such a wonderful time and yes, for those of you who have followed me for a while know, I WILL be sharing over the next few posts about that experience.

UT fans know, that Bevo is the main-man on campus and the reason everyone around makes the “hook’em horns” sign as they pass each other. 

We saw Bevo this past weekend. More than once!

Will the REAL Bevo please come forward?

In Awe of…

our son!

As we prepare for the weekend and the commencement ceremonies at the University of Texas at Austin, I sit here in awe.

In awe of our son who has accomplished so much.

In awe of the fact he struggled so in school all those years ago.

In awe that he has put himself through school and is graduating with honors as a distinguished graduate.

In awe of all the fellowships, the scholarships and awards he has worked for and earned.

In awe of his independence, responsibility, maturity and determination.

In awe that one day, he will be called Dr. and have PhD behind his name.

In awe of a loving, merciful, gracious God who has taught me so much over the years in raising this child to a young man (and taught me patience when mine was running very low during homework times.)

In awe.

Old Service Station of Hamilton, Texas

I have searched, but no success!

Not in finding this place, but in finding out what exactly it was.

I’m usually pretty good about researching until I locate the information I need or want–not so in the case of the history of this old building.

If anyone who comes across this post has some light to shed, please do!

I’d love to learn more about this old service station of Hamilton, Texas.

 

Bristol Among the Bonnets

Every year as we go on the hunt for the Texas State Flower–the Bluebonnet, we come upon this house.

Every year, it is still standing.

Sometimes I wonder. Will it be there next year?

It looks like a good wind could knock it down.

But there it was…

in Bristol among the bonnets!

 

(Shot bracketed, 3 exposures. Processed using Lightroom 4, Photomatix Pro and Photoshop CS 6)

Hamilton Texas: St Mary’s

We took a little trip a few weeks ago. All the way to Hamilton, Texas.

It’s amazing what treasures you can find in small towns and this one was no exception.

To begin, we found…

St Mary’s.

 

I Bee Hiding

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Poppy Love

This weekend we moseyed on over to Mineral Wells with my in-laws. We wanted to treat them to Clark Gardens, seeing neither my mother or father in law had been there before. 

I’ll share a few fun shots later, but for now this is one I call…

Poppy Love!

 

I SEE You, I SMELL You!

I SEE  YOU!

I SMELL YOU!

Has Seen Better Days

This barn has been a “must stop” over the last three years. That is when I first discovered it, three years ago.

It hasn’t changed much in those last three years, however I’m sure it has seen better days!

Lilies, Lilies and More Lilies

 

 

 

A Warm Afternoon Swim

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Just Another Day in Ennis

We took another trip to Ennis today, to visit the famed Bluebonnet Trail.

It was a GORGEOUS day and a perfect trip with Sweet Hubby and my PhotoFriend, Kerri. 

Bluebonnets and more…

 

 

Lunch Time with Houdini

This is Houdini and he lives at Clark Gardens in Mineral Wells, Texas.

When we visited last week, we looked all over the gardens for Houdini, but couldn’t find him. As we were leaving the grounds, we found him in the outer pond. 

Seems he was hungry.

It was lunch time with Houdini.

 

One of These Things is Not Like the Others

…one of these things is not the same.

Does that bring back memories? It does for me! (PBS, A big yellow bird, a street, etc.)

ANYWAY…that is exactly what I hear whenever I look at this image. This was taken this past weekend at Clark Gardens in Mineral Wells, Texas at the Founders Day Picnic. 

Can you find the one thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 Did you find it? I’m sure you did, but here he is a little larger:

This Old House of Bristol

One of the trails on the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails takes you through Bristol. 

We discovered Bristol on last year’s visit and also discovered this old house.

It appears someone lives in it despite the look of abandonment. 

Oh how I’d love to hear the stories this house has lived.

This old house of Bristol!

 

The Painterly Side of Ennis

This year’s first trip to Ennis’ Bluebonnet Trails was later than in past years. Mainly due to the fact that our weather conditions the past several months did not produce the normal display of our state’s flower…the Texas Bluebonnet. They are predicted to peak later in the season and last into May.

I use the term normal very loose as we really do not have a normal pattern of anything in Texas. However, for the last three years since first discovering the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, I can assuredly say this year’s produce is much different from previous ones. Last March when we visited, there was an influx of blue among the green. This year in mid-April, there is much more green (and yellow – mustard weed) than I’ve seen before. I plan to go back in a couple of weeks to see how it has progressed, however for now, here are a few photos I took and processed with a more painterly look.

Here is the more painterly side of Ennis…

 

 

 

 

The Case of the Missing Carrots

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted so thought I had better share something with you today.

I’ll call this post, The Case of the Missing Carrots. Let me explain.

Before I do, I’ll share why it’s been a while since my last post. It has been a busy week. I’ve been preparing and addressing graduation invitations for Son. In one month from tomorrow, he will be a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin and preparing to move north to graduate school. Where has the time gone?

I’ve also had a couple of outings – which I like to call, PhotoFrenzies. I’ll be sharing some images from them over the next several days.

One of those PhotoFrenzies happened yesterday. My PhotoFrenzieFriend, Lisa, my mom and I all loaded the car and headed east to Ennis. Ennis is home to the annual Ennis Bluebonnet Festival and there are a number of trails that are mapped out to lead those seeking our Texas State Flower, the Bluebonnet, all around the countryside.

We had decided in order to make the most of our day, we would each pack a lunch and eat on the road whenever we got hungry. It takes all day (literally) to drive the trails, including the stops to take photos of the fragrant wildflowers, gorgeous scenery and beautiful livestock.

Yes, the livestock! If you have ever been on a PhotoFrenzy with me and Lisa before on this site (it’s been a couple of years, but some of you have been around that long), then you know that when we go, we must also stop to see (and often feed) the livestock we happen to find in our day.

This day was no different and this is where the missing carrots come into the story. 

As I was munching on my snack for the morning, which consisted of a small bag of baby carrots, we stopped here and there. At one point we came across a field that had a few beautiful horses in it and I had promised earlier that I would stop the next time we came across more four-legged beauties. We all three climbed out of the vehicle with cameras in hand and began to snap images of flowers, trees and horses. That is when I noticed my bag of carrots had disappeared!

Lo and behold…a clue to the mystery was discovered on the fence. 

I also think I discovered the culprit of the thievery.

Yes, just beyond the carrot!

Decatur Courthouse

Last weekend after our impromptu outing to visit Fort Richardson in Jacksboro, Texas, we decided to make a run into Decatur on our way home. There is a restaurant on the town square that we’ve heard about for years, so we decided to finally give it a try and see if it was as good as we had heard. Sweetie Pies Ribeyes is the name and I highly recommend it.

After stuffing ourselves on the most yummy yeast rolls and chicken fried steak, we were heading to the car when we noticed the sunlight on the courthouse.

I just couldn’t resist!

Dreaming in Blue

Yesterday in north Texas, we had temperatures in the low 80′s. Today at 2pm we are feeling brisk chills in the mid 30′s.

So what am I doing? Reflecting to this time last year.

…and dreaming in blue.

 

A Little Yesteryear in the Present

A warm, spring day.

A beautiful blue sky.

A desire to go for a drive.

Led us to Fort Richardson in Jacksboro, Texas on Saturday.

To this:

A little yesteryear in the present.