Come Walk with Me

Oct18

It is a relatively cool evening as the sun begins to set in Bartlett Texas. The town is mostly vacant, except for a few cars and trucks. Most of the shops have been boarded up with the exception of a couple of restaurants and antique stores. People have purchased or leased some of the downtown buildings to serve as their homes. The brick paved streets speak of another time. The town’s history indicates wealth from the cotton and railroad industries. Come and see some of the sights as I walk through this unique and interesting town.

Half Full

Oct17

Catching a parking lot sunset at Starbucks and drinking iced green tea on a lovely evening in Central Texas.

Overlook

Oct16

I went for a short hike at sunset today. There were plenty of yellow wildflowers and beautiful purple skies.

NLand Surf Park

Oct15

Just when you thought Austin couldn’t get any cooler, along comes NLand Surf Park. The technology involved is amazing to watch. A company called Wavegarden has developed an underwater “snow shovel” that is pulled along the length of a 14-acre lagoon. Near perfect waves pop up on either side of the pier allowing up to 120 surfers to enjoy the surf at their particular skill level. The surf park has a sandy beach, a gift shop, a juice bar, a restaurant, and a nice deck to view the action. It is located about 10 minutes from the airport and collects rainwater to fill the lagoon. Now I just need to learn how to surf.

Moonlight Adventure

Oct14

You know the kind. Those nights when you think you are cool and can search around the local church building for some eerie photo opportunities. The moon is shining brightly at first and then it seeks cover behind a blanket of clouds. You walk out to the cemetery behind the church, and then your nerves kick in, even though you are still on the paved road, but very alone. Every nighttime sound is a horror waiting to happen. Your pace quickens as you return to the parking lot for one more photo and then a quick escape to the familiarity and comfort of your vehicle. Whew! That was exciting!

Butterfly Swarm

Oct13

There was a small swarm of Monarch butterflies in the community garden this afternoon. They are migrating south to escape the cold weather. There were so many that they often had to share the purple blossoms that they enjoy so much. Photography is challenging, as they move so fast and the blossoms sway in the wind. The reward is to capture just the right image to share with everyone. Enjoy!

First Presbyterian Church of Bartlett

Oct8

I found this old gem of a structure in Bartlett Texas today. It is the First Presbyterian Church of Bartlett, and is obviously in need of repairs. According to the church records, construction of the church began on March 7, 1899. I was able to walk around and take photos of the exterior, but there was no way to get inside. The moon obliged and posed for a photo behind the bell tower.

Grace Heritage Center

Oct6

This evening’s fun was found in the parking lot of the Grace Heritage Center. Chet Garner, or better known as the Daytripper from the PBS show, set up a viewing party for his Big Bend National Park episode. It was fun, and for photo opportunities there was the former Grace Episcopal Church along with the sky and clouds at sunset. A pretty nice Thursday evening!

Stagecoach and Stuff

Oct3

Yes, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is huge. Sprinkled among the art on three floors, they have a stagecoach, a wagon, a windmill, a diorama of the Battle of the Alamo, and lots of other sights to see. This Museum has quickly become one of my favorites in San Antonio.