Familiar Scenes Beginning My Week.....for Monday's Country Backroads

 

Traveling the meandering country back roads......

I can't think of a more perfect way to start a new week.

 

Out of each day 

Squeeze all the joy within your reach...

 

Meggie Mac

 

Home Alone....for Friday Fences

 

What could have possibly happened here?

I see broken windows, peeling paint

 and no sign of life from inside.

 

Today was not the only time I have sat on the side of the road,

 staring....wishing it could speak out to me, with answers.

 

Click on Photo

Yes, there is a fence in the photo.

But, I think the photo is more about

 the abandoned home.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Check out Theresa's blog, The Run a Round Ranch

by clicking

HERE

You will enjoy fences from around the world.

Hope Floats...

 

Do you remember the 1998 movie? It was filmed in this small Texas town that is a short drive from my home. The billboard, boasting the movie filming, towers above the ground at the  towns' exit.

The movie will be featured tonight, on TV's Hallmark Channel. Click HERE to enjoy the movie trailer. You will recognize the large house and main street, where many of the scenes were filmed.

Harry Connick, Jr. walked on this very front porch...the home of Birdee Calvert (Sandra Bullock) and her mother (Gena Rowlands)

Buildings from Main Street...

                                        Main Street, again, where the parade took place.

One of my favorite quotes from the movie:

Beginnings are scary, ending are sad
But it is what's in the middle that counts
So, when you find yourself at the beginning,
Just give hope a chance to float up
               .......and it will !

Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

 

At first glance, the gate may not seem so special. But the more I look at the photo, I realize the effort someone put into designing, cutting and assembling the gate.

 

 

The three diamond shapes are cut from a single piece of wood.

 

 

On the very same road, I see what appears to be an apartment, in a vintage stone building.

 

 

These are not perfectly cut stones.

 

 

 

I wonder what the story is behind these metal shutters.

 

 

They definitely look like they were made for protection. Maybe it was simply to keep out the hot sun.

 

After all, today it was 93 degrees on the prairie.

 

Meggie Mac

 

I'm joining with Jan 'n Jers Friday Fences

 

 

Observing a Mural Artist at Work

I read in the newspaper that a neighboring town, population 1,383, had commissioned a muralist to paint a side wall of a historic building. The purpose of the mural is to honor the town's railroad history and veterans.

The article stated Jason Patterson, the Texas muralist, would be completing the project by next week. I felt like it was a chance for me to see the mural while he was still working on it.

Just as I had hoped, he was painting on Saturday afternoon, along with another artist. He was more than willing to answer my questions, as he continued to paint.

The details are amazing...

You can see, from his artwork, the power that ran this train.

Here is the Pullman or dining car.....giving all the comforts traveling could afford, in this time in history.

On one end of the mural, you can see how it was sketched in before the painting was started.

At times, it was necessary for the artist to work on his knees.

I tried to photograph the actual spot that is depicted in the mural.

You can see the switch tower is still in good condition, taking it's place in the town's history.

Coincidentally, while I was photographing....a freight train passed by on the very tracks as in the mural.

As you can see in the photo, it is almost life-size.

If I were the town officials, I believe I would re-locate the tree that is blocking the view.

I do believe I will go back this week end and take a final photograph for another post. Wouldn't you like to see what is painted in the right corner of the mural?

Meggie Mac

Look What's Under the Eaves

I've been thinking about writing this post for several weeks, while collecting photos. These small windows can truly bring out the character of a house.

The above home is one of my favorites. Great care was taken by the addition of the fret-work above the fan style window. Doesn't the window style remind you of half of a flower?

Creativity and skill were involved in cutting the glass shapes to make the little attic treasure.

A very skillful carpenter brought to life the framework of the very simple rectangular windows. It reminds me of a gingerbread house.

Click on the Photo

Look how the little window is accented by the multi-colored brick. Or is it the other way around....the brick is accented by the diamond shaped glass?

A simple oval is surrounded by fish-scale shingles.

The weather vane, perched directly above a beautiful fan shaped window, gives a whimsical look to the roof line.

Simple...yet, it shows interest in the dividing of the window panes.

No details were forgotten when designing this house....

The same house, looking at it from the front side.

I wonder how difficult it was to nail the fish-scale shingles to the roof of the turret. It is truly a window, in the attic, fit for a story book princess.....

Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

When I was photographing Brewery on the Bluff this past week end, I saw this opportunity for today's post.

The vintage fencing is called double-looped wire fencing. If you have any stories on this type of fencing, I would like to hear about it.













Today I'm connecting with Jan n' Jer's Friday Fences.

Meggie Mac

Vintage Necessary Room

Out of the Past...Blackland Prairie Style

One day, as I was driving the back road to the farmhouse, I happen to see this structure (outdoor toilet) in the distance. I have no idea of the age of this out-building, but it does look like it has been standing here many winters and summers. There appeared to have once been a farmhouse not too far away.

I've had the photo for several weeks, trying to decide on a clever way to present it to you.

Today, I decided to just put it out there and see if you like it.

Meggie Mac