A Prairie Thistle...for Monday's Country Backroads

 

The Texas Thistle, Cirsium texanum, is not to be confused with the

beloved Scottish Thistle.

 

As you can see....

 the color is a real attention getter,

 especially when the sun is as bright as it is today.

 

 

You will find it along the roadways on the prairie,

 blooming from April to July.

 

As your new week begins today,

remember

 to enjoy all that is around you.

 

Meggie Mac

Along A Country Road....for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Countryside with rolling hills...

A perfect setting for the

Swiss Alp, Texas Lutheran Church.

 

 

A small part of it's history,

is recorded on the Texas Historical Marker

 

I've photographed and written about this church

 in a previous post.

Click

HERE

 

Even though the grass is meticulously mowed,

I still think of this spot as the

 "Church in the Wildwood"

 

 

"How sweet on a clear, Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh, come to the church in the vale."

 

Enjoy your Sunday

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking today with others

 from around the world.

Click

HERE

 

 

Perfectly Imperfect....for Friday's Fences

I wouldn't change a thing about the rusty red gate...

Do you agree?

Perfectly Imperfect

Nothing fancy here.

This is home....

I'm content to be living on the prairie.

May you also find happy trails

 this weekend.

Meggie Mac

Yellow in Bloom.... for Monday's Country Backroads

 

Upright Prairie Coneflower

Ratibida columnifera (scientific name)

also commonly known as Mexican Hat.

 

 

They are truly a sight to see....

on the main highways,

country roads,

trails.

 

 

 

I'm spreading the word...

It's going to be a great week !

Meggie Mac

Three Crosses on a Hill..... for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Faith

 Prairie Life

 

Meggie Mac

 

Linking

 with others

from around the world.

Click

HERE 

to view

 

Traveling the Prairie Roads for Friday Fences....

 

"Use it Up, Wear it Out" was an expression I often heard from my grandparents.

Living in a rural setting,  I still experience some of that same mindset.

So much of today's standards are "Use and Toss".

 

 

I'd say, this old mailbox still has some time left to be useful.

 

And the same applies to me.

It's my hope to return to my love of writing, photographing,

 and connecting with the world outside my inner circle.

I have missed all of you.

Meggie Mac

 

Returning Home Through a National Forest...for Monday's Country Backroads

 

Today's Country Backroads are from my Thanksgiving travels,

 back to the Prairie.

 

I decided to take some backroads

 through the Sam Houston National Forest.

 

 

It's a beautiful drive, with very few places to pull off the road

 and photograph.

There are four (4) national forests in the state of Texas.

This particular one, established in 1936,

 has 163,045 acres.

 

Evidence of human occupation, in these forest lands,

 has been found dating back 12,000 years.

 

In more recent times,

it was home to the Atakapa-speaking native Americans.

 

 

The Thanksgiving Holiday has now become a memory.

 

It's Monday, the beginning of a new week....

with December just around the bend.

Meggie Mac

 

A Barn, Pond, Vintage Building.... for Monday's Country Backroads

 

The sun came out from behind the clouds,

 just in time to highlight the "new green"

 of the winter grass.

 

Because we tend to think of muted colors in Autumn,

this shade of green is awkward to the eye.

 

 

Turning my camera slightly to the right

 a stock pond comes into view....

 

 

with an outstanding fishing pier.

 

 

As I continue turning in a circle, the bright green grass pasture has changed

 to the color of the native grass.

 

There is no shortage of interesting views

 on this Monday morning....

 traveling the country back roads.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Tom The Backroads Traveller

for The Barn Collective

Click HERE

to view Tom's amazing barn photos...

and to view other barns from around the world.

Not To Be Ignored......for Friday's Fences

I know I've mentioned Posted Signs before,

 in writing about fences.

The sign has seen better days....

Here, in Texas, I will still take this one seriously.

And, if you might still have a wee bit of doubt,

 this should convince you.

Beyond the fence, hay bales as far as the eye can see...

all from the last cutting of the year.

I'm not sure what the owner is protecting,

 unless it's from unwanted deer hunters, that would venture

 in the background woods. 

Besides the last hay cutting....

early autumn brings a profusion of color,

 with the wildflower Bidens aristosa.

In these parts, the common name is Tickweed...

one most of us recognize.

As always,

 I try to leave you with good thoughts for the coming week end.

Strive for...

 "The Best One Ever"

Meggie Mac

linking today with Gosia,

for Fences From Around the World.

Click HERE 

to enjoy other Bloggers and their fences. 

  

Fresh Look After the Rain Falls.....for Monday's Country Backroads

 

My camera skills consist of "point and click".

 In spite of that, often I'm lucky enough to capture some nice photos.

What I believe I do have is an eye for composition.

 

The above photo came about yesterday,

 while traveling to a neighboring town....

through a driving rain storm.

 

The rain passed, and the sky began to lighten enough

 to get a few quick shots near The Bluff.

 

Click HERE

to remind yourself of The Bluff...

a spot I frequently photograph.

 

 

You can see the beauty in the background....

as the trees rise up the back side of The Bluff.

 

So...here we are again with a new week before us.

The possibilities are endless....

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Tom,

and The Barn Collective

 

Click HERE

to view Tom's amazing photography skills

 and other barns from around the world.

 

A Different Kind of Autumn Coloring...for Monday's Country Backroads

 

Autumn, in my part of Texas, moves in quietly.

Colors do change,

but in more muted colors like you see in my photo.

 

Even the flowers in the garden breathe a sigh of relief,

 as the evening coolness lingers until late morning.

 

 

The tall grasses come back to life

 and green appears again.

 

 

And the rust of metal barns seem to deepen in color.

 

It's Monday and....

 we all have a chance to start over with a new week.

Enjoy it.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking with Tom

 and his Backroads Barn Collection

 

click HERE

to enjoy his blog

 and other barns from around the world.

Wide Open Spaces, Land That I Love....for Friday's Fences

 

This is my reward for getting an early start...

 

 The camera says it all...

So, why would I ever consider tweaking this photo.

 

 

You must be ready for the changes....

it takes only moments to go from this photo to the first photo.

 

 

Did you notice, in all three photos, the two kissing fence posts?

 

The week end is almost here.

Share it with someone special...

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Gosia

on Good Fences

 

Click HERE

to view other fences from around the world

Who Says I Can't Fish Here.... for Monday's Country Backroads

 

 It's so tempting on this early Monday morning,

especially since I don't see a "Posted" sign.

 

So have some fun this week.

Go find a fence.... and climb over.

Meggie Mac

Curious Eyes On Me While Photographing .....for Friday's Fences

 

A familiar sight.....

 while driving the country backroads,

 where I live.

I can always count on at least one cow, out of the herd,

dipping in the pond.

 

 

The reflections are amazing,

 on this early morning photo adventure.

Meggie

 

Linking today with Gosia

  Looking for Identity

 

Click HERE

to view other fences from around the world.

Weather Beaten.....for Friday Fences

 

New wood teams up with a fence post,

 etched by

 Time and the Texas Summers.   

 

 

I'm on the hunt today....

traveling a country back road

through the rolling hills of the prairie.

 

 

 

Destination...

a Family Cemetery.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking with Goshia

Click HERE

to view fences from around the world.

Irish and Green for the Day.....on Friday's Fences

 

The entrance gate of this beautiful green fence,

have the words "Shamrock" and "Lucky" displayed,

 along with an Irish surname.

 

I checked my map...

 and there is a town located in the Texas Panhandle, 

named Shamrock.

We also have a Dublin, located in central Texas.

 

 

My own special Leprechaun....

 

According to Wikipedia, a 2013 census shows

there are 33.3 million Americans who reported Irish Heritage,

 and 3 million who claim Scots-Irish Heritage.

 

It's no wonder there are so many parades and celebrations for this holiday.

 

 

Happy St Patrick's Day....

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Goshia

Click HERE

 to view other fences from around the world.

A Gaggle of Mailboxes ....for Monday's Country Back Roads

 

Can three qualify as a gaggle?

Maybe cluster is the more appropriate term.

 

 

This particular backroad is one of my favorite and most traveled.

It leads me to a small town where I do a great deal of my shopping.

As with most of these roads I travel on, not much has changed over the years.

 

Yes... the trees have grown taller,

and some of the older wooden buildings are leaning just a little bit more.

 Come Spring, I can always count on finding the bluebonnets in the same spots.

 

All the rain, in February and March, has made everything green-up quickly.

 Our state flower, The Bluebonnet, is beginning to show along the countryside.

 

 

The temperature has turned crisp this morning....

As I walk around, I can feel the soft rain saturated ground beneath my feet.

 

 

This truly is a beautiful spot to share with you.

Meggie Mac