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

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

Colorado River View for Monday's Country Backroads.....

 

Don't let the photo fool you...

Just beyond the tall grass in the foreground, is a

 200' drop-off.

 

What you see are the tops of trees,

 with the swollen Colorado River below.

 

The two storms that moved through here a couple of days ago,

 have left the river beyond the banks.

Click

HERE

to read a previous post

About The Bluff.

 

 

This place is special to me.

 Let go

 Consider

Contemplate

Clear your head

 

It's Monday....

Onward

 

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.

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.

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

Hello October...for Monday's Country Backroads

 

"A Bend in the Road is not the end of the Road...

Unless you fail to make the turn."

Author Unknown

 

October is here,

 and it's the beginning of a new week....

so,

 let's take it easy and enjoy the ride.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking with Tom The Backroads Traveller

The Barn Collective

 Click HERE

to view other barns from around the world.

Small Town Main Street ....for Monday's Country Roads

 

Organic Coffee ?

In a Small Town?

Well, true to the sign, that is exactly what I will be getting

 this early morning.

 

 

And, how early would that be?

The sun is showing it's face just above the horizon...

As you can see,

the main street is still empty of parked cars.

 

It's my favorite time of the day.

 

A table is waiting outside for me,

or....

 

 

how about joining me inside, for a cup of special blend.

We can catch up with some town news

 and, maybe a little gossip.

Meggie.

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

Vintage Tractor Flying Low....for Monday's Country Back Roads

 

I kid you not.....

it's a tractor perched on two posts.

But, don't let it over-shadow the metal barn in the background.

Click on the photo to appreciate.

 

 

Life on the Prairie

 is full of wonder and surprises.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Tom, The Backroads Traveller

Click HERE

to view other barns from around the world.

 

Tribute to a Live Oak on the Prairie....for Monday's Country Back Roads

 

Awesome !

Do you ever see a tree that takes your breath away

 every time you pass by it?

 

This is how I feel about this magnificent Live Oak Tree.

It sits in a pasture much alone,

 except for the cattle that seek refuge

during the afternoon hot sun.

 

 

The oak's branches extend quite a distance,

 then dip down to touch the earth.

 

 

See what I mean....

Green pastures, blue skies, and one single Texas Live Oak.

 

Happy Monday!

Meggie Mac

 

Holding On...for Monday's Country Back Roads

 

It's anyone's guess....

 

 

why complete lengths of wood are missing.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with The Barn Collective

 

A look Down the Road.....on Monday's Country Back Roads

 

What I see is a fresh start for the week ahead.

 

The sun is out and the afternoon temperatures will reach 75 degrees.

 

Now that is what I call a good Monday.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Red Barn High on a Hill.... for Monday's Country Back Roads

 

With large acreage farms and ranches, here on the prairie of Texas,

 it is not easy to find a barn close enough to photograph.

 

 

Monday's weather is proving to be perfect

 for capturing country scenes like this.

 

January is flying by.....

Enjoy your week.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking with Tom The Backroads Traveler.

Click HERE to view

 other barns from around the world.

Halloween Perfect....on Monday's Country Back Roads

 

Nothing like heavy morning fog on the prairie, to create a

 Spookish Tree

 

Meggie Mac

A Show of Patriotism .....for Monday's Country Backroads

 

"O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Lines from The Star-Spangled Banner

written by

Francis Scott Key

 

Recently I have received several patriotic books, to add to my home library.

Here is the book that works so well with my today's post.

America's

Star-Spangled Story

by

Jane Hampton Cook

Celebrating

200 years of the

National Anthem.

 

Jane is not only an author, wife, and mother, but also a presidential historian.

Receiving her book has led me to reading her blog.

In her October 8th, 2016 post, Jane reveals she is about to undergo neurosurgery

 on the 14th of October.

If you would like to read more about this very interesting woman,

Click HERE

The link will take you to her blog.

 

Meggie Mac

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

 

Old Barn Nestled in the Shade of Trees....for Country Back Roads

 

I decided to heed the warning on the weathered sign

"Private Property"

 Meggie Mac

 

Linking with The Barn Collective on

Tom The Backroads Traveller

Click HERE

for barns from around the world.