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

A Century...on Monday's Country Back Roads

This story began 3 months ago. That is how long I have been photographing the Century Plant ( Agave Americana). It is growing at the entrance gate of a farm on the Blackland Prairie, near where I live.

Have you ever seen a century plant bloom? From what I have read, it flowers once near the end of its life. The plant dies after flowering...but, the suckers from the base continue to grow.

When I first noticed the bloom stalk growing, it was already about 10 feet tall. It reminds me of asparagus growing.   

Notice there were no leaves on the trees when I first started photographing in late February.

If you cut the flower stem now, a sweet liquid called aguamiel will gather in the heart of the plant. The liquid can be fermented for a drink called pulque. If you click HERE, you can read of the many uses of the agave.

Each week, as I drove by on my trip to town, I stopped to photograph the changes. As you can see, the tree growing beside it, has now put on foliage. The bloom stalk has grown to about 25 feet tall.

It now has the beginnings of flower buds.

In the shadows of early morning, you can see how they are forming.

Several more weeks passed by, as I continued to watch the blooms.

Wasn't it worth the wait to see these beautiful blooms....

Meggie Mac

From Russia...another Show and Tell Thursday

I thought about making the title, "From Russia with Love".  Then, I remembered it was the title to an old James Bond movie.

The teacup was given to me with love... a gift from one of my daughters. It is from the Russian Lomonosov Imperial Porcelain Factory. It was founded in St Petersburg in 1744 under the decree of Peter the Great's daughter, Empress Elizabeth.

Last night, as I was putting my thoughts together for this post, I realized the teacup is the only item I have from Russia. Do you have anything made in Russia?

Searching the internet, I learned so much about this beautiful Lomonosov china. If you collect teacups or just love to look at beautiful porcelain, click HERE. You will not be disappointed!

 

The design pattern is called Forget Me Not. Even the inside rim has a delicate pattern embellished with real gold.

By sharing with you my Show and Tell Thursdays, I've had the opportunity to re-connect with some of the lovely things I have collected over the years.

My thanks to you, dear readers and blogging friends.....

Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Back Roads

TREES
by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

THINK that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

 

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

 

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

A quote from Texas A & M Forest Service

 

Tree Description:

 

"A large, stately tree, commonly to 50 feet tall with a short, stout trunk of 4 feet or more in diameter, dividing into several large, twisting limbs that form a low, dense crown that can spread more than 100 feet, the limbs often touching the ground in open-grown settings."

Please click HERE to read how proud we can be of our Texas Live Oaks. I have read they can live 200 or more years....

Meggie Mac

 

Friday's Fences and a Grotto

I have noticed that most of the older cemeteries, in the area where I live, have some metal fencing. Sometimes it is only around one particular family plot. But, many times, the entire cemetery is surrounded by the old fencing.

The road, that passes by the church and cemetery, is one that I travel several times a week.

The cemetery and church are located high on a hill. To get to the next small town, I continue down this road winding around The Bluff, until I reach the valley.

I find the old gate open.....

 Showing rust, but still withstanding time.

          Walking toward the back of the cemetery, the valley below becomes more visible.

This area was settled in 1856, when families arrived from Czechoslovakia. The first marked grave was in 1866.

Most passers-by come to see the Grotto, that was built in 1929. The Grotto is a reproduction of the world-renowned shrine of miracles in Lourdes, France. If you would like to read more about the building of the Grotto, click HERE.

Photographing at the edge of the grotto, the cemetery can be seen in the background.

All seems so peaceful, as I stand there for a few moments.... taking in the view of the valley below.

Meggie Mac


I'm joining with Jan n' Jer's Friday Fences.

So This is the Porch...

Trying to decide how to arrange the furniture, on the front wrap-around porch, has not been as easy as I first thought it might be. I want to keep it looking uncluttered, but at the same time, inviting. The door, at the end of the porch goes directly into the dining room. There is a matching door at the front of the house.

Winds, out of the south, sometimes blow the plants off the porch. Of course, this makes for a much cooler space when the temperatures soar to 100 plus, in the summer.

There are five large white columns that dominate the look. It's very obvious they have been repaired over the last 130 years. I know I must keep vigil for any future repairs. They would be very expensive to replace.

I have chosen some new black rockers to go with the white wicker I brought from the farmhouse.

So far, I am using ferns to give the porch a soft, vintage look.

                       This is a flea market find, that works well beside the front door.

It is a good place to add some color with yellow petunias and maroon verbenas.

Just to the other side of the front door, I have placed another black rocker. To give the open end of the porch a more private look, I have added some lattice work.

 Eventually, the jasmine growing below, will trail on it. The summer blooms of the sweet jasmine, will be a nice fragrance for the porch.

At the back door, of my home, is a modern built deck. I am still dreaming of ideas of how to use the deck. As you can see, it was raining the day I photographed both spaces.

There have been multiple delays in finishing the small lean-to greenhouse attached to The Studio.   If you look closely, you can see I am using some re-cycled window screens....from the farmhouse.

I'm so happy to see the rain. We have been in drought conditions for quite some time.

This is just a little update on Das Kleine Haus, as things slowly move into a proper place.

Meggie Mac