Monday, October 31, 2011

The Prettiest Little Church in Texas


While in San Augustine for the Sassafras Festival I had to revisit my favorite church (at least its architecture is my favorite because I know the building does not make the church) that I discovered last year, Christ Episcopal Church.  Built in 1870 after a fire destroyed the first building (constructed in 1851), it contains rails and hand-hewn pews which survived the fire and remain through today.  The Gothic tower was added in 1891 to relieve the building strain caused by the vibration of the bell.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Scenes from the Sassafras Festival

This weekend I rambled over to San Augustine, one of my favorite little towns here in East Texas, to take a peek at the annual Sassafras Festival.  Now why they have a sassafras festival and what sassafras really is I don't have a clue, but here are some scenes that I encountered.


Lots of classic cars.
They were so shiny and the sun was so bright it was actually hard to take pictures of them.


Lots of wonderful smelling food - and at great prices no less.


Vendor booths with crafts and homemade goodies.



A really authentic Texas sheriff complete with cowboy hat, cowboy boots, 
a holstered six-gun on his hip, and a cell phone.


Live entertainment, including this group from the Cowboy Country Church, 
which holds services at the rodeo arena.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Before John Deere Was Green


Photographed at Chillicothe, Texas

Friday, October 28, 2011

Anticipation


I do like my share of junk food but for some reason I've never shared the joy of eating corn dogs!
I hope that doesn't make me un-American!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Redneck Media Center


... with theater seating

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

O is for Oldsmobile ~ ABC Wednesday


Old Oldsmobile!

Come Join Me and Others

Monday, October 24, 2011

Six Nice Ladies ...


... all in a row.

I recently sat opposite these ladies at a rest area at the Canton flea market and asked could I take their picture, thinking they were all friends.  As it turned out, it was three separate groups, with the two ladies on the left having never met the others, the only group being the three on the right.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Signs of the Times


Natchitoches, Louisiana

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Church of the Immaculate Conception ~ Natchitoches, Louisiana


The history of the Immaculate Conception Church began in 1716 or 1717 when the Franciscan Friar Antonio Margil de Jesus walked 21 miles from the Spanish mission at Los Adaes to say mass at the French Fort St. Jean Baptiste in Natchitoches.  Five church buildings preceded the present one which was constructed in 1856.  The church was proclaimed a minor basilica by apostolic decree from Pope Benedict in January 2010.  The red building in the background to the left is the old Natchitoches Parish courthouse which is now a museum.  I did not have an opportunity to take any other photos or visit the museum.  It's on my list for the next trip.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Natchitoches, Louisiana


Along the Cane River in downtown Nachitoches, Louisiana

Earlier this week my ramblings took me 100 miles east to Nachitoches, Louisiana (pronounced nakka-tush) for the day.  A day was just not enough time to completely savor this wonderful city and area.  Established in 1714 as a French colony Nachitoches is steeped in French and Creole history and sits on the banks of the Cane River.  I also visited Melrose Plantation in the Cane River National Historical Park and in the days and weeks to come I'll give you a sampling of some of the photos I took here.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Monday, October 17, 2011

The Pineywoods Fair ~ Kids


Someday you'll be big enough.


Every princess should have a pink hair ribbon and a convertible.


Future Harley rider.


Wait!  Wait!  I've got a ticket!

Ain't life grand!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Pineywoods Fair ~ Rides


A fair is not a fair without a Ferris wheel.


I could never go on this ride, but can you imagine the photos you could take hanging upside down!


Everyone's favorite:  the carousel.


How come guys don't close their eyes and scream on the scary rides? 
The fellow on the right may be screaming but he's far from eyes wide shut.


Girls, on the other hand, know how to act on rides!

Tomorrow:  The conclusion of the fair ~ Kids!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

The Pineywoods Fair ~ People


A final scrub of the windows before opening the corn dog/popcorn stand.


Some exhibitors go all out in decorating.  
This eventually was the fair home of a Santa Gertrudis heifer and a pair of Chianinas
who were hoping for prize-winning ribbons.  
The booth also promoted breast cancer awarenss.


Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Deputies go above and beyond the call of duty to lend a helping hand.


The smells emanating from Uncle Ray's Cajun Kitchen were divine, and 
the grilled shrimp was hard to resist.
This guy professed to be the real Uncle Ray!


And there's nothing more fun than going for a ride with your sweetheart!

* * *

A trick I just learned that works on most blogs.
If you just want to look at the pictures and skip the narrative, 
click once on one of the pictures and Blogger will bring up a slide show at the bottom of your screen, 
where you can then simply scroll through the photos.  
Click on the X in the upper right to return to the regular screen.
It seems to work on my blog and with the exception of one on all others I've tried it on.

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Pineywoods Fair ~ Cattle


I know you don't have much hair but it must be brushed before you get in the show ring.


Come on, Bessie, time for a shampoo.

 
If I pout maybe she'll forget to hose me off.

 
Nope, sweetheart, get ready 'cause you're next!
Who said I needed a neck lift?


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

M is for Morning Glory ~ ABC Wednesday

 Now that the weather is cooler, our morning glories are glorious in the mornings here on our farm.

Come Join Me and Others At

Monday, October 10, 2011

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Oklahoma 55/Texas 17


Sooner Fan and Canton Shopper at First Monday Trade Days
Canton, Texas

What you may not know about me is that even though I am a native Texan I went to college in Oklahoma.  There are some who say I raised the IQ of both states when I crossed the Red River.  Today was the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns in a much publicized, heated rivalry in Dallas, neutral turf for both teams, and as CNN News reported on its web site, "Oklahoma Shreds Texas"!

Last weekend while I was at Trade Days in Canton I shot this photo of a Sooner fan zipping around on a motorized scooter (which are available for rent to shoppers and make the affair much more pleasant).  I'll bet he's smiling even bigger today!  Boomer Sooner!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Thursday, October 6, 2011

These Boots Weren't Made for Walkin'

Photographed at First Monday Trade Days,
Canton, Texas

These boots just seemed way oversized for this toddler.  Maybe that's why she was relaxing in the stroller with her binky and her blankie and her Mickey and Minnie rather than walking!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

L is for Lake ~ ABC Wednesday


Ratcliff Lake

The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer who gave his life fighting for Texas freedom at the Battle of the Alamo, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas, and wildlife habitat.   Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins. It is a diverse forest of towering pines, bottomland hardwoods, upland forests, and boggy slews.

Come Join Me and Others at
ABC WEDNESDAY

Sunday, October 2, 2011

22/100 Dogs ~ Charlie ~ Long-Haired Dachshund


Photographed at Canton, Texas
First Monday Trade Days