Weathered Door

Weathered door in (where else?) Weatherford, Texas

(Side Note:  I'm older than this building.  I just hope I don't look older than this building!)

Senior Citizen

Chimp Haven

Near Keithville, Louisiana

Please Visit The Weekend in Black and White

Stick Fences

Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico

On the Texas/New Mexico border

In Arizona and New Mexico, these type of fences are called coyote fences.  In Deep East Texas they are called goat fences.  What are they called where you live?

Joining with other fence fanatics in Fridays Fences

Whee!

Linking to Wordless Wednesday

When words just don't matter

Swinging Over the Gulf

Pleasure Pier

Galveston, Texas

Farmers National Bank

Stephenville, Texas

1906

Hot Day on the Texas Prairie

The hot sun on a cloudless day bleaches the color from a Texas prairie landscape.

South of Stephenville

Erath County, Texas

Doors at Melrose

Melrose Plantation

Cane River

Near Nachitoches, Louisiana

Misshapen Longhorn

This Texas Longhorn's horn will soon have to be trimmed 

because it contacts the ground when the cow grazes.

Linking to The Weekend in Black and White

El Castile - Decatur, Texas

An ornate fence and gate blocks the entrance to El Castile in Decatur, Texas.

And what lurks beyond?

The Castle (El Castile), the home of cattle baron Dan Waggoner and headquarters to the vast Waggoner ranching empire in North Texas, was built in 1883.  It has sixteen rooms, a full basement, and eight fireplaces.  It is constructed of limestone and is decorated with wrought iron on the roof and balconies.  The entrance hall has a grand staircase of walnut and oak with Texas star motifs.  Interior doors, some with stained glass, are sixteen feet tall.  The house has a large dining room, eight bedrooms, five marble baths and a Texas-size kitchen with cooper sink and fixtures.  It was the model for the home in the movie "Giant."  It is currently privately owned and is not available for public viewing.  The house appears to be in fair condition but the grounds are overgrown and in need of much attention.

                                      Joining with fellow fence fanatics for Fridays Fences.

Waiting for the Train

Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Where Words Just Aren't Important

Tufted Titmouse

Picking out the sunflower seeds

In the Garden

Melrose Plantation

Cane River

Natchitoches, Louisiana

Gulf of Mexico

Morning, Galveston, Texas

Near the horizon is a shrimp boat which is out shortly after daybreak trolling for today's catch

An Empty Room

Beckville,Texas

Fred Hartman Bridge

I have to apologize for getting carried away with the photographs of this beautiful cable-stayed bridge.  Luckily I was a passenger and was able to get this progression of photos as we approached and traveled through this beauty.

On approach the bridge appears to be constructed of golden arches.  As you can see below, however, the cables are encased in yellow tubes.

Named for Fred Hartman, the editor and publisher of the Baytown Sun from 1950 to 1974, it is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Texas - 2.6 miles - and is built over the Houston Ship Channel between Baytown and LaPorte, Texas.

The bridge replaced the Baytown Tunnel which had to be removed when the ship channel was enlarged to accommodate larger ships.

Those dramatic clouds certainly enhanced the photos of this wonder.

I think to be able to get some photos of a side view of the bridge might just require another trip to Galveston!

Cemetery Fence

The Old North Church Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries here in Nacogdoches County, Texas.  It has many graves and/or family plots that are surrounded by beautiful weathered iron fences, but this is one of the more ornate ones.

Linking together with other Fence Fanatics

to Fridays Fences

Turtle - Wordless Wednesday

Linking to Wordless Wednesday 

When Words Just Don't Matter

Ugly Mailboxes

... all in a row.

Can't just one person get a new mailbox, thereby shaming the others? 

It might just set a trend!

My Favorite Barn

This is my favorite and most photographed barn.  It is abut a half mile down the road, and when I was a girl, it was known as the Kelly Dairy Barn.  Ava Kelly was one of my best friends.  I understand she now lives in Houston but I haven't seen her since 1955.  I wonder if she even still remembers me!

Linking with other charmers to Barn Charm at Bluff Area Daily

Denton County National Bank

Denton, Texas

On my recent three-day road trip through Central Texas I was amazed at the number of old beautiful bank buildings I encountered.  I had seen a few in the past but on this particular trip I became aware of the plethora of these wonderful structures, most of which were built between the late 1880s and the early part of the 20th Century.  So without further ado, I present now, and in the future to come, some of these beauties.

NOTE:  I just finished a relatively new historical book concerning Bonnie and Clyde, Texas' contribution to 1930s gangsters.  I wondered how many of these banks were visited by this pair!

Central Christian Church - Greenville, Texas

1899, Late Gothic Revival

A Fence Can Be a Good Resting Place

Joining Other Fence Fanatics

at Fridays Fences

Flamingo - Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

When Words Just Don't Matter

Hillsboro City Library

Built in 1912, the former U.S. Post was deeded to the City of Hillsboro, Texas, in 1968 and plans were then made to refurbish the building and dedicate it as the Hillsboro City Library.   The design features a tiled roof, an ornate arched entrance arcade and elaborate detailing of terra cotta and stone.

Gargoyles enhance the front corners of the library.

This wonderful bronze sculpture in front of the library steps of a man reading to his daughter  

was donated by the Friends of the Library in 2011.

Double-Decker

Kemah, Texas, on Galveston Bay