Caledonia Cemetery

The Colors of Christmas

Fence No. 10

Cattle chute on a farm adjacent to ours.

Old Habits Die Hard

Even though the Kellys left about a half-century ago and there have been several owners during the years, we still continue to call this old barn a half-mile from our house the Old Kelly Dairy Barn.  I think they would be pleased at how beautiful the little barn looks under those big oak trees which surely have grown tall and strong in the intervening years.  Our oaks are finally turning and they are spectacular.

Nachitoches Hardware Store

I absolutely LOVE hardware stores, especially the old-fashioned kind like this one I found on my recent trip to Natchitoches, Louisiana.  I could spend hours in a place like this and I intend to do just that on another trip.  Well, maybe not hours, plural, because there's lots of other stuff in Natchitoches that I really want to see.  I thought this one was especially cool since it was still located right smack-dab downtown facing the river walk and in the midst of fancy boutiques which cater to tourists.

Post Office ~ Martinsville, Texas

In the 1850s Dr. John Martin, a native of Alabama, settled about 10 miles from where I live and established a large plantation.  Around 1857 he built a mill and for many years the community was known as Martin's Mill or Martin City.  When residents applied for a post office in 1867 under the name Martin's Mill, they were informed that there was already a community by that name, so the name was changed to Martinsville.  The post office operated from 1867 until 1988 when this new building was constructed.  I'm sure it's one of few log post offices in the country and I think it is absolutely delightful.  Although the Texas Historical Association only estimated Martinsville to have 126 residents in 2000 it is a crossroad of two major roads in this area and the Martinsville Independent School District serves many rural students in the area from K through 12.  Its girls' basketball team is always a major force in district and frequently statewide competition.

Iron Horse ~ Hardware No. 3

These vintage iron horses still grace the streets of the business section of Natchitoches, Louisiana, 

which was founded in 1714 and is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. 

Waiting Their Turn

The leaves of the sycamores, the Chinese tallows, the sweet gums, the pecans, the black walnuts, the maples, the crape myrtles, the dogwoods, the chinaberries, and the sumacs have all turned.  Only certain varieties of the mighty oaks are waiting their turn to transition from green to the shades of autumn.

What do horses think about?

1.  Mother was right.  I should have never gotten that tattoo on my neck!
2.  A spa day would really feel good right about now!
3.  I hate looking at cameras!
4.  So much so I think I'll just pout!

What do you think?

Vintage Fire Engine

Fence No. 9

Photographed at Gladewater, Texas

Lodge House ~ Bronson, Texas

Back Doors No. 7 ~ Jefferson, Texas

I'm always amazed at what I DON'T see when I'm taking pictures but observe for the first time during the edit process.  These back doors, photographed while strolling through an alleyway in Jefferson, Texas, called to me because of the red peeling paint.  But upon closer inspection I wonder what is that object behind the window panes.  What do you think it is?  When I return to Jefferson, which I'm sure I will, I'll have to find these back doors again and see if it's still there and maybe then I can discover its identity.  Until then ....

Autumn's Brilliance ...

... is rapidly fading.