Cruella De Vil

I loved this car! It looked so coooool! Where are the dalmations?

Gingerbread House

I don't know how long ago their tradition started but in the 10 years I remember driving around Seguin, this home decorates for Christmas. It's a gigantic g-house! The little gingerbread people move -- the cowboy's lasso moves round and round, the decorators' arms move up and down with the strings of lights, etc. It's a pretty big job and lots of people stop by to admire the scene.

Fall finally arrives!

I was doing stuff in the kitchen and noticed that it finally looks like fall in Seguin. That's a crepe myrtle in my neighbor's yard. The pecan trees don't really turn color. They just somehow go from green leaves to brown leaves. Nothing in between. And then the leaves drop all around. And yes, we probably can use a rake...

Pool Company

I have always liked this cute little building! I love the color and the waves.

Toasty

Another shot of Hair Haus but this time it's inside...where you can get toasty with hot stones. I've had wonderful massages here but haven't tried the stones yet. Everyone have a great weekend!

Texas Theatre

I have posted the Theatre before but from a different angle and on this day, the lights were on, which I rarely see!

Christmas Lights

The square is now all lit up for the Christmas season. I took tons of pictures but none came out like I hoped or envisioned so I'm still working on it. Meanwhile, I'll at least post this one. I love Christmas time.

Hair Haus

This is my all time favorite place to get my hair cut. And that covers the places in North Carolina as well as the San Antonio places I have been in the past. The owner is named Audra and she opened her new building last year. She's a great stylist and the place is so cool, cute and super clean. For a small town, this is a real treasure. You can get your hair done and also do the nail pampering as well as super massages.

Unique Home

Such a cute little house. Not sure I want one for myself but I like driving by and looking at this one. I wonder what it's like inside and it is very small.

Pecans

It's that time of year again. No, not just Christmas! It's time to harvest pecans (or buy somebody else's harvested work). These were picked up from our front yard. There are lots of pecan trees in Seguin, as you may recall from an early post I had of our Big Pecan.

This year, the worms did not kill off the harvest but as usual the squirrels are doing their best at eating up anything they can get a hold of. What kills me is that they only eat 1/3 or 1/2 of the pecan and then they toss it down. Anyway, that's another story. I am not fond of our huge population of squirrelly squirrels.

I missed the PecanFest this year. Not sure when they had it down at the Pecan Bottom but it has not yet grown much beyond a display of pecans and printed info and occassionally some baked goods.

I will soon snap a shop of a great place to go for pecans and other gifts -- Pape's Pecan House, home to yet another "big pecan." There's a dispute over who has the right to claim this.

Downtown Building

Another one of the many old buildings you find near or on the square in downtown Seguin. Just posted a shot of a downtown building in San Antonio as well. Just a happy coincidence. The first level is not unique but the 2nd floor has possibilities I thought as I gazed at it while at a stop light. If you click on the pic and look at the details on the 2nd floor, it's pretty cool and has great potential. Looks like there used to be big windows up there, which would be consistent with other buildings along there. Might be fun to have an office or apartment near the square, especially during Christmas and other event times.

Doll House

This is the fanciest doll house in town. It is attached to a historical site so I'm not sure who the owner is or how it is used. It's an interesting find in a not-so-well-traveled part of town.

Guadalupe County Veterans Memorial

This memorial is not yet completed -- there are still many memorial bricks purchased that need to be cut and placed around but it still is very nice. This is located on the square, at the corner of Austin and Court Streets. The great pecan is close by, just beyond this memorial. It had to be moved in order to accommodate this new feature. Oh, this is also in front of our courthouse.

Cup of Joe

This is our only "real" coffeehouse in town. I really enjoy it and was so glad that we finally got our own place in town. It's on the square and there is a good selection of coffees, cold beverages and snacks. Last time I was there, there were also 2 computers with net access. Don't know if they have wireless yet. I'll check it out soon.

A lot of the downtown storefront properties seem to be owned by the Vivroux family (big name in town). I notice most of the buildings have two stories and the top floors are often not in use. I don't know if it's storage areas or what. It'd be cool to convert those into downtown apartments down on the square.

Big & Tall

It is hard to get a great picture of this place from a distance b/c buildings, power lines and other things get in the way. I have always thought it a bit creepy myself. I have been in Seguin about 9-10 years and this place has been out of commission the entire time. I am not sure who owns it but the properties near it have been, are being or will probably be soon redeveloped. I think it's a neat looking place, with the adjacent silos and all. Maybe they can develop something which incorporates the basic structure here. I'd love to be able to go up there to get a view from that height. Maybe.

Emu Oil

It was Trade Days in Seguin this past weekend. Lots of crafty stuff and then I saw this vendor. How funny. Who knew emu oil had so many uses for ailments! Have you used any before??

Breakfast tacos

This old filling station has been turned into a taqueria with a drive through for quick pick up. I love the potato and egg tacos the best. Yes, there was a bit of a line but it's worth the little wait. Yum.

Pumpkins Galore

Across from our home is the gigantic United Methodist Church and every year, they have their huge pumpkin patch set up for the entire month of October. I love looking at all the different shapes and sizes of pumpkins. Haven't had a chance to really inspect them up close yet but I will.

Last year I took the kids of a friend, set of triplets, to check out the patch. We had a blast. I was exhausted. Here are some shots of the fun you can when selecting pumpkins with young, energetic kids. Pumpkin Shopping.

Palace Theatre

I was driving past the Palace Theatre yesterday when I noticed they are actually going to show a few movies this month! What a treat. The owner runs movies from time to time but I am not sure when. I wish the theatre was open always! I love the place. I am going to try to catch Rear Window, it's one of my favorites.

La Paleteria

It may finally be a little chilly here now (low 80s daytime, upper 40s night time) but I can always go for a scoop of chocolate chip mint! I never see much traffic at the shop so I sure hope they make it and stick around. There a tons of flavors and it's a really nice treat.

Smokey Joe Williams

Doesn't he cut a fine figure? This photo is not mine but I have developed quite a fondness for it after looking at it so much over the years since Mark started researching him. Smokey Joe was born and raised in little old Seguin. He became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball. He only got to play in the Negro Leagues because baseball was not integrated. Smokey Joe was born in 1886 in Seguin and died 1951 in New York. We went to Cooperstown for his induction in 1999.

Police Headquarters

This is our new police headquarters. Very nice upgrade from what they had to work with up to now. For some reason, I really like the look of the place at night. I like the lighting and the way they did the name. Very cool.

First Sunday

We go to Second Baptist Church in Seguin and on the first Sunday, there is communion. The deacons of the church help the Pastor with it and here we have the deaconesses, members and wives of the deacons. I love to see them in their white. Currently I am trying to find out the significance of the white covering they have on their heads. Someone asked me about it but I didn't know either.

Is someone watching me?

Do you think these sensors really work? We are getting these installed all over our town of about 25,000. The gadgets are on top of street lights and should sense when vehicles approach and they are suppose to help traffic flow, keeping to a minimum long lines and pile ups. However, there are times, when I sit at a red light and there are no vehicles approaching from the other directions for miles and miles it seems. Does this ever happen to anyone else?? Oh, and of course it turns green right as I decide to snap the photo.

Price War

Wow, I can't remember the last time I saw fuel price dip down to $2.10! I shot this on the way in to work this morning so no one was there yet as it's Saturday morning. However, last night my husband and I saw many cars lined up at the station to fill their tanks.

Fountain

Currently I am fascinated by water as we were so dry the last few months. I liked the way the light hit the water or is it the other way around. Anyway, I love water.

Juan Seguin

One of the founding fathers of Seguin. I'd recite a history for you but it's very lengthy!

Please rain!

I like this picture a lot because I love water. Which is why it has been so hard lately here in TX. We are very dry and I'm not sure I remember what rain is like! Please rain soon!

Kind of Asiany

This now houses some businesses and just off the town square. I love the color and look of it. I took this as I sat in my car at a light. I got lots of looks as cars drove past me.

Laid Back

Life in Seguin is pretty nice and quiet, even for almost 25,000 people. I like being there b/c it is a slower pace, you can get most everywhere in 5 minutes, there are rarely traffic jams and it's got charm. Not everyone is as relaxed as my kitty Smokey, but almost.

Belated Portrait

Hi everyone, I am back from my NY-CT trip. Had a great time but am glad to get back home. Since I was traveling on the theme day, I hope you don't mind I post this belatedly. It's me and my honey during vacation. Have a great day!

Mockingbird, mockingbird!

We have two mockingbirds that have built their nest in our crepe myrtle in the front yard for several years now. This is the first year we have actually seen some little birdies hatch! Our poor kitty Smokey has suffered through two weeks of harrassment from the parenting birds. He couldn't walk three steps in the back yard without one of the parents swooping down to let him know they didn't appreciate him. I don't think he was even aware of the babies! Or maybe he was. My husband said that he let Smokey out one day and he immediately went to sit underneath the nest. I'm sure the parents REALLY didn't appreciate that.

I heard odd chirping and looked out to see this cute little fellow hopping around with mommy bird watching closely from above. I don't think he could fly yet so he hopped. She fed him a bit here and there. It was very sweet to witness.

I think the nest is empty now so Smokey can roam the yard in peace again!

I'm on vacation starting tomorrow through the end of the month. Traveling to New York so if I don't get to post, my apologies ahead of time. Will try to catch up upon my return. Bye everyone.

Pics of mommy bird and Smokey

Warm Tortillas

Hot out of the tortilla machine. This contraption is not found at many HEBs in the area but we were lucky enough to get one last year. I LOVE the tortillas made here. They are fresh, just the right thickness and yummy for breakfast tacos, fajitas, with a little butter or just plain.

Hot Stuff!

My son and I went grocery shopping together at our local HEB, which is nice b/c it's my chance to "teach" him how to plan and buy for a week instead of shopping whenever you get hungry. He likes spicy foods and wanted to try some of these habanera peppers. It was hot, but not as hot as we thought it would be. It did, however, make his eyes sting when he touch them many hours later!

Relics

We live in a house that is over 100 years old and we've done lots of renovations. We just completed a major one last month and these are some of the things that my husband has found under the house or in the walls. It's interesting and fun to try and imagine what story goes along with each piece.

The brownish container is a tobacco tin. See more pics here.

Froggies

Name revealed!

It's WaterPark Experts, Inc.

Read the post.

(Thank you honey for seeing the article and

telling me even though I totally misheard you!)

I pass this business everyday at least twice. There is no sign or anything to indicate who they are or what they do. But there are these gigantic concrete (I think, I've yet to get out as it's not my property) creatures! The frogs were bizarre. I'll let you know if I ever figure out the purpose for which they were made.

For Sarah

Sarah posted crepe myrtle pics on the SA DP so I found these just for her.

The purple and white are not seen often but they are two of my favorite colors of that flower. More myrtle pics

Sebastopol House

I just love Sebastopol and I wish the state could give more money for maintenance and more landscaping. This is where we had our wedding five years ago. It's a Greek Revival style house and it was funny -- on the upper floor where we rented the large room for 30 guests, there is no lighting! So, by 8pm, we had to wrap up festivities b/c the sun had gone down. It was a good way to make sure the wedding lasted only 2 hours!

For the history of Sebastopol, click here.

Biggest Small Town Parade

It's a big day here for celebrating the 4th of July. There's a parade in the morning and then the mayor's luncheon at noon. In the evening, there's a huge fireworks show in Starcke Park along the Guadalupe River. This morning, I went out to see who might be lining up in front of our house (we are one of the feeder streets into the parade). This float is the square dance and clogging club. They were really nice. Chatted with them for a bit.



This is the watermelon royal court from Luling, a town near Seguin. I feel so sorry for the poor kids. It is hot and very humid today! It also looks like it might rain at any minute!

Bimbo

I saw this van on the way to work, a commute from Seguin to San Antonio. The name really amused me. Fortunately, a friend knew what company this is and set me straight -- it's a Mexican baked goods company!

Pretty to look at

I like the colors here a lot. I also think it is a funny plant b/c the blooms seem like little mouths, like from Little Shop of Horrors. Ready to open up and snap as creatures draw near.

Swirlies

I just thought this was really pretty. Makes me think of a fancy dessert. Click here to see a full picture.

Beautiful music

It's raining outside, pouring actually. Some rolling thunder. And my niece practicing on the piano. It is so peaceful.

Viet Cuisine

The soup is traditional Vietnamese; very delicious, it's called Bun Rieu Oc. Consists of vermicelli noodles, escargot, crab, shrimp paste, tofu, tomatos, scallions. I love the decorative topping.

Vacation

Today I flew to see my family in FL. So though this morning we lifted off at 6:00 a.m. and this is what we saw above the clouds. I will be here for a full week so I will post as often as I can.

Starcke Furniture Co.

I love some of these old buildings in town. This is on one corner of our Central Park, the town square I usually call it. The business has been around for a very very long time, 1910 is listed on their sign. It's two stories, with a basement and we bought our sleigh bed from them. They're a great business and they have such an interesting old building. I love it when I see names on buildings. The Nolte family is very prominent in Seguin.

Beautiful AND Delicious

We went to a dessert social Saturday night and it was wonderful. The creator of these treats is very modest but she need not be -- her treats were superb!