Firework #2

My selection for my 2nd favorite photo of 2008 is this firework photo that was originally posted back on July 6th. I really liked the way several of my firework photos turned out (I took them from several blocks away behind a line of trees that blocked all ground level lights)...

I was honored several months ago when I received an email from a computer programmer/web designer who requested to use one of my photos (this one) as a background for the website of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary!! The guy just happened to also be in charge of the fireworks display here in Terrell every year -- and he could recognize this firework as one of the ones he loaded and set off =) He also offered me some backstage access for next July's firework display where I can take pictures during their setup and during the show!

Anyway - I was excited to receive some positive feedback and honored for someone to want to use one of my photos on a website without my begging and pleading =) So, this is my number 2 photo for 2008..... HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO ALL!!!!

A horse is a horse - #3

Today's photo is number 3 in the countdown to my top photo for the year of 2008. I selected this one partially because of the length of time it took me to get this shot.

I'd seen these cows laying out next to this sign once when I didn't have my camera, and by the time I went home and got back they'd all moved. It was another 5 or 6 months of driving by this pasture every day on my way home from work when I happened to catch them in just the right spot - AND i had my camera!!!

Politics - Number 4

Today is my number 4 favorite out of my photos for the year 2008. I think this is a good selection to exhibit what to expect from politicians in general. This was an electrically charged political season - I personally went from a staunch Hillary supporter to a strong Obama supporter. I'm looking forward to seeing what policies Obama follows through on with his 'change' platform.

Number 5 - Frosty

Ok.. i've decided to do a Top 5 countdown of my favorite photos from posting throughout the year in 2008. My number 5 selection is Frosty from a cold morning in November, as he was looking out the window. I actually had 2 angles of the shot that I took at the time and fought over which one to use. So, for the countdown, here are both! I picked the first one above to post =)

frosty in a box

frosty loves playing in boxes... even small ones that he can barely fit in =)

MERRY XMAS!!!!!

Okay! it's here! my family tradition was to always wait til X-mas morning to open presents! and I mean no disrespect at all by using 'X' for Christ - look it up in yahoo, the X has been a synonomous symbol for Christ for centuries! so it's acceptable and is not taking the Christ out of Christmas at all =) our history lesson for the day =)

merry merry and happy happy to all! now it's time to take down the tree and clean up the broken baubles! can you believe it's almost 2009? I remember when it was turning 2000 and we were fighting over what to call the 'naught' years (00), and now we're already nearing the '10's' =)

First Baptist Church

This is one of the older buildings in Terrell, the Baptist Church down the street from my house =) it's all decked out for the season!

happy holidays

from Terrell Office Products!

winter weeds

a winter dandelion... and a friend

Grandma's Car

You've all heard the story about grandma's car - you know, buying the ole' grandma's car that only gets driven to church on Sunday. So how come when I saw this car in Wal Mart's parking lot today my 82-yr old grandma demanded that I get her this car for Christmas. I got my camera out to take a photo and she literally ran over and got in the middle of my shot!

I think this one actually belongs to one of our local dentists who is an avid car collector... it was very nice =)

Weather Event

Please forgive me for neglecting to mention the weather event we experienced here in Terrell this week. On Tuesday morning we awoke to some freezing temperatures and foggy wet cloudy conditions that froze the Dallas area.... I captured this photo in Terrell on some grass down at the First Baptist Church...

Shriner Clowns

These guys look really colorful and clownish, but they look to me like they'd frighten small children...

State Farm Insurance - Terrell

Today's photo is another entry from the Terrell Christmas Parade last Saturday - this is the local State Farm insurance agent Graylan Dabney, whose office is located right behind the local gym where I've been working out these past few months. There has been a new office building under construction on hwy 205 south of Wal Mart where Mr. Dabney's insurance agency will be relocating to when completed, according to signs out in front of the new building.

I think this car and the idea for decorating vehicles like this is really cool - I just don't know that I'd do that for my personal car. I mean really, you could never do anything wrong because people would know exactly who you were when you did it. Go to the liquor store too much? everyone would know. Out at the donut shop every morning? Gotcha! Pulled over for running a red light? People see your pic and know its you!

Now, please don't confuse my humor with the insurance agent - the only thing I can tell you about him is that he works out regularly at the gym, because that's where I always see this car in the early mornin'=)

For insurance info, you can contact Mr. Dabney at 972-524-4194, or www.graylandabney.com/

Shrek Christmas

Because nothing says Christmas more than Shrek in a monster truck with a big Redneck bringing up the rear....

Toys for Tots

Today's photo was the large bounty of toys we collected at work for the Toys for Tots program. The program was sponsored by the Marine Corps Reserve based out of the Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas. It's a worthy cause and toys are reasonably priced, so give! Tis the season!!.. More info can be obtained here:

D/FW Toys for Tots

1068 Boyington Dr.

NAS/JRB Fort Worth

Forth Worth, Tx. 76127

Santa's Helper Clown

Happy Birthday to my older brother, Greg... turning 43 today! He was the one who always got combination Christmas and Birthday presents as a kid =)

Terrell Christmas Parade

Locals were flipping over the Stanley Ballard Christmas parade that began at 10am today.... more pics will follow!

Night sky

Tonight's photo shows the full moon taken tonight... on the radio earlier they said the full moon would be at its largest size all year tonight and would even be affecting the ocean tides....

This photo has the moon in a haze behind a cloud, with a jet's airstream going diagonal across as seen through my pecan trees =) the green light reflecting on the pecan tree limbs is from the street light across the street...

happy friday and weekend to all!! Tomorrow will be the big Terrell Christmas Parade and I'll be following up with pics from that =)

Reflections in Kaufman

Several weeks ago I took a short trip down to Kaufman to take some photos. After walking around the town square, I ventured a block or 2 west of downtown and found this neat old building that houses a gymnasium/workout center. I thought it was a great opportunity to take a few 'reflection' shots of myself - through the windows and reflecting off the mirrors that lined the walls inside.

Through the windows the building seemed dark - and I thought it was closed... which is why I lingered and zoomed in through the window to get the picture of myself... after probably 4 minutes or so of pointing and shooting I heard a noise from inside the building. Some weights being dropped inside the room where I was photographing through the window =) I'm still not sure who was inside, but it startled me and as I came around to the front of the building I saw where they had weekend hours and cars in the parking lot. =) I can't see anyone in my photos aside from myself, but someone in Kaufman probably thought i was peeping in on their workout!!

watching and waiting....

3 down and 2 to go.... and just 14 more days 'til X-mas!

A little Frosty and BC for a Wednesday night photo =) they're watching and waiting....

morning sky in downtown terrell

a dark and brooding sunrise, the colors were really amazing....

the three wise men

"The Wise Men left their country

To journey morn by morn,

With gold and frankincense and myrrh,

Because the Lord was born:

God sent a star to guide them

And sent a dream to warn.

My life is like their journey,

Their star is like God's book;

I must be like those good Wise Men

With heavenward heart and look:

But shall I give no gifts to God?

What precious gifts they took!

Lord, I will give my love to Thee,

Than gold must costlier,

Sweeter to Thee than frankincense,

More prized than choicest myrrh:

Lord, make me dearer day by day,

Day by day holier;"

~lyrics from A Christmas Carol

Three carolers

caroling...

nobody likes to hear me carol =) but i keep practicing just in case

nutcrackers

a new window display photo today of some soldier nutcrackers...

the nutcracker suite music always puts me in the mood for christmas too, here's a little music for you from tchaikovsky's nutcracker suite from fantasia...

Terrell Fire vs. Police

The Terrell Police Services and Fire Department held a flag football game this morning as a toy donation drive for Christmas called K-toys... Jim has some more info and links over on his site here.... my first photo here is one of the fire engines near the entrance of the game.... and lastly a little field action =)

Fallout

This sign is located on the outside of the Kaufman County courthouse - near yesterday's litter bug sign. It seems like a small amount for it to only hold 655 people, but maybe that's large as far as fallout shelters go....

litter bug

give a hoot! don't pollute! never be a dirty bird!

Santa in a tree - Frosty in a box

Being the first year for Frosty ever seeing a Christmas tree, I decided to be cautious with my glass ornaments and only hang up a few until I could see what his interest was going to be with the tree. It was a great decision! Frosty has chewed and climbed the bottom branches of the fake tree - bending the branches down and making it look very much like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.... One ornament has fallen to the ground, but luckily didn't break.

I'll probably be packing the tree back up in it's box here before Christmas gets here!~

another lamp post

As a kid, lamp post decorations like this nutcracker always symbolized the Christmas season to me...

this time of year also reminds me of the Chevy Chase classic 'Funny Farm' , when he and his wife paid their fellow townspeople to dress up and depict a small town Norman Rockwell Christmas in an attempt to sell their house.... and in the process they fell in love with their small town all over again - quirks and all - and ended up keeping their house =) Ahhh Terrell...

December Theme Day

Over at the City Daily Photo blog the theme day for the first of December is Circles(or spheres).... I took my photo while walking around downtown Terrell. This is a street light on the side of one of the American National bank office buildings, taken looking straight up into the air.

Please take a few minutes to browse through some of the other 187 other sites participating in Circles and Spheres theme day... Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

p.s. i decided to change the site background to red... temporarily... for christmas... =)