Category Archives: Travel

Boxcar 87: Fiction Friday

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Friday Fictioneer Challenge: Write a 100-word story based on the photo.
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Friday Fictioneer prompt. Copyright Jennifer Pendergast

Friday Fictioneer prompt. Copyright Jennifer Pendergast

Boxcar 87

“Are we almost there?”

Boxcar 87 looked back. Boxcar 88 was rocking a little from side to side, looking a bit anxious under a thin layer of dust.

“First trip out west?” Boxcar 87 asked. “Relax. Look how beautiful the desert is.”

Boxcar 88 snorted. “It’s boring. It’s, like, one color: khaki. Miles and miles of boring nothing.”

Boxcar 87 wondered about the future of rail transportation when youngsters like 88 had no patience, no imagination.

“Are we almost there?” Boxcar 88 repeated.

“No, we are not almost there.” Boxcar 87 sighed. This was going to be one long trip.

An Afternoon in Gruene

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I met up with some fellow photographers in Gruene, Texas. (It’s pronounced as “green.” It was a perfect spring day: a few white clouds and a nice breeze. We wandered around town taking photos of whatever caught our eye, listened to live music while eating lunch on the patio overlooking the Guadalupe River at the Grist Mill, then wandered around a bit more.

It was the first time I’d ever been to Gruene (what have I been doing all this time?). Just before I left, I went into Gruene Hall (Texas’ oldest dance floor) and discovered a live band with dancing — in the middle of a Sunday afternoon! The band was Jack Hustinx & the Southern Aces. I don’t have dancing shoes (or boots) any more, but I may have to get me some. I had a wonderful time.

Gruene Hall
HD Gruene Jr office 1923
Guadalupe River
Old building in Gruene
Onion rings (Texas size) at Grist Mill
Dancing at Gruene Hall

Airing of the Quilts

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The Airing of the Quilts and the Garden Club Tour of Homes is an annual event in Smithville, Texas. I picked up my camera and hit the road for a day trip. I took 297 photos; here are a few presentable ones. Not all my photos turned out; I’m still overexposing some.

Quilts hanging in front of businesses in Smithville, Texas

Quilts, quilts and more quilts

A mosaic quilt in front of an art gallery named Mosaic

A good quilt for the Mosaic shop

Three old quilts hanging in front of an old building

Old building, old quilts

A cute cottage with a colorful quilt hanging in front of it

Cute cottage


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As I arrived and got out of my car, I heard music. Live music. I followed the sound down a narrow entrance and it opened up into a patio. Live music at 9:30 a.m., yes, indeed. I didn’t get the name of the band, but I doubt that it is “Smoking Area.” I could hear their music all through the morning as I walked around looking at the quilts.

A live band playing music at 9:30 a.m.

Music in the morning

I spent all my time walking around downtown Smithville, taking photos of the quilts and old buildings. I didn’t make it to the Garden Tour of Homes. Maybe next year!

Milam County Courthouse

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Judy and I went on a field trip to Cameron, Texas, to check out the Milam County Courthouse. It was completed in 1892 in the Renaissance Revival style. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. And the clock works!

The Milam County Courthouse, facing west

Milam County Courthouse, west view


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South view of the Milam County Courthouse, with lots of trees

South View


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We could see lots of birds flying around the statue (Justice), but this is as close as I could get with my lens. From where we were, and considering the size of the statue, they looked like gnats.

The statue on top of the Milam County Courthouse, with lots of little birds flying around it

Darn gnats!