Monday, June 30, 2008

Slow walk

You can tell how the ropers did by the speed they went to retrieve their ropes off of the calfs. This guy was going pretty slow after his failed run. You can see his rope being dragged by the calf. I would love to try to do something like this, but the fear of getting knocked off would keep me from actually doing it. If pros get injured, its no place for me. It did look like the riders got more injuries than the animals. I will be going back to the Wade Indoor Arena next month.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Roping fun at Wade Arena, Terrell, Texas

Photos from the roping competition at Wade Arena in Terrell. Not as clear or crisp as I would like. I have something to work on, during my next trip.



Saturday, June 28, 2008

Wade Indoor Arena Roping

Riders gather around the staging area waiting for their name to be called to rope. Each rider must have completed at least 10 runs. They were going all night.


Of course, you have to practice before taking your turn.

Riders returning to the front after completing their runs.


Tomorrow, I will start posting some of the action shots. I wish they turned out better, but it gives me something to work on during my next visit.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Wade Indoor Arena, Terrell, Texas

Terrell has its own rodeo arena just outside of town called Wade Indoor Arena. I have always known it was out there but never went. Every Thursday in June they have a team roping competition, so I figured why not drive out there last night. Watching the riders rope was fun. I took a lot of pictures, but only a few turned out. They are so fast and the lighting isn't the best for photography. Over the next few days, I will share the pictures I got.
Here are a couple of horses getting unloaded and ready to have some fun.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ben Gill Park fun

Another shot of the guys playing softball Tuesday night at Ben Gill Park. You need to click on the picture to get a better view. I ended up watching a little of all of the games going on that night. I forgot how much fun it is. I think this was a Church league playing.

I am having problems with City Daily Photo loading from my home computers. It works fine from work, anyone have any ideas? The page will load, I can see it for a second, then it goes to a white screen. I have two computers and it does it on both. No problems with any other websites I visit.
UPDATE: It looks like I am not the only person having the City Daily Photo problem. Until the problem is corrected, you can still type the name of a city in the box to the right to reach another City Daily Photo site.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Softball in Ben Gill Park

Summer fun at Ben Gill Park. The park has four softball fields. Usually every night there are at least two of the fields in use. Last night all four field were in use, one game after the other.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Is this a donkey or an.......


I took a drive Sunday a few miles outside of town. I came across this neat looking donkey, mule, burro or ass. Not sure what the difference is. The one thing I noticed was the markings on it. It has a long dark stripe down its back and from shoulder to shoulder. Trying to find something online was difficult, I found things on this animal that would fit it into any of the different types. I even tried to google images of each to see which one it looked like most. Here is a tip....don't google images using the word ass.

Monday, June 23, 2008

First National Bank building, Terrell, Texas


This building is a frequent subject for posts here and on Brian's blog. It's no longer a bank, today it's home to an attorneys office. I think its pretty obvious why it's so popular, its a great looking building. Brian posted a picture last month from the same angle as my post today. I wanted to see what it looked like at night, so Saturday night while I was out, I set up my tripod and snapped away. The bank building is located on Moore Ave. which is also known as Highway 80. This is about a block west of yesterdays photo.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Moore Ave at night, Terrell, Texas


It has been a while since I posted a nighttime picture of Terrell. This is Moore Ave, the main drag through town. It was taken Saturday night around 9:30PM looking east.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Are you eyeballin me?


Ben Gill Park, Terrell, Texas
The park is a great place to play ball, walk, run, watch a softball or soccer game, have a picnic or watch the ducks, birds and turtles swim in the pond. The park hosts Terrells annual Forth of July celebration.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Last of the tractors

As promised here are the last of the pictures from the tractor show held last weekend. Seems other things kept bumping this.

I had to put this one first. Not sure if its a ladies tractor or the wife got mad at her husband and figured this was the best way to fix his wagon. I like it though, nice colors.

Doesnt look like there is much to this tractor.

Anyone know what those big steel plates are used for?

I think I saw Kenny Chesney on this one.


Not a tractor, but without this, there would have been no way to get your crops to town.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Dallas media covers tragic local story

Tragic news brought the Dallas media to Terrell Wednesday night. It seems like the only time we see the Dallas media in Terrell is on the bad news day. Terrell is not a bad town, but I think we get a bad rap. It would be nice to see a story mention Terrell and it not be bad news. CBS TV 11 is my channel of choice, so you get their truck for today's photo. The Fox vehicle was an old, rundown unmarked van. This is in a bank parking lot across from the police station.

While I am complaining about the Dallas media, let me add the poor coverage they all provide during bad weather. Since we are to the east of Dallas we get hit after the Metroplex gets hit. The Dallas stations will track storms forming and coming into Ft. Worth and Dallas for hours, giving us updates of whats happening in all of the small towns to the west before it hits them, like this morning. Then, they act as if the world ends on the east edge of the Metroplex. No updates about storms hitting the areas to the east, when we will get hit, what we can expect.


Our prayers go out to Ms. Bourns for a speedy recovery.

To the individual who broke in and beat her, I hope you are caught quickly. You must be some man to beat a 93 year old woman in the head and leave her laying on the floor barely conscious.

Update 6/20/08 An arrest was made in the beating of Ms. Bourns. They arrested a female suspect who lived near Ms. Bourns. If you follow the link they have her mug shot.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Opera House Gifts and Decor, Terrell, Texas



Opera House Gifts & Decor on Moore Ave in Terrell has been open since February. Last Friday afternoon I took the opportunity to visit the shop and snap a few pictures for you. I met Connie who owns the shop with her daughter, Michelle. Connie was more than willing to let me take photos and answer any questions I had. She even gave me some of the history of the building....more on that another day.



If you are looking for a housewarming gift, a birthday present, a new piece of jewelry or something for your home, you should stop by and say hi to Connie. She can help you pick the perfect item.


If you live in Terrell, support your local businesses. You can start by buying me that globe on the left in the bottom picture. My birthday is in August, I will be 24......33......39?......ok dang 44.

I didn't know it on Friday, duh, but Sundays edition of the Terrell Tribune featured a story about some of the downtown merchants in Terrell staying open late on Thursday evenings to cater to residents that can not shop in Terrell during the day. Opera House is one of the stores open late on Thursdays.

Opera House Gifts & Decor
106 East Moore
Terrell Texas 75160 USA
Phone: (972)551-3600

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Thresher demonstration

Continuing with photos from the Tractor and Engine show. This is part of the thresher, its the grain after its separated from the straw. I added a you tube clip of the thresher in motion. Click on the you tube link on the sidebar.





While the demonstration was going on, the belt slipped causing the machine to have to be stopped and the belt fixed. I cant imagine having to do this for a living. I think my job is hard now.

I have another post lined up for Wednesday. On Thursday, I will post the remaining tractor pictures.

Monday, June 16, 2008

A few more from the tractor and engine show

These ladies made sure everything ran smoothly. They sold merchandise, raffle tickets (I lost) and pointed everyone in the right direction.







Looks like I was hit with the spam comments. I regret I am going to turn on the word verification.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Antique Tractor and Engine Club

The North Texas Antique & Engine Club made their annual stop in Terrell this weekend. Pictured is an antique McCormick-Deering threshing machine. Grain is fed into the machine and separated into the wheat and straw. They fired this baby up and showed everyone what it does. I will post a few more pictures of this machine and others on display over the next few days.

The picture was taken this morning about 10:30am. Check out how clear the sky is today. I am off to do something fun.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Book signing at Books and Crannies

A book signing was held today at Books & Crannies on Moore St. in Terrell. You can read about the book and the books writer here. In the photo below you can see the writer sitting in her blue chair, doing what I guess all writers do when they don't write. She was coming to life as I was leaving, but the store was getting busy, and I didn't want to be a nuisance.



I posted a series of Books & Crannies in March. Below is a picture of Maddie from that series. You can do a blog search using the words "books crannies" in the upper left to view all off the the photos from March.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Nash St. Terrell, Texas

Sorry for the late post today. I took today off work so I could pay my respects to Spc. Jonathan Emard and his family. Residents of Terrell were asked to pay their respects by lining the funeral procession route as it headed from the funeral home to the Church in Rockwall.

No pictures of the procession.
Here are two from along the route.



Thursday, June 12, 2008

Terrell Class of 08


Terrell High School held their graduation last week for the Class of 08. I couldn't help but post a picture of this on the fence at the stadium. I didn't graduate from Terrell High School, but I remember when I graduated, um, a few years ago. The music was so much better back then.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Antique tractor and engine show


This weekend is the Antique tractor and engine show at Ben Gill Park. This is an annual event in Terrell, but this will be my first time going. What time can I expect to see everyone?

Kaufman County Online has information concerning the funeral procession for Spc. Jonathon Emard. I contacted the Terrell Marketing Center this morning and verified the processions will be on Moore Ave between the streets listed in the story. I am going to try to pay my respects tomorrow or Friday.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Rainbow over Terrell


Every once in a while we get a rainbow over Terrell. Yesterday was one of those days. We had a rain shower with the sun out. We are getting more rain this morning, but that's a good thing here. Everyone have a great day.

The itinerary for the return of Spc. Emard to Terrell can be found here. There may be additional details released, if so I will post them or try to link to them.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Honky Tonkin in Terrell


Went out to Club 148 in Terrell last night. I had never been there before, it's a nice place. They had a live band, Randy Allen & One Shot, they were very good.
I tried to keep customers out of the pictures. So there are not many in this picture, but it was crowded and the dance floor always had someone dancing.
The quality is not very good, it was dark and the pictures were taking with my blackberry. I did find out the camera on the phone has a flash.

Below is Karen snapping away pics, having a good time.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Fallen Hero Spc. Emard









I saw this sign yesterday on my way home from work. I was hoping it wasn't bad news. I found this today. Which led me to this:

FORT DRUM – Three 10th Mountain Division Soldiers were killed June 4 when they were engaged by enemy forces with small-arms fire and hand grenades while their unit was assaulting a building near Hawijah, Iraq.

Sgt. Cody R. Legg, Sgt. Shane P. Duffy and Spc. Jonathan D. Emard, were all infantrymen assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

The men and women of the Warrior Brigade deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in November 2007 to conduct full spectrum operations in Kirkuk province. This is 1st BCT's second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jonathan D. Emard

Spc. Jonathan D. Emard, 20, entered the Army in March 2006 and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga.

A native of Mesquite, Texas, Emard was assigned to Fort Drum in July 2006.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

He is survived by his parents.



Heartbreaking, I didn't know Spc. Emard, but I would have been honored to know him. My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Hero Spc. Emard.

Photo Courtesy of Fort Drum Public Affairs