At one point today I confided to the S.O. that as a result of my keen interest in photography I was looking at the world through different eyes; that things took on a whole new perspective when one tried to see the photo-worthiness of a person or object. He countered with the statement that when he first got a camera he took pictures of everything, even things for which he had no true interest. At that point I realized that I don't take pictures of anything just to be taking a picture. I take pictures of things that make me smile! The list isn't extensive: flowers (nature), architecture, small-town America, trains, and animals.
So today was full of smiles. It started when we drove to Midlothian, Texas for their annual Spring Fling. We drove to the town square to park and I immediately smiled when we had to do head-in parking along the square.
Since we started going on weekend drives (aka adventures) it has surprised me that in nearly every small town we've visited there has been a quilt shop in the downtown square. It is almost as though I've started going on mini shop hops. Midlothian proved to be no exception. The shop is called Quilts and More. Likewise it seems easier to justify a small fabric purchase at a shop in these small towns because I can claim it is a memento of the day's travel. Today I couldn't resist the bright red batik shown below. Oh, and I finally broke down and got a bit of Maypole by April Cornell.
After spending time in Midlothian, we hopped on Texas Highway 287 to head east because we knew Waxahachie was only about 15 miles away. Waxahachie has some of the most wonderful architecture in the state when one is talking about old courthouses and downtown squares. Here is the Rogers Hotel. Most everything was constructed in the late 1800s or shortly after the turn of the century (19th to the 20th).
This building, the county courthouse for Ellis County, Texas is one of the most exquisite pieces of 19th century architecture in the state. Literally. There have been featured documentaries on television about this structure. It is completely restored to its original splendor and is still the working courthouse for the county. On another occasion I was fortunate enough to tour the building and sitting in the balcony of one of the courtrooms reminded me of a scene from To Kill a Mockingbird!! The wood appointments are all solid mahogany (I think I remember being told it is mahogany) and even the tables, benches, jury boxes, etc. are all refurbished originals. It is truly a magnificent sight to behold.
Unfortunately, no courthouse is complete without the adjacent jailhouse. Here is the Ellis County Jailhouse, circa 1920. It is no longer being used, but no doubt Waxahachie has plans to keep this building for later renovation.
More of the courthouse. The entire structure is made of quarried rock, including several colors of granite.
It was a wonderful day, full of many smiles. After taking photos in Waxahachie we continued in the easterly direction to Ennis, Texas.... home of the annual National Polka Festival that is always held Memorial Day weekend. We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant (in honor of Cinco de Mayo???) that served some of the best Mexican food we'd eaten in ages. It was better than any of those in our immediate neighborhood, that is for sure!! 
No comments:
Post a Comment