Saturday, January 9, 2010

Weekend reflections Gonzales Texas

Time to play again! It's the weekend, which means that you need to visit James at Newtown Area Photo and his fun weekly event Weekend Reflections. James is such a gracious host that people from all over the world post their beautiful reflection photographs for this meme.

DH and I took a road trip to South Texas on New Years Day. One of our stops was the little town of Gonzales. We found some neat old buildings and had alot of fun. Also had a very nice man come up to our car as we were leaving to "introduce" himself and ask if we were just visiting. Gonzales is a very small town and we think that someone called him and told him some "strangers were taking pictures". He was quite nice and when he was satisfied that we weren't up to anything nefarious, wished us a Happy New Year and on our merry way we went. It probably didn't hurt that DH dropped his bosses' name, who happens to be a famous artist from that part of the state!

This first building is an old, meticulously restored Mobil station. We aren't sure if it is an antique store now or what, there was no signage visible. But it really is a beautiful building.








This next building is a real "blast from the past" This is a functioning, full service gas station in the middle of town. It appears to be frozen in time, at least until you look at the prices on the pump! Played around with this in B & W, I just thought it suited the subject. I'm still learning what will make a good B&W photo, as the number of shots in my "dump" folder will attest!



Hope you enjoyed our little South Texas Cruise. Now make sure to stop by and say hello to James, you will be glad you did!

40 comments:

Rune Eide said...

An "old-fashioned" gas-stationed. Not many of those around!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Kat, you are taking the greatest pictures. I love the old gas stations, they are just so neat. You live in the greatest area that still has some of these beauties. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty

Suburban Girl said...

Haha - Too bad the pump prices didn't stay the same! I remember those flying horses.

Anonymous said...

The "flying horse" in the first photo would love to be in B&W too I bet. Nice work.

Lori E said...

We always take pictures of old building like this. The history is so palpable you can just feel it.

The Muse said...

i recall my daad teaching me to pump gas..he told me one day I miht have to...ah a man of insight!

i want the good old "man with a star" days!

Love those shots!

La Dolfina said...

Great tour! Thanks for sharing!
I love old gas stations!
Have a lovely weekend!
xo
Terri

Carol said...

Nice shots of the beautiful old gas stations. Enjoyed these very much. Good reflections also.

Lori said...

What great pictures! I love the old gas station, and how perfect to make it b&w.. You are doing a great job with your camera!

Blondie's Journal said...

What an interesting (and laid back) town, Kathy! I love your pictures. The Mobil station is one of a kind!

xoxo
Jane

Diane AZ said...

I enjoyed all of your pictures. The little garage doors on the old Mobil station are neat and of course I like the reflections too.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the pictures are amazing! That red Mobil station looks so retro, like a step back in time.

I'll be in West Texas visiting my mom the end of this month. Looking forward to some sunshine - we've had so much gray with our rain this year and I'm craving sun.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Yes, it is interesting to see different places, especially out of the big cities. The buildings are quaint and it looks like a very quiet little township.
Lucky you and lucky Sax; this friend was born with more than seven lives.

Jientje said...

The Mobil gas station brought back childhood memories of my father and our very first car, a black Volkswagen Beetle. I enjoyed this!

cieldequimper said...

Great! There aren't many of those around anymore!

Deb said...

what fun...I love going through little towns...and the people always no you aren't from there...

Beth said...

Hi, love your pictures from Gonzales, Tx. I actually live over in the Southeast corner of Texas in Bridge City which is near Beaumont/Orange if you're familiar with it.

I read your blog and saw you are from Georgetown. I spent several weeks in Sun City with my brother n law and his wife back in 2005 after Hurricane Rita came through our area. Loved Sun City and Georgetown! Such a neat area! My brother n law was a chiropractor there and was good friends with Jack Terry. Was wondering if that's the local artist your hubby works for? He does beautiful paintings!

Thanks for sharing your pics!

xinex said...

Great pics, Kathy! I love old buildings!...Christine

Dawn Marie said...

neat little day trip, I cant imagine a full service station anymore!


Genie had Chylethorax as her first disease. Its mainly in cats and if in dogs is usually fatal. It was a really tough year or so watching her fight.

Bonnie said...

Hi Kathy, I just read your earlier post on Finding Beauty. What caring hearts you and your daughter have, your cat is so beautiful.

Thanks for the tour of South Texas. I find that Mobil gas station quite attractive and boy does it bring back memories. Do you remember FULL service, it's just a hazy memory now!

Have a great weekend, Bonnie

Carletta said...

I hardly looked at the reflections I was so taken with the buildings. They both remind me of days growing up in my hometown and my first driving experiences. I'm guessing the second one was at one time a Texaco station.
Great finds! Thanks for sharing these.

Gattina said...

I would never have thought that I call a gas station cute ! but this one really looks like, lol !

James said...

I envy you! I love finding old gas stations. They are very rare to see these days. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures in color and bLack and white. I hope you are staying warm.

P.s Let me know how to make a good black and white picture. I just keeep trying to figure out what look good to me.

I'm sure there's probably several rules of black and white that I break everytime. :)

Rinkly Rimes said...

Everything looks so neat ad tidy. They must be proud of their town.

Inday said...

You are doing well Kathy! I like both the B&W and the colored. The blast from the past always make good stuff. Thanks for the visit Kathy.

storyteller said...

Fun 'virtual' visit to the past with your nifty photos for Weekend Reflections. Thanks for taking us along as this post takes me back to 'road trips' with my family of origin decades ago. The monochrome treatment is perfect for the last photo and I'm glad you left the vibrant REDS in the first. Thanks for dropping by my 'tamale' extravaganza ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

eileeninmd said...

Kathy, great reflections on the old gas stations. Great captures.

Lois said...

Fabulous pictures Kathy! It's like stepping back in time.

Amy said...

Those are neat buildings. We have a very old gas station in town that has a sign on it that says it is the very first gas station. Now...I don't know if that means the very first gas station in our town, county, state? I can't imagine in the whole USA??? I'll have to research it a little more and find out. Have a good Sunday. We're taking Aubrey back to school today. It's been soooo nice having her home for the break.

dianasfaria.com said...

Thanks for sharing this, I always enjoy a good road trip! nice reflections.

Melissa Miller said...

I have not heard of Gonzales, Texas before but it sure is pretty. My Mom is from a small South Texas town called San Benito next to Harlingen. She still has most of her relatives living throughout Texas.

Stay warm! ~Melissa :)

Ebie said...

Hi Kathy, it sure is a beauty, and a very well maintained gasoline station. Even the glass have been kept clean to see all the reflections of the surroundings! Love the mono shot too!

Icy BC said...

Those are really neat buildings, and the reflections are wonderful!

Unknown said...

Wonderful old gas station! Rare!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Kat! I love the photos of the gas station! I was waiting for the little guys in uniform to rush out and clean my windshield! lol..."You can trust your car to the man who wears the star!" lol lol Or am I waaaay older than you and you don't remember that? Oops! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely building with some very nice reflections and shadows in the photos

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Good Morning Kat...now girl I so remember having gas station like these years ago and getting gas for 25 cents a gallon...I mean I could say give me a dollar worth and go all week on that ha ha!!
We do have an old station here that is made into a Antique stor and its called gasoline alley...and it filled to the top with old gas stuff...Great post girl...thanks for coming by my friend...I always love your visits...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Jenny said...

Love it! cute, cute, cute! Come visit me for a gardening giveaway if you have a moment!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Kathy

This Mobil gas station brought back memories! It is so well preserved. I love the red pegasus sign on top.

I'm enjoying your beautiful piano music. I turned my blog music off for awhile but it shall return one day as I miss it,

FranE said...

Awesome! They torn down ours in Conroe. I was sad. Progress.