We can afford that town

  Sad Little Town

There's a "For Sale" sign on the little old feed store

Can't miss it, it's the first thing that you see,

Just next door to the pale yellow country store

With a bicycle propped near the door, that everyone leaves be

The siding on the garage is fading in the Texas sun

Since the highway passed by the town,

There wasn't any need for one

So the once bustling garage slowly falls down

This little town is down on its luck

but I love this little town with all of its flaws unadorned

For it's forlorn hope, it's spirit and it's pluck

and because I'm pretty sure, It is all we could afford.

This is my 900th post and almost my 5th year blog anniversary. What better way than to post a "we can afford that" poem.

Love,
M

Disclaimer: I am not a poet. If you for any reason have believed otherwise please let me dissuade now.  If I can't persuade you I'm fairly sure that the above poem has done the job.

West Point, TX

Ya’ll know my propensity for taking photos of old houses, churches, businesses and such. I’m sort of a nut about historic old buildings. Sometimes I think I should have been an architectural historian. Yes, that is a real job. 
I know! 
I was amazed too.

I like them (old building that is, not architectural historians), best when they haven't been all fru frued up.You know, sort of raw and lived in and leaning, preferable to the left but I'll take them leaning to the right also. Doors falling off, windows missing, grass growing on the roof, maybe a tree or two through the porch, you know dilapidated. JR and I tease ourselves that this is all we could afford. Which is sort of true but then we wouldn't want it any other way.

I go out of my way to find these little gems. On a recent trip to Austin I decided to give myself some extra time to meander the back roads. In doing so I came across what once was the small town of West Point. Okay, maybe it still is a town but from what I could see it is not what one would call thriving. At its zenith it boasted 300 people, four stores, two physicians, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, two cotton gins, a molasses press, and a cannery, according to the Handbook of Texas Online. 

Here are some of my favorite photos of the town.

Not actually sure what these two buildings were in their former life but I lean towards a blacksmith and a store. 

Here is what I would think was one of the stores is town. 

We all can see what this was. It was the drug store. What I wouldn't give to have that sign but it is better whee it is. 

And, my favorite:

The old school house.

Isn't it the best?

It has some of that southwest/alamo charm to it.

And, the windows on either side of the archway call to me. I love them so. The detailing is wonderful. 

Someone is keeping hay in it now.

I'm thinking that this photo will become a painting in the future.

I braved a barking quasi mean looking dog to get this photo. If it wasn't for the dog I would have just let myself in the front door to have a little look around; braving all manner of critters. What I won't do for this hobby of mine. Sheesh!

There you go, a little trip through the remnants of a turn of the 20th century town in Texas.

Love,

M

We can afford that!

Large airy home takes advantage of the cross breeze. The natural air conditioning will be enjoyed on those warm summer days. Surrounded by very mature landscaping adding to the privacy. This diamond in the rough fronts the highway giving the new owner easy access to the local businesses and amusements. Several original outbuildings are included on the property providing necessary utilities. This prairie beauty needs a tiny bit of TLC.

We can afford that

This is a little game that JR and I play when we take road trips. It is a tongue in cheek game. For those that don't remember or haven't seen me post on this game before here is an explanation of the game.

JR liked this barn. He felt that it would make a great home.  I worried about natural light. We were impressed that it had electricity. I'm sure it had no water or sewer which is what put it on the top of the list.

This was my favorite. I think the rusty roof is charming. Unfortunately, without a couple of broken windows and some grass growing on the roof the house may be a bit more than we can afford. JR always says I have expensive taste.

We saw this little dollhouse driving through Oklahoma. I know it is not falling down and it doesn't look like small vermin have moved in, though it is hard to tell. That might make it a little rich for our blood but it is in Oklahoma, that might help the price.

I spied this old gas station. It called to me. Wouldn't it make a lovely wee home? I can just see us sitting on rocking chairs under the porte-cochere sipping drinks and watching the world go by. Or as much world that goes by in a small town in Arkansas.

 

Those were just a few of the "we can afford that" buildings we saw on our travels. We also saw a bunch of "we could never afford that" places along the way. But, really? Who wants a house the you can't tinker with? 

Love,

M