Coldspring Square Christmas Lighting

This year we attended our fourth Coldspring Christmas lighting.  Every year all the town merchants decorate their shops and have a ceremony where they turn on all the lights at once.  It is a fun way for the town to come together to start the Christmas season.  During the day, before the lighting there are vendors set up on the square.

Small Texas towns are very different from the rest of the world.  On the courthouse there is a life-sized nativity scene.  On the city water tower there is a huge cross.  This small town really does remember why we have Christmas.

At 6:00 p.m. the town gathered.  There was caroling, and a country singer who was in visiting his parents from Nashville sang.  I wish I could remember his name... he was good.  Anyway, after the singing the lights in all the local businesses are all turned on at one time.  The picturesque  little square looks great all lit up.

 The singer

 

The theme for Christmas this year is cowboys and candy canes.  I love it.  Next week is the Christmas parade. The parade is at night too.  Two years ago one of the floats had a real fire in the fireplace on the moving float.  It was a good thing the volunteer fire department was in the parade.  They were needed.

Politics in the Woods

I voted today. I honestly did not know all the local candidates.  Have you voted yet? Do you know who you are voting for in the tax assessor position?  I will bet they do in Coldspring, Texas, the county seat of San Jacinto, Texas.  Politics are tricky in the Piney woods, and I love it!  Every business, intersection and many homes have signs in front of them... I wonder what happens if they have the loser's sign in front of their house?

This is the intersection in front of our neighborhood. 

 



Look at the signs around town( they are everywhere so you would have a hard time missing them.) It is possible in the country that you might not know who is running for president or that there are state and national elections at all. I tried, but I could not find a national election sign.



Sam Houston is running for constable along with an NRA member and Mr. Bonds. 


I wonder who attended the meet the candidate session?

 

I wonder who attended the meet the candidate session?  Who were the candidates? 

I love driving past this headquarters.  The Tri County Texas Tea Party Headquarters... love the Beware of Dog sign and the broken Coke machine on the porch. 

 

Politics in the Piney Woods of East Texas are really fun.  I am glad that I get to be an observer.  

Gates in the Country

Before we knew there would be two weddings and a foundation, I was thinking hard that we need a gate at Star Hill. Not just a gate mind you, because gates in the country say something about you. A gate is a social status out in the woods. I love to drive by a great gate and wonder about the people who live there. I do not have a picture of my favorite gate because it is out in the country and we were too busy to drive out there this past weekend.  It says The Double Nickle and has a big 55 on it.  I wonder... was someone 55 when they built the place, is it 55 acres, has it been in the family since 1855? I wonder about things like that.

Here are some of my favorite gates near Star Hill.  I wonder about these folks too.

 I always feel like we are there when we get to this gate.  It is so wooded that I wonder what is behind the gate.

 

 

Is there a mansion or a shack back in those woods?

 

The West Mansion  Solar powered key less entry.  Fancy.

 

A beautiful old homestead in Point Blank, four miles from Star Hill.

 

This is a real deal gate.  I love the longhorns eating on the driveway.  Family Established 1845.

 

Hubby honked to make the longhorn look at me but I was too nervous to get closer.

 

This horse ranch is on a hill near Cape Royale.  Gorgeous.  No lazy people live here.

 

See the tree man behind this artistic gate?

 

I love the landscaping around the gate. 

 

This gate is not used often. I hope the gate at Star Hill never looks like this.

 



This is probably what our gate will look like, just plain old metal, because that is who we are, but I can dream... right?



Decorating for Fall

It is officially fall at Star Hill.

Rodeo Parade in Coldspring

Being a city girl, I am fascinated with small town events.  I love to attend anything to do with the town of Coldspring.  I love the fact that everyone can participate, and that the whole town shuts down for the event.
Here are some pictures from this past weekend's San Jacinto Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade.  It was a beautiful day and lots of fun.

 Marching in for the Battle of the Bands.  Two bands- Coldspring Oakhurst ISD and Shepard ISD

 The cowboys lining up for the parade.

 There were beauty queens.

 And politicians.  I love that this guy is named Sam Houston.

 The youth football team

 Cowboy Church

 

 Cutest little girl at the parade.  She loved the cheerleaders and the band.

 FFA

Rodeo Clown