Walking around downtown Waxahachie, TX, this past weekend I came across this man finishing up his artwork for the day and I thought it was a good time to revive my series Out and About. Meet Kent Brewer and his artwork.
I told him that photographers were artists as well, but artists without the patience of painters. He seemed to enjoy that.
He has a website here, with artwork on display. He does impressionism really well. Check it out.
All photos are copyright © Timothy J. Hammons, 2022.
Kim and Karen were waiting for the rest of their ladies Bible study group to show up in the park. They were also going to celebrate Kim’s birthday. Happy birthday Kim.
All photos are copyright © Timothy J. Hammons 2021.
This one wasn’t quite an Out and About, but I love it so much, I’m running it as such. This is Rosie, my brother-in-law’s mother. She was with us at my father’s 90th birthday party and I couldn’t help but think how majestic she looks.
I asked Heidi if she looked like she belonged on that old sitcom Golden Girls, and she said that she did look like Bea Arthur, only prettier.
It was a joy listening to her talk about wine and HEB (the grocery chain here in Texas). She is responsible for wine sales, and knows a lot about wine. Needless to say, when she was talking about it and I was all ears.
She also told us what a great man Charles Butt is. He is the owner of HEB, and donates millions to charity. She told us that he also has a fleet of 18-wheelers that are filled with water, generators, and even ATM machines to provide rapid responses to disaster areas.
The topic came up because I mentioned that I don’t like wearing masks, and don’t do so in HEB. Rosie said Mr. Butt has said from the beginning of the Covid Crisis that if someone doesn’t want to wear a mask, that was their decision. That was enough to heighten my admiration for HEB all the more. It also happens to be the best grocery store chain in the state.
All photos are copyright © Timothy J. Hammons 2021.
It has been a while since I posted an Out And About. It was September 26, 2020, to be exact. I think I gave up on the series because the Corona Virus had everyone living in so much fear, that they were wearing masks even while exercising, alone, driving in their cars, and outside. Just to be clear, I don’t believe masks help… not one bit. So you can guess my attitude toward people with masks on. I really don’t want to engage.
But alas, things are improving. People are actually going outside without masks. I saw two yesterday and took their pictures.
As I was sitting in the drive through at Rudy’s, I saw a cowboy walking across the parking lot. I had to act fast, grabbed my camera from the passenger seat, and just as he stepped up on the curb to go inside, I shouted: “Hey cowboy.”
He turned around and looked at me like Sam Elliott, wondering why I was yelling at him. I took his picture. And then I told him what I was doing and took a few more pictures.
He walked over to my car and I introduced myself. He said his name was Jonathan Chase and put out his hand. I shook it.
“What do you do Jonathan Chase?” (I try to repeat people’s names so I remember them and get them right.”
“I’m a bull rider.”
“You look like a bull rider.”
He smiled and said “thank you.” He took that as a compliment, and it was. My wife and I have a great respect for bull riders. They are breed set apart. He also told me he was a diesel mechanic up the road in Hillsboro. I told him I was a teacher, that led to another conversation all together.
It was at that moment that I think I realized the need for Out and About. I love the series and the concept because it forces me to speak to strangers and to get to know a little bit about them. It was great meeting Jonathan. I think he enjoyed the encounter as well. Had I been a bit quicker on the uptake, I would have bought him a beer. I saw him inside a few minutes later and he was holding a Blue Moon. My respect for him went up even more. He likes real beer.
All photos are copyright © Timothy J. Hammons 2021.
The last from my trip to the Denton Square.
Joseph and Sara were out on date, drinking a nice red wine, enjoying the evening. They seemed and looked very happy. It was a fun talking with them. I found out that they are Roman Catholic, but haven’t found a church yet. Don’t worry, I made sure to invite them to my Protestant church. They would probably feel comfortable with our worship, given that we have some of the same elements that Roman Catholics practice.
From the Denton Square.
As I’ve said before, the best children to take photos of, are those who look at you with distrust. Their eyes are amazing. Scarlett clearly doesn’t trust me.
He was just laying there, against the tree, not moving much with a smile on his face. I could tell that Dylan was glad for the conversation when I walked up to him and asked if I could take his picture. And we did have a conversation. After sharing a bit about Christ, he immediately launched into a rant against the evil Christians who lock up people in cages for just sleeping out on the street, stealing so they could eat, or smoking a little marijuana.
Then he challenged me and asked me if I thought it was right for people to be locked up in such situations. To be honest, no, I don’t. I explained that I don’t believe the Bible warrants arresting and locking people up for such crimes. The Bible actually shows that those who are caught stealing are to make restitution for stealing, not to be thrown into jail. People might see this as a problem, since it leads to indentured servitude, a lighter form of slavery, as some call it. The indentured servitude was a way to seek justice by providing the thief with a way to make things right, while also providing for himself, and family during the time of restitution. Once that restitution was complete, he was free to go.
While I don’t think a policy exactly like that should be employed, I do think we can use the principles from it and form a better system of justice than what takes place for theft. As it is now, when someone gets caught stealing, they go to jail with fines. None of that money goes to the victim. It all goes to the state. That is not justice, just another form of taxation.
As for marijuana, I told Dylan that since it was illegal, and it was a mind-altering drug, he shouldn’t use it. He immediately told me he had a ticket to Colorado for later in the month in order to deal with the legalities. Fair enough. However, I do not think we should equate marijuana with drinking of wine. This is what he tried to do in our conversation. Wine is a mood-altering drink and is meant for joy. This is one of the reasons that Jesus turned water into wine (there are more, but not for this post). In its proper use, wine is fine for a Christian. But the mental problems that come with marijuana make it detrimental.
I don’t think I convinced Dylan.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:31-32.
Walking about the Denton Square, I met Riley, Natalie, and Junior (the dog) enjoying the shade on the courtyard lawn.
Debbie, Jennifer, Ella Kate & Emma Grace were enjoying some ice cream from Sweet Caroline’s Gelato shop on the square in downtown McKinney. They let me take a few pictures for the Out and About series, and then gave a hearty thumbs up to Sweet Caroline’s gelato.
I had Andy and Joey sit down on the bench so I could take some pictures for the Pull Up a Seat challenge. However, it became an Out and About when I started talking to Dave and Amanda Rice. What a wonderful couple. He is a professor in a couple of the colleges in the area, and we had a wonderful conversation.
That is what I love about my Out and About series. I get to meet a lot of people. Some of whom, will actually converse.
Walking in downtown McKinney, TX, the boys and I stumbled upon Kim Guthrie’s art studio. She didn’t hesitate to welcome us in her studio, which overlooks the street. I really enjoyed her paintings of the animals, especially the dogs. She also painted a picture of someone’s pet cow.
You can see more of her work at kimguthrieart.com
Walking just west of downtown McKinney, I noticed a young boy watching a road crew and their heavy machinery. He was transfixed. It was almost alarming because I didn’t immediately see his parents. Then I noticed man, under a tree, with another child in stroller, staring intently in the boys direct. It was his father, Seth Hammond. He was taking care of his boys while his wife, a hairdresser, was busy trying to keep up with all her clients.
Seth is a personal trainer, and his business hasn’t picked back up yet. You can see his web site here.
While his last name is very similar to mine, we didn’t think we were directly related. Although, I have learned recently that my last name has been spelled with a d and with an a at the end, as in Hammans. Also, some spelled it with only one m. So we could be related.
If you are in need of a personal trainer, give him a call.
