Bracken Village Revisited

Last week my friend Nancy and I went to photograph the Christmas lights of Bracken Village. We decided to return for more photos last night, and this time Heather went with us. It was much warmer last night so I did not freeze! And, the gates didn't get closed on us so we did not have to hop any fences...I was so prepared to photograph that. Darn! It was a beautiful night and the light misty rains we've had off and on all week made for pretty reflections of the lights on the streets. The mist completely held off the whole time we were taking photos so we did not have to worry about our cameras getting wet. The 3 of us just wondered around the village taking photos of whatever struck our fancy. No adventures this time...unless you count the idiot who tried to run me off the road on the way........

By the end of the night all 3 of us had wet jeans from kneeling, or in Heather's case sitting, on the wet ground to get just the right shot!

Bracken Village

Tuesday night my friend Nancy and I decided we needed to go take pictures together of Christmas lights. I'd seen some photos she's been taking and posting at flickr and have been really impressed. I told her I needed some tips! She asked me where we should go and I knew just the place. Last night after work I picked her up and we headed to San Antonio to Bracken Village. All the shops were closed and there were no people, just lights EVERYWHERE. We took our time wondering around snapping photos and still didn't get everything we wanted. (I guess that means a 2nd trip is in order, right Nancy??) Thanks Nancy for your help and for the fun night out taking photos! And what photo trip with me is complete without some adventure thrown in??? Because everything was closing up, Nancy suggested I go move my car to the outside of the gates so we wouldn't get locked in. I did that and we were glad I did because the gates did get closed and locked on us. You guessed it, that meant we had to climb the fence to get ourselves out when we were finished! I should have photos of that but I don't. But, you just picture it and chuckle anyway!

Thanks Nancy, it was lots of fun!

Does this building remind anyone else of Little House on the Prairie???

Bracken Village

Marty and I have driven by Bracken Village once before, when we first moved here and our pastor and his wife took us to San Antonio to see Christmas lights. One of the places they drove by was Bracken Village. Even in the dark I knew it was a place I'd like to return to visit. It took a few years but we finally found our way back!

We poked around in a few of the shops. In one shop the owner, Ruth Ann, gave us lots of information and history of the village. Apparently it is 20 acres of what used to be a farm. Mr. Travis buys old homes, moves them to the village, restores them, and turns them into shops. Part of the original farm buildings are still there, including the big red barn. One of the yellow houses used to be a train depot. It was fascinating to visit Bracken Village and to learn of some of its history. Ruth Ann also told us that the Friday and Saturday evenings of the 1st and 2nd weekends in December are Dickens days and all the shop keepers and even some of the visitors dress accordingly. Carriages are available for rides through the village and farm. Guess where I'll be begging Marty to take me come December??!!!

The red barn that was part of the original farm.

A windmill at the entrance.

A large gazebo at the center of the village.

Ruth Ann

The shop Ruth Ann runs:

This is how some of the buildings look upon arrival:

I loved this shop, especially the porch!

Even the yards of each shop are decorated.

Sepia tones seem to compliment some of these settings.

Isn't this whole village a pretty setting?

The porch railing of one of the shops.