changing colors of fall

 

Farmers are in the process of harvesting grain sorghum, which may be planted after a failed cotton crop.  Fields of grain turning from green to auburn are signs of autumn on the High Plains.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

yellow door

 

The Ouachita River divides the cities of Monroe and West Monroe.  During the heyday of steamboats, the Ouachita was a highway of commerce for Louisiana.  Today the riverfront area is a target of redevelopment with a cultural district touting restaurants, apartments, shops and even a riverwalk.  The first steamboat to cruise the Quachita - the "Monroe" of course.

 

422 Jackson Street

Monroe, Louisiana

cypress and swamp

 

The 1700 acres lake at Black Bayou Lake has cypress and tupelo trees and is surrounded by swamps that become bottomland hardwoods.  Although the preserve signs indicated much wildlife, all I saw were dragonflies and grasshoppers -- but I didn't venture far along the paths.

 

Black Bayou Lake Natural Wildlife Refuge

Monroe, Louisiana

not just a bicycle

 

If you guessed this hanging sign denoted a bicycle shop, you would be wrong.  As the owner notes in an on-line interview, it is a "landmark" for his photography studio.  You can visit him at the link below, but be advised he lists himself as Xavier J. Peg (Xavier was evidently his father-in-law's name).  Had the photographer been in residence, I imagine an interesting conversation would have ensued.

 

Studio d'Xavier

422 DeSiard Street

Monroe, Louisiana

http://www.flickr.com/photos/studiodxavier/

bayou desiard

 

We enjoyed the Louisiana landscape watching the sun set over the bayou,  the turtles bobbing and the graceful waterskier -- all from the comfort of the air-conditioned, bug-free dining room.

 

Bayou DeSiard

Monroe, Louisiana

photography imitates art

 

The Dallas Arboretum has a section "Small Houses of Great Artists."  The Monet cottage replicates "The Water-Lily Pond and Japanese Bridge."  In 1893, Monet, a passionate horticulturist, purchased land with a pond near his property in Giverny,France.  intending to build something "for the pleasure of the eye and also for motifs to paint." The result was his water-lily garden. In 1899, he began a series paintings of the wooden footbridge over his water-lily garden. 

 

Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

Click here to compare: http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/timage_f?object=74796&image=19654&c=gg85

9-18.2012

yellow icicle tower

 

The 30-foot Yellow Icicle Tower dominates the parkscape of the Arboretum.  During the day, the sunlight glistens off the glass; during the evening, the dusk is illuminated by its yellow glow.  The crescent moon was an added highlight.

 

Chihuly at Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18.2012

carnival boat

 

The Carnival Boat, filled with fantasy glass pieces by Chihuly, floats on the infinity pool merging with White Rock Lake as the sun sets over Dallas.  The installation is in place until November 5.

 

Chihuly at Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18.2012

$500.00 -- no exception's

Cemetery Signs:

Evidently, for $500.00, you may have your choice of plots - complete with headstone.  Just choose your favorite name and ask the occupant to scoot over.

Jaybird Cemetery

off Highway 199 between Azle and Springtown

Parker County, Texas
9.20.2012

shadows and stripes

 

The Studios at 5th and Avenue J

Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts

Lubbock, Texas

red reeds

 

The Chihuly red glass reeds make strong reflections among the red water lilies in the Fogelson Fountain at the Dallas Arboretum.

 

Chihuly at Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18.2012

float boat

 

Renowned glassblower Chihuly has installed his sculptures at the Dallas Arboretum.   The water feature in the Women's Garden has a boat filled with glass spheres based on Japanese fishing floats.

 

Chihuly at the Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18/2012

http://www.dallasarboretum.org/chihuly/

sunrise

 

Eagle Mountain Lake

Azle, Texas

call to arms

Last weekend Olney held the 41st Annual One Arm Dove Hunt.  To be eligible one must be disabled or a dove. Wonder which has the advantage?  The two original one-armed individuals were named Jack and started the hunt in 1972 as a joke, but six one-armed men participated.  It is now a unique tradition honoring upper-body amputees.

Olney, Texas

mirror image

 

The poet Lowell may have thought that the rare day in June was perfect -- but our fall weather, like today's, may be rare but the moderate temperature, breezeless air and blue sky was perfect.

 

David Casey Park

Lubbock, Texas

chow's on

 

Chuckwagon Vignette

National Cowboy Symposium

Lubbock, Texas

9.08.2012

new face on broadway

 

 

New business downtown in the former Reeves Photography Studio.  They advertise  "new and recycled fashions -gently used designer, fashion-forward, and vintage clothes!"  With the mural on the side of the building, it certainly isn't Skibells, Mary Ware or Lathams.

 

 1717 Broadway.

Culture Clothing

1717 Broadway

Lubbock, Texas

pilgrimage

 

 

One of the faithful makes a stop on the way to El Sanctuario de Chimayo for blessing and "holy dirt."

 

Chimayo, New Mexico

http://chimayo.us/

3.10.2012

the scale house

 

The metropolis of County Line lies at the intersection of FM 179 and 597, which is the dividing boundary between Lubbock and Hale counties.  In its heyday during the first half of the century, County Line had a school, 3 grocery stores, 2 blacksmith shops, a gin and a church   Today there's only a handful of residents, abandoned buildings, the First Baptist Church (which had 8 cars in the parking lot on Sunday) and the County Line Cemetery.  The Fairbanks-Morse weighing scale, although pocked with bullet holes, still occupies the scale house by the grain elevators.

 

County Line Co-op Gin Scale House

County Line, Texas

8.09.2012

sign cemetery

 

The back lot at Garrison Brothers Signs contains defunct signs.  It's ironic that a company that has provided lasting gravestone markers since 1916 is now gone and its sign relegated to the junk heap.  Geography question - where is Silver Falls?  The first part of the century, the waterfall here was a mecca for travelers.  Today the rest stop still exists but the falls and spring are part of history - just like the motel sign.  We noticed these signs while determining the location of the Texas historical marker for the legendary Cotton Club at its original site off Southeast Drive.  The marker dedication will take place September 27 in conjunction with the induction of Tommy Hancock's induction into the West Texas Walk of Fame.

 

Garrison Brothers Signs

2523 East 50th

9.10.2012

hard times on the farm

 

The farming outlook this year resembles this old farmhouse - leaning south and ready to crash.

 

Off FM 597

North Lubbock County, Texas

open spaces

 

The barns on the West Texas plains may lack the architectural style displayed by barns in other parts of the country but still serve a utilitarian purpose.  Unfortunately, that purpose and the need for farm barns is fading.  Abandoned structures dot the agricultural landscape.

 

Just south of FM 1264

North Lubbock County, Texas

boots and saddle

 

National Cowboy Symposium

Lubbock, Texas

9.07.2012

steam shaping a stetson

 

If you purchase a new hat at the Cowboy Symposium, you can have it shaped on-site to complement your own sense of style.

 

26th Annual Cowboy Symposium

Lubbock, Texas

set-up shadow

 

Cowboys and chuck wagons were rolling in this evening to set up for the 24th annual National Cowboy Symposium.  This cowboy offered to share his vintage box wine with me.

 

National Cowboy Symposium

Lubbock, Texas

flowerpots

Santa María, Madre de Dios,
ruega por nosotros

 

Santa Maria has watched over Candelaria Garro since 1918.

Magdalena Cemetery

Magdalena, New Mexico

9.1.2012

mary of magdalena

 

The village of Magdalena, also known as "Trail's End" for the railroad terminal point at the stockyards, was named for the Magdalena Peak.  A talus formation on the side of the volcanic peak is the supposed likeness of Mary Magdalena.  Likenesses of  Mary Our Blessed Lady watch over the citizens of the Magdalena Cemetery.

 

Magdalena, New Mexico

9.01.2012

get your kicks on route 66

 

There are still glimpses of the past glamour of road travel on Route 66 to be found on Central Avenue.  The motels of the 1940s and 50s are being razed, although the signs remain - a good historic decision.  The neon sign at the El Don is one of eight in Albuquerque on the New Mexico Register of Cultural Properties.  You can still stay there - close to Old Town -- and they advertise cheap daily and weekly rates.

 

El Don Motel

2222 Central Avenue SW

Albuquerque, New Mexico

iglesia casa colorado

 

Casa Colorado was a 17th century landmark along El Camino Real but didn't thrive as a village until the 1830s.  This view is eastward; westward is the green of the Rio Grande valley lush with alfalfa fields.

 

Casa Colorado

Valencia County, New Mexico