'til death do us part

 

Ghouls Wedding

Halloween Display

Healdsburg, California

10.28.2012

hillside vineyard

 

Hillside grape vines are reflected in the pond in the afternoon sunlight. 

 

Alexander Valley Highway 128

Healdsburg, California

10.28.2012

Grape-stomping (also known as pigeage) is part of a method of  maceration used in traditional winemaking.  For a slight fee-- on the California scale, one could participate grape-stomping and receive a tee-shirt with grape-juice footprints.  These grapes, in a half-barrel, await a stomper.  I passed.

Wine Country Series #3
Napa Valley - Rutherford, California

fall vineyards

 

The vineyards of northern Sonoma County are splendid in the gorgeous fall weather with their colors of red and gold.

 

Northern Sonoma County

Highway 101

Healdsburg, California

grapes

 

Although the harvest is over, we spent a delightful morning in the vineyard looking for forgotten clusters amid the colorful leaves.  The lesson was backlighting and use of reflectors.

 

 

Wine Valley Photography Tour

Healdsburg, California

california coast

 

Goat Rock Beach along Sonoma County

Pacific Ocean, California

 

i left my heart in san francisco

San Francisco Bay Bridge viewed from Treasure Island - between San Francisco and Oakland

(So I missed a turn,  had to pay $6 on the toll bridge to get to Treasure Island to turn around.  But sometimes the nicest opportunities come with detours.)

cinderella's pumpkin

 

Did you know that the pumpkins for Cinderella's coach are grown down the road in Plains, Texas?  I wished and wished but it didn't turn into a Ferrari!

glass pumpkins - not glass slippers

 

Tracy Weisel, glassblower in Jerome Arizona, demonstrates his skills.  Topical subject for October was a glass pumpkin.  Formerly from Manhattan, he said he'd spent decades on his art.

 

Jerome, Arizona

10.12.2012

which way?

hear our prayers

The Children's Chapel at the Sanctuario de Chimayo is lined with hundreds of pairs of children's shoes, some with names and dates, left as offerings with intercessory prayers.  Portrayed as a small Spanish pilgrim boy, the image of the child Jesus is known as Santo Niño de Atocha.  The shoes are left so that the Holy Child may replace his worn shoes as he travels on his journey to provide comfort to those in need. St. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, watches over the chapel.

El Sanctuario de Chimayo
Chimayo, New Mexico
3.10.2012

night lights

 

Built in 1893, New Orleans’ first skyscraper is located on the corner of Carondelet and Common Streets, one block off Canal.  Originally the Hennen Building by architect Thomas Sully, it is now apartments.  A one-bedroom, 600 square feet and no parking, is $1150 a month -- but you're only a few blocks from Bourbon Street! This is the view from my room at the Pere Marquette.

10.17.2012



honor guard

 

Today the fire bell rang in the pattern 10-7, the old telegraph code signifying "out of service."  Deputy Chief Angerer retired from the Lubbock Fire Department after 27 years of service.  He was instrumental in the formation of the LFD Honor Guard, which marched today with the Pipe & Drums to honor the Chief.

you rang?

Last night we stayed in a historic hotel near the French Quarter. Originally built in 1925, the decor is modern.  Local photographers were used to implement a neat concept for artwork.  A color photograph of the brass letters denoting the address "603 Julia" in New Orleans was framed over the desk.  My colleague's room was 606 painted on a wall on Bourbon Street.  I would have liked to go into each room just to see the photographs.  She never even noticed what was on the wall.

The Renaissance Pere Marquette
New Orleans, Louisiana
10.17.2012

street musician

 

Bourbon Street

French Quarter

New Orleans, Louisiana

japanese jack'o'lantern

 

The orange lanterns leading to the Sushi Cafe are reminiscent of jack'o'lanterns - especially in October.

 

Sushi Cafe

Luling, Louisiana

bridge over the mississippi

    

As I sit in my hotel room, all that is between me and the Mississippi River is the two-lane Louisiana Highway 18, the West Bank Levee and about 300 yards.  Thank goodness for good weather reports.

 

Luling, Louisiana



mounted shooting

 

According to the webpage, mounted shooting is one of the fastest growing equestrian sports, with regional and state level competitions. Samantha was practicing for the worlds.

 

Ben Avery Shooting Center

Phoenix, Arizona

www.acmsa.com

10.13.2012

 



towel bar

 

Desert Ridge Resort

Scottsdale, Arizona

10.9.2012

coffin maker

 

Explorations along highways and byways sometimes bring strange encounters.  At the end of a dirt road a mile out of Jerome is the Gold King Mine Ghost Ranch.  The site is a 30-year accumulations of rusted mining equipment, old trucks and remnants of a mining town, interspersed with chickens, goats and Pedro the begging donkey.  As we left, we met this fellow and asked what he was building.  The answer?  Coffins.  Since it was his day off, he thought he could make some cash off coffins.  We had noticed a model upon entering the ghost town, but thought it part of the Western decor. With Halloween approaching he thought he'd get about $150 per coffin.  He also noted that the rough-pine boxes could also be used as coffee tables.

 

Gold King Mine Ghost Town

Jerome, Arizona

www.goldkingmineghosttown.com

study in blue

 

Pots at Desert Gardens

Glendale, Arizona

spot o' tea

 

English Rose Tea Room

201 Easy Street

Carefree, Arizona

www.carefreetea.com

10.8.2012

photographer and artist

 

Today at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, noted photographer Dan Budnik spoke of his sessions with artist Georgia O'Keefe.  This silver gelatin print "Georgia O'Keefe at Ghost Ranch with Pots by Juan Hamilton was made in 1975 and is one of the more famous portraits of the New Mexico artist.

 

Desert Caballeros Western Museum

Wickenburg, Arizona

be careful in carefree

 

Golden Barrel Cactus

(or Mother-in-Law's Cushion, if you wish)

Carefree, Arizona

the guest in room 158

 

LaQuinta on Greenway

Phoenix, Arizona

paris flea market

 

One need not take a transatlantic flight to visit this Paris Flea Market.  It is located in the Glendale Historic District.  The shops of Catlin Court are housed in Craftsman-style bungalows built in the early 1920s according to the "Ye Planry" plan book.  Many are on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Catlin Court
Glendale, Arizona

bird of paradise

 

Tropical foliage surrounds the hotel -- this bird of paradise blooms next to a tree loaded with lemons.  High today - 95 degrees.

 

Phoenix, Arizona

saguaro

 

The saguaro cactus blossom is the official state flower of Arizona.

 

Phoenix, Arizona

yellow door #2

 

Cesar Chavez Drive

Canyon Lake #1

Lubbock, Texas

the color of fall

fallen

 

The landscape light in the courtyard at the International Cultural Center is a nature collector -- rose petals, acorns and seed pods.  This evening's lecture by photographer Nevada Wier was great.  Catch the exhibit on Cuba by Mac Rowley. 

 

International Cultural Center

702 Indiana

Lubbock, Texas