sjfphotography: *fine art images *natural light portraits *greeting cards


Tuesday, April 30, 2013

campfire biscuits
 
The purpose of Ranch Days at the Ranching Heritage Center is to demonstrate the western ways of life.  The Ranch Host bakes biscuits in a buried cast iron dutch oven covered with coals.
 
Ranching Heritage Center
Lubbock, Texas
4.20.2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

patriotic chairs
 
The lawn chairs are lined up on the driveway, as if anticipating a parade.  The barbecue grill and drink table suggest creature comforts.  Or perhaps it's readiness to watch the world go by.
 
1705 46th Street
Lubbock, Texas

Sunday, April 28, 2013

mr j'
 
In the rear, off the alley near the former bowling alley, Mr. J's Hair Salon has a bright yellow, formerly lighted sign.  In the front, off busy Avenue Q, the business has pallid, hand-painted signage.  If you look closely, through the hair salon, the logo of the closed Chevrolet dealership is visible.  Disregard the "open" message -- it evidently is a direction for the door, not a description of the business on this Sunday afternoon.
 
Mr. J's Hair Salon
4006 Avenue Q
Lubbock, Texas


Saturday, April 27, 2013

along the waterfront
 
Old Montreal, Canada
4.5.2013

Friday, April 26, 2013

117
 
While wandering around Old Town Montreal I had to stop frequently to photograph interesting doors.  What does one do with dozens of doorways?
 
Old Town Montreal, Canada
4.5.2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

forsythia
 
Forsythia is one of my favorite spring flowers. It has been a delight traveling in West Virginia and New York and seeing the masses of forsythia bushes in bloom.  I prefer the shrubs to be naturalized but the pruned and shaped ones are still beautiful. 
 
Rochester, New York


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

rain
 
This is not a great photograph but it's hard to capture a phenomenon  such as rain.
 
Rochester, New York

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

mouthful
 
Ranch Days at Ranching Heritage Center
Lubbock, Texas
4.20.2013

Monday, April 22, 2013

great wall
 
Another long-time Lubbock landmark closes.  The Great Wall Restaurant was a favorite dining place for many years  - one of the first in town offering Chinese and Mongolian BBQ cuisine.  With the removal of the brick facade, the iron steer is revealed.  I remember eating at this location in the '70s and it probably was a steak place but the name escapes me.  It had to be after 1972 when Lubbock finally voted in liquor by the drink.  Maybe it was the "Iron Steer."  Just another entry in the long list of restaurant closures -- perhaps we should list old favorites like the Brookshire, Hickory Inn, Silver Spurs, Zuider Zee, et al.
 
Great Wall
1625 University Avenue
Lubbock, Texas

Sunday, April 21, 2013

lampshades
 
Every time I drive by the building at 1202 Main, I wonder about the lampshades in the windows.  They appear to be in fair shape despite hanging there for decades.  The Civic Center Inn was built in the early 1970s and was a draw to downtown with its coffee shop, restaurant and night club.  However, although centrally located and near the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, it was never a hit.  It became an unsuccessful residential substance abuse center (Jim Kimmel Center, not to be confused with Jimmy Kimmel the entertainer).  During planning for the Marsha Sharp Freeway, there were unfounded rumors it was to be a Rodeway Inn.  If you believe in urban regentrification and have investment dollars, here is a property for you.  The lampshades are vintage and may not even need replacing!
 
Former Civic Center Inn
1202 Main
Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, April 20, 2013

ranch hand
 
Ranch Days at the Ranching Heritage Center
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Friday, April 19, 2013

wanna-be's
 
When I was in Memphis a few years ago, there was an Elvis impersonation convention in the hotel.  It was "dead Elvis" week commemorating his death August 16, 1977.  Tonight I saw Elvis impersonators with talent at the "Elvis Live" show.  Average age of audience was closer to what his age would be today-- 78, than his age at death --42.
 
Memphis, Tennessee
8.11.2011

Thursday, April 18, 2013

in remembrance
 
The Lubbock Regional Public Safety Memorial is reaching completion with the setting of the bronze monument.  The memorial at Leroy Elmore Park will honor first responders from Lubbock and 15 surrounding counties who have fallen in the line of duty since the 1940s.  Lubbock sculptor Garland Weeks was commissioned for the bronze sculpture depicting first responders.
 
Leroy Elmore Park
66th and Quaker Avenue
Lubbock, Texas
 



Wednesday, April 17, 2013

chef
 
Jacksons Restaurant
Doubletree Hotel
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

night life
 
We are required to stay at places which honor GSA rates (which translates "cheap rooms furthest from the front desk").  Because of the gas boom, rooms are somewhat difficult to find.  Our motel mates are mostly involved in the oil and gas drill business-- which can be deduced from the ratio of pickups to cars in the parking lot - about 48:2.  This morning while waiting for the ride to the training venue, we observed the night shift of workers coming in to be replaced by the day shift workers.  The night shift guys took over the rooms just left by the day shift guys -- talk about a "hot sheets" motel!!  By the way, after dinner we found a letter under the door:  "Dear Guest - the water will be shut off at 9:30 tonight in order to install shutoff valves.  We apologize for any inconvenience."  I didn't actually visit the High Life Lounge but it is at the bottom of the hill down from our motel.  I overheard a guest say that the walk down wasn't bad but the crawl back up was hell.  Travel is an enlightening experience.
 
High Life Lounge
Fairmont, West Virginia

Monday, April 15, 2013

wallpaper
 
No much to comment on.  Welcoming cows on the wallpaper in the Pittsburgh airport.  I also like the statue of France Harris, Pittsburgh Steeler.  It's hard to be enthusiastic when the Dallas flight is 3.5 hours delayed because of mechanical difficulties and there is still a 1.5 hour drive ahead.  Maybe I can capture the green hills and blooming trees in West Virginia for tomorrow's post.
 
Pittsburgh International Airport

Sunday, April 14, 2013

lubbock beach
 
With the drought and receding water levels, Lubbock's playa lakes have developed beaches.  Today's summer-like weather of 87 degrees (compare with 22 degrees and snow on Wednesday), the picnickers, fishermen, strollers and sun-seekers --even the ducks and grackles-- are out in full force.
 
David Casey Park
66th and Avenue W
Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, April 13, 2013

jesus saves
 
Need a place of worship on Sunday mornings?  The Truckers Chapel is open.  Located in a semi-trailer parked at a truck stop, the Truckers Chapel is an outreach ministry of the Redbud Baptist Church.
 
Chisum Truck Stop on Slaton Highway
Lubbock, Texas

Friday, April 12, 2013

what's your sign?
 
In its lifetime, the hotel at 6th and Avenue Q has been a Hilton, Sheraton and Radisson. The next phase of its career is pending.  We'll watch for the sign.
 
505 Avenue Q
Lubbock, Texas

Thursday, April 11, 2013

heavenward
 
Notre-Dame Basilica de Montreal is in historic Old Montreal. It is a great example of 19th century Gothic Revival style.  It shares only a name with its Parisian counterpart.
 
Montreal, Canada
4.5.2013

http://www.basiliquenddm.org

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

snowshoeing
 
The Von Trapp Family Lodge is noted for its cross-country skiing.  Although the season was ending, many were still on the trails.  As novice snowshoers, we trekked to the sugar house to observe the maple syrup process.  The elevation of these Vermont mountains is 1200 feet; difficult to contemplate when the official elevation of Lubbock is 3,256 feet above sea level -- and we had snow today -- in April!
 
Stowe, Vermont
4.7.2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

the kissing bridge
 
The sign declares it the "Kissing Bridge."  It was placed there in the 1950's as a prank, which has since become a local tradition.  Also known as the Codding Hollow Covered Bridge, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 1, 1974. On a short trip to Vermont, it's hard to visit all 104 covered bridges, but we had fun finding those along Vermont routes 100, 108, 109, 118.  Oh, to have been there during winter snows or fall foliage for better photographic opportunities.
 
Lamoille County, Vermont
4.8.2013

Monday, April 8, 2013

des rivieres covered bridge
 
The Des Rivieres covered bridge, constructed in 1884, spans the aux Brochets River.  This was the best example of our covered bridge excursion from Stowe, Vermont to Montreal.
 
Des Rivieres Covered Bridge
Notre Dame de Stanbridge
Quebec, Canada

Sunday, April 7, 2013

grade a light amber
 
The maple syrup sample on the left is the finest grade.  We sipped straight from the vat -- sure doesn't taste like Aunt Jemima's!
 
Von Trapp Faimly Lodge
Stowe, Vermont


Saturday, April 6, 2013

got an itch?
 
As evidenced by the tufts, a barbed wire fence comes in handy whenever this Scottish Highland cow has an itch.  These shaggy creatures are cute!
 
Von Trapp Family Farm
Stowe, Vermont

Friday, April 5, 2013

along the waterfront
 
The doors of the buildings in Old Town of Montreal along the St. Laurent River waterfront were intriguing.
 
Montreal, Canada

Thursday, April 4, 2013

bluebonnets and raindrops
 
Bluebonnets and raindrops are two things one won't see in West Texas.
 
Coppell, Texas

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

johnny-jump-ups
 
With April's nippy weather, these johnny-jump-ups may have wished they stayed in bed (get it?).   Violas are petite cousins to pansies and cold-weather tough.  The flowers contain antioxidants and are edible. Tri-color flowers on your salad may cure your epilepsy, asthma or eczema. -- maybe even chilblains!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

purple chairs
 
Old Town
Albuquerque, New Mexico
3.11.2012

Monday, April 1, 2013

garden art
 
Always a fan of geraniums, the repeating curves also caught my eye.
Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant
Fort Worth, Texas
4.13.2011