Thank goodness 2013 is at an end.  It's faded and cracked like this stop sign.

The year had a few "stops" and some "go's" along the way,

but it's time for a bright, shiny 2014.

Happy New Year

Thank you for all the visits to the blog this past year.

curb appeal

 

I've been intrigued by this house for a while and finally took a shot.  What first attracted my attention was the Greater Mt Zion church sign which was moved from 1611 Avenue L when the church there was razed (not pictured because it was behind the dumpster on the curb). I photographed the sign for the January 25, 2011 post.

 But there are many things in addition to the faded church sign that I like about this place.

1.  the proudly flying American flag
2.  the radio station banners used as window covering
3.  the synthetic green Christmas garland
4.  the large Double T with most of its mosaic marbles
5.  the three grocery carts -  one with the day's collection of cannibalized exercise equipment
6.  three crosses, one still draped in Easter colors
7.  the skull on the fence post and the stuffed zombie, probably left over from Halloween
8.  and lastly, the ADT security system sign

2105 Avenue P
Lubbock, Texas

 

as far as the eye can see

 

Looking north down the railroad track toward Hale Center from the Sullivan place.  Still harvesting grain -- unless the belt on the combine is broken!

 

Hale County, Texas

12.28.2013

co-op not coop

 

If you are a bona-fide agricultural producer, for a $10 investment you may become a member of  Producers Cooperative Association.  Formed in 1943, it has become one of the largest member-owned local agricultural supply cooperatives in the nation. Members profit through cooperative marketing, purchase power and dividends.  The Co-op is Doughtery's main business and most farmers opt to drink their coffee and discuss farming in the office rather than sitting on the bench outside.  Good decision.

 

Producers Co-op

708 Texas

Doughtery, Texas

9.21.2013

my affairs

 

I wonder if the owner of this business establishment has had problems with his neighbors complaining about the piles of used tires around the place.  Whatever, he admonishes them with this posting on the rolling door:

 Anybody:  However you may view my affairs & conduct,

it's none of your concern.  It's my business!

I own the S.O.B.

 

He's right; it's his business and his freedom of speech--I mean, of signage.  I especially like the way the small window caught the sunset.

 

Somewhere on the south side

Tahoka, Texas

12.23.2013





skating rink

 

Although I've driven this road and passed by this area innumerable times, I never noticed that this tin building evidently served as a skating rink once upon a time.  The sign is now the back of a billboard and probably covered by leaves in warmer seasons.  Even when I lived in Lamesa in the 1970s I hadn't heard of a skating rink.  But back I wasn't into photo ops as I headed to the country club!

 

South Highway 87

Lamesa, Texas

12.23.2013

Merry Christmas

'Flores de Noche Buena'

Poinsettias have been given the name 'Flores de Noche Buena', which means 'flowers of the holy night'. It is not uncommon to hear people referring the poinsettia as the 'Christmas Eve flower', a holy night which has spiritual significance of Christmas. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ and the white leaves his purity.

 

 

"hoss"

 

Before you think that this image does not fit with my recent holiday-themed images, be advised that Dan Blocker's  birthday was December 10.  I found this mural of Hoss on the side of a defunct drive-in on the main drag of O'Donnell.  Dan Blocker made his reputation as Hoss Cartwright on the television series "Bonanza" and in doing so, put O'Donnell Texas on the map.  O'Donnell embraced this transplanted native son and memorializes him throughout this town of 831.  Heritage Park features a head statue of Hoss by Glenna Goodacre, the sign "Blocker" marks the site of the family's store and in the O'Donnell Museum you can see Dan's extra-large size Cub Scout suit.  Don't look for Hoss's grave site in the O'Donnell Cemetery (as a friend and I once spent an hour doing); Blocker (Dec 10, 1928--May 13, 1972) is buried in his birth home of DeKalb, Texas

 

Hoss Cartwright Mural

7th Street and Doak

O'Donnell, Texas

santa on hard times

 

I've always sympathized with those individuals who sell Sunday newspapers on the corner in all kinds of weather.  Today's vendor at 4th and the Loop was at least a bright spot although it didn't seem to increase his sales.

 

4th Street (FM 2255) and West Loop 289

Lubbock, Texas

Christmas spirit rekindled

 

The old Green-Myrick Building downtown has new spirit.  Long abandoned, it has been purchased and renovations begun.  To celebrate, the building displays a Christmas wreath, lighted Double T, US flag and lights.  This Christmas spirit is reminiscent of downtown's bygone holiday cheer.  The Green-Myrick Building is across the street from the former Hemphill-Wells Department Store which had magical Christmas displays in its windows.  The six-story renaissance revival style building was built in 1927 and its early occupants were doctors, lawyers and judges.  The metal façade is being removed to reveal the decorative brick and stone work.  My memories of the Myrick Building are more unpleasant than nostalgic.  Our family dentist, Dr. Carpenter, was officed on the sixth floor.  We were among the first patients as he graduated from dentist school and started his practice and were transferred to his partner when he retired.  And all those years I was reminded that I was the one who bit him as he attempted extraction of baby teeth!  I remember the elevator with attendant, the newsstand/snack bar and sitting on the iron fire escape to be pacified.

 

The Green-Myrick Building

1215 Avenue J

Lubbock, Texas

let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

 

The heck with snow -- we welcome the Christmas rain.  It makes the lights all shimmery.

we're here!

 

With great fanfare, Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive at Santa Land.  Escorted by a fire truck, their sleigh (aka golf cart) and reindeer wend through the crowd waiting in line for their turn to tell Santa their Christmas wishes.  (Don't ask; I don't know how; I just like it.)

 

Santa Land

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas

12.18.2013

willie welcomes you to santa land

 

Duck Dynasty has even made it to Lubbock's Santa Land.  In addition to the traditional Mr. and Mrs. Claus, elves and reindeer, Santa Land is populated with Batman, Peter Pan and the pirate ship, Cinderella and all the attending princesses, dancing polar bears and I think I saw Spongebob Squarepants.  Plan your visit around the predicted cold front; the exhibit closes Monday.

 

Santa Land

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas

rollin'

 

Even after 83 years, the wheel mechanism for the hangar doors is still elegant and functional -- even if requiring much man power!  The Allith-Prouty Company started as an ironworks in 1910.  The motto of the Danville, Illinois company was "Always on Track" referring to the hardware it manufactured for barns, stables and later aviation hangars.  The wheels are in contrast to the sleek private aircraft the hangar houses today.  However, in 1930 when the Lubbock Municipal Airport was built, this mechanism was state-of-the-art!

Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
Hub City Aviation
Lubbock, Texas



schornsteinfeger

 

Among my favorite nutcrackers are the Schornsteinfegers or chimney sweeps. From medieval times, seeing a German Schornsteinfeger dressed in the traditional working outfit of a black suit with double breasted gold buttoned jacket, white kerchief and black top hat is believed to guarantee good fortune. By law, in Germany a chimney must be cleaned and the heating system inspected twice a year by a Land designated chimney sweep. So the profession continues.  Even Mary Poppins proclaimed chimney sweeps "as lucky as luck can be."  Chim chim cher-ee!

s is for santa

 

Jux.Ta.Posh describes itself as a shop where salvage meets style.  It is an interesting mix of antique and junque.  Comments heard include "we used to have one of those" to "I want that."  I like that the big neon S stays lit overnight and greets me as I go to the Ranch House for breakfast.  S is for Sandy.

 

Jux.Ta.Posh

1702 Buddy Holly Avenue

Lubbock, Texas

the brick hangar

 

The brick hangar served as the Lubbock municipal airport with commercial flights beginning in 1945 with Braniff, Essair and then Continental airlines.  In 1950 the new terminal was built, which today houses the Silent Wings Museum.  Had the brick hangar been built in the 1920s instead of 1930, Charles Lindbergh might have stopped in Lubbock on his speaking tour.  The story goes he bypassed Lubbock because he couldn't land.

 

Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport

Hub City Aviation

Lubbock, Texas

windows of history

 

This brick hangar served as the first municipal airport for Lubbock.  Built in 1930 with typical hangar design of the time, the hangar has Art Deco features like brick designs, cast concrete features and parapet caps. The tall steel sliding doors with paned windows roll on a rail and face the runway.  In addition to general and commercial aviation, the hangar served as part of the South Plains Army Airfield during World War II as training base for glider pilots.  During the first years of operation as a municipal airport  planes used grass strips; concrete runways were not added until 1938.  My dad and his cousin flew in the Aeronca 65 horsepower two-seater to visit their grandpa in Pampa.  They would roll the plane out of the hangar, take off north on the grass strips and navigate by water towers and creek beds because there were no railroads and paved roads to follow.  After landing in grandpa's pasture and a brief visit, they would head home.  They were about 13 or 14 years old.

 

Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport

Hub City Aviation

6004 North Cedar

Lubbock, Texas



technicolor dream

 

My brief sojourn to Florida is like a technicolor dream as I return to the drab winter landscape of West Texas.  From sunny skies and balmy breezes to clouds and brisk north winds in one long plane ride.

 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

12.10.2013

seashore santa

 

Fort Lauderdale has a beach wavewall – a flowing, swirling beach wall that extends two miles along the central portion of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Since its completion, the wavewall has become the signature attraction for locals and tourists alike. Today along the promenade, Santa was greeting tourists.

 

A1A Scenic Highway

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

southwest santa

 

One meets the most interesting people on Southwest Airlines flights!

 

Houston, Texas

toque blanche

 

These pastry chefs are enthusiastically waiting the departure of the Polar Express from the Wolfforth train station.  They'll be serving hot chocolate and cookies to starry-eyed children looking forward to Santa's visit.

 

Polar Express

Wolfforth, Texas

red snow shovels

 

This house must belong to Yankee transplants because not many Lubbock homeowners own snow shovels.  Or at least they didn't until  the second snow/ice event in three weeks hit.  May be a long winter.  High today -- 18 degrees.

 

Lubbock, Texas

icicles

 

We didn't need fake icicles for decorations the past two days -- we had the real thing!  Don't let the blue sky fool you; today's high was 27 degrees.

what are the odds?

 

I regret that I didn't have time to visit the 50/50 Club but it wasn't open when I was there.  I did have questions:  Is there a "new" 50/50 club?  Is the 50 reflective of the clientele's age?  Do pool players and karaoke singers peacefully co-exist?  Maybe next trip to Fort Worth.

 

The Old 50/50/ Club

5908 Jacksboro Highway

Fort Worth, Texas

9.18.2012



the bell flower of christmas

 

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the growing, giving and receiving of amaryllis.  The name of the flower is based on Greek Mythology, specifically a Greek shepherdess named Amaryllis. "Amaryllis" means sparkling, which refers to the spectacular blooms. This amaryllis "Apple Blossom" is precocious, putting out its double flower before Christmas.  In the spring, after the bloom is spent, this bulb will join all its sisters in the backyard flower garden.
My Sunroom

Lubbock, Texas


grapevine wreath

 

There's a multitude of empty storefronts in Slaton.  I'm not sure why this one was adorned with a grapevine wreath.  It appeared to have a relatively new coat of paint -- applied over many other coats of paint as well as the door's hardware.

 

W. Panhandle Avenue

Slaton, Texas

11.22.2013

the Lubbock ski lift

 

The second snow storm of the season is predicted for Lubbock in the next few days but skiers still have to drive to New Mexico for the slopes.  The ski gondola atop Troy's ski shop is purely decorative. Ski Apache in Ruidoso is the closest ski mountain.  It opened in 1961 as Sierra Blanca and added four-passenger gondolas in 1962.  When the lift updated with 8-passenger gondolas last season, the old ones were offered for sale.  As an added bonus to the blog, a photo of a ski bunny of that era (circa 1968) who probably rode this gondola is included.

 

 

Troy's Ski Apparel

3403 34th Street

Lubbock, Texas



let the festivities begin

 

I came across the sign painter at the Catholic Services Thrift Store on Wednesday and then saw him again on Friday painting Crawford radiator's windows.  Good time of year for sign painters! Remember, only 24 shopping days 'til Christmas!  (Did you catch the self-portrait?)

 

 

Catholic Services Thrift Store

2218 34th Street

Lubbock, Texas

11.27.2013