As the sun sets on 2014, a look back at the year.  Two of my passions are photography and travel-- and this year I've indulged in both.  I'm fortunate to have a retirement job that allows me to travel (although it's mostly airports and hotels!).  Thanks to Texas A&M and FEMA, this year we conducted training in Rochester NY, Odessa TX, Tucson AZ, Edinburg TX, Jacksonville NC, Ft. Lauderdale FL, Oswego NY and Baton Rouge LA.  Through Road Scholar I enjoyed two photography tours -- South Dakota and Portland, Oregon -- seeing new places and meeting interesting people.  A trip to New Braunfels and visits with dear friends in Azle rounded out the year.  We won't even count those day trips to such places as Spur, Hale Center, Plains, Big Spring, Tahoka and Soash (don't you love these small town names).  Thank you for following me on this journey.  I can't wait to see to what new and neat places 2015 takes me!

 

Sylvan Lake, South Dakota

6.9.2014



two nickels or one dime

 

Two years ago, with great fanfare, the red neon sign on the roof of the Hotel Settles was once again illuminated.  After a six-year renovation, the grand dame was restored to her 1930s grandeur - especially in the public areas.  That included finding the pay phones.  The lobby's original wood-paneled phone booths Nos. 1 and 3 -- designated by gold numerals -- were located and restored., one of which was returned by the Big Spring Heritage Museum. (If you should come across No. 2 in an antique shop, let the Settles know!).  Pay phones -- and booths -- are passing relics.  This 3-slot phone came about in the 1940s although locals calls cost only a dime, at least until 1979.  When the Hotel Settles, built from ranching and oil money, opened in 1930 it was the tallest building between Dallas and El Paso.  For 30 years the hotel served Big Spring, offering lodging to locals and celebrities.  It fell in decline and disrepair until given new life by a hometown boy.

 



Hotel Settles

Big Spring, Texas

12.29.2014

 

 

the bank of soash

 

Since today was to be the last nice day of the year, I checked my list (tunes on radio, gas in tank, tissue packet in case I needed to water the wildflowers,  my "back roads of Texas" maps,  and camera) and  headed south and the ghost town of Soash.  Established in 1909 by land prompter William P. Soash, the town was to be the focus of  200,000 acres acquired from the XIT Ranch to be sold to farmers.  Soash named the place after himself, built a bank, hotel, an electrical plant and an automobile garage.  Trains carrying potential investors arrived in Big Spring and rode by automobile on 25 miles of rough road.  July 4, 1909 some 2500 people celebrated with baseball, barbeque and vaudeville under electric lights.  Unfortunately Soash's railroad was pre-empted by the Santa Fe which ran six miles to the west bypassing Soash.  That blow plus years of drought finished the town. The post office closed, people moved their belongings and buildings to Lamesa and the Soash Land Company declared bankruptcy in 1916.  Today, at the corner of a cotton field, only the hulk of the Bank of Soash remains.  Any ghosts have been recently disturbed by the installation of distribution lines for the nearby wind turbine farms.  About a mile away, at the intersection of FM 1584 and Soash Road, stands the historic marker.

 



 

Soash, Texas

Howard County

red sky at night - sailor's delight

 

There aren't many sailors on the High Plains, but we all delight in the great sunsets we've had lately.  According to lore, that signifies a clear day on the morrow.  If the forecasts hold, tomorrow may be our relatively nice day for the week -- that darn arctic front is coming.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

chain links

 

At first the texture of the tin windows and peeling paint appealed to me.  Then I saw the shadows of the mystery chains hanging from the roof.

 

South I-27 Frontage Road

Lubbock, Texas

buy texan

 

"Buy Texan" is a great philosophy but it appears that Texas advertising did not pay off for this establishment.  You probably can rent the place and incorporate state-pride in your brand.

 

South I-27 Frontage Road

Lubbock, Texas

the wonder of christmas

 

Great-nephew William examines the tree and gingerbread house at the Overton Hotel.

Christmas 1951

 

Christmas 1951 with my new sister Suzanne and Mother.  Wonder if that was a Toni or Betsy McCall doll?  Should have kept it!  We did keep the couch; it's in Pop's study.  It's no longer scratchy red but re-upholstered in brown and in Pop's study.  Kept the sister too.

ava's first christmas

 

Great-niece Ava is just beginning to crawl and the Christmas tree is a great attraction!

hometown christmas

 

Like most small town county seats, the main street of Tahoka divides around the court house square.  In bright letters, visitors and residents are greeted with "Merry Christmas" spelled on the roof of the 1916 court house.   Texas has 254 counties with more historical court houses than any other state; there are 234 court houses over 50 years old.  The Tahoka building is in need of renovation but the original paint and gilt trim remains in the unused third floor court room.  With a guide, one might visit the jail and the vault. The jail  As one leaves the square, the south façade has "Happy New Year" as the departing wish.  Patriotic pride and Christmas spirit abound in Tahoka. 

 

Lynn County Court House

Tahoka, Texas

12.21.2014

santa and the cat

 

Eleven months of the year Bill and Frances Chancy are typical Tahoka residents but come December they become Mr. and Mrs. Claus when their place south of town is transformed into Santa Land.  Visitors may drive through the four acres of light displays, nativity scenes, inflatable reindeer  and cartoon cut-outs.  Then you can park and visit with the Clauses - even the farm cat gets into the act!

 



entry to Tahoka Santa Land

Santa depends on donations to decorate the wonderland.  Who knew that empty bulk canola oil containers would make a Santa Land frame work for arches and fences and square presents!  The wonderful sunset was donated by Mother Nature.

 



Santa Land

Tahoka, Texas

very chevy Christmas

 

The real license plate reads "Dallas" and where else would you find a Christmas tree adorned with car parts?  If you’re in downtown Dallas over the holiday, stop by Pegasus Plaza and take a look. In all there are tail lights, trunk sections and fins of 13 classic cars.  The decoration is courtesy of Neiman Marcus which displayed the tree in the store in 2003.

 

Pegasus Plaza

Dallas, Texas

11/21/2014

under the mistletoe

 

Mrs. Claus thinks men with beards are sexy!

 

Santa Land at Mackenzie Park

12.10.2014

a tribute to our hero dead

This afternoon the Nancy Anderson Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a wreath at the Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial. There is something special about a wreath, a circle with no end.  The act of placing the wreath, straightening the red bow, and taking a moment of silence is a living tribute to those who put it all on the line.  After a dreary morning, the sun broke through the clouds as we pledged allegiance to the flag.

 

Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial

83rd and Nashville

Lubbock, Texas

tech lights

 

Each year Texas Tech  outlines buildings around Memorial Circle, the Engineering Key and the Broadway Entrance to the campus with  25,000 lights of red, yellow and white.  The lights highlight the Spanish Renaissance style columns,window structures, archways and pilasters.  The cornerstone on the colonnade indicates that the Engineering Building was constructed in 1951-- 10 years before Tech's Carol of Lights began.

 

Civil Engineering Building

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

foot feet

 

I grew up hearing this part of the vehicle called the "foot feet." It wasn't until I took drivers ed that I learned the proper terminology is foot FEED.  Amazing!  This particular foot feed is on an old army surplus ditcher parked on the farm.  It was purchased decades used to dig trenches for drip, or in-ground, irrigation systems.  Supposed this piece of equipment was built to dig trenches during the Viet Nam war.  The radiator cap says "Unitrio" but I didn't find much about the ditcher nor the company.  However, here is a link that will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about war use ditching machines!

 





the ditcher

 

The Old Homestead

Lubbock County, Texas

11.30.2014



urban cow

 

You might think I photographed this longhorn out on the lone prairie but, nope, it was in town.  I parked at the EZMart, walked back down Milwaukee Avenue and took the shot. The street traffic didn't seem to bother him but he noticed the photographer.  Then, someone slammed the dumpster lid and off he took. A lot in Terra Estates comes with acreage, barns, horses - and even cattle!

 

Terra Estates

19th and Milwaukee

Lubbock, Texas

old-fashioned toys

 

The Ranching Heritage Center offers a glimpse of a pioneer Christmas during the 36th annual Candlelight at the Ranch. Luminarias light the paths around the historic structures, where volunteers recreate holiday scenes of trimming trees with home-made decorations, playing traditional music and gathering around the campfire on a cold winter’s night.  This cowboy whittles toys just like boys and girls might have gotten more than 100 years ago.  I don't think people taking pictures with their iphones appreciated what living was like by candle or kerosene light!

 

Ranching Heritage Center

3121 4th Street

Lubbock, Texas

 

slaton santa

 

Kris Kringle is often depicted with a walking stick.  The Santa at Slaton's Harvey House had a Santa stick as an accoutrement a la "Miracle on 34th Street."

 

Harvey House

Slaton, Texas

12.11.2014

waiting for the children

 

Tonight the former dining room of the Harvey House resembled a vintage living room, complete with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  Slaton’s Harvey House was built in 1912. Fred Harvey began his chain of 84 off-railroad restaurants in 1875. A Harvey House was essentially a fast food joint - but with china and linens. Passengers ordered while on the train and then had only about 20 minutes during the stop to eat.  The Slaton Harvey House restaurant closed in 1942 but the building continued as a passenger depot and then a cargo depot.  The railroad association saved the building from ruin; today it operates as an event center and B&B.  This evening's open house welcomed Slaton citizens and bright-eyed children with wishes.  And yes, that locomotive fortuitously stopped by the window.

Slaton Harvey House
Fred Harvey Company
Slaton, Texas

santa land tree

 

Tonight the lights went on at Santa Land illuminating a Christmas wonderland. A multitude awaited the fire truck which guided Santa's sleigh.  This is Santa's 58th appearance in Lubbock at Santa Land.  New this year, joining Duck Dynasty was the cast of Frozen (in plywood of course).  And the Lubbock Police Department added more prairie dogs to their display.  Where else can you see Peter Pan, Batman, Shrek and other favorite characters at Christmas?

 

Santa Land

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas

deer crossing

 

Sometimes the photograph is in your own backyard.

winter garden

 

It may be beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but it certainly doesn't feel like it!  With today's 66 degrees and clear blue skies, keep out the patio furniture a little longer.

 

Tech Terrance U.N.I.T. Christmas Tour

12.6.2014

ode to the olive

 

We were welcomed to Café J by the sculpture in the parking, which I've entitled "Ode to an Olive."  We had a wonderful brunch complimented by conversation among congenial friends.  Since it was Eggs Benedict, we had mimosas rather than the signature martinis.  Café J is a direct descendant of The Grapevine Restaurant which was further east on 19th Street.  The Grapevine was related to the Continental Room, a former favorite fine dining destination on the 20th floor of the Metro Tower (nee the Great Plains Life Building).

 

Cafe J

2605 19th Street

Lubbock, Texas

frosty

 

Not only is Frosty a jolly, happy soul -- he's also a clean one!  We surprised Frosty in the tub today while on the Tech Terrace U.N.I.T. Christmas tour.  It was neat to see mid-century modern homes updated, renovated and decorated for Christmas -- even the bathrooms.



rural relic

the old homestead 6

 

Once a common feature on each homestead, an outhouse is now a rare rural relic.  Many an outhouse met its demise as part of a high school prank.  It's hard to believe that conveniences that we take for granted, like electricity and indoor plumbing, were not available in farm communities in Lubbock County until the 1940s.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

Studebaker pickup

the old homestead 5

 

Most farms have an accumulation of old equipment, broken-down pickups and parts around the place and the old homestead is no exception.  It has the usual old cotton trailer axles, assorted pickups from various decades, a cotton-stripper, a pile of bent irrigation tubes, one refrigerator, a blue Volkswagen bug, and -- inexplicably, what is probably a 1949 Studebaker pickup.  A Studebaker is an unusual model for a farm vehicle in these parts, but what's odder is that in a former life it was a "New-Mex Construction Company" vehicle from Hobbs (dimly says so on the door). The 1957 Texas license tag is semi-attached to the front grill and the key is still in the ignition. But don't think about driving it off --the pickup is hemmed in by at least half a century of elm trees and knee-high brush!

 

Lubbock County, Texas



cultivator sweeps

the old homestead 4

 

If you are a farmer, there's more to plowing than just getting on the tractor.  You have to determine what type of plowing is needed and which equipment is best.  If you wish to remove weeds before planting, then probably the cultivator is what you'd use.  And then you need to know whether to use the 6" or 8" or 10" sweep, the size of the shank you're putting it on, the hole spacing and how deep to plow.  At the old homestead, back behind the house, Mr. E kept his equipment.  Mr. E was organized and built a stand for his sweeps, but it's been a while since they were used.

 

Lubbock County, Texas



canning jars still life

the old homestead 2

Farm women in the 1930s and 40s were not only responsible for maintaining the household and raising the children, but also taking care of other chores, tending the vegetable garden, feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs. Other than church, the local Home Demonstration Club was a welcome social activity.  In 1914 the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act which officially sanctioned “demonstration work” and Texas A&M hired women county agents to work with the rural female population. Vegetable gardening, canning, bread-making and animal husbandry were typical topics for demonstration clubs. In 1926 county home demonstration councils were established to coordinate local membership and by 1934 there were nearly 49,000 women enrolled in 2,268 clubs on the county or community level.  The Avalanche-Journal reported on a meeting of the Lubbock County Home Demonstration Council in 1938 with 14 community clubs represented.

 

The first Mrs. E and my grandmother were friends and members of the New Deal Home Demonstration Club in the 1930s and 40s.  Having a garden and "putting up" vegetables were part of the farm life. The second Mrs. E  moved to the farm after marrying and assumed the role of farm wife.  .After the second Mrs. E's husband died, she ran the farm with her son until his early death; she continued on her on until becoming infirm.  As happens all too frequently, the grandkids didn't want to farm so the land was leased.  They did come to clear the house, albeit not completely, of a hundred years' of living. On the back porch are the contents of the pantry -- canning jars, some still filled with green beans, pickles and black-eyed peas.  Farm life preserved in a jar.

 

Lubbock County

the old homestead

 

Atop a broken windmill stand, amid overgrown weeds, a tattered flag flutters in the breeze-- a sad memorial.  This had been the family farm for over 100 years, since Grandpa moved here in 1911.  Then a new house was built in 1939 -- at the top of the rise and eventually surrounded by stately elm trees.  The farm was passed along, until Mrs. E, who was the last family member to run the place, became too infirm and had to move to the rest home. The place was rented to tenant farmers.  The house, which was a county showplace in its time and site of many socials, fell further into disrepair.  The once-proud front lawn was now grazed by cattle.  Weeds and trash overtook the backyard; the swing and toys lay abandoned not to be enjoyed by future generations.  And thus ends another tale of the family farm.

 

Lubbock County, Texas