non-parking garage

 

With its 1965 decorative facade removed, the bare bones parking garage awaits renovation with its new life as the parking garage for the Citizens Tower municipal employees.  The garage's accompanying structure was built in 1965 as the Citizens National Bank and then refitted as the Omni. The structure languished in a dying downtown and its marble panels started falling to their death on the brick streets.  The rebirth is a difficult process.

 

Citizens Tower Parking Garage

14th and Avenue K

Lubbock, Texas

gourmet garlic

 

West End Farmers Market

Lubbock, Texas

The Beach:  a cure for a plague of kinfolks

(and just about anything else that ails you)

 

Cumberland Island, Georgia

4.22.2016

only god can make a tree...

and coastal winds

 

Recent posts on Facebook about island trees prompted me to process this image taken on Cumberland Island in April.  The barrier island is buffeted by coastal winds and the live oak trees endure sea breezes and shifting sands.

 

Cumberland Island, Georgia

4.22.2016

water wheel

 

Besides the slides at the indoor water park, the water wheel which opens and closes the water pipes is a great attraction.  So what if it sprays on you!

 

Bodyworks Pool

Lubbock, Texas

7.23.2016

no diving

 

There's one in every crowd!  While 3-year old Collier enjoyed the swimming birthday party, he was ready for the next step: cake and presents.  Collier refused to give up his boots for summer so wears them with his shorts (has he been reading fashion magazines?)

 

stained glass

 

 

 

Lovely Lane Chapel is the oldest standing church on St. Simon Island.  The original Lovely Lane Chapel was erected in Baltimore in 1774.  The St. Simon chapel at Epworth by the Sea, part of the Methodist Conference Retreat. Epworth By The Sea is named in honor of the boyhood home of John and Charles Wesley, founders of Methodism. John Wesley arrive in St. Simon in 1735 to be in charge of the religious affairs of the colony.

 

St. Simon Island, Georgia

4.23.2016

allured to brighter worlds

 

Of course I visited the Bonaventure Cemetery when I was in Savannah in April (and yes, the statue from the "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" has been relocated to the Telfair Museum of Art).  However, the marker for Corinne Elliot Lawton is a haunting example of Southern Gothic.  Corinne died in 1877 and the story goes she drowned herself in the nearby river rather than marry a man other than the one she loved -- although her obituary cited a brief illness.  This marble memorial by Palermo and Corinne's legendary love story generate much interest.

 

 

 

Bonaventure Cemetery

Savannah, Georgia

4.20.2016

ghost of san elizario

 

We visited the Chapel at San Elizario on a hot June morning.  The advertised Ghost Tour occurs in the evening and seems primarily devoted to Billy the Kid.  However, as I photographed the doors of the chapel, I felt watched.

 

San Elizario, Texas

6.10.2016

house concert

 

Bring a beverage and a chair to enjoy an intimate evening of music in a backyard venue.  Tonight featured Terri Hendrix, a free-spirited Texas songwriter with a unique view of the world, accompanied by Lubbock's own Lloyd Maines.

 

Rockin' Box 33

Lubbock, Texas

fishing off the pier at sunset

 

St. Simon Island, Georgia

4.21.2016

how does your garden grow?

 

Garden of Hamilton Plantation Slave Cabins

St. Simon Island, Georgia

4.23.2016

the line-up

 

These forms look more like aliens than pinatas in progress.  After drying, these newspaper mache figures will transform into colorful cartoon characters, including Donald Trump.  The traditional piñata had  with seven points, each with streamers. These cones represent the seven deadly sins, pecados - greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, envy, wrath and lust-- all traits exhibited by kids at birthday parties vying for the piñata's candies and treats.

 

El Paso, Texas

6.10.2016 

Austin dog walker

 

If the "Putting on the Dog" exhibit offered a prize for most dogs in a photo, I would have won!  This dog walker spotted in Austin had nine in tow!  While working in Austin this spring, my friend suggested I visit Stevie Ray Vaughan, Austin's adopted son -- little did I know that Town Lake was also dog heaven!

 

Town Lake

Austin, Texas

2.18.2016

old settlers day parade

 

From the loft of the Wallace Theater, DJs from KLVT broadcast live the Old Settlers Day Parade.  The courthouse square was packed with people enjoying the music and visiting the booths.  Funnel cake, anyone?

 

Wallace Theater

Levelland, Texas

porch waiting

 

One of the establishments in Cuchara is The Dog Bar and Grill; unfortunately, no dogs allowed.

 

Cuchara, Colorado

5.23.2015

 



famous

 

The sign on the door says "closed" and the fully-stocked store has been closed for decades.  It's a Lubbock mystery.  The Famous is reminiscent of the Marchiondo Dry Goods in Raton which has been closed since 1988; when owner Tony died, the kids just closed it up.  Probably something similar happened in Lubbock.  Take a peek in the windows to see formals and tuxedos, boots and hats, and communion dresses -- dating back to at least the '80s.

 

The Famous Department Store

1213 Crickets Avenue

Lubbock, Texas

bygone brilliance

 

In the early 20th century the coke ovens of the Dayton Coal and Iron Company helped make this small town in Tennessee prosperous.  However, during the Depression the coal industry succumbed to the times.  Now this "ghost" coke sign is somewhat symbolic of Dayton, county seat of Rhea County, Tennessee - population 7,191.

 

Dayton, Tennessee

5.28.2016

Salute to America

patriotic pawn shop

 

Soddy Daisy, Tennessee

5.28.2016

irrigation -- in lieu of rain

 

The corn isn't quite as high as an elephant's eye but it won't get taller without rain.  In lieu of those potential storm clouds, the irrigation motor is roaring away.

 

Fortenberry Farms

Lubbock County, Texas