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

changing colors of fall

 

Farmers are in the process of harvesting grain sorghum, which may be planted after a failed cotton crop.  Fields of grain turning from green to auburn are signs of autumn on the High Plains.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

yellow door

 

The Ouachita River divides the cities of Monroe and West Monroe.  During the heyday of steamboats, the Ouachita was a highway of commerce for Louisiana.  Today the riverfront area is a target of redevelopment with a cultural district touting restaurants, apartments, shops and even a riverwalk.  The first steamboat to cruise the Quachita - the "Monroe" of course.

 

422 Jackson Street

Monroe, Louisiana

cypress and swamp

 

The 1700 acres lake at Black Bayou Lake has cypress and tupelo trees and is surrounded by swamps that become bottomland hardwoods.  Although the preserve signs indicated much wildlife, all I saw were dragonflies and grasshoppers -- but I didn't venture far along the paths.

 

Black Bayou Lake Natural Wildlife Refuge

Monroe, Louisiana

not just a bicycle

 

If you guessed this hanging sign denoted a bicycle shop, you would be wrong.  As the owner notes in an on-line interview, it is a "landmark" for his photography studio.  You can visit him at the link below, but be advised he lists himself as Xavier J. Peg (Xavier was evidently his father-in-law's name).  Had the photographer been in residence, I imagine an interesting conversation would have ensued.

 

Studio d'Xavier

422 DeSiard Street

Monroe, Louisiana

http://www.flickr.com/photos/studiodxavier/

bayou desiard

 

We enjoyed the Louisiana landscape watching the sun set over the bayou,  the turtles bobbing and the graceful waterskier -- all from the comfort of the air-conditioned, bug-free dining room.

 

Bayou DeSiard

Monroe, Louisiana

photography imitates art

 

The Dallas Arboretum has a section "Small Houses of Great Artists."  The Monet cottage replicates "The Water-Lily Pond and Japanese Bridge."  In 1893, Monet, a passionate horticulturist, purchased land with a pond near his property in Giverny,France.  intending to build something "for the pleasure of the eye and also for motifs to paint." The result was his water-lily garden. In 1899, he began a series paintings of the wooden footbridge over his water-lily garden. 

 

Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

Click here to compare: http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/timage_f?object=74796&image=19654&c=gg85

9-18.2012

yellow icicle tower

 

The 30-foot Yellow Icicle Tower dominates the parkscape of the Arboretum.  During the day, the sunlight glistens off the glass; during the evening, the dusk is illuminated by its yellow glow.  The crescent moon was an added highlight.

 

Chihuly at Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18.2012

carnival boat

 

The Carnival Boat, filled with fantasy glass pieces by Chihuly, floats on the infinity pool merging with White Rock Lake as the sun sets over Dallas.  The installation is in place until November 5.

 

Chihuly at Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18.2012

$500.00 -- no exception's

Cemetery Signs:

Evidently, for $500.00, you may have your choice of plots - complete with headstone.  Just choose your favorite name and ask the occupant to scoot over.

Jaybird Cemetery

off Highway 199 between Azle and Springtown

Parker County, Texas
9.20.2012

shadows and stripes

 

The Studios at 5th and Avenue J

Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts

Lubbock, Texas

red reeds

 

The Chihuly red glass reeds make strong reflections among the red water lilies in the Fogelson Fountain at the Dallas Arboretum.

 

Chihuly at Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18.2012

float boat

 

Renowned glassblower Chihuly has installed his sculptures at the Dallas Arboretum.   The water feature in the Women's Garden has a boat filled with glass spheres based on Japanese fishing floats.

 

Chihuly at the Dallas Arboretum

Dallas, Texas

9.18/2012

http://www.dallasarboretum.org/chihuly/

sunrise

 

Eagle Mountain Lake

Azle, Texas

call to arms

Last weekend Olney held the 41st Annual One Arm Dove Hunt.  To be eligible one must be disabled or a dove. Wonder which has the advantage?  The two original one-armed individuals were named Jack and started the hunt in 1972 as a joke, but six one-armed men participated.  It is now a unique tradition honoring upper-body amputees.

Olney, Texas

mirror image

 

The poet Lowell may have thought that the rare day in June was perfect -- but our fall weather, like today's, may be rare but the moderate temperature, breezeless air and blue sky was perfect.

 

David Casey Park

Lubbock, Texas

chow's on

 

Chuckwagon Vignette

National Cowboy Symposium

Lubbock, Texas

9.08.2012

new face on broadway

 

 

New business downtown in the former Reeves Photography Studio.  They advertise  "new and recycled fashions -gently used designer, fashion-forward, and vintage clothes!"  With the mural on the side of the building, it certainly isn't Skibells, Mary Ware or Lathams.

 

 1717 Broadway.

Culture Clothing

1717 Broadway

Lubbock, Texas

pilgrimage

 

 

One of the faithful makes a stop on the way to El Sanctuario de Chimayo for blessing and "holy dirt."

 

Chimayo, New Mexico

http://chimayo.us/

3.10.2012

the scale house

 

The metropolis of County Line lies at the intersection of FM 179 and 597, which is the dividing boundary between Lubbock and Hale counties.  In its heyday during the first half of the century, County Line had a school, 3 grocery stores, 2 blacksmith shops, a gin and a church   Today there's only a handful of residents, abandoned buildings, the First Baptist Church (which had 8 cars in the parking lot on Sunday) and the County Line Cemetery.  The Fairbanks-Morse weighing scale, although pocked with bullet holes, still occupies the scale house by the grain elevators.

 

County Line Co-op Gin Scale House

County Line, Texas

8.09.2012

sign cemetery

 

The back lot at Garrison Brothers Signs contains defunct signs.  It's ironic that a company that has provided lasting gravestone markers since 1916 is now gone and its sign relegated to the junk heap.  Geography question - where is Silver Falls?  The first part of the century, the waterfall here was a mecca for travelers.  Today the rest stop still exists but the falls and spring are part of history - just like the motel sign.  We noticed these signs while determining the location of the Texas historical marker for the legendary Cotton Club at its original site off Southeast Drive.  The marker dedication will take place September 27 in conjunction with the induction of Tommy Hancock's induction into the West Texas Walk of Fame.

 

Garrison Brothers Signs

2523 East 50th

9.10.2012

hard times on the farm

 

The farming outlook this year resembles this old farmhouse - leaning south and ready to crash.

 

Off FM 597

North Lubbock County, Texas