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

three crosses

 

Although it no longer has a sign and does not appear to be in use, I surmised that at one time this building was a church.  It must have been the three crosses.

 

East Dayton and New Mexico Streets

Slaton, Texas

11.28.2013

red steeple

 

The east side of Slaton must be a God-fearing neighborhood.  I counted six churches within about a seven-block radius. The Triumph Missionary Baptist Church was established in 1929 and rebuilt in 1951. Other churches included the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, the Ivory Street Church of Christ and the First Church of God in Christ.  I assumed that the building with three crosses and the one with the short steeple were also churches but there were no signs; however I really didn't need a yellow sign to identify them.

 

Triumph Missionary Baptist Church

905 S. Johnson

Slaton, Texas

 

 

 

corrugated

 

Corrugated -- with ridges and troughs.  I am thankful for graphic buildings, strong sunlight and shadows.

 

Winfield Solutions

43rd and Locust Avenue

Lubbock, Texas

cubism

 

Cubism: artistic style using geometric shapes; developed in the early 20th century and emphasizes the representation of natural forms as geometric shapes seen from several angles.  The subterranean patio of the Rawls College of Business resembles abstract art.  It is deserted not only because students have left for Thanksgiving break but also due to 40-degree weather.  I went to photograph the new bear/bull sculptures but found the patio more interesting.

 

Rawls College of Business

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

minnesota paints

 

Like a lot of enterprises in Hale Center, West Builders Supply is out of business.  One would wonder that if West had stocked Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paint, the lumber yard would still have customers.  Why is a Minnesota Paint sold in Texas?  Good sales rep, I'd guess.  There's not much information on Minnesota Paints except for an expired trademark, a merger with Valspar in 1970 and a sign or two on eBay.  I'd venture to say the large metal sign on the lumber yard might be worth more than the building.

 

Hale Center, Texas

11.15.2013

bolt bin

 

For farmers, equipment repair is as predictable as the weather is variable.  During the recent cold spell, the crew has been working on equipment in the shop.  It's helpful to have parts on hand.  The bolt bin, acquired by Pop probably during the '60s, hold a supply of bolts.  There are a few shiny ones mixed in with the used, the dusty and the greasy.  If one's lucky, the right-sized bolt -- with corresponding nut -- will be in the properly marked bin.  Youthful shop helpers are often assigned bolt gathering and sorting duty -- which might affect bin placement.  For perspective, each bolt bin measures about 12" in width and the entire piece stands head high and about eight feet long.  I don't know if any youthful helper has ever counted the bolts because no inventory is available.

 

New Deal Shop

New Deal, Texas



the last fall sunset

 

We took advantage of the last nice fall evening on Wednesday to take Christmas card pictures with the yard display on the Lusk farm.  Mr. Lusk decorated his John Deere tractor and 100 year-old wagon for fall but the lights made a great backdrop for Clara, Hannah and Collier.  The John Deere Model B was produced from 1935 to 1952 as a smaller tractor for row-crop farmers.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

11.20.2013

winter's chill

 

Yesterday the violas basked in 70 degree sunshine -- then the arctic front blew in.  Temperatures dropped 50 degrees from 2:00 to 11:00 p.m.  Today the violas shiver in an onslaught of sleet, 26 degrees and 26 mph winds.  Goodbye Fall--hello Winter.

 

My front yard

Lubbock, Texas

executive position

 

By virtue of her tenure and natural superiority, The Cat (also known as "the ole cat") holds an executive position at the barn.  She shuns leftover people food, preferring fresh kill but will deign to eat dog or rabbit food if necessary.  She observes machine repair, usually from atop the Kubota cab.  She's solitary but always comes to greet Pop.

 

Hale County, Texas

11.15.2013

alien landscape

 

No, it's not a scene from Mars -- just a night shot of the corn maze north of town with the city lights of Lubbock on the horizon.  Hurry -- you only have a short time left to get lost in the corn patch, take a hay ride and see the pumpkins.

 

At'l Do Farms Corn MAiZE

6323 FM 1294

Shallowater, Texas 79415



guns up

 

Since the beginning of Texas Technological College in 1923 and its first use by the football coach, the Double T has been the symbol of TTU.  Another, newer tradition is "Guns Up".  Started as counter to the hand sign used by a state university to the south, Guns Up emulates Raider Red with his upraised pistols.  It is widely used by students and alumni alike as a greeting and victory sign.  In fact, at the outdoor wedding I attended last weekend in Dallas, the bride and groom used the Red Raider Fight Song for the recessional and members of the crowd cheered them on with "guns up!"

 

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

black/white: 201

 

The parking garage lent itself to black-and-white photography.  After shooting from the alley and the outside, I wondered what the interior could offer.  Since the garage was deserted on a Sunday afternoon, I climbed the ramp to the second level with some trepidation thinking about hoodlums and the homeless.  I liked the sun and shadows contrast of the bars in the west corner.  As I turned to leave, there parked in the east corner was one of Lubbock's finest in his black-and-white vehicle.  As I cheerfully waved, I thought "gotcha!"  I don't know if he were hiding out, taking a break or doing paperwork-- maybe it was surveillance for trespassing photographers!

 

Wells Fargo Parking Garage

1500 Broadway

Lubbock, Texas

sunday skateboarding

 

 

Skateboarding is a popular pastime.  Supposedly it came about in the 1950s because the California surfers wanted something to surf when the waves were flat.  Lubbock is an ideal location -  it's flat and the waves are miles away.  I found this group of guys practicing their moves in the alley off Avenue J and Broadway.  I'm thinking crashing on the waves is probably less painful than bouncing off bricks.

 

Avenue J and Broadway

Lubbock, Texas

 

 

There are more buildings closed and boarded up than are open for business in Hale Center -- a sad sign of the times for small West Texas towns.  What first caught my eye on this former church were the gothic windows --slender, pointed arches on a stucco building.  Then I noticed the small window on the upper level -- too narrow for a second story and no steeple to access.  If eyes are the windows to the soul, then these church windows, boarded and blank, reflect no soul within.

 

900 Main Street

Hale Center, Texas

11.15.2013

1984 el camino

 

Hale Center has beautified downtown with murals depicting its history--from farming and ranching to the train station and the newspaper office.  A business man also got into the spirit, asking sign painter Steven Garcia to immortalize his 1984 El Camino pickup on the front of his business.  Visit downtown Hale Center (it won't take long to do the main drag) and check out the art.

 

Main Street

Hale Center, Texas

firestones

 

While on a photographic field trip, I told my city friend Margaret to look at those Firestones.  She thought I was referring to a technical term to describe silage bunker coverage.  Then she exclaimed, "Oh, they're tires!"  After chopping corn or grain stalks into silage, it is piled into bunkers.  To prevent oxygen from seeping into the pack and spoiling the feed, the silage is covered with plastic.  To hold the plastic in place, tires are universally used -- although there are other commercial applications.  This dairyman apparently uses the "any old tire" method; however, I found an online discussion about the benefits of whole tires versus sidewalls versus splits.  Now Margaret knows that is not a hill on the flat Texas landscape, it's a cow pantry.

 

Lamb County, Texas

2006

baa

 

Several years ago I was involved as a photographer in a project about disparities.  We traveled many counties and saw diverse sights.  Cattle is the first thought when Texas livestock is mentioned however there much sheep production as well.  We visited a sheep feedlot operation.  Usually the end product is wool rather than mutton.  Steaks are still preferred over lamb chops.  Paint branding is a way of temporarily marking and identifying the sheep.

 

Castro County, Texas

10.0.2006

birds on wires

 

The Boothe Grain Elevators in Anton are widely photographed as google will attest.  Years ago on a road trip, my friend Margaret and I stopped there as well.  Of course, the majority of the birds flew away but these four remained as counterpoint to the highline wires, power poles and railroad tracks.

 

Anton, Texas

10.9.2013

salute to veterans

 

Today we honor veterans.  During the war, two service men from New Deal met up in Los Angeles.  Billy Fortenberry, the Marine navigator, and Raymond Pearce, the Navy Seabee, visited Raymond's brother W.J.  These two veterans, in their eighties, both served in the Pacific Theater and represent the "greatest generation."

texas road art

 

The Adams family homestead can be seen on the far horizon.  While clearing out the creek, they hauled out this wreck of an old Chevrolet pickup.  Some one had the idea to paint it up and make a park.  The decorated pickup and other objets d'art as well newly planted trees and shrubs are transforming the side of  US 82 into a roadside attraction.  Dickens can be known as something other than the feral hog capital of Texas.

 

Just west of Dickens, Texas

US Highway 82

'nuff said

rosa

 

Rosa is a talented lady.  While shooting in Lockney, I heard accordion music.  I followed the sound to Rosa's backyard where she was practicing the accordion for an event at the Catholic church in Plainview.  She prefers the guitar and had to play for me, al fresco.  Rosa lives in a unique rock house on the corner by the water tower.  Look for her shop:  Rosa's Hair Chateau, Gift Shop and Massage Therapy.

 

203. E. College Avenue

Lockney, Texas

10.26.2013

melrose baptist church

 

Many folks stop to photograph the abandoned Presbyterian Church in Taiban, but how many stop in Melrose, just 20 miles up the US 84, to shoot the First Baptist Church?  Not many, I dare say.  The original church structure was built in 1906 -- two years earlier than Taiban's.  This congregation  of over 100 years must have built a firmer foundation as well as a brick church in later years. 

 

 

taiban

 

 Melrose Baptist Church

Melrose, New Mexico

9.26.2010

how was your day?

 

Toby, a three-month basset hound, catches ups with Henry on their evening romp in the park.

 

Tech Terrace Park

Lubbock, Texas

sorghum hill

 

The color of the mature head of grain sorghum, or milo, depends on the variety of seed planted.  Ben Franklin is credited with introducing the crop in the 1700s.  Sorghum uses include food grain for humans, livestock feed and fuel ethanol production.  This yield on the South Plains is good this year.    There were at least six towns in Texas named Providence.  The one in Floyd County is now referred to as a "populated place."  The school is gone -- just a marker with the date 1923 remains.  The Providence Elevator is still in business but don't expect a meal at the Crume Gin & Café down the road -- it's closed.

 

Providence, Texas

Floyd County

Farm Roads 2301 and 788

10.26.2014

addition to Lubbock skyline

 

As you drive south on I-27, about the 19th Street overpass, look to the west to catch a glimpse of a new addition to Lubbock's skyline.  That's about the only way you'll view it without driving down an alley!   John Shurbet is building a greenhouse as part of his Broadway Studio. He has taken several old buildings on Broadway and given them new life.  The space around the railroad ROW and I-27 has practical use as part of his landscaping business.  John asked if I needed a greenhouse, but I'm afraid one like this would outshine the house!

 

Shurbet Landscaping

511 Broadway

Lubbock, Texas

self-titled

 

I couldn't resist.  The sculpture "Black Pink" was recently relocated from along the Marsha Sharp Freeway by Quaker to the Arts District intersection at Marsha Sharp and Avenue L. I moved it again. This piece of art is one of seven in the "Art on the Llano" project by a LHUCA.  The works are installed on concrete pads donated by Texas Department of Transportation along major thoroughfares.  I know the M fell off the building but the current sign reflects my abstract art interpretation of "Black Pink"

 

Tire Mart

1519 Buddy Holly Avenue

Lubbock, Texas

in tall cotton

 

 

Despite a cool spring, late freeze and the drought, this patch of cotton promises a good yield. His dad's crop is almost as tall as great-nephew William.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

10.28.2013

city services

 

Do you think, that in a budget-conscious decision, the Lockney city fathers opted to build the four-square police station at the base of the water tower?  Certainly hope the roof was waterproof.  The Police Department has since relocated closer to City Hall.

 

Lockney, Texas

10.26.2013