July 30, 2010

vintage rose

Although her nose is shiny, the mannequin head at "Vintage Rose" sports the latest retro look in floral chapeaus, 1970s mylar wigs and pearls. Hurry to this vintage clothing shop in Cactus Alley -- everything green, including the chartreuse wig, is discounted in special sale.

July 29, 2010

power and air

Basics of life -- power and air. You can almost always find what you need on Avenue A.

July 28, 2010

mannequin

This mannequin, a feature of the Tornado Gallery, is no dummy. She's wearing her Susan B. Komen cap, courtesy of the Avalanche-Journal and her "nice tornadoes" T-shirt. The Tornado Gallery, 1822 Buddy Holly Avenue, is open late this evening and Miss Manni is watching patrons of the Cactus Theater arrive for a concert by The Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock).

July 27, 2010

legal graffiti

July 26, 2010

sunday sermon

As the parishioners arrive for Sunday services at St. Paul's Historic Church at 18th and Avenue B, they are greeted with the message "watch your step." The signs refer to the rickety stairs leading to the front door, but St. Paul's admonishment is also applicable Monday through Saturday.

July 25, 2010

buddy's new home

What looks like a prison yard across from the Buddy Holly Center is destined to be the new Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza. Buddy (the statue) will be disinterred from his pedestal near the Civic Center, refurbished and stored until the "park" opens in October. While there are plans like a giant guitar, there are no funds for park accoutrements. There may be grass where the vacant lot has been filled, leveled, smoothed and fenced. But Buddy can serenade Peggy Sue who is immortalized on the furniture store across the street.

July 24, 2010

mermaid money

I've strolled many a Florida beach looking for intact sand dollars. The common name for this Echinarachnias parma or burrowing sea urchin comes from its resemblance to a silver Spanish coin--which would be a wonderful beach find! Like its cousin the starfish, the sand dollar has fivefold radial symmetry. These designs on the exoskeleton contribute to the religious symbolism derived from sand dollars. Is it the guiding star of Bethlehem or the Christmas poinsettia or the Easter lily that you see?

July 23, 2010

ionic column

Unfortunately I'm not vacationing on the Greek isles, although I'd like to. I've seen the Greek temple ruins at Taromina, Sicily and wandered through the Forum in Rome; however, this classical piece is my yard art in Lubbock.

July 22, 2010

piranha killer sushi

No, I did not eat at Piranha Killer Sushi; I dined next door at P.F. Chang's.

Keep Austin Weird indeed!

July 21. 2010

summer shower

In Lubbock, a summer shower brings relief from the heat. In Austin, a summer shower just increases the sauna factor and induces steam from the pavement.

July 20, 2010

willie

For some, 6th Street in Austin is mecca; for me, this is where it's at.

July 19, 2010

veteran stomper

Monday: go to work - go to meeting - catch a plane - check in hotel - eat dinner with colleagues - take lousy picture of hotel pool - decide to recycle New Orleans photo to post on blog - vow to capture original image on Tuesday - go to bed.

The Storyville Stompers were the brass band that led the Second Line Parade. It wasn't the tuba player's first parade.

July 18, 2010

day two cotton bloom

Recent rains have helped the cotton bloom, albeit a few weeks delayed in some areas. The cotton blossom arise from a bud, known as a square. It opens as a white bloom and a "perfect" flower with both male and female organs. The bloom turns light pink the second day and deeper on the third day before falling off in the next few days. What's left behind is the boll - which when mature opens to reveal white fluffy cotton. The timing of the first squares and then the first blooms are of great interest to farmers. My dad will pull the entire plant to count the squares. I often wondered if he left enough in the fields to produce a crop!

July 17, 2010

kaitlyn

Today we shot Kaitlyn's sixth birthday portrait. She has progressed as a model since we did the "two year old" session. Kaitlyn even had her own posing suggestions. We also did four wardrobe changes and had to include Kalie, the new doll, in the photographs.

July 16, 2010

look homeward, angel

In 1958 the City of Lubbock Cemetery Board sponsored a competition for inspired sculpture. The result is this angel by noted sculptor Charles Umlauf . The eleven foot cast stone sculpture is mounted on a granite pedestal. A major campaign was mounted several years ago to restore and preserve this piece of art. Decades ago, the cemetery was an after dark destination for certain teenagers. A test of daring was to leave the security of the vehicle (many times a black 1957 Chevy) to run and touch the angel's toenails. The risk was not ghosts but so-called friends driving off and deserting the brave one.

July 15, 2010

lifeguard

Texas Tech Leisure Pool

Lubbock Texas

July 14, 2010

roll out the red astroturf

The Red Raider practice field is getting a new surface of artificial grass. to the tune of $500,000. The red sideline leads right to to the doors of Tuberville. Tech is now just like Auburn with an artifical field next to a grass field. (google lubbockonline sports for complete story)

July 13, 2010

hibiscus to be

July 12, 2010

belladonna

Amaryllidaceade

grown in my backyard

rooting from my sister-in-law Nanci

July 11, 2010

lubbock's stonehenge

Crossroads of Time Sculpture Garden

overlooking Yellowhouse Canyon

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock Texas

Monoliths by Steve Teeter

July 10, 2010

he does windows...
on a Saturday

McDougal Companies
5oth and the Loop
Lubbock Texas

July 9, 2010

Pearl drinking water?

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the May 11th tornado that devastated Lubbock. During the days that followed, assistance poured in from all over Texas -- including Pearl

Brewery in San Antonio. This was before the proliferation of plastic bottles of drinking water. Pearl donated drinking water, probably the "original spring water," bottled in their customary quart bottles and packaged in Pearl cartons. The story goes that the shipment went to a Lubbock church which was offended by the presence of "demon alcohol" even though the charitable donation was water. The boxes were relocated to the municipal auditorium. As part of the anniversary, the City launched a website (www.1970lubbocktornado.com) and asked for citizens to submit their tornado stories. A local individual remembered cases of the Pearl drinking water in an attic,and, after 40 years returned the bottles to the City. The bottles and cartons were photographed for the archives and the bottles tagged presented as commemorative gifts to council members and others.

July 8, 2010

rock star

Xd Rock Star chrome wheel
$682.99 on-line
seen on Hummer spare tire

July 7, 2010

whimsy

This tear-shaped building by the defunct Stinnett Food Market at 2841 Clovis Highway intrigues me. What is its story? Was it a snow cone stand where the neighborhood kids flocked to buy cherry or grape-flavored ice? Was the building fashioned after a double-dipped ice cream cone? While parents bought groceries, did children spend their nickels and dimes here and wait to ride the mechanical horse?

July 6, 2010

"all the world's a stage"

. . . but Shakespeare didn't have amps and light bars

Daiquiri Lounge and Beer Garden

Lower Depot District

2202 Buddy Holly Avenue

Lubbock Texas

July 5, 2010

valley view drive

looking north toward Lubbock Country Club

July 4, 2010

o'er the ramparts.....
and the clouded skies
and the flooded plains

July 3, 2010

and stop praying for rain!

Hurricane Alex has dumped over 5 inches of rain in the last 24 hours and put a damper on 4th of July activities. Lubbock is under flood warning. We've gotten 1/3 of our annual rainfall in the last few days.

5th and Cedar, Wolfforth, Texas

July 2, 2010

parade preparations

Hurricane Alex will probably trump the McDougal Companies Parade and the Wells Fargo Street Fair. Whatever happened to "Fourth of July" or even "Fourth on Broadway" celebrations?

July 1, 2010

stars and stripes

All-American Concrete
(for sale)
1521 Erskine