bearded iris
Getting The Word Out.
12 years ago
April 18, 2010
too wet to plantCotton farmers like the 4+ inches of rain that fell this week but are anxious to get in the fields.
Many have a desire to plant "April" cotton but my dad thinks May 10 is a good target date. My nephew, who has inherited the engineering knack from his granddad, is building this 16-row cotton planter from "parts." When finished, the 16 seed boxes will be replenished via an air hydraulic system. The tool bar folds in thirds for a 12' transport width. Watch out for these machines on rural roadways. John Deere advertises a 2009 16-row 1770 NT model for $140,000. Farming has come a long way from a mule with a two-furrow plow.
April 17, 2010
santa fe depot in snyder, texasJust as the Santa Fe Depot in Snyder, Texas is falling into disrepair, its history is fading into obscurity. Little is written about the station other than it was built in 1911 and modeled after the station is Post, Texas -- a one-story building of terra cotta tiles at College and 9th. It seems a shame that historical old buildings are disappearing. I understand that repair, cost and upkeep are financial issues but we are losing landmarks. I've become a proponent of architectural conservationism.
April 16, 2010
field of bluebonnetsToday's rainclouds broke just enough this afternoon to provide a dramatic patch of blue sky over this field of bluebonnets in Taylor County (FM 600).
April 15, 2010
municipal artAbilene, Texas
This art installation is on Cedar Street off North First, next to the Grace Museum in Abilene, Texas. The soccer mom van is purely coincidental.
April 14, 2010
chimneys at fort phantomAll that's left at Fort Phantom Hill, one of a series of army posts built in 1851, are stone chimneys. The ruins are about 11 miles north of Abilene. Where five companies of infantry and a Overland mail stop on Butterfield Trail once filled the landscape, now only wild flowers and breezes keep the chimneys company.
April 13, 2010
perini's ranch steakhousebuffalo gap, texas
Named one of "America's Great Rural Steakhouses," the Perini Ranch offers a rustic location in scenic Buffalo Gap, a great mesquite-smoked prime rib and an excellent dining experience.
April 12, 2010
pilgrimageThe Garden of Memories Cemetery outside Trent, Texas is not the most picturesque I've visited but my purpose on Sunday was a personal pilgrimage. I knew my grandparents were from the Trent/Merkel area but hadn't really thought about my great-grandparents whom I did not know. My trip to Abilene afforded me the opportunity to look for their graves. I found Ivy and Elijah in the Howell plot. "Mamaw" Ivy Boyd Howell was mother to 8 sons and 4 daughters, including my grandmother Burma Mae. What I didn't expect to find in the plot was the headstone for my great-grandmother - born April 5, 1855 and died March ?, 1915 (some of the carving on the older marble tombstones is illegible). A sad observation about this lady, other than her short life, is her lack of individual identity. She is known only as "Mrs. A. P. Boyd."
April 11, 2010
J A WillisApril 8, 1825
April 17, 1919
There is no Confederate controversy in Merkel, Texas. At Rose Hill Cemetery, Confederate flags adorned grave sites of CSA veterans. The actual war started April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter, South Carolina and many states observe Confederate History Month in April . The 150th anniversary of the Civil War probably doesn't matter to Mr. Willis.
April 10, 2010
est. 1923 Today the Lubbock County Historical Commission (of which I am a Judge-appointed member) dedicated the Official Texas Historical Commission Historical Marker for The Slaton Bakery.
The Slaton Bakery is one of the oldest in Texas and traces its origins to 1923 when the Blue Ribbon and City Bakeries in Slaton consolidated. The Wilson family has owned the bakery the last 67 years. The bakery introduced the first sliced hamburger buns to Texas and the South Plains. This family-owned bakery was handed down from Barney and Ollie Mae to son Sherrell and today his sons Chad and Bryce continue the operation.
Donuts, vanilla wafers, thumbprint cookies - yum! Decorated wedding cakes followed by 50th anniversary cakes for the same couple. I met a man today at the bakery who drove from O'Donnell for his hand-made flour tortillas.
April 9, 2010
Old Will and Soapsuds
A Texas Tech tradition is wrapping Will Rogers and his horse Soapsuds in red crepe paper before home football games. Yesterday the Saddle Tramps, the all-male, bell-ringing service organization, outfitted ole Will and Soapsuds in red, with two purple streamers, in observance of the "Relay for Life."
The inscription for Will, installed in 1947, tells of "riding into the sunset." However, due west put Soapsuds' posterior pointed down Broadway toward downtown. Legend has it that Will and his horse were positioned headed 23 degrees south to avoid an affront to the city.
April 8, 2010
sign of spring: baby goat George's pet billy goat Buddy is the proud papa of two sets of twins. The kids are barely a week old and are just beginning to frolic. Myrtle here is still napping until playtime.
April 7, 2010
baby dollsOld Town Party House occupies a half block on 24th and Avenue J. The cafe is closed but "party facilities" are available for rent. The decor is primarily collectibles or old junk, depending on the point of view. "Baby Dolls" was a strip joint on Avenue Q which closed -- something about a SOB permit (sexually oriented business). Either the owner didn't have one or the city wouldn't issue one. The Baby Dolls sign now stands proudly between the Quality Mechanic Garage and the County Jail, complete with urinal and upper deck.
April 6, 2010
courtyardFirst Baptist Church
I've driven innumerable times on Broadway and noticed the brick sign for the First Baptist Church. But until today, when I walked around the church building, I didn't know that my parents' names were engraved on the black granite plaque on the rear of the brick wall. The names of all who attended Reunion Sunday, October 19, 1997 are inscribed for perpetuity.
April 5, 2010
sign from the pastThe Lindsey Theater was an elegant movie palace, with balcony, built in 1940 at Main and Avenue J. Saturday date night would find kids from all over the area standing in line for a popular movie. One could tell the various schools because the guys all wore their letter jackets. After the movie, we'd circle the Hi-D-Ho or A&W Rootbeer or the White Pig. You couldn't "circle" the new Char-King but had to park (#4 chili-cheese is what I ordered).
The theater was razed in 1997 and all that remains is this salvaged sign -- now at home in the bay of Tornado Gallery. Maybe I'll learn that story some day.
March 31, 2010
dawn in the depot districtThe past few days while driving to work, I've had the sunrise in the east and the full moon in the west. I wanted to catch the full moon over the Depot District, Lubbock's entertainment venue; however the full moon (over the Tornado Gallery) isn't any bigger than the street lights!
The Depot District refers to the Fort Worth & Denver train station, built in 1928, which now houses the Buddy Holly Museum. Avenue H was a main Lubbock street in the town's growing years; the street's name was changed to Buddy Holly Avenue in 1996. The Cactus Theater was constructed in 1938 as a motion-picture theater and today features live entertainment. The Tornado Gallery was originally Greer Ironworks, established 1946.
March 30, 2010
outre outhouseAlderson Mercedes
1702 Texas Avenue
outre - Fr., unconventional; eccentric or bizarre
outhouse - syn. shed, barn, lean-to, outbuilding, privy
March 28, 2010
5 'til 5
For generations, motorists on US 87 (now I-27) south of Hale Center were encouraged to watch the letters "CONE" on the grain elevator morph into a stylized clock with the time of 5 minutes until 5 o"clock (or 11:25 depending on your perception). It must be like a Rorschach test because many people never see it. With the elevator in disuse and the paint fading, future generations won't be able to tell the time on the elevator.
The Cone elevator was built probably in the early 1940s. The federal Commodity Credit Corporation was established in 1936 to "stabilize supplies against variation in production due to good and bad weather." What the CCC did was stabilize grain prices and produce a proliferation of grain elevators for storage across the country. Current economics dictate immediate hauling of grain and prohibitive costs for storing.
I did not realize until I googled that, just like football or windmills, there are grain elevator aficionados. There are sites galore on grain storage history and historic elevators including the now-demolished Burrus elevator in Lubbock. I learned that the Cone Elevator on County Road 225 in Hale County is actually in Underwood -- which I had never heard of (there's nothing there now but what might have been a country store). The Cone Elevator was on the BNSF tracks, had a capacity of 1,000,000 bushels and could handle 16 container cars.
My dad recalls at least three car crashes, possibly with fatalities, occurring when the gawkers were hit trying to see the clock. Can you see it?
March 25, 2010
spider ropeWhile the concept is similar to the thread bobbins used in your grandmother's Singer sewing machine, these giant "bobbins" contain what electric utility workers call "spider rope." This LP&L lineman is threading spider rope as an initial step in relocating electrical lines along the Marsha Sharp Freeway at Avenue H.
March 24, 2010
spring skyAfter a balmy 70+ spring day on Tuesday, Mother Nature turned fickle with blustery 50 degrees. The snow didn't get this far south and the predicted rain didn't fall.
March 23, 2010
only cabin cruiser in captivityLubbock, Texas
The newest Lone Star Oyster Bar at 18th and I-27 brought in this derelict boat to add ambiance to the outdoor patio area. If it ever breaks free, it's headed in the right direction.
March 22, 2010
intersection:Avenue J and 5th Street
pop art and highway patrol
1920s LP&L power plant and 2010 Underwood art center
March 20, 2010
the obligatory first daffodil of spring photoMany springs, the first daffodils are battered by sandstorms. A couple of inches of snow on the eve of the vernal equinox brought this bloom down. But daffodils are hardy and this one will be basking in the 70 degree weather predicted for Monday.
March 18, 2010
CamelliaThe Camellia is a beloved Southern evergreen which blooms in the early spring. However, recent rains have wreaked havoc with the flowering shrubs, which have more blossoms on the ground than on the bush. Photographed at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia.
March 17, 2010
the big oakToday was gray and rainy all day in Thomasville, Georgia - however, I spent 8.5 hours indoors instructing on how to set up mass prophylaxis dispensing centers to counter a bioterrorism attack. Tomorrow I am returning to the Big Oak to check out having my picture taken by the Big Oak cam. Watch this space for results! Today's photo choice (with limited shooting opportunity) was the Big Oak or the place where we had dinner - Jonah's Fish & Grits.
March 16, 2010
georgia cuisineIt's surprising to find Maryland fried chicken in Georgia - but hey, we have Kentucky fried chicken in Texas! Is it "home cooking" if it's not from your home state?
March 14, 2010
ray charlesalbany, georgia
Ray Charles is Albany's Buddy Holly, complete with statue. Ray is literally on a pedestal at the Riverfront Plaza by the Flint River. Loudspeakers play Ray's tunes and folks listen while sitting on the black keys of a piano-themed pedestrian mall. "Georgia on My Mind" was adopted as the state song even before Willie made it famouser.
March 13, 2010
spring!The greenhouse had tables of blooming geraniums for sale at the Downtown Art Market. Spring break - balmy weather -- bright blossoms. Can winter really be over?
March 12, 2010
DAM manLarry was hard at work in the bucket truck hanging the new sign for the Downtown Art Market tomorrow. Larry, Tony and friends have created a successful venture at the Tornado Gallery on the corner of 19th Street and Buddy Holly Avenue. Second Saturday of the month finds artists, musicians, chefs, green producers and assorted others selling their wares. Check it out!
March 11, 2010
nephthytis leaf The arrowhead philodendron survives mistreatment including irregular watering, poor soil and harsh backlighting by experimenting photographers.
March 9, 2010
stetsona glimmer of an idea for a photographic project -- watch this space for updates.
My dad always wears hats - felt Stetsons in the winter and straw in the summer. This vintage Stetson was worn by my grandfather, circa 1950s. Stetson has become synonymous with "cowboy hat."
March 8, 2010
victory lifeThis evening's spring storm brought strong winds, dust, rain and a 180-degree rainbow in the eastern sky. Despite appearances, the rainbow did not originate at the Victory Life Church.
March 7, 2010
lakewoodThe Deco-style Lakewood Theater, built in 1938, dominates the Lakewood Shopping Center in east Dallas. The revitalized Lakewood neighborhood sports trendy restaurants, boutiques, and gorgeous houses. Unfortunately, I did not have time to explore but highly recommend Angelo's Spaghetti House.
March 6, 2010
ready to rock at White Rock LakeI had a consulting/training job in Dallas this weekend at the White Rock Lake Pump Station, built 1911. As we were leaving for the day, the evening's festivities were just beginning next door at the Boat House. Too bad I couldn't crash that formal affair with outdoor music.
March 5, 2010
lowriderManuel with Xplosive KustomZ cut down this Blazer for "cool wheels."
Even if I had selected a motor motif for March, I don't think I could have found all the vehicles I have ventured across!
March 4, 2010
bel airEarly 1950s Chevrolet (1950-1954?) discovered on East Ursuline Street. I don't know what it is with vintage vehicles lately. I'm not a car buff but am attracted to the graphics and color.
Educational Note: The City named streets in this part of town after colleges east of the Mississippi; as opposed to the section of town where streets, in alphabetical order, are named after cities east of the Mississippi. Streets on the east side are named for trees. The east-west streets are numbered.
The Ursuline Sisters founded the college in 1871 in Cleveland and it was one of the first colleges for women in the United States.
March 2, 2010
yellow truckThis appears to be about a 1959 4400 Chevrolet truck. In high school I drove a 1959 Chevrolet pickup. My parents never bought me a car but I could drive whatever wasn't being used on the farm. I wasn't proud. The pickup was green with yellow wheels; my dad had wrecked it so the driver's side was crinkled. It had 4-in-the-floor but that just meant first gear was for grannies and pushing over telephone poles. It's one-time max speed was 78 mph down the overpass at the Shallowater road. The radio worked great if you remembered to put a fuse in and you had to check the brake fluid under the driver's side floor mat often. For one who valued transportation, the pickup was great. It made a few circles around the Hi-D-Ho and the Abernathy Dairy Mart.
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