in honor of our veterans

VFW members and Boy Scouts across America adorned county courthouses with U. S. flags in honor of our nation's veterans.

Colfax County Courthouse
Raton, New Mexico

the golden rule

In 1911 Italian immigrant Tony Marchiondo came to Raton to work in the coke mines. In 1913 his wife Anna and baby daughter arrived and they established "The Golden Rule and New York Stores" which began the largest mercantile in the area. Tony and Anna reared 3 daughters and 7 sons. During World War II all 7 sons served in the military. In 1986 the remaining family members closed the store -- just locked the doors and walked away, leaving counter and merchandise inside. Today, a glimpse through the dusty windows is a glance back in time.

Marchiondo's Store
First Street

Raton, New Mexico

cold beer, new mexico

If the 41 mile journey along US 64 from Raton to Cimarron is too long, stop at Cold Beer, New Mexico for refreshments. You can't miss it -- it's about the only building you'll see between the two towns!

Cold Beer, New Mexico
US 64 (24 miles from Raton)

deerly departed

St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
Raton, New Mexico

luxury motel

We are on the annual trek to Raton, New Mexico and the NRA Whittington Center for the benchrest competition. Fellow shooters stay at the Budget Host Motel so we do too. The Budget Host, also known as the Melody Lane Motel, boasts 27 modern rooms with air conditioning, mini-refrigerator, hair dryers, free wi-fi (believe it or not!) and the piece de resistance -- Thermasol steam bath in the shower! Too bad there's not a vibrating bed with a quarter slot. . . .

ARFF

From the Archives:

An advantage of working for the Fire Department was the ability to observe and photograph the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Academy hosted by the Lubbock Fire Department on the Lubbock International Airport grounds. At the live-fire, state of the art training facility. a full-size steel hulk of a plane is ignited with gas flames for the firefighters to practice extinguishing. LFD holds ARFF classes to meet FAA requirement and firefighters from many states attend. Wonder what passengers flying into Lubbock think if they happen to arrive during a training session. The pillars of black smoke are visible for miles.

have a chair

The tables and chairs in the Courtyard at the Buddy Holly Center await foot-tapping, beer-drinking music-lovers who will show up for the weekly SummerFest concerts.

Buddy Holly Center
19th and Crickets Avenue
Lubbock, Texas

my first easter dress

For Lillie's shoot today we used a variety of props from a watermelon to a rocking chair to a gerber daisy. We photographed her in the heirloom watermelon dress and her Easter outfit.

(note to self: don't let the baby eat the prop)

yellow stripes: no passing zone

Somewhere east of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in the commercial acreage -- site of World War II South Plains Army Airfield (glider training school)

man's best friend

Bentley, this week's houseguest

photo shoot

Mama wants pictures; daughter is very photogenic.

horse sale

Fort Worth Stockyards
Fort Worth, Texas

4.16.2011

MAY 18, 2011

longhorns

From the archives:
Fort Worth Stockyards

1.12.09

lou's

If two makes a series, then here's the second in "beer joints. " This one is dedicated to my friend Lou which whom I've downed a few Coors Lights. This image made a great birthday card.

From the archives:

Lou's Bar somewhere in Big Spring, Texas

circa 2006

cool place

A "cool place" to hang out in Midland, Texas is the Cats Bar -- although the only air conditioning may be the swamp cooler. I can't attest to the clientele having only visited the exterior on a Sunday morning, but it is located on the east side of the tracks.

From the archives:
09.20.2009

sign of respect

The city honored native son Mac Davis by renaming 6th Street for him. I guess they're still bent out of shape over "Lubbock in My Rearview Mirror."

sandy riverbottom in seymour

The Brazos River is usually sluggish and brown as it flows southward through Seymour, Texas. The drought has reduced the Brazos to scant stream wending it ways past sand dunes. It's hard to image the Brazos at Seymour at a12-foot foot flood stage much least its historic crest level of 23-feet in 1955 (according to the National Weather Service). This image was shot from the "old" bridge on 277. The new Highway 277 with its four-lane bridge completely bypasses Seymour and travelers from Wichita Falls to Abilene now fly by without stopping at the Rock Inn.

handmade boots

Leddy's has set the standard in handmade boots since 1922.

Stockyard District

Fort Worth, Texas

4.16.2011

MAY 12, 2011

queen anne's lace

An entire field of queen anne's lace in Haltom City, Texas. Also know as wild carrot and classified by USDA as a noxious weed.

(PS Blogspot was down last 24 hours or so)

yellow door

Art District

Charles Adams Gallery

Avenue J and Mac Davis Lane

Lubbock, Texas

plaza and poles

Finally, after a long wait, the ribbon-cutting at the Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza occurred yesterday with the unveiling of the relocated and refurbished statue. Maria even graced Lubbock with her presence. Today's letters to the editor noted that although the plaques from the West Texas Musicians Hall of Fame were shined up, they were affixed to the wall in random, not chronological, order. From a photographic viewpoint, the area is not especially photogenic. The photographer would almost have to recline at Buddy's feet and shoot up his nostrils to avoid background clutter. I miss being able to see the neon-lit Cactus Theater after exiting the interstate onto 19th Street.

Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza

19th Street and Crickets Avenue

Lubbock, Texas

prickly pear 1

prickly pear 2

magnolia bud

The young magnolia trees outside my doctor's office caught my eye. While considered the typical Southern tree, magnolias are found throughout the United States. They are claimed by both Mississippi and Louisiana as the state tree.

may frost-bit magnolia

The unseasonable May frost caught this magnolia bloom, like many others, unaware
.

stigmas and stamens

The magnolia bloom, unlike standard blossoms, has a multitude of stamens and pistils. These curled stigmas darken with age and the scarlet band is stamen scars. The magnolia will bear an aggregate fruit, like a blackberry, but the red seeds are dry, not lush.

I'm flunking the "photo a day" project and will not catch up on entries but will strive to continue to post images -- hopefully daily "if the creek don't rise and the galloping respiratory crud doesn't return."

yucca

yucca on yucca lane

Wonder which came first -- the address or the landscape?