1885 Windows, Austin

Austin, Texas ~ February 5, 2011

I like the contrast between old and newer. This is another drive-by. There were a number of buildings on the street that I liked even better, but they are clearly taken on the move, so I will save them for a series. 

This building is dated 1885, one year before my ancestors and their associates founded Corona, California, where I grew up. It's interesting for me to have a touchstone for the world in which they lived at that time. They did not come from Texas, but from St. Louis and Sioux City, with ties and business connections in Boston and New York. I'm writing a book about their bringing their skills, money, and cultural preferences to the untamed wilds of Southern California.

My Web Page: tapirback.com

A Horse, of Course

Houston, Texas ~ February 7, 2011

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

It's always nice to run into a friendly equine.

Come visit my home page at tapirback.com

Big Heads

Houston, Texas ~ February 4, 2011

There's a factory here that specializes in big heads and occasionally whole bodies. The bewhiskered guy between Reagan and Obama is Martin Van Buren. The ones we saw were mostly U.S. Presidents, but some were not Presidents. The one on the left looks to me like Rock Hudson. Any ideas?

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Almost Ominous

Dallas/Fort Worth ~ February 7, 2011

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Texas Medical Center from Houston Zoo

Houston, Texas ~ February 6, 2011

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The Beer Can House, Houston

Houston, Texas ~ February 3, 2011

The Beer Can House, 222 Malone Street, Houston, Texas

Barbara took us around to see some of the unique sights of Houston. I had no idea we'd find such bizarre and amusing sights. If you have ever been to Houston and found it uninteresting, or if you've been told that it's boring with nothing to see, I guess you just need a good tour guide. By the way, the downtown area of the city itself is beautiful with fun things to do. The outskirts (miles of them) are just about like any other big city in the U.S.A. If we had seen only that, we might as well have gone to L.A., which is closer. Stay tuned for more pix of surprising Houston.

Detail of the construction. . . . Although many whole beer cans are used in the house, the "fringes" seem to be made of cut cans. You can read more about it on the official Beer Can House web site.

Who would do something like this, you ask? Check it out at http://www.beercanhouse.org/.

For more Houston, check out Houston Daily Photo.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

All Quiet before the Tornado Warning

Dallas, Texas ~ April 13, 2007

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

See more Weekend Reflections from around the world.

And check out a closer image of the bird mosaic on this post.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wading Bird Mosaic

Dallas, Texas ~ April 13, 2007

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Reticulate Collared Lizard on a U.S. Postage Stamp

Reticulate Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus)
Texas and Mexico
U.S. Postage Stamp ~ 2003

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.