T for Texas

A Few Moments from my time in TX

Sunset on the City of Abilene, TX

Momo and her faithful companion, Boots

My Grandmother, Momo, adjusting Boots 

New Glasses

Before I left MS, Portrait of Myself and Mother and Kabuki

for some moments from my time spent with Micah and Patty check out their blog micahandpatty.com

A Blairy Good Easter

 Grannie's Anticipated Bunny Cake

I was in charge of Egg Dyeing

The Family All Gathered

Someone rocked somebody to sleep

The Easter Cross at Our Church on Sunday Morning

The South

Southern Textures

The South: What is this place? What's different about it? Is it different anymore? Good questions. Old ones, too. People have been asking them for decades. Some of us even make our living by asking them, but we still don't agree about the answers.

John Shelton Reed

Since I've Been Gone...

A few of my favorite shots from the young year...

I choose what's behind door number 5.

Misty Morning

Learning to Dunk

Through The Boxcar

Mama and Kabuki

Wasted Opportunity

"He Built a Monument of Love on the Hearts of All who Knew Him."

Bridge To Decatur

A Change of Perspective

From Grannie's Photo Albums

Chilling in California (Look at that Sweet Banana Seat Bike)

Two different Halloweens (Scarecrow & Davy Crockett)

Beach Time with the Grandparents is Always Fun!!

It is always nice to reminisce a little!

Hiking Hijinks!

While hiking in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near the Green Mountain Summit, my right sole separated from my boot.  So my brother and I stopped to tape it up. After we taped up the right boot and tied it with a cord, my brother noticed my left sole was now coming apart.  Having used almost all of our duct tape, we only had a cord and a strip of tape remaining. So my boots which I've used over the past 10 years essentially became flip flops. Hiking back the six or so miles we'd already hiked in proved to be a challenge in duct taped feet.

While this has been my first boot mishap, I've been known to have an ankle problems involving duct tape and power bars.  So, no matter when/where I hike. I must load up on the duct tape, and be ready to stomp through the wilderness with silver booties.

Rocking the Rockies!

Here are a few photos from our travels:

2 monkeys for the price of 1 - Some fun at a stop along the way

Crystal Mill est. 1892, still stands despite the conditions, was used to pump compressed air into surrounding mines

An elk ranch proved to be a momentous stop making me think I was in Texas or Mississippi but not Colorado.

A Creek out from Crater Lake

An Elk from the elk ranch

"Big Red Lens" about 10 feet in diameter was on display at Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is about twice the height of the Empire State Building and is one of our newest National Parks

This was 10 hours into a 18 hour drive to Fayetteville, AR.

"The Bubble" a beautiful sculpture at the Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, AR.

The Lost Lake, formerly a lake very few knew how to reach, is now quite accessible to those up for a hike. 

A Howling We Will Go!

Generally speaking, a howling wilderness 

does not howl; it is the imagination of the 

traveler that does the howling.

Henry David Thoreau

My family will soon embark on our vacation this year traveling to the woods and wilderness of Colorado. Looking forward the time in nature and time to see great beauty!

500 Miles (think running/walking not country song)

A recent accomplishment... pushing forward to 1000!

Rain, Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain

Finally! Rain never is appreciated until it hasn't happened for about a month.

Can you spot the Ninja Turtle or Muppet?

Saw this painting awhile back and couldn't get over the hidden gems in it.  Enjoy!

Red Hot... Seconds Please!

If you are coming through Meridian, on I-20 and looking for a place to stop... The best only one wall still standing diner/truck stop is Red Hot. For those not fully paying attention, this is a defunct eatery, but what a great old sign.

Independence Drought

O dead grass of extreme heat... Liberty to thee!

On Recommendation

Take a break and have some fun....

http://www.drawastickman.com

There and Back Again... Let's Give it another Go

One of my favorite sunsets of this year.... It's been awhile but the blog should be back at some sort of capacity mostly for Micah :)!

Jigga G's Top NINE Albums of 2009

The Top 9 no one else has heard of:

The post none of you have been waiting for.... and probably won't read (but you might be on it)

9. The XX- The XX-

Honest, Genuine, Feel Good Music

8.

Speech Debelle- Speech Therapy-

2009 Mercury Prize Winner for good reason- great flow-great insight to life on the street

7. Dark Was the Night Compilation-

INCREDIBLE Collection of MUSIC!!!! Turn on and Plan to Chill for HOURS!!! Highlight includes: Bon Iver, The National,

Conor Oberst + Gillian Welch Duet, & as always SUFJAN!!!

6. (Tie) Sara Watkins-Sara Watkins

&

Song Up In Her Head-Sarah Jarosz

- How could I choose btwn the two Sara(h)s? My first love Sara Watkins has an incredible, well thought out polished album, but Sarah Jarosz just has a little more intimate feel. So they tie... so Sue ME! :)

5. The Bright Mississippi- Allen Troussaint

Could Jazz get ANY BETTER? Plus it has my home state in the title added bonus.... Artist remember that when naming your album...

4. The BQE- Sufjan Stevens

Yes I know it is mostly instrumental, Yes I know it is about the synergy of an Expressway and a Hula-Hoop. YES IT DESERVES THIS SPOT!!!

3. (Tie) Younder is the Clock- The Felice Bros & I and Love and You- The Avett Bros.

Once again, 2009 proved to be a good year for brother bands... if only I

could talk my brother into it.... just think The Blair Bros. (nice ring right) any who... The Boys from the Catskills and the Boys from the Carolina Hills both put out excellent albums the Catters a little more free flowing w/energy & the Tar Heels surprisingly more polished but still powerful

2. (Tie) Mean Everything to Nothing-Manchester Orchestra

& Troubadour-K'naan

Two albums seemingly unrelated except in their sheer emotive output... ManO was the album I listened to the most this year especially: I've Got Friends; while K'naan has put out (beside Lupe Fiasco) the best Hip Hop Debut in 20 years (forget Kayne)

1. (Tie) Daisy-Brand New & Wooden Arms-Patrick Watson

Two Bands my old roommate from college told me about years ago have finally come to full fruition with these two albums that ARE THE CREAM OF THE CROP... don't believe me LISTEN!!!