Claude, Texas

Half an hour southeast of Amarillo is the town of Claude (population, 1313). It is famous for 2 things...

1. having one of the last remaining fully operational 'Soda Fountains' in the region,

2. Being the location for a number of films including "Hud", staring Paul Newman. His boots are collecting dust on a shelf in the Pharmacy.

"The Man with the barbed Wire Soul...HUD!" (1963).

Traders of the Lost Arts

Ross and Co. leather crafts in Amarillo is the place for handmade boots and repairs.

Ricky Cates, distinguished craftsman, showed me around.

There are very few skilled leather craftsmen around these days.




They make boots of all shapes and sizes (well, generally the same shape i suppose!) - high tops, low tops, ropers, riders. Calf or bull leather is most common but other popular leather choices are kangaroo, ostrich, elephant, shark and top of the range - alligator.








Handmade 'off the peg' or custom made to specification.

The boots to the left are father and son. Cowboys and ranchers often have their Brand on their boots. Here L/ is the father and L// is the son.


Available in any colour.








Owner Charles Ross is 4th generation Texan and continues the family bootmaking tradition. The familly business was established in 1919. The picture he holds shows the founder family members.

Lauren Ross, aged 10, is already showing an interst in the business and puts together her own boot designs.

These Boots Were Made For......

...Walking, Working, Riding, Dancing......Whatever - they needed Fixing!!


Ricky Cates at Ross and Co. did the job.

Removed old soles and heels...





Sanded,trimmed, scratched, glued and nailed...

...stitched and waxed...









...and good as new!

Say... "Chihuly" !!

Kolbi...
Sam...

• 
  
  
  
  Tyler...
  
  
  Me...
  
  
  
  Background by Chihuly.

Chihuly @ Oklahoma City Museum of Art

The worlds most comprehensive collection of Chihuly pieces.

Waterford Crystal chandalier (and reflection)






















Sculptor Dale Chihuly has work all over the world, both as site specific instalations and moveable pieces.
Originally from Tacoma,WA, he has worked prolifically since the 1960's.

During the 70's he spent time in England where a car accident caused him to lose an eye, leading to him wearing his trademark eye-patch.

I wonder if he ever made himself a glass-eye?!

http://www.chihuly.com/

The 'Sooner State' capital - Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City sprung up overnight - literally.

In 1889 it was a railroad stop with a population of 7 people.
When the Government announced they would be giving land in the Indian Territories away on a first come first served basis, the ensuing stampede of human traffic is what became refered to as the Land Rush, or Land Run.
The first Oklahoma Land Run took place at High Noon on April 22nd 1889. By then, the towns population had swelled from the original 7 to a tent city of over 10,000.
People who managed to stake a claim before the start of the land run became known as 'Boomers', and those who set out early on the official start date became known as 'Sooners' (originally a derogatory term meaning 'a cheat', it has since lost its negetive connotations).

Oklahoma didnt become a State of the Union until 1907 - its celebrating its centennial this year.

Murrah Memorial - site of the Oklahoma Bombing

At 9:01 am on April 19th 1995, Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Nicholls, detonated a bomb that blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

By 9:03 that morning it was over, but it led to the eventual loss of 168 lives.






The Memorial stands on the site of the bombing.

168 empty chairs...


....and a wall of rememberance.

ROUTE 66 ROLLER DERBY

Founded in November 2006, Amarillo's rollergirls are headed for the roller derby league ...

Roller derby has been around since the 1940's. It is an American contact sport, and historically a form of sports entertainment based on formation roller skating around a track.

Two teams of 5 girls each use blocks and pushes to prevent a specific member of the oppposing team (the 'Jammer') from coming through the pack and to help their own Jammer make it and score points.

The sport is rough and the girls are definately tough.

The Amarillo squad has 3 teams to date - " The Deadly Dames", "The Piston Pin-Ups", "The Bonzai Brawlers"...

...Rollergirls have skating names to reflect the attiude of the sport - 'Dropkick MAULy','Kera Scene', 'ScarStruck','Kimvoluntary Manslaughter','Terror-Aki'... to name but a few.

Catch 'em if you can!

http://www.myspace.com/route66rollerderby

The Elusive Rattler

Safely behind glass at the Big texan

Did you know...?

... Baby rattlesnakes dont have rattles :-)

Get Your Kids On Route 66

Call them crazy, but British friends, The Browns, decided to do Route 66 start to finish with 3 kids - all under the age of 7!

Mike and Katy with Jake (6), Freddie (4), and Millie (20 months)



The Beer Boots at the Big Texan were exactly Millies size...








The Browns have stuck to the Historic Route 66 all the way so far. the kids have loved it, and by the time they reach California they will have been on the road 3 1/2 weeks.

Highlights so far were St.louis, the Cowboy Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, and the Route 66 museum at Clinton, Okl., and of course Amarillo!

Vietnam Memorial - New Mexico

The Memorial was established shortly after the end of the Vietnam war. Originally, it was a small, informal site but over the years became a more substantial one as the country became increasingly aware of the plight of war veterans.

It now hosts a large collection of photographic and film archives as well as testimonies to soldiers who fought in Vietnam.










Flags at half mast in memory of Ladybird Johnson who passed away this week.

She was the First lady to President Johnson who fell from office during the Vietnam war, to be replaced by president Nixon.

The Land of Enchantment.

A girly weekend in the mountains of New Mexico - the 'Enchanted Circle'.
Paula, myself, Karen, Tyler and Caryl enjoying some 'liquid refreshment' at a saloon bar on the 5 hour trip from Amarillo...

... and humming birds enjoying theirs!










After the flat plains of the Panhandle, a dramatic change to the landscape.









Karens Mountain Cabin Retreat near Red River...

Complete with hot-tub.

thank you Karen xxx

Summer in the canyon

Prettier than ive ever seen it. Red, blue and green... still my favourite place.

Bugs and Beasties

early morning in Palo doro canyon brought out the locals..
Tarantula
Horny toad








Lizard


I've yet to meet the elusive rattler!