April 9th. 2005
Turtle Bayou Texas
Just ran across Ric Seaberg’s site
Great Rock and Roll check it out
click on link below
Back here again…… Seem to be repeating patterns in my life. Do like it here and will get to go to VR’s Church in the morning so that makes it just right.
Left Heather in Portales after a short visit with Mr. Jack Carr (her granddad). He’s doing better since the stroke but it’s a long road back. Then headed down back roads toward Houston and the BIG PRINTS.
Traveled small roads for the first time coming this way and am still amazed by how beautiful the country here is. Rolling hills and lush greens fly by at 50 mph. Stopped in Mason, Texas a really great small town, then through Fredericksburg a larger town with many galleries, antique stores and a Starbucks! Would like to spend more time in this area perhaps find a place to stay and work for a while, but that’s down the road fer sure!
Arrived in Houston and set up camp in Joan and Jerry’s back yard. Had a great week of printing and meeting folks. Even got to spend some quality time lying in the grass with Henry. Finally it’s warm! Spent most days barefoot and in a tee shirt, it’s a great time of year to be in Houston. Don’t think I’d like July and August though! Sister Reddie, Bed Gordon Nebraska and Baby are now all 40 x 50 inch prints. They are awesome fer sure! It’s truly amazing to see them so large.
On the way down I noticed the running light were off on the trailer so a stop to investigate was in order. Opened the trailer door to acid electrical smoke and a shorted out battery with burn marks on the wood floor where the wires had been. It was a two hour stop to rewire the battery and electrics and then on the way again. Needless to say I carried the fire extinguisher in the truck with me and stopped all too often until we reached Houston. Upon arriving in Houston a safety check found that the main harness that holds the front axle springs in place has busted. That was a bit scary and a bit of a problem. The trailer is from 1960 who will have the parts? After a serious talk with myself- David Hylton came to mind. David is VR’s son and a very good man with metal. He owns a welding and fabrication shop a few miles east of Houston. Sure enough a phone call to him and he was on his way over. Took measurements and fabricated the parts for me. Even put them on! God Love you David Hilton! So now the trailer is rewired and has a brand new harness. Better check out the brakes tonight…… Perhaps the bus will not be so much more maintenance?
Henry and I had a good walk along the bayou before I got set up and did some “small” 4×5 palladium prints this afternoon. A much needed reality check after working all week on the big images. There is something calming about working small. And working in the Palladium Medium as apposed to the computer realm. Painting on the emulsion, the handwork, it all goes into the final image and the interface with the materials as apposed to the computer suits me. But the big prints are quite impressive and give a whole new dimension to the work, which I truly like.
David Hylton hard at work
Santa Fe Skies
More Santa Fe Skies
Downtown Mason Texas
House Mason Texas
House Mason Texas
House Mason Texas
Just outside Mason Texas
