April 2007

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Stampede! (Little Joe the Wrangler)

Stampede by Tom Lea, mural at Odessa Main Post Office

Driving home after a long day, I decided to stop at the Post Office to see if I could sneak a photo of this local treasure for today's Photo A Day. It's interesting that not only do these PADs work out as a sort of scrapbook of my life, but frequently, like today, they also provide a good way to unwind.

Here's some close up pictures and the text from a Historical Marker there:
Rendered by El Paso artist Tom Lea (born 1907), the painting was commissioned by a Depression era program which placed murals in federal buildings. Chosen in national competition, Lea created the study of Texas Longhorns for Odessa's 1940 Post Office Building. Moved in 1970, the linen-backed mural weighs 700 lbs and measures 16'9" by 5'7".

Over a 70-year career Lea executed other murals and many paintings. He worked as a correspondent during WW II for Life magazine. A noted illustrator, he authored and collaborated on numerous books.






The artist was partly inspired for his theme by the old ballad, "Little Joe the Wrangler." To capture the energy and action of the legendary cattle, Lea camped among herds on the range. With a flash of lightning in the background, the herd of longhorns thunders across the canvas and one of the wranglers, caught in the maelstrom, is being thrown from his horse.

Rainy Sunday

Composition in the birdbath.

Rainy Sunday: I don't mind. Not one bit. And the best part is that I put all the rose cuttings from yesterday in the ground, so this rain couldn't come at a better time.

Snow White loves tomatoes

Did you know that Snow White loves tomatoes? She had her choice to dig into a big package of strawberries, or a big package of tomatoes while her mom and I rustled rose cuttings. Katlynn chose the tomatoes because that's what she loves best.

Bluebird Cafe

Pretty much everyone eats at the Bluebird Cafe. It's one of the few, maybe five, restaurants we have here Out West, and does a steady business from 5 a.m to 9 p.m.

"Meatloaf, mash potatoes, corn & green beans or pinto beans, soup or salad, & desert." This is not haute cuisine.

J & G Feed & Supply

Another neighbor is the J & G feed store at the corner of my street. A sweet young couple, Cody and his wife, bought the business a few months back. Everyone around here loves them and it is a pleasure to buy our feed and also to visit with them. (I buy just dog food. Jorge buys his dog food and chicken feed. And Antigone buys dog food, hay, and horse feed.) We wish them all the best success with their business.

I also featured Cody and his beautiful horse Shawnee on a previous blog post, Old Blue Eyes.

Whachu want?

I had my granddaughter Katlynn over for the evening. She made messy mud pies. Her favorite thing to play is, "Whachu want? Hamburger? Taco?"

Unusual neighbors

Yes, zebras are neighbors of mine.

Around my home, it's common for me to hear horses, donkeys, turkeys, chickens, and goats. But uncommonly, I also sometimes hear a lion roar in the morning and the evening, at feeding times. The lion lives with zebras and other exotics, like wallabies and various antelopes, about a mile down the road from me, at the Pradon's place.

When I first moved out here nine years ago, I thought they were one of those places that raise exotic animals to stock hunting leases. But, through the grapevine and by observation (no animals mysteriously disappear) they seem to be merely animal lovers. It's not a zoo, although they do have a well-worn vehicle path around the fence line where lots of people have taken a mini-tour. Still, I'm not sure what their story is. Recently, they added a sign at the entrance, "Official USDA Research Center."

Sorry that there is no picture of the lion. The lion is on the interior and not visible. Only audible.