Windows ~ No. 3

Masonic Building

Flagstaff, Arizona

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever ...

... in Arizona.  From the mountainside of Jerome, across the Verde Valley, through the red rocks of Sedona, the aspen and pine-studded forests of Flagstaff to the San Francisco Peaks (can you see them on the horizon in the upper left?).  I think such a dramatic view would outweigh having to occasionally look at that sand and gravel pit in the valley!  Tip for nonlocals:  This 200-mile geological escarpment across the state of Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim, and the proper pronunciation is muggy-YON.

Aunt Ruth's Barn

Aunt Ruth died a number of years ago.  Her barn quickly followed her in death.

Streetscape ~ Jerome, Arizona

Driving past the Surgeon's House

Streetscape ~ Logansport, Louisiana

Several of you commented on the previous post about Logansport being a ghost town or at least dying.  Yes, many of America's small towns are dying as jobs no longer support families and the rural villages give way to urban sprawl.  But how can any town who exhibits a rodeo cowboy suspended by wires on the main drag or who has a beautiful rusty old truss bridge that the train still crosses four times a day (at least!) across a wide, magnificent river that marks the boundary between two states be called a ghost town?  Maybe tomorrow, but not today!

Frozen in Time

Logansport, Louisiana, Storefront

Country Cottage

Dogtrot House

Arcadia Community

Shelby County, Texas

Ballerina with Tutu

The Door to Nowhere?

Jerome, Arizona

The town of Jerome is constructed on terraces that stair-step up the side of a mountain.  It was actually a mining ghost town until a few years ago when it was first repopulated by a motorcycle gang, then a group of flower children, then a clan of artists, all of which helped it return to its previous splendor and is now a wonderfully historic artsy-craftsy type of place that is fun to visit.  I spotted this doorway cut into the stucco on one of the walls that holds up the terrace system.  There didn't seem to be anywhere to go even if you had nerve enough to walk through the door.  It was a little spooky and if there was a corridor to the left and the right I didn't have the gutsiness to even peek down that way.  It seemed to be a doorway simply cut into the wall with another piece of rock behind it, a door to nowhere.

Sunrise with Fog and Dewdrops (and a Birdhouse Too)

SOOC

Red Barn

There are few wooden barns in this region.  Metal pole barns have taken their place.  There are even fewer red wooden barns in this area.  This one could use a new coat of paint but it appears to still be a working barn.  Somebody left the hayloft door open!  My grandfather had a barn with a hayloft.  It always smelled good up there.  There was also a corn crib in the loft.  It was great fun to climb the ladder up into the loft and run the dried ears of corn through the corn sheller and then feed it to the chickens or the hogs or the cattle.  Everybody likes corn, right?

Arizona Monsoon

Photographed near Phoenix

July 2011

Notes re yesterday's post:

Birdman:  Yes, that bridge is still in use.  My goal is to find out what time the train comes through and be there to take a picture of it!  This is only about 20 miles from my home so it's a quick trip over.

Magpie:  Yes, that is rust, and yes, it makes my heart go pitty-pat.

Railroad Truss Bridge ~ Logansport, Louisiana

Sabine River

Texas/Louisiana Border

The Barn Just Over the Hill