April 30

On a cool and misty morning - my last one in Minneapolis - I spotted this statue outside of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 29

The Forshay Tower, once the tallest building in Minneapolis, reflected in another building.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 28

The ceiling inside the Minneapolis convention center.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 27

I am not sure exactly what this building is, but something tells me it might have something to do with Target. Maybe.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 26

Interior stairwells at the main branch of the Minneapolis library. It was a gray day, yet the building still seemed flooded with natural light.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 25

The Minneapolis waterfront has remnants of flour mills - some are ruins, some are loft apartments, and one of them is a museum. Without even trying very hard, you can spend a morning looking around. And, you can even walk all the way across the Mississippi River on the old stone bridge.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 24

What a find: a Penzeys spice store! It was way better than a perfume counter: we could smell vanilla, smoked paprika, various kinds of peppercorns, and - of course - vindaloo seasoning.

Also, thanks to the owner and staff at Citizen Cafe for their excellent advice on what to see in Minneapolis and for a delicious lunch. Stop by if you are in the area - 2403 East 38th Street - and tell Michael, the chef and owner, that we said hello.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 23

Some afternoon, if you've run out of things to do, here's something fun: go to any art supply store (a REAL art supply store, I mean, and not somewhere like Michael's) and check out the artists' brushes.

Varsity Bookstore
Lubbock, Texas

April 22

A giant cupcake hovering over a vintage Airstream trailer can mean only one thing:

Must. Have. Chocolate.

Hey Cupcake
Austin, Texas

April 21

Signs of spring: a robin, some daffodils, an apricot tree in bloom, the first sprigs of Bermuda grass?

Nope. The One True Sign is this: mesquite trees starting to (finally) leaf out.

Yellowhouse Canyon, Texas

April 20

Ah... the famous 34th Street landmark: the Burrito Tower! In the late-afternoon sun, the orange paint on the concrete block walls gives off an enticing glow. Maybe I should stop in tomorrow for breakfast!

Lubbock, Texas

April 19

Don't report me to PETA: I am only reporting what I saw.

Lubbock County, Texas

April 18

This large pile of discarded metal things looms over the freeway access road. The pile never seems to change volume, though there seems to be some change in the specific items at the top.

(I have been accused of being too negative about the state of downtown Lubbock, so in deference to this criticism, I will refrain from noting that this pile-o-crap also looms over the central business district. So there.)

Lubbock, Texas

April 17

For some reason, I always want to roller skate along the top of this curvy roof.

Lubbock, Texas

April 16

I really like this loading dock, on Ave. F, facing the railroad. There are layers of paint on the bricks, overspray from something round.

I drive by here nearly everyday and never see anyone painting, so I suppose it's done by the famous Stealth Painters of Lubbock.

Lubbock, Texas

April 15

Well, we know that whatever it is, it is to our left.

Buddy Holly Avenue
Lubbock, Texas

April 14

The grocery store has this nice outdoor area with shade and tables. And - this time of year - tumblweeds and trash that arrive almost daily.

Lubbock, Texas

April 13

Hey, if you need one of these, let me know. I know where you can find it.

Lubbock, Texas

April 12

What's left of the church, on the edge of what's left of the town.

Easter Sunday
Taiban, New Mexico

April 11

Bruce Cockburn's guitars.

KiMo Theater
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The cemetery surrounding the Rose of Lima Chapel has weathered the years much better than the church, which has no windows, no door, and no roof. Cactus and saplings are growing in what used to be the sanctuary.

This shot is taken looking straight up one of the window frames. The header is wired into the rock walls; the ends of the wires are visible in the photo.

A marker at the cemetery gate says the chapel was in use from the early 1800s until 1907.

Rose of Lima Chapel
Santa Rosa, New Mexico

April 9

I am fond of the way the first and last numerals look like they really belong on some other address.

Lubbock, Texas

April 8

Stein's is closed: much sadness has ensued.

Lubbock, Texas

April 7

The wind edited this sign to make an Important Announcement!

Lubbock, Texas

April 6

This pitchers are awful. They are chartreuse, for one thing. And they are ugly for another.

But on the other hand, it is just such awfulness that makes them fabulous!

Lubbock, Texas

April 5

About this time last year, on a day with winds of 50 mph, I came home from work to see this limb of the desert willow split so badly that I didn't think it was salvageable.

But look: one year and some wire tourniquets, and the tree survives.

Lubbock, Texas

April 4

The corner of a beautiful blown-glass bowl on my dining room table. Nathan and Kacee gave us the bowl for Christmas - he found it at the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth.

Lubbock, Texas

April 3

The back of the reading lamp by the bed. I've heard that there are people who DON'T read in bed, but I just can't believe it!

Lubbock, Texas

April 2

This amazing cookbook was published in 1955 by the Carnation Company. Every single recipe includes carnation evaporated milk. Salad dressing. Fruit salad. Meat loaf.

This is the best information: "You can put double-rich Carnation in the cream pitcher and use it over cereal or fruit. Daddy will like Carnation for his coffee."

Don't be scared to come over for dinner: I rarely use any of the recipes....

Lubbock, Texas

April 1

For a while*, I was the proud owner of the largest collection of Pack Poodles on all of 92nd Street. Those were such happy times....

* January 13, 1996, through approximately March 11, 1999

Lubbock, Texas