The Bush Center Opens Thursday

The West Side is the entrance to the Bush Institute. The North Side is the entrance to the library.  The tall building to the East and at the south end is the Merrill Lynch building just North of Mockingbird Station  on the East side of Central Expressway.

The landscaping is native Texas wildflowers. To the South there are several acres with winding paths that allow one to walk through the large garden.

From an architectural standpoint, the addition fulfills the general theme of SMU architecture.The red brick and white coping doesn't seem out of place with the construction of several new 5-story dorms across the street.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Bush Institute open this Thursday on the eastern side of the SMU campus. Security was already tight today and the massive stage for the 15,000 guest only who are forecast to be in attendance were being set up.
It is being reported that there will be all five living US Presidents along with former British PM Tony Blair.The security will be tight and with invitation only for the guest, it's going to be difficult at best to even photograph from  Mockingbird.
Hopefully, later on in late Spring, maybe some images of the  large field of Texas Wildflowers will be able to be photographed.

The public will be admitted beginning May 1,2013.
 

It's Getting To Be That Time of Year Again

A White Rock Wedding by Glendine of Dallas

This is one of my favorite images because it is not only a beautiful setting, but because of the planning and the organizing and the great anticipation of love and joy, and happiness that is represented.

Click on the image for details on ordering this image as a print,framed or wrapped canvas.

In the Fullness of Time

Let There Be Peace On Earth and Let It Begin With Me.

During the course of this week,tragedy in two separate events stuck this Nation. At weeks end the ending of two events while both tragic, did come to a resolution of sorts. For Boston, there are still funerals to be held and a trial. For West,Texas, there will be at least 12 more funerals to be held  and lives to be rebuilt. In Boston, the remaining funerals are for Police. In West, the funerals will be for First Responders.

With Earth Day this weekend, I went in search of a symbol of Peace. This is what I found.

The Last to Go for Buckingham

This is immediately behind the former city of Buckingham marker.

Normally the trees marked to be cut is an orange ribbon. Don't know if the pink means the same--however, all the trees are marked with pink so they will probably all go or all remain. Stay tuned for the update.

The thick brush in front of the truck is next to the Walgreen's. To the right goes toward the Kroger store and the gated soccer fields.

The old Texas city of Buckingham was annexed into the city of Richardson more than a few years ago. The area has developed very well. There are a few empty lots left here and there but one large track of 7 acres was spread out between the Walgreen's and the Kroger store and was always interesting to watch red-tailed hawks and a pair of peregrine falcon feed on the pigeons that hang out in the little shopping center around the Kroger store. It also abuts the actual marker that marked the official city of Buckingham before the annexation.

The brush and the trees that were around when the main part of Buckingham existed were always enjoyable for people to walk their dogs and people who liked to watch the animals and birds that existed. Several weeks ago a sign went up that the track was up for sale and it was only a matter of time before the last large track of land with old generation trees existed in the area would go the way that all the other land had meet the same fate at the hands of developers.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a total tree hugger. I understand development. The overall process, when you put the money factor in a separate basket for discussion, actually is what makes a city grow. It is also one of the freedoms we enjoy and  selling land, for what ever reason, is still one of the great freedoms we enjoy in this country. As an urban photographer, it is of interest to me to document what was before no one remembers what was!

There were two surveyors out today marking trees and sticking flags so work will be starting soon. My concern about that is that my shortcut to the pharmacy and the grocery store will be disrupted for about fourteen months, or so.  

Necessary Work

A worker is seen changing out burned out light bulbs on the top level of a high-rise parking garage in the Dallas High 5 area on a sunny spring afternoon. This worker is about 100 feet above were this photographer was positioned.

The Neighbors at the Parade Recovered

Great Group of Good Young People Who Respect Their Elders!

My barricade neighbors that were mentioned during the week long posting of pictures from the Dallas St. Patrick's Parade became a lost image. After a little bit of work the image was able to be recovered and I am pleased to be able to post it now. Thanks guys! And should one of you see the post, please let the others know that it is now up on the blog.

Have a Happy Easter!

The Ground Where Big Tex Stands

Big Tex Float at the St. Patrick's Parade on Greenville Ave.

Friends of the State Fair

Surveyors at work to raise the stand by 6 foot for Big Tex.

Well, everyone has heard by now about the Big Tex fire a few days before the fair closed in the 2012 season. Since then, there has been a lot of talk and work and discussions about the future of Big Tex.  Happily ( it was decided and private money started pouring in to help ) Big Tex will be rebuilt bigger and better. He was a pretty big guy to begin with. The fact of the matter is: he's gonna be bigger if for nothing than the ground he will stand upon.


Opening day of the State Fair this year is September 27th. Big Tex will be there! He is sure to be a big crowd draw throughout the fair this year especially, but I would anticipate the 11 AM opening ceremony this year will have a bigger crowd than normal. I'm thinking it will be, at least.







The surveyors are out already working to raise the stand by 6 feet. This is a spot of respect! Big Tex has been here every year for 60 years and he's coming back for year 61 bigger and better than before.

You can call the Fair Board at Fair Park if you want to make a donation to help fund the reconstruction, I bet.