Usually I'M the pedestrian

This seemed appropriate today, since we had to wait for a pedestrian on this very street this morning! He was carrying a HUGE coffee mug, prompting my husband to remark that it must only be his second cup-- because he was moving so slowly.

Tree's Knees

There is a proper name for these roots that stick up out of the water and look like knees, but I have forgotten what it is.

Where are the birds?

A very bright birdhouse stands out in the tree.

A prettier day

No wind, no flying dust... taken the day before the dust storm.

Dust Storm

My husband said that blowing dirt should have been my theme photo this month, but dust storms do not come for the asking. Today, wanted or not, we have high wind and with that, blowing dirt and debris. This photo is of the courtyard of our apartment complex; not taken in sepia, not a scene from The Wizard of Oz, just part of life here in Lubbock. More pics of the dusty outdoors can be seen here.

Take care of Earth

Recycling bins lined up outside a supermarket.

Playtime over

When the dog finished playing, he left his ball behind!

Have a Seat

Still trying to get more colour into my life... so this is a cheery little bench in front of a primary school.

Refreshment stand/equipment storage/who knows what else is in this little building next to a kids' baseball diamond. Children have already started practising for the spring season, though as far as I know none of the local leagues are playing yet.

Water Tower

In my hometown, it was tradition for some of the graduationg seniors to try to climb the city water tower just before graduation every year. I really hope they are not still doing that, because it is quite dangerous! This one is also near a high school, probably tempting teens to try it out.

Where are you going?

A Lubbock bus. (The "Safe Place" logo mentioned yesterday is on the lower right side of the door.)

Keep Children Safe

I do not know if the "Safe Place" programme exists in other countries, but it is a nationwide programme in the US. I think it was launched when I was in primary school, although it is possible that it was around before that and I never noticed. The idea of the programme is to provide places for children who are scared (being followed by strangers, bullied by other children, or other unpleasant scenarios) to be safe while their parents can be contacted, or the police, or whoever is necessary to keep the child from harm. This particular sign is on the library seen previously, but they can also be found on schools, stores, and in Lubbock, on all the city buses.

This way please

Since my "annoying thing" at the beginning of the month was the non-cycle-friendliness of Lubbock, today I'm celebrating the cycle routes that do exist. This particular cycle path goes very near my house.

Not Nessie

This friendly dragon is painted on the ground in a playground.

Another snowy day today.

A wider shot of the "Lego" building from a few days ago.

In case you need a lift..

About half the bus stop signs in town are decorated as this one is, in the colour scheme of the local university, and the other half are in the bus company's own colour scheme, which is blue and green.

Flying away

I love birds! I have no idea why gulls come to Lubbock, as we are thousands of miles from the ocean, but here they are. This one was not too happy that I wanted his picture.

Quite a gaggle of geese (and some ducks and gulls thrown in for good measure) flagrantly disobeying City Ordinance 6941.

Taking a Rest

I've been trying to take pictures of colourful things, because all the grey trees and dead grass are starting to get to me, but today I decided to go back to grey with these birds in a tree.

Fortunately, NOT on an emergency call!

An ambulance decorated to co-ordinate with the Children's Hospital.

Legos, anyone?

This is part of one of the hospitals. This particular section holds a lot of offices, plus some doctors' space and a cancer centre around the other side.

I don't know what you would call these properly, but they spin round in the wind and are meant to be decorative. They are in the playa lake in the park near my work.

A neon "Open" sign is nothing exciting in and of itself, but I think it is unusual to see one on a library!

We had a beautiful day yesterday-- a brilliantly blue sky, lots of sunshine, temperatures in the 50s. A perfect day to take a picture of the steeple on this church near our house.

The primary school near my office, which I drive (or cycle) past each day. Every school in town currently has a message of appreciation for the school board; I do not know why.

Icicle or Stalagmite?

I found this icicle frozen to the step in an upright position when I got home-- and another one on the step below it! My best guess is that when it fell off the eaves above, it landed upright in the snow, and then the snow melted and re-froze-- leaving a frozen icicle standing on the step by itself.

Thing that annoys me most...

The first of every month is a theme day for Daily Photo blogs, and official or not, I decided to participate! Lubbock's attitude toward cyclists annoys me-- it is not a cycle-friendly city! The cycle paths that exist do not go anywhere you might actually want to go, plus there are not nearly enough of them. I've actually been shouted at by motorists for not being on a cycle path-- well, how could I when there isn't one that goes to the store?