Memorial Day ~ honoring our fallen

This important holiday was previously known as Decoration Day when it was customary to pay homage to war dead by decorating their graves. Shown here today is a powerful mural on the north side of Miller's Surplus on Craycroft. (They modestly call themselves the "World's Greatest Store".)

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Tucson's Ax-less Giant ~

This 18-foot Paul Bunyon statue guards the corner of Glenn & Stone. I had to laugh at the tiny little fence surrounding him - is this his holding pen? I know, I know, it's to protect his kneecaps from cars in the parking lot. Currently he is without his ax - stolen, no doubt by some boozed up UA frat boys. Maybe they tried to sell it on ebay... Here's a great story about it:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/rynski/2009/11/23/tucsons-paul-bunyan-has-ax-stolen/

Perfect day for a gunfight ~

Tucson's famous Trail Dust Town is a charming & fun tourist area that offers a stroll back in time to a town in the Old West that has wooden sidewalks, hitching posts, and gunfights!
http://www.traildusttown.com/

All that's missing is a cow skull ~

When I saw this bit of old barbed wire fencing and this rough fence post I had to share the image. This embodies the spirit of the Old West and I think it's cool that this parcel of land is just a wee bit off of Interstate 10 - not some remote area as you might think at first glance.

Arizona's mining industry ~ strange beauty

I'm not sure I have the right term but I think this mountain of dirt is referred to as "waste rock" in the mining industry. This "Mount Dirt" is near the Pinal Air Park (about 45 minutes north of Tucson) where there is an active open pit mine. I was struck by the surreal beauty of this landscape. Unfortunately, the road was devoid of traffic so there is nothing to indicate scale here.

All signs point to health ~

Tucson's Community Food Bank provides a wealth of services that go beyond distributing boxes of food to the needy. They conduct classes on gardening and composting, they provide space for local farmers to sell their produce, and they run a supermarket, too. In these times they are exceptionally busy trying to meet local needs. For more information, to volunteer, or to donate, click here:

Community Food Bank

Tucson's Barrio Beauty ~

Here's another classic Tucson Barrio home - thick adobe walls help insulate against the intense desert heat. Tucson's barrio district (also called Barrio Historico or Barrio Libre) is a treasure trove of charming adobe homes - many date from the 1800's. Adjacent to Tucson's downtown, this small area is now a mix of private residences and offices for lawyers & other professionals.

To see other similar beauties, click on the "Barrio" label and/or the "Doorway/Entry" label below this post. Here's additional historical info: http://southwest.library.arizona.edu/barr/body.1_div.2.html