Gnome Grabs Shots from a Rickshaw in Old Delhi, Includes Carefully Composed Shots of New Delhi

A dot of henna and a necklace of fragrant orchids -- a traditional welcome to India.






Gnome looks through the pattern intricately-carved from stone.


Jama Masjid Mosque, one of Asia's largest mosques.

Stairway leading to Humayun's tomb.


Visitors to Humayun's tomb walk through the west gate.

Children return from visiting Isa Kahn's tomb.

We pay for the opportunity to take photographs; in turn, the funds they collect help support the monuments and museums we photograph.

A daughter and a father walk through Gandhi's house, now a museum. To their left, a poster depicts Gandhi "walking home."

A minimalist drawing depicting the profile of Mahatma Gandhi.

Travel Day One: To New Delhi

I have been reading Anu Garg's entries about his experience in Mumbai last month. (Does anyone read his interesting entries on lexicography on "A Word a Day"?) In his last entry (Sunday, January 4th), he said that, interestingly, cell phones are in greater use after the 26/11 bombings, which makes sense, for communication in an emergency situation is greatly beneficial; he added that one is required to answer the cellphone, even during one's own wedding -- disruptive, on the surface of things, but essential to the saving of lives. [Posted in Pology, 5 January 2009]
An airplane takes off at midnight from DFW airport. The view is from the Grand Hyatt at Terminal D.

Pig Flies

I leave for New Delhi on Monday. Winnie, the Flying Pig, will come along with me. Below, Winnie accompanied My Mr Mallory and me on a motorbike ride.

Wind Blown Gnome

Strong wind buffeted the helicopter. The pilot, My Mr. Mallory, could not let go of the cyclic and collective handles, so he asked me to push buttons, none of which I had ever perceived before. We landed for a few moments at Kickapoo to check on the carburetors; the moisture and cool temperatures conspired to cause icing around the carburetors, so he instructed me to lower the lever that controlled heat on them. Photo shows the World's Littlest Skyscraper on LaSalle Street.

Storm Passed over Gnome

An eight-thirty in the morning strong wind blew rain over Fort Worth today.

Random Thoughts through the Lens

Along a country road, a post box for air mail.

A loving couple attends Christmas service at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Historian Jim Pettijohn poses with his Ford.

Sitting in the cockpit with My Mr Mallory, I took a quick snap of him going through his check list in preparation for take-off.

Sunday at Fred's

On my way home, I waited for the red light next to a Valkyrie. The bikers had participated in Fort Worth's annual toy run. This year, cold weather affected the level of participation; while in years past they have had seventy-thousand riders, this year twenty-thousand riders contributed to the fundraiser, raising close to one-hundred-fifty thousand dollars.

Dudes at Fred's Cafe.

Terry Chandler, owner of Fred's Cafe, makes sure everything tastes just right.

Kurt South played his acoustic guitar and sang with a smooth voice. I ate Fred's Quail and Eggs, considered by Texas Magazine as one of Tarrant County's best dishes. Fred's Cafe now has a liquor license, and serves a nice Bloody Mary, according to my two friends.

Waterworks Worker

At six o'clock in the evening, an employee from the city studied his charts to find the water main on Scott Street.

Gnome at Good Shepherd

Hugged Huggins Good-bye

 Morning in Marble Falls.

Francesco's Managed by Javier

They cooked Pasta Primavera according to Hal's recipe, so I don't know about the food they serve at Francesco's in Marble Falls. Nice ambience inside the restaurant, with jaunty music, so it'll be fun to return there for a fine culinary experience, though Hal's recipe may seem difficult to match in excellence.

For Gnome's Health

FOR HAL: A Ghazal

Doctors said illness was all in my head
that pains in my body were all in my head.

My muscles, like a boxer’s after a bout
hurt all the time – but not in my head.

Yet every check-up showed me okay
so . . . they said – it’s all in my head!

I quarreled with doctors who diagnosed
my pains as all in my head.

If they lived a moment in my shoes
they’d recognize it’s in their head!

But then I met Hal –
who also said it was all in my head.

The pain, it all comes, he said
from the lower half of my head.

Finally, someone knew something –
Hal spoke of the lower half of my head:

Fillings in my teeth had mercury
poisoning me from the lower half of my head.

Toxins spread through my body yet
I seemed normal for what was in my head.

Once I met Hal, I uncovered my head
Remove those poisons from your head!

In Front of Gnome's Eyes

Most mornings for the past two weeks have seemed beautiful in Marble Falls. Below I show the view over the Colorado River that greets me in the mornings when I look out the window of the La Quinta.

Behind the Blue Bonnet Cafe on Highway 281, I found a laundry shop with the Chandler button maker pictured below.

Gnome Drives Around Llano County

Historic Post Office on Main Street in Marble Falls, established 1884 and served as post office until 1950. It is now an attorney's office.

The building in the photo below, located between Llano and Burnet, served as a school from 1910 to 1947. Nowadays, the community of Buchanan uses the building as a gathering and polling place.

Picture of Board Branch Cemetery, named after the creek by which it lies.

Reports show that after being killed by Indians, William Kinderly was the first person buried at the Board Branch Cemetery.

Cacti are proliferous in the countryside all around Marble Falls.

These tombstones date to 1830.

Picture of feedbarn in the town of Bluffton.

Seagulls flew to me to ask for food. I had none, but they remained close by, watching me just in case I would magically extract food from my pockets for them. Yonder, the waters of Lake LBJ. Boaters, clean up your trash!

Sculptures Down Main

Main Street in Marble Falls exhibits outdoor sculptures. "Texas Jack" by Marla Ripperda.  The sculpture by Ripperda seems to reflect a sweetness that I had not associated with Jackrabbits.

Across the street from The Falls, "Peacock" by Fr. Jairo Lopez.

"Pavo Real II" by Fr. Jairo Lopez.

Other side of same stone, "Pavo Real II" by Fr. Jairo Lopez.

"Gift of Love" by Dan Pogue.

Flute player by an unknown artist.

"Ebb and Flow" by Chris Smartt