2-28-10 Alice In Wonderland Adventure

Found this while at Chisolm Creek Park. I wonder if Alice will meet the Mad Hatter or the Chester Cat on this trail?

2-27-10 Nature at GPNC

With today's weather being in the low-50's, we took advantage of it and headed to the Great Plains Nature Center, located on the east side of town, adjacent to Chisolm Trail Park. Before the city had expanded too far east, GPNC was constructed in cooperation with the Kansas Wildlife & Parks to preserve and reestablish nature as it once was 100 years ago. Now as the city has grown around it, GPNC is a great place to explore & lose yourself into the world of nature. (Also good for picture taking!) I plan on returning later in the spring to see it as it starts to come alive with green vegitation, trees, animals & insects.

2-26-10 Windmill of Time

Took advantage of today's WONDERFUL weather (for once) to take a quick walk with Keilo and snap a few pictures at Sedwick County Park.

2-25-10 A River Runs Through It

I've posted several pictures about the river that runs through the westside of the county and through Swanson Park. Now here is a picture of the river in all its glory. The Cowskin Creek (actually a river) is a menace for some, but a habitat for others. Many types of aquatic and land animals call it's banks home. The Cowskin has been forging its way around and through the landscape for many years. Man has tried to re-route it, even dam it, yet the Cowskin still goes where it wants.

2-24-10 Cowboy Roundup

Went by a sandwich shop and saw this cowboy rounding up his herd. It is made out of steel and reminds passersby of what this area of the country used to be like. Yippe-kai-ya!

2-23-10 Halfpipe & Friends

I was dusting today and came across these guys sitting on the bookshelf. Since the little guy in front was named "Halfpipe", I thought it would be only fitting, in honor of the Olympics, that I gather his friends and take their picture. Looks like Halfpipe had a bit of trouble on one of his runs.

2-22-10 Shapes of a Quilt

Once again, I turned to The Daily Shoot for inspiration. Today it suggested taking pictures that included squares. What better example of squares than a hand-made quilt. I have several in my home that have been passed down to me by various family members. This one was given to me by a distant cousin on my mother's side. It was started in 1929 and finished in 1945.

2-21-10 Kansas Ice

I figured we wouldn't be able to get through this winter without the Kansas ice. Further north, they had up to 5 inches of snow. Will spring ever get here?

2-20-10 Can You Guess?

The Daily Shoot suggests that if you want to improve on your photos, move closer. Can you guess what these are? They are pvc pipes! I saw this shot when we were at Home Depot.

2-19-10 A Different Perspective

Often times we are so focused on what is ahead of us, that we forget to turn around and see the view from the other direction. When I walk in Swanson Park, I often stop, turn around, and see what it looks like from the opposite perspective. This is the view from the other end of the split rail fence that was posted earlier this week. As we head into spring, then summer, I plan to revisit this park and share how it changes through the seasons.

2-18-10 The Cost of Erosion

Back in Swanson Park, towards the southern part of the park, erosion has taken its toll. If you look closely, those are tree roots that have become exposed due to the constant flooding of this creek. As a result, there are a number of large trees laying in the creek. If too many more fall, the city will have to go in and clear it out. I guess beavers aren't the only ones that can dam up a body of water.

2-17-10 A Tree in Oz

Keilo & I were back in Swanson Park enjoying today's weather and found this tree. It looks like it could have appeared in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz."

2-16-10 A View from the Rail

Being such a nice day, Keilo & I went back Swanson Park for a walk. Most places along the walking path are "undeveloped", except right here. Just behind the hill is a housing development, so I'm not sure if they put in the split rail fence or if the Parks Dept. did. At any rate, it looks nice.

2-15-10 An Old Homestead

As I was leaving my daughter and son-in-law's housing complex, I noticed the old farm across the street. First, the barn caught my eye, then I noticed the old truck in front. After I took the picture, I looked around and wondered how much of this land once belonged to this homestead? With the way the city is expanding, it won't be long before this farm is swallowed up by urban expansion.

2-14-10 Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

2-13-10 Honey Locust Trees

Honey Locust Trees are native to the United States and are primarily found in the moist river valleys. This one was found in Swanson Park, a wooded park near our house. I'm very familiar with these trees as they are also found on our lake property in northeastern Kansas. The thorns are very strong and if stepped on at the correct angle, can go through a flip-flop, sandle or watershoe.

2-12-10 Lady of Fashion High Society

This is an English bone china figurine my mother-in-law gave many years ago. It is from the "Ladies of Fashion High Society" collection by CoalPort. My mother-in-law was only able to give me this one and another one before she passed away, so both are very special.

2-11-10 The Arch

The Daily Shoot suggested taking a picture using the wide-angle view. I then found this limb arching over a walking path at a nearby pond and wondered how it ended up growing like this.

2-10-10 Krispy Kreme's, Anyone?

The Publications Class was selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts tonight at Parent/Teacher Conferences to earn money towards purchasing a camera for their class. Out of 100, they sold almost half tonight. They will be selling them again tomorrow as we have conferences all day. I think they will make their goal.

2-9-10 Valencian Girl & Goose

These two pieces of Lladro (pronounced "yah-dro") belonged to my mother-in-law. She loved collecting Lladro pieces and would purchase them relatively inexpensively when she would visit her family in England. She had quite a collection and when she passed away, the collectioin was divided between my husband and his sister.

2-8-10 Scenes From A Snowstorm

Since I was up at 5:30 a.m. to see if we were having school, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of our back deck. With the way the snow fell on the patio furniture, it almost looks like a scene from underwater on the Titanic.

2-7-10 Disney U. Bound

Daily Shoot suggests "taking 3 objects and making a digital picture story." Well, our son leaves for Orlando, FL today, for a 6mo internship with the Disney College Program. He will be working in the Transportation Dept. at Disney World and discovering what it is like to be involved with a Fortune 500 corporation. Say "Hi" to Mickey for us.

2-6-10 Coils of Air

As it was another dreary day in Oz, I turned to The Daily Shoot for an idea. They suggested taking a photo with "a sense of movement with curves". Then as I was walking through the garage I spotted my picture. This is the air hose to my husband's air compressor.

2-5-10 Another Dreary Day

This is what our weather has been for the past several weeks. I realize it's winter, but this is getting old. (sigh!) When will spring be here?

2-4-10 A Little Spring All Year Around

If only I could grow ferns like these. These lovely ferns belong to our counselor. She puts them out under her trees and on her back deck from spring through late summer. Then once school starts, she brings them to my classroom and I get to enjoy them from fall through early spring. I'm glad she wants to share. (Keilo is there for perspective!)

2-3-10 Sharp As A Tack

Today's Daily Shoot suggested taking a picture that was "sharp". That's what I did.

2-2-10 Good Morning, Sunrise

Although it was another foggy morning, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch the sunrise. The sun has shown so little here over the past month, that I wasn't sure what it was. If Punxsutawney Phil was here in Kansas, he definitely would have seen his shadow.

2-1-10 Fort Snow

Went to get the mail today and noticed the neighborhood kids had built a snow fort. I like the utility flags on top. I wonder whose yard they took them out of? Can't you just imagine hiding behind the wall while launching snowballs at your friends??!!!