12-23-11 A Work of Art

We had Christmas with Jessica and Jared the other night. This is what we received from them. Jessica took the the pictures. It says "May" and "est. 1982". That's the year we got married. Her photography hobby is really coming along. I wouldn't mind having some more of her pictures hanging in our home.

11-17-2011 Cone of Shame

Poor puppy! keilo had a fibrous tumor removed from his leg earlier this week. He had to wear the "cone of shame" while I was at work so he wouldn't mess with the incision. Today I took the chance and didn't put it on him. He did pretty well. It's stiff, but he's getting around not too bad.

9-12-2011 Old and Tired

Found this building on the outskirts of the small community I work in. I seems to have a sad, tired face. Not really sure what is inside.

9-11-2011 A Perfect Morning

The weather at the lake this weekend was perfect!!!! It was cool, no wind, and not hardly another sole on lake.

8-26-2011 Summer Storm

I forgot about this picture I took a couple of weeks ago when we were headed to the lake. Unfortunately, it didn't produce a lot of rain that we need so badly. Hopefully there will be some rain in the next few days.

8-23-2011 The Boys at the Lake

Here is (L to R): Wally, Charlie and Keilo. The two goldens are my brother's, while Keilo is ours. Charlie wore himself out swimming in the lake, while Wally & Keilo stayed on dry land. They all got along okay, however, Wally, being 9 months old, couldn't understand why Keilo wouldn't rough-house with him.

8-22-2011 Monday Morning Rainbow

What a great way to start the week! I went out this morning to get the paper, (yes, we still get the paper delivered as it isn't online) and this is what greeted me. What a great way to start my morning and week.

8-17-2011 Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniels

This is a statue of Jack Daniels, the founder of Jack Daniels Whiskey. While we were in Tennessee on vacation, we toured the distillery where they make the whiskey. The distillery is located just outside of Lynchberg, Tennessee. We got to see all the different stages of distilling and when we were through, we purchased a bottle to take with is. The ironic thing about this distillery is they are located in a "dry" county. They had to get special permission to sell bottles of whiskey and you couldn't open it on property. In the town of Lynchberg, you could get a bite to eat at "The Best Darn BBQ" restaurant; walk over the general store to get some of your Jack Daniels memoribilla; and stop and play checkers in front of the general store. (see previous post on 8-3-2011 "It's Your Move")

8-16-2011 Doe, A Deer

While we were exploring "Cades Cove" in the Smoky Mountains, this doe felt comfortable enough to show her self and munch on some greens. Although she was on alert, she wasn't spooked by the sounds of camera's clicking.

8-15-2011 Clingman's Dome

More vacations pictures....This is looking out over the Smoky Mountains at Clingman's Dome. This is the highest spot in the Smoky Mountains at 6,643 feet in elevation. You can see how the mountains got their name.

8-8-2011 New Found Gap

This is the view of the Smoky Mountains along the North Carolina/Tennessee State Lines. This area is called "New Found Gap". Although this was a popular spot, you could start hiking along several trails and quickly get away from all the people. One of the trails, "The Appalachian Trail", runs along the top of the mountains, all the way to the state of Maine. Tim, Jessica & Amanda decided not to take that trail!

8-7-2011 Rachel's Garden

This is "Rachel's Garden" on the grounds of The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home and plantation, just outside of Nashville, TN. Rachel was Andrew Jackson's wife. She loved picking fresh flowers to have sitting inside of her home. It is said that Jackson was inconsolable when she died. The gazebo is a tomb where she is buried. To the right is a small family plot where other members of the Jackson family are buried.

8-4-2011 Streaming Sunshine

Late in the afternoon in the Smoky Mountains, the sun shined through the trees. This was taken at the cabin we stayed in.

8-3-2011 It's Your Move!

On the way to the Laural Ridge cabin in the Smoky Mountains, we stopped by the Jack Daniels Distillery for a tour. The distillery is located just outside of Lynchberg, TN. After the tour, we went into Lynchberg for some lunch and to check out the town. Jessica, our daughter, spotted a gentleman wanting to play checkers.

8-2-2011 LIttle Cabin in the Woods

This was the cabin we stayed in while visiting the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina this past week. The last picture is looking down the steep drive from the cabin. The inside was just as pretty. Now, to figure out how to move it to Council Grove!

8-1-2011 A Butterfly Garden

At The Hermitage, in NC, the home and plantation of President Andrew Jackson, his wife, Rachel. had a wonderful flower garden. The center garden was a butterfly garden, with flowers that attract all kinds of butterflies. It wasn't very hard to snap their picture.

7-27-2011 Magnolia in North Carolina

This magnolia flower was found at The Hermitage, home and plantation of President Andrew Jackson, located just outside of Nashville, TN. The Hermitage spreads over 1,000 acres and includes his home, garden--where he, his wife, Rachel, and many other members of their family are buried. The plantation also has the slave quarters and other out buildings. This "living" museum has costumed guides that guide you through the home, which is totally furnished with items that actually belonged to Andrew Jackson. As you stroll on the grounds outside on a self-guided tour, or audio-tour, you learn how the Jackson plantation worked and functioned. Definitely would recommend it to visit next time you come through Nashville.

7-9-2011 A Shrimp Boil

Have you ever been to a "shrimp boil"? We went to one this weekend at our neighbors at the lake. There was shrimp, chicken, sausage, steak, pearl onions, carrots, potatoes and corn on the cob. It was yummmmy!! Thanks, Beavers!

7-7-2011 A Long, Quiet Country Road

This is one of many country roads in the Flint Hills. Although I didn't take the picture, (credit goes to my daughter, Jessica) I thought I'd post it anyway. Just liked the way it looked.

7-4-2011 Mighty Fine Fixin's

We were at the lake this weekend for the 4th of July holiday. Had a wonderful time with family. This was one the the great meals we had---salmon and fresh veggies & pineapple from the grill. MMmmmmm!

6-27-2011 Coral Reef Bee Balm

We revamped the front flowerbed this past spring and planted perennials. However, spring was a passing thing and it turned hot early. I have been diligently watering, hoping the plant would take hold. Today, the Coral Reef Bee Balm flowered. Although it doesn't have anything to do with bees, it is supposed to draw butterflies. We'll see. I'm just happy the plants are thriving!

6-21-2011 White Lillies

Now that we finally are getting some rain, (could do without the storms, tho!) my lillies are starting to blossom.

6-20-2011 A Bit of the Tropics

This is the first flower on my hibiscus tree. This flower always reminds me of the islands and our trips there.

6-19-2011 Kaw Indian Powwow

This weekend was Council Grove's festival, "Wa-shun-Ga Days." It is held every year to celebrate the town's involvement in being the last stop on the Santa Fe trail. The Kaw Nation used to live in the area during the mid-1800's. Each year they return to Council Grove to participate in the celebration.

6-9-2011 Brown-May Lake

This is Brown-May Lake, better known as our backyard after a hard rain. It's called as such because when we get heavy rainfall, the Brown's (our neigbors) backyard and ours flood.

6-7-2011 No Lemonade Today

When I was leaving school today (conducted a training) I saw this lemonade stand and couldn't pass it up. Wonder if business was good?

6-5-2011 Tiger Lillies

My Tiger Lillies have bloomed and are a very brilliant orange this year. I was experimenting with the macro on my new point-and-shoot as well.

6-1-2011 A Flint Hills Sunset

Nothing is prettier than a Flint Hills sunset.

5-31-2011 Fence Post

Out taking pictures in one of my favorite places, the Flint Hills. I recently purchased a "point & shoot" camera and wanted to test it out.

5-3-2011 First Bloom

This is the first bloom of this season. It's a dwarf lilly. Unfortunately, if we don't get any more rain it may be the only one.

4-23-11 SQUIRREL!!

Two squirrels have taken up residence in our backyard. When I got the camera out to take his picture he was not happy. He just chirpped, chattered and flicked his tail at me. He had a buddy that was smaller and not as adept at climbing trees. They entertained me for quite a while.

4-21-11 Buckboard Wagon

"A buckboard is a four-wheeled wagon of simple construction meant to be drawn by a horse or other large animal....Originally designed for personal transportation in mountain regions, these distinctively American vehicles were widely used in newly settled regions of the United States."--Wikipedia

4-21-2011 The Chaplain is In

Even the soldiers of the Civil War needed to talk to a chaplain once in awhile. I'm sure he had other duties as well.

4-20-2011 Shooting the Cannons

While at "Cowtown: The Civil War", they gave a demonstration of firing a real cannon. I was amazed at the empact the sound waves made. Above the soldiers have their sticks crossed to symbolize a misfire. That way no one will walk in front of the cannon.

4-19-2011 Where Have All The Soldiers Gone?

I saw this shot and immediately thought, "Where have all the soldiers gone?"

4-17-11 Extra! Extra! Read All About It!!

While in "Cowtown" we stopped by the Wichita Eagle City Newspaper to see what the news of the day was. Although the news was quite old, we did learn that the Kansas Pacific Railroad was offering a free ride to claim a part of over five million acres as a Kansas homestead. Sign me up!

4-17-11 Hoop Trundling

This is called "Hoop Trundling". The idea is to roll a hoop, varying in size and made either of wood or metal, with a stick, keeping the hoop upright as long as possible. This was played during the middle to late 19th Century. This boy was demonstrating it at Cowtown, a living museum in the Wichita area.

4-16-2011 Reflecting On the Past

Today Tim & I spent the lovely day at the living museum, Cowtown. They were celebrating the lives of the soldiers of the Civil War. There were re-enactors from the Civil War, as well as, town folk from the late-1800's. Towards the end of the day, some of the Civil War soldiers were firing off the cannons to show what it was like.

4-2-11 Feed the Birds...

The robins have been stuffing themesleves this last week in our front yard. We have berries that have fallen from our Bradford Pear tree and the robins have been enjoying a feast. This is great as those berries fall everywhere and stick to everything. Enjoy the feast!!!

3-27-11 Ring-tailed Lemurs

These guys were peeking out of their little hut to see what was going on. Their friends were huddled behind them at the back of the hut to stay out of the 30+mph winds.

3-26-11 Red Kanagroo

This guy was just hanging out in the kangaroo pen at the Tanganyika Zoo. As they move, I thought Mother Nature played a cruel trick on them in making their front legs so short, while their back legs are so long.

3-25-11 Caninie Computing

Keilo decided he was going to help Tim with a project. After I took the picture, he put his foot on the keyboard and hit the "play" button on the video that Tim was editing. Guess he wanted to see Tim's handy work!

3-24-11 Baby African Tortoise

This little guy is already three months old. The inhabit the edge of the Sahara and are the third largest tortoise in the world.

3-23-11 Let Sleeping Birds Lie

This is a lorikeet. Lorikeet's are a small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and small fruits. This one kept falling asleep on the branch. Unfortunately, it didn't get to sleep long as the wind kept shaking the branch he was perched on.

2-22-11 Reticulated Giraffe

Went to Tanganyika Wildlife Park today with a friend to take pictures. This little zoo on the far west side of Wichita was fascinating. Most of the zoo is "hands-on"; you can touch and feed the animals. They also have several animal handlers walking around holding animals that you can ask questions about and touch.

3_18_11 One Clean Dog

Today was "Give the Dog a Bath" day. If I keep him brushed, I don't have to bathe him that often. However, both were WAY overdue. He's pretty good about letting me brush him as long as I do it on a table. Getting him in the bathtub is another story. He's not thrilled, but will finally go. But look out after the bath.....he runs around acting all silly, rubbing against on the carpet, against the couch to get the water off of him. This dog HATES being wet!!!

3-15-2011 March Madness Time!!

I have to admit, by the time March comes, I get into post-season basketball. Kansas has two teams, KU and KSU, in the NCAA tournament and WSU in the NIT. Fun times for Kansas basketball fans!