5-26-10 Another Old Barn

I found this barn on my way home from my daughter's house. Looks like it has seen better days.

5-24-10 Daisy, Daisy...

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true...". I love seeing a field full of wild daisies.

5-23-10 Nature Renews

It amazes me how nature takes care of itself. Here in a decayed part of a tree, a plant is starting to grow.

5-22-10 A Day of Geocaching

This morning I met some of my DEN (Discovery Education Network) friends in Pawnee Prairie Park (SW Wichita) for a morning of geocaching. We had a lot of fun, but ended up on the wrong side of the creek and had to wade back across the spillway to return.

5-21-10 Simply Weathered

Keilo & I have walked by this white picket fence all week, and it wasn't until today that I noticed the flowers along the pickets. Although the blooms are past their prime, they look as weathered as the fence.

5-20-10 Yellow Daylilies

This is the first daylily to bloom of the season. With all the rain we have been receiving, more should be blooming soon.

5-19-10 Mr. Blue Jay

We have a pair of blue jays that hang out either in our trees or nearby. I've tried for several days to catch this one, but he's been elusive until today. I'm really going to have to get a bird feeder so I can watch more of our bird life.

5-18-10 Dog Tired

Here's Keilo & Charlie crashed out after a day at the lake.

5-17-10 White-Tailed Doves

We have a pair of white-tailed doves that have taken up residence in our neighborhood. These two will roost on our deck railing or the roof of our house. Tim thinks they have a nest in our oak tree.

5-16-10 A Big Mean Croc

This life-sized croc is a statue outside of the Oklahoma Aquarium. It gives the visitor an idea just how big crocs can get. Kids love crawling all over him too!

5-15-10 Oklahoma Aquarium Run

Tim & I are in Tulsa this weekend for the Oklahoma Aquarium Run. Runners could choose to run a half marathon; 5K (3.2 miles); or a 1-mile fun run. Tim ran in the 5K, while I took photos. The weather was perfect for runners--cool, overcast and drizzle.

5-14-10 Country Irises

Tulips in April; Irises in May. Wish these two flowers would stick around longer.

5-12-10 8th Grade vs. Faculty Volleyball Game

Today we (okay, I didn't...I took pictures!) had our annual 8th Grade vs Faculty volleyball game. We beat them three games out of three. Today was also their last day of elementary/middle school. Next year....high school!!!

5-11-10 Tools of Appreciation

The Daily Shoot suggested to find "tools we use and appreciate on a daily basis" and create a photo. My keys are one the the most important tools I use. They lock my home, allow me to get my mail and make it possible to drive my car.

5-10-10 Wildflowers

Found these wildflowers while at the lake. Don't recall seeing these before.

5-9-10 Fox Creek Bridge

This is Fox Creek Bridge in Chase County, Kansas. It was built in 1898 out of native limestone and has remained in public use ever since. At the present time, the county road that is it on and this historic bridge are part of the only emergency route for the residential part of Strong City north of Highway 50.

5-8-10 Charlie

This is Charlie. He is my brother's two year old Golden Retriever. Despite the fact that the temperature today at the lake was in the mid-60's, Charlie had a ball romping in the water & chasing sticks that we would throw.

5-7-10 Here's Your Sign!

So my neighbor is cutting down this tree in his front yard because it is too close to the house. However, he told me several people have stopped and asked him if the winds/storm last night did that to his tree. (Hello, no other trees or property in the area have any sign of damage.) Here's your sign!!

5-6-10 Br'er Rabbit

Caught Mr. Rabbit eyeing my neighbor's garden. Hope he can't tunnel under the garden fence that is up.

5-5-10 Edible Mother's Day Gift

My daughter gave me this edible bouquet for Mother's Day. The great thing is she made it! I'm very impressed.

5-4-10 A Fence of Shoes

On my way home today and saw these shoes on this fence. I've seen this before on other country fences and wondered if it had any significance? At any rate, it's whimsical!

5-3-10 Beautiful Giant

I found a giant
That holds a secret to keep
Whose heart is defiant
And depths are too deep.

I must stay keen
For he will bless me well
And he did! With wonderous things I had never seen
That I don't have words to tell.

(This is part of a poem entitled, "Beautiful Giant")

5-2-10 Cherished Moments

Today's Daily Shoot suggested "To make a photo of something you cherish today in beautiful light." Keilo was the subject.

5-1-10 Pots on the Deck

Today was the day I look forward to each year. Today we went and bought flowers for the pots that sit on the deck. I so love to play in the dirt!

4-30-10 Nature's Jewel

I was looking over my flower beds this evening and noticed something shiny in the middle of the Live-forevers. As I looked closer, I discovered the jewel-looking object was a water droplet that had remained there all day, through the wind and sun.

4-29-30 Through the Open Door

Today's Daily Shoot suggested walking through a door and take a photo of what you see. This is the view from my kitchen table.

4-28-10 Simply Butterfly!

This is my first butterfly picture. Not sure what type of butterfly, but I chased it for several yards.

4-27-10 Mr. Blue Jay

Keilo & I went back to Swanson Park for a walk today and it was alive with activity. I chased this Blue Jay for 30 minutes trying to get his picture.

4-26-10 Vaaroom! Vaaroom!

Today's Daily Shoot suggested taking a picture of something plastic. As I looked around the house, high on a shelf in the basement, I found this car, one of the kids had made out of plastic Connectix.

4-25-10 Cookies & Milk

Nothing goes together better than milk and cookies....chocolate chip cookies that is!!

4-24-10 Spying on Horses

I was headed over to my daughter's house when I saw these horses in a pasture. When I went to take the picture I saw a fence opening that put them in a frame. They look like they were wondering what I was doing.

4-23-10 Ms. A's Memorial Garden

Last summer we had a teacher that suddenly passed away. At her memorial, money was raised to create this memorial garden. Today, a group of Middle School students weeded, removed leaves and trash, and spread rock over the area. When they were done, they were pretty proud of their accomplishment. I was pretty proud of them too. I know Ms. A would have been.

4-22-10 New Life

Daily Shoot suggested taking a picture that shows "Spring's new life." These are new hosta plants coming up in my neighbors yard.

4-21-10 Feeding Time

Went to the park and found this little guy eating an afternoon snack. He seemed unaware that I was even near. It's good to see wildlife out and about.

4-20-10 Yellow Bromeliad

Went back to Botanica today to help my daughter while she took Senior pictures of a friend of hers. I was amazed how quickly the tulips were gone. We were just there a week and a half ago. I'll have to return in a few more weeks to see what they plant or what comes up in their place.

4-19-10 I Spy

Remember the "I Spy" books? Can you find the basketball in the picture?

4-18-10 The Lampost

The Daily Shoot suggested "challenging yourself by taking night photography". It was a challenge alright! These are our new solar lights in the backyard. At this angle, they look like lamp posts.

4-17-10 One Main Place

This clock is at located at the intersection of Main and Douglas in Wichita. Main and Douglas are considered the official crossroads, where the numbering of the streets in all four directions start. That's why it is called "One Main Place."

4-16-10 Keeper of the Plains

As I was a bit early in meeing a friend for dinner, I went looking for my post for today. This is the "Keeper of the Plains" that stands as the "confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas"(pronounced "ar-KANSAS" not "ar-KAN-saw") rivers. He stands "with his hands raised" to the Great Spirits, and as a tribute to the Native American Tribes who continue to gather at this sacred site. The rivers meet here and continue southeast towards the Mississippi River.

4-15-10 Old Red Barn

I know, I'm obsessed with old barns. But there is something about them that intrigues me. Maybe it's because as a kid we had a family friend who lived on a farm and I remember playing with their kids in their barn. Or maybe it just stems from my love of old things.

4-14-10 Smell the Coffee

The Daily says "make a photograph that we can almost sniff and smell." Although I don't drink coffee, I do like the smell.

4-13-10 Shoddy Workmanship

The Daily suggests to "capture something newsworthy to you." This won't make the Times, but when they poured out front porch, they didn't put enough support or tie-ins underneath. Consequently, over 18 years, it has settled down below the brick capping. Luckily, it is pulling away from the baywindow, instead of causing the baywindow to pull down with it. I don't want to think what it's going to cost to break the concrete out and repour it. UGH!

4-12-10 Rememberance

So don't think I'm morbid or anything, but on my way home, I went through a little cemetary in the town of Maize, just north of town. I think you can learn a lot about history when you walk through a cemetary. Although these roses are silk, they are a rememberance of what used to be.

4-11-10 Shakespear's Garden

Tim (hubby) & I took advantage of the 80 degree weather today and went to Wichita's Botanica Gardens. The tulips and daffodils were in full bloom, with other flower varieties starting. This is called "Shakespear's Garden" and "many of the flowers and herbs in the Garden are either mentioned in Shakespear's writings or were popular in gardens during his time." Here are some more photos.

4-10-10 Phlox

It's that time of year when the Phlox groundcover is blooming. I love seeing it thick along the edge of gardens or around landscaping boulders.

4-9-10 1913 Barn

I pass this barn everyday on my way to and from school. It used to be farther out in the country, but as the city has expanded, it's becoming closer and closer. It used to be really weathered-looking, however, a couple of years ago, the owners put siding on it. I didn't know they made siding for barns!

4-8-10 Kassidy's Korner

This is a garden area outside of the library at school. It's what we call "Kassidy's Korner". Four years ago, Kassidy was a student at our school who lost her life to Leukemia. Although I didn't know Kassidy well, her friends and classmates remember her as having "amazing courage". They tell me although the disease was "wrecking" her body, she always had "a radiant smile on her face" and "a joke to tell." In May, her classmates will be promoted to the high school. However, this garden will always be here to remind them of their "cherished friend".

4-7-10 Lines & Textures

These trees are along a walking path that I posted a few days ago. I just love the lines and textures they have.

4-6-10 First Kansas Spring Storm

The wind has been blowing for several days, so with the high humidity, I wasn't surprised we ended up with a storm. You can't see it in the photo, but it is raining with the sun is shining. The storm was forming right over our neighborhood and heading northeast. Ah...it's NOW spring in Kansas!

4-5-10 Magnolia Trees

On my way home from school today, I noticed two trees in a yard with these very large, pinkish flowers. The trees were so pretty. After some internet digging, I discovered they were Magnolia Trees. I've never seen so many large flowers on a tree like this. Ahh, I love spring!!!