7-21-10 Cindy's Castle

Okay, so this isn't "my castle", but it does belong to a girl named Cindy. Glad I don't have to clean it!!!!

7-20-10 Rolling Flint Hills

I know I have posted several pictures of the Flint Hills in Kansas, but I just can't get over their beauty. As I look out over them, I try to imagine what the settlers might have been thinking as they traveled west. There actually are places where wagon wheel ruts can be found imbedded into the ground.

7-19-10 Woody in Legos

Was looking at the pictures on my phone and found this one of Woody made out of Legos. We were (briefly) in the Legoland store at Disney. I've told my school kids that when I grow up, I want to work at Legos, building things.

7-18-10 Very Old Homestead

Went to the lake this weekend and saw this very old homestead off in the distance, nestled in the beautiful Flint Hills. Just had to go check it out. I wish I could have gotten closer to see inside. Looks like it would make a great haunted house!

7-15-10 Abstraction

Today's Daily Shoot suggested "making a photograph of patterns &/or shapes that aren't recognizable objects".

7-14-10 Bloomin' Roses

It's so hot today! Went outside to see if I had any garden left and saw the roses in full bloom. Everything else is wilting in the heat, but they look great.

7-13-10 Tower of Terror

"Picture, if you will, a glittering hotel in it's heyday." You notice that the elevators are not working. You start looking around, when you find the boiler room service elevators. You step, only to become the unsuspecting passenger of a 13-story elevator malfunction. You, have entered, "The Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror"!

7-12-10 Main Street Time

Just liked the composition of this. This was taken on Main Street at Magic Kingdom.

7-11-10 Milkweed Pods

Went walking at the lake this morning and saw the milkweed pods bursting forth their silks. I had never seen this before. In doing a bit if research, I found that the silks were used as life vest stuffing during WWII. Sure would take a lot of them to fill one life vest.

7-9-10 Interesting Ride

Disney does an excellent job in creating the illusion that you are actually there. This bicycle was a prop in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom. It looks like something out of Indiana Jones.

7-8-10 Caught in the Act

About a week ago I bought and hung this bird feeder in our backyard. Yesterday, I caught Mr. Squirrel stealing bird seed. I thought it was funny how he's only holding on by his tail.

7-7-10 Patiently Waiting

Here's Keilo, sitting on the dock, waiting for me to return from a ride on the jetski. He's such a "momma's boy."

7-6-10 Spectacled Owl

At Disney's Animal Kingdom Park, they had a "Flights of Wonder" show that featured over 20 different species of birds, from exotic birds to birds of prey. At the commands of the handlers, the birds would hunt, sing, soar, and sometimes swoop over the crowd. This is a Spectacled Owl. He was brought out at the end of the show.

7-5-10 Expedition Everest

This roller-coaster attraction is located at Animal Kingdom. The train starts out climbing the snowy mountain, passing through bamboo forests, waterfalls and fields of glaciers. Only to find out that the "rail tracks" have been destroyed. At this point, the train turns into a roller-coaster, taking you down the mountain, twisting and turning, backwards then forwards, through darkness, snowy canyons, and treacherous caverns; ultimately bringing you face to face with a Yeti (guardian of the Himalays). What a ride!!!

7-4-10 Liberty Square Singers

This ensemble appears at the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom. Their sound is impeccable. They perform in the atrium before you enter the theater to watch a 22-minute show about how the presidents shaped America. All the presidents are featured as an audio-animatronic. The sound, move and look like the real presidents. President Obama even recorded his figure's speech.

7-3-10 Stroller Parking

Totally amazed by the number of strollers at Disney World. There are actual "parking" signs where you can park your stroller before going to an attraction.

7-2-10 The Dapper Dans

This post is in honor of my dad. These are the Dapper Dans, a barbershop quartet that sing on Main Street Disney at Magic Kingdom. My understanding is if you are a barbershop quartet singer, you can sing with them. As a barbershoper, my dad has done this. Keep on Singing, Dad!

7-1-10 Cinderella's Castle

Although this was my third time at WDW, I still enjoy walking around Cinderella's castle. I guess it brings back childhood memories. But I hear Cindy isn't the only princess getting her own castle. I heard that several of the other princesses are in the process of getting their own castles located in other parts of DW. The fairy godmothers will have some traveling to do if that happens.

6-30-10 Magic Kingdom Entrance

This was the view at the entrance of Magic Kingdom at WDW. We spent our first day at this park.

6-29-10 Flying Over the Clouds

We got back from our vacation to Orlando last night. Had a great time visiting our son who is participating in the college program at Disney World. On our flight back, I took some pictures of the clouds we were flying over (at 32,000 feet). We had to alter our route "slightly" the pilot said, to avoid a thunderstorm. Great cloud formation, however.

6-22-10 Kelso School

This is another country road in the Flint Hills of Kansas, in Morris County. The white building in the distance is the Kelso Schoolhouse. It is now closed, but served the area up until the 1940's.

***NOTE: I will be on vacation the next few days and unable to post. I look forward to sharing with you my adventures when I return.

6-21-10 Rabbits, Rabbits, Everywhere!

I know, it's another rabbit picture. However, I'm finding they are getting friendlier as I'm able to get closer and closer to them.

6-19-10 Framing the Prairie

When I read today's Daily Shoot, "frame within a frame", I had the perfect picture. Not too far from the lake is an old, falling down, structure. I'm not quite sure if it was an old school or church. I didn't go completely inside as there isn't much of a floor left. However, this was the view through one of the windows.

6-18-10 Travelin' Across the Prairie

I wonder what the pioneer settlers thought when they reached the Flint Hills of Kansas? This piece of art, located just outside of Council Grove and made out of steel, pays homage to those who were looking for their piece of The American Dream.

6-17-10 A Winding Country Road

This road leads to Kelso, and points north, in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

6-16-10 Old Merry-Go-Round

Ever ride on one of these, either at school or at the church playground? I found this one at a small park located in the Flint Hills of Kansas, on grounds where a church once was located, near what used to be the town of Kelso.

6-15-10 A Blue Herron

We have a pair of blue herrons that have taken up residency at the lake. This one landed on our dock as he/she was scoping out where to get it's next meal. Sometimes at night, when we have been sitting on the dock, we will hear a "swooshing" sound as their wings flap as they fly by.

6-14-10 Life on the Prairie

The lake we go to is in the heart of the Flint Hills, in Northeastern Kansas. This is over looking a farmer's ranch near the lake. The gate and poles frame the shot.

6-13-10 Flooding at the Lake

Last night, we had over 4 inches of rain in a very short amount of time. This caused the city lake to come out of it's banks. In the 38 years we've been going to this lake, I've rarely seen this happen. The lake does have a natural spillway that empties into the federal reservior, so it won't be out of it's banks for very long. However, tonight, the forcast is for more rain.

6-12-10 Molly and the Squirrels

Our neighbors dachshund, Molly, loves to chase the squirrels. Once she has chased one up a tree, she will sit there for 30 minutes or longer waiting for it. What she doesn't realize is that the squirrel has crawled along the branches, jumped to another tree and is telling all of his squirrel friends how he has once again, slipped away from that crazy canine.

6-11-10 Totem Pole

Not sure if these people are Native American, Alaskan, or just like to have totem poles. They have had this at the lake for years.

6-9-10 Floating on Water

The Daily Shoot suggested, "place or find a subject floating on water". So after two days of rain, our backyard is looking like a small pond. With that in mind, I cut this daylily bloom and floated it on our small pond.

6-8-10 The Gift of Flight

There is a grass airfield across the road at the lake. This ultralight aircraft spent some time flying over the lake. I wonder what the lake looks like from up there?

6-7-10 Old Boathouse

This is the side-door of our neighbor's boathouse at the lake. I thought it made an intesting picture.

6-6-10 Sedgwick County Zoo

This sculpture/artwork is across from the Sedgwick County Zoo. We were on our way home from the lake and I snapped when I snapped the picture.

6-5-10 Pool or Spa?

Saw this sign at a garage sale and couldn't resist!!!! This actually is our outhouse at the lake. Yes, we actually used an outhouse for many years. (20+-some to be exact!) It wasn't until around 1999 or so that we finally got indoor plumbing. We were supposed to knock the outhouse down, but j-u-u-s-s-t haven't gotten around to it yet.

6-4-10 Orange Lilies

I noticed last night that my orange lilies had bloomed. This is the first year they have been this big, thick, and bright.

6-3-10 Sittin' On the Dock

I was sitting on the dock and saw this shot. I just liked the composition.

6-2-10 Local Wildlife

Here are some the local wildlife at the lake. For many years now they have been on the lake. I love watching them land on the water.

6-1-10 Little Peter Cottontail

Found this baby rabbit in the yard today and couldn't resist. He (or she) let me get pretty close before it hopped back into the daylilies for protection.

5-31-10 Eating At the Feeder

Caught this bird (not sure what kind) at my neighbor's feeder today. It was fun watching the birds come and go, especially a blue jay, who was too large to perch on the feeder.

5-30-10 Honeysuckle

Down by the lake, we have a patch of honeysuckle that grows back every year. When the breeze is blowing just right you can smell the sweetness. I remember when I was a kid, I would pick the blossom, pinch the end of the blossom and pull the stamen out very slowly to reveal the drop of necture at the end, then put it up to my mouth to taste the sweetness. Yummm.....

5-29-10 A Homeless Birdy

Went walking with Keilo today and found a bird's nest that had been blown out of the evergreen tree above. Looking at the branches I could see how easy it was to have become dislodged.

5-28-10 Cottonwood Country

Went to the lake (located in the Flint Hills) today and wondered what this white stuff was on the ground. Upon closer look, determined that the Cottonwoods were in bloom. In this part of the state (Northeastern Kansas) Cottonwoods are plentiful. This cotton-y stuff helps to carry the seed in the Kansas wind.

5-27-10 New Lawn & Landscape

Wanted to show off what I've been doing this past week. Our daughter and son-in-law bought a new house and now are putting in their lawn and landscaping. After four days of work, the front yard is about ready to be seeded. The backyard is a different story! The backyard is nothing but clay. I'm amazed that anything will grow in it. Son-in-law has been rototilling it to break it up and trying to mix sand into it. Now I know what type of material the settlers built their sod houses out of.

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.