1-15-11 Dutch Mill Bakery

This has to be one of the best bakeries in the state of Kansas. The Dutch Mill Bakery is located in the Amish Town of Yoder, just north of Hutchinson. Here, Amish ladies bake the freshest breads, cookies, and nothing beats their homemade cinnamon rolls. Yummy!

This was a storefront in the Amish town of Yoder. I love antique, old-looking shops. I didn't have time to go in, but looking through the window, looks like it's an art gallery of sorts.

1-13-11 Machines of the Past

Last week when I was in Hutchinson, I had to pass through the town of Yoder. Yoder is an Amish community where some still drive horse and buggies. As I was driving through, I spotted these old thrashing machines. By the look of the rust, I don't think they had been used in quite a number of years.

1-12-11 Wonder What It's Thinking?

Ever take a picture of an animal and want to put a speech bubble above it's head? That's what I wanted to do with this bovine I saw in a nearby field.

1-11-11 Perspective

When I was in Hutchinson last week, I stopped at the grain elevator to take some pictures. These are some railroad tracks that run next to the grain elevator.

1-10-11 First Snow of Season

Two months ago today, I took a picture of my neighbor's tree, full of beautiful orange & red leaves. Now, in a different season, the same tree is covered in snow, laying dormant until spring comes.

1-9-11 Sun Peaking Through

Yesterday, on my way to a tech meeting in Hutchinson, the sun decided to shine through the clouds for a moment. It looked like a flood light was shining on this farm.

1-8-11 Ridin' the Rails

Took advantage of the sunshine today to find some pictures before the snow hits later in the weekend. I was able to position myself so sun reflected off of the rails.

1-3-11 Underwater tropics

With it being so cold outside, I looked for something more "tropical" for today's picture. This is the castle in our fish tank. The fish seemed to be uncooperative in getting their picture taken.

1-2-11 Racing into 2011

This is how I feel heading into 2011. Snoopy, you'd better watch out!

1-1-11 Happy New Year

Happy New Year, from me and my friends! Hard to believe it's been a year since I started this picture blog. I've learned alot, and hopefully, have improved a little on my photography skills. So I resolve to keep watching the world around me and continue to improve taking pictures.

12-31-10 Last Sunset of 2010

Tonight was the last sunset of 2010. As I look back at my blog posts, I reflect about this past year and what fun and adventures I had. Sometimes we get caught up in our everyday lives, and forget to notice the little things around us. As I head into 2011, I resolve to try and keep my blog current, keep working on my photography skills, and most importantly, continue to discover the world around me.

12-27-10 Wally

This is the newest member of the family. Meet Wally! He is an 10-week old Golden Retriever that belongs to my brother. Keilo (my sheltie) wasn't impressed. All he wanted to do was "herd him."

12-25-10 Why We Celebrate Christmas...

Christmas, 2010, has finally arrived!! This is the reason we celebrate this wonderful holiday. We celebrate His birth. As the Irish blessing states, "May He keep you in the palm of His hand." Merry Christmas!

12-24-10 Santa Is Getting Ready...

On the 12th day of Christmas, now that the house is decorated, I spied Santa getting ready for his annual trip.

12-13-10 A Decorated Tree with....

On the 11th day of Christmas, as I was decorating my house, my husband decorated the Christmas tree with lights, garland, ornaments and a minature Disney monoral.

12-22-10 The Bouncing Snowman...

On the 10th day of Christmas, as I was decorating the house, I found "The Bouncing Snowman" spreading "magic everywhere."

12-21-10 May You Truly Believe....

On the 9th day of Christmas, as I was decorating my house, this Santa from "The Polar Express" stated, "May you truly believe!"

12-20-10 Snow Family Ready..

On the 8th day of Christmas, as I was decorating the house, I spotted this snow family patiently waiting for the weather to change.

12-19-10 A Train Pulling into Town...

On the 7th day of Christmas, as I was decorating my house, the train pulled into Prairie Hills town, bringing passingers home for the holidays.

12-18-10 A Town of Snowpeople...

On the 6th day of Christmas, while decorating my house, I found a town of snowpeople hanging about.

12-17-10 Five Hams Ready for Smokin'...

On the 5th day of Christmas, I decorated my house with the smells of freshly smoked hams.

12-16-10 Four Children's Holiday Books...

On the 4th day of Christmas, I decorated my house with 4 children's Holiday books.

12-15-10 Three Stockings hanging...

On the 3rd day of Christmas, I decorated our house with 3 handmade stockings and hung them on the mantle.

12-14-10 Two ceramic reindeer....

On the 2nd day of Christmas, I decorated my house with two ceramic reindeer the I set upon a shelf.

12-13-10 One Elf Hiding in a Wreath

From now until Christmas, I thought I would post about different items we decorate our house for Christmas with. Kind of in a "On the first day of Christmas, I decorated my house with..." (take off of the "12 Days of Christmas"). So...On the first day of Christmas, I decorated my house with one elf hiding in a Christmas wreath.

12-7-10 A Charlie Brown Christmas

It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on TV. I have watched it every year since I was little.

12-6-10 1st Anniversary Cake

This past July our daughter & son-in-law celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary. Since they were out of town for their anniversary, they didn't share in cutting their "anniversary cake." This past weekend, I decided it had been the freezer long enough and thawed it out. It still looked pretty, but the taste.......I'm not sure where this tradition was started.

12-5-10 Child Labor

Son came home from college this weekend and we put him to work. Our neighbor had cut down a couple of trees in his yard over the summer and gave us the wood. Some of the logs were too large to use, so we enlisted the muscles of one more suitable for the work.

11-30-10 The Crossover Season

Fall is the crossover season. It's the only season that allows trees to have more than one color of leaf. It's the season where we get used to wearing short-sleeves, then Mother Nature reminds us that She is "in charge." Fall is the colorful season. What other time of year can we see yellow, red, gold, tan, and all shades in between?

11-29-10 Falls Brilliant Colors

The one red leaf, the last of its clan,

That dances as often as dance it can,

Hanging so light, and hanging so high,

On the topmost twig that looks up a the sky.

---Samuel Taylor Coleridge

11_28_10 Feast of Thanksgiving

The feast of Thanks. Thanksgiving Feast. That turkey meal. Whatever you call it, IT'S GOOD!!!

11-23-10 Climbing the Ladder

We are having some work done on our house, and our contractor has several ladders laying in our backyard. This one is the longest one.

11-21-10 Choppin' Wood

Last summer, our neighbor chopped two of he trees down and gave us the wood. However, some of the logs needed splitting. So when Tim get's the urge, he goes out and splits wood. Today was one of those days.

11-14-10 The Daily Shoot Turns 1!

The "Daily Shoot" turns 1 year old today! It has been a source of inspiration for me as I work on my photography skills. In honor of it's birthday, it suggested to make a photo with a calendar theme.

11-12-10 Veteran's Day Tribute

(Meant to post this yesterday.) In the town I work in, they have a Veteran's Memorial. Last Saturday, they had a parade that ended at the memorial. Lots of people showed up, including members of the Patriot Guard. I was conducting a training across the street, when they fired the cannon off. Both days, Saturday and Thursday, actual Veteran's Day, made me say "Thanks" to
to those that have helped and are helping to keep this country free.

11-10-10 Coloful!!

I know I keep going on about this year's autumn colors, but they are so brilliant. Soon the colorful leaves will fall, and the harsh reality of winter will be upon us. So I'm going to enjoy the splendid color while I can.

11-9-10 Fall Colors

I love this time of year. The colors are so brilliant.

11-8-10 Enjoying the Day

Keilo & I went back to our favorite park, Swanson, and enjoyed some "bonding" time.

10-8-10 Kansas in the Fall

Keilo and I went back to our favorite park, Swanson, to see what fall colors we could find. On our way back, I saw this tree with the flag flying. Although today was windy, it was a good day to be outside.

11-1-10 Waiting for Goblins

(Keilo's thoughts...) "Where are they? I know they're out there. They come to the door, Mom gives them something, then they leave. Why don't they come in?"

10-31-10 Happy Halloween!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

10-30-10 Best Buds

My neighbors had to go out of town for the day, so Megan (Golden Retriever) came over for a visit.

10-29-10 Last Chance Store

This was taken at the Last Chance Store in Council Grove. In my 38 years of going up there, I have yet to step foot inside. Actually, I don't think there is anything left inside. It's just a neat, limestone building; one of many in the area.

10-27-10 Fall Festival: Repurposing

Last night I went with a friend of mine to a women's fellowship dinner at her church. Each year, ladies of the church sign up to decorate a table and host it. The food is catered and they have an inspirational speaker. This year's overall theme was "Repurposing Your Life". Each of the tables were decorated with items from the hostess' home. This one was one of my favorites as the hostess used gameboards as the placemats.

10-25-10 Autumn Sunrise

This was the sunrise this morning as I headed to work. The colors were so vivid, even the radio DJ's were talking about it.

10-20-10 Mums the Word

Looking for today's picture and noticed my neighbor's mums. The weather here in Kansas has been perfect for mums.

10-19-10 Burnin' Brush

On my way to work this morning, I noticed two large burn piles, one on each side of the road, burning a large pile of brush. They really stood out as it was overcast and kind of dark.

10-18-10 Reflection On the Lake

The day we closed down the cabin, the weather was perfect. Not a leaf was moving, and there was barely a ripple on the water. Weather like that doesn't happen very often in Kansas.

10-18-10 Kansas Fall Colors

This time of year in Kansas produces lovely colors of autumn. These leaves in northeastern Kansas are just starting to turn. Over the next several weeks, the Kansas landscape will transform into a wonderous view of colors.