9-7-10 View From Cabin

This is the view from our deck at the lake. The season is coming to a close. We only have a few more weekends before we have to close it down.

9-6-10 Mardi Gras (Council Grove Style)

This weekend was our big Labor Day Bash at the lake. This year's theme was "Mardi Gras." We had jambalya, Gumbo, red beans & rice, as well as other cajun-type dishes. Forty-two friends & family showed up for the event. Although the wind blew like crazy, everyone seemed to have a great time.

9-2-10 Impatients Being Patient

Captured these impatients blooming in a park flower garden. For as much hot, dry, weather we have had, they looked as healthy and refreshed.

9-1-10 Knocking Down the Old

This is part of the "Fairmont Creamery" building in Council Grove, KS. They are in the process of knocking down this building. I'm not sure what, if anything, will take it's place. In the mean time, it makes a good place to take pictures.

8-31-10 Tubular View

Was walking around a park in Valley Center the other day and noticed this view through some of the playground equipment.

8-30-10 The Fairmont Creamery Co.

This old warehouse building used to be the home of The Fairmont Creamery Co., located in Council Grove, Kansas. The best I can determine is that it was part of the Blue Valley Creamery Company, based out of Nebraska. This creamery has been shut down for years,

and is in the process of either being torn down or remade to house some other type of business.

8-29-10 Charlotte's Web

While taking pictures of something else, I found this great looking spider's web.

8-26-10 Put Money In the Box

Was on my way home from school and drove past this old wagon sitting out front at a farm. I'm assuming they had produce on the wagon to sell. Must be very trusting soles to leave the money box out there.

8-25-10 Water Fun

Went out to lunch today and discovered this park just down the street from the HS I am housed at. The green round thing (which from the other side looks like a frog, sprays water inside the circle; the orange, tall pipe with the snake head shoots out water from the mouth of the snake; there are jets in the concrete that shoot up water too! I'm sure this was a hit this summer.

8-24-10 Shimmering Pampass Grass

As the sun was coming up yesterday morning, and I was backing out of our drive, I noticed the flowering part of the pampass grass shimmering in the sunlight.

8-23-10 Morning Sun

As I was pulling out of the driveway this morning, I caught the sun trying to shake off the clouds.

8-22-10 Smokin' Pulled Pork

Today was "Smokin' Day". I smoked 18lbs of pork for our Labor Day bash at the lake. However, when you take away the fat and bone, it only netted 8lbs. However, that should be plenty with everything else we're having. This year's theme..."Mardi Gras"!! We'll be having jambalaya, gumbo, dirty rice, red beans & rice, Cajun music and of course...Cajun smoked pork.

8-21-10 Tritz Audio

This is the mascot for our son's DJ business, "Tritz Audio". He and his partner, Richie, were at a booth at the Maize South football carnival. For one ticket, they would play your request.

8-20-10 Boys and Their Toys

As many of you know, Kyle (son) just returned from Walt Disney World where he spent six months in an internship. He was a castmember, working in transportation; specifically, the monorail. Before he left, he decided his dad, who loves trains, should have a, fully functioning, monorail set. They had a great time setting it up together. Tim has decided that the monorail set is the "train" set that will be around our Christmas tree this year.

8-19-10 Muppets In Star Wars

Okay, one may think that I'm a Star Wars fanatic. Well I do like Star Wars, but I like the spoofs of Star Wars even better. Mr. Potato Head, Muppets, M&M Guys, and even Legos, have spoofed Star Wars. Thanks, George Lucas, for my collection of Star Wars (spoof) memoribilia.

8-17-10 Where's Mickey?

Last February, I posted a picture of our son's bedroom the night before he left for his internship at Disney World. Well, guess who returned?....He'll be home for a few days before leaving again for Kansas State University.

8-16-10 Mr. Potato Head meets Star Wars

Okay, so call me "a big kid"! I have toys & stuffed animals sitting around in my home office. My lastest addition (thanks to my son who just returned from Disney World) is "Chipbacca" (left). The other one, "Darth Tater" I got from my son for Christmas several years ago.

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8-12-10 Got Milk?

This time of year is when farmers bail their fields. Every time I see these hay bails I think, to a giant, they look like shredded wheat. Got milk?

8-11-10

"Sunsets are forever

they happen every night

sunsets blow my mind away

and that is just so right
for they are one

of nature's little gems

and many colors make

so always watch a sunset

and your heart will never break."

poem by Jishi Santos

8-10-10 A Flint Hills Summer Sunset

Although the day was hot and humid, the evening was ablaze with a summer sunset.