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!!!

4-4-10 Bradford Pear Trees

With the warm weather we've had the past several days, the Bradford Pear trees have really blossomed. For those who don't know what they are, they are a fruitless, fast growing tree, that blossoms in the spring, then lose their blossoms which are replaced by leaves. Yet, their wood is soft which means they can break easily in a storm.

4-3-10 They're Back!!

These are our neighborhood ducks. Each spring, for several years now, we have had a pair of ducks wander around our neighborhood, to the delight of everyone.

4-2-10 Planting Time

Was out of school today, so took advantage of the great weather to start looking at what I'd like to plant in the flower pots on the deck. So much color....so many choices.

4-1-10 April Morning Sunrise

This was the view outside my bedroom window this morning. I LOVE Kansas sunrises!

3-31-10 A Staff Picnic

Each month we have a staff luncheon at school. It has started to become a competition as to who can come up with the best theme. This month we were treated to a chicken dinner picnic...complete with ants!! We had fried and baked chicken, potato salad, baked beans, fruit and yummy desserts. Luckily, the ants behaved themselves.

3-30-10 A Walking Path

When Keilo & I go walking, I like taking this route because of the trees. Although we have been in the area for close to 20 years, I don't remember if this tree-lined sidewalk is natural or man-made. At any rate, we love walking it especially in the early morning.

3-29-10 Get Lost

Went back to my new favorite place to take pictures, Scenic Landscapes. This is a great greenhouse where you could lose yourself in a book, music or just the sounds around you.

3-28-10 One Green & Speckled Frog

Remember this song:
One green and speckled frog
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
YYYYuuuummmm, YYYYuuuummmm

He jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were
No green and speckled frogs,
GGGGlllluuuubbbb, GGGGlllluuuubbbb

3-27-10 Shadows of Character

Why are old barns and sheds so fun to shoot? Maybe because they have so much character.

3-26-10 View From My Rearview Mirror

This was the view in my side rearview mirror this morning. I love being able to watch the sun rise on my way to work.

3-25-10 Spooky Old House

The Daily Shoot said to make a black & white photo with high contrast. I have driven by this old, abandoned, farm house each day and thought it would make a great haunted house. I've also tried to imagine what the surrounding land looked like back when it was built.

3-24-10 Water Wheel Pump House

Wouldn't this view into your backyard look great? This is another "Scenic Landscape" design. This is a water wheel pump house that sits next to a koi pond.

3-23-10 Wheels of the Past

This is a wheel from an old farm wagon I found at a landscaping place called "Scenic Landscapes". This place is a photographer's dream! They have amazing ponds, old buildings and other landscape scenes that you can purchase and they will install for you. They invite you to stroll their 2 1/2 acres of "scenes"; take photos and enjoy what they have to offer.

3-22-10 Keilo's Friend

Golden Retrievers are one of the most laid-back breeds. Megan is my neighbor's dog and every time I go over, Megan is right there, waiting for a pat on the head or for me to throw the ball. She and Keilo (my Sheltie) love getting together to play.

3-20-10 Through the Looking Glass

This photo was taken looking through my dad's lead-glass front door. The subject isn't too exciting, but it gives an interesting perspective to the first day of spring.

3-19-10 The Doctor is In

These medical items are just a few from a collection my dad and step-mom have collected over the the years. Both worked in health related professions. Several of these items, or their more modern cousins, are still in use today.

3-18-10 The Ol' Red Pump

This hand pump, which is now in my dad's backyard, once stood at our family lake house. Back in the 70's, when we first got the lake house, this was how we got our water to use inside the cabin. I remember having to prime the pump several times before the water would flow into our bucket. Once the bucket was full, we'd haul it into the cabin, and put it on the stove to heat up for dishwater, or sponge baths. In the mornings, we could be seen standing around the pump, brushing our teeth and splashing the very cold water on our faces. If we were real daring, we'd stick our heads under the pump, while someone else pumped, and washed our hair. With the well water being so cold, that didn't happen too often! We used the pump for several years, until our neighbor, whom we shared the pump with, modernized the well so he could have running water to his cabin. We then tapped into it and had running water just to the kitchen. It would be many years later until we actually dug our own well to have running water (and indoor plumbing) throughout our cabin. Great memories!

3-17-10 St. Patty's Day

"May your heart be warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day in every way
And forever and ever after." ---an Irish saying
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

3-16-10 Orchids in Bloom

These orchids were given to my step-mom from my dad for Valentine's Day. She said the plant has been blooming ever since.

3-15-10 Signs of Spring

These crocus are the first signs of spring in our yard. If we continue to have mild temperatures and sunshine, I should see many more signs by the end of the week.

3-14-10 Hardy Daylilies

Each year I am amazed when the daylilies sprout. I am amazed that year, after year, they make a hardy return to decorate around our deck and all I have to do is thin them out about every 3 years and transplant them someplace else. This year, the transplants are destined for our daughter and son-in-law's new home.

3-13-10 Who's Going to Win?

Kansas University and Kansas State University play tonight for the Big 12 Championship. Who's going to win? It's pretty exciting since they are playing the game in Kansas City, which is just down the road from both universities. My pick?.....K-State!

3-12-10 Electronic Gadgets

These are a few of the many electronic gadgets I own. Some are old technology, while others are relatively new. However, like a car, once you purchase an electronic gadget and walk out of the store, it becomes old technology.

***Due to sickness, I have not posted for the past 2 days.

3-9-10 Reflections

After school today, and the rain, I stopped by SC Park to catch a reflection. I know it looks like I'm obsessed with the white geese, but I couldn't pass this up.

3-8-10 Swimming with the Geese

By the time I could take a picture today, it was pouring rain and hasn't stopped. So I looked back through my pictures from the other day and found this one of one of the park's white geese.

3-7-10 St. Marks Catholic Church

This church is located in a very small (blink of an eye) township called St. Marks, just west of Wichita. The only thing in this township is the church and public school, which is located across the street. I like the architecture of this old church.

3-6-10 White Goose

The geese in Sedgwick County Park are the meanest. When we pulled up, this guy and his friends came towards the car and were "honking" about something. As soon as we got out of the car, they started to leave, hissing all the way.

3-5-10 Long on Shadows

With the weather hitting 69 degrees, Keilo & I took full advantage and headed to Sedgwick County Park directly from school. The park was full of people and sounds...white geese honking and hissing; children screaming and squealing on the playground equipment; even bagpipes playing off in the distance. There is also this very tall hill that people ride their motor bikes and other things up and down. Since I had never been to the top of this hill, Keilo & I ventured up. This is what my shadow looked like after we got there.

3-4-10 Stripes

Daily Shoot suggested that stripes have a natural pattern. These stripes are in my dining room.

3-3-10 Where Does the Path Lead?

Didn't have much time for a picture today, but I found this one from this past weekend when we went to Chisolm Creek Park/Great Plains Nature Center. We didn't follow this path, but if we go back, I'd like to see where it goes.

3-2-10 It was a Seuss Day!

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive, that is Youer than You."
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

3-1-10 A Piece of Farming History

As we walked the trail at Chisolm Creek Park, we came across this old, rusted out, piece of farm equipment. After we got home, Tim looked it up and found out that it was a 1930's Massey-Harris combine. We're guessing it was left behind when the farmstead was sold to make the park/nature center.

2-28-10 Alice In Wonderland Adventure

Found this while at Chisolm Creek Park. I wonder if Alice will meet the Mad Hatter or the Chester Cat on this trail?

2-27-10 Nature at GPNC

With today's weather being in the low-50's, we took advantage of it and headed to the Great Plains Nature Center, located on the east side of town, adjacent to Chisolm Trail Park. Before the city had expanded too far east, GPNC was constructed in cooperation with the Kansas Wildlife & Parks to preserve and reestablish nature as it once was 100 years ago. Now as the city has grown around it, GPNC is a great place to explore & lose yourself into the world of nature. (Also good for picture taking!) I plan on returning later in the spring to see it as it starts to come alive with green vegitation, trees, animals & insects.

2-26-10 Windmill of Time

Took advantage of today's WONDERFUL weather (for once) to take a quick walk with Keilo and snap a few pictures at Sedwick County Park.

2-25-10 A River Runs Through It

I've posted several pictures about the river that runs through the westside of the county and through Swanson Park. Now here is a picture of the river in all its glory. The Cowskin Creek (actually a river) is a menace for some, but a habitat for others. Many types of aquatic and land animals call it's banks home. The Cowskin has been forging its way around and through the landscape for many years. Man has tried to re-route it, even dam it, yet the Cowskin still goes where it wants.

2-24-10 Cowboy Roundup

Went by a sandwich shop and saw this cowboy rounding up his herd. It is made out of steel and reminds passersby of what this area of the country used to be like. Yippe-kai-ya!

2-23-10 Halfpipe & Friends

I was dusting today and came across these guys sitting on the bookshelf. Since the little guy in front was named "Halfpipe", I thought it would be only fitting, in honor of the Olympics, that I gather his friends and take their picture. Looks like Halfpipe had a bit of trouble on one of his runs.

2-22-10 Shapes of a Quilt

Once again, I turned to The Daily Shoot for inspiration. Today it suggested taking pictures that included squares. What better example of squares than a hand-made quilt. I have several in my home that have been passed down to me by various family members. This one was given to me by a distant cousin on my mother's side. It was started in 1929 and finished in 1945.

2-21-10 Kansas Ice

I figured we wouldn't be able to get through this winter without the Kansas ice. Further north, they had up to 5 inches of snow. Will spring ever get here?

2-20-10 Can You Guess?

The Daily Shoot suggests that if you want to improve on your photos, move closer. Can you guess what these are? They are pvc pipes! I saw this shot when we were at Home Depot.

2-19-10 A Different Perspective

Often times we are so focused on what is ahead of us, that we forget to turn around and see the view from the other direction. When I walk in Swanson Park, I often stop, turn around, and see what it looks like from the opposite perspective. This is the view from the other end of the split rail fence that was posted earlier this week. As we head into spring, then summer, I plan to revisit this park and share how it changes through the seasons.

2-18-10 The Cost of Erosion

Back in Swanson Park, towards the southern part of the park, erosion has taken its toll. If you look closely, those are tree roots that have become exposed due to the constant flooding of this creek. As a result, there are a number of large trees laying in the creek. If too many more fall, the city will have to go in and clear it out. I guess beavers aren't the only ones that can dam up a body of water.

2-17-10 A Tree in Oz

Keilo & I were back in Swanson Park enjoying today's weather and found this tree. It looks like it could have appeared in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz."

2-16-10 A View from the Rail

Being such a nice day, Keilo & I went back Swanson Park for a walk. Most places along the walking path are "undeveloped", except right here. Just behind the hill is a housing development, so I'm not sure if they put in the split rail fence or if the Parks Dept. did. At any rate, it looks nice.

2-15-10 An Old Homestead

As I was leaving my daughter and son-in-law's housing complex, I noticed the old farm across the street. First, the barn caught my eye, then I noticed the old truck in front. After I took the picture, I looked around and wondered how much of this land once belonged to this homestead? With the way the city is expanding, it won't be long before this farm is swallowed up by urban expansion.