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!!!

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!