Hail! Ceasar....Hail!

Mother Nature's on the rampage tonight! Storms rolled in around 5:30p, with heavy rain and hail, eventually causing the tornado sirens to sound. I haven't seen hail like this in a long time. Glad we paid the extra to upgrade the shingles on our new roof last year.

9-14-10 Watch Out, Toto...

Looks like the Wicked Witch of the West is close by! This bicycle is part of someone's cabin marker at the lake. I love how they have made planters out of the baskets. So far, I haven't seen any flying monkeys!

9-13-10 Horse Shoe, Anyone?

There is a small park area down the road at the lake where three horse shoe pits were set up. Now by the looks of them, they have been there for quite a while. However, it gave us the inspiration to purchase a set and make our own pit. Many games were played over the Labor Day weekend.

9-12-10 Sailin' Away

The weather this weekend was great for sailing, or doing other things on the lake. We had warm days, but cool nights. (Sigh!) Weekends like this are numbered. We close things down the first of October.

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.

8-8-10 Bad Dog

We were at the lake this weekend. After dinner, Friday evening, Tim & I wanted to shoot the sunset. When we left, I told Keilo, (the dog), "No, you can't go," and I walked out the door. Big mistake! This is what we came home to. Apparently, Keilo thought he was going!!

8-4-10 Summer Heat

The Daily Shoot suggested "weather affects us all. Make a photo of something affected by the weather." As you can tell, this hosta is not fairing well in the summer heat.

8-3-10 Pioneer Bluffs Barn

Pretty much speaks for itself!!

8-2-10 Honey Bees

While I was wandering the grounds of Pioneer Bluffs Ranch a week ago, I came across two bee boxes. They were "a buzz" (sorry!!) with activity. Wonder if the ranch plans on selling the honey? Yummy!

8-1-10 Looking Out the Barn Window

Old wooden barns have such character. They remind us of a time gone-by. The glass has imperfections, the wood is old and rotting in places. However, many stand the test of time.

7-31-10 First Anniversary

One year ago today, our daughter & son-in-law were married. It's hard to believe it has a year since they pledged their love. Can you remember your first anniversary?

7-30-10 Watermelon Anyone?

Nothing helps cool you down than a slice of watermelon. This was very ripe, sweet, and oh, so good!

7-29-10 Little House in the Woods

Still at Pioneer Bluffs Ranch, in Chase County, Kansas. This shot made me think of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her "Little House On the Prairie" series.

7-28-10 Tricycle Ridin'

Remember, when you were finally big enough to ride a tricycle? Your feet just reaching the pedals, making the pedals go faster and faster, then coasting until you stop? Ahhh, childhood!

7-27-10 Rogler Original Homestead

This was the original Rogler homestead. The foundation is made from flattened limestone rocks. At some point, cement was poured for the floor and to secure the walls, between the timbers, & a more secure roof put on. The glass in the windows are original as they are warped and show imperfections.

7-26-10 Inside Looking Out

Pioneer Bluffs Ranch: I'm inside the farmhouse, standing in the parlor, looking out this magnificent leaded glass window. This ranch was started in 1859 by the Rogler family. Not sure when the farmhouse was built. I'm assuming in the early 1900's.

7-25-10 Pioneer Bluffs Ranch

Last night, we drove from the lake over to just north of Matfield Green, to a ranch called "Pioneer Bluffs". Up until about 4 or 5 years ago, this was a working ranch, right in the heart of Chase County, in the beautiful Flint Hills. The ranch was sold to a non-profit organization, whose mission is to preserve the land and the ranching way of life. We came here to listen to the author of "Prairy Erth", William Least Heat-Moon speak about his book and to watch a documentary that was made regarding his book about Chase County and the ranches there. Over the next few posts, I'll tell more about the ranch and the documentary that will show this fall on PBS.

7-22-10 Asian Warrior Ship

This was taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom, in the Asian section. It's a replica of an Asian warrior ship.

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.