Bridging to Junior Scouts

Stacy's Brownie troop participated in a ceremony to become junior Girl Scouts.

 

Loving Her Fisher Price World

Vala enjoys these "antique" toys. Stacy found online marketplaces are asking silly prices for these because they are nostalgic.
 

Spray KC 2021

Pictured are a couple of the murals painted over the weekend as part of the spray mural festival in Kansas City. One of the artists is visible on the top. Seemed scary to me to be standing up there in the wind. Beautiful work throughout the Crossroads area in particular.

 

Providing a Meal

Colonial Church provided a meal at Mill Creek Park again yesterday. We served about 85 homeless people tacos, cookies, fruit and water. The man looking at me is Kar Woo, who heads up the Artists Helping the Homeless project that we participate through.
 

Artist at Work

I drew hearts and Lowell chalked them in. Vala mostly just dropped chalk on us. Fun at the Overland Park Festival.

 

Helping Out

Vala was collecting golf balls for Pops at his office. Of course, she was the one who distributed them, too.

Emergency Captain

Adam commanded the firetruck while Vala took care of the back of the truck.
 

Those Darn Kids

Put the Morgan siblings together and they can never behave, especially for a photo. Happy birthday to my patient mother whose birthday would be Sunday.
 

Bubble Mania

Lowell enjoyed my fire extinguisher bubble machine.

 

Shopping in the Park

We found a Little Library at the back of the park and Vala latched onto a book. She enjoyed it the rest of the time at the park and was still reading it when I took her to meet Hayden in the afternoon.

Return of Sunday Lunch Bunch

We met at Porter Park to continue our COVID safety protocols. I don't actually think we would fit in anybody's house now anyway. We had the addition of Topher and Dylan (middle below) and their parents. Trying to get a group shot went about as well as you would expect. It was great fun though.

 

The Village Is Sleeping

A lot like Sleeping Beauty's vine-covered castle, the fairies are sleeping beneath the vines. It's been a good year for growing miniatures, which have covered the houses and the fairies.
 

A History of Roeland Park

 

A mural is being painted along Roe Lane up to 47th Street depicting the history of Roeland Park. In the center is the roots (above) that blends amazingly with the natural rock. Then you have the Indians on into the diversification of the city. Several artists are taking sections. It's expected to be completed this month.

Below you get a sense of how far it stretches, and that's only half.

 

Eating on the Santa Fe Trail

Adam and Vala decided to eat their snack on the interpretative map of the Santa Fe Trail in Harmon Park. A swale through the park provides evidence of the ruts left by travelers on the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails while passing through this area.
 

Enjoying the Battery

Stacy and Hayden in Battery Park in New York for Hayden's 25th birthday. (It's now again known as The Battery – its original name.)
 

Skate Park Reopens

The Harmon Park Skate Park in Prairie Village is back in full use as you can see after being rebuilt over the summer, replacing the original park that opened in 2005. In 2001, two eighth graders proposed that a park for skateboarders be built and worked to raise the money, eventually getting help from foundations.
 

Throwback Playground

Vala enjoyed (although very serious about it) a ride on an old-fashioned playground merry-go-round. I thought they declared them all unsafe, despite us surviving our childhoods with them on every school grounds.
 

Ready to Serve

The Root Beer Float Guys were ready for our after worship fall welcome. COVID style of course.
 

Crazy Day with the Dwarfs

Looks like the Seven Dwarfs got a bit crazy. A couple of dwarfs and Snow white are laying down in this clever scene. The mostly illegible signs on the tree say Please Play Here. I guess someone did. (see closeup below)

Commemorating 20 Years

This 14-foot beam brought from the basement of the World Trade Center towers commemorates the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The memorial in Overland Park also pays a tribute in lights, mirroring the tribute at ground zero in New York City, through sunrise tomorrow.

Happy Red Friday!

Kicking off the 2021 season with the first Red Friday. I tried to get the junior team to display the flag but they couldn't get it together.

 

Nature's Bounty

Hayden was fascinated with hedge apples one year so she washed this one. And knowing her grandfather would like it, she presented it. He did, showing the proper fascination and appreciation.
 

Summer's Last Burst

Colors are magnificent at Kauffman Gardens.

 

Happy Birthday to Hayden!

Happy birthday today. We celebrated with a family dinner yesterday, including a candle that blew sprinkles everywhere.
 

Foggy Dawn

All the valleys in Meadowbrook Park were shrouded in fog.

 

Let the Dancing Begin

Lowell has launched her dancing career

 

Be Still

... and you will see these beauties settle on the late summer blossoms nearby.

 

The Road Stops Here

They ran the stroller into the tree, because of course they were pushing it and not riding in it. Then Adam decided to climb the tree. The climb was not successful.
 

Always a Princess

Hayden, who is about to have a birthday, is always a princess. She and Becky are dressed for MORP (which is sort of the anti-prom where you wear crazy clothes instead of formals). They are both wearing my dresses from college.
 

Friendship Bench

This bench was painted by 6th Grade Girl Scout Cadettes in 2018 as part of a project. They earned a bronze award for their efforts. Vala and I spied it while visiting the Antioch Library.