Crown Center Adventures

In our adventures Adam first was thrilled to find a sword at Fairy Tale Village. Then we found a giant Spiderman and he got his photo on the magazine cover shooting his web to Spiderman. All in all, a good outing.

Cool Cousins

Scott and Hal in summer 1973. I remember eating many a meal in the Jensens' kitchen while the adults ate in the dining room. Happy birthday to Scott today!
 

Embracing Summer Fun

Colin loved the sprinkler. I kept it at just his size.

 

In Miniature

Replicas of the Nelson-Atkins and shuttlecocks are part of the Art Course mini golf course on the south grounds.
 

Pushing Through

This little mushroom managed to displace a large piece of earth to make its presence know.
 

Birthday Girls

We celebrated Lowell and Vala's birthdays together. Their cousin Payton, who will be 5 at the end of July, joined in the fun.
 

Beautiful Disruption

We enjoyed the immersive experience in the Bloch Galleries where they use lighting, sound effects and narration to tell the story of the impressionists. It's a special engagement that uses the masterpieces and some lesser know works by the artists already in the galleries, their words and the words of critics in their time.
 

Summer Is Here

... so Adam and I hit the pool. It was delightful.

 

Grandma Vala Birthday Help

Stacy, Hayden and Morgan helped Great-Grandma blow out her candles. Her birthday was yesterday. I think she was 91 in this photo.
 

Beautiful Bessie

Colin and I went in search of a Parade of Hearts entry since they are removing them July 2. We found this cow, which he is pointing out for me. It was created by Renee Howard.
 

Nature's Fireworks

These delphiniums remind me of 4th of July fountains. I always thought delphiniums were purple/blue but apparently they have new colors.
 

Personal Reading Time

Colin and Pops were having some personal reading time. I enjoyed a bevy of boys in my space.

 

Glory of a Summer Garden

It was a beautiful day in Kauffman Memorial Garden. Cindy and I were on a City of Fountains Foundation tour but they didn't let us out of the bus at any of the fountains. We started from the garden, so we toured it.

 

Father's Day Love

Howard surrounded by kids and grandkids for a Father's Day celebration. Per usual, can't get everybody to look at the same time. But everyone at the kids table looked at once.

 

The Creek Is Best

Great fun exploring the water features at the Lake Olathe splash pad, ending with a picnic.

It may not look like it, but they are all yelling summer and aren't making mad faces.

Posting the Colors

Hayden took on the task of decorating our new house in 1990. Seems appropriate in recognition of Flag Day.
 

Newest Firefighter

The newest of my grandchildren to drive the Fairway Park firetruck.
 

Gammy Joins the Fairies

I now have a Gammy fairy in the fairy garden, courtesy of the Fergusons. An appropriate addition.
 

Take a Stick, Leave a Stick

This homeowner added to its Little Free Library with something for dogs – a Happy Dog Library. Instead of take a book, leave a book, the canines can have a stick to play with - but they should add one sometimes. Clever.

 

Discovering the Wonder

The boys first set sail at Wonderscope and then found individual activities to their liking.

 

Floating Wetlands

Johnson County is adding 10 of these floating wetlands to South Lake to combat an algae problem. They added the first one five years ago. (You can see it in the background below.) Made of plastic water bottles, the plants on top put their roots through the bottom and draw algae-causing fertilizers out of water, reducing the number of harmful algae blooms on the lake. The lake, which is popular with fisherman, has been closed several times because of algae blooms.

 

Storytime in the Garden

Adam and I enjoyed Nature Storytime at Overland Park Arboretum. They used scarves for the colors of butterflies and, below, he is making a butterfly with his hands.

 

What Is This Exciting Gift?

Mom's creative gift wrapping for Dad's birthday. And what did he get? An artificial plant for the basement rec room! 1970.

 

Dazzling

Miss Vala's smile radiates. She is sporting a tattoo from the dentist (dinosaur) and one from the enchanted faire.

 

Lowell Is 5!

Happy birthday to Lowell today. She enjoyed a sparkle cake to go with her sparkle eyes.
 

Urban Art for an Urban Winery

Mano's at 1919 Oak is an urban winery that provides hand etched bottles of specialty wines. I love the urban murals around Kansas City.

 

Zoo Encounters

I joined Vala and Lowell at the Kansas City Zoo for a birthday party that included animal encounters. They liked touching the tortoise.

 

Enchanted Faire

I found some familiar fairies at the Overland Park Arboretum Enchanted Faire. Vala particularly liked the mermaids but not the fake grass around the gnomes so she opted out of that photo.