Tending to the Statuary

I joined the City of Fountains organization for cleaning of a statue along Ward Parkway yesterday. I actually just went to take a photo but somehow ended up scrubbing away. It seems cleaning of them is needed periodically to reduce environmental damage. Never power wash and don't use chemicals. We mostly got moss and dirt off without changing the appearance.

 

Under Construction

An art installation celebrating Leawood's 75th anniversary is under construction. Check back for the finished sculpture.
 

Hiding in the Woods

Someone cleverly decorated this tree stump.

 

Mr. Cool

Happy birthday to Scott, who was showing off his cool in 1974 with Dad lurking in the background.

 

On the Job

I found Colin on the job at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum.

 

Things That Suck Less Than Moving

Our neighbors used Moving Proz and we enjoyed the humor on the trucks. We saw one other but I didn't get a pic. Might as well make things fun, because moving isn't.

 

Airborne

Adam is flying into summer.

 

Get in the Picture

We had a special edition Weight Watchers walk yesterday. It was hot and long but the worst part was trying to get everyone in a picture - and that was before we started. Many of these folks did not get far but they showed up. That's the first step.
 

Artist at Work

Vala and I visited the Ceramic Cafe storytime for her birthday. The story was "Elmer" about a very colorful elephant and then she got to paint one. She said she needed to use all the colors.

 

So Much to See

Learnature at Bowlin Family Farms in DeSoto provided a variety of information about (above) growing cantaloupe (from a bright blue seed), tomatoes and pickles. We followed that with crafts and snacks.

 

The Grand Life

We enjoyed the lobby and porch of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The room rates were way too high for our budget, which makes it even more impressive that we stayed there as kids for one night. 1997

 

StoneLion Puppets

We enjoyed the animals at StoneLion Puppet Theatre but Colin thought these guys were getting a little too close. Mostly we were back further. Lowell and Vala got to pet the dolphin.

 

Mermaids with Mermaids

Lowell and Vala each had mermaid dolls and were playing a game involving find the mermaid. One of the mermaids floated but the other sank so that was trickier.
 

Father's Day 2024

Howard surrounded by his offspring.

 

Birthday Girls

Lowell and Vala had a joint birthday party between their birthdays - so here you see a 6-year-old and an almost 4-year-old.

 

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

Lowell's birthday present from us was story time at the Ceramic Cafe. They read about the pig and the pancake and then she created her own piggy bank. Painting is complete. Her pig is sporting an eye patch. Now we wait 10 days for the finished, fired pig.

 

Y'all Means All of Us

This colorful heart by KU Med Center south is by Monica Robies to showcse the LCBBTQIA+ community's integration and support in Kansas City.
 

The Rays

Both Dad and Grandpa had birthdays this week so here they are with Mom and Grandma Vala in 1945 at the Madison house.
 

Stage Debut

Vala performed "Bop Bop Dinosaur" with Mr. Stinky Feet at Ironwoods Park Lodge. She's reluctant about a lot of things but jumped up to volunteer and did a great job. She got a high five at the end.

 

Blue Peace

This pool at the K-State Johnson County Research and Extension Office is so soothing to sit beside. You can enjoy a zen moment in your day to the quiet sounds of water.
 

Dragon Heart

Although they found the sun a bit bright, Adam and Lowell liked the dragon heart outside the Nelson-Atkins. The Parade of Hearts hunt continues...
 

Blending In

The butterfly house at the 60th anniversary celebration at Family Tree Nursery had an amazing number of butterflies but they blended in quite well. When I was inside, they were flying all around me but it was quite difficult to photograph.

 

Final Cleanup

This giant truck with a big crane between the two trailers is going through the neighborhood picking up the storm debris from two weeks ago.
 

Birthday at the Farmstead

We celebrated Lowell's 6th birthday with a trip to the Deanna Rose Farmstead. We took a hayride, had ice cream, pet and fed the goats, rode tractors. Adam like the tractors the best.

Dandelion Fountain at HemisFair

A great day at the HemisFair in 1968 in San Antonio in front of the William Cameron fountain designed to look like a dandelion. Ingrid was with us and must have taken the picture. I seem to be enjoying myself but not everyone is.

Nature Journals and Garden Walk

We made nature journals at the Overland Park Arboretum and then we traversed the gardens.

 

Just a Little Boost

Bruno decided he needed just a little boost to look out the window. It's supposed to be for scratching but it's mostly used for sleeping or this.
 

A Tribute to Arthur Kraft

Who is Arthur Kraft, you might ask. I wondered the same. It seems he was a painter, sculptor and muralist from Kansas City. Celina Curry focused her heart on Kraft to educate about, as she described it, "an historical figure in the landscape of contemporary Kansas City art." This one lives on the Plaza.