Snow Humor

I enjoyed this display on Roe. Thanks to Calvin and Hobbes for the inspiration.
 

Celebrating Kansas Day

The Eudora kindergarteners did a rousing musical of Kansas themed favorites for their program. Vala is in the center with a bison on her head. 
She was easy to spot in her hot pink.

 

A Fine Spring Day

Wishing Susan a happy birthday today. Here she is with Lee on the eve of their wedding. Love the length of her dress. 1974
 

The Boy Loves the Snow

Colin did not want to come inside.

 

Celebrating the Snow

We experimented with a snow volcano and made snow ice cream to take advantage of a snow day. It was an invigorating 1°.

Adam measured our snowfall at 5 inches.

Walking Warriors

I wanted to prove that we were indeed out walking early this morning in the bone-chilling cold. I didn't take time to focus carefully as I had to have my glove off to take the picture.
 

Wonder What Squirrels Do in the Cold?

You can see them here in the early morning up in the tree, all balled up. Seems precarious and cold.

 

Snow Fog

Howard created a snow fog clearing the driveway. It was a light, fine snow making it easy to clear. But just a bit nippy out there.
 

Train Arriving

Cool train depot with the train continually running. Colin's favorite.
 

Genealogy Lab

I was all set up to scan slides at the Johnson County Library Genealogy Lab. It's not fast but you get good quality scans. That's Ron, the library volunteer.
 

A Snowy Topeka Day

Our house in Topeka on a cold January day in 1978. 3914 Munson. And our cat, Socks, navigating the snow.

 

Ice Cream Shoppe

Colin took requests for ice cream at the library. This cone was peppermint, made especially for me.
 

All Sizes

Golfers come in all sizes. The man on the left is a normally sized individual, making the one on the right look like a giant. Photo courtesy of Howard
 

Bunk Beds

Izzy took the top bunk and Bruno the bottom.

 

A Trip to Madagascar

Adam's Gammy experience was a movie at the Extreme Screen at Union Station. We saw the 20th anniversary edition of "Madagascar." We had plenty of popcorn to start the movie.

 

Freezer Tip

I bought 6 lbs of ground beef at Costco to freeze. I learned this week that placing the beef in freezer bags holding one pound and rolling it flat not only makes it easier to stack in the freezer, it makes it quicker to defrost. Win, win.
 

Exploring a New Culinary Option

Cindy and I tried out a new place - West Plaza Bodega that opened in December. The treats, made by Blackhole Bakery (at 55th and Troost), looked enticing but we were underwhelmed by the whole experience. The adventure was fun nonetheless. It's in the West Plaza antique district.

 

Laborers Cogitating

Howard and Stacy did many projects when she moved into her house 20 years ago. Here they dug a large hole for a window well to provide better light into the basement. You can see the finished project below. 2006

 

Let's Play in the Sand

Colin's Gammy experience was playtime at Dozer Leawood, a fun indoor sandbox. It was a busy place.

Just What Is a Nutcracker?

Apparently you can style a nutcracker any way you want. I thought this one was novel.
 

Intro to Runzas

I learned to make runzas, as the women's group sold them as a fundraiser. In case you don't know they are yeast bread filled with seasoned ground beef, cabbage, and onions, and are sometimes called bierocks. Fortunately my role was defrosting the filling so I didn't handle the dough. We made 175!

 

Creating Prayer Beads

Some members of the Colonial care committee attended a workshop about making a circle of prayer beads for use in our ministry. Sounded a bit like a rosary concept but seems less so after hearing the introduction. You can see some of our work below.

 

A Woman's Place

So true, still.

 

Avatar: The Story Continues

Loved the color and action of Avatar: Fire and Ash. It's a bit long though – over 3 hours.
 

The Race Is On

My cousin Kerry and I were racing at Burnett's Mound in Topeka. Susan was taking motion shots for her photo journalism class. 1971
 

Reading to Colin

Lowell read books to Colin before his nap. Off camera, you can see below what also was happening in the room.

 

Where's Waldo?

It's tricky to find my friend. This time he was hiding behind the tree on a fence.
 

A Study in Pink

I thought Vala was pinkalicious at church, until I saw the full outfit (photo courtesy of Hayden). It was so much more.

 

A Ring of Family

My family gave me this beautiful ring for Christmas. It has the birthstones of all the grandkids and Stacy and Hayden. I tried to photograph it with it on my hand but you couldn't see all the stones. Stacy (green) and Hayden (blue) are in the center and kids out from there.

 

Blending In

I noticed this impressive Barred Owl staring in the patio doors at me. We had seen an owl fly across the yard but it's difficult to spot in trees. Blends in quite well.
 

Sailing Away

As another Christmas season comes to a close, these Frostys are sailing away. A new display on Candy Cane Lane this year.
 

Ringing in 1991

A noon year's celebration in 1991. Stacy and Hayden are fully invested. Morgan and George a bit less so.