They Are Piling Up

On this eve of October, the pumpkins in their many and varied forms are showing up everywhere.

Tree Hugging

Engaging

Congratulations to Hayden and Matt on their engagement. You can see Hayden's ring in the photo. We went to the Royals last regular season home game yesterday. Great day.

Carvers

These gentlemen continued to carve while they talked to prospective buyers at the Overland Park Fall Festival.

Eye of Oculus

  This is the view of downtown from one of the viewpoints within Oculus by Denise DiPiazzo. It's part of Art in the Square at Washington Square Park just north of Crown Center. The piece (below) is intended to highlight nearby landmarks by through its viewpoints. Very interesting.

 

The Kings of Central

Royals are in the postseason. They really made us sweat these last few weeks.

A River Runs Among Them

Back to Vermont for just a moment. We were facinated by this. Someone took the time to build dozens of cairns in the West River in Vermont. I suspect a raging current will disperse them. Cairns are intended to help hikers find their way. When they are strewn about like these, purists call it a form of graffiti because they don't serve their purpose and litter the landscape. I thought they were fascinating.

A Beaming Bride

Cindy and Dad on this the 32nd anniversary of George and Cindy's wedding.

Now I Can Work

My new desk, which not only is great because it has space for the keyboard, but actually has altogether better work space.

Fall Surprise

It's fun each year to find the fall crocus blooming. Harbinger of winter instead of spring, I suppose.

Plein Air Competition

One of the artists in the Brush Creek Art Walk: A plein air competition. Paintings were painted entirely on-site, “en plein air” (in the open air), in three-hour time periods over three days. They are entered in a competition and the paintings will be on display in October at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center. 

I'll Just Park Here

We watched this woman attempt three times to park and this is what she found to be satisfactory. I guess when you're hungry, the accuracy of parking is not important. Gives handicapped licenses a whole new meaning.

Poor Working Conditions

The keyboard tray just dropped while I was typing. I find this a difficult way to work.

Go Chiefs!

The JC Nichols Fountain was dyed red for the season home opener yesterday. Too bad the Broncos had to ruin the day.

Showing Our Loyalty

In this September 1972 photo, we sisters seem to have a KU theme which the brothers did not follow through with.

Ye Old State House

The Old State House in Boston, built in 1713, nestles next to modern day skyscrapers. The Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston on July 18, 1776 from the little balcony on the second floor, and the Boston Massacre occurred on the street you see in 1770. So much history there.

Sunny Day Diner

We found this delightful breakfast spot in Lincoln, New Hampshire. The waitress said it was built in 1950 and moved to its present location in the '80s. That morning it was just us and another couple at the early hour. Not sure how I managed to get the photo without either waitress in it because the place was tiny.

My Summer Cottage

Thus spoke the Vanderbilts when referring to their Newport, Rhode Island house - The Breakers. The 70-room mansion was built in 1895. Unfortunately you can't take any photos while inside.

A Covered Bridge

What could be more Vermonty? The Scott Bridge was built in 1870 over the West River and is closed to vehicular traffic. It was used by pedestrians until Hurricane Irene in 2011 weakened it further.

East Quoddy Lighthouse

The beautiful East Quoddy Lighthouse on Campobello Island in Brunswick, and (below) the treacherous access available only at low tide. It was sounding its foghorn when we were there, right next to my ear. It's really really loud.

The Mighty Atlantic

In Acadia National Park at Bar Harbor, Maine. 

FDR's Summer Home

Campobello in Brunswick, Canada is where Roosevelt spent his summers growing up, and where in 1921 he came down with polio.

Perplexed

One wonders what Steve and Chris are doing. Whatever is intriguing them seems also to have caught Dad's attention.

Lobster traps

After a hard day's work at Bailey Island, Maine

A Secret Garden

Tired Girl

In celebration of Hayden's birthday today, here's Mom with her. She wore out at the picnic.

9/11 Memorial in Overland Park

The memorial at 12401 Hemlock Ave consists of this 14-foot high relic from Ground Zero in New York. The the stone below from Ground Zero is accompanied by a wall providing the history of the event and all the names of the dead. When the steel beam was driven to the site a few years ago, people stood along the road in silence...

They're Everywhere!

Crews are in our neighborhood laying the ATand T high speed cables. They come early and leave late but are quite tidy, except of course for all the cones and orange fences.

Flashback to the '80s

This guy had a rather large radio up against his ear the whole game, antenna up and all. Reminded me of folks and their boomboxes. Great game, if a little long. Royals won 15-7 but it took four hours.

Happy Birthday, Hayden!!

... on Monday.

Ichabod Challenge

It was Washburn night at the K so the Ichabod was catching the ceremonial first pitch. Unfortunately, he couldn't actually see well because of the mask. Slugger in his Johnny Cueto locks was trying to help.

Tiny Wonders

Cindy gave me this miniature mum for my desk. I've never seen one so small.