Sometimes You Need a Professional

This homeowner is having some difficulty installing his fence. Notice the uneveness on the bottom and the gap in slats. You should know when to spend the money for proper installation because you're going to be looking at it for a long time.

Rally Mantis

Helped bring us a win last night, Royals over Yankees 8-5.

Talking Heads

Rachelle Gardner-Roe created "I See You" for the streetcar stop at Power and Light District. Between the heads are intended to be a spray of words.

Storm Force

The deluge that fell Friday night wreaked havoc, flooding Westport and pushing out of the banks of Brush Creek. This is the unimproved portion of Brush Creek west of the Plaza. Hate to think what would have happened if the improvements downstream hadn't been in place.

Kickoff Music

The KU pep band was momentarily under the direction of Big Jay as prelude to the arrival of Coach Beaty at the KU Football Kickoff Rally in Corinth. Great crowd and we beat the rain.

A Different Perspective

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Quintuplets

Not really but it seemed like it. The playgroup babies were all born within 3 1/2 months, on the same block, with Hayden (right) the youngest. This was the celebration of the terrible 2s.

Moonflower At Last

Hard to catch it blooming because it blooms at night. I'm just excited to finally have blooms. I had lots of moonflowers in our old house and for 20 years I have been trying to grow it here. The white blooms glow in the dark. Pretty cool.

Trump on Your Sleeve

If you haven't heard enough about Trump, you can wear some Trump - made in China, of course.

Finishing Touches

Tweaking the new building billboard in the Crossroads. Not sure who declared Kansas City the soccer capital of America. You can still see the red guide lines on the sides in the middle. The artist was painting the white border after coming down to the ground to look at the piece.

Ketchup by a Landslide

I love it when it's a live hotdog race. I love it when we win 10-0 too.

Lourdes Grotto

The grotto sits in midtown right off Broadway on the grounds of Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Redemptorist Catholic Church. It was built in 1941 and dedicated in 1946 to the 10 parishioners who died in World War II. 

Summer Quiet

Just a quiet summer morning.

You're Never Too Young

... to help get out the vote. Frances, Morgan and Mom were on hand to help Scott at one of the parades during his 1990 run for Congress.

Fire Roasted on Demand

Hen House in Corinth was selling fresh fire roasted authentic Hatch, New Mexico, chile peppers. Hatch bills itself as the chile capital of the world. They even have a festival in September. The guy said they are good for salads, stews, dips and sandwiches. Seemed too much for my palate.

Remember the Missing Royals Player?

He's currently visiting the Mission Hy-Vee. Back in April, someone climbed a billboard overlooking Interstate 435 and took the 14-foot figure of a Royals player jumping to catch a ball before it goes over the outfield wall. On the billboard the stands were visible behind the "wall" making it easier to get the idea.

Blessings for the Academic Year

Hayden and other teachers received a blessing for the school year yesterday.

Listen Local

Local artist Gracie Schram performed on Santa Fe Commons in Overland Park as part of the Johnson County Library's Listen Local program.

Showing Some Love for the Police

This resident is declaring support for the Overland Park Police Department.

Different Flowers

This is one of the sets for the feature film "Different Flowers" being filmed at work. You can't take pictures of anything with people so this is as good as I got. Shelley Long is producing it and was onsite although I never saw her.

Olympians ... In the Beginning

Stacy enjoyed gymnastics for a time, even performing in a talent show, before she moved on to other things.

Banana Color

I love that the underside of the new leaves on my banana tree are this bold red.

I'm Flying!

Airborne at iFly in Overland Park. What a rush. Thanks to Stacy and Hayden for the experience and to Howard for taking this photo. Hayden and Matt flew too.

Art Mixes with Baseball

The Royals-Blue Jays game contributed $5 from every ticket to the ArtsKC Fund. Various facets of the local art scene were on display, some like this in action. And let me say that the grand slam added a lot to the win!

Enchanted Forest

The Enchanted Forest at the Overland Park Arboretum is a temporary addition featuring the woodland homes of gnomes, fairies, elves, sprites and trolls, although none were in evidence. The two large sprites below are to give perspective.

 

Singing on the Roof

First Friday at the Kansas City Public Library downtown brought an interesting mix - music and hubcap art. And for good measure, an exhibit about the 1976 Republican Convention held in Kansas City.

 

Love Tree

This tree in a pocket park on Southwest Blvd. seems to attract lots of photos of couples and love symbols. Approaching it, I thought it was a memorial but it has photos of weddings etc.

Lazy Days of Summer

Swope Park picnic. Just hanging around.

Noodle Art

Another part of Art in the Lop, this one is Superfurniture by Garth Britzman and Matt Elsom. You are supposed to lay on the pieces. As you can see it's not holding up particularly well to that. City Hall is in the background.

Forget Digital

Surprising to see a temperature sign of the old fashioned variety. (I liked the temperature.)

Happy Birthday, Stacy!

On the occasion of her first birthday.