Too Much Water

Hillsdale Lake, like many area waterways, has been hit hard this summer with flooding. You can see the shore line is still underwater. The rocky area you see in the foreground (which I walked out on) was actually more like quicksand and unstable. They are releasing water daily but lake is still 3.5 feet above its normal level.

Arms of Love

Getting the grandkids ready for nap time. Love my Gammy days.

High Vantage

Hanging out on the wall at the Liberty Memorial on Labor Day. What parents would set their children up here 😉? And what is everyone waiting to see?

In Flight

Caught these monarchs flitting about the flowers at Loose Park. None to be found in the designated butterfly garden but then I stumbled across these beauties.

Outdoor Gallery

I'm intrigued by this home because of all the art in the yard. I had difficulty capturing it in a way that you could distinguish the individual pieces. Don't know if this is a collector or the artist. They also have a window full of Tiffany lamps.

Hedgehog 2.0

Stacy's hedgehog planter is now sporting his late summer colors. You may remember him from when he arrived for Adam's birth in March.

Rockin' the Neighborhood

Block party on Reeds. Lots of folks and the band played our music (😄) making it a lively event. Lots of little kids and a firetruck too.

Native Planting

This reminds me of the fields we ran through as kids on vacation and the lots not yet occupied by homes in Shawnee Village when I was growing up. But this is an intentional native planting at the Shawnee Mission School District Center for Academic Achievement. It is part of the Do Not Mow, Let It Grow plan providing filtering of storm runoff, a wildlife habitat and improved water quality.

Wearing His Colors

Adam is sporting his K-State shirt. To be fair, I put it on him when I had to change him but he seems happy with it.

Happy Birthday, Frances

In celebration of her birthday today, here is Frances with her cousins Kelly and Taylor.

Toddle Time

Lowell and I tried out Toddle Time at Matt Ross Community Center. Lowell thought it was amazing - so much to do. It's for kids under 5 years.

Emerald Lake

The water surface on the Antioch Park north lake is as green as the grass around it. The lake is described as having a natural wetlands feel but I'm not sure why it's so green. Nothing is posted so I'm guessing it's not a toxic algae bloom. It is beautiful if you aren't looking for a restful pond.

Castle on the Hill

The Park University administration building looks impressive on its hill and equally impressive from street level.

Welcome to Our Lake

It's a good thing this church wasn't having services yesterday because their parking lot was completely flooded. Would be difficult to get out of your car as this wasn't shallow water.

Reach Out and Touch

Fortunately that's not true but you can see from the man and his daughter how close the public is when the train barrels through Parkville. A bit unnerving because it was going quite fast.

Becoming Buddies

Lowell and Adam are learning to play together. Lowell was introducing him to new toys.

First Day of School

Stacy is headed off to kindergarten. I like that the girls have band-aids on the same knees. Must have been too bright for Hayden.

A Perfect Night

The hot air balloon provided a beautiful accent to a lovely dinner with friends on the deck at the new Club 27 at Overland Park Golf Course.

Oliver's Collection

The Corinth library has an area to exhibit kid collections. Above is six-year-old Oliver's collection of Stitch characters.

Modeling

My models in the church nursery. I needed new photos for the Colonial website. One model was more cooperative than the other. 😉

Urban Waterfall

In the midst of northeast Johnson County, who would know this bend in Turkey Creek could look so natural? Unfortunately you can hear the very near interstate much too loudly to really allow for a zen moment.

Hmmm...

That's the name of this new sculpture in Merriam's Waterfall Park. According to Colorado artist Joshua Weiner who created it, it's a whimsical sculpture with the caterpillar looking at a cairn that he thinks is like him.

The Cousins and I - Day 1

Lowell, Adam and I got along marvelously on our first full day of Gammy day care. Lowell was helpful when she wasn't curiously trying to figure out what Adam was doing. It was a fun day.

Delight in the Little Things

A favorite first stop on any camping trip to Colorado was the KOA in Colby where a horse grazed nearby. Who needs mountains?

Talking Heads

The Monticello branch of the library features these heads on the lawn created by Beth Nybeck. She had community conversations from which she selected words to cut into the heads for an airy look and a feeling of conversation.

Golden Mist

Early sun with the humidity creates a misty morning.

Soda Surprise

In our ongoing Surprise Sunday series, yesterday the Soda Jerks served up root beer floats. If you look closely you can see Stacy and Adam in line for treats.

Cousin Time

I wanted a photo of Lowell and Adam together but it was impossible to get them both smiling at the same time. So cute though. We were celebrating Stacy's birthday.

Walking Woman

Walking Woman is a new sculpture in the Tomahawk Creek Parkway. Artist Michael Stutz said he wanted to illustrate activity on the nearby greenway trail. It's made of strips of silicon bronze.

Bedtime Story

Adam was hearing a bedtime story.

Happy Birthday, Stacy!

Happy Birthday today to the amazing and marvelous Stacy!