A Pioneer Mother

We're still in Kansas and we are having an excellent visit!  The children are in school during the week so MJ and Jack and I have completed several little projects around the house; we've made cookie dough for the freezer; we've explored a variety of thrift shops and we've taken a field trip or two.

This is "Pioneer Mother", a statue in Penn Valley Park.  After spending the better part of two days at the wonderful World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial, we stopped by this Kansas City landmark.

The photo above was shot from the left side of the statue.  The detail is much better because the light was at my back.  I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I'm still trying to figure out this camera.*  If you click on each of the photos you'll be able to see more of the detail.

This is the Pioneer Mother from the other side and as you can see, the shadows are a lot deeper.  There HAS to be a way to compensate for that but I have yet to figure it out!

If you look closely, you'll notice that she is holding a baby.  The statue was much to tall for me to shoot the photo at a better angle.

I imagine that the rugged looking fellow beside her is the guide and ....

....this fellow must be her husband.  Look closely at the photo and you can see the back of the baby's head.

This is the second horse...he looks tired and thirsty.  I hope it's the end of the journey for them.

Alexander Phimister Proctor of New York sculpted the grouping for a gentleman named Howard Vanderslice.  Mr. Vanderslice's mother made the long journey westward to Kansas City in 1853 and he commissioned this piece as a tribute to the pioneers who settled in this area.

A much better photograph of this statue is at this Missouri Valley Special Collections page of the Kansas City Public Library website.  They perspective is excellent and you can definitely see the baby in the Pioneer Mother's arms.

There's a bronze plaque at the base of the sculpture but it's quite worn.  We had a difficult time reading the inscription.  Then I found this page of the Historical Marker Database which shows the inscription on the plaque and the Bible verse carved around the base.

It was a perfectly beautiful day...warm and calm with blue skies.  I do love a good field trip!

*Note:  I finally caved and bought a book called Confessions of a Compact Camera Shooter.  I haven't started reading it, yet, but I'm planning to study it while we're traveling by Amtrak to Washington state the middle of February.

Intermission

I'm in the middle of a blogging intermission.  Does that even make sense?

We've been in Kansas for about a week, now, and I'm thinking that I should post SOMEthing, for goodness sake!  We have plans to do some "touristy" stuff but the weather has been cold and windy. Quite frankly, I'd rather stay indoors!   The forecast looks promising next week so that will be the time to go out and about.

J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain

First and foremost on our list is a visit to The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.  I love the Plaza.  It's just beautiful in the summertime when the weather is warm.  During the Christmas (Holiday) Season each building in the Plaza district is outlined in white lights.  It is absolutely stunning!

Here's a bit of information from the website:

"The Plaza is an outdoor museum of romantic Spanish architecture and European art where people actually live and work every day amid its beauty.  It was designed in 1922 as the nation's first suburban shopping district."

This photo is courtesy of Flickr but I'm going to take my camera with me.  I can't believe I have never taken photos of the Plaza!

In the meantime, you will enjoy this link:  It's the Plaza's  Art and Architecture Walking Tour.  You'll see how really beautiful it is.

Did you know that only Rome has more fountains than Kansas City?  Did you know that Kansas City has more tree-lined boulevards than Paris?  It's true!

We're having a very good time with MJ and her family.  We help ferry the grandchildren here and there and take in the 2nd graders' basketball games each Saturday.  We've played games - Apples to Apples is their favorite.

Whenever we visit our children we are pretty sure there will be a project or two to keep us busy.  I like that...I like having something to do.

Just yesterday I reorganized the "spice" cupboard.  MJ keeps all the dried herbs and spices in little covered bins and every time she needs a particular spice she has to guess which bin it's in!


Sooooo.....here's how it turned out.  I sorted the containers so all "like" spices and herbs would be in the same bin.

We numbered the bins and MJ typed up an alphabetical list of each item and the bin number.  Then she printed it and we taped it to the inside of the cupboard door!  Brilliant.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that the list was Jack's idea.

We've also repainted/distressed a coffee table and rearranged a bedroom.

This afternoon we're hanging wide Venetian-style blinds in their brand new family/media room.  They resemble plantation shutters but they're waaaaay less expensive!

So that's the scoop, for now...nothing life changing or earth shattering but that's probably a good thing!

Puzzled!

My brother-in-law buys a puzzle for my sister every Christmas.  I've always enjoyed working on their current puzzle whenever we're visiting the Pacific Northwest.

I thought it would be a great little extra gift for Jack so I purchased one, this year, thinking that we could work on it together during the long cold winter.  I could just imagine us, heads together, bent over the table mulling over this piece and that.  It would be a fun!

Well.....so far Jack has wandered by and glanced at the table, periodically, while I have been totally obsessed!  I've worked on it every day since Christmas day.  I think I'm addicted.

This is playing serious havoc with my plans to "get organized" in 2012!  

This morning, I told Jack that I think I'm going to pull it all apart, put it back in the box and wait until I can set it up on the table in the porch when spring arrives.

Haven't had the courage to do so, yet....

Stay tuned.

New Year Wishes

This is one of my favorite quotes and I've shared it as a Christmas post in the past. But it will work well as my wishlist for the New Year.

If I substitute "my" for "your" it makes an excellent personal pledge for 2012.

So...in 2012 I pledge to give...

"To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.”

~Oren Arnold, Writer and Newspaper Publisher

At first glance, these appear to be easy enough to achieve. They are, in fact, going to be a challenge to me. Especially "tolerance". Wish me luck!

Warm wishes for

a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

from our house to yours!

(We're working the rest of the week so it's quite likely that I won't be posting again until 2012.)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings!

This is a Christmas wish.  But it's also a wish to all of my friends and loved ones who celebrate other spiritual holidays this time of year whether it's Hanukkah, Kwanza, Las Posadas, Ishura, or any one of a  number of religious days celebrated in December, each year.

This is a joyous and loving season whatever your beliefs.  I think Happy Holidays is a lovely greeting.  If someone wishes me Happy Holidays, I'm honored.  Especially those I meet while shopping or simply walking down the street.

I couldn't possibly know if someone I casually meet is Christian or Jewish or Muslim or something else and I don't expect anyone to know my beliefs, either.  It's not my business and it's not theirs.  But it's pleasant to exchange a greeting in the spirit of the season.  I enjoy that.  It makes me happy.

The University of Kansas Medical Center has a wonderful Diversity Calendar which lists religious holidays for each month of the year.  I had no idea how many various spiritual holidays there are!  A most interesing web page.

Not only does it list each special day but if you click on the link, you will find an explanation of each.

So however you celebrate this season of love and joy, I wish you all the best.

Christmas Past in the Present

We've had the tree decorated for about a week, now, and as we were hanging the ornaments I remarked to Jack how much fun it is to remember where we got each one.

We don't have a fancy tree.  The ornaments have been collected over the years as we've traveled here and there.  The children all had personal ornaments, too, but they have those, now.

So I'll share a few that have special meaning to us.

Lollipop and Bear

These two were crafted by one of my best friends when we lived in Kansas.

Our neighborhood held a Christmas Boutique and Debbie made these little bears and lollipops.  The bears were adorned with tiny French knots.

For Emma our 1st Grandchild

Dear Emma.  She has grown into a beautiful girl with a kind heart and a passion for horses.  Seventeen years old...my goodness!

On the other hand, she can be a rascal...Jack would say she gets that from me.

Hand Painted Sea Otter Ornament

One year when we visited Pebble Beach on the Monterrey Peninsula, I found this adorable hand painted ornament. It's a Sea Otter...if you look closely you can see its cute little face.

Great message!

Money collected from the sale of the ornament went to a fund for the protection of these sea otters.

"I get by with a little 'kelp' from my friends"!

Seriously, how could I resist??

This pretty little Belleek dove with a shamrock in its beak was a gift from my mother a long time ago.  I just love it.





Some of my other favorite Christmas keepsakes include:

San Francisco Cable Car

A San Francisco Cable Car...from a trip to that amazing city.

A Pickle from Pittsburg

...and a pickle from Pittsburgh.

The Heinz company is headquartered there.  I worked in their corporate marketing department when we lived there.   The Heinz pickle is a much coveted souvenir....pickle ornaments, pickle mugs, pickle t-shirts....you  name it & you can get one with a pickle on it!

A red knitted bell....my mother made dozens of them.  Red, white, green...

Very special.

Allie the Alligator

We traveled to Hilton Head Island (off the coast of South Carolina) for several family holidays while the kids were in school.  We had the best times!   We stayed at Palmetto Dunes which is one of many resort areas.  There was a canal that ran through that area and if you stood on the bridge in the late afternoon you could see an alligator (or maybe it was a crocodile...) swimming lazily along.  The kids named him "Allie" (of course!) and we found this adorable ornament for a souvenir.  Notice the red bow tied around his snout?

One year I bought a kit for creating ornaments.  There were sequins and ribbons and braid.  This is one of the few that I have left.






On a whim one October a few years ago, Jack and I decided to drive out to Colorado.  We hadn't spent much time there...just passed through a few times...and the weather was perfect.  The Aspen trees were simply breathtaking...all golden and shimmery.  Jack finally said to me, "If you say 'Isn't that GORGEOUS?' ONE MORE TIME, I'm going leave you at the next stop!  To be honest, I probably wouldn't have minded.  I'm not kidding...Colorado is spectacular in autumn!

Gold plated Aspen Leaf

Well, this is an actual aspen leaf that's been dipped in gold.  It's much prettier than it appears in this photograph.

Here is one of the few ornaments we have left from the days when the children's art projects covered most of the Christmas tree!  I think this was a school project when Jennie was little...making a reindeer out of clothespins!

One of our housesitting assignments was in a suburb of Dallas, Texas so we did lots of "touristy" things while we were there.  Does anyone remember the television series "Dallas"?  Well, Southfork, the Ewing ranch, was located near there.  One day we decided to take a tour.  I bought this pottery boot as a souvenir for some silly reason.

Olympic National Park

We've visited my family in Washington state many, many times.  This little wooden ornament reminds me of our trips to the Olympic National Park!

Victoria, BC

Victoria, British Columbia....

Jack & Cheryl, sort of...

Oh, and here's a personalized mooooving tribute to the Minnesota State Fair!

A Steeplechase in Pittsburgh

While living in Pennsylvania, Jack and I volunteered to work at a Steeplechase.  It was a fundraiser for a charity and great fun!  You probably already know this but a steeplechase is a horse race that's run across open country and riders must clear obstacles/hurdles such as hedges, fences, water courses, etc.  This was my choice for a souvenir of that day.

Daughter of Sky Woman

I still need to post more photos of the "Girls' Weekend" that my three friends and I enjoyed in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  I promise to do that.  In the meantime, this is a beautiful hand painted Christmas ornament that I purchased while there.

The artist's name is Lee Claremont and this painting is "Daughter of Sky Woman".   This photo doesn't do it justice...

I could go on and on but I won't.  I'll just share this quote from the late astronaut, James Irwin, during the exploration of Apollo 15:

"The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space.  As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size.  Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine."

Isn't that beautiful?

Santa Claus - Another Perspective

This was in our morning newspaper and it took me aback because when our children were little we said that there was a big television at the North Pole and Santa Claus could tune into any house in the world to see if the children were being good or not.

Only recently have I realized that was probably a terrible thing to tell them!  Luckily, they're all grown up and fairly well adjusted!  :-)

I had to chuckle at a conversation our daughter-in-law had with the five year old twins a few days ago.  Lucy asked how Santa can see all the way from the North Pole to Minnesota.  Her mommy was trying to come up with an explanation when little Harry piped up that Santa has "special goggles"!

I honestly don't remember how my parents handled it but I'm certain that I didn't even ask.  The television bit wouldn't have worked, anyway.  We didn't have a television in our home until I was a teenager.

What did your parents tell you about Santa Claus?  How did you explain Santa to your own children?

Can you eat like a trucker?

I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to purge files.  Mostly photographs.  It's been a nightmare but I'm making progress, I think.  Fingers crossed.

I ran across this photograph of a sign at a truck stop somewhere in Iowa, I think.   I don't remember where or when.  It's hard to believe that anyone takes them up on this challenge but I'll be they do get takers.

A Trucker's Breakfast?

Seriously?  9 pounds of food for one meal?  A dozen eggs?  A pound of cheese?.....and the beat goes on.  If I ever get back there, I'm going to ask for some numbers.

Something tells me that there are a bunch of truckers out there who are "heart attacks waiting to happen"!   I just hope I'm not in front of them or behind them when they do!

Have you ever seen anything like this?

The Definition of Thanksgiving

"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received...

Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling...

Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse."

Henry Van Dyke

I am so grateful and thankful for all of the blessings in my life.  Thank you for your love and friendship...the best blessing of all.

Wild Rumpus!

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting a most amazing children's book shop called Wild Rumpus.  I was in Minneapolis for the day and had plans to meet Jen for an early dinner in the Linden Hills neighborhood.  Wild Rumpus is just down the street from Tilia which is where we agreed to meet.  Jennie told me about Wild Rumpus and said that if I had time I really ought to check it out.

I arrived about half an hour early.  Perfect!  I'd just pop in to see what it's all about.

Well, my friends, it was kind of like falling down the rabbit hole or slipping through a magical mirror because there's a whole other world inside Wild Rumpus.

Two doors...big and small

You can enter either through the big black door or through the little bright purple door.













I was met at the entrance by Ethel and Billina (or Carl Sagen, depending on who you ask)...two chickens who have the run of the shop during the day.  As far as I could tell, they're very tidy chickens.  And polite.

Ethel (white feathers) and Billina - or Carl Sagan, depending on who you ask -  (dark feathers)

A Painted Adirondack Chair

Of course, there are thousands of books for Young Readers.

You will find comfy seating here and there so you can sit and browse through books while you're trying to decide on your favorites.  It won't be easy but it will be fun!

Little Log Chairs...

There's a lot of whimsey here and there.  Like this ceiling...it opens to the sky (pretend, of course).

And the canoe...you just can't miss that canoe.  Hmmm...maybe that's not the sky...maybe that's an upside down lake?  We are in Minnesota, you know.  Could be.

Or a whimsical bear struggling to crawl through the window...

A whimsical stuffed porcupine?  Sure, why not?!






You'll find a Garden Shed at the back of the shop (bringing a little bit of the outdoors inside).

Behind the Garden Shed is a very chatty parrot in a huge cage...the lighting was tricky and my photo of the bird was less than spectacular so you'll have to take my word for it.

Inside the Garden Shed

The Garden Shed

Fan Letter

This is Amelia.  She's a dark grey chinchilla.  She was dozing and wanted nothing at all to do with me.


She and Mr. Skeeters live on the other side of the Garden Shed.  Mr. Skeeters is a tan chinchilla.


Then there are four friendly felines...a ginger colored beauty named Daniel Handler (no idea why) and a grey guy called Sumo Mouse.

Daniel Handler (ginger) and Sumo Mouse (grey)

Daniel H. and either Trini Lopez or Ida B.

There are also two black and white cats - Trini Lopez is larger and Ida B. is smaller.  I think that's Trini Lopez in the window.  But don't quote me on that.

That this is an award winning bookstore should come as no surprise.

That it's been a hugely successful INDEPENDENT bookstore for more than seventeen years is a real feather (pun intended) in their caps.

You'll want to visit the Rumpus History link on the website.  You'll learn about "The Book that Built a Bookstore"....the classic children's story, The Salamander Room.  It was the inspiration for this charming business.

You'll find a couple of other not-so-whimsical Wild Rumpus critters mentioned there, too.  No salamanders, though.  (As far as I know.)

I  know you'll enjoy and appreciate the story of this special shop.  You'll want to visit in person, too.  Bring a child or two with you and make it on a Monday so they can enjoy "Tail Time".  It's a story time that includes (quote) "...listening to stories, singing songs and making a ruckus..."

It will make their day!  And yours.