Picture Topeka

No Full Moon, More Full Buds

2012-02-08T12:12:00.000-06:00

Full Moon photography didn't happen yesterday evening due to 100% cloud cover and a promise of snow.

No snow, just clouds. But the little trees by the Blackbird (and many other locations in Topeka) are chock full o'buds.

It's Spring! In my books, anyway. Early, early Spring, but Spring. The trees said so.

Reflections in Gage Park

2012-02-06T20:24:00.000-06:00

From yesterday, February 5th.

OK, that last one was not a reflection, just another view on a bright winter day.

Let's Moon Again

2012-02-06T20:17:00.000-06:00

Always beautiful to me. The first one from February 2, the next from February 5. Full Moon coming soon!

The WREN Wren

2012-02-06T20:02:00.000-06:00

Topeka is home to the world's biggest wren. Truly. This one, now at the corner of Huntoon and Topeka, has a history. There was a radio station in Topeka called WREN where this bird used to perch. But we have to back up a bit.

WREN started in Lawrence, and the original home of the concrete wren was at the transmitter in Tonganoxie. This was back in the 1920s, and the station was named for one of the products of the Bowersock Mills & Power Company of Lawrence. In 1947 the station was sold and moved to Topeka; in the early 1950s it was owned by Alf Landon and/or members of his family.

I'll leave you with this link for "the rest of the story," and post the pictures already.

You may notice, if you click through to the larger images, that there are many tiny little "spikes" all over the wren's back. These were apparently designed to keep pigeons off it, which they do, and I am also told they made it uncomfortable for kids to climb on it when it was stationed on the ground rather than atop a building.

I am pleased to report that it does not collect graffiti in its present location either. I like this little unique piece of Topeka's history.

Kaw River State Park, With Ice

2012-01-27T15:03:00.000-06:00

I paid another visit to the Kaw River State Park this month after a few really cold days, to see if there was any ice on the river. Indeed, there was.

There were bits of ice floating slowly downriver, and a small ridge of ice building up at the edge. This and all the following are from the same location, the boat ramp.

The river was an amazing blue color!

My favorite downriver view.

It was about as cold as it looks, and I did not linger.

Catching Up With the Moon

2012-01-27T14:54:00.001-06:00

I've been getting behind here. This is the latest round of Moon pictures, hopefully in chronological order since the last ones (which were January 5th).

Full Moon night, January 8th, very cloudy. Out at Lake Shawnee as usual. It wasn't terribly cold for a January Moon shoot.

Moon in the water.

Moon in the clouds.

Clouded Moon, watery Moon. The next night was much more clear but I had something else on my plate.

This is a bit of a cheat; I couldn't take this picture from Topeka because I wasn't there. This is from west Lawrence January 26th at my sister's house, as are the two below. This is the crescent New Moon setting, and Venus looking on.

She was a beautiful sight, setting into the trees, smiling at Venus and at me.

So, this month's weather.

2012-01-27T14:37:00.000-06:00

Because we are not having weather that changes much from day to day here recently, here's some weather from the past month. It won't be much because...it's not changing that much. I don't want to say that I am not enjoying the Winterless Winter, but, well, it's getting old.

The one above from January 7, when it was super-cloudy and looked cold, but was not.

A nice sunset from January 9. We have had several of these; this from behind the Blackbird Espresso Cafe & Bistro in Fleming Place.

Wait, what? Snow? Well, sort of. A tiny bit. For a very brief time on January 11, after dark.

I liked this sky in the late afternoon, January 12.

Another sunset, January 12. Through the trees behind the recycling bins in Gage Park.

After many days of mostly uninteresting weather, a tiny bit of rain in the evening of January 22. From inside the car, behind my house.

Today is the 27th, and since the last picture there has been no more weather I felt like picturing. Some blue skies, some not so blue, but overall, it feels like no weather at all. I would love to picture some.

Kansas History Center Nature Trail

2012-01-08T22:32:00.002-06:00

This is someplace I had never been before, that I decided to explore Friday afternoon with Rich. It's on the grounds of the Kansas Museum of History. We just went on a small part of the East Trail; there is much more territory to be seen. At this time of year it was very quiet and the creek was low. I'll have to see what it looks like later.

This little piece of creek got separated from the rest and made a tiny oxbow. There was an educational sign illustrating how this process happens.

I don't know for certain what these hot pink berries are, maybe coralberry? (Edit--ID provided by Sandra Siebert as buckbrush, but I'm still not sure of genus and species). They may be regarded by some as an invasive pest akin to honeysuckle. Ah, found a nice link!
Their cheerful color certainly did catch my eye in amongst all those browns.

Evidence of human thoughtlessness always makes me sad. And angry.

This marvelous, magical tangle of roots and branches was along and even over the little creek at one place. Wouldn't you expect something or someone to be peering back at you?

Mooning a Little More

2012-01-05T19:58:00.000-06:00

Some more bright January

2012-01-04T16:21:00.000-06:00

Today at Gage Park it was merry and bright. I was hoping for some ducks or at least geese. I heard one duck quack once but my best duck impersonation could not lure it out. So, some leaves under ice, some thin ice with beautiful sky and trees in it, some bright sun behind a tree, and a happy squirrel taking a late lunch up in his tree.

2012 At Last (Or At First)

2012-01-02T19:38:00.001-06:00

A couple of pictures from the second day of the New Year. These are from the Memorial Park Cemetery at 6th & Gage. The sky was really this blue, and the sun was really this bright. It's not as warm as it looks so the sun felt good.

This memorial is, according the answer I got from someone on Facebook, a marker for a formerly exclusively Masonic section of the cemetery. There is indeed a Masonic emblem on the base, which I didn't notice while taking the picture, or when I first posted it here.

And then of course there is the Moon. Rather pretty today, out there in the bright blue sky in the middle of the afternoon. She's always a welcome sight to me.

Mitzi

2011-12-27T18:45:00.001-06:00

Today we took my old dog Mitzi to the vet for her final journey. Mitzi's free now, free of the pains and inability to get around, free of the deafness and the failing sight and the confusion, free of the many indignities making her life miserable and us increasingly unable to care for her. We were able to enjoy her company and give her a good home for quite a few years. I hope if her spirit goes somewhere there are squirrel spirits to chase but never catch, just like she used to.

Sometime in December it Might Have Snowed.

2011-12-26T19:35:00.000-06:00

And that's about all there is to say about that.

Sneet:

There were some nice patterns piling up there! But that didn't amount to much, nor did this next: Snow?

And that, thus far, has been the sum total of our snowfall for December in Topeka. Not much comparison to years past, it seems.

Kaw River State Park, December Edition

2011-12-14T16:30:00.000-06:00

Rich and I made another trip down to see the river at Kaw River State Park the other day. It was one of those absolutely gray days we've been having a lot of lately. The river is at sort of a medium level and the trees and bushes mostly bare. Here are some pictures, all from December 12, 2011.

All the greens and golds have changed to mostly browns, and the water looks chilly and slow. I am waiting now for a day when it's been really cold for a while but yet there is no ice on the roads. If there is ice on the road, the road to the river is closed because part of it is a 15% grade, very steep indeed. Deep winter edition, probably coming later.

Now December Comes Already

2011-12-14T00:19:00.001-06:00

Time keeps on ticking, ticking into the future...

December's days grow short and dark, and the cold creeps in. I enjoy this part of the year more than many people do, I suspect. I'm not thrilled with having to get around in ice and snow, but I really do not mind the dark.

Let's see what I have to show for December, so far.

How about a tiny little tiny dog's baby tooth? Cricket is growing up and changing from baby teeth to big dog teeth. I guess they mostly just swallow them, but she spit this one out on the couch. So tiny! She actually lost this in late November but it took me about a week to get around to taking the picture.

Ah, more rain on December 3, a bit cold this time. But any rain is still welcome!

Ms. Monarda in her late fall colors. I think she's still quite pretty!

On December 6, Rich and I went out to west Topeka to the hill by the new theater to take pictures of the Moon and Jupiter, very close together in the sky. This is a composite picture, with Jupiter exposed in one picture and the Moon in another. Their positions are exactly correct.

I zoomed in as far as I could on Jupiter...did I capture some of her moons here? I don't know. I would like to think that I did.

Moon in the trees from my own back yard on December 7, handheld. Just interesting, not the world's greatest moon shot.

Moon on December 8, once again handheld from the back yard. Plenty of clouds tonight.

On the morning of December 10 there was a lunar eclipse as the Moon was setting in the west. My pictures of that are from Maple Hill, not Topeka, but I am tempted to post them here anyway. Maybe I will, sometime later.

More Moony Stuff (November)

2011-12-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

I've been so lax about posting, again. This was an attempt to capture the lovely Moon and Jupiter combo we've been seeing a lot of this fall. I nearly cut Jupiter out of the picture, here. Taken November 9, 2011.

More Moon stuff from the next night, some better attempts. Never possible to truly get the exposure right for both the Moon and Jupiter.

In the picture below you can see the patterns of the moon in the reflection. I liked that a lot.

Picture that Moon as seen in some of the above pictures, with the beautiful bright Jupiter in the sky, and both reflected in the lake. It was such a wonderful sight.

I believe that concludes the Moony-ness of November.

Today, rain.

2011-11-02T16:19:00.000-05:00

Finally, a little rain. Even though there's a prediction for some amount of snow later in the evening, I will take any water the skies want to give in any form possible.

Water on the sidewalk is good.

Water on the sage is also good, and pretty.

Water is welcome!

Kaw River State Park, The Low Time

2011-11-02T14:38:00.002-05:00

The Kaw River is a much different river right now than it was in June when I last posted pictures from the Kaw River State Park. It's very low, and there are huge sandbars that were not at all visible in June.

I could walk down the boat ramp quite a ways for some downriver views.

And some views across the river, with the wide sandy banks showing.

The trail back into the woods was full of bright colors in the afternoon sun.

These bushes, some about 15 feet high, lined the trail as far back as I could see. There were robins very interested in them, who I don't think appreciated my presence. These are just lovely, the bright red berries and the glowing green foliage. However, I have discovered that these may be the very invasive amur honeysuckle, which is not a good thing to have there.

There were lots of amazing trees sporting amazing colors, too.

Most amazing sight of the day, perhaps, is this view of the valley taken from the top of the hill on the road down to the river, a 15% grade that has to be closed in the winter whenever it's slick. Thanks to Richard Mote for stopping on the road so I could hop out and take this picture.

And just one more, along the less steep part of the road. There are trails leading off all over the place. Someday if I feel up to it, there are places I would like to explore along them.

It was a wonderful afternoon, and a well-timed visit. Today it rained.

Cricket-O-Lantern

2011-10-20T19:17:00.000-05:00

OK, yes, I will on occasion post insufferably cute dog pictures, like these.

We could be excused because she really did need a sweater for the chill that is now creeping into the air. Chihuahuas are from much warmer climes, and don't carry a big load of fur to keep them warm. She resisted at first, but once it was on she cavorted around the yard with no problem, and even liked wearing it in the house while napping on the couch.

Happy Howl-O-Ween!

Heron Hunter Moon

2011-10-13T15:23:00.001-05:00

Out at Lake Shawnee the past couple of nights, I was graced with the gorgeous face of the Moon.

Above images from October 11. Hunter's Moon, so called, some believe, because the falling of the leaves and the clearing of crops from the fields made it easier to track creatures under the bright Moon's light. Also, the cooler weather is better for butchering and preserving meat. Stock up the larder, Winter is coming.

The next night, we went back out hoping for a sight of the Moon and Jupiter. We did see those, but we were also granted the presence of a heron perching on a snag in the middle of this part of the lake, under the light of the Hunter's Moon.

The heron arrived before we could see the Moon, and then, she appeared:

The heron stayed, as far as I know, the entire time we were there under the Hunter's Moon.

The Moon alone, never as interesting to me as when She plays with trees and clouds and the lake, but this was the gorgeous color of her face when she rose out of the clouds.

There was a very strong moon path this night. At times the waves on the lake made it appear like a series of Moons rippling through part of the water.

As far as the Moon and Jupiter, it was indeed a wonderful sight, but my photographic capabilities could not do it justice. Imagine the Moon above in the image below, and reflected on the rippling lake, add the conversation of the geese and the patient heron still sitting, and you will come closer to the wonder of it all.

A Little Balm

2011-10-10T16:20:00.001-05:00

My friend Sandra, whose blog I follow, gave me a little lemon balm plant.

I took the plant stake out of the Monarda, which no longer needs it as a "don't mow over me" protector. The stake is about 20" high, so we'll see what kind of progress the lemon balm makes come Spring. That is, if it survives the winter. I have every reason to believe it will; the mint family is tough.

Anti-KXL Pipeline

2011-10-10T16:17:00.000-05:00

There was a demonstration on September 26, against the Keystone pipeline project.

Interestingly, also attended by these folks below, who said they were union people.

They put their signs back in this vehicle,

And I'm betting eventually got back on this bus. I asked one of them, "Do you live in Kansas?" and he said, hesitatingly, "No, I live in Arkansas." Hmm.

Ah, well. As far as I know, all the pipeline opponents there were from Kansas.

Infamous Ice Cream

2011-10-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

We found this late one night at the Dillon's at Fleming Place. Actually, it was pretty good. Lots of rum flavor.

Why, there was a Moon out there

2011-10-10T16:03:00.000-05:00

Now that it's Full Moon time again already, I get around to posting last month's Full Moon. So, the Full Moon of September, at Lake Shawnee. Enjoy, I always do.

Moon in the water.

There was a lot of some kind of "stuff" in the water that added an interesting texture to the moon path.

Tardy Updates

2011-10-10T15:54:00.000-05:00

Mitzi was sleeping on the couch (until I approached with the camera, of course) and Cricket got up behind her and laid down. They normally don't share their space this closely.

August 19, we had a nice storm, great storm! the night before. The downside is that what I thought I heard hitting the house were branches from the big maple on the NW corner. The tree seems basically OK. All over Topeka there were trees down, power outages, etc. And we got to enjoy some of that, too. Our power was out for 36 hours which seemed very long, especially at night. No electric lighting to see by, no air conditioning to sleep by.

The second day after the big storm, when we were still without power, we had the Parks Family Reunion here in Topeka, August 20th. Thankfully it was not at our house, and the shelterhouses at Lake Shawnee still had power. It was great. I am related to most all of these folks, and more. Whew.

More in the next post, still catching up.

Cricket

2011-08-06T18:38:00.000-05:00

We have a new family member at our house. Her name is Cricket, and she's about nine weeks old now. Kathy lost her chihuahua Abuelita in June, and found Cricket who was home-raised by a woman in Clifton. This is the tiniest dog I have ever seen. So, here's Cricket, in her first close-up.

Doesn't that face just make you smile?

With other sister B's feet. I debated posting this one because she's blurry. Of course she's blurry, she's always in motion even when she looks like she's standing still.

Hi, Mom, what's up?

Oooh, a garden! Maybe I can eat this.

Cricket met her cousin Ursula today. Ursula is the big black doggie of sister B. in Lawrence. Ursula is a very good doggie.

Grrrass! It's tough, like me!

Are you still my friend?

Oh, too much excitement, must have a nap now.

Life is interesting with a little dog you can barely see running around under your feet. And crying when her mom goes to another room. She's delightful, though.

Ay, ay ay, July!

2011-07-21T12:36:00.000-05:00

Of course it's hot, it's always hot in July in Kansas. It's just that there's been no break from it for so very long now. Sigh. Practicing patience and praying none of the window AC units break down.

Farmer's Market in Topeka July 9. I never seem to be able to capture the effect of the long row of stalls and the aisle full of people. I guess I need a ladder to get up on.

Ah, yes, vegetables! This is why I like to get to the market when I can, and what makes Summer worth the trouble.

Mmmm.

More mmmm.

I bought corn, yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, new potatoes, and red tomatoes for slicing for BLTs. All good, very good.

In the home "garden" the little Sungold tomatoes continue to arrive; I don't have a picture of any of them though. The plant doesn't look very well but there are still green and orange tomatoes, so I keep watering it. And watering it. And watering it. That is the real work of growing plants in pots, the watering.

Ms. Monarda has dropped her fancy clothes. All the purple petals either fell off or dried up. Now I'm waiting for the seeds to form and the heads to dry; I might try to save some of those. There are also little bitty Monarda plants where she's expanding her space, and I'm happy to let her do that, for now. I know that since she's a Mint, I may have to rein her in eventually.

Monarda heads, sans petals.

Not as glamorous, but still interesting to me. And...

There is still purple there, you just have to work harder to find it.

Just like I have to work harder to find enjoyment in this stretch of 100+ days that seems like it will never end. Whew.

More Monarda

2011-06-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

Will she ever quit talking about that dang Monarda? Well, maybe eventually, but right now it's just so lovely I can't quit looking at it.

See?

And from the weather report, blue, blue skies, glowing green plants, and tiny little harmless white clouds. Life is good.

So much June going on

2011-06-24T18:23:00.000-05:00

I'm getting behind on everything except going to work.

OK, the weather. It was interesting again a while back. We had one evening of a squall line slowly moving in and starting some ruckus just as I was supposed to going to sleep.

This same storm system brought some tornadoes to Nebraska, but I didn't hear about any major damage.

I have some Sungold tomatoes, but they want to ripen one at a time, which isn't very conducive to gathering in a salad's worth of them, so I guess I need more plants. But see,

I ate this one already, plucked one more today and am waiting on the other three that are almost there. Go, Sungold, go!

In other news, the Monarda is blooming, and now I know that it's Monarda fistulosa. This is the result of the tiny little plants I was given on my visit to the Akin Prairie in Douglas County last year. First picture, the head almost open the other day.

Then yesterday, here we are!

So happy to be out in the sun.

Merry Midsummer Mondarda!

Stella!

2011-06-09T23:48:00.000-05:00

Stella de Oro, she is. These prolific daylilies burst into bloom seemingly all at the same time, all over Topeka, yesterday. It's amazing. They are very eye-catching en masse, and they are massed all over the place. Apparently a very popular planting in these parts.

I told Kathy I was going to drive all over Topeka and take a picture of every place I saw the Stella de Oro. I didn't do that, but I did get these down in front of the Blackbird today.

Stella de Oro, Star of Gold. Star of the show, right here.

"I'm ready for my close-up." Glad to oblige, beautiful Stella.

The Water is Wide--Kaw River State Park, June 03 2011

2011-06-03T20:01:00.000-05:00

Last time we visited the Kaw River State Park, a couple of weeks ago, the river was fairly low. Not so today. After the rains of earlier this week, it is definitely not low now.

The water had been up nearly to the top of the boat ramp.

It looks good this way! And it actually moves.

Another pretty nice view.

The water is wide, I cannot get o'er...

A cottonwood at the river's edge.

The water almost looks inviting, it was in the lower 90s out there today. Whew. Shade was nice!

View from a little ways up toward a trail head. We weren't really into walking trails today, though.

Lovely, lovely leaves of three. Thanks to the rhyme, we let them be. One of my European friends says "but they look so innocent!" Uh, no.

On the way out of the trail head, there was some lovely flowering grass that needed its picture taken. I should know this, it's very common, but I can't think of the name right now.

It was a nice little trip, good to see a different face of the Kaw this time.

Later...

2011-05-31T17:05:00.000-05:00

I was very distracted by being off work, that's my excuse. I forgot to post the "after the storms" pictures from right after the previous post, so here they are now. Some very interesting lighting effects in the western sky! Presented without additional comment.

Well, that was exciting.

2011-05-22T18:33:00.006-05:00

Last night in and around Topeka, in fact pretty much all over NE KS, there was excitement. For me, it was the first time in my life I have ever gotten pictures of actual funnel clouds. We were lucky here--the tornadoes were mostly weak and not well organized. There was some hail damage, more on that later. In the meantime, views from the Blackbird Espresso Cafe, where Rich and I were joshing about the non-Rapture when the sirens sounded. Topeka was lucky; Reading, KS, in Lyon County, was not.

Before the storms, the sky to the south was blue with white clouds. Note the wind from the SW, though.

To the north, a whole different picture.

Unsettled skies.

Mammatus clouds, just a line of them against the blue and white. This is one of the most odd cloud formations I've ever taken a picture of, and one of the most interesting. Almost like an abstract of some kind.

View of the approaching storms looking to the northwest from the back door of the Blackbird.

Hail in front of the front door of the Bird. Rich's car was out there, but this hail was fairly small and he didn't get any damage. The hail was larger at my house, but my car didn't take any damage, either. Kathy wasn't quite so lucky; she was parked downtown while at work and her car is full of dents from golf ball sized hail.

Back at the back door again, and yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is a funnel cloud. This one did not connect with the ground, and was coming from Auburn, SW of Topeka, and paseed south and east of us.

Another little straggle of a funnel. This was definitely a multiple-vortex storm.

It was frustrating being in the city with the view blocked by buildings and trees; but then again, it was raining and hailing and thundering and so forth, so I wouldn't have been wanting to stand out in the open somewhere either. Besides, we didn't really know at this point how strong these storms were going to get, or not.

Another small, weak funnel.

Very dramatic, very strange clouds, around to the front of the Bird again.

Just incredibly strange and wonderful.

Ah, and look--off to the ESE, there is the funnel from the other side now.

This is the shot everyone likes. You can see how feathery and light the funnel looks, but it's definitely a tornado. An EF-0 according to the NWS.

This was the size of the hail at the house, where the only damage noted was a lot of twigs and leaves littering the area around the trees, and some unhappy-looking iris and peonies. We were so lucky.

Tonight I am sad for Joplin, MO as well as Reading, KS. Joplin was hit by a mile-wide tornado right through the center of the city this evening, with massive damage and some unknown amount of loss of life.

It's Spring, and that means pretty flowers, baby birds, and terror in the skies.

Kaw River State Park

2011-05-15T23:30:00.000-05:00

There is a new-ish state park in Topeka, up north of the old Menniger Hospital grounds and next to Cedar Crest. So far there isn't much there but trails in the woods and a couple of parking lots, and a boat ramp down by the river.

It was pretty chilly today, but I have been wanting to see this area, so Rich and I went out there and took the winding, hilly road to the river's edge. By the way, do not attempt this road if it's been snowing or is at all icy--they had to close it at times last winter because people were getting stuck or sliding off it.

There are some interesting-looking things in the woods, but I wasn't up to trail walking today, so here's the river.

Apparently if you put your boat in the Kaw you have to carefully clean and inspect it when you take it out. I knew about zebra mussels being a real problem, but I don't know anything about the fish here.

The mighty, or mighty slow, Kaw, with a typical sandbar. I don't have many pictures of the river, which is sort of strange considering I live fairly close to it.

The view downriver. There is a sandbar that's been there so long it's covered with trees, so is more like an island.

Trees, river, etc.

The most exciting find of the chilly riverbank day was another bird! This is a Spotted Sandpiper, and was the only bird we saw along the riverbank. A nice conclusion to the trip. I'll have to return to this location when the weather, and the light, are a bit more amenable.

May I show you some flowers?

2011-05-15T23:13:00.000-05:00

Wood Sorrel. A tiny little weed that has a sharp, sour taste and pretty little yellow flowers. We used to eat it all the time when we were kids. Some people called it sheep sorrel or sheep sours or sheep showers, which I can't figure out, but it's all the same tasty little plant.

The little Monarda plant I was given at the Aiken Prairie last June has grown to about 2 feet tall, and spread out, and is overtaking the plant marker I used to signal its safety zone. I think it will bloom in June or July, and I can hardly wait to see it.

This is the sage that Bob, who used to mow our yard, gave me a few years ago. He said it was from California. It's not the smudging type of sage, and doesn't quite taste like the usual culinary sage, but it's pretty and the bees love it.

A close-up of the sage flowers.

Another chilly day but I'm still OK with that. I'm hoping for fewer clouds tomorrow though; the Moon is full and I want to take Her picture.

May I introduce you to...

2011-05-15T22:54:00.001-05:00

All these birds were at Gage Park yesterday. I love water bird babies!

A family swim.

Picnic in the grass.

Wood ducks! I was delighted to find these at Gage Park. This is the closest I've ever gotten to wood ducks.

The little ones swam so fast I couldn't really get any of them in good focus.

And there was a yellow-crowned night heron stalking the fish and frogs. I didn't see him catch anything, though. Thanks to Joe Harrington for the ID of the heron.

The grackles were not very patiently waiting for us to finish our picnic so they could see what we left them.

It was chilly yesterday in the park, and chilly again today, but I'm loving it. I'll take these temps over the 90s anytime!

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T15:10:00.000-05:00

My mother's high school graduation picture from 1941. Thanks, Mom, for the house full of books and music and conversation, and for not excluding us from any of that. Thanks for making us look up and learn things for ourselves rather than spoonfeeding us answers. Thanks for not murdering any of us when we were teenagers, though sometimes it must have been tempting. And thanks for being cranky, cantakerous, opinionated and fearlessly outspoken. Especially fearlessly outspoken.

Just-Before-May Flowers

2011-05-02T15:04:00.000-05:00

Iris. The iris and the rose were my mother's favorite flowers. She loved many others, but the iris especially held a special place in her heart.

She even hybridized her own one year, a complicated process I barely remember since I was still in childhood's self-absorbed cocoon. I have no idea what happened to those iris when the family moved from Plains, Kansas, and that's a shame now. I wonder if any still grow there.

These, acquired from a friend of a friend several years ago, are not those special family iris, but are growing in our back yard in Topeka now. They are always this early, and bloomed the other day on April 30, May Eve. So mayhap they are indeed May flowers. I always love to see these because then it is indisputably Spring.

Though you might not have guessed it was Spring by the temperatures last night. Indeed, we had nights during the Winter that I believe were warmer than that. But it won't be that way for long. It's May, it's May, the lusty month of May! Be merry, dance, sing, laugh and grow!

April Goes

2011-04-24T11:05:00.000-05:00

It's a little sad to think that April is almost gone--the month when the world awakes around here--green appears, birds do their birdie things, bunnies hop, worms wriggle, and the earth smells of wet and life again.

Good ol' Chaucer, he knew.

A storm was whipping up the afternoon of the 14th.

It didn't really seem that scary, but this storm system swept across the country with tornadoes and hail, causing major damage and taking life. That's April for you too.

The storm clouds began to lift from the west just as the sun was setting, giving a golden glow to the end of the day.

These little violets are scattered all over the yard. I always forget where they are, but they always appear anyway.

April, thanks for all the gifts.

Saying Goodbye, Dear Redbuds

2011-04-09T07:12:00.003-05:00

There were two old redbud trees in our back yard when we bought our house over twenty years ago. One of them already looked a little scraggly, and had been chopped on to keep it out of some wires going to the house.

Over the years, the trees looked a little less healthy each season, with dead branches and strange-looking areas in the bark.

Finally this year we reached the decision to take them out. This was not an easy thing for us to decide. However, their removal means more sun on that little spot, and we would like to grow some native plants, especially ones attractive to the bees, butterflies and birds. So I said my farewells a couple of days ago, we made the arrangements, and the deed was done yesterday afternoon.

The way they looked earlier this week.

This is Doug of Klutman Tree and Lawn Service. He's the old guy, and the boss. He had that big branch on the ground before I grabbed the camera.

That's where it came from, alright.

No going back now.

Doug up a tree like he likes it up there. His helper Tyrell is watching and throwing ropes and pulling on branches and wires and waiting to catch Doug if he falls out of the tree.

Doug--I'm sure he knows all the safety rules, I'm just not so sure he follows them. The saw is like an extension of his arm.

Doug climbs down out of the main tree; most of the big one is down now.

Tyrell makes shorter pieces. Doug is saving some for firewood to sell.

Tyrell packs the trailer and keeps cutting.

Not much else to say.

Remainders.

Pretty, still.

Almost packed up; the standing trunks are still there now.

Going.

Doug will come back to take down the standing trunks and collect his firewood. I'll get a picture of the final area later today; I went to a poetry reading.

OK, back today to add the final views:

How bare it looks now! This is going to take some getting used to. Edit: And needs a much brighter picture, I'll fix this later.

The stump of the larger tree, where there were multiple trunks grown together.

A little bit of sawdust.

The smaller trunk.

April 1, Spring Is Blue

2011-04-03T17:25:00.008-05:00

The little blue pretties were all in my yard on April 1, no fooling!

First, these, that I think are Scilla of some kind. Gorgeous!

The last crocus standing, the purple ones.

Blue Hyacinth.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about. Blue sky, bright sunshine, flower tree, sweet little white clouds. Ahh.

Marching into Spring

2011-03-23T19:55:00.002-05:00

There are flowers in the driveway. Namely, these:

These lovely little blue flowers that some might call weeds, I believe are Veronica, possibly V. persica. At any rate, they are tough as hell, staying green under the snow all winter and returning to life in the Spring with these lovely tiny blue flowers.

And this would be the Monarda plant I was given last year at the Akin Prairie Wildflower Walk. It's from Douglas County but now resides in my yard in Topeka, and neither I nor the wild winter succeeded in killing it. That's my kind of "garden."

Finally?

2011-03-01T16:32:00.004-06:00

My yard on February 26.

My yard on March 1.

Springing sprouts! So very welcome. Ahh....

Breaking Ice Moon, Feb. 17, 2011

2011-02-20T19:30:00.005-06:00

Finally, we had a nice warm evening and relatively clear skies to catch the Moon again! And She was lovely.

The ice on the lake was breaking up.

I was fascinated by the colors and patterns in the ice. I decided to name this Moon "Breaking Ice Moon."

Sky Moon, Ice Moon.

Silly geese, lots of them flew over but none would fly in front of the Moon for me.

More lovely colors in the ice.

Moon caught in the ice.

Hail, Lady!

Ice Moon Path.

A Wee Fog

2011-02-17T16:01:00.003-06:00

There was this fog yesterday morning, first saw it on the previous night while driving back from Lawrence. It is another nice sign of warming, warming weather. I am smiling.

And then there was thaw...

2011-02-17T15:47:00.004-06:00

I thought I'd do some "during and after" pictures of the current thaw. February 13 and then February 15 in my yard and driveway.

And then...

There is green! This little tiny probably perennial probable weed might stay green under the snow and ice all winter. But right now, I just love looking at something green. I'll take it!

Waiting for no more snow...

2011-02-10T08:29:00.001-06:00

I haven't posted here in a month, but in that month, we have had plenty of snow. More than plenty, if you ask me. And I've pretty much been NOT taking pictures of it.

This coming week it is supposed to warm up. I would love to take some pictures of the warm. At least I hope to find smaller piles of snow, maybe some mud, and perhaps even some tiny tiny hints of green.

Wait for it.

Real snow!

2011-01-10T18:31:00.005-06:00

Seven inches on top of the trash dumpster at 2:30 p.m. More is still falling. But it's a light fluffy snow, and no wind, which makes a huge difference.

Snowy sage bush.

The bird feeder wearing a stylish hat.

White frosted cake on a birdbath platter. It's the latest thing.

Branches and snow, yes, it's Winter after all.

A jaunty angle on this one.

Yew and snow sculpture with fence.

Deck the deck with fluffy white stuff.

All in all, so far it hasn't been a terrible snow experience. I can almost appreciate it until I realize it's still snowing and the dark of 5:30 a.m. will come all too soon...and with too much fluffy white stuff back on the car again.

November Sky, 112810

2010-11-29T18:42:00.002-06:00

Kathy borrowed my camera while I was at work Sunday (Nov. 28) and took these pictures of the sky.

Kansas has the best skies in any season.

Turkey Day 2010

2010-11-29T18:36:00.003-06:00

Since Kathy and I were both off both Thursday and Friday this year at Thanksgiving, we decided to go the whole hog, er, whole turkey, and roast a big bird with some of our favorite trimmings.

Besides bird, we had dressing, roasted brussels sprouts, cranberry-sweet potato bake, olives, cream cheese stuffed celery, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream topping (that and the olives, the only store-bought, unaltered items). Wow, it was good and we were stuffed.

I Mooned Again

2010-11-22T19:49:00.002-06:00

Happy Little Fall Colors

2010-11-17T15:45:00.004-06:00

I decided there needed to be at least a nod to actual Fall here, so here's some other things I took pictures of the other day out at the old TSH grounds.

Crabapples, shrivelling on the branch. (Edit: This picture is on the KPR website the week of 11/28/10).

Leaves and sun, what could be finer?

Tall trees! The white one is a sycamore, they get huge. But don't put one in your yard, they are really too messy and too big.

The Continuing End

2010-11-04T11:43:00.009-05:00

I still have a lot of pictures of what has been done (or, rather un-done) on the old Topeka State Hospital grounds. They are on Facebook right now, and will soon be in my Picasa albums. Herewith, a small selection. These show the demolition of the old Engineering building behind the Auditorium, which was behind Center Building, now completely gone. The Auditorium is the larger building still standing as of right now, but with the roof pretty much removed.

Ducks, Dog, Day's End

2010-10-04T21:06:00.004-05:00

Some friends I hadn't met yet from Gage Park a couple of days ago.

Well, actually, the ducks weren't all that friendly, and kept turning their tails to me.

This cute little dog named Maddie, though, was a real charmer.

She didn't want to look at the photographer lady, only at the squirrels, and even though she's 12 years old, she chased them heartily up the trees.

Just some nice colors in the water, a hint of fall, like there was in the air.

And, some folks having a late summer picnic, some new friends and some old.

Day Moon Like a Potato Chip

2010-09-29T18:59:00.004-05:00

The moon was up in the middle of the day yesterday, looking like a big white potato chip stuck to the blue sky. And there appears to be a discontinuity in time/space at the clock tower.

More Statehouse Crane

2010-09-14T11:51:00.004-05:00

The crane looms over the dome of the Statehouse. It will be there about a year, I'm told.

The counterweight end. When there is nobody in the cab, the arm is loose and swings in the wind like a weather vane, to prevent the winds from stressing it.

The cab where the operator spends his day. I'm told that once up there, he doesn't come down until his shift is over. Brings up some questions I really didn't want to think about.

The dismantling of the red crane that was used to assemble the blue crane.

And, the Native American statue on the dome draws a bead on the crane workers...ready, aim...!

Cheryl's Book!

2010-09-07T10:47:00.007-05:00

I have a new book. It's Cheryl Unruh's new book, "Flyover People: Life on the Ground in a Rectangular State."

The book is a collection of some of her columns written for the Emporia Gazette over the past several years. She writes about the beauty and strangeness of Kansas, and about growing up in a "flyover state." When it came out late last month, she brought me my own personal signed copy, and I humbly discovered my name in the acknowledgements too. Wow.

The lovely photo on the cover is the work of Dave Leiker, Cheryl's husband. His photo site is linked on the side here, and you should look.

They are so far available in Topeka only at the Southwind Gallery at Framewoods, which is at 3074 SW 29th St. (29th & Oakley), across from the Brookwood Shopping center. They are also at Town Crier in Emporia, The Raven in Lawrence, and many other places. Check her site, Flyover People, for more locations. You can also order them online at Flyover People, here.

I have a new book and it's good. Get you one, too.

Statehouse Crane

2010-08-28T10:22:00.006-05:00

The red crane, which is pretty good sized itself, is being used to put into place the pieces of the blue crane as part of the Statehouse renovation project that's been going on for some years now. The blue crane, when completed, will be the largest free-standing crane in North America. So I decided this was a Topeka Event and needed to be here. The workers that are waaaay up there putting together this giant Erector Set, if they have any fear, they don't show it. Just looking at where they are and what they are doing makes my knees wobbly!

Must Moon Again

2010-08-28T10:15:00.005-05:00

At Lake Shawnee again, the Moon of August 24, 2010. The clouds were thin and thick and made the Moon kind of weird sometimes. The wind was up a bit, and the play of the silvery moonlight on the lake was especially nice, though hard to capture.

What Summer Is

2010-08-12T17:33:00.003-05:00

Grown in Manhattan, bought at Rees Fruit Farm, sacrificed to the greater gastronmic good.

Moon, Clouds, Beauty

2010-08-03T17:22:00.005-05:00

It was very cloudy the night of the Full Moon in July. So much so, that R. and I waited at the lake for a full hour after the time of moonrise before we could see her. Read these from the bottom up, please, I'm too lazy today to change them.

More of The End of Center

2010-07-04T16:50:00.008-05:00

They are still taking apart the old Center Building on the old Topeka State Hospital grounds. These are only some of the pictures I've taken in the past month; the rest are in my Picasa albums,

End of Center Building

You say tomatoes, and I say salad!

2010-06-18T19:22:00.003-05:00

My first two Sungold tomatoes are ready for a salad, and there are bunches and bunches more to come. Mmmm.

George's novel is here.

2010-06-18T17:54:00.001-05:00

George Paris was signing and selling his new novel, A Distant Home, today at The Blackbird. You can get one at Barnes & Noble if you missed it here, and his next engagement will be at the Topeka-Shawnee County Public Library, July 25th, at 1 p.m.

More Robins in Residence

2010-06-13T17:13:00.001-05:00

The baby robins are here. I thought they were because of the way the parents were behaving; day before yesterday I got a glimpse of them.

End of Center Building

2010-06-01T17:36:00.005-05:00

I'm posting a series of pictures of the Center Building on the old Topeka State Hospital grounds. It is in the process of being demolished (they are gutting the inside now). I have a series of color pictures and a series of B&W, and may have some sepia-tone at some point.

Since I have so many, I'm only going to post a few here. The rest will be in my Picasa album

End of Center Building

This particular picture (above)--I was watching the workers when I saw first one, then two, and finally five vultures soaring over the building. It was amazing. It felt very much like they were attending the death.

Topeka Farmers Market May 29

2010-05-29T19:19:00.022-05:00

Wow, the market has exploded with booths since I was there on the opening day! I have too many pictures. Well, not really, but I should not post them all here. It's hard, but I've made a selection based partly on whether I posted similar pictures last time.

Country Greenhouse, Holton. I'm not sure if the gooseberries are from them or someone who just happened to be seated next to them, but I was delighted to see them. It gave me fantasies of gooseberry pie.

David's Herbs; I featured them last time but I still love these flats full of wonderful herbs.

Enrique Flores from Manhattan. Lots of rhubarb here.

I want this chair. Somebody needs to buy me this chair! In fact, I'd like two of them, please. By Eagle Patio Creations, W.E. "Bill" Meredith. Wow, would I love this chair.

Wildly bright twirly things in the sun! I didn't get the vendor's name. Oooh, pretties!

Last asparagus! The sign that Spring is changing to Summer.

All the pottery above (and more) by Stoneware Pottery, Steve Ashley. Yes, I put a lot of it here. It was fun.

I had a breakfast burrito break at a nice table in the shade. It was pretty good.

Carletha Kosky of The Crow's Nest calls these personable creations "Garden Charms." I think I'll be visiting her booth again this summer.

Music at the Market! Check it out. Every Saturday between 9 and 11. Today's performers, Paul Root and Penny St. John.

Lovely glass creations from Ebb & Flow Arts. I've posted pics of their things last year. Still beautiful!

That's all for now, whew. I had to abandon ship about 11 a.m. as it was getting plenty hot. I'm looking forward to being able to go next Saturday as well.

More Robins Will Be Bobbin'

2010-05-27T17:53:00.003-05:00

The nest is in a sycamore tree right at the edge of our neighbor's driveway. I don't know how long it's been there so don't know when to expect the hatchlings and fledglings, but I'll be looking for them.

The Non-Gardener Grows A Tomato

2010-05-24T18:45:00.002-05:00

On May 1, my friend Sandra S. gave me an already well-started Sungold tomato plant. Sungold is a cherry-sized yellow tomato with wonderful flavor. I got hooked on them by eating the ones Sandra gave me last year from Cedar Springs Farm, her place up in Jefferson County.

Today I went to re-stake, re-tie, water and feed it in the pot I put it in. I knew it had bloomed, but now, behold, there are tiny little tiny tomatoes on it! So, these pictures.

Weather, you like it or not

2010-05-20T17:44:00.007-05:00

The days have been damp and rather dreary. Jungle prevails in any unguarded, unwatched and unslashed area. But it is green. Oh, it is so very green!

Even my little brown furry friend was damp today. The sun, will it come out tomorrow?

A maybe nest, and one flicker

2010-05-04T16:28:00.006-05:00

There have been wrens all over around our porch for a couple of weeks. They seem to be interested in nesting in this gourd, and we hope they do that.

I tried to post a video of one of the wrens twittering away, but it doesn't seem to have worked.

And, there was this Northern Flicker male who posed very nicely for me on the maple tree on the corner:

Oh, Moon! and a Duck

2010-04-28T10:40:00.007-05:00

No, I just can't seem to stop with the moon pictures. Lake Shawnee as usual; She peeked through the trees, then rose in majesty over the lake.

This duck was patrolling the shoreline while waiting with us for the Moon.

He was a bit sassy.

Farmers Market, Finally!

2010-04-11T11:22:00.014-05:00

After The Winter That Would Not End, I finally made it to the opening day of Topeka Farmer's Market. I have many more pictures than I should post here...so I'll try to spare you. Maybe...

There wasn't much fresh produce yet, but plenty of plants, crafts, jewelry, edibles, sun and wind. Enjoy, I know I did!

I do have contact info for a lot of the sellers if you're interested.

Country Greehouse, Holton, KS

David's Herbs, Perry

The bright green ones are jalapeno jelly...I bought purple basil and sand plum. Yum!

Rees Fruit Farms

Fruits of harvest past...

Intarsia Wood Working, Skip Hull, Overbrook

Ebb & Flow Arts, Jewelry

(Oooh, pretty, shiny things!)

Hook and Needle, Gail Sloyer

(I found a fellow Hawks fan!)

Quilts With Love, Sylvia Levings

Sylvia says this Little Bo Peep is one of her most popular designs.

Craftswoman Designs, Laurie A. Hertel

Country Creek Honey, Steve & Becky Tipton, Meriden, KS

These last from Bobalu's Gourd Creations, Lu Harris and Rob Benge.

Wish I had bought Grandmother Doll.

March Madness Moon

2010-03-30T16:58:00.001-05:00

03/29/10, Lake Shawnee

Daffy Dillys for March

2010-03-30T16:54:00.003-05:00

I'm almost back..

2010-03-30T16:50:00.002-05:00

The last half of February and most of March until now, I have been recuperating from a total right knee replacement, and not much able nor in the mood for doing photography.

I think I'm ready to come back, though. I have daffodils and the Moon.

Random February

2010-02-05T17:19:00.000-06:00

Sun At Large

2010-01-09T20:56:00.002-06:00

Well, it's at Lola's actually. I was very happy to be able to take a picture of the Sun again.

Snow. Again.

2010-01-02T18:14:00.001-06:00

Blue Moon, 123109

2010-01-01T18:05:00.004-06:00

One real, one fantasy..for the Blue Moon of December, and my last Moon picture of 2009.

Moon 122809

2009-12-29T17:44:00.002-06:00

This moon is three days from Full. The Full Moon of 123109 will be the second in December and if it's not totally overcast I'll get some pictures!

Digging Out

2009-12-26T18:12:00.003-06:00

I've made it out at last! Thanks to living on a snow route, and an enterprising dude with a shovel who wanted to make some cash today, I am down at Lola's enjoying coffee, food, and good company. I had not been out of the house except to try to shovel in the past 48 hours. I believe we had over nine inches of snow. Not out in my car, which is obviously not going anywhere just yet. And let me not forget to credit Rich, who also dug himself out and very kindly came and rescued me from my housebound condition.

The 2009 Christmas Blizzard

2009-12-25T18:39:00.003-06:00

I'm certain that's how this few days is going to be characterized historically. A huge chunk of the middle of the USA is under snow, in some cases, lots and lots of snow. These were from my world today in Topeka. Mitzi hates snow and cold and is dedicated to the notion that Winter is for naps. Major naps.

White Christmas, 122409

2009-12-24T21:26:00.003-06:00

Rather too much of a good thing, probably...but the snow still has its charms, even when you know it's going to be a pain in the butt...and the back...and the fingers...

Different Shade of Winter

2009-12-22T23:37:00.002-06:00

The Winter sky in Kansas is amazingly mutable. It can change from one day to the next and be something so unlike the day before you can't believe it's so closely related to time and place as the first one. This picture is from Dec. 17 and these clouds were all over the eastern sky.

Cold Birds!

2009-12-15T19:14:00.004-06:00

Canada Geese, standing on the ice on the cemetery pond, drinking ice water. Apparently they are filled with antifreeze.

This is a Swan Goose with a Mallard drake and a Canada Goose. Not of a feather, but flocking together at the cemetery pond, where there is a "bubbler" to keep some water open.

Interesting bird, the Swan Goose, Anser cygnoides. Not native to this country, this male is either domesticated there at the cemetery or living in a feral state. He seemed glad to be in the company of the other birds, and was the only one who talked to me at all, other than the general muttering of the ducks.

Cold

2009-12-15T19:11:00.003-06:00

Yesterday in Topeka the temperature began to fall. By the time I was going out to take pictures of The Cold, I believe it was about 15 F. I do not want to address the wind chill. That is the Sun, struggling to shine against the gray.

Ice Ice, Baby!

2009-12-13T17:00:00.002-06:00

Prettier on the porch than on the road! It's all gone as of today, from the porch, anyway...

The close-up shows the magic of Sun changing ice back to water again. Nice.

Some More Weather

2009-12-13T16:53:00.003-06:00

I could have gotten some better pictures of the snow. We had about six and a half inches total in the storm that hit most of Kansas between Monday Dec. 07 and Wednesday Dec. 09. However, it was cold. And snowy, and blowy, and I didn't feel like dealing with it, really. So, here's some Mitzi tracks in the snow Tuesday night, after the first little batch fell. She really hates the snow, so she'll just run out, do what dogs gotta do, and run back in. I would too.

Catching up...first, The Moon, 120109

2009-12-13T16:47:00.002-06:00

The first Full Moon of December 2009. There will be another one at the end of the month.

I tried a couple of different things this time; some B&W pictures, and a shining Moon Path.

Dear (Weather) Diary...

2009-11-16T09:40:00.001-06:00

Today it snowed.

Laid To Rest

2009-10-20T20:28:00.002-05:00

This is the time of year for memorials, for remembering those who are walking in another world now...not in the summer when everything is burgeoning and blooming, but in this quieter, more somber part of the year. Everything falls, everything rises again. So it is. These leaves, this grave, let them stand for everyone.

Bonus--Fall Rainbow

2009-10-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

Two more from Memorial Park Cemetery. This was my reward for getting sprinkled on. I punched the color up just a bit in the zoomed-in one so the rainbow is more visible. I can't help myself, digital image manipulation is so much fun!

Time for some fall color!

2009-10-20T20:14:00.002-05:00

Here ya go...pictures from Memorial Park Cemetery, 6th & Gage, this late afternoon, when I realized driving by that I was looking at the best fall color I'd seen so far, without poles and wires in the pictures!

Skyline, October 3, 2009

2009-10-07T19:46:00.003-05:00

Forgot to post this one the other day along with the Moon from Skyline Drive. I learned that the gate to the road up to Burnett's Mound has been closed entirely for a few months due to major problems with illegal trash dumping. I know people who would do that won't be reading this, but people! Don't be assholes, OK?

October Moon, Part Two

2009-10-04T22:42:00.005-05:00

More Moon shots, and some Fall color at Lake Shawnee this evening. It's getting cold of an evening, out there by the lake!

October Moon

2009-10-03T20:58:00.002-05:00

Shooting the Moon again, this time from Skyline Parkway. We tried to get up on Burnett's Mound but some idiot had the gate locked and it was not sunset yet! A letter to the Parks & Rec director is in the email already. But the Moon was still beautiful from as high as we could go.

Nice Sky, 092309

2009-09-25T17:52:00.003-05:00

Cheryl Unruh of Flyover People told me to "look up" one recent evening, so the next afternoon I carried my camera around, and I did look up to find this fine-looking sky. I like the subtle colors.

Today's Cuteness

2009-09-19T00:14:00.004-05:00

Was out at Rees Fruit Farms store buying peaches on our way to supper with our sister in Lawrence when we saw this cutie hanging out in the flower planter. Don't know her or his name, but s/he made a good picture! And I love the sign.

OK, technically Rees Fruit Farms isn't exactly IN Topeka, but it's darn close, OK?

More balloons (see previous post)

2009-09-13T16:29:00.006-05:00

Fire in the hole!