Gone to Seed

How many new plants did I avoid by picking these?

Outhouses

From the sublime (the church yesterday) to the necessary.

The first photo is from Kanopolis, KS, where a lake was formed by a dam many years ago to give us Kansans a place to go boating.



The second is from Odin, KS, where someone had a sense of humor.

Odin, KS

A beautiful stone church in Odin, KS.

Ellsworth, KS

I wonder if this was a private home or some type of facility for a group of people.

It must have been beautiful in its prime.

Abandoned

This farm house is between Lyons and Ellsworth on Highway 14 in Kansas.

I'm afraid it won't be there much longer

Mespelbrunn-spess Elke's favorite castle

Twenty-four years ago I went on a trip with my daughter-in-law and her mother to Germany. Thanks to them, it was an awesome experience.

What a beautiful country it is.

We stayed with relatives and at an inn built in 1751. I have wonderful memories and an album full of photos taken with a 35 mm camera.

If we had had digital, I'd have ten albums.



And the last photo is Miss E. petting the guard dog on duty at the side entrance of Mespelbrunn-spess.

Motorcycle/Car?

If you count the steering wheel, it has four wheels.

Hutchinson Hospital and 1930's Nursery

The nursery is all ready for my arrival the next year.

The Back Gate

 The gate that never opens - well rarely, anyway.
The morning glories are thriving with our thirteen inches above normal rainfall for the month of August.

The odd tree on the other side of the fence is an unknown variety. Some of the morning glories are decorating it.
L. has cut that tree back to the ground but it keeps coming back.

Art Works with Directions to the Facilities

I could have cropped out the signs, but they are there so I believe they should be included.

Do they detract?

A Littlel Local History

This plaque is on Rayl's Hill west of Hutchinson, KS. President Harding was on the trip that took him to the west coast and sadly, it was his last trip.
From Wikipedia: "During Harding's western travels, historian Samuel H. Adams claims that Harding's political views began to expand, and became more independent from established Republican Party agenda. In St. Louis, Harding promoted U.S. participation in the World Court having earnestly desired world peace. In Kansas, Harding gave a speech on agriculture and, much to his doctor's displeasure, rode on a farming combine in searing summer heat." He continued on to Denver and Alaska, returning to Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. After his death in California, there were rumors that he had committed suicide or was poisoned by his wife.  Physicians were divided on the cause of death: stroke or heart failure.

Former Victorian Home Changed into Apartments

Can you imagine how this would have looked when it was "brand new?"

Medora KS

 A neat place to visit.

Pictures from the Past

Some entries on facebook  show American Ruins. This may not be ruined but it's on the way.

This is in Little River, KS.

More from Marquette, KS

 Creative painted house and more decorative store fronts downtown.

Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, KS

 These photos were from a day trip four years ago.  This is a fun place to visit off the interstate.

Gray Owl

Technology continues to amaze me.
This great photo was taken with a cell  phone.
I know, "real" photographers have wonderful cameras with all kinds of settings but to be able to get pictures like this with a simple point and shoot cell phone camera is fascinating.

This was at the Portland Zoo.

I remember staring out with a light meter and ASA settings and lense openings....much of which I didn't completely understand. Perhaps I'm just too lazy to learn.  So glad I have a camera and cell phone to use!!

Well, a correction is needed. I just found out that this great photo was taken with a good (probably expensive) digital camera from about four feet away...NOT a cell phone camera.
I assumed too much. Persons should check facts before they publish - reporters, take note.

Yellow and Lavender

This beautiful Oregon flower distracts me from another plumbing leak.

Not under the house this time so our plumber could remain mud free. A worn out rubber flap in the tank was giving us a higher water bill. This new unit was installed in 2007 but I guess everything wears out - which reminds me. We need to replace our washing machine hoses. Yes, I heard that on an insurance ad on tv. It's been almost six years and the recommended time is five years.

It's always something.

Decay

 I lived in this house for about three years. If fact, I lived there when President Roosevelt died and when my grandfather died on July 3rd, 1946. Other memories are so great of having friends  over, playing records and just hanging out on Saturday afternoons. My room had windows that cranked out and a stairway to a floored attic. The porch upstairs was off the master bedroom. There was a vestibule with prism windows and a beautiful curved stairway that my friend, Jo, said I could walk down when I got married. Sadly my folks sold it while I was still in high school.


This house on West 12th was the McCandless  home. It was built when there was nothing north of that street except wheat fields. There is now a school named after the man whose family built the home.

Today the house cannot be seen from the front. Trees and bushes have grown unrestrained and hide it.  It so sad to see it uncared for and I am unsure if it is occupied.

I hope it is not one of the homes the city has picked to be destroyed.

Rose of Sharon

This is what we have. Look at those buds!















Here's what our neighbor has ( and what we are hoping for.)