Tag Archives: kansas photos

Kansas Quilt Trail-Fences/ThursdayDoors

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Well the title tells enough–but I’m still giving you more details this week as I continue on the quilt trail through south-central Kansas. This may well be another instance of dividing up the photos so I don’t drown you with them all at once. I rather like the soaking up of a small number at a time. And with blog challenges, most folks are trying to read several leaving little time for long, laborious posts.

And btw, lesson learned on captioning. It needs to show on the photo or directly underneath it. It just isn’t enough to click a photo to read the caption on a separate page. At least that has become my experience with readers. And again, I get it. Busy people require ease of reading. Let us hope WordPress ‘gets it’ pretty soon. I mean, how many times has the newspaper format changed?! Enhanced reader appeal still needs the basics. Don’t worry, this is my last rant on the topic. I doubt this little spiel will change a darn thing.

Mandatory Door photo inserted here.
Mandatory Door photo inserted here.

Native stone home. New windows and roof keep it going another century I hope.

  • Roadside Info Kiosk
    Roadside Info Kiosk
  • No More Open Range
    No More Open Range
  • Wabaunsee County History
    Wabaunsee County History

This was just past the town of Alma a few miles. Lots of rolling hills and then this roadside touristy spot.

The stone fence.
The stone fence.

I’ve read a fair amount on the Dust Bowl years and I’d venture to say this fence saw a lot of change over the last 100+ years. So thankful that tragedy is long gone and this part of history was preserved. Kind of surprised it wasn’t mentioned in the reading above though. Some close-up pics next.

  • Generations of Ranchers
    Generations of Ranchers
  • Little Bluestem,Brome and Switch Grass for hay baling.
    Little Bluestem,Brome and Switch Grass for hay baling.
  • 6-8 acres per cow/calf pair needed
    6-8 acres per cow/calf pair needed

Ranching is not for the faint of heart. Weather events, ample hay/grass and water are just the tip of the iceburg in success or failure. They have my complete regard!

Panoramic view
Panoramic view

And with a view like this every morning, I’d be spellbound for sure. Just spectacular!

  • Picturesque View
    Picturesque View
  • Miles of Stone Fence
    Miles of Stone Fence
  • Perfect Selfie Background
    Perfect Selfie Background
  • Quilt Block Alert!!
    Quilt Block Alert!!

So, can’t get enough of Thursday Doors? Head on over to Norm 2.0 for more entries from around the world. He’s happy to direct your path!

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Kansas Quilt Trail Part.3 –ThursdayDoors

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When I told a fellow quilt admirer about the Kansas Quilt Trail, they thought it was a fabric store hop. No, I informed them. It’s a trail of painted wooden quilt blocks that are hung on barns, homes, businesses or fences along highways and streets in Kansas. The map is given online–but it’s just a general guideline to finding them. You may drive past a few undetected, trust me.

Just so you know, the portion we drove past and photographed is just a small portion. I have quite a few in my stash I’m happy to say, so please understand I’ll be sharing these for awhile on the Thursday Doors posts–along with the doors discovered along the way, respectively.

Downtown Alma, you won our hearts with your Heart-of-America feel.

Painted curtains
Native stone building

These curtains were pretty whimsical and I didn’t notice until we were parked. Made me chuckle and of course they Had to be inserted this week. Thanks Alma for the smiles.

Kansas Log Cabin
Millinery Shop details
Oval glass makes this door!
Native stone building and metal doors

We loved happening onto this set of historical buildings. Other than the signage, I didn’t find any extra information on them. But I dearly love the oval window in the millinery shop! Not sure how original it is to the building but it fits perfectly in my opinion.

Block discovery.
Block discovery.

I wonder if they trade out blocks for holidays? This one is clearly in place for the July 4th weekend. Garage door included here. Looks like someone spends time grilling under that shade tree. Does a grill door count?

Bungalow with storm door
Bungalow with storm door

Clearly the caution tape is to prevent trespassing. I’d like to think they just got a new driveway entrance poured; but needless to say I didn’t plan on inquiring.

I hope you’ll come back next week for more quilt blocks and Thursday Doors. Also, please take time to visit our leader, Norm 2.0 for many more wonderful doors from all over!

Alma, Kansas Quilt Trail Pt. 2 /ThursdayDoors

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If there could be a perfect marriage of blog posts for me, it would include quilts and doors. And if you were able to read my blog week before last, you will know that I have found the way.

Alma, Kansas

We drove west from Topeka and our first glimpse of blocks started here in Alma. This is the county seat of Webaunsee County. County population in 2008 was 6,922. The sign above reads ” Alma 150th Anniversary – Independence Day Celebration – July 4th” We were a day late on the festivities. Probably a good thing for the purpose of viewing the ‘drive-by’ blocks.

Alma Creamery Information
Events and Map
Old time photos and extra information

We first stopped at the city park which had these posted for visitors. Very helpful and informative. A few ‘doors’ included if you look closely.

  • Door Find– stunning sky Divinely inserted.
  • The Alma First United Methodist Church

When doorscursioning, one must include churches. Thankful the rain moved on for us.

  • First Block!!!
  • Mill Creek Mercantile

Old door alert! Just propped but it counts. Would love to come back and see this store inside. Bet it’s got some great stuff!

  • Corner door




  • Stain glass above door
  • Quilt block on the balcony!!

A side note that this community was pretty near a tornado warning just a couple weeks ago(Aug.15). We get Kansas City news and weather and watched as they were tracking the storm. We were so glad they weren’t affected directly.

Photo Donation. Thanks Rach!!

Just in case you’re wondering what quilt I’ve got in the hoop lately, it’s this little number. Hand pieced double wedding ring quilt in red, white and blue –lap-sized and hand quilting a little each evening.

So many more photos to come of both quilt blocks and doors. Hope you can also visit Norm 2.0 for even more wonderful doors from around the world!! Happy Thursday!

Kansas Quilt Trail/ThursdayDoors

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July 4th weekend we decided to meet up at the eldest daughter’s place for some home-cooked vittles before starting out on a long day trip.

Out the window we caught a glimpse of this rainbow. Bye Bye rain!
Out the window we caught a glimpse of this rainbow. Bye Bye rain!

We enjoyed eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast—not to mention some ‘pour-over’ coffee. You know, I do believe she payed attention to my cooking tips. 😉 Click on photos to see ‘Captions”.

Breakfast with Wonder Woman
And yes we cleaned our plates
Pour-over coffee
Cup courtesy of family in Okinawa

About the drive…..we headed off after this supercharge breakfast on the Kansas Quilt Trail. Here’s a portion of the map.

Starting point for us was Lawrence, Kansas
Starting point for us was Lawrence, Kansas

As beginners, we learned that there are no warnings of quilt blocks coming up. The map is just a general reference and you must be on the lookout for them. GPS markers would really help if anyone has the ambition to enter them(clears throat). In the next few Thursday Doors, I’ll be sharing our experience. To start here is a little taste of western Kansas.

TopekaKansas
EnterPrarie
ScenicByway
Flint HIlls marker on a slab of flint
Midsummer green

And for my finale, an official door to make this a proper Thursday Doors entry. Hope everyone takes a little time out to visit Norm 2.0 where there are so many more beautiful doors. He’ll direct your path.

On the Road to the Kansas Quilt Trail
On the Road to the Kansas Quilt Trail

Lawrence,Kansas May 28, 2019/ Thursday Doors

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On June 16, Father’s Day, we took a little drive to Lawrence, Kansas. Surprise! lol For those who read this blog now and then, you know we end up there often to see our eldest.

I’m about to take you along the path of an F4 tornado this Thursday Doors. There are actually doors that survived and many that didn’t. I tried to pare down the number of photos I’m sharing as there is,obviously, much destruction. That is the reason I’m sharing. The latest view of a choice few of this tech-savvy generation is that you can take these things lightly. The very reason there were no casualties, I’m pleased to say, is that these Kansans were not outside taking selfies or storm-chasing.

So now with no further chastising, I have scenes of the May 28, 2019 tornado devastation. Our continued prayers for these victims as they try to rebuild lives and livelihoods.

Beyond this rise it begins
Beyond this rise it begins

To dispel certain notions, this part of Kansas is not entirely flat as you can see. Not a good idea to pass in other words. Sorry if you get behind a tractor. Their wheat crop is about to feed the world.

Tarp on the roof til time to repair.
Tarp on the roof til time to repair.

Doors here are intact. Roof, not so much.

Not sure about that garage door. It may be blown out or just open?
Not sure about that garage door. It may be blown out or just open?

Between the house and garage is a barn or other outbuilding crumpled into a heap.

Seems like they got lucky
Seems like they got lucky

This house was pretty much unscathed as is the way of tornadoes. One house damaged, the next untouched.

The other side of the road.
The other side of the road.
A Real Survivor.
A Real Survivor.

The picture in my mind of so many farmhouses I knew growing up. Does my heart good to see it still standing.

And another hold-out.
And another hold-0ut.

There’s a screen door in the distance that I bet withstood some pretty torential winds.

Old Glory rehung.
Old Glory rehung.

This my friends is Ground Zero of that tornado path. Scouring of the earth is what comes directly to mind. If you look at the horizon, you can see the trees that were in the path versus those that still have all their foliage. So thankful the city of Lawrence was not hit directly and that everyone is safe. And thanks to my eldest daughter for the guided tour to show the world the seriousness of this sort of natural disaster.

For more Thursday Doors posts from around the world please visit Norm 2.0 and he will direct you to the links.

Leawood / #thursdaydoors

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I would have to research Leawood, Kansas (Kansas City suburb) if you really want to know much about it. For us, it’s a pass-through city on the way to dinner with our daughters. One rode with, and one met us. We were pre-celebrating a birthday for the youngest and went to an old favorite place. So you’ve seen it before and I’m not going to repeat that one.

You’re welcome.

The collage is made just to give the door interest. I personally love a screened-in porch and would dearly love to have one. And there’s that stone! But for now, I present this one with some play on filters.

LeawoodKansas Collage

You’re probably going to tell me the only ‘real’ stone is the wall. I’m sure you’re probably right considering this is not The East Coast 🙂 But a gal can try right?!

Hope you’ll take some time to drop in on Norm 2.0 for some more doors by clicking here. He’ll direct you to the blue frog.

Happy Thursday everyone!

The Dusty Bookshelf/#Thursday Doors

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Inspired by  Stepheny Forgue Houghtlin during the April A to Z Challenge for this week’s Thursday Doors is The Dusty Bookshelf in Lawrence, Kansas. During the Challenge, her theme was Bookstores-Stepping Across the Threshhold. I had to let her know about this treasure after we visited it during April. Thanks to her, I discovered yet more quilting books and a couple music (banjo) books to feed my book fix for a bit. And, oh darn, I’ll be back in Lawrence this weekend for a graduation and just may be forced to fit in a few more minutes here perusing those shelves. Until then, sharing the front of the shop. I’ve yet to get enough nerve to snap pics inside. Maybe next time and then I’ll even snap a few pics of my finds.

Photographed along the world reknown ‘Mass Street’ in Lawrence, Kansas.

Visit the world reknown Norm 2.0 for many more door destinations by clicking here.

Wagon Ho! /Thursday Doors

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It’s not every day that you see a couple wagons parked on the front porch.

wagons

And for once I don’t have to say ‘only in Missouri’ do you see these things 😉 I can thank Lawrence, Kansas.

wagons2And I only noticed the side porch and peek of a door after the fact. But hope you enjoy this little pioneer-style doorscursion. Please take a moment to visit Norm 2.0 for other great entries in his weekly Thursday Doors challenge!

B4&After/ThursdayDoors

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I’ve mentioned umpteen times that we visit Lawrence, Kansas. This week is another instance (& probably won’t be the last). In short and sweet form, I present a home I’ve been keeping an eye on for about a year.

B4 (2)

This is the ‘before’ of a home in Old Lawrence, a historical part of town that is extremely protective of its old homes. And with good reason. They are gorgeous! This one just happens to sit at where we take a turn to our daughter’s.

Next is the “after”.

 

Such clouds that this is the best angle for that front door.
View from our usual turn.
We drove around the block just for this one.

I hope it warms your heart as much as it does mine to see these parts of history saved.

For other Thursday  Doors that’ll warm your hearts, visit Norm 2.0 and see what he’s up to this week!

Outing with Grandma/ Thursday Doors

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Having reached middle age, the priviledge to take my mother places that she probably wouldn’t go on her own is ranking pretty high on my list. Not to mention being able to include other family members on these excursions. Such was the case for this Thursday Doors post.

I’ve mentioned a few times the Lawrence, Kansas destination we take and the main reason being to visit the eldest daughter, soon to be Dr. Daughter. (Pardon this  outburst moment of pride.) 

Blake Hall
Sitting area overlooking a lovely view
Blake Hall to the right with Fraser Hall directly ahead.

The KU Campus was one of the places we took Mother, aka Grandma, to see. You can hover your mouse over each pic for a descriptive caption. It’s a lovely place to visit, with Fraser Hall’s flags flying in the above photo professing (no pun intended) its claim of being the highest point in Lawrence.

Gmatour7 (2)

I present the only actual door for this Thursday Doors collection. I know there are many more eye-catching ones but, sorry, they’ll have to wait until next year.

A Bronze Wheat Bundle between Blake and Fraser Halls.
Closer look

Waving the wheat is a long-standing KU tradition and this bronze is a tribute to that ritual as well as to the state of Kansas and its great farming legacy.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Thursday Doors posts this past year and have taken a moment to check out other Door posts starting with Norm 2.0. Click the Blue Frog button at the bottom of his post for doors from around the world.

Happy Holidays from Central Missouri, USA!