Kansas Day

Tuesday was Kansas Day, our state's 152nd birthday.

I am not aware of another state that makes a big thing out of their state's birthday.  It seems like this is another unique characteristic of Kansans.  We are all sort of bound together by many things, and one of which is that each January, we tell everyone that our state was founded 150 plus years ago.  And, we do so with a lot of pride.

One of my friends posted the following quote on Facebook.  I love it.  It speaks to this indescribable love of a landscape - the prairie - and a place - Kansas.

You can never really escape. It goes with you, wherever you go. Somehow, the prairie dust gets in your blood, and it flows through your veins until it becomes a part of you. The vast stretches of empty fields, the flat horizons of treeless plains. The simplicity of the people—good, earnest people. The way they talk and the way they live. The lack of occurrence, lack of attention, lack of everything. All that—it’s etched into your soul and it colors the way you see everything and it becomes a part of you.

- P.S. Baber

Here are some views of our beautiful state.

 This photo was taken near Living Water Ranch, north of Manhattan.

 We love this little piece of land just west of our home.  We have tried to purchase it a couple of times, but it just hasn't worked out.  Someday.

 Directly across the road from our home is this lovely little creek.

 Another view of the land west of our home.

This road is several miles west of our home.  While my husband has run it several times, I first discovered it on a very long walk we took about two years ago.  This picture makes me long for spring.

Celebrating life and family

Today was the funeral for my husband's grandmother.  It was a beautiful service that honored her commitment and love for her family.  Her legacy includes many children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren, plus a lot of friends.

One of the wonderful and very strange aspects of family funerals is the combination of emotions - grief and sadness alongside the laughter and fun of gathering with family.

A particularly funny moment was when my husband remarked on a photo of his grandparents.  His grandfather was wearing a powder blue suit and my husband said he wanted one.  His uncle said, "That is a leisure suit and they were really comfortable, but they went out with disco."

True friends

Where Women Create sends a weekly inspiration via e-mail. The messages and images are always interesting and I was especially taken with this one from last week.

I am so thankful for my friends and their support and encouragement, especially amidst the chaos.

An update on my word for this year.

My word for 2013 is Thanks.  I made a commitment to send one letter a week to someone in my life who is important to me.  I am three weeks in and have three letters delivered.  Gold stars for me!

I also made a commitment to practice acts of kindness.  This has been more organic and low key.  I haven't executed any awesome, big, noteworthy acts of kindness, but I would like to think that I have been more patient when driving, pushing a grocery cart through the store, talking on the phone with what could be frustrating customer service situations, and other everyday kinds of things.

I am still excited about this challenge and excited about the new year!

The good reads continue

The new year has started with some great issues of some of my favorite magazines.  The latest issue of Garden and Gun is full of things I love - music, food, great photography, profiles of craftsmen and artists, and great writing.

I have always felt a little like an imposture as a subscriber to this magazine.  Though I don't live in the South, there is something about this magazine that really hits home.  I originally bought an issue because it caught my eye and since that first issue, I have fallen in love with it month after month.

This version brought me a lot of inspiration - new music to download, restaurants to try in Chicago (since this isn't a Southern city, that might be my biggest surprise), and a heartwarming article about a family and their dog.

Meet Holly Williams, daughter of Hank Williams, Jr.  She is from country music royalty with a great voice.   You can sample her music here.

 Connie Britton is the star of one of my new favorite shows, Nashville.  I love her in her role as Rayna James and was excited to read her interview in this issue.  Isn't she's gorgeous at 45? An inspiration! 

 I knew nothing about the giant wooden trays used to serve a barbecued whole hog.  The story of this barber who crafts these trays on the side is really neat.  I love these.  I have absolutely no use for one because I have no future plans to barbecue a whole hog, but if I did, I would want to serve it on one of these beautiful trays.

 I want to tell all my friends in DC to seek out this couple, become their friends, and then invite me for a visit.    That's not weird, right?  The article is about their renovation of an old carriage house.  Their passion for preserving history and creating a great space for entertaining is inspiring.

Eight pages on Chicago!  I can't wait to seek out some of their recommendations from Chicago's Southern Soul.

What a beautiful issue!  Pick up your copy.

Where Women Create - February/March issue

 It is no secret that when a new issue of Where Women Create drops in my mailbox, I wait to read it until I can savor every article and photo.  I take the issues in page by page and enjoy every second.  No issue has disappointed!

The latest magazine came at the end of last week and I was anxiously anticipating the three day weekend because I was sure I could find time to do some reading.

There are a lot of great artists profiled in this issue.  I am especially fond of some of the quotes offered for inspiration.

"To love what you do and feel that it matters...how could anything be more fun?"  - Katherine Graham

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." - Twyla Tharp

 The photography is amazing!  The table of contents always shows off some of the best images and gives you a preview of what to expect.

Side note:  I am someone who reads a magazine from cover to cover, beginning on the first page and going through to the end.  I used to think this was the only way to read.  Later, I met friends who (prepare yourself) skip around from article to article (gasp!).  What is your preference?

 The feature on Jenni Bowlin Studio is fantastic!  I think Jenni and I could be good friends.  I have come to this conclusion because everything in the photos looks like something I would buy or collect or scavenge at a tag sale/flea market/auction.

And, her favorite quote is actually lyrics from The Avett Brothers, some of my favorite music of the moment.

There was a dream.

One day I could see it. 

Like a bird in a cage 

I broke in and demanded

that somebody free it.

 Do you see those little wooden drawers and the skeleton keys on the pin board?...the wooden boxes and crates?  Sigh.  I could spend all day going through her inventory.

The vintage cabinet with wire baskets on top - love!  Star garland on the child mannequin - precious!  The old door with faded paint - stunning!  

Check out her website and blog.  And, catch the latest issue of Where Women Create.

A perfect Saturday...basketball, junking and chocolate!

 We enjoyed a beautiful Saturday.  The weather was gorgeous - around 60 degrees in January in Kansas.  We had a great day planned - watching basketball games for two of our nieces, shopping for unique finds and chocolate, and hanging out with family.  And, to top it off, it was the start of a three day weekend.

The basketball games were great.  Both of my nieces' teams came  up short in terms of a win, but both girls played hard and we really enjoyed watching them play.

My oldest niece played in the same auditorium where I played my high school league tournaments.  Being back in that place and watching basketball made me feel really nostalgic.  And, apparently, protective of my niece.  Her assistant coach should never yell that she needs more out of her when she is playing her butt off.  I may or may not have yelled back at her, "What did you say?"

After the first game, we had a short break before my other niece's game and we decided to take in some stores downtown.  My husband earned the eagle eyes award for the day by spotting a cute little store on the corner.  He insisted that it looked like a place I would like, so we found a parking spot and walked back up the block.  He was right!

Studio 11 is everything they promise on their website - they "make junk look good," offer a wide variety of "funky, junky, recycled, and handmade things", a great atmosphere (the historic building is awesome!), and friendly customer service.

The sign in front of the store promises Pinterest classes.  Doesn't that sound like fun?! You can follow all of their boards on Pinterest.

Their door has a sign that says, "Push it, push it real good."   I always laugh when I see that on a shop door.  This sign was indication that I would like the vibe. 

Our finds included these two awesome bowling pins.  They are lovely with chippy paint and great color.  We had always looked at vintage bowling pins and finally made the purchase.  I also grabbed some of their 'keep it junky' stickers to share with friends who are just as crazy about vintage and handmade.

Our other find was these great pendants.  One side says, "Vision is the art of seeing things invisible."

And, the back is this beautiful floral.

This one says, "starlet."

And, the other side has a cute little bird.  This color of blue is one of my favorites.

We bought one for my mom, too.  Hers says, "Gram."  The staff was really great about shortening a chain to just the right length for my mom.

It is safe to say that if Emporia was a little closer, I would be spending a lot of time and money at Studio 11.

Our next stop was the Sweet Granada.  I have blogged about this great store before from quick stops this fall and last fall.

 Even though the day was unseasonably warm, the sign in the front window promised that some chocolate would chase away winter blues.

And, this stuff does the trick!  The Pop Choc is delicious and the perfect balance of sweet and salty.  We also bought a selection of other items from the case and some of their homemade fudge.

 My husband was a good sport to go shopping.  I think the chocolate helped. 

 And, my mom was a good sport to pose in a picture with me, even though she didn't want to be in front of the camera.

We had an awesome day.  We even made it home in time to knock out some of our backlog of outside chores that we save for warm weather.