Traveling Hammer

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Places of Worship

2009-11-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

This weeks topic was selected by Rebecca. Be sure to click on her name and see what she has to show you. You can also check out the rest of the Friday My Town Shoot Out group.

This old church makes me think of cars with white walled tires, Easter bonnets, ladies stockings with seams and little girls with frilly dresses and white anklets. I wonder how long the bell will remain hanging.

Out of the Mouths of Babes.

2009-11-12T13:13:00.004-06:00

I know you've all noticed what cute grandchildren I have. My grandsons are 6 months apart in age and get to see each other about twice a year.They've finally reached an age where they like to play together. Picture is from this summer just after they both arrived at Grandma's.

I want to tell you a story related to me by my daughter. Her son is the one on the right. He likes to talk to just about anyone. He was out on the driveway while his daddy washed the car. The teenaged girls from across the street came outside, wearing shorts that revealed part of their "hineys." Riley called out, "Where are your pants?" They got in their car and drove away. We may have to work on his pick-up technique in the next 16 years!

Numbers & Years

2009-11-11T08:21:00.002-06:00

What does it say about us when we begin to reference everything by it's age? There is a man doing carpet installation at my house this week. He's a very nice fellow and pleasant to visit with. He mentioned that he had his 20th high school reunion last year, making him about 38 according to my calculations. It dawned on me that I'm old enough to be his mother. That is, if I'd begun my family at 19 like both of my sisters. Maybe it is the fact that his hair is going gray! This morning I calculated that I've had my waffle iron for 37 years and I've been saying all week that a everyone should get new carpet as least once every 25 years. I also remarked that I have lived in this house for 31 years next month.

How time flies when you are having a life. I think I need to write one of those "bucket lists" and get moving.

Waiting

2009-11-10T08:34:00.006-06:00

Fall harvest is finally in high gear. October, when it normally starts, was very, very wet. Farmers couldn't get into the fields without getting stuck and the grain was too high in moisture content for the elevator to take it. November brought very mild warm days, so the harvest is on!

There's a constant line of trucks waiting to unload at the elevators.

This was 7:00 pm last night.

Please excuse the bugs on the windshield. It's not wise to stand on the highway at dusk during harvest.

Unusual Clouds

2009-11-08T08:12:00.004-06:00

This was taken yesterday near Bird City, Ks.

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Skylines

2009-11-06T09:27:00.006-06:00

Kate, also from Kansas, chose the topic this week. She says, "My topic is up to bat this week and I picked Skylines. One of my favorite things to see when I go to a new city is the look of their skyline - and for me, skylines can be the look of a small-town Main Street or the giant buildings of a huge city's downtown or a field full of corn. What is the "skyline" that you think of when someone mentions your town?"

Well, I live on the opposite side of the state where it is very flat. This is a picture of the industrial part of my town viewed from the road that I live on. To be fair, most of the buildings are one-story structures.

The taller structures that you could possibly see from other directions are our courthouse:

and of course, the grain elevators.

I like this perspective best.

Who is that guy?

2009-11-01T02:42:00.000-06:00

Two year old Mcclellan at the Mediterranean cafe in Lawrence, KS.

Early Blizzard

2009-10-31T10:39:00.000-05:00

We had snow Thursday night. I think we caught the edge of the storm as Western Colorado and Nebraska received more. I arrived home just an hour before I-70 was closed from here to Denver.

The drift on my front step.

I was poky getting outside this morning, so it is already beginning to melt.

I believe the apple tree will give up its leaves after this.

Indy, my dog, was eager to get out. He loves to play in the drifts.

Even the geese have decided it's time to go!

Wayne, Nebraska

2009-10-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

In our travels this week, my mother and I went to Wayne to visit my cousin- her mom and mine were sisters. We'd never been to her home, but had heard about it for years. She and her husband are the third owners of the house. It is just chock full of charming detail. It still has the original light fixtures in all of the rooms. Many rooms have matching wall sconces. There is also a "back" stairs, a solarium, the original fireplace with built-in cabinetry and a cold room (now transformed into a bathroom.) A very interesting visit.

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Park Landscapes

2009-10-29T21:10:00.005-05:00

I think I may have confused a little with last week's post. I remember this park as a child. There was a pair of swans on the lake, then one died and even though others were brought in, they just didn't prosper. We could drive clear around the lake back then. Our parents were always telling us to stay clear of the swans if we didn't want to get bitten. This park is located in David City, Nebraska where my mother grew up. We visited family this week and I took the pictures as we left Thursday morning.

Did they change their minds?

2009-10-27T16:28:00.003-05:00

I'm with my mother visiting her sister in Nebraska. We spent today visiting thrift stores. After I saw several plaques and wall hangings with similar quotes, I started to wonder. Did they change their minds?

Probably they just cleaned house or it was something that no longer matched their decor. Still, I thought it was worth a post!

Bras Across the Kaw

2009-10-25T19:35:00.003-05:00

This weekend I've been visiting Lawrence, Kansas- home of The University of Kansas and the Jayhawks. These are pictures of a project to raise breast cancer awarness. This is the third year of the project. Donated bras are strung end to end across the Kansas River bridge. I believe they are left up for one week. I took these pictures Sunday morning on the way to church and they were gone later that afternoon.

You can see the sign for Kansas River on the edge of the first picture. Kaw was the older, Indian name for the river.

You can google for more information.

Friday My Town Shoot Out:Childhood Classics

2009-10-22T22:56:00.001-05:00

I apologize for your wasted trip over here. Life got in the way and I don't have a post ready for this week. I'll be checking in to see how everyone interpreted this assignment.

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Sunrise/ Sunset

2009-10-16T05:29:00.012-05:00

The topic for the Friday My Town Shoot this week was chosen by Sherri. It has been overcast and rainy all week so these come from my photos earlier this summer.

This sunrise picture was taken on the west side of Sebelius Reservoir near Norton, Kansas.

Shots of the same sunset 5 minutes apart. Outside of Oakley, Kansas.

2009-10-10T20:47:00.003-05:00

A smile,

makes your face beautiful

and reflects back at you all day long!

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Silhouettes

2009-10-08T21:28:00.001-05:00

This weeks topic chosen by Carrie. I'm so happy to share some of these. I thought they were flops, but they were just silhouettes!

The top of a combine during fall harvest in the background, milo in the foreground.

Our town has a home owned carnival so this sets at the fairgrounds year round.

Small town wooden grain elevator.

More carnival ride.

Combine auger unloading corn.

Steering Wheels.....and Boys

2009-10-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

Suggestions?

2009-10-03T02:49:00.004-05:00

I'm trying to think of a better way to paint the wall and ceiling above my basement stairway. My husband used to use these planks placed closely together. He was 6' 4" and I'm a foot shorter so I still need some extra reach. (The netting was custom made to keep the little ones from falling through-it will probably be in place until their heads are too big to go between the spindles and yes I noticed the dust.)

I'm thinking, "Hire a professional."

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Photo Study of a Building

2009-10-01T20:47:00.002-05:00

This week we are to do a photo study of a building. "Look at the angles, the light, the windows, doors, special features, its uses past and present." I took these pictures this past summer. I think this building may have had many special features that you just don't see anymore. Notice the small offset window. I wish I could get a shot of the door. I can only guess at it's past uses.

I couldn't get very close,

but I was able to use my zoom.

Whatever it's current use, it will remain a mystery to me!

He's Got The Moves

2009-09-30T22:19:00.002-05:00

I picked this drum set up at a garage sale a few weeks ago. This is my 3-year old grandson showing his moves. He was using the milk carton for a stool. Sorry, I didn't have the sound turned on for my camera but it's really just as well!

Add a Caption

2009-09-26T21:38:00.003-05:00

I find I have a lot of pictures that I want to share, but not much of general interest to say. So, since I think these pictures are blog worthy, I'll leave it to you to add the caption. Thanks for your help!

A

Friday My Town Shoot Out: My Favorite Place to.....SHOP!

2009-09-24T20:30:00.002-05:00

The topic this week was chosen by Cindy over at Just Alaska. She chose, "My Favorite Place to __________" and we got to fill in the blank. I seriously didn't think I would come up with anything because I don't have a lot of options here. Then it came to me. The thing I enjoy most and admit to being addicted to: Bargain Hunting!

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Domestic Animals

2009-09-18T17:55:00.002-05:00

I nearly played the slacker this week. I came up with this picture of my grand-cat. Her name is Jazzy and I think she's about 11 years old. As you can see, she has a slight weight problem.

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Aged and Weathered

2009-09-10T21:00:00.001-05:00

The topic this week was chosen by Pauline from New Zealand.

Gem, Kansas-

Ten miles from my home, I'm told this community was once larger than Colby. That must have been a century or more ago. We have about 5,000 full time residents. In 2008, the population of Gem was listed at 87, down from 96 in the 2000 census.

A long time resident of the community told me that a couple of farmers bought this building for one dollar when the school closed in the 1960's. They were going to tear it down and recycle the bricks. They planned to ship them to California, selling them as used bricks, only to find out that the mortar was harder than the bricks!

High School

Gem, Kansas- Methodist Church

Gem, Kansas-drugstore

Friday My Town Shoot Out: Windows & Doors

2009-09-03T21:45:00.001-05:00

Topic this week for Friday My Town Shoot Out is Doors & Windows. I admit to taking a few shortcuts and using file photos this week. I just didn't take the time to get out, but I did enjoy having my daughter and grandchildren here for the week.

This window hangs at the top of the picture window in my living room. My husband bought it at an auction. It had some broken panels and started life at the top of a window in an old house. He deconstructed it, put it back together and framed it just for me. I've always liked stained glass. I'd love to be able to custom build a home and use it wherever I wanted.

Here is the door on the fire box of a steam tractor,

this is what's behind the door when the engine is ready to work,

and this is what could be behind the door when the engine is being safety checked.

I think the windows and doors on my pink 1962 Thunderbird are pretty classy.

Here is what I saw one day when walking up to my daughter's front door (before she moved to Oklahoma). You just have to take the picture before it's gone, thus the quality. Still in my book, it's a keeper.

You take your shots when you find them!