Quick Bike Tour

Well, calling it a tour may be a stretch, but it was an over-niter for both of us and we used my pannier bags for our luggage. We hit the Prairie Spirit Trail in eastern Kansas. I've been wanting to try a rail-to-trail bike ride with motel so that Wilma and I could do it together. She doesn't sleep on the ground anymore so my loaded touring method with camping gear doesn't work with her. That will just be my solo thing.

All went well, and Wilma would almost agree with that assessment. It was a bit warm Saturday. I wanted to be off the trail by the time the day's heat arrived but we were running a little late. We hit 95F and there wasn't as much shade on the trail as I was hoping for. It took the wind out of our sails. But we made it fine and recouped in an air-conditioned motel room. We just waited for the sun to go down a little before we hit Ottawa for eating and seeing the sites.

I love cruising small town Kansas on a bicycle to see the sites. I learned that on my two trips with Biking Across Kansas (organized ride), where we'd cruise the cities each night where we stayed. Sunday we got up early to beat the heat and the going was better. We watched the sun rise as we were pedaling South, back to Garnett. We gave a dozen farmers having coffee at the local dive pit-stop something to talk about with our biking attire as we came in for a bite. I had a nice chat and ear-scratching with a blue healer in a pickup in the parking lot as we left, waiting for his gossipy master inside.

That all made for a 58 mile two-day outing, which was the most Wilma has ever done. I'm proud of her! Also, we're still married . . . so far . . . I think.

Some Scenery on Business Travel

I spent a day inspecting some utility construction of one of our member coops. Coming back I drove through my Alma matter, K-State. I love to visit Manhattan, with it's coffee shops, grab a bite, and visit either the K-State Union bookstore or its rival, Varney's bookstore. This time it was Varney's and I picked up a new product for me - Art Alternative's "Pen & Ink" fountain pen and their 3.5"x5.5" sketch book that copies the Moleskine style. Then, while driving out of town I stopped at a scenic overview of the Kansas River Valley at sundown to try it all out. They built this neat stop after I graduated. So, here's the first sketch with that pen and that sketch book. The pen is $16, a bottle of ink was $6 and the book was cheaper, too. Seems to be entry level stuff, but it seems to work good so far. Next I'll check the claim that the ink is waterproof for using watercolors.

Omaha on Business

Well, time for our quarterly SPP TWG meeting. This time in Omaha. Our hotel is down by the restored Old Market area, so we can walk around after the meeting and check out their neat restaurants, bars and shops. Meeting with my peers is great but I like to get away from it, too. I knew there would probably be a big chain coffee store somewhere, but I like the small independents and if they were here, they'd be on the outside fringe area of the high rent district. Wednesday night I was in the mood for a decaf latte. I found Scooters in the high rent district, but they had no decaf. He recommended a competitor, and it was an independent! It's a neat little shop on the fringe of the developed area and they had my decaf. I decided to stop by the next day after our meeting disbanded at lunchtime and do a sketch and, since I'm there, have another cup of joe as I write the text. Sometimes I love business travel.

Sketch Crawls

I've made it to the last two Sketch Crawls in Excelsior Springs. That's just northeast out of Kansas City. They're organized by Kate Johnson. The June crawl was at Van Till Farms, just outside of town. It's an interesting blend of winery, restaurant, green houses to supply the restaurant, and part time pizzeria. Never been there before, but I cruised their website in advance. Their old-style masonry wood-fired oven is a slap the the face of technology. The work tools caught my eye initially, so I sat out in the sunny heat to sketch and sweat. Then I moved around for the other views. We would then sit and chat and eat. This is only my third crawl so I'm still getting into the swing of it.


Then the July Sketch Crawl was in the town at their City Hall. The building name is Hall of Waters, and hails back to their heyday as a resort town using their mineral waters. This place is build with interesting architecture and materials. I don't know the name of the style, but it has plenty of sketch potential. I started outside in the heat but came in after an hour.

My next sketch will be about our recent lightning strike that wiped out a bunch of electronics. This is added onto a hail storm in April. Bunches of insurance claims. The sketch is in my mind.

On the good side of life, my herb garden has proved to be very delicious. It's fun to cook with them. The smell is heavenly. I'll need a sketch of that, too. Stay tuned.

Berry Patch Prep

Everything is waking up around here. I love Spring! The hummingbirds are back. Flowers are up. Wilma's flower and veggi gardens are planted. We're starting to eat fresh veggies.

I can't put off clipping off the dead growth in the blackberry patch, so last night I got busy. I can't seem to get used to Kansas humidity, even though I've been here most of my life. When you don't move around it's fine, but work a little and it gets sticky. Oh well.

Wheat is starting to turn, so harvest isn't far away. When your are a major wheat State, that a significant event, at least in eastern Kansas. Western Kansas has already lost most of the Winter-planted wheat. That's a bad thing.

This is my second year of growing herbs. I plan to sketch later about them. They're not growing very fast but smell great.

High Pressure Fun

I had our deck and porch railing all cleaned and stained for our wedding festivities and visitors, but I didn't get the sketch done right away. Had the pen work finished but I had to clean up the place and store the equipment away before I got the color done. So, I drug out the sprayer last night to finish it and here it is.

That high pressure sprayer is one heavy piece of gear. I'm glad I have a brother to borrow it from. It's fun to use because you can see progress while you're working. There's also something primal about working with water that's fun. Think about it. When you walk by a puddle of water, doesn't an inner voice say "Step In It!". It's the learned cultural side of us that says adults don't do such thing (when other people are around). When you're out in a canoe or kayak or raft you have to smile and splash. Of course swimming is all about fun, even as an adult. With the exception of flooding, water is just plain fun. I also just remembered that human skin is not like that of other typical mammals, but like that of our dolphin friends. We are made for water . . . so step in that puddle!

Time's a Changin'

Amy's wedding was Saturday. Wilma and I have been busy (mainly the women) getting ready. Saturday morning Amy and Wilma were getting their hair done etc. etc. and I was left at home, alone, until my first duty, which was to take her dress (which was in a plastic bag I couldn't see into . . . drats!) to the church and pick up a platter of sandwiches for the bridal party. Then show time. So as I set, passing the time of day and listening to music, cup of coffee, I see this champagne cork Amy used for a spiked punch for the girls. I was fiddling with it and, of course, it called out to me to be sketched. Had it done before I went to town for my assigned father duties.

The wedding went fine (other than the sandwich shop didn't see our order and had to do a mad rush to fill it). Words just don't describe it all. It's special (and that sounds so lame). I once thought watching weddings was OK but not THAT mushy. Then our kids got married. Wow!

Note: The purplish color is close to the official event color.