Nutcracker

Note to self: Must get out and take more pictures!

The Wichita Lineman

Telephone - Electric - Cable Television

I find it amazing how voice, image, and electricity can be transported through wiring.

This photo reminds me of an old Glenn Campbell song.

I am a lineman for the county and I drive the main road

Searchin' in the sun for another overload

I hear you singin' in the wire,

I can hear you through the whine

And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line

I know I need a small vacation but it don't look like rain

And if it snows that stretch down south won't ever stand the strain

And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time

And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line

I am a lineman for the county and I drive the main road

Searchin' in the sun for another overload

And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time

And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line

Light and shadows

I like the layers and lattice of shadows in this photo.

I just know, one of these months the theme will be benches,

and my best bench shots will have already been posted.

Ice Cold Shower

Here's a close up of the little (and "lots of") ice balls shown in yesterday's photo. It was confusing, trying to decide if they were considered sleet or hail. My Kansas friend, Moonshadow, tells me it was sleet. I don't know how most Wichitan's felt about this winter treat, but I really enjoyed seeing it. It wasn't hard to drive on, and could be seen covering the streets, sidewalks, driveways - in all directions. Elarging the photo shows how cute they were. I think what impressed me was their size, perfectly rounded form, and the density - it would of made a nice "Ice Cold Shower" for a giant.

Goodness gracious....

....great balls of ICE!

Yesterday morning, Wichitan's enjoyed a show put on by Mother Nature, as she had dotted the landscape with lots (and I mean LOTS) of little ice balls. They were very small, and nicely rounded hail stones. There was lots of them, and it was quite a sight to see. I had heard it hitting the window, roof and street during the night. As I opened my door to go to work, this is what I saw - and as my car rolled over it - I could hear the ice crunching under the tires.

Wichita sometimes gets large hail storms, that do damage to the trees, windows, roofs, cars, and more. Hail can sometimes be as large as golf, tennis, baseball, and softballs. But, this little storm was harmless and a spectacular sight. This photo shows the density of coverage, but it doesn't show a good focused shot of the little balls. I'll post a macro of them - tomorrow.

Dog on Douglas Street

It's too cold to get out and take photos, so I'm pulling from some past ones. This one was taken on Douglas Street. I think it's kind of funny, because I asked the kids to step out of the picture. And, so they hid behind the mesh wall. See their feet?

Hospital Lobby

A couple of chairs in a hospital lobby.

Restaurant skeleton

This is a photo taken last summer of a restaurant under construction at the Sedgwick County Zoo, in Wichita. It will be interesting to see how it's coming along. For all I know it may be finished, but according to the sign it's scheduled for opening this Spring. There was a "name the zoo" contest being held, on the radio the other day. I've not heard if a winning name has been selected, yet.

Can you think of a good name for it?

Artistic Bench

Another night time photo, this time of a bench with fancy art work. This is a double bench, it has a seat on both sides. There were several of these benches, located outdoors near Wichita's public library. I imagine them to be a nice reading spot during spring and fall.

Manhole cover

I liked the way the color of this shot turned out, it was taken at night, with a flash.

As a matter of fact, I like it well enough to use as a header for a while.

It makes a nice "Title" header.

Parking lot

Kansas weather - is like a box of chocolates. Never know what you're gonna get. It could be snowing one day, and sun shining the next. To me, it's so much nicer than consistently cold winter days. Nice breaks of sunshine melting the snow, in between the cold blasts of winter.

Winter scene

Cold white snow, concrete, and signs of life.

I was trying to capture how pretty the snow was on the tree branches.

Maybe enlarging, will give a better view.

Frog near Fountain

Some of you may remember the Douglas Streetscape Statues that were on quite a few of my earlier postings. This is a small statue of that series. It's just a little frog. It's the kind of statue that adds a bit of suprise to see, since it's so small and unexpected. It's the kind that makes a person say "Oh look! There's a little frog!" This photo reminds me of an old fairy tale I use to enjoy, about a Frog Pond.... one of those kiss a frog, and it turns into a prince stories.

Baby Wichitan

It's a whole new world, just waiting to be discovered by this little explorer.

Mother and child

Taken at a hospital - labor and delivery waiting room. This statue was attached to a counter top, and is titled "After Four". Looks like a tired mother, up with her brand new baby.

Theme Day - Air Capital of the World

This month's theme is "Post a picture of anything that your city is well-known for".

Wichita has long been known as The Air Capital of the World. This city is home to; Boeing Company, Cessna Aircraft Company, Bombardier Aerospace Learjet Inc., and Hawker Beechcraft, to name a few. The photo was taken at a performance by the blueangels performance the McConnell Air Force annual Air Show (in July of 2007).

Check out the February 1, 2008 posts on these CDP blogs, to see what their city is well-known for:Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA

Snow covered rooftops

This was taken from a fourth floor window, looking out over a lower floor rooftop, and on to a nearby neighborhood. Wichita is coated with the cold white fluff again, it was a beautiful winter wonderland. Not a lot of fun to drive in, but lovely to see. I would of loved to have taken my camera out on the town, but had somewhere important to be.

Blowing snowfall

Yesterday started out with snow falling, and wind blowing - visability was low. Towards afternoon, the sun came out and took over. The winds calmed, and visability cleared. The temperature remained cold, but it was a much nicer afternoon, and ending to a day that started out looking like a good day to stay home.

Boathouse

The Wichita Boathouse is one of the Wichita's attractions, featuring the permanent display of the Jayhawk, an International America's Cup Class yacht, and other exhibits. To see the Yacht, or read more, click here: boathouse (this photo was taken in August, thus the still green trees)

Jack's Hamburgers

When I took this photo, I noticed the Hamburger Stand was closed for remodeling. Good timing, since it's located very close to the Minisa Bridge that's also closed for remodeling. From what I read - this is another long lasting place of business - established in 1951. Hamburgers can be ordered with - mustard, mayonaise, ketchup, onions, tomato, pickles, lettuce, jalapeno peppers, cheese, bacon... and more.

Tell me - what do you like on your hamburgers.

My order is usually - cheese, mayonaise, onion and tomato - and sometimes bacon.