more waiting room time

Kansas Spine Hospital ~ waiting room

. . . sketching while my husband underwent yet another medical procedure for back pain. Not sure it actually did any good yet, but hoping for improvement. Sketching does help fill the waiting time.

mining salt in Kansas

It's always good to know the way UP and OUT.

On Saturday, we took our granddaughter Mikala, visiting from Texas, exploring the underground of Hutchinson, Kansas. One of the world's largest salt deposits was discovered there in 1887 (though I'm sure that Native Americans knew of it much earlier), spanning across Kansas, Oklahoma, the pan-handle of Texas, and into New Mexico. Still actively mined today, they also have a museum and visitors' center in one of the older sections of the mine.

Mikala looked cute in her hard hat.

Lots of hands-on exhibits showed how the salt deposits formed (when an ancient ocean covered this land), the variety of salt found here, and unusual formations such as fluid inclusions (pockets of ancient sea water trapped inside particularly pure specimens). Hard hats were required to be worn by all, as well as our being issued emergency breathing apparatus in case of fire . . . . even though salt can not burn.

Lots of discarded mining equipment was scattered about --- workers were told "what goes in the mine, stays in the mine", the company owners not wanting to tie up man-hours and equipment for hauling it out. Piles of lunch wrappers and other rubbish from previous generations of miners are now museum artifacts. At the end of the "dark ride" through the tunnels, we were able to choose some bits of salt as souvenirs. Mikala found the prettiest red salt sample, as well as a pure bit with a fluid inclusion inside -- we didn't discover the water bubble until later at home, holding it up to the light.

Kansas Spine Hospital

 

Yesterday Bill had a repeat procedure to ease severe back pain. Both the doctor and the nurses agree that this will only provide short-term relief  (a bit over one month). Unfortunately, our insurance company will not pay for the correct procedure (that will provide long-term relief) until he has undergone this particular injection twice. Stupid insurance companies.

The newly built hospital is all curves, chrome, and glass -- I wanted to catch the sunlight's patterns in this sketch. The level of care here is top quality -- he was treated very well by all.

Had the opportunity to be in Baldwin City, KS this past Saturday.  This building was built in 1914 as the Wes-Hartley Lumber Co.  It is now the Lumberyard Arts Center and has been very well done.  Inside it retains much of the character of the original structure.  It was a nice day to visit.

some ancient graves

This past Saturday, we drove to Pawnee Rock to attend Bill's aunt's funeral.  Arriving there too early (a common habit with Bill), we walked around looking for the oldest gravestones --- many from the civil war and earlier. The ones I sketched here are all children, the oldest one possibly the one now being embraced by a red cedar tree.

Popping up everywhere were these sweet wild geraniums. The ancient cemetery would have been quite peaceful if it were not for the fierce, cold Kansas winds.

drive through the Flint Hills

drive through the Flint Hills, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

Last Sunday, we drove to Matfield Green, where friends are rehabbing an old house. Arriving early, I took time to draw this tiny house that provides their temporary living space. A springtime drive through this western edge of the Kansas Flint Hills is normally beautiful, but this seemingly endless winter has made it less so. None of the trees show any new buds yet, and cattle are out in pastures full of dormant grass. Who knows what they find to eat out there.

This building used to be located at the couple's old house, used as an interior designer workshop by the wife. I once helped her with some sewing here, with it's huge work table, 2 sewing machines, and lots of bolts of fabric stored overhead. Now it has been transformed into a charming little home.

I found the tiny palette for sale on artist Maria Coryell-Martin's web site. For more info, go to my blog.

evening out with friends

evening out with friends, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

A few weeks ago, we met friends in the small Flint Hills town of Florence, KS --- fantastic steak! As it should be, having been cooked by actual cattlemen, at the Merchantile.

The restaurant is open on a limited basis, owned and run by a large ranching family. Only one item on menu: really good steak! (They also offer chicken for finicky people) -- plus old-fashioned goodies as hors d' oeuvres, home-cooked sides and dessert.

The small town's water tower boasts that their water is 99.96% pure spring water.

Ceilidh's Wednesday

Ceilidh's Wednesday, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

My Scottie, Ceilidh, had a rough morning yesterday . . . . and spent the rest of the day sleeping. First I combed her shaggy mess, then took her to the dog groomer's -- I sat outside and sketched the shop after taking her in.

Later, after picking her up, I dropped the car off where they were fixing a leaky windshield, and we walked home. She did NOT enjoy the walk -- she's getting lazy!

day trip with Mikala, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

Bill took Monday off and we headed out of town with Mikala, looking for adventure. The Eisenhower Museum in Abilene had a Girl Scout exhibit -- Mikala is a Scout -- so we thought she might enjoy that.

The exhibit was not much to see, though Bill always enjoys the World War II exhibits. I love this old  house that Eisenhower grew up in, still at it's original location. (Instead of moving the house, they moved the rest of the neighborhood to build the Presidential Library here.) Later, leaving the museum, we planned on eating lunch somewhere . . . and couldn't find any restaurants. We drove a different way on the way home, through country roads, and nearly got lost. Still couldn't find a restaurant. Who knew there were actual towns in Kansas with no eating establishments?!? We had a fun day anyway . . . . lots of giggles.

customized work truck

Sunday's sketches, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

Just a simple sketch done when we arrived at church, before others arrived --- this old truck was parked in a lot next door. I like how it had been customized to fit the owner's needs, with the bars holding wood on the side and the cut-out holes in back allowing the original tail lights to shine through.

our front door from another angle

EDM #29 - draw something architectural, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

For those curious, here is an older sketch I did of the front of our small apartment building, the same porch seen in the previous post from a different angle.

There are several similar buildings in this town, built in 1920 when housing was at a premium due to a huge oil field being found here in 1915.

Expectation

Expectation, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

Not sure what Ceilidh is expecting . . . . a passing dog? another robin in the yard? Our renter coming home to greet her? She seems to be happy just waiting.

This was sketched yesterday, a very overcast day with rain coming soon. I didn't think ahead -- I just grabbed my sketchbook the moment I saw her sitting so still. Our neighborhood seemed to be in silent expectation as well.

Quilting Run to Burlingame, KS

Had more rural urban sketching today. Wilma needed a quilting supply run to a small town southwest of here. Burlingame, Kansas. Population: 1017. I decided to tag along and get some sketching time. Some of these small communities have succeeded in making little havens, while others are wilting away. Burlingame has a neat little down town area with parking in the middle of the street. They have a satellite Allen County Community College campus (a few buildings). We ate at Aunt B's restaurant where they make about everything from scratch. 

Noodler's Ahab flex-nib with Noodler's Lexington Gray. Then watercolor pencils and waterbrush. Velin Arches text woven.