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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

"K" is for KANSAS

I was hardly waiting to celebrate Ms. Jenny's Alphabe Thursday! Having made a recent visit to Kansas last week with Nick to look at his favorite college, the Kansas Wesleyan University, I thought I would devote my post today to Kansas.
When I was a small child my older sister was a married woman. She and her husband and kids lived in Kansas at Fort Riley. My dad would pile us into the car and we would make that long journey to visit them many times while they were living on the Army base there. I thought the open fields and miles and miles of farms were boring. Today I have a totally different outlook! I love Kansas! It is a refreshing breathe of air compared to the hustle and bustle of the big city where I live. So say hello to Kansas while I share my thoughts, some google images and my own personal photos here.
A Kansas map  showing the states bordering it. Colorado to the West, Nebraska on the North, Missouri on the East and Oklahoma on the South.
A Kansas prairie with a beautiful windmill. Look at that beautiful blue sky! My Sweets loves windmills. It is a reminder of his youth and spending his summers on his grandparents farm in Holly, Colorado.
A Kansas postcard with the state bird (Western Meadowlark), state flower (Sunflower) and pretty photos of Kansas.
A black and white photo of a Kansas school house. I think this is so pretty and peaceful.
Kansas was a territory before becoming a state on January 29, 1861 (34th). The state has a variety of religions preferences but  is 86 percent Christian and when traveling to Salina last week we saw lots of signs on the road making references to Christ. It was so refreshing because our world seems so out of control with so  much going on and so many untruths filling our society.
I grew up on Topeka street when I was a kid and Topeka is the state capital of Kansas. I love these little facts and like to match state capitals with states. I know, it is kinda nerdy! But fun! Lots of fun!
Kansas is one of the most productive agricultural states producing high yields of wheat, sorghum and sunflowers.
Vivian Vance who played Lucy's sidekick Ethel Mertz was born in Kansas along with c/w singer Martina McBride and Cassandra "Elvira Mistress of the Night" Peterson. film comedian and director Buster Keaton was a native of the state of Kansas.
Some fun facts about Kansas:
1. Dodge City, Kansas is the windest city in the U.S.
2. Kansas won the award for the most beautiful license plate for the wheat plate design in 1981.
3. At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas.
4. The first black woman to win an Academy Award was Kansan Hattie McDaniel. She won the award for
     her role in "Gone With The wind".
5. Amelia Earhart, the first woman  granted a pilot's license by the National Aeronautics Associate and the
    first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean  was from Atchison.
6. Smith County is the  geographical center of the 48 contiguous states.
7. Kansas inventors include Almon Stowger of El Dorado who invented the dial telephone in 1889; William
    Purvis  and Charles Wilson of Goodland who invented  the helicopter in 1909; and Omar Knedlik
    of Coffeyville who invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine in 1961.
8. The first woman mayor in the United States was Susan Modora  Salter.  She was elected to office in
     Argonia in 1887.
9. A grain elevator in Hutchinson is 1/2 a mile long and holds 46 million bushels of  in its 1,000 bins.
10. Dwight D. Eisenhower,  from Abiliene was the 34th president of the United States .

These are a few of my photos from our road trip last week:
A misty, snowy road to Kansas outside the Colorado border.
Some rain and wind battering the plains.
A late shot of the Welcome to Kansas sign!
The college Nick really loved, the Kansas Wesleyan University.
A little snow covering the ground outside the school.
The school was established in 1886. The campus was so beautiful.
This fountain/waterfall outside the Administration building was delightful even though it was 32 degrees outside when we first arrived!

This is Yote! He is the school mascot for the KWU Coyotes! This beautiful bronze statue stands outside one of the buildings on campus and the coach told us everyone rubs his nose on their way to taking tests!
This is the plaque next to Yote describing him and his fellow coyotes.
The library building on campus. It was a lovely tour and if I could have a miracle occur in our lives we would be able to send Nick there. It was a safe and serene place. We truly enjoyed our Kansas visit.

19 comments:

Jo said...

What an informative post ... You have taken some wonderful photos, and given us some interesting facts, and I do love the statue of the coyote ... in fact i do love a good looking coyote ... well except for their habit of devouring the neighbourhoods cats ... but they are a beautiful creature!

NanaDiana said...

Great post. I guess I always thought of Kansas as kind of a flat, pass-through state. It is fun to see it through another's eyes. xo Diana

Sweet Tea said...

That was a fun read.
I had no idea that "Ethel" was from Kansas!

Jeannette StG said...

Hey, I didn't know anything about Kansas -now I do:)

anitamombanita said...

Interesting post but sadly I couldn't see about half the images. Didn't seem that anyone else had that problem.

EG CameraGirl said...

Sometimes seeing something through the eyes of a child can be refreshing. And sometimes seeing the same things through the eyes of an adult is amazing! Glad you've changed your mind. I enjoyed this post on Kansas!

Denise said...

Awesome post sweety.

Unknown said...

I so need to explore Kansas. I have never been there.

Momgen said...

I like to visit Kansas...I live in NC. Visiting from AT!

http://www.theworkaholicme.com/2012/02/birthday-boy-my-kid.html

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I love that the mascot is a coyote!

I see them all the time out here and they are really pretty animals. I love listening to them howl at night...

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

LOVING the photos and loved reading the facts on KS! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Susan Anderson said...

I've driven through Kansas but never stopped to see the sights.

Thanks!

=)

Theresa said...

My Step-daughter and family are moving to Kentucky in a couple of months for 2-3 years! I am going to share this post with her! Very informative! Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!

LV said...

That is a great feature on Kansas. I am not too high on it as they have too much bad weather. Trust all is well with you.

Chatty Crone said...

I'm going thru Kansas with you and drinking coffee out of your mug!
sandie

Unknown said...

KS is a lovely state, having been thru it several times. I so hope for Nick, & you, that he will be able to have his dreams fulfilled. Glad your trip was enjoyable, Anne. Funny how as adults we enjoy so much more.

Have a wonderful weekend ~
TTFN ~
Marydon

Linda Stubbs said...

I have written you back at times.......you might find me in your trash?????

I loved your post on Kansas. Next time you come I will drive up and at least meet you. I am about 2 hours away!!!!!! Not a long drive at all. I love a quilt store up there so I could do that also!

Praying for your Nick. God will let you all know exactly what to do!

Hugs sweet friend.

I do get your personal emails.

Cheryl D. said...

I've never been to Kansas. Based on your pictures, it looks beautiful!

Jenny said...

What a great adventure through Kansas...

And you shared so many fun facts with us...

Ice cream on Cherry Pire illegal, very interesting!

Wonderful post for the letter "K"...

Hoping and praying for that miracle you wanted...

Thanks for linking.

A+