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Foto Friday: Rock
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Sep 30, 2010 6:35 pm
842 Views
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Having been born and raised in Winfield, KS and a life-long congregation member of Grace United Methodist Church, Southwestern College... a mere block from the church... has played a foundational role in my life. Not only are many of its buildings made of native limestone, but there are a number of rock sculptures around the campus.
Southwestern College has its roots in the traditions of the Methodist circuit riders, whose love of education helped shape the educational landscape of the 19th century. Founded in 1885 by the Southwest Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the college graduated its first class of three students in 1889. In 1909 its name was changed from Southwest Kansas Conference College to Southwestern College, and in 1917 the school earned accreditation by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.
In 1927 the school's Dean proposed a new custom unique among colleges "the building of the mound ceremony." This custom has become a tradition at Southwestern. At the beginning of each school year each student, faculty member, group, or friend of the college places a rock bearing his/her/their names indicating their commitment to becoming a Builder. Several of the photos are of the mound and stones placed by this year’s Moundbuilders.
Posting a few hours early as I won't have time on Friday... sorry!
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Foto Friday: H
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Sep 24, 2010 3:25 pm
866 Views
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This was kind of a sad day. Ribbon and Ruby were sold and they were going to their new home that day. I miss these two fabulous old work horses, but they weren't mine to keep.
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11
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Walnut Valley Festival with a SFF Twist
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Sep 21, 2010 10:32 am
651 Views
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Thursday was beautiful... cool... breezy... overcast. All in all... perfect weather to enjoy a music festival. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were different matters! They were hot and humid, but at least they were dry!
Michael Martin Murphey made a surprise appearance with one of the groups. What a treat for the crowd that happened to be there!
Children's Activities went very well. This year I had the help of a retired teacher and a lot of volunteers from the local high school's chapter of the National Art Honors Society... aka... art club. They helped make things flow so smoothly! Kids 5-12 had the opportunity to tie dye t-shirts and bandanas as well as learn how to make felt with exhibiting artisans. Beth... the teacher... concluded the schedule of activities with origami projects.
Between making felt balls and folding paper Saturday afternoon, I was in the Craft Information booth visiting with the volunteers on duty when a couple came up and said they were looking for Debbie Carr. I opened my mouth to identify myself when I realized who the couple was. They were our very own simpleladyb and mighteehigh!
What a joy it was to meet Don and Betty in person after visiting with them for the last 4-5 years here at SFF! Don's mother wanted to come to the festival and Betty and I wanted to meet one another. I had known for a month or two that they planned to be here, but I had no idea when or if they'd show up... given my recent computer problems.
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Festival surprises!
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Sep 19, 2010 9:13 pm
569 Views
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While I was working Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival I got the power supply replaced on my computer. I'm thankful to be back on-line!
Seems there's always some kind of surprise at the festival. I had a few.
Wednesday was hot and incredibly muggy. I was delighted to find that there was enough help that most of the work was done early. However, the air got thicker and heavier as the afternoon heat became oppressive. A storm was in the air. We felt it coming. Puffy, lumpy greenish clouds promised some impressive hail could fall at any moment. We were under a tornado watch until 8 pm.
Lightning cracked loudly and its accompanying thunder boomed simultaneously. It rattled even the least skiddish among us.
The rain drove hundreds under both ends of the grandstands as well as any other concrete block buildings as the tornado sirens wailed. Terrified misty-eyed children clutched their parents' hands. The anxious crowd chattered nervously. The fear-driven energy was palpable.
Staff members tried to ease the tension to no avail.
Some musicians in the crowd took their instruments out of their cases and began an impromptu concert... in typical "bluegrass" fashion. All that anxiety converted into a fun, positive vibe in minutes.
As soon as the "all-clear" was sounded, the crowd quickly dispersed to check their campsites. The wind shredded tarps and did some damage... even blew a few tents around the fairgrounds, but there were no injuries. And everyone that was there will have another bluegrass story to share around future festival campfires.
I think I'll have to continue tomorrow. It's time to get some sleep and recover from all the fun!
*hugs n kisses* friends!
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boom-bapa-boom-bapa-boom... It's boogie time!
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Sep 10, 2010 2:09 pm
600 Views
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When Estrella and I went on our little trip last month, I told you I bought one of the "black cat" cutouts to paint for an Art in the Park fundraiser. The photo below is of the finished piece. It's called "Mondrian Melody -- Cool Cat."
"Mondrian Melody" strongly references Piet Mondrian's final painting, "Broadway Boogiewoogie." Mondrian was known for his assymetrically balanced black lines on white background compositions, often with blue, red, or yellow squares or rectangles. In his final painting, he eliminated the black... further reducing the elements to primary colors on a white ground.
Some think the colors are highly symbolic. I'm not sure what PM thought. What I was taught in my modern art history class doesn't necessarily mesh with some essays I've read from other art historians. Did Mondrian simply hate green and painting anything from nature? OR... was Mondrian fascinated by the Rosecrusians symbolic use of rose, gold and blue... colors distilled to their more purer form -- red, yellow and blue? Did he believe man should not compete with God as creator by painting natural forms?
I prefer the latter. It makes more sense to me from the progression of his paintings.
"Broadway Boogiewoogie" exhibits a visual melody to my eye. Mondrian creates rhythm by the pattern and repetition of color blocks to create lines. As my eye travels through and around his painting, I almost hear a jazz melody emerging.
I tried to create a bit of that with this "Cool Cat." It was fun to paint... though tedious and terribly time consuming. It was a good challenge for me. My "melody" is considerably different than Mondrian's tho he was the direct inspiration.
Enjoy!
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Foto Friday... Wood
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Sep 10, 2010 1:17 pm
642 Views
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My computer's in the puter hospital, but I still wanted to participate in Foto Friday.
This photo was taken in a Bartlesville, OK park. It was a beautiful morning and I loved the dappled light through the trees as I read my Sunday morning newspaper.
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5
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*heavy sigh*
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Aug 23, 2010 11:15 am
686 Views
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My computer's playing tricks on me again, so I won't be around much to read or to write blogs. Doggone it! Just when I was getting back in the habit of writing again too!!!
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Foto Friday: Faves
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Aug 20, 2010 6:10 pm
828 Views
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In 2004 my sister, mom, sister-in-law and I took a "girls vacation" in Arkansas. It was a wonderfully relaxing week in a gorgeous location. This photo is one of Arkansas's beautiful natural bridges.
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8
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Foto Friday: Faves
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Aug 20, 2010 5:08 pm
839 Views
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In 2004 my sister, mom, sister-in-law and I took a "girls vacation" in Arkansas. It was a wonderfully relaxing week in a gorgeous location. This photo is one of Arkansas's beautiful natural bridges.
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Star struck?
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Aug 11, 2010 5:55 pm
600 Views
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Twenty-eight years ago my husband and I stayed at the same hotel as the rock group Van Halen. We were there as youth sponsors for our church's youth group to a national youth conference and had no idea in advance that they'd be there. Oh, yes... this was before David Lee Roth left the band and THEY had no idea they were going to be in the same hotel and conference center where 10,000 teens were attending the Lutheran Youth Conference.
The kids were very excited about the possibility of seeing the band members. It was interesting to observe that as long as Roth wasn't with the band, the kids didn't notice. Randy and I noticed, but didn't make a big deal out of it.
Then, a few years back as I passed through a crowded hotel lobby, I saw a lady that I was sure I knew from somewhere, but I wasn't quite sure where. I smiled and said, "Hi!" not wanting to be rude. You know how that is... It happens to all of us.
By the time I got to the elevator I realized who she was. She was in my home every morning telling me what was going on in the world. She was my favorite TV station's morning new anchor. Needless to say, I got a good chuckle at my own expense.
Two weeks ago, there was a lot of buzz around the mall where I work. Ronnie Milsap was down the hall eating at one of the restaurants. Cool, but I didn't run down to see the man eat. I figured he deserved his privacy.
Today, the mall gossips were flitting around buzzing again. It seems Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner and kids were in the mall. I guess they were delighted by our midwestern laid back reactions to their collective star power. They told one gal they visited with that they really enjoyed getting to be "regular people." They could go out without body guards and feel totally safe and comfortable. Even autograph hounds had been very polite and respectful of their time and space.
I like and respect both actors. They are very talented, but if I had to choose, I think I'd rather meet Garner than Affleck. I've enjoyed her acting since she was in "Alias."
Have you ever met anyone famous or just seen them out and about somewhere? How did you react?
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To link to this blog (GoodCarMa) use [blog GoodCarMa] in your messages.
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