Have a Seat

Does anyone realize just how picturesque benches can be? I have some photos of really interesting benches. These are only a few out of my Bench Folder (about 135).

These ladies walked through their parking lot to sit here and smoke. They’re in the park next to their high rise office building. The bench support on the lower left is about a foot shorter than the one on the right, thus making the bench level. (I like this park, despite its location.)

There are lively stories about ghosts in the Gadsden Hotel, Douglas, Arizona, my home town.
Those stories keep the tourists coming back.

Not a good photo, but this old trolley stop is about 100 years old; just down the street from where I live.

Look closely to see what’s left of the trolley tracks. I believe those are original street bricks, too.

Can you guess what’s out of place among all these squares and straight lines?

Madonna and Madonnette.

This mother and child were enjoying the pond in one of our city's most delightful parks.

Virgin benches. They had just been placed there earlier that day.

Not on speaking terms? I dunno.  But that gaggle of geese were a-gaggling.

 

Wagon wheels at one of our favorite breakfast nooks.

My daughter’s front yard. All these years later and I’m still telling her to put her things away.

Handmade (they say) and for sale in Amish country.

Inside our favorite Chinese Restaurant.

I love this photo. These twin benches are in front of a popular restaurant. I knew when the sun would create these amazing shadows, so I went back at the appropriate time and loved My Digital Camera. Don't you like all the lines? I like this one because you can see that V-shaped reflection in the lower foreground. 

Oh, and from the other side? See the pic below.

I'm learning that benches featuring people are much more interesting than just plain benches. Michelle and My First Wife. Two of my favorite people.

And here’s a bonus from my Fence Folder (I forgot it last week).
There about 16 or 18 huge wagon wheels anchored to this fence.
Notice the windmill in the background.

Loose Park

Today I went walking in another state—Missouri. I walked in a park that is probably one of the Top Three Most Popular city parks in this whole metro area. It has two walking trails. One is 1 1/2 mile around and the other is just over a mile around. While I walked I suddenly remembered why I like Loose Park so much. It’s just downright beautiful—but it holds some sad American history.

Would you believe that on this deliciously idyllic spot a major Civil War battle was fought? It’s true. It was the Battle of Westport, October 1864. Behind those trees (see picture below) is a field where 3,000 casualties were counted.

Who in their right mind would want to shoot cannons at people in such a beautiful, restful and peaceful place as this? Today they tossed Frisbees there. And across the way was a rousing game of Kick-ball.

Well, here’s what they used back then.

On a happier note, I think I will put this photo in my “Reflections” folder. Or should it go in my "Fountains" folder? Please vote.

On an even happier note, visit My Hats Blog and see three real pretty girls.

From My Fence Folder

I accidentally opened My Fence Folder a few minutes ago and these photos spilled out onto my blog. These pictures were taken at various times of the year. Click pics to garganuate. Enjoy.

Let's start at one of my favorite places out in the Southern Arizona desert. (This is my only barbed wire fence photo so far.) The ranch is safe haven for children who are going (have gone) through tough, tough times. God bless this ranch.

The Pepper Tree Apartments have all kinds of clean and pretty fences. Interesting. This is just one view. Peaceful.

I didn't take this picture. But I like the fence enough to include it in my Folder. It's the only picture in my Folder of 150 that isn't mine.

Did anyone lose a boat?

Aah. Fences and old barns in the Heart of America.

A couple of fences in our neighborhood. Both in the same yard. 

This photo won some polite applause in a photo contest a few years ago. I titled it "Light at the End of the Fence." The fence surrounds the oldest cemetery in this neck of the woods. This is also the oldest (first) photo in My Fence Folder. I'm attached to it.

Oh, by the way. Stop by My Hats Blog for a peek at some purty girls.

Evening Geese

Sometimes I just can't believe what comes out of My Digital Camera. I took this photo two years ago while I was out walking after dinner. (Click the pic to enlargenate.)

"Evening Geese"
Copyright 2008-2010 by Paul Nichols

I Saw Bambi Yesterday

I found a new place to walk the other day. Loved it. While I walked along I took a ka-jillion photos. I tried to get one of Bambi, but she bounded away (beautifully) before I could get the camera clicking. I'm only going to post four pics for now...  Please enjoy.

Some prairie wild flowers at Lake Lenexa, Heart of America. 

I think the orange ones are called Butterfly Weeds.

Some prairie cacti in the Heart of America, not Arizona. 

Part of the walking path around Lake Lenexa.
It's about 3 miles around the lake, some of it is only gravel.

Lake Lenexa, Kansas. Would anyone like to come walk with me?

Text and photos Copyright 2010 by Paul Nichols 

Color, Color, Color

My First Wife and I have taken to lilies the past few years.

The dazzling Asian pink lily had over 30 bulbs on it, still some haven't blossomed yet.The golden Day Lilies in the corner are protecting some beautiful purple Prairie Tall Grass. It's hard to see here, but in the fall that grass will be higher than the fence. It gets real thick and pretty. And if you look real hard under the lilies, you can see some mum leaves. (Click pics to enlargenate.) They're waiting till September to burst forth with gallons of thick Yellow mums. They'll be awesome. Stop by, why don't cha.

This little orange Asian lily is new to our patio this year. Notice how many of its flowers are still to bloom. We're expecting big things in the years to come.

Oh, and if you like the color green, this is Indian Creek. It's a treasure here in The Big City. I waded out into it to take this photo. After a few days of nice rains, you cannot see those dry stones on the right. And as quiet and peaceful as this green dream looks, the noisiest freeway in the Heart of America is only a hundred feet to my left. Bleeve me, it's noisy!

Why don't you come visit?

The Santa Fe Trail

Out walking this morning, I came upon this trail. It doesn’t look like much—it’s only about eight feet wide—and time has tempered it quite a bit. But it holds 200 years of American history in its tracks.

This is part of the Santa Fe Trail. In this park it’s only about 50 yards long. It’s eight feet wide (give or take) and its ancient bed is almost gone. Can you see the depression? Yes, that’s where oxen and mules pulled wagon after wagon back and forth between Missouri and Santa Fe Mexico for 40 short years. Then war. Then the Oregon Trail. Then the railroad, the Civil War, the Gold Rush…

This limestone marker has helped define the trail for years and years. When I stood there this morning, shivers ran up my spine. This is not the first time that such a feeling o-whelmed me. There’s something special about American history, don't ya think?