Friday, June 29, 2012

Things to do in Wichita! 2






 The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum



Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum 






Randy and I really enjoy museums. We enjoy taking our time, walking through, and reading every bit of information available. (Randy is better at this than me sometimes.)

Our next door neighbor is the President of "WHiMS" organization of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. WHiMS is the acronym for Wichita Historical Museum Society. She asked us last summer if we would be interested in helping at their Wreath Festival. We said yes and have volunteered off and on at the museum since. 

The first time I worked in the gift shop, Randy came along and toured the museum. We've been through it several times since and thoroughly enjoy the exhibits they offer.

The museum is downtown Wichita and very easy to find. They also have a web site that you can find HERE. 

To learn the history of this beautiful building and how the museum got it's start click HERE.
Just looking at this beautiful building is well worth the admission of the museum.
 

The pictures I have of the museum were taken in the gift shop - in anticipation of this blog!!



The windows in the gift shop.



The beautiful Kansas state flower.


The museum is at 204 S. Main.
 Parking across the street to the west. 
Hours are Tuesday through Friday 11:00 - 4:00. 
Saturday and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00. 
Closed Mondays and for holidays check web site calendar.  


$4.00 for Adults
$2.00 for Children (Ages 6-12)
Under Age 6 are Free
Free admission to museum members



I highly recommend a visit to this piece of Wichita History.






 

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wednesday Wisdom - Beating around the bush

I must have lost any vestige of wisdom I ever had.... Or the ability to "quote" someone else's wisdom. It has been FOREVER since I've taken the time for Wednesday Wisdom. Please forgive me. I actually do have a reminder on my phone. I've decided reminders are very easy to ignore... Anyway, I should stop "beating around the bush."

Did you ever wonder where the saying "beating around the bush" came from? I know, probably not but it fascinates me to learn what our sayings mean.

Noble men and gentry who enjoyed the sport of boar hunting were  more than happy to let others do the dangerous work.  They would employ young males who fanned out through the woods and swamps, making noise in order to head the animals to the hunters. They called these young men beaters. The beaters were unarmed because the hunters didn't want them to shoot the prey before they could. So these unarmed beaters would often stay out of the dangerous undergrowth - for safety reasons - but they would go around this underbrush beating the ground - making noise so the animals would go towards the hunters.

Young males were also employed while others were bird hunting. The young men would beat about the bush then, too.

This became known as an evasive technique and the saying "beating around the bush" became popular. - And we still use it today because so many of us evade so many things!!!!



Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Things to do in Wichita!

I have enjoyed getting to know Wichita!

While Randy and I dated, he took me to some fun, wonderful places.

Now that we're married I have had even more opportunities to get acquainted with Wichita!

I lived here several years ago but for some reason had no idea what this 
Midwestern city has to offer.

I've decided to share with you some of the places to visit in Wichita!

Yesterday we visited 

 Nifty Nut House 







It was an amazing place to visit! 

Andru calls it the Willy Wonka's of Nuts and Candy!


"About Nifty Nut House:
Nifty Nut House, established 1937. We're a third generation family-owned business. We pride ourselves on quality products, great prices, and friendly service. We offer many varieties of nuts, candy, and gum. All nuts are available raw, roasted salted, and roasted unsalted, roasted fresh daily in house. We also have a wide selection of milk and dark chocolate treats, gummies, dried fruits, mints, ballgum, licorice, and many sugar free items." 






It has lot's of "old" favorites:



There are windows to watch them make candy:



We each went our own way and shopped and looked 
and shopped some more...









I highly recommend a trip to the Nifty Nut House!

It's out of the way but well worth the trip!


537 N Saint Francis St  Wichita, KS 67214

        




We had such a great time visiting the Nifty Nut House!

 

 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

First Anniversary


April 30, 2011

Before our anniversary we discussed how we would celebrate. We talked about taking a trip and decided that's what we would do. Then after discussing it some more we changed our minds!

We decided to get something for the house and stay home. So we then had to decide "what" we would get. - or do...


We started with this corner of the backyard.






Then with everyone pitching in we wound up with this:



From this nice deck and several more days of work
we completed our anniversary project and
this is it:



Then we waited until grand kids came to visit to reveal the surprise!!

We had so much fun working on this project together!!



Friday, June 1, 2012

New Picture!

Several months ago - actually it may have been last summer,
my wonderful husband started acquiring old bird houses.
We love having them in our trees in the back yard
and hanging on the fence in our flower beds
and just anywhere we can put them
(he has BUNCHES!)

but the mobile (bird)home is my very favorite!!!!!

and the birds that now live in it like it, too!