Kansas

We got out to see middle child over Memorial Day Weekend!  He is happy, and enjoying his new home and new job.  I really don't like having him so far away from home, but knowing that he is doing what he loves makes me very, very happy!

We explored a few places while we were out there.  We visited Fort Leavenworth - the oldest active Army post west of the Missouri River.  We paid our respects at the National Cemetery (it was Memorial Day), and we walked along the bluffs overlooking the river.  We visited the city of Lawrence - home of Kansas University, and we spent a lot of time talking, laughing, and playing games.

We even bought him some furniture.  When we moved him out there, we took his stuff, but no furniture because we couldn't fit it into our cars.  We asked him what he needed most, and he decided that he needed living room furniture.  One trip to Ikea later, we had two chairs and most of a sofa.  I say most because while they had the arm rests, they did not have the slip covers to go over the arm rests.  They were back ordered by 2 months.  The Ikea staff assured us the covers are in our Maryland stores, so it was my job to pick them up when I came home.  When we left, he had put everything together - but kept the arms off of the sofa so that he could put the slip covers on when he comes in.

It was a wonderful weekend.  All of the kids were able to make it out for the weekend, so we had the whole family together.  It just doesn't get much better than that!

New furniture for the boy.

Funny story about the living room furniture.  We got the armchairs, and all the parts were in.  We got the coffee table - all the parts were in.  We got the sofa - all the parts - except the slipcovers for the armchairs were in.  So, in the picture you see the sofa without the arms.  The arms are leaning up against the wall, under the window.  We came home, and I found the slipcovers for the sofa arms from the Ikea in College Park.  I mailed them out to him earlier this week.

Kansas City Sunset

I love the big skies and the gorgeous sunsets!

I love the cover on the storm sewer!

The clock in Leavenworth.

Early Settlers

Missouri River near Leavenworth.

Have you ever thought about the incredible journey that the early settlers made crossing the United States into uncharted territory and settling into hostile lands to make a new home?  I think about it when I read the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I specifically remember reading Laura's descriptions of crossing rivers.  There were no bridges across the rivers at that time.  Instead, the family would drive their wagon into the river.  If the ford was low enough, the horses would pull the wagon across.  If the river was high, the wagon would float, the horses would swim, pulling the wagon behind them, and then they would hope and pray that they would land safely on the other side.

I'm standing in Kansas.  That's Missouri on the other side.

 That came back to me as I was standing on the banks of the Missouri River when we were roaming about Kansas with our middle child.  We were very close to the crossing that Lewis and Clark used in their journey to explore the Louisiana Purchase.  The river was moving swiftly - and it was deep.  Much deeper than it was when we drove by in the winter. 

I was struck by something very akin to terror as I thought about the prospect of driving a wagon full of all my worldly possessions - and my family - into a swiftly moving river and hoping that we'd come out safely on the other side.  I do know there was a river crossing in this area- I just don't know exactly where the crossing was.  Just a little north of here are very high bluffs - so I know that was not the crossing.  This area is where the river widened out - and as you can maybe tell from the pictures, the river bank leads down nicely to the river.  The park on the Kansas side has a fence along the river, and it is near the railroad station, and you can see the footings in the river for an old bridge.  My guess is that there was a ford somewhere near this area. 

I still can't begin to imagine attempting to cross this river in a wagon.  Or on the back of a horse as it swims across the river.  I'm so very, very, very glad that we have bridges.  That beautiful blue bridge across the river in the top picture!

The park in Leavenworth by the Train Station.

Lawrence Public Library

While we were in Kansas, we ventured over to the Lawrence Public Library.  I have been following them on Facebook for quite some time.  I love their social media presence, and I just couldn't wait to see their physical building!  

I can honestly say this was one of the most surprising libraries I've ever been in.  The building is large, and built in a circle.  (Hence the fiction loop below.)  They have a large auditorium in the front as you enter the building, in addition to a coffee shop.  Looking at the picture below - you can see the fiction loop along the back wall.  You can also see the open doorway halfway down - that's where the circulation department is located, and you can also shortcut over to the non-fiction collection, the children's and young adult section and access the stairs to the basement.  It's a gorgeous building that brings in light, air, and art - oh so much art.  The building was breathtaking!

Join me in a tour of this beautiful building!

Front Entrance

The back of the building, along the fiction loop.  Romance is on the right.

Coming off of the fiction loop and into the non-fiction.  If you look at the front of the building, this is on the right hand side of the building.

The back corner of the building.  Just look at those gorgeous windows!  There's another set on the other side of the building, both overlook the big park across the street from the library.

The center of the building.  I guess the proper word is atrium.  Stairs to the downstairs on the left.

Children's is directly across.  Look at that beautiful strand up above!

Downstairs.  Meeting Rooms, Business Center, Computer Lab, and Local History Section.  So many people down here - it was impossible to get pictures without faces.

Lovely artwork in the basement!

View from downstairs looking up.

Looking into the children's section from the atrium area.

You can't see it from here - but the city has flooded one end of the park across the street from the library to make an ice rink.  You can kind of see the ice and the kids skating on it if you squint!

Lawrence Public Library Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/lawrencepubliclibrary/

Lawrence Public Library Website:
http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/