GOODLAND, KANSAS

Saturday, June 29^th – It was a sunny morning in Salina, Kansas.  Any seasonal traveler knows that when hotel advertise “hot breakfast” included, it has various interpretations.  One look of what was offered in the hotel’s fine dining room, we decided to get coffee and fruit for the road.  We stopped for breakfast in Hays, KS.

We could not resist seeing the “Big Easel”, the 80 foot tall painting of Vincent van Gosh’s “Three Sunflowers in a Vase”.

We always make time to stop and see roadside attractions in small towns.  It is what makes our road trips fun, interesting and memorable.  Each little town has its own charm.  I especially like the homemade pies!

Could you see the “tiny” people in front of the “Big Easel”?

WILD, WILD ART WORK

At first I thought these were real.  Thanks to whoever came up with this clever idea placing the sculptures along the road (on our way to Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah)  There was enough space to allow us to pull over safely to take the photo. 

The above and below sculptures were outside an art studio in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Also seen in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  I bet there are a lot of anger and resentment from the male deer community about this sculpture!

FLOWERS BY ROSE

We noticed "Flowers by Rose" as we drove into Sturgis (September 2011).  Here is an example of creative art, turning a dead tree into a beautiful piece of art, in front of a flowers shop - how appropriate!  It is also a clever marketing tool to attract potential customers.
We had a great time in Sturgis. I am still planning to get a tattoo and a Harley before my 70th birthday!  What are your plans for your milestone birthday? 

LINCOLN IN IOWA

I went to the post office today (two days after Christmas) to mail out Christmas cards to a long time pen pal in England and an uncle (not a real relative, just someone we knew from the refugee camp).  Better late than never I said.  This year I was really late with my Christmas mailing.  I dropped off the U.S. cards on the 22nd because I had a difficult time writing my Christmas letter.  I wanted to include an update with the cards but did not want to write about all the setbacks I have experienced the last 12+ months.  I wonder what president Lincoln wrote in his Christmas letter after the many job lost, a few defeats in politics, unsuccessful business ventures and other setbacks.

These photos were from our road trip on Lincoln Highway in September 2012.  The statue below might be in front of City Hall in Grand Junction, Iowa.  I like the sculpture in front of a private home (top photo).  It was a creative work of art made from a dead tree. 

We went to see the movie "Lincoln" a few weeks ago.  It was a good movie but I was not impressed.  The cast did a good job of acting the roles they were assigned to but the screenplays were typical of Hollywood drama.  I am glad the movie did not show when Lincoln was assassinated.  The movie was about the final months of the president, how he tried to heal the country from the war and the division, there was no need for the details of his death.       

There are two of Lincoln busts overlook a bend north of Scranton, Iowa.  If we did not have the guidebook, we probably would never find the monuments and thought they were just part of the cornfields.  Someone or a very dedicated group took good care of the busts because they look good having been put in placed since 1924.
(PS:  I just noticed that this post is the One thousand one hundred eleven (1,111) post published in this little boring blog of mine since that dark stormy night in August 2006 - congratulations to ME - haa haa).

DOOR, FACES, HOUSE AND PARROT

One door, two faces

Unknown future later date

It might be too late

These images were painted on a building across from Lynn Paradise Cafe in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.  I originally wanted to use the above image of the two faces (crying/smiling) for a post after the Presidential election.  I thought the hydraulic arm of the excavator on top of the smiling face represents a politician who has been digging a hole that is getting deeper and deeper with his many failures while the economy slides further into the recession.  After many hours of deep thoughts, I decided to use the image to write a Haiku poem instead.

There is an expression in Vietnamese that speaks of the importance of fathers being a constant presence in the family life.  "Con khong cha nhu nha khong cot" meaning "Children without father's guidance is like house without pillars", the house collapses as there is nothing to keep it from falling down.

 

Parrot on the roof

Repeat words from passerby

From morning to night

Perhaps I should get back to idioms and popular sayings which is much easier than writing Haiku poem.