Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Drive by shootings


While my friend Sally and I were out and about a few days ago, I turned on my camera and started taking pictures.  Sadly, every time I took a photo, Sally sped up.  Luckily, I managed to get a few decent drive by shots.

Before I walked to Sally's I took a few photos

of the Keeper of the Plains my next door neighbor made from steel.  It is fabulous and he did an excellent job.  What I would give to wrap some vinegar infused fabric around that sculpture and allow the sun to rust the fabric.

Luckily, the sun came out while Sally and I were out and about.

This is the Veterans Hospital in my town.

The VA (Veterans Administration) has taken a big hit because of the way it has treated our vets.










The flag above is our city flag.


I saw several of the city flags as we drove through this area.

This is the actual flag.  I found this information at a company who makes and sells these flags:
It's red, white and blue and sixty years old. It's also rarer than hen's teeth and recognized by very few Wichitans. It's the official flag of the City of Wichita. So few copies of the flag have ever been made and flown that most Wichitans have never seen it.
Further:
In a day when artists charge thousands of dollars to "develop a concept" for company logos, the 1937 prize money doesn't sound like much. A total of $85 was doled out among six top vote getters, but in hard economic times it was worth the effort. Artist Cecil McAlister was one of a large group of people vying for the $40 first prize in May, 1937. They submitted a hundred different designs to a panel of three other artists to judge. They selected McAlister's design, one based on Indian symbolism. It was accepted by proclamation on June 14, 1937, Flag Day.
Its complex design was originally made of silk and, as noted above, represents and sports an Indian/Native American emblem.  The flags are now made of nylon.


One of these days I want to visit this store.


Then it was off to lunch at a Mexican buffet.

Unfortunately, I only took three photos and none of them had our drinks in them.

But what impressed me was the tee Sally was wearing that showed her desire to save the bees.

Thanks for traveling with me around my town and joining me for lunch, too.

21 thoughtful remarks:

Helen said...

Can't you ask Sally to stop occasionally to let you get photos?! It is great to see the different properties round and about. and the plots are so big. Here everything is very close together (unless you live in very expensive areas!)

Valerie-Jael said...

Looks like you had a good day out and about, and the food looks great, too. Love the photos, especially the rusty figure. I put some rusty photos for you on my blog today. Hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Great to get a tour of where you live Elizabeth. You and Sally always find somewhere with nice food and I love her T Shirt.

Have a great day

Love Chrissie xx

froebelsternchen said...

The keeper of the plains looks really good, I remember it - your neighbar did a fantastic job ! Wow thank you for sharing all the amazing impressions of your hometown Elizabeth and the little design story behind the Wichita flag is interesting as well. Last but not least I can tell you that this Mexican buffet lunch looks very tempting!
You asked me about having made photos as I was in Vienna..
no sorry, all was so exhausting and as my camera is not so tiny I let it at home. I can take pictures with my handy , but I didn't - I had to take some pictures of my daughter in Vienna, since the young folk posts everything in their social media ... my photos are never so good - so I don't not publish too many beside of my pics of my art.
I would ask you to maybe share your email addy with me ?!
mine is
su-pi@aon.at

My name is Erika. said...

Its interesting to see what Wichita (at least the area you showed us) looks like. Its so NOT white-meaning no snow. :) I also found the flag story and the image cool. That sun symbol is like the New mexico flag minus the dot. I think its neat to have a city flag. I have never heard of that. We have another possible BIG snow storm tonight. Egads! I think I need to move far away from here. I had some Mexican food yesterday, and it was sure good.Happy midweek-Hugs-Erika

CJ Kennedy said...

I enjoyed the drive. such blue sky and no snow! The snippet about the city flag was interesting. Doesn't get much better than having lunch with a good friend.

Let's Art Journal said...

Thanks for the tour around your town on such a sunshiny day - all looks so wonderful and I'd love to be able to explore the lovely shops/buildings and see the Keeper of the Plains up close, he looks amazing! Your Mexican lunch looks so delicious, there seems to be lots of choice at the buffet :-). It was really intresting to see and read about your town flag! We have a town flag too and it has an intresting story; as we live by the sea the lower portion shows the blue of the sea and the yellow of the sand in wave-like lines and the upper portion shows a representation of the St. Anne’s lifeboat “Laura Janet” lost with all hands in 1886 which is one of the biggest disasters in the RNLI’s (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) history - I think this is such a fantastic way to commemorate and remember those who lost their lives whilst trying to save others! By the way, I have to mention how fabulous Sally tee shirt is! Have a great week! J :-)

Nancy said...

Great day- love the buildings in your area. And lunch looks yummy! You find the best places to eat.

Caterina Giglio said...

lovely to see your world, E and travel around with you, I forgot what winter looks like.. thanks for the reminder!! Lunch looks so yummy and woohoo for Sally's T! x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh how I enjoyed this trip around your neighbourhood! There are some lovely buildings! Loved the story of the flag! When you do go to the Kitchen Place I hope you will take me with you! Your Mexican meal looks tasty - just getting ready for Mac n' cheese here! Hugs, Chrisx
ps we went to see Hidden Figures yesterday - a fascinating film! x

da tabbies o trout towne said...

bleubeard.....sew....yur mom waz out N a bout gettin sum total lee kewl fotoz N havin lunch.....did she bring EWE home any thing ..... ???☺☺☺♥♥♥

Meggymay said...

Thank you for the tour around your home. The building all looked so well kept, it was a good story about the flag. I would have been shouting stop some of them for a closer look.
Your Mexican meal looked delicious.
Yvonne xx

Cappuccinoandartjournal.blogspot.com said...

You kinda scared me with that title of the post -- but it's all good. Doesn't look a bit like San Francisco -- neither does the Mexican food look like ours -- but it all looks good. I liked the tour! PS Maybe your neighbor would let you wrap some fabric on his artwork for a while.....

Divers and Sundry said...

Your post title was shocking!!! I was so glad to relax and enjoy the driving tour and the comfort food. I love Mexican food :)

Sandy said...

Wonderful pictures and your food looks absolutely delicious!!!!
Sandy xx

kaybee said...

I do enjoy seeing photos of where you are (fabulous blue sky by the way!). And I want Sally's tee, as I love bees too!

Sandra Cox said...

You had me at Drive By Shootings:)
You got some good shots there. Sounds like a fun day.
Hugs,

Jeanie said...

I wrote a book called "Drive By Shootings" years ago -- all photos like this -- and often post them on my blog. I love having the camera in the car, don't you? Sometimes you get really good stuff, sometimes not, but it makes the drive much more fun!

It's fun to see the area where you are -- and oh, Mexican food? I'm a happy girl!

sheila 77 said...

What a laugh, Elizabeth, the title first of all, then Sally speeding up every time you got the camera up. Our garden birds do the same sort of thing, as soon as I get the binoculars out they zoom off. And then I thought of your neighbour's face if you asked him if you could just wrap a vinegar-soaked cloth round his lovely sculpture.
I see you managed to catch Sally out and got us some excellent photos of these fascinating buildings. I love seeing architecture photos, and you got quite a variety here for us.

Halle said...

Oh my gosh...glad I kept on reading as my heart was rapidly beating when I read the title of your post. Very clever....sort of like "click bait". :)

Lisca said...

Thank you so much for the tour around your city. I love seeing all those lovely buildings. It's good to see you had a sunny day (and no snow in sight).
I like the keeper of the plain in your neighbour's garden.
Please tell Sally I like her T-shirt very much. I too am all for supporting bees and their hives. If the bees suffer, so does our food chain as there would be less or (heaven forbid)no pollinators.
The Mexican food looks yummy. (Does that dish look like it has been burnt?)
I found the history of the flag very interesting. It is so good that they have an native indian symbol in there too. In my home town of Rotterdam we have a city flag, which is well known. It is horizontal green-white-green bands. Curiously it is the same as the flag of the region Andalucia, where i now live!
Sorry for the late comment, I'm a bit behind.
CU on Tuesday,
Lisca