Wednesday, March 15, 2017

A trip to the library and around town, too


Last Wednesday, my friend Sally and I went to the downtown library for a workshop.

When it was over, I stepped outside and took a few photos while I waited for Sally who was taking a phone call.  This is the Historical Society Museum with its lovely clock tower.

I wish I'd gotten a photo of the front of this statue, but it was so windy and cold, I was happy to just get this much of it.

This was originally the old city library, but now it's a bank.

This part of downtown is an eclectic mix of old

and not so old.



Sally finished her phone call, so now it was time to leave the library.  This library will soon be obsolete, since a new one is planned a few blocks away.



As we left downtown, we had to cross the bridge

where these sculptures were built a few years ago.


Next, we headed toward

Lawrence Dumont Stadium where, according to Wikipedia:
It is the home field of the Wichita Wingnuts independent baseball team, and also home to the annual National Baseball Congress World Series, the annual North American championship of the NBC, an organization of 15 amateur and semi-professional baseball leagues operating in the United States and Canada. It has been played at this stadium annually since 1935.
Further:
It was home to the Wichita Wranglers minor league baseball team. The Wranglers left Wichita at the end of the 2007 season and moved to Springdale, Arkansas, where the team was renamed the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Wichita Wingnuts now play at Lawrence-Dumont.

Sally told me to get lots of photos, because the city is now planning on tearing this stadium down, even though there were major updates made in 2011.







So I got lots of photos to remember this stadium by before the wrecking ball knocks it down.

Next we were on our way home by a very different route.  Note my deformed hand.  I've mentioned my hands don't lie flat like others, and it's true.


More homes that are similar to my craftsman style home.



It's amazing how some of these porch supports and columns have changed over the years. 






This is an apartment building where people rent.  Only high end apartments are sold (and owned) in Wichita.



These houses were probably built in the 1960s.







Then it was time to head home.

As of last Wednesday, this is what my hyacinths looked like.

Here are the surprise lilies in the "flower bed."

More surprise lilies in the foreground and daffodils that have never bloomed in the background.

These daffodils used to bloom every spring, but haven't for the past two years.  I need to find a better home for them.

While at the library, I took advantage of their sale items.  Unfortunately, even their "sales" are expensive.  Each book cost me $2.00.  But I was looking for foreign text and that is what I found.  I got everything from French to Russian to Chinese.

Yesterday when I checked my mail, this is what I found.

I'm happy, happy and love the beautiful colors I'm seeing that show spring has truly arrived here.

I know this was a long post, and I thank you more than you know for sticking with me through the entire post. 

18 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Lots of interesting buildings down town, and it seems to be the craze everywhere to rip down buildings and places that are still good and build them anew, same here. The centre of Düsseldorf has changed so much that I hardly recognise it, so I'm glad I don't need to be there often. Happy to see your hyacinths blooming. Have a nice day, Hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

great photos round your town, and your hyacinths (which are one scent I don't like... but they look good!) I'd say you snagged some bargains, we'd pay more than that here for such goodies on sale.

chrissie said...

Another wonderful post with lots of places to see. What an amazing feeling of space and cleanliness everywhere. Your house type always fascinate me with their holiday home feel.

Have a great day

Love Chrissie xx

froebelsternchen said...

Great impressions of your home town - I so love this special style of your houses - all look like little mini ranches to me..a mini "TARA" feeling-lol!
Your hyacinths bloom so pretty!
I bet the lilies will follow soon!
oxo Susi

CJ Kennedy said...

I enjoyed the tour of Wichita. What struck me the most is how flat everything is! Lots of hills here. the clock tower reminds me of the Customs House which I think is now a Mariott Hotel. Does the sculpture of the bridge represent something? The bridge over Lake Quinsigamond was recently repaired and new bridge supports were installed. They look like sails because there is a big sailing regatta on the lake. Nice to see growing things too. The hyacinths are so pretty.

My name is Erika. said...

Wow-you did get some cool books. I bet we'll be seeing those in your art soon. I think the Chinese text will be really interesting to use. I always look for foreign language things but then when I go to use them I always wonder what I am actually adding for words onto my page. Maybe something really inappropriate. Ha-ha. But I still use them. :) And love seeing how open Wichita is. Maybe it is because it is relatively flat (nothing here seems to be flat unless you are right at the shore) but I love that open feeling. Downtown doesn't seemed so crammed up with buildings. Enjoying these look about of Wichita. I think I should copy your idea and show you some photos of my little town. Happy Wednesday. Hugs-Erika

Sandra Cox said...

Some wonderful architecture there. (They never make bridge rails high enough to suit me.)
Spring flowers! Yay! I'm afraid mine got nixed in the cold snap. We'll see.....
YOU have a great day.
Hugs

Sami said...

The Historical Society Museum is a beautiful building.
I also like the metal sculptures on the bridge.
When I saw all those books I thought you were going to learn some new languages, lol...
Spring is on the way for you, and here we are heading into Autumn/Winter, days are getting shorter and colder...

Divers and Sundry said...

That museum building is gorgeous! I love the mix of old and new and am always happy when I see that old buildings have survived and are in use. I'm also always happy to see public art; striking sculptures :)

I like seeing chairs on porches. It's one thing I miss about a townhouse.

Your yard is perking up, declaring Spring! It's good to see it.

Meggymay said...

I have enjoyed my visit today, seeing the route you took while looking at your awesome photos. Everywhere looks so clean and well kept, with plenty of room around the buildings.
Your library looks a spacious building, sadly many of our out of town libraries are only open part time and they are under threat of closing. with councils needing to spend money on other more urgent requirements.
I liked the look of your language books, they seemed a good find and I wouldn't have passed them by either.
Yvonne xx

Jeanie said...

That's an impressive looking library with some nice city architecture. I don't know if I knew you guys had a stadium. What a great blue sky -- and flowers. Big sigh. Someday!

Janet said...

Thanks for the tour! I love the craftsman cottages. My daughter used to rent a house very similar to that in Southern California in an old part of Pasadena (where the Rose Parade is!)

Darla said...

Enjoyed the trip around town. Laughed at the Wichita Wingnuts team name. Cities all over seem to be tearing down old stadiums, building new ones and trying to tempt teams to leave their established home and start someplace new. I don't follow sports that much but this team is leaving town or that team is coming to our town seems to be on the news a lot.

Rita said...

What a fun trip! Love the spring flowers at the end. :)

Sharon Fritchman said...

WOW! Spectacualr photo, Elizabeth! I loved traveling with you on your tour!!!

Linda Kunsman said...

Love the museum with the clock tower the best!! I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Wouldn't it be cool to have lots of blog friends do the same -share their home town and link up? I say you got real bargains on some great books! Our local library sales get mobbed and parking is a huge problem then too so I have never ventured in during those times but keep thinking I should go. Hubby and I donate books and videos/DVDs to them as we clean things out:) Lucky you to have those beautiful Spring flowers too. Not sure we'll see anything soon as most is under piles of snow now:(
Thanks for all the pics and info around your town.

Nancy said...

I like the historic building. Saw lots of cars in the parking lot, but the street seemed pretty quiet. Another fun tour. Those Craftsman homes look snug and cozy, appealing. Looks like it was a Spring-like day for your outing.

pearshapedcrafting said...

I really enjoyed this trip around your town - once again it's like being at the cinema seeing those (what I think) typical American buildings although I was disappointed not to see post boxes at the bottom of the driveways! Your Hyacinths are an absolute joy to see! I hope that next year you will have daffodils! The books look like real treasures - look forward to seeing them on your journal pages soon! Hugs, Chrisx