Friday Smiles 81: A trip through the park with my friend Kathy

I'm joining Annie once again at A Stitch In Time, this time for the 81st Friday Smile.

Two Fridays ago, we visited my friend Kathy and had lunch with her, and on Sunday we took a ride through the main thoroughfare of Kathy's town and saw several of the lovely sculptures and gazebos the city had to offer.

We left off where we were just about to enter the beautiful park

at the south end of town.

On our way to the zoo, we passed the golf course,

and although I know nothing about golf, it looked like a very challenging course.  As an aside, this is a small course at the south end of town.  The course at the north end of town, Prairie Dunes, is world renown, and has hosted several national golf tournaments.   I'm sure most American golfers are familiar with the name, if not the course.  Prairie Dunes hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 2002, the U.S. Senior Open in 2006, and the Men's NCAA Golf Championship this year.

Next it was off to the zoo.

But once I pulled the zoo photos off my camera, I accidentally deleted all of them.  That's the first time that has happened to me in a LONG time, and I was quite saddened by my stupidity.  Since this is obviously not the zoo, we can't dwell on my stupidity mistake.  After all, this is a post about smiling!

Instead, we should dwell on the gazebo that I actually did take photos of.   Not sure what this was, but it looked like a child's play area and was located not far outside the zoo.

I was impressed that there was a history lesson to be learned as the (non-existent on the day we were there) children played, swung, teetered, and climbed on the old forts, wagon, through the teepees, and around the cannon as parents sat in the gazebo watching.  At least I could envision it in my mind as I shot these photos.

This is where I had intended to stop, but since I had no photos of the zoo, I decided to continue and show how we returned to the area I showed on Sunday.

Now, however, it was mid-afternoon, and we were on the other side of the river, looking at the first gazebo we saw before.

And here is the river that caused all the destruction in that area of town, and prompted the revitalization of the town, at least the area near the river and downtown.

Even though it's an ugly river (in my estimation), it served a unique, vital, and challenging purpose for this beautiful area.

Kathy and I are preparing to enter the museum, which is FREE for all.

Don't you just love the photos on the windows?  They really draw you in.

But before we were drawn in, we had to appreciate the courtyard, with its newly landscaped areas

that included the fountain

which was working, even though you had to get close to appreciate it.

Although I failed to get a photo of the front of the history museum, I captured Memorial Hall, which was nearly destroyed when the river overflowed and entered the building.  The entrance looks nothing like I remember it!

Of course, I was drawn by another art sculpture in the distance.

Did I not mention there was art and sculpture everywhere in this city?

But Kathy was ready to enter the museum, so off we went.  And since this is a museum about a specific county in Kansas, I'm not sure many of my International friends would be interested.  So I'll stop here and let you smile at all the beauty we saw that day.  I'll show the remainder of the photos sometime next week when I eventually get them off my SD card.

Now go share a smile with someone, and join Annie for even more smiles as the weekend begins.