Let’s get this blog going again!

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon our family blog while helping my students set up their own professional blogs using Blogger. I didn’t even realize that Fiddler Kin still existed. We all shared pretty consistently from 2008 to the start of 2013, but then 2013 kind of threw us all for a loop and we let it go. I don’t know about you, but I pretty much completely forgot about the blog. And I’m so grateful to have rediscovered it! I have enjoyed perusing old posts from everyone but especially those written by my mom; I love getting to hear her voice again through her writing. And I love the way our family blog captures moments in each of our lives that we share with one another through writing and photos. So, let’s keep sharing. I’ll go first. Ha ha! 

  “And he’s bu-u-ilding a sta-a-a-irway to the river” (with thanks to Led Zeppelin) Matt and I have had a good summer, in spite of not being able to spend significant time with family and friends in person due to the pandemic. One of the projects that Matt took on was building steps down to the river in our backyard. The Little Arkansas flows through our neighborhood, and it’s actually considered private property (each house that backs up to it owns its half of the river), and our bank is pretty steep and rocky. A couple years ago we bought kayaks (the leisure kind, not the serious kind), and we’ve had fun carting them up and down the steep bank. But this year, Matt decided to make our trek so much easier. He cut steps into the bank and then “harvested” sand from upriver to level each step before pouring concrete and laying decorative rocks in each step. Now we have wide steps and a makeshift landing spot for our kayaks in the river. The steps are also nice for just sitting and enjoying the peace of the flowing water along with the wildlife.

“I want to ride my bicycle; I want to ride my bike. I want to ride my bicycle; I want to ride it where I like” (with thanks to Queen) Another fun adventure this summer has been discovering new routes for our bike rides. Early in the summer, Matt discovered some quiet two-lane roads within a mile of our house that allowed us to “get out in the country” immediately, rather than biking along four-lane busier roads to get out of town. We actually pass bison (or buffalo) grazing in someone’s yard on that route. Earlier this summer, we decided to celebrate Matt’s first year of teaching as a para and my promotion to full professor by ordering gravel bikes. We’d been planning to make this kind of purchase for a couple of years, but now we had something to celebrate. Of course, we weren’t expecting that bike inventory would be so incredibly low. 

 After two months, Matt’s bike came in (we’re still waiting on mine), and we’ve been able to take his gravel bike and my old hybrid out on some dirt/gravel/sand roads that begin right across from our neighborhood. We’re able to head west and north and get away from traffic immediately. The past two weekends we’ve headed out on Saturday and Sunday (after online church) mornings, and it’s just been glorious. So peaceful. So pleasant. Aside from the Trump flags, of course. One of them actually says “Trump/Pence 2020. No more bullshit.” Can you figure that one out? Makes no sense to me. The statement “no more bullshit” implies that there HAS been bullshit. While Trump has been POTUS. I’m pretty sure the flag is actually an argument AGAINST Trump. 

Anyway, We’ve had a lovely time exploring the dirt roads outside of Wichita/Valley Center, and we’re hoping to continue doing that well into fall. Hopefully, my gravel bike will come in soon too, so I can have a bit better traction as I pedal.

That’s the fun news from Wichita. I look forward to reading more from whoever wants to contribute. Write on, my family. Write on!

Musical Valentine from me to you

Hi, family!  I hope you are enjoying this mild February weather.  Today at church, we sang Rene Clausen's "Oh My Love's Like A Red, Red Rose" (lyrics and original melody by Robert Burns), and it was beautiful.  We were accompanied by our talented pianist Charles Hitchcock, as well as a cellist and violinist from the Wichita Symphony.  I don't have a recording of our performance, but I found this one on YouTube.  Enjoy, and have a beautiful Valentine's Day!  Love, Katie

A Red, Red Rose

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it were ten thousand mile.

Robert Burns, 1794

warning!

I received an email today from a friend of mine who reported  that while on vacation in Arkansas she was approached by some people in a parking lot that asked her what perfume she was wearing. She asked, why? They said that they were selling perfume and asked if she would like  to smell it. She told them she didn't have any money. They started acting strange and she got in her car and left. Other  people have been approached in parking lots such a Big Lots and Walmart as well. If you sniff this  so called perfume  you will be smelling ether and pass out. You be at the mercy of these people. After posting her email several other women reported having the same thing happening to them.
 So Be Ware all and stay safe.

Best birthday ever

On Saturday, Aug. 4, Trent and I had the pleasure of visiting Carol and Tom's home for a delicious and nutritious birthday brunch, prepared by Carol and Honor. 

Not only did we enjoy strawberry scones, zucchini/chocolate chip muffins, mini egg souffles, watermelon, and chicken and egg salad sandwiches, there was also a light and flavorful orange cake with fresh strawberries and cream.

After bike riding with Jessica, it was time to cool off on the watering bucket.  Carol did the sprinkling honors.

Now there's one happy camper.



On August 5, we woke at 4:00 a.m. to participate in what we expected would be an amazing and uplifting triathlon held in honor of Trent's cousin Matt Mason, a Navy SEAL whose Chinook helicopter was shot down by an RPG in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.  Matt was a husband and father and an avid triathlete. 

As we arrived at the lake in the cool darkness, we drove under and enormous American flag, hanging from a fully extended fire truck ladder.  And we could hear the heart thumping music as we got closer to the race start.



Margaret, John, and  Sharon.  Pre-Race.



 John's all marked up, ready to rock 'n roll.

 Two-thirds of the relay team.

Andy and me -- getting ready for the swim.

 

 

Before the swim, the honor guard raised their flags and fired their guns after the a cappella group sang the national anthem. This was followed by a Chinook helicopter flyover. Right before the race start, the announcer reminded all of us that when the swim got a little rough, or the hills got too difficult during the bike portion, or when we didn't feel like we could take another step on the run, that we should listen to Matt's voice, whispering in our ear, Cowboy up.

The run from the swim to the bike transition felt pretty good. American flags were displayed throughout the route, as were words of inspiration and encouragement via posters and chalk messages on the trails.

Here's Trent's finish, as he grabs a water from my aunt Sharon. His relay team finished in an hour and 14 minutes (500 yard swim, 10 mile bike, 5K run). I finished in 1 hour, 18 minutes. Woohoo!

Check out the hot pink shirt! It was easy to find Trent's mom every time she cheered for us!

My mom and Aunt Sharon volunteered to hand out packets the Friday before the race, and they handed out water at the finish line.  Pretty cool way to participate, if you ask me. :-)

David and Betty Mason (Matt's parents) handed out medals, which were made to look like dog tags. Very cool.

My parents whooped and cheered for us and all the competitors. Even the atheletes cheered for one another--during the race, after the race. It was an amazing race environment. My dad cheered so much, he lost his voice.

Andy, who did the swim portion of Trent's relay, with Aunt Margaret, who helped get John ready for the race. :-)

Matt's memorial was placed at the finish line.

Proud mama. :-)

 

 

The relay team: Trent (runner), Andy (swimmer), and John (cyclist). This was a first triathlon for Trent and John. John trained on the hills outside his home in Kearney, with Margaret's encouragement, riding up to 20 miles a day.  Margaret often joined him on his rides.  Inspired? I am.

Photobomb, by Andy Ellis



Mason Family photo at the finish line.



Betty and David, along with Matt's cousin Jennifer and her husband Wes, both of whom were first-time triathlon participants. My understanding is that Matt consistently encouraged people to try triathlons; he loved first-timers. Jennifer and Wes did a great job, and I'm sure Matt was smiling down on their efforts.



After a quick pit stop at McD's, we enjoyed some tasty post-race barbecue at the Wabash in Excelsior Springs, MO. Mmmm, good.

All in all, a pretty fabulous and motivating way to spend the morning of my 34th birthday. :-) The race organizers said that they're planning to open registration for next year's race pretty soon (it filled up this year!). So, all you blog readers out there, get ready. Matt would love to see some more first-timers out there ... as a relay team, or an individual participant. Let's do it!

 

After the race, several of us enjoyed steaks on the grill and delicious cakes from Three Women and an Oven, where Andy's girlfriend Leigh works.  So good.

Andy, Leigh, Sharon, Trent, Dad, Trent's mom, and Mom :-)

Last, but not least, we have finally captured a photo of the Giraffe Tree, so named by me after I moved back to Kansas in 2010.  It's just south of the Flint Hills marker on the right side of the road as you drive south on I-35 out of Emporia.  There's a fallen branch that looks like a giraffe nibbling on the leaves of the rest of the tree.  Look for it next time you drive down to Wichita for a visit.

You've Been Trumped

You've Been Trumped is a film made by independent fiim maker Anthony Baxter.  It is a documentary about Donald Trump and a golf course he built on the coast of Scotland.  The documentary explores the tactics Trump used to attain his goals.  The golf course affects a sensitive ecological area, the sand dunes of Scotland.  The dunes' importance and uniqueness are comparable to that of the rain forest.  The people of Scotland have protected the area from development, that is, until Donald trump came along.  His name is like a magic wand that opens all doors.  The government gave him permission to build his golf course in hopes that it would bring economic development to Scotland.  The golf course has been built and the economy has not improved.  Change has occurred though.  An important ecological area has been altered.  Scientists do not believe the damage done can be repaired.  The Baxter documentary tells the story of how local people fought to preserve the dunes, and what they experienced at the hands of Donald Trump.  Trump verbally abused anyone who got in his way and called the locals a national disgrace to Scotland.  The film opens today in select cities.  Anthony Baxter had to finance the documentary himself because no one in financial circles was brave enough to go up against the Donald.  You can read an article about the film in the New York Times, August 9th, 2012 in the environment  green blog section.  The post is by Joanna Foster and is called "Golf Course vs. Dunes  A Rebellion That Failed.  Please give it a look.

If anybody is interested in alpacas there is an alpaca farm at,

Willowbrook farm
 24365 Pflumm rd.
Louisburg, Ks 66053
913-503-9965
www.willowbrook.com

Emporia Visit

I had a fabulous time in Emporia yesterday, and here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

Happy Hudson

Isaiah and Marshall's game of Straw Wars

Look at those faces!  Pure joy!

If you find 20 extra minutes of footage on your camera, Beth and Peter, here's why:



Jacob can BOOGIE!!



Party favor sword fights by Andy and Jessica

Dinner with the Gilligans at Ad Astra in Strong City -- that is some GOOD FOOD.  Emporia people:  head over to Strong City for some delicous reubens, pita pizzas, quesadillas, brats, homemade mac and cheese, and burgers.  The best meal I've had in awhile.

Saturday Fun with Jacob & Mya

Saturday we took a little ride to Emporia.....to play with our little Emporia pals.......Jacob and Mya!!
Of course, Honor and Doug hosted the gathering.  Beth rested at home......foot up following toe surgery.

We had fun with the kids……we picked up some sandwich stuff at Aldi’s when we got into Emporia.  Served ham & cheese on oat bread with blueberries, strawberries, and bananas on the side.  Honor had some watermelon ready to go as well.  We played some lawn darts (no sharp parts) on the playground across the street from Horizon; Honor and Marshall won.  The warm sunshine forced us to  retreat  to the cool of the apartment for a rousing card game designed to elevate the “yuck” factor of any six year old. Questions like “would you rather drink 8 cups of aquarium water or lick the bottom of a dumpster?”  stimulate the imagination.  As the questionee ponders a response the rest of the participants secretly vote on which choice will be made.  By the time we had gone a few rounds Jacob was emceeing the thing and he can read really well…..We left the cards at the apartment but Jacob had graduated to the point that he could think of his own yucky pairs of choices.….such as “would you like to have your arm and leg cut off  or be a turtle and have your shell cut off??”   He is hilarious.  Mya took it all in…she is so good natured; always smiling!! She toddles along happy as a lark.

Honor seemed pretty spry….(she won at lawn darts) keeping up with the activities, etc.  We stopped at Beth’s when Honor returned the kids…Beth looked good but will need a few more days off to recover.  Honor is staying overnight to help meals and baths etc go smoothly.  Doug is at home in his castle with the air conditioning turned to the  ice cold setting….just the way he likes it.  All in all they seemed content and healthy.

Farmers Market

This week I discovered a Wednesday afternoon farmers market half a block away from my house.  My friend Kelly and I walked down to it, purchased some tasty veggies and jam, as well as some baklava, which we then enjoyed with some chai lattes at a nearby local coffee shop. 

Wichita just keeps impressing me!  On the agenda for tomorrow evening:  a free outdoor concert at WSU--the Ulrich Museum's Art for your Ears summer concert series.  Yay!  I love summer time!