Art, blog, History, Kansas City, Story, Uncategorized

1855, my house the trading post

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Colonel A. G. Boone, a relative of Daniel Boone, was a great entertainer, and as was the custom of the times kept an open house where many visitors stayed weeks at a time. The Bernard brothers kept a general store in Old Westport (1855). The goods ranged from a variety of sewing supplies to hunting knives and articles which represented the domestic lifestyle of the women and the valor of the men of Old Westport.

Mr. Bernard and the Colonel were good friends. As a young man, he and the Colonel went on a social call in Westport. They started out on a Sunday afternoon strolling up the hill passing where the Preschool now stands.

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The men dressed in white linen suites were on their way to visit the charming Miss Munday. Both friends, infatuated with the lady, had their heads in the clouds when the Colonel missed his footing and fell into a tanning vat. His misfortune made it necessary he return home, while Mr. Bernard made the visit alone.

Tannery

Tannery

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Art, blog, History, Kansas City, Story, Uncategorized

Streets Covered In Snow

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I think the Kansas City Mayor follows my blog. Several weeks ago I wrote a blog story about the three snow trucks in a row. The snowplows were barely skimming the pavement. It appeared that the Kansas City snowplows were traveling too fast and the shovel wasn’t engaged low enough to move any snow off the street. I also twittered their technique didn’t look right and that the ‘Kansas’ side was clear.

This morning the snow laid on the ground, all the neighborhood covered in white. The Kansas City snow plow trucks are out and working. They just did my neighborhood. I didn’t expect the street to be clear’d so soon. In fact, I had cancelled my doctor appointment because of the snow.

In Westport Missouri, an icy snow is several inches thick on the roads, and unlike the last time the snowplows are doing a much better job. I love the snow. I don’t like the cold.

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Art, blog, Kansas City, Uncategorized

Twinkind, my house the trading post

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Imagine dollhouses or work scenes with dolls of actual family members and coworkers. Twinkind uses a state-of-the art 3D scanning and color printing technology. The result is stunningly detailed figurines that you can hold in your hands and observe from any angle. – See more at: http://www.twinkind.com/en/product#sthash.HnpYNyWv.dpuf

I found the site browsing. I am intrigued. However, a 1:12 scale, plastic doll costs about $450. This will detour me from purchasing one. The dolls are made on a 3D computer that melts plastic to the dimension and shape programmed. Very cool, in my opinion.

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http://dollhousesby.wordpress.com

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Art, Kansas City, Story, Uncategorized

Art Projects, my house the trading post

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Six dollhouses we have made in the last year. Each one is a tribute to our life. My career spanned 25 years working as a medical technologist in academic, clinical, and hospital laboratories. My husband has had an exciting career as a lawyer, artist, and musician. The third dollhouse was a room of shops that represented Bob’s law office and an art gallery. Within the art gallery are miniature replicas of his current art works.

The fourth dollhouse was made out of all the left over wood scraps. We call it, Eddie’s Market. My grandson, is Eddie. He likes being a shop owner. He is three. The fifth dollhouse was actually a 1:12 scale travel trailer we converted into a wiener wagon. My son’s dream is to own a food truck.

The sixth dollhouse is my pride and joy. It is a scale laboratory. The details are very good. The remarkable detail is important, because laboratory supplies are not available in the miniature world. However, some medical equipment and nurses and doctor dolls are available. Since laboratory personnel are often offended when mistaken for a nurse, I made reasonable efforts to convert or hand make the items in the laboratory scene.

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AACO AACO-2WeinerWagon1

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Art, blog, History, Kansas City, music, photography, Story, Uncategorized

KC Art, my house the trading post

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In February, 1897, the art association of Kansas City opened a gallery to the public. The art gallery’s idea was conceived by William Rockhill Nelson, who presented the city a collection of reproductions of the old masters, for purposes of study. The reproduction of the greatest pictures of the old masters of the Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Flemish schools were commissioned by the best copyists. Even the frames were reproduced. These paintings, together with an extensive collection of large carbon prints and a number of well selected casts were presented as a gift to the people of Kansas City in 1896.

William R. Nelson, built his residence called Oak Hall in 1888. The home, sheathed in stone, lied on a large tract of land south of 45th street and east of Oak Street. After it was demolished in the 1920s, the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and Mary Atkins Museum was constructed on the site. The gallery opened in 1933.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, as it is known today, is open daily at 4525 Oak Street in Kansas City Missouri. I love this place, it is magnificent and filled with many, many works. A pleasant and free place to take the kids. Along each floor, a child’s guide is available. This guide has activities like matching or locating pictures of works of art found in a corridor or room. A child as young as three, can help find the picture hanging on the wall. My grandson and I enjoy this game.

Check out my blog for more art. “Secrets”

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Art, blog, History, Kansas City, music, photography, Story, Uncategorized

Tuesday, my house the trading post

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Do reality shows make you angry? In the evening, I watch my favorite housewives reality shows. From a cultural anthropologist view the whole range of reality shows from the fab, catty, vastly over privileged to the most low rent and crude have the combined effect of reconstructing and reinforcing a system of class awareness, distinction and perhaps resentment that society had tried to banish through the twentieth century.

Sigh.

“But if someone who suppose to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him–how can God’s love be within him? Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.” 1John 3:17-18

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I have a picture of a Picasso and a wine collection. Sounds like I’m rich? (Not) My daughter wrote me a troubling text message earlier today.

“Lol when you die you can’t take nothing with you. Money is worthless and all your fancy stuff. I am done talking. I shouldn’t have to explain myself to a 50 year old mom. You should already know this. Don’t tell me you are happy, tell God, because you will face him on judgement day. He knows the truth. “Forgive and repent, and move on in life.” Stop living in the past. You should cherish what years you got left instead of staying away from your family. Eddie and I might see you twice in two months. You and Bob can’t ever just come to our house and hang out for hours. Somebody is gonna have to die before you start to see things clear again. Mom you do have family that loves you, and Bob is just someone that blows money on you. When he’s gone you will see.”

Later she wrote, “Mom, I’m short $112 for light bill.”

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Art, blog, History, Kansas City, music, photography, Story, Uncategorized

Monday, my house the trading post

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I’m missing summer very much. Should a fifty year old woman be wearing a bikini? I may have to reevaluate my wardrobe. The photo site is our favorite Missouri destination. Tan Tara.

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Kansas City likes to brag about their fountains, and have even dared to call this the City Of Fountains. Eddie can’t wait to play in the many Kansas City fountains.

Look around my blog, many of the stories are fun to read……

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Art, blog, History, Kansas City, music, photography, Story, Uncategorized

Generations, my house the trading post

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“How do you want your eggs?”

On the weekends, we let the youngest prepare breakfast for us. He is a whiz kid in the kitchen. It is adorable when he insist on wearing a chef hat and apron. Let these gifts to us be blessed!

He is so skilled in the kitchen. It may be a result of his parents who rely on the food stamp program for monthly food. His family runs out of money and food about two weeks into the month. He goes hungry for a day or two each month. Then his mother calls me, and I bring him over to our house.

Once here, he is facinated with the kitchen and all the food. He is three years old. Although, one of the most serious child I have ever met, his catch phrase, “What we mak’in?” keeps me laughing.

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Art, blog, History, Kansas City, music, photography, Story, Uncategorized

Water, My House The Trading Post

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The water has always concerned me. U.S Congressman Sam Graves has made inquiries with the Environmental Protection Agency for an explanation of communities in violation of new ozone standards. Graves noted that the EPA included Clinton and Clay Counties on the list in 2008, because they had dropped the 80 parts per billion to 75 parts per billion on the ozone threshold. His concern was not for the safety of the community but that a smaller community could not afford to comply. This is unfortunate because the smaller community has experienced strange health concerns. However, no two health events were the same or repeatable in another.

As a mother, and a child that grew up in the Missouri town with the “suspected” tainted water, I can tell you I have always thought that there was something wrong with the Cameron water. And have spent most of my life not drinking water because of it. The town is divided, nearly down the middle, as to the safety of the water. I, for instance, feel it is not safe. My background, clinical laboratory scientist and my first husband the city water tester for Elwood, Kansas. The water was frequently tainted, and a boil order issued.

Congressman Sam Graves gave the EPA a tour of the County. That lady, Erin Brockovick, came to town and told every one that the Chromium 6 concentrations were high and caused from a nearby tannery that sold farmers sludge as fertilizer. I do not know what more was done. Only 776 health cases were identified in 2008. My daughter, suffers from a health concern that doctors have not been able to help with. And no one has taken my daughter’s issue as a concern of the water, but they should have, or I should have.

Does history repeat itself? Are selfishness and negativity put aside for the good of all the people?

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