An artsy kind of day; Wichita Art Museum, Color Me Mine

 "God designed you both with creativity.  You will need it for today's activity."

Today's riddle was pretty simple.  It was a rainy day and Allen had to go to work, so it was just the kids and I today.

Our first stop - the Wichita Art Museum

Chihuly glass.  You can read about the artist here.

There was a room featuring art deco, which I really like!

Here is the hood ornament on our '54 Chevy!

It was interesting to see some Frankoma Pottery

(I have some too!  I pulled them out later for the kids to see.)

"Learning from the Japanese - exploring connections in block prints."

When we finished, it was still pouring rain.

In keeping with the "art theme" of the day, I had wanted to take the kids to Picasso's Pizzeria, but it was closed for the day.  Shucks.  The kids then chose for us to go to Five Guys.

I had hoped we could stroll along Douglas Avenue to find the 31 bronze sculptures done by artist Georgia Gerber.  Many of these are whimsicle and fun!  I had a map of the sculptures and since it was raining, we just looked for them out of the window of the car.

You might think this bird is real - but Eli had seen to look for a sculpture of a hawk on a light pole.  

Girl with pony; large dog

This is a fountain.  Boy and girl pouring water from paper cup to paper cup.

Fox and prairie chicken

Barefoot businessman; this is a fountain.

You can see more here.

This is the Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum, located at 204 S. Main.  It was the City Hall building for 84 years, built between 1890 and 1892.  It was known as the "Palace of the Plains."   I have never been there.  I will have to go there sometime!

Next on the agenda - I drove the kids to  Color Me Mine.  My daughter Jill told me about it.  A perfect place for kids who are so artistic!

The kids picked out their ceramic pieces and picked out what colors they wanted to use.  Once fired in a kiln, the colors will darken.

As it takes several days to finish, I told the kids I would bring these to them someday soon. 

When they were done, we went to the Cold Stone Creamery located next door.  That's another place I've never been to.  Oh my goodness, sooo good! 

Papa was home in the evening and we played some games.

Newtonopoly is like Monopoly, except based on our town with the Bread Basket, Norms, Carriage Factory Art Gallery, Bethel College, Kauffman Museum, Back Alley Pizza, Genova's, Taste of Newton, Ruzens, Blue Sky Sculpture, The Mennonite Settler and Sand Creek Trail as places you land.   It is a l-o-n-g game.  Emeri and I ended up at the homeless shelter and Eli and Papa stopped to finish it the next day as it was past bedtime!

Whoever came up with this did not research our town enough because we have TRAINS!!  28 trains a day roll through town!   Not one was listed!  They should have had the train station, and the famous hihstoric Harvey House.  Perhaps some gunslinger too because Newton was known as the "wickedest town in the west",  rivaling Dodge City.  

Newton doesn't really get "traffic jams" except for train delays (you might sit 10 minutes or more waiting for a train to cross Main), so my granddaughter Hannah added train details to this game.  

* * * *

I picked up the finished art projects when I went to Wichita recently.   When I go to Arkansas next, I will be delivering these.

It was interesting to see the changes once these had been put through the kiln.  The colors deepened and are set.  People often go through "fire" and because of the trials of life, we are also changed.  God often allows these in our lives to strengthen us and that we can be better used of Him.

"Behold, I have refined  you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction."  Isaiah 48:10

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold."  Job 23:10

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed."  1 Peter 4:12-13

Cosmosphere, farm, and the Dutch Kitchen

 Al had to go to work in the morning, so I took the kids to Druber's Donuts!  I took their daddy there many times when he was a boy.

Hmmm.  Had Josh and Staci been here before?

They were now enjoying Israel!  

The kids and I then went to help a friend who was in the process of moving.  At first I thought I wouldn't be able to help since I was busy with the grandkids, but then got to thinking it would be 3 sets of hands for an hour anyway!  Until Al got off work.

When Al got off, we had our adventure!

"Today we blast off to outerspace,

Then on to visit an old-fashioned place.

You'll have to have a healthy appetite

We'll finish with going to ancestral sites."

This was the clue to what we would be doing this day with our grandkids.  (We had to change up the 2nd and 3rd clue due to schedule of our brother/sister-in-law.)

The kids did guess that we were going to the space cosmosphere in Hutch.  We had taken them here a few years ago.

"The Lord has made the heavens His throne; 

          from there He rules over everything.  

    Praise the Lord, you angels, 

              you mighty ones who carry out His plans, 

        listening for each of His commands."  

                                  Psalm 103:19

We saw a show in the planetarium and also a show about Ireland in the Carey Digital Dome Theater.  

Then we visited the 1930's lab of Dr. Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry which was an interactive show that came along with some explosions.  (My picture didn't turn out, but here is one I found on-line.)

We went on a simulated ride on a Blue Angel.

Then off again to the next place....

the home farm where Al's brother Sid and our sister-in-law, Gayle live now.  We didn't stay long because they had DVBS soon and were getting ready for that.

A visit to the cemetery where both grandparents are laid to rest and where we also plan to be buried.

The cattle around the cemetery were curious.

Next we drove to where my Dad grew up.  

The house has been remodeled by an Amish family.

The kids were pretty excited to go back to this great place, fairly close to where my Dad lived.  They were hoping it was on the "list" of adventures!

Great Amish cooking!  Comfort food!

They have 72 different varieties of pies!

Kind of funny - we began our day at a restaurant and ended it at one too!