Ghost Signs, Details, Trims and Surfaces Found in Kansas and Iowa Towns Last Week

 Lately, I need to do close-ups of the ghost signs as well as full view. Chariton, IA

Patterns on metal stair way in Chariton, IA

 Another painted detail

 Chariton, IA

 As we left Manhattan, KS. Once advertised a local radio station

Table top design in McNally's grocery in Grinnell, IA

Photos Taken "Before the Blog"

 On a trip in 2008 to Colorado, on the way home in Kansas near a family cemetery in Gorham, KS; detail of fossils in limestone...on fence posts!

As most of us know, there were few trees in Kansas when farmers arrived to put up fences for their cattle, so they found it easier to fashion the posts from the local stone...

These posts were probably installed in the 1880's?

Random Photos from The Reunion Weekend...

 Council Bluffs, IA downtown, early Friday morning; they have cute squirrel statues in the park..

 ...and bright blue park benches...

 ...above and below, examples of the inspirations for the statuary....it's hot already so the brown squirrel is flattened against the tree trunk to stay cooler...

 ...butterflies on cone flowers in Omaha, before we went to the IMAX...

 ...painted-lady building in Beatrice, NE.  The downtown appeared more prosperous than I expected, I'm happy to say...

 ...a recent renovation in Beatrice, now looking for a purpose.... sign on one empty storefront said "I'm not empty, I'm full of possibilities"....

 ..."soul swiping", again; couldn't resist the unfortunate looking pair, along with tiny child and another on the way. Sometimes I just can't stop myself from grabbing a shot of human situational dramas in public. Manhattan, KS main business street.  Otherwise, Manhattan is Booming, by all appearances, with the usual economic anchors including K-State, nearby Fort Riley. Good Grief, "Plum Island" is moving here!! (Usually I'm not inclined to be a NIMBY, but I'd have to think about this one......)

 ...seldom or never do we see toads in our area, since the winters are so cold...here's a big fat one in KS.

...the restored livery stable at Old Abilene Town..... That's about it. What will we do next?