-
Short Hike at Busiek
Taking it easy – going back to the trail head We wanted a fairly quick and dry hike
Ginger didn’t want a repeat of Saturday’s wet and muddy trail. We didn’t want anything too challenging either. And, we didn’t want to be out for too long. We decided to do a short and simple loop from the South Trail Head at Busiek. Short it was at 1.75 miles, though the 450′ of elevation descended and climbed had us breathless at times. Right now we just want to get back into the hiking habit and not try and do too much and end up with unnecessary injuries.
We were surprised to find ice both off and on the trail. The going was quite tricky in a couple of places with ice completely covering the trail. The melt water on top made it particularly slippery.
I’ve started giving my own names to places. Shoe Lace shelf – the spot where on more than one occasion I’ve had to take a seat and fix broken laces. Lightning Tree Ridge – where there’s a tree that has survived being struck by lightning, and finally Prickly Pear Glade – a glade where the trail is surrounded by prickly pear cacti. Whenever I see these prickly pears growing alongside the trail I am reminded of my mother. She collected and grew cacti as exotic pot plants for as long as I remember. I am sure seeing them growing in the wild would have given her a thrill.
Trail head maps
Trail head signs
Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest
Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest
There was ice both on and by the trail
Small creek on the Yellow / Silver Trail
Yellow/Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest
Fire!
On the ridge
Lightning Tree
Prickly Pear
Map & elevation plot -
An Afternoon Hike at Compton Hollow Conservation Area
We stopped hiking in 2013
It wasn’t deliberate. First, we missed our ‘annual’ Spring Break backpacking trip, then we both got tied up with work. I abandoned my semi-retired state, and getting out just faded away. No backpacking, no hiking, no kayaking, not even any fishing. It all stopped. We made an attempt to pick things up again in October 2014, but cold weather set in.
Any nascent plans we had for a backpacking trip in December failed completely when we both got the ‘flu.
A forecast of 55°F, and the fact that we are both completely and utterly out of condition and in desperate need of the exercise prompted us to try and get out today. We picked an easy target, Compton Hollow Conservation Area, and went on a very straightforward hike of just over 2.6 miles and 400′ of elevation.
The going was as we expected, muddy. Unexpectedly there was still a lot of ice around in the shaded spots on the eastern side. I enjoyed it – especially squishing through the mud in my huaraches. Unfortunately, Ginger doesn’t like the mud and she soon found it a bit tiresome.
This is only my second real hike in my latest huaraches, and while I like them a lot, they are just a little bit too thin for my liking. I prefer a tad less ground feel and a little bit more insulation. I’m always being asked if my feet get cold. They do on occasion – you cannot walk through frozen mud or water without getting a bit cold. But, I soon dry off and they get warm again. So much so this afternoon that I welcomed a muddier bit of trail to cool me down a bit. I think pictures of how muddy and dirty I get put people off huaraches. Today I just found a clean puddle and washed the mud off – okay the ice in puddle made for a cold wash but it was easy to get clean. Ginger didn’t have the same option with her trail shoes which were very heavy with mud.
Trail head maps
Trail head
Open spaces
Ice by the trail | Photograph by Ginger
Ice by the trail | Photograph by Ginger
Spot the trail
Spot the trail
End of Public Use Area
Ice & I must get a picture of my huaraches | Photograph by Ginger
Some trail-side fungi | Photograph by Ginger
Getting muddy on the trail | Photograph by Ginger
Frozen Stock Pond
Frozen Stock Pond
Frozen Stock Pond
Enigmatic Ginger
Cheeky Ginger 🙂
Grasses and thistles
Grasses and thistles -
Grasses and thistles
-
Frozen Stock Pond
Frozen Stock Pond You can read about this afternoon’s hike here.
-
Frozen Stock Pond at Compton Hollow Conservation Area
You can read about this afternoon’s hike here.
-
Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Kansas City
Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Kansas City.Copyright © 2015 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I popped out of the diocesan office in Kansas City for a meeting and found myself in a pastiche of Sydney, Australia.
Despite the 25°F temperature I had to stop and take a picture, the light and colors were just too good to miss.
It was a long day – We left at 06:30 a.m. and got back around 8:30 p.m. fortunately I wasn’t doing the driving today. I left that to Fr. David. We should have stopped and got a picture of the sunrise. That too, was quite spectacular.
-
Lanie (after the Christmas Eve service)
Lanie I was under orders from Ginger to take a picture of Lanie in her Christmas finery,
I also had a request from the Altar Guild to make sure I got a picture of the altar with all the poinsettias. Mark was too quick putting out the candles so I had to get him to re-light most of them…oops!
The pictures of Lanie were almost a disaster, as I was assisted (hindered) by a certain Mr. Bare attempting to photobomb and generally disrupt things!
Despite how horrendously dark it is in the church I was quite pleased with how the pictures taken before and during the service came out.
Bell choir (I had to change position when I realized one of the smaller members of the choir couldn’t be seen). Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Christmas Altar. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
St. Cecilia Choir. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
St. Cecilia Choir. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Fr. Ken delivering his sermon. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Fr. Ken delivering his sermon. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Rachel’s solo. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Prelude music. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Prelude music. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Prelude music. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Altar & Flowers. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Altar & Flowers. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Lanie poses after the service -
Cram the Van – a trip to Ikea & the office Christmas dinner
Cram the van – Aftermath of a trip to Ikea. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. We went up to Kansas City Friday for a diocesan staff Christmas dinner.
We took advantage of the opportunity and traveled up early and went shopping at Ikea. We almost bought more than we could carry. It took a little bit of juggling to get everything in but we managed it. Just.
As plans went, we managed to execute it almost perfectly despite coming away with a completely different sofa to the one we were planning on getting. We managed to arrive for dinner spot on time and had an excellent meal and time before the long drive back to Springfield. We arrived home at about 1 a.m. making it quite a long day.
Saturday Ginger had the fun job of putting it all together while I disappeared off on a photoshoot. Lanie had the best job, that of testing our new purchase.
Lanie testing the sofa with Tubby. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Lanie & Tubby test the sofa
It’s hard work, but someone has to do it.
-
There is a cat in a Santa suit sitting on my desk…
Blue Kitteh in a Santa Suit. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Which explains why Ginger and Lanie took so long on the school run this afternoon, obviously some shopping was involved somewhere along the way.
-
The 125th Annual Convention of The Diocese of West Missouri
Walker and Gary working the AV booth at Convention – Photograph by Gary Zumwalt This was my first annual convention as Director of Communications with the diocese. I decided to relinquish my camera to be available to help wherever I was needed. That meant I got to roll up my sleeves and help out in the AV Booth. Most of the AV equipment and controls looked vaguely familiar due to the amount of time I spent in recording and edit studios back in the eighties and nineties.
My friend Gary (whom I met at last year’s convention) and the Bishop’s wife, Donna volunteered to help out by taking pictures. In the three days I spent at convention I took just 4 pictures, and I rather enjoyed not taking pictures.
It was three tiring and busy days. We were still receiving changes to the slides for the presentations minutes before we went live. It was all great fun, and I came away feeling energized.
Lanie was also busy – she and a friend MC’d the evening event.
Bishop Marty, Hanna and Lanie on stage at the evening’s awards event I asked Gary to suggest a cover picture for the Spirit Magazine. This was his idea…
“Dear Lord, don’t let anything screw up!” – Photograph by Gary Zumwalt I had great fun organizing the clergy group photograph. It’s rarely I get a chance to order around four bishops and an assembly of clergy. Front and center, holding the cross, is my sailing friend Cap’n John. I dreamed up this shot when we visited the convention hotel back in September. The best bit was I didn’t have to climb the ladder to take the picture. I’m glad it came out as I imagined and I’m also glad the stairs and balcony were up to the task. I did stop and think about it for a moment.
Clergy at the 125th Convention of the Diocese of West Missouri – photograph by Gary Zumwalt Here are some more pictures of myself and Walker manning the AV booth.
Walker and Gary taking a photo break – photograph by Gary Zumwalt
Gary updating Facebook on the fly during Convention – Photograph by Gary Zumwalt
Walker and Gary taking a photo break – Photograph by Gary Zumwalt -
Guy Fawkes Night
Sparklers Bonfire Night 2014. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Tonight the Guy Lanie made in 2009 finally met his fiery doom.
In Springfield having a bonfire and fireworks at anytime other than July would result in a police visit, so we’ve not been able to burn our Guy.
In previous years we’ve hopefully dragged him out to friends only to have the bonfire cancelled at the local fire department’s request due to high winds and dry conditions. Other years we’ve been running kids up to Kansas City, so he’s accompanied us and sat around the campfire. He was a well travelled Guy with several hundred miles under his belt.
Kirby, an Anglophile friend has invited us to his Guy Fawkes Night celebrations many times – but we’ve always had prior engagements. This year we ensured our calendars were clear, and took advantage of Carthage’s more relaxed city ordinances (where Kirby lives) to enjoy a proper bonfire night.
Only in the US would you drive 120 miles in an evening for a bonfire and some fireworks.
If the thought of burning a human effigy seems rather odd – read about Guy Fawkes Night.
I could have tried to look a bit happier about it – Lanie’s Guy is ready to meet his doom Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Things are starting to get toasty for the Guy. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Going… Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Gone… Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Fireworks Bonfire Night 2014. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
The Addams Family – Lanie as Morticia
The Addams Family – Lanie’s night as Morticia. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Tonight Lanie played Morticia
I’m really proud of Lanie. She did an absolutely fantastic job. Once again it was a cracking performance all round. They’ve been working on the show a couple of hours a night, four nights a week since early August. Lanie’s main role was as one of the ‘Ancestors’ – Cleopatra Addams, but tonight all the understudies had a chance to perform in their main roles. It was challenging as they’d not had a lot of opportunities to rehearse the roles, but they all did brilliantly.
Lanie’s family and friends turned out en masse to support her, and her father came down from Chicago to see her perform. After the show we had a very tasty Ice Cream Buffet in her honor and sat around talking late into the night.
Notes
This is something Ginger pointed out to me. I’m just a dad, sitting in the audience, I didn’t use a tripod and I most certainly never used flash (except for the pictures of Lanie and her father). My camera while good isn’t particularly special. All I did was be careful about selecting my seat and I took the time to learn how to use my camera and properly process my pictures. It’s not hard. Anyone can do this.
All the Pictures
Click on a picture to see it fullscreen
The Addams Family – Lanie’s night as Morticia. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Letting the Ancestors out
Gomez is digging himself a hole…
Getting ready for the guests
The Addams Family Album
The ‘dance routine’
The ‘dance routine’
Full Disclosure
Death is Just Around the corner (or should that be coroner?)
Death is Just Around the corner (or should that be coroner?)
Pugsley & Morticia
Morticia’s leaving
Gomez asks for a dance
Tango time – Morticia has legs!
You’ve been Tangoed
Tango
Tango
Tango
Tango
Tango
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Addams Family Cast (& Crew)
Lanie back as Cleopatra for the cast pictures
Addams Family Cast (& Crew)
Lanie & her father
Lanie & her father -
Cross for Darlene
-
The Addams Family Musical – Third Night
Lanie’s third night, and final night as Cleopatra – one of the Addams’ ancestors.
Saturday she’ll be playing Morticia. Lanie suggested we swapped to the left side for tonight’s show, and that seemed to work well.
It was a long night for Lanie as the show didn’t start until 9:00 p.m. Before the show the cast went out into the neighborhood handing out candy. It is Halloween after all.
All the pictures from Friday night
Click on a picture to see it full screen
Cleopatra Addams & Morticia Addams
-
The Addams Family Musical – Opening Night
The Addams Family Musical – Opening Night. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Tonight we went to see Lanie in the Excellent ‘The Addams Family’ musical. Once again I was extremely impressed by the performance and effort put in by everyone. I didn’t take many pictures tonight as I was busy watching the show and making mental notes of good photo opportunities for when we come back on Friday. We’ll also be back again on Saturday for the closing night when Lanie plays Morticia.
- Addams Family – Friday night, Lanie plays Cleopatra Addams.
- Addams Family – Closing night, Lanie plays Morticia.
-
The Iron Florist – Jim Davis
The Iron Florist – Jim’s entry into this year’s 6″ cube fund-raiser. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Jim’s entry into this year’s 6″ cube fund-raiser.
All the submitted pieces have to fit inside a 6″ cube. They are sold in a silent auction in aid of the Ozarks Regional Arts Council.
The Iron Florist – Jim’s entry into this year’s 6″ cube fund-raiser. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Nia Howard – Manager, Next to New Springfield, MO
Today I popped into Next to New
I’ve been promising to take Nia’s portrait for ages – I wanted one to go on the Christ Church website.
-
Lanie goes Crabbing
Lanie finally catches a crab. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Vacation Days 27 & 28 – Our last couple of days in the UK and Lanie catches a crab.
To finish off our vacation we went back to the dockyard to take in some of the things we didn’t see the first time, but mainly to visit ‘Action Stations’ where Emily works. I’m pretty sure something about an Airforce cadet working for the Navy secretly amuses her.
On our last day we let Lanie pick what to do, and she wanted to go and catch crabs at Canoe Lake. Okay, I don’t think she was quite prepared for how long it would take. She eventually caught a very feisty specimen, and with that our vacation drew to a close. The next morning we went to Heathrow and started the long 18 hour trip home.
-
Family Curry Night
Vacation Day 26 – Family Curry, winding down and getting ready to head back home
One final curry before we pack our bags and head back to Missouri in a couple of days time. It was great that our honorary brother Neil could make it, he’d been away most of the month.
