OK, so it took me almost 5 months instead of 30 days, but I have finally compiled my 30 favorite things about my new Kansas home. It has been a great exercise at a needed time – this time of being past the newness and busyness of moving, but not really feeling a part of this community yet can be a difficult and lonely time. So, focusing on the positive – here is my list!
1. My double rainbow – seen out of the apartment the day the moving truck was scheduled to arrive, it’s memory is my constant reminder that we are where God desires us to be and that He has a purpose for us here. You can check out this post to see the whole story: http://gettingtotheheartland.blogspot.com/2008/07/kindling.html.
2. The flowers in my new yard. When we arrived in July, my backyard was in full bloom, it was fun!
3. Sitting on my patio on summer mornings and not getting eaten by mosquitos.
4.Crisp, clear air – less pollution and less smog along with less humidity make for noticeably clearer air.
5. Evenings on my patio with almost no mosquito bites – I had a couple by the end of the season, but I could still sit with my family and enjoy a meal and a relaxing conversation without being driven inside by mosquitos – something I have NEVER really experienced before.
6. Traffic – or the lack thereof. A Wichita traffic jam is at most not getting through a traffic light in 2 cycles – I have never sat through more that 2 cycles of a traffic light here, and even that is very rare.
7. My herb garden. Frost has destroyed it now, but I had a nice little square in my inherited garden where chives, oregano, rosemary, and a large basil plant grew – right outside my back door!
8. The Summer wind – I thought I would really hate it, but it was a welcome thing in the heat of the summer. Now Winter wind – that’s a different story!
9. Cultural opportunities that we actually take advantage of because they are fairly inexpensive and easy to get to. We have been to a musical, a symphony concert with and Irish ladies band, the art museum, the science museum, the botanical gardens, and even a chili cook off in downtown Wichita!
10. Chocolate pie – one of my new neighbors brought a chocolate pie to our door to welcome us to the neighborhood – YUM!
11. Getting around Wichita – the flat landscape allows for straight roads – set up in a very logical grid system makes navigation very easy!
12. Being able to see a long way. I have really come to enjoy the vista that a flat, relatively sparsely treed landscape provides.
13. The Flint Hills – these rolling hills are the closest thing Kansas has to mountains, and they have their own, special kind of beauty. Because of the geography they are pretty much treeless, but from the top of one of the higher areas you can see rolling green (in summer) beauty layed out before you – I have never seen anything quite like it, and I really find it quite beautiful.
14. Wind Farms. These fields of rows upon rows of windmills set on the rolling hills are really quite fascinating.
15. The stars at night. The clear air mentioned in #4 along with a little less light pollution (in some areas anyway) than Atlanta, makes for some pretty good stargazing. And I love gazing at a starry sky.
16. Being 2 ½ - 3 hours from IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City. I’ve only taken advantage of it once, but I like knowing it’s there, and I will be back!
17. Taking walks on the golf course – we have to do this during non-golfing hours in the early morning or in the evening – and those are really quite pleasant times!
18. The Great Plains Nature Center – literally about 3-4 miles from my door, a great place to enjoy the great outdoors in the unique nature of this area, and to take some great photos.
19. Average folk. It seems that there is less focus on “keeping up with the Joneses” here than in some places I have lived. I like that.
20. Meeting some of my neighbors while standing in line to vote at 5:45a.m.
21. The bike trails around town. Again, our flat terrain makes for easy bike riding, and there are several paved trails around town. I have always enjoyed bike-riding.
22. Watching the seasons change out of my own kitchen window. I “inherited” a pretty well planted/gardened yard, and I am grateful to the previous owner for doing such a great job of picking plants and trees with such great seasonal interest!
23. My Maiden Grass. One of my favorite plants I have been watching out my window is my Maiden Grass. It started out in July as a relatively non descript but not un-attractive clump of green grass, then in late August it developed these beautiful purplish plumes which now have become beautiful silvery feathery crests that dance gracefully in the wind – beautiful!
24. My 10-15 minute drive to work. I know I have already listed the traffic and the ease of traveling in Wichita – but my 10-15 minute drive time to work means extra time for quiet time (or for sleep). My commute time for the 7 ½ miles to work in Marietta was at least 30 minutes, usually more!
25. Knowing that if I needed to, I could walk to the drugstore, the tea shop, the grocery store, a wine shop, the dry cleaners, church – they are all a mile to a mile and a half away from my door. Haven’t taken advantage of this yet, but I like knowing I can.
26. The opportunity to serve the less fortunate. Yes, I know the opportunity to volunteer and to serve were available to me in Marietta, but for some reason I have taken advantage of the opportunity here and I didn’t in Marietta.
27. Christmas Lights. Haven’t seen this in full bloom yet, but apparently one of the things Wichita is known for at this time of year are it’s light displays. I’m excited and interested to see what that means – in fact our office Christmas celebration this year includes riding a party bus around town to see the displays. I’ll keep you posted.
28. My Veterinarian. Nick has had some special needs since we have been here, including losing a toe to a cancerous tumor. But he is healthy now, and I really like his Vet. (I’ve also found a loving, caring groomer – Yay! – But I still miss Holly).
29. My Patio. Well into the fall we were able to take advantage of our outdoor living area, which is nice and large, partially covered with the ability to block most of the direct sunlight, and graced by the sounds of our fountain. It’s really one of the main things that sold us on the house, and we have enjoyed it.
30. And last, but certainly not least – and maybe actually my most favorite – We are in driving (yes, it is an 8 hour drive – but still a drive) distance to the Colorado Rocky Mountains – we have done it twice already!
So that’s my list!!!! Like I said, sitting down and doing this has been good for me. What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving! So, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you – we miss you but we are grateful that we have so much to be thankful for!
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind
10 years ago
