Party in Overdrive

The Wichita River Festival was this past week. This year's theme was "Party in Overdrive". The only event I attended was Saturday night's grand finale. It's definitely the best thing about RiverFest. Hundreds of thousands of people converge on the banks of the Arkansas River downtown. The Wichita Symphony plays a pops concert culminating in the 1812 Overture with cannons shot off the Douglas Street bridge. And then there is the best fireworks display of the year.

The weather was perfect this year. A warm day that cooled down as the evening progressed, clear skies, slight breeze. It was gorgeous. I went with a group of friends that had some tarps staked out on the river bank east of Exploration Place in view of the Keeper of the Plains with a great view of the fireworks. We got there early enough to converge with the masses at the food court at Century II and run into several familiar faces.

Exploration Place

The Keeper of the Plains. There's a Rich Mullins song that has a line "where the sacred rivers meet beneath the Keeper of the Plains." This is what he's talking about. The Keeper is on the pedestal above the fires. The bridge is made to look like an airplane with a comtrail to note Wichita's #1 industry.

I finally got to try out the fireworks setting on my camera.

More of Phase 2

Here are some pictures of the landscaping work. The beautimus flower beds that are ready for plants (note that this is only about half of what needs to get planted!)

I did plant the bed next to the front door. Now it’d be great if I could get the neighborhood cat to stop pawing around in the mulch.

I transplanted these irises 2 years ago from the front to the back yard. This is the first time they’ve bloomed since transplanting.

And my big splurge – patio furniture. I assembled about half of it and Rob & Heather finished it up. Heather made me promise not to get rid of the swing for a few months.

mission: brown thumb

I really need to learn to take before pictures. I began phase 2 of the backyard plan last weekend. Phase 1 happened a few years ago – clear the overgrown weeds out of the flower beds. I’ve been out of the country the last 2 springs, so phase 2 was put on hold. This weekend, however, it was put into motion. Tons of thanks to Jim, Allen, Rob & Heather for their help. I couldn’t have done it without you guys! We got the flower beds roto-tilled and edged with new timbers. It looks great. Now I have to buy a bunch of plants. I’ve been meaning to take "after" pictures, but it hasn’t happened and now it's raining so I’ll just tell you about it so you don’t think I’ve fallen off the planet.