“What’cha lookin’ at?” Ostrich at Rolling Hills Zoo.
African Message Pole, Rolling Hills Zoo, Salina, KS. Interpret your own happy message from the symbols!
Finding this old picture of my dad and Fritz having their morning “talk” made me smile. (Fort Scott, KS)
My dad appreciated old trucks, especially Fords; he said it was “a guy thing.” His granddaughter protested: “trucks are for girls, too!”
Max Ehrmann, author of DESIDERATA: A Poem for a Way of Life, wrote this: “With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” 
Today, I want to share some of my favorite things that make me happy when I travel to Kansas. You already know of our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren (at the top of our happiness scale), and my dad, who died of Alzheimer’s, and my mother who is lost deep in dementia. These people are the core of our focus and thoughts when we drive to Kansas each month.
But there are also many cheerful, striving-to-be-happy places and things in Kansas I want to share with you through these pictures. My dad was right: if you take a deep breath, look around, and appreciate things that make you smile, you can also find reasons to be happy and have hope.
Gunn Park “Tiny House” (Fort Scott, KS) Built in 1927 by the park caretaker for his young daughters and visitors. It’s 14″ high and 12″ long, including the front porch.
Happy Children bench sculpture, downtown in Abilene, KS
Bakery fundraiser: iced cookies: KS, and Chapman High School –both delicious!
Milford Lake Butterfly House (near Junction City, KS) A colorful, fluttering good time!
Abilene, KS (where the h.s. sports teams are the Cowboys and Cowgirls). I want a sign for writers in front of the writing section of the library: Writer Parking Only: All others will be rejected. 🙂
Summer sunset on a farm outside Fort Scott, KS. Tomorrow will be a gorgeous day!
Things I Want To Tell My Mother 