Tag Archives: ART

Boot Scootin In Abilene

Lindsborg has the Dala horses, Wamego has Toto’s and Abilene has cowboy boots. In 2019 a group decided to install cowboy boots around the town, celebrating that the first cowboy boot was invented in Abilene in 1863.

Thank you to all the artists who designed these boots.

Wild Bill Hickok Cowboy Boot

Location Central Kansas Free Fair Grounds

Varsity Letter Cowboy Boot

Location Abilene High School Football Stadium

Sister City Cowboy Boot

Location Abilene Public Library

Ike’s Galaxy Cowboy Boot

Location Abilene City Hall

History of Farming In Dickinson County Cowboy Boot

Location Dickinson County Courthouse

Crazy Quilt Cowboy Boot

Location Arts Council Of Dickinson County

Mooooo Cowboy Boot

Location Old Abilene Town

Patriotism Cowboy Boot

Location Little Ike Park

Mud Creek Cowboy Boot

Location Abilene Senior Center

Rose Garden Cowboy Boot

Location Abilene Civic Center/Visitors Center

Abilene also has the world’s largest belt buckle, Designed by a local artist Jason Lahr, it measures 19’ 10 1/2” wide and 13’ 11 1/4” tall. Inlaid with a blue quartz longhorn it also features Dwight Eisenhower, Wild Bill Hickok, Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad, Seelye Mansion, C.W. Parker carousel horse, C.L. Brown telephone, and a racing Greyhound.

Thank you Wylie for being such a good sport and sitting for each photo. Time for a treat!

The Indian

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Just south of Junction City, Ks on a hill over looking the Smoky Hill River is a statute with a plaque that reads “The Indian”.

Built in 1920, the statute is trying to survive the elements, but the vandals have certainly taken their toll on it.

Out and About

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This beautiful watch dog lives a few miles from us. I love seeing him guarding his sheep. If I sit and watch him too long, he will move his herd away. I wished Wylie could spend a day with him!!

Glad someone is restoring this beautiful home.

Watching over the prairie

Stone arch railroad bridge

I don’t often see a barn with the silo attached to it.

Autumn Mosaic

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There is such a bumper crop of milo this year that the elevators are piling it on the ground. The man whose face was worn from seeing may years of harvest smiled as I told him he was quite an artist. He replied, “ma’am I’ve never thought of myself as an artist”.

Farmer Days Windmill

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A windmill is something I have always wanted. They stand as proud sentinels on the Kansas plains.

So many of them no longer operating and showing the ravages of time and weather.

When Wylie and I are out on the backroads, we occasionally (always) find a place to shop that has treasures from the past and present. There is a great shop in Lucas, Auntie Gurtie’s Art & Antiques (please check out her page of Facebook!) On a recent trip to Lucas, I finally got a windmill!!!

Unlike the time I asked Mr. Farmer to hang a galvanized bucket upside down in the chicken house for a chandelier, his reply “You want me to do what?”, he liked the idea of hanging a windmill wheel on the outside wall of the house. If you follow Pinterest you have probably seen these half wheels, they are very popular in decorating.

Mounting the half 6′ wheel required some thought on how to secure it so it wouldn’t rattle in the wind. Mr. Farmer designed some brackets to hold it securely.