Frivolous Friday! Kansas City, Here I Come! Vacation Photographer
It’s Frivolous Friday!
Thought I would share some of the fun I squeezed in this week (in between all my portrait sessions and retouching work.)
Yep, this happened:
I snuck away for a little vacation last week…I flew to Kansas City to visit an old friend.
Here’s the backstory:
My pal Alice and I met in high school and she was my Maid of Honor at my wedding!
Fast forward a few years, she moved and we lost touch except for Christmas cards.
But then a few years ago through the magic of facebook, we reconnected again and have kept more in touch.
This summer we decided it was time for a meet up – so I traded in a few Southwest Airline miles, grabbed my PURPLE suitcase and I was off!
WE. HAD. SO. MUCH. FUN!
Yep, this happened #2:
We had an enjoyable visit to the National World War I Museum. (Yep it is in Kansas City!)
The people of KC started the WWI museum right after the war ended and then later the US government took it over and expanded it –
it’s a great tribute to Americans who served and a wonderful learning tool for the rest of us so we can better understand it.
Red Poppies have been used as a worldwide symbol for WWI for over a hundred years and
the museum honors this with a sea of red poppies under a glass walkway – I’m standing over a beautiful field of 9 thousand poppies!
Each of the 9,000 poppy flowers represent 1,000 World War I combatants who lost their life during their service, honoring the 9 million total US soldiers killed (38 million were killed world wide!)
The museum was wonderful – with lots of films, exhibits and recreations to help better understand the story.
One of the highlights of the museum is the The Liberty Memorial Tower which rises 268 feet above the North Lawn.
We visited the open-air observation deck for a breathtaking view of the Kansas City skyline.
We had lunch in their cafe. I thought it was clever that a section of their menu is dedicated to WWI meals – but I had to pass on Trench Stew – ick. 😉
We did a bunch of other fun things, like visit their world famous Plaza,
and checked out some of the 200 fountains in the city (Their nickname is the City of Fountains!)
I met a Kansas City T-Rex up close and personal…
We enjoyed a trolley tour and some of their urban art.
Probably my favorite adventure was our visit to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
First we enjoyed their outdoor displays…. they have quite a bit of outdoor art along with four 18 feet tall shuttlecocks each weighing 5,500 pounds tossed along the front and back lawn!
Fun fact: the ONLY (and I do mean ONLY) PE Class I enjoyed in High School was badminton.
#truth
(if “Hiking” had been a class I’m sure I would have liked that but it wasn’t!)
Take a second to admire my skill with a birdie….ha!
And I’d read about the museum’s “Walking Wall” so I was excited to bump into it!
HERE is the story of the Walking Wall if you are interested….
And I offer to you, “Reflections of Friendship” a work by a little known artist, Pam Davis….
But that’s not all folks! We also explored the inside of the museum! (Whaaat?)
And we discovered lots of amazing things…from mummies to Picassos and knights to Van Goghs.
…this is one of Degas’ Little Dancers in Bronze,
but look closer: in the background is Monet’s Water lilies!
Seriously PINCH me it was so amazing.
And in the “Quirky” category at the Nelson Museum was John the Baptist’s FINGER.
(Not kidding you – that glass vial undeniably holds a human finger bone!)
That finger bone is said to be that of John the Baptist, baptiser, disciple, and first cousin of Jesus of Nazareth.
Bet you didn’t think you’d be seeing that when you woke up today did you???
I like to keep you a little surprised… 😉
And while we are talking about John the Baptist,
Here’s another work we enjoyed: “Saint John The Baptist in the Wilderness” by Caravaggio.
This masterpiece is considered to be one of the museum’s greatest treasures.
Oh and we ate a lot of yummy food during our vacation too.
Did you know that Kansas City is famous for their BBQ? We enjoyed that twice, and I also had the best fried chicken I’ve ever had
(super moist chicken with a light batter – not too crunchy and not too sparse…perfection!)
And I tasted my first Apple Cider Donut (delish!)
I also taught my friend how yummy Steel Cut Oats are
(that’s my normal breakfast every single day = fun fact you didn’t need to know)
I’m going to jump up on my soapbox and say that spending time with friends is one of the few pleasures in life that can cost you very little, but reward you substantially.
Did you know it is also proven to be one of the best ways to combat stress?
Spending time with your friends can help melt away the cares of the world and I believe will leave you a better person all around.
So I hope you take time to do what we did and carve out time for your friends!
And Alice, thank you for an amazing week and years of friendship (past, present and future!)
What can I say: I’m Feeling Blessed!
And do you know what else I’m blessed by? Capturing amazing moments for you to treasure for a lifetime!
As a photographer it is my great joy to capture Family and Senior Portraits, Engagement, Weddings and MORE that are as special and unique as you are –
sessions are an hour long with unlimited poses, unlimited outfits, unlimited fun!
Please VISIT MY WEBSITE for more information or
EMAIL ME with questions or to schedule
Please visit my website to see my photography portfolio, get more details or ask a question: www.savoringthesweetlife.com
I’m waiting to hear from you –
to capture a slice of YOUR sweet life!
I am a full time professional photographer based in San Diego, but will travel anywhere for weddings.
Serving San Diego, Poway, Scripps Ranch, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4-S Ranch, Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Outdoor Family, Child, High School Senior, Family Reunion, Newborn,
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