This post has just a few random pictures from our visit to Kansas. Unfortunately, it did not occur to me to ask any of my friends or family if I could use the pictures I took with them on my blog, so I won't be posting all the pictures of me hugging various people I adore. Or perhaps that's a good thing; they're probably special to me and not that interesting for the rest of you. (The pictures, not the people. Everyone would love the people).
Here's me on Johnny Kaw's foot. He is a Kansas legend, and he lives in the park right down the street from where I grew up!
Stories about him "related how Johnny Kaw created the kansas landscape, geography and pioneer trails. Kawa was said to have dug the Kansas River Valley, planted wheat, invented sunflowers, and grown giant potatoes. Kaw even controlled the weather, lopping the funnels off tornadoes and wringing out the clouds to end droughts. He pets were the mascots for the two state universities: a wildcat and a jayhawk, who enjoyed a good fight. The Dust Bowl was said to be a result of their fights" (https://en.wikipediea.org/wiki/Jonny_Kaw).
Dad made J and me an awesome lunch made almost exclusively from things from his garden. The exception were some sausages, which were from his girlfriend Lucinda's farm, about an hour away. Yay for eating local (and with Dad)!
These last pictures are from our second-to-last day in the States, which also happened to be my birthday. We went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, which is one of my favourite annual traditions. We've gone almost every year for most of my life, and I always look forward to it. I was especially eager this time because we got to go with Maria, and got to meet her boyfriend Josh, who I'd only met over Skype.
This is Maid Marian schooling Robin Hood on fencing. She knocks both him and Little John into the pond, which I always enjoy.
Mom, John (my brother) and his girlfriend Alyssa came up to the Festival as well. I didn't know John and Alyssa were coming, so it was a fabulous surprise! It was so amazing to see them all! Here they are watching a magic show.
I got to be in the magic show! The magician is making salt disappear and reappear in my hand and his hand. It is actually very impressive.
Maria got to be in the show as well, and I accidentally caught the exact moment when she realized that the wizard had magically detached the long rope they were using while she was faithfully trying to cut it like he'd asked her to. Wizards are so sneaky!
We also caught a few minutes of the joust, which was fairly exciting for stage combat. I know that they practice how to do it without hurting each other, but they still hit really hard, and I don't think I'd like to be getting hit with those staffs! Anyway, in all my years of going, I'd never seen the joust, so it was fun to see.
This brings to a close the first installment of American Adventures on this blog. Stay tuned for Kiwi Adventures in the next week or so.
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