January 9, 2006

Flint Hills

These are pictures I took out my car windows while driving through the Flint Hills (take it from me, don't try this yourself, or only do it once if you have to, like I did). This is a region of gradually rolling hills in Kansas that has very little top soil on top of flint (or "rock chalk"), and fire is a critical part of the prairie ecosystem, so trees have a very difficult time surviving. The result is awe-inspiring, and this is one of the most beautiful places on earth, even when all the grass is dormant for the winter. My favorite pictures from the trip are below.














January 7, 2006

Midnight Sun

Here's my latest airbrush painting. I tore large sheets of paper to outline the top of the hills/mountains, but everything else was done free hand. I wanted to switch the sky and land colors for this sunset and landscape, and I think it has an interesting effect.

Things I should have posted a while ago

These are pictures that have been taken with our camera over the last couple of months. The most recent images are toward the top of the page and get older as you scroll down.

One of the many ledges at the new Wichita skate park.

This is the greatest family in the world, the Donaldsons, learning how to play Settlers. They ate it up hook, line, and sinker.


Katie's snow gnome in Batavia.


Here's one of the "killer" icicles hanging next to the steps to our door. The weather in Urbana has been pretty brutal since November.


Katie destroyed me in this Monopoly game. I had only one dollar left by this point.


Samwise loves to be scratched on his rump.

Katie took this picture of me while lying on the couch.

I know this one is really blurry, but come on, Reed's a prairie dog when in his native couch habitat.


Dad liked our camera so much that he went and got his own. Wise choice.

Samwise is putty in your hands when laying next to him.


Thanksgiving was scrumtrulescent.

Our apartment can get pretty chilly from time to time. This was one of those times.

Amia in her element.

I'm exhibitting my at the time new haircut.

I really like this one.

I was particularly proud of this turkey burger.