Visiting the Land of Oz

About the middle of February Jules and I went a road tripping down to Kansas to see Grandma and Grandpa.

She got to snuggle up with her Best and Greatest, Great Grandpa..


.. and had fun showing Great Grandma her cool doodle magic tree!


Eventually we meandered outside to wander the farm. Jules had a little bucket with her and we decided to go on a nature hunt. She found some fantastic pine cones and sticks. Mighty fantastic those sticks were folks!


She also stumbled upon pine needles attached to a small branch.. and soon discovered that 'tickle, tickle, tickle' with pine needles is not so.. tickly...


This is my favorite shot of the trip though. This old barn used to house livestock when Ben and I were growing up. The many days and adventures we had playing in, around and throughout this barn and the corresponding enclosures that are no longer standing. When I think of childhood and happiness.. this is where I come. For the most part, the ugly couldn't find it's way into these memories.

Maybe that's why, after all these years, no matter how long it's been since my last visit or what changes have happened in my life.. this is home to me. The land and the structures sitting on it.. the physical space that I can touch. Each time I journey back.. silly as it sounds.. I can hear it and feel it deep inside.. like the gong of a giant bell.. singing HOME.