Birthday to the Land of Oz

The card for her birthday had invited her to a special showing of "The Wizard of Oz," along with a trip to the Museum in Wamego, where she would enjoy the opportunity to choose her own birthday gifts. 

And so, the adventure began a few weeks later for the oldest of the youngest generation, on Friday evening at dinner with family, then back to the grandparent's house for a night of coloring, video games, hot chocolate, and lounging about.

Cinnamon Rolls kicked off the following morning, quickly finding our way to the car for the trip to Wamego.  The journey proved only a little long, softened by a pause for hot chocolate in Topeka and a little wandering about downtown.

She seemed to enjoy darting about the small Oz Museum, pausing to peek in on the movie, the daring about a little more.   Undoubtedly, she proved more than excited about choosing her own birthday gift there from the gift shop, walking away with a pair of her very own ruby slippers, a stuffed Toto, a lollipop nearly the size of her head.

Lingering a bit longer, we followed the Yellow Brick Road over to Wamego City Park.  She met a few new acquaintances there, though it was much too cold and muddy to stand being out too long.  The yellow bricks led us back to where we started and a delicious lunch at Toto's Tacos, where she gobbled down all of her taco, nachos and an entire Jarritos Fruit Punch.

The journey home took on a quieter tone, where the munchkin savored napping throughout the entire trip.  She woke in plenty of time to issue a decision on a side-trip to the local swimming hole, where she overcame her fear and took on the giant waterslide.  

Celebrating the achievement and the day with Pizza, we headed back to our house to end things with a repeat of activities from the night before, to include a round of dominoes this time.

The next day took on a slower tone, taking time to cook a good breakfast that included snowflake-shaped waffles, filling out coloring pages, gathering things for the return home, and patiently waiting for the arrival of cousins.  A special one-time viewing of "The Wizard of Oz" on the big screen of the local theater was planned for all involved, which they all enjoyed immensely.

Some time at local park allowed them all to get rid of the wiggles that had crept up on the oldest two of the three, during the movie.  After that, we dropped off the two youngest and began the journey to the other side of the northland, and home for the oldest. 

She chose to hold on a little longer and remained with us for dinner at a local spot.  Chattering about all of the events of the special birthday weekend, she concluded quickly and decisively, when asked about her favorite part, "Getting to spend time with you!"

Out of the mouths of babes!  Who would have thought that would have been the singular choice after all that transpired over the weekend.

All Trails enables Copyright Infringement

Only just now made aware of the use of the above photograph on a click-bait site, I was a bit annoyed.  It was not so much that the photo was used, but done so wholly without permission. When folks ask, I usually give the go-ahead, with a few conditions.  One of the conditions was met here, but the other was not.  I was credited, but permission was neither asked for or received. 

Some might argue "Fair Use."  However, I am not so sure that extends to wholesale scraping of photographs from another web source, leveraging as if it is their personal outlet for stock photography.  That is exactly what their writer did.  Every single photograph in this article was scraped from All Trails.

This brings up another point for consideration.  All Trails really needs to begin making serious efforts to protect content uploaded by its users; photographs, GPS tracks, reviews, etc; especially in this age of AI.  In the case of photographs, it is a relatively simple code task to prohibit users from downloading photos.

They should have been doing this all along.  This type of scraping has been happening since the formation of the internet.  The difference is that people, more specifically writers, have grown to feel that they are entitled to do whatever they please and use whatever they please.

This is the third time now that a photograph of mine was taken and used without authorization, in violation of copyright.  I understand the risk and made adjustments after the first instance.  

Why did All Trails not make an adjustment?

Snowy Hike with the Parkville Girls

Weather finally broke out of the deep freeze, lurching upwards to one full degree Celsius, enabling an afternoon out on the trail.  The girls in Parkville jumped at the opportunity, telling their mother in no uncertain terms that they were ready, willing, able, and would not be denied.  They had been couped up long enough and were anxious to get out and about for a snowy survey of the Old Kate Trail at Parkville Nature Sanctuary.  An hour later, they were more anxious for hot chocolate and home, but enjoyed the brief journey none-the-less.

Glass Crystallization

A look out the window at the crystallization process and recrystallization underway on the window over a period of days in subzero temperatures with very little melting.

Chicken Fried Chicken Goodness

There is just something about Chicken Fried Chicken.  It is a special treat, and when served with a bit mashed potatoes and gravy, the perfect comfort food.  In this case, it is the perfect celebratory food.  The urge to make it once again struck me this afternoon.  Dragging out the electric skillet and a few random modifications later, related to a recipe from The Food Network later, we were soon enjoying this tasty treat.