These are the words master penman Bill Kemp said to me as he observed me practice writing. We were at IAMPETH, in Omaha, NE. It was the evening study hours where masters and students met and worked sided by side, practicing and exploring, and enjoying each other’s company. “Who’s Evelyn Wood?” I asked.

This summer penman and calligraphy enthusiasts met in Omaha, Nebraska for a week of conferences with IAMPETH -International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting. From August 2-8 each day started at 8:30 am with day long classes. We had breaks at 10am, a long lunch break, another break at 3pm, with the … More When Pen and Art Meet: IAMPETH

Howdy all. It’s been well nigh a month since you last heard from me. By air, or road tripping, adventures have etched themselves into my travel journal and I can’t wait to show them to you. Also, I have a few things to share at the end! Last month I flew off to Vancouver Washington … More Washington, KC, Ad Astra and Beyond!

Getting ready for a baby doesn’t always conjure up images of the birds and the bees these days, but let’s face it, that’s where baby’s come from, right? My younger sister and her husband are expecting their first baby. That baby will be our first nephew to us siblings, will make my parents into grandparents, … More The Birds and the Bees

Steel girders thrust out of the ground more and more each day as BHS and Hutton construct the New Immaculata in St. Marys, Kansas. These girders are building a magnificent Romanesque church which has now taken form in the Kansan Flint Hills, right off Highway 24. The building is happening so quickly, every time I … More Steel Rises

This old midwest water tower and a historic gazebo are two things that are nearly as old as our town. This water tower can be seen along Highway 24 long before you enter St. Mary’s. When we used to come to town to visit our grandparents as little children 25 years ago, the sight of … More 2 Things on Campus

It’s summer here in the northern hemisphere, but a few months ago this scene was occurring in my aunt’s backyard in New York. It’s called Sheep TV because every morning the sheep line up along the fence near the house and look into the windows of the house. My aunt said the way they line … More Sheep TV and Tyrants

June in our family is filled with birthdays. And many of our neighbors’ gardens are filled with cheery poppies. While planning out my summer, I decided to illuminate my calendar with poppies. Today, I’ll show you the fruit of that, which in turn was the fruit of observing both some good friends’ poppies and my … More Poppies and Birthdays

Last weekend after a hike in the great outdoors, I met up with a friend at a local brewery in Manhattan. We ended up being the last two people under the umbrellas, chatting with the waiter while he locked up. The week before I had been at the brewery to test it out, and that’s … More A Minute at a Brewery

Driving through the midwest on a summer road trip, you might get a glimpse of a church rising above our small town. If you keep reading, I’ll tell you where I glimpsed this scene, and show you a few other shots of the picture.