Princess Throned, Decorations Honed

The Fairy Princess has returned to the Kansas City Museum. Begun in 1935 at Kline's Department Store, the Princess greets all children in her Throne Room on the north side of the Museum Complex. For days and times please go to this link: http://kansascitymuseum.org/fairy.html
She has a brand new Throne this year. Below, the gates are decorated and open...

Above, check in at the Visitor's Center first and then proceed to the Carriage House. Below, kids and parents waiting in line.



The Princess has lots of helpers. Squire Leitch and Mouzin, Lady-in-Waiting Rebecca, and many Elves help her with her duties.

First comes a picture and then, with a wave of her magic wand, a box opens and there is a gift for the visiting child.












There is a Princess Gift Shop which is womanned by Princess Emeritus Erika....


Above, each child gets a Princess cookie too. And, below, after visiting the Throne Room, kids can cross over to the crafts tables and make ornaments or other holiday decorations.






Above, pictures ready for pickup. Below, a few scenes of holiday decorating of Northeast Landmarks.






Above and below the Richardson Graham Memorial Bridge in holiday finery... courtesy of Michael Nicholas Stringer and JJ... who own the apartment building right next to it. Renovation is underway!!!

Prescription Only

I have come to believe that hammers and saws, not unlike sudafed, should be prescription only. You would have to have one from an architect and one from an historian.

Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour 2011 Part 2

Above, Erika and Randy Withers live in this 1887 Queen Anne home. Originally built for Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Curtis and their daughter Nellie, it went through many modifications before finally being restored in 2008. Below, the interior is much more open now than originally... but tastefully done...





Built in 1884 this Queen Anne was one of the first homes built in the suburb of Pendleton Heights. George H. Edwards, secretary of Edwards and Sloan Jewelry Company, was its first owner. Mr. Edwards was also Mayor of Kansas City from 1916 to 1917. Jamila Pree and Jeffrey Parker are the current owners and just exchanged marriage vows in their home in October.




Virginia Collura calls this 1907 Bungalow home. It was built for $3,250 and the living room is trimmed in mahogany with a large fireplace on the south wall. John and Virginia purchased the home in 1949 from Jerry and Rose Garafolo. It's a wonderfully warm and inviting residence..




As with the other set of photos all these images were taken with the Nikon D3, 14 to 24mm lens usually at F5.6 to F8 at 1000 to 6400 ASA.

Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour 2011 Part 1

The Fifth Annual Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour was held Saturday and despite blustery weather hundreds of visitors viewed 6 spectacular homes. Above and below Nick Triano has converted this two-family apartment built in 1924 to a single family, three bedroom, two and one half bath home. I love the openness and the stylish decorations.






Above and below fellow photog Nicole Cawlfield's home on Garfield is quintessential arts and crafts with lots of original features including the ceiling fixture in the dining room. The home is 106 years old and has some hot lights in her studio that I covet. :)

Above and below, Stephen Rowe and Jeana Poertner call this 1902 Victorian/Craftsman home. Its first resident was David M. Jay the president of Jay and Smith Hat Company. The home has all of its natural woodwork, pocket doors, decorative fretwork and an original wooden seat built into the main staircase.

All of these pix were taken with the Nikon D3 and 14-24mm lens. Most are multiple exposures merged into one using Photoshop and other software. I think the homeowners did a great job of decorating this year....... tomorrow, the other three homes on the tour.