Pioneer Bluffs first 2009 Saturday workday

I'd like to share this note I received; a great volunteer opportunity in the heart of the Flint Hills:

"This Saturday, January 3, is the First Saturday. And the weather is
predicted to be warm! Please consider joining us at Pioneer Bluffs
for:

"8:30 am - Coffee and treats in the house. We will be brainstorming
ideas for future Prairie Talks and planning the 2009 calendar of
events. (If you have ideas for programs you'd like to see offered at
Pioneer Bluffs but won't be available Saturday, please call or email
me!)

"9:00 am - Volunteer workday! Among the chores we need help with are:
moving a loom from the barn to an upstairs room in the house, removing
Christmas lights from the cabin, and un-decorating inside the house.
We'll end with lunch.

"You might want to bring work gloves and a beverage cup.

"I look forward to seeing you Saturday! Lynn

Lynn Smith
Executive Director
Pioneer Bluffs Foundation
620.753.3484 office
785.393.1569 cell
www.pioneerbluffs.org"


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Friends of the Flint Hills Fund - Year End Thought

While we all are feeling a little tight in the purse, right now, I urge each of you to consider a Year-End contribution to the Friends of the Flint Hills Fund. Your tax-deductible contribution will help send a bus load of school kids to visit the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve educational program next summer. $25 would be appreciated, if not $50 or $100. Please do it, today.

The Friends of the Flint Hills Fund is now officially affiliated with the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation. Click on Affiliates, left navigation bar; click on Friends of the Flint Hills; and click on to donate to the Fund. I used option 3, to download a printable pdf donation form, added my check for $100, and sent it off to Wamego by mail (this saves $5 for use of a credit card). However, if making an online contribution using a credit card works better for you, please do so! Thank you!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

The Pioneer Bluffs Foundation

The Pioneer Bluffs Foundatioin web site is worth a regular visit. On Saturday, 7 February 2009, the Winter Prairie Talks series continues at 2 p.m. with speaker Ustaine Talley [I know Ustaine and I recommend any of her presentations!]. She will share the story of: Settlers in the Flint Hills: the African-American Experience.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Your Next Cash Crop?

Jan Jantzen and the RC& D Agritourism group are again in 2009 offering their business development course focused on authentic rural experiences and the related dining, lodging, shopping and entertainment business opportunities in the Kansas Flint Hills.

To learn more about these training and opportunities upcoming, mark your calendar to attend one of the two identical information meetings, early in January. The first will be in Junction City on January 7, 2009, at Cloud County Community College's Geary County Campus, 631 Caroline, from 6:15 pm until 8:30 pm. The second meeting, a repeat of the first, will be in Wamego, on January 8, 2009, at the Columbian Theatre, 521 Lincoln Avenue, from 1:15 pm until 3:30 pm.

For more information, call Jan or Bruce at: 620-340-0113, ext. 9.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Alma Chamber Christmas

Saturday, December 13, from 4 to 8 pm, celebrate the Alma Chamber Christmas in Alma, KS. Music, Santa, Soup Supper, Sleigh Rides, Christmas Drawing and more. Check out the schedule of activities. Also, see CJ Online article.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Traveling Exhibit update

Clay Center is the current host to the Traveling Exhibit of Jim Richardson's photos from the National Geographic's April 2007 issue examining the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. The exhibit will be at Orr's Furniture City through January 9, 2009.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Alexander ArtWorks - Council Grove

Alexander ArtWorks is a great addition to the many great places to visit and shop in Council Grove. They were featured in a neat front page story in the Emporia Gazette last week.

Phone ahead (620.767.6698) for hours, as they can only be open a few days a week, at present. Hours in the paper were: 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2-4 on Sunday. Please support this new local business. We need one of these in each of our small towns!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

The Heritage House at Canning Creek Ranch

The Emporia Gazette had a nice front page story on this Council Grove Bed & Breakfast that evokes the Victorian era: The Heritage House. Check it out! I love their website photos and info!


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Alta Vista Christmas Celebration

Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. brings Christmas Celebration to Alta Vista.

Christmas parade down Main Street! Lighting of the Christmas Tree near Alta Vista Post Office. Songs by the tree and soup supper at the American Legion Soup Supper.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Bells, Boots, and Buggies - Peabody

December 6, 2008, brings Bells, Boots, and Buggies to Peabody Main Street.

This celebration will take you back to the wild west with Peabody's 1880's atmosphere. The event includes kids crafts and games, craft and cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, a parade, Santa and more.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

An Old-Fashioned Cowtown Christmas

From December 5 at 6 p.m. to December 6 at 9 p.m. a "Currier and Ives" type holiday celebration comes alive in Old-Cowtown in Wichita.

The entire 25-acre site is trimmed with greenery as the Museum welcomes guests into their 1870's homes. Visit the individual buildings and interpretive sites to learn Christmas traditions of 100 years ago.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

El Dorado Christmas Lights, special events

December 5 is the occasion of "Christmas Lights...Camera...Action" by the El Dorado Main Street organization this year.

There will be great shopping with specials galore, a BIG parade, Santa Frantastica and the Mayor "lights up the town" - Fun for all!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

What do you do in the tallgrass prairie?

The question above is the title of the 26 Nov 2008 blog post by Dennis Toll at Flint Hills, Tall Grass. In my view, it is his best post yet. Please read the whole post, including the comments. We are so fortunate to have someone able to write so well, with such passion, about one of our favorite subjects.


This photo is another neat one from the post. Thanks to Dennis for another of his views of the tallgrass prairie.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)