Ark Valley News - The View from Sunflower Gardens

The View from Sunflower Gardens
By Marilyn Bentley
Last Updated: May 21, 2015

School is out and kids will be busy

It's time to plant corn and oats in Kansas.

We have many wind generators in Kansas. Westar is doing well on goals for power and their economy. The Sierra Club is glad that Kansans are using these wind towers for energy production. Also some industries and homes use solar panels for power. There are many wind towers in use in Greensburg. It's good for clean air. Now that's going green.

Graduation activities and Mother's Day celebrations are over. Now weddings will keep Kansans busy.

School is out and local school kids will be out on their bikes or on the baseball and softball fields. So local libraries will be busy, too.

"I like the West because it does things: Wrangles cattle, bakes pies, plows fields, cuts trees, tears gold and silver out of mountains, and it builds things — roads, towns and dreams." Dan Valentine.

"What is a veteran? He's a sailor, Marine, soldier, a flyer, a Seabee, Coast Guard, artillery, infantry, medic, chemical corps, armored and ordnance. He is a veteran." Dan Valentine.

Some places in Kansas flew the U.S. flag at half-staff on May 8. This was to remember V-E Day — Victory in Europe after a long war of four years in the field for the U.S.A. soldiers, sailors, flyers and armament builders.

We are glad that in 1945 that war ended and the Marshall Plan to feed our former enemies in reconstruction started. The rebuilding took time and money and gave employment to Europeans. Now it's a scenic tourist area.

Meanwhile in Kansas, the plane builders, farmers, ranchers are busy. Our farmers markets are active. Some summer sports activities and books for fun are going strong.

We still like our coffee chats, game nights, Bible study, hallway walks, potluck dinners and a good library with many readers here. We like the many music concerts here.

Some of us are taking trips to see family or to Branson and out-of-sate summer journeys. Then it's no place like home.

We enjoy some patio chats as weather warms up.

Remember to pray for our troops and their families.

"We do not suffer fools gladly here." We are a friendly bunch of seniors at Sunflower Gardens.

"How often at night, when the heavens are bright by the light of the glittering stars, have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed, if their beauty exceeds that of ours." Verse five of "Home on the Range."

"Be kind, anyway." Mother Teresa.