Kennedy Turns 12 - Tour of the Baker 12-18-2021

 December 18th Kennedy turned 12! We started the day with breakfast at Happy Days. Remi came in the night before and she will be here through Christmas.

After breakfast we took a tour of the Baker Hotel. I've not toured the Baker in many years!

We begin on the ground floor of the hotel. This area was the Pharmacy when the Baker was open.

Because this is an active construction site we each have to wear a hard hat during the tour. Our tour guide is the daughter of one of the investors. She is on Doyle's right. Her name is also Remi and her birthday was the day before Kennedy's. We also had Vanessa's best friend Stevi, her son Legend and BF Eric with us. They are wearing the gray shirts and her son is next to her.

These are chandeliers that hung in the Baker. During renovations they discovered the lights still work and will be hung again. Aren't they beautiful!

These are outdoor light fixtures before and after clean up.

This area was the kitchen

And we begin our assent. These beautiful stairs take us to the Mezzanine.

 The doors to the right of the photo are the ones the general public will walk through into the hotel. With just a little imagination you can see how grand this room was at one time and will be again!

Our guide, Remi is explaining about the square sculpture pieces that once cleaned will go back on these pillars.

 

Remi is taller than when we saw her last but Kennedy is still taller!

Isn't this cool?! They call this the "groomsmen's" room.

See that upside down dome in the ceiling. When you stand right in the center underneath it the sound is so weird! You only hear it when you're standing in that spot! 

Overlooking the Mezzanine. is Kashton, Remi and Kennedy.

Kashton in the Groomsmen balcony.

The suspended swimming pool. It will be restored as well.  

Climbing more stairs!

On the floor that has had renovation.

The hotel was built in 1929. The hotel rooms were very small. It will have half as many rooms as they are taking two to make one but they are leave a few rooms the original size so that the hotel is not just for the elite.

This is one of the renovated rooms.

There is still a lot of work to be done.

View from the Baker overlooking downtown. You can see the "Crazy" sign over the highway. I am looking toward the West.

Remi, Korin and Vanessa looking out one of the windows in what used to be the gymnasium. They are going to make it a room for a venue such as weddings.

Inside Mr. Baker's suite.

The hotel was built during Prohibition. Doyle is standing in a closet that has a hidden door for alcohol.

 We are in what is known as the "cloud" room. This room will one day be exquisite!

Our guide took this picture. Not sure why she thought she had to be so far away!

When I had toured the Baker years ago we didn't go to this floor. 

Going to the tower!

Inside the tower, the highest point of the Baker!

Looking down the spiral stairs.

One last picture with our tour guide Remi. Her boyfriend took this one. It was a great tour. I really enjoyed it! I am so excited to see what it looks like when they are finished. Projected opening is 2024.

If you are interested in following the progress you can do that here.

After the tour, Vanessa took Kennedy and Remi for manicures and then to shop at a mall in Fort Worth.

Have a good one!

Ride with Vanessa 12-04-2021

 I received an very unexpected text from Vanessa on Thursday December 2nd. She asked if we could plan a day to go ride. I don't remember when Vanessa rode a horse last! I told her "SURE!" We made plans to ride on Saturday December 4th. 

I must say I was delighted!

She's got her coffee and ready to ride!

I don't think I would try to ride and drink coffee!

I still have a hard time knowing where to look when taking a selfie!

We had a great time!

Have a good one!

Merry Wells 11-27-2024

The kids had a booth at Merry Wells for the business. We made ourselves available in case they needed help. Kennedy's dance company performed a dance too.

Kennedy's performance was in the ballroom of the Crazy Water Plaza on the 7th floor. There were 2
elevators but that wasn't enough for the amount of people there so Korin and I climbed the seven flights of stairs both directions!

There were so many people I was a bit nervous about the floor holding! There wasn't enough seating or space. Mom was going to come but I discouraged her from doing so. There was instruction given to leave the performance once you watched the performance you came for.

Jesse's Drive-In Booth. Vanessa sold souvenir cups with the business logo filled with tea as well as t-shirts.

There was live entertainment. This is my guitar teacher Adam Hull.

Pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

One of the new shops that has opened.

There were people everywhere!

The festival was supposed to be outside but the weather had a different plan so it was brought inside. Good thing because it rained all day.

The parade was delayed one day.

Have a good one!

Thanksgiving 11-25-2021

 We had Thanksgiving at the kids house. They closed the business Thursday and Friday. It was a small gathering just me, Doyle, Mom and the kids.

It's been awhile since we got a generational picture.

Kashton has very sensitive eyes so we had him trade places with Korin so he would open his eyes.

Korin wanted to take me for a ride in the golf.

A beautiful sunset to end the day.

Have a good one.

Round 2 at Smith B & B

 We arrive back at Sandy's Thursday late afternoon November 18th. We left Friday around noon. We take some more pictures before we leave.

The sisters.

We get to Wichita in time for the girls to play at the zipline park. With it being late in the day, school was out and there were several kids at the park. It was a bit chilly too!

You can see that Korin is barefooted! I can't keep shoes on this kid!

We had a wonderful evening at Uncle Bob's and Aunt Cindy's!

We headed home for Texas Saturday morning around 10. We got home around 5pm.

It was wonderful to see family and am so grateful for the hospitality!

Have a good one!