The World of Crow

Saturday, April 23, 2016

The Elms Hotel and Spa

The Elms Hotel and Spa is a funky old place located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Built on a reputation of healing mineral springs in the 1920s, it flourished until the 1960s when critics discredited the medicinal powers of the natural waters. The next several decades were tough on The Elms Hotel, and the entire town. Our visits there in the 1980s saw a shabby Elms Hotel in the middle of a semi-ghost town.

Hearing that both had rebounded, we tried again. While it is still funky, The Elms Hotel and Spa is in excellent condition and offers a wonderful resort-like escape.

Excelsior Springs is recovering as well. There are fun and tasty restaurants, tons of odd-ball shops and two live theaters. The once magnificent Mayan Revival art deco Hall of Waters is being restored too. It is a piece of art in itself. It features the World's Longest Water Bar (no kidding) and also provides a historic walk-through of the glory days of Excelsior Springs.

Relaxation and healing - a formula offered by The Elms Hotel and Excelsior Springs. And, one we gratefully welcome after these last couple of months.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Tag Sale

The home at 207 SW Broadmoor has served as the repository of Gardner and Janssen family possessions for more than 62 years. Covering 6 generations spread over 2 continents, some are heirlooms dating back to 1823. Some are mere curios. Changing circumstances sometimes requires difficult decisions. With irreversible finality, family history was distributed to hundreds of new homes during this weekend's tag sale.

207 Broadmoor still stands strong and proud, but poignantly void of the thousands of memories it so valiantly preserved.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Easter 2016

Potwin Easter

Aldersgate Easter

Saturday, March 26, 2016

George goes to PreSchool

George is 2 and a half years old. This past week, he gathered up his extra cool firetruck lunch bag that his Komah gave him and, for the first time, went to PreSchool.

It is a Japanese immersion school. They made Easter Eggs.

It was a big week for George. And, for his parents, too.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Hello Little Black Honda

Yesterday, the Lawrence Police Department found Libby abandoned near the corner of 6th and Indiana Streets in Lawrence. When I arrived at the impound lot, this is what I saw:

I'm not sure where she's been for the last couple of weeks but, due to the sunscreen she's wearing, Samantha suspects that she's been vacationing somewhere warm and sunny.

Welcome home, Libby.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Ruth Crow dies - February 14, 2016

After a 9 year battle with Alzheimer's Disease, Ruth Crow died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Valentine's Day 2016. Here is a photo of her from 1963.

I love you, Mother.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Goodbye Little Black Honda

In 2007 we bought a 1999 Honda Civic 5-speed.

It was used by several foreign exchange students, friends and family. Due to its front-wheel drive, I often drove it in the ice and snow. Besides, driving the standard transmission was kinda fun. Over the years, it was driven by Philipp, Jorge, Harald, Jake, Monica, Jonas, Ryan (who named her Libby), Mark and Steve. Libby was great. She delivered more than one Christmas tree

and because her back seat folded flat, she was great for hauling stuff around. Anyway, last Tuesday night she disappeared from our driveway. Yep, when I returned home from the KU basketball game, she was gone.

I like to think that Libby is now being used to drive around the sick and elderly. Or to deliver food to shut-ins. Or maybe just having a vacation somewhere exotic. Well, it could be true.

Thanks, Libby. Goodbye.