Best photos of 2009

As the calendar year draws to a close, I give you my third annual 12 best photos of the year:

Downtown Wichita sky, January

Rural Arkansas, January

Dallas golf course, April

Wichita backyard, July

Rural Kansas field, July

Wichita sky, July

Backyard in Wichita, August

Kansas City wedding, August

Hot Springs, Ark., September

Petit Jean State Park, Ark., September

At home in Wichita, September

Backyard in Wichita, October

Click to see my "best of" collections from 2008 and 2007.

Wedding weekend

Brian & I had a full weekend balancing work and play. On Friday night, we watched our friends' adorable little boy Zach (pictured at left) so they could enjoy an anniversary dinner out.

On Saturday, after a busy day in the newsroom, we attended our friends' wedding and reception. It was an elegant affair, with the ceremony at University Congregational Church and the reception at Olive Tree, recently named a finalist in the Kansas Sampler Foundation's Eight Wonders of Kansas Cuisine. A few photos from the evening:




(See additional photos in my Facebook album.)

On Sunday, I played my sixth round of golf at MacDonald Golf Course. It's the first course I've played twice, and my shining moments this time were my longest drive ever (175 to 200 feet) and my longest putt ever (20 to 25 feet). Yay! The bad part of it all? The cottonwood trees were dropping their fluffy seeds, making me sneeze and leaving me hoping I just have an atypical case of allergies and not a cold as Brian & I get ready for a trip to the Ozarks for a family vacation.

Lucky No. 13

I played my fifth round of golf on Sunday at Wichita's Sim Golf Course. It's my new favorite place because I reached a major newbie-golfer milestone: I hit par for my first time! It was on lucky hole 13, a par 3.

Brian was there to celebrate, as were our friends Tony, Nicole & Rob, whose 33rd birthday we were really supposed to be celebrating.

Brian on the tee box:



Me still trying to figure it all out:


When I sunk my putt for par, I screamed and jumped up and down. Yes. Very nonchalant. I think I drew the attention of this little guy. Makes sense. I heard that he likes nuts.


(View more photos in my newest Facebook album.)

Four & fore

Brian's brother Eric was in town for Mother's Day weekend, so the three of us joined our friend Tony for my fourth round of golf, this time at the city of Wichita's Tex Consolver course. Brian & I played best ball (again), and my game featured a couple nice drives and a putt for par. At this point, I'm still simply taking what I can get!



A few pretty sights from the course:




(Find more photos in my Facebook photo album.)

Deep in the heart of Texas

Brian & I took our fourth annual trip to Dallas during the weekend. It's developed into a tradition that we mark on our own or with friends. This year, we ventured south with Tony & Nicole. Golf, shopping and dining out were high on the list.

The boys usually golf on their own, but I played my third round of golf with them at gorgeous and historic Stevens Park. I had a great chip onto the green and a nice putt but otherwise continue to learn the great sport. (You can see more photos in an album I've created on Facebook.)




The golfers -- Tony, Brian & me -- at a historic marker on the course.


I enjoyed the views on the pretty course:



Downtown Dallas in the distance.


Tony snapped this picture of the pretty church adjacent to the golf course.

Nicole was the official photographer of the golf outing and took many of these pictures. In the next couple of days, she & I shopped at The Container Store, Sephora, Sam Moon and Ikea (my first trip to the Swedish superstore -- very fun). We also had pedicures at the Saks Spa. Ahhh ...

Meanwhile, the guys played two and a half more rounds of golf. Brian snapped these portraits of a fine feathered family that made themselves at home during one of the games. Adorable!


In the evenings, the four of us dressed to kill and headed out to Luna de Nocha and Newport's. Delicious. It was a three-day weekend that felt more like a weeklong vacation. Cheers to that!

Fore!

I shot my first 18 holes of golf on Saturday at Echo Hills and absolutely loved it. Don't get me wrong: I'm no Juli Inkster. (She's my favorite professional woman golfer. I saw her in action at the 2002 U.S. Women's Open at Hutchinson's Prairie Dunes.) Fortunately, Brian & I played best ball, which helped keep my confidence and my spirits up. But I did clear all water hazards, had several decent drives (all things considered) and never lost a ball. Not too shabby.







Tony & Nicole joined us. (Nicole was the official event photographer and snapped these great photos.)