Berryton Ranch greenhouse gutter with flue, September 30, 2011. Some of my fondest memories at the farm are reading, writing and drawing in the south side greenhouse at the Kansas cattle ranch. I converted the 10’ x 20’ limestone walled, concrete floored and curved glass ceiling sunroom into an art studio with saw horses and plywood tabletop. I surrounded myself with dense vegetation including African water lilies that bloomed once a summer. A continuous nurturing of creative pursuit — absorbing art and design books through Topeka’s interlibrary loan, plein-air landscape painting near the Wakarusa River and time to reflect while watering potted plants with handmade ceramic ware from college — blessed me with a lifelong love of artistic development I am grateful for.