WINFIELD — Last week, 9-year-old Scarlet Jones and her granny Peg Nelson chose to broaden their crafting experiences into the Winfield neighborhood by producing the Wanda Lou rock snake.
According to Peg, they understood to begin a rock snake when they saw another regional neighborhood begin one.
“It’s a fun activity to get the community involved and something for the kids to do,” Peg said.
They started by putting a head rock, painted green with yellow stripes by Scarlet, and the very first body rock, which Peg painted teal with pink polka-dots, at the corner of the Hy-Vee Pharmacy situated on North Locust Street.
After putting the preliminary rocks, Peg published to the Winfield Community Facebook group and asked others to add to the snake.
Since then, Wanda Lou has actually continued to grow.
When Susan Beard saw the task, she went directly to work to ensure the neighborhood learnt about it by producing a Facebook group particularly to share photos of the growing snake and got the word out.
Adults and kids alike have actually contributed to the rock snake.
“My friend, Peg Nelson, posted pictures of the start of the rock snake on Facebook,” Corriene Culver said. “I thought it was a wonderful community project. Our two 9-year-old granddaughters happened to be staying with me. Both are very creative and love doing painting projects when they visit. When I told them about it, they were anxious to participate! One did a robot; the other did a dragon.”
“I will be adding one myself and hope old and young alike join in the fun!” Corriene included.
“I love simple things that engage all ages,” Community member Pat Fricke said.
Pat painted a rock blue with yellow zig-zags and pink areas to contribute to Wanda Lou, then left a bag of paint products to help others take part in the task. “
“I have been sorting things to move and downsize,” Pat said. “The paint was in my car to donate to the school art department but this opportunity came up and I decided this was every bit as good.”
Katie Brown’s kids Evelynn, 9, Carter, 6, and Ellie, 2 all included rocks to the task.
“The kids used paint and paint markers to decorate their rocks,” Katie said. “My son used colors resembling his favorite game, Minecraft. My older daughter made a turtle on hers for her favorite animal.”
Scarlet’s regional Clover Kid’s Club likewise participated the enjoyable.
“Our Clover Club Lil’ Green Comets were excited to help add to rocks to Wanda for two reasons, one painting rocks is FUN and two our club member Scarlett Jones and her Grandma Peg are the creators of Wanda,” Clover Club leader Lisa Rees said.
After Scarlet explained the task to her club, Lisa said that they included 15 rocks to the end of Wanda Lou.
“We didn’t paint anything too crazy!” Lisa said. “Some are just solid colors and some have different patterns on them. The kids really enjoyed mixing different colors togethers!”
As she started to get the word out, Susan believed it was suitable to ask Peg and Scarlet to call their task.
They chose to call the snake Wanda Lou and set an objective of reaching 100 rocks by Crooked Creek Days to commemorate Wanda Linder’s recent 100th birthday.
“I’ve known her since I’ve came to town 45 years ago,” Peg said. “She grew up in this town. I mean, she’s lived here all her life, 100 years. And she was such a fantastic cook. She cooked at the school, so everybody knows her and everybody loved her at school.”
According to Scarlet’s mom, Renee Jones, who works where Wanda lives, Wanda enjoys the concept of the task and feels honored to have it called after her.
“I have known Wanda for over 50 years,” Pat Fricke, another factor to the task said. “She recently turned 100. Wanda is our area’s favorite school cook!”
As of Saturday afternoon, the snake rock has 35 rocks twisting around the side of the drug store thanks to the ongoing contributions of different members of the neighborhood.
“I’m so glad it is taking off so well,” Susand Beard said. “I feel like we need some fun things to do that don’t cost alot of money and time plus the whole community can be involved.”
While Peg and Scarlet like to believe they’ll reach their 100-rock objective, they said they will watch on the task and potentially include more rocks if they require to. Scarlet already encouraged her older sis to include a rock.
The remainder of the neighborhood feels great that Wanda Lou will make it to their objective.
“We think Wanda the Snake will make it to 100 for sure by Crooked Creek Days!” Lisa Rees said. “When our community is faced with a challenged we will work together to complete it!”
“I think it will definitely reach 100 rocks by Crooked Creek Days,” Katie Brown said. “It might even get more than 100!”
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