Country Drive

Nothing is better to me than discovering a new country road to meander down, loads of fresh air with the windows down, and Blake Shelton singing.

 

Came across this little treasure the other day and saw a beautiful wedding being set up in this lovely setting.

Further down the road we chanced upon Aldredge Orchard. 10 years living in Kansas and never knew about them.  We were greeted by geese and chickens and could see the apple trees that were just loaded, ready for pickin'.

Dan-the-Man asked how this pumpkin would work for me, knowing what a fall fanatic I am :) Any place that has twinkle lights is a.o.k. in my book.  They sale fresh pumpkin butter, peach butter, apple butter, apples, cider and a few other treasures in this barn.

 

Rustic cute with a capital "C".

 They had a bakery too...oh my. Couldn't decided between apple pie ala mode, pumpkin cookies, peanut butter cookies, pumpkin pie, apple fritters, pumpkin squares with thick cream cheese frosting or a caramel apple!

Cute little custom bird feeder out in front of the bakery.

Drove home on a rural route and discovered this gem of a house that was so unbelievably amazing.  Trim work that just isn't made anymore these days. Straight out of Victoria magazine...had me day dreaming all the way home!

Salt Mines in Hutchison Kansas

We had a BEAUTIFUL drive down to Pratt, Kansas to visit family.  The drive through the Flint Hills was magnificent.  This is what "wide open spaces is ALL about".

 

 

We went to STRATACA Salt mine which is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. Of course, now I need to find out what the other seven are!

It was AMAZING inside. You have no idea what to prepare for...and it was about 1,000 times larger than what we were expecting to see.  We rode down 650 feet underground in a pitch black shaft anticipating what we would see when we arrived.  This picture was taken on the ceiling and I wish all the glittery sparkles would have shown up to show you just how magical it looked.

These are actually some old coal cars that the owner of the mine purchased to help haul the salt after being mined. Now remember, everything that came down 650 feet had to be dismantled, taken down the same shaft we came in, and then reassembled once down.

Of yes, the classic photos that will live in history within our family.  We went on not one, bit two train ride in the mine, yes....it's that big!

That is a cardboard cut out of mike Rowe from DIRTY JOBS.  He was toured around the mine in this beauty of a car that he dubbed the Marvinmobile, since Marvin was taking him on a tour for the show.  Now of course, I need to watch that episode, and already think Mike Rowe is a hoot.

My daughter Nadia and her man Jon.  EVERYONE had to wear helmets and carry respirators (just in case), but they made everyone at ease stating in all the years the mine has been open to the public, they haven't be used.

We were told "What comes down to the mine, stays in the mine"....so many cool artifacts over time to see.  I felt like I was at Disneyland.

After our tour that was a blast, Jon and Nadia took us out to dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant called Jillian's in Hutchison which I would highly recommend to anyone!  The fresh rosemary bread hot out of the oven with evoo & spices....HEAVEN! (do you hear me sing when I say that?)

The two happy campers. Always game for a road trip, and even better when you get to have a new experience, and of course, the best thing of all FAMILY!



Here are two of the cutest kids on planet earth!   We had such a good time going to Voigts to get our pumpkins this year.  It was a nice brisk fall day.

 
 

Our drive out west on Hwy. 56 to Fieldstone Orchards.  Don't blink or you might miss the sign.  I always remember to look out for the big white barn and know my right hand turn is coming up.

 Here is one HAPPY camper.  Nadia with a fresh dipped caramel apple!

HOLY SMOKERS....a vat of hot carmel on a brisk fall day. Does life get any better I ask?  I heard the "trick" to keeping the caramel supple is to keep adding cream....that works for me.

Just love the Orchard team mascot truck!



Hannibal Missou-RAH Road Trip!

Nothing like a random spur of the moment drive!  There had been talk in the household about checking out Hannibal, Missouri and the next morning I woke up to someone down at the base of my bedroom stairs doing a bird whistle.  This was the "quiet, gentle" way of waking me up?  Dan-the-man got me out of bed on Saturday with the temptation of a random day trip at o'dark thirty.  Lured by coffee and the promise of a good hearty breakfast we hit the pavement rain or shine.  It was rain, a long awaited rain here in the Midwest.

For those of you not familiar with Hannibal, Missouri it is the boyhood home of Mark Twain AND Molly Brown (Titanic).  The women who the quote "Well behaved women rarely make history" came from :)

It was a charming town, built along the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I river.  The rain had cleared up but still pleasantly overcast by the time we arrived in town.  Enjoy the pictures!

The Dubach Inn Bed & Breakfast

 A charming House that has twinkle lights in their trees (not pictured) Always a sign of a good person living there :)

The historical Rockcliffe Mansion. 13,500 square feet currently under renovation by the new owner's BUT available for tours!

Charming homes were everywhere!

Downtown...did I mention there was a European Chocolate store called STAM?

 For those who have only seen Tom Sawyer's island at Disneyland...this here is the REAL DEAL!

So we got caught in a little rain on the Mark Twain Riverboat...the cruise was wonderful.  Very peaceful & calm out on the waters.

"Go Pitt State!"

 Lighthouse nestled in the trees

 Mark Twain's Boyhood home....if you look closely, you can see him in the center top window :)



Country Drive #137

Home, Home on the Range......

Nothing like driving on a random road and finding a neat little peace of history!

This historical house is south of Topeka, Kansas and was just so charming!

I know you can't see the house that well....but let me give you some background.  We are out in the middle of NO WHERE on a random dirt road by rail road tracks, weaving in and out of trees and hills.  The electrical lines had the old glass gadgets on them in turquoise blue and then out of no where...someone built this MANSION.  Lovely landscaping and just tucked away, their own little bit of heaven!

Different road, a little cutie, nestled in the trees, I can only image the peace and quiet the enjoy.  At night I imagine the stars are shining bright, and crickets are signing in the background.  Sigh.....

Savoring Fall

Nothing like going on a Sunday country drive! You find all sorts of neat things like this great Scarecrow! He was out by one of my favorite farm stands in Waverly, Missou-RAH. I overhear someone say "You can always tell when someone isn't from Missou-RAH because they say Missouri"....not wanting anyone to figure out I'm a transplant from California, living in Kansas, I gotta get my twang on! Y'all here what I'm sayin'?

The quintessential landmark of many farms dotted across the landscape. We actually have one in our backyard, but it needs some t.l.c. and some WD-40! I decided it can be re-purposed and be used to grow some snow peas on next spring!

My son and future daughter-in-law.....okay, so he hasn't proposed or anything, but she is already part of the fam! C'mon...let me dream! We had a great day, went out for lunch, and stopped at a cider mill where a carmel apple pie made it's way into my hands and promptly up to the counter.

We also went to a winery and came home with some treasures for all those holiday meals that are right around the corner!

Now....as for inquires regarding the pumpkins:

1) Yes, they turned ORANGE!!!

2) No, I didn't take any pictures.....but I can, and will!

3) We planted them from seed, and the big ones came up, but the jack-be-littles didn't grow....well, the vines grew, but no pumpkins this year :( . I had to get my fix and bought a bag of them at Walmart and have them at home and work because I think they are the cutest things EVER!

Delights of Springtime

Went for a lovely country drive yesterday with the top down on my bug-de-doo. My daughter was home from college for the weekend and I wanted to see if I could find a nice cottage/country set of benches for our back porch. While Dan-the-Man was busy, sanding posting, and building new railing for our porch, I was already busy visualizing how I would like to fix things up outside in this cozy spot.
I saw a really cute bench on line, and decided to take the "country" drive to the store that had them in stock. It wasn't hard to twist my arm to go to Louisburg Cider Mill en route, which always has great treats and cute kitchen goodies.

Of course if you go to the cider mill, you might as well go down the country road a little further to a local winery called Somerset Ridge. It's a great little place with the friendliest owners and always a delight to visit. They have tables set outside to just relax and enjoy a glass of wine, and you are welcome to enjoy the majestic views as long as you like. Just our luck, the had an artisan bread maker there for the weekend, with a table set up. Not only artisan bread, gourmet jelly's...the kind that are perfect with cream cheese on a nice cracker, and homemade soaps. Trouble, trouble trouble! The first bread we tried was a sourdough base with Gouda cheese and bacon. I hadn't even tasted it and the words were flowing out of my mouth "We'll take two". Another treat was homemade English muffins with chives and rosemary. Oh my......

Afterwards I bought a few bottles of wine, daydreaming about sitting out on the refurbished back porch by candlelight at dusk....just waiting for the yard to be lit up with the fireflies. It doesn't help that I'm re-reading the best book ever published "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle for the 168th time. Puts you right in the mood for a chilled glass of young wine, fresh air and happy memories.

I promise to post some pictures of the porch when all is said and done...but it will be a good month I'm sure before we pull it all together.

As for other minor updates...1) I cut my bangs...I was 90% there and just missed them, now to face my hairdresser when I see her on Tuesday with my tail between my legs. 2) I'm doing great on Weight Watcher and *LOVE* my leader Ann. Such a wonderful women, so funny and inspiring. I'm down 22 pounds! Yipeeeee!

Country Drive

Dan-the-Man and I took off for a wonderful country drive this Saturday. Various c.d's where selected for the drive, sunscreen lathered on, cold beverages to enjoy and off we went. Top down on the bug-de-doo we hit the Highway and had Styx blasting in the bug (when those bands are etched in your memory from High School, you have to rock out sometimes). I had 3 or 4 Farms for us to visit in Missou-RAH, and it's always an adventure getting to them, especially when the address starts as "RR 1", you know you will be on some gravel roads hoping that map quest doesn't fail you! Of course we always come upon the loveliest homes in the country, especially when passing through small country towns that make me wish we lived far, far away from the bright city lights. Above is my dream fence and flowers, just as cute as a button. We changed gears and were listening to Italian instrumental c.d by now as we floated through the country roads, watching the fields change from one patchwork of farmland to the next...Heavenly!

We stopped at Beckner's Orchard and Farmer Beckner had some healthy looking produce. Although the big sell is peaches, his candied onions were to die for. He said they are so sweet, you can eat them like an apple. His favorite sandwich isn't a BLT, it's a BOT (onion). We had some in our garden salad for dinner and they were out of this world!

Here's another beauty of a stand....oh they had trouble items! Fresh baked breads, cinnamon rolls, produce and all sorts of little canned things you just can't say no to. We bought the best blueberry syrup and had them on pancakes Sunday morning. Three ingredients....blueberries, sugar and lemon juice....just the right consistency and so yummy!

Missouri believe it or not, has some excellent wineries. We stopped at two that day and found a new favorite Baltimore Bend . Everything we tasted was delicious! After we had the bug loaded down with a whole watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, cinnamon rolls, honey, blueberry syrup, salsa, pickles, salsa, wine, and did I mention salsa? (someone has an addiction ....DAN!) we headed home. Now, if only i could find a job where I could get paid for scouting out the best roadside stands and wineries. Public Television DO YOU HEAR ME????

Home, Home on the Range

One of my very favorite things to do in the whole wide world is to go on country drives. I love the peace and serenity of being away from everything....no traffic, telephones, television, just quiet. I love the smells, listening to the birds chirp, looking at old barns and daydreaming.

"I think my right side is my better side, how's this?"

It's nice when you are away from your normal pattern of thinking....the continual chatter that goes on in our mind "I need to do another load of laundry, geez did I forget to pick up 409 at the store, I have to remember to mail that bill tomorrow, I've got to remember to get that cob web, I can't believe it's time service my car again...."blah, blah, blah.

When I am out in the country my thoughts are lovely, wonderful, I could swim in them for hours...I think about what jam I want to make, what flowers I want to grow in my garden, how I want to try make a cherry clafoutis (sp?), what my country dream home would be like, how amazing dragonflies wings are...I marvel at everything God has created and good the sun feels...how I can't wait to have that good corn on cob with melted butter and salt. When does that you pick'em farm open up?