Monthly Archives: February 2016

National Chili Day

I didn’t even know that there was such a day as National Chili Day. I received a tweet from one of the Kansas State Troopers that I follow. He was sitting along Interstate 35 his tweet:

If someone could bring me some chili as I’m parked on I-135 near McPherson, KS looking for #Distracted Driver, that be great #NationalChiliDay

Sorry to say I didn’t take him any chili, (which I hope I don’t regret when/if he would ever pull me over!) but I did make some for Mr. Farmer’s supper. It’s a cool, north wind day and that will make for a wonderful supper.

I have a great chili recipe that uses ancho chilis and unsweetened cocoa. Of course I had to make cinnamon rolls to go along with it. Now that takes me back to school lunches when the lunch ladies made their own cinnamon rolls to serve with chili.

Happy National Chili Day

Winter Chores

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I came in from doing my chores this morning and I sent a text to Mr. Farmer saying, “It’s 23! I froze while out choring!!” His reply, “It is February”

This is what it was like back in 2014, I guess I forgot.

Poor little Wylie

It was a beautiful sunrise that morning.

No more complaining that I’m cold. It has been a beautiful February with highs some days in the 70’s. We have been taking lots of long walks. Here’s one of my favorite back roads to walk. The cedars block the cold winter winds and the leaves provide a shady canopy from the summer sun.

Faris Cave, Ellsworth County, KS

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I’ve been wanting to make another trip back to Faris Cave, I had been there in the summer and was concerned about snakes so I didn’t explore the area like I wanted. I said then, that I would return in the winter when the snakes were “frozen”. Well, it’s winter, and we haven’t had the cold weather like usual, in fact today it’s in the low 60’s. Perfect day for an adventure to the caves. Hope the snakes are not active!!

Faris Cave is located along the Smoky Hill River, caves that were carved into the sandstone formation by Charles Griffin who came to Kansas in the 1880’s. The 3 small rooms served as his home and a spring house, used to keep things cool. In 1893 the land was sold to Winfield and William Faris. They built a wood frame house close to the caves and used the caves as a spring house, generator room and for a short time as a schoolhouse.

The caves are very isolated, gravel and dirt roads, but it’s definitely worth the trip. As I was standing there thinking about the people who had lived here, I heard silence, only broken by a few chirps from the birds. Amazing place, I hope you can experience it sometime.

(I didn’t see any snakes!!)