Hay’s Ready

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It’s been quite a week in Kansas weather wise.  There were sever weather warnings issued  everyday.  The brome grass is ready to be cut, as soon as the fields dry out they will be cutting and baling hay.  It’s wonderful to see a beautiful partly cloudy Kansas sky, instead of one filled with storm clouds!

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Wednesday, May 25th there was a large tornado that form just to the east of us.  It was on the ground for over an hour and was up to 1/2 mile wide.  It stayed mostly over rural areas, damaging around 25 homes, some that no longer exist. The tornado narrowly missed Chapman, which was devastated by a tornado in 2008.

This is the backside of the tornadic storm.  It was amazing to watch the thunderhead grow so rapidly.

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There are many videos of the tornado that occurred that day, search for:  Kansas tornado May 25, 2016, Dickinson County

 

Butcher Falls, Sedan, KS

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Located in Chautauqua County, KS just off highway 99 near Sedan KS, on the 8,000 acre Red Buffalo Ranch is Butcher Falls.

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Water from the Middle Caney Creek flows over rounded limestone rocks – dropping 10 feet, creating a beautiful Kansas waterfall.

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The bunk house that is by the creek in the trees is available for rent.  What a great place to have a family gathering!!  Family – I’m making plans:)

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The ranch also has a herd of buffalo, but we didn’t see them today.  Another trip is planned in a few weeks to this area!

Morning Chores

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With Mr. Farmer on a trip, I get to do the morning chores.  I don’t make it out quite as early as they’re use to being fed, so they are certainly glad to see me!

Champ is waiting by his bucket.  He is now the only horse, as Dozy is now with a young lady and will be her barrel racing horse.  She will enjoy that!DSC03583

This trio is always entertaining.  Chili, Will, and Bill all wait patiently each by their own bucket.

Chili, miniature donkey

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Will and Bill

Will, the white and black, is a fainting goat.  He doesn’t faint for very long, he comes to just as you are about to get his collar on, hang on, this could be a rodeo!

Will’s thoughts:  Would you PLEASE quite taking pictures and FEED US

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Even though there are 2 buckets for them, they like to eat out of one and head butt each other!

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I don’t have the large flock of hens that I use to have, it’s enough to keep us in eggs and less cleaning for me!

left to right:  Jacquie, Thelma and Louise, or Louise and Thelma, I can’t tell them apart!  Miss Kitty was already in the nesting box so I didn’t bother her.

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Mac, 8 week old rooster that a dear friend gave me.  He lived in town, NO roosters allowed!  I’m glad he is here, can’t wait till he starts crowing!

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Enjoy you day!  It’s beautiful on the prairie in Kansas, finally some sun!

 

Weekend in the Flint Hills

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We spent a couple of days in the Flint Hills around Cottonwood Falls, one of my favorite places to be.  It was a very cool rainy weekend.

Most of the pastures have been burnt,  the grass is so beautiful and green.  The tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills are so beautiful any season.

Cattle of the Flint Hills

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Mr. Farmer, we should get some Longhorns!

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Clements, KS

In 1862 a post office was established at Silver Creek (not a ghost town, it’s considered an extinct town).  The rail road came thru the area in 1871 and in 1881 the post office was moved to Crawfordsville, which was renamed to Clements in 1884.

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Double Arch Stone Bridge built in 1887

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Abandoned beautiful majestic home.  South of Cottonwood Falls

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Bushong, Lyon County,  KS.  In 1880 the railroad constructed a depot in a pasture, a town developed beside the track.  Originally called Weeks – it was changed by the railroad crew to Bushong, in honor of a baseball payer, Al “Doc” Bushong.  They also named another town in Lyon County after a baseball player, Comiskey.  At one time there was over 150 residents calling Bushong home, now there are less than 40.  A fire in the 1920’s destroyed a large portion of the town, buildings were never rebuilt.  The railroad has abandoned the track and the railbed is now a nature trail.

This building served as a gas station and tavern.

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This guy calls Bushong home.  He was so beautiful, but noisy!!  He didn’t want me getting too close!

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Warm Weather = Cold Coffee

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I love coffee, just smelling it brings me comfort and makes me smile.  With the warmer weather I’ve been wanting some iced coffee.  Just putting ice in my regular brewed coffee doesn’t taste the same as cold brew coffee. I assembled all the parts for my Toddy Cold Brew system, first you insert the cork stopper, (that is after you try to whittle down a wine cork, because you can’t remember where you placed it)  into the bottom of the container, then insert the filter.  Now you are ready to add the water and coffee!!!  To 12 ounces of coffee add 7 cups of water.  It smells divine.  You get to smell this for 12 hours.  Just leave it sitting on the countertop.

Bubbles? Fermentation?  I love fermented drinks:)

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After 12 hours remove the cork stopper and place on top of the glass decanter and wait for it to filter.

Anticipation

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It’s READY!  The coffee concentrate will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.  I dispose of the grind in my flower bed (and for future reference the cork is in the small canister!).

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I put a bit of chocolate in my cup.  The add-ins are endless.  Sweetened condensed milk, french vanilla creamer, Kalua………….

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The Toddy Cold Brew System is made in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Here is a link to their website and there are lots of recipes too.

http://toddy.com

 

 

Have a Blessed Sunday

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There are so many beautiful abandoned churches, this is St. Joseph’s Church and Cemetery .  Built in 1910 and decommissioned as a church in the late 1980’s  There is an effort to restore the church and it will then serve as a museum for McDowell Creek area a community center.  The Geary County Historical Society and Friends of the St. Joseph’s Church has made many improvements to the beautiful church

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The cemetery has burials dating from the 1870’s.

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Spray Plane

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I was on my way to Lucas, the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas, it was their city wide garage sale day.  Now you could count on one hand the times I’ve gone to a garage sale in the last couple of decades, but it was an excuse to go to Lucas.   Guess who I met on the back road today…..

We are on the flight path of a spray plane that is out of a small town north of us.  He roars over our house almost daily this time of year.  Today I came across him spraying a wheat field, was able to get some photos of him working.

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Thanks for the flyby.  Be careful up there!!!

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My first stop at Lucas.  Aunt Gertie’s Art & Antiques, located across the road from The Garden of Eden.   Her hours are:  Open Friday and Saturday, Maybe Monday – Tuesday – Probably Wednesday – Thursday  She is closed Sunday

I purchased a few pieces for my garden art and a beautiful pink vase for the girls (will look so pretty in the chicken house).  Great little store.

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A few more garage sales stops and girl scouts selling cookies. Then home to plant some flower seeds and put my new garden art in the butterfly garden.  I hope you are enjoying your beautiful Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep Creek Waterfall

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I don’t know if he still makes custom boots and saddles, but his sign let me know we were on our way to Deep Creek.  I should of stopped, I like custom boots!!

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This is Chris Barr’s Cabin

The sign by the road said:

Cabin was found in house when house was torn down in 1962

Refurbished by Zendale Senior Citizens 1992

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Deep Creek Waterfall is located at Pillsbury Crossing along Deep Creek.  Named for J.H Pillsbury who settled here in 1855.  A low water crossing, a drive of 100′ through a few inches of water.  It is impassable during high water.  The 59 acres were donated to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in 1967, it is one of the most scenic areas of the Northern Flint Hills.

Pillsbury Crossing at Deep Creek

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Deep Creek Waterfall, yes you are in Kansas!!  And yes there were SNAKES!!  Okay, I only saw ONE, but I had to look at it more than once to make sure it was still there so that counts for SNAKES.  I took a picture of it, but I was SO far away,  running the other direction with Wylie in one arm and trying to take the photo.  It was just a blur.

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Up on the bank on the north side of the falls, a great view of the crossing and falls.  There is a short hiking trail, good fishing and during normal flow you can canoe or kayak, no swimming.  Camping only by special permit.

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Continuing in Lincoln, County

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I have already posted about Lucas but I wanted to get some more photos of the Best Place to Go  (Lucas’ public restroom).  Lucas is home of the  No.2   Restroom In The Country 2014.  Constructed in 2008 by a community effort, the building itself is shaped like a toilet.  The big roll of toilet paper forms the sidewalk.DSC03300

As you walk thru the toilet bowl  to the entrance, you are able to see somethings that people flush down. Cell phones, glasses, toys (if you zoom in you will see fish, watches, money, keys, alligator?………..you can probably think of some things you’ve lost.  I’ve flushed a fish or two and had to………I’m not confessing to anything more!)  I like the little dog drinking out of the bowl ewwww, I’m thankful Wylie hasn’t ever done that!!

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Bottle wall

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Women’s Restroom

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Mosaic using broken china

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Seashells

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Men’s Restroom (Of course I went in!)

Farm Scene

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Piano and Dominoes

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Hot Wheels mural

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What a beautiful place to “go”

Here is a link to the  Finalists

Plan a day trip to Lucas, with a population of around 450, know as the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas, Garden of Eden and sit along the Post Rock Scenic Byway.  It’s a beautiful part of Kansas.