Lincoln County Again

Lincoln County is one of my FAVORITE places.  It was such a beautiful day, calm day after all the wind we’ve had.  I wished you were with us.

Since the grasses haven’t started growing  I saw numerous root cellars/storm caves.   NO, I didn’t crawl into any of them!!!

 

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All that is left of this home, is a window in the milo stubble.

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Ash Grove, KS at one time had a grocery store, lumber yard, blacksmith, hardware store, hotel, church and school.

Limestone arch bridge at Ash Grove

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Yard art? or just poor parking?

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The wooden frame building was the Pottersburg Church.  It was moved to Ash Grove in 1925.

The church bell is still in the bell tower.

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Ash Grove school closed in 1966.  Can you hear the school bell ringing?

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To the south of Ash Grove was the site of Pottersburg.

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A woman died near Spillman Creek and was buried in the cemetery.  A local man later bought this stone for her.

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Continuing south is a place that I came across years ago while exploring with my Mom and Aunt.   It is the only place that I have seen that has limestone clothesline post still standing, I was so happy when I came across it again.  It is absolutely in the middle of no where.  Can’t imagine how awesome it would be living there.   DSC03268

I always loved hanging clothes on the clothesline.

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Limestone Double Arch Bridge, no longer used but they preserved it when they re-routed Highway 18.

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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

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Winter Chores

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

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It was a beautiful sunrise that morning.

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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.

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Faris Cave, Ellsworth County, KS

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!!)

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Back roads on the way home.

Sandstone Bluffs

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Well kept, beautiful abandoned sandstone ranch house

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Weekend Trip

Herrington City Lake on a cold snowy day.  I saw a couple of eagles, but couldn’t get a good picture of them.

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Cedar Point, KS

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I liked the old bicycle by the door.

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Cedar Point is located in Chase County, KS  Population 28

Drinkwater & Schriver Mill  This mill has been purchased and is currently being renovated.

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Another Lark Inn property in Cottonwood Falls. This is Fox Hollow, as with all their properties, a wonderful place to stay!!  Comfortable 2 bedroom cottage, within walking distance to downtown Cottonwood.  We ate at Ad Astra Food and Drink, and also at the Grand Central Hotel, so good!!

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A trip to this area wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Lower Fox Creek School

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Howard, KS

Howard, Kansas is the county seat of Elk County.  Founded in 1870, Howard is named after Oliver Howard who was a Civil War General of the Union Army. Current population  is approximately 700.

Elk County Courthouse, Howard, KS

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Filling Station

 

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Howard National Bank

I didn’t open an account here, but what a beautiful building!

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Kansas has so many beautiful barns.  This one is just north of Howard.

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USB Outlet

We started out the morning with a COLD 4 degrees.  Coldest morning we’ve had this winter.  When the days are this cold, Mr. Farmer stays pretty close to the fire and is able to get the projects done in the house.  He is replacing a regular outlet with a USB receptacle.

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We bought these at Lowe’s.  The one he put in the kitchen is a 20 amp.  (Not that I know the difference, just repeating what I heard.)  The 15 amp will be placed somewhere else.

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I love cookbooks and have quite a collection.  I have some of my grandmother’s and my mom’s,  I have a lot of their handwritten recipe cards also.  I don’t want to ever stop using my cookbooks, I like to write notes about the recipes.  Some notes:  “don’t every make this again” or “this is  (your name here)’s  favorite!!!”

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I find myself more and more using my (well, actually it’s Wylie’s) iPad for recipes.  It’s the biggest cookbook ever.  Sometimes it helps having a video to show you exactly what to do and I like reading the reviews of the recipes.  I’m really going to like my USB outlet, seems like my  (Wylie’s) iPad or phone is always needing charged.  Thanks Mr. Farmer;)

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Why does Wylie have his own iPad? …….that’s a post for another day.