Explore Kansas: Paxico, Wamego And Alma

Hi friends!   I have been away from my blog for a couple of weeks, getting kids back to college, etc...    I will try to get caught up on all your blogs and comments asap.    I noticed that somehow I had crossed over the 200 follower mark while I was away.  I was not expecting that, so I am not prepared!   I really need to put on my thinking cap and figure out the best way to say thank you for following me!    So check back here in about a week for a giveaway.

What did you do this weekend?  My husband (Mr. Garden) and I went in search of some heart and soul in the small towns in the Flint Hills region of Kansas.  We discovered scenic spots, good food, history, antiques, crafts and wonderful people!

Paxico has been called the antiques capitol of Kansas.  It may be tiny, but the shops are wonderful and varied.  Restored old stoves,  beautiful wood furniture, firkins,  glassware,  pottery, art, vintage christmas decor, cowboy boots, and tons more.   We had such a great time looking around.

This old limestone school building was located just south of Wamego.  Limestone was the main building material on the treeless prairies of Kansas.

Wamego is a lovely little town, with flowers planted up and down the main street, a big city park, and some unique sites of interest.  The mill is on the National Register of Historic Places.   It was originally built by an immigrant settler.  In the 1920's  it was taken apart, stone by stone, and moved from the farm to the city park to honor the Kansas pioneer spirit.

We had lunch at the Friendship House (the house on the left with the brick chimney and flag).   This marvelous old home, one block off the main street,  has been transformed into a delightful little restaurant and bakery.

Their special of the day was Bierocks, a German stuffed sandwich pastry, similar to a pirogi. (Or a runza for all you Nebraska people!)   It was whole wheat bread pastry stuffed with ground beef, onion and cabbage, and baked to a gold brown.  And we had a light horseradish sauce for dipping. Yum!   I forgot to take a picture, so this photo is off the web.  The one at the restaurant looked even better than this! 

Any Wizard Of Oz fans out there?  The Oz Museum is also located in Wamego.

Ya'll know whose shoes these are.

If I only had a brain! The scarecrow!

The great and powerful Wizard sitting on the throne in the Emerald City!   Oh wait... that's actually Mr. Garden.

(Miss Gultch and the Wicked Witch of the West really scared me when I saw the movie for the first time.  Didn't like those flying monkey's much either!)

This little fairie garden was just outside another shop.

The Creamery in Alma has been making cheese from local cows milk since 1946.  Yummy cheese!  We have browsed through some of the antique stores on previous visits to Alma,  but ran out of time on this trip.  So we'll have to return soon.

Yes, we brought all sorts of wonderful goodies home with us:   

Cheese- from Alma Creamery and cookies from the Friendship House/Dutch Mill Bakery in Wamego

Gorgeous vintage crocheted cotton pillowcases and a Christmas tablecloth in perfect condition!

Christmas tree brooch and a Christmas tomten decor.  (still covered in dust) 

A gorgeous swirley glass orb made by a Topeka glassblower.

Mr. Garden picked up some coffee mugs made by a local potter and plum jam for our toast. 

We really enjoyed the weekend!  I encourage you to get out of town and "take the road less traveled". 

Crewel Sunflowers

My Mom made this wonderful crewel needlework canvas years ago (circa 1970) and I have always loved it!

There was no doubt that it needed to come hang on the walls at my house, since I was the daughter who lived in the sunflower state.   I really love the cheerful pop of color in the family room.  And it brings back such wonderful memories of hours spent crafting and sewing with my Mama.  

Thank you to hostess:

Bargain Hunting And Chatting With Laurie- Favorite Things Saturday

Green Glass

I'm back at Vintage Thingie Thursday this week to share my green glass.  (Any help to identify the patterns and makers  is appreciated.)


Two green reamers.   I use these any time I need fresh orange or lemon juice.

The little sherbet footed dishes are"Block Optic" by Hocking.   I have a whole bunch of those and like to serve a scoop of icecream or berry cobbler in them.   

The large plate is "Patrician" (also known as "Spoke") by Federal Glass  Co.  It was the very first piece of green glass that I bought.   Both of these patterns were made in the 1930's.

I took pics of some of the pieces in the window so it is easier to see the design.

My Mom gave me this  lovely 3-footed bowl for Christmas a few years ago.  I have it out on display year round.  Sometimes it is filled with christmas ornaments, or potpourri, or vintage postcards.  I just think it is so beautiful!

Look at the detail in the daisy pattern!  Does anyone know what this one is called? 

Update:  this pattern is called "Pearl Flowers".

Footed "Sunflower" cake plate, unknown manufacturer.  I always make round layer cakes for family birthdays and this is one of my favorite cake stands to use.   

The  Indiana Glass leaf nappies are vaseline and they glow in the dark.  The pattern is called "Twiggy".  I have several of these and they are perfect for serving small salads or fresh fruit.

"Paneled Thistle" was made by Higbee.  Two of the panels show thistle flowers and two show a starburst pattern.  It is also vaseline.  I love the opalescent edges on this spooner.

This apothecary bottle is such a beautiful deep green.   It was made in Belgium.

These green Morgantown "Crinkle" dessert plates are still at my Mom's, but I hope they will be mine one of these days.  They have matching goblets and and bowls.  Our family used them every year at Christmas when I was a teen.  I believe they were made from the 1940's- through  the 1960's, in many different colors.   Seneca made a similar pattern called "Driftwood", but those are slightly different.

I hope you will share pictures of your green glassware too!  I'd love to see them!

Thanks to our hostess:

The Colorado Lady- Vintage Thingie Thursday

Jamesport

Continued from yesterday...

The girls and I spent Saturday in Jamesport.  This Amish community was only 15 minutes from the Marydale Inn B&B where we stayed.    We saw many bearded men in suspenders and straw hats. Sometimes they were accompanied by their sons, miniature versions of themselves except for the beards.

There are shops all over the tiny town and outlying Amish farms.  Gift shops, vintage and antique shops, furniture stores, bakeries, creameries,  etc...

Two of the girls acting goofy!  :-)

The furniture in this store was beautiful!!!   They are the ones who made the furniture in my bedroom at the B&B.   The couple that worked in there were so friendly and had a great sense of humor.  

Drive with care on the roads because horses and buggies are as common as cars.

(this pic from the web)

Do you want to see the treasures I brought home?  

This basket (purchased at Anna's Bakery) now sits on my stairs and collects all the junk that need to be carried up.

These 4 American Fostoria plates were discovered on a bottom shelf at Iris Collectibles.  They will grace my next tea table.

I found these cornflower dishes with lids down in the basement at Gas Buggy Antiques.  (They had a whole bunch of them.)  I'm still trying to decide if they will go to my daughter or if they are staying here with me.

Embroidered dish towels featuring cute little lambs and penguins were discovered at Grandpa Freds Antiques. 

This jar full of buttons will join all the other buttons in my sewing room.   It came from Broadway Pavilion  Antique Mall.

I bought a whole bag of these fabric gingerbread ornaments at Farmhouse Collection. They will be used on gift packages at Christmas and to adorn my house.  (I decorate my kitchen in a gingerbread theme during the holidays.)

The only other things I purchased were edible and they are tucked away in the refrigerator.

But this day was filled with more than buying stuff.  I was surrounded by gorgeous scenery and wonderfully kind people.  I  was able to explore new places and new cultures.   AND  I got to spend time in the company of some of the best friends on earth!

Thank you to Hosts:
2nd Time Around-  A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Marydale Inn

I just returned from a fun girls getaway!    Three of my college girlfriends joined me for a weekend of sharing memories, shopping and farm living!!  We stayed at Marydale Inn, a fantastic Bed and Breakfast.

(this pic from the Marydale website)

Rusty, one of the resident dogs, was there to greet us when we drove up!

I can not say enough good things about this B&B.  The whole house was immaculate, the rooms and private baths were spacious, the beds were comfortable, the food was yummy, and the surroundings were peaceful.  Mary Jo and Dale, the owners, were wonderful!   It was PERFECT and I want to go back!

Here are the girls at breakfast on the first day.  The peach smoothies were delicious!  Crunchy bacon and German puff pancakes with strawberry topping followed.

All the furniture in my bedroom was Amish made.  

Some more of the bedrooms:

(these pics from the web site)

The B&B is on a farm and they had newborn baby cows.  Dale took us out to the barn to meet all the animals.  I got to climb into the pen with 3 of the sweetest little calves.  So exciting for a girl who lives in the suburbs!!    And then we went down to the pond to toss food to the catfish.   

There is a naming competition going on for this little fellow.   Isn't he adorable?

The cows, Sweet Pea and  Eva.

The views were beautiful.  Green fields and trees as far as the eye can see.

We sat out on the deck at night and stargazed.  You will not believe how many stars you can see in the night sky when you get away from all the city lights.  So amazing. 

Here are all four of us gals together on our last morning at the Inn.  (Me- back row, in light blue.)

This post is too long already, so come back tomorrow to hear about our day in the Amish community of Jamesport. 

(Most photos are mine, but a couple were borrowed from the Marydale website.)