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".