A June Mini Trip

We knew it would be a long hot day, so we went prepared. First stop was a local Farmer’s Market on the way. There we found the last box of green tomatoes for the day and the neatest jelly and jam stand run by a lovely young couple, kids really. We don’t eat much jelly, but I just had to bring home a jar of dandelion jelly and one of garlic jelly. Yep, that is what I said. I quizzed them and they swore it was good for marinade, chicken sauce, and with cream cheese and crackers. Said a family from Kansas City drives down to by six jars at a time, and the little girl eats half jar with Wheat Thins on the way home. I can attest to the fact now that it is good. DH did not like it at all so that will make my jar last longer!

Then on to visit elderly in-laws at assisted living. No good news there, only many worries. Then pushing onward west, we had plans to meet our son. We were passing off his new TV cabinet DH had made and trading it for our grand dog for a few days. The wind picked up and the heat rose, but oh, the wheat fields were beautiful. Rain had kept farmers out of harvesting, but a few were beginning to get back into the fields. There were rolling carpets of saffron wheat waving in the wind, beauty for sure.

We made a stop in Neodesha, Kansas to seek out some flea markets. This berg is only about three blocks long and has seen better days, much like many small Kansas towns. But the buildings were appealing and looked worth saving. Housing was old but neat with well-tended yards. I know this is a town struggling but I had the urge to want to live there a while, to help save the streets and store fronts. The flea markets struggled too, but the local tavern was a hot spot for the day. We watched about one hundred cycles ride into town with riders brown as a pecan shell and wearing red or blue or yellow bandanas flapping in the wind. Most riders waved and it was hard not to go ask if we could join them for a story or two.

 

 

I found this little basket in perfect shape for a song. No, I did not need it, but surely I will find a use for it. Not a blemish or broken reed anywhere. So sweet. Then down the street I found a piece of Blue Willow that was no bargain, but I thought it needed a home. It is neither a platter nor a bowl. It is small with a slight depth, and I have not seen one exactly like it before. I am sure it is for pickles, olives, or something similar.  

We had planned to eat, but when we all finally got to Fredonia, it was too hot to leave the dog and too hot to eat out in the park. So we chatted, unloaded, and went back home again. We were quite tired by the time we got home and even Storm was ready for a “catnap”.