Cornhusker Barn Find
Wherever the road takes us!
Well, it took my husband back to Northern Kansas for the 3rd time. I guess that’s the consequences of finding a sweet honey hole. We hit the road with a fresh start at the beginning of the week in late February. It was not long after leaving Fort Worth, Texas that the snow began to hit. We were warned of the icy dangers but, that didn’t change a thing for our travels.
We pulled into Downtown Wichita, KS for an early dinner giving us enough time to play in the snow covered downtown plaza.
It was beautiful brick everything and a trolley still poking along the sidewalk tracks.
We walked downstairs off of the sidewalk into a farm to table restaurant, Public. Luckily they had an antique sketball machine to keep the baby occupied. We warmed up to our totally unexpected “best meal of my life” dinner! Well it was pork belly cooked like crispy, juicy, thick, steak bacon so um; yeah you tell me if you have ever eaten the daddy of all bacons. I am pretty sure it will change your life!
This was followed by our, toddler distracter, gourmet-carrot cake. You know there’s more than one way to get your little one to eat their veggies.
I don’t know if it was the amount of fat or sugar I just devoured but, when you call your child by the wrong name, Kansas …. I mean Canada! I think it’s time to step away from the amazingness. Who knew in Downtown Wichita, Kansas we would find such an adventure. I mean our waiter came with enough personality to sell us on anything. We left there running back to the truck like the cold little Texans that we were. We checked into our hotel across the highway. Complete with a not so welcoming crack head we still managed to get our keys, unload, and make it up to the third floor without any complications.
The next morning my husband was thankful we were next door to his favorite gas station, QT. I don’t know if it’s a guy thing, or construction worker thing, or what but he has a thing for good gas stations. Gas station snob, it’s an oxymoron I know but hey it’s the little things in life. An energy drink and whatever he can find rolling on the heat rollers. With my warm coffee in my hands we headed to our destination.
It was a holy experience, I will admit. On the road with no cars, no trees, no homes, nothing but snow covered fields. All you could see was sparkling white snow and ice and the glistening sun shining down on it. It was peaceful. It was heavenly. We stumbled upon an old car field in a town of 50.
Crazy I know. The town seemed to be a graveyard for antique automobiles, trains, and tractors although, there was evidence of life.
My husband did find the owner and talked to him on the phone. He needs a train track to add to his collection if anyone knows where he can get one I am sure he is willing to pay.
Moving on to our first pick on the trip we met a man out in Southern NE in the city with the largest porch swing in America. Yet, for some reason we never managed to find it. He showed us his pride and joy he’s pickup. He then took us on a four wheel drive to Ruston, NE. The environment changed from University of Kansas, Kansas State, and Shocker County to Cornhusker territory. Yes, there were still remembrances of cornfields even in the snow covered fields. I did discover something new to me. Beautiful barn quilts! No not actual cotton material quilts but wooden signs placed on a family’s barn. Huge, bright, and joyful. I am totally taking this to Texas and adding one to our barn.
Back to the car pick up. We made it to the half circle metal barn. Getting out of our pickup we were in a foot of snow walking into the collection.
There set the roadster we were picking up and there set the other goodies! A Galaxy, Riviera's, 32 frame, it was awesome, cold, but awesome.
Back to KS to stay the night so we could load some of the rest of the things we purchased previously in Kansas. The roadster body we were picking up was there in the ghost town building waiting for us. We got it and decided that this area needed more scouting in. I mean it was like we couldn’t go to a town without something there we had to have. I found four small towns to pass through before we made it back to hwy 35. More uninhabited snow enchantment leading us to an undisclosed town in Kansas where we found a Buick my husband still needs to get his hands on. He will never forget a car he wanted but did not get and not rest until he at least talks to the owners. It is an obsession you might say but, hey it keeps gas in our tank!
Lastly, to another undisclosed town, in KS. We met a beautiful soul who let my husband in his house to pick through his possessions.
Witnessing his lifestyle of ease in the middle of nowhere kind of makes you question your fast pace city life. That is until you need pizza delivery on Wednesday at 8pm. We said our goodbyes and wished him well making it back to the highway and onto OKC giving us a nice stop to see family for dinner! The next day we couldn’t wait to get back to our small funny farm in Fort Worth to see our two Great Pyrenees puppies and Bull Terrier we missed.
We also have sheep, a pig, and chickens.
