Area around the farm

We are located in a very rural area but close to a town of 42 and another of 119



We are about nine miles from this metropolis...a large number of these small towns still exist in that area; the entire county has less people than the number of people that work in the Federal Building



We have to cross two narrow bridges over the Osage Fork river to get to our place (we are in the hills and dont have to worry about flooding)



Another bridge in the area



The Ozarks are breathtakingly beautiful...imagine this scene in the fall..




Hay and cattle are the major agricultural pursuits..our farm is Hay and Dairy



Everyone has a garden, chickens and a Corn patch...



Just another farm in the area

The Antiques

There are hundreds of antique stores in the Ozarks and the prices were stunning. We were very limited due to luggage space but we got a few things....



1940 Dominion Electric Co toaster; bakelite handles and still works great as you can see; $8.50



Classic 1947 Toastmaster B1141 toaster; heavy, pristine condition, and works great...$5.00



1938 GE Clock; needs a new cord and refinish of the wood...$5.00



1938 Art Deco Westclock Moonbeam alarm clock. Immaculate, works great, paid $40.00



Late 50s clock radio; the radio works but it needs some cleaning up and a capacitor..$5.00



Some old tobacco tins and a late 50s Cream of Tartar can...$2.00 each



An old Ozark Drug Co Boric Acid container that Judy got for Holly; note the phone number on the front is "82"

The antique furniture, tools, and just about everything else is overwhelming and very inexpensive. We really dont want anything in our house made after about 1965..except for that Flat Screen LCD HDTV.......

The Trip

We are back and the trip was fantastic. Spent 2 days in Seattle and saw Alex and Amy, then flew to Minneapolis and rented a car and headed south through the Mid West. We visited farms, antique stores, caves, wineries, the Mall of America (and rode all of the roller coasters), visited an aquarium, Lake of the Ozarks, visited the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder (which is 18 miles from the farm we bought) and generally immersed ourselves in the Ozark rural scene.



Alex, Amy and the old guy



Holly at a farm behind Judy's house in Woodinville, Washington



Holly and Judy at the same farm



Starting in Minnesota; had to hit all of the sites



Working our way through Iowa..lots of corn



Old house in Hartville, MO about 18 miles from our farm



Downtown Hartville; County seat of our county; very picturesque



We toured many civil war battlefields...a lot of bloody battles were fought in Missouri and Kansas..Missouri never did declare for the confederacy and remained an important state for the Union



We tended to stay on the back roads like route 66 rather than the freeways..and yes we got our kicks



Caves everywhere and we toured some of course



Dont remember where this was but old buildings and small towns surrounded us



Toured the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder where she wrote Little House on The Prarie, Little House in the Big Woods etc.



Only about 35 minutes from our farm



Spent a half a day touring the Wilson Creek National Battlefield near Springfield; site of an early and bloody Civil War battle



Last two days at the Mall of the Americas in Minneapolis; we rode every roller coaster and ride. toured the aquarium, etc. etc. etc.

It was great fun and we saw literally hundreds of deer, wild turkeys, hawks, and stayed in some interesting mom and pop route 66 motels....I think there is a law that you have to be Hindu to own a Motel on Route 66..but I may be wrong...

Yet another Farm were looking at

Heading out for adventure; yet another house we are looking at:

Weekend Activities

Getting ready for the trip south. We are putting a contingency offer on the house with the barn and trailer tomorrow and since we leave Thursday we had to do a few things around the AK homestead.

First of all, we looked at rifles; .270 and .243 Win for Holly. She liked the Remington .270 (no .243 Win in Juneau that we could find) and at Western Auto they were on sale for $589.00 while at K-Mart they were $412.00. Same rifle, both with the weatherized package and no scope. A Leopold scope we are looking at is around $200.00. I think we will just order the Savage .243 Winchester with the wood stock and Leopold scope and be done with it. Good deer rifle, not much recoil and it would be a good weapon for the small holdings in Missouri.

Did the first harvest of the bush peas and shucked, blanched and froze them today. Should have a crop when we get back too.



Really fat peas this year



Drop em in boiling salted water for about 2 min



Then shock them in an ice bath..next stop the freezer


Then we harvested one Goose Berry bush and made jelly..a bit tedious but it tastes so good...



Have to cut the ends off which takes a lot of time



Ready for rendering of the juices



Boiling down...



Straining the mash (this would make good wine)..



Presto..jelly

And finally for Jen, what to do about all the Kale running around...



First harvest the Kale from your garden (about 4 cups worth)..



Then saute 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup sliced red onion, a large pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and 3 bay leaves in a little olive oil..........



Add the Reindeer Kielbasa (or any other sausage), Kale, creole seasoning, Kale and 8 Cups (2 Qrts) of beef or chicken stock and bring to a boil.......



First the sausage...



Then the Kale...



Once its boiling reduce to simmer and add one (1) pound of diced young Yukon Gold potatoes.. and cook for about 30 minutes at a simmer....



Of course in the mean time be making fresh bread..(its ugly but tastes great)...




Walla'...Serve in front of a Football game and life is good

And finally, the Nasturtiums have gone wild...hummingbirds everywhere...