Showing posts with label Living In Missouri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living In Missouri. Show all posts

Friday, April 17, 2026

CLARK AMISH COUNTRY TODAY

 About 45 minutes from our home is an
Amish community that is wonderful to
visit and find lovely items. Over the years
we have kept their map and added to it with
scribbles - especially adding those who do
not participate in the map.  Farms selling
different items aren't marked terribly well so
the map helps.



Keep in mind these photos aren't the best
since they are taken from inside the car and
undercover since the Amish don't appreciate
cameras.  This would be a typical Amish farm
house here:




Their culture is so interesting.  We passed
quite a few schools and I noticed many
of the children were barefoot.  It was 
around 80 degrees out. 

I had never stopped at the first plant place
so I did today.  Lots of annuals and hanging
baskets.





The little building in the collage below is
one of the little schools.



We are expecting a storm tonight so several times
there were questions to us about what we had
 heard about a potential storm.  I was reminded
 that they do not have radios or televisions.



We stopped at 4 businesses and this plant place
above is a favorite.  I have no sense of direction
but my husband always figures out how to
find different shops.


 


Our car came home quite covered in dust
from all the country roads.  The dusty roads
 get much worse later in the summer.  We try 
to stop when we see a cart coming our way
to let them by without covering them in dust.




I have never been to their auction house but
imagine you could find some greatly priced
items.  I remember going to one in Pennsylvania
many years back in the 70's and got a whole
crate of cauliflower for 50 cents.  That was
fun!  I put all of it in the freezer too.


Everywhere there are goats, sheep, cows and
horses and chickens too!

We got some homemade butter which I  am anxious
to try and cheese that we purchased before
in the past.  I found thread that was cheaper
than Walmart's.  I love their spices that
they package themselves.  Today I bought some
of the large noodle "shells" to stuff for pasta.

I got my 3 hanging baskets made up quickly
after we got home.  They aren't very impressive
now but will be in the coming weeks.  I only purchased 4 plants for each one but I planted
marigold seeds in the middle part.  I save my pots
every year and just buy some dirt and peat to
go in them. 





 I just texted our across the street
neighbors as I offered to fill their hanging pot
again from when I made it up last year.  This
was my idea of a fun day!






Monday, October 27, 2025

CLARK, AMISH COUNTRY AND APPLE PIE

 About 30 miles from where we live is an Amish
community called Clark.  It is a great
place to purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables
and plants.



I really enjoyed the peaches we got here a while
back and now of course, we went to buy some apples.

If I can just get ambitious, I would make some
pies to put in the freezer or I will at least make
a couple.



The Amish homes are certainly large, similar
and very neat and tidy.

I am sure you know they do not have electricity
so firewood is used to heat and cook.  The Clark Amish community
is made up of over 200 families with 5 to 9 members
in each family.



There were numerous logging businesses.



Beside the houses were their buggies and horses.  We
passed quite a few on the roads too.  They are friendly
and always wave but no photos please!



I have never been to their auction house but hear that
is where you can really get the bargains.

I purchased some vegetables, fruits and canned
pickles and beets at a few of the stores.

I was excited to make some Apple Pies and I always
like the recipe where you put a carton of Aspen
Mulling Spice in the pie.  My Victoria magazine came
today so maybe that would go lovely with a slice
of pie.









Tuesday, July 29, 2025

MISSOURI PEACHES ARE WONDERFUL

 Now that summer is here and the heat is
definitely here, there are an abundance of
 peaches available.  We drove over to the Amish
country in Clark and bought a whole case
 of peaches.  Actually, the peaches originally
 came from down in southeast Missouri.



I am so glad I saved my
home canning items and
quite a few jars.  



I decided to make some peach jam and pies and
still have plenty left over to just eat.









I also made a pie for ourselves
and one for our son's family.


I did add 2 Tb fruit pectin
to the pie and 1 Tb cornstarch.

I also increased the
 cinnamon to
2 Tb.


Tuesday, May 27, 2025

CENTRALIA, MISSOURI ROSE GARDEN

 This lovely rose garden was a delight to visit last
 week.  We usually visit the garden later
in the summer when the roses have sadly been
visited by Japanese beatles.  We grew up
referring to them as "June" beatles because
they showed up in June.


I always admire the 1904 Edwardian period
home in Centralia, Missouri.  It is a Queen
Anne style home built by pharmacist
R. L. Hope and his wife and later purchased
by the Chance family.  It is maintained now by
the Historical Society of Centralia.




I was so happy that our visit
was earlier this year!



Monday, May 12, 2025

CLARK AMISH COUNTRY

 


We made a little trip about 40 miles away
on Saturday to check out the Amish
community. 

 I wanted some plants to make
my own hanging baskets for myself and
 to make one for our daughter in law for
 Mother's Day. I had already noticed that I
had a stack of those hanging pots in our
 garage.  I found some great plants even
though much of that season is over for the 
Amish green houses.  The prices were
really good for plants.

I also made 2 Strawberry Rhubarb pies
with some lovely strawberries and the 
vegetable "rhubarb".  We also
purchased other vegetables and we
want to go back and learn our way
around a little better.  We never
seem to find the same places
twice so we want to get a better
handle on that!


I am sure you realize that Amish do not want
their photos taken so these are just random
shots from inside our car.....



The signs are very modest marking
what might be for sale so one has
to keep their eyes peeled.  


No electricity, phones, etc so lots of
fire wood to keep warm in the
winter and to cook!

Although we never found an earlier place
I had gone to before, we did find one place
 that carried spices.
I was glad as mine were getting old:
dried parsley, basil, cinnamon, celery seed,
dill, etc.

I had collected 7 of those old former 
pots in our garage from hanging baskets and I
got enough small plants to make them up and
some to give away:


 

Saturday, May 3, 2025

THE TINY TOWN OF BLACKWATER, MISSOURI

Over a year ago we started buying our meat
from a farm "lady" over in the
next county.  All the meat is so wonderful
and natural which we decided we valued.
Her shop is called "Morning Glory
Farms".

We were there a week ago and went early to
take a few photos of the tiny town of
Blackwater, Missouri where less
than 300 people live.


Here are some photos I took from
our car.




It was just about to sprinkle rain.


The train went buy while
we were there.


 
 

The old school house reminded me
so much of the school in "Anne of
Green Gables" and "Road to Avonlea"
which just happen to be watching
right now.


This old hotel near the railroad
tracks is now the Iron Horse
 Bed and Breakfast
and restaurant which caters
as a wedding venue.


 



Blackwater is 3 miles north of I-70
in Cooper County west of
Boonville, Missouri.

Saturday, April 19, 2025

A VISIT TO MEXICO

 Today we went all the way to Mexico.  This
would not be the country of Mexico but
rather the little town of Mexico, MISSOURI. 
 There is a wonderful antique shop there in an 
old Coke Plant (yes, the soda Coke). 
 It is only open on Saturdays and sometimes
 on Friday. We took a few moments to 
drive around
and see some of the old houses:


This was the side view:


I love seeing the flowers in the yards.
This home was amazing:




Just look at all those angles!


This house below had a wonderful tower.
I can only imagine the colors it could
be painted:


An amazing tower:




And this house below is more
English Tudor style but I have
always loved it:


We also stopped in a tiny town to
take a spring peak at a
Victorian house there that I have
taken photos of before.  This is in
the town of Auxvasse, Missouri. (below)





Well, the question is did I find any treasures
on this trip?  Well, yes indeed I did.  I found
some purple transferware which I have been
looking for and trying to collect.  So at the
Coke Plant Antiques I got all these pieces
which means 65 pieces for $100.00.

I am thrilled!



I do recommend this shop especially for 
antique clocks!  They have ever so many!