From Butterflies to Melon Fields, a Saturday Day Trip

The twins just got back from a river cruise in Germany, 

but they were still up for a day trip with me to SE Illinois.

walking to the car, I was greeted by this beautiful butterfly.

His colors remind me of fall.......but no fall weather it was HOT!

the girls had us start the day in their sun room with some homemade banana nut muffins and fresh blueberries and peaches. Beautifully served in their Mom's candlewick bowl. 

We headed out to our first stop a little over a hour away.

Checking out the corn and bean crops.

When we arrive we see this batman like cars? motorcycles?

of course the twins head right over to investigate

now on to the main event

West Union Cafe suppose to have the 

"Wabash Valley best broasted chicken"

yum.....yes it was great and the slaw tasted like KFC.

no dessert, that is our next stop.

The home of  Heath Candy Robinson IL

The original factory is a museum where they serve

heath candy ice cream of course.

The factory is now owned by Hershey but is still in town.

I love the poster of Santa saying "heath has been in more blizzards than me"

even a old car to ad to the vintage feel

Susan provided some music

Then on to Palestine.

We wanted to see where the Land Grant office had been for Illinois.

That is where our ancestors had to travel to purchase the land grants,

being the first to own a certain property in IL.

It would be about 60 miles but in the 1830's that would of been a trip

of course we took our ancestors land grant to be in the picture!

Palestine is also the home of my favorite salad dressing

Mullen's

they were closed on weekends.

Then we were on to Vincennes IN

I wanted to see where my ancestors wintered over in 1817 as they traveled from KY to Spencer, IN

On the way there we saw the strangest thing...irrigated some fields, but what is that crop?

Oh look there is migrate workers in the fields, they must bring them in by those buses?

A..........NO the buses were for the Watermelons!!!

filled up to where the windows should be, no wonder ever intersection had

smashed melons on the pavement.....look out if your turning the corner next to them!

So when at the antique store I had to take a picture of this to remind me!

I soon won't forget!

We found a great antique store

Riverwalk Antiques

Downtown Vincennes

But we forgot about the time change, and we lost a hour of shopping!

Here are some things we saw

blocks I bought for my SIL to make her trees for her Etsy store

(info on my sidebar)

Pyrex of course!

I even saw my first never opened in the box set!

None of us collect Colonial Mist, but what a great buy.

for a minute I thought these were pink Pyrex!!!!

NO, but Mosser glass.

I had never heard of it.

Newer, made in Cambridge Ohio.

Learn something everyday!
Susan bought a beautiful canister set from Czechoslovakia.
(I forgot to take a picture!)
How appropriate since they just got back from their. Even better was the story of the lady who owned them, she died at 103. She loved to entertain, and a had beautiful collection. Her 80 something daughter was still living and came to see her monthly.
I looked up her obituary, she was in the DAR and loved genealogy.
So what a great tie in to our trip. So Susan copied the obit and put it in one of the canisters.
I love that, so the next owner will know the story too.

beautiful 

George Rogers Clark Memorial

Probably where my family wintered in 1817

and where my Dad and 2 Aunts visited

Aug 2, 1937

Their Aunt lived in Vincennes

Beautiful Park

Home of President William Henry Harrison

Closed, remember that darn time change.

We were tired, hot and thirsty so we headed back home.

This was my little summer trip.

It wasn't Germany but I had a great time.

Hope you enjoyed the sites.
I have highlighted links if you would like to see more.

Happy Hump Day!

Ann

I Love Those Little Hummingbirds

Several years ago we put up a hummingbird feeder

after we visited my SIL's parents home.

Her brother has several feeders and hundreds come.

But, we would be happy with one.

He came.

He comes every year from about May 15th-Sept 15th

almost on the dot. How we look forward to him.

Over the last few years we now have 3, and they remind me of

WWII airplane pilots in a dog fight in the sky.

Some how I have never gotten a picture of them?

They like to sit in dead tree branches, we can not bring ourselves to cut the dead branch from our Oak tree, because that is where he sits before he comes to feed.

there he is waiting to come and looking for competition.

I notice he does not like it when Greta is on the porch.

One year as we were sitting on our chairs on the back porch, he got right in my husbands face, I think he was telling him "thank you for keeping my feeder full and clean with sugar water"

I have 4 days off and tons to do, but as my friend who has been getting chemo said

"our lives are too short"
Her strength is something I admire so much, I know many of you have said prayers for her. They are working, she is gaining  strength and out riding her bicycle this week.

So I will watch my hummingbird eat in the sunshine of this beautiful day,

the dog hair, laundry and dishes will always be there but my hummingbird is only here for us to enjoy for another month.

Happy Friday

ANN

"I just love this kitchen!"

At 1515 I hear the phrase

"I love this kitchen!"

almost every time someone walks into for the first time.

walking into the kitchen as the pass by my Grandmother's aprons

I think they go back in time, to their own Grandmothers kitchen.

It develops a sense of contentment and happiness.

the kind of kitchen that you expect pies to be cooling on the Hoosier cabinet

there is always vintage items that remind you of times past
and visitors love checking them all out.


It is a sunny spot too, well what can you say it is just CHEERY!

I think of all the meals my Grandmother made it that kitchen.
That what comes to mind as people come to the kitchen, they think of all their Grandmothers.
The times spent around the kitchen table.
It just makes us feel good.
So people hang out in the kitchen today too. Dinner for 18 may mean there is plenty of room in the dining room or living room, but people linger in the kitchen "I'll just sit here".

Seems when I leave 1515 I always take a look back with a smile.

thinking I will return again soon.

But I know I leave the kitchen with memories and laughter.

I can still hear my sweet Daddy and Aunt Catherine's laughter in the
1515 kitchen