Tomorrow to Ames

Tomorrow we go to Ames to see Keith's parents for Christmas, and it means rising early, taking care of the animals in the dark, and then driving 4 1/2 hours north.  We do stop several times to stretch our legs, but it makes for a long day.  Tonight I watched my two youngest grands, Paiton and Jax, while their parents went to a Christmas gathering.  Keith stayed here and prepared the baskets, and made treats, with the help of the dogs and cats. 

He did a great job making up the baskets... after being helped by Jenny especially. 

And here a basket partially filled and lined by Keith!  What a great husband he is!

One Last Word ...

about Independence, that is!

I stopped downtown on the square to eat at Clinton's. This was the soda fountain where President Truman first worked as a 15 year old boy, and I had a lovely bowl of chili while I looked at a memorial wall with pictures of the President.  There was no other business, it was such a cold and windy day, but it was a great ending to my day of seeing my son and looking at the beautifully dressed mansions.

Not a creature was stirring, just me!

Soda fountain where the future president worked!

And with that, that's the end of Independence for this Christmas!

The Vaile Mansion

Today I'll continue my story about the trip to the two mansions in Independence yesterday.

The second house I visited was the Vaile Mansion, which was the home in the late 1880's to "Colonel" Harvey and his wife Sofronia Vaile.  Colonel Vaile was a mail contractor and entrepreneur who accumulated a sizable amount of land and property in Independence.  He had built a huge home for himself and his wife, but they lived in it only 3 years before Mrs. Vaile died mysteriously of a laudanum overdose in 1883, and Colonel Vaile of a stroke in 1894.  The house and estate passed through several hands, as the couple had no immediate heirs, and now the house sits on a small number of acres surrounded by the city of Independence.  It is lovingly supported and maintained by the Vaile Victorian Society, and was a gift to the city by Mrs. Roger DeWitt.
(As always, to see picture larger, click on it, and then hit your brower's back button to return)

This year's theme was "A Silver Victorian Christmas"

And the decorations started right at the ornate double front door.

The view down the hall from the front door.

One of the parlor maids explained how the lady's parlor tree was chosen and decorated.

The music room mantle, all the mantles in the house are original and gorgeous!

This is the dining room.  It is not as large as the one at the Bingham, but is beautiful.  The silver tree is in front of the pass through from the butler's pantry, where food would be handed in from the kitchen.

Directly opposite wall of the picture shown above, showing some of the wonderful antique furnishings of the Vaile.  The door on the right leads into the two south parlors, and the left, into the hallway.

A beautiful upside-down Christmas tree.

The Vaile is unique in that Colonel Vaile had built a cistern that held 6000 gallons of water.  There was hot and cold running water throughout the house, and forced air gas heat.  The room seen here is under the cistern (which has been removed) but is a circular room set up as a breakfast room off the kitchen.  It may have been used by the six live in staff as an eating area, because it is in the back of the house behind the kitchen.  It is a charming room with five windows. The colonel had the same number and size of windows built above it around the cistern, so that the symmetry of the house would be correct.

The upstairs hallway.  The view is into the small room at the top of the front tower.

There are four bedrooms in this area, two on either side.

This room is set-up as a bedroom, but was possibly used by Mrs. Vaile as a dressing room or sitting room. There is a bathroom just off it with a tub and toilet, and would have been her private bath.

Mrs. Vaile's copper-lined tub, with a filling of red bulbs lit from underneath.

The picture that caused all the scandal.  Colonel Vaile had French and Italian painters do the detail work on his ceilings and walls.  This painting of a woman, which was originally bare from the waist up, caused such a scandal in Independence that Mrs. Vaile was shunned by society.  It was directly over their bed alcove in the master bedroom.  It was in this bedroom she was found 3 years later, dead of a possible overdose of laudanum, that was used  by society then as an opiate or sleep aid.

The painting had been "covered up" after the scandal broke, and a diaphanous insert put over the bosom area.

A ceiling decoration.

The gentleman's library.

The stairway to the 3rd floor.  It was never finished during the Vaile's tenure.  The mansion was used for a number of years as a sanitarium/old folks home, and residents were housed on the third floor, so there are bathroom facilities up there.  The former housekeeper's rooms, now the shop, were the operating or treatment rooms in those days. (second floor)

We were told once by a man who owned a Victorian mansion that rather than decrying the use of the fine old homes for things like boarding rooms and retirement homes, we should be glad that they were used, and not torn down.  I agree.

The kitchen.  Of course, there was probably a separate summer kitchen,  now gone, and the larders and servant's quarters were in the basement. 

I have many more wonderful picture of the gorgeous decorations, but will leave you with one more, and put some on the Calamity Acres Facebook page this week.

I hope you have enjoyed these pictures as much as I enjoyed going through these great old homes.  I love the old ones... though I am glad to be here in our tiny house, snug as a bug in a rug.

The "back door" of the Vaile, the portion of the house here was the domain of the servants... the housekeeper's rooms on the second floor, and the kitchen and service areas on the first.  The water cistern was under the tower you see just peeking over the house on the right.

I go to the Bingham and the Vaile

First, let me ask if you heard the news today that the Midwest is under the assault of a windstorm bringing snow flurries and zero temps to us here in Kansas?

As I sit shivering here at the computer, I can attest that it's true.  When Keith and I got home from our myriad errands/Saturday things to do today, we found the water in the little henhouse frozen completely, and some very thirsty chickens.  We still don't have the base heater in there for their water, and we aren't sure what to do about it.  The intent for this year was that all the chickens from that henhouse be moved to the Big Henhouse for the winter.  That didn't happen.  Rambo would be trouble if we did it now, so we are in a dilemma, and as Keith would say, our insfrastructure is not up to date. Tomorrow in the wind we will cover the windows of the little henhouse, leave the red lamp burning in there, and hope for the best.  The chicks and chickens will get good water morning and evening while it is still so cold, so they will get water at least twice a day, and three when we are home.  We ran a heater under the waterer there last winter, but the big henhouse is down to two working outlets thanks to the mice and rats.  We are afraid to run the heat lamp on the three survivors, the base heater on the big waterer, the llama tank heater, and the lights off that outlet..... and then add another heater base.  We don't want to burn the chickens up.  Next year the big henhouse is due for a remodel, and the wiring repaired throughout.  Then we are going to run a dedicated line to the little henhouse with the plug up on a wall, where I cannot sting myself while changing water, as I did last spring. 

But right now, it's heading to zero, and the old house here at Calamity Acres is letting in the blowing wind while I sit and type. 

I had a wonderful day today.  I went to see my son Jeff, who turned forty in November, in Independence.  I saw him briefly last Saturday while we picked Gertie up, but today I got a longer visit, and took his Christmas presents to him.  He was in good spirits, and we made a short run to get something to eat.  I asked him to go to the Mansions with me... the two famous mansions in Independence that are open for visits and beautifully decorated this time of year.  He laughed... history is not his thing.  I did get a lovely picture taken with him at his house, with his roommate's little dog Sammy.

He towers over me, of course, my "baby" son!

And then I was off to the Bingham-Waggoner House, the first of the two mansions decorated for Christmas.

The Bingham Waggoner house was the home of George Caleb Bingham, the famous painter... who lived in it during the Civil War.  He painted the famous painting "Order Number 11" (Martial Law) in 1868 at the house to prevent Union General Thomas Ewing from succeding in politics after the war.

The family that lived in it the longest were the Waggoners, who ran a flour mill across the street from the estate, and whose sons and daughter led quite the lives of gentility. 

The final son willed the estate to his "housekeeper", who was also his roommate, and her heirs sold the mansion, barns, and remaining land to the city in the 1970's.  It is lovingly restored and maintained, and a phalanx of volunteers work there regularly.  The carriage house is a gift shop and the welcome center, and yes, weddings and private receptions can be held there.

I love this house... it was a family home and you can feel that in all the rooms. 

My sister and I toured it in September, but she was not able to come back today to see it in it's finery.

Here is a buckboard decorated for Christmas in the old carriage house:

Here is the carriage house fireplace

And here an old cupboard built in

The front door

Inside are two parlors, and a large dining room. The staircase is gorgeous.

This patriotic tree was in the gentleman's parlor.

This beautiful fox statue was in front of the fireplace in the gentleman's parlor.  I did not remember him from September, or my earlier visits.

The Lady's Parlor across the hall featured snow villages in pastels.

These stunning Magi were in the hallway at the foot of the stairs.

And here is the gorgeous dining room.  The lamp is

Tiffany, but I do not have a good shot of it here. The fireplace is green tile, very luxe.

This was the Grandmother's Room upstairs.  All of the bedrooms have original fireplaces, and they are all beautiful.

Here is a vignette from an upstairs bedroom, now set up as a gentleman's office.

And a bedroom from the third floor, which was probably used by live-in servants.

This window is at the top of the stairs to the "servant's quarters".  If they were indeed the servant's quarters as well as storage, (including a cistern), they were well-appointed and had a large common room for the staff to relax in.

The butler's pantry between the dining room and kitchen.

A dreamy vignette just inside the "refrigerator", the Ice room had walls a foot thick, and Santa is actually peeking out of the opened "refrigerator" door. This was bathed in blue light and was absolutely beautiful.

And this little fellow was looking up from a sink in one of the bedrooms.

Tomorrow, I'll feature pictures from the Vaile Mansion, also in Independence. 

The Vaile has a different kind of history, and was never lived in by a happy family.  Tragic in a way, it is still a very beautiful house.

Almost Here

I did some Christmas shopping on my lunch hour today, because it's Almost Here.....  My shopping is almost finished, and I must wait for the last check before Christmas to get those last few things.  We are keeping it fairly simple this year, and though I wish I could say it will be all homemade, that would not be true.  We did make jams this summer which are being gifted, along with the crock pot apple butter that came out so well.  But we have bought gifts too, though nothing elaborate. 

One of the best presents for me this Christmas is the opportunity to spend time with Jeff, my youngest son.  Jeff has never married, but is hard-working and steady.  He lives with some co-workers (and has always done in the past, mostly) in Independence, Missouri, some 50 miles from us.  We do not get to see him often, as he works at a retail store where he must work many weekends.  He does not have a phone in this day and age, so we communicate through snail mail and through occasional emails.  We saw him briefly last weekend, and on Saturday, I will go back over and sit and talk with him, take his Christmas gifts, and maybe get to have a bite to eat with my youngest "boy" who is now 40.  I am going to try to combine the trip with a visit to the Bingham Waggoner and the Vaile Mansions, the two beautiful Victorians that I missed last Christmas when I got there on the day they closed for a brief holiday break.  The ensuing blizzard prevented my return visit to see them.  I'll take lots of pictures!

This year there will be no video games in Santa's bag at Grandma's...we are encouraging reading and thinking and playing outside and DOING... instead of fantasizing about doing.  On the 18th we'll drive to Ames to see Keith's parents, and on Christmas Day after church, to my oldest boy Jim's, where they will host the gathering for the first time.  So it will be a quiet Christmas season here on the farm, with no large parties to prepare and no company in and out.  It's a time in our lives when we are ready for a bit of rest and relaxation, and a remembrance of Christmas' real meaning, Christ's birth and the promise that it brought to the world.

A Day for Thanks

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR FARM TO YOURS!

The Night Before

Or... The Calm Before the Storm...

It won't be four and twenty blackbirds in a pie, either... but a good spiral-sliced ham, potato casserole, and various sides along with a traditional pumpkin pie and cookies.  We are expecting a plunge into single digits tonight, and did not get the trough heater connected today, so that means carrying hot water in the morning to break ice for the llamas, and digging out the waterer-heaters for the two chicken houses.  Ugh... winter is back, or almost back.

Grandsons Chris and Nathan will be joining us for dinner, and brother Pete and sister in law Mary Beth will be joining us in sprit.  I saw them this afternoon in their cozy little house when I dropped off a few treats for their feast.  Now plans are to get up in the morning, care for the animals, and then start cooking.  I'll listen and catch glimpses of the Macy's parade, and set the table with my good Spode dishes that Mother gave me.  We'll thank God for all the many blessings we have had this year, and for those that will come in the future. 

Outside the wind is howling, but tonight, Calamity Acres is warm and dry, and almost ready for the holiday season to start.

A Christmas Show

Today was the date for the annual Craft Show at a local High School, and another at a local church in a small town near us.  My sister called me yesterday, and told me she was interested in going with me for the first time.  We slept in a little this morning (since I have overslept twice this week!) and met at 10:30 to go in one car to the shows.  At the first, I found some wonderful things to give as courtesy gifts for Christmas to some friends I want to remember.  At the second, we found lovely things we bought for ourselves and to give as gifts. 

When we came in the door, we were greeted immediately by Christmas decor.

My sister was stunned at the multitude of crafters.

From those who made the most wonderful creations from recycled clothing...

From recycled hymnals

to recycled old sleds...

To darling little girl's purses that Kathleen found for her precious little grandaughter, Caitlin Rose, made from recycled jeans and bits of ribbons and boas.

And Welcoming Little Snowmen!

After we left the craft show, we ate at a local restaurant, where we had a pleasant meal and visited.

BUT HERE IS THE REASON I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MY WONDERFUL DAY....

MY DEAR SISTER IS SURVIVING CANCER AND WAS ABLE TO GO OUT WITH ME AND HAVE A GOOD TIME, A YEAR AFTER DIAGNOSIS AND TWO HUGE OPERATIONS.... SO GOD IS GOOD TO US AND GAVE US MORE TIME TOGETHER... AND FOR THAT I AM

TRULY THANKFUL!