Amish Meets Catholic

Jake and Jim riding into Jamesport

This past Monday we had a Catholic priest from Cuba, Missouri stay at the Inn. Father Finder was on vacation and looking to spend some time getting to know some Jamesport Amish.

Breakfast at Country Cupboard

I introduced father Finder to Jake Graber and as a result they spent some time together riding in Jake's buggy. I met up with them when they came into town for breakfast at the Country Cupboard Restaurant. We ate together and had a nice discussion about life in Jamesport. Jake and I were happy, cause father Finder bought us breakfast!

Makin' Hay!

It is that time of year again when everyone is working into the night making hay. Farmers are busy cutting, raking, and baling.
The Amish of course use their horses to cut and rake the hay, but sometimes hire a farmer with a tractor to bail the hay. More traditional Amish bailing would be done with a pull behind baler that uses a motor to create the square bales.

Graber Farm - 2012

One of my favorite old photographs was taken of Rachel Young while she played atop a round bale. Luv ya Rachel.

Snow at the May Days Festival?

Fire Department Benefit Lunch

No matter how long you live here it always seems to come as a surprise when the Cottonwood trees begin to caste their seeds to the wind. Our May Days Festival starts today and for just a moment when I looked out my window I thought the festival would be held on a snow day.

As it turns out, we have three huge Cottonwood trees in our yard and they began to go to seed. Now is when you understand why they are called cottonwood. They look like they are shedding cotton balls. Until the trees are done seeding, we will have to put up with the large accumulations of fluffy white residue everywhere. The snow was a false alarm. It was only the annual cottonwood flowering.

The weather today is just beautiful and there was a benefit lunch taking place at the Jamesport Rural Fire Department. They are getting close to their goal to raise enough funds to build a new fire house.

Open House - Bird Style

Coming from the West Coast, I was not familiar with the birds of the Midwest. As it turns out, I could not miss the number of strange looking bird houses on the surrounding farms. At first I thought it was just a style to attract a variety of birds, but to my surprise, these houses on tall poles were built for a very specific bird. The are the homes of the Purple Martin.

Today, while visiting Sherwood Quilts Amish Country Store, I noticed a flyer advertising an open house for Purple Martins.

I was delighted to find out that a local farm was having open house to show off his colony of Purple Martins.

This is just another of the thousand and one reasons for living in the heartland of America. You can't make this stuff up. I wish my grand kids were here for the open house. What a great way to learn about nature, and it is free, not to mention the donuts and drinks.

Come visit Jamesport, and you won't be disappointed.

Amish Consignment Auction

 The 13th annual Hickory Hills Amish School consignment auction is scheduled for this Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 08:30 AM. I was out at Joe's Farmer's Market Yesterday and noticed that goods for the auction are starting to arrive at the site. Sale bills are available if you call 660-684-6678.

The Hickory School will have a lunch stand at the auction. The sale will include quilts, comforters, antiques, horse consignments, horse related items, woodcrafts, and furniture. The proceeds of the auction will benefit the Hickory Hill School.

Joe's Farmers Market is located on Highway 190, 5 miles south of Jamesport. This is a great way to spend a Saturday looking for a good bargain. See ya there.

May 5, 2012 .... Update. I went to the auction today and took a few pictures. As you can tell, it was a beautiful day and the event was well attended. There were at least 3 simultaneous auctions going the whole time. They were selling different kinds of items at locations around the farm.