My latest book talk trip included some quality sister time. My youngest sister, Lila, was visiting from Alaska. I invited her and our middle sister, Kay, along on my trip to Waterville, KS, on October 22nd.
 
Quality sister time usually involves a late night, catching up with each other, reminiscing and a bottle of wine! We did all of that in Manhattan the night before my talk.
 
We rolled into Waterville with plenty of time to drive around and look at some beautiful restored Queen Anne Victorian homes and gorgeous fall color. I had been to Waterville once previously to visit friends, Lyle and Ann Walter, and toured one of the homes as well as theirs.
 
I called Ann and asked if she had time to give us a quick tour of her antique and vintage clothing shop, “Anntie M’s Attic.” She graciously took time out of her schedule to do so. Ann has collected and studied period clothing for years and has an extensive collection of mostly women’s fashions from the 1870’s through the 1980’s, including a rare corset from the 1790’s! She gave us a delightful tour that had us “oohing” and “aahing” over her treasures! She gives programs and tours to groups, usually followed by a Victorian tea or a yummy treat from her 1950’s malt shop. Her website is http://anntiemsattic.vpweb.com/ and has contact and reservation information. I highly recommend a day trip for any women’s group!

​Or, if you want to stay overnight, try the Weaver Hotel bed and breakfast, http://www.weaverhotel.com/wp/. The century-old hotel has been restored and updated. The rooms are furnished with authentic Victorian antiques and gorgeous quilts! Yes, most of the rooms have private baths—you don’t have to use a chamber pot! My sisters and I toured a few of the rooms and wished we'd spent our quality sister night there!

​​One building we didn’t get to tour was the Waterville Opera House. Over 100 years old, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and the community has undertaken a massive renovation project, made possible by a 2012 Heritage Trust Fund Grant. For more information, you can go to https://www.facebook.com/WatervilleOperaHouseRenovationCommittee/. Here is a picture of the Opera House from that Facebook  page. 

My talk was at the Waterville Public Library. Notice the antique double doors in the picture below.

The group I spoke to was the General Federation of Women’s Club, aka Shakespeare Club. I’d never heard of this organization so I asked Jeannette Bergquist, who arranged for me to speak, about their focus and history. Below is her response. It’s incredibly interesting and well worth reading.
 
“Our Shakespeare Club has a long and interesting history.  In the beginning, 1895, the ladies organized themselves as The American Literature Club, then in 1903 The Shakespeare Club, when they actually studied and performed many Shakespearian plays.  In 1917, they became a part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.  GFWC is the largest organization of volunteer women in the world.  Kansas has a membership of 600 women.  LIVING THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT is the epitome of our club work. Historically, GFWC established 75% of the country’s public libraries.  In 1906, our clubwomen decided Waterville needed a library and reading room so in 1907, they sent for a traveling library from Topeka.  Each member paid 10 cents to defray the cost of shipping books back and forth.  The library was housed in a store, then later in the basement of City Hall, and since 1942 in the present building.  Our main project continues to be The Public Library.  Our club, in partnership with the City and the North Central Kansas Libraries, maintains and runs the Library.  The Shakespeare Club, adhering to its original motto, “With all thy getting, get understanding,” has programs emphasizing intellectual culture and civic improvements.  Some of our programs are in the areas of Home Life, Public Issues, Education, International Affairs, The Arts, Veterans, Conservation, Safety, Women’s Health Issues, Domestic Violence, and Literacy.”
 
This group’s community commitment is vital to keeping the spirit of Waterville alive and active.
 
The ladies were an enthusiastic and engaged audience, and willing to share some of their own experiences which is always fun for me! In response to my “Snake Slayer” story, one of the women told about finding a copperhead in her house. Seriously! 

Kay, Lila and I enjoyed chatting with the ladies over delicious refreshments of cheesecake, cookies and punch. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a “sisters” picture, but here is one taken a few days later with our mom. Kay is on the left, Lila is between us and Mom is seated.

​Thanks to the ladies of the Shakespeare Club for their warm welcome; to Jeannette Bergquist for arranging for me to talk; to Ann Walter for the delightful fashion tour and history; and to the gal at the Weaver Hotel (sorry, I don’t remember her name) for taking time to give us a tour and history of a few rooms.
 
I’m definitely planning a return trip to Waterville to spend more time touring the town. I might even indulge in a treat at “Anntie M’s Attic” soda fountain! 

On July 25th, I saddled up my Chevy Equinox and headed west to Abilene, a town rich in Old West history and legends, and the boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower, former World War II Five-Star General and President.

The focus of this excursion was a book talk at the Abilene Public Library. The original plan was to make this a “girl trip” with a friend: go out on Friday to shop the antique malls and stores, stay over and tour the museums and other historical sites after my talk. But due to the forecasted extreme hot and humid temperatures, we scrapped those plans until cooler weather. I left home at 7:30 Saturday morning, arrived in Abilene around 9:00, scoped out the downtown area, then headed to the library, also downtown, to prepare for my talk.

This is another of the libraries established with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. The current building was opened in 1908 with additions in 1934 and 1977, and renovation in 2009. I love the stately architecture!

The interior is also reflective of the period with original oak woodwork, and columns that divide sections in the original building.  

The people who attended my book talk were a lively group, asking questions and sharing some of their own experiences.

The gorgeous kimono displayed on the wall behind me is from Abilene’s sister city, Omitama, Japan.

After the book talk, I set out to troll for treasures in the antique malls and stores. Here are a few of my finds: 

An enamelware kettle and lid

A group of colorful reproduction “fish” liquor bottles. Even though they are repros, they were inexpensive and will add pizzazz to my bottle trees.

Many thanks to Kristine Sommers, Outreach Coordinator for the library, and to the patrons who attended my talk and made it such a fun experience!

I’m looking forward to a return trip, this time with my friend, to hunt for more treasures and tour the historical sites.

My “Hitting the Road” book tour took me to Alma, “The City of Native Stone” in the heart of the Flint Hills, on Thursday. As I headed west from Topeka on I-70, a smoky smell wafted through my air vents and the air was hazy with smoke from several controlled burn pasture fires in those Flint Hills. This haze lasted all the way to the Highway 99 exit, and probably beyond.

Alma is known for its native stone fences and buildings, constructed mostly of limestone. Two scenic drives in the area, Native Stone Scenic Byway and Mill Creek Drive, wind through the Flint Hills countryside dotted with fences and old stone farmhouses and barns. I saw a few as soon as I left I-70 and headed south on Highway 99. About halfway through the three-mile drive into Alma, I also saw this old bridge a few yards off the highway on a gravel road. Not many of these left!

As I was touring Alma, I accidentally found the Mill Creek Drive, also known as Old K-10 Highway, on the west edge of town so I meandered out a few miles, hoping to spot old, crumbling stone fences. This route would be quieter and safer than darting in and out of homeward-bound commuter traffic on busy Highway 99. I didn't go far before I found a restored fence. Efforts are being made to restore the old fences so people can see how they were originally constructed.

A few miles further, I found the old, crumbling fences.

Then I headed back to town to look at the stone buildings. Wabaunsee High School, constructed of limestone with a red tile roof, is considered one of the most beautiful schools in Kansas. All was quiet around the building. The action was south of town at the ball diamonds where the Charger baseball and softball teams were hosting Silver Lake. Unfortunately, both home teams lost. Hey guys and gals, better luck next Tuesday at Lyndon!

Alma is the county seat for Wabaunsee County and the courthouse is constructed of native stone. The interior has terrazzo on some floors and also marble. Unfortunately, I was there after business hours and couldn’t go inside.

The downtown area has several neat old stone buildings. The Alma Hotel, built in the late 1800s, is currently being refurbished into a bed and breakfast by the current owner.

The Kinne and Kerns Building was once a general merchandise store. The Community Art Center and Farm Bureau Insurance Agency now share the building space. Great old building!

The City Hall and Antiques Emporium share a corner building which has an interesting history, according to the City of Alma website:

"This beautiful and stately native stone building was once one of the finest buildings in town. It was built in the early 1880s by the Limerick Brothers, two red-headed Irishmen. These freckled, Irishmen came swinging into town with a fortune of $375,000 to invest, which they did in splendid style. They built the most handsome business building in Alma, which remains today, much as it was before the turn of the century and is still called “the Limerick Building.”

I love this story! Again, sorry I missed the opportunity to see the inside, particularly of the Antique Emporium. Will definitely come back and probably boost the Alma economy with a purchase(s) there! 

I arrived at the library and was greeted by Judith, director of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library System, and Joyce, director of the Alma Branch. These gals are delightful! Judith was excited to show me the special refreshment item: Cow Pie Cookies, baked by the Alma Bakery and Sweet Shoppe, the cookies with the frosting along the outer edge of the plate. They were wonderful! How clever and creative!

Joyce gifted me with a couple packages of cheese from the Alma Creamery. I've visited the Creamery on a previous trip. As the sign in front says, their cheese is “Nibblin’ Good!” Joyce passed on a helpful hint: serve this cheese at room temperature to bring out the robust flavor. Never heard that and will definitely try it.

I was invited to speak as part of the library’s National Library Week celebration. The patrons were a fun audience and many had either grown up or now lived on farms.

Judith asked me if I saw the sign at the Stockgrowers State Bank announcing my appearance at the library. I had missed that, so as I turned onto Missouri Avenue, the main drag, and headed out of town, I looked for the bank and was quite surprised at the “sign.” I was expecting a large poster of some type. This is what I saw:

One of the things I most enjoy about hitting the road to give book talks is the opportunity to go to towns in Kansas I’ve either never visited or not for a long time. My trip to Clay Center last Saturday was the latter.

I live two miles off U.S. Highway 24, which also runs through Clay Center. I’m quite familiar with the stretch of highway as far as Manhattan; beyond was all new territory. Due to lack of time, I didn’t make as many stops and side tours as I wanted. One of those would have been to drive across Tuttle Creek Dam. Maybe another time.

One stop I did make was in Leonardville at Nelson’s Landing, a café owned by Kim Nelson, mother of former K-State Wildcat and current Green Bay Packers standout wide receiver, Jordy Nelson. The timing was great for lunch!

The interior of the café is everything Jordy with lots of purple and green. Also featured are a framed Kansas City Chiefs jersey worn by Jon McGraw, another former Wildcat football player; a picture of Jordy’s sister, Kelsey, who played basketball for the Lady Cats; and a poster of Amy Mortimer, track and cross country All-American at K-State. All went to Riley County High School. They grow great athletes in that area!

I resisted the temptation of the specialty hamburgers—next trip—and ordered the Southwest Salad. It was delicious, especially the dressing! One temptation I didn’t resist was two pieces of homemade coconut cream pie in to-go boxes to savor later at home with Bill. Also delicious!

After lunch, I headed to Clay Center. Previously, I’d been there once, in November, 1972. The event was a Class 1A high school regional football playoff between my hometown high school, Burlingame, and Clyde High School. The game was played at the Clay Center High stadium—in a couple of inches of snow. The winner would advance to the state championship game. Our team won in a close contest. The final game was played in Burlingame and, in another close one, we prevailed. I took a nostalgic drive by the stadium.

On the way to the library, I drove around the downtown area where the Clay County Courthouse has a commanding presence. Because it was Saturday the courthouse was closed, but I would like to have gone inside. 

Located not far from the courthouse was an interesting building which piqued my interest of antique cars: Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts. If you’re into antique cars, how can you not love a building with the front end of an early 1950’s Chevy mounted above the entrance!

This building is the brick-and-mortar home to Fifth Avenue Internet Garage. Unfortunately again, the building wasn’t open.

Next stop, the Clay Center Carnegie Library. Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929 with funds donated by businessman and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The first library in Clay Center dates back to 1887, but Carnegie funds weren’t applied for until 1909 and the building was completed in 1912.

I was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of Friends of the Clay Center Library. This was a fun group and the president, Sarah Thomas, was a gracious hostess. The refreshments were yummy!

According to its website, Clay Center calls itself “The City Beautiful.” I look forward to another trip sometime, possibly later in the spring, to explore the parks as well as other attractions in this progressive rural Kansas community.