Along the Country Roads

This journal isn’t about my personal life, but I must offer a brief explanation of my absence. We arrived back in Kansas the second week in April, but I’ve been occupied with reconnecting with doctors, dentists, and friends. I’ve also had cataracts removed from both eyes. Then, when I was all set to write, I carelessly downloaded malmare. I had to shut the machine down and wait several days for the technician to clean it up.

While waiting, I started giving the house a thorough dusting. I felt quite virtuous  and was about to start working in the living room when Dennis suggested a Sunday afternoon drive. I dropped my dust cloth like a hot potato and set out on the road that exits our rural subdivision.

Then we headed along the country roads south of out house. We sit atop one of the many ridges that stretch north and south of Lawrence, home to forests that snake along hillsides and creek valleys as well as what must have been prairie before settlers disrupted the landscape with plows and fences.

Our meandering route took us past a local landmark: the quarter-house.

About fifty years ago a man from Kansas City bought this piece of land, built a garage and put up a tool shed, and then started building a house as a surprise for his wife. When he showed it to her, she declared, “I will never live here.” Somewhat daunted but determined, he finished the part he had started and declared it his weekend getaway. Both he and his wife have no doubt passed on, but here the quarter-house stands today a testament to their story.

Soon, we came upon an Angus bull and his harem. When we stopped, he threatened us by lowering his head, snorting, and pawing the ground. He didn’t seem to care that a fence separated us, nor that his butt was covered with his own poop.

The next bull and his harem behaved quite differently. They simply turned away and moved farther into their wooded pasture. Different breed, different temperament, I assume.

Atop the next ridge we found prairie phlox and  antelope horn milkweed blooming next to a fence made with Osage orange fence posts. The posts have been there for decades and will last many more.

The climax of our drive was seeing a 40-acre prairie remnant abloom with thousands of prairie phlox and a few scattered white penstemon. This photo gives just a hint of its scope.

Life in the country is good and it's good to be back.