An Old Homestead and a Vision

In the middle of a milo field stands this old homestead. It's crumbling. I'm almost afraid to lean against it for fear of giving the last nudge before a collapse. But it stands strong in all the Kansas elements whether driving winds, rain, snow or summer sun.

I love how the light of the setting sun and rising moon played in most of these pictures. However, this picture shows more of the true colors of the structure in plain, though glorious, daylight!

Here's the story summarized and simplified: There is interest in rebuilding this farmstead and old stable (see the newly constructed sandstone arched entry to the stable) into a "Swedish Heritage Learning Center" where groups can come to hear presentations in the themes of interest concerning Swedish Settlers and Immigrants who lived in this area. As one might imagine this vision has a propensity to be cost prohibitive, but the lady with the vision (whose relatives lived in the house) has done her homework and is in the process of applying for grants and soliciting funding for the project. We wait to see the outcome.

Mike was asked to give a bid on rebuilding the roof. Of course before a roof can be built the top needs to be built up and strengthened which would be part of "rebuilding the roof". When Mike drove me out to the country to see the old homestead and he turned onto a tire-tracked pathway in the middle of a lush green milo field, rambling down the tracks was enough to cause me a bit of concern as the milo that had become bent low bewtween the ruts banged and twanged the underside of our "SUV Wanna-Be".

We knew there was a full moon on the rise, so last evening we took a drive out to snap some photos of the homestead.