autumn - Shelley Beatty

Weston, Missouri and the Red Barn…pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins

October 10, 2014 by shelley

Weston, Missouri and the Red Barn…pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins!

Weston was at one time the second largest port on the Missouri river, surpassing both Kansas City and St. Joseph, however a flood in 1881 shifted the river into an old channel some 2 miles away. In 1850 over 265 steamboats a year docked at the Port of Weston. Weston Missouri once a large thriving town has lost much of its population but has not lost its charm. ( I posted more last year about Weston, Missouri and it’s colorful history. )

It has a quaint downtown with some fun shops and restaurants.

Downtown Weston Missouri

William Buffalo Bill Cody was at one time a resident of Weston, and the town was a major “jumping off” point for the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush.

A must do in Weston is a stop at the Red Barn to get your pumpkins (or pick some apples)! (more pictures). It is not autumn until I get my pumpkin at the Red Barn.

Pumpkins at the Red Barn in Weston Missouri

Perfect autumn day at the Red Barn in Weston, Missouri

Pumpkins at the Red Barn in Weston Missouri

Kansas City Autumn

November 5, 2013 by shelley

Autumn in Kansas City is a beautiful time of the year.

Autumn in Kansas City

Autumn Color-neighbor’s tree

Autumn beauty-View from driveway

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch in Weston, Missouri

November 2, 2013 by shelley

Charlie Brown isn’t the only one in the pumpkin patch. Ellen and I headed to the pumpkin patch at the Weston Red Barn Farm. Kids aren’t the only ones that enjoy exploring the many choices of pumpkins.

Early Weston Missouri mural

One of our favorite pumpkin patches is the Weston Red Barn Farm in Weston, Missouri.

The city of Weston has quite a history. The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in Weston Missouri. Lewis and Clark reported that the area was beautiful with fertile soil and a diverse landscape full of plant and animal life. Lewis and Clark wrote glowing reports of the area and prompted fur-trading companies to send traders and trappers. A marker located at the end of Main Street, near the Weston Depot, commemorates their campsite. The Depot, built in 1922, is now home to Weston City Hall and is located in what was once the Missouri River channel. Lewis and Clark reported that the area was beautiful with fertile soil and a diverse landscape full of plant and animal life. Lewis and Clark wrote glowing reports of the area and prompted fur-trading companies to send traders and trappers. Weston was the oldest settlement in the Platte Purchase of 1836 and was therefore also the farthest western settlement (thus, “West Town”) in the United States until the admission of Texas as a state in 1845.

Mural of Early Weston Missouri

William Buffalo Bill Cody was at one time a resident of Weston, and the town was a major “jumping off” point for the Santa Fe Trail, theOregon Trail and the California Gold Rush.

Weston’s heyday was between its founding in 1837 and 1860. A bustling town for people heading west, it was the last place wagon trains could stock up before they crossed the Missouri River and entered wilderness. The steamboats unloaded supplies for Fort Leavenworth and supplies for Westward travelers, and then loaded back up with Weston products of tobacco, hemp ropes, hides, and later lumber, whiskey, and fruit as they headed home. In 1850 over 265 steamboats a year docked at the Port of Weston.

The Weston Red Barn Farm is located 16300 Wilkerson Road
Weston, Missouri 64098. The Weston Red Barn Farm is like visiting a turn of the century working farm. But in addition to being an actual farm it is also a popular pumpkin patch, bonfire/hayride event place, school tour stop, and even wedding and reception locale. There is a country store where they sell locally produced products.

Pumpkins at Weston Red Barn Farm

Barn at Weston Red Barn Farm

Pumpkin selection at Weston Red Barn Farm

Wagon load of pumpkins

Country Store Weston Red Barn Farm

Wedding at Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

October 21, 2013 by shelley

Add together the first weekend of October (which is almost the peak of fall leaf color in New England), plus Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts (a living history museum), plus a wedding, plus seeing old and very dear friends…it all adds up to a must do trip.

Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village re-creates life in rural New England during the 1790s through 1830s. It is the largest living museum in New England, covering more than 200 acres (80 hectares). The Village includes 59 antique buildings, three water-powered mills, and a working farm. Costumed interpreters speaking in modern language help visitors understand 19th century life.

Old Sturbridge Village stagecoach

The daughter (Christine) of a very good friend, Ellen Riley, used Old Sturbridge Village as the setting of her wedding. Being New Englanders it was the perfect setting for Christine and her fiance Jeff Miller.

Linda Dobrusky Esplin (another very close and dear friend) and I decided to make the effort to attend Christine’s wedding. We have all been friends for years and years since the time when Linda (and Cordell), Ellen (and John) and I (and Bob) all lived in Medfield, Massachusetts. (Linda and I were friends even before this time at the University of Utah.) My children were all born during this time. (As was Linda’s oldest child) Both Cordell and Bob were doing their residencies. Riley’s moved into Medfield with their three daughters; twins Jennifer and Christine and Karen. (Karen has been a life-long friend to my daughter Jen-and Karen was a bridesmaid at her wedding.) And the rest has been history…not just friends but kindred spirits. We make the effort to attend Women’s Conference at BYU every year to renew and catch up. (Visit previous blogs on Women’s Conference 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)

Old Sturbridge Village outdoor history museum is located on Route 20 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and is easily accessible by car from I-84 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-90. It is about 60 miles outside of Boston.

Map of Old Sturbridge Village

Becca joined us for the weekend. We all flew into Hartford and drove north to Sturbridge. Since the wedding was not until the evening we spent the day visiting the village.

Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Cobbler shop, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Unglazed pottery, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Becca picking apples at Old Sturbridge Village, Linda watching on

Becca with picked apples, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Indoor plumbing! Old Sturbridge Village

Old covered bridge, Old Sturbridge Village

Carding Mill, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Cider Mill, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

One event which occurred on the day we visited was a real treat. They had heirloom apple tasting. We tasted varieties of apples that are only grown by antique apple growers and not available to the public. These varieties would be extinct except for the specialty growers. Some were sweet, and some tart (I had no idea apples could taste so different with so many “apple” flavors) but all freshly picked at Old Sturbridge Village and very delicious!

We got to taste apples of the heirloom varieties of: Esopus Spitzenburg (Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple, dates to 1817), Roxbury Russet (Boston Russet, dates to 1600’s), Baldwin (Butters Apple or Woodpecker apple-the most widely planted apple in in the United States 1852), Rhode Island Greening (Green Winter Pippin- considered to be one of best cooking apples, dates to Rhode Island before 1800), Dyer (Golden Spice Apple-originated in France in 1600’s), Pomme Gris ( French Apple or Gray Apple-brought to St. Lawrence River Valley by French immigrants about 1803), Sheppard’s Sweet (Originated in Connecticut in Connecticut, introduced 1850), Swaar Apple (Originated in Dutch, New York, ca. 1804, considered a favorite among home orchardists), Pewaukee (a cross between Duchess and Northern Spy apples, first recorded in 1870), American Beauty (Sterling Beauty-Originates from Sterling Massachusetts, first noted in 1854), Titus Pippin (Hang On, Hangan, Timothy-Originated in New York, dates to 1842), Mother’s Apple (Queen Anne, Gardener’s Apple-a dessert apple, developed in 1840’s Massachusetts, widely grown in England), Sheepnose (Black Gilliflower-Prized for baking, dessert and drying, believed to originate in Connecticut in the 1700s).