On the Saturday following our trip, I left for Heartford, KS, to visit a little lavender farm to take tea with the Jane Austen Society. It was a 2 hr drive, but I had never been out that way before; it was a nice drive. I finished listening to my book on the way there and back.
As part of the excursion, we were able to gather some lavender to take home.
After a refreshing morning, I headed to Independence to celebrate Strawberry Days. The Vaile Mansion hosts a festival each summer, and I had wanted to tour the mansion since learning of its existence a few months back. Daniel, Teddy, and Lizzy went a little before me. I was nearly on the last tour of the day.
A real Warden Box! I read all about them and how they allowed the English to smuggle tea plants from China. It was fun to see one in person. The dresses were amazing, and the chandeliers in the front parlors were intended for the White House, but President Garfield felt they were not grand enough, so Colonel Vaile snapped them up. The house was built in 1881 and was the very height of modernity. It had running water: hot and cold, flushing toilets, and a 48,000-gallon wine cellar!
This is a sewing machine. I had never seen one like it before.
It was a fascinating home, and I loved all the little details. Next year, I hope to go earlier to get to see more of the festival; they were all packing up when I left the mansion. I bought a lace handkerchief, a necklace, and some cards from the gift shop. The lady running it was quite flustered as she was not used to the card reader, but she was very nice.
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