Many of you have asked where in the world I've been.

All I know is that after 7 plus years of blogging and a different lappy, which I don’t like, I seem to have lost my blogging fervor.

Someday, when you least expect it, I will post again.

For those of you still waiting I say thank you.

Meanwhile, I am rather prolific on twitter. Find me: @KeethaB
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The Eclectic Company - Waitin' on a New Adventure!!
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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Thrifty Vintage Thingies - Wisconsin Heritage

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It's THAT time again!!!!
Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Coloradolady and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.













Be sure you click on both of the above icons or links to check out what everyone else is posting.

Because I am vacationing in the rich dark soil of my home state, where my roots run deep, I'm going to share some Wisconsin Thrifty Vintage thingies with you.

First for the THRIFTY part:


This is how non-imbibers of alcohol
Utilize the wine rack in their vacation cottage!!!
(My friend Diane, who is vacationing with us,
Thought up this very clever plan!!)


Now for the Vintage Wisconsin Heritage part:


This beautiful farm, nestled in the rolling hills of Vernon County, formerly belonged to my Grandpa Isaiah Butcher. This is where my mother, her seven sisters, and one little brother were raised.


It appeared to me that the barn was the only original building left on the site.

We Butcher cousins grew up on stories whose setting was right here - - - in this barn, on these hill sides, and in this valley. My mom had memories of playing on a "sand hill" behind this very barn. She also told the tale of falling in the milk cooler one evening when she was so tired she sat on its wall only to fall asleep and tumble in.

(A "milk cooler" back in THAT day was a large stone walled trough filled with icy spring water.)

Just down the road a piece from the farm was the little one room school house where mom and her siblings walked to school.

It now serves as a storage building behind someone's house.


Oh, but I got right out of the car, walked down their driveway, and took these photos. Yes I did, because you know - - - I needed to connect with my roots just a little!!!!

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22 comments:

Postcardy said...

I'm glad you explained what a milk cooler is. I was visualizing your mother falling in a big vat of milk!

Trish said...

Don't you just love walking down memory lane? What a great way to use a wine rack...very clever indeed! Enjoy your time home...it is beautiful!
~hugs~
trish

nancygrayce said...

What lovely farmland! I don't blame you one bit for walking down and taking pictures! I'm just glad they didn't have a big guard dog! Since I live in the same town I grew up in, I just drive around town to walk down memory lane! :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

What a pretty piece of land. Cute idea for the winerack.
Glenda

Coloradolady said...

You go girl!!! It belonged to you first anyway!!! How fun your travels are this summer to follow....What beautiful country.

Have a great VTT!

ClassyChassy said...

It was very fun to read your post today, and glad you marched right up for the schoolhouse snapshot! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Miri said...

I'm glad you got out of the car! Wonderful pictures of Wisconsin farmland and the one-room schoolhouse!

LV said...

Glad you are out touring and enjoying the country side. My theory is get out and go while you can. Life is too short. Be careful.

★Carol★ said...

Thanks for going to any lengths to get the picture Keetha! The farm is simply gorgeous, and must be stirring up all kinds of great memories.
Being big lovers of the Pringles, I love that idea to use the wine rack!
Happy trails!

Cindy said...

So beautiful there! My husband's family milked cows when he was growing up in Wisconsin. I wish we would go around their old farm place sometime when we're visiting. It's such a special feeling to get back to your roots, isn't it?

kyooty said...

I totally would have taken the same pictures!

Martin LaBar said...

I went to one-room country schools in Wisconsin until high school.

Keri said...

Awww Mom this is AWESOME! And now I have a mental picture to go with Grandma's poem about taking me to the sand hill.

brokeintrovert said...

Wonderful and beautiful photos. Thank you!

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

what a nice post and photos.. I love reading the story.. and scenery so beautiful! all so greeny.. Happy VTt

CC said...

WTG on walking down that driveway to take pictures. Somehow, the idea of an important vintage building like this being used for a storage shed, just sorta irks me. Thank you for sharing your sweet memories..and happy VTT. Hope your weekend is lovely.

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Keetha,
I dont drink wine, but I can sure put away some pringles. Its my fav chhip! I will have to do that trick! LOL!
But Keetha, these photos, the countryside....amazingly beautiful. It really stops me in my tracks and has me thanking God for such blessings as that. So beautiful! Thanks for linking up to Thrifty Thursday this week, my friend, on vacation no less. YOU ROCK!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
www.lbratina.blogspot.com

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, Grand old Badger State! Come by for a visit ! Cindy

Anonymous said...

what fabulous memories..i love the photos too :)

Bea said...

How wonderful that you could visit the home place! Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

Nancy said...

I love the rolling hills of Wisconsin, but my favorite pic is of the wood pile along the side of the former school house. Wood piles were always part of my childhood.

Becky said...

Well heck, you could gone ahead and knocked on the door too! heehee.

Beautiful pictures!

Thanks for sharing.