Cinnamon Roll Triumphs over Biscuit Day and Other Notes
March 9, 1015
Most of the time the weeks fly by for me. Last week was particularly long however. I suppose because I was a bit worried about Ernie. Although he felt great after his blood transfusion, he quickly faded again. However by the weekend he’d improved and in a weird twist for us I was the one that didn’t feel like wandering. I just needed quiet time to let my mind calm and that is what I’ve done. Actually I topped off my mind-calm with another Tooth Butter treat, a citrus rye cinnamon roll. Naturally leavened brioche dough with local grains and eggs, filled with a turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and citrus zest buttah filling. Oh, and buttermilk frosting. Heavenly.
Ernie recently mentioned that since both the houses I used to visit in Kansas are gone we probably wouldn’t go that way again. It rather startled me. It’s a stretch of road called Coach Road. I imagine it was called that as it was a stagecoach road along the path that Lincoln and other lawyers would travel for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court. It’s a bit south of the town of Kansas and just two years ago or so you could stop at the Lincoln Circuit Court marker, cross over the main road north to Kansas, and within the space of a mile or so drive past two beautiful 19th century homes. Ok, ok, not everyone would have thought they were beautiful in the state they were in, but I did. I really did.
First the frame one.
That one was torn down a few years ago, last time we went we couldn’t even figure out where it had been. Part of a cornfield now. Just gone.
And then the brick house, just a bit down the road on the south side. Reportedly the staircase had been stolen out of it years ago. It was ok for a long time but once the roof goes…
Think of the history those three stops represented. And only the Lincoln marker remains. Of course think of all the history that was already wiped out along that road. It’s always evolving I know, which should give me comfort but eh, I still feel the loss.
On the way to Kansas we passed through Oakland. I have a soft spot for this little town. It’s got a beautiful square and some delightful buildings. I am madly in love with this storefront. See how it says SODA on the side by the door. And it still has the old display partitions for the front windows.
And I found myself rather charmed by the 1970s (?) water fountain in the shape of a lion. It seems like it wasn’t that long since this was functioning downtown. Sigh.
We wandered on to the lovely Greek Revival house that was the home of Hiram Rutherford, a doctor who was the defendant in the Matson Slave Trial, the only time that Abraham Lincoln defended a slaveowner. I’d seen it before but I hadn’t noticed the little building across the street last time.
Came home and read up on it, it indeed was the doctor’s office. God, I love that. And you know of my softness for tiny little buildings…
The train depot right behind it.
As I read more about the trial and the house, read the National Register application, etc. I found myself fascinated at how original the site was…and THEN I read that the original privy was donated to the Lincoln home in Springfield back in the early 50’s. No, no, nooo, bring it back! Evidently it was unusual in that it still had the privy holes on barrel shaped bases to assist with hoop skirts.
Ok, I need to let this post go, it’s not getting any more cohesive the more I write. Please forgive my rambling. Doctor appointments for Ernie this week and if he feels well enough, perhaps a wander next weekend. 🤞
Onward.
Love,
Cynthia