Exploring

On Friday morning I got into Michael's flivver (Honda) and headed east to Brownville, a little town of about 150 people that sits on the Missouri River. Brownville was settled by a restless Tennessee pioneer by the name of Richard Brown. It once was a vital port town for riverboats on the Missouri River, slumped into near extinction only to be revived in recent years as a historic site. I love Brownville. Been there many times and never tire of going back.

The day was cloudy causing the temperatures to be much cooler than the over 100 heat indices that was going on when I first arrived. The Missouri River bridge has been closed for repairs and upgrading and then, too, the floods closed roads etc so the traffic was almost non-existent. I chugged along, pulling over on the paved shoulder, every time I saw something I wanted to snap a photo. Got pictures of barns (which I will do in a later post) and a family of turkeys in the ditch. I got all excited and pulled to a stop. Boy, I was going to get up-close and personal with those wild turkeys. This is what I got.

My car (well, it's Michaels but I was driving it) scared the life out of them and away they ran across the road. I tried. Maybe next time.

On to my destination... First stop was the Brownville Mill.

Not sure why it's called that but I thought I'd check it out. Interesting... it was a health food store with packages of all these weird looking remedies and concoctions on the shelves. Mr. Davis, the gentleman running the place, said that his store was the oldest health food store in Nebraska (since back in the 1950s). It was definately something unusual to add to my 'Down The Rabbit Hole' adventure. No pictures. I think I was just so stunned by all the weird stuff in there I just thanked him, walked out and went on my way.

Lunch time... ummm, I believe I'll stop at the Lyceum and have something to eat, the Lyceum being the only place to eat in that small town..

The Lyceum is a unique establishment. It's a combined art gallery, used book store and restaurant. I love this bronze in one of the dining rooms.

I chose the strawberry-chicken salad with a muffin (boy was it more than yummy)

 and topped it off with a German Chocolate pie slice (which I did not need)

The Brown/Carson house across the street was closed. I've never been inside there and would love to go poking around in there one of these days.

It was built by Richard Brown, the founder of the town. Later on it was owned by John L. Carson, one of Nebraska's first bankers.

After lunch I stopped in the A Novel Idea Book Store and an antique shop. Bought a friend a book

And got this pretty dish for myself. How am I ever gonna get all this stuff I am buying home.... UPS I guess. 

I doubt it's an old piece, it was $10 but I liked it and old or a copy I knew that it was going to be mine.

I ended my Brownville visit with a stop at the Quilted Kitty Too. Details on that is on my quilting blog Latane's Quilts so hop on over there and check it out.