DasHaus October/November 2016
Up from the ashes After being destroyed by fire, a home is restored to nearly match its old look
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CONTENTS
McCracken woman rebuilds home to match original.
Taste of flavors........4 Cooler temps bring out flavor of fruits, veggies
Perfect planters..12 Just because it doesn’t say ‘planter’ doesn’t mean it isn’t one.
Das Haus is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601. Find it online at www.HDNews.net/DasHaus. Copyright © 2016 Harris Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Das Haus is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News. Printed by Northwestern Printers, 114 W. Ninth, Hays, KS 67601, northwesternprinters.com. Publisher, Patrick Lowry, plowry@dailynews.net Advertising Director, Mary Karst, maryk_ads@dailynews.net Designer, Nick McQueen, nmcqueen@dailynews.net Account Executives: Joleen Fisher, Amy Richecky, Eric Rathke Creative Services: Chris Dechant, Jennifer Funk, Timothy Ko
Cleanup time....14 Tips to keep your home clean inside and out.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Linda Beech is a family and consumer science agent with K-State Research and Extension in Ellis County.
FALL FLAVORS F
4 DAS HAUS Oct./Nov. 2016
resh fruits and vegetables are always delicious, but nothing beats the amazing flavors and versatile possibilities of foods that are in season in the fall. From apples to sweet potatoes, autumn’s bumper crop of fruits and vegetables offer a wide range of rich colors, intense flavors and substantial textures at their peak of ripeness. Harvesting and eating produce in season gives many benefits. The color, flavor, texture and nutritional value increase as fruits and vegetables ripen. And seasonal produce costs less when supplies are plentiful. By choosing fruits and vegetables in season you get all of the benefits — food that tastes good, is good for you and is reasonably priced. The fall season is full of delicious foods which can perk up any chilly night. The good news is these flavorful options not only taste great, they’re packed with good nutrition too. The MyPlate plan for healthy eating stresses half of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables at every meal. The message is clear — eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is a delicious way to enjoy the goodness of a wide array of nutrients while contributing to a longer, healthier life.
Pumpkins take center stage in the fall for their versatility. Starting from the inside out, roasting pumpkin seeds with a little olive oil and a pinch of your favorite spice is great way to make a fall-friendly snack packed with heart healthy magnesium, healthy fats, and fiber. The meat of the pumpkin is low in calories, and provides dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, B vitamins, and more than 200 percent of the recommended daily vitamin A. All this, plus it makes a great filling for your holiday pies. Fall root vegetables are nutrition powerhouses full of fiber and antioxidants and packed with important nutrients including potassium and vitamins A and C. Baked, boiled, roasted, fried, stewed or eaten raw, root crops such as sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips and rutabagas bring versatility and flavor to fall meals. Butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash are a few other delicious fall delights that are easy to cook and bring amazing flavor to any meal. Butternut squash is the most nutritious of the bunch. Each bite provides fiber, antioxidants, five different B vitamins, and an abundant supply of vitamin A. Spaghetti squash is a favorite low-carb substitute for pasta. This stringy veggie is loaded with vitamins and minerals but low in calories to satisfy any diet and palate. Even though you might not have liked them as a kid, Brussels sprouts are making a comeback as a delicious and healthy fall favorite. This super food can taste amazing when roasted or sautéed, and they’re great for strong bones and a healthy heart. Loaded with vitamin K, calcium, potassium, B vitamins, manganese, iron and more, it is time to give this trendy little green vegetable another try. Cooler weather brings the return of fall greens such as cabbage, kale, chard and collards which are excellent sources of vitamins A, C and K, potassium, calcium, and folate. These leafy vegetables are brimming with fiber along with plant-based substances that may help protect you from heart disease, diabetes, and perhaps even cancer for only a few calories per serving. For the sweeter side of fall, bite into a crisp, fresh apple. Whether piled into a pie, cooked into sauce or enjoyed on its own, this fruit has plenty of vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber, without a lot
Parsnips look pretty much like white carrots. of sugar. Another fall fruit loaded with fiber, potassium and vitamin C is the pear. Pears are naturally sweet and make a delicious dessert when poached with honey or baked into a crisp or cobbler. If your fall sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, reach for fresh pomegranates. Packed with antioxidants, pomegranates are delicious when sprinkled onto a salad or enjoyed as a refreshing juice. Need a few more ideas? The new publication “Simple Seasonal Meals”
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
from K-State Research and Extension includes a menu and recipes for each season of the year. Request it at your local County Extension office or find it on the bookstore page of the K-State Research and Extension website at www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu. From the first bite of crisp apple to the last piece of pumpkin pie, fall is one of the tastiest seasons of the year. With all the added nutritional benefits fall produce provides, it’s even easier to savor the flavors of the season.
AT HOME
Old is
Home restored after being burnt by lightning fire
new again Destroyed home is restored to match
M 6 DAS HAUS Oct./Nov. 2016
cCRACKEN — It was a heavy burden. When Anita Butler received a call in June 2014 that her home in McCracken was on fire, she felt a responsibility to her family. “I had broken their trust. I had dropped the ball,” she said, emotion cracking her voice. Butler and her husband, Jeff, lived in Solomon at the time. But since 2007, she had owned the farm and home built by her ancestors near McCracken that housed heirlooms and memories.
“There was nothing I could have done. We weren’t here. There’s nothing I could have done. It was just feeling that weight of responsibility to my cousins. They grew up here. My mom and aunt grew up here,” she said. Lightning from a thunderstorm started the fire early that morning. The same torrential storm delayed her ability to get to McCracken. When she and Jeff finally arrived, they could see the smoke from La Crosse, 17 miles away. A cousin who lives in McCracken had rushed to the site and managed to save a few items.
Story by Juno Ogle • Photos by Jolie Green
“God bless my cousin. He grabbed my Uncle Jack’s cowboy hat, a couple photos, a desk, bless his heart. The firemen said, ‘That’s enough, you can’t go for any more.’ ” “It was still burning, and it got to the point where they just had to let it go,” she said. Uncle Jack would be Jack Wilson, founder of the famed McCracken Rodeo. He had lived in the house until his death in 2006. “The entire town was devastated,” Butler said. When the flames were finally extinguished, all that remained were the four limestone walls of the original house built in 1880. “We were hoping to save them, but as soon as you touched them, they just crumbled,” Butler said. Butler knew she would rebuild. She considered a new house in a corner of the lot, or changing the direction the front of the house would face. Ultimately, though, she decided to rebuild history.
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COURTESY PHOTO Only the four original stone walls were left standing after Jeff and Anita Butler’s home was struck by lightning in June 2014. The house was previously owned by Anita’s uncle, Jack Wilson. The couple rebuilt the home to look almost identical to the original.
TOP: The kitchen of the home after it was restored. ABOVE: The kitchen prior to the fire that destroyed the home in 2014.
Even that wasn’t an easy decision. “I started to second guess that,” she said. “My cousins and my aunt — would they accept it? “But they were thrilled.” Today, the house is almost identical to the farm home that started as a 16-by-20-foot limestone structure. A small porch was added to the front of the house, and the balcony that Butler had always wanted to add off the second story is now there. Inside, the floorplan was laid out exactly the same, thanks to memory, photographs, some crazy measurements by Butler and a good contractor. From the reactions, it seems she has succeeded. “What’s really cool is old family friends that come and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh. The only thing that’s missing is Tot and the coffeepot.’ (Tot) was my grandma,” Butler said. It wasn’t the easiest thing to
“… it got to the point where they just had to let it go.” - Anita Butler
recreate the house, though. Some of the measurements were purely from memory, such as the height of the picture window in the kitchen when she sat at the table, or how much space her dog Buck took up on the porch. Old photos of the downstairs helped with the layout there, but few pictures existed of the second floor. “We found there was no pictures of the bedrooms. Nobody went upstairs. You just didn’t in the ’40s and ’50s,” she said. Photos taken for the spring 2014 edition of Das Haus helped with that portion, Butler said. With the photos that could be found, family memories and Butler’s “crazy measurements,” contractor Marvin Gross of Bazine went to work, making some suggestions of his own and keeping Butler on track. Gross suggested putting studs on the sides of the windows to hold curtain rods and advised against using old, reclaimed doors because screen doors would have to be special ordered to their dimensions, for example. “He was great. He was really patient with me,” Butler said. A few other tweaks were made here and there. A bathroom was added to the master bedroom along with access to the new balcony. A downstairs bathroom has more privacy and doorways were widened with handicap accessibility in mind. While the original stone walls could not be salvaged, they were rebuilt with new stone and, along with the wood floors, furnishings and some heirlooms, give the living room a familial warmth.
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A hat worn by Anita Butler’s uncle, Jack Wilson, was saved from the fire that consumed the original home, owned by Wilson, and now sits on display in the new house.
A view at the back of the house before the fire and after it was restored.
The house in McCracken now.
Shelves in the corner of the room were made from an old granary on the property and hold favorite books, old family photos and one of Uncle Jack’s hats and a pair of boots. One of Butler’s favorite pieces in the house is also in this room — a couch that her great aunts and uncles originally purchased for her great-great-grandparents. “We’ve got photos of me as a baby with my mom and aunt. Mom remembers my grandpa coming home over lunch and taking a little catnap,” Butler said. The couch, along with a matching chair, were in the possession of Butler’s mother when she and Jeff married, and the couple used them for a time. Then the pieces went into storage until Butler decided to use them for the reconstructed house. “This was literally in pieces,” she said of the couch. “Springs were shot. It was horrible.” They took the furniture to D&R Upholstery and Woodworks in Lieb-
enthal, where it was essentially rebuilt and reupholstered. “I just love the great job he did on it.” Much of the other furniture and decor came from area thrift stores, like an old school desk in the living room or the round butcher’s block in the kitchen. With the home rebuilt, the Butlers now live there full time. Jeff, a salesman for Grain Belt Supply Co. in Salina, telecommutes from an office in what was a small downstairs bedroom. Anita, who was an educator at Rolling Hills Zoo, substitute teaches in area districts. When she is not teaching, she spends much of her time in the kitchen. The room was often a gathering spot in years past. “When my grandparents lived here, this was the place to be,” she said. “It was a safe place for the young lady teachers to come. Back in the ’30s, where could they go to be social without being scandalous?” She writes letters or entertains friends at the table next to the big window overlooking the yard and trees beyond. During the McCracken Rodeo, the couple hosts the queen candidates. “Even if they don’t stay here, they come and hang out during the daytime, so we have snacks and a place for them,” she said. There is still work to be done on the property. Some of the limestone was salvaged from the original walls, and Butler plans to use it in the landscape somehow. An old well might become a water feature. She has worked in some of the original flower beds in the yard, cleaning them out and adding new plants. And the Butlers would like to turn the old barn into a garage and shop. Despite the doubts and frustrations, the couple say the home is perfect. “We have no regrets leaving Solomon,” Butler said. “This is all the way it was.”
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Berry Berry Quite Contrary Kayla Berry is a stay-at-home mom who enjoys creating, decorating and re-purposing old furniture and decor.
P erfect planters 12 DAS HAUS Oct./Nov. 2016
As fall turns to winter I am always sad to see pops of colors in planters fade away to brown. Plants and flowers add such a pretty element to our world. I always try to have at least a handful of pots of flowers scattered across our porch and walkway and leave them
out until the air turns cold and their leaves turn brown. Pots and urns are great for planting flowers, but just because something isn’t labeled a “planter,” doesn’t mean you can’t use it as one.
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That’s what is so great about decorating. There are no rules. I purchased an antique item from Lemon Street Antiques in Bartley, Neb. I’m not even sure what it is but it is the perfect little place to plant a couple succulents. And that green color is pretty great. The large cast iron piece also was purchased from Lemon Street Antiques. Again, not sure what it is but a large pot of flowers fit perfectly. And there’s even a cool looking drain hole on the front. If you have an item that you want to use as a planter make sure there are drain holes on the bottom of the piece. If you can’t drill a hole in the bottom, simply add some rocks to the bottom and that will help your plants thrive. While on the subject of planters, an old planter makes the perfect book holder for my little girls’ room.
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Protecting your home Tips to keep your living space looking its best
Keep your home clean inside and out
W
14 DAS HAUS Oct./Nov. 2016
hether the family dog gets his muddy paws on the couch, an ice cream cone melts all over the backyard hammock or a sudden storm soaks your new patio cushions, life is filled with unexpected messes. There’s no time like the present to plan ahead so you’re ready for whatever mess life throws your way. Here are some simple steps you can take to protect the things you love both indoors and out, so they last well beyond the season. Indoors Clean upholstery: Sofas and chairs are vulnerable to surface stains, so cleaning upholstery on a regular basis is important. Start by vacuuming the furniture to remove as much surface debris as possible. Then use a damp, soapy cloth to gently spot treat the fabric, allowing it to soak in, reaching dirt beneath the surface. Once dry, protect the material with Scotchgard Fabric & Upholstery Protector, which helps repel liquids and stains, preventing future messes. Remove rug and carpet stains: Whether it’s red wine, tomato sauce or berries, spills and dropped food can create unwanted stains, damaging your rugs and carpet. Tackle these messes as soon as they happen with a quick and easy DIY recipe. First, sprinkle the spot with baking soda, let it sit for 10 minutes and then vacuum. Mix a tablespoon of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar and two cups of warm water. Blot with a clean sponge until it disappears.
Clean your curtains: After using your curtains as a barrier between the outdoors and your living space all summer long, they likely collected dust. Most curtains can be steam cleaned, but taking them down and putting them back up again can be a hassle. To limit this, dust or vacuum your curtains every week as part of your cleaning routine. You can also use a lint roller to remove embedded dirt and grime that the vacuum can’t handle. Outdoors Waterproof outdoor fabrics: With cooler temperatures coming, winter elements are sure to make landfall in your backyard. Protect your favorite outdoor cushions with the Scotchgard Outdoor Water Shield — moisture and liquids just roll right off. Protect your footwear: As you break out your suede boots to step out in style this season, keep them looking great by protecting them from salt stains and snow with a water- and oil-repelling leather protector. Care for your car: From muddy boots to coffee spills, messes often make it to car seats and floor mats when we least expect it. To clean these surfaces, mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap with 2 tablespoons of hot water and baking soda. Use a cleaning brush to lightly work through the stain in a circular motion. Wipe the area with a cloth and let the space air dry. To help prevent future stains, use an auto interior fabric protector. Family Features
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