The Life and Times of Ruby Hardbottle: A Trip to Farm Country: Part VI

"There's and exhibit called "Barn Again" that is coming from the Smithsonian Institute and staying for a while in our small community center" said Mother Mergatroid. "Daisy, I would like you to take some pictures of some of the barns around here." So, on Monday morning, the travelers planned to have have breakfast on the road and take a tour of the contryside, photographing old barns and whatever else took their fancy.

Barn 1

Ruby Herself

Farm Equipment

Ruby Herself

Old Sanders Store... Old stage-Coach stop

Ruby Herself

They had photographed several barns, and were visiting some old friends of the Mergatroids when they realized they had not yet had their breakfast. "The cafe on the way to St. Maries is excellent!" said the Mergatroid's friends.

After leaving their house and driving a few miles, photographing a few more barns and driving by the Mergatroid's old property, they finally arrived at the cafe. The Mergatroid's friends were already there. Mother Mergatroid, Daisy, Ruby and Ollie, joined them at their table, and they were handed menus.

Ruby and Ollie were hungry for breakfast and decided upon a Denver Omlette. Their mouths were watering and they were very, very hungry. "I'm sorry", said the pony-tailed teenaged waitress over her chewing gum , "We don't serve breakfast this late." Everyone else had burgers.. and their orders were acceptble to her. Ollie studied the menu carefully and decided to have a Turkey Sandwich as he watched his cholesterol intake.....Ruby was swayed by the hamburger crowd, and joined them.

Ruby had not had a hamburger this good in years. It was like the ones she would get at the high school hang out. Grilled bun. Tomato, Onions, Thousand-Island sauce. She was savoring her first bite when Ollie leaned over and asked "Is this turkey?"
Ruby inspected his plate, and she had to say "You know, Ollie, I am just not sure, but I do not think you should eat it." Everyone else at the table agreed. They called the waitress who took it back and let Ollie order somethng else. Apparently the Turkey was frozen processsed turkey. The cook threw it on the grill to thaw it out. It made it look very mysterious.

Upon leaving it was mutally decided that the cafe was a great place for burgers... but not for anything excessively healthy.

Barn 2, a Dairy Barn