Buckets, Beers & Baby Kittens

June 2025: Just when you think you’ve seen it all, your husband willingly climbs into the front-end loader bucket of a tractor – easily 20 feet in the air – despite his lifelong fear of heights, just to help his brother-in-law fix the rafters in a barn. That’s true family love (and possibly grounds for a psychological evaluation).

Welcome to our unforgettable week in Formoso, KS, at Darren’s 3^rd sister Loreita and brother-in-law Steve’s hilltop home just outside of Mankato, Kansas!

Let’s set the scene: Loreita and Steve’s place sits perched on a hill overlooking rolling farmland, wildflowers, and some of the most beautiful sunrises Kansas has to offer. It’s the kind of quiet where you can hear yourself think - right before you get dive-bombed by a hummingbird or startled by a wild turkey sprinting through the yard.

The Bucket List (Literally)

No adventure is complete without a little risk-taking, right? Steve had a barn rafter that needed fixing, and Darren - armed with tools, courage, and a nervous laugh - volunteered to be hoisted up in the bucket of the tractor like a human piñata. Loreita and I stood back, watching him rise into the air, camera in hand, and contemplating whether we should call OSHA or just start filming for TikTok.

He survived. The barn did too. Barely.

Porch Time Shenanigans

Our evenings were delightfully low-key and full of belly laughs thanks to long games of Aggravation, Sevens, and Mexican Train on the screened-in porch. Darren’s 3rd brother Phillip (straight outta Mankato) and his 2^nd sister Sherri (representing Burr Oak) joined us for the family fun.

Let’s just say… someone (not naming names) may have invented a new rule mid-game, and someone else (also not naming names) may have discussed their would’ve/should’ve moves a little too much.

Local Eats, Treats, and Toasts

When in Mankato, Sweden Creme is an absolute must. This retro drive-in has been scooping up soft-serve and slinging burgers since forever, and their peanut butter shakes still taste like childhood and summer vacation had a delicious baby. We went for lunch, stayed for the treats, and left a few notches happier.

Later in the week, we road-tripped to Courtland, population: tiny; vibes: immaculate. First stop: Irrigation Ales. This locally-owned gem brews fantastic craft beer in an old hardware store, and we were more than happy to sample their liquid gold. I mean, what’s a hot Kansas day without a flight of cold beer?

Then it was across the street for dessert at the Soul Sister Scoops Ice Cream Shop - the kind of Wisconsin-made creaminess that makes you temporarily forget your beer buzz and focus entirely on choosing between Kitty Kitty Bang Bang or Blueberry Lemon Bar.

Small-town Kansas also delivered big on personal maintenance. Darren freshened up with a trim at Hair & More in Mankato and I enjoyed a peaceful pedicure with a side of local gossip. Between the two of us, we left that salon looking and feeling at least 12% more polished.

Balls, Bats &… Twine?

On another night, we drove to Osborne to cheer on Kaine - our grand-nephew - for his first official coaches-pitch baseball game of the season. The boys were clearly fueled by nerves (and possibly licorice) and didn’t hit their stride until the final inning. A last-minute rally brought the score close, but alas, we lost by one run. Still, there were proud cheers, snack bar runs, and Kaine’s post-game grin was worth every inning.

On our way back to the farm, we made an essential roadside pilgrimage: Cawker City, KS, home of the World’s Largest Ball of (sisal) Twine rolled by a single person. That’s right. One man. A whole lotta twine.

The twine ball began its mighty journey in 1953 when local hero Frank Stoeber decided the world needed more… string. Over the years, the community has added to it, and this marvel now weighs close to 20,000 pounds and stretches longer than most family dramas. We marveled, we studied, and we absolutely resisted the urge to unravel it just a little bit.

A Trip Down Memory Lane (with Chainsaws)

One afternoon, we hopped in the truck and took a short road trip to Phillip’s farm, formerly the family farm where Darren and his siblings grew up. Even though it's now Phillip's domain, it still carries the spirit of their childhood: the creaky barn doors, the wide-open fields, and the ghost of every youthful shenanigan that ever happened under that roof.

But this wasn’t just a nostalgia trip. Oh no. Phil saw Darren coming and said, “Perfect timing - grab a saw.” Before we knew it, they were out trimming back some overgrown, low-hanging tree branches like it was 1984 all over again.

Watching them work side by side, laughing, tossing branches, and gently giving each other grief, it was like stepping into a time warp. All the rhythms of Darren's teenage years came flooding back - minus the permmed mullet and flannel overload.

Kittens. Enough Said.

Back at the farm, Loreita introduced us to the newest residents: a litter of absurdly tiny kittens, still so young their meows sounded like whispers and their paws hadn’t figured out how to work yet. I could’ve spent all week watching them tumble around the barn and nestle in piles of straw. We seriously considered smuggling one home in a shoe.

This week reminded us that some of the best adventures are less about where you go, and more about who you’re with - and whether or not they’re willing to risk their life in a tractor bucket for family.

Cheers!

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