I went to the Colburn area with my camera
yesterday. It’s north and west of the
Selle Valley, along HWY 95. Used to be that
the highway ran through downtown Colburn, home to a country store.
Our friends, the Kamps, owned that store for a
while, and we used to visit the family there. Eventually, the store gave way to a
highway right-of-way. Nowadays, Colburn
is more of a residential area since the Norway Café and Motel and the Jinx Tavern also became
history.
Some longtime residents, however, still proudly
claim Colburn as their addresses, while others who have moved away still happily share wonderful stories about their childhood there, including school days at the
elementary school, which still sits on a hillside east of the highway.
If you’re a Bailey, a Stradley (I think Mrs. Stradley
owned the Colburn Store for a time), a Decker or an Oliver or a Tucker or an Inman, etc. you
may still claim strong roots in the Colburn countryside.
My sisters’ farm is also known as to us family
members as the Colburn place. They’re
relatively new to the area, having moved from North Boyer to the “old Tucker dairy,” back in the
early ‘90s.
With all their horses, over several months, they grow an impressive, hot, steaming manure pile every year. In fact, I once met a lady at Yoke’s grocery
store who knew of my sisters because of their pile of farm and garden gold
which sits next to their barn on a hillside off the highway.
I think this lady may have been close to abusing one
of the Ten Commandments when she informed me that she “coveted” Barbara and
Laurie’s pile of decaying horse apples and barn bedding.
Anyway, she’s not the only neighbor in the area doing the
coveting, cuz one longtime Colburn-ite comes yearly to load up the goods and
haul them away.
One time a year ago or so, while picking up loads, Gary
Bailey left a gate open, only momentarily but long enough for a bunch of Tibbs
Arabians to race through the opening and take up grazing on my sisters’ lawn.
We heard later that he had quite a time trying to
round them up and finally gave up, shutting all gates to the property. Eventually, I received a call from the
next-door neighbor, drove over with a halter and can of grain and showed the
horses back to their usual pasture.
Yesterday’s drive around Colburn took me to some
ponds along the highway and through Baileyville where there is the most
stunningly beautiful yellow farmhouse.
The paint job on this house is not only
artistic but eye-catching. I doubt that
very many highway drivers pass this place without having to take a quick look.
Early spring surroundings are pretty too, with
golden willows contrasted with leafless aspen.
From my past experiences there, I can report that the beauty of the area changes with the seasons. Fall scenes are especially striking.
Twas an awe-inspiring photo outing, especially
because of all the enjoyable country vignettes along the way, enhanced by a long-awaited dry afternoon.
Back in the Selle Valley, Lily still holds off. She is spending her days in the round pen, where there’s no mud, and evenings in her stall.
I’d say Lily has the cleanest stall in town, thanks to all my visits
there, hoping to see something other than Lily and a bunch of new piles of manure. In my case, no coveting allowed. A few friends and I enjoy the fruits of our two horses' deposits.
Anywho, it looks like we may be turning the corner for a while
on this endless wet weather, and that is a welcome thought.
Happy Good Friday to all. Enjoy the photos.
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