🦊 Backroad Notes: Weird Art, Thai Food & Oreo S’mores 🔥🍪

It’s been a nice, relaxing week here in Iowa, and honestly, we’ve needed it!

We’ve mostly been taking it easy, letting Bug have the run of the house so he can keep practicing his walking skills, and enjoying some much-needed downtime with family. After months of traveling, festivals, and constantly planning our next stop, it’s been nice not having to rush around for a change.

On Tuesday, I got to have a little girls’ day with my cousin!

First, we made a stop at Sam’s Club to stock up on diapers, wipes, and other essentials for Bug. The glamorous side of motherhood, folks. 😂 Once we had that taken care of, we headed to the Des Moines Art Center to explore three levels of art.

Now, I really wish I’d taken more pictures because some of the artwork was definitely… something else.

There were some interesting pieces and sculptures that left us standing there scratching our heads, trying to figure out what exactly we were looking at. One sculpture titled “Happy” was a metal chicken with pointy features and a screaming human head, with the back of the head seemingly fading away like dust in the wind.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m not entirely sure how a screaming chicken-person with a head disappearing into the breeze translates to “Happy.” 😂

Weird? Absolutely.

Interesting? Also absolutely.

That’s the thing about art, though. Sometimes you look at something and immediately understand what the artist was going for. Other times, you’re left wondering what on earth inspired it in the first place. Either way, it certainly gives you something to talk about!

After our artistic adventure, we went to a Thai restaurant called Cool Basil, and that turned out to be a delicious decision.

The fresh seafood spring rolls were amazing, and my garlic egg noodles with chicken were fantastic. Of course, I couldn’t leave without trying a lavender boba drink, either.

Now, I’m lactose intolerant, so that was a bit of a gamble… but sometimes a girl has to make sacrifices for the things she loves. 😆🧋

We made one more stop at Costco to pick up a few things, and that’s where I finally snagged one of those cast-iron cauldron pots I’ve been seeing all over social media!

You know how it goes. You see something enough times, and eventually, you decide you need one of your own. 😂 Now I just need to get the crockpot version, and apparently, my kitchen is going to start looking like a witch’s cottage.

Honestly, I’m not mad about it. 🧙‍♀️🔥

Speaking of fire, we’ve also been having bonfires almost every night, which has been wonderful. Sitting around a fire is one of my favorite things to do, and naturally, no bonfire is complete without s’mores.

But I’ve got a little upgrade for your next campfire treat, and trust me, you’re going to want to try this!

Oreo-stuffed jumbo marshmallows. 🍪🔥

Grab a jumbo marshmallow, cut a slit into the middle, and stuff an Oreo inside. Toast it over the fire until the outside gets nice and golden. You can eat it just like that, or take it a step further and sandwich it between graham crackers with a piece of chocolate.

You’re welcome. 😂

It’s gooey, chocolatey, and ridiculously good. Just be prepared for a sticky mess, because that’s half the fun of campfire treats!

Now, our relaxing Iowa visit is coming to an end, because today we’re making our trek home to Ohio!

It’s a beautiful day for traveling, and we’re hoping to be home either tomorrow or Saturday. After all the miles we’ve covered, I’m looking forward to being back in our own space, seeing our chickens, getting into my own kitchen, and finally having some time to settle in without immediately thinking about where we need to be next.

And about that goal of reaching 100 blog posts before we get home…

I don’t think I’m going to make it, and you know what? That’s okay!

There are still plenty of stories to tell, pictures to share, memories to revisit, and adventures to write about. The next few months will give me time to catch my breath, work on the blog, and get better prepared for next year’s travels.

This trip has given us so many experiences, from festivals and new places to little milestones with Bug that I never want to forget. I’m grateful to everyone who’s been following along, reading the posts, looking at the pictures, and sharing this journey with us.

Thank you for being part of our adventure! 🧡

I hope you’ve enjoyed coming along for the ride as much as we’ve enjoyed making these memories. There are still plenty of stories to come, and just because we’re heading home doesn’t mean Foxfire & Freeways is going into hibernation.

We’re simply turning the page to the next chapter.

What is your favorite parts of our adventures since I started the blog?

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling. 🧡🦊