tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53346748220523684342024-02-18T21:02:47.753-06:00The Schramm JourneyJohn and Diana are traveling around the country with a 37-foot RV and an 18-year-old cat. This is their story.John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.comBlogger1373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-80841550186750044352023-06-07T11:49:00.000-05:002023-06-07T11:49:03.727-05:00Chihuly in the Garden<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2bFRfx8xaGbd90HUs2E34ktwmty9GTcXFNyzNZYUzDawRAuJAKXVI22jeOVAeCl8UGWbMw5zV6tl5vXzPnqkDK4b_6BOqrKCYV4AGJKqPgW0gemvH_K837lDgKE94doUU-AeCEGA0JUQ-q1-oVpxFsWvcJNEDcTzjPqMLUrkUUAkJ9mQY_zlGQ/s1698/20230528_151705%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1573" data-original-width="1698" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2bFRfx8xaGbd90HUs2E34ktwmty9GTcXFNyzNZYUzDawRAuJAKXVI22jeOVAeCl8UGWbMw5zV6tl5vXzPnqkDK4b_6BOqrKCYV4AGJKqPgW0gemvH_K837lDgKE94doUU-AeCEGA0JUQ-q1-oVpxFsWvcJNEDcTzjPqMLUrkUUAkJ9mQY_zlGQ/s320/20230528_151705%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orchid found in the Climatron<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>For those of you not from the St.Louis area, the Climatron is located at the Missouri Botanical Garden. John and I had a beautiful spring Sunday to visit the gardens. It was comfortably warm, with a bit of a breeze and the humidity was low. Dale Chihuly currently is displaying his glass art work in the natural and beautiful setting of the botanical garden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NB5wV6ZUxT-464UrtCHlnnBX8Eef1HQiaKhyDsSVqmWYOISOvyDswIaF0Lm2iIeWbWH_sUJx1T6hbT594gZE_SR194wREflFE4smC-mAbBVnLWXvLxufMY1D8PkbZ9-aCkc9bMVeaoJ3n2Re-YHgqbYno_CEkNy6bCTTkOSKI5HO5bCnlXp6-A/s4000/20230528_145748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NB5wV6ZUxT-464UrtCHlnnBX8Eef1HQiaKhyDsSVqmWYOISOvyDswIaF0Lm2iIeWbWH_sUJx1T6hbT594gZE_SR194wREflFE4smC-mAbBVnLWXvLxufMY1D8PkbZ9-aCkc9bMVeaoJ3n2Re-YHgqbYno_CEkNy6bCTTkOSKI5HO5bCnlXp6-A/s320/20230528_145748.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p>Chihuly began, in 2001, working with botanical gardens to bring art lovers outside where it was possible to view his glass creations in natural settings. He has displayed his works once in past years at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. We enjoyed that exhibition then and this time around he has not failed us in our expectations!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5_M1sfWbhZun8HezGzLGw_07oXiveywtU_SEkle4LPIsVoZX1NuZhqoY0vhl5QLdwfhcf08XhCbQ48ncqecPu3kU7sFe7bBBTM8_N_rY5W8vrsD_dqPftpxIG0jwx1g_MoXB4xI_AWDNXD-RP-pZMdrzzxNz6C-fx8OmesNvd1o5DoUgzjM2JA/s4000/20230528_150830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5_M1sfWbhZun8HezGzLGw_07oXiveywtU_SEkle4LPIsVoZX1NuZhqoY0vhl5QLdwfhcf08XhCbQ48ncqecPu3kU7sFe7bBBTM8_N_rY5W8vrsD_dqPftpxIG0jwx1g_MoXB4xI_AWDNXD-RP-pZMdrzzxNz6C-fx8OmesNvd1o5DoUgzjM2JA/s320/20230528_150830.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethereal Spring Persians,2022<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Chihuly's work certainly blends well in a natural setting. It was hard for me to separate the real from the glass art work. As my gaze went toward a colorful plant nearby, from the art work pictured above, I had a momentary feeling of disorientation.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLodwm-YO2VjeGO4BluNNML_sblcHBoFkmnnfgONUJvVjVjpBj6YJvjqn342d6KUYZB9GZ3MZ2NvSBBaaIcgxA4FejZ82M647sboGSR-ND_GNNCXTZkF_nuzWZP0u1f_wcQyFwZSjmnDsq2MPMuvd9QA4066bnf3XQb2PI8ZzlfWRMvOUc1JHCQ/s4000/20230528_151022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLodwm-YO2VjeGO4BluNNML_sblcHBoFkmnnfgONUJvVjVjpBj6YJvjqn342d6KUYZB9GZ3MZ2NvSBBaaIcgxA4FejZ82M647sboGSR-ND_GNNCXTZkF_nuzWZP0u1f_wcQyFwZSjmnDsq2MPMuvd9QA4066bnf3XQb2PI8ZzlfWRMvOUc1JHCQ/s320/20230528_151022.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">False Bird of Paradise<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> No, that was the bract of the plant and not a piece of glass. God/nature was competing with Chihuly and doing a good job of it! If you go to the gardens you may find both works of art in the Climatron. I will end this posting with a couple more pictures of the glass art work. By the way, Chihuly's work will remain in the garden until October 15. Spend a day at the gardens!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3dJUj865lkQqDxpoYfOAR_Pt4VEi-uP_9sZ4md4jS569R3eAyxFlfX8ncTuA6PN9xxECyA_3dTqKeWrQxXk6Ejpa0PL8CrFLbrzyv5JsMlTeEoCF1ni16Hk2CXZ3KEfyg-wSMQssDF_UOI5vkjqzXAglUgywaRSGGGiR8qZDIOiAfGhAgpZ21w/s4000/20230528_154842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3dJUj865lkQqDxpoYfOAR_Pt4VEi-uP_9sZ4md4jS569R3eAyxFlfX8ncTuA6PN9xxECyA_3dTqKeWrQxXk6Ejpa0PL8CrFLbrzyv5JsMlTeEoCF1ni16Hk2CXZ3KEfyg-wSMQssDF_UOI5vkjqzXAglUgywaRSGGGiR8qZDIOiAfGhAgpZ21w/s320/20230528_154842.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Float Boats with Niijima Floats 2012-2018</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j47qbOv36P2dWGL26seQGvnZdmLSflX6mRQBpm1ONQA318qzQNeywUHsXUXiV_-_rOoWcp_3Bye7sLgwCMExdqEhINqKWLHLbsj81PTy2j6IEGcvGUCtYYb_HwFJwy7eFLXwDRMDh20DaQPiInqdKi7-YfnvRfykXRtr1orn0fmlewrgeF6s_A/s3264/20230528_161451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j47qbOv36P2dWGL26seQGvnZdmLSflX6mRQBpm1ONQA318qzQNeywUHsXUXiV_-_rOoWcp_3Bye7sLgwCMExdqEhINqKWLHLbsj81PTy2j6IEGcvGUCtYYb_HwFJwy7eFLXwDRMDh20DaQPiInqdKi7-YfnvRfykXRtr1orn0fmlewrgeF6s_A/s320/20230528_161451.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neodymium Reeds on Logs 2022<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-31801714900186947592023-06-02T19:16:00.000-05:002023-06-02T19:16:06.659-05:00Arrow Rock, Missouri<p> On Memorial Day John and I traveled to Arrow Rock located in the western part of Missouri. The entire town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. It has a many layered fascinating history, beginning with the presence of American Indians who gathered flint from a bluff above the Missouri River to make arrow points and tools. A French mapmaker Pierre d'Anville identified it as "Pierre a Fleche," literally meaning"Rock of Arrows". As the Missouri River has since been channeled off from the area, the bluff cannot be seen; however we did find the historic site now operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGptO9P429_qWfLfVymz1EJ-6cu61USebKIR-Q0x7_fTP43GeXKa5yWSakzStjT5bF--JMOlGbVaYVTtcgYPZZOuMT9CB6km8XgrWTV_K55K0W2CVx3QgUz_PVXjWFRZpMPM5CcoShNMPmKl5hgILnRuoxMWrYMCkrJHrl794YlARZ9qVSI4CZA/s4000/20230529_150540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGptO9P429_qWfLfVymz1EJ-6cu61USebKIR-Q0x7_fTP43GeXKa5yWSakzStjT5bF--JMOlGbVaYVTtcgYPZZOuMT9CB6km8XgrWTV_K55K0W2CVx3QgUz_PVXjWFRZpMPM5CcoShNMPmKl5hgILnRuoxMWrYMCkrJHrl794YlARZ9qVSI4CZA/s320/20230529_150540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was important for the first settlers of the town get needed supplies from the river and up the steep bluff. The historic site also marks the presence of a ferry landing in the next gap of the bluff, built in 1815. William Clark described the site as "a fine landing on a rocky shore under the Cliff and a gentle assent". In 1821 a small company of men crossed the river near the ferry landing, traveling west on what became the first successful trading expedition to Santa Fe. In 1822 the first wagons used on the Santa Fe Trail rendezvoused at the Arrow Rock bluff. The ferry landing and Santa Fe trail are marked out at the site pictured above. The above information I obtained from a leaflet printed by the Lewis and Clark Trial Heritage Foundation,Inc.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3Ko_PxdI4pkk2TlOEaO0tFo8677_KxA4LHj9oIdBgcYCAnHjcK6fiF4Z2i_7jthOmLcBGW-THTkoNLXUdPXbKiIZRgoi8Ayr2__XacSfvcaZsZLjCwcjwxHq70M6KcjeVGs-lbrM1ncrWtjdwkJNjiKjmmXsLv8_XYxPwS9cdolmhoR-rqW-og/s4000/20230529_124234.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3Ko_PxdI4pkk2TlOEaO0tFo8677_KxA4LHj9oIdBgcYCAnHjcK6fiF4Z2i_7jthOmLcBGW-THTkoNLXUdPXbKiIZRgoi8Ayr2__XacSfvcaZsZLjCwcjwxHq70M6KcjeVGs-lbrM1ncrWtjdwkJNjiKjmmXsLv8_XYxPwS9cdolmhoR-rqW-og/s320/20230529_124234.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J.Huston Tavern<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The earliest travelers on the Santa Fe Trail would fill their water barrels from Big Spring located behind the tavern pictured above. The town was platted in 1829 on this site, and in 1834 the tavern was built. Upstairs it had a ballroom as well as bedrooms. By the middle of the 19th century the town had grown to a small city of 1,000 residents. Over time river traffic ebbed, railways and highways provided other pathways through central Missouri. During the Civil War the town went through some turbulent times-with secessionists firing on passing riverboats from the bluffs, and then the Union army taking over the town. An army of guerillas then attacked the Union troops. Peace was slow in coming to Arrow Rock after the war. With the economic and transportation changes also hitting the town, the community went into decline by the end of the 19th century. Today there are about 50 in residence there. When we arrived at Arrow Rock we parked our car at the Visitor Center, and spent some time at the center orienting ourselves to the area. We then walked across a bridge and entered the town. A portion of the town is also preserved as Arrow Rock State Historic Site. We were informed at the center that we could get tours of the town, given by the Friends of Arrow Rock. Unfortunately in the town we found only an ice cream shop open and the proprietors there informed us that tours were not available that day. We were on our own again (as we had found ourselves in the town of Bethel), but the visitor's center did provided us the information needed for us to explore the town.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihqW8N1StjehO_c3msHgBDoWewflJbh4OiKnWPC5QIwvtee6NeVe_1l487UuVNIH9Z_UaqTUfE7L2jZWDIgnVGW7MdIW09PEIniN_fzyew2JovetKgWt4kb010a0WrNIStVUjA-rm9NJ7VLSw7RmWuf-bLT1BhgDEhclWq_d9k1Vr4IRNgKdfDA/s2694/20230529_131148%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="2694" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihqW8N1StjehO_c3msHgBDoWewflJbh4OiKnWPC5QIwvtee6NeVe_1l487UuVNIH9Z_UaqTUfE7L2jZWDIgnVGW7MdIW09PEIniN_fzyew2JovetKgWt4kb010a0WrNIStVUjA-rm9NJ7VLSw7RmWuf-bLT1BhgDEhclWq_d9k1Vr4IRNgKdfDA/s320/20230529_131148%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr.William Price Home<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In the town over the years resided some very interesting and successful personages. Dr. Price(1812-1865) married Mary Ann Sappington. She was the daughter of Dr.John Sappington (1776-1856) who perfected and mass marketed malarial quinine. He was very much against the practice of bloodletting to treat patients. He also lived in Arrow Rock and established a political and economic dynasty that included three Missouri governors. Most unfortunately his museum was closed the day we were there. Dr.Price, his son-in-law, was his partner in the"anti-fever business".</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z-uhOdjrmZxOx6s7Ev3ykjU6oqjSsqXlBJFZSOcJEq0THWrxTqYcyMphHeKOLQHUGEJNjCyMf9paaK64j4D96Q5S-vpspue1sJsQC8cZUIYq57nAb-6WwXiLZH9MKZWd1ceTUp9KVhtrRUBk10Nw-nR12bPt2LSv42cjdOTDRGAaIE7p9yTlSQ/s3264/20230529_144714.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z-uhOdjrmZxOx6s7Ev3ykjU6oqjSsqXlBJFZSOcJEq0THWrxTqYcyMphHeKOLQHUGEJNjCyMf9paaK64j4D96Q5S-vpspue1sJsQC8cZUIYq57nAb-6WwXiLZH9MKZWd1ceTUp9KVhtrRUBk10Nw-nR12bPt2LSv42cjdOTDRGAaIE7p9yTlSQ/s320/20230529_144714.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Caleb Bingham Home</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The home of Missouri's famous 19th century artist (1811-1879), is located in Arrow Rock. It was built in 1837. I have always enjoyed seeing Bingham's early American paintings, several of which I found in the museum at the Visitor's Center. He was famous for his portraits,and scenes of river life. He also was active in politics, fighting against expanding slavery westward. One of his river scenes is pictured below.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCKXZ4bDmye_1Y-0MkpmHxqXiH1KL9V4P74UJpMVAA6kT1G8g2XZNEmV5wYM4xWkqOF4ftcqO6wtrt_PxZ2bhbGmS_ufXhYBOJvXTW74Ky3IOcGTMOuCIWhIZ5GB5BzyW3tjUyofXVXICkF43LYG0JBCBBWvzqrX6kNnkh0eYqJYyQTvjmmyppg/s3607/20230529_135244%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="3607" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCKXZ4bDmye_1Y-0MkpmHxqXiH1KL9V4P74UJpMVAA6kT1G8g2XZNEmV5wYM4xWkqOF4ftcqO6wtrt_PxZ2bhbGmS_ufXhYBOJvXTW74Ky3IOcGTMOuCIWhIZ5GB5BzyW3tjUyofXVXICkF43LYG0JBCBBWvzqrX6kNnkh0eYqJYyQTvjmmyppg/s320/20230529_135244%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fur Traders descending the Missouri"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We did not see everything there is to see in Arrow Rock, especially as all of the buildings were closed. I would like to return- possibly to also take in a show at the Lyceum Theater. I saw one show there years ago. The shows are first rate, of Broadway caliber, and only run during the summer months.. The theater is in a former Baptist church, built in 1872.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdIR86fYYDdJnOQCeLVUe6G3tke4_vrDb8Iw2-2BhenUMVqNcciObDVWDi8754Z5XS3Gf3yJJQpAZyrEOdW8zQhd9RNqJLD5o_KlL9hpDHYhZ8RUPgqhbU4EJ9bO69M4uVyxojQ_KY1j6HFlO3q1l5w9eQ8etgzPUpfZXSRoLofijGjQEFCX17w/s4000/20230529_145637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdIR86fYYDdJnOQCeLVUe6G3tke4_vrDb8Iw2-2BhenUMVqNcciObDVWDi8754Z5XS3Gf3yJJQpAZyrEOdW8zQhd9RNqJLD5o_KlL9hpDHYhZ8RUPgqhbU4EJ9bO69M4uVyxojQ_KY1j6HFlO3q1l5w9eQ8etgzPUpfZXSRoLofijGjQEFCX17w/s320/20230529_145637.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyceum Theater</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-44257500846588744272023-05-31T17:28:00.002-05:002023-06-02T09:48:16.165-05:00Historic Bethel German Colony<p> John found out about the little town of Bethel, Mo. in an old AAA guidebook. The town is on the National Register of Historic Places and has kept some of its buildings from the mid 1800s. As our daughter and family were going to be out of town over the Memorial holiday weekend, we were looking for a couple of day trips to take over that time. The town of Bethel is located 48 miles northwest of Hannibal, on the banks of the North River. In 1855 the town had 650 residents, and now in 2023 it has a population of 132. When we arrived we were hungry and were fortunate to find that the one restaurant in town was open and still serving lunch. That was the Fest Hall restaurant- after the Colony disbanded the building became a pharmacy and dry goods store. After lunch we inquired of local people in the restaurant whether any tours were given that day of the town. We were directed to another building across the street, which was the town's historical museum. We met a lady inside that place who said she was the head of the town's historical society. She informed us that the museum had some of the town's historic artifacts, but the back wall of the building had fallen and not much was available to be seen currently. There are only a couple of times during the year when tours are given and then some of the historic homes are open. We were on our own to tour the town, and, armed with several pamphlets she gave us, we headed out on foot.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbtFdfXsGDIiWg4zbew102H58u3dZlHF1mD712h2m8Ol_J6Oxx_ZyWXVaVDpLP2wR9ciJ6GAPLjMWtwl4OtckhTbFVFlpTmbA7oLYDmekSLqYmoJV6RCxp8aUD1fv8_pjOa-gMiU2uCxGKSJuHvXfxzPDiCdGsnLkAPaGAgWsUxuWRjsNl32uEQ/s4000/20230527_143051.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbtFdfXsGDIiWg4zbew102H58u3dZlHF1mD712h2m8Ol_J6Oxx_ZyWXVaVDpLP2wR9ciJ6GAPLjMWtwl4OtckhTbFVFlpTmbA7oLYDmekSLqYmoJV6RCxp8aUD1fv8_pjOa-gMiU2uCxGKSJuHvXfxzPDiCdGsnLkAPaGAgWsUxuWRjsNl32uEQ/s320/20230527_143051.jpg" width="320" />,</a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keil Home</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Bethel Colony was formed by charismatic Wilhelm Keil in Phillipsburg,Pennsylvania in 1844. His followers were drawn from the German Methodist Church. They were joined by other converts to Keil's doctrine of Christian communal living, all of whom then sold their property (gave that money to Keil) and undertook the difficult journey to northern Missouri. Former members of the Harmony Society, who had joined them, were accustomed to communal living and among them were skilled craftsmen who were largely responsible for the rapid development of this community. As we noticed in touring the town, each block had about 1 house on each corner and, in the middle, once was located a barn.In that building large animals and equipment were kept- shared by the residents of each block. "Viel Hande Machen Bald Ein Ende" was the motto of the colony. Translated that meant "many hands made quick work". This community differed from other communal society's of that era in the fact that other settlers were able to live in the colony who were not into sharing what they had, and had more of a capitalistic way of thinking. They owned some of the stores which sprung up in the town. The Keil house (also called Elim) is pictured above. It was built in 1848, and was 50 feet long, 35 feet wide and 42 feet high. There is the equivalent of 100 large trees in the woodwork of the structure. The first floor is divided by 4 rooms. The second floor is a single room, the ballroom. This was no austere puritanical group of people. My understanding was they did enjoy music and dancing. Through the years they kept a band.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p638DDALiLtNOInrTMcZxSREwlb3hfMRSkZyudxrpKad3VP0Ow3RDehAzuI12tHuAEC4pZds6Vh_TqrsW6oaerU2wjuGXL5m6AluK_gYTCJboMJs5tjqaSyUMdTgyJcW72oMksBaIzGd4ilR5pt4JAkPgF5j2YdsQfMMSTylQ7XvHgGstxHfMA/s3264/20230527_141507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p638DDALiLtNOInrTMcZxSREwlb3hfMRSkZyudxrpKad3VP0Ow3RDehAzuI12tHuAEC4pZds6Vh_TqrsW6oaerU2wjuGXL5m6AluK_gYTCJboMJs5tjqaSyUMdTgyJcW72oMksBaIzGd4ilR5pt4JAkPgF5j2YdsQfMMSTylQ7XvHgGstxHfMA/s320/20230527_141507.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bethel Bandstand<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Wilhelm Keil, Doctor Keil,later refered to as Dr.Keil, grew herbs on the third floor of his home. Currently his home is in the hands of private owners- as are several other of the older homes in town. There are still many homes in Bethel badly in need of repair. Funds are needed!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vbgTPER_-ayYl3wDNKCXdsXcW-CJjnwRxrE3kYf89viP7V3qo9Zll5IXZXYWjMnO1bBJ6mEyJK43z7ziBOt8hsgmBFykxM_nmEVLdjNJkZWov4zTS295P1JKLu-ANr_sPxO7ybhNex5olKbkOMVw7waTRR44fqINPbyrcS8yQX14pI8-s_rEtQ/s4000/20230527_134640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vbgTPER_-ayYl3wDNKCXdsXcW-CJjnwRxrE3kYf89viP7V3qo9Zll5IXZXYWjMnO1bBJ6mEyJK43z7ziBOt8hsgmBFykxM_nmEVLdjNJkZWov4zTS295P1JKLu-ANr_sPxO7ybhNex5olKbkOMVw7waTRR44fqINPbyrcS8yQX14pI8-s_rEtQ/s320/20230527_134640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vandiver Haus</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The house pictured above is the oldest house in Bethel, and originally built as a fur trading post. More than 100 colonists stayed here during their first winter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07IriTwQW4vF643WyCph30BjpNWX0rfDJmSFp0kdoB7SAQ_Y0kniST332uifavm8bGgwpZYo9D71IdrKUxJheHOoC5Lb-8324xyIArpnVw0s2BFTprXmeM4DNPuCyg1L85eoGJEY3-TutMacDxZn0deiIILfc3-7VNLsvkOySDeMIxXfsU4yoWQ/s4000/20230527_134946.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07IriTwQW4vF643WyCph30BjpNWX0rfDJmSFp0kdoB7SAQ_Y0kniST332uifavm8bGgwpZYo9D71IdrKUxJheHOoC5Lb-8324xyIArpnVw0s2BFTprXmeM4DNPuCyg1L85eoGJEY3-TutMacDxZn0deiIILfc3-7VNLsvkOySDeMIxXfsU4yoWQ/s320/20230527_134946.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bair House</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Home of Rueben and Mary Bair,built in 1845. It contains many of the colony furniture. Behind this house is the colony bake oven, one of several ovens where the women set up a schedule to bake the community's bread. The oven, pictured below, has been reconstructed.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zGlpVU3tK__8GAcNeCWc1GsvKKZBbnujMzHIswDRAFvRmb5KG4uYSksZwRwmgV75E7qJIwo0KiA96EmYUbShJL-NMU8X1O5K1hyhfzzbTJHD2UrTjMoT7VGhnOsFwopFnLyvs9NxcIOjzGy63argIpdyH4aOrTDJdd23DtZHicRpliDUgkVaeg/s4000/20230527_134931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zGlpVU3tK__8GAcNeCWc1GsvKKZBbnujMzHIswDRAFvRmb5KG4uYSksZwRwmgV75E7qJIwo0KiA96EmYUbShJL-NMU8X1O5K1hyhfzzbTJHD2UrTjMoT7VGhnOsFwopFnLyvs9NxcIOjzGy63argIpdyH4aOrTDJdd23DtZHicRpliDUgkVaeg/s320/20230527_134931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj_smqPYeoXsYkd0BsISJK5QrdqNn_vYEzXMeN7iWDUV5VSa3eY3mrnqIXOV0f2qG8MoiQ184hm3yXaFFDn1NB3Y4Jlo0wgVMjjRYZDDuOIHC5BZpOBWs5U69HvQ8yjCt769A5XXDpVASfqpyG59mYIbruthWlqtRhp9bnUlK9nOkhvHH_dc7Zg/s4000/20230527_135400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj_smqPYeoXsYkd0BsISJK5QrdqNn_vYEzXMeN7iWDUV5VSa3eY3mrnqIXOV0f2qG8MoiQ184hm3yXaFFDn1NB3Y4Jlo0wgVMjjRYZDDuOIHC5BZpOBWs5U69HvQ8yjCt769A5XXDpVASfqpyG59mYIbruthWlqtRhp9bnUlK9nOkhvHH_dc7Zg/s320/20230527_135400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colony School House</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The school house was built in 1876, one year before the colony was disbanded. Last class taught here was in 1913. Over the years Bethel Colony became successful and thriving. But Dr.Keil was restless and in 1855 put together a wagon train of about 75 people and headed west to the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The community he started there ( named Aurora), as well as Bethel, were held to their purpose by Dr.Keil for 20 years- until his death in 1877. Eventually many more residents of Bethel settled in Aurora. In 1879 Bethel Colony dissolved after having broke its bonds with Aurora- its residents then numbered about 200. Bethel was incorporated as a town in 1883. Fascinating town and history, but check first as to the times of their festivals in the spring and fall if you wish to visit!<br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-30579219423329706032023-04-28T14:52:00.000-05:002023-04-28T14:52:11.392-05:00Home of the People's President<p>Maybe I shouldn't leave you guessing about this title, or maybe you do know your United States history! The people's president was Andrew Jackson. From 1819 until 1821 he and his wife Rachel built the Hermitage (meaning of that word is a retreat or refuge). We toured that building during our stay in Nashville. It is one of our nation's oldest and largest historic site museums. The museum includes, besides the manor home; slave cabins and other out buildings, as well as gardens and the Jackson family graveyard. Outside of the immediate area of the mansion is the Hermitage church. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYzxuu_A1O8XUERdGPnGEwhj_TMXwNwaYo-DiHrx9r4hL33738m7s4W4781kOOsJImihcwI0m8yInGPBw2dZuKKY0QKP3YIiFf_cYd2EYqf2mpAeWT05K8UGuobnLE6vVIYrduL8diAR0jgRbAhdaoI_h8-a4GzsMdcsQQ4d4eY6sdoovzEOQYg/s3241/20230406_142205%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="3241" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYzxuu_A1O8XUERdGPnGEwhj_TMXwNwaYo-DiHrx9r4hL33738m7s4W4781kOOsJImihcwI0m8yInGPBw2dZuKKY0QKP3YIiFf_cYd2EYqf2mpAeWT05K8UGuobnLE6vVIYrduL8diAR0jgRbAhdaoI_h8-a4GzsMdcsQQ4d4eY6sdoovzEOQYg/w400-h206/20230406_142205%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermitage</td></tr></tbody></table>Andrew Jackson purchased the above property in 1804, but the family initially lived in a two story log cabin until 1821 when the main center part of the mansion pictured above was completed. Rachel Jackson was able to live in the Hermitage until 1828, when she died. That same year Andrew Jackson became president (he served as President from 1829 until 1837). He died at the Hermitage in 1845.<br /></p><p><br /> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNT56hAAR6i6UcduUN3XRTMqklBvRdk9LhcB81aUcPn9ZrnW8zlGKz90uJBjTGyv-2UwPDEqF02rJm8Sz5yRzd4mL7ilgSPNvB0VmpC_gXByY-sx3XzxgQgLdzg3l_jsma6yez4_kvaTIAYDTvM6FKOw8RBM-umT4SEpE8GzlZUPvwbbEOpXjgw/s4000/20230406_133204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNT56hAAR6i6UcduUN3XRTMqklBvRdk9LhcB81aUcPn9ZrnW8zlGKz90uJBjTGyv-2UwPDEqF02rJm8Sz5yRzd4mL7ilgSPNvB0VmpC_gXByY-sx3XzxgQgLdzg3l_jsma6yez4_kvaTIAYDTvM6FKOw8RBM-umT4SEpE8GzlZUPvwbbEOpXjgw/w400-h180/20230406_133204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Story of the First Farm Home <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Andrew Jackson's life encompassed some very tumultuous times in our nation's history. At the age of 13 he was a messenger boy for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. He fought in the War of 1812 as well as the battle of New Orleans. His farm was located in what was then the territory of Tennessee, designated at that time as the "wild west". Native Americans during that time fought back to keep what they thought was their land, and initially there were also border battles with the Spanish who had purchased the territory. Jackson was revered and reviled by many. He built his plantation on the backs of slaves. He started producing 200 acres of cotton on his farms, and the more he was able to produce on his own, the more cash he was able to invest in land, slaves, and luxury furnishings for his home. <br />Speaking of the latter, the wallpaper of the front hall immediately caught our eyes as we began our tour of the Hermitage. Andrew Jackson and his wife bought it when they visited France. The wallpaper, which extends up the stairs and to the second floor, tells the story of the "Odyssey" (a Greek epic poem by Homer). All of the mansion was decorated in 19th century period furnishings and also had a few artifacts used by President Jackson. Quite the place to visit!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre6hcmSEsEy_aDS-moEu6-yoEdB4UaGSsBXucL2wwALkxrCxevN-FWe2H_n_eIPwhrEpzSE6LAMnGGJ8zTHbrlRYks9cGX33aOSczLRmNKQXWdyjLu3tsY01ZXCkSkmXQjhb-6BE3t27aiBMbppyRqrt-eZQx4JTXdsv0nGjJeyl6Y98I-ypPvw/s3016/20230406_124542%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="3016" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre6hcmSEsEy_aDS-moEu6-yoEdB4UaGSsBXucL2wwALkxrCxevN-FWe2H_n_eIPwhrEpzSE6LAMnGGJ8zTHbrlRYks9cGX33aOSczLRmNKQXWdyjLu3tsY01ZXCkSkmXQjhb-6BE3t27aiBMbppyRqrt-eZQx4JTXdsv0nGjJeyl6Y98I-ypPvw/w400-h224/20230406_124542%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>President Jackson deeded some of the land on the Hermitage as a graveyard for his family. Pictured above is his tomb. The biggest sorrow in his life was the fact that his first wife Rachel did not live in the White House with him. Some claim that she died of a broken heart. She had been married before she married Andrew, and the divorce to her first husband was shrouded with controversy. Divorce was unusual in the late 1700s, as well as the required paperwork. Rumor had it that she was not divorced when she married Andrew, which she and Andrew contested to no avail. Politicians made the most of that scandal, and she realized that the nasty gossip would never stop once she became the First Lady of the land. From what I have read ( "The President's Lady" by Irving Stone) she probably died of a heart attack. Another interesting fact here was that their only son Andrew was adopted; he was a boy from a set of twins fathered by her brother. As she had not been able to produce, her brother and his wife were most generous sharing one of their own with her. I will conclude this posting with a picture from the Hermitage garden, which had some springtime plants starting to bloom.</p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBgocEibyM9Ph3cY3tDavw9CCyIBQEx2cjOFEQ9UhH0yTqo6oKoTyQALG-cSxHHY53Ep-_Z7ZSCWRiEAPsVisceN9Xfk3tyB5w2WlhyUFEs78O6UYmg30A5Vho766UZmOlAAGzDM2GBbwUhiQQ9Vi42O7eO4bD3k3XeADZaQe9wyJWrMXOt0KBw/s2546/20230406_124335%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2546" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBgocEibyM9Ph3cY3tDavw9CCyIBQEx2cjOFEQ9UhH0yTqo6oKoTyQALG-cSxHHY53Ep-_Z7ZSCWRiEAPsVisceN9Xfk3tyB5w2WlhyUFEs78O6UYmg30A5Vho766UZmOlAAGzDM2GBbwUhiQQ9Vi42O7eO4bD3k3XeADZaQe9wyJWrMXOt0KBw/w400-h223/20230406_124335%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trumpet Honeysuckle and Virginia Bluebells<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-15259607190130053542023-04-26T19:14:00.002-05:002023-04-26T19:14:21.746-05:00Cheekwood Estate and Gardens<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">John and I had a goal of seeing a botanical garden while in Nashville, thinking that we just may see some spring flowers and blooming trees. A little bit of research led us to Cheekwood mansion and gardens. Cheekwood has 55 acres of cultivated gardens as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YC28SMTwyoZQO7PtEAOwcavhOkVSrWMmno_NYZqnyetAGQ_Pmdh-9dD4_dchOBbgZP0sKqf1GPTXEp8CfYjU7E4x50rILVRc9T-jVad9mqRFgjiBhIPfr3o4ImIJlvs8tEEBIKAmPvXTiZyO2sRmlR2V56Pf15lyoytYo6sMzwcdh8ab_jjSuQ/s640/DSCN2016.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YC28SMTwyoZQO7PtEAOwcavhOkVSrWMmno_NYZqnyetAGQ_Pmdh-9dD4_dchOBbgZP0sKqf1GPTXEp8CfYjU7E4x50rILVRc9T-jVad9mqRFgjiBhIPfr3o4ImIJlvs8tEEBIKAmPvXTiZyO2sRmlR2V56Pf15lyoytYo6sMzwcdh8ab_jjSuQ/s320/DSCN2016.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglHd97IsA1HZzc47lbu5dOfEXgy-tRJDFatsdNoi1_Pncqdzan05Pnvw7G_Nwp-BKxRQfovliokBbWXYym6meKXeLP8K-hQVFS9IZzEeNgNnTsZy6Q1ECjZ1UndHib9Km2lKFW-tFmi6XWRVcM-9Kw6GUpghvzv__JSzAcDEWCkgeuK0qReuO5w/s640/DSCN2024.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglHd97IsA1HZzc47lbu5dOfEXgy-tRJDFatsdNoi1_Pncqdzan05Pnvw7G_Nwp-BKxRQfovliokBbWXYym6meKXeLP8K-hQVFS9IZzEeNgNnTsZy6Q1ECjZ1UndHib9Km2lKFW-tFmi6XWRVcM-9Kw6GUpghvzv__JSzAcDEWCkgeuK0qReuO5w/s320/DSCN2024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>You may notice a ribbon tied around the tree in the picture above. Many of the trees in the gardens of Cheekwood had that same black and red ribbon. It was in memory of the people killed in the Nashville school shooting which had happened a week or so ago.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhP9ZaMtHceJZOtiE0PEkHUvzbtLwmXNQ5WVrMrCPlc51mLRQ9ooeq396Jcl095oDC6pqT71bOCeti-E_yfXOCj6qTcAXFPhmzhKRKsTIHw9cF2PerPHGpGWk9a1LIR9HwbtmiisgVMdmVCFcC-HAtmM2kERzThOPBlwEQzcj7iD47y7ED-G-Tg/s640/DSCN1993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhP9ZaMtHceJZOtiE0PEkHUvzbtLwmXNQ5WVrMrCPlc51mLRQ9ooeq396Jcl095oDC6pqT71bOCeti-E_yfXOCj6qTcAXFPhmzhKRKsTIHw9cF2PerPHGpGWk9a1LIR9HwbtmiisgVMdmVCFcC-HAtmM2kERzThOPBlwEQzcj7iD47y7ED-G-Tg/w400-h301/DSCN1993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>We did not spend as much time touring the gardens as we thought we would- it was an overcast cool day and springtime flowering was just beginning. Instead, we took a tour of the 30,000 square feet mansion pictured above. That is a 1930s home, formerly the home of Mabel Wood Cheek and Leslie Cheek. He was a wholesale grocer who also invested in Cheek Neal Coffee Company, the producers of Maxwell House Coffee. Today it is one of the "most intact country place era estates in America", according to the written information provided to us. The building of it was inspired by baronial British manor houses, and, as most of the wealthy did back in that time, furnished with itemspurchased by the Cheeks on their trips to Europe. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk89-Bdty7lLaoLSPK3yGUopaiiZKkNF0p2zZdL9cLmfbSVLzB4zhp2vK8Z2MUuxymwThGZhgK8HK1RRrJ54Aa9YHJt90NuL9skdBRMely3RUUfcojxH_xs0pyhF-aeWzsuQHnNKA_fgip4-8oQmxzTfNWQnbACWqt5NTOtEzi20RD6ie0vumhaw/s4000/20230404_143508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk89-Bdty7lLaoLSPK3yGUopaiiZKkNF0p2zZdL9cLmfbSVLzB4zhp2vK8Z2MUuxymwThGZhgK8HK1RRrJ54Aa9YHJt90NuL9skdBRMely3RUUfcojxH_xs0pyhF-aeWzsuQHnNKA_fgip4-8oQmxzTfNWQnbACWqt5NTOtEzi20RD6ie0vumhaw/s320/20230404_143508.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><p>Pictured above is a marble fireplace, and above it is an antique clock purchased from the Grosvenor House in London.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZ5cfAehEOv2Z9pgQ0TlHKtRyf6TwFtsRBO8VxKjULcsPg6NbrhFbkacRDlhaoHvKIB6vVIDXqQUu0MJ7-_Xr0Um7fimlOFIlelFcBxZC1xaY8FvyJdBwhjU1QboEbcVuEXBDpgNr0D8PUCROeBJskb1W0Fgu6jT9TQ31ZNjhvMzJcr6Im9vHLQ/s640/DSCN2006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZ5cfAehEOv2Z9pgQ0TlHKtRyf6TwFtsRBO8VxKjULcsPg6NbrhFbkacRDlhaoHvKIB6vVIDXqQUu0MJ7-_Xr0Um7fimlOFIlelFcBxZC1xaY8FvyJdBwhjU1QboEbcVuEXBDpgNr0D8PUCROeBJskb1W0Fgu6jT9TQ31ZNjhvMzJcr6Im9vHLQ/s320/DSCN2006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> In the picture above you are looking at the "transverse hallway". Notice the tapestry on the wall of the previous room, and also the large beautiful wooden door. That picture may give you an idea of the grandeur of the mansion. Maybe one more picture is needed here, that of the dining room.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7s10c09Y_IiG9-0xRRYgDxv_Ah9-xocuDldhQwMjIHb3baEvybVpfFgvCrcVF-YJVdSDUWSrRbcFifNXw_IP8nYEhS_gUXWDvc10XskdoV93EBCke9IgqUFARkvkkELHDRlp13_0y9Hy14ip9k7fKj50_wXXbkQQpQ1X4Br894xFWhLUp1qomw/s2839/20230404_144340%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="2839" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7s10c09Y_IiG9-0xRRYgDxv_Ah9-xocuDldhQwMjIHb3baEvybVpfFgvCrcVF-YJVdSDUWSrRbcFifNXw_IP8nYEhS_gUXWDvc10XskdoV93EBCke9IgqUFARkvkkELHDRlp13_0y9Hy14ip9k7fKj50_wXXbkQQpQ1X4Br894xFWhLUp1qomw/w400-h179/20230404_144340%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Over time the Cheek family amassed and displayed a large collection of paintings, furniture, textiles, silver, and books. Their collection focuses on works of art from the 1870s through WW11. There was a lot to see in this house and we spent most of our day just touring it..We did walk around some of the grounds outside, where we saw the outdoor sculptures of Cheekwood. This is one place I would love to visit again, preferably at summer time!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MMfRTf-9v7oK9fpoXkUUb_Rx3zD1Wbd_btPoFYXSgPYAX_4Kc0SLxGI7b1_FrDkJ4k69VhSEp33dtj-Iw-s_DXN0eOUpYy3bzVEoctwCoBqDWfZ1I_IEfl71ntQfyxjOwShChD_Xpm3vG4NTNf-OxZL29ncMSI8gSpsvCsRIggPaQ_LiUTfDKw/s3092/20230404_151644%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1708" data-original-width="3092" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MMfRTf-9v7oK9fpoXkUUb_Rx3zD1Wbd_btPoFYXSgPYAX_4Kc0SLxGI7b1_FrDkJ4k69VhSEp33dtj-Iw-s_DXN0eOUpYy3bzVEoctwCoBqDWfZ1I_IEfl71ntQfyxjOwShChD_Xpm3vG4NTNf-OxZL29ncMSI8gSpsvCsRIggPaQ_LiUTfDKw/w400-h221/20230404_151644%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /> <br /></p> John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-87078170730081641892023-04-22T16:14:00.000-05:002023-04-22T16:14:19.940-05:00Highlights of Our Time in Nashville<p> The weather was overcast and cool during our stay in Nashville, however we only had a few days there so we just had to make the best of it and keep moving on. In my last posting I mentioned some old mansions and gardens which we toured, but I will save them for the next two postings and here give a quick snapshot of different notable places within the environs of Nashville which we briefly explored.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJaaMt3U-mGGCdB5HP7ld5ECXJLUvRgCOhsk-jCCKNueRr8wJcJpOoZzqZLIhv_ftFVkjf2ZYFNwYPyiFw7X5EItnHJBER3A75Eu6fkacNswvGbokcWBwEW7u2KEXbiPIDFyxeP-WP4mXsc2w8VEHzs36jkYHdUk61aTuYacBdykkxi0bBWD7Ag/s2989/20230405_135522%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="2989" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJaaMt3U-mGGCdB5HP7ld5ECXJLUvRgCOhsk-jCCKNueRr8wJcJpOoZzqZLIhv_ftFVkjf2ZYFNwYPyiFw7X5EItnHJBER3A75Eu6fkacNswvGbokcWBwEW7u2KEXbiPIDFyxeP-WP4mXsc2w8VEHzs36jkYHdUk61aTuYacBdykkxi0bBWD7Ag/w400-h195/20230405_135522%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Nashville is the capital city of Tennessee. In our past travels we usually made it a point to check out the capital building of the different states. It was a mistake trying to tour this one. The capital building is located on one of the highest hills in Nashville. No parking is available near the capital, it is only for the legislators when the house and senate is in session. So we climbed the steps pictured above. The building was erected in 1859. We had missed the last tour of the day, but I happened to listen in on the last few minutes of that tour and learned that in 1866 a particularly bitter fight in the legislature happened over the ratification of the 14th Amendment,which granted citizenship to African Americans. A shot was fired from the stairs above the first flight of stairs which put a chip in the handrail. The Amendment was opposed by many in general assembly. The chip was an interesting feature of the building, as well as some wall murals and ceiling frescoes. Protests happened at this capital a day after we were there, which were in regard to the firing of two African American legislators who had objected to the availability of guns in Tennessee.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7RiKrQE4u5CXjEwyybt6MLsNKHPRIJHAl4sILnmseJEisiGu9jOdzH7HK3SGukflqugkm1kt_jHiC0DLWPFUyEEQ82VHPq_pXK3becPdJ2-miXF87o5kfUsMgeQpg2N2xH7a45Pneab-rvO_eNWo8am0FNqcJyseUE98fjjEyH_eWR76xjzRuw/s3181/20230405_144310%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="3181" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7RiKrQE4u5CXjEwyybt6MLsNKHPRIJHAl4sILnmseJEisiGu9jOdzH7HK3SGukflqugkm1kt_jHiC0DLWPFUyEEQ82VHPq_pXK3becPdJ2-miXF87o5kfUsMgeQpg2N2xH7a45Pneab-rvO_eNWo8am0FNqcJyseUE98fjjEyH_eWR76xjzRuw/s320/20230405_144310%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Nashville is located on the Cumberland River, pictured above. River cruises are available, however the boats were not running while we were there. Also pictured above is Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans as well the Tennessee State University Tigers. We heard the TSU Band play at the Ole Opry Show which we attended while in Nashville; that was a bit of departure from the the usual music which we heard that evening! But it is a good sounding marching band.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDwZ15TyFbxREpsPQvPCcPwsWRgFkhxiojoqVH1fZx9_0vd7YuMYCXtEXOMTCBCSzch410iLI75EM1k392s23zln4EeWstIeu2iO-pxVlHIvATNAVf6iz_JuRXNSzcXR_5w4Xl1zvoFEdxTwCPpdA8m70MkR0-kSTMWx43SVsigFXQxlKZ0CkoA/s3290/20230404_095611%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="3290" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDwZ15TyFbxREpsPQvPCcPwsWRgFkhxiojoqVH1fZx9_0vd7YuMYCXtEXOMTCBCSzch410iLI75EM1k392s23zln4EeWstIeu2iO-pxVlHIvATNAVf6iz_JuRXNSzcXR_5w4Xl1zvoFEdxTwCPpdA8m70MkR0-kSTMWx43SVsigFXQxlKZ0CkoA/w400-h200/20230404_095611%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home of the Grand Ole Opry<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>About a 10 minute walk from the building above is the Gaylord Opryland Resort. No, we did not stay there while in Nashville, but did visit it just to look at some of its sights.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qsVIERMhv-MNFAgOA5WDdEMLLwBEKRjJD0IXbryjenqPQd8e36-HiM3BLDIA8UpwmplkjwY9J1qaxATcuH5GHok4QVoVlKO3aI-zvqDMpqaXVc7dlOsdqffD-flcEbUaa-YlK42b0KXs6rTc1e8yHDGXnTPAju4rSPVTP6hN0k_y3j6SBwQFsA/s4000/20230403_165958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qsVIERMhv-MNFAgOA5WDdEMLLwBEKRjJD0IXbryjenqPQd8e36-HiM3BLDIA8UpwmplkjwY9J1qaxATcuH5GHok4QVoVlKO3aI-zvqDMpqaXVc7dlOsdqffD-flcEbUaa-YlK42b0KXs6rTc1e8yHDGXnTPAju4rSPVTP6hN0k_y3j6SBwQFsA/s320/20230403_165958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When John mentioned a riverboat cruise, this is what I thought he was talking about- but there is a waterway within the resort. The hotel is very large with 9 restaurants and bars. If you want a destination Opryland wedding this would be the place- it has 6 ballrooms. It is a beautiful place with many available rooms, a bit more expensive than the hotel we chose for our visit to Nashville.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYxSdAgpYshK2GlY30DyiBjY4NWKP-qxD7Q4MeLcfLBIvoAmKBn4RFkFDyabMM9qz8druRZDTn18pIt0nVRO1X0qS3lKZvhD79WkfdIHUFmgVIRW-SsdYfA6bpkBLzGrr28oxmU5i0SewWQk6vHEJ84stW6EH7HtUSr4iObXRKIkmA4MlnTQ71A/s2684/20230403_170556%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="2684" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYxSdAgpYshK2GlY30DyiBjY4NWKP-qxD7Q4MeLcfLBIvoAmKBn4RFkFDyabMM9qz8druRZDTn18pIt0nVRO1X0qS3lKZvhD79WkfdIHUFmgVIRW-SsdYfA6bpkBLzGrr28oxmU5i0SewWQk6vHEJ84stW6EH7HtUSr4iObXRKIkmA4MlnTQ71A/s320/20230403_170556%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><br /><p> <br /></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-10509333564432168202023-04-19T17:27:00.001-05:002023-04-19T17:27:48.441-05:00A Trip to Nashville<p> John and I had a week free with no doctor's appointments or babysitting requires ( our daughter's family was in Florida). We had to go somewhere, preferably south to see springtime in all of its glory. In St.Louis the redbud trees were starting to pop out, but that was all. We just had to see more than that, as well as some green- maybe trees with leaves. Winter can be so grey and we were so done with that! Nashville is not much further south than St.Louis, but we soon discovered that it had a bit more to offer in the way of springtime at this time of the year. Unfortunately, our first day in Nashville was overcast and a bit cool to our taste. But that was still okay as we were out and about, doing something different than our usual routine back home! The weather did get better before we returned home!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAB3wHaDIWAoEPBWPTeb3-HUiyV3cYHcYr_TXizt7iemZRVzYWveHgY54Ja4xg5b5VRyFAOofJEqrrP_3W5AEIKzihozXau_B8ix9ukBdVLbPVEnrOXWTf8OGil6vzrodY_f_Y5gEN67tw8dFkxefgHk3MiIAeVjV0vIHmDMQZbjGOe9A4QOIyw/s640/DSCN1940.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAB3wHaDIWAoEPBWPTeb3-HUiyV3cYHcYr_TXizt7iemZRVzYWveHgY54Ja4xg5b5VRyFAOofJEqrrP_3W5AEIKzihozXau_B8ix9ukBdVLbPVEnrOXWTf8OGil6vzrodY_f_Y5gEN67tw8dFkxefgHk3MiIAeVjV0vIHmDMQZbjGOe9A4QOIyw/s320/DSCN1940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>In 1897 Nashville held a Centennial Exposition to celebrate Tennessee's first 100 years of statehood. At the close of the six month Exposition all of the buildings were dismantled except the Parthenon. Back in the time it was designed as a Fine Arts Building. In the 1920s its pediments were crumbling and the plaster decaying. The building was not made of any permanent materials. The city authorized the reconstruction of the building with permanent materials. It was to be a complete replica of the original Athenian temple,inside and out. What had been the basement of the old building became gallery space to exhibit fine art. The Nashville Parthenon reopened in 1931, and the city gained the nickname "Athens of the South". It is a good distinction as there is no where else in the world a replica of the Parthenon. The title Athena Parthenon translates into "Temple of the Maiden". In Greek mythology Athena, born from the head of her Father Zeus, inherited her Dad's power and wisdom. She is considered a goddess of wisdom and useful arts, as well as a protector of cities. In 438BCE Athena was the protector and patron of Athens Greece.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFj1lIMZN2sUsesKBwWdCyijXr57x1k-jCT3x67ds9MF1sH-zgx8y6fuJO58loNBa3hnDF38BCpz4ZOEZtlPASNsFgwkrNgeOIJ9uSVQeVtl5bXkcLpuvu1i7zw0BKRATXMDxURYR1XX5Y3eOGfbVrvVtiAQpzNL0BJ7iodS3Z0BiXHb81To-4w/s640/DSCN1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFj1lIMZN2sUsesKBwWdCyijXr57x1k-jCT3x67ds9MF1sH-zgx8y6fuJO58loNBa3hnDF38BCpz4ZOEZtlPASNsFgwkrNgeOIJ9uSVQeVtl5bXkcLpuvu1i7zw0BKRATXMDxURYR1XX5Y3eOGfbVrvVtiAQpzNL0BJ7iodS3Z0BiXHb81To-4w/s320/DSCN1954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>When we first entered the Nashville Parthenon we were on the lower level where there were exhibits detailing the history of the building, and also the Cowan Gallery of American Art. On the next level, in the East and West Galleries, we saw Athena. The modern copy of her was sculpted between 1982 and 1990 by Nashville artist Alan LeQuire. It is made of gypsum cement, reinforced with fiber glass on a steel frame and gilded with 8 pounds of gold. She stands 41'10" tall. The statue of Nike, goddess of victory, is in her right hand. She stands at 6'4" and has in her hand a laurel wreath with which she is preparing to crown Athena. Nike is pictured below. Hard to believe that she is over 6' high!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd82wLPHBL2PjSfcp5jFoMtCLnwVMXvRgmR7fDrAmT3FiycYOonZ0o6mc7lAJnvwn5h00Kl-SXkMjtFN7yeoePMJzc6Z9PZE5R8KM2qNONm9xlFd9sqPQZaiWiBm05XXbmCWeS5pD4S37FCRFiWlf_R66IypqdmX_spgMNwkneReT8OKotXTCuw/s640/DSCN1975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd82wLPHBL2PjSfcp5jFoMtCLnwVMXvRgmR7fDrAmT3FiycYOonZ0o6mc7lAJnvwn5h00Kl-SXkMjtFN7yeoePMJzc6Z9PZE5R8KM2qNONm9xlFd9sqPQZaiWiBm05XXbmCWeS5pD4S37FCRFiWlf_R66IypqdmX_spgMNwkneReT8OKotXTCuw/s320/DSCN1975.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>One last picture here is that of the shield of Athena.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgILG3MOdMNRvi1qnrldvcp2i7o_f-F4Yn2B6Vh2vW2eV5RQZ7UWyj7qbnRwf7d9kndmCL1DZFOgCxWqO_4AVEuxQagwV3THMZAnoibWIRYCE0s62a9GjoQMUnm1b2QXTCRm2vUqOq64wAWd5_-Oqzw9IJBdSoYXP6IiWJ_j4eKQD45UC7k4uDg/s2205/20230404_115000%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2205" data-original-width="1468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgILG3MOdMNRvi1qnrldvcp2i7o_f-F4Yn2B6Vh2vW2eV5RQZ7UWyj7qbnRwf7d9kndmCL1DZFOgCxWqO_4AVEuxQagwV3THMZAnoibWIRYCE0s62a9GjoQMUnm1b2QXTCRm2vUqOq64wAWd5_-Oqzw9IJBdSoYXP6IiWJ_j4eKQD45UC7k4uDg/s320/20230404_115000%20(2).jpg" width="213" /></a></div>It is fifteen feet in diameter and is also awesome to see up close! On the exterior is a depiction of the battle between the Greeks and the Amazons. In the center of the shield is the grotesque head of Medusa, slain by Perseus with assistance from Athena. Perseus was so thankful for her help that he gave her the head to put on her shield as an additional defense weapon. Greek mythology is fascinating, I remember learning a little of the stories in my high school Latin classes. We had a couple more interesting days in Nashville touring the Hermitage as well as the Cheekwood mansion and gardens. More on them next!<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-73479289624923295122023-03-03T17:27:00.000-06:002023-03-03T17:27:20.652-06:00Orchid Show at St.Louis Botanical Garden<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSu-BQB_Ku3VzTQopfRqpok2GL0pGUWaNGM-oM21DnVfgGnkuZZ9q18pErLzHQsMbxAI8Ax9GrSTh-haAAV9cAoJi4kZ4Qn3yLjZMJCVRNlI-aqyReXNjGbDxuDBfLQtbeeSAv07e-brPE4xa9KP5VtkWfxapn-eor_41OQHpl5xVlFm636OngA/s8000/20230225_120833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8000" data-original-width="6000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSu-BQB_Ku3VzTQopfRqpok2GL0pGUWaNGM-oM21DnVfgGnkuZZ9q18pErLzHQsMbxAI8Ax9GrSTh-haAAV9cAoJi4kZ4Qn3yLjZMJCVRNlI-aqyReXNjGbDxuDBfLQtbeeSAv07e-brPE4xa9KP5VtkWfxapn-eor_41OQHpl5xVlFm636OngA/s320/20230225_120833.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We attended the orchid exhibit one day before the show would end for this year. The crowds were heavy and we needed to wait in line for about thirty minutes- but it was worth it! I snapped photos of so many of those blooming beauties!. About 70% of them are tropical epiphytes growing on other plants in tropical rain forests. Species pictured below is called Meadow Gold. The gardens provided informative signs with the orchids displayed.<br /><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPAzmukMYn0WAntOvW8xmHd8ZDo_LtrumxgBRISP25601j5Eud8k_VldMNANSuGvCB6txrr2J2h2r8ACx6uCQA-3ljcObMPx1ZS9M2yBIH0NwKWebpxiZeA7wzpvH9tBP5_9JBw-raWbgFHRqjZNYgPC_EozJbtrsErO1lvSzepRCxha2OfczrA/s8000/20230225_121621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8000" data-original-width="6000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPAzmukMYn0WAntOvW8xmHd8ZDo_LtrumxgBRISP25601j5Eud8k_VldMNANSuGvCB6txrr2J2h2r8ACx6uCQA-3ljcObMPx1ZS9M2yBIH0NwKWebpxiZeA7wzpvH9tBP5_9JBw-raWbgFHRqjZNYgPC_EozJbtrsErO1lvSzepRCxha2OfczrA/s320/20230225_121621.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I also learned, from the information provided, that orchids can be found in different shapes and colors, also fragrances. Individual species attract their favorite pollinators with varying particular features. The orchid pictured above had an awesome peach smell. Pictured below is another different type of orchid. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYYRMbI5i4nzU19-yoZ3JYeTzXw5_8x4fl4ONCJ866ytupzqbUtR2bqCxqEyNdqjWPUKeX1oJuhSCqsX8dg77bjsKvgyNVEmQaeqgFANGrUXbYRGiJZ90HOWeGEwEscyN6cOJZBPWnowLkb1Oz7Bzv-Gpe0c1-kClUlI1o7JK4D7uCat4E8SgEg/s8000/20230225_121933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8000" data-original-width="6000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYYRMbI5i4nzU19-yoZ3JYeTzXw5_8x4fl4ONCJ866ytupzqbUtR2bqCxqEyNdqjWPUKeX1oJuhSCqsX8dg77bjsKvgyNVEmQaeqgFANGrUXbYRGiJZ90HOWeGEwEscyN6cOJZBPWnowLkb1Oz7Bzv-Gpe0c1-kClUlI1o7JK4D7uCat4E8SgEg/s320/20230225_121933.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>After walking through the orchid exhibit (which was located in the new visitor's center, by the way), we walked over to the Linnean House. This building, a favorite of mine during the winter months, houses such warm season plants as begonias, citrus, and camellias. There was one blooming orange tree when we entered the building, and its blossoms gave off a wonderful smell which permeated the whole room of plants! According to the garden information provided in this area, "South and east Asia is home to an immense floral diversity due to a subtropical climate, many mountain ranges, and numerous archipelagos". Unfortunately, rapid population growth and habitat loss in this region is endangering many plants and their ecosystems. There is a big need for conservation efforts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqwibOsoD8i5gzdRjvZJr3jUhdJqklgTKiJjqQAhA6PoKOgPQo3MxMpMlKU6yjEHvQ4-DOorfMT6brwW9iJCvenmAsDJQNB-qbANLJjisWrtuHm4tFIcac8syCBpltcBGNJpAepA9OBNCuEu--FyFN57NH7Jv4M7EUIujyimzmNiPKRuOehBPTg/s4000/20230225_134137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqwibOsoD8i5gzdRjvZJr3jUhdJqklgTKiJjqQAhA6PoKOgPQo3MxMpMlKU6yjEHvQ4-DOorfMT6brwW9iJCvenmAsDJQNB-qbANLJjisWrtuHm4tFIcac8syCBpltcBGNJpAepA9OBNCuEu--FyFN57NH7Jv4M7EUIujyimzmNiPKRuOehBPTg/s320/20230225_134137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There were not many blooming Camellias in the Linnean House- they are suppose to bloom from late December to early April. I also learned that there is only one species of Camellia that gives off a wonderful fragrance. The one pictured about was hanging over a sign providing information about tea. Tea, of the Theaceae family, belongs to the genus Camellia. Most of that species can be found in China. One-third of the 250 species in the tea family are being threatened for the same reasons I mentioned above, in regards to all tropical plants.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe8F5nZaa2gpPwpj5NgxbKNNaSj2-WaeSEMFoxg6caJTD0FVtGjYp9V4KDFHN1I-95XLkiHExnvlMb03VOb-VvTW0OacLNtHReDT-64METOObE6eGPfJO8THXyFXSHaB4LHQ_qwg5W5WfnW2PSZsO7VRHcciJ3Sry-yNOBLeSl_Ndi8QNl7BIAQ/s4000/20230225_134413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe8F5nZaa2gpPwpj5NgxbKNNaSj2-WaeSEMFoxg6caJTD0FVtGjYp9V4KDFHN1I-95XLkiHExnvlMb03VOb-VvTW0OacLNtHReDT-64METOObE6eGPfJO8THXyFXSHaB4LHQ_qwg5W5WfnW2PSZsO7VRHcciJ3Sry-yNOBLeSl_Ndi8QNl7BIAQ/s320/20230225_134413.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>I am concluding this blog with an ugly plant which we noticed in the Linnean House. Leave it to John to find it! It is a welwitschia plant, which grows only two leathery appearing leaves shaped like straps in its entire lifetime of about 1,500 years. The leaves curl up at its base as it grows, and the plant never sheds its original leaves. So come on out to the Botanical Gardens in St.Louis- you never know what you may see or discover!<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-15519410313433851222022-11-12T15:26:00.000-06:002022-11-12T15:26:15.623-06:00New Orleans, Louisiana<p>John and I were more than ready for some time away from St.Louis, having made no long distance trips during the summer. We started thinking that a train trip would be fun again, and there was a direct Amtrak route from Carbondale, Illinois to New Orleans. My sister Linda lives in NOLA, which was the main reason we picked that city. Only problem with that idea was that we would have to leave downtown St.Louis by bus (provided by Amtrak) at 11pm to get to Carbondale by 1AM to board the train. Not the best of circumstances, but we did it and survived. The train was full of passengers coming back, and spending the night hours sleeping upright in a coach seat is not conducive to sleep. And what a big disappointment to learn that Amtrak no longer has a dining car! Just on a few routes out west.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YgKTf_loagyCKV6h8TnmlIdd1H4KD8hv_w3iM5NDopCgRgejJ8J1LBdn5L8_PRsOdKchL-kQwudAixArBKqg6IRMJZHube68_q08rqfpFqePO9iA_YTRp9J8c5YDXalfVLPOHtRyovY1t4gB4h_Fy1OTtrNTk9emRzEn5nkMsu3MI9XlPCGgWg/s4000/20221021_172529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YgKTf_loagyCKV6h8TnmlIdd1H4KD8hv_w3iM5NDopCgRgejJ8J1LBdn5L8_PRsOdKchL-kQwudAixArBKqg6IRMJZHube68_q08rqfpFqePO9iA_YTRp9J8c5YDXalfVLPOHtRyovY1t4gB4h_Fy1OTtrNTk9emRzEn5nkMsu3MI9XlPCGgWg/w240-h322/20221021_172529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Our hotel was near the French Quarter of New Orleans. Once we had checked in and started walking to find our supper, I glanced up and noted the palm trees. It was like being in Florida again, and, unlike up north at this time of the year,, we could again don shorts, tees and sandals on our feet. After a wonderful seafood supper in the French Quarter, my sister Linda (who was so kind to meet us at the train station) guided us several blocks over from the restaurant to board the trolley to her church for our evening entertainment. It was her recommendation that we not rent a car for the weekend we would be there, because in NOLA parking is bad. So we walked a great deal and/or boarded a trolley- not bad at all and safe despite the multitudes using the trolley with us. Friday evening we heard a wonderful jazz concert. Bethlehem church was using the concert to raise money for their affordable housing fund. They have already built one house for two families and plan to build three more. The church also provides food for over 100 people several days a week- by now it may be more than that as other institutions are helping them with that. I have to give a big shout out of thanks to that church and wish them continued success in caring for the less fortunate. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSip2Ov-Oo8Zb8vsq3S-kZMFR1liggRPZlan5UwgTrcgYh2jz7yYbUObA-1DlWO_Tumvvh3NwD2s35MXR_5EqCNLSyRj9HlcZRwL1SRWZu5lLvKayqZ6dqCvboNhEUc7_7l-uOO_UJJKMXKn-xwM_KcvSXbMo4AhbwQC5JtZIxOdcxwhdo6iSdSw/s4000/20221022_121346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSip2Ov-Oo8Zb8vsq3S-kZMFR1liggRPZlan5UwgTrcgYh2jz7yYbUObA-1DlWO_Tumvvh3NwD2s35MXR_5EqCNLSyRj9HlcZRwL1SRWZu5lLvKayqZ6dqCvboNhEUc7_7l-uOO_UJJKMXKn-xwM_KcvSXbMo4AhbwQC5JtZIxOdcxwhdo6iSdSw/s320/20221022_121346.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And on that note, pictured above is a sculpture we saw the next day at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Our niece Kat drove us to this garden, which is near the New Orleans Museum of Art. The title of this sculpture is "Together We Stand". The information sign by it says that George Rodrique was the artist- and there was a date of 2005. That was when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans very hard, breaking its levees and flood walls; some neighborhoods had water as high as 10feet deep.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyTMzpWckoLK4h8-NmUuRatRamp5yTU0OxllyF0BHGnu9j1jA425bbZXB4YhH7X9aAaTlWu5YPt5-wiQLV8shocCMuglXRulgZ46g35wq2G8CS2AoNd1wBuX_bWI0lFjzlJEiDqbAWv_kPz9UbVbRBx-9bAG5AnJLkhJ8PXd8oXTG_iu2zRMdxA/s4000/20221022_121303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyTMzpWckoLK4h8-NmUuRatRamp5yTU0OxllyF0BHGnu9j1jA425bbZXB4YhH7X9aAaTlWu5YPt5-wiQLV8shocCMuglXRulgZ46g35wq2G8CS2AoNd1wBuX_bWI0lFjzlJEiDqbAWv_kPz9UbVbRBx-9bAG5AnJLkhJ8PXd8oXTG_iu2zRMdxA/s320/20221022_121303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>At the time when we were in New Orleans we were a week away from Halloween, so the above spider sculpture caught my eye. Very appropriately placed under a live oak and hauntingly draped with Spanish moss! We saw many more sculptures in this garden, but I must move on to other points of interest which we saw in our short time in NOLA.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDl0vFwcES1bTdPOtzVF0iB7v4mbzE2Lu2h4jf_8vad8AqQ_ZRMpxKPUT4Io6j17nUo7RpvPJvdsevScqSEBIOFBxa5eJotsC1FmJ1q9RLBj3KtQLeOEBArWnPiO7oZiQgvwKxf8Gu0LPD5pQhGcyeVJm5c51ETNbK5KfwHKbduzZQSBc89-r5w/s4000/20221022_122626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDl0vFwcES1bTdPOtzVF0iB7v4mbzE2Lu2h4jf_8vad8AqQ_ZRMpxKPUT4Io6j17nUo7RpvPJvdsevScqSEBIOFBxa5eJotsC1FmJ1q9RLBj3KtQLeOEBArWnPiO7oZiQgvwKxf8Gu0LPD5pQhGcyeVJm5c51ETNbK5KfwHKbduzZQSBc89-r5w/s320/20221022_122626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Pictured above is another live oak- but this one in particular is historical. It is called the Dueling Tree. Back in the day when feuds were settled by sword or pistol, this was the spot where the quarreling men chose to meet and fight each other. Needless to say, it is a very old oak tree.<br /></p><p>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZHKgIVIUAfgfKmFn3LEks16549kMoxPbUTN8XclJ9y8Mj3yJaY39RrenTMDQTYrsCZ2K1TRUdYUbvXLUkjYnkwuImYPk3eLGgsxmowoLaLkG-esE2n91pvZ02HjH_OiFnj1LVOAZ8HvfZReKuDS8JxqRDowd5GNW12vZOeNXnGTmA-PBtSd3ug/s4000/20221023_160133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZHKgIVIUAfgfKmFn3LEks16549kMoxPbUTN8XclJ9y8Mj3yJaY39RrenTMDQTYrsCZ2K1TRUdYUbvXLUkjYnkwuImYPk3eLGgsxmowoLaLkG-esE2n91pvZ02HjH_OiFnj1LVOAZ8HvfZReKuDS8JxqRDowd5GNW12vZOeNXnGTmA-PBtSd3ug/s320/20221023_160133.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />We found this interesting monument in Crescent Park, which is located along the Mississippi River. It was built in thanks to the Latin American workers who helped rebuild New Orleans after the 2005 hurricane.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1cF0tvv33NBHviwL1OZTRslpYjB50KjieHtca-UXfBibph9lfIMlo0YhqkyfXrdBQhFBGZLPCFRBObiVfFRZ7VN55TtXek7NbS1ZDooH5Agt48UdPpKkzeQRJXkmErAfyukNZ6f9vg-qw89pXUHTVKmYChU1p5jl0uzJQuHXKZPhqqhsw6piRg/s4000/20221022_192815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1cF0tvv33NBHviwL1OZTRslpYjB50KjieHtca-UXfBibph9lfIMlo0YhqkyfXrdBQhFBGZLPCFRBObiVfFRZ7VN55TtXek7NbS1ZDooH5Agt48UdPpKkzeQRJXkmErAfyukNZ6f9vg-qw89pXUHTVKmYChU1p5jl0uzJQuHXKZPhqqhsw6piRg/s320/20221022_192815.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And this is typical New Orleans- a Halloween parade in the French Quarter, complete with floats and many costumed people. Beads and candy were thrown, and a constant smell of weed in the air!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS59uZfzVsvXSGrk8yBENDwPIziKrUXcvBo7xmNQc1g9w-uxfTieyAqEBg8Rf-ELHJCKc8HJpMrwVHdBPV8nPumX2wZywuT_1Ny9RgbkWjFG3mMum6LDpB3431ZQNRCaa3aVLV6kzHhNIGhqRjAnrNyGyT5UOVHX2wk_gJSqH8XKSHKrWV1ecwaQ/s4000/20221023_183526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS59uZfzVsvXSGrk8yBENDwPIziKrUXcvBo7xmNQc1g9w-uxfTieyAqEBg8Rf-ELHJCKc8HJpMrwVHdBPV8nPumX2wZywuT_1Ny9RgbkWjFG3mMum6LDpB3431ZQNRCaa3aVLV6kzHhNIGhqRjAnrNyGyT5UOVHX2wk_gJSqH8XKSHKrWV1ecwaQ/s320/20221023_183526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Kat was also kind to drive us over to the areas of the city which had the most Halloween decorations, and we did see a few mansions which were very creatively decorated! Music was heard and dancing skeletons were seen in the windows of one of the homes. We also checked out some of the costume shops and I will leave you with one more picture so typical of NOLA.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce8W2DnHo5T8DgiQcKBoA0Pw_3Cbbhqp4XfWLSzS4AmTpcTIx-M57_2LXMtU_D1IPNyT2ren0lINzglcTfAPCR2KXtygy6qFeF4i6gF1aFE04Cfgsa45bb9y9yhMycBHSqGxmACR8H3iBVDpHfavwRar-qc-XdiLk2nqKoJwrysGsbOHYRBKDhg/s4000/20221022_153759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce8W2DnHo5T8DgiQcKBoA0Pw_3Cbbhqp4XfWLSzS4AmTpcTIx-M57_2LXMtU_D1IPNyT2ren0lINzglcTfAPCR2KXtygy6qFeF4i6gF1aFE04Cfgsa45bb9y9yhMycBHSqGxmACR8H3iBVDpHfavwRar-qc-XdiLk2nqKoJwrysGsbOHYRBKDhg/s320/20221022_153759.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-51348975086172714532022-09-10T14:50:00.001-05:002022-09-10T14:50:53.515-05:00Missouri Botanical Garden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8BHdL_nkY4Yp4piGRJIBLaRRKJXXJRKj3IqrWBYl3OS3iXJmPjicUSh6b85qRX976-F5Uto0C5BQblPtbrvFZYRL6IbFq66AJkoPTOD5XZ2A7xhhlJUMm0T5ed0aCcLI2CRxoaWAD-OwZBYcVhrbnZrcy2iX2o1inO8UTCkpPzOZqO8XxNZKLA/s3264/20220827_120818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1845" data-original-width="3264" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8BHdL_nkY4Yp4piGRJIBLaRRKJXXJRKj3IqrWBYl3OS3iXJmPjicUSh6b85qRX976-F5Uto0C5BQblPtbrvFZYRL6IbFq66AJkoPTOD5XZ2A7xhhlJUMm0T5ed0aCcLI2CRxoaWAD-OwZBYcVhrbnZrcy2iX2o1inO8UTCkpPzOZqO8XxNZKLA/w400-h226/20220827_120818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Several weeks ago John and I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of the Taylor Visitor Center of our St.Louis gardens. It was a good transformation, way beyond what I imagined it would look like. Even the outside of the building has a different appearance, as you can see in the picture abov<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HQpA9UyRCSORIsxKe98ymHLNSSEeKFJGRJnJPShRGhR866qOBrXD8UKlhK-6NWw3GBBw26mvev9Jh8dyEApDLOmkufWXr3xt5pAfFXu7tzWsMxL-peSkiyXaXuXG3qlwdnt0kjAVyjN3UdWkwX5hQGR291ef9xlZJilx3PedZEforc6Iqh_07A/s4000/20220827_121742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HQpA9UyRCSORIsxKe98ymHLNSSEeKFJGRJnJPShRGhR866qOBrXD8UKlhK-6NWw3GBBw26mvev9Jh8dyEApDLOmkufWXr3xt5pAfFXu7tzWsMxL-peSkiyXaXuXG3qlwdnt0kjAVyjN3UdWkwX5hQGR291ef9xlZJilx3PedZEforc6Iqh_07A/s320/20220827_121742.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The high midsection of the building, which you may notice in the first picture above, is the glass atrium. That part of the center immediately caught my attention as I entered the center. The soaring atrium was designed to let in "dappled natural light", causing one to feel like they were in clearing in the woods- according to the garden's brochure. It did not give me that feeling, but still is very pretty. Continuing with the theme of trees, the terrazzo floors were designed to look like a forest floor sprinkled with leaves from the many different kinds of trees in the garden.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgkzJhOgOIMQIXLbeh40tfYbkwKWxq_UKfOzUHPRU2kw7rd8KDGjKJzGlTvPydbsIeG1-LnH04vNE40qjFipMROMRl5cfDX_a2kayimdfC3BUbNu5v4yHvDedoD36KKfLeARjSM0aP_LG6oGrXpwfzxat6lUUaZ9I-nMmirdBKGF0szW6d9A33A/s4000/20220827_121505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgkzJhOgOIMQIXLbeh40tfYbkwKWxq_UKfOzUHPRU2kw7rd8KDGjKJzGlTvPydbsIeG1-LnH04vNE40qjFipMROMRl5cfDX_a2kayimdfC3BUbNu5v4yHvDedoD36KKfLeARjSM0aP_LG6oGrXpwfzxat6lUUaZ9I-nMmirdBKGF0szW6d9A33A/s320/20220827_121505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>One other new feature in the center, besides new changes in the cafeteria on the first floor, is the area above the information desk. The lighting was designed to appear like the "light and shape of fireflies". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetnVGn_U4l_9JymaBmKM-vN4GcqONCJdpDdtzsx6-czToza7XR4qCs5rzrMKKnWxHqtFneDK_PrRi-CNDojUK5Ix539jjSAdOyUg1tt__8XxPmhuFdfzVKFOQrrUT8FoGTZ-XWw8ar7tXiX8ktn5AIJ2O_ir-Od9nnPUgcCEhsX10_ZUI9Up0wQ/s4000/20220827_121706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetnVGn_U4l_9JymaBmKM-vN4GcqONCJdpDdtzsx6-czToza7XR4qCs5rzrMKKnWxHqtFneDK_PrRi-CNDojUK5Ix539jjSAdOyUg1tt__8XxPmhuFdfzVKFOQrrUT8FoGTZ-XWw8ar7tXiX8ktn5AIJ2O_ir-Od9nnPUgcCEhsX10_ZUI9Up0wQ/s320/20220827_121706.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was disappointed that, once we stepped outside, we were not greeted by beautiful landscaped gardens! No, on second thought, I realized that construction of the center began in 2019 and ended in this month of 2022. The final phase of renovation is not expected until spring of 2023, when the surrounding landscapes of the newly constructed areas will be completed. Something else, which I should mention here, is that the gardens now have a 50,000 gallon collection system that will support 92% of irrigation for all of the greenhouses.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jbrulF2HheCgbpx3gidH3JgwZN0wKhHAatrxuknBQkGWtVugDOzuHjiGUAXUajED9sdec-w17kZrWpvYr3Me6SW9l4U_1MajXa8oKMgMc4V-b04hJaZTLRWs0wMmMEh5j9A9OahU283HsnsTTWFTPiHroRX-zlGDFPRTs_edopWwg5yzEUPrpw/s4000/20220827_123426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jbrulF2HheCgbpx3gidH3JgwZN0wKhHAatrxuknBQkGWtVugDOzuHjiGUAXUajED9sdec-w17kZrWpvYr3Me6SW9l4U_1MajXa8oKMgMc4V-b04hJaZTLRWs0wMmMEh5j9A9OahU283HsnsTTWFTPiHroRX-zlGDFPRTs_edopWwg5yzEUPrpw/s320/20220827_123426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Pictured above is another view of the new center, in the background. Despite the disappointment of seeing flower beds with only dirt in them behind the building, there was still the beauty of the water lilies in the pond next to the Linnean House. You can see the corner of that brick building in the picture above. I believe that building use to offer a variety of azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. I loved to see them blooming during the winter months! But that will be changing, as the building will be returning to what the conservancy was originally designed for back in 1882- to be an orangery with displays of citrus and Mediterranean plants.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd6bMTPNnB1UYrNmnw1IXvo5K4iolSxwY6N7yhRDXFu1cG0GIcoTg4VMd8uAoJhYYC2TujqFioE9SibUOO6SRaJrMycvqwEoAxK-BMqDx_GVCoLQRotE73CcjQElissVxwNzCGsVC0VV0y1h6W9podLt2cmzFc5lDZV9uiegp2PHuPcTTDdCxBg/s4000/20220827_124344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd6bMTPNnB1UYrNmnw1IXvo5K4iolSxwY6N7yhRDXFu1cG0GIcoTg4VMd8uAoJhYYC2TujqFioE9SibUOO6SRaJrMycvqwEoAxK-BMqDx_GVCoLQRotE73CcjQElissVxwNzCGsVC0VV0y1h6W9podLt2cmzFc5lDZV9uiegp2PHuPcTTDdCxBg/s320/20220827_124344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We ventured further into the gardens and once again saw all of its floral beauty. As usual, we enjoyed our day there, but it was a hot one. I will end this posting with a picture of a familiar scene in the garden- a lily pond decorated with yellow and orange Chiluly glass balls and a variety of sculptures.. The climatron greenhouse can be seen in the background.<br /><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /> </p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-18400931784602284912022-09-05T12:53:00.003-05:002022-09-05T12:53:54.660-05:00Missouri State Fair at Sedalia, Missouri<p> No big road trips for John and I this past summer, although it would have been smart for us to have found some cool spot north of Missouri! Well, we did a few weekend trips- just nothing to write about. Our daughter and son-in-law enjoy those short trips with their camping trailer, and sometimes we tag along. When they told us of their plans to attend the state fair, we decided to join them. It had been at least a good ten years since we had been there. And, as we discovered, the Missouri Fair is as great as ever, with lots of different demonstrations; rodeos, bull riding, tractor/truck pulls, music shows- and that is to name but a few of the fair's attractions over the two weeks it was running. I am a bit of a history buff so something that was a bit different from the usual fair trappings did capture my interest soon after we entered the fair grounds: the French Merci Train.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2N_uVXgG_y5HKihwAYBm5U3EpWXbfhcFzUpF-IYwj2aXUnXvmded6fxN8ybX2AINOUNK8tPZOXSIbMM-wNU6-0Ug-qx8LYNJY9K_jNU0UDihimKOwpYjOF1TlcWyKA4RMvSktP2D8hVK2MXuICRBvxrHxAYZc-29t6Qc8ZQmRUROAOQ0ii4JCg/s4000/20220813_133858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2N_uVXgG_y5HKihwAYBm5U3EpWXbfhcFzUpF-IYwj2aXUnXvmded6fxN8ybX2AINOUNK8tPZOXSIbMM-wNU6-0Ug-qx8LYNJY9K_jNU0UDihimKOwpYjOF1TlcWyKA4RMvSktP2D8hVK2MXuICRBvxrHxAYZc-29t6Qc8ZQmRUROAOQ0ii4JCg/s320/20220813_133858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>In 1947 the United states collected food and other items from all of its states and sent them to Italy and France to sustain their people after World War 11. France returned the kindness with a collection of box cars filled with gifts for every state in our union- the cars were called the "Merci Train". The fair had on display the Missouri box car, pictured above. The car was built in 1873 and was used during the wars to transport men and horses- to be exact, 8 horses and 40 men. Next to the box car is a "Gratitude Garden".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yJOQZ5jDVh98JppSfQiMzoB0Q_K579BAZBn8IlQL21cupVpHsoIXKHwe7MWNjnd0P4SV6tGo0Xsv_wLiA3ao_tzFHqvOUEV613GckArQbF5ynhW1xy2kgwKpWVCstTmkGANWqEFi7V9UKslC9UXWkLB9e-n4tmZm_tFiRxsbg2URkDBDXQGyRg/s4000/20220813_133933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yJOQZ5jDVh98JppSfQiMzoB0Q_K579BAZBn8IlQL21cupVpHsoIXKHwe7MWNjnd0P4SV6tGo0Xsv_wLiA3ao_tzFHqvOUEV613GckArQbF5ynhW1xy2kgwKpWVCstTmkGANWqEFi7V9UKslC9UXWkLB9e-n4tmZm_tFiRxsbg2URkDBDXQGyRg/s320/20220813_133933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The fair had many shows which a whole family could enjoy, and one such show was enjoyed by all of us, including the grandchildren. It was a juggling act performed by a gentleman from London,England.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqsaorCrJhyYsESpy6pmqQRRGk9WOhV4KCWrVpcQ-QQVqxXyF5hxSUYWW93BUBhmwznYW5keKy8wTzFAHAnrcOeYgu8JHQOiqyWB-b_-SRNzBGQp1R00-AudjXvCYqL2oqhwn2uD9pkO71TLTiCVIAxBU6E_VMQOoQbf1tazH8_Ktu3uRvttcTw/s4000/20220813_133125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqsaorCrJhyYsESpy6pmqQRRGk9WOhV4KCWrVpcQ-QQVqxXyF5hxSUYWW93BUBhmwznYW5keKy8wTzFAHAnrcOeYgu8JHQOiqyWB-b_-SRNzBGQp1R00-AudjXvCYqL2oqhwn2uD9pkO71TLTiCVIAxBU6E_VMQOoQbf1tazH8_Ktu3uRvttcTw/s320/20220813_133125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our son-in-law Spencer, along with 8 other men, agreed to help the juggler toss knives in the air while balancing on a rope held tautly by the two teams of men. The performer was successful and fortunately no one got stabbed by a flying knife! After the show our group broke up, each of us having different interests in the various buildings of the fair. Our daughter saw in the Missouri Agriculture hall the similar sculptured butter cow which we had seen when we last visited the fair. Some of us had an interest in entering the chicken building where a rooster calling contest was to be held.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYXcBw_Dn0g9g7RqSIXolqFQF8HUKjNNQBgWq68U0HX5h5B94Ioet8DJ0WTtR-teJqVkihJuN5MQ2lmpHAaVUtQ2Xh24UbEVPztq2MJPoYtenXXCXPci7kHoMCmO3EJOtXIwE3MbXlS6vjcivalYudWsrQWSPAYPvjUm_dGVxhsW50O9vnOqZeA/s4000/20220813_135436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYXcBw_Dn0g9g7RqSIXolqFQF8HUKjNNQBgWq68U0HX5h5B94Ioet8DJ0WTtR-teJqVkihJuN5MQ2lmpHAaVUtQ2Xh24UbEVPztq2MJPoYtenXXCXPci7kHoMCmO3EJOtXIwE3MbXlS6vjcivalYudWsrQWSPAYPvjUm_dGVxhsW50O9vnOqZeA/s320/20220813_135436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As we wended our way through that building we walked down rows of caged chickens. The one above caught my eye as she had received a first prize ribbon. Quite an unusual chicken; the sign on her cage said that she was of the Sebright variety- a breed of chicken known for its ornamental feathers, tiny white eggs and provided very little meat. Why have a chicken like that? Well, it is a friendly chicken, my guess is that she is a great pet! I got a bit bored with the rooster calling contest- an elderly gentleman walked between two rows of caged roosters a couple of times and rated their crowing. A rooster may crow magnificently one moment, then when the judge walked by the rooster became silent and received a low score. One contestant's owner covered the cage of her rooster and uncovered him as the judge walked by- that one attempt did not get any cooperation from the rooster. Like I said, I got bored with that contest very soon!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPucmBuvyOzvSLWJPRQEZgczakhIWmJ2NSfBoet6bu94n9hXP2HY3BDPwOfGNVtfpZ5T6d4oKD3GRrVIfkRpijC-Qjn4vmtybJrIy_TBBxcJxZpH4Cx3btK2xe9SFw2N49CQEAoxUczlSMyOE5XbieLTkpkn806cj8SV29B7xuetbF4fGqwIIGzQ/s4000/20220813_134018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPucmBuvyOzvSLWJPRQEZgczakhIWmJ2NSfBoet6bu94n9hXP2HY3BDPwOfGNVtfpZ5T6d4oKD3GRrVIfkRpijC-Qjn4vmtybJrIy_TBBxcJxZpH4Cx3btK2xe9SFw2N49CQEAoxUczlSMyOE5XbieLTkpkn806cj8SV29B7xuetbF4fGqwIIGzQ/s320/20220813_134018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I always enjoy looking at the 4-H club products created by children. My mother grew up on a farm and belonged to that club ( she often informed me that the 4- H stood for head, heart, hands and health). Mom won first prize in a Michigan State Fair for food which she successfully canned in glass jars. I was very impressed to see what the 4-H club members of Missouri had to show with their sewing and cooking skills! Unfortunately we did not see much of the fair the day we were there. The temperature was 90 degrees and only climber higher while we were at the fair. Little amount of shade and few benches to sit on made it difficult for John and I to walk around the fair. We had to pass on watching the grandchildren doing the carnival rides. And the distance from one attraction to another seemed to get longer and longer! The fair trolley cars were no help for us- every car was full! We decided that the best course of action was to find a cool spot to sit and wait until the rest of our group were finished with their day at the fair.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-47013951136486504572022-06-18T11:16:00.000-05:002022-06-18T11:16:06.452-05:00Additional Notes on Our Trip East<p style="text-align: left;">During our tour of the Country Music Museum we talked to a docent at the museum who was very kind to inform us that there was to be a reenactment of an impromptu jam session which took place on December 4th, 1956 at the Sun Record Studio in Memphis,Tennessee. The show, called "Million Dollar Quartet", would be in a Bristol theater the next day, a one time evening show. The quartet that happened to be in the Sun Record Studio in 1956 were: Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. After touring the museum we immediately made a stop at the theater to successfully purchase the tickets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk3ZQQ4TAuC0cbY8XVQgJVliA40FIupGMb1pQbTAxGV4TyBNysBA1nAtAmZd5S93N70v46rgjqSFI3jojw-Bh1KLqtBagsyf2HIVTc2I7uVvfmycuG_36-tYDTICCtu1jcrxgbjwG7KizPnZOPSGuh99Lc8DGiqrLo_zhIwRpAakR1gnBZy-viQ/s2941/20220529_194051%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2565" data-original-width="2941" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk3ZQQ4TAuC0cbY8XVQgJVliA40FIupGMb1pQbTAxGV4TyBNysBA1nAtAmZd5S93N70v46rgjqSFI3jojw-Bh1KLqtBagsyf2HIVTc2I7uVvfmycuG_36-tYDTICCtu1jcrxgbjwG7KizPnZOPSGuh99Lc8DGiqrLo_zhIwRpAakR1gnBZy-viQ/s320/20220529_194051%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>What a very entertaining evening for us! The actor playing Jerry Lee Lewis performed all the wild antics which he did on the piano. Remember his song "<i>Great Balls of Fire"? </i>We heard that as well as some of his other memorable rock and roll songs. There was a bit of t dialogue -between the recording producer of the studio and Johnny Cash, as Cash was not willing to sign another contract with the Sun recording studio. And Carl Perkins expressed his unhappiness with Elvis Presley getting rich off the song which he, Perkins, composed- that was "<i>Blue Suede Shoes". </i>Of course, just hearing the actors playing the popular songs of Cash and Presley was just alone great!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-LCHdO5gJmiaLPM05hjSAOkp_sYBneD3U_p0An7Da1PqRkHQ713vdARDET_d0jkrmSoZledX8jasjwzLReXoDak6t9AWjTcYn2pErQEpD9h5KsDqCK_W41HI7beqSnVYuWCCt2_HtSHSVOMYF2Wvw9dPIwHAEaAknB4V-5pmR_AoYKrUIGkY9w/s4000/20220529_094639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-LCHdO5gJmiaLPM05hjSAOkp_sYBneD3U_p0An7Da1PqRkHQ713vdARDET_d0jkrmSoZledX8jasjwzLReXoDak6t9AWjTcYn2pErQEpD9h5KsDqCK_W41HI7beqSnVYuWCCt2_HtSHSVOMYF2Wvw9dPIwHAEaAknB4V-5pmR_AoYKrUIGkY9w/s320/20220529_094639.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I also want to give a shout out to the wonderful bed and breakfast inn where we stayed during our time in Virginia. It is called the "Donkey Lodge", which is a donkey sanctuary for eight abused miniature donkeys. However, one is not so miniature!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9rBaPiU-PDB5T9-jH9RSU2N-cilAVLzqmOIVbBfaRvQQGQqO6ZHy0AXSKINZYrU2Clnd2xJDFDr0gKqSWmGpqoU25ixj0Xpd_5OakzRkOEYtF2d3C6MBcRPOzG2IdMIE5nHrA386GqD5V00-6w3-RlisftjqbYOmsVU8TCQNjo3Pibh_lG4ZUg/s4000/20220529_095242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9rBaPiU-PDB5T9-jH9RSU2N-cilAVLzqmOIVbBfaRvQQGQqO6ZHy0AXSKINZYrU2Clnd2xJDFDr0gKqSWmGpqoU25ixj0Xpd_5OakzRkOEYtF2d3C6MBcRPOzG2IdMIE5nHrA386GqD5V00-6w3-RlisftjqbYOmsVU8TCQNjo3Pibh_lG4ZUg/s320/20220529_095242.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Pictured above is a Mammoth Donkey, a species of donkey rare in the United States. It was brought over here from Europe during the late 18th century, and bred specifically for breeding to draft horses for farm work. They may be the size of a horse, but don't plan on riding them because they go at their own pace! The inn was also delightful to me just because I enjoy waking up early to the sounds of roosters crowing and donkeys braying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkYLZBln_txDDioZU2ZCdw3uZTaKWmyVUb_2ud5UQBA--yI_DcjbZ6LoB1q4I-BPRtMtOF_PGhcKYAkAKQL98yNrMEr1N_9PG5dm0WN27Se77UU9T2o93DO3Nwvu8BDWVvdifGIKdJpVcBVoFLmzG0Zrx7kWgWXNcMe0YoESTxRjdjciXq3njKg/s4000/20220529_121610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkYLZBln_txDDioZU2ZCdw3uZTaKWmyVUb_2ud5UQBA--yI_DcjbZ6LoB1q4I-BPRtMtOF_PGhcKYAkAKQL98yNrMEr1N_9PG5dm0WN27Se77UU9T2o93DO3Nwvu8BDWVvdifGIKdJpVcBVoFLmzG0Zrx7kWgWXNcMe0YoESTxRjdjciXq3njKg/s320/20220529_121610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I can't finish off my posting of Virginia without showing you some of the pretty mountain scenery which we enjoyed. We spent the part of one day driving to the top of Whitetop Mountain, the second highest summit in the commonwealth. On that winding drive we saw a variety of scenic forests and meadows, as well as some awesome mountain vistas.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-34963773794393288252022-06-15T19:16:00.001-05:002022-06-16T14:56:50.895-05:00Our Road Trip East<p>Planning for this trip started several months back, when I realized that a niece of ours would be graduating from high school in May. John and I had promised her that we would be there to celebrate the occasion. Her grandmother, my sister Linda, was also planning to be there at that time- as well as another sister,Julia. By "there" I mean Marietta, Georgia. Sister Linda said that her trip would begin in Savannah, where she was meeting up with a friend. I loved Savannah when John and I were there some years back, so without thinking too much about it, I said that we would meet up with her there before heading to Marietta. My, I did not realize at the time the extra miles I was adding to our trip! As it turned out, the time we spent in Savannah was spent in a hospital because John had a fainting spell the day we were planning on touring the city. After he was discharged from the hospital we drove to Marietta. We spent several days there, celebrating the graduation with a dinner at a local restaurant and doing some shopping with Ellie and my two sisters. Then John and I drove north to Abingdon, Virginia to spend some time with our son Dan and his wife Amanda.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian_GgEYzjW-2E9yKT1YT0q1y89s1AoDfAYUbdYHqqHcx5abKEnCMQT2J6mQ54-AelrTsF0f1gdbyLOrJj2RK4hUQ8Cr1PplT-vt0GlpkQgkemtVoNOMD66AoZTusWaTZjCsL86Fny2odu66_3CqLUtqZkDaT8uK0LR2Yi3eLzNXVf2K857NToLw/s4000/20220528_120748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian_GgEYzjW-2E9yKT1YT0q1y89s1AoDfAYUbdYHqqHcx5abKEnCMQT2J6mQ54-AelrTsF0f1gdbyLOrJj2RK4hUQ8Cr1PplT-vt0GlpkQgkemtVoNOMD66AoZTusWaTZjCsL86Fny2odu66_3CqLUtqZkDaT8uK0LR2Yi3eLzNXVf2K857NToLw/s320/20220528_120748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We had a couple of days to spend with them so we did some touring around, checking out the local places of interest. I do not pay much attention when John plans our trips, so I was surprised that Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee (the city lies in two states) is the birthplace of country music. Could have fooled me- I thought it was Nashville! Pictured above is the museum we toured, giving us the complete story of how the "Big Bang" of country music began. By the way, the museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SqyODc8psjCTFIIzL7p-VLTW-jqdbCRsr931t2ewvMj1cdcAVW_RtOFanr4KrRt5UDtNwAeHOXXpkTHGPasqxuSWI7v8Fwd6DhIp2dVWt314aNu39u1Rhff1Hkh8TJV57LW9c9ZSpCXzkn1HbU3ztpkf_zbl_MCcv7Eoc3JJ7c9c9rSBg-OIuw/s4000/20220528_120911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SqyODc8psjCTFIIzL7p-VLTW-jqdbCRsr931t2ewvMj1cdcAVW_RtOFanr4KrRt5UDtNwAeHOXXpkTHGPasqxuSWI7v8Fwd6DhIp2dVWt314aNu39u1Rhff1Hkh8TJV57LW9c9ZSpCXzkn1HbU3ztpkf_zbl_MCcv7Eoc3JJ7c9c9rSBg-OIuw/s320/20220528_120911.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The entrance hall of the museum is pictured above. An orientation film "Bound to Bristol", narrated by Johnny Carter Cash (grandson of Johnny Cash), told us the story of how, in 1927, Ralph Peer came to Bristol to record the songs of the people of Appalachia. He was a record producer from Victor Talking Machine Company, located in New York City. Prior to this time any vocal or instrumental artists had to bring their music to New York- quite a distance for many Southerners to travel in 1927. Peer recorded 76 songs by 19 different acts over the course of two weeks. According to Johnny Cash "these recordings are the single most important event in the history of country music". The museum also has exhibits showing the technology that shaped the success of the recordings, as well as a gallery demonstrating the vocals, guitar, fiddle, banjo, autoharp and mandolin which made the new industry of country music successful. Capping off our afternoon at the museum was a jam session of local country music artists, which we were able to attend in one of the museum's rooms. That evening we also attended a country music concert at the Carter Family Fold music theater in Hiltons, Virginia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf2hPHpsnbLAzNfsyc35j3nEEmrrwxoHiq4tVeEh8r0otFxZF2hB3LI5B40DlLV-t2T27KHzxbBrBnjQ7KWR9irLeqNpd-jZX3zpsd9v7XNarStt9BGNUfRYXp27aq4Klh2dsGorHYZDBBW2sublscxoAO_URVRu-yVmICjwQP6T31u2lX--fuw/s4000/20220528_190159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf2hPHpsnbLAzNfsyc35j3nEEmrrwxoHiq4tVeEh8r0otFxZF2hB3LI5B40DlLV-t2T27KHzxbBrBnjQ7KWR9irLeqNpd-jZX3zpsd9v7XNarStt9BGNUfRYXp27aq4Klh2dsGorHYZDBBW2sublscxoAO_URVRu-yVmICjwQP6T31u2lX--fuw/s320/20220528_190159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The rustic concert hall was built in 1976, and enlarged in 2005. Before the concert we walked over to the Carter family cabin, built in the mid 1800s. The Carter Family, known as "The First Family of Country Music" was comprised of A.P.Carter, his wife Sara, and her sister Maybelle. The cabin was the home of A.P.'s parents who raised 8 children in it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtomDGXWnpZ-zoq3IV5cNpr9OVRIkIEzdMyWgPlZDooc15lRNfFwWjAbs8-WyRWNcv6V-aVYCOq_gbe6b3Kv6Kztb3zMJyMyxgM7wQNo457R3-sXlF46rq_AE9wCUZYvihbPtt7aRqffzgo6Fdn4D9ImceY6ErIu2oivMHYL_7AFdwAcgU8z7kA/s2548/20220528_184629%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2548" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtomDGXWnpZ-zoq3IV5cNpr9OVRIkIEzdMyWgPlZDooc15lRNfFwWjAbs8-WyRWNcv6V-aVYCOq_gbe6b3Kv6Kztb3zMJyMyxgM7wQNo457R3-sXlF46rq_AE9wCUZYvihbPtt7aRqffzgo6Fdn4D9ImceY6ErIu2oivMHYL_7AFdwAcgU8z7kA/s320/20220528_184629%20(2).jpg" width="307" /></a></div><p>We were able to tour the cabin, which had been moved in 2003 and relocated near the Fold concert hall. An interesting item to add here is that Maybelle's son-in-law was Johnny Cash. Our son Daniel took the opportunity to sit a moment in Johnny's rocking chair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3ZSrFF902wrU94_yta9_bMxUIlBw19HPcjoJfGnSgB-ryUtr1BhC-lEABDxsJRgnpPYtkjI5g-TeLLeQwcKj1nfmBggOxmQs7S89Te63V95u7LsRlD7MYxiPsntS2CdgtIQgnbdRdCN2_k7jfbDIRWrLAo2Pu2eAAH662XiyTGejBTv_Mao9QA/s4000/20220528_185326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3ZSrFF902wrU94_yta9_bMxUIlBw19HPcjoJfGnSgB-ryUtr1BhC-lEABDxsJRgnpPYtkjI5g-TeLLeQwcKj1nfmBggOxmQs7S89Te63V95u7LsRlD7MYxiPsntS2CdgtIQgnbdRdCN2_k7jfbDIRWrLAo2Pu2eAAH662XiyTGejBTv_Mao9QA/s320/20220528_185326.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>That was our first day in southern Virginia. I will share more with you in the next posting about the rest of our adventures in this interesting and very beautiful part of our country.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-84811583748627212902022-05-04T10:28:00.001-05:002022-05-04T10:28:40.106-05:00Off the Beaten Path in Missouri<p> By off the beaten path, I am referring to State Highway 36- which John and I concentrated on during our trip to northwest Missouri. South of that highway, we visited the town of Gallatin, on state highway 6. John had read about a squirrel cage jail, one of three such jails left in our nation. This jail was built in 1889 and used until 1975.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D3lfEdaDN1eHTFFQCedzdTYN8S_aOHefxlj4Wtk5_6OiUx7GKjXxLvlB4BqrEHwmjxGCt9nrYWkhhyc7vjtnpAdzX318uFcrXKXKmYogDAeU8tnx7916FxcT9tzqfZojYfYuxWOv9CuTjZPz7sh7FpjyvFt6dWWQFqFSEQKUnw5xm1wnBv7KOw/s4000/20220409_170011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D3lfEdaDN1eHTFFQCedzdTYN8S_aOHefxlj4Wtk5_6OiUx7GKjXxLvlB4BqrEHwmjxGCt9nrYWkhhyc7vjtnpAdzX318uFcrXKXKmYogDAeU8tnx7916FxcT9tzqfZojYfYuxWOv9CuTjZPz7sh7FpjyvFt6dWWQFqFSEQKUnw5xm1wnBv7KOw/s320/20220409_170011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The jail consists of three levels,cage-like cylinders that can rotate like a Lazy Susan,with each containing 10 pie-shaped cells. There is just one way out,so a single jailer could guard all the prisoners. The jail was not opened for tours when we were there, but later after returning home,we learned more about that particular kind of jail in the Post Dispatch newspaper. The article was concerning the attractions of Council Bluffs,Iowa- one of which is a squirrel cage jail built in 1885 and in use until 1969.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN6rJlkJTIm3HlxZDwidjxV_xIew9Q9O21meKfAyio0N10jdRtbW8Avt1wzHWeBFhrAfpYORdXz8LiSI-d_mg0UX0Ni5RDCb2vFgFdElDMX86xW4U__rNpkl5zPjffoUsuSSdYs1X0pUzFSh1RhfxTJqeWWN0wzP_mKPfu9qtXzUa6zJ7Ra8W7A/s4000/20220408_163729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN6rJlkJTIm3HlxZDwidjxV_xIew9Q9O21meKfAyio0N10jdRtbW8Avt1wzHWeBFhrAfpYORdXz8LiSI-d_mg0UX0Ni5RDCb2vFgFdElDMX86xW4U__rNpkl5zPjffoUsuSSdYs1X0pUzFSh1RhfxTJqeWWN0wzP_mKPfu9qtXzUa6zJ7Ra8W7A/s320/20220408_163729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The town of Excelsior Springs was the western-most town on our trip and, as Gallatin, not on state Highway 36. Excelsior Springs is actually part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. We drove around the town looking for any signs directing us to one of the town's springs. Unfortunately we had not done our homework for this town, so wandered around it for a time looking for any signs to springs. Found none, only a pretty gazebo with wooden benches and a concrete round table in its middle- possibly some springs boarded up. Then we drove past a tall building with the words on it " Hall of Waters". That looked promising. We drove around the building to the front side of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk654RTM4NjUawJGJKzuTXePXrhfscv9ivk9VJLucl78zIAeTC1e2Igra9c-s04iqOemfui5CDVMrKvGvj7xubT-vP4NXMpK1lp75df9_aFomAtzGc9oNj0ZgU2E17FZJ6fX3QZSEC8wIEsph0g38sHJMa8UppI1JEtwvNkkx6sWq3CUgYQXRxMA/s4000/20220408_164426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk654RTM4NjUawJGJKzuTXePXrhfscv9ivk9VJLucl78zIAeTC1e2Igra9c-s04iqOemfui5CDVMrKvGvj7xubT-vP4NXMpK1lp75df9_aFomAtzGc9oNj0ZgU2E17FZJ6fX3QZSEC8wIEsph0g38sHJMa8UppI1JEtwvNkkx6sWq3CUgYQXRxMA/w244-h320/20220408_164426.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p>I eagerly jumped out of the car to see if the building was opened. No, it had closed at 4:45- which was the current time. We did look at the historical marker in front of the building, which answered some of our questions about the springs. The building is the site of the original springs, as well as city hall. It has the " world's longest mineral bar as well as a health spa". My research later, upon returning home, revealed that the town at one time had about 20 springs, some of which contained a variety of different minerals. There once was a bottling company in the Hall of Waters, which went bankrupt in 1967. In 2003 the town bought licensed rights to that company. That was all we had found in the town of Excelsior Springs, other than some beautiful murals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66vPPc-7FW4jFmSrFuOKb9lzY16FmaZSoptwfROVQfu_Ap_MsmUDcs3RfsD2E9x7eLj0OPrt8qeL1isldHT8I-1TUrjFUoJZrTNwWglUau1bXLd8GNctMp1dCkQgjsNOqRk_4SN38MdJEnUg9YEF9jrjSpfsFZ8EUJK7WmS_t5p1WQzG1KFQZZg/s4000/20220408_165044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66vPPc-7FW4jFmSrFuOKb9lzY16FmaZSoptwfROVQfu_Ap_MsmUDcs3RfsD2E9x7eLj0OPrt8qeL1isldHT8I-1TUrjFUoJZrTNwWglUau1bXLd8GNctMp1dCkQgjsNOqRk_4SN38MdJEnUg9YEF9jrjSpfsFZ8EUJK7WmS_t5p1WQzG1KFQZZg/w400-h300/20220408_165044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-49691128001714803072022-04-29T11:19:00.001-05:002022-05-04T10:00:56.921-05:00A Unique Highway<p> If you do a road trip in Missouri on Missouri Highway 36, anywhere between Hannibal and St.Joseph, you may probably understand why this road is called the Genius Highway. It has also been called the VFW Highway. Along this road are the childhood homes of General John J.Pershing (World War 2) as well as General Omar Bradley(the Great War). Three Civil War battles were also fought in places along this route. The Pony Express began in St.Joseph in 1860, and in Hannibal is the boyhood home of the famous author Samuel Clemens. Moving along from great generals and one author, we have two entrepreneurs. John and I visited the childhood home of Walt Disney in Marceline, Mo.last year, this time we visited the home of J.C.Penney in Hamilton. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QmsToD5dCNwWTrg8lD-X8j0XBEMAISN0rDOIDCaUiqTjgqHQbZ_8foTjixn_bLILekPKLZRsZbjjP_IgcHmkmwLMn8NA2WfOdu3yZdh0fvE4KYypc6y4Cl9-I1n5_trBpxqoPGnmQDGoc7OvHosFdd42Vxad8JjVk5rwdMuABLJp6VYSK7xy-g/s4000/20220409_094652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QmsToD5dCNwWTrg8lD-X8j0XBEMAISN0rDOIDCaUiqTjgqHQbZ_8foTjixn_bLILekPKLZRsZbjjP_IgcHmkmwLMn8NA2WfOdu3yZdh0fvE4KYypc6y4Cl9-I1n5_trBpxqoPGnmQDGoc7OvHosFdd42Vxad8JjVk5rwdMuABLJp6VYSK7xy-g/s320/20220409_094652.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The J.C. Penney stores were started by the man pictured above. He at first worked his way up in the Golden Rule Stores, became a partner in those stores, and by 1913 bought out those partners. The new store he called J.C.Penney. In 1924 he opened his 500th store in Hamilton, his boyhood home. By 1941 he opened store number 1600. We toured the Penney museum, in which his picture( above)was seen. We toured his childhood home, which had been moved from the countryside, just out of town, to a park within the city limits. It has two bedrooms- he was the seventh of twelve children. His father's untimely early death forced young James Cash Penney to work after high school and not carry out his plans for further education.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYJVtd7uYZe_mSXJ7A5humDhUUPhz22S1R8XnPG6HCVCGFA_G_hP4y1dqgMnx7mKZjeO8fRLqluz20olA3rfgtcuJ7LmOK34hJPW5lZYT9TSKCZEoJu5Ycd9Sq92e8xCIzOpaBPsggNsKYsSNOTW-p1Mhb84LvAa9fL80AOfBUtf6yEZpprpsHg/s4000/20220409_105418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYJVtd7uYZe_mSXJ7A5humDhUUPhz22S1R8XnPG6HCVCGFA_G_hP4y1dqgMnx7mKZjeO8fRLqluz20olA3rfgtcuJ7LmOK34hJPW5lZYT9TSKCZEoJu5Ycd9Sq92e8xCIzOpaBPsggNsKYsSNOTW-p1Mhb84LvAa9fL80AOfBUtf6yEZpprpsHg/w320-h286/20220409_105418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Quilt Trail can also be found along Highway 36, many of those sewing stores can be found just off the highway or within the Highway 36 corridor. It has been proclaimed 200 miles of fun, if you are a quilter. The mural below, on a building in Hamilton, announces the town's pride in being the home of Penney and "Quilt town USA"<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchjRwNJHdunrzMWhsZtJfLQyu0gF32GIzbcvdwPTw_N9--qKiEuDE4wQAbh1nVOpjCCbcAixPToAi_tVHEUFRnN9bc2NIPc3JIvfgKIP_-mxLD2-gkeTxwOFhs4D_VVmZffk681_Ny-bW49dgLYJinPLxf0xICWl1TlpyE2EDwlO9QQBj5DKYaA/s4000/20220409_105308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchjRwNJHdunrzMWhsZtJfLQyu0gF32GIzbcvdwPTw_N9--qKiEuDE4wQAbh1nVOpjCCbcAixPToAi_tVHEUFRnN9bc2NIPc3JIvfgKIP_-mxLD2-gkeTxwOFhs4D_VVmZffk681_Ny-bW49dgLYJinPLxf0xICWl1TlpyE2EDwlO9QQBj5DKYaA/w245-h400/20220409_105308.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>The town of Chillicothe is another quilt town- there are two stores there. However, that town has another claim to fame: it was the place where the first bread slicing machine was invented in 1928. We found that machine at the Great River Historical Society Museum.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DWXGETQho3wwo5gBqfX9wgqKo0RWhz0mSMRBqn45uWVwITSQThL2m0idbeXv7SdVr8tvfjw2wL80289xGrVcIAFl3soNKwJtxeiaOiDwTrJlFciKtc48hMNo7c7q2oP-MODhjOF-NaPRmzjsR-CXUARvGbyDb5o64xZzhy8nQH3w-hu52EORgw/s4000/20220409_142436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DWXGETQho3wwo5gBqfX9wgqKo0RWhz0mSMRBqn45uWVwITSQThL2m0idbeXv7SdVr8tvfjw2wL80289xGrVcIAFl3soNKwJtxeiaOiDwTrJlFciKtc48hMNo7c7q2oP-MODhjOF-NaPRmzjsR-CXUARvGbyDb5o64xZzhy8nQH3w-hu52EORgw/w384-h288/20220409_142436.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>Otto Frederick Rohwedder is known as the "Father of Sliced Bread". Pictured above is the second such machine- its first home was in the Smithsonian Museum, and is now on loan to the Great River Museum. We spent a wonderful afternoon at that museum, finding many other old treasures there; as a Knabe square baby grand piano made in 1885, a hand-quilted Crazy Quilt made in 1880, and a printing machine (linotype 1872) - to name but a few interesting items which we saw there. That was the highlights of our trip last weekend along Highway 36. I have not listed all the points of interest along that road, maybe you can discover the ones I missed. Wait, let us not forget the ladies! Nellie Tayloe Ross, governor of Wyoming in 1925 and first female governor in the nation, was born in St.Joseph. <br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p> <br /><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-38922992740341371382022-04-26T19:51:00.000-05:002022-04-26T19:51:10.501-05:00Boone's Lick, and Lexington Missouri<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, we have returned from Arkansas, been home a couple of weeks and ready to hit the road again. This time our trip is within the state borders. I have lived in Missouri forty plus years and never attempted to discover what is at Boone's Lick. I have often gone west on Highway 70, but never took tine to venture north off it after passing Boonville. To orientate you, Boonville comes shortly after passing Columbia as you are traveling west on Interstate 70. John and I do know that Daniel Boone and family settled in St.Charles in the early 1800s. Daughters of the American Revolution have a marker (placed in 1913) at this historic site of Boone's Lick which claims that he, Daniel Boone, discovered the saline creek. However, it was his sons Nathan and Daniel who found the site and set up an extraction operation for the production of salt.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RS9x9wwOhmu4Z5EsGZQf7ykvFGsutA-XqnvTUwakGYNOPjb9vuoMh-Ji_pY4Yvq4TYR6O7Nrz-q0VzGab2SPdvkNIrgz_n9HaSnfOoJ91fe5TqaTiTz3F-DCIhOim9RfDEQeQvwe6wlsaLafR1FkgDUV0Igizcv_XO9Q_wBdIYSCrF8GSNFKCw/s4000/20220408_133424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RS9x9wwOhmu4Z5EsGZQf7ykvFGsutA-XqnvTUwakGYNOPjb9vuoMh-Ji_pY4Yvq4TYR6O7Nrz-q0VzGab2SPdvkNIrgz_n9HaSnfOoJ91fe5TqaTiTz3F-DCIhOim9RfDEQeQvwe6wlsaLafR1FkgDUV0Igizcv_XO9Q_wBdIYSCrF8GSNFKCw/s320/20220408_133424.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>John and I hiked a short distance into some woods to find the salt lick, which amounts to a small stream of water. And why is it called a salt lick? At one time deer, elk and bison came to this area to lick the ground. Yum! Salty dirt. Consequently it was easy for the early pioneers and native Americans to kill big game at such sites. Saline creeks were important to the early pioneers- salt was needed for preserving food, seasoning and curing and tanning of hides. This area is quiet now with very few people around. Back in the early 1800s it was a major salt production site. The process back then required placement of water wheels and reservoirs, as well as aqueducts.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZrIX2KdcOCBr-PiOXCiFiyyaVJrSbVAfngtO88y1t1oXpJi5o8HDkkMKajgkPcHW22qNHJ7nkSD-hg12ZTx1_WwXukI3_D0EYKH4t3OVDvKE6pDA99p9WuGd6RJNcjdxhrmWrztphuh3oxmFbPGstF41zChaCVVGlf7Zv-WaxquRmidEzOE_Yw/s4000/20220408_132526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZrIX2KdcOCBr-PiOXCiFiyyaVJrSbVAfngtO88y1t1oXpJi5o8HDkkMKajgkPcHW22qNHJ7nkSD-hg12ZTx1_WwXukI3_D0EYKH4t3OVDvKE6pDA99p9WuGd6RJNcjdxhrmWrztphuh3oxmFbPGstF41zChaCVVGlf7Zv-WaxquRmidEzOE_Yw/s320/20220408_132526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Pictured above is a spring box, or water reservoir, only one left. An interpretive sign nearby noted the wooden box had been preserved or pickled by the salt water. Also in the area is an upturned kettle which was used to boil the water down to extract the salt. The Boone brothers started with 12 kettles, later 40 more were needed. Furnaces were built of limestone to boil down the water. I could well imagine the big production it was back in the day to extract salt! Many men and animals were used before the product could be packed up in boxes, and shipped downstream on the Missouri River. The Boons sold their rights to the mine in 1818 because of frequent confrontations with native Americans. The salt lick changed owners a couple more times before stopping production in about 1838.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-X0rjPpoFUu7nDnkwqy6HviP3XtRENXYEP3VNxXWvfYdxuubOCNg2PMcR0Kel2DCMVbG3a23cnK7lV2EtorUmOdabWeeLxHkIRH7P2IjB2qjRmtJNmNAA77lxvJZkT8EkaFMDQvG7pwBca9Qti5EbtyY9ShyKaqfIdE6fZW6VMtRv5mpGrE3rg/s4000/20220408_153230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-X0rjPpoFUu7nDnkwqy6HviP3XtRENXYEP3VNxXWvfYdxuubOCNg2PMcR0Kel2DCMVbG3a23cnK7lV2EtorUmOdabWeeLxHkIRH7P2IjB2qjRmtJNmNAA77lxvJZkT8EkaFMDQvG7pwBca9Qti5EbtyY9ShyKaqfIdE6fZW6VMtRv5mpGrE3rg/w300-h400/20220408_153230.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>From Boone's Lick we drove to Lexington, Missouri. In that town we found the Lafayette County Courthouse built in 1847. In 1854 a wing was added, and later a second floor. On the upper part of the last column on the left there is still a cannonball embedded in it. Notice the black dot in the picture above at the top of the column. Even with enlarging the picture it is a bit difficult to see. The bloody 3-day battle, fought in1861, was a win for the Missouri pro-Confederate State Guard. The battlefield in Lexington has a short-loop trail to walk. However, it was a cold windy day and we passed on doing that. From the history I read of the town, it once was a much larger,bustling town than it is now. We drove around some of the streets and found two older brick buildings- one built in 1846, and another in 1844. There is plenty of United States/Missouri history to be found in our state. What I wrote in this posting was just the first day of our weekend trip. Our goal the next day was to drive on highway 36. also dubbed as the "Genius Highway". More Missouri history to be learned yet for sure, which will be covered in my next posting. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius7k_BwEDO_3qg2mw5qtVoJgiQOe3KX0zRCs4nHPuEFNJKpKQDXD2ptUW9MmRfbN33OBZVYH7dtC7u_f9EU_IwnENzs7SzH9oLafbniAvvhCkQHuNTENddqa4NUBqXyTjvKb0xZ9AfZjSRpyU-eGAJk__9R9uwhyi9aB-MkvuOIZ4b1QKsBhP7Q/s3256/20220408_154947%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2895" data-original-width="3256" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius7k_BwEDO_3qg2mw5qtVoJgiQOe3KX0zRCs4nHPuEFNJKpKQDXD2ptUW9MmRfbN33OBZVYH7dtC7u_f9EU_IwnENzs7SzH9oLafbniAvvhCkQHuNTENddqa4NUBqXyTjvKb0xZ9AfZjSRpyU-eGAJk__9R9uwhyi9aB-MkvuOIZ4b1QKsBhP7Q/s320/20220408_154947%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of Lexington Battlefield<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /> <br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-60308982775832899082022-04-17T19:27:00.001-05:002022-04-17T19:27:35.316-05:00The Rest of our Arkansas Visit<p> After our visit to the Hot Springs area, John and I traveled down to Crater of Diamonds State Park. Our daughter Melissa, husband and children, joined us there as the grandchildren had time off for spring break. This park is a 37-acre field where visitors from around the world can search for diamonds. There are other semi- precious stones to be found there, as amethyst,agate,jasper, quartz and calcite- but the chance of finding a diamond is what attracts many to the field. In this area many years ago a volcanic pipe brought many diamonds to the surface.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtt0oKEql05zJeBzMA8Ch3YPYuc9EuzOIdxoY7zDJPkj46oJqwry1-P2W27aABh8HYzwkmNp-gvMjiDh4F-pP9d8panFgx2OAp1pj3RotxGbdU6IvJTbng7iThrMfdVaJQz84KRrczMcyBkoMnpa8X1jSl5YD54snDi0OYL5u82aUBIj6NqGEtA/s4000/20220321_123410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtt0oKEql05zJeBzMA8Ch3YPYuc9EuzOIdxoY7zDJPkj46oJqwry1-P2W27aABh8HYzwkmNp-gvMjiDh4F-pP9d8panFgx2OAp1pj3RotxGbdU6IvJTbng7iThrMfdVaJQz84KRrczMcyBkoMnpa8X1jSl5YD54snDi0OYL5u82aUBIj6NqGEtA/w320-h240/20220321_123410.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond Field<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> Yes, it is just an open field surrounded by pine trees. Over 30,000 diamonds have been found by people here since 1972. They had on display, in the visitor's center, one of them which has been mounted on a ring. It was found in 1990 and weighted 3.03 carrots. In 1998 it was certified by the American Gem Society as a perfect grade of 0/0/0 (ideal cut/color/flawless). A diamond like this is estimated to occur one time in a billion. And it is even more rare for a diamond like this coming from a non-commercial diamond mine!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZsLug-I75XRUa5Zkr7aEdR1DRdcQfm9gPVdjGHlceihSpPQQbl7R_cy7eOWW3IUEQre9VNuaC-nSP_IHXaNSNef8bpghKH4uhKKwNU_ybPMN-tyOTRGU21YmsXtbJdZr2_cAeFFW3q50DxJOqkbMaKReuuLi9WLYjijn6m_6PnGHXKEfqZrj3Q/s3131/20220321_152747%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1956" data-original-width="3131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZsLug-I75XRUa5Zkr7aEdR1DRdcQfm9gPVdjGHlceihSpPQQbl7R_cy7eOWW3IUEQre9VNuaC-nSP_IHXaNSNef8bpghKH4uhKKwNU_ybPMN-tyOTRGU21YmsXtbJdZr2_cAeFFW3q50DxJOqkbMaKReuuLi9WLYjijn6m_6PnGHXKEfqZrj3Q/s320/20220321_152747%20(6).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our grandson Nathan and his father Spencer spent probably a good six hours searching for a diamond and found none. It did rain during that time, which supposedly may bring diamonds to the surface, but that did not happen for anyone. The rain did bring down some golf- ball size hail. So far on our spring vacation to Arkansas John and I experienced snow, hail and freezing temperatures, none of which we expected to happen at that time of the year. However, we still had a great time in Arkansas. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbR_72JRFw1GBnpu_n4-8g0wa3hfSWwbkrTVH-ps2Tpp1qteX0a5zkvDV1VW3fI4nfgjdmV9skc1jsklM6tGoRJ5Y0LfK4x_bdWZmPwr_6Op0g3iGjHrFsa3VB0hoH3jkpwi5LgdjtDgS6tVHI7JVuYWDwqfxSBhC3Pm1s2GRNXoj52G5B0KtLQ/s640/DSCN1793.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbR_72JRFw1GBnpu_n4-8g0wa3hfSWwbkrTVH-ps2Tpp1qteX0a5zkvDV1VW3fI4nfgjdmV9skc1jsklM6tGoRJ5Y0LfK4x_bdWZmPwr_6Op0g3iGjHrFsa3VB0hoH3jkpwi5LgdjtDgS6tVHI7JVuYWDwqfxSBhC3Pm1s2GRNXoj52G5B0KtLQ/s320/DSCN1793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On our way home back to St.Peters we had our grandson Nathan with us. We decided to show him a couple of historic areas in Arkansas to make the trip more interesting. Our first stop was at historic Washington State Park, which gave us a look into a nineteenth century community. Washington was an important stop on the Southwest Trail leading to Texas. It was a raw rainy day when we were there and Nathan was not too happy walking around some old buildings. However, the blacksmith building perked him up. The blacksmith promised him a souvenir forged from iron if he acted as his apprentice. Together they created a small leaf from an iron rod. He also showed Nathan a Bowie knife made at the shop. The first kind of this particular knife was made for Jim Bowie in Washington during the 1830s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFtUZq9SGWWHYsPJmIbnxHbd0nZZEiUu_oCCMynPoGtBALNoZdY_RKkcbF5xC33EPQ_lJ1C1YNoxVCeR_909ntQrX3H4yeY4mY5msIBhi38Y5VyftiInx7WPVXej9Zs5G-OHcS7Pa9f72lvA-tFBw32pgyI-M1gRrQpA5RLvm-AOMhoWap4bmdw/s640/DSCN1821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFtUZq9SGWWHYsPJmIbnxHbd0nZZEiUu_oCCMynPoGtBALNoZdY_RKkcbF5xC33EPQ_lJ1C1YNoxVCeR_909ntQrX3H4yeY4mY5msIBhi38Y5VyftiInx7WPVXej9Zs5G-OHcS7Pa9f72lvA-tFBw32pgyI-M1gRrQpA5RLvm-AOMhoWap4bmdw/s320/DSCN1821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There is an interesting part of Arkansas history in Washington Park which I was not aware of. The Hempstead County Courthouse, pictured below, served as the state's Confederate capitol in 1863 during the Civil War. The Union Army had burned down the state's capitol in Little Rock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WAg3flYJPkWkhuYTLx61_TpnKQmStpFof2zqy4TxdbQwdrrSEd-YhUOwClHMymfb7c8UsQOt3ayqkZn-Pl1qGJUCPl0l1Owl5y-cy7BaAwlD5UHNT53QrYdmFZsXc0sM-RBO8CwL3PCQwPrsXuk4NdIpBVcZU7vcDkzozqOT_p6gMrzFIo2rAw/s640/DSCN1776.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WAg3flYJPkWkhuYTLx61_TpnKQmStpFof2zqy4TxdbQwdrrSEd-YhUOwClHMymfb7c8UsQOt3ayqkZn-Pl1qGJUCPl0l1Owl5y-cy7BaAwlD5UHNT53QrYdmFZsXc0sM-RBO8CwL3PCQwPrsXuk4NdIpBVcZU7vcDkzozqOT_p6gMrzFIo2rAw/w320-h240/DSCN1776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There is another piece of United States history in Arkansas, which we stopped to see on our trip back, and that is the Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park in east central Arkansas. In 1682 LaSalle explored the Mississippi and declared all the lands drained by that river for France. He named the region Louisiana. The territory went to Spain in exchange for their assistance against England during the French and Indian War. It went back to France in 1800, and then Napoleon Bonaparte sold it to the United States for $15,000,000. An official land survey was begun in 1815 to facilitate distribution of land to war veterans. Two men were commissioned to begin this survey by establishing a point from which other surveys would originate. This site went unnoticed until 1921 when two surveyors recognized a pair of large trees marked as "witness trees" by by the two men back in 1815. In 1926 the DAR dedicated a monument on this spot in commemoration of the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase. Back then it was not a wetland. It was necessary for us to traverse a boardwalk through an upland swamp to find this National Historic Landmark. This 37.5 acre park protects a headwater swamp- a natural environment once common in the mid-South. Walking over the swamp reminded us of our time in Florida, where swamps like this one are plentiful. The granite monument of the Louisiana Purchase survey site is pictured below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw7nO53yW5Q_Uyzwpkh9wEH8uFsy_sLO0IDya-GYGSyX35eIJch1Q-6DoZ-yd2_61Edndtln4aqzonHLO8-C6n-M4XpjwjnEB_kYxJAyKJnq45POA8giDgmW4QmBm8LLfCTsr8zkUZmYrVv1pc2l964IDWkPX5AXX7jQojlKie9fIBNNP6dlbCg/s4000/20220323_113450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw7nO53yW5Q_Uyzwpkh9wEH8uFsy_sLO0IDya-GYGSyX35eIJch1Q-6DoZ-yd2_61Edndtln4aqzonHLO8-C6n-M4XpjwjnEB_kYxJAyKJnq45POA8giDgmW4QmBm8LLfCTsr8zkUZmYrVv1pc2l964IDWkPX5AXX7jQojlKie9fIBNNP6dlbCg/s320/20220323_113450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /> <br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p> <br /><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-33159529431859471382022-04-07T19:48:00.001-05:002022-04-16T11:47:13.305-05:00A Visit to Fordyce Bathhouse<p style="text-align: left;"> Bathhouse row is located in the National Park of Hot Springs. The hot spring waters were first found by Native Americans. In the 1540 Hernando de Soto also discovered this area. The sculpture below, of de Soto greeting a native who presents him with a container of the spring water, we saw immediately as we entered the Fordyce bathhouse.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3rsIatRrH2kM-XSMxHY8zx35ijmrbb9jyy5JWZYzDwBh036FTqTEPlPa0LWuUXOEbd8ceOcsrThZ6zXiyRrTPUEBG_1Ehg_yhjTSRpnmc7a4uTqV37bCMVVRWCSUaRvSuSoSWcbxEja1mwco-kmjXgogfAt6l56A3UDAhL_qIjLpRMUGEQpRGw/s4000/20220317_144007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3rsIatRrH2kM-XSMxHY8zx35ijmrbb9jyy5JWZYzDwBh036FTqTEPlPa0LWuUXOEbd8ceOcsrThZ6zXiyRrTPUEBG_1Ehg_yhjTSRpnmc7a4uTqV37bCMVVRWCSUaRvSuSoSWcbxEja1mwco-kmjXgogfAt6l56A3UDAhL_qIjLpRMUGEQpRGw/w241-h320/20220317_144007.jpg" width="241" /></a></div> In the early 1800s crude huts sprung up around the springs. People soon found the spring waters to be physically restorative. The promise of improved health also drew Civil War veterans and others with disabling conditions to the springs. <span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1876 the Supreme Court ruled against any private land claims and assured that the thermal waters would be available to all. From 1892 to 1923 eight public bathhouses were built,compromising of what is now know as Bathhouse Row. Presently the Fordyce, built in 1915, is the park visitor center and museum. The Buckstaff, built in 1912, is the only operating bathhouse. We had 4 floors to explore at the Fordyce which has been restored back to its 1915 appearance.</span><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT_Mfi4lphlRKkvKQ81_o9OoupBbfk0uBuKrfdpk0kqALiBiVQ49XZrUC4urrc-j0Zq7p8BsdYD0Uzvsx6ty59Xg-1fFq2gWgZqas1GkIDlc49Eo-RWEndBGvs8xhycfdU5L-JJ5eFlbEliETCVC7eskAI7d9_2eCLwKug6oUpDM-wfX3NSYtzg/s4000/20220317_143956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT_Mfi4lphlRKkvKQ81_o9OoupBbfk0uBuKrfdpk0kqALiBiVQ49XZrUC4urrc-j0Zq7p8BsdYD0Uzvsx6ty59Xg-1fFq2gWgZqas1GkIDlc49Eo-RWEndBGvs8xhycfdU5L-JJ5eFlbEliETCVC7eskAI7d9_2eCLwKug6oUpDM-wfX3NSYtzg/s320/20220317_143956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Fordyce is the largest and thought to be the most ornate of the bathhouses. It has stained glass skylights and windows, as well as stone fireplaces. The bathhouse is divided into a men's area as well as a women's section. The men's area was deemed to be quite more sumptuous than the facilities for the women. Pictured below are the steam cabinets for use by the men. It was thought that by using the steam cabinet skin secretions would be stimulated. Besides tub baths and steam cabinets there was a hydrotherapy room which included sun-ray cabinets, frigid cabinets,Sitz baths, sprays, electric baths and so forth. <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DDbRD2rpjpS2PyHMFK1vE3Sk7_cNdfBMVFpxvJjI9uVuQr6vlxGiXIsvC-1teNIycEBOULDybPpr0dWXNk58OeAoWt5DZC9uD8wvV9nY3m2r8K1Un7gPeRmvmp_9thcduRcPvTtdOWrC5IQxFMwpUyJR49eWheOM5etxiYPZFMCNa4om4_v1xQ/s4000/20220317_144244.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DDbRD2rpjpS2PyHMFK1vE3Sk7_cNdfBMVFpxvJjI9uVuQr6vlxGiXIsvC-1teNIycEBOULDybPpr0dWXNk58OeAoWt5DZC9uD8wvV9nY3m2r8K1Un7gPeRmvmp_9thcduRcPvTtdOWrC5IQxFMwpUyJR49eWheOM5etxiYPZFMCNa4om4_v1xQ/w320-h240/20220317_144244.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The women felt there were not enough tubs for them. One more was added. The first room which we toured in their section is pictured below. Notice the stained glass windows.<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9hPsuDRAkCBBzK5mg811xojGaLvm2-DARd3hzcWbvGYcYC44O-xEOCOR8wGjUfs2r5d7jLSi4VFW_8CudUNOcQTfMJtm_nDHsUkgc_jTUGOeiTvZlFN5S2s3wU1ZdXwkr_1XvAvxNy665HhEt9kTM8aqYMEOBgQ_DKXRIejyuLWwdr71sgXFnQ/s4000/20220317_144907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9hPsuDRAkCBBzK5mg811xojGaLvm2-DARd3hzcWbvGYcYC44O-xEOCOR8wGjUfs2r5d7jLSi4VFW_8CudUNOcQTfMJtm_nDHsUkgc_jTUGOeiTvZlFN5S2s3wU1ZdXwkr_1XvAvxNy665HhEt9kTM8aqYMEOBgQ_DKXRIejyuLWwdr71sgXFnQ/w240-h320/20220317_144907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The women had a hot pack room as well as a cooling down room, and a state room to rest in afterwards. Maybe I need to digress here and explain the uniqueness of these waters, as explained in the park's brochure. Rain and snow trickle down the ridges of the Ouachita Mountains. Gravity pulls the water further downward into into the earth's crust. The rock temperature increases with depth and the water emerges from the springs with a temperature of 143 degrees F. When the water reaches a major fault, pressure forces it upward. It is not a volcanic process that creates the hot springs. There are a total of 47 springs in Hot Springs. The water has been analyzed- it has a variety of minerals in the water; silica and calcium are the major ones- as well as free carbon dioxide and oxygen. While bathing the patrons would be given a glass of the water to drink. And today there are fountains around Hot Springs where one may take a drink or fill up a jug..<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K19PJ3ydE_MubmCxQ-btIo4x0s2oCupWQGYZ6_vSW6pQX0mYKFBYBbhFSm6wXPabHAaqhzhI1_vk3mXJWbykKymWWpPEVCGYnG-Fl9CUtE2PZkfs2VFkS9OYj9LOuZkSjezax81fQaRhY3MaEXgVo1Sf3idN5t-0K5jcKf3dv6chlcd2LMCKlA/s4000/20220317_150659.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K19PJ3ydE_MubmCxQ-btIo4x0s2oCupWQGYZ6_vSW6pQX0mYKFBYBbhFSm6wXPabHAaqhzhI1_vk3mXJWbykKymWWpPEVCGYnG-Fl9CUtE2PZkfs2VFkS9OYj9LOuZkSjezax81fQaRhY3MaEXgVo1Sf3idN5t-0K5jcKf3dv6chlcd2LMCKlA/s320/20220317_150659.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubbard Tub -for the disabled to be lowered into the waters<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Practice of medicine was a bit strange back then. We found a chiropody room in the bathhouse. In the 1930s, people could have their feet massaged, pedicures done as well as corns and bunions removed. In 1936 doctors came up with an electrical massage room which later was converted to a mercury rub room. Needless to say,we saw a few very curious equipment in some of the rooms!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLdqF8vShe0EYFMwd2yDFeuSKn4CmEnmlCF-bhyAD0lcd0nRLPF8HVADU8HIgNZ_ACJeBI6kBwL9RaoYmZJMVBVmdUIS_1MFZ8qGhXFKnFAwQ9JeQc8Flg_Vr5lZCbj5OPgfcrIWlmfEdgsjuSCaXR5CQn_4Ll_sCheMMMY1aiu8yIWef_N2s6Q/s4000/20220317_144722.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLdqF8vShe0EYFMwd2yDFeuSKn4CmEnmlCF-bhyAD0lcd0nRLPF8HVADU8HIgNZ_ACJeBI6kBwL9RaoYmZJMVBVmdUIS_1MFZ8qGhXFKnFAwQ9JeQc8Flg_Vr5lZCbj5OPgfcrIWlmfEdgsjuSCaXR5CQn_4Ll_sCheMMMY1aiu8yIWef_N2s6Q/s320/20220317_144722.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Body-Encompassing Needle Shower<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The "crown jewel" of the Fordyce is the Assembly Room where both sexes could gather and socialize. A grand piano was in this room. The building also had a pool table in the men's parlor.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjzzkcjfiPo2VZTHmUFVGJqXk1C1oKgOf9GtMOQyANXnpg59CJZ845V52w3z0d1nWiMtnFaAGgmoEcGtr4PYqEGkw5DuA634acgXtbu5-cVw6jpTC6MwhEavCmuxrLcNO4ltw94_mM0TfO5cw-E8b6ZHE1zqR8I6Ca6at-1DLI90nmvo-5wnRUw/s4000/20220317_150600.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjzzkcjfiPo2VZTHmUFVGJqXk1C1oKgOf9GtMOQyANXnpg59CJZ845V52w3z0d1nWiMtnFaAGgmoEcGtr4PYqEGkw5DuA634acgXtbu5-cVw6jpTC6MwhEavCmuxrLcNO4ltw94_mM0TfO5cw-E8b6ZHE1zqR8I6Ca6at-1DLI90nmvo-5wnRUw/s320/20220317_150600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assembly Room<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our final stop in the Fordyce was in the basement where we could see the original Fordyce Spring, as well as all the plumbing equipment once used to deliver the water to the bathing rooms. The bathhouse industry went into decline during mid-twentieth century as modern medicine was found to be the better treatment for many illnesses.<br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-42873187467285988762022-04-04T20:39:00.000-05:002022-04-04T20:39:08.041-05:00Hot Springs <p> The national park of Hot Springs straddles a horseshoe-shaped ridge formed by Sugarloaf Mountain(north),Music Mountain(west), and and North mountains(south). The city of Hot Springs is on its west side. In 1804 a team of two men explored this area and made a report to President Jefferson. In 1832 President A.Jackson signs legislation to establish Hot Springs Reservation In 1820 Arkansas Territory asks Congress to reserve the hot springs for public use. In 1921 the reservation is named a national park. About half of the city of Hot Springs is the national park.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BpgxszDjPuXBYyyzwS5jpWormc1w7YhZDNUBdjwdg_IpGD8F_YiPeL2IXg8O0IEz89xGDajNG87ZOm6xj5DNRTzgmUi34KS7RKElLHB95HcBFD654PcfNVoBFSWa42qT9gow3nVa4vEEmDhPd68AqZmXy3KYdMpQ4OgFpKMLjSovwig1CECaWA/s4000/20220311_133547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BpgxszDjPuXBYyyzwS5jpWormc1w7YhZDNUBdjwdg_IpGD8F_YiPeL2IXg8O0IEz89xGDajNG87ZOm6xj5DNRTzgmUi34KS7RKElLHB95HcBFD654PcfNVoBFSWa42qT9gow3nVa4vEEmDhPd68AqZmXy3KYdMpQ4OgFpKMLjSovwig1CECaWA/w320-h240/20220311_133547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The above picture was taken from Hot Springs tower. That tower looms above the national park,offering views for 140-miles in all directions. Taking the tower elevator 12 flights up was one of the first things we did on our first day of visiting Hot Springs.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NIMAFbPqDb_udOyBFTsfU38eR4Idwoo7j6MPtxiUkokQ5kHKBw63t2hpEVbDuvShCb-uJQzctF2BXU4Y9ipdJjUnlujAGnFlojkQlI4EhHy9Y8cHbnyJ8QfjKGgCGAaOXge8cR2tT55IoFBaAlLE7ydxIAOUIl05BdT0yGbl6AMrdkmLMzY53g/s4000/20220317_130441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NIMAFbPqDb_udOyBFTsfU38eR4Idwoo7j6MPtxiUkokQ5kHKBw63t2hpEVbDuvShCb-uJQzctF2BXU4Y9ipdJjUnlujAGnFlojkQlI4EhHy9Y8cHbnyJ8QfjKGgCGAaOXge8cR2tT55IoFBaAlLE7ydxIAOUIl05BdT0yGbl6AMrdkmLMzY53g/s320/20220317_130441.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>About a year ago I wrote about Hot Springs and said something to the effect that it did not have much- just a bunch of old bath houses. I was so wrong, which I discovered this time we visited the city. At the visitor's center for the national park we boarded a trolley owned by the park. The trolley conductor gave us a history of the town as he drove us around to see the major sights of the city and park. As seen above, there was a gangster era in the town from the 1920s to the 1940. If you do not know the character above, that is Al Capone. He had a suite on the fourth floor of the prestigious Arlington Hotel for his frequent visits to town. Shortly after we started out the conductor also pointed out an area of town where Jesse James and his gang held up a stagecoach. For more information on the gangster history of the town there is a Hot Springs Gangster Museum. Maybe we will visit the next time we visit the town.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm-9tYZDcjyv7un9qxOcjTCghhibIz4ALuij1wLMCKU8q7gsun0__GINMs59s-FWGwKYQ7MdbBUP3U56lQgH1VbAE7EOaIl-bmc5XUdODgPPH9zHFxLsqSnYFoS4669r6Ey4VcI5SdQTWFzLmI_oYFZLejJK2Y8Hoz7unY9CB7XtT9QX362ghQQ/s3651/20220318_165550%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2842" data-original-width="3651" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm-9tYZDcjyv7un9qxOcjTCghhibIz4ALuij1wLMCKU8q7gsun0__GINMs59s-FWGwKYQ7MdbBUP3U56lQgH1VbAE7EOaIl-bmc5XUdODgPPH9zHFxLsqSnYFoS4669r6Ey4VcI5SdQTWFzLmI_oYFZLejJK2Y8Hoz7unY9CB7XtT9QX362ghQQ/s320/20220318_165550%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div> This picture may seem weird. The town has kept the home plate of Whittington sports field where Babe Ruth hit his first 500-foot-plus home run while playing ball there. The ball went in the direction of the upper right corner of the picture,where the cars are parked. Hot Springs was the birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training. Cities that trained their teams here in the spa city were : Brooklyn Jets,Pittsburgh Pirates,Chicago Cubs,and the Boston Red Sox. There is a Historic Baseball Trail in Hot Springs with a lot more information pertaining to this subject. Our driver even slowed the trolley to point out where the old baseball seats can still be seen.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoZeb-Xud4x_8Kgm6HKI7VBiv8qFphjLW_JZRNZpKZcUlO6Jo3KnNVbWRQFq4d62pP2LrwivtloTRKlk1sSBbJspyMMxldnDUxa4jhU13KrW9HrLXME7SDdRpoKmvB0QpPZVNPHmnOHGGY5I44JgGiDeKxlRzxyM1HkWTKR3_roEEaDrj2uepSw/s4000/20220318_165239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoZeb-Xud4x_8Kgm6HKI7VBiv8qFphjLW_JZRNZpKZcUlO6Jo3KnNVbWRQFq4d62pP2LrwivtloTRKlk1sSBbJspyMMxldnDUxa4jhU13KrW9HrLXME7SDdRpoKmvB0QpPZVNPHmnOHGGY5I44JgGiDeKxlRzxyM1HkWTKR3_roEEaDrj2uepSw/s320/20220318_165239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our driver also drove us around some of the older homes of the town, mostly Victorian in style. We also saw the home where President Clinton attended day care, as well as high school. His childhood home was not on the tour,but with some inquiring around we did find it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOGogNkUWlS4nbuXHV9pjuJUW_ST4sfqS9W8kjVB1RqIZAcr1pc1Q06Fj214RYZT_fO3ISrWa_V49y3WI5Fj7TayeAYOglq7bMw4Fli-HUyR6kRdMypgiJFuISkF2vyCmxe8IhiHZvX_tNdT3vCc3lPPu3i0oI7ehcmOyZY98SZxy5uZ88zov9Q/s4000/20220318_164613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOGogNkUWlS4nbuXHV9pjuJUW_ST4sfqS9W8kjVB1RqIZAcr1pc1Q06Fj214RYZT_fO3ISrWa_V49y3WI5Fj7TayeAYOglq7bMw4Fli-HUyR6kRdMypgiJFuISkF2vyCmxe8IhiHZvX_tNdT3vCc3lPPu3i0oI7ehcmOyZY98SZxy5uZ88zov9Q/s320/20220318_164613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We had about an hour and half trolley tour and learned so much about Hot Springs! I have written here only about a small part of the tour. The bath houses are part of the national park and I will write about them in the next posting<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-42644152971838490622022-03-30T16:48:00.001-05:002022-04-04T19:09:45.736-05:00Pottery and Fur Fun<p>John and I had a delightful time visiting two Arkansas artisans at work. The first place we stopped was Dryden Pottery in Hot Springs. The brochure we had seen regarding that store indicated that visitors could view demos of pottery being made. When we first came to Dryden Pottery place the building seemed quiet and the door locked. We waited a few minutes and soon Zachery Dryden let us in. He looked a bit tired, said he had been ill but would show us around. We thought that very kind of him.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwJzz6ymKCeIeddopAM-uAEaabfU-jLI7HCbFoD_bwb9req8pFr_hgJFS243S_7_HlpBW15GsZGtY5uaCpNuuyZnvE7TZ88SIDT8KInDD89E8n0VTHYhtKRDh3RvK16BDkSlVMO7x61LEoYNu821K36oh_DBch_R1_8wJjMMNIptCOU9mh2ZZpQ/s4000/20220311_100255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwJzz6ymKCeIeddopAM-uAEaabfU-jLI7HCbFoD_bwb9req8pFr_hgJFS243S_7_HlpBW15GsZGtY5uaCpNuuyZnvE7TZ88SIDT8KInDD89E8n0VTHYhtKRDh3RvK16BDkSlVMO7x61LEoYNu821K36oh_DBch_R1_8wJjMMNIptCOU9mh2ZZpQ/s320/20220311_100255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Very quickly he started making a bowl out of what he called "mud". He explained that the mud was not just any mud, but a combination of materials which included clay. His Grandfather, James Dryden, started Dryden Pottery in Kansas. He later moved the business to Hot Springs because of the clay known to be available there. He was a chemical engineer and figured out what material worked best for making pottery. Zachery is the third generation of Drydens in the business- which makes for a culmination of 75 years in the pottery business for that family. After Zachery finished making the bowl he gave us a tour, showing us his three kilns ,warehouse and the store. The largest of his kilns is pictured below.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENkRcjiNC_eDBU2QWwrT-oDEQ2vvMF4cSjdgVTm3TcQ-1jYIJzY8kBAw66nMr_1jVcraRHmZE1OG-jnKH8rxdMOv3DK2JgG_QmDjJzhCR2tzQ-t86SrdogQOB4lDuucs66QAw9jKkSVaQNphVy9hwW7HEYVL0FqTQFt385f9EzBGH51JaO12PyA/s4000/20220311_101318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENkRcjiNC_eDBU2QWwrT-oDEQ2vvMF4cSjdgVTm3TcQ-1jYIJzY8kBAw66nMr_1jVcraRHmZE1OG-jnKH8rxdMOv3DK2JgG_QmDjJzhCR2tzQ-t86SrdogQOB4lDuucs66QAw9jKkSVaQNphVy9hwW7HEYVL0FqTQFt385f9EzBGH51JaO12PyA/w320-h240/20220311_101318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> And speaking of large, check out the picture of the "World's Tallest Wheel Thrown Vase".<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo-eIeM1pT4zJgkck9yEy9dMhj0MSi5bLNXDr28ww9jcniAww_O43ytfwVS9B0VMMi_tj6acFfu2SzOHj9_vKuP-R-5FX_y3Koelxe34wp2Xffu3mOTpM-jyy6pi_8vAdqxgYKBrGXJmCiFI3Rj9ZojicTYBDDoTL19LCfdvcnegEH-9JcGZiRg/s4000/20220311_103149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo-eIeM1pT4zJgkck9yEy9dMhj0MSi5bLNXDr28ww9jcniAww_O43ytfwVS9B0VMMi_tj6acFfu2SzOHj9_vKuP-R-5FX_y3Koelxe34wp2Xffu3mOTpM-jyy6pi_8vAdqxgYKBrGXJmCiFI3Rj9ZojicTYBDDoTL19LCfdvcnegEH-9JcGZiRg/s320/20220311_103149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There are mirrors surrounding the vase, which gives it a three dimensional look,but it is one piece. If I remember correctly, Zachery said his Grandfather made it. His store is filled with many pottery pieces created by all three generations of Drydens. Quite an impressive inventory!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLDRWWsATgEGi33MLk7B3hTnxTfoUofP7iICX9tfP3F94deCz2bxhPjs5N8zL3KHrPxRprPfrl6MtriyAonCBRVhnbPVk3tbshf2ndnKuNSda6bF23590k-7sVxOnni4djSb6ySK0N-OxnONRXRr2jOcLHSO0-Jm5_gDXxmk-drRLH090xObJqg/s3630/20220313_114029%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2761" data-original-width="3630" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLDRWWsATgEGi33MLk7B3hTnxTfoUofP7iICX9tfP3F94deCz2bxhPjs5N8zL3KHrPxRprPfrl6MtriyAonCBRVhnbPVk3tbshf2ndnKuNSda6bF23590k-7sVxOnni4djSb6ySK0N-OxnONRXRr2jOcLHSO0-Jm5_gDXxmk-drRLH090xObJqg/s320/20220313_114029%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On another day we visited Chez Fur Fiber Farm, located in Malvern Arkansas. This is a working fiber farm of alpacas,sheep and goats. Their fiber is made into yarn which is carded,spun and knitted into cloth products. Bob Schafer, the owner, graciously let us feed and pet his animals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AmaJf9EN9M7zTUhOKkMtE369wJDJL-9J0fynY_nEQAu8xn3rpA_y58tGKkxj6klmwDnC0nNp51CN4-XyIjDh4zKtGCeAbpuVSirW28eVH1TbfuhOtE7KGoWK6BO8GXtcjr0TLcKqb-l1AsLK4Uy2Fh7jSNi3sPcHDxasJzKxhF424FvWTWf6VQ/s4000/20220313_114943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AmaJf9EN9M7zTUhOKkMtE369wJDJL-9J0fynY_nEQAu8xn3rpA_y58tGKkxj6klmwDnC0nNp51CN4-XyIjDh4zKtGCeAbpuVSirW28eVH1TbfuhOtE7KGoWK6BO8GXtcjr0TLcKqb-l1AsLK4Uy2Fh7jSNi3sPcHDxasJzKxhF424FvWTWf6VQ/s320/20220313_114943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The goats are pictured above, they were quite anxious for the corn we had in our hands. I did not know that true cashmere comes from kashmir goats. Bob's wife Kim uses all the fiber from the animals of their farm and turns them into finished goods. Bob also makes pottery, and one of their daughters does resin jewelry. After playing with the animals we entered their store which also had a very impressive inventory.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrzbfrPqlOIwHHIrjrlXTGAH-aEzstbNYazurMZViDcBKLsoPRIKwSqQsREtLM-6WIAy7e0kXljgsY-ct5KaqFYCOs-dj1OaOM1Zcw560jULIjbF5coRAhhpMCw_UWmX0DwKXyzwFcQO6irusjAooBQeXfhe9ZURUiRDJWtUCFb5ReFgWnTb8oA/s4000/20220313_121719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrzbfrPqlOIwHHIrjrlXTGAH-aEzstbNYazurMZViDcBKLsoPRIKwSqQsREtLM-6WIAy7e0kXljgsY-ct5KaqFYCOs-dj1OaOM1Zcw560jULIjbF5coRAhhpMCw_UWmX0DwKXyzwFcQO6irusjAooBQeXfhe9ZURUiRDJWtUCFb5ReFgWnTb8oA/s320/20220313_121719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One very interesting story, which Bob told us, I would like to share here with my readers before closing this post. He has two Pyrenees sheep dogs, because of the presence of coyotes in the area. If there is danger present one of the dogs will gather the sheep into one corner of their pen and protect them, while the other will attack the coyote. That is in their natural instincts to react in that manner. He never has to worry about the safety of his animals because of those dogs.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-63364429828782032162022-03-30T12:24:00.001-05:002022-03-30T12:24:25.166-05:00Queen Wilhelmina State Park<p> The bad winter weather we were expecting in Hot Springs did come. That was a new experience for us- to be residing in a camper trailer and see two inches of snow outside! Our snow-covered car is pictured below. Fortunately most of the snow was gone in another day<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCacVURTB_emkke9jV_llg-8uZYoO1d-Ff4fTejgPhqrbibCqr8wWEw7MJ8FULazUOS7kENH9HHcI0CJrURBie8V8SYTEvIt9M7iupdNBV8k5C8Zypc0wvbzpJnfJ5W3mBVVn6AaEoj7eB_sizqmR9gvKCM9KHkGZMnUnTq-_3zWtH5OIqoJ_zKg/s4000/20220312_081349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCacVURTB_emkke9jV_llg-8uZYoO1d-Ff4fTejgPhqrbibCqr8wWEw7MJ8FULazUOS7kENH9HHcI0CJrURBie8V8SYTEvIt9M7iupdNBV8k5C8Zypc0wvbzpJnfJ5W3mBVVn6AaEoj7eB_sizqmR9gvKCM9KHkGZMnUnTq-_3zWtH5OIqoJ_zKg/s320/20220312_081349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We just had one day of sitting around and waiting for things to warm up. One thing John wanted to do, which we could not do a year ago when we were leaving Arkansas, was travel the Talimena National Scenic Byway. At that time the byway, over Rich Mountain,was socked in with fog. John called the park this time and received assurances that it was a clear day for us to make the trip. It was a good 4 hours drive from Hot Springs, so it was necessary to make that call. The park is in western Arkansas,along the Oklahoma state line.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l0u0JqxuEUh3L0avwozXnWYeH_-nuODnZ4L48Dp4PLkldmfpdKAqQ2wV5_uMM2dUShVXgsWYCmf23QcA9MnR9kqXinmtbQxldPtOIRyP0lPTzYKHac1WIhYpYEM-qQSOVaQ_HLZWDHHxBHLi6zLY5b9DsEdo0RmDeTv5Inpzkm5YE4hIrcDURA/s616/DSCN1734%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="616" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l0u0JqxuEUh3L0avwozXnWYeH_-nuODnZ4L48Dp4PLkldmfpdKAqQ2wV5_uMM2dUShVXgsWYCmf23QcA9MnR9kqXinmtbQxldPtOIRyP0lPTzYKHac1WIhYpYEM-qQSOVaQ_HLZWDHHxBHLi6zLY5b9DsEdo0RmDeTv5Inpzkm5YE4hIrcDURA/w400-h299/DSCN1734%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Halfway through our drive we stopped for lunch at the state park lodge, and took a moment to look at the view. It so happened that the park's small train was coming by at the same time. At the lodge we came to more of an understanding as to how the park happened to be named after Queen Wilhelmina. The first lodge at the park was built in 1898, the time of her inauguration- the lodge was named for her. This was before the land on Rich Mountain became a park, which was in1957. A railroad at the time of the 1890s; the Kansas City Pittsburgh,and Gulf railroad, would stop at the lodge for the comfort of its passengers. That railroad line was financed by Dutch capitalists. Over our lunch break at the lodge we questioned the waitress about the park's connection with the queen. Apparently she wanted to visit the park but never did. The waitress then brought out a scrapbook,kept in lobby of the lodge, which had many articles on the reign of Queen Wilhelmina, as well as the royal family dynasty. I learned later that Arkansas has always, in it's newspapers, kept an interesting fascination with Queen Wilhelmina and all events connected with her. At the time however, I found it puzzling; what did that scrapbook have to do with the park? <p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlb_LoET1wpbkKaMHV3j1-AxPrKC2ckwF1lzF167pRCaT_FRW3DYG_33dD-qrvH9w_Cu4ajDswtxN59vAE_ucae7GIcThzpMqVwFa7hkeuvn1sL2I7yQHLiuapCADWtRNztUczVBWn6SH5Y9oKTtJERsPHNjwyRUi8lFz0OcYHyTE5X-jVZgSjw/s640/DSCN1743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlb_LoET1wpbkKaMHV3j1-AxPrKC2ckwF1lzF167pRCaT_FRW3DYG_33dD-qrvH9w_Cu4ajDswtxN59vAE_ucae7GIcThzpMqVwFa7hkeuvn1sL2I7yQHLiuapCADWtRNztUczVBWn6SH5Y9oKTtJERsPHNjwyRUi8lFz0OcYHyTE5X-jVZgSjw/w320-h240/DSCN1743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>After lunch we continued on the scenic byway over Rich Mountain and found many historical markers. Forget European history, this mountain has a lot to offer in American history! Pictured above is known as the Wonder House, built in 1931 by Carlos Hill and Phil Lance. It is a nine level house, two of the levels in the front and seven in the back section.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdjw2tBSGOhxm2t6eFrlmphCRPr1mv5x29qQwEVwpsfJvEWJuA3yiKQZuxBGLgqUb4lUrzH3UWWOSpR6PxXVLyDDmUYKyXDBl3L0hUspcxBEEV7cr3bx2gnaOrCzm3GPYD8PFttHEXykq_XF_P4riAK7WMONvQOW3rq30WvZ8_mZqAOyaBMkOuw/s640/DSCN1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdjw2tBSGOhxm2t6eFrlmphCRPr1mv5x29qQwEVwpsfJvEWJuA3yiKQZuxBGLgqUb4lUrzH3UWWOSpR6PxXVLyDDmUYKyXDBl3L0hUspcxBEEV7cr3bx2gnaOrCzm3GPYD8PFttHEXykq_XF_P4riAK7WMONvQOW3rq30WvZ8_mZqAOyaBMkOuw/s320/DSCN1746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Above is a graveyard from the 1800s,which gives testimony to the pioneers who once resided on this mountain. Twenty graves are here, what was written on them is no longer decipherable. Story has it that one little girl, buried here, had gone out on a cold day to get firewood for her family. She was soon surrounded by wolves, so she climbed a tree. Her frozen body was found the next day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGTSYlcPusIscOOb-d76_7Ws1DZnKIkI16YVIbqAapemhvX5QB-9xSt6dDwnUbffuhv5Wk4cg5uQrSiorgh0s7sVRSj1vPRQyggjqc6CKv2zP9E_WKypo7aVMS_0gsPCsK641rVZ8s8-B-NHlKRiFG7wCYLBL96K-zKcEgrZyGNPGdssKj1iQ9A/s640/DSCN1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGTSYlcPusIscOOb-d76_7Ws1DZnKIkI16YVIbqAapemhvX5QB-9xSt6dDwnUbffuhv5Wk4cg5uQrSiorgh0s7sVRSj1vPRQyggjqc6CKv2zP9E_WKypo7aVMS_0gsPCsK641rVZ8s8-B-NHlKRiFG7wCYLBL96K-zKcEgrZyGNPGdssKj1iQ9A/s320/DSCN1757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Pictured above is a marker denoting the Oklahoma and Arkansas state lines. A survey was was completed in 1877, favoring Arkansas. The interpretive sign noted: "only after many months of negotiations would the Choctaw Nation"(located in Oklahoma)" be compensated for the loss of over 136,000 acres". The Native American tribe had been in legal disputes over the land since 1820. We had one last stop before leaving Rich Mountain, the second highest mountain in Arkansas. It is called Sunset Point Vista. Unfortunately it was not that time of day for us! <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT0C9rueCVR0fn2rEdZ73IyXekNifwdOwrkN20n5mx9LMz7iaXiiVum4fbm3C1ajpYBl6cMqZZYIvWWkN3DmFAaosoFnFnzskokkb8BXAX-UPi5uwy27ebcH9Enk6XoUJdDxKlSe-ghmEmX3s9QU4bSj62s6FBjMuT7rdiw3TzNnbArvA_KCE3A/s640/DSCN1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT0C9rueCVR0fn2rEdZ73IyXekNifwdOwrkN20n5mx9LMz7iaXiiVum4fbm3C1ajpYBl6cMqZZYIvWWkN3DmFAaosoFnFnzskokkb8BXAX-UPi5uwy27ebcH9Enk6XoUJdDxKlSe-ghmEmX3s9QU4bSj62s6FBjMuT7rdiw3TzNnbArvA_KCE3A/s320/DSCN1772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-25535359951539417712022-03-19T15:02:00.003-05:002022-03-30T10:46:55.050-05:00Petit Jean State Park- Part Two<p>It seemed that everywhere we made a stop in this park we would find an old building.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eP69iviQGHi4tnTtn9cgz1c9rMlBUpJHa8eh3EZglidqXt7zsMeqSizGBQrmYk41xjhsV_AvOaS4zifl-faHiHhJKsodnGIXPtK6PG0nGuch6DiRmmu5Q-B7LTMDEzN6nBmqwc96chK8xqUIngYKG5qkx8dID3z6RLn2tk0UPLWYfIdm9hHVXA/s579/DSCN1699%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="579" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eP69iviQGHi4tnTtn9cgz1c9rMlBUpJHa8eh3EZglidqXt7zsMeqSizGBQrmYk41xjhsV_AvOaS4zifl-faHiHhJKsodnGIXPtK6PG0nGuch6DiRmmu5Q-B7LTMDEzN6nBmqwc96chK8xqUIngYKG5qkx8dID3z6RLn2tk0UPLWYfIdm9hHVXA/s320/DSCN1699%20(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> This one-room cabin was built in 1845. The second family in it had nine children, but only birthed the first 5 children in it. We found a brochure regarding the Civil Conservation Corp in the visitor's center which explained the many buildings in the park, of which there are over 80. The CCC Company V-1781 built or preserved the older ones in the 1930s. They also built other structures, trails and bridges listed in the National Register of Historic Places.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vNEB4LnIcr2jpfwo55heOm3QnrWP3sNRR5CRceC6f0L4Nvu_B2-v65etKpRUjrBr5P5RP-Tc0c0goCo_0FyDMwLodzWyO3ejUKab9jMsxV9JFVV_d3klTotO8b3j7fVtQokeWo4MoyS86XhnodPLCpF4-HjW48ypYnTm_R6UAiGyaUhikX9ZOw/s640/DSCN1710.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vNEB4LnIcr2jpfwo55heOm3QnrWP3sNRR5CRceC6f0L4Nvu_B2-v65etKpRUjrBr5P5RP-Tc0c0goCo_0FyDMwLodzWyO3ejUKab9jMsxV9JFVV_d3klTotO8b3j7fVtQokeWo4MoyS86XhnodPLCpF4-HjW48ypYnTm_R6UAiGyaUhikX9ZOw/s320/DSCN1710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I really wanted to hike down by the Cedar Falls, but it would have been a 2 mile trek- no way we could have time for that! We had to be satisfied with the overlook trail to see the 95 foot cascading waterfall. The park has 2,658 acres of natural beauty; there are mountain vistas, springs, unmarred woods and ravines. There are also large rock formations and a rock cave containing pictographs left by Native Americans from the Woodland and Mississippi archeological periods. We found a listing of about 8 different trails which could take us to all those sights. Not today for us,however. We would just have to plan on coming back!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNFkK_hvDtHIDzu9X8VfDyKCfjstot_ToeHtWSD0DTQbJc6vwrGPN5wgpNAt0DiNWCp9dwZAjbcqNhJOBqk7RoeOgZRHPG7E39bxaO4F4q1BM7Ur3suyt0CHH2ofZkYsMrHgMJOgn8VekK422zzLlmbKsIPWU-L_eK6cPH9XJWxdjkT5y6z_PGw/s640/DSCN1683.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNFkK_hvDtHIDzu9X8VfDyKCfjstot_ToeHtWSD0DTQbJc6vwrGPN5wgpNAt0DiNWCp9dwZAjbcqNhJOBqk7RoeOgZRHPG7E39bxaO4F4q1BM7Ur3suyt0CHH2ofZkYsMrHgMJOgn8VekK422zzLlmbKsIPWU-L_eK6cPH9XJWxdjkT5y6z_PGw/s320/DSCN1683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Dr.Thomas William.Hardison and his family lived here for 50 years. He was the one who discovered the Indian pictographs. He loved the natural beauty of this park and pushed for it to become a national park in the 1940s, but was informed that it was too small. He was instead encouraged to make it a state park.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt_GcYmPdHNuvbC_3CLCLaBP7fIsDvXJfR0krJ5dAkGPs0EioiHuvP9Gjun7HlO_qcoHMadVjwaD66ceUDOPsBHG4eo0w-JJ9w2yNcmjYcq_TAiP9QwcK2B8aJ8Nh4M5LxyyCJ3SBq7dpvRMIbqqCRyXklcRTE8PXHB3qbbFg4JnEu57oewgtAg/s616/DSCN1717%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="616" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt_GcYmPdHNuvbC_3CLCLaBP7fIsDvXJfR0krJ5dAkGPs0EioiHuvP9Gjun7HlO_qcoHMadVjwaD66ceUDOPsBHG4eo0w-JJ9w2yNcmjYcq_TAiP9QwcK2B8aJ8Nh4M5LxyyCJ3SBq7dpvRMIbqqCRyXklcRTE8PXHB3qbbFg4JnEu57oewgtAg/w362-h276/DSCN1717%20(2).JPG" width="362" /></a></div>We ate a very late lunch in the dining room of the lodge. Our table overlooked the Cedar Falls and the canyon surrounding it. The meal was delicious and the view awesome. Above is the last picture we took leaving the park. It is called the Palisades- a row of cliffs arising from a deep canyon. We were looking again over the Arkansas River Valley. Off in the distance is the Magazine Mountain range, the highest point in Arkansas. It lies within an extension of the Ozark Mountains.<br /><p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-89591194588083314322022-03-19T12:40:00.001-05:002022-03-19T13:44:15.281-05:00Petit Jean State Park of Arkansas<p>This state park of Arkansas is located in a unique area between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountain ranges, in the west central part of the state. It was a bit of a drive for us coming from Hot Springs, and by the time we had arrived half of our day was pretty much shot. So much for doing any hiking, all we could do was get a brief over-view of the park. We needed to do that in order to make any decision as to where our next Lohrmann family reunion would be in another year.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFosGsZXsTTWkLp2RxuZuPtLULJQcy7MvokgB8ua9sNLPtsTGcmayH0MFHQl08xx9kqPUSdYjXHQb-LjnAADmXZKwdQphaYi-cZJU2tm8tRyxqVdx1oFvkLkjuuamKAaGde7gOtetyQTm9_idBp6hJTC9_1lAWCghWfWQK13g9seh-5wWD48PLPA/s618/DSCN1660%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="618" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFosGsZXsTTWkLp2RxuZuPtLULJQcy7MvokgB8ua9sNLPtsTGcmayH0MFHQl08xx9kqPUSdYjXHQb-LjnAADmXZKwdQphaYi-cZJU2tm8tRyxqVdx1oFvkLkjuuamKAaGde7gOtetyQTm9_idBp6hJTC9_1lAWCghWfWQK13g9seh-5wWD48PLPA/w320-h303/DSCN1660%20(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Our first stop was an overlook at Stout's Point, located just outside of the park. Here we learned a bit about the history of the surrounding area. In 1849 William Cummings Stout (Episcopal priest) bought 5,000 acres here which spanned both sides of the Arkansas River. He built a plantation using slave labor, called Hawstone Plantation; it burned down during the Civil war by Union forces. Stout's Point currently still belongs to the Episcopal Church and has been leased to the state.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrFOPO7OeMUNSxp-WvPMZ0whM2lRGbC25CkvytcvJQ_juKB23XPNw9RkqKtvxaejE0fNftX8qnYxEfiXpKdgjhGXFmI92A7SGCVCaPFBiTW3j4JyJ1LwQyYEGBZEFrcTvflgpYiifZBQ3SLid2UsKI2nZkCr0GpD7RBAV7OmAvVhP3mD08-3H_w/s600/DSCN1677%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrFOPO7OeMUNSxp-WvPMZ0whM2lRGbC25CkvytcvJQ_juKB23XPNw9RkqKtvxaejE0fNftX8qnYxEfiXpKdgjhGXFmI92A7SGCVCaPFBiTW3j4JyJ1LwQyYEGBZEFrcTvflgpYiifZBQ3SLid2UsKI2nZkCr0GpD7RBAV7OmAvVhP3mD08-3H_w/s320/DSCN1677%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Pictured above is the Arkansas River, which we could view off in the distance. Interpretive signs here mentioned the Trial of Tears and the significance of the river to Native Americans who were forced from their homes out east to Oklahoma reservations. Some came by boat down the Mississippi then up the Arkansas River through this part of our country.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadxrxKLB_Z7EzP1Je2RDMDUCzTDBpHNmr9KAhPnMZXBou9fivcH1bGMVAwRnl3gxxSwyHi7eW6qHYDTeZ6CpW5qQj2dN1lTvqKdqoz_ZXle_-Rb_YOOes254TdGX1Il4DTKKdKJMLYSr2hxlT-Op6d6U8iiq7pUJsSEe4vII0XDgIM1SeX8UenA/s640/DSCN1669.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadxrxKLB_Z7EzP1Je2RDMDUCzTDBpHNmr9KAhPnMZXBou9fivcH1bGMVAwRnl3gxxSwyHi7eW6qHYDTeZ6CpW5qQj2dN1lTvqKdqoz_ZXle_-Rb_YOOes254TdGX1Il4DTKKdKJMLYSr2hxlT-Op6d6U8iiq7pUJsSEe4vII0XDgIM1SeX8UenA/s320/DSCN1669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Looking down from the overlook we saw Petit Jean's grave, supposedly. He/she according to legend was the fiance of Chavet a French nobleman. He wanted to explore the New World and did not want to take his sweetheart along because it would be too dangerous. She, Adrienne DuMont, desperately wanted to join him so she stowed away in his boat as a cabin boy. The crew called her Petit Jean, or little John in English. Chavet arrived in America and he with all of his crew stayed with Native Americans for the summer months. In autumn Chavet was ready to move on but Petit Jean became ill with a fever. Those caring for her realized she was a woman. She had a brief reunion with Chavet before dying. Many locals feel that her spirit lends enchantment to the mountain. We saw a statue of Petit Jean in the visitor's center of the park. Please realize that everything written and imagined about her is pure conjecture! My next notes on this park will be in the next posting.<br /><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQAkbdH3_wNN0sQAahJeiRE_4x0OznXEZ_trZMAlCndbvfhWJ0TFO4FMjPwpi_RAxxIMDzkKSJi7xIf6ojEd7T-P-nsUxMF35nsBNfVH75BMhaYdS2gJh2nGeYb2_GAwLDDfkUu7-yyNmjjspGR_i6gFSdSXDorrrWf3M0hPu5PcplbiG86RG_w/s640/DSCN1689.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQAkbdH3_wNN0sQAahJeiRE_4x0OznXEZ_trZMAlCndbvfhWJ0TFO4FMjPwpi_RAxxIMDzkKSJi7xIf6ojEd7T-P-nsUxMF35nsBNfVH75BMhaYdS2gJh2nGeYb2_GAwLDDfkUu7-yyNmjjspGR_i6gFSdSXDorrrWf3M0hPu5PcplbiG86RG_w/s320/DSCN1689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-24666468001032162832022-03-18T09:35:00.000-05:002022-03-18T09:35:57.324-05:00Spring has sprung in Arkansas<p>In the Garvan Woodland gardens we found one tulip tree with a few blossoms and some blooming camellis along the Camellia Trail. Unfortunately it is about the end of the blooming season for that plant.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9hhHSft85F3t_Aq-yGV3kpbRS5J1wQbx9VV9EaM5K7d91afmOMS8qAhFY9YOdzGAzfwcIoTgKQzeFlkADjO1DIcuH7SwIE9TnOR3KMv4IMx5DAuWxS6yt_r3HvycZYxarnrc3vFFkIo5E-VShIiXbfQsSNZaJjLQKQXTwadEpPOwr37F5IjwaIA=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9hhHSft85F3t_Aq-yGV3kpbRS5J1wQbx9VV9EaM5K7d91afmOMS8qAhFY9YOdzGAzfwcIoTgKQzeFlkADjO1DIcuH7SwIE9TnOR3KMv4IMx5DAuWxS6yt_r3HvycZYxarnrc3vFFkIo5E-VShIiXbfQsSNZaJjLQKQXTwadEpPOwr37F5IjwaIA=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div> Along Warren's Woodland Walk, named for the long-time brick mill employee Warren Bankson( he helped Verna Cook Garvan to conceive and build the gardens infrastructure), we saw quite a few azaleas in their budding stage. In a couple of weeks this garden will be awash with spring flowers! However, I was very satisfied with what we did see.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJXCleo9jWKaVX-SR-R902oopB9RKzkN_UByFyHcfRrJOCLFDiLYRa2lU2IA_l3s7PJ6o1UADRmr6rutHoC8MwfLrWZRlgyXagPrH1DOw71lTcaIuT41vRuVU2CQy0Bvx1Na9qnmnHTnwuqJt7TuYeY5hmpdJR4Zyv3ENnApMZlI-VTJJNU5pVaw=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJXCleo9jWKaVX-SR-R902oopB9RKzkN_UByFyHcfRrJOCLFDiLYRa2lU2IA_l3s7PJ6o1UADRmr6rutHoC8MwfLrWZRlgyXagPrH1DOw71lTcaIuT41vRuVU2CQy0Bvx1Na9qnmnHTnwuqJt7TuYeY5hmpdJR4Zyv3ENnApMZlI-VTJJNU5pVaw=w320-h241" width="320" /></a></div><p>We had no problem finding the hyacinths! Our noses led us right to their heady smell.We also found several patches of pansies. The striped yellow ones intrigued me, so I had to take a close-up picture of one. I never realized a pansy could be that pretty up close!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLRLu2zAAORzAm0XmoNfVboQWMecSg8vgDNpWEJbk3cMZ0rmXuL6UIwGdm92Mtnn3Rno0R1xJRczJ91q-IX2TSuTF_8H0XaXgRxmufaUxQkM9IikoixjMMd3evJOqp3Nu82V-m2l0KXMzoHfr8MuaMaThNBPCbINSor_CiLefYVsAn2PQVmkKrQ/s640/DSCN1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLRLu2zAAORzAm0XmoNfVboQWMecSg8vgDNpWEJbk3cMZ0rmXuL6UIwGdm92Mtnn3Rno0R1xJRczJ91q-IX2TSuTF_8H0XaXgRxmufaUxQkM9IikoixjMMd3evJOqp3Nu82V-m2l0KXMzoHfr8MuaMaThNBPCbINSor_CiLefYVsAn2PQVmkKrQ/s320/DSCN1559.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I had no clue as to what the purple flower was in the picture below.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzCluLBfMFKeSLEs9fxzq_KBI1p-uqv8a6y9I7bJFjmxgDHzWqfCvPT6knquPDC5RkspkMhGmjtUVvOMnW5B1bF3uvvk_cB0nu1PhuioXKm6l7U2G_OS8lqXgP3lSWTRgUzRsKdkcPu9vYhqYpiKVLX5fiHtr0X5Cu94oz-29TPukU2VCibBrEg/s640/DSCN1562.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzCluLBfMFKeSLEs9fxzq_KBI1p-uqv8a6y9I7bJFjmxgDHzWqfCvPT6knquPDC5RkspkMhGmjtUVvOMnW5B1bF3uvvk_cB0nu1PhuioXKm6l7U2G_OS8lqXgP3lSWTRgUzRsKdkcPu9vYhqYpiKVLX5fiHtr0X5Cu94oz-29TPukU2VCibBrEg/w320-h240/DSCN1562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Someone I asked claimed it was a passion flower. She seemed very certain, but my research later said that the passion flower was a blue and white vine type of plant. The picture below is what it looked like when John lifted the flower to look at it more closely.<p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEjo1h_AEyjd-4pfWThgDNUEKP_FUiv5XS1krvGlx4-dqVKhvgIRTcfNBp-i4CcpVVGGPFgVpSIofMsekRkucshUlnMEOItUEONrCtbtyEc9C2kuxOddZRltqCKKnDjqBQvpEes9BmKWprYAlyhV2R3ehcgXlR77bjJ82awoNRSuyB5jem5sUTFg=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEjo1h_AEyjd-4pfWThgDNUEKP_FUiv5XS1krvGlx4-dqVKhvgIRTcfNBp-i4CcpVVGGPFgVpSIofMsekRkucshUlnMEOItUEONrCtbtyEc9C2kuxOddZRltqCKKnDjqBQvpEes9BmKWprYAlyhV2R3ehcgXlR77bjJ82awoNRSuyB5jem5sUTFg=w362-h272" width="362" /></a></div> In the Trap Mountain Overlook part of the garden we found a patch of lilies of the valley, They also give off a nice floral smell.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe4Le5c2KP3D-1dw0Jp44GkKYmYEByEtXT68GP4I2RN3-7vM807KKIq9z14RhA2iP28EhWqYeneuc0mLZPO3f2-KBxttuQtzH4c7eEeHOPvy4_Wr2Q49Q1GwAfydavXGwD4-oAUOBzpvgHyNaIZ4WU2AczZiBMeW2ZnK_p2dIKYuW6w_jWsCbCw/s640/DSCN1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe4Le5c2KP3D-1dw0Jp44GkKYmYEByEtXT68GP4I2RN3-7vM807KKIq9z14RhA2iP28EhWqYeneuc0mLZPO3f2-KBxttuQtzH4c7eEeHOPvy4_Wr2Q49Q1GwAfydavXGwD4-oAUOBzpvgHyNaIZ4WU2AczZiBMeW2ZnK_p2dIKYuW6w_jWsCbCw/w320-h241/DSCN1585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And below is also another very certain look of spring, a peacock spreading his wings to court his mate who was pacing around near him. They were also found in the gardens.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4LtzHHvsdGlbC17vE4o9ixHndV19evCz5Scasp84XipT7bzVXIdpwwQAY761qAN6YIbHURuuWsq_e2woBE9lHKCbLYu_TfIDNLR6rMOuQeLFN63TMM7VkyNrkt0bPZDuHtfkdAvCdWACl-CBnJD8lLA5s1CnlS0cfCvNzRvrO7XTrvJku0x6uA/s640/DSCN1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4LtzHHvsdGlbC17vE4o9ixHndV19evCz5Scasp84XipT7bzVXIdpwwQAY761qAN6YIbHURuuWsq_e2woBE9lHKCbLYu_TfIDNLR6rMOuQeLFN63TMM7VkyNrkt0bPZDuHtfkdAvCdWACl-CBnJD8lLA5s1CnlS0cfCvNzRvrO7XTrvJku0x6uA/s320/DSCN1629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334674822052368434.post-87395489240896067012022-03-17T11:35:00.000-05:002022-03-17T11:35:46.752-05:00Searching for signs of Spring<p> Last week we traveled south to Arkansas and stayed in a camper trailer. We had sold our camper a few years ago, since then our daughter and husband purchased a small unit for their use. Our son-in-law Spencer had driven it down here a couple weeks ago, for his father to use. A couple months ago, when the plans for use of the camper were being made, it sounded wonderful for John and I also to make use of the trailer in Arkansas once it was it was vacated. We would get out of the cold weather of Missouri and experience an early Spring! Sounded good in theory, but several days after we arrived the camper was surrounded by 2 inches of snow, and the temperature was in the mid twenties. We had learned about Garvan Woodland Gardens, near Hot Springs, and planned that as our first excursion out before the bad weather arrived and froze out the plants. We had made a call to the gardens and learned that there were plenty of plants in bloom at the present time, unfortunately the tulips were just starting to open.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA1a1ffijaqqiFYo5WYMIYCYxdGlVtaH9lW5IsnVR2kRsIV24ULT0u0tC6e5di-stpuwzxYwM22Iv49mTdvLFaMQnF_WaaMKj5xwuQU_IHooIqy4uYecf4VDz4_XcDBxn0rVOc-1C-4D8cL8lGRMpgq0G3n6cZWQb0bxhmorYghFHc_HKSny8IpA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA1a1ffijaqqiFYo5WYMIYCYxdGlVtaH9lW5IsnVR2kRsIV24ULT0u0tC6e5di-stpuwzxYwM22Iv49mTdvLFaMQnF_WaaMKj5xwuQU_IHooIqy4uYecf4VDz4_XcDBxn0rVOc-1C-4D8cL8lGRMpgq0G3n6cZWQb0bxhmorYghFHc_HKSny8IpA=s320" width="320" /></a></div> Shortly after we had arrived at the gardens we hurried over to the daffodil hill looking for the large open areas of blooming plants. We saw many people involved with the covering of the plants before the freeze which was to come that evening.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9aogudmSAN9jpV8Y62DJSk8wOaAvnKdMurgZG2BFfDocRTMUKUvzJ9wgRRjKJnWF58vMY8mmCKI4CTJKpaiDoY9cOH3DyHt3z5UOdNNsn5sAKj_Y1GkwtishG-hPkNUIQWVopzm_FlZflzUpsGkeFrl3UglzMGorFzlnEqrvWD4gHdslSrQidJg=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9aogudmSAN9jpV8Y62DJSk8wOaAvnKdMurgZG2BFfDocRTMUKUvzJ9wgRRjKJnWF58vMY8mmCKI4CTJKpaiDoY9cOH3DyHt3z5UOdNNsn5sAKj_Y1GkwtishG-hPkNUIQWVopzm_FlZflzUpsGkeFrl3UglzMGorFzlnEqrvWD4gHdslSrQidJg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The colored mesh clothes which you see above were being laid over the flowers, with plastic material later laid on top of them. I rushed over to the area wanting to scream out "stop, let me look at them first". But I refrained from doing so and soon discovered that there were still plenty of blooming plants to been seen.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP98fqIczvGwaBVqwAycm3z9NpLQ5DR6hDLvyYxoLt_DNradxtAFAM2wv_HuN_7S9vGcVU0YIxBqMdkxbDUjwSfcdn6rDk0oCEiHeE3fAWvspAEFwU_X2I6k4dOqOHRKPCTKtwRIjWS8BpbjcYIBwMib5Qe0M8oKGEYRN4PEJiJnEWjGP5lxpUfA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP98fqIczvGwaBVqwAycm3z9NpLQ5DR6hDLvyYxoLt_DNradxtAFAM2wv_HuN_7S9vGcVU0YIxBqMdkxbDUjwSfcdn6rDk0oCEiHeE3fAWvspAEFwU_X2I6k4dOqOHRKPCTKtwRIjWS8BpbjcYIBwMib5Qe0M8oKGEYRN4PEJiJnEWjGP5lxpUfA=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Before going further, I wish to explain these gardens a bit more and how they came about. Verna Cook Garvan inherited the land from her father. He purchased the property in the 1920s for his timber business. His daughter, upon inheriting the land, had no desire to continue the company after running the brick,tile and lumber business for many years with her husband Patrick Garvan. She saw the future of the beautiful peninsula on the shores of Lake Hamilton as a place to channel her love of gardening and conservancy. After many years of working toward that goal, and realizing She wanted a garden of a grander scale than she could handle, she signed a trust agreement with the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 1985. Consequently, these gardens have many unique and natural settings. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqHuxXVRBeCLzy4B4nWYjmcwBOmf2nwoeC-u6tXRbiHSnBFjqchgwSOrsYby_6LSvF7kOIM84jXV0JApRBkbRd-1KXOSmv53qi5wDvTG7vpEHIYrYIZw4WOoB8KeLCM3wHmPL-JV585cfbDZiRg1IyOqw6Vs2qTRCfJm_Mt6AkJR1Kt7xAcoFLeQ=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqHuxXVRBeCLzy4B4nWYjmcwBOmf2nwoeC-u6tXRbiHSnBFjqchgwSOrsYby_6LSvF7kOIM84jXV0JApRBkbRd-1KXOSmv53qi5wDvTG7vpEHIYrYIZw4WOoB8KeLCM3wHmPL-JV585cfbDZiRg1IyOqw6Vs2qTRCfJm_Mt6AkJR1Kt7xAcoFLeQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Garden of the Pine Woods features a series of pools,waterfalls,walks and bridges designed by Japanese garden designer David Slawson.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlBDjkU3EM-FHuDggW2R6UKSVMEPeJunIdnZ5qXb0kVbZPW73B3ACdYXpUYz6jTfzKwFRk-ZpzTm7S0XcXKvoR_RHxBZigPeGc65IJbI_zkj4D4bDH2aH-sbImqUxQyGavtmNIZO7M3Y7QsuVE-AELKRWq2YyMQ2JMMSfSnWKO6rjxGpZRT7M1cA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlBDjkU3EM-FHuDggW2R6UKSVMEPeJunIdnZ5qXb0kVbZPW73B3ACdYXpUYz6jTfzKwFRk-ZpzTm7S0XcXKvoR_RHxBZigPeGc65IJbI_zkj4D4bDH2aH-sbImqUxQyGavtmNIZO7M3Y7QsuVE-AELKRWq2YyMQ2JMMSfSnWKO6rjxGpZRT7M1cA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>Pictured above is the Old Brick Hill from brick manufactured in 1885 and salvaged from the chimney on the old boiler at a lumber company. There is an autumn leaves pattern in which the bricks are laid.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ0ZR9ExiiYkjNcblUapscb3GfsMm2qo4LgjFxVwYrp_LZt2o5pc3vb90PzxYba7O50ij73fPgTpmnF8O-d5Duh2PcEa6-0v9O7d2nBFMhxv1KYo5jBA_3_99VoeMaMbfm1pdn6Z6kZ3lyqQLkSQfATGgUExf1S9K7kMgEkTufBIVvQLla0IfYUA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ0ZR9ExiiYkjNcblUapscb3GfsMm2qo4LgjFxVwYrp_LZt2o5pc3vb90PzxYba7O50ij73fPgTpmnF8O-d5Duh2PcEa6-0v9O7d2nBFMhxv1KYo5jBA_3_99VoeMaMbfm1pdn6Z6kZ3lyqQLkSQfATGgUExf1S9K7kMgEkTufBIVvQLla0IfYUA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Chapel</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This glass chapel, in the gardens, has a 60-foot high roof with souring columns. The windows are 55 feet tall. It all seems to so naturally fit in with the soaring trees surrounding the chapel.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmLo6Bx7976BdBC3i3Ve8FwlFZwh9zzF7IFrScIHLY-yRqJW1Hk2OPJqDx12-wmJC4xC3O61-g25Q9JmnO1jfUl0mjnG21HsjvhOuNdLZrecBqWCcFKmVU-lYMBZCaJJjgmjJuHll1fTv4L68PSy6MlveXlG7sG5ZubGBTSulYLl-Lku0Sz31CGw=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmLo6Bx7976BdBC3i3Ve8FwlFZwh9zzF7IFrScIHLY-yRqJW1Hk2OPJqDx12-wmJC4xC3O61-g25Q9JmnO1jfUl0mjnG21HsjvhOuNdLZrecBqWCcFKmVU-lYMBZCaJJjgmjJuHll1fTv4L68PSy6MlveXlG7sG5ZubGBTSulYLl-Lku0Sz31CGw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evans Children's Adventure Garden</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>What a delightful place this is, for children to experience a three-level tree house, a maze of boulders, and a man-made cave to explore. While they are involved with that, the adults can take in the outstanding lake and woodland views.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFUcANE2nKU8Ah77_lCFYAeuD0ktJ93OsvzV9AEV-ZwQu5pu6dbt22FcNo6I2afOTRCPEiuif2LRZHKVF6HvZpvBv62sYYp3UippeRmnkTH3UgbcNlndX-NPvckkp2sSMJ33MWWcrd-6WFv30yHWRTgFE9Y5ax_Fso6k_Tb2KpjPBPuB5HbxHfpQ=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFUcANE2nKU8Ah77_lCFYAeuD0ktJ93OsvzV9AEV-ZwQu5pu6dbt22FcNo6I2afOTRCPEiuif2LRZHKVF6HvZpvBv62sYYp3UippeRmnkTH3UgbcNlndX-NPvckkp2sSMJ33MWWcrd-6WFv30yHWRTgFE9Y5ax_Fso6k_Tb2KpjPBPuB5HbxHfpQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ouachita Mountain Vista<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I still have so much more to share with you regarding these gardens, especially many of the blooming spring flowers! My next posting will cover that.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John and Diana Schrammhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075225984927861763noreply@blogger.com0