Jefferson City Missouri Field Trip

Yesterday I spent the day on a 4th grade field trip with my daughter!  We had a great time!  Our first stop was the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum.  The top photo is of the first MO HP car.  The kids LOVED that they added a face and hat to it. :)

I had such fun looking at the vintage cars.

Below is a photo of Bonnie and Clyde, and their MO state license plate. They also had one of their guns. 

Our next stop was the Missouri State Capitol. We were able to meet our district representatives, as well as sit in on a voting session of the House of Representatives!  It was so exciting. Unfortunately pictures are not allowed while they are in session.   The paintings in the capital were stunning.  My photo's inside the capital aren't the best.  They had weirdo florescent lighting. 

The capital has a Missouri History museum.  I thought this old stage was amazing.

Old gas pump and cameras.

The stained glass in the capital was beautiful!

This is the famous Thomas Hart Benton  Missouri History mural. This was another favorite part. 

Below is the panel honoring Mark Twain.

The Missouri River runs past the capitol. 

Fountain in front of the capitol. Naked guys having a water fight? ;)

Our view while we ate lunch.

We weren't able to tour the inside of the Governors Mansion because it is being remodeled. I love it, it looks like a house from Mary Poppins. 

I took this pic of the Capitol, out my bus window.  SUCH a gorgeous building!

A Beautiful Mess App

Have you tried this app yet?  I am having such fun editing my photo's with it!

Happy Mother's Day!

 These pretty blue jays, have been a wonderful start to my Mother's Day!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day, Celebrating all of the amazing women in their lives.

Below are two amazing videos, that I know will warm your heart. :)

Country Ride and Catch up

My kids have less than two weeks of school left, so they have been running me ragged with end of year activites.  Holy smokes!  Yesterday I managed a quick barn hunt.  I was so thrilled to find this top barn with the chicken's in the yard.

 I came across this sweet baby.  Right before I took the pic she was almost in the splits trying to get her little face to reach the ground. It was the cutest thing! I tried to get a photo of her eating, but she hopped up to look at me.

 Now, this thing scared the bejeebers out of me!  From a distance and at first glance I thought it was real.  Yikes!!!  It is very menacing looking.  I guess that is the point.

 This pic is from last week, during a SNOWSTORM!!

 LOVE lilacs!

Loved seeing this tractor and iris's.  Happy wednesday!

Wildlife

 SOOO Yesterday it was 85 degrees, today....it's snowing and 35 degrees!!!  I had to go out and cover my plants.  Ugh!  To cheer myself up, I am posting a few pics of the cute critters I saw this week. :)

 Turtle crossing! Don't worry he/she ? made it across safely.

 The blue jays have been out like crazy!!

This cotton tail was hopping along, and then stopped to pose for me. :)  Have a great weekend!  Hopefully it is warm where you live.

Greenewade Farm

Greenewade Farm is one of my favorite spots in Missouri.  It's right by my daughters preschool, so I have photographed it many times.  I knew that the property had slave quarters on them. I have looked for them many times without sucess. Yesterday, I finally spotted them!!  I'm so glad I saw them, before the leaves came back, and blocked my view.

College Grad!

Congratulations to my smarty pants mom!!  I love you Mom!  You have worked so hard!  Enjoy your moment in the sun!!

Turning 40 and a barn

 I was zipping down the road last week, and almost drove past this barn.  As an afterthought, I stopped in the middle of the road(naturally) and grabbed a pic.  I am so happy I did!  I think it turned out great.  I love it when pics turn out surprisingly well. 

{My birthday cupcake from GiGi's}

 SO, turning 40....Wow, it took me by surprise.  I have been doing the big count down, and didn't think it was going to bother me.  I woke up Sunday morning, and sobbed.  I guess it's the first time that it hit me how fast time flies.  I started thinking about my kids growing up, and wondering if I am accomplishing all I should.

My poor husband now has the nasty flu that my daughter was hospitalized for, so that further bummed out the weekend.    I know I am incredibly blessed, there was a time I didn't know if I would have another birthday.  I am grateful for my age.  I guess it was just a reality check, that life will always be in a state of change. :)  

All in all, I had a good day.  My girls gave me these lovely flowers.  My husband was too sick to take me to do it this weekend, but when he is better, we will take his truck and go looking for an antique china cabinet for my kitchen.  I think that will be a great birthday present. 

The BEST part of my birthday was my sister in law introducing me to Real Actors read Yelp reviews.  Oh.my.goodness!!  I haven't laughed this hard in ages!  It's actors taking actual Yelp reviews for various business's and reading them.  They are hysterical!  I think this one from Olive Garden is my fave. 

Last of 40 for 40

Before

I didn't do the best job getting before's of the landscaping.  A bit of work had been completed when I started taking pictures.  Things were even more weedy and overgrown than pictured.

Aaaaand After!!

I had them pull out 8 shrubs, and put down weed barrier and mulch. They planted peonies, and daylilies.  They look a bit droopy from transplant shock, I was told by tomorrow they will be perked up. 

My grandpa always had big galvanized tubs of Zinnia's.  I am so happy to have a tub full of zinnia's in his honor in my yard.  I will take pictures again, after everything is in bloom. :)

I turn 40 Sunday!  Today is my last 40 for 40 post.  I had such fun doing this!  I didn't get my pedicure or my hair done.  The 40 days went faster than I thought.  I guess I will get that done after the fact. :)

Here are my 40 for 40 highlights for the week:

• Landscaping!
• Finding a resource for historic buildings!
• Going to the park with my friend and her kids.
• My mom finished college! Her graduation is next week.
• Spent some time chatting with an elderly neighbor. She has the best stories. :)

Ash Grove Missouri "Colored" School

I knew there had been a colored school in our area.  I have been eager to go and visit it.  Sadly, this school is no longer standing. It was purchased, and dismantled.  The intent was to reassemble it, in another area.  So far it sits in pieces, underneath a tarp, on the new owners property.  :(

This photo was taken by David Burton of the University of Missouri extension.  He has been kind enough to help me with some of my research of old one room schools.  He has even published a book of the historic schools in our area.  I have ordered the book and CD(purchase form here.) and will share more with you when it arrives.

There were 126 rural schools in our county, 59 of them are still standing.  I have found only a handful of them.  Some schools are sitting empty, others have been repurposed into barns,community centers, and homes.  I am so thrilled that I now have a map, and somebody to answer my questions!  :)

Abandoned Spring Blossoms

I love these old homes with the beautiful spring flowers.  

 I am sure somebody took great pride in their garden.

I love the tulips in this shot! Once again, I wish walls could talk!