So Beautiful and Amazing...

 Monday 10/26 was spent sightseeing. Barb and Cresia took me out to see the beautiful natural springs. We saw four but there were others but just not enough time in the day to see and enjoy.

Our first one was Big Spring in Van Bruen. The water was rolling and bubbling fast. And the color. Wow. 

You can see the cave areas in the rocks where the water is coming from under and out and around the area.   It was mesmerizing watching the water and so pretty.  On an average day 288 million gallons of water flows through this spring. It is considered one of the 3 biggest springs in America

If you Click HERE you can see the video I took and can hear the power of Big Spring.

Then we drove to Blue Spring which is 14 miles east of Eminence or 14 miles west of Ellington off State Route 106. Now this drive while pretty I was beginning to hear dueling banjos. We were driving down a dirt road surrounded by the Ozarks National Forrest and no one else in site. In fact when we got to the parking area we were the only car. I'm like thinking are we staff out here. Barb is gonna be my hero is anyone tries to attack us right? She's an army vet she has combat training. Okay so my imagination was a bit crazy. LOL 

We started walking the trail and this is our first sighting of water but we didn't hear any rushing water so where is the spring. Kept walking and finally saw a sign pointing this way and that way.  We were wondering is there really a spring back here. Barb was worried about me tripping and falling on the trail because there were lots of tree roots and rocks. She'd be going there's a "tripper" and another all down the trail. What seemed like at least a mile or more we heard and saw some rushing water. Keep in mind we are still the only people out here in the woods

The rush of water isn't as powerful as the first spring but it's really pretty when we get to where the spring originates. It puts out about 87 million gallons of water.

The water color is absolutely gorgeous. This spring is the 6th deepest in Missouri I think I read. It said if you put the statue of Liberty in the spring her torch would be 5 feet under water. It's like 310' plus deep. You could see caves in the rocks around the spring.

If you click Here you can see the fish swimming in the spring. Looks like trout to us.  We survived the hike back into the woods.

Now we have to walk back. LOL but there were people walking in on the trail as we were walking out.  Worth the walk and yes my foot was talking to me but I did it. 

Next stop is Round Spring. It's circular. But the cool part here was the 2 American Eagles I spotted in the trees. Also the girls were telling me about the wild horses that roam the forrest, the elk and bear.

The area is beautiful. Cresia found horse poop and walked up a path hoping to see some wild horses and I wouldn't have minded seeing them either but no such luck. Again the water of the spring is a beautiful blue and round.

 

This spring produces about 26 million gallons of water.  No rushing water here.  The spring flows down into this area near the parking lot.

 

We were getting hungry so Barb said we'd go to Echo Bluff Lodge for lunch and maybe see some wild horses. They had stayed at the lodge before they built in the area and they horses came onto the property while they were there but we were too late.

As we drove through the parking lot we did see several piles of fresh horse poop but no horses darn it but the area is beautiful. I need to get David up here and maybe we can stay at the lodge for a night or two and catch a sighting of the horse. While waiting for lunch Cresia and I walked outside on the patio. 

I got chicken strips and the mac and cheese. Chicken strips were fine but that mac and cheese was creamy goodness.  

There is the lodge and there's also cabins around the property you can stay in. 
After lunch We drove through the area just in case the horses were along the stream or the playground but no such luck and we headed off to our last Spring of the day.

Our last place is a community on  Alley Spring with a Mill, also near Eminence, MO. Barb and Cresia told me the paddle wheel was there the last time they visited but the water was flowing quickly. The water is said to run around 57 degrees and with an average of 81 millions gallons of water a day. 

Click Here to hear and see the water going past the mill and the roar and Here to the power of the water rushing by. The area was beautiful.

This might have been a smoke house/tool shed on the property. Barb was dodging other wild creatures while on our drive to the springs. From deer to chipmunks and even a couple eagles that landed on the road.

     

It was a wonderful day of beautiful scenery and sights. Can't thank them enough for their hospitality. 

Tuesday 10/28 Cresia and I did a little shopping while Barb went to an appointment. When she was done we went to Hobby Lobby or should I say Money Hole.  Cresia and I found plenty of things we liked and wanted. We both walked out with a couple of bags. I was about to get in trouble with Barb for encouraging Cresia to get something that caught her eye. LOL When we got to the check out Cresia snuck in a cute VW bus for display. Love it.

Wednesday afternoon the kids showed up and it was time to head back home. I hate good byes. 

And while I'm sure they were ready to get their life back I hated to leave but at the same time I was ready to get home to David and the 80# lap dogs.

We drove as far as Little Rock and stopped for the night. This was a first for me. In a hotel room by myself. Normally I have David or Pamela but not this time. At first I was kinda weirded out but I was so tired I went right to sleep when I laid down.

And oh the things you see when traveling.  We stopped for gas and a potty break and there's a unicorn.  LOL

Not even 10 miles from Kaleb and Pamela's a herd of deer popped up and I was slowing down just as one deer decides to take 90 degree left in front of the car. I slammed on the brakes. I didn't hit it but I bet I tapped it's tail. Scared the crap out of me especially since I was driving Pamela's car. We made to Kaleb and Pamela's where David picked me up and I slept in my own bed.

I think I spent the next few days regrouping from being from home so long.

Kaleb and Pamela got the boys for Halloween this year. The boys were quite scary.  Their Aunt Sarah and Ashley came over to go Trick or Treating too.

Now my niece in Missouri was little Bo Peep and mom n dad were her sheep. 

I wasn't that creative when Pamela was little.

It was a busy month and I wasn't home much and now I'm trying to catch up on all the activities in our life. So done with October and now it's on to November.

Until next blog post...“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Ready or Not Here I come. I'm off to Missouri

And we're off. Now I was told we were leaving by 6am so I was up and dressed but my ride (Kaleb & Pamela) weren't. LOL  That's okay. We still left close to 6:30am the 22rd.  Kaleb was the driver and navigator and I was the passenger until must later.  Riding with these two was entertaining. We stopped in Texarkana for lunch at the Pecan Point Gastropub.  Pamela and I shared the fish taco's and fries.  The tacos were huge and tasty.  Good thing we shared. We finally rolled into my sisters house around 8pm and they waited to eat until we got there. We had some yummy soup and sliders. And then we got the tour of their house and shown where our rooms were. Kaleb and Pamela stayed the night and would drive on to my adoptive niece Hannah and her family's home a couple hours further north on Thursday some time after hanging out with Barb and Cresia for a while.

I guess while I was gone Bruno surveyed the property wondering where I went and why I did I leave Bri, Pamela's dog.  Bri and Sadie love to run and bark at the cows and Jerry. Bruno just watched.

Cresia had an appointment in town the next day so Barb took us out on the mule to get the lay of the area. We met a few of their neighbors while out. Cresia went to school with some of the neighbors and that's how they found their land to build on. 

We all enjoyed the peacefulness and beauty of the area.

They live on Lake Wappapello and are surrounded by water and lots of trees.  

Just down the road is a boat ramp.  

 

I learned something new about Cresia... She went to school with Sheryl Crow and her brother. You know the country-style song writer with optimistic lyrics. Cresia just saw them a couple weeks prior to us being there. 

I thought that was pretty cool. 

We stopped at this their neighbor Tommie and Sandra's for the views.  Can you see in the bottom right corner of the picture? It's a cable car. The husband built it for his wife to be able to get down and back up from the lake. Sweet.

Lots of birds and wild life around. It's so pretty.

 

Pamela and Kaleb    and me

 

Barb, Pamela and Kaleb and me slouching down.

 This is Lola. She's pretty, well fed and very loved. She takes up most of the Welcome mat.I took this picture just out back of Barb and Cresia's home. You can see the water. Like I said surrounded by water and trees.       This was my home away from home for 8 days. This is Barb and Cresia's home.   That's Kaleb surveying the area.

Two of Barb and Cresia's friends, Sherry and Ginger came down for the weekend and we played domino's. Mexican Train. I had only planned domino's once over 10 years ago but I kinda got the hang of it. They all seemed to have a system to playing. They'd put their domino's in rows and switch them around. I knew I was in trouble but I didn't feel too too horrible with 40-60 points left in front of me when one of them went out but the best game was the night when their neighbors Lisa and Byrne joined the 5 of us to play. Barb rarely had any points left to count against her but one game she went down..... She had 195 points. I actually did better than her with 153. I got the giggles because while her score was bad I wasn't so far behind. I doubt she'll ever live that game down. The player with the least points is the winner in case you've never played.

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On Saturday 10/25 we loaded up into Lisa's SUV to go shopping. First stop was an Amish market. It's alway amazing to see folks driving a horse and buggy on the highway.  Cresia was reliving her childhood with a coon skin cap. She had she wore alllll the time. 

Our next stop was in Caledonia. I think that's the spelling. This was a cute town Several cute shops, lots of landscaping, and Barn Quilts on most of the buildings. We went to Angie's antique shop. I might have found a couple of small things and a baggie full of 2 1/2" Fabric squares.  One can never have enough fabric. I also found this dummy.  Made me think of the vanquilist Charlie McCarthy doll. 

Big Foot is very popular around here. Barb had a nice conversation with this one. 

  

One of the shops was like an ole time soda shop with extra's.  You could buy soda and ice cream on one side and my favorite foo foo coffee. Hot or cold.  Do you remember the candy cigarettes. We thought we were so cool back when had them.  LOL

We continued to walk down the street found a cute little boutique but first I found a home with outdoor plumbing. LOL.  Then I found an old truck. Me and my trucks.  

Cresia snapped a picture of Barb and I in the shop and then outside Lisa took a picture of Ginger, Me, Barb, Sherry and Cresia. I realized after going through all the pictures I didn't have one with Lisa in it. 

Finished on the main street and headed around the corner to Pattie's Pickins. They had a bit of everything.  This is David and my's kind of place.  The trees in Missouri are changing colors and they are so pretty. Ginger made friends with this big foot.  Barb was attacked by a bear. You should have seen the claws on that thing. Sharp metal. They would have really hurt someone. I actually didn't get out here and do much looking around. I had been having trouble with pain in my heel on the inside of my right foot but everything I could see from the car was pretty cool.  I have an appointment on the 26th on November with a podiatrist. That is the earliest I could get. So another 30 days before I can maybe get some relief.  Uggh

At some point we stopped for a bite of lunch and 3 of us got a baked potato with pulled pork. Can you say huge? I barely ate half of it.  I ate the rest I think for dinner or lunch the next day.

   

One of our sites was a garage covered with license plates. David might like this idea if we could afford getting that many plates for his barn.

Sherry and Cresia were always on the look out for a photo opt. They'd already found a bike by the train caboose across the street but just as Sherry went to sit on this bike she read the sign on the seat.  LOL OOPS.

 

Barb and Cresia were telling us about this dog who greeted everyone passing the intersection. He became an icon but sadly he's no longer there. Senior moment. I can't remember if he got killed or if it was natural.

Sunday 10/26 it was chilly and damp out but Cresia took me, Sherry, and Ginger on another ride on the mule. 

  

Down one of the roads we saw this big owl. Yes I said owl. LOL from my position in the back I couldn't see the statue very well and thought it was a bear. They thought I was crazy and blind. I guess they were very right. The picture is very clear it's an owl. I know the girls start laughing when they see this post. To get to Barb and Cresia you drive down dirt road. 7 1/2 miles off the highway. When we came in after dark we were hoping we were on the right road.

 

 

We broke Cresia. She was doing a favor for Sherry and lost her balance and fell. At first we laughed and then we felt bad when we saw her knee. She was in pain for sure. Sherry and Ginger packed up that afternoon and headed back to their respective homes about 2 hours away. 

Did I mention that Cresia and Barb fed me well and were the hostess's with the mostest. The bed I slept in was so comfy. Two more sleeps before Pamela and Kaleb will be back to pick me up and we head back to Texas.

I'll stop for now because there's more pictures of some beautiful views coming up and this blog is long enough.

Until the next blog post... Sisters are connected throughout their lives by a special bond... whether they try to ignore it or not. For better or for worse, sisters remain sisters, until death do them part. ~ Brigid McConville