Quality Mother/Daughter Time Together in Missouri - and Superman

I was so happy that my daughter, Dawn, flew from Arizona to be with us in Hannibal, Missouri when my Dad had a stroke and surgery.  She was a great help at the bed and breakfast and a wonderful support to all of us.  After staying a week, Hubby flew back to work in Florida but, before Dawn flew back to her family in Phoenix, she and I enjoyed a couple days of sightseeing in the St. Louis area.

After many miles driving down country roads, we finally found the house where Daniel Boone lived, and died, after leaving Kentucky.  This is actually the back of the house according to our tour guide.

This was considered the front of the home.  Originally, the house didn't have french doors.  They were added later.  They would have provided too many opportunities for the local natives to attack the residents of the home! 

Lindenwood University has moved several 1800 era buildings to form a little town near the Boone home.  This is the Old Peace Chapel built in the mid-1800s.  It served as a store and dance hall before it became a church 1905.

From Boone's home in the Osage Valley we headed to historic St. Charles along the Mississippi River to do a little shopping - or maybe a lot of shopping.

The many shops and restaurants were too cute to resist!

The next day, with the help of "Mr. Garmin," we found our way to a parking garage at LaClede's Landing and walked along the river to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial where the St. Louis Arch is located.

This Lewis and Clark statue is next to the bridge that inspired the Arch.

I couldn't pass up a photo op of my daughter!

We toured the museum underneath the Arch before taking the ride to the top.  Did you know that the Arch is the tallest National Monument in the United States?  It's taller than Mount Rushmore, the Empire State Building, the Washington Monument, and any other monument you can name.

Finally, our time came to board one of the small (and I do mean small!) cars to the top.  We had to really bend over to keep from hitting our heads on the low door into the car.  There's only room for 5, preferable small, people - without claustrophobia - in a car.

At the top, you crowd into a small room, with a slanted floor, for your photo opportunities.

In the middle of this picture, taken out of one of the windows, is the Historic Old Courthouse where, in 1846, Dred Scott and his wife Harriet sued for and were granted their freedom.

For sports fans there's Busch Stadium in the distance.

On our way back to the parking garage we had the unique opportunity to walk underneath a moving train.  We just had to take a picture!

A week after Dawn was safely back in Arizona, Hubby flew back to Missouri to help me drive our car back to Juno Beach.  When we saw a sign advertising all things Superman in Metropolis, Illinois we just had to stop!

Here's my own Superman!

My Dad is leaving the hospital, and going home to Robards Mansion Bed and Breakfast, today.  If anyone would like to buy a bed and breakfast we'll make you a smoking deal!  Meanwhile, Hubby and I are headed to St. Augustine tomorrow so I can mark something else off my list of things to do while we're in Florida.



Back to My Blog - Finally!

This past month has had it's share of excitement to say the least.  No sooner had our daughter Gayle's family returned to Arizona, my Dad had a massive stroke and surgery for a huge blood clot on his brain.  Hubby and I hurriedly drove to Hannibal, Missouri where I stayed for two weeks visiting my Dad in the hospital and helping my Mom run their bed and breakfast.  Our daughter, Dawn, flew in to be with us and we enjoyed some quality Mother/Daughter time before she flew back to Phoenix.  I'll share those pictures later but first I wanted to remember the wonderful time we had when Gayle's family visited us here in Juno Beach last month.

There's nothing like a good lovey and Papa's lap to make a grandson happy.

We enjoyed Lion Country Safari so much last year we just had to return this year.

"Shhh!  You might scare the animals."

As we drove slowly through the park, this giraffe thought he might find something interesting in the bed of our truck.

No self respecting theme park is complete without a water area to play in!

We had to visit the turtles at the Loggerhead Marine Center to see how Joshua measured up this year.

Since you're not allowed to ride on the real turtles they provide an alternative.

Naturally, we had to do a little shopping......

..........and take a few pictures. 

And, yes, in case you're wondering, our daughter Gayle with be presenting us with another grandson in October.

One day, when it wasn't raining, we visited the Busch Animal Sanctuary.

Joshua kept Papa on track with his map reading skills.

On our way home from the sanctuary, Joshua and his Daddy, Jason, couldn't pass up another photo opportunity alongside the road.

Jason had a chance to photograph some alligators on a boat ride up the Loxahatchee River.

Then we spotted some baby alligators at Grassy Waters Preserve.  Look closely and you'll see baby alligators on each side of the boat ramp just above the water.

But, of course, no visit to Florida would be complete without the beach.

We hated to see them go back to Arizona but we'll be seeing them soon.  We'll be heading our truck and trailer home come Labor Day.  Now, I just have to get caught up on blogging!



My Nephew Came For a Visit Too!

Last week my nephew, Jon, came from Iowa for a visit and did his best to experience whatever south Florida has to offer.

In addition to visits to the Flagler museum, the Jupiter Lighthouse, Juno Beach and the RV park pool and spa, he climbed the lookout platform at Hobe Mountain............

kayaked at John D. MacArthur State Park..............

learned about sea turtles at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center.........

ate his first lobster at the Waterway Cafe.............

and.......(my personal favorite!) cooked for us!

Yes, a good time was had by all!

Now we're preparing for a visit with our other daughter, son-in-law, and youngest grandson.  I'll be back to blogging after they've gone back to Arizona!



Fun at Walt Disney World!

Last week our daughter, Dawn, son-in-law, Mike, and oldest grandson, Jacob, came for a visit.  We started our vacation at Walt Disney World in Orlando and had a wonderful time.

We moved our 5th wheel from the RV park in Juno Beach to Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground.  It was the nicest campground we've ever been to!

Vehicle traffic is not allowed unless you're entering or leaving the area.  They have free bus transportation around the campground, and to their parks, but we decided to rent a golf cart.  We had some wild rides!

One of the rides Jacob enjoyed the most was the pony rides - riding every pony they had saddled.

We all enjoyed the pool.  Each one of us slid down the fast winding slide many many times.

We also enjoyed the simpler pleasures the campground had to offer.

One of the amenities was free boat rides to the other resorts and, most importantly, the Magic Kingdom.

Jacob always visits his friends whenever he's in town.

But even friends take a backseat to the thrilling rides!

Yes.  He LOVED Space Mountain.

Even good boys need a little "time out."

However, Disney wasn't the only place that got our money. 

We had a rousing good time at Medieval Times where we stuffed ourselves with food while watching knights joust.

We finished up the vacation back at Juno Beach.  Now, they've gone back to Phoenix and we're preparing for yet another visitor.  On Saturday, my nephew is coming from Iowa for a week.  What new adventures await him?!