~Two Summer Days in Missouri~

You already know how we love to turn ordinary appointments and running errands into something just a tad more. That's what we did, this past Monday. We needed to make a quick trip to Jefferson City. Our day began early. Molly went along for the ride, too.

Our business complete, we stopped by Central Dairy for a cool treat on this hot summer day. Texas Pecan for J, Moose Tracks for me, and Molly's favorite, vanilla ice cream. Central Dairy is a must stop on most of our trips to or from the lake. Besides delicious ice cream, the dairy offers the ambiance of an old fashioned ice cream shop. Always a popular place, Central Dairy is located on Madison, in Jefferson City, Missouri.

On the way through Holt's Summit, just up Hwy 54 from Jeff City, I snapped a photo of the McDonald's sign. Do you remember when burgers were 15 cents?

We detoured through Fulton, Missouri for a drive by the campus of Westminster College. We put this on our day trip list, for exploring on a cooler day.

The Winston Churchill Memorial and Library is on the Campus of Westminster College. This is the site of Churchill's famous Iron Curtain speech.

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Remembering construction along our usual route home, we decided to drive across country. Above and below, a rural Missouri road.

I had the bright idea, recently, of trying to photograph every courthouse in the state of Missouri. There are 114 counties in our fair state. The above photo, is one you've seen before. Our county's courthouse. Below, the Montgomery County Courthouse, photographed on our drive home, Monday.

Two down and 112 to go!

A Missouri county was named for one of J's ancestors, according to family lore. The 6 or 7 x's grandfather's father arrived here, from France, during the 18th century. Can you guess which county has the name of J's family? (Click on map to enlarge)

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MAMA MIA!

Tuesday morning, we treated ourselves to a movie. We haven't seen the stage production, of Mama Mia, but would love to see it. We enjoyed this bawdy, beautiful, bodacious film. I haven't left a movie feeling so good, in a very long time! Many critics have not been kind. We rarely pay attention to reviews, though.

Having grown up in the era of lovely musicals, I'm always looking for a good movie musical. This one didn't disappoint. Sure Pierce Brosnan can't sing, but oh my goodness...he's good lookin'. Meryl Streep is fabulous. The cast and scenery gorgeous. Of course, the Abba music was upbeat and brought sweet nostalgia. Everyone around us seemed to be enjoying Mama Mia as much as we were. Yes, even dear old J enjoyed what might be called a chick flick! If you go, do not leave until after the credits! Relax and enjoy.

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Tuesday evening, we heard a concert presented by our local community band, in our city park. An hour of patriotic music, the sound of children at play and cicadas in the trees. A perfect summertime evening in small town America.

~Mr J Builds His Dream House~

We've been homeowners, before we were married and after, in one way or another, for over 40 years. The homes we owned before we were married and during our marriage, were built or renovated with sweat equity. When we began planning for this home, we decided to sit on the sidelines and watch, rather than get involved with the hands on building process. Of course, there wasn't much sitting during the construction of our present home. We became well acquainted with Lowes and other suppliers.

Our journey began several years before 2003. We saw display homes in various developments. We attended just about every St Louis Homearama presented during the late 1990's early 2000's. By the time we began construction in August of 2003, I had a scrapbook, photo album and file folder packed with photos, clippings and notes. I put together a storyboard, of sorts, with paint chips, fabric samples and yes, more photos and notes!

We looked at building lots in subdivisions and unimproved 3 acre lots. Our home in the back pasture of the farm was within a 3 acre fenced area. We knew, at our age, we didn't want a large yard to tend. We looked at the 1/2 acre lot, here in our subdivision, several times. One rainy afternoon, I drove out for another look. I sat in the car looking at the lot, the trees at the back (to the East) and the farm beyond and knew, this was it. I called J, at work, and told him I thought I'd found our lot. After work, we drove out again and walked the ground. The next day, we signed the contract and the ball started rolling!

In the beginning, we looked at raised ranch style homes, with atriums. These homes are beautiful. The single level design appealed to our idea of having everything on one level, for convenience in our golden years. However, during Spring 2003, we began looking at 1.5 story homes with mainfloor master suites. We knew we wanted a custom built home. We looked online at several different 1.5 story plans. I made sketches and printed out photos and added them to the file folder. In early June, with the family farm already on the market, we talked to the contractor. In J's line of work, he had the opportunity to see the work of many builders. He decided L would be our builder. Thirty years earlier, L's brother built a home for my first husband and me. It's a great house, too. Still owned by my former husband.

We talked to L and showed him photos and sketches and bits and pieces of notes. In a few weeks, he'd drawn up a plan. Like Jim and Muriel Blandings, we looked those plans over, took out pens and began making a change here and a change there. In the end, the three of us, L, J and I came up with the perfect plan for Mr J's Dream House.

In late July 2003, the farm sold and we moved forward on the construction of our dream home. We believe it's been worth the sixty year wait!

Below are sequential photos of the construction.

We moved into our home in December 2003. We left sodding and landscaping for Spring 2004.

Last summer a young couple, considering L for the construction of their new home, toured ours. This morning, J looked across the field and saw a foundation being excavated. L is their builder. It will be fun to watch the construction of their dream home.

Recommended reading: Norm Abram's New House is available in paperback at http://www.amazon.com/ . The book was published in 1995. We have a copy, purchased the year it was published. It's a wonderful book detailing the construction of the Abrams' home. We've been fans of Norm since the early years of This Old House, on PBS. I believe, if you've ever constructed a home, renovated a home, painted a room, put up a light fixture or dreamed of doing those things and more, you will thoroughly enjoy Norm's book.

Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Blandings_Builds_His_Dream_House

Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House...

I never met a Cary Grant movie, I didn't like! "Mr Blandings Builds his Dream House" is an all time favorite, I can watch time and again!

Sixty years after the film was released, Jim and Muriel Blandings' home would easily fit into the landscape of today. It's a classic/timeless home. The interior decor can be found in many of todays homes.

While watching movies, old or new, I tend to pay special attention to set decoration. Whether those old black and white movies of the 1930's and 1940's or films of today, they are great inspiration for decorating our homes.

The cabinet in the photograph, belonged to my mother. It's from the 1930's era, I believe. This cabinet sits in our dining room and seems to fit seamlessly with other, more up to date furnishings in that room.