~Get Your Kicks On Route 66~

Announcement:

I’m making some changes, here at the Back Porch.  In the process, my blog list evaporated!!  I am in the midst of visiting all of you, my wonderful readers, through your comments, trying to restore my list.

Please bear with me, through this transition! I hope you continue to visit, while I take care of this little dilemma!

***The follower list has been in and out, the past couple of days. I think it will be okay.

It’s my regular blog list that has disappeared. It needed some editing, so this is a good time to update.

Thanks, everyone!

Friday was a beautiful day, in the Ozarks; perfect for a day trip.

We packed a picnic lunch, then drove to Bennett Spring State Park.

This was the view from our table.

Bennett Spring is a place of many happy childhood memories, for me.

After lunch, we continued our day trip exploring, with a drive to a new rest stop, between Lebanon and Springfield.

I smile, as I type, because who in the world would turn a stop at a rest area into day trip exploration? J and Pat, that’s who!

As many of you know, I grew up in a small town along Rte 66, the Mother Road. If you travel through Lebanon, Missouri, located on I-44, be sure to stop by the Library and take a tour of the Rte 66 museum.

I traveled old Rte 66, between Illinois and California, as a child. Trips to visit my grandparents, in Texas, began on the old highway.

We travel I-44, from St Clair, to Springfield, quite often; always looking for the old road that still meanders through the countryside.

There are historic markers, along the way. Once in awhile we rediscover an ancient, long abandoned, filling station or cabin.

One of several picnic table shelters, built to resemble long ago structures along Rte 66.

The floor, inside the welcome center.

I don’t have a memory of where we turned south, from Rte 66, toward our Dallas destination, during childhood travels. I was asleep in the back seat, because we always started our trips to Texas in the wee small hours of the morning.

We might have to stop back, after dark, to see this sign all lit up.

All of the above and Burma Shave, too! Do you remember Burma Shave signs, along the highway?

Before returning east, on I-44, we stopped at Marshfield for limeades, at a drive-in.

Approaching Lebanon, from the west.

Remember the sign, outside the welcome center? This is the original, in Lebanon. That’s old Rte 66 to the left. The motel opened way back when Rte 66 ran through my old home town, before I-44.

For a history of Munger Moss and great photos, click HERE. It’s a website I think you will enjoy; I know I did!

As long as we were feeling nostalgic, we took a different, than usual, route back to the lake. We drove the road to Eldridge and Hwy D, which took us past Ha Ha Tonka State Park to Hwy 54. This is the way we drove to the lake, from Lebanon, when I was a youngster.

Here we are, back at the lake. This photo was taken, while crossing Grand Glaize Bridge, at Lake of the Ozarks.

Get Your Kicks on Rte 66

Chorus

Mister . . . may I . . . recommend a royal route?
It starts in Illinois, let me tell you boy!
If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway, that's the best!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!

Lyrics by Bobby Troup

(I’m old enough to remember who Bobby Troup was!)

Stop by Susan’s A Southern Day Dreamer, for  Outdoor Wednesday, each week.

~Saturday in Historic Saint Charles~

Buildings on North Main Street, St Charles, reflected in the window of Framations Gallery.

Our friend, JoAnn, told us about artist Mary Ann Yeamans, a few years ago. Although we live only a few miles north of Mary Ann and her husband Ron, we did not meet them, until Saturday afternoon, when we attended the opening reception for an exhibition of Mary Ann's work, at Framations Gallery.

We were delighted to meet the artist and her husband, visiting with them and viewing Mary Ann's lovely paintings. We hope to get together, sometime soon. Mary Ann and Ron Yeamans are seen, with J and me, in the first photo. Mary Ann's work is in the background of the photo.

Framations Gallery is located on North Main, in Saint Charles Missouri. On the ceiling, just outside the door, a mural depicting scenes around Historic Saint Charles.

Mary Ann Yeamans' painting of Ronald McDonald House, an organization close to the artist's heart, is seen in the window of Framations Gallery. A signed and numbered art print of this painting was donated, by the artist, for a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser. Prints of the painting can also be seen in area McDonalds Restaurants. More about Mary Ann and her work can be found here.

The dome of the old St Charles County Courthouse can be seen in the distance.

The east facade of the old Saint Charles County Courthouse. The statue of San Carlos Borromeo (St Charles Borromeo) is seen to the right, in the photograph. San Carlos Borromeo is the namesake for Saint Charles Missouri. Also, on the grounds, a red-granite bloulder with a bronze tablet, marking the alleged starting point of Boone's Trail. The courthouse was constructed in 1903, of native limestone. Although court is no longer held in this wonderful old building, it is home to several county offices.

As we were leaving Historic Downtown Saint Charles, we drove, on Jefferson Street, past the old courthouse. Beautiful old homes, of varying ages and styles are seen on Jefferson Street. This home sits on the corner of Jefferson and 3rd, across from the old courthouse. I photographed several homes on Jefferson and will share them, sometime this week.

~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.

~Pitcher & Bowl Story~

~Bicentennial Project~
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During the 1970's, I served 4 years, as co-leader and leader of two Brownie Troups and one year as neighborhood secretary, for the Girl Scout Council of Greater St Louis. Toward the end of the 1975-76 school year, the scout leaders of our community enrolled our scouts in a ceramic class. The classes were held at a ceramic shop, in a private home. For 6 weeks, we met each Saturday morning, to work on our projects. I chose to make the pitcher and bowl, shown in the top photo. Through trial and error and more than one oops, I managed to complete the project. Because we were celebrating the 200th birthday of our country, that year, many Americans made quilts, ceramics, paintings and other arts and crafts, to commemorate the Bicenntenial. I signed and dated the pitcher and bowl and named it my "Bicentennial Project".

~ Cowpens Battlefield~

Reading John Jakes' Charleston, this past week, prompted me to post about my project. The book begins toward the end of the American Revolutionary War.

The photo, at right, shows a monument, erected by The Washington Light Infantry, of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1856, near the final stages of the Battle of Cowpens, to commemorate the important American victory. It stands as the earliest testament to valor of the Patriotic Army at Cowpens.

I've chosen Cowpens, for this post, because my 6 times great grandfather fought at this battle. Alexander Edwards' brother, David, was encamped at Cowpens. Sixteen year old Alexander delivered a letter to his brother, telling him his wife was gravely ill. David asked for furlough, but was told a battle was emminent and no furloughs were being granted. Alexander offered to take David's place. David was permitted to leave for a short time. During that time, a pivotal battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought and won by the Americans. Alexander (my forefather) was issued a certificate for his bravery during the battle and his name is listed in the index of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Alexander's father Cader, settled in America during the 1750's. He was from Wales. Even though Cader was quite old at the time of the Revolutionary War, he served at the Battle of King's Mountain.

At the time of the Battle of Cowpens, the Edwards family lived in what is now Sullivan County Tennessee. It would be almost 100 years, before the family found their way to our beloved Ozarks.

We visited Cowpens Battlefield in 2005. There was a feeling of eeriness, as we walked through the site, imagining what had happened there over 200 years ago.

**Our family history was researched by my mother's aunt, around 40 years ago. I have a bound copy of that history. It's wonderful having great family stories to read, from time to time. I gathered information from that history for today's post.

~All Around Town~

A close up of an Azalea, in the garden next to our dining room window.

This morning, we visited the Library. J found a couple of landscaping books, he liked and I brought home John Jakes' Charleston. I absolutely love that city. Another book, I checked out, is Dictionary of Missouri Historic Places. I'll be looking for places, to make note of, for future day trips.

Speaking of historic places; Woods Fort is located on Main Street in our town. The marker is pictured below, followed by a photo of the Woods Fort cabin.

The following photos show some of our favorite homes, around town.

We drove through the park, where we saw these fellows.

We decided we needed something different in the berm at the edge of our front yard. We found what we were looking for, Home Run Roses, at the nursery, just outside of town. Home Run Roses are similar to Knock Out Roses, with the same growing habit. I'll post photos, when they bloom. We saw these water features at the nursery, also.

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Update photos of the patio Hosta garden.

Above, the garden beside the dining room windows. Below is a photo of the column/pedestal we're using on the front porch, this year. The porch faces west which makes it difficult to find plants that will survive there. We were told Portulaca will do well.

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Several readers have asked what camera I use. I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI. I'm still learning about this camera and having fun during the process. Before this camera I used a Kodak P850, which was a very nice camera, for point and shoot photography. I dropped that camera while visiting Mary Carol Garrity's Nell Hill's, in Atchison Kansas, last year.