Greetings from Missouri ~ the Show Me State

We arrived at our destination, Land's End Condominiums, Osage Beach, Missouri early afternoon on Thursday.  For a peek inside, it's listed under vrbo 65127.

After having lunch, it was fun to get out and explore our surroundings.

The time was filled with plenty of laughs, giggles, screams of excitement and smiles.

It was only a four hour pontoon ride, but it was a great four hour pontoon ride!

After an eight hour drive and afternoon spent at the pool we began to relax in our comfortable surroundings to a good night's rest.  I arrose at the break of dawn, made myself a cup of coffee and relaxed on the screened patio to take in the sites, sounds, smells and peaceful calm.

Our time was filled with activity.

"Here I will spend my leisure, secure from the worries of business and the excitement of city life.  I will fish and loaf and explore the caves of these hills, with no fear of intrusion."

-Robert McClure Snyder about the property he bought to build Ha Ha Tonka Castle

Quote from the website: legendsofamerica.com 

If you desire to view the above website, it's interesting to read how the castle got it's name and met it's destruction.

Cleveland Indians vs. St. Louis Cardinals

We headed back to St. Louis on Saturday and took in the St. Louis Arch.  It was interesting to learn the fore sight that Thomas Jefferson had for this area and it's contribution to the expansion of America to the west.  Everyone had smiles when we joined together.  My family went to the top and I viewed a movie on the making of the Arch.  It all worked out great.

We spent a beautiful Saturday night viewing one of our favored baseball games.

It was filled with music, excitement for the kids with character mascots, catching baseballs and getting their  gloves autographed by their favored team players.

Thanks to the most wonderful posts created by Pat of http:// backporchmusings.typepad.com./, I was able to enjoy this family trip planned since last Christmas.  It had everything that I was looking and hoping for that would interest everyone in our group.  Even though I'm recuperating from a broken leg, I was able to participate with the long awaited plans of our family trip.  By getting in the lazy river children's pool at the condo, I was able to get in and exercise to help rehabilitate my leg and the walking helped to get me trying harder at it.  Dennis and I were both tired.  He from driving the distance and assisting me in getting around in hilly terrain really took a lot out of him.  Our meals depended on where we were and what we were doing at the time and I think that drained his energy too.  Do to the terrain, I used my wheel chair often and walked with my walker when possible, but the riding for the duration and not elevating my leg like I normally would do, caused it to swell and stiffen.  I'm so appreciative for the great family time we shared and wouldn't have traded it for the world.

Pat has the most beautiful photographs and her writing style is so enjoyable.  You'll want to keep coming back for more once you've read just a couple of her posts.  That's how I became hooked on a cold, snowy January night when I referred to my laptop for inspiration.  I noticed that she had just visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina and we had just taken a family trip there before Christmas and thouroughly enjoyed the candle light tour.  After viewing her lovely photos and reading about her preparations for Christmas, I couldn't wait to read her review of their experience traveled there.  She's gracious, kind, open and most generous with her helpful creative insights.  She's assisted  my  recuperation process on a daily basis through here blogging. I always look forward to her newest thought, idea or creation for they are always stunning and executed to a "T".

Have a wonderful summer.

Be safe,

Love,