Home, Sweet (but Chilly) Home

 

My whirlwind of life in the past 13 days has finally come to a slow stop. And I am home, sweet home in Wisconsin Rapids. Though temps are a bit chilly compared to Iowa and Missouri! The photo above is what greeted my when I walked through the door yesterday at 12:40 p.m. (Thanks, hubby!) But then I had to work a half day and shoot and edit softball pictures. So I had no time for bloggage.

Last time we checked in it was Easter Sunday night. That evening my sisters and I decided we'd check out of our VRBO early enough on Monday that we could join a Clydesdale Tour at nearby Grant's Farm. So packed and gathered up the tons of snacks we didn't have time to eat and made our way there a little after 10 a.m.

It was amazing. Such unique history and interesting details about how and what it takes to be on the official "Budweiser Hitch." 

First of all, if you want to be the biggest guys on the hitch, you have to be 19 hands high (at the shoulder) and the others have to be 18. You see I'm a bit short of qualifying for the hitch.

The fun part was spending some up-close and personal time with a few of the horses. Raptor seemed to take a liking to my hairspray. I should tell my hair artist that the expensive hairspray she sold me does not hold up to Missouri winds (see any previous photo from this trip) or horse saliva. 

We also each got a chance to carefully groom WolfMan. And by careful I mean don't touch near his lower leg because if his foot goes up, it must come down. 

And based on this horseshoe size, we did not want a hoof connecting with our human hooves.

Got a group picture though so that was cool!

We hit the road after that with a destination of Cedar Rapids again. Since we did our side trips to Swedesburg and Hannibal on the way down, we didn't have too many pit stops to make. So we got to the "other" Rapids at 5:30 p.m. and were able to join the kids for dinner at Chili's next door at 5:45 p.m.

Although full from dinner, Carter and Mamie have a favorite frozen yogurt place that we somehow ended up at hours later. Yum!!

I left around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning so I could get home during my typical lunch hour and work a half day. Pretty much no traffic so it was a smooth "commute" home. I can tell you my alarm this morning was a rude awakening. But it was worth suffering through after such a nice long weekend with loved ones!

Tonight, though, may require an 8 p.m. bedtime just to catch up! Just gotta get through choir practice, then I'm off to bed!

Business Class Travel

I usually say traveling for work isn't as glamorous as it sounds. You are working, after all. But there are exceptions. Flying from fall weather back to summer is always good. (Even record-breaking heat!) And getting there on a private jet... even better.

It just worked out that our company has an office in the St. Louis area so we could take the "shuttle" down on Tuesday and back today. That means quick boarding.

And first-class seating... for everyone. Not like I need the space for my long legs!

But yeah. Pretty cool to get somewhere in 50 minutes versus an 8-hour drive! Definitely the way to travel, folks.

We were there for work – doing a marketing video with a customer – but it just happened the famed St. Louis Arch was on the way from the airport to their offices.  Well a view of it, anyway.  So we stopped to take some pictures,  of course!

Didn't get a chance to go up in it, but I'm not sure that would have been a thing for me and my low bravery levels anyway.

Our hotel was pretty amazing. Part of the mega train station of days gone by. Exterior and interior were beautiful.

And next to it is the brand new attraction called The Wheel – a 200 feet tall ferris wheel with 42 enclosed gondolas that literally opened the day we arrived.

Finally got brave enough to go up in it last night. I means it's part of the hotel complex so not that far back to my room to pass out from anxiety if I needed to.

Don't look down!!!!!!

No passing out. No anxiety attack. Lot of nervousness with all the stops and starts while loading, but then it was 15 minutes of trying to get a picture of the Arch in the distance, etc. It was all glass, though, and lighted inside so the 5 of us were mainly getting reflections of each other. Of course, going during the day would have offered nothing scenic really. Night lights always win out, even if it's not New York City.

Today, after a very successful trip workwise – plus a few great meals and ice cream (duh) – we "shuttled" back. 

Probably good we were leaving town when this is what was happening (or not happening) in the hotel lobby at checkout this morning. I just know all 6 on our team are present and accounted for so we are in the clear. For now, anyway.

If St. Louis doesn't let us back, at least I had my Business Class travel experience!

Tourist Attractions

Part of the fun of the mission trip was seeing new people, places and things. As a trained picture-taking scrapbooker, I did not let the fact that I was driving prohibit me from capturing these. (Don't worry, parents, I've learned to do this with both hands on the wheel!)

More from our trip...

For charging us $1.90 to drive on their roads, I found driving through Illinois was not worth that. Pretty boring so I had plenty of time to concentrate on keeping track of our pace car -- Pastor Josh's van with the personalized TX FITE plates. Yup, he's from Texas originally. He was in his glory with those 3 churches from Texas!

My first time in Missouri. Ever! Couldn't wait to see what the state had to Show Me!

St. Louis was our halfway point so it was always good to get there -- safely.

This is the church where we stayed in St. Louis. It had a wing off to the left side that included a gymnasium and a youth room (where we slept).

Actually, if you look on the map, it is technically in the suburb of Florissent. Unfortunately, that is not close to where my aunt and uncle live. If it had been 15 minutes away instead of 45-60, I would have tried to connect. As it was, I just saw them at my dad's funeral so it was different than if it had been a few years.

Downtown St. Louis coming right up!

As I previously mentioned, we did not go up in the arch. Just looked at from the outside and it was cool. I was OK with that decision!

Downtown is very cool with lots of neat architecture. Unfortunately, I only had time to take pictures out the car window as we had things to do!

We spent several hours that first night (my birthday) at the City Museum. It's hard to describe. Just a lot of really unique metal sculptures and ladders to climb and crawl on, plus caves on the inside and a museum with some St. Louis artifacts. I only had my camera phone on me but here are a few pictures so you get the idea.

Another new "adventure" was trying out new Southern traditions -- in the form of food. I already mentioned the always-present Sweet Tea yesterday. What I was most excited about was eating at my first Sonic!

Look at that selection!! Decisions... Decisions...

Yes, that is Peanut Butter & Bacon you see! On this particular pit stop, no one in our group tried it. Later on, during one of our evening stops at the one in Booneville, though, Carter and Pastor Josh both tried one! They said was OK. Not anything too weird. I tried Cheesecake and a Coconut Cream Pie one. Thumbs up to both!

This was also my first time in the state of Arkansas, too! Guess I never really had a reason to go! It does have its beauty in the Ozark region, that's for sure!

Cool road through the cut rock!

"Mountains" in the distance.

 

Our evening field trip up Mount Magazine. Beautiful view of the Ozarks. It was a bit hazy, though, so my pictures left something to be desired.

 

Our church group.

Our church group being silly.

My one hug allowed that week. Ha.

 

After the lookout, we continued on that evening to Cove Lake in the state park, where the kids swam and I schooled two pastors on the mini-golf course. Three holes in one, baby! I had the putt-putt angels on my side!

Some of our group swimming -- with Carter far right.

Oh how the girls picked on Carter some days. You know he loved every minute of it!!

One night we had a field trip to a farm... something new for all us Wisconsinites! The kids played Frisbee and football and other games before we had a devotional time.

Saw this Texas longhorn across the field! I wish he would have come closer since I did not have my good camera with the zoom with me!

Also saw a Texas unicorn!

Our treat that night was s'mores!

Yummy tasting in any area of the country!

On Wednesday night, we attended a service at a Pentecostal church. Remember, we were in the Bible Belt with a big cowboy belt buckle. Didn't see a Lutheran or Catholic church anywhere! On Thursday night, we had a community picnic. Here is some of our group enjoying their dessert.

After the picnic, we enjoyed Fourth of July fireworks at the Booneville park.

Friday morning it was back to St. Louis, where we enjoyed pizza and ice cream. Then Saturday, it was up through Illinois again. Their wind farms are kind of cool. Notice I am still following the blue van!

A truly WELCOME sign on Saturday afternoon!!

And just 2,215.9 miles later and we are home safe and sound, with much to be grateful for and many memories to cherish!