Monday, July 8, 2019, Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson, MO

It was about a 53-mile drive from our campsite at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Brumley, MO, to the Missouri capital. It was not likely we would be any closer for a while so we headed to Jefferson City for the day. Our timing could have been better. Unfortunately, they were well into a restoration project on the exterior of the building so the Capitol looked more like a farm silo than the elegant seat of the state government.

Lewis and Clark, Corps of Discovery, sculpted by Sabra Tull Meyer

I'm sure when the restoration is complete it will be beautiful but today there was not much point in exploring the grounds. There were a few interesting sculptures and fountains but the warm day and humidity made it an easy decision to head indoors.

Joani's research indicated the capitol contained a lot of public art. We now know they meant murals and bronze busts on display not framed art you would find in a museum. There were, however, some very nice murals. Our tour was led by an enthusiastic docent who had lots of history behind the artwork. 

In 1911 the previous capitol was destroyed by fire. The state’s voters approved a bond issue to finance construction of the current Capitol. They were hoping to raise 3.5 million but instead raised 4.3 million. When the building was completed in 1917, it was determined the surplus (nearly 1 million) must be used on the Capitol so some of the leading artists of the day were hired to paint murals. On the second floor, a collection of 41 lunettes (arched-shaped paintings) depict Missouri’s history. Each measures about 12 feet by 6 feet.

The Father of Waters, by Frank Nuderscher 1922

The Father of Trade, by Frank Nuderscher 1922

The rotunda was nice but the lighting made it nearly impossible to do it justice in photos.

We learned the Missouri coat of arms included two grizzlies holding the shield, not because there were a lot of grizzlies in the area (there were never grizzlies in Missouri) but because someone thought they gave the impression of strength and courage. The crescent moon in the crest represented the second son. Missouri was the second state established from the Louisiana territory purchased in 1802.

Great Seal of Missouri was designed in 1822 by Judge Robert Wells

Motto Translation: "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law."

The House of Representative's lounge was originally just a plain room where legislators would take breaks. Someone had the idea to commission a mural to dress the place up a bit. With very little guidance the artist created the controversial work below. Some of the politicians were appalled at the selection of famous Missouri faces. Frank and Jesse James, mob bosses and Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.  After the tour (and after lunch) we went back in and studied it for a while on our own.

A Social History of the State of Missouri, by Thomas Hart Benton
completed in 1936, egg tempera on canvas

The most popular piece of art in the Capitol (popular today, but not in 1936 - the Representatives hated it with a passion.)

We heard our guide say Benton used 36 dozen eggs (to make the egg tempera paint in the process of painting this room, but that can not be right - 3,600 or 36,000 maybe by I can't believe 420 eggs.

The first floor of the Capitol is a museum devoted to Missouri's history.

Senate Gallery

We had fun with a guide to some of the fossils found in the Missouri limestone used throughout the Capitol. The limestone provides hints that Missouri was once covered by a warm shallow sea.

Cladochonus, Tabulated Coral on the 4th floor, in the floor across from room 406

Thursday, July 4, 2019, Move to Lake of the Ozarks, Brumley, MO

I've heard a lot of people travel on the 4th of July so it might seem a little crazy that we moved today but I think most of those travelers were in planes or on major highways. On the back roads of Missouri, we encountered very little traffic on our 150.6 mile (94,396.1 total) drive to Lake of the Ozarks State Park near Osage Beach, MO.

Our site was nice and shady. It ran downhill from the front which is not the best for leveling but we managed pretty well. What was most disconcerting was no water or sewer hookups and our reservations were for the next 15 days. We have managed in the past and there were nearby showers so we will just have to see how well we can conserve water.

Walking Sam through the plentiful grass throughout the park I noticed the telltale evidence of deer in the area. Sure enough, it was not long before we saw them in groups of three or four. They were cautious but still happy enough to graze while we watched from afar.

The mug below quickly came to mind when we saw what one fifth wheeler had to go through to level his rig. I'll try not to ever complain about having a slightly un-level site again.

David's mom gave this mug to us when we started full-timing. It is the only mug he uses - it makes us laugh when we see it come to life!

I almost wished I could have seen this operation but I'm sure I would have been cringing the entire time. I'm not really sure how I missed it he was parked straight out our front window about a hundred yards away - he must have set up while we were out. I'm not sure how soundly I could sleep precariously perched that way especially if a storm blows through!

I did witness one "near disaster" while walking Sam. A guy unhooked his trailer without chocking the wheels first. As soon as the jack raised the tongue high enough to clear the hitch the trailer started skidding down the sloped site. I was too far away to help but fortunately for him, his quick thinking wife grabbed a large rock and threw it behind a tire of the trailer stopping it before it went into the road. On the other side of the road, it was a steep downhill into the woods. That would have put a damper on their weekend plans for sure. I noticed later after he recovered, he had large rocks behind each of the trailers four wheels.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019, Moon Marble Company, Bonner Springs, KS and Ikea, Merriam, KS

Joani was researching "factory tours" while in Kansas City, MO, when she learned about the Moon Marble Company (in Bonner Springs, KS, just west of Kansas City). It was not actually a factory tour, they buy marbles in bulk for making games, but they had an artist demonstrate how he made marbles. It was really a glass firing demonstration where he started with a lump of glass and slowly formed it into a perfectly round sphere. In the process, he incorporated color and a swirling vortex to create a little work of art.

In the demonstration room, about 20 people gathered to watch the process of making a glass marble by hand. The young man gave us a running commentary and answered questions as he worked. A video camera and monitor allowed us a closer look at the action.

"Squishy" learned the craft by watching another artist. After a few years and lots of trial and error, he was making and demonstrating his work for the Moon Marble Company.

The store had so many of the classics that we recognized from our childhoods. Spirograph was one of Joani's favorites - she had this when I met her back in 1969!  

I'll be needing one of these in 7 or 8 years. Can I wait?

On the way home, we passed another museum Joani wanted to see. It was too late in the day to enter (they were closing in less than an hour) and Joani was happy to just take pictures of the beautiful building.

Museum at Prairiefire (MAP)

A mixture of stained glass and metallic tile created a dramatic facade.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO

Today we ventured to Powell Gardens in Kingsville, MO, just a little east of our park. Admission to the garden was included with our American Horticultural Society membership. The heat had broken a bit, it was only in the mid '80s with a few clouds so we decided to see how long we would last in the humidity.

The Visitors Center was designed by E. Fay Jones, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's students. You could certainly see Wright's influence in the architecture. Inside, the wide open spaces and a mix of wood and stone were very nice.

We were told an artist who worked with Legos built and installed his works around the gardens. I could have done without the giant Black Widow spider.

 Lego Garden Spider

number of bricks: 16,492

The Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel, dedicated in 1996 was also designed by E. Fay Jones. It probably was not practical in the least given the climate here but what a uniquely beautiful structure. The glare of the sun made it difficult to capture the shadow detail without overexposing the roof and sky but it was the best I could do.

 "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." ~John Muir

There were quite a few dragonflies buzzing about and one posed for me long enough to get a clear shot.

Platycodon grandiflorus, balloon flower

This frolicking bear in bronze was titled "A Roll in the Junipers" by Dan Ostermiller.

The strange "flower?" on the tree below was just crazy. I think we have seen flowers something like this before but never a full tree.

Galanthus elwesii, Giant Snowdrop

I always love it when close examination of a flower seems to reveal a bouquet of flowers within a flower.

Close Quarters, bronze sculpture by Dan Ostermiller, 1990.

The heat and humidity started slowing us down and we headed indoors for a snack and something cold to drink before we continued our exploration of the gardens.

This had to be one of the strangest flowers we have seen. One in pink and one in yellow and no identifying tags. We thought it looked more like brain coral than a flower.

Toward the barn, what appeared to be an old grain silo was actually an observation platform. Of course, we had to play with unusual framing and angles in the spiral staircase.

From the top, we had a view of the entire gardens but we were so far from everything it was difficult to grasp the scale of the enterprise. I am certain we walked more than two miles to cover all of the separate gardens. Below is one of the quilt gardens that was being replanted.

I made Joani wave at me from the top while I headed back down the stairs for this shot.

Day Lilies are one of my favorites and this ruffled yellow specimen was a prime example of the beauties that graced the gardens. 

Hemerocallis, Daylily 'Erin Lea'

Joani caught this industrious bumble bee hard at work. She was close enough to nearly bump him once or twice but he was unperturbed as he continued collecting his pollen.

I don't know how many times we glanced at the guys below and thought they were actually working in the garden before we realized they were not moving.

Lego Garden Crew

number of bricks: 76,840