A little R and R

We took off Thursday with the casita. We had reservations at the RV park on the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Show grounds. It was a lot of pleasure, mixed with a tiny bit of work trip.

On Friday we took off on a driving trip. Saw these beautiful Coleus in front of the School House Bed and Breakfast, in Rocheport. Pictures don’t do them justice; the sun was in the wrong direction. 

We drove by to see the new I-70 bridge construction over the Missouri River. Last week a worker fell from the construction site into the river. He was unhurt!

We came across Boone’s salt lick. It was a 3/8-mile hike but was very interesting to read how Daniel Boone was there in 1806. There were lots of Paw-Paw trees.

We stopped in Blackwater for lunch at Bo Bo’s tavern. Good thing we had time to kill, the train made a long stop in town. The restored depot looked to be used as an event center now.

Main Street.

We went into the Telephone museum. Someone sure needed to dust the place.

The building was very unique.

A windmill in downtown?!

One of the many beautiful old homes in town.

We walked a block off the main path to Prairie House School antiques. We had a nice visit with the owners.

The public restroom had a rather unique way of holding the door shut, an old window weight. 

The old city jail.

Another view of the Telephone building.

Every main street needs a coffee shop!

We stopped in the General store which use to be the town bank.

A small little resting area.

 

A closer view.

On Saturday, we hosted the Missouri Blacksmith Association meeting. There was a big crowd on a cold morning. It was 35 when we woke up with a light frost.

Bernie did a demonstration on making a form to make shovels. He also made a basket twist handle on a fire poker.

On Sunday we attended the Friends of Arrow Rock Festival. 

We have friends who do re-enactments there. They were melting lead for making some bullets.

Sometimes there is music at the church. Guess we weren’t there at the right time.

I always have to see the quilt show. I especially liked this Halloween quilt.

There was always someone playing music in center of town. We listened to this gentleman as we ate our lunch.

This gentleman was dying fibers. 

I like watching the sock makers, here she was using a 1924 antique sock machine. 

I remember trying to weave on a loom at Folks school. I admire their work, but it wasn’t something I wanted to stick with. 

Bernie finished the day with a funnel cake. He has on occasion made them at home.

After that we returned to load up the Casita and head home.

Life is good.

 

 

BAM and Arrow Rock the same weekend

On Saturday October 9, 2021 we hosted the BAM meeting in Boonville, at the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association grounds. Attendance was great, as was the weather. 

 It's a fantastic building.

Bernie demonstrated an 18th century candle holder. 

John was his striker!  He is always great help on anything we need at the shop.

To say we took a a few of our candleholders from the house is an under statement. We both like and appreciate the early American lighting.

The wives sat outside for good conversation and fresh air.

That evening we stayed in our Casita across the road in the show grounds camp ground. 

On Sunday morning we went to Arrow Rock, Missouri for their festival. 

Beautiful homes line the streets. 

 

One of our first stops was to see our friend Jim Duncan, the gunsmith.

Here's an interesting story. I was talking to this lady about her weaving. I told her I had taken a class at John C. Campbell Folk School on weaving and soon learned it wasn't something I wanted to do much off. She told me the Folks school was on her bucket list.

I went on to admire her loom. She tells me it's cherry wood and is some what portable as it folds nicely and fits in her car. I told her about my blogger friend who has had many looms in her time. She asked me her name and I said Karen, immediately she said her last name.  She knew her from the blog too. Read my blog post before this one and you can read more about Karen. 

Lunch time found us in the Tavern. After our main course we divided this big fried cherry pie, or as my friend Deanna calls them, a hand pie. It was delicious.

Next door we found our friends Brian and Brad in their Santa Fe traders camp. This is their new wagon they recently purchased. 

Brad lost a button on his trousers for his suspenders the night before. How, we aren't sure how as we never got the complete story. I was impressed he was sewing it on himself, even if I thought the needle was rather large!  Good job Brad!

This quilt was on display in one of the old homes we went into. It was better than any that were displayed in the quilt show in my opinion.  

This quilt was made from a Crabapple Hills Studio pattern. Bernie thought it was pretty neat, especially the old oil cans. 

It was a wonderful weekend to be out and about!

Arrow Rock 2015

We hadn't been to The Heritage Festival in Arrow Rock, Missouri since 2013. We decided to spend the day there. It felt good to play tourist, and not being a vendor for a change. 

We found Josh Rhodes turning old silverware into beautiful jewelry. We first met him at our BAM conference earlier this year. Here he shows off his dental tool, it's a pedal. Now that would be some slow drilling, ouch!

We walked up to this campground. It was fun visiting with the guys. Years ago, I mean decades, the blacksmith and I did rendezvous. We didn't go as far as the primitive camp but it still brought back lots of memories. We went to the national muzzle-loading shoots in Friendship, Indiana a couple of times. 

Here is Brad who was proudly showing off his new branding iron made by one of our blacksmith members. Good work Doug Clemons!

The streets weren't so crowded on a Sunday morning. 

Later we sat on the grass and enjoyed some good music and song. 

Across the street from where we were sitting were 2 blacksmiths demonstrating, also in our organization, Colton and Don. 

We spent the day strolling the streets and had lunch with our good friends Phil (also a blacksmith) and Margie. We treated them to lunch.  After all, it was their 46th wedding anniversary and they chose to spend it with us. Love these guys.

Don, Margie, Phil, my blacksmith, and me.

It's not often that you get three blacksmiths and 2 wives sitting in the shade. What a beautiful day it was.