Snowfall...

We had our first snow a few weeks ago, but hardly any accumulation and it was more like sleet.

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Everyone was all bundled up at our friend's annual Deer Hunting Camp party. This is their little farm house get away home near Hermann, MO. Here you see Nova near the fire, and Kevin in the center with his big fluffy hat.

Nova was so cute; he saw the sparks flying up from the fire and he called them orange stars~

Snug as a bug in a rug~ Not really, it was pretty cold and we went back inside!

Last night we got our first REAL snow... the sparkly diamond stuff!

Nova was so excited!

This morning he woke up and I heard him say, "SNOW! The snow is still here outside!" Then he rambled on about how Christmas and Santa were coming and that he would get his "black diesel" Thomas train.

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Kevin was at work, but neither Nova nor I could hardly wait to finish breakfast and go out into the wintery wonderland~

This is the little meadow behind our home. This piece of land used to be part of our property, but the previous owners divided it before selling the house. : (

There's a creek that runs in that dip at the tree line~

This rustically charming old barn is our neighbor's.

Remember our cherry tree?

Such a wet and heavy snow~

My poor roses holding on for dear life...

Nova and his snow friend~

I was instructed on each detail, and told that we should go to the store to buy a carrot for his nose. Sorry son, I was not more snowman prepared.

He settled on a snow "hat", which he gave me a glop of snow for, lava rocks for eyes and buttons, and a broken clay pot for a mouth. He insisted Frosty have a broom, so I broke off a piece of our ornamental grass. Bad mommy... that's as good as it gets kid, lol! It seemed to placate him, so all is good!

Steamboat Arabia~

If you are fascinated with the Titanic, then you'd really like the tale of the Arabia. Though a major (and thankful) difference is that no one perished on this boat, except for a poor mule.

The Arabia was a steamboat that sunk in the Missouri River in the 1850's. It has been found all these years later, and dug up from the mud!

Many people were heading west, and the boat was loaded with 222 tons of goods for setting up general stores. Crates and barrels full of shoes, clothes, food, china, etc. were aboard.

After finding and digging up the Arabia, the owners of the museum have been able to display most of these items just as if you were walking into a general store back in time!

Just unbelievable!

Boy, I'd like to have some of those doorknobs!

Jars of canned fruit and veggies were still locked tight. If I recall correctly they did taste them, lol!

Are these buttons not adorable? When opening crate after crate, these buttons were found in the bottom of one. The cotton from which the clothing had been made had disintegrated.




I think it was over 6 years ago when we visited. We had gone to Kansas City to see my very first Titanic Exhibit!
French perfumes were also found on the Arabia, and I bought a reproduction scent that they named 1856. Only thing is, (anal as I am), the image that they used is not from that time period and it *really* bugs me! I would date this picture from the early 1900's, just before or around the Titanic period.

Please visit their website, and click on Museum Info. You'll be able to read the entire story, along with a video.

If you get a chance, you simply must visit the Arabia in person.

You'll see part of the boat, along with the tree that sank her.

I think they've added a lot more since we've been, it's time to go back!