July 31, 2010

Today we decided to drive by a few local landmarks. We learned that Bonnie & Clyde’s Hideout was in Joplin. Clyde, Bonnie, Clyde’s brother Buck and his wife Blanche and 16year-old W.D. Davis stayed here for two weeks in 1933. Their stay ended in a shootout with local authorities resulting in the deaths of Officer Wes Harryman and Officer Harry McGinnis.

The City of Joplin now allows this place to be rented once a month for three days.

This truck is in front of a local tire store.

This work of art titled “Crapduster” is a manure spreader with added wings and engine.

Listed in the Carthage, Missouri Visitor’s Guide is a place called Red Oak II. The description says take a trip to yesteryear. We found a collection of buildings and machines from the 1800s through the 1930s moved or recreated by local artist Lowell Davis. Mr. Davis purchase some of these buildings from the town of Red Oak, Missouri where he spend his early years so he named his town Red Oak II.

Phillips 66 Gas Station.

Home of Belle Starr (1848-1889) known as the “Bandit Queen” because of her association with Jesse James and the Younger brothers.

Another service station.

The Red Oak Diner.

We liked this unique section of fence along the road in front of the town.

The rest of the fence was Post Rock.

This road ends at the place where Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri meet.

The National Youth Administration erected this stone marker at the three-corner intersection in 1938.

A new marker added in 2004 at the correct location allowed Char to have her foot in all three States at the same time.

Our final thought for the day is to wish my Brother Roger HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

July 30, 2010

What is 16 stories tall, weighs 11 million pounds, has a normal traveling speed of .22 miles per hour, took 52 men to build, required 150 railroad cars to ship all the parts and pieces to the job site and cost $6.5 million in 1962?

It is a Model 1850-B Electric shovel named “Big Brutus”, now retired, that was used in the coalfields of southeastern Kansas. Look at the truck parked at the base of the shovel for size comparison. This huge machine required an operating crew of three: 1 - Operator, 1 - Oiler, 1 - Groundman.

This is Char standing in the 90 cubic yard dipper.

There is a self-guided tour with 23 stopping points around and through the shovel. I made it through the first six climbing approximately 8 feet above the ground before I stopped. Char doesn’t mind the height and continued on without me.

Here she goes on her way to the operator’s cab on the left.

Char is in the operator's cab. This is as high as anyone is allowed to go. The remainder of the tour is through the inside.

This is one of the four 3 ½ inch cables that was used to lift the dipper.

This is more the size perhaps I could have climbed around on. Maybe not.

This 1928 Chevrolet Cabriolet Convertible was on display in the museum. I don’t believe it had anything to do with “Big Brutus” but it was nice to see such good automobile restoration work.

July 29, 2010

We are staying in Joplin, Missouri for a few days. There is much to see and do around here and we are taking some time to try see as much as we can.

This was our stop today. Where are we? We are in Carthage, Missouri at the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens.

This is the beautiful entrance.

This is part of the common area outside the gift shop and restaurant.

This is one of the shaded walkways on the way to the Chapel.

The Chapel.

This and the following picture are inside the Chapel.

There are 75 figures painted on the ceiling of the Chapel.

This is outside looking west at the Chapel.

This is Grandpa’s Island that Mr. Butcher built for his Grandchildren.

Thank you, Bob (my brother) for telling us to add this stop to our travels. This is wonderful testimonial of Mr. Samuel J. Butcher’s faith. And if you are a collector, this is where you will find the World’s Largest Precious Moments Gift and Christmas Shops.

July 26, 2010

Tonight Mike and Tammy took us to a local gas station in nearby Watauga for dinner. As we drove up, it sure enough looked like a gas station with pumps out front and limited parking. The main parking area is behind the building. This place is called Chef Point Café and surely is one of Ft. Worth area best-kept secrets. This cafe was featured on the Food Channel and reviewed in the New York Times. Chef Franson Nwaeze had worked for other restaurants and wanted to start his own business. He found that it was easier to obtain a loan for a gas station than a restaurant. So he bought a gas station and added a café on the side. He still sells gasoline but his main concentration is on food service. The food was excellent and the service was great. If you are ever in the Ft. Worth area be sure to stop here for a terrific meal. You can get more information at his website: http://www.chefpointcafe.org/.

Chef Franson stopped at our table as he made his rounds of the café.

July 25, 2010

When in Texas, you should go to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. We weren’t allowed to take pictures but it was a wonderful place to spend a few hours.

The handles on the front doors were interesting.

Our only souvenir was the wrapper from a water bottle.

Later we went to Log Cabin Village, Ft. Worth’s Living History Museum. Some of these log homes were constructed in the mid 1800s. They were moved and restored at this location from around the North Texas area.

The grounds and walkways are beautiful.

The crooked limbs of the pecan trees intrigued me.

If there is an animal in the area, Tammy will find it.

July 24, 2010

Today we visited the Ft. Worth Stock Yard area. We had the very large Star Burger with lots of toppings including chili at The Star Café. Because of the size and number of toppings, this definitely is a knife and fork meal.

The Star Cafe

Char enjoyed the miniature horses.

Everyone needs to try setting on a large bull.

I loved the belt drive fans in the Stockyards Hotel bar

July 17, 2010

Mike and Tammy took us to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza today. This is the place where Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Even though the assassination investigation is officially closed, many still have different theories about what happened on that day. Now after reviewing some of the news accounts, videos and the available evidence presented for this terrible day, I must admit that I am also confused about what happened or who really assassinated President Kennedy. In the end, each of us must come to our own conclusions about this assassination and determine what to believe. Although we left with more questions than when we arrived, I would still highly recommend a visit to this historic site and museum. No photography was allowed inside the museum.

As we drive toward Dallas, it was nice to finally go somewhere without a lot of traffic.

The Texas School Book Depository Building where Oswald fired shots from the sixth floor window.

The grassy knoll where some think an additional shot was fired at the President.

Char, Mike and Tammy across the street from Dealey Plaza.