Tour of Missouri: Watkins Woolen Mill Reprise

We first visited Watkins Mill this spring for our first camping trip of the season. It was a quick trip and we did not have enough time to explore the entire park, so we looked forward to returning. We visited the same park over the July 4th weekend.

We enjoyed a sunny mild day on July 4th. We biked five miles around the lake, gave The Short Chic a bike riding lesson (she can't bike The Katy Trail if she does not know how to bike), and enjoyed the company of our friends. Saturday, July 5th was cloudy and rainy. The Boy was able to spend a few days with us before he left for a summer vacation with his dad. So, we headed out to expose him to some history before he left. The Short Chic has to bring Elsa with us everywhere we go.

We visited the Visitor Center and learned about the Watkins family and their farm and mill. We chose to do the self guided tour but guide tours were available as well.

The rain passed over us as we were in the Visitor Center.

During the summer months at Watkins Mill volunteers participate in a living history program. As part of this program, as we approached the Watkins family home we were met with young people wearing turn of the century clothing and playing turn of the century games: croquet, ring toss, and stilts. The girls partook in a quick game of croquet on the front lawn.

The grounds were beautiful and fresh after the rain. The volunteers had been cooking up lunch in the summer kitchen. Just the smell of the freshly baked food made The Boy hungry. Well, I am not sure what doesn't make The Boy hungry these days!

The Watkins farm still grows a heritage garden each year using seeds collected year after year just the way The Watkin's family did. We enjoyed walking around the garden and enjoying seeing many varieties of fruits, veggies, and herbs. Not since my Grandma Cooper's garden have I seen such a wonderful garden!

Not only are there plants at the Watkins family farm but there is also animals. The kids enjoyed talking to the turkey and chickens. There are beehives on property but they are replica's of the ones used by the Watkin's family.

Many artifacts have been replicated or maintained. It really is a very pretty place to walk through.

Besides the farm house, the Woolen Mill has been restored. The windows were very unique and looked wavy. We were able to walk around and peek into the windows. Our friend Allen told us his family actually has some blankets that were made at this very mill a long time ago.

Of course a woolen mill needs wool. On grounds of the property are sheep.

The camping at Watkins Mill is actually very nice. We highly recommend making your reservations early and camping in the cul de sac. Take a ride around the lake. Then go explore the farm and mill.

Missouri Miles Completed This Year: 98.
State Parks Visited this year: 6 (We have spent the night at 3. This one does not count as it is a repeat)
Miles of Biking This Year: 89.75

My Weekend Project: A PVC Camping Lamp Post and Flag Holder

I have seen a few of these around campsites and I knew I would like to have one. The only problem that I had is The Husband. He already thinks we drag too much stuff with us when we go camping and if I had told him my desire to have a PVC Camping Light Pole he would have shut it down quickly! So, that leaves a girl with only one choice: Figure out how to do it by herself. I did some internet searching and found a few road maps on RV forums. They seemed easy enough! I visited the local hardware store for the supplies: An exterior post lantern light 2 inch PVC pipe (I used 5 feet but had to purchase a 10 foot piece) A 3 inch toilet flange A 3 inch to 2 inch Reducer PVC Glue A 12 foot electric cord kit 2 - 3/4 inch PVC Caps I also used a few supplies we already had on hand: White Spray Paint 3 1/2 foot - 3/4 inch PVC Pipe Drill Bits (1 inch and 1/2 inch) Tent Stakes The first step was preparing the lantern light. I could only find black i

Tonsillectomy (Warning Photos!)

The Short Chic came down with a pretty nasty case of strep throat back in April. So, when The Boy started complaining about his throat hurting about 12 days later, I was pretty confident that he had inherited his sister's strep. Instead, The Boy was diagnosed with a peritonsillar abscess growing on his right tonsil. We had to immediately see an ENT Physician who took a needle and drained the abscess. He removed about 5.5 cc of puss from The Boys throat.and then told us that once you have a peritonsillar abscess you were high risk to keep getting them. The Boy's tonsils were now compromised and needed to be removed. We were told to plan for a two week recovery so we worked a surgery into our summer plans. Between family vacations, summer sports, and the beginning of school The Boy had his second surgery. A tonsillectomy. Pre-surgery prepping went well. It must be nice to be young and have healthy veins for an IV! The Boy had lots of pre-surgery visitors. My

Liver Cheese: A Family Tradition

Today is an anniversary date. One of those dates you wish you did not have to remember but there is no way you can forget. Fifteen years ago today,two days after his birthday, my father died of lung cancer. He was a lifelong smoker and his cancer was aggressive. His battle was short. He fought for six short months after his diagnosis. He knew the chemo was not working and that his time was limited. When he came to this realization he became the best dad in the world. In the days before my father's passing, my family shared some memorable moments. One of those moments centers around the deli meat: Liver Cheese.I would not be surprised if you have never heard of it, or even never tasted it. But I was raised on it as it was one of my Dad's favorite things. What is it? Well, it is a German food that is actually called Leberkase. It is bacon, corned beef, pork, and onion that is ground together and baked. It comes with a

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