Weston, Missouri and the Red Barn…pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins

October 10, 2014 by shelley

Weston, Missouri and the Red Barn…pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins!

Weston was at one time the second largest port on the Missouri river, surpassing both Kansas City and St. Joseph, however a flood in 1881 shifted the river into an old channel some 2 miles away. In 1850 over 265 steamboats a year docked at the Port of Weston. Weston Missouri once a large thriving town has lost much of its population but has not lost its charm. ( I posted more last year about Weston, Missouri and it’s colorful history. )

It has a quaint downtown with some fun shops and restaurants.

Downtown Weston Missouri

William Buffalo Bill Cody was at one time a resident of Weston, and the town was a major “jumping off” point for the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush.

A must do in Weston is a stop at the Red Barn to get your pumpkins (or pick some apples)! (more pictures). It is not autumn until I get my pumpkin at the Red Barn.

Pumpkins at the Red Barn in Weston Missouri

Perfect autumn day at the Red Barn in Weston, Missouri

Pumpkins at the Red Barn in Weston Missouri

Union Station Kansas City Missouri

January 30, 2014 by shelley

Vintage postcard showing Kansas City’s Union Station

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon at Kansas City’s Union Station and Science City. First stop was the old Jones Store miniature train. It was once a popular attraction at the Jones Store downtown. Riders must be under 48″ tall (approximately 5-6 years of age and under). Members to Union Station can let their kids ride for free, but it is a fairly steep ticket price of $5/ child if not. (We did not know about the ticket price until after the ride…they had not been very vigilant checking tickets until they un-boarded the train. So we felt obligated to pay the ticket price…)

Read the sign carefully…only free to members. But the kids did enjoy it.

Behind the Jones Store train the Union Station had a spectacular train exhibit in an area that is hardly noticeable unless you know it is there. Over 8,000 square feet of toy trains. From tiny N-scale model trains to the big G-scale giants of the model train world. The detail of the exhibits is something to behold! The Model Railroad Experience is a FREE admission with any Union Station ticket!

Union Station Kansas City Miniature Train Exhibit

Henry and Becca doing a rubbing at miniature train exhibit Union Station Kansas City

Science City

Named one of the country’s 25 best science centers by Parents Magazine, Science City provides over 200,000 visitors annually with an engaging environment ripe for exploration, experimentation and discovery.

Its magic starts with its location. An architectural and historic marvel, Union Station provides a venue unlike any other science center in the nation. From the moment you pass under the clock tower to your first step inside the cityscape of Science City, the experience sets the stage for making memories.

There is something for everyone at Science City.

Christmas guests start to arrive.

January 28, 2014 by shelley

My daughter Becca was the first to arrive. Not long after was my son B.J., his wife Jenn and their son Jack!

Jack comes to visit!

Jack and Bob

One fun activity was to go to the Crown Center. Jack enjoyed Santa’s Gingerbread Village. (Crown Center Shops, Level 1 Atrium.) Three locomotives travel through a Santa’s gingerbread village in the North Pole, all created by the chefs at The Westin Kansas City and Sheraton Kansas City hotels. You can see the reindeer stable, Santa’s sleigh garage, the elves’ dorm, a doll, rocking horse, and ball factory, and even Mr. & Mrs. Claus’ home.

Mayor’s Christmas Tree at the Crown Center

Santa Gingerbread Village

Jack at Santa’s Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center

We also went to Sea Life. A most enjoyable afternoon!

Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center

Jack at the Aquarium

Jack and his dad in the underwater sea tunnel

Becca and Bob at the Aquarium

And the colorful sea life at Sea Life:

A sea horse

Jellyfish

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

Can you spot the fish? They are the vertical yellow and black stripes!

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

The fish are the vertical yellow stripes.

Hallelujah…we attend Handel’s Messiah at the Kansas City Symphony

January 27, 2014 by shelley

I love the Messiah and this year we attended Handel’s Messiah performed by the Kansas City Symphony. The Independence Messiah Choir, along with the Symphony Chorus and the Kansas City Symphony made the perfect kickoff to the holiday season.

Handel’s Messiah and the Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah at the Kauffman Center

David Lockington (conductor), Joélle Harvey (soprano), Ryan Belongie (countertenor), Ross Hauck (tenor), Kevin Deas (bass), Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy (chorus director), Independence Messiah Choir

The performance was superb. My only hitch being I am a traditionalist. And even though the performance was brilliant, I prefer to have the alto part sung by an alto (not a countertenor as in this performance). The solo “a virgin shall conceive” makes more sense (to me) when sung by an alto. But I did not let it mar my enjoyment of the music and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Handel’s Messiah

Mormon Missouri Church History-sites in Missouri; Far West

July 27, 2013 by shelley

Far West, Missouri

There are several short histories of Far West (a historic site-Missouri Mormon History); Caldwell County has one, one from the LDS Church, another one from lesson manual LDS Church, one from understanding Mormonism and even one from Wikipedia.

For a Youth Conference we did a series of vignettes about the history of the early saints in Jackson County and Clay and Caldwell County. Our hope was to make the history of the early saints come to life for the youth. If you would like a copy of these vignettes about the early history of the Mormons in Missouri go here.

Today Far West is a historic site seven miles (11.26 km) south of U.S. Highway 36 on State Route D. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsmaintains a historic site there, including the cornerstones of the planned temple. Some Latter Day Saints expect that a temple will be located on this spot at some time in the future. The Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has a branch congregation that meets in Far West.

I want to share photographs of Far West as it appears today…far different than what it was in it’s prime in 1838 when it was the largest city in Missouri.

Looking south from Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Mormon Missouri History

Far West, Missouri

Picnic Area, Far West, Missouri

Looking West, Far West, Missouri

Far West, Missouri

Information on Far West, Far West, Missouri

Information Far West, Missouri

Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

Far West, Missouri, Mormon Missouri History

Community of Christ Church, Far West, Missouri

Looking West, Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

Looking North from Far West Missouri

Pulling into Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

Temple Cornerstone, NW corner, This cornerstone was laid in representation of the High Council (Quorum of the Twelve), Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Mormon Missouri History

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, NE Cornerstone representation of the Lesser Priesthood

Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Mormon Missouri History

This cornerstone was laid in representation of the High Council (Quorum of the Twelve), Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Mormon Missouri History

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

SE Cornerstone Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

SW Cornerstone, Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

SW Cornerstone Far West, Missouri, Cornerstone laid in representation of High Priesthood

SW Cornerstone, Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri, Missouri Mormon History

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missouri

Far West Temple Site, Far West, Missourist

The LDS Church recently (May 2012) purchased the Far West Burial Grounds.

Smith family tradition has it that the Hyrum Smith farmstead was across the street from the burial grounds. Pictures were taken about the time the church released the news of their purchase of the burial grounds.

Far West Cemetery, Far West, Missouri