Pepper's head on my lap - yes, I swear that's his head.
To show he's an actual dog and not just a stuffed toy, here he is outside the Missouri Welcome Center
Before we got out of Kansas, we noticed this sign for Chetopa and started dreaming up great recipes using both catfish and pecans. Some of them sounded pretty good, too.
First stop in Joplin was the most beautiful Welcome Center and Rest Stop I'd ever seen.
Playground
Inside
After stocking up with brochures and a few maps of the area, we headed down the highway to our first stop, Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center, a partnership project of Audubon Missouri, the City of Joplin, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Website is http://www.wildcatglades.audubon.org
First, the parking lot and some of the trees in their fall colors
Margie and Pepper
A few of the creatures inside the center
When I walked a little ways down one of the trails, a really large bright green grasshopper immediately flew onto my right arm. Since he wasn't going anywhere, I tried to take a picture. Do you know how hard it is to try and focus on your right arm and click the camera button at the same time? I finally gave up. Sure was pretty, though.
Next stop was The Candy House because I can't turn down chocolate - and they had a special coupon- "Free 1/4 pound of peanut butter fudge with a $10 purchase. They're not going to have a special gift section any longer so were selling things at half-price in that part of the store. I found some beautiful tins for Christmas presents - large ones $1.00, smaller ones $.50. That was on the top floor. On the ground floor was their candy! We bought enough to get the free fudge. I immediately put my bags in the back of the pickup (oh, what willpower!), but Margie ate a truffle or two.
By then it was way past lunch time, so we found Steak n Shake and had a delicious lunch/dinner. Margie said the restaurant is part of a chain mostly in the Midwest. Steakburger, milkshake, and two sides for only $8.00. One of their specialties is two flavors of shake in one glass, but I just got chocolate. Good stuff!
On into Carthage, leaving lots of things to see in Joplin for another time. We drove into the older part of downtown so I could take a picture of the Jasper County Courthouse. According to a brochure, "The Carthage Courthouse was constructed of stone from the Carthage Stone Company. From March 1894 to October 1895, crews operated six days a week, twenty-four hours a day in order to keep up with the demand for stone used in the courthouse and orders elsewhere." The courthouse was complete in 1895 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This picture really doesn't do it justice--there are spires at the top of all sides. However, the sun was just in the wrong place.
Margie wanted to find a Petco or Petsmart, so we drove down the main street and found one. Took Pepper inside for a treat.
Time to find the Precious Moments Chapel and Gift Store. I'm not much into that much "cute," but it sounded like a good place to visit. And it was. Beautiful things. Didn't get in the gift store because by then it was 4:45 and they closed at 5:00. However, we made a fast walk to the chapel and a woman there showed us around. Showed me how to take pictures inside without using my flash. The outside gardens and walkways are open all the time, so we left them until last.
First, my new trailer
Playground
More autumn-colored trees
Entrance
Christmas display inside
Part of an inside display
Entrance to Chapel
Inside Chapel
Detail of ceiling
More inside artwork, including stained glass
Castle and bridge outside - this is a close-up - the castle is full-sized
Part of a garden
Outside statues
Pepper plants
Lots more to see, but will have to make another trip. Time to get back on the road to Coffeyville, KS. Beautiful sunset.
This is a very beautiful area with many places to explore. Next time we're going to see the Civil War Museum, the Dorothiea B. Hoover Historical Museum, Harry S. Truman's Birthplace in Lamar, the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, the Marlin Perkins statue, and more. Hope y ou enjoyed this little trip to a very tiny part of Missouri.
