A Year of Gratitude - Leaving Arkansas for Missouri

Good morning.

A huge thank you to everyone who is enjoying my latest theme of

"Mugs and Memories"

I have tons to share today so without further ado will take you back to

our last stop in Arkansas,

Eureka Springs.

I have had several comments and emails from those of you lucky enough

to have journeyed to this charming, "quirky" beautiful Victorian Town.

I simply fell in love with Eureka Springs.

The hilly streets, Victorian romance, artistic ambiance

and even the "quirky" impromptu music such as below

charmed and delighted me.

Hubby said if an actual town could capture me, it would be Eureka Springs.

We also took the way too short train ride.

On our way to short stay.

Sadly, a few years ago, my first laptop crashed and I lost tons of pictures.

Yup, I learned all about "backing up" from that experience.

Hence, there the train ride and tons of other Eureka Springs photos are gone forever.

Photos may be gone, but not the awesome memories hubby and I share.

In 2004 we celebrated our 10th wonderful year of marriage.

We wanted to renew our wedding vows since I never "heard" them

when we were married due to my sudden deafness in 1986 before I met

my precious Terry.

It seemed impossible getting the entire family available in one place at one time

to do a renewal ceremony.

I had researched the stunning Thornwood Chapel, in Eureka Springs

and we decided that we would renew our wedding vows together

privately.

I simply cannot describe the fullness of the Lord's presence as the

clearing in the woods opened just enough to have the chapel come into view.

It was a "chapel of my dreams" surrounded by nature.

We took photo and we waited as large group of tourists

were equally stunned by the beauty and wonder of this chapel.

Then, as if the Lord, gave us our own special anniversary celebration

the chapel emptied and we saw in the pew, alone and holding hands repeated

our wedding vow to each other.

Of course we were crying knowing this time I heard it all.

We were able to share our story with the gracious attendant who was concerned with our tears

and offered help when we were leaving.

Of course, once she heard our story, she was smiling through her own tears.

Tears of joys.

How Great Thou Art!

I really hate to rush out of the chapel like this.......

let me suggest if you are in the area of Eureka Springs and have not seen this

chapel, you take the opportunity.

The peace and serenity both outside on the path and inside the chapel itself

is a gift well worth the time to pursue, if possible.

Welcome to Missouri!

I so love to research as we plan a trip.

Loving hubby's German roots, I was enchanted by Hermann, MO.

Isn't this just the most charming view of Hermann, nestled along the bank of the Missouri River?

I actually took this from our balcony at the B&B we stayed in.

 This is the Hermann Hill Vinyard Inn

that sits overlooking the beautifully valley and town of Hermann.

The is "Gracie" I believe.  Or could be "Fred".

Such likable, friendly dogs who "beg" for dogie treats that are actually left in the guest rooms

if one desires to treat the "kids" on your way out.

Yup, we always used all our "treats" us, spoiling Gracie and Fred.

 Looking from the back of the Inn surrounded by the Norton grape vineyards.

You can see the balconies that have a fantastic view.

This was part of our beautiful room with the fireplace.

This was actually the first night when we arrived.

The owners are beyond gracious and you feel like old friends.

A tray of wine and snacks were sent to our room just after we checked in.

Hopefully if you look very carefully you can see the twinkling lights of Hermann

from the window.

Having breakfast one morning looking out to the vineyard.

Looks yummy doesn't it?

It was so good!

We happened to have a bottle we "saved" just for the memories!

Oh yes, hubby wants to make sure I tell you about the "little speciality" he so loved!

Each evening at 9pm a silver tray with warm shortbread cookies and a small silver dish
of incredibly rich vanilla ice cream dribbled with Hermann Hill's Port chocolate raspberry sauce
was delivered to our door.
They would knock to alert you and then graciously leave the tray outside your door.

Should I tell you that starting at 8:55, hubby was checking the hallway each night?

We stayed for three nights and the last night they were a bit later than usual and

hubby thought he was not getting his treat that night!

Goodness he was a silly as "Gracie and Fred" with this huge big little boy grin when

when the knock came on the door and he brought in our tray!

BTW, did I mention this entire trip was a gift to each other for 10 years?
It was a huge road trip packed into just shy of 3 weeks.
Way too much to do in such a short time because we fell in love with so many
beautiful areas we had never seen.
(yup we did go back to some of them a few years later)

We actually took 3 BIG trips before I retired.
This one, Colorado so I could see the Rockies, Sedona, Az.

Alright, to close today's blog on Missouri I thought I would give you a
sample of the beautiful Missouri sunrise,
so different from Florida's, but equally stunning and a work of the Lord.

 Just getting light, through the fog.

Here comes the sun.

 

 

A brand new day!

I am so thankful for each new day I am given.

 

Although through the fog, this is one of my special pictures/memories of sitting on

our balcony and looking down to this oh so peaceful beautiful German town.

 

Oh dear, almost forgot to show you the grapes growing right under the balcony.

I took this shooting downward through the cracks in the wooden balcony floor!

Seriously!

 

Fred guarding the grapes as seen from our balcony.

I mentioned that I collect hand painted rose plates and serving pieces

of

RS Prussia or RS Germany

I inherited beautiful dessert plates from my great, great grandmother

from Bavaria.

Once I married Terry, I found the RS line of hand painted serving pieces to match.

We went shopping in Hermann and hubby found this gorgeous serving dish

to add to my collect.

I use this for display only, I love it so much do not want food to stain it.

My plates, I only use for cookies and such with doilies.

Since Terry's family's is German and Hungarian descent

and was not able to save any heritage pieces

I feel like finding these together is building our own little collection.

Wow, this was a long post!

So wanted to share our memories of this trip.

Please join me again on Monday as we stop briefly in Illinois (side trip) and on to

another lovely B&B and meet my cousin in Lake Geneva, WI

Have a beautiful, peaceful weekend.

From my heart to yours, may your day and weekend be blessed.

Lynn