T Stands for Tuesday and an Adventure (Heavy with Photos)

Good morning to my T Party friends, and to all of my other friends that stop by. Tuesday is where we gather together and share a drink related post. Find the link to our hostess Bleubeard and Elizabeth in my right hand corner.

Most of last week we spent with a friend that drove up from Georgia, about a 12 hour drive for him. We had not met him before but Hubs had conversed with him over the phone for at least 3 years now. Met through Hubs business (scope repair)  He was an interesting person, 80 plus years, healthier than any person I know, and extremley knowledgeable about so many topics. I think he was someone with a photographic memory that retains everything he reads. By the end of his stay I was mentally exhausted lol  I was happy to have met him though. Someone with the highest intregity and morals, only ate one very small meal per day so he fit in with our one meal a day at 2 pm minus the small breakfast we have and no snacks-although he did very much enjoy a small slice of my apple pie (smiles)  The plan also was for the guys to drive to Oklahoma to one of the largest in the world gun shows-where one can see so many relics and vintage pieces. There was an ice storm coming in and it was to be a very cold morning as well (one has to wait outdoors for at least an hour to get in) so I did not think that was a good idea especially for Hubs. So our friend left for home on Friday.

Saturday I began stitching down my March journal pages, when our dear friends (with the log home) stopped by. They had been gone for a couple weeks visiting family further south for Easter. and They have been wanting to go to the new Wonders of Wildlife Museum by Johnny Morris in Springfield, Mo. So we bought the tickets online and went on Sunday. The museum opens at 10 am so we had our tickets set up for that time.
    I was not really sure if Hubs could walk it but all the information online said the walk for both sections was a mile and half-well they were very wrong about that.  
    I am going to need to write to them about our experience and for anyone that has "just had enough" or has disabilities or even small children and just really needs to get out of the aquarium section. I spoke with a lady in the gift shop and she gave me a card on how to do that.
    There were no maps or literature given out before entry, I did not realize how this was set up til we got into it.  In the middle is a very huge circular tube for the aquarium that winds up to the top in three levels and then you walk down on the other side of the tube. So you are walking around in a huge spiral. I didn't realize what was happening til we got higher and saw different views of the aquarium from a different level. There also were sections all along the path of walking around the tube with many smaller exhibits and smaller interactive aquariums-for the  children they could crawl into the bottom, stand up and be in the middle of that aquarium-pretty cool. Also a little petting area of different things. They had exhibits of birds, pelicans, turtles and lots more.
     I hadn't been to an aquarium since I was a kid and visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago; so I had forgotten that the fish live in darkness and the aquarium's setup was in total darkness except for  just a few lights here and there. I held down motion sickness from the darkness, and not wanting to fall and all fish moving around me. Had not expected that.  So I really think they needed more lights on the floors and there was no way with all the people that the paths would have fit a wheel chair passing each other. and the biggest problem for us we just needed to get out of there Hubs has congestive heart failure now along with severe arthritis and after 3 hours of walking it was just too much. We asked what is the fastest way out-no elevators straight down from where ever you are-she says 30 minutes this way. ugh
   Hubs had mentioned to me today that what he loved at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago (he was brought up in Chicago) was the fact that they had allot of seating in front of the different aquariums so you can sit and just enjoy the fish-that was not the case here.

    We were not suppose to use any cameras in the aquarium area with a flash, but I did sneak in a couple photos. Not having a smart phone I never realized those take photos with no flash.

 Below photo is the back of Hubs

 These next two photos were taken at the top of the tube.

Johnny Morris always makes everything big and detailed. There was a Presidential section with photos and memorabilia of all the Presidents that enjoyed fishing. There was a huge award room of record fish caught and also walls of vintage fishing things. There was even the boat that President Bush fished in made by Johnny Morris's company Bass Pro There were also several huge boats that were on display with painted backgrounds. On the top of the spiral (above photo) they had a movie room and sold snacks.
   There was a little seating here and there along the spiral tube walk but really not set up for someone disabled.

Our original plan was to tour one section, then go to brunch at Hemingway's (inside Bass Pro) and then tour the second half which I think I would have enjoyed more-hand painted backdrops with wildlife settings. Even a young family with children visiting this museum in my opinion-- would be too much to purchase tickets for both sections for one day. I felt bad that we all spent money for both sections but only toured one.
    Hemingway restaurant is a lovely place with fabulous food. I totally forgot about taking photos to share. I think were just happy to be sitting down lol  The Sunday brunch had anything you would want for breakfast foods or lunch foods-and a huge dessert table as well. Here is their menu We had not been here since we moved down when we retired. All the food was so delicious.
   After brunch we took our friends over to the archery and NRA museum. Situated down the hall from this restaurant. Hubs and I had toured this a couple times so we walked through the archery museum with them and then the two of us found comfy chairs in the Teddy Roosevelt room and let them browse through the rest. These are both free to visit. My favorite in the NRA museum was the Lewis and Clark exhibit.
     

I took a photo of this one below because Ft Leonard Wood is named after this General and I found it interesting that he was Teddy Roosevelt's commander at one time with the rough riders The fort is about 45 minutes from where we live.

On the way to Springfield we drove through a bit of an ice storm, as we reached closer to home snow and then more snow. Where we live we had gotten at least 2 inches of snow.

   This Sunday adventure was a fun day for us as we really do not get out much any more.

  We got home late around 5:30 pm so I grabbed a work jacket and the camera and fed the wildlife.

  These three does must have been waiting up for me ha ha as they came in as soon as I was in the house.

Sunday evening I opened up this bottle of wine. Another red this one a blended red wine. Very nice and smooth-and I love the label so will be saving this one too.

Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy T Day everyone.