Abraham Studios

MISSOURI

Deus Ex Machina
30 x 24"
acrylic on canvas
Cantrell Gallery, Little Rock, AR

	One of our first stops was Fredericktown. Founded by Alfonso's ancestors. There is a memorial in the square with the LaChance name on it. There is also a street named LaChance Street. It happens to be the street that the original jail house is on.
	After climbing to the highest point in MO, we spent an entire day at Elephant Rocks State Park, navigating through the maze of rocks. Great place for hide-and-seek!
That night, while camping in the Huzzah Conservation area (for free!), we had our first home-cooked meal, that is if you don't count the turkey and mustard sandwiches we live on! We made spaghetti over the campfire. We froze, while cooking but it was worth it for a hot meal.
When we first arrived in St. Louis, we went to the St. Louis Art Museum. Then, downtown to the Gateway Arch. We ate at Lion's Choice that night and camped in an undeveloped sub division. The next day, we went back to the Gateway arch to take a trip to the top in the little blue space capsule.
The Gateway Arch space capsules have five swivel seats. The view from the top was amazing. We also visited the St. Louis Science center. Great place to bring kids, and it's free.	At Laumeier Sculpture Park, some of the pieces were powerful due to their contrast with nature, others, held such a beautiful harmony that their presence could be easily overlooked.
We went to Hannibal, where Sam Clemens, A.K.A. Mark Twain, grew up. Although born in Florida, MO, It was memories of this small town that inspired his writing "Tom Sawyer."	The Vault Gallery, Mexico, MO
Missouri's state capital is full of art, murals and stained glass compliment the structure built of Missouri granite.	At Griff's Hamburger Bar, you can order two hamburgers, and two fries for $2.22. And a medium drink is only 99¢ extra. Not the healthiest meal, but great for our food budget of $10 a day! We both ate for a little over $3.
Kansas City is billowing with art!	Union Station, Kansas City, MO
One of the great things about Missouri is that it is full of Conservation areas where free camping is allowed.
We decided to splurge and eat at a local restaurant once a week. At Lili's Steakhouse, they serve Mexican American food. The best part was the two old men flirting with the waitress and picking on each other! It was hard not to laugh.	Visiting the George Washington Carver National Monument, we learned about a brilliant, humble man born into slavery in Missouri. He grew to be a revered artist, inventor, and teacher who's work still impacts us today.
Laura Ingalls Wilder home . . . closed for the winter.	More Than Horses can be found at: Good Girl Art Gallery, Springfield MO
	On our way out of MO, we came across a fire in the fields and went down the road to a volunteer fire dept. No one was there. Then, we called 9-1-1. There is a county wide burn-ban, but it was a controlled burn, so we weren't hero's.