Christmas Shopping and Lauren Alaina!

Okay so this isn't a true St. Louis activity, but because Karen and I rarely get a chance to get together I thought I would post anyway...so enjoy! Last Saturday I drove to St. Charles to Christmas shop and to go to the 93.7 The Bull Boatload of Toys event. Shopping was fun and I had lots of fun at the radio station event...why? Well Lauren Alaina (the runner-up from American Idol) was singing!!! Poor Karen had to stand in the cold for over an hour just waiting for the show to start (Lauren's plane was late). To top it off Karen hadn't even heard Lauren's music, she was just being nice to me :) In the end I had lots of fun with Karen and I even got to take my picture with Lauren! Fun Day...stay tuned because Christina will be in town and we will definitely be getting together! 

Karen and Me waiting...in the cold..it even started snowing!

Lauren Alaina

Lauren and her band (her mom is behind the stage)

Me with Lauren!

Linn, Missouri!

This month's blog adventure brought us on an impromptu trip to the exciting cities of Linn and Jefferson City, Missouri.  Mary recently made a move and I (Karen) decided to go for a visit.

We decided to explore around Jefferson City-the capital of Missouri.

The capital building

                          

  The governor's mansion. 

We stopped at Central Dairy for a tasty treat.  It was de-lish!

 While we were wandering through Jeff City, we discovered there was an Oktoberfest (in September), so we joined in the festivities.  It wasn't too exciting, that's why there aren't any pictures.

Linn, Mizerah! 

As Mary and I were driving back through "town", she and I noticed this gentleman doing a little target shooting with his bow and arrow...in his front yard...while sitting on a folding chair.  We drove by a couple of times before Mary was able to snatch this priceless photo of him. 

Saturday night was the broadcast of the General Relief Society (the world's oldest and largest women's organization).  We were invited to the home of the Relief Society President's parent.  Her dad is a big game hunter.  I'm pretty sure the pictures will speak for themselves.  :)

  



The Lemp Mansion

Karen here.  First of all, I must say how grateful I am that Blogger finally made changes to how we can post.  It is now Karen-friendly!

OK, back to business.  Christina was in town from UT and was able to join me for August's SWWTF's adventure.  Unfortunately, circumstances didn't allow for Ms. Mary to join in the excursion with us. 

This adventure was one that we had been wanting to do for quite a while.  A couple of months ago my cousin's wife's brother offered to give away a gift certificate that he had won for a free night's stay in the Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn.  I quickly volunteered to be the recipient of the certificate.  

Before we headed to the hotel, we stopped for dinner at our favorite STL pizza joint.  Yes, we have been to Imo's before.  It's SO delicious!

Imo's Pizza (take 2)

 We also stopped for a tasty treat from McArthur's Bakery.  I don't think we took pics of what we bought.  Oops.  Just know that the treats were yummy.

The Lemp Mansion

This place has a pretty sad history.  I'll give ya the Reader's Digest version.  John Adams Lemp moved to STL from Germany.  In 1840 he decided to open a beer brewery.  It was quite successful.  In 1870 the Lemp Brewery was the largest brewery in STL.  Mr. John Lemp died a millionaire.  After John passed away, he left the brewery to his son, William.  William's favorite son and would-be heir to the Lemp dynasty, Frederick, passed away under "mysterious circumstances".  William was very distraught by the death of his son.  He ended up shooting himself in the head in one of the bedrooms in the mansion.  His son, William J. Lemp Jr. succeeded his father as president of the brewery.

The devastation continued when in 1919 Prohibition closed the brewery's doors permanently.  In 1920 William Jr.'s sister, Elsa (who was considered the wealthiest heiress in STL) committed suicide.  In 1922, the brewerey (once valued at $7 million) was sold for $588, 500.  After presiding over the sale of the brewery, William Lemp Jr. shot himself in the mansion.  William Jr.'s brother, Charles, continued to live in the house following his brother's death.  Charles was a very bitter and reclusive man .  He shot his dog and then turned the gun on himself. 

Because of the tragedies that occurred in the Lemp Mansion, it is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in America.  The Syfy TV show "Ghost Hunters" performed an investigation in the mansion.  I watched that episode.  It was creepy.

The mansion-outside.

     

 Christina almost lost her life on this hunk of concrete.

   

 The mansion-inside.

We stayed in the Charles Lemp Suite.  We had the choice of the Charles Room or the William Room.  I chose the Charles Room after watching "The Ghost Hunters".

 I secretly wanted this piano to start playing on its own accord.  It didn't and I was saddened.

 Snacks left for us by the staff.

 We decided to take a picture of our stuff just in case Charlie decided to help himself to our McArthur's Bakery treats.  He didn't and I was saddened.

 Our bathroom.

 I was slightly scared to open the shower curtain.  There was no one  in the bathtub and I was saddened.

Our bathroom was across the hall, so we had to put our flip flops on to walk over there.  And I was too lazy to take my socks off.

The owners of the mansion gave us free access to every room-with the exception of the rooms where other guests were staying.  That was pretty fun.  So, Christina and I took our little selves all over that place!  We opened every unlocked door (at times I let my imagination get the best of me and I was sure that there was someone on the other side of the closed door.  There wasn't and I was saddened).

 I think this was Elsa's room.  It was our favorite room.

  

The swanky women's bathroom.

 See anything in this next picture?

 

So, we wanted to take some pictures of us looking "frightened".  I think I looked more frightening than frightened...

           

      

  

          Success!  We officially look scared!

 Well, we came out of the mansion unscathed.  It was a fun night and one that we would not have been able to do without the generous donation of the gift certificate.