SUMMER FUN!!!!!!

With the economy being an issue with many family plans for the summer, make the summer experience one of fun and learning.

Take a picnic lunch and drive some of the less traveled roads, viewing the very beautiful scenic farm country, stopping at a park for a picnic lunch (dig out that picnic basket in the basement). Make the trip one of fun and learning.........visit the county seats, start a photo book of pictures of county courthouses. The older ones are beautiful structures. See how many you can visit on a one day trip. Learn about the towns around you (within an hour or so drive), see what they had to offer to the history of your location. You might be surprised!!!!!!

Learning about the area that surrounds you is fun!!!!! This time of year many communities have their annual festivals.

Stay close to home and have a wonderful summer learning about our land!!!!

Have a great summer.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS

Have you thought of how many signs you see that say "Historic Downtown(giving the name)" as you travel down the Interstate? Do they make you want to immediately head towards that historic downtown? Do you wonder what is historic in that town?

I challenge you to take a pad and pen with you on your next trip down the interstate and write down the signs you see, take those names back to your home and google them. Find out what is historic about that location. Then on your next trip down the highway you might be enticed to go off the beaten path and visit that "Historic Downtown".

Enjoy the sights close to home this summer. Learn about your local history. Have a good trip!!!!

Weather and Local Farmers Markets

The recent abundance of storms and extreme rains may very well hurt the crops produced by local farmers. Therefore, hurting the availability at local Farmer's Markets. Price will also be increasing.

Driving through the agricultural areas of mid Missouri recently was like driving between swollen rivers, rain has caused some flooding in the fields.

Hopefully consumers will pay attention to these facts when they purchase from their local farmer's markets who boast of locally grown produce, much of which is not even in season yet in this area. Consumers should educate themselves on what is currently in season, and ready for harvest. A lot of the produce being offered at local farmers markets is not grown by that vendor, but trucked in from other areas, grown by someone else.

Tomorrow's post will look at some of the tourism events that can be attended close to home in this time of money crunch!!!!!!!!!

The Beginning

Today is the first posting on the blog for TREPS and Unique and Yours Weddings. It has been a busy day of working with some brides, and doing research on several topics I am writing about. My interests are in Farmers Markets, Niche Museums, and Community Events. With the economy on such rocky grounds it will be interesting to see where these ventures go.

I am very concerned about Farmers Markets and how they are turning into resell markets for many vendors. A little to risky for me, I think it is important to know who grew it, where it was grown, and what was used on it. I have been venturing out as time allows to 4 or 5 markets per week. Seeing more and more non farmers bringing in produce that is not even in season in this area.........curious concept.