Hi everyone,
Today you are going to be blessed with some pictures from Linda when she visited the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis. This time Linda is showing us the Train and Flower Show and it is spectacular! :o)
Jeanne, here are the pictures finally! I took so many and it took a bit of time to sort it all out for you. We got there early, actually when it opened and the trains were not all running yet, but I wanted to get good pictures before people would be in the way. They had a scavenger type hunt for people to see if they could find certain things, so you had to really study everything to find them. I have a few things here, characters from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, that are different from the people in the scenes. Maybe some can find them!
Love to you,
Linda
Remember, if you click on the pictures they will enlarge.
Jeanne, here is the end! In this set, I show a farmhouse, and then a picture of a different variety of poinsettia, a round leaf one, called a Mouse Ear Poinsettia and then there is a picture of a speckled variety. I thought they were interesting! Then two pictures of an old-fashioned Christmas tree, one is an overall shot and one a close up of the tree ornaments. I like the idea of a doily and lavender inside of it!
I hope this all works out!
It did Linda! Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures. They just might be my favorite ones ever. I love looking at all the little details in the buildings and how they have them set up. I bet Barbara is going to LOVE looking at these since she sets up her Christmas houses…
Love, good luck, and prayers today,
Linda
I hope to see everyone Monday… with good news and more pictures from other Sofa Sisters!
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m glad you were able to get these in one set, Jeanne! I am sorry that I seem to have included two scenes that are almost identical, the ones where you get an overall picture of the room, but it was a lot of fun going through everything, and seeing all the ways the different houses and buildings were set up. I certainly didn’t include everything, so I had to pick and choose.
Just a hint, there are two pictures with Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer characters in there, not Rudolph himself, but people. Can you find them?
We go every year, and it is open through the holidays, and very popular with young and old alike. The flowers are beautiful and the trains are fun for the children.
Thank you for showing them!
Linda, thank you for sharing all of these photos, I really enjoyed them.
Thank you, Rosemary!
Dear Linda, thank you for the tour of the Botanical Garden. I always like to see train settings with little villages. It is a wonderful tradition, you have, of visiting this lovely garden. Thanks for taking us along.
I was happy to “take all of you along,” Dorothy! Wish all of the sofa sisters could have gone in person together! They have a lovely restaurant on the premises and gift shop too, so we could have spent a good portion of the day together!
Linda, my sons have left, (sniff) and I have had time after lunch to watch your wonderful photos carefully. I did see two little boys I recognized. I love the houses, people, train, little people, Oh, just all of it. Thank you so much, you and Jeanne, for so much fun to see.
I am worn out for getting ready for the Oyster roast and the company. I am resting this aft. and enjoying your photos.
Thank you Sissy! So glad you had the time to check it out and enjoy it! I hope you get the rest you need so that you can enjoy your oyster roast and company! In fact, you will have all weekend to look at the pictures, so no rush!
Thank you for sharing all the wonderful pictures, Linda! I especially enjoyed seeing the various buildings of the “village” around which the train runs.
And, yes, I found both Santa and Hermey the Elf, and also Charlie-in-the-Box (from the Misfit Toys–look at the 4th picture!), all from the 1964 version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”! (I have to confess, I had to check some internet sources to determine that last one! But he looked familiar.)
Barbara, yesterday you mentioned walking with your walker for exercise; I haven’t done that per se, but have been using mine more than usual the past couple of weeks. Even when I go to church, I’m using it to get there and back to my car, as my foot and knee still aren’t great yet, and I walk much faster and am more sure-footed with it. I’m planning to bring it to the church dinner Saturday, too, as then I can put my plate on it as I go thru the line, and won’t have to try to balance it while using a cane.
Great idea about using the walker to go through the food line. I love the fact mine has a seat. When I walk at the park I walk half way and then sit and watch the ducks on the lake for awhile then finish up. That way it just looks like I’m stopping to watch the ducks (as a lady who was walking asked me the other day) LOL.
Yes, Charlotte, I forgot about the third character, and you found him! Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope these pictures bring some cheer to you this holiday season, and that you are once again walking on your own power!
These are wonderful. As usual with Linda’s pictures, they are full of nice details, like the woody station wagon and the pickup with the tree in the back. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Marilyn! Yes, I guessed it was you! I too love the realistic looking cars and trucks! I wish sometime I could magically shrink enough to get into those happy scenes from long ago!
I’ve often wished I could shrink and get into my Christmas village. I used to kneel on the floor and look between the buildings and it was almost like being there. If I could only find a way to animate it.
Friday again. What a week for all of us! 🥰
Jeanne, I hope all is going well with You and George and Reuben.
You remain in my prayers.
Linda, thank you so much for sharing these photos, I just love Christmas Garden shows. This one is just beautiful. I love all of the houses! and every detail. I love the train.
When I was a little girl in the Netherlands, we went yearly and sometimes more often to Madurodam in the Hague.
Missouri botanical Garden made an excellent effort here, just stunning.
I am sure this visit is now a great memory for you, well, it is, even in photos, for me. I love it.\
I hope everyone enjoys a nice week-end.
gosh time flies. I am feeling 100% better from my cold 🥳🥳🥳
How lucky for you to have gone to those flower shows overseas, Rosemary! They actually have five or six huge trains going around the flowers, but we got there early to be able to get good pictures before they all ran, so they weren’t as many trains in the pictures as I would have liked.
So glad you feel better!
Good news on the cold! Happy weekend. 🙂
Linda, I went through your lovely photo quickly and as soon as my sons leave later to day I will have a great time enlarging them and studying it all.
Thank you so much.
No rush, Sissy! They will be here when you are free to see them! You are welcome!
Dear Jeanne, wishing you blessings and peace for this weekend. Prayers continue.
I must be losing it, but in my barely awake mode, when I heard train and flower show, I was thinking that there would be well, trains. Big trains. Surprise, smaller versions. Of course. Just sleepy here. The photos are wonderful and the trains must be so exciting for kids and adults to see running. Is there a train enthusiast group that puts on the show? So many great details with the train sized houses decorated for the holidays and just everyday life. So refreshing. I think that there must be a connection between train people and doll people! Maybe if other person was into trains he would be more understanding. 🙂 And the flowers. Oh my. So lovely. Those mouse eared poinsettias are spectacular. Wow! I haven’t even looked for the Rudolph guys yet. I’ll do that later when I can focus better. What an amazing display. Can’t thank you enough, Linda, for taking the time to photograph the displays for us. Really lifts my spirits. 🙂
Well, here, there was a long awaited doll delivery from France. I’d been tracking the delivery and it continued saying delivery Monday, so I didn’t check in. Later yesterday, I happened to check the delivery again and horrors, it said today! Well, yesterday. But, when the arrival window had passed, I returned to looking at now flooring, and zoned out. Later, I thought I heard something so looked out the bedroom window. There was a doll box standing on the front mat. Yikes! Moved into action. Other person was on the couch napping, oh so close to that door. I presume that he did not hear anything. And fortunately the Fedex guy did not knock. So, just feet away from the sleeper, I quietly opened the door and stepped outside. I moved the box and put it behind the bench. At least if other person decided to step outside he wouldn’t see it right away. Didn’t want to chance it by bringing the box inside right by other person. So, returned quietly inside and went back to checking out flooring. Later, as other person was now awake, I gave him the name of some flooring to check out so he went into the office and turned on the computer. That was perfect timing, so I quietly opened the door, removed the package from behind the bench, stepped back inside and locked the door. Package in hand, off I traveled, not by train, to the depths of the family room and the secret hiding place. I’m determined today to open the box and check out my latest, little Zoe, from France. 🙂
Thanks Linda and Jeanne for sharing the wonderful photos today. I hope everyone has a stressless weekend and that we hear miraculously good news on Monday.
Joy, congrats on another doll to join your family! We will be waiting to see her!
The train and flower show are put on by the Garden every year, and while they own the trains, they have volunteers set up everything. They do a wonderful job and it is so fun to see at this time of the year! As you can see it is inside, which makes it so much better and more comfortable. The plantings are wonderful, and so many different varieties that still are perfect for a Christmas setting.
If I lived in the area I sure would volunteer to help set up this wonderful train exhibit. It would be fun to do it with others who have the same interest. Here I’m pretty much on my own. I get help bringing in the boxes but when empty I can take them out myself. With the exception of Sean helping me arrange the table and plugging in the cords I’m on my own. I thought I would get some help from the grandkids when they were homeschooled but they both wanted to go back to regular school this year so no help there.
So now Barbara, we would love to see your Dept. 56 layout! I think you did send a couple of pictures several years ago, but there are so. A y new people now reading the blog, and they would love to see it too, not to mention tion the ones who have!
I ordered a couple new pieces so I will take pictures again this year. One of them is a Doll Shop and I ordered the two little girl figurines with their dolls for outside the shop. Couldn’t resist those. Not sure where I’ll put them but I see my park diminishing in size as more and more buildings come to town. I’ve already got the biggest table (with the leaves) that will fit in the dining room. I would love to do a moving train. When I was growing up we had a train underneath the Christmas tree. Right now I have a depot but my train is stationary.
Congratulations on another successful episode of “Dolls of our Lives”. Or maybe it should be called “All Joy’s Children”. I’m not much better at keeping up with new dolls then I was when I was a child and knew I couldn’t have it anyway. So, pictures please.
Dear Barbara, I love that title, “The Dolls of Our Lives.” I see that I am not the only one who names things (smile).
Dear Joy, another successful caper! The Impossible Missions Force would be so proud of you.
Thanks everyone on my doll caper. I have no excuse on getting some pics of my latest girls and boy, because we have no rain expected this next week. 🙂 Yay
And another “impossible mission” is in the books!! Yay!
Linda and Jeanne thank you so much for sharing. The photos are so interesting, I can’t imagine the work to set it all up. I’ve seen displays where they are permanent but this are so beautiful with all the flowers and Christmas things and the houses are like miniature dollhouses. I really really enjoyed it. Thanks again.
Joy, kudos for another successful dolly retrieval, send pictures ok?
Take care all.
Thank you Dorothy! Yes, these houses and buildings are the size of regular dollhouses, not really the size of things like Dept. 56 or Lemax villages. They are incredibly detailed and so worth the time to see! Thank yu for your kind comments!
just checking
Yay it worked, thanks Jeanne
Of course I didn’t save the comment yesterday that disappeared!
Linda, I love your photos, I absolutely love model trains that are set up in landscapes! When the children were small we used to go to the model train exhibition and Jono was fascinated. Also when they were younger we used to go to the Grotto every Christmas. They stopped for a few years then came back last year and we took Sam’s friend with her little boy and Kai came as well and enjoyed the nostalgia. I am not sure if it will be on again, the couple who used to do it are getting on now. I am not sure if I ever sent the photos to Jeanne.
Rosemary I am glad your cold is getting better, they make us so miserable for a while.
Joy, your dolly capers are always so much fun to read, I love them
It is Saturday here and Sam is going to the unit to do some sorting and to bring back suitcases for Jono and Kai. They are off to Australia for a month next week.
Have a great day everyone.
So good to see that you are back, Anne! There is just something about trains and Christmas together! You were lucky to see the ones you did, as were your children and grandchildren. The flowers really do add to the overall show, so there is something for everyone!
Thank you for the compliments!
There used to be a wonderful train exhibit in PA called Roadside America. It covered the country from coast to coast showing life from pioneer days till present. I went there once as a child and then twice with my children. We went while visiting my mother in DE. Sadly the children of the man who developed it over many years did not want to deal with it any longer. Times have changed and upkeep and costs have increased so much not to mention the insurance required for something like this. Things were definitely much simpler when his dad began his beloved project in 1935.
Dear Barbara, I loved Roadside America! I was so sad to see that it closed so the future generations could not see how special it was.
Thanks on my latest dolly acquisition. She is adorable. 🙂
These pictures are wonderful. I know I will be looking at them again and again. So many different scenarios. The one with mansions next to the railroad kind of reminds me of Main Line Philadelphia. Since the men took the train into Philly each day for work, many of the wealthy built luxurious homes along the railroad line for easy access. If you came from Main Line Philadelphia everyone was pretty sure you came from money. We had a next-door neighbor that grew up there, married a wonderful, amazing man but he was not of her class. Hence being my next-door neighbor. As a young girl I was totally impressed to hear that she was once a debutante.
The other displays are amazing too. So much beauty. How blessed Linda is to be able to visit often.
Thanks so much Linda and Jeanne for sharing these wonderful photos.
You sure do know me Jeanne. I was over the moon looking at these pictures and sure wished I could see it in person. Wish hubby were more into traveling these days. I would love to come see this and for us it’s not really that far away. In the past we would jump in the car and go. I would love to be in Branson during Christmas time, but we haven’t made that yet either.
I mentioned in my one comment above that I wished I could animate my village. It reminded me of a question I’ve been wanting to ask my Sofa Sisters. Have y’all seen the animated doll pictures that have been on Facebook? They say it’s easy to do but I ‘haven’t tried it yet. Seeing the dolls come alive is interesting. They are only five second videos but they are cute.
Continued prayers for you and your family Jeanne.
Thank you, Barbara! Yes, it is fun to see the different villages and city scapes along the train tracks, that seem to mirror real life! The houses and buildings are are fairly large, and the people give them life with so many different activities. This is a must do thing for us each year, and was so much fun when we brought our little grandson to see it. That little boy is now 14 today, so it has been going on for some time. In the spring they will have the annual Orchid Show, which we go to also.
We have been to Branson several times during the Christmas season, and it was spectacular! Each hear gets better and better, but this year we won’t be going, too much going on here, and besides, we aren’t getting any younger!
Barbara, I have seen the animated doll pictures that many are doing now. Quite amazing to me and very realistic. Especially, if they are singing or talking. Perhaps, when I get my new computer set up, I should try. Hopefully, there is a YouTube video on how to do it. 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful photos, Linda. I just got home from visiting with my dad so will have to look at them later.
You are welcome, Laura! You have all weekend, so don’t rush it!
Hi Jeanne
After reading about little Ruben yesterday, I wanted to say how sorry I was! As it happened, I just couldn’t start writing as my eyes were filled with tears and they just wouldn’t stop coming. I read some of the stories and started thinking about Madison, my little orange pumpkin butt (our last kitty) and then that made me think about my son’s kitty who fell from a tree last month. Sadly, her issues were exactly the same as what Ruben is experiencing. The medicine that the vet prescribed didn’t help. Two days later they had to put her to sleep as she was suffering so much… then I started reading more which got me spiraling. I haven’t wanted to talk about this but October 15th I lost my father and then 13 days later I lost my mother. Everything happened very fast it was a whirlwind of doctor visits hospital stays, a fall which resulted in a broken hip, issues with his liver/bile duct, a brain bleed, cancer markers in his blood, black stool which indicated an upper GI bleed and after all was said and done dad came home with Hospice Care. He was here at our home for less than 24 hours. Unable to keep pain med down he had to be moved to Hospice House at Niagara Hospice here in Lockport. He was there for 14 days only able to drink a tiny bit. I was working on bringing mom home from the nursing home she was staying at. Dad died on Wednesday, and I was finally able to bring mom home two days later. She also came home with Hospice. What an awesome organization! They were there for us whenever we had a concern. Mom’s nurse was absolutely wonderful! We never told mom that dad had passed. We were worried what that news might do to her. She seemed happy to be home. Her sister was here visiting from Nebraska. Mom seemed to be doing so much better here at home ie, eating and drinking better. October 23rd mom suddenly wasn’t able to swallow without choking. Her medicines were changed from pill form to liquid, but she stopped eating then stopped drinking and finally she went to be with Jesus October 28th. I’ve always tried to be uplifting when commenting so I struggled whether to write about my loss. Then yesterday after reading the blog and comments I felt maybe I would share. It’s certainly not happy news like smuggling in another new doll (congrats Joy!) But it’s been the reason I’ve been absent for quite a while. It’s so strange but now I have so much time on my hands and all I feel is sad. Hopefully the blues will pass sooner than later!
Linda, thank you sharing your visit to the botanical garden. What a lovely job they do and how lucky you are to visit so often! Hopefully my comment didn’t spoil the good vibes your beautiful photos brought.
Prayers going out for Ruben, Jeanne and George for a good outcome.
Hugs
Ingrid
It’s good to see you back on the list, Ingrid. Let me again express my deepest sympathy on your double loss. That has to be so hard! I lost my parents some years ago, but it was two years apart, and that was hard enough. I can only imagine how you must be hurting right now. May God comfort you at this time. hugs, Charlotte
We always enjoy hearing from our Sofa Sisters no matter what. When we know there is sadness on the sofa we can offer prayers and comfort. As they say in Scotland, “tea and sympathy”. I have a friend in Scotland I often dump my worst on and we pretend to be sharing a cuppa in the company of each other. It’s kind of like that on the sofa. We can’t be physically present so we do the next best thing. We offer comfort through words, virtual hugs and lots of prayer. So right now I’m praying that you, Ingrid, can stay strong through all you’ve been through so recently. Many on the sofa have been through something similar and can truly offer their comfort. Whatever happens don’t be afraid to come sit on the sofa and share. We’re always here for you.
Dear Ingrid, I am so sorry for your losses. I will add your family to my prayer list. I am sending blessings your way.
Oh Ingrid, how very sorry I am to hear your news! Yes, you have been missed, and I wondered where you were. My goodness, what a sad time for you, losing both of your parents so quickly and all the trials you have before their passing. You certainly are the good daughter!
Thank you for the compliments, and I hope I brought a smile on your face and a smile on your face to see my pictures.