HARD WORK U, A REVISIT

After our delicious meal last year at Dobyn’s Restaurant in the Keeter Center on the campus of the College of the Ozarks, aka: Hard Work U we were determined to go back this trip. 

This time we did not make reservations, and were lucky enough to be seated immediately.  I guess it was because it was finally sunny, at least for a while and the vacationers were all in Silver Dollar City.

The copper ceilings were gleaming, and the seating was just as rustic as before. 

The view out the large windows was gorgeous.  We had hoped to walk out on that balcony to take some photos of the scenery, but they were seating diners out there and we felt it would be rude to interrupt their meals to take photos.  Oh well, guess we’ll just have to go back another time.

The food and service was just as wonderful as it was last trip.    They once again started the meal with the fresh made rolls and cranberry biscuits,

 fresh butter and made on campus apple butter.

Using the copper clad menu we were offered we chose different meals to see if everything was equally as good. 

 You can also view the menu prior to arrival by visiting the website. We were not disappointed.  Gary had the pot roast.  

And I had the comfort food of all time, BBQ Mac n Cheese, complete with freshly made pasta and smoked gouda cheese sauce. so good!

Once again my meal was so huge I took over half of it back to the camper and ate off of it for two more meals. 

When dessert time rolled around Gary choose the chocolate cobbler a la mode, choosing salted caramel ice cream for the topping.

 I had the Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding again. I was mildly surprised when it came out plated different and with no whipped cream, but it was still as delicious as I remembered.  Once again I took half of it back to our home on wheels, where I added whipped topping when I ate it for dessert the next night.

The price for the meal ran real close to what it did last fall when we were there and we still felt the luxury of the meal for this one time was worth it.

After our meal we went down to Honor Lake there on campus to watch the swans and ducks.  With all the various water fowl we have raised and ooed and ahhhed at in zoos we had never seen cygnets (baby swans).  These little guys were still at the downy stage and not the least bit afraid of us, Mama didn’t seem the least bit concerned humans were near her young as she preened on the island in the middle of the lake. The cygnets even seemed to be posing for us as we snapped photo after photo.

There is also a display of students of honor at the park

After enjoying the birds and the coolness of the breeze and shade we went on up to the Ralph Foster Museum, before everything started closing on the campus.  There was so much more to see we decided we needed yet another day on campus and went back the Tuesday after Memorial Day to finish up the museum thanks to the generosity of a gentleman (see post on the museum to learn about this). Visit the one room Star School and take photos at Look Out Point. While there we also went to the 911 Memorial and the Missouri Viet NamVeteran Memorial before we once again ran out of time, with still more left to see.

Oh well, I guess our next visit we’ll have to finish the grounds and perhaps have another yummy lunch?

This is running too long, so instead of including the descriptions of the museum and memorials here click on the links to be taken to the separate posts on them.

Jan who enjoys exploring places at a slow easy pace with a camera in hand traveling all over the USA.

“LEST WE FORGET”

There are two memorials to brave men and women on the campus of the College of the Ozarks, both can be very moving.  The first we visited was the 911 “Lest we Forget” memorial.

We all remember where we were on 9/11.  We sat as a nation stunned in the horror of the loss of the 2,996 lives on that day.  We were all forever changed by the horror.

37 of those lost were the Port Authority Officers.  The column and flanges in this memorial are from the rubble of the World Trade Center.  It is called “St. Michael’s 37” in honor of those 37 and because the column and flanges resemble the body and wings of an angel. 

This memorial is next to the fire station on campus, which seems very appropriate in honor of those firefighters who risk their own lives.

After we visited this memorial we exited the campus to drive directly into the Missouri Viet Nam Veterans Memorial.

We had driven by this section a few times before, but never stopped.  At Dobyns Restaurant when we ate they had a smaller memorial in honor of Memorial Day.  We decided then and there we were stopping at the memorial on our way out.

It is a loving tribute to those who gave their lives in Viet Nam that had lived in Missouri.  From the inspirational inscriptions

 to the “Wall” with the names of the 1,410 Missourians that lost their lives in the conflict, flanking each side of a beautiful statue that represents all those who fought, 

To the paving stones family members have purchased in the center of the exhibit

To the observation benches that you can rest and contemplate on it was all beautifully done. 

Just past the walls of the memorial is Veterans Grove.  It was dedicated by President George W. Bush on his April 2011 visit to the campus.  There are over 100 sugar maple trees that were planted to honor the veterans who have traveled with college of the Ozark Students to the various historic sites of many historical war sites as I mentioned in my post on the Ralph Foster Museum visit.

Beside each tree is a bronze marker with the veterans name and branch of the service.

All in all these free silent memorials remind us of those who came before us to fight for our nation and sadly those that will go after us for the same reason.

Jan who feels blessed to live in such a great nation