Liberty, candle party... and snow!! :-)

Although the photo above was taken in the evening, I'm putting it up top because today we got our first snowfall! Not just flurries, but real snow! The word magical doesn't even come close.

But, starting from the beginning.

Emily worked this morning so I was left to my own devices. I made oatmeal for breakfast, my new favourite thing is Irish steel cut oats. They are deliciously nutty, a little chewy and far more flavoursome than the Uncle Toby's oats that I get back home.Em came home at lunch and collected me and we went to the gym. The thought of maple bacon beans inspired me to work harder than usual and once done we came home to scrambled eggs, veggies, toast and maple bacon beans. *drools*
I swear, maple bacon beans are the *best* thing ever! If I can't buy them in Australia, I'm going to learn how to make them myself. No way can I be deprived of this goodness just because I'm in the wrong country. :-)

Once fueled with beans we rugged up in multiple layers and took a walk down to Liberty Square.

First stop, the Lewis and Clark mural, commissioned in 2005 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition.
Written on a plaque nearby: 'The artists version shows the expedition stopping at sundown to set camp along a bend in the river. Dominant figures are Lewis, Clark, York and a newfoundland dog named Seaman. Although Indian guide Sacagawea was not with the expedition in Missouri, she appears in the western sky as if beckoning the men to continue. President Thomas Jefferson appears to the east.'

In the square we came to the Clay County court house.
Then next stop was the bookstore cafe where we defrosted our fingers and browsed the upstairs and downstairs. This is a gorgeous little hideaway and a place we will have to come to write.
Passing a shop window, we spied a cute dog in the window. What an adorable little munchkin, it's almost as cute as Paddy. ;-)
Next, newspaper and magazine stands. I just had to take a photo of these because they are so American. Each magazine/newspaper has its own metal (or plastic) dispenser. The green and red ones are free magazines, and the last is a daily newspaper which requires the payment of coins before it will issue a paper.
A stroll through a winter street post-Christmas would be incomplete without a christmas decorated shop window, and here it is:
Leaving the square, we started toward the college atop the hill, past the Jesse James Museum and old homes. In this photo is a yellow school bus. There are lots of these around on school days, picking up and dropping off school children.
The streets were quiet and we were the only people walking. Given that it was bitterly cold, I'm very appreciative of Em giving me this tour. When we got back home we had to defrost our noses and fingers. Strangely enough, our feet manage to stay relatively warm, that is until we stop walking.This is a heritage listed home. Given the state of the front yard, it's possibly vacant. *tee hee* Does that mean I can move in?? ;-)And another beautiful home.
And another....
At the top of the hill is William Jewell College, one of the countries best undergraduate academic institutions.
From here it was only a short walk back home where we met Em's mum, Elaine, dropping off some chairs for tonight's candle party.

Once defrosted from being outside, we started cooking. We had four recipes, each of which turned out great. I made the chicken chilli with adorable little tomatillos (green tomatoes pickled in salt water), and green chilli. We had half the chilli that we were meant to have but I'm glad because the finished product came out without being too strong. I've always imagined that chilli recipes are hot, too hot for me to eat, but this has proven me wrong. I now just need to find a place that sells tomatillos back home.

Ha! Lookie here: USA Foods. Gah, how awesome!! :-) Or, I could grow my own tomatillo's.

Here's our spread, minus the chilli chicken which was merrily bubbling on the stove.
The candle party was great fun! Half a dozen of Em's friends plus her mum and grandmother came and everyone enjoyed themselves. Day, the Partylite hostess, set out a dozen or so products and passed around sample boxes with an unimaginable range of scented candles. She had each of us introduce ourselves and say what type of scent we preferred and then to pick our favourite candle product from the display. I went first and got to pick a beautiful burned orange, mocaic glass candle holder into which Day set a three teir candle to show the effect. It was beautiful! I'd have bought one if only I could have found a way to safely get it home.

Midway through the evening, someone announced that it was snowing. Out I went into the cold, encouraged by the group, and snagged myself some snow pictures.
After everyone had left, we packed everything up, put the leftovers in the fridge and happily toddled off to bed.