Crown Fountain in Millennium Park Chicago

My husband Sean is working a job in Chicago on the lake. I got to go visit him Memorial Day weekend. We went to the city to do some site seeing. We saw these 2 really cool fountains. They were 2 glass towers with LED lighting that display moving pictures of Chicago residents. They show pictures of residents shot close up. 5 minutes is given to show each of these faces. Each cycle ends when the faces purses it's lips. Water spouts from the mouth at this part. The cameras used to shoot their faces was the same cameras used in the "Star Wars" movies to insure quality. The walls of the two towers are fashioned using clear glass bricks. Only one side shows a face the other side is blank. Water also flows from the sides of the towers. The granite plaza is also a reflecting pool. People flock to the fountain in warm weather while children wade and play in the reflecting pool. Designed by Spanish artisian Jaume Plensa. Located in Millennium Park in Chicago

Bollinger Mill & Burfordville Covered Bridge

Well this month we got to go see the Bollinger Mill and the Burfordville Covered Bridge in Burfordville, Mo.. We were going to go last month but it had stormed up there and we had to cancel. It was well worth the trip. Such a beautiful place. The Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is unusual because it features both a working mill and a covered bridge side by side. It is a 43 acre site has a tree shaded picnic area, a quarter mile stream bank and the historical cemetery where the remains of George Frederick Bollinger and members of his family rest. Bollinger Mill has been restored as an operating, water-powered grist mill. Water from the millpond is diverted through the limestone understory where it must pass through, and power, the turbine as it leaves the building. The mill contains examples of milling machinery such as separators, scours, roll stands, mill stones, conveyors and chutes. Live demonstations of making stone-ground cornmeal as well as museum exhibits. A 19th Century water-powered mill. The Burfordville Covered bridge is the oldest remaining covered bridge in Missouri. It is one of only four that survive today. The bridge exhibits Howe-truss construction named for William Howe, who patented the design in 1840. The Howe truss span was built mainly of yellow poplar. The bridge spans White River, is 140 feet long and has a clearance of 14 feet high and 12 feet wide. The road going through the bridge was part of the toll road system between Burfordville, Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Open to pedestrian traffic only, it is part of the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site. Both are in the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours of the mill are given daily. The other three covered bridges in Missouri are Sandy Creek Covered Bridge in Jefferson County, Locust Creek Covered Bridge in Linn County and Union Covered Bridge in Monroe County. Great place for photos. Right off the main road.

Rockbridge Mill in Rockbridge, Mo.

Another of our travels a few weeks ago was Rockbridge Mill in Rockbridge,Mo. It is a 3,000 acre resort in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. Perfect setting for a family vacation. Rainbow Trout Ranch has a restaurant, fishing for rainbow trout, hiking trails and hunting. Very scenic.

Hodgson Water Mill in Ozark County, Missouri

Visited Hodgson Water Mill in Ozark County Mo. for the second time. Everything is all green and very beautiful, lots of native ferns and mosses. My son even almost picked up a huge snake while climbing a hill. Even got a picture of it. Built in 1861 to harness the power of a massive spring flowing in Bryant Creek and rebuilt in 1897. It spews 3,000,000 gallons of clear cold water a day. Some of the water is diverted to the mill pond. Inside the mill building, an opening to a cave in the face of the bluff provides natural air conditioning. Picnic area across the road from the mill.