Jesse's spurs & riding glove

The case these were in needed some repairs, which gave us an excellent opportunity to take out the artifacts, inspect them for deterioration & update our records & photos.



Leather is a particularly challenging material for museum conservators to repair and maintain. You will notice that the thread used to stitch the glove together (probably cotton) has deteriorated in some places, which occurred before we received this item as a donation from Jesse Deets Smith. The spurs were given to Jesse James by his cousin & namesake, Jesse Edwin Smith, the grandson of Dr. John R. James, brother of Rev. Robert Sallee James (Jesse James' father).

Christmas at Pharis Farm


Sunday, December 5th, 2010
We had a great turn out at the Christmas open house and hope that everyone who attended had a nice time. Special thanks to those who made a donation, which was clearly many of you, if not everyone!!! Your contributions will help us create this event again next year and keep it free to the public.

Bald eagle at Smithville Lake

These images of a mature bald eagle were captured by Trails and Prairie Manager, Jasen Ballenger, on Nov. 30. Those seeking a glimpse of this beautiful bird, should visit the area surrounding the Collins Rd. bridge (see map).

Not able to make it to the lake in the next couple weeks? Eagle Days, which takes place Jan. 8 & 9., provides an opportunity to get up close and personal with several birds. Stay tuned for details.





Learn more about bald eagles here.

Link: Brief history of disc golf

Photo Credit: PDGA
This week's link comes in the wake of big developments at Smithville Lake.

Construction on a world-class disc golf complex at the lake is well under way, and now is the perfect time to learn about the sport.

Never heard of disc golf? The goal is to toss a flying disc into a target or basket in the fewest amount of throws. The rules closely mimic those of traditional golf with a few exceptions.

Learn more about disc golf from the Professional Disc Golf Association.

Stay tuned for more information on the Smithville Disc Golf Complex.

Photos from the 2010 Ladies Winter Tea on Saturday, November 13th at Historic Mt. Gilead Church a few miles west of Kearney, MO. Participants enjoyed tea, cookies, conversation & craft projects; including necklaces made from dominoes which they painted with winter & Christmas themes, and mini holiday recipe scrapbooks. A festive time was had by all!

All 35 seats were filled a good 6 weeks before the event date. Our faithful repeat participants were quick on the draw when signing up this year, but we were very pleased to see some new faces too, ladies who had never attended one of our teas before. It's always nice to make new friends!!

Fall colors at the James Farm

The beautiful weather this week inspired me to get outside & take photos of all the lovely colors out here at the Jesse James Farm & Museum. It was nice to soak up the sunshine. I keep thinking that these are probably the last nice days we'll get until spring. Who knows when this lovely weather will end. For now, I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible by eating my lunch outside on the porch every day.

Link: Breathtaking in-flight birds photography

Photo Credit: Hmong Soul

This week's link comes from design blog Abduzeedo.com and features amazing photos of birds in flight.

Now is a great time to keep your camera handy as birds and other wildlife migrate toward their winter homes.

According to howstuffworks.com, animal migration is triggered by many different cues including length of sunlight in a day, temperature and circadian rhythms.

 Read more about migration here.

Daffodil planting at Pharis Farm

Hosted by the Friends of Pharis Farm on Saturday, October 23rd, 15 volunteers planted 1,000 daffodil bulbs at Pharis Farm in 2 1/2 hours. Volunteers included girl scouts, 4-H members, Friends of Pharis Farm board members, Clay County Employees and their families. We are looking forward to a yellow spotted lawn in April!!

Fox 4 WDAF showcases Smithville Lake trails

You may already know that the trails at Smithville Lake are a great place to relax and take in the wildlife and scenery. For some, the trails offer something totally different, a perfect place to meet fitness goals.

Fox 4 WDAF recently profiled Clay County Parks employee and Triathlon trainee, Linda Sadler. See how she is utilizing this amazing resource to mark an item off her bucket list.

Learn more about the trails here.

 

Smithville Lake is home to some very large catfish

Congratulations to Scott King and Garry Wingett who snagged a pair of Smithville Lake residents in the form of 44 and 51lb catfish. The fish were caught using bait from the Camp Branch Marina.

Camp Branch Marina is located at 17201 Paradesian St. in Smithville.

See photos below.


American White Pelicans at Smithville Lake


A sure sign of changing seasons at Smithville Lake can be witnessed by observations of migrating American White Pelicans. White Pelicans are one of the largest birds in North America and their migrations occur bi-annually every fall and spring. Spending the winter along our southern coasts or even into Central and South America, they pass through western Missouri in March, April, May and sometimes June to eat, rest and hang out on our rivers, lakes and ponds before continuing north to their breeding grounds throughout the northern Great Plains and mountain West.

They have a wingspan of 8 to 9 1/2 feet, and they beat their wings just one or two long, slow strokes per second. Weighing 10 to 17 pounds, they need considerable strength to stay aloft. On top of all this impressive size, white pelicans can appear almost blinding white. The white is offset by flashy black wing tips and bright orangish-yellow feet, eyes and bill.

Researchers say a pelican's pouch can hold about three to four gallons of water. That's about two to three times more than its stomach. Pelicans don't fly or swim with full pouches. Instead, they quickly squeeze out water from the corners of their mouths before swallowing. Birds of such enormous size require a lot of food. An adult pelican eats about four pounds per day. Pelicans mainly eat non-game fish such as chubs, shiners, carp and catfish, as well as crayfish and salamanders. White pelicans don't make the same athletic dives after food, like their coastal cousins, but they do something just as remarkable: they herd fish. Working in synchronized lines of five or six or more, they make a big production of flapping and splashing to move the fish along. Once corralled into shallow water or encircled by two or more lines of pelicans, the fish are easy prey.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, illegal shooting is the leading cause of mortality for pelicans reported from leg band returns. The National Audubon Society recorded that white pelican numbers took a long-term nose dive until the 1960s. Since then, their numbers have increased, and populations are believed stable. White Pelicans may live for more than 16 years.

Welcome to the Clay County, Missouri Parks Blog

Have something to say? Write it here. Have a picture to show? Post it here. Video, podcast, slideshow? Show it off on this blog.