We made it! We arrived in Fulton TX about 4:15 p.m. yesterday. We headed straight to Panjo's to meet the group for pizza. No problems on the trip down - just some rain and a few crazy drivers. After pizza we headed to Woody Acres to park the rv and head over for Texas Hold'em. Chuck took 3rd and I took 4th so we both made a few $$ - good beginning.
We had a good last few days in Branson - another day at Silver Dollar City with great weather and a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at 76 Country Buffet. I can't believe they can prepare and serve such delicious food for SO many people. Turkey, ham, prime rib, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes with pecan praline topping, green bean casserole, beef stroganof, barbequed chicken, catfish, carrots, fried okra, corn, etc. etc. and to top it off, pumpkin pie, apple pie, warm blackberry cobbler and warm pecan pie cobbler. They were open from 11am to 8pm and the line was huge all day but moved steady. My hats off to the cooks and staff!
Today we are getting set up. Last night we just parked and plugged in the electricity. Today we straightened up, leveled, hooked up water, sewer, etc., got the grill out and set up, the DISH TV set up, and I worked inside: setting up the computer table and the computer and printer, putting up Christmas decorations, arranging all my STUFF, and making my grocery list for my first trip to HEB (a big Texas grocery chain).
It's always fun to get back with our Texas friends - we call them Texas friends even though they are from Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Minnesota, British Columbia, etc. Tuesday night is the free fish fry that Fulton-Rockport puts on to welcome back it's "Winter Texans." Becky and Roger got us tickets and volunteered us to work with them again last year. It's more fun to "work" than to just go and eat. Tonight is game night - we play a game called Pegs and Jokers with a group, tomorrow afternoon is cribbage and tomorrow night is bingo here at the park - etc. etc. We've been "officially" welcomed by our friendly geese - Clyde a grey goose and his/her pal, Little Goose, a white goose - they were over this morning begging for bread. Yes, bread is on my grocery list!
As I just told Chuck, DISH TV is up and working, wireless internet is up and working - LIFE IS GOOD!
Keep in touch
Linda and Chuck
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Branson, Missouri
We hit the road for the winter on Saturday, November 15. After final packing, a last-minute check of RV tires, and readying the house for winter without us, we hit the road. We went as far as Osceola IA. We intended to stay at a RV park near a casino just outside of Des Moines but found that it had closed for the winter (it used to be open year-around) so they called ahead for us to make sure the one at Osceola was still open. We made it to Branson the next day and settled in at Treasure Lake RV Park.
I found out that Danny O'Donnell was performing here - we have just missed him several times - so I called immediately to see about tickets. We were able to get tickets for Tuesday and absolutely loved his show. He is an Irish singer who has done several programs for public television. He is very charming and has a beautiful voice. He had a female Irish singer performing with him - Mary Duff. They will be taping a new show for public television this coming Monday so I would urge you to keep watch on public television for him.
Wednesday was a beautiful, warm day so we headed out to Silver Dollar City. We never did go to the truck for our jackets - it was in the mid-60s most of the day! We headed right down to see their production of A Dickens' Christmas Carol. It was an hour-long musical production with special effects, beautiful costuming, excellent voices - really well done. We also watched a cute stage show that gets the little ones involved - Frosty the Snowman. We browsed the shops, watched the evening light parade and watched the music and light show including a five-story Christmas tree on Main Street. We will probably head back out there again on Wednesday to see a couple of shows that we didn't get to last week and buy our season tickets for 2009.
Yesterday we headed up to Springfield and stopped at a big antique shop and spent some time at the huge Bass Pro Shop. We got gas on the way home for $1.58 9/ per gallon - the lowest we've paid so far.
I think we will go downtown today and walk through Branson Landing. There are lots of bus tours in town this time of year to see Ozark Mountain Christmas and to shop at the outlet malls.
More later . . .
Linda
I found out that Danny O'Donnell was performing here - we have just missed him several times - so I called immediately to see about tickets. We were able to get tickets for Tuesday and absolutely loved his show. He is an Irish singer who has done several programs for public television. He is very charming and has a beautiful voice. He had a female Irish singer performing with him - Mary Duff. They will be taping a new show for public television this coming Monday so I would urge you to keep watch on public television for him.
Wednesday was a beautiful, warm day so we headed out to Silver Dollar City. We never did go to the truck for our jackets - it was in the mid-60s most of the day! We headed right down to see their production of A Dickens' Christmas Carol. It was an hour-long musical production with special effects, beautiful costuming, excellent voices - really well done. We also watched a cute stage show that gets the little ones involved - Frosty the Snowman. We browsed the shops, watched the evening light parade and watched the music and light show including a five-story Christmas tree on Main Street. We will probably head back out there again on Wednesday to see a couple of shows that we didn't get to last week and buy our season tickets for 2009.
Yesterday we headed up to Springfield and stopped at a big antique shop and spent some time at the huge Bass Pro Shop. We got gas on the way home for $1.58 9/ per gallon - the lowest we've paid so far.
I think we will go downtown today and walk through Branson Landing. There are lots of bus tours in town this time of year to see Ozark Mountain Christmas and to shop at the outlet malls.
More later . . .
Linda
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
AppleFest Weekend
Friday, October 3
It's AppleFest Weekend in Bayfield, WI! Friends Karen H, Pat S., Phyllis N., and Judy F. left on
Friday morning (unfortunately Carol J., Pat J., and Alice P. were not able to join us- we will miss them). Our first stop was Bargain Bill's in Rice Lake, then on to Spooner for lunch and a stop at Dahl's Furniture and Gifts. From there we continued north to a quilt shop in Trego, Simply gift shop, wonderful fabric and yarn shop in Gordon, nice gift/yarn shop in Solon Springs, and the Bunkhouse Shop in Iron River. We visited Karen's friend's farm to feed carrots to her horses - they were a bit wary at firest but soon were pushing each other aside to get more than their share. We then headed to the cabin to unload our STUFF before it got dark. On Bark Point Road we encountered a flock? of ten orphan ducklings - Karen had been watching the family for the past two weeks so knew the mother duck had been hanging out with the little ones on the road near her cabin. Apparently the mother had been killed and and the little ones had been rounded up at least once and taken back to the farm but probably were looking for Mom - so sad! Well, Karen hauled out a cardboard box from her trunk and she, Phyllis, and I (mostly Karen) rounded up the little ones, put them in the box, and Karen took them back to the farm
from whence they came. The guy gave her a small jar of honey as a token of thanks!
After unloading and staking out our beds, etc. we headed back into Port Wing for dinner at a local bar/restaurant. Fresh Lake Superior Whitefish, pork tenderloin and shrimp, nice soup and salad bar - a very good dinner. On the way back to the cabin, Karen was driving slowly and carefully since this is deer and bear country. Suddenly in the middle of the road was a BOBCAT! Because weren't racing down the road, he was able to get out of the road in time. How exciting - none of had ever seen a bobcat in the wild before. Back at the cabin, we had a great time relaxing, talking, laughing, and eating yummy Crumb Cake for dessert. A fire in the stove made for a very cozy, warm setting. Finally, we gave it up and headed to bed to be ready for Bayfield tomorrow.
Saturday, October 4
No one is in a big hurry to get moving this morning. Coffee drinkers need their morning fix - I'm satisfied with a nice cold Diet Coke! There are yummy muffins and caramel rolls for breakfast. Mid-morning we finally get moving and head to Cornucopia for stop at the harbor to see if Leonard is there with his rustic tables, lamps, and coatracks. He was there! and I think he was looking for us. Karen bought two tables and Pat bought one. They loaded them up and headed back to the cabin to drop them off. Meanwhile, Judy, Phyllis and I headed up the road to a thrift sale at an old motel and from there to the coffee shop. I had French Vanilla Chai tea and a yummy brownie while waiting for Karen and Pat to return. From there we headed toward Bayfield, turning around to stop at a booth just outside of town with baskets, wild rice, and carved wood items. They were very nice people--she is from the Bad River tribe and he appeared to be Norwegian. She made the baskets and he did the carving. Several purchases later we were on our way into town. We parked close (thanks to Judy's handicapped parking permit), and headed to the gazebo. We split up and headed out to do our own them at the craft show, etc. Karen met up with friends from Owen and had lunch with them. We met up at the appointed time and hit some of the shops. The highlight?!? was when Phyllis located the type of purse that her daughter had given her and we had all been admiring (aka coveting!). We all descended on the little shop and after endless consideration, discussion, reconsideration, etc. we each chose our particular style and color and left satisfied with our purchases. The ladies in the shop were thoroughly entertained with our selection processes! Deep fried cheese curds, fish kabobs, carmel apples, apple dumplings were just some of our "treats" from the many street vendors. Satisfied and exhausted, we headed back to the car and back to the cabin. Dinner was Phyll's hotdish, Karen's barbeques, Linda's pumpkin roll - good comfort food. Another evening of conversation, laughter, and sharing with good friends.
Sunday, October 5
It's AppleFest Weekend in Bayfield, WI! Friends Karen H, Pat S., Phyllis N., and Judy F. left on
Friday morning (unfortunately Carol J., Pat J., and Alice P. were not able to join us- we will miss them). Our first stop was Bargain Bill's in Rice Lake, then on to Spooner for lunch and a stop at Dahl's Furniture and Gifts. From there we continued north to a quilt shop in Trego, Simply gift shop, wonderful fabric and yarn shop in Gordon, nice gift/yarn shop in Solon Springs, and the Bunkhouse Shop in Iron River. We visited Karen's friend's farm to feed carrots to her horses - they were a bit wary at firest but soon were pushing each other aside to get more than their share. We then headed to the cabin to unload our STUFF before it got dark. On Bark Point Road we encountered a flock? of ten orphan ducklings - Karen had been watching the family for the past two weeks so knew the mother duck had been hanging out with the little ones on the road near her cabin. Apparently the mother had been killed and and the little ones had been rounded up at least once and taken back to the farm but probably were looking for Mom - so sad! Well, Karen hauled out a cardboard box from her trunk and she, Phyllis, and I (mostly Karen) rounded up the little ones, put them in the box, and Karen took them back to the farm
from whence they came. The guy gave her a small jar of honey as a token of thanks!After unloading and staking out our beds, etc. we headed back into Port Wing for dinner at a local bar/restaurant. Fresh Lake Superior Whitefish, pork tenderloin and shrimp, nice soup and salad bar - a very good dinner. On the way back to the cabin, Karen was driving slowly and carefully since this is deer and bear country. Suddenly in the middle of the road was a BOBCAT! Because weren't racing down the road, he was able to get out of the road in time. How exciting - none of had ever seen a bobcat in the wild before. Back at the cabin, we had a great time relaxing, talking, laughing, and eating yummy Crumb Cake for dessert. A fire in the stove made for a very cozy, warm setting. Finally, we gave it up and headed to bed to be ready for Bayfield tomorrow.
Saturday, October 4
No one is in a big hurry to get moving this morning. Coffee drinkers need their morning fix - I'm satisfied with a nice cold Diet Coke! There are yummy muffins and caramel rolls for breakfast. Mid-morning we finally get moving and head to Cornucopia for stop at the harbor to see if Leonard is there with his rustic tables, lamps, and coatracks. He was there! and I think he was looking for us. Karen bought two tables and Pat bought one. They loaded them up and headed back to the cabin to drop them off. Meanwhile, Judy, Phyllis and I headed up the road to a thrift sale at an old motel and from there to the coffee shop. I had French Vanilla Chai tea and a yummy brownie while waiting for Karen and Pat to return. From there we headed toward Bayfield, turning around to stop at a booth just outside of town with baskets, wild rice, and carved wood items. They were very nice people--she is from the Bad River tribe and he appeared to be Norwegian. She made the baskets and he did the carving. Several purchases later we were on our way into town. We parked close (thanks to Judy's handicapped parking permit), and headed to the gazebo. We split up and headed out to do our own them at the craft show, etc. Karen met up with friends from Owen and had lunch with them. We met up at the appointed time and hit some of the shops. The highlight?!? was when Phyllis located the type of purse that her daughter had given her and we had all been admiring (aka coveting!). We all descended on the little shop and after endless consideration, discussion, reconsideration, etc. we each chose our particular style and color and left satisfied with our purchases. The ladies in the shop were thoroughly entertained with our selection processes! Deep fried cheese curds, fish kabobs, carmel apples, apple dumplings were just some of our "treats" from the many street vendors. Satisfied and exhausted, we headed back to the car and back to the cabin. Dinner was Phyll's hotdish, Karen's barbeques, Linda's pumpkin roll - good comfort food. Another evening of conversation, laughter, and sharing with good friends.
Sunday, October 5
Monday, July 28, 2008
Summer in Wisconsin
July 2008
This weekend was Family Reunion - my father's side. It was fun to see cousins and cousins-several-times-removed (our grandfathers were brothers - not sure what that makes us!). Good times and good foor. We had been Up North picking wild blueberries earlier in the week so I made my mom's blueberry coffeecake with butter sauce for the reunion. Wild blueberries are SO much better than the commercial ones - no comparison.
Also this week we had the first home-grown sweet corn of the summer. What a treat! Two of my very favorite summer things - wild blueberries and sweet corn - in the same week!! It just doesn't get any better than that. Oh, yes, and the first ripe tomato from the garden. As you will come to see, I travel on my stomach. lol . . .
This weekend was Family Reunion - my father's side. It was fun to see cousins and cousins-several-times-removed (our grandfathers were brothers - not sure what that makes us!). Good times and good foor. We had been Up North picking wild blueberries earlier in the week so I made my mom's blueberry coffeecake with butter sauce for the reunion. Wild blueberries are SO much better than the commercial ones - no comparison.
Also this week we had the first home-grown sweet corn of the summer. What a treat! Two of my very favorite summer things - wild blueberries and sweet corn - in the same week!! It just doesn't get any better than that. Oh, yes, and the first ripe tomato from the garden. As you will come to see, I travel on my stomach. lol . . .
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