Dizmuzbedaplaz

Branson rocks!  We feel so at home here.  Love the outdoor activities and the shows.  Still soooo much to do.  Yep, we think we could live here!

"rear window" of Dewey Short VC

Dam

Scissortail Flycatchers -- note the bug they are about to nab - dragonfly or cicada?

tornado damage -- believe it or not

big ole feller

he always looks so unhappy

7-29-12:  Pileated at campsite this morning, just before Jake and Laura left.  Jake spotted it on a tree at the campsite.  That's one of the prettiest spottings of one I've seen.  Of course - no cameras.  One of these days.

Love!

Had to say "bye" to Laura and Jake this morning before heading in to work.  What a fabulous visit with them!!

sign at Billy Gail's

7-31-12:  David and I tried Billy Gails for lunch today -- it was good but we decided that would be a great breakfast spot. When we aren't eating at Stagecoach Outpost or Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans. ha

Baldknobbers

sigh

this guy could play that banjo

beautiful patriotic tribute 

This evening we decided to get the Baldknobbers show out of the way -- in honor of Taylor Henderson Munk and Laci Goff.  I will say this -- their drummer was topnotch!
8-1-12:  Ahhh, the smell of rain!  And we so need it.  It's has been hot as blazes up here!

This afternoon we had a knock on the door and a gentleman told David he was having a little trouble.

Kevin K from Six -- the hair under that cap was great! 

To make a long story short, it was Kevin K from Six -- the spiky-hair bro. He had his waverunners on a trailer and was heading to the water, when one of the tires on the trailer started getting squirrelly. So David had him park it over with the workampers for a couple of days where it'd be safer til Kevin could get it taken care of.   His wife, Shannon and a couple of their sons joined him.  We loved meeting them and knew right away that this is an awesome family.

What we saw when we got home around 3:15

Majestic Condos

near the Chateau

and it spread

and spread

thank God nobody was hurt

We also observed a fire across the lake that began around 3:00 pm.  It was the Majestic Condos.  Started in the middle of the bldg and with the help of a couple of storms that blew through the area, quickly spread throughout.  We were very happy to hear that even though there were about 100 occupants, nobody was injured.

My bestie and me

8-2-12:  I had the BEST surprise today!  One of my college besties, Kathy P., made a flying trip through Branson for lunch!  It was so great to see her.  Wish it coulda been a longer visit, Kathy! You look wonderful and as young as always!!!

8-5-12:  David and I hit the Imax today to watch Ozarks, Legends and Legacy.  We got in free and that's about what I'd recommend paying for it.  McFarlain family history.  I'm glad we saw it -- but I'm very glad it was free for us!

Rocky went to town out in the lake this afternoon!  He was swimming way out and swimming really well!  I need to get him a life jacket because I'm a little afraid to take him off the leash. haha.

Scissortail Flycatcher

morning doves

up above me at the camper

8-6-12:  Great morning!  Walked 3 miles and worked out at Curves.  Wish I had the time to do that every day!

Workamper ladies

Terri, Barb, me, and Lynn

Terri/Bob, David/me, Ron/Barb, Lynn/Barry

Alrighty, then

Barry and Kevin

gettin' ready to chow down

David, Barry, Kevin

Shannon and Lynn

Shannon and Brandon

Tonite we grilled out at the campers with the other workampers and Kevin/Shannon and family.  3 of their 5 kids and a nephew joined us. Wonderful evening with wonderful new friends!

When everyone took their food home afterwards, Rocky pranced right along behind Terri -- she had a plate of cheese which he'd been barking at for the last half hour. He never even looked back at David and me!

8-10-12:  Wow!!  The temps are like Fall today.  84 degrees, 27 percent humidity, breezy.  Heavenly!

NEVER again do I need to stand next to Tammy for a pic

nor Morgan

As Tammy says, "doesn't everyone have a marble fireplace in the woods?"

Pogo! Tammy's baby

Tammy's house and one of her Paulownia trees

Paulownia leaves get rather large - this one isn't finished growing

Tammy and Morgan -- keep an eye on 'em Pogo!

Tammy's waterfall

8-11-12:  David had to work today at the visitor center, but I had a day off.  So Morgan and I went out to Tammy's house.  Wonderful place out in the woods.  They built the house, the pond, the boardwalk, the gazebo, the waterfall, and put in awesome plants that are natural to Southern MO.  Lovely place.  Tammy is also a taxidermist, so the house is full of great wildlife!  Great day with the girls!

guarding that hedgehog

8-12-12:  David worked today.  Rocky and I stayed home and did NOTHING except appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells around the camper.  And snoozed.  First of all he slept late.  So I watched a movie in bed while he slept.  The rest of the day we went back and forth from watching murder mysteries to soaking up nature.

see the squirrel hiding from his/her pursuer?

water break

boat on Table Rock

Some of the sights, sounds, and smells around the camper: squirrels chasing each other, male cicadas trying to outdo each other with their love songs, boats enjoying Table Rock, the smell of the lake -- I can actually smell it from our camper today!  It's stayed around 84 this afternoon.  Not as breezy as yesterday, but still great.

thx for loaning me this, Sherryl

Reading  " A Sand County Almanac" by Aldo Leopold.  I cannot put it down.  He was a conservationist who had tremendous foresight (he died in 1948) and was truly one with nature.  Love his writing.

from I Love Texas fb page

Tonite, the show from the Perseids Meteor Shower began.  I couldn't stay awake to watch it, but I got this pick off of I Love Texas facebook page.

Table Rock sunset

beautiful

one of our fave spots to catch the sunset

Wonderful sunset down on the shore with David, Rocky, Ron, and Barb.  Sweet.

a bday buddy in the visitor center

At Mr. Gilberti's

why so serious, Ron?

Danielle serving bday ice cream

And we sang Happy Anniversary to Sherryl

Mr. G. after serenading us

8-13-12:  My 29th birthday.  Ha!

What a beautiful place to be

side view of the visitor center

Had a blast at work (and for the first time ever I was called a Yankee -- by a couple of guys from Louisiana), then supper at Mr. Gilberti's with the other workampers, as well as Gala, Sherryl, Carl and his wife Sue.  Today is Sue's bday, too. Mr. G and his staff sang to us.

60's show!

Afterwards the workampers went to see The #1 60's Show on the strip.  Excellent production and fun costumes!

Thx to all my Branson friends, Facebook friends, and family/friends all over for making today awesome!

8-15-12:  Went to Texarkana today to see Gus, Edith, Cranford, and Kathey.  Such a beautiful drive through the Ozarks and Buffalo Nat'l Forest on 65. Will be posting pix of our visit soon!

Much Love to All!

Droopy Drawers, Petula, and Wonder Dog