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| Gus and me |
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| The Rock -- thx for introducing him to tabletops, Crystal! |
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| Sweet Bay-Bay |
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| Andrew's 1st day of K! So excited! Asher.....not so much |
Drove to Texarkana today to spend a couple of days with Gus, Edith, Cranford, and Kathey. Beautiful drive home and we were really happy to see everyone!
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| Edith at Red Lobster |
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| My baby boy |
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| Cranford and Kathey |
8-16-12: Hung out all day with Edith and Gus. The 4 of us met Cranford and Kathey at Red Lobsta.
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| Cran and Kathey may need to get their mama cat fixed |
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| this baby is checking on the runt; so sweet |
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| Gus and me |
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| Bailey watching his boy |
8-17-12: After lunch at Reggie's with Cran and Kathey, everyone decided to go for a swim in their pool. Rocky included! Not sure he totally meant to swim, but swim he did!
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| Bailey Girl |
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| Where'd I go wrong? Check out the hog on his car! |
8-18-12: Went back to Branson, where the temps are much more pleasant. Today is Asher's 4th, so we posted a bday song to him on his parent's fb. Beautiful drive back. Saw some camels near Arkansas' Natural Bridge area. Kinda funny that they were just grazing in a pasture along with some horses and cows.
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| Tyler Bend at Buffalo River |
We stopped for a bit at Tyler Bend at the Buffalo River. Decent little visitor center and some pretty views of the River.
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| My fave 2nd grader, Bridget Cornett Allen |
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| Bridget and her beautiful family: Trevor, Colton, Bridget, Cherish, and Jeremy |
8-19-12: Today while working at the VC, Bridget Cornett Allen came in with her family to say "hey" and look around the center. She was one of my second graders when I taught at Union Elem on the AR side. She was such a smart and sweet little girl. Hard to believe she is now the mom of a senior in high school.
Had to play a trick on Gala today. She HATES the flamingo mugs we sell in the gift shop. After David sold a nice pottery dish that we keep in the locked display case, we replaced it with one of the flamingo mugs. We'll see tomorrow how long it takes her to notice it.
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| Gala's fave (not) flamingo cup in the display case |
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| It immediately came out the next morning when she got to work |
8-20-12: Well, it didn't take her long at all! When we came in at 8:45, she was already going "Beckyyyy". Not sure why I got blamed for that. haha.
Barry Williams (Greg Brady) came in the visitor center today. He and his son came in to check the place out and take a dam tour. His son is cute as a button! You can prob find their pic on Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation facebook page.
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| Greg Brady |
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| Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, carried a bucket around |
8-21-12: David and I went to see Hope Springs today. Pretty cute movie. Fair. Now I owe David a trip to the Bourne Legacy. One unusual thing we noticed at today's movie was that nearly everyone that came in and out was carrying a bucket. On the way out I noticed it said "free popcorn".
8-22-12: Today would've been Julie's 64th bday. How we still miss her. But so thankful that Will and Lissa are in our lives. They both have her laugh and sweet spirit!
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| Sherryl's new bday bib |
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| Blowing out the lighter. Really? |
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| The Bday Queen wearing the COE crown |
We went over to the visitor center to wish Sherryl a Happy Birthday -- it was yesterday. She rec'd a bib and a Corps crown!! And we got to sing Happy Birthday to her Goff Family Style!!
Yet another fire in Branson that we could see from the campsite. It was more in town this time, kinda down from Andy's off the strip.
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| This hotel was unoccupied |
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| We're going in |
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| interesting plant life |
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| Morgan hitting the red loop |
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| acting like I want a pic on these pretty rocks (just wanted to sit a spell) |
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| remains of the conveyor belt from the dam construction in the 50's |
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| some more |
This evening Morgan and I did the White Rivers Valley Trail -- red loop. It's about 2.5 miles (seems longer) and very pretty. Took about 1 1/2 hrs. Mostly in the woods, so it wasn't too hot. Saw several dry creeks, the remains of the old conveyer belt that was used to transfer stone from Baird Mtn to the site of the "new" dam in the 1950's, and hear the bird that sounds like a cat (which Laura, Jake, and I heard last month at the camper). Morgan hadn't heard it before. David googled it later and we think it could be a Grey Catbird, which comes to this part of the country in the summer. Kinda hoping to see some cool wildlife, but we just saw a couple of fat and oblivious armadillos. I wouldn't have noticed them. But Morgan's keen, young ears picked up their shuffling around in the leaves.
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| "Smoke" on Baird Mtn |
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| cool looking lizard |
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| a baby Paulownia tree in the creekbed at the Dewey |
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| Sassafrass sapling at Lakeshore Trailhead |
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| a little blurry, but can ya see all 3 shapes of the Sassafrass leaves: a ghost, a mitten, and an oval. Pinch off a leaf and it smells like fruit loops! |
8-23-12: Walked about 3 miles on the Lakeshore Trail today. Prob should've picked a cooler time to go. Tho it was only around 90ish, it got WARM and humid out there!
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| Pledge and nat'l anthem at Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Play |
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| Donkey actors in the play |
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| wonderful sitting out under the night sky for the play |
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| I think this was nearly every male actor in the play |
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| getting ready for a "doin" (squaredance and meal) |
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| this wagon just passed it on by |
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| the bad guys |
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| pickers for the doin' |
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| this lady added "character" to the play |
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| getting ready to do some dancin' |
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| Dad and me (The Shepherd) |
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| wandering aimlessly |
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| it's coming back to me |
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| my padnah was a bad guy and drunk in 2nd half. looks like i'm laughing, but I'm gasping for breath after squaredancing |
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| the stars coming out during the 2nd part of the play |
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| Ollie showed up with his wheels |
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| Baldknobbers! |
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| burning the cabin |
This evening, all the workampers went to the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Play. What a great setting for a play! David had read the book, and now I'll start it, because I loved the story set in the Ozarks and rich with the mountain folklore. He and I were the only 2 of our group who enjoyed it. Coulda been because we understood the accents and vocabulary better than the others! ha
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| Rocky watching the groundhogs with us.... he was not impressed |
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| peaking out |
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| getting a little braver |
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| still cautious |
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| look closely - the 2nd one is in there, too |
8-24-12: Well, I reciprocated and went with David to see Bourne Legacy. Not the best Bourne movie, but pretty good.
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| Rain!! Yay! |
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| ice cream social w/workampers |
8-26-12: Ron and Barb hosted a "dessert social" at their camper tonite to give us all a chance to say "bye" to each other. 2 couples will be leaving next week. We'll miss them but all of us have signed up to work again next year.
8-28-12: David and I went back to Shepherd of the Hills today to take the Homestead Tour and visit Inspiration Tower. And I wanted to check out the Vigilante Zipline to see if it's something I could stand to do.
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| Jack the guide |
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| Old Matt's cabin |
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| cool chimney |
Jack, our tour guide, was fun and really seemed to have done his history lesson! Harold Bell Wright, who wrote SofH, was the first American author to become a millionaire.
He visited the Ozarks in 1903 and '04 (in '04 he brought his family), and got to know and stayed with the Ross family.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross became Old Matt and Aunt Mollie in Wright's book. So in real life folks called them by Matt and Mollie til they died. We found it interesting to learn Wright attended a Disciples of Christ college -- Hiram College.
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| A pic of Wright's tent on his 1st visit, along with the desk he wrote Shepherd of the Hills on |
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| Wright's tent the 2nd year is a little sturdier |
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| Mutton Holler |
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| Harold Bell Wright's desk where he did his writing |
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| The Ross' : aka Old Matt and Aunt Mollie |
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| the money box they used in the store |
Old Matt and Aunt Mollie owned a General Store in the holler. The store acted as a pharmacy as well. One of things they sold on a regular basis was a little white pill that helped the folks of the Ozarks feel better. The little white pill -- cocaine!
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| Knitters, know what the thing is on the left? a famous nursery rhyme was all about these things |
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| thunder pot |
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| kitchen: what are the round things on the stove? |
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| know what this is? |
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| instead of mortar, they used rocks between the logs of the cabin |
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| Aunt Mollie was working on this project when she died |
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| back of the cabin |
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| comp'ny |
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| what is this item in Old Matt's barn? |
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| a bald |
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| Jack and Still |
When the Ross' died, a teacher named Lizzie McDaniel bought the property and cabin and spent many a day riding around on her horse buying up 75% of the Ross' belongings so she could restore the homestead to the way it was when Old Matt and Aunt Mollie lived there. Most of the things you see in the cabin today are their original belongings.
The Homestead tour is on a tram and visits the homestead, the outdoor play site, the general store, an old still, and the Inspiration Tower, where we departed the tour. We heard some great baldknobber stories -- one about the only hanging of baldknobbers (usually they did the hanging). One of the young baldknobbers fell out of his noose. Mosts of the onlookers felt that was a sign from God that he shouldn't be hanged. But the authorities picked him up and hung him anyway. From that incident, the MO law stating "you can't hang a man twice" was born. :)
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| Ozark view from Inspiration Tower |
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| from the other side |
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| Vigilante Zipline from the top |
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| another great view |
David and I went up to the top of Inspiration Tower (in an elevator). What a view!! It's the 2nd highest spot in MO. They didn't tell us what the highest spot is. David said cuz they weren't selling tickets to that one. ha. I studied the Vigilante Zipline while up there. Decided to sleep on it. When we came down from the tower, we visited with 2 couples who rode it to see if they thought it was worth it. They all said it was fun, great view, but didn't last long enough (60 seconds). So not sure yet if it's worth the money. I'll keep thinking about it.
Then we strolled around the Homestead before we left to soak in a little more of the history and view.
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| Sassafrass leaves |
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| Sass |
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| big ole Sassafrass |
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| monuments to Shepherd of the Hills people |
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| Dad |
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| the site where Wright had his tent -- what a view |
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| Morgan Church |
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| David at Morgan Church |
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| in front of the cabin |
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| some of the gardens at the cabin |
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| Bec and David at Old Matt's Barn |
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| David on the porch of the cabin |
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| history or current? |
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| Dutton parents |
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| Duttons fiddlin' |
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| stopped for dessert after |
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| jukebox at our table. Anyone remember these at Lacy's in Texarkana? |
8-29-12: Hurricane Isaac is blowing in some rain up this way, so David and I decided it's a good day to go to a free show. We decided on The Dutton's. Great show with some jim-dandy fiddlin' and cloggin'! Very talented family!
8-3-12: Ahhh, rain in the Ozarks! Isaac brought us an all-day drizzle. Loved it.
Alfred brought us donuts to work -- THX Alfred! And we had a nice, cozy day at the visitor center watching it rain!
9-1-12: Tomorrow is Sara's last day with us at ORHF. So several of us went to Danna's after work and pigged out together!
9-2-12: Sherryl called and asked me to meet her tonite at the Dewey to watch the Labor Day fireworks from the Chateau. We waited and waited and finally gave up. As soon as I got back to the camper they exploded! Great show. Sadly, Sherryl and her girls were already on the road back home. We did get to see a fabulous moonrise!!!
9-3-12: Today was Sara's last day .... so gonna miss you, Sara! David and I know you'll be awesome at all you do in life! Today also was Carl's last day for a few weeks while he has treatments. And boy did we have fun with him today! I am not sure when the last time I've laughed so hard! Gala and "Mom" joined right in and we just had a great day. Best of luck to you Carl. Praying for success for ya!
At the end of the day our friends Jackie and Dave came in and checked out the center. Then the 4 of us went to Mr. Gilberti's,
caught the view at the 165 overlook, then came back to the camper and compared Creede pix. Boy, their pix made David and me want to go back!!! What a place.
9-4-12: David, Rocky, and I took a drive over to Springfield to Bass Pro this morning. That was only our 2nd trip there since we got here in May!
8-3-12: Ahhh, rain in the Ozarks! Isaac brought us an all-day drizzle. Loved it.
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| The Krispy Kreme Queen |
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| Morgan, the donut lady |
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| Comparing shoes with Sherryl |
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| acting casual |
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| Sara, Terri, Bob, and Gala |
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| Patrick and Joan |
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| Sherryl with a HUGE slab of meat (rib) |
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| Gala & Mom |
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| Moon rising over the dam |
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| afterglow over Table Rock |
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| the dam at night |
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| The Branson Belle cruising at night |
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| Sara and Ranger Jeremy |
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| Jackie describing her haircut |
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| Jackie & Dave at Mr. G's |
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| David, Becky, Jackie, and Dave on the Historic 165 overlook |
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| pretty sight.... 1 of 5 paragliders |
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| watch your back, honey! |
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| Paragliders coming down from over the mtn |
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| Paragliders against the sunset |
9-4-12: David, Rocky, and I took a drive over to Springfield to Bass Pro this morning. That was only our 2nd trip there since we got here in May!
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| Sherryl and her HUGE corn on the cob |
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| Brooke is gettin' rowdy |
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| Our new friends from KY, Patrick and Joan |
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| Brooke, Sherryl, us, Joan, and Patrick |
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| Rocky got some great leftovers! |
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| Sons of the Pioneers |
Then this afternoon we went to the Sons of the Pioneers Chuckwagon show and dinner with Patrick, Joan, Sherryl, and Brooke. Wonderful evening of good music, food, and friends!
Well, we have a little less than 2 months left here in Branson for this year. And many more places to go, people to see off up in here! Stay tuned for Branson, Part 8!!
I'm posting this on 9-8-12 as I'm sitting on the deck of the Dewey Short. Not a cloud in the sky, 66 degrees around noon, and a heavy enough breeze that Table Rock is white-capping and the sailboats are coming out. It's a good life!
I'm posting this on 9-8-12 as I'm sitting on the deck of the Dewey Short. Not a cloud in the sky, 66 degrees around noon, and a heavy enough breeze that Table Rock is white-capping and the sailboats are coming out. It's a good life!
Bye, Ya'll!
Old Matt, Aunt Mollie, and Brave
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| Thx for the sign, Celia! |
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