Plumb Nellie and Chocolate Kisses

Plumb Nellie!  No kin to Plumb Bob.  But I believe she is in the Plumb Tucker family.  Maybe a fiance/cousin situation.  I learned about Plumb Bob last year on the dam tours.  I just learned about Plumb Nellie this year (pix will describe).  And, as far as the Plumb Tuckers?  I reckon this joke is plumb tuckered out.

White Dogwood in front of the COE office (Plumb Nellie)

Redbud captured on the Table Rock shore by the docks -- totally Plumb Nellie

A rare and Plumb Nellie Pink Dogwood at Dogwood Canyon

At Wilson's Creek Nat'l Battlefield -- crabapple?  wild plum?
Plum or not, it's Plumb Nellie!  Get the idea?

3-23-13: Started rolling today.  Leaving the TX Hill Country and heading to Texarkana, then Branson.

a faint capture of the evasive Blue Bonnets as we're going down I-10

Stan and Tom in their slouchy hats I knitted for their Alaska adventure

they actually needed them today in the hill country (3rd week in March)

David feeling like a bad man in his hat I  knitted for him

As we left Kerrville we began seeing lots of Bluebonnets on I-10.  They'd been evading us this March. Just a late start I guess. Enjoyed seeing some elk along the way as well.  Spent 2 nights in West, TX.  It's a little town outside of Waco that is rich with German heritage and pastries.  Ended up staying that 2nd night there because of the high winds. That's one of the nice things about being retired, we don't have to travel if we don't want to!

Cran and David w/their flowery pens. Macho, Macho  Men

3-25-13:  Arrived Texarkana.  After a nice visit with Edith, we met Cranford and Kathey at Amigo Juan's.

Gus isn't as excited about the hat I knitted for him

supercool tho!

great-nephew James Madison Goff at El Chico

Kristie, our fave server in Texarkana

this sweet baby was the Shady Pines greeter while we were camped there.  I think I've seen her on the Texarkana Humane Society's facebook page since then.  Hope she found a good home!

This was a short trip home.  Great visit with C & K, Edith, Gus,Jakeb's family,  and our doctors.  :)

3-29-13:  Arrived Branson, visited with Tammy and Gala and took off to Danna's!

Jackie and Dave's friend & our fellow workkamper, Tom

We also met Tom.  He is Jackie's & Dave's Creede buddy and got hooked up with this gig from an email I'd sent Jackie.

This evening we watched and listened as what seemed like a hundred cops came through the area.  They went down by the fishing access areas on the Taneycomo.  Found out online that a killer had been "cornered" in the lake down there.  Bet he was having a mighty cold swim in the Taneycomo water.  But they did get him.  Kinda unusual for Branson.

plumb nellie Redbud with Table Rock in the background

Table Rock sunsets are the best!

Love being back in Branson -- home of the Ozarks, beautiful Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo, great talent, wonderful friends, and roundabouts and diverging diamond interchanges -- which we don't experience in too many other places. First encounter with one was in Sioux Falls.

3-31-13:  Enjoyed getting out on the Lakeshore Trail today.  Rocky seems very happy to be here, too! He seems to remember it all and feels at home!

Sherryl, David, and I on the San Fran trolley on our way to the dam

4-4-13:  First day back on the "job".  So love the visitor center. the dam tours, and the people!  Tonite around 9:00, David and I were outside and heard the strangest wildlife sound ever!  Loud and in distress. Couldn't decide if it was a big bird or a dog of some sort. Tried to see it with our flashlights, as it was pretty close to the campers.  Finally, after some of David's internet research, we decided it was probably a fox. Or 2.  Maybe mating.

What'd ya get me, what'd ya get me?

4-6-13:  Today's Rocky's 11th birthday!

The Dewey Short team for the Lakeshore Cleanup. Who's that cute guy in the Tilly? 

David and I volunteered for the Shoreline Cleanup day at Table Rock. I actually worked inside to give some of the others a chance to get outside.  David worked outside.  The group had a Bald Eagle buzz them over at the observation peninsula near Moonshine Beach.  No pix.

one of the copperheads encountered behind the COE office

one I found online so the chocolate kisses would be more visable

Then behind the COE offices, they came across a couple of Copperheads on the rocks.  Here's where the "chocolate kisses" come in.  That's one of the ways to spot a Copperhead from a distance.  Their markings are the shape and color of chocolate kisses.  Don't imagine they're that sweet, tho!

pick of an airboat on Table Rock during the bowfishing tourney

Tonite we had the pleasure of listening to airboats on Table Rock well into the night. They were having an airboat bowfishing tourney.  Evidently, this sort of fishing is done at night.  While most people are trying to sleep. Which is typically not allowed and this may be the first and last one here.  Those suckers are sooooo loud.  But they do look cool.

goldfinches

Cardinal

American Goldfinch

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

4-7-13:  David got our feeders up and there are goldfinches galore this year!  Beautiful little birds with the prettiest songs!  Can't wait to see what we see in May!

Began Tigger's tunnel today.  :) Will post pix when finished.

Jerri and me at Bubba's in Eureka Springs, AR

4-8-13:  David and I drove over to Eureka Springs, AR to meet Jerri and George.  If you've never been to E.S., it's a delight.  Known as the Little Switzerland of the Ozarks.  Really some unique homes and bldgs there. We ate at Bubba's BBQ.  Which was pretty good. But it didn't surpass Danna's by any means.

4-10-13:  Happy Sibling Day to my brother Bill Boy, and in memory of my big sis, Julie.

4-11-13:  It was spitting snow this morning in the Branson area.

No, Tammy, you didn't wake me!!

4-12-13:  Seems that Tammy forgot I'm retired.  She startled me awake with a text. LOL

my serial killer pose

 Got badgeness this morning at the dam.  I guess you could say we got our dam badges.

redbud near Branson Belle

Simply a gorgeous day with brilliant redbuds!

4-13-13:  Worked at the Dewey today and it was such an honor to visit with a WWII vet.  What an outstanding spirit this gentleman had.  Made me miss my pop!

And a funny thing happened as I was talking to a man about the dam tours.  His wife (about 30ish) came up beside me and slipped her arm around my waist. I knew David was gone, so I kinda jumped, then she jumped.  She said she'd just assumed her son was standing there by her hubby.  The Mr. said he would be embarrased, but she does that sort of thing all the time.  When they got ready to leave, I told her to watch where she's going!  Funnier moment in person than on the blog, but one to remember.

got to meet Tammy's new dog, Cooper.  Soooo pretty!

4-15-13:  Yes!  Tammy and I hit the resale shops today!  Once again, she was the big winner. She found some great stuff, including a pretty expensive purse for only $3.  Sherryl met up with us in downtown Branson.  Then we pigged out at Danna's in Branson West.  Yes, I can see there won't be any weight loss for me this year.

Got home and learned about the Boston Marathon bombing.  (great to know only a few days later that they found the terrorists. One was killed in a shoot out and the other injured and arrested)

David's bday card from Andrew and Asher

and the tshirt they sent him.  Yay, Shockers!

4-16-13:  My fella's bday.  We had to work, but Gala provided some YUMMY bday cake ice cream sandwiches for him!

Neil and me

4-17-13:  Went to see Neil Diamond (Keith Allen) with Bob and Terri.  Very nice show.  What made it special to me was Keith's openness about having Aspbergers.  He is married with 5 kids and still struggles with it.  He told us he has begun to take folic acid and oxytocin and his wife has seen a big improvement in his emotions and socialness.

Did laundry in Branson West which allowed me to enjoy the Dogwoods between here and there.  Plumb Nellie!  Many are open and more fixin' to.

think the woodpeckers have enjoyed this tree

pink dogwood in front of COE office

somewhere in here is the pileated woodpecker

near boat launch at table rock state park

on the lakeshore trail

at Branson Belle

on the trail

Did my 3 mile walk on the Lakeshore Trail this evening.  Storm watch going on, so the tall trees were creaking, waves crashing, redbuds lookin' particularly good, and the dogwood in front of the Branson Belle is really hearty. And THEN I got to see our Pileated Woodpecker!  Such a treat.

Tonite on the news was about the explosion in West, TX at a fertilizer plant.  Brutal.  Killed about 14 first responders and left a big crater in the ground. The plant was about 1 mile east of the rv park where we stayed on the way up from the hill country.

4-18-13:  Having some gully-washers today in Branson.  So David and I played Panties!!

ouchie!

4-19-13:  Today's Pam's 60th bday.  Where does the time go?  And what did she do?  She got a tat!  Kinda jealous.  She and I were supposed to do that together!  Maybe on my 60th?

Dawn and me at Danna's

Dawn and Ron enjoying their 1st Branson sunset at the 165 overlook

Our good friends, Dawn and Ron from Michigan, arrived in Branson today.  Of course, we introduced them to Danna's and gave them the driving tour of the town.

Stop! In the Name of Love!  yep, we're supreme! 

Blues Sistas

Elvis and his gang

4-20-13:  Walked 3 miles this morning.  Took Ron and Dawn to Legends this afternoon.

my sweetie

Ron and Dawn

loved showing Ron and Dawn the sights of the Ozarks

Arkansas Grand Canyon

View of Gaither Mtn (i think) from Mt Judea

from Mt. Judea, looking at some MO peaks

4-21-13:  Finally went to the Cliff House Cafe on Hwy 7.  It's at the top of a mtn overlooking the "Arkansas Grand Canyon".  Good food, great view, and Company's Comin' Pie!  Yum!

at Pruitt's Landing

Buffalo Nat'l River at Pruitt's Landing

Also, stopped at Pruitt's Landing on the Buffalo to take in the view of the river.

Dam

4-22-13:  Today we took Ron and Dawn to the Dewey so they could see the place and get hooked up to workamp with us!  Yay!

Ron and Dawn

I guess I'm photobombing ya'll!

helping each other outta there

this Mitten woman is quickly becoming a Southern gal!

this is ONE of their throwed rolls!

then they come around with sorghum

this is "just" the main course, not counting all the passarounds

before pigging out

Then we all went to Lambert's in Ozark, MO.  Home of the Throwed Rolls!

wonderful battlefield in Springfield -- one of the most major Civil War battles west of the Mississippi

Wilson's Creek

Snake Rail Fence

The Ray Homestead

The Ray's spring house

Gen Sterling Price, CSA used the Edwards' cabin as his HQ during the battle

Location of Guibor's Battery Missouri Artillery CSA. We could see the Union Battery on Bloody Hill across the field about a half mile away

Totten's Battery marks the center of the Union lines. They fired almost continually throughout the battle, first at the Pulaski Battery across Wilson's Creek and later shifted to the attacking Southerners on Bloody Hill during their 3 assaults on Bloody Hill.

lovely grove of these in front of the Ray House

Then we visited Wilson's Creek Battlefield in Springfield.  Very well-kept grounds and good history.  Will def go back and hit a trail or 2 there.

Shirley Temple

4-23-13:  My baby girl's 31st birthday!  Wish I was with her.  Also, Shirley Temple's 85th.  Laura Lee and her memaw -- my mom -- used to love to watch the Little Princess when Laura was little.

SIX was great, as always.  But Ron stole the show at intermission by dancing with some woman he didn't know

then at Charlies, another woman who was singing at the place ended up singing to him.
Dawn, you just can't take that playa anywhere!

Dawn, Ron, David, and I went to see Six this afternoon.  Outstanding as always.  Then we tried the ribs at Charlie's on the strip.  Sadly, we had to say our goodbye's to Ron and Dawn.  But we look so forward to workamping with them this fall!

chapel at Dogwood Canyon

transplanted Dogwoods

one of the many weirs and waterfalls

shaped like a cross

pink dogwood

plenty of water for the falls this week

a thriving crop of watercress

native dogwoods

thong tree from native Americans

couple of big ole frogs

Glory Hole

4-25-13:  David and I went to Dogwood Canyon today with Bill and Edna.  We rode the tram with Jerry the guide.  He was hilarious.  And very imformative!  The Dogwoods were showing out today! Pink and white, native, and transplants.  Just beautiful! I never get tired of seeing Dogwoods.  Oh, and google the Legend of the Dogwood.

info on their construction

site of new general store 

site of new mill

Saw the construction of the new store (ETC 2014) and the mill (ETC 2015),

one of the groundhogs we saw posing for us

2 groundhogs, monster trout,

sooooo many Mayapples

 tons of mayapples,

elk talking to Jerry

This longhorn is pretty much king of the hill

Then there's Elvis -- he started to get up and it was worth watching his effort. Changed his mind and plopped back down

the king

thought he was gonna ride with us for a sec

this guy couldn't have been less interested in us

this bull has some velvet buttons -- they say their antlers can grow about an inch a day

wildlife herds, redbuds, carst topography, and mushrooms.  Plumb Nellie!

David, me, Edna, and Bill at Wishbowl Falls

Us at Wishbowl Falls

Sadly, the Calif Golden Trout at Wishbowl Falls, had disappeared in the last couple of weeks. They plan to restock them. And we learned a new word - Iowegians.

Morgan going coon huntin' -- notice the weapon

She's not scared of anything!

the coon growled at them and refused to budge

look really close in the back left corner of the dumpster

Later, back at the campground, Morgan went coon huntin' in our dumpster.  Couldn't get the little guy.  But they  left a couple of long sticks in there to help him crawl out.

this is the snake he'd let us touch - hog nose?

great crowd!

This is the snake he would NOT let us touch - rattler

4-27-13:  Worked and enjoyed the Sneaky Snakes presentation by John Miller.  He is from the MDC's fish hatchery below the dam (which is wonderful).  He brought a rattlesnake which shook his rattles constantly for us.  He also had copperheads, and some non-venomous snakes.  This is where I learned about "chocolate kisses".

David and Sherryl on the trolley

4-28-13:  Worked today and David and I both enjoyed a couple of dam tours.  However, after we got back from the 2:00, evidently a young lady decided to end her life by jumping off the top of the dam.  When the 4:00 tour went back down there, they discovered her body.  Very sad day.  Not sure if there have ever been any other suicides at that dam.

Edna, Gene, Sherryl and Gala

my first sock monkey

Gala's, mine, and Edna's

4-30-13:  A few of us met at the Dewey tonite and had crafts.  Gala taught us to make sock monkeys!!  Fun, fun, fun!  I'm feeling a new addiction coming on!  Mine looks pretty pitiful compared to the others.  Bumpy legs.  But that led to the idea of a knee brace being my "signature" for mine!

Quote of the Day:  I like to save the mouth for last so they can't scream while I'm stitching all their other parts", by Gala Solari.

me, Rocky, Terri, and Maggie -- the Rahn's new baby

ran into our sweet friend, Sarah, at Walgreens on our 2nd or 3rd day in town

Linda, me, Edna, and Sherryl with our knitted flowers on for Adopt-a -Bed day at the Dewey

Dewey Tall

skull Morgan saw in Chicago -- know what it is?

Ranger Jeremy with his Morel Mushroom find

Morgan and her big salad

And...............Bill/Edna's penis

This first month in Branson has been full of fun and friends!  We are so happy to be here!  Looking forward to more adventures in May and to short trips to see Gus and then Laura!!

Much love to you all from the Plumb Family!!

Bob, Nellie, and Tucker'd