Branson Trip, Day Two

Tuesday, October13: We had intended to go to Springfield today to meet with friends for lunch, but when we called yesterday to make arrangements, we learned that the wife of the couple we were to meet was in the hospital with intense stomach pains. Gall stones were suspected, and treatment was to take place today.

So since we weren't going to Springfield, we slept late this morning, and after breakfast and getting ready for the day, we went shopping. It was a cold, rainy day, so it was a good time to be indoors. We went to two outlet malls, visiting shoe stores at both. Hubbie and I found what we wanted at my favorite-brand store, and Mother found what she needed at her favorite-brand store.

Hubbie and I were able to use an AARP 20% discount offer at the store we visited, which featured a buy two pairs, get one pair free sale on shoes that were already outlet-discounted. I bought a pair of black athletic shoes, and a pair of brown casual shoes, and Hubbie bought a pair of casual shoes. Mother got two pairs of athletic shoes at a buy one, get one half price sale, but there was no AARP discount offer with the brand she bought.

After that, we stopped at the WDCS for incidentals we forgot to bring with us before returning to camp for lunch. After lunch, we went shopping again...this time to the Grand Village stores, where we visited the Christmas stores and bought a couple of ornaments for our Christmas trees. We also visited a shop that offers free samples of dips and drinks. I bought a jar of cherry preserves; Hubbie got a bottle of jalapeno mixture for dips; and Mother bought a can of hot chocolate mix, and envelopes of dip mix.

This was a fun store, but very crowded and hard to move around in, due to shelves and counters being placed so close that it was difficult for people to pass each other in the aisles. At one point, Mother spilled her cider drink, making the floor pretty slick. I tried to mop it up as best I could with a handful of facial tissue, but I couldn't get it absolutely dry, and the residue was sticky. I wanted to report the accident to a store associate, but no one was available.

From there, we went to an Amish store. Here, Mother bought lots of herbs and spices in bulk. This store sells cherry preserves at about half the price per pint of the one I bought at the other store, so I bought another one.

Then we stopped by a grocery store to order a deli chicken for tomorrow night's supper. Back at camp, we had potato soup and pimento cheese sandwiches for supper, after which Hubbie and I went to a popular overlook site to take pictures of the dam (see previous blog).

Later, we played Skipbo again. This time, I won three games, Hubbie won two, and (yay!) Mother won one.