Branson Trip, Day One

Monday, October 27: Sis arrived at 7 a.m., and we were ready to leave on our trip to Branson by 9 a.m. on this shivery cold morning. As we traveled, we listened to a Mary Higgins Clark audio book of short stories, titled, "The Lottery Winner." The drive north was pleasant, though we were disappointed that the trees of the rolling Ozark hills were mainly drab brown, rather than the brilliant oranges, reds and yellows that we expected.

We made two stops along the way, including one at a roadside rest stop for lunch, and arrived at Table Rock State Park at Branson around 2 p.m. Our campsite was located near the bank of Table Rock Lake, though we could barely see the water beyond the trees. Here, maple trees glowed red, helping to satisfy our need for autumn color.

After camp set-up, Hubbie, Sis, and I toured the Branson area, stopping first at the tourism center to pick up our tickets to "Noah, the Musical." After that, we visited a winery, intending to take a tour. But since the tour was an hour long, and it was already late afternoon, we opted out. We did pick up a couple of bottles of wine, though, including a golden spumanti that we'll enjoy on New Year's Eve.

From the winery, we drove by the Branson Belle Showboat, but the area was closed. In fact, it remained closed all week. We supposed it was getting ready for the Christmas holiday season, which begins the first week of November.

Table Rock Visitor Center was open, however, and we enjoyed the exhibits there, particularly a large map covering most of one wall that illustrated how enormous this man-made reservoir is...43,100 acres, with 857 miles of shoreline, spreading into large pools with branching multiple fingers. Table Rock Dam impounds the White River to form the enormous lake.

Mother chose to stay at camp while we were out, and had a spaghetti supper ready when we returned around 4:30 p.m.

After supper, we donned sweaters, coats, scarves, hats, and gloves to go to Branson Landing. This is a 1.5 mile boardwalk mall along Lake Taneycomo that features a spectacular fire and water feature...lighted geysers that dance to music, accompanied by intermittent booms from fire cannons.

We parked in a handicapped slot near the Bass Pro Shop, and continued down the brick and paved path, stopping at various shops along the way, until we reached the Belk's store that anchors the opposite end of the complex, where Hubbie picked us up.

We were wintry cold by that time, and plenty ready for a choice of hot coffee, hot chocolate, and Mother's homemade cookies when we got back to the camper.

Balmy Sunday

It's a gorgeous sunny day, with temps in the high 70s. We'd better enjoy it, because predictions are for sharply cooler weather next week. We've made sure to pack coats, hats, and gloves, for chilly evenings that could dip into the 30s at Branson.



After a session on the treadmill, I dressed for a trip to the WDCS for last-minute grocery items for the trip...fresh milk, bread, deli meats and cheeses, fruits, etc. Usually, I have to stand in line a long time at the deli counter, but this morning, I was the first customer served.



We were done shopping and back home by noon. Shortly after that, we enjoyed a lunch of pork roast with carrots and onions, and mashed potatoes and gravy, and a side of applesauce. Mother had prepared a large meatloaf, too, that cooked in the oven while a generous-sized pork roast was in the slow-cooker.



Otherwise, we had an ordinary Sunday. We chose show tunes as our dinner music today. After lunch, we read the Sunday newspaper, and I programmed the DVR for our favorite shows for the week. Mother went home shortly after lunch, taking with her the kitten she has chosen to keep. She has been letting the kitten visit, so it can begin to get accustomed to Mother's house.

The mama cat and kittens are on their own for a few days, now, though, while we're away. But the neighbor boys will come over from time-to-time to make sure they have food and water. We have good neighbors on all sides, who are watchful of our house whenever we are gone.

Sis is to arrive early in the morning, and we will hope to leave by around 9 a.m.

Sleepless Night

For some reason, I simply could not go to sleep last night. I finally drifted off around 5:30 this morning, but it was a short stretch to 8 a.m., when I got up to join Hubbie at breakfast before he left to help the Master Gardeners in a project scheduled for 9 a.m.



Before he left, he went outdoors to feed the kittens, and discovered that our neighbors that live behind us were having a yard sale. He went over to see if there was anything that might interest us and said that there were a lot of children's clothes and toys for sale.



Mother and I decided to go take a look for ourselves. We weren't interested in the kid's clothes, since we don't know any of the great-grandkid's sizes, and there were no appropriate toys. But I did find a cute chambray shirt that ties at the waist, in my size, so I bought that. Mother found a wool black and red plaid poncho, and a couple of picture frames.



We spent the rest of the morning organizing for the trip next week. After a catch-as-catch-can lunch, Hubbie groomed Shih Tzu and bathed her, and Mother and I continued gathering things for the camper.

After supper, Hubbie and I turned on the radio to listen as our favorite college team played. Hubbie did most of the listening, since I kept nodding off...not because I was bored, but because I was making up for a sleepless night. Unfortunately, every time our team made a touchdown, I was off to La-La Land. I did manage to stay awake for the last few exciting minutes of play, when it seemed our team might have a chance of winning. Unfortunately, though, they lost by two points in the last seconds of the game.

A couple of nights ago, Hubbie and I watched a movie titled, "The Affair of the Necklace," starring Hilary Swank, among others. The movie, rated "R" for violence, brief nudity, and adult
content, is about an 18th century Frenchwoman, orphaned as a young girl, who sets out to restore her family's good name. She manages to very nearly successfully pull off a scam that culminates in the French Revolution, and the eventual beheading of Marie Antoinette.

Mother decided she wants to see the movie, even with it's "R" rating, so I taped it for her. In discussing the bawdiness of the royal court, and particularly the extravagance of Marie Antoinette during that era, I mentioned that the French people were outraged with the Queen's mindless spending on her wardrobe and jewelry. "Sort of reminds me of the criticism Sarah Palin is taking for her expensive clothing. Fortunately, though, folks don't want to guillotine her," I said. "No," Mother quipped, "all they want to do is run her through the wringer."

Water Aerobics and Friendship Cakes

It was a sunny, calm, crisp autumn morning for traveling to the college pool. Parking was at a premium today, and I had to walk down a hill to the gym. I don't mind walking down the hill and back up again after water aerobics, though, since it gives my heart a little extra workout.



In the locker room this morning, I met a new water aerobics member, who, when I introduced myself, exclaimed, "I saw your picture in the newspaper Wednesday! I've seen you a lot around town, but didn't know your name!" Another member piped up, "I don't doubt you've seen her around town. She's everywhere." Wow. I didn't know I was that conspicuous. Maybe I should stay home more. But, wait...if these folks are seeing me everywhere, doesn't that mean that they are everywhere, too?



Following water aerobics today, Mother and I joined the "Water Babies" at a local Italian restaurant for lunch. This outing gave me a chance to wear my new pumpkin colored sweater over black pants and black turtleneck. It also gave me a chance to wear a beautiful necklace of multi-colored beads in autumn tones given to me by my two thoughtful stepdaughters for my birthday last January.




It's difficult for me to choose a menu item that I feel is healthy, but I settled for a hot smoked turkey sandwich with melted Swiss cheese, topped with lettuce and tomato, on a wheat roll, served with a side of roasted potatoes, all of which tasted pretty salty to me. I ate half of it and brought the other half home for Hubbie to have as part of his lunch tomorrow. I also sinned by eating garlic bread dipped in Marinara sauce. Mother had spinach quiche and fruit bowl.



A subject of conversation at our table was the weather, of course. We agreed today is beautiful, especially since there is no wind. One lady, commenting that she's from Chicago, said, "I miss the wind." Another lady asked her how long she's been away from The Windy City. "Forty years," she said. That's a long time to miss wind! I don't mind summer breezes, but I think I'd miss winter winds like I'd miss an abscessed tooth.



Back home, I jumped into jeans and a knit shirt, so I could begin baking friendship cakes. For several weeks, I've periodically added fruit to starter, stirring it each day until it was ready to be added to cake mixes. There's enough fruit to make three cakes, one of which will become part of Younger Son's birthday in February. He always looks forward to getting one of these cakes, which his family is eager to share.



Usually, I have friendship cake starter liquid in the freezer, but I found that after several years of fermenting fruit and saving the starter, it had finally become exhausted, and I had to make starter from scratch this year, using yeast as a beginner. So it was 44 days from the day I first made the starter until today, when the fruited mixture was finally ready to be used in cakes.



As usual, Mother is helping with this project by insisting on taking the ingredients for two of the cakes home with her to bake this afternoon and tonight.



All three cakes will be in the freezer before the day is out. We wanted to be sure and have them done before the hectic holiday season begins...which for us begins next week, when we go to Branson. After that, it's time to plan the Thanksgiving feast, which this year means taking into account the various diet restrictions of several family members.



Between cakes, Hubbie and I ran errands, including to a grocery store to pick up mineral oil to put in Shih Tzu's food. She's been terrible about licking her feet lately and then coughing and coughing. A vet suggested the mineral oil could help her get rid of hair she might be swallowing.



Then we went to a filling station to top the truck tank with diesel. Too bad we didn't need more, because today was customer appreciation day at the station, and fuel was being sold at a 20-cents-a-gallon discount. Folks were at each of the pumps handing out prize registration tickets, too. A lot of nice prizes, including free gasoline, are being given away. We hope we win one.



We wondered what was going on at the station when we arrived and found a policeman directing traffic. There were long lines at each of the pumps, of course, requiring several guys in orange vests to keep the cars and trucks moving in an orderly manner.

Greeting Cards

The photo above shows four greeting cards that Mother and I made. Actually, Mother made three of them...the happy face one, the dark blue one with block letters, and the "Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday" one. I made the other dark blue one using a strip of polka dot paper left over from Mother's project...I punched out the dots to make a different look. The sticker lettering is hard to see in the photo, but is fine seen close up.

As predicted, we did get rain last night, though if it stormed we slept through it. Our rain gauge shows two inches fell during the night. As today wore on the temperature dropped into the 50s.

We got up late this morning, and after breakfast I headed to the treadmill. We spent the rest of the morning in various household tasks. Because Mother and I were scheduled to get on the scale for our monthly weigh-in at Weight Watchers this evening, I settled for just a bowl of fresh fruit for lunch.

After lunch Hubbie and I ran errands. Since I had a 1 p.m. haircut appointment, Hubbie dropped me by the beauty shop while he went to the post office to mail birthday cards to Daughter-in-Law, and then to the pharmacy to pick up one of my medications.

Following my appointment, we stopped by the bank that sponsored a calendar photo contest to pick up my photos, one of which they scanned to use on their 2009 calendar. There was no information on the manila envelope to indicate which photo will be featured, though. I'd even forgotten what the theme for this year's calendar is until I picked up the photos...it's "Yard and Garden." I sent five close-up snapshots of Hubbie's flowers, and out of 600 entries one of mine was selected, though I guess it'll be sometime in November or early December before the calendars will be available so I can see which photo is featured.

From the bank, we went shopping at a competing discount store before going to the WDCS. There, besides getting grocery items, I also picked up snapshots at the one-hour service of a two-year-old child I photographed while at Octoberfest. His grandmother ordered prints from me, and I'll put them into the mail to her tomorrow. Lately, when I go to events to shoot for possible publication in our state newspaper, I also offer prints of kids to folks that I notice are attending without a camera in hand. People seem more than willing to pay a few bucks for these.

At 5 p.m., Mother and I faced the dreaded scale at Weight Watchers. I feared I'd gained a couple of pounds, but I actually stayed the same as last month. Mother did gain a pound and a half, but she had already weighed on her home scale and knew she was up. My home scale is broken. I need to purchase another one, because my weight has a tendency to creep slowly up if I don't diligently keep track of it.

Before we went to Weight Watchers, I made a batch of tapioca pudding, using skim milk, egg substitute and sugar substitute. Mother took a serving of it home with her after we got back from WW since she didn't plan to join us for a "week in review" supper. I baked a pan of low-calorie tube biscuits to go with leftover lasagna, beans, and California mix. The biscuits were very good with low-fat margarine and locally produced honey drizzled over them.

We'll have servings of tapioca for a snack later this evening.

To Catch a Kitten

As I traveled to the pool this morning, translucent fog lay low over the fields, and a misty sun peeked out from beneath clouds. Rain, perhaps turning to storms, is predicted for later tonight and tomorrow. A couple of days ago, a TV weatherman predicted we'd have rainy weather when he saw long vapor trails in the sky. Fair weather vapor trails are short, he said. He explained why this is so, but I don't remember what the explanation was.



Yowie! The water at the pool felt bracing today at 82 degrees. When the pool guy came to check it, he said the maintenance guys had shut the boiler off to clean the filters, and he guessed they had forgotten to turn it back on again. I wait until I get home to shower after swimming, but I'll bet the golden-age ladies who showered in the locker room today found the water shivery.



When I got home from the pool, Mother came over and put color in my hair. I'll be getting a haircut tomorrow, but Mother opted out, since the appointment is a week earlier in the month than usual. My hair grows very fast, and I need a trim so I won't look shaggy while we're at Branson next week. Mother said her hair hasn't grown much this month, so she wants to wait until next month's appointment.



This afternoon, Hubbie decided to bring the black kitten and the silver kitten indoors for a visit. But when the screen door slammed shut behind him, the black kitten got startled and clawed Hubbie's arm, drawing blood, as it leaped to the floor (black cat...Halloween?).

The chase was on after that, as we tried to catch the little critter. Like a bullet, the kitten shot under the couch, streaking away as soon as Hubbie reached for it, and then ran back and forth under the dining room table as Hubbie and I tried to grab it. Finally, it backed into a corner under the serving cart. As stealthily as a cat, I snuck up to the cart on hands and knees, slowly reached out and snatched the kitten by the scruff of it's neck. It instantly became calm as it settled into my arms. Moral? If you want to catch a cat, you have to become a cat.



While Hubbie was reading the local newspaper this afternoon, he called out, "My wife's picture is in the paper today!" It is the snapshot taken at the art gallery the other night, when I was prevailed upon to be in the picture before I could sneak out the door after the meeting. Two others, who also protested being photographed, are in the picture, too. I'm not particularly photogenic, but this picture is, thankfully, not awful. The three of us should remember that the photo is not about us, anyway, but about selling the pretty Christmas ornaments we're promoting.



Got a call from one of the community theater board members asking me if I would be free Friday afternoon to make a short welcome statement at a local college, prior to a children's play for kindergarten to third graders, performed by our state's arts council tell-a-tale troupe. I can't do it, since Mother and I will be attending the water aerobics luncheon on Friday at 11 a.m., and I would need to be at the theater by 11:30 a.m. to welcome the troupe, and then introduce them to the audience at 1 p.m., the time of the play. Later he called back to say he'd found another member who agreed to do it.

I'm glad this other member can take on the task. She and her mentally challenged son have participated in local community theater projects for years. She has starred in lots of our plays, and the son has been cast in the chorus of several shows. He has also served as theater usher many times. Even though he is about 20 years old now, he is still at the level of about eight years old, so he thoroughly enjoys staged children's productions. He'll be excited to see Friday's performance of "Rumplestiltskin."

Tuesday...an Ordinary Day

Since I didn't have to go to Cardiac Rehab this morning, we slept late and then I did 35 minutes of walking on the treadmill, followed by five minutes of stretching and using an elastic band for resistance exercises.



Well, the mama cat and all six of her juvenile kittens are back. They've been here for several days now. We haven't a clue where they went when they left, or why they decided to come back. Hubbie has been able to pet all of them now, whereas before they were too skittish to get near.

They're definitely ready to go to new homes, but we don't know anyone who wants one at the moment. We'll have to start polling our acquaintances to see who might be in the market for a pet. I think Hubbie has fallen in love with one of the two Siamese mix ones, a very friendly buff colored kitten with beautiful blue eyes and dark points on her face, ears, paws and tail. We really hate getting attached to the kittens, since as they grow older, they could be destined (as so many of our cats have) to meet their end on the highway in front of our house.



I had trouble deciding what to have for lunch today, but finally settled on a baked potato, with a fresh orange for dessert. Hubbie opted for a PB&J sandwich and potato chips. After lunch, we ran errands again. The main reason for getting out today was that we wanted sweet potatoes to bake as an accompaniment to pork chops and California mix veggies for supper. As long as we had to be out anyway, we stopped by the post office and the bank, as well as at a dollar store, where I picked up several lint rollers and some boxes of low-salt/low-fat crackers for the trip.



Otherwise, it was an ordinary day. Mother and I strolled the garden later in the afternoon and noticed that the lettuce she planted recently in the raised garden has broken the ground. The butternut squash, growing out of the compost heap, is doing nicely. Mums, zinnias, and clematis are blooming, even as the leaves are falling off the sweet gum trees. Yellow Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are still flitting among the flowers, and as recently as a couple of days ago, I saw a hummingbird feeding at a zinnia blossom.