Happy Fall Y'all!

Saturday, October 10, 2015

8:37 PM

It is fall for sure in Branson.  The leaves are turning more and more everyday. Our friends arrived to join everyone. 

 

We all rented a boat and enjoyed a day on the river. The weather was perfect - only a couple little fish caught . The ride up (or down?) the river was so relaxing and beautiful.

Driving the boat

Good friends!

Hamburgers on the grill are a must.  The pavillion here is the perfect place for our group of 13. Everyone brings something and no one has to do all the work! Dennis is a great burger chef.

The cousins had to go home on Friday morning. 

Inside of restaurant

In front of restaurant

The rest of us went to lunch at The College of the Ozarks. The college uses students to run the entire campus - we were told that it is built like a city and is self - sufficient. They raise cows, pigs, chickens, and grow vegetables. The students work a certain amount of hours a week in exchange for tuition and room and board. When they leave college they are debt free. The restaurant is like a 4 star. Excellent food and good prices. Read all about it online. 

   

Smoke on the Mountain play

Saturday we went to the play, Smoke on the Mountain. One of actors is a longtime friend of ours and Bill and Janice. She comes to Branson once a month to act in the play. We happen to be here on her weekend. Wonderful play filled with humor and music.

Everyone had to leave on Sunday to go in different directions. All making reservations for next year!!

We are heading south; making our way back home. Dennis does a good job of researching campgrounds online before we make reservations. We have never arrived at one that we could not stay - at least one night. Our planned two night stop in a campground in Oklahoma on our way to Lake Murray was not one of those. After arriving we decided that it was not a place for even one night. So, we continued on to Lake Murray. It was the longest we had traveled in one day. We were tired, especially the driver, but made it right at dark. We did not; however, dine at any 4 star restaurants. Lunch was a slice of pizza in the truck at a Flying J and dinner was peanut M & M's while driving……. Life on the road is sometimes that way.

We will meet up with sister and hubby in Ardmore for a meal in the next couple of days. They are on the way to a golf tournament and we will head to Conroe for our last stop before home. Rig has to be washed and cleaned up inside - and hopefully, time for a concert at the winery - before putting the girl back in storage for a while.

 

Again, Happy Trails to you all! And a very happy Fall Y'all!!

 

More Fun in Branson

This week in Branson is beginning with lots of family time. Dennis's cousins are here and  they are enjoying catching up and remembering their growing up days. I am enjoying hearing their stories.

Fishing is so so with small trout the only ones being caught. However, just sitting on the dock and watching the river is enough.

My uncle, Les Gilliam, spent 3 weeks every October for almost 20 years entertaining at Silver Dollar City. Since he stopped doing that his fans have had a reunion once a year in Kimberling, MO, a small town close to Branson. We were all invited to attend. These people came from all over the country every year when he performed at Silver Dollar City, some of them staying all 3 weeks. Many close friendships were formed. His show was called Barn Dance and he sang and they danced. 

Monday we all drove over to the reunion, ate lunch with them, and enjoyed the singing and dancing. A wonderful afternoon had by all. I also enjoyed catching up with my Aunt Martha and Uncle Les; precious people; my mother's younger brother.

 Back at camp, Dennis' cousin Sonya cooked out for us and we enjoyed food and conversation in the pavillion provided by the camp. Wonderful weather, too!!

                                              Next night, hot dogs and Smore's cooked over an open fire.

Coming up: play at Sight and Sound Theatre;

 friends arrive; and boating and fishing.

A pic of part of campground at Cooper Creek

What else can I say?  Nice.....

Branson

 

Enjoying relaxing days in Branson. The Mickey Gilley show Tuesday night was very entertaining, using video clips of his history and his still strong voice - he is almost 80!! His back up  singers and band  - wow! He still can't play piano because of his accident years ago, but he can still sing!

When we picked up the tickets the worker bee told us the doors open at 6:45 for the 7:30 show, but we might come earlier as the parking lot fills up early. He meant most of the people coming are old and get to places early….. He was right. We arrived at 6:30 and half the crowd was already there; waiting to go into their RESERVED seat. Aren't old people wonderful? Happy to be one of them!

 

Our RV viewed from fishing dock

The campground here is very nice.

 Good view of the river and easy access to the docks.

Dennis caught a small trout this morning. We overheard a woman tell her husband, "Who are you trying to tell me how to fish? I catch all the fish!" Well…..

Dennis fishing viewed from our RV 

Branson Landing down by old town Branson has a nice walking trail along the river. Next to the walkway are nice shops and restaurants. Pleasant weather made it a good afternoon to be out.

We rode the zip line at Branson Landing. Well, it is a baby zip line, but still we rode it across the river and it was fun!  Lunch at the Branson Café. In business since 1910.

Then, it is to grocery store. Relatives start arriving tomorrow. More fun times to come!

One of Dennis's pics of the blood moon.

Moving Along

Thursday we were able to tour a high end RV Factory, New Horizons in Junction City, Kansas. They mostly do custom fifth wheel units for full timers.  We enjoyed seeing the process of building an RV.

Also, had to do some laundry…. Even when having fun, some chores just have to be done. Then, a nice evening to sit outside and watch new campers come in to the park.

Friday, it was on the road to a park near Independence, MO.  Staying at KOA in Oak Grove, Mo. Nice park.

Saturday we visited Truman's home and Presidential Library.

In the oval office where Truman took pics with dignitaries

It was nice to get to know Bess and the President on a personal level. No matter one's political views, learning about former presidents and their decisions and lives helps us to make our decisions in the future.

Truman's home after he and Bess married

Perhaps the most interesting fact we learned was the reason for the change in the presidential seal during his administration. Before the change, the eagle's head was turned toward the talon that held the arrows - depicting war. Truman approved the change to have the eagle's head turned toward the talon that held the olive branch - depicting peace. A welcomed change after our nation was weary from two world wars.

Also, the egg salad sandwich at Dave's Bakery

 on the town square was good, too!

Sunday, we took a drive into Missouri  to Gilliam, MO. My mother's maiden name was Gilliam. My great-grandfather's uncle formed the city of Gilliam in the 1800's. What is left of the town of about 200 is a post office, houses for the residents, and a cemetery. We found the grave sites of the founder and other Gilliams. A nice ancestry.

The route to there and back was a beautiful view of farms and orchards in Missouri.

 We accidentally came upon an orchard and fruit market. There were more than 20 cars and a majority of the people had baskets loaded up with area apples. We found out that the area between Gilliam and our campsite is the apple capital of Missouri. I will be baking an apple pie in the near future!  Wonderful tasting apples.

We ended our visit at a local winery - and yes, they produce apple wine….

It was a beautiful  Sunday afternoon to see the country we are traveling in.

We are now set up in Branson with a beautiful view of the river!!

Tonight seeing Micky Gilley!

 

Abilene, Kansas

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

5:40 PM

Today we went into Abilene.  We visited the home where former President Eisenhower grew up and then the Presidential museum. Amazing history from his family, to WWII, to presidency.

On the property is a chapel and inside is the burial place of him and Mamie. If you go, plan on a minimum of a couple of hours for it all, but it is very much worth the time.

 

Now this is fried chicken!!

The visitor's center provided us with many brochures and things to do in Abilene. The Hitching Post Cafe was recommended for lunch. The special today was fried chicken with sides - and dessert! For $8.95. The picture does not do it justice. The fried chicken was……..GOOD!!! The waitress asked us where we were from. I said Texas and she said she knew it was either Texas or Georgia by my accent. I have an accent????

 

 After lunch we walked over to Old Abilene Town. The buildings are mostly original and they still stage gun fights on the weekends. Also, the saloon is open on weekends. It was fun to walk down the boardwalk and imagine how it must have been.

Old Church

In graveyard at church

Old Abilene Town

Dennis might deliver some mail!

 

 Our last stop of the day was the Seelye Mansion. The 3 story home is a treasure of history during the early part of the century.

 Mr. A.B. Seelye owned a patent medicine business in the late 1800's and the early 1900's. He also made vanilla and spices. He had salesmen who had wagons that traveled around and sold his products. When we walked in to get our tickets for the tours, the man greeting us, Terry, owns the mansion and lives there; but, also, owns the Hitching Post Cafe. He said he had fried our chicken himself a couple of hours earlier.

 

The Seelye family built the mansion

 and had some of the newest inventions of the time installed.

The first wall socket installed in a home in the country.

The basement has an early bowling lane that was purchased at the 1904 World's Fair. We were invited to play a game. The balls are about the size of a grapefruit with no holes. Instead of pins you hit a paddle worth different points each. What a treat - I won!!

The home also had a Steinway piano that is very old. I was invited to play and enjoyed the sound of the early piano. Here, as well, be prepared for more than an hour tour. The guide is very talkative but his tales of life of the family is interesting. My kind of history tour.

We are tired!!!!!

Travels in Oklahoma and Kansas

Lake Murray State Park

Lake Murray across from our site

Sunday we left Burleson and drove to Lake Murray State Park for an overnight stay. Our stay at Burleson provided temps in the 90's. We arrived in Oklahoma to a temperature of 73 degrees, dropping to 63 by set up!! Rain started shortly after. I don't remember the last 60 degree day. The camp hosts used to live in Pearland and Lubbock. We enjoyed visiting with them before rain set in.  Sitting in RV listening to rain was nice!

My Uncle Jake - mother's brother - is in a nursing home in Ardmore, so we went to town to see him in the late afternoon. It is such a treasure to see our older relatives and listen to their stories. Planning to see his brother - My Uncle Les - while in Branson in a few weeks.

Monday we traveled on North

 and spent one night at KOA in Wellington, KS. 

It is a small town south of Wichita, but  had a wonderful museum: Chisholm Trail Museum. Was in old hospital building. Actually, only a couple of rooms were dedicated to the Trail. The rest -- 3 stories - was dedicated to memorabilia from the area. Each room had a different theme, i.e., china, dolls, laundry, kitchen, etc. The best museum we have been to in a while. If in area, it is a must see. Wellington also has a very nice Walmart…..

Driving thru Kansas is another different kind of pretty. Flat lands with fields and fields of corn on one side and soy beans on the other side with barns and houses surrounded by trees. And even a lone oil well or two.  Enjoying the ride!

On the Road

Well, we are loaded up and heading North! 

First stop is at a campground in Burleson. It is fairly close to Tiffany's in Midlothian. We enjoyed dinner with grandkids last night and catching up on their lives. Tiffany is getting married in December after 10+ years being single. We are excited for her. The wedding will be small with reception at the Midlothian Conference Center. Today we visited there and got the layout and started making plans. Such fun!! Getting everyone involved and enjoying the moments.

Last weekend we made a quick flying trip to Lakewood, CO. Dennis's 90 year old uncle lives there with his daughter, Dennis' cousin Claudia. They all lived close growing up in Oklahoma . The weather was extraordinary and we enjoyed lots of outside time!  We walked around a lake that Claudia walks with friends.

The beauty is different from the South but beautiful.

 

For breakfast she took us to a Dutch bakery.

The reason for the walk after!

 On Friday, September 11 we went to Red Rocks, a famous concert venue in the Lakewood area. They were having a memorial service. First Responders wore the gear that was worn going into the twin towers. They walked up the steps to the amphitheatre the number of steps the first responders walked on 9-11. It was very emotional. I am glad we were there to see it.

                                  Also, Uncle Lawrence Alvin was glad to see us and that made the quick trip worth it.

Sunday, we head to Kansas!