Friday, December 3, 2010

Another Visit to Branson

We spent a week in Branson in mid-November. Lee, Tim, Rich study the map and discuss our route.


We hoped to get to Springfield, MO, by 4pm because we were going to eat an early dinner at Lambert's Cafe, home of the throwed rolls. We were a little late and had to wait as the place was P.A.C.K.E.D! Servers literally throw rolls across the dining room! Our seats were conveniently close.

This is a very fun place to eat, but go HUNGRY as portions are ginormous!

We spent and afternoon and evening at Silver Dollar City. For our non-local readers, let me introduce you to our friends. Leslie and Roger (she's an administrative assistant at a local care facility, he's in the paint department at a lawn mower manufacturing plant), Tim and Dorla (he's a retired farmer and equipment salesman, she does part-time home health care), Lee and Helen (he's a retired railroad man, she's retired administrative assistant). Since Helen is still recovering from knee replacement surgery, she rented a motor scooter - essential in getting around on the very hilly terrain! We are all friends from church and involved in various ministries.

We took in some wonderful shows. Some of us went to see SIX, six brothers who are wonderful! They make all their instrument music from their own voices - no background or recorded music accompanies. They are my new favorite group. They did some of their usual show, pop tunes, a Beach Boys set, and other great music then the second half was all Christmas. Fabulous!  Then we all went to Andy Williams' Christmas Show. He is 83 and was in great voice. He wears tennis shoes so he won't slip and fall, danced a little, had great acts who joined him, and put on a marvelous show. It was just like old times watching his TV specials!

Then our last day together, we went to see "Miracle of Christmas". This was produced by the same company who produces "Noah". Another marvelous show.

We loved the gorgeous red maple trees that stood outside our building!

Tim and Dorla, Lee and Helen left a couple of days before we did. On our last day we took Roger and Leslie to see Laura Ingalls Wilder's home. We toured the little musuem, watched a 10 minute film and then a very sweet docent led us on a tour through the "little house" than Almanzo built for Laura. Since Laura was just 4'11" everything about the house is "little"; height of kitchen counters, furniture, stair steps, etc.

They lived in a two room cabin while he built the house, starting with the kitchen, which you enter through the screened porch.  He built 1-2 rooms at a time, as funds would allow. It's a charming house on a wonderful piece of property.

This was a week filled with lots of good conversation, our own "church service" on Sunday, and too much food. It was a special time for Rich and me to get better acquainted with these dear people! Thanks to all of you for coming along with us!

2 comments:

  1. Looks likes a good time...I don't think I ever realized that Laura Ingalls Wilder was only 4'11". That makes me think I'm tall. Also, last night, during the Christmas parade, we were right across the street from you guys. I waved a couple of times, but I don't know if you saw or not. I would've come over, but I was busy keeping a certain little 2 year-old out of the way of the parade :)

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  2. Where is Laura Ingalls Wilder's home? I know about the log cabin in Kansas but didn't know about this one. Where did you 4 couples stay? I know you have your place but did the others all stay with you? I remember watching Andy Williams in Japan. We loved it because the singing was in English. They dubbed the talking part in Japanese. That is where I first learned about Donnie and Marie. And I think even Michael Jackson. We loved Six too and Noah. Thanks to you guys!!

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