Remember our soldiers at Christmas

I have something I want to share with you today. 

Joani at My South West Ramblings

has a post about Adopt a Soldier for Christmas.  She had emailed a soldier through this program that is serving in Afghanistan and he has emailed her that he has 50 men in his platoon and sent her a list of things they would like to have if anyone should want to send a package.   Joani is asking for help in granting these soldier's wishes.

If you would like to help, just go to Joani's blog at

My South West Ramblings 

to see the list and get the address to mail your package.

I plan to get a few of these things today and get my package in the mail asap.  I hope some of you will help, too. 

God Bless our soldiers everywhere!

Until next time...

City Lights....

One of the highlights of our trip to Branson each Thanksgiving is Silver Dollar City, a theme park that hosts An Old Time Christmas each year that Good Morning America called one of the top 5 holiday events in the country.

We went 2 different afternoons and I only took my camera with me the second day.   I've taken so many photos of this beautiful place already!  I did have to snap a few to see if I could improve on my night-time shooting.  Some are okay, others not so much, so I need to keep practicing!  That means we'll just have to keep going back another year until I get it right!  Right? 

Here is a closer look at the same area as in the photo above.  You can see by the sky that it wasn't quite dark yet.  If you haven't been to this park and plan to go, wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk a lot.  This park covers 61 acres, of course that includes the space for the 30 rides and attractions, 60 shops and restaurants, etc.  Yes, there are lots of shops to entice you to spend money...lots of money.  Some have been known to call it Steal Yer Dollar City...ha!

There are so many food stands/restaurants that sell yummy, good-smelling food that it's certainly not too hard for me to part with my money!   There are funnel cakes, apple dumplings with cinnamon ice cream, potato twists, cheese-filled Italian bread sticks, hot chocolate with various toppings...just to name a few!
I always like the Family Feud bowl and my daughter ate a potato twister on a dog.  The Family Feud is so called, I believe, because the family tries to help you eat it and I don't like to share!  Ha!  This yummy dish is made in a really huge iron skillet over a fire.  Have you ever tried fried pork rinds?  Kettle corn?  

 

  

There are beautiful trees and displays everywhere.  And, Christmas music!!  If you aren't in the Christmas spirit when you came in, you will be when you leave.  Unless you are a real Scrooge!  

 
The old Wilderness Church is small but often used for weddings.  It is close to the old cabin where we enjoy listening to the Homestead Pickers.

I shot this photo just as we were boarding the bus that took us to the parking lot where we parked.  The colors of all the lights are just fabulous in the park and my camera just doesn't do them justice.  

I hope you've enjoyed this short tour of Silver Dollar City.  We had a fabulous and fun time!!  It's a beautiful experience and I wish everyone could visit this place.  The first time you see it, it really is overwhelming and just takes your breath away.   I must warn you that there are lots of people there!  But we easily found places to sit down to rest a bit.  There are picnic tables by some of the food stands and also benches all around the park.  Besides gazing at the beautiful lights, it's almost as fun to just people watch!  We had a wonderful 5 days in Branson, I'll post another day about another favorite place we visited. 

Until next time...

This barn shot was taken near the end of September just outside the river town of Glasgow.  You can see the name under the fading white paint on the front of the barn.  I believe the second word is co-op.

Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm.

 

* * * * * * * * * * *

We're back from 5 days in Branson where we've celebrated Thanksgiving the past 7 years.  It was a lot of fun, but I've been resting today and hugging on my furbabies.   I'll get back into blogging and visiting everyone soon!

Until next time..

Happy Thanksgiving!

There are so many things that I'm thankful for this year so I won't try to list them, but I will say how thankful I am for all my dear blogging friends.  I wish each of you a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving! 

I will see you next week!

Until next time... 

 

comments closed

Barn Charm

This quilt barn is just outside of a quaint little river town in

mid-Missouri.  This is one of my drive-by photos taken this September.  It was hard to get a really clear shot of the barn with the trees in front.

Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm.

Until next time...

Friday's thoughts

I'm missing them already.  The flowers and the fluttering pretties.

 

 The good news is that there is beauty to behold

in every season if we just look for it.

There are smiles waiting to happen around every corner.

 I'm looking forward to seeing the birds at the feeders.  

~Truman~

If this big boy and his sister, who mostly live outside, doesn't keep

them away.  They come in downstairs at night and we let them

play with Stormy and Peanut.

 

Speaking of Peanut...she's the reason I hurt my right hand.

Did I mention that I had to have a ring cut off because my

fingers were so swollen?  I did have my hand x-rayed and, thankfully, no hairline fractures or breaks were found.  It has been very painful and the swelling hasn't gone completely away.  I have not been able to use that hand as I'd like.  It has put a damper on my cleaning projects since it's hard to grip anything.  Doctor said it may take weeks to get back to normal.  Such is life, it could be worse!   I can still get out and go and that is what I've been doing.

How has your week been?

   

Until next time...   

Thank you....

Thank you to all our veterans everywhere!  

I've thanked my hubby, who is a Vietnam veteran. 

* * * * * * * * * * 

Also, I want to thank all of my blogging friends who commented

on Thursday's post.  Life goes on and while I'm still not happy and never will be about the outcome of this election, I am still going to post here and visit all the wonderful bloggers that I have come to know and enjoy.   I have been a bit slow lately as I hurt my hand a few days ago.  Our kitten, Peanut, came flying down the hall behind me and ran between my feet causing me to stumble.  While trying not to fall, I hit my hand against the door frame and really banged it up pretty good.  It has been pretty swollen and I couldn't bend my ring finger or little finger for a few days.  I still have trouble with the little finger and can't yet make a fist.  So, typing has slowed down as well as work on projects here at home.   

 Hope your week is off to a good start!  Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week???   Yikes!!

Until next time...

Enter with caution...

Warning!  I am about to break a few rules here.  Yes, I know it is a no-no to talk about politics and religion.  But, this is my blog and I have decided to be honest about how I feel.  You may decide that you don't want any part of it and that's okay, too.   I won't write a book, but I just have to say a few things so the steam will stop rising from the top of my head and the anger and disappointment will begin to dissipate. 

   

 As someone else wrote (can't remember who, but this is pretty much verbatim), "it is almost impossible to believe that the voters actually passed up someone with the successes and abilities of the conservative candidate for the demonstrated failures of the liberal candidate."   And to that I'll add that it's hard to believe people wanted a man who spent nearly 4 years blaming his predecessor instead of manning up and taking responsibility for his own failures and lack of experience.  

  It is hard for me to fathom how so many people apparently approve of :

47 million people on food stamps

7.9% unemployment

16 trillion in debt

more people on disability than ever before

socialized medicine

a weaker military

open borders in Mexico

apologizing for America's greatness

  more ultra liberal Supreme Court judges 

tighter gun control 

and so much more, but I'll stop here.

 I am very fearful for our beloved country.  America's greatness may very well be a thing of the past.  Many have said they were praying for the outcome of the election.  Our prayers weren't answered in the way we wanted.  In spite of my disappointment, I do know one thing. And that is God is still in control.  When our hopes and dreams for a better, brighter future have been knocked for a loop, remember that.  Focus on the One who created this planet we live on and whatever comes our way, we'll be okay. 

  * * * * * * * * * * 
Edited to add:  I am only expressing my views.  You are entitled to yours, of course.  I know many who voted for the other guy and I still love them anyway!  Even if I don't agree with someone's politics or religion, I fully respect their rights as I hope they respect mine.  We are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves, and I hope I do that.  But, I don't always agree with them just as they probably don't always agree with me!

Until next time...

This and that...and a barn

The foliage behind the pond just a couple of weeks ago.

Only a few leaves remain on the trees today.  The tree in the foreground that is in our back yard is one of the last to ever lose its leaves.  I've been watching the leaves falling out my window and humming when I'm working in the kitchen.  "The falling leaves, drift by my window...."  Do you remember that old song?

I'm off to do a bit of shopping in a few minutes.  It seems like we are always out of something.  I started a list over the weekend and it's grown quite long.  One item is my anti-virus protection which has expired.   Do you have a favorite that you want to recommend?  I've been buying Kaspersky.

 The barn below is my offering for this week's  Barn Charm.

This was taken about 2 weeks ago from the Lookout Point above the Missouri River.  The zoomed photo was a little washed out, so I tweaked it a bit in PicMonkey.

Linking to Barn Charm.

Until next time...

Happy Friday!

~Stormy and Peanut~

I had written a post (in my head) about these two feline friends and thought I'd just sit down and quickly type it up and find a pic to go with it for my post today.  That was about 4 hours ago.  I got sidetracked by phone calls, laundry and an unexpected little trip I need to make in a short while.  Does that ever happen to you?  Now I have no clue what clever things I was going to share.  I did want to ask if you allow your pets on your bed to sleep with you?  If that is too personal a question to ask, just ignore it!  I'll talk more about that when I have more time.

Last week, little Peanut had her surgery that all little female felines should have when they are around 5 months old.  That meant 3 trips to the vet.  The last visit was to check the area of her incision which seemed to be too large.  She was declared to be in good shape and is doing well, in spite of all the running and jumping she wasn't supposed to be doing.

Now, I'm off to take care of that unexpected business.  I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.  My prayers and thoughts continue to be with those who have been affected by Sandy.

Until next time...