It's Autumn! And catch-up time, too.

HAPPY AUTUMN!!

Hello, everyone!  This summer and blog break has flown by.  I really didn't intend to stay away so long but here it is autumn already.  At least that is what the calendar tells me.  It has been a very HOT summer and still is, so I'm not quite ready to buy pumpkins and put out the fall decor.  Autumn is my favorite season and I'm so ready for cooler weather.  I'm thankful we've had some rains along the way and the grass is still very green.  I'm hopeful that we'll have some pretty autumn foliage.

~sunrise in Branson, taken from our deck~

BG and I just got back from a nice long vacation at Branson.  We had a great time just relaxing at the condo for the most part and eating out somewhere different each day.  Our son had a case in the area, so he was able to visit us a few nights.  We went to see the Million Dollar Quartet one night.  It was fabulous! 

  

 ~I never win a game against the guys, but I have fun anyway!~

My daughter and I also went to Branson for a girl's long weekend vacay in August.  We had a wonderful time and got in some shopping and went to the Dixie Stampede one evening.  It was a fun trip!  

Did I ride the newest attraction in Branson?  The 15-story ferris wheel moved there from Chicago's Navy Pier?  Noooo...I'm both afraid of heights and claustrophobic, so I just admired the changing colors on the wheel as we played miniature golf across the highway!  Our son and his girl and her kids were in Branson for a little vacay this summer and rode the ferris wheel and they thought it was great fun.  I don't remember being afraid of heights when I was a youngster and rode the ferris wheel at the county fair then.  Of course, it wasn't 15-stories high!

You never know who you'll run into when you visit in downtown Branson.  Kim and I ran into these two characters in front of Dick's Five and Ten.  Ha!  We always enjoy browsing the aisles there and always find something we have to take home.
  

A few trips to Kansas City were made over the summer to visit our son.  I can't recall the name of the place in the photo above, but it was so good that we ate there during 2 different visits.  I must say that we have had some good food and ate out quite a bit during the summer.  I feel like I've gained 20 pounds.  Ouch! 

One of the highlights of the summer was on July 4th when BG, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, was presented with a quilt of valor   It was an honor to be chosen to receive a quilt this year and the ceremony was held at the park.  The quilt is beautiful and I need to figure out a way to display it.  The other man in the photo also received a quilt and he was also a Vietnam veteran.

Another honor for BG this summer was when he received a standing ovation from hundreds of folks at our rural electric cooperative's annual meeting.  He was recognized for his 40 years of service.  He tells me that he's not ready to retire yet and wants to work at least another year.  My traveling plans will most likely have to wait one more year...good thing I love Branson! 

In spite of the heat, good times were had over the summer with a few trips, going to the winery, a parade, good shows and good food, flowers in the garden and a wee bit of napping included.  

Work was also done.  Things at The Project should wrap up soon, I hope.  The heat slowed us BG down as the attic where he is fishing around in the loose insulation for wires has been just too hot to spend much time there.  My work in the house is still ongoing.  I think it will take 2 years to go through all the paper stuff and shred.  Ugh. 

I didn't take many photos over the summer.  We've had some beautiful sunsets that I wish I'd captured at the lake.  Yesterday's sunset was gorgeous, but I was busy fixing a late supper and didn't get my camera out.  

That's about it for my summer recap.  I'm looking forward to cooler autumn weather....beautiful trees, pumpkins, mums, and all that goes along with the season.  I hope you've had a nice summer, too, and I will be trying to catch up with what my blogging friends have been doing.  See you soon!

xo Cheryl