Friday, September 23, 2016

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

27 comments:

  1. How nice to see a post from you pop up this morning! It looks like you have had a delightful summer despite the heat...the right combination of rest and relaxation and continuing projects...and good eating, of course! :)

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    1. Oh yes...the eating was very good. Too good as I have a hard time buttoning up at the waistline lately. Ha!

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  2. It's good to catch up with you a bit. It looks like you've had some wonderful times this summer, and your trip to Branson looks like it was a blast! Branson is on my bucket list... I'll have to consult you for all the best places to visit when the time comes :)

    Happy Fall to you!

    {{hugs}}
    ~K.

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    1. I love Branson and there is so much to do there that it's hard to choose!

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  3. Sounds like you had a very nice summer break. Speaking of heights bothering you now vs. when you were younger, I promise you will find many more things different as you grow older! Some good; a lot not so good!

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    1. Oh, I know what you mean! Aging changes many things, I'm finding out.

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  4. So great to hear from you... I have been blogging more ( some) this summer and miss hearing from you. Sounds like you all had a wonderful summer... YES---I am glad that you love Branson. We took a couple of small trips this summer (one to Mt. Pisgah Inn and one to Peaks of Otter).. Had a great time both places. I have blogged about them and still are!!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. I saw you on that rock high in the sky...brave woman! I'd die of fright if I had to climb up there. lol!

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  5. So there you are. Welcome back and am so glad you had a great summer. Dixie Stampede is on my bucket list. A fifteen story high ferris wheel isn't on my list. Brave you.

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    1. Oh Patti, I didn't ride it, I just admired it across the highway. It's too tall for me! I hope you get to see the Dixie Stampede, the show is terrific and so is the food they serve to you. And I always enjoy seeing the horses as you walk to the entrance. The pre-show is wonderful too.

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  6. The Branson sunrise is gorgeous! And so is the sunset. Welcome back! You have had a very full and fun summer! All those pumpkins looks like Hobby Lobby to me. I cannot believe there is a five & dime left in the county! It must be a special Branson nostalgia store. Your husband is such a talented hard worker, I know you are so proud of him! NO, you have not gained weight. You look beautiful and slim.

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    1. I love the old-fashioned dime store, it really attracts the tourists and is always busy. They sell things that we used to see years ago. Lots of fun to browse! Thank you for the nice comment, but the photos are of my daughter, Kim. She's the one that's slim and beautiful! :)

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  7. It's great to see you back! You were missed by me.

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    1. Thanks, Susan! I've missed you, too, and seeing your beautiful photos.

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  8. Sounds like your summer has been full and very enjoyable.Yes,I too am ready for cooler weather.

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    1. Yes, Ruth, it was a pretty good summer, but I'm more than ready for it to cool down now! (Just not ready for what follows autumn!)

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  9. Nice to see you back here, Cheryl! Lovely photos ---- I've never been to Branson. We had a very hot July, August, and half of September. Finally got a good rain and cooler temperatures. My mother-in-law turned 100 in August, and we went to the mountains for the celebration. Busy here on the farm as always. Critters are all well as are we! Have a blessed and bountiful day!

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  10. I am glad to see you back. Branson is a favorite place to go especially when the leaves are turning, I will be going in October with my son and his family. It is my payment for staying with their youngest while brother works. Last year we stayed in a cabin, this year it will be a condo. I am looking forward to it. I enjoyed reading your post and hope to pop back in every now and then. Take care. Hugs and Prayers from your NW Missouri Friend Shirley

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  11. Cheryl,

    I can definitely see why you took a little break from blogging. You did a lot of traveling and merry making. I can't believe we haven't been to Branson or St. Louis. We love road trips. It sounds fun...I'm so happy your family shared time together!

    The honor your husband received tugged at my heart. I absolutely lose it when heroes are honored. The quilt is beautiful.

    Work ahead for both of us. The lakehouse will take a long time to move back into. We are limiting clutter and taking our time picking out new pieces of furniture (it works financially, too!)

    Thanks for your comment on recent post. I was happy with the ladies who weighed in on the topic. I was encouraged by the ones who wrote that they were settled and living each day one at a time. I identified with those that wrote they had many of the doubts and uncertainty I have. It really was a thought provoking post and I couldn't have done it without the perspective of Leslie Harris.

    Have a good week, Cheryl.

    Jane

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  12. Congratulations to your husband for his awards and honors! It looks like you had a wonderful summer and did many fun things in Branson. I took a semi blog break myself as we went on a few local trips and did a lot of end of summer things with our grandkids. Autumn has arrived here--the aspens are all turning bright colors and the temps are getting cooler.

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  13. What wonderful honors and recognition for your Beloved. He certainly deserves them. He wants to work another year? Make him sign a contract! LOL! Sounds as if you had a fun and busy summer and, oh baby, it must have been hot there because it was scorching here. As for the debate, one of them is a colossal twit in a red suit.

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  14. Hello, it looks like you had a nice break. The vacations to Branson and the winery sound very nice. Congrats to your hubby for the awards and honors. I am sure he deserves the recognition and more. The photos are fun, great collection. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  15. Welcome back Cheryl! It was so nice to click on your blog and to find this wonderful post with all sorts of info on your fun outings. Congrats to BG too on his achievement. Hope he doesn't put off retirement too long so you can both have more fun outings.

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  16. it's great to see you back...what a wonderful update and fun pics...i didn't know they moved the ferris wheel from navy pier to there!

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  17. How great to see you back blogging..and so glad you had a great break...a good break from blogging is good for the soul...and mind, I think.
    We've never been to Branson and look forward to going soon...maybe thru the fall.
    hugs

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  18. Glad to see your blog name pop up on my page..I'm glad you had a wonderful summer. Except for my broken leg, mine was pretty wonderful also! I love Branson. This year I would like to get up there during Christmas...something we haven't managed to do yet.
    Have a great Thursday!

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  19. I have really missed reading your posts and it was so fun to see that you are back blogging. You are one of my favorite blogging friends. I loved. Your update; it was awesome. I would so love to visit Branson some day; it looks like such a fun place. I wouldn't have ridden the Ferris Wheel either; I don't like heights.
    It does look like you had a fun summer; the pictures are awesome. I like you love fall. It's still rather warm here and I am looking forward to cooler evenings. So happy you are back! Sending hugs your way~

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