Dolly Stampede

42º here in Branson, MO at 8:30 Saturday evening with predicted low of 27º thru the night.
Just got back from Dolly Stampede where we watched the White River Wranglers perform (the three brothers of the Goldwing Express) in the pre-show. 

Was fortunate to be seated by Steve Baldridge's wife
and got to visit with her, Steve and Shawn after the show.

Plates & bowl ready for supper

Bringing the soup

Show starting

Riding roman style

Roman style through fire hoop

Part of show

Dancing to the campfire

We were served soup, a whole Cornish hen, slice of tenderloin,
one-half of a baked potato, 1/3 ear of sweet corn, biscuit, and
an apple turnover.  All delicious, but an enormous amount of food.

Clown with his dog

Pig races

Pig races

Clown doing his chicken routine

Finale

Many flags and many horses and riders

Spent about 3 hours in middle of day making a few bucks by enduring time-share sales routine.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The animals were bored. Finally, the lion had an idea. "I know a really exciting game that the humans play called football. I've seen it on T.V."  He proceeded to describe it to the rest of the animals and they all got excited about it so they decided to play. They went out to the field and chose up teams and were ready to begin.  The lion's team received. They were able to get two first downs and then had to punt. The mule punted and the rhino was back deep for the kick. He caught the ball, lowered his head and charged. First, he crushed a roadrunner, then two rabbits. He gored a wildebeest, knocked over two cows, and broke through to daylight, scoring six.  Unfortunately, they lacked a placekicker, and the score remained 6 - 0.  Late in the first half the lion's team scored a touchdown and the mule kicked the extra point. The lion's team led at halftime 7 - 6. In the locker room, the lion gave a peptalk.  "Look you guys. We can win this game. We've got the lead and they only have one real threat. We've got to keep the ball away from the rhino, he's a killer. Mule, when you kick off be sure to keep it away from the rhino."  The second half began. Just as the mule was about to kick off, the rhino's team changed formation and the ball went directly to the rhino. Once again, the rhino lowered his head and was off running. First, he stomped two gazelles. He skewered a zebra, and bulldozed an elephant out of the way. It looked like he was home free. Suddenly at the twenty yard line, he dropped in his tracks. There were no other animals in sight anywhere near him. The lion went over to see what had happened. Right next to the downed rhino he saw a small centipede.  "Did you do this?" he asked the centipede.  "Yeah, I did." the centipede replied.  The lion retorted, "Where were you during the first half of the game?"  The centipede replied…..."I was putting on my shoes."

Will fill in some other days of this trip tomorrow!

Lynn

Cold and snowy in Branson

23º this morning -- several degrees below predictions here in Branson, MO.
What a revolting development this is!  Our trailer is not a 4-season trailer and even with water pump on we only get a trickle of water--then nothing.  Is to be cold until around 10 am so don't know how much damage to pipe lines inside trailer.

Looking out the door early this morning.

In Danna's BBQ

Unique handles!  I have some of them - may try this.

Where we ate lunch Friday before going to "Samson"

Theater that Samson was in

We relocated to Ozark Country Campground Friday

We relocated to Ozark Country Campground Friday

One of 2 museums that contain actual artifacts recovered
from the Titanic in 1986 - other museum is in Pigeon Forge.

Table Rock Dam

We spent several enjoyable hours at this visitors center right
near Table Rock Dam.  Much history and explanation of area.

Steve Baldridge

Bob Baldridge

Shawn Baldridge

Shawn Baldridge

Spent enjoyable couple hours listening to the Goldwing Express - and visiting with them during break and after the program.  We have seen them many times in the Valley and gone on 2 cruises with them.

Interesting special here

Didn't take advantage of this great sale!

Spent an hour or so touring original store of Sam Walton's that
is now a museum of his life and that of Walmart

Pickup Sam drove for many years

 We stopped in Bentonville, Arkansas and toured the Walmart Museum.  Very interesting - I have read two books on him.

I have read a couple of these books

Heading out now to see some of Branson - will go to Dolly Parton Stampede later this afternoon and be able to see the Goldwing Express perform as White Mountain in the preshow.

GROANER’S CORNER:((   After delivering a speech at an elementary school, president George Bush lets the kids ask a few questions. One little boy, Joe raises his hand and asks, “How come you invaded Iraq without the support of the United Nations?”  Just as the president begins to answer, the recess bell rings and he says they’ll continue afterward.  Twenty five minutes later the kids come back to class.
“Where were we?” says the president. “Oh, yes… do you kids have any questions?”  Another boy raises his hand and says, “I have three questions: First, why did you invade Iraq without support from the U.N.? Second, why did the recess bell go off 30 minutes early? And third, where is my buddy Joe?”
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A recruit who wasn't really meant to be a soldier went out to the rifle range for the first time. He missed every target and most of the hills behind them.  Despondent, he said to the sergeant, "I think I'll just go and shoot myself."  The sergeant replied, "Better take a couple dozen extra bullets with ya!"

More later, Lynn

Getting cold in Branson

45º here in Branson, MO with predicted low of 27º overnight.  Will be unhooking outside water hose and putting a light bulb in underneath compartment where there are water lines.
Here are more pictures from our day Monday at Magnolia Market & Gardens 

Well, have taken 738 photos since we left La Feria Sunday morning and have spent hours editing them so can put some on here.  Went to Samson show this afternoon.  No filming is allowed, but click that link to get some of the show.  Show lasted from 3:30 pm to nearly 6 pm.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( "I had the toughest time of my life. First, I got angina pectoris and then arteriosclerosis. Just as I was recovering from these, I got tuberculosis, double pneumonia and phthisis. Then they gave me hypodermics. Appendicitis was followed by tonsillectomy.   These gave way to aphasia and hypertrophic cirrhosis. I completely lost my memory for a while. I know I had diabetes and acute ingestion, besides gastritis, rheumatism, lumbago and neuritis.   I don't know how I pulled through it.... It was the hardest spelling test I've ever had."
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Trying to control her frizzy and dry hair, Kay treated her scalp with olive oil before washing it. Worried that the oil might leave an odor she washed her hair several times with strong soap.  That night when Kay went to bed, she leaned over to her husband and asked, "Do I smell like olive oil?"  "Why ?" he asked, pulling back. "Do I smell like Popeye?"

Will work on this later.  Just started raining out - unhooked water hose and put light bulb in storage area - 44º out, but predicted to be 29º by 3 am.  Rain on the trailer roof is a unique sound.  See it is 25º now in Clarinda and to be 16º in the morning.  Better here than there!

Later, Lynn

In Branson - on way from Kenwood to Clarinda

59º here in Branson, MO at 12 Noon Friday with freezing weather expected from 1 am to 9 am (down to 27º) tomorrow morning -- hoping can keep things un-frozen in the trailer.

Haven't written since we left our home in La Feria, TX last Sunday as have had rotten phone and either bad or no WIFI at the cheap parks we have been staying in.  Just moved to this park (Ozark Country Campground) this morning and have not only 4 bars of phone, fast internet and cable TV -- what's not to want?
We left our Kenwood house just before 7 am Sunday morning and arrived in the Waco Airport Campground sometime after 5 pm.  Lots of boring, straight-line, no curves, on Highway 77 for many many miles.  That changed when we got near Waco, and Wednesday really changed when we got into northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri.  Not 10 feet of road that wasn't either turning, or going up or down.

Packed and ready to roll

Once again, pickup is full.

Flower pots at the house

Pretty now, wonder what summer will bring.

Coming up 77 - saw lots of motor homes and trailers
heading north

Paid $2.40 for gas in Harlingen, $2.20 in Refugio, TX; $2.46 in Rosebud, TX; $2.30 in Fort Worth; $2.31 in Hugo, OK; $2.23 in Fort Smith, Arkansas; and $2.34 in Shell Knob, MO.  Drove 411 miles Sunday Kenwood to Waco; 297 miles Tuesday Waco to Arlington then Fort Worth then Sawyer, OK; and 328 miles Wednesday from Sawyer, OK to Bentonville, MO and then Hollister, MO.

At the Customs and Border Inspection place

At Refugio got gas for $2.199 cash.  Their
charge price was $2.599 - though other stations
in the town were at $2.399 for either.

1

In Schulenburg, Texas this was Sunday afternoon,
was a really good buffet.

Was Oakridge Smokehouse and Rudy was our waiter.

Unusual setup at Waco Airport Campground - my cord
was too short for the lid to close-kept unplugging the plug in.
By holding the door up and fastening bunge cord it worked!

Our setup for 2 nights at Waco

Monday we went down to Magnolia Market and Garden

Lots and lots of people there.

Everything was high priced, it seems, but people were buying
stuff right and left.  Guess the demand was there so prices were high.

Is almost noon and we must leave trailer to find a place to eat and then go to the Sampson show mid-afternoon.

More later, Lynn