One gigantic Branson update - Image heavy!

I've been putting off this post. Not because I didn't have fun, or because I don't like ya, because dammit, you're awesome. (I just think someone should have told you that much sooner!). Nope, it's because I had 203 photos from our trip, which frankly wasn't a lot in my opinion, but I still didn't want to sort, and pull out my favorites, because lets face it, I could easily put 203 photos here.

No really.

I narrowed it to 35.

So we get their Thursday, and I updated you with what we did that day like 2 weeks ago. On Friday, we got up bright and early with absolutely no plan in mind.

We were quite sceptical.

Remember how I used to be this big giant fan of Michael Jackson? Like, when I was 14 he was my moon and my stars? No really. I had a beat it jacket and everything!

Well with mom... that guy is Roy Rogers.
(don't forget Dale Evans and Trigger too!)

Yeah I don't get it either.

Anyway, there's a RR museum in Branson, and that's the one place mom really wanted to go. Not even to the museum or music show (she'd already done that!) She just wanted to hit the gift shop.

Which suprisingly, was more fun then I expected it to be.

Amber was on a budget, but she found some awesome antiques. Unfortunately, about 3/4 of the items were not marked, so she had to continuously go up front and ask a price. By the time I went up on something, I think the lady was annoyed and told me a REALLY HIGH price to get me to go away.

Funny, it worked!

See this tree? It's kinda cool.
Guess how much it cost.
Take a wild guess! I'll tell you at the end.

We should all live by those rules really.

'Cept "Obey your parents". Screw that. Well, unless you're my kid, then dammit do what I say!

It must have been good, mom smiled for a picture. She never does that. I think mom found her "happy place".

Happy Trails Roy, Dale and Trigger!

BTW, the tree, made of horse shoes?
$11,000

CRAZY!


We went down to old Branson, and ate lunch at a really busy diner.

Tayen was happy. Well for the record, she was really good the WHOLE TIME.
I don't care WHAT Aunt Amber says Tayen, you're NOT A BRAT. Really.

(trying to edge up my standing a little bit here).

I had the Aus jus. Mmm... and Amber and I shared some french fried sweet potatoes.

I gave Tayen a sweet potato, and she already had a french fry, one in each hand. She looks at the sweet potato fry, sets it down and says "Bye bye"!

LOL.

We had to hit Stone Hill Winery cuz uh... I'm out of my fav wine. oops. hehe.

Torrie and Amber found one of the same bottles I bought at WALMART for $2 less. *sigh*

Ohhhh... Then ice cream!
It was ok.

After that, we ditched mom and Tayen and all us girls went out and got rowdy and got tattoos. Cuz we're bad asses like that.



Saturday, we got up at the buttcrack of dawn.
so much for restful vacations!

And headed off for Silver Dollar City. This is a place that I have been at least 20 times. We went EVERY YEAR when I was a kid, always during the fall craft festival because it was so pretty, not hot, and my mom's favorite part of SDC.

I really love all the little details around SDC. You will look in the oddest places, and see just little "extras" that add to the feel of the place.

When I was a kid, and we lived in our tiny town (Conway, Iowa), we had a red pump like this right in our front yard.

And we used it!

We were there at the absoute perfect time. The leaves were all changing.

And there's the swinging bridge. No trip is complete without walking the swinging bridge.

With the mill on the other end.

Heck we even found mom a date!

They have the hugest candy store there! This is where I bought Tanner his Taffy, and Gene's black walnut brittle (gross) that he ate in like, an hour.


If you ever hit SDC, you KNOW you have to take the train... even tho the trip has never changed in 30 years. I could probably recite the skit word for word, but you still have to go.

She's never done it tho!

Same characters... different cast.
Every year.

Please SDC, never change this!!

BTW, mom says "Ohh. I *loooove* me some Diet Coke." You know, in SDC where they only sell coke products, and not really any pepsi products. But that doesn't matter cuz mom loves diet coke!

You know the end is growing near, when you see the Jail. It's a family tradition to get your pic taken in the jail:

Yeah, I've only done that 20 times.

Which mom has proof, but I don't, so I'll give you the runner up:

I'm the adorable one in the middle.

In a giant casket.



And what trip is complete without my obligatory photo of pickled watermelon rinds and green tomato pickles.

Mmmmm Mmmm good.

Don't look Carol.... that's what I got you for Christmas!

I kinda feel their pain. That's what my pantry looks like right now, only it's all apple butter!

Our last day, Sunday... we were *ready to go home*

nuff said.

I took 3 pics. All at the restaurant before we left at TWO PM!

Mmm... waffle fries.

Almost made the grouchiness worth it.
Almost.

Over all, everyone admitted they had fun. We were all a little hesitant, but ended up having a great time. We want to go again.

But this time I'M DRIVING!

I am SO OVER DEER!

That obsession was short lived wasn't it?

I've been trying to slowly spruce up this place for TWO YEARS now. I'm loving what it's turning into. I love that it's out here in the middle of a bean field. I love that it's quiet. I love that we're doing it all ourselves. I love the *inside* of the house. I hate however, the outside, but I'm working on that too.

Or I was.

In an attempt to make it look like a house didn't just fall out of the sky ala "Wizard of Oz", I've been planting trees like it was my JOB. 15 so far, for the record.

I went out to check my water meter and noticed this:

WTH?!

How weird is that.. and the other maple is just like that one too!

Later that day, I was belly aching about it to my friend Jim, who turned and said "Uh, you probably have a buck".

To which I repeated "WTH?"

And he said yep. Then he sent me pics of saplings that bucks loooooooove to rub and it looked like this:

And then I decided I need to get a freaking deer tag!


Look at me pretty, jump out in front of my car, poop in my yard, eat my flower (and yeah, I think it was you dammit), but I DRAW THE LINE at my trees. You have rubbed the wrong tree mister!

Game on beyotches.


PS Oh the irony, that I drive to IOWA to take photos of stupid DEER... and there's one setting up camp in my own yard!
VERMIN I say!
*vermin*

:p

I have a weird new obsession....

Can you guess what it is?

It can be big, or small....

and sometimes has antlers.

Ha! You said reindeer didn't you?
Snort.

It's deer! What is wrong with me!? When did I turn into my MOTHER?? When did I decide that my house would be filled with little hooved creatures (which btw, I think are dumber than a box of rocks, but oh so pretty).

The above sculpture we found at an antique store and I fell in love with it. One of my favorite things right now!

It's kinda leaked into other parts of my life, including my etsy kitschy sales items. Gene even bought me one when I was in Branson. He's so cute.

I hate to admit it... but I even like this thing.... that most women insist on hanging in the garage, well, it's in my living room. Sigh.

Hi, my name is Mom, and I like wildlife decor.
Soon I'll be buying antler light switch plates too. JUST LIKE MOM.



But I've taken it to the next level.

Yes, I went deer "hunting".

NO! Not with a gun. NEVER. *sad face*
With a camera!

I just so happen to have a friend with access to some pretty high end deer blinds. I mentioned always wanting to get into a blind, to take pics, and it just happened... that fast!

It was awesome and not that far from home. There in less than 20 minutes, and gladly taking a ride on a cart to the front door. Yes, I am going to take all the fun out of it.

The best part is just sitting in the quiet for hours, waiting for that little magic hour for everyone to come out and play.

She was one of the first, grazing a bit, then across the field out came a buck. He was interested in "getting to know" her better. Within a short time, he was chasing her back into the woods. Psst. I don't think they were playing tag.

These guys, I like to think they are saying "wanna be my friend?!" "why yes, I do!" Let's butt heads on it!

Oh how'd this get in here?

Well it's not like I can watch a sunset without taking pics!
BTW, that's what happens when your white balance is off. Makes some awesome accidental pics.

This however was not accidental. How beautiful the light was behind the trees.

It looks like it's on fire!



Oh back to the deer!

And then this buck, walked within feet of the deer blind! too bad my ISO wasn't set a little higher so that it would have been sharp. Man was I irritated I missed the perfect shot. He was so oblivious and had no idea I was even taking his pic.


Over all, it was an awesome night, I wanna do it again really soon! I got to see around a dozen deer, all having no idea I was there.

I wanna deer blind for christmas... and 160 acres to put it on.

and night vision goggles.

And a camera that takes shots in the dark.

Beautiful end to the eve, full moon!

I see the moon, and the moon sees me.

The full moon, Monday, Nov 2, 2009. My best moon shot yet! You can see the mountains along the edge of the moon. Awesome.

HAND HELD! woot!
F4, 1/800th sec