374 ~

That's how many days for accomplishing my goal of 10k steps a day.  Last time when I was approaching a year, I fell and broke my leg 😢.  This time my excuse is that we spent about 14 hours travelling home from Branson and there was just no way to get my steps in.  Bummer. 

I was thankful DSO did all the driving so I could get "stuff" done.  I caught up on several magazines, covered ten magnets with wool (a real pain to do, but these strong magnets are used on my scissor minders and if one of the magnets is not covered, the are nearly impossible to separate!) . . .

and got all the hooking done on Scaredy Cat.  Since returning home I got him bound (he is only 9" x 12.25") and now he just needs a label.  One more thing I can cross off my list.

I really must go do some yard work.  I keep finding excuses not to do it!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Branson Highlights (and a Lowlight!) ~

But first . . . you still have plenty of time to send a 90th birthday card to my friend's hubby.  Hookers and non-hookers!!!  Read about it here.  Thanks to those who have already sent a card.  My friend says they are arriving 💖

Titanic Museum ~

Very interesting.  Many original items from survivors and from underwater recovery.  So sad that most of the lifeboats were not even half filled.

An exact replica of the grand staircase.  The original floor was tiled with linoleum.  At that time it was so new it was more expensive than marble!

Ziplining ~

My second time ziplining through the treetops.  I LOVE IT!!!  There were eight lines, the longest being 1/4 of a mile 150' above the ground.

In our group, there were two young boys with their dad.  The younger of the two was turning four next week and his brother was turning seven this summer.  These little guys had absolutely NO FEAR.  It was so cute to watch them.  On the shorter lines, they went all by themselves.  On the longer ones, they went with an instructor.

DSO all suited up!  (Not the greatest picture but wanted to show our gear.)

Darn!  I can't figure out how to post the video!!!  Just believe me when I say that it is just great fun and really not scary . . . and we were by far the oldest in the group 😁

Love this pic with Uncle Sam.

Butterfly Palace ~

I had no idea what to expect, but WOW!!!  It was a wonderful experience.

Check out the butterfly wings.  Can you believe it?

The butterfly room was absolutely one of the coolest things I have seen.  There are between 1,000 and 1,500 butterflies flitting about.  Upon entering you take a flower with nectar in a little vial.  

They are not the least bit shy.

I just have to share the beauty.

These two guys were a little bit raggedy but their colors were outstanding.

After watching the video about the monarch butterfly and learning of the journey they take, it was sad to hear that these butterfly only live about two days to two weeks.

Shows ~

Branson is noted for their shows, but on a Monday before tourist season has really started, the pickings were pretty slim.  We wanted a late afternoon show since we were leaving early the next morning.  Sadly, nothing interested us, so no show was seen.

Branson Scenic Railway ~

The lowlight of the trip!  It was a two hour train ride through the countryside, but all we saw were trees, trees, and more trees!  I guess everything can't be great.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Reminds Me of a John Denver Song ~

We got home late last evening from our whirlwind trip.  I must say it was wonderful to sleep in my own bed last night!  It's good to get away and even better to get "Back Home Again".

Meramec Caverns was not on our agenda, but upon seeing billboards on our way to Branson, MO, decided to swing on over to check them out.  We are so glad we did.

The Caverns are privately owned.  Upon entering, there was a huge room that was set up with tables covered in white linen tablecloths and fine china.  There was a wedding reception that evening for the owner's grandchild.  How cool is that?  Well, actually quite cool.  It is a constant 60* inside.  I doubt there were too many backless dresses or open toed shoes.  BBBBRRRRRRR!

To get to the "wine room" you had to climb a steep staircase and our guide said many people "whine" about the climb.

Pictures just don't do the formations justice!  The room is aptly named because of the grapelike formations

Beautiful reflections.

For us Catholics, this formation looks like the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At the end of the tour there is a light show dedicated to those who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces or as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.  To these men and women, they extend their gratitude and remembrance for their brave sacrifices.  It is set to the singing of God Bless America, and let me tell you, it brought me to tears.

Have you heard of Buc-ee's?  Until my son told me about it a year or so ago, I had not.  Well . . . after leaving the caverns, we started seeing many Buc-ee's billboards, so we had to stop.  To say we were totally gobsmacked is an understatement.  This place is HUGE!!!  128 gas pumps (and 18 wheelers are NOT allowed), and a store that sold everything but the kitchen sink.  And the food?  Unbelievably good.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren  

Getting out of Dodge ~

DSO and I are heading out tomorrow for a little get-away to Branson, MO.  The weather sounds pleasant, low 70's (though every day the forecast changes), so I need to leave my winter clothes home.  Of course I have not yet started to pack.  I just hope I can remember where my warm weather clothes are!!!

We will take two days to drive there, since it is about a 12 hour trip before stops.  Thankfully DSO will do most if not all of the driving.  I will hook my way to Missouri.  I need something totally mindless, small and easy.  Plus I need a little Halloween hooked piece to gift an old classmate when I see her in June.  Scaredy Cat fits the bill.  I have hooked him several times ~ what's once more?  At only 8.5" x 11" I hope to get him done.  I am so grateful the designated driver does not mind wool dust 😁

Sweet little Ernestine . . . in the eight years since she has been adopted, she has never been boarded at a kennel.  The normal pug sitter is out of town, so there is no other choice.  Poor baby will sure miss sitting in daddy's lap and cuddling him in bed!

Just wanted to pop in with a quick post because most likely will not post until my return.  I still haven't figured out how to blog on my iPad.  Tech challenged, you know!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Birthday Card Request ~

 

A dear hooker friend's hubby is celebrating his 90th birthday on May 22.  I would love for his mailbox to be full of cards from women he doesn't know.  If you would like to send him a card, please let me know in a comment or send me an email and I will be happy to share his address.  And if you are a hooker, please let that be known in the card!  How many 90 year olds get cards from hookers 😁 ?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Quick Teapot Update ~

The teapot is hooked!!!  At long last.  As you can see, I've eliminated the base and lid, but kept the handle and spout as required.  I am not going to hook the background.  I will cut it out and mount it on either Halloween fabric or perhaps black and white ticking.  You will know more when I do 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

The Struggle is Real ~

I have been hooking for twenty years.  I have hooked many a pumpkin.  This is just a pumpkin with a handle and a spout.  Why is it giving me such fits?  You'd think I never hooked a pumpkin before.  Three different light wools tried for the "whites" of his eyes.  Changed the size a couple of times.  I think it's taken me two days to hook the darn eyes!!!  I am calling them done.  The left eye looks a little flat on the one side.  Oh, well.  Oh, hell.  I just want this #*%^ blasted teapot done.

Lookee what I found!!!

#1. . . I am still purging in the attic but actually found this in a cupboard in the dining room.  A 4" bunny mold.  Too bad I didn't find it a couple weeks ago 😁

#2 . . . St. Nick and his reindeer has been MIA for years.  Purchased from the most talented Rhonda Smith in 2020, he disappeared after Christmas.  I found him today in the attic in the unmarked shipping box he came in at the opposite end of the Christmas room in the attic.  What a pleasant surprise 😂

Typical springtime in Ohio.  Windy and cold.  Warm and humid.  Thunderstorms followed by sun.  So much yardwork in my small yard . . . and so unmotivated!!!  I did work outside today until the raindrops brought me in.  I hate working in wet plants.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren