Last week's attempts to see shows was a bust - zip - nada. Wanted to see Cirque Montage, but the Starlite Theater did not comp/reciprocate tickets and just weren't very friendly about it. So, trucked over to the mall to see 'Absolutely Patsy.' And, wouldn't you know it - she took the week off to get married. Sometimes things just don't work out...
So this week Kathy is fighting off a nasty summer cold, while Jerri is busy trying not to develop symptoms. Neither of us have much energy left to pursue entertainment. It's been a job just to get the laundry done.
On the upside, the tomato plant is thriving and doing quite well. We have been unable to catch the vermin eating on the lower leaves, but the tomatoes are growing every day. It appears to be a patio tomato plant, as the fruit is small and forming in clusters. Not too shabby for a rescued plant.
The hummingbirds still come to the feeders every day. The aloe plant has mutated into a gargantuan super aloe. If it gets any bigger it won't be able to travel with us. All the other plants are happy; the dogs are happy; and all is well (except us). Today is overcast with a slow, drizzly, much-needed rain. Just a good day to stay home and rest.
All in all, no complaints. Just wish we had more energy and felt better.
Stay healthy and safe-
K&J
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
This Week's Shows: The Twelve Irish Tenors and SIX
The Twelve Irish Tenors at ten and SIX at two. Does anyone really know what time it is?
We decided to make the most of this day off by taking in two shows today. We got going early to see our first show at 10am: The Twelve Irish Tenors. This group of twelve Irish/Irish-American singers were well-polished young performers. They harmonized well, were witty and had a charm about them that won the audience over.
After a nice lunch out, we arrived to see SIX at 2pm. Now, if you want to see a show in Branson, this is the one to see! Talk about talent! Six brothers sing and perform as "An Orchestra of Human Voices" unlike you have ever heard! These guys were voted "Entertainers of the Year 2010" and are well on their way to claiming the title again in 2011 (in our opinion). Six voices. Zero instruments. All music. A fabulous show that we would highly recommend.
In case the link doesn't post in our blog, you can check out SIX on YouTube.
We are loving the area and feel very fortunate to be able to see this caliber of entertainment while working here. Here's to making the most of every situation in our lives!
Love what you do and do what you love....
J&K
Having Fun at Compton Ridge
Just a quick post to keep everything somewhat up-to-date. Went to see the Doug Gabriel Show on Thursday night with a group from work. It was a fun, clean, family-oriented show. Doug has played in Branson for over 18 years, four of which he shared the stage with Roy Clark. The entire Gabriel family is very musical and interacted well with the audience.
But to back up just a bit before we forget...our first day on the job at Compton Ridge was at the beginning of the Fiddler's Convention. There is a spring and fall convention for fiddlers and is a tradition at Compton Ridge. We were serenaded by a guitar-playing, singing gentleman in the office. Great fun, but of course didn't have the camera. Who knew we needed a camera on the first day of work?
This past week brought the BTW (Brothers of the Third Wheel) to Compton Ridge. We were inundated by trikes and riders from across the country. This is an annual event here. The trikes are all custom built, very elaborate and quite pricey. Again, no camera with us at work. However, you can go to the Compton Ridge Campground facebook page to see various photos of the events.
Will have to remember to pack the camera to document all the fun we're having. We are experiencing a lot of variety, learning new things and are never bored. Even the changing weather keeps us on our toes.
Find fun in whatever you do -
K&J
But to back up just a bit before we forget...our first day on the job at Compton Ridge was at the beginning of the Fiddler's Convention. There is a spring and fall convention for fiddlers and is a tradition at Compton Ridge. We were serenaded by a guitar-playing, singing gentleman in the office. Great fun, but of course didn't have the camera. Who knew we needed a camera on the first day of work?
This past week brought the BTW (Brothers of the Third Wheel) to Compton Ridge. We were inundated by trikes and riders from across the country. This is an annual event here. The trikes are all custom built, very elaborate and quite pricey. Again, no camera with us at work. However, you can go to the Compton Ridge Campground facebook page to see various photos of the events.
Will have to remember to pack the camera to document all the fun we're having. We are experiencing a lot of variety, learning new things and are never bored. Even the changing weather keeps us on our toes.
Find fun in whatever you do -
K&J
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Settling In and Having Fun in Branson
The State Park has 2 campgrounds and a very large marina. Lots of hiking trails and water sports - like Seadoos, kayaking, water skiing, scuba diving, pontoon and house boats. This mini travel trailer is a Shaved Ice stand, but it wasn't open when we were there.
We continued exploring the area, following where the road led. Found our way to Hollister and back to Branson Landing. Had a wonderful lunch at the White River Fish House which is the floating restaurant next to Bass Pro on Lake Taneycomo.So much to see and do. Have to make plans to take in everything. Branson really does have it all. We constantly marvel at how much Branson and the Ozarks remind us of Rabun County and North Georgia. The geography is so similar. Perhaps that is why it feels so familiar. The geology is different - totally different rocks.
Safe travels
K&J
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Jeerk and The Prince of Magic
Our philosophy has always been to work hard and play hard. We are in the right place to do both. Branson MO is definitely a 'vacation destination,' and Entertainment Capital (of at least the U.S.).
Our second round of entertainment included Jeerk, which is a young, very versatile 5-man Swedish rhythm group that is absolutely phenomenal! They are the whole package --- they sing, dance, play instruments, play percussion on anything, and are quite funny. Really enjoyed the show and would recommend it to anyone coming to Branson. BTW, Jeerk is pronounced 'Jerk' and is comprised of the alphabets of the guys last names.
These guys are so talented and quite an energy booster. Their tap shoes are specially made sneakers with tap soles on the bottom.
Second show this week was Kirby Van Burch, the Prince of Magic. First time ever for both of us at a live magic show. Kirby has also performed around the world and was dubbed the 'Prince of Magic' by the king and queen of Thailand. Our seats were 3rd row center - great seats - and we still can't determine how the illusions were performed. Especially the last act where the helicopter appeared on stage... Very entertaining, a seamless performance and crowd pleaser.
Our definite entertainment winner so far is Jeerk, with The Legend of Kung Fu coming in second. If all else fails, we can become critics, although we haven't seen a bad performance anywhere yet.
Here's to having fun -
K&J
Our second round of entertainment included Jeerk, which is a young, very versatile 5-man Swedish rhythm group that is absolutely phenomenal! They are the whole package --- they sing, dance, play instruments, play percussion on anything, and are quite funny. Really enjoyed the show and would recommend it to anyone coming to Branson. BTW, Jeerk is pronounced 'Jerk' and is comprised of the alphabets of the guys last names.
These guys are so talented and quite an energy booster. Their tap shoes are specially made sneakers with tap soles on the bottom.
Second show this week was Kirby Van Burch, the Prince of Magic. First time ever for both of us at a live magic show. Kirby has also performed around the world and was dubbed the 'Prince of Magic' by the king and queen of Thailand. Our seats were 3rd row center - great seats - and we still can't determine how the illusions were performed. Especially the last act where the helicopter appeared on stage... Very entertaining, a seamless performance and crowd pleaser.
Our definite entertainment winner so far is Jeerk, with The Legend of Kung Fu coming in second. If all else fails, we can become critics, although we haven't seen a bad performance anywhere yet.
Here's to having fun -
K&J
Silver Dollar City, The Legend of Kung Fu and Bass Pro
We are settling in nicely in our new digs at Compton Ridge. We have a very large, shady site replete with nice neighbors. Because we are in the 'guest services' industry, we have access to a lot of the local entertainment.
We are only about a mile from Silver Dollar City, so it became our first 'fun' thing to do after coming to Branson. Jerri was able to get her 'roller coaster fix' and Kathy got her workout walking up and down the hills. The train ride was fun. Jerri rode 'Fire in the Hole,' which went from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds before it did the inverted loops, etc. It was a fun day and not too hot or crowded since this is the beginning of the season.
The lotus blossoms silently
The sunshine is weaving a rainbow
A drop of water feeds an infinite ocean
A split second becomes an eternity
So far, so good. Work is going very well, and the summer is going very, very well.
Safe travels -
K&J
We are only about a mile from Silver Dollar City, so it became our first 'fun' thing to do after coming to Branson. Jerri was able to get her 'roller coaster fix' and Kathy got her workout walking up and down the hills. The train ride was fun. Jerri rode 'Fire in the Hole,' which went from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds before it did the inverted loops, etc. It was a fun day and not too hot or crowded since this is the beginning of the season.
Our first entertainment show was The Legend of Kung Fu. We are great fans of dance, athleticism and martial arts. This was an awesome show with about 26 artists ranging from young children to older adults. This show has played all over the world and was part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We witnessed a graceful adaption of Tai Chi and Zen philosophy into an entertainment medium. This is a really good show and the performers are awesome!
The lotus blossoms silently
The sunshine is weaving a rainbow
A drop of water feeds an infinite ocean
A split second becomes an eternity
We ventured forth into Springfield MO (the big city) to find a Sam's Club and natural food store. We also discovered that Springfield is the 'Granddaddy' of all Bass Pro Shops, being the original one. Stopped by for just a bit but there is so much more to see and do there, it will warrant another trip and more time.
So far, so good. Work is going very well, and the summer is going very, very well.
Safe travels -
K&J
On the Way to Branson
After leaving Sarasota, we headed back to Georgia for a short visit. Squeezed in quick visits with family and friends and a quick trip to the mountains. Quite shocked to discover that the April tornado outbreak also hit Rabun County with a visit too close for comfort to many of our friends.
Our intention had been to make a pilgrimage to Elvis, Graceland and Memphis on the way to our next destination (Branson, MO). With an Elvis jacket (on loan from Ruth Healy), Jerri was primed and ready for Elvis.
Unfortunately, the Mighty Mississippi had other plans for us. With Memphis flooded and Tuscaloosa AL devastated by tornado we had to reconsider our route options. So Ruth, the Elvis jacket is in safekeeping for now awaiting a return engagement in Memphis.
With I-40 out of commission we routed the WhooHoo more southerly hoping to cross the MM at Natchez. After our last bad experience on I-10 in Mississippi (front tire blowout) we opted for the backroads. And backroads they were...
Next stop was Alabama (had to fill in the gaping hole on our US map). We found the most perfect campground in Alabama - the Tombigbee/Black Warrier Corps of Engineers campground. Only 37 sites, but what a view! The Tombigbee River is a major waterway to the Gulf of Mexico with lots of boat traffic. We had a pull-thru site right on the river. Got to see houseboats, barges, fishing boats, etc. on the river. Very secluded and peaceful. Definitely on our second time around list.
At a fuel stop in AL, talked with a couple of truck drivers who didn't recommend crossing the MM at Natchez as the water was rising fast. Just a reminder that the thing about plans is that they can be changed. So we turned WhooHoo north and crossed the MM at Vicksburg MS. They don't call it the MM for nuthin'. It was both scary and impressive crossing that bridge with only the tops of light poles showing above the water.
Lunched at a welcome center/rest area in Louisiana where we learned several roads were expected to be closed. So, after another change in plans we decided to head north into Arkansas. Stayed in a campground in a farmhouse pecan grove for a couple of nights to regroup in Lake Village, AR. If you are in need of excitement or a disaster fix, we can pick 'em. Not only were we across the road from Lake Chicot, but also across the way from one of the levees that was having seepage from the MM. Yes, we saw tons of National Guard trucks go by, but not being from the area did not know what was happening. Able to be happy wherever we are, we just enjoyed nature and the playful squirrels until we turned on the nightly news and heard we were in eminent danger. A little hard to sleep after hearing that.
Several folks in the campground were from parts of Louisiana expected to get flooding when the dam was opened. Hope they are okay.
Left Arkansas and headed to Branson only to find that the road over Table Rock Dam was closed due to a landslide from all the rain and flooding in April. So another change in plans. A nice park ranger gave us directions to our destination. He mentioned the roads were 'hilly' but neglected to say that WhooHoo would have to climb a 19 per cent grade. The dam road has since been opened but the water levels remain high here on Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo.
Arrived at our destination on May 14th to cool temps in the 50s. Where's the Elvis jacket when you need it?
More Branson posts coming soon.
Safe travels - K&J
Our intention had been to make a pilgrimage to Elvis, Graceland and Memphis on the way to our next destination (Branson, MO). With an Elvis jacket (on loan from Ruth Healy), Jerri was primed and ready for Elvis.
Unfortunately, the Mighty Mississippi had other plans for us. With Memphis flooded and Tuscaloosa AL devastated by tornado we had to reconsider our route options. So Ruth, the Elvis jacket is in safekeeping for now awaiting a return engagement in Memphis.
With I-40 out of commission we routed the WhooHoo more southerly hoping to cross the MM at Natchez. After our last bad experience on I-10 in Mississippi (front tire blowout) we opted for the backroads. And backroads they were...
Next stop was Alabama (had to fill in the gaping hole on our US map). We found the most perfect campground in Alabama - the Tombigbee/Black Warrier Corps of Engineers campground. Only 37 sites, but what a view! The Tombigbee River is a major waterway to the Gulf of Mexico with lots of boat traffic. We had a pull-thru site right on the river. Got to see houseboats, barges, fishing boats, etc. on the river. Very secluded and peaceful. Definitely on our second time around list.
Lunched at a welcome center/rest area in Louisiana where we learned several roads were expected to be closed. So, after another change in plans we decided to head north into Arkansas. Stayed in a campground in a farmhouse pecan grove for a couple of nights to regroup in Lake Village, AR. If you are in need of excitement or a disaster fix, we can pick 'em. Not only were we across the road from Lake Chicot, but also across the way from one of the levees that was having seepage from the MM. Yes, we saw tons of National Guard trucks go by, but not being from the area did not know what was happening. Able to be happy wherever we are, we just enjoyed nature and the playful squirrels until we turned on the nightly news and heard we were in eminent danger. A little hard to sleep after hearing that.
Several folks in the campground were from parts of Louisiana expected to get flooding when the dam was opened. Hope they are okay.
Left Arkansas and headed to Branson only to find that the road over Table Rock Dam was closed due to a landslide from all the rain and flooding in April. So another change in plans. A nice park ranger gave us directions to our destination. He mentioned the roads were 'hilly' but neglected to say that WhooHoo would have to climb a 19 per cent grade. The dam road has since been opened but the water levels remain high here on Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo.
Arrived at our destination on May 14th to cool temps in the 50s. Where's the Elvis jacket when you need it?
More Branson posts coming soon.
Safe travels - K&J
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