Vacation: Seeds, Theme Parks, Battlefields and a Quilty Shop Hop

My husband and I have not had a vacation together for 

10 years!  Sure, we have had some time off but we

either stayed home, visited relatives or watched our 

granddaughter for the last 10 years.  

Not this year.  We took TWO WHOLE DAYS off work

and went to Branson, MO because I missed  Silver Dollar City.

Along the way there and back we stopped for other

attractions, one being Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in

Mansfield, MO which is just outside of Springfield.

The seed room was huge with every cubby holding 

packets of seeds, arranged in sections for vegetables,

flowers and herbs.  We were there on a Thursday

morning so really the only ones there which was perfect.

I hear when they have their festivals it is filled to the brim.

Here are some of the seeds I selected for the garden.

As a hint, if you have cucumbers that are getting eaten

by bugs, plant amaranth.  I discovered it accidentally 

when I had it growing wild and neglected to pull it out.

Then I found that all the bugs were eating it rather than 

my cucumbers- Perfect!!

In the second section of the building there are rooms devoted

to fabric, stitchery, candles, soaps and other crafts and hobbies.

You can see  the bee hive sign at the lower right.

They also have a library of various helpful books.

I picked up these Aunt Martha's hot iron transfers.

Next stop Springfield, MO

This is Bass Pro Shop's magnificent entrance,

it is stunning when you are actually there.

Any time we are in Springfield, MO we stop in.

My husband enjoys looking at the equipment

and I love the decor, just amazing.

This statue is made out of bronze, 

huge and incredibly beautiful.

Quilts and Quilts Branson, MO

There is a quilt Shop Hop going on right now, not just

in Missouri, not just in the U.S., but everywhere.

There is an embroidery pattern which is bordered by

this pretty bee fabric called Bee Creative by Deb Strain

through Moda.  It is difficult to find the fabrics since so many

have signed up to make the quilt (free on line) so I thought it 

was a perfect time to check out the shops in Missouri during our

trip.  As it turned out I found everything I need.

Now to start the embroidery, and catch up with my other

quilt along where we make a sampler out of six inch blocks.

Sew Simple in Ozark MO

We visited several quilt shops and a few were stunning,

amazingly stocked and everyone was so nice.

Each shop created a pattern called Row By Row with the 

theme of Home.  When you visit you can get the free pattern

or purchase a kit the contains the pattern plus material.

I purchased several kits so I would have the right material

and just took the free pattern in some cases.  Hopefully

I will find time for that when all the summer chores are complete.

We tried to find a little cabin where we could cook but 

last minute reservations were tough so we settled on a motel.

This was Ozark Valley Inn in Branson, MO and it was very nice.

It was not perfect but it reminded me of going to motels when

I was young and I love parking by the room- ours was the first 

floor which actually was the middle level here due to the slope

of the ground.  There were chairs in the covered hallway too

so you could pull then up to a table and stay out of the sun.

The hallway led to the pool and over to the office and 

breakfast room where they served a complimentary meal; 

however, due to my dietary needs we chose to go out

instead.  My husband is not thrilled with Cracker Barrel 

where we ate the first day but I liked it, also 

Stavin' Marvin's breakfast buffet the second day.

Ozark Valley Inn

Branson is still Branson only much more crowded.

We drove the strip and to the old downtown where 

we went into the old five and dime.  They have built up 

the old section of town, I would not have recognized it 

once you got to the river!!

Sorry that you got the back half of King Kong but

it was my only shot.  This is on the strip across from

the big Ferris wheel.  I think it was Ripley's Believe it or Not.

This is inside one of the restaurants.

It's all glitz and Hollywood like sets

but not all the food is good.  My husband thinks

it is because we are used to St Louis restaurants

where the food is fantastic and well prepared.

I had to send back the calamari, it was so tough.

Here it is delightful, breaded with a tempura coating

and fried until tender, not chewy.

We did have a good dinner at Red Lobster, something I have

not had in years and years!  I had a lobster tail and grilled shrimp

and my husband lobster and steak . This was on their special 

menu for the season.  He thought his steak too well done, preferring

it red and cold in the center.  I think many restaurants are afraid to 

cook it that way or just don't know how to cook it that way.  To 

me it's raw so I can't really critique it.

Silver Dollar City was not as much fun this time.

As soon as we arrived we had a torrential storm with 

lightning, thunder and buckets of rain causing them to 

close down the rides and outdoor events.  I think they 

must have sold every poncho in their stores!

We were able to see some of the indoor artisans,

the Saloon show and ride Fire in the Hole plus

go through Grandpa's Mansion which is the fun house

sort of attraction.  Nothing scary, just off center so things

look like they are downhill but you are going up.  That sort of thing.

The atmosphere would have been better if it had been nice

but since we had a package deal we had to go or lose the 

admission price.  It was still good and maybe we will try again sometime.

Photo credit 

Just outside of Springfield is Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

where we stopped for a few minutes. My husband picked up

some books and I purchased a little hankie doll kit.  He and

his brother are going to go back down and spend the day there

sometime.  They should have a nice time.

plus a bonnet

to put my hair up in while I am gardening.  The bees seem to 

like my hair a lot, a whole lot, so I may see if it helps to 

cover it when I am up in their area, but not in a bee veil

which is too difficult to garden in.

We also stopped at Shepherd of the Hills Outlet where I 

found this perfect bee jewelry.  I don't wear much jewelry

but when I saw these bees I had to have them.  The best part

is that they must be on closeout because they were $2.99 each!!

Shepherd of the Hills Factory Outlet in Lebanon, MO

Some of the items here

We arrived home Saturday afternoon, tired and ready to be home.

I still have not caught up with cleaning the house.  I hope no one

comes over unexpectedly that we are not close friends with,

they might see what really happens here in the summer when

we work all day at our jobs and then back home to work for

hours in the garden, with chicks, bees and canning!

Day 1 vacation Saturday:  Chicken butchering/pickling

Day 2 vacation:  Breakfast at Denny's and trip to the river 

Day 3 vacation:  laundry, thrift shopping, gardening

Day 4 vacation:  Quilt Shop Hop for the Row by Row patterns

Jackman's Fabrics (Creve Coeur MO)
The Quilted Fox quilt shop (Frontenac, MO)
Merrily We Sew Along quilt shop (Valley Park, MO)

All are the St Louis County area

Yard Work: weed whipping, gardening 

Shopping:  Supplies at Wal-Mart 

Canning:  making pickles

Day 5 vacation:  Preparing for our Branson trip

Day 6 vacation:  Up at dawn, in the car and on the road!

Stopped in Mansfield, MO at Baker's Creek

Stopped in Springfield MO for quilt shop hopping

A trip into Bass Pro Shop

On to Branson MO for quilt shop hopping

Trip to the Branson strip and old downtown

Dinner at Red Lobster

Day 7 vacation:  Silver Dollar City

Torrential rain, lightning, thunder.  Rides closed, outdoor activities

delayed.  We saw some craftsmen, the saloon show and road

Fire in the Hole (indoor roller coaster with a mine theme)

Day 8 vacation:  Pack up for home, stopped by Ozark MO quilt shop,

visit to Wilson's Creek national battlefield outside of Springfield,

Shepherd of the Hills Outlet mall in Lebanon MO and back home

Day 9 vacation:  church, pickling, unpacking