Weekend Wandering in the Ozarks

~Sunrise on the 6 mile marker, Grand Glaize Arm, Lake of the Ozarks~ 10/14/07

This and the following photo, show the Sunday morning view from a marina, inside Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

One of the roads, that cut through the park.

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We visited the Swinging Bridges, inside the park, Sunday morning. These bridges were built, in 1931, by Union Electric, when the construction of the lake caused existing bridges to be under water. The photos show the larger of the two bridges. Both are still in use.

A pathway leads to the area beneath the bridge.

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Another type of colorful tree, just inside the entrance to our road, at the lake.

This tractor sits in a field along the route we drove, Sunday morning.

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Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life exists.

~Rachel Carson~

Saturday at the Lake

~ Saturday sunrise, Grand Glaize Arm, Lake of the Ozarks~
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Saturday was a perfect fall day. At last, the temperatures are more seasonal.

I spent the early morning, sitting on the deck, looking through magazines, for ideas to use in redoing our room, at the condo. The November 2007 issue of Architectural Digest is opened at a photo of one of Ralph Lauren's homes. A girl can dream, can't she?

J and Molly went for a walk and visited with neighbors, fishing from the dock, this beautiful Ozark morning.

For lunch, I made vegetarian vegetable soup and served it with crusty bread.

Dessert was fried apples, topped with Andy's frozen vanilla custard.

Sunday, we drove to a primitive camping area in Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

I took several photos. It's an adventure, I'll write about, later this week.

We hope to see more fall color, next weekend, when we return to the lake. Most of the trees are still green. Sumac, Dogwood and Poison Ivy are providing the most color, at the moment.

Logs, waiting for winter, stacked beside a tree, near our condo.

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EDITED TO ADD RECIPES

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Vegetable Soup

2 quarts vegetable stock

2 tablespoons bouquet garni (sweet basil, marjoram, savory) tied in cheesecloth

1 bay leaf

garlic powder, to taste

1 tablespoon dried onion flakes

1 packet splenda or a teaspoon of sugar

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can kidney beans

1 cup cabbage, chopped

2 medium potatoes, chopped

6 carrots, chopped

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 small can sliced water chestnuts

1/4 cup lentils

1/4 cup barley

1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

In a heavy stock pot or dutch oven, simmer all but spinach, 1.5 hours. Add spinach and simmer 1/2 hour more. Remove garni and bay leaf. Serve soup with crusty bread.

You can add any vegetable combination, you wish. I tend to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, when I make soup!

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Fried Apples

6 apples, I used red delicious, this time. My favorite for fried apples, is jonathan. Slice apples, unpeeled

Spray non-stick skillet with pam, add apples. Sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar (depending on sweetness of apple), dash of cinnamon and 1 tablespoon flour over apples. Stir freguently. When apples are tender, add several pats of butter, continue cooking a few minutes more. This can be served as a side dish or as a dessert with ice cream or custard.

MISS AMERICA AND FOX & HOUNDS

Berry bowls and saucers in Miss America Depression Glass
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Last Saturday we found Fox & Hounds Antiques, just outside Camdenton, Missouri. It's a wonderful shop, housed in a barn behind the shopkeepers' home, along a rural road in the Ozarks. Everything is in excellent condition and displayed beautifully. There is a wide variety of glassware, dinnerware, textiles, framed pictures and paper memorabilia from times gone by. We plan to visit Fox & Hounds, again!

I found four berry bowls and four saucers in the Depression Glass pattern, Miss America (pink). They were carefully wrapped in newspaper and nestled in a heavy paper bag. I was very careful with the package during our drive home. I was so relieved to arrive without any breakage. Then, when I was about to set the bag on the big table in the breakfast room, it slipped from my hand!! I quickly unwrapped everything. Each piece was unbroken, until I got to the last saucer!! Yes, it was shattered! I know I will find another saucer, but I was so disappointed to have broken this one!


The day before we found Fox & Hounds Antiques, we visited Antique Memories in Osage Beach, Missouri. This shop is set up in sections, with different sellers in each section. We've visited this shop several times. We found the round table for our back porch there, in December 06. We enjoy exploring different sections. Each one unique.

At Antique Memories, I found the cloche on a stand. It was in a section selling "cottage style" items. I haven't decided how to display the cloche, yet. I like the Salt & Pepper shakers, shown in the first photo. I bought the shakers several years ago at an auction. I might just keep them under the cloche.

This flatware is also from Antique Memories. Our plan is to make a wind chime. We have a spoon wind chime in the ornamental pear tree by our patio. They sound very pretty. We hope for success with our new project.

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Dogwood, Redbud and a Castle in the Ozarks

Redbud and Dogwood in bloom at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri
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We visited Ha Ha Tonka State Park, near Camdenton Missouri, Saturday. Although the sky was overcast, the temperature was ideal for walking the trails.

Construction of this castle in the Ozarks, began in 1905. Unfortunately, the owner Robert M. Snyder, never saw his dream home completed. He died in an automobile accident in 1906. His sons completed the construction. The castle and gate house were destroyed by fire in 1942.

It's interesting to walk around the ruins, imagining what it might have been like living there during the early 20th Century and wondering about the tragedy that seemed to surround the castle.

Other photos within the grid are views from overlooks on the castle grounds.

The state of Missouri purchased the property in 1978 and opened it to the public.

These photos were taken at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. We drive through this park on our way to our condo at the lake. A drive through the park is beautiful in any season. Thursday evening, when we drove into the park entrance we discovered Redbud trees and Dogwood trees in bloom. The last photo in the bottom row, shows a Redbud tree with Dogwood in the background. Other views are from around the park. Several views of the lake, a pond along the road to our condo and split rail fence at a shelter house.

Missouri State Parks are open to the public, at no charge. Of course, we love them all! We are very proud of our state's park system.

This last grid consists of photos taken at our "weekend retreat".

Over the weekend we visited an antiques shop or two. I made a couple purchases. I'll be writing about them later this week. One of my finds had a mishap...or rather I had a mishap!! More about that and other "news" later.

Happy first week of April 2007!

Ozark Weekend Dreamin'

Sunrise, moonlight and a noon day sky. Views from our back porch on the Grand Glaize Arm, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri-Midwest/USA
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March 2007, a month of new beginnings and promised adventures, has flown by!

This afternoon, we're driving to our place at Lake of the Ozarks.

The lake is beginning to wake up from it's wintertime nap. The activity and excitement of the new season, will begin in April. This last weekend of March we expect to see a few fishermen and boats in our quiet cove. We'll enjoy sunrise from our back porch, each morning.

We have no weekend plan other than a drive around the countryside. Perhaps a stop at an antique shop or flea market along the way. Most of our time at the lake will be spent reading, fishing and enjoying the tranquility.

I'll return here Monday April 2, with a note about our Ozark weekend wanderings and a photo or two.

Thank you dear family and friends for stopping by the back porch, this month. I hope you will return often.

Back Porch Weekend

We've had absolutely beautiful early Spring weather, the past several days. It's put us in a mood for gardening. I'm the "planner" and J is the planter!

Yesterday, we spent the morning shopping for perennials. We brought home Heather, Prairie Sage, Grape Hyacinth and several other beautiful plants. They have been planted, in hopes we will have no frost, until next Fall!! Aren't we the optimistic ones!!

We're working on the back porch and patio, today. I have several small projects for the back porch. J is in charge of the patio.

I made something quick and easy for breakfast this morning, because we wanted to spend as much time as possible outdoors, enjoying the weather and working on our projects. I baked Cinnamon Crumb Cake, to be served with iced tea. It's very easy! A box of Krusteas Cinnamon Crumb Cake mix, egg and water! This cake reminds me of the coffeecake my Granny made. I don't know the recipe. I know it as Jewel Tea Coffeecake. It may have been a mix or she might have made it with ingredients ordered from Jewel Tea. I remember how good it was and how wonderful it smelled while baking. Does anyone remember Jewel Tea?

I bought fresh asparagus, yesterday. It looks wonderful. I'm going to try Rhoda's (Southern Hospitality) recipe, this evening.

I hope everyone is having as beautiful a weekend as we are.

I CAN'T RESIST A RED TAG!

I admit it, I can't resist a red tag!

Over the weekend, my daughter and I consulted with a florist, for her Fall 2007 wedding. The business is located in a lovely old Victorian home. We explored many of the rooms. I always enjoy older homes. I imagine what it might have been like when they were new and wonder about the people who lived there.

After the consultation, I was browsing through the shop and discovered this arrangement. To my delight, a red tag was attached. I know, it's Spring and this is decidedly a Fall arrangement, or seems so. But I just had to bring it home! Before I knew it, it was packed up and I was carrying it out the door!!