I can't believe we've been here 10 days! Sometimes I have to pinch myself to be sure this is real! The weather is cool, but the area is so beautiful, and the birds! There were so few birds in Missouri, but here, it's a never ending variety. I'm sad this morning as I heard all the gun shots and imagined all those little ducks being killed for a little bit of meat. Deer season - you get one deer and it feeds you for a very long time, but duck season. I'm sorry I just can't see it.  Get a camera guys. If you need the adrenelin rush of killing something, go "kill" some of those flying disks .

Yesterday we saw Ibis, at least we think they were Ibis,yellow beak instead of the customary red, but every other part of the bird looked like Ibis, and so many ducks, so many varieties, and Roseate Spoonbills, Great egrets, Great Blue Herons, Skimmers, Oyster catchers, greater and lesser sandpipers, Common Snipe, lots of Rock Doves, and that owl - I'd sure like to see him, but we hear him every morning. We also had 5 deer in the campground yesterday morning, and I saw a small sting ray while out fishing on the pier.

The fishing was terrible yesterday. Terese caught a few, but all small, and mostly bait stealers. The shore line is littered with hundreds of dead or dying jellyfish - I think a result of the Red Tide. Night before, John caught our first keeper. a 15" Speckled Sea Trout. I got a 14.5" and a 13" but they have to be 15" to keep them. It was delicious!

We're keeping very busy with the campground, and I'm feeling very guilty this morning - I forgot a planned activity last night, and since I'm the activity director....... I have apologies to make. However, dinner with friends at China-A was DELICIOUS - that is no excuse though!

My First Flounder and workamping Lamar!

Wow, time gets away from you. First I have all the time in the world to relax, then I dive in and am having trouble keeping my head above water! Yes, this is my life!

Sunday we headed out fishing on the big pier at Goose Island State Park, again! We love it out there! Saturday night was spectacular - sea snakes and speckled trout and a red drum and a little gar and jelly fish... The White Pelicans and the night herons... Sunday morning found dead fish along the shoreline. Lots of them, and more floating in. Hm - not good. Nobody fishing either, oh well, lets see what happens.

Everyone knows I'm not a traditionalist in anything I do. So, As John is setting up the tried and true method of fishing off the dock, I'm hunting through the tackle box for a floating jig head (I found an elongated orange one) and find some cool froggy looking jelly type baits. I put the two together and John just shakes his head. "You won't catch anything on that." So I cast it out and begin reeling it in and BOOM, I got a huge hit and ..... ah, my line's broke!!! I look at John with a big grin and he just shakes his head. Remember the little dare devil spoon with the piece of corn on it I tried for Ice Fishing :) So I put on a steel leader and another orange floating jig head and the froggy legs and continue casting and not too many casts, boom (not quite as big as the first time) I got one!!! and here it is!

My first flounder!

It was 13". Fourteen is legal, so she took a little dive off the pier back to the wet, but it was so cool! My photographer is improving - no blurry pink photo this time! :) It was windy when we went out, but it continued to increase, and we finally decided to call it enough before we got blown down the pier!  So many beautiful jelly fish.

Back at camp/home we stopped into the office after getting some groceries and talked with Mitch - the manager. He went over park rules and what would be expected, etc... and it all sounded just fine, so we started work on Monday morning.

Sunday afternoon, after talking with Mitch, we headed back out to the dock. Our new friends Leonard and Terese were out there, so we had a great gab session. They had us over for dinner our first night in town, and oh that was wonderful. It's so neat when you click with someone. We have more friends to do things with now than we ever did back home - couples that we can do things with. This is not to say we didn't have friends - I cherish them all, but we only had one couple that we got together with, and I miss them, but I'm so grateful to have other people of like mind now. Anyway - we invited them over for fresh ground flour pancakes on Tuesday morning (which was also wonderful!). We found out the Red Tide out on the Island was awful, and people were having problems breathing - the air was thick and they had to cover their noses and mouths when walking outside. An estimated 3 million fish died this time. About 4pm while we were talking, Leonard pointed up and we all turned around and looked. On the leading edge of the cold front was a huge flock of something- swirling and undulating. They turned out to be sandhill cranes - hundreds of them - way up there! It was incredible to see. The cold front was actually a blessing, for it knocked out the red tide, and my cough is also gone. I didn't think I'd ever be happy about cold weather, but to see all the dead fish. I'm grateful for this cold snap. It was greatly needed.

Monday I started learning the office procedures here, and took on the task of organizing the kitchen in the apartment. (I'll finish that today). I also put together an activities calendar and will do our first exercise class today - Chi Gong. It's very low impact and feels wonderful! We'll have movie night on Friday, and Social Hour every night at 4. Indoor games in the evenings and outdoor games on Sat. Dulcimer and guitar lessons, craft time. Like I said, we're getting busy! John was out and did the weed eatting and he'll be doing mowing on a Zero Turn radius mower one of these days soon.

Now to get ready for my class and have breakfast!

Arrival in Lamar, Texas

We left Palacios about 11 am with overcast skies and a building breeze.Coming down 35 along the coast was neat. Salt flats and scrub lands, beautiful and peaceful. The skies opened up and rain quenched the thirsty earth most of the way down the 70 mile stretch. Not as pleasant for driving as just being overcast, but with the drought that has encompassed this land, I'll only smile at the rain and say, "thank you!"

Hidden Oaks RV Park is a couple miles off hwy 35, 1 miles from Goose Island State Park and maybe 1/4 mile off the inland waterway. It is very peaceful. It is clean, the road and sites are gravel and more or less level, and the sites are large - 40 x 80; full hookups; spotty internet (it's working now!); spotty phone service, and no cable tv except for in the rec. room. The office and rec room are nice, and everything is clean. John is having a great time playing cribbage with Ron (He's been staying here for the past 5 years).  We could hear the Whoping cranes the past 2 mornings, and we took a little detour to the park this morning and saw 9 of them under a tree out in the field just east of here. They are huge! What a sight - unfortunately, too far away for my camera. I need a long lens! That was such a treat!

We continued on to Goose Island State park to go fishing for the first time in salt water. We purchased an annual permit for $70 yesterday and found out we don't need to buy a fishing license as long as we only fish in the park. OK, that's doable. :) So it was 8 am by the time we finally got there. Kayle cat decided it was a great morning to sneak out the door just as we were about to leave at 7 and it took about an hour before she was ready to come back in. Just as before, she hopped up on the step and hopped back inside when we opened the door for her. There was no catching her before she was ready. So, we grabbed our new gear (Walmart yesterday for a new heavy duty rod and new bait and a new stringer- should have picked up a long handled net too). So how do we rig up? - we looked at each other, shrugged shoulders and opened the ghost shrimp lures. I thought there were 5 lures on leaders, but they were all connected and had loops on both ends! Double weights? Hmmm. John put on a big hook and a lifelike crab. Cast em out. We were the only ones there for quite a while - I think Kaylee's delay cost us some fish, and observation time. Nothing but oysters, and darn it, I got hung up and lost 4 of my ghost shrimp! The wind continued to blow harder, we figured at least 30 mph, and we finally gave it up around 11:45. It was beautiful though. The Pelicans were gliding over the waves, both brown and white ones and there were all sorts of sea birds! We saw a dolphin too!

After lunch and a nap, we headed out again. Low Tide was at 4:30 and that's about when we left. The wind had died down and this time, we were not alone. Oh my! Quite a parking lot full of trucks. Let's try this again. The folks next to us were pulling them in right and left. Dead shrimp for bait - that must be the trick. One of the men pulled in a big drum - 26" or so! Also speckled trout and catfish. I finally started playing around with different lures and found this little minnow with a spinner - sort of like a mepps. Holy Cow - I caught one!!! A very pretty litte speckled trout -- heeeheee. Of course the camera was in the truck - yeah I know, I know. Next time I'll abandon the chair and bring the camera. As it got dark the pier lights came on, and something was jumping - all over the surface they were jumping. then I saw the fish chasing the something and realized they were shrimp trying not to get eatten. How cool! I also saw 2 water snakes and a little gar and tons of trout - feeding frenzy under the lights. I caught one more little trout and threw him back just like the other one, and yes I did take them both off the hook myself! John with his infinate patience when it comes to fishing finally pulled in a red drum - of course we didn't know what it was at first. I pulled out our little chart and started looking for a fish with a spot by it's tail, and jsut as I found it, a fishing compadre confirmed it to be a red drum - cool! It was bigger than the 2 trout I caught, but not big enought to keep, so he followed his companions back into the water. I failed to mention why we need a net. When we were fishing this morning, John had a flounder on, but when he brought it out of the water to lift it to the pier, it got off, hence - a net would have had us dinner. He said it was nice sized too.

Now it's snuggle the Karma Cat time.

Palacios

Our little stay near Houston (New Caney) was nice. We had a wonderful lunch with John's Nephew Andy and his family. It was great to be with the kids, and they really enjoyed playing with the dulcimers. It took at least 2 hours to get around Houston - first planned route got screwed up and we ended up in Coloma, finally found the right road. Of course it was rush hour.... About 1 pm we pulled into Palacios and found Bayside RV Park - Another gem. The inland waterway is about 50 feet from our door, and the harbor and shrimp boats about the same distance behind us. Even though it's cold out there - go figure, yesterday it was 75 degrees, today 57, but tomorrow should be nice and warm again, it's absolutely beautiful. This is a new area for us to explore, and we'll be here 3 days.

The last thing we did before departing Branson was purchas a membership to Passport America. $49 which includes a big RV Park Directory which will be waiting for us in Rockport. Passport America parks give you 1/2 off their normal price.

We left Branson on Hwy 65 South, and finally found a restaurant just north of the Buffalo River in Arkansas. Furguson's is a wonderful place to stop! Their food is delicious, service great and the prices very reasonable! The building is quaint and the shop inside also full of neat things. There was even room for several RV's to park! This is a real commodity we're finding!

The Scenery on Hwy 65 is beautiful. Don't expect to travel fast, it's all twisting and winding, and with the day's rain, we took it slow. 65 to 20 into Little Rock, conncecting with 30 to Texarkana, then Hwy 59 S in Texas. Yes, we finally made Texas, and we can smell the Gulf in the air. The scenery has also changed and it's very green! Oh it feels good!

Thirteen miles south of Texarkana is CR3660 (one mile past the red light) Take a right and follow the signs 5 miles back to Cass County Park (the road is crumbling and twisty). On the way in I thought, "Oh, if this is bad, I'll never live it down!" But much to my relief and joy, it was remarkable! Water and electric hookup, and view that just goes on and on. We arrived at sunset, and it was red over the lake surrounded by thunderclouds and the promise of much much needed rain. The lake is HUGE, and it was still. We went for a walk, and sandpipers skittered and flew and called to each other. I came around a bend and startled a Great Blue Heron who took flight and croaked at me. I think I interrupted his dinner quest. He flew a big circle and landed back where he began. I made a big curve so as to not interrupt him further.

John was sitting outside at the picnic table having a toddie while I made some supper using our new induction hot plate for the first time - wow is it fast!!! Max Burton 1800watt hot plate from Amazon.com. If you're new to induction cooking, read this http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ATJL8M1R46Z9/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R2ATJL8M1R46Z9

Here's the link to the hotplate itself http://www.amazon.com/Max-Burton-6000-1800-Watt-Induction/dp/B000MVN1M6/ref=pd_sim_la_6

It really does boil water in 60 seconds. I fund that power 3 is all I needed to do my taters, greens and eggs, and also this morning John made eggs, and 3 was more than sufficient! Why induction, and what is it?? it's 83% efficient and cooks with magnetics. Gas is only 35% efficient and takes alot longer. The catch is your cookware must be magnetic. If a magnet will stick to it, it will work. We are thrilled. Were even using it to heat water for our dishes. I don't think we'll be using our propane much anymore!

So back to the picnic table. All of a sudden, he came up to the window and said - Deb, look out back! There's 15 deer out there! Darn it I missed them due to the light in the camper and the screen on the back window, but a little later I was sitting out there and with the yard light I could see 7 deer come running through! They were beautiful and graceful. We had seen tracks when we took our walk, so we knew they were around.

Peaceful - so very very peaceful. The only thing I heard was the sound of gravel under my shoes while walking, the calls of shore birds and when I got close enough, the crackling of our neighbors campfire. The rain held off until 8:30 the following morning. Just long enough to get a shower, and get back on the road. This is what we've been looking for, and we'll be back.

We stayed on Hwy 59 all day. Finding a little restaruant for breakfast wasn't easy. We finally found a little cafe RW's Diner just over the Hwy 20 bridge on Hwy 59. The Waffle House and IHop on the other side didn't have a decent place for an RV to park, and we went in circles looking! The Diner was great though. Good service, clean, and great food at a very reasonable price. John had 2+2+2 and I had blueberry pancakes. It was all very good. We were able to pull  through the hotel parking lot to get back out on the road and back to Hwy 59. There are very few pull off's on 59, and signs tell us  it is the new Interstate 69 corridor, so next year it may be all under construction. Sections were badly rutted, and we hydroplaned several times. We saw 2 others in the ditch that had done the same. Never touch the brakes if you hydroplane! One of them,  a new white truck similar to ours had slammed sideways into the trees, and I think it was rather wrapped around one - the ambulance was there with the driver inside. The second one was a Semi jacknifed. What a mess. I'm grateful for a safe trip! It hasn't rained here for months, so of course, on the day we're coming through, the sky opens! It's baddly needed here, but why today? We also passed an area that was black from fire. Acres and Acres had burned and all that's left is the skeleton of pine trees, yet, green grass is beginning to poke through the char, so life will return.

New Caney came up and FM1485 appeared, and 2 miles down the road we came to our new port. Hm, this isn't tranquil. It's a busy road, and the park is packed, yet, it's surrounded by trees and there are mature trees throughout.  The manager is very nice, and there is a pool - though it's too cold to use it. for 2 days, this will be fine. There was a big boom, and the lights flickered. Actually, a transformer blew, and our battery kicked in - everyone else was left in the dark. About an hour and a half later, after whipping John at Cribbage, the microwave beeped and the power was back on.

Final days in Branson

I'm thinking back a bit here. We went to see Shoji Tabuchi's Christmas show. It was wonderful! Full of energy and heartfelt wishes. This was a great show. http://www.shoji.com/

We also got to see the "Smoke on the mountain" Christmas show. It takes place just before WWII and plays nightly at 8 pm at the IMAX Theater. We laughed, we cried. What a wonderful play. There's great music and the story.... well, all I can say is if you're in Branson, don't miss this one! http://www.1branson.com/branson/smoke-on-the-mountain/37

Finally, we went to Silver Dollar City. This is a mid sized theme park. The buildings are "traditional Appalacian Mountain"  type. There are some rides at the back og the park, and tons of shops. Also shows(these are included with admissions. We saw the "Living Nativity." I guess maybe because of my background, I wasn't real impressed. It's $55 per person to get in, and then everything costs you money. It's like you're paying to go spend more money. The parking lots are enormous and either a trolley or bus takes you up to the gate. The parking lots are a whole lot bigger than the park itself. However, the art work there is exceptional,and the dulcimers in the shop on the way out were reasonable and very nice. The food is very expensive. We had one wassail, one funnel cake and 2 bottles of water for $20. The staff, actors and participants are very friendly and do there best to entertain. I guess I'm just very very put off by the entry price. Granted, we got in free for area appreciation, but if we'd have paid $110 to get in, ....... We did go with some friends, and that was really great! The Christmas lights and the lighting of the tree were fabulous, and the Christmas parade was wonderful. The parking lots were full the day we went, and although crowded, it wasn't too bad. The line for the train was much longer than we wanted to deal with. I guess it's sort of an Appalacian Mountain Disney World.  http://silverdollarcity.com/

The Best Part of Branson was meeting new friends, and that will always be the highlight for both of us. The fishing was great, and the fly fishing incredible, but without Larry & Lea, Gail & Jack, Jo & John, Marilyn & Al, Mike & Chris, Eddie & Erma, Deb & Joe, Lorrie & Roger, Kathy & Leon, Susan & Ron, Sue & Gene, Denise & Carl, and oh so many more, it would not have been the fun it was.

CD - Meanderings

This is all about our new CD - Meanderings

 I've been talking about it for at least 4 years, and it has finally come about.

Nothing happens until it's time!

"White River" is out on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjTTvqOYEt4

It is available through CD Baby for $12.97, or directly from me

dragonslairmusic@yahoo.com
Also, we have a group on facebook: Dragons Lair Music to keep everyone up to date on happenings!
I am ever so grateful for all of this!

Meanderings is a CD of  mainly original folk music, (13 of them) being played on mainly home made instruments (Mountain Dulcimers and Bowed Dulcimer). You might say I'm a jack of all trades  :)

My best friend (& husband) John, on Mountain Dulcimer and vocals, joins me on the three traditional pieces Rueben's Train, Wildwood Flower and I'll Fly Away.

1. The Northlands  3:54  D. Peters, guitar & vocals
     Written in early October 2011 during a trip home (Wisconsin). Going back north brought back so many memories of my childhood; the ice expanding on the lake in January and the thunderous cracking echoing through the night, the frogs welcoming spring back, White pelicans resting on their way north, ducks surrounding my canoe in the evening as I played my guitar on the gentle waves. Beautiful sunsets..... So much beauty all around me. I'm grateful for those days growing up on the lake.

Lyrics
I was born in the Northlands, by a lake, I learned to crawl
in the spring, I'd watch the ice melt, and hear the frogs
Summer was meant for swimmin, and fishin' for bluegills
Red, Orange, Gold, were autumns colors
And the ducks flew south, when the winds did chill

(chorus)
Then came the Northlands brilliant snow, and the icy winds that blow
they make you want to hibernate or go, where the winter winds are just a warm breeze

Sandhill cranes fly in formation, singing trills as they go on
It warms my heart, to hear their laughter, spring and autumns song
Loons dance across the water, white pelicans glide, wing to wing
whippoorwills, croon in the stillness and bats fly by on silent wings  (chorus)

In the south, lush hills are waiting, to the west mountains brush the sky
And the desert heat unthaws my body, and expands my mind. (chorus)


2. Springtime Waltz  4:45 D. Peters Mountain Dulcimer & guitar
     I had forgotten all about this little piece that I wrote in 2004 until I was browsing back throuh my compositions and ran across it. I see flowers coming into bloom with bees and butterflies taking of their nectar; cumulous clouds passing through a brilliant blue sky as I lay in the hammock finding in them fish and dragons, castles and horses.

3. Gone Fishin  1:39  D Peters, vocal & guitar
     I had bought John a fly rod when we were first married some 20+ years ago, and he made the mistake of teaching me how to use it, after that, whoever got up first got the fly rod, so on my birthday he got me one of my own. I had been fishing all my life - and it was, ok - but fly fishing with it's constant rhythm delighted my entire being. After we sold the house on the lake near Rhinelander I settled into raising a family and forgot all about it until.... coming to Branson. We toured the fish hatchery and John got his fishing license and we commenced having trout for lunch 4 days out of 7! (I LOVE fish, yum) We went down to the fly fishing area just below the dam and I took my chair along - twice - then realized I could be out there having fun too. I still had my waders! Not too long after that, this little song was born.

Lyrics
Gone fishin', gone fishin', that's what you'll find when you stop by our door,
Gone fishin, gone fishin' and we'll be back when they don't bite no more!

We've got our flies and rods and reels and waders in the back,
it's dark outside but soon the sun will rise,
the crickets sing so sweetly and the grass is wet with dew,
our sandwiches are packed, it's time to fly.
We've waited for a day like this when time can slip away,
relaxation's on the list of things to do today.
The truck door slams the engine purrs, the headlights show the way,
and off we go a'singin' about where we're goin' today.....

4. Dance of the Tree Knomes   2:01 D. Peters
Guitar, Bass Mountain Dulcimer, Alto and Soprano Reorders, Tamborine and Shaker
     This was a gift of the trees back when we were living in the country outside of Colfax. It just sort of emerged from my guitar. You can hear mother earth's energy in the bass, and the sap coming up into the limbs and helping bring forth the leaves. The energy sparkles!

5. Rebecca's Child  3:28  D. Peters, Alto Recorder and Mountain Dulcimer
     A good friend of mine was expecting her first child, so I wrote this for Mirabelle. Imagine her swinging from a tire swing hung from a huge oak limb on a sultry summer day. She takes joy in the fresh dew covered dawn grass, the grass hoppers and warbler song from the thicket.

6. Never Leave your Guitar  1:54  D. Peters, Vocal & Guitar
     I wrote this for two of my young guitar students many years ago. I had been talking to them about how to take care of their instruments and ..... this little piece came forth!

Lyrics

Never leave your guitar unattended outside, for if you do you're taking quite a risk!
The sun could do some damage and a snake might crawl inside, looking for a place to close it's lids.
Imagine your suprise upon returning, the finish is all cracked and clouded up
and when you strum you hear a frightened hiss within, you are cranky too when woken up!

Never leave your guitar unattended outside, for if you do you're taking quite a risk!
The squirrels might hide their acorns in the big sound hole, birds may pluck the strings to build their nests,
and when you return you will find, that natures ways have clearly redefined,
the purpose of its delicate design, from instrument to home within the vines!

Never leave your guitar unattended outside, for if you do you're taking quite a risk!
A storm could come along and blow it all around, rain would warp your beautiful instrument.
And when you return you will find, a family of mice on pick-guard high,
Sailing little boats upon the sound hole mote, and singing with their voices oh so high (or, while eatting razzledazzle berry pie)
Never leave your guitar unattended outside, for if you do you're taking quite a risk!

7. Wildwood Flower  1:57  Traditional, J. Peters, Mountain Dulcimer     D. Peters, Guitar
     This is one of John's favorites, and it's nice to hear something you know. The title makes me think of the beautiful woodland flowers, and the tune makes me want to dance!

Photo by Lea Chrestman

8. Skeeter n Swoops  2:57 D. Peters, Vocal & Guitar
     Our daughters kindergarten class was studying bats, so I wrote this little piece of nature appreciation about a bat and a purple martin for them and took along a little picture of a bat they could color; they loved it! The neat thing was that evening after eating at an incredible Mexican restaurant in EauClaire, we walked out and headed over toward the river, and there on the big oak tree was a little brown bat, and I got the feeling she was saying "Thank you"

Lyrics
Skeeter is a bat, well, wha'do you think about that? He lives in a cave with all his family.
He likes to sleep all day, in the quiet cool moist cave, emerging when the sun is barely down
Swoops she likes to play in the sun above the lake, she lives in a house up high above a field
Flying gracefully, while she eats delicacies, spiders, flies, mosquitoes, they're her food.

Chorus
Did you know, these flying ones are friends of mine? Each a part of the precious web of life.
Please observe and respect them they're your family too.
Never hurt what you don't understand, never fear what you don't understand.

Skeeter and his friends fly acrbatics with sharp bends, to feast upon mosquitoes moths and bugs.
Using sonar "stead of eyes, these mamals of small size, consume 600 each inside an hour.
Swoops colors shine bright, all through the daylight, flashing shades of violet for all to see.
Her babies like to stay, by the doorstep through the day, awaiting juicy morsels from their mom. Chorus

They meet at dusk each day, and that is when they play, catching little bugs that boher you and me,
so greet them with a grin, and watch them as they spin, and learn all that you can of natures ways
Chorus
Now you know, these flying ones are friends of mine, all a part of the precious web of life,
you and I are a part of their familoy too; learn to love all that nature has to share, you will grow to be wise if you're aware.

9. Rueben's Train  5:17  J. Peters, Mountain Dulcimer     D. Peters, Bowed Dulcimer
     Another of our favorite traditional pieces, Imagine the train leaving from the station and heading out across the plains - building up speed, then coming to the mountains and the next station. I don't even remember where we learned this one, but it's fun to play, and everyone we play it for really enjoys it.

10. Over the Waterfall   3:21  D. Peters, Guitar, Alto Recorder, Bowed Dulcimer
     Like travelers eager to leave, the fall leaves find themselves swept downstream; unbeknownst to them, they are headed for the pool, beneath the waterfall.



11. White River  3:38 D. Peters, Vocal & Guitar
     Lakeside RV Park in Branson lies along Lake Taneycomo which is actually the White River stuck between Table Rock Dam and Bull Shoals. It was a constant and wonderful companion during our six month stay. I went into the library in Branson and did a little bit of research on the area, and the White River was prominent in all of it, from thte flooding to providing food and tourist dollars to the local people.

Lyrics:
1.White River she winds through the lush Ozark Hills, while flowers and flutterby's dance on her shore, the rainbow and brown trout leap high in the air, then fall in the crystal clear flow

     Chorus: River, with man in command, Mother Nature, she still runs the show
                   River, you dance past the sand, soothing both body and soul
2. Stories are told of the river of old, submerging the hollows and impassible roads.
    More than one fool did get swept away, when fording at high water time.
     Bridges went up and then bridges came down, when flood waters crept up the banks all around
   Cross them before the floods sweep them away, if you're plannin' on goin' to town (chorus)

3. Now the river goes up and the river goes down, controlled by the dams; giving power to towns
   and blasting and blacktop have tamed the high hills, with tall bridges connecting the roads
   but the river is watching and biding her time, when man thinks he's strong and he gets out of line,
   the sky will turn dark and the river will rise, and over her banks she will flow.  (chorus)

 12. Love is a Whisper   2:17 D. Peters, Guitar & Vocal
  
   I have come to believe that love is within EVERYTHING! Even the wind is filled with love, and it will lead us back to our origin, which is ... love. This piece was written in 1996.

Lyrics
Love is a whisper in the wind, calling us onward, leading us on;
Listen to the whisper in the wind, all that's around us lives within.

Can you hear the whisper in the wind, open your heart wide, listen within;
Calling you homeward with it's love, ever enduring, always there.

Gentle breezes whispering my name, gentle vibrations, fill me again
Lifting me upward filled with joy; guiding with love forever more.

13. Fullfillment  2:17  D. Peters, Guitar & Bowed Dulcimer
     For me, this is deep soul relaxing music, like a beautiful sunset. Serene, slow, stirring.

14. Walking Stick   2:23 D. Peters, Guitar, Alto and Soprano Recorders
   During a break on a weekend retreat at Beaver Creek, I grabbed my guitar and headed for a litte clearing in the woods. The energy there was wonderful and I just started playing. This little melody came about and kept repeating over and over. When I opened my  eyes - there was a walking stick sitting on the head of my guitar. This is her song.

15. Look to the One  2:53  D. Peters, Guitar & Vocal
   Another of the songs that came through when I began to let go and awaken to my own truth.

Lyrics
Look to the one, for inspiration, look to the one, deep inside
for it is there, your prayers are answered, even before they're realized

Chorus
Look to the one, that's ever present, love is there, all the time
It's all around, and ever in us, waiting for us, to realize (or free our minds)

The loving light, is there to guide us, through every step, of the way
When darkness falls, bright light will show us, the path to take, to find our way (chorus)

16. I'll Fly Away  3:14  Traditional
J. Peters, Mountain Dulcimer and vocals     D. Peters, Bowed Dulcimer & Vocals
   Another of our favorites that we learned at the Shawano Folk Music Festival in 2010
We thought this would be a great way to close out the CD.

Lyrics
Some glad morning when this world is over, I'll Fly Away
To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll Fly Away
Chorus
I'll fly away o Glory, I'll fly away, When I die, hallelujah gy and gy, I'll Fly Away

When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll Fly Away
Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll Fly Away (chorus)

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll Fly Away
To a land where joys shall never end, I'll Fly Away (chorus)

The purpose of my music is to uplift the heart, & the spirit.

Recording (60+ hours) took place at Dragons Lair Music Studio (located wherever we park it:), in this case, at an RV park in Branson, Mo. I used Fruity Loops Studio software on my laptop and an old highball 2 mic. It did the job! The learning curve on this software is no picnic! That's one of the reasons it took so long to get a cd finished. I struggled and struggled with the program. The help files and online manual weren't much help until I finally got the logic of it into my head at beginning of Oct, and have been working like crazy ever since. (My walking log will prove that! Very few steps this month, but  worth it!

I  played and recorded all of the instruments - guitar, mountain and bowed dulcimer, alto and soprono recorder, shaker & tamborine (except on Wildwood Flower, Reuben's Train, and I'll Fly Away where John joined me) and did all the editing, mixing and mastering. The photo on the back of the CD is the bridge crossing Lake Taneycomo (flipped horizontally) on a beautiful misty morning.

This was quite a project, and I feel exhilerated and accomplished. I wanted to be able to share my music, and I hope everyone who partakes in it will enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed playing it!

Round trip, Branson to Wisconsin & back

September 18th saw us pulling out of our lovely campsite and hitting the road north. Hwy 65N to Hwy 44 to Saint Louis. I had been telling John how I'd like to see Cahokia (an ancient Indian settlement) but he said we wouldn't have time this trip. I'd been looking on the map for it several days prior to our departure and couldn't find it; and all of a sudden, as we approached Saint Louis, there it was, on the other side of the river in the midsts of the suburbs of Saint Louis. So much for a beautiful setting - it probably was, but - I'm not a city girl. We took the 270 bypass and left Saint Louis and Cahokia behind. It was a beautiful area though. Large hills and beautiful trees. From there we took 55 N up to Bloomington where we caught Hwy 39. We stayed at a pretty RV park just North of Bloomington called Hickory Hills http://hickoryhillscamp.com/ . It was quiet and very nice. Some new friends of ours said they lived there for 5 years before hitting the road workamping, and they loved it there!

I39 North took us up through Rockford and the one toll we had to pay. Then we took I43 from Beloit, WI to Milwaukee. Our daughter Katrina was key in helping us find the camp site, and in navigating us to my Aunt and Uncles in Wauwatosa - Thank you Kittie! I think we need to get ourselves an internet stick in the future to help with navigation and finding things while on the road. Going through Milwaukee took us within a few blocks of my Aunt Mary and Uncle Bernie who I haven't seen in oh so long, so with a couple phone calls and Kitties help, we stopped and had a wonderful visit. It was so good seeing them. I even finally got to meet one of my cousins Marylou!

 Back on the road we took 43 up to Green Bay and caught Hwy 57 to go out to Dyckesville and the Brown County's Bay Shore  Park right on Green Bay http://www.co.brown.wi.us/departments/page_fe2f0b71389c/?department=cb643ee48c55&subdepartment=dadc284c6c54. It wasn't as quiet as I remember, (4 lane hwy now goes by) but is was pretty, and the rangers brought campfire wood around for $5 a bundle each evening. John and I hiked the cliff trail down to the boat landing and beach. The last time I walked this was with my girls, many moons ago. Good memories!

The campground is first come first serve and has self registration - most sites are $25 per night. Large rigs need to be careful of the sharp curves and small sites, but there are sites to accomodate every size rig, and tenting is allowed also. Each site has water and electric hookups, and a dump site is located on the road out. Pavilions and a playground are near the entrance of the park. Although it's beautiful, it's 12 miles or more to Green Bay, and visiting family was an outting. John's cousin Barb, and Dan Weigert came out and camped across the street from us. Four-handed cribbage, cookouts and great visiting time were had by all!

Here's Barb and Dan.

We also had a family cookout,and even mom Peters came for lunch.

Ursula at 97 years old!I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful mom-in-law, and all the rest!

Dick and Gloria Peters

Sharon Goddard and John 

Barb & Joan

The only hitch to our trip to Green Bay was the heater going out. It blew cold air, but that was it; one minute heat, the next - not (and we weren't out of propane). After hearing good things about Van Boxtel's in Green Bay, we went there to get it fixed. http://www.vanboxtelrv.com/ . Yes, they fixed it, but is $100 an hour for labor normal??? a $21 part ran us $233. I'm grateful it's fixed, but......

A 3 1/2 hour trip west on Hwy 29 is the quickest route to Menomonie. Our great friends Jeff and Marlene Young let us park in their back yard for a week while visiting and celebrating my mom's 87th birthday.

Jeff & Marlene Young & Jeff's mom, Dorothy

We also celebrated Christmas with my mom and our girls, and met our youngest daughter, Krystal's boyfriend's parents,Marykay and John. What nice people!

Mom, Susu dog and Sasha cat

We did a little fishing at Russian Slough with Jeff and Marlene and enjoyed the beautiful countryside.

 Jeff and John fishing

 

 It's a beautiful state, but winter is a-comin, and we simply aren't doing winter in Wisconsin any more, so off we went. Down Hwy 25 to Nelson (one of our favorite road trips) (the cheese factory there has fabulous ice cream and great sandwiches along with great cheese) http://www.nelsoncheese.com/ be sure to stop if you're in the area! Then across the bridge to Wabasha, Minnesota, hang a left on hwy 61 then a right on hwy 42 all the way down to Rochester and I90 west to I35 south and into Iowa. We just love to see all the wind farms in this area!

It seems to us this is a very viable "green" energy resource that should be utilized more. They are so beautiful. This is one thing I wouldn't mind having in "my back yard" if I still had one of my own. Renewable energy is there for us, and it's an economical alternative to OIL. OK, I won't go on a rant!

We left Colfax/Menomonie around 2:30 after dumping in Menomonie and of course saying our bye-bye's and made Oceola, Iowa about 9pm. We stayed at Terribles Casino RV park.  www.terribleslakeside.com/ The positive was that full hook up was only $20. The negatives: As it was after dark, it was hard to see where to go, and the signage wasn't great.  The RV's were really packed in, and although it was quiet enough in the park-unlike the review I read online-we could readily hear the interstate noise, and it just felt very tense. Neither of us slept. Of course, the propane tank running out in the middle of the night  didn't help - John had to go out and switch to the other tank, (it was quite cold)...

Another place you can skip in your travels was at exit 106 - Eagleville's Dinner Bell Restaurant. Our waitress was about as friendly as a rattlesnake, and John said they need to fire the cook (maybe that's why she was so ornery) The bacon was undercooked, the hashbrowns were very greasy and the eggs were fried on too hot a heat. Also, RV parking was near impossible.  

On the bright side, we took a nice little break in Oceola, Missouri at the Cheese Store & gift shop. It was a very clean place filled with lots of nice things to look at, or buy as gifts... The cheese was made in..... Monroe, Wisconsin! We had a good laugh at that. There was plenty of parking there and getting off and back on was easy.

So onward with no further problems, and we made it back "home" to Branson at 3:30 pm! YEAH! We're home!



More shows, and HIKING!

I'm so behind! Since the last posting, we went to see Yakov live http://www.yakov.com/branson/. I think it's THE BEST show we've seen since coming to Branson. The first half had us about rolling on the floor, then the Russian dancers were wonderful, then the second half  - what can I say. To take what you've learned in college and put it together in a way that is entertaining and educational - WOW. He did it! What a man! Having a DVD of this show would be wonderful! Now we want to see his dinner show!

We also went to see the Haygoods, and they are by far the best family music show we've seen. They took the music and made it theirs - it was high energy, incredible talent, and something I wouldn't hestitate to see again. http://www.branson-shows.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=10878

Then, we went to a show I wasn't interested in going to at all, and found it also to be fantastic. The 3 Redneck Tenors. The first half of the show is redneck comedy - but it's tasteful! The second half shows the sheer artistry and capabilities of these three talented men!  If you get the opportunity to see them, don't hesitate - go!  http://3rednecktenors.com/

In between these, my friend, Lea Crestman and I did some hiking - wonderful hiking, and photography. I needed pictures to go with my new song White River,  for a youtube video, here's the link for that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjTTvqOYEt4. We had such fun! Lea is a very good photographer, and most of the pictures in the video are hers.

We also did the 325 stairs down to the caves at the Branson Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area http://www.bransonparksandrecreation.com/old_website/trails.htm. How the original landowners built those stairs is beyond me. Blood, sweat and tears I think, and a lot of Love. What a beautiful Place.

(on the corner of the yellow and green routes) What a wonderful hike! I wish I'd have had my flash light, and we should have brought our waterbottles with us, but we made it. The cliffs are stained with smoke from what I believe to be ancient fires of the Native people living here at the time. I plan to go back there with my tools (staff paper, pencil, & notebook) and sit for awhile until the music comes through clearly for me. That one will be called... "Ancient Fires" of course.

Lea Chrestman by the bear cave.

This made for a very enjoyable day!

Tomorrow we're going to  the Dixie Stampede. This is a dinner show, and we're quite looking forward to it!

Fly fishing's a hoot!

About 20 years ago I bought John a fly rod. He made the mistake of teaching me how to use it and after that, who ever got up first, got the fly rod, so when my birthday came around, we made a trip up to Park Falls and he got me my own pack rod and reel. We enjoyed fly fishing in Northern Wisconsin waters all that summer; at the end of it, I was just fitting into my waders at 7 months pregnant. Then we sold the little house on the lake, and my fly rod and waders got put away.

Through all the years and moves and clean outs, I kept them safe and with me, and even with the big clean out when we moved into our little 22' RV I found a spot for them under the bench. Now, I've rediscovered what I fell in love with all those years ago!

Lake Taneycomo is a constant 52 degrees F, and the Table Rock Lake dam controls the flow through the "lake". Here at the Lakeside RV campground we are 8 miles below the dam, and we fish off the dock with spinning rods and little jars of round colored bait balls, but up at the dam, only fly fishing is allowed. The Hatchery waters spill out into the river - "lake" just a little ways below the 800' high dam. This is where the fly fishing begins. Even in insolated wader boots I can feel the icy waters, and I have to be careful not to stay in there too long, or I get chilled to the bone! It's incredible wading in though. Soon the trout are swimming around me and their colors and gentle grace enchant my senses. I never understood the sense of catch and release until now. Fish were always something you caught and had for dinner. Even in my scuba diving days, although I watched them some, I was more interested in finding little treasures which had been dropped from above than in watching the fish, but something happened my first day out here fly fishing. It is very special to experience the grace and beauty of these creatures in their own habitat, and having one on the end of the line is a joy. Son't rush to bring them in - cherish the experience of having them on the end of the line, of them running and jumping out to the water, of them swimming back and forth before you, and of  finally bringing them up to you and without taking them out of the water, be able to use the forcepts to grab the hook and with a little twist  to unhook them as gently as possible and watch them gently swim away. The first time I experienced it, it was one of those aha moments that leaves you breathless, and it's so good for the heart. It just fills you up!

This is a picture of my @21" female rainbow trout from Thursday mornings outtings - she was fat and sleek and oh so beautiful. You can see the joy on my face even with those ugly big sunglasses and Australian hat on. The colors on her side almost match with my coral colored blouse! Of course, all of this would be easier to see if John's finger were transparent, in all six pictures! :) ah well, it's the experience that counts. I also found that it's not the # of fish you catch - those bragging rites are false. It's  the experience while you are doing it that really matters. I didn't need to catch more than one on Thursday. That one made my whole day, and the memories still fill me with wonder and joy.

John is also loving the fly fishing. We had his chest waders along too. They were brand new and only worn once or maybe twice and then also in storage like mine. Unfortunately, it took 3 people to get them off of him the first 2 times out here- should have gotten the boot size a little bigger, so off we went to Bass Pro Shop in Springfield. WOW what a store! The catalog shop is right next door, and all the returns go out on the floor there, so we were able to find him a really nice pair of breathable soft bottom waders at 1/2 off regular price, then we went next door to the main store and found him a pair of nice water shoes, so now he's all comfy cozy and "easily changable" and also having the time of his life. I love to see him smile and laugh!

I was so lucky. My first time fishing (I sat in a chair and watched the first 2 days we were there until I decided it would be much more fun to be fishing) an old timer by the name of Duffy took me under his wing and rigged me up Branson Style with the right flies and set up, and showed me how to roll my line. Then he brought me up to the white water area where the water is rolling out of the hatchery and I caught my first 3 fish. The first was a 24+" sucker! Keep the tip up! Then 2 really nice trout. The 2nd day out, I caught my first trout downstream, and then 2 from the white water area. Then  Thursday past I got the one above. She was a beauty.

The joy of fly fishing isn't only in the catching of the trout.  It's the whole experience. The surroundings, the sounds, the smells, the feel of the air the sun and the water... they are all lovely. Just downstream from where we usually go, there is a downed tree, and as I watched, there were at least 25 turkey vultures relaxing in the sun there. Across the river the great blue herons waded in the shallow waters looking for lunch. The swallows were swooping 25' in the air catching bugs, a dragonfly lands on my wrist or my rod and inspects my intentions and Thursday I saw about 5 goldfinch swooping, playing and singing as they crossed the river. Occasionally I see suckers swimming along, and crows cawing and either sitting on a log or flying above the trees are not uncommon. The Sycamore Trees roots are lovely, and the views are so relaxing.

The next time we go, I'm bringing along my guitar and staff paper, then we I get too cold in the water, I can get the rivers melody written down for others to enjoy!

To Eat or not to Eat?

Yes, eatting can be a nightmare when on the road. Fried food, white bread, NO fresh vegetables/ fruit, just stuff fresh out of a CAN and overcooked. Yes, we all have wonderful kitchens, but so far this summer the weather has been way to hot to even consider cooking inside, and cooking outside when the ambient temperature is 100+ degrees is not enticing.

As simple as it is, we've been eating quite a bit of jello - no not the stuff out of the box loaded with either artificial sweetners or refined sugar - but "homemade" jello made from scratch - it's sooooo easy. Take gelatin (i buy it bulk, but knox gelatin is the same thing) 1T of gelatin, pour 1/4 c of juice or water over it and let sit while you boil the 1 3/4 cup of water. add one pkg unsweetened "kool-aid" type flavoring and @1/4 c raw sugar then pour in the boiling water (it has to be boiling!) mix it all up until the sugar and gelatin dissolves, then add fresh fruit (no kiwi or fresh pineapple (canned is fine)) and pop it in the refrigerator. I use a metal bowl. The raw sugar has the nutrients etc. to help you digest it easily, and it has a wonderful flavor. I've used stevia (2-3 little packets) but I find refined stevia doesn't agree with me any better than refined sugar. Use what works for you - I have a very sensitive system.

I also found I can make some pretty darn good bread in my little slow cooker. Take  your favorite quick bread recipe and pour it into a med. to small greased slow cooker (I've read you can also put a small pan on a rack in the slow cooker) and cook on high for 3 hours, then turn down to low for another hour or two.

Our electric skillet has been the answer to eatting most meals. You can make almost anything in an electric skillet. Eggplant ragout is excellent!

Eggplant Ragout over pasta 1 med eggplat, cubed (5 ½ c) ½ c chopped onion 1 t minced garlic 2 T olive oil 28 oz. crushed tomatoes w. Italian herbs 9 oz. pkg dry linguine 1 c shredded  mozzarella cheese

Prep 10 min.   Cook: 30 min      Serves 4 Preheat oven to 350ͦF. In lg. skillet cook eggplant, onion, and garlic in oil about 5 min or until eggplant is tender. Stir in tomatoes. Transfer mixture to a 2 qt. casserole. Bake about 20 min. or until heated through. Meanwhile, cook pasta addorng to pkg directions. Drain pasta. Serve eggplant mixture over pasta. Sprinkle with cheese. Per serving: 459 cal., 13 g. fat, 16 mg chol., 624 mg sodium, 65 g carb. 19g pro., 8 g fiber.

Some of our friends are on diets and looking for better health. I heard they just switched to the Atkins diet. I wish them well, but without a lifestyle change, the weight will not stay off. The study of nutrition has been ongoing for me for quite a few years, and was included in my recent Bachelors degree in Family and Consumer Science Ed. I'd like to share some of  what I learned here, and offer some titles that I found to be very helpful.

Calorie counting may be necessary, but to truely eat healthy, you must understand something about balance. The food we eat produces either an alkaline or acid ash when digested, and it is from this that our bodies are nourished. We are not trying for 50/50, but something more like 80/20 alkaline to acid. When our bodies are not provided with the nutrients necessary to produce optimal functioning, they pull what they need from our bones, which along with supporting the rest of our parts, act as nutrient banks. The problem is that out Standard American Diet (SAD) is mostly acid foods.

Grains (except for millet) are all acid producing, see note below
Meats - all acid producing
Fish however provide us with necessary amino acids.
Dairy - all acid producing
Fruits = alkaline (except for plums and cranberries)
Vegetables = alkaline
All canned goods = acid - this is why fresh, frozen or dried is so important!
sugar = acid - sorry donuts and the like!
Nuts = acid except for almonds, however, NOTE: if you soak them 8-12 hours they go through a chemical reaction and become alkaline producing. this also happens with dried beans and grains - soak em, then use them!


Studies listed in the following books have shown that the more meat we eat, the more disease prone we become. All the biggies of our time - cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure... can be traced to our unhealthy eatting habits and lack of exercise, and... our high stress level which deteriorates the ability of our immune system and nervous system to function properly.

I was so happy to see the food pyramid yanked and something everyone could understand about how to eat put in place by Mrs. Obama. Adopt it, and you will be on the road to better health!

Another thing I would like to mention is that you must take your cultural heritage into account when planning your new adjusted diet. What works for one person may not work for another. In the late 90's I went to eatting a vegan diet. I have always been lactose intolerent, and also found that anything fermented doesn't sit well with me. I am also allergic to mold and pollen, and mushrooms are not high on my list of beneficial foods. In order to get all the enzymes I needed, I added miso (fermented soy beans) to my diet. My body didn't like that. I found I was craving fish. Really CRAVING FISH!!!! I am half Norwegian and my ancestors ate fish! When I took miso out and added fish back in, my body was content. I don't know what happened that I slipped back to eatting meat - probably my better half's desires for his germanic dietary needs, but I know I was happier and healthier without all the meat.

Refined flour is another rediculous thing our society has accepted. White flour has been bleached (that stuff's poisonous you know!) and all the nutrients have been removed to improve shelf life. There is nothing there to nourish you - NOTHING! I have a little grain mill the size of a toaster that goes everywhere with us, and 2 gallon jars of wheat berries or rye or buckwheat (did you know buckwheat is related to rhubarb! No gluten there!) Breads and rolls are so simple to throw together, and when made with freshly ground flour you'll wonder why you ever ate anything else! And pancakes & waffles, WOW!! Flour begins to degrade within 48 hours of grinding(unless refrigerated), so buying all the expensive specialty flours that are available on the market is senseless. Any flour left over I simply put in a quart canning jar and refrigerate for later; then it stays fresh! Simple!

So here is my little list:

You Are what you Eat, Gillian McKeith c.1996 - if you are only going to read one book, this is it! Simple, direct, extermely informative, and some recipes are included to get you started. I do wonder a bit about her detox drink - it doesn't sound too yummy, however the next book has a fantastic method to detox, and it's tasty!

The Detox Diet, A How-To & When-To Guide for Cleansing the Body by Elson M. Haas (Mar 1, 2004) - this book helps you to quit smoking, or drinking or ..... whatever else you may be doing to make your body toxic. I Highly recommend it! Even if you eat pretty healthy, doing a detox a couple times per year gives you more energy and feels great!

The China Study, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health by T. Colin Campbell, Thomas M. Campbell II, Howard Lyman and John Robbins (May 11, 2006) Here's the controversial one - the "expert's simply won't accept the findings, and the dairy and beef industry certainly won't allow this kind of information to become accepted in our country. It's a shame, for it would change the shape of our people! The biggie in this book = Did you know that the protein casein that is present in all dairy products has been found to be the catelyst for many types of cancer? remove the dairy, and the cancer disappears. The drug companies can't make any money this way!

Cookbooks: Along with my 3 ring binder of favorite recipes which I compiled from all my cookbooks, 3x5 cards, etc. before going on the road (I have it stored as doc files if anyone is interested), I have  two cookbooks with me; there are simply too many good recipes in them to copy into my notebook.

Feeding the Whole Family, Cynthia Lair c.1994 - whole foods recipes - simple and delicious!

The Complete Food Allergy Cookbook, Marilyn Gioannini c.1996 - My daughter was having so many allergic reactions to food that I tracked down this gem. It's full of wonderful recipes and tons of information about substitutions and how to figure out what you are allergic to.

I also have The Moosewood Cookbook - wonderful!

I hope some of this information is helpful to you! If you have anything to share with me, I'm always looking for new information and great vegan type recipes!