Wednesday - BRANSON, MO

Well, Susan outdid herself today. She planned a HUGE day in Branson for the girls upcoming birthdays. We kept it all a big surprise. The first stop was the new Titanic Museum. This was really something else. All the staff dress in costume, and there were several live dogs - just like on the real ship - musing about. Grace petted both of them.
Then we headed up the road just West of town to Table Rock Dam. This was a flood control project on the White River in the 1950's. A series of dams makes Table Rock, Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lakes (the last of which is where Aasby's have their camp). The damn is very impressive. a mile from end-to-end, much of it earthen dam, and then this concrete monolyth and power station.

Below the dam is a fish hatchery.... We toured this and it was a lot of fun. They hatch, and grow a MILLION rainbow trout each year to be released for sport fishing. The MO DEC permits at $7/day pay for most of the operation. These are NOT indigineous to MO, but love the 46F water that comes frm the bottom of the lake. They do not live in Tablerock Lake above the dam - but below in Taneycomo. We used to come here on fishing vacaions when I was a kid.

A beautiful view of Lake Taneycomo...... COLD water. Some of the old retired spawn fish - 8 years old so. Grandma's and just a FEW Grandpas.

Theese are the old dirt trench hatchery areas. I CLEARLY remember falling in one of these full of 8" trout when I was about 6 years old. A horrifying experience.

Ingrid feeding a bunch of the smaller trout.

Then we got on the Branson Belle Showboat. We boarded around 4pm - had dinner in the THEATER, and watched a very entertaining variety show. I forgot to take a picture of the BOAT in all our excitement. Here is a link that shows all about it. http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/photo-video-gallery/

In between dinner and the show, we went out on the deck and enjoyed cooler air and beautiful views on a beautiful day.....

Here we are in the boat-theater...... And, another HUGE surprise. Sarah came up from Fayetteville, AK to join in on the fun at the Branson Belle.

The show even included Todd Oliver's ventriliquist act with two talking dogs. I don't think I have ever seen Grace laugh SO HARD!

Here are Sarah, Ingrid, Grace and Molly. How did Susan and I spawn such a beautiful brood!!!!

We stopped at thhe neighbors on the way home to visit their baby minature mules... There are two babies here and he Mama of the gray one is on the right. They are darling..

Tuesday in Springfield, MO

NO miles today... Just relaxing and enjoying Susan..

We started out doing some errrands. We needed Aqua Socks for activity planned later in the day. Here we are at BASS PRO SHOP - next to a black bear - like Max that lives with us!
Then we went down to the Finley River. This beautiful swimming hole is about 10 minutes from Susan's house. It is a gorgeous 85F day - not humid at all. The water is very pleasant. Shallow - and VERY slippery. It is LEGAL to do this - and there are cars and people all over. Above the dam it is deeper and older 'kids' are swimming and floatiing all over. We stayed downstream as we had forgotten the girls live preservers.

The girls had so much fun. Once we floated all together from the dam to where we parked about 1/2 mile downstream.

Grace relaxing whle Susan & Ingrid floated down again. Then it was Grace's turn!

Grandma Mary went along to photograph! it is a LOT of fun to stand under the falls.

....... and float under the falls.....

Here is a Missoura fisherwoman.....with her fishin' pole, little sister, and bait bucket roped to her bikini bottom. Have you ever seen this in NY? I think it's probably illegal up there!

Monday - Relaxation Begins

Monday - we got up at the Marriot and had breakfast with Richards family. Then I did "W" work on Wi-Fi for awhile while the kids vegged nd watched TV at the hotel. FINALLY - we checked out and headed south around 10:30......

Then we stopped at SONIC for lunch. This is ITEM #2 on Grace's 'making up for having my birthday on the road' list. AND - here is proof.

SONIC is an old fashioned drive in. You order from the car and they skate it right out! HONEST - they SKATE it out at some of these establishments. What's new is now you can pay by credit card right from your car.

Then we got to my 'sisters' around 3:00. Doug came home and started handing out thrills. Ingrid LOVES this.

This is KAMI the old friend.AND - David won't believe this. Neither will Cindy - but Grace made FRIENDS with Kami! WOW...

Then Grace got her turn. Doug needs ear plugs for tomorrow nights run with Grace! THANKS UNCLE DOUG - we loved this!

KC Take One

Ok - we've been doing a LOT of driving, and have almost landed. While I've had Wi-Fi several times, TIME has been at a premium, as has sleep, and I haven't posted anything. Here's what we've accomplished. The girls have been great. They ALWAYS are on the road.

Pardon all the typos. I'm working on a small lap-top, and it's a challenge. I know you al will bear with me on this one until I get home.....
Thursday - drove 340 miles to Fredonia, NY. Got to our friend Chuck's around 3pm - and had a really enjoyable visit. Having lost LaVerne just 2 month ago - it was nice to visit with him and see that he's doing pretty well. We slept great.
Friday - we were on the road by 7:30 and heading west on I-90. The road construction is unbeievable this time of year and I am reminded why I do this trip NOT IN THE SUMMER. More on this tomorrow! We made good time. Around 3:00 we were at Gary - I-90 merged into I-80 and we just kept going. With plans to sty with family in Omaha Saturday, I decided to makek this the longer day of the two by as much as I could. Total miles 500 to Joliet, IL about 45 minutes WEST of Chicago. We found a Holiday Inn with a BEUTIFUL POOL and Wi-Fi, accross the street from Steak & Shake and checked in. I stayed up late doing "W" work - the AC was loud. Then the power went out 3 times. AND THENa major thunder storm at 4:30am. Here is Grace at the Steak & Shake. This burger joint doesn't exist back East. It is on Grace's promise list - of mommy pay-backs because we'll be on-the-road on her birthday. gonna get expensive!
Saturday: We hit the road at 6:30. no breakfast until 7 on weekends. Making great time. The storms are gone. it is a clear beutiful day. We started seeing these wind turbines round Anita, Iowa. At least 100' diameter blades. I want to be under one, and I wnt to know their MW rating. this was stunning. JUST STUNNING.

Here is Grace at a rest-stop ner the wind turbines. It was HOT and windy.We got to Susie's around 2pm. Just 430 miles. We're now 1300 miles from home. It is hotter than hell. 96F and 96 % humidity. Just God-awful. i know know full well why I went to and stayed in the northeast! She invited her kids, their spouses and a total of 3-7/8 grandkids for dinner with us. he 4th is due on Tuesday! it was a spendid evening of great food, great comany, darling kids and dessert is always ice cream in their lovey basement while the adults bowl on WII! Susie and I tied at 181 ! never done that on wood lanes that's for sure!

Sunday: We got up a little later after a wonderful night sleep at Susie's. Air Conditioning is a wonderful thing. We had another great meal - and hit the road at 8:15. Just 180 miles to Kansas City and the big surprise for Mom. SHE was speechless. it was a good thing. We ate dinner at Noon, visited, watched JC - at 3:00 Mom was nodding off in the lobby chair - so we all headed out. Tht ws it. here is ingrid sharing her newly acquired collection of Silly Bnds with Jillian - Richard's granddaughter - 18months It was a nice visit so far.

Here is mom with ALL 6 grandkids. David, Alison. Megan holding Jillian (JC), Mom, and my girls on the floor. Whatt a crew.

We then heded out to the Plaza to the Marriot. The girls swam. I visited with Richard. then went to dinner. The girls and I ate on our own at PFChangs. Don't ask why when my entire family was in KC - but we ate on our own. TOO long to type and I dn't understand anyway.

For those of you unfamiliar. KC, MO is a city of fountains more than Paris or Rome they say. Our hotel is just behind this one. An old renovated apartment building. I worked summers in a small engineering firm just accross from here when I was in college. I sat by this fountain reading homework and eating my lunch most days. It is a beautiful area - just too damn hot. Here the girls enjoy their Cold Stone Creamies! Then back to the hotel for more swimming, Ingrid polished off the leftovers, showers, and bed. Tomorrow - Springfield, MO where we will stay put until Friday.

Keep the e-mails coming. I am enjoying the diversion of e-mail GREATLY. gretchen

Cookies Galore

Oh Molasses! This was SUPPOSED to be posted on my 4H BLOG. Password-shashword! Well - since it's all here. Here is what we did at one of our December Meetings. Recipes follow at the bottom - ENJOY!

Here we are in the FACS (Family and Consumer Science) Room. at school WOW - what a treat! 4 kitchens - about 15 cooks. Whatta recipe for success this was! We divided into 4 groups and made 4 different kinds of Christmas Cookies. Here is Mr. Morton's group - making Turban Cookies. His Mom used to make these - they are his FAVORITE!

Here is Mrs. Morton's group. They made Jam Thumprints. They have nuts and jam - so not always the kids favorite - the the pretty jam does make for a pretty tray!
Judy made OUTRAGEOUS COOKIE BARS! The name is telling! You can't go wrong with condensed milk, nuts and chocolate now can you?

This group, with Mrs. Gorbaty, made SPRITZ. Anything is fun if you get to SHOOT DOUGH!

Nina not so patiently (HE HE)waits for the results! WHile we did feast on our efforts for snack - she took a whole bunch of these back to her church where they are hosting INN FROM THE COLD for the entire month of December. I'm sure the homeless guys appreciated the sugar!

And, last but not least - the results of our efforts. YUMMIE - - It is January as I write - and I think I need to make a batch of something REAL SOON!Here is the group anxious for SOMETHING! Not sure if this was before or after the baking. We also learned about forcing Hyacinth Bulbs during this meeting. Mostly we learned about Hyacinth ITCH - NO FUN! But - hope those bulbs are in a nice chilly place - I'll send out a reminder soon to tend them!

Here are our Recipes! HAPPY NEW YEAR

JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES Gretchen Morton
Yield: 2 dozen SMALL cookies – DOUBLE this one!

½ c butter - softened
¼ c brown sugar
1 egg - separated
1 t Vanilla
1 c flour
1 c finely chopped nuts
Prepared Jam (Betty Crocker calls for strawberry, Gretchen is partial to apricot)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Beat butter & sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg yolk and vanilla and mix until smooth
3. Add Flour
4. Roll dough into 1” balls
5. Dip balls in egg white – then roll in nuts
6. Place 1” apart on ungreased cookie sheet
7. Press thumb in center of each cookie
8. Bake 10-12 minutes in a 375F oven, or until light brown
9. Cool
10. Fill depression with ¼ tsp. jam
11. Eat and enjoy

OUTRAGEOUS COOKIE BARS Judy Engel

½ c (1 stick) butter
1-½ c Graham cracker crumbs
1 can sweetened condensed milk (yummy)
2 c (12 oz. package) chocolate chips
1 c flaked coconut
1 c chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Melt butter in 13 x 9 baking pan in oven
3. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter
4. Stir well & press into bottom of pan
5. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs
6. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts
7. Press firmly
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until light golden brown
9. Cool completely
10. Eat until you can eat no more!

TURBAN COOKIES David Morton

½ c shortening
½ c sugar (plus ¼ c for coating balls)
½ c brown sugar
1 t vanilla
1 egg
2 T milk
½ c peanut butter
½ t salt
1 t soda
1-¾ c flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Cream shortening and sugars together until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg, vanilla and milk.
3. Add peanut butter.
4. In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt and soda together.
5. Add flour mixture gradually to creamed mixture.
6. Roll in 1” balls, and then roll them in sugar. Place on baking sheet.
7. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Meanwhile – unwrap enough kisses
(one for each cookie).
8. Add kisses to the middle of the cookies after removing them from baking sheet. BEWARE the kisses will become soft and stay that way until the cookies cool!!
9. Just TRY and make them last more than 2 days!

SPRITZ COOKIES Barbara Gorbaty

1 c butter
1 c white sugar
1 egg
2-2/3 c all-purpose flour
1/4 t salt
2 t vanilla extract
A few drops of food color

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. If possible, cover dough, and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Press dough out onto ungreased, chilled cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly golden at the edges. Remove from cookie sheets to cool.
4. These will be pretty – but NOT TOO pretty to eat! Enjoy!

Morton Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! We hope you, your family and friends are enjoying the holiday! Here are a few pictures from our "season". We have had a few very relaxing days leading up to this morning. David was off work all week - and that is always a BONUS for both of us! The girls are pelased with how we've spent our time and their presents. We are merrily playing along at this point in the day. Hope to hear from you soon. May all the blessings of the season be yours today and into the New Year. Gretchen - David - Ingrid - GraceDavid and Ingrid are enjoying some time with David's Dad - Lee. A great way to start the festivities. Gretchen caned this rocker for Janice. A rejuvinated old skill. Very rewarding to give new life to this beautiful old chair.
Christmas Eve we had a fancy 7-course dinner with friends. The kids all had fun - especially since we let them skip the grown-up courses to open presents. HEY - this is supposed to be fun after all. Prime-rib was the main course, with yummy appetizers, tomato soup from the celler stores (aka: the garden haul), a festive salad, cranberry-raspberry sorbet, and cookies for dessert at the Johnsons after Christmas Eve Services. The goal was to soil ALL the fine china and my Mother's silver flatware. We succeeded!

The girls got pretty new outfits from Grandma & Grandpa Morton. They wore them to church Christmas Eve. Oh - and let me introduce you to "Norky". He is the new boxer that Grace got from Aunt Sugar. The name is Gretchen's cousins ACTUAL Boxer's name from the 70's! Enjoy that one Cukars!

We are TOO cool in our new hats from Rochester!

Grace LOVES Norky!

Gretchen's sister INSISTED that the girls are NOT too big for TROUBLE! She was right. It was assembled and put together BEFORE breakfast! The fire is roaring - and we are warm and cozy.

After breakfast - the girls headed outside with Norky to enjoy what little snow that lay upon the ground. Norky is wearing his REAL dog collar and leash that the Johnsons gave him. Grace also got a neat dog bowl. Wonder if I'll need to start buying puppy chow any time soon!

While the girls played outside, David and I enjoyed our 17th Annual Christmas Breakfast of Eggs Benedict. Somehow it went together very easily this year. Maybe it was the new Panini Grill that everyone gave me. I did the muffins on it and made Ingrid a scrambled egg & cheese muffin. She most heartily approved!

One more show off! A good friend of mine, Lore, has inspired me to knit lace. This is a shawl I made for another good friend! It is wool - soft - and cozy. I think I'll be doing a few more of these - perhaps one with MY name on it! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

David heads to the Adirondacks

David went for a hike in the high peaks today. He left home at 4:45 AM, but it was worth it to be the first one on the mountain that day. Shocked at how many people ended up being in there. This is the view of the mountains as you turn onto the access road towards the Adirondack Loj, taken about 7:10, just as the sun was coming up.
After climbing to the top of Tabletop Mountain (a LOT of ice on the way up - almost had to turn around at one point), the sun was up and everything was beautiful, especially with about 4" of nice white snow everywhere. Here is a nice view of Haystack (on the left) and Marcy, taken about 11:30. On the way back down, between the top and the marked trail (about 1 mile) he passed 24 people on the way up, and this is in October!)

On the way out the pond at Marcy Dam was still frozen over, about 1:45 in the afternoon. On the hill on the other side of the pond you can see a leanto overlooking the lake. David stayed in that same leanto in 1981 (and managed to set it on fire then, courtesy of the Peak 1 'explodo stove'.)