Celebrating Marvin

Today is Marvin's actual birthday, but we celebrated him in style this past Saturday evening with a surprise gathering at our home.  Marvin was a bit confused when he saw how much soup I had made for a 'family get-together' but it all became clear when Jackson led a stream of folks in the front door so they could all greet Marvin and wish him a Happy Birthday!  :)  Jackson had parked in the driveway down by Mama and Daddy's house, waiting for all to arrive so he could lead them up to our house in a big group.  What a fun and special evening spent celebrating my wonderful husband with dear friends and family.

Tim, Marvin, and Chester

Megan and Brianna

Chris, Carlos, Susie, Craig, and Tim

Jackson, Brianna, Megan, and Jeff

Marilyn and Keith

Jim and Lucy

Marvin and Laura

Daddy and Mama

Kady and Pete

Susie and Chris

Carlos, Tim, and Craig

Melina and Rojina

Matthew and Anna

Julie and Betty 

Brenda and Megan

Brianna

Rojina and Jonathan

You can see an entire album of photos by clicking here.

Lemon Yogurt Bread

Lemon Yogurt Bread
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
1 large egg
1 cup (8 oz) lemon yogurt
⅓ cup canola oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.  In another bowl, combine the egg, yogurt, oil, and lemon juice.  Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Pour into an 8x4 loaf pan coated with nonstick spray.  Bake at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Blueberry Vanilla Pecan Bread

I recently read a 'cozy mystery' by Karen Rose Smith called Deadly Decor.  This recipe was featured in the book and I was mighty glad to find it on the authors website.  Quite a tasty treat!

CAPRICE'S BLUEBERRY VANILLA PECAN BREAD

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons sour cream

4 teaspoons imitation vanilla extract

3/4 cup milk (1 1/2%)

2 large eggs

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, de-stemmed, washed and well-drained.  (I put a paper towel in a bowl and let them roll around on that before adding to batter.)

Preheat oven to 350degrees  Grease and flour two 8 1/2 x 4 x 2 1/2 inch loaf pans.

Beat all ingredients except nuts and fruit in mixer bowl (scraping bowl often) on mix or blend until batter is smooth...1 to 1 1/2 minutes.  Stir in nuts by hand and then fold in blueberries.

Pour even amounts into 2 pans.  Bake 60 minutes at 350 degrees until toothpick comes out clean.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry Orange Bread

2 cups flour

½ cup sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

grated zest of 1 large orange

⅔ cup fresh orange juice

2 eggs, lightly beaten

⅓ cup vegetable oil

1 ¼ cups fresh cranberries

½ cup nuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.  

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl.  Stir in the orange zest.  Make a well in the center and add the orange juice, eggs, and vegetable oil.  Stir gently, just until almost combined.  Fold in the cranberries and nuts, making sure you don't over mix the batter. 

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.  Bake in the preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.  

Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

If you wanted to sweeten it up a bit, you could make a powdered sugar drizzle for it.  

Branson November 2016

After the wonderful trip to Oklahoma to meet Ann Voskamp, we headed to south Missouri to Branson for a weekend retreat with family.  It was a wonderfully relaxing time spent with people that I love so much.  A blessing.  And while the weather was warm (especially that Friday) we all found ourselves getting into 'the Christmas spirit' during the weekend.

Our first stop of the weekend was at the Dixie Stampede.  We have been here a few times for their regular show, but this was our first time visiting during the Christmas season.  The boys always loved this place when they were younger - I think they primarily liked the fact that they got to eat dinner with no utensils!  :D  But, I have to admit that it is pretty hard to beat eating a yummy meal while watching a show with horses.  The added nativity scene for the Christmas season was very nicely done.  Plus, they offered gluten free meal options for Candace, Hannah, and Susanna.  Great evening.

walking by the horse stalls on our way into
the Dixie Stampede

Jonathan, Marvin, Candace, Susanna, Mama, Daddy, Hannah

Marvin, Laura, Candace, Susanna, Mama, Daddy, Hannah

I have been blessed with this view my
whole life.  Daddy and Mama

We all thought this was interesting.  The pre-show is a juggling/magic act in the Carriage room of the Dixie Stampede.  While we definitely enjoyed this fella, we were especially touched to hear a story that he led up to throughout his performance.  Turns out that his Dad was the plate spinning guy on the Ed Sullivan Show all those years ago.  His parents are now retired and live in Las Vegas, but he brought the plate spinning show out of retirement and does it here in Branson to honor his father.  It is, apparently, the very same apparatus that his Dad used.  Very neat.

ready for our meal and the show

The nativity scene was beautifully done, complete
with a dove being set loose to fly to the angel.

we came outside to see the Christmas lights all lit up

Dixie Stampede in Branson

The rest of the weekend was spent at Silver Dollar City for Christmas Fest.  You know how much we love Silver Dollar City!  Although we didn't make it down for Harvest Fest this year, we were happily there for opening weekend of Christmas Fest.  Silver Dollar City is such a fun place and a great destination for families of all ages.

view from our condo rental of Table Rock Lake

Hannah took this stunning photo of the train before we climbed on board for a ride at SDC.

Frisco steam train at SDC

standing in the station as the train comes in

Laura, Jonathan, and Marvin on the train

Hannah, Candace, and Susanna (with Marvin behind)  :D

During the other festivals, a train ride will find you out in the woods where the train is 'robbed' by some friendly (and dumb) hillbillies.  :D  During the Christmas Festival, the train stops to hear 'Grandpa' tell the Christmas story, complete with light adorned nativity figures to accent the story telling.  Very nice.

We gathered in the Main Square around 6:00 to witness the lighting of the big Christmas tree followed by the parade.  (Side note - Saturday evening this all happened an hour later than it did the following day... because of the time change that occurred that weekend.)

Carolers in the Main Square before the lighting ceremony

Love this!

Laura, Candace, Hannah, and Marvin

Mama and Daddy in Hannah's Ice Cream Parlor

Silver Dollar City is known for having over 5 million lights during their Christmas Festival.  It is simply stunning.

Wilderness Church

This was a beautiful decoration and we
loved the perfect reflection in the lake below.

so many lights!!  :D

Nativity

Candace noted the realism in the way the
shepherd boy of the nativity is
holding that sheep.  Made us chuckle.  

Jonathan refused to participate in this group photo,
but he did agree to take our picture.  :D
Hannah, Marvin, Laura, Candace

Sunday morning in the condo

We had a neat occurrence here at Molly's Mill restaurant.  A stranger paid for Marvin's meal our first day in the park.  He asked that we not be notified until he had left the restaurant so he could remain anonymous.  However, I believe I know who it was and looked for him the rest of the day, but didn't find him to thank him in person.  What a very thoughtful thing to do.  (He saw Marvin's Purple Heart cap.)

lunch at Molly's Mill

Listening to the Homestead Pickers inside the
Mahaffie Homestead

After their show, Hannah and Candace went up to visit with the pickers.  They definitely remembered them from last spring when Candace stole the show playing the part of a rooster during a song.  But we all laughed when a lady in the audience (this time around) recognized Candace and said 'I've seen you on YouTube'!   :D   ha!!

Hannah and Candace with the Homestead Pickers

We enjoy the talent of all the performers at Silver Dollar City.  During the Christmas Fest they put on two top notch musicals.  I was excited to see their version of It's a Wonderful Life (in Red Gold Heritage Hall), since that is one of my all time favorite movies.  It was outstanding!

Clarence (with his wings) and the rest of the cast of
It's a Wonderful Life

However, I have to say that my favorite is still SDC's version of A Christmas Carol (at the Opera House).  The set is incredible and the songs chosen to make it a musical are perfect; often hauntingly.  The man who plays Ebeneezer Scrooge is among my favorite SDC performers and is showcased to perfection in this play.  His wife, another favorite, is hilarious as the Ghost of Christmas Present and then just knocks us over with her rendition of Ave Maria in a scene as an angel.  SUCH a great performance all around!  We saw it twice and would have gone again had we stayed another day at the park.

ready for A Christmas Carol to begin...

Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Past

Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Present
(who is played by his wife)  :D

Marvin, Jonathan, and I went on another train ride, this time after dark so we could better enjoy the lights from the train.

We then met up with Hannah and Candace to see The Living Nativity in the Riverfront Playhouse.  It was also wonderful.  A nice way to end our time at Silver Dollar City this time around.

final scene of the Living Nativity

our last view of Silver Dollar City 

You can see an entire album of photos and videos from the weekend at this link...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157674886388082

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