The Bridge of my Childhood

When you cross over the bridge of my childhood...also known as Lake Taneycomo Bridge you enter a world unlike any other. 

It has houses that defy common sense...

The Titanic shouldn't be on the corner of Gretna and Highway 76...

Planes have landed on waterfalls... 

Ivy skulls invite kids to come play mini golf,

and a 100 foot chicken invites you in... for fried chicken nonetheless!

Or you can go back through the bridge of my childhood and this time it takes you back to a time I am familiar with.

I remember catching big stringers of crappie in the springtime of the year. 

In every nook and cranny there were old coolers that kept our pop cold and kerosene lamps that lit our campsites. Orange life vests were stowed under the seats of Daddy's old fiberglass boat, waiting for our weekend fishing trips.

That lake has given countless memories to countless families through the years. Long Creek, Blue Eye, Shell Knob we fished each cove, caught our limit and took them home.

Branson, Missouri is a unique place that has something for everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Simmering Potpourri

I'm a sucker for anything that smells good. If I had invested in Glade sprays or Yankee Candles, maybe we could have retired early on profits! Fragrance is one of those things that's very personal though. This time of year when all the perfume inserts come in the ads, I have to open them and take a whiff. Jessica McClintock is my favorite, it's description are "top notes of cassia, basil, ylang-ylang, bergamot, black currant and lemon; middle notes are jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and rose; base notes are musk and woody notes"... hmm, that pretty well covers all smells known to mankind! But we know what we like and this time of year we all love for our homes to be welcoming and smell like Grandma's house! Even if you haven't had the time to put one single cookie in the oven, you can have that delicious aroma swirling around if you make either one of these potpourri's.  

Simmering Christmas Potpourri #1

Shared from Estelle's Kitchen at The Maine House

Sliced apples

Sliced lemons

Sliced oranges

Water

Bay leaves

Whole cloves

Cinnamon sticks
In a slow-cooker, combine fruit the way you like. Cover in water. Top with bay leaves, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Leave slow-cooker on. Makes your house smell like Christmas Memories!

Simmering Christmas Potpourri #2
1 Quart Pineapple Juice
1 Quart Water
1 Quart Apple Cider
3 Sticks of Cinnamon
16 Cloves
1 Teaspoon Allspice
2 Teaspoons Pickling Spice
Simmer over low heat, until the house smells delicious. Add more water as needed and you can reheat this mixture for days. If you have an electric potpourri pot, all the better! This is just wonderful!

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