I just got back from my 4 day trip to Branson Missouri yesterday ..and Im tired so tired but I thought Id go ahead and write about it..while everything was still fresh.
We left Friday after giving our cat a million hugs and kisses
and headed off for a trip stopping along the way at some of my favorite flea markets in Springfield mo
They have some really big ones and I usually find some good stuff.
Heres one of the many flea markets I go to ( theres actually 3 of these )
I took the picture because of the name..clearly the owners didn't think this out
its a store where you buy used stuff and its called STD ..oh well they carry great stuff.
1980s wuzzle
I couldn't resist this dolls face I paid more than I usually do 10.00 ( im a cheapskate ) but she is just so cute and she squeakys! she was made in 1974
I love this cute little bear chime..though his chime doesn't really work anymore.
Fisher price puffalump
I didn't check the date on the radio before I bought it because it looks old it was apparently made in 1998 but I still love it when you press the antenna down his face moves.
I love this little dumbo squeaky :)
This was the first squeaky of the day and I really wasn't sure If I should get the sunbaked thing..she was 10.00 but me thinking that I probably wouldn't come across more I went ahead and got her..Im still happy with her.
I got these cute little guys for a 1.00 a piece and they are happy I didn't separate them.
This guy is an old one..he has no markings and his squeaker doesn't work anymore.
Im not sure whether Im selling this or keeping..Id be keeping it for sure if I had the kitchen space.
This is the first purse I have bought for my shop but it was a good deal and in good shape so I couldn't pass it up.
This squeaky Im really really happy about he is just so cute and makes for a great addition to my collection.
After flea marketing we stopped off a Bass Pro and walked around a bit and looked at some of the fishing stuff.
After that we finally started off towards Branson and we got lost on the way to the hotel the GPS kept leading us around in circles and taking us to some strange places I did find this neat sign though and snapped it
After asking directions we were told our hotel was next to the giant chicken so we drove for awhile looking but still nothing we finally stopped again and asked and they said we were getting close we would know when we saw the chicken.
Our hotel was a cute windmill inn
After checking into the hotel we decided to go find something to do
we drove around for awhile and then we thought we would go to the IMAX because I have never been to one but they weren't showing anything good so we went in search of a different theater and found they were playing "Worlds End" and I had been wanting to watch it for a second time but we decided that it was the last chance to get something to eat before the restaurants all closed down and we didn't want a popcorn dinner so we decided to come back the next night and watch it.
We went out to a pretty good Mexican food place I got a mushroom quesadilla and a coke and then we went back to the hotel and discovered the show Pawn stars which I am now horribly addicted to.
The next day we got up bright and early 4am and went to a little garden where I took some pictures of my squeak toys that I had packed along
My Dapper Stork looking good
My Woodland Bear doll who goes on all my adventures
Bubbles the clown enjoying his first outing
and Sophie who was a gift from my good friend Lisa enjoying the garden.
After that we had some time to kill and we went on a walk by the water and the fog was amazing
I wanted to go into the nearby Bass pro to take some pictures with my Woodland bear doll because I had meant to in Springfield and didn't get a chance but I didn't want to carry my giant purse in so I just carried her..if people gave me strange looks I didn't notice :) :) :)
The Bass pro wasn't like Springfields it was really really small and not very scenic so I didn't take pictures with her inside but I did take a picture with her on the outside.
After that we decided to hit a few flea markets
the first one was overpriced they had mcdonalds toys for 10.00
the next one was a bit better
I found this sweet Edward Mobley dog for 5.00
The next flea market was my holy grail I couldn't get enough it was everything I could ever ask for and more I wish I had more money because I would have bought so much more.
Josh spotted this cute Dreamland creations squeaky for me and its the first dreamland in my collection I got it for 4.00 what a steal!
and then I found this ...............I didn't have a frog in my collection so I scooped it up
Just when I thought I had found the all the squeakys I found this..another new addition my first Bonnytex Im so happy.,,and I got it for 4.00
It kept going..every few seconds I yelled OMG and more money came out of mine and Joshs wallet
this little guy is old he has a large rusty metal squeaky and no markings.
At the same booth that I got most my stuff I got this..it seems so familiar I think I had one I love toys that haven't been opened it has a small amount of damage but its not to bad..I love the art work on it
I did so research and discovered it was a tv show that was like Saved by the Bell.
a Durham Industries doll it reminds me of a paper doll
Durham is my maiden name so as a kid when my parents would find toys by this company they would buy them just because of the name.
The flea market had a case full of kewpies FULL and it had vintage care bears and that's just some of it.
After that we decided it was time to go on our Train tour
I have always wanted to go on a train but its always been a bit to pricey and my parents were never interested...but im a grown up now and can plan my own trips so it was finally going to happen.
I wish it could have been an overnight train ride like The Orient Express or Some Like it hot but I cant find one around here so this 2 hour one had to do..and it was GREAT
I got a little mad when they were going on about rules before we got on..I hate rules..more than I hate anything..thats why I don't work for anyone because when someone tells me what I can and cannot do I see red ..the rules were you cant bring drinks on and you cant smoke not even the electronic cigs
things have sure changed since all those old movies I watched where a lady would come buy with a cart full of cigarettes and ask if you wanted one .and you had to have your bag checked before getting on
Either way I still enjoyed it we got really good seats and it wasn't crowded the train was HUGE and roomy
The scenery was great we went through ghost towns and they played old 1920s-1930s music which I LOVED! it was relaxing and nice
Heres the Woodland bear doll on the train looking out ,I love how this picture turned out :)
One of the few pictures of Josh .Im leaving out the ones of me I look bleh
He is such a nerd boy I love this picture of him in his Star Wars shirt.
After the relaxing train ride we did something really really scary ok it was part scary and part disappointing..the build up almost gave me a heart attack and then when I did it I was really disappointed
We went on the zipline its the highest point in Missouri and its supposed to be horribly scary yet really fun and exciting the truth is once I got on it ..It wasn't any of those for me
I almost backed out when I was in the elevator going up to it because of how scary it looked and Josh who is scared of heights was only doing it for me poor guy..well I knew Id hate myself if I didn't do it so I just did it they weighed me and strapped me in and then we went and Josh went really fast at warp speed so it was scary for him ...but mine crawled along and the people next to us had it all nice it was going fast but not to fast ..ugh..but anyways Im glad I did it so I couldn't kick myself for not doing it..
Heres some video I found on youtube of it I wish I had gotten a picture of us or video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnpGg80d_WU
Heres the tower one of the few pictures I took of it
We went to watch "Worlds end" the theater was the smallest theater I have ever ever been in and only 2 other people were there...I had a great time because the first time I watched that movie I wanted to go back and watch it again.
The next day we tried to go fishing
but it started raining on us so we decided to do other stuff
we went to the Shepherd of the hills fish hatchery which is the largest fish hatchery in Missouri
After that we decided to go to a couple more flea markets and then I went back to the case with the kewpies and got one :) :) :)
Then we went to a Salsa store that boosted that they had the hottest salsa around and you could sample everything they had in there so I pretty much did just that..I didn't think anything was that hot and I tried every salsa they had to offer.
I did however enjoy this green salsa so I bought some.
After that we decided to go out for margaritas and then drive around some
Abandoned amusement park
Ripleys Believe it or not
Hollywood Wax Museum
and then we had to try the bumper boats
they were fun ..it took me a minute to get used to driving one I drove it in circles for a minute and then came after Josh got him into the waterfall and it was a blast.
After that we were pretty tired and I was starting to get sick so we bought some margaritas and went back to the motel and hung out there for awhile
we had planned on going out to eat that night but I wasn't feeling good so we decided on ice cream but the traffic was horrible and it took about 3 hours to get anywhere.
The next day we went home and stopped for breakfast along the way and then got some pictures.
I bet lots of little old ladies chase ghost signs to these
the signs are everywhere you look telling you Next stop next exit your almost there
announcing that you are getting closer to great homemade fudge and knifes and arrow heads
and then you get there and its closed..awww but never fear you saw a sign saying that there was another about 2 miles away on the next turn ..same thing and so fourth ..
I bet this would have been nice..it says they have kewpies..
Well that's the end of my trip I had a good time and I was glad to get home to Sophie and hug him and kiss him!
