Stitching weekend!!!

This was the best weekend!!! Karin and I went to Cecilia Samplers Cross Stitch Retreat in Branson, MO We made this plan way back in February of this year that this would be fun to go to and see what it was like. Karin flew into Bentonville and I picked her up from the airport.  The retreat was very casual.  No classes, you just came and went as you pleased.  There were scheduled activities in the evenings but your days were left open to play and explore.  

As soon as we checked in we went to the shop and proceeded to spend the entire $100 GC that we received for attending the retreat.  That didn't take long!!!

The first night Karin and I went and looked at Christmas lights.  We went to two different drive through displays.  The first one was the Festival of Light and as we handed the girl our coupon for $1.00 off the ticket, she laughed and said the coupon we had was for the Trail of lights. OOPS!!!  The first was beautiful. It was the regular light displays.  We then found the Trail of lights.  It was a drive through which had little scenes set up like this teddy bear one below.  We really enjoyed it!!!

On Friday, we went shopping!! We hit the outlet malls, the downtown area and we found the Gone with the Wind museum.  It was GREAT!!!  This is one ladies private collection.  Actually, it was only 1/2 of her collection. It seems she rotates things out every 3 or 4 months. It has casting call time sheets, wardrobe/make up lists, Clothes, dolls, etc.  We really enjoyed walking through it. The painting we are by was painted by the  curator of the museum.

We also stopped by and visited with Santa.  Santa is bringing Karin a my little pony.  When he asked if I had been good....I had to pause and not say anything.  I think it is best not to lie to Santa.

Saturday morning, we got up early and went to breakfast. We went into this buffet and was seated.  The breakfast was $4.99.  Karin got up and made her plate, came back and I did the same.  As soon as I came back, Karin went and fixed us some water. We never saw a wait person.  Pretty soon, the bus boy came by and asked if we wanted coffee...we said no.  WE finished and no server.  We left our money on the table for the breakfast and wouldn't you know it.....the server appeared up front with our checks.  It was the bus boy!!!!  He never introduced himself or stopped by again.  We told him the money was on the table.
We then went to the National Tiger Sanctuary just north of Branson.  Karin and I did the behind the scenes tour where we were able to feed the tigers.  The worker there was kind enough to take the pictures with my Ipad.  We are preparing their snacks and mixing in the vitamins they need.

This is Midnight....we didn't get to feed her but the worker did give her a snack.

This is Vincent, one of the 9 tigers on the property.  He likes to stand and eat his snacks.  This tiger actually cracked a bowling ball with his teeth!!!  It takes 1200 lbs to crack a bowling ball!! WOW!!! There was also a Lion and mountain lion on the property.  We really enjoyed this activity...it was so cool to get to feed them and hear their stories.  BTW....if anyone has an extra $600 to spare,....Vincent could really use a new ball to play with in his pen.

In case you are wondering about Stitching at the Cross Stitch retreat...I did finish Page 9 of yoga!!!!!  We played games on Friday and Saturday night. We both won  a door prize.  I won a years subscription to the Cecilia Sampler Ornament Club. Karin won an organizer.  We made lots of new friends...stitched and played.  It was  a lot of fun!!!!