Birdie

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

Sherry's Pickings

T Stands for Tuesday

28 August 2026 - St. John's NL - Toronto ON

St. John's NL

Last Week's Post - Day 1 and 2 in St. John's NL

SATURDAY Click here for our day 3

It was a gorgeous sunny day! We spent the afternoon with lunch at Quidi Vidi.

I made a couple more dinner reservations as it is hard to get in without one at some places.

SUNDAY Click here for our day 4
Outfit - One Word Sunday

We whiled away the morning before heading out.

A little cloudier that yesterday but perfect for walking around.

MONDAY Click here for our day 5

Monday Mural

Foto Tunes

We had a boat tour for a few hours.

TUESDAY Click here for our day 6

We had gone to Dolly's Dixie Stampede in 2008 in Branson MI.

WEDNESDAY Click here for our day 7

Signs

I think we've seen Rocky Horror Picture Show on stage a few times, definitely on NYE in New York City 2001, right after 9/11.

Click here for my posts from her exhibits at the AGO Art Gallery of Ontario.

THURSDAY

We slept in this morning, but then we didn't go to bed until 1AM.

John used the simulator. 

I did a quick run to Longo's to cover us over the weekend. I did get pork chops on sale as well as a small pork roast for the weekend. Bacon had $1 off so I grabbed one. 

Bananas are always a good deal, we need to buy them more often.

Fanfest is taking place this weekend. No, I don't know any of the characters, but the costumes are fun.

Always busy, plus there was a Blue Jays game.

We unpacked most stuff and it went right into the laundry.

John is laughing his way through Ted Lasso. I finished (kitchen) Two Weeks in August (almost trashy, but has me at the 5th episode). Okay I admit it got kinda good.

We caught up on the latest episodes of Silo and Lucky.

FRIDAY

John golfed. I went shopping and found a sweater for fall that I love.

More Fan Expo.

COOKING

10 Foods Invented in Newfoundland That Mainland Canada Forgot

30 traditional Newfoundland recipes

Saturday - St. John's

Sunday - St. John's Cojones

Monday - St. John's late lunch Yellowbelly cod bites and fries, dressing and gravy

Tuesday - St. John's hotel seafood pasta and pizza

Wednesday - St, John's Yellowbelly mussels

Thursday - hamburger patties, mashed potatoes and beans (John's request for homey food)

Friday - Asian steak, parmesan potatoes, asparagus

READING

9 Books Inspired by Newfoundland and Labrador

This was all good plane/vacation reading!

I read Dark Game by Rachel Lynch, a new author, with a new female main character Kelly Porter #1.

The Parents' Association Chris Pavone. What the hell was this? I got all settled on our flight and boom this was over in a flash! It turned out to be a bonus scene from The Doorman!!!

The Babysitter Phoebe Morgan

The Girl Next Door Phoebe Morgan. Another author with very strong female characters, not necessarily good ones, but great reading.

The Doll House also Phoebe Morgan. I'm not loving this one as much so far.

Toronto ON - Branson - Clarksville Missouri

April 2008 - Branson/Clarkesville MO

Click on the links below for more side trips.

Cuba MO Mural City

Hannibal MO

Louisiana MO

Driving by St. Louis.

Getting close to Branson, lots of show advertising.

We spent a week at Silverleaf's Timeshare in Branson and then a week in Clarkesville at The Vacation Villas at The Summit.

This was the spring that had so much rain in the area that everything was flooded.

We stayed a week at Silverleaf's Holiday Hills Resort in Branson Missouri.
We have stayed in Silverleaf resorts before in Texas and I am not a fan of them. They are not up to the normal RCI standard in my opinion. I did send a letter when we returned outlining my complaints about maintenance but never received a response. UPDATE It is now owned by Holiday Inn and here is an interesting article about it.
According to their website:
Surrounded by the majestic Ozark Mountains and Lake Taneycomo, Holiday Hills Resort offers unlimited opportunities for vacation enjoyment. It's the ideal place for those who desire endless sight-seeing and activities or simple relaxation in one vacation location.

Only three miles away, Branson is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World" for its bright lights and spectacular musical entertainment, theme parks, museums, shopping malls and craft malls. 

Regardless, it was a great spot in Branson. It was a two bedroom and the second bedroom could be "locked off" and serve as a studio with a microwave and a fridge. It is on a golf course.
 

When in Branson Missouri you must visit Mel's Hard Luck Diner. We stopped in for lunch and loved the 1950s decor. The servers walk around singing and will sit right down with you.
Most of the staff have CDs for sale, and they will even autograph them for you. Staff will go out of their way to pose while they are singing, if you have a camera handy. Our server was Karen Richardson and she was amazing. Several American Idol contestants have sung there as well. Most of the servers also perform in the various shows in Branson hoping to be discovered.

John golfed at Holiday Hills.

Around town. We saw some shows.

We definitely did The Titanic Experience! NO PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED!!

Click here for our other Titanic experiences.

UPDATED MAY 2024 - I found this video done in 2022.

Best Elvis impersonator!

Taken in Branson Missouri at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede.

This was not as bad as I thought it would be. The show is very entertaining and the food certainly didn't leave you hungry. You can also visit the stables. Our only complaint (because we don't have children) is that dinner is always served way too early at this events.

Included in your meal:

A Mouth-Watering Tender Whole Rotisserie Chicken - yes each person gets a whole chicken!
Delicious Hickory Smoked Barbecued Pork Loin
Dixie Stampede's Original Creamy Vegetable Soup
Scrumptious Homemade Biscuit
Hot Buttered Corn on the Cob
Tasty Herb-basted Potato
Dixie's very own Specialty Dessert
Unlimited Pepsi®, tea or coffee

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Branson Landing features a scenic boardwalk along the 1.5-mile Taneycomo Lakefront. At the heart of the Landing is a vibrant town square terracing down to the $7.5 million spectacular water attraction that features the first-ever merging of water, fire, light, and music.

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CLARKESVILLE MO

Drive from Branson to Clarkesville.

We also spent a week in Clarkesville at The Vacation Villas at The Summit.

Drive home from Clarkesville MO - Chesterton IN - Toronto ON

We had tornado warnings so we decided to spend the night in Chesterton IN.

T