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« on: October 23, 2012, 12:14:35 PM »
Having gotten away from home Friday later than hoped and having indulged my wife in some shopping in Springfield, she and I got to the city much later on Friday than hoped, about quarter to 6. Essentially, we walked down to Echo Hollow and watched GAC for the first time. The show was not crowded—cool weather must have taken its toll—but the audience was lively enough (probably to keep warm). I’m not much of a fan of what passes for country music these days, so I considered the show to be so-so. ‘WAY too much hip-hop influence. I was delighted to see the band had a steel guitar. The piano player was quite impressive but out of his genre. It was a good way to spend an evening, but I won’t repeat it until and unless the show changes significantly.
After the show, as we walked up to the HH, we passed a crew on a cherry picker getting the lights on the Blue Tree—Boy, did it stick out! We grabbed supper at IHOP and arrived at the Homestay to find Paige in a great mood and VERY helpful, as always. When the list is made of Branson’s best values and most valuable people, Homestay and Paige MUST be at the top.
My wife didn’t set her alarm right, so we slept in a little Saturday morning, which meant we got to HH about 9:00, and the line for Molly’s stretched back to the Gazebo, so we went back down to eat at Eva & Delilah’s. I missed the buffet, but pastries just don’t get any better!
We made it to the square for the opening—the changes in characters were surprising—grabbed some fruit preserves at the apple House, and caught the Pickers. My wife asked them to do “Lorena,” which they hadn’t done for a long time, and we were pleased that they indulged her. Right after, we went to Violet Hensley’s booth, and we talked with her and her daughter for a good half hour. My wife dabbles at the fiddle, and she was just blown away by the grand old gal (96 Sunday!). We missed her the previous years, so finally getting to talk with her was a REAL treat.
After that, we bought a new log of lye soap (as we were getting low at home) and went to the leather shop. They had some vests on sale, and my wife made me get one (it will probably go in the closet to become a Christmas present for me). $23 w/tax!
Then we went to the Carousel Barn/Cowboy Emporium, and we met and talked with Buck Taylor. I told him I’ve liked his work since “Gunsmoke,” and he pointed at my hat and asked me about it. When I told him what unit I re-enacted with and that I really liked him as Col. Gamble in “Gettysburg,” he told me that he felt “Gettysburg” was the most significant film he’d been in, that he enjoyed it immensely, and that there is talk that “Last Full Measure” is finally going to get made and that he really wants to be in it. I just wish we could have afforded some of his prints. Excellent work! The man has many talents.
We walked around the riverfront and back up to the depot to catch the train. On the way, we got a couple of frozen drinks—lemonade for me and strawberry for her, the GOOD stuff. The line for the train was along the fence up by Bear Holler, but we only waited one round as they were running four cars. The trip seemed a bit rushed, but the skit went well. As usual, we did FM right after the train, and it was becoming obvious that attendance was UP. The line was out to the bridge.
She then went to the HH to get a new pin to trade with—she got a neat Thanksgiving pin with dangling leaves, and she also traded for an employee pin. FM right after the train, and it was becoming obvious that attendance was UP.
We went straight to see the Stunt Show. My take on it differs a bit from many expressed here, for I didn’t go into it expecting much stuntwork. What I saw was a narrative drama—a play—that included some comic relief and some stunt work. Other than being a bit short and therefore needing either some work on the flow of the plot or more time for it to unfold, the show was quite good. I think the problem is that people are expecting stunts and not getting them, so the fault lies in the advertising, not the show. We were quite pleased, and we enjoyed talking with the players afterwards. One highlight of those conversations, was watching “Professor Guano” try to explain his Irish to a lady visiting from Ireland ;-)
After the show, we spent some time just walking around and enjoying the fall colors and looking at some crafters. At 3:00, my wife up to trade at the HH, got another neat pin, and then bought a replacement new one. We then caught Chris McDaniel at the Gazebo and enjoyed his show. The kids he pulled on stage actually did very well—good on him for doing so!
We decided on a late train ride, and again had to wait only one time. My wife had to duck into Becca’s on the way. Then it was up to buy some Taffy and out the OM (chatting with the Cedar Creek Dulcimer people on the way). We waited longer for a tram than for the train (either time).
General Impressions: This was our only time at Harvest Fest this year, and I agree that the decorations were first rate (the encroachment of the Christmas lights and wreaths notwithstanding). The weather was Great, and the trees were just beautiful. The local critter population was out in force. I really enjoyed the walk out of the park Friday night—very few Christmas lights—just the door lamps and a few street lamps around the buildings. Once again, I could wish for an opportunity to stay the night in the park—at least late—without all the commotion and lighting of the Midnight Madness or the OTC fests. Just the quiet, subdued Ozarks nighttime!
A very sad note: just north of the Ozark Mountain Highroad on 65, there was a serious accident just a few minutes before we got on the highway. A church van (there were MANY there Saturday) had bounced off the concrete divider and spun around to end up in the ditch on the right up against some rocks and facing the traffic. The van was in pretty bad shape, and there must have been 8 ambulances there, not counting the other emergency vehicles. Our family’s prayers for the victims (about whom I have been able to learn nothing) continue. Be careful on those roads, folks! (One positive point: the drivers on the highway kept the rubbernecking to a minimum, and they were VERY generous about letting traffic merge, a decided change from what I normally see).
Well, that’s it till OTC!
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