Saturday, March 12, 2011

Saturday Sojourn - Table Rock Lake

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth."
- Robert Southey (English poet and writer of prose. 1774-1843)

This week has been a rather tough one for me, but the saving grace of it has been the overwhelming love I've felt coming from my friends. It's made me think of the many retreats I've had with girlfriends through the years, and the ever strengthening bonds we've created during those brief snatches of time we devote to our friendships.

Last October I had the rare opportunity to reunite with another circle of friends, ladies I had gone to high school with in Kansas City over forty years ago. Five of us met at the lovely family lake home of our hostess, and we spent what can only be described as a magical weekend of relaxation, feasting, exploring, and strengthening the bonds of friendship with each other. Two of us still call Missouri home, and the other three joined us from Oklahoma, Washington D.C., and California. It was a time I will always hold dear to my heart.

Table Rock Lake is nestled in the unspoiled beauty of the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri near the city of Branson. The completion of Table Rock Dam on the White River in 1958 brought hydroelectric power to the area and created the 52,300 acre lake with over 800 miles of shoreline. The beauty of the area is rustic and natural, a perfect spot for a retreat to replenish the body and soul.

After retrieving one of the ladies from the airport in St. Louis, we headed south for the four hour drive...


Of course, we turned right at "EEEEEE!"

When we arrived at the lake house, we were greeted by our exuberant hostess...



We immediately made ourselves at home. This gorgeous deck got quite a workout.  First, though, we toasted our friendship...



...then went off to see the lake.


It was very relaxing












We went back to the lake house,



...where we ate,




 

and drank...



and danced the nights away. Basically, we took it very, very





True to the mercurial nature of Midwest Weather, one night a huge storm blew through the lake house...



But it only served to make things more beautiful...





It was the perfect time for communing with nature...


By the time this wonderful weekend was over, I knew I had been given the precious gift of yet another circle of enduring friendships.



Gypsy Women - Nancy, Jo, Reya, Vicki, Linda (left to right)


Today I wish you the blessing of good friends.


This may seem a strange music choice for today, but I know it will ring a bell with the Gypsy Women. Dance nights just wouldn't be the same without Barry, would they? Enjoy!

 

13 comments:

  1. Look at this........... it's you and Reya and Vicki!!! I don't know Linda or Nancy, but I see comments from them from time to time. Looks like you had a wonderful time together!! The lake house looks amazing! I used to think I would like a house by a lake, now I'm thinking a house close to a hospital might be more to the point. Seniors and doctors seem to go together. =D Awesome sojourn!! xoxo

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  2. Hahaha! Linda, you're so funny. Maybe a house close to both would be the answer!

    Glad you enjoyed the sojourn...and I hope you get to know Linda and Nancy better some day. It's an honor to know each of these amazing ladies.

    Happy hunting for that perfect retirement spot,
    xoxo

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  3. Can't get enough of your blog babe.

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  4. Anytime you want to go back, it's on! brings back great memories with great friends forever...

    And of course~ it had to be Barry...

    Love and peace to you today and always...Love you

    oh and I laughed so hard and it felt so good to just let loose. Chuckling at our "dancing"!

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  5. Hi VickiTheHostessWithTheMostest!

    That weekend you gave us was the best present you could have given me. I'll never be able to thank you properly.

    Just one second,though. Why "dancing" in quotes? Are you trying to say we weren't very good dancers? We were excellent...in our own minds! :-)

    love always,
    xoxo

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  6. Jo!!! Thanks for the transport back to TABLE ROCK EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Amazing pictures - especially loved the storm. I MISS those, and I DEFINITELY will strap those quotes around my "dancing". I laughed and laughed...and feel so honored to be amongst the rest of you!
    Hostess with the mostest...Vicki was so much more. The time I started the coffee pot and got on the phone as the COFFEE pot decided to extrude coffee everywhere EXCEPT in the pot - Vicki was RIGHT THERE with towels and help. That cabin had EVERYTHING in it already - yet - I cannot imagine spending a moment without everyone together in the same place.

    Cooking - ohmygosh...Linda made some raspberry crepes one morning...and the baking from several kitchens converged on the counter - it was THE best!

    Friends...unforgettable....that's what they are!!!!

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  7. OMG! You just made my day chica! I've been thinking about that weekend just lately...it was absolute magic!

    Your music selection is perfect. We did some tush wiggling to Barry didn't we? LOL...love you!

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  8. Thank you, Nancy, and thanks for sending along the photo of Linda's AMAZING crepes...I've already gone back to the blog and added it!

    Yes, the "convergence of kitchens" turned out to be brilliant, didn't it?

    I had forgotten all about the Coffee Pot Incident...one of the many escapades that Vicki took in stride.

    Thanks for the memories!
    xoxo

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  9. You are so welcome, Linda. Who else can get away with calling me a hooker? :-)

    Everyone brought awesome music for the evening soirees, but Barry was the best by miles!

    Love you, too, chica. Can't wait to see you soon!
    xoxo

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  10. Oh man, takes me back. How funny - the vid. Ha!!

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  11. I wish I would have had the time to share more of the "interesting" sights we saw on the way down to Branson. Crazy stuff...you must have thought you'd traveled to a different planet in one day!

    Thanks, Reya. Phase II begins soon. ♥

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  12. Well, THAT's why you didn't answer your door this weekend as I traveled thru St. Louis! Your mind was at the LAKE!!! Sounds like a wonderful time. We just got back today from St. Louis and then slipped on down to the wineries by St. Genevieve. Beautiful weather! Next time I'll knock harder as I drive by! ha ha

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Your visit makes my heart smile. Thank you.