Oooh we love the lake!

Just back from the lake - Lake of the Ozarks, near Osage Beach, Missouri. We love it there - mostly because our friends are there and we have such a good time cruising a huge beautiful body of water in a boat with them. (refreshing beverages might be involved too...)



This ISN'T Diana McKim...her stylist won't let her go gray...

We arrived at Paul and Lucy Eckhoff's lovely lake home on Thursday about noon. That's right - we got up at 5 a.m. because we wanted to get there to get the party started! Everyone else had arrived either Tuesday or Wednesday. Alas I worked at the fair in the DNR trailer again Wednesday. I sent Diana McKim this photo in a text - saying I thought I'd seen her at the fair in her red hat and purple outfit...
Captain Paul fixed Pablo and me right up with Bloody Marys. I would have been wise to eat something - thinking back....


Diana, Bobbie, Sharon share a laugh

Next Bobbie, Jeff, Paul, Lucy, Pablo and I took the boat to Larry's on the Lake for more refreshments and some appetizers. Again...I would have been wise to eat more. The good news of the day is - I wasn't drinking cheap zinfandel and switched to water before the end of the evening.

We ended up at Al and Sharon's new place (after a little break in someone's boat slip during a rain shower) where we had grilled burgers. Their place is a work in progress - they bought it around the first of the year and are rearranging rooms and remodeling the whole thing. Knowing those two - it will be fabulous by next summer. The nice thing about it is how level the lot is - no huge climb between the house and the dock.

Speaking of huge climbs - when we got up the next morning, Bobbie, Jeff, Paul and I went for a walk around Eckhoff's neighborhood. Those hills kicked my now sore butt! I enjoy looking at all the properties at the lake - from the front and lakeside. Higgins and McKims arrived from Higgin's place and Paul E. then cooked up a great breakfast - assisted by the lovely Lucy. Biscuits, gravy, eggs, sausage - rib stickin' stuff. I did not go for a Bloody Mary that a.m.!

We headed off in 2 boats to find a place to float and enjoy the water. It wasn't all that hot yet, so when we stopped I sat in the boat for a while. The limestone in the area is gorgeous!

Paul G. never did break down and get in...

Captain Paul with Co-Pilot Lucy

We stopped at a couple places on the way back to Paul and Lucy's. At the first place Donnie showed off his glasses floaty things - Al had discovered them. Women were in awe.

The woman to the right of Don was impressed with yellow floaties!

The girls enjoy bevvies

 At the next place there was live music. The guys had fun tossing bean bags until we talked them into dancing a bit.

Then we headed back for some chops. Rumor has it Ryan McKim won them playing golf. They were quite tasty with hash browns, salad and green bean casserole. Living large at the lake on a Friday.

Boatin'

Day 2 at the Lake, we didn't jump up quite so quickly. But Eckhoffs picked us up for breakfast at Miller's Landing and soon we got in the spirit. Then we trecked far up the lake towards the dam, to a place called Coconuts near Gravois Mills for lunch and a couple Rum runners. A fancier place than we're used to - with a fountain and art. But a good way to start the day. It was overcast and the sun really never really did break out.

Elvis in the House!

The next place we stopped had a one-man-band. The guy really couldn't sing, but was a good entertainer. He spent way too long on a hoolahoop contest, but after that he did some other audience participation things that were fun - with costumes and shakers. We had fun singing along. There was a nice pirate for a photo op at our next stop.

Then we went to Shorty Pants where I had a Fried Green Tomato BLT with sweet potato fries for supper. We were all winding down about then - and it wasn't even 10 PM yet! Oh well...we're old. Paul and I were up early to take off for home, but ended up chatting on the deck drinking coffee for over an hour - hard to tear ourselves away from our friends and the beautiful view and day.

Our house was pretty quiet without Odie to greet us when we got home. She was staying at Lila and Bill's all weekend since we were leaving again before 4 a.m. for Nashville.