Karen’s Opinion

Are you into pie the way I am into pie? Some might call me addicted to sugar cream pie! I love it. My son found an easy recipe for sugar cream pie and makes it for me when he is home. He is a great kid! While sugar cream is my favorite, I enjoy fruit pies and banana cream pies too. Oh wait! We cannot forget peanut butter pie can we? Yep, I think addicted is a good word for me and my relationship with pie.

I recently discovered that the Great American Pie Contest will be held in Branson, Missouri this year. The dates are April 24-25. That would be a blast to attend. Al Roker, the famous weatherman for NBC will be there. I would love to get his autograph.

It is time to look into the great packages at the Hilton Promenade, Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Not only do they have great packages to attend the Great American Pie Contest but they also offer packages for sporting events, hobby events and many more. They are the choice of destination when visiting Branson. The choice of a relaxing vacation or one full of things to do makes their packages appealing to every traveler. By the way, this is the first year that the Branson Air Show will be held. I can think of several friends who would be interested in being in Branson for that. Pie nut, plane nut, Branson is the place to be.

My vacation day would be about perfect if I were to eat a healthy breakfast, walk around the outlet mall and attend the Great American Pie Contest! Branson has something for everyone.

We enjoyed the holiday season by getting together with our family. It is becoming harder to do that though because our kids are beginning to move away from their home towns. I have been thinking about trying to get together in Tennessee or Ohio at a theme park or somewhere that offers different types of entertainment. I want to find a place that has something for everyone, old and young.

For the past few years, my mom has talked about going to Branson, Missouri. She has heard about the beautiful views and comfortable weather they have there. I have been there before and know she would love the shows. I still remember the look on my mother in-laws face when Andy Williams took her hand and sang directly to her. I didn’t think she would ever wash that hand. The shows are fabulous and are geared towards young and old alike. With 49 theaters, I think we can find something to see that suits us all.

The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is a terrific spot to book rooms for all of us. Their holiday packages make it most affordable to visit during the holiday season. It is within walking distance of all the shows and shopping areas. Because the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is in the heart of historic downtown Branson, it would give our history buffs a chance to satisfy their curiosity and still let us shoppers shop til we drop.

Branson is a wonderful vacation spot any time of the year.

Ah, the Christmas holiday is over. We decided to have our carpet store open today in case someone got some money for Christmas and decide to put a down payment on a much needed floor. We also thought that some people might decide to tackle projects around their home while they have a few days off from work. They might need some adhesive or metal and stop by our store. I actually think it is just my husbands way of making sure he gets to stay home and not go shopping with me.

I love to shop during the holidays. My daughter and my nephew will both be celebrating birthdays in the next few days. While many people are out shopping for those last minute gifts from Kmart, I will be looking for some terrific bargains for birthday gifts. I always find great buys at Kmart on gloves and scarves. I don’t think I have paid full price for winter wear for many years. I also replenish our pajama and flannel nightgowns. No matter how I was our clothes, those cotton nighties seem to shrink. I love the prices Kmart has on sleepwear. Our Kmart is just down the road from our store so that makes it one of my favorite stops.

This weekend was so enjoyable. Our son and his fiance arrived on Friday around closing time. (We run a floor covering store). We visited a bit and then it was off to bed for mom and pop. I have no idea what time the kids went to bed. They hadn’t seen each other for a while. They are in grad school at different colleges.

Saturday we went shopping. OMG! The stores were so crowded. We shopped at Kohls and the kids found a great deal on a Kitchen Aid mixer. I put it in a cart and waited in a veeeerry long line at the cashier stand. The line wrapped half way around the store. The kids shopped for a few gifts while I held their place in line. I called them when I got close to the cash register.

We went to Sam’s Club next. As soon as we walked in the door we saw Kitchen Aid mixers. They were $40 cheaper and were the bigger, better model. We stood in line and the kids bought a black one. We had gone in to look for a coffee maker of which there were none. The kids dropped hubby and me off at Walmart and they went back to Kohls to return the first mixer.

We purchased a Bunn coffee maker at Walmart but not before hearing my name announced on the loud speaker. I was frightened. We went to the customer service desk and discovered my debit card had fallen from my wallet. Thankfully, someone turned it in. I was a bit surprised that I didn’t have to show any identification to get it back but nonetheless, I was happy to have it back in my wallet.

What a fun and eventful shopping trip!

I know that there is something I am forgetting to do. I have been quilting on a quilt and have had time to sew. There is something wrong with this picture. My house is relatively clean and I have time to sit. I know that this week will be busy since I have a quilt guild meeting on Tuesday night. I will probably end up grocery shopping on Wednesday. I hate to wait until the day before Thanksgiving but our refrigerator is not working. A part has been ordered. Not a good time for appliance malfunctions.

Here is a bag I completed. You can see my other projects on my Winding Threads blog.