Great Cream Cheese Potato Soup Recipe

This delicious soup was served recently at our neighbors, the McCoys, at their house warming party. Soooooo good I ate two bowls. Very little preparation and little cleanup. You can cut and paste this onto your home computer.

Cream Cheese Potato Soup

• 1 Ham steak cubed
• 1/2 gal. 2% milk
• 1 stick butter
• 8 oz. block cream cheese
• 1/3 cup parsley flakes
• 2 T dried chives
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 48 oz. OreIda frozen hash brown cubes
• 1 can chopped green chilies
• 2 T chopped pimento (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together in a crock pot. Cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6 hours. Use a crock pot liner for easy cleanup. Freezes well.

Where did the time go!!!

Can't believe how much time has gone by. I think we missed Thanksgiving and Christmas somewhere along the way. This old world has seen fires and floods; snow storms; ice storms; and worst of all the Haiti earthquake. So much seems to be going on. Last year we did survive running two resorts and the guest house. Don't remember a lot of it but do know it happened as it's already February 2010. Now is the time to get ready for the upcoming season. Oak Ridge is raked so will be heading for Deer Run. Then have to begin the regiment of spring cleaning. The fish tournament is scheduled for the end of April. Many family reunions have scheduled and we're already juggling cabins and dates. Whew, one of these days it'll all end and we can retire!

Fall is falling

Here on Bull Shoals Lake Fall is almost over


....we've been through the vivid colors and short Indian summer...now the trees are half bare and winter's peaking through. This year has been very rainy so the lake is again 17 ft. above normal. The lake usually raises in the spring and falls below normal pool come fall. This whole year started out bad with the worst ice storm (3-4 inches thick) in history. The fallen debris in our area was mostly cleaned up by mid October with the help of our county and FEMA. They did a terrific job. And we do have lots of firewood for winter.

With the cooler weather the fish are moving up. Crappie and Whites are biting...wish we both had more time to fish. Now's the time for cleanups, repairs and thinking of future plans. The economy is looking better....hopefully the fishermen will come out soon since last years high water gave us a a terrific spawn; and families will come for great lake fun. Our September divers said they haven't seen this many fish in our lake for many years...they can't wait for their June trip.

Had a good community party last Saturday for Holloween, nice hayrack ride, good food, big bonfire and lots of friendship. This is such a great neighborhood to live in.


Keep smiling til next time!!

Quaint rural vacation - watch the deer

This Walleye was caught at our resort tonight (5-14-09) from land. Actually Chris caught two Walleye tonight - the other was 18 1/2". They were still breathing when this picture was taken.

Aunt Millie: I'm changing my blog just for you...know you're tired of looking at David. Check out this YouTube video. It tells all about our lake and the area we live in. You'll see how beautiful it is and why we've live here since 1990. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6SSClB8NeI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ozarkvacations.org%2F&feature=player_embedded. The O'Toole clan is getting together the first part of June. Hope they take lots of pictures to pass on to you. With much love.

I've seen many e-mails come in with people doing weird things. Well, David has become the local Arkansawer. He and several neighbors got together to clean up the toppled branches from January's ice storm at the community center. David would rather put his body in danger than have the center pay to get the trees trimmed...that's my David. This isn't the first time I've seen this...just the first time caught on camera. Not bad for a one legged man!!!

Have had several customers come stay since I last posted. Fishing is really picking up. The bass will soon be spawning in front of our docks...whites are running in the back of creeks. Spring has sprung. The forsythia are about done with their bright green foliage, the Redbud are their prettiest and Dogwood are just beginning. God I love it here in the Ozarks!!

Can't believe a whole week has gone by. Spent the last week spring cleaning cabins. That means scrubbing down all the walls, taking down curtains for a wash and ironing, moving out the stoves and refrigerators...big task. David worked on the docks the last couple days reconnecting the electric after the high waters last year. Our customers welcomed the lights as they didn't get in until after dark. They were busy catching Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass and lost tract of the time. People are coming in from Texas tomorrow. Hope they have the same good luck.