CRUM FAMILY
@ SILVER DOLLAR CITY, 12/09.jpg)
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/21/09
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Jim Bilyeu, proud owner of Uncle Bill's Mule Deer mount
Marilyn, Aunt Roma, Uncle Bill, ChuckDOGWOOD ACRES, 12/21/09, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Christmas is almost here and our social life has kicked in for the season. Two nights in a row found us at family gatherings and by Sunday night, we were ready to curl up our toes and relax. On Friday night we were with LeaAnn’s family at her brother’s house in Nixa for the traditional “Redneck” Christmas Party. LeaAnn writes, coordinates and choreographs this part of the evening. PaPaw Rick was the proud recipient of brightly colored original HeeHaw overalls; my gift was a chandelier light bulb pendant elegantly strung with a piece of rope. For her daddy she wrote a poem to go with a warm stocking cap; for Mary Lou, an avid Fox News fan, another poem. Martin and Amy were serenaded with an original song titled, “MyAmy”, accompanied by LeaAnn on the Ukulele and Ashton’s boyfriend Charlie playing his new “Hillbilly” drum (plastic ice cream bucket). There was more and it was all in good fun. After the boisterous visit from the Hillbilly Santa, the pace changed when Martin began tuning his fiddle and LeaAnn warmed up the guitar. They always sound good, but seemed like this was just extra special. We finally called it a night and got home in the wee hours of the next day.
Bill and Christie had all thirty of us over to their house on Saturday evening for the Bilyeu Family Christmas party. They prepared several gallons of Venison Stew with cornbread and Sean fried Venison steak. Our mother’s two sisters, Wanetta and Roma were there with uncle Roscoe and Uncle Bill. Bill and Roma’s kids, Chuck and Marilyn, got to be with us and John and Marianne Webster came with the Keithley’s
There was no Redneck Santa at Christie’s house, but we did have a Chinese gift exchange, with everyone bringing something from home. There were several highly desired gifts; one being Uncle Bill’s big Mule deer mount from Modoc County in California. Marty’s son, Dakota, thought he had it pinned down, but there was stealing to be done and Uncle Jim ended up with it. Jim brought a gallon jar filled with lots of stuff, kinda looked like he may have emptied out a junk drawer, but amongst it all was a roll of Grandpa Bilyeu’s wheat pennies and some of his turkey beards. That went through a few hands before Neal Crum claimed it for the last trade.
Between those two Christmas parties, Neal, LeaAnn, Ashton, Erin, Martin and Amy, Bill and Mary Lou all went to Republic for the Hodges family Christmas dinner at Robert and Arlena Maggard’s home. After three big meals in a row, I don’t think anyone was close to starvation.
Mother’s brother, Walter Davis, will celebrate his 85th birthday on December 30. His kids have reminded us all to send cards, so if any of you old friends would like to send a card, here is his address. Walter Davis, Rt. 1, Box 11, Fall River, KS 67047.
My Christmas shopping is just about finished, most of my cards are mailed out, and we are looking forward to Christmas Day. With all the busyness of the Christmas Season, may we never forget that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season". May the message of Christmas bless you with God’s hope and peace. Bye for now.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Redneck Santa, 2009
Our daughter-in-law, LeaAnn, has created a new tradition for the family called "Redneck Santa Christmas". She planned all year, shopping for unique gifts and writing original songs and poems for all. It is impossible to share all with you, you just had to have been there! Here is a Smilebox production with just a few highlights of the evening at Martin and Amy's home in Nixa.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
These Kitties need a home!
These Kitties are Precious! I have already adopted one of the fluffy bobtails, but there are more! Call me, 239-4059 or 796-2357, if you want to give any of these babies a home.
Dogwood Acres 12/14/09
DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/14/09, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. We had a busy, busy weekend, but oh so many good memories were made. The fun started Friday night with office Christmas party at Kelly and Sherry Grisham’s home. Good friends, food and fun there ending with a Chinese gift exchange. Lauryn said it would be more fun if we would “steal” someone else’s gift, so I did! Now they say I have a new image at the office, but “we” had fun.
On Saturday we went with Neal, LeaAnn and the girls to Silver Dollar City….in the rain. Yes, the weather man did say there might be scattered showers so we took a chance they would scatter somewhere else. Well, they did not and it was a wet day, but I think we still had fun. Rick made a remark about the wisdom of being out in the rain, but then, commented that he would think nothing of it if he wanted to hunt or fish in the rain.
Sunday was church at Sandy and the annual Christmas Dinner which is always a good time of fellowship. Juanita Menzies always coordinates our dinners but she has been down in her back for three weeks and had to miss this one. We have missed her and Harold at church, but she is hoping to get a shot that will make her all better.
After the dinner, we came back through Forsyth and stopped to visit Uncle Bill, Aunt Roma and their kids. Uncle Bill is glad to be out of the hospital and the kids are taking good care of them.
I got a phone call from Anita Bradford Allen with a special announcement that I am pleased to share in my column. Her parents, Earl & Oleta Bradford will celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary from 2-4 p.m., Dec. 19th in the Fellowship Hall of Healing River Worship Center located at 265 Oak Ridge Road. They were married in a double wedding ceremony at Seymour, MO, by the Rev. Leland Daniels in a 1940 Chevrolet. They ask “no gifts, please”. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity to greet old friends and congratulate Earl and Oleta on their long life together.
A note from sister Christie said she got her deer this morning; Sean called the sheriff department and is making it legal. She likes hunting from the easy chair of her Ford…, says it is “Ford Tough”. She doesn't think her car received much damage, but I told her that Rick and I will be glad to assist with any needed repairs as we still have Gorilla Glue and Duct Tape.
While at Bill and Mary Lou's after church on Sunday, we were all entertained by the antics of Mary Lou's kittens. These may be farm cats but, they are spoiled just like the rest of us who show up for lunch every Sunday. The little ones know there will be a bowl of warm gravy or some good meat scraps once they get inside the glass doors. Bill said they eat at least twelve times a day....perhaps he is exaggerating just a bit, but they are well fed. There are now three generations and some of the prettiest cats ever, a nice mix of Siamese and tiger stripe; there are bob tails, long tails, short hair and fluffy hair, blue eyes and yellow eyes. We brought home a fluffy Siamese with tiger stripes on his face and legs, bob tailed and blue eyes; that is the one that plays with Little Fox and still remains nameless. I took pictures of the others and will put them on my blog, www.dogwoodacresonline.blogspot.com They would make wonderful gifts to put in someone's Christmas stockings. Bill and Mary Lou would love to make someone's Christmas more special with these precious kitties! Bye for now.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Ashton's Boyfriends :)
Ashton and Casey Dobbs (he says she is his girlfriend) He is such a sweetie and when he saw all the pictures being taken with Charlie,
said he would like to have his picture taken too!
Ashton & Charlie were Sophomore candidates
for Mr & Miss Merry Christmas @ Bradleyville School
Dogwood Acres, 12/07/09
DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/07/09, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. All I can say tonight is Brrrrr! The big red coat and fuzzy warm boots have felt good the last few days. Neal called me Little Red Riding Hood, but I guess that is better than being The Big Bad Wolf. I slipped into his cabinet shop late Friday afternoon to see the progress on the new pantry he is building for our kitchen. It is oak, with real pretty doors and side panels. My kitchen is small and I had given up on being able to do anything to add space until he came up with this idea for a pantry to fit the one available wall. I can hardly wait to see what all I can put in it! If I have a resolution for the new year, it will be to become more organized. That would amaze my family.
Erin told me that she and Daddy have a Christmas surprise project in the cabinet shop for each of her PaPa’s.
LeaAnn has torn out a wall in their house to make a dining room, so there are all kinds of projects there.
Erin turned eleven years old on Dec. 2 and we had a birthday party before church on Wednesday evening. She had basketball practice after school, as Plainview 5 & 6th grade Cougars get ready for their season, which begins after Christmas break. With some help from Mama, she had created her own birthday cake that included a basketball and a green jersey with #11 on it.
While I write, I hear Rick on the phone with Jeff Dalton discussing his plans for deer hunting tomorrow. He missed today to take me to Springfield for Dr. appointment, but tomorrow is supposed to be a warmer day and will be better anyway.
It is unusual for Rick to take me to the Dr. but I was told to bring a driver for this one. I have been having trouble swallowing, with bread and meats getting stuck about half way down and giving me the hiccups. Dr. ordered me to have an esophagogastroduodenoscopy to see if my esophagus might need to be stretched. So, off to the endoscopy center at St. Johns we went. It did not take long for the IV to put me to sleep and I never knew when that little camera went down my throat. The next thing I knew I was back in the room where Rick had waited and Dr. told us everything went as planned. My neck has been stretched and eating should be a lot easier and enjoyable once again.
Saturday was winter roundup over at LeaAnn’s folks. They had a lot of help for this one, Rick picked up Charlie, so that got Ashton involved. Martin’s in-laws were visiting for the weekend and got to see farm life up close and personal. There was a bullfight and a mean cow tried to chase Neal down. Amy’s dad was riding in the back of the pickup and a thorn tree tried to tear his ear off, but I think that was the only bloodshed for the day. I had to work so missed all of the fun on the farm.
After I left the office on Saturday, I stopped at Francine Robertson’s for a Pampered Chef party. She and Pat have a beautiful new home with a million dollar view of Swan Creek Valley and more. I think you might even see Caney Mountain in the distance. Linda Crouch was the consultant with help from Chef John, who did a great job. I think all of the ladies were impressed with his expertise in the kitchen.
Pat’s 97-year-old father, James C. Robertson, passed away last week. I never met him, but am in awe of anybody who lived through the amazing changes that spanned most of one century and part of another. Our sympathy to Pat, Fran and other family members.
The congregation of Sandy Church is preparing the Community Christmas Dinner to be served at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13. We will have turkey, ham, all the fixins and trimmings and look forward to this annual tradition with family and friends.
Lone Star Church will be celebrating Christmas on Saturday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. The church always takes on a festive appearance with wreaths placed in each window and the biggest cedar tree that can be found reaching toward the ceiling. I wish you all a good week as you enjoy the season’s festivities, but, please remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Bye for now.
Hello friends. All I can say tonight is Brrrrr! The big red coat and fuzzy warm boots have felt good the last few days. Neal called me Little Red Riding Hood, but I guess that is better than being The Big Bad Wolf. I slipped into his cabinet shop late Friday afternoon to see the progress on the new pantry he is building for our kitchen. It is oak, with real pretty doors and side panels. My kitchen is small and I had given up on being able to do anything to add space until he came up with this idea for a pantry to fit the one available wall. I can hardly wait to see what all I can put in it! If I have a resolution for the new year, it will be to become more organized. That would amaze my family.
Erin told me that she and Daddy have a Christmas surprise project in the cabinet shop for each of her PaPa’s.
LeaAnn has torn out a wall in their house to make a dining room, so there are all kinds of projects there.
Erin turned eleven years old on Dec. 2 and we had a birthday party before church on Wednesday evening. She had basketball practice after school, as Plainview 5 & 6th grade Cougars get ready for their season, which begins after Christmas break. With some help from Mama, she had created her own birthday cake that included a basketball and a green jersey with #11 on it.
While I write, I hear Rick on the phone with Jeff Dalton discussing his plans for deer hunting tomorrow. He missed today to take me to Springfield for Dr. appointment, but tomorrow is supposed to be a warmer day and will be better anyway.
It is unusual for Rick to take me to the Dr. but I was told to bring a driver for this one. I have been having trouble swallowing, with bread and meats getting stuck about half way down and giving me the hiccups. Dr. ordered me to have an esophagogastroduodenoscopy to see if my esophagus might need to be stretched. So, off to the endoscopy center at St. Johns we went. It did not take long for the IV to put me to sleep and I never knew when that little camera went down my throat. The next thing I knew I was back in the room where Rick had waited and Dr. told us everything went as planned. My neck has been stretched and eating should be a lot easier and enjoyable once again.
Saturday was winter roundup over at LeaAnn’s folks. They had a lot of help for this one, Rick picked up Charlie, so that got Ashton involved. Martin’s in-laws were visiting for the weekend and got to see farm life up close and personal. There was a bullfight and a mean cow tried to chase Neal down. Amy’s dad was riding in the back of the pickup and a thorn tree tried to tear his ear off, but I think that was the only bloodshed for the day. I had to work so missed all of the fun on the farm.
After I left the office on Saturday, I stopped at Francine Robertson’s for a Pampered Chef party. She and Pat have a beautiful new home with a million dollar view of Swan Creek Valley and more. I think you might even see Caney Mountain in the distance. Linda Crouch was the consultant with help from Chef John, who did a great job. I think all of the ladies were impressed with his expertise in the kitchen.
Pat’s 97-year-old father, James C. Robertson, passed away last week. I never met him, but am in awe of anybody who lived through the amazing changes that spanned most of one century and part of another. Our sympathy to Pat, Fran and other family members.
The congregation of Sandy Church is preparing the Community Christmas Dinner to be served at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13. We will have turkey, ham, all the fixins and trimmings and look forward to this annual tradition with family and friends.
Lone Star Church will be celebrating Christmas on Saturday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. The church always takes on a festive appearance with wreaths placed in each window and the biggest cedar tree that can be found reaching toward the ceiling. I wish you all a good week as you enjoy the season’s festivities, but, please remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Bye for now.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Deer Season, 11/14/09
Erin & Little Fox
Neal & Erin
Erin
Three Generations of Crum Family Deer Hunters, Rick, Erin & NealMonday, November 30, 2009
DOGWOOD ACRES, 11/22/09
DOGWOOD ACRES, 11/22/09, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Deer season has been a major topic of conversation for the past week. Rick got a nice buck with his bow just before the beginning of firearm season. We had it cut up into a lot of nice roasts, some burger and loin steaks. One of Rick’s favorite meals is roast with potatoes, onions and carrots in the crock pot. It is easy to fix; I put meat and onions in to cook early in the morning, then later in the day he adds potatoes and carrots.
He has been hunting all week with his rifle, but still waiting for the big one to come within his sights. When this season ends on Tuesday, he can go back to bow hunting, so I pretty well know where he will be most of the time.
Neal took Erin hunting in my blind on opening morning. They were back home by noon and he said she probably would not have stayed that long if she had not slept for an hour.
Connie Hammond nailed a young buck with a neck shot using her 30-30. It was a Sunday morning kill, but early enough that Leon got him field dressed and they were still on time for choir and church. She will be bow hunting and still hoping to see one of the BIG GUYS that came around the day BEFORE firearms season began.
Our bathroom remodels are just about done. After installing the new shower, Neal made beautiful hickory cabinets for the master bath. Now I have more drawers and shelves than ever before and am still reorganizing. So much stuff has accumulated and it is hard to decide what I may never need again, because it is likely that if I throw something away, I will need it next week. There was a drawer full of hair brushes and a bag full of curling irons. There are only two heads of hair in this house, so why?
Uncle Bill Smith had a light heart attack and ended up in the hospital the night before their kids came for vacation. The last time they came on vacation, he worked so hard that he was down in his back. I think they decided that it may be best to not give any advance notice and just show up. Chuck and Marilyn will be here for at least another week while Uncle Bill gets back on his feet.
Christie and Madison came to see Rick and me Saturday night. Their main reason for coming was to bring Frontline for Little Fox and the cats, and then Christie helped me get it on them. Two sets of hands are helpful, although Big Foot eluded us and I caught up with him later. They admired the new bathrooms and then connected a digital converter to our bedroom TV. Rick and I are thrilled to get nine channels on that TV now, when previously got pretty poor service with the rabbit ears antenna.
I saw new neighbor, Francine Robertson, at the Kissee Mills Post Office last week. She said they are just about completely moved and settled in their new house. I apologized for not being a very good neighbor, but hope to get over to see them during the Christmas season. She is looking forward to having all of her brothers and sisters here for Thanksgiving.
Iva Cummings Folck and Georgine Cummings were guests of honor at a surprise birthday party at Taney Center on Friday night. It was their 80th and the family planned a big potluck dinner and pickin’ party. We wanted to go but just could not make it. I know we missed some good times with family and friends.
This is Thanksgiving week and we have many things to be thankful for. Not long ago I shared with you about our friend, Mike, who was at Mayo Clinic awaiting a heart transplant. Due to Marfan’s Syndrome his heart already had a mechanical valve, a defibrillator and was only working at 10% capacity. The transplant heart came in record time and now, eleven days later, he is at home with his family and a new heart. During his hospital stay the family moved from Ava to a home near the hospital and the kids have started to their new school. We thank God for the gift of life and ask that you continue to pray for this family.
Hello friends. Deer season has been a major topic of conversation for the past week. Rick got a nice buck with his bow just before the beginning of firearm season. We had it cut up into a lot of nice roasts, some burger and loin steaks. One of Rick’s favorite meals is roast with potatoes, onions and carrots in the crock pot. It is easy to fix; I put meat and onions in to cook early in the morning, then later in the day he adds potatoes and carrots.
He has been hunting all week with his rifle, but still waiting for the big one to come within his sights. When this season ends on Tuesday, he can go back to bow hunting, so I pretty well know where he will be most of the time.
Neal took Erin hunting in my blind on opening morning. They were back home by noon and he said she probably would not have stayed that long if she had not slept for an hour.
Connie Hammond nailed a young buck with a neck shot using her 30-30. It was a Sunday morning kill, but early enough that Leon got him field dressed and they were still on time for choir and church. She will be bow hunting and still hoping to see one of the BIG GUYS that came around the day BEFORE firearms season began.
Our bathroom remodels are just about done. After installing the new shower, Neal made beautiful hickory cabinets for the master bath. Now I have more drawers and shelves than ever before and am still reorganizing. So much stuff has accumulated and it is hard to decide what I may never need again, because it is likely that if I throw something away, I will need it next week. There was a drawer full of hair brushes and a bag full of curling irons. There are only two heads of hair in this house, so why?
Uncle Bill Smith had a light heart attack and ended up in the hospital the night before their kids came for vacation. The last time they came on vacation, he worked so hard that he was down in his back. I think they decided that it may be best to not give any advance notice and just show up. Chuck and Marilyn will be here for at least another week while Uncle Bill gets back on his feet.
Christie and Madison came to see Rick and me Saturday night. Their main reason for coming was to bring Frontline for Little Fox and the cats, and then Christie helped me get it on them. Two sets of hands are helpful, although Big Foot eluded us and I caught up with him later. They admired the new bathrooms and then connected a digital converter to our bedroom TV. Rick and I are thrilled to get nine channels on that TV now, when previously got pretty poor service with the rabbit ears antenna.
I saw new neighbor, Francine Robertson, at the Kissee Mills Post Office last week. She said they are just about completely moved and settled in their new house. I apologized for not being a very good neighbor, but hope to get over to see them during the Christmas season. She is looking forward to having all of her brothers and sisters here for Thanksgiving.
Iva Cummings Folck and Georgine Cummings were guests of honor at a surprise birthday party at Taney Center on Friday night. It was their 80th and the family planned a big potluck dinner and pickin’ party. We wanted to go but just could not make it. I know we missed some good times with family and friends.
This is Thanksgiving week and we have many things to be thankful for. Not long ago I shared with you about our friend, Mike, who was at Mayo Clinic awaiting a heart transplant. Due to Marfan’s Syndrome his heart already had a mechanical valve, a defibrillator and was only working at 10% capacity. The transplant heart came in record time and now, eleven days later, he is at home with his family and a new heart. During his hospital stay the family moved from Ava to a home near the hospital and the kids have started to their new school. We thank God for the gift of life and ask that you continue to pray for this family.
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