DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 01/07/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 01/07/08, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Ardella called to borrow eggs from Rick on Saturday. Well, that is what he said, but when I learned the call came from Christie‘s house, I realized it was Novella, not Ardella. I only know one Ardella and really wondered why she would have called us to borrow eggs, although, most certainly would be glad to share our eggs with her anytime.

The kids at Christie’s house needed eggs for brownies they were baking to take to the Youth Conference at Calvary Full Gospel Church on Saturday night. She said it was packed with young people from every corner of the county including several from College of the Ozarks and Arkansas. Brian Gross, special speaker for the evening, brought an inspirational message from The Bible.

Dakota Bilyeu played basketball at the Branson Rec Plex on Saturday, scoring two points for his team. Christie saw Georgine Cummings and some of her family watching grandchildren play on an adjoining court. I have not yet been to the Rec Plex but Christie said it is a great place for family entertainment and was crowded with dozens of kids with parents and grandparents in tow.

The Biggs farm was busy Sunday afternoon taking advantage of the spring like weather. Bill put the rest of the family to work dragging and stacking brush while Jim and Justin continued to clean around the “Old House”. The “Old House” continues to come down very carefully, board by board. Just as Daddy and our Granddad put it up with such care, Jim and helpers remove each board to store away for future use.

Ashton, Erin and I visited with Kay Whittaker at The Getaway Gift Shop in Bradleyville after school on Friday. Then, next door to the store for soda pop and snacks where we got a Howdy from Gary Casey who was helping to hold down the round table.

The end of 2007 brought us four new puppies to brighten our days. I knew that any hope for a January vacation was gone when Rick let things get out of hand a couple of months ago. Because it was so cold last week, Rick had to bring them to the basement, so they are going to be spoiled babies. Rick has chosen the two that he wants to keep. The girls think PaPa Bill needs a squirrel dog but I think that is a losing battle. We may be setting in front of the grocery store peddling feisty Feist pups before it is all said and done.

Saturday night we went with Bill and Mary Lou to Ava High School where Green Valley Grass was in concert along with comedian, Jarrett Dougherty, from Pierce Arrow Theater. If you have ever seen either one, then you know what a terrific evening we had. HONOLULU!

A tragic auto accident on December 28 took the life of our Great-Aunt Wilma Bilyeu Keltner. What a loss for her extended family and a community who loved her, but unthinkable loss to her family of four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There is never a good time to lose a loved one, but seems to me that Christmas and New Years would just be the hardest time ever. The visitation and funeral were attended by hundreds of friends and family members who came to pay their respects. Bye for now.