DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 01/28/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 01/28/08, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. I am so glad to be pulling out of last week’s deep freeze of cold and windy weather. A balmy 45 degrees this morning is soothing to the senses and certainly will be easier on the propane tank.

Rick and I were caught 30 miles from home in Monday night’s black ice storm. We had gone to Erin’s ball game at Plainview School and when we hit that black ice, home seemed a long ways off. Bill and Mary Lou have a big house with lots of extra beds so we spent the night with them. Mary Lou fixed a scrumptious country breakfast Tuesday morning and by noon the roads were clearing and we headed home.

Before church on Wednesday night, we had supper at The Coffee Break in Taneyville. We were to meet after I got off work and due to a slight misunderstanding Rick was there a full hour ahead of time. That did not create a problem as he just went ahead with his meal and had plenty of time to visit and drink coffee. Of course when I got there he told everybody how old and forgetful I was, but I got off work same time as usual, so who is forgetful?

The puppies are bringing several visitors our way. Harry Coleman came by one day to visit Rick and see the puppies. Saturday evening Christie brought her grandkids over for a look, and then later Justin and Kasie were here. Dakota fell in love with them and is hoping that his mom and dad will let him have one, but I think Uncle Rick has decided to keep them all.

Jim and Dawn had drama at their house Saturday afternoon as Maggie, their little Feist dog had her first litter of pups. She only had three but the third one was so big that Dawn provided some assistance to the birth. I think this was her first midwifery episode, but she did a good job. The Biggs family has some interest in this litter as Colby’s Border Collie, Ringo, is the proud father. Although an unusual mix, it is a blend of two smart breeds creating a multi-function dog that can herd cattle or tree squirrels.

Vanessa and Dakota Bilyeu kept their grandparents busy with ballgames on Saturday. Vanessa was playing in the Reeds Spring Tournament where the Lady Bulldogs from Blue Eye took third place. Dakota was playing at Branson Rec Plex. I think Christie went to his game while Bill and Colby went to Reeds Spring.

I went to a baby shower at church Sunday afternoon and enjoyed watching Andrew Dalton help his mom open gifts for the baby sister that is coming soon. There have been several new babies at Sandy Church during the last year and it is a joy to see our church grow this way. Bob and Dorothy Siler’s newest great-grandson, Colton, attended church for the first time on Sunday with his parents, Jim and Kendra Harris.

As Ashton, Erin and I were leaving Country Mart in Forsyth Saturday we saw Janet Dalton packing granddaughter and groceries into the car. She said her granddaughter would have filled the cart if she had her way. How well I remember the younger days of my grandchildren as they helped me with grocery shopping on a weekly basis. I would come home exhausted but we always had plenty to eat.

We also saw Juanita Bilyeu in the grocery store; she had just come from visiting her mom, Willie (Bill) Cupp in the nursing home. Colby always enjoyed seeing Aunt Bill when he worked there but now he is working at Culpepper Place in Branson.

Daddy’s birthday was last Friday; he would have been 81 years old. As long as he was able to get out at all, he loved to go on a birthday hunt. Sometimes he would get a coyote or bobcat, but it really did not matter as long as he spent a day in the woods. Bye for now.