DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 04/28/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 4/28/08, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. White Bass, wild turkey and morel mushrooms have all sizzled in skillets in our kitchen this past week. I did cook healthy sometimes, with stir-fry chicken breast and baked fish, but that is just not the same. Same as what, you ask? Golden brown, flaky and tender meat coming from a skillet with a little oil melts in your mouth and leaves just the right amount of “stuff” to make flour gravy. We have had turkey for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is good anytime.

Rick balanced his hunting and fishing activities so that we had something fresh and new everyday. Although he has four turkey tags, he can only use two, so there is one Gobbler down and one to go.

Danny Frazier sent us an email with pictures of his gobbler, before and after, calling his artwork, “Life and Death of the Wild Turkey”.

Rich Dinkela visited his Back Place Farm and got a nice turkey to take back home.

Bill Biggs and Harry Coleman went fishing a couple of mornings, bringing home fish AND a few fish stories. The biggest scoop of the day was after they got home and were cleaning the fish. Christie said Bill came flying into the house to get bandages as Harry was bleeding profusely. A fish fin, dead or alive, can be lethal, but Harry survived.

Deloris Wood called with the biggest hunting story of all. Actually what she really said is that she will NOT be hunting mushrooms anywhere close to our house. That decision was made after she and Mike saw a big black bear just up the road from us. She said it was really big, nothing like the little brown bears they thought we were seeing. I think she will also stay away from Glen and Pat Kenyon’s neighborhood as Glen saw a very big cat with a long tail slinking around nearby.

Emmett Biggs says to bring your rake and a jug of water for the annual spring-cleaning of Forsyth Swan Cemetery this coming Saturday, May 3^rd. If you are not able to participate but wish to make a financial contribution, you can call Emmett at 546-7678.

Mary Lou Drew sent some news notes about the Rock City Skatepark Competition. They are kicking off their skate competition tour with a Skate Competition and Guitar Contest at Stockstill Park in Branson on Saturday, May 3, at 9 a.m.

This event is open to youth age 6 and up, beginners, intermediate and amateur. There will be cash prizes, giveaways and a guitar contest. The winner of the guitar contest will win a free recording session with Mansion America Studios.

For more information visit the Game X-Change in Branson, www.rockcityskatetour.com , or contact Mary Lou, 546-4848 or Jeff Reynolds, 840-0186.

The life of a REALTOR often revolves around boundary lines, corner markers and legal descriptions. Looking through some old records of a property near Y Hwy and Powersite Dam I found this description regarding the corner of a place I am selling. ….beginning at Burr Oak tree 36" in diameter on the left bank of White River…Surely Doug Faubion’s job would be much easier if he could just find that Burr Oak tree! This is only another reminder of simpler times and a life less complicated.

Bye for now.

ELANE CRUM
Cell: 417-239-4059
Website: www.elanecrum.com
Website: www.elanec2580.remax-midstates.com
Blog: www.dogwoodacresOnline.blogspot.com

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 04/21/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 04/21/08

Hello friends. I washed his Case knife. He had worn the overalls out in the woods and knowing they were covered with pollen, I threw them in the washer. Not totally oblivious to the obvious, I carefully removed his pocket watch and placed it on the dresser. Having laundered a Hamilton 92B pocket watch many years ago, I learned that lesson well. Why doesn’t the man just empty his pockets??

Overalls make a lot of noise in the dryer so I really did not give much thought to the clangs and clanks of the drying process…until removing dried laundry and seeing that pretty yellow Case knife (I think he called it a Toothpick) lying there. It was still in one piece, but to a collector who buffs and polishes, it was a little scruffy looking. I apologized and he started polishing. We have not discussed it any further.

A Week ago Saturday Billy, Mary Lou and Martin Hodges went to Joplin to attend the 90th birthday party of an old friend, Florine Hansen. Their friendship began several years before LeaAnn and Martin were born when Bill, Mary Lou, Florine and Alma Morgan were all teaching at Hollister Elementary and carpooled. After the children were born, they had a full car going to Hollister every day and formed friendships to last a lifetime.

Jim and Dawn have continued their project of dismantling the old house where we grew up. While they were working there Saturday, Roger Smithson stopped by to visit on his way home from Clell and Dean’s. Jim said they had a good time talking over old times and just generally “chewing the fat”. He is so proud of Dawn because while they visited she kept working, pulling nails and taking down boards. Jim knows he has a hard working wife and is proud of her.

Bill Biggs’ trusty tractor plowed gardens for Jim and Dawn, Justin and Kasie. Justin and Kasie have expanded Daddy’s garden space, so they will have a busy summer.

Today is the first day of turkey season and the only report I have heard came from Jim Bilyeu He told me one of the Lumley boys up by Elkland got a 25 lb. turkey with 11 inch beard and was back to the house by 7:00 a.m.

The white bass report this week comes from Sean Tilley who said that Makaylee caught 11 white bass last week. That girl is quite a fisherman and comes by it rightly.

Our youngest granddaughter also loves to fish. Erin talked PaPa Bill and Grandpa Rick into going to the pond after Sunday dinner. She caught a nice mess of bluegill and would have fished longer had it not been time for evening church service.

Rick and I got together with Leon and Connie Hammond Wednesday morning and attended Lomascola‘s “Million Dollar Piano” show in Branson. It was an excellent show, well worth seeing. Christie and Colby went on Thursday night and Colby is inspired to practice even harder.

Although it is the first day of turkey season, Rick is letting his birds off easy. He is helping Neal install cabinets, but the birds better lay low tomorrow. Bye for now.

CASE KNIFE

Reasons why not to leave a Case Knife in Overalls pocket:

1. Someone might not take it out before doing laundry

2. Although it stays in pocket through wash cycle, it falls out in the dryer & makes a LOT of noise.

3. Inside of dryer looks like there has been a hail storm.

4. Knife loses some of its smoothness and luster....looks well used.

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 04/14/08

DOGWOOD ACRES

Hello friends. In spite of the frost, freeze and floods, there are positive signs of spring. According to Rick Crum and Harvey Westfall white bass can still be caught. Vanessa Bilyeu carries on the Bilyeu family hunting tradition with a 23# gobbler to her credit early Saturday morning.

Rhonda Williams, a reader of Dogwood Acres, sent word that her son, Doug, caught a 17-pound catfish a few nights ago. They thought about putting it in their pond, but "Grandpa" convinced him they need to just eat it! That would have made several skillets full.

While out at Lowe's on Saturday I saw Trent Bilyeu and his fiancee, April Galindez. They were on their way to take her Grandpa Joe home from the hospital. He had some trouble with a bleeding ulcer, but I think they had it under control.

Rick and I went to the revival at Calvary Full Gospel on Tuesday night and enjoyed sitting with Uncle Bill and Aunt Roma Smith. They had brought "bouquets" of long green winter onions to share and we got away with some of them. There are so many people that we know at Calvary and Pastor Clint Bloock made us feel very welcome. Joe, Nadine and Gus Horner were there from Bradleyville, guests of her sister, Mary Lou Ingenthron and family.

Thursday night we went to see the Baldknobbers Show and there was Joe, Nadine and Gus Horner again! Do you suppose they are trying to keep up with Rick and me? We see them everywhere we go so they are doing a pretty good job. The show was so good; third generation Mabe family members are doing a fine job of keeping a family tradition strong. The show finale' with cousin Joy Bilyeu was more than awesome and such a blessing.

Leon and Connie Hammond served stew and cobbler on Thursday to Robert Hammond, Rick Crum and Carl and Pearl Driskill. They had a good time looking through Aunt Bessie Casey's picture box and talking about old times.

Rick picked up Ashton and Erin from school at 12:30 Friday and took them to Forsyth to see the high water. Ashton took pictures at Powersite Dam and told me that she thought Edgewater Beach would be more fittingly called Underwater Beach.

Bill and Christie had a house full of grandkids Friday night and invited our girls over. It was about 10:00 p.m. when I got there with them and Grandpa Bill was cooking ham and eggs for anyone who was hungry. Vanessa had played softball at Sparta and worked up a good appetite. She had to get to bed early as Uncle Sean told her they had to hit the turkey woods early Saturday morning.

Sean took Andrew out turkey hunting Sunday morning. They heard several gobblers and went toward one; as they got near , heard someone else take aim on it. They walked a couple of miles, not exactly enjoying the spitting snow and cold rain.

Saturday was birthday party day with Rick and I going different directions. The girls and I went to Ozark for Aunt Bonnie Bilyeu's 90th birthday party. It was quite a bash with a hundred or more people attending. She certainly was Queen for the Day and did not at all look 90 years old. Garland Blacksher had got her to promise him a dance if he came to her party and Aunt Bonnie would not break a promise. When I got home from church Sunday night Aunt Bonnie called and asked me to express her thanks and appreciation to all who attended and sent cards. She had stayed up late Saturday night reading each of her cards and enjoyed them so much.

Rick went to Jacob and Lori Rock's home to a surprise party for Roscoe and Wanetta Keithley, a strong 86 years young. He enjoyed seeing Chuck and Aileen Keithley, Wilma and David Houseman, Bill and Roma Smith and cousin Donna Baker. There was several musicians and some good picking and singing. He took pictures for me and there was some fellow swinging Auntie Wan around in a birthday dance. I just know I shall never be able to keep up with my aging aunties.

Billie Matthews had a birthday last week. Daughters Linda and Saundra helped her celebrate. Saundra came up from Little Rock bringing a new coffee pot and coffee. Linda cooked dinner so we know they ate good. Bye for now.

Powersite Dam @ Forsyth, 4/14/08

I visited Powersite Dam early one morning and walked out to the lookout directly above the gates. The sound and power of water leaving Taneycomo and going into Bull Shoals could almost be called phenomenal. I would have to say it made me feel rather insignificant.

Vanessa Bilyeu's Turkey Hunt

Vanessa Bilyeu participated in the youth hunt on Saturday with Uncle Sean Tilley as her hunting guide. She bagged this very nice gobbler, weighing in at 23# and with a 9" beard.

Table Rock Dam

Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Dam with all ten gates still running on April 12.
I took this picture from Iowa Colony Road in Hollister.

Bull Creek

Ronnie Bilyeu shared this photo taken from near his home on the Chapman Place - looking down over the Bull Creek Valley and Snow Place. The barn seen across the creek is at the Snow Place.

To Enlarge Picture....

....Just a reminder that if you want to see a full size picture, just place your cursor on it and double click....

Taneycomo & Table Rock

Lake Taneycomo West of the bridge over Hwy 65

From 165 Scenic View...Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Dam & Table Rock Lake

Table Rock Dam from nearby Scenic View. I love our springtime Redbuds!

Landing Riverfront

This is looking down from The Landing onto the Riverwalk. You can see the lightposts and the fence where Rick & I walked on our 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Cottonwood trees in North Beach Park just north of The Landing's parking lot.

Branson Landing

About noon on Thursday I drove down to Branson Landing....to the right of the fence is the riverwalk that I so enjoy. Looks like I won't be walking there for some time! This is the marina where the Branson Landing Cruise Boats are. You can see the new lake Queen, all bright and white to the left. The original Lake Queen is now black with red roof and has a more permanent spot inside the marina.

Rodeo Arena in Shadow Rock Park

Bull Shoals Valley

Rick took this picture from the parking lot of Whelchel's Funeral Home looking back toward Powersite Dam. State Hwy Y and the fields, normally green, are covered with water.

Powersite Dam @ Forsyth, 4/10/08

An additional three inches of rain overnight has pushed our lakes and streams over the edge. Both Rick and I carried cameras on Thursday. He took pictures at Forsyth of Powersite Dam, Empire Park, Swan Creek and Shadow Rock Park. Then, he met me at my office in Branson and we went to The Branson Landing and out to Table Rock Dam. With a release rate of 34-thousand cubic feet of water per second from Table Rock Lake, Taneycomo is reaching water levels higher than many of us have ever seen. All of the scenic lookouts were crowded as people came to take a closer look.

CRAZY'S SPACE

Be sure to check out the link to Ashton's new website, Crazy's Space, upper right. She chose to do her own website where she will publish her art with commentary. Why did she call it "Crazy's Space"? I asked and was told that Crazy is her nickname at school! Grandma learns something new every day.

Sean's Birthday

Christie made a delicious punch bowl cake for Sean's birthday. Mother used to make these and Christie has carried on the tradition. Left to right the boys are Neal, Marty & Sean.

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 04/07/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 04/07/08

Hello friends. Signs of spring were everywhere as I drove into Branson this Monday morning. I noticed that Justin was the first of our family to cut grass as Daddy’s corner field looked like a golf course. Justin, working on the barn roof, is taking advantage of a sunny day off. Redbuds are coming into their peak bloom time and I always especially enjoy the curvy drive along Hwy 160 where they are so prevalent.

Another sure sign of spring was Lori Roberts who was hanging plants outside at Bloomers’ where there is now an "OPEN" sign. I am anxious to see what is new in the greenhouse this year.

Rick and Harvey are still trying to fish. They tried to go white bass fishing last week but could not find a place to put the boat in the water. On their way home they noticed that Danny Frazier’s truck was at home so stopped to visit. Harvey and Danny worked together at General Electric in Springfield, but now both are retired.

Rick and I celebrated our 40^th Wedding Anniversary on April 4. We called his mom to tell her where we had gone but I think it just made her feel old to know that we have been married 40 years. Thursday night we went out to eat and then to see the Oak Ridge Boys at their theater on the north edge of Branson. We sat next to Peggy Jones from Forsyth and all felt pretty special to have third row seats.

Neal and LeaAnn took us to Bass Pro’s new White River Fish House Friday evening. Bill, Mary Lou and Martin Hodges all were there to help us celebrate. We had a wonderful evening together and enjoyed the food, there were so many choices and we had everything from Wall-Eye to Chicken. Rick and Ashton are big clam chowder fans and finally found chowder as good as what they eat on the Oregon coast.

One of my favorite things to do at Branson Landing is to walk the boardwalk, so I talked Rick into doing that before we met up with the rest of our family. He had not been there since the Lake Queens had been brought in so we took a hike down the riverfront. The old original Queenie that Daddy drove has a very different look and is docked in a permanent location at the Marina. The new Lake Queen looks a lot like the original one used to look. Some day I will take a ride although I think it will be an emotional one.

Bill and Christie had the family all over Saturday night to celebrate Sean Tilley’s birthday. It was fun seeing our three older boys together again. Marty, Sean and Neal, each three years apart and all over thirty! That makes us feel old.

Madison Tilley came home with us to spend the night with Erin. That was fun; Erin entertained her until bedtime and then I took over. Madison and I rocked while I told stories about when her daddy was a little boy, we sat in the recliner and counted sheep, watched TV, sang songs and counted more sheep until about 1:30 a.m. when she finally fell asleep. My Granny used to count sheep and I could see them jumping the fences. Although I tried to give Madison that same vision, she told me she didn’t see any sheep.

We enjoyed seeing Steve and Anita Biggs at Bill and Christie’s, no kids as Clint and Abby were off doing things with their friends. Steve had taken Anita white bass fishing last week and she caught one, her first one ever and she said it was really exciting. Steve caught one and that was it, no more for that fishing trip.

Dogwood Acres readers, Henrietta and Glenn Curtis, were recently in a two-car accident near Branson West. Henrietta is at Golden Living in Branson recuperating from her injuries and we all wish her a speedy recovery.

Revival began Sunday night at Calvary Full Gospel Church on Sundown Lane near Forsyth. Evangelist, Jerry Haynes, will be preaching on the "Signs of the Times" to evoke knowledge around what is going on in the Middle East and around the world according to God’s Word. Services continue through Friday, April 11, beginning at 7 p.m. nightly. All are welcome. Bye for now.

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 03/31/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 03/31/08, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Fishing Fever seems to be rampant. Poor Rick has used his casting arm so much that it may fall off. He said it can take 150 casts to catch one white bass. He and Harvey Westfall have brought home enough fish for a good mess or two. I only know what Rick chooses to tell me, but seems that the two of them know how to draw attention. He said that Harvey carries an old fashioned wooden ironing board in the pickup and cleans his fish on it before heading home. Apparently that draws a crowd of interested onlookers.

They also got a little attention when Rick sat on a 3-hook lure and Harvey had to remove it from the seat of his overalls. Why would a forgetful fisherman leave such a lure where he would be likely to sit down?

While Rick was busy fishing last week, I was just as busy working. We seemed to have something to do every night and I would meet up with Rick after work. He went to Saturday morning coffee at Jim Evans' and I worked Saturday morning. After a quick walk through the grocery store I was home around noon and actually had the rest of the day off. At the grocery store I saw Laura Jubell and her mother, Melissa. Laura, Rikki Jo and Eric were all kids when we were at Faith Assembly and now they are all grown up and Laura has two pretty little boys.

I also saw Oscar and Carolyn Cook and Georgine Cummings grocery shopping. Dusty and Bill Comer were helping with Taneyville youth group's bake sale. They were the brave ones dodging raindrops on the sidewalk.

Later in the afternoon I visited Christie and got to see the Biggs Family Kittens. Bill and Christie now have as many cats as Rick and I. I guess that is called "keeping up with the Crums".

Our granddaughter, Ashton, is playing volleyball and we all enjoyed being part of the Plainview cheering section at last week's games. There were two games, one at Bradleyville and one at Taneyville. I know she was probably embarassed by the enthusiasm of her grandparents, but what can I say??

Jim and Dawn had several fun filled days with her brother and his wife visiting from Oklahoma. Jim and Dawn took a couple of days off work so they could be together. Jim said they went to Flea Markets and had eating contests. Thursday night they took them to see the Presley's where they were invited to sit on the front row. It didn't take long to realize they had been set up as Comedians, Herkimer and Cecil, began to pick on them. Rick and I went on Friday night but we stayed far away from that front row. We are grateful for the area appreciation shows.

Bonnie Gimlin Bilyeu is reaching a significant life milestone on April 12 when she will be ninety years old. There will be a birthday party for her on Saturday, April 12 from 3-6 p.m. at the Ozark General Baptist Church, 1201 West South Street. No gifts please. Aunt Bonnie will certainly be a Queen for a Day and we look forward to helping her celebrate.

Grandma Christie enjoys having several of her grandchildren attend church with her and very pleased that three-year old Madison Tilley is learning about Jesus. Children’s Church teacher, Clea Ingenthron, brought Madison back to her family after church Sunday and commented that she was SURE there must be a hunter in Madison’s family. Christie said as they asked why she would think that, Clea bent down to Madison’s level and asked her “What happened to Jesus?” Grandma was a little worried until she heard Madison quietly say that he died on the CROSS…bow. Well, she got the main part right and they will help her to understand the difference as time goes on. Bye for now.

EASTER SUNDAY

~~Neal and his two girls, Erin & Ashton,
after church on Easter Sunday~~