DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 08/11/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 08/11/08, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. When I told Rick I wanted to go trout fishing, he did not take me too seriously. I guess I can understand why as I do not fish. Early in our marriage I went White Bass fishing with him and he burned me out on the whole fishing process. He still fishes more hours at a time than most people and I still do not want to go fishing with him. So, what changed? Our youngest granddaughter has been asking to go all summer and with school starting next week, I decided it was time.

I took the girls to get their trout stamps and I got my fishing and hunting license combo so will be legal for the rest of 2008. Rick saw that I was serious so he got the fishing poles ready and we were at the lake just as dawn was breaking. Ashton was the least excited about going but she caught the first fish and was also the first to limit out. Erin has only to see the end of a pole wiggle and she is on it, anxious to play that line out and see what is on the other end.

Then, there was me who had not cast a line for forty years. When I pulled my first one out of the water, it became a team effort. Erin helped me get it to the dock, Rick pulled the hook out of its mouth and they got it on the stringer for me. Of course I wanted a picture and Rick made me hold it by its sharp little teeth for the best pose.

It was almost noon before the girls and I had our limits and we called it a day. The dock was beginning to fill up with other fishermen and Rick was happy to leave with one trout on his stringer. Night after night he fishes on his own but this was different. I think he was beginning to fray around the edges by the time he had untangled our lines and restrung our poles a few times. We could not have done it without him and I think he is proud of our catch. With trout on the grill and a skillet of fried potatoes for supper, we called it a good day.

Ida Harmon visited the fishing dock and we had a good visit with her. Paul Sullenger also came by to see what we were catching.

I got an email from Rick's cousin, Gene Stockdall, son of Charlie and Evelyn (Stolpe ) Stockdall. I had sent an email to his dad several weeks ago inquiring about Evelyn, who had a stroke back in the spring. Gene said his dad reads email but does not send it, but his mom is much better. I hope she will be well enough to attend the Lone Star Homecoming which is October 12.

Ray and Mary Farris are settling into their Rockaway home quite nicely. I went by to check on them a week or so back and Ray was busy doing some finish work in the sunroom he had built. They have lots of room now for those times when their big family all gets together.

Ashton, Erin and I followed a yard sale sign Friday and found ourselves at Jeremy and Stephanie Chambers home. They are trying to get things sorted, packed and ready to move when their new house is finished.

There were two birthdays in our family last week, Dawn Bilyeu and Bill Biggs. I thought we should have had a big blowout for Bill who reached a significant milestone, but he chose to celebrate quietly. Christie said he made a new dish over the weekend, using JoAnne Rice's green tomato casserole recipe. I guess I won't be trying that one as my green tomatoes are about as big around as a quarter.

Sean and Makaylee Tilley went to the Bryant Ridge revival Sunday and really enjoyed the Ledbetters. Granny Mac sent us an invitation and I really thought we would get there, but never made it. LeaAnn went Friday night and I talked to Esther Hankins who had also attended.

Grandma Christie tells me that Makaylee Tilley has taken up boxing and attacked her poor daddy the other night, smacking him while he was not looking. Although he said he didn't deserve that kind of treatment from her, he may have started it.

Makaylee and Ashton will both be high school freshmen this year, age fourteen and now the years will pass so fast.

The Hosea Bilyeu Family will be in concert next Sunday, August 17, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. at Ridgecrest and 6 p.m. at Remington's. They will be featuring music from their new studio project, "REVIVAL", in a concert that isn't just a celebration of what God has done, but what He wants to do in the days ahead. They invite you to come experience REVIVAL. Bye for now.