Dogwood Acres Weekly, 10/20/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/20/08, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. The Whisper Channel has taken over the airwaves at my house. Also known as the Outdoor Channel, you have to listen closely as most of the conversation is in low whispers while hunters stalk their prey.

Rick has been bow hunting and still waiting to see one worth killing. Sean Tilley brought down a big buck Saturday, nine points I think; would have been ten, but one was broken.

Sean, Madison and Papa Olin Tilley visited with Rick earlier in the week. While Madison built a cabin from Lincoln Logs, the fellows discussed all the finer points of bow hunting, buck rubs and so forth.

I do not bow hunt, but am planning for my second year’s hunt with Daddy’s gun. I think I can stay calm and wait for a big one this time around. Rick took me shopping for my own hunting clothes as last year I wore his coveralls which were at least a foot too long. I found some at yard sales, but they were all too long. Finally found some “short” ones at Wally World so guess I am ready to hunt.

Out of state buyers have told me they will be here to look for a house the first day of deer season. Priorities do kick in and I will have to wait until after the first weekend rush to get in the woods.

Neal’s father-in-law, Billy Hodges, had a birthday on October 15 and was surprised to get a phone call from Doyle Lawson. I don’t think Mr. Lawson sang to him, but did wish him a happy birthday.

We have a lot of good local bluegrass musicians and look forward to seeing many of them at the Shadowrock Jubilee next Saturday, 10/25, at Taney Center. BBQ begins at 4:00 and music is from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. Rick is deciding which of his overalls to wear for the Bib Overall Contest. Thank goodness, it’s too cold for the cutoff ones that he has worn all summer!

There was a wedding shower at Sandy Church on Sunday afternoon for Martin Hodges and his beautiful bride-to-be, Amy Cremeens. Their wedding is coming up in a couple of weeks and that will be another big event to write about.

~picture of Martin & Amy by China Hutch that Neal & LeaAnn made for their shower~

I got a friendly phone call from Carol Roberts Honeycutt who was visiting with her dad, Boyd Roberts, at Bradleyville. After reading about Lone Star and Miss Nellie Clark, she called to tell me that Miss Nellie was her great-aunt. If I understood correctly, Miss Nellie was a sister to Carol’s Grandma, Sue Clark Roberts. Thanks Carol, for the phone call and your kind words.

I missed my Aunt Bonnie Bilyeu at Lone Star and finally caught up with her by phone. She had gone to Sheridan, Arkansas, to visit her sister, Geraldine. Although she hated to miss Lone Star, she just couldn’t pass up the opportunity when Bill and Carolyn Sue Slentz offered to give her a ride to Arkansas.

Rick and I went to see Big Smith play at Silver Dollar City Thursday afternoon and were surprised to see Rick's cousins from Republic, Robert and Wanda Hammond, after the show. We all enjoyed the show and I pressured them into purchasing the Lone Star CD since it has my picture on the cover. Usually we don't see anyone we know at SDC, but this time also saw old friends, Roy and Betty Chapman. They live in Kimberling City now, but we went to church together at Marshfield many, many years ago. I think Neal was a baby, so that was over thirty years ago. On our way out of the city we saw Ken & Georgann Robinson from Edgewater Beach. Just recently we got acquainted with them at the Lone Star Homecoming.

When we got home from SDC, Rick went to bed with a headache and flu aches. He stayed pretty close to home the rest of the week, although was able to get out of bed this morning and hunt for a few hours. I guess riding a 4-wheeler into the woods and sitting in a tree doesn't really take too much energy.

Saturday afternoon I stopped at Bill and Christie's house where there was all kinds of activity. Daddy's pickup was getting new brakes, Christie was cooking and Madison showed me the new playhouse her Daddy had built (she told me it was "adorable") and it was. Marty was there with Tanja and the kids to come later after track meets. Both Vanessa and Dakota are running in cross country meets now and doing very good. Bye for now.