Dogwood Acres Weekly 03/23/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 03/23/09, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. This windy day is meeting all expectations for a March day. At least the sun is shining; a sunny windy day is more enjoyable than a cloudy windy day. With three sets of wind chimes on my deck, it is definitely not a quite day. Just outside my office window here at home, there stands a tall dead oak tree. I can only pray that it will fall down hill if the fifty mile an hour wind gusts should uproot it.
When we moved to this house in 1991, Neal and his friends tied a rope in one of the high branches. Most of his friends, at least the braver ones, would see how high above the treetops they could swing. When Martin Hodges lived here in Grandpa and Grandma Crum’s trailer, he brought his friends over to swing. It was definitely a feat for the brave of heart. I always held my breath fearing the rope would break and someone would sail over the treetops into the deep hollow below.
While we were at Bill and Mary Lou’s Sunday afternoon, LeaAnn and Erin brought a little black calf out of the barn to play with. It is one of a set of twins that the Mama cow will not take, so they are bottle feeding it. Martin fixed the bottle and Erin held the calf still while Amy fed it. It was quite a team effort but there is nothing sweeter than a newborn calf.
Norm France is on the road to recovery following his recent surgery. Connie tries to make sure it is not a fast track, but Norm is a hard man to keep down. She helps feed the calves, but Norm is driving the Gator. Connie dreamed that he had moved the bull, so I think she is keeping an extra close eye on him now. He is planting seeds in his greenhouse and I am looking forward to some Big Boy Tomatoes by July 4. Norm is always generous and sends veggies to the office with Connie.
Hobart Collins called and asked me to help get the word out about the Alzheimer’s Benefit Gospel Sing to be held on April 4 at White River Association Youth Camp near Taneyville. The time is from 6:30-9:30, no charge, but donations will be accepted to benefit Alzheimer’s research. There is quite a lineup of singers, including Bill Burns, Ricky Harville and Bob Hammond.
Bessie Rossner Gideon called to tell me how much she enjoyed her visits in Oregon with Betty Crum and Bud and Juanita Essary. She is glad to be back in her California home, although the time spent with son, Gary, and his family in Washington was very nice.
I just heard from Abigail Biggs who is on spring break today. She has been outside cutting out a four-wheeler trail. What a girl!
Rick wants to take me on a four-wheeler ride to Bright Hollow this afternoon. We will stop on the way to look at a property for sale, so I believe that makes it a business trip. I love this job! Bye for now.