Dogwood Acres Weekly 05/11/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 05/11/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. A week of blessings and celebrations has ended. The storms brought people together at unexpected times and interrupted Friday morning yard sales for many. We shared our basement with Bessie Stombaugh and Anita Biggs who had started out for yard sales and turned around.
We opened the basement garage door to peer out into the storm and heard a tree or two fall out in the woods. Rick counted five trees down in the outer parts of our woodsy yard. With all the fire kill that he has been cutting up, we have a good supply of firewood.
Dawn and Melissa Bilyeu took shelter in Christie’s basement until the storm blew on over. We all feel so fortunate to not have had major damage. By the time I left for work several trees had been trimmed out of the highway so it was smooth sailing.
On our way to church Sunday morning, we spotted Farris Bilyeu cutting up a big tree that had blown down on AA. There were several down along that stretch and then a lot of damage in Douglas County. We saw a few trees twisted off not far from Sandy Church, but no damage at Neal and LeaAnn’s or at her folks’ place.
Friday night I attended a service for youth camp workers at the White River Camp near Taneyville. I will be doing crafts with the Jr. High Camp, with Neal and LeaAnn as directors. There are four camps, with the first one beginning on June 1. It is a wonderful camp and the only camp I know of which does not charge a fee to the campers.
Ashton and Erin came home with me from the camp service and first thing they did was bring the new kittens inside to play.
Saturday morning the girls followed PaPa Rick to the dog pen and carried puppies back for a little cuddling. They were barely a week old and still pretty calm, but it will not be long before that changes.
When we got home from church Sunday night, our Angel Mama dog was having her litter, so the babies are really adding up around here.
Pastor Neal preached a good Mother’s Day sermon and all of the Mothers received a fragrant long stemmed rose. Back home at Bill and Mary Lou’s we enjoyed our traditional Mother’s Day dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs and had a piano recital and concert from Erin and LeaAnn. Motherhood is a precious gift.
The men of our church will be frying fish for the annual Mother’s Day cookout next Sunday, May 17, at 4:00 p.m. They are supposed to make desserts too, but we can usually tell whether or not they had help at home.
Rick had some excitement one afternoon when his squirrel dog, Pete, began barking frantically. Pete, who can chase down a squirrel, had located a Mama Bear and two cubs. Rick got his camera and between trying to get Pete to leave Mama Bear alone and being careful not to get too close, managed to snap a decent picture. Mama Bear was not happy with the dog and after Rick got him out of harm’s way, he also took note of her huffy warnings and backed off .
The little ones came down from their trees and all three scampered over the hill toward Stenger’s house.
Ronnie and Debra Bilyeu also saw a Mama Bear with three cubs just a couple of miles down the road from us. I asked him where his camera was, but he said they were moving fast and he could not get to it in time.
Almus and Dorothy Ragsdale had a lot of their family together on Saturday as they celebrated his 88th birthday and Mother’s Day. I enjoyed seeing family pictures that the girls put on Facebook.
Adrian and Glenette Brown are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, May 16, at New Haven General Baptist Church. Their daughters, Glenda and Sherri, would love for you to join them at a reception buffet beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Rick got up very early this morning and went fishing. He got a new pair of chest waders for Mother’s Day and could hardly wait to try them out! Bye for now.

ELANE CRUMCell: 417-239-4059Website: www.elanecrum.netWebsite: www.elanecrum.com

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