Father's Day Fun

Pine Ridge Singing, 06/20/2009

Eudine Robb

Eudine Robb, Mary King, Mary Ingenthron

Pine Ridge Choir

Pastor visiting with Carl Brown & his little guy

Singin' Under the Trees

THE OUTHOUSES

Thelma Walker

Pine Ridge Snake Hunters, 1965

Dogwood Acres Weekly, 06/22/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 06/22/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. What a sweet Father’s Day it has been. We were privileged to spend the day with our son, Neal, and his family. Papa Bill Hodges fried fish for Sunday dinner and Mary Lou baked a Strawberry-Rhubarb cobbler and had fresh green beans from the garden.

In his Sunday evening sermon, Neal spoke from the wisdom that Grandpa Lloyd Crum had imparted to him during their years together.

Rick went to the Demolition Derby at the Taney Co. Fair Saturday evening and I went to the outdoor singing up the road at Pine Ridge Church. They had a big flatbed trailer set up for a stage behind the church and all the folks gathered ’round beneath the shade trees. It was pretty hot, but a slight breeze kept the air moving a bit.

There was some really good singing and I enjoyed visiting with several old friends. I sat my lawn chair beside Bonnie Cornog who was tending the hot dogs. She is always fun to visit with. Eudine Robb, Mary Ingenthron and Barbara King came up from Forsyth. Eudine’s daughter, Barbara and hubby, Melvin, are spending the summer in Alaska as part of an RV’ers volunteer team. They assist in renovation of churches through The Assemblies of God MAPS ministries.

There was other familiar faces at the singing, although many that I did not know. Among the old-timers that I grew up with was Thelma Walker and her son, Donald Ray. I enjoyed visiting with Don's daughter, Penny and her son, Dustin Hull. Don's wife, Janice, gave a report on progress for the building program; sounds like it will not be long until dirt begins to move. It is so good to see a church family who want to see the church grow. Perhaps some may miss the "outhouses", but surely the new conveniences will be greatly appreciated.

Bill DeWitt was there and he told me about the banjo that he built last winter. Jim Campbell helped with the singing; I remember when "Soup Campbell" was a skinny kid looking in the windows…a very long time ago!

Dupe and Dot Brown and their family was there; their music was good, as always. Mary Melton sang with Dottie and Jim Campbell; they must know hundreds of songs! There was also good singing by Sam and Judy Clemans, Rev. and Mrs. Jack Keithley, and others that I do not know.

Edith Davidson told me she would see me Sunday morning; Rick and I always meet Edith on Lone Star Road as we travel toward Sandy Church and she is on her way to Pine Ridge.

After leaving Pine Ridge, I went to Jim and Dawn’s to see how Jim had survived his birthday. He was working in the yard and gave me a tour of their pretty garden. Green beans are thriving, corn and potatoes coming along nicely too. It is all watched over by a scarecrow wearing a bridal veil, surely the crows will not have the audacity to eat the tender fresh veggies.

I got to see Dawn’s mom and aunt from Oklahoma who had come in for Kasie's graduation from nursing school. We are all so proud of Kasie for completing LPN training. She will be working at Golden Living Center in Branson.

Justin and Kasie jumped on a motorcycle and went to visit his grandparents in Yukon, OK, over the weekend. I do not envy the trip, but I do wish I had some of their youthful energy and enthusiasm for adventure. While they were gone, I drove out to the barn, cautiously peering around to see if the bear was nestled in a corner.

Glen Kenyon is the proud owner of a new pacemaker. He has a few restrictions, but will be able to drive in a couple of weeks, if not sooner.

Mike and Judy Stangel from Salina, Kansas, had lunch with me one day last week. They have been visiting our area for many years and subscribe to the Taney County Times where they keep up with area news through Alice Wyman's column, Dogwood Acres and others. Like many of us they have missed Alice's column recently so called her to see how she is doing. We all hope to hear from Alice again real soon. Bye for now.

Welcome to my Facebook World

facebook.com/elane.crum

Happy Birthday Jimmie Bilyeu

My brother was quite a coyote hunter in his youth.

A little help from Grandpa Clarence made the hunt more exciting!

DOGWOOD ACRES, 06/15/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 06/15/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. When I was a young girl, little was thought of strolling down a path leading to the outhouse at Pine Ridge Church. With a flashlight shining a beam along the ground, we would watch for copperheads along the path and on the seat before stepping inside. The path and outhouse are still there, providing necessary facilities, but now one has to also watch for black bears. Perhaps that is one reason why the folks at Pine Ridge church are planning to build an addition that will include indoor bathrooms.

On Saturday, June 20 at 5:00 p.m., there will be a community singing under the trees at Pine Ridge Church. Bring your lawn chairs, musical instruments and a song. There will be hot dogs and cold soda pop available. Donations will be accepted with proceeds going toward the building fund. It will be a fun evening, bringing back memories and creating new ones.

Deb Hall, the Delmina Woods cook, had a couple of close encounters with bears last week. She had an opportunity to take a really good picture as the huge black bear stood up against a tree near the garbage cans. If only she would have walked a little closer, her picture would have been better, but she held her distance.

Last week was another busy one for me as I had the privilege of spending an hour each day with the Jr. High kids at church camp. The week began with 75 kids registered and I think that 79 was the high count before the week ended. Twenty to thirty of the kids came to crafts every day and we had a great time. I had several art projects using markers and glitter glue and other shiny stuff. They were a great bunch of kids. I just pray they went home with a new faith that will sustain them through life's ups and downs.

Ashton and Erin came over Friday afternoon and stayed with us until church on Sunday. PaPa Rick and I took them to Silver Dollar City on Saturday and had a good time, even if we did have to wait 45 minutes to catch a ride from the parking lot to park entrance. Our first stop inside the city was the ice cream shop for espresso flavored milk shakes. There was not much riding done as the two girls could not reach a compromise between water rides and scary rides. I finally agreed to go with Erin on a water ride, but the prospect of another 45 minute wait there changed our minds. They do both enjoy "panning for gold" in the rock shop and that was a cool and pleasurable experience. We ate cheeseburgers by the Lumbercamp Waterfall and walked through the city to Thunderation where they had a couple of thrilling rides.

The trip out of the park was much less stressful and I drove home while Rick and Erin took naps. When we got home, a trip to Swan Creek seemed like a cool thing to do. We figured the gravel bar would be crowded, but it was not and the water was refreshing. Erin found several pretty rocks for her collection; some were Sweetheart rocks with holes all the way through.

Kasie and Melissa went to Bull Creek for their Saturday swim. They have several good swimming holes pegged there and it is always cold.

I made a strawberry cake for our Sunday fellowship dinner and forgot to buy fresh strawberries for the topping. We live far enough out that a trip to the grocery store is not always convenient so I called Christie's house Sunday morning. It just so happened that not only did she have strawberries, but had also washed and sliced them. Still in my housecoat and slippers, I drove over to borrow a cup full. She graciously never explained what her strawberry plans had been, so I guess that was just my little miracle for the day. The cake went over pretty good at church, with only a few pieces left in the pan. Bye for now.

PICTURES FROM OREGON

Bessie Rossner Gideon & Betty Jo Ragsdale Crum
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Keith Crum, Rick's little brother
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Mom, 86th Birthday
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Roger Crum, Rick's twin brother
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More pictures from Rick's mom, Betty Crum. I appreciate that she gets a picture CD for us whenever she has a roll of "real film" developed.

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 06/08/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 06/08/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Have you wondered what friends and neighbors were doing in 1976? I never really gave it much thought, until I found an old newspaper dated July 1, 1976. From Josie Rozell’s Chadwick News I learned that Earl Blansit was to hold a three night revival at the Union Church. My, but doesn’t that bring back a lot of memories for many of us who attended Bro. Earl’s revivals over the years.

Kathleen Stewart headlined the following from Chestnut Ridge News. “Shorty Prewitt and Herschel Barnhart got their hay baled and in the barn just before rains came. The Freddy Stewart family, Glenn and Elnora Stewart, the Eldon Frazier’s and Lee and Deacon Frazier had a cookout picnic at Shadow Rock Park. Martin and Clara Bilyeu visited with Matt and Kathleen Stewart.”

Oak Ridge News was written by Lucy McGrath who gave a good report from Oak Ridge Church. There were 184 in Sunday School and Rev. Cecil Welch preached in the evening service.

Lone Star reporter, Alton Gimlin, had news on recent visitors at the Saturday night church services which were held regularly for a few years. “Aunt Grace and cousin Lorella from Santa Rosa, CA, (widow and oldest daughter of Harry Grimm) got to be with us at church services Sat. night, and were we happy for that as they once were the closest family to Lone Star Church. The best I can recall it was in 1931 when I last saw them. They have been visiting with Aunt Grace’s niece, Mrs. Wilma Taylor of Taneyville, who came along to church with them.”

In the Classified Ads, Leo Davis from Ava was looking to buy a 2 yr old Jack; Opal Walker from Highlandville wanted a pair of bantie chickens, red, or white and black.

Well, time for sharing old news is over and I will get back to the present. I called Aunt Bonnie Bilyeu and had a good visit. Her lunch had just been delivered and she said the Salisbury steak looked real good. She enjoys having her lunch delivered and appreciates the convenience of the church bus which gives her a ride every Sunday. Recent visitors were her brother, John Gimlin and sister, Geraldine Smith. She said they had such a good time but the hard part came when it was time for them to leave.

There was some excitement at Christie’s house Friday morning when her dogs had a bear chase. As they chased it from front to back of her house, she could not run fast enough to get the camera and capture a picture. When she was ready with her camera the bear was heading over the hill toward Justin and Kasie’s house. Kasie said the cat food tub in the barn had been tampered with.

Less than two weeks ago Kasie pitched a tent behind the barn and camped out. I asked her then if she was not afraid, but she did not seem too concerned. I don’t think she will be sleeping behind the barn again any time soon.

High School camp ended Friday at noon and Jr. High Camp began today. Neal and LeaAnn are the directors and began the week with 75 campers. I went over for my first craft class and would love to have brought some of their energy home with me.

Technology at my house has taken a turn for the better as I finally have high speed internet. It is not available through the phone company so we got a satellite service. Rick sure hated to have the satellite mounted on the roof, but that seemed to be the best option and I am surfing the web faster than ever. Bye for now.

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 06/01/2009

DOGWOOD ACRES, 06/01/2009, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Our month of May birthdays ended with Auntie Wan Keithley on Friday and granddaughter Ashton on Saturday. Aunt Wanetta and some of her friends had lunch on the verandah at Big Cedar and enjoyed a stroll through the flower gardens. She told me that now she is going on 88 and thinks her 88th year will be just as easy as the 87th year.

Grandpa Rick and I went to Neal and LeaAnn's Saturday afternoon for Ashton's birthday get together with family and a few friends. Neal grilled venison burgers, hot dogs and chicken and we watched Ashton blow out fifteen candles. After everyone had eaten and gifts had been opened we went down to their creek where Neal had used the tractor to make a swimming hole. He was the only one brave enough to jump into the cold water but, I think that was just because little 5 year old Emily kinda dared him to. Rick and I went on home, and the kids had a water balloon fight before calling it a day.

Leon and Connie Hammond made a quick trip to St. Louis over the weekend to visit their son, Chris, and his family. I picked up their mail and stopped by with it on my way to Branson this morning. Connie was outside watering plants; so pleased that her Hostas and Columbines have not been eaten by their backyard deer.

Colby and Jenn took Christie to see SIX on Friday night and then out to eat at Steak and Shake.

Christie said Bill and Sean are "joined at the hip" or perhaps, better said "by casting arms" as they have been fishing every Saturday morning for the last month or so. She asked if they had been black-balled off the coffee list since they fish so much.

Sister Christie and I are regular visitors with Lori Roberts down at Bloomer's Greenhouse. Flowers are so pretty this year and we both like to add a splash of color to our shady woods.

On our way to church Sunday morning we saw Janet Dalton in Taneyville. She is still recovering from rotator cuff surgery and said hoeing the garden using only her left arm is quite a challenge.

I worked late Friday night and saw a lot of wildlife on my drive home. It's funny how wildlife makes me think of people, there was Herman's deer and Sherman's deer; saw two at each place. Herman's deer is so tame; as I screeched to a halt, it barely glanced at me before slowly ambling on across the road. After seeing Sherman's deer, I also saw a big copperhead in the road, my first for the season. There will be more as the nights get hotter and they stretch out on the pavement. Bye for now.

Relay for Life

I got to walk around the track with Christie's family.
front: Tanja, Makaylee Vanessa & Me
back: Jenn & Colby