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.