Dogwood Acres, 03/21/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 03/21/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. This spring weather is spoiling us for sure. Rick talks about fishing but has been raking and burning leaves. This is the earliest that our yard has gotten such tender loving care. I guess when he gets the yard done, he can then fish all he wants without me nagging about the yard.

Last fall he carried our big potted plants into the basement and has taken good care of them all winter. Now he is anxious to bring them out, but I have told him we need to wait until May or we will lose them in the last killing frost. I bought some Johnny JumpUps and Pansies today on a clearance rack, so I am just as anxious as he is.

LeaAnn has had the girls picking up rocks which seemed to multiply and grow in their yard this winter. Their thick lawn will soon need mowing and she wants to set the mower deck low and give it a good cut that will last awhile.

The first weekend of spring brought a special gift to Neal and LeaAnn’s goat pen as their Billy and Nanny goats had a sweet baby kid. The little girl weighed 5 lbs, 1 oz. and is 18 in. long. We saw her Sunday afternoon, they brought her over to Bill and Mary Lou’s for just a little while and we took pictures. With a yellow flower around her neck, she for sure looked like a spring baby.

Rick invited the neighbor fellows over for coffee last Monday and had special guests from Mo. Dept. of Conservation. The agent had quite a presentation about the black bear population and their efforts to track and count the bears and their activities. He had slick glossy handouts with information and a nice picture of a local black bear. I know it is local because I took the picture from my deck several years ago. Apparently it made the email rounds and ended up at the Conservation office and on their slide shows and literature.
I should have more news, especially since missing last week, but am running late so will save it for next time. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 03/07/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 03/07/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Rose bushes, children’s wading pools and winter clearance racks…these things on a local sidewalk display give me a warm fuzzy feeling. You know, that feeling that spring is almost here.

Justin and Kasie went on their first Swan Creek float this weekend. I cannot imagine there was enough sunlight reflecting off the water to give anyone a warm fuzzy feeling.

Rick and I went to the Taneyville Tournament several nights last week. Our granddaughter, Erin, played hard, although she was not feeling good. The final championship game on Friday night was rained out when the gym roof sprang a leak. It was raining awfully hard, but who would expect a basketball game to be rained out?

Rick and Roger had another birthday on March 3. I started to say they celebrated another birthday but Roger does not get that excited about them. Rick always calls to make sure he does not forget. I gave Rick the new Glen Beck book and a photo album for his Vietnam pictures which we had rescued from old magnetic albums.

Removing those old pictures was no small task. Only a few peeled out easily and I froze the rest of them out. After looking on the internet and trying several suggested techniques, the freezer worked best. I stuck a few pages at a time in the freezer, then using a spatula was able to separate the pictures from the old glue. It was a tedious, but rewarding project.

Sue Jenkins will be addressing the County Commission on March 14 @ 10 a.m. and asked me to invite interested voters to attend. This is of particular concern to voters in the Mark Twain & Bryant Ridge areas whose polling places have been changed for the April elections. Another issue is that married people living in the same household are directed to separate polling places.
Don’t forget to Spring Forward Saturday night and get your clocks all set for Daylight Savings Time…another one of those warm fuzzy feeling spring things. Bye for now.
　
　
　
　

Dogwood Acres, 02/29/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 02/18/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Do stormy nights keep you awake? I usually stay up as late as possible on storm watch, but Sunday night Rick had just called his mom when lightning began to flash. I unplugged the computer and TV and encouraged him to get off the phone as it is susceptible to lightning strikes. It did not take him long to tell Mom good bye, then he went downstairs to turn off our well pump. That is our general storm routine, the only thing missing this time was a trip to the basement as things leveled out and we went to sleep.

Rick and Jeff Dalton went to Branson today and came home across Goodnight Hollow slab. Jeff pointed out a driveway near Bull Creek where he and Daddy had gone grabbing for Hog Suckers. He told Rick that Daddy said the man who lived down there really liked Hog Suckers and allowed them to go through his gate to the creek. I know it must have been Charlie Glover. Grabbin’ had to have been good that day as Jeff said they must have given him 40 Suckers on their way out. Charlie was a good friend.

Spring fever is moving among us. Walking the dogs this evening I stopped to take a good long look at our Forsythia bush. There are tiny green leaf tips pushing out all over, but no yellow in sight. Bill and Christie transplanted some wild blackberry vines Saturday. That will be a nice addition to the fruit orchard and perhaps attract another bear or two into the neighborhood. Ron Bilyeu, who lives on the banks of Bull Creek, spotted Witch Hazel blooms a couple of weeks ago. Witch Hazel is typically a winter bloomer, but still encourages us to think that spring is on its way.

On Sunday afternoon I went through a trunk containing old pictures, letters and family Bibles. Not the first time I had seen these things, but I read everything as though it were. Loved going through the pages of Granny’s Bible just to see what pictures and funeral notices were tucked away. Also found an old faded picture of barrels scattered across the ground. On the back it said “Moonshine Distill destroyed by the law on Pine Ridge, 1924”. I don’t know where it was or any more about it.

I found page 2 of a typewritten letter from unknown person with three interesting stories on it. Here is a good one about rabbit trapping. “Do you remember what trappers that us boys in my family use to be; As the youngest boy got old enough he would be given some rabbit traps of his own, Rabbit meat was about all the fresh meat that we would get at winter time; My Brother Bill became old enough to have traps so he took them out and set them in Rabbit holes. The first morning that he went to check his traps he came back with a Rabbit’s foot, second and third morning he had a foot each time. But on the fourth day he had caught the rabbit and it had three feet missing!” That story was at the bottom of page, so if there was more it was on page three which I do not have.

Later in the day I made a digital Facebook album with pictures of Mother’s family back in the day when young people gathered around the Oak Ridge Store for soda pop and fellowship. It was a good day filled with shared memories.

This is the last week for Erin’s basketball games at the Taneyville Tournament. Last week we were at the last night of the Plainview Tournament. There was a packed out gym as parents and grandparents turned out in full force. I was surprised to see one of my Forsyth classmates, Carol Ingenthron Lee. She and Ken had come to watch their twin granddaughters who played on the Mark Twain team. Forty-four years ago Carol and I graduated from high school. Oh my Word!! Where have the years gone? Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 02/21/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 02/21/11, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. The big winter coat felt real good today with rain pouring down and putting a chill in the air. We expected to go to Erin’s ballgame tonight, but it was canceled due to sickness. The other team only had 6 players and 3 of them were sick. There are already several makeup games due to those that were snowed out.
Last week we watched Plainview play at Taneyville. It’s always fun to go there as we see a lot of hometown folks that we know.
Neal and LeaAnn brought the girls over Friday night and stayed to eat with us. Supper was nuthin’ fancy, just venison spaghetti, bread, brownies and a salad, but we filled up on it. They had a busy week on the farm, helping Bill and Mary Lou with the new spring calves.
The girls and I went to Vanessa Bilyeu’s 18th birthday party Saturday afternoon at the Oakmont Community Center near Big Cedar. There was a big crowd of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents, good food, lots of presents and then a little pool time for the younger ones.
It hardly seems possible that the first great-granddaughter of Cliff and Zoe Bilyeu is 18 now. She will be graduating from Blue Eye in May and looking forward to college at C of O.
There was a birthday party at the log house Sunday afternoon as Justin Fisher was celebrating the big 30. He traded his jeep off today and got a nice looking little car, so I guess his mud slinging days are over.
I don’t purposely go mudding, but crossed a lot of creeks in a day of house showing last week. Early one morning I went to Bradleyville and stopped to take pictures at Beaver Creek. Later that same day I was in Walnut Shade and decided to take the back road home. When I got to the Goodnight Hollow Slab, I was surprised to find a few inches of water running over it; guess it was from snow melting up stream. The water was a pretty green color where it comes out on the low side of the bridge so I took pictures there. The road up towards Meadows was muddier than I expected, but my car was already dirty, so it didn’t matter. I put that picture of the slab on Facebook and was amazed at the number of comments. So many people have memories of fun times there.
Ken and Nita Puchta had coffee at their house Saturday morning. With busy days of Christmas and weeks of bad weather, it had been awhile since the coffee club had met.
It has been a big week for new babies. At Sandy church, Makinna Humbyrd is the newest “big sister“. She had pictures of McCoy Doyle at church Sunday and made sure we all got to see them. The big boy weighed 9 lbs, 9 oz. and has already gained another ounce.
Dallas Bilyeu is finally an uncle, as Sam and Latasha Swindle are new parents to Gabriel Michael, born on Sunday morning.
Jeff and Janet Dalton have a new granddaughter, Baylee. She is a cutie and sure to be spoiled by big sis, Kiley.
Rick fired up his 4-wheeler last week and took Zoey to see her family at Jay and Brenda Gideon’s. Rick said she looks just like the mama dog and the other babies were all excited to see her. Brenda picked her up to cuddle and in all the excitement Zoey peed on her. The little dog has grown a lot since Christmas, but she is still just a little weenie dog and not going to be very big.
Make no mistake, Zoey is Rick’s dog, although he tells everyone he got her for me for Christmas. He says every old man needs a dog because they’re not judgmental, they are forgiving and they don’t talk back. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 02/14/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 02/14/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Valentine’s Day is almost over. Rick did good; he bought me a heart shaped box of chocolates. Now, he is almost counting the pieces to see if I try to eat it all in one day. I don’t know that it would make much difference one way or the other, but I will try to make it last all week just so he can’t say I ate it all at once! He and Jeff Dalton did their Valentine shopping together and joined the crowd of other men carrying out candy and flowers.
It is so good to see blue skies and bare ground, although there are still large snowy patches in the shadier areas of our yard. My heavy winter coat has been put aside for lighter jackets and I plan to enjoy every warm day until “old man winter” strikes again.
Little Fox has such a heavy coat that the cold and snow did not bother her. On the other hand, Zoey has fine hair and a bare belly and she got chilled very quickly on necessary potty trips. I got her a cute little sweater which helped some.
We had a big day at church Sunday with surprises for Neal on the occasion of his tenth anniversary as Pastor at Sandy Church. LeaAnn invited my family and several of Neal’s old friends for church and the fellowship dinner which followed. The whole church was in on the secret and Neal was completely surprised when all these people from different parts of his life showed up for church. He said he was almost as nervous as when he preached his first sermon.
Bessie Rossner Gideon celebrated her 91st birthday with her son Gary and other family members. They said she acted more like a 19 year old than her 91 years. Bessie is looking forward to the next nine years and is determined to best her father, Ed Rossner, who lived to be 100 yrs, 2 months and a few days.
Bessie’s little brother, Herman, enjoyed a card and pictures from Jack and Daisy Davidson. They sent pictures from the wildlife club back in the day when Herman was instrumental in restocking wild turkey in our Missouri Ozarks.
Gary and Barb Casey celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary same day as Aunt Bessie’s birthday. Barb is younger than I; surely she is not old enough to have been married 40 years! Barb, Carolyn and I used to run up and down these hollows when we were young….really young. There was no TV or video games, so we hiked in our Pine woods and the fields of the Rossner Ranch. I love technology now as much as anybody, but kids miss so much.
Another trip to the funeral home last week for Byron David’s visitation put me in touch with more old friends and classmates. I don’t mean to say they are “old”, but you know what I mean.
Ashton and Nathan had a good time at Bradleyville Homecoming on Saturday. It was a long day with games starting at 2:00 and a dance after the last game was over. PaPa Rick said they are young and have lots of energy.
Erin called to tell me she has a ballgame at Taneyville on Tuesday night. After missing 2 or 3 weeks of games due to snow, it will be fun to get back in the swing of things. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 02/07/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 02/07/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. I began last week’s columns musing whether or not it would snow and did it ever! Just as we were recovering from the short end of “The Blizzard” we were hit with a “dusting” of 5” on Friday night. There was a lot more of that than the first round and most of it is still hanging on in our yard and driveway.
For the first three days of snow, the only tracks in our driveway were Ken Puchta’s boot prints. He was out walking and brought our mail to the house. We felt fortunate to have a mail carrier who delivered mail to our box every day, so to have Ken bring it to our door was an extra blessing.
We like to never got out of our driveway for church on Sunday evening. The afternoon had been warm enough to let the icy crunchy snow soften and the tires on my car just went round and round. After 10 minutes or so we finally inched our way out and made it to bare ground on the highway.
Rick has kept busy on potty duty with the puppy. The snow is very inconvenient for her so they have had to find bare ground. She didn’t like the cold at first but I got her a sweater and she soon was running circles in the snow.
I spent one of my snow days scanning old pictures into digital files. One has to wonder if digital pictures will last a lifetime or be as much fun as going through an old picture box. Probably not, but it seems to be the thing to do.
Our electricity never went off but I did manage to read a book and take a nap or two. We ate on that Venison Roast that Rick put in the crockpot, I also made a pot of Venison Chili and Snow Ice Cream. There seems to be an unspoken rule that one must cook lots and eat often when snowed in.
Uncle Roscoe Keithley showed up on Facebook this week, bouncing great-grandson Brody on his knee. They both had big smiles, couldn’t tell which was having the most fun.
I was out the door for work early this morning and will hit the ground running again tomorrow….just in case there are more snow days this week. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 01/31/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 01/31/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Will we have ice? Will we have snow? Will it be an ice storm, a blizzard, or both? Only God knows and the rest of us just have to wait and see. Rick has prepared our wood furnace for a fire, just in case we should lose power. I joined the hungry throngs at the super market and am prepared with sandwich material. When I got home he had a Venison neck roast in the crockpot, potatoes and carrots, peeled and ready to put in later.
It has been years since we have had a snow or ice storm of proportions that truly altered our lifestyle. I brought home equipment needed to work, but if we lose power, I will read books, take naps and try to stay warm. That will be an altered lifestyle for me.
Last week was a sad one for our Lone Star neighbors. Rick and I attended visitations for Clell Smithson and Leora Myers. While it is such a sad time for their families, we saw several people that we do not see often. There was Jim Davis who was one of Rick’s classmates and they had not seen one another since high school. Jim’s sister, Linda, was one of my best high school friends; now kids call them bff’s or “besties”. Anyway, several other classmates came along and they all had a good visit.
LeaAnn’s Uncle Ed Turner passed away early this morning. He was such a sweet man, so special to all of his family and will be missed greatly.
Rick was with a friend at the V.A. Clinic in Branson last week and got to see our niece, Kasie, at work. She does eye tests and showed Rick her office and the equipment that she uses.
Our nephew, Colby Biggs, came to the house one night to use my printer. A Dean’s List student at Vatterott, Colby is doing his internship for Medical Assistant at The Doctor’s Hospital Clinic in Nixa. We are proud of these kids and feel better just knowing they are close to us. When I fell and cracked my head a few months ago, they were both here in minutes to administer first aid.
Rick and I are watching a movie on TV and he keeps pacing to the door to see if the weather is doing anything yet. The roast is smelling good and we are ready to settle in for a long winter night. Hope everyone stays warm and safe until this is all over. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 01/24/11

DOGWOOD ACRES, 01/24/11, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. We have survived another snow storm. I stayed home one day but still had internet and phone service so was not really a day off. Seems that kind of weather puts me in the mood to bake and I did find time to bake a batch of oatmeal-raisin cookies.
I had a client who flew from Chicago into the Branson Airport two days before the snow came. Of course, she didn’t think our little snow amounted to much, but was a good sport and stayed in her motel on the snow day. We made up for it the rest of the week with several trips to Galena, Cape Fair and Rockaway Beach.

While I had long days, Rick was a good sport and ate canned soup, frozen burritos and Braunschweiger sandwiches. I didn’t feel too bad about it as those are some of his favorite foods. Little Fox and Zoey kept him busy as he let them in and out about 20 times a day trying to avoid any accidents from the puppy.

Jeff Dalton got out to take Janet to work on the snow day and then came to visit Rick. It reminded me of how Daddy liked to get out in the snow just to see if he could.

Daddy’s birthday is tomorrow. It hardly seems possible that he has been gone almost 4 years. We always had a birthday party but his favorite birthday tradition was to go hunting; he called it his “Birthday Hunt”. He would spend all day in the woods, either on or near the day of his birthday. Whether or not the hunt was successful, it was still his special day. Happy Birthday Daddy. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 01/10/ll

DOGWOOD ACRES, 01/10/11, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. I hope none of you got in the ditch on this snowy day. Not one to blaze a trail on snow-covered roads, I waited until Shannon Wilson and my sis got to Branson and gave me an all clear. I saw three cars in deep ditches and felt sorry for their drivers.

Rick called mid-afternoon to let me know it was snowing and I might want to hurry home, but I was writing a purchase contract which takes a little time. It was 4:30 before I left the office, 31 degrees, light snow and wet roads. Those things changed when I reached the “High Country”, officially at the top of Jim Berry’s hill. The road was snow covered, temp dropped to 29 and my breathing became labored as my hands tightened on the steering wheel. The one car following me turned off at Lone Star Road, probably glad to not have my tail lights in view any longer. There was fresh car tracks going into Christie’s driveway so I knew she was home safe. I talked to Dawn who said Jim slipped and slid some, but, I know he likes a little excitement.

Rick helped Neal install cabinets at a new home near Seymour last week. I didn’t think a construction sight was a very safe place for the puppy, so Zoey went to work with me. She stole the hearts of everyone in my office, but I finally got her to take a nap so I could get some work done.

Neal, LeaAnn, Ashton and Erin came over for supper Friday night. LeaAnn brought yummy whole wheat pasta with organic tomato sauce, avocado and black bean dip with whole grain crackers and I made venison sloppy joes to go with our green salad. The girls brought their clothes and stayed until church on Sunday. I showed property Saturday while they watched movies with PaPa Rick, Little Fox and Zoey.

Christie Biggs and Madison Tilley visited the Dogwood Acres Aunts and Uncles Saturday night, starting first at Jim and Dawn’s. Then, they came here and had fun playing with Puppy Zoey. Madison is in the first grade now and we had fun talking about the olden days when Grandma Christie, Uncle Jim and Aunt Lanie were little kids in school at Taneyville.

Joe Bob Gideon triggered a few memories tonight when he posted an old pictures of his Great-Uncle Harrison Gideon on Facebook. Actually, it was a copy of a yellowed newspaper clipping with Harrison holding a 4ft+ Rattlesnake with 9 rattlers. It was the third Rattler that he had taken near his Pine Ridge home that year. That may have been back around the time that the Rattlesnakes and Copperheads made such a stir at Pine Ridge Church.

We don’t see many Rattlesnakes now, but they were sure plentiful back in “them good ol’ days”. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 01/03/2011

DOGWOOD ACRES, 01/03/2011, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends & Happy New Year! I got last week’s column in late and missed the deadline, so will write a little more to go with it. Christmas and New Year’s activities were wonderful and I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything, but now it is time to get down to business with this new year. I had a closing two days before year’s end and am working on January’s business, showing properties and taking pictures of a new listing.

Ashton and Erin went back to school on Monday, but they spent the last few days of Christmas vacation with us. There was Christmas money burning holes in their pockets so we went shopping. They know what they want and make their own decisions, which makes it easy for me. I can browse through the “old lady” departments or sit on a bench as long as necessary. Ashton needed art supplies so we visited Michael’s where her cousin, Makaylee, checked us out. She was so efficient and had us signed up for a rewards card in no time flat! Ashton was busy before Christmas doing some special order pencil sketch portraits for a lady in Branson. She is so talented and really makes the eyes sparkle in her drawings.

Erin’s basketball season started with a 5/6th grade scrimmage at Thornfield on Thursday night. We took Trent with us and had a fun trip which was 55 miles one way from our house. Just before we got to Thornfield, we went through Long Run where my grandparents used to go to revival services. The kids couldn’t believe they would drive so far and decided they must not have had much to do back then.

Bill and Christie have been traveling a few miles to watch Vanessa play basketball. This is her Senior year at Blue Eye and will be a busy ball season for all of them.

Kasie Fisher brought Justin’s three little nieces to see us Friday afternoon. They are little tykes, all pre-school age, and surely have fun with Uncle Justin and Aunt Kasie. Instead of driving over she walked through the woods, down the hill from the barn, drank water from our spring pipe, then up the steep hill to our house. No doubt the little girls must think that we live in the deep dark woods.

While Ashton and I went to Branson Friday afternoon, Erin stayed with Kasie and the girls. They all went to Dawn’s house and the little girls made pretty Christmas cookies for the Fisher family Christmas party. Kasie is young and must have a lot of energy, but she is making precious memories with these little ones.

Jeff Dalton is offering a $500 reward for the confirmed identification of person or persons who took his Horton Legend XL Crossbow and return of the crossbow with scope and quiver, all in good condition. Anyone with information can call Jeff at 546-5827.

We are sad for the Hoggard and Smith families as Dad, Don Smith, passed away unexpectedly. Don was also brother to our Uncle Bill Smith. Linda Sue and Jim were glad to have the kids and grandkids in to spend a few days with them, but all have gone back home now to work and school.

Kathy Keithley Johnston has been posting some wonderful “oldie, but goodie” photos on face book. With her permission, I am snatching some of them to put on the Bilyeu Family Website. Okay now, you Bilyeu cousins, be sure to check them out and add some of your own.

Rick talks to his mom in Oregon often and sounded like she had a good Christmas with Aunt Barb visiting from Portland. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 12/27/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/27/10, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. This will be the last time in 2010 that I say “Hello friends” and share with you some of the memories made in my life.

Rick and I looked forward to going to Neal and LeaAnn’s for Christmas Eve. I was wrapping gifts and mentally packing the car, making room for two dogs, two crates, the gifts and our own overnight stuff. During this planning process “Son” called to see if we could pick up LeaAnn’s gift. It made sense to him, after all it was somewhere between Taneyville and Bradleyville and would be “on our way”.

Me: “Well….maybe, but….just how big is this Pygmy Goat? Is it as big as Little Fox? Can I hold it in my lap?”

Son: “Maybe a little bigger than Little Fox…more the size of Dad’s squirrel dogs.”

Me: “I don’t think so. Can’t you and the girls go get it and hide it at Granny’s house?”

So, it was agreed that Dad and I would not help with that surprise. Thank Goodness!! During the evening festivities Neal disappeared and came back carrying the “surprise goat” which promptly scattered black pills all over the kitchen floor. LeaAnn was thrilled with this creature which holds the promise of rich milk, soft soap and sweet babies. I could not imagine just how we would have transported that goat in my car and so thankful to have missed the opportunity.

Neal was just full of living, breathing surprises this Christmas. On Christmas morning he disappeared early and just about the time Ashton and Erin began to wonder where he was, he came walking up the hill leading a pretty little quarter-horse.

Christmas Eve was fun with a visit from “Red-Neck Santa” or “Hillbilly Nick” as Neal likes to call her. This year it turned into a P.J. party as Mary Lou had a box full of matching flannel P.J.’s which we all pulled on over our other clothes. Oh, and there was also red Santa Hats for everyone. We were quite the comical looking bunch, but it made for cute family pictures.

LeaAnn watches yard sales all year long and chooses special items which can be personalized to each family member. Last year Rick was the proud recipient of colorful authentic “HeeHaw overalls which he still wears with pride.

Mary Lou fixed her traditional huge country breakfast on Christmas morning and Erin read the Christmas Story from Luke Chapter two. It was a very good day filled with blessings and memories.

Jim, Dawn, and their kids had an Oklahoma Christmas, visiting Dawn’s mom and the Haffner family in Western Oklahoma. We kept Malcolm here with our dogs and Bill Biggs fed Dawn’s chickens. He said something about having chicken and noodles for Christmas dinner.
Bill and Christie had Christmas Eve dinner with Steve and Anita and on Christmas Day they visited Uncle Bill and Aunt Roma. It was a good Christmas. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 12/20/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/20/10, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Another busy week down with chocolate fudge, white fudge, carrot cake and pecan pies. No, I did not make all of that but sure have enjoyed it. I did make white chocolate fudge just for Rick. I have made it two ways using the traditional marshmallow crème recipe If you leave out the chocolate chips, it is white and if you use white chocolate chips, it is a little more white and creamier. I don’t know that I can tell much difference between the two.

Christie Biggs and Madison Tilley came to see us Sunday afternoon. They were getting ready for Madison’s role as an angel in the Christmas program at Calvary Full Gospel and borrowed some angel wings from me. I had a tough time being good for the rest of the day without my wings, but got them back in 24 hours, so I will be okay.

While they were here, Fran Robertson came to visit. She was bringing Christmas wishes and fudge; we were really really glad to see her!

Santa came to our house a few days early last week and that is because Rick was so anxious to surprise me and just could not wait until Christmas. He brought me an adorable “teenie weenie” puppy, also known as a miniature Dachshund. The little girl is about 6 inches long and just precious. She reminds us so much of the puppy we bought in Killeen, TX, on our wedding day. Little Fox is cautiously accepting the little one. We just have to keep a close eye on their play time to make sure that Foxie doesn’t play too rough.

Monday night was our annual Bilyeu Family Christmas Party at Bill and Christie’s house. Christie played old family movies and we had a good spaghetti dinner. Our gift exchange was the “Dirty Santa” game and there was loads of fun and surprises. Vanessa was proud to get a roll of Grandpa Bilyeu’s Wheat Pennies, Makaylee got a collection of original “Lake Queen” mugs with Grandpa and Grandma Bilyeu’s names engraved on them. Kasie was the winner of a bag of blonde hair dye (wonder who does not use that any more?). It was a fun evening and the most precious thing any of us took home was new memories.

Neal, LeaAnn, their girls and Grandpa and Granny Hodges went to Robert and Arlena Maggard’s house for the Hodges Family Christmas on Saturday. They shopped in Ozark on their way home and had a very full day.

Bill and Christie’s family went to Sean’s house Saturday night for their immediate family Christmas with kids and grandkids.

Amidst all the parties, Colby begins 10 weeks of “Clinical Studies” at Ozark Community Hospital in Nixa. this week. He has worked really hard and I am proud of him.

Rick and I went to Plainview’s Christmas program on Tuesday night. Erin is a 6th grader now and loves to sing. Music teacher, Sheila Thomas, does a great job with the kids and they put on a good program.

Muzzle loader season opened on Saturday and Rick filled a tag Monday. He has hunted hard for weeks without seeing anything, so we are thankful for the fresh deer meat in our freezer.

As we try to keep up with all of the fun and activities, let us be ever mindful that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season“. We have Christmas because of the Christ child. He did not come to create a “Winter Holiday” as some would like to make it. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 12/13/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/13/10, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. With Christmas now less than two weeks away, I am beginning to feel the time crunch. We do not typically have a hectic social schedule, but with three invitations for last Saturday night, a choice had to be made and we went to my RE/MAX office party. It was a fun evening at my broker’s home, eating good food and spending casual time with my office family. We were all glad to see Norm France up and about, walking on both legs. He had a battle with one of his bulls back in the summer and the bull won that round I think the bull is gone now, but you can’t keep a good man down and Norm is moving round bales and salt blocks.
It was such a bitterly cold night to be out and we were really glad that our party was not on the Showboat Branson Belle. That would not have been my idea of a great way to spend a night on the lake.
One of the events that we missed was the Lone Star Christmas. Justin and Kasie were there and she texted me a picture of Aunt Bonnie sitting on Santa’s knee. I know she must have been the oldest person to visit Santa that night.
Rick had a busy week helping Neal and our church family get the new sanctuary ready for Sunday services. There were several volunteers who helped make it happen and what a blessing it was. Our piano man, Al Pulis, made a special trip from Branson to move the baby grand and tune it. New pews were in place in the new sanctuary and old pews were moved into basement classrooms and tables put in the old sanctuary which is now our fellowship hall. God moved with us and met us where we were.
Our annual Community Christmas Dinner was Sunday at 4:00 p.m., so we got to use the new fellowship hall too. After many years of eating in the classrooms it was fun to be able to meet together in one space. My sister, Christie, and her granddaughter, Madison, came to eat with us.
In spite of the Christmas spirit, Scrooge has also been sneaking around. He, or one of his sneaky helpers, broke into Jeff and Janet Dalton’s house last week and stole Jeff’s crossbow. Jeff had used the Horton bow for many years and sure hated to lose it. That is so hateful, I don’t know why anybody would want to do such a thing.
I saw Aunt Roma and Uncle Bill Friday afternoon. We had a good visit and watched the DVD that cousin Alvie sent with Uncle Bruce telling his funny stories. He sure had a knack for that and we always loved hearing them over and over again.
Jim and Dawn had an early Christmas surprise when they got up Sunday morning and found a strange car in their driveway and Trent sound asleep in one of the spare bedrooms. They had expected to see him next week, but we are all happy to have him home early. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 12/06/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/06/10, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Here ‘tis, less than three weeks until Christmas and activities are in full swing. The kids from Sandy Church visited the nursing home in Ava Sunday afternoon. They took cookies for everyone and sang carols to several residents.

Next Sunday will most likely be the first Sunday service in our new building and the Community Christmas Dinner in our “new” fellowship hall. As Pastor Neal reminded the congregation of these things on Sunday morning, he also mentioned that it would be the last service to be held in the building built in 1949. Our granddaughters are 5th generation of the Hodges family to attend Sandy Church. Several members shared memories of growing up in the church and gave thanks for their spiritual heritage. Thankfully, that is something that will continue as we have many young families with small children, new babies and more on the way. That is a wonderful way to see our church grow.

Another tradition that continues is the Lone Star Christmas service to be held this Saturday, Dec. 11. Glen said it will start at 7:00 p.m., but come at 6:30 to visit. Snacks and finger foods are also welcome. Looking at the forecast it appears that the weather will be kinda frosty come Saturday night, so as folks gather in, be thankful for the toasty wood fires that will warm your toes.

There was a nice article about North Lone Star School in the White River Valley Historical Quarterly, winter edition. The church as we know it was built in 1901, but the first school building was built prior to that and then rebuilt several times for various reasons. I always enjoy the quarterly put out by the WRVHS and was reminded to go by the museum and see the cooking exhibit.

On my way to Ozark this morning I was happy to see that Violet Laughlin has her beautiful nativity scene set up near Pine Ridge Rd. It sits in a grassy spot beneath a backdrop of tall pine trees and is such a wonderful reminder of the true “Reason for the Season”. I do appreciate her sharing it for all to see.

Saturday was “Round-Up” day for LeaAnn’s folks. Rick likes to help with that and Martin’s in-laws made a special trip from Illinois to be there for it. I don’t feel like much of a cowgirl so stayed at home and tried to clean house and did a little decorating for Christmas. Ashton and Erin came home with PaPa Rick and spent the evening playing on my computer. Rick has little patience with computers and asked what we ever did without them. My answer was that we read books and watched TV, which we still do, but just have to find a balance.

Justin Fisher has been busy cutting wood on his days off. The huge mimosa tree that stood behind the log house died, so he cut that up and is also working up some dead trees on our place. I am glad to see him and Kasie with a good woodpile. If there should be an ice storm and power outage this winter, maybe they will let Rick and me stay warm at their house. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 11/29/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 11/29/10, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Thanksgiving week came and went so fast; I can hardly believe it is already the week after. Our Thanksgiving began with “Thelma’s Living Room” with our Bilyeu Family at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield. Several generations of the Jimmie & Frances Bilyeu family gathered together for an evening of singing and giving thanks for the Godly heritage that is ours. Aunt Bonnie Bilyeu was the oldest and only one left of the generation of our dads, aunts, and uncles. I hesitate to say for sure who was the eldest there of the next generation, but “think” it would have Donald or Bobby Joe. I am the oldest of the “second cousins”, followed by Norma Jean Meier, and we were both there. After that I lost track of who was the oldest ones there of each generation, but it was a wonderful evening.

There was singing from young and old, with enough young ones that we know there will be “Bilyeu Music” for generations to come. When I was a kid we would have our family dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas, then load up and go visit Hosea and Thelma. There would usually be other cousins, aunts and uncles there and Thelma’s living room was always filled with music. Ridgecrest Baptist is a little bigger, but the spirit and love are still alive.

Thanksgiving Day was quiet at our house until late in the evening when the doorbell began ringing. Justin and Kasie came first with yummy leftover blackberry cobbler and green beans from their earlier dinner at his Aunt Carol’s house. Jim and Dawn came, still full from a big dinner with the Biggs’ at Bill and Christie’s. Neal, LeaAnn, Ashton, Erin and LeaAnn’s folks were here too for a “heritage dinner”. I call it that because instead of turkey, I fixed Venison Salisbury Steak like my Granny Nettie made, Mother’s fresh apple cake and Daddy’s baked beans. I doubt that any of mine tasted quite as good as theirs, but I like to think it did.

After dinner we had a visit from Mother’s family via DVD that cousin Alvie Doug Davis had made and sent to us. We loved hearing Uncle Bruce tell the same old tales over again and heard more stories from Aunt Roma, Uncle Bill, Aunt Wan and Uncle Roscoe.

The evening had to come to an end and bedtime came earlier than usual as Ashton, Erin and I had plans for Black Friday shopping. We slept in a little on Friday, but still hit the streets of Branson early enough to put in a long day. Ashton was looking for jeans which we did not find, so Saturday found us on our way to Battlefield Mall. It had been years since I had gone there on Thanksgiving weekend, but God was good and gave me a parking place right in front of J.C. Penney.

She found her jeans, Erin got a birthday dress and we got home about dark. Sunday was a blessed day of rest with church at Sandy and Sunday dinner with LeaAnn’s folks.

While the girls were with us on Saturday, Neal and LeaAnn laid tile in the foyer of our new church. Carpet goes in this week and new pews next week. I don’t know just when we hope to “move” from our little sanctuary to the big one, but looks like it could be soon.

Erin began basketball practice at Plainview this week and Christie went to see Vanessa play at Blue Eye, so it looks like our winter schedule is kicking in! Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres Weekly - 11/14/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 11/14/10, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Surely my brother could write Dogwood Acres. With his flair for words, he would describe our activities like this: “We have chicken heads and deer heads all over Pine Ridge”.
I do not have the gift of getting it said with such few words, so here is my version of the first weekend of firearm season. Sean Tilley and Dakota Bilyeu came over Friday night and I listened as they discussed strategies and tree stands with Uncle Rick. Rick and I took an early morning 4-wheeler ride through the bottom of our hollow, up a steep hill, down another steep hill, parked the rig, walked across a branch, and finally reached a blind where he left me firmly zipped inside. From there he hiked up the hill to a tree stand and the wait began.
It wasn’t long until we began hearing rifle shots; Rick said he quit counting at fifty. That was either a sign of many poorly placed shots or a very good deer harvest. I saw three flocks of turkey and two deer, but they stayed well out of range. About 10:00 o’clock, Rick came to visit; he said the wind just about blew him out of the treetop. He thought maybe he could help me out by using the grunt call, so I got enthused and expected a big buck to come looking for us.
After making several calls, his corner got quiet and he was sound asleep. That was okay, he had a tough morning in the treetop and I knew my big buck would soon be stepping into view. About that time, it all started to fall apart when I heard a strange 4-wheeler come riding up our trail and stopped by my blind. Turned out they had missed their deer, so decided to go sightseeing. Rick woke up just in time to hear me tell them that they had messed my hunt up.
He crawled out and got acquainted while I sat there fuming. Of course, they had not expected anyone to be hunting there, but were considerate enough to turn around and go back where they came from. I waited another 45 minutes and finally conceded to go home for a bowl of hot venison stew. We had a good nap and went back for a late evening hunt, which turned out to just be a sightseeing trip. With all of that being said, we had a lot of fun and enjoyed spending a whole day together without TV or computers.
We called around the neighborhood for buck reports but there was none for our family’s first day out.
Now for Brother Jim’s Sunday morning hunt. He went out early before church and had been in his spot less than ten minutes when God blessed him with a big 7-point buck. He called Dawn from the woods and she called us before 8:00 a.m. with that good report.
Rick and I went on to church at Sandy and came by to see the buck later in the afternoon. Jim and Dawn were outside, the buck was chilling in a tree and Dawn was getting ready to butcher four fat roosters. She had a kettle of water boiling over a campfire and a hatchet nearby. When I talked to Jim later, he said she had roosters all over the kitchen and they looked as big as buzzards. He is very proud of his Okie wife’s pioneer spirit!
Justin and Kasie rolled out in their little camper Friday night, headed for woods near Ava. They called in Sunday night to report that Justin had busted a big forked horn, his first deer! We are proud of his hunting perseverance and glad to see his buck hanging in front of the log house. That old oak tree had begun to look pretty empty.
Connie Hammond called this evening with news that she had got a fat doe. She hunts pretty close to home and Leon was bringing it in with the tractor.
Our neighbor Rich brought down a button buck, which will be good eating. He had a chance at the big buck that has my name on it, but as far as I know, it is still roaming the woods.
Joann Rice and her Mom, Henrietta, both celebrated birthdays last week. Henrietta was 97 years old; Joann said she ate chocolates all week, but…at 97 can do anything she wants too! They enjoyed all the birthday cards and Facebook wishes from Forsyth friends.
Georgine Boswell Cummings called to give me a report on her recent trip to visit California relatives. She flew with her brother Gifford and Violet Boswell to Los Angeles and stayed with brother Wayne and Barbara Boswell in Simi Valley. While there, they visited the beach, Reagan’s Library and Museum and had a big birthday party for her brother Gene Boswell who turned 92 on September 1. There were 14 who attended the party held at Wayne and Barabara’s. Another night their sister-in-law, Millie Boswell, fixed supper for a group of 11. Sounds to me like this family had a lot of fun just eating and visiting; so glad Georgine got to spend that time with them.
Well, I am balancing work with deer hunting this week and tomorrow’s alarm is set to go off extra early. Hope to have more deer reports next week. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres Weekly - 11/01/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 11/01/10, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. The season is changing and we are trying to be adaptable. One day last week the weather forecast called for freezing temperatures which caused us to scurry around and bring plants inside. Rick has several cactus plants that have flourished in the warm sun and I have several tropical plants that have doubled in size over the last few years. He brought most of those inside, then when I got home from work I took cuttings from my Dragon Wing Begonias and Swedish Ivy and hope to carry them through ‘til spring.
After all of that effort we had neither frost nor freeze at our house, but eventually it will happen and we have our plants inside.
I was home early enough one evening to fry that fresh venison tenderloin for supper. While it was frying I called brother Jim so he could listen to it sizzle in the skillet. He was still in Springfield, but when I told him I was frying a whole tenderloin and might have some leftovers, he called it a day and headed for Pine Ridge. When he and Dawn got here I had a skillet of brown gravy and hot fluffy biscuits. Rick and I had eaten our fill but left plenty for them and we had a good visit.
Jim, Dawn and Kasie spent the day Saturday at Richard and Kelley Michael’s making sorghum and lye soap. They started with two pickup loads of sugar cane, pressed it into 35 gallons of juice and finally cooked down to 6.5 gallons of sorghum. Kelly made apple cobblers in cast iron dutch ovens set in a bed of hot coals and their daughter, Jennifer, was spinning yarn on the spinning wheel. The Voyles from Ava and Glen Kenyon and friends were there and everybody had a job to do. I enjoyed hearing about it but sounds to me like this Pioneer Day was a lot of hard work.
Turned out I was wrong about Rick’s bow hunting being over until gun season. According to the book, he can still get a doe, so the hunt continues.
While at Meadows Cemetery recently, I saw Viola and Bill Denney. They had been to visit her son, Rocky Raubs, and I just happened to catch them on their way down his driveway. I had not seen Viola for years and years, but I don’t think she had changed a bit, still slim and pretty.
Rick and I joined our neighbors Bob and Rhonda Bowman around a campfire on a cold starlit night last week. Rich and Peggy had brought their horses and set up camp on the Back Place for a few days. It was a cozy campsite and a nice way to spend an evening.
I visited the Stenger family Saturday afternoon and found Joe Dalton hanging out there with his family. Recently retired, he is adjusting quite well to a more leisurely lifestyle. I know his Mama and Sissie like having him around.
While in Wal-Mart shopping for my Winter’s Bone DVD, saw cousin Ronnie Bilyeu. He and Debbie were looking forward to a visit with son Mark and family in Kansas before Mark ships out for another tour in Iraq.
Randy Dalton is preaching at Pine Ridge church this week; sign on the church says REVIVAL, 7:00 p.m.. I know they would enjoy having you worship with them. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres Weekly - 10/18/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/18/10, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Rick’s nine stitches are healing and he is back in the woods again. The hand has hurt more than he expected, even with pain killers, but he is tough.

A nice buck came by on Saturday but not in line for a good shot. There have been some good does, but we are going to let them go by for another week or two.

While his hand was healing Danny Frazier came for a visit. I was at work, but sounds like I missed a lot of talk about knives and such.

Going to work I have noticed a new gift shop on 160 in the H Hwy “V” and finally stopped to see who has “Chrissy’s Country Collectibles”. I found it to be Helen and Wimpy Everett’s daughter, Christine Sanderson, with help from her daughter, Dawn. They have such a cute store with a great selection of gifts, home décor and gorgeous water colors done by her sister, Kathy. They do have a watchdog in the shop; be sure to watch for him!

Our son Neal’s father-in-law, Billy Hodges, celebrated a birthday this weekend. The kids took him and Mary Lou out to dinner at Applebee’s on Friday night, then after church on Sunday, there was another one of Mary Lou’s famous Sunday Dinners. While the dishes were being washed LeaAnn, Martin and Erin provided some good bluegrass picking and singing. At church Sunday night there was more music from Danny and Connie Johnson, Abby Dobbs, LeaAnn and Erin Crum. Nothing makes PaPa Bill any happier than good food and good music so I think he had a very good day.

It is pouring down rain and seems to be a good night for sleeping. Maybe next week I will have more news. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres Weekly - 10/11/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/11/10, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. 10-10-10 was a very good day. I am glad it was on a Sunday, not because of any superstitions that I have, but just because Sunday was already a very good day.

We have had a very full week. Rick’s cousin, Debbie Lathrope, came from Kansas City on Monday and stayed until after the Lone Star Church Homecoming. She has been good company for Little Fox and Rick while I worked. Rick hunted most mornings and got home in time to fix lunch. He usually eats one can of sardines a day, but got a little more creative for Debbie, making grilled cheese and opening canned soup.

Rick took Debbie shopping in Branson one afternoon, and then they came by my office when I got off work. I drove them around town to see the sights and we ended up at The Landing for Auntie Anne pretzels with Colby.

I took off work Friday and Saturday so Debbie and I could play with the granddaughters. On our way to get them at school we stopped at Century Antiques in Taneyville, shopped with Sheila Braden in the store and Lois and Lisa Lux, who had a huge yard sale outside. Saw Marilyn McDaniel and told her we miss her Taneyville news in the paper.

After getting the girls from school we came back through Forsyth where we visited the White River Valley Historical Society and Museum. Their newest exhibit, “Sportsman’s Paradise” focuses on hunting and fishing in the Ozarks. Browsing through the old pictures and clippings on display, I was surprised to find a 1955 newspaper clipping of my Grandpa Clarence with a big wolf that he had trapped and turned in for the $15 bounty.

Saturday morning Rick went hunting, and we gals took off to Eureka Springs for the day. Ashton and Erin had never been there so we looked on the internet to see what they would enjoy. Ashton was enticed by the art galleries and Erin was curious about the ghosts in the Crescent Hotel. At the Crescent we took the somewhat creaky elevator to the 4th floor and the girls opted to walk back down. Debbie and I didn’t mind that the elevator was creaky as it kinda matched the way our bones felt at the thought of walking four flights of stairs.

Shopping and sightseeing was fun and we ended up at the Mudhouse Café for a leisurely lunch before heading back home to Missouri.

Sunday was the homecoming at Lone Star Church with a full house for the regular Sunday morning worship service. There was folding chairs down the aisle and clear out onto the porch. Pastor David Koenig preached a good sermon and there was a special song by Olin Tilley. Before dismissing for lunch Glen Kenyon led a short business meeting for the annual homecoming service. Then it was time for “Dinner on the Ground”.

I always look forward to Barbara Gimlin Collins’ poppy seed bread and Pearl Hammond Driskill’s gooseberry cobbler…so glad they didn’t let me down this year!

The Gimlin Family was well represented with at least fourteen attending, Aunt Bonnie Gimlin Bilyeu, being the oldest at 92. In 1932 Aunt Bonnie graduated from the 8th grade at North Lone Star School along with George (Bodie) Stolpe, Rosa Crum and Bessie Bashaw.
There was an even dozen of “Us Crums” there, with cousins coming from Republic, Centralia, Joplin and Kansas City.

Georgine Cummings called to tell me about the Cummings family trip to Colorado last week. She went with Iva, Eugene and Dallas to visit their sister Anna May Cummings Wade. They visited the Wade family graves at the cemetery in Springfield, CO, and saw Hallie Wade’s wife, Margaret.

Rick’s cousins, Hazel Ragsdale Spurgeon and Connie Ragsdale Riddle, came by to visit while we were gone on Saturday. Finding nobody home at our house they went to visit Janet Dalton and found Rick there visiting with Jeff. Rick had a little trouble with his bow and had taken it to Jeff to sight in.

We are still having a little trouble with morning sickness at our house, sure will be glad when Little Fox gets through this false pregnancy.

Rick came in from hunting Monday morning dripping blood all over the place. That would not have been so bad had he killed a deer, but that was not what happened. While sitting in the tree stand he decided to use his pocket knife to trim a limb that was in his way. He trimmed the limb all right and sliced that sharp blade right into his hand. He lost a bucket of blood but I got him to the hospital for stitches and he will be okay. Bye for now.

Dogwood Acres, 10/04/10

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/04/10, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Sunday morning at Sandy Church was good with Pastor Neal seeing that we heard from The Word and special guest Herschel Letsinger sharing about the ministry of the Gideon Bibles. Bill and Mary Lou Hodges had invited the Letsingers over after church for an afternoon of Catfish and Bluegrass. Bill fried the two six-pound catfish he caught in the Spring Pond while Mary Lou fixed hushpuppies and all the trimmings. Martin Hodges kicked off the music time with his fiddle singing the sweet tune of Tennessee Waltz, with LeaAnn backing him up on the guitar. They played my favorite called Jerusalem Ridge and so many others. Herschel took a turn or two on the fiddle and guitar and LeaAnn picked some good banjo tunes. We were surprised to learn that Herschel is Uncle to our neighbor, Nita Puchta.

After the pickin’ time was over Rick, LeaAnn, Ashton and Erin took a Sunday hike visiting a nearby cemetery tucked in the trees not far from the Hodges farm. Not sure if the cemetery has a name, but there are a number of Albright graves there.

It was a good afternoon and ended just in time for evening church service with sermon from Van Menzies. We have heard some excellent sermons from Van since he answered the call to preach.
We have had an interesting development with false pregnancy at our house. Now, before you get too worked up, read on as I tell you about Little Fox. Little Fox is “Rick’s dog”, now a year old, never been spayed, nor allowed to have puppies. When they came back from the Oregon vacation, our Treeing Feist puppies were just beginning to run around and she spent several weeks playing with them for hours at a time. Perhaps that triggered her maternal instincts, but we don’t know for sure.

The next maternal behavior she displayed was allowing Big Foot, the five-toed cat to “nurse”. Well, that just didn’t seem right and we put a stop to it, at least when we caught them. Then, the morning sickness phase began. I have never known a pregnant dog to have morning sickness, so to have a dog who just thinks she is pregnant throwing up is just crazy. Thank goodness that phase has subsided, but she is still in the baby stage with a rubber yellow bone dog toy. She treats it like a baby, picks it up and whines like we should do something to help her. She and baby bone go snuggle in the doggie bed for a good night’s sleep.

Rick’s cousin, Debbie Lathrope is here this week. I know she will give Little Fox a lot of love and attention, so maybe the “baby” can be phased out without too much trauma.

Debbie is here for the Lone Star Homecoming which will be next Sunday, October 10. She drove down from Kansas City and made it all the way to Sparta before getting lost in a major traffic detour which took her far off the beaten path. I called my brother to see if he got home okay and learned that he had been lost in the same detour and also came across Joyce Stenger in the detour maze. As far as I know everybody in our neighborhood finally found their way home.

My nephew, Colby Biggs, had a big surprise at work last week when the real Auntie Anne of Auntie Anne’s pretzel stores visited Branson Landing. With over 1500 locations, he never dreamed that Auntie Anne would visit their store. He and his co-worker thought this lady was just trying to get her pretzels for free until she pulled out her I.D. They tried to apologize, but she was very gracious and told them the look on their faces was just priceless.

I visited both of Mother’s sisters last week, Aunt Roma and Uncle Bill at Wedgewood Gardens in Branson West and Aunt Wan and Uncle Roscoe at Skaggs Hospital. Auntie Wan had some trouble with her heart and spent a couple of days there getting all better.

It is October birthday week with Abigail Biggs, Kasie Bilyeu and Christie Biggs all celebrating. We always remember Granny Nettie who shared this birthday week. Bye for now.