Ozarks Culture

No.  It is not an oxymoron.  I've been enjoying studying Ozarks culture.

I was able to attend the Eighth Annual Ozarks Symposium in West Plains on Sept. 20.  It is organized each year by the Ozarks Studies Committee at Missouri State University - West Plains.

It was a 3 day event, but I was only able to attend one day.  The presenters were very good and I enjoyed it very much.

This is the link to the symposium website:
http://ozarksymposium.wp.missouristate.edu/

I'm also participating in a free, not-for-credit, online course called "Ozarks History:  Examining an American Culture.  It started September 8 and lasts for ten weeks.  The course explores issues such as regional heritage, cultural adaptation, and the survival of regional land cultural identity and folkways through comparison of Ozarks people and places with other cultural groups and regions.

The website link for the course:
http://www.MissouriState.edu/Ozarks

So... I'm trying to find that true Ozarks culture.

Fall is in the air

My Corner of the Ozarks is looking "fallish".  I know that's not a word, but we say it all the time.  And it communicates a meaning.  The view in our front yard shows the first hint of autumn.



Our activities are all about autumn.  We've been to some high school football games,  We're watching the Cardinals and Royals in baseball's post-season.  The Missouri Tigers have only lost one game and had a big SEC win at South Carolina.



October 1 was the opening of the Missouri fall turkey season.  I was fortunate enough to bag my 20th wild turkey.  I rarely am successful on opening day.

I love these warm days with cool nights.  Now we need some rain.  Maybe today.

Just Down the Road: Bunker Hill Retreat

Bunker Hill Ranch Retreat has been owned by the Missouri State Teachers Association since 1947.  Before the national park (Ozark National Scenic Riverways) came into being in 1964, Bunker Hill permitted floaters to access the river there.  When I was a kid, Bunker Hill was the "take-out" on my first float trip with my family.  It is located on the banks of the Jack's Fork 12 miles below Buck Hollow and 14 miles from Mountain View by highway.







We've known several people who have worked at Bunker Hill over the years.  But it was off limits to those who were not members of MSTA until this year.  But now the ranch has been turned over to a non-profit private foundation and anyone can enjoy it.  Weekday rates are very reasonable and include three meals served family style.  Bunker Hill has 19 modern cabins with baths.

We decide to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary at Bunker Hill Ranch Retreat, only a few miles from home.








We always enjoy the Jack's Fork.  Late August is usually a poor time for a float on the upper Jack's Fork because of low water, but we very much liked the river at Bunker Hill.








Since the 1960s this is the only view we've had of Bunker Hill Ranch:  from the river as we floated by.



The cabins are very modern, clean, and appropriately decorated.



The meals are hearty and country-style.  The camp has many activities available including tennis, swimming, canoeing, hiking, fishing, miniature golf, volleyball, and others.

My favorite sight was a bald eagle flying downstream observed from our cabin window.

All this and right down the highway from our house.

An Ozark Invasion

In early August My Corner of the Ozarks was invaded by five wonderful grandchildren.  It was our Fourth Annual Camp David.


Their parents let them travel all the way from Annapolis, Maryland and from Chicago, Illinois, to My Corner of the Ozarks.

We had a great week!

Pictured are Karis, Cami, Olivia, Emily, Jackson, and Mimi.

Uncle Kent and Aunt Donna hosted us for a "fresh from the garden" cookout.  Yum, yum.

Bradley and Fatymah drove Karis, Olivia, and Emily from Maryland to Missouri and provided much needed help during the week.  We even took a Jack's Fork float trip.

Several days were spent swimming and lazing in the Jack's Fork River.

Karis was a great helper.  She received the "Best Camp Cook" award.  Is Jackson helping much?

Cousins played well together.  

Some river time was for relaxing.  Olivia looks relaxed here.

We didn't get enough water at the river.  We had our own backyard water slide.  

Great Grandpa Gene also enjoyed the kids several times during the week.  

It was all over too soon.  But the grandparents needed another week to recover.

Catching Up

It's early June and we are already having "summer" temperatures.  It reminds me that I've been too busy to keep up with blogging about our "happenings" in My Corner of the Ozarks.  So I'll do a spring catch-up.

After a cold and snowy winter, we were glad for spring to arrive.

We had an abrupt break from winter with a trip to Florida in March.  Jerry and Pat Sanders of Gibson City hosted us for several days.  They showed us a nice warm time.  Jerry was our Captain.  He took us out in the bay on his boat.  Now that was scary.

We also visited friends in Alabama (twice) on the trip both coming and going.  We first met Adney and Darlene Taylor in Carbondale in 1974.  We enjoyed their wonderful hospitality.

Spring in Alabama and Florida was much further along than in My Corner of the Ozarks.

When we arrived home things were beginning to green up.

Spring also saw my annual golf trip to Arkansas with men from the church.  We played 4 rounds in 3 days on 3 different courses.  It was much fun and the weather was mostly good.  Our tournament score was not so great, but the team I was on scored better than the other Mountain View team.  They bought us lunch.

In the spring wild turkey season I bagged my 19th bird (lifetime).  I got mine the day after Dad shot his 66th.

My gobbler weighed 22 lbs., had a nine inch beard, and 1-inch spurs.  Dad's was 26 lbs.  Wow!

Late spring included a trip to Maryland.  We arrived on Emily's birthday and got to help her celebrate Number Five.  Linda was able to attend a fund-raising tea with Grace.  We also went to Olivia's soccer game, Karis's lacrosse game and her school concert.   Brad and Faty came down from NYC for a couple of days which was a treat.
We were in Annapolis during Naval Academy Commissioning Week and got to see the Blue Angels fly over (and over).



Now it is time for summer.  Mowing grass, growing tomatoes, playing golf  AND....
Camp David will be in early August. All five grandchildren will visit My Corner of the Ozarks!!!

Update to the Hall of Fame

After a lengthy gap in time, some new guests from Illinois have been added to the Hall of Fame.

Kevin and Diana Woods from Olney, Illinois, visited us May 27-30.  This was not their first visit to the Ozarks.  They camped at Alley Spring on their honeymoon a few years back.

We first knew Kevin and Diana at Gibson City.  Kevin worked at the DNR and Diana was our church secretary.

  To see the entire Hall of Fame, please look below at "older posts". Scroll down to November 30, 2010.