A Beautiful Fall Day

Saturday was beautiful.  High temp in the upper 60s.  A great day for a hike. 

This is the view from the bluff above Alley Spring.  The red mill is almost obscured.  We took the 1.5 mile hike up and around the bluff.  My dad, the hooey stick master, age 84, went with us (see Sept. 29 post). 

The beauty of the day was enhanced by the inner glow all Cardinal fans are still experiencing.

Fall Wild Turkey Season

 In My Corner of the Ozarks, the Fall Wild Turkey Season encompasses the entire month of October.  Dad and I were able to go this morning for the first time.  Hunting turkeys in the fall is not easy.  They don't gobble.  They are difficult to locate.  It can sometimes be just plain boring. 

This me in the photo.  I may have been awake or maybe not.  I'll never, never tell. 

No turkeys found.  But it was a beautiful morning.

Pioneer Day, Sept. 24

In My Corner of the Ozarks, every September we celebrate Pioneer Day.  It's the annual fall street festival at Mountain View, Missouri.  This year, the 21st, Dad decided (He said it was my idea.) to sell hooey sticks and give the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

 We rented a booth space for the day.  Dad had made 103 hooey sticks out of dry oak lumber. 

He charged $2 per hooey stick.  We put one of Mom's empty pickle jars on the table to collect the donations.  Mom's photo also decorated the middle of the table.  

And Dad dressed like a "very old" pioneer. 

 Our booth space was right in front of the building that formerly housed the E. R. David Used Furniture Store.  Grandpa David was a real Mtn. View pioneer.  He came here in 1915. 

 The "Master of Hooey" gave free lessons on the operation of the hooey stick from his old rocking chair. 

 The hooey sticks attracted a crowd all day long. 

 Some in the crowd should have known how to operate a hooey stick.  This is Wayne, Dad's younger brother. 

A few people remembered playing with hooey sticks as children, usually made by their fathers. 

 The most common question asked was "What is a hooey stick?"  It's an old-time hand-made toy.  By rubbing a second stick over the notches, the vibration causes a tiny propeller to spin.  Pressure by the fingers on either side of the stick will reverse the direction of the spin.  Of course, to enhance the mystery, the operator says "Hooey" each time he changes direction. See demonstration below from the Master of Hooey. 

Dad sold 97 hooey sticks.  He raised $261.25 for the American Cancer Society.

43 Years

On August 31st we celebrated 43 years of marriage.  Our married life started in this Corner of the Ozarks at Mountain View.  We spent 30 wonderful years on the east side of the Mississippi River, but we are thrilled to be back in the Ozarks. 

Although Linda was born in Wyoming and lived her early years in Kansas, she came to My Corner of the Ozarks when she was in the 3rd grade.  We met in the 5th grade. 

I am truly blessed with a wonderful life partner.  I was proud to celebrate our 43 years.

 For our surprise get-away, I took Linda to a different Corner of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

 We were able to see the Passion Play, a wonderful outdoor drama about the last days in Christ's earthly life.

 We enjoyed a lunch in the 4th floor bistro of the 1886 Crescent Hotel. 

 Linda is at the front door of our B&B, Arsenic & Old Lace.  While staying there we watched the 1944 movie, starring Cary Grant. 

 Our inkeepers were very gracious and the breakfasts were fabulous.

 We were able to watch birds and deer from our balcony at our B&B.

We had a few moments for meditation and reflection at the Thorncrown Chapel. 






Now I've got to get to work on next year's surprise trip on our 44th wedding anniversary. 

Visitors to the Ozarks

Karis and Olivia David of Annapolis, Maryland, visited My Corner of the Ozarks, on August 8-17.  It was a thrill for Mimi and Papa to host our two oldest grandchildren. 

On Monday morning, all the bags were packed, and Karis and Olivia told Mother, Daddy, and Emily, "Goodbye". 

Olivia said her Daddy told her, "Not to have any fun." 

We called our adventure, Camp David.  Each girl kept a photo album with notes during the time. 

It was a two-day drive in Mimi's Mini-van.  I'm sure those two long days were the hardest part of the trip. 

Watching movies on the portable DVC player helped to pass the time in the van. 

This is Olivia, age 6, (soon to be 7 on Sept. 4).  She started the first grade today and experienced her first earthquake. 

Snacks refreshed all of us. 

 Karis, age 9, is now in 4th grade.  School started today, Tuesday, August 23.  It was also her first earthquake. 

 Some stops were interesting.  Some were necessary. 

We spent the night half way to Mountain View.  The motel pool was a hit, of course.  Both girls are good swimmers and love the water. 

On Wednesday, Aug. 10, Papa had to mow the grass and catch up on some things.  So Mimi took the girls to the Mtn. View pool.  (The Willow Springs "water park" was closed and thus named a "bummer".) 

In the late afternoon we swam in the Jack's Fork at Buck Hollow. 

This is the same spot where all of us played in June 2010.  Karis and Olivia remembered it, but they thought it was more fun when the whole family was there. 

They remembered floating in tubes in the current.  It was fun, but everyone missed the rest of the family (Lance, Grace, Emily, Brad, Faty, Matt, Liz, and Jackson).  Maybe next summer.

 As you might guess, everyone was worn out at the end of each day.  Mimi was Chief Story Reader and Bedtime Singer. 

There were a few "homesickness tears" the first night, less the second night and none thereafter.  (As far as I know.)

 On Thursday Aug. 11, we picked up "New Grandpa", my Dad, and drove to Branson.  Janet and Dwight hosted us in grand style, as they always do.  

 We headed out to Silver Dollar City where Karis and Olivia tried several of the rides, including all the ones that get you wet.  In this photo they are involved in my favorite activity, eating ice cream. 

 I guess the girls made a new friend at Silver Dollar City. 

In the evening Uncle Dwight put Karis and Olivia in Go-Karts at The Track.  That was after he grilled our supper. 

 On Friday morning we visited the Butterfly Palace.  It was a very interesting and educational place.  It was fun for young and old. 

At the Butterfly Palace, visitors can climb a palm tree.  Karis and Olivia were experts at climbing.  They were also much quicker than Janet and Linda (photo not included). 

 Saturday, Aug. 13, was a very busy day.  It started with horseback riding at our friend, Cyndi Summers'.  Our granddaughters were joined by their second cousins, Hattie Mae, Gage, and Brodie.  They are Kent and Donna's grand children (Linda's great niece and nephews). 

 Karis on Bambi. 

Olivia on Bambi.  

All the kids got acquainted with Smokey. 

 Then we visited Twin Pines Nature Center at Winona where they took part in nature crafts and archery. 

 Next we swam in the pool below Rocky Falls in the Mark Twain National Forest, east of Winona. 

Three girls in the far back seat of the van did much giggling and singing.  

 All dressed up for Sunday School the next day. 

Monday was a mostly quiet day, but we did swim in Jack's Fork one more time. 

Then on Tuesday, Aug. 16, we drove to the St. Louis Zoo.  

 We didn't get this close to a real gorilla. 

 Our short visit to the zoo was hot and tiring.  But we made the best of it. 

 On Wednesday, Aug. 17, we had an early breakfast at the airport. 

 Then Papa escorted the girls back to Maryland on Flight #2267. 

After two hours in the air, Camp David was over.  Grace and Emily met us at BWI.  What a busy, fun-filled 10 days.  Karis and Olivia were very glad to see Mom and Emily.  After our plane landed, Olivia told me that she missed Mimi already. 

Additions to Hall of Fame

 In November 2010 I put together the Hall of Fame of those from Illinois who had visited us in Mountain View.  I promised to add more, if they qualified.  In July two more additions were made to the Hall of Fame.  Bill and Judy Kruse visited July 10-14. 

Eric and Amy Johnson and Jake, Zack, Alec, and Isaiah visited July 17-19.  To see the entire Hall of Fame, please look below at "older posts". Scroll down to November 30, 2010. 

Our Son Turned 40

 Our son, Lance, turned 40 on June 24th.  Grace, with the help of friends, threw a great party. 

 The brothers, Brad and Matt, surprised Lance by showing up at the birthday party;  Brad from Africa, Matt from Joliet. 

 The special "Over the Hill" cake. 

 Even Emily took part in the pool party. 

The guest of honor provided some of the entertainment over Emily's objections.