2015 Christmas House

Christmas for the Davids involved departing from Our Corner of the Ozarks for a few days.  We picked a place near our son, Matt, who lives at Joliet, IL, since he had to work on Christmas Eve.  Lance and Grace and their girls drove in from Maryland.  Brad and Faty flew in from Africa.  

We had a great Christmas trip.  There were a couple of weather “glitches”, but everyone eventually made it home safely from Chicago.  Faty to Atlanta, one day late.  Brad to KC by rental car.  Lance & family to Grace’s brother’s in PA.  My sister Janet & Dwight home to Branson after a grueling detour due to flooded interstates.  Linda, Grandpa, and I got home to Mountain View only about an hour later than I had anticipated. 

We had all three of our sons and all five of our grands, but only two of our daughters-in-law at the “Christmas house” near Coal City, IL.  This was our third Christmas house, so named by Emily four years ago at Annapolis, MD.  Brad and Faty were unable to come for Christmas two years ago to Branson. 

No one was sick all week.  The only “fights” were between the younger siblings and they were brief and minor.  I read the booklet “If You’re Missing Baby Jesus” aloud, but not without crying.  Linda had the children read aloud the Max Lucado book, “The Crippled Lamb”.  Linda, Karis, Olivia, and sometimes Emily sang “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” several times (acapella).

Janet and Dwight brought Dad to Coal City on Dec. 28, but the weather was so bad J&D left to return to their son Kirk’s at O’Fallon, MO, after only a couple of hours.  Dad seemed to really enjoy being with his grandsons and the great grandkids.  And they loved having him there. 

The Christmas house was awesome.  It is owned by Richard Scheer.  He is apparently trying to sell it.  It was full of mounted wildlife, including two rooms of African wildlife.  We played with his games and took his paddle boat for a spin on the 8-acre lake.  We saw wild turkeys in the driveway and Brad saw four deer on his morning run.  Goose hunting was going on in the area around us. 

Many gifts were exchanged.  Only the five grandchildren received “major” gifts.  But all twelve of us had stockings “hung by the chimney with care” with much stuff in them.  The children seemed happy and busy with their gifts. 

I think the highlight was the Sunday morning trip to Gibson City where we attended services at Gibson City Bible Church and had lunch at Monical’s Pizza.  We all visited with many, many old friends.  And we surprised them; no one knew we were coming.  It was great to see our former next door neighbor accompany all the worship music with guitar (he’s good).  And Pastor Paul had a wonderful sermon from Philippians 2:12-18 emphasizing the role of believers as the real “Christmas lights”. 

Much good food!

 Lots of time to play.








I made a new friend.



On the right you can see two "stripes".  One animal and one referee.  Dave Yockey visited us briefly at the Christmas house.

Grandpa Gene with Cami, the youngest great grandchild.  

The whole gang, including Dad, Dwight, and Janet.

Jackson and Olivia playing a game.

We Loved This Invasion of Our Ozarks

In August we had our annual Camp David at Bunker Hill Resort, only 14 miles from Mountain View.  Camp David is when all five of our grandchildren come to Missouri for a week.  This was our fifth time to host Camp David.

Bunker Hill is located on the banks of the Jacks Fork River, part of the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways.  The river was quite inviting.  We swam or paddled every day, except the day it rained.

 This year Lance, Grace, and Matt served as Junior Counselors at Camp David, so named by Brad who considers himself a Senior Counselor because he has been to Camp David twice.

Of course, we did miss Brad and Faty this year.








We had all our meals at the Bunker Hill dining hall.  No cooking, no cleanup.  Just play, play, play.

New Hall of Fame Inductees

New names have been added to the Hall of Fame!!  Steve and Vicki visited us briefly in Mountain View at Our Corner of the Ozarks.  We had a good hillbilly lunch together.  Thanks for stopping by.

Of course, they are from Gibson City, IL.  

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

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.