ON HIATUS

I had hoped to continue the blog on a regular basis this week but I've had a couple of issues I can't get past.

I'd decided to go on hiatus this week as I'm busy prepping for a writer's conference. I leave tomorrow. So much to do, so little time.

This morning, I received news that my oldest sister has passed on unexpectedly. Has been a soul-shattering time for me today. Thankfully, I have Bob here to process my thoughts into coherency while I try to pack. I still have to leave tomorrow.

Bob. He leaves on the 22nd. When I get back next week I'll be spending every minute possible with him. I'm not going to even think about blogging. Just spending time with him.

You just never know.

Hug the ones you love, tell them you love them, call them - not a text or a facebook message but call and talk. I promise you'll make their day.

Blessings
Kelly

PREPPING - Let's Be Squirrels!

According to the weather folks, our temps are finally supposed to start cooling down. I am so ready. I mean, seriously, today (as I type this) is October 1 and I'm still running the AC!) I am so ready for a REAL fall.

I do know 'winter' will be here eventually so I'm beginning to think about Prepping for winter.

I shop a lot at Dollar General. They carry the brand of toilet paper we prefer and price comparative to the other box stores. Periodically, they offer a $5 off $25 coupon to be used on the Saturday of that week. I stop in during the week and pick up one item from my list then go back on Saturday to stock up on a specific item.
Some of the items I purchase:

Charmin Mega Rolls
semi-generic paper towels
napkins
Bob's drink addatives (He likes the root beer, Orange and grape)
cans of Queso cheese
Personal hygiene products...

I pick up enough of the pricier items like the TP and Paper Towels one week. Next time the coupon comes around, I'll go to the next item on my list.
I'm spending $20 plus tax and gettting the necessities of the house

I will add that they do offer an app (of course there's an app for that!) where some weeks the coupon is only good on 'app' items.  I don't use the app. I don't need any more of my information being tracked than there is already. Some things you can avoid... others, not so much. Be selective.

What I'm going to suggest is that we take this room by room each week in October. By the end of the month, you should have a nice supply.

Week 1 - Bathroom
This one is pretty easy, that's why I started here.
Designate $20 (or as much as you can apply)
Go through your bathroom and make a list of the things you need to get through the winter
     toilet tissue
     personal items
     dental hygiene
     Vitamins
     hair care
     make-up 
            Note: I list this one if you use make-up on a regular basis. Anytihng other than 6 months                                should be tossed.
     cold/ flu over the counter items you use regularly like Nyquil, Ibuprophen, etc.

You get the idea.
This is also a good time to pitch things you've not used.

CYA next Friday for another Prepper/ Stock-up!
NOTE: I'm going to re-run this series.. IN COMPLETION.... beginning as soon as the SIP is lifted.

Country Blessings from the Ozarks.

BARTLETT - A Ghost of a Community

While my address says Birch Tree, MO I am 1/4 mile shy of the Birch Tree/ Winona line. My mail comes from Birch Tree but when we had a land line, we had a Winona extension. You have to wonder who does the platting. LOL

According to Wikipedia, Bartlett is an 'unincorporated' community in Shannon County. A post office was established in 1888 and operated until 1941. 

Information from The State of Missouri Historical Society website tells us Bartlett was a railroad flag station named after W. R. Bartlett, a stock holder/ promoter for the Frisco Railroad

FRISCO ROUTE MAP

If you click on the link above, you can enlarge the map to show where the line begins in Birch Tree but not in Bartlett. Bartlett does not even appear so I'm not sure of the age of the map.  I do know the railroad no longer runs in this area at all.

I live south of 'Old 60'. My county road shows places where there was once concrete  as opposed to the dirt/rock logging road most people think I live on.

I'll be doing more research to find out what I can about Bartlett. Why did the post office shut down in 1941? Did the closing have something to do with the newer Hwy 60? Hopefully, I can do some digging soon.

In the mean time, do you have an 'unincorporated' community where you live? Do you know it's history?  Please share.

~Country Blessings from the Ozarks

SILVER DOLLAR CITY- Pumpkin Nights!

I don't get to Silver Dollar City very often but I have to say, this new event they have going on may have to be a trip to take:

CLICK HERE

for your chance to win 4 tickets to:

Silver Dollar City Pumpkin Nights
1 Meal Voucher for 4 at Silver Dollar City

Showboat Branson Belle

2 nights at Silver Dollar City Campground

Once you enter, you'll receive a link to share with YOUR friends for more chances to win!

PEACHY LIFE!

When Bob and I moved in here almost fifteen years ago, one of the first things I wanted was a small orchard. I chose dwarf trees that were supposed to produce full-sized fruit. Yeah.

We've since lost all three of the cherry trees and two apple trees. The existing apple trees don't look any too healthy.

But the peach trees have done AWESOME... growth wise. Producing.. not so much.

A couple of years ago one of the trees was loaded with peaches but not quite ready to pick. We took a 4-day weekend to his younger brother's in Oklahoma and came home to find every single peach had been stripped.

We suspect this guy's relations were the culprits.

This year we had 3 peaches. 2 on one tree and 1 on another.

Of course, Bob was gone when the lone peach got ripe. I split this one three ways with the grandgirls.

The fruit was juicy and sweet.

Next year, being an even year, I'm hoping for a good production. We shall see. 

In the mean time, Bob keeps discussing not putting in any more trees. I keep telling him they will be an investment in our retirement. I'm not sure he's buying it. :-)

GLADIOLAS!

I love GLADS. I think they are so pretty.

When I was about nine or ten, there was a man that lived down the road from us that grew either glads or iris'... commercially. I loved riding my bike up to his place just to look at the massive field of flowers.

If you've never been to a flower show, check one out next summer. The criteria for a Gladiola show in particular is stringent but the results the growers are capable of producing is spectacular.

I'm a gardener in the lightest respect of the word. I just like flowers. Before we moved here, Bob wasn't keen on my putting money into flowers because the places weren't our forever home. Here, he has given me cart blanche to spend what I feel comfortable with. He even built me new flower beds on either side of the front walk just before going back out on the boat this time.

This summer I planted gladiolas on the south end of my office. I want to plant a bunch more here next spring.

These were two of my favorites. I want to find some really dark ones, too. I'd love a couple of black ones.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today is  my birthday. I wish my grandgirls were here to celebrate with me. I sure do miss them. Their mom's birthday is also today. Now that's a birthday present! While my daughter was born on my birthday, I tried every year to make sure her's stood alone... was the more important... more celebrated.

My sister and brother in law will be here this afternoon. We're going to hang out, eat. .. I plan to bake a layered chocolate cake this morning. She is diabetic and I'm pre-diabetic but between her insulin and my vinegar tea we should be okay. Just lots of vegies in our future for the rest of the weekend.

Other than baking, which is something I love to do, I'm planning to do nothing but craft. My sister and I both make Junk Journals and we are deep into the September Stashbuster Junk Journal challenge right now. I believe she is working on a Disney album and I'm putting together an October Daily in preparation to document my favorite month full of activities - October!

Tomorrow, I'll have flowers to show off.
Blessings

HICKORY HORNED DEVIL

Yep, there is such a thing.

I had never seen this scary guy in my yard before. I thought he was quite beautiful, even with his spines and horns. I swear only a witch would appreciate this caterpillar.

Here's a video about his story:

I had seen the moths, but not the caterpillar. Also interesting to note that they burrow in the ground then emerge in their moth state. 

Maybe I should have saved this for an October post. LOL

TOMATOES EVERYWHERE!

This was the first meager picking of Early Girl tomatoes around the first of August. You can see a few cherry tomatoes in the bottom of the basket.

I've since put two 2-gallon bags of tomatoes in the freezer for turning into sauce this winter. I probably have about that many more out there.

In June when the girls first got here, I planted all the volunteer tomatoes Adrian and I could find while she planted the 24 Early Girl tomatoes. She really got her hands dirty!

She had never planted anything on her own before. I helped her place the plants along the bales, showed her how to do the first one then turned her loose. She was one tired girl when she was done. I was so proud of her!

Here's what her handiwork looked like about the second week in August... after she'd gone back home.

Now about those volunteers I planted... over 30 plants. And they all turned out to be cherry tomatoes. I can only eat so many and they hadn't started producing before the girls left (we hope to fix that next summer)

One of my projects before they are all gone is to put up a few jars of green tomato pickles. My stepmom canned some one year and I remember them being quite tasty.

Tomorrow, I have a mystery plant for you. Well, it was a mystery to me :-D

Happy Gardening!

FALL HAS ARRIVED!

Okay... not if you go by the thermometer. Today is the first day in weeks I've turned off the AC for the entire day and opened up the house. While the temp has been hovering around  80* inside and I've had the tower fan blowing on me, I refuse to turn on the AC. There is a gorgeous breeze blowing outside, billowing the curtains. Who needs the AC? Or the power bill?

When you begin seeing these lovely pieces of nature's art around your yard you know fall is just around the corner.

I usually get three to four of these beauties from the eve of the house to the top of the deck railing. I'm also guaranteed of seeing at least a couple stretch from the bird feeder to the clothes line - a distance of about 4'!

I haven't seen the garden zipper spiders yet. I keep watching. When they appear I know the garden is winding down and soon I'll be pulling up stakes and prepping for the quietness of winter.

Here in the Ozarks, we are about 15* above our normal temperatures and have seen barely any rain in 22 days! At least where I live. Springfield did get an inch or so last week. Lucky ducks!

For now, I'll just keep watering the garden. I'll have pictures tomorrow.

Thank you for all the views. Now if we could just make a little noise. If nothing else, say HI! LOL

Happy Gardening!

TIME MANAGEMENT

As you'll see below, if you don't know already, I am a Stampin' UP! demonstrator. I placed a reasonable order last week from Clearance to build up my future Etsy shop plus put in a big order (the largest I've EVER placed) on our pre-order in preparation for the 2019-2020 catalog releasing June 4th. I have to pay for that so I'm turning in all of my change.

I am also in the danger zone of a diabetic. I have to make some serious changes to my life in able to stay off medications. 

So I REALLY need to buckle down and get back to eating properly. 

Stress also raises glucose numbers and I've been stressed a lot trying to get time in the garden between rain drops, keep up with blogs (which I'm only succeeding on 2 at the moment), get the house straightened up before the girls' arrival and stay on top of office stuff in general. Did I mention writing Book 2 in the series? LOL

 So yeah.. something has to give!

Last week was a perfect example of how crazy things are here... and with the girls' arrival on June 1 the time allotments will only get tighter. I HAVE to cut some things.

June 1 - the girls arrive

June 4 - Stampin' UP! new catalog release

June 20thish - Launch Etsy shop

July 1 - Book 2 in my series releases

Mid-August - the girls go back home

August 25 - Contest entries due

September 4 - Stampin' UP! Holiday catalog launches

October 1 - Book 3 in series releases

November 1 - Nano begins.. and the process of writing Book 4

Then the holidays are upon us!

While I've not been consistent with my postings as I'd like, I have tried to share things of interest. My biggest motivation for keeping this blog going is if I were getting comments/ conversation, etc. I'm not getting comments/ feedback.. lots of voyeurism. I'm okay with that as long as I know what I'm sharing is of value.

So here's the deal..

While we are in tornado season, but have avoided any of the surrounding destruction ourselves, I still feel like I'm caught in a vortex. I have to 

STOP. BREATHE. EVALUATE.

Based on the afore mentioned schedule, I have to step back from the blogs that are not part of my income flow at the moment.  My summer is dedicated to book writing, new product launch, prepping for the Etsy grand opening and most of all - TIME WITH MY GIRLS! We will be doing all kinds of fun stuff. Abby's my crafter and Adrian is my garden buddy. Plus there will be field trips and library days, time at the creek... well, you get the idea.

So until September 1, this blog will be ON HIATUS. I KNOW I can't plan anything else.

In the mean time, I hope to get some other posts organized so I can get us through the rest of the year without fail.

By the end of this year I will know whether or not this blog continues into 2020....

... and a big part of that decision will come from you.

If you want this blog to continue, if you get anything from my posts I NEED to hear from you.

For now... I'm stepping back and Enjoying the Journey

Thank you for being here... and for understanding.

WEEKEND TRAVEL - Back to Van Buren

Note: I inadvertently posted this to an alternate blog last week.

Before I get into today's post I wanted to give you an update on Zoey.

She and Honey got along until Zoey and her long legs would overpower HB and pin him. He would growl, then she'd growl and the fight would begin. We found a shelter group that deals in Weimer's (which we are pretty sure she is).  I've never missed a temporary dog as much as I miss that girl.  But HB had to come first. 

Okay, on to today's post!

Good morning, everyone. Cool, damp start to our week. I will admit that while Bob and I did travel this past weekend, we just went into the city for some thrifting and time together before he heads back to work sometime this week. We are back on the day-to-day, waiting for the call routine.

A couple of weeks ago I drove to Van Buren to check out the Saturday Flea Market that Hannah, from Springhouse Cafe told me about. I decided to start my day with breakfast at the Springhouse:

The food was good, for the most part. Everything cooked to perfection. This is probably the only place I've eaten where they actually know how to cook an over-easy egg... the whites cooked and ALL of the yolk runny and delicious. The hash browns were perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside and that slice of ham fed me that morning plus an addition to breakfast for Bob and I later in the week.  The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the biscuits and gravy. I knew ahead of time it was not 'sausage' gravy, but white pepper. The biscuits were tough on the bottom. I ordered them mainly to see how they were so I could tell Bob ahead of time. He does not like pepper, period so pepper gravy is definitely not an option for him.

Overall, we both have really liked the place. They're never overly busy, the waitresses are right on top of things and friendly.  Their food has always been good, making it hard to pick a favorite whenever we go back. We do like their 'handmade' burgers. Bob also liked their hand-pounded, hand-breaded pork tenderloin. There's usually at least one decadent dessert on the menu but I've avoided due to the sugar content, but their triple chocolate cake is drool-worth at $3 - $3.50 a slice, leaving me only to add that the prices are very reasonable. - Update (May 30, 2019) Bob and I caved and tried the Triple Chocolate Cake. Super Rich - Delicious - Decadent for sure! I suggest an glass of milk with this one!

To find The Springhouse Cafe, traveling West on Hwy 60 from Poplar Bluff (or St. Louis), turn right just as you come past the 55 mph sign (road just before McDonalds) You'll go about 1 to 1-1/2 miles and you'll see the place on your left.

Please tell them you heard about it on An Ozarks Journal blog. Doesn't get me anything, but I do like to let business owners know that the few minutes they took to chat with me was worth their time. Thanks to Nick Dorris for the friendly update. 

Where will you travel to this week.  Where ever you go, be safe and Enjoy the Adventure!

I have a big announcement coming tomorrow. Please stop by. 

Safe Travels!

WEEKEND TRAVEL - Dining Out

A couple of weeks ago I was headed to Poplar Bluff. On my way through Van Buren I had a taste for the chicken tenders.. good ones. Not those tasteless breaded things but real breast meat tenders battered and deep fried til golden. Crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside.  I knew just where to go...
The Float Stream Restaurant in Van Buren.

Bob and I've eaten there several times. They have the best Hot Roast Beef With I've had in awhile... the kind served with REAL mashed potatoes. We've done the all you can eat cat fish buffet and breakfast on occasion. We've always been happy.

Until a few weeks ago...
Bob was on his way to Poplar Bluff and decided to pull in for lunch. The hostess showed him his seat and gave him a menu.... fifteen minutes later he still hadn't been waited on. The waitress totally ignored him. He finally got up and left.

Now, I have to stress THIS IS NOT THE NORM at The Float Stream. Someone was just having an off day.

What I DO WANT TO STRESS... is that Joey Crafton will make anything right if you give him the chance. He never knew my husband had issues until I stopped in. Here's the thing... if an owner doesn't know there's a problem, he can't fix the problem. That doesn't mean throwing a fit and trash talking the establishment. What you do is have an adult conversation... remember those?

So I pulled in, order my tenders and iced tea... prepared to work on my manuscript over a quiet lunch. The waitress was friendly and right on top of things. I asked to speak to the manager and he was happy to come out and talk with me. Joey Crafton is a good guy. He wants his customers to have an enjoyable experience and good food... to walk away with a plan to come back again.. and bring friends.

So if you're ever passing through Van Buren MO on Hwy 60... stop in to The Float Stream and enjoy a  meal... Oh.. and leave room for dessert.

WEEKEND TRAVEL

No weekend travel post this week.

I spent yesterday getting some things tidied up around the house before Bob came home. He arrived late afternoon after being on the boat for 31 days.

He pulled into the drive to be greeted by this pretty girl.

Who wouldn't love that face?! 

Bob put her picture on FB in hopes of finding her owner. We did, but according to the man's mom (who identified her) it's more of a 'good riddance' attitude. As she said, if it's up to him we can keep her. I'm thinking there is family involved that might not be as willing to see her gone.

At first we thought she might be a Silver Lab. Folks on FB told us we had a Weimaraner . We've since found out she will be 1 year old in March. Her name is Zoey.  She is 1/2 pitbull, 1/4 Aussie and 1/4 Neo-Mastiff. If she'd been a Weimer, we could not have kept her. 

She is soooo loving and sweet. Gets along with HoneyB - whom she'll be sharing the run with and even the 2 female cats. Spirit wants no part of her. And she's okay with Tabby as long as Tabby doesn't run. Then Zoey thinks the game is on and I'm afraid she'd be too rough on Tabby, just based on the size difference. She is very gentle. 

If we get the all clear by tomorrow, Zoey will make a trip to the vet to get complete determination, see if there are medical records/ shots on file. We'll bring her up to date on shots and get her fixed. 

While I said I didn't want any more dogs, HoneyB does need a playmate, though even he gets tired of her antics after awhile and we bring one of them inside to catch a break. LOL  The girls are going to love her this summer. 

I hope to be traveling later in the week and have pictures to share. 

I'm also getting things back up to speed and will be starting the Emergency Prepper posts again in March so, stay tuned!

WEEKEND TRAVEL

Welcome to my backyard

As I type this on Sunday afternoon, the temperature is 35*F. 

Some ice is starting to drip but at 4 p.m. and the sun going down, that won't last long.

Nearly every branch is still coated in a frozen protection.

Like many places across the country, we have been drenched in freezing temperatures as well as a mix of snow, sleet, rain... you name it, Mother Nature has shared.

I keep telling myself this is nourishment the ground will need for spring planting.

I am blessed that I do not have to go out in this horrid weather.

Every time I hear of major accidents like the one  that occurred on I-70 on Friday, I have to ask 

"What were they doing on the road to begin with?"

Like the tragic duck boat accident in Branson last summer, these people were given 

AMPLE WARNING!

Even if by chance they missed the news/ weather reports, being out there should have given them just a moment to think - we better pull off at the next exit and wait this out. 

If you are an employer, I would hope you would have sense to tell your people

"Weather is going to be dicey, take a personal day. Be safe"

or

"Looks like the weatherman was right. Why don't you folks head out early today. Be safe"

Then there's the folks who can't afford to lose a day of work. They've gotten themselves so deep into the 'gotta have' mentality that they have to get a full check.

Well, folks. I'm here to tell you.. and something I've always believed.

NO Employer is going to pay you enough to be critically injured, lose your life or take someone else's in an accident. If you are hurt, chances are you're going to be off a lot more than ONE DAY!

While you are out, 

your employer is going to be looking for someone to fill your spot while you're off.

I think if roads are bad enough that schools are off or dismiss early, then businesses should at the very least, go down to a skeleton crew. No should be out shopping/ eating, anyway.

They should be home - SAFE - with their family. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Please comment below. 

In the meantime, BE SAFE - BE SMART - LIVE!

WEEKEND TRAVEL - Amazing Herd!

On a trip to Poplar Bluff on Saturday I spotted a field loaded with a herd of deer. I have never seen so many deer on private land... on  preserve, yes. But never in an open field. Between the ridge to the left out of camera, across the field to the far side of the pond out of camera on the right, I counted THIRTY!

This was as close as I could get. I pulled over and took a couple of shots then about a block up, I found the farmer's entrance to the field. The gate set back from the road a bit so I was able to get a bit closer. With cropping, this is the best view out of all of them.

With all the rains we've had, the fields are greening up and these beauties were enjoying the bounty.

As cars and trucks whizzed by, I had to wonder how many of them were missing this amazing site. I'm glad I was able to see them.

While we're talking deer (okay meat in general) I had dinner at my favorite restaurant in Poplar Bluff last night. Castello's is an Italian restaurant connected to the Holiday Inn. They offer Prime Rib on Friday and Saturday nights. Folks, if you want the BEST prime rib in the Ozarks, I suggest a drive to Poplar Bluff.

I'll leave you with these two pics.

The 20 oz. King Cut... medium rare. This is an end-cut.

The depth of the fork tines tell you the thickness of this juicy piece of meat .

WEEKEND TRAVEL - West Plains

Okay.. so this isn't really a travel type article but I had to make a trip to West Plains on Saturday. Never thought about taking pictures. Just doing what I needed to do and get home. I had things here to do before the sun went down. 

To get a better scope of West Plains, you can visit WestPlains.net

I love spending time in the Visitor's Center. I get turned around direction-wise when it comes to West Plains but you'll find the VC on your right as you're coming into town on Hwy 63 from the west (Springfield/ Willow Springs)  They have some great displays including a pants suit previously owned by hometown country girl, Jan Howard and a rhinestone suite by the late Porter Wagoner, also from West Plains. You'll see those HERE

I'll never forget the first time Bob and I went to West Plains. We'd not moved here yet but had purchased the house. We were looking for some building supplies. We stopped at the local fire station for information. Their directions to where we needed to go included Porter Wagoner Blvd and Jan Howard Ave.  You know you're in a small town when....

Finally, the 14th Annual Library Chili Cook-off was held at the West Plains Civic Center. This is a big fundraising event for the local library and the great programs they offer. Dr. Julie Hart of Hart Family Eyecare is the reigning Chili Queen! She's our optometrist and one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet... and I guess she makes a mean bowl of chili!


For the rest of this month I'll only be posting on Monday's and Friday's. I should be back up to speed and able to bring some Ozark history posts back in. Wednesday posts will only run if I have Ozark books to review and Thursdays... well, we'll see where my mind wanders.

Hang with me. You know we don't move real fast around here :-)

BACK TO LIFE!

I really needed the holidays. This year I was able to enjoy a lot of the things I love about the holidays, but most important of all was spending time with Bob. With the exception of the week before Christmas, he was home a full two months! We spent a lot of time talking, playing cards, eating out (more than we probably should have) and just enjoying being together. He had his tasks and I did the 'must do' list.

All in all, a really awesome holiday.

A huge thank you to everyone who stop by my blog each week. I promise to be more regular about my postings and give you something to see when you come in. ;-)

Now, I need to get back to work. 

One of the things I'll be doing new this year (aside from being a regular poster) is to video my gardening process. I should have the first one I filmed last fall up next week. I've not decided which day will be 'garden day' yet. Still working out a flow here. Since I've not really looked at any part of my blog planner except to put in the new 2019 calendar, I still have work to do.

While you wait for my videos (though they won't be as cool as Greg's) I invite you to check out the Maritime Gardening. Greg is from Nova Scotia and I am amazed at the similarities in our growing conditions. While I approach ours from a mostly straw bale angle, Greg is all about mulching, creating composting layers. Here's a video explaining the Ruth Stout method:

I also want to continue the parks and recreation aspects of places to visit and things to do in the area. Whether you're looking for a day trip, an overnight or a week-long vacation I will do my best to add to your 'must see' list. 

I'll be back on regular schedule next week. In the mean time, stay warm, stay safe and be happy!