Wow! Such a week! I can’t recall how many times I had things unplugged due to lightning and by golly, it did strike close several times. The thunder actually rattled things in the house and even the cats were looking for hidey holes. I spent nearly as much time at the church office and at church services as I did at home, making for a very busy week. Fr. Figge, a retired priest, spent several days in the Ava area and celebrated Easter services, bringing us the message of God’s love for us. Fr. Paul has five churches in this area in his care so the extra help was most appreciated.
There were fifteen here for Easter dinner and there was enough food for twice that many. Everyone brought something delicious to share. After dinner we sat around and the tales of yore started. Some were so funny that a few were holding their stomaches and rocking back and forth with laughter. Then, I had a few threats of personal mayhem should I write about these stories for this column, giving names! The four great grandchildren received many Easter treats and of course, had sugar highs. Whee!!
From my sons and grandsons we heard of “snipe” hunts (long and detailed stories) because one of those gathered here had been gullible enough to actually go “snipe hunting” and my sons told of another person they’d conned into “snipe hunting”. We heard of another incident from back in 1975 – my sons and foster son had gone “out back” to see if coyotes had come to feast on a dead cow. Foster son trekked down the steep hill to where the carcass was (in the pitch black dark of night) and then let go a blast with a shotgun in the trees and out swooped dozens of turkey buzzards all around him. No one would admit if foster son actually lost control of his bodily functions but he was shaking badly. There were also tales of hunting trips to Colorado and the orneriness of my sons…funny tales.
There was an accident here on Hwy 14 last Friday morning when it was so foggy. A flatbed truck was delivering trusses for son Randy’s barn, had pulled into Randy Dugan’s driveway so the load could be backed across Hwy 14 into the barn lot. There were people out there to stop traffic but one young lady, name unknown, did not notice anything and drove her vehicle into/under the flatbed. She survived without any physical damage to herself although the patrol people indicated she was about 3 inches from losing her head. Apparently she was driving rather fast.
Randy, Regina and Rex had another rodeo Sunday morning as a fence had gone down on rented pasture and about half of the cattle were on another’s farm, peacefully grazing. There was lots of fence fixing to be done on Easter morning. With all this rain, wind, etc. it would seem lots of fences and trees will be down causing other rodeo events – just hope not for our crew.
On a high note, one of the ladies who came here a week ago has lost 171 pounds. One of the ladies here for Easter dinner has lost 145 pounds. Congratulations to them for their efforts and dedication to get healthy…and be beautiful inside and out.
Have a great week and stay dry. May the Lord keep you safe and in good health.
From the desk of Jamey Herd: Easter Sunday at Pleasant Ridge Baptist was wet and cool but 26 met at 6 AM for Sunrise Service. After a brief service and song on the front steps of the church we had a wonderful breakfast and fellowship. Much to our surprise, Amanda Williams made it out with her three little ones. Those little boys are such dolls. Our son, Ron, and two of his youngest also came down from Rogersville for the service. He said he had not been to a Sunrise Service since the time we had one at Eva Garrison’s on AK Highway. That was many years ago. After breakfast everyone went home to do chores and get ready for our regular service at 10. Welcome to the visitors that attended morning worship service. Pastor Carl brought the morning message, “Jesus Is Risen” from the books of Isaiah 25:8 and Acts 3: 27. Prepared Easter baskets were passed out to the little ones after service.
Laveta Ray, Susan Dugan, and Angie Modar had twelve young ones in Children’s Church. They performed an Easter program before going back to Children’s Church.
We wish to extend our sympathy to Laveta Ray and her family in the passing of her mother, Cindy Cauthron, this past Tuesday. The funeral was held in Seymour on Friday and burial was in the Goodhope Cemetery. A meal was prepared by Pleasant Ridge Baptist for the family after the funeral service.
Sunday afternoon we drove up to our son, Ron’s, for a late lunch. Z Highway had been closed due to high water but was reopened and we were able to drive by that route. Finley River was lapping over the road slightly but for the most part the road was dry. I checked MoDot’s web site before returning home and it showed Z still open so we tried to return by that route. We got to Finley and it was over the road and flowing very swift. One vehicle on the other side had seen it and turned around. I also turned around and we returned home by Seymour and BB Highway. I called the highway patrol and informed them that the river was over the road again.
So far our rain gauge shows 9 inches of rain in the past few days. There are geese and their young ones having a good time in these lakes of water that have formed around us. There is a sink hole on Gene Thompson’s place that is full of water and Sunday we saw several geese swimming there. Also, on Mickey Harvel’s place it was reported several geese and their little ones in the lake of water that has formed on his place.
Congratulations to the Nazarene Church on the opening of their new building on Sunday.
Connie Porter and I made a trip to Branson for shopping this past week. We went to the Quilts and Quilts shop and found a new fabric store on the strip. We also went to Tanger Mall for shopping. It was a nice day out.
Until next week stay dry and God’s Blessing to all.
