tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65613807943227438832024-03-20T23:36:14.847-07:00The Missouri MomThe good, the bad, and the in between of a not so average Missouri Family.
The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.comBlogger654125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-30915805014269648882024-01-30T06:23:00.000-08:002024-03-20T11:11:05.948-07:00Rural Southeast Missouri Antique & Treasure Trail - MEGA LIST<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rural Southeast Missouri Antique & Treasure Trail </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Created by The Missouri Mom</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Discovering Rural Missouri Towns One Stop at a Time. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-012b7bba-7fff-6932-2cd2-fccad87deb9b"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Marble Hill, Missouri </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">First Street Minis: 206 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Old Lutesville Emporium: 205 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Second Time Around: 110 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Marble Hill Trade Company: 160 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Marble Hill Trade Company: 112B First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bill Peters Hardware: 313 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EC Reed's Mercantile: 301 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Twin City Pharmacy: 106 North First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Personal Touch: : 205 St Hwy 34W, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bollinger County Coop: 200 State Highway 34 W, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bollinger County Veterinary: 18448 BCR 302, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Rusted Vault: 107 High Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">J & R Resale: Main Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sunset Floral & Garden Market: 115 State Highway 51 North, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Serenity House Floral & More: 214 Conrad Ave, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Leopold <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Leopold Country Store 16730 Main St., Leopold, MO</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Glen Allen/Grassy </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Mason Jar at Mesta Meadows: 12005 State Highway 34, Glen Allen, MO 63751</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Grassy General Store: 4834 State Hwy 34, Glen Allen, MO 63751</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cape Girardeau, Missouri</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Annie Laurie’s: 536 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Corner Grocery Store: 439 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;">Annie-Em's at Home: 42 N Main Street, Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Atelier: 221 B Independence, Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Brick Street Gallery: 19 N Spanish St, Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spanish Street Mercantile: 26 N Spanish St, Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mississippi Mutts: 609 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Pastimes Antiques: </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">45 N Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mollie Paperie: 2121 Broadway Cape Girardeau, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jackson, Missouri </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Heartland Harvest Market & Antiques: 3277 State Highway 72, Jackson, Missouri 63755</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Old Pioneer Market: 2008 West Jackson Blvd, Jackson, MO 63755</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">High Street Station: </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1106 South High Street, Jackson, MO 63755</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Teen Challenge Thrift Store: 1985 E Jackson Blvd, Jackson MO 63755</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Safe Harbor Thrift Store: 3862 E Jackson Blvd, Jackson, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Crump, Missouri </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ava Craft Center 2.0 SEMO: 134 State Highway U, Burfordville, MO 63739</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Knowlan Family Farm: 3243 State Highway 34, Burfordville, MO 63739</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Greenville/Piedmont </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Northtown Thrift Store: 154 N Front Street, Greenville, MO 63944</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frankie Mar</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 250 E Maple St, Greenville, MO. 63944</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Richard’s Supermarket:</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> 110 Main St., Greenville, MO 63944</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Soul Threads: 95 State Hwy 143, Patterson, MO 63956</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Angie’s Stop n Shop: 106 N Main St, Piedmont, MO 63957</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Johnson's Farm and Pet: 13303 State Highway 34 Piedmont, MO 63957</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Piedmont Florist: 227 N Main St, Piedmont, MO, 63957 </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Rick's Pawn: 115 N Main, Piedmont, MO, 63957</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Nature Cottage: 302 Legion Park RD, Piedmont, MO 63957</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Marquand/Cherokee Pass</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Woodall’s Mercantile: 6525 Highway A Marquand MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yellow She Shack Mercantile: </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">117 N Whitener Marquand MO 63655</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Num-Nums Sweet Shop; 103 South Harding Street, Marquand, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Green's Flea Market: 8512 Highway 67, Fredericktown, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Arab</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arab Station: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3725 State Highway 51, Zalma, MO 63787</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #707070; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Puxico </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Midway: 260 E Richardson Ave, Puxico, MO 63960</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Aquilla/Bloomfield </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoder's Market & Deli: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MO-25, Bloomfield, MO 63825</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoder’s Garden Market: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22864 MO-25, Bloomfield, MO 63825</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stars and Stripes Museum 17377 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloomfield, MO 63825</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Country Pickins’ Flea Market - Bloomfield: 801 MO-25, Bloomfield, MO 63825</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dexter </span></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trinkets & Treasures: 10 E Stoddard St, Dexter, MO 63841<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Old Timers Antique Mall: 16655 N Outer Rd, Dexter, MO 63841<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-edf69843-7fff-7f37-e681-6378c5964708"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Stoddard County Gospel Mission: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">207 N One Mile Rd, Dexter, MO 63841</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #707070; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bernie</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.59996; margin-bottom: -4pt; margin-left: -4pt; margin-top: -4pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">International Hope Thrift Store: 601 S Walnut St, Bernie, MO</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Kennett/Morely</b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Judts' Treasures: 108 N Kennett St Morley MO</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If you would like your business or businesses in your community listed, please complete this form: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAi2eK7PoY28J4Wfh6rix2FN8dA7DWob0c4d_Zp35TZzz3Pg/viewform?usp=sf_link">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAi2eK7PoY28J4Wfh6rix2FN8dA7DWob0c4d_Zp35TZzz3Pg/viewform?usp=sf_link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuJa1m9L1X1pHyHsyoobdr6c5jFelr8D6n4kIrPWj9ZJG1FV1-zgdsXj0Mbux7vxJY7fTjwGU1aWswB1yMvbY3t-ggrbPJNlyrVmnS1Tove-Pl7k_ER82qdfWm2iWb9zzUnTgQGglyGSxR_Y2NJQzHRsQplZp6EF2qnfajSGh326L8jBhrRYxd82eiYY/s960/header%20rural%20semo%20treasure%20trail%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="960" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuJa1m9L1X1pHyHsyoobdr6c5jFelr8D6n4kIrPWj9ZJG1FV1-zgdsXj0Mbux7vxJY7fTjwGU1aWswB1yMvbY3t-ggrbPJNlyrVmnS1Tove-Pl7k_ER82qdfWm2iWb9zzUnTgQGglyGSxR_Y2NJQzHRsQplZp6EF2qnfajSGh326L8jBhrRYxd82eiYY/w461-h167/header%20rural%20semo%20treasure%20trail%20.jpg" width="461" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></span></div></span>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-60869436233256201682023-06-29T07:11:00.002-07:002023-06-29T07:11:19.896-07:00Happiness is a Choice - No Matter What. <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You can be happy no matter what happens in your life if you don’t let others control your attitude. This is a very deep statement. How can we live like this? How do we apply this theory to our life? </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-737abd51-7fff-16ea-e35a-e3730170e0c3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Over the last few months, I have seen a lot of unhappy people lash out on social media, because of what they believe is going on, not what they researched, not what they have facts on, just what they believe is going on from comments and gossip. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprYyhLKo54zH_WGehPf7utI6PJWRdR4hRx10TI2OTkZ7xUmTJsPrK7GNcmPX04QVn9pvbY1VmtOVqFrtLeqUHxRNQSo6IhVkVV3S-fWkYYuBncQI35xVasy9c3L0-vjXT-qDUkTf_3n5pCFb76TIavl0jU2EjtJEsrLWAXq7GE_rcn35i6_5F__7vgkw/s2048/happiness%20choice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprYyhLKo54zH_WGehPf7utI6PJWRdR4hRx10TI2OTkZ7xUmTJsPrK7GNcmPX04QVn9pvbY1VmtOVqFrtLeqUHxRNQSo6IhVkVV3S-fWkYYuBncQI35xVasy9c3L0-vjXT-qDUkTf_3n5pCFb76TIavl0jU2EjtJEsrLWAXq7GE_rcn35i6_5F__7vgkw/s320/happiness%20choice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Recently over lunch a friend of mine said “you must have skin as thick as steel for all the things that get thrown at you.” I pondered on that the rest of the day. A Bible Study on the book Philippian that I recently completed came to mind. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In Philippians 1:15-17, Paul shares with us four kinds of people that were impacting his ministry while he was imprisoned in Rome. There were his friends and “co-workers” that supported and encouraged him in his work. Others were busy criticizing, competing, or conspiring against his ministry. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paul wrote “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Philippians 1:15-17</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There is nothing that robs your happiness faster than being criticized while working hard or feeling like others are working against us. Why? We want approval and to be liked. It is human nature. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paul goes on to say in Philippians 1:18, “It does not matter! I am happy about it — just so Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During the recent tornado, I made a post at the direction of another emergency management organization, regarding clothing donations. The post was posted, I logged off, and went on about my business. As I was sitting around a table with some new friends from Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief that were ministering to a woman who was at the brink of having a nervous breakdown, my phone rang, it was the EMD calling to chat with me about the post I made. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">They explained to me that people complained I was not easy to work with. I was completely caught off guard, I had just finished hugging a sobbing woman, and building a plan to add more showers to a community without water and electricity. I took the “whipping” and hung up the phone. Still in shock. As I stood there for a moment my phone began to ding. Text message after text message with screenshots of horrible things being said about me. I was a dictator, a glory whore, someone who controls everything. It wasn’t me. Not really. I probably would have never made the post unless directed, but it was a post that needed to be made. Clothing can be a disaster within a disaster. I can share more another day on that. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This post has spiraled numerous times, grown wings and became another post, and brought on additional rumors and gossip about me. While many of those posting are declaring “they love Jesus.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As my friend and I chatted about the critics in our community (hi critics), I thought about Paul’s message in Philippians 1:18, “It does not matter! I am happy about it — just so Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have adopted this motive for my community work over the past few months. It does not matter what others do, just so the good in my community is shown everywhere as much as possible, and as loud as possible. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Start fifty new Facebook pages with fifty new groups; maybe 50,000 new people will see something about our community and drive to our town and fall in love with it. Talk about me on threads and tell people what you think - every time you do, someone new comes into my shop to figure out who I am, and guess what, I get to show them the love of Jesus. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Happiness is Choice</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I am happy as I choose to be! If others are unhappy with me, that’s their choice. If I don’t have someone’s approval now, I am probably not going to get it. And I am going to be miserable if I try to live for the approval of everybody else or those that simply don’t like me. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paul explains in verses 29 and 30 of 1 Philippians why you can be happy no matter what: “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it” (NLT). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paul tells us it is a privilege to suffer when you’re doing the right thing because you’re most like Jesus nailing you to a cross and trying to get at you.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I can be happy no matter what happens if I look at every problem from God’s viewpoint and never let what other people say or do control my happiness. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-44373193059313460972023-06-25T20:43:00.003-07:002023-06-25T20:59:30.927-07:00 Mississippi River to the Backroads Antique & Treasure Trail - Downtown Cape Girardeau to Dexter, Missouri <p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Follow the trail to find unique stops through southeast Missouri. 70 miles of fun and beautiful scenery/ </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3htYMz1AEio56kydESBRszM2aDPfMfLgaa7jMJZwtQCoNwXxoi4Z4miCOSSyeqSYaQokHWwkznP1azCGa8y7DRGFcq5SE8nM7rPJRgEgpDy4avtQUXsSdCrpisW7zHRGo7c9Csl6vS_iptOPFZtGUlQHGmj-sW0kyy0gQhEE9Qren0UHE83YDDeMzHxU/s3000/Mississippi%20River%20to%20Dexter%20Trail%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3htYMz1AEio56kydESBRszM2aDPfMfLgaa7jMJZwtQCoNwXxoi4Z4miCOSSyeqSYaQokHWwkznP1azCGa8y7DRGFcq5SE8nM7rPJRgEgpDy4avtQUXsSdCrpisW7zHRGo7c9Csl6vS_iptOPFZtGUlQHGmj-sW0kyy0gQhEE9Qren0UHE83YDDeMzHxU/s320/Mississippi%20River%20to%20Dexter%20Trail%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Pastimes Antiques: 45 N. Main Street, Cape Girardeau, MO <p></p><p>Annie-Em’s at Home: 42 N. Main Street, Cape Girardeau, MO </p><p>Back Porch Antiques and Collectibles: 27 N. Main Street, Cape Girardeau, MO </p><p>Premiere Antiques and More: 19 N. Main Street, Cape Girardeau, MO </p><p>Spanish Street Mercantile: 26 N. Spanish Street, Cape Girardeau, MO </p><p>Brick Street Gallery: 19 N. Spanish Street, Cape Girardeau, MO <br /></p><p>Annie Laurie’s: 536 Broadway Street, Cape Girardeau, MO </p><p>River City Coins and Jewelry: 713 Broadway Street, Cape Girardeau, MO </p><p><i>Lodging Options in Cape Girardeau: <a href="http://www.visitcape.com/stay/">www.visitcape.com/stay/</a></i></p><p>The Old Pioneer Market: 2370 N High St Jackson MO</p><p>Heartland Harvest Market & Antiques: 3277 State Highway 72, Jackson, MO</p><p>Knowlan Family Farm: 3243 State Highway 34, Burfordville, MO </p><p>Ava Craft Center 2.0 SEMO: 134 State Highway U, Burfordville, MO </p><p>The Rusted Vault: 107 High Street, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>Sunset Floral & Garden Market: 115 State Highway 51 North, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>Serenity House Floral & More: 214 Conrad Ave, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>Second Time Around: 114 First Street, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>First Street Market: 206 First Street, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>Old Lutesville Emporium: 203 First Street, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>Unique Treasures: 112B First Street, Marble Hill, MO </p><p>Bill Peters Hardware: 313 First Street, Marble Hill, MO </p><p><b><i>Lodging Options in Marble Hill: </i></b><a href="http://www.bocomochamber.com/p/bollinger-county-missourilodging.html"><b><i>www.bocomochamber.com/p/bollinger-county-missourilodging.htm</i></b>l</a></p><p>Leopold Country Store: 201 W Main St, Leopold, MO </p><p>Arab Station: 3725 State Highway 51, Zalma</p><p>MK T's: 105-C North Oak, Advance MO </p><p>The Midway: 260 E. Richardson, Puxico</p><p>Yoder Garden Shop and Deli: 22864 State Highway 25, Bloomfield, MO </p><p>Stars and Stripes Museum 17377 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloomfield, MO </p><p>Country Pickins’ Flea Market - Bloomfield: 801 MO-25, Bloomfield, MO </p><p>Trinkets & Treasures: 10 E Stoddard St, Dexter, MO </p><p>Old Timers Antique Mall: 16655 N Outer Rd, Dexter, MO </p><div><br /></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-62536604743295996062023-06-11T07:51:00.004-07:002023-06-11T07:58:46.229-07:00The Midway, Puxico, Missouri <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoEaPgGNddajU3ohIbwaiDQZ_ZOrqRUb0CT6V06C_XimPuNk5-O_MgY2AQxYrWo6uxc3h-X5HKyTvhZ86ytgL5g-Vg2X91qQQhgkP4OckGLtMmioXaIBp9fRJLxXYUGR-_vzkavb0etsHGHnhxC6C3m5JoPrUSguIvDocS_cI_qUpmZyqWhwncYfi/s957/97F07471-75E9-4F6A-8809-931AA81F5616.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="957" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoEaPgGNddajU3ohIbwaiDQZ_ZOrqRUb0CT6V06C_XimPuNk5-O_MgY2AQxYrWo6uxc3h-X5HKyTvhZ86ytgL5g-Vg2X91qQQhgkP4OckGLtMmioXaIBp9fRJLxXYUGR-_vzkavb0etsHGHnhxC6C3m5JoPrUSguIvDocS_cI_qUpmZyqWhwncYfi/s320/97F07471-75E9-4F6A-8809-931AA81F5616.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> A friend of mine sent me a Facebook post about The Midway and said, “you need to try this place out.”</span></div><p></p><p>It had my brain intrigued; I love a good small-town place that hasn’t been blasted by all the news media outlets. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I9lK-RZVtglJj5do2H-ZInM1vmx8mQcKE2LCfwFeenYna2nqHiaIt4BaLB1t5AolYqyuZEftdaRjR3R7ktggrLsO-S5Qn_h6MAhR_0irrKI92BIMzE4xQiYTrFAPtQLv-Cbk4IicGVmnkFwguwFEPk1Vx89zFYkH6B6sZnxvELdmRwxXxZg1JrCa/s4032/383CAD64-D20A-4C98-B96B-363C9146A66D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I9lK-RZVtglJj5do2H-ZInM1vmx8mQcKE2LCfwFeenYna2nqHiaIt4BaLB1t5AolYqyuZEftdaRjR3R7ktggrLsO-S5Qn_h6MAhR_0irrKI92BIMzE4xQiYTrFAPtQLv-Cbk4IicGVmnkFwguwFEPk1Vx89zFYkH6B6sZnxvELdmRwxXxZg1JrCa/s320/383CAD64-D20A-4C98-B96B-363C9146A66D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMidwayPuxico" target="_blank">The Midway in Puxico, Missouri </a>- town population 873, business rating 10 Star - “I am not in Missouri anymore standards.” </p><p>We were greeted at the front door by who I later learned to be one of the owners, this was by chance, because there was no way he knew who I was, and no way I knew who he was. He showed us the dining area on the main level, but then suggested the Goat’s Pen upstairs. Live music, fun seating, and full-service menu! My friends and I are always out for a fun time! </p><p>The owner, still not knowing who I was, escorted us upstairs. We chatted about the building and his business! Stop, Note, if you love tastefully decorated places with a mix of antiques and modern, this is YOUR place! This building is beautiful and perfectly laid out! </p><p>As we arrived upstairs there were four of us and the only tables left were 2 seaters. We were willing to squeeze in, but they fixed that, he pushed tables together and made it work for our party of 4. They had live music play, they had people visiting, and the environment was well done! </p><p>Their menu, add a little hillbilly word to a New York City Menu and that’s it! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SpoonSpout" target="_blank">Spoon & Spout</a> is what they called the kitchen serving us, they have sections that do special menus, almost like a <a href="https://www.walldrug.com/" target="_blank">Wall Drug Store</a> but with restaurants. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUthAbpr4rNYkl3jq0An57wzL6b8R-sseozZo__AXIR3fOc-I52tVzW6jqUlXObekdhr2Gti5oWTRlbPNJwqtg1_CwDcRddOkvVvUedto2TteZ5lOOJ6QzDSGjRzhwPZzMXqVuzfrLfSFvXphuvus76qRqduZBLpgV9_qWLrpfNTH8HkpLXqZs6XV/s4000/EA1E885B-D1E7-40BE-9E37-4E1C96A59100.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUthAbpr4rNYkl3jq0An57wzL6b8R-sseozZo__AXIR3fOc-I52tVzW6jqUlXObekdhr2Gti5oWTRlbPNJwqtg1_CwDcRddOkvVvUedto2TteZ5lOOJ6QzDSGjRzhwPZzMXqVuzfrLfSFvXphuvus76qRqduZBLpgV9_qWLrpfNTH8HkpLXqZs6XV/s320/EA1E885B-D1E7-40BE-9E37-4E1C96A59100.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Appetizer: Goat Tags, usually cut potatoes, smothered with all the things that make them good! This was the perfect appetizer for all four of us to share! The price? Comparable to the big chain restaurants that buy in bulk. Win Win Goat Tags for Dinner! </p><p>Not just Goat Tags, the waitress presented their menu and my jaw dropped. How in the world do they afford to serve this kind of food in this kind of building for this kind of price! You will NOT go bankrupt eating there! I mean you could, but not likely! </p><p>I chose their advertised Mediterranean Stuffed Pork Tenderloin - the tenderloin is stuffed, then topped with a balsamic glaze. It is served with Gouda mashed potatoes and a side salad. Okay the Gouda mashed potatoes are not served, they are presented! Like for kings and queens, carefully placed on your plate in a beautiful design. The flavor of all was absolutely “I am not in Missouri anymore standards.” Ding Ding, Stuffed Pork Tenderloin for dinner! </p><p>Trey decided to try the Pork Ribeye - the pork ribeye is topped with an apple cider reduction glaze and a pineapple, with a side is a warm potato salad. I snuck a taste! Again, “I am not in Missouri anymore standards.” I see people driving from Texas to eat this food! It is that good! </p><p>Dessert? <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CustardCoop" target="_blank"> The Custard Coop</a> is their opening soon frozen custard shop, but until then they have dessert handled. I ordered a warm blackberry cobbler, it was as good as Grandma made it. I ordered a chocolate peanut butter parfait thing for Trey (yes, I decided for him) and it was amazing! The best I have ever had! The presentation was beautiful as well! Again, “I am not in Missouri anymore standards.”</p><p>After dinner we took a peek around their gift shop and the downstairs dining room. I may have also taken a seat on their vintage furniture after all, I am an antique expert, sorta. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IdW4ThR2ri30skRu-QL1wkWXOydzTXhHqqE68gX3z9qdpxlg5coHCbJMzaypVV13qzBRl_PeBgMNBr8t0ZJq0S5qfdIcjUIHSjiSE8TxX5Yfk0GcOdbu7OEb7i6JiIOyWxCrUdd1LBsWQaBPVqOOaKUDoM_1A0XNSHkDMruIZcvZA1TxPloIiftn/s4032/9C670C08-A6FE-4D81-B4D5-BEDFB34A6661.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IdW4ThR2ri30skRu-QL1wkWXOydzTXhHqqE68gX3z9qdpxlg5coHCbJMzaypVV13qzBRl_PeBgMNBr8t0ZJq0S5qfdIcjUIHSjiSE8TxX5Yfk0GcOdbu7OEb7i6JiIOyWxCrUdd1LBsWQaBPVqOOaKUDoM_1A0XNSHkDMruIZcvZA1TxPloIiftn/s320/9C670C08-A6FE-4D81-B4D5-BEDFB34A6661.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I do highly recommend taking a trip to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMidwayPuxico" target="_blank">The Midway.</a> Make it a weekend trip to Southeast Missouri. </p><p>Close by to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMidwayPuxico" target="_blank">The Midway:</a> <a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2014/08/mingo-wildlife-refuges-visitor-center.html" target="_blank">Mingo National Wildlife Refuge,</a> <a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2014/02/wildlife-at-duck-creek-conservation.html" target="_blank">Duck Creek Conservation Area</a>, Yoder’s Garden’s Shop, Lake Wappapello State Park, or follow the <a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/search/label/Rural%20Southeast%20Missouri%20Antique%20%26%20Treasure%20Trail" target="_blank">Rural Southeast Missouri Treasure Trails.</a> </p><p>Disclosure: I was not paid or compensated for my review. When I arrived at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMidwayPuxico" target="_blank">The Midway,</a> they did not know who I was. It was not until after I left and I posted about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMidwayPuxico" target="_blank">The Midway </a>that my identity was known. I prefer to eat and visit places that do not know me; that way I get authentic service and see how they really treat people. </p><p>More Photos from our visit to The Midway Available Here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100057663506972/posts/pfbid022yQ8kmFmSo4bjiC7UcAZEacamYs1FcpPwdh9AEJH59iVQNNy1tsfe8EWgju2Svysl/?mibextid=cr9u03">https://www.facebook.com/100057663506972/posts/pfbid022yQ8kmFmSo4bjiC7UcAZEacamYs1FcpPwdh9AEJH59iVQNNy1tsfe8EWgju2Svysl/?mibextid=cr9u03</a></p><div><br /></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0Puxico, MO 63960, USA36.9497746 -90.1584349.39808088649859 -125.314684 64.5014683135014 -55.002184tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-17306081696615145132023-06-10T05:05:00.007-07:002023-06-11T06:49:35.854-07:00What will it cost? Actions of hate, bitterness, destruction?<p><i> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 23px;">If you are serious about getting a focused life, you need to ask three questions: 1) What will it cost? 2) What am I willing to give? 3) Is it worth it?</span></i></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <i>The greatest use of your life is to invest it in something that will outlast it. Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36 NIV) Don't begin working toward your goals until you've counted the cost. </i></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This was my Bible Study this morning, but fit my life and the trials that I have been thrown. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There is a lot of cost to the actions people take and words they say. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Your temporary emotion of anger, hate, bitterness, jealousy, envy, or lust can sink a ship that you believe is unsinkable. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Written words do not go away. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We have screenshots these days! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TyboCjoxA0DeNh6D8AoJD1aQMeomQ01WGMLz9MJYAh8-Enp0eGmo6m8_OJ2Nib9ZgHfVNRuusCBh1fassH1cyIdwO3az2AhVGNOLOU2R41GTww7LMKnc2gjeU9ubRfPXScG-Jx8b1FTPH6Y7YQpwW7ynZatZhtM2P0M0TYVeH2__KS5PRMZ5Jdu6/s270/DBAE8BDC-AD5F-4E41-A413-3068E50DD4EE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TyboCjoxA0DeNh6D8AoJD1aQMeomQ01WGMLz9MJYAh8-Enp0eGmo6m8_OJ2Nib9ZgHfVNRuusCBh1fassH1cyIdwO3az2AhVGNOLOU2R41GTww7LMKnc2gjeU9ubRfPXScG-Jx8b1FTPH6Y7YQpwW7ynZatZhtM2P0M0TYVeH2__KS5PRMZ5Jdu6/s1600/DBAE8BDC-AD5F-4E41-A413-3068E50DD4EE.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Currently there is a woman on social media that refers to me as “the mayor’s wife” as if I am nameless and unknown to her.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That woman is my eldest sister. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She is very angry with me because over the past few years I did not allow her opinions or beliefs dictate my life, my family, and sometimes my community. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I stood firm for what is right and good. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">After outburst of anger and her partnering with lies, I blocked her from seeing my Facebook. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The one time she did text me to tell me what to do in regards to caring for my Dad - I refused to answer her. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I didn’t need instructions and could talk directly to my Dad about his needs. My Dad is the expert at being my Dad and what he needs. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">My sister is blinded by anger. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She has wrote torrid tales about the “Mayor’s Wife” and how the “Mayor’s Wife” has done things. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yet, she don’t really know what I have done or said other than the screenshots from people who feed her anger. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">While I mostly ignore her rants and dictation of what she believes is right; I feel sorry for her. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is not a new concept, read the book of Genesis and how many families and friends were torn apart and how far people would go out of anger. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Cain murdered his brother Abel over jealousy. (</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody;">Genesis 4:1–18</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, they were jealous.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Genesis 37:18-36)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am not concerned about being murdered or being sold into slavery; God’s will be done. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">My concern is what if I am the only match for a kidney transplant for her? And my family is left to make the decision? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Would their hearts forgive her for the awful things she posted and screenshot and ranted? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would they forgive her for the fact that we no longer have family dinners with my parents and it has become a great competition over who takes my Dad to the doctor - because one can’t let the other shine brighter? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although I typically sit out on the competition, it’s just too exhausting. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Would they forgive her for the turmoil in my community that she added to? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">While I have no doubts they have good hearts; I also know that to find current peace she is blocked by them on every outlet of social media and they refuse to read her text message. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So if the call comes it may never be received. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is sad for me. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Even sadder is, my sister (and many others) are highly intelligent people that could do so much more good than bad, but instead they spent their last 3 days looking for bad, spreading bad, and being furious about what they thought happened - but really didn’t. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They could have spent the last 3 days getting real answers (like I did and have the facts in my email) and bring truth and peace to our community. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I don’t blame my sister, while she is the one did the act; there is a greater power working behind the scenes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A power who wants destruction and no one to have peace. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That power is Satan. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I pray my sister and others find focus and see the cost of their actions. I pray that they see spreading hate, fueling fires, and living for destruction is not healthy or good - it will in the end destroy them. </span></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-48204497815636058692023-06-09T07:25:00.002-07:002023-07-09T08:22:19.796-07:00Restaurant Reviews by The Missouri Mom <p> I was recently asked why I rarely review a restaurant in my own town. I really do want my town to be the most successful it can be, but there is authenticity to my reviews and a level of biasness I hold for my community. It is hard to give a non-bias review to people you know. </p><p>Here are my rules to restaurant reviews: </p><p>I rarely announce I am coming. I like to catch the wait staff, owners, and chef by surprise. I don't tell them who I am, but once I leave, I check in at their establishment and share an instant review. Then I follow up with a full review and send it to the place as I am posting it on my own social media. They have no way of changing my review or asking for favors. </p><p>I rarely take compensated meals. I occasionally work with tourism offices and accept gift cards that are good at any restaurant and once in a while a restaurant like <a href="https://madisonscafe.com/" target="_blank">Madison's Cafe in Jefferson City</a> did before will recognize me or invite me back for a visit and I will accept it. I do love the calamari at Madison's Cafe. </p><p>My reviews are not professionally written and pitched to magazines. Occasionally, the review will run in our local paper as my column, but I am not doing this for money, I do it for fun. and I love to support small businesses. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp2PYL9GkoUuGqmSB4BAjFwNNirVG3D4KU6hEPVi2J5jc5zvUmFeI3U2foWa4hdZkf0PeNZwBx4EWGInpCN1WXeuY3IdmfwMFd3X5xOL6sPr6Ixvn8q47upvga9ZG3BuVQlvfAI8ycfk07UWkGISd9KLS6v4zLgAgTb4WZh3NTcioPFTQdz44Wzb5dPw/s4032/58E88229-2DA9-4582-B34C-69CD22A7A76A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp2PYL9GkoUuGqmSB4BAjFwNNirVG3D4KU6hEPVi2J5jc5zvUmFeI3U2foWa4hdZkf0PeNZwBx4EWGInpCN1WXeuY3IdmfwMFd3X5xOL6sPr6Ixvn8q47upvga9ZG3BuVQlvfAI8ycfk07UWkGISd9KLS6v4zLgAgTb4WZh3NTcioPFTQdz44Wzb5dPw/w200-h150/58E88229-2DA9-4582-B34C-69CD22A7A76A.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">I do not do reviews for favors. Please do not send me your restaurant and ask me to come. I do take tips on good places to eat from locals or others in the area, but I will not accept a meal in return for a review. It is simply impossible to be authentic in that case. </span></div><p></p><p>If you have seen me at your restaurant and I have not written a review; I either had an okay experience with okay food or I simply was not in the mood to write. Don't take it personal. I will likely be back. </p><p>Please follow me on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themissourimom1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Missouri Mom</a> for more reviews! </p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-51019132121195363452023-04-07T19:00:00.001-07:002023-04-11T22:39:14.545-07:00Sunset after the Storm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Black River Electric Crews in Glen Allen, MO</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02Brj-Pw4vOU545LyH0IJdUUayB0MpCFJN4VvTaDcCnHPctQ9TR844I2MI2GGUKKyMlXx4rRHxYvKjrYIYkfHCkFuUsPY0IYMWV2aaIk0Yjw91CIKAwvsI49txtVh2Rm6riGpOwKC1EFjlGK02ehRaSMw0L1oTtoy2V_FfjEJ8geJmXH7mYOlQJ1F/s4032/D582EE36-2834-4A2E-9753-3AF044C06950.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02Brj-Pw4vOU545LyH0IJdUUayB0MpCFJN4VvTaDcCnHPctQ9TR844I2MI2GGUKKyMlXx4rRHxYvKjrYIYkfHCkFuUsPY0IYMWV2aaIk0Yjw91CIKAwvsI49txtVh2Rm6riGpOwKC1EFjlGK02ehRaSMw0L1oTtoy2V_FfjEJ8geJmXH7mYOlQJ1F/w320-h240/D582EE36-2834-4A2E-9753-3AF044C06950.jpeg" title="Black River Electric Cooperative Crews in Glen Allen, MO" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI3caWCUlg4B2MrixuS-VVchYoRvHas01r9iWbHwCOJopKY54IwGsDHab6MQQA93Mo4QHugHKokNo1sOiAdaN0hybrimdsmbJ2rzLBJT3I_3OosNRomBfKjRd_FDAW8bu2Ohl0Hw1qTptFP_LaLwZPqOZq0mqkKQGfMm7Pmaifl16GvnpXSqolknW/s4032/ED79B75D-5DAA-45A5-8460-938220DABFE5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI3caWCUlg4B2MrixuS-VVchYoRvHas01r9iWbHwCOJopKY54IwGsDHab6MQQA93Mo4QHugHKokNo1sOiAdaN0hybrimdsmbJ2rzLBJT3I_3OosNRomBfKjRd_FDAW8bu2Ohl0Hw1qTptFP_LaLwZPqOZq0mqkKQGfMm7Pmaifl16GvnpXSqolknW/s320/ED79B75D-5DAA-45A5-8460-938220DABFE5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-87196716234362565652023-03-29T18:34:00.002-07:002023-03-29T18:34:31.381-07:0060 Seconds or Less <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Did you know that the crew at McDonalds is expected to have your order ready and through the pickup line in 60 seconds? Sixty seconds. One minute. That is insane. Some of us cannot even walk across our living room in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0nxthcuBIXeL5shQtWaOshliSfpVLmdVKEsIEASxbCa9BWMTtpRZNkEFc-YPpCVHr1p9QQOy5byNgTsTtaQHyRAQH0GnlM68gOIJUITSSlbOyl7haFz_lChHvoJu205dF2udO4qKZ5h_10iKQVZv3MmrhSeS-YwqU2zmMajjgwDxYvCicYSdmhJ3/s2048/307977785_10166659684495094_6808541471186876331_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0nxthcuBIXeL5shQtWaOshliSfpVLmdVKEsIEASxbCa9BWMTtpRZNkEFc-YPpCVHr1p9QQOy5byNgTsTtaQHyRAQH0GnlM68gOIJUITSSlbOyl7haFz_lChHvoJu205dF2udO4qKZ5h_10iKQVZv3MmrhSeS-YwqU2zmMajjgwDxYvCicYSdmhJ3/s320/307977785_10166659684495094_6808541471186876331_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> sixty seconds. Me, I am some of us, because I will trip over things, but that is another story. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I pulled up at the drive thru window at McDonalds the other day and the girl was rushing to get my drink, take an order, make change. She must have been barely sixteen. Stress was all over her face. I sat there as she shuffled, giving me my drink, straw, and change. I smiled and told her to have a nice day, but the automatic window slammed shut. It was a sad scene from an unpersonable world. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I grew up there was a different dining joint that sat where McDonalds sat. The only thing that came in sixty seconds was the next tall tale, the smoke clung in the air for more than sixty seconds, and the grease on the wall was older than me. The food was as good as the now popular AJ’s (I do recommend AJ’s, tell Rob hello, and ask if he is working hard), the staff was sometimes as friendly as the late Jer (I miss Jer), and you could feed the whole family for less than a thin crust pizza from Harps. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now I am not downing McDonald’s; my own daughter learned customer service there or as we sometimes call it customer patience. Some of you might remember her or she remembers you - as you might have yelled and cussed her out when she asked you to pull forward or advised that the ice cream machine was down for a third time that week. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first time I saw her walk the other way in the grocery store away from a well-known and respected businessman, I questioned her. She said “Mom, that man is the most hateful man I know, he uses words I didn’t know existed over ice cream.” I chuckled, but was sad at the same time. What businessman cusses at a group of part-time teenage fast food workers making minimum wage that has 60 seconds to get your order ready? </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wonder if that man cussed out the workers at the 3-Way Cafe? I know he dined there a time or two, I sat at a table diagonal from him at least once.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then I wonder if he would behave that way at the grocery store, the bank, the doctor's office, or anywhere else that normally hires adults? Would he walk into my business and yell and scream at my employees? Most of them are other local business owner’s teenage kids working part time for me. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Is he the only one that doesn’t have it his way in 60 seconds has a toddler-like meltdown? I can answer that - NO, follow any local Facebook feed and you will see pages of rants on our local McDonalds, Dollar General, and the price of eggs at Harps. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">60 seconds or less to have our order right, must be $5 cheaper than Walmart even if it cost $10 in gas to get to Walmart, and must have 42 professionally trained people working for free to keep up with never ending stock trucks and lack of manpower. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are some real champions in our community. I don’t always know their names, because sometimes they hide their name badges - I would too. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At McDonald’s you will find 60 Second Match Winners; they take your order, work hard to get it right, and often take 3 more before you get to the window. They take your payment with people talking in their ear, and they make sure you have enough or little enough ice to make your day right! Cheers to you Marble Hill McDonalds! You are my People! </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At Dollar General; Patton, Marble Hill, and Arab the 900,000 Pallets of Freight Winners. Dollar General is the second largest retail store in our county - never a slow day of customers. They get Christmas merchandise in July and Easter at Thanksgiving. Their card machines are broken 90% percent of the time and this is a nationwide problem, go to any Dollar General anywhere. So yes, I once made a joke about their hours, but in truth, it’s not them, it’s corporate and our local people are working hard! Thank you for serving our county! </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Heart-Filled Harps Team! The sad truth is Harps bought Country Mart at a bad time - Covid 2020. The shortages, inflation, stock changes, remodels, supplier changes, no toilet paper, no beans, egg prices up, egg prices down, egg prices up, are they going down again? I have seen front row Christians say horrible things about one of the largest non-tax funded employers and their staff in our county. A business that hires and trains young men and women from stocker to management. A business that is one of our largest sales tax producers in the county - sales tax that supports our schools, road and bridge, and law enforcement. The Harps team works hard, they are knowledgeable, giving, and care about our community. There has never been a time that I have had to ask for extra supplies for our community gardens, because Harps covers it. They also cover free food giveaway, Senior breakfast, and many more activities. They love our community and still take a beating. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Corporations make a lot of decisions for big local businesses, but the people who work there are still our people. They still matter. They are still part of our community. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So the next time the ice cream machine is down at McDonald’s remember that might be a future customer of yours, sir. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mam’ the next time you don’t have it your way, remember that Facebook post might be read by your former customer, as they might not be your customer anymore. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Take those 60 seconds, Give Grace. </div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-27421024560519533272023-03-15T19:12:00.002-07:002023-06-11T19:21:36.659-07:00Not a Lumberjack <p>April 3, 2013, just after moving home (with my kids), my Dad had me </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQiJ4wMSnSs6mTLwlmPoImQwrf6vQuPPxHPbo8QAetCt4YMoEBMWEPSC0dCFW6BhH3AGJmbzXj_lCMgiPZWl9IxcLpk5cRc-5Wr8HB2Vy6d7XByQV2kcfdVisweVekNgEIOFLz6PP5sMy4FH_lN-7bSTDTfwUZof1k3WM8Ex6dNdzOdwhfnsA6vji/s1151/FFA6A1DA-DFEC-41EC-8274-2BDC10567AC1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1151" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQiJ4wMSnSs6mTLwlmPoImQwrf6vQuPPxHPbo8QAetCt4YMoEBMWEPSC0dCFW6BhH3AGJmbzXj_lCMgiPZWl9IxcLpk5cRc-5Wr8HB2Vy6d7XByQV2kcfdVisweVekNgEIOFLz6PP5sMy4FH_lN-7bSTDTfwUZof1k3WM8Ex6dNdzOdwhfnsA6vji/w200-h199/FFA6A1DA-DFEC-41EC-8274-2BDC10567AC1.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />follow him across the farm to where a tree had been cut down. <p></p><p>When we arrived he handed me sledgehammer and a wedge; then told me to “learn how strong you really are.”</p><p>After I split the log up he said “document this, so you never forget how strong you are and where you get that strength from.”</p><p>Every hard day, I try to remember that day and the lessons I learned: </p><p>* Carry the biggest hammer you can swing. </p><p>* Your arms will wear out, but your heart will keep you going. </p><p>* My Dad is my Cheerleader no matter what. </p><p>* I am not a lumberjack.</p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-16770447765610984462023-02-26T17:25:00.007-08:002023-06-22T21:43:23.508-07:00Rural Southeast Missouri Antiques & Treasures Trail: Jackson, MO to Piedmont, MO <div style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: "Gamine ";"><span style="font-size: large;">Rural Southeast Missouri </span></span><span style="font-family: "Gamine "; font-size: x-large;">Antiques & Treasures Trail<br /></span><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: "Gamine ";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jackson, Missouri to Piedmont, Missouri<br /> </span></span><span data-font-id="undefined" style="color: black; font-family: "Gamine "; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">67-mile scenic drive filled with treasures and unique stops.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="color: black; font-family: "Gamine "; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-4452c24a-7fff-0d0e-84ae-8bee2f139a32"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">The Old Pioneer Market: 2370 N High St, </span><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">Jackson, Missouri 63755</span></span></p></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heartland Harvest Market & Antiques: 3277 State Highway 72, Jackson, Missouri 63755</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Knowlan Family Farm: 3243 State Highway 34, Burfordville, MO 63739</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ava Craft Center 2.0 SEMO: 134 State Highway U, Burfordville, MO 63739</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bollinger County Coop: 200 State Highway 34 W, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Rusted Vault: 107 High Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset Floral & Garden Market: 115 State Highway 51 North, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">Mercantile At The Commons: </span><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">309 Presnell, </span><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Serenity House Floral & More: 214 Conrad Ave, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Second Time Around: 114 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First Street Market: 206 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Old Lutesville Emporium: 203 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Unique Treasures: 112B First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bill Peters Hardware: 313 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twin City Pharmacy: 106 North First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Personal Touch: : 205 St Hwy 34W, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mason Jar at Mesta Meadows: 12005 State Highway 34, Glen Allen, MO 63751</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grassy General Store: 4834 State Hwy 34, Glen Allen, MO 63751</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Northtown Thrift Store: 154 N Front Street, Greenville, MO 63944</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frankie Mart: 250 E Maple St, Greenville, MO. 63944</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Richard’s Supermarket: 110 Main St., Greenville, MO 63944</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trail's End Coffee and Cafe: 101 Main Street, Greenville, MO </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soul Threads: 95 State Hwy 143, Patterson, MO 63956</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Angie’s Stop n Shop: 106 N Main St, Piedmont, MO 63957</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Johnson's Farm and Pet: 13303 State Highway 34 Piedmont, MO 63957</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Piedmont Florist: 227 N Main St, Piedmont, MO, 63957 </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick's Pawn: 115 N Main, Piedmont, MO, 63957</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Nature Cottage: 302 Legion Park RD, Piedmont, MO 63957</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t2UKom237kiWt6b7U5t-PZsuodJhgq3jUGuBdNDwttU6Ar9Hcm-X-bBQE05Rn13MrWyfCqfYr71cXh39-fxf00Xh-uiVuPfhTeyIk0jdI6XtCnpwxwovE2-Lz_m6KdGgA7aq2wIbRC8nyEDo4MjpijjHIfY7Tbd5OAskI4uAyOl2wrUanhSIk9X78XM/s3300/Rural%20Southeast%20Missouri%20%20Antiques%20&%20Treasures%20Trail%20%20copy%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t2UKom237kiWt6b7U5t-PZsuodJhgq3jUGuBdNDwttU6Ar9Hcm-X-bBQE05Rn13MrWyfCqfYr71cXh39-fxf00Xh-uiVuPfhTeyIk0jdI6XtCnpwxwovE2-Lz_m6KdGgA7aq2wIbRC8nyEDo4MjpijjHIfY7Tbd5OAskI4uAyOl2wrUanhSIk9X78XM/s320/Rural%20Southeast%20Missouri%20%20Antiques%20&%20Treasures%20Trail%20%20copy%20(9).jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-88583581729213336522023-01-20T04:47:00.002-08:002023-01-21T20:20:36.378-08:00Born a Female, Made a Feminist <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday over lunch I told my family “I am a feminist” and they laughed at me. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-aed1aab9-7fff-8890-8198-5dd9f16db8e3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I sat there, I remembered we have forgotten what a true feminist is. It’s not someone fighting for entitlement; it is someone fighting for equality. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was not born a feminist; I was born a female. As I got older, I realized there was “man’s work” and there was “women’s work” in some folk’s eyes. I did both. I mostly didn’t have time to wait on a man or there wasn’t a man around to do the work. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2jJFweIbIPJZ3adfl9A__VYLP3gHzjn6O-_C3J0-VrAyr1pNvw1UJNYRGF6fDDxfF7QoRzzC8D_Q6MBjjqofS_VZTZUtb3MeVwy9kWluj4N4PMjB5lbfgpXPEhGcWgr7b7H9FLOZIA0sGLGcOPFZQ0FjgVMKakNeEZ0IsobZuwAhEXXf4iTZMYnr/s960/mans%20work.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2jJFweIbIPJZ3adfl9A__VYLP3gHzjn6O-_C3J0-VrAyr1pNvw1UJNYRGF6fDDxfF7QoRzzC8D_Q6MBjjqofS_VZTZUtb3MeVwy9kWluj4N4PMjB5lbfgpXPEhGcWgr7b7H9FLOZIA0sGLGcOPFZQ0FjgVMKakNeEZ0IsobZuwAhEXXf4iTZMYnr/s320/mans%20work.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was a young adult, I realized that some folks expected me to do “man’s work” for a “woman’s pay” even though “woman’s pay" really didn’t exist in any employee handbook. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once by accident a new co-worker slipped up and told me his hourly wage amount. He was making $2 more an hour for doing the same job as me. When I questioned the supervisor, they claimed the man had “more experience” than me. Okay, he was older, and he was male, but he had never worked in the field we worked in, and I had to help him do everything. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of owning up to the fact that I was getting paid less than a newer less experienced employee, I got called to the office and questioned about knowing another employee’s hourly wage. I laughed and said, “oh you mean because of his little notebook he has that he shows everyone how much he grossed every week.” I was verbally reprimanded but pushed back with “why am I paid less than a newly hired man with no experience” ….</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They quickly realized I was not going away, and I would be treated the same as my male co-workers. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On that day I got a raise, and I became a feminist. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All people are equal. Pay is based on experience and skills; not gender, not race, not body type, not religion. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CW66zrS3_HuqPp0X7wYTH4bmfj44G3UnypW7ZvjHY7h5K_ws0hAqileQXcRRDYMJHGlrI6-OE32bI2XDNWNJrb4GW20_yASEKBPSBPEj-HbwawijVnPLmYkPfQoRe5_TTkNDsrjs36Ua9shwcei8WnKjkaZVVTxmWjidwkuVyazq0TqIGZkBfSVi/s2048/becky%20kids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CW66zrS3_HuqPp0X7wYTH4bmfj44G3UnypW7ZvjHY7h5K_ws0hAqileQXcRRDYMJHGlrI6-OE32bI2XDNWNJrb4GW20_yASEKBPSBPEj-HbwawijVnPLmYkPfQoRe5_TTkNDsrjs36Ua9shwcei8WnKjkaZVVTxmWjidwkuVyazq0TqIGZkBfSVi/s320/becky%20kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-43718213749990600912023-01-19T20:52:00.004-08:002023-01-21T20:21:38.346-08:00Responsible for Sunflowers?<p>Today, an elderly couple walked i<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OldLutesvilleEmporium" target="_blank">nto our shop, </a>and we started chatting about what was here and what is here now in our little town. So many things have changed over the years. The Dime Store, Wallis Family Store, Ricketts Boot Store, Chandler Drug Store, Barkers Furniture Store, ect.. Names of the past, but not forgotten. We established kinship. Who she knew that I was related to and who I knew that she was related to. This is normal in a small business. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd29e1NPXPp_DBQt1dwQCH7kf_xyb5nrcvJHlviTBQTAs9Yn2WmJCFqKnlwwIIsXpGxGWgwmFbBTGctHuKGcLVFSlbLS9EejPXjGTQB8x-xM5ckRZa4yhcIT_0Z1-TI_vKiHhMEVd8j7jukuFns88Q5BDvJ-qn3-hXpzSWx2QN9-9F9k1ks7YWZHH/s900/3%20x%203%20in%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd29e1NPXPp_DBQt1dwQCH7kf_xyb5nrcvJHlviTBQTAs9Yn2WmJCFqKnlwwIIsXpGxGWgwmFbBTGctHuKGcLVFSlbLS9EejPXjGTQB8x-xM5ckRZa4yhcIT_0Z1-TI_vKiHhMEVd8j7jukuFns88Q5BDvJ-qn3-hXpzSWx2QN9-9F9k1ks7YWZHH/w320-h202/3%20x%203%20in%20(6).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>As our conversation continued, she looked straight at me and said, “are you the lady responsible” and I stopped her, I said, “mam, I am not responsible.” She laughed and said, “I am not here to complain, I was going to say the sunflowers during the summer.” <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacvnNT6009rWAqD5vLE5mGKNNFlhY8dEr-g8LNYBMkTXj1QSjPSey6l7lNcZPt-yZDH7N0HYgW6n0HxQF85TnurPotYgrDERf-t-9Jy_4XFH-nWNEroJw7s81ScciwJlhzOW1raauFSfA3_OYAtxnUMYa6f8uSr0G4Hvmc9HaKh0HPqhK79evPqXl/s960/sunflowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacvnNT6009rWAqD5vLE5mGKNNFlhY8dEr-g8LNYBMkTXj1QSjPSey6l7lNcZPt-yZDH7N0HYgW6n0HxQF85TnurPotYgrDERf-t-9Jy_4XFH-nWNEroJw7s81ScciwJlhzOW1raauFSfA3_OYAtxnUMYa6f8uSr0G4Hvmc9HaKh0HPqhK79evPqXl/s320/sunflowers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I sighed a huge relief; she loved the sunflowers. They brought her joy. Her husband quickly chimed in and told me he is “forced” to drive by them daily while they are in bloom. </p><p>Being responsible is a hard thing. When you are responsible you usually carry a heavier load. You are the one that feels the force of what everyone is feeling - good or bad. People feel you can deal better, handle more, and take their load with your load. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I personally hate being responsible. I often dream of less responsible days. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Days when I danced in the streets. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmh2LaFQrTdXrhGgYV9lYNx4zN9KFOfU163xDKNKi4f3H7-Sj0iAarje8AOWQcJUXEUu8-E7Q-L631FwdYXkNWNmvzgqpzFO3azKsD_RBLqOY0OWnFgNQGBN1g9DouZX1hNWNZkmc61jLZXONACtOydHQ_DJXvEkDr25ThkwLgftaKceg0WAlYPIJ/s673/memphis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmh2LaFQrTdXrhGgYV9lYNx4zN9KFOfU163xDKNKi4f3H7-Sj0iAarje8AOWQcJUXEUu8-E7Q-L631FwdYXkNWNmvzgqpzFO3azKsD_RBLqOY0OWnFgNQGBN1g9DouZX1hNWNZkmc61jLZXONACtOydHQ_DJXvEkDr25ThkwLgftaKceg0WAlYPIJ/s320/memphis.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Days when I ran in the rain. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRFMRBkYiYoJkz-l183GBf-vOEHbSXhc9m4JWtRgIQtBK6cnAyHqmyzqEfhtAM61Qgl6wIfGU8qLujpQGixkTS90Gbt0JE0szwOInfsqhJukva8Y9WR2ZbR-qLkt_Y9MRa7EW3DtFHYHEfmDUoBDF7y88mV7Mtm1YJJWSRmo5gnPijiitOLEI7gp8/s960/run%20in%20rain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRFMRBkYiYoJkz-l183GBf-vOEHbSXhc9m4JWtRgIQtBK6cnAyHqmyzqEfhtAM61Qgl6wIfGU8qLujpQGixkTS90Gbt0JE0szwOInfsqhJukva8Y9WR2ZbR-qLkt_Y9MRa7EW3DtFHYHEfmDUoBDF7y88mV7Mtm1YJJWSRmo5gnPijiitOLEI7gp8/s320/run%20in%20rain.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Days when I was carefree. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqRChC4a2ont5sy2jR3zOqyfHRT9cz4XwJEzv_gmnYqlYKIAV4Izu1Dv2umiudaFepfubFTpCVOCo1ccivRC0t8Ywgts8Cn-kwhUQps8lg6ua-IBGyQSCpq2fkpccydJhM2a71IKgdwOHgkNNROEOCi3K70rDO5CiRGUuykr1XTKU08SMKHvlX3pC/s2048/carefree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqRChC4a2ont5sy2jR3zOqyfHRT9cz4XwJEzv_gmnYqlYKIAV4Izu1Dv2umiudaFepfubFTpCVOCo1ccivRC0t8Ywgts8Cn-kwhUQps8lg6ua-IBGyQSCpq2fkpccydJhM2a71IKgdwOHgkNNROEOCi3K70rDO5CiRGUuykr1XTKU08SMKHvlX3pC/s320/carefree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">But then who would be responsible for the sunflowers? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvg_veHOXTwn80RXyV2t740iYhsvUduIqPqDlLpawxG__GiGeSXUGoHElS_250aYyjJM6qLzmGVmtBuQ7L7D3wQQodjz7SzaKbraCeGZLvZ5dZ_AZZuF6kQ5M4ENQZCAhReStWt_Dx-0L1TEr4FI4WTcVtsnG63R08mVmKnciXV9iIN0Ra2kpC7AMG/s2048/sunflower%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvg_veHOXTwn80RXyV2t740iYhsvUduIqPqDlLpawxG__GiGeSXUGoHElS_250aYyjJM6qLzmGVmtBuQ7L7D3wQQodjz7SzaKbraCeGZLvZ5dZ_AZZuF6kQ5M4ENQZCAhReStWt_Dx-0L1TEr4FI4WTcVtsnG63R08mVmKnciXV9iIN0Ra2kpC7AMG/s320/sunflower%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><br /></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-7334519827913091762023-01-04T06:02:00.009-08:002023-01-21T20:22:02.352-08:00Rural Economics - Bollinger County, Missouri <p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I am writing this, I am sitting on the banks of the Gulf of Mexico listening to the waves beat against the sand. The clouds are dense, the fog is heavy, the locals are wrapped in warm layers as the temperatures have not climbed out of the fifties yet. I keep replaying in my head that my son, my money wise son, was swindled out of $60 yesterday at the local Coach Outlet - it was a wallet that he could not pass up, or it was a saleswoman who told him that men should carry the best. Either way, that was an entire day of wages for him at the Rhodes Farm. He stacked wood, moved tree limbs, and fed cows for the money - all of those things I doubt the saleswoman had ever done or heard of. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are tiny little consumers in a big world of money. These thoughts play over and over in my head. Where does the money go? How do we spend so much? Where are we spending our money? Money Matters. Money Talks. Money makes the world go around. </span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently read and heard about the talk of a new sales tax coming to town. My heart sank. As a multi-business owner, I already know how hard I work to get people to walk through my doors. Hours are spent marketing, posting, begging, pleading, resetting, unpacking, and marketing again to get people to recognize our community is the place to shop. My main marketing tool - things cost less here. Yes, things overall cost less here, unless we are talking about eggs and they are just ridiculous everywhere you go - where I am today, I paid $8 for a dozen eggs. Salt water must reduce production. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little over a year ago I wrote the same sort of column about sales tax, I suspect next year I will write again, but nonetheless the facts do not change. A half cent of nothing is still nothing. No marketing, no advertising, no anything can change that. We cannot tax ourselves out of business. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks back, Bill Peters gave an excellent interview regarding the fact that businesses cannot survive without the local support. He nailed it, we need our locals, and we need our tourists. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are not fighting just the big box stores; we are fighting the mobility of others, we are fighting the trends, we are fighting the one click from our phone shopping. We are fighting to keep our tiny piece of the great big consumerism pie. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of spending time thinking about how we can tax the people who shop, work, and invest here. Maybe we should spend our time researching how we can increase the size of that pie and reduce the number of people that leave our community to shop, work, and live. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are we missing? Where are they going? Who is gobbling up our tax dollars to benefit their community? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just days ago, I received a message from an entrepreneur looking to invest in our community. They pitched me their idea. It sounded very similar to four other companies already in business in our community. I knew I had to answer carefully as my words could be smeared by the local nay-sayers. My first word of advice was, have you done a market analysis of our community? Do you need help doing that? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">No one is doing a market analysis of our community. At least not anymore. I did one a few years ago before I opened First Street Market. I used the same one to compare and consider for Old Lutesville Emporium. I researched what we have and what we don’t have in our community. I filled what holes that I could easily fill on a $10,000 budget and a $3,000 budget. Yes, both businesses were started for less than $13,000 and in both buildings, we did some sort of remodeling and work to make it fit our needs. Thank you to my landlord for thinking outside of the box and helping my small businesses get started. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what are we missing? What are people leaving our community to do, buy, and use? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I vaguely remember my Grandma Cora taking me to the eye doctor with her, vaguely, because I can’t remember where that eye doctor was located. I barely remember my parents buying me a pair of school shoes here in town. Barely, because I was so young and that was more than 30 years ago. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When was the last time you sat down to a nice steak dinner in our local community? I mean T-Bone Steak, Baked Potato, and a good glass of wine. Yes, I went there. We drive by hundreds of farms. We live in an agricultural driven county, but you can’t buy a locally grown steak at a restaurant anywhere near here. </span></span></div></div><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 23px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 23px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71MCDBqtadHOf6_TLAThk0fHLMQW32vS2paBEGOJP9ZlJsnu1MF2wup40nSJY_OEF-akfYNx36RdlHLm_GkultCRLbonRSH5sdp05b83lAXJ9zx2rpAtSbTyIhepySoLOVwUfhAVMLat6W-AFuZ-NMcPQmiRoEZimawhorEla3owQIHj2gkL5eukB/s4032/535EF8BB-98A5-4BC0-987B-A3B8161E58E8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71MCDBqtadHOf6_TLAThk0fHLMQW32vS2paBEGOJP9ZlJsnu1MF2wup40nSJY_OEF-akfYNx36RdlHLm_GkultCRLbonRSH5sdp05b83lAXJ9zx2rpAtSbTyIhepySoLOVwUfhAVMLat6W-AFuZ-NMcPQmiRoEZimawhorEla3owQIHj2gkL5eukB/s320/535EF8BB-98A5-4BC0-987B-A3B8161E58E8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 23px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On my last market analysis, I remember dozens of folks commented we need a small donut shop. Donuts, yes Harps sells them, they are very good. However, there is an attraction of going to the donut shop, sipping coffee, and watching your grandkids feast on a donut as large as their head. Ever heard of Hurts Donut? Research it! The Maple Bacon is to die for.
Within walking distance of the condo, I am staying at there are dozens of mom n pop shops. Dozens. I ran to the Winn-Dixie last night as the pharmacy was closed to grab some medicine for my son. The Winn-Dixie was slow. The mom n pop shops were overrun with visitors. Why? Nostalgic? Unique? Different?
Every Dollar General (by the way I am a huge fan of Dollar General) has yellow and black signs. It is their signature. Every Dollar General I have been into in the past 5 years has boxes and carts parked everywhere, a sign for Now Hiring, and a broken checkout. It seems to also be their signature. I love Dollar General because they provide the things we can’t get elsewhere, and they provide jobs for our people. However, I don’t feel we need more Dollar Generals, we need more Mom n Pop Shops.
We need to fill the holes we have in our community and work to make our place so attractive to visitors that are burning up the roads to get here and keep those that live here shopping here.
Don’t think this is possible? Research the community Caledonia, Missouri - population 131. I read recently during one event they strategically planned they drew over 20,000 people to their community. The shops, restaurants, and lodging were overrun with people wanting to see what this nostalgic little community had to offer. This has become a norm for the small community. There is not a day that the ice cream shop has not been busy. In Caledonia you can watch quilts being made, buy shoes, clothes, eat fried chicken family style, buy antiques, and stay for a week. They filled the empty holes.
Their roads aren’t worse or better than ours. They do not have brand new sidewalks. I am not even sure all the buildings are air conditioned, and some might be heated by wood. They made it work.
We can make it work. We can revive our community without additional taxes and cost to those that live and invest here.
</span><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a rural community economic development does not look like the next Nissan plant being built in the cow pasture. It is the hairdresser being booked up, the pharmacy having a line, and the hardware store staying open late because of the demand.
</span><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This is a copy my column from The Banner Press, please support our local paper. </i></div></span></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-1134287806513241242022-12-30T15:17:00.002-08:002023-06-22T21:32:10.021-07:00Rural Southeast Missouri Antique & Treasure Trail - Jackson, Missouri to Dexter, Missouri <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Vidaloka; text-align: center;">Rural Southeast Missouri Antiques & Treasures Trail <br /></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Vidaloka; font-size: large;">Jackson, Missouri to Dexter, Missouri <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: medium;">58 Miles of Treasures & Finds</span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Old Pioneer Market: 2370 N High St Jackson MO</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://heartlandharvestmarket.com/contact/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heartland Harvest Market & Antiques: 3277 State Highway 72, Jackson, Missouri 63755</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Knowlan Family Farm: 3243 State Highway 34, Burfordville, MO 63739</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://avacraftcenter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ava Craft Center 2.0 SEMO: 134 State Highway U, Burfordville, MO 63739</a> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Rusted Vault: 107 High Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.sunsetfloralgarden.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunset Floral & Garden Market: 115 State Highway 51 North, Marble Hill, MO 63764</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Serenity House Floral & More: 214 Conrad Ave, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Second Time Around: 114 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FirstStreetMarketMHMO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">First Street Market: 206 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OldLutesvilleEmporium" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">Old Lutesville Emporium: 203 </span><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;">First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Unique Treasures: 112B First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bill Peters Hardware: 313 First Street, Marble Hill, MO 63764</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Leopold Country Store: 201 W Main St, Leopold, MO 63760 </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arab Station: 3725 State Highway 51, Zalma</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Vidaloka;">MK T's: 105-C North Oak, Advance MO 63730</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2023/06/TheMidwayPuxico.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Midway: 260 E. Richardson, Puxico</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Vidaloka;">Yoder Garden Shop and Deli: 22864 State Highway 25, Bloomfield, MO 63825 </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stars and Stripes Museum 17377 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloomfield, MO 63825 </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Country Pickins’ Flea Market - Bloomfield: 801 MO-25, Bloomfield, MO 63825</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trinkets & Treasures: 10 E Stoddard St, Dexter, MO 63841 </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"></span></span></p><p><span data-font-id="undefined" style="font-family: Vidaloka;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Old Timers Antique Mall: 16655 N Outer Rd, Dexter, MO 63841 </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MxmCjPNsxU47fazh3DPBzaLt8SJwaFZhr0mkSzdVYV2_XIGlJ4c-95Qusc4U6JsrIIbk5AXr2xSFcxgBbcUvTnnfrzC_ytSxvbEBdU09t40rBaXNLY8sY7sOMaRuKwSCQQnDSr7QEoSOauEsgyIWROXahcbrwkcxZPyqC0sFN7Y0h7KzlQalMpeFaMw/s3300/Jackson%20to%20Dexter%20Trail%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MxmCjPNsxU47fazh3DPBzaLt8SJwaFZhr0mkSzdVYV2_XIGlJ4c-95Qusc4U6JsrIIbk5AXr2xSFcxgBbcUvTnnfrzC_ytSxvbEBdU09t40rBaXNLY8sY7sOMaRuKwSCQQnDSr7QEoSOauEsgyIWROXahcbrwkcxZPyqC0sFN7Y0h7KzlQalMpeFaMw/w309-h400/Jackson%20to%20Dexter%20Trail%20(7).jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-1954013123842112312022-12-06T04:56:00.006-08:002023-01-21T20:22:37.615-08:00It’s Just Me <p>Hi it’s just me. I feel like it is has been ages since I actually used this silly little blog I built. That was what I use to refer to it as. When I was secretly proud of The Missouri Mom, but thought I annoyed people. </p><p>Lately inside of me there has been a war, a war for writing, a war for overcoming, and a war for why I even care what people think about me. </p><p>I didn’t build The Missouri Mom for attention. I built it to share my experiences as a mom, a woman, and a person, in hopes to help others navigate similar obstacles I faced. </p><p>A lot has changed since my first post, but nothing has really changed. I still want to help people and I still help people every day. It is my calling. </p><p>But why no writing? No Blogging? Embarrassment, Social Pressure, Idea Differences. Below the skin level, I am a people pleaser. </p><p>Every week I think back to the day I received a copy of one of my articles, with my daughter's picture attached to it, at my home address. I held that letter with tears rolling down my cheeks. I needed to give it all up; someone thought I was dumb. I called my editors who all begged me not to quit but suggested I take an alias writing name. We jumped through hoops, confused the world, and to this day I find the whole mess annoying. </p><p>I later learned through conversations the letter likely came from a close relative that still to this day takes jabs at me on social media. Battle Wounds. </p><p>I hide, they win. </p><p>In 2012, I went through the darkest moments of my life. I tore apart what appeared on social media to be the picture-perfect marriage. It was all a lie. There is no picture-perfect marriage. </p><p>He blamed me, I blamed him, no one blamed the fact that I likely got pregnant the night I met him and were not matched equally. The only things that survived that mess was two amazing children that God gifted us and lots of life experience that I could use to help others. </p><p>During that dark time, I went on a luxurious press trip to Dallas, Texas and Grapevine, Texas. Stayed at the Omni in Dallas, there were televisions in the bathtub, and we snuck into Jewel's concert. It was a trip of a lifetime; no it was the trip my life needed at the time. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>I remember sitting amongst a group of fellow writers and discussing Instagram and Facebook. When a writer I barely knew but respected said “<i>where is Becky, I barely know her, but I know her. Her pictures are so real, her post are so real, they are raw, and I feel her message</i>.” I was puzzled. I was just an amateur writer enjoying the tide and press trips across the nation, but I was also a mom learning to navigate poverty while going to college and working side gigs as a travel journalist. It was tough. It was real. </p><p>What the fellow writer really meant was I was not influenced. I didn’t care what the world thought of me. I might have been too broken to care. I just wrote without regret. </p><p>Unfortunately, society slipped back in, and the rules came back around. I caved. I will likely cave again and again over the next forty years of my life. </p><p>I have had people walk up to me, in my own shop, and tell me they don’t like me, but not even know who I am. Not even know I own the shop they are standing in. Not even know what I look like. </p><p>All they know is someone they know read something I wrote, interpreted it the way they believed it to be, and repeated it the way they wanted it interpreted. No background to the story, no additional questions, no clarification, just repeat and believe. 6th grade girl's bathroom gossip style. </p><p>My husband and I still laugh at the day I was confronted in the grocery store by onlooker that felt the need to tell me the chamber lady was sleeping with one of the aldermen. I held out my hand and said, "hi I am the chamber lady, my husband is Alderman Trey, we do share a bed regularly." Probably not one of my finest moments or hers, but I clarified the gossip quickly and felt rather proud that I could be so openly honest. </p><p>A close friend of mine and I regularly say "we do not do 3rd grade drama" we don't, unfortunately we deal with 3rd grade drama daily. Everyone does. I can usually gauge when the drama is going to hit. </p><p>If only I could win money as well as I could win attacks. Last week, I got a surprise phone call from a fellow journalist that I had connected with years ago. He follows my page, I have sent him tips on good stories in other areas, it is a connection to the outside world. He had read a press release regarding the building my husband and I had recently purchased and converted into Santa's House for the holidays in honor of those who served our community before us. I told my friend just moments after the interview finished "heads are going to turn" and it was less than 4 hours after the interview first aired that I saw the first not nice comment. </p><p>Over the weekend, I hunkered down. I avoided social media. I stuck to myself. When people would greet me or comment I would try to pretend like it was no big deal. In reality, I was ecstatic the local news had picked up the piece. Not for me, but for the people it honored, for the people that came along and helped with the project, and the former building owners who helped me step outside of my shell and do more. </p><p>In 2013, just after that dark time, I moved home to my hometown. It was a huge change for my kids and me. It was a sad change for me. I moved back, but nothing was the same. Most of my classmates had moved away, because there were no jobs here. Most of the businesses that I grew up shopping had closed. The familiar faces that I grew up knowing had gone on and nothing was the same. </p><p>I had taken up running, I don't run anymore - I should but don't, and was out for a run-down First Street of what use to be Lutesville, Missouri. I ran past what use to be Mary Wallis store and thought about the pair of pin-stripped overalls I bought my daughter before Mary's store closed. I remember they doted on my daughter, and we chatted about her helping me pick out a dress for Grandma Woodring's funeral. Building after building had changed names or became vacant. Town in sense had rolled up and moved out. We lived here, but that was all. </p><p>My heart sank. Not for myself, but for the generation before me and the generation after me. The gap could not be filled. There was no honor in this. Everyone blamed someone else. There was no guilty party, there was a guilty trend. The glam of shopping big box and the sadness of factories moving overseas and pulling out of small towns. </p><p>I knew that day, I was sent home. I didn't know why; I didn't know what would become. I knew that the years of travel writing, blogging, and photography on my silly little "The Missouri Mom" that I did under an alias name that I was embarrassed to have would come into play sometime somehow. </p><p>I was 3/4 of the way through my college degree, social worker by trade, and it was time to take an internship. I put down my silly little The Missouri Mom and went to work - in the field, learning all aspects of community work. </p><p>God pulled another card out of my deck and matched me with a man; a man that would tolerate unorganized chaos, never-ending projects, and love for others. In 2016, we had our dream reception in my hometown, in a building that will forever be close to my heart - and is unfortunately for sale, but if you are looking to buy it is a great place to invest. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt-YC7FcBCKGDBD9h5f9R25pN57q5Q9PnAsN3ldv9z8yOAzYOFL6xZClY3lm8VyUwYT-Wu1xEOM3IOE6MFlHazsMnVeNN26e73TDfs8ysM_qomhO6E5gmGy7hLelk3oZoeXv1s40_peZS14GQmdDjoYsZ3rs7Dc8ecZiQKLRLfWhrPIA7bGHzz152/s961/315388038_10166874766935094_2284102746228285344_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="961" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt-YC7FcBCKGDBD9h5f9R25pN57q5Q9PnAsN3ldv9z8yOAzYOFL6xZClY3lm8VyUwYT-Wu1xEOM3IOE6MFlHazsMnVeNN26e73TDfs8ysM_qomhO6E5gmGy7hLelk3oZoeXv1s40_peZS14GQmdDjoYsZ3rs7Dc8ecZiQKLRLfWhrPIA7bGHzz152/s320/315388038_10166874766935094_2284102746228285344_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Around the same time as our wedding, I received an unexpected phone call from a campaign committee formed by the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce. They knew me, they knew The Missouri Mom, and they wanted to know if I could help them out. Within days of that phone call, I was elected the President of the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce. I won't say it has been all sweet and sunshine, there have been hard days, mistakes, and lessons learned - but as a community we have accomplished a lot. I will say of the same buildings that sat empty in 2013 when I ran down First Street, 3 are all that is left empty, and we purchased one of them last week. The other empty buildings are either occupied or scheduled for an upcoming project. Our community has worked hard. </p><p>I finished my degree in 2019, my life changed forever two weeks later with the death of my beloved Mother-in-Law. She was like no other, raised 5 boys, cooked like Paula Dean, and never thought an ill thought of me - except the time I refused to let her "come take care of me after surgery" and she got mad and drove to South Carolina to see Trey's brother. With her death, I took the roll of caregiver for my father-in-law; he was suffering early stages of Alzheimer's and recently had a stroke. He lived a beautiful eighteen months in our home with us and quickly became the town, Papa Tom. </p><p>In January of 2021, we learned unexpectedly he had cancer, severely. Less than 48 hours of learning his diagnosis he peacefully left Earth and joined his beloved Mary Margaret in Heaven. It was a beautiful reunion, I am confident. However, his leaving left me tired. I had spent two years of caregiving and then helped my husband closeout his father's estate. It was grueling time-consuming ordeal that drained me. I had spent 7 years working for the State of Missouri in a stressful career, which 2 of those years were while I was caregiving for my in-laws. I sent the HR Department a request for an unpaid leave of absence, in which they told me could not be met, I would be required to file for disability. I was not disabled, I was tired. So early one morning, I counted up my vacation days, and I wrote my resignation. I needed to be somewhere else. </p><p>In September 2021, I signed my first lease on a building on First Street in the former Lutesville, Missouri. I took the same values as Mary Wallis and strived to provide a service at an affordable price for my community. I wanted people that lived close to me to want to shop my business and take advantage of quality items for an affordable price. In August of 2022, I co-signed my second lease on a second building for a second business that opened in September of 2022. My dear friend and I desired to give others a place to sell their goods for an affordable price while adding attraction to our town. We wanted to give back and do good things for others. </p><p>I avoided social media all weekend, but others sent screenshots and repeated what was being said, I had to read messages to clear the message. I wore the Battle Wounds of what was being said. I felt it deep. </p><p>Sunday morning, with my leg wrapped due to an unknown lump on the side of my knee that I am being treated for, I limped into church. I didn't really want to be there. I felt eyeballs. I felt assumptions. I felt like people thought I was greedy. I wore the Battle Wounds. </p><p>I only stood through one song, I had forgotten to take my pain medicine, so I sat down. I listened to the lyrics of the songs and the Advent Message being spoke - I tried to hide the tears that were filling my eyes. I looked at my two mentors playing the piano and organ (mother and daughter) and wondered how they survived all they went through - they are so strong. The Pastor's Daughter sang the song from the movie "I heard the bells on Christmas Day", and I was reminded there is no Peace on Earth, only Peace in Jesus. </p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-30957256760507895742022-10-02T04:56:00.002-07:002023-01-21T20:22:59.585-08:00Amidon Memorial Conservation Area<p>Amidon Memorial Conservation Area is a 1,630-acre area located on the upper reaches of the Castor River in Bollinger and Madison counties. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">The forest's timber species range from mixed hardwoods to shortleaf pine to cedar glades. A granite shut-ins on the Castor River adds an interesting geologic feature. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Amidon Memorial Conservation Area makes a beautiful fall hike with the mixture of colors. The area is family friendly, but good walking shoes are recommended as the rocks can get slick. </p><p style="text-align: left;">More information: <a href="https://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/amidon-memorial-conservation-area">https://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/amidon-memorial-conservation-area</a></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rgfem7nrz0AdeqIvDcNhddR3Dw7Q-BhWrJmT3o_yAjQbmBA8MG8jbrTjLPIEPOszd2ra6pa22xQ98toF_UBi5MfsnUGRcLBQUOp0k5PzPV-IHhKMpdlA4xNLFq6DK6hYczGtOGoiTRimEWoCh21sE2sb50ZBhmEdvDj3XwAXJOvkxf0bLRDOBp8D/s1523/5EB29751-C161-42CD-9F70-E354D7600E30.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1523" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rgfem7nrz0AdeqIvDcNhddR3Dw7Q-BhWrJmT3o_yAjQbmBA8MG8jbrTjLPIEPOszd2ra6pa22xQ98toF_UBi5MfsnUGRcLBQUOp0k5PzPV-IHhKMpdlA4xNLFq6DK6hYczGtOGoiTRimEWoCh21sE2sb50ZBhmEdvDj3XwAXJOvkxf0bLRDOBp8D/s320/5EB29751-C161-42CD-9F70-E354D7600E30.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmYkfrRfZg2Bx5M8a3NW7BHagYNIUtDbv_tyHKd5d9PCWMo3S8YLa-rmqh8J45WQdCtT-SRnvqBXYdVwNfB3mEvUNVuRvMQc10FlFztLIx4tMlASx7PWWlwEdrthyZwtDWIlz-OUHsePSZvTyd2-FojnevInxXaHZUACGn9iGKUcM2FIyI4ox2XNZ/s1535/6F04C56E-2CFA-448F-8EB4-B3EC02F275D0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1535" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmYkfrRfZg2Bx5M8a3NW7BHagYNIUtDbv_tyHKd5d9PCWMo3S8YLa-rmqh8J45WQdCtT-SRnvqBXYdVwNfB3mEvUNVuRvMQc10FlFztLIx4tMlASx7PWWlwEdrthyZwtDWIlz-OUHsePSZvTyd2-FojnevInxXaHZUACGn9iGKUcM2FIyI4ox2XNZ/s320/6F04C56E-2CFA-448F-8EB4-B3EC02F275D0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jNpPrRFT-GZ1zeqmqKBbQ3JRH6d4KAOIiie7jerTrd56hs13xWm3dgOStKKOQ7_vhOfUvS2oKSflconwd6EG3B-WCswEdsoZtpcUk_LVVeIB8IRLQqx1gdbh_om94y4-bBm21KJP7VNpyFObDFY4znY1mBq6GGAeOh-2S5aMeZ3hUD69zGaNjvsA/s256/7D04EB10-188D-479F-92DB-A278EC4BCAA0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSEDGHcSazahHNUazmINDB_JR0XnX2g_x_p5FZhsWFmTLRAwNnW0_TyV2WeEMoVlfStTNfjVFZCrB8E-KQkZVNsXWWt_UjYbK7PpzfpiJp0JwNM-LvWVNUmtHpJx33EvWTAcSsLnOCfn1Abw-WHJBAPqQzI31QuNLyLqZWhE_jR_FXUbKvIZuwYlJ/s1525/B21447E7-70C6-44CB-8D46-4D71F8315ADF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1525" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSEDGHcSazahHNUazmINDB_JR0XnX2g_x_p5FZhsWFmTLRAwNnW0_TyV2WeEMoVlfStTNfjVFZCrB8E-KQkZVNsXWWt_UjYbK7PpzfpiJp0JwNM-LvWVNUmtHpJx33EvWTAcSsLnOCfn1Abw-WHJBAPqQzI31QuNLyLqZWhE_jR_FXUbKvIZuwYlJ/s320/B21447E7-70C6-44CB-8D46-4D71F8315ADF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpC1IBxUVl6Md809Aw6GHJIrKrcecDH6TGaptVmZWBIdxpnivx1FolkYZ1F7tiwRAlghO5rcIC0J6kFh5XT0FkBd1ZaUOxWTjkOJJltFHsgpTj7V5l2WuwsNtT2jCT7qJiBe2p2ZZpI7UushSldq3GXvp1LaKQhFlwy2EKsPEwzbVotMhUmr-bdLN/s1506/DFA97C4C-5AED-4A4E-878D-216AE06F8C4E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="1141" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpC1IBxUVl6Md809Aw6GHJIrKrcecDH6TGaptVmZWBIdxpnivx1FolkYZ1F7tiwRAlghO5rcIC0J6kFh5XT0FkBd1ZaUOxWTjkOJJltFHsgpTj7V5l2WuwsNtT2jCT7qJiBe2p2ZZpI7UushSldq3GXvp1LaKQhFlwy2EKsPEwzbVotMhUmr-bdLN/s320/DFA97C4C-5AED-4A4E-878D-216AE06F8C4E.jpeg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-46259606574124419062022-08-07T07:46:00.009-07:002022-08-07T08:06:05.661-07:00Splurge for a fishing guide, it is well worth it. <p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">There is always that moment in life that you think nothing will top this - I had that moment while on a boat in the middle of the lake with</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://bigedsguideservice.com/" style="text-align: left;">Ed Franko</a><span style="text-align: left;"> of Big Ed's Guide Service.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UeRUiSqwoL3gY4bgcwVf1GTzCuOi9qX5LyW5CnCqn-1CW3LYt03OGhlQeplcyUazZ76N-ZLVvrh2a5ZNAC_9h8udcQ8unCayN6rRcPxVqbRcHZDWaQuf8nyQ91pydQpvl1qLtT3wfVcA5f3vOuLXreYejAKTBU5UuD72UjCK_5q0e2AfW4zG9yob/s280/DF8BD00B-15DF-4550-9BB5-BD31BC5CFE76.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="280" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UeRUiSqwoL3gY4bgcwVf1GTzCuOi9qX5LyW5CnCqn-1CW3LYt03OGhlQeplcyUazZ76N-ZLVvrh2a5ZNAC_9h8udcQ8unCayN6rRcPxVqbRcHZDWaQuf8nyQ91pydQpvl1qLtT3wfVcA5f3vOuLXreYejAKTBU5UuD72UjCK_5q0e2AfW4zG9yob/s1600/DF8BD00B-15DF-4550-9BB5-BD31BC5CFE76.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In 2014, I was asked to visit the Lake of the Ozarks area. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I am first and foremost a Mom, I think that is pretty obvious. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Like all Moms there are things that I wish I could give my kids that are not always possible, one of those things is a day they will remember forever. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That goal was accomplished with Big Ed. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We were invited to go fishing with <a href="http://bigedsguideservice.com/"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;">Big Ed </span></a>as part of our trip but fishing with Big Ed turned into more than just a story - it turned into a life altering event. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am confident Big Ed was more use to fishing with men that had experience with fishing poles and at least some experience, but he didn’t seem to mind these young kids climbing all over his boat and acting all crazy. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We did catch some fish, nothing prize winning, but we caught some fish! </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Every time the kids would reel something in, Big Ed would loudly say: </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">"Sometimes it's Chickens, Sometimes it's Feathers"</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">what chickens an feathers has to do with fishing I have yet to know! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What I do know is every time he would say it, my kids would bust up laughing. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Moms (and Dads) Splurge for a fishing guide, it is well worth it, and when you are in Lake of the Ozarks call up Big Ed. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tell him we said Hi and <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">"Sometimes it's Chickens, Sometimes it's Feathers"</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here is a video of my kids on the lake with Big Ed: <a href="https://youtu.be/6oecAh8PFGw"><span class="s2" style="color: #e4af0a;">https://youtu.be/6oecAh8PFGw</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Read More: <a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2014/09/fishing-with-big-ed-at-lake-of-ozarks.html?m=1"><span class="s1">http://www.themissourimom.com/2014/09/fishing-with-big-ed-at-lake-of-ozarks.html?m=1</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">BIG ED'S GUIDE SERVICE: </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://bigedsguideservice.com/">https://bigedsguideservice.com</a></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">(Disclosure: all of part of my visit mentioned in this post was sponsored, however my thoughts cannot be bought, all opinions are my own.) </p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-55811146138978844772022-08-04T20:22:00.006-07:002023-01-21T20:23:44.715-08:00Texas Tachometer over Missouri Grapes <p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;">I guess Missourians have an accent you will never forget, especially if you are flying a plane and the tachometer goes out somewhere over Cape Girardeau, Missouri. </p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hOnjZyqyZAaFWc9tR70NRIyVlVbGs2_Zt_aEH99tdvbSj-2kuNmTFk8ngFp91wvx4DnZKQhimjIS2FiAr_0Lv80JIaSZuxh48YQTzwNO4GTVHQ4Uk67GUUVlkDa6YmXBMK1rRTO4frG4sSwlATwkmOLg4EjCmhbJMnKA4qzUTnEFOP4APYl1hbZX/s258/4F6ECFAD-EEA8-4C20-83ED-4F6971259D7C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="258" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hOnjZyqyZAaFWc9tR70NRIyVlVbGs2_Zt_aEH99tdvbSj-2kuNmTFk8ngFp91wvx4DnZKQhimjIS2FiAr_0Lv80JIaSZuxh48YQTzwNO4GTVHQ4Uk67GUUVlkDa6YmXBMK1rRTO4frG4sSwlATwkmOLg4EjCmhbJMnKA4qzUTnEFOP4APYl1hbZX/s1600/4F6ECFAD-EEA8-4C20-83ED-4F6971259D7C.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>While touring <a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2012/12/grapevine-texas-and-reasons-to-escape.html?m=1" target="_blank">Cross Timbers Winery in Grapevine, Texas</a> I met the “Texas Wine Man” and while discussing</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">winemaking and the wine industry he interrupted me to ask me where I was from.</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMX0saYWTEf58wfZjWBBv0CjzOo_1lyCzqy-YH8R6z5e1Fh_FZzUz5VZj-zeLDF5e8tuhgj_OajxMaQ7NVe53lmXRChnn2Ei6doGDMBmnQTVK2dIEBytztVexUYcOYm2SlKhhO6jBdg5hIQbn2pzF7-QJbNs8q_GBMcMTKQMWPHiYV-1NxL_Hux4Ry/s241/C23F9BC0-DA91-4C3B-9F91-F67EFEF80EC6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="241" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMX0saYWTEf58wfZjWBBv0CjzOo_1lyCzqy-YH8R6z5e1Fh_FZzUz5VZj-zeLDF5e8tuhgj_OajxMaQ7NVe53lmXRChnn2Ei6doGDMBmnQTVK2dIEBytztVexUYcOYm2SlKhhO6jBdg5hIQbn2pzF7-QJbNs8q_GBMcMTKQMWPHiYV-1NxL_Hux4Ry/s1600/C23F9BC0-DA91-4C3B-9F91-F67EFEF80EC6.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>Not that my accent is that strong, but it apparently stuck out to him.</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Instead of saying “Marble Hill, Missouri” because that is hard to explain, I said two hours south of St Louis, Missouri. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Which he replied “oh I know Cape Girardeau well, I was flying to </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Ste. Genevieve</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> to look at some wine grapes and my tachometer went out right over Cape Girardeau. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was a bit of a ride until I got landed.” </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RtRr5K8IPqQdfrUxfC1x3FDRnPcbEOAIJvN_wV59OUCLMSnLnez0CgszX_9poMY0NyYlqnXDCEuvXf0ncOKDgO_mi6LXKgdpuVGp-qVq7G-iHx5YKrkzmmLGviFC-VJhoJo8cju6AMvyZnUIAPsBlr24M7LMs2HCbD5wxVr6QFsJvGGRZLHQjrYk/s291/46768253-2726-4AD4-8ABA-6E6476888A9E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="188" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RtRr5K8IPqQdfrUxfC1x3FDRnPcbEOAIJvN_wV59OUCLMSnLnez0CgszX_9poMY0NyYlqnXDCEuvXf0ncOKDgO_mi6LXKgdpuVGp-qVq7G-iHx5YKrkzmmLGviFC-VJhoJo8cju6AMvyZnUIAPsBlr24M7LMs2HCbD5wxVr6QFsJvGGRZLHQjrYk/s1600/46768253-2726-4AD4-8ABA-6E6476888A9E.jpeg" width="188" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He insisted my friend Megy and I pose for a picture since we were from the “North”…from there it was all wine history. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyrA-HTcucFxqdP4s6LnoojRDeNxGfxSdEEhPRRps65T6ktxeeOu8gPEVOU9hnRmnHWwAQn34DqWX5jL1SYGhO2YT4wLvLXgVU5RNbLCkHY5-_t-1_pqqky9X6Lxiz21rz96ui1Xbw-GsF6UpYRWbfX6LBDHylEjQXlvUPkwRKoRac7eKfrRH2OjA/s831/C4D32FEE-126A-4D48-9ADC-2CCA3A2A12BC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyrA-HTcucFxqdP4s6LnoojRDeNxGfxSdEEhPRRps65T6ktxeeOu8gPEVOU9hnRmnHWwAQn34DqWX5jL1SYGhO2YT4wLvLXgVU5RNbLCkHY5-_t-1_pqqky9X6Lxiz21rz96ui1Xbw-GsF6UpYRWbfX6LBDHylEjQXlvUPkwRKoRac7eKfrRH2OjA/s320/C4D32FEE-126A-4D48-9ADC-2CCA3A2A12BC.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2012/12/grapevine-texas-and-reasons-to-escape.html?m=1" target="_blank">Grapevine</a> is home to the <a href="https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/things-to-do/wineries/urban-wine-trail/">Urban Wine Trail</a> in Texas, as well as the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and <a href="https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/things-to-do/wineries/grapefest/">GrapeFest</a>, the largest wine festival in the Southwest, held annually in September. Texas is the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the U.S., and Grapevine has served as a trendsetter and leader with award-winning wineries and winemakers.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As of <a href="https://www.stockingblue.com/article/330/grape-production-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">2018 State of Texas</a> was home to 470 wineries (Missouri had 160, California had 4763). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There is approximately 4,280,400 gallons of wine produced a year across the state of Texas bringing in an approximate revenue of 13.1 billion dollars. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This much wine takes a lot of grapes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>California has the most acres growing grapes accounting for just over four-fifths of the nation's total acreage dedicated to the crop. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>California is responsible for over 82% of acres of the crop in the country with approximately 864,831 acres planted in vineyards. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Washington comes in a distant second with 6% of the nations total with 67,180 acres. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Missouri has 1,367 acres and Illinois has 959 acres planted in vineyards. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Alaska is the only state that does not produce grapes. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In 2018, the U.S. wine market marked its 25th consecutive year of growth, reaching 348.8 million 9-liter cases. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> However, </span>Wine and Beverage experts believe the growth in this industry may slow down, due to aging Baby Boomers drinking less wine and Millennials have not adapted to wine as much as expected. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A broken tachometer, Missouri grapes, and an unique accent can lead to a new education. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span>Read More About Grapevine Texas Here: <a href="http://www.themissourimom.com/2012/12/grapevine-texas-and-reasons-to-escape.html?m=1">http://www.themissourimom.com/2012/12/grapevine-texas-and-reasons-to-escape.html?m=1</a></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Disclosure: The Grapevine Texas CVB sponsored my trip to Grapevine Texas and a big thank you to them for giving me the opportunity to visit, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-size: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></span></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-70873745387658168752022-07-30T08:13:00.004-07:002022-07-30T08:35:41.092-07:00Klepzig Mill, Missouri <p>Klepzig Mill sits along Rocky Creek east of Eminence and Winona. An article on the<a href="https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/historyculture/klepzig-mill.htm" target="_blank"> National Park Service website says</a>, “Klepzig Mill is not much to look at with its various accouterments and modifications-- cement spillway, scrap metal hinge from the hood of a Model "A" Ford truck, old corrugated iron roof.” </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLJvioefoFtO2un0bJA9PvsYG2Ur0d3YkewWilnxx2mAFxACBVtqVFBMI8RWYaoB2TQ2et_6jV061kj7gDAeydOGvmPGljoUZG13zOfpr9diJhVAfqcBjjZcWWbQPrlCFU47JjXkF9Hn1KQCHRjtgS4Az_oO-4o1d6t0f3HIawRuFvL2sLv7LhL5x/s720/FA3DCDAD-C7CB-49D0-820C-A8FFB6B60F23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLJvioefoFtO2un0bJA9PvsYG2Ur0d3YkewWilnxx2mAFxACBVtqVFBMI8RWYaoB2TQ2et_6jV061kj7gDAeydOGvmPGljoUZG13zOfpr9diJhVAfqcBjjZcWWbQPrlCFU47JjXkF9Hn1KQCHRjtgS4Az_oO-4o1d6t0f3HIawRuFvL2sLv7LhL5x/s320/FA3DCDAD-C7CB-49D0-820C-A8FFB6B60F23.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Which I disagree, these styles of mills are the history of our area and much of Ozarks. They were small family operations that kept the areas alive and provided the lumber to build barns, homes, stores, churches, and schools. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGIxEKpImb99JPVTUo-6TQmqxxb_ejvLhf_97wr1_6CPVFajxtmjuClXMBHIDeviE1A63GBoYHMcIKHoOTj_u6b8XVqeBlFwvb9_Pbcl3utlpB65T0rUBRu4DsKMsDWlrnpCMLYKK87nnq6RcahUnfv4vKxtFjK-47a7IXIMIAOWq3dvW9B6fcIXa/s723/08E3540D-C50A-4ACF-B76E-2AE10FB8C020.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="723" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGIxEKpImb99JPVTUo-6TQmqxxb_ejvLhf_97wr1_6CPVFajxtmjuClXMBHIDeviE1A63GBoYHMcIKHoOTj_u6b8XVqeBlFwvb9_Pbcl3utlpB65T0rUBRu4DsKMsDWlrnpCMLYKK87nnq6RcahUnfv4vKxtFjK-47a7IXIMIAOWq3dvW9B6fcIXa/s320/08E3540D-C50A-4ACF-B76E-2AE10FB8C020.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The timber industry was rich in Missouri and ran north to south and east to west. Every family had a timber man and often a timber woman. </p><p>I stumbled on Klepzig Mill one time after making a wrong turn. I felt I had been deprived as this mill could be recognized more, it could be better marked, and be as popular as Bollinger Mill or Alley Springs - after once you go and see it’s surroundings, you will go back for just that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjlX5ZznmjWhMrc46hYQsPd7heL95yc-eBLRpbxlzR6XKAZLcxiwwcrFALNeTnlZGso-YL8Ga_G1yPzhWeO0Q8eX6ilyf0l-XXbNVolpTJtRZqO7bpYmJayZ1b8ZopRjSKzd4cdtCqriKWa1_ngV7Fys9Bro9niOWw1KHEZy5QgCFu8rhzj7UqVbC/s722/1A66C1CF-E0B2-46D0-B5B0-367F73B7AE21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="722" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjlX5ZznmjWhMrc46hYQsPd7heL95yc-eBLRpbxlzR6XKAZLcxiwwcrFALNeTnlZGso-YL8Ga_G1yPzhWeO0Q8eX6ilyf0l-XXbNVolpTJtRZqO7bpYmJayZ1b8ZopRjSKzd4cdtCqriKWa1_ngV7Fys9Bro9niOWw1KHEZy5QgCFu8rhzj7UqVbC/s320/1A66C1CF-E0B2-46D0-B5B0-367F73B7AE21.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_DlhsCgiXwVU_8QOEZsEBXGdWlravZwxs0_57dT1YhPKrekr5oTkXbYhwb6xG15dRw-cwPdJ4t2RvxTar1CkxR8_jfObtftDg3eob6vgqr31z1eePgY5CDZE6HH0JA55R_ybrZ5eGXd_QKhelIGukqAqlGNbYO8HCgU46YlWaP4vwVkqY8fq0VeP/s722/6FD4A9AC-6023-4716-98DE-4511C0347FB5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="722" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_DlhsCgiXwVU_8QOEZsEBXGdWlravZwxs0_57dT1YhPKrekr5oTkXbYhwb6xG15dRw-cwPdJ4t2RvxTar1CkxR8_jfObtftDg3eob6vgqr31z1eePgY5CDZE6HH0JA55R_ybrZ5eGXd_QKhelIGukqAqlGNbYO8HCgU46YlWaP4vwVkqY8fq0VeP/s320/6FD4A9AC-6023-4716-98DE-4511C0347FB5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9E9EueO1d6OSEL1h8umrRUsVLe9zXThu7c5fU0rj8x3UimouMNvwkGGpxaeyM9AorKiFgfpk5-PmfX6MCDI5MVNbR6cuAsavbOXEKk7oI_2n3zcyoE0B3oo2_Mop7qOeYsvuxbJZfDWj-_Pw6r6Vz01eTP9dUqQwolNaWBJ9l8PMsMxbcNcg8BJ0/s722/31FC6D23-3411-4A53-A8F9-A5748D47E063.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="722" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9E9EueO1d6OSEL1h8umrRUsVLe9zXThu7c5fU0rj8x3UimouMNvwkGGpxaeyM9AorKiFgfpk5-PmfX6MCDI5MVNbR6cuAsavbOXEKk7oI_2n3zcyoE0B3oo2_Mop7qOeYsvuxbJZfDWj-_Pw6r6Vz01eTP9dUqQwolNaWBJ9l8PMsMxbcNcg8BJ0/s320/31FC6D23-3411-4A53-A8F9-A5748D47E063.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUoAs2FqCrw6kH_YWuUzs7TzUMza0R733gNV643RKp9ZdIZ8D6W6OZUrIC3snXBdYmvYOGp_vXTHsVnuINYHP0sV7WJNQpd2PfBt3_hEJVdkK9DAAunaiAy69i8O8W3drg_GEEQTPbqTB2IlPfxEy7r01ilzagUBcJXidYEEzXUeta0rwFGgiTYE5/s722/623206A4-338C-4D40-85E5-F7BF2E31C138.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="722" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUoAs2FqCrw6kH_YWuUzs7TzUMza0R733gNV643RKp9ZdIZ8D6W6OZUrIC3snXBdYmvYOGp_vXTHsVnuINYHP0sV7WJNQpd2PfBt3_hEJVdkK9DAAunaiAy69i8O8W3drg_GEEQTPbqTB2IlPfxEy7r01ilzagUBcJXidYEEzXUeta0rwFGgiTYE5/s320/623206A4-338C-4D40-85E5-F7BF2E31C138.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Read More: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/historyculture/klepzig-mill.htm">https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/historyculture/klepzig-mill.htm</a></p><p>Read more: <a href="https://explorewestplains.com/klepzig-mill/">https://explorewestplains.com/klepzig-mill/</a></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0Eminence, MO 65466, USA37.1506044 -91.3576358.8403705638211534 -126.513885 65.460838236178844 -56.201385tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-74612200873941484352022-07-23T14:59:00.005-07:002023-01-21T20:24:40.462-08:00 Alto Pass on a Whim<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I saw the <a href="https://havishamhouse.com/" target="_blank">Havisham House</a> online and knew that I wanted to stay there. I normally plan my vacations around an attraction or sites to see, but never a house. This time was different. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6999bdd7-7fff-3b87-0f25-af2f6e294309"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This home was originally completed in 1892 but has completely been restored and modernized without losing the historic beauty.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we pulled up to the home, Trey was in a little bit of awe, I giggled and said “it was less than the Peabody, so…”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://havishamhouse.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoGng-nNnV7pl0WaNl22Sn7IszfX7hA8Lft6uBmibWCBbyrHJcswJDuAr5Is30MaemfUW3eA-OtDosXAOXeqFIb4BU1zDyvrQEL4Ct4fz2ZMY58e_Bqvl9FOCYyLe0g00k3_kRL7m32qbYvNDBLueIyFssT6l3BF7aVT9-qGQ8VsFrFPkj4WBOSZh/s320/HOUSE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While unloading my bags, I jokingly snapped a picture to my friend of the bathroom and said “this is why I spent so much money on this weekend” - seriously the bathroom was that gorgeous. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://havishamhouse.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmyVcE4xEZwBGb1AuG_T4f9LhpCSJjC8C21o6LW6GhgSlE0xT1KlVyK0h9YOY5EdLm9gu5sb9Pjb4Wl4l9oxjbpGPCPpwJDH49QCoLepD9WpI9L0ENc1fMmBvpvRZmlea0qIpmYJaEe7rTF6zz7PZmbqVJR1PkCbhXWhSVp-lWx5GaPf4TvL_CIXH/s320/BATHROOM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not a place that you just go to sleep, it is a place that you go to stay. I didn’t want to leave, I wandered through the home looking at all the books, staring at all the windows, soaked in the giant bathtub for hours, dreamed of having a large dinner party in the formal dining room, and binged watched some ridiculous series on Netflix while enjoying popcorn. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://havishamhouse.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs1PNEJx3Czh6vUaJhb5xTtizIdcnP2tjtrblNRuFPu3PqPvtYvrINLdOXAwGrRNZBHfKOcirr0crpdBSdNARJFptcJmfW-AG7aAnN7i3rO1wGyY94CiONv13K5NC43qqw2Z4_4DPnhjgOp6EfPnq4dJ0-4kCAptcUcYsMW3Y90xaRg2-NCkHKmnB/s320/DINING.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I secretly started planning my next trip back, before I made it past the kitchen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://havishamhouse.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE13eSA26La9MT1rrKjJ7v-e7lmC4HQLr6mD-Y7e6Nu9UeY03YfA48QTtgekhIsoTvL7S9G85V6q6Jn4cAPvho-ljGrp3oFF_V22rXv0A8A09hdKETo9XZpO4EYdvQRBhCVDa1NHK_x9mUbeOSkEuijBTaqBltVuv88ZqrwISYQgYvPAMmU5qCu6_J/s320/KITCHEN.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="https://havishamhouse.com/" target="_blank">Havisham House</a> is perfectly located in the middle of Alto Pass, or maybe the town was built around it. Alto Pass is not a giant town, I think I saw a sign for population 400, but it is a town of great value as far as things to do and places to go. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Located just minutes from the <a href="https://www.baldknobcross.com/" target="_blank">Bald Knob Cross</a>, you can drive to the lookout and see a great view of the cross overlooking the town. Such a peaceful spot regardless of what your faith is. I do encourage you to visit the Bald Knob Cross, read the story of overcoming obstacles and building something that millions drive to see. Impressive story of faith, hope, and love. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.baldknobcross.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRIQ-R9H1Us58MRfvlN4CcezWKYrQRVxO55Yc3hpEfokBtWoFJE-WxLhighWsEOulZ1KTgZoJMFJULyLc6FDJ7lR6n11BrtrMGGS1zKaX-Oe3V6FWt1wusR5OY3wo8HlZ2jrb4OaYqCkWgq-gdYR4zYILrXiuPF1ULoH77w3Cah7L25lv0KmEKITe/s320/BALD%20KNOB.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also located close by is <a href="https://rendlemanorchards.com/" target="_blank">Rendleman’s Orchard</a>. If you have followed me long, you know I am a huge fan of flower patches, so I did a little comparison shopping. Rendleman’s Orchard is fantastically laid out, well designed, and a perfect family stop.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxGHe-ulKaknpGgJSD2h06tVPSPCeZhPQbhI9eXxJULYMv5zm_oeixj-STOshji-qvimit3a_plLv9r4O9txd7J-wReBucI4w-8OfMqwtEv4FQIRrKSNelWQNY8uONoqJEvbN4yZaIew3cYKvzPBknqhyoLb2jtjH7aZ4ovvdU-Yl4F1poZ3-BtEl/s640/RENDL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxGHe-ulKaknpGgJSD2h06tVPSPCeZhPQbhI9eXxJULYMv5zm_oeixj-STOshji-qvimit3a_plLv9r4O9txd7J-wReBucI4w-8OfMqwtEv4FQIRrKSNelWQNY8uONoqJEvbN4yZaIew3cYKvzPBknqhyoLb2jtjH7aZ4ovvdU-Yl4F1poZ3-BtEl/s320/RENDL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>I recommend going during the cooler part of the day as the gardens are in full sun. I personally walked out with a bucket of peaches, a peach smoothie, pickled okra, and a few packages of spices that I can later cook with. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://rendlemanorchards.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsa1RH8RedfhBxyyEsKmgKxyFfw0Ps3EQfydYdCBXcwqRyD-84dpbqCATVxpkDLqVrlf2QnNYwVi7dNX-78qPBA-BV8glL4R4U41oKJpuvxnpoWT97QbHS9OkVSD0LXKtu-D8XONTKxvVrpKtxeYgCBOi7iCXAA8NIotaMBXAnJubyODVSMkUxx2K/s320/REJALKDJLKASD.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.altoclayworks.com/" target="_blank">Alto Clay Works </a>is located just blocks away from the home. I loved this place. I suggest going for the pottery, but the story of the building is pretty cool also. Alto Clay Works is located in the Alto Pass Grade School building. I am a sucker for old school buildings being repurposed into something unique. I also will not claim to be an expert on pottery but enjoyed my visit with the owner. He was not only passionate about his work, but his community. He shared a list of places to visit, some history of the community, and made us feel like we were not just customers, but more like friends. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.altoclayworks.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfyPzo3XZfkrfDq-po1FoyYX-DpgKfwL-f7yXZ4ZHrQi1-1ee0Nl5TyIJ48PB5QnAy6GFM7AMzJrrV0zw5cTB8Swm1wo_4ScAmFIpALgYfDMu_zrqyo5X-WJ39BhblwhYmmAHycIsLOq4B7IaketwR979I2DZXWfY6bnPksCQDW9ZVglbS0KhM8-o/s320/POTTERY.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail runs through Alto Pass, Illinois - giving the area that Napa Valley feeling with a bit of country accent. We stopped for lunch at </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.vonjakobvineyard.com/" target="_blank">Von Jakob Winery & Brewery.</a> It was a delightful place with a nice patio view of the vineyard. The menu had a great selection and was affordable for nice dining. </span></div></span></span><div><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vonjakobvineyard.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="391" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABIQ5O4kFfIHBofkNYaYTxKPU1HB7hcdhen9O7ofbNaABtXMTtOgxQiUkYSit2Ir8n2h1i4LdyDob4d_hgaNwsTiLFfvDKBbUi9pl_2AG_7LkEjEhXbuw0ZVbE31HDmIiAgjfs1_0HRJqZGGLt3vH0gCkMh3a0lr62x7_tPuyeaEEpkZiA9lQx_MY/s320/WINERY%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.shawneewinetrail.com/" target="_blank">Shawnee Hills Wine Trail</a> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;">is composed</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of eleven wineries on a well-marked 40-mile trail. Each winery offers their own individual style and winemaking techniques that make your visit an adventure through the hills of southern Illinois.</span></span></div></div></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More photos from my visit to Alto Pass, Illinois available here: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=themissourimom1&set=a.522324886366290">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=themissourimom1&set=a.522324886366290</a></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Disclosure: I was not paid or comped for my opinion or review of these locations. All thoughts and photos are my own.) </span></span></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-30891276286761326672021-07-09T09:46:00.002-07:002023-01-21T20:25:06.798-08:00National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green Kentucky<p> Vacation is about making Dreams Come True! D had spotted the <a href="https://m.facebook.com/corvettemuseum/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Corvette Museum</a> on Tik Tok 🤷🏻♀️, this was all he has talked about for weeks, so we made a trip, he test drove (did the simulator), and drooled over the cars. This is the life of being a “boy mom”......🏎💙</p><div>The National Corvette Museum is a must for car lovers of all ages! It is well designed, gives the full history of corvettes, corvette racing, and the great sinkhole that happened at the museum.</div><div> </div><div>The simulator is every little boy’s dream! Driving a fast car like the pros. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXrPuWO1S2aArrBUWdWyKUNxPqnmxI-o8PP7yeD4gZhjz6xIaHvPJL87hcxUKT-OGmcOSU0dclnGu94glVi8fuHhMyCwYzJXS8CuhGmFnQJZJMKbDQdj01qIXGs8OGTVmelxcz5ymuBA/s2048/2C53A55E-878E-4D3C-BB9D-5BDC60EF76AA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXrPuWO1S2aArrBUWdWyKUNxPqnmxI-o8PP7yeD4gZhjz6xIaHvPJL87hcxUKT-OGmcOSU0dclnGu94glVi8fuHhMyCwYzJXS8CuhGmFnQJZJMKbDQdj01qIXGs8OGTVmelxcz5ymuBA/s320/2C53A55E-878E-4D3C-BB9D-5BDC60EF76AA.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ISuoP-jFC3GEd3TsDqGs7eNpZTZpYDTzyaA6-A8ujUOIH0kipehcmpG_8PTYx52RZJ772Ji1ZcogCWKd8DBoGjME-Mydgz0xKYmJyFFc8Jo4m8rH01ISGonVVHBq4gym2M3M_wwkn8/s2048/4B58582E-592E-4E81-BCFC-8D0B1244103F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDUTuqOgUN2N_CzHJOopz5gJSNAYWPS8172BK3SIThEGNnS_dEpguAuS8dlTjtFnsnCkpgAlmUbHYaakmz0osYDfoTncJpOH7Fal-ARGlk6dF8gufkFXjexeP9b_DD5lv3x9BNZ33JDc/s320/DFBAC1D7-F5F3-44F3-8BFE-C5CCF09C5576.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspCjhLQhGsE8Ql-ZYA7OZDeHXHYb6iouOMwWVJSMaf6I-JrBRnzEho_s1dUIm69yjKek5Lfv7loHP1TvGZsPoIXh__tWBce0cN6e8qc9BVgDtq_ewpXQTaDiJYinc2vI3ALOSIrn1ZsI/s2048/ED531D78-7070-4EAC-97F8-8E0205FD4F60.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspCjhLQhGsE8Ql-ZYA7OZDeHXHYb6iouOMwWVJSMaf6I-JrBRnzEho_s1dUIm69yjKek5Lfv7loHP1TvGZsPoIXh__tWBce0cN6e8qc9BVgDtq_ewpXQTaDiJYinc2vI3ALOSIrn1ZsI/s320/ED531D78-7070-4EAC-97F8-8E0205FD4F60.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfNzYlcuMhHLA5mmagyfCwTknzEtUgAZjXCHULUqDNpW-s2VskRKxfAlgewnh1BMWKT3EWEqUCmKRUoEMne_72FpdiQDelJKL_eXDXWygUXDzcdp9QmNN_cL77SjUTXTdGw9jSXrNcMU/s2048/F8F7035C-6167-42C9-810D-B26D90313B29.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfNzYlcuMhHLA5mmagyfCwTknzEtUgAZjXCHULUqDNpW-s2VskRKxfAlgewnh1BMWKT3EWEqUCmKRUoEMne_72FpdiQDelJKL_eXDXWygUXDzcdp9QmNN_cL77SjUTXTdGw9jSXrNcMU/s320/F8F7035C-6167-42C9-810D-B26D90313B29.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-12714890795035001502021-05-26T20:49:00.001-07:002021-05-26T20:49:04.502-07:00GaGa & Grandpa Dillard. ❤️<p>Every year the week before Memorial Day Weekend, I take my kiddos to the graveyard to spruce up my Grandparent’s and Aunt Lois’ grave. I pray that this tradition will become just as important to them as it is to me. Remembering our ancestors and heritage is just as important as planning for our future. </p><p>We miss them, but heaven is better than earth. 🌸❤️</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhwl-4-Jyqv_UC05AUkglvOFcK2ZQ6IJ_kkY5yZfNp2TSuoNrHUFE0pNfHE_r15rLJbRrinbb-46CHl2XkE4KW_cMQ9PTJ-dBcM4hT6CG9Zddek4Fcwng5hFSbJV8MHTXMd5DjPpBkug/s2048/2A84DFDD-96A6-4D5D-BB44-F07A63D2D2F6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhwl-4-Jyqv_UC05AUkglvOFcK2ZQ6IJ_kkY5yZfNp2TSuoNrHUFE0pNfHE_r15rLJbRrinbb-46CHl2XkE4KW_cMQ9PTJ-dBcM4hT6CG9Zddek4Fcwng5hFSbJV8MHTXMd5DjPpBkug/s320/2A84DFDD-96A6-4D5D-BB44-F07A63D2D2F6.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ65v8FkBmTw6bjJzVe8UCQv8BEn6Bnggiq91Y5oHVCK2qbEQc75OqNzsg_xQ_KkjppoCnnYBBA1yKqrr34A_MhN17t_xbk6lUjFr9LWbyoeEz6tMEQDrwJs0zqffrygc29Hg5G3FujCc/s2048/2CC89637-DEE7-432A-9B4C-1D9B254B1912.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ65v8FkBmTw6bjJzVe8UCQv8BEn6Bnggiq91Y5oHVCK2qbEQc75OqNzsg_xQ_KkjppoCnnYBBA1yKqrr34A_MhN17t_xbk6lUjFr9LWbyoeEz6tMEQDrwJs0zqffrygc29Hg5G3FujCc/s320/2CC89637-DEE7-432A-9B4C-1D9B254B1912.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjebfMbNkT9xn94yUiWUhapCe6eZyBR_jr8NY9m_OsenIkmPte0Dl_bCF-eDv-fBD2eiEQoM1XLVc4nQwHAHhFR5K93LncKUL0BChAc86JAm8wqNuUYQQwQ6bxYI6dSoHBStjrwtAfuos/s2048/20E9A50C-1D11-43CF-98F2-A3C5FDB84CC9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjebfMbNkT9xn94yUiWUhapCe6eZyBR_jr8NY9m_OsenIkmPte0Dl_bCF-eDv-fBD2eiEQoM1XLVc4nQwHAHhFR5K93LncKUL0BChAc86JAm8wqNuUYQQwQ6bxYI6dSoHBStjrwtAfuos/s320/20E9A50C-1D11-43CF-98F2-A3C5FDB84CC9.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQHGD_9Fk73PfbDRxrGv43NZbW2YlNDEcoOjNGnzlexYqqwLm7ib58vMcokWAxwBAbSIPLRqI3NJXq2VrDKFvP1kwy64loKC9WVHWteM05qx9-3iUf0rq6xvlRB0eN6z6L-_5lV67muM/s2048/89A10D57-FA8C-406D-A448-7DC099F0C72F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQHGD_9Fk73PfbDRxrGv43NZbW2YlNDEcoOjNGnzlexYqqwLm7ib58vMcokWAxwBAbSIPLRqI3NJXq2VrDKFvP1kwy64loKC9WVHWteM05qx9-3iUf0rq6xvlRB0eN6z6L-_5lV67muM/s320/89A10D57-FA8C-406D-A448-7DC099F0C72F.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-59726314619967892192021-05-25T20:38:00.001-07:002021-05-26T20:46:17.151-07:00Most Patriotic Small town in Southeast Missouri <p>WE WIN! I declare it! Most Patriotic Small town in Southeast Missouri - Maybe even in Missouri. ❤️🤍💙</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsSOkOFAtWBxy0blUeIMwE8gYL6pmAM5miudrkkE7Eus3SV004IV0SdREalwlEc-6u5V_OscnZiPii7pLIExTuG5EVRZfRWfVJr8Vc4ZlRj0wFZ03wJQw4TDAD736N_AKIM0rGNjiCCM/s2048/24FA4CDC-B3CB-4464-88BA-D60339DA6F99.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsSOkOFAtWBxy0blUeIMwE8gYL6pmAM5miudrkkE7Eus3SV004IV0SdREalwlEc-6u5V_OscnZiPii7pLIExTuG5EVRZfRWfVJr8Vc4ZlRj0wFZ03wJQw4TDAD736N_AKIM0rGNjiCCM/s320/24FA4CDC-B3CB-4464-88BA-D60339DA6F99.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oaZTVcHN0Q9wJX4ogSgtw7yyzBQMVEciKTtQj3Lkt654G8OmM3l1WGOC_CiS0S-fdrIgw06xtjUr9LIrBFhnaw832Ft1ga66mJHKJjO9HQUZXFdgxmKs54BCYcoRUpqp8WBlhyjAB28/s2048/55C86CC3-9949-42BC-9F1C-3EA199777C43.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oaZTVcHN0Q9wJX4ogSgtw7yyzBQMVEciKTtQj3Lkt654G8OmM3l1WGOC_CiS0S-fdrIgw06xtjUr9LIrBFhnaw832Ft1ga66mJHKJjO9HQUZXFdgxmKs54BCYcoRUpqp8WBlhyjAB28/s320/55C86CC3-9949-42BC-9F1C-3EA199777C43.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Bollinger County Courthouse LOOKS AMAZING! If you did not see it tonight, go see it this weekend, I believe that the wreath will be placed Friday at the memorial. Thank you to those who decorated at the courthouse! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyq8QbqlMy7e_4JIybKwRKPteED_W_dxB55n7AkkhbIENnWtxDNJoylDA2Xk6ThaIFWTjeBUMsaPewIG22rot7uqt6j4_QoMw8l-S0LwuIMwQnV1PY5Z4EMi7k_XxOUNKSoZLJd4AgHA/s2048/04A8FCFE-AD41-40B3-9725-8F15BB17DA17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyq8QbqlMy7e_4JIybKwRKPteED_W_dxB55n7AkkhbIENnWtxDNJoylDA2Xk6ThaIFWTjeBUMsaPewIG22rot7uqt6j4_QoMw8l-S0LwuIMwQnV1PY5Z4EMi7k_XxOUNKSoZLJd4AgHA/s320/04A8FCFE-AD41-40B3-9725-8F15BB17DA17.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Bunting was waving tonight over Crooked Creek! Flags are up at Twin City Park and Railroad Park. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_NuAC0rjYs6fKG64VNfWRu3p8CwND2nHaHmlRuVpqPeZH9g98wTd9aKMi_oWPXUijtbkrPcTiMnz0yzoIaRekPo-P6lyvig2iqzNyX1d4e9iVy_gt3yxO3N7Q2yW7n4P0HygwzfUIiM/s2048/05D0B285-9E46-4813-A19D-8A5344A69230.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_NuAC0rjYs6fKG64VNfWRu3p8CwND2nHaHmlRuVpqPeZH9g98wTd9aKMi_oWPXUijtbkrPcTiMnz0yzoIaRekPo-P6lyvig2iqzNyX1d4e9iVy_gt3yxO3N7Q2yW7n4P0HygwzfUIiM/s320/05D0B285-9E46-4813-A19D-8A5344A69230.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgw1cwDy-nNr7qJbTbPymLgmh0PZC-isaGeTXUElmM7bc1iiw6GBkLtOE9gxrc94P6l1DWWvC8cpI6dBgNM_mjOJXgpM2WhSTryOd5091pxS_pGKO668ZrkDIr4UhWCn-bSfuchC7VWY/s2048/EAB7D078-72D1-4EE3-B6ED-6B718B0A1C13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgw1cwDy-nNr7qJbTbPymLgmh0PZC-isaGeTXUElmM7bc1iiw6GBkLtOE9gxrc94P6l1DWWvC8cpI6dBgNM_mjOJXgpM2WhSTryOd5091pxS_pGKO668ZrkDIr4UhWCn-bSfuchC7VWY/s320/EAB7D078-72D1-4EE3-B6ED-6B718B0A1C13.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu7jq_UlYGj5kOgC6CYtwUIpdkKf25J_FjGV4ck7CchEjiYqxNfcEi07_dsYFPtqnM2HKFM2hRyqjceWNYEKMhsB_x3LRucOUBCH5g7KPutrjraUAB02MPhed3Gz0YHhtuXi9yj4diaA/s2048/E60114ED-F6AF-46B1-8B1C-3ACE7833BBD3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu7jq_UlYGj5kOgC6CYtwUIpdkKf25J_FjGV4ck7CchEjiYqxNfcEi07_dsYFPtqnM2HKFM2hRyqjceWNYEKMhsB_x3LRucOUBCH5g7KPutrjraUAB02MPhed3Gz0YHhtuXi9yj4diaA/s320/E60114ED-F6AF-46B1-8B1C-3ACE7833BBD3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Not featured in this post is EC <a href="https://m.facebook.com/ecreedsmercantile/" target="_blank">Reed's Mercantile and Hotel- Marble Hill, Missouri</a>, but hop to their page and see their cute display! </p><p>Flags will go up this weekend at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BOCOMemorialParkCemetary/" target="_blank">Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery</a>, YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST GO SEE THEM! (Also no photo shown, will feature later this week)</p><p>Lots of photo opportunities! Come see us in Bollinger County, Missouri. </p><p><br /></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-14750567317857975742020-11-11T07:38:00.002-08:002020-11-12T06:25:16.164-08:00My Dad, My Veteran <p>This morning as I headed out with my husband to hang the flags at the Bollinger County Veterans Memorial, I thought about just how precious each of those names etched on the large piece of granite are. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJy6f3B7Yx8DP188kYRdqZHApK-CVtTGoWUxJjEUENcaJyIguXHYxn4Mekl-tEXCtC8SESO5l1FZp5kc6hFynCLuDm4ajYhIeYD9JvbF4st8X4VYqz-jQbukqWl81YTc4SF9jniieW5Y/s816/5F848433-0A22-45C2-8EF9-12842E1F3590.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="816" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJy6f3B7Yx8DP188kYRdqZHApK-CVtTGoWUxJjEUENcaJyIguXHYxn4Mekl-tEXCtC8SESO5l1FZp5kc6hFynCLuDm4ajYhIeYD9JvbF4st8X4VYqz-jQbukqWl81YTc4SF9jniieW5Y/s320/5F848433-0A22-45C2-8EF9-12842E1F3590.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>My Dad is an Army Veteran, unlike many of my friends, I was not around when my dad was active duty. I never knew the feeling of my dad leaving and not knowing when he would return. </p><p>When I was about 16 years old, I realized that even though I was not what they call an "Army Brat" the years my dad served were very important and it was then that he became that Veteran that I cherish and love.</p><p>Now twenty years later Veterans Day is one of my favorite holidays. Not because I get a day off from work, but it is a day for me to reflect and think about those Army stories that my dad would share over the dinner table when I was just a child. </p><p>If you know my dad, you know he is a world class story teller, he can capture your attention in a matter of seconds and hold you until the very last word; not to mention he has a great voice.</p><p>When I was a child dinner time was important at our house, something major had to happen for one person not be around the dinner table, Dad was insistent on this. </p><p>Around that kitchen table was where I learned of my Dad's military background, while he often joked that he just guarded a trash can and a light pole, there was more to the story.</p><p>He would reminiscence of those long nights away from Bollinger County, he defeated the biggest battle, the battle of being jerked away from our small community and his family, shipped to a foreign land just months after he graduated high school. My dad like many others his age was drafted during one of the scariest times we had ever faced, the Vietnam War. </p><p>Dad was stationed in Germany, that is where he learned a few German commands that he would often bark at the dinner table to make us laugh. I have also seen a few pictures of him while he was in Germany, he looked much different back then. </p><p>In more recent years, I learned that my dad went through Basic Training with several Bollinger County Men , he refers to them as the "Big Five". He once admitted to me the anxiety he would feel in training when someone he knew would have to take their turn on the obstacle course, he was always afraid that one of his buddies would not make it, but they always did. </p><p>Somewhere in the middle of those stories my Dad became one of my Hero's and it is an honor to say my dad is a Veteran. </p><p>Today it makes my heart so full to watch him and his local VFW buddies perform Graveside Services, be present at local events, and listen to them laugh over their days in service, they have great fun sharing and remembering. </p><p>Rather your Veteran fought the greatest battle or just guarded a trash can; they served, they worked, and they protected us! </p><p>Honor our Veterans, hold them close to us, and remember who they are!</p><p>God Bless our Veterans, God Bless our Military, God Bless the USA! </p><p>( This is a copy of my column from this weeks The Banner Press, please support our local paper.)</p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561380794322743883.post-82640984228142318602020-08-20T20:56:00.002-07:002020-08-20T20:56:20.932-07:00Bollinger County FREE Senior Pictures<p>I am offering FREE Senior Pictures this year for ANY high school senior that lives in Bollinger County or attends school in Bollinger County. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_jkdB0awR1LNTWkgfrSOzf5p8ip-LCZR3po4BEzLAWVxyPlEtqGZ9fVT3viqRLio_B84HvtWZpTuCw25g80ZSvE6oM-GCOOn60slm2o6o1wwdpMwC1MpXmwRt5fFkad1GMms5cT9iDs/s2048/5B300B50-3B5C-409A-8051-4D8428DCC1B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_jkdB0awR1LNTWkgfrSOzf5p8ip-LCZR3po4BEzLAWVxyPlEtqGZ9fVT3viqRLio_B84HvtWZpTuCw25g80ZSvE6oM-GCOOn60slm2o6o1wwdpMwC1MpXmwRt5fFkad1GMms5cT9iDs/w230-h410/5B300B50-3B5C-409A-8051-4D8428DCC1B2.jpeg" width="230" /></a></div><p></p><p>My plan is that I will have a couple of days that I will meet seniors at a location and take their photos. There is absolutely no cost from me, I will give them free digital access to the photos. They will have the rights to print them and use them for whatever they need to. </p><p>I will do multiple dates, multiple locations, and different seasons. </p><p>This has been on my heart for a couple of years. I know this year will be different and God is calling me to use my talents more for the people of my community. </p><p>If you are a senior and want your picture done (even if you plan to have professional photos) please complete the form here: <a href="https://forms.gle/V8nCN5r5cnb34z3C7">https://forms.gle/V8nCN5r5cnb34z3C7</a></p><p>If you are a hair dresser, another photographer, business, ect and would like to partner in this please also fill out the form and comment under section Other: <a href="https://forms.gle/V8nCN5r5cnb34z3C7">https://forms.gle/V8nCN5r5cnb34z3C7</a></p>The Missouri Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00878582921558887652noreply@blogger.com0