Lawnmower Races at the Patton Saddle Club in Patton, MO

(Disclosure: this originally posted in 2013 - updated today)  

Okay I have a need for speed, or I just like boys with fast toys!  Who knows!  

A few weeks ago I bribed my gal pal Jessie to road trip with me to the Patton Saddle Club for the Lawnmower Races.  We had heard about how fabulous it was and hey we are self-proclaimed "redneck" girls, so this had to be right up our alley!

The Patton Saddle Club Lawnmower Races are PERFECT for a night out, rather you are looking for family fun in Missouri, a cheap date night, or just something unique to do.

BEST Cheese Fries Ever!!!

The cost of entry (this may change in the future) is $5 a carload, the man told me that was no matter how many are in your car.  That is CHEAP, especially for this broke girl.

I do suggest you take a few extra bucks with you as the Patton Lions Club has their FAMOUS food there....people seriously, they can out cook any chef when it comes to their Cheese Fries.

The club host races every other weekend. Trial time starts at 5pm and the race starts at 6pm. For a future schedule you can follow this link.  Race dates for the Patton Saddle Club Lawnmower Races.

Seating, Parking, and things you need to know.

Pack a Blanket or 2.  It gets chilly!

You will need chairs, or the back of a pickup bed to sit in.

The grounds get crowded so go early.

A flashlight would be nice to have.

Cell Service is sketchy there, so be prepared.

Bug Spray - yes we still have mosquitos there.

NO ALCOHOL - this is a good thing!  The races are VERY family friendly!

You can bring your own non-alcoholic drinks, but the Lions Club also has a concession stand.

The races are loud, but safe.

You should probably feel sorry for this girl!  I drag her everywhere, take embarrassing pictures of her, and force her to be cool!  <3 ya Jessie

Photos from the Race:  

Ready to RACE

Who will WIN?

I don't think he meant to do that!!!

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The Saga continues..........

Today while in line at the hardware store, someone asked me if I had ever received those bylaws from The Chamber of Commerce.................sadly folks, I still have not received them.  In fact I have not received anything from them, I suppose I have made them a little mad.

I know that I have made a few other folks mad in Bollinger County, my friend count on Facebook as dropped, and well folks, people in Bollinger County cannot keep secrets well....so every time you talk about me, it gets back to me, and I know who you are!  

What I would like to say is how I emotionally feel right now, yes there is a great deal of emotion when you care so deeply about a community and basically get shunned.

I personally feel (and others have said this also) if I was MALE this would all be different.  Yes, if I was a man, I think I would be more intimidating, be taken more serious, and people would not criticize me so much for being so vocal....however,God Blessed me with a wonderful female body, so I get criticized.

I also believe that if people knew my legal last name they would not treat me the same!  I know this as every time a local finds out my real name, they start to question who I belong to, or how I am related, and ask questions about the family.  I have chosen to keep my legal last name disclosed, mostly for the safety of my children....many many moons ago I had 2 separate and very scary incidents that made me realize bloggers are "public" figures and like music stars people can become "infatuated" with them or their families. 

I also do not disclose my last name often, because the name is so well known in this community and frankly it is just a name it does not make me who I am, especially now that I am divorced.   

My point is we live in a very stereo typical society (especially here), people will follow along with the crowd.  They fear change and they really fear someone who is willing to speak up.

I am not going to be shut up, I am not scared of what people say, and I really don't care who likes and who don't.....I want what is right, what is fair, and what is best for everyone, not just what makes certain folks look good.  

Please continue to pray for our community, there are so many good people in our community that get lost in this....

~Becky


~Becky

Small Town Hospitality beats Big City Beauty Shop, Check out Total Results Salon in Marble Hill, MO

Disclosure:  I was sponsored by Total Results Salon, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Since moving back to Bollinger County, Missouri or as my friends call it the "sticks" of Missouri, there are obviously some conveniences that I have been forced to give up.  Being in a rural area we don't have hair shops, nail salons, and spas at every corner......to be completely honest many folks still use their Aunt So & So to cut their hair and help out with their beauty needs.

A few weeks back I was itching for some "uptown" pampering, but hated to drive 45 minutes to the city just for a few minutes of relaxation....yes it is really that far to a town with a population of more than 3000.  Well I saw a post on Facebook for Total Results Salon and decided I would I would try out some small town relaxation.

After all the big city trips (St Louis, Memphis, Las Vegas) I have decided I would prefer to use a small town beauty shop for my relaxation needs.  There is something about walking into a beauty shop, meeting your stylist, and sitting down and having a good old fashion conversation.  Danielle Beel, also a local girl, but we only knew each other in a "roundabout" way, which probably made my experience a little more fun.

As I entered the salon, it was way different than the fancy chairs, serenading music, candles lite for relaxation, and wine......Nope Danielle rolled out her stainless steel washtub, filled it full of warm water, and gave me a true small town pedicure.

While Danielle's shop was not upscale, full of gadgets, it was full of life, fun, and what means more to me than how fancy a shop is, it was full of TRUE SMALL TOWN HOSPITALITY.  When I visit a place rather it be here locally, or somewhere far away the one thing that stands out the most is how they treat me as a visitor.  I would not hesitate bringing my "big city" friends back to Danielle's shop for a girls day out, I would not hesitate visiting her shop with my daughter, and obviously I don't hesitate recommending her shop to my readers.

Danielle and Total Salon Results is a full service salon in uptown Marble Hill, Missouri...she offers pretty much anything you need or want for relaxation....only she adds in some Small Town HOSPITALITY.  

Have an Adventurous Day!

~Becky

Love the View of the Street...so QUIET! 

Had to get a little funky with the color!  

The Small Town Dream.....My dream in BoCo

The Start of my DREAM......

Today I was asked if I have a dream.....I have always had a dream, but ironically my dream is much different than those around. me.

I do not dream of wealth, I would rather be poor and happy.
I do not dream to be pretty, as looks fade.
I do not dream of wisdom, as I love to learn.

My dreams are simple, my dreams are organic, my dreams are unflattering.

My simple dreams are to live as simple and organic as possible.  I dream of providing for my family the old fashion way, I dream of cooking, gardening, fishing, cleaning, and having the simple life.  I dream of my kids understanding the food we eat comes from the ground, not from the store.  I dream of my daughter baking pies, instead of buying oreos.  I dream of my son understanding how to work a field, feed livestock, and catch his dinner the way our ancestors once did.

This dream I have already started working on, I am looking into starting a small orchard.....I want to teach all of my children that it takes work to reap the reward, plus I LOVE fresh fruit.....The Chicken House Orchard????

I would one day own a place that others will visit, others will enjoy, others will find retreat from their crazy life at.   I dream of providing a sanctuary for those who have none, a place that people can come to forget the burdens that surround them, a place that is not known for expense, but known for love.

I would love to own or run a resort in middle of Bollinger County.  While I am years away (and it may never ever happen), I would love to share this beautiful country with the world, make it a place where people come to relax at.......Escape to BoCo?

An Empty Building in Marble Hill, that could be a HOTEL
Providing a place for travelers to stay, and jobs to those in need!

I dream is to one day see my hometown prosper, to succeed, to be a place that not only am I proud to say is where I come from, but thousands are proud to say they have visited.   I live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, I need not to travel out of my little area to see many of God's paintings.  I dream that people will come visit our area, bring revenue to our area, and one day our youth will have no need to move or drive far away for a job, they will be able to stay near their families and have all they will need.

My last dream is help start, organize, and promote tourism in Bollinger County, Missouri!  For years I have said there is so much here and no one promotes this place.  I am not sure if when I open my mouth to speak if people are confused, people are taken by surprise, or if they just don't know where to start.  I have had this dream for years, but I have always been sidetracked by other's ideas or thoughts, than my divorce came along, and of course their is alway time, money, and energy to add to the mix.  I know deep down inside my heart tourism is the key to success in BoCo, as their is little left here in our very rural area of the world.  I believe that with the proper organization, the proper promoting, our small rural community could be one the next tourist attractions......How does VisitBoCoMO sound you all?

Daily I am met with negative views, smirks, and contradicting comments about my dreams.....for years I have been defeated by those with power, money, more wisdom than I, and the lack of support by those who I love.

I sigh as I sit here, as this is the first time I have spoke about my dreams on my blog.  I know people will laugh, people will say I will fail, but if I fail at least I have tried.   Now if you are reading this and live in BoCo Missouri (Bollinger County, Missouri) and are looking for something to pray about, dream about, or help with....I am always open to help....

God Bless!

~Becky

Learning to Can with Fagor Home Canning Set

Disclosure:  I recieved my Fagor Home Canning Set for free, however, all thoughts, opinions, and experiences are my own...unless you want to come help me can vegetable!  Thank you to Fagor America!  

Upon moving home I decided that I wanted to garden and learn to preserve my own foods.  I am not a health freak, but I think the food I grow taste better and is healthier.  I am a complete idiot when it comes to this stuff, seriously, I can cook, but I have no clue how to do much more than freeze my veggies and fruits.

A few months back I received an email from Fagor America advertising their Fagor Home Canning Set, the product seemed too good to be true, but I am a sucker for trying something new.  I was first excited for the chance to learn and try out the canner, but as time neared I got nervous....I didn't want to ruin my veggies, or fail in front of everyone.

Well this past week I got brave, or well I had to do something with fruit and veggies that were coming off the trees and vines, so I broke out my canner and got started.  Fortunate for me the canner comes with everything I needed, except jars, lids, rings, and the food I want to can.  I quickly read through the instruction manual  and Grandma H handed me over a Ball Blue Book of Preserving (I highly suggest this book also) and off to work I went.

While I worried myself to death over how to use this product, rather I would fail, if my jars would seal.....I am a complete idiot.   The Fagor Home Canning Set really is as simple as it says it is!

Yesterday (my second time using the canner) I made coleslaw in a jar, our neighbor gave me 15 heads of cabbage...yes I have cabbage everywhere, so I had to be creative with what I was going to do with all this cabbage.  I found a recipe for coleslaw in a jar and I decided this would be my true test.

I borrowed Grandma H's food processor, chopped up my cabbage, added in some carrots, onions, green peppers, and red peppers and then soaked my mix in salt water for an hour.  An hour later I drained the salt water, combined sugar, vinegar, and my vegetable mixture in a large saucepan and let it simmer for 20 minutes.  (see below for full recipe) The directions said to hot-pack (hot pack means put it in the jar while it is still hot) the mixture in the jar, tighten the lids and then process in the canner for 20 minutes.  Guess

what....I have coleslaw in a jar, no in fact I have coleslaw in 20 jars.

I can say now that I have fallen in love with Fagor Home Canning Set, I know I should lust over things such as this, but I have a list of veggies, fruits, and jellies that I intend to make with the help of my Fagor Home Canning Set and my Ball Blue Book of Preserving.  I will also say I had not used a pressure canner since I was probably 15 and living at home with my parents, I always thought they were costly, thought they were too costly, and I hated how you had the jiggler thing on top of the pan that made all that noise...well my Fagor Pressure Canner does not have that.  The canner is made in 2 pieces, the lid and the pan, and I like this alot.  I am not the most organized person ( I wish I was), so this canner is perfect for me as I do not have to keep up with all my extra pieces....SCORE!

I am going to share with you the recipe in detail for my coleslaw in a jar....I will also be sharing (hopefully weekly) new recipes that I am learning and preparing with the help of my Fagor Home Canning Set.

Happy Adventures,

~Becky

Cole Slaw in a Jar

1 qt of chopped cabbage
2 cups of chopped onions (I used purple)
2 cups of green peppers
2 cups of red peppers
2 cups of carrots
1/2 cup of salt
2 quarts of cold water
3 tablespoons of mustard seed
2 tablespoons of celery seed
1 qt of white vinegar

Combine veggies in large bowl, dissolve salt in water and pour the salt water mix over veggies.  Let stand for 1 hour and then drain (some say you can rinse if you desire).  Combine veggies, spices, sugar, and vinegar in saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes...bring to a boil.   Pack hot relish into hot jars, leaving 1/4 of headspace.  Process in  canner for 15 minutes.

This is BoCo

We are settled in, right back where I started!  I have started a new #hashtag and my theme is This is #BoCo.  

While I was only 25 miles away from home I have realized over the past week how much I have really missed!  My goodness, God is Good and he is so Good!  I look around everywhere and I see all the amazing things he has created that I once took for granted, then never realized I missed it, until I moved home and saw it with new eyes!  

Here are a few of my This is #BoCo shots from my afternoon run today! 

~Becky 

I will be the first to say #BoCo looks good on me!  I feel so FREE!  

The neighbors field....BREATHTAKING!  

I met my new neighbors, they seemed friendly or hoped that I had a carrot in my pocket!

Snow & Spring Flowers just don't mix!

25 years ago my GaGa took me swimming in this little creek!