Winter Storm Jupiter - January 13, 2017 - Bollinger County Missouri

(Disclosure:  The 

Panasonic LUMIX ZS60 was gifted to me by Panasonic, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own - I cannot be bought) 

Photos from Winter Storm Jupiter in Bollinger County Missouri - these photos were all shot with my 

Panasonic LUMIX ZS60 - which I adore.  

Why you ask, duh, the zoom capability kept me safe on the slick ice!   

Behind my lense in Marble Hill, Missouri

So by now many of my friends have noticed, I am working on the City of Marble Hill and Visit Bollinger County's Facebook Pages.  I have always wanted to spend my day wandering around my hometown with my camera, but never found an excuse to do this....Today I had the excuse, I need photos for their pages.

I thought I knew everything about Marble Hill, or what there was to see, but to my own reality I am as clueless as any other visitor....Seriously folks I found some real jewels, that even stumped me!

Bollinger County Courthouse

To say that I have never actually read the sign about Marble Hill in front of the Bollinger County Courthouse would probably shock you, what is worse, today was the first time I have ever even noticed the sign that explains our deep history.  Sigh....this is almost embarrassing for me! 

Alma Fisher School Building

I have always seen the little red building sitting behind the old Massey Log Home, but honestly have never paid any attention to it.  Did you know that Alma Fisher School is setup to look as school would have looked 100 years ago....I am sad that I have never visited this place before!  

Holly's Where you find your Wear

Now I have visited Holly's Where to Find Your Wear before, but never with my camera....When flipping through my pictures, this photo caught my eye.  I had to remind myself that I was in Marble Hill, I had not visited a big city!

Jer's Restaurant

I stopped in at Jer's home of the mile high pie and I met one of their everyday patrons...she was just a charm and a doll to let me photograph her.  She spends her morning, doing the Lord's work, she writes Bible verses on the papers and leaves them for others to read.  Her charm, her zest for life, and her happiness made my day seem priceless.  

The Trading Post 

I laughed when I first saw this couch, as my mother use to have one just like it, then Heather Mize with The Trading Post showed me this Royal Oak couch was actually manufactured at Royal Oak Furniture Manufacturing Inc Industrial Park in Lutesville, MO.  As many know years ago (like 20 or so) Marble Hill and Lutesville, MO were known as the "Twin Cities" and then they merged....so technically this couch was made in Marble Hill like 40 or so years ago.  Classic! 

Deb's Awesome Pizza 

 Okay, so it was near impossible to shoot this photo without taking a bite out of this burger (this chick likes to eat).  I found this burger at Deb's Awesome Pizza in Marble Hill....I wish I could share how awesome this burger smelled with you!.....sigh, I am hungry! 

~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

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

The Mustard Seed Boutique in Marble Hill, Mo

 I absolutely love it when I get to talk about some place in my hometown; today I am overjoyed to tell you about my experience at The Mustard Seed Boutique in Uptown Marble Hill, MO (yes that is my hometown).

I would like to call The Mustard Seed Boutique a Mom & Pop diner, because really that is what it is, however, it don’t fit the description of a greasy hamburger joint.  The Mom & Pop comes in because it is completely family (or close friend) owned and operated which gives this place the total small town atmosphere.  With that said I must go back and bite my tongue, The Mustard Seed Boutique may have the small town atmosphere, but has the big city flare.  While dining out on their front porch I felt as if I was sitting somewhere much different, you could literally pick this place up and drop it in Chicago and it would fit right in.  To sum up what I am saying this place is a big city kind of joint with a small town atmosphere…..Seriously! 

The Mustard Seed Boutique is a diner, gift shop, a venue, and cool place to hang your hat.  I would not hesitate to bring my city friends in and catch a lunch with them, host my daughter’s birthday party there, or even take my Mom and Dad out for Saturday afternoon ice cream there.  This place is perfect for no matter what you are planning….call that the small town diversity! 

I had the pleasure of having lunch with the owner Cindi Morris and I asked her what her motivation behind opening this little place was.  Cindi says, “It was always her dream to have something like this in Marble Hill and she wanted someplace nice for the locals and visitors to come.”  Now I am a little bias, not because I know Cindi, but because she mentioned “locals and visitors”, anyone who looks out for others gets two-thumbs up from me.  Marble Hill is a rural and small town and we need all the help and looking out for we can get! 

The Mustard Seed Boutique has a small kitchen, by small I mean they have a short menu, now do not let that

my lunch

keep you from coming by.  I found this just means they are experts at what they are cooking for the day…okay I polished off my BBQ sandwich, my chips and salsa, and the Strawberry Pie in a Cup with no problem.  If you just want to go to try the place out, TRY the Strawberry Pie in a Cup…I have yet to tell Lesse about the Pie in a Cup or we might become daily visitors to The Mustard Seed Boutique!  

Inside you will also find an adorable gift shop; I would like to compare it to the gift shops I recently visited in Downtown Jefferson City, Missouri.  The shop has everything from upscale clothing (at an affordable price), children’s books, jewelry, and several things made or produced by a few of the locals.  

The Mustard Seed Boutique also host classes, book clubs, and special events…follow them on Facebook to keep up with all their events, changes in their merchandise, and their daily specials.  

  

Have an Adventurous Day!

~Becky  

Part of The Mustard Seed Boutique Staff - Haley, Cindi, Chelsea, and Beverly.  

The gift shop

more gift shop

gift shop

their inviting front porch...LOVE THIS

Strawberry Pie in a Cup.....Heaven in a Cup :-) 

Where they prepare your lunch...I LOVE the open kitchen!  

Disclosure:  The Mustard Seed Boutique sponsored my visit; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.