I ran across another BBQ in Bolivar that I had never tried so... I popped in for a visit yesterday. Oh boy... it was good. It will definitely be a repeat thing! Fantastic flavor and their homemade ranch dressing was fabulous. Since my diet is going for earnest I enjoyed the smoked pulled pork with no bbq sauce or and just a salad. It was a treat! Then it was on to Lowes to finish buying a few items for my DIY stair lift. Errands and on home before it rained. A productive da

Almost heaven, Southern Missouri, Ozark Mountains, Paradise Cove Acres... Life is old there, older than the trees Younger than the mountains, growin' like weeds... Country roads, take me home To the place I belong Southern Missouri, Mountain Mama Take me home, country roads All my memories gather 'round there Biker lady, no stranger to buzzing street lights Dark and dusty, painted on the sky Misty taste of cold sweet water, teardrop in my eye Country roads, take me home To th

These are things handed down from a old wise fix-it up genie... or that is what I have heard anyway. There are only 10 things in this world you need to fix any car, any place, any time. 1.) Duct Tape: Not just a tool, a veritable Swiss Army knife in stickum and plastic. It's safety wire, body material, radiator hose, upholstery, insulation, tow rope, and more - in an easy to carry package. Sure, there's prejudice surrounding duct tape in professional competitions, but in th

Prison vs Work studies show some interesting comparisons. Who knew all these years I might have been better off in prison. IN PRISON...you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell. AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle. IN PRISON... you get three meals a day. AT WORK... you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it. IN PRISON... you get time off for good behaviour. AT WORK... you get more work for good behaviour. IN PRISON... the guard

They say life is a highway and we all travel our own roads, some good, some bad, yet each is a blessing of its own. It's the ride of life, the journey from here to there living and loving every moment like we have none to spare. Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost. Ride along with me as I navigate the wind & road on this beautiful May 1st. Nana

Baskin-Robbins The logo for the famous ice cream chain has colors and font that seem like a child coloring book but the real fun part is there is a hidden message. The color-blocking adds to the children's style, but if you look closely and you’ll see the pink is meant to emphasize a “31” for the original 31 flavors that Baskin-Robbins opened with in 1948. It makes sense why, to this day, they still want to emphasize the 31 flavors. They were the first ice cream parlor to in

“Fake news” has its roots, in the birth of William Randolph Hearst on this day... April 29, 1863. You know that guy who built at least one castle in California. Hearst was given the San Francisco Examiner by his father, George, a miner who had become a multi-millionaire and US Senator. He would later move to New York City and acquire the New York Journal. As he fought bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, the age of yellow journalism was then born. As

There’s something about a long-simmered pot of pinto beans that warms your soul. I was always taught that when cooking with dry beans, the first thing you always want to do is to pick through them. What you’re looking for are any beans that are shriveled, super dark, or otherwise appear off. You should also be on the lookout for any small rocks or other inedible debris that might have found its way into the bag. The next step is a nice, long soak—depending on who you ask. Soa

Today is a very special day... On this day it's your birthday and also the 18th anniversary you gave us a new identity; as grandparents to you, Lucas! Papa was as so proud of you and would have loved to watch you grow up. I have to do that now for him. I love being your grandma. I thank God for you being born into our family. You have a direct roadway to our hearts. Happy birthday, my sweet Lucas! May God always give you the strength to overcome any difficulty and keep you f

The past week may not have turned out as planned. But hey! It is Sunday. There’s light ahead. A whole week of limitless possibilities ahead. Stay hopeful, stay positive. Remember: whatever you do and wherever you go, take always a smile and a good mood with you." Have a beautiful Sunday! Nana

Several years ago I happened upon this old Springfield park at 1401 N. Grant Ave. I usually don't come to this part of town but I was overtaken with the huge wonder of this beautiful park in the middle of town! Grant Beach Park was one of the first new parks acquired by the Park Board, Feb. 3, 1914. It was originally called Woolen Mills Park, after an old mill on the site, the name changed to Grant Beach Park Dec. 10, 1915 — Grant after Grant Avenue on the park’s eastern edge

With the days ticking away till summer has me thinking about the loathe of mowing... Good News is with mowing after all the rain and then more rain yet forecasted. I am thinking that I might need to get the yard done before I have to bale it. However, this is usually a short lived happiness with it needing be done again soon. Darn Grass! Today I happen to see this joke. It did amuse me after the last few days... Got to love it! GOD: St. Francis, you know all about gardens and

Well I fell off the healthy lifestyle train that I was riding some years ago... actually with my first baby. The train went on down the tracks full speed ahead and by the time I dusted myself off we could not even see it. So I drank diet cokes and coconut cream pies & had big fat chicken fried steaks covered in gravy while I waited for it to come back. I learned that the train does not come back unless it has passengers to pick up. I just bought a ticket and have committe

It’s lonely at the top... I took this photo in the last couple of years of the Polk County Courthouse in downtown Bolivar, Missouri. I’ve always thought the statue of Lady justice on top appeared unusually large. In fact, she is about thirteen feet tall (six feet shorter than the Statue of Freedom that tops the U.S. Capitol) and was placed on the building when it opened in 1907, according to the local news paper. The statue is hollow and is supported by an 8-inch by 8-inch oa

Missouri... Where the weather is so messed up that they give it names and then track it like paparazzi stalking a celebrity in Rehab! Let's see there are Flood Warnings, Thunderstorm Warnings, Lightning Warnings and maybe any other adventure they can throw at us this week. We Got This! 🤣 Laughing & Rolling Along... Nana

As I was out on the road one day, I ran across this driveway gate. I had noticed it several times before but I finally stopped to get a picture with my camera. Pigs With Wings. The phrase "pigs might fly" or "pigs may fly" has been used in various forms since 1600's, when it was said that "pigs fly with their tails forward," used as a sarcastic remark something overly optimistic. The form "when pigs fly" is more common in the USA. Pig’s can’t fly! It’s impossible, which is pr

At birth, we board the train and meet our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a us to ride. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations,

My backyard has become a jungle full of broken trees, over grown and out of control. The wildlife is getting along fine. However, with all the rain I may now be classified as a rainforest too. Storms has brought in destruction to several trees and many have been bent to an unfamiliar sight. One good thing is I might be able to put up one of those little signs that says natural habitat. 😃 With the state of things it is an overwhelming adventure I am reluctant to start purchas

What is the most ordered food when people generally step-in to restaurants or stop by any eatery? The answer in unison would undoubtedly be in... Noodles of some sort! But, how many of us actually order spaghetti instead of noodles? And how many of us still think that the long, thin, solid, cylindrical noodle is actually not a noodle but a noodle pasta? And that it is certainly not a Chinese cuisine but an Italian one! Our family loves us some Spaghetti. In fact our brood usu