Editorial / Opinions

As you may remember in my last column I wrote about the power of grandma’s apple pie. The first thing my grandma said to me on Christmas was, “ I loved your last column,” which I kind of figured she would.

The Crownover farm has been without a dog for more than a year and a half. So, I was surprised a few weeks ago, when I stepped out of the house early one morning and was greeted on the front porch by a tail-wagging, tongue-licking, black and white, hyperactive bundle of unrestrained affection.

I’m sure the majority of the Ozarks population would agree that good ol’ home cookin’ is one of the things that makes home feel like home. I’m sure each of you have your favorite recipes that bring back wonderful memories of growing up in the country.

I hope everyone had as nice of a Thanksgiving as we did. That used to be an event held at our house, now our kids do it. But years ago it was held at my in-laws’ farm over in Madison County on Bohannon Mountain. My three brothers-in-law and I use to rabbit hunt every Thanksgiving. We’d turn some beagles loose, climb over fences and circle briar patches. The environment for rabbits on the over-grown farms around their place was absolutely ideal for cottontails.

The Crownover farm has been without a dog for more than a year and a half. So, I was surprised a few weeks ago, when I stepped out of the house early one morning and was greeted on the front porch by a tail-wagging, tongue-licking, black and white, hyperactive bundle of unrestrained affection.

I’m sure majority of the Ozarks population would agree that good ol’ home cookin’ is one of the things that makes home feel like home. I’m sure each of you have your favorite recipes that bring back wonderful memories of growing up in the country.

Still reeling from the worst drought in 50 years, many of my friends and neighbors have returned to yesteryear in order to provide enough feed for their livestock. As many of them find themselves without adequate supplies of hay for the winter months and pastures that you could play marbles on, they have planted acres upon acres of… turnips.

I hope you had the opportunity to get outside for the opening of deer season. It was such beautiful weather for November – it’s almost hard to believe, but that’s weather in the Ozarks for you.

The news is filled with the terrible tragedy in New Jersey and New York from hurricane Sandy. Many of us have suffered similar events from tornados and ice storms.  Politicians came out and told them, “we will do all we can” but that is never enough in the case of a huge disaster.

I am reluctant to embrace change – especially if it involves technology. Heck, I still marvel at the pocket calculator and am amazed by the remote control on my television. I guess that’s why I was a little skeptical when my trusted machinery salesman suggested I “upgrade” on a purchase I made last week.