Aunt Dorothy McConnell

Left to Right - Lou, Aunt Dorothy, Cletis, Sue, Cleo and Christine
(Cathy was unable to attend as she lives out of town)

Cleo and her great grandson

Rollo and his great grandsons.
His grandson, Michael Jeff & wife, Amy are in the background.

Janet & Aunt Hildred

Aunt Hildred and Gary

A great photo of Cletis

Lou with her son, Brent and her handsome grandsons.

Aunt Hildred and Aunt Dorothy

Aunt Dorothy's Beautiful Cake

Aunt Dorothy McConnell turned 91 on July 20th and she celebrated with family and friends at the Dade County Nursing Home in Greenfield on Saturday, July 19th. Everyone had a lovely time and the decorations were done up in the tropical theme. The cake was great and the fellowship was awesome. Many family members were present and everyone there had a good time taking photos, telling stories, talking about family and even Jack did some fancy tricks for all the children and adults to enjoy.

MAKING PRECIOUS MEMORIES

Ron & Debi, Connee & Nana

Nana looking GOOD!!!!

This weekend, we had a wonderful visit with our friends, Ron & Debi, also Janet's stepmother, Connee and step-grand mother, Evelyn (Nana). They had all gone to Bro Snider's funeral on Saturday & came to visit us that evening and spent the night. We had a wonderful time remembering old times, drinking coffee, having a big breakfast, viewing old photos, watching hummingbirds, picking garden produce, including picking over 2 gallons of blackberries - (Ron is actually pretty good at that), eating blackberry homemade ice cream and cookies, relaxing, learning how to make Scandinavian Rag Rugs, laughing over lots of email funnies and just being together. We all had a lovely time. Melissa, Dave and Alissa also came over Saturday evening and we all had a super great visit. Let me know how your blackberries work up, Deb, and also Connee let us know if you get your little redbud tree and maple tree planted. WE LOVE YOU ALL and IT WAS SO GREAT SEEING YOU & HAVING YOU HERE FOR A VISIT. Sunday was especially a fun day and one we will put down in our book of remembrances for years to come. Remember that our B&B is always open to you and you can come back ANYTIME...... :o)

A TRUE MAN OF GOD GONE HOME.....

Rev. Jesse S. Snider, was our pastor when we lived in Greenfield many years ago. He was a true man of God and a dear friend. We will greatly miss him. Our love and sympathy goes out to his wife, Evelyn, his son, Steve and his daughter, Gayla plus the other members of his family. He will truly be missed. We had some wonderful memories and great times with the Sniders over the years. Janet also knew them when she was a young girl living in Lamar.
Rev. Jesse S. Snider went to be with the Lord on Aug. 5, 2008, at 3:15 p.m. He was born on Dec. 30, 1925, to Jesse and Lillian (Bley) Snider in Joplin, Mo. Jesse grew up in the northwest suburb of Joplin, known as Chitwood. He married Evelyn Holden on Jan. 1, 1944, after a watch night service at 2nd Assembly of God in Joplin. He received the Good Conduct Metal for his service in the Army 82nd Airborne, Glider Division in World War II. In his early years he worked in the lead and zinc mines in the Joplin, Galena, Kan., area as a truck driver. He was employed by Santa Fe Transportation in Joplin, for 33 years as a truck driver. He was currently employed by Big John’s Equipment operated by Sid Davis in Joplin. Rev. Snider was called into ministry in 1954. He pastored Assembly of God Church in Reeds, Mo., Noel, Mo., Arcadia, Kan., Miami, Okla., Greenfield, Mo., McCleansboro, Ill., and Lakin, Kan. He was currently on staff at Duenweg Assembly of God in Duenweg, Mo. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Snider, of the home; one son, Steve Snider, of Pittsburg, Kan.; one daughter, Gayla Shaffer, of Houston, Texas; one sister, Wilma Foster, of Joplin; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Jesse was preceded in death by his father and mother, Deloris Snider (sister), Melvin and John Snider (brothers). To God be the Glory for a life well lived. “He walked with God.” Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Duenweg Assembly of God Church. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mason-Woodard. Burial will be in Carl Junction Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Chapel. Online condolences may be emailed to info@masonwooodard.com

GARDEN GOODIES

Gary after picking about a gallon of fresh
blackberries from the garden.

Gary after I made him a blackberry cobbler.

Closeup of Blackberry Cobbler

Close up of fried green tomatoes

2 peppers Gary grew. One is normal size. The
other one was 8 inches tall.

That is ONE BIG PEPPER!! I cut it up and we
put it in our salsa. YUM

Some pretty red tomatoes & green peppers
ready to make into salsa

SOME WONDERFUL SWEET PICKLES. We now
have over 8 gallons made and more to come.

Bread and Butter Pickles & Cheerful Sweet Pickles
The red ones are made with cherries & cucumbers

Gary with more veggies from the garden,
yellow squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and
fresh potatoes. He sure has a green thumb.

Becky Turns 48!!!

Becky with her wooden flower hanger

A Self Portrait of Brad, Erin's husband

Becky & Beautiful Cake Erin bought

Heather, Becky, Erin & Ariel

Erin almost ready to have twin boys

Becky with her parents, Howard (85) and Freeda (83)

Homemade Blackberry Ice Cream & Marble Cake
(BOY, WAS IT GOOD!!!)

Gary's youngest sister, Becky turned 48 on the 5th of August and will soon be a grandmother for the first time. We helped Becky celebrate last night by providing some homemade blackberry ice cream and we all contributed to supper which included brisket, hot homemade rolls, corn on the cob, salads, scalloped potatoes, fresh strawberries and a beautiful cake.

Gary made Becky a wooden flower wall hanger for her living room made from oak and cedar. The cedar came from a post that his dad cut from their farm. She was pleased with it and thought he did a good job on it.

Becky's daughter, Erin will be giving birth to twin boys soon. They will be born c-section on August 19 if not before. Erin and her husband, Brad, were also at the birthday party to help celebrate. Also there were Becky's husband, Todd, & their younger daughters, Ariel and Heather. Becky's and Gary's parents were there as well as Gary & I. We all had a lovely time and on the way home we hit a rain shower they got some much needed rain to the tune of 4 inches. WOW!!! That was a nice added birthday gift for Becky as things were getting very dry in their area.

Blackberry Cobbler & Weekend with Ileta

I have not blogged in a long time and thought it was time to say hi again. Friday, my dear friend, Ileta, from Kansas will be coming for a visit. It has been a long time since we have been together and we have a lot to catch up on. It will be great seeing her once again. I have a couple of Branson shows lined up for us to go see and also we plan to eat out while there and visit with some other friends of ours as well. It will be a busy weekend. We plan to meet Darlene on Friday for supper and then see Wynona on Sunday. We are going to meet her for church and then lunch afterwards. She has planned fried chicken and blackberry cobbler for lunch. WOW.....what a sweetheart. She is an excellent cook and is also 84 and going strong. She just returned from her great grandson's wedding and played the piano for over an hour while the people were seated (over 500 there) and then played during the ceremony as well. It will be great seeing her again as well. I will attach photos later of the weekend. Hope you are having a great day. I will try to write more soon.

Trip to Oklahoma

Here is a photo of my cousin, Mary Ellen on my right and her sister, Rowena on my left. They are daughters of my Aunt Hazel who was my mother's older sister. Mary had just lost her husband the day before so this was a sad day for all of us. Ken went home to be with the Lord after a long struggle with cancer. He was in the hospital several times this year and he suffered with terrible pain but he is now free from pain and resting in the presence of the Lord. We were so honored to have known him and he will be greatly missed. Please help me pray for Mary as the weeks ahead will be difficult for her without Ken. We love you Sissy!!! (that is what we call one another as we adopted each other cause I never had a sister)

Here I am with my sweet Uncle Al - He will be turning 85 in October this year. It was so good to see him again and he looked so good and drove from Oklahoma City down to see us at my cousin June's house. It was about an hour drive. I am so proud of him as he stopped smoking after smoking for 75 years. WAY TO GO - UNCLE AL!!!

Here is a breakfast plate of biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, melon and tons of biscuits and jelly that June and Bill fixed for us while we were at their lovely home near Harrah. MY GOODNESS, GARY!!! What a smile on his face. He was sure looking out for his tummy that morning, HUH?

Here is June's daughter, Donna and her husband, Jim. He is a little bit ornery like Gary. They are both so special to us and have a lovely home. We had a wonderful meal and she fixed an awesome brisket - later we had homemade ice cream with some fantastic cakes and desserts. YUM! I can taste them as I type.

Me and my little cousin, Donna

My cousins, June, Delores (DEE) and little Gladys. I had so much fun with all of them

Here is Bill (June's Honey), Ken (Gladys' Honey), Jim (Donna's Honey) and Gary (My Honey) after they all got their little tummies full. Don't they look happy???? Looks like Jim and Gary are even suckin' it in a little bit. HA HA

Here is Gary beaming after Uncle Al presented him with an old metal rod fishing pole complete with reel. He was telling Gary all about it. Gary brought it home, polished it up and got it to looking good. He is SO PROUD of it. THANK YOU UNCLE AL!!!!! YOU MADE GARY'S DAY.

Where did the Summer go?????

My goodness! I can't believe that I haven't blogged in such a long time. Where did the time go? We are doing great and Gary & I have been very busy. I am still working for the retirement living center and very busy in what I do. Gary recently got his CDL license to drive our mini passenger bus part time. He has driven some but is only driving as a fill in for now. We make trips to Branson in it and also it is used for doctor visits and shopping for the residents.

Our family is doing great. We see them fairly often. We have done a little fishing this year and enjoyed the time doing it. Caught a few also. Gary is getting ready this weekend to go deer hunting with a bow. Hopefully he will get one on opening day. He sure is excited about it.

Gary and I both have been feeling fairly well. We have our aches and pains like everyone else but we do seem to be feeling as good as can be expected. Turning 60 this year for both of us didn't help. HA HA

Hope you are all doing well. Please leave a comment so I will know you came on to read my blog. I wonder if anyone ever reads it anyway. Probably not since I never post anything. HA

God Bless You All and please let me hear from you, Janet

40 Years Together & Still In Love

On June 15th, Gary & I went to Branson and spent 2 nights at our time share and on the first day, we went to Arkansas to War Eagle Mill and also to Eureka Springs. We ate that evening at the Bavarian Inn and Restaurant which is a German Restaurant. We had a fantastic time.The second day, June 17th, which was on our actual anniversary, we ate lunch at Ruby Tuesdays which was quite fitting due to the fact it was our Ruby Anniversary. Gary also bought me ruby earrings and a beautiful ruby necklace. Also that afternoon, we went on the Branson Showboat and we ate in the Captain's Paddle Room. It was very elegant and we even got to visit with the captain before we left the pier. It was a very romantic weekend and we will always remember the lovely people we met along the way. We loved touring the mill and also seeing places we had never been before. Below we are standing at a beautiful scenic area near Tablerock Dam. You can see it in the background.

Below we were in front of the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Below we are standing in the grinding area at the War Eagle Mill.

Here we are outside the mill getting ready to go in and eat in the Bean Palace Restaurant on the 3rd Floor. The story about the mill is quite interesting and goes back over a hundred years.

We were on the deck of the Branson Showboat. The Chateau on the Lake is in the background.

Here we are with the Captain of the Branson Showboat. He was a very pleasant man with some neat stories to tell. We enjoyed our day so much and after 40 years of marriage, we are still in love. We hope to make it through at least 40 more together.

An Apple & A Whopper of a Fish

Gary had just taken a big bite of an apple and all at once he hooked this whopper of a fish. It was a large mouth bass and he said he would need the dip net. By the time I got it dipped up the apple had been pulverized but Gary was quite pleased. I caught a smaller brown bass but it wasn't near as big so a photo wasn't necessary. We would have been happy if we had a few more of these to fry up in the skillet.