Have You Ever Wondered

Have you ever wondered why you see so many falling rock signs? There is a simple explanation for it. I have been trying to recall it for years to tell my children but I could never recall it. When I was driving home today, it came to me. Therefore, children gather around - mom finally remembered the story of the Indian named Falling Rock.


A lot of Indians used to live in our neck of the woods. One tribe of Osage Indians lived here in Missouri. This tribe flourished. There was a lot food in the area, berries, deer, bear, and a great area to farm. One year two of the Indian braves fell in love with the same Indian maiden. She was a beautiful young girl. The braves would fight each other almost daily for the hand of this young Indian maiden. The Chief being a wise man decided that a contest should be had between these braves to decide who would have the hand of the young lady. Being the prime of hunting season, the Chief gathered the tribe together. He told Running Bear and Falling Rock, the two Indian Braves they were to go on a bear hunt. Whoever brought the biggest bear back to camp would win the hand of the lovely Indian maiden. Running Bear and Falling Rock left the camp for the hunt. Two weeks passed by and neither brave had come back. After about three more moons, Running Bear came into camp with a good size bear that he had killed. The tribe waited for two more weeks, and then the Chief decided that a search party needed to be formed to go find Falling Rock. The search party went out; they looked all over the hills, and never found any trace of Falling Rock. The Chief was beside himself with anguish. He called a Tribal Council together. At this Council, he decreed that from this day on all people would look for Falling Rock. This is why today you see the signs along the Highway. “Watch for Falling Rock”

Carthage Missouri

We will be heading home tomorrow. It has been great getting out of the house and away from things for a while. Carthage is a lot like Chester IL. Very confusing town with conflicting maps. We did see the battlefield and it would be a beautiful meadow if they would clean up the trash and mow. We then tried to find Bell Star aka Myra Mabelle but that was not accomplished. We then took off for Lamar Missouri to see Harry S Truman's birthplace. It was a neat old house and the tour guide was very good. The molding on the RV by the driver's side came off on our trip up here and a very nice gentleman fixed it. Come to find out he was from the lake as well. That is the only worrisome thing that has happened to us, so far.


Carthage

To Answer Your Question Hannah

George Washington Carver
By Mary Bellis

It is rare to find a man of the caliber of George Washington Carver. A man who would decline an invitation to work for a salary of more than $100,000 a year (almost a million today) to continue his research on behalf of his countrymen. Agricultural chemist, Carver discovered three hundred uses for peanuts and hundreds more uses for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes. Among the listed items that he suggested to southern farmers to help them economically were his recipes and improvements to/for: adhesives, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, chili sauce, fuel briquettes, ink, instant coffee, linoleum, mayonnaise, meat tenderizer, metal polish, paper, plastic, pavement, shaving cream, shoe polish, synthetic rubber, talcum powder and wood stain. Only three patents were every issued to Carver. He did discover/invented peanut butter.

George Washington Carver National Monument

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

Today Mom and I went to the George Washington Carver National Monument. There was mile long hike that showed us the woods where he played. As well as the house that he returned to, to visit Moses and Susan Carver who had raised him to adulthood. I have always admired him. Not because of my love for peanut butter but for who he was, what he had to go through to receive an education, his wisdom, his intelligence... The list could go on forever. What an honor, it would have been, to shake his hand. When Martin Luther King's birthday became a national holiday, I thought to myself.... “They choose a man who incites and not a man who instructs.” To me the honor needed to have been given to Mr. Carver. Who was a quiet, gentle soul who desired education and assisted in educating others. So much for my preaching. Again, pictures will be uploaded to Ringo. It was a beautiful place and very peaceful. Surely Not was a little neurotic more so than usual. I think it is because she is out of her element and proving the old adage of "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" true. Tomorrow-historical Carthage.

"Where there is no vision, there is no hope."

Wildlife

I was reading my Cousin Robin's blog about the lack of wildlife in the city and that made me think of my home town of Camdenton.

I am seeing more and more of our wildlife on the side of the road. Today I drove past a family of skunks that someone had struck with their vehicle. When I am outside of Camdenton, driving down a back road I do not see the carnage that I see in Camdenton. The Lake of the Ozarks is becoming more and more developed and I feel like I am driving through a large city. With development comes the destruction of habitat and that leaves the carnage. I remember catching blue tail lizards and fireflies, watching with childish delight the possums, raccoons, and skunks that lived in close proximity. I remember hearing the whip o wills at night. Being young, I didn't appreciate this and now that I am much older, I miss it.

It is time to move on and find a quiet place to hang my hat. I would love to show the world, as I knew it as a child to my grandchildren. Just this evening, coming home to the RV mom and I watched a family of raccoons and it was nice.

Carthage

The Waiting Game

I have been asked why you haven’t left yet. We haven't left yet because we are waiting on the dent to be repaired. I have called many, many times asking, "is the part in?” I have kept track of everything he said to me. I am going to become very confrontational when I call on Monday. I called this morning to see if the Internet equipment is in. They told me it will take a week and it has been a week. I was told "Gee I don't know. I will call you right back.” I would think a business would keep track of its inventory and it has been 45 minutes and I am still waiting for him to call me right back. We are planning to leave this weekend for a short trip. I don't know where we will be going but I will bet you all the money I have in my piggy bank that everyone will call me on Saturday while I am gone and I will get the "I tried to call you but you were not home" or "the part has been ordered" or "I don't know what is in my inventory and I will call you right back." Frustrated yes.

Camdenton Missouri

Long Time No Sleep

"I say to myself why are you awake again? It's one a.m. standin with the fridge wide open starin such a sigh flourescent light the stars are bright might make a wish if I believed in that shit but as it is I might watch TV cause its nice to see people can be more messed up than me" ~jewel~

I am having a worse time now falling asleep. I don't know why but I now go to bed at 2:00 a.m. (usual time) and wake up in an hour. I mean I am wide-awake. I read a guidebook on Honduras, and then I took pictures of Surely Not as she lay sleeping. I wanted to have a reminder of what it looks like to sleep since I am not sure at this time what it is. I have always had insomnia. I could sleep for two hours go to work for eight hours. I would do that for days. Now it has become worse. A trip to the doctor will not do a thing for this. I am relying on over the counter prescriptions. Why am I posting this? The reason for my writing this is that I have three wonderful children... The oldest doesn't care for which I am grateful, the youngest does care and again I am grateful, the middle child has his own problems that keep him awake. So don't call me after 8:00 p.m. I am planning to be in bed. I might be watching TV, reading a guidebook on Honduras, taking pictures of my dog but I am attempting to sleep. I am hoping to rewire myself and get 4 to 6 hours of sleep. In a month I might be so refreshed and energized I won't know what to do with myself but I am not holding my breath.

Maiden Voyage Jackson Missouri

I pulled in to my lot and told my 70 something mother to unhook the car. I had my visor down so I was watching the monitor. I saw my mother, her upper half was draped over the hood of the car, and her little legs were kind of dangling. I thought, “What the hell is that crazy woman doing?” Just then, I heard “help me.” So Lesson Number One: When unhooking your car make sure you have the emergency brake engaged.

Lesson Number Two: Always keep in mind that you do have a cab over. I am sure Gulfstream will send the parts to the body shop. What Tree?

Lesson Number Three: When putting the fuse back in the car, the doors will lock. It’s not wise to put the fuse in when you have the car in Neutral, the keys in, and fortunately, I did have the emergency brake engaged. All the doors will lock. This leads into Lesson 4.

Lesson Number Four: When you find you keys locked in your vehicle; remember to call On Star before you call the locksmith.

Lesson Number Five: Stay off Hwy 160 in Missouri when towing a car. One of the road signs looked like someone’s intestines.

Lesson Number Six: Never spray hose your dog's rear end. It was a gentle spray but poor old Surely screamed like a woman.

Lesson Number Seven: Always buy your RV from a reputable dealer. Good Bye Gulfstream, hello Holiday Rambler.

Lesson Number Eight: Secure all windows, including the emergency exit windows before you go on the road.

Lesson Number Nine: Sewer hoses leak but not necessarily on the ground. EWWWWW Check and maintain your hoses. Keep worm clamps on hand.

Lesson Number Ten: Always keep spare cotter pins. It is not fun to line up your car, get it ready to hook up and realize you are missing a cotter pin.

Lesson Number Eleven: Always keep spare fuses for your car. Again, you unhook your car, put in the fuse, and it won't start. Dead fuse. You hook your car back up to the RV...