October 2003 Volume 2 Issue 11

Beneath The Message Tree A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles Art Signing Day At The Harold Bell Wright Museum On a beautiful Saturday in October, your Message Tree staff was fortunate enough to attend the Art Signing day at the Harold Bell Wright museum in Pierce City Missouri. Gathering in the historic First Christian Church on North Walnut Street, artists, poets, and authors, were present to show and sell their work, in an effort to raise monies for the “Keep Pierce City Alive” fund, which is earmarked to offset the expenses associated with rebuilding the community that was devastated by a tornado in May........................ H I S T O R Y O F H E R E P a r t 184 Lookin' at a Valuable Neighbor It's surprising how few people know the real history of the farm - and an unbelievable number of local folks don't even know about the fabulous show, nor the tale told in Harold Bell Wright's world famous book. Like SDC and the Yocum Silver Dollar, the story of the Farm and Theater have historic beginnings, lots of interplay of plots and people, tragedy, love, excitement, color and all the other things that I love to tell you dear readers about. I don't know how many issues the telling of the tale will take - but let's get started............. The Glade Top Trail Of The Mark Twain Across southern Missouri lie thousands of square miles of land maintained by the Forest Service and simply known to many Ozarkers as "The Mark Twain."..........Many of the rural roads that cling precariously to the winding ridge tops, provide excellent views of the surrounding countryside, but one of the most scenic is the Glade Top Trail near Ava. ............. The Outhouse :: A Toilet Humor Off the narrow, winding country road, at the end of a long gravel driveway, stood the main house, a large white countrified house which had been originally built as a one-room schoolhouse in the early 1900's..........Behind the barn stood the most interesting and magnetic structure on farm-The Outhouse. A Halloween History       Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Urban Legends, tall tales,and more unexplained of the Ozarks The Ozarks has so many colorful folk legends and ghost stories, and amazingly enough, many of these can be found right on the internet. As more and more writers learn how to self publish their short stories on the web and more research into our culture is posted, the probability of finding tales about your specific region of the Ozarks,.....

Departments Financial Focus Don't Count on Home as a ``Growth'' Investment..... If you've owned your home for many years, the chances are pretty good that it's increased in value - perhaps substantially. However, even if that's the case, don't assume that it will continue appreciating to the point where you can count on it to help support your retirement and other long-term goals.............. News From The Message Tree Check out our new Web-Blog, that is updated throughout the month Inspiration "Heart Test" As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard........... Tips And Recipes Ghost Cookies, Chicken Caccitore, Sweet Potato & Apple Cake, TIPS: FOR A SAFE HALLOWEEN! Pumpkin People It's a beautiful Fall day - you head out to your local pumpkin patch in the hope of finding that one and only orange globe that will captivate the youngsters, and bring some chuckles and giggles from young and old alike.............. Double Dog Dare!!! If you don't remember this, you're too young anyway. This is a time we can feel good about remembering so much! I am sharing this with you today because it ends with a "double dog dare" to pass it on. Always remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and young enough not to care.............. Read The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here To Read Our New Classified Section

September 2003 Volume 2 Issue 10

Beneath The Message Tree A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles Death Of The Hillbilly Where did the image of a hillbilly come from and is that sterotype here to stay?............. Above And Below The Ozarks Enjoy the Flaming Fall Revue and learn something too...... MY HOME TOWN :: #3 Ava Missouri A brief historical overview of the County seat of Douglas County PB & Js, and Licking the Bowl — The Joys of a Kid Friendly Kitchen! Remember licking the bowl when you were a kid? Or making your own peanut butter sandwiches.....

Departments Financial Focus Take Advantage of Cut in Capital Gains Rate News From The Message Tree Check out our new Web-Blog, that is updated throughout the month Inspiration The King's Highway Crafts Free Pattern Handicraft A Wooden Puzzle Tips And Recipes Homemade Chicken Soup, Herbal Tea With Honey, and other remedies for when you're under the Ozarks weather Read The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here To Read Our New Classified Section

Summer 2003 Special Edition

From Our View Of The Road A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles Fine Art In The Hills It's hard to pinpoint the cause, but there seems to be an unique change in the events we attend, perhaps it is the economy, perhaps it is our desire to seek out smaller more intimate venues............. STORY TELLING IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE OZARKS "Do we all enjoy stories these days," you may be asking? "No one listens to old people tell tales anymore, do they?" And I say to you: Do we watch television? Do we rent and buy videos? Do we pay to go to movies? Do we pay to go to seminars and conferences? Do we pay to send our children and our grandchildren to school? Of course we do, we all do, and will continue to do so until the end. "But," you ask, "these aren't stories like Grandpa and Grandma told, are they?" In slightly different clothes, suitable to slightly different times, yes, they surely are.

SOMETIMES SMALLER IS BETTER Curiously enough, people still have a powerful desire for the small but important things in life. Almost anyone you talk to hopes, one day, to get back to the "simple life," to relax, lie back and just absorb all that surrounds them. Sounds ..........Of course, the big songs, the big stories, the big picture is still highly important in our modern life and times. But, guess what? There has been, for quite some time now, a potent swing to the return of those olden times.......... Read The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here To Read Our New Classified Section

July 2003 Issue 8, Volume 2

Beneath The Message Tree A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles The Ozarks on the world wide web! there are web sites, constructed by just pain people for the enlightenment of other others and not for commercial gain. Lets take a look of a few of them and their importance to historic and cultural preservation of our dear Ozarks. The Unexplained of the Ozarks The folklore and legends of the Ozarks are full of stories of strange and unusual phenomena that continue to defy rational scientific explanation.......... One would think that centers for serious research might be located near locations that the popular culture has immortalized in print and film, such as Roswell New Mexico, the scene of the alleged crash of an extra-terrestrial vehicle in the late forties, however we have such a center right here in the Ozarks, in Reeds Spring Missouri, My Home Town :: #2 PONCE DE LEON, THE GHOST OF A ONCE GREAT SPA TOWN Most school children that have paid any attention to their history classes know who Ponce De Leon was. It is very doubtful that Ponce De Leon ever made it to the Ozarks. However, his name made it here and may, perhaps, stay here forever. Bushwhacking and its History in Missouri One must always remember that conventional history tends to be written by the winners, and can be biased in its reporting. First off, it is a common misconception that the War Between The States (WTBS) or the War of Northern Aggression, depending on your beliefs, was a Civil War. It was not. A civil war, is a war between a radical faction, trying to overthrow a government or regime to place itself into power. The Confederacy was not designed, nor was its purpose to overthrow the U.S. government, but to break away from what it perceived as a tyrant, no different than the British Empire that our ancestors broke away from in our Revolutionary War.

Regular Departments A Letter From Jim Barrett News From Jim and the Road Gang Financial Focus Are Variable Annuities Right for You? To save the money you'll need for that comfortable retirement you've been working toward, your best move is to contribute as much as you can afford to your 401(k) and IRA. But what happens if you hit the contribution limits on these two plans? What other investments are there for you? One possibility is a variable annuity. However, before you purchase one, review the positives and the negatives because they're both present. Recipes Ice Cream Treats Cool off with these favorites of The Message Tree Staff Handy Tips For Your Home From The Message Tree Click here to read these inexpensive day to day tips Finally, clothes for your Raggedy Ann doll ! Remember that doll pattern from a few months back, well now we have some clothes for her, click here for the free patterns.     Read The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here To Read Our New Classified Section

June 2003 Issue 7, Volume 2

Beneath The Message Tree A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles "What's A Baldknobber?" Yes Virginia there is more to the story of the Baldknobbers than the historyof that wonderful group of musicians in Branson on the 76 strip. Join THE MESSAGE TREE as we take a fun look at this part of Ozarks lore and ledgend. The Branderosa Rendezvous Join us as we return to the banks of the James River to witness living history. Men and Women who are keeping the heritage of this great nation alive. And be sure to read the side bar detailing the work with challenged children and individualsthat the remarkable folks at the Branderosa Ranch. The Branderosa Therapeutic Equestrian Resort New Column at THE MESSAGE TREE My Home Town :: #I Reeds Spring Missouri This month we are inagurating a new series of articles, especially for those of you that have roots in the Ozarks but have never been able to visit or can seldom do so. My Home Town will tell the history of the past or in future issues may provide photos of your home town as it is today. In this first installment Jim Barrett takes us on a fun tour through time looking at the history of Reeds Spring.

Regular Departments A Letter From Jim Barrett News From Jim and the Road Gang Financial Focus New Tax Laws Expand Your Investment Opportunities You've probably seen a lot of headlines on the Tax Relief Act of 2003. This legislation, recently signed into law by President Bush, will affect virtually everyone in the country. As an individual investor, you've got reasons to cheer the new tax laws. Many people will find that their taxes will decrease 5 percent or more under the new tax laws. Let's review some of the tax act's key areas and see what actions they might suggest Recipes Recipes for that special Fourth Of July celebration. Here's some recipes fit for any Fourth Of July celebration, straight to you from the backyard barbecue kitchen of THE MESSAGE TREE. We hope you will find an added enjoyment to your fourth.     Place your Ad In The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here For Information

May 2003 Issue 6, Volume 2

Beneath The Message Tree A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles The Rocks Really CanTalk In 1883, two boys out hunting, observed a Rabbit disappear under a large ledge rock on the side of a hill. Moving the rock, much to their surprise they found what appeared to be a bottomless pit.  In June of 1896 Truman Powell and his oldest Son William set about preparations to lower themselves into the depths of the cavern, and like astronauts of today exploring outer space, these "speleonauts" were off on an adventure to explore inner space. An Epiphany In An Ozarks Ghost Town Those of us that grew up here in the Ozarks, know the story of the Shepherd Of The Hills but how many know the rest of the story? The History Of Here History, Before There Was Any History Jim Barrett has wrote bi-weekly columns for the Stone County Gazette for a good number of years and we have the latest for those of you who enjoy Jim's columns, but do not subscribe to the Gazette. HOH Part IV HOH Part V HOH Part VI The Weathered Old Barn Submitted by e-mail, this photo essay featuring some beautiful old barns, will warm the hearts of all. On This Memorial Day Remember A transcript of a speech by Senator John McCain. The Ozarks And The Internet The first of a new monthly column that will explore the unusual, the paradoxical, and humorous uses of the Internet In The Ozarks.

Regular Departments A Letter From Jim Barrett News From Jim and the Road Gang Craft Corner A History Of Raggedy Ann Still going strong after 95 years, Raggedy Ann and Andy continue to bring love and happiness into the hearts of little girls and collectors alike! Get A FREE Raggedy Anne Doll Pattern In this months The Mesage Tree get a Free pattern and instructions on how you can make your own Anne, ahich will become a heirloom you and your's will cherish. Financial Focus 10 Estate-planning Ideas All our lives, we plan. Some of the things we plan, such as what to have for dinner or the route we'll take to work, are so trivial they require little thought. Other things, such as a family vacation or purchasing a new home, require a great deal of thought. All day, every day, we plan. Yet, many of us fail to plan for one of the most important tasks of all -- what will happen to our possessions once we're gone. Inspirational Article An Interview With God Recipes TIPS: for making delicious Fried Chicken It appears Southerners weren't the first in the world to fry their chickens. Almost every other country has a version of fried chicken, or fricassee, from Vietnam's Gà Xaò to Italy's pollo fritto. However, it is thought that introduction of the method here in the United States came from the Scottish people who settled the early South . They preferred frying their chickens, rather than baking or boiling them as the English did. Home And Garden Tips From The Message Tree Check out these handy tips from our staff!

 

April 2003 Issue

From Our View Of The Road A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles The Seventh Annual Wood Carving Seminar At Silver Dollar City Read about the wood carving seminar and Silver Dollar City's craft college. Weddings In The Ozarks Signs of Spring in the Ozarks such as Easter Lilies blooming and the Forsythia in their glorious golden yellows are already gracing the hills with the promise that the cold weather of Winter will soon be but another fading memory. And now is the time of the year, that by age-old tradition, many young couples make plans to join in the bonds of Holy matrimony. Weddings and honeymooning in the Ozarks, are another of the interesting tidbits of local history.......... The History Of Here History, Before There Was Any History Part II Part III The second and third instalments in a series of NEW AND ORIGINAL Jim Barrett material, read about the happennings in the White River valley before history started. The Midwest Tool Collectors Association  "Yankee Ingenuity" and "Necessity Being The Mother Of Invention," are two phrases that describe some of the tools in the collections of exhibitors at the collectors show and tell. Humor The Message Tree In The Innocents Abroad Folks in far off lands, have been reading our brand of good 'ol Ozarks storytelling. As Twain wrote about his adventures in far off lands in "Innocents Abroad", today innocents abroad are reading about our adventures in the Ozarks The Ozarks And The Internet The first of a new monthly column that will explore the unusual, the paradoxical, and humorous uses of the Internet In The Ozarks.

Regular Departments A Letter From Jim Barrett News From Jim and the Road Gang Craft Corner Make an Old Fashioned Handkerchief Doll Just like Grand Ma's Financial Focus Stay Invested During Turbulent Times Military conflict has created a wide range of important concerns for Americans.......questions may include: "What will war mean to the stock market?'' "Will the market rally when war is over?'' And, perhaps: "Should I pull my money out?'' Inspirational Article Heaven's Grocery Store As I was walking along "LIFE'S HIGHWAY" a long time ago One day I saw a sign that read "Heaven's Grocery Store". As I got a little closer the door came open wide. There was a host of Angels, they were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, "MY CHILD SHOP WITH CARE". Recipes Check out these great recipes Book Review Traces Of Silver The Back Porch Yep, that's where I wrote this article - sitting on the back porch............when it occurred to me that I was indulging myself in one of the true luxuries of the work-from-home lifestyle........... Read The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here To Read Our New Classified Section

 

Articles From The March 2003 Issue

From Our View Of The Road A Letter From The Editor Our Feature Articles An Interview With Peter Engler Come and sit a spell with us as we listen to this wood carver extraordinaire tell about himself and the history of crafts in Ozark Mountain Country The Rape of The Hills Mornings come slowly in the Ozarks, as the cock is crowing the night away, and the sun is slowly, ever so gradually rising....sometimes there is a misty fog in the hollow and the dawn ever so slowly slips underneath it and eases the fog to the hilltops where it hovers, fading gently .... I ask myself what will this day bring? Just more pollution or even over development? Or perhaps, hopefully just another bright new promising day. ON THE ROAD THE MESSAGE TREE staff is once again on the loose and roaming the hills. Join us as we tour the Douglas County Museum in Ava Missouri. History, Before There Was History The first in a series of NEW AND ORIGINAL Jim Barrett material, read about the happennings in the White River valley before history started. Humor Watermelon Seeds Childhood In The 1950s I was born in 1953. Growing up in the 1950's and 1960's was much different from today.

Regular Departments News From Jim and the Road Gang A Letter From Jim Barrett The President of the Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Association Financial Focus Act Now to Defray Long-term Care Costs If you're a baby boomer, then your biggest threat to your future financial security may not be the fluctuating stock market or the solvency of Social Security, either. It's the high cost of long-term care. Inspirational Article 57 Cents Read how one little Girl made a difference with her offering of 57 cents. Recipes Check Out These Favorites, Just Time For Saint Patrick's day Read The Classified Section of THE MESSAGE TREE TODAY Click Here To Read Our New Classified Section

ARTICLES IN THE 2003 FEBRUARY ISSUE

Our Feature Articles Ol' Ready To Run The Story of the Love a man can have for his Tractor The Sirens Of The Ozarks Is there a song of the hills that calls at the hearts of our prodigal sons and daughters? Bill Dees, The Man Behind The Music Read about this incredible song writer and performer that composed or co-wrote many of the classic rock ballads from the '50s and 60's A Rocker For All Ages Everybody loves an old rocking chair. A Few Things - A Wonderful Gift Creativity, a blessing from God

Inspirational Article The Greatest Of Love Stories Ever Told Recipes Giant Chocolate Kiss A Microvable confection Valentines Love Drops Bake these in your oven! Humor Trying To Take It With You

The Special Edition of the February Issue
Kimberling City, and a Bit of its History. Ghost Towns Revisited Again Back To The Ghost Towns	A ROAD BY ANY OTHER NAME: DOWN THE WILDERNESS ROAD OF THE OZARKS - LONG AGO, JUST YESTERDAY, AND NOW.

Articles In The December 2002/January 2003 Issue

Our Feature Articles Holiday Drama In The Dark Woods A tale of the holidays based on the first written records of the Ozarks Eggnog, Santa, and the real meaning of Christmas Yes Virginia there is Eggnog and Santa Claus! Read about the famous "Virginia" editorial and check out these recipes for "Nog"!!! Christmas Shopping In The Ozarks Past And Present Join the "Ghost of Christmas Past" on a haunting shopping journey through the Ozarks Inspirational Article Just Thinking about W.W.J.D.? What would think if they threw you a birthday party, but didn't invite you?

Regular Departments HISTORY OF HERE Tourism As She "Usta" Was Another of the critically acclaimed series of historical recollections by Jim Barrett. Of Interest To Writers How to profit from that New Years Resolution Yes Virginia, you can make money from that unkept New Years resolution. 'How To Make Time To Write' Can't find time to write? Read this article and learn some helpful tips.

October-November 2002
Our Feature Articles All Creations, Great and Small Malicious Mischief Mauls The Message Tree Windows, Railroads, and The Bluebird Tips For The Aspiring Writer A Simple Recipe For "WRITING SUCCESS" Inspirational Article The Old Man And The Wooden Bowl	Memories of Walnuts, Persimmons and Wooly Worms

January 2002

Vandalism Closes The Wilderness Road. Suddenly the deer jerked his head high, his ears had picked out a sound on the wind, one that was not of nature but of man. Leaving the sereneness of the river he quickly made his way into the safety of forest, then as motionless as a statue of stone he watched to see what had disturbed his afternoon........... Caves, And Urban Legends Of The Ozarks For those of you, like myself, who have enjoyed more than forty birthdays, urban legends, are the accounts, that we knew of, as “tall tales and ghost stories.” The caverns of the Ozarks have more than their fair share of these old stories, many rooted in historical fact, some simply tall but otherwise enjoyable tales. Many of these tales cannot be confirmed or denied, as in some cases the factual evidence has been lost to the annuals of time.

HISTORY OF HERE, And This, Too, Is History. Part 101 The Outhouse Poem One of the most lamented aspects of rural life, has been the simple structure known as the outhouse................We thought that those of you that remember those days, might appreciate this poem that was forwarded to us. Road Building Many of our rural secondary routes throughout the Ozarks, are so twisting and winding, with curve after curve, that we have made up our own adages or speculated as to why the roads are so crooked. Have you ever heard a native Ozarker use the phrase, “as the crow flies”???

Christmas Special Edition, December 2001

Underneath The Mistletoe Your halls are decked with boughs of Holly, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, chestnuts are ready to roast on a open fire, and everyone in your house is in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon will be there. Perhaps you have even strategically placed a sprig of mistletoe, somewhere in your home, under which the kids can say they saw Momma kissing Santa Claus. But wait, other than the tradition of smooching under the mistletoe, do you know the rest of the story of the plant?

"Santa's Secret Wish." On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surpnse, And said as he nestled on Santa's broad knee, "I want your secret. Tell it to me." A Box Full Of Kisses The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

November 2001

Down Joe Bald Road Dad's Ozark Ark Folly Me, Part 3 of 3 The History Of Here And This, Too, Is History. Jim Barrett has wrote bi-weekly columns for the Stone County Gazette for a good number of years and we have the latest for those of you who enjoy Jim's columns, but do not subscribe to the Gazette. Old Maps I just can’t help myself, I find maps especially old maps intriguing. Although I am not a collector or student of cartography, I just enjoy looking at and perhaps pondering the implications that an old map might have had on those that depended on such for guidance in their travels.

On doing nothing - wrong or right A Poem Signs of the Road Signs have been a part of the roads through the Ozarks since the first Americans traversed the game trails that wound along the long ridge tops. In the same way that in our modern world, we erect devices that guide the visitor to the area, pointing the way to attractions, lodging, restaurants, and other services, indigenous people would permanently alter the growth of a tree so that it would always point towards an important landmark.

July 2001 Issue 2, Volume 1

Our Feature Articles History of Here We always seem to think of Ozarks roads as being "high-roads," running along the ridges to seek level routes and avoid creek beds. In most cases, the main ones now are indeed high-roads. In the early days it may have seemed easier to drive one’s wagon up a creek than to wind through the dense forests which, in those pre-tie-hacking days, covered the ridges of the hills The Ghost Pond of Reeds Spring These people of whom we'll be chatting were not any sort of soldier, though many of them had served in the various armies of the North or South and might at one time have been legitimate guerrilla fighters. Many of these were cruel and most dangerous renegades, criminals and opportunists preying upon those who could not well fight back.

Regular Departments "D's"Diner A stones' throw from the route of the old Wilderness Road, near the site of the historic Linchpin tavern and campground; there is a wonderful little diner. Not only does this fine establishment serve up an outstanding breakfast and lunch menu, but it also has quite an interesting collection of art and newspaper clippings on its walls depicting local sites and scenes from Ozarks history.