Now that Thanksgiving weekend is in the rearview mirror, I’m left thinking about how thankful I am for that interconnecting bit of a family holiday that annoys so many people. I’m thankful for the time I spent driving through the Ozarks over the past few days. We traipsed up and down and back and forth … Continue reading Driving through the Ozarks
Ozark Culture
Read about Missouri Ozarker in the Phelps County Focus
A profile of me and my writing about the Missouri Ozarks is in this week's edition of the Phelps County Focus. Read more about my creative efforts in boosting the Missouri Ozarks and telling the stories of its culture. “As someone who’s a booster of the Ozarks, I think it is incredibly important that we … Continue reading Read about Missouri Ozarker in the Phelps County Focus
Working Cattle
When I was a high school FFAer, one handy way to make money every fall was to take a shift at the local feeder calf sale. It wasn’t exactly easy money. It was hard work late into the night, but for those of us who knew what we were doing it was at least simple … Continue reading Working Cattle
In Praise of Ozark Culture: Green Growing Things
On Mother’s Day I planted my grandmother’s tomatoes, along with a couple of pepper plants. Grandma insisted that she didn’t need the help, but she accepted it gladly enough when we refused to give her any choice in the matter. She’s turning 93 this summer, and after much beseeching from her children and grandchildren she … Continue reading In Praise of Ozark Culture: Green Growing Things
In Praise of Ozark Culture: The Fecundity of Hill Folk
Back a long time ago when I was a little smart-ass high schooler, I made a big show of accusing one of my aunts of being fecund. She didn’t know what that word meant, of course, because it’s not a term in the Ozark vernacular. Being the little jerk that I was, I’d hoped to … Continue reading In Praise of Ozark Culture: The Fecundity of Hill Folk
Missouri Ozarker 