Small Town Sunday #12 - Christmas 2010

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and remembered the reason for the season. I am saddened when I think of how many people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ without recognizing it in any way; some don't even know that is the reason we even have Christmas... We give presents because the Wise Men gave presents to the baby Jesus, not because Santa exists.

Speaking of presents, I was a really good girl this year and received some great presents. I like my gifts much better than Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Well, enough gold would have allowed me to get these gifts, but...

My Christmas Haul

I asked for a professional quality tri-pod, the lens (55-300), the Roku and the food processor. Everything else was bonus. Even the lens was really a bonus that I wasn't sure I would get. Yes, I got a Dewalt drill! I love it! My dad always gets me cans of de-icer. It's a tradition. I have LOTS stored in a tub from previous Christmases and really need to give some away. The Roku isn't living up to my expectations, but I'm hoping that eventually it will work better as technology advances and hopefully my internet speed increases (I have the fastest available for my neck of the woods, but it is only 1.0 Mb). 

I will be going to the "big town" to after-Christmas shop tomorrow. It is a day later than usual, but with the 26th being a Sunday this year, I was at church instead of shopping. I am hoping to get a few deals and buy some much needed clothes. I hated to buy anything prior to Christmas in case I got something for Christmas, but now it is time to fill the holes in my (much smaller sized) wardrobe.

Cullen will miss the tree. He LOVES to sleep under it!

I hate to think of having to take down all the Christmas decorations. Not because I am sad to see them go, but because I'm too lazy to want to take everything down, box it up and put it in storage. It's my least favorite part of the Holiday season. We are supposed to have one day this week that the temps will get around 60 degrees, so I guess I will take down the outside lights then.

Here's hoping that you are able to enjoy what remains of the holiday season!

Small Town Sunday #10 - Big City Shopping

One of the downsides to living in a small town, especially my small town, is having to drive to a larger city to do major shopping. Unfortunately, my small town is almost 100 miles from a city large enough to have any major shopping.  This does, however, make shopping an experience, one that can be a lot of fun if you go with the right person(s).

My mother and I made a "quick" trip to the city to buy a new faucet for my leaky sink after I got off work on Friday. I had looked all around our small town and couldn't find the type of faucet I wanted, and I knew Lowe's would have one. Normally, I would buy it online and not need to drive an hour and a half one-way to buy a faucet, but I had someone coming to my house the next day to install it, so...

One thing that seems to never fail when going to "the big city" to shop, is running into someone from our small town. At Lowe's we ran into my best friends' in-laws (yes, that was an intentional plural possessive. Two of my besties are married to brothers and have the same in-laws) I hadn't seen them in awhile because we no longer go to the same church. It was nice to catch up.

After finding the faucet, we went across the road to Target so I could look for a present for my niece (what I had ordered on line was NOTHING like I expected, but that's another story). As we were leaving target (without the present), who did we see but our neighbor and her little girls. 

It is so weird to be in a huge store, in a big city and look over and see someone from your small town. You just have to go over and say "hi".  It is like looking at a Where's Waldo and actually finding Waldo in your first glance at the page. Maybe it's more like winning the find-a-friend-among-400,000-people lottery.  Either way, it's always a little shock...even though it happens every time I go to the "big city".

So even in a big city, there is still a little small town feel. It reminds me of the song, "It's a Small World After All."  Sometimes the big city can be like a small town. Of course, there are people out there who would consider a town with just under half a million in population to BE a small town. I would completely disagree. Probably because my town has under 3,000 people.  Now THAT'S a small town!

Small Town Sunday #9 - Making Thanksgiving Memories

I'm sure Thanksgiving is important and full of traditions no matter where you live in the US, however, I can't imagine that Thanksgiving is quite the same in the big city.

Here in the small town, families often still live around each other. Even those who move away, will often come back for the big holidays. I love Thanksgiving. It is full of tradition, family and food! 

This year I decided to record through photos what goes into creating one of our family Thanksgivings.

Pumpkin pie in the making

Testing the Pies

Crumbling the cornbread for the stuffing

Making the stuffing

Prepping the bird

Stuffing the bird

Rolling out the dumplings

Cutting the dumplings (using my great great grandmother's knife)

Dumplings!

Adding the dumplings to the chicken broth

Thickening the dumplings

Is the turkey done yet?

How about now?

Perfection!

Carving the turkey

Making the mashed potatoes

Making mashed potatoes

You can smell the rolls

Sweet potatoes with marshmallows

The food is all laid out

It's a feast!

Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as I did mine!

Small Town Sunday #8 - Deer Season

It's here! One of the most important times of the year for so many people in the Ozarks...Deer Season.  Schools are canceled and people take off work. Seriously.

My school takes of the first Monday of deer season. A few of the more rural schools in the area take off the whole first week of deer season.  I cannot believe they do that, but... The reason schools do this is because of the attendance rate. If the attendance is low, then the school actually loses money being in operation, so some schools just plan for a day off. Even with Monday off, I will still have some students who will take off additional days. I had a boy come up to me the other day and tell me that he was going to be "sick" Tuesday through Friday.

I don't hunt, but I grew up in a family of hunters. My dad is a serious hunter. Every year he goes off to Colorado elk hunting right before deer season. Dad has quite a few acres of land and even creates food plots that encourage deer and turkey to stay on the land.  We have deer camp every year with men in orange all over the place. All the men stay in a cabin in the woods and get up early to head out to their deer stands or to walk the woods.

This morning I was woken up by what had to be the world's loudest 4-wheeler driving around my house. I can't imagine it didn't scare away any deer in a half-mile radius.

This year dad built a new deer stand that is semi-movable. It is one of the most interesting stands I've seen. 

 

 

 

Unique Deer Stand

I want to wish all the hunters good luck this deer season. Be careful! And if you are going to kill a deer...eat the deer. It is irresponsible to do otherwise.  For those who like to hunt, but don't need or want the meat, there is a great program called Share the Harvest here in Missouri that has been created by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Small Town Sunday #7 - Reflection From A Former Small Town Girl

I asked one of my old school friends to write a guest post about growing up in a small town.  I knew she would have a unique story to tell because she left our small town after graduating high school and now lives in the "big city." Also, she has always been a great writer and I will never forget all the stories she would write about what our lives would one day be like.

For more of her musings, check out on her blog: The Adventures of Vito Marino


I was born in a small town.  And I was raised and went to all 13 years
of school in that same small town.

And I could not wait to get out of there!

I was a teenager, itching to get out in to the real world and
experience life outside of the bubble of that town.  The bubble where
everyone knew everyone, and in turn, everyone’s business.  I was ready
to be able to go to a mall that wasn’t 80 miles away.  I wanted to go
to concerts and sporting events without having to make an overnight
trip.  If I saw something on tv or in a magazine, I wanted to be able
to go right out and buy it (remember, this was before online
shopping!).  And I desperately wanted to meet new people.

I left when I was 18, went to college in a neighboring state.  Sweet
freedom!  After college I lived in downtown Kansas City for two years
and have now lived in an urban neighborhood in St. Louis for nine
years.  I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Even though I was dying to get out, I knew even then what we had was
special.  I can't speak for every small town, but I can speak for
ours.  I think the best thing about growing up where we did were the
friendships.  The majority of our class was together from Kindergarten
through Senior Year, and I still count some of those people as my best
friends today.  We had a bond that you just can't get growing up in
the city while likely changing schools multiple times based on
district boundaries or private schools or a multitude of other
reasons.

We were bonded even further when one of our best friends, another
classmate since Kindergarten, was killed on our last day of school,
senior year.  Our group of friends had gone to a local creek to swim
and celebrate - quintessential small town life.  She and another of
our friends left to get sodas for the group.  It really was that
innocent.  They never returned.  There was a car accident and our
friend was killed (the other survived, thank God).  That experience
changed us all.  Even if we had taken each other for granted in the
past, that made us cling to each other for our last summer together
before everything changed forever.  It really made us appreciate each
other and how lucky we were to have grown up together.

Now, the second best thing about growing up in our small town?  The
rivers!  I bring my city friends to those rivers every summer and they
all agree that we were so lucky to grow up where we did, even if we
didn't appreciate it at the time.  It really is beautiful.

My parents and grandparents still live there, but I only go back a few
times a year (once being the big river float trip!).  I couldn't
imagine living there again, but I do understand why some people want
to.  There's a comfort in familiarity and roots.  Even now when I
visit, if I go "into town" for something, it's impossible to do so
without seeing someone I've known (or who has known me) since I was a
child.

But as I said, I never want to live somewhere other than where I live
now.  There are a lot of misconceptions about city-living.  I think
one of the biggest is that there is no sense of community.  I've never
felt more connected to my community than where I live now.  It's said
a lot because it's true - St. Louis is really just a big small town.
It's full of beautiful neighborhoods that each have their own appeal,
history, quirks, identities - just like the small towns scattered
through the Ozarks.  I never feel disconnected here.  I know my
neighbors, I see people I know at the grocery store, and just like
Cheers, the neighborhood taverns do know my name.  Cheering for the
Cardinals at Busch Stadium is just like cheering for the high school
football team, except you are doing it with 40,000 neighbors instead
of 400.  And speaking of neighbors, two of my friends from that small
town live within a mile of me!

I'm really glad I've had the experience of both environments.  A Fall
Friday afternoon with a chill in the air will never not remind me of
high school football games.  The smell of a fire will never not remind
me of a "field party" in the middle of the country. And the smell of
chlorine will never not remind me of spending the day at the town pool
and then "cruising" Main Street on a Tuesday night, or just setting up
chairs to hang out in the grocery store parking lot (where else would
that be allowed than a small town?).  I'm grateful for my small town
roots and the friends that I still have today (including the host of
this blog who I've, of course, known since we were 5!) and all of the
fun that we had growing up there.

Small Town Sunday #6 - Things To Do In A Small Town

People often say that there's nothing to do in a small town. To some degree they may be correct. No mall, no museums, no live shows, bands don't show up here... sure, there are limitations. However, there are lots of things you can do if you live in a small town.

Dinner and a Movie: Yes, we do have movie theaters. We may not get the independent films, but we get all the big shows.  Also, we tend to have some great Mom and Pop restaurants as well as a few of the big chains.


Take a Drive in the Country: Although this may not be as big of a deal to people who live in the country, taking a drive out in the country can be fun. Grab a map or your GPS and explore parts of the world you've never been to. As someone who has worked for both the Conservation Dept and the Highway Dept, I've had the privilege to see some parts of the Ozarks that people don't see if they don't get off the major highways.  Venture beyond the beaten path.

Spend a Day at the Creek (River): There's nothing like taking a picnic and heading down to the river. Some rivers even have old mills that you can tour. This is also a great thing for photographers! There are lots of photo opportunities out by the river.  If you are up for a float, it can be a day of fun. Whether you are in a canoe or on an inner tube, just remember to bring your sun screen! Also, if you want to avoid the city-people who don't have a clue what they are doing...stay away from the big rivers (they're not as fun anyway).

Scout Out the Local Attractions: I know the Ozarks has lots of great attractions, and I'm sure other areas do as well. There might be a great day trip just around the bend. Do some research on what is available in your area.

Throw a Party: Invite your friends over for grilled burgers and some games! If you invite people over, they will often reciprocate. Getting together with friends can be great. You don't need to go anywhere to have a great time with great people!

Plan a Day of Shopping: For me (and people who live in my neck of the woods), shopping has to be planned. You need a full day to really get it all in because you have to drive a 100 miles to get to the "big city" where there are lots of choices.  Get together with a friend and make a day of it. Go out to eat at a restaurant they don't have where you live. Spend an hour just looking at books in Barnes and Noble. Shopping is a different experience when you only go a few times a year because you can't just swing by the store on the way home from work.

My recommendation is to check and see what your area has available for you to do. You can find things close to home, or a few hours away. You can find things to do solo or with friends. There are activities that take a few hours and some that are daylong excursions. Just be willing to try something new once in awhile!

What "small town" things do you like to do?

Small Town Sunday #5 - John Mellencamp - Small Town

Small Town Sunday #5

This will always be what I think of when I think about how much I love living in a small town!

Small Town Sunday #4 - A Sunday Tradition

I remember always being a little put out by the song Manic Monday (despite its great melody) because of the line: "I wish it was Sunday; 'Cause that's my funday; my I don't have to runday."  The idea that Sundays are days to just sit around and do what you want always rubbed me the wrong way.

I grew up in the Bible Belt and was raised by God-fearing and God-loving parents, and I am surrounded by extended family with the same values.  We went to church every Sunday; there was never a question about it.  Now there would be Sundays where we would drive to church with the boat behind the truck and change into our swim suits at church as soon as it was over, but we didn't skip church to go to the lake.

I learned all the Bible Stories in Sunday School, and most of my dearest and best friends were made in those Sunday School classrooms.  I cannot imagine a different life.  As an adult, I'm one of the first to show up at church in the morning because I need to be tere to run the slide show for the praise team and get all the slides ready for service before Sunday School begins.  Church is a HUGE part of my life.

For me and so many others living in a small town, Sunday means church.  Getting up and putting on your best clothes for Christ.  i can't imagine doing anything else on a Sunday morning.  when I have had to stay home because of illnesses, I have never felt the same; it's as if something is missing all week long.

I know there are people out there just like the Bangles who see Sundays as their, "I don't have to runday." I feel sorry for those people because they are missing out on one of the all-time best Sunday Traditions that anyone can take part in...Church, and especially a small town church!

Small Town Sunday #3 - Small Town Football

In the fall, small towns are all about football. I'm not necessarily a football person (I like basketball better), but there is something about going to a varsity game on a Friday night. You know fall is coming when you have to get out your stadium seats, blankets and hoodies for the game.

I'm not sure why football is so important to small town people, but it is. Everyone comes out to see the game. There is an excitement in the air that you can just feel.   Young and old, everyone is excited to see their boys win.

I took my two nephews to my school's football game yesterday. Yes...on a Saturday.  We played a team that is from Kansas City, so the game had to be on a Saturday because the other team had so far to travel.  Our team is ranked #5 in the state in our division, and the other team is ranked #1. Quite a game.  Apparently we had a free weekend and no one close wanted to play us because our team is so good...

My nephews don't get to go to games because they are too late at night. NL got to go to one last year, but NJ is too young to stay out that late due to his super early bed time. This is unfortunate because NJ LOVES football; even though the only games he's seen are on TV. My brother isn't a sports guy, so it's a little unusual that one of his sons would be so fascinated by a sport.

I just had to take the boys because it isn't often that we have a Saturday afternoon varsity game. They both had a good time. NJ never took his eyes off the field, which is pretty amazing for a boy under three-years-old. Every time the crowd would cheer, NJ would throw his hands up in the air and cheer right along with them.  He loved it when there was a tackle.  He kept saying, "hit" until I explained it was called a tackle, and explained why they were tackling each other.  After that, he would look up at me and say, "Tackle!"  We had to leave at halftime to get NJ back for his nap (I told him the game was over as I pointed out the playing going back into the field house). I hope to be able to take them both to more games soon; it is so fun to watch them as they watch the game.

Small Town Sunday #2

5 Reasons To Live In A Small Town

I just spent the last week in a good sized city. If you look at a small map of North Carolina you will even see it listed there!  This got me to thinking about why I chose small town life over city life. I know that many people don't get it, and I can understand why. The city has so much available: big theaters, lots of restaurants to choose from, all kinds of stores to shop from and a Starbucks on every corner. So why chose a small town.  Here are 5 good reasons for choosing small town life over big city life.

1. Like Cheers, You want to go where everybody knows your name...and they're always glad you came. While growing up a small town doesn't mean that you will automatically know everyone in town, you will probably know someone who knows that person. Example: I go to the medical clinic to see the doctor (who I am on a first name basis with because we went to church together) and I don't even have to check in at the reception desk. Last time I went, the receptionist was on the phone; instead of waiting for her to get off the phone, I just waved at her and went and sat down (I also know her from church).

2. Going outside without all your clothes on. You may ask Why someone would want to go outside without all their clothes on, but I actually do it all the time...especially in the summer. I tend to spend the first few hours of the day (when I don't have to go somewhere) in my nightgown (read: extra big t-shirt). This means that if I need to go to the mailbox, or run to the car for something, I'm usually doing it with just the t-shirt. With the new front porch, I spent many mornings sitting out there reading...in just the t-shirt. The odds of someone coming by are pretty slim, and there's a good chance that they are related to me anyway. Now, of course, I live out in the country, so that makes it easier to walk around like that. I'm not sure I would do that (much) if I lived inside the city limits where I would surely have lots of neighbors...but maybe.

3. No city driving. I'm actually a good city driver...believe it or not. I have spent quite a bit of time driving in the city; both while in college and when going to the closest big city for shopping. I can zip in and out of traffic with the best of them, but in my everyday, small town life I get to drive without the hassle of trying to vie for a spot or waiting in one stop light after another. My hometown has two four-way stops and no traffic lights. Growing up we only had one four-way stop...so we're moving up in the world. Yes, I have to drive farther to get somewhere, but it probably doesn't take any more time to get there than in would in the city.

4. Small Town Values. Yes, you can meet nice people in the big city, and you can meet rude people in a small town. However, there is a different vibe in a small town. People are generally polite and nice, even when they don't know you. I'm not sure why this is, but it is true. Maybe it is me; I tend to talk to everyone I meet. I go to the store and talk to the checkout lady; even in bigger towns/cities, this tends to go over well, but I find that in cities I have to make the first move. I find that in a small town people will smile at you and say, "hi" when they meet you walking down the street or in the aisle at the super market.

5. Low cost of living. I know several people who have moved here from big cities. We have two different neighbors who moved here from Wisconsin. They didn't know anyone, just wanted to move to the Ozarks. They are able to buy a house and hundred(s) of acres for the price of the house they sold before moving here. I knew a lady who moved here with her sister from Colorado because it is one of the cheapest places to live in the country. I'm always shocked when I've seen an episode of House Hunters or something similar and see how much houses in the city cost. It is obscene. A two or three bedroom house with a small yard will go for half a million dollars (or more). For that kind of money, around here, you could buy a 200 acre farm with a 4-bedroom house and outbuildings...and have money left over! Not to mention lower taxes (sales and property).

For me, the benefits of small town life outweigh not having a Starbucks within 80 miles of my house, and while visiting the city is nice for a day of shopping, I will choose small town life every time.

Did I forget something? Why do you prefer a small town over the city?

Small Town Sunday #1

I'm really excited about starting a weekly post devoted to small towns. I really hope that others will eventually join in and write their own blog posts and link back here. Comments are also welcome. 

I'm excited because I'm such a huge fan of small towns. I live and work in small towns; each with a population of under 3,000. That, of course, is the population of those living within the city limits and doesn't include the local rural population (which can come close, if not exceed, the "official" population).

I have always lived in a small town with the one exception: college. Even then, it would be considered a small town by anyone who lived in a mega-city (New York, Chicago, LA, etc). I define a small town as being under 10,000 in population. Our county seat has grown to just over 10,000, and I would never consider it a small town...a small city perhaps, especially since it is where all the other small towns have to go for most all their shopping needs.

I'm interested in what others consider a small town.

I encourage you to add lots of pictures of your favorite small town (or any small town). We would love to see them.

If you would like to add your own post to Small Town Sunday, please link back to this site and leave a comment with a link to your post (not your website).