CHAMPION – February 25, 2007

 

Last week’s news:  CHAMPION – February 22, 2007 

        The good news in Champion once again has to do with grandchildren.  Those boys from Tennessee were back again making life on the Krider farm joyous.  Dakota and Dillon keep young Foster, visiting from Marshfield, well entertained and the three of them together is a sweet sight.  Foster is also an excellent entertainer and is currently practicing a duet with his Mom: “You Are My Sunshine.”  Some of the best news around has to do with the weather.  There has finally been a break from the deep cold.  Remembering that recent winters have been unusually mild doesn’t make the hard ones any easier to bear.  Buzzards were reported to be flying around the Skyline Ladies’ Auxiliary Shoot Out the other day, so that is  portentous of something, perhaps just the passage of time.  Warm days make the garden call out to Champions.  Linda, over in Norwood, says the cole crops are looking good and their second leaves are beginning to emerge.  Mailmen will be burdened with seed catalogues and the seasons keep rolling around.

        The sad news in the community is word of the passing of Murnice Hamilton.  She was a most consistently good humored person with an openness for friendship that is seldom seen.  Kind words, compassion and a sweet laugh were her hallmark.  Her gentle smile will be missed by all whose lives she touched.  She was a great repository of Love and Gratitude.

        Gunfire echoed throughout the hills and hollows of Champion as those Auxiliary women blew off steam.  Their chili supper will go off on Saturday.   It will be the event of the season.  People will be celebrating a change in the weather, a change in the season, and the chance to get together for some good visiting and good food.   The music will lift every spirit and everyone will benefit.  The Skyline Volunteer Fire Department will be the designated beneficiary, but the whole community will share in the uplifting.

        Monday was marked by The Return of the Buzzards,  then came Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and then it was the birthday of Farel Sikes, and Friday the birthday of Staci Krider. Yipee!  Farel is  making a good recovery from his injury and is doing what he has to do regain his strength and mobility.  There are many people struggling to overcome serious injuries sustained in the line of duty.  There are more than twenty thousand veterans of the current war in Iraq whose lives will never be the same.  No one who has served there will return as the same person who left.  Hopefully they will be met here with Understanding as well as the Love and Gratitude that is their due.

        The Missouri Song List will surely become longer as a result of the Skyline VFD Ladies Auxiliary Chili Supper.  Words to “My Missouri Home” are still being sought.

  1. The Missouri Waltz
  2. Meet Me in St. Louie, Louie
  3. I’m Goin Back to Whur I come From
  4. The Wesphalia Waltz
  5. The West Plains Explosion
  6. My Missouri Home
  7. Kansas City, Here I Come
  8. May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You

        New songs for the Missouri Song List, old stories from around Champion, family histories, new or old news, poetry, admonitions, complaints, speculations, exaltations—all are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, at Henson’s store in the heart of Champion and at Champion News.

 

This week’s news:  CHAMPION – March 1, 2007 

        Well the Skyline Auxiliary chili supper is past again for another year.  The big build up was worth it and Auxiliary members are still busy on the phone congratulating each other on a splendid success.  Also on the phone this pas week was Louise Hutchison and Marion Conradi.  They share the view of a beautiful open field where a large bald eagle has been putting on a show for their benefit this last week.  Ms. Conradi looks out East and Louise looks to the North.  When the eagle is there, the first one to see it calls the other one.  Champion has some excellent entertainment. 

        An email has been received at Champion News from the Webner Household of Midland, TX.  He says, “Read your article in the Douglas Co. Herald and see you are looking for lyrics to MY MISSOURI HOME.”  He sent a link to http://missourifolkloresociety.truman.edu/eyecandy.html that proved to be most interesting.  There were pictures there of some of those Missouri quilt blocks:  “The Missouri Daisy,” “Old Missouri,” and “The Missouri Star:”  He also included an address on EBAY to buy a copy of the original sheet music from 1930.  When the sheet music arrives at ‘Champion Items’ a full disclosure of the lyrics will be made.  Thanks, Scott C. Webner of Midland, TX!

        An email has been intercepted from a famous pitcher turned ice cream aficionado.  He says:  “I guess I will be making a lot of peanut butter ice cream this year.  I sure do have some great neighbors in this here hamlet of Vanzant.  I bet I have over 60 containers of peanut butter they have given me recently (although some are only partially filled).  Even some of the people I don’t even care about have been extra generous, and they told me I didn’t even have to make any ice cream for them.  So, anytime any of you can come by and visit just call an hour ahead and I will have a batch ready.”  There must be more going on here than rock salt and friction can freeze.

        The daffodils are starting to bloom and some trees and shrubs are beginning bud.  Some people just can’t stay out of the dirt and are already hauling manure and turning clods.  It is an example of the kind of eagerness that some can watch for hours from the comfort of their porch swing with no kind of guilt.  The story of the “Little Red Hen” is one that might benefit a number of fine Champions.  The garden is a place to learn a lot of lessons not the least of which is patients.  A few warm days can cause some folks to ‘jump the gun.’  Last week the saying about a day in February when the dog looks for a shade was proven to be true.  Another one of those February sayings is “thunder in February, frost in May.”  While time marches on, it is important to enjoy today.  No use getting in a hurry.  Haste makes waste.  Send any sayings, platitudes or cautionary tales to Champion Items, Rt. 2. Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.

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