Grand Gulf State Park, Missouri

click to enlarge

Friday, a friend and I drove east, toward the rising sun, to Thayer, Missouri, 

where tucked away, down a country road, is a treasure, Grand Gulf State Park.  

When we arrived, the park was empty.  

At the overlook we peered over the edge into Missouri's "little Grand Canyon", 

and inhaled sharply.  

Were it not for the comparison, nothing about this would seem little. 

Below, the canyon stretches out for nearly a mile 

with walls almost 200 feet high and 50 feet wide.

click to enlarge

A staircase leads to the bottom of the canyon;
as we started our descent, the quiet was broken by a Carolina Wren,
her lilting melody resonating within the walls
of her own personal sound chamber.

We were grateful, for one day, to be her guest.

                                                                                                      

Mr. Ledbetter's Sandwich

The decrepit old Ledbetter's store sits alongside highway 160 on the west side of Theodosia.  It is no longer in business, but in its heyday, it was a thriving grocery store, and a place for neighbors to gather.  Years ago, when my husband, Don, first moved here, the store was already in decline.  Besides the occasional tourist, the store's only customers were old folks who lived nearby and didn't want to drive the additional 3 mile round trip to the newer grocery store in Theodosia, then known as Hill Country Supermarket.  Or, they might have been afraid of missing out on some juicy gossip that was a reliable offering at Ledbetter's store.

Don tells the story of being summoned there, by the late proprietor, the colorful and popular Hobart Ledbetter, to talk about his real estate.  The 2 of them were alone in the store, and lunchtime was approaching, so, as they talked, Mr. Ledbetter walked with Don around the store.  Stopping in front of the bread counter, he scooted one loaf toward him on the shelf, loosened the twist tie, and took out 2 slices from the center of the loaf.  Then he fluffed the remaining slices back together and replaced the twist tie, shoving the loaf back in line with the others on the counter.  Next, he rounded the aisle to the condiments, Don following along, and selected a jar of mustard.  He reached into his pocket and drew out a pocket knife, which he opened, and unscrewing the lid of the mustard jar, he used his knife to spread the mustard on the bread.  Then he replaced the cap, and put the jar neatly back on the shelf in line with the other jars.   Unselfconsciously, and without a comment about what he was doing, Mr. Ledbetter proceeded to the meat case, where he helped himself to some baloney, before resealing the package, and putting it back in the cooler, never slowing his stream of conversation.

Don, all this time, was trying not to notice, and was hoping he wouldn't be offered lunch. That idea, thankfully, never occurred to Mr. Ledbetter, who ate his sandwich as they wrapped up their conversation.

Mr. Ledbetter may have wondered why his store was in decline.  Let's just say he was a victim of progress.  At least, that will be a good way to remember it.

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Wildfires

Across the lake from us last night, wildfires burned and spread, fanned by stiff winds, and smoke lit up the late evening sky.  We haven't heard any damage reports yet, although just south of Theodosia, in Dugginsville, fires took 3 homes, and our hearts go out to the families involved.  

I don't want to seem insensitive to their plight, but when I hear of such a tragedy, I often think, "what would I do?" or in this case, "what would I take with me if I knew I might lose my home?"  I'm pretty sure I'd grab my camera first, and if I had time, my computer with its jillion wires.  When we see interviews on TV after disasters, the ones we like best are the ones with people who say, "We are so grateful that God spared us. We have only lost things; we still have each other, and that is what's important".  Though we've never been through such a tragedy, those statements ring true, and we hope we'll have the grace to say the same, should it ever happen to us.

The fires are still burning, but they appear to be headed toward the lake, where they will die of natural causes.  At times like these, when things seem to be out of control, it's good to know the One who made not only the fire, but the water as well.

Do not be afraid.   

Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

Exodus 14:13  

Sweet Blues

Two friends and I spent the morning at Eckart's Blueberry Farm in Dora, Missouri, one of my favorite places in the Ozarks. The day was relatively cool, and a gentle breeze, a little cloud cover, and good camaraderie made the visit memorable.  

It's hard to feel lonely in a blueberry patch. Hidden between the tall bushes, a person can be as solitary or sociable as they like. Some are absorbed with the job at hand and the beauty around them, or are entertained by the exchanges drifting in and out of the blueberry bushes. Others, while still working productively, carry on conversations with old friends or new acquaintances.

We heard friendly banter, and, among other things, talk about walleye fishing, vacations, photography, tennis, God's grace, and blueberries--blueberry pie, blueberry jam, blueberry smoothies, blueberry muffins. But the pickers all seemed to have one thing in common; everybody was happy. And how could one be otherwise, surrounded by such abundance and beauty? This year, the berries went into the buckets, not by 3's and 4's, but by handful after handful.

Like most farmers, the Eckart's have had their share of setbacks over the years--a devastating late hard frost, a ice storm, and a tornado, to name a few, but they continue to maintain a beautiful and friendly atmosphere. This year, Dora's tornado toppled trees on the property, and a wide swath of destruction was evident on the way in. But the trees that fell in the yard fell away from the house, and the violent winds in the top of the trees didn't come down to the level of the bushes.

Last year, from the back of the patch, familiar hymns wafted on the breeze, sung by a young woman with a clear, sweet voice. And this year, we overheard a little girl, amazed by her discovery, saying, "I didn't know blueberry picking could make friendships."  

It can, and it does.