Just Another Day in Paradise

Gosh I wish I had something to report. But alas, it is very quiet around the boat dock these days. The temp has been fairly mild, although it looks like it's going to get a little cooler as we go into the weekend. We got a little rain on Christmas day. No snow. A few flurries would have been okay. :)

Be safe and have fun this Sunday as you ring in 2007!

Cheers!

6 Days and Counting

Christmas is in less than a week. Where the heck did December go?? I hope you're all ready for the holiday weekend. And I hope you get to take some time off to hang out with your friends and fam. I really do not have anything to report. We'll be closed this Sunday and Monday. So if you need anything, try to catch us Saturday morning. Thanks!

Hello again!

Sorry it has been so long since I've written. I just haven't had any big news to report. I still do not, really. But I thought I'd write something anyway...

Beautiful weather this week. Today we're supposed to hit near 70 degrees. And same for tomorrow and Sunday. Of course by the end of next week the temp is supposed to be in the 40s and 50s again, rainy and cold. It's a wonder everyone around here doesn't stay sick ALL the time.

This week Tim and I went to the annual meeting of M.A.M.A. -- Missouri-Arkansas Marina Owners Association. You've seen the signs posted around the dock that say: "No Fishing within 50 Feet"... and they have M.A.M.A. on them... well, that's what it stands for. We met with other marina owners from Bull Shoals, Table Rock, Norfork, Beaver, Clearwater and Greer's Ferry lakes. It was interesting to hear some of the issues these other marina owners deal with, and how we can relate. We also heard from Colonel Wally Walters from the Corps of Engineers Little Rock district office. There are a couple issues on the table right now that have to do with lake levels and fishing regulations in commercial marina areas... I'll keep you posted as I hear more about these things.

Our hours will remain 8am to 10am through the winter. Often someone is here past 10, but don't count on it. I hope you are planning an outdoor activity for this weekend... gotta soak up the warm December weather when we get it. I think we might go four-wheeling. :)

Happy Friday!

Halloween in December?

So this morning... for just a second... I really thought someone might have played a trick on us... by spraying Silly String all over the dock! I have never seen anything like it. The cobwebs were covered in such a thick coating of frost that they looked like thick white strings hanging everywhere! And I thought the spiders were long gone. Well, they surely are now. I hated to knock them down because they looked so cool!

Oopsie!

Well, we did not get very much ice and snow -- maybe an inch -- but we did get about 5 inches of rain, which caused the lake to rise very rapidly overnight. Doesn't that water look cold? Brrrrrr!

Let it Snow... We've Had Enough Rain!

Well, we are officially open from 8am to 10am every day now. This weather is ugly. I hope you all stay out of it and stay warm. I'll try to get some pictures of the wintry mix and post them later on.

Just waiting for springtime again...

Hello everyone. I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations to attend this year. I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. With the holiday, things have been a little hectic. And really there hasn't been much to report.

I do want to let you know that our hours are changing starting this Sunday, December 3. We will only be open from 8am to 10am daily starting Sunday. Currently we are here 8am to 4pm. But only for a few more days. Please, if you have needs at other times of the day, do not hesitate to call the dock: 417-679-3676 -- to make arrangements for myself or someone else to meet you here. We can be flexible.

Only four weeks until Christmas. Hard to believe. But we're getting closer to spring already! Okay, so winter is really just beginning. And snow and ice are lurking in the next few days. But I'd like to think spring is drawing near, too. :)

Cheers!

Jason & Rebeccah said "I do" at Bull Shoals Lake

Jason T. and Rebeccah E. Glenn were married in Pontiac on October 28, 2006. Jason is the the son of Tom and Dee Glenn (Mtn. Grove) -- Tom and Dee are PCM customers, and they have a place here at the lake. Both Jason and Rebeccah are in the U.S. Army. They are currently stationed in Baghdad. They were able to come home long enough to get married. Behind them in this picture is a sunset over Bull Shoals Lake, a place where Jason learned to barefoot water ski when he was only 4 years old, according to mom Dee. She also said it was the most beautiful sunset they had ever seen. Congratulations to Jason and Rebeccah. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in Iraq.

OK... I'm an idiot.

Those weren't ducks I saw the other day. They're geese. Wow, that was a blonde moment. Whew. I saw them on shore today as I was driving down to the dock. Oh yes. They're definitely geese. As for the ducks? Now there are two...

Look Ma! That fish has antlers!

Marty Hedlund shot this 7-point buck near Heck Hollow on Bull Shoals Lake. He and his buddy, Craig Mincke, hunted opening morning -- their vehicles were here when I came in at 8am yesterday... and they were still here when I left at 4pm... Then they were back in the same place this morning at 8am when we opened... I started to wonder if they ever came in last night! But apparently they did. They just got an earlier start than we did.

See, you never know what you might catch on Bull Shoals Lake...

The Ducks are Multiplying

Okay. First there were four. Then there were three. (One mysteriously disappeared about a month ago.) Now there are... count them... FIFTEEN! Well, I don't think there are 15 in this picture. But there are 15 out there now. I didn't have a wide enough lens I guess. So... this is interesting. Just wonderful, I tell you! As long as they stay off the dock I'm fine with them. Okay, they are kind of neat. Whatever. :)

Veteran's Day Report

Well, it's opening day of deer season. Firearm deer season, I guess I should say... So Matt's out and about hunting this morning. I am not a hunter. But there are a few hunters in town, it seems. I'm at the dock this morning, and was all week, and we've sold quite a few deer tags. It's definitely cold enough for deer this morning. It's amazing... two days ago I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Today, it's freezing. I need gloves. Sheesh.

Well, that breakwater project is almost finished. The boys still need a couple more days on it. Other than that, there isn't anything too exciting to report here. Our hours are still 8am to 4pm for a couple more weeks anyway. Probably by the first of December we will cut that way back.

If you are in town this weekend, Jackie is having a Hunter's Dinner special this evening. It's turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and rolls. And cake. It starts at 5pm and ends when it's all gone. And you can order off the menu, too. This is just a special.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Lake Cleanup T's -- Re-order

I did a small re-order for the lake cleanup T's, and I wanted to let everyone know they are in. Here is what I have:

Gary Peterson: 1 t-shirt
Tom & Mary Cline: 2 t-shirts
Moresi's: 2 t-shirts
Craig Phelps: 1 t-shirt

If you want to swing by the dock and pick these up, that would be great! I'm here almost every day, from 8 am to 4pm. Thanks all!

"Twenty Crockpots of Chili on the Wall... "

Twenty! Twenty people brought chili to the first ever Pontiac Chili Cook-off. Twenty different takes on the traditional cold weather dish we all love. It was awesome! THANK YOU to everyone who came out on Saturday. Thanks so much to those of you who made chili. It was a fabulous turnout. Pontiac local Skip Dechau took first place as having the overall best chili of the day. Kristy Laurie took second place. There was such a huge tie for third that we just eliminated third place. :) Kelly Laurie was voted as having the most original recipe. Kelly and Eric Callahan tied for having the hottest chili. And Tracy Stieren won for best dessert. To view more pics of the cook-off, click here:

http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=22461162862247933/l=
218605462/g=22438134/cobrandOid=1000201/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Happy Chili Cook-off Morning!

Are you up slaving over the stove??? I hope so! Good luck to everyone today entering the chili cook-off. I can't wait to taste all of your creations. See you in a few hours. And don't forget to be there by 12:30 for set-up! Oh, and we are providing a "toppings" table... which means you don't need anything but you and your chili. We've got shredded cheese, tortilla chips, fritos and crackers. Mmm, mmm, good. See you later!

Now that's a big pile o' tires!

Josh, Bobby and Matt are working on rebuilding the breakwater. NOT a fun job, from what they tell me. First they had to take apart the entire thing -- Gabe Blackburn, GB Excavating, helped them pull the thing out of the water -- and now they're piecing it back together, tire by tire. Yish. They've found fish and freshwater clams in the tires, along with A LOT of mud and muck... thankfully no snakes. Guess it's too cold. Anyway, if you're wondering what they're doing, that's what they're doing.

Remember that delicious rum cake???

Here is the recipe! Just in time for the holidays.
Courtesy Karen Stinson, Mtn. Grove.

Cake:
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (I use pecans)
1 - 18.5 oz. pkg. yellow cake mix
1 - 3 3/4 oz. pkg. Jello instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 Wesson oil (or Crisco, whatever you have)
1/2 cup Bacardi dark rum (80 proof)

Glaze:
1/4 lb. butter
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup rum

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour 10" tube or 12-cup Bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter over nuts. Bake 1 hour. Cool. Invert on serving plate. For the glaze, melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in rum. Prick the top of the cake. (The cake should still be warm.) Drizzle and smooth glaze evenly over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze. Repeat until the glaze is used up.

Yummy!

Happy Halloween!

Well... 7:15 and we've had two sets of trick-or-treaters! And we have a HUGE bowl of candy. Come one, come all! I guess I'll bring the leftovers to the chili cook-off. Here is our little trick-or-treater. Doesn't it look like she's smiling in this picture above?? That's our dog, Honey. I think she probably hates this little tu-tu, but her Grandma Morgan gave it to her. So she HAS to wear it. Have a safe and fun evening!

Are you making chili?

Hey! First ever Pontiac Cove Marina chili cook-off is next Saturday! That's one week from tomorrow. It's at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. If you're planning to partcipate, shoot me a line, so I can add you to the list. I just need to know how many tables and outlets we need. Also, if you're bringing chili, you need to arrive at 12:30 to get set up. The feasting actually starts at 1:00. Any questions? Let me know. Thanks!

DON'T feed the ducks

I know they're cute. Oh, so cute. But they only like you because you have FOOD! :) Please try to refrain from feeding our 3 little duckies here... They have started napping on the dock, and they leave nice little deposits EVERYWHERE! So I've been hosing that off each day. Yuck. Hey, I am guilty, too. I fed them a couple months ago when they first started coming around. I probably started it. It's probably my fault that they hang around all the time! But now I'd like them to fly south for the winter!

They Did It

So the Cardinals are in the World Series. I'm sure you ALL know that by now! Have a good weekend everyone. We'll be watching Mizzou vs. Kansas State in Columbia this weekend... And listening to Game 1 on the radio at the tailgate. :)

Things are quiet around the dock. But of course we are still open. Today and tomorrow we'll be open from 8am to 6pm. Starting Sunday, October 22, our hours will be 8am to 4pm daily. We'll just go week by week on those hours. And we'll keep cutting them back as necessary.

Good Morning!

It's a dreary day today. Yuck. Rainy and cold and gray. But I have work to do in the office, so I guess it doesn't really matter to me. You should expect to receive something from us in the mail in the next few days. We're sending out annual renewal statements and a looooooong letter. :) Get ready to read a lot!!!!!!!! But it's full of details on the chili cook-off! Which is coming up in just two weeks! I hope you're working on your chili recipes. There is no cost to enter, and it's all for fun. The more entries we have, the better. So whip up some of that warm goodness and bring it down on November 4. Woo-hoo!

Okay, back to work... Do you think the Cardinals can pull it off tonight? I hope so. If not, I think that vein in my husband's neck might actually explode.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Go Cardinals! We are just getting ready to watch the big Cardinals game in an hour or so... That's all I've got for you today. It's pretty quiet around here. It's a rainy, dreary day in Pontiac today. But yesterday was gorgeous. There were people in and out all day yesterday. I wish I could have been on the lake. Oh well. Watch the game. Go Cards! Oh, and hey, IF the Cards go to the WS, then I'll be looking for tickets... Hmm... Anyone have connections??? :)

The Infamous Dip

This was the most requested recipe after Saturday's picnic following the lake cleanup. Thank you to Kristy Laurie for bringing this dish! It was a hit!

Reuben Dip
One medium to large block of Swiss cheese, grated
16 oz sour cream
3 packages of Budding Corned Beef chopped, (I like to put it in the food processor and grate it up fine with the cheese)
2 packages of Cream Cheese, softened in the microwave
1 can of sauerkraut, drained (Bush's Sweet Bavarian is the best)

Mix all ingredients. Bake at 375 until bubbling in the middle and slightly browned on top. 30 to 45 minutes generally.

Best served with the little sliced loaves of Pepperidge Farm Rye bread (i think Pepperidge Farm, usually in the aisle with the sliced bread and buns). Crackers are great also!!

Happiness is a Clean Lake

The lake cleanup on Saturday was a huge success, I must say. And that's thanks to all of you who participated. I know many of you can probably think of something you'd rather do than pick up other people's trash on a Saturday. But you really had fun with it, from what I could tell.

We ended up with four truckloads of garbage -- the bulk of that was tires (most likely from our breakwater), styrofoam blocks and cable -- all remnants of the storm in February. And there were several bags of actual trash. Several folks told me they were pleasantly surprised to find that there really wasn't that much trash to be picked up. And that means people are picking up after themselves on a regular basis, which they should, and that makes me happy.

Some of the most unusual finds: water heater, bowling bag with shoes, neck brace, port-o-potty, underwear (ewww!) and part of a crockpot. The winners of the most unusual find were Stephanie Phelps and Sue Jones -- they found the bowling bag with shoes. The person who collected the most trash was Craig Mincke. Congrats! (PS I do have framed certificates for you... I'll get them to you soon!)

The party was a lot of fun, too. Thank you to everyone who brought food. We ate every bit of 12 dozen hot dogs and brats. And all the side dishes and desserts, too! The bonfire was a must. While I wore shorts and a t-shirt all afternoon, I had to change into pants and a fleece at dark. It got chilly! Our poor musician, Allen Ross, about froze to death. So we came up with a little propane heater to put on the stage with him.

All in all, it was a fun day. Thanks again to all who participated. Stay tuned for more details about the chili cook-off on November 4.

Oh, and if you want to view the rest of the pictures from the cleanup, click here: http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=52683631/a=
22438134_22438134/t_=22438134

If you've never used Snapfish, it will ask you to create an account -- very simple. Just type your first and last name, e-mail address and create a password. No big deal...

Ciao!

Slight Change of Plans...

The picnic following the Lake Cleanup has been moved to my house! Ha! The Corps shut off the water and electricity in the park... So that puts a kink in our plans. Okay, so I live on W just past the boat dock road. Like the second driveway on the left. You've seen the big brown metal building, right? And at the end of the driveway the sign says "Parrot Head Lane." Right there. The party will be in the grassy area there behind that big brown metal building. We have a bathroom there. We'll set up the music there. So please bring lawn chairs or blankets. And we're going to have a bonfire. Come up around 5:00. See you then!

Lake Cleanup & Full Moon Party

It's finally time! The first annual (hopefully annual) Pontiac Lake Cleanup & Full Moon Party is this Saturday. Please help us keep Pontiac Cove and the rest of Bull Shoals Lake clean. You can stop by the dock anytime Saturday and pick up trash bags. We'll have prizes for the most trash collected and the most unique find. We'll collect full trash bags at the launch ramp starting at about 3:00 in the afternoon. Then we'll have a picnic in the park at about 5:00. We're cooking brats and hot dogs. And we'll provide drinks. Plus, we have Allen Ross lined up from 6 to 10 p.m. in the park for our full moon party. Yes... It actually is the full moon Saturday! Woo-hoo! Please bring a dish for the picnic. And a lawn chair. It looks like we're going to have nice weather. So let's enjoy it while we can! See you there!

Craving Fish

I want some fish to eat. If anyone out there has a plethora of fish and doesn't know what to do with them... Feel free to drop them by the dock or my home. Thank you. (PS I wouldn't have to go out begging for fish if my hubby would go out and catch some!)

Hootin & Hollarin Roundup

The Missouri Bull Shoals Lake Assocation (of which we are a member) has a booth every year at H&H. It's a food booth with "the best cheeseburgers" and "biggest frito pies" ever. Seriously. I heard that so many times while working there Friday and Saturday. Matt and I both worked during the day on those days. I had a blast! It was fun to see everyone. And what a great place to watch the parade go by. The weather was a bit of an issue. Friday night was rained out -- stormed out is more like it. (Oh, and no, we had no damage at the marina.) And Saturday morning, Karen Jeziorski (Wing & Fin Resort owner, also a member of the MBSLA) arrived to find our tarp had blown off the roof of the booth, and everything was soaked. It was a sorry sight. Matt and I showed up shortly after, and luckily Matt was able to put it back together. We got everything up and running, and by 11:15 or so we were selling cheeseburgers! We were soooo busy on Saturday! The weather cleared up, and it was a great day.

I don't have any pictures. I didn't even take my camera. But if someone will e-mail me some pics from H&H, I will post them on here.

Stay tuned for more details on the lake cleanup next Saturday, October 7. If you're planning to attend, please let me know. I'm trying to get a rough head count. Remember: We're handing out trash bags starting at noon on Saturday. Cleanup till 3 or so. We'll collect trash at the launch ramp starting at 3. Picnic in the park (full moon party) from 6 to 10. Live music. Food and drink. Please bring a dish.

Oh, and PS, if you aren't able to RSVP for some reason, don't worry about it! Please, still come on out and enjoy the festivities! I heard a few people did not come to the Blowout because they hadn't RSVP'd. Please, it's not that big of a deal. Just gives me an idea of how many to expect. Don't let that keep you from participating!

Foggy Morning

Man is it cold this morning. I'm rebelling against the arrival of fall. I really need a heavier jacket, and probably a hat! I'm definitely underdressed. I'm freezing! Josh, Bobby and Matt are working on some projects around the dock today. They're all dressed warmly, as they should be. Tim showed up in a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. He's really rebelling. Anyway, the water temp is definitely much warmer than the air this morning. I took this picture at about 7 this morning, as I was coming in to work.

Marina Hours

Currently we are open 7am to 6pm Sunday through Thursday; 7am to 7pm Friday and Saturday.

We will likely be changing our hours on a weekly basis. By the first of October we will probably be open 8am to 5pm. Something like that... I'll keep you posted.

Fishing Report

The results from the ladies tournament: Angie did not place. But her heart was most definitely in it. Better luck next year. If she decides to fish it next year. Hopefully she can get some rest and just chill out this fall/winter! She's been going, going, going all summer long.

Go Ladies!

Did you know the first ever Women's Pro-Am Bassmasters Tour is happening this year? There are five tournaments, and the fifth is Thursday and Friday of this week right here on Bull Shoals Lake! The tournament takes off out of Theodosia Marina tomorrow morning -- nearly 100 boats are involved: that means there are nearly 100 professional anglers and 100 amateurs from all over the country here right now. Each day of the tournament a pro is paired with a different amateur, and the two fish together, although they weigh their fish separately. The weigh-in starts in the afternoon -- around 2 or 3 is what I heard. If you're not busy, you should make your way over to the Theodosia Marina grounds and check it out. Oh, and check out the big ESPN trailer that's parked over there. Pretty cool! Oh, and the top 6 anglers after the two-day tournament will fish Saturday and weigh their fish on Table Rock Lake, where the men's Bassmasters tournament is wrapping up. (You see, ESPN wants to cover both the men and the women at the same time, and naturally they make the women go where the men are.)

We wish all the ladies good luck! This is really cool history in the making!

(Oh, and a special shout out to Angie Dechau -- you guys remember Angie, she worked at the dock last year... she is fishing pro in the tourney. That's her above. Woo-hoo!)

meet our pets

We have animals at Pontiac Cove now... Some are more welcome than others. (That's our dog, Honey, on the right.

Back to Work

The holiday is over. The fun is over. Summer is OVER! I know that's what you're thinking. BUT... it isn't really over. The weather is absolutely beautiful. Yesterday Matt and I went on the lake when we got off work, and it was such a gorgeous day. I plan on enjoying it while it lasts.

Happy Friday!

The wonderful 3-day holiday weekend has begun! And September has arrived! There are several folks around already. I am surprised at how many, actually. I figured most people would be getting here this evening. But the weather is nice, if not a little too cloudy today. But that's okay. It's going to be great! I hope you plan to get out and enjoy it. It's kind of bittersweet, as this weekend does mark the "unofficial" last weekend of summer. But don't let that keep you from enjoying the lake after Monday... Bull Shoals is beautiful in September! Hey... I'm a pretty good saleswoman, eh?

Ooh, so pretty!

There was the most beautiful sunset this evening! I ran down and snapped some pics. Isn't that an incredible sky? Enjoy.

Oh, and by the way...

I guess you noticed I changed the look of the blog... I hope you like it! I got bored. That will happen periodically. Have a good evening!

Pleasing Temperatures

So I heard it's supposed to be in the low to mid-80s this week. How nice! And it's raining this morning, which means I can continue to neglect my flowers, and they will (hopefully) continue to flourish for a few more weeks. :) Labor Day weekend is upon us! Fall is coming soon (not a bad thing), and swimsuits and suntan lotion, rafts and wakeboards will be put up until next summer. I hope you enjoy this weekend!

A Rainy Day

We need it. But on a Saturday? Seriously.

A Beautiful Day

Sorry it's been so long since I've written an update. Things have been really quiet around here since school started. I was actually gone last weekend to a wedding in Hermann, MO. But I think there were quite a few people around. This weekend I anticipate will be a little slower. With Labor Day coming up NEXT WEEKEND! Can you believe it? But nevertheless, the weather is gorgeous. It's not too hot. And there has been a nice breeze. I can tell summer is winding down. I hate to think that it's going to be over soon. But in an effort to keep out-of-town folks interested in coming down during the fall and winter months... We are hosting the first-ever Pontiac Lake Cleanup and Full Moon Party on October 7. I know I've already told you about this... But I just want to keep putting a bug in your ear so you don't forget! AND... The first-ever Pontiac chili cook-off is scheduled for November 4. I'd like to have a bonfire to go along with this... Details are still in the works. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :) Good day!

Let it Rain!

Finally, the sky opened up and a few drops actually hit the ground in Pontiac before they evaporated. I'm not sure how much rain we got last evening -- I took this pic this morning, but I think there might have already been some water in there from last week? Heck, I don't know. Not very helpful, am I? The lake is going down. Josh is adjusting cables today. We're about 3 feet low now. But not enough to cause any problems.

Gainesville schools start this Friday! Two of my helpers -- Aaron and Valerie -- are going back to high school. Aaron is a senior and Valerie a junior. Sam Eubank's last day at the dock is Friday. He's leaving for his first year of college at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. I think he's going to help us out Labor Day weekend, but other than that, you won't be seeing him after this week! So if you do see him this week, wish him luck and tell him good-bye. Luckily Justin will continue living in Pontiac this fall while he attends Missouri State University in West Plains. I'm glad to have his help through the next couple months.

The Matador

Well, it held my attention for about an hour... And really, that was a struggle. Not good. And we even got it on pay per view! So we had to spend actual money on it! Oh well.

Pics from the Blowout 2006

Check out these pics from the Blowout last Saturday. Thank you to Eric Callahan, who took all of these. He did a great job! As you can see, quite a few came out for the party. I hope everyone had a good time. Thank you to everyone who brought food. We had so many side dishes to go along with our pulled pork -- which was prepared by chefs Kelly Laurie, Bill Murphy, Gary Peterson and Tim Morgan. Mmm... mmm... good. We got nice compliments on that. Oh, and I have a few random dishes and serving spoons at my house. I'll get those to the dock so you can pick them up.

I hope everyone enjoys the next couple of weekends before school starts. Can you believe it's that time already? And Labor Day is just around the corner. Geez. Where did the summer go?

Next on the agenda: Mark your calendars for October 7 -- the first annual Pontiac Lake Cleanup. Get excited to pick up trash! And also we'll do some food and drink. And Allen Ross will entertain us that evening. Location for all these festivities to be announced. Matt and I are getting ready to watch The Matador. Have you seen it? Is it any good? I'll let you know. Cheers!

And a good time was had by all...

The Blowout yesterday was awesome. I couldn't have been happier with the turnout. I will give a full recap with pictures early this week. Until then...

If Roger Builds It...

... Everyone will be so happy! I just know it! The gate on the main walkway is up! Yay Roger! You'll notice it is plain white. Zac Eubank is going to paint it for us. It might not be finished until this fall, but stay tuned. It's going to be so cool.

Also... T-shirt sale at the dock this weekend. Everything is 20% off (not including the Quaint Little Village and Red Neck Yacht Club shirts). I'm planning to revamp our clothing selection and styles for next summer. If anyone has any suggestions on what you'd like to see in the store (i.e. shirts, shorts, hats, accessories...) please let me know!

Blowout this weekend!

Hey all. As many of you know, our annual customer appreciation party -- The Blowout -- is this Saturday! We have decided the location. It's going to be at Hollingsworth. We will have portable restrooms there. So no worries about that. Please come by boat or car. We'll have a DJ set up on shore. Food tables and tents will also be set up on shore. If you'd like to bring a side dish, either bring it to Hollingsworth at 1:00 or drop it at the marina Saturday morning, and we'll take it down there for you -- we thought this would be handy especially for those of you who are going by boat. And wear your swimsuit! Let's enjoy the lake while it's still summertime!

Also, Bill Bauer will be selling raffle tickets on Saturday to raise money for the 2007 Pontiac Fireworks. Donate $10 for a chance to win $500 to the marina (drawing to be held July 1, 2007). Or donate $25 for three chances to win.

So... any questions? Just shoot me an e-mail at info@pontiaccove.com or call the dock: 417-679-3676. See you there!

So that's what a striper looks like...

Pat Godwin, of Cape Girardeau, caught these two stripers on Bull Shoals Lake last week. One weighed about 20 pounds and the other about 17 pounds. Very impressive! We rarely see stripers brought in here. As many of you know, there are few left in this lake, and if you do catch one, it's going to be at least as big as these. And speaking of stripers... we do have a petition at the dock to get stripers re-stocked in the lake. So if you're so inclined, come in and sign it!

The Weather is Here...

So the crawdad boil last Thursday was fun, I heard. I was actually in Springfield that evening for a bridal shower. We had ordered a quarter barrel of beer for the boil, and I learned the next day that there was no tub and no tap! Yikes! I was pretty hot when I heard that, and I called up our distributor to find out what had happened, and basically what happened is I didn't request that stuff when I ordered the keg, and they didn't ask me if I needed that stuff. So I guess it wasn't really my fault or theirs? Or maybe it was both our faults? Anyway, it won't happen again! Oh well. They still had fun. Matt said he ate 50 crawdads. Geez.

What a beautiful weekend we had. The temperature was just about as perfect as it can be in the summertime. Warm, but not hot. (Cindy P. and I decided we like it a leeeeeetle hotter actually... but we'll take 84 over 104 any day!)

August is 8 days away. Unbelievable! Summer is going by too fast. Enjoy it while you can!

Suck the Heads

The Crawdad Boil is this Thursday, July 20, at the Pontiac Park pavilion. A group of people are going to the river Wednesday night about dark to catch the little suckers. And then the boil starts Thursday evening around 7 p.m. Please come and help us catch and eat them! Any questions, ask at the boat dock, or talk to Mike Cochran. He organizes it every year. Drinks provided. Corn on the cob and potatoes are cooked in the boil with the crawdads. If you'd like to bring a dish, that's fine, but not necessary. See you there!

Well it's a HOT one...

7:19 a.m. and it's already warm outside. Gotta love summer in southern MO! It's been a great weekend so far. Several folks were out on the lake yesterday. I wasn't one of them. Matt and I have been unpacking! If you didn't know... we've been living with my PARENTS for the past 5 months, since we moved back here. They have been building a house, and it is almost finished. They decided on Friday to go ahead and move their stuff out. So now we're unpacking boxes and painting. It's fun! The house is a disaster. But it's a good disaster. We're getting settled. Have a great Sunday!

THE BLOWOUT!!!

So... several of you have probably gotten your Blowout invitations by now. What do you think about our idea??????? Good? Bad? Let us know!!

Um... Nevermind

I spoke too soon! The sun is out, and it seriously feels much less humid. I think it might be a pretty day after all!

Hot 'n Heavy

It is one of those days... when you step outside from your air-conditioned house into 100 percent humidity... and you gasp for air! Yuck! It is nasty outside today. There is a 100 percent chance of rain. We sure do need it. But my goodness, we'd like to see the sunshine again someday soon!

Apparently the night fishing has been really good. That's my fishing tip for the day. :)

Have a good one!

The Trash Lady

Hello all. Happy Monday... that's an oxymoron isn't it. I need to explain the trash situation on the new dock. So... over the past couple weeks we had a few complaints from customers on the new dock that people were putting trash in their boats. I can't imagine that anyone would do anything like that. But the trash has been a bit of an issue for us too. Seems like we can't really keep up. There were only two trash cans over there (and two cans for recycling aluminum), and they were always full or overflowing. So, we moved one of our dumpsters to the parking lot at the new dock. So please carry your trash to the dumpster when you leave the dock. This morning there was a pile of trash at the entrance to the dock. I don't know if folks didn't see the dumpster, or didn't realize that they were supposed to use it. But anwyay, the recycling bins are still for aluminum only. The cart (used to transport stuff from your car to your boat or vice versa) is also not for trash. (I heard folks were using it as a trash can.) Just please take your trash to the dumpster. If you have any questions or concerns, just call me at the dock or e-mail me. Thank you for your cooperation!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

It's pouring in the OC on 4th of July. Bummer dude. I keep checking the radar, and it really looks like it's going to clear up later this afternoon. But if not, I'm definitely going home and taking a nap at 2:00. :)

Ooh... Ahh... !!

The Pontiac fireworks were last night, and they were spectacular! What an awesome show. And it was just incredible to see all the boats out on the water. I actually watched from Gary and Cindy Peterson's point. What a view. Once again, thanks to Bill Bauer for coordinating the whole thing. And to Angie and Skip Dechau, who spent practically all day Sunday setting up for the show. And many others helped set up, but I don't know names, so thank you! (You know who you are.)

Well, there are still two days left of this (four-day) holiday weekend. The weather couldn't be better. Enjoy! Happy Monday!

Red, White and Blue!

Good day everyone! It's a beautiful day in Pontiac. We're gearing up for a busy weekend. I can't believe the 4th of July is upon us. Summer is going by way too fast! I'm sure you all know, but here's a quick rundown of the local fireworks displays on Bull Shoals Lake:

Saturday, July 1: Theodosia
Sunday, July 2: Pontiac (woo-hoo!!)
Tuesday, July4: Bull Shoals dam

Bill Bauer was in charge of the fund-raising for the Pontiac fireworks for the third year in a row... We can't thank him enough. Without his hard work, we wouldn't have fireworks! Also, Skip and Angie Dechau are planning to shoot the fireworks again this year. Thanks ahead of time to them for their hard work. (Especially in the heat!) And it is heating up again, after a couple days of 70-some degree weather at the beginning of the week -- it was pretty nice, really. But the weekend is almost here, and we want it to be hot and sunny!

Remember: If you watch the Pontiac fireworks from the cove, be sure to stay clear of the shooting site. I think there was a bit of a problem last year with folks getting inside the markers. And the reason those markers are there is because that's kind of a danger zone. (Just think of that Kenny Loggins song from the movie Top Gun. And be safe!)

Okay, that's all I've got for now. Blowout invitations will be in the mail soon. Get excited... we're totally revamping it this year, with a whole new location. :)

Spearfishing Recap and a Name Change

The second event of 2006 at Pontiac Cove Marina was a soaker! Similar to the Blessing, it rained ALL day on Saturday for the spearfishing tournament. But that's okay! Also similar to how the Blessing went down -- the great success that it was -- we still had a grrrrrreat turnout for the tournament. Fifty-five divers entered this year -- last year there were 51. The entry fee was bumped up from $20 to $25 and so the purse was that much sweeter -- $1,375.00. The tournament is 100% payback, so the winners all got a percentage of that money. The biggest prize went to Roy Waddell of Mountain Home, Ark. for first place catfish. It was a blue cat weighing in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces. The prize was $412.50. PCM's own Josh Simpson took second place with an 8-pound, 7-ounce blue cat. And PCM's Chris Shaw took third place with an 8-pound, 1-ounce blue cat. First place rough fish went to Jeremy Manier, of Highland, Ill., who shot a 10-pound, 8-ounce carp. Don Heskett, of Centerview, Mo., and Bob Benson, of Imperial, Mo., tied for second, both having shot a 10-pound, 7-ounce carp. Ken Rader of Rogers, Ark. had the biggest walleye at 2 pounds, 12 ounces. We handed out awards and door prizes at the Pontiac Park Pavilion. Just Jackie's catered the event. More than 100 people showed up at the park for our after party. It was really fun!

Different subject... I'm sure if you're a devoted reader of this blog, then you noticed I changed the name! There is a large group of friends who come down here practically every weekend during the summer, and they spend many, many weekends here all year long. They refer to our little piece of paradise here as "The O.C.", which stands for Ozark County, of course. But it's a little inside joke among them. And it's really catching on. The reason being: You've at least heard of the elitist society of Orange County, California, right? And perhaps you've even seen an episode or two of the hit television series, The OC, on FOX. Anyway, it's a funny comparison, the West Coast O.C. to our O.C. that is. But for those of us who love the lake, whether we live here full time or we call this place our second home, we know there really is no comparison.

Bubble, Bubble, Bubble...

We're excited and ready for the spearfishing tournament on Saturday! We're hoping to see the same divers back from past years and new ones, too. We have some great prizes to give away this year. So even if you enter and don't place, you still have a chance to walk away with something really cool. Maybe even a brand new speargun??? I don't know... You'll have to wait and see. :)

Remember, registration is from 7 to 9 at the dock Saturday morning. We'll give you all the details you need for later at that time. The weather is supposed to be beautiful. Mid-90s and sunny. We'll have food after the weigh-in and prizes at Hollingsworth. Anyone can eat. Cost is $5 a plate. Jackie is catering the event, so we know the food will be good!

We have a new face at PCM. Valerie Geroff has joined the staff for the summer. She is a native of Pontiac, and she grew up around this boat dock. (I remember when she was born, which is a little scary for me... Makes me feel like I'm gettin' old... NEVER!) Anyway, we're very excited to welcome her to the staff. If you see her, introduce yourself. She's a bright young woman, very friendly and eager to help you.

That's it for today! Call or e-mail anytime with questions or concerns.

SMILE! You're on PCM's cammm-era!

So, I've had several people ask me when we're going to put a gate on the main walkway, and here is my answer... The reason we haven't put it up is because Lakeland Industries (the company that supplies all our materials to build the docks) is building the gate for us. And they are soooo far behind schedule. Just to give you an idea... Tim called them the day the storm hit (Feb. 16) and ordered materials for a new dock. Those of you who have been down here know that we got the materials 3 months later, and our guys finished it just in time for Memorial weekend. Yikes. But I assure you, as soon as we get the gate we will put it up. Now, having said that... You can rest easy knowing that 1. We do not have a major theft problem here, although I do acknowledge there have been instances in the past, which is why we put the gate up in the first place, but still, most definitely not a major problem; and 2. We have a new security system this year. There are cameras in and around the dock recording who comes and goes, and what goes on at PCM 24/7. So, if you have any problems, please come see me. Believe me, I will be delighted to go back to the tape and see (literally SEE) exactly who caused the problem. Hee hee hee. Mwah ha ha.

Welcome June!

Sorry it's been so long since I've written an update... Things have been pretty hectic around here the past several days. Memorial weekend was awesome. The weather couldn't have been better. I'm talking 90 degrees and sunny. No rain, no cold weather. Even the lake is warm enough to swim in... Well, I think so anyway. I know some people are holding out for a little warmer water. :) But overall, it was such a good weekend. We were busy Friday through Monday. Seems like everyone came down to enjoy the nice weather. It felt more like a 4th of July weekend than a Memorial weekend. Now we just hope the weather is as nice for the 4th...

The guys built the new dock (with 24 stalls) in less than two weeks, just in time for Memorial weekend. (It has its own walkway from the launch ramp area.) We were able to rent nightly stalls in it starting Friday afternoon. And we kept it almost full all weekend. So I guess you could say we are about 95% back to normal from the storm in February. We still have a few little things to move here and there. But otherwise, it's looking really good down here. The dock-building crew consisted of Tim, Roger, Josh, Matt, Skip, Craig and Bill. And it was soooo hot last week. But no complaints. They just got it done.

Oh, and I still have Blessing T-shirts for a few folks. If you haven't picked yours up, stop by and get them.

The next event we're planning is the Pontiac Spearfishing Tournament. It's June 17. Registration is 7 to 9 a.m. at the marina. Tournament starts at 9 a.m. Weigh-in is from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hollingsworth Cove in Arkansas. Registration fee is $25 per diver. 100% payback. Prizes given immediately following the weigh-in. And we'll have food at Hollingsworth for the divers and their families -- $5 per person. We had a great turnout last year -- about 50 divers. Call the dock if you have questions. 417-679-3676.

Later!

T-shirts Are In!

If you ordered a Blessing of the Fleet T, they are in! Well, I will actually have them at the dock Friday evening. I think. They are done anyway. It's just a matter of getting them to me! So if you're around this weekend, come in and pick yours up.

Cost is $10 each. A lot of you have already paid, and I have a record of that.

Thank you!!

The lake is at normal pool now. You can walk right off the lower road onto the walkway. It's very nice. Our beer and soda delivery guys will be really happy this week. Hopefully it will stay that way!

We had a fairly nice day on Saturday -- about 75 degrees and sunny. But sooo windy. Today, much cooler. But this week it's supposed to get warm again, and they're calling for 80s by the weekend.

We received materials on Friday for the new dock (to replace the one that was totaled in the Feb. 16 storm). The crew is going to start building it this week. Exciting! We're hopeful that it will be useable by Memorial weekend.

Gotta go. Back to Grey's Anatomy. :)

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

So... it's been raining A LOT here the past few days. Of course we needed it badly, but I'm starting to feel a little sunshine deprived. And I've heard a few other locals say that, too! Whether they would admit it or not. The lake is almost at normal pool. Still just a foot or so below. And that is great!

We had a good little storm here Tuesday morning. I was working in the office, Matt was in the survey office, and Josh was on the new dock adjusting cables. I looked outside and the sky was pitch black! It was like nighttime! And the wind started picking up, and the rain... It totally freaked me out. I grabbed Matt, and we jumped in the car and went to my grandparents' house -- they have a basement -- and hung out there for about 10 minutes. When it passed, we came back down. Everything was fine. Poor Josh was stuck on the new dock during the whole thing. We figured he would get out of there when it started looking so ugly, but he had cables loose and could not abandon them! I felt terrible. But he is fine, too.

Boy, Mother Nature sure does like to test us.

We are blessed!!!

Well... what can I say? The first annual (and yes, it will be an annual event!) Blessing of the Fleet was a huge success. I couldn't be happier with the turnout, especially considering how gloomy the weather was. The rain actual held off for a few hours in the afternoon, and about 30 boats participated in the blessing, which was so neat. Father Mike read a few passages about blessing the boats, and then each boat passed by him (he was on the end of the new dock) and he sprinkled holy water on each of them. It was a very powerful and moving moment. A few people still decorated their boats, despite the weather, and the winners were as follows:

Best in Show: Chris Geroff and Jimmy Lofink – island theme with parrots on their shoulders and dreadlocks on their heads
Best Costumes: The Wedding Party (Pam Hicks, friends and family)
Most Original Theme: The Schlicts (Christmas theme)

Then nearly 200 people gathered on the dock for our little open house, where we served beer, soda and food. We sold T-shirts (the proceeds from which will go to the Pontiac fireworks) -- we had 6 dozen, sold out immediately, and I am doing a re-order for another 4 dozen shirts. That's 10 dozen shirts! Again, it was incredible! Then from 6-10 p.m. Allen Ross (Springfield musician) played on the deck at Just Jackie's. And that was a blast. We will definitely ask him to come back.

I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who came out on Saturday. Even though it wasn't a very pretty day, it didn't matter. You still came out and had a great time. You all sure know how to have fun!

And now, here are a few dates to mark on your calendar:

June 17: Pontiac Spearfishing Tournament
July 2: Pontiac fireworks display
August 5: Blowout at the Pontiac Park pavilion
October 7: *Lake Cleanup and Full Moon Party

*This is a brand new event we are planning, sort of an end-of-season party. It will be an all-day party, much like the Blessing. More details to come later.

OH... and we made the front page of the Ozark County Times this week! Woo-hoo! Check it out if you can.

Just 2 more days!!!!

Yes, there's a chance for rain on Saturday, and YES, the Blessing will go on! Rain or shine! Let's hope shine... but either way, we are still partying on Saturday! Don't worry, we'll give our priest an umbrella if necessary. :)

And hey... aren't boats made to get wet anyway?

Do I hear wedding bells?

A bit of news: There will be a wedding at Pontiac Cove on Saturday at about 1:30 p.m., out in the cove, just before the blessing starts. So if you're participating in the Blessing of the Fleet, make sure you're outside the breakwater by 1 p.m. or so, so that you can witness this glorious event! And be on time for the blessing! See you Saturday!

A Side Note for the Blessing...

Oh, by the way, the Pontiac Relay for Life team will be setting up a booth at the Blessing to raise money for the American Cancer Society. It will most likely be kid-oriented, with cookies, some kind of fruit slushies and maybe lemonade. A fun game for the kids is in the works. Just FYI! So don't forget the little ones!

Wow! Two posts in one day. Don't you feel special. :)

Hump Day!

Not a lot going on this week at the marina. The weather has stayed very nice after a beautiful and HOT Easter weekend. A little cold front came through late last night, and today it's more like 75 instead of pushing 90. And that's nice. We like it hot. But not so much in April!

We are ready for the Blessing! I'm still hearing buzz about it... which makes me think we'll have a pretty good turnout for this first-ever event. I hope! If you have any questions about it, please call us at the dock. We're here 7 to 7 Sunday through Thursday; and 7-8 Friday and Saturday. The number is 417-679-3676.

I hope everyone is having a good week. At least we're over the hump and headed toward Friday. That's always a good thing. Cheers!

Water, Water Everywhere!

Just wanted to let you know that the water is turned on everywhere it should be at the dock. And yes, the fish-cleaning table at the new dock has water. And the faucet here by the office has water. And yes, that means we will be making cappuccino again. :)

An Easter Weekend Preview

Well you couldn't ask for a better forecast for Easter weekend! Mid-80s and sunny all weekend long! We're anticipating a busy weekend. It usually is if the weather is nice. Plus, the crappie are biting. We sold out of crappie minnows over the weekend. But we'll have more Tuesday morning. We're getting all of our rental boats cleaned up and ready for the season. And our new T-shirts came in last week. And the shelves are filling up. Things are looking really good!

About the Blessing: I wanted to tell you that if you have other boating friends who don't dock at PCM, please feel free to invite them too. Any and all boats are welcome to join the parade. And remember, you don't have to decorate your boats. Any boat can participate. But if you do decorate, you will be eligible to win a prize! Hope to see you there!!

Wanted: A PRIEST!

Hi all! Well, we just found out today that Father Paul won't be able to offer our blessing on April 29. He has a conflict. Bummer! So we're on the hunt for another priest. Any suggestions? :) No worries. It will come together by the 29th. I am having so much fun planning this event. I hope you all enjoy it! It's only about three weeks away! Are you working on themes for your boats? I can't wait to see what you all come up with. I'm thinking we'll have a registration of some sort Saturday morning, where we'll issue numbers to those of you who are decorating your boats -- so you can be judged. (Remember, we're giving prizes for the best decorations, themes, etc.)

It's been pretty nice in Pontiac this week. A little cold in the mornings, but perfect in the afternoons. Although... We're all sick of these threatening thunderstorms. We may be in for another one tomorrow! Sheesh! What have we done to upset Mother Nature??? Let's just hope the bad weather misses us.

This weekend is supposed to be nice. So come see us!

It's a beautiful day in Pontiac! There's a lot of activity around the dock today. The road is full of cars. Lots of trucks and trailers at the launch ramp, too. Everybody's fishing. I don't know if anyone is doing any good. We can only hope. :)

An update on the Blessing of the Fleet on April 29: Father Paul from Ava will do the blessing. I spoke with him this morning. I have heard a lot of buzz about the event. Folks are already talking about themes for their boats. So I think we're going to have a good little competition for the best decorations. (Reminder: You do not have to decorate your boat. It is optional. Please join us even if you don't plan to decorate.)

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

We have a new walkway onto the main dock! Roger, Tim, Josh, Bob, Matt and Chris put it in. Thank goodness that old broken one is gone. :) Check it out. It's really nice!

Well it's Sunday evening, and the weather has turned cold again in Pontiac. And we thought spring was here! What a bummer. The fishing had actually been pretty good leading up to this cold spell. Last Saturday a couple local guys caught their limit in white bass. I've also heard of a few guys catching crappie and largemouth and even a few trout. Speaking of fishing tips, we're hanging a board at the dock where Tony Allbright (Pontiac Lodge/Executive Guide Service) is going to keep us up to date on the water level, surface temperature, best bait and best catch. So look for that in the coming weeks.

Also, if you haven't been to the dock lately, the guys have really made a lot of progress on the rebuilding. Pretty much all the boats are back in the water. And Bobby and I have painted inside the store. Each wall is a different color -- we still have to do one more wall. I think it looks great! The colors are really bright. Check it out if you haven't already.

If you're reading this right now then that means you've gotten your newsletter. We are really excited for the Blessing of the Fleet! We hope you'll all plan to come down and celebrate with us. Let us know if you have any questions about that. And come see us sooner if you like. The dock is open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. And we'll be open later on the weekends as the weather gets warm again.

Cheers!
Jabet