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!