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.