Straight From The Hart

 I posted this on my Facebook recently to let my Facebook friends know what to expect from my revamped page. A personal note for my special Facebook friends. No one is getting this but you! My Facebook posts have evolved through the years. I still like to make my friends laugh with a silly story or a joke or a cartoon, or get you caught up in a drama that seemingly could only happen to me, or just sharing a memory in a special photo, but more and more I am trying to post words that will inspire you or encourage you. I also like to post informational articles about subjects that might interest you - something you didn’t have time to read or watch. And you know of course that I love to read and especially write poetry so I will share lots of "rhyme and reason" with you, too. My days revolve around the computer, doing research on subjects in which I am interested and want to pass on to you, or surfing Facebook to keep up with my friends. I am not lazy. Unless you are pretty much...

  If you like American history, here are some quotes I found in research when I was writing a column for Independence Day. These are in no particular order, but like the column I posted earlier today, they are not always taught in school Manifest Destiny - (research,) Washington in Farewell Address: Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. Free gov't was not to be led by men and women free of religion. Washington said he could "trace the finger of God through those dark and mysterious events" that gave rise to the United State of America. Tocqueville described the Puritans as "the scattering of the seed of a great people which God with His own hands is planting on a predestined shore". John Jay (Federalis...

  Recently, a friend sent me a most profound photo she had seen on the Internet. I was so moved by the picture that I posted it on my Facebook cover page where it remains today and I invite you to look at it. The picture is of a bald eagle perched on a tombstone in a military cemetery. The picture was taken by an amateur photographer, Frank Glick, who was on his way to work one morning in the early spring of 2011. He was driving through Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota when he saw it, a huge eagle perched on a tombstone, its eyes alert, its head craned, looking for prey. He grabbed his ever present Nikon camera, and got the perfect shot. He shared the picture with a co-worker and they decided to try to track down the family of the man whose name was on that tombstone. After doing extensive research, they were able to locate Vivian Ruch, widow of Maurie Ruch who had served four years in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WW2 and earned a bronze star. We can only imagine...

  The development of one of the most beautiful areas around here could accurately be called “A Tale Of Two Families”. Our story starts when three different Bennett families migrated here in the mid to late 1840’s  from Virginia and Kentucky through Illinois down to Missouri. About the same time the Brice family migrated to Missouri from Illinois, in search of land which the U.S. Government was selling to settlers for $1.25 an acre. James Brice camped beside a clear stream of water that flowed from a large deep spring and eventually emptied into the Niangua River.  He filed a claim with the government for the 160 acres on which the spring was located and kept buying land as money became available until he owned all the land through which the stream flowed on its way to the Niangua.     He planted many different crops and built a mill on the stream between the spring and the site of the present day dam. In the late 1840’s Peter Bennett, Sr. and his famil...

  I wrote this for the newspaper several years ago. Not political. Just history about the signers of the Declaration of Independence but extremely interesting. Not because I wrote it, but because it is history we have either forgotten, or maybe never learned it in school to begin with. Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well ...

  In June 2021 I received a call from Kenny Howe telling me I had been chosen as an Honoree to be placed on the Wall of Honor at the Civic Center in November of that year.  I couldn't imagine why because I'm not a teacher or a builder or doctor or business owner, etc - the kind of things most people on the Wall are honored for.  The Chamber of Commerce just told me to submit notes about my life similar to what I would use when preparing a job resume and they would take care of the rest.  So the following is what I prepared and submitted.  PERSONAL I was born in 1943 in Lebanon and graduated from LHS in 1961. My ancestors on both my maternal and paternal sides go back over 5 generations in Laclede and Dallas County, which is also true of my husband’s family.   In 1963 I married my school and church sweetheart Milan Hart. Our daughter, Mila, who was born in 1969, is married to Terry Moore.  We have two granddaughters, Mikayla and Lorna Moore.  ...

  THE TASTES OF SUMMER Tender green onion blades,  tipped at the end With a white marble bulb, their flavors do blend With soup or a sandwich, I do recommend For these are the tastes of summer. Cucumbers growing green, awaiting their turn For slicing with vinegar and sugar, I yearn So cool and refreshing, my praises they earn These too are the tastes of summer. Sun ripened tomatoes, So juicy and sweet A smidgeon of salt, such a heavenly treat Just thinking of them makes my heart skip a beat A favorite taste of summer. Hot corn on the cob with the tantalizing name Of peaches and cream, it’s in my hall of fame From one end to the other of the cob I exclaim That this is the true taste of summer. Green beans, new potatoes, cooked up in a pan Just simmering slowly all day is my plan Some salt, bacon drippings, there’s no better than The taste of fresh beans in the summer. Green lettuce wilted down with some crisp bacon bits Add some vinegar, a little sugar, it’s always a hit I have...