Our recycling world is about to change in a big way! Beginning Nov. 5, you will be able to drop off your recycling items at a new address. Please also note the new hours and the difference in the items that will be accepted at this time. I’ll have a list of those for you, but first things first and that will be the thank you’s. more

Next week, on Tuesday, I will get up early. I always do that anyway. I will walk outdoors into the early morning light to await the sunrise. It is my time to be alone with my thoughts and talk to God as I sip my coffee. more

It’s biological and bizarre more

I heard coyotes outside my bedroom window last night — not quite in my yard, but near enough I could have seen them in daylight. more

The haunted house brings images of cobwebs, dusty fixtures, cloth-covered furniture, and dreary vibes that reverberate up the split staircase with a chandelier dangling above, barely hanging on by its rusty chains. There are bumps in the night, floating objects, odd footsteps when no one else is home, or disembodied voices telling you to “get out” in that growling otherworldly voice. more

There's no reason for alarm more

Kris Kristofferson was known for his rough ways and party lifestyle. He messed up a lot in life. Many of us have too. One Sunday country singer Connie Smith invited him to go to church. At the church service, the pastor asked if anyone was feeling lost. more

I take pride in calling myself an Ozarker, and indeed I am. more

Right after we got married, I told my wife that deer hunting is a good way to more

Halloween - that special night when the kid in all of us gets to let creativity soar and pretend to be someone or something else for a night. A festival established centuries ago as a means of scaring away spirits has morphed into a means for little ones to overindulge on sweets, and giving adults a chance to play dress up again. more

Imagine that you are watching a race. The participants are tired, their pinned-on numbers damp from sweat, as they pant and force themselves ever closer to the finish line. Your favorite racer is in the lead - his breathing is heavy but there is determination in is eyes. All that training, the hard work, the passion - it’s about to pay off as he approaches the finish line. Just a few more feet, and then - nothing. He just stops - detours a bit, runs backwards, retraces some of his steps, visits with some observers. He goes over to the basketball court and shoots a few hoops. Finally, he comes back and drags himself across the finish line. All the while, you are stunned. He was so gung ho, just to fizzle out? more

When I was a boy learning of life in the woods, my dad taught me to recognize animals by what they left behind — the contents of their scat. more

Bo was a beagle, and they were usually rabbit dogs, but Bo was a squirrel dog. He cared nothing about rabbits. He loved to chase and tree squirrels. Creeks, barbed wire fences, or briar thickets could not keep him from his mission. more

What’s your edible timeline? more

Few Missouri trees have histories that are more interesting than the Osage orange. These trees are probably most noticeable at this time of year due to the large bright green fruit – called “hedge apples” or “Osage oranges” – that appear on the trees in late summer and early fall. Also known as hedge, hedge apple or bois d’arc trees; these thorny trees are frequently associated with the overgrown and neglected edges of pastures, fields and old farmsteads. In most settings, hedge trees appear to be little more than scrub vegetation in forgotten corners of the landscape. more

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalms 23:5-6 (KJV) more

As I sit to write this, Buffalo is preparing to host another Celtic festival to celebrate the Scots-Irish heritage of many Ozarks families. more

It’s time to find out what’s going on in there more

For better or worse, late September this year is certainly the time for animated robot movies. more

As of Monday, Sept. 30, my daughter Melissa’s mother, DeAnn, has been gone 30 years. The date is an important mile marker for me, my daughter, and all who remember Dee, but I let it pass with little notice, just a telephone call to Melissa. more

I’ve been accused of living on my own planet, so I thought Planet Janet would be a catchy name for it. It’s certainly not an officially recognized galaxy, but I kind of like it here. My husband has often told me that I was an environmentalist, but the way he emphasized the mentalist part made me pretty sure it wasn’t always a compliment. All that aside, I do love this earth and this place on earth and am grateful to be here. more

I got my new license in the mail yesterday. I knew it would not be the best picture, but this monstrosity left me wondering about the vengeful nature of DMV workers. more

What the baby books never told us more

I have not been to the grocery store in quite some time. I let my wife do that. Well, I went with my wife the other day and was shocked. I do not pay much attention to what she spends on groceries. I always thought since it was just us, it was not much. There was not a lot in the grocery cart. It was almost $200. more

This coming election is the most important election ever. Don’t sit on the sidelines and think your vote won’t matter, because it does. Only in voting do we have a say. If you haven’t registered, please do. Don’t wait until the last minute. If we don’t fight for our values and faith, who will? more