Silver Creek is pretty darn dry!

This picture of Silver Creek right before it empties into Bull Shoals speaks of the dry conditions we’ve experienced in the Forsyth Missouri area since the beginning of last month.

Normally this area receives about 35.72 inches of precipitation (Data: West Plains, Mo.) each year. Last year in 2010 we had about 35 inches and so we were pretty close to normal.

In December 2010, however, the water spigot seems to have been shut off and since the first of that month; we have received only about three tenths of an inch. Now, in mid January where we could look for about two inches, we have had virtually nothing fall from the skies. I understand that this area experiences drought conditions once about every five to seven years and wonder if 2011 will be that kind of year. Update: Total precipitation for January was .38 of an inch!

Forsyth Flower Cottage & Tea Room

16052 Hwy 160
Forsyth, Missouri 65653          
Phone: (417) 546-5848

Mon-Fri: 11am - 2pm

[Forsyth Missouri, 2011] The Forsyth Flower Cottage and Tea Room located just off Highway 160 in the middle of town is owned an operated by Rene Newman. It’s been in business for 9 years now and has earned a reputation as a good alternative to the fast food emporiums that litter the area. What makes it unique is the flower shop located on the premises that offers innovative arrangements for all occasions. I’ve purchased flowers there for years, but never had the opportunity to enjoy lunch there. Honestly, the richly appointed dining area feels more like someone’s home than it does a restaurant. That may be due, in part, to the professional and yet homespun attention you get from servers like Carol. She took my order promptly and then delivered one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted! (I think it was called the Carol Melt). It was a grilled pattie-melt type sandwich with some of the beat cheese I’ve ever tasted. This particular order selection also came with a salad, potato chips and a couple of cubes of cantaloupe. It was perhaps one of the nicest lunches in memory and was made all the more satisfying by the rustic décor scattered throughout the dining area itself. As they say, it’s the little touches that mean so much!

If you’re in a hurry, I understand they can handle carry outs and will even cater an event at your home or company. The Tea Room is generally open from 11AM to 2 PM Monday through Friday with limited seating, so if you’re planning on bringing a group, you might want to call ahead.

Please give this eatery a shot. I did and now I plan to make it a regular dining stop.

Note: The information contained in this blog are the opinions of the author and may not represent those of the owner. 

Powersite Sewer Project moving forward!

Apparently representatives of the company that will be installing a sewer system is going around house to house asking homeowners as to the location of their septic systems. I was told by the rep that they think they are now eight months to a year out from getting this effort completed.

According to the web page, ‘the purpose of the sewer project is to provide the area with a centralized sanitary sewer collection system in order to protect lake water quality by the removal of private treatment systems and residential septic tank/drain field systems.  The proposed collection system will consist of nearly 70,000 linear feet of new gravity sewer lines and force mains and associated lift stations.’

I inquired as to how much the hookup was going to cost home owners but could not get a definitive answer at that time. It is my understanding that anyone with questions can call Shawn Barry at 417 886-7171 to make inquiries. His email address is shawn@greatriv.com.

Holiday Pumpkin bread surprise!

One of the nice things about having neighbors like Jan and Larry Ray is the surprise of a holiday delicious loaf of pumpkin bread that Mrs. Ray brought over to my house one afternoon.They are truly nice folks.

It’s people like these that give one pause to say what a wonderful nation it is we live in. Jan is an excellent cook and her pumpkin bread had to be the best I’ve had in a long time. There’s just something about homemade that beats anything you can buy at a store no matter what the cost.

Thanks so much. Your gift of food was most generous!

A weather roller coaster ride so far!

With an opening shot of snow on Thanksgiving Day followed by a succession of cold incursions from the north, you’d think Mother Nature might be acting a bit snarly and you'd be right. With still more than a week to go before the official start of winter, I’ve already had enough of the cold stuff thank you very much. Unfortunately, no one listens to me.

This coming weekend will keep the downhill trend going as it will warm up slightly by Friday, Dec the 10th, only to be followed by a very rapid plunge into the arctic locker before the end of the weekend. In between, on Saturday, we might just also get a snowflake or two thrown our way. The National Weather Service, while still holding its cards close to its vest, is hinting at a snow event if the storm, which will sweep through the region on Saturday, digs far enough to the south. Any winter precipitation and the form it takes will be a timing event. Unlike some states like Kansas where the geology allows for fairly predictable weather patterns, our climatological location here in SWMO makes weather prediction more an art than science. What is for sure is that by Sunday, it will feel more like January than mid December, as it will struggle to get to the upper twenties with the overnight temperatures in the single digits! Brrr.

At Mobil One Express Auto in Forsyth Missouri, the customer's are happy.

From a quiet start, when Mobil One Express Auto only did oil changes to today when it has evolved into a full-sized auto service center, has been fun to experience. The customer service I’ve received there has always been top notch. This included short waits for oil changes, a staff that is keyed to making the customer happy and an aggressive, get it done management that will find you smiling as you motor down the road.

Any business that works directly with the public is lucky to get even a few letters of appreciation a year. Mobil One has a wall with many, many such letters like the one pictured here. For a discerning customer like me, this inspires confidence that I can expect exceptional service at a fair price. In my experience, that’s just what you get. (Note that I have removed the names from this letter for the sake of privacy concerns, but can attest that there are other like it on display by the counter).

Please give these folks your business next time you need an oil change or other automotive service. In difficult economic times such as these, we need to band together as a community and support our local businesses. This holds true especially for venues like this who strive so hard to earn your repeat business.

You can visit Mobil One Express Auto at 194 Coy Blvd in Forsyth Missouri or call them at 417 546-4224 or visit their web page.