Champion News

CHAMPION—February 14, 2011

        Champions felt a great deal warmer at ten below when they heard that Louise’s brother up in Davenport, IA, had eighteen degrees below zero.  Kurt over at the post office, said he didn’t know if he would be able to tell the difference between ten below and eighteen below if he were out in it.  That is all in the past now anyway, and by the time this is in ink, it is likely to be quite warm—up in the sixties!  With all these little snowfalls stretching out over weeks there has been plenty of time for that good nitrogen to have become fixed in the garden.  Now, a few warm days and some rain may bring some deep beautiful mud and lots of it.  “Be careful about what you wish (for),” admonishes one.  Always careful Champions consider that doing so–taking that extra care–would suggest that there is some control to be had over the weather.  With bluebirds flitting over the clean melting snow, Champions say, “What will be will be.”   They are busy looking on the Bright Side, which includes a lot of Gratitude.  Neighbors all around had deeper snow, more ice, lower temperatures and more difficulties in general than did fortunate locals.

        The General has been slipping around all winter doing good works on the sly.  It was very obvious that he had been shoveling sidewalks for Esther when the Auxiliary Ladies met at her house on Friday afternoon.  The Skyline VFD Chili Supper was the subject of the meeting and plans are very much coming together.  There will be three fine bands for entertainment and local musicians are invited to ‘jam’ starting at about 8:30.  It ought to be a fine evening.  Rita Fancher has donated a painting of a millstream in autumn for the silent auction.  It is a small painting in a barn wood frame—very pleasant.  Bill Long has made a lamp hanger of fancy yellow pine, and Tim Scrivner has promised another of his famous bird feeders and perhaps a bluebird house.  The advertisements will be in the paper soon with all the exciting details.  There is liable to be stiff competition for one of Esther’s pies.  Bob Berry and Murph Murphey battled it out last year over a coconut cream delight until some big bucks were spent.  Champions! 

        It is good news to hear that Crenna is feeling better and worrisome news that Connie is not feeling well at all.  Health care professionals do their work but Champions chime in with prayers and good wishes for a speedy recovery for their dears, their friends, and neighbors.  Get well soon.

        One of the highlights of the Skyline Auxiliary meeting was a colorful collage of photos of miss Miley Dae Schober.  She was born January 17^th.  Anybody curious about what true love might look like only needs to register the face of a young father holding his baby girl.  It is precious to see and the pictures generated ‘oos’ and ‘ahs’ from all those attending.  Grandmother Sharon Sikes was glowing and she tore out of the meeting ready to go see that girl (since she was in the neighborhood anyway).  Champion Taegan, “Peanut,” Krider is taking two steps at a time now.  It will not be long before she will be on the run.  Her folks, the Young Farmer and the Dairy Maid are enjoying the many aspects of parenting.  Check them out at www.thedairymaid.wordpress.com.  There is a link to this charming blog in the links section of www.championnews.us.  Find Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place there too. It indicates some good planting days to begin on the 20^th of the month and pruning to encourage growth can be done on the 23^rd and 24^th.  There is also a link to the VFW Post 3770 to keep Champions reminded of the serious work being done by those serving in their Nation’s uniform.  Technology has changed the way many things are done, but not everything.

        A Champion son residing abroad has come upon a Swedish proverb that he has chosen to share:  “Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more and good things will be yours.”   This most comprehensive admonition allows Champions to see that there are good people all around the world and they share many fine traits—perhaps with more in common than not.  Tumultuous events in Egypt and other places give pause to citizens here to recognize that it is a beautiful aspect of this Nation that people who love each other, family and neighbors, whose votes all count the same, can have fundamental disagreements among themselves with no diminution of their mutual respect. A public figure viewed as a hero with a glorious legacy by some can be seen as a traitorous self-serving scoundrel by others.  Ah! Freedom!  Someone said that Champion is located in Douglas County, the way Douglas County is located in Missouri, and the way Missouri is located in the United States—a little to the south and a little to the right. That is looking at the map–standing on the map it might be a little to the left–this is the whole nature of perspective.

        An invitation for a first hand view of the application of the Golden Ratio was eagerly accepted the other day and it is to be reported that progress is sterling!   Constant effort is required to dial back the enthusiasm for describing every aspect of the Re-Creation of the Historic Mercantile.  In the fullness of time all will be revealed.  Send your revelation to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to Champion News. Sing “!Que` sera`, sera`!” to yourself—but not too loud.  It is kind of an annoying song. If you happen to come to Champion for an eye-full of the good stuff you can sing those praises all day long.  Champion—Looking on the Bright Side.