Trip to Big Spring

My husband and I had to go see the dentist in Van Buren, Missouri for our checkups. After we were finished we drove to nearby Big Springs, Missouri to the state park there. Here is the view from on top a hill, you can see the spring river.

Clear cold spring water from underground.

No swimming in and no walking on the spring water.

Gum trees over the spring

Explanation to why Missouri has such unique water. Our own wells come from a karst on our property. This is why we moved here to Missouri, for clean land and water.

Clean and clear river from the Big Spring into the Current River.

No trash nor pollution in these waterways.

You cannot take a boat nor swim on the spring water, but you can 

once it connects to the Current River.

All this cold water rushing up from the ground.

Staghorn Sumac

I can always tell fall is on the way when I see these red berries on the Staghorn Sumac. I just discovered I can turn these berries into a tea to drink. I am going to try this as the are high in Vitamin C similar to lemons. These are not the Sumac that is poisonous, those have white berries.

Clouds and Rain

Finally, some rain in the Ozarks. 

Big fat clouds with water in them. Haven't seen these in a long time.

We finally got a good amount of rain. And if the hurricane comes by the end of the week we could get more. We can use all the rain we can get up here.

Zilla Play

Osa and Zilla hunting for wild rabbits in the hay stacks. They are too slow to catch any, just like to flush them out.

Zilla looses Osa in the forest.

Zilla and Poppy discuss the rules of playing.

Zilla agrees with the rules.

Was that a rabbit?

Ok, lets both go and hunt rabbits together.

My first Challah Bread

Second rise then I roll out then braid and let rise until double in size.

After sitting in a warm kitchen they are doubled and ready to bake.

Success, all baked and ready to serve. I used half whole wheat and half all purpose flour.