About Boone County, MO

The Maplewood Barn Theater and Nifong Park will be location of the annual Heritage Festival during the 3rd week in September, 10am - 5pm. Free and open to the public! Parking is available.

The Heritage Festival showcases vendors and artists who demonstrate their skills and trades and sell their creations. In 2004, the event featured an 1859 town, cowboys and their chuck wagons, American Indian tepees and a Lewis & Clark Camp. Great music and entertainment on four stages, crafts, children's activities, storytelling, hay rides, kettle corn and more make this a fun family event.

My kids have a blast each year! It is very interactive and supports their imagination.

A guide for youth on true friendship

Growing up I had few friends, but those that I counted among my friends were true.

Several of them are still close personal friends today, with a few exceptions. One of my childhood friends has recently gone through an ugly divorce. I tried to be there as much as I could, I invited him over, providing pony rides for his kids, and we had several BBQ's on the deck. More imprortantly I was there!

I was there because for 35 years he was my friend, and because he is a good and decent person.

Friends of youth can be fickle, children often mistake youthfull relationships for friendship. I'm a bit nostelgic I would like to keep all of the people I have considered friends close to my circle.

A few of my friends of youth are still quite close, we may live miles apart but we share so much history that we will always be close. Time spent builds relationships.

Others, like one I have recently reached out to, look at relationships as stepping stones to power, greed and wealth. One high school friend recently refused my invitation on a social network; because; Quote: "I don't see how it can benefit me"!

So chillin's listen up, true friends are there when you need them, they're when you are down, they're when you are up. True friends will be friends for life, not just for today. not just when they need a shoulder but when you need a shouder too.

You will recognize them by their heart, and no matter how much you reach out to old friends, only true, good friends will respond in kind!

Go with your gut, understand that not all "friends" are true friends.

Oddly; my mother warned me that this guy was "no friend" but I held out hope that he was.

Sad; I had always hoped Jon was as true a friend as the rest.

Just Between Friends

Friday, September 5-6, 2008
Boone County Fairgrounds
Off Route 63
Columbia, MO

I've signed up to consign at this sale for the second time. Each sale gets better as word of mouth grows so there are more shopping!!

Description: There is no need to shop overpriced mall and department stores, and no more running from garage sale-to-garage sale. Just Between Friends puts it all under one roof! The best in "gently-used" children's, juniors and maternity clothing, as well as baby equipment, nursery and maternity items, outside playground equipment, books, kids movies, shoes and toys, toys, toys!

See linke: http://columbia.jbfsale.com/

Mark your calendars because on September 27 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, the mid-Missouri community is invited to the South Farm Showcase sponsored by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.

"Families with young children have responded with compliments about how much they enjoy the educational activities," said John Poehlmann, AES assistant director. "We offer a glimpse of agriculture that is unique to our community and our faculty and staff do a fantastic job of bringing the complex issues to our visitors, both young and old."

Advertised activities include: a farm animal petting zoo, a corn maze, cockroach races and running the bases on the MU "Field of Dreams." Other attractions include live music and food vendors. There is no cost to attend.

The MU South Farm is located south of Columbia on New Haven Road, one-quarter mile east of the AC/Grindstone exit off Highway 63.

One thing we love to do with our children over the summer is to take them on a trip to a drive-in movie theater. In some areas of the country, they are few and far between. We are lucky here in mid-Missouri to have the Moberly Five and Drive which is the only remaining drive-in located in our area. Moberly is located a short 30 minute drive from Columbia.

The theater is located at 3000 North Morley, Moberly, MO 65270 and the movie hotline is 660-263-2000.

You can also get the movie listings on their website at: http://www.bbtheatres.com/moberlydetails.asp

Adults are only $6.50 and children from 3-11 are free!

With only one outdoor screen, they typically run a double feature. We bring sleeping bags and pillows for the kids. Arrive early and you can get a parking space near the front and let the kids lay on the grass. Sometimes we bring our blow up mattress too! Don't forget to bring your snacks and drinks for a inexpensive night of fun!

Enjoy a summers eve night at the drive-in!