Welcome back to Missouri, my friends! Grab a cup of coffee, a map (or Google), a canoe or floatie, or a chair if you’d rather sit on the bank. There’s a Missouri-shaped piece of me filled with music and memories. In a world of war, tragedies, devastations, and unknowns, will you join me as I marinate on marvelous?
Music motivates, mends, melts, and maintains me. Mountains moved by my Creator (and ones I’ve climbed physically and spiritually) magnify my life’s music. Chords of change. Lines of loss and love. An opera of optimism. Songs of divinity, dirt roads, and divorces. Tunes of time, teaching, travel, and tumors. Melodies of my Master, motherhood, moods, and manners. Hymns of hope, heart, humility, and heaven. My life is my Master’s musical.
Bluegrass, blues,
country, and jazz,
many types of music
give Missouri pizazz!
(Faith and Finley Tour Missouri-K.L. Hale, 2021, Finley River Publishing)
My Childhood River –Finley
Hawkins Ford Bridge was built in 1915 by the Canton Bridge Co. (Canton, Ohio). It has a total length of approximately 160 feet (80 feet-largest length) and a width of 11.8 ft.
Is it any surprise I chose the Finley River first? A “one and only unique” instrument made its debut one summer day years ago on the Finley. Here’s an excerpt from my post, A River and Honey., “Missouri had other old iron bridges. I knew a song about a bridge in London, but it wasn’t MY bridge. The Hawkins Bridge was THE gate to our kinship kingdom. A pavilion of possibilities, pranks, and purpose. Biscuits were fried in cast iron in an open-fired stone oven. The chiggers, ticks, spiders, and all other Ozarks’ crawling critters couldn’t stop us! Nor the blazin’ sun! Us younguns’ were coated, schmoated, lathered, and smeared with sticky white protection! The Wilson clan cluttered and counted the cottonmouth along the Finley River. Circled and seated on sacred stones, we gathered as Uncle Orie strummed his one-and-only homemade pew organ! We giggled and sang along with his one-hit wonder, “Swish Swish, Boing Boing” (It never made Casey Kasem’s Top American 40, but it was my top hit)!
The Finley River flows east to west, most of its 52.8 miles are in Christian County, Missouri. Check out something else great on the Finley! ⬇️
Johnny Morris, conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops moved the Ozark Mill (built in the early 1800’s) to the banks of the Finley. Finley Farms and the Ozark Mill is a must-stop destination if you visit! Coffee, shopping, history, nature, and so much more! (pics by K.L. Hale-2023)
Let’s head to the Southwest Ozark Hills of my late teens to 20’s …to now…
Before sunrise, the trout siren would blare at Roaring River State Park in Cassville, MO. Sleepy eyes and hopeful little fishermen, along with their Dad and I, would crawl out of our outdoor homes (a.k.a. tent or Pop-Up camper) in hopes of snagging our limit of rainbow trout. Around 250,000 fish are hatched and stocked at this most-visited state park in Missouri. Fish guts and giggles made my “no-hit wonder songs” more gleeful!
Country hits by Johnny, George, Garth, Conway, Merle, Dolly, and Reba~classics from James Taylor, Jewel, Anne Murray, Whitney Houston, Queen, and Journey~heartfelt harmonies from The Gaithers, The Gatlin Brothers, The Crabb Family, and The Isaac’s~epic movie soundtracks to sing-alongs with Disney. Another favorite, the Eagles, soared through the airwaves along the river banks of home. From “Peaceful Easy Feeling” to “Peace like a river attendeth my way.” It will always be well in my soul.
Sedentary, like the rocks on the banks of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers (meeting in Eminence, MO) my two young men and I, coated with sunscreen, grubbed around the gravel searching for state-shaped rocks to make a USA map. A two-hour treasure by two rivers, with two tremendous boys.
Two Rivers State Park —two rivers, spring-fed and littered only by timberland trails and beautiful bluffs around bends—was the first national park area to protect a river system. In 1964 Congress authorized the formation of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR). Crystal clear water, beautiful bluffs, and this “third-largest spring-fed river in the United States provide opportunities to experience some of the most beautiful wilderness Missouri has to offer.” (Environment Missouri Research & Policy Center, 2013).
Music and Memories stay afloat in my soul. My faith, just as my favorite MO rivers, never runs dry.
Did you know the Buffalo River was America’s first designated National River (1972)?
Although the Buffalo River is in Arkansas, it’s like “home” to me. Flowing through the Ozark Mountains in the Ozark Plateau, its breathtaking blue is formed from the limestone it cuts through. From Ponco to Kyle’s Landing, Boxley Valley to Lost River…hiking Hemmed-In Hollow to the Goat Trail. If you visit SW MO, you MUST visit Northern Arkansas. Waterfalls, the gorgeous rivers, bluffs, caves, and trails will welcome you with open arms (just like I will if you visit my area!).
Can you hear the melodies in Missouri’s small mountains? Listen to the songs sung by the rivers. Can you hear the tunes of the trees? Missouri’s earthy ensemble edifies our environment!
If you love Missouri’s music, you’re probably a bluegrass fan! The Ozark Hills host amazing jamborees and gleeful gatherings! The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters (founded by Otto Ernest Rayburn (1891-1960) hosts an annual “Cabin Fever” concert; from folklore to folk songs, bluegrass concerts to the most important goal—to preserve the Ozarks, promote conservation and education, and cultivate an interest in the unique Ozarks history of people, places, and events. My recent return to my former little home included a night of bluegrass and laughter!
Enjoy these two videos from that night of knee-slappin’, toe-tappin’, belly-laughin’, tear-formin’ fun!
Living in the Ozark’s is like getting a huge hug from humanity! Giggles and humor soothe the soul!
Have you heard of Branson, Missouri?
Silver Dollar City (1800s theme park), music shows, Table Rock Lake, diverse shows/theaters, go-carts, mini-golf, and fantastic food make the “Live Show Capital of the U.S.” a perfect family-oriented destination for fun! Cruise the 76 Country Blvd “strip” for tons of attractions! Make sure you stop at Andy’s Custard, visit the Titanic Museum, walk the Landing at Taneycomo, and visit the College of the Ozarks! (#3 in colleges of the Midwest).
Do you remember my RV days? If you’re pulling a camper, or desire a night in a treehouse, check out my former “home”, Branson Treehouse Adventures!
Have I convinced you to find your M-O in Missouri? Please holler at me if you ever visit! We can grab a coffee, head to Bass Pro, stop for custard, hike a trail, listen to music, and my favorite…talk about the goodness of friendship and our amazing God.
There’s much more to Missouri~Wilson’s Creek Battlefield, The Laura Ingalls Wilder museum/homestead, the Pony Express museum in St. Joseph, and our Capitol in Jefferson City to the St. Louis Arch.
Kind people and nature
And so much more,
make Missouri special
and fun to explore!
Thank you for your support as Finley and I read with local students and promote kindness, curiosity, and a love for learning! 💚
Have faith. No matter what part of the world you live in,YOU ARE LOVED💚.
Works Cited
Environment Missouri Research and Policy Center. (2013 August). Citizen’s Guide to the Current River. https://environmentamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/citizens_guide_web.pdf.
Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air
