As soon as you pick up the receiver on the old-time telephone in David Hearn’s Farm House, you know this is not your ordinary home decor store.
“Mrs. Plump, I know that’s you on the line,” an irritated woman’s voice says. “Tell Mr. Dillinger if he’s got any of those new-fangled union suits to put away a size 42 for me.”
The phone is just one of the ways Lori and David Hearn have created an illusion of an early 1900s shop mixed with some Disney-esque whimsey and Americana-style furniture and accessories. The business is actually split into two buildings that sit across from each other on Main Street in Dearborn, Mo. One looks like a furniture store from 1906. The other is a former hotel that was actually built in 1892 with offices for a bank, barber’s shop and doctor’s office. The ladies’ entrance sign on one side of the old hotel always gets a question or two from those new to the area.

Amy and Scott Johnston were living the American dream. They had three healthy, blond-haired, blue-eyed children, a beautiful home in a safe neighborhood, good jobs, extended family nearby and enough money to live comfortably.
But then God upset the applecart in the form of Williams Kofi Nketia Ankomah, a 5-year-old boy from Africa. And on Aug. 13, their lives were changed forever.

When those caffeine drinks just aren’t giving you the zip you need, you might want to try Engobi caffeine-infused chips. When they were launched in New York, Rudolph Foods, the maker of Engobi, supposedly couldn’t keep them on the shelves. According to their marketing materials, a 1.5-ounce, single-serving bag of Engobi contains approximately 140 milligrams of caffeine — about 60 milligrams more than a can of most popular energy drinks. And they come in two flavors, Lemon Lift and Cinnamon Surge.

St. Patrick’s Day is great, but getting to be Irish once a year is just not enough. There’s something about all that hand-clapping, toe-tapping and shamrocking that makes you want more. That’s why more than 7,000 people are expected to attend the ninth annual Weston Irish Festival scheduled to kick off tonight at 5 p.m. at O’Malley’s Pub and Courtyard in Weston, Mo.

It’s a crisp Saturday morning at the Pony Express Farmer’s Market in St. Joseph. Joan and Wayne Hall stand with orange pumpkins, red tomatoes and shimmery purple eggplant looking like a vibrant still life spotlighted by the early morning sun. All shades of blooming chrysanthemums decorate a nearby booth. And homemade cinnamon rolls, breads and pies beckon customers to another.
These sensory delights along with the opportunity to buy from local producers bring customers here in the parking lot of East Ridge Village on Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting in the middle of April.

Farmers' markets for Oct. 8, 2008

Rob Dalzell of 1924 Main Restaurant in the Crossroads District of Kansas City will present a special dinner at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art at 6 p.m. Oct. 20.

Age can have its advantages when you travel. One specifically is Elderhostel Adventures Inc.
If you want learning, adventure and fun all in one package, Elderhostel offers more than 8,000 programs each year in more than 90 countries, including several getaways in Missouri. The non-profit organization offers an all-inclusive price for its programs, which include lodging and food at a lower cost than you would find in traditional travel packages. The only catch is you must be at least 55 years old, or be with someone who is, to participate.

General Mills has come out with a new way to eat its popular Chex Mix — bars. They are being promoted as a “crunchy, chewy, calorie-conscious snack that packs indulgence into every bite, yet has less than 150 calories.” With at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, combined with pretzels, nuts, chocolate and caramel, it sounds like a great idea. I personally love sweet and salty combinations, and Chex is one of my favorite cereals. But I think General Mills needs to go back to the drawing board.

Farmers' markets for Oct. 1, 2008