Sharing Boxley Favorites

Sharing Boxley Favorites Cookbook

Speaking of "the heavens", (see previous entry) our Ladies Ministry at Boxley Baptist Church is excited to announce the publication of our newest cookbook, SHARING BOXLEY FAVORITES. It is a collection of recipes by some of the "best cooks along the Upper Buffalo River".

And that's not all! Scattered throughout the book are photos and art work by professional and amateur artists in the area. The cover picture is by Tim Ernst a well-known nature photographer who lives on Cave Mountain. Other contributors (everyone, by the way, gave us permission for publication without charge) include Alice Andrews, Don Kitz,artists, and Ed Porter, Don Nelms, and Michael Dougherty, professional photographers who live and and work in the area. Other pictures are by members of the church.

You will also find a history with photos of the church and Boxley Valley.

It is truly a treasure for all who live or visit the Buffalo National River area.

For information on how to purchase a copy email me , Camille.

Price is $15 plus $5 mailing.
All proceeds go the the Ladies Of Purpose for mission projects throughout the year.

December Gifts

December Mountain Sunrise

I am again inspired by Ruth's Advent devotions--

These are the words of Zachariah, father of John the Baptist, at John's birth as he proclaimed the coming messiah.

"God's sunrise will break upon us, shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace." Luke 1:78-79

Many of us rise before the sun does, (and if you live in a rural area such as ours, most people do.) They either have a long drive to work, or they farm and have to "get up with the chickens" literally! In talking with friends this week, I have heard several comments on the spectacular sunrises of late. Jack and I have thought the same thing and so, this morning, after Jack drove off to work, I stepped out on the porch, braved the cold winds, and snapped the picture you see above. I told Jack as we drank our first cup of coffee in bed this morning, it would be nice to build a house so that the bedroom window is facing the east. What a wonderful way to wake up each morning watching the sunrise. It can't help but improve one's outlook for the day, nor can one help but praise God for such a beautiful gift each morning!

We moved from a house in the woods to a house on the mountain. It is still an awe-inspiring experience to observe the blazing oranges and reds of a sunrise, the azure blue noonday sky scattered with puffs of white clouds, the fading pinks and purples of the sunset, or the ominous dark gray storm clouds rolling in from the west. Even the vapor trails of silver jets traveling across the "wild blue yonder" are impressive! We named our long driveway up to our house "Blue Sky Road" because one has the feeling of traveling through the sky as the road winds its way to the top.

The weatherman can explain the scientific reasons for these occurrences each day, but no doubt God gave us sunrises and sunsets and a glorious sky as a gift to enjoy and help us remember his omnipotent power over the universe. My picture file of the heavens, as seen from below, continues to grow.

The holiday season is upon us, and there is so much to do. My prayer each morning for myself is -- "Dear Lord, Open my heart to the gifts of this day." I hope it will be yours too.

.

Ready For The Season?

Molly is ready for the season

We had a delightful Thanksgiving holiday--blessings galore! Great travel weather, fun with the grandson, wonderful cabin guests. And, for all that, and much more, we are very thankful. However, most of the time we don't get all the leftover turkey eaten before we are in the middle of "holiday anxiety"--planning, shopping, cooking, decorating (My! I am getting anxious just thinking about all the things I must do!) I was in that sort of mood as we traveled back home on Friday.

Yesterday, Sunday, was a good day to regroup. We attended church at Boxley in light snow. It continued to snow most of the day (I am now looking out the window at snow-covered mountains). In the afternoon, a dear friend, Ruth, stopped by to give me a gift--something she said I would want before Christmas. It is an Advent booklet of daily devotionals--one for each day of the Advent, along with a small candle encircled by a wreath. These are her original writings bound in a little book. What a treasured gift!

I will quote from her introduction:

"The Advent means 'coming' and is symbolic of Christ's coming to earth as a baby, His coming and presence in the believer's heart today, and His coming again in power and glory. This advent wreath is a reminder of God's unending love for us and of the gift of everlasting life that He gave us through His Son Jesus Christ. The candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and is to be lit as each devotion is being read. The Advent season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (November 30, 2008) and goes through Christmas Eve."

No matter how hectic the day promises to be, I will begin each morning of this Advent season with the reading of her devotional for the day, and the lighting of the Advent candle. It is my hope that you will do your own version of this. And, may it make your holiday season one of joy and love.

Prayer for Sunday, November 30--

Dear God, as we begin the Advent season, teach us the true meaning of Christmas. Each time we light the candle, help us to think about the mercy shown to us, and help us as we look at the lighted candle to "lighten up" and stop needing "perfection" in our lives. Amen

Ruth Moore

Something Told the Wild Geese

Snow Geese

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly--

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry.

Jack and I happened to be on the porch when we heard the cry of wild geese flying overhead. Looking up, we saw the "V" formation as they made their way south, ahead of what was to be a major storm. All night the winds howled at the windows. We had already prepared for winter weather by moving all signs of summer out of the yard and off the porch. Still, a few things bumped and squeaked most of the night. The rains blasted the windows and doors despite an 10 foot porch overhang. We later learned the wind speed got up to 60 mph. I can imagine the jet stream coming right over our house!

Sure enough, the next morning all signs of early fall had disappeared! The brilliant gold, red, and orange leaves had flown south with the geese! What few leaves were still on the trees were brown and falling. That's okay. It is time. This is a transition time preparing us for the winter that is just around the corner, or over the mountain, or still up north. Already, the weatherman teases us with "chances of snow" predictions. We get excited, knowing all the time it won't be but a dusting. And, hoping it doesn't turn into an ice storm.

I love this time of year. Probably because it is my birth month. I can always count on a first winter blast about this time. The woolly worms are out. I have seen solid black ones as well as those with a brown band around the midsection. Never figured out which is a sign of a hard winter. Another harbinger of a hard winter is the persimmon. If there is a "shovel" inside it means lots of winter snows. This is a banner year for persimmons, and I have heard you can find most anything--fork, spoon, knife, whatever! inside. I haven't really looked, but I did eat some that were really tasty!

If fogs in August are any indication of a harsh weather, as some old timers tell us, we are in for one bad winter! I didn't count them, but there were quite a few very foggy days and nights in August. Something that isn't too common. The fogs have been discussed at the feed store since August!

Most everyone around here has a favorite way to predict the coming winter weather. One that makes sense to me is the one about gauging the harshness of winter by watching how high the neighbors' stack their supply of firewood. It makes one want to go out and cut more wood! Just in case.

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord...When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings...For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory...What joy for those who trust in you. Psalm 84:5,6,11,12

And A Good Time Was Had By All!

Cave Mountain Road

There is an air of excitement in the mountains this time of the year. The colors are glorious! A main topic of discussion is whether the colors have "peaked" and how do they compare with last year's. Who cares! We don't complain! The temperatures range from cool in the morning to "just right" in the middle of the day. It is a great time to do anything in the mountains!

I was in Jasper this week, and the little mountain town was bustling with visitors and locals. I stopped by Emma's Museum of Junk (by far the best little antique store anywhere!). I am on a mission to rid our house of clutter and "stuff". Emma needs "stuff" to sell in her store. We both agreed it was nice to let go of things now and then. But, it is hard to do. These are little treasures that I fell in love with through the years as I shopped little places similar to Emma's. When we moved to the mountains, those things were packed away in boxes and they have just taken up space in the basement for seven years. I hope Emma's customers will love these old and nostalgic things as I once did and take them home to enjoy. Emma and I agreed on a price, and soon my "stuff" will be on her shelves. She has a way of displaying items that make you want to take them home. I just hope I don't walk in her store some day and purchase some of the same items I sold her!

The same day we took Mother out to eat at one of her favorite little restaurants, The Boardwalk Cafe. They serve only organic foods, most is locally grown, even the buffalo burgers and elk sausage (all meat is farm raised, not wild).

Joseph, the owner, was happy with the business they were getting throughout the week. We both wished for several months of fall weather that brings out the tourists. We ordered our favorite winter meal, Janet's Cajun gumbo. The couple are originally from New Orleans, and the seasonings reflect that!

Saturday was a good day to do some yard work. I always leave some plants standing for the wildlife in winter, but some of the grass had to go! Got one bed done with two more to go! For another day, no doubt! It was a good day all around with the Hogs winning and the cabins full of nice folks who came to enjoy the Ozarks.

We capped off the weekend with a hike to Hawksbill Crag up on Cave Mountain. I really prefer to call it by the name most locals use--Whitaker Point. We went with a group of friends from church and packed a picnic lunch. There were about 15 of us--all ages, from 3 to 63! Lots of fun, even though this was not your "quiet walk through the deep woods" sort of hike. Seems like everyone else had the same idea. This is probably one of the most publicized scenic areas anywhere in the Ozarks, and people come from everywhere to view it, especially when it is clothed in fall colors. We even met a group from Japan! This was our third time to hike there--only about 2 miles round trip--not too strenuous, but hold on to the little ones as they near the bluff line.

Today, it's back to school for Jack, and back to the cabin business for me. Looks like another beautiful week to be living in the Ozarks, or anywhere you live for that matter. It is especially a good one for me. I am having a birthday on Friday, and I plan to celebrate all week!

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16

'Tis The Season!

Indian Creek Falls

The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town.

Emily Dickinson

The view from my window is deceiving! Sunshine, blue skies, trees of yellow and gold on the mountains across the valley, birds soaring high in the sky--all make up a perfect October day. However, the brisk fall winds remind us that October is a month of contrasts. One day warm and sunny, the next day a chill is in the air. The dogs are confused! They bounce out of the door expecting the warm temps of yesterday. A few minutes later a scratch at the door means "let us in, the wind is blowing us off this mountain!" This goes on all day! A cold front moved through last night bringing much needed rain and colder temperatures. Looks like a fire will feel good tonight!

I love this change of seasons that we will experience in the next few weeks as fall moves into winter. The cold fronts move in from the north, and are visible for hundreds of miles as they slowly make their way into the mountains. The dark, ominous skies forecast a change. It is energizing and exciting to watch as the winds whip through the trees and send leaves sailing across the yard and down into the hollow. It's a time we rush to save delicate flowers still blooming on the porch and secure all chairs and other loose objects that have been a part of our summer days.

Have I told you I love fall? Okay, at least a dozen times!

These are the days when Jack and Ed take a hike to Indian Creek--Jack is always awestruck with the beauty of the area. This is the month we slip away for a leisurely trip to War Eagle Craft fair, sit on the banks of the river, and have a lunch of corn dogs and ice cream. These are the afternoons when we hop on the 4 wheelers and ride across the road to Delano's mountain pastures. When we reach the summit, we stop and look back across Kenner Creek to our own house and cabins--so far away, they look like a Google map! These are the nights we have a wonderful Italian meal at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. (So good we have to take the Tiramasu home for later.) Or go to the Ozark Cafe on a Friday night for not only a good meal, but great music with Joe Villines and friends. These are the days we can linger over coffee late into the night as we visit with family and friends that have come for the weekend. And, the days when we look forward to meeting new cabin guests and renewing friendships with returning guests who all want to be here in October.

These are the days I hang out my laundry on my new clothesline just because I want to be outside and feel the breezes blow the sheets over my head. The days I refuse to listen to television and choose, instead, to pull out a book saved for just such a time. The days I sit by the window and do an extra Bible study lesson. The days I meet the horses at the fence and give them a good currying. The days we listen to the Razorback game wearing our "Hog shirts" and cheer or cry depending on the score. On one of these days, I find a reason to take a drive up Highway 103 to Green Forest and Berryville, and maybe on to Eureka Springs, alone and quiet in the car--medicine for the soul. The road is a ribbon through the mountains and valleys. At one point, you can look in the distance and see another stretch of the same highway miles away.

These are the days we pick up walnuts that have fallen in the grass, mow the yard wearing a coat, discover the turnips in the late fall garden have grown to be enormous since we last checked! And, in the evening we stop whatever we are doing,gaze across the valley and marvel at the folliage colors that have deepened since yesterday. On one of these afternoons, I pick the last roses of the summer and collect the wildflower seeds to save for next year. We stay out long enough to see a beautiful October sunset. We notice the big orange ball of the Harvest Moon as it rises over the mountains when we drive home from Sunday night church in Boxley Valley.

This is the season that, unlike summer that lingers too long, flies by too quickly. It is too soon gone. It is a season to drop everything and get out and do something!

"In October in Blue Hill the world was so pretty it set everyone in a good mood. Houses were thick with the scent of apples bubbling on stove tops, and gardens lay ripe with the flowering of good green kale."

from THE BLUE HILL MEADOWS by Cynthia Rylant

Perfect Peace

Parthenon Valley in Newton County

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows. 1 James 1:17

Perfect: exact, precise, true, flawless, complete, absolute, impeccable, ideal, unblemished, faithful, right as rain...

"It was a perfect weekend." I found myself discussing our weekend with Jack after a visit from my brother and his wife. Distance, health, work, and other circumstances make these visits all too rare, and I was wanting everything to be perfect. It was--all of us hanging out on the porch, no real time table--just relaxing, watching the birds, butterflies, feeling the wind blow gently across the mountain-- it seemed the leaves changed colors as we watched.

Being a practical person, I rarely describe something as "perfect". But, maybe, one doesn't have to be a "perfectionist" to use the word to describe something, someone, someplace, a time, etc. I am beginning to look at this word differently. Not a word to throw around carelessly, but one to use for certain times and places in our life.

The word took on more significance after I read the cabin journals from our latest guests. As they recorded their thoughts, the word "perfect" was used frequently to describe their days at Mountain Springs. I now believe "perfect" is a feeling. A feeling of joy, delight, happiness--fleeting, but memorable. A souvenir to take home in one's mind to pull out when things aren't going so very "perfect" at the moment.

Here are their journal entries exactly as they wrote them. (It seems a perfect time to get in a little cabin commercial! :-)

Deer Pond Cabin--

"We love it here! We had the most perfect day ever! Perfect weather, awesome hiking! Ate a fantastic dinner in Jasper, then later saw 3 falling stars from the deck! Oh, of course, the elk. How gorgeous! This cabin is perfect too--it lacked nothing--very homey." Keith, Kim, Scott, Missouri

Eagle's Rest Cabin--

"Wow! Can't say enough about how wonderful our stay here has been. Thank you! Thank you for everything--your hospitality, helpful hints about activities, and absolutely perfect cabin. We will be recommending Mountain Springs Cabins to everyone who will listen. We really needed this vacation and you made it perfect! God Bless you both." The Jacksons from Ft. Worth

I might add, we considered them the perfect cabin guests!!

Enough perfection!

However, in these days when very little seems perfect or right, focus on He who is perfect.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

(Don't stop with this verse --read the whole 26th chapter of Isaiah!)

The True Story of Mama Dog

Mama Dog

Recollect that the Almighty, who gave the dog to be companion

of our pleasures and our toils,

hath invested him with a nature noble and incapable of deceit.

Sir Walter Scott

I knew my neighbor, Darlene, had a soft spot for dogs when she first visited us and fell in love with one of Maggie, the Jack Russell's, puppies--Cricket. At the time, Darlene had a lot of irons in the fire--including a move from South Louisiana, and building a new house. On every visit to Mountain Springs, she would stop in and check to see if Cricket was still with us. Finally, she gave in and "adopted" her. She is now her constant, and sometimes exasperating companion. Cricket joined two older dogs, and quickly made her place in the dog family.

It wasn't surprising when Darlene called one day to tell me she had found a very hungry and dirty old hound female dog at the river, and she was in need of some loving care. So she brought her home, bathed, fed, and doctored the poor thing. Her idea was to feed her and find the owner. However, it was soon apparent that the owner wasn't interested in being "found". We are quite sure she was abused, as she is very meek and skittish when corrected in any way. Two days after bringing her home, the hound gave birth to nine fairly healthy pups! Thus, the name "Mama Dog"!

With Darlene's nursing background, Mama and her family thrived. I told her that Mama obviously believed she had died and gone to "Dog Heaven" and had taken her pups along!

With some convincing on Darlene's part, the pups were adopted by families with similar "soft spots" for animals in need. However, no one was willing to take a skinny, abandoned female hound dog. All the time, Mama was working her "charm" on those she came in contact with. Her only sceptics were our husbands who were convinced that a deer hound on the mountain would be the end of wildlife of any kind. Mama proved different. She might run a rabbit around the yard in the early morning, but she wasn't interested in chasing deer for hours on end--which is why she probably was never claimed by the original owner!

Nowadays, Mama Dog spends her time in her own "dog heaven"--our mountain neighborhood. You might find her basking in the sunshine in Darlene's flowerbed, guarding the yard from critters, or sleeping in her very own bed in the basement. Occasionally, she may look up the hill at one of the cabins. She has a way of knowing who "needs" a visit, and who doesn't. Numerous guests mention her as the "cabin dog" who comes to the door, offers a paw (if you don't respond, she will offer the other paw), and, in her own way, Mama welcomes you to the mountains. She has had several names--Molly, Lady, Rose-- and answers to any name that is spoken in a soft voice. Both cabin journals have several stories about her. She does have a way of encouraging one to offer a snack, but she doesn't insist, and will leave if not welcome. Children are her joy, and a little kind attention from a child is all she wants in life (other than a scrap now and then)!

Wouldn't we all be better off if we were so easy to please, and content with our lot in life?

Life is good on the mountain for dogs and people!!!!

Happy Fall!

Welcome to Mountain Springs Cabins

Did I say that springtime was my favorite season? Oh no, I changed my mind! The cool mornings, the hint of color on the mountainside, the call of the bull elks in the valley all remind me that I love this time of year best! Autumn!

Since I was a little girl, I have loved the autumn (of course I should, I was born in the fall--not saying which year!) I can remember raking leaves(mostly jumping in big piles of them), jack-o-lanterns, Halloween wiener roasts and Trick or Treating around the neighborhood, inside birthday parties when the weather didn't cooperate. Later on, the fall brought high school football games, Homecoming dances, mum corsages from someone special, and wiener roasts with s'mores at the deer camp.

When Jay was young, carving the pumpkin was a big deal, as well as choosing just the right Halloween costume. As he grew up, he and Jack would wait anxiously for that first cool, crisp Saturday of squirrel season followed soon after by the deer hunt. Never mind if they brought home nothing but stories that now are wonderful memories.

Now, fall is a time for walks in the woods down by the spring, favorite drives through the mountains (more on that later), early morning elk watching, wild geese flying over the house, and wiener roasts, especially those marshmallows!

We drove down this weekend for Jack Henry's second birthday. Two years of joy to celebrate! It is no doubt every day is a party for a two year old. Two doting grandparents had a wonderful time--even enjoyed some time with this parents! Then it was time to go back to our mountain home.

Driving south reminded us of the contrast in the seasons in the lowlands and the mountains. On the way home, Jack suggested a detour through unexplored territory. We followed the Highway 7 detour that goes through several little communities--not a convenience store/gas station for 48 miles! Beautiful countryside--old barns, deserted homesteads, cattle grazing on pastures of a few large ranches, country churches with old cemeteries next door (both still in use),little mountain streams, and wide open vistas was worth a little extra driving time. By the way, Highway 7 is scheduled to reopen next week after repairs of a slide near Pelsor.

On this first day of autumn, I look forward to more of "why I love this time of the year." Every morning, I will check the leaf color change on the mountains just outside my window as I work(?) at my computer. As the season moves on, I will linger over lunch on the porch, find a dozen reasons to go outside, and, even hang out the laundry on my new clothesline more often. I will walk (or maybe ride my four-wheeler) along the trail to the spring and look up at the blue sky through yellow-gold-red maple leaves. I will take my thermos of coffee, leave early as the sun comes up, and drive to the valley to elk watch.

And, of course, I will have a wiener roast. (I am wondering about those chocolate and strawberry marshmallows I picked up on a whim at the store.) This year, Jack and I are discussing just where to build the new campfire ring. We expect to need it soon enough when a little boy comes to visit and discovers the pure pleasures of sitting around a campfire, roasting hot dogs, and making s'mores on a cool autumn evening in the mountains. Making mountain memories!!

September

A road like brown ribbon, A sky that is blue, A forest of green with that sky peeping through.

Asters, deep purple, A grasshopper's call, Today it is summer, Tomorrow is fall.

Edwina Fallis

The Best Things...

Can you find the butterfly?

This is the day that the Lord has made; we will be glad and rejoice in it!

Psalm 118:24

This is a "Count Your Blessings" day!

We never tire of saying our Mountain Springs guests leave as friends. A new "friend" who has recently come to Eagle's Rest Cabin is Sandra McClure, a wonderful artist and photographer from Van Buren, who is also an art teacher. In visiting with her, we were able to see our mountain through her artist's eyes, and, thus, were reminded to count our blessings in our life at Mountain Springs and the Ozarks.

Sandra and her husband, daughter and husband spent a weekend with us--visiting some of the scenic areas from the comfort of their car since their son-in-law was hindered with a cast on his foot! They were celebrating an anniversary and birthday. In the cabin journal she thanked us for "sharing our butterflies" with her. It was our pleasure, Sandra.

A visit to her website, www.artwanted.com/sondramcclure is worth a few minutes of your time, and will give a lift to your day, as it does ours each time we click in. The photo above is one of hers, and she has posted others on the website. I can hardly wait to see what paintings spring forth from her photos of the area!

After the recent storms, the weather is clear, cool, and just right for hiking to waterfalls. Sitting on the porch (too cool? sit at the window by the fireplace) in the early morning with that first cup of coffee and watching the mist rise over the mountains is a blessing in itself! The elk are bugling in the valley,(another blessing to experience) and many trees are beginning to show their fall colors. It promises to be a beautiful and blessed autumn season!

The best things in life aren't things!

Hurricane Relief

Welcome Sign at Mountain Springs Cabins

A small hurricane arrived on the mountain very early Monday morning in the form of seven travel-weary young adults and their 3 lively children--4 and 2 years and 4 months. We were expecting them as they had called earlier inquiring about an opening in one of our cabins. They told us every place they called was already booked with others escaping the furies of the storm. The Labor Day holiday made it especially difficult to find an available hotel room or cabin. There was no room at the inn here either, but we told them to come up anyway, and we would find them a place.

They traveled in the dark, a caravan of two vehicles on unfamiliar roads, up and down and around endless mountains so different from their flat delta homeland. They pulled in to our drive just before daybreak. We had prepared all guest beds, and inflated air mattresses in anticipation. Bleary-eyed and disheveled, they quickly spread out all over the house from loft to basement. Then all was quiet for a couple of hours. Jack and I sat on the porch with our coffee watching the sunrise--a brilliant red sky. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailors delight.

Our Texas guests from Eagle's Rest Cabin were off early the next day, so we were able to get our group settled in their own cabin by mid-morning. But only after we had fed the babies, consumed a couple of pots of coffee, and made real introductions all around.

Three 3 siblings, their spouses and their babies, and a cousin--well-mannered, self-confident, and with those gracious southern manners, a result of being raised in the south--where everyone older than you are is addressed as "Miss" or "Mr" preceding your first name. Their soft, southern Louisiana/ Cajun' dialect brought back memories and added to their charm. We accepted their invitation to supper last night--wonderful meal prepared in the confines of the small cabin. We were drawn right in as a part of the family--almost literally. Without our prompting, the children began calling us "Uncle Jack" and "Aunt Camille"! (It's a "southern thing"-- we know from living in South Arkansas most of our lives.)

They came as our guests, they will leave as our friends. And we are reminded as to why we love our job as cabin hosts.

May God bless them as they make their way home today!

Up-Hill

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day's journey take the whole long day?

From morn to night, my friend...

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

Of labour you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yea, beds for all who come.

Christina Rossetti

Where Did Summer Go?

Hummingbirds at the feeder

No doubt, the hungry hummers are asking this question as they drink our four feeders dry several times a day! I am looking out the window as I write, and a cool rain is falling, with predictions for more this week. Temps have been in the 60's at night now for almost two weeks. Growing up in the south (and I don't consider the Ozarks south!) I have never been a fan of long, hot, humid summer days that linger well into what should be the fall season. But, here we are mid-August with what seems like the end of summer. I'll take it!

There is a maple tree down the road that always gets in a hurry for autumn. Every year its leaves turn brilliant yellow weeks before the other trees have even thought about fall color. We watch for it every year and think of it as a promise that no matter how hot the August days, autumn is right around the corner. The tree is a mass of yellow and gold--this week! Is that a sign of an early fall and winter?

The NEWTON COUNTY TIMES published a picture of a hornets' nest only a foot or so off the ground. Old-timers claim that is a sign of a long, cold winter! Maybe, but the same week our neighbor found a hornet's nest in his last year's deer stand--rather high up in the tree! I haven't seen many woolly worms yet. I think the saying is the more stripes the colder the winter or the less stripes the colder the winter, or something like that.

The rains and cooler weather have breathed new life in the flower garden. The cool breezes inspired me to get out there and pull a few weeds. And, of course, move a few rocks. My rock patio is a never ending project since the rocks on our mountain are never ending. I am limited only by the size of the rocks I can move from one place to another. And, now with Jack's new tractor, the size has increased immensely!

A friend gave me a few Koi to put in my little pond by the patio. They are reproducing in her natural spring pond so fast she has to give them away! I went to the pet store to get the esssentials necessary for caring for them. Believe me, they aren't "free" fish any longer! We are trying to decide what to do with them over the winter. Looks like they may be a "school of fish" in more than one way. Jack will move them to the large aquarium he inherited when he began teaching science at Jasper High School.

Well, the hummers are flying around the window again. A sure sign that the feeders are empty. They show no sign of heading south, so I guess fall isn't really upon us yet. But I will enjoy these wonderful days no matter what the calendar shows!

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Is It Fall Yet?

McFerrin Point Near Compton in early fall

If you aren't up here in the mountains now, you ought'a be! After some hot days in July, it seems we have skipped the rest of August and jumped right into the wonderful early fall weather of September. I don't hear any complaints! With temps in the 60's at night and 80's daytime I can't think of any place I had rather be. Our cabin guests from Texas say the same thing!

Jack started school this week--always a mix of not wanting summer to be over, yet anticipating the excitement of a new school year. I remember those days of anxious little faces starring at me from the back of the classroom. I'm not sure who was more intimidated--the teacher or 30 brand new first graders!

Summer guests have been lots of fun. We've had a honeymoon couple--one comes from Alaska and the other Hawaii; a group of college friends from Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Texas; another group of friends who were saying goodbye to one going to Iraq for a tour of duty; families from all over-- California to Tennessee, Louisana to Minnesota, and even France! There was the family with five little boys who jumped in Deer Pond to cool off. And the lady who sat under the stars until midnight only to find out she had locked herself out of the cabin! She had to walk up the hill, barefoot, in pj's, to ask us for a key (thank goodness, we keep flashlights in the cabin for emergencies!) One couple from Mississippi loved the area so much they bought a cabin just down the road from us! It just proves our saying--"You'll want to stay forever!" We are looking forward to more guests as we continue to book for the fall and winter. Fall days in the cabins are filling fast! Call us soon!.

Elk are gathering in the valley. One guest reported seeing a "good size bull" and, with the cooler weather , we expect to get reports of bulls bugling soon. What an awesome sound and sight! It will bring shivers of excitement to be out there in the early morning-- mist rising out of the valley, sun peaking over the mountains, the shrill call of a bull elk echoing across the fields and bouncing off the river bluffs. It will also bring chills to the bone, so bring a jacket! A thermos of coffee hits the spot also!

If you can't join us on the mountain, join us on the web. We have a new newsletter--comes out just once a month--with pictures, news, stories(mostly true!), happenings, and even a coupon for cabin specials. Visit our website http://www.mountainspringscabins.com/ and sign up. In the meantime---Happy Fall!!

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Welcome Folks!

Eagle's Rest Cabin Welcome Bear at Mountain Springs Cabins

I always say we have the nicest and most interesting people visit our cabins. They come as our guests and leave as our friends.

This poem was written by Kenny Hill after he and his wife stayed at Eagle's Rest Cabin. I will always treasure it.

EAGLE'S REST

A little cabin on the side of a mountain

Watching over the valley below

Covered porches with rocking chairs

And a little bear that we loved so.

There is no way you can really explain it...

The feeling you get just from being here.

You can almost reach out and touch the clouds.

You smile, knowing God is so near.

The awesome beauty of the Buffalo River,

Mountain springs that never run dry,

Wildlife seems to be everywhere!

Amazed, you can only sigh!

It is a place where I'll never forget.

Pictures in our hearts will not soon fade away.

The warmth and hospitality offered to us

Makes us long to come back again some day.

But, if we never travel this way again,

We're certain we've been at the best.

A place where God is welcomed and lives are touched.

A place where the eagles rest.

Kenny Hill

Because of email address changes, job transitions, new computers etc., we have lost touch with Kenny and his wife. He has sent more guests our way, as well more of his poems, and we thank him. Kenny, if you are out there--We are still on the mountain and the little welcome bear is ready and waiting for your return.

"Summertime and the Livin' is Easy"

Lucky Swimmer on the Buffalo River

Jack just opened his "Back To School" letter. It's a shock to realize summer vacation is almost over! And the cabin paint job isn't finished, the shelves in the closet aren't built, we haven't even made our annual fishing/floating trip! Where did those "lazy, hazy" days of summer go? Our days are a whirl of cabin guests coming and going, preparing the cabins for the next guests, and squeezing in a little "down" time for ourselves in between.

We have especially enjoyed the live music at the cafes in Jasper, (not to mention the good food!). Joe Villines is a talented blue grass singer as is his brother and wife, Pat and Mattie. They have also brought in others, all winners of various music awards, such as the Honey Dewdrops. Check them all out on "My Space" .

Cabin guests are always fun. They come as strangers, and leave as friends. We enjoyed getting to know the family from Louisiana who decided to take a road trip to the Ozark Mountains on their Harleys. They miscalculated their travel time, as well as gas mileage, and literally coasted down the last mountain to the bottom of our driveway--at 10 o'clock P. M.! We always leave the light on, and in this case, were anxiously watching for them. Jack gassed them up, and they settled in Deer Pond Cabin for the night. Being so late, they didn't get into Jasper in time to buy groceries so they were "running on empty" in more than one way the next morning! With a sandwich or two from us, they were out for a day of exploring. They returned to the cabin that evening in time to make a blackberry pie with berries picked in the cabin yard. We supplied the sugar and enjoyed a delicious dessert with our new Louisiana friends.

The rains continued to keep the river up and floatable. That has attracted a lot of families to the area to canoe and kayak. Looks like real summer weather is here with temps rising, but that's okay. Our families are now finding the swimming holes, fishing, touring caverns and having a great time. We love to read the notes they leave in the cabin journals.

Here's one recently written by some Eagle's Rest Cabin guests:

"Last night I lay on a blanket and watched the stars with my two-year old...I watched the whole sunset for the first time in my life...my twelve-year old left his video games long enough to canoe the river with me. And he enjoyed it!... I remember why I love my husband... We will be back!"

Come make wonderful memories at Mountain Springs Cabins. It will give your children something to write about in that "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essay!

"It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest and living close to nature." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Welcome to my Ozark Mountain Garden

My Ozark Mountain Garden

When Jack and I married, our first house was duplex on a college campus--basic student housing. If those little houses were there today, they would be considered historic structures. The white wooden buildings were part of the Rohwer Japanese Internment during World War II. When we lived in them, they were a row of little one-story apartments just off to the east of the football stadium. An easy walk to campus. Our first spring there, Jack borrowed a shovel and dug up a little piece of ground just under the living room window for my first flowerbed--pink petunias. It was the beginning of a series of flowerbeds that have multiplied each time we have moved.

Today, Jack is still digging flowerbeds. The little borrowed shovel has turned into a new Kabota tractor--his pride and joy. Mine too! We can now move dirt, logs, rocks of all sizes, and anything else that isn't attached to the mountain.

When we first saw our 65 acres with the remains of a burned down house with an old fence surrounding the backyard, I had no idea of the joys that were in store for me! This yard was once a barnyard, and the soil is so rich that I usually don't have to add more nutrients. And rocks! They are mine for the taking! I have outlined beds, laid walking paths and patios, built stonewalls and steps, and have the beginnings of a water garden with a waterfall and fishpond. Only time and my aching back keep me from going crazy!

I love to share my garden with our guests. Most of my plants have come from friends and family, and many guests and friends leave with a seed packet of hollyhocks, Angel Trumpets, or Mexican Hats, or a clump of whatever is blooming at the time. Most of the flowers in my garden are "pass-alongs". And, so I continue the practice. I also have plants that I brought from my yard in Hamburg that have special family ties such as the dark pink phlox that grows by my fence just as I remember it growing near the fence in my grandmother's backyard when I was a little girl. It's roots are from those old, original plants. Also, the day lilies from Jack's mother yard, and the pink old-fashioned rose I call "Aunt Marie's Rose" have a special place in the garden.

Today, if you were to visit Mountain Springs, you could probably take home a clump of Butter and Eggs, a vigorous little yellow snapdragon-like flower that blooms from early spring to frost, and spreads like wildfire! Soon, I will be collecting seeds from Coreopsis, Blanket Flower, fever few, and hollyhocks. We have a sack of daisy seeds already. Along with these flowers, the hummers and butterflies and bees are really enjoying the lavender, oregano, garden phlox, butterfly weed, and butterfly bush blooms. The wildflower seeds that I sowed several years ago make a wonderful "natural" area outside the fence. The seeds are collected every year and planted each spring. And, outstanding this year, are my "Candy Stripe" zinnias. I have never had such a wonderful "crop" of zinnias, though I never miss growing them somewhere in the garden, this year they are something to brag about!

I hope you will check in occasionally for updates on what is growing in my garden. I love to walk around the yard and talk about my plants and flowers. We might even get our hands dirty!

Just living is not enough..

One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

Hans Christian Anderson

All Creatures Great and Small

Our mountain is teeming with 'critters' this time of year. Some are welcome some are not.

Our deer are a welcome sight. We are still feeding a small herd each afternoon. We now see the mothers bring their fawns out in the open when they come. It is always fun to watch them chase, play, and interact with each other, just as all children do. I even notice when mom has had enough, and gives the little fellow a bump' with her nose to show her disapproval.

The little bluebird couple are still hanging around. They chose a box in the backyard to raise their little ones. These babies are now on their own. She never seemed to be too concerned about them, and he did a lot of the childcare, or fledgling care, while she sat at our window and looked in. We can count on seeing her each morning at our bedroom window. Then, in the afternoon she joins us at the living room window while we are reading the paper. The couple seem to be leaning towards housekeeping in the box on the porch. That is just about as close to the house as she can get without moving inside! I have become accustomed to seeing her each morning as she joins us for our first cup of coffee. I expect she has been up since first light, has eaten her breakfast, and is wondering why we are such sleepyheads, staying in bed until 6 in the morning! This little couple is welcome to share a few early morning moments with us.

Speaking of early morning! We always see a family of rabbits scampering around the backyard when we look out the kitchen window while pouring that first cup of coffee. If we are quiet, they will stay until we let the dogs out for the day. Other than nibbling a few green shoots in early spring, they don't seem to bother the garden too much. They are welcome as long as they eat only their share.

And then there are the UN welcome ones---

One night this week as I stepped out on the porch just before going to bed, my eye caught a shadow undulating across the yard toward the porch. Being familiar with the movement and scent, I realized that Mr. Skunk was making a visit. I called for Jack, though I knew we were not going to do any kind of confrontation with the critter being that close to the house.

And close he was! After shinning his light around under the porch, Jack declared him gone! I think not! I went to the back door to close it and heard a scuffling sound very near. Mr. Skunk was checking out the dog food bowl! Or, at least checking to see if we had accidentally left it out, as we had done the night before. Fooled him! Again, I called Jack to come see. His light revealed no critter on the back porch.

Then, I went to the side door close it. From the scent of things, Mr. Skunk was very near, and I saw a form scuffle away from the door as I again, for the third time, called Jack to bring his light. Mr. Skunk was obviously playing a game of hide and seek around the porch with us. Jack never saw him. I saw him three times that night.

Because skunks, even those with a playful sense (scents) of humor are really not welcome around here, Jack set out a trap--Have-a-Heart, of course. He baited it with dog food dipped in barbecue sauce (sounded good to him) and placed it in a place not too near the house, but within the path he had come the night before. The next morning the trap was empty, but the barbecued dog food was gone! Mr. Skunk is such a joker!

The next night, same trap, same bait--no skunk! But it was very obvious he had left his "mark"! On the third night, Jack moved the trap a little further from the house, thinking we may have made him a little wary of us! Ha! I doubt it! Mr. Skunk isn't worried about us!

End of story--We never were successful in catching Mr. Skunk, who hasn't been heard, seen, or smelled of since. However, that next morning when we checked the trap, a very large brown raccoon was puffed up and very mad about getting caught. (I think Mr. Skunk tricked him into crawling into that trap.)

The rest of the story--Jack relocated Mr. Raccoon down on Possum Trot Road. Yes, there is a Possum Trot Road. Just come up here and we will take you there! You may even see Mr. Raccoon--and, of course, a possum or two!

When the sun has slipped away and the dew is on the day,

Then the creature comes to call (that) men malign the most of all...

All he asks is that men let him be.

Robert T.Coffin

Little Joys

Summer Sunrise at Mountain Springs

I think it's the "little joys" that keep us going. The big ones are usually too few and too far between. You might call them "lifesavers". Here are a few that I have experienced lately.

Jack and I are in the habit this time of year of rising at the regular "getting ready for school" time and spending an hour or so on the porch watching the sun come up over the mountain as we drink our coffee. There are usually a few rabbits playing in the garden, (the dogs are up, but obviously too sleepy to notice) and a chorus of songbirds singing their morning melodies. It's a good time to take stock of the garden and flower beds and lay out a plan for the day. It is the most exhilarating, and at the same time relaxing, way to start the day. I certainly recommend it!

Speaking of coffee. I am glad I have lived long enough to learn that two of my favorite things, coffee and chocolate, are now "good" for us. It eliminates any guilt I may have had about indulging in the two. And, it seems, with coffee, the more the better! "Who'd a thunk it!", as they say in these parts! Wonder if that goes for chocolate too? Maybe so, since dark chocolate, which is more intense, is better than milk chocolate, which is milder. A few years ago eggs, peanut butter, nuts, and olive oil were not "good for us"--now we are told they have essential antioxidants. I am waiting for the study that declares cookies a major nutrient and vital to our well-being (which most of us already know).

And, speaking of chocolate--I have discovered a major gourmet dessert. Gourmet to my way of thinking anyway. A few days ago, Jack and I got up early and drove out to Fenton's Berry Farm. It was a beautiful morning, cloudy, slight breeze--just the weather for picking berries--raspberries! I have picked blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, dew berries, and wine berries but never raspberries, and they are my favorite! When we got home, we were tired and hungry. Jack suggested a bowl of berries, with ice cream. Good, but just drizzle a little chocolate on top, and you have one outstanding gourmet delight!

And, speaking of wine berries--a berry very similar to raspberries that grows around here on the mountain sides. I have heard it is a tame berry gone wild! I'm not sure about its origins, but it is one little burst of flavor, and well worth a few chigger bites. Of course, you need to watch for other critters as well. Jack and a bear were once picking in the same patch. Since there was plenty of berries for both of them, it worked out okay.

We eat wine berries plain, (hummm, think I will try the ice cream, chocolate combination with them this year), mixed with peaches in cobblers, and I usually make a little jam with them. The name, wine berry, tells you they might also be used for other indulgences.

It's getting close to dark, and another "little joy" we have is sitting on the back porch for just a few minutes to see what the sunset will look like this day. We are seldom disappointed!

And, speaking of "little joys"! We have a total of eight boys and two girls, all under 12, staying in our two cabins this week. Talk about little joys! They find joy in everything--from frogs to horses to rocks! Everyday should be such fun for us all!

The world is so full of a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Home Again, Home Again

Harris Brake

Jack and I just got back from our first real vacation since moving to the mountains and taking on the cabin business--one that didn't include visiting relatives--though we do love our family. We found a lovely little lakehouse on a small lake near Perryville. Other than an early Father's Day celebration on the weekend with the four Jackson Henrys, we spent a few days of peace--just the two of us. No phones, computers, emails, nothing (0f course tv and movies! ) Fishing wasn't so great, but we did spend a lot of time on the dock with a fishing pole in hand. Got lots of practice casting and reeling in. A flock of Canadian Geese had set up residence on the lake and regularly checked on us as they made their rounds of docks and yards around the lakeshore.

My favorite time was the late afternoon rainstorm that lasted through the night. The wind, a little lightning and thunder, the clouds blowing in from across the lake--we watched from the porch until dark. The little bedroom with wrap-around windows on three sides made sleeping in the rain that night wonderful! Worth the whole trip!

Time to go home, and we took the long way home seeing parts of the Arkansas countryside we had not seen in our many roadtrips around the state. I always watch, as we drive north, for the first glimpse of the mountains. It will be somewhere around Russellville. As we travel Highway 7, we are feeling more and more at home. If you love the mountains you will know what I mean. Soon, we are on Highway 16 driving through Deer, Nail, and Swain. The views on both sides of the highway through here are unbelievable! Then on to Highway 21, by Mossville Church, and down into Boxley Valley.

As we drive by the mill pond, we notice the three Trumpter Swans. Yes, these are the ones they released this winter as part of a reverse migration imprinting experiment, and the ones we thought flew north for the summer. Seems they have been visiting up near War Eagle area for a few weeks, and have now come back to Newton County with little indication they are going anywhere else. Officials had hoped they would fly to Iowa, and return in the fall, bringing more with them. I guess they have other ideas. They seem as happy as "larks" or in this case, "swans", as they paddle around in the marsh, nibbling and splashing, and chattering to each other.

Could be the swans feel just like we do, and why we chose as our cabin slogan--"You will want to stay forever!"

I leave you peace; my peace I give you...John 14:27

Walking Through Deep Waters

Mountain Springs Bluebird

The good people of Newton County are broken hearted on this beautiful spring day. What should be a happy, fun-filled, end-of-school time has turned into one of sadness and hurting. In the span of two weeks, there have been four tragic accidents involving students at Jasper High School. Seven girls, doing what girls do--attending a festival, having fun together, horseback riding, going to her first day of a summer job--were involved. Five will live, hopefully without permanent injuries and nightmares of the accidents that changed things forever. And, two will live only in the memories of friends and families they left behind--too early.

Two of the young girls were in Jack's class. Another, Julie, helped train our horses only a few weeks ago. These girls survived, but barely. Our special heartbreak is our neighbor's daughter, Paige. It was the first day of a summer job--one she knew would be hard work, but fun. Her car hydroplaned on the slick pavement just a few miles from us, not far from her new job in Ponca. What is so heart wrenching, is to know that her dad, the sheriff, was the first to arrive on the scene not knowing that what he would see would change his world. Paige had an enthusiasm for life that was rivaled only by her mother, Angie's. May the good Lord give her, Keith, and Kent a peace about this that only He can bring.

Maybe, in their youthful exuberance for life, they were doing things a little too fast or without the caution that comes from years of experience; which comes from seeing these sad things happen too often; which, in turn, makes us older and more cautious, but little wiser. They were doing what all young people do and oblivious to the consequences. Those left behind to grieve will wonder why this could happen to their friend. Maybe they were listening to the comforting words of the pastor,, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:8-9.

Summer will be here. The FCCLA team will go to Florida for nationals--something Paige was so looking forward to. Kids will ride four-wheelers a little too fast, take risks, drive to summer jobs without caution, forget to watch for oncoming cars when crossing the street, and do all the things we did, and survived, when we were young. And, then school will start again. For Paige's family and many friends, there will be a void that won't be filled. For many--teachers and students alike--an empty desk, a name in the roll book, a missing club president, a lost cheerleader, will again remind them of Paige's spirit and what they are missing.

And, Keith, Angie, and Kent. We give you our love and prayers. God gives you His love and His word.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you...Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:2,5

Finding the Good Times

Buffalo River Memories

Do you listen to the nightly news? Wouldn't you like to throw something at that anchorperson who, almost cheerily, reports, "gas prices have reached another all-time high today"? Doesn't your heart break at the latest reports on war casualties, or news that another child was molested? Isn't it maddening to hear about celebrities gone wild? While we know these things exist and have to be dealt with, it is comforting to realize that there is still good news out there.

Here is my version of the nightly news:

This weekend, an extended family from the Springfield area found relaxation and made wonderful memories at Mountain Springs Cabins. They resolve to come back again and pick up where they left off. Their hike to Hawksbill Crag was a highlight of the trip.

Saturday, a Mountain Springs family, ages 18 months to 96 years of age, celebrated an early Mother's Day, and a few birthdays. On Friday, part of the group was spotted at Branson Landing dining at Bass Pro's White River Outpost Restaurant on Lake Taneycomo. They were photographed as they relaxed by the "dancing" fountain energizing with caramel lattes and brownies. They were later seen walking through the parking lot carrying a large number of shopping bags and lots of happy memories. When asked to comment, they said they would return someday--with more money!

Sunday morning in Newton County was a day for many people to worship the Lord in one of the many churches throughout the county. Though there was still room for more, there was a sweet spirit as they sang and praised God for safety from the recent storms and abundant rainfall that will mean a good hay crop. Those in attendance were thankful for jobs, families, and being able to be in the Lord's House on such a beautiful day in the Ozarks.

Sunday afternoon, two deleriously happy grandparents took their grandson, with his parents, picknicking at Steel Creek Campground on the Buffalo National River. While there, little Jack Henry was introduced to the the joy of skipping (throwing) rocks in the river--a pastime for all ages who visit the river. They hope to be blessed with the pleasure of returning many more times to watch as he improves his skills at rock skipping. He is reported to have said "PopPop", which 'some' people interpret to mean "I Love my Pops, especially when he rides me on the tractor".

Today, with the Lord's help, we can expect more extremely wonderful spring weather, bluebirds singing at the window, goldfinches and hummingbirds by the dozens at the feeders, cattle contentedly grazing on the hills, flowers blooming in the backyard, and peace on the mountain.

Count your blessings! I am counting mine right now.

From the rising of the sun, to its going down, the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3