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