Cabin Fever

Pool at Kings River Falls

After a long spell of temperatures in the single digits and wind speeds in the double digits, we woke up Sunday morning to sunshine and mild temps! Cabin Fever had hit us hard the last two weeks. To make it worse, we had spent the last week cleaning and arranging (again!) the basement. This is a job we do once a year when the 'to do' list demands it. Jack put up another set of shelves, and I filled them. Finally, we can see some real progress. Of course, the throw away/give away stuff outside the door is still there. It makes no sense whatsoever, but it seems like we have been working on that basement ever since we moved in seven years ago!

So, we escaped for the day to one of the most beautiful places I have seen in a while--Kings River Falls, part of the system of state "natural areas". It is maintained by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. (It is nice to see our tax dollars working here!) It has been on our list of places to go for some time, and we will definitely be back in the summer. It is located in Madison County and takes about an hour from our house to drive across Cave Mountain to the little community of Boston, where we turn on to county roads for the rest of the way. The drive was pleasant and we were in no hurry.

We were fascinated with the rock formations, the beautiful turquoise pool below the falls, the falls themselves, and the witch hazel bushes blooming along the edge of the water. The trail followed a fenced in pasture with an old farm house on the far side. In one corner of the pasture was a family cemetery, surrounded by an iron pipe fence, and a very large barn that looked as if it could come crashing down any minute. This was all on private land and, therefore, off limits. I noticed some signs of work in progress that makes one hopeful that the farmstead will be restored, at least in part.

I could imagine the old farm in better days. Summertime--cows grazing in the field, chickens scratching around the barnyard, the farmer calling to his mules as he plows the large garden near the house, his wife hanging out the week's washing--she catches the sweet scent of lilacs blooming near the fence. In the distance, a gently wind blows through the trees, and there is the ever present sound of rushing water as the river makes it way over large and small boulders on it way through the mountains. And, maybe, there is the happy sound of children playing in one of the many river pools glad for the freedom of summer. Down the road we saw an old school house--Dripping Springs, 1921, says the sign still hanging over the door.

No doubt the pastoral life on the farm as I envisioned it, was often wrought with sadness and hard times. The cemetery testifies to that. But, on this day, in 2009, I can imagine all was well, as it as with us when we made our way along the river trail.

"The days that make us happy make us wise." John Masefield

Our World Is So Full....

Wildflower Falls at Mountain Springs Cabins

As Jack and I drank our first cup of coffee before daylight this morning, we discussed the weekend and decided it was perfect! The rains came, the winds howled, it snowed, we had unexpected guests, and we cleaned two cabins!

Friday was nice. I drove in to Jasper to visit Mother, then hurried home to decorate cupcakes and make a casserole for the Valentine's Banquet at the church. We got the cabin guests at both cabins settled in just before leaving for the church. The food was delicious, the company wonderful, and the music outstanding. Joe Villines brought his guitar and banjo and sang for us. His family has lived in Boxley Valley for over a hundred years. It is encouraging to see him and his young family living and working here. He will be singing at the Ozark Cafe in Jasper this month and into the spring.

Saturday morning we got a call that my favorite cousins would be driving up to visit for the afternoon. They arrived in a rain storm. We had a couple of hours of catching up (not enough by any means!) Then they left in another rain storm! They will be back. We aren't too far from their new retirement home on Greers Ferry Lake. Jack made a trip to Berryville to check on a tractor, and came home the proud owner of a new (slightly used) tractor. He has dreams of a summer filled with tractor "work"!

Then, the rains came! It made "springs pour into ravines so streams gushed down from the mountains...Ps.104:10 It is one of life's "little joys" to curl up on the sofa by the fire and hear the raindrops pound the roof and splash over the gutters. Our mountain is so in need of rain! It was a night to watch a good movie. We thought "South Pacific" with Glen Close was perfect. Jack followed the story, but cringed everytime they broke out in song. I loved it and sang along, remembering most of the lyrics from my teenage years when I owned the original LP. The night was my version of Some Enchanted Evening!

Sunday was still cloudy as we went to church. Jack and I were in charge of a lively Sunday School class of first and second graders! We fed them left over Valentine cupcakes which, I'm sure energized them for Children's Church later. The sun was peeking out as we walked out of the church house. We could hear the roar of the river from the parking lot. We drove down to the Ponca low water bridge to check the river. Water was gushing over the top. Logs and other debris were sailing past. This weekend will bring out the kayakers and other brave, and experienced floaters. This isn't a time for the inexperienced! It is fun to watch them though.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of a great floating season for all, lasting to early June.

We capped off the weekend with cabin cleaning, which, thanks to our considerate guests, didn't take long. We even had time for a little hike/four-wheeler ride to our own Wildflower Falls. We check often to keep leaves and debris from building up. In another month or so the wildflowers will be peeking through.

I stitched a quote on a pillow years ago. I still have the pillow, and I still love the meaning of the quote.

The world is so full of a number of things, I think we should all be as happy as kings!