All Creatures...

Looking out at Mrs. Blue looking in

The bluebird couple has appeared again this spring--the fourth in a row! I named them Mr. and Mrs. Blue for obviously reasons. I decided since they insist on being a part of the family, they need to have a name other than just "the bluebird couple." As in years past, they hang around the porch going from window to window,often just sitting observing us humans inside. I wonder what they could be thinking! Personally, I think Mrs. Blue wants to move in with us and build her nest in one of the birdhouses displayed over the kitchen cabinets! Mr. Blue keeps trying to convince her to be content with the birdhouse provided on the porch railing.--one they have used for two years. I have to admit, it could use a new coat of paint! I saw his sweet gesture of presenting her with a juicy worm again this year. Who says birds don't have emotions!

Eventually, the Blue family will probably settle down in the house on the railing, and go about the business of raising a family of little "Blues". I can only pray for their safety. Even so close to the house, they are subject to dangers from high winds and rain (the winds last Sunday blew the house off the porch despite it being wired to a post!); and creatures-- from squirrels to snakes to hawks to raccoons-- who prowl the earth looking for innocents.

I saw the first hummingbird today. We actually saw the first ones at the neighbor's cabin yesterday. I hurried to get a feeder out early this morning, and sure enough, there was a hummer checking us out! Right now only a feeder or two is necessary, but in the heat of summer, we will be filling four to five quart feeders several times a day.

The goldfinches, who feed at the thistle seed sacks year 'round, are now sporting their brightest yellow feathers (at least the males are). The females are too busy getting ready for the little ones to worry about what they wear. Obviously humans don't think that way! I just purchased two new jackets--one in a beautiful blueberry and another in rosy coral. Couldn't resist the colors. Jack's new outfit is black and green--not quite so showy, but nice.

I look out the window and see new calves running across the green pastures just for the fun of it, and newly born kids (goats) literally kicking up their heels just for the joy of being alive on such a wonderful spring day in the Ozarks. I watch as chipmunks scamper from log to log just outside the yard (always wary of dogs), and squirrels flying from tree to tree as they chase each other--happy to have survived the cold, harsh winter, and secure in the knowledge that a food supply will be abundant in the months ahead. Much chattering takes place as they prepare their nests for the babies to come.

I think God's creatures have a good idea. I plan to get out, maybe go for a hike down to the waterfall. It is still a little cool and most of the wildflowers won't be out yet, but the sunshine will! And, oh yes! I will mow the grass for the first time this year, and probably pull up a few early weeds poking through the mulch in the flowerbeds--I won't even call it work today! Oh, the joys of springtime on the mountains!

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Cecil Frances Alexander

Spring Break Lives On!

Snow Bunnies

Spring Break '09 is history, but it left behind lots of memories! (Retired or not, every teacher knows Spring Break will come!) The memories started the first day of the break(Saturday) when Jack's archery team at Jasper won third in state. What fun for the kids, their parents, and the coach. The memories continued the next day-- a sunny Sunday afternoon at Branson Landing with a little shopping, a little seafood, and lots of time to enjoy sitting on a bench people watching, (with a large dip of ice cream in hand). Despite the gloom so often reported in the news lately, folks were there, just as we were, making the most of a beautiful springtime day.

We didn't know then, but the sun was going to be a scarce thing the rest of the week. We mixed work and play--going into town for plumbing supplies and eating at Neighbor's Mill knowing when we got home the downstairs bath was calling (no! crying out!). We spent one grungy day pulling out pipes, cleaning up spills, and finally finding that pesky leak that had haunted us for weeks! UGH! It's done! Thanks, Jack!

With the weather not at its best for hiking or canoeing, we found other ways to occupy the rest of the week of no sunshine. We took a drive on a favorite mountain road. One that lets us look back at our house and cabin from a distance. We checked the river stage at Ponca and watched the Buffalo as its banks, swollen from the recent rains, overflowed and gushed over the low water bridge--always an awesome site!

We enjoyed guests coming and going this week as they spent part of their Spring Break in our cabin--a family with children, a couple who brought along friends--just happy to relax and enjoy the mountains. Friday night at the Ozark in Jasper with our neighbors was fun. Joe Villines and his guests, the Sherman Mountain Bluegrass Boys, a group of young talented guys from the school, entertained outstandingly and topped off the week--we thought! Then another surprise!

The weatherman kept telling us we could have snow Saturday--we laughed! He had the last laugh! It snowed all day and night--2 inches total! It was beautiful sight watching from the windows, as the snow flew across the mountains, covering the hills and valleys. As this was taking place, we noticed a large white bird flying through the snow following a flock of Canadian Geese. They circled the pastures and landed in a pond across the highway. It was a very large bird, and I immediately thought of the Trumpeter Swans. With our spotting scope, we were able to verify it was indeed one of the swan group. Obviously it was lost! We were able to slip close enough to the pond and the bird to get the number off his collar and report the sighting. He (she) later left the pond, and we haven't seen him (her) again. I do hope he caught up with his flock. Some were seen last week in downtown Harrison on the lake there. His number indicated he wasn't one of those seen there, but a part of the same group that should be heading north. Poor things! When man interferes with nature, things don't always work out as man plans. "The best laid plans of mice and men...etc." (By the way we caught two mice and Molly caught one during the plumbing episode!) But that's another story! Back to the swans---What will happen to the disoriented young swans remains to be seen. Will they make it north to their nesting grounds? Will they even find their "home" at Boxley again? Will they reunite with the rest of the flock again? Reverse migration! Explain this to the birds!

On Sunday, with still one more day before Spring Break officially ended, we took off for Little Rock , leaving home early in the snow for a visit with family and the joy of our lives, Jack Henry, who didn't let us down. The joy was contagious, and we are ready for the new week and the rest of spring with joy in our hearts and, as they say, a spring in our step.

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

The "Stuff" of our Lives

Someone's Old "Stuff"

Jack and I have moved at least seven times in our married life. Each time the amount of our possessions has grown tremendously despite an effort to "cut back." As we prepared for our move from South Arkansas to Mountain Springs, we convinced ourselves we were "downsizing." We gave away, sold, and threw away 20 years worth of things that filled a barn, two sheds, an attic, and numerous closets and shelves in our house. We left that moving day with only a small amount of "stuff" and feeling quite liberated. Being human, we immediately felt the need to start accumulating more! I guess we didn't realize that we didn't really have to fill up the wonderful storeroom in our basement! Now, eight years later, we are back where we started--too much stuff!

This hit home when we recently sold one of the cabins and had to clean it out. There was no place to put it! We are now back to square one--too much stuff! I sometimes think our stuff takes on a life of its own. It is my theory that if you pack something away in a box, put it in on a shelf in a dark place such as a closet or basement for a few months then, VOILA! That "stuff" has multiplied like little cells as described in Jack's biology textbook!

I've often tried to analyze why we can't rid ourselves of things. It is our nature for Jack and myself to save things that we might need later. I inherited this from my family who couldn't throw away even a piece of string, because "we might need it someday." My mother explained it by saying they were children of the depression. However, we are not, yet we save things--from old towels to plastic jugs. "We might need them someday!"

There is also another category of "stuff", and it is harder to let go of these things--things that have memories attached. I have boxes of dolls and the clothes Mother sewed for them that matched the ones she made for me. In my china cabinet are the white dishes with a golden dragon imprinted on them that my dad sent back when he was stationed there in the war (there's another set in a box in the basement!). I have twenty-five old family quilts that won't fit queen beds neatly folded in boxes under beds. Too many memories!

And, clothes! Each season a box of "perfectly good" clothes is taken to the Humane Society thrift store. It's easier to let go of clothes for some reason. Though, it took me a long time to finally cut ties with the LLBean coat with snowflakes that I loved so much.

I have a small sign attached to my computer that says "The best things in life aren't things." In the next few weeks and months, it is my goal to move out, throw out, sell, give away or by whatever means necessary, all"things" that are no longer relevant in our lives. Today, I am going in town to start just that. It is an ongoing process, and I realize that means I must not bring in more "stuff "to replace the old "stuff". I will NOT go in the new dollar store for anything other than necessary items!!! Walmart is off limits!

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy..But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19,20,21

Birds of a Feather

Releasing the Trumpeter Swans

The three swans from last February report (see Swans, part 4) spent all of last summer happily paddling around the mill pond enjoying life much to the disappointment of those who released them, and hoped they would find their way north for the summer. The swans never left the valley except for a short stay on the War Eagle River near Eureka Springs. Obviously, they are like the rest of us who love the Ozarks! Humans had plans for them to meet up with their relatives somewhere up north, spend the summer mating, nesting, raising young, then find their way back to Boxley mill pond in December, bringing more with them. I guess no one told them the plan!

So, again this week, wildlife officials in Arkansas and Iowa brought more young swans, called cygnets, to be released at the pond. You can read more about this at the Arkansas Game and Fish website. It was interesting to watch as the swans quickly adapted to their new home on the mill pond. It was a magnificent sight as they flew low across the water and landed-- glad to be free again after traveling 10 hours in a small crate! Their joy was evident as they dipped and splashed and chattered to one another

As of last Monday, the original three swans had come back to Boxley after a brief visit to a pond at Parthenon and joined the newcomers. The flock of seven beautiful swans make a lovely sight on the mill pond. However, they should be leaving soon to fly north for the summer. Do they understand "reverse migration" which is the goal those wildlife officials have for them? .One can only wonder why they didn't bring along a few old veteran swans to lead the way back up there. I have aways adhered to the notion that children learn by example. But I am no swan expert!

You made him (man) ruler over the works of your hands:

You put everything under his feet:

all flock and herds...the birds of the air..

How magestic is your name in all the earth.

Psalm 8

Where Are Those Woolly Worms?

Winterwonderland?

I'm still a little confused about the woolly worms and the persimmons as a prediction of a harsh winter. (See "Something Told the Wild Geese") However, the guys at the hardware store and the numerous fogs in August and the neighbor's huge woodpile certainly must have some credibility when it comes to predicting a bad winter!

The ice storm of 2009 will go down in history as the worst Northwest Arkansas has ever endured. Every single home in Newton County was without power after the storm hit on January 27. The next morning all of the Ozarks woke see ice up to 2 inches on everything! We knew it was bad, but it took several days to assess how devastating the storm really was. We were without power 12 days and were so blessed to have gas heat, cook stove, gas hot water heater and a wonderful generator! We suffered only minor inconveniences compared to many.

Yesterday, sixteen days after the icy blast hit, Carroll Electric announced all customers were back on line--two days ahead of projections. Thanks go to a lot of power guys from nearby states who moved in and worked diligently to replace broken poles (2500 total), string wires, and restore power through very rough terrain. Thanks guys!

This week the bluebird pairs are everywhere! By the way, one little bluebird actually spent his nights roosting in the porch rafters. We watched him from the bedroom window several cold, icy mornings as he hopped onto the downspout to check out the early morning scene before flying out. Heaven knows where he found his breakfast! When the ice melted, he moved on to spend his nights somewhere else--hopefully with a little female friend. We feed numbers of birds at the feeders, but so far, our little bluebirds reject anything we offer--raisins, berries from the freezer, suet cakes. We are ordering what is supposed to be a favorite of theirs--mill worms! We'll see!

We stepped out on the porch this morning just as the sun was rising over the mountain. Bluebirds were already up and singing. Their song is not the cheery chirping of some birds, but a calming, reassuring song of hope. Reminding all of us that "His eye is on the sparrow". It is nice to get back to normal for a few days!

Oh, no! The weatherman says "chance of snow"! We love snow!

He sends his command to the earth...

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them: He stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:15-18

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

The Best Christmas Season Ever

Through a child's eyes

There are certain Christmases past that stand out in my mind. Like the year Santa brought my 'Toni' doll and a wardrobe of doll clothes exactly like the ones he left for me! I was about 6 years old. Mother must have spent hours at the sewing machine sewing the matching dresses--some with detailed embroidery on the skirts. She told me Mrs. Claus did it! As a teen, I remember the first Christmas gift I received from a boy--a pearl bracelet. I remember the beautiful wrapping that told me it was from a certain jewelry store in town, and therefore something special inside. I still have that bracelet--and the guy who gave it to me!

The Christmas of 2008 was another special Christmas and full of blessings. Early on I knew it was to be a very busy one, and my prayer was for safety and joy for my family and friends throughout this season. I also asked for a joyful spirit for myself as I prepared and participated in all the festivities. It was a precious Christmas gift that the Lord gave us. From the lights of Silver Dollar City and the Branson Belle Showboat to the special 'Journey On the Mountain" with church friends, and the four different family celebrations (ending with a New Year's wedding), it is a Christmas memory to cherish. Even the weather worked out perfectly with the warm, sunny winter days for celebrations coming between the fierce, icy storms that moved through these mountains intermittently throughout the month of December.

Our special joy was seeing the spirit of Christmas through the eyes of an excited little boy and his parents, (who forgot that Santa didn't bring everything fully assembled!) Jack Henry didn't know any better. Watching Daddy and Pops frantically put his toys together on Christmas morning was part of the fun!

Our family had much to celebrate this year--good health or a respite from health problems, new jobs, a promising future with a new wife, the expectations of the arrival of a new baby, the hope for a new adventure, a continuing contentment and peace, and the happiness of being together once more as we celebrated a holiday on the mountain. Our cup runneth over!

We know all these things are so fragile, and that thought makes them the more precious as we look forward to a new year that may or may not bring the best of news. But we know 'the peace that passeth all understanding will guard our hearts and minds'. And we are confident that 'He knows the plans He has for us..to give us a future and a hope'.

Rejoice in the Lord always!...Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4,6-7

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me, and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29: 11-12

And one more--

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power...Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17