Visions Of Daffodils Dance In My Head

Bloodroot along the trail

     The catalogs started arriving in January--full of enticing pictures of flowers and vegetables found only in a gardener's  dreams.  At the time, it was easy to flip thru the pages hastily and lay it on the shelf for later.  That was because there was several inches of snow covering the yard, with promises of more to come.  We had a blanket of snow on our yard and surrounding pastures for the whole month of February.  After a brief respite, we had the record 12-14 inche snowfall come down in one day--the first day of Spring 2010!   One doesn't get too excited about tending the garden under those conditions! 

     Then-- the snow melted, and the daffodils popped up (none the worse for spending a few days under the snow), the grass turned green in the pastures almost over night, the yellow belles (forsythia to me) burst into balls of yellow sunshine, red tulips appeared in the bed by the fence, little spring flowers of blue, yellow, and purple (some call them weeds) jumped up (that's why the call them 'Johnny Jumpups) all over the backyard, wildflowers littered the trails to the waterfall, and the garden centers brought out the blooms in full force! 

     I know better than to succumb to temptation this early in the spring.  The first year we lived on the mountain, I fell under their spell, and planted too early.  Which meant I had to watch the weather report then run out in the yard at dark to cover the tender plants in hopes of saving them from having to spend the night freezing to death (literally!). My friend, Debbie, who has her own greenhouse business will not let me buy her plants until late April or early May.  She tells folks, she doesn't have enough extras to sell them twice!  Home Depot in Harrison should have learned this lesson well.  They brought out the blooms in March, only to have them nipped in the bud by a hard frost!  I hear they had to start all over with everything. 

     However, planting fever has attacked my system!  I am still turning my head as I drive by the garden centers and greenhouses that spring up by the side of the road in Harrison.  But---Jack is mowing the yard for the first time as I write, my neighbor is tempting me with pass-along-plants from her garden, and, I confess, I bought some pansies yesterday! 

     So--- sun is shinning, the hummers are here, I saw a butterfly or two seaching for a bloom, the honeybees are buzzing, the bluebirds are checking out their boxes, the purple martins have arrived in force as confirmed by their familiar chatter that fills the air, and the weatherman is singing songs of sunny weather (like, really, does he have anything to do with providing good weather?).

     Okay, I give up!  It's too late to turn back!  I can't stand it!  I'm going outside and  get my hands dirty!

Happy Gardening to all!

 

His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,

with plants springing up everywhere.

                                                Isaiah 61:11 NLT

Ahhh! Springtime in the Ozarks!

       Wildflower Falls after the snow

     The snow started at daybreak.  We watched as the first few flakes fell, followed by more and larger flakes--big, fluffy, puffs-- until suddenly the ground was white--much like a soft, white blanket had quietly covered the mountain.  The weather man had predicted this even though the calendar said "first day of Spring".  And, I had already removed my "Let It Snow" sign from the yard.  (I was just about to put up the "Welcome Spring" sign.)   

     What a wonderful gift!  It was Sunday and we couldn't get off the mountain, and we really didn't care!  Our cabin guests couldn't either, and decided to take the extra night we had open.  The snow didn't let up--this was the "perfect snowday".  And, I always enjoy "snow days".  It goes back to my school days as a student and later as a teacher.  My philosophy is that there are no bad snow days!  Some of the local schools may argue that since all regular snow days are used up, each additional day they loose will be made up on Saturday (Oh, No! Saturday school!) or extended the year into summer (Oh, No! Summer school!)  None the less, we can't stop the snow from falling even if we want to, and I don't want to!

      It snowed, and snowed, and snowed--just big, soft flakes--no howling winds, no extreme temperatures.  It was soon apparent that this was a "Big" snow day.  The lights flickered so we set out the candles--didn't need them!  Our neighbor called to say as expected the mama goat went into labor and had twins in the snow. She says they always wait until bad weather!  She moved them in the shed and they are now up and going strong.
     Soon, the yard was ankle deep, then knee deep in snow.  The little yellow daffodils in the flowerbeds bravely held their heads up as long as possible, then disappeared under a blanket of snow.  Note:  Three days later, they are back and looking better than ever!  (Snow has nitrogen that makes everything greener when it melts.)  Daisy was up to her neck in snow and loved it.  She made little "hops" as she ran, checking for critter scents. (Even the critters had more "sense" than to be out, but she didn't know that :-)

     Eventually, we measured 14 inches of snow with drifts up to 24 inches in places.  Probably a record for this day.  A wonderful memory. 

     It began to melt on Monday, slowly at first then so fast it sounded like rain falling.  Water pooled up in the yard in places that never have puddles.  Little streams of water everywhere--in the ditches, through the rocks, in the middle of the roads--and, waterfalls everywhere--large and small!

     We were standing on the porch when Jack said, "Quiet, listen!"  It was the sound of water gushing through the rocks.  It was our Wildflower Falls roaring down the mountain on its way to Kenner Creek, Osage Creek, and beyond.  This happens only when there is a huge rainfall, or, in this case snowfall.  Our Eagle's Rest Cabin guests can hear it even better from their vantage point.)

     I had to see the falls for my self.  We rode down part way on the four-wheelers, then slipped and slidded the rest of the way down the hill.  The above picture is some of what we saw, but, as they always say, "You had to be there!"

Happy Spring!

He makes springs pour water into ravines:

It flows between the mountains...

He waters the mountains from His upper chambers:

the earth is satisfied by the friut of His work.

                                        Psalm 104: 10,11,13

    

A Host of Golden Daffodils

Wild Vic's Cabin

In spite of cold and chills

that usher in the early spring

We have the daffodils.

                                                               Kikurio, Japanese writer

     The above photo was taken on the trail just off Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls Trail.  If you look carefully, you will see where someone long ago planted daffodils around the cabin and through out the yard.  Must have been Wild Vic's wife!  Or some female who wanted a little beauty in such a remote, lonely place.  As I walked around the cabin, it was apparent that she not only planted the flowers, she had designed a  garden with stone-lined paths and even a little spring flowing through. I pictured the industrious woman digging as best she could in the extremely stony ground.  I can appreciate the hard work that she put into bringing a little beauty to the stark surroundings. 

     Just imagine the stories that cabin could tell!  Inside, there was an old wood cookstove and some pots.  (Saddly, on our next visit, someone had taken (stolen!) them.  There was a tree trunk with sawed off branches fastened to the floor in the middle of the very small room.  It made an unusual ladder leading to the even smaller loft!  The old shutters, which  were still hanging on the outside wall, sufficed for windows as there was no sign of glass windows.  I think I will delve into some Newton County history books for more information on Wild Vic.  Anyone with such a name should have an interesting story, as would any woman who lived with him!

     We just returned from a trip to southern Mississippi and the coast.  We drove along the coastal road where we saw so much Hurrican Katrina destruction.  Five years later there are signs of rebuilding and coming back.  However, there are still those deserted, vacant lots where beautiful gardens once thrived.  Usually in those garden remains are little daffodils--yellow blooms standing bravely, bringing color and beauty and hope to anyone who passes--signs of  lives once lived in that place.  If only they could tell the stories of times gone by--of gentle southern families--parties in the gardens, sweet gulf breezes on the porch, and just across the street  that beautiful, and sometimes deadly ocean.  Again, I am imagining the stories those daffodils could tell.

    Just walked outside--cold wind blowing across the yard--and I saw the first sign of spring on our mountain.  It was those little yellow daffodils struggling to hold their heads up searching for a ray of the not-to-be-found sunshine.  They haven't grown there in my yard that long, but as time goes on hopefully there will be stories to tell about life at Mountain Springs Cabins.  Happy stories of the family who loves the mountain and of the guest who come to visit.

    

Daffodils,

That come before the swallow dares, and take

The winds of March with beauty.

    Shakespeare

We've Got Sunshine On A Snowy Day

The Bird's Picnic

     Yesterday was another magical day--it snowed all day!  Several inches piled up in the backyard on top of the week's worth of ice and snow already on the ground.  I spent a lot of time gazing out the window mesmerized by the white blowing flakes.  It made even the worst chore (taxes!!!) go a little smoother.  I went outside long enough to fill the feeders and make a short walk.  A beautiful time--snowflakes on my face--snowboots softly sinking in the irregular snowdrifts around the yard. 

     Daisy and Molly, the Jack Russells, were excited to get out.  The snow was quite deep for little dogs and Molly was soon ready to come in.  Daisy, resembling a miniature Alaskan sled dog, was all over the yard, running, digging, sniffing.  I saw her disappear under the shed after some little critter who only wanted a dry place out of the snow, I'm sure.  After much barking,scratching, and digging, she emerged from underneath the shed with nothing to show for the effort except a coat covered in mud!   She was quickly wrapped in a towel and carried straight to the bathtub for a much needed bath!

     Being 'snowed in' is still fun for us--being from the south where snowdays were few.  My neighbor from even further south (Louisiana) gets excited too.  That's despite the fact that she must get out everyday to feed and check her goats in even the worst of weather!  However, Jack gets cabin fever quickly and there's just so much 'snow jobs' on the tractor this time of year.  (I stopped him just in time--He was about to clear the backyard of snow!)  Well, so much for snow pictures from the kitchen window!  Never mind, snow is in the forecast for tonight!
     Reports of large elk herds in the valley and swans on the pond mean we will make a trip around the area today, as well as a jaunt into Jasper.  We are seeing eagles soaring high overhead also. Highways are clear, and usually are soon after a snowfall, thanks to the hardworking Arkansas Highway Dept.  We have seen the snowplow  working late at night getting the roads clear for those early morning commuters. 
     Our cabins have been full every weekend during this winter weather.  It's a great escape--a cozy, warm cabin in the snow.  Whether you want to venture out and experience a winter wonderland 'up close and personal', or just watch from the window--it is a lasting memory for you and your loved one(s).
    

He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;

yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Winter Olympics Mountain Springs Style

Mountain Springs Winter Motto!

     We, at Mountain Springs, are officially ready for the Winter Olympics!  When the snow piled up to 6 inches in the yard, we knew it was time to pull out the Flexible Flyer.  Actually, this is our second Flexible Flyer.  I still remember our first one (which we still have).

     We lived in Benton, and school was dismissed early that day because of an increasingly heavy snowfall!  Jack had to drive a bus and Jay, 8 years old at the time, was waiting for me to pick him up at his school.  The roads were becoming hazardous, and I needed to get home, but something made me detour to the nearest hardware store (no Walmart at the time!).  I had to buy a sled.   I had no idea what to kind to get since I had never owned a sled, much less ridden one!  (Hadn't needed one-- it was hard to find a good sledding hill in South Arkansas where I grew up!)   I bought the last Flexible Flyer on the shelf, probably paying for it out of the grocery money!  For the next two weeks, we and all our neighbors on Hickory Hill spent our days on that sled--drinking hot chocolate and arguing with the kids over who gets the sled next! 

     What a thrill when I made my first run down the hill!  From that time on, sledding has been my wintertime passion!  Oh, the sheer joy of flying down the hill through the soft snow, guiding the sled by gently pulling the bar left or right so as to keep on the trail!  No other sport (that I participate in)  is so exhilarating.  I can relate to those Jamacian bobsledders!

     I am not as "young as I used to be", (I know that's what you were thinking!) but I figure sledding is probably a fairly safe sport, coming in right after swimming.  After all, you are six inches off the ground and the ground is covered with a thick snow cushion! Just be sure to steer the sled!  Which is why those new little "plastic dishpans" don't do the job.

     We had a good day of sledding yesterday on our Mountain Springs "snow sledding venue". 

The snowbase was perfect, with the thin layer of ice on bottom.  We have the 'bunny slope' which doesn't require experience, and any sort of sled will work--however, plastic bags are a little rough on the 'behind'! 

     Then we have the 'extreme slope'--our quarter mile driveway!  From the top, it looks like one of those Olympic ski slopes--well, kind of.  Anyway, it is one fun ride--all the way down to the mailboxes--gliding through the snow--building up speed as you descend--sled and rider as one--flowing  with the curves in the road--snow and wind in your face!  Wow! let's go one more time!
     I am a little sore today, but everything is still intact!  After thinking about the fun we had, I may have to have a go at it one more time tomorrow before the sun heats things up.

"Youth is wasted on the young" or something like that--not sure who first made this statement, but at one time or another we have all thought it!

 

    

       

The Snow Fell Softly

Daisy the Snow Dog

     The snow fell softly all the night.

It made a blanket soft and white.

It covered houses, flowers and ground,

But did not make a single sound!

Alice Wilkins

     All week we were advised to get ready for a winter storm.  After last year's dramatic ice storm, we all heeded the warning:

Generators--check

candles--check 

gas cans filled--check

extra batteries--check

cell phones charged--check

hay for horses--check

neighbors contacted--check

sleds out of storage--check

milk, bread, and hot chocolate--check

We, as well as the rest of Northwest Arkansas were ready for a winter blast!

The ice on the windshield formed as we drove home from Green Forest where we had gone for a few last minute supplies.  That night the freezing rain turned to sleet, then, the snow came.  What a relief to see those flakes since that meant no more freezing on the trees.  It was snowing hard at bedtime, snowing hard in the night when I slipped out of bed to check, and snowing hard at daybreak. Sometimes blowing flakes went sideways and they passed by the windows. We were caught up in such a whirl of snow that from our view on the mountain, the world was one big snow storm!

If I were to order a perfect day, this had to be it.  Sitting by the window, good book in hand, dogs at my side (curled under the blanket), cup of hot tea nearby, nowhere important to go, family at home where they belong (Jay had just flown home from another trip to China the day before), and the electricity was working!

I guess what made it so very special is that on this day, 44 years ago, Jack and I were married--one of the area's worst snow storms had moved through South Arkansas the day before.  Last minute changes were made--Maid of Honor couldn't get from Little Rock, neither could the groomsmen.  The flowers for the reception froze in the back room (with heat on!) Nonetheless, the wedding took place.  The honeymoon was postponed until summer since the roads north were impassable.  By the way, the honeymoon destination was North Arkansas.  Over forty years later, here we are and loving it!

     The spur of delight comes in small ways.

    Robert L. Stevenson

Wintertime and the Livin' Is...

not always easy!!!  We have had freezing temps down to 1 degree with wind chills in the minuses.  But today was beautiful!  We decided to take a trip on the four-wheelers to celebrate the warmer temps----

View of Mountain Springs from House/Goff Ranch

     I love my four-wheeler, and we have taken many rides through the years with friends--sometimes on their property.  Those trips "off the beaten path" are always exhilarating and a little nerve racking!  Nothing is ever flat!!  But the scenery is unbelieveably beautiful. I am grateful to them for sharing with us.

     Our trip today started from the house (you can see our house at the very top of the picture). We made a short drive on the highway before turning off, unlocking the gate, and making our way slowly (in "Grannie gear" for me!) down the muddy mountain.  The rocky road lead us around the pond and across an earthen dam.  The dam is about 100 feet tall and very narrow.  We always wonder if it will survive the next heavy rainfall.  It was muddy today.  As I crossed, I could see little sections of earth that had caved in on the sides during the snow melt.  Then we traveled slowly up the other side of the mountain and through another gate to the open pastures.  A herd of curious black cows rushed to meet us thinking we were bringing hay. 

     We made our way through the pastures once covered with snow--now covered with mud and muck, and then on to the top where the view anytime of year is breathtaking!  We stopped and look back at the mountain where our house and cabin and the neighbors' places look much like a spot on a Google map.  Below our mountain, you can see the road as it winds around the edge and drops down into the valley.

     I am always in awe at the view.  The sky was a brilliant azure blue with no clouds.  The blue touched the brown and gray of the pastures and bare woods in a clear line across the horizon.  I always say a prayer of thanks for the opportunity to see such a sight as this.  When I look in the opposite direction, there is an old barn and bare oak tree silhouletted against that blue sky background.  Another "thank you, Lord."  We also thank our neighbors who graciously allow us to tresspass on their beautiful farm!

     It is still just January, and many more cold days ahead.  "Let it snow, let it snow!"  Sitting by the fire in a  cozy house, under a warm blanket with a cup of hot tea in hand on a cold day also ellicits a "Thank you, Lord".  We are all so blessed.

     As I write this, I hear our television news report on the heartbreaking stories coming from Haiti.  Please join me in prayer for all the brave people there who are devastated by the earthquake.  Pray for the volunteers and workers who will try to make some headway in relieving their suffering.  Pray for our United States of America!

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

a refuge in times of trouble.

And those who know Your name

will put their trust in You;

for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

   Psalm 9:9-10