A Summer Joy, Or Every Day is Grandparent's Day

Ponca Low Water Bridge

The house is very QUIET---

On the porch:

The little red "digger" truck (just the right size for small hands to drive along the porch railing) is abandoned on the swing, and the blue sand bucket with yellow shovel sits at the door ready for the next river trip.

In the kitchen:

The half-eaten banana turns brown on the counter, and a few stray Fruit Loops lay scattered on the kitchen floor.

The "dirt-dirt" sippy cup is now washed and dried and back on the shelf ready for the next chocolate milk break.

In the living room:

The magic markers (truly magic because they only show marks on special paper) lay in disarray on a tray on the table.

The little American flag, at one time clutched in a chubby hand, no longer waves.

The house is very QUIET---

Upstairs on the floor is the remains of a Lincoln Log cabin. Only a few hours ago---

"Mimi, build a house," says the child sweetly.

"Okay, Jack Henry, you put the roof on," says Mimi obligingly.

"Why! Jack Henry! You crashed your truck into my house!" says Mimi, not too surprised.

"Yep! Mimi, let's do again!" says the 'precious' child with an impish grin.

Molly, the Jack Russell, morns the fact that her new buddy isn't around, and Daisy relaxes again, relieved that her home is no longer invaded by a noisy pint-sized stranger.

The house is very QUIET---

"Pops! POPS! PO-AHHH-OPS!!!!!

"No! No bath! No nap! No go inside!"

"Mimi! Mimi! Pops made the scoop (on the tractor) go BAM! BAM!" (Arms fly into the air for emphasis)

"Read book again, Mimi, ple-eee-ase!"

"When is Mommy coming?"

QUIET everywhere---

With many waves and kisses, Jack Henry, our "grandest" is buckled into the car seat for the three hour trip back to the city.

"Go that way, Mommy!" the two-year old commands, as he points down the mountain---150 miles to go!

Two tired grandparents sit down in the living room, feet up, and relive the joys of the last two days--basking in the QUIET that takes over the house.

The Night Visitor, or Things That Go Bump In the Night

Night visitor at Mountain Springs

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties

and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!

Cornish Prayer

Jack is used to me waking him in the middle of the night with a whispered "What's that noise?" Usually, without really listening for a "noise", he will attribute the "bump" to our fridge. It has a way of letting us know with grinding and bumping noises that it is working hard all night to produce ice. In the dark house at night it does strange sound! However, this night I was awakened by Jack as he slipped out of bed noiselessly. His slow, deliberate movements made me aware something was going on.

Then I heard him laugh (quietly) as he told me to "Get up, there is a raccoon walking across the beam above the living room!" That got my attention! I was now totally awake!

When I realized this wasn't a dream, Mr. Raccoon was slowly making his way through the birdhouses etc. that decorate the space above the kitchen cabinets. From dealing with critters in the past (mostly outside), I knew not to make a loud noise or do anything that might startle one, especially when he is delicately balanced over our heads--in our living room! Whoops! One birdhouse down!

Jack instructed me to open all doors so the raccoon would have an escape route. What else can you do with a raccoon doing a trapeze act in the house? The raccoon made it across the cabinets and into the loft. From there he made a slow loop around the loft carefully balancing on the back of the sofa, across the bed, over numerous baskets, books etc. to my craft cabinet then on to the computer. That got him completely around the room back to the loft edge. The only thing left to do for a self-respecting raccoon in such a predicament was to swing down feet first, holding on the edge with front paws (much like a kid swinging down from a tree) and drop to the first floor--a height of about eight feet. He landed on the metal top of the log fireplace below with a bang! (thank goodness it was not burning at the time!) And, in a flash, he was out the wide open front door. He was as glad to leave us as we were to see him go!

The whole episode took five to ten minutes, but going back to sleep wasn't easy. How did he get in our house? It was stuffy in the house earlier in the evening so we opened the wooden back door, hooking the screen, to allow the cool night air to flow through the house before bedtime. We then forgot to close it. Mr. Raccoon was obviously up on the porch checking for leftovers in the dog food bowl which is close to the door. When he discovered, with a little push, he could slip through a corner of the screen door where, thanks to Daisy the frame was bent. However, the metal frame snapped back blocking him from leaving the same way he arrived.

And, how did a raccoon perch himself on the beam above the living room once he made his way into the house? That is a mystery! We cannot find a way for a critter his size to climb from the first floor and onto the beam without using the stairs! Then, he would have had to follow, in reverse, the path across the loft, over cabinets and onto the beam. Who knows! He's not telling!

Second Chapter: A night or two later, we let the dogs outside before bed. Immediately there was a commotion that sent me to the back door and Jack out the door and into the yard. As I stood at the screen door (yes, same screendoor), looking out into the dark night and fumbling for the outside light switch, a whirr of brown fur flew by followed close behind by two barking white streaks! We have a complete wrap around porch with railing so the race continued, making two complete laps around the porch before the desperate brown furry creature (by now identified as a raccoon, same one? Who knows!) bailed off under the railing--a height of probably 10 feet. The dogs had to go around to the steps which gave the desperate critter enough time to run across the yard and up the nearest tree. Enough excitement for that night!

Third chapter: The next night Jack set out the Have-A-Hart trap using dog food as bait. Mr. Raccoon made another night visit to the porch. He obviously can't resist dog food and carelessly crawled in and snap! All he could do was sit and await his fate which was a relocation trip in the back of the truck down the mountain to Kenner Creek Bridge. This is where I took the his picture before releasing a very relieved and tired raccoon. My last (I hope) picture of him was as he loped down the grassy trail toward the creek.

.

Twittering

The Blue Family Home at Mountain Springs

There's been a lot of 'twittering' going on at our house lately. No, it's not the newest internet craze! I don't even text. It's all I can do to manage this blog! Previously, I mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Blue(bird) had chosen the new bluebird house close to our bedroom door. About Mother's Day we realized the couple was spending most of their time in or around the box. Not long after that, it was apparant that babies had hatched. There has been a flurry of activity every since.

The picture above was taken from our bedroom door. Our bed is positioned so that when we awake each morning at dawn our first view is the Blue's house. They are usually already up and feeding hungry, demanding little fledglings. The parents are always greeted with a series of 'chrips and twitters'. This goes on throughout the day. Mrs. Blue usually stops long enough each morning to perch on our bedroom door screen. "Why are you humans still in bed?" I'm sure she is asking. Birds don't have the luxury of coffee in bed!

This morning when I awoke, my first thought was," How did the Blue family make the night?". Oh no! No busy parents flying in and out, no hungry twittering, nothing going on at this little house! We watched until Jack had to leave for his last day of school. He hurried out, forgot the pie for the teacher's potluck, had to turn around and come back after I called his carpool partner. On the way out of the drive (second time) he noticed a coon in the Have-A-Heart trap. Had to load him,still in the cage, in the pick up before I let the dogs out. (This is another story, coming soon to this blog) In the meantime, I had spotted Mr. and Mrs. Blue flying around the yard. Obviously picking up bugs and worms for breakfast just as every other morning.

It took me a good hour or so between phone calls (booked a week in July at Eagle's Rest) and answering emails etc.but I finally located the source of a lot of 'twittering'--a tree close to the Blue's house. I can see it as I write, and am convinced there are little bluebirds up there. My, they got an early start. Guess they could hardly wait to leave the nest this morning! I'm sure it was getting crowded in there. (This week I would often see a little head peek out). Even with my binoculars, which I keep nearby, I haven't actually seen a baby bird yet, but the parents are flying up to some branches and I will keep a look out all day. (I know, I don't get much work done!)

It is a beautiful, 'bluebird' day, unlike yesterday's fog and drizzle. It's a good day for little birds to try their wings. I wish them Godspeed.

"This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice!"

From the Fullness of His Grace...

Ferns and moss along the trail

Yesterday, Sunday, May 17, 2009, was one of those perfect days to store in my "memory bank" to pull up when I need a cheerful thought. The church service at Boxley Baptist was special. We honored a member, and former missionary to the Phillipines, who after retirement, moved back home to his Ozark family farm. He is a distinguished white-haired gentleman who has been blessed with Bible knowledge and the ability to teach. He spent 28 years in the Philippines teaching and organizing churches, and has spent his retirement teaching Sunday School and being a blessing at our church. He has always kept in close contact with his Philipino churches and friends. And now, he has agreed to return to Manila, where he will teach this semester at a school he helped found. He will be training ministers to pastor churches throughout the country. As he said, "God has used this once 'barefoot mountain boy' to spread his word." We wish you God's blessing, Art.

On the way home from church, we turned into the river access road at Ponca. There was a flurry of people coming and going, unloading canoes and kayaks and other gear, for a float down the Buffalo River. We decided to take advantage of this beautiful spring day in the Ozark Mountains by taking a hike. The trail begins at the low water bridge. We would hike this section ending at Steel Creek Campground--two miles. This is only a small part of the Buffalo River Trail. After a quick lunch and little preparation, we were off! The trail was a delight--high above the river, shady with cool breezes blowing, across streams and waterfalls, through rock formations and up rocky slopes. The best part was near the low water bridge where one can stand on the rocky overhang and watch below as floaters make their way upstream. (We never laugh (too much) at the antics of those with "less experience" we've been there!) Along the way we see stretches of cool, green, mossy flats that are fascinating to me. We finished the hike with a light snack at Steel Creek Campground and a few minutes strolling on the river bank studying rocks--fossils and, my favorite, heart-shaped ones.

As we were walking back through the busy parking area, on our way to the car, dodging folks, cars, and canoes, we passed by an old man whose appearance reminded me of someone who may have spent a long winter in a log cabin on a mountain!) He was sitting in his old truck with the window and door open, watching the parade of hikers, floaters, and sightseers. He called out to us as we passed by,"Great day to be alive, isn't it?". We couldn't agree with him more!

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

John 1:16

Hope Flies

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;

it flows between the mountains.

They give water to all the beasts of the field...

The birds of the field nest by their waters;

they sing among the branches.

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;

The earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

Psalm 104:11,12-13

Pictured is Wildflower Falls, located on our property. When it is raging, we can hear it roar from our porch as well as Eagle's Rest porch. May wildflowers are at their best in May.

The rains and storms of late have been relentless! We had another storm with an inch of rain last night. These storms are moving across our mountains about every other day, giving us little time to mow and work in the yard and garden. I will not complain! I know the water from these rains is stored deep underground in our mountains, thus filling our springs with plenty of clean fresh water to get us through the dry spells.

Speaking of gardens! Darlene, Debbie, and I went "greenhouse hopping" this week. It was one of the only sunny days we have had. We drove to Rogers and made our way down to Garfield, Eureka Springs, and Berryville--visiting a total of six nurseries. Needless to say, the car looked like a moving greenhouse by the time we got home. This was a good way to break in our new Chevy Traverse, and pick up some new perennials.

I have worked around showers and wind for two days to get everything in the ground. The winds, slight hail, and hard rains gave me cause for concern last night, but this morning everything survived except the two clay pots sitting on the porch. They were flung down the steps and onto the flagstones and are now only shards! Good thing we staked the tomatoes yesterday!

Mr. and Mrs. Blue are settled in the new birdhouse on the porch near our bedroom window. I'm sure the storm of last week convinced them this was the safest place to nest. Their old house was blown off the porch (I had it wired to the post!) And I had to glue the roof back in place. So much for that old house!

I watch Mr. Blue as he makes his many trips to the box with tasty? tidbits for his mate. He sits on the fence watching for a movement in the grass, then he quickly swoops down and grabs the hapless victim, which will soon be dinner. He usually eats a portion himself (maybe to get in under control) and takes the rest to the box where his lovely bluebird wife is busy doing what female bluebirds do inside their box. As she sits patiently inside, he is perched nearby, watching over her, sweetly singing his little bluebird song. Sometimes, she leaves the nest for a short time--always stopping by the window to check on us humans inside. Soon we should hear the demanding 'twitter' of little bluebirds, and then the parents go to work! These babies will be on a nearly nonstop feeding schedule until they are ready to try their wings.

The courage, determination, and devotion of these birds is sweet to watch. They convey a spirit of hope that is inspiring. Despite storms, predators, and the perils of their world they continue on--always with a song. What a lesson for humans!

From My Window

Hummer Feeding Frenzy

I find myself staring out the kitchen window looking out on the backyard quite often this week. The week long rains have kept me from outside work, and I have to be content with watching the wildlife that has to cope with making a living come rain or shine. It is a little micro world out there.

When the storms moved in last week, so did the hummers! By the dozens! We keep 4 large bottles out at all times. Later, when it warms up and more flowers appear, they will spread out across the mountain and find their own food. For now, we feel like we need to give them a boost to get them through the cold rains. Kind of like a rescue station, I guess.

Sometimes, when watching the hummers, I am surprised by a handsome black and gold Baltimore Oriole that lands on a feeder. We have two pair right now who help themselves to the hummers' food even though we have put up a feeder just for Orioles. They love the oranges that we have laid out on posts around the yard. But, it isn't "handsome is as handsome does"! They are very aggressive, and don't mind attacking the little hummers at their own feeders. It is just as well they are temporary visitors, and usually move on further north--to Baltimore, I guess :-) for the summer.

As I watch the birds, I catch a brown streak scurrying across the yard. It is one of the many chipmunks that live on the perimeters of the yard in holes, rock crevices, hollow logs, or anything that gives them protection. I watched one brave little fellow, make several trips across the open yard to the bird feeder on the fence. He would stuff his cheeks full of seeds and make the hazardous trip back to the safety of his den. Come to think of it, it was probably Mama Chipmunk risking her life to feed a nest full of babies!

Speaking of risking a life--I heard a commotion in the yard yesterday--dogs in a frenzy! They were tearing into a piece of the downspout (that was supposed to be attached to the house!) Molly at one end, Daisy at the other. They were dragging it all over the yard. I immediately knew there was a chipmunk somewhere--probably inside the gutter that was being tossed around! Poor fellow! ( My friend later described it as something like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel!) There was no escape for the little critter with a fighting Jack Russell at either end! I knew I had to come to the rescue. With two feisty dogs at my heels, I picked up the gutter only to see both ends were clamped shut. It has always amazed me how such small dogs can be so destructive (Daisy and the screen doors are another story!) There was no distracting the dogs long enough to let the chipmunk escape in the open yard. His only hope was for me to release him into a hollow stump nearby. After several attempts at this (when I would turn the gutter over so he could escape into the hole, I could hear his little feet scurrying UP the drain--desperately trying to stay inside in a place he thought was safe! After several attempts, I was able to slide him down into the hollow stump to safety. I put a large rock over the hole to discourage incorrigible dogs from terrorizing him any longer. Out of sight! Out of mind! The dogs soon lost interest. I would think the little creature needed some time to get himself together before exiting the stump and going home.

We are also seeing deer as they take advantage of the salt lick Jack put out down below the house. And, we see rabbits playing all over the back yard at first light--taking advantage of a time when the dogs are still sleeping inside. An occasional groundhog slips through the yard--checking out the garden, no doubt! I see squirrels running through the trees at the edge of the yard. Fortunately, they aren't a problem at the feeders. They are usually content to stay out of the way of the dogs and live off the leftover corn put out for the deer. They also find a tasty meal at the horse trough. And we obviously have a night visitor, probably a raccoon. This morning the backyard bird feeder had been knocked off its post. It is time to set out the Have-A-Heart trap, catch the unwanted visitor and release him on the next mountain or down at the river.

I love these verses and have worked to memorize them lately from Psalm 8.

When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands, you put everything under his feet:
All flock and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
All that swim the paths of the seas.
Oh Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!

Friends, Neighbors, and "Kids"

The newest neighbor

When we first moved to Mountain Springs, we never imagined we would be living in a "neighborhood" (as in next door neighbor). However, we have expanded our idea of what a neighborhood really is. We consider our neighborhood "as the crow flies". Neighbors may live in the hollow, on the next mountain, in the valley, or down the road. Some are weekenders such as the Mississippi family that bought a log cabin down in the hollow and the couple from South Arkansas that stayed in our cabin, fell in love with the area, bought their own piece of the Ozarks. They are in the midst of building a cabin of their own on Mountain Springs Road. Some of our neighbors have lived right here, on the same land, all their lives and have such a rich family history relating to the Buffalo River. And, some of our good neighbors are like us.They have such a love affair with these Ozark Mountains that they found a way to make it a permanent home.

It is the wonderful mix of lives and experiences that make visiting with the neighbors such a treat. Recently, the Moores, who live across the valley near Bradshaw Mountain on 400 acres, invited us to an old-fashioned Ozark supper-- to take place at the stone cabin they built with their own hands in the 70's when they first moved from Louisiana. They now have a lovely house nearby that they also built themselves. The menu included ham, beans, collard greens (my contribution), cornbread, and mayonnaise cake, which Ruth said she remembers her grandmother making on her old wood stove. The eight of us played games by the fire, ate by candlelight and had such a good time that we decided to start our own supper club. We will meet at the Jackson's new cabin (weekenders from Bentonville) and celebrate "Cinqo de Mayo" with a Mexican dinner this Saturday. We can actually see their cabin from our porch, but it takes about 15 minutes or so to drive around on Fire Tower Road and down the Section Road to get there--use the 4-wheel drive once you turn off onto the "driveway"!

Our closest neighbors, the Cullens, are just a few minutes away. They were in the process of moving when Hurricane Katrina hit their place. To get to their house, I can go on the main road or across our place and down the hill on the four wheeler if I want. If I am away from home, I can always count on Darlene to run up to the house to put Daisy and Molly inside if a storm comes up. And I do the same for her. We both have these crazy dogs that will do anything to get inside (including tearing up screen doors and windows!) at the first clap of thunder. We share flowers and prayer requests, coffee, books and Bible studies, as well as a love for this land.

The "baby" pictured above is one of the newest members of Darlene's goat herd. We have all watched and worried as the kids came into this world on some of the coldest and wettest days (and nights) of the spring. They are tough little critters and are thriving. I can see them from my window as they run and play down below in the meadow.

We make our friends, we make our enemies, but God makes our next door neighbors. J.K. Chesterton, 1874-1936