Of Rockhouses, Stones, and Bottle Trees

Blue Bottle Tree

A friend called Friday afternoon and asked if we would like to drive to Eureka Springs. He was "searching for his roots" he said. "Sure", we said. School had let out early in anticipation of an ice storm that fizzled before reaching us. In our view, a snow day or even part of a snow day is considered a free day and shouldn't be used for work or normal activities. Sounded like an adventure to us!

Actually he wanted to find his grandparents' farm--a place he remembers visiting in the summers as a young boy over 40 years ago. Some of the places he had seen in earlier trips to the area seemed to bring back memories--the old concrete bridge over the Kings River at Trigger Gap, the name "Rockhouse", and just that feeling of "being there" at some other time.

We took Rockhouse Road off of 62 in Eureka Springs. It is a back road that leads to the Kings River area, and then on to Berryville on 221. All he had to go on was a memory of the neighbors' big dairy barn and their unusual name (which must have been German), swimming in the creek across the pasture, and fishing on the concrete bridge at the Kings River. We turned off the pavement onto a gravel county road that lead through an old farming area with lots of fences in need of repair, barns that had seen better days, and pastures with several cows lazily grazing on round hay bales.

We passed by a large old barn with an old farmhouse nearby. He stopped, studied it ,and said "Eureka! This is it"!

The old house showed some neglect, but was still occupied. There were chickens in the yard, a little pen with a small, probably orphaned, lamb basking under a warm heat lamp, and a very large dog, who watched warily as we stopped the truck long enough to get a quick picture. As we looked across the lane, we were surprised to see the old German neighbor's name on the mailbox. Our friend instinctively turned down another old road that ended at the swimming hole on the creek. The old bridge leading to the other side was blocked with a threatening sign warning folks of the hazards and dangers (and law suits) of even thinking about crossing over to the other side. Time to turn back!

It is our friend's plan is to come back at a later time. Maybe after a phone call to the number he located online when he entered the name and address from the old sign that was nailed to the tree by the drive. Right now it is enough just to find the actual place that brings back so many memories.

The old home place wasn't the only thing that got our attention. Further down the road we started seeing little stacked-stone statues in the pastures, on the side of the road, and in the yard of an old, but still lived-in, log house. (I have no idea what the stone statues are, but I will find out more.)From the condition of some of the logs, it was apparently very old. By studying the logs, one could tell that new rooms had been added from time to time. The last addition showed fairly new log walls. Since we are kind of partial to log homes anyway, the structure was worth a short stop. No one home, so we didn't tarry.

The log house and stacked stones weren't the only things that caught our attention. Blue bottles! Lots of blue glass bottles! Piles of blue bottles! Some were decorating a roof line of an shed, some were placed around in the old flower beds, and some were hanging on a "bottle tree" in the middle of the yard.

I remember seeing bottle trees in yards in south Arkansas when I was young. Bottle trees are of African origin and were originally placed in yards to ward off evil spirits. The spirits were supposedly captured in the bottles so as not to enter the house. Now 'a days, they are considered "yard art", and one can even order pre-constructed, metal bottle trees --complete with colored wine bottles--online.

A bottle tree design has been forming in my head since I read an article about them in a garden magazine some time ago. This one in living color has brought it back to mind. We often have interesting wine bottles left in the cabin trash. I think I will recycle them and make my own version of a bottle tree. If you come to Mountain Springs Cabins this summer, you will most likely see one growing in my backyard. Only joyful "spirits" allowed!

You shall go out in joy...and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Is. 55:12

Trumpeter Swans Part 3

We didn't get down to the valley for the Trumpeter Swan release, but I slipped down there yesterday to check on them. The five young swans were happily bobbing around on the mill pond with a few wood ducks floating among them. They seemed very much at home on the icy pond. It was, for lack of a better word, an awesome minute or two as I sat there on the side of the road with the window rolled down feeling the cold wind and listening to the happy chatter of the swans and ducks. The snow clouds hung heavily over the top of the mountains as small snow pellets filled the air. It was one of those times I have always called a "memory moment"--something I can pull up in my head at future times for a little sweet memory.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with Iowa Department of Natural Resources, along with all of us hope this is release is successful. They also released 13 in the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge near Dardanelle. They admit it is a new idea called "reverse imprinting". And, it is hoped that the swans will find their way back north in early spring to spend their summer with other Trumpeters before flying south to winter again in this area.

Some information on Trumpeter Swans: Adults weigh about 35 pounds with wingspans of 8 feet--America's largest waterfowl. They nearly disappeared in the early 1900's due to over hunting and loss of habitat. There are now about 250, including 30 nesting pairs. Arkansas is to be commended for working to restore this elegant bird, I think. I also believe we are obligated to protect and save vanishing habitat for this species along with other wildlife including elk, eagles, and quail, and other creatures that are dependent on us for survival.

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains...The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches." Ps. 104:10,12

Everyday Joys

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
Ps. 34:8

Just like the "dancing" elk in the picture, we need to find joy in everyday things. A few year ago, a ladies' magazine, I forget which one, had one line fillers sprinkled throughout the pages called "Lifesavers"-- reminders of the little daily blessings such as--a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, a child singing, etc. I like to make my own list of "Lifesavers". Maybe I will call them "Life Blessings". Here are a few of mine:

Amaryllis blooming at Christmastime, reading to a child, watching our grownup son read to his young son, dark chocolate in any form (and now it is considered good for us, Yippee!!), birds singing, walking up to the door of Boxley Church on Sunday morning and hearing a hymn playing on the loud speaker, the full moon over the mountain, faraway airplanes making their way across the night sky, jet trails in the blue sky, a colt and his mother in the pasture on the hillside, flannel sheets in winter, a cup of hot coffee served to me in bed while snuggled between flannel sheets, sunrises in the summer, sunsets all year long, Daisy's cold nose, a new emailed picture of Jack Henry accompanied with a story, emails from friends--longtime ones and new ones, roses on Aunt Marie's rose bush, going to the nursery in spring for flowers, packages delivered by the UPS guy (or anyone for that matter), morning quiet time in the loft, Christmas lights anywhere anytime, watching snowflakes fall outside my window, 6 inches of good snow on a sunny day, sledding down the drive all the way to the mailbox (exhilarating!), working in the dirt with the promise of gorgeous flowers-to-come, the first ripe tomato from the garden, chipmunks at the feeders, cattle on a thousand hills (or just the ones across the hollow that I see from my window), guests in the cabins, good neighbors, "I Love You" from someone special...

Guess I'll stop for now, though it is a great way to pass the time--counting blessings.

Cabin Fever

Jack got a call at 10:00 Monday night saying "no school tomorrow". With an extra hour of sleep behind us, we woke up to a winter wonderland of crystals and frost. I am always amazed at the beauty of a phenomenon we never knew existed in south Arkansas--frozen fog. It looks exactly like someone took a can of that spray snow you buy at Christmas and liberally sprayed the whole mountain! It's fascinating and so beautiful it is hard to describe. We will see this several times each winter when low clouds and fog roll in and freeze to everything it touches from fences to bushes to trees. It happens in the higher elevations, and as you drive down the mountain, you will see a line where it starts. Beautiful!!

The ice coating on the porch, steps, and ground made walking hazardous. Molly's first encounter with the ice took her sliding across the porch, down the steps, and to an abrupt halt at the gate post! Needless to say, she was more careful the second time around. Jack thawed out the vehicles, but decided driving was risky. And, we didn't have to go anywhere anyway! He stayed out long enough to give the birds and deer a extra ration of food. Then found a few inside "honey do" jobs to keep busy.

It stayed cold, foggy, and dreary all day. I spent my day putting the finishing touches on our website and doing a little reading. It was nice. Bad weather is a good excuse for dropping chores and picking up a good book. I'm reading a series called "Mysteries of Sparrow Island"-- a Christmas gift. Also watched a DVD of "The Walton's". I have always loved that series. Mountain life has always fascinated me, I guess.

Tuesday night we got another call informing us there would be no school on Wednesday. Again, we got in that extra hour of sleep, drank an extra cup of coffee, and watched the deer and birds out the window. Then "cabin fever" set in. We had to get out. After checking the roads, Jack declared it safe, and away we drove for a short trip to the post office. Hey! Two packages! A new thermometer that projects the time and outside temperature on the ceiling by our bed, (just in time to watch another cold wave ) and a vintage souvenir Arkansas plate which gives me a collection of 2!

Then, a burger at Compton One Stop where we met a friend who was trying to get home, but wasn't sure his van would make it up the steep hill by his house. We followed him home with no problem. Just a little mud!

We watched the weatherman tonight as he predicted the next few days of cold, wintry, windy, and just plain miserable weather. We'll get ready for another "snow day" and when it comes we 'll enjoy the day. I consider these unexpected mini-vacations a "perk" for mountain living.

I have a good friend who leaves this message on her phone when she's out. I repeat it when I find myself not happy about how the day is going--weather wise and otherwise.

"This is the day that the Lord hath made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Trumpeter Swans Part 2

Just a note for anyone interested in the Trumpeter Swans. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will release 18 young swans, some at the Boxley Mill Pond, on Wednesday, January 23, at 10:00. Visit the Arkansas Times article for more information. I plan to be there and will let you all know how it goes. Should be interesting. I do dislike the fact that all of them will have to wear a large green collar on their necks... Kind of "messes" up the "natural look". Oh, well, we already have some good shots of the original birds who found us on their own. More on Thursday!!

Willard

Our good friend, Ed, who by the way, graciously lets us use his wonderful photos, recently bought a neat little "top of the world" weekend retreat. It happened when we noticed the "For Sale " sign on the firetower property across the hollow from us, on the appropriately named, Fire Tower Road. Jack immediately emailed Ed with the message, "How would you like to own the Firetower?" Ed came up from Fort Smith, and a short time later he was the owner of a little historic piece of property with a firetower and original tower keeper's cottage on it. With only a small amount of repair and remodeling, he moved in. Only to find out he wasn't alone. This is his story.

The previous owners were somewhat eccentric (but that's another story) and left everything, including a very neatly stacked woodpile, in place for new owners. Ed became suspicous when he noticed a large,well-maintained, nest in that woodpile. It was too large for the average mouse or rat, and had some very curious objects stored there, including animal droppings, and was covered with a piece of old newspaper. Ed tore it down, only to find it was restored the next weekend. Occasionally he would catch a glimpse of a critter, larger that a rat, and without the usual hairless rattail. After online research, and consulting Jack, the biology teacher, he determined he was sharing his retreat with a pack rat. Not caring to share with any kind of rat, he set out traps and poison. He came back the next weekend--no rat in the traps, and a pile of little rat poison pieces had been neatly stored in the nest. Again, it was covered with old newspaper. When entering the shed, Ed would occasionally catch glimpses of the critter as he scurried out of sight And, even though he now knew what it was, it was somewhat unnerving to open the shed door and hear a strange scurrying sound.

Ed was now getting fond? of the creature who was so determined to make his home there. He had even given the him a name--Willard. With a little encouragement from Larissa and others, he decided to relocate the critter. Using peanut butter in a Have a Heart trap, he caught him the first night. After short photo session with the rat (Ed "shoots" everything), he and Larrisa took a trip down 103 to find him a new home. Choosing what they thought was a perfect new home for a pack rat (we won't tell where for fear the neighbors would object!) they set the trap on the ground and opened the door. Obviously, Willard wasn't ready to relocate. He ran directly back to the truck, and if not for Ed's quick actions, he would have attached himself to the underside of the truck for a ride back to the Firetower! He was finally shown the way out of the truck and disappeared into the grass.

Now, everytime we drive by the old, abandoned house where Willard now lives (we hope), we remember the obstinate little critter and wish him luck, or "good riddance", as Ed says.

"All creatures great and small, the Lord God loveth all"

Resolutions

Sunrise at Mountain Springs

Sunset at Mountain Springs

I don't do New Year's resolutions because it is a recipe for failure. I can resolve to go on a diet. Then Jack says let's go to the Boardwalk for gumbo tonight. What can I say? Or, I resolve to walk to the mailbox and back each day. Then the weather gets cold, rainy, foggy, and not fun for outdoor activities, especially exercise. So New Year's resolutions go by the wayside by the second week of January. I just don't do them anymore.


But, it occurred to me that I can do everyday resolutions. If I fail, there's always "tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow" as Annie says. For several years now, I have set aside a few quiet moments in the early morning for prayer/devotion time. It is much easier for me than it used to be because I do with not have to rush out the door to school at 7:30 each day. However, have friends that can do this and still get to work on time. God blesses women who can manage children, husband, work, and prayer time, no doubt. None the less, I now resolve to do the following (daily)--it is written in the front of my devotion/journal.


"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all things" 1 Thes. 5:16-18


If I fail, but I will try not to, there's always "tomorrow"!

Bluebird Days

As I stepped outside early this morning, a cheery bluebird greeted me with his "good morning song." It is "trash day" and that means loading up garbage, plastics, aluminum cans, and paper to put down beside the highway for the Newton County Recycle truck to pick up. Frost was still on the truck windshield, but as I looked around the yard, there were bluebirds everywhere! A good sign! I told the dogs it would be another "bluebird day" here on the mountain. We have always marveled at the number of bluebirds who make our mountain their year round home (or maybe it is "their" mountain, since they were here first!) They don't seem to mind sharing, and we do our best to be good neighbors by providing extra houses and food.

The dogs were busy running around the yard picking up the fading scent of a wandering night animal who has been scavenging for a leftover scrap from the dogs' food bowls. Skunks, 'possums, and armadillos have been seen wandering through the yard during the night! None of these are really welcome. Deer and rabbits leave reminders that they, too, checked out the backyard in the night! One spring the deer ate all 24 buds off my "Aunt Marie's" rose bush during a late night visit! Bunnies regularly nibble the tulip leaves as they pop out of the ground in the spring.

When the late killing frost hit us on April 9 last year, Jack said it would effect the wildlife the entire year. We are seeing that prediction come true as an increasingly large herd of deer come running to feed each afternoon when Jack drives his 4-wheeler down in the hollow near the house with a bucket of corn. Even the 8 point buck has had to give up some of his wariness of humans in order to survive. We have counted up to 20 deer lately. We can only give them enough corn to keep a little fat on their bones. They are still dependent on whatever they can scrape up in the woods and pastures around the house.

We try to keep the bird feeders full of sunflowers and finch seed, but the squirrels often get their share first. I can't deny them a meal, so we just put out more seed. It's the same with the crows, blackbirds, and rowdy bluejays. All need nourishment during these cold winter days. The bright cardinals seem to slip in occasionally along with a covy of quail, doves, juncos, fieldlarks, woodpeckers, chickadees, goldfinches (though they have their own seed sacks, they steal a few sunflowers), and a few others I can't remember. I counted up to 26 different species feeding in the backyard at one time last year. Even a roadrunner makes an appearance now and then. Though I think he has other ideas about his meals!!

This is still early January, and we will have many more dreary, cold, foggy, and snowy days before real springtime, but always sprinkled in now and then, will be a day like today--a "bluebird day." And, the wildlife will bask in the sun, nibble on whatever food they can find, and wait for the next feeding from the "humans in the house." This verse comes to mind:

"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life...Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns. For your heavenly Father feeds them." Matt. 6:25a-26

To A Waterfowl

He who from zone to zone doth guide my flight,
In the long way that I must tread alone,
Will lead my steps aright.

(Wm. C. Bryant)

Three years ago Christmas, two Trumpeter Swans found their way to Boxley mill pond. It caused excitement in the human bird world because these birds are only known to winter one other place in Arkansas. They stayed the winter and returned to their summer home in early spring.

Christmas Eve 2006, as we were going down for Jack Henry's first Christmas in Little Rock, we spotted them as we drove through the valley. This time they brought their young cygnet. Two days later, the male was killed by a predator, probably a raccoon or coyote. But the mother and her young stayed for the remainder of the winter--calmly going about doing what swans do as people watched and snapped photos from the edge of the road.

Would they return this year? We, as well as other folks watched Christmas week. Many of us do get excited about this. On the 27th, my friend, Regena, told me that Bill had reported seeing FIVE white swans swimming in the mill pond as he drove to work that morning! Wonderful! The swans returned, bringing more!!! It is comforting to know that swan life goes on after tragedy just like in the human world.

What made them choose Boxley Valley is a mystery. Maybe they found refuge and comfort in these mountains just as many of us have.

Dear Mountain Springs Notebook Readers,

Thanks for logging in to our first notebook entry. Most of you are already familiar with Mountain Springs Cabins. If not, click on Mountain Springs Cabins http://www.mountainspringscabins.com for a brief history of how we found ourselves in these mountains and what we do here. Each entry will give you a peek into life on our mountain. We will even sprinkle a few pictures around. And, yes, since we have log cabin rentals, we hope you will come visit us. Whether online or in person, we do hope Mountain Springs Notebook will bring a little joy, peace, hope, inspiration, happiness, relief, or whatever, into your day.

I started keeping a journal when I was in junior high ("Dear Diary, I saw the cutest boy today"). I have moved on from those days, and I married that cute boy! As my journal entries got a little more thoughtful, I always hoped to publish a book of "thoughts and observations". Little did I know that technology would allow me to do so! Now I am "blogging". Sounds too technical for me, so I like to use the old-fashioned term "journaling".

We might hike the trails, sit on the porch with a cup of coffee, watch wildlife out the window, take a drive on the back roads, visit Eureka Springs or Branson for the day--who knows! It is not always extremely exciting, but we like it. And we hope you will too. After living in the "flatlands" of south Arkansas most of our lives, we are fascinated by the mountains and how "these hills and valleys" affect so much of our lives. There is the weather, which can be extreme at times (we love the snowstorms), the abundance of flora and fauna, the Buffalo National River and it’s natural beauty, the history of Newton County, and the people, especially the people--the locals who are so open and friendly, and the "imports", like us, who discovered this region and finally had to live here.

I am inspired by--the mountains and valleys outside my window, the bluebirds at the birdbath, the deer at the pond, the wild daisies in the meadow and the zinnias in my backyard, the rainbows and the storm clouds in the sky, the antics of Daisy and Molly, the Jack Russells, Jack Henry IV, our 1 year old grandson whose joyful spirit is contagious, our many friends and neighbors throughout the hills and hollows, the guests at the cabins from literally, all over the world, and life in general. I find joy in all of these things. But most of all, I am inspired by our Lord who has been our Jehovah Jireh --our provider on this mountain.

Please bookmark us, check in occasionally for a visit, and live vicariously until your next (or first) real visit to Mountain Springs Cabins. I have a thousand ideas in my head and not enough time to put them down on "paper".


May the peace of the mountains be with you.

Camille