Ten Years and Counting



Our first mountain home

       Ten years ago, September 11, 2001, we packed up two vehicles, two mama Jack Russells and five pups, and a very unhappy cat, and headed north for our mountain adventure and the rest of our lives. The events of that day reminded us of how fragile life can be, and made us determined to live life to the fullest.  It continues to be a wonderful journey!

Foundation built over basement

   We were fortunate to be able to build over a basement left over from the old burned house on the site.  I never knew what a wonderful space a basement can be.  It is our guest quarters on one side and storage space on the other.

Builder walking the log walls

   Our Amish builders worked for five months to get us in our house quickly.  We learned later it was unusual for a house to be finished in this length of time.  Their work ethic and craftsmanship was impressive.  We were blessed to get to know them and their families through the months they were on the job.  We were honored to be guests at their school Christmas pagent.
                                                                          


Roof in place before the snow

   Our roofers worked overtime to get the roof on before Thanksgiving and the season's first snow.  We needed to stay with the project and didn't go home for Thanksgiving holidays.  We ate our Thanksgiving Dinner with new friends who were building also and couldn't get away.



Finished house and yard

   We moved into our house on Valentine's Day.  By summer the yard was looking good.  Thanks to the former owners of the burned house, there was a picket fence and some beds already in place and ready for new plantings.


Welcome to the porch

   The porch has always been a favorite place to eat lunch, take a nap in the lounger, linger over early morning coffee, and entertain guests.  We recently had our annual hamburger cook out with our couple's supper club.




Our kitchen

    Come join me for coffee in the kitchen.  I will probably have some zucchine bread hot from the oven.   

Big Blue Mountain Spirit,

The home made of blue clouds...

I am grateful for that mode of goodness there.

                                                            Chant (Apache)    

The End of the Day

Ozark Mountain Spa

     At the end of a long, hot summer day my old tub is waiting for me.  I fill it with water early in the day, and let the sun warm it to just the right temp.  A lazy soak just as the sun is going down is a unique mountain pleasure!




Bathing Bluebirds

      The bluebirds join me for their version of the mountain spa!





Frittilary on Zinnia

And, a butterfly also keeps me company as I cool down after a hot day in the garden.




Summer garden treasures

I'm thinking bacon and tomato sandwiches for supper!


Summer sunflowers

 Nothing says "summer" like a beautiful sunflower.  These were planted by the birds.   

My summer backyard

No house should ever be on any hill or on anything.  It should be of the hill, belonging to it, so hill and house could live together each the happier for the other.  Frank Lloyd Wright

A Summer Song

Trees swayin' in the summer breeze...

Early morning coffee on the porch with the bluebird family.  We often wake up to their sweet, soothing song.





Dewdrops on the pink garden phlox brings out the spicebush early in the morning. 



New babies at the neighbor's farm--I watch them run, hop, prance and play from my upstairs window as I work on my computer.

Summer on the farms in the area means time for the hot, sweaty job of cutting hay.  I would guess nothing satisfies a farmer like seeing his barn full of fresh cut hay.  This one was always stuffed with hay bales until it finally collasped during a spring storm.

What is more fun than a day at the river--a little sun, a little sand, and lots of cool water!  Come on in, the water's great!

The 'fruits' of our labor--worth all the sweat, the dirt under the fingernails, and the aches and pains.  Left to right--Big Boy, Lillian (yellow), green zebra, and Cherokee purple tomatoes.  Small cherry tomatoes are sun golds. Delicious!!!

And for dessert--fresh picked raspberries.  Just top with a little whipped cream or add to ice cream!

And when the rain

Beats against my widow pane

I'll think of summer days again

And dream of you.

                                A Summer Song

                                             Metcalfe, Noble, Stuart

                                                  sung by Chad and Jeremy

Visions of Flowers Dancing in My Head

Lilacs in April

It is a little cool this morning (47 degrees), but sunny, so I'll have to get out in the yard this afternoon.  It is still too early to put out bedding plants on the mountain so I'll just pull a few more weeds that have popped up.  I was going through my flower photos from the last few years and thought this was a good time to enjoy looking back on our Mountain Springs flower gardens.  Every year is different to some degree, but the lilacs are one of my favorites.  Probably because they are among the first to bloom each spring.



Wild azaleas at Wildflower Falls



The wild azaleas bloom in the woods behind the house every May.  They grow all over the woods and their fragrance fills the air!  I pick a bouquet for the house each year.  Watch out for bees!!!  They love them too!



Mournful Thyris moth on Butterfly Weed

June at Mountain Springs is a "sight to behold"!  The weeds are still under control and the garden is usually at it's peak. I looked up the little moth in my butterfly/moth book and this is really his name.  There is absolutely nothing "mournful" about his little fellow.  He brings happiness to my garden.  I think I will change his name to "Cheerful Thyris".



                                       July in the Garden

plethora n: an excessive quantity or fullness: also; PROFUSION

This word aptly describes my July garden.  Hot, dry weather, but a "plethora" or profusion of flowers, bees, butterflies, and birds.
(I think I will introduce Jack Henry to "plethora".  He loves words.  His latest is "hypothesis".  He can use it correctly, but I can't spell it correctly--thank you, spell check!)




August "volunteer" sunflower

The birds "plant" our sunflowers all over the yard.  We let them grow where ever they are planted.  I guess they are doing some gardening of their own which helps increase the birdseed supply.
Oh my! So many flowers---so little space!  I'll have to do this again!



 

I know a little garden close,

Set thick with lily and red rose,

Where I would wander if I might

From dewy morn to dewy night.

                                          William Morris

March Mountain Madness



Bluebird day in March



     In the mountains we expect March to come in like a lion.  And, the lion will come and go the whole month!  Wednesday was a spectacular day--sunny 70's light breeze.  Great for anything outdoors--gardening (a little early for bedding plants), hiking (perfect!), or shopping at Branson Landing (you guessed it, that's what I did!)  Two days later, the lion is back bringing near freezing temps.  That's okay, it's March Madness mountain style.  Last year, we had a 12 inch snow the first day of Spring.  Beautiful!  And, then it melted a few days later.  Perfect!

Canoe dog on the Buffalo River

     Our cabin "spring breakers" (guests) accept the fickleness of the weather.  Never knowing what they will get when they reserve, but wanting to make the most of days off, they are blessed with a little of both-- the bluebird days and the roaring lion days.  Hiking is on every ones list, and this year many bravely made the Hemmed-In-Hollow hike which is always a challenge.  But, they all say it's worth it.  Canoeing the cold waters of the Buffalo River in March takes more than bravery.  One must understand the "ups and downs" (pun intended) of canoeing a fast flowing stream.  Hypothermia can set in fast if not prepared for the unexpected.  We usually wait until late spring or early summer for our float.





April tulips at Mountain Springs



     Then comes April!  Beautiful! Showery, flowery, bowery!  Every year, the garden centers tempt me!  But, I have learned--tiny little greenhouse plants cannot take the shock of cool winds on the mountains.  I'll stay with the tulips and daffodils that are already blooming in my yard, and plan my garden center trips for mid-May.  Then I get in a planting frenzy, as does my neighbor, the Master Gardener!  I can never keep up with her (nor do I want to!)



Lilac explosion!



     Every yard should have a lilac bush--I have five!  A few in a vase (or use a jar) in the house brings heaven a little closer.  



Shooting stars near Wildflower Falls



     The woods in April always are the greenest with tiny wildflowers peeking out among the brilliant green leaves.  Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, wake robin, I even spy a Jack-in-the-Pulpit along the trail now and then.  Has anyone seen the illusive Morel mushrooms yet?  We never have much luck finding them :-(  No matter, it gives us one more reason to get out in the woods!

Little Johnny-jump-up said,

"It must be spring,

I just saw a lady-bug

And heard a robin sing."

      Edwina Fallis

I'm Dreamin' of A Green Spring

Snow storm at Eagle's Rest Cabin



     I love snow, but there is a limit to how much white stuff I want to deal with.  We've reached the limit--24 inches came down Wednesday on top of 6 inches already on the ground.  If it wasn't for the cedar trees on the mountain, there would be nothing green!  Getting across the yard is nearly impossible.  The dogs struggle to stay above the snow, and I am up to my knees in the wet, fluffy drifts! I spent the morning shoveling piles of snow off all four sides of the porch while Jack played snowplow driver on the tractor.  He got the road to the cabin driveable just before our guests arrived (in a 4 wheel drive SUV).  I know, I know I could be in New York or somewhere up there with snowfalls that dwarf our little snow records.  But, this is the south, for goodness sake!  I dreaming of....



Shooting Stars at Wildflower Falls

     One of the first spring hikes we take will be to Wildflower Falls just down the hill from the house.  It will be a wild garden of flowers and 'green'.-- green moss, green grass, green leafy buds on the trees, green water-- even the air 'feels' green and damp.  I can hardly wait!



Green moss patch

     We all try to carefully step around the mossy patches near the spring.  We have counted over 17 different wildflowers as well as a variety of ferns and mosses. 





Early tulips in the bed near the steps

     These are early blooming tulips.  The little rabbits always find the first green leaves as soon they pop out of the ground.  If you look closely, you notice the ends of the leaves have been nibbled off!  Bad, bad, Peter Rabbit!!  Oh well, Peter and his friends will move on to the green clover patches in the yard before much damage is done.



Mother's iris

     When we first moved here, I dug up some of Mother's irises from her beds in Hamburg and planted them by the old picket fence that we kept in place.  They are such a beautiful sight every spring.  The colors are breath taking!



Wild azaleas on the trail

 

       Our early spring hike to the falls always includes a visit to the pink wild azalea patches.  The air along the trail is filled with their sweet scent long before we actually see them. 



Another green spot along the trail

        "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come."  Chinese Proverb 



A little birdy reminds us--Spring will come!





A Winter Event

View from the porch.

     All day Tuesday we watched as freezing rain turned to sleet, sleet turned to snow.  We held our breaths when the electricity blinked, but it held!  After the "Ice Storm of 2009" we are ready.   We can stay warm and cozy (and, well fed) with gas heat and, if necessary, the back-up generator.



Molly and Daisy check our little 'critter' scents





     The winds howled all night and, the next morning, we woke up to a winter wonderland.  After lunch, the sun peeked out and, even with wind chills of 10 degrees and light snow flurries , the dogs and I went for a walk.  Despite my attempt to bundle up, it was cold! The sun soon went behind the clouds, and the few pictures I got were disappointing. (Of course, a snow picture can't do justice to a winter scene)  The shock of crisp, cold wind on your face, the little glistening snow flakes in the air, the stark whiteness of everything, the soft crunch of boots on new snow--well, you just have to be here!



Deedee, Dude, and Chipper watch as I climb up the hill



     It was curious to watch the horses on Tuesday.  Despite a warm barn with hay, they preferred to stay outside as the snow fell--running, jumping, kicking up their heels like children.  It's not unusual for Dude and Chipper to nip and chase each other, but usually Deedee is a little too dignified for such play.  After watching them, I  know what 'horse play' means!  



Bird bath with warmer



     We have four bird feeders to keep full as well as the bird bath water each day.  Then, there are the deer that slip up the hill for a little corn in the late afternoon.  Everybody is well fed around Mountain Springs in  wintertime.  I made a large pot of beef stew with rice for supper.  We all enjoyed our meal, even the dogs!



The garden shed in winter



     As I look at the bare, cold garden shed, I know that soon the snow will melt and little green sprouts will spring up everywhere.  We are thankful for the snowfall which brings moisture and nitrogen to the soils.  I am also glad for the 'down' time when I can catch up on inside chores (taxes! and cleaning closets Ugh!) plus a little free time for projects.  I am working on a new scrapbook for the cabin as well as a new one for the family, and I have plans for a few sewing projects (pillows for the sofa). 

Oh Wind!  If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?   P.B.Shelley