"Summertime and the Livin' is Easy"

Lucky Swimmer on the Buffalo River

Jack just opened his "Back To School" letter. It's a shock to realize summer vacation is almost over! And the cabin paint job isn't finished, the shelves in the closet aren't built, we haven't even made our annual fishing/floating trip! Where did those "lazy, hazy" days of summer go? Our days are a whirl of cabin guests coming and going, preparing the cabins for the next guests, and squeezing in a little "down" time for ourselves in between.

We have especially enjoyed the live music at the cafes in Jasper, (not to mention the good food!). Joe Villines is a talented blue grass singer as is his brother and wife, Pat and Mattie. They have also brought in others, all winners of various music awards, such as the Honey Dewdrops. Check them all out on "My Space" .

Cabin guests are always fun. They come as strangers, and leave as friends. We enjoyed getting to know the family from Louisiana who decided to take a road trip to the Ozark Mountains on their Harleys. They miscalculated their travel time, as well as gas mileage, and literally coasted down the last mountain to the bottom of our driveway--at 10 o'clock P. M.! We always leave the light on, and in this case, were anxiously watching for them. Jack gassed them up, and they settled in Deer Pond Cabin for the night. Being so late, they didn't get into Jasper in time to buy groceries so they were "running on empty" in more than one way the next morning! With a sandwich or two from us, they were out for a day of exploring. They returned to the cabin that evening in time to make a blackberry pie with berries picked in the cabin yard. We supplied the sugar and enjoyed a delicious dessert with our new Louisiana friends.

The rains continued to keep the river up and floatable. That has attracted a lot of families to the area to canoe and kayak. Looks like real summer weather is here with temps rising, but that's okay. Our families are now finding the swimming holes, fishing, touring caverns and having a great time. We love to read the notes they leave in the cabin journals.

Here's one recently written by some Eagle's Rest Cabin guests:

"Last night I lay on a blanket and watched the stars with my two-year old...I watched the whole sunset for the first time in my life...my twelve-year old left his video games long enough to canoe the river with me. And he enjoyed it!... I remember why I love my husband... We will be back!"

Come make wonderful memories at Mountain Springs Cabins. It will give your children something to write about in that "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essay!

"It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest and living close to nature." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Welcome to my Ozark Mountain Garden

My Ozark Mountain Garden

When Jack and I married, our first house was duplex on a college campus--basic student housing. If those little houses were there today, they would be considered historic structures. The white wooden buildings were part of the Rohwer Japanese Internment during World War II. When we lived in them, they were a row of little one-story apartments just off to the east of the football stadium. An easy walk to campus. Our first spring there, Jack borrowed a shovel and dug up a little piece of ground just under the living room window for my first flowerbed--pink petunias. It was the beginning of a series of flowerbeds that have multiplied each time we have moved.

Today, Jack is still digging flowerbeds. The little borrowed shovel has turned into a new Kabota tractor--his pride and joy. Mine too! We can now move dirt, logs, rocks of all sizes, and anything else that isn't attached to the mountain.

When we first saw our 65 acres with the remains of a burned down house with an old fence surrounding the backyard, I had no idea of the joys that were in store for me! This yard was once a barnyard, and the soil is so rich that I usually don't have to add more nutrients. And rocks! They are mine for the taking! I have outlined beds, laid walking paths and patios, built stonewalls and steps, and have the beginnings of a water garden with a waterfall and fishpond. Only time and my aching back keep me from going crazy!

I love to share my garden with our guests. Most of my plants have come from friends and family, and many guests and friends leave with a seed packet of hollyhocks, Angel Trumpets, or Mexican Hats, or a clump of whatever is blooming at the time. Most of the flowers in my garden are "pass-alongs". And, so I continue the practice. I also have plants that I brought from my yard in Hamburg that have special family ties such as the dark pink phlox that grows by my fence just as I remember it growing near the fence in my grandmother's backyard when I was a little girl. It's roots are from those old, original plants. Also, the day lilies from Jack's mother yard, and the pink old-fashioned rose I call "Aunt Marie's Rose" have a special place in the garden.

Today, if you were to visit Mountain Springs, you could probably take home a clump of Butter and Eggs, a vigorous little yellow snapdragon-like flower that blooms from early spring to frost, and spreads like wildfire! Soon, I will be collecting seeds from Coreopsis, Blanket Flower, fever few, and hollyhocks. We have a sack of daisy seeds already. Along with these flowers, the hummers and butterflies and bees are really enjoying the lavender, oregano, garden phlox, butterfly weed, and butterfly bush blooms. The wildflower seeds that I sowed several years ago make a wonderful "natural" area outside the fence. The seeds are collected every year and planted each spring. And, outstanding this year, are my "Candy Stripe" zinnias. I have never had such a wonderful "crop" of zinnias, though I never miss growing them somewhere in the garden, this year they are something to brag about!

I hope you will check in occasionally for updates on what is growing in my garden. I love to walk around the yard and talk about my plants and flowers. We might even get our hands dirty!

Just living is not enough..

One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

Hans Christian Anderson

All Creatures Great and Small

Our mountain is teeming with 'critters' this time of year. Some are welcome some are not.

Our deer are a welcome sight. We are still feeding a small herd each afternoon. We now see the mothers bring their fawns out in the open when they come. It is always fun to watch them chase, play, and interact with each other, just as all children do. I even notice when mom has had enough, and gives the little fellow a bump' with her nose to show her disapproval.

The little bluebird couple are still hanging around. They chose a box in the backyard to raise their little ones. These babies are now on their own. She never seemed to be too concerned about them, and he did a lot of the childcare, or fledgling care, while she sat at our window and looked in. We can count on seeing her each morning at our bedroom window. Then, in the afternoon she joins us at the living room window while we are reading the paper. The couple seem to be leaning towards housekeeping in the box on the porch. That is just about as close to the house as she can get without moving inside! I have become accustomed to seeing her each morning as she joins us for our first cup of coffee. I expect she has been up since first light, has eaten her breakfast, and is wondering why we are such sleepyheads, staying in bed until 6 in the morning! This little couple is welcome to share a few early morning moments with us.

Speaking of early morning! We always see a family of rabbits scampering around the backyard when we look out the kitchen window while pouring that first cup of coffee. If we are quiet, they will stay until we let the dogs out for the day. Other than nibbling a few green shoots in early spring, they don't seem to bother the garden too much. They are welcome as long as they eat only their share.

And then there are the UN welcome ones---

One night this week as I stepped out on the porch just before going to bed, my eye caught a shadow undulating across the yard toward the porch. Being familiar with the movement and scent, I realized that Mr. Skunk was making a visit. I called for Jack, though I knew we were not going to do any kind of confrontation with the critter being that close to the house.

And close he was! After shinning his light around under the porch, Jack declared him gone! I think not! I went to the back door to close it and heard a scuffling sound very near. Mr. Skunk was checking out the dog food bowl! Or, at least checking to see if we had accidentally left it out, as we had done the night before. Fooled him! Again, I called Jack to come see. His light revealed no critter on the back porch.

Then, I went to the side door close it. From the scent of things, Mr. Skunk was very near, and I saw a form scuffle away from the door as I again, for the third time, called Jack to bring his light. Mr. Skunk was obviously playing a game of hide and seek around the porch with us. Jack never saw him. I saw him three times that night.

Because skunks, even those with a playful sense (scents) of humor are really not welcome around here, Jack set out a trap--Have-a-Heart, of course. He baited it with dog food dipped in barbecue sauce (sounded good to him) and placed it in a place not too near the house, but within the path he had come the night before. The next morning the trap was empty, but the barbecued dog food was gone! Mr. Skunk is such a joker!

The next night, same trap, same bait--no skunk! But it was very obvious he had left his "mark"! On the third night, Jack moved the trap a little further from the house, thinking we may have made him a little wary of us! Ha! I doubt it! Mr. Skunk isn't worried about us!

End of story--We never were successful in catching Mr. Skunk, who hasn't been heard, seen, or smelled of since. However, that next morning when we checked the trap, a very large brown raccoon was puffed up and very mad about getting caught. (I think Mr. Skunk tricked him into crawling into that trap.)

The rest of the story--Jack relocated Mr. Raccoon down on Possum Trot Road. Yes, there is a Possum Trot Road. Just come up here and we will take you there! You may even see Mr. Raccoon--and, of course, a possum or two!

When the sun has slipped away and the dew is on the day,

Then the creature comes to call (that) men malign the most of all...

All he asks is that men let him be.

Robert T.Coffin

Little Joys

Summer Sunrise at Mountain Springs

I think it's the "little joys" that keep us going. The big ones are usually too few and too far between. You might call them "lifesavers". Here are a few that I have experienced lately.

Jack and I are in the habit this time of year of rising at the regular "getting ready for school" time and spending an hour or so on the porch watching the sun come up over the mountain as we drink our coffee. There are usually a few rabbits playing in the garden, (the dogs are up, but obviously too sleepy to notice) and a chorus of songbirds singing their morning melodies. It's a good time to take stock of the garden and flower beds and lay out a plan for the day. It is the most exhilarating, and at the same time relaxing, way to start the day. I certainly recommend it!

Speaking of coffee. I am glad I have lived long enough to learn that two of my favorite things, coffee and chocolate, are now "good" for us. It eliminates any guilt I may have had about indulging in the two. And, it seems, with coffee, the more the better! "Who'd a thunk it!", as they say in these parts! Wonder if that goes for chocolate too? Maybe so, since dark chocolate, which is more intense, is better than milk chocolate, which is milder. A few years ago eggs, peanut butter, nuts, and olive oil were not "good for us"--now we are told they have essential antioxidants. I am waiting for the study that declares cookies a major nutrient and vital to our well-being (which most of us already know).

And, speaking of chocolate--I have discovered a major gourmet dessert. Gourmet to my way of thinking anyway. A few days ago, Jack and I got up early and drove out to Fenton's Berry Farm. It was a beautiful morning, cloudy, slight breeze--just the weather for picking berries--raspberries! I have picked blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, dew berries, and wine berries but never raspberries, and they are my favorite! When we got home, we were tired and hungry. Jack suggested a bowl of berries, with ice cream. Good, but just drizzle a little chocolate on top, and you have one outstanding gourmet delight!

And, speaking of wine berries--a berry very similar to raspberries that grows around here on the mountain sides. I have heard it is a tame berry gone wild! I'm not sure about its origins, but it is one little burst of flavor, and well worth a few chigger bites. Of course, you need to watch for other critters as well. Jack and a bear were once picking in the same patch. Since there was plenty of berries for both of them, it worked out okay.

We eat wine berries plain, (hummm, think I will try the ice cream, chocolate combination with them this year), mixed with peaches in cobblers, and I usually make a little jam with them. The name, wine berry, tells you they might also be used for other indulgences.

It's getting close to dark, and another "little joy" we have is sitting on the back porch for just a few minutes to see what the sunset will look like this day. We are seldom disappointed!

And, speaking of "little joys"! We have a total of eight boys and two girls, all under 12, staying in our two cabins this week. Talk about little joys! They find joy in everything--from frogs to horses to rocks! Everyday should be such fun for us all!

The world is so full of a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Home Again, Home Again

Harris Brake

Jack and I just got back from our first real vacation since moving to the mountains and taking on the cabin business--one that didn't include visiting relatives--though we do love our family. We found a lovely little lakehouse on a small lake near Perryville. Other than an early Father's Day celebration on the weekend with the four Jackson Henrys, we spent a few days of peace--just the two of us. No phones, computers, emails, nothing (0f course tv and movies! ) Fishing wasn't so great, but we did spend a lot of time on the dock with a fishing pole in hand. Got lots of practice casting and reeling in. A flock of Canadian Geese had set up residence on the lake and regularly checked on us as they made their rounds of docks and yards around the lakeshore.

My favorite time was the late afternoon rainstorm that lasted through the night. The wind, a little lightning and thunder, the clouds blowing in from across the lake--we watched from the porch until dark. The little bedroom with wrap-around windows on three sides made sleeping in the rain that night wonderful! Worth the whole trip!

Time to go home, and we took the long way home seeing parts of the Arkansas countryside we had not seen in our many roadtrips around the state. I always watch, as we drive north, for the first glimpse of the mountains. It will be somewhere around Russellville. As we travel Highway 7, we are feeling more and more at home. If you love the mountains you will know what I mean. Soon, we are on Highway 16 driving through Deer, Nail, and Swain. The views on both sides of the highway through here are unbelievable! Then on to Highway 21, by Mossville Church, and down into Boxley Valley.

As we drive by the mill pond, we notice the three Trumpter Swans. Yes, these are the ones they released this winter as part of a reverse migration imprinting experiment, and the ones we thought flew north for the summer. Seems they have been visiting up near War Eagle area for a few weeks, and have now come back to Newton County with little indication they are going anywhere else. Officials had hoped they would fly to Iowa, and return in the fall, bringing more with them. I guess they have other ideas. They seem as happy as "larks" or in this case, "swans", as they paddle around in the marsh, nibbling and splashing, and chattering to each other.

Could be the swans feel just like we do, and why we chose as our cabin slogan--"You will want to stay forever!"

I leave you peace; my peace I give you...John 14:27

Walking Through Deep Waters

Mountain Springs Bluebird

The good people of Newton County are broken hearted on this beautiful spring day. What should be a happy, fun-filled, end-of-school time has turned into one of sadness and hurting. In the span of two weeks, there have been four tragic accidents involving students at Jasper High School. Seven girls, doing what girls do--attending a festival, having fun together, horseback riding, going to her first day of a summer job--were involved. Five will live, hopefully without permanent injuries and nightmares of the accidents that changed things forever. And, two will live only in the memories of friends and families they left behind--too early.

Two of the young girls were in Jack's class. Another, Julie, helped train our horses only a few weeks ago. These girls survived, but barely. Our special heartbreak is our neighbor's daughter, Paige. It was the first day of a summer job--one she knew would be hard work, but fun. Her car hydroplaned on the slick pavement just a few miles from us, not far from her new job in Ponca. What is so heart wrenching, is to know that her dad, the sheriff, was the first to arrive on the scene not knowing that what he would see would change his world. Paige had an enthusiasm for life that was rivaled only by her mother, Angie's. May the good Lord give her, Keith, and Kent a peace about this that only He can bring.

Maybe, in their youthful exuberance for life, they were doing things a little too fast or without the caution that comes from years of experience; which comes from seeing these sad things happen too often; which, in turn, makes us older and more cautious, but little wiser. They were doing what all young people do and oblivious to the consequences. Those left behind to grieve will wonder why this could happen to their friend. Maybe they were listening to the comforting words of the pastor,, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:8-9.

Summer will be here. The FCCLA team will go to Florida for nationals--something Paige was so looking forward to. Kids will ride four-wheelers a little too fast, take risks, drive to summer jobs without caution, forget to watch for oncoming cars when crossing the street, and do all the things we did, and survived, when we were young. And, then school will start again. For Paige's family and many friends, there will be a void that won't be filled. For many--teachers and students alike--an empty desk, a name in the roll book, a missing club president, a lost cheerleader, will again remind them of Paige's spirit and what they are missing.

And, Keith, Angie, and Kent. We give you our love and prayers. God gives you His love and His word.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you...Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:2,5

Finding the Good Times

Buffalo River Memories

Do you listen to the nightly news? Wouldn't you like to throw something at that anchorperson who, almost cheerily, reports, "gas prices have reached another all-time high today"? Doesn't your heart break at the latest reports on war casualties, or news that another child was molested? Isn't it maddening to hear about celebrities gone wild? While we know these things exist and have to be dealt with, it is comforting to realize that there is still good news out there.

Here is my version of the nightly news:

This weekend, an extended family from the Springfield area found relaxation and made wonderful memories at Mountain Springs Cabins. They resolve to come back again and pick up where they left off. Their hike to Hawksbill Crag was a highlight of the trip.

Saturday, a Mountain Springs family, ages 18 months to 96 years of age, celebrated an early Mother's Day, and a few birthdays. On Friday, part of the group was spotted at Branson Landing dining at Bass Pro's White River Outpost Restaurant on Lake Taneycomo. They were photographed as they relaxed by the "dancing" fountain energizing with caramel lattes and brownies. They were later seen walking through the parking lot carrying a large number of shopping bags and lots of happy memories. When asked to comment, they said they would return someday--with more money!

Sunday morning in Newton County was a day for many people to worship the Lord in one of the many churches throughout the county. Though there was still room for more, there was a sweet spirit as they sang and praised God for safety from the recent storms and abundant rainfall that will mean a good hay crop. Those in attendance were thankful for jobs, families, and being able to be in the Lord's House on such a beautiful day in the Ozarks.

Sunday afternoon, two deleriously happy grandparents took their grandson, with his parents, picknicking at Steel Creek Campground on the Buffalo National River. While there, little Jack Henry was introduced to the the joy of skipping (throwing) rocks in the river--a pastime for all ages who visit the river. They hope to be blessed with the pleasure of returning many more times to watch as he improves his skills at rock skipping. He is reported to have said "PopPop", which 'some' people interpret to mean "I Love my Pops, especially when he rides me on the tractor".

Today, with the Lord's help, we can expect more extremely wonderful spring weather, bluebirds singing at the window, goldfinches and hummingbirds by the dozens at the feeders, cattle contentedly grazing on the hills, flowers blooming in the backyard, and peace on the mountain.

Count your blessings! I am counting mine right now.

From the rising of the sun, to its going down, the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3