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

    

Everybody Talks About The Weather

  Ponca Low Water Bridge

       You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

                                                                         Bob Dylan

     

I stepped out into the back yard recently--a sunny, perfect late fall day.  I could hear wild geese passing overhead--a steady honk, honking as they made their way south.  Their white feathers were gleaming in the sunshine.  The perfect 'V' formation constantly changing as one after another took turns as the leader. One of my favorite things is watching wild geese as they make their way to warmer climes for the winter.  It reminds me, "He who, from zone to zone, guides through the boundless sky they certain flight.  In the long way that I must tread alone will lead my steps aright". (William Cullen Bryant)

This is the time of the year when we listen carefully to weather reports knowing things can change quickly up here in the mountains.  My favorite weatherman is the guy on the Eureka Springs radio station, KESA--  possibly the most creative and interesting weather report you will ever hear:   

   "Wind blasts by the cabin door today, as the sunshine plays hide and seek among the clouds." means partly cloudy with strong winds. 

   "Temps rise to 44 and no more",

   "Wind takes the stagecoach westerly ", or "chases the hat to the south"

   "Sunshine floats generously o'er the Ozark hills."   

Today, he will probably quote Sandburg--"Fog comes on little cat feet" as the fog is lingering on our mountain hiding much of the valleys and beyond.

After a busy and enjoyable few days which included a long day of shopping with friends at the Pinnacle Promenade in Rogers, a dinner at Branson with another, and a weekend visit from the grandson, a foggy day is fine with me.  I am getting ready for one of those 'snow days' where "snowflakes float through the chilly air making their way to the frozen ground, as they can pile up with wreckless abandon in fluffy drifts beside the barn!"

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.  (Attributed to Mark Twain)

A Thousand Thanks

Maple at Ponca near Lost Valley Store

"GRATITUDE is the key to happiness." C. S. Lewis

     This quote is written on the first page of a little book I picked up while shopping in Harrison recently.  It was entitled "1001 Things To Be Thankful For" (Hallmark)  Being a former librarian I really can 'judge a book by its cover'!  And, no, it wasn't the picture of the cute little boy (he just happened to look like Jack Henry!) gazing lovingly at the huge ice cream cone in his chubby little hands. 

     The book is a list of mostly little things that make life worthwhile.  I read them all at once and am now repeating a few pages each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day.  I am also compiling my own list.  I add a few every once in a while, and hope to eventually get my own "1001 Things I Am Thankful For."   It is pure therapy to mentally drift off for a minute now and then while working and add to the list in my head.  Later, I can sit down and write it in my journal.

     The book's list is in no particular order and is sprinkled with quotes and pictures.  Some of the things are obvious--the first daffodils of spring and friends who believe in you.  Some, I wouldn't think of--tire swings, a great hair day, sports mascots,or free cell phone minutes.

Here are some 'graditudes' on my list:

The many flavors of hot tea, windows with a view, birthday cards, retirement, a great radio station (KESA in Eureka Springs), new china, or old china, twinkle lights anytime of the year, old bicycles, did I say "retirement"?, wrap around porches, cabin guests who leave as friends, raspberries in the backyard, rocks of all shapes and sizes, cousins, old farmhouses, old stores revived as antique shops (I have several favorites!), photos of family on the fridge, lunch in town in the middle of the week with my husband, walkie talkies, old-fashioned bath tubs, peanut butter, women's Bible Study ...

My list is at 80 and growing.  I plan to get to 1001 by Thanksgiving!

By the way, the photo above is one thing I am thankful for.  I watch this tree in Ponca each year and marvel at its beauty.  This time I was able to capture it before the rains and winds took away its leaves. 

     

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to the Most High.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening.

Psalm 92-1-2

Fall Full Blast!

Newton County Highway in the Fall

Every good and perfect gift is from above...James 1:17

       Jack and I make a point of never taking for granted the fact that we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth!  We really believe that, and many guests agree.  Proof of this is the fact that we and every other cabin/lodge in Newton County has a "No Vacancy" sign at the door, and are reluctantly turning away folks who want to visit last minute. Our October dates have been booked for weeks. We understand the lure of the Ozarks in autumn, and try to schedule our activities to allow lots of drives through the mountains and also time to participate in all the special events/festivals in the area this time of year. 

       We make War Eagle Fair an annual event--always going on Sunday afternoon.  Usually, the crowds are smaller and the shopping pace is slower--time to visit with vendors we know.  This year, the weather was perfect--cool and sunny.  And, the crowds had the same idea that we had! 

     We did enjoy the fair though.  And we always find a few special treasures we "need".  We  bought several Christmas presents for those who "have everything".  Bet they don't have a robin's egg-shaped bird feeder, or a hand-painted tin box for fishing flies!!!   Unlike the midway at the carnival, the food is not always fried.  The chocolate-covered strawberries-on-a-stick I got on the way out were somewhat healthy.

     Saturday afternoon the sun was out and so were the people as they participated in the annual Newton County Tour of Homes.  The old and beautiful "Orphie Duty" house has had a major facelift thanks to Steve and Jackie Ray from Kansas.  They lovingly and meticuously restored it and the surrounding fields and barns so it is once again the beatiuful old white home standing proudly by the side of the road in Boxley Valley. 

       Another stop on the tour was the old Villines Store--a small rock structure owned and brought back to life by Joe and Genevieve Villines, decendants of the original owner, Hez Villines.  The young couple choose to live and raise their two boys close to family and the farm that is a part of Joe's heritage.  The store is now a gallery for local artists.

       I have to stop and look out the large window by my desk. Oh! the beauty I see!   The gold, red, and yellow leaves are never still as the winds blow briskly across the mountains--another sign of fall in the Ozarks. It is not possible to describe such color!  Artists try as they paint greens, golds, yellows, reds, and every hue in between.  These colors are sandwiched between an azure sky and the emerald green pastures yet untouched by a killing frost. 

If we didn't remember why we kept coming back time and time again until we finally had to live here, we do now!

     Fall, a special time of transition from the business of summer to the slow-paced winter months ahead.  What a wonderful way to celebrate!  It is God's gift to all of us.

The earth is so full of a number of things

I think we should all be as happy as kings.

R.L. Stevenson

      

    

    

The Woolly Worms Are Back!

Behold, the Woolly Worm

 

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

      As we worked around the yard this week, we came across the famous woolly worm, a harbinger of cold weather. You never see them when you are searching for them. They only appear when you aren't expecting them! Like when you put your hand down to pull a weed or pick a flower. Then they will startle you with a little "fuzzy wiggle"!  They are never in a hurry, and had rather be left alone. The old weather tale about the size of the stripes is never clear to me.  Is it the wider the band, the harsher the winter?  Or vice-versa?  The picture above was taken last fall.  You notice the woolly fellow is solid black.  We had a historic ice storm in January.  Does that mean solid black means harsh winters?  As I recall, I also saw other last fall with various size stripes.  This year I have seen several--different width stripes.  One was solid tan!  There must be a better way to predict the winter weather. Guess we will just get ourselves ready for cold winter weather and meet it head on!  The generator is ready!  Let is snow!
     The guys at Handyman Hardware in Compton say the large number of bears we are seeing now are a sign of a bad winter to come.  Jack's trail camera attests to the fact that the bears are on the prowl.  Of course, they should be since they are storing up fat for the winter hibernation.  I read that they need up to 20,000 calories a day while getting ready for winter!  Gads!  Humans don't need that much in a month!

     The mama and cubs of several weeks ago are prominent visitors along the trail and are taking a large portion of the deer corn.  They are funny to see their antics on film as they try to get into the large barrel feeder in the tree.  We are also seeing a very large bear who has found a way to get his paws into the barrel!

     Signs of autumn are everywhere.  The trees along the highway going down into Ponca are already showing a lot of color, and everyone is excited and expecting a beautiful and colorful fall.  The elk are bugling full blast in the valley. (By the way, Color Fest at the Ponca Elk Center is the last weekend in October.)  I saw two hummers yesterday and none today.  (These are the stragglers and should be headed south soon. I'll keep a feeder out until I am sure they are gone--usually about the 15th of October.)
    The cool fog outside the window right now reminds me that summer '09 is history.  And, a  beautiful summer it was too, with cooler and wetter than normal days.  We are never satisfied--now we want everyday to be a bright, sunny fall day.  Then we will want bright, sunny and snowy winter days! 

In everything give thanks!  1 Thes. 5:18

 

We hail the merry autumn days,

When leaves are turning red;

Because they're far more beautiful

Than anyone has said..

                                 Charles Dickens