Everyday is a Gift

April Sunrise at Mc Ferrin Point

     It's January--a time I look back and reflect over 2010.  As a "baby boomer" the number 2010 still seems "futuristic".  Growing up in the 50's and 60's, I really didn't think much about the Twenty-First Century,  I was too busy living the life I had--marriage, baby, work! 
     But now--"Who'd 'a thought it!"  Semi-retired and  living in the Ozarks on top of a mountain!  I could go on and on about the many blessings that the Lord has provided in the last nine years while living on this mountain. 
     However, I think it is past time to slow down (maybe in my mind only) and enjoy what we have been given.  After all, to paraphrase--"today is a gift, that's why they call it the present".

In 2011 I will---



Bluebirds on the porch

BLOG more--I have enough ideas in my head for a blog each week.  And, nine years worth of pictures and the files are growing!







Eagle's Rest porch--great for settling in with a book (if you can keep your eyes on the page instead of the view!)

READ more---is there a "NOOK" in my future?  Maybe later, right now, I have this stack of books in the livingroom to read through.  My first ebook will be  THE CHIMNEY STILL STANDS by Tammy Snyder.  She's a new local author.  The fictionalized story deals with a time that is still painful for many native residents--the take over of land by the government as they established the Buffalo National River and Park. 



                                                                Boxley Baptist Church

    





STUDY--We have a wonderful Women's Bible Study group at Boxley.  I want to not only participate, but to find the quiet time each day do the "homework" as it is supposed to be done.  One of my goals in 2010 was to MEMORIZE Bible verses--not just a verse here and there, but passages.  I now have a number of Bible passages in my head that I can pull up when I need to feel a closeness to God.  I will  continue this into 2011.  The latest passage was easy--Luke 2:8-19!



Hideout Hollow Trail near Mountain Springs

HIKE--Jack and I have been faithfully walking a mile or so (well, winter and holidays have slowed us down) on a mountain road near here, but we need to get back to hiking some of the beautiful trails in the area just for the joy of getting out. 



Daisy and her namesake flower

     GARDEN --Jack thinks I do this almost too well (when it comes to needing help building new beds).  I resolve this year to NOT build more flower beds, but keep up the established ones!  That doesn't mean I will refrain from planting more plants !


A beautiful gift

My resolution list is long, so I'll make it brief--

    Continue to--wake up each morning to coffee in bed (in summer on the porch), enjoy the grandson (not a problem), feed the birds (usually Jack's job), make welcome each cabin guest, enjoy the view from the window, pamper Daisy and Molly, as well as Deedee, Dude, and Chipper (again usually Jack's job is the horses), and remember to 'smell the flowers' each day!

     Work on the following--calling my mother more often ( and making more visits to see her), exercising regularly and eating healthy (hey, I feel good about this!  I dropped one jean size last year and am on track to do the same again in 2011!)  We have a great group of women who have all done well in 2010!  We will do it again! 

     And, think of one new thing I am grateful for each day. 

There are more, but that's enough for now!

'Tis the gift to be simple,

'Tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down

Where we ought to be.

                              Shaker song

There's A Sweet, Sweet, Spirit in This Place

Old Boxley Church/Schoolhouse


     The congregation of Boxley Baptist Church and, for me, the Ladies Bible Study group, have been such a blessing to us ever since we joined them not long after our move to the mountains.  At this time, the old church building, seen here, circa 1900, is undergoing a  major renovation that should help preserve it for another 100 years or so.  The building served as church and schoolhouse through the first half of the 20th century.  Walnut Grove Cemetery is at the right of the old building.



Beechwood Church near Lost Valley Campground



     Just north of Boxley Church is Beechwood Church, circa 1919, where the Methodists in Boxley Valley once worshipped and were served by circuit-riding preachers in the nineteenth century.  The cemetery in the churchyard has graves dating back to the Civil War.  There is a legend surrounding the grave of Thomas Franklin Johnson, d. 1858.  Supposedly, he was killed in a feud fight and the victor did a dance on the stone slab atop the grave.



Elkhorn Church on Fire Tower Road



          At the time this picture was made this little church was not being used.  Recently it came to life, so to speak, when a new group of believers formed a congregation.  There is now a new, larger church beside this original one.



Friendship Church on Highway 103

     The community where this church is located is called "Friend", and is just a few miles down the road from us.  The church building is the only remainder of the old settlement.  Though they don't meet every Sunday, there is a congregation that keeps up the church.  A new sign was erected in front of the church a few years ago.  Occasionally, it announces news of upcoming revival services.


Hopewell Church in Newberry Valley

     Descendants of church members of Hopewell meet the first Sunday in October for homecoming. We can see the church in the distance from the porch of Eagle's Rest Cabin.  Our neighbors, Delano and Marie Newberry live in the house in the background to the left and are unofficial caretakers of the church since it is surrounded by his pastures.  At the back is a very small cemetery.



The present Boxley Baptist Church

     



     Our present building was built in the 50's with the latest addition in the 90's.  This building represents the 'sweet spirit' of the valley.  Often, during Sunday services, I am sure that God looks down on this little church in the valley, and smiles, knowing the worshippers inside love Him completely.  Baptisms are especially sweet since they take place at the Buffalo River nearby. 
       



There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,

And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord...

Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet Heavenly Dove,

stay right here with us

 filling us with your love...

And for these blessings

We lift our heart in praise:

A Little Birdie Told Me

Mr. Blue

      As I was thinking about a new blog story, I noticed two bluebirds on the roof near my loft window.  (The same window near the computer that is responsible for a lot of 'daydreaming' time.)  It made me think of the bluebird family that made our porch their own for several summers.  And the ones that spent a lot of their time watching the humans through the windows.  She had an uncanny way of appearing at the very window where we were--bedroom, livingroom, kitchen, even bathroom window! (You can read the whole story of Mr. and Mrs. Blue in the archives). 

    

Bluebird House by the bedroom door

  We haven't seen the couple since a morning in late winter of this year.  A beautiful, sunny morning that made one think spring is just "around the corner".  (The weather later turned out to be very deceiving!)  But, that morning as we sat in bed drinking our coffee and looking out the window, a bluebird flew to the window and attached herself to the screen.  It had to be Mrs. Blue dropping in to say "hello, we're back!"

Early morning visitor at the window

     Then, a few days later, the very first day of spring, we were bombarded with 14 inches of snow!  It snowed all day!  Beautiful snow day!  For humans, that is!  We never saw our sweet little bluebird lady again.  We think the bird couple, and probably other birds, weren't quite prepared for a late snowfall, and fell victim to the cold and packed snow that covered the ground and, therefore, any food they would have needed to survive.  Yes, we fed the birds during the snow (and all winter), but bluebirds don't eat seeds, and we have never been able to get them to eat the bugs, suet, and berries that  bluebirds supposedly will eat.

Backyard Baby Bluebird--new generation

     We'll never be sure what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Blue who gave us so much pleasure. Later this spring, another bluebird couple took up residence in the box by the bedroom window. It obviously wasn't her.  We think it was probably one of her grown up babies who remembered the family home and made it home for the next generation.  We watched these babies as they hatched, were fed by frantic parents, and finally flew away.  We still miss Mr. and Mrs. Blue, but we feel blessed to have been the hosts for three summers for a special bird family.  Our porch (and screens :-(  aren't the same without them :-)    

    Be Like the Bird

Be like the bird, who

Halting in his flight

On limb too slight

Feels it give way beneath him,

Yet sings

Knowing he hath wings.

                           Victor Hugo



Old Barns, Old Times

Villines Barn on Firetower Road       

    
     Wonder why so many folks love old barns?  It could be childhood memories. I can still remember every "nook and cranny" in my grandparents' barn.  Or maybe it's the nostalgia of a simpler way of life.  I love them and over the nine years we have lived up here, I have "collected"  quite a few.  Some are no longer with us.

Hedges Barn near the Buffalo River

      Jack and I discovered this old barn on a hike several years ago.  It was once part of a homestead that was bought by the Hedges, who built a unique house nearby.  The house mysteriously burned on a New Year's Eve in the early days of the Buffalo National Park land acquistion.  The barnyard drops off in the back to the river. We were startled by several elk (who were startled by us!) when we walked out in the clearing.

Alice's Barn in Boxley Valley

     This is a common sight in this field.  Alice is an artist who lives in an old, remodled house down the lane beside the Boxley Church.

Parker-Hickman Barn in Erbie

     This historic homestead has been preserved by the park service.  The old house is nearby and both are open to those interested in seeing how folks lived in the Ozarks years ago.  It is at the trailhead of Cherry Grove Cemetery Trail and part of the Buffalo River Trail.  Decendants of the Hickmans still live in Compton.

Waymon Villines' Barn on Hwy  21

      We drove by this barn many times before I asked Jack to stop for a photo.  I'm glad we did.  Not long afterward, a storm blew it over.  Many barns suffer the same fate.

Mike Clark's Barn on Bradshaw Mountain Road

     The first time we saw this barn it was unpainted and neglected with a few scraggly goats out front.  Mike (you see him in front of the barn) retored it after recovering from back surgery.   He raises goats, turkeys and a few other barnyard animals on his mountain farm.  The animals look out each morning over a magnificent view of mountains and valleys.

     Oh my!  So many barns and so little space!  We will have to continue at another time.

For everything there is a season...A time to tear down and a time to build up.  Ecc. 3:1

Dreams of Autumn

 

Maple in Ponca

     The hot, dry winds blow across the brown crispy grass that covers the yard.  As I look out my kitchen window I see the those plants that are still alive crying out for a drink of water.  In a few minutes I will go out and relieve their thirst.  I am ready for autumn winds and rains to come, and come in abundance!  Here is what I am "thirsty" for.

Eagle's Rest Cabin at its finest

     

     Our little rental cabin, Eagle's Rest, stays full  most of the year with guests who come to soak up those cool mountain breezes. (Yes, even in the snow!)   They might take a hike down one of our hiking trails then come back to the cozy cabin for a soak in the whirlpool tub.  They might curl up by the fire with a good book!  Oh! My!  I can hardly wait to do the same!

Hikers on the trail to Hawksbill Crag

     No doubt, hiking the Ozarks is a spiritual experience. One is mesmerized by the palette of fall colors--maples of red and orange, black gums of scarlet, oaks of burnt orange, sassafrass of yellow, all framed by a sky of blue and earth of brown. 

Autumn at Mountain Springs 

      We sat on the porch at daybreak this morning-- with our coffee in hand--there was definitly a feeling in the breeze that promises us fall will come soon.  Until then, the thirsty plants are crying for relief!

 Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act.  Psalm 37:3,7

Beat the Heat

A Walk Thru My Ozark Garden

      Our favorite place in the summer is the wrap-around-porch.  There is usually a breeze somewhere on that porch.  Our house was built on the basement of an old house that had burned.  Amazingly, the plan we had chosen was almost a perfect fit.  It was built by Amish builders.  The carved bear was done by them also.  The white hydranga is from my friend Mary Ruth's yard.  She is 94 and still lives by herself in a little stone cottage on a nearby farm.
                                                         

    
     My garden is like a memory book of family and friends.  I call this rose "Aunt Marie's Rose" after a dear lady in Jack's family.  I have given cuttings to many friends, who, in turn have also passed along cuttings.  It is a 'repeat' bloomer and will have another show of blooms in later summer.
                                

                                                                         
     These lilies came from my mother's yard on Jackson Street in Hamburg.  I dug these bulbs and some of her prize iris rhizomes before she sold her home of 50 years.  It was the only house I really remember living in.  Lots of sweet memories left behind....   The old picket fence came with the yard.  Every year Jack props it up and says it probably won't make it through the next winter!

    
     These garden phlox came from my grandmother's backyard.  I have transplanted a clump of them everytime we have moved.  I can remember, as a child, smelling the sweet fragrance as butterflies fluttered 'round.  I would often pick some to put in my playhouse.

                                                              
     This sedum, or Autumn Joy, (I love the name!) is from Louis and Jean, an elderly couple who live in a sweet little cottage in Boxley Valley.  There is always something blooming in their garden.  He always refers to Jean as "my love".  The blooms start in late summer and still look pretty in their dried state in late autumn.

     The lavender is one of my favorites (and, obviously the butterflies love it too!).  It comes from my friend Debbie's Belle Rose Farm located on Fire Tower Road nearby.  I have one plant that is at least six years old.  I could never grow lavender in south Arkansas--too humid!


     Must go now!  Next time we will walk the other side of the yard.  Wait till you see my "mountain spa"! Or "hillbilly hot tub, as Regena's husband calls it!


 You're only here for a short visit.  Don't hurry.  Don't worry.  And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.  The Walter Hagen Story