Happy Halloween!

Buddy's decided he's gonna be a Pirate for Halloween this year, what about you?
I've got dibs on the choclate but he can have the cookies.

Amazing What You'll Find In The Woods

I was exploring new roads when I ran across the unexpected........................................
Everyday I find the neatest things in the area around me, incidentally it was not on my property but in one of my favorite places................................the middle of nowhere. Along side these tablets bearing verse where these:

The Ten Commandments a reminder to all who travel this way........................ neat huh? God is alive and well here in the Ozark Mountains.

Autumn Sunset

I'd been working really hard these last two weeks to solve problems at work and at home. I was driving home on this particular day feeling drained and defeated, when I topped the hill and saw this beautiful sunset with the mountains in the background. Time stood still as I stopped and watched it as it dropped down lower in the sky.

Somehow my troubles slipped away for a moment and I realized God was reminding me he was truly there with me and always had been had I taken the time to look. This evening I gave my troubles to him to solve for if he can create such beauty out of insignificant matter he can surely handle my problems much better than I. I am reminded every evening how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful area. A small but simple life surrounded by things made and created for us to enjoy. How wonderful is that?

Slow Down To Take A Look At The Trees

I've been very busy and  I haven't been able to blog this week, but I'll try to get back into the swing of things.
Ever notice that when we get busy we miss alot along the way? Color is starting to show up in the trees. This Maple has the prettiest shade of red leaves.

Ever notice how big trees really are? This sycamore tree is, I would guess at least 40-45 feet tall. It has such character. I wonder how old it is, and what it has seen in it's lifetime?

Perfect Picnic Lunch Spot

A beautiful spot for a picnic don't you think? I love the cooler days and the leaves beginning to change colors. I hope for a colorful fall this year. The leaves are just starting to show some color here and if the wind doesn't blow them all away first, we might get to enjoy them for a short while.

It's the time of year you don't mind getting out and about. The summer this year was terribly hot and dry, so this is a very welcome change, for me at least. I believe Fall is my favorite time of year. Halloween and all the Fall decorations transition into Thanksgiving,  the beginning of all the Family Holidays. It just starts all those warm and fuzzy memories.

Cotter, Arkansas

I go past this little town more often than I care to admit and have never actually explored it or the bridge that dominates the scenic overlook on Highway 62 between Gassville and Flippin. Sometimes we all just get too busy and the things right under our own noses get passed by. So, today I took the time to stop and really look at it for the first time. Here is what I learned:
The Cotter Rainbow Arch Bridge is located on the White River.  It was designed by Marsh Engineering Company and built in 1930 by Bateman Contracting Company. It is on the National Register for Historic Places and has become the symbol of Cotter. Renovation started in March of 2002 and was rededicated on September 24, 2004. There are 5 arches and each one is illuminated along with the railings on both sides of the bridge. It was lit for the first time on December 13, 2004 with over 5,000 bulbs.

Big Springs Park is considered the heart of Cotter and lies below the Rainbow Bridge. Fish spawn in the spring and connecting creeks before continuing down stream. The clear cold waters are perfect for many species of Trout and the spring is considered a Trout sanctuary.

The residents take pride in their park and care for it with respect and expect visitors to care for it as well. The person who maintains the grounds was mowing when I was there.  What I noticed most about him was the smile and greeting he gave me. It was evident that he enjoyed his job, tending to the beautiful surroundings that he calls his office.

Trout fishing is one of Cotter's claims to fame. It is called the Trout Capital USA. The water is like looking through glass, clear to the bottom.

Anglin - Tinnin Railway Workers Memorial displaying a bronze rail worker statue and 2 railway cars is also located in the park. It was built to honor the railroads history and the part it player in making it the largest town in Northern Arkansas in 1901.

 

The railroad runs along the White river and then crosses it just past the Rainbow Bridge on it's own Steel Railroad Bridge.

 

Down Home Cooking

A recipe for pork chops that are undeniably the most succulent tender chops you will ever eat. I served them with a baked potato and brussel sprouts cooked in apple juice and garnished with crumbled bacon.



Savory Pork Chops



   4 Pork Chops                                                  
1/2 Cup Flour or Baking Mix                           
1/2 teaspoon Cavenders Seasoning                    
   2 Cups of Milk

   1 Egg (beaten)

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

In a medium bowl mix Flour or Baking Mix and Cavenders Seasoning (or whatever    

all purpose seasoning you might prefer). Beat one Egg in a container big enough to get the pork chops into.

Dip the Pork Chops into the egg and then dredge them one at a time in the Flour or Baking Mix mixture coating evenly.

                             

Coated Pork Chops

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour Olive Oil into a pan that can go from stove to oven. Heat Oil over medium high heat. Add Pork Chops and brown slowly on both sides. (Don't cook them through, just brown both sides.) If you don't have an oven proof pan you can transfer the Pork Chops to a baking dish.

When golden brown, add milk to the pan almost to cover the meat.

Place pan in the oven and cook for 45- 60 minutes. Remove when fork tender. Gravy can be made from the drippings left in the pan.

Serve immediately with two side dishes to complete a balanced meal.
Other serving suggestions, Baked Sweet Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
with Apple Sauce or Greens.

                                                                                                   

Nature Pics and Scenic View

The Roses are blooming now that things have cooled off and it's not so dry. This is Joseph's Coat Rose. It starts out like the picture below and then as it opens changes color like the one above.

The Pineapple Sage is now in bloom and it seems to be a favorite of the butterflies they have been on the flowers all day. When I planted the Pineapple Sage I never expected it to grow so tall. It's every bit of 5 foot tall and a good 3 feet wide. It has swallowed half of my stone walkway.

 More butterflies enjoying the Pineapple Sage blossoms.

As I drove to town yesterday afternoon I passed this scenic view I had to pass along to you.

A closer look from the same spot.

 I see the beauty here and I am still amazed by it.

The views are breath taking.  I count myself lucky to live here year round.

Around The Yard

As I was wandering around the yard this morning this what I saw..............................

My girls where there to greet me. They are always early risers, unlike me. I prefer my mornings slow with  several cups of hot tea and toast.

Then I stumbled upon this little bird bath I had somehow forgotten about. It could be because over the summer my Sage had almost swallowed it up along with the sidewalk. It was a gift from my favorite sister in law.

I started with a very small pineapple sage and it grew into a very large plant very fast.

Its a beautiful plant and has a wonderful scent to it. I'm glad it's a perennial. Right next to my sage is of course my favorite rose Mr. Lincoln. They have the most fragrant blooms you could imagine.

Almost ready to bloom again. If you pop off the hips after they bloom they send up new shoots and bloom again really quickly. And when you enjoy the scent as mush as I do you try to encourage it.

I'm going to take a drive to town later in the day, so I'll take pictures for you so you can have a look around.
The closest real grocery store is about 25 miles away, but the scenery is beautiful so I really don't mind it.
You learn rather quickly to make your trips count and not to waste your gas.

A Beautiful Place To Sit And Reflect



A waterfall down below our home at the lakes edge. A beautiful place to sit and reflect.




This is our beautiful Lake Bull Shoals.
It has 1,000 miles of shoreline and a great place to fish.

 I thought this morning was a good time to aquaint you with our area. NW Arkansas is a very diverse area known for its beauty. It is a sportsman dream spot to hunt wild turkey, deer, squirrel and water fowl.
The Bull Shoals lake is one of the few lakes with good water quality left in the US. Many of the lakes in the US have been compromised with fertilizers and pollution. It's not safe to eat the fish you catch in some lakes because of lead levels and pollutants. If you do much fishing when you travel it's something to consider before you eat what you catch elsewhere.

The Good Folks That Live Here

I am always amazed at the variety of people who come to our little Ozark towns. Some people come for a visit, some come for the sights and then there are those who choose to stay. They like the way the folks treat them here. They say folks are real friendly and kind. But after they are here for awhile they get homesick and want to change our town to be more like the town they left. I don't understand why they just didn't come to visit instead. We like things the way they are, you can join us, but don't try to change us.

The area here in the Ozarks is rich with heritage and tradition. Many of us still cling to the old ways of doing things. The simplistic lifestyle of the native people here are reminiscent of the olden days. Some folks don't have wells or public water. They carry their water from a public artesian well owned by someone kind enough to allow people of lesser means to use it. Many still use wood as the only means to heat their homes, and still use wood cook stoves to make their meals.

In some ways coming here is like stepping back in time, back to the early 1900's. To a time when everyone made their own way in the world and you only had what you could make for yourselves. That is what drew me to this area. Yes, the lack of progress. A slower way of life, a meaningful way of life. A place where God is still welcome, a handshake and a promise is as good as gold.

A Cool October Morning

What a start to Fall......the weather has turned cool and threatened frost in the wee hours of the morning. I awoke to fog that hung heavy in the air. It should burn off shortly and warm up a few degrees, I hope.

One of the things I like the most about the Ozarks is the crisp air in the morning. Its a great time to walk and breath deeply the scents of Autumn. The dew drips from the leaves and spider webs glisten. It won't be long and the geese will make their way south again.

I enjoy living here on Bull Shoals Lake in the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas. I have a little place I like to go to think and reflect on what's on my mind. I often just enjoy the wonderful scenic views from this beautiful corner of the world and count myself privileged to live here.