This week included a trip to Joplin to meet other art quilter friends for lunch and to see the traveling SAQA exhibit “Sightlines.” Lunch at the Red Onion was delicious and “Sightlines” at Spiva Art Center was exceptional, in my opinion. I would urge you to see it if you can.
On the way home we passed this sidewalk exhibit and couldn’t pass it by without making these two photographs.
It’s deer hunting season and not a good time to be hiking in the woods – So – we take little car rides along the country roads. Last week we came home through Bois D’Arc and found that most of the houses were built of stone. Here’s two examples. Actually this is a church, which is obvious.
And this is a garage, but have you ever seen such beautiful stone work on a garage? The stone mason must have been having fun.
Today we drove down Hwy. Z. More evidence of deer hunting in this “grocery” store.
Do you think they do any business any other time of the year?
And here’s a pastoral scene of a horse and bull enjoying the shade together. Don’t ask about the school bus in the background. I haven’t a clue.
I do love this time of year after the leaves have fallen and one can see through the trees. The whole landscape opens up. But, it’s hard to take pictures on these roads. There’s no shoulder and too many hills and curves to park safely.
We made, what has become, our annual pilgrimage to Arkansas to see the Fall Colors. Someone asked if I didn’t think the Missouri colors weren’t pretty enough. Yes, they are. It’s just fun to go a little ways away from home. We started out in Missouri on the Glade Trail which took us south to the “Natural State.”
We call this a “knob.”
Who could imagine finding a little Banty Rooster up in the hills all by himself. Such a pretty fellow and he must be lonely.
A lovely ride across Bull Shoals Lake on the Ferry.
Lake Stockton is a beautiful small lake in the Ozarks with two federal parks and one state park. While driving through one of the campgrounds the other day, I saw all this circle of chairs with no people. So inviting to questions. Who are they? Where are they? Where are they from?
Then the camping vehicles are as varied as people. I love photographing the various ways that people depict our flag.
Yesterday was a lovely warm day in the high 50s, unusual for January, so we decided to do a little exploring at the new Capes Creek Conservation Area. The first thing of interest that we saw on our way was this house with a life size bull on top of it’s roof. Most unusual!
The next thing of interest was this partial skeleton of a cow floating at the creek’s edge. Scared Mandy, our little dog, to death. She crouched down low and backed away.
Since it was already after noon we walked to a gravel bar for a picnic. This is not the prettiest creek we’ve ever seen but it wasn’t bad. Apparently it’s more appealing to fishermen.
After lunch we hiked about two miles along the creeks edge though briars and brambles. We exited onto a gravel road and while walking back to the car we found jonquils blooming!! I have never, ever seen them bloom in January.
Finally, arriving back at the car to return home, my lovely little Toyota Prius wouldn’t start. Dead as a door nail.
Down low in a creek bed, we couldn’t get cell phone service but a kind fisherman who was ready to go home gave us a ride to the nearest town, 10 miles away, where I could call my roadside service. After waiting 45 minutes a tow truck arrived, took us back to the car, loaded it up, and carried it and us the 73 miles back home.
Our trusty mechanic has just now called to report that the little 12 volt battery is dead and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, it’s a very small size, made only by Toyota, and very expensive. The $$$$$ are adding up. All that money I’m saving on gas is being spent on spare parts! So much for a quiet little picnic on a quiet little creek.
We’ve been away. First – to our annual high school reunion.
This was the grade school I attended. It was the only school way before me and it’s long gone now. But we all get nostalgic over this picture remembering each other and teachers. I started there in the sixth grade but about six of my class mates started first grade and attended all 12 grades. There were about 60 in my graduating class; the town’s population was just shy of 2000 then. Now it’s about 2014. Hasn’t grown much. BUT – the point I want to make is that the Alumni Scholarship Club awarded $36,000 in Scholarships this year. I think that is positively amazing for such a small community to raise such generous alumni and they do it year after year. I applaud you, Willow Springs.
Second – From there we headed straight to coastal North Carolina to deliver a boat. It was hot, hot, hot. By the time we got back home we were hot, tired, hot, grumpy, and hot. But the Smoky Mountains were beautiful and cool and I loved it there.
And Third – I have just uploaded the “Notan” theme 12″x12″ art quilts for the Uncommon Threads blog. You may view them individually here.
Last weekend was such an incredible time. I spent it at Creek’s End, a house on the Little Buffalo River and Turner Creek in Newton County, Arkansas. I was with six other fellow art quilters and we had such a great time eating, hiking, eating, heart rock hunting, eating, sewing, eating, knitting, eating, or just hanging out. Did I mention eating??? There’s nothing like spending time with good friends, especially those who make art quilts.
While roaming the river bed, which is usually dry this time of year, and was, we came across this:
Ah ha! Someone has been there before us!
And this is the magnificent Buffalo River.
Is it any wonder that it is a National River Park?
If you go to the Uncommon Threads Blog, you’ll see even more pictures.
We’ve been on another trip to the Buffalo River, this time taking our little camping trailer, “Scamp.” Although the weather was in the high 80’s and VERY humid we had good hikes and a great float on the river. There were still plenty of wild flowers.
If I may brag for a minute, Mandy was the best little camper. She even sat on my kayak for three and half hours while we floated. Well, after all, she is a Cockapoo. Aren’t Cocker Spaniels and Poodles water dogs?
This week we joined friends to kayak on the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. If you’ve never been there, it’s well worth the trip. We’re lucky enough to live in the general area and can visit fairly frequently. Although the weather was mostly chilly and damp we managed to do a little kayaking and some hiking. The wild flowers were beautiful.
National Buffalo River
Triple Falls
Shooting Star
Jack in the Pulpit
My friend Nancy has just asked that question. Well – I just came home from TWO retreats. The first was with my Uncommon Threads Art Quilt group at Lake of the Ozarks and the second was in Arkansas at a yoga retreat, in a cabin, in the woods, on the Buffalo River.
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Wow! Am I restored and inspired. I don’t remember seeing such gorgeous fall color here in the Ozarks before. Most of our trees are oaks which just turn brown; lovely browns, but just brown. This year the reds and yellow and oranges sang. Sumac, hickory, dogwood, etc.
Lake Stockton, MO
Little Buffalo River, Arkansas
Now it’s back to the work in the studio. I’m actually working on something that I’ll share with you next week.
I am a fiber artist whose always been in love with anything "fuzzy." My evolution has been from a weaver to knitter to silk painter to quilter. I knit for relaxation and currently do pieced, fused, and/or appliqued, art quilts inspired by my photographs.
Knitting
Sewing Strips
SEWING MACHINE SETUP
EmPrint 