Remembering Bentonville in Autumn: Round About Bentonville

 On the morning before we left Bentonville,

we decided to drive around the outskirts

of the town.

 We drove down one of the main streets in Bentonville

that goes by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Very soon we had driven past a new subdivision

and found ourselves on a dirt road in the country.

 I really love the fact that this town is still small

enough that it takes mere minutes to be in the countryside.

 We came upon lovely pastures edged with

lovely autumn colors.

 The small farms had a few animals, mostly

sheep & goats with one or two

donkeys to keep the other animals safe.

I don't think there is another animal, except perhaps a dog,

that can make enough racket to alert the owners to trouble.

Donkeys can also kick the stuffin's out of an intruder.

 Beautiful color along the fence lines.

 This is a lovely part of the country...

pure serenity.

I like the hills but am not in the least drawn to mountains.

I have lived long enough in Texas to have gotten 

spoiled to be in open spaces...

anything with very tall trees or mountains

causes me to feel closed in.

Welcome 2017... Peace, Love, Happiness, Joy, Prosperity and Meaning

Good Monday morning. January 2nd 2017 has arrived! Personally, 2016 was a difficult year and I'm glad to see the backside of it. My wish is for all of us to have a year(s) fill with love, happiness, peace, joy, prosperity, and meaning.

I just read an article about the need to pursue meaning over happiness in our lives. Living a life that is meaningful can also be living a happy life. I think they both go hand in hand. http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/12/in-2017-pursue-meaning-instead-of-happiness.html
(The last paragraph in the article is quite poignant.) 

We have 18 days until the President-elect is sworn in as the new POTUS. There are 19 days until the Women's March on Washington. The "Women's March on Washington" will undoubtedly include men as well. The generations who have come after me are concerned about rights for humans. They are concerned that their children grow up in a world where equality is the norm. I don't think the younger generation will sit back and let human rights slip away. If they don't now, they soon will have children of their own and I feel sure (no, I know) they will want the same advantages and respect for their daughters and sons.

The march aims to "'send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights,' according to the event's official website."
I will not be in Washington and I doubt I'll be in Austin for the march there. The March does need to occur, but I only hope it will not produce violence. I want it to successfully show women in solidarity; to show a "meaningfulness". Women of my age have gone through a lot to get where we are today and I hope the generations of women that have come behind me will not let these successes, in which they reap the benefits, fall by the wayside. I don't want younger women and men to have to fight for women's rights again!

Part 2 ~ How to Fall in Love with the World

Stables at the Faulkner Home

Falling in love with the world becomes easy when there is beauty all around oneself. Though I am a Texas woman who loves the great open spaces it was not difficult to fall in love with the serenity of William Faulkner's home place. Who could not with a beautiful blue sky sprinkled with puffs of white clouds, the verdant shades all around, and a lovely stable. The only thing lacking was horses in the paddock.

Log Building

This log building was probably used for horse tack and maybe a blacksmith at one time. I didn't ask, but it was near the newer built stables. 

It was a delightful morning when I was shown this gorgeous piece of Oxford, MS by Jeff Gooding. Of course, being with someone I care about made the visit that much more enjoyable. He took me to BBB (Big Bad Breakfast) in town before driving me to see this lovely place. Rowan Oak is right in town, but it could be miles away from civilization. Perhaps Oxford grew up around Rowan Oak, but it is said that William Faulkner would walk into the downtown area most every day. 

It sounds like an idyllic life, but we know that Mississippi was anything but idyllic for anyone of color until the most recent times. Oxford was no exception. The Civil Rights Movement began in Alabama, but it was Mississippi on Rosa Parks' mind when she made the ultimate decision to sit in the front of the bus rather than moving to the back of it as she was instructed. It was Emmett Till of whom she was thinking: "I thought of Emmett Till, and I just couldn't go back."

The tragic and horrifying story of fourteen year old Emmett Till's kidnapping, torture, lynching and subsequent disposal of Emmett's body in the Tallahatchie River by Mississippi men. These men weighted down Emmett's body with a 75 pound cotton gin fan evidently hoping their murderous actions would not be discovered. I am supplying a link to the story of Emmett Till, but PLEASE NOTE, it is extremely disturbing: http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/biographies/a/Emmett-Till.htm

This egregious act made world-wide news and helped spark the Civil Rights Movement. It was a dark time in our history, but it needs to be remembered. 

You may ask why I would incorporate this story into a piece of "how to fall in love with the world", well, all I can say is this and many other events are part of Mississippi and the South, but still the natural beauty remains even amongst the darkest of our times. It is important that we remember the atrocities of our fellow humans so hopefully we will not slide back into that time. History does have a way of repeating itself in one form or another. The prejudices move up and down the spectrum of life; anyone who is different is apt to be on the receiving end of prejudice.

Still, it is uplifting to see the beauty that surrounds us. Until today I didn't know there would be a Part 2 of "How to Fall in Love with the World"; I'm happy it came about and maybe there will be more parts to follow.

How to Fall in Love With the World

 One of my favorite cities was Paris. How lovely it would be to spend a week or a month there in a little apartment. Maybe it could happen...

This article really gives one the travel bug... but it would be nicer to share the experience with someone. Click on this link to learn How to Fall in Love With the World.

Saturday Drive

Ranch Road

After hitting a bucket of golf balls at Colovista Golf Course,

Jake and I went on a Saturday drive in the country.

Live Oak Tree

Ranch on Crafts Prairie Road

As I drove along, I looked in the back seat

and Jake was looking out the window watching

the countryside slide by.

He loves to watch the road as we drive along.

Crafts Prairie Road

Little Red House on the Hill ~ Cottle Town Road

This little house was built after the Bastrop County fires.

It is adorable, but when close to the drive it is

just a junky mess. 

Hard to believe that this cute house could

have so much junk around it.

I suppose I should have taken photos

of the junk, but I was quite put off by it.

 All these Loblolly Pines have come up from dropped pine cones

amidst the skeletons of burned pines.

Renewal; regrowth, rebirth.

Rushing water after a 3" rain.

Alum Creek Road

Ranch on Alum Creek Road

Alum Creek Road

This section along Alum Creek Road was unscathed

by the Bastrop County Fire.

New babies on Alum Creek Road

Pedernales Falls State Park

The Falls below, but the water is not running very fast.

Today with the rain of last night and today

there may be much more water to see.

The water is lovely and many have walked through the sand.

The sky was an incredible blue on Sunday.

From the "beach" I took a photo of the Oak tree on the cliff I walked down.

A closer look at the same tree from below.

Oak trees are mixed in with the Juniper that make up

the forest all around the park. 

The viewing platform is pretty and shaded by a Juniper tree.

This place was one of my and the G-man's favorite places.

We came here the last time in the autumn of 2013 and 

didn't get back. We had other favorite places 

to visit while we could. There were other places

in Texas (the Gulf Coast & West Texas) that 

called to us for a visit.

This was the day for families. As for me, my family was Jake, my dog.

Perhaps I'll gather some of my favorite photos of the trip

that we took along the Coast and of West Texas

and share them on my blog.

Sunset in Central Texas

Sunset in Bastrop

My friends in the Northern part of the United States

and in Eastern Canada are taking and posting

spectacular photographs.

Sunset 1 ~ From a hill at Fairview Cemetery

 All this beautiful work has made me want to get out again

and see what my little part of the world has to show.

Yesterday (1/5/2015) I could tell from the sky

that we were going to have a spectacular sunset

after suffering many cloudy and dreary days.

Sunset 2

 Therefore, I tried to seek higher ground and ended up at

Fairview Cemetery on the edge of town.

Several hills there afforded a wonderful, unobstructed view

of a most spectacular sunset and I was thrilled

to be there to capture its beauty.

Sunset 3

 This is the oldest part of Fairview Cemetery as reflected

by the iron fencing around some of the grave sites.

It is not a sad place to visit and as a child I always

thought it was so sad that my parents, grandparents and aunts

wanted to visit old cemeteries looking long buried relatives.

Now, I don't find it sad but interesting.

I always said I wanted to be cremated

and have my ashes scattered, but now I

find that even though I still wish to be cremated 

I want them buried in this lovely old cemetery

with my name and dates on the marker.

Sunset 4

 I particularly like the monuments rising up and

the Live Oak Tree framing my photo.

Angel standing watch over "War Babies" Memorial (from 1940s)

This particular grave site is heartbreakingly beautiful.

 I need to researchexactly who the "war babies" were, 

where they died, and the circumstances of this burial site.

A little project that I can likely find answers to at the 

local museum or public library or perhaps online.

It has taken me just over six months, but I think I have finally

decided on the marker and wording for the G-man's grave.

I think this will help me once it is installed...it is so barren at this point,

but once it is placed I will take a great sigh at having it done well.

I would like to have it placed by his next birthday in February... sentimental? Yes.

A Morning Walk with Jake

Approaching the old bridge in downtown Bastrop,

Jake & I think it is going to be a lovely day.

Looking up through the bridge beams the sky is indeed

a gorgeous blue.

Looking south from the bridge at the Colorado River.

I have absolutely no idea what all these locks are doing here,

but it makes for an interesting photo and conversation.

Me: "Jake, why do you think these locks are on the fence?"

Jake: Soulful eyes look at me and he appears to shrug.

The newest restaurant in these old "historic" buildings in

an area called The Crossing.

This one is called Neighbor's and is a pizza restaurant 

with a great view of the Colorado River.

Lamb Stew ~ Lizzy Style

Lamb Stew ~ Lizzy Style


1 lb lamb cut in chunks for stew
Some whole wheat flour
1/2 to 1 white onion, diced
1/2 lb fresh okra cut
1 can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano & garlic
Olive oil or Canola, extra virgin olive oil, & grapeseed oil (Pompeian makes a good one)

Put whole wheat flour in a bag, drop in the lamb and shake until completely coated. Brown in olive oil or the Canola mixture. Watch and add water or broth after it browns (it will be okay if it over browns, may be better). Toss in diced onions and let simmer for 5 minutes or a little more. Add diced (1 inch chunks) okra. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes making sure the liquid doesn’t cook down. Add can of diced tomatoes. Cover and continue simmering for another 15-20 minutes.
When cooked, let it rest for a while as the flavors meld.
Serve over steamed white and wild rice.

This is my first time back in months and months. I'm trying to get back into things after the death of the G-man. He always enjoyed reading the blog especially when I had photos from our travels.

In the future you may see photos from the archives because we had some wonderful travels. Lots of good photos were taken from around here too. Good memories.

Our Magnolia

The Magnolias are blooming beautifully on our tree.

 The spring rains can at just the right time to 

make our tree fill with flowers.

The tree is profuse with flowers.

The best ever!!!