Beautiful sunset at the lake....From my lens to yours.

My Photo of the Day - Photography is my passion and my stress reliever. 
Today was a pretty stressful day and after leaving work late, I called home to tell my husband I was swinging by to look at the deer and then decided to go to the lake.  There is nothing more relaxing than looking at God's masterpiece.  No painting can compare to His artwork across the sky.
Even though I took an extra hour getting home, I was definitely relaxed and in a good mood.
Thank you God for this beautiful world we live in...we are blessed.

I hope you can relax a little by enjoying the photos from my lens to yours.

 

Ground Zero, New York, Rembering 9-11-01

I know we all can remember exactly where we were on this very day, 9-11-2001.  We all stood in disbelief as the horrific attacks unfolded before our very eyes.  This is a day, with graphic scenes, that will be etched in our minds for the rest of our life. Thousands of innocent people lost their lives that day due to a group of terrorists who had and have no respect for human life.  How did this world get so evil?

Last fall, I had the privilege of visiting the 9-11 Memorial in New York.  It was a very sobering and emotional experience.  As I touched the names of the individuals who had died in that very spot, I wondered about their lives and their families.  Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins...and the list goes on and on.  The lives of their families forever changed that day.

There are beautiful waterfalls surrounding the area where Tower I and Tower II , (Twin Towers) stood.  The sound of the water is calm and soothing.  The names of those who passed that day, are engraved around the perimeter of the falls.  Each day, thousands visit the Memorial to pay their respect.

May we always remember 9-11.  May God fill the void of the those affected as only He can. Praying a special prayer today for the survivors and those that lost loved ones.  May God wrap His arms around them and give them a peace that only He can supply.

Please God, cover us, the United States, with Your protection.

 

Bluegrass, back to my roots...From my lens to yours.

Saturday evening, I had the privilege, once again, to attend the 13th Annual Bluegrass Festival in Jasper, Arkansas.  You couldn't ask for a more perfect setting along the banks of the Little Buffalo at Bradley Park.

People who have a passion for bluegrass come from near and far to listen to this music that originated in the Appalachian mountains. 

Mom, Kathy and I took our lawn chairs and joined the many others gathered to listen to the soulful music of bluegrass. There's nothing more soothing and relaxing than being kicked back, sitting in your lawn chair listening to the harmonious blend of voices. Dueling banjos, mandolins, fiddles, acoustic guitars, dobros, and bass fiddles are all part of this toe tapping, hand clapping, clogging kind of music. 


Bluegrass festivals are great family entertainment.  During a break in the entertainment, we listened to a group who pulled up their lawn chairs "jammin" and we were asked to join in the singing.  It is a great family atmosphere where you never meet a stranger.

 If you missed this year's festival, you can join in next year on Labor Day weekend.  The festival starts on Thursday night and goes through Saturday evening. 

Turkey Track is another great bluegrass festival that is coming up in Waldron.  I remember going to this festival with a friend from college 35 years ago.  I have never forgotten it.  This year, Turkey Track will host it's 37th  annual bluegrass festival October 8-11, 2014.  Kathy, mom and I may have to pack up our lawn chairs and go.


I like all types of music genres, but there will always be a special place in my heart for bluegrass, thanks to my daddy and his love of bluegrass. He grew up in a fiddle playing, guitar picking family.  One of his favorite singers was Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass.   Yes, this mountain girl likes the sound of mountain music.  I've said this before, you can take the girl out of the mountains but you can't take the mountains out of the girl.

Somewhere deep down inside this mountain girl is a desire to play the mandolin.  Who knows, maybe some day I will learn to play and will sit and join in a "jammin" session.  Maybe some day, I'll go back to my roots.

May the love of bluegrass be passed down for generations to come.

I hope you get a little glimpse of bluegrass and the camaraderie of folks, thru my lens.

Sherman Mtn. Boys

 

 

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County Fairs, Parades....Memories I'll always cherish.

Newton County Fair Parade

Yesterday afternoon, I joined my sister and her grandchildren on the square of Jasper for the annual Newton County Parade.  Memories flooded my mind throughout the afternoon and evening of my many years spent  in Newton County and the much anticipated fair.  Rides, rodeos, parades and pageants were on everyone's mind.  I remember getting out of school early on the Friday of the fair.  It was and still is a big event in the county.

My first remembrance of the fair is when it was located down close to the Little Buffalo river behind the former location of Bob's Supermarket.  I remember holding my dad's hand and thinking everything was so big and scary.  As I grew older, I loved the fair and the excitement it brought.

Watching the Parade

Yesterday, I watched my sister's smallest grandkids as their eyes got big as saucers as the fire trucks and horses went past them. Excitement and a hesitant wave here and there made me smile as I wondered what was going through their little minds.

Sisters watching the parade

Waving at Mom

Ozark Café Jasper, AR

Hamburger at the Ozark Café

We decided to eat at the Ozark Café prior to going to the fair and rodeo.  As usual, we had a
wonderful meal and great entertainment by the owner.

Our next stop was the fair.  We walked through the exhibit building looking at the many handmade items submitted by local folks.  Some had blue and red ribbons, while others claimed the much coveted grand champion ribbons.

Grand Champion Ribbons

Exhibits



Grand Entry, Newton Co. Rodeo

You just can't go to the fair without attending the rodeo so we decided to go and battle the torturous heat.  Even though there was not a dry spot on us, we enjoyed  it.  There's nothing that can compare to listening to a performance of the National Anthem at a rodeo, watching the grand entry and saluting the posting of our colors; red, white and blue, and our American flag.

Calf riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding were just a few of the events enjoyed by the hundreds that attended.  There was a touching tribute by riders to all those affected by cancer as well as a balloon release. 

It was a great evening.   Just as I remember making memories as a kid, I was reminded of the many other children who were making memories with their families and someday, just like me, they will look back and reminisce about these times.

Take time to make memories with your family.   Today, I'm cherishing mine.



Three little cowboys enjoying the rodeo. I enjoyed watching them until they were told to get off the fence. :-(

National Anthem, Salute to the flag

Tribute to those affected by cancer

Briana riding the scrambler

Brent, Briana & Kathy

Cadron Settlement Park, Conway, AR and Galley Rock

Arkansas has a lot of history and since Jackie can't take long trips due to health conditions, I've decided we need to check out historic places throughout our beautiful state.

Yesterday, Jackie decided he wanted to drive to the Conway area to check out Cadron Settlement Park.  Arkansas Matters had mentioned the park during one of their newscasts and this had peaked his interest.

Cadron Settlement Park is located off of Hwy 64 on Hwy 319 approximately 5 miles west of Conway.  It is one of the earliest white settlements in Arkansas and the blockhouse is a replica of a fort/fur trading business.  It is also part of the Arkansas Cherokee Trail of Tears.


The park is picturesque with park benches scattered throughout, picnic tables for picnicking and trails for hiking. It's setting is at the water's edge.  Even though Jackie was a little disappointed in what we found, it was still great for a short drive and history lesson.

When we arrived back in the Atkins area that afternoon, we decided to drive down to the bottoms and around Sweden Island Park.  While looking for an old church, which we never found, we stopped by Galley Rock.   I walked out into the Galley Cemetery and felt an immediate sense of sadness.  This cemetery has been there since the early 1800's and buried amongst the tall weeds and grass are some of the earliest settlers in the Arkansas River Valley.  Very few graves are visible due to overgrowth. It made me want to get a team together late fall or early winter and have a cleaning day.  The term "gone but not forgotten" is not true for these individuals.  Just one look at the cemetery and it seems they have been forgotten for quite some time.   You can tell at one time this cemetery was well kept.  Several graves seemed to be inside fenced areas within the cemetery while others had massive headstones.   Sitting high above the Arkansas River, it seems the only visitors these days are those who pass by on river or the occasional person, who like me, is inquisitive and stops by to read the monument beside the road. 

Have a blessed and great week.

Until next time, from my lens to yours.