TBT:SPRING IN THE BARN

TBT: SPRING in the Barn at the End of the Rainbow Valley many moons ago

Every spring there were new kids... and not the human kind!
 

My how time flies. Cameron and Haley are now 22 and 21 respectively. Haley becomes a Mrs. at the end of June. 

Congrats Haley! 

MONDAY MUSINGS:LOSS

 MONDAY MUSINGS: LOSS OF the MUSHROOM GUY

They say bad things come in threes but one loss is more than enough. I had three this week.

I was raised by a Dad who speaks to everyone so I come by it naturally to talk to those who cross my path. My life has certainly been more interesting for it...  Jess was one of those encounters.

We got to know each other at the Bernice Garden on Sunday mornings two years ago when I moved back and we see each other almost every Sunday when it's market time... Jess's about the age of my son who is in his mid 30's.

The subject of mushrooms brought us together as kindred spirits.  He had perfected the art of growing magnificent 'rooms and became my supplier of blue and grey oysters, chestnut, lion's mane... His business is Wye Mountain Mushroom Farm. We shared morel hunting stories and how I supplied oak logs from the End of the Rainbow Valley for plugging portobellos... 

I gladly loved helping support his business by my weekly purchases. He was a fountain of knowledge which he shared with his customers regarding not only their growth, but also how to use them and shared recipes and cooking tips. Whether it was for broth / great soups/ vegetarian meals, my meals are better from his advice. 

Jess loved the out-of-doors. When he wasn't helping other customers, we visited about hiking the Ouachita Trail and floating the Buffalo. His sidekick, Ty(?)Ty was a great, chill dog who would use the shade of the market table as his paws poked out from underneath the tablecloth. 

TyTy will miss his best bud since Jess's life was taken in a motorcycle accident on May 5th. 

In fact, I am sure all who knew Jess will miss this special soul. I know I will...

May your memory always be for a blessing Jess.

 

TUESDAY TUNES: COLOUR MY WORLD

TUESDAY TUNES:Guess who 's playing in La Crosse Wednesday night ? 

NONE other than Chicago and what could be more perfect a tune than one of my favorites ?

 COLOUR MY WORLD Ah, the memories...

TBT: BFF

TBT: Marilyn and I met at 17 years old when we shared the summer of 1972 as camp counselors and co-songleaders in Mississippi. 

Over the years I have visited Marilyn numerous times in her home state of Arizona, both in Tucson and the Phoenix area. And we met up when her work brought her to both Milwaukee and Philadelphia. 

Yet, it took 5 decades to get Marilyn to my home state of Arkansas. We didn't waste one minute of her visit this past week as we enjoyed numerous activities including meeting family, cooking home meals, taking a line dancing class, attending a concert, dining out, visits to Bentonville , its Animal Services to check out 2 rescues, Crystal Bridges Art Museum for the Diego Riviera exhibit and its nature trail, shopping on the square for art and food, daily walks, a mah johng lesson, the Bernice Gardens Market, Clinton Library and Bridge, National Historic Central High School, a little back yard zip lining, watching Netflix,  giggling and talking about boys late into the nights as if we were still teenagers... 

Time flew and before we knew it, the week was gone. Antelope Canyon is on our radar for our next get-together.

                               Here's to many more good times ...   

                    BFF ( Best Friends Forever)

FOTO FRIDAY: INTEGRATION

FOTO FRIDAY: A must during a visit to Little Rock is  Central High, a National Historic site where segregation came to an end with the help of the National Guard amidst angry white people. 

Human rights are still being challenged today...

The Little Rock 9 were brave beyond their years.

TUESDAY TUNES: I AM BEAUTIFUL

 The beauty of music is it can speak to us through its melody or its lyrics or both. And just like any interpretation its meaning or worth is dependent upon the listener. 

Perhaps music's popularity relies on its listeners. Where is that listener at that particular time in their life? Does it evoke other memories? 

We are all a work in progress no matter how old we are...

This week's choice speaks volumes to me. Yes, it is a repeat and while there many other song choices today take another listen to

 YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL by Chritina Aguilera.

MONDAY MUSINGS: MAGNIFICENT MUSEUM FIT FOR OUR CAPITAL CITY...

The Arkansas Fine Arts building renovation is now complete and the last 2 weekends have been one big open house with dignitaries, special sponsors and the public along with a ribbon cutting ceremony, music and tours.

I was blessed to be asked to be a plus one to peruse the new digs of Little Rock's arts community. A close parking place allowed us to avoid the shuttle parking and also be able to enter before our designated time due to the color of our wristbands.  

Our first stop was the Windgate Art School wing where I hope to participate in wood working, pottery, drawing/jewelry classes.  

This rubber sculpture dons the Windgate's entrance hallway. Remember to not touch the artwork... LOL

We strolled through these new classrooms and Performing Arts Theatre in addition to the Gift Shop, peered at the Park Grill, Glass Box Lecture Hall and took a brisk walk through the galleries and the impressive cultural Living Room area perched above MacArthur Park. 

And in the other direction, one can see the original front of the Art Museum now as a courtyard...

The spaces are magnificent as are the grounds. Now to continue to offer residents and visitors to our fair city world class art...