The Good, The Random, The Fun - No. 3

I can't believe how fast summer has past. Schools have already been in session for two weeks, the air is a little cooler, and leaves are starting to fall. I've almost survived another Arkansas summer. I'm grateful this one has not been extremely hot and there has been nice breezes and plenty of rain. I don't normally enjoy summers. In fact, summer is my least favorite time of the year, but I did enjoy this summer. Of course, part of that enjoyment was being able to get out with my camera and having some good, random fun!

The Good

I spend a much needed photography day with my sister and sister-in-law.

The Random

Mushrooms don't always grow vertically, sometimes they grow horizontally.

The Fun

I celebrated the Great American Eclipse with my cereal box pinhole projector and a special treat of Cosmic Brownies!

Linking with

The Good, The Random, The Fun - No. 2

Summer has arrived! We've had the nicest summer weather, well maybe a little too much rain, but this week it has been horrendous. Upper 90's with the heat index around 110. Much too hot and sticky for me to be out much. I did manage to get out early a few mornings and take pictures. I am extremely grateful for air conditioning!

The Good

To get what you want, you sometimes have to wait a very long time. Over seven years ago we bought a very rusty piece of metal that has since been in three different shops to create the beauty she is today. She spent time in the metal shop, the paint shop, and then the interior shop. She came home this weekend to stay. She's beautiful and she rides so nice!

The Random

In a recent blog post by my friend, Lee, she explained the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly. This valuable information came from a six-year old. Drop over and read her story, it's very sweet. The difference lies in the position of their wings. Quoting the six-year old "when you see one resting, if its wings are opened flat, it's a dragonfly. If its wings are folded over its back, it's a damselfly."

The Fun

Playing Uno Spin with my grandsons. Sharing laughter as the four year old had to keep drawing cards, winding up with 28 in his hand. He thought it was hilarious. Even with the odds against him, he still won the game!

Linking with

The Good, The Random, The Fun

It seems my blogging has really slowed down recently and I don't like that. I enjoy posting here, showing you what my part of the world looks like and sharing the beauty of nature. There's a blog I've been following for quite a while that has a Monday link-up entitled, you guessed it . . . The Good The Random, and The Fun. It seems the perfect fit for me. Just a quick post with three pictures and a few words. I always have random pictures that I would like to share.  I'm hoping this will inspire me to bring a little more activity to my space here. So here goes!

The Good

I found a new path at my absolute favorite garden in Arkansas, Garvan Woodland Gardens. I've been close to this path several times, but never walked it and didn't know it had this beautiful waterfall. 

The Random

I discovered a new flower at the garden. Doesn't this just make you smile? You can see where it gets it's name, Bat Face Cuphea. This tiny tubular bloom is only about an inch long with the "face" about 1/2 inch across. Just image a plant that's about 18" tall full of these delightful blooms.

The Fun

Peeking in the houses in the fairy garden hoping to see a fancy fairy.

Linking up with...

On the Lookout

As I travel Arkansas highways

there are certain things that I like to look for

courthouses,

historic buildings,

and

ghost signs.

To find these things it means getting off the main thoroughfare and finding the historic downtown streets. In most Arkansas towns that's not too hard at all. Occasionally Jerry and I take a trip to satisfy my craving for all things old. I'm so grateful on these hot summer days that he's willing to keep the car cool while I hop out and take a few pictures.

I'm not a big fan of modern architecture with it's steel and glass. I love old brick buildings. I love the designs they made by carefully placing bricks. Sometimes I find one really unusual like this pharmacy. I've never seen the pharmaceutical sign made out of bricks.

DeQueen, AR

I like the architecture on top of this building; the curved canopy and parapet which is decorated with brick piers that are topped with rounded concrete caps. It was built around 1902 for the First National Bank of Lewisville. Later it was home to legal offices and title companies. It's know as the King-Whatley Building.

Lewisville, AR

My heart skips a beat or two when I spot old ghost signs, which are advertising signs painted years ago on brick walls. I found several this trip, twenty-eight in only six cities. Among my favorite are the Coca-Cola signs. There's just something nostalgic about Coca-Cola signs. It brings back childhood memories of ice cold glass bottles of Coke on a hot summer afteroon. That was something rare to us. We mostly drank Kool-Aid.

Camden, AR

Sanitary meat anyone? It's a shame someone broke out part of the bricks to insert an air conditioner. Couldn't they find a better place? Like the back maybe?

Stamps, AR

Lewisville, AR

For some reason I vividly remember all the advertising for Dr. Tichenor's formula. Although you can barely read it, the advertisement below is for Dr. Tichenor's which could be bought at Lafayette Drug Company. I got a little curious and googled his name. George Humphrey Tichenor was a Kentucky-born physician who introduced antiseptic surgery while in the service of the Confederate States of America. He was very loyal to the South and would not let his antisepetic be used on soldiers from the North. His medicine consisted of alcohol, oil of peppermint, and arnica. The company is still in existence although the recommended uses are as a mouthwash and topical antiseptic.

Lewisville, AR

Lewisville, AR

My favorite find of this trip was a small library in Ashdown, AR. The public library is housed in what looked to be some type of old garage. Note the large garage door on the left. As you can see they tried very hard to make their library attractive. The murals of popular books were painted on all four sides by artist Art Pelcher. I regret that I didn't take the effort to take better pictures of the library. These where shot out of the car window. I was tired, very tired and very hot. I just couldn't get out of the car again!

Ashdown, AR

This trip was to southwest Arkansas.

Next trip will be to the northeast.

Wonder what I'll find there?

Scene & Story - July 2017

I love this lake.

The water is still.
There's no one in sight.

It's quiet here.

All I hear are birds and frogs.

I have to dream about walking along it's banks

or dipping my hand in the cool water.

I dream of rowing a small boat across the lake to the opposite shore

where there's a pretty extension bridge and a garden.

But, dream is all I can do.

This is Marylake which is in front of a Carmelite Monastery

and surrounded by iron and rock fencing.

Even though I can't get any closer, I come here for the calm.

July was active and even stressful at times.

I needed to get away by myself;

to just stand and listen and dream.

I knew just where to go.

I'm linking today with Scene & Story hosted

by Sarah and Lee.

Join us each month as we choose a photo and tell a story.