Spring at the Old Mill

I have so many favorite places to see in the spring that it's hard to fit them all in, especially with the spring showers we've been having. Well, more than showers . . . downpours! A must see every spring is the Old Mill, but this year I had to dodge the rain and hope the blossoms had not been destroyed. 

A little history of the Old Mill. It is a historic re-creation of an 1880's water-powered grist mill. It's pretty famous. It was used in the opening credits of the 1939 movie "Gone With The Wind."

It's such a beautiful and relaxing place to take a stroll.

No matter what angle you view the mill from, It's breathtaking!

Friends of the Old Mill and the Pulaski County Master Gardeners do an excellent job of keeping it clean and pretty.

Sometimes the water is an icky reddish color, but with all the recent rains it was flowing clear and pretty.

If you look at the foreground of the picture below you can see a concrete bench created by Senor Dionico Rodriquez, a sculptor and artist of Mexico City. There are also concrete sculptures of toadstools, tree stumps, and tree branches entwined to form bridges.

There are some very pretty pathways to stroll along.

I was surprised to see something new at the mill. An unidentified carver had been at work carving an old tree trunk. He carved an amazing replica of the Old Mill and the letters N L R, which stands for North Little Rock where the mill is located in Arkansas.

The Mill has never failed to please in the springtime.

This year it was exceptional!

"The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come

and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."

Song of Solomon 2:12

Hiking In The Snow

There are things in our life that we want to do, but circumstances don't always allow them to happen. Such was the case with my desire to get a picture of the Old Mill in the snow. I've wanted to do that for years, but it's in an area with hilly roads that become slick in snowy/icy weather. Finally, I was able to get there in the snow. The roadways were clear, but the snow was still on the ground. I knew it had to have been much prettier the day before when all those trees were covered in snow, but instead of feeling disappointed I decided to just accept what it was and be thankful that I got there at all!

My sister was with me and we decided we weren't ready to head home. We were enjoying the snow and the sunshine, so we headed to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. In the picture above Pinnacle is in the distance covered in snow.

Near the visitor's center is a beautiful quarry. I don't know what type of minerals are in this water, but it is a beautiful blue/green. Beginning at the quarry is a trail that we've never hiked. We debated whether to hike it for about, oh, five seconds and then we hit the trail.

We realized as we began walking that no one had walked the trail since it had snowed. We couldn't decide it that was cool thing or if maybe others knew better than to walk the snowy trail.

As we went deeper in the woods, the trail became less visible under the snow. If the trail had not been marked so well with green paint on the trees, we would never have competed it. Who knows where we would have wound up. At least, we knew we couldn't get lost, we only had to turn around and follow our footsteps out.

There is just something so magical about hiking in the snow. It's amazingly quiet. Sometimes the only sound was the water flowing down several small creeks that we had to cross. 

After seeing all the snow in other parts of the US, it makes me very grateful that when it snows, it's usually only small amounts; six inches this time. Our lives return to normal pretty quickly!  Of course, there's nothing normal about Arkansas weather!  It was up in the 60's today and will be close to 70 tomorrow! 

Renewing The Journey - Part 2

This week's exercise for Renewing The Journey involved returning to a familiar place or subject and taking at least fifty pictures.

There are places that I repeatedly visit with my camera. Some because I find quiet and solace there, some for their beauty, and some to capture it in different seasons. Different seasons was the reason I found myself at the Pugh's Old Mill. The mill is a historic re-creation of an 1880's water-powered grist mill. It was used in the opening scenes of the classic movie "Gone With The Wind" which was released in 1939. I've always wanted to take pictures of the mill in the snow, but icy, snowy streets have prevented me going. This latest snowfall was followed by warm days. While snow was still on the ground, the streets quickly cleared. This was my chance to capture the mill in winter. Although a lot of the snow was melted at the mill, there was enough left to show it's winter.

Returning to a familiar place is an opportunity to look at things differently; to find different perspectives. It's a chance to explore, to see something you haven't seen before. When you return to a familiar place, the time of day you're there is different creating different light and shadows. The sky is a different color in each season. This time the light, the sky, and the water were perfect for a good reflection. As I took this picture, I knew it would be my favorite. I am fascinated with reflections. I saw several reflections and took several pictures, but this one remained my favorite. 

The bare trees created beautiful shadows on the side of the mill. I found the mill to have a lonely feeling in winter without the leaves on the trees and the beautiful garden flowers of spring. The mill in spring makes me think of romance. The mill in winter makes me think of a cold, harsh living.

Going to a familiar place can never be as exciting as seeing it the first time. I remember the first time I took my camera to the Old Mill. I took hundreds of pictures. This time there were far less to cull through.

I have always enjoyed returning to a place with my camera. To me it's like visiting an old friend you haven't seen in a while. The person is familiar and the place is familiar, but there is growth, changes, and things not seen before. I feel the same way about parting, too. I'm never quite ready to leave an old friend and I'm never quite ready to leave a place I enjoy.

I added a couple of pictures of the mill so you could see the differences in spring and summer. Now, I only need to get there in the fall.

Friday Finds & Randomness

I wasn't going to post a Friday Find today. This week has been less than interesting, except for Monday. Monday I spent the morning at The Old Mill in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  If you'd like to see it just go here, I wrote about it earlier in the week. Other than that, pretty boring week.  Too hot and humid for much of anything. Anyway, I was just sitting here looking at this week's pictures and thought, well, I do have a few images I could share from Monday.

 

First, my FIND this week was a little free lending library in the coolest place.  I'd love to stop by here, pick out a book and sit and read awhile.  Nice spot, huh?  I've seen several of these free lending libraries popping up. The only rule, if you take a book, you need to leave one.

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

 

The Randomness is next.

 

#1

I'd love to have this fountain in my shade garden. Not only would it be pretty and add a really pleasant sound, but I think I'd like to just lie down under it on a hot day!

 

 

 

#2

Or maybe I could just live on the lake and have this lovely  dock!  That would be cool!  That is until I begin to think about water moccasins!!  Why do I always spoil my dreams??

 

 

 

#3

You cross this pretty bridge, that looks like tree branches, to reach the front door of the Old Mill. Senor Dionico Rodriguez, a sculptor and artist of Mexico City, created this bridge from concrete that is made to represent wood.

 

 

 

#4

I went to the Old Mill because I needed some pictures of water. This one was my favorite! I really like the abstract look of this bridge reflected in the water.

 

 

 

#5

I just can't get enough of water and reflections.  Reflections fascinate me. You sometimes can't tell what's real and what's a reflection.

 

 

Short and sweet this week!

Are you ready for the longest day of sunlight tomorrow?

Any special plans?

Ready To Go...

I've spent over a week resting up from our family vacation. I finally felt like going again...not on vacation...but, at least out with my camera to enjoy this Monday morning.  Morning was all I could do...by noon it was 91 degrees and humid and I was tired again!

 

I didn't realize how tired I would be after

 

• keeping up with Gramma's guys,
• climbing to the top of the USS Alabama battleship,
• walking through underground tunnels at historic Fort Gaines,
• strolling the trails at a bird sanctuary,
• spending the afternoon at the sea lab, and
• swimming in the ocean. (yes that is me...that little dot way out there...I told my daughter to take my picture in the ocean, but don't come any closer!)

 

I was totally worn out and that's just a fraction of what we did while on vacation at Dauphin Island, Alabama. Anyway, I think I've made it back to normal!

 

As I mentioned at the top, I did get out with my camera this morning. I needed some pictures of water for a photo prompt, so I went to the Old Mill in North Little Rock, which is an authentic reproduction of an old water-powered grist mill. This beautiful mill appears in the opening scene of the classic 1939 film Gone With The Wind. Built in 1933, it was designed to look old so it would appear as if it was built in the 1800's.

 

 

It's in a pretty city park with flower gardens, water splashing, birds singing, and shade!

 

Although I only spent the morning there, it was a much needed source of photography inspiration. I kind of lost my incentive after being on vacation. There was so much beauty to capture on Dauphin Island and back home, well it seems kind of dull!

 

I hope you're not to tired of my vacation pictures, you have to understand it's been a very, very long time since I've been on vacation and we were at such a beautiful location!

 

Hope you had a great Monday!

 

August Break - Day 9

"A man that has a taste of music, painting, or architecture,

is like one that has another sense,

when compared with such as have no relish of those arts."

~ Joseph Addison

taste

What is your taste in music?

Local artist have painted the traffic light control boxes in downtown North Little Rock, AR.

Argenta Art District

I had a few more pictures I wanted to share from the Argenta area where my sister and I went for an art walk. You can see more art work here. The Main Street area has been restored beautifully.  All along the street are flowers...balconies full of flowers, hanging baskets from lamp poles and large pots full of flowers on the sidewalk.  It's just beautiful and so well cared for! 

It was raining and there weren't too many artists, but we found plenty to enjoy. As we wandered around the streets we discovered this beautiful concrete sculpture/water feature called "Mother Earth". The sculptor is Kevin Kresse. It was such a surprise to be walking a side street and find this!!

Close up of the mosaic flower panels. The mosaics were gorgeous and the waterfalls so peaceful to listen to.

The local community theatre offered hors d'oeuvres created by Pulaski Tech culinary students. The food was delicious...goat cheese tarts, twice-backed potatoes, cheeses, crackers and the most wonderful cream cheese brownies.

In the theatre is this art work by V.L. Cox.

I went to her website and found the following information about this piece.

"Through a Child's Eyes"

Commissioned Piece
Argenta Community Theater
North Little Rock, Arkansas

The art deco door used in this project is from the Royal Theater which opened in 1932, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The theater closed its doors in the late 1970s. This door is believed to be the door used by African Americans during segregation. It is now on permanent loan from the City of Arkadelphia.


The artwork depicts three children curious to see a ballet dancer on stage. It is based on the courtroom scene from the 1962 movie "To Kill A Mockingbird." Scout and Jem lift Dill up to view the trial in the courtroom. The image behind the round window is an actual photograph of the Argenta Community Theater stage with a dancer added.

She has a collection of paintings on screen doors that is wonderful!

The architecture on the buildings is beautiful.

This is a column from the North Little Rock City Hall.

The Argenta post office where you mail your letters and

they are delivered to your mail box.  This is the best mailbox I've ever seen!!

Lovely porch railings...but, I wouldn't want to paint them!

It's so enjoyable to move out of my little world and find beautiful places to explore!!! And so enjoyable exploring with my sister! Stay tuned, I think we may be out and about tomorrow!  Who knows what we'll find!!

Argenta’s Public Art Experience

I have this fascination with tourist brochures. At the local library I picked up a brochure about a section of North Little Rock, Arkansas, call the Argenta District. It is the old Main Street area that had been abandoned as more and more businesses and residents moved out of downtown and into the suburbs. In the past few years there has been an amazing effort to improve and reconstruct this area. It's now well developed and beautifully restored. There are several art galleries, a theatre, a library, restaurants and other businesses. Mary Beth Bowman, director of the North Little Rock’s community Development Agency, found a way to bring art to the area on a most unusual canvas…traffic control boxes at intersections. The artists donated their time to bring art to the community and to get their works on public display.

This weekend my sister and I went on an art walk along the Argenta Main Street. Since we were in the area and I had the brochure, we went looking for the traffic boxes. You have to understand that these boxes are at busy intersections and the day we found them it was sprinkling rain. So, the pictures are not always great, you may see cars or lamp poles or water streaks.  I had to be careful to avoid the cars, rain on the camera, and the mud puddles.  To save space, I made them into collages. Most of these include the front, back and sides. I've include a few words from the artists.

Artist ~ Philip L. Kirkpatrick

 “Using an impressionistic approach I hoped to brighten up a little corner of the city that has been my home.”

This scene is of the Old Mill, a restored grist mill which was used in the opening credits in the movie "Gone With The Wind."

 Artist ~ Abby Carman

 "I am inspired by my everyday life and my two children."

 Artist ~ Theresa Cates

“Expressions from within and past experiences inspire me to create and capture what I create. I listen to praise and worship music when I create.”

 Artist ~ Theresa Cates

Artist ~ Elizabeth Weber

“Each and every moment of life inspires creation of my art, and I paint how my heart experiences the world.”

 They were painted pretty much the same on both sides.

 Artist (left box) ~ Sherrie Shepherd

“I am a professions cartoonist. My art work is spontaneous and fun.”

The box on the right has been damaged and replaced. This one small door was all that is left of the original painting and no artist name was given.

Artist (left box) ~ V. L. Cox

 “Different events in my life inspire me."

Near the Dickey Stephens Ball Park this box features Delores "Dolly" Brumfield who played for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1947 - 1953. She retired to Arkansas.

Artist (right box) ~ unknown

Artist ~ Ellen Hobgood

“Good colors and my children inspire my work.”

I saved my favorite for last!!  This box is also on a corner by the new Dickey Stephens Ball Park where the Arkansas Travelers play their home games. I just love this one. Those two kids peeking through the fence at the ball park and the two on the swing just made me smile.  They have such a vintage, nostalgic feeeling to them.  Makes me want to sing, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game!"

Isn't this just the coolest way for the ordinary person to see art. I'm so glad I picked up that brochure!!