Walk and Click Wednesday ~ April 24, 2013

Well, I'm late again.

I feel like the rabbit from Alice In Wonderland!

"I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!"

I'm so glad linky parties are kept open for more than one day!

 

If you read my post yesterday, you know I visited the new Children's Library in town. If you haven't read it, I hope you'll take a few minutes and check it out. It's a pretty marvelous place!  Yesterday I showed you inside, today I'll take you for a walk around the building.

 

 

The side that faces the parking lot is single story and unassuming, and the full height and style of the building is only visible from the rear, where children can roam the grounds.

 

The grounds themselves are made up of features intended to represent various topographical areas in Arkansas. A drainage creek that meanders through the area has been repurposed to create “wetlands”.

 

 

The 6-acre site has walking paths and bridges so that families can come out here and enjoy themselves. It is a fun place that kids can run around and play and adults can enjoy a beautiful walk.

 

 

There are several benches overlooking the water. It's not exactly a quiet place to sit and reflect. The interstate is just behind the trees, but there is an abundance of birds and I enjoyed watching the water flow.

 

 

At the top of the hill is a greenhouse where children are taught how to grow and harvest vegetables. Along the rock ledge of the building are pots of tomato plants. I can just image the excitement of these children as they watch them bloom, bear fruit, and take home the tomatoes.

 

 

 

There's also a small amphitheater for outdoor learning.

 

A lot of planning and work went into this library and all the effort certainly paid off. It is an enjoyable place to spend a few hours.

 

 

This will be the last Walk and Click Wednesday link-up. Lissa at LAF Custom Designs has decided to no longer host it. I will miss visiting different parts of the world with this group, but I understand that Lissa has others plans for her blog.

Walk and Click Wednesday ~ April 17, 2013

We had a wonderful weekend with our grandsons. They've been sharing illnesses, the flu, stomach viruses, and strep throat, so we haven't all been together since Christmas. That is way too long!  For them, I'm glad this winter is over and I know they're mommies are, too!   We needed to celebrate four birthdays, Valentine's Day, and Easter.  Let's just say we had one big PARTY! 

 

Since I'm a little tired from all the celebrating, I've stayed pretty close to home this week.  I spent some time working in my shade gardens where my azaleas are beginning to bloom. They haven't bloomed well for a couple of years, although I fertilize them right on schedule. I think it's the results of two very hot, dry summers. I tried to keep them watered, but the heat was relentless.

When I walked each day I didn't wander further than "my woods" behind the house. They really don't belong to me, but I have staked my claim on them. My pathway is an old railroad bed. We've had trouble in the past with people driving their cars down the gravel bed and dumping. But, slowly the woods are taking over and after this winter's ice storm cars can no longer get through. That is certainly one good thing that came out of the storm.

The only thing I didn't enjoy was the massive amount of pollen in the air. I do mean MASSIVE! When the wind blows there are clouds of pollen swirling through the air. There are little yellow dots of pollen everywhere, even on my camera lens, so I have to keep a cleaning cloth in my pocket!

 

It's clinging to the fruit of the maple trees. Don't you just love their color? They look like pretty little blooms. The fruit is a "samara" which means the seeds grow "wings" to help in seed dispersal. They remind me of little helicopters when they float to the ground.

 

 

The dogwood leaves look gritty instead of soft. I wanted some pictures of the dogwood flowers, but they were all way above my head.

 

 

Thankfully, I don't have allergies.

I'm able to get out and enjoy spring although it feels like summer!

It has been in the mid 80's and very, very humid.

Actually, it's been miserable!!

 

Thanks for walking with me!

I hope I haven't made you sneeze!

 

Walk and Click Wednesday ~ April 3, 2013

 

It's a cold, rainy Wednesday morning. I'm reminded of another rainy day last week when I went for a walk in the rain. It wasn't this cold, in fact it was a very mild day.

 

 

We tend to shy away from getting out on rainy days. We hide in our houses and wish for better weather. I know it's not always very pleasant to walk in the rain. We must wear the raincoat, that's too hot, take a chance on getting wet and muddy, and protect our cameras. But, every once in a while, it's worth the effort.

 

It's so very peaceful to walk in the drizzling rain. The damp earth smells wonderful.  It's quiet, just the sound of the raindrops, a few birds, and the tree frogs. It's beautiful with raindrops clinging to everything.

 

It's magical!

 

 

You might want to try it sometime. Pick a day when there is a soft drizzle, grab your raincoat and rain boots and head out. Oh, don't forget your camera because you can always find something intriguing and beautiful to capture when you walk in God's creation.

 

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

~Langston

 

 

You should drop by Lissa's blog (our wonderful hostess) and check out her walk for today. While you're there drop in and walk with others who have linked to Walk and Click Wednesday. You'll be able to enjoy walks from around the world.

Walk and Click Wednesday ~ March 27, 2013

The images for today's Walk and Click Wednesday post are from the small town of Fordyce, Arkansas. I attended a funeral there yesterday and decided to check out the older section of town. I wasn't disappointed, there were several  structures dating from the early 1900's. Some have been restored and some were in very bad shape.  Today I wanted to share with you some details that caught my attention.

 

newer windows in an old frame

 

pretty doorknob on an old weathered door

 

faded windows and woodwork that are still beautiful

pretty molding around a money vault

turrets on a historic church

clay tiles slipping off the roof

sun rays

 

beautiful restoration

 

 

painted advertising on a brick wall

Dr. Tichenor's Antiseptic

 

 

textures galore

clock tower telling me I needed to head home soon

This is just a little sneak preview of the homes, churches, and buildings in Fordyce. I hope to share some more images later this week. Thanks for joining my walk! 

 

Walk and Click Wednesday ~ March 20, 2013

Happy first day of spring!

 

It's been feeling and looking like spring here for a couple of weeks. Our temperatures are like a roller coaster though, up to the low 80's and then down to the mid 30's. We may see sleet tomorrow!  One big plus, the sun has been out more than it has rained! It's been a great time for walking and clicking!

 

Last week for Walk and Click Wednesday, Sarah at Paisley Rain Boots went home to the place where she grew up. You can read about it here if you'd like. I'm sure she'd enjoy your visit. Returning to capture images of her home, got me to thinking about where I grew up.  So, inspired by Sarah I decided to stay close to home and capture what it looks like now. I've lived in this community for over 45 years. My family moved here when I was eleven. Mr. H and I lived in another small town  for the first four years of our marriage and then returned and bought our first home.

 

 I live in the small town of Mabelvale that was been incorporated into Little Rock the capital city of Arkansas. We still have our own post office, zip code,  and "town proper". It's like we really don't belong to the big city, they just get our taxes and hmmmmm...oh we do get city trash pick up and sewer now. I guess we have benefited a little!!  Anyway, Mabelvale covers a lot of territory, but I'll just show you the main area. Main Street is only four blocks long. The entire center of town covers about ten blocks.

 

 

Mabelvale was established as small train station town.  I live about two miles from "downtown" and have driven across these tracks bazillions of times!

 

 

It's like any old town. There are some very old homes that have been refurbished and, of course, there are some that are falling down and rotting away.

 

 

The house below was in pretty bad shape before they restored it. It's the prettiest house in town now!

 

 

Many years ago this house was turned into a community center where meetings were held and where the local quilters all came together to quilt and gossip visit. It's since been abandoned and the quilters meet at the Methodist Church.

 

 

I know this building looks like a shack and that's what it is, a barbecue shack with delicious barbecue sandwiches. See the smoke coming out of the smoke stake. Oh my, our town smells good!! If you want to eat in town, this is your only choice! I will tell you that the inside is much nicer than the outside!

 

 

Our "town proper" has a car repair shop, a paint and body shop, a church, a model train store, a Masonic lodge, a car wash, a gas station, a couple of small businesses, a beauty shop, and a few more homes. Oh, and we can't leave out the  ball field. Not in real good shape, not big, but it's still the hub of the neighborhood during the summer.

I hope you enjoyed the tour through small town Arkansas!

 

Joining up with Lissa

at

 

Walk and Click Wednesdays ~ March 13, 2013

The sun shone warmly on my shoulders as I walked yesterday. I didn't go far just out in the yard. I needed to be doing some yard work on this perfectly beautiful day. Instead, I had my camera in hand and ignored the work. You see...

spring has sprung in Arkansas.

 

Of course, one of the first things that popped out were the dandelion weeds. Most people don't like weeds, but they have the prettiest flowers. They remind me of the quote by Vincent Van Gogh.

"How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun."

 

 

 

Over night, and I mean overnight, my flowering plum trees burst into color. They're beautiful, but their blossoms are so delicate. A good wind will blow them all away quickly.

 

 

My jonquils are up; the common ones, the King Alfreds, and the miniatures. Jonquils seems to just shout spring!

 

 

The japonica and forsythias bushes have burst into color. This is the sight that greets me when I open the blinds in the morning.

 

I don't know how it is where you are,

but I hope spring will arrive there soon!

 

"The spring came suddenly,
bursting upon the world
as a child bursts into a room,
with a laugh and a shout and hands full of flowers."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Walk and Click Wednesdays ~ March 6, 2013

 

What more pleasant sensation
than sunshine on skin,
Spirit and flesh drinking in the light
of God and energy itself.

                       ~Terri Giillemets
 

 

We've had the kind of weather I've been dreaming about...SUNSHINE!!

Finally a day with sunshine!

 

 

I'm keeping this short today;

just a few images.

It's been a really busy week!

 

 

I'll have to admit, I have no idea how I caught this beautiful rainbow of light. It just happened. I was shooting almost toward the sun and this is what the camera caught. Couldn't do it again if I tried!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you have a beautiful rest of the week!