Found A New Park

Sometimes spur of the moment adventures mean more to me than ones I’ve carefully planned. I recently read of a park near me that I’d not heard of before, Emerald Park in North Little Rock, AR. I wasn’t sure the hiking trail in the park was doable, since it was listed as moderate to hard. My knees don’t like those words and protest very much when the trail is steep!

I got in touch with my sister, who is always willing to go on adventures with me, and we headed to the park. We knew there were two trails, one up high and one low. We figured if we couldn’t hike to the top, we could just walk along the low, flat path. Thankfully, with the aid of walking sticks and gentle switchbacks it wasn’t too hard. We took our time and made it just fine!! The trail led across the top of an old rock quarry. It’s hard to see depth in pictures, but if you look to the left side of the picture below you can see a very large, blue dump truck. Just so you know, we weren't in any danger of falling off the cliffs, there was a chain-link fence to keep everyone away from the edge.

Along the trail are several signs warning hikers about the high cliffs. Regardless of those signs, there have been people that have gone over the chain-link fence in order to paint graffiti on the rocks. I can’t understand why people believe they have to leave their mark on nature.

We took a break for lunch at a fun little diner. I’d seen this diner many times, but was never there at the right time to eat. Finally, I thought I would have the chance. Knowing the diner was close to the park, I got online to look at their menu and discovered it was closed and was for sale! Disappointed was a mild reaction! As we drove by the diner looking for a place to eat, we noticed an open sign. There was no name on the building, so we weren't sure if it was still a diner or what. It could well have just been some type of office, but it wasn't. The diner had been bought and just that very day reopened for business. We were among the first of their customers for their soft-opening! Yay, for us!! We had good old-fashioned burgers and they were great!

Refreshed, we returned to the park and walked a lower trail right along the Arkansas River. I had to use the zoom on my camera, but the state capitol of Arkansas was barely visible in the distant haze.

 

Along the trail there were some huge rocks from the quarry with pretty wildflowers growing near them.

 We discovered some fun silhouettes of bicyclist, butterflies, birds, dog walkers, joggers, and skate-boarders painted on a long concrete wall. These were not graffiti, they were approved by the city.

I love to return to places I'm familiar with, but sometimes it's nice to explore somewhere new. You never know what you'll find till you get out there!

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

Frosty Morning

Most people don't like cold weather, but I absolutely love it! I love to wear hiking boots, thick socks, a heavy jacket, gloves, and a knit cap. I love the nip in the fresh air, frozen water, and early morning frost. But, most of all I love the beautiful phenomenons of nature that cold weather brings.

When traveling through the Ozarks recently my instincts screamed at me to pull over at an overlook area. I've stopped here many times and taken pictures of the White River running through the valley below and the bridges that cross it. On this particular morning the scene below me left me a little breathless. The cold morning plus the warm water of the river created a beautiful mist that hovered over the water.

I drove down to the river and walked along the bank where rocks and leaves were covered with frost. The mist hovering above the water and the heavy frost glistened in the sunshine.

The blowing wind sent the mist over grasses and trees on the far bank covering them with ice.

Although the mist and river were beautiful, the highlight of the morning was what I discovered on the far bank in the grasses. I saw these little icy creations. They were frost flowers! I've seen pictures of frost flowers, but these were the first I've spotted. Frost flowers are beautiful and fascinating.

Seeing this phenomenon of nature is rare. Circumstances must be just right for frost flowers to form. The weather conditions must be freezing, but the ground not frozen. The best time to see them is on early winter mornings after a warm spell and then a drop in temperatures. They are hard to discover as their thin layers melt very quickly as the sun and temperatures rise.

As the temperature drops to freezing the stems of plants expand, causing the outer layer to split. As water is drawn up the plant's stem and reaches the split, it slowly oozes out and freezes. The seeping water creates patterns which curl and fold into gorgeous flowers. The scientific name of frost flowers is crystallofolia. They've been called nature's exquisite ice extrusions, frost castles, ice castles, and ice blossoms.

If I hadn't have stopped at the overlook, seen the mist, took time to drive down to the river, and walk to the far banks, I wouldn't have seen these amazing frost flowers. I continually remind myself that finding unusual things means I have to get out, wander, and follow my instincts. When I do, I usually discover beauty and beauty brings me joy!

"The camera,

when held with wonderment,

opens us to the magic of discovery."

~ Patricia Turner

A Dream Come True

dreams

small dreams - large dreams

impossible dreams - possible dreams

One of my dreams has been to meet and spend time with others who share a passion for photography and nature. It was a dream I didn't really think was possible. First, where would I find other photographers and second, I didn't think I was brave enough. My social anxiety rears it's ugly head when I think of meeting strangers and going to unknown places.

But, some dreams do come true. This one did. For three days I enjoyed the company of several photographers in the beauty of the Ouachita Mountains. Taylor Bellott, a local landscape, nature, and wildlife photographer offered a three day photography workshop. My sister and I decided we wanted to do this. When I really, really want to do something I can sometimes fight through the anxiety.

It was worth the fight! The three days were everything I dreamed of and more. The highlight for me was the night we spent down by the lake capturing star trails. Before dark we set up our cameras and waited for the sun to set and the skies to become dark. It was a magical evening, sitting underneath an amazing sky filled with brilliant stars while talking and laughing with new found friends. There were a couple of uncontrollable circumstances we had to deal with. There was a security light behind us and to the right. The light highlighted the trees in the lower right of the picture and I like the way that turned out. Then we had a problem with moisture on our camera lens, which was strange because it should have been too early in the evening for that much moisture. I was pleased with the way my first star trail image turned out. Actually, I'm quite proud it. It's not a perfect photo, but to me it's special because this image represents my bravery to attend the workshop and my awe of the beautiful world we are gifted with. 

I took a lot of pictures over the three days. Some worked. Some didn't. I practiced a lot of things I already knew and learned more. A few things we concentrated on photographing were sunrises, sunsets, reflections, and water motion. In my next couple of posts, I'll be sharing more of my dream come true.

"All our dreams can come true,

if we have the courage to pursue them."

~ Walt Disney

What Does The Word Mean - Part VII

"I know all those words, but that sentence makes no sense to me."

Matt Groening

Have you ever thought those words as you are reading? I ran across this quote and thought of David Whyte's book Consolations: the solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words. This is a book I am reading with an online group, Adventures In Seeing, led by Kim Manley Ort. We read his thoughts on a word, form our on opinions, and then taking or finding a picture to illustrate the word.

Sometimes Whyte's thoughts confuse me. He likes to use a lot of words in his sentences. For example one sentence I read had:  93 words, 2 colons, 10 commas, and 1 period. That makes it just a little complicated for me to follow. I have to break down the sentence phrase by phrase and then sometimes I just don't understand what he's trying to say. It has definitely been a mental challenge for me, but oddly enough, I like the challenge. I don't always agree with Whyte. He can be negative and I'm not, so I do my own research even on the simplest of words. His definitions usually make me think of the word in a way that I haven't before. 

Here is the next six words in this project, my thoughts, and my pictures to illustrate them. Enjoy!

* * * * *

PAIN

If we open ourselves to pain, we open ourselves to being compassionate and caring when others suffer.

"Suffering produces perseverance,

perseverance, character,

and character,

hope."

Romans 5:3-4

* * * * *

PARALLELS

Webster's definition of parallel is: (1) extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant and not meeting (2) very similar and often happening at the same time. A synonym for the word parallel is companions: one that is closely connected with something similar. 

As I thought about the definition of parallel and its synonym, I thought of our group at Adventures in Seeing. We are a group who are closely connected with our passion for photography. We are walking parallel paths, but sadly we will probably never meet, just as two parallel lines never intersect. I have been encouraged and inspired walking this parallel path with so many talented friends.

* * * * *

PILGRIM

Who am I?

I am a pilgrim who is on a journey from the moment I was born till the day I will die. What lies ahead is unknown, a mystery, a pathway leading through highs and lows. I am trying to take this pilgrimage slowly, moment by moment, not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, but trusting that God knows what is ahead and strengthens me for the journey.

"What lies ahead is often unknown.
But keep traveling."

Lailah Gifty Akita

* * * * *

PROCRASTINATION

The word "procrastination" often brings negative thoughts. But, as David Whyte says "What looks from the outside like our delay; our lack of commitment; even our laziness may have more to do with a slow, necessary ripening through time and the central struggle with the realities of any endeavor to which we have set our minds." Sometimes it might be to our advantage to sit back, think things through, and complete the task at a later time, much like this tulip that unfurls its petals slowly and at the right moment.

* * * * *

REGRET

I have a tendency to say "I won't regret this" or "I don't regret that," when in all honesty I have regrets. Regrets can be like prickly thorns that spear me when I'm most vulnerable or I can acknowledge them, learn from them, and grow.

* * * * *

REST

"To rest is not self indulgent, to rest is to prepare to give the best of ourselves, and to perhaps most importantly arrive at a place where we are able to understand when we have already been given."  David Whyte

colors of blue and green

sounds of water and birds

feeling wind and sunshine

smelling flowers and damp earth

These things slow my breathing and my mind. In nature I find rest.

* * * * *

I've recently discovered through a friend's blog a new word that describes me - logophile. A logophile is someone who loves words. I do love words. I like to read them, write them, and study them. I also enjoy this project of taking pictures to illustrate them. Let's see, we've studied words from A through R. I wonder what R through Z will bring. I hope you come back to find out!