The Best Laid Plans

Some days no matter what you plan nothing seems to work out exactly right. Several weeks ago Mr. H won a gift certificate to a small boutique in a nearby town and gave it to me. I'm not a shopper, but I couldn't see wasting the gift certificate. Just the thought of going into the small boutique made me nervous, so the hour drive was stressful to say the least. I found the shop with no trouble. It was right on the main highway. I parked and then realized the shop was closed, not just for the day, but permanently. I'll admit I was relieved. I didn't want to go shopping anyway. 

Knowing that this small town had a historical downtown district I went prepared with my camera and a few notes. I usually love strolling by old buildings, but not this time. The main highway goes through the historical district; four lanes with lots of cars, log trucks, and large diesels. Not peaceful at all. VERY NOISY! I did find several ghost signs. The two on the Stewart Ice Company were the only ones I could read. The others were too faded. 

With all the traffic it was hard to get many picture of the buildings, so I concentrated on their windows. I love old windows. I love their shapes, the wavy glass, and peeking through them.

There were arched windows.

Windows covered with wire and . . .

windows covered with vines.

Windows with bars and . . .

windows with metal shutters.

Windows surrounded by colors and textures.

When I'd finally had all I could stand of the noise I headed to the Rockport Memorial Cemetery, which is on the National Registry of Historical Places. I expected a beautiful cemetery and it was. I expected it to be quiet and peaceful and it wasn't. They were mowing! 

The only thing that really worked out was where I ate. Now, if you're from the south and you want good barbecue you most go to a run down old place to eat. That's true!  The older the better. This particular cafe was in the back of an old grocery store. In 2000 the small neighborhood grocery was close to going out of business. Like everywhere else, people began using the big discount store that moved into town. To save their store, the Keeneys decided to open a cafe in the back. It seems that was a brilliant idea. The place is booming at lunch time. I was forewarned and decided to get there before the lunch crowd. It was everything I expected; a delicious chopped BBQ sandwich and a delicious cup of peach cobbler. I don't need fancy places to eat. Give me an old cafe and I'm happy.

Even if the day wasn't quite what I expected, it was still good to get away. I'm just hoping next time I go on an adventure, I can find a little piece and quiet!!

Daycation

It's not uncommon for new words to be created using parts of old words. Take the word vacation. During the 2007 - 2010 financial crisis in the US many individuals couldn't afford the luxury of a vacation. Thus, their vacation became a staycation; a period where the family stayed at home, made day trips, and returned to sleep in their own beds at night. A new word was born. Mr. H and I rarely go on a vacation or a staycation. We only take a day now and then. We take daycations!

Vacations, staycations, daycations

Don't you just love words!

Desha County Courthouse

Arkansas City, AR

So anyway, Mr. H and I went on a daycation. I have a project that I began in July of 2011. I am attempting to take a picture of every county courthouse in Arkansas. Our first stop was in Arkansas City a small town of only 0.5 square miles and a population of 366. You can imagine my surprise when we drove into town and found this beautiful courthouse surrounded by large magnolia trees. Not only was the courthouse beautiful, but there was an old high school built in 1910, a small building that looked like it might have been a jail at one time, and an old church. Three things I love a lot very close together. I don't mean I love jails a lot, I just love old buildings a lot!

St. Clements Episcopal Church

Arkansas City, Arkansas

One of the reasons I love old buildings is their doors and windows. It doesn't matter to me if the doors are on an outhouse, a church, a historical building, or a rundown shack. They're all fascinating.

Windows can be beautiful and ornate or they can be worn and rusty. It doesn't matter, I love them all.

Sometimes I find windows or doors that I can peek into. I'm not a "Peeping Tom." I only peek in windows on public property and when the place is closed; like the old high school below which is now part of the court system.

Arkansas High School, 1910

Here's the view through looking through the front door. I love the tin ceiling tiles and all the gorgeous wood.

I was also able to peek into the window of this beautiful home which is now The Ashley County Museum.

Ashley County Museum - 1918

And when I peeked in, I fell in love with those interior doors between the parlor and the dining room. I'd love to go back and tour this gorgeous home.

It seems there's always something the intrigues me and makes me ask questions, such as this old church which is now the meeting place of the Hamburg Garden Club. I wonder why the windows of this church and the above church have been painted over. Wouldn't you want to have light flowing in, especially in this church where the club meets? It's a mystery. One that I will probably never know the answer to.

Hamburg Presbyterian Church, 1871

We had such a nice day, even if we did travel 301.7 miles and were gone nine hours. I'm making progress on my project. I have taken pictures of 56 courthouses. There are 85 county seats in Arkansas and before someone corrects me, I know there are only 75 counties. Ten of those counties have two county seats and two courthouses. That leaves me with only 29 more courthouses to go. It looks like we'll be going on a few more daycations to get this project done!

A Lunchtime Adventure

Pretty pots of flowers greeted us as we walked up the brick walk. About 40 to 50 of us waited in the warm sunshine for the doors to be opened. We formed a loose line from the street to the porch. As I chatted with the couple behind me, I learned that they do this every month. Most of us were of the older generation, but there was a group of home school children on a field trip. 

You see, I recently discovered a program, Sandwiching In History at Lunch,  presented by the Department of Arkansas Heritage. Each month historic homes and buildings are opened for a tour and a short lecture about their historical significance. This month's tour was of the Rozelle-Murphy House, a Queen Anne-style house built about 1887.

Extensive remodeling was done in 1930. Mr. Murphy who bought the house from the Rozelle family, married when he was 60 years old. He was so excited to finally have a family that he remodeled the house making it large enough for many of his wife's family to reside with them. He added a grand staircase and had the huge attic converted into bedrooms. When the remodeling was done, the house had ten bedrooms and five bathrooms. At one time five generations were living here together. I can't imagine that! They must have been a very close family!  We were all surprised when an older lady standing in the audience was introduced to us. She was part of this large family and was actually born in the house. She provided "inside" information about the house. I thought that was pretty cool!

I was impressed with the large kitchen area in the back of the house. I loved the built-in cupboard and the antiques that were still in it. I'm sure it was quite a busy place since the family was so large. One of the ladies actually opened a small restaurant in one section of the house. She later became a chef at the Capitol Hotel, one of Little Rock's historic hotels.

On one hand, I was a little disappointed to find that the house is now occupied by a law firm, but on the other hand I was certainly glad the firm bought the house and is keeping it in great condition. Instead of rooms furnished as a home there were large desks, hundreds of law books, and many computers. There are still touches of the old house like this corner of the glassed in porch with an old rocker, original French doors, and beautiful glass doorknobs. That immediately changes though, when you look to the left.

The porch is used as a conference room. The room looked whimsical to me with it's eclectic decor.

I was intrigued by the different shaped windows.  Most of the glass in the house is original and wavy. Remember, I mentioned that we stood in the sun waiting to get in? I looked out an upstairs window and was surprised to see that it was storming, really storming as in strong winds and pouring rain!

I had decided to take my outside pictures of the house after the tour. Of course, that didn't happen since it was still raining. I wanted to get a better picture of the gas lamps on the porch, but this was as close as I could get and keep my camera dry. The vintage gas street lamps were added when the porch was remodeled in 1930.

I had no umbrella and had parked a half-block away. I had no choice but to tuck my camera under my shirt and walk through the rising water down the street. By the time I got to the car I was drenched from head to toe, but my camera was dry. I did grab a quick picture of the hitching post as I hurried by and was glad I wasn't on horseback or in a buggy on this rainy day. 

It was such a fun experience I couldn't stop grinning as I drove home soakin' wet! I am definitely going to October's history tour. It's another home, this one built in 1925. Before I go though, I will check the weather!!

Friday Finds

This week I find myself empty of photography inspiration. Nothing that's really a big deal. It just seemed that after a very busy posting month, the finish of a 365 project, and completing two classes in August, I was ready to rest. I am keeping up my habit of taking pictures everyday, but there wasn't much worth sharing.

I have started another daily habit...writing. The only writing I do is right here on this blog, but for a while now I've wanted to journal. I've also wanted to record my family stories. One of the classes I took last month was Write Now with Amanda at A.L.M. Writes. The class was exactly what I needed to get me motivated. I now have two journals. One is for family stories. The second one is a personal journal I'm trying to write in every day. I'm taking another class with Amanda this month, Wholly Ordinary that focuses more on journaling and should keep the motivation going until writing daily is a firm habit.

So there you have it. My find this week is less photography...more words. This is very different than my usual Friday Finds. Must be the writing thing!

Sunday Sundries - Edition 24

"A library doesn't need windows.
A library is a window."
Steward Brand

(I took this window at a library that just opened in an old post office.)

Sunday Sundries - Edition 22

"A person who only sees with his eyes

and not his heart

misses the details of beauty."

~ Evie Lynn Fritz

Day 3

prompt - window

One of the things I love about The August Break is that you can do anything you want. You can follow the prompt, not follow the prompt, go out and take a picture for today's prompt, or dig through your archives. I'll be doing a little bit of all of these this month.  This image is from my archives. taken on the USS Alabama battleship.

One other thing, please don't feel obligated to comment each day. With so many bloggers posting everyday, it's impossible to to comment on each blog. Although I enjoy your comments, a break from commenting is nice, too.

Have a wonderful August!

Friday Finds & Randomness

 

 

Bella Grace

Life's a Beautiful Adventure

 

Those are the words on the front cover of this new and beautiful publication from Stampington & Company. Inside the covers there are narratives and photographs that share a love of simple things and slow living. I've only read the first four articles. I'm savoring it; making it last for weeks. That's not easy either, because I just want to sit down and devour it! It's not just articles either, there are places for you to list your gratitudes or write your thoughts. The editor, Christen Olivarez writes,

 

"It is meant to be read over and over again. It is meant to inspire you to see the beauty and the magic that surround you, no matter where you are. It is meant to be written in and dog-eared. It is meant to accompany you on this beautiful adventure that is life."

 

Is it what I expected when I preordered the first issue?  Yes, it is much more than I expected. I thought at first it was a little pricey, but with about 160 pages of inspiration on wonderful paper, it's well worth the price. I will read it over and over again.

 

 

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

 

Now, a few of my random thoughts and photographs...

 

 

#1

I've been looking for some Queen Anne's Lace to take pictures of. Around here I had trouble finding any where it was safe to pull over and take a few pictures. I did stop one place and try to pull up some to take home, but on my, these beautiful flowers have deep roots. Couldn't pull it up and couldn't break it off. Finally, I found some when I visited my daughter recently. It grows along the road leading to her home. I just love the intricate patterns and textures of these lovely flowers that remind me of fireworks exploding.

 

 

 

#2

Do you remember the first movie you ever went to? I do, way back in 1970!  Growing up we didn't go to the movies. I had to wait until my "date" took me; my date who is now Mr. H. We went to see "Love Story" staring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. You talk about crying buckets on your boyfriend's shoulder!  Good way to get his arm around you, you know! 

 

 

#3

I can't decide. Do I like the windows best are the reflections?  I'm thinking the reflections!

 

 

 

 

#4

You never know what's you'll find when you walk down an alley. I wonder who took the time to create this little oasis between a building and a parking lot. And, don't you just love that window on the wall!

 

 

#5

I also found this in that alleyway, propped on a small ledge. It used to hang. I wonder if it was the top of a wind chime. Whatever it was, someone didn't want to just discard it, they placed it for others to see.

That's it for today!

Enjoy your weekend!

Taking The Long Road Home

 

I am never, ever disappointed when I travel the back roads of Arkansas.  Of course, I'm partial, but it is a beautiful state filled with mountains, valleys, quaint old towns, and delightful surprises. Recently I went on a photo excursion on the way home from my daughter's house. Instead of the fastest way, I took the LONG scenic route home.

 

My first stop was in Norfork. My husband had told me about this historic home standing high on a bluff overlooking the White River. He said he knew I'd want to photograph it.

 

 

This restored log cabin belonged to Major Jacob Wolf. Wolf built the cabin in the early 1800's to serve as post office and county seat. After the county seat was moved it became  his family dwelling. Wolf House is a dogtrot house which historically consisted of two log cabins connected by a breezeway or "dogtrot" all under a common roof. The breezeway provided a cooler covered area for sitting.

 

On his property, Major Wolf also had his own cabin,  a tavern (inn), blacksmith shop, woodworking shop, and a store. He took full advantage of the river traffic.

 

 

 

When I'm looking for places to visit, it's the big picture that draws me to a location, but often times it's the details that catch my eye; the peeling paint, the rust, the grunge, and the varied textures.

 

 

 

As I traveling on toward home, I spotted the Old Historic Galatia Church. The sign says it was built in 1886, but as you can tell there's siding on it now.

 

 

 

And, behind the church I found the "out house."  Yes, we do have a few of these around that are still being used. This one is for the "sisters". The "brothers" use one at the far end!

 

 

 

Next, stop was in the town of Calico Rock. East Calico Rock was a primarily the industrial section of town, first as a  landing for steamboats and later the railroad. The area that was once the center of all the hustle and bustle of trade has been abandoned. The buildings are vacant, some are only shells. The foundations are overgrown with weeds and wild vines. Even the railroad spur has been abandoned. It's kind of sad to walk down these once busy streets and see nature taking over.

 

 

My last stop of the day was in Batesville. When I wander around the older downtown areas there are always a few things I look for like shaped windows and reflections.

 

 

 

I also look for old signs.

 

My favorite signs are the "ghost signs" which are old hand-painted advertising signage found on the sides of usually brick buildings. This one is pretty odd. It looks like it's been painted over, but the underneath paint has seeped back through.

 

From there I headed home.  It normally takes me a little over three hours to get home, but this day it took nine! Once I get going I just can't seem to stop.