Bluff Spring Journal
April 12
Up early this morning to head out to hunt for wildflowers and to pick up some supplies for a cedar table I've been working on for about, oh six months or so. I know you're probably saying that must be some table but mostly it's just been laying around. I hit a snag with preparing the logs for joining to each other and to the table top. Normally you carve a shoulder on the end of the log and then insert it into a hole you've drilled in the table top or joining log. Hand carving these shoulders takes forever so I finally got a device that you put onto the end of a drill that will carve the shoulder for you. Now I have no excuse but to get after it.
So, I thought while I was down in the hills I might as well do a little wildflower prospecting with a good lead I had about Dutchman's Britches. After hauling down some very steep road I came to the area where I had some good information that I would find these delicate little flowers. Man did I have good information. They were everywhere.These flowers are about 3/4 to 1 inch long.
After shooting these flowers and a few other I headed back out to the highway to get my table supplies and head back to the house. On my way out I ran into this gentle horse who still has his winter coat. He wasn't skittish at all and just stood real still as if he was posing for a portrait.
I had heard about the tremendous water release at Table Rock Dam and wanted to see it for my self so I headed over to the dam and sure enough the news had not be exaggerated. Man was the water running. You could feel the mist from at least 500 yards away. It was amazing.
April 21st, 2008
The Dogwoods are blooming and spring has finally come to the Ozarks. I was about one more cloudy cold day away from a serious case of "I can't stand this anymore". Wildflowers and Dogwoods always bring me around and it's nice to finally have them here to cheer up the cloudy days It's an odd season for dogwoods. Some trees are exploding in blooms while other seem to barely have a few. I caught this blossom early one morning while the dew was still on.
April 24th
I've just finished my last training session for the week and I'm headed home to throw my gear and Sid in the car and head towards the hills. I'm looking forward to the weekend. There is a group of photographers that I'm joining up with to do some shooting over the next couple of days. It's always good to sit around and pick the brains of these guys. So much knowledge that it just can't help rubbing off on you.
April 25th
I rushed home last night to pack Sid and my gear for the weekend. Anita (my betrothed) was distracting Annie (Corgi #1) while I was getting Sid (Corgi #2) out the door so all we could do was get in a quick kiss before I shut the door so Annie wouldn't escape. I put Sid in the SUV and started to get in and just decided that that quick kiss would not do for saying goodbye. So... I headed back in the house and made my lovely bride get up out of her chair and give me a proper goodbye hug and kiss. She's had a stressful week with a really huge decision affecting the rest of her career, and while I suspect she is looking forward to some quiet time, I wanted her to know that I cared and felt for her as she was struggling with this decision. Needless to say, it was the right decision to go back in. You know it's the small moments like this that I cherish the most. I can't say enough good things about the great girl I married. I'm just glad she had that one lapse of judgment when she agreed to put up with me for the rest of her life.
Evening update. It's been a good day working around the cabin and welcoming the guys in my photography group. Dinner is in the crock pot and they guys are out shooting along Smith Creek. I've stayed back here at the cabin in case some of the other guys make it here. Sid is asleep at my feet. He's had a big day welcoming and sniffing each of the new persons coming into his house. He's been great and has worn himself out welcoming everyone to the cabin. I've just taken a picture of him and I'm going to email it to his Mommy. She'll be proud of the 'little man'.
April 26th
4:30 am and the cabin is starting to wake up. Coffee's on and the snoring has stopped. I admit I snore too so I can say that the cabin sounded pretty loud last night. We're headed out to Sweden Creek to do some waterfall and wildflower photography. Guess I'd better get Sid up and fed. He won't make the trip with us. Lucky guy, he'll get some good shut eye.
The Dogwoods were out in full strength. This is a shot of a Dogwood tree and Sweden falls in the background.
The wild iris were plentiful although this little guy was slightly beat up by the rain. After we finished with Sweden Creek we went over to Lost Valley to check out the wild flowers.
This was my first shot of Wood Betnoy. I was intrigued by the circular spiral of the flowers.
Back at the cabin we finished off a good lunch and there was a lot of nodding heads as we sat out on the deck and contemplated the more serious issues of life. Like Black Bears in Missouri, Moab-Utah and what is the best paper to print photographs on. Of course this was all followed up with coffee, chocolate chip cookies and then the napping commenced.
April 27
Sunday morning we all headed out to Hammerschmidt Falls. This water fall was named after an Arkansas legislator who campaigned for the conservation of our natural resources.
Hammerschmidt Falls
I also found this Morel Mushroom hanging out on one of the slopes surrounding the waterfall.
On the way home from our nature photographers get together I happened upon this scene from and old farm.
May 2nd, 2008
This weekend we're spending time with some of our friends from work. We've been trying to plan this weekend for nearly nine months. These people are way too busy and are going to enjoying just being out in nature.
Our weekend started off with the required stop at the Neighbor's Mill in Harrison. Some of the best pastries in the Ozarks are always waiting here for you to take home. And of course we obliged. As always the food was tasty and the service was quick. After everyone had eaten too much we headed on to the cabin. Sometimes we forget what a special place the cabin is and it is nice to see it through other people's eyes. As we got out of the SUV someone asked, "Is that water I hear?" They were hearing the creek that runs through the hollow below the cabin. The next phrase we heard was, "Can I come live here?". As we entered the cabin through the handmade front door the girls almost in unison remarked on the smell of the cedar logs. And, as I took them on the required tour of the cabin my thoughts were about why we had built the cabin in the first place. We wanted a place to rest but we also wanted a place to share with others. I'm glad we suffered through all the sweat, bad weather, late contractors and "now how are we going to do that?" brainstorming sessions.
We were joined later that night by a couple that a graduation to attend before coming to the cabin. I'm surprised they found the cabin on their own without calling us. The directions can be a little tricky. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, good conversation and just the joy of good friendship.
May 3rd, 2008
I'm up early as usual. The cabin is quiet with the sounds of sleeping people. They're lucky this morning that there are a few clouds to the east of us. Usually the sun fills the cabin with bright shafts of light streaming through the wall of windows we have on our east facing side. For now it's just a soothing light that will slowly awaken you to the presence of morning. And, one by one our guests stir sleepily from their good night's rest. A gentle wave or quiet, "Good morning" is the common communication as no one wants to awaken the few sleepy heads that are still in the sack. Pretty soon though the smell of coffee coaxes the last remaining person into consciousness. After a few cups of steaming java we all reached our target heart rates and started packing up for the day of new adventures.
Our first destination is in the Boxley Valley to see the elk. The herd numbered about 30 this morning. They were peacefully enjoying a breakfast of lush green pasture. After seeing the elk we headed onto Lost Valley and Eden Falls.
I discovered this plant as we were walking towards the falls. The stem of the plant was going up through the leaves instead of the leaves branching off the stem. Should have paid more attention in botany class. Maybe I would have been able to explain the reasons behind this unusual plant.
The girls had a good time hanging and being 'rock stars'.
Eden falls was running nicely. Every time I come to this place I'm equally impressed by the beauty of the water finding it's natural way towards the Buffalo River.
My usually camera shy bride didn't complain when I took her picture. Of course she didn't know I was taking the picture to begin with. I'm just sorry for the the falls. Even with their natural beauty they don't compare to my lovely wife.
After hiking we all hungry and headed back to the cabin for some lunch. I don't care what kind of food you have but it just tastes better after being out in the woods. We made quick work of the scrumpous lunch and then the predictable happened. The deck turned into a snooze fest. I've only included one photo here. I figure the rest of the gang will help defend me from the victim just because I didn't put their pictures here too! I don't know if even that will help, she's pretty feisty.
We did have a bit of excitement during the afternoon. One of our humming birds flew headlong into one of our windows. At certain times during the day the windows reflect the woods and the birds get confused and crash head first into the glass, are stunned for a few moments and then usually fly off.. In this little hummer's case he must have been going pretty fast because he didn't fly off but lay on the deck for quite awhile. We were almost sure he was a goner but we could see his tiny little heart still beating. We were feeling sorry for the little fella and then the 'Bird Whisper 'er' (my lovely bride) took the little fell in hand and set him upright. She petted him gently and told him every thing was going to be ok. Low and behold the little guy sat there for a while and then up and flew off to join the other hummers flying around the deck. So if you have a bird that needs someone to talk to just call me. We have a very talented 'Bird Whisper 'er' available for hire.
Archie and the 'Bird Whisper 'er'
After a few more zz's we headed over to the Cliff House to enjoy the view and the food. The Cliff House always delivers on both counts and they didn't disappoint us at all.
After getting back to the cabin we played several games that ended with a strange game with questions about whether you would pick one choice or another given a certain situation. Luckily it was past my bed time when this game got underway. I drifted off to sleep to the sounds of hilarious laughter and "You wouldn't" coming from the back room of the cabin. I think a great time was had by all.