Winter Beauty

Winter is not my favorite season. As a matter of fact I would love to live in a climate where flowers bloom continuously and a light jacket would be comfortable at night in the "cool" season. That said, there is stark beauty during that cold, uncomfortable time of the year.

Here are some of my favorite winter photographs from the past.

Here is a scene from the front steps in our former neighborhood. We no longer live on this street.

(2006) The lane where my paternal grandparents lived. The house stood immediately to the right. My mother sold the property several years ago.

 

One of the barns that stood on my grandparents' farm. It has since been demolished by the current owner. This brings back sweet memories! I am thankful to have the photograph.

 

This stock pond was across the lane from my grandparents' house. My grandmother and I spent time fishing in this little pond. Many evenings we had fried bream for supper.

 

This wonderful tree stands on property that belonged to my great grandparents.

During the summer it is hardly noticeable but once all the leaves fall it really stands out in the landscape.

 

Another shot of the same magnificent tree.

 

 

Another stock pond in winter.

 

I took this photo from a train going from Denver to Salt Lake City.

 

From the train - Denver to Salt Lake City.

 

The Arch in St. Louis. It was sooooooo cold the day this picture was made!

 

 

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 

 



Christmas at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion

Last week I attended a holiday reception at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.

Fun, fellowship and tasty nibbles!

 

My escorts for the evening - two of my favorite men.

 

 

Merry Christmas from the Lukers

 

 

The annual Governor's Mansion gingerbread house.

 

 

The Formal Dining Room

 

 

Entry and Staircase

 

 

Season's Greetings from the Great State of Arkansas!

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 

 

Christmas Past

Frankly I am suffering from a bit of Christmas blog overload. I know there are other things going on in the lives of my favorite bloggers besides Christmas decorating. That said I was prompted to peruse my computer albums for Christmas travel photographs. Here are a few I enjoyed seeing again and I hope you enjoy them too. They were taken while visiting Wilmington, DE in 2005.

The two photographs above were taken at Longwood Gardens Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

 Longwood was the private estate of Pierre S. Du Pont.
 

I visited the Brandywine River Museum.

 The museum is in Chadd's Ford, PA in an old gristmill building.
The museum houses a wonderful collection of art by the Wyeth family artists.
 

I took a day trip from Wilmington to a historic old town in Pennsylvania for the Christmas city tour. I cannot remember the name of the town but it was like stepping back in time. I loved this sweet little out-building adorned with simple natural decoration.
 

The homes were decked out in period style.

 

Another day I visited Winterthur.
Winterthur was the home of  the Henry Francis du Pont family.

 

 

A less formal table setting at Winterthur

I would love to be a guest at this fanciful table!

 

This tree was decorated entirely with flowers

There was a Christmas tree in nearly every room in the home.

 

Winterthur 2005

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 



Arkansas Ozarks

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with family in the Arkansas Ozarks. The weather was nice so we made a few stops on the way to Eureka Springs.

We made a stop near Leslie to visit Canaan Cemetery.

My husband's paternal grandparents are buried there.

 

Canaan is a very old, picturesque cemetery.

I have photographed it several times in the past.

 

Canaan Cemetery is located on a high peak with scenic views of the surrounding countryside.

 

Our next stop was the Buffalo National River.

 

The Buffalo was the first National River. (1972)

 

The river is a popular fishing, canoeing and camping spot during the summer months.  There was a lone camper on this particular day.

 

We stopped for lunch at the Town House Cafe on the square in Harrison.

Plate lunches, soup, beans and cornbread - all homemade.

 

The view from my bedroom on Beaver Lake.

A little color hanging on.

 

Beaver Lake from the deck. Frequent white-tail deer sightings on this hillside.

 

The Friday after Thanksgiving most of the men went to the Arkansas/LSU football game in Fayetteville. The women headed to the Simply Scrumptious Tea Room and Emporium for lunch in Eureka Springs.

 

After a delicious lunch at the Tea Room it was time for shopping.

 

Eureka was all decked out for Christmas.

 

Fun afternoon of shopping with two of my favorite people.

It was cold and windy but I know we were warmer than the men in the football stadium.

 

Thanks for joining me on my latest adventure in the Ozarks.

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 

 

 



Don Gammie Turkey Trot - 2012

While visiting relatives for the Thanksgiving Holiday I was invited to participate in the Don Gammie Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. The Turkey Trot is an annual fund-raising event for the Grassy Knob Fire Department near Eureka Springs, AR. Don Gammie is retired and lives in the community. Here is a link to a recent article about Mr. Gammie from the Carroll County News.

http://www.carrollconews.com/story/1914492.html

The runners/walkers gather for the Turkey Trot

 

Here we are ready to trot.

 

At the sound of the fire truck horn, the runners were off up the hill.

 

Even though the morning was overcast and chilly it was a beautiful day for a walk through the forest in the Arkansas Ozarks.

 

 

Where are they going?

 

Stan and Joe found a "short cut" back to the finish line.

 

Mr. Gammie crosses the finish line.

He walked the one mile with a friend.

 

Medal presentation by Mr. Gammie

 

Family survivors of the Turkey Trot 2012.

 

It was a Thanksgiving morning to remember. A time to be thankful for family and community.

A time to appreciate the beauty of the Arkansas Ozarks.

 

♥andPeace,Myra

Welcome to My Guest Room

I love pinning ideas on my Pinterest boards. Recently I showed Jim the design for a headboard that I thought he would enjoy building. He hardly acknowledged the photo and went back to his football game. Well lo and behold, last Saturday he called asking me to text the materials list to him at the lumbar yard.  By nightfall it was all cut out and partially constructed. Jim made a few adjustments to the original plans. For example he opted for tongue-in-groove planks. Here is the link for the plans for the headboard. http://www.hgtv.com/bedrooms/rustic-yet-chic-wood-headboard/index.html.

I think the sawing is his favorite part.

 

 

Sunday afternoon he finished putting it together.

At this point I had to question him about the measurements.

He whipped out his tape measure and sure enough it seemed to be correct.

 

 

Now it was time for me to work my magic with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Versailles.

I really like Versailles. It has a greenish tint but is still neutral.

 

 

Saturday Jim attached the headboard to the bed frame and I applied two coats of chalk paint. It dries quickly so I didn't have to wait long between coats. Sunday afternoon I applied the wax. First I used clear wax and then just a touch of dark wax.

 

 





I have been looking for a headboard for the guest room for a long time.

I never could find just what a wanted. I think this will work perfectly in this room.

 

 

Several weeks ago I used the Versailles Chalk Paint on a quilt rack my mother-in-law hired a woodworker to make for me out of some old walnut wood that Jim's father had collected.

 

 

 I decided to try my new chalk paint color on the quilt rack with the dark wax.

 

 

I really like the texture accentuated by the dark wax.

 

 

 

Mission accomplished.

Welcome to my guest room.

 

♥andPeace,Myra