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| Updated 06/14/2008 01:07:26 AM
"Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower . . . We will not grieve. Rather find . . . Strength in what remains behind." ~William Wordsworth
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
The Road Not Taken |
November 12, 2007 Uphill Climb Autumn came late to the Ozarks this year. Warm, wet summer lingered into late October, and delayed the brilliant leafy displays of russet, amber and gold that draw so many visitors to Northwest Arkansas. Just this week, the leaves began to fall, after a brief but colorful display. I love the way they blow across the path in front of me, as if saying: Come. Follow me. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous for scattering leaves on woodland trails, tailgate picnics, moonlit walks in the park. I wish I had new photographs to share with you. I wish I could bring you tales of hiking our beautiful Ozarks trails. During the past two months, my heart decided to present me with new challenges. My health has steadily declined since the beginning of summer. Hiking was out of the question. Two-stepping was impossible. Even slow dancing with Hubby left me breathless, though we continued to enjoy the wonderful gifts of our musical friends at local dances. There were many times when the simple acts of eating, sleeping and breathing became nearly impossible. I felt as if my life, as I knew it, was over. On the positive side, after doctor visits and medication changes, I am feeling much better. I want to thank those who prayed for me. May God bless you all. I still need your prayers to get through this valley of the shadows. I don't know where this new trail leads. It will be very challenging, if you believe my doctors, but I have faced it before. I'm not ready to give up yet. I've been told I am an inspiration to many people. Maybe that's why God keeps my heart beating. If sheer will and a fighting spirit make a difference, this gal will be hiking at Devil's Den before the first snow, and two-stepping as my friends in the band sing and play country Christmas carols. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart forever. Psalm 73:26 Never more true. Praise God. See you somewhere down the trail, friends. Lynn (In memory of Danny Knapp, local songwriter, singer and musician, who suddenly passed from this life on November 7th at the age of 49. Danny loved to write and sing gospel music. May God grant him top chair in the angel band.)
September 16, 2007 A Good Day Inspired by a brief reprise from the heat, wonderful cooler, dryer weather, Hubby and I set out to have an adventure today. It started with a delicious breakfast at the Village Inn. Hubby is a breakfast person. I usually skip it, but I truly enjoyed the stuffed crepes with hollandaise sauce. Our drive took us down the "Pig Trail" - Hwy. 23 South through the Ozark National Forest to the Mulberry River. I shot this photo just past Lizard Springs on Hwy. 215.
We drove south through Clarksville to the tiny community of Shadra Park, where I took this photo of the impressive Arkansas River.
Cutting across country through the Ozark Mountains and pine forests, we came out at Fallsville on Hwy. 16 east. It was a good day. Talk with you later. Lynn September 14, 2007 A Preview of Autumn Last Saturday, I attended Ozarks Writers Live at our gorgeous new public library. Among the authors who spoke was my local hero, wilderness photographer Tim Ernst. It was my first opportunity to hear Tim speak. I enjoyed his presentation very much. My dear friend, author Velda Brotherton, gave a seminar as well. Velda is promoting her new creative non-fiction book, FLY WITH THE MOURNING DOVE. She has outdone herself this time. Read all about her latest book on my featured author page. So much rain this month! Cooler temperatures tease us with a preview of autumn. The leaves should be gorgeous this year, great for Sunday drives through the Ozarks. I hope to be hiking by October or November. The lakes and streams are full, singing with clear water. It will be good to take off down a wilderness trail, camera in hand, seeking nature's wonders. Today was a good day. A cool front kept temperatures in the 70's with no humidity. I felt better than I have all summer. Hurry, Autumn. Till next time, Lynn August 25, 2007 Mt. Gaylor Musings This weekend, Hubby and I drove down old Hwy. 71 South through the lovely Boston Mountains. A gray flannel fog hovered over Mt. Gaylor at Point Lookout. Not generally a "morning person" (translation: extreme night owl who rarely sees a sunrise), I had never photographed fog before and was thrilled with the photo op. When we stepped out of the car at the observation deck, we were enveloped in a lovely fragrance. But what was the source? Nestled among the kudzu leaves were clusters of sweet purple blossoms. Invasive kudzu has claimed much of the mountain side, draping trees with a tightly woven netting of trailing vines and stubborn foliage. I never dreamed kudzu bloomed so sweetly. I can still smell the exotic perfume. I have admired fellow Arkansan Tim Ernst's Buffalo River wilderness "fog photos" for years. Inspired by the master, I offer my first fog photo.
Talk with you soon, Friends. Lynn August 19, 2007 Thanks for the Memories Triple digit temperatures and high humidity have kept me inside much of this month. It's a killing heat--dangerous and oppressive, especially for those with heart problems. Thank goodness for air conditioning! Rains from the Gulf cooled things down to the low 80's today. Hubby and I are planning a country drive tomorrow, maybe some photo ops. It's supposed to rain, but that's fine with us. Our area of the state is about five inches below normal for rain this year, despite the wet spring. Bring it on! Busy, busy, busy. I've worn my writer's hat and used my time wisely this month. I whittled my new synopsis for the contemporary women's fiction novel I'm marketing to 9 pages. Synopsis=terror in my dictionary. No one seems to agree on the foolproof formula. I guess I reinvented it, to an extent, with this new version. I included dialog and mini-scenes. We'll see how it flies with the powers-that-be. Great news! Amazon invited me to submit stories and articles for Amazon Shorts, their successful pay-as-you-read market for published authors. I have two short stories and a non-fiction article ready to submit. I'm preparing short story submissions for an anthology and a national magazine contest. Deadlines fast approaching. I started a new contemporary women's fiction novel - resumed it, actually. It's set in Taos, New Mexico. I got the idea for it a while back when Hubby and I went to Red River, New Mexico with my buddy, Dusty Richards and his wife, Pat. Hubby and I have enjoyed the company of our musical friends this summer. They always make us smile, put wings on our shoes and songs in our hearts. Thanks for the memories, Country Connection Band and OK Country Band. Hugs to all. Talk with you later, friends. Lynn July 26, 2007
Rose of Sharon on the grounds of the Crescent Hotel, and a very cooperative butterfly I enjoyed a much-needed break from writing today in the Victorian village of Eureka Springs. Hubby and I walked the lovely grounds of the Crescent Hotel, where I shot many pictures of the gardens and fountains. It was fairly humid, nothing compared to last summer at this time, and far too lovely to say inside. I missed spring this year due to illness. What a true blessing to find such a variety of gorgeous blossoms thriving in late July. We can thank our cooler, rainy summer for that. My well of words overflowed this week. I have been glued to my new Sony Vaio (praising the absolutely awesome keyboard!!!), typing as fast as I can to capture each scene before it slips away. I can't stop my characters from following me, chatting in my ears, demanding to be heard. They accompany me on every task, making suggestions, offering plotlines, growing impatient, I fear. I set some new deadlines for myself and started work on a new women's fiction novel yesterday. I thought my next project (after I meet contest, marketing and submission guidelines) would be the Cozy Cabin Series, but Rae and Ian, my characters for this new book, simply will not hush. Talk with you later, Friend. Lynn
July 10, 2007 My new Sony Vaio Notebook arrived last week. You can't beat Sony for awesome colors and clarity. What an awesome machine. I'm learning Vista and the new Office 2007. So far, the "wow" factor has been neutralized by my impertinent question: Why did Microsoft fix what was not broken? This week I lost my best friend from my school days. She died in her sleep, quite unexpectedly. She was my age. At her funeral, I sat alone in a crowd of her current friends and family and watched the photo sideshow of her life . . . a life that for many years has passed without me. One question haunts me as my memory recalls the zany, fun-loving friend with whom I shared so many good times. Why didn't I renew our friendship in the latter years? We lived in the same town. She had retired, and like me, endured health challenges. From all accounts, her famous sense of humor, generous nature and infectious grin never failed, despite the challenges she faced. How wonderful it would have been to hear her laugh again just once before she passed from this life. The old saying is true. I would rather be sorry for something I did, than for something I did not do. Hug your friends and loved ones today. Tomorrow may be too late. Goodbye, Marion. Talk with you later, Friend. Lynn June 11, 2007 What a mess! This spring, my beloved Sony Vaio died, leaving me without a way to update my websites. When I was finally able to update the sites, I found them to be in disarray - pages missing, links gone, themes changed. I'm still working out all the kinks as I await the arrival of my new Sony Vaio notebook. It's been a difficult spring for me. I was down for weeks with sciatica. Got the flu (despite the shot). Suffered my yearly allergies (worse this year). Had a setback with my heart that has forced me to put on a few brakes and take "baby steps" for a while. Ugh. My seat has been empty at writers' club meetings and writer gatherings. My author friends may think I have gone on hiatus, but I'm still wearing my writer's hat. On the plus side, I finished a final edit of my women's fiction novel. Very pleased with that. On the minus side, I missed many opportunities to go hiking in the wilderness that I love and take photographs of nature's wonder. Summers in Arkansas are HOT and HUMID. No hikes for me till autumn. I have also had to sit-out some dances (but my heart was two-stepping) as my friends in the band picked and grinned. Still, I have much for which I am thankful. In December, Hubby and I welcomed our beautiful new daughter-in-law into our family. She's a keeper, and the wedding was absolutely lovely. The "kids" are settled just a couple of miles from here, so all is well. Praise the Lord. One day at a time. That is all any of us really have. God has blessed me with a strong, stubborn will to survive and a cheerful outlook. I pray each day for the grace to endure whatever challenge comes my way. Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower, we will not grieve - rather find strength in what remains behind. I have lived by these words most of my life. They will not fail me now. Thanks for stopping by the cozy cabin. Talk with you later, Friend. Lynn September 9, 2006 September Song I think I'll live . . . I told myself last weekend as we drove through the gorgeous Ozark Mountains on our way to Boxley Valley and the Buffalo River refuge. This was our first long drive of the season. After a sweltering summer spent mostly indoors, (we passed a lot of time at our gorgeous new public library), I was eager to escape to the wild. Far from the madding crowd, Boxley Valley is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its most notable landmark is the old Boxley church and adjoining Walnut Grove Cemetery. National forests surround acres of Federally protected farmland in this sparsely populated pastoral valley, which retains much of its original character and charm.
Lynn August 31, 2006 Rainy Days and Wednesdays Finally! A week filled with cool, refreshing rain. August teased us yesterday with a hint of Autumn: cooler temperatures, low humidity and gentle breezes found us seeking the great outdoors. After Hubby and I ate a beans and cornbread lunch at War Eagle Mill, the only working grist mill in the U.S.A., we walked along the War Eagle River. I enjoyed this opportunity to take photographs after summer's long dry spell, and found beauty in the most common river bank weeds. Those new photos are on my www.lynncarney.com site. Later we drove to Van Winkle Hollow to see if recent rains had raised the water levels on Beaver Lake. We happily discovered that the dry lake bed where we hiked last spring had narrowed to few rocky, narrow banks. We'll return when that hot sun cools a bit, and resume our exploration of one of our favorite wilderness areas. Here are some photos from yesterday:
Thistle
Look what we scared up. I think it's a young midland water snake, non-venomous, but often mistaken for a poisonous copperhead. Autumn comes later to the Ozarks than it once did. I hope we don't have to wait until November for another cool, breezy day. Lynn August 5, 2006 This Too Shall Pass Yesterday as I sat by the window typing on my computer, the wind began to blow through the trees in our yard, sending a rain of golden leaves to the parched brown grass. Staring above the swaying treetops at the darkening sky, I felt for a moment that we had somehow bypassed August and September and catapulted straight into Autumn. How I longed for the nip of crisp, cool air, the smell of wood smoke, and the excitement of packing a backpack, pulling on my boots and taking off down a wilderness trail with my hubby, camera in hand. I haven't braved the elements to take photographs this summer. Drought conditions, water restrictions, and deadly temperatures have turned our once green August into a tragic imitation of autumn, but when one steps outside, sauna-like heat and humidity envelope you like a blast from a brick oven. That illusion abruptly disappears. Peaches, who had been playing at my feet, curled onto my lap when the sky grew angry and dark, and blessed rain fell, soaking the parched earth. Thunder rumbled to the north, where they got more intense wind and rain. Seventy-three degrees the weatherman said later that evening, and we turned the air conditioner up for a while. Today the ground is dust again and grass withers in the shade. Next week, the weatherman predicts more triple digit temperatures with no chance of rain . . . . . . but for a few moments yesterday, it was almost autumn - God's way of saying, "This too shall pass." Lynn July 27, 2006 Rain? What's That? The heat wave broke over the weekend! Saturday evening was so cool (76 breezy degrees) that we enjoyed an outdoor concert at a local park. Behind us, the White River murmured lazy and slow as we found a perfect spot to set our chairs on its wide, grassy bank. Sunset painted watercolors across the sky. Babies bounced and danced in front of the stage to the smokin' electric guitars. The band sang and performed for three hours, and nobody left early. Today, the heat is back with a vengeance. There's a small chance for rain in the forecast. Rain? What's that? It's been so long . . . . Hurry, hurry autumn. Lynn July 19, 2006 Heat Wave What a summer! We're having a tropical heat wave in Arkansas. Awesome, sweltering heat, breathlessly high humidity, and drought have temporarily sidelined our hikes and my photo opportunities. I'm having major computer problems here. I love my 5-year-old Sony Vaio notebook, but she's about ready to bite the dust. I've been ill with a summer flu since the first week in July. My family recovered quickly, but I can't shake it. I long for autumn, but in this corner of the south the heat lingers till well into October. When I was a girl, we wore coats to the county fair in early September, when the air was crisp and cool. We started school wearing scratchy new wool sweaters and dresses and patent leather shoes. Imagine that! The good old days . . . before global warming. Hurry Autumn. Lynn April 18, 2006 On the Cusp of Summer Yesterday, our area of the natural state broke record highs: 94 degrees! Hubby and I decided to take a drive in the country because it was too hot to hike. I was thrilled when I spotted this big snake sunning himself on a country road.
"Stop the car! Get my camera," I said as I hurried out the door. I had no idea what kind of snake he was, but I knew he needed to go back to the safety of nearby meadows. At first glance, he resembled a cottonmouth or copperhead. A closer inspection revealed what I consider a narrow head. I bent down and touched his tail and shot a few photos, then, because he still hadn't fled, I found a narrow stick and carefully pushed him across one lane of traffic - while cars went by. Thankfully, he was quite mellow and non-aggressive. (Kids, please don't try this! If you see a snake, call an adult.) By the time I'd finished 'rescuing him', he was a tad defensive. I thanked him for the photos, and Hubby and I drove away. After researching on an Arkansas snake site, I identified him as a prairie king snake, excellent at controlling rodents and poisonous snakes. I guess most people would have passed this snake by, or tried to destroy it. What a shame, especially since killing this harmless snake would give the advantage to the truly dangerous snakes in that area. We shouldn't judge all snakes by the few that are venomous, any more than we should judge all humankind by those who are evil. But . . . for the sake of survival . . . we must learn how to tell the difference. Lynn April 2, 2006
I found these gorgeous flowers on the trail today. These are macro shots. They look huge, don't they? The blossoms were less than an inch wide - which proves you can find grace, even in the most insignificant wildflowers, if you just get down on your knees and look for it. Today's trail meandered through an enchanting forest of old growth trees and moss-covered boulders. We stopped often to linger on the high limestone bluffs above Lee Creek and enjoy the music of the rapids. Every few yards, we commented on the surreal, mossy green wonderland surrounding us. A storm the previous night left pools of water in these three limestone hollows that stair-stepped toward the creek below.
Photos can't do it justice, but I posted more on my Critter Gallery page. Hubby and I kept saying what a beautiful day. And it was. Picture perfect. Lynn March 30, 2006 The Spider in the Shower The other night I drew back the curtain to run water for a shower, and there it was - my first brown recluse spider of the season. He was a whopper! As big around as a quarter, with those beady little eyes fixed on me. Now, I believe "blessed are the merciful" - which means I seldom kill any critter, even spiders. Usually I usher them safely outside. Generally, we have a little chat in the process. I talk to critters. That's just my way. But as you may know, brown recluse spider bites can be very painful, disfiguring and costly to heal. Recluse spiders hide in bed covers, shoes and clothes - even shower caps! - it's what they do best. Our warm, humid Arkansas seasons are ideal for the little beasties. I generally tell Hubby: "Found another recluse today. Big as a half dollar! They're taking over our world." And he says, "Hmmmmm." Because Hubby has learned in thirty-odd years of marriage to nod and say, "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm." Should I scald it in the tub? No. Not sporting. I pick up a tissue and attempt to send the eight-legged creepy crawler on a little water ride down the commode. Super spider has other ideas, and escapes, narrowly missing my hand. I let out a yelp. This is war! Clutching my trusty bottle of shampoo, I corner him. Whack! Wham! No more brown recluse. "How do you like me now?" I yell . . . then I hear my husband call from the other room. "What are you doing?" Which, in hubby-speak, means: "What are you doing NOW?" Wouldn't you think he'd run to my rescue, calling, "Honey? What's wrong? Can I help?" or, "Baby, do ya need something?" Not my hubby. A spider could swallow our house, and he would say, "Hmmmmmmmmmmmm." Hubby's used to my slightly quirky ways. Life with me can be a tad . . . zany. Think I LOVE LUCY - 2006. Ha. As for those other brown recluses lurking in the shadows . . . bring it on! Have Pantene. Will travel. Lynn
March 23, 2006 Snowy Dawn If you had seen me this morning at four AM, you'd have thought I was crazy! We didn't have much of a winter here in NW Arkansas. January and February were lovely and spring-like. Great weather for hiking! Just one good snow, which melted fast. By default, I'm not a true cold weather person. The damp cold keeps me from enjoying my hikes, and snow and ice keep me housebound on this hillside in the city, which is fine if I want to be home . . . but if I HAVE to be home . . . well, you know how that goes. This first week of spring brought cold, icy winds and gray skies, as if Old Man Winter had something left to say. Last night, as the daffodils shivered in the cold, it snowed. We got about an inch, enough to dust the lawns and tree limbs. Enough to write in, which I did, drawing hearts and happy faces on all the windows of my hubby's car. By morning the snow was gone, but at 4 AM the world was frosted with white, and the icy air had calmed. In the east, an ivory glow framed lacy snowflakes like a Kinkade painting. As I stood with my face to that sky and felt the cool, feathery flakes melt on my skin, I thanked God once again for my body and mind that were able to do what I asked of them this day, and for the quiet magic of one more snowy dawn. Lynn
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart forever. Psalm 73:26 |
 | Journal of Arkansas author, Lynn Carney. (c) 2008 All Rights by Lynn Carney, Designer & Owner Terms of Service Scripts from Dynamic Drive: http://dynamicdrive.com/ Certain graphics, quotations and prose copyrighted by individual artists, speakers and writers. The wonderful graphics on these pages are not for download. If you love them, please visit the sites of these generous graphics designers. Thanks!
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