A Rare Outing With History

in Calico Rock, Arkansas began with dropping off the garden tiller for some repairs we could not manage.

We decided to dine at the Printing Press Cafe.

The walls along Main are full of interesting murals

depicting history and lore.

History on a menu

Local quotes on the walls

A pleasant place to dine with good food

even the bathrooms were cool!

Some social issues never change

and history repeats itself...again and again.

Barbed Wire and History

During our clearing and cleaning we found broken rusted barbed wire.

To me, that's a gold mine.

We spent a day creating instead of destroying.

I love the peace symbol and tried to make one here. The center of the symbol is made from T.V. Allis "Buck thorn" barbed wire patented in July 1881 in Texas.  It came in narrow, medium and wide.  I will be removing the washer I used to TRY and cover the different colored wire and removing the wire and replacing it with an old piece.  I want mine all rusty.

Five varieties of barbed wire can be seen here. "Beginning in 1868, a series of patents was issued to several inventors for strong, mass-produced fencing made from interlocking strands of wire. These wires were outfitted with sharp barbs that kept even the toughest cattle from muscling through it. The varieties of barbed wire seen here include: the Kelly "Diamond Point" right twist (1868), Burnell four-point (1877), and Glidden two-point, (1874), H. B. Scutt "Y" plate (1878) and T. V. Allis "Buckthorn" (1881). Barbed wire ended the open range and with it the cattle drives and the range lifestyle that created the Texas cowboy legend."

The main part of these wreaths is the barbed wire patented by Joseph Glidden  in July of 1874 in Illinois.  "Cheaper than dirt and stronger than steel" was the line used to sell all models of barbed wire.  Kansas Barbed Wire Museum in La Crosse Kansas has 2100 unique samples of barbed wire. 

I made some wire art too.

Can you see the bull and the heart?

If not, I have to hang up my wire sculpture hat.

Dr Peppers were drunk.

Skin was poked.

Poked skin bled but all in all, it was a perfect day to recycle some old wire.

and a good night to do some research.

Say The Names

Sing the names
the forgotten
the fallen
the gone ones

Sing them loud
without prejudice
without rancor
with pride

Say the names of those
who could not choose
those who rose
for causes and fell

Do not sing in color
do not sing for sides
do not sing madly
sing for honor

Sing the names
fly their flags
remember them
say their names

History cannot be rewritten
nor the slate of atrocities
wiped clean
we must say their names

Allow them to live
in us in humanity
say the names
sing the truth

For Poets United

Controversy and Culture

The Year The Mississippi Ran Backwards

the sandy clay dropped
folding the river bed
with such force
pieces rose and fell
leaving empty spots
water withdrawing reversed
gnawed boats, trees,
Reel Foot Fault bucked
New Madrid Fault thrust
land rose cutting like a knife
trees fell and sand spouts birthed
when the quiet returned
fragments of what was
lay in blood-less houses
people counted their blessings
and tried to believe in living again
                                             
                                                 The Imaginary Garden With Read Toads

4.6 Miles From Here

is the ghost town of Lacrosse (Izard County) Arkansas. We drive past the old store building and the plaque honoring the college every morning reminding us of what once was.

 The last building standing other than residences.

There is much history here, We have a past.  Not of ignorance but of people striving to establish a community in which all could be proud and equal.

One such person was Henry Karr Shannon born in Lunenburg (where my father was born) and was very active in the surrounding communities.  He graduated Melbourne High School, attended college and pharmaceutical school. After developing an allergy to pharmaceuticals his career direction changed. Mr. Shannon taught school, was involved in higher education while exploring Izard County's rich history. He later purchased the Melbourne Times newspaper with his own special column covering many subjects and opinions that gained the attention of the Arkansas Gazette. While in Little Rock he became a controversial figure in the Central High Desegregation Crisis of 1957. Mr Shannon published six books during his life time.

And you're wondering where this is leading?

Looked at my birth certificate a few years ago and discovered I was delivered by Karr Shannon! What?  Delivered by a newspaper man?  Did some research and Henry Karr's son became a medical doctor and served one year in Melbourne, 1954, the year I was born.

And that's the truth as I know it.

I Debated

riding a different horse today but I still have pictures of two amazing days with nephew, Toni.  He is an easy person with which to travel.  I just mention something and he wants to turn around and go back.  

On the court square in Murfeesboro, Arkansas

history on the square

the courthouse

and more history.

Checked the horse races outside

and inside.

With all my posts and pictures it seems like we were gone a long time but it was only two nights.

We enjoyed our time out, tickled our taste buds by trying different foods, and just had a good time looking.

And you ask where are the diamonds?  In the ground, I suppose, but I did find rocks and that makes me a happy camper.

We may return after the next good rain!

We Walked...

through history.  We crawled in dirt.  We laughed, explored and came home again.

This trip was just me and my nephew, Toni.  No one has a bad time with Toni.  From Iraq to Alaska and an experienced traveler to most states Toni makes traveling an adventure. We always try something new, in meals and in places we see because life should be an adventure.

This is a replica of the old shaft shack.  It went down sixty feet deep here.  I don't believe the mining operations was extremely successful or they would still be operating.  I would say by the number of people there they have no trouble maintaining this as a state park.

Toni in the distance

They had a few "shade islands" no digging allowed here.  This island featured a Osage Orange tree.

We both got down and dirty.  I packed hand tools and empty jars to hold all our diamonds.  They left full but not with diamonds.  We had MREs, Vienna Sausage and Oreo cookies with drinks packed so we were prepared and made a day of it.

We examined the old mining equipment.

Nine diamonds were found while we were there.  It was not our day for diamonds.  When the rains come, we may return.  It's just four and a half hours away.  Toni is young and as long as he's driving I will welcome the adventure.

A Day Out Is Rare

but now and then we force ourselves to do something other than work.  Hubby had a mission and I went along for the ride.  We arrived at one of my favorite places, the Wolf House in Norfork, Arkansas.

I have shared visits to the Wolf House before but I never tire of seeing it and revisiting the history that people actively work to keep intact. If I were to build a dream home it would be much like the Wolf house only with modern amenities.  Other structures have been added to the compound, all part of our history with many buildings Jacob Wolf built himself.

There is an elevated walk way so you can have an overall look and/or you can visit each structure up close and personal. 

This is viewing the back or front actually since it faces White River from the walk way. The trees are fully leafed so the view was different form my last visit.  

Where the Norfork River(right) meets the White River was an advantageous location for a trading post.  The Wolfs were in the right spot for success.  They traded with new explorers and Native American Tribes that still lived in the area...before we got so greedy.

It was a successful day.  It was an enjoyable day.  Time out together was long overdue and appreciated.

I tried to get a new profile picture with Hubby behind the lens

Many of y'all will know this look.  I won't tell that Hubby was encouraging me to stick out my chest and suggested I grab some nuts off this pecan tree. 

Sadly the days are past that I look good naked but that's okay.  I don't allow naked viewing.  I try to pretend by choosing a Barbarian character on my video game and call her Buxom Babe but only in the video. When I play my beauty is timeless.  Sixty does something to you...not the age necessarily but the journey to reach sixty.

Playing peek-a-boo is always a fun game when a husband is making snide remarks. He forgot I was armed.

He's pushing his luck.  He soon will be sixty-three and I can still out run him.  And I'm a pretty good shot.
I guess I will let him get away with his ribbing because we are working on the next forty-two years together.

A Day Out With Two Boys...

and one very exhausted Nana!!!  You know no matter how carefully you plan ahead, there is always some school supply you did not think to get.  So today, two grandsons and I headed to Wal Mart to finish school supply shopping, just a few things, not many...how in the heck did my cart get so full????  Because I have not learned to say no, I shall have to practice more.

After Wal Mart we went to a War Memorial in Sharp County close by.  Jake had never been so every one had a great time.  I will let the pictures speak for them.

Jake wins picture of the day!

We spoke of history.

We talked of war.

We discussed the great sacrifice

of all men and women who served.

We spoke of veterans we knew,

and we talked of peace.

It was a day of fun,

but also a day of learning.

We topped it off with Pizza Hut.

Next Sunday

I shall have to have two walks!