Tea at Faulkner Lake Orchard

Welcome indeed!

The group I sing with, Top of the Rock Chorus, hosted our 6th Spring Tea the Saturday before Mother’s Day.

As our event has grown, finding just the right venue has been a challenge for our non-profit checkbook! I think we hit a home run this year though!

Our Spring Tea this year was held at Faulkner Lake Orchard, just outside of North Little Rock, AR.

Faulkner Lake Orchard is a working farm. They have a you-pick-it area. There is also a general store full of freshly picked produce, canned items and local honey.

The farm was just so peaceful and relaxing. I plan to go back sometime when the trees are in full bloom. There are a few pictures on their website showing different events in the orchard. It makes a beautiful setting for a wedding.

The peaches were not quite ready while we were there. Faulkner Lake Orchard hosts a huge peach party in July. They will have food, fun activities for the kids, peach tea and peach ice cream all for FREE! Mrs. Karen said to get there early!!

Speaking of Mrs. Karen…

…she was the sweetest lady! Karen Martin is the owner of Faulkner Lake Orchard.  She was so laid back and happy to help however we needed.

She even provided a shuttle from the parking area to the main event center for our guests.

Stay tuned! I have lots more to share with you from this year’s Tea.

 

Farmer’s Market

This summer our neighbors started what I have thought our town needed for a long time…a farmer’s market!

The response has been good, from what I can tell. Sadly, there were a couple of rain out weekends. We haven’t gone every time. We were out of town for one weekend–had something else going one another weekend.

It is a fun place for folks in the community to meet and catch up with each other.

It is smack dab in the middle of town, literally at the intersection of Front and Center!

I really hope they continue to have the farmer’s market in the future!

We have plans to head out there in the morning. The weather looks like it is going to be perfect.

Here are just a couple of pictures we took the last time we went to the Fishtown Farmer’s Market.

This was just a sample of the goodies at the farmer’s market.

There is nothin’ quite like that fresh farmer’s market produce!

Do you have a favorite local farmer’s market?

 

 

 

Hazards of Spring

This Spring has been quite busy!!!

I’m afraid that is a bit of an understatement.

We had snow in early March! That almost never happens here in central Arkansas!

Things warmed up and were pretty nice for Spring Break-well, for a couple of days anyway.

It was in those couple of days that things took a turn for the worse. We had just returned from Tulsa, OK where my chorus participated in the annual regional competition. Since the weather was nice when we returned home, Chip and I decided to work in the yard a bit.

The ground was very soft from all the snow and rain we had in the month of March–perfect for pulling up all those little saplings the birds planted in my flowerbeds.

I really am not much of a gardener. I enjoy pretending to be one, however, saplings continue to grow in my flowerbeds-sigh.

We made great progress, despite uncovering a nest of baby copperhead snakes!!!

A couple of days later, my arms started to itch.

You guessed it…poison ivy.

Apparently, poison ivy is not my friend. Thank goodness I was at least wearing gloves!

I do know what poison ivy looks like. “Leaves of 3–let them be!”

However, in early Spring, apparently the leaves were not yet visible. Either that or there were just old vines which had the oil on them.

Oh, I had dug and pulled and yanked all day! There were big piles of weeds to carry to the edge of the yard.

Later that week the itching got worse–so much so that my husband took me to the little walk-in clinic here in town on Sunday afternoon.

The diagnosis was indeed poison ivy. They gave me a steroid shot and a prescription for oral steroids and sent me on my way.

So, that night I did not sleep at all thanks to the steroids and the itching.

Things seemed to get worse, so back to the clinic I went. My arms red, swollen and itchy. Another round of steroids plus an antibiotic this time.

The swelling and redness was so severe that the nurse drew on my arms with a Sharpie to be able to watch for spreading of the infection. Here are some pictures about half-way through the whole ordeal. Trust me this looks GOOD! They nice folks at the clinic told me it was probably cellulitis.

The itching from the cellulitis was so intense! I think it was worse than the poison ivy. Of course, taking all those pills was no picnic either.

That Friday was Good Friday. As I lay awake, unable to sleep, trying not to scratch, I was convicted about my “suffering”. There it was Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ suffered a horrible death on a cross for my sins! This changed how things looked to me for the duration of the itching.

I am extremely grateful to have had so many friends and family praying for me during the ordeal. It was very humbling, and I felt very loved.

Be careful out there in your gardens!

 

Scenes from a walk 3-25-15

The weather has been gorgeous for the past few days! Nice weather makes for a very nice Spring Break-sunny and high of about 75°F.

We didn’t have a big Spring Break trip planned, so we are enjoying being at home. We have done a little yard work and a little housework.

This morning Megan and I took a walk. It is always nice to have a walking buddy!

I love the Miller’s Easter flag!

Mrs. Carla’s daffodils are so pretty every year!

Here is another variety we saw in a pot in town.

The pear trees that line Front Street are so pretty–but stinky!

A camera could not do justice to these glowing forsythia bushes.

I don’t know what these little wild flowers are called. My sister and I always just called them Easter flowers. Seems like our yard was covered with these every Easter.

Spring has definitely sprung here in Central Arkansas! I’m glad I could get out and enjoy it before the pollen gets too bad!

 

Scenes from a walk 3-5-15

I think today was the seventh day the kids have missed school on account of snow this winter! That is practically unheard of here in central Arkansas. Looks like they’ll be in school until the 4th of July! Let’s hope not.

Last night’s snow storm produced the most winter weather we have seen this year. We had about 3  inches of sleet followed by about 3 inches of snow.

I know some of you from outside the South are laughing at that. I get it. We used to live in Indiana. This stuff shut down the schools, the malls, offices. Chip drove home yesterday as it was all getting started. He said the Interstate was bad.

Check out my fancy snow trekkers! They are little slip-ons that go over your regular shoes. Nifty, huh?! My in-laws got them for me for Christmas. At the time, I wondered if I would ever use them-that’s how little winter weather we get around here.  I sure was glad I had them today! I didn’t slip once!

We are all home today. Our “to-do” list consists of drinking hot chocolate, playing board games and strolling around the block.

So, here are scenes from the walk!

I was happy to have a walking partner today.

Many of these buildings and houses are on the National Register of Historic Places.

We weren’t the only ones out and about–

some folks, however, might wish they had stayed home!

Looks like this awning had all the sleet and snow it could handle.

Having 4-wheel drive means you are invincible, right?

Here is Chip-standing in the middle of the road while there is zero traffic.

Hey, look! Signs of Spring!!!

For some reason, I don’t think our little solar lights are going to gather much sunshine like this.

Even the winter decorations on the porch (okay, they are leftover from Christmas) look pretty with snow on them.

I hope you have enjoyed your snow days this winter. I was glad we got a really good dose this year. I think I’m ready for Spring now.

 

 

Ornament Exchange

I participated in the Arkansas Women Bloggers Ornament Exchange again this year. I participated two years ago. You can read about the postal adventure here.

I don’t remember why I didn’t play along last year. (See postal adventure post!)

I decided to be brave and try again this year. I am really glad that I did. Check out this adorable ornament I received from my Arkansas secret Santa…

Perfect!

This came from Tiffany over at Secret Life of a Betty Crocker Wannabe. Tiffany and I have never met but I think we would get along great! Tiffany is a baking contest junkie! I love that! The biggest baking contest I have ever participated in was the Lonoke County Fair. I think my big prize package was about $6.32.

Tiffany may be a Betty Crocker Wannabe but apparently she is quite a crafter as well. You can see her step-by-step tutorial for the ornament here.

This is the little note that was attached to the ornament.

The note says there is something hidden inside. I could not bring myself to cut into it to out take the treats. It was just too cute!

Here is the back, uncut.

Thanks so much for my Arkan-Santa, Tiffany! I hope we can meet at an ARWB function some day.

I know you are all wondering about the ornament I sent.

I sent my ornament to Gina from Desperately Seeking Gina. I met Gina when I attended my first Arkansas Women Bloggers event.

Gina is a crafter–with a real craft room and everything! That was a little intimidating. I felt up for the challenge though.

Here is the ornament I sent Gina. Hopefully, I will be able to post a “how to” soon. You can see it on her tree here.

I got a little extra crafty and made the card out of old Christmas cards.

There was no postal drama this time! My ornament made it to Gina’s just fine.

Merry Christmas, Tiffany and Gina. I’m so glad y’all played along this year.

 

Scenes from a Walk 12-15-14

I decided to go on a walk this morning. Never mind the fact that there is a list of things to do today that is long as my arm! I figured I needed to walk since the high today is supposed to be close to 70–ugh! Don’t worry, it will be back to the mid 40s later in the week. Ahhh, Christmas time in the South!

I’ve been busy lately, like the rest of the world. Unfortunately some of those holiday pounds have found their way into my jeans!

A walk was necessary. It actually was even on my mile-long list, so was blogging!

So, for your viewing enjoyment, today I bring you the second installation of Scenes from a Walk. You can see the first one here.

Our neighbors put up this HUGE wreath every year. This year Kim added lots of magnolia leaves. It looks fabulous, especially with the spotlight on it at night.

Several of the shop windows downtown are painted.

The beautiful old Christian Church has pretty wreaths on the doors.

The county courthouse is decked out, too.

I may have to take another walk soon just to see more Christmas decorations!

 

Scenes from a Walk 10-29-14

The weather has been beautiful the past few days!

Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 50s make for good walking weather.

I never use ear buds when I go walking. I like to hear everything around me–like cars!

I really enjoy hearing the leaves rustle in the wind and squirrels scamper up tree trunks.

Morning walks are a good way to sort through all the junk rattling around in my brain. Sometimes I even go on prayer walks and pray for the people in the houses and schools I pass along the way.

The other day, I decided to snap a few pictures while on my walk. I have actually done this before in hopes of starting a blog series. Well–here is your first installment of “Scenes from a Walk”. We’ll see if it becomes a series or not.

When I was a kid visiting my grandmother, my sister and I would get bored with “grown up” talk. The city park a couple of blocks away was a welcomed escape. I loved climbing on the sidewalk that had been displaced by tree roots.

I reminisced about those days and climbed on the concrete just like I used to do. What you don’t see in this picture is me almost doing a face-plant about 10 steps past the broken sidewalk! Unfortunately, the car whizzing by didn’t miss it!

We are just starting to see a little fall color here in Central Arkansas. I love it!

I like seeing other folks’ fall decorations.

Are you seeing fall colors in your neck of the woods?

Is your house ready for trick-or-treat festivities tonight?

 

The Root Cafe

Chip and I enjoy having a lunch date every now and then.

I have wanted to try out The Root Cafe for a while. It is on South Main in Little Rock, AR. The Root has several fun neighboring shops and restaurants.

The Root is all about “Building Community through local food!” They use as many products as possible from small local farms. Their menu even notes where items originate.

I arrived at the cafe before my date. There was quite a crowd, so I jumped in line.

The place is small. It used to be a dairy bar. Being elbow to elbow with other customers, I felt a little rude whipping out my phone to snap photos.

Keeping a sharp eye out for my date, I studied the menu while I waited in line.

I ended up having to let several folks jump me in line before Chip arrived.  Fortunately, we had studied the menu options on-line a bit the night before, so I knew what he wanted.

He showed up just as I was about to order his Deviled Egg Salad Sandwich and fries.

The bread for the sandwich came from one of the fun neighbors I mentioned, Boulevard Bread Company.

I had the Praline Salad. It was full of praline pecans. The dressing was a spicy cumin vinaigrette and it was very yummy. The salad was served with “seasonal” fruit. So, yours might look different when you go.

Dining indoors was a little cramped. We ended up on the side porch. There is also a front porch dining area as well as a small garden area. All were full!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at The Root. It felt very urban.

The food was really good. I loved the salad dressing on my salad. I stole a couple of Chip’s fries. They were quite tasty, too. I think next time, I will have a burger and sweet potato fries. I saw several being delivered to tables. They looked amazing.

Chip enjoyed the bread and the egg salad. However, being an egg salad connoisseurs, he was disappointed with the way the egg salad squished out of the bun. He recommends toast.

They had a display case full of lovely desserts. Sorry, no picture of the case. I did snap a shot of the HUGE Chocolate Chip Cookie we split.

After mowing down the cookie, we headed across the street to MOXY Modern Mercantile. It is a fun little shop with lots of unique gift items…

like this giant pencil!

 

The Root Cafe is a fun lunch date destination. Check it out!

 

Game Day Treats

Hooray! Time for college football!

I love fall–the back to school and eventual changing of the leaves. Nothing says fall in the South like a good college football game.

Last year I bought these fancy Jell-O molds.

The shaped jello was a huge hit.

Today, while awaiting the start of the Razorback game, I decided to conduct a little experiment: how would candy melts do in my jello mold?

The result: GREAT!

I had just a few red candy melts in my pantry-12 to be exact.

After heating the melts in a baggie in the microwave, I was able to cover 9 razorback wells.

I put the red candy in the pan then whacked in on the counter several times to get it to settle into all the cracks and eliminate bubbles.

You can see that the red part is not very thick. I used vanilla almond bark to fill in the rest of the mold. Since red and white are the Razorbacks colors, this worked great!

Remember to whack the mold on the counter again for the second color, if you use a second color.

I was a little scared to try to get the candy OUT of the mold.

When I first tried to pop them out nothing happened. So, I stuck the pan in the freezer for a couple of minutes. They came out without any problems. I did not grease the mold.

These would be ADORABLE on top of cupcakes!

You can get other college molds here.

Have fun with these adorably delicious treats!

Wooo, Pig, Sooiee!