Dog Fighting

This is the only dog fighting I condone! ;)

~sorry~

I'm sorry. I really am. But, I am the mother of a boy. One boy. One {not so} little boy.

And when the mother of a growing up boy comes across something like this:

[Stephen at Vacation Bible School - Summer 2003 - age 5]

She must take a moment. Or two. And stop cleaning out her kitchen cabinets. And just be nostalgic.
For just a moment.

Am I wishing my life away?

Because I have such a yearning for Autumn Breezes

and FALLing leaves

F O O T B A L L

and cold SNAPS

and PuMpKiNs

and APPLE butter

and BONfires

H A Y R I D E S

and bakery scented CanDLES

HALLOWEEN
THANKSGIVING

and holiday CraFtINg...

{sigh}

~did I mention?

It's football season!

{Stephen after his first practice}

Being Loved...

It's an awesome thing!

Our Weekend in Mena

Mena is located at one end of the Talimena Scenic Drive through the Ouachita Mountains. This drive is particularly beautiful in late October and early November when the leaf change is peaking and your eyes feast upon vibrant golds and oranges.

Here is a photo from our visit last November:

This time of year, (August) the landscape is green and lush. And on Saturday there was a freak weather system that kept temperatures at 71 or below. Considering we are now home in Texas and temps are expected to be 103 degrees, you can imagine what a treat that was! It was also misty and overcast..which we LOVED!

We took our time driving along the Talimena and stopped for lunch at the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge.

Once we arrived in Mena, AR, we spent the afternoon visiting various antique and thrift stores. I even bought something!

I plan to use it in my craft room to store stuff in. Probably ribbon, or scrap fabric.

After the thrifting we decided to drive north towards Needmore, AR and do some driving deep into the Ouachita National Forest on dirt roads.

Look at those ears! I think Patch enjoyed hanging his head out the window on our drive!
On Saturday evening we went to Spinelli's Restaurant in Mena and had the firefly experience!

Sunday was a bit warmer with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s which made it the perfect time to head out to Little Missouri Falls for a swim. The waters are SO cold and there has been lots of rain this summer so there were great rapids and the falls were beautiful!

See the look on Stephen's face? These waters were COLD!


A lovely way to spend a weekend...

Where have all the fireflies gone?

(photo from www.stumbleupon.com)

I've been missing fireflies - or lightning bugs, as I grew up calling them. I remember many early summer evenings dashing about under big oak trees grabbing lightning bugs and quickly depositing them into one of Momma's canning jars. [And, yes, I mashed a few to take advantage of their glowing juices!] Is there anything more defining of rural summer youth? Well, maybe swinging from a knotted rope, hung on a sturdy tree branch and dropping into a refreshing body of water!

About two weeks ago I asked my hubby, "Where have all the lightning bugs gone? Do you suppose the fire ants have gotten them too?" He was as nonplussed as I.

And then, on Saturday evening, exiting Spinelli's Restaurant in Mena, AR, I spotted one! And I think I probably squealed in delight! And I implored V to drive to the back of the parking lot under some trees and look out onto a small meadow lined with more trees. And there my friends, were lightening bugs. LOTS of lightning bugs. And so we sat and Stephen had his first delightful experience with these charming insects.

Isn't it neat how God does that? As if to say, "Yep, they're still here. And so am I."