Autumn in the Ozarks - The preview

[Paul_Guraedy]

My Frien's there is nothing quite like autumn in the Ozarks. The temperature starts downward, ticks and chiggers disappear and the woods are no longer threatening. There are "fall festivals" in every little settlement. The smell of apples being turned into cider and apple butter permeate the air, crafts are displayed everywhere.

Visitors even get to enjoy the thrill of danger. Those little old ladies sitting over there look innocent enough. But, one should be thinking "Arsenic and Old Lace". Those fried pies they sell beg to be enjoyed but like many things in the "Hills" the recipes are unchanged from what "my Momma taught me"! Yep, think "Hawg". That ubquitous symbol of Arkansas. Exciting to hunt, wonderful in Bar B Que and the somewhat less than secret ingredient to real fried pies. Each year I set out with the firm resolution to eat just one; but end up deciding that my pacemaker did not pitch too much of a fit when that lard hit the blood stream.... so it ought to be able to handle two. Hope this is like the previous years and I end up writing in my end of the year letter..."made it through another".

This season started off slow and without much promise for anything other than relief from summer. Then, about a week ago, it started picking up steam and appears to be head towards a beautiful extended autumn. The hills are going from the deep green of summer to a multitude of colors ranging from the deep purple of sweetgum, through the yellows of persimmon and hickory to the red and gold of the maples.

I am planning on heading out through the hills of Eureka Springs to the NW Arkansas show this Saturday. What a day to look forward to! A drive through a kaleidascope to enjoy several hours of visiting with woodcarvers in person.

As they say, "it don't get no better than this"!

I took these photos, from my front porch, a couple of days ago and thought I would share a little of the pleasure with my Frien's.

[rare yellow zebra]

Paul,

Yep, yer a lucky man. A lovely spot to sit & have a morning coffee. We get some bold, lovely colours up here in Ontario too, but have never seen a deep purple like your sweetgum becomes. It's gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your fall view.
Jay

[Druid]

I would get soooo bored with that view, trees trees and more bloody trees......................




HA! not really, your a very lucky man Paul, the word bliss comes to mind. Nothing sweeter than sitting in the open air, be it woods or mountains.

[SeaLeveler]

Preciate the pics,right nice looking place there.
Tony

[cb1959]

Fall in the Ozarks is sometimes spectaluar, like your pictures show. I had a conference one year at University of Arkansas and a couple from Boston came and were so impressed with the fall colors that year. They had toured Vermont and felt our color that year surpassed it up there. We have a street in Fayettevile with Maple trees on both sides that turn a bright yellow to orange each year. A drive down it leads you into a bright glow. Just amazing color filtering down. Paul I think you may have gotten more rain than over here, Our color has not really set in this year but it is still very pretty.
Be sure and look me up at the show, we are going to have some real impressive carvings this year.
By the way there are a record number of Craft Shows here this year. A whopping 25 that took ads in the paper map insert and I am sure there are probably that many more that do not advertise.
Charlie

[mpounders]

Arkansas has a beauty that a lot don't know about! I like seeing the hills in the fog or when snow is falling. And don't get me started about the lakes! You know the rest of the day is going to be great when you start out with a view like that.

[torpidhummer]

Paul,you brought back some great memories,of my trip across country to visit our daughter station at Fort Bragg.The trip was in the fall we took a detour and stayed in
the Ozarks. What great place to be in during the Fall of the years. Thanks for the memories.
Oscar

[Kadiddle]

Wow Paul, that is some mighty fine views you got going on there.Like the rare yellow zebra, I dont think I have seen the purple ones before around here. Thanks
Carve On,
Kadiddle

[draft51@aol.com]

Theres nothing like fall and the beauty it produces, Thanks Paul. fred k

[Mark Dellinger]

Paul,

That is a beautiful view that you have there.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark