May 19 2007
A Real Historic View
Saturday’s post at One Wink at a Time inspired me to finally use two pictures I’ve been holding for future use. Her post reminded me so much of something I would have written when we lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas that I just had to share these.
The following pictures are deck views from the house where Ben lived his first year. I bet you can guess which is from Autumn and which is from Winter.
Click for bigness and sharpness.
The tree at dead center (and appropriately lifeless) in the picture above was covered in dark green wild grape leaves the year before. The tree reaching out of the upper right corner had been completely covered, too, and was on its way to an untimely death. You can still see the tangle of vines on both. The winter before this picture I borrowed a hand saw from a friend and spent an entire morning on the wooded hillside severing the vines as far down as I could trace them.
I loved spending mornings out there on the deck listening to innumerable songbirds, native and migratory, searching for mates or just announcing their claim on their territory. Occasionally I caught a glimpse of them through the leaves, but for viewing I usually had to retreat inside the sliding glass doors and let those who would come to the feeders.
It is now, living where we do now, that I fully understand why so many people had retirement or vacation homes all around us in Bella Vista. Well, that and the nine 18-hole golf courses. But we were more into the natural attractions.
Welby…That was a cool house. Selfishly, I wish you had stayed there, because I travel there all of the time now and I’d be able to hang out in the evening and see you guys alot more often. Golf would have been cool too.
We never did get to try all of the courses. In fact, I think we only played 9 on one of the course as far as I can recall. Maybe we played 18…I can’t remember now.
That fall picture is incredible. You must have caught that one in that 2-3 day window when everything is at its peak. The snow one is cool too, but I really like the fall colors.
I wish you guys were closer. I think about it all of the time.
I like the fall colors too Mark. Sounds like a great family home.
Living where I do, and seeing all that flora our your back view, my first thought was, “Wow… I wonder what the mosquitoes are like in the summer.”
But then I started thinking about how gorgeous that was, and how I’d never really pictured snow in Arkansas before. I really like that tiny splash of pink in there too.
In Texas by some weird twists of fate, eh?
Charles - Cool house, indeed. Well, cool location, anyway.
Yep, we only ever played nine holes there.
There are lots of things we miss about living in AR, not the least of which is my family (and a smidge of Shannon’s).
Anna - It’s funny you mentioned its being a great family home, because it had a pretty much nonexistent yard in front or back. So, short of playing in the deep woods or the asphalt cul-de-sac, the family time would have been indoors or on the 12-foot high deck.
Then again, there were the totally killer hiking trails within a few miles. And places that inspired the United States’ first National River within 100.
Simon - Them skeeters was like small birds, ‘cept they didn’t sing as purty.
But seriously, the view could calm me no matter what had happened that day or the day before.
The pink, I admit, is from a potted flower on the deck rail.
Of course we get snow in Arkansas — if you know where to go. Canada snow? No. But a good six- or eight-incher each winter, with a few two-to-fours thrown in on occasion, isn’t unusual. That corner of the state always gets more than the rest.
Wow, what a different look from you present abode. When we moved in our house there were just tons of vines choking the trees. It took weeks to cut them and then years to finally get them all out of the trees by pulling or waiting for the wind to do it.
Two of the trees we saved were destroyed in this years ice storm.
Wow…. nice woods out back!
And you left that? *LOL*
That’s beautiful.
I somehow am always pulled between a downtown condo and a cottage in the country with a big yard and few neighbours. I’m not exactly sure how to make peace between that dichotomy.
I’ve seen a shot somewhere of your deck before and wondered what it took to get you to leave for Texas. Now that you’ve twice posted pics of the deck and not the rest of the house…I’m beginning to get the idea that the deck was the prime draw of the home. But a fine draw it is. Absolutely stunning view. Sure beats my nicely framed view of my neighbors wandering around their kitchen.
Wow. Did you live in a tree house?
I have a cousin who once lived in a tree house. He also drove a hearse. He’s also worked Security at both Woodstocks. He is one of my favorite people.
162!
I guess I forgot to re-visit this post. Thanks for the comments, folks. It figures that the good folks who read here are into nature, too.
Alvis - It took me a second, but 9 x 18 = 162. Nice one, Alvis. Nice one.