December'23/January'24 Casual Country Magazine

Casual Country Country

A Birders Winter Delight

My Life So Far

The Cabin &

Celebration of Our Rural Ozark Life

Mountain View - Allison - Calico Rock - Fifty Six - Big Flat - Fox - Leslie

Dec’23/Jan‘24

Happenings

December 31st

New Years Eve

January 1st New Years Day

1st Days Hike

10am join at the park sign in large parking lot at Ozark Folk Center for First Day Hike

6th

Book Sale - Stone County Library

9:30am - 1pm lots of fiction, romance, mystery

13th

2nd Saturday Song Writers Circle Arkansas Craft School … 2pm

25th

Full Moon ~ The Wolf Moon

This is a great time to catch up on your reading, writing, knitting, just sitting, walking, talking with friends or a project you didn’t have time for in ’23…

This calendar will start filling up in March….send me anything you think should be on it……Joy

Letter from the Publisher

Each month I have learned so much from publishing this magazine…not just what is inside the cover, but all the hours I spend looking up all the different references the writer has alluded to, a word I may not understand that leads me to an afternoon of reading, a name (like Leon Niehues) that sent me off reading his entire website one evening and marveling at his most unique basketry. Considering my experience with Casual Country has been the same from it’s beginning back in April…I only wonder when my head will burst wide open and spill out with all this new found knowledge. Oh well, a girl reads what a girl wants to read!

This month we are transferring to a bi-monthly magazine…..I think this will be great for the writers….the’ll usually have two months to get their next article in….more time to think about different subject matter. I’ll also be much easier on me…2023 was a very challenging year for me physically…broke my hip and had a heart operation in April then a serious back problem put me in the hospital in November and I’m still not recovered fully from that…. so bi-month is just what is needed in my life…to be able to catch up!

My son’s been doing the grocery shopping and he came home with a big bag of birdseed and was telling me about the different choices and prices. Well, I’ll tell you….they were wrong about this bag…it only listed two birds that would eat it, one of the finches and I can’t remember the other. When I watched out the window today there was a non-stop large family of Tufted Titmouse, Cardinals, an oversized Woodpecker, a bunch of finches and miscellaneous other birds that I couldn’t identify. Glad they didn’t read the bag or the feeder wouldn’t already be empty!

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Winter Cheers, Joy

Email: casualcountrymagazine@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/casualcountrymagazine/ Phone: 870-213-6135

P.O. Box 1777, Mountain View, AR 72560

223 West Main

870-269-5455

870-214-8253

This Months Contributors:

Aaron Gschwandegger, Deb Jolly

Joey Sciarra, Karen Avey, Bruce L.

Publisher & Editor Joy Harp

Aaron Gschwandegger A Birders Winter Delight

December and January are great times to look for birds in our area. Not only does the winter provide a great background for the usual favorites, there are also different birds that only visit during the winter.

Check out these pictures I had taken around this time in year’s past.

It’s impossible to explain creativity. It’s like asking a bird, ‘How do you fly?’ You just do.

— Eric Jerome Dickey.

Left…The male Cardinal is always a standout, especially when there is a crisp white snow.

Below…The female Cardinal is also beautiful against the gray and white winter landscape.

Left…Cedar Waxwings can sometimes be seen in our area during these months. This picture was taken in late December,

Below…House Finches and Purple Finches are a colorful sight during this time. This side by side comparison shows the differences between the males of both species. Purple Finches are only winter visitors and leave during early spring.

Right…Finches are still present in the winter. The male Goldfinches are much more muted during the winter months, but still retain a little pop of gold.

Below…It’s hard not to be enamored with the puffball of a bird known as the Carolina Chickadee. In this picture he is perched on sparkling icy branches during early December.

Left…Mourning Doves look peaceful while perched in a snowfall. They are usually seen in flocks.

Below…The Tufted Titmouse is full of character and has a subtle but beautiful coloring.

Above…The Dark-Eyed Junco is a common winter visitor. This one looked great next to these rusty and green hues.

Left…Another seasonal visitor this time of year is the Fox Sparrow. Their pattern is quite striking and the rusty brown with gray coloring provides great contrast.

There are many woodpeckers in our area and they all have quite the personalities. These are a few of my favorites.

Right…The Red-Headed Woodpecker features a bright scarlet color over the male’s entire head. He really stood out against the bright blue sky and white snow in this picture.

Right…Lastly, the ornery Blue Jay cannot, or rather, will not be ignored. They can be a bit of a bully but look at how pretty his blue pops out in the snow. Especially with the red of a cardinal in the background.

Left…The Red-Bellied Woodpecker features a black and white pattern and the male also has orange on it’s head.

The “red bellied” description refers to a subtle reddish hue that is present on the male’s underside. However, it’s not often he lets you see it.

Left…The male Northern Flicker has a small reddish-orange spot on the back of it’s head. What he lacks in bright color, he more than makes up for in the variety of patterns all over it’s body.

There many more birds out there in the winter that can be seen. All you need is some time, some patience, and perhaps a coat!

No matter what yesterday was like, birds always start a new day wi th a song!

J. A. Sciarra

Did you ever wake up, Oh, early in the morning, and have something to write? To you this might sound boring.

This thing you just might slight and drift back off to sleep. Might you turn the light, without getting to your feet.

And thus it will be gone, when the rooster rousts you awake. Like a dream you thought was long, just droplets in a lake.

So make a little note when that idea does come again. Glad you got up and wrote, with that idea fresh in your head.

Because, those ideas are fleeting glances, from the kiosks of your mind. Kindlings of random chances, pictures for the blind.

For the wisdom is all up there, like stories never told. Gifts that come from somewhere, till your pen and you behold.

The intricacies of life, in all its splendid colors. Answers to some strife, a world that always wonders.

Consider it a gift and not some burdensome task. Stories from sleeping bliss are clear as polished glass.

© Joey Sciarra

Memories of a Northern Flicker

I am very partial to this male Northern Flicker. (the one on the Front Cover)

Many years ago I was driving down a street in town and there sat one in the middle of the street with no intention of moving. I got out and picked him up in my hand…. that fat fluffy breast in the palm of my hand. He was completely dazed so I took him home to give him some water and a safe place to rest and recoup.

About 30 minutes later he was ready to let back outside.

So I put him in a shoe box, closed the lid, and headed back to where I’d found him. What happened next was a real surprise.

I placed him off the street on a hedge in a yard… next thing I knew he was immediately joined by a female flicker… such a beautiful sight that was. And I have forever been enthralled by the feel of him in my hand and the knowledge that they lived on together.

—Joy H.

Perhaps I am a bear, or some hibernating animal, underneath, for the instinct to be half asleep all winter is so strong in me.

—Anne Morrow Lindbergh

My Life So Far

By Bruce

My Mother, as I remember her, was a little slip of a thing. She was black with splashes of orange on her fur. She wore a beautiful purple collar with what is called a “bell”.

According to her she was head butted and licked by a traveling salesman, fell for his charms and found herself in a family way. A handsome gray tabby, he was a cad leaving the territory when he discovered his short lived joy had turned her into a round heeled cat.

There were originally seven of us. Six girls, Adelaide, Cassie, Diane, Effie, Frances, Gigi and myself, the runt and only boy in the litter, Bruce.

So listen carefully, this is my story.

Mom was a terrific mom. Our home was under a rickety old porch of a log cabin in the woods near a town called Leslie. Funny giving a town a cat name.

She found bits of cloth, cotton, leaves and it was quite toasty under the porch. Our closest neighbor was a gentlemanly possum and 2 rowdy armadillos who did not speak much but were constantly digging and making all sorts of commotion.

As we got older our eyes opened, the world expanded. We started exploring the world beyond the porch. If we got to far afield we would let out our little mews and Mom would come find us, grab us by the scruff and plop us back on the porch.

There were also mice to play with. They were sneaky and only came out at night. They would run as fast as their little legs would carry them around the perimeter of the rooms. They had some sort of mouse challenge going on because every so often a braver mouse would skitter directly from one corner of the room to the other. A mad dash across the carpet, under the coffee table, beneath the recliner, to a hole that was in the wall by that corner.

That was our moment. My sisters and I would pretend to be asleep and as soon as we heard that little scratch of claws on the floor we would try to pounce and win the prize. It was a great game and taught us a lot about life.

Then, one day our beautiful mom went out and never came back. We waited for days forlornly but there were no letters. Finally, we realized life had to go on and we continued with our mouse games and playing with the other kittens in the house.

Next, the human started feeding us less and less. She spent most of her days in the recliner with her chin on her chest dozing. The television was on with no picture, only continuous stripes going up and down.

I’m not sure of the time frame but another younger woman started coming in the mornings to make sure our human was ok. She did not like all the cats and kittens in the house. A purge began. We were tossed outside one by one as she unceremoniously swept us out like so much trash with a broom.

Of course my sisters and I had our old home under the porch. It was now vastly improved by Mr. Possum and after some discussions we were allowed to move back in.

Sadly, the downward spiral was to continue. We really did not know how to find food. The mice seemed to have figured out this was not the best place to inhabit and they moved on.

My sister Addie simply passed. She was found lifeless on the porch by the visiting human who cruelly put her little body in the garbage. Addie was so pretty. She looked like Mom, black with those darling splashes of orange, and she had a pretty white vest which she probably inherited from dad.

It was definitely getting tougher to eat, but we survived the cold time and suddenly small lizards appeared on rocks to sun themselves. You had to be very quick though as they were faster than the mice. You often would end up with only a tail in your paws as dinner raced under a pile of stones.

Next to go were Frances and Diane. They told us that they were going out into the world and would bring us back treats. They never came back. We mourned in our kittenish way. But soon it became clear that we had to get back to business.

Across the road was a seemingly nice man who had a dog and a cat which he fed on his porch. He also had 3 armadillos under his porch and a possum which I guess was a cousin to our possum.

After dark, I would cross the road to see if there was any food left in the bowls. I was so very hungry. One night this human man discovered me pawing at the metal bowls. He went inside and brought out a nice plate of kibble and fresh water. I was so thankful that I started visiting everyday. The dog ignored me as did his cat. The armadillos as usual were rude and not companionable.

It turned out this human man, Bob, had a friend who was petless. She was to reluctantly become my human. She drove over one day with a big crate in her car and waited with Bob on the porch until I showed up for dinner.

At this point I was very friendly with Bob, curling around his legs, rolling on my back with my head on his shoe, purring, doing anything that came to mind so he would continue to feed me.. I was very dependent on his good will and would never scratch the hand that fed me.

Bob picked me up and placed me into the crate. The woman human drove off to parts unknown. I yeowled all the way having never been in a car—- the drive was endless. She wrestled the crate inside (it really was dog sized) and put blankets, a bed, food and water and a litter box inside. There I stayed for 3 days or so.

It was important to earn human trust. She read

Finally my horizons expanded a little. She let me out of that darn crate and set up a bed in what is called the kitchen. Exploring was fun there. I liked to get up on the counter and sniff at a bowl of fruit. One day she caught me and bopped my rear with a newspaper. Counters were out of bounds and I respected her for setting those boundaries.

Little by little more of the house became open for exploration. She had a great bed, quite high off the ground and had lots and lots of bed pillows on it. That was my fav. Scrunching up the feather pillows into a nest just like my real Mom had made and looking out the window at my new world....my new home.

Then, after what seemed like months the front door opened and I was let out to explore my new world. She had a great, messy, yard with lots of trees and shrubs and leaves to hide in and soak away the day. Occasionally she would leave her car window open and I would leap inside and curl up on the driver's seat so I could have her scent. When any strange car came into the driveway it was my duty to greet them and decide whether they were friend or foe.

Once I brought her a monster wood rat as a present. I was so proud, it was the biggest I had ever snagged, and it proved that my hunting skills were still sharp.

But my human always had food and water out for me and there was no need to hunt. And I was changing from a runt into a stately cat. I didn’t like going after the pretty cardinals in her yard. The lizard - that lived by her porch - well let’s just say we established a laissez faire relationship. She had a possum as well. Those possums sure do have a lot of relatives.

It is my job to protect her and I take that very seriously. My favorite time is bedtime. When my new mom goes to bed, turning out the lights she pats the bed which is my signal to start sentry duty. . I leap up onto the bed and curl my body next to her with my head on her shoulder, facing the window so that I will see any threats that appear at night. My whiskers tickle her face and she brushes them away.

“I have studied many phi losop hers and many cats. The wi sdom of cats is in fini tely superior .”

—Hi ppolyte Tai ne

My Final Thoughts Before Bedtime

I have found my true calling. I think my human really loves me and I certainly do love her. I am a very happy and immensely lucky cat.

“Making awesome happen one jar at a time”

Jam is typically served on toast, hot fresh baked bread along with butter, biscuits, pancakes, French toast, bagels (with or without cream cheese), English muffins, scones and croissants.

It makes an excellent topping on plain cheesecake, ice cream, pound cake and on thumb print cookies (before they bake), or sandwiched between layers of cake.

I’m not a hot oatmeal fan but I’m told by friends that a couple spoonfuls of jam added to oatmeal is delicious! Likewise with plain or Greek yogurt.

And lets not forget a wonderful milkshake….experiment and find the combo you like.

As my two sons were growing up I always made a couple dozen jars of strawberry jam every summer. We were always out by December!

They’d come home after school, put two or three big scoops of ice cream in the blender, a little milk and a couple spoons of strawberry jam…said it was the best strawberry milkshake they’d ever had… and that was also echoed by any of their friends who stopped by….

Excellent added to a sandwich: great addition to cold turkey, chicken sandwich or any meat or veggie sandwich. Would be good used plain or stirred up with mayonnaise or mustard first. Try on a grilled cheese sandwich.

When barbecuing or cooking in the kitchen, brush ribs, chicken breasts and thighs, etc., pork steaks and tenderloin with jam. Either add the jam to your barbecue sauce or make your own sauce by mixing

your desired jam with some white wine, salt, maybe some dijon mustard and if still too sweet for you, a bit of lemon juice. Mixed with your meat choice this would be great served over rice.

I’ve been making my rice this way for over 55 years & it never fails me. Once you get used to the recipe it’s so easy. Julia Child recipe originally. Herb Bouquet: 2 parsley sprigs, ⅓ bay leaf, ⅛ t. thyme tied in cheesecloth. (opt.)

Rice Risotto 6 cup fireproof casserole w/tight fit lid Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

4 T. Butter & ¼ cup diced onion in casserole & cook for about 5 min. on stove top. Don’t brown the onions.

1 ½ cups uncooked rice - add to casserole & cook for several min. not letting the rice brown. The rice will first become translucent, then white.

3 cups vegetable, mushroom, beef or chicken broth & herb bouquet are then slowly added to the casserole, then bring to a simmer. Stir once, cover & place in oven.

As soon as it has a slow boil (about 5 min) reduce heat to 350 degrees. Cook 18 to 20 min. until liquid has absorbed. Remove from oven. Let sit covered for 15 min. Check to see if all liquid has been absorbed. If not, place back in oven for 4 or 5 min. Discard herb bouquet if you used one and serve…Bon Appétit..Joy

Here’s more ideas for using Ozark Pantry’s Artisan Jams…..Just some basic ideas - So use your imagination.

Winter Berries

There is always beauty to be found in nature anytime of the year. As winter approaches most of the leaves have fallen from the trees and the spring ephemerals are taking a nap.

The barren trees create beautiful silhouettes during the evening sunsets and colorful berries show off during sunny days, such as Coral Berry and PossumHaw, found throughout the Ozarks.

Coral Berry

Coral Berry, [Symphoricarpos orbiculatus], is also called Buckbrush and Indian currant. It is a woody species in the honeysuckle family and grows 3 to 4 feet tall forming colonies of protective thickets for small birds and mammals. It is suitable for a wide range of environmental conditions from full sun to partial shade and tolerates poor soil. This is an ideal plant for slopes difficult to mow.

Deer will seldom browse the plant. The berries are toxic to humans due to containing saponin, and taste bitter.

The bushes can be cut back to about a quarter to the ground in late winter to early spring to increase berry production and keep any pathways clear from potential coralberry runners. They spread by runners that are on top of the ground and also spreads where its arching branches touch the ground.

The tiny bell shaped greenish white flowers bloom from July through August with clusters of 10 to 20 flowers on the tips of stems. The inconspicuous flowers provide nectar for native bees and honey bees.

The Snowberry Clearwing and some hummingbird moths use Coral Berry as a host plant for their caterpillars.

“Buckbrush” was used by Indigenous people for basket making. The Buckbrush basketry has historic significance among the Cherokee. Arkansas’s own world famous basketmaker, Leon Niehues, has used this plant in some of his beautiful creations.

Take a drive on one of the many roads throughout our National Forest to eye these beautiful berries along the roadside, woodland edges and open fields.

14 Dec ’23/Jan ’24

The reddish pink berries start forming on the arching branches in September through October and generally stay throughout the winter and become tastier to many birds, including Cardinals, Quail, Turkey, Robins, various grosbeaks, Cedar Waxwings & Thrushes.

Deb Jolly

PossumHaw

PossumHaw, [Ilex deciduous] is a deciduous native holly.

This small shrub or tree can be found on limestone bluffs, along streams, on wet woods, lowland valleys and fencerows growing 7 to 15 feet tall. The creamy white flowers can start appearing in March through May and attracts many butterflies and bees and are host plants to caterpillars of several moths and butterflies.

The berries appear in September through October. The leaves fall once a hard freeze occurs, thus the reddish berries give pleasure to the eyes all of winter and are used in Christmas decorations.

PossumHaw berries are food for many birds and mammals

Including Bluebirds, Thrushes, Cedar Waxwings, Redbellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, turkey as well as opossums and raccoons. Deer will nibble on the leaves.

The berries are toxic to humans.

PossumHaw requires a female and male tree to produce the berries.

The Coral Berry and Possum Haw are excellent native plants to add to your woodland landscape.

“Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of Arkansas”

authored by Jennifer Ogle,Theo Witsell and Johnnie Gentry is an excellent field guide to have on hand while exploring the Ozarks,

The winter is kind and leaves red berries on the boughs for hungry sparrows.

—John J. Geddes

Karen Avey

The Cabin

Where Memories and Friendship Abounds

During the winter months casual country homes are decorated in imaginative ways. Neighborhoods take on the look of a peaceful “movie set” as we turn our focus to seasonal activities. For many, especially children, memories of the holiday season will last a lifetime. Christmas events hosted throughout the community bring out the best in us. Cards arrive from friends and family and we appreciate the value of being remembered. Warm, fuzzy Christmas emotions renew the promise of peace on earth and kindness toward others.

With the holiday season approaching, where will you be? The answer to this question often begins with a location. The location being a place where we feel secure, loved, and hopeful. “The Cabin” a residence in Mountain View, Arkansas is a location that exemplifies security, love, and hope. The owner, Penny Childs, is a part-time resident who designed and decorated “The Cabin” adding just the right touch, which by the way is the touch she hoped for!

Years ago, Penny’s Dad and son Heath visited Mountain View and came home to talk about the Mayberry feel of the small Ozark town. She could not believe the impression it made on them and decided to visit and see for herself. Penny said, “I found the residents were so friendly everywhere and so were the business owners. They often asked me if I wanted a job. I found lots of variety in the community. Festivals and events are hosted throughout the year. There is free local music on the court square from April to October. I could bring my lawn chair; sit down and enjoy the music as children run about in a safe place.”

“The older I became and the more family and friends I lost; reality set in how short life really is. I began soaking up memories all the way back to my grandma. It means so much to have my grandma’s apron and grandpa’s straight razor and razor strap.

When I go junking and buy something, I buy it to restore a memory. Rust is in my blood! When I see the Stone County line, my frame of mind changes and it is a healthy change! I know I can laugh, cry and share precious memories with friends in Mountain View.”

Penny’s great-grandmother was born in the foot hills of Tennessee and therefore Penny believes she was misplaced in the Arkansas delta area. When her mother passed about ten years ago, she talked it over with Heath and they decided to sell the house and build in Mountain View. Penny feels she is at home after building “The Cabin” in Mountain View.

When entering the cabin for the first time, two things cross your mind. First, this country home is the essence of memorabilia and sentiments. Second, this cabin may be a time-machine, and we have departed on a wintery, holiday adventure. Not everyone has a cabin to display a love of memories in every corner. Therefore, friends share things with Penny that have a special meaning. As a friend, it is a beautiful thing to see Penny’s gratitude as she accepts a gift. One friend brought Penny hair clippers made in Germany almost 100 years ago. Penny’s face lit up with excitement! Another sentimental object finds a home, and a new memory is kindled between two friends. They are displayed in the original box, along with the inspection papers signed “Inspector 49.”

As she holds granddaughter, Corrie Ella, Penny talks about the legacy she hopes to leave for family members. “The most important thing during the time I have spent in Mountain View, I have made true friendships.” Friends know Penny is always ready to jump in and help. She volunteers to improve the lives of community members. She is a friend who is fully engaged in traditions of the Ozark rural life.

As residents of the Ozarks, we have opportunities to filter out fast, anxious lifestyles. We enjoy as much or as little of the newest and next best thing as we desire. On occasion, we may enjoy as much or as little of the past as we desire. Ozark Mountain children may witness and soak up the traditions of days gone by. Mountain View, Arkansas captures the imagination of residents and visitors alike. If you desire to visit a location that evokes warm, fuzzy emotions, and renews the promise of peace on earth and kindness toward others, you will find it here.

Casual Country Living

Are there plans for retirement in your future with a more leisurely lifestyle?

Or your own spot to take in the Total Solar Eclipse on 4/8/24? Then this is your place!

Building Lots in…. Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas

A ‘Land of Lakes’

It’s in the Path of Totality for the Eclipse

The perfect place for nature lovers….spend your days filled with boating, floating, canoeing, hiking, golfing then cuddling into your dream home for the night!

The fresh air and laid-back lifestyle is a sure cure for these modern times. You can leave the hurried and congested life behind…and to boot Horseshoe Bend is very affordable and building costs are lower than the national average.

Horseshoe Bend has mild winters, pleasant summers and the spring and fall are glorious. Year-round activities center around an abundance of magnificent lakes, the Strawberry River, the village bowling alley, a nine hole golf course and an 18 hole golf course with clubhouse and an indoor swimming pool.

We have beautiful wooded lots, view lots and golf course lots for sale!

$3500 to $6000 per lot

Golf Course lots have electric, water and sewer available. Other lots have electric and water available. All are level lots on paved streets and easy to build on.

. For more information: Call or Text 650-995-2369 Or email: L.L.A.P.Properties@gmail.com

~ Live Long and Prosper ~

Mr. Cardinal reminds us that ‘the only way to get to spring is through winter’.

So cuddle up nice and warm with a good book or seed catalog and start dreaming away… But don’t forget to feed your friendly flyers over winter!

Our next issue will be the February/March issue.

See you then….