Casual Country, July 2023

July 2023

Happenings

Book Sale - Stone County Library

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

1st thru 4th - 7pm

Music on the Courthouse Stage

Mountain View

3rd

CALICO ROCK Fireworks Show

Earl King Park off Hwy 56 at dusk

4th

FOX July 4th Fun Fest

Food, Fun, Fireworks

Children’s Parade 5pm

MOUNTAIN VIEW

Parade at 10am followed by free hot dogs & watermelon

Fireworks when dark Stone County Recreational Complex off Knox

7th

Carolina Mendoza ClubPossum - 7pm

Ozark Tradition Music/Dance

Stage - 7pm

Christmas in July Craft Show

Letter from the Publisher

A lot has happened since the first publication of this magazine came out in April. And a lot hasn’t happened!

I’m dedicating this July issue to my younger brother, my best friend my whole life, someone I thought would move back and either live with me or near enough that we could visit four or five times a year. That won’t happen now. He passed away very unexpectedly Folk Fest weekend out in Berkeley, California.

Bill Weigel was without a doubt the kindest, most gentle person I’ve ever known and also the most brilliant. Most of my friends in Mountain View have never met him but know him from the many phone conversations they’ve overheard. If a question came up with a friend or at a gathering that we didn’t know the answer to…ring ring ring… brother..and I’d ask him the question and he’d know the answer. Some of these conversations got really off the wall at times….tell you about that sometime later.

He was a life long student and teacher. His last degree was a Doctorate of Linguistics and for a good many years he’d been teaching linguistics at UC Berkeley. His avocation was always music & he played a really good guitar, ukulele, oud & harmonica. (The rest of my story continues on page 7)

July River Kayaking & Creeking with Deb

What is one to do during the hot summer days? The answer is simple, enjoy the many water ways around the area. Be it fishing, swimming, creek wading or kayaking, one can beat the heat!

Get your spunk back on a hot summer day… our spring-fed, crystal clear creeks are the answer!

Keep an eye out for bald eagles and their lofty nests!

Kayaking is one of the most enjoyable and fun ways to navigate the White River offering many nature encounters and viewing lush vegetation, the most thrilling being the sighting of Bald Eagles. There are several areas to choose from in planning a float trip on the White River. Arranging the shuttle to the put in and take out spot is a main concern as well as knowing the water level. Expect a very fast float when the river is high due to the release of water from Norfork Dam. The water is generated at different times. The lower the level, the clearer the water becomes, giving pristine views of the bottom of the river where you can see the trout and some areas become so low to enable you to sit in the river to cool off from the heat.

Deb Jolly

Or head downstream in your kayak….pass the boat dock at Calico Rock with it’s shimmering colors reflected in the ripples…..then under the bridge headed to Glass Island…

Nicknamed Glass Island - down stream from Calico Rock - a shallow section of river where one can find old glass shards and interesting rocks. A wonderful place to stop and cool off in this shallow area of the White River. I am literally sitting in the river off Glass Island…that shallow!!

One fun area is Cresswell Island aka Glass Island just down river from Calico Rock. The nice gravel bar offers a great picnic site as well as a place to look for old glass and interesting rocks.

Some good choices to begin your float are the:

• Norfork ramp

• Red’s Landing where PJ’s restaurant is nearby

• Chessmond Ferry access next to Lindsey’s boat dock which makes for a very easy shuttle, being only 3 miles from the Calico Rock boat ramp for a take out spot.

Leaving from any of these spots takes you by the famous Calico City Rock Bluff.

A most enjoyable time is to leave from Chessmond Ferry at the end of the day to get off the water near dusk (about one and a half hour float), when the water level is up and paddle over Racetrack Shoals to head behind Herd Island. This narrow stretch of water is approximately one mile and heavily wooded along the banks where wildlife and birds abound. On any given day expect to hear or see mink, otters, turtles, deer, beavers, Great Blue Herons and Kingfishers. You might even hear a cacophony of owls.

There are several apps available for maps, water levels and GPS coordinates: River App, River Cast, American White Water and Streams app. It is always good to check the water level and obtain information on when water is being released from Norfork Dam.

When conditions are right and you’re lucky, the white mist magically appears out of nowhere offering a surreal, ethereal, peaceful feeling to your senses. The Van Morrison song, “Into the Mystic”, comes to mind. You also paddle by some magnificent large boulders emerging from the water. The beautiful bluffs of Calico Rock come into view as you are coming from behind Herd Island back into the White River that takes you on to the take-out at the Calico Rock boat ramp.

Photos & Feature by Deb Jolly

Other trip options are from the Optimus access to Allison and Allison to Round Bottom. Sometimes you can get shuttle service at Angler’s White River Resort.

The Rest…My Story

As I already stated a lot has happened and a lot hasn’t happened…..sounds like the whole world at the moment, doesn’t it? After my brother’s passing, I flew out to the San Francisco Bay Area to take care of his arrangements. Sadness and grief hit me from head to toe and my brain could hardly function. It had all been such a surprise and in my way of thinking…so wrong. On the third day there I fell late in the evening and broke my hip, was operated on the next day and then informed I needed heart surgery immediately. They operated again the next day on my heart. I don’t remember much about the first month because my grief was so great. The day I was moved from the hospital over to the rehab center I tested positive for covid and was put in quarantine…..I didn’t care….at least no one would bother me. Never came down with covid, but my son who had accompanied me to California wasn’t so lucky. As soon as he was well he came back to Arkansas.

After two months I was ready for the airplane flight back home so my son flew out again to see to my safe journey home. I learned a lot of things in rehab….the food was terrible…..the therapists were the greatest! As you get older keep your feet a foot apart as you walk, heal to toe. Pick up your feet and don’t shuffle…. surest way to fall is feet together and shuffling…and last, to sit down, feel the back of your knees on the chair…then hold onto the chair as you sit down.

I also learned that my brother saved my life…all my doctors told me that….that if he hadn’t died, I would have because my heart was not functioning correctly. Now we’re getting down to the point of my story. For years I’ve known something was wrong with me…couldn’t walk up hill, up stairs, down hill, more than 60 feet before feeling faint, etc. This had been going on for at least 15 years. I have no idea how many times I told various doctors but was reminded I wasn’t a young chick anymore. Really? So my advice to you: if you feel down deep that something is not right, don’t give up until you get answers and relief. Go to more than one specialist if you aren’t getting help.

The ironic thing is, my brother died of a heart attack caused by the same thing that was wrong with me. I stay awake at night wondering why he didn’t get help either, but I’ve been told that he had so many other medical conditions that they probably couldn’t have helped him. So I have to just accept that he saved my life……Joy

And as to the things that haven’t happened…..no magazine was published for May or June because I was such a mess….no coordination between spirit, brain, hands, body & computer……my sincere apologies.

Casual Country Living is Beyond Beautiful

Casual Country living is beyond beautiful, it may be a virtual view of heaven! When relocating to a small town, you may appreciate a little advice on how to fit in. Let’s keep the heaven analogy going for a moment. How will you enter heaven when the time comes? Putting your best foot forward, let’s not enter with “bluster” or “an uppity attitude”. We will enter smiling, shaking hands, saying how do you do?

Try to be humble, kind, and have a joke or two up your sleeve.

It may help to know the locals refer to anyone who enters the county as people from “OFF”, saying it loud and proud to let you know they recognize “OFF” as a country. It is a term all the neighbors will understand, as in “Have you seen those new folks from OFF?” In restaurants and retail shops you will hear clerks state, “You must be from OFF.” You will wonder if preachers lead off their sermons with, “God bless our congregation and those folks that are from OFF!”

By now, you will get a feeling you have been made? You may be thinking this must be a test of the local alert system? Important to know: Take note of the smile and glint of an eye as the expression is tossed about. The locals are quick to toss out humorous local quips. It is the “inside quote” of the day. It starts a communication as if to say, “Where are you from? How far away do you live, and what brings you to our little town?” Most visitors and new residents engage in friendly conversation afterwards.

So just go with it, let the conversation take a turn, and trust me it will. The community is well known as a friendly place, a secure place, and folks are really excited to relocate here.

There is a strong work ethic in small towns, and it is for good reason. Folks believe their beautiful little space in the world should remain strong, but at the same time not change. They love their community and are a bit worried about the world outside the place they were raised. While this is true, you will find the young and the old are accustomed to providing visitors a healthy dose of friendly nature. You will find many folks who are eager to help you as you adjust to your new surroundings.

Once you are settled in the community, look at opportunities to help others. As a volunteer, I have found happiness beyond measure. Most of us are blessed with gifts, experience, and hope for a better tomorrow. The rural areas of the country are desirable places to live, and you may add skills and find community service opportunities.

In my experience, a small community is invariably dependent on the giving and caring spirit of community volunteers. Join in a spirited involvement in planning, parks and recreation, gardening, office skills, etc. The more positive you feel about the community, the more positive the outcome. Be prepared to be recognized for volunteer efforts. There are a couple of “Nicknames” that characterize my years of community service. The nicknames I have attained thus far are “The Iris Lady” and “Forest Gump’s sister”. One fellow calls me “Iris Gump.”

The first nickname was to identify me as one of the volunteers planting irises all over town. The second name was pinned on me as I worked at the courthouse gardens. When pausing to rest on the courthouse benches, the interaction with visitors would begin. The stories shared blessed my soul more than I can say. People want to see smiles, talk, and take in the green space around our beautiful landscape. See yourselves finding peace, laughter, and good ol’ time fun in your new casual country living home.

Karen Avey, Mountain View, Arkansas 72560

Sarah Struthers

In Season … Dandelions

Spring blooms are all around at this point, and some gardeners may consider dandelions in their yard to be weeds. Instead of picking and discarding them, or even worse, spraying them with weed killer, consider options for working with your dandelions.

These bright golden flowers are more than meets the eye at first glance. Dandelions belong to the same family as the Sunflower.

Dandelions symbolize the return of life after a long winter and a bright display of strength and resilience. These plants are a symbol of healing, hope, and growth.

The name dandelion comes from the French “dents de lion,” or lion’s tooth. The plant has jagged looking leaves that look like a lion’s sharp tooth. Dandelion leaves are packed with nutrients. Leaves come in red or green variety. The bitter greens help stimulate healthy digestion and healthy kidney function.

Dandelion greens contain Vitamins A, C, K, E and folate. They also contain minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Dandelion greens have a bitter earthy flavor and can be cooked and used as you would spinach or kale. I like to add dandelion greens to pasta, soups, salads, grains or bean dishes for an extra burst of nutrients.

Dandelion root can also be used, as it can aid in healthy liver, gallbladder and immune function. Dandelion root can be made into tea or tincture. The root can also be purchased in capsule form, but I prefer to harvest and

When the bright yellow flower turns to seed, and little white seed puffs remain on the stem, pick the stem and blow the seeds while making a wish! Spread the seedlings and your wishes!

Sarah is an RN who loves hiking and exploring all the natural world on her time off.

Farmer’s Daughter

“If you find yourself worrying, go outside, take three breaths, address a tree and quietly say, ‘Thank you.’ If you can’t find a tree, a dandelion will do…

Virginia Ivy, Ivy Vacations

Buffalo River Snake Medicine

We floated for about 45 minutes in the wilderness. Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Amy found us an ideal home for the night; tall bluffs, shelter with trees, sand for sleeping, sounds of water running over shoals and a deep clear hole for swimming.

Just as we landed and lazily unpacked the boats, thunder in the distance got louder and the skies blackened to the north of us. Roiling clouds. Zero chance of rain forecast, but no surprise here. We were prepared. We went into 4th gear to get camp set up and shelter made. A big storm was brewing, yet the setting sun and blue skies were on our side of the river. It was hot and menacing. Taking a break in the creek chairs, Amy and I let out a hoot and holler to check out the echo on the bluff across from us.

We were immediately answered by a pack of coyotes. You know that sound that never fails to raise the hair on the arms no matter how many times you hear it; albeit usually in the dark.

A long-standing tradition on Buffalo floats, I waded out to cool off after we finished building our nest. The water was swift from all the recent rains so I walked upstream along the shallow gravel ledge. My intent was to simply float back to our chairs and avoid the deeper faster current midstream. Cool off. As I was approaching our camp, feet first, I got a peek at the next open gravel spot just past us. I could land there, check that out, walk back in 3 minutes. Hanging near the shoal the current wasn’t an issue. Bump bang ouch. I hit a submerged log and was swiftly dragged over it. The surprise scared me more than the protruding limbs hurt me. As I rolled off of it and was positioning myself to get back to the shore I barked out where the girls could hear me,

“Uh Oh. I’ve been hooked!” “Uh Oh. YOUCH”.

A fisherman’s line and hook had been caught on that submerged log. It was now on my thumb. I reached out in front of me to find the line attached to it and yank it from the log so that it didn’t yank the flesh off my body.

I recall holding the line with both hands with my arms fully extended. I must have done a good job yanking because the hook was now in my right calf. Yet I knew the line had been released. I was half a second from the shore and would get out there and extract the hook from my calf.

The girls had heard my yelps and walked through the trees to ensure my safe arrival. They were waiting for me. I walked up on the shore and there was a little blood on my right thumb and right calf but no hook. There were fang bites. I had been bitten by a snake, twice. No denying this. It was a snake I had been wrestling to free myself of in the water.

We were 10 miles from the next river takeout with no civilization between. It was 6pm. Storm pending.

Two days prior when planning for the trip we spoke about how to pack and how emergencies are handled. I let the words hang, “In 20+ years I’ve been floating the Buffalo, I’ve never had to deal with a snake bite. I honestly don’t know how to handle that and always go to great lengths to avoid it from happening.”

Emm had some gel ammonia that had saved her severe reactions to wasps. I had organic tobacco. We applied heavily. They prayed for me. We put a tourniquet on my elbow with the bite closer to my heart. They said we needed to go.

All y’all newbies can’t paddle us out of here in the dark – in high water – to nowhere. That’s against emergency rules and I kept that to myself. Instead, I said rather “Maybe, hold on. I’m not feeling any poison.” In fact, I was feeling euphoric. The adrenaline was surreal, psychedelic even.

Poison never came.

The next day as we’re carrying on with our trip as planned, previous floating events kept coming into conversation. It was the times we overcame adversity that were our strongest collective memories.

It was a medicine snake?

Postscript from a snake nerd friend who saw the pictures:

“That isn’t a water snake bite. Those are fang marks. Non-poisonous snakes have lots of little teeth. We had a pet midland water snake and he bit me all the time.

A dry bite is a venom-less bite from a poisonous snake. Lucky as hell is my best guess.“

DOGWOOD SPRING……

Yes, it’s that time of year. A few warm days after a deluge of rain and layers of lacy ephemeral blooms can be spied among the sleeping bare woods, along roadways, and through yards throughout The Ozarks.

Dogwoods for me represent faith, love, loss, optimism, serenity, and “what if”......

My sense of calm skyrockets and my blood pressure drops when those blooms appear.

The Easter legend of the dogwood tree goes that in the days of Christ the dogwood was a much larger sturdy tree. When Christ was crucified God cursed AND blessed the tree on the day that his son died.

The curse by making the tree much smaller and blessed by having it bloom every year during the Easter season to remind the world of Jesus’ love.

Each bloom has 4 petals which are said to symbolize the cross. At each end of every petal is a small indentation to remind us of the nails that pierced the hands and feet of Jesus. Looking closely at the center of each flower is a nubby texture. That is the Crown of Thorns placed atop the head of Christ at the time of his torture and death. Sometimes the flowers may be dotted with little droplets of red; the blood that Jesus poured out for us.

According to my mother, the dogwood was my dad’s favorite. I never got the opportunity to know him as he passed on mere months after my arrival.

Dad had been ill with cardiac issues for the entire time of mom’s pregnancy. They found a beautiful ranch home in Sherrill Heights in Little Rock, purchased primarily for the stately dogwood in the backyard with a commanding view from the bed in the master bedroom.

My mother told me that she never thought Gene would die. Sadly, he only lived to see it bloom once. The day before his passing, with mom at his bedside he dropped his pocket watch to the floor — it stopped at 11:13. Never to run again. I still have this watch 70+ years on.

The very next morning as they shared their thoughts about the future and the beauty of the tree through the window he passed. Yes, it was 11:13.

The cemetery where Gene is laid to rest is a concourse of headstones, monuments and serene landscaping. A wonderful place for eternal rest. Now, with mom at his side, this site was chosen by her because 30 feet from the foot of the grave was, yes, a dogwood tree.

My last visit, was at the zenith of dogwood beauty. I was the only person there and the electronic directory was on the fritz. Hours of trudging up and down the rows and finally their spot was found. NO TREE……..a casualty of old age and lightning they said later.

I wept and wept and wept. “What if”............

The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

This was written many years ago by an unknown poet. It reflects the cross that Christ hung upon being made of dogwood. However it should be noted that this species of tree was not natural to the Holy Land. And the Bible does not give us information on the type of wood. Regardless, the point of the poem is that no matter the type of wood used nor any reference to the dogwood. No matter. The legend is to represent a reminder of the crucifixion and Jesus suffered and died for us upon that cross.

When Christ was on the earth, the dogwood grew To a towering size with a lovely hue. Its branches were strong and interwoven And for Christ’s cross its timbers were chosen.

Being distressed at the use of the wood Christ made a promise which still holds good: “Not ever again shall the dogwood grow To be large enough for a tree”, and so

Slender and twisted it shall always be With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see. The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown And in the blossom’[s center a thorny crown.

“All who see it will think of Me, Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree Protected and cherished this tree shall be A reflection to all of My agony.”

Regards, Marie and Bruce

For inquiries of any sort:

• Advertising

• Feedback

• A man wanting to join us in this adventure

• Calendar notices (of interest to lots of people) for the coming months

• Submitting an article and/or photos & recipes for consideration, etc..

email: casualcountrymagazine@gmail.com or mail to: Casual Country LLC, P.O. Box 1777, Mountain View, AR 72560.

We’d all love to hear from you, your opinions are important to us. Matter a fact, we’ll all (myself and all the writers), be eagerly waiting for feedback!

Ever Heard of the Prim Rocks?

Out in Prim, Arkansas are these spherical shaped rocks. Some of these rocks are quite large and range from 1 to 4 feet in diameter. “Round Rocks” – they are not man made and the waterfalls are real, too – we will get to that in a bit. Back in the good old days, with all the farming and agriculture going on out in Prim, these rocks were a nuisance and were piled up out of the way. Nowadays, the Prim Rocks are used to line driveways, rustic decor and for landscaping; even shipped all around the world. Prim is about 30 minutes from Mountain View and less than that to Greers Ferry Lake. It’s definitely quiet and beautiful. Full of untouched scenery, fresh air and unique cabins in the mountains, with a hot tub or even a private waterfall & swimming spot. You can see the stars shining bright, cell service is spotty, and everyone is just easygoing and happier. In a beautiful setting it’s almost contagious. Happy equals friendly and you’ll start to understand why when folks retire; they retire in the south.

The Longbow Resort

If you need an adventure, a break, a romantic getaway or just an experience back to nature: Put this on your agenda. Longbow Resort located in Prim, Arkansas–it’s not Edgemont, GPS will lead you astray. It’s in Prim. You do need reservations and you will drive down a dirt road that feels like you are driving through a cow pasture but don’t let this introduction fool you–this place is worth going to and unlike any place you’ve stayed before. You will love it. I’ve included a photo of the handmade wooden sign pointing to two cabins to the left (Sovereign & Bois D’Arc ) and two cabins (Longbow & Bushmaster) to the right. Four cabins to decide from and depending on what calls to your heart delight. Each has something special and all are located in the wild woods of Arkansas so you can’t go wrong.

I met with Ben Pearson, Jr. and his son to explore these cabins designed to blend into nature and fell in love with the entire property. My photos don’t do it justice in the awe factor and I can’t wait to go back. The Pearson family are hardworking, quick witted and spellbinding storytellers with three Ben Pearsons. Just all around good people. Ben Pearson, Jr. built these gorgeous cabins, owns and operates the resort. I heard his wife is quite the writer and curious to read a book she wrote that she holds close to the vest. Ben’s father bought the property after checking it out on one of his trips to Mountain View.

Ben’s father isn’t just Ben’s father; he is also “The Father of Archery”. I like the way Vintage Archery spoke of Ben Pearson Senior.

“It’s hard to describe the legend of Ben Pearson in one story. He was an inventor, a machinist, an electrician and woodworker, an engineer, an industrialist, a world-class archer and a visionary.”

I could do an entire book on this man’s story and he is impressive to say the least. The first mass production of the bows, arrows and archery accessories, he designed the machines to make the bows with a large plant located in Pine Bluff. The Ben Pearson Company was producing 50 percent of all the archery equipment sold in the United States. I encourage you to research or ask Ben Pearson, Jr. or Ben Pearson the 3rd, who was busy cutting tile and woodworking for the Event Center that’s nearly complete out on the Longbow Resort.

Now the names of the cabins will make more sense as they all relate to the families archery heritage, and the photos in black and white on the walls mentioning: Hall of Fame, Awards, Outdoors Men, famous people and such will suddenly have color. There’s a theme with the rustic style and every place has a story and captivating history to tie it all together. You’ll notice some Prim Rocks scattered around the property with a flowing creek and surprise waterfalls, butterflies, birds chirping, redbuds and dogwoods, wildflowers and the echoes of nature. Yes, the scenery is in abundance more wild than captured.

Every place has roots that run deep around here with stunning hideaways to escape to, unplug for a while and enjoy the peaceful woods. The Longbow Resort is a slice of heaven out in Prim, Arkansas.

Whether it’s big round rocks, bow and arrows, family love, or a cabin in the mountains with a waterfall you’ll appreciate it all and want to stay and count down the minutes to return. The majestic waterfall is all natural. I found it funny to hear that guests have inquired about the on/off switch on a Spring-Fed waterfall. It’s natural and authentic, no switch or control over the wild things out here. That’s part of the appeal and beauty.

The Longbow Resort, 4349 Prim Road, Prim, AR. Check them out on Facebook or give them a call at 870-948-2362

Quite a few years ago a male friend brought a potato salad to our monthly game night. With his wife out of town we expected a bag of potato chips….but no, he had made the most delicious potato salad any of us had chowed down on since our youth. When inquiring about the recipe, Ed said “Jan told me what page it was on in the old Betty Crocker cookbook, but warned me not to put all the mustard they call for in, only use 3/4 teaspoon. And make sure it’s plain old red neck mustard, nothing fancy”.

Reading something about the Betty Crocker brand this week….it stated that when they started the first radio cooking show back in 1924 that Betty Crocker got a slew of marriage proposals….. I always thought a good potato salad was one way to a man’s heart!

Ed’s Creamy Potato Salad

6 medium red or yellow potatoes (2 lbs)

1 cup thinly sliced celery

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped sweet pickle

1 1/4 cups mayonnaise

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons celery seed

2 teaspoons vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar)

3/4 teaspoon prepared mustard (yellow mustard)

1/2 teaspoons salt

2 hard boiled eggs, coarsely chopped (I use 3 but I go a bit heavy on everything except the mustard)

In a covered saucepan cook potatoes in boiling, salted water for 25 or 30 minutes or till tender, drain well. Peel and cube the potatoes and transfer to your bowl of dressing.

While the potatoes are cooking and cooling off a little I make the dressing:

Combine mayonnaise, sugar, celery seed, vinegar, prepared mustard and salt in a large bowl….stir up good..

Add celery, onion and sweet pickle and stir.

Add your cubed potatoes and toss lightly to coat potato mixture. Cover and chill, then fold in the chopped eggs. Chill throughly until ready to serve. When ready to serve, sprinkle paprika on top! Enjoy……and have a Happy July 4th……Joy

Have you got a special recipe and story you’d like to share with everyone? We’d love to see it!

My nephew, Clark, is an author, lecturer, teacher and creator of some awesome Haiku (also some that’s really far out for me and I have no idea what his thoughts are)……but this one I dearly love…..tickles me inside no matter what my mood.

If you love Haiku you might look him up by just googling his name & reading all about him or go to www.facebook.com/clarkstrand

Are you thinking about next year’s Solar Eclipse?……Wondering if you have space to accommodate some of the tourists coming from all over the country and probably the world…to view it. Now is the time to be planning and advertising your space. It’ll be here before you know it……April 8th, 2024……and all the officials in Little Rock advise that you make any rental (housing or land for tents or RV’s) a minimum of 5-7 days (this will help to spread out the traffic on the Arkansas highways and airways.

Did I mention that where we reside here in Stone and surrounding counties is going to be the absolute best part of the eclipse during the whole event. I’ve noticed that a bunch of new food vendors have opened up and I’ll bet the eclipse has to do with their timing…good thinking!! Well….what are you waiting for….

Reminder.. Don’t Touch!

Remember: Three leaves, leave it be, berries of white, best take flight…

Building Lots in….

Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas

A ‘Land of Many Lakes’

The perfect place for nature lovers….spend your days filled with boating, floating, canoeing, hiking, golfing then relaxing 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 9 hole golf course plus 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.

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For more information: Call or Text 650-995-2369

Or email: L.L.A.P.Properties@gmail.com

~ Live Long and Prosper ~

small villages are our thing plus all the talent and beauty in these hills just makes our love overflow.

I want Casual Country to be free to everyone, both the printed copy and the digital copy…..I believe it will be a real asset to the town…highlighting activities that folks may have never thought about doing and getting to know more about their neighbors…and give people who are thinking of moving into the Ozarks a look at what we offer.

To keep it free I need more advertisers. I think you can tell from these first two issues that the ads are very clear and attractive. That’s the way I want it to stay. If you don’t have an ad already designed I’ll be glad to do it for you. In this issue I designed the ads for Pizza Hut, Ozark Pantry’s Possum Jam, The Farmer’s Daughter and the ad opposite for land in Horseshoe Bend.

I’d really like to count on you to help support this magazine. This week I plan to go online in magazine form and free to anyone. Of course you’ll be able to always get a printed magazine in various stores (mostly those that advertise) and businesses in the area of coverage.

You can contact me by email, phone or snail mail (at least that’s what I call it)

email: casualcountrymagazine@gmail.com

Phone: 870-213-6135

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

Joy Harp, Publisher/Editor - contact me for a price sheet or any other questions you might have -

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