Country Country Casual
Letter from the Publisher
October/November
Happenings
October
5th
Book Sale - Stone County Library
9:30am - 1pm -lots of fiction, romance, mystery5th
Best Ever Bake Sale, Humane Society’s 2nd Chance Shop Mountain View 5th
Ice Cream Social fundraiser for Roscoe P. Coal Train - Centennial Bank Park - 11am-3pm 11th - 12th
Stringband Music & Arts Festival Ozark Folk Center 12th
2nd Saturday Song Writers Circle Arkansas Craft School … 2pm 23rd
S’mores in the Pickin’ Park - 6pm Hosted by First Baptist Church 25th - 26th
BeanFest & Outhouse Races
- Artisans Market31st
Trunk or Treat starting at 6pm Mtn. View Courtsquare
November
2nd
Book Sale - Stone County Library
9:30am - 1pm -lots of fiction, romance, mystery7th - 9th
Mountain View Bluegrass Festival (Mountain View Bluegrass Association) 8th - 9th
First Annual Art Walk
Downtown Mountain View, AR Sponsored by The AR Craft School 9th
2nd Saturday Song Writers Circle Arkansas Craft School … 2pm 28th Thanksgiving
Stone County Farmers Market
Every week at Stone Bank Pavilion Sat..8am - noon ~ Tue..3pm - 6pm
A new member came into my family in September….her name is Abby. That’s short for ‘Abby the Abstract Cat’….I knew right away what her name was….just looking at her: graceful, loving, long legged, beautiful blue eyes and not a marking on her matches! She’s my abstract cat, which is good because my own mind and body are going more abstract everyday.
Autumn has definitely arrived, a time to slow down a little and just listen to the leaves & watch the clouds drift by…although I am totally stoked about the ART WALK that the Arkansas Craft School is organizing… have no idea what all is going to be ‘happening’ but the fact that they’re organizing it and wanting to bring artisans out of their comfy studio to participate, excites me!
Speaking of that, we have a new advertiser this month, The Arkansas Craft School, who is promoting the ART WALK…. ….and the Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery has a second ad for their 46th Annual Christmas Showcase that is held in Little Rock in December.
Now….I may be prejudice but I think our ads are as beautiful & interesting as if they weren’t ads at all….
Thank you all for your support: writers, photographers & advertisers.
Missed a few issues? They’re all waiting to be read on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/casualcountrymagazine/
Pour a cold drink, get comfy & see what’s happening!
Happy Reading…
Ozark Cheers, Joy
Email: casualcountrymagazine@gmail.com
Months Contributors:
Publisher & Editor: Joy Harp - 870-213-6135
Ad Sales: Linda Wallace - 870-615-1608
We’d love to hear from you…suggestions, advertising, recipes, ideas, writers who want to join this happy group in our adventure, whatever…we’d love to hear from you.
Ed Alexander
Autumn
You know the exact moment that it happens. You step outside to a different breeze. Gone are the stifling heat and blanketing humidity. The air seems a little friendlier, a little more inviting. The trees are whispering “Watch this”. “What’s your hurry” the clouds say. “Sit a while and watch”. It’s as if the whole world has taken a deep breath and slowed its pace a bit, inviting you to do the same.
Everyone has their favorite season, for reasons only they can explain. Living in the Ozarks is a delight, with each season offering its unique faire. Still, it would be hard to imagine a time that reflects the pace of the Ozarks better than Fall. A little slower, a little quieter, but with stunning beauty at every turn. For those that pause and look, Fall in the Ozarks offers many rewards. So, let me show you some of the wonders of an Ozark Fall.
Blanchard Springs flows beneath a Fall canopy.
Below: The setting sun warms the scene at Devil’s Backbone.
The bridge at Mountain View City Park frames vivid color.
The swimming area at Blanchard Springs glows in a Fall evening.
Storm clouds gather over the White River.
In addition to shows such as The 46th Annual Christmas Showcase (read all about it on page 9), Ed’s work can be seen on his website: Wildcat-Mountain-Photography.com and in Mountain View, Arkansas at: The Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery & the Arkansas Craft School (where he is an instructor of photography and facilitates a monthly Songwriters Circle)
Above: City Rock Bluff at Calico Rock on a Fall afternoon.
Above: Light dances through the trees at Blanchard Springs.
Above: Sylamore Creek mirrors the scene.
Above: The old stone bridge at Blanchard Springs is bathed in evening light.
Above: Mirror Lake Falls as a storm approaches.
Above: Late light at Richland Creek provides pastel colors.
Above: A fish disturbs the quiet waters of Mirror Lake.
Right: The stone bridge at Blanchard Springs.
Above: The still waters at Gunner Pool provide a mirror.
Above: Clouds float like cotton above the White River.
The Buffalo River sets the scene at Kyles Landing.
Blue skies and puffy clouds at Mirror Lake.
Above: A quiet evening at Richland Creek.
Above: A crescent moon is dwarfed by the Buffalo River at Red Bluff Overlook.
Right: The glory of Fall at Blanchard Springs. Casual
The last rays
“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.”
— Victoria Erickson
The massive bluffs at Steele Creek are softened by color.
of the sun at Sylamore Creek.
Admission is $5 at the door but bring this ad and you can get in 2 for 1!
Sage & Tom Holland: “We are a family of glass artists who make our beads, pendants and small sculptures one at a time using ancient techniques that we have been using for over 35 years. We never miss the Arkansas Craft Guild's Christmas Showcase!”
Ed Alexander, Photographer Wildcat-Mountain-Photography.com Can't
Marie Busch, Ozark Pantry: Happily jamming since 2013. Customers from Minnesota to Louisiana, D C. to California. And many thanks to our wonderful fans in beautiful Arkansas.
Nature photographer, Aaron Gschwandegger, creates graphic prints and other items that compliment his photography. Along with his pictures, you can see his fabric designs on pillows, table runners, notecards, and even bags. Here are a couple examples of his creations.
Aaron Gschwandegger
Seasonal Sights & Dogwood Delights
Fall can look different every year in our area of the Ozark Mountains. For this issue, I put together a collection of some pictures taken during October and November to show some things you might see during these months.
Right: Brilliant colored mums are a common sight this time of year. A Painted Lady butterfly is enjoying them on this early October afternoon.
Left: October arrives and we often have a fair share of butterflies still in flight. One you may not be as familiar with is this beautiful Question Mark butterfly. These are seen mostly in wooded areas. When its wings are folded shut, it resembles a dead leaf. However, when the wings open it has a spectacular burnt orange color with a truly unique pattern. It’s color just fits the season, doesn’t it?
Above: Variegated Fritillaries are often seen this time of year in our area. Their color varies in shades of yellow and orange. This one is on some blanket flowers. Depending on how far south they are, there can be as many as four broods per year of this prolific butterfly.
Bottom Right: Lantana can often still be blooming even in the middle of October. This Gulf Fritillary isn’t as common in our area as the Variegated Fritillary, but they do make an appearance from time to time.
and his beautiful creations will be at the 46th Annual Christmas Showcase. See page 9 for details…
Aaron
Right: It was October 21st and this male Monarch butterfly was still in flight looking for nectar. You can identify the male Monarch by two black spots on it’s lower wings. Monarchs look spectacular all year, but in fall, their striking orange color makes me think of pumpkins.
Left: It is the middle of October and this goldfinch seems pretty camouflaged amongst the yellow and green fall colored leaves of a beefsteak plant. Even though this can be an invasive plant, the goldfinches seem to like the seeds they provide. This goldfinch is molting it’s feathers and is probably still a juvenile. Males do not carry their bright yellow feathers all year and will molt into a lighter and less colorful shade of yellow for the winter. Once breeding season arrives in the spring, they molt back into bright yellow and black.
Left: The dogwood trees seem to change at different speeds and in different color variations every year. They also vary from tree to tree. This Dogwood tree was deep scarlet red in this photo taken on November 2nd. A brown Chipping Sparrow was a nice contrast to the colorful leaves.
Above: The dogwood tree berries are an important food source in the fall for many different birds. I caught this Robin in mid swallow. Probably not the greatest look for this bird but a fun photo anyway. My apologies to the Robin for any embarrassment.
Above: This female Eastern Bluebird was caught with a beak full of a dogwood berry. This tree’s leaves were in shades of rusty orange that complimented her slate blue coloring.
Right: In this photo, Mr. Bluebird has found his dogwood berry. This dogwood tree still had lots of green leaves even though this picture was taken a day later than previous photo where the leaves were already changed.
Below: I almost didn’t see this Goldfinch perched amongst the oak leaves during this November afternoon. Together they made such a brilliant color palette.
Left: Not too far away from Mrs. Bluebird, her mate was sitting perched on the branches of another dogwood tree. This tree’s leaves still had a few green leaves mixed in. He isn’t eating any berries in this photo but he was on the hunt for some.
Left: Even though they will eat dogwood berries, this Tufted Titmouse was busy with a sunflower seed. This little bird eats a variety of things including insects. They also will store food during the fall and winter months. Pretty smart little bird.
Above: Unlike the Goldfinch, the Pine Warbler keeps it’s brilliant yellow coloring all year. This one was giving me side eye. The leaves of this dogwood were already falling off fast but there was still enough color to contrast brilliantly with his yellow. He was probably about to leave our area for the winter. You can see Pine Warblers in the southern part of the state all year, but we are just a little too far north for them to stay through the entire winter.
Above: In this photo, it is getting into late November. Lucky for this European Starling, there are still some dogwood berries left to be eaten. Starlings are amongst the many birds that raid the dogwoods every fall. According to allaboutbirds.org, all European Starlings living in North America are descended from a group of 100, set loose in New York City during the early 1890’s. A group of Shakespeare enthusiasts wanted to bring birds to the United States that Shakespeare had mentioned in his works.
Above: November has come to a close and this female Purple Finch is enjoying some late fall dogwood berries. Purple Finches arrive in our area sometime in November and stay here for the winter. Her arrival seems an appropriate finish to this series of fall pictures.
Aaron is a member of the Arkansas Craft Guild, one of many places you’ll find his work. His photography takes many forms, including pillows, prints, tapestries & more. His company, Fallen Pine Design, can be found on Facebook or at www.fallenpine.com
The Arkansas Craf School is excited to announce the First Annual Art Walk in Downtown Mountain View, AR November 8th & 9th. This fun and vibrant event is designed to showcase the incredible talent of local artsts and foster a deeper sense of community engagement. This two-day event promises to be a signifcant highlight of the fall season, ofering both artsts and visitors an unforgetable experience. Community art projects, youth potery scholarships, and music on the square are just a few highlights of this two-day event!
Visit us all-year-round for craf art enrichment workshops! We ofer everything from basket weaving to blade smithing For more informaton visit arkansascrafschool.org
Located at 101 North Peabody Ave. , Downtown Mountain View.
The Arkansas Craf School aims to promote a vibrant, creatve community that inspires a life afrming appreciaton of and support for the arts.
Marie & Bruce
The County Fair
Holidays and special events stick in the calendar of our mind. Just as I still think August means it’s time to get ready to go back to school, September means it is time for county fairs.
For many years, living up north, my family and I would attend the Walworth County Fair in Wisconsin. It was loaded with animals on exhibit raised with pride by 4-H kids and a midway with lots of glowing carnival rides which were so mesmerizing after dark.
The midway was chockablock with cotton candy, games of skill and enormous stuffed animals. Shooting galleries where a person could shoot down cardboard bandits with pop guns.
There was a trotting track where drivers in their colorful silks would race the sulkies around the track. The horses were beautiful and their legs in a hypnotic blur raced to the finish line.
Inside the track was a stage which featured various musical acts. One year The Beach Boys came and folks crammed into the bleachers chanting “Baa Baa Barbara Ann” to their hit.
Lots and lots of tractors from the very old single strokes to the fancy John Deere with enclosed air conditioned cabins. At that time my nephew was about 6 and “into” tractors. His parents shunted him off to me and he climbed into every single tractor trying to start them. There must have been 20. He just could not understand why there was no key. It was exhausting and by the end I understood why his parents thought I should “bond” with him on his expedition.
Moving to Mountain View almost 20 years ago, my love of the County Fair remains. While the Stone County Fair is much smaller, the charm is somehow much larger.
Friday evening was the kiddos rodeo, between raindrops this year. Youngsters 15 and under were all decked out in jeans, cowboy shirts with the pearl buttons, polished cowboy boots. Some of these wannabe cowboys had spurs on their boots. They swagger in front of their fans in the bleachers. Thumbs tucked inside the waistband of their jeans, scuffing the boots as they walk to get the musical sound of spurs spinning.
The junior rodeo features things such as Mini Bronc Riding, Calf-Roping, Cowgirl Breakaway, Goat Untying, Pony Barrels and everyone's favorite Mutton Busting.
If you have never seen mutton busting it needs to go on your list. The biggest, wooliest, and low to the ground sheep, is placed in the chute and a rope lashed around its middle like bucking bulls. The 4 year old cowboy is lowered onto the back of the sheep. The gate opens and someone swats the hind end of the sheep…..out it goes and hilarity, hoots and hollers ensue.
This year a young lady was thrilled to introduce me to Apple and Beau. In the hog pens Hamlet was snoozing in the cedar shavings.
The poultry barn is interesting with exotic chickens with poofs of feathers on their heads and feet. Different types of ducks, noisy turkeys.
Yes, these animals get auctioned off and many end up on our dinner plates, but the young future farmers understand the economics of this. They get money for college. Money to put back into next year's animal etc. It is simply a fact of farm life.
Next, a stroll thru the judging barns is mandatory. Lots and lots of blue ribbons are pinned to the pens. 4-H kids have their cows outside at the washing station all lathered up to make them pretty, Parents and kiddos lounge against the metal fence rails in front of their animals; cattle, goats, sheep, hogs.
Finally the rabbit barn WOWsome of those bunnies are huge. Different colorations, different ears, but all with the twitching noses.
Mutton Busting~where there is a will, there is a way! -This photo was heisted from Pinterest because it’s too humorous-
Apple
Beau
From the animal barns I traipsed over to the art barn Folks of all ages enter their paintings and crafts.
The Best in Show winner, Wanda, created a farm tableau out of cardboard with a barn , a couple of sheds, trees, a garden patch with a painted background of a pasture.
A young lady, April, proudly showed her Sun Catcher of macrame and feathers - another Blue Ribbon.
There was a stunning quilt, a beaded picture of orange and grey beads. This looked like a landscape and I was told that each bead was inserted individually.
The Home Ec barn was fun - lots of canned goods, fruit, vegetables, and meats. Those judges were tough - reading a few comment tickets most of the jars were dinged points because they did not have the mandatory ¼” headspace.
I arrived early and did not stay for the young princess judging of sweet little ones in their fancy pageant clothes and tiaras.
So what is the history of the County Fair?
County fairs can be traced back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries and their origins can be traced back even further to the Roman Empire.
In 1765 the first North American fair was presented in Windsor, Nova Scota. The Hants County Exhibition continues to operate today!!!!
The San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is the largest county fair in the country in terms of attendance and is one of the largest fairs in the country.
The American county fair developed when agricultural reformers in the northeastern US organized local exhibitions to promote modern farming.
Typical events were livestock judging, new agricultural implements and techniques and plowing contests. Fairs emerged as a way for farmers to strut their stuff. These gatherings were also a place for commercial traders to gather and sell wares.
Walking thru the fair was exhausting but leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy. — Marie & Bruce
Cheesy Paradise!
The perfect veggie side. Baked onions give the perfect meltiness, saltiness and sharpness to your autumn dinners. A beloved Ozark tradition.
Preheat oven to 350°
Spray a 9 x 13" baking dish
Peel and slice Vidalias into 1/4" rounds.
Separate the rings and cover the bottom of the pan
Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano.
Slice 1 stick of unsalted butter into 8 pieces and strategically place in the baking dish.
Now the cheese. Cheddar, Parmesan and Chef's Choice.
Sprinkle in layers starting with the cheddar and finishing with a generous amount of Parm.
Bake 35 - 40 minutes.
Dust with a sprinkle of parsley to make it pretty.
Simple and savory
Lots and lots of cheese
Versatile
Always a winner!
Enjoy, Marie and Bruce
Two Prime Golf Course Lots - Side by Side Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas
Priced to Sell…both lots together for $8,000! Time to build that retirement home in the beautiful Ozarks. 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 and an 18 hole golf course with clubhouse and indoor swimming pool. Wake every morning to a round of golf. For more information: Call or Text 650-995-2369 Or email: L.L.A.P.Properties@gmail.com ~ Live Long and Prosper ~
Being aware it went into Oklahoma and a tiny corner of Kansas, I had no idea that it also took in part of Illinois. Growing up in Mexico, Missouri we often went to Columbia which was only 40 miles away, but never realize the Ozarks came up further northwest of Columbia. Mexico was flat with corn, soybeans & cattle, about 25 miles - the way the crow flies - northeast of Columbia. Traveling down into the Ozarks was always a treat for me….the hills, cliffs, forests & most of all the clear streams. It felt very much like home even back then!
Handmade
Depression
Glass
Gemstone
Leanin’
Soaps
Nostalgic
Thompson’s
Jams,
Justea
