Country Country
The Squirrel King
Collie’s Farm Are We Really Open To New Things?
Cold Weather is for the Birds!
Letter from the Publisher
Winter Happenings
January 6th
Friends of Stone County Recycling Center meeting 5:30 Stone County Library…All Welcome 11th
2nd Saturday Song Writers Circle
Arkansas Craft School … 2pm 21st Squirrel Appreciation Day 22nd
National Celebration of Life Day — I’ll be celebrating a milestone — 25th
National Seed Swap Day Hey…make it a party! 27th
National Chocolate Cake Day
February 1st
Book Sale - Stone County Library 9:30am - 1pm -lots of fiction, romance, mystery2nd Groundhog Day
3rd
Friends of Stone County. Recycling Center meeting 5:30 Stone County Library…All Welcome 8th
2nd Saturday Song Writers Circle
Arkansas Craft School…2pm 9th
Super Bowl Sunday 14th Valentines 18th
National Flirting Day
Missed a few issues? They’re all waiting to be read on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/casualcountrymagazine/
Do you think the Ozark forests are slumbering through the winter, just hibernating? Study Christina Bethalee’s front cover for a few seconds and you’ll see the bright rainbow of colors awaiting you out on a winters hike. Amazing! And the array of song birds that Aaron Gschwandegger focusses on in his pictorial. Hint: sing back to the birds, they love it!
When I first started this magazine I had intended to feature a different artisan in each issue. Forgot that goal and only had a couple featured. I’m renewing that goal but I sincerely hope under happier conditions. This issue features Yun Kim, a wonderful artist and friend to many here in Mountain View, who suddenly unexpectedly passed away in December.
A warm welcome to three new contributors…Anne Avant, Donna Collie and Tonya Balmakund, all of whom have been my friends for years. I know you’ll enjoy their articles.
You are going to love Marie and Bruce’s story that heads this issue off. And my Mothers Creamed Limas are the absolute best!!!
Collie’s Farm - look what they’ve done with a wood portable building and a large metal building and had lots of fun along the way!
Time goes bye so fast (at least for me) that Casual Country will now have only four editions per year…winter, spring, summer & fall.
Pour a hot drink, get comfy and happy reading!
Ozark Cheers and see you next in the spring issue, Joy
Email: casualcountrymagazine@gmail.com www.facebook.com/casualcountrymagazine/ Phone: 870-213-6135
P.O. Box 1777, Mountain View, Arkansas 72560
Months Contributors: Aaron Gschwandegger, Anne Avant, Donna Collier, Joy Harp, Marie & Bruce, Tonya Balmakund Publisher & Editor: Joy Harp - 870-213-6135
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.
The Squirrel King
The Ozark hills were dotted white from the dogwoods. Yes, it was going to be a beautiful year.
The Squirrel King yawned and stretched and flicked his tail from his nest. As king, his nest was the highest and most posh. A new day had arrived and it was time for business.
Doting mothers nursed their kits and equally doting dads seeking acorns missed in the fall hunt.
Yes, The Squirrel King was confident it would be a very good year for his tribe or “scurry”.
Up and down the mighty White River neighboring squirrel rulers were equally happy. Everyone was flourishing. Everyone was preparing for the long fruitful summer with plentiful food.
Growing kits played tag under the watchful eye of the elders, and attended class to learn the traditions of their species and tips for a long and prosperous life. A carefree and blissful year.
But late September brought the rains. The downpours continued day in and day out. Nests could only protect the squirrels so much. Everything was damp and moldy. Tails dragged. Children refused to play.
From upstream, squirrel scouts passed news to neighboring clans. The Mighty White was reaching it’s peak and soon the five dams along the river would be opened in an attempt to control the flooding that seemed inevitable.
The King had never experienced the big flood. His elders passed down legends of the big waters, danger and death to the tribes.
Up and down the river the other kings sought counsel. What would they do? The river was rising and flowing swiftly and becoming more treacherous with each dawn.
The trees along the banks were surrounded by water trapping families in their nests high above the swirling blackness. Soon the families would be stranded or worse face starvation.
The King was afraid, yet he knew the young men in his tribe were strong and brave.
He called a meeting of the elders and young. It was decided. A series of rafts would be constructed with the mothers and their kits on board along with supplies. The young men would launch the rafts, hang from the back and form a chain. Paddling and swimming along in the current with tails flicking starboard and port, rudders as such, to keep the rafts safe.
The King Squirrel on this throne would be heading the expedition as befitted his importance. And thus showing his tribe that he was every inch a king.
The rafts were built, the rains continued. Women gathered foodstuffs for the journey. The young men practiced calisthenics to build their strength for the journey into the unknown. The kits were mostly silent and scared in their nests.
Shortly the rafts were ready and all the women
folk and their babies clambered aboard. The young kits clung to their mothers in trepidation. The King was nervous as well, but he knew he could not show this to his tribe.
held on to their respective rafts and paddled and cocked their tails to the right and to the left to retain control of their charges. They too would not allow their mothers to see their fear.
No one knew where they would end up or when. Days passed. The King sent scouts along the river bank and was told that a very large and dangerous dam was up ahead.
They must land. To go over the dam would mean certain death for The King and his charges.
The clan came ashore, leaving their rafts and headed along the bank of the river - but a distance safe from the angry current.
His lineage of kings going back decades gave him confidence that his decision was the correct one for the safety of the scurry.
Furry, brave souls launched the three raft convoy. Quickly all three were caught by the angry stream and jettisoned into the middle of The White. Furiously the young squirrels
In the evening the king kept his group encouraged with stories about their new life to be. He never let his scurry see his fear.
New trails were created and day after day the tribe continued down stream. The expedition was slow and cautious. Several of the women were older. The young men marched silently. The kits intuited the seriousness of their plight and did not leave their mothers' sides. The King, while still frightened, continued to rely on his faith in the stories of the elders. He felt blessed that his entire tribe had made it thus far.
The tribe was in awe when they saw the dam. It plunged almost 300 feet into a lake below. It would have meant certain extinction had they not left the rafts and taken to the land.
The King was a strong and resolute leader. It was getting cold and he was increasingly worried. The strong squirrels were sent out in scavenging parties to find food; the women gathered leaves and sticks for temporary nests. They foraged and hunted but pickings were slim. The leaves were damp and the rain continued. The king decreed that there would be no new kits that fall because of scarcity. Nuptials were put on hold.
The tribe would not survive the winter unless they had help in this desperate time.
The King and three of his most trusted lieutenants set off for a town that they had been told was nearby.
The Townies were stunned to see four squirrels determinedly stride to the Courthouse lawn. Yet, it was obvious that they were in need. One of the old timers who spoke squirrel approached the four. The king told him of their plight. Told them of their home upstream along the river and how they were hopeful that they would be able to return after the water receded.
The ole timer was wise in the ways of nature and animals and had been taught the squirrel tongue by his grandfather. He approached the Mayor with a stunning request to save the clan.
Hands across the table was a long tradition in the Ozarks. It was decided this was the thing to do. To help the king and his 43 souls to return to their home in Stone County.
The very next day a bright yellow school bus arrived at the squirrel encampment. The king shepherded his tribe into the conveyance. This was no easy feat and caused much wringing of paws, flicking of tails, and twitching of noses. For generations young squirrels were taught around the campfires to avoid anything with tires. But The King held sway and with great fear the squirrels hopped aboard. It was amazing a trip that took days was compressed into three hours and the big yellow bus pulled up in front of the Courthouse in Stone County.
Such a strange sight, yet the town fold greeted them with fiddle music and song. School children came with peanuts and apple slices to give to the exhausted group.
The danger from the water was receding, yet it was too late in the year to replenish the food stores. It was unanimously voted that the children would care for the tribe throughout the winter with acorns, leaves, shreds of blankets so that in the Spring the tribe would be back on their paws, become self-sufficient, mothers would have babies and all would be right.
The King, of course would forever remain The King; A Legend Among Kings
Take Your Dad Fishing
by Tonya Balmakund
There are moments so perfect you hold your breath so not to disturb them. This was one of those.
My dad and brother hadn’t fished together in twenty-five years. Miles, work and life had interrupted many opportunities.
Dear friends in Mountain View provided loan of their lake one afternoon and the long hiatus came to an end.
In a matter of hours, laughter, pats on the back, advice and tall fish tales were shared.
I walked upon this perfect moment and yes, I held my breath.
So grateful for this day and realizing another ‘fishing trip’ is not promised.
Take your dad fishing before it’s too late.
Tonya Balmakund, MD Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology Director, Pediatric Neurology ACNW Springdale,
Arkansas
https://www.kcs.design/
Are We Really Open To New Things?
By Anne Avant
Are we really open to New Things?
Many times – ok, maybe most of the time – we are in our own groove and may not want to bother with learning new things. Too much trouble. I’m doing just fine, thank you! Effort is required to change and what if it’s all futile and we’re wasting our time? I read a quote that said “Mistakes are the portals of discovery” by James Joyce. It’s on my refrigerator. Sometimes we have to experience what we don’t want before we know what we do want – like different flavors. It’s fun to try a little – then we can have more of what we like and leave the rest alone. Same with life, right? Well ok – a little more cautiously maybe. There’s another saying “Be bold, be cautious” by Geeta Iyengar, one of my former yoga teachers. But if we overthink, then we lose the moment and maybe the entire message. If we do things without discernment, we could be very unhappy with the outcome. So, listen to your gut – it is very smart -and the rest of your body! And yet we override many messages or just don’t even try to listen. If we are out of touch and sitting or lying quietly, sometimes that doesn’t even help because it loosens the reins on our thoughts. And do they ever want to chatter!
So how to deal with this dilemma? Try some gentle movements. It may be considered yoga stretches or just simple stretches. But do it slowly and consciously. That’s the key. Be conscious about what parts you are moving and how it feels. Then you can adjust the movements as you need. It’s an interesting process to begin that exploration. It may surprise you. When your body is stuck, your mind tends to get stuck as well. Even your emotions! You may not realize all the connections in the many layers of your being. As we begin to stretch and strengthen the body, the mind and emotions get stretched and strengthened as well. And it can feel empowering, but also dredges up some other stuff as well. Ah, better to rid ourselves of the old stuff to create room for the new!
Included with this movement is watching how the breath is moving. Does it move freely or does it feel restricted? Sometimes we are holding our breath and don’t even realize it – like when we are really focusing on something intense or feel frightened. It actually creates more stress. Instead, feel your breath gently and naturally entering the nostrils and the effects of the movement throughout your body. Let the exhalation really soften and release tensions and thoughts.
Breathing through the nose is important for preparing the breath for our body by heating and moisturizing, but also helps purify the breath from particles and germs before it enters the lungs. It’s pretty amazing. Ancient American Indian cultures taught their babies and children to breathe through their noses. (Read “Breath” by James Nestor.)
So as we begin to explore different breathing patterns or different stretches, we may also find ourselves opening to different patterns of thoughts and actions. Remember the saying “Ignorance is bliss.” It’s not! It binds us to the same old patterns. Ignorance causes a lack of acceptance and understanding. Knowledge is power and understanding. What a better place it would be if we took the time to really know each other and see and experience new things. It makes life much more interesting.
Anne Avant has been studying yoga since the late 70’s, began teaching in 1984 and was the first in Arkansas to receive her Iyengar yoga certification in 1991. Now in her 70’s Anne loves and is very grateful for yoga, the many benefits, and to still be teaching. She and her husband designed and built Cedar Rock Yoga Studio in Conway in 1998 and currently have 5 furry critters that share their home.
cedarrockyoga.com
Yun Kim
Age 73
Passed December 13, 2024
Mountain View will miss Kim (as she was called) and her vibrant face and art. It was a very sad day for all of her friends and family. Proficient in any medium she took up and always stretching the boundaries. Here’s a few of her amazing works over the years.
The mediums in most of these paintings are oil, watercolor, charcoal and pastel.
For more about Yun Kim go to:
www.arkansascraftguild.org/artist-roster/kim,-yun
Look on the back cover for a few more of Kim’s beautiful paintings.
Two tired Ladies! Kim and her good friend Joyce
resting after a long day of hanging paintings for an exhibit.
Hubbard
Margo’s Creamed Limas
~ When She Hadn’t Had Her Bourbon ~
Mother was famous for burning the Lima beans. She would put them on to cook in what I’ve determined was too little water, go sit down with her bourbon and soda and the evening newspaper, The Mexico, Missouri Evening Ledger. Fifteen or twenty minutes later the whole kitchen would be full a terrible smelling smoke and she would have burned the lima beans again!
But when she didn’t burn them, she made the most delicious creamed limas in the whole world. I’ve had people tell me they hated lima beans, try these and ask for more. One Friday night when I had Joy’s Main Street Cafe in Mountain View I made limas as one of the veggies that night. When I saw someone turn their nose up I’d walk out with a small sample for them to try…..guess what…..everyone wanted more…there were a lot of converts that night!
The next day I still had limas left over so I put a really hearty soup together which became our most popular soup….Sausage, Bean & Cabbage Soup. Hope you enjoy these 2 recipes and pass them on to friends….
Margo’s Creamed Limas
1 bag Frozen Baby Lima Beans (less or more as to your needs)
Salt
1 - 4 T. Butter
Cream
Cook baby lima beans in salted water just till tender. Drain and add butter & cover with cream. Simmer on low till cream is thickly coating the limas…..and don’t go near the Bourbon! Serve…..YUM
Joy’s Sausage, Bean and Cabbage Soup
2 bags Frozen Baby Lima Beans
Salt
⅓ - ½ cup Butter
Cream (to cover beans)
2 or 3 large onions (chopped into ½” pieces )
Olive Oil
1 lb. Kielbasas, sliced longways, then cut each half in ¼” slices.
3 Beef Bouillon Cubes and 3 cups water
2 pkg. slaw mix (I like the tri-colored cabbage) -just the cabbage, no dressing-
Cook baby lima beans in salted water just till tender. Drain and add butter & cover with cream. Simmer till cream is thick and coating the limas.
In a large pot, saute onions in a little olive oil till lightly browned. Add Kielbasas, bouillon and water and simmer for a few minutes, add cabbage and simmer a few more minutes. Stir in cooked Lima Beans. Cover and let it sit there til dinner……
Serve with French Bread or Corn Bread and Butter
If it’s too thick, thin it down with more bouillon, cream and water…..
Aaron Gschwandegger
Cold Weather is for the Birds!
Winter in our area of the Ozarks can be warm or frigid depending on the year and the time of winter. We have temperatures that range from the forties all the way into the teens, or sometimes even colder overnight. While a big snowstorm can be inconvenient, there is a lot of beauty in those moments. This is a collection of photos I took during a snow storm in January of 2004.
Right: The ornery Blue Jay certainly looks regal during the snow. It’s blue really is complimented by the brown branches and white snow. While not always the most liked bird, they are still rather beautiful. Something tells me they know it too!
Left: The peaceful MourningDove sits perched during the snow shower. Its feathers are all fluffed out but are almost camouflaged amongst the brown and gray background.
Right: Speaking of fluff-balls, this Goldfinch sure is puffed out and posing for the camera. The dark and drab surroundings make it’s usually drab winter feathers really pop out with golden yellow.
Left The cute fluff-ball known as the Carolina Chickadee is one of the smaller birds around here in the winter. While not colorful like some birds, its unique pattern makes it recognizable to most everyone. One of the more common calls made by this bird sounds as if it’s saying its own name.
“Chickadee…dee…dee…dee!”
Right: The Tufted Titmouse is generally a favorite around back yard bird feeders. His slate gray feathers mixed with white, buff, and rust really make for a handsome pattern.
Left: Dark-eyed Juncos come to our area for the winter. They are usually here by early November and stay until late April. This pair was weathering the snow storm together on this branch. The males are more dark and uniform while the females usually have brown mixed in with their feathers.
Left: If it wasn’t for the White-Throated Sparrow’s yellow by its eyes, this little bird might have totally blended in with the brown and gray surroundings. With the snow falling, it was really almost invisible to the eye. Zooming in shows just how beautiful they can be.
Above: House Finches are originally native to the south western United States. However, after a release of them in New York during the 1940’s, they are now found throughout the eastern United States as well as southern Canada. They are usually found flocking with goldfinches in our area. He looks rather pretty perched on this dogwood tree.
Left: This strong looking fellow is a Rusty Blackbird. Sometimes he gets confused with Grackles and other dark colored birds, but his patterning and color are unique. Also, check out that intense stare!
Right: Since mister Grackle was mentioned earlier, he must make an appearance. They are often considered to be a nuisance due to their aggressive nature. They also tend to arrive in alarming numbers. Just for a moment though, really look closely at this bird. It really is quite beautiful. In the correct lighting and surroundings, its colors really come out. Besides his striking eyes, his head is bluish black and wings almost appear to be a shade of purple. What an interesting combination.
Left: Pictured here is the female Rusty Blackbird. Like the male, she has an intense stare. Her coloring is a little more brown than the male. Male birds are usually considered more beautiful than the females of the species. However, to me this is a toss-up. There is something really beautiful about the combination of neutral colors and the pattern on this bird. What do you think?
If this winter is anything like most of our winters there will be at least one significant snowfall. Sometimes the snow comes and goes in the matter of days. While sometimes we might be dealing with it for over a week. Mother Nature generally has her own ideas regardless of what we think. If you find yourself stuck at home due to snow this winter, hopefully you will be in a place to look around and take in the beauty in a world forced to slow down.
Left: It wouldn’t be a proper snow bird compilation without having some Cardinal pictures. This female was bright as could be during this drab and snowy day. The male usually gets all the attention but look at how beautiful she is with the oranges, reds, and tans of her feathers. Just as pretty as the male in my opinion.
Below: Speaking of the male Cardinal. Here he is perched during the snowfall. You really can’t miss his bright colors during the winter. Usually he is the most vibrant thing around on a gray and snowy day.
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
Collie’s Farm
by Donna Collie with help from Jack Collie
In 2017 we purchased 23 acres on Luber Road in Mountain View, Arkansas. We moved here from Sherwood, Arkansas looking for a quiet place to retire. After clearing the property we have six Ozark acres that we maintain.
We purchased a 2,000 square foot red iron shop building. We planned on turning it into a “barndominium”. Live in half of it and the other half would be Jack’s shop. He is a carpenter by trade. He worked for the North Little Rock School District in the maintenance department for 40 years. I retired from AT&T after 25 years of service.
We had difficulty locating someone to put the iron building up for us so we switched gears and decided to buy a Bald Eagle Barn and turn it into a cute little one bedroom, one bath cottage.
It was a 14x40 building. Later Jack added an enclosed sunroom and then doubled the size of the dwelling by adding a living room, a second bedroom and bath.
The Barndominium
In 2019 the red iron building was constructed and in 2023 Jack turned half of the red iron building into the “barndominium” it is today - boasting two bedrooms and two baths.
We decided to add an extra room to the front of the building to give it a more “homey” look from the outside. That part is still under construction.
In 2023 we added solar panels from Homestar Solar and are operating our barndominium and cottage for around $12 a month.
We now use the first cottage that Jack built as a rental property while we are snuggled comfortably away in the Bardominium.
On the outside we used rocks from the property to build 5 flower beds. Jack has a vegetable garden and an orchard with 40 fruit trees.
We love the holidays and go all out decorating for Halloween and Christmas. Our Mountain View Express takes grandkids for rides around the farm when it’s not in use up on the Square. Take a drive by the farm during the holidays and see!
Yun Kim
