The Boathouse and a Water View

There is something about water that seems to draw people near. 

The sun sets behind our mountain and lake, 

and just a few steps from The Farmhouse, Buddy has built a Boathouse.   

The sun goes down, and the twinkle lights come on. 

Last week, we had company from Dallas, a friend I had not seen in years....While passing through, he wanted to stop and say hi, but more than anything, just to walk around the lake. 

Over 60 years passed, and as a young boy, he had been fishing here with his dad.  

A walk around the lake helped to relive a few moments in time with his father.  

He remembered an old barn and was quite surprised 

with our Farmhouse and Boathouse.

The Porch on The Farmhouse is lit up for a reception. 

Just a few steps away from the reception is The Boathouse. 

A little liquid refreshment is served from the Boathouse. ..whether it is a "bar" 

or Hot Cider Bar,  Lemonade stand, or Hot Chocolate Bar, 

it is very inviting.

 Nearby is the bonfire pit for toasting s'mores 

Sitting around a bonfire by the lake, 

listening to the sounds of the night...what could be better?

   The handmade cedar boathouse is the authentic period correct building, housing 3 boats. 

 Honoring the past, yet perfect for today's entertaining, 

it captures the rustic spirit of the lake and surrounding woods. 

  

Our 1948 red Chevy truck holds wedding gifts on the tailgate.

Guests enjoy seeing the handmade canoes 

 now hanging up in the boathouse.  

The "Arkansas Traveler" wooden canoe has steamed wood ribs, 

in the antique and classic style of Old Town Canoes. 

The "Arkansas Traveler" on the right with Samuel and

 Buddy is in his "Strip Built Cedar" canoe, on the left.

Here Buddy works on the Arkansas Traveler  

Buddy and Samuel testing out the Arkansas Traveler on it's maiden voyage 

The Cedar Strip Built canoe

Our boats certainly get used !

Here the Dory boat is rowing bridesmaids to the altar. 

After a wedding ceremony, photos in the boats 

are romantic on the lake.

String lights around the Boathouse and in the trees...all lit up in the night

The Arkansas Traveler canoe hangs upside down over a French wine barrel.

The Boathouse is a perfect spot for an Instagram photo. 

Stand behind the truck door. 

The Boat House sign hangs overhead and 

is made from fallen wood on the property. 

My Daddy's 1954, Martin boat motor hangs in the boathouse...still in working order!

Come get a cup of hot cider from the Boathouse, and enjoy sitting around the bonfire.  

Thank you for visiting!

Celebrate Summer

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer !  

Even though I think it is too hot for 

outdoor weddings in July and August, 

we are quite busy around here.

We have two family birthdays in July
so I have still been  running and trying to get flowers and order cakes.

I have to admit,  I am not much of a summer girl 

at all, when it is this hot in the south. But it is a great time 

to get caught up on planning for the fall weddings. 

 Making appointments for   

meetings and portrait photo shoots ...

it is a good time to get a bit of wedding work done.

Buddy can be pretty tough when it comes to this heat, 

and he is out with our helpers cleaning up from a tree we lost to lighting.  

(Don't worry, the tree is still going to be put to good use, 

for he took it to the sawmill, and I will have a new 

wooden farm table after the wood seasons for a bit.)

I enjoyed sitting on the Arkansas River bank 

with a friend taking picts of a fireworks show that

Buddy (Mr. Pyrotech) was doing over the river and bridges

 of downtown Little Rock. 

Water, water,  water, even with a sprinkler system,

 there is much watering to do. 

Blue has to get new shoes quite often

 and especially in the summer time.

Somehow he manages to loose them quite often. 

  Blue is getting his hoofs trimmed....he  and Delilah both get a pedicure !

I did slip off for a few days with a bit of antiquing in mind. 

 The Vintage theme has never been bigger and this certainly serves up inspiration .

The floral bicycle display as you see from the moment you walk

 into Magnolia Market in Waco just made me drool. 

Buddy and I took a trip to Nashville ...the shop of the TV show,  

American Pickers with Mike Wolfe.  

A visit to his shop was a learning experience

 as it was in an old car factory.  

The shelves were filled with stuff & the oddities that catch our eye. 

Although filled with t-shirts and coffee cups,

 we walked away empty handed. 

It was nice to see he had a love for our Packard automobile too !

And I loved the vintage microphones.

You know how it feels when you have been gone for a few days, 

and it is just feels good to get back home....

I think this is a sign we have the hottest day of the year today...

There are always a few critters around here...Two large Loggerhead Turtles 

 enjoying the cool mud this morning

This time of summer, we are rather in a season

 where there is not much blooming my the garden, 

but there is at Whole Foods flower market !

Toward the end of summer, we are beginning 

to schedule a few photoshoots

 late in the summer evenings for our fall weddings. 

 The air seems to cool after the sun goes down behind the lake.

This week a load of gravel was delivered to smooth

 and top off our carriage road.  

Buddy and the John Deere tractor

 had their work cut out for them. 

I have heard a big frog 

this summer around the lake.

 The little fellow here is

 not scared one bit to hold him.

These yellow sunflowers are from Whole Foods,

 and I only can wish these beauties were from my garden.  

I added some leaves from a Gold Dust 

plant to fill in and a few of my hydrangeas.  

On the porch, A windowpane glass

 Mason Jar holds a few flowers freshly picked. 

 The jar was one of my mothers canning jars.

 Sentimental, her handkerchief is tied around the neck 

and her pearl clip earring  holds it in place. 

Summer for me brings a sense of renewal and excitement 

for the coming fall wedding season. 

Inspiration and energy is smiling 

as I plan and ready for exciting days ahead.

Keep flowers in your vases, 

and a glass of iced tea in your hand...Hope you are having a great summer ! 

Knee Deep in Summer

I am not sure where the saying "Knee deep in summer" came from

 but here is a favorite Knee-Deep moment for me...seeing Buddy teaching 

Grandson,  Avery how to fish. 

By July, summer is beginning to sizzle. It is too hot for an outdoor wedding  

but there is plenty of work to be done 

and yet celebrate the season's simple splendors.  

The rains are less frequent, and the days are hotter so that means 

watering drifts of hydrangeas and ferns by hand.  

Summer roses are in full bloom

The chickens like to scatter in the morning after they are let out of their coop. 

Early morning is a good time to water before the day gets to hot.

 Ferns are thriving and I am melting. 

After a few days of good dry weather it is hay cutting time, 

and time to gather hay in the summer 

for the winter. 

Tricky aspect to hay cutting is trying to time the weather. 

It’s best to cut hay after a few dry days, 

and preferably with warm temperatures.  

The hay is in neat rows to make it easy to bale.

Today was a great "hay day".  

Five John Deere tractors cutting, rolling, bailing, and stacking 

20 acres of hay in three hours .

  

    

      

Hay is loaded on the trailer and headed to the barn. 

Blue and Delilah will be well fed this winter !

A summer favorite is this century old magnolia tree that 

still thrives and blooms all summer. 

My kitchen smells like summer with  a daily magnolia bloom or two, in the kitchen.

Blue and Delilah enjoy summer green grass for breakfast, 

then it is back to the barn for a midmorning nap. 

Blue still has a bit of work to do with a late afternoon summer photoshoot. 

You can't buy happiness but you can buy a fishing pole...

and that's pretty much the same thing.

Happy summer, ya'll !