Post Cards from the Ozarks

Judy Cooper is my lovely niece who is retired in Nacogdoches TX with husband Jerry and my Big Sis Lois! She says: Those of us in Nacogdoches will most likely stay here. Nacogdoches is interesting because it's the oldest town in Texas. Part of the El Camino Real is right here. When people came from the east to west this is the route they traveled as they migrated. The university here is Stephen F. Austin. The population is 30,000-40,000.  It's pretty much rural around here. Reminds me of North Carolina - lots of tall trees. Many are pine, but there's many varieties. The university has a great forestry department. We live in town, but Steve and Anna live outside of town with their families. Since it's a small town, what we need is pretty much available here. If bigger stores are needed, Tyler or Lufkin are larger. There's an old cemetery here where many of the settlers are buried, as well as some signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.  In the e...

Outdoor Mural at U.S. Pizza Dickson Street—Fayetteville AR This outdoor mural is about thirty foot long and one story high on the side of an old brick building on Dickson Street. It faces the parking lot 0f U.S, Pizza. It consists of three principal views like this one that celebrates the contribution women have made in both World War I & II. It puts me in mind of Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter” fame. While millions of men volunteered or were drafted to the colors many of the positions in the quickly growing defense industries were filled by women who worked at hard and exhausting jobs to provide the arms and supplies to there husbands, boyfriends, sons & not a few daughters to “save the world for Democracy” and then a t the end of each day returned home to do the hours of work to keep the “home fires burning.” To the ladies I say YEA!           

This incredible mural was created by the very talented Jason Jones whose murals are featured all over northwest Arkansas. His murals are not limited to outdoor places but include murals for children, dining, and other living areas in private residences. He is in great demand by business and local Art Commissions including Fayetteville AR. Jason's studio is located in Fayetteville. His website address is: http://artistjasonjones.com/ Note on the left of this mural a bear swings an old fashioned out back rope swing! What fun! Camera: Canon XSI, F/3.5, 1/15s, ISO 100 Post Processing: Photomatrix Pro 5.1 Location: East wall of the Towns Center Mall next to the Fayetteville town square.

♪♫Summertime Summertime! Sum Sum Summertime!   ♫♪ ………………..The Beach Boys                   When summer gets into full swing at the Fayetteville farmers market on our town square it is flooded with these happy faces. Folks here love these cheerful symbols of summer and buy them by the dozens! And as usual I caught this gang of smiley faces at a Saturday morning farmers market. The flower booths are very very popular and every Saturday and they are swamped with customers. Camera: Canon XSI, f/10, 1/320s, ISO 600 Post Processing: Photomatrix Pro 5.1 Location: On the Fayetteville town square each Saturday morning! .

            This outdoor mural portrays the life, times and events of south Fayetteville Arkansas dating back to the early 1800’s.  The mural was painted on three sides of the concrete handball court at Walker Park.         The project was undertaken by the City of Fayetteville and Joann Kaminsky, an accomplished local artist took the lead and working with others created the design and drew the outlines of the figures shown on this finished work. Then other volunteers worked at finishing the three sided work by adding the color. Many volunteer hours were required to accomplish the task. Camera: Canon XSI, Post Processing: Photomatrix Pro 3.5 Location: Walker Park on 16 th Street at South College Avenue, Fayetteville AR

      Discovered this attractive display one spring morning at the Saturday morning Fayetteville Farmers Market about 2002 and could not resist photographing it. Still a favorite of mine. Camera: Canon XSI, f/5,1/50s, ISO 100 Post Processing: Re-sized in Photoshop Elements. Location" Saturday morning Farmers Market on the Fayetteville Town Square.

     The Saturday before Thanksgiving the Fayetteville Town Square becomes a dazzling display of lights. The city's Parks Department installs over four hundred fifty thousand lights woven through the many trees and bushes and sets up lighted self contained displays. It takes as many as 2000 hours to make the square ready for the annual show.      The first night of lights begins with a a parade of floats, antique vehicles, what have you, that line up for several blocks. Leading the way Santa Claus arrives usually on a firetruck to do the deed of lighting up the square for the season.        Thousands attend this annual event and on the first night the square is filled to capacity with families from all over northwest Arkansas and beyond. Every night prior to the new years crowds visit to see this awesome sight and to be entertained with Christmas carols and musical groups. For those who wish love to take an elegant carriage ride or...