January 1, 2012

• 2011 gave us one last, lovely gift — an exquisitely perfect day.

                             

  We spent it with our dear friends, exploring some of our favorite nooks and crannies in our part of the Ozarks.

                             

  First we had breakfast close to home and then headed out for a hike.

                            

  On the trail above us, a couple were going cross-country on their mules. We hollered a Happy New Year to each other.

                           

  Down below,our desination was this beautiful blue spring, aptly named Blue Spring.

                          

  It burbles out of the steep hillside directly under where my Farmboy is standing.

                         

  It was easy to say, “I’d jump right in if it was 90 degrees, but since it’s only 60….”

                         

  Above our heads, this unusual formation reminded me of an eagle’s head.

                         

  Looking downstream from where the spring empties into the river….

                         

  Crystal clear, cold water–it is deep here, looking straight down into the spring.

                         

  I climbed up, up, up to get this bird’s-eye view.

                          

  On the trail, this sign pointed to destinations ahead. We liked the name of the creek and would have loved to go on another 20 miles to explore the old cemetery but would have needed a much earlier start.

                        

  Back on the road, we stopped by an old, abandoned country store….this one is most unusual in that it was built right on top of a spring. Inside, a trap door opens in the floor, and a basket was lowered into the cold water. The basket would have held butter and cream, to keep it cold, in those long-ago days before refrigeration. 

                        

  We longed to go in and poke around….

                        

                       

  Our last stop was at a local landmark….

                      

  And we saw this sign that the day was coming to an end…..

                      

  That’s the moon up there, already riding high. So we headed home, completely filled with the beauty of this wondrous winter’s day. We’ll hold onto it, to see us through the cold, dark ones that are surely in store in the coming weeks. But we’ll savor our memories, for we couldn’t have thought to ask for a better way to ring out the old….in the company of beautiful people, out in the beautiful countryside.

  Happy New Year to each of you–may it be filled with beauty for you, too!

   

  • 10:27 am
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