Red Oak

 I have been to Carthage MO many a time but have never wandered outside of town to Red Oak. Its tucked away on a country road just a few miles to the northeast. Red Oak is the creation of Missouri artist Lowell Davis. He began moving old buildings from his boyhood town of red oak to his farm Fox Fire in 1987, restoring them and adding things. Its a wonder to see. There are now permanent residences, a farm and what seemed like an RV park out back with new construction.

 This water feature was titled "Plumbers Nightmare".

 A wedding was happening while I was there under the shade of this tree.

From inside the feed and seed store.

On Saturday nights there is "Pickin and Singing" in the old restored church on the grounds, and services on Sunday mornings. I need to get there on a Sat. nite to check it out.
Heres a link to the website; Red Oak II Missouri.

Downtown Murals

I went for a walk the other morning around downtown Pittsburg. I have been neglecting my camera lately, I took it along for the stroll. There is something about murals that I really am drawn to as an art form, maybe its the public aspect, free for all to think about, maybe its the folk art aspect, some of these artists are what some might consider naive, but I consider wonderfully talented.

Looking for Swans

We went looking for some Trumpeter Swans this morning. I have received an email from the local Audubon Chapter with some pretty specific directions. After convincing my wife to be the second pair of eyes we set off west towards the goal. Unfortunately we did not see any out where the email lead us. But we did see a Bald Eagle, about a dozen Red tail Hawks, a Kestrel, dozens of Canada Geese, Eastern Meadowlarks, Mockingbirds, Common Crows and a herd of White Tail Deer. Not bad.

Somewhat recently

 

From a walk with a friend along the Missouri River, late October.

Fishing

I went fishing the other morning with an old friend. Positioned in comfortable chairs, we sat and talked as  our bobbers drifted slowly in the cool of the morning. Sevarl hours passed, we tried three different locations, at each spot the same thing, didnt get a damn bite.  Yet it did not bother me at all, well maybe a litlle, because we watched pelicans float into the cove, monarchs headed south by the dozens, and for an instant an osprey soared less than thirty feet above us, slowly looking down as we looked up. The light from the lake reflected back up under its wings going on and off.   He didn't get  much action in the cove either.

Winfield

 Spent last weekend over in Winfield for the outstanding Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival

If you have not experienced Winfield it is one of the best festivals found anywhere. Over 14,000 folks from all over get together to listen to quality music, camp, join in informal and formal jam sessions and spen a lot of time smiling.