Phlox, Folly & Friends

     April is the time of the year my friends and I venture out on our horses for the Dogwood Ride, always taking place somewhere in Missouri.  This time it was right out my back yard on the Ozark Trail, and the Dogwood were in full bloom, but sadly, the Redbud were finished and leafing out.

Lucy and Mary arrived about 8:00 p.m. to the cabin, where I had cooked up a pot of Potato Bacon soup.  Was flying by the seat of my pants.  Hadn't made it in a long time, and happy to say it turned out great!

Simple country table setting.  Table enamel, old, bought in a flea market $35.

This setting was all about the food and welcoming to my cabin.

Got our bellies full and a good night's rest, ready for hard core riding. 

Picture of me and Dolly at Melissa's house, readying horses for the ride.

I took cuttings of the blooming bushes you see in the background for what will appear in the tablescapes.

We rode five miles from Melissa's house to my cabin on the Ozark Trail, then hitched up and prepared lunch.  Wish I'd prepared for a tablescape too, but nature took over.

Hot sandwiches and potato salad and chips.  Lucy had the brilliant idea (she always does) of eating outside by the barn taking in the view of the wild phlox growing on the hillside.  Great idea!

Dirty women, dirty table, but beautiful scene while we ate lunch.

Time to head back.  I can feel it's going to rain real soon.  Made it back to Melissa's ranch ten minutes before the rain started.

Mary just learning to ride this year.  She's doing great and she doesn't whine.

We finished the evening off with this, yes, Belly Dancing DVD.

Mary and Lucy left Friday morning early.  I decided Friday afternoon to use the flowers I cut and my new dishes for this tablescape.  Dishes bought at flea market.

The vase looks like Quimper, but it's not.

Tucked in some wild flowers clipped from my so-called yard.

Dogwood and wild phlox tucked in bourbon glasses.

I placed azalea and dogwood into this pottery thingy I purchased in Mexico.  It hangs at my kitchen window.

And I placed a Dogwood cutting in this bottle on the kitchen window sill.

I am so blessed to have good adventurous friends, a good hubby who never complains about my frolicking, and to have my little place in woods, the Mark Twain Forest, Missouri.

I am joining the party at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/on-a-balcony-in-switzerland-the-206th-tablescape-thursday/ 

Linda

Tears, Trails & Tablescapes

     Saturday was a special day.  The Ozark Trail Association held a special memorial for founder John Roth, who passed away July 2009.  We had a sculpture with plaque set in a foundation on the Middle Fork Section of trail to honor his memory.  He was a special man and is missed by so many friends and family.
To find out more information about the Ozark Trail, visit ozarktrail.com

Melissa and I trailored our horses to the event so we could take advantage of the beautiful spring day riding on the Middle Fork Section of the Ozark Trail.  I left my camera in the truck, so I didn't get any pictures.

Sunday was yet another beautiful day, so after enjoying a pancake and sauage breakfast with her and her husband, we took another trail ride, this time on the Courtois Section of the Ozark Trail, which is a four mile section which runs behind my house and meets the gate at her house.

The Ozark Trail Association is comprised of volunteers who have hand built and maintain the Ozark Trail.  I helped build this 4 mile section.  Awesome scenery.  Myself, Rick and Melissa have adopted this section and are charged with maintaining it.

Me & Dolly.

Melissa & Savannah

Me and pretty Dolly

Waterfall which only runs after much rain and snow melt.  How lucky am I to have this trail and scenery  behind my cabin?

Dinner for 6 on my screen porch.  Myself & Rob, Melissa & Phil, their daughter Julia and her friend from college had a dinner of filet mignon, asparagus with sesame & sesame oil, salad, cheese tortillini and bread.

It was beautiful out and we could hear the creek in front of the house babbling.

Yeah, I know the floor needs scrubbed.  It was a tough choice, scrub floor or ride.

I searched the cabin for a centerpiece and couldn't come up with a thing.  Thank you Spring.  I looked out the window and by the creek were some lovely daffodils blooming.  Perfect.

The flowers made their way onto my kitchen windowsill after dinner.

  My reflection can be seen in the window.  Scary.

We had an eventful exhilierating weekend.  We are blessed to have this wonderful weekend home.  It recharges me and fills my life with adventures, which keeps living interesting.

Linda