Arkansas, here we come

Welcome to Princedom, Bella Vista, Ark.

Tree top cabin.

Maggie sips coffee in front of Princedom's fireplace.

Fireplace at The Cabin, Bella Vista, Ark.

War Eagle Fair, Arkansas, Maggie with Kansas City pal Sydney Burch

jJames at the Mill...Dessert

Photos by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Northeast Arkansas.

The third weekend in October.

The craft shows.

People jet in from around the world for the shows.

Husband Paul L. Schuetze and I are among them. Have been since the 1980s.

As many of you know, we stay in Princedom, a friend’s 100-year-old summer cabin in the Ozarks of Bella Vista, Ark. It is built so you feel that you are actually in the tree tops that shimmer with color as the leaves change and the wind blows.

This cabin is so very special. It just about my favorite place on this Earth and it is always difficult to leave its peacefulness.

It has a little rock fireplace that we light every morning for warmth while we dress to head to:

War Eagle Fair. This show is the one that started ‘em all many years ago. The drive there winds through the hills with a view to a valley still filled with farms.

A river runs through the property, dividing the original show — which is juried — to two non-juried shows and War Eagle Mill. The mill is wonderful, too, and you can buy grains and stone-ground flour and grits, enough, we hope, to get us to next year. (The mill is open all year and is worth the drive.)

We know many of the artists from years past and buy from them.

But, there are always new artists.

This year, our favorite purchases were: a giant jack-o-lantern-themed planter created from a golf cart tire. True folk art, people were snapping up at the Bella Vista show.

Then there was the Minnesota dairy farmer who showed rusty turkeys created from tractor seats and shovel heads; and buzzards perched on a stand made from shovel heads. We loved them and are finding a spot in our yard for them.

But, there is Pam Barro from Springfield, Mo., who creates whimsical clothing from sweat shirts and T-shirts. Sandy Kay Hunter hails from Kansas and paints blue birds and cows and sheep. We’ have bought her work for years and seen dramatic changes in her style and perception.

And, the food.

The places we frequent range from a four-star restaurant, James at the Mill, (see bottom photo) to a down-home place, Inn at Monte Ne.

If you didn’t know the Inn was there, you would not stop. There is one menu served family style: fried chicken, corn, cole slaw, and mashed potatoes. Bread is served with the best apple butter ever. But it is the bean soup that we crave, the best I have ever put into my mouth. I always bring home bean soup to freeze and some of the apple butter. No credit cards taken at the Inn. Cash or check. And, if you don’t have a reservation, forget it.

The best salad: Mary Maestri’s dressed with an incredibly simple oil/ vinegar dressing.

There is Fred’s for spaghetti.

I am counting the days until the third week in October 2008!

A legal eagle.

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times
Shown at the luncheon: Glenn E. Walker, U.S. Dist. Judge Tom Stagg, David Broder and Marty Stroud.


Shreveport attorney Glenn E. Walker’s acceptance speech for a Shreveport Bar Association Award Wednesday so awed Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Broder that he cancelled his speech.

"You had a wonderful talk. It as fine a speech on the role of law as I have ever heard," said Broder. He is national political correspondent who reports the political scene for the Washington Post and whose column in carried in The Times.

The award was given and Broder was the guest speaker for the luncheon at the Petroleum Club.

So, instead of giving his prepared talk on contemporary political leaders — that he had actually delivered the night before — he told stories about national political figures he had covered and knew very well: former Sen. Barry Goldwater, once a Republican candidate for U.S. President ,and President Ronald Reagan and took questions from the lunch bunch.

He said the press wasn’t always kind to Goldwater, but that he was loved by reporters who covered him. "They lionized him as much as anyone," Broder said.

It probably couldn’t happen today, but in those days, Broder and a couple of other reporters made their way to Goldwater’s ranch when he got back to Arizona from the Republican convention.

"He was sitting around fooling with his ham radio and drinking coffee," said Broder.

Goldwater told the reporters that he and Lucky Davis, Reagan’s mother-in-law, a guest at the rance, got up at the same time. "We swap dirty jokes. That is how I start my day," declared Goldwater.

Some of the topics Broder touched on in the question/answer session:

 Polarization of Congress. "It is the most poisonous atmosphere I have ever seen in Washington ... Their lifestyle isolates them. They don’t spend time in Washington and they don’t spend time with each other. There is very little communication."

 How history will view President George W. Bush. "It depends on how the war turns out ... I am not optimistic about the war."

 On the writers of the U.S. Constitution. "The wisest generation of Americans — ever."

As for Walker’s speech, he mixed whimsey and light topics with serious thoughts to discuss the law and how its role in society is to bring order to it.

By the way did you know that Angola Peniteniary has a great museum and gift shop.

The biggest seller in the shop? "The T-shirt that says, 'Angola. A Gated Community,'" said Walker.

Walker is a good and long time friend of mine, so covering the speech and award presentation was very special.

Besides his law prowess, he is also a woodworker who builds and refinishes furniture and once created a fly rod for his wife, my close pal Martha S. Walker.

He is also a cook who once took Cuisinart lessons with my husband Paul L. Schuetze and U.S. Dist. Court Judge Tom from the late Times columnist Carolyn Flournoy. In her South Highlands kitchen.

Congratulations, Glenn! We are proud of you. Well deserved, this award.

Who is Wanda Mitchell?

Linda M. Biernacki

What is in a name?

If you read my personalty profile on community volunteer Linda Biernacki on the front of The Times Sunday Living section, you may think you need to know all there is to know about her. I wrote a lot. It was a long story. I had a lot to say. She was a fascinating subject.

But, I have more info. (Well, I couldn't fit it all in!)

When Biernacki was born, her mother, Anne Marie Mitchell, was unable to help name her because of complications from the birth, so her dad, Jerry Lee Mitchell, named her.

Wanda Mitchell.

A perfectly good name, as all Wandas, their parents and friends know.

But, her mom didn’t like it.

"She will henceforth be called Linda Lee," said Anne Marie when she was awake.

And so, she was, Linda Lee.

"Wanda was on my birth certificate, but I was Linda Lee," said Biernacki.

So, much later. Biernacki changed it officially and legally to "Linda Lee."

Why fall is fine

Night blooming cereus

Bois d'arc apple

Two buckeyes and the hull

Ginger lily

Monarch butterly lands on zinnia

Persimmon tree

Persimmon treePersimmon tree

Spider lily

Photos by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Fall is coming our way.

I feel it and I see it on our seven acres surrounded by woods on The Road, the Old Mooringsport Road where I live with husband Paul L. Schuetze.

I see it in:

The eight night blooming cereus buds that unfurled one coolish fall night recently filling the air with their subtle scents from a rim of pots under the old oak tree outside the kitchen window.

The plants are ungangly and ugly, but every time they bloom, I think how worth it to haul them back and forth each fall and spring, some years for just for one blossom.

The change in color of the river oats from green to taupe as the heads blow softly in the wind in their spot near the bridge and close by the tree house that overlooks the glen.

The huge Granny apple green bois d’arc apples which drop from ancient trees in the front and back of the property.

The red spider lilies that pop up overnight here, there and yonder around the acreage.

The clusters of St. Joseph lilies that congregate in the contemplative and the shade gardens.

The buckeye plants hidden away along an ancient cattle walk which this year yielded two buckeyes from their dry, withered plants ... that are so awesomely beautiful in the spring.

The persimmons turning slowly from green to soft coral in a tree that hugs the western end of the house.

The migrating monarch butterflies that flutter through the year-end blooms of the primary-hued zinnia patch in the side yard.

The French mulberry plants ripe with magenta berries along their branches.

The ginger lilies, because they remind me so much of my mother, Sabra B. Martin, who cherished them in her passalong garden.

The moonflower vine making a last stand, its buds unfolding as sunset fades, the sun sets and dark falls gently over our land.

Always, fall has been my favorite season.

October my favorite month because it is my birthday month. And, although my childhood parties were never elaborate, they were always special.

My mother made birthday cakes from scratch and covered with time consuming seven-minute icing and pumpkins she squeezed from a tube — nothing fancy, just from an aluminum kit.

Fall. I welcome its memories and its present beauty.

A-reveling we will go

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

"Snapdragon" is a hot hit down at the Red River Revel.

Paul and Kathy Smith of Dubach, created this yard art out of shovels and other "stuff." It costs $4,000.

"A lot of people have shown interest in it," said Kathy.

But you can buy things created of old garden tools at their booth for far less. How about a butterfly for $20.

I love the wonderful tractor seats for sitting upon in the garden. Sitting is my garden if a version of their "Majer Yertle Turtle," made of an old Army helmet — bought a year or so ago here at another show.

The Smiths best seller at the RRR: Ladybugs for $50.

They sold out of early: bottle trees, "Dandy Lions" and "Granddaddy Long Legs."
But, still there is plenty left. How about an armadillo, a garden stake, or "Toadlly Delicious Dragonfly."

...Ed and Tresa Konderla’s wood furniture made from area woods is also a sight to see. The couple is from nearby Center, Texas.

Ed pointed out one especially beautiful piece that came from wild plum.

Their wood-inspired cards says "Attoyac River Gallery, Artistic Furniture and Accessories."

Stop by and ask Ed about his classroom experiences!

We go Reveling

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Red River Revel Artist Lori Watts of Columbia, Miss., had jury duty for six months before the festival opened — hindering her usual flurry of work.

The duty ended Wednesday, giving her one day to pack up and head west. She and husband sculptor Ben Watts show together.

Husband Paul L. Schuetze and I have loved and collected Watts’ works since she first started showing here several years ago and always stop by to say, "Hi."

Watts recognizable raku boxes are "beribboned" with raku swirls that, well, look like a ribbon. The "ribbons" top the lids.

We show her above with some red glazed pieces, but she also creates them with glazes of turquoise, yellow and purple. They are all sizes and shapes and are exquisite. And, she is venturing out, with her "ribbons," trading raku for copper wire and beads in some pieces.

You can buy Watts art work for prices that range from $35 for a cross to $895 for a large sculpture. Boxes start at $45.

Ben’s works with oil-based clay and cast bronze. You can pick up one of his for $495 for a small bust to $8,500 for a large Indian chief bust.

The piece that dominates the booth is a dramatic rendering of a Christ figure.It was done for a service for our church," said Lori.

Ben filmed himself as he sculptured it and it was presented at Willow Point Church, Hattiesburg, Miss., in an unusual way.

Just installed at the Archery Hall of Fame at Bass Pro, Springfield, Mo., is "A Bear Hunt," honoring famous archer Fred Bear by Ben. A smaller version is displayed in Ben’s booth and it is stunning.
There is also a lifesize John Wesley by Ben at Millsaps, College, Jackson, Miss.

Definitly worth your time to stop by the Watts’ booth.

A Dot & A Dash

... Loved Darryl Freed’s cards. Featuring the name of his business "Cabin Fever" and his telephone number, they are on a chip of wood!

Freed is from Harrison, Ark., and combines rough wood he picks up in the woods with smooth finished wood for his unusual duck work.

The names he gives them, provides glimpse of their theme.

How about "Soul Mates," "The Flush," "Double Dipping."

Prices range from $45 for a small carved duck to "$750 for an intricate "Circle of Life" lamp.
Among this most popualr sellers: the decoy style pieces.