I always get a bit sad when I see Arkansas in my rear view mirror. Regardless where I visit—Fayetteville, Eureka Springs, Mountain Home, Piggott, Helena or home on the farm in Mississippi County—leaving makes my heart hurt. John, my husband, feels the same. No matter how much we love Dallas and our Texas friends, we are Arkansawyers at heart.

There’s something special about Arkansas that not everyone understands, the culmination of so many simple things I hold close and carry with me… feel of delta soil beneath my feet… tilt of the crop-duster’s wing…  sunrise over Mt. Sequoyah…  thrill of calling the hogs on the hill… wave of farmers on the highway…   smell of cotton being ginned…  turn of brilliant autumn leaves… plunge from the dock into a cold pocket of lake water… churn of the mighty Mississippi… silence of that first snowfall… echo of a screen door across the cove… flicker of lightning bugs... all-night laughter with best friends… 

Arkansas is easy. Comfortable. Home.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of promoting social media for The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show in Little Rock. Not only did I get to hang with a few of my fellow Arkansas Women Blogger friends, but I also met Chris H. Olsen of Botanica Gardens AND lifestyle/design/garden expert P. Allen Smith. Bucket list – check!

In addition to the flower and garden show, John and I managed to squeeze in the Benton High School district championship basketball game (Benton won!), enjoy dinner with friends at Brave New Restaurant (incredible!), and absorb a bit of history at the Arkansas History Museum (very cool!).

After a leisurely brunch at The Root Cafe, we reluctantly headed west, but this time we took a little bit of Arkansas home. Actually, a lot of Arkansas. We adopted a new pet.

See?

Our new razorback is adjusting to his Texas home.

We named him Lou Holtz.

The schnauzers are skeptical…

Grace Grits and Gardening

“I can’t believe God put us on this earth to be ordinary.” – Lou Holtz

Musical Pairing:

SoNA performs “Arkansas Fight”