Life on the Ranch and in the Studio, and on the Road

It is about 175 miles to North Little Rock and my mission was to pick up twenty+ pantings for the Ozark Pastel Society and deliver them along with the four paintings I had already collected, to the Thea Foundation Art Gallery in North Little Rock for the Annual groups show for the Arkansas and Ozark Pastel Associations. 

I picked up collected paintings at Board member Cindy Rowden's home and continued on to Little Rock arriving there about 11:30am. Arkansas Pastel Society President, Caprise Cooper and Board member Anne Parat were there waiting to help unload the artwork along with Thea worker and OPA member Nancy Martin. We made quick work of the unloading and then Anne, Caprise and I went to lunch at a very cute Bistro in the next block south of the gallery. 

This part of North Little Rock is beautiful with lovely planters and flower plantings along the streets. A street trolley runs down mainstreet and makes a 17 mile loop across the Arkansas River, the Kerr/Mcgee Navigation Channel, which comes all the way to Tulsa and connects to New Orleans. The Navigation channel divides North Little Rock and Little Rock.

Murphy was the TolleyMan for most of our tour. The Convention center, Clinton Library and the Historic Arkansas Museum is on this loop. Two trolley's run during the day and is free to all riders. 

There was lots of water flowing in the river due to all the rains. A submarine is docked at the North Little Rock side of the river. The heat index was 105 on Wednesday afternoon, so we opted to go to the Historic Museum where it was cool. We had planned on PlenAir painting at the mill but that will have to be another day. It is just too hot to paint outside even in the even when it starts to cool off some.

We saw an outstanding knife exhibit of the 'Bowie Knife'. We rode the trolley two round trips having three different conductors. It is indeed a small world, having met the first conductor who was from western Oklahoma. When I asked where and he said Boise City. Being from Alva and traveling through Boise City for over 25 years to go to our cabin near Gunnison, I was very familiar with Boise City, the only town bombed during WWII. Look up the incident. It is very interesting. 

Anne had offered me lodging for the night and so we went to her lovely home in Little Rock.

We were to meet a mutual friend, Susan for dinner at the Terrace Restaurant where Susan had made reservations. We had a lovely meal and a really sweet young waitress from Venezuela. She was such a lovely young lady with an accent of coarse. I think I must paint her portrait. 

Thursday morning I sketched on Anne's front porch until she got up. We went to a lovely Bistro about 10 minutes from the house for Brunch. There were lovely fresh flowers on the tables but I had no idea what they were. Having been in the floral business for 35 years, I thought they were in the bergamot family and they were. The gentleman who seated us came over and looked them up and said the flowers came from the florist next door. So, we obviously visited a beautiful Floral shop next door called the 'Cabbage Rose'. What a fun morning before I hit the road for home. It is great to travel, but always good to be home. 

A side trip on the way home allowed me to visit with WAOW member Brenda Morgan who lives in Dardenelle. It was great seeing her. 

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I am proud to be an American! I'm so thankful for young men and women who give this right to me! I never take my life in the United States for granted! Celebrate our Country today and especially on the Fourth! 

If you get a chance to go to North Little Rock, stop in and see the exhibit at the Thea Foundation Gallery. The artwork was installed last Saturday and runs through July 31, 2025. Some of the work has already sold. Take a look. 

Best Wishes,

Burneta