Search results for: “spring water”

  • Repairing Our Wild Ozark Spring Water Line

    Today I repaired our Wild Ozark spring water line

    Since I’ve learned how to do this myself, I figured I’d do it while Mr. Wild Ozark was at work. Later this summer we have plans to change out the entire …

  • A problem in our gravity feed spring water system

    What is a gravity feed water system?

    We are fortunate to have our very own spring fed water source that runs all year long. It is a spring that pumps out enough water, without fail, to serve our household with …

  • Random Nature Connection – Ozark Spring Water

    Our house runs on gravity fed Ozark spring water. This was a new experience to us when we moved here in 2005 from an urban town in south Louisiana. We had so much to learn about what it means to …

  • The Bear Issue with Our Spring-fed Water Line

    So I’ve done a good job of making sure the water is dripping on the cold nights and so far so good with not letting the lines freeze (since the first time I let it happen this year). But this …

  • Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues

    When you rely on a spring for water, you need a tank. This is our 1500 gallon water collection tank.
    When you rely on a spring for water, you need a tank. This is our 1500 gallon water collection tank.

    Using a spring for water requires more effort than relying on tap water. Sometimes, just because you turn on the …

  • Spring Wildflowers late April

    Spring Wildflowers late April

    Here in the Arkansas Ozarks, the time for spring wildflowers is here. Some of the ephemerals are still lingering, but the bloodroot is well and gone. Now the later, more durable flowering is underway.

    Here’s some I saw today while …

  • Check the Spring Tank

    Check the Spring Tank

    When it’s a drought, we monitor our water usage more closely than when it isn’t so dry outside. When it gets like this, before I do anything that uses a lot of water, like washing clothes, I take a hike …

  • Checking the Spring Seep

    Checking the Spring Seep

    The ‘Seep’ is where the ground stays wet on the far end of the horse’s field. Since it’s been so dry, I wondered if it had dried up too. Because if that spot is dry, then the creek is going …

  • The Bear Chewed Our Water Line Again

    The Bear Chewed Our Water Line Again

    This morning when I turned on the faucet to clean the cast-iron skillet to get ready to fix breakfast, the water pressure seemed a little low. By the time I’d finished washing the dishes after breakfast, it was lower still. …

  • Spring Rains in the Ozarks

    Spring Rains in the Ozarks

    This morning the thunder boomed me out of the bed at 0400. Winds shook the house and the lightning strobed like a Halloween haunted house. This is not the sort of weather that gives me the urge to sleep, ha, …

  • New Acceptance | Watercolor USA 2022

    The Forager was accepted to the 61st exhibition of Watercolor USA, a national, annual juried exhibition recognizing contemporary American watermedia painting. The juror was Kevin Umaña, co-founder of The Ekru Project, a Kansas City-based artist-run gallery focused …

  • Earthy Vibes | Pop-up Show in Downtown Springdale | Oct. 7

    Today I’m wrapping up the preparations for tomorrow’s exhibit in Springdale Arkansas. It’s a new Art Walk kicking off, and this Thursday is the first one. The weather is forecasted to be nice, and the autumn light is in the …

  • Monthly Hermit Musings | A Glimmer of Spring

    A few green things are peeking out, and I’m beginning to see the glimmer of spring.

    Yesterday I sent out my monthly newsletter to subscribers. Each month I try to write up a summary of all that went on out …

  • Leave the Water On

    Leave the Water On

    You’d think by now I’d remember to do that when the first true cold snap arrives. But no, I always forget, just like I forgot last night. And now, of course, there’s no water running from my faucet when I …

  • Making My Own Watercolor Paints from Ozark Pigments

    Making My Own Watercolor Paints from Ozark Pigments

    2023 Anniversary Update

    This year I’m not making many watercolor paints, except in workshops. Instead, I’ve begun to focus on making oil paints from these earthy Ozark pigments! The passion is still strong for the colors, but it is so …

  • 2018 Spring Awakening Watch – First Native Flowers of the Ozarks

    It’s mid-March 2018 and I’m watching for the first native flowers of the Ozarks to start blooming. I particularly love the ephemeral blooms of early spring, like the bloodroot and Dutchmen’s breeches. Scroll down to see pictures and keep up …

  • Things I’ve Heard but Never Seen- Spring Peepers

    How many things have you heard but never seen? One that confounds me every year is a little frog.

    Today was a very windy and warm day, warm enough to make it easy to work up a sweat while helping …

  • Simple Survival Skills: Limited Water Washing

    Simple Survival Skills: Limited Water Washing

    I forget, until I have to use them, how many simple survival skills I’ve used since moving to this remote and rural Ozarks life. Washing dishes with limited water is one of the most useful things to know.

    Simple Survival

  • Rain Makes Waterfalls!

    Three of our favorite waterfalls hide in a steep little holler. They’re beautiful and when it rains, they really flow.

    Over the past twenty-four hours we’ve had 5″ of rain. That’s a lot for us here at Wild Ozark, and …

  • No Water

    This morning I turned on the faucet to put some water on my toothbrush.

    Nothing but a few drops came out. Then, nothing. No water.

    No Water

    My thoughts immediately led to the question in my mind, which was “Where …

  • The First Flowers of Spring at Wild Ozark

    Nature lovers began the frenzy of watching for the first flowers of spring a few weeks ago. Here at Wild Ozark, we’re in a little eco-microcosm that is often more than a week behind surrounding areas in spring. Our temperatures …

  • The Nature of Still Water

    We’re holding our breath here this morning at Wild Ozark, waiting to see what happens when the lines on the mountain thaw.

    See, we’d insulated all the lines under the house and figured, hey, it shouldn’t freeze now under there …

  • Tending our Wild Ozark Water

    Springs at Wild Ozark

    I’ve written before about how we are dependent on our wild Ozark water. This is a post from last year around this time of year and it’s one of my favorites. This activity of inspecting …

  • Running Errands, Preparing for Bad Weather

    The approaching weekend and the week after has foreboding forecasts, so today I spent the day running errands. And preparing for bad weather. That usually means COLD weather out here. The only other thing we get during warmer months is …

  • Limelight Hydrangeas in Progress | A commissioned painting

    Limelight Hydrangeas in Progress | A commissioned painting

    This is a 5 x 7″ commission of Limelight hydrangeas. I’ll use my Ozark pigments in oils plus white made from titanium. For the green, I’ll use a combination of the yellow lake pigment that I made from thyme I …