Essie Ward: "the Grandma Moses of the Ozarks"

Well.  Rather abruptly, I've found a few things to write about.  We're off and running.

I had the pleasure last night of attending a short lecture at our local library by Susan Young of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History over in Springdale.  She came to present information about a Searcy County artist named Essie Ward.  (You can read a brief bio here or see a gallery of her paintings here.) 

Photo borrowed from encyclopediaofarkansas.net

Facebook had alerted me to the presentation just that afternoon, and I was fascinated to see that the room was packed with a standing-room-only crowd that included nearly a dozen of Essie and Jessie Ward's direct descendants.  Some had brought paintings and other mementos from their home, and it was an absorbing hour as the historian shared her presentation, then listened and marveled at what the family members had brought to share as well.

Now that I know her story, I'm now hoping that I'll come across one of Essie's paintings for sale someday.  I think Hezekiah and Miranda need a place in my home.

What sort of Ozark Finds, exactly?

Hi.  My name's Kim, and I live smack dab (as we say) in the middle of the Ozark Mountains.

I'm not a historian, a musicologist, a P.R. employee, or anything of the sort.  I'm just someone who loves the hills, hollers, and history of these mountains.  I love learning new things about them and about the people who settled them and eked out a living in this land of stone and strife.  I'm also a sucker for a good festival, a gorgeous view, a wood fire, and a bargain.

I hope to sprinkle in a lot of my favorite things about the Ozarks here:  places to stay, places to learn, food you should eat, and experiences you should have.  Posts on historic buildings, local music, personalities, and natural wonders in the area will likely turn up too, as I can hardly help sharing those things when I discover them.  Family- and kid-oriented items will appear too, as my husband and I have two small kids and love to take them to experience the Ozarks with us.

In short, if I love it and it's local, I hope to post it here.

Thanks for reading, and I hope some of this mess inspires you to explore and love it here as much as we do.