A Hardy Vacation

Last week we spent four days and four nights in Arkansas, at a vacation home that belongs to a good friend. We decided on Hardy as our destination because it was half way between two counties where I wanted to do some ancestor research, and it had its own attractions as well. The last day we were there, we just explored the town and also sat outside and drank in the wonderful silences and sounds of the north Arkansas woods. Twilight found us on the front deck.

At one point, the silence was shattered by a call that had to belong to a wood pecker, although it was different than those at home. In a few minutes, this fellow, a Pileated Woodpecker, flew out of the woods and started climbing up this snag across the road.

You may or may not be able to make out the red crest, but the silhouette is unmis- takable. He or she is almost as big as a crow. After a while it called again and flew off into the woods. This sighting was a first for me, although I've heard these calling in the woods before. An entry for the Birding Life List. We saw other wildlife on this trip, including four deer crossing the road to the house right at dusk one evening as we returned from visiting an internet hot spot in town.

All the comforts of home and then some were provided in the home our friends' family has had in Cherokee Village for many years. The place is well loved. Electricity, propane and running water insured that we weren't roughing it. We fixed two suppers and all of our breakfasts here. The front deck was great for sitting in the evenings, and a swing at the back of the carport was a great spot to savor morning coffee and listen to more bird songs. Thank you, thank you, Jacque and Martha!

Downtown Hardy has a main street that is also the highway, and one block is lined with very quaint art and craft shops, some places to eat and get ice cream, and this little park dedicated to a person who helped get the entire zone on the National Register of Historic Places. Hardy is situated on the Spring River (which issues forth at Mammoth Spring, some 16 miles to the north) and was an early trading center after the railroad came through. It's still a nice place to spend a spring or fall weekend.

The only thing the house lacked was Internet access, and actually that was A Good Thing. It made the time there more relaxing. As we came back each day from our various forays into county court houses or country cemeteries in search of clues about the great grandparents, we usually stopped at a place called Words & After Words, a book store, cafe and internet hot spot. Yes, we browsed the (well stocked, indie) book store and I came away with some books. One night as we had some appetizers and coffee we became part of the audience for a live streaming broadcast of an interview with two old-time mountain musicians and we heard some good local music. If you are ever in Hardy, this is the place to be. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and after 7 p.m. many nights for music, including a weekly open mic night.

Separate posts will be dedicated to our adventures in Randolph and Fulton counties, and the triumphs and frustrations of genealogy research on the ground (or as Norm will say, on a ladder.)