A few years ago, several members of the hiking group I am in (WHO-which stands for "Women Hiking the Ozarks) purchased convertibles, and were looking for "excuses" to take their convertibles out for a spin, as a group. Since a Drive somewhere would call for a Dining experience, followed by a Dessert experience, the name "3D" was coined, to stand for Drive, Dine, and Dessert. Each lady took responsibility for planning an outing once per month. Over time, some of the ladies that had convertibles, have sold them, so now just about any kind of car can participate! This blog is about a trip planned by Kim, who is shown in photo below, with her beautiful Corvette:
Recently, our 3D group of ladies made a trip to Leslie , Arkansas , on a very warm day in August, to enjoy shopping and dining. We parked behind and beside the Skylark Cafe, and posed for a group photo, taken by a tourist from out of state, that we convinced to take our photo:
After she took our group photo, I asked the out of state tourist if she would like for me to take her photo by the sign and the house. She said "yes", so while the rest of the group headed for shopping, I stayed behind to do my favorite thing---take photos! After seeing how striking the photo was of the tourist on the front porch, she also took my photo on the cafe's front porch---with me showing arms uplifted in gratitude:
Since it was an hour until the cafe opened, we walked the one block down to Leslie's main street, to see the unique vernacular architecture, and look inside the shops that were open. We passed by the original Serenity bread store location, which sadly was damaged when a large truck hit its corner post, and damaged the exterior. Fortunately, I was able to remember the store from a visit I made there in the early 2000's, on a trip between North Arkansas, and Little Rock. I was going to visit my son, who had just started medical school at UAMS, so I stopped to check out the store, which I had read about in travel magazines. It was located in a building listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Sites, and has a unique exterior. This was one of the town's first brick buildings, constructed in 1907, and originally served as a bank.
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Even though I paid the most I had ever paid for a loaf of bread, my son was not impressed, when I proudly presented him with the gift . He was not used to seeing round bread, instead of sliced loaf bread!
Just past the former bakery, our first stop was the L.A. Salon and Boutique (870-447-2207), which had dozens of unique items, not seen in "big box" stores!
The store had some cute, unique tee shirts I had not seen for sale anywhere else! The design shown in this photo incorporates many aspects relative to this area. Leslie is in the Ozarks, people from Arkansas are sometimes called "Arkies", the town is close to Buffalo National River, and the shape of Arkansas forms the border for the big "A" in the center! Kudos to the artist who designed it!
My friend named Leslie needs one of these tee shirts, as well as some physicians I know as "Dr. Leslie"!
From the boutique store, we sauntered along Main Street to a corner brick building, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. My friend Cindy took this photo of its exterior, which contained all kinds of wooden gift items.
By this time, the cafe had opened, so we walked back to fulfill the "Dine" requirement for our trip, and Cindy took our photo as we waited for our meal to be served. If "walls could talk", imagine the stories that could be told by these walls that are over 100 years old! This home was owned by Dr. J.O. Cotton, who died at the age of 87, in 1959. During his career, he delivered more than 3,000 babies---some of them (probably) in this very location!
Everyone enjoyed their meal, and wanted to remember the occasion, by taking more photos on the front porch of the home.
I have mentioned my photographer friend, Cindy, so the photo below shows her in the orange dress, with her ever-present fancy camera in tow:
This "long shot" of the cafe shows its location at 401 High Street, in Leslie, and also gives an idea of its structure. The home is a 1915 Craftsman-style house. Notice on the side next to the sign, that the long, exposed "rafter tails" are visible. The front porch is supported by two large brick and wooden posts. A wheel-chair ramp has been added on the right side of the porch to make it handicap accessible. When James Oliver Cotton first came to Leslie, he was a school teacher. Later he took the training to become a physician, and was kept busy by the various maladies/accidents of those involved in the very busy lumber business of the town, back in the last century. At one time, Leslie was the home to the largest wooden barrel producer in the world, the Williams Cooperage Company.
After the photo session, it was time to load back up in our vehicles, and drive to our next stop. This led to the part of the trip Mark Twain would define as an "adventure". The famous author wrote, "You can tell you are having an adventure, if, when it is happening, you wish it weren't!" The vehicle I was in, started backing up, and as soon as the vehicle started to beep, indicating we were getting close to an obstacle, the driver stopped immediately, and put it in drive, to go forward. Sadly, it was too late, as the passenger side back wheel had dropped into a hole, and was suspended in mid air..jpg)
The crooked position of the driver side rear wheel made us concerned there might be a damaged rear axle, and a wrecker was probably going to have to be summoned! It was at this point, that I uttered the "Lightning Prayer of Nehemiah", that I had learned when my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) group studied the book of Nehemiah. The prayer is basically a plea to God, for immediate help in a time of need: "So I prayed to the God of heaven." Nehemiah 2:4b
Seconds after I prayed, a man appeared, and said he thought he could help us. He had noticed the giant decal on the end of the truck, indicating it was a 4X4 Off Road vehicle. And we were, indeed, "off the road", in that one wheel was not touching the road! He told our driver, the truck could be put in fourwheel drive and maneuvered out of the situation. Sensing the driver's hesitancy, he offered to do the job for her. And he was successful! He managed to engage the front wheels enough, to pull the truck forward, and out of the hole! Prayers answered, and no need for a wrecker or tow truck!
Later, after the man got out of the truck, our driver offered to pay him for the vital assistance he had provided. He said he did not need any payment, but asked for the opportunity to pray with the driver. This happened just as I was walking up to thank him, so I quickly snapped a photo of this sincere act of kindness that I was witnessing. The gentleman, who told us his name was Ryan, and was from Texas, will never know what a blessing he was to our group that day!
After sufficient time to calm our nerves, we headed for the downtown area again, for more antique shopping, and then over to our dessert location at Ryan's Main Street Grill (870-447-2264), which is famous for its homemade pies. The photo below shows the group at Ryan's.
Some of the ladies ordered carrot cake, some ordered strawberry pie, and some ordered peanut butter pie. Everyone agreed they were all fantastic.
Since the downtown location of the Serenity bread store was not fully operational, we made the short drive to the historic home located along Cove Creek, adjacent to Highway 65.
The house is a 1920s Sears and Roebuck Kit House, and has been turned into a delightful stop for those traveling Highway 65, between the Arkansas State line and Little Rock.
There are delicious pastries to be found inside, plus many specialty teas and coffee products:
As we were leaving, I noticed that the tables on their porch were made from treadle sewing machine bases, which my family has used for decades for the same purpose!
If you would like to plan a "culinary tour" of this area, check out these websites: www.skylarkforever.com and www.serenityfarmbread.com for more information.
Since it was an hour until the cafe opened, we walked the one block down to Leslie's main street, to see the unique vernacular architecture, and look inside the shops that were open. We passed by the original Serenity bread store location, which sadly was damaged when a large truck hit its corner post, and damaged the exterior. Fortunately, I was able to remember the store from a visit I made there in the early 2000's, on a trip between North Arkansas, and Little Rock. I was going to visit my son, who had just started medical school at UAMS, so I stopped to check out the store, which I had read about in travel magazines. It was located in a building listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Sites, and has a unique exterior. This was one of the town's first brick buildings, constructed in 1907, and originally served as a bank.
.jpg)
Just past the former bakery, our first stop was the L.A. Salon and Boutique (870-447-2207), which had dozens of unique items, not seen in "big box" stores!
The store had some cute, unique tee shirts I had not seen for sale anywhere else! The design shown in this photo incorporates many aspects relative to this area. Leslie is in the Ozarks, people from Arkansas are sometimes called "Arkies", the town is close to Buffalo National River, and the shape of Arkansas forms the border for the big "A" in the center! Kudos to the artist who designed it!
From the boutique store, we sauntered along Main Street to a corner brick building, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. My friend Cindy took this photo of its exterior, which contained all kinds of wooden gift items.
Everyone enjoyed their meal, and wanted to remember the occasion, by taking more photos on the front porch of the home.
I have mentioned my photographer friend, Cindy, so the photo below shows her in the orange dress, with her ever-present fancy camera in tow:
After the photo session, it was time to load back up in our vehicles, and drive to our next stop. This led to the part of the trip Mark Twain would define as an "adventure". The famous author wrote, "You can tell you are having an adventure, if, when it is happening, you wish it weren't!" The vehicle I was in, started backing up, and as soon as the vehicle started to beep, indicating we were getting close to an obstacle, the driver stopped immediately, and put it in drive, to go forward. Sadly, it was too late, as the passenger side back wheel had dropped into a hole, and was suspended in mid air.
.jpg)
Since the downtown location of the Serenity bread store was not fully operational, we made the short drive to the historic home located along Cove Creek, adjacent to Highway 65.
The house is a 1920s Sears and Roebuck Kit House, and has been turned into a delightful stop for those traveling Highway 65, between the Arkansas State line and Little Rock.
There are delicious pastries to be found inside, plus many specialty teas and coffee products:
As we were leaving, I noticed that the tables on their porch were made from treadle sewing machine bases, which my family has used for decades for the same purpose!
This 3D Expedition to Leslie, Arkansas, gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!! Tricia
