COLER PRESERVE EXPEDITION!

Coler Bicycle Preserve is located in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is a wonderful location for numerous types of outdoor activities.  It is one of many properties in Northwest Arkansas, made possible by the philanthropy of the Walton family, whose patriarch, Sam Walton, founded the Walmart Corporation.  A bicyclist who assisted me in finding the preserve (after the navigation system in my vehicle could not locate it), advised me I would have two choices of where to park.  He advised me to try to park in the lower parking lot (probably after seeing I was of the "senior citizen" class), because parking in the second available lot, would result in a challenging (for me) uphill climb on the way out.  I took this photo as I was exiting the parking lot he recommended, because it was completely full.  Then I followed the road shown in the left of the photo, and found the second parking lot he mentioned, which still had plenty of spots available.   

There was a very nice pavilion at the parking lot, which had electrical outlets, tables with chairs, a water fountain and restrooms.  

The concrete sidewalk I used, was only one of the ways a visitor could explore the park.  Notice the elevated ramp on the right of the photo, that bicyclists can use.

The sidewalk meanders downward through a mostly deciduous forest.  The fact that there are no leaves covering the sidewalk, is an indication that diligent attention is being paid to blowing fallen leaves off the sidewalk.  I volunteer with the Arkansas Master Naturalists (www.arkansasmasternaturalists.org) in working on keeping area trails free of leaf build-up, so I know this task does not happen without effort!

At the bottom of the hill, I reached what is called "The Plaza".  It serves as a staging area for meet-ups, and photo opportunities.

The custom-made sign at the Plaza, is different from the one in the parking lot, because it has a map of the park, etched onto its metal surface, winding through the letters C O L E R.  

I visited on an unseasonably warm day, which was the day after Christmas, so not surprisingly, there were many families together, out enjoying the beautiful weather!

This colored arch way, is one of the "OZ ART" installations, and can serve as a landmark, for visitors wanting to mark their location.  

I liked the way the design of the metal roof and sides, to make this covered bridge, mimics the design of old-time wooden covered bridges.  

Although camping is not allowed anywhere you want within the preserve, there is a designated camping area that has received nice on-line reviews, for those who want to be the first on the trails, when the sun comes up!

The park is dog friendly, but of course, dog owners are asked to keep their pets on leash, and clean up after they "do their business."

One of the reasons I was eager to visit the Coler Preserve, is because I had read of its unusual coffee shop, that can only be reached by biking or walking.  No "drive through" window at this location!

One of the reasons I had trouble locating Coler Preserve, is because when I put Airship Coffee shop into my search engine, a downtown location was coming up.  When I phoned the number shown, the person who answered said there are TWO Airship locations, and I was phoning the one downtown, and  yes, it is possible to drive to the downtown location.    

The Airship location in Coler Preserve has clean restrooms, and water fountain, with adaptation for re-filling water bottles.  It has a ramp, making it handicap-accessible, for those using wheelchairs on the sidewalks, to get to the location.  

The roof top of the coffee shop, is set up to make a very nice out-door patio, with chairs and tables for guests.  

A kind, random stranger, agreed to take a photo of me, so I could remember the beautiful environment and weather, where I found myself, on December 26, 2025!

The area adjacent to the roof patio, is equipped with overhead lights, and additional picnic tables.  

The front of the coffee shop is equipped with big chair swings, so visitors can look out across the valley.  

I tried sitting in the swing, but decided that was a scenario perfect for spilling my coffee, all over my white blouse!  

From the rooftop patio of the coffee shop, one has a good view of the old-timey barn, of the original homestead.  There are placards that tell about the history of the family that lived in this valley, and how that history relates to the name "Coler".

The old barn has been retro-fitted, to make it a wonderful area for youngsters (and those young at heart!), to climb around on rope ladders, and explore the second story.  The facility can be reserved for birthday parties, and other special events.  

I really wanted to try to climb the rope ladder, but did not want to wait in line, to make the attempt.  (or at least, that is the excuse I told myself!)

Rope climbing is not the only activity one can participate within the barn.  This visitor was taking advantage of the electrical connection to work from his notebook computer!

The shadows made by the spaces between the boards of the barn construction, make for a type of "Shadow Art" installation!

Beside the barn, examples of antique hay harvesting equipment make another type of vintage metal farm equipment "sculpture".   It provides an opportunity where youngsters can learn that GPS-guided harvesters, were not available to the family that homesteaded this valley! 

In front of the barn, there is a concrete pad, equipped with bike-washing water supply, and other items one might need, to make minor bicycle repairs.

The Quiver mentioned on this sign, is yet another example of an outdoor activity that has benefited from the generosity of the Walton family.  It shares the same website as the Coler information, although The Quiver is all about archery opportunities.  

Just as the neon sign says on this re-purposed outbuilding of the farmstead, one may feel as though they are in "paradise", when they are outside enjoying all the natural beauty of this preserve!

I saw several different people enjoying this hammock beside the stream, and I cannot think of a better location for "live streaming"!

The stream that flows through the valley adds a wonderful ambience to the preserve, but for the original homesteaders here, the stream would have been a necessary water source for livestock and crops---not just something pretty to look at!

Reading this sign near the entrance, is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge about Coler Bicycle Preserve, and will improve your understanding of all the opportunities you can add to your life by visiting here.  

Furthermore, if you read and abide by these "Rules and Regulations", it will improve your chances of adding "accident-free" days and years, to your life.  Therefore, I am using this as the visual aid for one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses that says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Through wisdom, your days will be many, and years will be added to your life."  Proverbs 9:10-11

This visit to Coler Bicycle Preserve gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia

 

WALKING IN WISDOM EXPEDITION!

For the last several weeks, my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com)  class has been studying a book called Walking in Wisdom, by Sherry Leggett.  

 

The book has concentrated on the book in the Bible, called Proverbs, with supplemental material from other parts of the Bible.  In addition, the author shares tips for various forms of physical activity, especially walking.  One component of the First Place 4 Health program, is to improve/maintain mental abilities, by using Scripture memorization.   We have had eight passages from the book of Proverbs to memorize---one per week.  My last seven blog posts have provided the visual aids I needed to help me learn each Bible verse.  The eighth and final passage if from Proverbs 31:25-26, that says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."  I have the blessing of knowing many amazing women that could qualify as a visual aid for the "Proverbs 31 Woman", but this blog is about the one known simply around this area, as "Ms. Edith".  The photo below shows a photo of Ms. Edith and me in the church hallway, on a blustery day in December of 2015.  We both had been to the FBC Prayer Room that day, as part of a weekly, intercessory prayer ministry, where church volunteers and staff would spend one hour in the prayer room at church, praying over prayer requests that had been submitted.  The difference was, Ms. Edith was going to be having her 94th birthday on December 24th, and she had driven herself to the church, even though the weather was miserable!  She inspired me, from that day forward, because I had wanted to cancel my trip into town to the Prayer Room, because of not wanting to leave my cozy living room, but I made myself do it, because of the commitment I had.    Yet, here was a 94 year old lady, willing to get out in the unpleasant weather, to pray for others needing intercessions!

Decades later, when I saw her at church one Sunday, I complemented her on how nice she looked, and she told me the dress she was wearing, was one she had made herself, back in her younger days!  I had already been thinking about Ms. Edith being my visual aid for the Proverbs 31 memory verse, but when she told me she made the dress she was wearing---that clenched it!  Because, one of the verses that is a part of the "PROVERBS 31 WOMAN" passage, references to a woman who is able to clothe herself!

Our church periodically has community groups that consist of small gatherings of a few people, on a weekly basis, for purposes of fellowship and Bible study.  I was once in a small group with Ms. Edith, that would meet weekly at noon at a local cafe, to have lunch together.  For the final week of that particular community group, Ms. Edith invited the entire group to her house and fixed lunch for all of us!  I was very impressed by how elegantly she had set up the lunch tables in her home, with attention to clever details at each place setting.  The other members of the group had to leave after lunch to get back to work.  However, I was able to stay and assist with clean up of the REAL china and silverware. (I would have opted for the easier clean up of disposable dinnerware, but not Ms. Edith!).  While we were at her kitchen counter, she demonstrated to me how she would use the 3 times per day cleanup after meals, to work in her routine of modified, upper body push ups, where she would step back several inches from the counter, then lift her body weight back and forth, thereby strengthening her arms.  Needless to say, I was impressed!

A few years after that, our church initiated an outreach for veterans, by having an early morning breakfast they could attend at no charge, followed by a brief presentation about a matter of importance to veterans.  Since Ms. Edith was a veteran and was instrumental in getting the outreach started, I volunteered to pick her up, as I had been to her home before, and (thought) I knew where she lived.  What I learned was that her neighborhood looked VERY DIFFERENT in the dark, in the winter, and since this was the days before my car or phone had a GPS device in them, I pulled into what I remembered to be her driveway, at the appointed time she told me, but she did not come out to get into my car.  I went to the front door of the driveway I was in, and knocked, and no one answered the door.  I decided Ms. Edith must have found someone else to pick her up, so I returned to the church.  When I got back to the church, the pastor told me that Ms. Edith had called, and said she still needed a ride, because she could see my car and me knocking on a door, but I was at the WRONG house!  She said she called out, but apparently I did not hear her.  She demonstrated forgiveness, because she accepted my apology, and "erased" it from her memory!  The photo below shows the young man who was the youngest veteran at one of those events, and Ms. Edith, who was the oldest veteran at the church event.

When Ms. Edith had her 100th birthday, the church had a very special birthday party for her, with family members there, to join in the celebration.  The photo below shows Ms. Edith with her daughter, Carol, at the event.  I first met Carol (a Registered Nurse) back in the eighty's, when she was serving as nurse manager on the medical floor of the hospital where I worked, as a Registered Dietitian)

When our church is celebrating the Fourth of July, Ms. Edith proudly wears her red-white-blue, stars and stripes, on such occasions, as this photo shows:

 

I took the photo below in our church foyer, as Ms. Edith awaited her volunteer chauffeur on the Sunday in  2025, when we celebrated military veterans at FBC.

 

Veterans Day is not the only holiday where her attire celebrates the occasion.   I took the photo below of her when she was celebrating a March 17 St. Patrick's Day event at the church!  

Ms. Edith walked without a walker well into her nineties, but as the years clicked by, she was convinced to use a rolling walker to stabilize her movements.  The photo below shows her entering one of our senior adult functions, followed by the church member who provided the transportation to get her to the event. 

There have been many folks over the last few years, who have assisted Ms. Edith in her goal of attending services at FBC.  The photo below shows some of those volunteer drivers, who made sure Ms. Edith was at the 2025 Christmas Luncheon for the Senior Adults:

I have always enjoyed seeing the outfits she puts together to wear to activities she attends around the community.  One reason she has so many holiday outfits to choose from, is because (as she told in the program she gave at a community event), she weighs the same now, as she did when she got married, back in the last century.  She added however, that she is several inches shorter now, than she was when she got married.  This shows she followed am important, and low-tech health habit---regular weight and height checks.  It also made me realize the reason for an "issue" I was having getting the waist line on some of my outfits to button properly, knowing my weight was the same as when I last buttoned them with no problems.  I realized that the two inches I have lost in height over the last three decades, means that weight that used to be spread out over five feet two inches, is now "condensed" into just five feet, making my waist thicker.  I am embarrassed to say it took a 103 year old lady, to get that through my thick skull!

Ms. Edith eventually went to a senior living facility, where members of the local VFW visit her regularly, and a friend in that organization, took this photo of her, and sent it to me.

 

It should come as no surprise that Ms. Edith's longevity has attracted media attention, as this screen shot of a Mountain Home City Council article shows:

The U.S. Senator from Arkansas also took note of her military service:

 

And of course, Baptist publications are quick to share her history of involvement with that domination, mentioning that when she was in her eighties, she went on a mission trip with several other Baptists, to Russia, to teach English, as a second language!

 

The Baxter County Historical Society had Ms. Edith as a speaker at one of their monthly meetings, and her comments can still be seen on You Tube.

The children that attend FBC children's activities, each have a blue canvas bag, with their name embroidered on it.  Since Ms. Edith has been a volunteer for many years as an assistant in the children's department, it is only fitting that she also has a blue canvas bag, with her name embroidered on it!  At a recent lunch for senior adults at the church, I noticed she had her bag hooked onto the back of her wheel chair.

 

  My heart rejoiced when I saw Ms. Edith on her 2025 birthday,  on the front row at church at our Christmas Eve Candlelight service, because another resident at the assisted living location where she lived, told me the facility was in LOCK DOWN because of flu outbreaks.  Apparently, a LOCK DOWN does not keep her from celebrating birthday #104 in the church she loves, with the people she loves, celebrating the birth of the Savior she loves!  No wonder her smile is so big!

For all these reasons, and many more not mentioned, Ms. Edith is my visual aid for Proverbs 31:25-26.  That smile of hers, over the years, has given ME, "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."  Proverbs 31:25-26