A Day Full of Sunflowers

This is a lengthy post, but I couldn't decide how to make it any shorter and still share our day with you.  So either enjoy, or feel free to drop off at any point.

Bright and early is the only way to do an outdoor activity in Louisiana this time of the year, so that's what we did.

It is an easy 45-minute drive to the small town of Gilliam, La. for the actual Festival and a fun “day in the country.”

But, we weren't in a hurry so took a very leisure drive and enjoyed the scenery.

The Sunflower Trail & Festival started with farmer Gordon Boogaerts who, with a hobby for painting and photography, planted some sunflowers at his home (just north of Shreveport) and invited friends to enjoy their beauty.

Area farmers and plantation owners soon joined the fun and now volunteers and members of the community join them in planting sunflower seeds each year at their homes and alongside the country roads.  These patches of flowers create the stunning and serene sunflower trails that this part of the Trail is known for.

Soon it became so well-liked that the Red River Crossroads organization decided to make the sunflower viewing into an annual event for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors can stop on the edge of an open field or trail and easily walk through and enjoy being among these amazing sunflowers reaching to the sky.

There is something so fun and happy about being surrounded by these brightly-colored flowers.

This section of the trail, follows the levy of the Red River which provides irrigation for this large farming area. 

We found an open gate that led to a road along the top of the levy.  Being the adventurous Senior Adults that we are, we decided why not take it and get a higher vantage point overlooking the fields and the river.

After following this narrow dusty path for about a mile, we wondered if we would have to go all the way back to Shreveport before we found an exit.  There certainly wasn't room to turn around up there.  YIKES!

Not long after discussing this, we came upon a locked gate across the road that meant we had very few options for getting back to where we started.  Backing up that far wasn't the most viable.  So guess what!

You're right, we had to turn around.  Our car was as long as the ridge was wide.  So it had to be done VERY CAREFULLY!

But Dick did a great job with Tom outside the car guiding him.

Although that part was scary, the views of the acres and acres of cotton fields and sunflowers and lazy Red River were worth it.

Just down the road we entered the tiny village of Belcher and saw this little mini flea market.

Belcher is a neat once prosperous little place based strictly on the farming economy.

There were several vendors here selling anything from home-made pain relief creams, breads and jams, pickles, aprons to jewelry and shoes.

This is the event center for the community.

Naturally, sunflowers abound everywhere.

I spotted this booth and immediately thought of the Louisiana renowned artist, Grandma Moses.

But, this sweet little lady is Miss Polly Ann Taylor instead, and I so enjoyed getting to meet and visit with her.

She is a self-taught, visual folk artist who lives in the area.  She started painting her life experiences as a child, but life struggles kept her from it until 2012.  It was at that time her creative gift was "awakened" and thus began what she calls "the real life of Polly Taylor."

She told me that painting again tapped into her God-given gift and she hasn't stopped.  Inspired by God, her years in church, nature and rural landscapes, Miss Polly is now looking at the world through new eyes and brings joy and color to many others.

And yes, I brought home one of her little paintings to encourage me to also use the gifts with which I have been blessed.

If you are interested in contacting her for more information see below:

taylorpolly1955@gmail.com

Facebook:  Polly Taylor

Have you seen a sweeter face?

Along the way, we passed the Lynn Plantation and saw a little veggie stand and decided to stop.

It was being manned by a couple youngsters, one of which had to come from his perch in the tree to take care of the customers.

Behind the old plantation commissary and country store was a collection of old farm trucks and tractors.  Dick and Tom enjoyed seeing these vintage items.  Dick recalled watching his uncle very skillfully drive a tractor exactly like this one.

Along the way were more fields and peach orchards.  Nothing like a Saturday drive through the country. 

The end of the Trail is in the village of Gilliam where flocks of folks enjoy craft vendors with handmade unique arts and décor for the home and lawn, food vendors serving typical Louisiana cuisine, and a couple local restaurants offering good country cuisine.

 

Only in Louisiana will you find food like this.

This booth only had items made from Cypress Knees found in the many Louisiana swamps.  While standing at this table, I overheard a woman ask the vendor if he carved these little tables.  A lady next to her said, "Surely you aren't from Louisiana!"  No she wasn't.

And only at a Sunflower Festival would this attire not draw a lot of attention.

So until next time, I hope you enjoyed your trip through the countryside of Northwest Louisiana to the 20th Annual Sunflower Trail and Festival.

It's a Sunshiny Summer Hodgepodge

Thank you for joining us for our weekly 

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

1. Summer is upon us this week in the Northern hemisphere. Tell us three things on your summer bucket list.

I really don't have anything on my bucket list at this point.  We have a little trip planned for next week with friends that we are looking forward to.  I would love to get to Dallas to see our family there, perhaps next month, once all their worldly travels are over.  Other than that, I just plan to stay as cool as possible.

2. Something fun you used to do as a kid in the summertime?

Play outdoors from sunup to sundown.  We rode our bikes; played in the woods near our house and pretended we were someone else living a glamorous life in another place.  We went on family picnics, had friends over, and we especially looked forward to the Bookmobile coming around every week.  Life was good in the 50's.

3. Rootop or backyard? Why?

I'm not sure I understand this question, but I will go with backyard, assuming that first word might be rooftop.  I used to climb out an upstairs window and sunbath on the roof top.  And yes, lathered in baby oil with lemon juice in my hair.  But, that was when I was young and crazy and before skin cancer existed.  Other than that my rooftop experiences have been limited.

Now days, I prefer staying on the ground with my skin protected and enjoy my tiny backyard.  Why?  First, because I'm smarter than I used to be.  Second, my roof is very steep.  And third, the backyard is closer to the door and air conditioning.

4. Do you read food labels? Place importance on them? Make an effort to find out/care about where your food comes from?

Yes we do.  Since Dick is on a low to no sodium/low fat and sugar way of eating, we must read the labels.  Finding prepared foods that don't contain these things is not easy.  And yes, we are very aware of where the food comes from, especially our seafood.

5. A song you'll have on repeat this summer?

Autumn Leaves

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This past Saturday, we and our good friends enjoyed our local "Sunflower Trail & Festival."

This is only intended to whet your interest in checking out my blog post tomorrow on this day trip full of sunshine.

Summer & Sunflowers

There is an old poem from one of my favorite childhood books of poetry, still on my shelf by the way, that goes like this:

Summer is coming!  Summer is coming!

How do you think I know?

I found some pussy willows

So I know it must be so.

Since it is definitely summer in the south, let me reword that pretty little poem.

Summer is here!  Summer is here!

How do you think I know?

I saw fields and fields of sunflowers

So I know it must be so.

In north Caddo Parish, the Sunflower Trail & Festival has opened summer for the past 19 years.

What better way to spend a summer Saturday with the one you love than to spend an afternoon among one of the happiest flowers in the world?

From this point northward, there are patches, large and small of sunflowers culminating at the festival in the very, very small village of Gilliam, Louisiana

 This row of sunflowers along the road-way caught our attention and demanded exploring.

As you can see, this long row is planted among fields of corn and young cotton.

 This is just a baby awaiting time and lots of sunshine.

This was the only field of flowers we saw that were on the east side of the road.  Guess which way they were facing.

Along the Sunflower Trail, we found the cutest boys selling watermelons and offering free samples.

 Now folks, this is how one eats watermelon in the south!

 These cuties belong to the family who own this large farm and open it every fall to tours and events including the famous corn maze.  And yes, we got a yellow meat watermelon and plan to indulge later this afternoon.

 The largest sunflower field is found on the Cairo Plantation.

This is the rebuilt family home, set among and under oak and pecan trees.

This frame home is one of the original buildings.

 Another original building is this small house that was used as a commissary at one time.

I think we may need to make another trip a little later for the peaches.

The current owner of the Cairo Plantation, John Sloan has converted 20 acres into sunflowers and has created a trail through the field where one can walk and cut all the sunflowers you can carry home.

Hubby even made his own smiley-face sunflower friend.

The Sunflower Trail parallels the winding Red River and as was common, many of the plantations were built along the rivers in order for easy water transportation and irrigation.

The Cairo Plantation is right near the levee protecting it from the Red River, as seen from this view atop the levee.

Not content to be this close and not get closer, this blogger traipsed in FitFlops not less, through the grass and slopes and occasional cow pattie to get a closeup view of the lazy, muddy Red River.

(Have you noticed the beautiful sky in these pictures?)

This picture is proof I made the trek and back with a smile on my face.

Along the dirt road to the fields, we passed this group of women and children selling lemonade and fresh baked cookies.  After we finished our tour of the fields, we returned to sample their wears.

The lady at far left has lived on this plantation along with her husband and children for 19 years.

This little doll was having a great time helping to decorate the huge chalk board commemorating the Sunflower Trail & Festival.

She wasn't too sure about this woman with a camera to her face calling her name.  But, can you believe the size of the sunflower behind her?

We so enjoyed visiting with these friendly women and the lemonade was delicious and so refreshing after being in the sun and especially after my little impromptu adventure.

We didn't try these but aren't they enticing?

Watermelon Slurpee!

We finally made it to the actual festival as they were closing up.

This may be something you will only find at a festival in Louisiana.

We got there too late for ice cream, but what they did have left will make you want to slap your pappy as we say in the south.

Chocolate Covered Cheesecake!

This was our first time to explore these country roads of North Caddo Parish, but it won't be the last.

And neither will be the last time to enjoy the Sunflower Trail & Festival.

And I am now declared the official Mrs. Senior Sunflower by my Mr. Senior Sunflower.

I do hope your week will bring nothing but sun and flowers as you seek the Son.