BLOGGER TEMPLATES - TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Thrusday Thirteen No. 4














Thirteen Things I Like About Living in a Small Community

There are alot of advantages to living in a smaller community. My wife and I moved to Northwest Arkansas 20 years ago from Dallas. Three years ago we built a new home in a wooded subdivision and I can honestly say that I have no desire to live anywhere else on planet earth. I could write a book about all of the great things associated with this part of the world, but I have chosen to show you thirteen of the reasons I like my life and where I live.

1. Hometown restuarants. There is nothing like a good hometown BBQ restuarant. You can keep Famous Daves, Rib Crib, Smokey Bones, and Shorty Smalls....give me the Whole Hog every time.




2. Football Friday Nights!!! What's not to like about a good highschool fooball game in small town USA? Half of the town shows up for every home game. It is just great. We're the team in black





3. My church. The truth of God's Word is taught and preached here every week. It is a place to refresh the spirit and the soul. I had the privilege of being the chairman of the building committe for this new sanctuary. We've been in it about 5 years now





4. Saturday Farmer's Market on the square. At one time, this town was as close to a real life Mayberry RFD and it could get. The Farmer's Market was brought back to the square about 6 years ago. In the spring and summer, fresh vegetables, jellies, jams, and honey can be had. In the fall, the fare turns more craft oriented.







5. The Grandkids. Our grandchildren live about 7 miles from us. We see them every week in church. We go to the soccer matches, dance recitals, etc. They have sleep-overs at our house. It is just great!!! It is such great fun watching them grow up. I feel very sorry for grand parents who live hundreds of miles from this incredible source of joy. If you only get to see the grandkids a couple of times a year, you are missing one of the true blessings in life.

6. The corner coffee shop. This place has a little more urban feel than the traditional small town coffee shop. You won't necessarily find the local retired farmers in here solving the worlds problems, but you will get a great cup of coffee and a quiet place to relax and enjoy the company of friends or just sit and read a good book.






7. The Nature Trail. This trail is about 2 miles long and is just 10 minutes from our home. There are several great photo opportunities along the way. This particular spot happens to be my favorite. I have spent some time on that bench just thanking God for His marvelous creation and for giving me the privilege of enjoying it.










8. Fishing. There are dozens of lakes, rivers, and streams within an hour of the house. The lakes range in size from 20 acres to over 30,000 acres.

Smallmouth, Largemouth bass, crappie are the targets in the lakes while (both rainbow and brown) and smallmouth bass are the most popular species in the streams. Again, this is mostly about getting outside and enjoying the entire experience.
9. The drive to work. I live 14 miles from the office and the first 4 miles looks like this. There is an expressway about 3 miles in the opposite direction, but I don't get to work any quicker and it is too much like larger cities. I avoid the fast lane whenever possible.


10. Our home. We build this place three years ago and we just love it.





11. Space. This is a view of the area surrounding our new office building. We are only a mile from the center of downtown and this is actually looking a little west of the downtown area. You can't get this view in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, or LA. I've been in all of these cities and I like this view the best.

12. Christmas at our house. My wife is one of Santa's original elves. It is her favorite time of the year and that makes it a favorite time for everyone else. You cannot imagine the boxes of decorations that are in the basement. She puts it all together like a pro and makes everyone's Christmas Special.

13. Playing in the park with the grandkids. It just doesn't get any better than this.

17 comments:

Nicholas said...

Well, I’m not that keen on football or church, but I envy you your hometown restaurant and corner coffee shop. They are a rarity where I live. Everything is part of one chain or anther, it seems.

http://agentlemansdomain.typepad.com/

Anonymous said...

Whenever I get the hankering for a small town feel, I go over to one of the local olde towne, where homes, storefronts and restaurants are made into historical landmarks. However, I'm sure in many ways it's different from what you are able to experience. Great 13!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your link! *smiles*

The Local Malcontent said...

Beautiful home! And I can sure vouch for living in the country, above a lake, and that shady drive to work. I ceased missing the Pizza Hut or KFC being just 'round the corner about 6 years ago. LOL
Welcome to your corner of Heaven!

Welcome too, to the Okie Bloggers. That's how I came to find your interesting blog.

Greatfullivin said...

I love a small town. The sense of community is what life is about. I enjoyed your pictures as well. Happy TT

Sandee said...

I can so relate to this. We had the cops in our backyard with a canine about 4:30 this morning. Looking for a bad guy. Living in California just isn't what it used to be.

Loved your post and I can so relate to your wifes love of Christmas. I do the same thing. By far the best TT post I've seen, and I've see a bunch. Have a great TT. :)

Unknown said...

What a great life you have - I love small towns. Ideally, I'd love to live in a small town (not a suburb, a self-contained town) that is close enough to a major city for periodic infusions of Art and Culture, but far enough away to be its own place.

-- MissMeliss

Unknown said...

Wonderful T13, and great comments about the lie in a small town, we just moved rural, close to a very small town....only a gas station and community center, but you haven't had pancakes until you've went to the Country Breakfast. That is a beautiful nature trail near you. Thanks for sharing this.

geek-betty said...

You could have been describing my hometown right there.

geek-betty
http://bettythegeek.wordpress.com/

Anonymous said...

It looks like you live i a great place! I grew up in small town so I can relate!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Hey, thank you for stopping by 2nd cup today! I enjoyed your TT list, and I'm with you 100% on preferring the smaller town sort of life. The pictures were beautiful, really beautiful.

Harris Channing said...

Great list! I live in a small town too. They're great!

~Harris.

Angie said...

Excellent list, Drillah!
Your church is beautiful as is your home! I love how you appreciate everything around you, your hometown, nature, etc. The love for your family is also apparent. Too bad we don't live closer because I would totally visit and hang out with you.

Linda R. Moore said...

It really looks beautiful :)

Thanks for visiting my TT at Raven's RV last week. :)

http://www.ravensroads.com
13 beers I have enjoyed

http://www.markeroni.com/blog/
13 preparations for a landmark-hunting trip

happy TT!

Samantha_K said...

We live in a similar area. I'm in Southern MO.
I love that you get to spend so much time with your grandchildren. I had so much fun with my grandparents as a child, and my boys have the same kind of relationship with theirs. Family is so important!

Unknown said...

This is by far the best post I've read for TT. I felt like I was there and as my forehead crinkled, my mouth dropped open with sadness that I wasn't :( Just beautiful -- waht a place and what sounds like a gr8 family too. Thx for your visit :)

Starbuck and Torrey said...

You truly are blessed to live such a life! It seems like a totally different world to the world I live in, but I think it's incredible! I don't think I've ever even been to a small town - I'll have to make it one of the things I have to do before I hit 40!

Thanks for a great T13!

Joyce said...

Wow, it looks pretty much like my little town near Portland, Oregon. What's your population? Ours is just under 20,000 I think. Some of your pictures look just like my town!

When my family moved here from Los Angeles in 1978, I think it was like 6,000. Back then, we had two stoplights on the main highway, two gas stations, two grocery stores, and I think Dairy Queen was the only national chain. Now, there are 7 stoplights, 6 gas stations, 3 large grocery stores, and in addition to the DQ, we have Carl's Jr. (same as Hardee's in the south), Subway, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, and coming very soon, a KFC/A&W. Progress.