Arkansas ~ There and Back Again! ~ Part 2, House

Hello, Monday! Hello, Everyone! Are you back for Part 2?

P. Allen Smith's home at his Moss Mountain Farm is located in Roland, Arkansas, about 40 minutes from our Bed and Breakfast in Little Rock (more on our lodgings in another post).

My sister and I toured this beautiful property a couple of weeks ago. (Read Part 1 here.)

This enormous 350-year old oak tree, known as the "Big Sister," is the centerpiece of the front yard. Our tour guide told us there are six other sister trees scattered around the property. Mr. Smith chose this location specifically to build his home:The side and back views (below) of the home are just as lovely. The screened-in porches face the Arkansas River, and I'll show you a few scrolls down what's behind those screened porches you see at the back of the house: Here's a closer view of the side yard. I love all the flowers, especially all the purples and the bright pink hydrangea peeking out from behind the white decorative fencing:As we entered his home, this is our view of the entrance hallway, quite classy: And here's the living room with part of our tour group browsing the decor. Can you imagine 80 people trooping through your living room every Thursday and Friday for weeks while the tours are held?: Being a quilter, of course I would spot this log cabin patterned rug in one of the rooms: One of my favorite rooms was the kitchen, of course! It was so bright and full of fresh flowers. Warm cookies from the oven baked by P. Allen's Aunt Jamie were available for all the guests: Here's his lovely Aunt Jamie, who was just delightful to talk with. When I told her the cookies were amazing and asked what was in them, she smiled and said, "oh, lots of things...the recipe is on page 180 in his cookbook!" Needless to say, the deliciousness of her cookies equaled more sales in his gift shop that day! Beautiful bouquets decorated the main island in the kitchen. I think I'm going to start bringing more of my outside flowers inside!: Let's head upstairs and see that screened in porch area. Can you believe this? Three twin beds were set up in this open-air room facing the river to create a sleeping porch! The next photo shows the view these guests enjoy: This photo showing the back of the property and the Arkansas River in the distance is taken from the screened in porch...(the building is the Art Studio, completely furnished.) Imagine sitting up in bed reading and looking out at this scene: And if any of the three guests using those beds need a bath while there....then here you go--wide open to the outside world (the screened porch is to the right)!: P. Allen Smith's bedroom includes this antique bed which belonged to the last territorial governor of Arkansas, William Fulton: Upstairs also included guest rooms, a children's room, sitting area, and writing desk corner....

A final view from one of the upstairs windows...I think I spy two more of the sister trees! Mr. Smith is very willing to open his private home and gardens for tours, and we enjoyed it all very much. And the luncheon is still to come!

Check back in a couple of days to read about the delicious food prepared for his guests ~ Part 3!

~Deb

Comments

[ANA]

DEAR DEB: QUE GUSTO QUE ESTE DE VUELTA, ESTOY LEYENDO Y SIGUIENDO SUS PUBLICACIONES SOBRE EL VIAJE QUE HIZO CON SU HERMANA, REALMENTE SON UNAS FOTOS MUY LINDAS, HERMOSAS FLORES DE VARIADOS COLORES, MUY BELLAS, ME ENCANTA LA DECORACION ANTIGUA DEL INTERIOR DE LA CASA. ENTRE EN LA PAGINA DEL SEÑOR SMITH Y VI ALGUNOS VIDEOS SOBRE LA DECORACION DE SU CASA, REALMENTE SON MUY BUENOS. ME ALEGRO QUE VUELVA AL BLOG HERMANA, ¿SU SEÑORA MADRE ESTA BIEN? ¿Y SUS HIJAS? ESPERO QUE DIOS SIGA OBRANDO EN CADA UNO DE USTEDES, LOS SIGA BENDICIENDO RICAMENTE, PROSPERANDO EN TODO Y LES DE SALUD Y PAZ ESPIRITUAL. QUIERO COMPARTIR CON USTED UN VERSICULO QUERIDA HERMANA, ESTAMOS PASANDO TIEMPOS CON ALGUNAS NECESIDADES, TIEMPO DE BATALLAS, LUCHAS, PRUEBAS, ENFERMEDADES, PERO SIEMPRE ESPERANDO EN DIOS QUE EL NOS DA LA VICTORIA EN CRISTOJESUS: JOB,CAPITULO 5,VERSICULOS DESDE EL 17 HASTA EL 27, ESPERO QUE LO ACEPTE,SON PALABRAS DE PROMESAS DE DIOS PARA SUS HIJOS, QUE AUNQUE EL CIELO SE VENGA ABAJO, EL NOS LIBRARA DE TODA CALAMIDAD, NOS HABLA DE QUE PROSPERAREMOS EN TODAS LAS COSAS, Y CUANDO TENGAMOS CANAS COMO LAS QUE YA TENGO,LLEGAREMOS A LA VEJEZ CON VIGOR. RECIBA UNA FUERTE ABRAZO A LA DISTANCIA DEB, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Translation:
I LIKE THIS RETURN, AND I'M READING AND FOLLOWING your PUBLICATIONS ON TRIP YOU DID WITH your SISTER. There really are some very nice pictures, beautiful flowers of various colors, VERY FINE. I LOVE THE OLD DECOR OF THE INTERIOR of the HOME. ENTER THE PAGE OF MR SMITH AND SOME VIDEOS ON HIS HOME DECORATING REALLY ARE VERY GOOD. I'm glad YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE BLOG, sister. IS your mother ALRIGHT? And YOUR DAUGHTERS? I HOPE THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE WORKING IN EACH ONE OF YOU, CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU RICHLY, THRIVING IN ALL AND IN HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL PEACE. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A DEAR TEXT, SISTER, AS WE ARE SPENDING TIME WITH SOME NEEDS, TIME BATTLES, FIGHTS, TRIALS, DISEASE, BUT ALWAYS WAITING ON GOD THAT GIVES US VICTORY IN CHRISTJESUS: JOB 5:17-27. I HOPE YOU AGREE, THESE ARE WORDS OF GOD'S PROMISES FOR HIS CHILDREN, THAT EVEN IF THE SKY COME DOWN, HE WILL deliver us from all calamity, IT SPEAKS OF THAT prospering in all things, as we have WHITE HAIR LIKE I HAVE, WE WILL COME TO OLD AGE WITH VIGOR. RECEIVE A BIG HUG FROM A DISTANCE DEB, GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND YOU.

[Toni]

Wow, what a wonderful house and view. Love the sleep porch and all the flowers, but that outside tub gives me the willies. lol
Loved the photos, Deb. Thanks for sharing.

[Tammy]

The house and grounds look beautiful! What fun to see them!

[victoria]

What a beautiful home. The views are amazing.

[Linda]

Dear Deb, I had a mild heart attack this past week with a triple bypass surgery that followed a day later. As I lay here in the hospital a few days later, I felt good enough to check your blog. I am so glad I looked in to find your tour and visit. Pictures are wonderful and commentary much enjoyed. Thank you, as the saying goes, I needed this!

[Barbara J.]

Oh, Deb, the house does look beautiful! I loved that bright pink hydrangea. We have one this year that is blooming pink and blue - very unusual. Did you buy the cookbook? I've looked at it and have it on my Amazon wish list - it sounds very interesting.