The Woods

During our trip to Arkansas Anneke got to visit The Woods, also known as The Deer Woods, also known as Mamo's land (technically a misnomer since we spent the afternoon at Aunt Alma's land). My grandmother and all of her siblings each have a piece of land in South Arkansas, near, on, or around the part of the world where my mother's side of the family lived for generations. When I was growing up we used to drive up to the deer woods to cut fire wood and hang out in the country. I don't think I've been there since high school. It's a powerful feeling to be in the place where you know your roots run deepest.

This is the branch (prounounced "brah-eench," please) where I used to play and where my grandmother used to play when she was a little girl.

This is the road where Papaw warned us of the dangers of wampus cats (imaginary) and wild hogs (real: if you run into one, climb a tree. fast. )

This is the church my grandmother's family attended when they lived in Jacinto, Arkansas, just down the road from The Deer Woods. Every year they hold a Homecoming, which I attended once when I was in first grade. It's complete with dinner on the grounds and old-timey hymns. Mamo invited me to come to Homecoming again, maybe when I was in college? And I believe at the time I was too "busy." Sigh. Oh, twenty-year-old self. Where do I even start?

This pavilion was designed by Rodney Parham, as in Rodney Parham Road in LR. His family is from here, too. Our families go way back, back to the deer woods and one-room churches.