Friday, November 12, 2010

A Journey through the Louisiana Delta

Sometimes the journey to a destination turns out to be more fun and exciting than actually reaching the destination.

That's what happened to me the day I decided to take a drive up to Lake Village, Arkansas, to visit a huge home decor warehouse outlet called Paul Michael Company. Lake Village is about an hour and a half from Vicksburg, "as the crow flies," but it took me around three hours to get there. Why is that, you wonder? Well, because on US Highway 65, between Vicksburg and Lake Village, lies thousands and thousands of acres of flat, fertile, Louisiana Delta lands, stretching as far as the eye can see ...

And there are about that many pictures just waiting to be taken along the way.

The highway is flat and, for the most part, straight, and you pass through communities and towns with names like Panola, Shelburne, Alsatia, and Transylvania.

You've gotta love a town with a sense of humor ...

Along with the cotton gins and grain elevators you see every few miles, you also see scenes like these ...

I love the observation tower located on the grounds of this sprawling Delta estate (near Alsatia, Louisiana) ...

I can just imagine the view from its windows ...

These headstones in a private family cemetery have always fascinated me.

I first saw them last summer on a trip through the area, and they were barely visible above the sea of lush green cotton ...

And speaking of things I saw on my trip last summer — I also visited with these little guys, or, perhaps, some of their cousins.

They were just as friendly this time, and seemed to be smiling for the camera.

Aren't they sweet!

I love silos, and there are an abundance of them to be found in the Delta. Throw in an old barn and oak tree, and you have a photo opportunity that no photographer could resist.

One of the prettiest towns you pass through on Highway 65, is the town of Lake Providence, Louisiana.

Highway 65 meanders through the center of town, then follows alongside the beautiful cypress-lined Lake Providence for several miles.

I'm going to end today's journey here, and will continue it in my next post, with some closeup photos of this gorgeous lake. I hope you will join me.

10 comments:

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Beautiful pictures! I love the ones of the old brown shack houses and the family cemetaries too. We take the back country roads to the beach where there is still lots of farm land and are also always fascinated to see a small family cemetary in the middle of a field. There really is just something so sacred about that vision to me. I really enjoyed this photo tour! Thanks!

RachelD said...

Ahhh, the long flat vistas, always ringed in the green of faraway trees.

This is the familiar territory to me, these great expanses of farm and water, stretching to the horizon.

Perhaps that's why hills and mountains hold such sllure and mystery for me.

Just lovely, especially the silent mirror of that lake.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Janie, these are wonderful photos, and I want to be out on that calm, still lake today instead of whizzing around like a firecracker which is what is going on right now in my life. Thanks for this moment of quiet and beauty. Much needed today before the mass cleaning event to come this weekend!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Carolyn said...

Oh my country heart! I just love these pictures. Can't wait to see the rest! Makes me want to hop in the car and take off for parts unknown just to see what I can find.
Carolyn

Deb said...

I love the goat photos...reminds me of the goats I had...love the country roads...have a great weekend

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Good morning, I love to take that trip you took. The scenes are just waiting for a camera. Transylvania is one of my favorite places, we passed through one year just before Holloween and stopped at the little country store there, it was a real treat.
It's good to be back and seeing all your beautiful pictures
Molly

Tonja said...

Loved the goats...they look like they would like to be your friend, don't they? My fave is the barn, silo and tree...the tree could almost cover it I'll bet when it is green and in full leaf. As always, you find the little things along the way that everyone would love to see! And, we do!

Jenni said...

As always, the "Lagniappe Lens" tells quite a story through pictures....
So That's where Paul Michael is based! We went to the Nutcracker Market (a shopper's paradise) in Houston yesterday, and P.M. had a large booth of their gorgeous Merchandise!

nanny said...

This takes me back to my childhood when my Dad just loved to fish there and brought home limits of crappie....yummy.
Your pictures are beautiful. I esp. love the silo with tree in front of it...

Root Digger said...

I took this trip once in April of 2012 and it was exhilarating! I was exploring my ancestral lands and enjoyed seeing the rural country as I am a Cali girl. Thanks for posting these wonderful photos.