About

This is a collection of musings and imagery by people rediscovering the world beyond neat suburbs and bustling mini-metro areas.

We are also lazy naturalists. We don’t go on big overland photo safaris, but try to capture what’s compelling nearby, whether  on the road with the top down, making the short hike to the neighbors’ homes or sitting on the deck marveling at what God has wrought.

The primary photographic weapon is now a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, replacing the impressive Sony DSC-H10 whose flash gave up the ghost after 10,000 frames, but can still shoot nicely. (A Panasonic camera. Whoda thunk?) The Panasonic has a bewilderingly large array of digital aids, some practical and some funnily superfluous (you need a food setting?) Well, there’s plenty of time to experiment with all of it. The camera does come with both an on-board flash and a hot shoe. The latter can also be used to hold an optical rangefinder (!) or a digital viewfinder. So helpful on those too-sunny-to-see-the-darned-LCD-screen days.

As always, don’t leave home without it.

Why “Suburban Ferndale?”  Ferndale is an unincorporated community with a downtown at the intersection of Pulaski County Roads 41 and 38 (also known as “the four-way” — “stop” is understood). There are  handful of businesses, including two gas stations, two eateries and a mini-storage. Landmarks include two churches, an Extension Homemakers Club, a sheriff’s substation and a West Pulaski Fire Department substation. The area is also home to the state 4-H center and a couple of camps and one arts/theater facility. An 18-mile drive east will land you in downtown Little Rock.

We are so far back in the woods, we have to haul the big green garbage can nearly a mile to the pick up point. As we see it,  this is suburban Ferndale.

Ferndale Grocery‎

2504 Ferndale Cut Off Road