A picture of the Finley River. (Photo by Robert R Hartley. © 2011. All Rights Reserved.)

The Great Oak (before the catastrophe) shading our playground fondly called "The Mantis". Shady summers, windswept falls.

Our neighborhood drive during the enchanting season of October.

Me (fourth from left) filming our first family western movie.

A high view of Poppy's garden on a summer evening. In the distance, cousins are running off into the woods to build a fort.

Sunset view from Gigi's window. Many summer evenings were spent on the porch with sweet tea in hand, pondering change. (Photo by Robert R Hartley © 2014. All Rights Reserved.)

Our drive home from town.

The steep hills of Branson, Missouri. 

Riding in Diana's pasture on Apache, her mule. Time seemed to have stopped. (You'll recognize this scene after reading the book!)

Me (red), Kelly (brown), and Allison (teddybear) playing make-believe outside on the land. In the distance is the cow pasture.

The historic gazebo on "the square". Musicians and dancers often perform here, as I did with my former clogging team. (Photo by Robert R Hartley © 2011. All Rights Reserved)

A street view of "the square". Locally owned restaurants and businesses such as the Markethouse Cafe are regular favorites. (Photo by Robert R Hartley © 2011. All Rights Reserved.) 

A peek at our playground at the farm, complete with slides, a rock wall, swings, balance beams, a zip line, trapdoors, ladders, and blocked off rooms to play "house".

Me (center) with my good cousin Ryan (fourth from left) with other cousins after filming our third family western movie. Behind us is the party barn we liked to perform shows in during the summertime.