Memorial Day Weekend--Welcome Summer

Our first camp out of the season. Memorial Day always signals the beginning of summer and the opportunity to take our camper into nature and enjoy some R and R. Were we ever ready. We packed up Thursday night and headed out about 9 Friday morning to Denton Ferry where we camped out on the White River. It was actually a little cool Friday and Collin and I wore our hoodies a good part of the day.

We went out a little while Friday afternoon. The White River is high and rolling fast. Both Norfork and Bull Shoals Dams have all the flood gates open and the generators going trying to get the lake levels down.

We also drove into Cotter and had a look under the old bridge at the park. Notice the water covering the picnic area and that the peaks are barely visible.

We walked the upper park and looked at the old caboose and read some of the history. Cotter was originally a railroad boom town.
Saturday was nice; we had just a slight shower early morning, but it didn't last long. We drove across the way and shared a meal with friends and then Sunday night drove back again for a camp fish fry potluck. We had a great weekend and can't wait until we get to back again in another month.

How fortunate we are to live in a place where we enjoy so much and have so many freedoms provided by those who have bravely served their country.

Marcia

Blackberry Winter Weekend Outing

It's the middle of May, but it is cold outside and we have our wood pellet stove going on the inside. This one final cold snap comes every year about mid-May when the blackberries are blooming (thus it's name). It is an "old-timers folk lore myth" as meteorologists would explain, but I believe. There is much to be said for signs and legends in weather patterns. Even my father makes it a point to get an almanac every year so as to plant his garden by the signs. One is assured to have a fruitful yield if they follow the instructions.

Even though the weekend was cool and overcast, we headed out for adventure. Sadly, the rains have come one after another with flooding and devastation in many states, ours included. Our friends, Dennis and Regina, invited us to go along for the day to the hill country and various points in between where the rivers have overflowed their banks and houses and farmlands lay in mud and gunk waiting for the waters to recede. We even saw portions of highways washed out and pavement broken and moved by rushing waters. It is sad. Hundreds of families have lost everything and we know the effects are not over. Moving down the Mississippi, levees and floodgates are being opened trying to move the water in different directions trying to head off even work destruction than what has been.

We even have cause for concern and watch the news reports as the waters make their way to New Orleans where Rhyne and Micah are living. Water has been channeled into Lake Pontchartrain trying to avoid an even worse disaster than Katrina. We pray for those already who have suffered and those who may suffer yet.

In spite of the problems, it was good to get out and enjoy some weekend time. We went to the Norfork Dam and the White River. The lake is extremely high and water is being released trying to ease the pending pressure of the lake and it's potential flooding if more rains come. Bull Shoals Lake is very high as well.

We had lunch at a little place called Nima's Pizza. We visited with the owners a bit before we left to find out that they enter national and international competitions. They are recognized at present as having the third best pizza in the world and I believe it. Our lunch was great. Her small is at least as large as most mediums. Collin and I had plenty to eat.

Stay in touch. I have several news events to share with my followers. Hopefully, time will allow more updates soon.

Marcia

Projects Galore

Road trip to NOLA! As soon as Collin and I could get in from work, we headed to New Orleans last Wednesday to spend the remainder of the week with Micah and Rhyne. We were on the road by 5 and arrived about 11:30. Our greetings were short as we were exhausted after working all day, driving seven hours, and just plain being old and in need of sleep. Micah had our bed ready and we knew the way to the guest room promising to be ready to visit and catch up on the latest news the next morning.

It's always a pleasure trip to see your children and this was no exception since we hadn't seen them since Christmas, but there was more on tap than just casual visiting. Micah had a plan--a landscaping plan and several other house projects which required some help from Dad and his tools. We went with shovels, hoes, small gardening implements, gloves, drills, and other tools. Whatever the task that lay ahead, we were ready.

Thursday morning dawned to a beautiful day and we enjoyed breakfast and conversation with Micah. Rhyne had headed out very early to his office. We headed outside to assess the landscape situation and decide what to do. The house had been unoccupied several years and most of the shrubbery had died and all the beds were in need of replacement and repair. Unfortunately, I didn't make a photo of the before, but I have quite a few of during and after.

We began digging and pulling up all the dead stuff, begin making a mental list, and headed to Lowe's to begin getting shrubbery, flowers, and mulch. The project was on the way. Here you'll see the cleaning. . .
putting down the bed edging. . .

and putting in the shrubbery and flowers.

We were also able to get mulch into the left area of the porch, but determined readily that we would need to make another run to Lowe's. Now, I didn't spend all my time making pictures--I was in the middle of this project, but I never quite seem to make the pictures. Oh well.

We quit work around 4:30 or so. Rhyne and Collin were going to the annual crawfish boil complete with potatoes and corn on the cob at 5:00 that is held on the seminary campus. Collin loves this type of thing so he had been looking forward to the occasion. Micah and I opted for some other type of outing. We ended up at this restaurant and had a great burrito. You choose the fixings and make it to your desire. It was delicious and I inhaled it as I was starved. We made a Wal-Mart run to pick up some necessary project items, called it a day and headed home.

Friday was pretty much a shopping day. We went to our favorite shopping spots and hit another great restaurant find--Phil's Grill. We had a fantastic burger, and once again, you build the burger to your liking with different fixings. After getting home, we watched various TV specials recapping the Royal Wedding. Before leaving for the day on the town, we had already watched some of this history in the making.

Saturday, we had to get busy again to finish up all the projects. We headed back outside to the landscaping. Rhyne tackled the grass and mowed the lawn. While Collin began watering and some other things, the rest of us headed back to Lowe's for the final purchases of mulch and flowers. What follows is the final result. Not to shabby for amateurs.

We pruned the gardenia bush, added caladiums and marigolds, and Micah bought and planted geraniums in flower pots that I gave her for Christmas.

We finished up by noon and Rhyne ran to Popeye's and brought us chicken strips. Then we started again. Micah had seen this idea on a blog and wanted to hang lanterns on her patio. Dad beginning drilling, and they began hanging.

And, wa-lah. . .the finished effect.

Dad placed curtain rods. . .

and we hung curtains.

We hung the TV on the bedroom wall. . .

planted some glads on the back fence. . .

and cleaned up for one more run to town.

Micah and Rhyne wanted to put a sheer over their front door which has a large oval window and we headed to Wal-Mart to find two rods and a sheer. While we were gone, Rhyne made jambalaya for supper, and once we ate, we finished the final project. Everything was done. Micah changed out the flag. . .

and this is the stepping stone that we brought them as a host and hostess gift which she added to the finished project.

Unbelievably, three days had passed and it was Sunday morning and time for us to head home to Arkansas. They were ready to leave for church and it was time for our goodbyes.

For all the work and as dirty as we all were at the end of every day, I think we clean up fairly well. We had a great time and we'd go back and do it all over again. Anything for your kids. And you know what, I bet another time in the future, there will be another project to tackle. We can hardly wait.

Marcia