Rollin' In 3-31-14

Monday brought some interesting storm clouds our way. It rained quite a bit just shortly after I got this picture.

Heirloom Memories 3-30-14

My mom and I went out to Mansfield Missouri today to visit Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. The farm has animals, baked goodies, and of course thousands or varieties of heirloom seeds. Mom and I shared a lunch plate that consisted of a huge bowl of black-eyed pea soup and two fresh garlic breads. All served up by the sweet grandma of the family. So yummy! We watched the sheep, the farm dogs, and the different kinds of chickens. We walked in the warm sunshine through the old town buildings and budding spring nature. We spent a good amount of time picking out our seeds for this upcoming season. It was just a perfect day with my sweet momma.

Everything Button 3-29-14

Today we were going to go for an all day hike somewhere here in our beautiful Arkansas, but then we got a call that our family would be getting together at the Park for lunch and fun. I was conflicted, I wanted to spend time with my family, but I really wanted to go hiking too. So...I pushed the everything button. We had lunch with my family at the park. We played with the kids and even played some softball. I was so glad we went! After we got done at the park, Dustin and I took the pups down push mountain road and went adventuring into Leatherwood wilderness, with the help of Tim Ernst's waterfall guidebook of course. We found our way down to China Falls. It was a pretty area with soft moss growing all over the rocks. The waterfall was tall, and I would someday like the hike down to the base of the falls. When we made it back to the car we drove further up Rand Road and hiked to one of our favorite lookouts, where we had tea and watched the sunset. It was a perfect day!!

Soul Rinse 3-28-14

Dustin, the pups and I went for a walk today...in the rain!!! I really didn't want to miss our after work walks today just for the rain, so I put my perfect red rain boots on and grabbed my favorite walking partners and mad them all tromp through the mud with me! I had my hood on at first but then I threw it back so I could soak in the sweet spring rain. The drops dripped on my head, rolled down and caught on my eye lashes and then soaked into my soul. The rain made all the colors on the trail pop and everything smelled so fresh and alive. It was a beautiful soul rinse at the end of the week.

Certified 3-27-14

Dustin passed his CCNA exam today! He is now Cisco Certified! For all of you who may not know what this is, it is a Computer Networking certification. He had to study hard to get here, it is not an easy thing. He not only passed the test but went in there and dominated it! He got 986 out of 1000 points and had 30 more minutes allowed that he didn't even need. He really works hard at what he sets his sights on! I am so proud of him!

Dusit 3-26-14

Dustin is on Springbreak at work so I got to have a lunch date with my husband! We don't get to have lunch together anymore cause he works 30 min. away now. We went to our favorite restaurant in Mtn. Home, Dusit Thai. This is my very favorite meal ever. Yellow curry with tofu. Seriously it's magical. 

Couch Night 3-25-14

Dustin had a difficult and long day at work today, hard days naturally mean TV and couch nights. We snuggled up with blankets, tea and a sweet puppy who's not supposed to be on the couch....

So I made it to 26... 3-24-14

My boss got Cheesecake and had everyone sign a card for my birthday today. We went out to our friends house out in Flippin, AR that evening. They took us out to Parkview Pizza for a yummy dinner. We later went back to their house to play games and the birthday girl didn't win a single one. I wasn't feeling well most of the day today so it wasn't a fantastic day, but in the end I still made it to 26, and I have family and a handful of friends that really love me.

On the Trail Again 3-23-14

Dustin, the pups and I had a wonderful hike this afternoon on David's Trail. We explored new parts of the trail that we hadn't seen yet. One of the trails led to a beautiful overlook of the Norfork Lake. I watched hundreds of Seagulls fly over the lake, from were I was, they looked like little cotton balls floating over the blue water. The sun was shining and the wind gave off just enough of a cool breeze to be comfortable while hiking up and down hills.We watched the trees turn golden with the setting sun and the sky a become a purple hue. I loved every minute of it!

A Giraffe, Hats, Smiles and a Birthday 3-22-14

My family planned a birthday party for me today! My birthday is not till the 24th, but Saturdays are the best days for us to get together usually. My sweet sister,  made this fantastic Giraffe cake! She has gotten so talented with making our families birthday cakes! We also had some yummy sandwiches on wonderful pita breads that she mad from scratch! We played the card game "Scum" which involves silly hats and lots of smiles. We played outside in the sun and also watch Frozen, because we hadn't seen it yet. We loved it, super cute! Today was a brilliant day with my family!

My husband, Dustin, was the king for
all the rounds.....

This is Natalie, my niece, as
"Vice Scum" and
Corinthia
(the baker of the cake above)
as "Scum"

Evening on David's Trail 3-21-14

Dustin and I took the pups on an evening hike on David's Trail. We went to a spot of the trail We hadn't yet checked out. The sun was setting and it was a beautiful was to end a week and start a weekend!

Sunshine Flower 3-20-14

Spring is finally here! We had such a chilly, snowy winter for the Ozarks this year. There was points I thought I may just grow wings, become a bird and fly south for the winter. Even though I am from Colorado, I do NOT like winter. I get cold so very easily, so it's very difficult for me to stay warm and that's only one of the many things I dislike about winter time. BUT SPRING IS HERE! There is HOPE! Smiles and Sunshine, Flowers and Warm Rain, Long walks with my pups! To me, this day just wouldn't be better represented by anything else but a daffodil. They are a picture of sunshine and happiness to me! Happy Spring Everyone!

This one on top here, has been edited a bit to try and get some of the redness of the sun flares out. I just love the way the sun shine at the tip of the Daffodil though!!

These bottom two are completely
un-edited, I love the yellows!

Almost Here.... 3-19-14

Spring begins tomorrow!!!! My very favorite season, when things begin to grow back, new life emerges and the sun shines a bit warmer. I saw this sweet little thing on a tree at the Clysta Willet Trails today while I was on a walk with my little family! Can't wait to see all the pretty flowers and blue sky days....and rain puddles for my red rain boots!

Sweet Neighbors 3-18-14

Dustin and I were sitting at the table eating our late dinner when we heard a soft knock on our front door. It was our neighbor and his daughter coming to deliver a small pan of warm peach and cherry cobbler. That was so kind of them! It was sooo very yummy too!

Goodbye Snow! 3-17-14

It snowed pretty much all day here on Sunday. A fluffy snow with big flakes what accumulated on the trees and the ground but not the roads. This is what was left of it by the time I got off work today....

Kiss Me, I'm Irish! 3-16-14

Oreo, my in-law's cat, was getting into the festive spirit today as we had a St. Patrick's Day brunch filled with all kinds of goodies over at Mike and Debbie's home.

Family Time 3-15-14

We got to hang out with my family today! My brother in law and sister invited us and our parents over to their house today for a bar-b-que. We made yummy veggie kabobs and had frozen fruit "ice cream". We played games and hung out outside in the nice weather. It was such a fun time! Gracie found a new friend in my youngest niece. I watched the two girls run and run outside. Zipper licked Wesley and Wesley giggled his adorable little giggle and smiled his sweet little grin. It was a great day! 

Aida 3-14-14

Tonight, Dustin and I went to the Mountain Home Highschool's production of the musical "Aida". I spent most of the day and the day before setting up the printed program at That Print Shop. Although I was so done with dealing with the programs I was very excited to see the production! The stage was beautifully set, this was actually one of the stage decorations. The theatrical productions at Mtn. Home high school are AMAZING and we LOVE going to them!  

Look Who's A Big Bunny Now! 3-13-14

I bunny sat this little guy a while ago (see previous blog posts) and two of his brothers. When he was a little bunny he looked like a Soot Sprite from a Studio Ghibli movie. So....he wound up with the name Soot. He was a super snuggly bunny and he still likes to snuggle, but he likes to wiggle and hop around much more now. You can't really see his ears fully, but they are adorably long! He is such a sweetie!

Qwirkle! 3-12-14

We got a new game today, it's called Qwirkle! Qwirkle is definitely one of our new favorites!

Easy Clean! 3-11-14

Today has actually been a really good day, yet all I have for a picture is this close up of a squirt bottle. What's IN the bottle is what matters though! My sister tought a DoTerra essential oils cleaning naturally class tonight. We got to make up some natural cleaner and take it home! It is DoTerra OnGuard concentrate, water and grapefruit and lemon essential oils. That's it! I cleaned my counters with it tonight and it made my house smell good and it got em nice and clean! Thanks sis!

Every Monday Has It's Thorn 3-10-14

I am a terrible person on Mondays, it's true. I hate Monday because it is the end to my wonderful weekend paradise and I am just mad at the world that I have to go back and sit at a desk for 8 hours. So, unfortunately everyone else suffers too...especially my closest co-worker, my dad. I snip and I snap without even thinking about it. I try to go into Mondays with a good attitude but it very rarely prevails. So I took my dogs for a walk at Clysta Willet Trail after work and was still in kind of a Monday mood. I saw this patch of thorns and knew that was a picture of Monday to me.

Waterfall Wishes 3-9-14

What a beautiful day! We drove down Push Mountain Road again today. This time ended up on Rand Road. We tromped through the woods a bit (guided by the written words of Tim Ernst) and came to this magnificent spot. The main waterfalls here are called Funnel Falls, but there are just so many beautiful cascades in the valley as well. We love exploring and seeing places we've never seen before and our pups are always so very glad to come along for the fun too! It was so picturesque and I took so many pictures I just HAD to share more than one with you!! Such a great day!

Cake and Candle Day 3-8-14

Grandma Scott's Birthday isn't until Wednesday, but we had her Birthday party today. We gathered and had yummy sandwhiches, fruit and of course cake and ice cream. She blew out her candles and opened her cards. It was fun just hanging out with our family! Fun times!

Nocturno 3-7-14

Tonight was Dustin and I's Date night. We went to a play at the Twin Lakes Playhouse called Nocturno. The props were beautiful, the cast was brilliant, the random creativity was radiating from the story line, even the cookies and punch before the show were even delectable! This moon and stars scene was actually apart of the lighting on stage before the show began. It was a wonderful time!