Last Day 4-30-14

Today was mom's last day in the hospital. She went in last Monday for double knee replacement surgery. She looks so good today! So excited for her to get to go home Thursday!

Winner! 4-29-14

We had our friends over for dinner and games tonight. Dustin made stuffed red peppers, so good! We played "Star Trek Catan", our favorite game to play with Kib and Sarah. It looks way nerdy but it is way fun! Sarah won the game tonight! Yay Sarah!

Always Willing 4-28-14

I believe every girl should have a couple dogs to go hiking with. Seriously they are the very best hiking buddies ever. They are always willing and ready at a moments notice. They will follow you wherever and protect you from whatever. I got to spend the evening on David's Trail with these two furry beauties. We took a part of the trail we hadn't been on yet and wound up at the beach! OK Norfork Lake, but it did have tiny seashells in the pebble sand. So Thankful for life today!

Sunset Puddle 4-27-14

Today we were under a Tornado Watch for most of the day. We didn't have nearly as much severe weather as some others in the line of this storm system though. So thankful to have been safe from the bad storms! The sunset was just gorgeous tonight with a yellowish orange look to it.

This is actually a picture of the sunset, but through a puddle in my backyard that was created by all the rain we had earlier today.

Love of Nature and of Family 4-26-14

On Clysta Willett Trail today I walked over this little bit of love. 

 

Then later tonight I got to go to Dairy Queen with three of my loves, my two nieces and my sister.

 

Flowers and Eagles 4-25-14

After work I went by the hospital to see mom. She was looking so good! She also has a ledge full of pretty flower arrangements and cards from all her supporters. This is shot taken from behind the arrangement from my boss at That Print Shop. The flowers and mom look so pretty!

 

After the visit with mom, Dustin and I took our pups on a walk on David's Trail. We happened upon a family of Bald Eagles! There was one in the nest, probably with babies, and one keeping watch just outside of the nest. It was super neat to see them!

 

The Showdown 4-24-14

So we are watching my mom's animals while she is in the hospital and while she recovers. Blue so badly wants to play with Troy, but Troy wants nothing to do with it. This is actually right after Blue tried to play with Troy, and Troy hissed in warning. Blue was trying to be submissive and even after this picture turned over on his back in front of Troy, but Troy was not having it.

Baby Basil's Giraffe Friend 4-23-14

Our Basil is growing! Look how sweet and cute it looks!! I even put a giraffe in with it to keep it company ;-) So excited about growing our own herbs from seed this year!

Healthy Snacks 4-22-14

I did not like what they were brining to mom at the hospital so I brought her some healthy goodies myself. I mean pork and chicken fried steak are not conducive to easing inflammation and actually helping your body heal itself. Today was a much harder day for her. She even had on oxygen tube in her nose when I went to see her. She had a lot of pain this morning and was really sleepy by the time I saw her after work tonight. I brought her a concoction of tea as well to help relax her. I got to hang out with her for a few hours tonight, and even though she was dosing in and out it was still a good visit.

Surgery Day 4-21-14

Well today was the day Mom got her "Brake Pads" Replaced. That's how she described it as we were preparing for this day. She had Double knew replacement surgery today. The nerves where high for everyone today, but the surgery went well! Now let me give you a little background from my perspective. I have never seen my mom in the hospital hardly ever seen her really sick or injured at all. My only other experience with a parent in the hospital was my dad when I was about 10 or so and that was pretty traumatic. So I was so nervous to see her after I got off of work. When I walked into the room I realllllly did try to be a big 26 year old woman. But I of course wound up crying for 3 reasons:
1. I am an incredibly emotional person
2. I had been telling myself all day not to cry when I got to the hospital and so focused on NOT crying that of course I cried.
3. She looked SOOOOOO much better than what I had envisioned and I was just so excited to see her looking so good after worrying about her all day!

Easter Sunday 4-20-14

After we made Parmesan Crusted Asparagus and Quinoa Salad we headed over to Grandma & Grandpa Scotts house. We ate a yummy and filling lunch with my family. We then ventured out into the beautiful day to play out in the front yard. We played with plastic parachute bunnies and little airplanes. Some of us played a rousing game of croquet.


Pipa and Natalie finishing up the croquet game.

Renee and Mimi even did some

coloring out in the sun!

Wesley was getting his socks
and shoes on to go out in the
grass. You never
 really realize how much work
it is to put socks and shoes
on a toddler until you do it......

 

Dustin is the best uncle. He is Wesley's absolute favorite person right now. The bar on the swing set is just barely out of reach, but he knows Uncle will give him those extra inches. Renee loves her Uncle Dustin too. How could you not love this guy?

We then went to Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's house to have dinner. I was so stuffed already but I managed to fit some more in there somehow. After dinner we again got the croquet out. Mike won the croquet match, Dustin gets his good at everything skills from his sweet dad :-). Mike then proceeded to wow us with his juggling skills!

Mike has great juggling skills!!

Mike, Dustin's Dad,
out on the lawn
in front of their house
with their dog Goober.

A Change of Plans 4-19-14

I love Saturdays! We shopped at the Farmer's Market in the morning ate lunch at a park with our pups in Yellville and did a little clothes shopping. Then we headed just north of Yellville to a place called "Marble Falls". When we got out of the car to start bush-whacking down the hill what we saw was discouraging. An entire hill of poison ivy. We even tried to go around that hill and come at it a different way. We got less than a few feet into the woods and it and poison sumac could be found just about every where you looked. We had our pups with us too and figured the whole ordeal would probably not be worth the hassle so we got back in our car with defeated hearts.

 

We decided not to waste the day though, and went down to Rush, South of Yellville. We walked the dogs along the river bank and had a snack along the babbling creek that  flows toward the upper Buffalo River.

 

We also went on the Rush Historic Trail. On the trail we saw old mines.....

 

and what was left of a town that stood over 100 years ago.

The Blacksmith's shop was still in pretty good shape....

 

The larger building closer to us here was a general store and post office with fourteen post office boxes. Oh, and this is were you got the marriage papers too! In the house next to the general store lived the store's owner and operator and his wife.

 

This plaque showed a map of the mining town. Many of the structures had either burned down or just didn't pass the test of time.

 

Dustin and I both had a great time despite that poison ivy hill! 

Burning Leaves 4-18-14

After work on Friday Dustin and I came right home and started working on the garden area in the front of our house. We had lots of leaves, weeds and grass that came from the area. Dustin burned them all tonight. I got a few cool shots of the fire as he burned them up.

Dustin tending his leaf burning pile.

I love the little squiggly on the side where a spark must have flung from the pile while I was taking this picture.

Moments with Mom 4-17-14

Mom and I had a good evening together tonight. We picked up Subway and then I introduced her to the Clysta Willett Trail. She loved all the flowering trees. She, like me, loves the time of day when the sun is starting to go down and the golden shining rays are coming through the trees.

 

I LOVE these pictures of her! She looks so pretty!!
 (I know her skin looks touched up with Photoshop but it is not!)

Then we drove up to Norfork Dam hoping to catch a good sunset. The sun just slipped behind the clouds right before we got settled. We ate our dinner from Subway there on the hill anyway. It was dusk and watched the bird fly by and the clouds turn different shades. We talked about life and we talked about her upcoming knee surgery. We shed a few tears and we laughed. It was a great night with my sweet mom.

There were quite a bit of smoke clouds in the air due to the controlled burn in the area today. The picture looks better if you click on it to enlarge it....



Dogwood Blossoms 4-16-14

The Dogwoods and Redbud trees where beautiful on the Clysta Willet trails tonight. We went back to the Dogwood tree from the post on the 8th of April. I tried to find the same exact flower as I had photographed in that previous post, and I am pretty sure we found it! The whole tree was just filled with beautiful white blossoms!

 

 

Before I found that tree though I got this picture of these blossoms with the pretty pink shade in them. 

 

Around the Neighborhood 4-15-14

This is a pretty scene I saw while walking the pups around our neighborhood tonight. Loving the purples and greens! Spring is my very favorite!

Little Baby Green 4-14-14

We tried to grow peas last year and they wound up drowning in one of the super soaker rains we had last spring. This year we are growing them in earth boxes and have already had better luck with them. Look at this sweet little pea baby! We covered them and the Apple tree up tonight though because of the predicted frost tonight.

Growing Thyme 4-13-14

So we are starting a different part of our gardening adventure this year. We are attempting to grow herbs from seed! Neither one of us have had experience with this but with the internet and a good amount of wingin' it we should do just fine! Look how teeny tiny those seeds are!!

Good Times in Batesville 4-12-14

We went to the Scottish Festival in Batesville today with Dustin's parents. We got to see this man and his dogs give a sheepdog demonstration. It was a really cool thing to see!

For me the sheepdog demonstration was the highlight of the Scottish festival. My dog is an Australian Shepard Border Collie Mix, and although she doesn't get to get a lot of her natural herding instinct out on a daily basis, she exerts as much of that energy as we let her on our cat and our other dog.

The man doing the demonstration had recently lost his other herding dog and was sharing a touching poem he had written about the experience. He got choked up about it and as I listened I had to fight back tears as well. I love this picture of him and as he reaches for Hannah, the herding partner of the dog that passed away.

Then there is this dog in a kilt.....

After the Scottish festival we walked around a couple shops in Batesville and started to get hungry.

We had been told by a shop owner that there was a restaurant just down the street. Dustin went to grab a menu and check it out. He decided that would be the best place and being hungry and tired we didn't really argue.

 

We stepped into Big's and were pleasantly surprised. Before I could even really notice the super cool interior of the restaurant, a super friendly woman, Savannah, greeted us and asked if she could get us some drinks while we decided what we wanted to eat. The place is set up as a diner/sandwich shop, so you order at the counter before you sit down. She was real helpful asking questions and making suggestions.

We all finally decided and sat down. After we got our food, the cook, Dylan, came up and asked us how everything tasted. It was amazing to say the least. The fries were fresh cut goodness. My wrap was full of flavor and just plain scrumptious.

The inside of Big's

We asked why the restaurant was named Big's, turns out BIG is the first initials of the 3 children of the Owners, Anthony and Mindy. The names of the sandwiches on the kids menu are made up from the children's names. The whole place is just great, so next time your in Batesville, AR stop in at Big's and I can guarantee you'll come out with a happy belly and smile on your face!

Savannah, Dylan and Anthony

Looks Purple To Me 4-11-14

While I was taking the dogs on a walk around the neighborhood tonight I saw this pretty redbud in front of the sunset. I have wondered why it is called a Redbud Tree when the buds actually are purple. Either way, they are very pretty!

Good For the Body, Good for the Soul 4-10-14

Lunch with my mom is always special. She bring sunshine into an otherwise boring dreary day at work. Today we went to Black Bird Cafe, one of our very favorite places. We shared a big salad and split a vegetarian sandwich. She is the perfect combo of silly and sweet. She has a beautiful natural smile but it is really hard to capture on camera because you tell her to look at the camera and smile and almost every time you get a look that is much more a forced smile than her real one. Oh well, she is pretty no matter what.

A Little Spice 4-9-14

This is my version of the Indian dish Raja Marsala. We eat it with Basamati Rice. We hadn't had it in a while and it was good, but unfortunately I didn't realize I didn't have one of the key spices, Garam Marsala, until it was all cut up and in the skillet. Love this dish though, a great, easy vegan dish!

Little Dogwoods 4-8-14

Back on Clysta Willett Trail tonight with my usual walking partners, Dustin and our pups. These sweet little growing Dogwood flowers where begging to have their picture taken!

Rivals 4-7-14

Tonight's date night included a yummy dinner at our favorite restaurant, Dusit Thai. Then we came home and played our new favorite game, Rivals of Catan! It is like the board game Settlers of Catan, but only two player. I know it looks like a super nerdy game, but it really is addictingly fun to play! Tonight's game Dustin won (surprise!), but the time before last I totally whopped him!

Planting Flowers 4-6-14

My dad gave us some daffodils and day lilies to plant at our house. This is how we spent our Sunday morning outside enjoying the nice weather and cleaning up around the yard just a bit. This little garden area up by our driveway is where we put things that will grow no matter how much care they don't receive. We just seem to forget about this spot and also don't have a hose that will reach all the way out there. Several plants seem to manage holding onto life year after year here though. Weeds and grass grow here too in the summer. As I was cleaning out some of the dead grass and well rooted weeds, I shared a thought with Dustin. Most weeds grow a strong root system that goes deep into the soil making it very difficult to remove them from there chosen home. The good plants that we want around are not usually so easy to grow and often have a delicate root system. We can relate this easily to the lives we live. The weeds in our lives, addictions of all kinds and all our bad habits, grow easily in our lives and wrap their strong roots around our hearts and minds. Just like weeds in the garden, the weeds in our lives can grow root systems that are even more destructive underneath than they appear to be on the surface. The good growth in our lives takes nurturing and has a tender root system that can be damaged by all sorts of sources. We must remember to  nurture the good growth and do some weeding every-once in a while.