50 Years 5-31-14

We celebrated Jo & Steve Wilson's 50th anniversary today. Their family set up a wonderful drop in get together out in front of their cabin on the river. It was a beautiful day filled with smiles, laughter, hugs and memories both old and new. We were so blessed to be able to spend the afternoon with these sweet people and celebrate their 50 years of adventures together.

Blackbirds and Coyotes 5-30-14

Tonight Dustin and I went to Blackbird Café where they were serving up delicious food (or course) and hosting an art walk with three different artists from around the area. They also had one of my favorite local bands playing tonight, Coyote Union. We started out our year listening to Coyote Union as we rocked out at their New Years eve concert with Kib and Sarah in an old bowling alley. Tonight they put on a great show as well. It's going to be exciting to see where their talent them!
This is the best picture I got tonight. There are times I am just to in the moment to really get any great pictures...so this will have to do.

Also I want to include their Official music video to one of their most popular songs, Teardrop River....check them out!!

Soaking The Itch Away 5-29-14

So on the 5-27-14 blog, "Worth It", I went to Clysta Willett to take pictures of the flowers. After getting quite a few tick bites and several more chigger bites I am not so sure that title fits. When I get tick and chigger bites it feels like I have a flesh eating disease for several days. I react terribly to them and when there are 10+ from the waist down it is pretty miserable. So I took a hot Epsom Salt and Baking Soda bath tonight to try and draw out some of the itch and burn. It helped A LOT actually. I was having a hard to finding a shot worthy of a picture today so I decided to go a little on the odd and artsy side for todays picture.....

Sunshine On a Cloudy Day 5-28-14

Today has been mostly cloudy with intermittent showers. Actually, that's been the forecast all week. As I was coming out of my favorite grocery store, The Truck Patch, I looked up and saw this beauty of a sight. The plants have gotten a wonderful drink this week and my eyes have feasted on the beautiful cloud formations that have frequented the skies.

I was messing around in Photoshop as I was cropping this picture and I wound up with this look.... weird, yea?

Worth It 5-27-14

After I got off work and before my niece's softball game, I stopped at Clysta Willett to take some flower pictures. I got flower pictures, unfortunately I picked up some hitchhiking ticks and chiggers too, but I think these might be worth it. If you click on the pictures and make them bigger they look even better. My favorite out of this group is the little fragile poppy with the tiny grasshopper in it.

Memorial Day 5-26-14

Dustin had to work today and while he was gone I went to the Mountain Home Memorial Day ceremony for the first time. It was a very special ceremony honoring the men and women, especially from our area, that served their country and made the ultimate sacrifice. I was pleased to see so many people of all ages attend. Memorial day is a day to honor and remember the fallen who sacrificed everything for our freedom. If that point wasn't well brought to mind at the ceremony, it was brought to mind when I later got onto facebook. There was pictures of people with there families having good times together and then there was a picture of a decorated grave. A man that I once knew that had served his country and made that sacrifice in 2010. Memorial day is considerably different for his family than it is for mine as they go visit the grave of their brother, son, uncle....husband.
We may not have had to experience the pain of a loved one in the military who didn't get to come back, but we can honor their memory and reflect on the sacrifice they and their families have made.
I love this picture of a Veteran honoring the fallen as the colors were presented.

Day of Rest 5-25-14

We got home late last night from Jasper, so we just had a sleep in and not do a whole lot kind of day. We did get a handful of peas off the sugar snap pea plant in our garden though! I love the designs the feelers of the pea plants make around the stick trellis.

Buffalo River Fun 5-24-14

Dustin and I headed down to the Buffalo River this morning with three guidebooks in hand. We decided to go down to Woolum Campground and look for the trail that would take us to "The Nars" or "Narrows" Well here it is.....

So we went to the car and changed into our swimming attire and waded across the Buffalo River. It wound up being just past waist deep for me but the rocks were super slippery and the current made it tricky, but we did it without slipping an falling all the way in! There is actually an easier way to get here down a little dirt road, but it would have taken us 45+ minutes out of our way. Once we made it across there was a nice mile and a half walk down to the place you can scramble up the rocks to see the Nars. We had a picnic up at the base of the Nars and then I scrambled up to the top. Dustin was so stinkin' nervous for me. Later he told me it is because I am often so clumsy.......thanks hon. Half way up though I got a little nervous myself. At some points climbing up, your footing is less than a foot away from the dead drop off into the Buffalo River. I made it to the top though and Dustin came too. It was seriously an awesome view at the top. On one side you get a gorgeous view of the Buffalo River and Skull Rock then the other side you have a beautiful outlook over Ozark farm country with rolling hills in the backdrop. So worth the wading of the river, the hike and the climb!

The "Nars" on the Buffalo River. If you look close enough you might see Dustin!

The view of the fields as seen from the top of the Nars

The view from the top of The Nars looking out over the Buffalo River.

I loved the view from the top!

We also went to a swimming hole in Erbie Campground before we headed into Jasper to have dinner at The Arkansas House in Jasper. After dinner we watched one of my favorite bands, National Park Radio, do FANTASTIC job as they rocked out the little theater in Jasper.

Third Base 5-23-14

My youngest niece had a softball game this evening. She did great! This was her about to run for home base.

Fans in the Stands 5-22-14

My oldest Niece had a softball game tonight. Two of her friends actually got to come to her game, they even made "Go Natalie" signs. It was cute to see them cheer for her. The team Natalie is on didn't win tonight, but at this age that's not super important for her. She is just happy to be playing the game.

From The Heart 5-21-14

 

 

So this is what my tea bag said to me this morning. I like the saying, I really do.  However, I made a sort of sound between a grunt and a chuckle when I first read it. It is a nice sentiment, but I have a problem. I get at least 1-3 pieces of charity mail A DAY asking for money. They put the saddest picture they have on the envelopes and the heart wrenching papers inside. I wish I could help all of them, I realllly do. I would literally be broke, and living on the streets if I "lived from my heart".

 

I would also have no time to be with my husband and family or keep a paying job if I where to "live from my heart". My heart wants more than anything to help every creature from man to beast. I have said to Dustin that if I could, I would literally volunteer my life away. Volunteering my time to help others is what I LOVE. I would much rather volunteer to help in some way than "go to work" and draw a pay check, it really is just a lot more fun to me, but in this money hungry world we live in I obviously can not just "live from my heart".

 

Another reason why I felt mocked by this tea bag is because in my heart right next to volunteering and charities is travel and exploration of new places. I find it very difficult to find the money for travel when it is all eaten up by the monster we all know named reality.

 

So Thank You, Yogi Tea Bag, for the words that meant to inspire, I know you meant well. However, as I was sitting in that dreary cold office, like I do every day making $1.75 over minimum wage, I must say that I felt the opposite of inspired as I was reminded of the fact that I can't afford to truly "live from my heart". Living from this free spirited, yet extremely tender heart of mine would be way out of my budget.

 

 

 

 

 

Vote! 5-20-14

Today I made sure to make it to the polls to vote in the primaries. I think it is important to learn about the candidates and make an educated vote for those that will best represent us as a state or county. I feel proud to wear the "I voted Today" sticker. Many women, that came before me, fought for that right and I don't want to take their hard work for granted. Also many men and women have fought for my right as a citizen to be able to come to the polls in peace to cast the vote of my choice. I am not a highly political person that watches all the politics on the news, but I think going to the polls and making an educated vote is very important.

Not What I Was Looking For 5-19-14

So I went into Salvation Army Thrift store today looking for another large whicker type basket for my strawberries. Well, I didn't find the right basket, but I did come out of there with three pairs of practically brand new shoes and a skirt for $17.50! They were having a 25% off sale on shoes and all three of these just happened to be just my size! So I am still on the search for the perfect basket, but at least I have some cute shoes!

Look At Her Go! 5-18-14

Mom started using her cane in the last couple days. She has really made great progress! We walked out on her back porch tonight when I went out to visit her. Everyone is so impressed by her progress. Look at that pretty cane my dad bought her, it has pretty pink roses on it! No boring cane for this pretty lady!

Arkansas Jungle 5-17-14

My sister and I had a double date with our dad today. I took them both to a waterfall I had been to before, Funnel Falls. I had been there in the winter however and now, almost summer, it looked COMPLETELY different. It looked as if we were hiking down into a some kind of time warp that was sucking us back into the prehistoric days. Ferns and greenery where every where, it was magical. The waterfalls where running pretty good too. I even made it out of there without a single tick attached! My sis and dad loved the experience and we all had such a good time.

This was the trail we followed down to the falls.

Nature Loves Me Too 5-16-14

While Dustin was helping at Flippin High School's Graduation the pups and I hit the trail. It was sprinkling most of the time we were out there, but there is so much tree cover that we hardly got wet.

This is one of my best hiking buds. Even though she is often off her leash (I know, shame on me) she pretty much stays right here the whole walk, especially if we are walking without Dustin. She might just love me.

The water in this little cove was really this color!

As we were walking back I passed this rock and noticed it has a tattoo! Ok so maybe a birthmark? Either way, I thought it was sweet of nature to send me a sign of love, I heart you too!

Arm Wrestle 5-15-14

Our friends Sarah and Kib where over tonight. Before the guys headed to tennis some comment started an arm wrestling contest. These two are hilarious. I swore secrecy as to the results of the battle so all you get instead is this picture, you can make your own predictions.

Troy 5-14-14

This is Troy. He is the cat I adopted with my mom when I was about 17. Since I got married and moved out he has stayed with mom. He is a loving cat that looks like the name "Garfield" might fit him better than Troy, he is a big kitty. He also licks human skin more than normal cats. I can't stand cat licks, they feel like wet sand paper. We has been living at our house since mom had her knee surgery. He was laying on my stomach while I lounged on the couch tonight.

Another Rainy Day 5-13-14

 It's been another rainy day here so much so our niece's softball games where cancelled. On our slightly moist walk this evening we saw these pretty little wildflowers on the side of the road.

Raindrops On Roses 5-12-14

It's been a stormy evening at our house tonight. We sat out on our porch swing and watched the lightening for a bit. some of the strikes lit up the whole sky as if it was mid afternoon. I love the way raindrops look on plant life, it brings out the color and detail of nature.

Mother's Day 5-11-14

So we planned all weekend and it finally happened! The perfect little Mother's day Garden Party in our backyard. We spent Mother's day in our backyard last year too and it worked so well we did it again! We had veggie and chicken kabobs and four different kinds of salads. Dustin was the perfect grill master as he cooked up everyone's kabobs.

 

Here is one of my youngest niece I just can't pass up sharing with you all....

I think she had four pieces...maybe more?

 

My nieces and nephew played around the garden and ran around the backyard. The weather was perfect not too hot, not too chilly. The sun shown a golden hue over everything, lighting up all the happy faces of the people I love. I really didn't spend much time taking pictures. I was more interested in memorizing the moment off all the happy life going on in our backyard. We are so very blessed to have all this loving family within 30 minutes of us as well as all the other family who may be far away but close in our hearts. Sometimes it is so easy to take family for granted because they seem to always be there, but honestly you just really never know how long you have so taking the time to treasure them while you have them should be a top priority.

 

Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely moms in our family!

 

 My sweet Mom up there in the white, has been a beautiful example of love, strength, tenderness towards all life and has instilled many other wonderful attributes into my sister and I. I celebrate this sweet woman every day but it is fun to have a day that gives us an excuse to spoil her a bit. :-) Love you Momma and hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

 

 

 

 

Shovel It 5-10-14

We got a free load of pea gravel today, I helped load it into the truck. It was a great workout, my back told me so by the end of the day. Dustin got to un-load it himself while I raked it into place and planted our Peppers.

Rose Reflections 5-9-14

While I was home for lunch today I took some pictures of the roses out in our front yard. I love these roses because like the Irises, these don't require much care and they come back year after year.

 

This bridge and pond is at the Clysta Willett Trails. The moment was actually more serene than I could capture on camera. The sky was a light pinkish gray. We love taking the dogs here in the spring and late fall but unfortunately this will probably be our last visit for a while due to the over population of teeny tiny ticks that get everywhere. If I do go back the dogs probably won't be coming with me and I will be wearing my rain boots and some sort of tick repellant sprayed on those.

Tennis and Movie Night 05-08-14

Sarah and Kib typically come over on Thursday nights. We all have dinner and then Kib and Dustin go play Tennis while Sarah and I either hang out and chat or watch a movie. Tonight she and I watched "The Book Thief" It was a sad movie, but of course most movies centered around the time of Nazi Germany are going to be heart wrenching. The guys got home and we started watching movie trailers for Godzilla and the New Spider Man. These flowers are from the bunch I got while cleaning up after the Stetsons and Stilettos event.

Picture Perfect 5-7-14

Every once in a while as your going through every day married life sweet mini fairy-tales happen.

I love our date nights that we have every month on the 7th, but this one was one of my favorite we have had in a long time. After work we drove out to the Bull Shoals city park to play sand volleyball. The park was full of trees, the sun was starting it's wind down for the day and shimmering it's golden rays through the shade of the green leaves and the sand in the ball pit was softer than the sand on any beach I've ever been to. We played for about 40 minutes. Dustin's ability to make me laugh and smile has never gone away from day one to year eight and tonight was no exception. We played until our forearms could take no more.

We played on the playground a little bit and then went and picked up our Veggie Pizza from Bush's Pizza and drove down to the lake. There we had a perfect view of the sunset as we watched it go down we shared our delish veggie pizza and laughed and talked some more.

We brought food for the fish that live at the marina. It was completely dark by the time we made it to the marina and we were not seeing the fish I was looking around in the pitch black water and then one little booger jumped out of the water, simultaneously make my skin jump off my bones. Gave Dustin a good chuckle! Well, we fed them a late night snack and of course I had to try to get pictures! I love how these turned out!

  

Then there is the ending of the date. We walked to the edge of the dock and danced to a Tim McGraw song. I wish I had a picture of that moment complete with the stars that were shining above, the glow from the moon and the ripples of the water, and him holding me in his arms but that was definitely a moment that just couldn't be ruined with trying to get a picture. Although I didn't pick up my camera, I  sure did take a memory picture and let me tell you that shot is picture perfect.

Let's Play Ball 5-6-14

Tonight we had double softball games. We watched our eldest niece rock the field first. She did great, her first time up to bat she hit the ball first swing. and got to first base. She loves softball and has decided she would like to be a softball playing cowgirl when she grows up.

 

 

We then watched our youngest niece play, and so did her little turtle named Zippy. It was Zippy's birthday today. They even had a birthday party with little tiny cupcakes for Zippy today. So of course Zippy got a special treat to come see her play softball today.

 

 

While his younger sis was playing, little brother tried on his oldest sisters helmet. Just wait buddy you'll be playing soon enough.

Iris 5-5-14

Our Irises are blooming finally. They are so pretty! I love that they require no care. They just grow out in our forgotten area where the hose won't reach.