The Adventure of Family 4-5-14

This morning we headed our towards Compton, Ponca, and Jasper Arkansas with two cars full of my family. I had attempted to plan a day trip to go see some waterfalls that my family could get to fairly easily. So our first stop was in Compton, AR down a bumpy dirt backroad. We landed at Paige Falls and Broadwater falls area. We walked down to Paige falls (first picture) and to our delight the falls were flowing with lots of water. The falls fell into an emerald pool with beautiful moss covered boulders to the side. As that water spilled out from the pool it cascaded down to Broadwater falls. It was beautiful. The Fleet kids loved it and it was Wesley's first time to do any kind of hiking, he did great! We all had our fun and took pictures and just a general merry time at these falls. Then we hiked back up to the car. We all got into the cars, one of them started right up, the other one did not. Mind you, we are 2 miles down a crazy Arkansas back road in the middle of nowhere with three kiddos and one dead car. The guys tried and tried to jump my little polly (yes my car has a name), but to no avail. Her battery was dead. Dustin and dad took the car that worked and went back up the crazy road in search of the nearest auto store to buy a new battery. The closest place was back to Harrison, AR where we had passed through about 35 min earlier. In the meantime the rest of us, the three kids, Dave, Corinthia and mom all had lunch by the creek that feeds the falls. I took the girls hiking both up the creek and back down to the falls. The guys got back and put the new battery in the car.We all got back into our two cars. Dad turned the key in the car and it started right up. Dustin turned the key in the CR-V, and........nothing. It wouldn't start!!!! At first I thought he was kidding, but nope, he tried it a few more times and it wouldn't start. What are the odds!!!! We just got one car working again and then the one that had driven to get the part to fix the other one wouldn't start! We let the CR-V set for a few minutes and it eventually started. We got to the falls at about 12:00 and didn't get to leave the area until about 3:45. I planned to go see another waterfall but we decided that the road down to that one would be just too much adventure for the day.

After we got out of there, we went to an old homestead along the Buffalo River, enjoyed the scenic drive (while singing along with Disney songs) and had dinner with a beautiful view of "The Arkansas Grand Canyon". All in all it was a pretty good day.

Paige Falls in Compton, AR

Broadwater Falls in Compton, AR

And our lovely car fiasco.....It just wouldn't be a family adventure without something unplanned right??

Already tried to jump it by this point, Dustin is checking the
connections trying to see why it's not charging.

Our little picnic by the creek while Dad and Dustin drove the CR-V to
Harrison from Compton to get a new battery for my car.

Inner Peace 4-4-14

This is my favorite spot in the work days, Tea Time!! It happens about 10 am and is usually accompanied by a snack. I LOVE tea. It makes me involuntarily happy. It brings peace to my often crazy day. Literally when I bring it up to my lips, both hands wrapped around the warm comfort, breath in the aroma and sip on that hot cup of happy, a wide smile appears on my face and I just can't help it. I got this sweet (and wonderfully large) mug from my friend Sarah Newman, and I use it every day! This picture represents my love for my dogs, my pursuit of peace both inward and around me, and my love affair with tea.

Storm Brewin' 4-3-14

Our area had been anticipating a severe storm all day. In the mean time, it was about 80 degrees today. You can kind of see the gray clouds behind the pretty flowers on our Bradford Pear Tree. The severe weather didn't really come in until about 7:30. Dustin went to tennis and shortly after the tornado warning sirens went off. I quickly made sure the dogs and I had everything in the bathroom we needed and then realized it really wasn't doing much outside. I went outside and watched the thunder clouds light up quite a distance away. The Tornado warning wound up being for the southern part of Baxter county, not our part. Thankfully nothing too severe happened to our area or the areas around us. The biggest issue was the egg sized hail over in Calico Rock. 

Still Alive 4-2-14

We planted this apple tree last year in the spring. By the end of the summer aphids had engulfed it. I thought it didn't survive the aphid attack after they ate all the leaves off, but turns out it's still alive! I was so excited to see all the green signs of life all over our little tree today!

Pot Prices 4-1-14

So, we have decided to do a little bit of growing this year. We need a few good pots to grow some herbs in. We went to Lowe's and Home Depot to check prices on the growing pots. Home Depot wins. Still didn't get the pots cause I am not 100% sure what I want to do, but just in case you are wondering Home Depot is a good place for any pot needs you may have...like pots for planting things in you know, I haven't found the other kind there....yet....

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....