We began the month by going to Gallery Walk. The first Friday of each month the art galleries keep their doors until 9. Here you can meet with many of the artists, view contemporary art, and always run into friends. Many galleries also offer refreshments. Hot Springs has become noted as an art community and recieved the No. 4 ranking in the Top 100 Small Art Towns of America.
Much of May has been spent clearing the new woods next door. We created quite a path and now have a quad trail, although a bit small, in the yard. We finished just in time to turn it over to the chiggers and snakes for the summer. We only saw one large copperhead and couldn't see the chiggers, but we know they are there. This copperhead had an accident. Who knew it is illegal to kill one?!
The next project was to rip out the fish pond and replace it. I call it getting ready for old age. There is still a lot of work to do but that can wait.
This appears to be a much more manageable size.
Jeff bought a couple of seadoos and we went out for the initial run. The water was still a little cold so we only watched from the shore but he had a blast!
Hot Springs National Park celebrated its
175th anniversary and we joined in the fun. Yes, we are older than Yellowstone but we were declared a Reservation therefore we are not the oldest "National Park," at least not in terminology. We strolled bathhouse row and listened to several music groups perform in the park. Some people even chose to dress in period costume for the occasion.
Another favorite in May has become the Running of the Tubs. We attended the
1st one last year and returned with friends for the 2nd annual race after meeting at Mary's house to toast the event. The hot thermal water was Hot Springs' initial claim to fame. At one time "We bathed the World," when ten bathhouses operated in the midst of downtown Hot Springs. People came from around the country to use the waters and hot baths for relief from arthritis and other ailments. In the heyday in our past hitstory visitors could also hike the mountain trails, attend auctions in the downtown auction houses, bet on the horses, gamble in downtown casinos which were never legalized, and enjoy great entertainment. The gambling, nine bathhouses, and the auction houses are gone but we still have fun and it is always fun to meet up with Kay and John .
John, Leon, Kay and I pose on Bathhouse Row while we stroll Central Avenue.
On Memorial weekend we
stopped at the ASMS Graduation and listened to former President Bill Clinton deliver their commencement address. He went on to McClard's for barbq and we went up to Whittington Park to enjoy the city band play their first summer concert.
The end of May neared and we discovered there were baby coyotes living in the culvert at the edge of the yard. I guess they are just running out of woods. I know how they feel. .
occasion followed by a hike on the mountain before sending the Jeff, Noah, and his little brother Zane up the Hot Springs Mountain Tower while we readied the fire for hot dogs and marshmallows. Another day we took Noah to the Mid America Science Museum to enjoy some hands-on science. We are pretty well settled in until February.
