Well DRAT!

I have finally figured out why my photos will not enlarge on our in-the-right-lane blog. If you click and drag them around when you create the blog they supposedly lose their link to the original which is filed on Picasa. The strange thing is that this is not the case on my other 3 blogs! I have the code to fix it. We will see. Or will I just begin a new one? What to do...what to do...

Day at the Races

Spending a day at Oaklawn Racetrack watching the ponies run seemed like a good idea so we declared girls day out! Chris, Darla, Mary, Kay, Joy, and I collectively lost a few dollars but we did have a good time. And four of them at least got to cash a ticket after the last race. I, myself, never cashed one but the reuben sandwich and bloody Marys made up for that.

Shopping trip

Monday was a beautiful sunny, warm day for the beginning of the school people's spring break which allowed for Kay to join in on our outing. Kay, Chris, and I joined Darla in Little Rock for a little shopping flurry. Chris was looking for a new chair but probably won't get the $6,000 sofa and chair we all liked!

We had lunch at recently opened Capi's in Pleasant Ridge on the west side of town. The owner grew up in her grandparents' well-known Sam Peck Hotel which was quite the place in the 1960s. Their menu includes tapas, small servings of appetizers served on small plates and well-known in Spain.

After shopping we returned to Kurt and Allison's and had a nice visit with them and Allison's sister while being entertained by Darla's most precious granddaughter. It was a fun filled day.

Tacos anyone?

I joined Kay, Chris, Barbara, Diane and Joy for lunch Saturday in what was an old hardware store next door to Cafe 1217 the last time I drove down the avenue. Cafe 1217 owner Diana has turned it into Taco Mama. The visit was excellent and the food was good and I think it will be almost as big a hit as 1217. I couldn't resist the fish tacos.

Enjoying Spring

The daffodils are blooming all around the yard and the brilliant yellow helps to brighten the cloudy Saturday morning.
I adore this time of year which is evidenced by all my tromping around town pretending I feel great after my two week long cold/sinus infection. Wednesday began with my monthly lunch gathering to visit with our retired teacher group. We had a good turnout of about 12 at Angel's Italian Restaurant. The building was originally the Security National Bank which was built in 1923 next door to the Alvin Hotel. We enjoyed a nice long visit as the rain began to fall as if it were ordered for dessert.
After my noon outing it seemed only appropriate that we should go eat supper at the Cracker Barrel. I was just hungry for meat loaf since food did not even taste good for two weeks!
On Thursday I spent the day running all over town gathering information to be prepared for the foreclosure auction if it should happen next Wednesday. I sure have learned a lot about bankruptcy, foreclosure, and crooked realtors. More than I ever wanted to know!
Friday was a lazy day and then we joined Kay and John for dinner at Angel's in the Park. I always enjoy visiting the old Park Hotel that is pictured here. It is architecturally attractive and doesn't appear to have changed much from when it was completed in 1930. It is behind the Arlington Hotel in the heart of old Hot Springs. We had a great view of the redbud trees blooming on the mountain. It is wonderful to see so many splashes of purple in the woods and know that the dogwoods will put on their spring show soon. There were quite a few tourists downtown wandering the streets and there appeared to be a large crowd at the race track as we zipped by just before they all filled the streets. The ponies should only be running a few more weeks. Perhaps we should go one day!
Leon has been busy pulling up stumps in the yard with his 4 wheeler and ax! He is trying to get yard work done before the chiggers wake up. He has also been getting some warranty work done on the 5th wheel and is quite pleased with Razorback RV. We might go to the lake and camp except for the fact that this is spring break and kids will be everywhere!
I feel the need to go to Lowe's and find a shrub that will fit in the hole Leon left from the stump. Sure easier than digging one.

St. Patrick's Day

What a busy day it was! I had a nice skype visit with Robert. Where is my honest realtor when you need him? In North Carolina! He is doing well and sent a photo of the first snow in is new home.

I later spent time with my local realtor and two lawyers. Since August I have been attempting to buy the house next to mine. What a long story that is! After four offers, three for a short sale, it looks like it will go into foreclosure thanks to a lot of people not knowing what they are doing.

So by parade time I was ready for green beer and Mexican food! This was hailed as the First Ever Sixth Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade that travels on 98 foot Bridge Street in the heart of "old" down town. Green was the color of the day and the locals, as well as lots of tourists in town for spring break, filled the streets dressed in all manner of green. I do feel a need for some new green hair for next year! The Lyon College bagpipe band from Batesville performed and then a couple had a 90 second wedding. Why not?
The San Diego Chicken pleased the crowd as he danced up and down Bridge Street. Cliff, the well-known postman from Cheers, was the other "dignitary" invited to participate. One would think it was a Mardi Gras parade as everyone threw beads and candy, but why not, since we don't have Mardi Gras parades here. So until next March I will lookin' for that pot of gold!

Sunshine's coming

Whoa! It is already mid March. Where has the time gone? Oh, yes, I was sitting in the recliner for two weeks with what started as a cold and wound up being a bad sinus infection. Today I am determined to hit the road running. I need to go to social security office, realtor, etc. I will try to not overdo it but if the temps hit 70 and the sun shines, I can't make any promises.

I will miss winter

I will miss the cold days and nights. I don’t look forward to the heat and “Chigger Season.” It’s almost time to get out the poison for the little buggers. I finished my taxes and will spend the day looking at the rest of the hour long shows on TV that I taped while we were in Louisiana (16 in all). It was a nice two weeks we spent at Mardi Gras but the pace Susan sets is for the young at heart, not an old codger like me. She was relentless. Up at dawn and back after dark thirty. It will take a couple of weeks to recuperate. She does know her Mardi Gras though and it was a wonderful time.
Leon