For Hire!

Good ole' summertime! The rains have subsided for a while and the low humidity and sunshine are welcome. We have been busy trying to get the grass back to an acceptable height. Wednesday morning we mowed David's yard and then went over to Woodlawn to tackle the jungle there! We managed to bend the blade on the push mower and I overfilled the oil on the riding mower. After a trip to Airport Road Small Engine we were good to go again but a shower stopped our progress.
Wednesday I had a delightful visit at lunch with Kathy Lease, our former assistant principal at Lake Hamilton, whom I have not seen in decades! Also along were Margie, Chris, Darla, Golden, Carolyn, and Joy. It was nice to catch up and learn that she has 3 grandsons and will be able to spend more time with them after retiring this year!
After lunch we were mowing again. This time it was Kay's yard which looked not so bad in the front but the back yard had been neglected for too long. Then it was time to work in our woods! The chain saw took care of some unwanted trees and Leon hooked them up to the quad for a trip to other woods! I fed the smaller sumac to the chipper/shredder.
At last it was time to initiate the beer garden! We made a toast to Roy and enjoyed a tall cool one. We were too exhausted to do any more!

Memorial Day

We had a memorable but quiet Memorial Day. The rain finally stopped and it seemed appropriate to have an impromptu cookout so we put out a call to Mary, Kay and Jeff. We helped Kay finish the margarita bucket while we snacked on veggies and guacamole. The new pineapple chipotle salsa added an interesting twist. Grilled chicken, potatoes, corn, and slaw filled our tummies and the mosquitoes stayed away long enough for us to enjoy the outdoor air.

Show and tell

A simple trip to Little Rock was planned to look at kayaks and buy some shorts at Academy. When the truck quit running the plans quickly changed. While the tow truck was on the way the truck decided to run again. The accelerator wasn't accelerating the truck and then it did! So we drove to the Dodge dealer to learn that $850 needed to be spent for an accelerator sensor. We chose to not sit in the waiting room and they gave us a ride to Midtowne.
Thanks to Mel, we wanted to try Pei Wei, an Asian diner, for lunch. The place was packed and we could understand why. Several doors down is the Chico's store so I got enthused after checking the sale racks. Leon patiently sat while I picked out a few necessities. We found our way across University Avenue to Park Plaza shopping mall and I was about to get enthused again when the Dodge boys came to pick us up.
We then looked at kayaks on Kavanaugh and shopped for Leon some shirts and shorts on the other side of town. We even stopped in Bryant at the Lowe's store to pick up some needed items. The day was long and we were tired but we agreed it was a fun day.

Crystal Springs flood

Leon drove up to Crystal Springs campground to see what the area looked like while Lake Ouachita is flooded. This is the site where we were camped three weeks ago. The campground is now closed.

Last year the flood waters on DeGray Lake receded two days before our camping group arrived. We have decided not to push our luck next year!

Mow, mow, mow

I am starting to feel like I live in the Amazon! All of the recent rains have really caused the grass and weeds to grow, but I am catching up after two productive days. While weed eating I discovered that my little gardenia bush is blooming. That made it worth all of the work. Then it was time to plant some lantana only to realize what I planted last year is starting to sprout. I then turned my attention to my new herb garden and put in some parsley, sage, basil, chives, and oregano.
A portion of the Crystal Springs campground, where we camped for a week, is now closed due to high water. How lucky we were to have such perfect weather for our campout!
It has felt like summer for the last two days which prompted Leon to change out the non-working ceiling fan in the computer room! And that only made me think maybe we need one in the kitchen and/or the dining room. I guess I shouldn't push a good thing!
We have been doing a little geocaching near the house. I don't know why people think it is clever to hide things where folks are everywhere. It isn't my idea of what geocaching is about. How fun is it to tromp thru the tall grass and chiggers to find a tube nailed to the back of a fence surrounding a shopping center or to look in the bushes in the middle of the shopping center. But they are too close to home to ignore! So off we go. It is a great excuse for a morning walk.

Gallery Walk

First Friday of the month again and time for gallery walk. The weather was almost perfect so Leon and I took to the streets. We met friends at Rolando's and enjoyed dining with Mel, Darla, Diane, Golden and Donna. I ate "weigh" too much.
Leon saved room for wine and cookies that were offered at most stops. Could we have stayed up until 9 we would have gone to a music venue as there were several good options. Maybe next time we will start at 8!