Christmas in July

It seemed like Christmas in July! I am blessed to have my children living here but their cousins are scattered around the country. They used to all gather at Christmas but this year it happened in July. We convened at La Hacienda to celebrate Will's birthday. 

Everyone seemed interested in what Kay was having. Hayden stopped by to see if  he could try her sangria.

Well he couldn't so Kelly brought Patrick for a try.

Mary had everyone over for a nice meal. Patrick invited Lola to help clean his tray.

Kelly and Sean got to spend some quality time with their older nephew!

There was no room in the inn for Will, so we were pleased that he slept at the dead end.  That gave him an opportunity for evening pool parties at Jeff's and morning exercise!

Patrick practiced his walking so perhaps next year he can try the Wii.

Leon enjoyed visiting with the boys as always!

They watched the tadpoles and looked for frogs in the pond.

While Leon and Patrick played by the pond, Brian and Hayden rode the 4 wheeler through the woods.

It was a good visit. If there is anything better than friends it is family. Next year I will take better pictures and try to get at least one of everyone. Who knew I would want to blog the happening??! ;-)

Cains come to town

We enjoy having company and were delighted to learn the Cains would stop for a couple of nights on their trip from Amarillo, Texas to Tennessee. I hadn't seen them in about five years.

The pond was a favorite gathering spot.

Emily, Beka, and Caleb try to figure out how Caleb might catch a frog.

The Wii was a big hit..my great nephew Hayden stopped by and got in on the action too.

Even dad got in a snowball fight..snowballs looked good this hot day. Temps were 98 and 99 while they visited.

Caleb was quite the entertainment along with his sisters.

Hayden tried his luck also. What a great group of children!

The Cains strolled the promenade checking the hot water and the tufa rock.

Caleb, Emily, Danelle, Tracy, and Beka at the only open spring - they sampled the 146 degree water that made Hot Springs famous.

Caleb and Emily had fun climbing on the DeSoto rock in Arlington Park.

Who needs a climbing wall?

At the Fordyce Bathhouse, now visitors' center, they saw examples of what the bathing industry was like in its heyday.

In the men's bathing hall Emily and Caleb pointed out the DeSoto and Indian maiden sculpture.

Emily posed in one of the old oversized tubs that once filled the bathhouses.

A drive to the overlook on North Mountain provided a view of Hot Springs, Beka and Caleb check it out.

After an afternoon swim in the neighbor's pool and some more frog catching time it was cool enough to go blueberry picking.

Danelle, Beka, and Caleb work on one side while Emily and Tracy take care of the opposite side. With this much help it did not take long to get enough juicy ripe berries. On the way home we stopped at a geocache and then raided the crystal pile in the yard by flashlight!

Beka, Caleb, and Emily will agree that ice cream is the way to end the day.

Bountiful harvest

Having a decent garden just isn't an option for me with all the trees in my yard. An early visit to the farmer's market took care of that! Then it was off to Jones Mill with Mary to her newfound abandoned blueberry farm. What a successful morning.

Antique Walk

Friday evening began with Leon, Chris, Mary, Patti and Darla gathering on the veranda of the Arlington Hotel to sip a few after work (for Patti that is). The rest of us are retired!

We moved inside to the lobby for supper before we strolled the streets for Antique Walk, a first for us. It was a fun evening.

Bear Mountain Rifle Range

The day began with a healthy breakfast. Blade fixed this one himself.

Ta-dah!! A vegan omelet with sausage, onion, peppers, and cheese.

Then it was off to sister Mary's for a variety of pistols and guns to shoot along with the 22's. Blade sure wanted to take the little pearl handle 32 revolver.

That was his first choice to shoot.

Who knew it did not work! Oh well. On to the next one.

Why yes, why not the 20 guage shotgun.  At least it worked!

Then Blade switched to the 22 with a scope. Mary decided to try my little 22. Bear Mountain is in the Ouachita National Forest a few miles west of town near the town of Bear on Target Trail just off  Brady Mountain Road.

Leon liked the 22 with the scope also. I found it to be a little heavy for my liking.

Then it was time to shoot the 410 guage shotgun pistol.

This was obviously a big hit!

Leon and I forgot to take earplugs so we had to improvise. 410 shells seemed to work very well.

Now you can shoot, Mary!

The 410 turned out to be Blade's favorite!

Once back home, he and Leon cleaned the guns and got them ready for the next grandson visit.

Lola, our granddog, will visit for a while and Blade will now head home to Las Vegas.

Magic Springs

Leon and Blade spent a few hours at Magic Springs Amusement Park. Leon was prepared for winds, rain, or sun and they had some of all. It did not matter that it rained shortly after they arrived as they got wet on the Log Flume early on.

After Blade rode the Bullet,  Leon put the camera away so they could both ride the rest. They had a great time.

Chef for the day

When I have a house guest I surely don't mind turning the kitchen over to them. Blade is attempting to create a healthier version of the Big Mac!

Still a little big for me but how is that for excitement! It was a great success. Chef school might be in his future?!

Mid America Museum

A muggy rainy day seemed perfect for a visit to the indoor Mid America Science Museum.  You are never too old to enjoy some of the more than 100 hands-on displays.

You want to fly a hot air balloon? This is the place.

A dinosaur exhibit has replaced the laser show for the summer.

Leon and his grandson, Blade, always seem to have a good time hanging out together.

A ducky day

Leon and Blade decided to tour Lake Hamilton on one of the amphibious ducks used for tourist tours. Older folks will recognize these as the military vehicles that were used so much in World War II to land troops on foreign beaches.

Shortly they were afloat on Lake Hamilton. Back in the day some people I know would ski close to the ducks and attempt to spray the passengers from their favorite slalom ski.

No mention was made of the duck that sank several years ago where 13 people lost their lives. The boat went down so fast they were caught under the canopy on top where the life jackets are stored.

They passsed by old homes such as Hamilton House which is now used for weddings. My nephew Brian got married there.  It once belonged to the owners of the local coca cola company.

Returning to town they passed by Bill Clinton's high school.  I prefer to call it mine since I was there first.

Back in town where the ride originated, the driver pointed out bathhouse row which is a part of the national park. They enjoyed the adventure except for the yackety driver who talks too much and the kids behind them who screamed too much.