Looking for spring

Here it is the end of February and our temperatures are a good ten degrees below average. And the last nine days I have spent sitting in my chair blowing my nose! But no more! We are going looking for spring. You will soon find us in the right lane in search of sunshine and warmer temperatures. We are loaded and ready to roll out on Sunday. We think Arizona is the place to begin our search! You can ride along with us on our other blog listed in the right column:  Susan and Leon's travels. Just click on it or the "in the right lane" link above.
Cheers, m'dears!

Come on, Spring

The temperatures rose to 50 and we were rarin' to get outside. So why not go back to Cedar Glades Park and hike the green trail again so that I could set out another geocache. I had already picked my spot, or so I thought. But I decided to take a container with toys and had to locate something suitable for a little box 4x6".
Leon found a disc for the frisbee disc course while he was searching down by the creek. No, Leon, not a discus.

We were in the middle of the 18 hole disc golf course so Leon proceeded to play while I did my "work."  The woods are so beautiful this time of year. I found a nice empty stump in which to hide my cache.

He finally caught on but did not quite make par!! Not bad for his first game I guess.

Let the Good Times Roll!

I just could not let Fat Tuesday go by without a little celebration so I put together an impromptu celebration and friends gathered. Cissy, Darla and Chris gathered in the kitchen where Darla was cooking crab legs while the red beans and rice simmered on the stove. They just happen to be standing beside the platter of boudain!

I put on my Martha Stewart cap, or was it apron, and made an ice bowl decorated with beads in the traditional green, gold, and purple of Mardi Gras! I filled it with frozen shrimp and the feast began!

Kay and Lola also came as well as Kay Ekey. Leon decided that was too many women at one time and went over to the Elks' Lodge to see what was happening. Smart fellow!

Cissy got the piece of king cake with the baby in it. I guess we will be having the next party at her place! This is the proof.

Oyster Bar

Wooooeeeeeeeeeee!!! This new restaurant in Hot Springs is rising to the top of my list as a place to go for oysters.  One visit let me know the oysters were delicious and the ice cold beer complimented them nicely!  Then I tried a cup of gumbo and found it to be very good. The fried oysters and shrimp that followed were yes, fried, but in a delicate batter. I did not feel like I was eating heavy fried food. I look forward to the day they offer grilled and vegetarian fare.                             

During the 70's and 80's, Russ, the owner, had the S.O.B. (shrimp oyster and beerhause) in Little Rock. From 4 to 6 we can get Pitchers and Pounds that includes half price peel and eat shrimp. I will save that for when I am tired of oysters!

I have longed for Franke's cafeteria that once occupied this building across from the Buckstaff Bath House but for now, this will do!

Tuesday is Fat Tuesday so this will be my Mardi Gras celebration for this year! Laissez les bon temps rouler!!

 

February snow

We have had a couple of small snows in February. The first time we just got a dusting as we were on the lower edge of the line. I am sure the birds are wondering where to get a drink.

This snow was a little heavier but not much. We were at the top edge of the line. Even Tyler, Texas had 5 1/2 inches. There will be no picnic on the patio for a while.

No bar-b-q either, even though it is veggies we barbecue!

This was a really light powdery snow that was beautiful on the trees and shrubs. By noon it was all gone and I was off for Cafe 1217 to meet friends for lunch.
Four years ago Leon and I met in the desert of southern California so we had a divine dinner at J&S Italian Villa to celebrate the occasion. And then we fought to stay awake for the opening ceremony of the Oympics.

Cedar Glades Park

Cedar Glades Park is a fairly new park in Hot Springs that was built by the county parks department. It is located where the county landfill was and a part of it even circles the current county landfill. But a trashy place it is not!  There are miles of bike trails that are even becoming popular for national mountain biking events. There is a climbing wall, frisbee disc course, playgrounds, creek, picnic tables, hiking trails. It is fast becoming a favorite place of mine. Oh and did I mention there are a lot of geocaches hidden along the trails.

Leon loves climbing rocks and I guess that carries over to fallen logs. This cold January day we went looking for a place to set out a new cache. There was a little window of time in the afternoon when it warmed up and with snow in the forecast we needed to get out and play!The winter rains caused a real flood through the area but we managed to make our way through.  We hid the cache, found a few, and had a great day in the country.

Ice event

The day began with rain that was sticking to everything but the streets. Icicles adorned the woods and made it look like a winter wonderland.

I am glad I fed the birds yesterday so I did not have to venture out in the rain. This tufted titmouse was glad also.

The rain stopped and we wandered out into the yard. The pines are gracefully reaching for the ground but should be fine when they thaw!

The ground is slick. Now where is the snow. It was supposed to follow the rain. I don't get that feeling of excitement that I used to get when a day like this meant I did not have to go to school.

Surprisingly, all schools are closed today as well as the city offices. There is very little traffic and yet the roads are fine.
It is amazing what a forecast can do to a town. But who can complain about a three day weekend?  Oh yes, the parents.

Leon points out that it is only 1684 miles to Bakersfield, California and maybe this would be a good time to be there!

The week that was

This has been a pleasant week as the temperatures soared to 70 one day. I have been busy out geocaching and have even set a few out. It is as much fun as finding them. I get an email each time someone finds one and can read what they posted to the website. Most of them have been placed along the Hot Springs Creek Greenway that begins in town and parallels Hot Springs Creek. When finished it will extend 4.2 miles to Lake Hamilton but it will probably be after my time. So we have gotten in a little exercise to boot.
Leon has spent much of the week getting ready for his motorcycle class in Texas. They somehow messed up when writing the law and he can't get a motorcycle license without the class. Of course he did this 40 years ago but has admitted the refresher has been good. So he is in Texarkana, Texas riding a motorcycle in the rain. But that's the way it is when you choose to be a Texan!

For Mary

I did not have an address as you are traveling. Now isn't that a switch! So where to send your card? Well I know eventually you will check here.

A Happy Belated Birthday to you!!

Caching at Cedar Glades Park

December has been the coldest one we have had in decades. After days of lows in the single digits and highs in the twenties we had a 57 degree day! What a fine time to go for a hike at Cedar Glades Park and pick up some geocaches along the way!
 I suggested that Leon get this one since his arms are longer than mine!

Ok, so it took more than long arms, but his torso is longer than mine!

"Is this what you are looking for?" he asks. "Why yes, it is!" I reply.

We went along our merry way picking up several more caches. He even learned what a Sycamore tree looks like. And I realized that I can walk on water! It was a very refreshing afternoon!

Let it Snow!

Leon was quite happy to see a snowfall, even if it was only a dusting! By noon it had stopped and shortly thereafter the road was clear.

It wasn't long before Jeff came down the hill looking for some air for his tire.

It's mine, no it's mine!! Just joking. Off Jeff and Melville went down to the lake. Leon returned to the warmth of the house.

Sunrise

As I sit in my "office" each morning I catch some nice winter sunrises out of the corner of my eye.

Merry Christmas

If I keep posting pictures of my Charlie Brown Christmas tree I am liable to get a new tree as a present, but I like it just fine. The stockings were hung in time for our usual Christmas day brunch.

Kay came feeling a little puny and took to the sofa to wait for the others.

Mary was prepared as she would soon be hopping a plane to Wisconsin and did not want to catch a germ. Or was it because she had recently had a cold and did not want to share a germ. She even got Jeff a little worried. Have we become paranoid or what?

I was glad I felt great. I cooked ham, peppered bacon, cheese grits, fried potatoes, egg souffle, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, vegan gravy, biscuits, apple butter, and sugared cranberries. All that was missing were a few cousins.

Kay, Jeff, and Will opening gifts. Yes, Will got some also before he headed back to Fayetteville to beat the snow and freezing temperatures. He did hit some icy spots but made it fine. Mary took off to Wisconsin to finish her Christmas visit with her daughter Kelly, son-in-law Sean and Sean's family.

And Leon scurried to the kitchen for his favorite job - pots 'n pans.

We hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas also. It is so nice to visit family and friends and a big meal doesn't hurt a thing until you step on the scale again!

Christmas downtown

A cold clear winter's night was a good time to visit downtown with my daughter. The Christmas trees in Arlington Park sparkled and twinkled as their lights flashed for all to see.  We parked beside them and ventured into the Arlington for Deleen Davidson's Christmas program.

The lobby of the Arlington Hotel was filled with people enjoying the holidays and dancing to the band. The gingerbread house was in its usual place in the lobby. It always reminds me of the wonderment I would have had seeing such as a small child.

We met my sister and her friends and enjoyed an evening of exquisite music and delicious food. I arrived home just in time to watch the end of the New Orleans/Dallas game with Leon. It was his choice for the evening and indeed a great game.

BEWARE!

This is the screen that popped up on my Macintosh last night. Another small window opened that tried to get me to run an executable file to get rid of my viruses. Panic! What to do? Nothing!!! I couldn't get it to cancel but eventually could close the window and all was gone away. Who knows what would have happened had I run that file?!
Leon got a similar window one day and wound up with a virus. Beware.

Mystery solved

I am so impressed with Splosion Man, the zany character on the XBox 360 game by the same name. Could he really be someone I might meet on the street? He was in the running for the best independent game sponsored by Spike but was beat out by a flower! Still for his creators to be called Game Gods is amazing.

Oh no! It is my nephew, Sean. I am not sure my niece needs to live with a Game God. He is just nice enough in his own right. Play on, fellow gamers.

And now I learn that Twisted Pixel and Splosion Man did win the IGN award for the best platform game! Sweet!

Holiday brunch

Cissy tried the mimosas while Chris served some bloody Marys. We enjoy going to Chris' for Christmas gatherings as nobody does it better!

What a brunch Chris did fix. She could have fed an army but I think we ate like one!

Mel, Darla, Chris, Kay and I sat at one table. That pile of food on a plate is mine!

Patty, Cissy, Mary and Joy visited at another table.

Kay and Joy chatted with Henry who got to come inside after we ate.

Chris' new remodel is delightful and we enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun while relaxing and visiting.

Hey, Hey, the gangs all here. For 18 years we have gathered to spread good cheer.

Whatever Lola wants...

Meet our new granddog, Lola! She is a corgi that Kay adopted from a shelter. We can't imagine why she was in the shelter although she has a couple of medical problems, but they can be fixed. She is a sweet, well-behaved dog as long as there is no competition when it comes to food. She is a bossy little thing and took over on day one. Whatever Lola wants, Lola thinks she is going to get but she is learning. She is a welcome addition.