Gunnar meets Mable

We spent part of the afternoon on Lake Hamilton with my sister Mary, son Jeff, daughter Kay, Leon, Noah, Gunnar and myself. Jeff showed up on his seadoo and is following Noah in this photo while Gunnar watches.

After watching for awhile Gunnar was ready for his turn.

Kay tried hard to dump him but he was too good! It was a great day if I hadn't dropped my glasses in the lake! Oh well, I think it is time for new ones anyway.

Museum day

We went to see Surf's Up, a cute penguin movie and part of the kids' flicks series showing at the theater. Not bad with a $2 ticket, $1 popcorn and drinks. Leon and Gunnar then went to the Mid America Science Museum for a little hands on science. Supper will be Mexican fare at La Hacienda where I will visit all my friends. I bet Gunnar never expected to have dinner with 8 school teachers.

Wednesday

Leon, Gunnar and Noah went to the movie to see Hancock. I took a much needed nap while they were gone and then ate all their leftover popcorn when they came back! Leon grilled chicken and Gunnar enjoyed the new game they rented for the Playstation 3.

Magic Springs

Leon and I finally made it to Magic Springs to spend time with Gunnar and Noah.

On the Plummet Summitt ride Noah did manage to trick me into standing where I would get wet even though I didn't ride.

After strolling in the sun and watching Noah ride the rides it was time to enjoy some of the free Pepsi. I find it interesting that they offer free Pepsi and sun screen but not water.

I did not wear my suit but I did get a season pass and plan to return on a hot summer day. I always wanted to float the Guadeloupe River but this will have to suffice for now.

Friends and Family

Kay and John joined us for breakfast at Gilligan's Sunday morning. After breakfast we drove over to their house to go for a ride on Lake Hamilton.

Nick waited patiently while Noah and Gunnar untied the barge. John got a little carried away when he gave Nick his summer haircut.

Noah couldn't resist a swim and Leon was so pleased to get to visit with his grandson.

We weren't ready for Don and Mary to leave on Monday. We still need a bass player and a drummer for the rock band. How fun it is to spend time with friends and family!!

Gunnar's Visit

We picked up Leon's grandson in Little Rock for a 12 day visit. He had a long flight from Bakersfield, Ca via Atlanta. He was starving when he arrived as the new headset inspired him more than food in Atlanta! What a surprise when we saw how much Gunnar has grown in the past year. He wasted no time in practicing for the Rock Star band. Mary was amazed. We have managed to provide a tv and sleeping spot in each of 4 rooms which isn't bad in a two bedroom house. Notice I did not use the word bed!!! Every kid should sleep on a pallet on the floor at least once.

Geocaching Extravaganza

Our friend Don arrived on Tuesday on his way back to Texas from Tulsa. On Wednesday our friend Mary arrived from Florida and what fun the four of us have had. They are always eager to go geocaching so we spent several days in the hot July weather out searching the countryside for little treasure.

Our first find was only 1/2 mile from the house so we walked over at dusk. Over 3 days Mary got several new caches and lots of chiggers. Don passed his 1,100 mark and Mary has logged over 900. I finally reached 80.

Noah rode along on his bike and helped Mary log the find.

Wipeout!!!

I finally took a turn on Mable but preferred the on my knees technique. It was actually fun and I did fairly well until Kay turned the boat in a sharp circle...then it happened!!! Thank goodness I didn't lose my glasses.

Meet Mable

A visit from the grandchildren prompted daughter Kay and son-in-law John to get a water toy - meet Mable. This is a lazy way to enjoy the water - sure a far cry from the days when skiing was new to Lake Hamilton and all we knew to do. We did everything standing up!

Noah and John finally shared a ride. Noah thinks John is a pretty nice guy!


Oh well, boys will be boys! John thought Noah should go for a swim.


Mable was a great way to introduce Ollie, Noah, and Emmett to playing on the lake. If only they could decide who should drive the boat.

Children, chiggers 'n chainsaws

This is a stay at home summer which is full of many activities: fishing, boating on Lake Hamilton, movies, state park outings, programs in the national park and much more. We feel very fortunate to have so many opportunities available so close to home. One major focus has been to attack the honeysuckle and conquer the chiggers.We feel we might have accomplished this. There are always a few trees to be cut and dragged away. This one makes the perfect street sweeper since the city won't come down our street. Leon finally sold his toy hauler and is looking for a 5th wheel to resume camping. We won't be stopped by high gas prices !!!

We have enjoyed taking Noah to different summer offerings around town or just stopping in a city park to check out a tank.

We have also gone to a snake exhibit at a city park, a creepy crawly program by the national park, go cart tracks, movies, miniature golf course, and the shooting range. He goes to Magic Springs twice a week but so far we have not made that trek... soon though! Leon is anxiously waiting to see what it is like to experience summer in Arkansas. So far, not bad!

Running of the Tubs

The first annual Running of the Tubs took place in Hot Springs, AR in 2006 in memory of the downtown businessman who had the vision for the event, Steuart Pennington. Each year just keeps getting bigger and better. The race starts in front of the Arlington Hotel and ends in the middle of bathhouse row.

This is the Ring Around the Tub stop complete with judges in bathrobes. The rider must exit the bathtub and all must then run around the tub before proceeding. Each bathtub is filled with water.

Go, girls, go!!!

Here Kay waits while Noah fills his water gun to be ready at all times. It is fair game to shoot anyone with a water sponge or gun of any type as well as those racing the bathtubs. It is a good thing there is plenty of water downtown.

Noah is shooting one of this year's new entries, an airplane of all things.

Gallery Walk

On the first Friday of each month the art galleries in downtown Hot Springs, AR stay open until 9 and host Gallery Walk. The locals are quite supportive of this and it is a fun place to run into longtime friends while checking out the latest artwork in town.

This month was a special walk as Bill and Merv were in town for his class reunion. That also brought many of his classmates to Gallery Walk. We made it a family affair by starting on the porch of the Arlington and ending with an Italian dinner at J&S in the old Couch home on Lake Hamilton. More photos.

2008 Easter

Easter came early this year and we were thrilled by a visit from the North Carolina Littles. We celebrated Easter at Mary's house but had a family cookout in our back yard since the weather was so delightful. Hayden leads the way for Brian, Jeff, and Noah across the back yard. The grass may never be the same. The quads were the main focal point. More photos on Flickr.

2007 December

Happy Holidays from Arkansas. Christmas was peaceful with visits to the ice skating rink, to view the lights around town, and to the light display at Garvan Gardens. The home crowd on Christmas was much smaller than normal.

Leon and I enjoyed several outings with our young friend Noah. An eleven year old can sure change the day to day schedule. We visited the reenactment in the national park on one

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.

2007 November

We had a fine Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family and friends. The nieces and nephews all made it home for the holidays but will be elsewhere for Christmas. As usual they always enjoy visiting. Here they relax after a large meal!


This year Hayden stole the show. He certainly was the center of attention. We enjoyed sharing his first birthday with him. He has certainly grown since his Easter visit. Of course there are a few more photos.

Merry Month of May

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. .

Happy Easter

47 degrees at noon does not feel like Easter but we have had an useasonably warm March. We have spent much of the time clearing the "new woods" and sitting in the sun to admire our accomplishments.
The dogwoods and azaleas have just finished a magnificent show of colors and the yard seemed to be green, pink and white.
We were delighted to spend the Easter noon meal at Mary's house with her two sons, daughter in law, grandson and my daughter, son in law, and son. It was Hayden's first visit to Hot Springs. Here he is with his Uncle Will.

Pig Sooooooieee

It might be too cold to go to Florida but not to Fayetteville. So on Saturday we went to the Arkansas vs. Kentucky basketball game. The outcome was not as hoped but the day was filled with excitement and fun.

February arrives

This is the day we had hoped to leave for Florida but perhaps not today. We will wait patiently for warmer weather.

Little Rock, Ar

My laptop had a faulty system bios so we finally took it to Little Rock 3 days before the warranty lapsed. We took the old route into town along Broadway and looked at some of the older homes before passing by the Clinton Library. After lunch at the River Market alongside the Arkansas River we drove by the state capitol and then stopped at Central High School. Since they were having school we kept our distance.





Leon is glad that he wasn't in the 101st Airborne at the time they were in Little Rock for the unrest at Central High School. We then went to see the movie Dreamgirls, a very good movie! A fun day trip!