SUNDAY FUN DAY

We were throwing out ideas for something to do this afternoon. I wanted a road trip or Hobbs Estate which is now a National park in our area.

We all agreed to visit Hobbs and then take a short hike.

This is the museum visitors center. Beautiful building

This gentleman had all these hides out and he took his time introducing Coco to each one. Do you see the skunk? It was really soft and so was the possum. Strange!!

One of the exhibits is on the caves and bats. I at first glance thought this was a pig. ha

A replica of a Arkansas cave. No those are not real bats, PTL

This is the short hike we chose. Coco really just likes walking under the highway through the tunnel.

Tunnel going under hwy 12

Lots of butterflys today

The Vanwinkle's home place. This area was a hub of life for the community. They had a mill and blacksmith. I think it said there were over 10,000 acres.

This was the cold storage that was built in the creek or all that is left of it

It was a GORGEOUS day

temps in the 80's

Look right under the bluff. Do you see that little curve of brown? A snake sunning on the bluff but took off when my flash went up. I took off after this no more creek for me and I watched my footing the rest of the hike.

Natures beauty pretty purple flowers

This was a road used in the Civil war times

This was a Antebellem flower garden built for Mrs. Vanwinkle

Creek bed running through the property

This was the living quarters of the freed slaves that worked for the Vanwinkles

We went some other places today that I will share later.

All in all it was a wonderful day

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Our holiday weekend began with Coco's birthday party. The rest of the weekend was pretty low key. I didn't feel well Sat or Sunday so that was a bummer. Today I cleaned out our closet (had to since the rod broke in half early one morning last week). I got 3 tubs of smaller sizes and 3 bags for a garage sale. Tonight we had dinner with Scott's parents and the kids shot fireworks. We are early birds so we shot them all off prior to dark. Warning lots of photos to follow.

CHRISTMAS 2010

Coco and I had the hardest time going to sleep on Christmas Eve. We finally went to sleep about 1am and then she woke up her Daddy before 4am and they tried to get me up. I was having none of that. I woke up at 6:30 and woke her up.

We decided that we would only get her 3 gifts to open in reference to the 3 gifts that Jesus received. Well as a Momma I had the hardest time with that. SO I found a huge stocking for some some small things and clothes.

Her big gift was a trampoline. It was to big and heavy to bring into the house so I cut out a picture from the sale ad and put it into a jewelry box. She was a little confused but over the moon when she realized what it meant.

Daddy opening his most precious gift. A coupon book handmade by Coco with lots of foot rubs and dog feedings.

Us at Mom's for lunch. We had a wonderful time with my side of the family. Lots of good ole traditional Christmas dinner foods.

My nephew Dallas and his children Kaylee and Ethan. My most favorite little people in the world.

Coco opening her blanket of Jacob from Aunt Tammy. This was the biggest hit. She made sure to sleep with it last night.

Mimi was very happy with the tie blanket Coco made for her and Pa. 

We will be celebrating Christmas with Scotts family sometime this week. I love it when we get to spread it out so that we can enjoy it a little longer.

Feeling very blessed today.

HOME SWEET HOME

Whew it is good to be home. Coco and I met my sister and her family in Ozark Arkansas for a couple of days of camping. They have been there all week on the Arkansas River. We had a wonderful time. Coco did not want to come home today. We spent Wednesday afternoon at the city pool and my sun allergy rared its ugly head which made me very uncomfortable and itchy. I have been researching this all evening. I have diagnosed myself with polymorphous light eruption. My skin is photosensitive and I develop a rash on my shoulders, upper arms and chest. This only happens in the summer and it seems to be getting worse as I get older. The treatment???? More sun in small incriments after the rash clears up with some corticosteroid cream. I am going to try to get in to see a dermatologist tomorrow.

Do you know someone with this problem??? What do they do???

Anyhoo, we had a good time. My sister has a really nice RV with air conditioning so sleeping was very cool. I slept with the kids in the bunk room. Above each bed is a light so I was able to read before going to sleep which I love to do. It had all the comforts of home and made me want one even worse than I did. We roasted hotdogs last night over a fire, there is nothing better than a hotdog over a fire at camp. We did lots of visiting, playing washers, kids rode their bikes all over and played in the mud puddles after a short rain last night.  This morning we went to Clarksville to eat breakfast and do a little shopping. We had to be back by noon for lunch with Tammy's inlaws that were also camping. We had barbque beef, coleslaw, fried potatoes, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. It was a great meal. Kudos to the cooks. After lunch Tammy and Michael took all the kids back to the pool while I took a nap and got my truck packed to come home.

Coco was very upset with me because I wanted to come home. She was pretty hateful and snotty to me. I finally told her to not talk to me anymore and I turned up the radio. She fell asleep until we got to Fayetteville. When she woke up she apologized for the way she acted, told me she overreacted (her words) because she was tired, hot and cranky. It was worth the little spat we had to hear her tell me she overreacted!!! Love it.

I am glad to be home. Tomorrow is my last official week day of unemployment. I start my new job on Monday. I am going shopping tomorrow to hopefully find a few things to wear to work. I will miss my sleeping in and freedom of having all day to do what I want but I look forward to the structure of having a daily schedule. I think I can get more done when I have a schedule. We will also be celebrating Father's Day with Scott and his dad this weekend. My Father is in Heaven celebrating with Jesus but we miss him and wish he were here to see how wonderful his son in laws are as Fathers. Tammy and I are very blessed with wonderful husbands that are great Fathers. I could go on and on about both my husband and my bro in law! Great Daddys and husbands.

I will post photos from our camping adventure later. Hope you all have had a great week.

SATURDAY RECAP

Where did our warm weather go?

Our day started out with Coco and I sleeping in until after 10am. Whew it felt good. She had a ball game at noon, it started raining when we left the house so I hoped all the way there that the game would be cancelled. Nope they played in the rain and I sat in the rain. By the time it was over I was frozen solid. I will have to make us a ball bag with blankets, towel, umbrella and extra socks for my MIL that wore flip flops and had to go sit in the truck because she was so cold. Coco went home with Nana and Papa after the game. I came home and was so cold that I layed down in bed to try to get warm and fell asleep.

Scott took a friends grandson on a hog hunt in Harrison today so he missed out on the fun at the ball park. When he finally got home we ran into town to eat. We looked kinda ratty in yoga pants and a t-shirt so we ate at Dave's Bar-b-que since there weren't many people there. Didn't want to see anyone I knew looking like I just got out of bed.

I love all the old stuff they decorate the restaurant with.

Coco with her pork sandwich. Scott did not want pork after his hunt today...

I had the brisket meal. Oh my it was so good, I thought at first I would have left overs for tomorrow but I finished off the entire thing.

I have watched several episodes of International House Hunters today, 2 of the shows were people looking for a 2nd home in Italy and Mexico. I have to tell you I jealous. Can you just imagine having a 2nd home in either of those spaces? The Italy house they chose was a 1 room granny flat. That is what they call the MIL quarters. My dream would be a 2nd home in Destin, Florida.

Where would you want to have a 2nd home?