Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, Arkansas

Don't follow the Mapquest guide or at least get a new address for the Crystal Bridges museum.  We ended up downtown Bentonville where the "old" museum for Wal-Mart had been.  Did get to see the 5&10 Walton drugstore building on this side trip.

The above ground parking lot.  There is another under neath some concrete which would keep your car cooler and be better in rainy weather.  We found the covered lot as we got off the wrong floor of the elevator.  Bob is peeking out on the left side of the photo.

A view from the upper level where everyone enters into the wonderful concrete, wood and copper building.  The color of the tops of the buildings is not real??  I even tried to adjust this but couldn't duplicate what the eye sees.

A view from the "water" level of the lecture hall (left) and the "bridge" where the restaurant (straight ahead) is located.  We had just left another structure (to the right) which housed the temporary exhibits.

Part of the sculpture and gardens which adorn the grounds.

This is a silver tree sculpture in the front of the building.  Bob in blue and Pat in pink are trying to get good photos for their albums.

Don't know why this is on its side.  Included to show laminated wood beamed ceiling and roof support system.  The art piece is labeled "Mr Goodbar" and is an alpabet ice cream cone with a "drip" just behind the girls head.  Carol is in the blue.

Dave and Pat in front of their home in Bella Vista.  They moved here about a year and a half ago  -- about the time Pat's father died.  Her mom is in the assisted living facility in Bella Vista.  Bella Vista used to be a sleepy, pretty golf course lined highway just south of the MO/AR border.  NOT any more!!  Three traffic lights with lots of stores including a Wal-Mart and Lowes really jams up Hiway 71 during the "rush hour" part of the day.  It took us about 12 minutes to clear the lights as we left their home for the return trip to the lake.  Once you get by the mile of businesses in southern MO the highway has no traffic lights until Lebanon.

A little closer shot of the two.  Dave had tripped on a parking block and fell with his forehead catching a concrete step corner which did a REAL number on his forehead.  Multiple stitches and two very black eyes.  He has actually recovered quite a bit in this photo.  We likened him to Frankenstein when we first saw him last Tuesday.  Dave and Pat treated Bob, Pat, Ron and Carol to a wonderful dinner at the Bone Fish Grill somewhere along Hiway 71 or bypass 530???  Thanks again Dave and Pat.

We drove to Conway AR and spent the night in a Fairfield Inn and then drove on Thurs Morn to Holly Springs following I-40 to Little Rock, 430 bypass to I-30 to Malvern and then down Hiway 9.  Arrived in time for a light lunch.  Talked all afternoon and were joined by Ellen (she is the only one gainfully employed), then had Mexican salad for dinner and talked more til 10pm and finally called it a day.

Ellen snuck out quietly the next morning so we missed getting her mug shot!!  Maybe next time we will get two or three!!  They had to take out a very large, old oak to the north of their house as it had been struck by lightning and was in danger of falling on the house (sis, does that jog any memories!!??).  The stump that remains makes a good bird feeding platform so we enjoyed seeing several species during the short stay.  Larry had refreshened the humming bird feeders and we saw the first hummer of the year!!

We drove home on Friday thru early showers and down pours which dissapated before Little Rock.  The rest of the day was sunny or partly cloudy.  We left about 9:15 am and arrived at the lake at 7:30pm.  We did stop off at the Harrops for a break about 3pm.  The dogwoods around the lake are the best in the two state trip.  They should be hard to see next week as the rest of the trees are getting green, now.  Trees along the forest edge will still put on a nice show.

March 2012 flowers and yard art

The large forsythia on the parking area

Bradford pear almost "gone"

full shot

"thin" redbud.  Most are really beautiful on drive to Eldon

The "art" garden off the kitchen.  The large iron rectangle was done by Sara while studying art at KSU.  Below are metal dragonfly, butterfly and fish: alas they don't show up very nicely here

A little better shot of metal dragonfly

metal deco butterfly from "above"

The metal with marbles fish

The iron pteredachtyl (spelling?)

The concrete heron that needs some more paint

Ron and Carol were done by Eric.  the tulip in heart was a gift from a nurse friend of Carol's when she was in cancer nursing at KUMED

Spring is "Marching In"!! March 16, 2012

The Bradford pear is almost "gone" and the forsythia are coming on FAST.  With highs in the 80's for the last few days it may be a green tree very soon.

I caught the tricky squirrel while looking at the bird feeder which is just above the grey concrete bird bath.

Still don't know how he got upside down and feeding out of the bottom hole in the bird feeder

He/she must have hind legs hooked onto something.  Will try to be patient enough to see how the rodent accomplished this feat (feet)??

Lunch at Red Lobster

Gary and Pat invited us for lunch to celebrate Carol's February birthday.  I think everyone ordered something with shrimp.  It was a delight and we talked our selves silly.  Next stop will be March birthday (Ava, Savana) celebration at Kim's on Sunday.  Sorry Wem that you won't be able to attend.  But we WILL eat an extra piece of cake with ice cream for you!!