Holly Springs AR 5/7 and 8

Ellen and I walked the dogs the first night we were there.  Don't remember their names.

Mothers Day service.  Larry gave the sermon at the 8:30 service which featured guitar, violin, and vocalists for the music part.  Ellen had an adult Sunday school lesson on Revelations at 9:30 so I went to it while Larry went home to talk to Carol.

Larry, Carol, Ellen viewing the flower gardens in the front of their house.  The highway traffic was a new noise to us lake dwellers!!

We headed to Bella Vista to visit with Pat.  Dave was on a business trip.  Had to wind around on the east side of the highway to find their house which sits on an acre in the hills.

Arkansas things 5/7/11

Larry recommended a couple of places to stop on the way from Texas to Holly Springs.  This was the second one and it really needed a 2-3 hour stop to tour the small 1860's town that was the Arkansas capital of the Confederates for a short time. 

The main building contained lots of documents and exhibits that highlighted the life in the mid 1800 in this area of Arkansas (Southwest corner)

We then headed for Hope AR and Bill Clinton's birthhome. His dad died in a car wreck before he was born.  Mom and Dad would have really enjoyed the tour of the train depot with it's detailed history of Bill, Hillary and Chelsea's life.  Bill definitely did not grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth!!  His grandmother was intramental in making education a very positive experience.

Forgot to put this one in first.  It is the postoffice in Texarkana and Carol is straddling the TX and AR border.

Shangri La Gardens & Rookery 5/2011

While waiting for the 10:30am boat tour of the bayou Carol and others examined the interactive wildlife and plant life of the gardens and bayous.  Many of them were loud animal sounds which really excited the kids who came soon after this picture.  They also have a biology classroom that is excellent.

Gail and Carol enjoying the butterfly flower gardens.  You can see the blue bottle tree in the upper right hand corner and a piece of the mural on a wall to the left that was partially done by one of Gail and Bob's daughters.  I had forgotten to load the blue bottle tree which is "prized" as it either keeps spirits away or attracts them???

The pontoon and most of the group that was on our trip up the bayou.  Everyone HAD to wear life preservers. 

Cypress and knees which were all over the bayou and the 240 + acres of Shangri La.  The site is on the eastern edge of Orange TX almost on the Louisiana border and just below I-10.

The rookery which had a very comfortable blind to PEEK at the birds as they nested and fed their young.  White heron made up the largest population

A roseate spoonbill is in the upper left portion and I think the black blob below is a cormorant.  This was Carol and Ron's favorite place.  We could have spent hours watching the parents feed their young.

Orange TX with Gail & Bob 5/4-5,2011

Our first morning found Gail fixing a yummy breakfast in the newly (took quite a while) remodeled kitchen.  Some of the tall pine trees in their yard were victims of Hurricane Rita.  A neighbors pine ended up on their East bedroom roof.  Water came up within 20 feet of their front door.

Bob at work on the morning crossword or jumble puzzle.  He would make copies so everyone could work them, too.  I forgot to take a picture of his bright, rich blue Miata -- his "toy".

Easter at Pat and Gary's

Gary thinks the Easter bunny must have gone that way.  Actually we were just headed back to the house after the tour of his garden and he was pointing to some shrubs at the east end of the pond.  Ayden, Kim, Erin, Aaron and Lee are in the background.

The porch was REALLY crowded while the egg hunt happened.  Too wet in the grass and the water hazard (pond) was too close!! l to r: Kim, Alec, Ava, Lee, Ayden, Kristi, Savana, and Sam's leg (?)

Just try to get four excited kids to stand still for an Easter photo!!  Ava, Ayden, Alec, Korbyn, & Kristi.

With a little help from Dad, Alec finds an egg in the flower pot!!

Two girls and a pond.  Savana & Korbyn.  Ayden has his back to us and I think it is Shelby and Lee in far back.

I don't know what the surprise was, but Kim and Alec are both open mouthed!!  Maybe Kristi said something funny like, "look I can hold 3 different colored eggs in one hand?!"

HAPPY EASTER 2011

Indian Paintbrush time on the glades!!

About 2 miles down W on way to Versailles, there is an open spot on both sides of the road that pops out in late spring with Indian Paintbrush.  Carol E really likes them.

A closer look.  We have seen a few small patches in other areas but this is the largest group.

Some profiles from Sis's camera

Aaron, a KC, MO police officer who is married to Erin.

Erin, daughter of niece Kim.  Erin is due in June??  The babe was creating back problems at Easter dinner at Gary and Pat's.

Brother Gary who shared a bunch of tomato, pepper and aloe starts with all at Easter.  Hope he got the netting over the blueberries before the birds got to the fruits!!

Korbyn, daughter of Sam who is son of Kim.  Korbyn lights up the room.  What a delight.

Sam, son of Kim.  New job at a restaurant/brewery in Jefferson City.  We need to try it soon!!

Ron, son of Willard and Joy.  Finally got the TV and internet connections restrung after the lightning strike caused PROBLEMS!!