SR and I spent the day in Hot Springs and the surrounding area today. We were in search of fall colors and needed to do a little Christmas shopping. We first visited Hobby Lobby, then the mall, and made a little detour through one of the larger antique malls. We intended to eat at Outback Steakhouse, because I never have and wanted to. But alas, it was closed, so we wound up at Applebees. And it was really good food!
I created a slideshow of some places we drove through. A lot of the leaves that were still on the trees were brown, but periodically, we spotted a nice area with more color. We drove up the mountain behind the bath houses, up highway 7, and then explored Glazypeau road.
As we headed out of Hot Springs, we stopped at DeSoto Park and I took pictures of a really beautiful bridge and waterfall. We also stopped at a very small, run down junk store. The owner was extremely friendly, and pointed out a spring that was rocked in, right inside his store. He then showed me the spring in the mountain, behind his store. As we were leaving, he was offering to show others where he dug up a bucket full of arrow heads. I suppose his main objective wasn't to make a dollar. You don't see that often.
We then headed back toward home, via highway 5 and Benton. It was a really beautiful day and we enjoyed it so much.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
A Letter to Hal O. Ween
Dear Hal,
I really don't want to hurt your feelings or cause you any pain. But I feel that I must be honest with you and so I am writing this letter, in hopes that it will cause you to explore your inner self. Maybe you will sift through the seeds of your orange life and come away with an understanding of what you really are.
Oh Hal, you are so very entertaining. I see your withered hand, motioning me closer to the bags of candy at Walmart. I see your dark colored apparel displayed, and your tools of deception and mayhem. We love to be afraid. You love to take advantage of that. It's rather entertaining to pretend we are evil. But, let me ask you something Hal. Do you really truly believe that given the chance, we would want to actually come face to face, with a real live zombie? Why would we want to come within touching distance of a real ghoul, vampire or ax murderer? That is just insane.
You do succeed often in your quest to bring us down to your level. We eat tons of food that is harmful to our bodies. We delight in evil and destruction. And for two or three weeks, we are dedicated to fantasy. Today is the culmination of all your plans. You will be celebrated as countless children go door to door, threatening harm if they aren't given what they want. Countless youth will take sadistic pleasure in the spreading of toilet paper. But....but tomorrow, what will be left Hal? Candy wrappers on the ground. Trees wrapped in white. Deflated pumpkins and ghosts. Rotting Jack-o-lanterns.
Do you feel it? Do you feel the breath on your neck? Yes, you had your day in the sun, or moon as it were, but there is something fast on your heels that will blow you out of the cesspool.......
The Christmas Season. Oh yes Hal. You may have one good day, but Christmas has a SEASON. As soon as you have spent your day of ghoulish pleasure, you are over. But the Christmas season is more than just a day. And this celebration my friend, is one of glory and light and happiness. Would we like to come face to face with an angel? Of course we would. And we all wait for the day when we actually see Jesus! What a celebration!!! You Hal, are about death and unhappiness. Christmas is about joy, peace, expectation, life and salvation. There is no comparison. For the next two months, we will eat, breathe, and sleep Christmas. You are finished. The babe in the manger has overcome. And you know what Hal? A few select folks may think about you from time to time through the year, but we try to think about Christ every single day. We honor Him every Sunday. We live for him. Can you say that? No, I don't think you can.
So Hal. Enjoy your day. Take advantage of your short time. Tomorrow you will be a distant memory.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday Five
1. Rain Rain Rain. Where is Noah when you need him? The amount of rain this year has been unbelievable. I'm not complaining, just stating fact. The forecast looks to be awesome though, so there is hope!
2. My mother gave me a bucket load of fabric on Wednesday. She had two large rubber containers full of the stuff, and allowed me to go through it all and take what I wanted. Ya Hoo! I was afraid she would have some really lame prints, and she did have a few. But for the most part, they are all great for quilting and a couple of baby projects I have in mind. Thanks Ma!
3. I've really gotten excited about sewing and painting again. For the last couple or three weeks, I've been in a slump and not the happiest person in the world. I started trying to figure out how many Christmas gifts I could make, and the creativity began to pour. I have so many ideas in my head, there just isn't enough time to do them all. It's like my brain can't decide what to do first, and if I don't get it all done right away, I'll forget it.
4. My nephew got married last weekend. The wedding was short and sweet and very country. The bride wore old battered boots under her gown. Her toddler niece was pulled down the isle in a wagon. (very cute) The groom and groomsmen wore brown western shirts, wranglers and boots. No one was ushered in except the bride. No wedding march, just country music. Very unique.
5. The Christian mentoring program I have been participating in, is coming to a close. After the first couple of weeks, I could see it wasn't what I thought. I stuck with it, and it got easier, but still didn't seem like what I had expected. Yesterday was the next to last meeting with my mentor and I realized how good it really was for me. No, it wasn't what I'd wanted, but I made a great friend I wouldn't otherwise have made. She and I agreed that it really didn't turn out she was a mentor and I a mentee. It was more like we mentored each other. And that's fine. At this point, I don't feel I need mentoring, but am not ready to be a mentor either. I'll see how it plays out and if the program continues after the first of the year.
2. My mother gave me a bucket load of fabric on Wednesday. She had two large rubber containers full of the stuff, and allowed me to go through it all and take what I wanted. Ya Hoo! I was afraid she would have some really lame prints, and she did have a few. But for the most part, they are all great for quilting and a couple of baby projects I have in mind. Thanks Ma!
3. I've really gotten excited about sewing and painting again. For the last couple or three weeks, I've been in a slump and not the happiest person in the world. I started trying to figure out how many Christmas gifts I could make, and the creativity began to pour. I have so many ideas in my head, there just isn't enough time to do them all. It's like my brain can't decide what to do first, and if I don't get it all done right away, I'll forget it.
4. My nephew got married last weekend. The wedding was short and sweet and very country. The bride wore old battered boots under her gown. Her toddler niece was pulled down the isle in a wagon. (very cute) The groom and groomsmen wore brown western shirts, wranglers and boots. No one was ushered in except the bride. No wedding march, just country music. Very unique.
5. The Christian mentoring program I have been participating in, is coming to a close. After the first couple of weeks, I could see it wasn't what I thought. I stuck with it, and it got easier, but still didn't seem like what I had expected. Yesterday was the next to last meeting with my mentor and I realized how good it really was for me. No, it wasn't what I'd wanted, but I made a great friend I wouldn't otherwise have made. She and I agreed that it really didn't turn out she was a mentor and I a mentee. It was more like we mentored each other. And that's fine. At this point, I don't feel I need mentoring, but am not ready to be a mentor either. I'll see how it plays out and if the program continues after the first of the year.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Not This Week
No thoughtful Thursday today. My brain is mush. I haven't slept well in several nights and my entire being is bogged down. I have had little spurts of energy and excitement, but they fade quickly. Last night I got up two times to take more sleep aide, then was awakened by the phone when I was finally resting well. Fortunately, it awakened me from a very strange dream that I was glad ended.
So, no thoughts on this day. Other than fuzz.
I am however thinking a lot about Christmas, but won't post that thought until at least after Halloween.....
So, no thoughts on this day. Other than fuzz.
I am however thinking a lot about Christmas, but won't post that thought until at least after Halloween.....
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What Not Wednesday
I am not....
1. A Gourmet cook.
I do ok. I can cook beans and potatoes, hamburger casseroles some soups, and even chicken and dressing. A few really good easy desserts, but a gourmet chef I'm not. I can't grill either. I'd like to be able to, but I'm afraid of the fire, and afraid I will ruin a good piece of meat in the attempt. I sometimes think I would like to take cooking lessons, and maybe then I could get my egg whites to stiffen up enough for a pie. I tried a tuna casserole last week. Epic fail. Now, some folks don't like tuna at all, and I have to eat it disguised with other things, but I thought I'd try since it's so good for you. I could barely eat it and SR couldn't eat it at all. We just can't do the cooked tuna thing.
2. Mean.
I like to be nice to everyone if I can. And I like everyone to be nice to me. If you can't be nice, be quiet, pretend to be nice or go away.
3. A shopper.
I can deal with short shopping expeditions if I have something specific I'm looking for, but I can't do the shop-till-you-drop thing. About the only time I can spend more than a couple of hours is when SR and I go to antique malls. And still then, I have to take a break from time to time and I get enough real quick. And I hate grocery shopping with a passion.
4. A Hoarder.
When the kids were small, I did have quite a bit of clutter, but it didn't consume the house. It never really occured to me to get rid of something. When we moved to Sheridan, I had to purge a lot and since that time, I am the purge queen. I want it clean and clear. I want my closet organized. I like chachkey's as much as the next girl, but I don't want them everywhere I look.
5. A Leader.
I'm a darn good follower. I can lead children and I love them, but adults tend to intimidate me. I feel like a child around other adults a lot of the time. That would be a good topic to discuss with a counselor....
1. A Gourmet cook.
I do ok. I can cook beans and potatoes, hamburger casseroles some soups, and even chicken and dressing. A few really good easy desserts, but a gourmet chef I'm not. I can't grill either. I'd like to be able to, but I'm afraid of the fire, and afraid I will ruin a good piece of meat in the attempt. I sometimes think I would like to take cooking lessons, and maybe then I could get my egg whites to stiffen up enough for a pie. I tried a tuna casserole last week. Epic fail. Now, some folks don't like tuna at all, and I have to eat it disguised with other things, but I thought I'd try since it's so good for you. I could barely eat it and SR couldn't eat it at all. We just can't do the cooked tuna thing.
2. Mean.
I like to be nice to everyone if I can. And I like everyone to be nice to me. If you can't be nice, be quiet, pretend to be nice or go away.
3. A shopper.
I can deal with short shopping expeditions if I have something specific I'm looking for, but I can't do the shop-till-you-drop thing. About the only time I can spend more than a couple of hours is when SR and I go to antique malls. And still then, I have to take a break from time to time and I get enough real quick. And I hate grocery shopping with a passion.
4. A Hoarder.
When the kids were small, I did have quite a bit of clutter, but it didn't consume the house. It never really occured to me to get rid of something. When we moved to Sheridan, I had to purge a lot and since that time, I am the purge queen. I want it clean and clear. I want my closet organized. I like chachkey's as much as the next girl, but I don't want them everywhere I look.
5. A Leader.
I'm a darn good follower. I can lead children and I love them, but adults tend to intimidate me. I feel like a child around other adults a lot of the time. That would be a good topic to discuss with a counselor....
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thoughtful Thursday
Genealogy
I have always been a sentimental person. I have some jewelry that belonged to my great aunt and my great grandmother and I cherish it. One particular broach is a beautiful cameo and it's just awesome. The other pieces aren't something I would ever wear, but they mean something to me and I'll pass them down to my grand daughter if I ever have one. But, I was never really into digging into the past.
My mother-in-law had that drive. While I worked for her at her dress shop, she would have stacks of correspondence and paperwork that she had painstakingly obtained through what was then the only way to get it. Snail mail. She spent hours and hours writing and requesting certificates and documents proving who her ancestors were, where they lived and died and who their parents were.
In my late 30's when I began working at the county library, I caught the genealogy bug. There was one whole room dedicated to ancestral research and I stayed in that room as much as possible. Most folks try to work on one lineage at a time, but I couldn't stick to just one. I searched and dug for every scrap of information I could find on every line I had. I would stay on the microfilm machine for hours.
I now have notebooks full of documentation and information. I desperately need to organize them for future generations. I haven't been able to go very far with some of my lines, but for others I've found someone else who has done so online. It's amazing what the internet has done for genealogical research. One day, maybe my children and their children will be blessed by my research and what I've found.
I have always been a sentimental person. I have some jewelry that belonged to my great aunt and my great grandmother and I cherish it. One particular broach is a beautiful cameo and it's just awesome. The other pieces aren't something I would ever wear, but they mean something to me and I'll pass them down to my grand daughter if I ever have one. But, I was never really into digging into the past.
My mother-in-law had that drive. While I worked for her at her dress shop, she would have stacks of correspondence and paperwork that she had painstakingly obtained through what was then the only way to get it. Snail mail. She spent hours and hours writing and requesting certificates and documents proving who her ancestors were, where they lived and died and who their parents were.
In my late 30's when I began working at the county library, I caught the genealogy bug. There was one whole room dedicated to ancestral research and I stayed in that room as much as possible. Most folks try to work on one lineage at a time, but I couldn't stick to just one. I searched and dug for every scrap of information I could find on every line I had. I would stay on the microfilm machine for hours.
I now have notebooks full of documentation and information. I desperately need to organize them for future generations. I haven't been able to go very far with some of my lines, but for others I've found someone else who has done so online. It's amazing what the internet has done for genealogical research. One day, maybe my children and their children will be blessed by my research and what I've found.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Amateur Attempt
Professional, I am not. But I've been very restless the last several days. I can't seem to settle at any one thing, so I walked around my yard taking pictures of colorful flora. These are what I came away with...
They aren't anything to write home about, but it filled a little time. And I love trying to capture God's autumn colors with my inexpensive little camera.
They aren't anything to write home about, but it filled a little time. And I love trying to capture God's autumn colors with my inexpensive little camera.
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