next chapter

We've enjoyed this lake house so much but we're leaving tomorrow.    Time to highlight some of the experiences from our time here.    I tried to see all there was to see.   Once I hiked up over some rocks on the tip of the peninsula past our house and down to the lake on the other side.  Here there were some lovely private spots where one could see all kinds of rock formations above and below water and driftwood.

On top of those rocks I climbed there were all kinds of glade plants: lichens, mosses and sedums.

The first Sunday we were here, the sailing club I belong to raced in the lake right before our deck and its lake dock.   Normally it would have been me out in my boat competing. But I don't have a boat now so we watched, first from the deck and later from the house's boat dock/float below.   

One day, Tom and I drove over to Lake Leatherwood near Eureka Springs.  We walked the four miles around the lake and later talked with a manager about fishing/kayaking there.    Here Tom notes the handsome bark of a tree.

The lake was built by the WPA.  This is the dam at the base.

I had been admiring this old house each time we passed it.  This time, on the way back from the lake, we stopped so I could get pictures.

One Sunday, my friends and neighbors from Fayetteville, Julie and Andy, came up for lunch and to hang out a bit.

This is another old building, a barn, that we pass each time we drive in from the lake to the main road.

Memorial Day weekend, we took a road trip in the van.  First we stopped at my cousins, Pat and her husband Jim, who live near Bull Shoals.  Their house overlooks the White River and the valley.  Nearby, they've been watching an eagle nesting.  Below is a picture of the "leftover" baby.   Apparently eagles hatch two, but only nurture the first one that flies.  The other is left to fend for itself and you know how that will probably go.

Pat made us the most wonderful dinner:  spinach stuffed filet of beef, a fresh vegetable salad and some pan-roasted potatoes, followed by a strawberry /blueberry dessert.

I so regret that I didn't get pictures from the rest of that weekend.  Tom was kind enough to attend with me my 50th high school class reunion where most of my classmates did show up!   I really enjoyed seeing that they all seemed to have made it through all those years with little wear and tear.   I hope to do better at keeping up with one of my girlfriends from those days, now that we've met again.  

Then Tom and I visited with my brother Phil who has bone cancer.  His cancer count seems to be improving and he may soon be in remission.  He especially was pleased then  because he had just had an operation on Monday to reinforce a hip joint.   He will walk again.

Then, we got to spend Sunday with my brother Stuart and his wife Beth.  We park our van below a tree behind their house when we visit.   We helped them and their grand daughter gather cherries, then went to breakfast before parting ways - us driving on up through the Ozarks back to the cabin and them to explore the mountains in a different direction.

The couple renting my house have found another house to move to on July 15.  A friend Johnny has found us a house in Fayetteville to live in in the meantime.   It's an old stone house that's being slowly renovated.  It has all new appliances and some furniture, enough to be habitable.   It's right in the middle of the in-town historic neighborhood and near many of my friends.  You'll see pictures of it once we're there.

Also, today, our neighbors have asked us to house sit for ten days in early July, just two doors from my home.  It will probably work out that we are there a lot of the time, too.   So I'm calling this next six-weeks - in Fayetteville, but not at home -  the next chapter.

Just in Time

People say it was a cold, long winter here in Arkansas.   We got here just in time for the season to change.

One day, Tom and I drove around the top of the lake to see what's there.  We first stopped at the dam and walked down to the water where people were fishing for trout.   Someday we (I) hope to kayak this stretch, when the air  is warmer.

 
Then we drove on over to Eureka Springs, a Victorian town that is popular because it's fun to see and has lots of restaurants and shops.

My family lived here during the first six years of my life.  I have pictures of my mother and us, dressed in fairy costumes, performing at some event, in the small stage here in Basin Spring Park.

As we drove back from Eureka Springs, we stopped up at Thorncrown chapel, a small, tall building designed by Faye Jones, a relatively famous architect.    When you go in, you are asked to sit.  That was just right because we both noticed how peaceful we felt just gazing out at nature on all sides.

We are still appreciating coming home to this cabin on the lake.  We've been driving a lot, back and forth to Fayetteville mostly, an hour and 15 minute trip.  We realize how good it is to come home to a quiet beautiful place. 

Tom's son Jon came up from Shreveport area to spend time with us and to see more of the backroads of Arkansas.  He is a major in the Air Force.  He has a Jeep and had planned some places he would like to see.  One of them was Lost Valley near the Buffalo river.   See how I included a picture of our beautiful native columbine hanging on the ledge in this picture from Lost Valley.

We checked out possible camping sites as we went.  One of them was Haw Creek falls, just below the Hurricane Creek Wilderness area.

Jon was kind to stop the Jeep and let me get out to take pictures, mostly of native flowers that I spotted here and there.

Our last campsite was at Buffalo Point.  Here we had a view of the river and an easy walk down to to rocks on top of the cliffs along the river.  See our rigs?  My Airstream van and Jon's Jeep.    

This is that view from the top of the cliffs.   A good place to just sit and watch the river.  Later, when it's warmer, this section will be filled with canoeists, floating from upstream.

From that campsite, Jon turned south, toward home.  We walked the trail down from the lodge toward the Indian Rock House.  You may be noticing that this was a good time of year to see waterfalls in Arkansas. 

Back at the cabin, we noticed that the leaves had all pretty much come out.  This is sunset through them.

As to our plans, we still don't have any.  One minute, we say we'll rent another place when this lease is up (end of May) and other times, we say we'll take off on a trip, either to the east or the west.   You can see how indecisive we are!  It's a little stressful.   It's difficult living here, but not living here, not being able to take part in routine life here because we are so far away from my home.   I had told the couple renting my house that they could stay 'til Fall.  They did say lately, after acknowledging that I'm at the house a lot picking up and dropping off things, that they will begin looking for another place.  They want a more permanent arrangement for themselves anyway.    So one day, we'll hear that they have found a place.

The funny thing is, that we may not want to stay there once we try it again.  But it'll give us a good base and basis to decide whether we want that, or a place farther out somewhere.

Enough of you having to read all our thoughts.    We'll get back to you on this!