An Arkies Musings

I love to travel. I enjoy seeing different places. Whenever I am coming home from a trip, I am amazed by the beauty that surrounds me right where I live. I have seen many beautiful places, but my little corner of western Arkansas can hold it's own with anyplace. It is particularly beautiful in the fall. The Talimena scenic drive starts right here in Mena, and stretches across the top of the world for 54 miles to Talihina, Oklahoma. It has become well- known as a fall foliage viewing destination as the entire stretch of road comes alive with color in autumn. Beautifully striking reds, yellows and oranges cover the mountains during October and November, as seas of color radiate as far as the eye can see. As beautiful as the Talimena Drive is, I want to show you the beauty that is right here in town, starting with my backyard. MY BACKYARD On my way to work each day, I drive past Cox Lake. For the last week or so I have been noticing how beautiful it is in the early morning lig...

Yesterday we had the first Relay For Life committee meeting of the new season. We started planning for the Relay to be held here in Mena in April 2009. Our committee is small. but is a fantastic group to work with. I want to share the reasons that I am a part of Relay For Life. I am involved in Relay For Life for a number of reasons. The number one reason is because my wife is passionate about Relay. She has such a passion for Relay For Life that it rubs off on those around her. Her passion stems from her family history. Her mother died of cancer when Gina was just 21 years old. Her father had colon cancer, and all three of her sisters have had breast cancer. She is the only person in her immediate family that is cancer free. Several years ago, Gina's sister Roberta got involved with Relay For Life in Enumclaw, Washington. For a number of years, Gina would travel to Enumclaw to be a part of Relay For Life there. Two years ago, we learned that Polk County was going to ...

It's time again For ABC Wednesday . If you aren't participating in ABC Wednesday , you are missing out on a lot of fun. The letter this week is "O". O is for opossum. The opossum is North America's only marsupial mammal. The female carries and nurses her young in her pouch until they are about 2 to 3 months old; then they are carried on her back another 1 to 2 months whenever they are away from the den. They will eat almost anything including insects, snails, rodents, berries, over-ripe fruit, grasses, leaves, and carrion; occasionally will eat snakes, ground eggs, corn or other vegetables. They are very adaptable; able to live wherever water, food, and shelter exist. They are at home in trees. An opossum uses its prehensile tail to help stabilize position when climbing— it does not, however, hang by its tail. Here in Arkansas we refer to them as possums. Actually real possums only live in Australia and New Guinea. They have been introduced into New Zealand...

Autumn in Western Arkansas is absolutely beautiful. I sort of look forward to it every year. I love the beautiful fall colors, but I really dislike cold weather. Gina and I and our friend Deanna took a trip to Eureka Springs this weekend. I love Eureka Springs and we try to visit there a couple of times a year, but this time of year, the journey is as interesting as the destination. On the way up to Eureka Springs, we traveled on Hwy 23. The most beautiful part of Hwy 23 is called the Pig Trail . The Pig Trail is a very popular drive in the fall, especially with motorcyclists. THE MINI IS A LOT OF FUN ON THE PIG TRAIL When we arrived in Eureka Springs, we had quite a time finding a place to stay. There were very few vacancies. You couldn't tell that the economy is bad, it seemed like everybody was there. Our favorite place to eat in Eureka is the Mud Street Cafe . While we were eating breakfast there, we talked with the host and he told us that they had set a record f...

It's time again for Sunday's Meme Sunrise Sunset To join in the fun go here We made a quick trip to Eureka Springs this weekend. This morning I got up before sunrise, and drove to find a vantage point to watch the sun come up. Just a couple of miles from our motel I found a turnout where I could view the sunrise. There were no clouds in the sky. I shot this picture just before the sun popped over the trees.

REBEKAH AND I THE DAY SHE WAS BORN Today is Rebekah's first birthday. I won't get to spend her birthday with her. Gina and I are going to Eureka Springs today, and Rebekah is at a Pathfinder Camporee in southern Louisiana. We have already celebrated her first birthday with a great birthday party that she shared with her big sister Autumn, and her cousin Katherine. You can check it out here . It really doesn't seem like a year since she was born. We were eagerly awaiting her arrival. I think Cynda was really eager. Because Autumn had been such a long and difficult delivery, the doctor didn't want Rebekah to get too big before delivery. The date was set to induce labor on October 25. After work on the 24th Gina and I traveled to Baton Rouge. We arrived about 2 o'clock in the morning. The next morning Cynda and Dave got up early to go to the hospital. Gina and I stayed with Autumn. Dave was going to call us when it was time to go to the hospital. We had j...

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY This time of the year reminds me that there is beauty in everything. One of the highlights of the year here in the Ouachita Mountains in Western Arkansas is the changing of the colors. Think about that for a minute, we look forward every year to the trees changing color when we know it means they will be losing their leaves and becoming dormant. I am not a winter person. I am not fond of cold weather. I like to think that the fall colors are a gift from God to cheer me up, because I know what will be coming soon. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK This picture was taken on a big family picnic in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. We were visiting family in Colorado, and decided to get everyone together for a picnic. The day was dreary and rainy and cold and just generally nasty. We made the best of it and had a wonderful time visiting and eating in the rain. I was very disappointed in the weather, because I had been planning to take some wonderful beautifu...

Today I received this Certification of Appreciation from Flat Tony's alter ego, Tony McGurk. If you want to keep up with Flat Tony's travels you can go here . If you would like to see Flat Tony's visit to Arkansas you can go here . FLAT TONY AND I IN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS If you would like to take part in Flat Tony's World Tour 2008 by Hosting Flat Tony at your home, please email Tony at ynot60@netspace.net.au with your Name (blogging username will do if you wish to be less conspicuous), Email Address, Blog URL & your Home Town & Country. He will then email a full sized Flat Tony to you. I recommend it. It is a lot of fun

Photo by David Grant It's time again For ABC Wednesday . If you aren't participating in ABC Wednesday , you are missing out on a lot of fun. The letter this week is "N" Here are some pictures that I have taken at "N"ight. DADDY WATCHING THE BONFIRE On a cold winter evening Daddy was watching the last remnants of a bonfire. I took the picture with only the light of the fire. The shutter speed was so slow that it is a bit blurry, but it is still one of my favorite photos. LATE NIGHT KARAOKE AT RELAY FOR LIFE At the Polk County Relay For Life , there was Karaoke and Open Mic until the early morning hours. ( Relay For Life is an all night event because cancer never sleeps.) I like the way this singer was silhouetted, and shot the picture from behind with natural light. LAMP AT A TEXAS RANGERS BASEBALL GAME The lampposts at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington are big baseballs. I just had to take a picture of one as we were leaving the ballpark. CHRISTMAS L...

I am sometimes amazed at how friendships start. How did you become friends with your friends? I am sure that we all have many unusual stories. I want you to meet my friend Jeffery. Gina and I first got to know Jeffrey when in February 2004, we went to San Pedro, Belize in Central America with 15 members of our church to start building the New Horizon SDA Chapel. While we were there we made lots of friends. We were only in San Pedro for five days, but during that time we made special friends with Jeffrey and his parents. JEFFERY HELPS HIS DAD SING IN CHURCH Gina and Jeffrey formed a special bond almost immediately. She held him through church. She played with him on the beach. Jeffrey's Mom and Dad helped with the construction of the chapel, so we spent time together. Whenever Jeffrey was where Gina was, he wanted to be with her. GINA AND JEFFREY HANG OUT TOGETHER JEFFREY PLAYS WITH GINA'S SUNGLASSES On the project I worked closely with Jeffrey's dad, Adam....

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