Texas Bound

It is almost impossible to believe that we have been in Arkansas for 5 weeks already, and are ready to leave tomorrow on our way back to Alamo Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. As usual, we did not seem to find time for all that we wanted to do, but totally enjoyed our time here, despite the many downpours that seemed to happen so often.

We played hokey on Friday and took a trip to Eureka Springs - a place I always love to visit. Eureka Springs was a summer home for many of the rich landowners and agriculture barons who lived in the Arkansas Delta years go. They discovered the beauty and coolness of the Ozark Mountains, as well as the natural healing springs that we everywhere in the area. They came by the hundreds, built their beautiful homes, established businesses and churches where they could escape the heat and humidity of Southern Arkansas. Tough times for Eureka Springs came after the turn of the century. People’s attitudes were changing, putting more faith into science and new medical discoveries and less into healing waters. Though the automobile brought a resurgence of tourism in the 1920s, the Great Depression of the 1930s dealt a heavy blow. Many buildings were abandoned or torn down. ES was little more than a seedy semi-ghost town until the 1960s, when hippies discovered it at about the same time as Christian fundamentalist Gerald L. K. Smith. The Great Passion Play opened in 1968 in the hills above ES. Hippies revitalized the downtown section and springs, bringing art, music, and alternative ideas. In the 1970’s, while teetering on the brink of disaster, the town’s civic leaders decided to consult with theme park experts to see if some grand attraction could be lured to the area. To their surprise, they came to understand that Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a theme park. Efforts began immediately to preserve what was left of the Victorian Village that had been built nearly a century earlier. The whole of the Historic Downtown Eureka Springs and most of the buildings in it were placed on the Registry of Historic Places, one of only two such places in the country. Many of the buildings now house quaint stores and shops - hours of browsing can take at least an entire day. My favorite places are the quilt shops and "Two Dumb Dames ( a sweet
shoppe with the best fudge ever!!!).

a refreshing sight along the way - the American flag billowing in the breeze

the road cut through the rocky Arkansas soil

 a bit of topsoil - the rest is rock

 the road to Eureka Springs is crooked and steep for miles - one of the many warning signs

the beginning of an adventure

 

 amazing architecture

 one of many picturesque streets -

a palatial home - now a museum

 love this building - a person is always walking up or down streets

Historic Basin Street Hotel - said to be haunted 

one of the smaller homes built into the hills

entrance to the Great Passion Play - a must see if you visit Eureka Springs

 

 

 

On the way home we stopped at War Eagle Mill, another fun place to visit. A renovated undershot grist mill which is actually a working mill. Many types of stone ground flours and mixes are available for purchase, as well as a gift shop, many antiques, and a restaurant on the top floor which features beans and cornbread, and pecan, blackberry, or apple cobblers!

 

 the working grist mill

an undershot mill - the water enters from below and turns the water wheel

 

 

 

Today was our last Sunday at out home church - Prairie Grove Christian Church as well as out last Sunday School Class until we return next year, Pastor Vance finished his series in I Corinthians, reminding us to be intentional stewards of our money - always aware of the resources that He blessed us with. Our awareness should be on how we use these resources and our willingness to be cheerful givers. God rains blessings on us everyday - we need to return these blessings to Him - not only 10 fold, but however it is laid on our hearts to do. Stewardship is an act of worship, not a weekly chore! The more blessings He pours out on us, the more blessings we need to give back. We do not know what the future holds - our country is changing daily - but we need to keep on what we are doing for the Lord because our hope is in Jesus Christ.

 

Pray for us as we return to the valley - that everything we do is for the glory of God and nothing is a reflection on ourselves.

 

 

 

 



Sunny Skies

The last of all doctor visits this week - praise God that all is well and normal. Coupled with this is the fact that despite all the continued rain, the sun is shining today and the skies are a soft blue.

Here at our daughter's in Farmington, we have the fun of watching a nearby used car dealership. People drive in, scope out the parking lot, or hone in on a specific vehicle. Whoops, here comes the salesman - the obligatory hand shake - then the vehicle door opens, hood is lifted up, tires are checked, etc. The prospective buyers take the key and drive off  test drive, returning shortly. A discussion begins - salesman seeming to point out good points, the buyers discussing between themselves. Soon they all walk off to a small building ( the office), emerging after a period of time (depending on how much negotiating takes place) with papers in hand and head off across the lot to another building (the FINANCE DEPT) while the salesman takes the purchased vehicle for a quick wash and spruce up. Salesman done with this sale, eyes another prospective customer who has just driven in, buyers emerge with more paper work, relinquish the keys to their trade in, and drive off in their newly purchased vehicle. The trade in is detailed, and usually sold in a day or two. Sound boring - nope - trying to guess which vehicle will be sold next, and if a sale is actually made.  great past time for a quiet day in the sun!!!

Friday we drive to another daughter's house and began making sausage ( a week-end process). Our son-in-law, Scott, loves to do this and makes an excellent finished product. The men, Scott, Fred, and Todd (friend of daughter Brenda) begin by mixing the meat and spices and the preparing the stuffing device. This is an all day project, from washing up everything, preparing the casing, preparing the meat, stuffing, and clean up. We ladies just sit back, enjoy the sun, and snacks.

spices ready

meat ready to go - just out of the mixer in the background

first stick done

second one in process

Fred, managing the water powered stuffer

Scott finishing the second stick

half way done - made 13-3/4 sticks

smoker heating up

adding water ( a sausage sauna!)

after allowing time to cool the sausage sticks, the temp is just right

ready for an all day smoking

We returned on Saturday to tackle making brats (bratwurst to you who aren't sure what brats are). Again the meat had to be seasoned, and the stuffing process repeated. We ladies visited, laughed about silly memories, and made preparations for our salad dinner.

 brat meat ready to stuff

 filling the stuffer

 adding the casings

 the brats are made in one huge long sausage

 the beginning

 and the end

 measuring off each brat and twisting

 lovely brats

 

 

 

many great delicious meals

 

 

The brats are ready for a day in the refrigerator before cutting them apart and freezing them for our trip to Texas next week. The sausages are nicely smoking as we began putting together out personal salads. Soon it was time to take the sausages out of the smoker and cool them before wrapping and freezing them. Project completed except the wrapping and packaging them.

 

smoked sausages coming out of the smoker

this is a bit hot to the touch

 room for a few more

still a few more left

 

.

Pastor Vance continued his series on I Corinthians - encouraging us to stay strong in our faith. There are certain things that we accept as truth in the standard world view but our standard of truth is the Bible. God sets the standard. What we do in life is echoed in eternity - what we have to do is establish what is real according to God's word. There is something better than this earthly state - it is our eternal state which we must be ready for when the final trumpet sounds. Are you ready if the Lord returns this instant?? Because that is how quickly He will come - with no warning.  "For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night" I Thessalonians 5:2

Are you ready???



Family Time

It has been a very hectic but fulfilling week. Finished almost all of physicals, tests, etc. and all results are normal, PTL. Just one more for me - a bone density which should be normal also and a return dentist apt for Fred.

We began preparing for the visit from our daughter, grandchildren, and great grand son from Wisconsin and my brother from Memphis for our mini Sunday family reunion.

I began collecting mason jars, slices of logs (thanks to son-in-law Scott for these), burlap and raffia for the table decorations. I had earlier found some already decorated jars at a yard sale - love yard sales!! Saturday we ventured to the Fayetteville Farmer's Market for fresh flowers. We also spent a few days devising a unique welcome/direction sign for everyone.

one of the many groups paying on the square at the Farmer's Market

 

 

a happy banjo player

 

more musicians

finished project - note the barn fan - Arkansas outdoor a/c

lots of flowers at a great bargain

 

love the sunflowers

 

 

 welcome y'all

 

 

Wisconsin family arrived Friday morning.  We had not see them on a year so it was a joyous welcome. Memphis family arrived Friday night (they had a wedding to attend on Saturday so we did not see them until Sunday). We all hung out on Friday, catching up on news and enjoying great-grandson Avery.  Saturday the 4 sisters had an appointment for a special tattoo - for sisters only. Daughter Connie, from WI, had never had one before, so the other three elected her to go first. I decided to stay home and clean up the kitchen after Darrell made a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and homemade biscuits and gravy. The girls stopped at Starbucks on the way home and did not bring  me anything!!!! Saturday evening we did some mall shopping, and of course, purchased some Arkansas t-shirts, etc.

 

4 sisters 4 ever



 

 



great grandson Avery - 2-1/2 going on 5!!!!

 

Sunday morning came too soon, with warning of storms and bad weather. We attended church services where Associate Minister Andrew Kirschner delivered an inspiring sermon, based on I Corinthians 15:12-34 - "The Resurrection Changes Everything". There are 10 essential points of Christian doctrine, the heart of them being that Jesus died for us and the Jesus rose again. The logical explanation of Resurrection  is that if  is not true, then not even Christ was raised, then our preaching is useless and our faith is useless - we are liars in our belief.  The theological conviction of the resurrection is the death is the ultimate death - you will not die again. Jesus raised people from the dead, but that is not a resurrection - they lived to die again. Jesus was the first resurrection. He actually died and rose again. The practical administration is the question of why we put our lives in danger if there was no resurrection?? Why do we sometimes corrupt our good character by allowing bad company to lead us? Let us not be guilty of typical sin, the sin of stagnation, or the sin of silence. Let us stand firm in our Christian convictions and encourage others to do so also.

 

God certainly blessed us on Sunday, as the rain held off. The day was somewhat hot, the sun shone until the party was over and we had time for a bit of clean-up before the rains began.  The food was excellent - thanks again to Scott for the home made brats. We also had hot dogs and hamburgers which were wonderfully seasoned by daughter Christine. The rest of us contributed with mock potato salad (made with cauliflower instead of potatoes), butterfinger pie, lemon bars, tes leche cake (a Mexican cake made with three kinds of milk), veggies and delicious dip, a cowboy bean and corn dip just to mention a few things. Lots of time reminiscing (sometimes to the embarrassment of some, but all in good fun.)

 grandson Seth with Page and 4 girls, including identical twins

  

   

 granddaughter Casey and daughter Brielle

 

 

granddaughter Dela'von, her son, Avery, and grandson Calton

 



   

 Brielle posing before donning her swimsuit

 Avery testing the water

 

 twins Kinley and Kenzie and Avery enjoying the warm weather swim time

 just talking (and posing)

 a happy group

time to eat -  

 salads just chillin out

enjoying the good food  

 

 

 

 number 1 daughter, Chandra and friend Darrell

 number 2 - Brenda and friend Todd

number 3 - Connie 

 

and number 4 Christine and husband Scott 

4 of our 6 grandchildren - sadly missed were Katie and Sydney who both have new jobs and could not make the trip

 

 our four - greatly loved

 

 

 

 

 uncles Bob and Steve with the grandchildren

grandson Calton in his best frat boy pose

 

 

Family is so very important - bonds are always there. God loves us all as His family just as much as we love our families - don't let a day go by without thanking Him for the blessing of family. If there are any fractures in family relationships, try to mend them - pray for God's guidance, then just do it!!!