Thursday, January 26, 2017

Howdy from Arkansas!

How y'all doin?

Haha.  I learned that in Arkansas.

But really, how are you?  I sure hope all is well.

All is well here.  I can't say I have felt deprived of one single snowflake while I bask in the sunshine wearing a t-shirt.  It's pretty chilly now, but one lady said that this sure is unusual weather for now, so we should enjoy it.  Enjoy it we do.

The only picture I took so far that doesn't have Braeden's extraordinary cuteness in it is this one.  It's the view from the back porch of the old B & B that we are staying at.  I thoroughly enjoy staring out the window.  We're in the Ozarks!

View from the back porch

Yes, in the Ozarks just south of Kingston.  Kingston is a tiny town, perhaps the size of Copper Harbor.  I haven't spent much time there yet, but they do have a quaint little downtown square that looks interesting.  Once a week, Annele and I make the 50-mile journey to Fayetteville to do all our grocery shopping for the boys.  She is the cook, so she needs to stock up because these ten trail-workers eat as much as 30 normal people.  Ha!

In that way, it's kind of like being back in the Keweenaw.  Travel an hour from our quiet little nature scene to the big town.  But Fayetteville has a sign that says 73,000-some people live there.  That's enough to get us out of there before rush hour traffic.  We made that mistake once, and podunk Amanda doesn't enjoy the stress of that!

Aaron and his crew seem to be enjoying their time building down here.  They surely enjoy the mild temperatures.  The land they are working on is quite majestic.  The Kings River runs through the valley.  Rocky bluffs extend high above the valleys.  The rock formations jut out in unique designs.  There is a really fat, old tree that I want to get a picture of for you.  Horses and beef cattle roam their spacious pens.  I hope to do a post on the project area.  It would be a nice office for a trail builder or a writer!

Brady P. likes it here.  He enjoys taking walks without being bundled to the gills with snowflakes pelting his face.  He loves to see dad and the guys when they come home.  He loves to eat Cheerios and throw them on the floor.  He loves to do puzzles.  He is a little too good at them -- I have to get him puzzles for a three year old because he does the other ones too fast!  What a guy.

So it's a good thing we like it because we plan to be here through March.  I miss all my harbor friends and watching the lakes freeze, but this is where I am now, so I'll make the most of it!  Spring will probably arrive here before we leave, so that will be a welcome sensation.

Well, just wanted to check in.  Y'all take care now, ya hear!