Eureka! Its spring break!

To keep Ryan's promise for a get-away after his stent in Florida and to get away for a few days during spring break - we headed for Eureka Springs on Tuesday. Its about 2 hours north east of here and the drive was nice and winding. Finally we get back into some mountains! It reminded me of being at home in NC and VA. Being in the woods always makes me feel more relaxed and brings me back to how simple life ought to be.
Here are a few pics of the cabin for those of you that wanted to see it.

We stayed at Cabin Fever Resort in a suite above the man's main office so our deck was nicely elevated. We could see out over the tree tops to the mountains beyond.

Full kitchen and table - to the right is a couch, coffee table and TV, then the bedroom.

Here's most of the bedroom - the corner of the jacuzzi is in the bottom right. Ryan's decided he wants one. It certainly is relaxing and it is big enough to really enjoy - unlike a regular bathtub that just isn't long enough.

The town of Eureka Springs was a 5 minute drive away. This town is supposed to be like a Swiss alps town with narrow winding streets. We enjoyed walking into shops and talking to their keepers.





Ryan is trying desperately to hang onto his Alabama Tide... er... pride... but its hard when the Arkansas Razorbacks have wiped out all other forms of sports paraphernalia.

Ryan found this for you Dad - but we decided they wouldn't let you put this up at the conference office.


Here is our purchase - a nice set of windchimes for our front porch handtuned to the key of A. As we are never short on wind here - they should be quite a nice addition!

I really liked this blue heron sculpture!
Sorry, my leg doesn't bend the same way... and I have arms...

This observation tower used to be used by the Forest Service. It doesn't look so bad from the ground - but for $1 you can squeeze (and I mean squeeze) yourself through a little turndoor and brave the wind on the narrow stairs as you climb up to 100 ft from the ground. The first picture of Ryan and I is up on the top of the tower.

View from the top in one direction - wouldn't this be pretty in the fall?
The top platform is very small - only 5 people can stand there at a time. Both Ryan and I felt like the wind might blow us away up there.

The stairs were so narrow you had to stop on the landings and let people slide past you.

Flood evidence #1 - a natural bridge

Flood evidence #2 - nearby Pivot Rock featured in Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not
You could tell they had reinforced parts of the base with cement but it was still pretty amazing to find this rock just sitting on the side of a mountain trail.

The only part that was NOT fun about the trip was a strange terrible pain in my left shoulder that made it hard to sleep or be still without a dose of Bengay and Ibuprofen. However, I did read 100 pages of my current book, Beethoven's Hair, while I was awake from 3:30 to 5:30 AM trying to keep myself from cutting my arm off. I suppose I should clarify about that book title - its the story of what happened to a lock of Beethoven's hair that was snipped off by a young musician after his death interspersed with Beethoven biography. It also will get into the forensics they used to study the hair. Its quite interesting.

Anyway, coming home was exciting because Toby was waiting for us at the Rector's house next door AND we had a package on the front porch from Carrie and Ryan. Little animals get so excited when they see you! Here's Toby with his new doggie friend that Carrie found him. He's already missing an eye and being loved much. See the resemblence?

After his jubiliant welcome and meeting his new friend - Toby sacked out. Apparently being left home alone and going to a strange house with another dog and a 3 year old makes one wasted.