Monday, May 30, 2011

Strange Commercials


http://youtu.be/t9kndMkXC5Q
The product may work, I don’t know I haven’t tried it.  The commercial sure didn’t want to make me go out and buy it though.  In fact in had me laughing so hard my side ached.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

A Day for Mayzie

 

For those of you who don’t know, Mayzie is our two and a half year old German short hair pointer.   A more loving and loyal dog you will not find.  The first one to greet you and always happy to see you.  She loves going to the beach and swimming.  004

Today the wind finally stopped blowing, so we took her down to the bay.   The minute she hears the word beach she starts to get excited, so we do not use that word lightly around our household.  Running to the car, then back to me, then to my husband, then back to the car.  This continues while we pack the ice chest, load the chairs, get her leash and load the car.  The true excitement comes when her donut comes off the shelf.  Although we play ball or Frisbee with her for a minimum of one hour a day, the excitement level increases tenfold when the donut is taken off the shelf.

The donut is a yellow floating device, with a slinger used for throwing the donut.  It is by far her favorite game.

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We all get in the car, it is a five minute drive to the county park. The park is seldom used and we are usually the only ones there.   The bay is sheltered there and allows her to swim without huge waves.  Sometimes I think she thinks it is own private beach.     Mayzie knows the drive well and the closer we get the anticipation goes as little whimpers start coming from the backseat.   The road to the park winds through farm fields and she has every turn memorized.  The closer we get the louder the whimpers get.  Finally we arrive at the park.  We open the back door and she runs straight into the water.  There she will swim out and tread water or stand on her back legs in the water until we unload the car and get out her donut. 

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Throw the donut in the water, she swims to it and retrieves it.  This continues until my arm hurts or it gets dark.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Our Arkansas Adventure

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Washington  Historic State Park

Drove up to meet the kids at their house, about a 5 hour drive.  Piled in my sons truck and set out to Arkansas.  First stop was at Washington Historic State Park.  This park is a step back in time, established in 1821 the town has been keep up to it’s original style.  The architecture and craftsmanship of the buildings were amazing.  The courthouse served as the visitor center.  The blacksmith was where the first bowie knife was made, later made famous by Col. James Bowie.  

 

Crater of Diamonds State Park

After visiting Washington Historic State Park we headed to Crater of Diamonds State Park.  This is the only diamond producing mine that is open to the public in North America.  A massive volcano brought diamonds to the surface of the earth.  While we were there that afternoon, the park posted that 5 diamonds had been found that day.  It is basically a large plowed field, and people were sifting through the dirt looking for the diamonds.  There are also amethyst, quartz, agate, and other semi-precious gems to be found.  I didn’t find anything nor did anyone in my family.

 Hot Springs National Park

Hot springs in a very beautiful park with something for everyone.  It had trails to hike of varying lengths and skills.  The bath row was amazing.  The Fordyce on bath row  displayed the historic bath houses.  Again the craftsmanship and architecture that went into these buildings put most modern buildings to shame.  We went into one of the older hotels that is still in use.  I marveled at the dining room and the ballroom.  I walked the corridor of one of the floors going to the guest rooms.  The carpet and elevator were of the same time period.  I half expect a small girl to jump out at the end of the hall a start saying red drum, red drum.  Alright, enough of my imagination.  My batteries ran out while we were on bath house row and the promenade, so pictures of that area will come later.  The spring water actually is 143 degrees.  I had to stick my hand in it to check.  A lot of people were filling their water jugs, milk containers and other containers, I asked them why and they said that the water had a healing quality and swore by it.  In the brochure I read, that was what made the area famous.  People came for miles around for the healing qualities of the water.

Here are some pictures of the hiking trail and views from the tower at the top of mountain.

Petit Jean State Park

Arkansas’ first state park and of the parks we visited was by far my favorite.  The views from the truck getting to the park and the park itself were beautiful.  The cedar falls waterfall was breath taking.  The natural bluffs forms over the years are awesome.  This park is a must see if you are in Arkansas.  

The park is named after the legend Petit Jean, a French girl, who disguised herself as a boy, to accompany her sweetheart, an explorer to the new world.