Bluebird days

We have five bluebird nesting houses scattered around this year and each has produced two sets of babies. It is so much fun watching the numerous bluebirds we have handing around here now. Country living is special!

 New address sign

Bluebird family: parent on the flanks and four juveniles in the leaves along the trunk

Visit from our friends Doug and Ann

Doug is my closest friend from the Navy days and we have stayed in touch and get together as often as we can (which is not often enough as careers, families,etc. tend to influence schedules). Doug and I enjoyed many adventures while on shore leave in the Mediterranean and actually took in a lot of European cuisine and culture along the way. We once obtained passports at the US consulate in Trieste, Italy, and enjoyed an 11-day independent train tour from Salzburg, back down to meet the aircraft carrier down in Taronto, Italy, with stops in Munich, Paris, and other stops along the way. We rented a car in Naples to journey to Rome for a week-end. I could go on about our adventures pre and post-marriage. We have had some wonderful times together over the decades. Doug could write an extensive book about his world travels and Doug and Ann, together, could fill volumes detailing their world travels. They spend most of their time living on their sail boat, most recently in South and Central America. They currently are dry-docked in Mexico and are attending to their home in coastal Maryland. They certainly thrilled us when they decided to detour for a few days to come visit us while enroute to Maryland. The four of us can always have the most enjoyable times without much fanfare, simply through hours of conversation, relaxation, and a lot of hearty laughter. We always look forward to our times together. There is nothing so valuable as truly great friends.

 Great friends Doug and Ann

 On the Cotter trail

 Looking for trout in the stream at Cotter Park

Water temperature check

Tami and Chris visit: May 2015

Tami brought Chris down for his first visit to Mountain Home. The plan was to do some kayaking, but high river flows and inclement weather ruined those plans. We did have a great visit and hope we get to do it again soon and are able to float the river next time.

 Chris and Tami

Charlcie and Tami

March Snow

With a full propane tank to keep the heat going, stocked cabinets and refrigerator, and nowhere we gotta be - nothing to do but enjoy the beauty of a fresh 6" snow, have a cup of hot chocolate, and relax. That, and for me, get back to tying flies for when the weather is more conducive for wade-fishing. I did manage to get a few hours of fishing with my fishing buddy Mark on one fine sunny and relatively warm morning at Bull Shoals Dam Catch and Release area.

Bottle tree in the snow

From our studio windows to ravine in back

Fly-tying desk - good place to spend some time in the winter

End game: 20" brown trout

Something Special Every Day

We look forward to each day around here - we very much enjoy what nature brings our way in our little cottage in the country.  We are so blessed!

 Massive Sycamore tree growing up from the ravine in back

 Wild turkeys come to visit frequently

Animal Kingdom

"Cabin Group" week-end

February is the month for our annual week-end cabin get together with our great friends - continuation of our road-trip days as soccer parents traveling all over the country. This was our 14th year together for this fantastic and fun week-end. My side still hurts from laughing at all the stories told, and my tummy is still too round from consuming all the wonderful meals. We returned to Lake Ft. Smith State Park this year - such a beautiful setting, immaculate and cozy cabins, and a very nice staff make this a special place. Next year, instead of renting 3 2-bedroom cabins for our six couples, we have reserved the Kingfisher Lodge so we can all be in the same facility. Plans are already underway!

 

Christmas in Mountain Home

Last year was the first year that Ben (and Myka since they have been together) was unable to be at our house for our annual Christmas with our little family. We did our traditional get together last year at their house in Little Rock since it was unwise to travel with the twins at that time. This was a great year in that they were able to bring Charlie and Tucker to our house for two visits this year - this being their first Christmas at CiCi and Grumps. As you might know, we had a fantastic time - it so exciting this year to watch the wonderment in those little guys.

Is it OK to open now?

This sock is too big for my foot!

Charlie looking for trouble under the tree

Tucker found trouble under the tree 

Who knew a vent deflector could be so much fun?

Showing off the family to our friends at Rim Shoals Ramp gathering

Christmas 2014

Had a great time with most of our family at Christmas time - unfortunately the reality these days is that it is impossible to get all together at the same time. But we enjoyed our time with those that could be there and we certainly missed those that couldn't. I should have taken more pictures, but I'm easily distracted.

 Papaw's prized gift!

 Some of the Tabor family

 Some of the Pickell family

Charley with his girls

Scenic drive back to Mountain Home

This Thanksgiving we made our annual circuit to Siloam Springs and Ft. Smith to spend some quality family time and eat ourselves into a semi-coma. My apologies to our family members, but I got too caught up in the visiting (and eating),that I forgot to take pics. But we sure enjoyed our time together, as always! We chose an alternate route on our return from Ft. Smith to Mountain Home in order to see some new scenery and to revisit a couple of favorites. Our first stop was in Ponca on the Buffalo River - a destination we used to visit often in our younger white-water rafting and camping days and later on with our "cabin group" as we spent some week-ends at Cedarcrest Lodge. We were too late in the day to witness the large elk herds in Ponca and Boxley Valley, but did see one young calf wandering around near the Ponca bridge. We later stopped in Jasper to visit some of our favorite haunts. Enjoyable trip home to cap off a very nice holiday week-end!

 Elk calf

 Upper Buffalo River from Ponca low-water bridge

 Rare trumpeter swan in Boxley valley

 Entering Boxley valley from the south

 Unique shop in Jasper

Historic Ozark Cafe in Jasper

Twins tour Northwest Arkansas

Ben and Myka had done some advance planning this past summer to arrange work schedules, etc. in order to take Charlie and Tucker to Ft. Smith and Siloam Springs to visit their great-grandpas and other family members. I think everyone had a great time being together and being entertained by the little fellas. The boys had a special treat as they got to meet and play with their cousin Beckett - thanks to Sarah and Jordan for making the trip from Oklahoma City. Thank you Ben and Myka for your hard work involved in making this effort - it was very much appreciated and I know it was extra special for Papaw Tabor and Grandpa Charley - they're still recounting the visit! I didn't get enough pics and as others are sent to me, I will do another post.

 Papaw Tabor prepping for pizza

 Great uncle Ron getting a little scrutiny from the boys

 Papaw's pizza is yummy!

 Grandpa Charley entertaining the boys with a backscratcher

They don't need no stinkin' toys to make noise



Latest project

We decided to put a skirt around our screened porch. We like the result of placing horizontal 1"x4" stained cedar. Aesthetically pleasing and varmint deterring.

Sunset at Rim Shoals

 

Sunset at Rim Shoals access of White River

Third annual Pheasant Hunt

Was fortunate to go on my third pheasant hunting trip to Highmore, SD, this year with a swell group of guys. Had a successful hunt, and an all-around great time. In spite of walking miles per day in sometimes challenging terrain, I still gained 5 pounds this week. Next year, we're going to have to walk more, and/or eat less to maintain our fighting weight - NAH, forget that! Charlcie enjoyed being away from me for a week and had a great week with her sister Tami, visiting spots around Mountain Home and Branson.

 Getting loaded

 Looking fairly competent - deceiving

 Greg on-target

Back row: Greg, Al, Steve

Middle Row:  Me, Jess, Vic, John

Front row:  Dinner-to-be



Crazy sunrise

Charlcie noticed a nice hue in the morning light and we stepped out the front door to see this incredible sunrise. We quickly grabbed the camera and were able to get a couple of very interesting shots.

Idaho visitors

Charlcie's cousin and her husband from Caldwell, Idaho, were in northwest Arkansas for a brief visit and we were able to meet with them for a couple of hours at the Springdale Cracker Barrel. Charlcie's Dad was able to go with us and a couple of Charlcie's other cousins, Sue and Donna, joined us. We really enjoyed the visit but wish we could have spent more time. Gives us an excuse to hurry back out to Idaho.

Karyn and Jim

 

Charlcie and Charlie