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Ella's Vacation
First week away in a while - looks like they had fun. (Click here to see their album on FlickR.)
Last Updated on Sunday, May 22 2011 15:27
Opal's Tornado
On April 27, 2011, right after midnight, Winn Parish was hit with the biggest tonado they've seen in a long time. The farm was hit hard, and KALB TV News was on the scene, interviewing Mammaw, later that day. Here's the interview that was broadcast that evening:
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And here's what we saw as clean-up began:
3 Days Without PowerGarner girls learn how to operate generator
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Blanchard Springs Caverns
I've only been in a few caves, but I do have a pretty good idea of the kinds of sights you see and the feelings you get when you're in one. Carlsbad Caverns may be bigger, but I don't think it's any more beautiful and thought-provoking than one we just visited in Fifty-Six, Arkansas. Just a few miles out of Mountain View is the Ozark National Forest, and in those hills is a recreation area that offers camping, picnicing, fishing - and cave tours. Blanchard Springs Caverns was discovered around the 1930's, and became available to the publilc in 1977. The three-level cave is full of stalagmites, stalactites, columns, curtains, bacon, soda straws, waterfalls - and bats and guano. And that looks like Noah's ark, over on that far wall.
And I've never been in a cave that better accomodated people. From the elevator that zips you down 200+ feet from the Visitor Center to the upper cave floor, to the paved and hand-railed path that winds through that level, to bleachers where a group can sit comfortably and chat with the guide about anything regarding the cave, Blanchard Springs Caverns offers a top-notch tour for us novices. And, for the more adventurous, it offers two more levels of exploration.
If you find yourself in northwest Arkansas with a little time on your hands, don't miss Blanchard Springs Caverns. Oh - the cave maintains a pleasant 58-degree temperature year-round, and it's dry even when it's raining outside!
Click here for pictures.
What's New Now?
The newest member of this family, Catherine, and her husband, Paul, point out that this site's getting a little stale. Their wedding video - from September, 2009, shouldn't still dominate the front page. Surely something else newsworthy has emerged during the past year, they say.
Last Updated on Sunday, September 26 2010 12:38
So, I began to think. Lets see...
Paul did call us once to announce that a new member of the family had just arrived, but that was his bride switching her surname from eight letters to twelve. Noteworthy, but not particularly picture-worthy.
Most of us - most of everybody, actually - has experienced a birthday since then. But birthdays seem to be losing their luster. Except Ella's! Below are Ella newly hatched, 1 year old, then 2:
If she keeps this up, we've got a Miss America on our hands!
Allyn and Ryan announced their wedding plans in December, and last May our Elizabeth became a Mrs. and Sean became one of the family:
July 4th we saw lots of fireworks out on the water, and Reid and I built Ella a new swing!
Then, at the end of July, California cousin Kathie was accompanied by her son Mark to Shreveport for a family reunion of sorts. Here's the same reunion afew years ago and now:
And, in another month, we cn add another little reunion, Houston style. Can't wait!
So, if you're tired of just seeing wedding pics on this page, there are alternatives. And if you want to see more, check out our updated scrapbook.
Wedding!
Catherine, welcome to our family! This was not your average wedding; it was spectacular! Click the player for a sampling.
Click here for more... (More coming later - when I receive more pics from YOU!)
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Pitt's Burghs
Chasing education, our younger son had moved to Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, and we'd only seen pictures. Next thing we knew, he'd met a beautiful young lady and asked her to marry him. She decided that might not be such a bad idea, and we decided another good idea might be to visit them - in person. So we did.
It took two days to get there, but we saw some beautiful country along the way. Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau and almost all of West Virginia made us want to spend more time there, but our next trip will be back to Pittsburgh - for the wedding!
If you haven't been there, Pittsburgh is a surprisingly interesting and lovely place to visit. I'm pretty sure the level on my Ipod never found center while we were there - that's one hilly 
town! We cruised neighborhood after neighborhood, most of them pretty old, but all of them charming and intriguing. We checked out several local favorites - like D's Hot Dogs and The Strip District, spent time in several beautiful parks, and toured a little of the University of Pittsburgh campus, where Paul is working towards a doctorate. One highlight was a three-rivers tour on the Gateway Clipper Fleet. I don't think William Pitt ever saw his namesake American city, but he'd have loved it.
C&P, your hospitality and good spirit - and energy - made our stay a wonderful one. Thanks for a great few days. We can't wait for September!
Our trip back took us to New Bern, North Carolina. If you're an American History buff, you love the ocean, or you just can't get enough Pepsi Cola, you should visit New Bern.
For slides of our visit to Pittsburgh, click here. Or, click here for more pictures from the New Bern stop.
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