Toltec Mounds and Plantation Agricultural Museum

This week's trip will highlight the fact that I'm a nerd.  I traveled to Scott, AR which is just outside of Little Rock.  This was my first visit to Scott but I must say it has some beautiful farm country.  Not too far off the interstate you will find the Plantation Agricultural Museum this museum highlights the cotton industry.  The museum itself is an old 1912 brick building which is very cool also on the property you can tour the Dortch Gin Building and the Seed Warehouse #5.  Walking through the last two buildings in this heat really makes you appreciate being able to work in air conditioned buildings.

Next stop was the Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park, also located in Scott, AR.  Located here you will find Arkansas' tallest American Indian mounds.  Three mounds are still visible today these mounds were formed  by what archaeologists have named the Plum Bayou tribe.  The mounds were built between 700 A.D and 1000 A.D. very little is known about this tribe, here a few pictures of the mounds and the surrounding area.  http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/toltecmounds/

Hot Springs Mountain Trail

This week I decided to go back to one of my favorite places Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Today was a beautiful day in Arkansas but it was HOT!!!

Hot Springs Mountain Trail is a great trail system that runs up the Hot Springs Mountain and down to Bathhouse Row.  I hiked several trails today here are some shots from another great day outdoors.

I started  my hike on the Grand Promenade it's a beautiful brick paved walkway that overlooks Central Ave.

I hiked up Hot Springs Mountain to the overlook tower, I was disappointed to find that it cost $7 to go up to the top of the tower I opted to walk across the street and take pictures of the natural overlook.

After this I took several winding trails around and down the mountain here are some pics.

After walking in the heat I am ready for long soak in the bath tub.

Lake Catherine State Park

It's been awhile since I posted and there has been some big changes in our lives.  For those of you that don't know Brandon is going to school in Michigan for a year.  He started classes in April and is scheduled to graduate in February 2013.  I have stayed in Arkansas, it has been different living on my own but I'm trying to make the best of it.  To keep myself entertained I've been trying to take "field trips" on the weekends and travel around the state, most of the time I find things to do for free or low cost.  It dawned on me that these adventures would be a perfect blog topic this way I can share parts of the beautiful state of Arkansas with my friends and family that have not visited.  I'm going to start with my trip this weekend and on the weekends I decide to stay home I'll post some of my previous adventures.  

I recently have picked up the hiking bug so far the state parks I have visited have been free so I only have to pay for the gas it takes to get to these little gems.  This week I visited Lake Catherine State Park and completed the Dam Mountain Trail it is 4 1/2 mile and is rated "moderate."  http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/things-to-do/trails/search.aspx?parkid=2&parkView=true

It was a beautiful trail the first half was very rocky and once I crossed the "waterfall" (we're a little dry here in AR right now) it turned into a beautiful hike through pine/hardwood forest.  My reward for making it to the top of the mountain was a very close encounter with a deer.  The hike ended walking alongside the lake which always makes for beautiful pictures.  I would like to warn you that the pictures I have were taken with my phone as I currently do not have a digital camera.  

Until next week....

Hello 2012

Well it's a new year, full of new inspirations and resolutions.  I've never been a big fan of the New Year's resolution hype my thought is if you want to change something do it now.  With that being said I have however, decided to use the 1/1 date to introduce some new things into my life.  Don't worry I'm not going to bore you with my goals I'm only going to share one that I think you may enjoy.

I call it "The Decluttering of the Winters' Home 2012."  This month I have taken to decluttering and organizing under my sinks you know what I'm talking about that place where we throw cleaning supplies, rags, bug spray and pretty much anything else we don't know what to do with.  Today I finished under my kitchen sink.

Here is what the mess looked like before:

A complete mess, every time I needed something out of there I knocked stuff over or I couldn't find what I was looking for.  I headed to Big Lots and for a grand total of $7 and some change I ended up with:

I can now find what I'm looking for and pick something up without creating a domino reaction, it makes me so happy.  I even sat on the floor admiring it for a few minutes lol.

I hope to continue my decluttering and organizing and continue to share with you throughout the year.  If you have any ideas please share!

HELLO 2012!

30 Day Challenge to Connect With People

Now days with the increased access to Social Media via Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Blogs, Foursquare, etc and the rampant spread of text messaging it is possible that we have forgotten how to interact and engage with one another face to face.  The GOOD is daily email that I receive for the month of September they challenged their subscribers to Connect with People, well  I of course thought this was a great idea and thought I would share it with my friends.

The GOOD 30-Day Challenge: Connect with People

http://www.good.is/tag/good-challenge

1. Send someone a postcard.

2. Have a conversation with a service employee.

3. Share an old photo with a friend.

4. Ask a relative what they did today.

5. Coordinate a Group Event.

6. Get coffee with a co-worker.

7. Buy a friend a gift under $5.

8. Email a Twitter pal.

9. Video chat with a faraway friend.

10. Feed a homeless person.

11. Do something nice for a neighbor.

12. Give 5 High-Fives

13. Call someone you haven’t talked to in years.

14 Say Hi to three strangers.

15. Make something for someone.

16. Leave someone a Thank You note.

17. Teach someone something.

18. Cook dinner for someone.

19. Send a friend three links they’ll love.

20. Give three compliments

21. Leave a positive comment on a stranger’s Blog.

22.  Ask for someone’s advice, and take it.

23. Thank an old teacher.

24. Go to a neighborhood business you’ve never been to.

25. Call someone instead of texting or posting on Facebook.

26. Lend someone a book.

27. Introduce two people who don’t know each other.

28. Email someone you admire but have never met.

29.  Settle an outstanding argument.

30.  Have a conversation with someone 20 years older or younger.

If anyone does accept the challenge or even chooses to pick a few items of this list share your experience with us all.  

GET CONNECTING. 

GRATITUDE

Each month I try to focus on one aspect of my life, personality, etc to improve.  Today marks a new start I have chosen to focus on GRATITUDE this month.  According to Dictionary.com GRATITUDE is the "quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful."  While the book definition is great what I will be focusing on this month is how to apply gratitude to my daily life.  I remember on major holidays to stop and think about all the great things I have in my life I don't however do that in my everyday life.  I'm not going to turn into one of those people who go gaga over every little thing in my life but I will spend more time being grateful for what I do have and less time stressing over what I don't have. 

The reason I choose GRATITUDE this month is I have recently noticed an overwhelming amount of FMLs, poor me, why mes...streaming on my Facebook and it's driving me crazy.  I've always been one to look on the positive side of things and I certainly understand that not everyone is that way but honestly making an extra trip to the grocery store does not warrant a FML.  Instead of getting on Facebook and saying blahblahblah...fml try blahblahblah is going on but at least... or I'm thankful that it wasn't...


I'm thankful for those of you that have taken time out of your day to read my thoughts, thankful that I have a job, a loving and supportive husband, a roof over my head, a refrigerator with food and a family that would do anything for one another.  Ok so I went there but I couldn't help but share just a few things that I'm thankful for and really did you think I would write a blog about GRATITUDE and not go there? 


It is Fourth of July weekend 2011 time to eat, drink (a lot) and blow things up what could be more American than these three things?  While you are enjoying the long weekend with friends and family don't forget to take a minute look around and be HAPPY!!!!!

And Away We Go...

So here I am writing a blog, this should be an adventure for me and for you, I've never even had a diary.  Since we have friends and family all over the country I thought this would be a great way to stay in touch.  I also hope to use this opportunity to share some of my ideas about...well everything.

It's been almost a year since we moved to Arkansas and wow it as been a whirlwind.  We miss all of our friends in South Carolina but we are enjoying this new chapter in our lives.  I will do my best to post pictures of our adventures here in the Natural State.  Brandon's Mom and Step-Dad were our first visitors this past weekend we had a blast exploring Hot Springs and Little Rock, it was great seeing them.

The biggest development this month is Brandon has quit smoking and doing a fantastic job it has been one week with no cigarettes and I have faith that he is done for good.  That's all I have for today but I'll be back to share shortly...