From the Lost Files--What's a Crag?

So, of course I had to Google what the heck a "Crag" was.  Here's what I found: "a steep rugged rock or cliff".  OK.  Sounds cool.  I was advised by 2 of my coworkers to go to Hawksbill Crag, so I did.  I got this great hiking book written by a local photographer.  It's pretty cool.  It even has a checklist...I like lists.  And a CHECKlist...woah.  That's really cool.

To start the weekend off, I tried to ride my bike around Harrison.  Yes, I won't be doing that again anytime soon.  I think I pushed my bike more than I actually rode it as there was a STEEP hill at every turn.  I had my iPhone out at every intersection, trying to find an alternate route.  Grrr...I opted for my last way home, and still pushed.  AND, I swear a pickup truck (with a "hemi" of course, sped up when he saw I was frantically trying to cross a street.  I think I heard him yell, "BIKER WEARING BLAZE YELLOW, 100 POINTS...Y'ALL!" Yeah, I won.  I don't think I'll be challenging him anymore though.

RIDICULOUS HILLS + RIDICULOUS PICKUP TRUCKS + WOMAN WHO VALUES HER LIFE & HAPPINESS= 

BIKE CAN CONTINUE WINTER HIATUS

One of the more "milder" hills in Harrison.  No, I moved onto the next option home.

Saturday, I went to work for 2.5 hours and came home to 74 degrees and sunny!  I hit up Wal-Mart so I could get some DEEP Woods OFF...I am NOT going to find a tick on me.  No, No, No.  I don't care if it has Agent Orange or whatever it has in it.  No ticks.  

Jumped in El Morado (my purplish colored Ford Edge), opened the now greased up and fully functional panoramic sunroof (the pièce de résistance of El Morado), cranked up the tunes, and I headed off into the winding, twisting, Pee-Wee Herman-meets-Large Marge roads leading to the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area in Newton County.  The views along the road were spectacular and I had to keep my eyes on that nutty road.  There were a few areas to pull over and take pictures, but I was on a mission to the Crag!  I'll have to go back on a photo taking mission some other day.

I made it to the trailhead, sprayed down, and took off my fleece vest as I was already toasty.  I reminded myself I wanted to be warm, noted to the world of Facebook that I was heading out into the wilderness and where I was just in case...you know.  The warning in the guide reading, "Please be careful-if you go to the edge to have a look and slip, you'll probably die," initially had me, but it was more like the clumsy stepping into potholes that I should have been worried about.  Good thing my toothpick ankles are stronger than I anticipated.  Yes, siree, I'm making strong ankles...;)

The Crag was pretty steep and rugged:

Hawksbill Crag (aka Whitaker Point)

Took some pictures using branches and rocks as a tripod (I went home and ordered a Gorrillapod after  that):

Stationery card

Wonderful Year Christmas Card

Click here to browse our Christmas photo card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Eureka! Springs

This last weekend I planned to go to Eureka Springs on Saturday, shop around, have some dinner.  I woke up Saturday morning and just could feel that it was cold outside.  I know that feeling all too well.  Well, it was probably 30.  I decided that I wanted to enjoy my visit to Eureka Springs (ES), so I went to the gym, worked out on the elliptical with some Monty Python, shopped for Shepherd's Pie ingredients, and went home only to emerge to go to the coffeeshop.  And drink hot chocolate.  Sound like home?  Yep.

I woke up Sunday morning with the sun coming through the window.  That could only mean it was nicer or that it was 11AM!!  Zoiks!  I guess that's what happens when you don't set an alarm and have no kids or pets.  I woke up, skipped the workout, and headed west to ES!  Drove between 30-40 miles and it took about an hour...that's what one of the twistiest roads will do to your drive time.  No cruise control...pout.

I drove into town past the Hoedown Theater that Alisha raved about!  Yeehaw!

I wound into town up a hill, and down a hill, around a corner, and down a hill, and up a hill, again...following these little "loop" signs.  I passed probably 90 million bed & breakfasts and some residents on their porches....watching me drive by 30 billion times.  I went down one last hill before I was going to stop for directions and, viola, people!  Sitting out on a patio!  Listening to music!  And tons of shops!  I stopped in a parking lot to breathe.  I was yellow-lab-excited.

I ducked into my first shop that was a local artists "gallery" of sorts.  Bought a card of a really cool shot of ES at night done with pastels.  Cool.  The man working there, David, was helpful and I got a dose of ES history.  Including a story where he was on the floor after falling from a barstool and proposing to one of the town's famous artists who was also his friend.

I went into every shop...for the first 5 shops.  Then I decided I was already getting tired...and some stores were already closing.  TRUNCATE SHOP STOPS!  I need to make sure the restaurants are still open cause I'm already hungry.  I knew I was in a place more like home when I walked into the first shop and one of my faves, Lily Allen, was playing on the speaker!  As much as I really, really try to get into country music, I still struggle.

After buying some incense (very hippyish, I know, but I LOVE the smell) and some wish bracelets, I walked past a balcony where people were eating.  I didn't want to stop at the first place that caught my eye, but after walking past 2 other outdoor dining places that were closed and some other indoor eateries, I ended going back to the Balcony Restaurant in Basin Park Hotel.  Glad I did.

I walked up 2 flights inside an old hotel and out to the balcony.  One of the waitresses gave me the Southern "What-the-Heck" glance I've become a bit familiar with as I carried in my caramel/sea salt truffle that I hadn't wanted to eat too quickly.  I was bringing my own dessert...I had to ask if that was OK.  I didn't get an answer. ;)

Found a seat, had a scrumptious Monte Cristo, and a glass of local white wine.  It was still sunny and a bit cold; I was determined to sit outside.

Now, I'm super-pumped about having guests come!  Eureka Springs is pretty fun...and they have alcohol...in bars and restaurants!  Woot woot!  Arts Month in May...hint hint....

My laundry is done...gotta go fold.

;)
Love,
K

Sorry, got a little verbose this time.

Walking up Spring St, near the Basin Park Hotel

My Sea Salt & Caramel Truffle from Two Dumb Dames Fudge Factory

My meal of onion rings, a monte cristo, and a local white wine...mmmmmmmm....gooood.

View from my table at the Balcony Restaurant

Another view from my table at Balcony Restaurant

Yes, another view from my table at Balcony Restaurant

Up Spring Street

My view of Spring St./Center St. from the Balcony Restaurant

The place where Alisha went to The Best Hoe-Down Ever when she was 13.

"You Have a Northern Twang. We should do something about that."

I have been Arkansian for 11 days. So far it has been pretty fun! Much of my time has been figuring out how to keep my lifestyle away from home. My iPhone has been my security blanket. Even got to try to Skype with Emily, Deana, Maggie, and Heidi this morning. My 3G connection didn't fair so well, neither did my hairstyle and makeup (fresh from the gym)! Alas, it was really nice to see them :) Thanks, guys!

How to sum up 11 days in brief so as to keep your attention...hmmm...how about a list. I like lists. I like bulleted lists...

*Fun weekend send-offs with my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephew in Minnesota, Iowa, and Kansas

*Cattle feeding

*Northern Twang

*Great house

*Climbing in the hills

*Deer tick crawling on the truck seat beside me...my only freakout to this point

*The Current's streaming app has kept me from radiohell. 3 stations. None that I like.

*Coldest probably 30 degrees. Warmest 68 degrees.

*Great running around Lake Harrison (which for you MNs, lakes are different here. Much more river-y).

*Cowpies

*King Size bed

*World's stinkiest skunk partied outside my bedroom window one night

*Copperhead warnings/Copperhead bite stories
*Friendly landlord who took me on an adventure to Newton County and Alpena with him and his son
*Too many bubbles in the jacuzzi bubble bath (really hard to breath when resurfacing from a dunk)
*Wishing I had a Go Girl when I was in Newton County.  Ordered one last night.
*Was offered squirrel to eat.  Still on the fence about that one.
*Keystone Light..I didn't even know they still brewed
*Groceries carried to my car by a carryout high school boy

Newton County

Hiking with Tim,my landlord's (Bobby) customer and Newton Co resident, and Zach (Bobby's son)

Zach and Tim

Newton Co

Tim's cabin and the Buffalo River in Limestone in Newton Co

Feeding Tim's cattle in Limestone

Tim's Lumberyard across the road from his home in Newton County (just outside of Jasper, AR)

THAT...is an apparatus used to skin squirrels.  Yes, it is.

How to survive in a "Dry" County

My Niece, Elle

My Niece, Claire

I hope to have a iPad soon (iPad2 to be released March 11) and I can blog more often.  My thumbs just couldn't take all the tapping on my iPhone!


Hope all is well where you are,
Krisanne

Digging up Roots

7 days. I have 7 days to condense my goods into 5 Rubbermaid bins and 5 suitcases. This is the baggage limit I'm allowing myself for my first Travel PT assignment in Harrison, Arkansas.