Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, March 3, 2014

Arkansas Trip with Friends

This past week,  George and I went to one of our favorite vacation homes,  our little cabin at Mt. Nebo State Park, Arkansas.  We have been there every year for probably the last 8-10 years... We LOVE it there!!!!  This year though,  we invited special friends to go along with us.  We had Cabin 60---and they had Cabin 61....  It was fantastic....  For me,  having friends who enjoy the same things as we do is just SO much fun.  We LOVED sharing our little 'paradise' with them.

Neal and Patti live in Indiana --and we have traveled together several times for the past few years.  You can check Neal's blog by clicking HERE.  Patti doesn't blog but we can keep up with each other by texting or email. They both are very special to both George and me.  Neal and I both grew up in southwestern Virginia (although we didn't know each other as kids)---so we have a special connection which only southwestern Virginia folks have!!!!!   Neal absolutely LOVES to tease me ---and George just loves it when Neal does that...  Of course,  I 'try' to get him back every chance I get.

Today,  I'll share a few photos from this past week with friends.  Please click on the photos for enlargements.  Above is a picture of the four of us taken on 2/27 when we visited Petit Jean State Park not far from Mt. Nebo. 



While at Petit Jean,  we hiked to Cedar Falls (pictured on the sign in the photo of the four of us in the photo before this one).  This is the 3rd time George and I have hiked that 'strenuous' trail---and I must say that each time I do it,  it's easier for me... Losing the weight and getting healthier has really helped me!!!!



Here is a photo that I took of George, Patti and Neal once we were down near that gorgeous 90 foot waterfall.  The temperature on this day was in the 40's ---but there were still icicles around the falls and ice at the bottom of the falls.



On a VERY cold day (2/26/14)---we took Neal and Patti to another nearby state park,  Mt. Magazine.  This is another place where George and I love to visit each year.  And it seems as if the weather is bitter cold almost every time we go there.   Here is a photo of Patti, Neal and George at one of the many overlooks at Mt. Magazine.  You can tell how bundled up we all were since that wind almost cut us in half!!!!!  Brrrrrr.  BUT---the sun was shining and we had gorgeous views even on a cold day.



George took this photo of Patti and me at one of the overlooks.  She's a TINY lady --so I had to squat in order to be her size!!!!!



George climbed down OVER the ledge to get the next picture of us standing above him --watching him!!!!  Even with his bad back and knees,  that boy loves to climb!!!!!!   "YIPES, Honey----Don't FALL!!!!!"



George took this photo of Patti, me and Neal at that overlook when he was hanging onto the ledge below us! (Note photo before this one!!!!)



We hiked to the HIGHEST point in the state of Arkansas,  Signal Hill.  Here's a photo of Neal and Patti taken at that point.



George and I always LOVE seeing the deer when we are at Mt. Nebo.  Here's a photo  I got from our cabin during the late afternoon on 2/26 of them in the big field between our cabin and Neal/Patti's cabin.  You can see Neal in the background (next to his car) taking pictures of the deer also.  I counted FIFTEEN of them at that time but could never get them ALL in one photo!



Last year some of you may remember me posting a picture of the first ROADRUNNER I had ever seen.. Well---I wasn't disappointed this year since we saw another one...  We don't have Roadrunners in Tennessee---so as you can imagine,  I was excited to see him again!



Finally,  here's one more photo of the four of us taken at Petit Jean State Park on 2/27.  It was a fantastic week ---and we had a wonderful vacation together.  If you ever have a chance to take great friends to one of your favorite places,  DO IT.... It's SO much fun.

Have a great day...  Be sure to check out my sidebar for all new QUOTES.  Maybe something will speak to you --like it does to me!!!

I have tried to visit most blogs this weekend --trying to catch up a little.  I counted 60 blogs which I visited and commented on....  My commenting will also be sporadic this month...  It's a crazy one for us!!!  Please be patient with me.

Hugs,