Lake Catherine State Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas

One of the first places we visited in Arkansas this year was Lake Catherine State Park (near Hot Springs). Lake Catherine is a gorgeous lake and the state park offers camping, hiking, water sports, playgrounds, cabin rentals, boating, and more. The reason we specifically went to this area was to hike to a new waterfall, Falls Creek Falls. (NOTE: This is not the Fall Creek Falls near us here in TN.)

It was a VERY hot day---in the '80's. So obviously, this was before the Ice Storm... Ha! I even purchased a short-sleeved shirt to wear since I get SO hot when I hike... We did enjoy the hike ---so I hope you enjoy our photos. Above is a photo of Lake Catherine. Below are more pictures.

The trail was well-maintained ---and the path followed the lake to the waterfall. George is on a little suspension bridge. (I used to call them "Swinging" Bridges.)

This is another view as we hiked along the lakeside.

George took this picture of me on the suspension bridge. I never feel sturdy on those wiggly bridges!!! ha

We made it to Falls Creek Falls... This is a picture of the waterfall from the side. Falls Branch flows into Lake Catherine. The waterfall is twelve feet high and didn't have much water the day we were there. (Bet if we had have gone back the end of the week --after all of the rain, there would have been MUCH more water flowing over the falls.)

I am resting and enjoying this little waterfall while George roams around getting pictures.

We enjoyed the rock formations all around this waterfall. Wonder what is living in those caves/holes??????? Yow!

George loves to take waterfall pictures from all angles. I like this picture of him on top of the rocks at the top of the falls. 

Along the trail, there was a neat little bench where we stopped to REST and enjoy the lake. We even saw a turtle sunning himself on a rock. 

One last look at this gorgeous little waterfall, Falls Creek Falls at Lake Catherine, near Hot Spring, AR. Hope you enjoyed the hike with us!!! At least, you weren't as hot as we were!! ha
Hugs,

Hot Springs on Dwellable

P.S. Please forgive me for not getting to your blogs yesterday as much as I would like to... This is a busy yard time for us---and working out there raking and mulching takes away from my computer time. I'll try to catch up soon. BUT--today we're going to Hendersonville to check on George's parents. SO---I'll catch up as soon as possible. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Our Welcome Home

After our week in Arkansas, we came home to find some "Welcome Home Beauties" waiting here for us. Above, you will see a picture of some of our Crocus plants in bloom and also some of our Daffodils/Jonquils and a row of Hyacinths--all in our side flowerbed. It felt SO nice to drive into the yard when we got home only to see GREENER grass and also see those Crocus blossoms, Hyacinths and Daffodils 'smiling' just for us!!! Even though there aren't many of them blooming yet, I can say that Spring is TRULY beginning here on the Cumberland Plateau!!!! There are more "Welcome Home Beauties" below!!!




The little purple Crocus above is in the front flowerbed --not far from the front door. This Crocus bloomed first since there is more sun in that area of the yard. Dad Adams gave us this little Crocus plant out of his yard (along with many others) when we first moved here. So--it's quite special to us.




The little beauty above is a close-up of one of the Crocus blooms found in the top picture. This Crocus is called Pickwick. Pretty, huh?




More 'beauties' to welcome us home were the Deer (nine of them) out on the golf course fairway behind our home.




This beauty was running to tell us how glad they were that we were home!!!! (The problem was that they were running the 'other' way!!!! ha ha)




AND---once we were home, we saw both a male and a female Bluebird checking out the nestbox in our backyard. Pictured above is a female Bluebird at the nestbox (taken last Summer). OH--how I hope they decide to nest here again this spring. Bluebirds are my fav's. I was so excited to see them...




AND---lots of our bird friends were waiting for us to come home---including the Cardinals. I had put the feeders away while we were gone--but the birds seemed to know we were coming back since they were waiting for us.




Uh Oh.... Guess who came back?????? Those darn PINE SISKINS (lots and lots of them)..... I was SO hoping they would have been gone by now. But---like all of our other birds that come to our feeders, they are here also!!!!! Besides the Pine Siskins, Cardinals and Bluebirds, we were also welcomed home by the Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Goldfinch, House Finch, Carolina Wrens, Downy woodpeckers, and Pete and Petunia, our Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Oh---and there are lots of Robins in our yard now--and a couple of Mourning Doves.




And the best "Welcome Home Beauty" is getting to put up my new bird feeder ---right outside the Computer Room window. Several of my blogger friends had mentioned that I should have a feeder near my computer window---so now, I do!!!!! I can blog and email AND watch the birds come to that feeder all at the same time!!!! Isn't that speciallllllll???




This little female Goldfinch was eating from the new feeder, near the Computer Room. It is just so much fun to sit here and watch those birdies up-close-and-personal. Yesterday, I thought for sure that I saw a Redpoll.. I have never seen one--but this little guy had a big red round spot on his head. He didn't look like a male House Finch. The only problem is that we are not supposed to have any Redpolls this far south... So--what could he have been????

Vacations are wonderful----but getting such a great Welcome Home was truly fabulous. AND--it was nice getting to sleep in our own bed too!!!! It's GREAT to be home!!!
Hugs,