First signs of spring
March 7, 2012
Year: 2012
RiverKings
March 6, 2012
On Valentine’s Day, I attended my very first professional hockey game with friends. It was awesome, although I was slightly disappointed that there was only one fight.
I can now see how the game can become addicting to watch. My only regret is that I attended my first game so late in the season. I’m working to remedy the situation. Tonight, I’m headed back to Southhaven, Miss., to watch another match-up between the two teams.
Christmas birds
March 4, 2012
I’ve started organizing my photo archive, something I should have begun ages ago. I found many folders that I never posted so over the next few days I’ll post more pictures of past trips I’ve taken and birds I’ve seen during the past few months. Here are some birds I saw on Christmas Day while visiting my grandparents’ farm in Wynne.
Harlem Gospel Choir and turkey calling
February 29, 2012
I caught myself singing out loud in a crowded auditorium this weekend when the Harlem Gospel Choir came to town.
The performance was amazing and was the perfect cap to a great, yet odd weekend that had me attending my very first turkey calling contest.
I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I definitely prefer duck calling contests to turkey calling contests.
First of all, it’s hard to watch a man act like a turkey (the head jerking, the odd walk, the rustling of leaves) and not laugh. Especially when the rest of the crowd is all serious acting.
I watched only a few contestants before heading outside to the 3D pop-up archery contest. I instantly felt like I was on steadier ground. I even met two guys from my hometown who are related to my cousin’s wife. Small world (OK, my hometown is only an hour-and-a-half away so it’s not much of a shocker).
Overall, it was an odd weekend and busy with a memorial for a former co-worker, local children’s events and a visit to a local wildlife management area.
Play ball!
February 21, 2012
Growing up, I thought the ball players who could hit baseballs out of the ballpark were the coolest people ever. I’m still fascinated today.
On Sunday, I came across this old, falling apart baseball while hiking near my house. The city ball park is near my house but I am more inclined to believe a dog brought this ball to its final resting place.
It helped remind me that baseball (and softball) season is finally approaching. Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend my first-ever St. Louis Cardinals game this year.
Ever-changing weather
February 20, 2012
La Nina’s presence is definitely being felt. Lately, the weather has been unpredictable with 60-degree weather one day, followed by snow the next. I’ve loved the warmer winter — I hate being cold — but I’m ready for a more steady climate.
Arkansas Post National Memorial
February 5, 2012
Gillett, Ark. — Spanish explorer Hernan de Soto passed through what is now known as Arkansas County in 1542 followed by French missionary and explorer Father Marquette nearly 160 years later.
Later, five nations would all fly their flags within this same area. Frenchman Henri de Tonti founded the initial Arkansas Post in 1686 — the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi Vally (it predated New Orleans by 32 years). The area has since flown flags belonging to the French House of Bourbon, Castillian Spain, Republican Spain, Republican France, the United States and the Southern Confederacy.
Arkansas Post became a part of the United States in 1804 and, 15 years later, would become the Arkansas Territory capital. It wouldn’t last though. In 1821, the capital was moved to the newly founded city, Little Rock. Arkansas Post had about 1,000 residents at the height of its political importance in the 1820s and 1830s.
In January 1863, Union forces would capture the Confederate fort at Arkansas Post and destroy much of its town. The Arkansas Post is located along the Arkansas River and is now part of the national park system.
Get down Holy Rosary style.
February 3, 2012
I LOVED last night’s talent show at Holy Rosary Schools in Stuttgart. Had to share at least one of the performances I saw (my favorite), which is this little guy getting down.
http://ar-stuttgart.static.ghm.zope.net/resources/deep_dish/flash/flv_player.swf
High winds, sunsets and destruction.
February 1, 2012
It’s been gorgeous weather for the most part this week. The temperatures are in the 60s, the sun is shining and the first flowers are blooming. What’s not to love — well, excluding the mosquitoes now biting me?
Here’s 5 reasons this week was so interesting:
1. There’s storm chasers, then there’s us — damage chasers.
A severe thunderstorm passed through Arkansas County on Wednesday causing power outages to more than 1,000 people. There was not a lot of damage but there were a few accidents including a tractor trailer blown off the road. My co-worker and I teamed up (she drove since I hate to and I took pictures) to get damage pictures.
2. Salvaging airplanes
For work, I visited a local business on Tuesday to snap pictures of the last stage in their work. The company is a parts distribution company that dismantles commercial aircrafts at the end of their life cycle before repairing and reselling the parts. The stripped plane is then sold for recycling. On Tuesday, the recycling company was in town to tear the stripped plane into smaller pieces. Why is destruction so fascinating?
3. Watching the sun set.
4. Blooming flowers.
5. Photographing new birds.
A waterfall and fudge.
January 26, 2012
We stopped at a Petit Jean State Park overlook on our way back from Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge. It’s gorgeous even during the height of winter.
Petit Jean, established in 1923, is the first state park in Arkansas. It covers 2,658 acres on Petit Jean Mountain between the Oark and Ouachita Mountain ranges in west-central Arkansas. It includes woods, ravines, streams, springs, amazing views and neat geological formations.
Memos for Me 