Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Mid to late June, 2014

Our friends who we first met in Texas, Steve and Leanne Kess, will be arriving in Branson sometime today.  They are bringing their nine year old (almost 10) grandson, Aaron, with them.  Aaron picked Branson to visit because there's "lots to do"!  They'll be in town for a few days.  We're planning on meeting them at Danna's for lunch tomorrow...Danna's is one of our favorite places to eat.  Thanks David and Becky for introducing us to Danna's!!

waiting for the Kess'

good food, great friends, good times!!

Steve, Leanne and Aaron packed a lot of things into a short stay.  They visited the Fish Hatchery, the Titanic, the Butterfly Palace (Aaron's favorite), saw Jonah at the Sight and Sound Theater, went to Dixie Stampede, and went for a cruise on the Lake Queen (it cruises on Lake Taneycomo).  Whew!! Fun for all.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

We had fun visiting with them and are looking forward to spending the winter months at JCRV with them in Texas.

We visited Eureka Springs this past fall.  We really enjoyed our time there and decided to make a return visit.  We thought we'd go now, in June, before the weather became really hot.  Well, guess what?!! The day we went there was very hot and humid, temps in the upper 80's!!!

Eureka Springs is a very old town, it was built prior to the Civil War.  The streets are narrow and very steep.  It is, after all, situated in the Ozarks.  There are some very unique and interesting shops along the main street.  Also a few restaurants.

love this stained glass

We parked the truck and rode the trolley up the hill to the Crescent Hotel.  This hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places.  You are still able to rent a room if you wish.  A day spa is located in the lower level of the hotel.

front of hotel

elaborate tin roof on the portico

entrance to the hotel

fireplace is very beautiful

on the back porch 

beautiful view from the back porch

back of the hotel

The Crescent Hotel is looking a tad worn.  It's obvious that the money is not there for the necessary upkeep.  Really a shame.  Looking at the structure, the "bones" are great.  This must have been a very elegant hotel in its heyday.

We then rode the trolley through the historic homes area,

down the hill and back up.  We then walked down the hill and popped into a couple of shops.

We stopped at a great, very small (only ten tables) restaurant for lunch.  Nibbles serves fresh soups, sandwiches, salads, quiche and home made desserts.  Nothing is fried.  The food is delicious!  It was refreshing to find that there is not a deep fryer to be had in the restaurant!!

We then continued our walk down the hill.  We stopped at a beautiful park

relaxing in the park at the bottom of the hill...

and then continued to the trolley transit station.


We had a great and enjoyable time today.  Eureka Springs was not nearly as crowded as it was this past fall...


Til next time,

Dawn, Ron & Cooper

Rain, Rain and more Rain!!

We arrived back in Branson today, May 27.  It is good to be back in the Ozarks.  We had forgotten how beautiful the Ozarks are and how friendly the people are.

While here, we will once again be volunteering two days a week at the Dewey Short Visitor Center. We also volunteered at the Dewey this past fall.

Table Rock Dam

We arrived in time to visit with Bill & Edna (we worked with them this past fall/winter) prior to their leaving.  They're heading to Mineral Wells, TX where their daughter lives.

We went out to dinner with them at a new Italian Restaurant here in Branson (it has only been open a month).  It was nice to see them.

Prior to their leaving, Bill and Edna gave us "the boot"!  We'd "booted" them prior to our departure this past December...

Tues, June 3

We arrived here one week ago today.  It's been a rainy week, it has rained everyday since we've arrived.  We're thankful for the rain as it was much needed.  In between the raindrops, the sun would shine and the humidity would rise.  We both were beginning to feel soggy!

Today is the first day that it hasn't rained.  The sun shined all day, the temps rose to 90 and the humidity climbed.  Hazy, Hot and Humid (H3).  It was, in a word, Ozarky .  We dropped off the truck for repairs (radiator leak; grateful that it is under warranty) picked up the rental (a white Yukon) and did a few errands.  We spent the afternoon enjoying the weather and watching the birds and squirrels at play...

male red-bellied woodpecker

another male

We have two pairs of red-bellied woodpeckers which are nesting nearby.  Oftentimes, they will return to the same nest year after year.  It's been fun watching them...we see the males more often than the females.  The males and the females take turns feeding each other.  We're still trying to get a picture of that.

brown-headed cowbird

A female cowbird does not make her own nest, rather, she lays her eggs in the nests of other species
who then raise the young cowbirds.

love the brilliant red of the male cardinals

american goldfinch

We've seen a few eastern bluebirds, but have been unable to snap a picture of them...

isn't our local gecko cute?

Mid-June

In between raindrops, we were able to catch some great sunsets...

the Branson Belle on Table Rock Lake

sunset after a thunderstorm on Table Rock Lake

sunset over Lake Tanneycomo

The rainy season seems to be ending, thank goodness!!  Tho, the locals tell us that next month we'll be begging for rain!!  For now, we plan on enjoying the sunshine and the warm temps...

One of our favorite things to do is walk down the lakeshore trail (along the shoreline of Table Lake; the trail is located through the wooded area behind our campsite)...

The wildflowers are especially beautiful along the trail...

There's a great place along the trail for Coop to go swimming...

Coop and his friend, Lexie

one of several blue bird nesting boxes along the trail

trumpet vine growing next to our campsite

Friends of ours from Texas, Steve and Leanne Kess along with their grandson Aaron will be in town next week.  Can't wait to see them!!

Til next time,

Ron, Dawn & Coop