Jonquil Festival, the jonquil parts

 It was a beautiful day in a really pretty place. But not so much with the flowers. I've seen more flowers here and there as I drive. It certainly had nothing on the Huddleston compound. So where are the flowers?

Here are a few more. They were definitely out and blooming.

FRANCES and all who hold the daffodil special, LOOK AWAY...DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER!!

 Where were all the flowers?
They were the parking lot. Seriously. Traffic moved very slowly because every car that was waved in had to drive over lots and lots of blooms. And every car must have exclaimed to this gentleman in the vest. He promised they'd be fine, pop right up again. Probably so. Next year.

The after shot...

Jonquil Festival, Historic Washington (the other side)

 So this was a festival with a little bit of everything. You had your doggy sun visors and your airbrush tattoos. I paused to take this picture of HeiferDog Design Factory. I don't know what a heiferdog is, apparently a very large dog with horns. When the tattooed and piecred dude stopped his phone conversation to notice me staring, I moved on. I do that.

I thought it was really interesting to show the bikers in front of the bouncy castle. I don't really know why. There were a lot of bikers there. It was a good day for it.

 Remember my story about decorating the gym? And you probably thought..."Historical? Gym?" It was a WPA project apparently. This is it. It looks a little different, what with the crafty sellers and all. Jewelry and food were the two biggest categories.

 In addition to fair food and crafts, there was music. You had the porch players and these guys...Wolverton Mountain was playing while I took this picture. God Blessed Texas came in pretty soon after that. I'm not sure it was my kind of music but the comforting sound of boys from Emmet and Hope, Arkansas, was wonderful accompaniment to a funnel cake and Diet Coke. Yum. Yum. Yum.

And then you had these guys. First it was the goat doing yoga...downward facing dog, I think. Unless you have to change that when a goat does it. The kids loved it: "Wook, 'is butt's up in the ai-iw!"

And then you had the Historic Washington version of the horse-drawn carriage. I did not hop on but they were pretty popular.

So how many jonquils did you count? They were here. I'll show you tomorrow...

Jonquil Festival, Historic Washington State Park

So I did manage to track down the camera and did manage to ignore the grey overcast skies and the threat of freezing off my kneecaps and drove down to Historic Washington State Park for the annual Jonquil Festival. Yeah, me and few other people. And then the clouds cleared out and I spotted a funnel cake place, in fact, an entire fair food midway and I was convinced. The best part of the day was finding out just how alive the arts and crafts show is. Yay!

 This is the courthouse which served as the place to get information on all the happenings. The biggest claim to fame is that Washington served as the Confederate capitol when Little Rock fell to Union forces during the Civil War. There's also a doctor's house, which serves as an exhibit on medicine during the war.

Here in the Crouch house, the park ranger talked about the historically accurate wall paper and furnishings as well as how the house changed through the years. The photo shows the state of the house before restoration. That is a man with very curly hair in front of me.

The outside of the Crouch house...not many jonquils, right?

I did manage to get a few pretty shots...I'll show you more of the "character" shots tomorrow.

So what are you doing this weekend?

Remember when I used to do more than watch television and work? Yeah, I do too. Vaguely. I would tromp around in state parks and gardens and such and take pictures. I loved that. Tomorrow is shaping up to be a pretty prime day for a little of that so I'm thinking about doing a little...if I can find my camera.

My current planned destination: the Jonquil Festival at Old Washington State Park. It's a place with old buildings, actors in costumes, and I love those places. And when I was a young whippersnapper, I went to college not too far down the road. And the single elective Home Ec class led me to Old Washington. We were invited to decorate the gym for a function but we could only use historical pieces. As I recall, that meant lots and lots of quilts. I really wish I had taken a photo but you just don't think at 21 that someday quilts will loom large in your day to day to work and back life. You just sign up to take a fun class which features drafting a design for your dream home and decorating it by judicious study of the color wheel and all its schemes. It was a fun class. My best friend and I took it together and it was taught by a very tiny little lady who showed us videos which said "Most Georgians are large and made of brick" and having never met anyone from Georgia, we would snicker...tee hee. If we'd known any real live Georgians at the time, we would have teased in such a manner as to be funny to no one but us. As it was, we would crack ourselves up occasionally by throwing out the line. (Georgians, not necessarily large and certainly not made of brick... architecture, yes, people, no. And it really disturbs me a bit that this sticks out in the limited spaces of my memory the way that it does.) She was also the one who, after seeing a photo of a baby flash, said, "That baby's just u-g-l-y" in a drawl and tone so sweet that you could also hear "Bless his heart" even though she didn't say it out loud.

I really wouldn't mind a drive down that direction.
If I can find my camera.

Time for a change?

When you're the first and the only around here, you're a Big Deal. We have these signs up on the way into Arkansas reminding all visitors that we were the home of President Bill Clinton. A place called Hope also has signs, and Hot Springs, and we have this library downtown to remind everyone. Love him or hate him, he's a Big Deal around here. I never would have imagined an Arkansan in the White House, but it happened. And it could happen again. Maybe. I'm not sure what the signs would look like then.

Maybe we should change these out for Kris Allen signs now? What do you guys think? He's the first and the only American Idol. So far. There could be more, but now he's a Very Big Deal around here.

I was going to change the license plates too. Right now, they say "The Natural State" but wouldn't "The Kick Awesome Natural State" be better? And really, we'd never have to change those because the state is both kick awesome AND natural. And just be warned, "kick awesome" is now working its way into my vocabulary. I don't know why, but I'm sure I'll abuse it long past the time it should be used.

No more American Idol posts...I'm going to have to find something else to talk about too.

Garvan Woodland Gardens on a Sunny Day

On Wednesday, I hurried over to Garvan Woodland Gardens because it was a beautiful sunshine, blue skies day and most of the time I make it over there, it looks like the skies will pour on me at any time. I had to seize my chance so I decided that Darcy would probably be fine for 3 hours or so, left a note on the door (the preferred method of communication at 5 Points), and drove over. The place was nearly empty so I could shoot anything I wanted to with no interfering people in the way...until my camera tells me that I filled up my memory and refuses to take any more photos. I believe I had been there around 15 minutes (I do have many swimming Darcy shots that had made it onto the card before I got there), so I had to dump what I could bear to dump and changed the size of the photos. It's a good thing that worked. That might have been enough to put the stress back into my stress-free week.

So what's going on at Garvan Woodland Gardens right now? They were preparing for the Christmas lights and it looked like they were building something for a flower show. Otherwise, peaceful and serene, quiet and cool. Azaleas, camellias, mums...those are the only ones I can name.

Little House in the Big Woods

Anybody else recognize that? I admit, when I first walked into this cabin that was supposed to safely house me for four nights, I did have a little Laura Ingalls feeling. All that was missing was snow and howling in the distance. Well, except for the electricity, plumbing, and pumping window unit air conditioner. Maybe it was more of a Green Acres kinda feeling. Any time check-in means finding the cabin with your name taped on the door because the key is inside, I get a little worried. Wood outside, wood walls, wood floor, it was woodsy. And small, but that's a good thing. As we had a rollicking storm the second or third night I was there, I did determine that it was soundly constructed. And the spider webs added a protective shield as well. Really, that was my only complaint.

Ok, well maybe not the only complaint. I didn't love the kitchen. And I had never seen pocket windows, and they needed to be opened. Really. Eventually someone else showed up to "check me in" and showed me how to open the windows and...the other really big problem...light the stove. I viewed the stove with mistrust and did not use it. I have a strict policy of not setting myself on fire or causing detonation while on vacation. Luckily, this hidden cabin with the beautiful view is right in the heart of Hot Springs. Five minutes from Wal-Mart and any food you could choose. This is my kind of location. And with a little power washing, a new stove, and some fresh air, this could be my idea of the perfect place to live!

Seriously, it's a great place for dogs, less expensive than similar cabins that will accept pets and really, the view from the deck...it's worth it!

I'd Rather Be Fishing

Well, not really, but I would rather be sitting at the end of the dock, just like I was about this time (really, no matter what time it is, I didn't do much more than sit and stare and breathe) on Monday. It was perfect. For everyone who asked "What are you going to do on your vacation?" and looked slightly dissatisfied with my open-ended answer, this is what I did:

1. Sat on a deck overlooking the lake, listening to waves and wind and boats and trees and ducks and...no people.
2. Walked my dog. A lot. Uphill. We went down the hill to swim (she swam, I was on the other end of the leash) and then a-l-l-l-l the way back up the hill. Over and over.
3. Swatted mosquitoes.
4. Watched movies.
5. Read books.
6. A little cross stitch.
7. Visited a couple of my favorite places in Hot Springs, including Garvan Woodland Gardens...on a sunny day! I know. I was shocked too. It seems like I only pick overcast days to go.
8. Ate like it was going out of style.
9. Wrote a little bit, just to see if I still could.
10. Did not think about work. Once. At all. Never.

All in all, so many of my favorite activities were only improved by doing them on a deck overlooking the lake. Of course, it was not without a price (Ok, even more than the charge to my credit card). Tomorrow I'll show you the cabin. "Rustic" is the right word. I think I know at least one person who wouldn't have stuck it out, but Darcy and I, we're tougher than that.

The Knitting for Noggins 2007 round up

Yesterday we delivered the hats to Arkansas Children's Hospital that we've been working on for the past month. I have personally twisted arms on everyone in my influence to get them knitting or crocheting a hat for the cause. Since I don't have that much influence, it's good that there were plenty of yarn fans to contribute. The final numbers:
Leisure Arts employees/friends make 219 hats total. Warm Up America donates 100 hats. Our total delivery: 319. Not too shabby. As of yesterday, people in 22 states had donated hats. And this morning the total is at 19, 794.

We didn't win for the most donated. We were short about 700 hats. That's a lot of hats. So now I have to begin using my influence for next year. Anybody want to make a hat? Have I got an easy pattern for you...

Congratulations to Joan Beebe who won a prize for one of her teeny tiny little hats. Here she is doing a good deed for a fellow knitter by sewing up a hat to turn in. It's a good team. Designer Susan Anderson was there and in a warm-fuzzy rush I had to buy her new book, Itty Bitty Nursery. She's got some way cute hats. I should probably just go ahead and get started for next year. Maybe I can double my input to 12 if I start now.

New Knitters

Here's another shot of what peer pressure looks like...2 new knitters! Like water dripping on rocks, we wore down these 2 and then threw in a great charity to push them over the edge. Each made a hat (currently being modeled by the Magic 8 Ball and a precious Diet Coke). And now both have multiple projects going...the sign of a true crafter, right? I call that success. Lora has mastered k2, p2 ribbing (and she knows what I mean) and Rhonda has made her first garter stitch hat (although she might not know exactly that she has). Next up, she'll learn to P-U-R-L.

So far, the Knitting for Noggins looks like a big success. The goal was 100 when we started. An optimistic soul built the cap-o-meter to blow at 130 caps...and early numbers seem to indicate that we might even pass that goal! Add to that the 100 caps passed on from Caps to the Capital/Warm up America, and the Leisure Arts group will deliver 200+ hats. Great work!

Peer Pressure complete

So this is the finished Peer Pressure hat and his brother, One to Grow On. Since the goal was 4 and I did 6, I'm done. DONE. No more hats for me. Back to the other projects I have going...sweater time. Pirate Pete is in the picture to add interest. He's not going to donated...although technically he IS wearing a cap...and that would increase my count...nah. 6 is good enough.

The last hat, I think

My goal was 4 hats. I now have 4 completed hats. Of course, the deadline is also 10 days away. And every time someone around here brings in a new hat, I think I could probably do that one too. Unless it's crochet. I can't do that. Yet. And I still have a collection of yarns suitable for hat-making. Maybe just one more...knitted in the round maybe...maybe with some stripes...
I have to wait until the feeling returns to my left hand. It's hard to hold the needle after my hand goes numb. The voice of experience...

Panda Bear Again

This is my third finished hat, Panda style. It comes from a Lion Brand free pattern. I modified it because I have an aversion to google eyes in general and for baby items in particular. One more and I'm done...I think. And I think we may have successfully infected a couple of new knitters as well. Good work, team!

A Hat update

I managed to wrangle some models out of the Knit & Crochet area to show off the hats that are being whipped up for Arkansas Childrens Hospital and Knitting for Noggins. And these highly compensated, totally professional models are Mary, Sarah, and Joan. Mary is showing her non-Raspberry Beret (come on, everybody sing...Raaa-spberry Ber-et, the kind you find in a second-hand store....Raaa-spberry Ber-et), Sarah is wearing my one adult hat, and then they're all holding baby hats made by Sarah or Joan.
Title of Picture 1: CHEESE!
Title of Picture 2: She's touching me! Hey, she's touching me!
Title of Picture 3: #!@$& (Mary looks like she's disgusted (and might be making an obscene gesture disguised by innnocent baby hats), Sarah looks both disgusted AND afraid, Joan...she just looks like she's happy. Hi, Joan!). You'd be surprised at how often I get these looks in real life.

Noggins Lunch Bunch

Tuesday was a VERY BUSY DAY. Designer Pat Sloan was here teaching a class/getting photography done for her upcoming books. Thank goodness I had good hands to leave her in because I had a few fires to stamp out. That means no class for me. Pouting....
But at lunch time, the Knit & Crochet ladies got together to have a little clinic for anyone who might need a little help knitting or crocheting hats for Arkansas Children's Hospital Knitting for Noggins. And we had so much fun! Here are the knitters and crocheters (with a stray former employee, current designer Kay thrown in for good measure, HI, Kay!) all hard at work. Until I'm around these ladies, I think I'm some kind of hot stuff knitter. Then I watch them churn out a hat in an unholy amount of time. And they're TALKING while they knit. I can't do that. I. MUST. FOCUS. while I knit or catastrophe strikes. And on the other end...my end now that I think about it...were the learners. Lola Lora who's been dragged into the knitting is working through K2, P2 ribbing (knit two, purl two) for her hat. And Rock Star Rhonda (as she will forever be known) is just learning. Like in this photo she just started...first knit stitches ever. Finally...peer pressure uses its powers for good instead of evil. Next I'm going to post photos of my completed hats. Both of them. I'm not sure I'm going to make the goal of 4 at the rate that I'm going. Still, it's too soon to give up.

Saturday and the Big Dam Bridge

So after I spent an unholy amount of time unloading, detrashing, washing, drying, waxing, polishing, de-dog-hairing my car on the off chance that a certain visiting quilt designer might have to ride with me while she's visiting, I decided I needed a short top-down trip to make it all worthwhile. I drove out to the Big Dam Bridge, the world's longest pedestrian bridge...the brocure says so. And it was hot out there on that bridge but it was a neat experience. Since I stayed firmly to the right and was not murdered by a cyclist. It was a little touch and go every once in a while. So here are some photos I shot while I was there.
Shots of the bridge from the bank, while I was trudging uphill or upbridge, and of the I430 bridge (the one we use to drive across the Arkansas headed north).