Heartbreaker!

Earlier today, my uncle e-mailed my mom this photo of her, circa 1970. She's 18 or 19 in this photo and had just recently graduated from high school in Hawaii and moved to Nebraska. (My theory? She was so cute that she'd already dated all the guys on the islands and needed to move to the continental U.S. to expand her dating pool.)

Doggy day care

Brian took advantage of my weekend in Arkansas to go on a guys' camping and fishing trip to Cross Timbers State Park. The meant finding a dogsitter. Fortunately, we know a great one whose prices are very reasonable (ahem, free). My mother-in-law Janice loves dogs. Unfortunately for her, my father-in-law isn't completely sold on the idea of getting a puppy. Fortunately for Brian and me, that means she gets her canine fix by watching Dakota and Lilly whenever we ask.

Here she is playing tug with Kody. Check out more photos of her and the goldens on her new blog, My Chalkbox.

Throw in the towel

Kitty sleeping wherever she wants, case No. 5,759. I snagged a couple of clearance beach towels while shopping with Amanda this weekend. (Between the pool, our canoe and the dogs, we need all the fluffy towels we can get.) Meow Meow has now claimed one as her newest nap spot.

Shopping with Mom

My mom and I went shopping for some fabric we need for quilting projects we're working on. Unfortunately, we didn't find what we needed.

So, as Mom likes to say, we zipped through the aisles so we could "rubberneck". We checked out the seasonal aisle. And, even though it's barely August, I can understand this ...

... but not really this.

Arkansas or bust, take two

I had fun on my girls' weekend in Arkansas, but now Brian and I are pumped for our upcoming vacation to Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas. Here are pictures from our adventures there last spring:

One of many beautiful views along the trails. (Last year we logged in more than 20 miles.)

The trail view from the top of the 95-foot waterfall ...

... and the view from the bottom.

Brian's Boy Scout training came in handy.

A favorite reading spot, just outside of our cabin's back door (we'll be staying in the same one again). Any suggestions on a great vacation book I should bring this time?

Arkansas, here's your sign

I stopped by a road-side produce stand just outside of the Springdale area. The sign said, "Locally grown produce: Watermelon, grapes, peaches". It was the peaches that caught my eye. I picked one up to inspect it and noticed a familiar-looking sticker, just like the ones on the peaches in the grocery story. It said "California grown". I walked away. Quickly.

Here are other signs I've seen during my adventure:

This was a store that sold swimwear, household items, etc. right off the main interstate. Doesn't inspire much consumer confidence, does it?

Hooker and easy elegance? Kind of an oxymoron if you ask me.

Jayhawk in Razorback country

Here's Amanda's new desk. Apparently, her clever co-workers keep stealing her various Jayhawk memorabilia. Mysteriously, they've all returned back to the nest: one for each story she's turned in. Hmm ... She's already warned them that if they mess with the Jayhawk, they get the beak.