LAST DAY AT THE ISLAND

Well, here it is ... our last day at this island. Tomorrow we pack up and move either to the White River campground below the Beaver Dam or we head north east to Leadville Campground on Bull Shoals Lake. We are still waiting on our new gray-water tank. It has been a month of waiting and our time has ran out. Phil is expecting it to arrive around noon tomorrow per his last conversation with the company. He has mended the one we have while waiting on the new one.  I have been keeping busy by cleaning house, washing clothes, and cutting plastic bags for another rug.

During the Labor Day weekend this campground was packed. Every campsite was filled, the day camp across the lake was full, as well as the parking lot at the boat ramp...

The charter boats were packed as well...

 

We sit it out at home either working, swimming, doing whatever it took to get the holiday past us...

 

Phil took the opportunity to learn more about his new (to him) electric bike. He really has it running good...

 

All is silent here and the playground sits empty... 

 

The geese have returned...

 

Friday we drove over to the white river area to check out the campground there, just in case we have to move to it ...

 

 

Below the campground we stopped at the boat landing just in time to watch the rented canoes coming in...

 

Just to the side of the landing is an old cemetery. I couldn't resist this photo of the raven sitting on a tombstone... Reminds me of the Edgar Allen Poe poem.. "The Raven"... nevermore... lol

 

Returning to campsite we passed the dinosaur park again so I grabbed a couple of shots like this one of the mammoth elephant...

 

This is a old park from the 1950's era and in sad shape as you can see the elephant is showing it's age. It sits on a hill so I don't think it has flood damage...

 

But this part of the park below shows the result of flooding. There is damage on this building from tree limbs and high water...

 

Between that park and the Beaver Dam Campground is a store named "Dam Store"... I love their mailboxes...

 

And their outside dinning area...

 

 

Coming home there was a doe and her babies that ran out onto the road...

 

Phil quickly stopped and let them cross... so I am pleased to announce that there were no animals hurt in the making of this blog...lol

Well, until tomorrow at noon we will sit around and kill time... waiting...

 

 

Meanwhile... don't wait... get up and dance!

 

KEEP ON DANCING

 

SUNDAY IN PARADISE

Today is Sunday. The clouds are heavy with rain. I went for a ride around the campgrounds today and saw that many of the people have left. This being a four day weekend I would think they would wait until late Monday to head back to the towns and work.  Guess the rain is moving them out... there really isn't much to do inside... specially if you were expecting to be out on or in the lake.

The geese have totally left the island. They have been gone for several days. Guess they couldn't take having SuYang standing guard, lol.  I did get a couple of excellent photos before they departed...

 

 I really like this next photo.  I finally have one as a study for using in a painting...

 

I don't know how many hours I worked on the plastic bag rug that I was making for Phil but it is finished. Took about six weeks. This photo was taken at night so the colors are not true. I used walmart, dollar tree, and family dollar shopping bags and the center white and black were the cheapest tall kitchen trash bags I could purchase at Walmart. Phil really likes it because he can use it to lay on or fold it up and kneel on it. He also sits on it at the cement bench & table...

 

 

The last few days have really been hot here. We have been going swimming daily. Rather than walking the road we are using the lake to exercise. It a cool way to do low impact exercise lol. The first day that it got into the high 90's I noticed that the birds and animals didn't want to move much. There were squirrels sprawled out on the picnic tables, tree limbs, and then there was this smarty that laid out at the bathhouse window. The cool air from the water in the bath filtered out over him because of the fan inside... No dummy here...

 

Our local boat builder has left the island. He has a studio in Eureka Springs, fairly close to the campgrounds. This is another of the boats he has built. He also made the oar that he is holding. A true artist when it comes to wood...

 

OMG! I have become a true birdwatcher....

 

 

You know you are one ... when you take photo studies of a turkey vulture...

 

 

These birds sit near the boat landing waiting on the fish parts after the fish are cleaned.  Truth be known they do a great service because that fish would really cause a stink.

 

But hey... I won't leave vultures as  the last thing for you to remember so I am going to share some barns and relics I took photos of when we went to the Joplin, Mo. area... Most likely the farmer only sees the weeds in his pasture but to me it is a beautiful field of flowers...

 

 

It was hard to grab a good shot of this barn as we drove pass...

This is a really interesting barn. Not sure is it has wind damage or it is just aged. On the otherside there is a wooden silo connected to it...

 

Looks to be wind damage here...

 

 

 There was a lot of the common looking or should I say it's was modern (for it's day) barns...

 

 I also spotted a couple of old farmhouses....

I love this next house with the short dog-run between the kitchen and living quarters. Don't see many of like this...

 

Well, it is time for me to find something that will keep me busy for the day...

 

KEEP ON DANCING...

 

 

PHIL'S NEW ELECTRIC BIKE

Phil and I had both come to the conclusion that he needed an electric bike so that we could ride together. Going up hills was no fun and he would have to push the bike he has. The idea was to wait until winter and then find one that we could afford. But a few days ago I felt an urging to check and see what was on Craig's List. The first thing I saw was one for $150 in the Joplin, Mo. area. That was a do-able price and things proceeded from there. We went three days later and got Phil's bike. As most know... Craig's List is first come first served so we felt very blessed that the bike did not sell out from under us. People were asking but no one bought it. Then we met the seller.... Peter Dinh...

Peter is studying to become a priest. It was destiny that our paths were to cross and the bike brought us together. I won't go into depth about it as I know he will continue his training and will be a great priest. Many are called but few are chosen.... God Bless You and Be With You, Peter...

Peter told us about the Station of the Cross Gardens and so we took a tour of it......Wow!!!

The marble statues where magnificent and the garden was so beautiful...

 

There were many angels in the gardens...

 

 

We had a great time going through the garden and met a couple of the caretakers. They are also studying to become priest. I felt a positive energy about the whole grounds and the people there radiated it. Really hated to leave ...

 

Naturally, no garden is complete without the koi pond. The two guys above were cleaning out the filters and all the koi were in the bottom pond. Lots of koi as you can see...

 

 Not only were there a massive about of fish but some of the fish themselves were massive... as this great white beauty...

 

The next day Phil went to work on his new bike...He adjusted this, fixed that, and put in new batteries...

 

After a test drive he has decided to purchase a second battery to give it more zip. It is sluggish up hills but the great thing is that we can ride together around the parks... I am so happy that he has this electric bike!

 

 

While I'm sharing I thought I would share this with you also. This is a photo of Phil feeding the wild geese. They love maize which is used for baiting up the big catfish so he keeps it on hand...

 

 

The only problem with the geese is that they are really messy birds. I really didn't want them taking over the beach in front of us. But my little Shihtzu, "SuYang" decided to become a bird dog. As soon as I let her outside she zipped out the fence and chased the geese out into the water...

 

 

Then she stood guard to make sure they stayed out there... lol. Gotta love her!...

 

We are living such a wonderful life that it is hard sometimes to remember that there are wars and rumors of wars going on in the world around us. We have met only friendly positive minded people. We are so blessed. Never in my wildest dream did I think I could be this happy. I can't say that life is perfect but I can say that life is great and I am happy. I know that I truly dance with the angels to the tune of life. It is wonderful to know that I am surrounded by angels walking in flesh... as well as spirit. Life is good....so.............

KEEP ON DANCING

BLUE MOON RISING

A blue moon rising... Isn't it beautiful?...

 

Sitting by the water's edge we enjoyed a magnificent moon rise. It is the second full moon in the month... hence, it is called a blue moon. The moon isn't really blue but the blue of the sky and water gave me the feel of a blue moon. It was breath taking.

Phil finally took his first maiden fishing trip in his finished boat. He has added a lot to the original boat... like a floor, seats, motor mount, and etc. I caught him as he first stepped into it...

 As he made his first cast into the water...

 

And the grin on his face as he came home...

 

 

Right after the above photo I glance over and saw this hummer... This one is for you, Ida...

 

 

I am still in amazement as I take in my surroundings and the view outside my window.  There are waterfront lots that people pay $150,000 for just so they can have the view and excess. And here we are.. renting the same thing for only $246.00 a month... and we don't even mow the yard. Now that is amazing!

 

Our rent is so much cheaper than any of the hotels, motels, bed and breakfast, or lodge. I can look across the lake at this magnificent quest lodge sitting on top of the mountain ridge... 

 

A couple of days ago I noticed this guy and his dog canoeing pass our patio. He has a real old fashioned wooden canoe.... Nice....

He came by again yesterday morning with two dogs riding the bow. Both dogs rode like pros and looked so cute with their tiny life jackets on...

 

The lake has been full of Man Toys, lol...

 

 I know this is off the subject but wanted to share it with you anyway. This is a photo of one of the parks near White River. It was a well maintained park with some modern landscaping such as these culverts landscaped with natural colored concrete rocks and stumps. A hand done artistic creation...

 

 I also took this next photo while riding down the road. The spirea bush grows wild in Arkansas. I love looking at the woods along side the road and seeing the splash of white beauty...

 

Remember life is short ...  go outside and join other people that are playing their music of life...

 

Don't worry if your not in perfect step...

 

 JUST KEEP ON DANCING