Five Days in Arkansas

We are now with our friends, Debbie and Richard, in Bastrop, Texas and I am sure there will be lots to tell about that. But first, let me fill you in on our last week in Arkansas.

When we first crossed into Arkansas, we saw cotton fields. I remember seeing the cotton fields when I was a kid traveling with mom and dad and I always thought it was amazing how cotton growing in the fields became clothes for me to wear - I still think it is amazing ... although now I understand the process.

We were headed to a state park by Murfreesboro and our goal was to "dig up" a diamond. I had read about it in the AAA guide book and Mike had seen something on TV about it, but I think we were both a bit surprised to learn just how it all worked. For $7 a day, you get to pick your spot in the field and dig to your heart's content!

I was really good at digging up "potatoes" - at least rocks that looked like spuds.

This gentleman actually spent over 2 decades living and digging in these fields.

There have been many really big diamonds found in these fields and shovels mark the spots where they were found.
Some people dig up lots of dirt and then go to a wash pavilion and run it through screens. That is how the last big ones have been found.

When the diamonds didn't materialize before our eyes or under our shovels, we decided to see the area. Since Hope, Arkansas was just a short drive, we headed down there. It was interesting to visit the childhood home of Bill Clinton and think about a young boy growing up with a single mom in a rented house becoming a President of the United States.
You can definitely see the man in this picture of the boy.

His childhood obsession was cowboys and he loved dressing up in cowboy attire and walking around town.

The Capital on the day in which he became the 42nd President. On our way home from Hope, we stopped in the small (very old) town of Washington. We visited the old courthouse. These steps were designed and handcrafted by local artisans in the 1870's - nothing has been done to them since except to clean and polish - beautiful huh.

The flags were positioned perfectly center out the window behind the judge's chair.

As some of you know, this was a tough birthday for me this year (no call from mom) and the day we were here was particularly bad for some reason. And then, I spotted the zinnias (mom's favorite flower) outside one of the older homes and felt better.

As I approached to look closer, there were butterflies and they seemed to pose. Later there was a yellow butterfly (mom loved them) and it too posed for me. Since I believe in signs, I immediately felt better cuz I just knew if was a message from mom and it was telling me to "get a grip".

I did and the rest of the weekend was just fine. While in town, we ate at a tavern/restaurant that first opened in 1832. Sam Houston ate here regularly. The food was very good and the cherry sauce on the ham was fabulous. This was the view from our table.

Oh, speaking of food. One night we went out for dinner and we were given the choice of salad or "setup". Now if you grew up in MN, a setup is the beverage you get when you bring your own alcohol to a supper club. Anyway, Mike had the salad and I had the setup. WOW - all you can eat hush puppies, coleslaw, beans, and pickled green tomatoes is a setup. I was full before the ribs and catfish were even served. We had plenty for a second meal at home a day later.

Another day we drove to Hot Springs to visit the National Park.The Hot Springs in this area have been used for medicinal and spiritual reasons for centuries. Before the U.S. government took it over as a "reservation", it was an area where all tribes of Indians were welcome to come and enjoy the soothing waters. Then it became an exclusive place for the wealthy in the late 1800's and through the Depression. The bathhouses along the main street all tried to outdo one another.

Inside the bathhouse that now houses the National Park Visitor Center, you see what it was like "in the day".

You could immerse your whole body in this contraption.
Or you could enjoy a private bath and "scrub" in your own private cubicle. The water comes out of the ground at 143 degrees so it needed to be cooled for the bathhouses. After your soak, you needed to cool down and there was a separate room just for that. Along with servers who brought you cool towels and lovely peaceful stained glass windows.

You may have wanted to visit this room.

This is a word I have never seen or heard before, but I think the feet reflected in this sign could use it!

And of course you need suitable areas in which to relax after all the stress and strain of a bath. There were special relaxing areas for men

and for women.

Oh, there was also the latest in gym equipment for your exercise needs.
But it wasn't all glamorous -these are actual signs from bathhouses.
And this is all there is of the hot springs for the visitors today to see. The rest is tapped and used by various bathhouses that still exist. There are also several "spigots" where you can get water for use at home - made coffee with some this morning.