Beaver Lake

Sunday. July 26th. Feast of St. Anne

Last night, we went down to the lake at dusk. The lake was so still. The outline of the hills was dark and hazy. It was so beautiful!

Later, as we were roasting marshmallows, someone set off a lot of fireworks over the lake and we could see them glittering through the trees. A racoon made his way in to our camp as we sat around the fire. The dogs scared him off pretty quickly.

I made breakfast over the campfire this morning. We enjoyed tomato, green pepper and cheddar omlettes with texas toast and hot apple cider. There are few things as wonderful as meals cooked over a fire.

We packed up camp and went down to the lake for some snorkeling and kayaking. Paul helped perfect the dogs swimming skills. Bella's always been afraid of water, but she wasn't about to let Snoopy get her tennis ball when Paul threw it into the lake.

The lake was the best lake I've found for snorkeling, so far. The lake has been flooded since spring so some of the campsite are under water. Technically, they don't want people hanging out in that area, but the stone barrier surrounding the former campsites is under water and has become a home for lots of fish. I spent over an hour swimming and taking pictures of fish.

We paddled around for an hour or two. There were some great cliffs and overhangs. All and all it was a lot of fun.

Sadly, I failed to apply the proper amount of sunscreen and ended up so burnt that I was in tears as I went to bed (more on that later).

There was a 4pm Life Teen Mass in Rodgers that we went to. I literally cried several times during Mass because of how amazing God can be and because I was homesick for Franciscan.

We parked for the night at Walmart. It was directly across the street from the spot were Sam Walton opened the very first Walmart (La-di-da!). I was in so much pain from the sunburn that we googled ways of taking the sting away and discovered that vinegar is supposed to do the trick. Paul went and bought Aleve, white vinegar and aloe.

The directions said to soak strips of cloth with vinegar and leave it on the skin for 20 minutes. I looked like a mummy and smelled like a pickle/salt and vinegar chips. Yuck! It didn't seem to help much, but that could be because I had shaved my legs that day AFTER swimming (I know-STUPID!).

What did help a little was Paul going across the street and bought me a Key Lime Concrete. They put a whole slice of Key Lime Pie in a blender with vanilla ice cream. YUM!

In the words of that song that came out around the time I graduated high school- "Don't forget the sunscreen!"

Leave it to Beaver!

Saturday. July 25th.

I am typing to you from the shores of Beaver Lake Arkansas. The sun is dappling the trees and through those same trees I can see the sparkle of the lake. Paul’s …

Sorry, I was just interrupted to go chase Bella who broke her collar and went chasing after a tiny poodle!

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, umm, I don’t remember what exactly I was saying. Anyway, we are staying at Rocky Branch Camp and Marina run by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The couple that oversee together during the summer are in their late 60’s or 70’s. They were telling us how they trucked together for 45 years! I’m having fun traveling and being paid to see the country, but 45 years! Yeah… no. Don’t think that’s going to happen. Trucking is perfect for now, but someday I want to live at home and travel just for fun.

If anyone is ever thinking about camping at Bear Lake (between Rogers and Eureka Springs), I will share this with you: the campground is right on the lake and they have a nice marina and little beach area for families, there is some great fishing (we have a catfish head left by the last camper for us to prove it!) and pretty little camp spots, but I have yet to find any running water. The bath houses are glorified jonny-on-the-spots (yuck!) and there is supposedly one shower bath house, but I haven’t found it yet. Some might say its better than nothing, but I might feel more inclined to dig a hole than to brave the smell without a clothespin for my nose! It is a lovely place to camp, just be sure to bring bottled water, baby wipes and hand sanitizer.

Hubby pitched the tent while I gathered firewood. He also repaired the holes in our air mattress (Before I was married I would’ve scoffed at anyone who needed an air mattress and called them a “mambsy-pambsy” as my father says. Guess the laughs are on me now!), inflated it and put up the hammock. Then he ran the extension cord out across the campsite and hooked up the computer for me. Not sure what else I was doing…oh, yeah, I “TESTED” the hammock. Ya know- had to make sure it was safe and all that good stuff. God love husbands! I never go camping without one! Oh, and he removed the before mentioned catfish head. The man is a saint, I tell you!

The sun has gotten lower and the sky is turning pink and peach with a purple haze. Everything feels perfectly mellow. Paul took the dogs down to the lake and worked with them on their swimming skills and then by the playground where they were big celebrities with all the kids. By the time they got back here they passed out from exhaustion. There’s nothing better than sleeping outside on a summer evening, especially when the heavenly aroma of a cedar campfire is on the breeze.

I wonder who the patron saint of camping is? You’d think I’d know! Guess I’ll have to look into it. Thank you, Lord, for nature and the opportunities you give us to enjoy it.

Hubby must have read my mind because he just started the fire! I’m going to go enjoy it and him (and marshmallows)! Au Revior!

Rogers, Arkansas

Paul and I spent Saturday exploring Rogers, AR, a very quaint little town. At the farmers market by the train station, an ancient cowboy sold us peaches out of the back of his pick up truck. We wandered down streets painted with drawings by locals. I snapped pictures of butterflies in the town park while Paul found geocaches.

My dear husband, who is not a museum fan, took me to a fun little "hands-on" museum. And he even enjoyed it! He then made the ultimate sacrafice and went with me on a tour of an old victorian era home. He did warn me not to get too used to this. Luckily, I know he's a sucker for making me happy.

We enjoyed lunch at Las Palmas. Best. White. Cheese. Sauce. EVER! Cold beers. Las Palmas was decorated with a beautiful cross and a huge carved friar. Our friend, the Friar, allowed for a perfect photo op since Paul felt similiar to how our Friar looked!

We found a B.B. gun museum and a Vespa store before driving out to Beaver Lake for a weekend of camping.

Life is Good.