Arkansas trip

This past week, my mom & I traveled to Harrison, Arkansas to visit Rex & Norma Brazell, some long-time friends of our family.  Rex Brazell ranked among the TOP on my dad's "friend list".  They were cattle partners for many years.  Riding across their pastures in Boone County was one of Daddy's favorite pastimes.  I enjoyed many such rides over the years.  It is always a little bittersweet to go back & visit the old places we had shared together.  I cherish the rides (horseback & in the pick-up) counting, checking on & feeding the cattle with Rex.  It gives me an opportunity to revisit memories & feel my dad's very presence in a place he loved.  It always seems to bring a tear to my eyes, but also makes me smile at the same time.  Here are a couple of pictures......the first is of Bud, one of Daddy's horses that Rex now owns & uses......the second is of me with Rex's horse that I got to ride on one of our morning rides......the third is of a baby calf hiding under a tree that was broken off in a recent ice storm.  Good times with good friends!!

Making progress....

The concrete slab for our house addition was poured on Friday, March 6.  Saturday we had rain in the forecast.  It started raining Monday & rained most of the week.  We didn't want lumber to be delivered & sitting in the rain, so we savored the rain & didn't complain about losing a week of work on the house project.  

Monday AM the lumber was delivered & the framers got started.  They've made great progress. Look at the pictures in the slideshow a couple of postings down to see what's happening.