Thoughts about the Ice

I decided to share our experience with the winter storm that came through NWA the last week in January 2009. We were only out of power for about 5 hours Tuesday night / Wednesday morning; about an hour Wednesday at noon; Thursday afternoon for about 5 hours. What we didn't realize when falling in love with our neighborhood was that we may be on the same electric grid as NWA Regional Hospital, the fire station, and another ambulance service. What we knew we liked about the house was the friendly neighbors, the ranch style, the gas log fireplace, the backyard, and the mature trees.

The biggest blessing we found last week was our neighbors. When one yard was cleaned up or had a crew working we all moved to another yard. Those who were able had saws going or carried limbs. Those who were not able brought out cupcakes and bottled water. At one point we laid out our picnic blanket for several of us to watch a large pine tree cut down. When a big chunk would fall the kids and the ladies would clap and the guy with the saw (who spoke no english) would smile really big and give a "thumbs up." On Sunday, the sermon at church was about how we have experienced community through the crisis and how we should strive to make every day that way. I almost cried because our little corner of the world in the little cul-de-sac is very much like that every day. I am very thankful for that.

The gas logs worked like a charm, at least while we slept in the living room on the hide-a-bed. Our living area never dropped below 55 degrees with the logs cranked up. I asked Nathan if we could sleep in the living room Tuesday (before the power was out) because the pine trees were leaning towards our bedroom and the outside wall our bed is on. I called it a "one-dog-night" because that is all we had so we would have to make due either way. We turned the logs on early in the morning because we woke up cold to realize the power was off. We turned them on again Thursday and lit a lot of candles after work until we were tired and the electricity came back on before we fell asleep.

I wish we could have done more for the less fortunate. We offered our house to people we knew could get out of their houses but didn't have electricity. I was definitely upset by the loss of the trees, not only in our neighborhood, but everywhere we went. It is a hard lesson in taking care of our property by trimming and thinning out where needed. I hope I never hear "it looks like a war zone" about something like this again. As we walked home from work with the limbs popping and falling near us; trees uprooted or broken in half laying across the road, and I knew that emergency vehicles couldn't reach us if something happened, I felt helpless and scared. That's when I thought of people who really live in war torn areas. When I looked around I didn't see the dying or hear screams or sobs like I remember in reports of war. I have a new appreciation for what I think of as hoplessness in a very secure life and what I can't imagine life is like where there is no security.

I haven't had a serious post like this in a while, but it feels good to get off my chest. I have lots of pictures to share because they can speak louder than words sometimes. Then I think I can move on to happier things like who is turning the big 0-3 next week?

The pot and the kettle walk into a bar

So I just did as close to a blogging cardinal sin as it comes. I suggested a good friend and good blogger that they had not updated their blog recently enough, when in fact I have not updated mine in a very long time. Well, it wasn't so much the timeframe as the content of the last blog. Atomic Annie had a blog about the "curse of the Black Knight" with an equally ominous picture to go with it. I was feeling a mite creeped out by checking the blog often and re-reading that entry. I would much rather the top entry be about her cute-as-a-button munchkin or getting ready for the next munchkin. But it is understandable that she is actually getting ready for the next arrival instead of blogging. I am so sorry for the undue pressure! As part of my pentance I am including a cute picture of my own: Jackson playing hide-and-seek in the backyard.

Notice Anything?

We took this picture because the maple tree in the front yard was SO pretty.

Did you notice we pulled the ol' switch-R-roo on ya? We moved! I guess the total distance we moved was less than 5 miles, but we are close to work and in a super neighborhood. The house is about 10 years older than the previous one, so we are "getting" to replace things as we get money. Except for the water heater... more on that later.

Last Fall Outings

Here is Nate and various tailgaters on a nice fall day getting ready for football. I especially like tailgating because it is a good excuse to hang out outside during my favorite season of the year. Nate and I have not been to a football game in at least one season: tickets = >$. Nate is a student again for a master of science so he will get cheaper tickets this year and next year. I am willing to negotiate for the "spouse" ticket. ;)

Speaking of Nate going back-to-school, here he is on his first day back in 4 years. God speed, young man.



Jackson was practicing his sit- and down-stay for pictures at Grandma and Grumpa's house in the fall decor'. He even looks shiny and clean, must have had a bath. We were waiting for Nate to get back from something. Jackson did so well in the first pictures I decided to take some of the two of us. you can see how well that worked.

Let them eat Cake

I was looking back at what I have missed blogging about in the last 6 months and several events had to do with cake. So I thought I would go ahead and share those first. Well, I can share the pictures and details of the celebration, but the cake is long gone.

This was Jackson's first birthday "cake". It was actually a soup bone from the butcher shop but I stuck a candle in it anyway. I know you have already seen a post about this, but I couldn't leave the puppy out.



This is my dad, me, and our birthday cake. His birthday is two days before mine and last year he came to visit during the birthday weekend, so I planned to have this cake made for us. One thing we have in common (besides jumping out of canoes - more on that later) is love of baseball. It just happens that we have an I-44 rivalry for favorite teams, even though we don't even live in the same state as the teams. Go figure. I brought the cake to work and surprised my dad by asking him to come by there first. Always bring the cake to work so they will help you eat it and you won't end up with another birthday gift of extra pounds!


Our very good friends Josh and Lateaschia got married on the same weekend as Nate and I and our other good friends Jarrod and Dior just years apart. Josh's groom cake was very fitting, just not as awesome as Nate's was. Nate's Razorback shaped cake was SO awesome no one wanted to eat it and we ended up having a whole cake when we came back from the honeymoon.

This is cousin Lara's wedding "cake". I just LOVE the idea of using cupcakes instead of a big cake... There is no cutting! Just be sure to have extras stashed away for when the kids have been sneaking cupcakes and you want to take pictures!
This last one is Jackson's second birthday cake. It is really a cake this time. We got it at Big Wag Dog Bakery. Then we invited our friends and their dogs to the park for a walk and puppy cake for Jackson's Barkday Pawty. I even made invitations. : )

what engineers do for fun

We sometimes go to bridges to check them out. This is the "Big Dam Bridge" in Little Rock/North Little Rock. We studied the concrete work and the steel work. It all checked out to me... I know little about either. I deal with piles of dirt instead of stuff in the air. Anyway, this is the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, from what I understand, and was retrofitted over an existing lock-and-dam on the Arkansas River, hence the name. And no, "retrofitted" has nothing to do with polyester and bell bottoms.

Jackson was not too thrilled about being 100 feet up in the air or with all the people riding by on bicycles.

Whitaker Point

The three of us like to go hiking and see new places. Whitaker Point is a must-hike for anyone who can handle a 3-mile moderate hike. It is just beautiful. Tim Ernst does a great job photographing it and those are worth googling if you like nature pics.