GARVAN WOODLANDS GARDENS

We left Texas and headed to Crystal Springs Corp of Engineer park, outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  We were meeting some friends there.  We have known Frank and Loretta since our sons played baseball together in college.  That has been 15 years ago.  Even though we might go for a long time without seeing them, Loretta and I kept in touch through phone calls and emails.  They are a great couple that enjoy doing a lot of the same things we enjoy doing.  They have a group of friends that they camp with and have been camping with for years.  We had always heard about them.  Well, Frank and Loretta’s group had planned a week’s trip to Crystal Springs and they invited us to meet up with them.

We had planned to meet up with them on Tuesday, but because of the refrigerator problems, we got there Wednesday.  Frank had made a tee time for he, Mr. W, and a single lady who is part of their group to play golf on Thursday.  Loretta’s sister and brother-in-law, Ken, are also part of the group.  Ken’s family is from the Hot Springs area.  Ken had heard a story about a scandal that supposedly had happened years before that had resulted in his grandfather leaving Hot Springs.  He really wanted to research this and try to find out what he could about it.  One of the group had a friend that was raised in Hot Springs and has returned.  She had connections with the historical society.  So, while the golfers played golf, we went to the historical society.

They were great.  They had already pulled a TON of information on his relatives to look through.  It was almost overwhelming.  Ken spent as much time as he could looking through everything.  He got copies of some articles, bought 2 books, and had some great old pictures scanned before it was time to go.

We then headed to Garvan Woodlands Gardens.  The Gardens was started by Verna Cook Garvan, daughter of Arthur B. and Louise Cook of Malvern, Arkansas.  Mr. and Mrs. Cook had purchased the land and cleared the part where their homestead was to be built.  Mr. Cook, who operated Wisconsin-Arkansas Lumber Co. and the Malvern Brick and Tile Company, suddenly died in 1934. Mrs. Cook no longer wanted to live there and gave the land to her daughter, Mrs. Garvan.  Shortly after Mr. Cook's death, Mrs. Garvan assumed control as one of the first female CEO's of a major southern manufacturing business and served in that capacity until her retirement in the 1970s.  In 1956, Mrs. Garvan began to develop the land as a garden and over the next forty years planted thousands of specimens. Upon her death, Mrs. Garvan left the property to the Department of Landscape Architecture through the University of Arkansas Foundation.

 

 

 

 

There has been a drought in the Hot Springs area.  With it being autumn, most of the flowering plants were no longer blooming.  The gardens were very pretty but I can only imagine how gorgeous they are during the spring and summer with all the flowers blooming.  They have many beautiful water features and bridges.  There is also a beautiful glass and wood chapel on the grounds.  It is used for many, many weddings.  They have even developed 2 buildings/pavilions to be the bride and groom buildings.  The next time one of my friends gets married, I’m pushing for this venue.  It is absolutely beautiful.

 

As you can imagine, there were a lot of pumpkins out and around.  They are also decorating for Christmas.  I wish I could visit again when the lights are all up and on.  They already had lights up in parts of the gardens.  You could find the lights up in the trees, around the trees, along the walkway, and on metal reindeer and snowmen.  They had made a short lighted walkway into an area of the gardens and it led to an open structure that looked suspiciously like an area where a fat, jolly man might pose for a picture or listen to a Christmas wish list.  If you are in the area and go see the lights, let me know what you think.

After our walk through the gardens, it was time to head back to camp.  It had been a long day with quite a bit of walking, but well worth it.  The cost to get in the gardens is $15 pp.  They have a great little outdoor café, The Chipmunk Cafe,  with great food.  I had the turkey, bacon, avocado sandwich and it was awesome.  They were kind of slow with getting some of our food out, so the manager gave us all a free scoop of ice cream! Yum!

 

NORCOLD 4-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MODEL 1210

Did the title give it away? Yep, we are having refrigerator problems. We were suppose to have left for Branson via a 3-day stop in Arkansas on Monday, September 21st.  If you remember, we had stayed with the grands while Son and DIL went on a cruise.  We stayed at their home and put the 5W in storage.  When we got back in the trailer, I turned the refrigerator on and the freezer immediately started cooling down.  The refrigerator, not so much.  The next morning the refrigerator still did not feel very cool.

Mr. W immediately started looking for a thermometer.  Sure enough, the refrig was not cooling down past 45 degrees.  Thank goodness I had not bought a lot of groceries.  Fortunately, a guy, who owns a mobile RV repair service, had done some work on a friend's a/c and had done a good job.  We got his name and number, gave him a call, and made an appointment for him to come to us and repair the refrig.

We had bought an extended warranty when we bought the 5W.  Mr. W doesn't usually buy extended warranties but when a RV 2-way refrig goes out and has to be replaced, you are talking $4500.  One refrig replacement more than pays for the extended warranty.  Ed (the repairman) asked Mr. W if he had a warranty.  When Mr. W told him that he had it through Cornerstone, Ed told him that he did business with them all the time, they were great to deal with, and he would handle turning in all the paperwork.  Great!

Ed arrives and begins doing tests on several things.  All of the readings were in the normal range.  He opened up the outside door and found a couple of things.  First of all, the manufacturer had built a "box" or panel in the back.  The panel had fallen.  That did 2 things. 
          1. Aluminum tape was holding it up and when it fell, the aluminum tape came off and stuck in one of the fans.  The fan was not working.  He took the tape off the fan and the fan immediately started working.
         2. The panel that fell, fell on top of the "chimney" that allows air flow.  There wasn't much room for air flow with the panel.  So, he trimmed down the panel to make it smaller and he screwed it in so it wouldn't fall again.

He did say that the thermistor was reading in the acceptable range but on the high end.  When he left, he told me that if I still felt like it wasn't cooling like it should in the next day or 2 to call him and he would mail us a thermistor and Mr. W could change it out. I am glad to say that the refrig is now at 37 degrees.

We felt like Ed did a good job.  He came to us.  Actually, he travels all through southeast Texas.  He was very reasonable and seemed to be very knowledgeable.  So, if you are anywhere in southeast Texas and need RV repair of any kind, call Ed.

Ed Martinez
Ed's RV Mobile Service
574-349-1988

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND THE TOOTH FAIRY

Son and DIL went on a cruise yesterday, so Mr. W and I are staying with the grandkids for a few days.  DIL is really good about writing everything down as to what their schedule is, important phone numbers, what to expect for homework, etc.  I had forgotten how busy kids can be and after just reading their schedule, I was TIRED!

Girl-child is in 5th grade this year.  She attends an elementary school that will feed in to Klein Oak (KO) HS.  Since everyone knows what a BIG deal high school football is in Texas, this particular high school wants to make sure that younger students start looking forward to being part of the excitement when they get to high school.  So, KO has a "Future Panthers (the mascot) Night" each year.  Five fifth graders from all the elementary schools that feed in to KO are selected and they and their families get to attend a "tailgating" party, the football game for free, and receive an award on the field at halftime.  They also get to meet the cheerleaders, watch the team warm up, meet/watch some of the drill team (dance team), sit by the marching band, and watch them all perform at halftime.  Girl-child was one of the 5 winners from her school.

Girl-child with her T-shirt and VIP badge

The Panther (the mascot) came around to greet all the winners.  She posed for a quick picture with Girl-child and Boy-child. Squeaky thought the Panther was a little creepy. 

Girl-child and Squeaky posed with some of the cheerleaders. 

Girl-child receiving her award from the Panther on the field at half-time.

All 3 kids as we are getting ready to go on the field.

Girl-child's award.  I know this is a football, but does anyone else think this looks like a M&M?

After we got home from the football game, Boy-child announces that he has lost a tooth.  So, I ask if the tooth fairy still brings them money for lost teeth.  He replies that yes she does and so he wraps his tooth in a napkin because if he puts it under his pillow, it will get lost and the tooth fairy won't be able to find it and therefore will not leave the money.  You know the money is what it is all about, right?

Boy-child goes to sleep, tooth fairy tip-toes into his room, picks up the napkin, leaves the money, and manages to slip out of his room and throw the napkin away.  However, tooth fairy does not check the napkin to make sure tooth is still inside the napkin.  Fast forward to this morning.

Boy-child (BC):  "The tooth fairy gave me money but she left my tooth."

Me:  "Really?  Is the napkin still there?"

BC:  "No.  But, my tooth was still on my night stand under a statue."

Me:  "Well, I guess the tooth fairy left it as a souvenir since it is your first molar that you lost." (How
           is that for quick thinking?)

BC:  "I guess.  But Girl-child is going to be SO mad." (He said almost laughing.)

Me:  "Why is that?"

BC:  "Because the tooth fairy left me $3!  We NEVER get more than a dollar and most of the time it
          50 cents."

Oops.  I guess either inflation has hit the tooth fairy or maybe the tooth fairy was a grandmother tooth fairy.  All I know is Son and DIL are going to have a hard time figuring out what they think the tooth fairy should leave next time a tooth is lost in the family! Ahhh, the pleasure of being a grandparent.

BILLIE JO ROHACEK-WARREN

Billie Jo Rohacek-Warren

November 22, 1975 - September 1, 2015

Billie Jo Rohacek-Warren, 39, of Port Bolivar, died Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. She was born November 22, 1975, to Juanita “Skip” Gibson Rohacek and Joseph “Joe” Rohacek, in Galveston. Billie Jo loved her family, and her dear best friends, Wendi Clark and Kandi Robertson. She was always concerned for other people. Some of her happiest times were working at the Outrigger Grill.  She is survived by her husband, Jason and her son, Gavin, and 6 sisters.  She is preceded in death by her mom and dad.

Billie Jo was married to Mr. W's nephew, Jason.  She was a sweet, quiet girl who was loved by many.  Maybe she was quiet because she was the youngest of 7 sisters and with that many girls, she may not have had a chance to say much! :) I can remember at many family functions that she would sit with Mema (Mr. W's mom, Jason's grandmother) and talk with her for long periods of time.  She just had a way with older people.  When Mema and Pepa still lived in their house but were in not too good of health, Billie would call to check on them and talk a long time with them.  It meant the world to them.

She loved Jason.  Now that is a big statement.  Jason is a guy who is gruff and tough on the outside, but really a big, tenderhearted guy on the inside.  It's just hard to find that inside sometimes.  Billie knew exactly where it was and could see right through that gruff and tough.  She was a good wife to Jason.

Billie and Jason had 1 child.  His name is Gavin and he is 8 years old.  Gavin is the light that made her world bright.  Gavin felt the same way about his mom.  I can't even begin to imagine the feelings going through Gavin right now.  Please say a prayer for this young boy.  His life has forever changed.

It had just been in the past few years that Billie had sat down with me and really talked one on one about her life, her sisters, her nieces and nephews, and her mom.  I will always treasure those times.

Her funeral was this past Saturday, September 5th, and the community on Bolivar Island and Crystal Beach (where she grew up) were awesome.  It was heartwarming to see how many people turned out to pay their respects and to provide food and a place for the family and friends to gather after the service.  It must be a great place to live with all that support and care.

Billie will be missed.  Her passing has left a hole in our family.  But, I will say that when I heard she had passed away, my first thought was that she and Mema were probably sitting off in a corner of heaven catching up in conversation.  I know Mema was glad to see her.  Here's to Billie, until we meet again.

 

BUDDY AND STELLA COME FOR A VISIT

Mr. W's cousin, Buddy, and his wife, Stella, came for a visit to the lake.  They have been wanting to come all summer and finally made it. 

Buddy retired about a year before Mr. W but decided to go back to work "part-time" until they could pay off some bills and retire "full-time" again.  Buddy's parents, Aunt Bootsie (don't you love these nicknames you have for aunts and uncles?) and Uncle Norman, had also moved in with Buddy and Stella.  They are both close to 90 and not in good health.  Uncle Norman has Alzheimer's.  Buddy's sisters had been taking care of them for several years and now it was Buddy's turn.

For any of you out there that have been in the situation where you have or are taking care of aging parents, you know how stressful it can be.  You love them and respect them, but it is hard to go from the role of being their child and they are your parent to you becoming like the parent and they become like the child.  It is a fine balance that you have to find and sometimes it is hard to find. 
So, it was good that Buddy had a few days to get away and relax.

Buddy and Stella live in Georgetown, TX.  They have 5 acres with a nice house, pool, and what he calls a "shop" in the back.  It is a big metal building that his 5W fits in plus all of his tools, yard stuff, and plenty of room left over to do woodworking in.  Here's a pic of their 5W.  They have a toy hauler and this thing is BIG.  It is 42 ft. long and when the patio opens up on the back, I think it is close to 50 ft. long.

 

Buddy brought his "short" surfboard and wanted to "surf" behind the boat.  He said he had done this before and that it was fun. 

 

He is up on his knees

He's got one foot on the surfboard! Maybe he really is going to do this!

Uh, well, maybe not.

Buddy tried many times and the outcome was the same.......splash!  We decided maybe he did it when he was MUCH younger and MUCH lighter weight! :)

 

Speaking of weight, we always eat very well when we are together.  Stella always over estimates the amount of food needed and we could actually feed about half the campground on what she and I put together.  Buddy is our designated cook, but he loves it.  Having a toy hauler, he hauls his grill with him wherever he goes.

 

Buddy's sister, Babs, and her husband, Duane, came up for a day to join in on the fun.  Duane wanted to ski so Mr. W pulled him around the cove until he got tired.  They ended up staying until close to 10:00 that night because we were having so much fun talking and reminiscing that no one wanted it to end.

Babs and Duane

Duane on a slalom ski.  Go Duane go!

The next day, Buddy and Stella decided they wanted to fish.  They have 2 kayaks and went out that morning in their kayaks to try their luck.  Well, they didn't have much luck.  So, that late afternoon/evening, we all went out in the boat and decided to troll to see if the white bass were biting.  Mr. W loves to fish for white or black bass.  He is not a catfisherman.  He loves to eat them but he doesn't love to catch/clean them.  Bass are a different story.  He could catch and/or clean them all day long.  So, when you are in his boat fishing with him, you are going to be fishing for bass.  No one caught anything, but it was nice just trying.

The sunset as we were coming back to shore.

After dinner that night, we sat out by the water and looked at the full moon over the water.  Stella decided that she would fish from the bank.  She ended up catching a small catfish that was too little to keep, but at least she caught something!

Stella sitting at the shore fishing.  There is also my friend Bimbo.  One of the smartest, best dogs in the world. They named her Bimbo because she is a "blonde" lab.  I think I should be insulted!?!

The time passed all too fast and they had to leave.  They didn't want to and we would have loved for them to stay, but their responsibilities were calling.  It seems like they can only get time off in August/September, so our time together is one time a year.  I'm not sure if they look forward to it as much as we do.  I hope they do.  So, until next year.