More Aunts with a Couple Cousins Thrown In

This is one of the first sights I saw this morning - my wierd Aunt Hellen wearing rollers. Like that wasn't traumatic enough, she also wore them when we went to Denny's for breakfast!


I thought this was a lovely photo of Aunt Ola Fay in the lobby of the hotel where we stayed last night.

FINALLY Aunt Joyce and Uncle Bob arrived today. Now all the sisters are together. Whew. Joyce and Kunkel Bob closed their business to attend. Thank you.


Here is a photo of my mom and all her sisters arranged by age. You can figure out which direction that age thing goes as I am staying out of it if you guess wrong! LOL (L to R: Ola frim Arkansas, my mom Velear from Florida, Aunt Joyce from Arkansas, Aunt Mary from Florida, and Aunt Hellen from Washington/New Mexico)

Aunt Mary & Uncle Larry's daughter Elizabeth and her son Seth. They came down from Georgia for this special event.

Aunt Mary & Uncle Larry's oldest daughter Rhonda and her daughter Rachel. Rhonda came from Arkansas and Rachel from Tenessee.

Way Back Wednesday

I saved these vacation photos for Way Back Wednesday because they are photos of historic Washington, Arkansas. For those who live on the east coast this architecture may seem like nothing special but for this area it is quite unusual to have so many structures from the early 1800's.

We started with a tour of the 1874 Hemstead County courthouse. It was used as a courthouse until 1939. Today it is the Old Washington Historic State Park's information center, with museum exhibits, and a gift shop. I took a photo of the beautiful staircase but the lighting was all wrong and it didn't turn out. Beautiful turned wood double staircase.



The first photo is of the Williams Tavern Restaurant. In it's early tradition, this building is still used to serve delicious southern meals every day.

Crouch House (c. 1857). Greek Revival

One of these small buildings was a lawyer's office but I can't remember which one :( Click here to view an interactive map of the town's historic buildings. You just click on a building on the map and it will give you a popup with a photo and information on the buiding.

I'm really wishing I had taken more photos and visited more of the buildings or taken the guided tour. I had no idea when we stopped how much there was to see and photograph or how interesting it would be. We hadn't alloted enough time. You might want to check out the park, buildings, and historical significence by visiting their website here.

Beyond visiting family, we have had some great vacation times in Arkansas. There's horse races and natural mineral baths in Hot Springs, fishing and birdwatching at DeGray Lake and many river lodges like Table Rock Lake, diamond mining in Murfreesboro, duck hunting in Stuttgart, etc. I believe Arkansas is a well kept secret and if you are looking for a natural vacation in an area with low crime and reasonable prices, check it out.