Adventures in Arkansas day #1

We finally made it to Arkansas after a long and stressful, but uneventful day of travel. Miles did awesome all day, as I expected. He was great on the plane, in the airport and fell asleep immediately in the rental SUV, sleeping almost until we arrived. Ivy was a bit more challenging on the plane, but nursed and slept more than I expected, making for a pretty easy flight.

The landscape here is beautiful, even in Fayetteville. They have had their share of rain the past few months so things are lush and green, even in the beginning of Fall. The land is thick with trees. When Miles first awoke in the car on the way here, every time we passed trees he would holler, "Look! Forest!". But quickly realize it's all forest here, at least compared to San Diego.

Doris has turned her home into a Bed and Breakfast for us. She has provided us with the master bedroom, even emptying out some drawers and making room in her closet. Miles has his own room, complete with toys.

When we arrived last night Doris has made an amazing crockpot roast with carrots and potatoes. It was so good, and we ate and ate, even Ivy ate the carrots and potatoes. It was the first real meal we'd had all day, and with the food choices on the way here, seemingly all fast, drive thru choices, the meal was much appreciated.

Keith had one of Keeley's home brews that she left here for him. The drinking water is literally from a stream in the Ozarks that Keeley provides for her Mom. You can taste the minerals. It's wonderful. All the eggs are fresh from Keeley's flock. It's just like home! Well, at least the eggs will be.

After dinner we took a quick walk down the neatly manicured streets, lined with conservative brick houses. We discovered a gorgeous park just a block or two down the street with a walking trail. This morning we'd like to see where that walking trail leads.

Last night we went outside to get something from the car and I was dumbstruck by the stars! Even here in "town" (I say it in quote, because I haven't really seen any town as I know it yet) the stars are so bright! Miles came out and we just stood there, in our pajamas, mouths hanging open and discussed whether we needed apps to tell us what stars were what, or if we just wanted to soak it all in. In the end we just soaked it in. I can't wait to see the Ozark sky, if that's the normal night sky.

It seems we'll have beautiful weather here in which to explore Arkansas. Mid-70's and sunny during the day and 40's at night. This morning I sat by the bed keeping watch on sleeping Ivy, so she wouldn't fall out of the bed. Now I'm enjoying Doris' famous coffee. She remembered I drink decaf and had a little coffee pot of decaf just for me. I think it's going to be a great day!

I finally found a wifi coffee shop, an awesome place called Mama Carmen's where you coffee helps orphans somehow... You can read the whole backstory online. So I'm going to call this first blog away from home success and go enjoy my coffee and chocolate coconut bar. Cheers!