Weekly Blog about All Things Arkansas

Where Is Your Happy Place?

6/12/2014

I try to write about things other than being outside. Really I do. But have you spent much time outdoors? Our state is full of so many natural wonders and so many places to hike or run or skip or frolic, I just can’t help writing about them.

And one of the most beautiful locations in Arkansas is directly behind my house. A creek meanders along, white capping in a few spots and pooling in others. When deciding where to build the house, I walked up and down the creek again and again, then hiked to the top of the adjacent hill, seeking out the most perfect view.

Since that time, I have occasionally suggested that a sweet gazebo closer to the creek would be lovely. My sweet husband probably heard it more as nagging, but … well, surely I was simply providing him an opportunity to better express his love for me. Right?!

So a couple years into the occasional reminder from his lovely wife, he passed the project on to my 16-year-old son Chase, who can build or create anything. Truly. Anything at all.

We had acquired a playground roof that had been allocated for the dump. It was – it is – bright red and plastic, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Chase talked with me about where I wanted the gazebo – somewhere where I had a clear view of the creek – and what I wanted there – just needed to be able to sit and place a cup of coffee on a side table. And then there was the issue of snakes. I’m not particularly afraid of snakes, but I’m also not fond of the idea of them coming up to me unannounced. So, he cleared and leveled the ground and bought a whole lot of Quikrete so that I would have a solid white floor where nothing could arrive without my knowledge.

He has a pretty refined sense of what is right and what is wrong, and he was sure having a plastic roof was wrong. He begged me not to have a plastic roof. He tried getting his grandma to plead his case. Unfortunately, having just opened a business, we Careys are completely broke, so we kept the plastic roof. As long as it keeps me in the shade and out of the rain, I think it’s fine.

My recycled and son-made gazebo was soon complete, and the hubby placed a table and chair from our front porch down there for me. The next problem was that the 100 yards from my house down to the gazebo are not easy to traverse and could easily have snakes along the leaf-strewn path. (Have I mentioned that my beautiful creek is aptly named Moccasin Creek? Snakes are a common occurrence.)

I had sweetly asked the husband to begin gathering rocks to create a path for me to saunter down. As we grow rocks rather than plants out in the woods, it wasn’t going to be a horrid task finding enough rocks. Relocating them was going to be another story. But then I drove up to my parents’ house and there was my dad, gleefully tearing up an old sidewalk to nowhere. He was sitting on his little dozer, and I swear he was smiling from ear to ear.

His smile was matched by mine. “Whatchya doin’ with that?” I asked. And in less than five minutes, Dad’s trash was my treasure. The sidewalk had been built decades ago, and one of the stones has my brother’s and my name etched in the concrete. Could there be anything better?!

So let me recap this for you: In the middle of nowhere, there is a house in the middle of the woods. A creeks runs below the house. And now, next to the creek, the property boasts a tiny gazebo made with a red, plastic roof and with a path leading to it made up of trashed sidewalk parts.

Every. Single. Part. Makes. Me. Happy.

This is my happy place.

Almost every day, I am drawn to the creek. I sit there and listen to the water flow for 15 minutes or maybe for an hour. I drink a cup of coffee. I read a book. I pet my dog, who always joins me because he loves me and he loves the creek. I look at the concrete floor, and am thankful for a teenaged son that took the time to make sure the snakes don’t get me. I walk the stones and am thankful for a family that gave me a blessed childhood and a husband never once complained about this project, at least to me.

This, yes, this is my happy place. Where is yours?

You can link to a small clip here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204010166756585&l=2684328205051986614

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What's White Street in Eureka Springs Got?

5/19/2014

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This time last year I drove to Eureka Springs to the White Street Studio Walk. I had an appointment to view handmade stained glass, including kaleidoscopes, lanterns, lamps, and small and large window pieces. At the time, I was working during the day at the job I had held for the past 13 years, and on the evenings and weekends, I would spend hours working on the business plan for what was to become All Things Arkansas.

This was my first trip to visit with potential vendors; and I not only acquired the stained glass, I also selected some gorgeous handcrafted jewelry. Both have sold well from the day All Things Arkansas first opened its doors.

This year I returned to White Street, picking up products from the vendors I already knew and speaking with a couple new faces – one of whom I had not spoken with last year but that I had not forgotten. Be on the lookout for new lines in the upcoming months.

My husband joined me this year, and it is more fun to shop WITH someone than alone. It’s also easier to notice things I did not notice before, as our conversations caused us to look more in depth at things I might have passed over otherwise.

Here are some observations as we all continue to pursue downtown Hot Springs revitalization efforts:

We didn’t see any T-shirt shops in the downtown area. We have in past years – and Eureka Springs certainly experiences a lot of downtown turnover just as we do in Hot Springs – but there were primarily more custom items available. It made for a memorable shopping experience.
The storefronts are incredibly small. While I did not count the number of stores we walked through, I am confident there were at least twice as many as in Hot Springs and probably either three or four times as many. (This could be one reason there were no T-shirt locations, as retailers need to have higher priced items in order to remain viable in such small quarters.)

It occurred to me that if the property owners in Hot Springs would subdivide properties or allow subletting (and perhaps some do?), they could actually bring in additional rental monies while also enabling more small business owners to add businesses downtown.
There appears to be a spirit of collaboration.
- The gallery association in Eureka Springs discusses what products are selling well and what are not. For 2014, food items and lower-priced items have seen more movement than the higher-end retailers. Such frank discussions require a level of trust that I’m not sure we are yet willing to embrace.
- One merchant was telling a customer that vendors are not duplicated from one store to another, that they work under a cooperative mentality for the mutual benefit of both the retailer and the customer. I’m not sure this is 100 percent true, but it certainly bears consideration.
The entire month of May is a celebration. The weekend we were there, not only was there the White Street Studio Walk, there was also a Saturday night Gallery Walk – as there is each Saturday in May – and a Camaro car show. Couldn’t we combine our efforts throughout the city so that we, too, could truly throw down for the whole month?!
Parking. We complain about parking in Hot Springs?! Why, we are downright parking royalty compared to Eureka Springs. It is both easier to get into and out of the downtown area and parking spaces, it also is much less expensive in Hot Springs. AND – our downtown is so close to flat compared to the mountainous terrain of Eureka Springs that we should be a natural choice for people wanting to shop and stroll in a downtown, outdoor setting.

I love to go to Eureka Springs. It is beautiful. It is quaint. It is quirky. Artists live there and breathe their unique essence without apology. It is my favorite spot to visit, but Hot Springs is my home. We do some things better than Eureka, and we can use their example to improve our hometown.

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Woman Crush Wednesday Survives Cancer

5/7/2014

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In April 2004 my friend Leah delivered twins. In July 2006 her daughter was born. Moments like these are experienced by young women each day, memorable to them yet forgettable to the rest of the world.

What happened between those two dates, though, is unforgettable to anyone who knows her. Her twins were born early and Park, after a valiant fight, ;passed away seven months later. Leah’s stepfather was diagnosed with and passed away from cancer as well.

Some time after that, I called her. Not sure why. Maybe I was just checking in. Maybe I wanted to talk about shopping. Maybe we were planning to do something while our husbands went fishing. Who knows? I only know today that I was in the parking lot of Dillard’s when the call went through.

Leah answered – I bet she doesn’t even remember this – and she was sobbing. I had no idea what was going on but eventually one word pierced my consciousness: cancer.

Leah was leaving the doctor’s office as we spoke on the phone. She was not yet 30 years old, and had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was still mourning the loss of her son and of her stepfather. She had to be tired after fighting for one son for so many months, while also raising and loving on Payton. She had already had multiple procedures from her C-section. If anyone deserved a break, it was Leah.

She did not get one.

After she dried her tears, Leah did her research. Not wanting to have the fear of recurring cancer throughout her lifetime, she opted for a double mastectomy. She then participated in a trial cancer treatment that potentially could have fewer side effects that traditional chemotherapy.

If there were fewer side effects, I couldn’t tell.

She lost her hair; she lost her breasts; she lost her son; but Leah never lost her faith. I never heard her cry again, and she slowly recovered. The light came back into her eyes slowly but surely.

She is my hero. From the day I watched her fight for her son when others would have given up, she has been my hero. To the day that we discussed reconstruction, she has been my hero. And the day that she completed her first marathon, I celebrated her life as my hero.

Many of you reading this know Leah and already know her story. If you do know her, you know that there is even more to the story. For those of you that don’t know her, I apologize for not including her picture, but I’m telling this story without speaking to her first as I want to celebrate Leah’s survivor status … whether she wants me to or not!

On May 30, the Garland County Relay for Life is being held at Oaklawn Jockey Club. It is a perfect evening to remember those we lost to cancer – such as our Aunt Jessie – and a day to celebrate our survivor heroes like Leah.

All Things Arkansas is swathed in purple this month in honor of cancer awareness. We also are placing placards throughout the store with names of those that we love that have had cancer. List them in the comments below or on our Facebook page, and I will add them. Several of you have even included pictures, and those pictures are on the placards as well.

Let’s join the American Cancer Society in its efforts to eradicate cancer.

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Who Makes You Hate Cancer?

5/1/2014

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Aunt Jessie was full of life. She was the only relative Mike and I had in El Dorado, and she would watch Chase for us on occasion. He was just a baby, and he had this habit – not an endearing habit, mind you – of screaming as long as he could. He didn’t do it because he was angry or scared or upset. He seemed to enjoy it.

We did not know why he did it, and we could not seem to make him stop. And then I discovered the source. I met Jessie on the road one day. She had her mouth open wide, and Chase was in the back seat. She was screaming. I can only assume Chase was screaming, too. They were screaming together. Apparently, it was a game and they both were having a blast!

Shortly thereafter, Mike was hired at Jessieville and we placed our house on the market. It sold within two days. I would be in El Dorado for several more months and Jessie allowed us to move into her apartment with her. Chase lived in the dining room.

As Mike – Jessie’s great nephew – already had moved, she showed great love and great patience by allowing us to essentially take over her apartment. She shopped for us and helped any way she could. Of course, part of her help involved keeping lots of chocolate (Reese’s peanut butter cups, to be exact) on the kitchen counter, which made it a little difficult to persuade Chase to eat strained carrots and green beans, but still. …

We noticed while there and even before moving in that Jessie was a tad unsteady on her feet, but we just attributed it to her eccentricity. She read for hours each day on an orange leather chair built in the 1950s and had more books than many libraries. When she wasn't reading, she collected shoes and she loved to laugh. We weren’t sure if she ever slept; I was in the only bed in the apartment. Jessie was Jessie: unique, quirky, beautiful, loving.

After Chase and I joined Michael in Jessieville, we heard she had fallen, bruised the entire left side of her body, and broken her glasses. Odd, but not that unusual for Jessie, we thought. That Christmas when we traveled to South Arkansas, she commented to me that it hurt to wear her bra. As I have sensitive skin, we commiserated together about the tribulations of being a woman. I thought no more about it.

A few months later, we received a call that Jessie had gone to the doctor and they had admitted her to the hospital for testing.

The news came within days. It was jarring. Jessie had cancer. Advanced cancer.

She had not been clumsy; she had been sick. Her skin was not sensitive; the cancer had metastasized. She was dying.

Chase, Mike, and I went to the hospital that weekend and visited. I don’t remember if we brought it or if it was already there, but she kept a framed picture of our boy Chase next to her bed. She chatted with us and seemed happy we were there.

It was one of the last days she spoke to anyone, and it was the last conversation we ever had, though it was not our last visit. Jessie never left the hospital, and she passed away within a month.

Cancer had taken the beautiful, the loving Jessie. I wanted to see her screaming with Chase again. I wanted her to leave out peanut butter cups so that he wouldn’t eat his dinner. I wanted to thank her for allowing us to live with her and to apologize for not appreciating it more.

None of those things could happen, but I can ensure her legacy lives on by telling both my boys of her love for our family. I can tell you about the brief time I was allowed to be part of her family, too.

I can honor her life and her memory, and so I begin a month of cancer awareness on this blog by telling you about Jessie.

During the month of May, All Things Arkansas will be decorated in purple, the universal color for cancer awareness. All the stores in downtown Hot Springs have been encouraged to do so. At 6 p.m. on May 30 at Oaklawn, volunteers throughout our community will celebrate Relay for Life for Garland County. As of last night, nearly $65,000 had been raised for the event to benefit the American Cancer Society.

What will your part be? I know that cancer has affected you, too. What is your story? Who do you want to honor? Who do you remember? Write your comments below. Or write them on the All Things Arkansas Facebook page. You can even come to the store and write them on cards there. No matter how you submit the story – or even just the name – of the one or ones you want to honor, we will post them throughout the store during the month.

Let’s spread awareness and let’s raise money to spread hope and, as the ACS states on its website, “to fight back and help end cancer forever.”

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Are You Part of the Problem or the Solution

4/24/2014

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Do you want to be a part of the problem or a part of the solution? Do you want to be an armchair quarterback or actually a part of the game? Do you want to grumble or take positive action?

We may not consciously consider these questions each day, but each day we answer those questions in word and in deed. We take courses of action accordingly in our churches; pertaining to our schools, about our government, and we have been witnessing it in downtown Hot Springs since the Majestic burned at the end of February.

Can I be honest? We are mean. We hit below the belt. We speak with venom, and we turn business into something personal. I don’t like it.

You can imagine my surprise, then, at what happened yesterday:

As a board member of the Downtown Hot Springs Merchants Association (we meet at 8:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Transportation Depot; join us!), I was called by the administrator of Hot Springs Community School. He said his students had some ideas about improving downtown Hot Springs. Would I be willing to listen?

Not really knowing what to expect, I agreed to meet with the students. Upon arriving, I learned they recently had taken a field trip downtown so that they could visit the area businesses and determine for themselves what steps might be helpful.

They asked me to listen to their suggestions and give my feedback. There were four components:

Facebook presence. The students researched Facebook and learned there already was a Downtown Hot Springs page with links to downtown businesses that shared information on products and events. They proposed continuing that, getting the word out better about the page, and embedding an interactive map of the downtown area.
Maps. They also wanted to create a hard copy of a map showing each location along Central between Whittington and Ouachita. They would like to not only provide the names of the businesses, but a brief overview of what each specializes in.
Surveys. This committee has created, and continues to modify, a survey so that the map will be complete and effective. It even includes a question about whether patrons can purchase a cold beverage at each store … which could be quite helpful for customers on hot summer days.
Website. They would like to have a downtown Hot Springs website that also includes the mapping discussed for the Facebook page and that would provide information and links on each location, as well as app capabilities for mobile phones. They would be willing to work with/through the Chamber of Commerce or the City of Hot Springs. They also still need the financing necessary to purchase the software to do this (about $10,000 if you would like to help them out).

I list their ideas here not so that we can discuss whether they will work. I list them because of what each one lacks, and in this case, I mean that in the best way possible. There was simply no negativity in their words. They didn’t discuss rundown buildings. Never once did they speak about the Hot Springs Thermal Basin; their eyes probably would have glazed over if I had brought it up! They did not talk politics. They didn’t talk old money. Not. One. Negative. Word.

There were no “can’ts.” There were only “cans.”

So, I ask you today, “What can you do to make a positive change where you are?” For downtown Hot Springs, it could be as simple as shopping there and making a positive impact on small businesses. For your church or synagogue, it could be praying for your pastor, that God would give him or her the strength to lead the congregation. For your school, it could be a note of encouragement to your child’s favorite teacher. And if any of this is too much – and there are days when it can be (I know, I am with you!) – maybe we could just be silent.

Be like the students at Hot Springs Community School. Actively seek ways to be a part of the solution.

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Visit Garvan Woodland Gardens Again

4/17/2014

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For years, we have visited Garvan Woodland Gardens during the Holiday Lights. At first we waited in line for hours, and then we wised up and began arriving before dark and walking the grounds through the twilight and until darkness arrived. It is beautiful. The lights are everywhere, and you feel like you have entered a winter wonderland.

I am a little embarrassed to admit, however, that I had never visited the gardens at any other point. Like ever.

Now that I run All Things Arkansas in downtown Hot Springs, I encourage people to visit the gardens almost every day. Despite having not visited during other seasons, my endorsement was sincere … albeit not as informed as it should be.

So, yesterday, my husband and I ventured out to the gardens for the day. Verna C. Garvan donated more than 200 acres along the Lake Hamilton shoreline to the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture back in 1985. The gardens continue to be developed, and private contributions have assisted in the creation of a world-renowned botanical garden.

One of the first things we noticed when we entered the garden was that we quickly were on paths that we don’t see during the holiday season. The trails are wide enough to allow for the carts used by volunteers and by the staff working on the grounds. They also are clear of debris, so that we would easily have been able to see any creatures that we would not want to step on but that obviously exist out in the woods. (In other words, we would have been able to see any snakes along the path!)

The azaleas were beginning to bloom, and we saw the largest hydrangea we’ve ever seen. There was a pathway of maples, including a lacy maple, and Japanese maple, and one variety that looks fairly similar to a marijuana leaf. I do realize this probably says more about the world I grew up in than anything else, but it was quite a trip to see, if you will forgive the pun. What fun to have the maples next to one another so that you could see both their similarities and their differences.

As we wound to our left, we crossed a couple bridges and saw several small waterfalls. As we approached a pond, dozens of large koi swam to the edge. A volunteer was nearby, and she explained that when the weather is warmer, they sell fish food to visitors. The koi obviously were hopeful but the weather was still too cold for us to be able to feed them.

Shortly after that, we could see the Lake Hamilton shoreline, and we began encountering visitors there for a morning walk. As annual passes are available, anyone living near the gardens could easily get a safe and rigorous morning workout in a beautiful setting. Not a bad idea; in fact, the events page shows that the gardens hosts walks a couple times each week.

Before long, we found ourselves in tulip heaven. Though some of them had passed their prime, I don’t know how anyone could make it through the section without smiling. I told my husband that it was a good thing we were married, because I knew he wouldn’t have ever made it there if it weren’t for me … and he would have been missing out! Once again, signage explained what each variety was, and I was pleased that the one I thought looked like a cross between two flowers was indeed a hybrid. With more than 135,000 bulbs planted, you could see almost every color imaginable.

We left the overwhelming fields of color to enter a section that appeared simply to be woods. We were just about to check whether we had inadvertently entered a restricted area when one of the employees approached us and said that we had almost reached an overlook complete with restrooms and water. Indeed, when we arrived, we could see the lake as well as the Ouachita Mountains. Breathtaking views.

From there, we ventured over to the Evans Children Adventure Garden. What fun! Who cares that we are adults; this was fabulous. We were able to walk BEHIND a waterfall! Who doesn’t want to do that?! Kids were climbing on top of rocks and in general acting like explorers. We had a blast (though we did not crawl over the rocks). A sign indicated that the children’s area currently is seeking funding for interpretative treehouses. Can I just say, “Yes, please”?! I want to climb through the treehouses when they are built. I sure hope they mean kids of all ages, because I am all excited about this.

We saw peacocks in a couple different areas. As a special Happy Birthday, I’m sure, one of them preened and pranced in front of me.

In short, I am stunned that I never had visited the Garvan Woodland Gardens at any time other than during the Holiday Lights. I look forward to going back soon, and with an admission price of only $10 per person, I can. The Garden is open 9-6 daily. For more information, call 1-800-366-4664.

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Let your voice be heard!

4/12/2014

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Each week for four weeks, the Downtown Game Plan Task Force is hearing comments about how to improve downtown Hot Springs. Last week, I was asked to speak, representing business owners and those newer to the downtown area.

Presenters were allotted 5-7 minutes each and then were asked questions by committee members. Below is a portion of the email I received prior to the meeting:

We would ask that, within your allotted time, you would please

address the following questions:

·State your name and the properties or businesses you represent?

·Give us some history of your properties and any

improvements you’ve made since you acquired them?

·What are your goals for the use of your properties?

· What do you see as the long-term vision for downtown

Hot Springs?

·What kind of obstacles have you overcome or do you perceive?

In an effort to stay within the timeframe and to answer the question, I actually wrote out my thoughts beforehand. This is something I NEVER do but wanted to make sure that I covered the issues they were asking about. And, while I did not read straight from this text, it should be fairly similar to what I said during the meeting:

My name is Lisa Coleman Carey. I am the owner of All Things Arkansas at 610-C Central Avenue and am honored to be here today as one of the newer businesses in Hot Springs.

While I am new to the downtown area, I have a longstanding relationship with business and Hot Springs. My father is Ron Coleman, who owns Ron Coleman Mining in Jessieville and Hot Springs.

In the late 80s, I had the honor of meeting renowned artist Benini, who was also a client of my dad’s. He wanted to create an arts community in HS and we were invited into his property in downtown HS numerous times. He would tell us that the building had been knee deep in pigeon shit as he showed us the improvements he made. This teenager could never forget that line!

When Rex Nelson wrote an article about downtown HS a little over a year ago and it was forwarded through Fifty for the Future, Benini’s dream and Rex Nelson’s dream resonated deep within me. I sent copies to Dorothy Morris and to my dad. Something was beginning to blossom within me. I began talking about the redevelopment plans that occurred in El Dorado, when Murphy Oil Corporation bought up ALL the properties around its headquarters so that they ensured the integrity of the area.

The dream was born: I wanted all of the downtown area, including where I am now, Whittington Avenue, Park, Ramble, etc. to return to its glory. What great living spaces. What natural areas for walking, running, and cycling. What a great place to eat and shop.

So I began the process. Long Hua Xu rented his space to me. The ceiling of my section was altered to meet new fire code regulations as he added on a gallery and living quarters upstairs. As he already had the space in excellent condition, other than that we painted and buffed the floors.

I opened the doors on July 23, 2013, featuring products from Arkansas, made in Arkansas, or relating to the state. Right now, we are developing plans for a second store downtown. You can keep an eye out for that development in the next year or so. Right now, I rent and am happy to do so. I would prefer to be a property owner, but will continue to wait until the right property is available at the right time … and until the regulations are sorted out.

To open the store, I worked closely with the ASBDTC through Henderson and often at the Chamber. In addition, Arvest and attorney Carl Crow were invaluable. To be honest, my only real struggle was wandering through the mire of regulations through the City. Everyone answered every question I asked, but I definitely had to ask the questions. Since then, I have been told that there is a list of each step to take in establishing a new business. If this is true, that information needs to be shared much more freely.

Instead, after thinking I was ready to go, I discovered I still did not have permits for the signs on the store or for the sandwich board outside. For that matter, when I attended the meeting for the sandwich board, no one was sure who actually would be approving it. Trust me, if you don’t know, we don’t know either.

I would again like to say that everyone was kind and answered all my questions. It is not their job to hold my hand as I take on a new career. However, I can only imagine how intimidating this could be for individuals who are wanting to start a new small business without the willingness to keep asking … or to sound a little confused along the way.

All Things Arkansas has been doing quite well since opening its doors last July. I would not be considering expanding if it was not. But what I would like to see is more businesses with their doors open downtown. When visitors pass by closed doors, and there are several just north of me, they may stop.

And if that happens, they will never make it to the other wonderful stores.

The more options people have for food, for hotels, for entertainment, and for shopping in the downtown area, the better off we all are. If you travel downtown to visit Tillman’s, Lauray’s, or Blue Moon Gallery, great! You very well may see something in the other storefronts that pulls you in as well.

The more events that occur downtown, the better off my business and our entire town are. We need a location for weekend events. I have heard many suggestions for how to add a site for entertainment purposes, and I have my own ideas, but implementing ANY of them has the potential to impact the small businesses, the city, the county, and our entire state.

I was born and raised 15 miles from here in Jessieville, Arkansas. I went to college out of state and worked for a Fortune 500 company before returning to this area and spending 13 years at National Park Community College. I returned to central Arkansas and have now established myself in downtown Hot Springs because I love and believe in our community. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world and, just as Coleman quartz sets the world standard, I believe Hot Springs can set the world standard for places to visit. To do that, we must work together. We must fill the buildings. We must promote our Hot Springs, and cross promote one another. We must fill our in- and out-of-house publications with the wonders of All Things Hot Springs. Together, we can and will set that standard.

Six minutes and 30 seconds. Whew! Once complete, members of the task force (a great representation of our area) asked several questions. I was asked about how often I had to return to the city thinking I had completed the process (only once, by the way) and how much help I needed (While I pride myself on doing things thoroughly and correctly on my own, I’m always more than happy to receive assistance from others). Bryan Smith then asked what types of festivals or events I would like to see downtown. I mentioned music festivals (a Christian music festival would be a great draw in our community and could reach several different audiences, in my opinion), arts and crafts festivals, and motorcycle rallies. For me, though, more important than the type of event is that it simply be something to bring people to Hot Springs, and that those people have a little money in their pockets that they would like to spend.

Those were my thoughts in answer to the questions put before us. What are yours? The City is hosting meetings for two more weeks. You can attend any of them, 5:30 on Mondays at City Hall, or you can watch them on TV. In addition, there is a blog up just for our thoughts. Here’s the link: http://www.cityhs.net/Blog.aspx?IID=6#comments. It’s our chance to be heard; speak now.

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Make Memories Together

4/2/2014

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Did you read my last blog? It ended with me commenting that I’d probably need another reminder to slow down … soon.

Yes.

I’m just not very good at it. I don’t do “slow.” I don’t do “relax.” In my world, there is always something else to do. Some way to make business better. Some item to be ordered. Something to be inventoried. Something to be researched. Something to be cleaned. …

And that may be true, but the problem with that mentality is that while I am focused on all things business, I may be missing all things truly important.

So last week, I cleared my calendar and hired someone to work at the store. My husband and I went away for a few days, just the two of us. Everything he did or said had been bugging me for the past few weeks, and I was pretty sure it wasn’t actually him. Even his breathing was bothersome! If he gave me a compliment, I wondered what his ulterior motive was. If he asked my opinion, I thought he couldn’t make up his own mind; and if he did something without asking me, I thought he didn’t value my thoughts. You get the idea.

So I called a time out for myself and for us. Because HE truly is more important than any business operation I may have (though we all will notice that this blog is turning our family into a component of the business to a certain degree, but, hey, I’m a work in progress!)

We really are all about Arkansas, so we headed to Cove Creek Cabins for a couple of days of relaxation and a wonderful float trip along the Buffalo River. As we approached Jasper, we turned left and wound through the mountains. I fought the urge to close my eyes as our tires edged entirely too close to the bluffs. Before long, we were in Compton, which appeared to be our destination … but looks can be deceiving. I always thought that I lived in the middle of nowhere in Jessieville, but I now have learned that there are degrees of nowhere. Cove Creek is in the middle of nowhere. I, on the other hand, apparently live on the edge of nowhere.

I was beginning to question my husband’s sensibilities (which was exactly the opposite of the point of the trip!) as we read that we were to turn left at the orange cone. I can’t prove it, but I’m pretty confident the landowners placed the orange work cone there so that renters had any landmark at all.

The half-mile drive began to calm me down. There was a horse in the field and chickens clucked about. A cat greeted us and Einstein barked. Daffodils lined the path to the cabin. Once inside, we were amazed to see antiques throughout the home. There was a gas stove, which reminded my husband of spending time with his aunt and uncle as a child. Even better, according to him, was the 52-inch HDTV. Even better, according to me, was the comfy couch and the expansive back porch with a view of the Ozark Mountains.

We curled up on the couch and began making our plans for the next day. It might have been Spring Break, but the weather seemed to have forgotten. When Michael had called the canoe rental before we left, they questioned whether we really wanted to float the Buffalo. Apparently, you get VERY cold if you fall in and the water is 52 degrees. And while we never have flipped a canoe, did we really want to test it out now?

Ultimately, we decided that, no, we did not. I reviewed the waterfalls in our area in Tim Ernst’s waterfall guide and settled on Hemmed In Hollow, with the highest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians. It was a five-mile hike roundtrip, and I have a bum knee, but we agreed it would be worth it. And as a bonus? The trail head is in the middle of nowhere, too, on the same dirt road we were staying on.

The next day, we packed our lunches and our waters, braced up my knee and headed out. My mobility with the brace was somewhat impaired, but we were undaunted. (Again, it’s hard for me to take it easy, so what’s a “hard” hike with a 1000 foot descent and ascent on an injured knee?! Bring it on!) We giggled and sang some songs, and stopped for photos. The first one was atop the mountain. Way down at the bottom, you could see the Buffalo reflecting back at us. About a mile in, we were discussing that the hike was just fine. Easy peasy. We stopped for more pictures and were now basically level with the sheer bluff walls. Cool! A bird soared past. Mike said it was a buzzard, but I claimed it as an eagle.

We ventured on. The trail became steeper and the rock steps harder to descend. There were switchbacks that were difficult to maneuver, especially with a left knee that would not cooperate. The next three-quarters of a mile simply were not pleasant, but we were about to see the highest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians! Totally worth it.

We finally came out of the abyss of the mountainside and ventured through a forest of birch trees. Pretty cool when you’re used to oaks and pines. We were getting close!

And then it happened. The trail forked again, and we became confused. We turned to our left. There was a small waterfall. We were getting close; I could feel it! Then there were two downed trees. Surely someone would have cut those out of the way, right?

We turned around and headed to the other part of the trail. Saw a cool rock bottom that our son would have loved to skateboard along. We were traipsing along, when it occurred to me that we were moving away from the bluffs, which meant we were moving away from the waterfall. We turned around again and headed back the original way.

My handy GPS began mocking me, taunting me with the fact that our 2.5 mile journey was more than three miles already. We clambered over the downed trees. But then the trail just petered out. We were confused and getting tired and hungry so we found a large rock and had our picnic lunch.

We were almost done eating when I heard a deer snort behind me. I jolted around, only to learn that the deer was actually a father and son ambling along about 15 feet above us, obviously following the missing trail. We finished eating, and climbed up the side of the mountain. Sure enough: trail. We zipped along the last little bit to find a very unassuming, though very high, waterfall. Obviously, we were not there at peak waterfall time.

Do you know what the best part of a complete letdown is at a moment like that? You and the person you’re with are completely one! No one else can completely understand what you went through, but the one who journeyed with you does. Mike and I both found the whole situation pretty hilarious (more so later than right at the moment, but still!). Somehow, neither one of us could read Tim Ernst’s extremely well-written directions. Somehow, neither one of us could see a clear path when we crossed over a creek bed. And, somehow, neither one of us had put any thought into water levels!

We trudged back up the 1000 feet, more quickly than we went down. We were hot; we were sweaty; we were covered in dirt. So what to do after that? Why, we went over to Osage Pottery and then realized we were in Carroll County, which meant Eureka Springs couldn’t be too far away, so we went there, too. Yes, we looked like heathens, but we were heathens together. There might have been one store where no one spoke to us, but everyone else treated us like royalty.

What an amazing day. I was with my husband, and we made memories.

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Slow Down!

3/21/2014

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We need to slow down.

The world whirls past and pulls us along. Our phones, which are with us constantly, vie for our attention. Our jobs demand attention, seemingly around the clock. We need to cook; we need to clean; we need to shuttle our kids back and forth to this sport and that sport.

No.

Slow down. Breathe. Last week, I wrote about the power of being outside and embracing Spring. Did you get the message? I did … for that day, but then I got busy. So this week, I tried again.

I spoke to a wonderful women’s group in Hot Springs Village this Wednesday and was only a few minutes from one of the Village’s trails, so after the meeting was over I headed over to the Minorca Trail where we used to take our boys to feed the fish. If you have not been on any of their trails, you should. This link includes each one: http://www.hotspringsvillagetrails.com. They are ideal for walkers, for runners, and for cyclists.

This particular trail is a flat, wide path, without any rocks shifting under your feet. Along the way, I met a dog walker; two couples enjoying a picnic lunch (they offered me grapes and chips); a woman stretching out either pre-, post- or maybe even mid-run; and a couple on a weekend getaway.

For the rest of the three-mile journey, I meandered alone, yet I was not alone. Almost immediately, I was greeted by the sounds of the creek rushing by. The water pulled me closer, and the sun shone brightly overhead. For just a moment, I stood amidst perfection (a sight I believe I had also experienced in a when I sat outside at my house last week, which leaves me wondering how often I MISS the perfection and beauty around me.)

I pulled out my cell phone – the one that so often pulls me away from what is truly important – and began snapping photos. Wow. There is something special about only seeing what is within the frame. The curve of a tree became a piece of art. The bark itself has patterns seldom noticed. The acorn shells littered the path.

For me on that day, perhaps it was the pops of color that I found the most intriguing. There were the red berries bracing themselves amidst the sea of drab winter brown. There was the green glass resting on the bottom of the creek. And, here and there, I saw wildflowers peeking out, reminding me that life begins again each spring.

Along each of the trails in Hot Springs Village, there are benches for people to rest on. Many are etched with the names of loved ones that have been honored or memorialized. When I came across the one in memory of Robin Lynn Megahan, I stopped. The Megahan family holds a special place in my heart. I’m sure they would tell me to cherish each moment I have with my sons, as sometimes the opportunity is snatched away. They have placed this bench in their daughter’s memory (as well as a scholarship at National Park Community College Foundation). I sat. I thanked God for the Megahans and for my own family. As I began to hear birds overhead, I soon found myself actually reclining on the bench. One bird flew past. Then another. And another.

I was at peace. For just a few moments, I inhaled. I exhaled. I experienced that life is more than the hustle and bustle so many of us live.

Next week, I’ll probably need the reminder again. But for right now, I am grateful for a community that values spending money on a trail system. I am grateful for a family that invests back in its family even in the midst of their own tragedy. I am grateful that there has been no tragedy in my own family, and that my family supported and continues to support me and my dream of All Things Arkansas. I am thankful for Spring. And I am thankful for those moments when I truly slow down.

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Spring is in the air

3/12/2014

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Spring is coming! The jonquils are blooming, and the sky is a gorgeous blue -- with nary a cloud in the sky!

Have you been outside lately?

This morning, I am relaxing on my front porch. Our dogs rest at my feet. Onyx is our large, older lazy baby. She nudges my feet every few moments and whines at me if she thinks I might have forgotten she’s there. Ace is a few feet further out, lazing in the morning sun. Both are rescue dogs – one from the shelter in Hot Springs Village and one from in Hot Springs.

To my right is a field of jonquils. Last week, as winter reminded us it was not done with Arkansas, as sleet poured down on us, my sweet yellow flowers rose and braced themselves against the onslaught. They endured. And today, the sleet is gone but my favorite flowers stand proudly, waving at me and reminding me that Spring really is just right around the corner. No bright rays of flower sunshine at your house? Garvan Gardens is flourishing with the daffodils this week, and I’m sure Camden remains a mecca for them as well.

Overhead is a periwinkle blue sky. Not a cloud anywhere. Birds occasionally soar past, and I stop typing and watch their effortless flight. The air this morning is brisk, but it’s refreshing. Out here in the country, there are no smells of industry or the sounds of a frantic peace. It is simply peaceful. It is nature. For me, it is a reminder of my God and His infinite power and wisdom. The peace I feel right now, I wish it for you, too. I wish it for me as I move throughout the day.

There is something that happens to us all when we spend time outdoors. We breathe more deeply. We love more fully. We are in the elements and, often, we are in our element.

Spend a few moments outside. Do it today. Do it tomorrow. If you’re up to it, explore the trails near your home. Arkansas – which is The Natural State after all – is renowned for its trails. We have trail systems so long (223 miles extending into Oklahoma!) that there are three-sided cabins along the way for overnight hikes (though I will warn novices that it can be a tad unnerving to hear deer blowing at you in the middle of the night!) There are short day trails, great for families. There are small waterfalls. There are large waterfalls. There is a trail for you!

To find nearby trails, Google is your friend, as is the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and its visitor centers. And, of course, there are the guidebooks by Tim Ernst. If you don’t have at least one of his books, you are missing out! They are available throughout the state, and of course All Things Arkansas carries them. These books tell you how to get to the hiking trails, how to travel the trails, what you can expect to experience on the trails, and what you can expect to see on the trails. They include maps and photos and information you need to know that you did not know you needed to know! One customer told me she had the book with her on a trail, got lost, and used information in the book to call Mr. Ernst for help. Truly, these are the guides for everyone wanting to spend time in the great outdoors.

Whether you get a guidebook or even get on a trail, it's time to go outside!! Throw off the covers of winter and embrace Spring.

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Lisa Carey is the owner of All Things Arkansas. She knows a little about a whole lot of Arkansas. Explore with her here.

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