Week in Review-Little Rock

We went with the kids to swimming lessons and this is as close as they got to the water.  It seems the instructor couldn't be found.

Here is the rental the family has had for the month in Jacksonville, near the air base.

Meanwhile, up north, a friend sent a picture of our "cabin" in the woods.  It appears that it is too early to get excited about heading there. 

We all enjoy the "old mill."  It is beautiful when the Spring trees and flowers are in bloom, but still fun when they aren't.

A rare non action picture of them both standing still.

The mill was built in the 30's as a replica of a working mill from the past.

Hi, Papa!  Enough with the pictures already! 

Never fear, just one more.

Imagine azaleas, dogwoods, and other flowers in bloom.  So wish I could be here when Spring hits, but not this time.

Our favorite son-in-law just finished with his check-ride on his way to a new assignment.

That was just a peak into our week.

William Jefferson Clinton's Presidential Library

Little Rock is the home of the Clinton Presidential Library.  We took a field trip there with the kiddos.

The first thing one sees is the president's limousine along with some handcuffs that the secret service use.  We got stalled there.

The reproduction of the cabinet room was fascinating.

Here are some of the displays and part of the archives.  Mack is checking out the daily schedule book.  Whew... it makes me tired just reading what a president has to do each day.

The Great Hall was being set up for a dinner.  The light fixtures remind us of the one we have in our house. 

And what would a presidential library be without a reproduction of the Oval Office?  No pictures allowed inside but only from the door way. I thought about getting a picture of me sitting in the oval office desk chair.  But for $24.95 I thought I could live without it.

Here is a setting for a state dinner in Clinton's day. 

Knicks and knacks from the various guest gifts and other activities. 

More displays and archives.

We had lunch in 42, the restaurant in the lower level named for the 42nd president.

The morning after we arrived we woke to six inches of snow. 

It was very pretty and was gone in just a few days.  For the Arkies it meant no school and the base being closed.  I figured out why.  No one has s snow shovel so you have to wait for the sun to melt it.

On our trip south, after visiting my two brothers, we stopped at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas.  One new feature was a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian House that was disassembled from a flood plain in NJ and moved to the grounds of CB Museum of American Art.

One of the children of Sam Walton has built an fabulous museum to house her collection of American art. 

George sat for seven sittings and there were two originals at the museum.

Yes, they allow pictures without flash so I took a few of my favorites.  This guy is in trouble and it looks like his friend is not aiming at the bear.  Makes one wonder what was the greater danger in the background.

This painting has appeared in many history books over the years.  Think millions of dollars if you want to purchase it.

This one was called "Indian and Lilly;" not too original in name but I like it.

I don't know the name of this one, but it is one that I have seen before.  Have you?

Cousin Pat will recognize this Georgia O'keefe painting.

The museum itself is a work of art nestled in water in a beautiful wooded spot.

Marilyn is in love with this guy.  He looks so real and yet he is only half the man that I am.

This is the dining area of the museum.  What a beautiful setting and I can't imagine what the cost of the museum must have been. 

The Walton heir who built this museum of American Art was criticized for bringing such a collection to the hills of Arkansas.  She could charge a hefty sum to visit these masterpieces that she has collected, but did I say, it is all FREE... as in no cost?

We stopped to see Marilyn's brother and saw this Flicker in a tree waiting for me to shoot it (with a camera).  What a fancy outfit he wears.  Notice the red head dress, black bib, speckled chest and yellow tail.  Pretty impressive.

Snuggled in the hills was this cozy cabin of Stephen and Gina.  It was so good to visit with them.  Gina made us a great salad and we had a good visit.

Of course, the high-light of the trip was getting to see these two characters who are acting pretty bored with the story that Tutu is reading them at bedtime.