In the Neighborhood

I walked out around 9:30 A.M. yesterday and saw the two deer across the street.  The buck looked at me and went back to eating.  I went in, got the camera, and took several pictures.  We have doe's and their fawn's around all the time but this is the first buck I have seen here in the neighborhood.

Nimrod Dam - Arkansas Scenic Highway 7

Dam information.

It has been very dry and you can see how low the lake is looking at the back of the dam.

There is still water being released but even the rive looks low.

Fall color is beginning to show. 

I received a card telling me the engraving and vases had been completed on the headstone to my Mother and Father's graves.  I drove down to check everything out and put flowers in the vases.  I left the Inter-State at Russelville and followed Arkansas Highway 7 through Hot Springs and Arkadelphia.  7 goes through the heart of Hot Springs and the downtown was full of tourists.  On the way back I pulled off to see Nimrod Dam.  There is a lovely campground below the dam.  I did wish for the RV to stop and spend the night.  This part of Arkansas 7 goes through the Ouachita Mountains.

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks - Butterfly Pavilion

I visited the Garden yesterday, Oct. 4, 2011, to see the new Butterfly Pavilion.  It is a small screened in enclosure shaped like a butterfly and located at the rear of the Gardens.  Here are pictures of the Pavilion and some of the butterflies found in the Pavilion and throughout the Garden.  In spite of the hot and dry weather this summer the Garden looked beautiful.  Visit if you have a chance.

There were several kinds of  insects feasting on the flowers.

One of the butterflies.

Another butterfly

Entrance walk to the Butterfly Pavilion

The Butterfly Pavilion and the volunteer enjoying the wonderful weather

Volunteer and a newly hatched butterfly.  It was still wet and not flying.

Another butterfly picture.

And still another

And another.  The garden was full of butterflies.

This one spent the entire time I was in the Pavilion trying to escape.

Too many opportunities for photos to pass up.  I just kept snapping.

I was going for the butterfly but the camera focused on the insect in the foreground.

Now it is focused on the butterfly and in insect is out of focus.

Denver Trip - Back Yard Patio

Chris has a outdoor fire pit and we sat out several nights enjoying the fire.  It was cool but pleasant.

Denver Trip

Eating Out In Denver

I went out to Denver last week.  The main purpose of the trip was to deliver all of the boxes that we packed for Chris as we shut down Mother's house.  I spent the week and did not do much sightseeing.  I did eat out a lot.  Denver has some great places to eat so I thought I would share a few.

I went to Z Cuisine Saturday night with the Fine Dining group I belonged too when I lived in Denver.  It was an interesting place.  They decide what the menu will be based on what is available that week.  They list themselves as a French Bistrot and and Parisian Wine Bar.  It was a fun evening with very good food and wine.

One of my favorites is Spicy Thai II.  It is in the neighborhood where Chris lives.  I ordered from there twice.  They have great Pad Thai.  I have tried several Thai restaurants here and no one comes even close to what they serve.

I had lunch with Jennifer at Domo's in Downtown Denver.  My Japanese Curry was very, very good.  Don't be fooled when you drive up.  From the side and front it looks like a warehouse.  You have to look for the entrance.   I did have my camera and took a picture of the entrance.

Another neighborhood favorite is The Cherry Tomato.  It is about 7 blocks from Chris's house.  It is open at night and the menu is Italian.  They do not take reservations but you can call and be put on the wait list.

Follow the links to see the menus.

Hummingbird

I have tried several time to get a picture of the hummingbirds at my feeder.  I usually just get a blur.  Here are the best two.

Friends in My Yard

I kept  hearing something moving in the leaves and iris but never could see anything.  Today that changed.  If you look in the center of the photo you will see a box turtle.  I was not the only one to hear him.  Hunter, one of my cats, also heard him and went to investigate.  The turtle pulled into his shell and even though Hunter was inches away he could not locate his target.

This may not look like a bat cave but it is.  It has been so hot this summer that I have only been out early in the moring and late at night so the unbrella has not been opened.  It was cool enough yesterday that I went out mid-day and opened the unbrella.  There was a little bat sleeping near the top.  By the time I got my camera he was gone and I decided not to bother him today.  I need to put up a bat house.

I saw the toad a few days ago.  The fountain was not running but did have water under the plate the toad was resting on.  He was coming up out of the center.  I checked the next day to see if he was in the bottom but it was empty.  I guess he got a drink and left for a better home.