Global Warming Celebration!

It was definitely a global warming celebration! Everyone needed to check the calendar to make sure it was still January. Seventy degrees and sunny... wow.

I jumped on my awesome 21 speed Schwinn, scored at my neighborhood junk store, and headed down to the River Trail.

Click here to read all about this world- class bike riders' heaven.




Taking some time to enjoy the beautiful view and incredible sunshine.




Riding along, I thought to myself, "This is so peaceful and happy! I think I have discovered 'my thing'.




Pandora Radio playing from my knapsack (Re-cycled vintage fabrics $20).

As I was riding merrily along, my brakes began to squeak. Note to self: On the way back to Hillcrest Cottage, drop by the local bike shop for a brake adjustment.

At the bike shop, one thing led to another...

... which ended in the bike man saying, "You haven't been riding this bike have you?"

"Well... kinda... why?"

"It is totally unsafe. The steering column is getting ready to snap in half. Do not ride this bike."

Condemned. My awesome bike was condemned.

The End.

Global Warming Celebration over.

Hillcrest Cottage - My Art and My Fam

This free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Bring It

Snow is on its way. Expected accumulation 4". Everyone around here knows to run quickly to the store. And... when the snow does come... everyone knows that no one will be able to make it to work... but they will be able to make it to whoever's house has the biggest pot of chili or the best movies playing.

It's just a little game we play here in Arkansas.

For now... we hunker down and wait.

Presently, all that matters are my new:




And this Arkansas Snow Day standard fare:



Dear Reader, if you know not of Rotel and Velveeta Dip, please message me because I'm telling you right now, "You have never truly lived."

Screwy News at Hillcrest Cottage

Hillcrest Cottage had been number-less ever since I had built my front garden fence. Delivery men and visitors were often confused when trying to find my house. A few weeks ago, the Fed-X man even gave me an unexpected Christmas delivery... my neighbor's computer!

But, I couldn't settle for just any numbers... I had dreamed of these awesome bronze twig numbers!

The Hillcrest Cottage men pooled their resources, and I happily received 4, 2, 0, and 1 for Christmas! There was, however, one glitch: the screws which came with the antique bronze numbers were a very shiny, new brass!

Yuck!



No problem! I was soon off to my neighborhood hardware store where the men are friendly and knowledgeable. Click on Kraftco to read about my incredible store.

I was briefed by the Kraftco man on the quick history of screws and discovered to my dismay, that bronze screws are no longer manufactured, except in specialty situations, and it is not cost-effective for my twig number company to manufacture screws to match their numbers.

Poop.

Fortunately for me, the wonderful Kraftco man was the only employee who knew of an old box full of screws like that for which I was searching! He, then, pulled out a dusty box on the top shelf and produced these:



The box was marked "1964". The cost was .25 per screw. The match was perfect.


The end result made me very happy. Thank you, Hillcrest Cottage men and Kraftco! The delivery men thank you, too.

Arkansas' All Academies Banquet 2010

A traditional holiday event is the All Academies Banquet. This event is very festive, and all of Arkansas' cadets and midshipmen are invited. In reality, it is an opportunity for the parents and guests to view their sons in full dress uniforms (daughters, too, however most of the young women choose to wear their civilian attire). There are formal introductions, and unique military traditions which includes toasts and a POW/MIA memory table. The banquet brings a bit of 'military' home and allows the families a glimpse into their children's military life.

Our All Academies Banquet was held at Little Rock's very beautiful and historic Capital Hotel (President Grant slept here in 1877, legend saying that Grant had been allowed to take his horse upstairs to his hotel room). The banquet food was first class and included a very unique dessert of vanilla and bacon ice cream. Every one at our table ate the ice cream with much skepticism but declared it delicious in the end.


The Capital Hotel's Tree:



We look like this very seldom:



Lastly, Me with My Awesome West Point Cadet:


It is very difficult to believe that this was our third All Academies Banquet. Although, our cadet would offer a slightly different perspective, his time at West Point is passing swiftly.

Sun Sets on 2010

As the sun has set on "2010", the following are quick and random thoughts from Hillcrest Cottage.

"As for me, I will trust in You, O Lord, I say: You are my God.
My times are in Your hand.... Make Your face to shine upon Your servant." --- Psalm 31





Keeping "College Guy Hours" is difficult these days: My knapsack art expresses my feelings best:





Happy New Year from Hillcrest Cottage's newest resident: