Mike's broken foot appears to be improving steadily. The Orthopedist has set up another appointment in early December and says that he may still have to do surgery on it, but, in the meantime, he gave us permission to be more active - including camping. We've been walking more to test how that works: So far so good. And this week we made a 2 day trip to South Llano River state Park in Junction, TX.

We expect to make another short trip to Big Bend National Park soon too. But a few pictures from these last few days: 



Water Lilly Bloom

Agarita Leaves in the sunlight

Mike in the cactus patch

 Dennis in the cactus patch

 A White Winged Dove

 Hermit Thrush

 Field Sparrow

 Scrub Jay

 Armadillo watching us from the opening of his burrow - we were of no danger

 Our Alarm Clock in Junction

 Life in the tall grasses south of town

Once we realized that Mike had broken his right foot, we had to cut our camping trip short and return to Austin. Now, back home, we have followed up with our doctor and learned that the foot will not be needing surgery or a cast. But Mike has been put in a walking brace to keep him from flexing his foot - and therefore the bone - until it has healed. We will be following up with the doctor every two weeks to monitor progress.

Meantime, Mike gets to do as little as possible: including no driving, no trips to the grocery store, and only brief outings. Always while wearing the brace (even in his sleep, 24 hours a day) and walking with a cane even for the short jaunts - like to the bathroom.

Nevertheless, we have a few photos to share from a visit to the Ozarks, the Mississippi, and our drive back home.


Driving Thru The Ozarks

 

 

Meeman-Shelby State Forest State Park, just north of Memphis, TN on the Mississippi River

 

The Harvest Moon setting at Sunrise at the Fairfield Lake State Park, Fairfield TX

We have been busy and out of wifi range for the past few days so we are past due to post an update on our current trip.

To begin, we are spending the night in a rest area on I-30 just west of Malvern, AR: Social Hill Rest Area. It's nice and new and easy off the highway and back on in the morning. Second, we are headed home early because Mike has broken a metatarsal on the outside of his right foot. IT does not appear to be a serious injury or likely to need surgery, but we need to get back home and let an Orthopedist care for it. It is painful and no fun, but he should be fine in a month or two. So our plans get to change once again. And Third:  

An Eastern Bluebird, at Hickory Creek Campground outside of Fayetteville, AR

 

 Sewer Drain Cover in downtown Fayetteville

 Mike pushing a bear on a swing - before we knew he had broken his foot and simply thought it was sprained.

Flowers - at the city square of Fayetteville 

 We had no idea what this was about. But it was on a balcony across from the square.

Concrete park bench on the square. 

 A cluster of Scissor Tailed Fly Catchers in the treetops at Hickory Creek Campground.

 Sunset at Hickory Creek

 Several photos of Throncown Chapel in Eureka Springs. It is a beautiful place in a beautiful setting of flagstone and hardwood trees in the Ozarks. It was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright named E. Fay Jones and is one of the most lovely places Ever!

 And Dennis with one of his buddies.

Hello All,

We are on a small trip up into Arkansas and over to Memphis.

We spent the first night away at Wright Patman Lake, just west of Texarkana. We stayed at Piney Point Campground, which is in a very deep, dark pine forest right at the lake side. And then we traveled on to the Hickory Creek Campground on Beaver Lake just outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas, where we visited our friends Lucy and BJ and took in a half day at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. (BTW, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a gift from the Walton Family - of Walmart Fame - so thank you for shopping at Walmart.)



Mike at our campsite at Piney Point Campground

 Fisherman at sunset on Wright Patman Lake

 Sunrise at Beaver Lake - with a Great Blue Heron and Ducks in the morning mist.

 Silver Tree at the entrance of Crystal Bridges

 The entrance pavilion for the Bachman-Wilson House

 BJ, Dennis and Lucy at the entrance pavilion for the Bachman-Wilson House

 Bachman-Wilson House (by Frank Lloyd Wright) at Crystal Bridges

 Red Spotted Admiral Butterfly at Crystal Bridges

"Maman" (French for Mother) by Louise Bourgeois (who was 88 when she made this) - in the Crystal Bridges entrance courtyard.

Keith Haring Sculpture in Crystal Bridges Courtyard

 Lucy, Mike and BJ with Keith Haring Sculpture

 The Great Hall at Crystal Bridges

And there was an outdoor exhibition of glass art works by Dale Chihuly along the forest trails adjacent to the museum buildings.

Since some of my fondest childhood memories come from our wood and canvas canoe when we lived on a lake in the pine forests of New Jersey, this came to represent a whole boatload of memories for me. (Dennis)