Things that make my hometown great: #8 The Trail System

Okay, this is confession time. When everyone started talking about a pedestrian/bike trail that would not only take you through Fayetteville, but eventually through all of Northwest Arkansas - I was a stone cold critic; "waste of resources", "no one will ever use it", "just a place for vagrants and thugs to hide out".  So even when a group of determined people convinced city leaders and the parks department that this was not only an asset but vital to the evolution of quality living in Fayetteville, I watch with eyes rolled to the sky. Color me stupid.

urbanplanet.com

instantveiw.me





Once I took a ride down the section of trail known as Skull Creek, I was not only a fan but a big supporter of the regional trail beginning to take shape and connecting all of Northwest Arkansas.

The peaceful walk or rides on these trails cannot be found in parks or along streets. These trails are unique in their experience and I congratulate those brilliant individuals whose perseverance resulted in such a wonderful community asset. BTW, The art collection that's beginning to grow along the trail is pretty neat too.

Things that make my hometown great: #9 The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

I've never been real artsie, fartsie. Just a simple guy with simple taste. But I have to admit I am impressed by one of Fayetteville's cultural amenities, The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. It is a beautiful place with wonderful things to see. When I get determined, I'll jog the 5 mile track from Lake Fayetteville that runs through it. So by the time I determined again, the seasons have changed.

I guess I'm also in admiration of the dedication, perseverance, and commitment of the people, who for many years, struggled to make the garden a reality. They not only rallied the folks from Fayetteville for which its location they were to be privy, but made outstanding campaign of its valued to the entire region. I remember as a member of the Northside Fayetteville Rotary, how we were so inspired by their efforts that we put forth a major fundraising campaign with our sister club, Downtown Fayetteville Rotary and purchased a beautiful arbor and roses for a designated section of the garden - well worth every bit of effort put into it.

hudsonphotos.blogspot.com

The Garden is supported by the community and by the Botanical Society of the Ozarks. It has become a social venue as well, hosting concerts and a Sunday Farmers Market, among a few of its notable events.

gardens-to-visit.com

Like I said, I'm not normally into things of this nature, but I'm beginning to be more and more. Quality likes this is hard not to like.



Things that make my hometown great: #10 Gulley Park Summer Concerts

You know you live in a pretty special place when your community leaders (public and private) are always trying earnestly to improve the quality of life in your community. Its been said most people just exist, but few really live. If you're just existing in Fayetteville, AR its only because you're not trying to live in Fayetteville, AR. So here goes: Top ten things that make my hometown great: #10 - Gulley Park Summer Concerts.

fayettevilleforward.org

Several years ago, some really brilliant people decided that we as as community could do more to come together in what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful municipal parks in the country. Gulley Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas is an amazing example of a municipal asset and community amenity. Throw in 6 summer concerts around the hugh pavilion that is the centerpiece of the park. And you got yourself an old fashion good time.

ozarksunbound.com

The bands are very diversified, from In-Town favorites like Big'uns to out-of-town surprises like Waylon and the Texas All-Stars. But its the people who make it a Thursday night summer favorite. Just bring the wife, kids, pets, lawn chairs and ice chest - food vendors are on site and let that old time socializing begin. Talk about being a social animal, this will bring out the best in ya.

cheg.uark.edu

If you're lucky, you'll have good friends like our buddies Gina and Anthony Lee who got us involved with the Palm Squad. A great bunch of folks from Crye Lieke Realtors who congregate under a 4 ft plastic palm tree as their site marker. It has become a summer favorite and Judy and I really get to where we look forward to the next concert all summer long and hate it when have to miss one or when summer comes to a end.

Gulley Park Summer Concerts just of the many things that makes my hometown great.

Crossing the College Sports Desert: Living in Razorback Mecca

My old friend Mary Parks Seiter sent me a post on Facebook recently reminding me that Razorback Football season was so many days, hours, and minutes away. I admit I like being thought of and considered, especially when your talking about our beloved Hawgs. But living in Fayetteville, AR in the summer is like living in a town full of shops that have wonderful foods, treats, and exotic beverages, but they're closed for the season.....just one reminder after another of what your missing. You see in the College Sports Mecca of Arkansas, crossing the sports desert starts after the last game of Razorback Baseball, which a loyal fan always hopes last into June (CWS~Omaha) and ends with the 1st Razorback Football game which this year is September 3rd against Missouri State.

DWR Razorback Stadium

                                                        

Baum Stadium

My beloved Baum Stadium, Bud Walton Arena, and of course the city onto itself 5 times a year, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium are probably in the top 5 of my Fav Venues, but this time of year, they're just plain hard to drive by and see empty - I often feel as I did the days right after I decided to quit smoking nearly 10 years ago...oh please, just one game til fall...baseball, basketball, how about another Red/White Scrimmage.....please.....

Well, I guess distractions like unbearable heat, failing air conditioners, dying crops, suffering pets, and unquenchable thrist have their place after all. Thank goodness for the Concerts in Gulley Park, Dickson St. Entertainment, and Swimming Pools....lots of swimming pools. 

Go Hogs Go .... and quickly!                                       

Razorback Red Hardy Hybiscus: Some flowers just scream to be adopted by State and Local Communities.

We saw these about a four years ago at Lowes, and I thought Judy was going to come unglued, "OMG, Razorback Red Hybiscus you can plant in the front yard...Let's buy a dozen!".

I have to admit I am fond of them. Mostly because they are Razorback Red, but also because they bloom from July to October - So ya gottem for Football season, oh yeah! This year's heat wave is really kicking their hindend, but they keep putting out flowers regardless. Just keep on coming like a good Razorback should. I didn't really think of them as shrubs, and they can be tacky, but hey, Mama's happy - so am I. We get so many positive comments about them that I thought I would write about them, and start a campaign to make them the official Flower of Fayetteville. I mean they are the right color for The Hill and bloom into October, the most important time of the year on The Hill, so they're ya have it - time to file my ordinance with the City. On another hand, they are a striking resemblence to the color of the state flag and I find them as pretty as the apple blossom - shoot every state south of the Mason-Dixon has the Apple Blossom as their state Flower - Boring!!!! Maybe I could donate some cuts to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, I bet they'd enjoy'em as would their visitors.
Anyway, these flowers are beautiful, are a delight to have, easy to raise, and as the name suggest very hardy. They are worthy to be adopted as a botanical mascot.

Man's got to know his limitations: Especially on his own grill.

Our lives our in flux. We went from one of three children left at home to a full house with permanent and part time house guests. There were not a lot of demands made on dinner (...supper or whatever you choose to refer to it as at your house) until June rolled around. As such, adjusting to who would be and who wouldn't be joining us for the traditional evening meal was just the beginning.....we also had to come to an acknowledgement of grill capacity. We grill in the summer and do everything to avoid using the oven, especially this summer with its unfathomably hot days.










The gas grill is a large size Charmglow from Lowes (not an endorsement , trust me) and the smoker is a traditional Brinkman side box.

With all this cooking space, you'd think I could run a small hole in the wall restaurant, but that just depends on what the troop is hongry (to be more than just hungry) for that particular evening. My case in point is my last blitzkrieg strategy for cooking Hamburgers and Corn-on-the-Cob. We like to grill our Corn-on-the-Cob. Just leave it in the shuck and soak it in salt water (Sea Salt) for a couple of hours and then put it on the grill til soft.

The hamburger trick is something Judy picked-up. I quit making fun of her new cooking techniques when I found her researching the Food Network and Guy Fieri. Anyway, TIP: put a thumb dent in your hamburger patties, helps cook evenly throughout the meat. All of this is well and good, unless; you overload your grill in an attempt to get-r-done without due diligence. The results can be frightening.

It took a lot of hustle, but everything turned out fine. We men just have to remember that cooking is not a sport but a talent. It requires knowledge with a dash of experience, a pinch of persevering endeavor to become great, and of course an acceptance of our limitations.

Introducing the Cat - Duke

Duke our cat is the prince of the neighborhood. He comes and goes as he sees fit and eats only where they're serving the best morsels. Even his feline buddies pay him homeage - he's just that cool. When we first got him, he proved himself worthy of my respect and admiration by clearing our home of a mole infestation. Since then I have declared him untouchable and of more value than anything else on the property.
I would like to tell you that he was named for one of my personal heroes, John Wayne. But regrettably his full name is Duke Nukem, nuff said. Unlike many tom cats, Duke is affectionate with personality plus. That's a quality that makes him even more endearing as a feline.

He's 11 yrs old, and is starting to show he's age (like many others around here) and I'm not sure we'll ever be able to find another like him.