Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Arkansas Grand Canyon's Breathtaking Beauty!

I can't believe it's been almost a week since my last post! (Sorry Joy and I missed our Faithful Fridays posting)! I do have an excuse though! Last Wednesday night, we decided to go on a last minute trip out of town. It was to be just one of those "wing it" trips. As a matter of fact, I have never packed so quickly. We didn't make any definite plans, but just decided to go and sightsee and see what developed! It turned out to be a good two day trip! I really wished Colt could have gone with us, but as usual he was working! We went to one of the most beautiful (if not THE most beautiful spot) in Arkansas....Jasper. It is located in the heart of the Ozarks. It has some of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen! I could just sit and soak in that beauty forever! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a log cabin perched on the side of one of these mountains and wake up to this view every morning....take your morning coffee (or Diet Dew in my case) out on the porch and just watch the sunrise (or sunset in the evenings).

This first picture of Jason and Joy was taken at a rest stop just a little ways before we got to Cowell, which is not too far from Jasper. These were all taken along the Scenic Byway 7. (Remember you can click on the pictures to make them larger).



We showed Joy around. We've stayed in Jasper a few times but none since she was born. We were even able to look at some land for sale (perfect places for that log cabin in my dreams)!

After a full day's sightseeing, we were lucky enough to find a room at The Lazy Apple Lodge (recommended by a man that has a second home in the area) at a VERY reasonable rate! We were very pleased when we walked into the room. Somehow it just fit! This was the lounge/living area equipped with a little kitchenette.



And look at the bed! I loved it!



And Joy even had her own little bed on the other side of the room! She was excited!



This was the sitting area right outside our room (room #1).



Here's the view from right outside the room (and this was the lower level too).



If you went up a level, you could lounge on the huge deck. It was also the only place we could get a cell phone signal!



Here's another look at the deck. You can tell here about the size and location of the deck. Jason was taking in the view!



And look at this view from the deck! Absolutely gorgeous....the most beautiful sunsets can be viewed right there!



Joy posed with the bear "chained" to one end of the lodge!



It doesn't look as big as it actually was because there were multi levels off the back. But doesn't it just fit the landscape?



Anyone that visits this area knows about the Cliff House Inn. Not only is it an Inn, but also a restaurant. I told Joy about this place before we got there. The back porch literally hangs over the Arkansas Grand Canyon!



As a matter of fact, I stepped outside the door onto the back porch and couldn't handle the openness of it (did I mention I'm very afraid of heights especially when a rail is only half way up or it feels too open)! But Joy definitely didn't have any problems and Jason accompanied her! We ate breakfast there the next morning! There were pictures on the walls of celebrities (and their autographs) that had visited there!

Here's the sign showing the deepest point of the Ozarks.....



And here's "The View":



And "More View":



And "Even More View"....a little ways down the road from there at a scenic view spot.



At Scenic Point, there is also a tower. Imagine climbing even higher.....NOT ME! But Jason and Joy did. Jason took this picture from top of the tower looking down at our car. You can see how much further up they went.



And Joy at the top of the tower posing (she definitely didn't get my fear of heights)...She was making me nervous watching her up there!



Right there was also a souvenier shop. I bought the first of a sequel of books called Teetering on the Brink by Gary Weibye. It's the story (and adventures) of Gary and his wife who left the big city to come live there in paradise right on the edge with The View. They are really living the dream! I'm really into this book right now (although I could really do without his choice of words sometimes)!



All of this was on Friday. From there we went on to Greers Ferry, Arkansas and looked around....and ate. (We did alot of eating on this trip)!

As were were leaving, we talked to friends (Brian and Tracy) that were supposed to be in the area to find out the best route home, and they invited us to come with them on their pontoon for a couple of hours before we left. So we did. I didn't take any pictures there because I left my camera in the car, but it was lots of fun. Brian let Joy drive the boat! We enjoyed fireworks from the boat later that evening....something I've never done before and they were so beautiful over the water! We actually stayed later than we intended and had to come home that same night and didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning!

Then the next day, it was a rush to prepare for our 4th celebration. Everything turned out wonderful with my mom and dad, Jason's dad, and my aunt and uncle coming over for BBQ. It was overcast all day, but didn't rain until that night. Joy was able to swim. Then when Colt came home from work (he works ALL THE TIME), he brought in fireworks and set them off with Joy.



Here they were shooting bottle rockets from a tube.



Needless to say, at the end of all this fun, we all slept well Saturday night! The next day, we had a great day at church Sunday with a sermon and songs fit for Independence Day! We then enjoyed a low key rest of the day....even an afternoon nap!

**********************************************************************************

And look what came for me in the mail Monday from Anne (Seasons of the Past)!



She sent me these goodies with the sweetest card saying these goodies would go well in my home! This was such a generous heartfelt gift! Thank you so much, Anne! Boy, will I have fun decorating with these prim goodies! I am amazed at the kindness that's been shown to me! I hope Anne is blessed ten times over for her act of kindness! Anne also has a wonderful website. You should check it out.....Humble Hearts and Homes.

I have even more prim goodies....but I'm going to have to tease you a little here and not show you........yet. It's my goodies that I ordered from Kindra (3 Guys, a Girl and a Prim Place)....(my Kindra Creations). Since they will go in my bathroom (actually I'm working on that now), I will wait until I show the bathroom. I'm sorry I'm slow about it, folks, but I want "what I want" in there and am slow in accumulating those things! Thanks for being patient with me! Hopefully soon....

I think that's it for today. I should have warned you it was ALOT of pictures! If you stayed with me on this long post this far with all the pictures, I thank you! Please be patient with me as I play catch up this week and get by to visit all the wonderful blogs! Thank you for all of the kind comments and to my faithful followers! You are the best! I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday! :)

35 comments:

Susan said...

WOW Tammy. What a beautiful place. I'm going to have to look this up on the map. May not be too far from us to visit. I've never heard of it before :o(
Susan

Farming On Faith said...

Oh how fun! Those kind of trips are the best!
Thanks for sharing it with us!
Blessings~
Carrie

Birgit said...

Oh my! What a wonderful trip that must have been! The views are incredible!!! How fun too, to just pack up and go like that. We've never done anything like that but it looks and sounds like so much fun!

You got some great goodies in the mail too!

What fun to get away and how nice to come back home.

Glad you all had a good time.
Hugs~ Birgit

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Tammy---you were over in my favorite part of Arkansas. We love that drive up Scenic Highway 7. I'd love to live in the Jasper area.

Next time, head south and visit Mt. Nebo and Petit Jean and Mt. Magazine. They are great also.

Glad you had a good time.

Hugs,
Betsy

mommynoodles said...

It was long,but good.And I love looking at pics.! What a beautiful little wing-it trip. Their the best kind of trips,in my case anyhow! lol My hubby works all the time so that's how we have to take our trips all together.And all the memories made just in a short time!
Have a "BLESSED" week Natalie,

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

Love the cabin you stayed..it looks for warm and cozy..and those views you showed us...wow is all I can say..they are breathtaking..you live in a beautiful area...can't wait to see your bathroom....:)

Angie said...

The bear picture so cracked me up! Joy is such a little ham..lol. What a relaxing and breathtaking place! Wow!

Hugs ~ Angie

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Hi Tammy,
What a wonderful trip you had! Love the scenery too, just beautiful. We leave tomorrow for Annapolis MD to see Michale then onto Winston-Salem NC to see Jennifer:0
Love what Anne sent you especially the patriotic pillow and the candle thingy...forget what they are called.
Rondell

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

WOW! What a wonderful trip! I too, have a fear of heights! And I get scared watching everyone else up high!
That was really nice of Anne to send you those goodiss. I can hardly wait to see your bathroom and all the other goodies you mentioned.
Have a great week!

Denise said...

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing.

XXDenise

Anonymous said...

Tammy,
It's a beautiful place...would love to go there...when I went to Hot Springs AR...It's was so beautiful sceneric traveling down the road ...the mountain was beautiful...This photos is breathtaking...OMG Juts BEAUTIFUL! Joy looks so cute...You have a wonderful family...Tell Joy "Hi" for me. Sorry I haven't been blogging lately...go to do catch up myself. Thanks for stopping by..Yes...I am Blesses with a wonderful parents. My mom is 70...my dad is 74 will be 75 in Sept. They look great and happy...Lots of Laughters...will keep you young. :D Cole looks great...They both...Cole and Joy are growing up so fast. :D Thanks for you faithful visit..Love ya girl...Smiles and Hugs Oh...Your profile picture...You are beautiful! Take care...Katherinellen

Michele said...

Hi Tammy ~ what beautiful pictures...WOW! I love going on little unplanned trips...makes it much more fun!

Can't wait to see your bathroom when it's done!

Hugz,
Michele

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

What a gorgeous spot Tammy!! I love the mountains so that would be a dream for me!!

hugs, Linda

momstheword said...

What a lovely view you had! I used to long to live in a log cabin, before that I wanted to live in a madeover barn.

Your bed there looks like my sister's bed.

Loved the things Anne sent you. I hope to pop over to her blog later when I have more time.

I do not text well, I really don't. My first text was a disaster, lol!

Phyllis said...

Hi Tammy,
Thanks for stopping by by blog; it's very nice to meet you.

Wow - what incredible scenery and I love that lodge. I'd love to stay in a place like that but probably would never leave!

I'll be visiting you again :)

Mandy said...

What a great trip! Love the pictures.

I'd be down on a lower level too. I can't even ride a ferris wheel!

green gables girl said...

That is so cool!
I bet you guys had a lot of fun. How nice that you got those goodies!

The fireworks look fun.

Tell Joy I said HI!
LL

Nancy M. said...

It looks like y'all had a great trip! Those pictures are awesome! Such a beautiful place.

arkie said...

I can't believe I grew up in AR and have missed seeing the Arkansas Grand Canyon! I LOVE the mountains and hills in AR. There are so many lovely spots to visit in AR. It would be a very long comment if I listed all our favorite spots there! Petit Jean is one on our favorite spots! We actually saw a helicopter come up over the mountain when we were looking over the lookout!

Now I have a new place to visit in the future! Thanks!

Never So Simple said...

What great goodies to recieve in the mail. I have a Kindra wish list also. One day I will shop again. Until then I ave to just dream. :)

Love all the pictures. What a great view! I to am afraid of heights I would be enjoying from a distance as well. Sounds like a great trip.

Looking forward to seeing what Kindra made you.

Donna

JenW!~ said...

What a place of beauty.And it sure sounds like you guys had a grand time.
Great goodies you got in the mail. I hardly ever get any goodies anymore but I enjoy seeing all the things others get.

Unknown said...

Wow looks like you found a beautiful place! I am jealous. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment, I appreciate it.

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Isn't the Jasper Area beautiful, DH and I spent 7 days in the Harrison area last year and spent alot of time on Byway 7. We ate at the Cliff House and it was so good. I am like you, I get weak kneed up that high. I always stand back and let DH take the pictures..lol...
I'm so glad y'all had a good short vacation. Joy looks like she had a blast.
Molly

A Joyful Chaos said...

Absolutely awesome views! Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

steph said...

hey, i so want to know where that is at, we are not to far from arkansas, and that looks like a great place to go for a weekend. also in your pics of the roses there is a chair with three bird houses on it would you send me that pic? did you make that or did you find that some where? I love it! I would lov to have that on my blog. steph

Anonymous said...

Wow, that scenery is wonderful!! I have always heard the Ozarks were beautiful but had never seen them.
Lucky you!!

Dont apologize for too many pics, the more the merrier!!

Jill from NY

sonyadawn said...

So glad that you and your family had a great time. I love the picture of Joy in the arms of the bear... to cute. Road trips are the best!! Your post reminds me, I need to put in an order with Kindra.
Have a blessed day!!
Sonya

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

What a gorgeous spot for a getaway, Tammy! I'm glad your holiday weekend was such a good one ... new goodies included.

Wendy/TheCozyYellowHouse said...

Hi Tammy, it looks like your spur of the moment trip turned out to be a whole lota fun!!! Oh those views are gorgeous but I am like you I don't do well with heights!!! Love your goodies to how awesome is it to have such a thoughtful friend!! Have a wonderful day my friend!!xoxo~Wendy

Sharon said...

Oh my what beautiful photos.
I enjoy going on a last minute trip.
It looks like you had a great time.
God bless.

momstheword said...

Well, I haven't parted with my diet pepsi yet either. We have to have some luxuries, right?

I have cut down on it though. So that'll save more money and get me drinking more water!

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed that cake recipe, Tammy! My mom wants that exact cake for her birthday in August.

Shelley said...

Great, great trip!! Beautiful! And I loved that quaint place you stayed at! And seeing Joy w/ the bear statue made me smile!!

Lois Christensen said...

What beautiful pictures! Love the canyon. And how sweet are those treasures you received? Oh, your daughter reminds me of my son and how excited he always is when we stay in a hotel! He is especially fond of the sofa beds! Enjoy your day!

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

Love your vacation pics. Looks like a wonderful time....Joy always looks so happy-go-lucky.
Your goodies are great. Anne is a sweetie!